Onwards with the story! As always, thanks for the follows/favs/reviews. :D :D

It had taken the better part of three hours and some creative tinkering, but finally Geordi and Data had rigged up a contraption that would allow them to access the Cortana program housed in the chip the Chief had brought onto the Enterprise. Geordi ran a final diagnostic, then gave a nod when the results appeared on the screen. "We're as ready as we're going to get."

Geordi looked at Data and then, the Master Chief. The android seemed unusually short standing next to the seven-foot tall man in armor.

Despite the fact that he had been with them since they had left the conference room, the Chief offered little of his personality. So far, the Master Chief had limited himself to short answers, always ending with "sir".

Geordi set the modified isolinear chip reader on top of the display unit. A thick cord ran from the back of it and plugged in directly to the main computer port. Data stepped forward and slid the chip in the reader.

Almost immediately, the lights in Engineering dimmed.

"Warning," said the ship's main computer calmly, "data saturation levels nearly maximum capacity."

Geordi's fingers flew over the control panel, shutting off the reader. The binary code was still streaming across the screen as the ship attempted to process all of its data.

Just how much information was stored in Cortana?

Geordi exchanged a glance with Data who seemed as off-guard as he was. If they couldn't find a way to filter the information entering into the Enterprise's computers, they wouldn't have a chance to try to repair Cortana.

Seconds later, his communicator chirped. "Geordi, what's going on down there?" It was Commander Riker.

"I underestimated the amount of data that this data crystal contained. It temporarily caused the computers to be bogged down, but it's under control now," Geordi admitted. "We've shut off the interface until we can create a buffer."

"Understood. Riker out."

Geordi exchanged a glance with Data. "Have you ever seen so much data on one chip before?"

Data shook his head. "No. It is quite impressive." He turned to the Master Chief. "Tell me, are there many programs like Cortana?"

"Not anymore."

An awkward silence settled between them.

It was Geordi that broke the tension. "It's going to take me some time to figure out just how to start creating a buffer."

"If I may suggest..." Data looked at the Master Chief. "The back of your helmet contains AI housing, does it not?"

"Yes."

"Then, hypothetically, Geordi and I should be able to use it to filter the amount of data that enters into the Enterprise's systems," Data said.

Geordi nodded slowly as if considered his friend's solution. "That could work."

The Master Chief looked down at them. "What do I need to do?"

"Simply remove your helmet," Data replied. "We will not know what adapters we will need until we are able to see it."

For a moment, Geordi wondered if the Master Chief was going to do as the android suggested. But, slowly, the Chief lifted his hands and released the locks on the helmet. Seconds later, he lifted the helmet up and carefully handed it to Data.

It was clear that he was uncomfortable being exposed. Geordi wondered how long it had been since he had taken off his helmet.

Geordi watched as Data inspected the back of the helmet. "I believe I can find an adapter to interface with this." He placed the helmet beside the chip reader. "I will be back shortly."

Before Geordi could offer to find the part, Data had walked away leaving him alone with the Chief. Normally, the Chief Engineer could become friends with anyone, but he suspected that this man was not in the mood to make acquaintances with anyone.

Still, it could be a while until Data returned. "So, Master Chief-"

"Chief," he corrected.

Well, that was a start, Geordi thought.

"Chief," he started again before he realized he didn't know what to say. He studied him for a second. His VISOR was picking all sorts of energy signatures from his suit. There was even a faint reading coming from the back of his neck.

His eyebrows furrowed. "You have a neural implant?"

"Yes." There was a pause. "How did you see it?"

"You're not the only one with a neural implant, Chief?" Geordi tapped his temple. "I've got two of them. It allows me to interface with my VISOR to see."

"You can detect energy signatures with it."

Geordi nodded. "I can't see like most humans, but it has come in handy from time to time." He nodded towards the Chief. "What is yours for?"

"It acts as an IFF." There was a long pause. "Cortana's program-"

"I believe I have found a suitable adapter." Data's voice cut off the Chief's words. He glanced between the two men. "Was I interrupting?"

"It was nothing," the Chief said.

Data took him at his word and handed Geordi a small adapter that was attached to a short wire. Geordi reached around and connected it to the chip reader as Data plugged it into the back of the Chief's helmet.

When he finished, he gave Geordi a quick nod.

Geordi took a deep breath. "Let's try this again."

This time when he activated the reader, he stayed near the controls, ready to shut it down if necessary.

"Fascinating," Data said from another console.

Confident that the Chief's helmet was providing enough a buffer from the Enterprise's systems, Geordi walked to where Data was.

"I am noticing that there appears to be a large amount of redundant data within her matrix," Data said, glancing at the Chief.

His body tensed. "It's the rampancy."

Data's eyebrows went down. Geordi was as confused as he was. "I am afraid I am unfamiliar with that term."

The Chief shifted his gaze away. "She's dying."

An interesting word choice, Geordi thought. Then again, if Data's systems were to start slowly shutting down, he would use that same term.

Data pressed a few buttons. "I am sorry to hear that. Perhaps there is a way to get her program functioning properly again."

Geordi frowned. They didn't even know the first thing about how her program even worked. "Data, we don't even know if we can get her program working in the first place," he reminded him.

"I am confident that I will be able to do that," Data said assuredly. "However," he looked at the Chief again, "it will longer than we anticipated. Perhaps you will find your time better spent resting in the quarters Captain Picard has provided for you."

The Chief whipped around to face him. Geordi lifted his hands. "We will contact you as soon as we find anything." He looked at the data. "It's just going to take some time."

Several seconds passed before the Chief finally gave a curt nod. Then, he spun around and left the two of them alone.