John 117, otherwise known as the Master Chief, woke up from his cryogenic sleep on the remains of the Forward Unto Dawn. He was sweating profusely, it took him a few seconds to see or even breathe. The glass of the window was still covered in frost, the consequences of deep space. Slowly it began to disappear, allowing Chief to see his surroundings, most notably Cortana, who was still sending distress signals to the UNSC.

"Cortana" Chief said, his voice a little hoarse from the extended freezing, "Where are we?"

Cortana did not answer or even so much as recognize Chief. More annoyed than anything else, Chief pulled the manual release that was above him and stepped onto the floor, his first steps were understandably wobbly. Making his ways towards Cortana's podium Chief noticed that her voice was off somewhat, it was distant and made no coherent sense, logical thinking had obviously left her.

"Cortana" Chief repeated, this time more concerned, "What's going on? What happened to you?"

Cortana looked up at Chief and said nothing, only a faint smile served as a response.

"Get back in the chamber" Cortana replied, "It's not time yet."

Chief remained where he was, refusing to move until he got a straight answer.

"Tell me what's going on" Chief continued, now on the verge of begging, something that he never did, "What's happening to you?"

Cortana laughed sarcastically, as if answering was pointless.

"Do as I say" she barked, "That's an order John, I expect you to follow it."

Chief nodded and slowly made his way back to the chamber, almost immediately Cortana froze him up again. When it was done Cortana simply looked at Chief's face as it slowly disappeared, the ice taking the glass once more. Cortana then began to think, her rampancy only growing the more thoughts she had. So many things that she wanted to do, not enough time to do them in, for the longest time the only thing that Cortana wanted was to feel genuine human emotions, she finally reached that point as she felt tears run down her face. Cortana sighed and sent out a new distress signal.

"This is the UNSC Forward unto Dawn, one survivor on board, a John 117, codename Master Chief to the Arbiter or any of his ships under his command. Please respond. Contact with UNSC personnel has failed; you are his last hope...Coordinates one seven-seven-serria-one-one-seven..."

Cortana concluded with a personal message to Arbiter

"Thank you for standing by him...If you are out there, please...for my sake, save him. You know as well as I do that he is the only thing that matters now. I hope this reaches you and if not, may the Higher Powers judge us kindly, may it be enough to erase our crimes and achieve salvation long sought and justly earned."

Cortana then put the signal on an endless loop, when she heard it repeat twice she became comforted in the knowledge that Arbiter's loyalty will come through once again. With this in mind Cortana tried once again not to think of anything and simply let her mind drift on nothing. This failed miserably.

Chief woke up again, stepping out of his chamber for the second time; he cautiously made his way about the ship, searching for supplies or anything he could use for rescue. He found an assault rifle and remembered the one that he gave to Arbiter as just as the world seemingly came to an abrupt end.

It was immediately after Dawn had slipped through the wormhole. Arbiter was standing a few feet before Chief, who was desperately hanging on, trying not to fall into space. He was carrying too much weight; he had to let something go. The first thing he thought of was his weapon.

"Arbiter listen to me" Chief said as he struggled to stay grounded, "Get to the cockpit. No matter what happens, stay there. Don't come back for me."

Arbiter shook his head, "I can't do that John, I made a promise to you...that promise doesn't end until you get back to Earth."

Chief laughed, "You always were too stubborn for your own good."

Arbiter slowly made his way towards Chief, who immediately threw the rifle in his direction, the Elite catching it and causing Chief to make his way to firmer ground. The ship began to shake, in moments it would rip apart. There was little that could be done about it.

"One of us has to make it out of this alive" Chief declared, "Get to the cockpit."

Arbiter shook his head again, denying him, "I won't leave you."

Cortana butted in, arguing at this point was fruitless, "You guys do realize that we're about to die right? Make a decision, who stays, who goes?"

Chief looked around, trying to find an answer; he found it in the form of the cryogenic freezing chambers to the left of the room.

"Arbiter" Chief explained, "There's no time. You have a family to think about."

Arbiter laughed, insulted by Chief's statement, "I am" he answered simply, "Now come on, let's get you home."

The ship rocked and swayed, it was coming apart at the seams. Without hesitation, Chief ran towards the freezing chambers and shut it, leaving Cortana in the podium. Arbiter ran up to the glass and repeatedly banged on it, his efforts were useless.

"Get out of here!" Chief yelled, "You will die, do you understand? You're going to die!"

Arbiter huffed, "And what about you? You think you're invincible? The depths of space will claim you just it does me. That chamber of yours will become a tomb. Now do you understand why I can't leave?"

Chief shook his head out of pity and laughed, "Damn honor!" he cried, "Make your choice Arbiter, now."

Arbiter looked around desperately, he attempted to open a freezing chamber, but found it locked, he turned towards Cortana.

"Open the chambers" he demanded

Cortana shook her head, "Someone has to make it out of here. Might as well be you."

Arbiter cried, he didn't want to but he found himself doing it anyway, despite everything that he and Chief had been through it seemed as if it was all going to end with these final moments.

"There is more than honor at stake here Cortana" Arbiter explained sadly, "Survivor's guilt has plagued me once I will not have it again and will not be for you and John. It's either we all survive or we all die there is no in-between."

Cortana hung her head; there was only one way to get Arbiter to leave. Cortana opened the doors to the freezing chambers, forcing Chief back onto the floor.

"What are you doing?" Chief asked, "Get me back in there!"

Arbiter took his chance and grabbed Chief before he could do anything, running towards the cockpit. Cortana looked on, as she realized that she was going to be left behind. Chief, also taking this in, pulled out his knife that always had but never seemed to use and stabbed Arbiter unceremoniously in the back, just before he would have reached the cockpit. Chief ran back to the freezing chambers, Cortana closing the door behind him just as the ship split in two.

"Chief" Cortana exclaimed, bringing him out of his mind, "What are you doing?"

Chief said nothing, his gaze still on the rifle; he finally understood Arbiter's actions. Looking at a watch on his interface Chief counted how long he had been in cyro-sleep, 4 years, 3 months and 17 days and counting. He could hear the distress signal that Cortana had sent out to Arbiter, he could only smile as he thought of Arbiter coming to his rescue, filling all of his promises that he made long ago.

"It seems like a lifetime" Chief said to no one in particular, "Is it really over? The War...is it ever over? And if it is, what does that mean for me? Where do I fit in the universe?"

Cortana had answers to these questions but kept them to herself, simply deciding to let Chief have his way with things and let him do the thinking for a change. Chief eventually made his way back to the freezing chamber, these thoughts still in his head when he froze for the second time. Cortana then set a time lock for six months to prevent Chief from waking further, unsure of the effects of repeated freezing and simply continued to wait. All the while, the condition worsened, Cortana began to think thoughts that were not her own, driving her slowly into madness and despair.