The Reclaimer Legacy Part 4
By BrokenPoet12
X
Six months prior…
UNSC Standard year 2557
Location: Sol System
Planet: Earth
Sydney, Australia
Office of Naval Intelligence
Notes regarding the debriefing of Master Chief John-Sierra 117 as per Admiral Serin Osman, CINCONI
Summation and report to be filed in the archives care of Black Box AI. Security Code XXX-XX-XXX
In light of the events at New Phoenix and the previously unknown and now eliminated threat from the Forerunner Diadact and his Promethean army, we convened today to debrief Sierra 117 and decide upon a course of action.
Let the record reflect that Spartan 117 is a decorated veteran of many battles, both with our prior insurrection and during the decades long war with the Covenant. And in light of the recent events in our Sol System we would like to state on record that Sierra 117 is here for debriefing and reassignment. No punitive or disciplinary actions will be taken regarding his disappearance.
Upon request, Sierra 117 surrendered his Mark VI MJOLNR armor variant for examination by a team of ONI technicians. His data recorders were intact, and have been review by ONI personnel extensively. Summary of data is amended to this report and can be viewed by authorized personnel.
After extensive questioning, the events that occurred since Sierra 117 disappeared five years ago are clear and logged. Regarding his Artificial Intelligence unit Cortana, we have not been able to ascertain the exact events regarding her ultimate deletion from all detectable systems. It is evident that she was in the final stages of rampancy and after interviewing former Captain Andrew Del Rio, it is clear she was a threat to those around her. The Master Chief has declined being paired with another AI unit at this time.
That said, the debriefing is completed and Sierra 117 has been reassigned to the Spartan IV detachment on the Infinity. He will deploy with them as we continue to unearth the Forerunner technology hidden on Requiem. Admiral Osman has requested that the prisoner Catherine Halsey be kept unaware of his presence on station and be limited in her access to any Forerunner artifacts that are found. Captain Thomas Lasky is allowed to use discretion in determining the leeway this has for her.
Report Summation:
Master Chief Sierra 117 : Cleared for return to active duty
Cortana: Rampant and presumed destroyed.
Thank you, that is all.
X
Forerunner Planet Requiem
Relative Human year 2557
Location unknown
She knew she was awake and this time there was no pain. After a few shallow breaths, she drew in a deep lungful of air and held it. When no fire and no discomfort returned, she let is out with a harsh sigh. Suddenly, to her left she heard the soft swishing of fabric as someone approached. With her eyes still closed, she tensed as the figure stopped next to her.
"You are awake. I'm glad."
She felt a gentle pressure on her shoulder and found that the touch did not hurt, but instead felt warm. With another deep breath, the woman opened her eyes and saw the face of the being above her. Startled, she said nothing for a few seconds, could not find the words. And then she spoke in a whisper.
"How is this possible?"
Amused, the Librarian regarded Cortana with a gentle smile and motioned for her to sit up. With some effort she did and sat waiting for an answer.
"I should think that is only the least of your questions. However, I must tell you that what you are now is still impermanent. Or rather, we are not at the end stage just yet. I cannot say how long you will maintain this form before you are able to enter the final stage, so we must move quickly."
"What do you mean?"
"What is the last thing you remember?"
The Librarian asked patiently, trying to keep the woman calm. Cortana thought for a moment and closed her eyes. As she did, a faint bluish hue appeared on her skin. Data symbols glowed softly on her exposed arms and her neck. With a shocked gasp, her eyes snapped open again and she looked to the Librarian with fear plain on her face.
"I remember pain. Nothing but pain. Feeling as if I was being ripped into a thousand pieces. Ripped into a thousand fragments and then deleted. I felt hollow."
Nodding, the Librarian lifted her hand and a small floating drone appeared. Wordlessly she began to run a diagnostic on Cortana as the woman fell silent.
"You have a corporeal form. But it is not permanent. Do you remember your last conscious act before you were aware as you are now?"
Nodding, Cortana dropped her eyes and sighed softly. That last moment was the clearest of any of her memories. One of the few that she knew she could still trust, despite all of the data corruption that had riddled her systems.
"I created a localized slipspace shield and pulled Jo...The Master Chief into it to shield him from the blast that destroyed the Diadact."
The Librarian listened in silence, motioning for her to continue as the drone completed its scans. When Cortana hesitated, she placed her hand on the young woman's arm and squeezed it gently. Her eyes fixed on the hand for a long time before she looked up again.
"I wanted to be able to touch him for so long. And in those last moments I was finally able to. It was the one thing I never thought to learn or discover or decode. That one simple feeling."
"If I could offer you that chance again, would you take it? Would you go back to having a physical form and live a second life like that?"
Questioning blue eyes met ageless brown ones as Cortana searched the Librarians face for answers to unasked questions.
"It would not be without risks," she continued, "and even with all I have at my disposal there is always the chance that it will fail and that you will truly perish. Consider it carefully. But if I am able and you do reach this metastability that you should have achieved on your own, then you will be more than anyone could ever imagine. More powerful in this form than ever possible as a construct. And you will need that power for what is coming."
Cortana was in shock and listened mutely. Thousands of ideas ran through her mind, streams of data flowed and flowed as she examined every possibility. In them she felt the lingering traces of rampancy held at bay behind a thin veneer, still threatening. But most of all, one memory was at the forefront of her mind; those last few seconds with John. The feel of his armor beneath her hand and the last time he spoke to her.
"We were supposed to take care of each other."
"Does he still think of me?" She asked softly, afraid of the answer.
The Librarian regarded her again, surprised that even after everything this construct had been through it could still remember. Still, she would be honest and upfront with the both of them.
"He has been brought here to save you Cortana. You have sacrificed everything for him and he is willing to do that and more for you. Does that answer your question?"
"What is coming? What is it that we need to be prepared for?"
She hesitated just long enough for Cortana to realize that she was going to try and avoid answering the question. But a surprisingly firm grip on her forearm brought the Forerunner before her out of her thoughts. Nodding almost imperceptibly, the Librarian nodded and her features became a mask of determination.
"I'm afraid that everything you have ever known is going to come to an end. There is very little time to circumvent it and there is much to do in that time. If you are able to successfully reach metastabilty, then you and the Spartan may yet be able to prevent it. That is all I can say right now. I need to know."
Fire entered Cortanas' eyes and she slid forward off of the table. Her legs were unsteady and weak beneath her but she stayed upright. With one cautious step forward she was away from the table and firmly on her own, new, two feet.
"Take me to him. I'm ready."
X
BLAM!
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