Chapter 3: Adventure
Date: 2527
Place: UNSC School of the South Star, Earth, Antarctica
That morning Cortana and John awaited to be tested in the barren wasteland of Antarctica. After the training he went back to his stripped down to his underclothes and sat on his bed. Everything seemed lonely and quiet, and a little dreary. He grabbed the chip from his suit, and pressed the button on the back.
She popped up.
"What do you want Chief," she asked. "It's kind of late."
"I have no one to talk to, and I'm bored," he finally let out.
"Emotions need not to fill your heart, but indeed strength will fill its place," Cortana preached.
"Ok," he said glumly. He laid back into his bed.
"I feel like I have no one left, my parents have been long gone, and I have no friends to socialize with," John continued, almost breaking into tears.
"You have me," Cortana said soothingly. "I will always be your shield from others and your sword for the battle," she continued. "You can trust me with that."
"I know," he said as he placed her on the nightstand beside him.
"What do you do when you can't sleep Cortana," John questioned.
"I an AI, I can't, I'm constantly going through information about the whole Galaxy, gathering bits and pieces until there is no more. But when I do have the time I like to stargaze through the databases of stars. Even though that's all I have, I will never see a real star in my life," she concluded.
"Would… you like to," he asked quietly.
"Sure Chief," she said happily.
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John bundled up to go outside. He pulled his hood up over his face, grabbed his gloves, and took Cortana off the nightstand. He ran to the nearest elevator
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John piled a small mound of snow. He sat the chip on it and pressed the button. A small grin played across Cortana's face.
"Thank you," she said flattered, turning pink and then back again.
"Your welcome Cortana," he said quietly.
He sat down beside her while the wind began to tug at his hood.
Cortana admired the sky above, the brilliant polar auroras lay across the heavens while other smaller stars twinkled amongst them. She stared in amazement. She sat down on the chip and and smiled.
John fell asleep beside her that night, taking in the beauty of both her and the Southern Lights.
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The bitter wind whistled through John's ears the next morning. The bright morning light shone brightly while he opened his eyes.
"Sleep well," Cortana questioned.
"Yes," he said as he picked the chip out of the mound of snow. He brushed the last remaining flakes off of it and himself as he began to walk back towards the base.
Once John arrived back at his quarters he placed the chip on his bed as he began to dress in his uniform. Today was the day to recognize new members of the UNSC.
He moved the chip to his bed stand but his mind changed and put her in his back pocket.
As all the other recruits marched single file down the auditorium aisles, each of their names where shout aloud. Once the ceremony was over John immediately ran back to his quarters and began to relax an alarm began to sound.
"All new recruits, please report to the North Bay," a voice sounded over the intercom system a few times. John slowly got his armor on before he ran out to the hallway where chaos was abounding through the corridors.