A/N: Well, this is the epilogue. It has been a great run. Thank you for reading. After I post this, I will be doing some general editing, so pointing out any error for me, no matter how small, would be much appreciated. Also, if anyone knows capitalisation convention for weapons, please tell me. It would be much appreciated.

Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with Microsoft, Bungie, or 343 Industries. This is for my enjoyment and, hopefully, the enjoyment of others. I do not receive a profit.

Epilogue

Stephenson took a deep breath and adjusted his dress blues. He stepped through the sliding door onto the rear observation deck. The room was nearly empty, just an endless void of stars. The transperisteel windows would provide a stunning view of Requiem's sun in a few hours when the Infinity orbited around it, putting the rear observation deck in line with the sun. Or it would if Requiem wasn't being pulled into the sun.

The only things blocking the view were captain Lasky and Roland's glowing avatar. Stephenson opened his mouth but was cut off by Lasky. "I'm sure you're wondering why I called you here in dress blues. As of three hours ago, the last member of Fireteam Nebula went dark."

"I know. I'm sorry. I guess that I'm just not ready to lead a Fireteam."

Lasky seemed to smile a moment before responding. "That's why this burden falls on me, not Sarah. You did well. I don't think that Sarah could have told you that, even if it's true.

"Nebula wasn't the perfect fireteam, but you made them work anyway. They weren't Fireteam Crimson, but then again, no one is; only Crimson has that honour."

Thank you, but what does that have to do with your calling me here in uniform? Is this Nebula's funeral?"

A small chuckle from the otherwise formal Roland. Lasky answered. "No. Because SPARTANs don't have funerals. And because every member is marked as MIA."

"Really?"

"Yes. After Nebula had fallen off radar for half-an-hour, protocol dictated that as a non-Rouge team, they were to be declared MIA and assumed captured or killed.

"However, I did order Roland to do occasional sweeps of the area, just in case. Although he can run dozens-"

Roland's avatar grinned. "Hundreds."

Lasky threw up his hands. "Fine Roland. Although Roland can run hundreds of programs, he also as hundreds of tasks. I ordered eight minute cycles with a one minute sweep in between. Shortly after the seventh sweep, Roland's comms were suddenly filled with massive data input."

Roland took over the story, and his synthetic voice was quite soothing. "At first, the data was only white noise, like the detonation of several unstable plasma cores. There's a ninety-three percent chance that the destabilization was caused by a smaller explosion two point one four seconds before. Its identity is unknown, and we won't be able to send a team in to check it out since we are currently heading into the sun.

"Shortly after, I intercepted a large amount of Covenant chatter from the area known as Singularity. I can't make sense out of any of it. Translated, all it discusses is biblical references. Adam and Eve, exodus, demons going to hell to regroup, even a bit about the Roman god Janus. As near as I can tell, the Librarian is Eve, but beyond that, even a super-advanced calculator like myself is stymied. Maybe if I had . . ."

Lasky interrupted Roland's ramblings. "One data stream that he was able to crack was a message from SPARTAN Pearlman.

"Roland, play the tape."

"Will do, boss." Roland's holographic fingers made an audible snap and a tinny female voice began to play through the speakers. Stephenson recognised it as Pearlman's.

Log of Voice Recording sent to Infinity at 16:52:34 Arbitrary Ship Time

SPARTAN 1089: Infinity, this is Pearlman. I am the last of us. Brady went MIA shortly before we blew up an asteroid. Reynolds fell off a cliff, but might have survived. Quin went into space grappling with an Elite. He might have survived, so Niven disappeared when she began to look for him. Kahn . . . I couldn't find Kahn in the wreckage of the cloaking spire.

SPARTAN 1089: But I did find Halsey. I wade through an army to meet her, but I do not expect to return. Still, sing me no requiem, for dying is not part of the job. I still live, but you won't find me. I go to find the rest of Nebula and you won't find them either.

Unknown [Translated from Covenant Dialect]: Ashes to ashes, demon! We shall strip your title from you and watch as you are cast into the deepest pits of your own hell! You shall be cleansed, nay, purged!

SPARTAN 1089: Shut it! You broke my planet. Now, I break you. And then I'll start you on your Great Journey.

various sounds, notably gunfire

End of Log

A/N: And thus ends my first ever story. I will be editing it, so help pointing out errors is appreciated. In that vein, which of the main characters seems most Mary Sueish and why? I would appreciate answers so that I can work on the character(s).

Thank you.

Now that this is over, I will be updating 'Drifting By and By', so check that out.