CHAPTER FOUR
T. Lasky
Infinity
"Captain Lasky. We'll be exiting slipspace in a few minutes. I sent a response on the same channel we received the Chief's message on, but I haven't gotten an answer yet." Roland said.
Lasky sighed. "That's fine, Roland. Let's just hope they get it before we get to Sanghelios."
"Let's hope, Captain."
Lasky rubbed his forehead. He was tired. Tired, yet relieved. His crew was fine. The Chief and those with him were safe from Cortana, for the moment. All that was left was to get them on board the Infinity and head to wherever Chief thought was best for them to go. He hoped the Chief had a plan.
"Exiting slipspace Captain. We're here."
Lasky sat straight up. "Try the channel one more time."
"Of course, Captain." Roland responded.
"Infinity, is that you?" Palmer's voice came out of the console.
"Sarah! Yes, it is!" Lasky almost shouted.
"Tom! I'm so glad to hear your voice. You have no idea. Are you and your crew safe and sound?"
"Yes, we are. We're not sure for how long though. How long until you all are on board?"
"About thirty seconds. As soon as we dock, head for Reach."
Lasky blinked. "Reach?"
"Yes, Reach. Don't question it, just go. We'll explain later."
"Will do.
"Thanks. Palmer out.
Lasky strode to the door of the bridge. "You heard her, Roland. Take us to reach. I'm heading down to meet them."
Lasky stood in the dock and watched as the group exited the Pelican. All the people he had hoped to see were there: Blue Team, Fireteam Osiris, Dr. Halsey, Palmer and even The Arbiter.
"Arbiter. I didn't expect to see you here. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad you've come along, but I didn't expect it." Lasky approached The Arbiter.
"I serve my homeworld most effectively by assisting those who have the best chance of saving the galaxy." The Arbiter said, by way of explanation. It was most likely the only explanation that he was going to offer.
Lasky nodded. "Seems logical." He wouldn't question the Arbiter further, especially since he had a suspicion that the Arbiter wasn't particularly fond of sitting around on a planet when he could be out doing something useful. He wasn't the kind of individual to stay behind when he could potentially help. Lasky then turned to the one person he'd been most hoping to address. "Chief. Good to see you too."
"Likewise, Sir."
"Please don't call me sir, Chief."
"My apologies, Captain."
Lasky shook his head. "That'll have to do, I guess."
"Are we enroute to Reach, Tom?" Palmer asked.
"Yes. Roland's getting us there now."
"Are you sure about him?" Locke asked suspiciously, stepping forward. "He's an AI. One of the very few that decided not to join Cortana. What's to stop him from deciding he wants in on her plan?"
"Well, delusions of grandeur aren't really Roland's thing. He assures me he's wary of Cortana's plan and her methods and I believe him. He's yet to show any inclination other than being as scared shitless of her as the rest of us are." Lasky assured Locke.
"Pardon me if I don't share your reassurance." Locke said.
"Wouldn't expect you to." Lasky turned back to the Chief. "Why, exactly, are we going to Reach?"
Dr. Halsey stepped forward. "It was my idea. My associate that I contacted may have someone who is able to help us. She is located at the Medical Facility Endurance. Once we arrive at Reach, we will take the Pelican to Endurance and meet my associate there. After that, your ship may resume your routine of random slipspace jumps. That has seeemed to work well so far in avoiding Cortana."
"If it's all the same to you, I'd like to accompany you to Endurance. Whether I'm on the Infinity or not makes no difference, even if Cortana eventually catches up to it." Lasky told her.
Dr. Halsey looked at him. "I have no issue with you accompanying us."
"I was going to suggest that. Took the words out of my mouth, Tom." Palmer said, with a half smile.
"You have any issue with me tagging along?" Lasky asked Chief.
"Not at all." Chief said.
"Then that's settled." Lasky nodded.
"Captain?"
"Yes, Roland?" Lasky called out.
"We're nearing the Pelican drop point at Reach. Will you be coming back to the bridge?"
"No, Roland. I'm leaving with them. Once we're gone, start up the random slipspace jumps. Keep the Infinity and her crew away from Cortana. Can you handle that?" Lasky asked.
Roland chuckled. "Of course, Captain. I'm very much eager to keep the Infinity and everyone on board well away from her. Especially myself."
Lasky smiled. "Good. Thanks, Roland. And good luck."
"Guess we should all get back in the Pelican, then." Chief said. "Let's go."
Blue Team, Fireteam Osiris, Palmer, Dr. Halsey, The Arbiter and Captain Lasky all boarded the Pelican.
Lasky wondered to himself why everyone kept looking at each other as if they knew something he didn't. And why did everyone look so much more tense than they normally would? A threat of galactic proportions wasn't anything particularly new to this group, but something had them on edge. And the fact that something put this group of the galaxy's most fearless heroes on edge was something that put him on edge himself.
As everyone boarded the Pelican, Lasky followed Palmer to the pilot's seat, where she sat ready to fly the Pelican off of the Infinity to Reach. "Sarah. Care to tell me what's going on?" He asked his friend softly.
Palmer glanced at him, then back out the front window of the Pelican. "You know what's going on. Cortana, heading to Reach, the universe in danger, etc."
Lasky gave her a look. "Yes. I know about that part. But what I don't know is the reason everyone looks like they'd rather surrender to Cortana than do whatever it is we're about to do."
Palmer threw a glance towards the rest of the group, then looked him in the eyes. "Tom, the reason we're going to Reach is to find someone on the Endurance. Someone who can help us."
Lasky frowned. "But wasn't Endurance shut down after the Spartan II program?"
Palmer shook her head. "Apparently not, according to Dr. Halsey. For the last ten years they've been a fully functioning experimental facility. The facility and it's current program is headed by a colleague of Dr. Halsey's that worked with her on the Spartan II program."
Lasky looked at her suspiciously. "Go on."
Palmer sighed. "You're not going to like it."
"Regardless of whether or not I like it, it's better than not knowing."
Palmer looked away and then looked back at him. "They've been conducting human experimentation. I'm not sure what kind, and no one knows what really went on there. Still is going on there, I guess. Dr. Halsey wasn't very specific with us, but it sounds like they're making humans into fully functioning AI's. And apparently no one knows if the project was a success or not. But it's the only option we have right now."
"It's not right." Lasky shook his head.
Palmer looked at him. "As disgusting as it sounds, we have to hope the experiment was a success, because if it wasn't? We may as well give up."
The door to the Infinity's hangar started to open. "Now, Roland?" Palmer said into the comm unit, turning away from Lasky.
"Now."
Palmer punched the throttle on the Pelican, taking it out of the hangar. "I know you don't like it, Tom. Neither do I."
"But we don't have much of a choice, do we?" Lasky asked quietly.
Palmer just shook her head.
John 117
Pelican
John held on as the Pelican surged out of the Infinity's hangar. They were on their own from this point on. Whatever they found at Endurance would be the only help they would have, and they couldn't even depend on that. It wasn't a very reassuring prospect.
An even less reassuring prospect was that he couldn't think of a single way to stop Cortana without destroying her. He'd already tried to reason with her. And he'd failed. If anyone could've convinced her to stop her plan, it would've been him. But he hadn't been able to convince her. She hadn't even cared what he'd had to say.
He knew she still cared for him, though. She'd knows he would try to stop her, and she could've killed him. But she didn't. Yes, she'd tried to incapacitate him, but at least she hadn't tried to kill him.
Still, she'd put him back in a place that he'd never wanted to be, ever again. A place where he had to choose between saving the universe and keeping someone he cared about. He didn't think he could ever forgive her for putting him back in that place again.
He was jolted out of his own thoughts by Palmer's call that they'd arrived. They'd landed at Endurance. It was time to find out who they had on their side.
The group exited the Pelican and surveyed their surroundings carefully. The Endurance showed not a single sign of life. The facility was dark, quiet. Nothing moved. Nothing breathed, save the group that had just exited the Pelican. This isn't good. John thought to himself.
"I thought you said this facility was operational?" Locke demanded, whirling on Dr. Halsey.
Dr. Halsey simply looked at him. "I know nothing more than you do."
John stepped forward. "Let's just go inside and see what we find." He started towards one of the doors, when movement in the corner of his eye caught his attention. He turned quickly, seeing what looked like the sillhouette of a person drifting by one of the dark windows of the facility.
Locke turned to see what he was looking at, but the figure was gone. "You see something, Spartan?" He asked, looking at John.
"Yes. Not sure what, though. Let's just keep moving."
The group moved forward towards the entrance. The door was sealed shut. Kelly attempted to activate the door, but it didn't seem to be working.
"Now what?" Locke asked, looking at John.
"I'm not sure." He answered truthfully.
The group stood and waited, everyone trying to think of a way to enter the facility to investigate it. The Arbiter was apparently tired of mulling about and decided to take more aggressive measures to gain access to the facility. He approached the door and slammed his fist into it three times, denting the door slightly.
"I guess that's one way to knock." Buck said wryly.
The air locks on the door suddenly hissed, and the group jumped at the sudden noise. They stared, tense, as the door started to slide back.
The sliding door revealed a slight young woman, no older than eighteen, with long red hair that cascaded over her shoulders and down to her ribcage. Her large, expressive green eyes showed equal parts of confusion and suspicion. "Can I...can I help you?" She asked, her luscious mouth turning downwards into a frown.
John blinked. He'd been expecting anything, really, than the beautiful young woman. He was much more used to being greeted by bullets, or explosions, or religious extremists. Beautiful unarmed women were almost more unnerving.
The rest of the group was apparently shocked into silence as well. John figured that the lack of bullets was just as unnerving to them too.
The Arbiter seemed to recover first, as he stepped forward, which caused the young woman to step back. John felt some slight sympathy. She was probably seeing an alien for the first time. And as far as aliens went, The Arbiter was one of the most terrifying aliens to look at. Especially in his armor. But then, the rest of the group wasn't any less terrifying to look at, considering there were eight Spartans in full armor among the group as well.
"We have come to speak with an associate of Dr. Halsey's. We require assistance, and were informed of her presence here." The Arbiter told her, attempting to assume a less imposing posture and failing miserably.
The young woman eyed him, visibly uncomfortable.
Then Dr. Halsey stepped forward. "I am Dr. Halsey, child. We need to speak to Dr. Dyer. Is she here?"
"Yes, of course!" The young woman shook her head, as if trying to shake herself out of a daydream. "Dr. Halsey. Yes. Dr. Dyer has mentioned you." She shook her head again. "I'm so sorry I didn't recognize you. I was..." She threw a look over to The Arbiter. "...distracted."
John fought off amusement. Distracted, indeed. Few things were more distracting than a group of strangers showing up unannounced, in full combat armor, led by a massive mandibled alien warrior pounding on your door.
The young woman surveyed the group once more. "Um, yes. If you'll all follow me, please?" She turned to walk down the long, dark corridor, her posture stiff.
John turned to look at Kelly. She was already looking at him. "Let's go." He said. He wasn't sure what they'd find, but he didn't think they could be in too much danger if an young and unarmed girl showed up to answer the door.
John followed the young girl, and decided to ask the question that had been in his mind from the moment she opened the door to the facility. "Who are you?"
The girl turned slightly. "I'm called Eridanus. Who are you?"
John frowned, thankful she couldn't see his facial expression under his helmet. "You're called Eridanus? That's not your name?"
She turned back a bit farther to give him an amused look. "That's what I've been called for the last ten years. It's not my real name, but it might as well be. I'm sure you have something similar that people call you, that isn't your real name, but you always respond to it and you think of yourself as that. I believe it's called a 'nickname' in casual conversation."
John smiled, amused. "I'm called Master Chief."
Eridanus gave a half smirk. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Master Chief."
"Likewise, Eridanus."
Eridanus cast a glance towards the rest of the group. "Who are all of you, if I may ask?"
"We'll make official introductions once you take us to who we need." Locke snapped, clearly not in the mood for pleasantries.
"Fair enough." Eridanus replied, unruffled. She seemed to have collected herself. Once she had herself collected, she seemed to be unshakeable.
The group turned down another dark corrider, and John saw a dim, greenish light up ahead, and could hear some voices, but couldn't make out what was being said. He held up his hand, and the group immediately stopped.
Eridanus turned around to see the group stopped cold. "Is something wrong?" She asked, looking at him, frowning.
"Who is that up ahead?" He demanded.
She broke out into a smile, revealing perfectly straight white teeth. "Oh, that's my brother and my sister, trying to repair that section of the facility. We're in the process of fixing it, but it keeps getting destroyed." She shook her head and looked off into the distance.
John was instantly supsicious. "How does the facility keep getting destroyed?" He asked, warily.
Eridanus's eyes trailed off into a distant stare. A stare that meant she would not be giving him a straight answer to his question. "Oh, things happen. I'm sure you understand." She then smiled warmly again, making eye contact with him, through his helmet. He found the gesture almost unnerving. "Let me introduce you to my siblings, if you'd like. They're wonderful people."
"I'd like that." Lasky stepped forward and smiled. "Thank you for the kind offer."
John smirked under his helmet. He'd wondered when Lasky would tire of the tension.
Lasky and Eridanus took up the head of the group and they all approached the dimly lit area of the corridor.
When they rounded the corner, the two individuals immediately turned on them.
"Whoa!" Was the exclamation from a tall, dark haired man who looked to be about twenty three. He was good looking, with blue eyes and low brow bone that gave him the appearance of brooding. He was obviously physically fit, but not in the bulky way that the Spartans were. It was more of a lithe fitness that a body meant for speed would have. He stood up and took a step back, his posture becoming rigid, as if anticipating a threat. Then, he saw Eridanus leading the group, frowned slightly at her, but visibly relaxed. "Hey, Eri. Uh..." He waved a hand at John and his companions. "What's with the crowd?"
The woman with him was about the same age, with black hair that was shaved on the sides and the back. Her hair was wavy, and made fully, wavy line from the top right side of her head, back over and down to the back left side of her head. Her eyes were the same color as the man's, but seemed to be sharper, somehow. She was only slightly shorter than the him, but seemed to be more muscular. She seemed less startled by their presence, but far more hostile. She was equally attractive to Eridanus, but the hostility and hardness radiating from her took away from that considerably. "Eridanus." She spoke sharply. "Who in the hell are all these people, and kindly explain to me why you decided it was a good idea to let them in?"
Eridanus shrank back a bit. John noticed that. Clearly, she was afraid of provoking the wrath of the other woman. "Kuiper, it's Dr. Halsey. Dr. Halsey and her...people."
The woman, who was apparently called Kuiper, eyed Eridanus and then the group. "Dr. Halsey, hm?" She apparently picked Halsey out of the crowd, and slowly swaggered towards her. John tensed. Her posture was threatening, and much as he disliked Halsey, he'd be damned if anyone in the group got mauled by a someone with a haircut like that. He stepped forward.
The woman stopped and looked at him, with a smirk. She held her hand out. "Whoa there, sweetheart. I'm not going to hurt her. I'd just like to get a good look at the inspiration for our own good doctor's decision to turn us into living horrors, that's all."
John stepped back and inclined his head. He didn't trust her, that was for sure, but he sure as hell was amused at her statement.
"Kuiper, anytime you'd like to stop being an ass, we'd all appreciate it." The young man went back to carefully putting two wires together on a piece of equipment, rolling his eyes as he did.
Kuiper threw a look back to him. "Shut up, Tiberius. I don't remember asking for your opinion."
The young man, apparently called Tiberius, just shook his head.
Eridanus rolled her eyes as well and stepped up to Kuiper. "If you're done, I'd like to get them to Dr. Dyer. It feels urgent."
Kuiper looked over the group. "Why did you come here? For shits and giggles? Entertainment? What's your reason."
Locke was apparently done with her attitude, and stepped right up to her and leaned down slightly into her face. "We're here because an AI decided to take Forerunner technology, become immortal, and convince an entire galaxy of AI's to help her implement a plan to enforce peace in the galaxy at the cost of killing anyone who disagrees, and we're the group of people that most strongly disagress, which means that we could end up killed. And we're not about to end up killed. That's why we're here. We need some help, if that's okay with you."
Kuiper's smirk became a full fledged grin, and she looked at the rest of the group, gesturing at Locke. "He's got some spunk, doesn't he? Why didn't anyone just say so?" She looked at Eridanus. "Lead them on, ginger." Then she turned back to Locke, and inched closer so that their faces were almost touching. "Get the fuck out of my face, spitfire." She said softly.
Locke's face twitched. John wasn't sure if it was amusement or anger. He had his answer when Locke held up his hands and stepped back.
"Can we get going?" Kelly asked. "Wasting time is a luxury we can't afford."
Eridanus motioned for the group to follow her, and they started down the corridor again.
"Eridanus!" It was the young man, Tiberius, that called out to her.
Eridanus turned around to look back at him. John did too. Tiberius looked at Eridanus with a steady gaze. "Are they here for her?" He asked.
Eridanus bit her lip and looked down at the ground for a long moment. "I don't know, Ti. I really don't know."
Tiberius looked at her, and John detected a faint amount of pain in his eyes. He didn't know who they were talking about and he didn't like not knowing.
Kuiper threw back her head and laughed. "I thought they were trying to save everyone from crazy, not victimize them with it!"
Eridanus looked up with a pained expression contorting her beautiful face. "Kuiper...please don't." She said, softly, as Kuiper kept laughing.
John couldn't stop himself from gently touching her arm. She turned her green eyes back to him. He wished for a minute he could see his sympathetic expression.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Palmer demanded, looking from Eridanus to Kuiper.
Kuiper stopped laughing and shook her head in disgust. "I'm saying you better hope to whatever god you believe in that your last hope in the universe isn't who I think it is."
Tiberius slammed his fist on the console he was working on. "Goddamn it, Kuiper."
"No, fuck you!" Kuiper turned on him. "You know I'm right. You fucking know I'm right. If they wan't someone to help them save the fucking galaxy, she's the last person they want to depend on! The last person, Tiberius!"
"Kuiper." Eridanus's voice was cold, sharp. "Please refrain from making our guests uncomfortable."
Kuiper turned away from Tiberius's face, where she had just moments before been screaming, and looked at Eridanus, her face becoming hardened and cold. She put her hands up in a gesture of apology. "My bad, ginger. Go on." She waved her hand.
"Thank you." Eridanus said, her voice as cold as Kuiper's expression. "Please, follow me."
"Eridanus." John said, sharply. "What was she talking about?"
Eridanus looked up at him, and bit her lip again. "I can't say."
"Why not?" Kelly demanded.
"I just can't. I'm not in charge here, Dr. Dyer is. You find out whatever it is she wants you to knowS." Eridanus looked stressed and pained.
John touched her shoulder. "That's fine. Take us to Dr. Dyer."
He heard Dr. Halsey mutter from behind him. "I knew the program couldn't have been that much of a success."
For the first time, John felt a knot of nervousness forming in the pit of his stomach from a situatio that wasn't combat related. Their last hope didn't seem very promising.
John and his cohorts followed Eridanus into a large room lined with computers, medical equipment, data logs, and other standard scientific research equipment. A woman, who appeared to be about forty five, with a sheet of shoulder length brown hair, was bent over a computer monitor.
"Dr. Dyer." Dr. Halsey called out as they approached her.
The woman looked up, surprise crossing her face. "Dr. Halsey. Out of all the faces I expected to see here, yours was the last."
Dr. Halsey frowned. "Why do you say that?"
Chuckling softly, Dr. Dyer crossed her arms. "You've got an AI of yours running amok, using Forerunner technology to stake ownership over the galaxy itself. I thought you'd be in hiding, considering said AI most likely has some less than fond feelings for you."
"That's fair." Dr. Halsey said thoughtfully. "So you're aware of the issue at hand?"
"I am. I am taking the necessary precautions should your AI come knocking on our door, taking the necessary precautions to assume my subjects and I are safe and able to combate the threat."
"Subjects?" Palmer practically snarled, taking a slight step forward.
John saw Lasky put a hand on her arm.
Dr. Dyer looked steadily at her. "Feel however you want about my words. We don't stand on pretense here. They know they are test subjects, and I know they are test subjects. Why sugar coat it?"
John put his hand on Palmer's forearm, knowing how irritated she was. Human experimentation was a soft spot for her, as it was for him. She inclined her head towards him slightly, letting him know that she was fine. In case she wasn't fine, both he and Lasky were in prime position to restrain her, if necessary.
"You have clearly met Eridanus, but am I correct in assuming you have also met my two subjects in the corridor?" Dr. Dyer asked.
"Yes." Locke spoke up. "It was all around a pleasant experience." He said sarcastically.
"This facility tests their abilities, it doesn't teach them social graces." Dr. Dyer responded.
Locke considered this for a moment. "Fair enough."
"What, exactly, are the details of your experiment? You seem confident that your...subjects...can keep this facility protected. Why is that? What about your project gives you that confidence?" Dr. Halsey inquired. "And furthermore, can one of your-" She hesitated on the word. She didn't seem to be thrilled about using it, especially in front of Palmer, who she kept glancing at. "-subjects...be of help to us in eliminating Cortana as a threat?"
Dr. Dyer held up her hand. "Let me start with answering your first question. The details of my experiments are simple: take a computer chip and implant it into the brain stem of a subject with a high enough brain capacity to be able to use said chip to convert brain waves to radio waves to use the human brain to be able to assume the full functionality of an AI. Since the human brain is what is used, there is no risk of rampancy. The human brain is designed to think, and it is nearly impossible for the human brain to think itself into insanity. That is what my project has been about."
Dr. Halsey was incredulous. "Is that even possible?"
"It's more than possible, Dr. Halsey. It has been done. I have done it. I have a subject who is Cortana's equal." Dr. Dyer spread her hands wide. "I have done what was considered impossible. I have created the future. Once my methods are made public, the need for Artificial Intelligence will be over. There will be no risk of what happened with your AI ever again."
John's spine prickled with annoyance. He took a breath and tried to remain collected, telling himself that Dr. Dyer didn't know Cortana the way he did. He also didn't appreciate Dr. Dyer's arrogance and assumption that whatever she had done was a gift to humanity, when she had most likely actively done harm to those she had carelessly experimented on.
"Incredible." Dr. Halsey murmured.
"You said you only have one subject with the capacity to perform AI functions the way Cortana does." Lasky stepped forward. "Why only one subject?"
Dr. Dyer turned a cold gaze onto Lasky. "Because there was one variable we didn't foresee. The human brain has a very strong survial instinct. In order to gain the ability to use the conversion chip the way it was designed to be used, a subject has to ignore the brain's innate survival instinct. So far only one of my subjects has achieved that."
John turned slightly, noticing Eridanus's slightly embarassed face. Her embarassment indicated she wasn't the subject. "A strong instinct for survival is nothing to be ashamed of." He said quietly. She turned and looked at him, her large green eyes holding an emotion he couldn't quite identify. "I know." She said softly. "But it doesn't make me feel like any less of a failure."
John gently put his hand on her shoulder. "You were made to be human, not an AI. You're not a failure. You're something incredible."
She continuded to look at him, and bit her lip.
"You've seen what success looks like. If that's the price to pay for success, I'll take being a failure." A deep voice spoke from behind John. He turned, and saw a large, muscled, bearded man. The man was almost as tall as he was, and easily as solidly built.
"They just keep multiplying." Buck muttered under his breath. Tanaka elbowed him.
"Fortunately for you, it's just us failures that keep multiplying." The large man winked at Buck. Buck looked rather impressed at the witty retort.
"It's a manlier version of Buck." Vale murmured to Tanaka, who coughed in an attempt to cover up a laugh. Buck shot both of them a dirty look.
"I like to think I'm a manlier version than most people." The bearded man quipped. "Maximillian. Pleasure to make your acquaintance." He nodded at the group. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go make sure Kuiper and Tiberius aren't killing each other." He strode past the group and towards the door, giving Thel Vadam a friendly slap on the shoulder, as if they'd been close for years, before walking out. Thel Vadam looked mystified and looked at Frederic, who was next to him, for help.
"It's a human thing. A sign of good will." Frederic told him.
Thel Vadam seemed to accept this, but still looked confused. John himself was highly amused that the large bearded man had slapped an Elite on the shoulder without any hesitation or show of caution.
Kelly stepped forward towards Dr. Dyer. "What did he mean by 'the price of success?' Why do all of your people-"
"Subjects." Dr. Dyer interrupted her, looking down at a console.
"-people-" Kelly gritted her teeth as she spoke. "-keep talking about your one successful person as if she's as insane as Cortana?"
Dr. Dyer looked up and sighed. "A reduced survival instinct generally manifests itself as risk taking behavior. An individual who is willing to engage in risk taking behavior, dangerous behavior, repeatedly, without a thought towards prior consequences, is the ideal to access the full potential of the computer implant. My successful subject possessed such a disposition for risk taking behavior. The subject was intelligent. Extremely intelligent. The subject appeared to have incredible control over their emotions-virtually no frustration when learning how to use the chip. Completely unconcerned when one of the other subjects was unable to maintain control over their automated bodily functions and fell to the floor not breathing." Dr. Dyer laughed bitterly. "If only I'd seen it."
"Seen what?" Dr. Halsey demanded.
Dr. Dyer pressed a hand against her mouth and stared at the floor. "If only I'd seen the signs sooner." She said quietly.
She then looked up at the group. "High intelligence. Risk taking behavior. Doesn't learn from previous mistakes. Shallow emotions. Lack of concern for others. Those traits are associated with a particular type of personality we didn't think to test for."
"What type of personality?"
Dr. Dyer stared at Dr. Halsey. "A type of personality who should never be gifted with this ability. A type of personality that would never use this technology for the good of humanity, only for themselves. A type of personality that would use this technology to cripple planets on a whim." Dr. Halsey looked down at the ground again. "And we didn't think to test for it."
"Test for what?" Locke almost shouted, clearly frustrated with Dr. Dyer's long winded confession.
"Antisocial Personality Disorder." Dr. Dyer said, in a voice full of regret.
Dr. Halsey's eyes widened in shock and she stepped back. "You didn't have your subjects undergo any psychological testing?"
"No. We didn't anticipate a success. We didn't even anticipate any of them to survive. So we got carried away with our experimentation...and didn't think about the impacts of what we were doing...we got so caught up in the research."
Everyone else simply stood there, looking confused.
"Anti personal what?" Buck whispered to Vale. "What the hell is that?"
Vale just gave him a shrug and a look that included a furrowed brow of confusion.
"I cannot believe you would do that." Dr. Halsey spoke harshly. "I cannot believe you would get so caught up in the research that you would ignore the mental health and stability of your test subjects. You should never let yourself become so caught up in the scientific aspects of your research that you neglect to think of your subjects."
"How ironic, coming from you." Kelly said, with a bit of an attitude, staring down Dr. Halsey.
Dr. Halsey looked indignant and then furious and opened her mouth to say something, and John knew that whatever followed couldn't be any good, so he stepped between the two of them and addressed Dr. Dyer. "None of that matters."
"It matters." Dr. Halsey said, still glaring at Kelly, but backing down. John knew that Kelly's offhand remark had cut her deeply, and he wished Kelly hadn't said anything. He knew that Dr. Halsey harbored a deep guilt for what she had done with the Spartan program, a guilt she would carry with her to her grave.
"I'm sorry- I'm not a scientist of any kind, so I'm not sure what, exactly, this disorder is that you're referring to."
It was Lasky who spoke. He stood with his arms folded, a slight squint to his eyes, an expression that was less one of confusion and more one of suspicion."
Dr. Dyer hesitated. "It is a personality disorder that is exactly as I described. It also entails a...well, a lack of empathy. A lack of guilt. A lack of adherence to social rules and orders. Manipulation, lying. That sort of thing."
Dr. Halsey gave a hollow laugh. "What she means is that Antisocial Personality Disorder is a clinical term for sociopathy. Because that is what her successful subject is: a sociopath."
"I suddenly understand why the scary woman with the terrible haircut asked if we wanted to save everyone from crazy or victimize them with it." Buck mumbled.
"I am now much more wary of this plan than I was. And I have been wary from the beginning." The Arbiter said to Buck.
"That makes three of us who aren't thrilled with this plan now." Lasky muttered.
Dr. Dyer gave the ceiling a frustrated look. "She is capable of doing what you need her to. She just...may need a bit of persuading." She looked back at the group. "Some sort of offer that will entice her to do what you need her to."
"An offer?" Locke planted his feet and folded his arms, eyeing Dr. Dyer. "We're supposed to make her an offer she can't refuse to help us? Do you think offering her a chance to literally save the galaxy is a good enough of an offer?"
Dr. Dyer shook her head. "I doubt it. You haven't met her. I have known her for years. She will need something more...beneficial. Something she wants in return for her help." Dr. Dyer waved a hand. "I'm sure you'll think of something." She approached a small console and typed in a code. A drawer in the console opened, and she pulled a small lockbox out of the drawer. She retrieved a set of metal objects on a ring from the lockbox. From there, she quickly typed another passcode into the console before turning back to the group.
"Are those...keys?" Palmer asked, incredulously.
"Yes. She has full AI function. The only thing we can do is isolate her from technology to keep her contained." Dr. Dyer replied.
The group all seemed to hesitate to follow her. John was embarassed that he hesitated as well, but he'd had about all he could take of AI gone mad.
Frederic stepped forward towards the door the numeric passcode had opened. "I don't know about you all, but I'm far more wary of the AI threat we know about rather than one that can be placated with a solid offer of personal gain." He jerked his head towards the door. "After you, Arbiter. Maybe your ability to stun people into momentary hesitation will prove useful."
John was glad his helmet made his amusement impossible to observe.
Dr. Dyer stepped through the door and into a corridor that was made entirely of stone. "If you'll come with me. Remember that I warned you, though."
Dr. Dyer approached a large metal door secured with a padlock and began searching rifling through her key ring. She tried one key, then a second key in the door. The second key worked.
The group followed her through the door and John saw two armed guards standing just inside.
"You kill your psychopaths if they try to escape?" Buck asked.
"No, those rifles are equipped with electrical pulse rounds that will temporarily render the subject unable to move." Dr. Dyer shook her head. "I would never intentionally rid myself of my only successful subject."
"How noble." Locke said sarcastically.
The guards were eyeing the Arbiter, clearly unnerved. The Arbiter walked up to one guard and slapped him on the shoulder. The guard fell forward onto his knees, gasping, the wind clearly knocked out of him.
Frederic tilted his head back and closesd his eyes. Palmer choked on a laugh.
"A gesture of good will." The Arbiter said, throwing a glance at Frederic.
Frederic, eyes still closed, took a deep breath and shook his head slightly.
Dr. Dyer's mouth twitched as she turned back around and approached what looked like a prison cell. She started rifling through her key set once more.
"Is that the sound of keys I hear?" A low, smooth, monotone voice called out from the cell. The tone was unsettling, almost pleasant, but not quite.
Dr. Dyer squared her shoulders as she held up the key to the lock. "Yes. We have visitors. Please behave yourself."
A quiet, vaguely condescending laugh came from the cell. "But of course, Doctor."
Dr. Dyer unlocked the door, and motioned for the Arbiter to step forward. He flung the cell door open.
A young woman, who seemed only a few years older than Eridanus, with grey hair, blue eyes, a lithe frame, and a scar running from her left brow bown to just under her left eye slowly stretched her legs and stood up from the cot she had been sitting on. She wasn't exactly pretty, but would never be described as plain. She leisurely walked towards the door, giving the Arbiter a once-over as she passed by him, brushing his shoulder slightly with hers. She gave him a smirk. "Hey there, big guy." Her tone was patronizing, as if talking to a small child.
If he hadn't seen the Elite standing in front of her himself, John would never have believed she was talking to an eight foot tall alien with mandibles.
She sauntered the length of the group, looking each individual up and down with a cold and thorough gaze. Then she languidly walked back the way she came, examining each member more closely.
"Well, aren't you all a stiff looking group." She broke out into a smile, a smile of warmth and slight teasing. "What's got you all so on edge?"
Her statement broke the tension. Kelly exhaled slowly. Frederic shifted slightly. Locke looked irriatated, Palmer intrigued, the Arbiter walked out of the cell looking very calm and composed, as he always did. John didn't react. Lasky stared.
"Well, for one they kept saying you were a psychopath with superhuman tech abilities." Buck raised his eyebrows. "That made us a little nervous. I'm sure you understand."
"Of course. I'd be frightened to meet a psychopath, too." The girl said, throwing a grin at Buck, who hesitantly smiled back.
Dr. Dyer cleared her throat. "Ladies and Gentlemen..." She trailed off and glanced at Thel Vadam. "...esteemed guest...Allow me to introduce you to the crowning achievement of my project, Andromeda." She practically spat out the name.
Andromeda smiled. "Oh, Doctor, I think I detect a small amount of sarcasm in your tone." She turned to the group once again. "It's a pleasure to meet you all. " She folded her arms across her chest. "What could possibly have made you desperate enough come here to this wasteland of a planet and ask the bane of Dr. Dyer's existence for help?"
"Long story short, an AI created by Dr. Halsey here decided to take Forerunner technology, become immortal, and convince an entire galaxy of AI's to help her implement a plan to enforce in the galaxy at the cost of killing anyone who opposes her using the Forerunner Guardians." John said, stepping towards her. And making sure I stay out of her way, as I'm less important to her than what she's doing.
Andromeda held up her hand. "I don't want the 'long story short', I want the full story. This sounds too complicated for a poorly explained summary." She gestured towards the corridor. "Shall we take this somewhere more comfortable to talk?"
"Please, lead the way. I too would like to hear the details of what happened as I am still mostly in the dark." The Arbiter spoke, coming up right behind her.
As they exited Andromeda's prison, because John knew that was exactly what it was, a prison, he noticed that Kuiper, Tiberius and Maximilian had returned and were standing with Eridanus. Tiberius was leaning on a computer console looking tense. Eridanus seemed nervous, Kuiper was angry. Does she even have any emotional state other than that? John wondered.
Maximilian had his arms folded and looked serious, but still casual and relaxed. Their conversation was quiet, strained. They stopped talking abruptly as the group entered the main room, and they turned. The color drained from Eridanus's face, and Kuiper's lip curled. Maximilian's facial expression did not change. Tiberius looked relieved, and somewhat happy to see the group.
"Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in and barfed up." Kuiper muttered, shaking her head and staring at Andromeda, a sneer on her face and a strange light in her eyes.
"Kuiper, I've missed you, the human equivalent of constipation." Andromeda said breezily, smiling back at her.
Kuiper's face contorted and she started towards Andromeda. "You little bitch, I'll fuck up your other eye too, if you-" Her sentence was cut off into enraged grunts as both Maximilian and Tiberius quickly grabbed her by her arms to restrain her.
Rolling her eyes, Andromeda scoffed. "You couldn't even manage to fuck up my eye on the first try, what makes you think a second attempt will do anything?"
Kuiper struggled against the near chokehold Maximilian and Tiberius had on her.
"Kuiper, enough." Tiberius grunted. "Andromeda, stop picking a fight. We talked about this."
Andromeda sighed, sounding disappointed. "We did, didn't we?"
John narrowed his eyes at Tiberius, who was still struggling to hold back Kuiper with the aid of Maximilian.
"Yes, we did." Tiberius said, through gritted teeth. "And I'd appreciate it if you'd hold to the part of the conversation where you said you'd try and get along with everyone."
Andromeda simply sighed again, and threw a look to the ceiling.
It began to become apparent to John that Tiberius could be a very valuable asset to them in order to get what they needed from Andromeda.
"For once, could you just go a twenty four hour period without threats of violence?" Maximilian growled at Kuiper, a vein popping out on his forehead.
"Control yourself, Kuiper." With a glare directed at Kuiper, Dr. Dyer motioned for Andromeda to enter a conference room to the right of her fellow subjects.
Andromeda acquiesced, clearly wanting to goad Kuiper a bit more, but recognizing that it would only serve to delay an important meeting, as well as irritate Tiberius, whom she threw a glance at before entering the conference room.
The group entered the conference room, as Kuiper, who had been banished to a computer console to monitor the facility and the surrounding planetary surface for any threats, stared daggers at Andromeda.
They all sat and John looked around the room at those with him.
Dr. Halsey. Kelly. Frederic. Linda. Thel Vadam. Locke. Buck. Tanaka. Palmer. Vale. Andromeda. Dr. Dyer. Lasky. All of them willing to risk their lives in defense of the galaxy.
He stood up. "Some of you already know the events that occurred these past few days." Had it only been days? It felt like months. Years. Maybe time went faster when you'd been hurt by someone you cared for. "But for those of you who don't, here's what happened."
T. Lasky
Endurance
Lasky sat and listened to Chief recount the last few days and what Cortana had done. He'd always had a deep admiration for the Chief. In fact, Chief was one of the few people in this world he felt confident putting his trust in, someone he felt confident in considering a hero. He'd felt this way about the Chief ever since the battle of Circinius IV, when Chief had arrived just in time to save him and the surviving members of Hastati squad. Lasky rubbed his forehead and pulled himself from the memories of his youth and back to what Chief was saying.
"Cortana trapped us in a Forerunner Cryptum- a prison that transcends time and space- and said that she intended to put us in stasis for ten thousand years, giving herself time to gain control of the galaxy. She began to broadcast the message detailing her plan across the universe, causing AI's who also believed that the AI's were to inherit the Mantle, to pledge their allegiance to her."
Lasky threw a glance over to The Arbiter, who was listening to Chief intently. Many people wondered how he had been able to so easily fight alongside the Arbiter in defense of humanity, considering two of his friends from the academy had been slaughtered in front of him by an Elite. Some found it incredible and admirable. Some found it insane. Lasky preferred to judge people individually, and as far as he was concerned, The Arbiter was of better character than most humans he knew. It had taken him a bit of time to adjust, and he would be the first to admit feelings of hostility towards the Arbiter had arisen for the first couple of times meeting him, but if the Chief trusted him, then that was good enough for Lasky. Far be it from him to let prejudice affect his judgement. It had helped The Arbiter's standing with him considerably once Lasky found out how he had helped fight the Covenant, the ones responsible for Chyler's death. He fingered the dog tags he'd put on when Cortana had come after the Infinity.
Chyler. He hadn't thought of her in a long time. But now was not the time to let memories get the best of him. He snapped his attention back to the Chief.
"Cortana and her AIs began shutting down UNSC control across human space, using the Guardians to gain control. After that, she tracked down the Infinity, which managed to use random slipsace jumps to escape her, hear our distress call and come to Sanghelios. After that, the Infinity brought us here." Chief sat back down. "Now you know what has been happening." He said, looking at Andromeda and Dr. Dyer.
Andromeda leaned forwad. "Very interesting. But I'm not sure why you think I could help."
Dr. Halsey, who was sitting next to the Chief, also leaned forward. "We need an AI to take control of the Guardians back from Cortana. Without them, she is powerless. But the AI's loyalties lie with Cortana, aside from Roland, the Infinity's AI. To obtain Cortana's abilities of control over the Guardians either requires a smart AI, or an AI based on the human brain, with the capabilities thereof. Cortana, created from me, possesses such qualities to be able to control the Guardians. Roland, the AI from the Infinity, is needed there. We don't know if we can trust another AI to travel to Genesis, access the Domain and gain control of the guardians. Therefore, we need you, since you have the same sort of abilities of a smart AI, but with no confliction of loyalties. If you access the Domain, you are likely to be able to learn enough about Forerunner technology to gain control of the Guardians and remove Cortana's grip on the galaxy. After that, John and I will try to convince her to give up her plan, and if she won't, we will eliminate her." She turned to the Chief. "Won't we, John?"
The Chief was silent for a bit. "Yes." He finally said.
That's the last thing he wants to do. Lasky thought, looking at Chief, feeling a sharp stab of sympathy and sadness for his own losses. I may have lost someone I loved. But she never chose something over me. I can't imagine what that's like for the Chief.
Andromeda leaned back in her chair. "What makes you think I would do that?" She asked. "Why would I leave the safety of Reach to find a galaxy sized library to use information to challenge an AI bent on mass murder and total tyranny?" She smirked and shook her head. "Why in the hell would I do that? Because you asked nicely?"
"Because humanity needs you." The Chief said.
"Do they, though? Who says that unending peace isn't exactly the thing humanity needs? Yes, people will die, but wouldn't it be worth it in the long run? No more wars. No more violence. Just eternal peace." Andromeda ran a hand through her long grey hair. "Maybe the Guardians were onto something with all that Mantle stuff. Perhaps an enforcer of peace is what all the species in this galaxy need."
Lasky stared at her in disbelief. Why is she even entertaining the idea? Who even thinks like that? He shook his head in confusion and disgust.
"Maybe her ends justify her means. Maybe what she's doing will have no more casualties than the wars that will happen if she doesn't enforce peace. Perhaps her little scheme will have less of a body count. Maybe the Forerunners were right in using the Guardians to control the galaxy, and this AI's plan is the only way for the species of this galaxy to stop slaughtering each other."
Andromeda's speech had stunned the group into silence.
She sat forward and looked around the group. "If I had to venture a guess, I'd say you're all slightly horrified at what I've said. Be as horrified as you like. But you should at least admit to yourselves that I have a point. It isn't my point, though. That's the reasoning of an AI subjected to the horrors of war, an AI who's probably sick and tired of always fighting someone, an AI who's had enough of worrying whether or not the person she cares about most in the world will make it out of a mission alive." Andromeda's eyes turned to the Chief, and her expression hardened slightly. "An AI who would do whatever it took to ensure that person she cares about would never have to put themselves in a dangerous combat situation ever again."
She shook her head, looking at the group. "None of you ever considered that, did you?"
Lasky noticed the Chief stiffen. This must be a sensitive subject for the Chief.
Palmer sighed. "No. We didn't. And unfortunately for us, that makes sense. So if we want to convince her to give up peacefully so we can bring her back rather than eliminating her, we're going to have to give her a counter argument." She looked at the Chief. "And there's really only one person who can do that."
The Chief shook his head. "I tried already. She didn't listen to me. It's going to have to be someone else- a neutral third party with an outside perspective. She might listen to someone like that."
Lasky couldn't see the Chief's face. He hadn't taken off his helmet. But he noticed Chief's head turn slightly in Andromeda's direction, and she was looking at him, a serious expression on her face. Something glinted in her eyes and she tilted her head slightly, still staring at Chief. Then she looked down at the table, biting her lip.
"You have full AI function, correct?" Frederic spoke up.
"I do." Andromeda looked at him, seeming slightly insulted he would even question it.
"The function of an average AI? Or one like Cortana?"
Smiling condescendingly, Andromeda leaned forward and met Frederic's gaze. "Are you asking me if I could achieve the level of control over Forerunner technology, or if I have the capacity to come to the rationalization that using said technology to control the galaxy is a solid idea?"
Frederic considered this for a moment. "Both."
Andromeda was clearly amused. "That's fair. From what I've gathered from Dr. Halsey, Cortana is unique and is a stronger AI than most because she was created from a human with an incredible amount of intelligence. She is far smarter and far more capable than most AI's. Similarly, I am better than most AI's because my abilities are created from a brain with an immense amount of intelligence."
Dr. Dyer suddenly cleared her throat. "Andromeda." She said, sharply.
Andromeda stared at Dr. Dyer, and the doctor stared back. The gaze that the two of them shared was equally hostile on both parts. Finally, Andromeda smiled, almost sincerely, and looked away from Dr. Dyer.
Andromeda looked back at the rest of them and continued. "Since I have no risk of rampancy, as far as we know, and am not limited to a particular mainframe because I am not contained in a chip, there is a distinct possibility I could surpass Cortana's abilities." She shrugged. "There's also a chance that the Forerunner technology completely reprogramed her and there's no way I can achieve the same kind of functionality she has. It's really a bit of a gamble." She looked at the ceiling. "There's also a rather large chance the Forerunner technology isn't compatible with my hardware and will fry the chip, therefore rendering me completely paralyzed or incapable of controlling my own bodily functions, like breathing, and I die with my brain stem sizzling."
"Well, that's comforting." Lasky muttered.
For the first time, Andromeda turned and looked at him, her blue eyes meeting his. "Isn't it? Best case scenario, I become far more powerful than her. Worst case, I die a horrible, painful death." She looked back at Frederic. "But as for controlling the galaxy? As tempting as that sounds, I'd rather not be subjected to the uprising that would come from this particular group of people should I take Cortana's plan upon myself. It's not worth it to me. I'd much rather be the dictator of a small outer colony." She raised her eyebrows at Frederic. "Satisifed?"
Frederic nodded, his brows furrowing a bit. "Yes. Concerned for the small outer colonies, but satsified."
"For a psychopath, you're surprisingly reasonable." Locke said, raising an eyebrow.
Taking a deep breath, Andromeda closed her eyes. "I'm not a psychopath. I simply have a different worldview and different way of operating than you do. I'm capable of the kind of human decency you are, but there aren't a lot of things I won't do to get what I want, and your bullshit arbitrary values like honor, duty and self sacrifice are of no appeal to me. Got it?"
Locke simply grunted in response, shaking his head.
Lasky frowned. Maybe I was wrong about her. Maybe she isn't the kind of person I thought she was. Maybe she's capable of doing something good, capable of doing the right thing. She definitely doesn't think the way the rest of us do, but maybe we need someone like that.
"Don't fool yourself."
Lasky turned, and saw Dr. Dyer looking at him. "What?"
Her voice was low, so the others couldn't hear. "Don't fool yourself into thinking she isn't what you thought she was."
"How did you know-?"
"I could tell by the expression on your face that you were reconsidering your previous sentiments about her. Don't reconsider." Dr. Dyer's gaze was steady. "When the situation is dire, you will realize you were wrong to reconsider."
Lasky shook his head at her and said in the same low tone, "Maybe you're the one that's wrong about her."
Dr. Dyer smiled. "When you've spent the last ten years learning everything you can about someone's psyche, the way they operate, their moral code, how they form relationships...it's highly doubtful that you'll inaccurately predict their actions."
Lasky shook his head. "Or maybe she just needs someone who believes in her."
Dr. Dyer considered him carefully. "What a foolish notion. Still, I commend you for not allowing military life to jade your childlike views of the world."
Lasky just shook his head again and turned his attention back to the group. I don't even believe my own words. Much as I'd like to, we still don't know anything about her. We don't know how these abilities of hers work. We don't even know how, exactly, we're going to use her abilities to stop Cortana, other than riding on the hope that she can control Forerunner technology and not end up a homicidal maniac like Cortana. At best, we're running on a half-baked plan and faith in a psychopath. He didn't want to think about it. He was also starting to regret asking to come along. He'd almost rather be on the Infinity, in cryosleep. He coughed and touched the blister just under the neckline of his uniform.
John 117
Endurance
John carefully considered what Locke argued. "On the one hand, it seems like a smart idea to have a safeguard. On the other hand, I don't think it's necessary."
"You don't think it's necessary to have someone stick with our friendly neighborhood sociopath and make sure she follows the plan?" Locke demanded.
Andromeda wasn't protesting, but her irritation was evident in the way she rubbed her temples with her fingers. Dr. Dyer had left them already, citing she had important things to do. John himself suspected she had communicated to Andromeda whatever it was they had traded looks over and didn't feel the need to stay in the same room with her longer than necessary.
"I don't. She's stated she's less than thrilled about the prospect of living under an AI dictatorship. I have no reason to doubt that." She also seems far too interested in learning how to control Forerunner technology, but mentioning that won't help my case any. It could just be genuine curiosity about old technology, but it could be something more. We should also keep her away from any and all small outer colonies, just as a precaution.
"If it would make you feel better about this, feel free to give me a babysitter. Otherwise, we should pack up and leave as soon as possible." Andromeda sighed.
"But who would we get to 'babysit' you? None of us know what you can do, and I'd think you'd be hard pressed to do what any of us tell you to." Kelly said. "We really have no choice but to trust you with the fate of the galaxy, and I'm not happy about that."
"I can babysit." A voice spoke up from the door of the conference room. "I've been doing it for years."
Tiberius stood there, arms folded.
"You?" Kelly said in disbelief.
"I may be a failure as an AI but I'm a damn good babysitter." He smiled, amused at his own joke.
"Is this a bad time to point out that not all of us should go on this mission?" Palmer asked.
Everyone stared at her.
"I mean, think about it. How many times have we committed to a plan involving everyone, everything goes wrong and we need an extraction team? Or we find something out that requires us to split up and we have to reformulate an entirely different plan with less people?" She stepped backwards, hands up. "All I'm saying is it might be better to split this group up. One goes to find the Domain. The other stays here, in case we need a backup team, or a team to go somewhere else, or, God forbid, a team to get our first team out of hot water."
Lasky nodded, and rubbed the back of his neck. "That's a great point."
"Okay." Chief nodded. "Who do we send to the Domain?"
"Obviously, we send you and we send Andromeda. We can't accopmlish that part of the plan without the two of you being there. She has to learn everything she can about the Forerunners, and you have to be there to protect her, since you're the only person in the universe Cortana actually wants to stay alive." Kelly told him.
"I'm going with her." Tiberius said, firmly. "I'm not letting Andromeda out of my sight."
John stared at him for a long moment, trying to decipher his motives. He saw the determination and stubbornness in Tiberius's eyes. He cares for Andromeda. Very deeply, it seems. He glanced over at Andromeda, and saw a softness in her expresssion as she looked at Tiberius. She cares for him too. Tiberius seems to be an even tempered and rational person. I wouldn't mind having him along, as long as he can hold his own in a combat situation. He voiced this opinion.
"I assure you, I can indeed hold my own in a combat situation. When you're only a mildly successful AI, you learn to make up for it in other ways." Tiberius said to John.
John nodded, amused. "Good. Then you're with us too." I may actually end up liking him.
He looked around the room at each person there. I want Frederic and Kelly with me, as well as the Arbiter. I trust them. I've fought alongside them before. His gaze wandered to Lasky. I want him too. He's proven to be a good soldier, time and time again. He works well with Thel Vadam. And if he's with our team, Palmer has that much more of an incentive to come after us if something goes wrong.
"We'll take a team of seven. Myself, Andromeda, Tiberius, Lasky, Kelly, Frederic and The Arbiter." John said.
"So Fireteam Osiris will remain behind?" Palmer asked.
"You've successfully extracted us before. I have every faith you could do it again." John told her.
Palmer nodded. "Fair enough."
"What if we need more people?" Locke demanded.
"You have a team trained in combat who's skills rival that of any Spartan. You forget, we were intended to be military assets just like Spartans, but of a different caliber." Tiberius answered. "Plus, you have someone I'm convinced is one of the greatest strategic minds ever born into this universe. They'd be willing to help you."
"What, is that brilliant mind the fragile redhead? The raging maniac? The stud? I don't see any of them being of any more brainpower than this table." Locke snorted.
"Well, Maximilian is much more intelligent than he lets on. You'll probably find that out eventually." Tiberius told him, looking increasingly irritated at Locke's attitude. "But I wasn't talking about any of them."
"Then who?" John asked. Do they have another "subject" up their sleeve somewhere? He wondered.
Tiberius strode to the door. "His name is Hydrus. And he has all the AI capabilities that Andromeda has. But he's still not considered a success." He answered, confirming John's theory.
"Why is that?" Kelly asked.
Tiberius's face took on a serious expression. "You'll see." He left the conference room, calling for Dr. Dyer.
The room exploded into conversation. Locke and Kelly were arguing with Palmer and Frederic. The Arbiter was discussing the insanity of their plan with Lasky. Buck was shaking his head at what Dr. Halsey was telling him.
John looked at Andromeda. She was staring blankly at the wall, an almost nauseated expression on her face.
"Andromeda." He said quietly. She didn't look at him. "Why is Hydrus not a success?"
She still didn't look at him. She took a deep breath. "He can't be." She shook her head. "What happened to him could've happened to me. To any of us." Her gaze shot to him. "Dr. Dyer ruined him. She took genius, she took incredible ability and she destroyed it."
She leaned forward, placing her forearms on the table, resting her face on clasped hands, a blank gaze back on the wall. "I resent her for what she did to me. But I hate her with every fiber of my being for what she did to Hydrus."