Chapter 8
"Chief, can't you go anywhere without causing trouble?" Cortana groaned as Master Chief followed the old man up a flight of stairs. "Well, did you have a better idea?" Master Chief answered back.
"Well... I guess you make a point. Sheesh, where is this guy taking us?" Cortana sighed as they reached the top of the stairs.
"Where are you taking us, exactly?" Master Chief asked the old man. Dumbledore simply chuckled as he stopped in front of a gargoyle. "Lemon drop." Dumbledore said, causing the gargoyle to rotate upwards.
"That may not be as advanced as our time, but still, you got to admit, that is impressive." Cortana laughed as the old man walked up the stairs, followed by Master Chief. Master Chief looked surprised as he walked into the office and looked around.
"What an amazing room!" Cortana breathed. Master Chief silently agreed as he looked around. The room was filled with spinning instruments and many books, completely different from anything that he had ever seen before, humans, Covenant, and even Forerunner!
"What species is that?" Cortana asked, causing Master Chief to look towards the desk, surprised at the creature sitting on the perch. It looked like a bird, but it had red feathers. "Impressive, isn't he?" Master Chief turned to see Dumbledore sit at the desk.
"What is it?" Master Chief asked.
"It's a phoenix. Fascinating creatures, phoenixes. They can carry immensely heavy loads. Their tears have healing powers." Dumbledore smiled.
"Such an odd creature..." Cortana frowned.
"Now, might I inquire who you are?" Dumbledore asked.
"I am Spartan One-One-Seven, Rank of Master Chief in the United Nations Space Command. And my companion can introduce herself." Then, Master Chief pulled out a circular pad and placed it on Dumbledore's desk. Master Chief pulled Cortana's chip out of his head and pushed it into the circular pad, causing a small image of Cortana to appear. Dumbledore looked surprised, before he regained his calm composure.
"I'm sorry for my friend's idiotic behavior. I'm Artificial Intelligence construct serial number CTN 0452-9, but I prefer the name my creator gave me, Cortana." Cortana smirked. "I see... I can honestly say that you and your... friend are unlike anything I've ever seen, muggle or wizard." Dumbledore said.
"Sir If may I ask. What is a muggle?" asked the Master Chief.
"A muggle is a human with no magical ability. Quite simply ordinary" replied Dumbledore
"I assure you; Master Chief isn't just some muggle. I've learned a lot about your world in the time that I've been here. Technically... we shouldn't even be here." Dumbledore frowned at Cortana's statement.
"And why is that?" Dumbledore asked.
"Because... we're from the year Two-Thousand-Five Hundred and Fifty Seven." Cortana answered, getting a surprised look from Dumbledore. "Might I inquire how?" Dumbledore asked.
"Our ship, the Forward Unto Dawn, or what was left of it, was sucked into a black hole. Ironically, it saved us. I think you saw what was left of it earlier." Cortana laughed nervously.
"So that's what my students saw earlier... might I inquire what you are, Master Chief? You look human." Dumbledore frowned.
"I am human, sir." Then, Master Chief took off his helmet, showing Dumbledore his face.
"I see... No offense, Master Chief, but you look as if you haven't removed that... suit in a very long time." Dumbledore frowned.
"That suit is MJOLNIR Mark Six Armor, top of the line armor for Spartans." Cortana said.
"Might I inquire what a Spartan is?" Dumbledore asked.
"That's classified under ONI intelligence." Master Chief said as he put his helmet back on. Dumbledore frowned as he looked at Cortana.
"That stands for Office of Naval Intelligence, and John, the Spartan Two Program was made public. Not only that, ONI and the UNSC don't even exist yet, and it's not like we can get through the black hole to get back to our time and dimension anytime soon. And it's not like the Covenant, or the Flood are going to show up anytime soon. Not to mention, the Moniter's a pile of scraps." Cortana frowned.
"Might I inquire what this Covenant or Flood is?" Dumbledore asked.
"That's... a very long story." Master Chief said.
"Not to mention that we could be changing this universe's historyitself by telling him about the Human-Covenant War, John! Our very presence is messing with the fabric of time and space itself!" Cortana looked from Master Chief to Dumbledore with the slightest expression of fear on her face.
"I'm aware of the laws of time and space, but I am also aware that they are also just theory." Dumbledore frowned.
"I see... you remind me of someone, I just can't remember who." Cortana frowned. Then, she looked back at Master Chief.
"I think we can trust him, John." Cortana smiled.
"Very well. But I see a single trick, and you'll regret it." Master Chief said as he kept a hand on his weapon.
"Very well. Now, might I inquire into the events of your time?" Dumbledore asked.
"Well... like I said before, it's a very long story." Master Chief said.
"This isn't exactly the time to be arguing. We need to unload the Dawn before some primitive creature gets into it." Cortana frowned.
"I see... As I understand, you have absolutely no connections in this world, am I correct?" Dumbledore asked. The Spartan nodded.
"Well... his ancestors are probably on this planet somewhere, but the records of John's past were lost when the Covenant glassed Reach." Cortana muttered, making Dumbledore blink in confusion.
"I see... so, may I glance into your past? You must understand, I need to understand what I'm dealing with." Dumbledore said.
"John, trust him." Cortana whispered. Master Chief nodded. Dumbledore pulled his wand out and pressed it to Master Chief's head. A second later, white lines came out of the Spartan's head into the vial that the old man was holding. Then, Dumbledore flicked his wand, causing a silver disk to float in front of him. Dumbledore tipped the vial into the disk.
"I'll just be a minute." Dumbledore said as he looked into the disk. Master Chief frowned as he looked at Dumbledore, who wasn't saying or doing anything besides breathing. "Ummmm... is he alright?" Master Chief asked after two minutes.
"Scanning... his vital signs are all normal. Nothing wrong with him. In fact, all his vitals are strong, especially considering his apparent age. Even in our time, the longest a human has ever lived is one hundred and twenty." Cortana frowned. Two minutes later, Dumbledore looked up with an odd look on his face. (My original plan was to show scenes from Halo going from John's childhood to the end of Halo 3, but... you obviously know all this if you're reading a Halo crossover. By the way... I can't wait for Halo 4! I got the Limited Edition, baby!)
"Incredible..." Then, Dumbledore looked at Master Chief.
"You are an incredibly lucky and powerful young man, to endure what you have endured. Those devices, those Halos... they are beyond anything that I have ever comprehended. To wipe the galaxy, clean of life... and the reason why. In all my years, I never dreamed of a monstrosity like the Flood. And the Covenant... I fear for those who had to suffer under their genocide, but they also remind me much of another misguided organization, blinded by false goals. Those Prophets, especially. And that woman, Catherine Halsey... she reminds me of a certain student here." Dumbledore chuckled. "I'd like to meet that girl." Cortana spoke up.
"I must admit that alien that you were with on the Ark..., the Arbiter, I believe?" Master Chief nodded.
"He reminds me of a misguided young man. Might I inquire what happened to him?" Dumbledore asked.
"Based on my predictions, the front half of the Dawn that the Arbiter was on made it back through the Slipspace Portal to Earth." Cortana answered. Dumbledore looked at Cortana.
"Based on what I saw, you are more advanced than any muggle device or wizarding item on this planet. That much knowledge can be very useful... or very dangerous." Dumbledore frowned.
"Yeah, we've heard that before." Master Chief said.
"And you. Based on what I witnessed in your life, you are a soldier, yes?" Dumbledore asked. Master Chief nodded.
"I see... your skills could be very useful. You see, you've arrived at the most critical time in history, and I could use your help in an organization of mine." Dumbledore began. "Chief, I'm detecting an additional life signature heading this way!" Cortana said suddenly, causing Dumbledore to stop talking immediately, and Master Chief to yank Cortana from the disk and into his helmet.
"I should have known that she'd come here right away." Dumbledore sighed as the staircase rumbled.
"Hem hem!" Dumbledore sighed as Master Chief turned to see a short woman dressed in pink looking at him.
"I don't like her." Cortana said immediately, echoing what Master Chief was thinking.
"So, this is the individual that wrecked half the Forbidden Forest and assaulted several Hogwarts Professors?" she asked as she looked at the Spartan.
"Yes, this is Spartan One-One-Seven. He apparently came here through a rift in time from the year two thousand five hundred and fifty seven. The wreckage is from his vessel, which was practically destroyed. He's a soldier, from the United Nations Space Command." Umbridge looked shocked for a second, before she smiled.
"I see... Cornelius must hear about this immediately." Umbridge said, before she looked at Master Chief.
"This young man is a hero. He prevented the extinction of humanity from the threat of an alien armada and an intergalactic parasite. In his time, he is one of the most decorated officers and carries the rank of Master Chief." Dumbledore said. Umbridge scoffed as she looked at Master Chief and then proceeded to walk to him.
"I don't care who you are or what you were in your time. Here, you answer the Minister of Magic and the Ministry itself! There are rules and protocol to follow. And if you don't abide them... you will suffer the consequences." Umbridge said as she neared the Chief prodding him with her wand.
"I suggest you keep off the paint" Chief said menacingly
Umbridge looked at Chief and replied "You'll hear from me when I report back" She then smiled and turned and walked away
"She reminds me of the Moniter." Cortana said when Umbridge was gone.
"I know. It's unfortunate that we can't take care of the problem the same way." Master Chief said.
"I know, she's been here since the beginning of the year. But it is imperative that we acquire as much as we can from the wreckage of your vessel before the aurors get there first. I'll have several professors assist you." Dumbledore said.
"Thanks." Master Chief said.
The Wreckage of the Forward Unto Dawn...
The sound of clicking went through the air as a spider crawled near the wreckage, sensing a cold and dark place that would do for a nice home. Not sensing anyone else, the spider crawled inside. A minute later, a horrible screeching noise could be heard, before an odd sound could be heard next. A minute later, the ship went silent.