Mason and Woods followed closely behind Sergeant Major Avery Johnson and Master Chief as they made their way through the sleek, high-tech corridors of the UNSC Autumn. The ship was a marvel of advanced technology, and both Mason and Woods couldn't help but be impressed by their surroundings. The soft hum of the ship's systems, punctuated by the distant sounds of crew members hard at work, created an atmosphere of controlled efficiency.

Woods glanced around, his eyes wide with awe. "Damn, Mason," he whispered, voice low but filled with wonder. "This place... it's like something outta one of those sci-fi flicks."

Mason nodded, equally impressed. "Yeah, never thought I'd see anything like this in my lifetime."

As they walked, the corridor opened up into a larger area leading toward the bridge. The closer they got, the more advanced and alien the technology seemed. Woods couldn't resist the urge to reach out toward one of the glowing panels on the wall, but he quickly pulled his hand back at the last second, thinking better of it.

Johnson glanced back with a smirk. "Keep your hands to yourselves, gentlemen. We've got enough tech here to fry you in a second if you're not careful."

Woods muttered under his breath, "Noted."

Finally, they reached the entrance to the bridge. The doors slid open with a soft hiss, revealing a large, bustling command center filled with crew members working at various stations. At the center of it all stood Captain Keyes, his presence commanding the room as he oversaw the activity around him. The bridge was bathed in the soft glow of holographic displays, with light from the planet they orbited filtering through the large viewports.

As Mason and Woods stepped into the room, Woods' eyes were drawn to a figure standing in the shadows near the wall. The figure stepped forward, revealing himself to be the Arbiter. Instinctively, Woods jumped, his hand moving toward his weapon before he caught himself. The Arbiter towered over the humans, his alien features and armor making him look even more imposing in the close quarters of the bridge.

"Oh shit, big guy," Woods blurted out, his voice half-annoyed, half-nervous. "Don't sneak up on me like that!"

The Arbiter, noticing Woods' reaction, tilted his head slightly—a gesture that could have been amusement or curiosity.

"My apologies, Sergeant Woods," the Arbiter said calmly, extending a hand. "It was not my intention to startle you."

Woods stared at the Arbiter's hand, caught between reluctance and unease. The memory of their last encounter was still fresh in his mind. He took a step back, shaking his head.

"Yeah, I'm good, thanks," Woods muttered gruffly.

Mason, trying to smooth over the moment, stepped forward and approached Captain Keyes, extending his hand with a firm grip.

"Captain Keyes," Mason said confidently, "I'm Alex Mason, CIA. Retired Marine Force Recon Captain. It's an honor to finally meet you. This here is Sergeant Frank Woods, USMC."

As they shook hands, Woods, still distracted by the Arbiter's presence, nodded in Captain Keyes' direction, trying to regain his composure.

"Uh, yeah... Captain," Woods said half-heartedly, still eyeing the Arbiter from the corner of his eye.

Keyes smiled slightly, clearly recognizing the tension in the air but choosing not to comment on it directly.

"Welcome aboard the UNSC Autumn, gentlemen," Keyes said, his tone welcoming. "We've got a lot to discuss, and not much time to do it. Let's get started."

Mason and Woods took in the high-tech interior of the ship, still impressed by their surroundings. Keyes gestured toward Johnson, who was standing off to the side.

"I believe you've already met Sergeant Johnson," Keyes continued. "He assisted you on your mission."

Mason and Woods nodded, acknowledging Johnson with a quick glance. Then, Keyes motioned toward Master Chief, who stood silently at the back of the room, his imposing figure a testament to his many battles.

"And this," Keyes said proudly, "is Master Chief. One of the best soldiers the UNSC has ever had. He's handled more impossible missions than most soldiers see in a lifetime."

Mason stepped forward, extending his hand to Chief, his tone respectful but direct.

"Hell of a job back there," Mason said with a smirk. "Good to finally meet the man behind the armor."

Master Chief, ever stoic, shook Mason's hand with a firm grip. Woods, standing just behind Mason, looked Chief up and down, clearly impressed by both his skill and his advanced armor.

"That armor of yours," Woods whistled softly, "and the way you handled those Raiders—damn impressive."

Chief gave a slight nod in acknowledgment, his demeanor calm and focused. The room settled into a sense of mutual respect as they prepared for the next stage of their mission.

After the introductions, Woods turned to Captain Keyes, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"So," Woods said bluntly, "where'd you put the lunatic we brought in? The one who was running the Raiders?"

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Keyes remained calm as ever, nodding in understanding. "We've secured him in a containment cell in the brig. He won't be getting out of there anytime soon."

Woods raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued but slightly disappointed that they wouldn't be interrogating the prisoner right away.

"Good to know," Mason said with a touch of sarcasm. "Thought he might chew his way out or something."

Keyes cracked a slight smile before turning serious once again.

Near one of the holographic displays stood Agent Jonesy, busy scanning through various data streams, his brow furrowed in concentration. Jonesy glanced up as Mason and Woods entered the room, giving them a nod of acknowledgment. Woods, however, still skeptical of Jonesy's seemingly carefree attitude and mysterious background, couldn't resist giving him a bit of attitude.

"Jonesy," Woods grumbled, his voice tinged with suspicion. "Didn't think I'd see you here, looking all damn official."

Jonesy smirked, glancing up from the display. "Woods, still as charming as ever, I see. Don't worry, I'm not here to steal your thunder."

Sensing the tension, Mason stepped in to keep things civil. "Good to see you again, Jonesy," Mason said with a slight smile. "Seems like we've got quite the team coming together."

Jonesy nodded, his smirk fading as he returned his focus to the data streams. The room filled with a quiet anticipation as they prepared for the challenges that lay ahead.

Before Jonesy can respond, the doors to the bridge slide open with a low hiss, drawing everyone's attention. The Foundation strides in, his imposing figure immediately commanding the room. His expression is as stoic as ever, but there's a faint hint of urgency in his movements. Jonesy's eyes widen slightly as he turns to greet him.

The briefing room aboard the Ship of Autumn buzzed with activity, bathed in the soft glow of holographic displays and the ambient light from control panels. Captain Keyes stood at the front, his eyes distant, deep in thought. Master Chief was nearby, helmet firmly in place, while Cortana's holographic form flickered beside him. Agent Jonesy and The Foundation were locked in serious discussion about the next steps in their mission.

Agent Jonesy turned, his tone half-joking but laced with respect. "Fashionably late, I see, Foundation. Did you take a slight detour?"

The Foundation gave a slight nod to Jonesy before turning his attention to Alex Mason and Frank Woods. Both men straightened instinctively, their initial reactions a mix of surprise and wariness. The Foundation's presence was unlike anything they had ever encountered—his imposing armor and sheer presence made it clear he wasn't from their world.

With a deep, commanding voice, The Foundation removed his helmet, his gaze settling on the two men. "Mason. Woods. I am The Foundation. I've been working with Jonesy on matters... beyond your understanding. But you're here because your skills are needed."

Woods, still reeling from everything that had transpired, raised an eyebrow and took a step back, muttering to himself but loud enough to be heard. "What the hell kind of team did we get ourselves into?"

Mason smirked at Woods' comment before stepping forward, more composed. He extended a hand toward The Foundation, his voice firm and respectful. "Alex Mason. We're here to do what needs to be done."

The Foundation grasped Mason's hand in a strong, deliberate shake before nodding to Woods, who, after a moment's hesitation, gave a reluctant nod back. The room was tense, yet united in purpose.

Suddenly, alarms blared, and the holographic displays flickered with new data. Jonesy's expression shifted from calm to intense focus as he quickly tapped at the console, the screens illuminating his face with an urgent glow.

"Wait a second," Agent Jonesy muttered, his voice filled with urgency. "We've got something—an energy reading. It's coming from another universe. It's spiking like crazy..."

The room fell silent as everyone processed the information. The Foundation's gaze sharpened, his demeanor growing even more intense.

Master Chief's voice cut through the silence, calm yet authoritative. "Is it Cortana?"

At that moment, Cortana's holographic form materialized in the center of the room, drawing everyone's attention. Her shimmering blue figure smiled playfully, her eyes sparkling with intelligence.

"Chief, I'm right here," she said with a cheeky grin. "But if you're asking about the other me... well, things might get a bit crowded."

Mason and Woods took a step back, both of their eyes widening in shock at the sight of the holographic AI. The technology was far beyond anything they had seen before.

Woods muttered, stunned. "What the hell...?"

Mason, though equally surprised, remained composed. He turned to Jonesy, gesturing toward Cortana. "Who is she?" he asked, his tone laced with confusion.

Jonesy glanced at Mason, his expression serious but focused on the incoming data. "That's Cortana," he explained briefly. "The real concern is her other version—the Rogue AI. I'll explain everything—her, the multiverse, all of it—once we get through this. Right now, we've got to move."

Before Mason could respond, a calm voice echoed through the room, catching him and Woods off guard.

"It's nice to finally meet you, Mason and Woods," Cortana said, smiling warmly.

Mason narrowed his eyes, exchanging a glance with Woods before addressing the voice. "You know who we are?"

Cortana nodded. "Agent Jonesy and The Foundation gave us a thorough debrief about you two. Your skills, your history—everything we need to know."

Mason, more suspicious now, stepped forward, his voice edged with skepticism. "So what—you've been spying on us?"

Cortana's tone remained reassuring. "No, nothing like that. But we do need you. She's out there, and we can't face this threat alone."

Woods and Mason exchanged a glance, both of them realizing the gravity of the situation. The stakes had just been raised even higher.

As the room buzzed with tension, The Foundation's posture shifted. His focus had already moved to whatever task lay ahead, and he turned to leave.

Agent Jonesy called after him, his voice tinged with concern. "Where are you going? We need you here!"

The Foundation paused at the door, glancing back with a look of determination. "There's something I need to take care of. This fight is yours, Jonesy. Make sure the ship gets to that anomaly, and don't let Cortana out of your sight."

With that, The Foundation left the bridge, leaving Jonesy and the others to prepare for what lay ahead. Jonesy's expression was a mix of concern and resolve as he turned back to the holographic displays.

Captain Keyes stepped forward, his voice carrying a commanding tone. "Alright, people, you heard him. Get this ship ready for a rift jump. I want all stations on high alert."

The crew sprang into action, the atmosphere on the bridge becoming even more tense and focused. Keyes glanced over at Jonesy, who was already configuring the rift technology.

Jonesy's fingers flew across the controls, his eyes locked on the data streams. "This is going to be tricky, but I've got it. We'll rift to the coordinates and drop right on top of whatever this anomaly is. Just hope we're ready for whatever's waiting on the other side."

Mason and Woods exchanged a glance, both understanding the gravity of the situation as the ship powered up around them. The hum of the engines grew louder as the rift technology activated.

Woods, smirking with a hint of seriousness, tried to lighten the mood. "Never thought I'd say this, but... let's go catch ourselves a robot."

Mason chuckled, though his expression remained focused and sharp. "Let's just hope we're not biting off more than we can chew."

The ship's viewports distorted as the rift opened, stars and galaxies bending and stretching as the UNSC Autumn began its jump to the anomaly's location.