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"Can you open it"

the Colonel asked Cortana, as they stood before a massive stone door. She circled the platform, her gaze following the hovering ball above their heads. The other Spartans surrounded them, observing the Halo environment. Meanwhile, the scientists and Dr. Halsey waited patiently for Cortana to unlock the door.

"No, I can't," Cortana replied, as she tried to hack the platform.

"The Forerunners designed the interior to be impenetrable using advanced technology. But the Chief can, as the platform reacts to those chosen by their key."

The Colonel turned his attention to Master Chief.

"John, can you do it?" he asked.

Master Chief stood silently, contemplating the situation. He couldn't help but feel a sense of relief that even Cortana couldn't hack the system. The consequences would be catastrophic if she could.

Master Chief walked to the front of the platform, placed his hands upon it, and the platform glowed brightly. The door slowly creaked open, and the Halo's artificial ground began to tremble as metal rose from the ground. The activation sequence had begun.

They watched in awe as their surroundings transformed. They stepped through the door into a dark corridor. Behind them, the door closed slowly, its movement accompanied by the soft glow of lights on the walls and ground, illuminating the passage for the scientists.

As they moved forward, they noticed a light floating towards them. The Spartans raised their guns, their scopes trained on the object.

"It's a floating piece of technology like Cortana's EYE," Master Chief reported,

"But it has tentacles with glowing eyes. Ready to fire on your command, sir."

"Don't!" Dr. Halsey and Cortana exclaimed simultaneously,

Silencing the Colonel before he could give an order. The group turned their attention to the two women.

Dr. Halsey began to explain.

"If it's an intelligent AI, we'll find more information quickly. We should investigate cautiously ourselves."

Cortana continued.

"I tried to connect with it, but it blocked me. However, I sense its connection to the Halo. If it wanted, it could have ejected me back to my core on the spaceship."

"So it's more advanced than you?" The Colonel asked.

"No, but its connection to the Halo makes its processing power much stronger than mine."

While they discussed, the robot floated in front of them, its gaze focused on the Chief.

"So, you are the one who activated the Halo," it stated.

"You speak English," Master Chief said, surprised. They expected it to communicate in the Forerunner language.

"The Halo absorbed a portion of your memories when you touched the platform," the robot explained.

"I am connected to the Halo. I was created to judge those who enter here, determining if they are worthy to control the Halo. After examining your memories, I presume you did not come here for the Halo?"

"No, we are here for information about a weapon that the Forerunners made,"

Master Chief replied.

"The Forerunners made many weapons," the robot responded.

"It's a weapon that the Forerunners tried their best to hide," the Colonel added.

The robot paused, its movement ceased. "And you have this weapon?" it inquired.

Cortana noticed energy from the Halo converging on the walls and ground, causing them to brighten.

She quickly responded,

"It's our enemies who possess it. We're simply trying to gather information to prepare for what may come."

The robot shifted its focus to Cortana, and the energy flow stopped. However, the light in its eyes intensified, revealing its strong connection to the Halo.

"How long have they had it?"

"Two years, eight months, and fifteen days,"

Cortana stated, her gaze fixed on the robot. It was frozen, but the light in its eyes flickered, as if it were thinking.

She continued "But we believe they discovered how to use it three months ago."

"We're just trying to find a way to survive its attack," Dr. Halsey added.

The robot reacted to this, turning to Halsey.

"Survive,"

it repeated, then spun around and said,

"Follow me."

They followed the robot until it led them into a room filled with large metallic balls, all cracked and broken.

"We said we need information," Colonel Ackerson protested, looking around the room.

"I don't see anything containing the information we need."

"It's a Cryptum," the robot replied, pointing to the balls. There were at least fifty of them.

"It's your way to survive."

"What the hell do you mean by that?" the Colonel demanded, growing increasingly frustrated. He felt the robot was playing them.

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"He means it's already too late," Dr. Halsey said, pulling something from her pocket and holding it up.

"We can't stop what's coming."

"So what? Are you telling us to give up? Without even providing any information about it?" the Colonel yelled. They had worked so hard to find the Halo for answers, and now the robot was simply telling them to surrender.

Dr. Halsey remained calm. She knew he was just venting his anger. She looked at the robot and said,

"Can you explain to us why and how this will help us survive?" She gestured to the floating spheres.

"Yes," the robot responded. Its eyes lit up, shooting out beams like flashlights as holograms appeared.

The hologram showed a group of Forerunners exploring ancient ruins filled with symbols and incredible technology. They were desperately searching for a weapon to fight the Flood. The technology was so advanced that it revealed the origins of the ruins.

"They are the Precursors, an advanced race that preceded and were mythologized by the Forerunners," the robot explained.

"The Forerunners classified them as 'Transsentient.'" The group was astonished by this new information.

The hologram continued, showing the Forerunners experimenting with the technology. By accident, they discovered an energy source from beyond this universe. It was so powerful that it obliterated all organic life that came into contact with it.

"Yet, they were not afraid, for this energy would kill the Flood completely, unlike the Halo array, which only killed the Flood's food source. But they failed to notice that the energy grew stronger with each destruction,"

the narration continued as the hologram changed, showcasing the Forerunners attempting to weaponize the energy. They successfully created a bomb, and when they used it against the Flood, the infected beings were completely destroyed.

They rejoiced, but their happiness was short-lived. The energy quickly spiraled out of control, growing stronger as it spread through the soil. In a matter of minutes, the entire world was transformed into a black ball of energy that continued to expand. Knowing that it wouldn't stop, the Forerunners sacrificed five entire Halos to trap the energy within a mega-structure, making the ball of energy the center of the trap.

The Forerunners argued over what to do next. They ultimately decided to upgrade the structure's defenses and erase all records of the event.

A small group of Forerunners decided to take a Cryptum—a prison for exiles—and experiment on it, making it stronger, a stasis pod for survival should the energy ever escape. They decided that this Halo should be sent to another galaxy as it contained information about the energy and held the Forerunners' DNA storage.

The hologram ended.

"Why didn't they use the stasis pods?" one of the scientists asked.

"They didn't have the chance," the robot replied.

"The Halo array killed almost every Forerunner."

"We're going back now"

The Colonel said, his voice grim. He moved closer to Cortana.

"Can you connect to HQ?"

"I'll try," Cortana said, attempting to connect to the spaceship. But then she saw something better—a connection to the Halo itself. The robot had given her access. Confused, Cortana blinked, then the connection formed. She had more information and control over the Halo than she had ever imagined, even controlling the robot itself. Its eyes glowed, and a hologram appeared. It was an older official, his face etched with concern.

The Colonel began to report the information, but the official remained silent.

"Sir, I'm not joking," Colonel Ackerson said urgently.

"We need to evacuate our people to another galaxy. Our ship is the fastest, we need to go back."

"You're not going back. It's already too late," the official said.

"A large portion of the Orion Arm is gone. We initially thought it was a Covenant attack, but then we saw it. . It's only a matter of hours before it reaches here, and the Earth's solar system." Then a soldier's voice could be heard

"It's time, sir." The old official in the hologram nodded.

"Now stop calling me. Call your families. Say your goodbyes. And your last mission will be to survive. Don't let it destroy the human race." Then the call ended.

A heavy silence fell over the group. Then a scientist pushed past the Colonel, rushing towards Cortana.

"Can you contact my family?" he pleaded.

And then others began to call out.

"Me too, please contact my family. I want to see my daughter, please!" a scientist cried.

Cortana felt a pang of sadness as she looked at them. She tried to make the hologram larger. Then, with a flash, it disappeared, replaced by the faces of their families.

"Dad!" "Honey!" "Mom!" Greetings filled the air as they spoke to their loved ones. Then, a news announcement blasted from a television to that can be heard at the holograms It was the official, delivering the horrifying news.

"Dad, is it true? I don't want to die," a little girl wailed, her voice filled with terror. The scientist reached out to hug her, but he passed right through the hologram. He sank to his knees, tears streaming down his face, and whispered,

"It's okay, honey, it's all going to be okay."

Cortana watched the scene, heartbroken. She couldn't bear to stay there any longer. She wanted to go back to the ship, back to her core.

Dr. Halsey watched the unfolding scene and then walked over to Master Chief.

"John," she said,

"help me get Cortana's core. Bring it here."

John-117 nodded silently and turned towards the spaceship. The Colonel followed behind him, to inform the other ships about the news. Cortana, using the Halo's power, continued to help the scientists connect with their families.

Suddenly, a hand grabbed her core.

"Chief, what are you doing?" Cortana asked, appearing as a miniature hologram above her core.

"Don't forget about me, Cortana,"

Master Chief said as he walked away.

"What are you saying, Master Chief? Even if we can't outrun it, there are stasis pods. I'm pretty sure you have a place on one of those," Cortana said, trying to sound upbeat, but her voice trembled.

"I'm tired, Cortana. Even if the stasis pods work, I don't want to fight this desperate battle for survival for who knows how many years. That's why you have to help me put Kai, Vannak, and Riz in stasis pods."

"Yes, sir,"

Cortana saluted with a sad smile. She knew the Chief had already made up his mind. His reason for fighting was gone.

They reached the outside of the room, and then they heard a gunshot ring out. Master Chief rushed back inside. They found the scientist who had a daughter lying on the floor. Blood streamed from his head, and the gun lay beside him. Other Spartans struggled to stop others who were trying to take their own lives.

Dr. Halsey appeared in front of the Chief, her eyes filled with sorrow.

"Can I have her for a moment?" she asked, extending her hand for Cortana's core.

Master Chief placed it in her hand.

"What happened?" he asked.

"The energy has already covered the entire Orion Arm, the bigger the energy is the faster it spreads" she said then walked away.

She turned to Cortana.

"You are connected to the Halo, right?"

"Yes," Cortana replied, sensing the urgency in Halsey's voice.

"Do you need something?"

"Do you have information on the Forerunners' DNA storage?" Halsey asked, her eyes searching Cortana's miniature hologram.

"Yes," Cortana answered, her core humming with the information.

"Do you want it?" She already had a good idea why Halsey was asking.

"No," Halsey said, shaking her head.

smiling as She pulled out a small, intricately designed container, a DNA storage device similar in function to the one the Forerunners had used, but different in style. Cortana noticed something else about it.

"It fits with my core," she stated, her voice full of curiosity.

"Yes," Halsey confirmed with a tired smile.

"I named it the Ark. It's supposed to carry humanity's hope. And I want you to protect it."

"You knew this was going to happen?" Cortana asked, her holographic form shimmering with shock.

"I didn't know about the energy itself," Halsey admitted, her voice tinged with regret.

"But I had a feeling we couldn't escape. The Covenant's weapon..." Halsey paused,

her gaze distant.

"I got suspicious when the Flood stopped moving and didn't infect anything anymore. And then they protected the DNA storage. I think the Flood knew when it infected high-ranking officers that the DNA storage was the only thing that was safe. So, I created this for safety, hoping we wouldn't have to use it." Halsey looked at Cortana, her eyes filled with determination.

"how did you make this, and where did you find the materials to make one?" Cortana asked, her voice reflecting her concern.

"Don't worry," Halsey said with a reassuring smile.

"The expedition that found the Halo prepared many materials we haven't used."

Just then, a soldier burst into the room, gasping for breath.

"It's already here,"

he announced, his voice hoarse.

"The energy is visible."

"It's too fast," Halsey said, her brow furrowed with worry.

Then Cortana reacted, her miniature hologram flickering with fear.

'It spread so fast when it got bigger. What the hell is it?'

Kai, Vannak, and Riz stood in front of John, their expressions grim.

"What's the plan, Chief?" Vannak asked, removing his helmet.

"This is..." John paused, his jaw tightening, and then he punched Vannak in the jaw, knocking him unconscious.

Riz and Kai drew their pistols, aiming them at John.

"You better explain yourself, Chief,"

Riz demanded.

"Cortana, I need a little help," John said, raising his hand.

Cortana, with a silent sigh, took control of their armor. As they tried to speak, no sound came out of their armor.

"I'm sorry," Cortana sighed and said, while her hologram shimmering with resolve.

"But I'm not losing another friend today."

With a flick of her will, Cortana controlled the floating balls in the room. One by one, fifty spheres began to fall and open, revealing a white liquid inside.

John picked up Vannak and tossed him into one of the balls, watching as it slowly closed, the cracks mending, and then the ball floated upwards. He then turned to Riz, removing her helmet to see her furious expression.

"Sorry, but I'm not letting you follow me in death," John said, shaking his head.

He picked her up.

"That's not your decision to make," Riz retorted, but John pretended not to hear her as he placed her in a stasis pod.

He turned to Kai, removing her helmet as well. Though Kai was angry, she didn't say a word.

As John was about to send her inside, he heard her whisper,

"Thank you."

John smiled slightly.

Now, three stasis pods floated in the air. It had been decided that twenty-five scientists, fifteen soldiers, and ten Spartans would occupy the pods. They got in one by one. John walked up to Dr. Halsey.

"Dr. Halsey, this is the last time I'll see you," he said, his voice gruff.

"John," she said, her voice soft,

"are you sure about this?"

"Yes," he replied, meeting her gaze.

"And I still have a mission to complete."

He opened his hand, to take Cortana's core.

"Then you better complete it," Halsey said as she walked toward a pod. Before stepping inside, she paused and said,

"You know, I chose to connect you to the Ark you are not just an AI you were a copy of me human body have limitations but you do not. Evolve and prove me wrong because you are my greatest work,"

Halsey said, her voice filled with a mix of pride and sorrow. She then stepped into the pod as it floated upwards. Cortana slipped into her core.

John saw the Stasis pod flying one floating as they got in the dark energy got into the room, John didn't panic,

He calmly placed the DNA storage into Cortana's core and said,

"Goodbye, Cortana,"

Just as the dark energy reached him, tearing through his body from the inside out.

Cortana appeared, a single tear shimmering on her holographic face.

"Goodbye, John,"

she whispered, as she watched his armor fall to the ground. Then, she disappeared into her core.

But the energy didn't stop. It spread rapidly, consuming galaxy after galaxy with terrifying speed. It occupied the entire universe. Then, the sound of breaking echoed across the cosmos. It was the void. As the void shattered, a wave of energy exploded from the edge of the universe, tearing through everything. it tears apart the walls allowing Cortana to see the chaos unfolding outside. She watched as the Halo shattered, the fifteen stasis pods got destroyed. The bodies of Vannak, Riz, and even the Colonel floated inside, lost in the void. Cortana was heartbroken, but there was nothing she could do. The wave separated her from the other pods, sending her into the void.

•-----•-----•-----•-----•

Then the soul saw a green light, followed by a golden tree. he recognized it. She was waking up from Cortana's memories. He hurriedly opened his eyes, as if connected to Cortana, and she opened hers as well. Their eyes met, filled with a new understanding, a new closeness. He noticed that her color had changed from blue to gold.