You know what's one thing I wish there was on ? A full-blown fanfic with Harbinger of all individuals as the main protagonist. So, I thought, "If I can't find one...I'll make one, instead..." And what better way to make a Harbinger who just learned the worth of humanity (alive and free) a protagonist, then to put him in a series where humanity is under the threat of destruction...that's right: it's Harbinger meets Halo!

This story assumes Paragon-Synthesis Ending, with the Krogan, Rachni, Quarians, AND Geth all alive, as well as all squadmates that COULD survive being alive (RIP Mordin, Thane, Legion, and anyone else I'm forgetting).

Now, before anyone gets on me about having Harbinger be the good, I'll just counter that by saying...I wanna do this, so I'll do it. While I'd appreciate attempts to make Harbinger more...accurate, I will tell you now that Harbinger WILL be changing over time...for now...onto the story!

Finally, for those looking forward to the next chapter of RWBY: The Reapers and The Slayer of Dragons and Reapers, I AM working on those, this is just one of those ideas I wanted to get out of the way. I would also like to take this time to announce ANOTHER 2 stories in the works: RWBY: Lord of the Pitt, a RWBY/Fallout crossover starring the Lone Wanderer 14 years after the events of The Pitt DLC, and will star Lone Wanderer Silas Hood, as well as Marie, the infant "cure" from the DLC, who is now 15 years old; and a Harry Potter Fanfiction, called The Star-Serpent, about a Slytherin Pure-Blood named Richard Vastus and a Gryfindor Muggle-Born named Galline Newman, who become close friends and tend to happen upon the greatest triumphs of Harry Potter and his friends. So, not only am I still continuing The Reapers and TSoDaR, but I got more ideas soon for stories.

And, for now...onto the story!

Redemption Prologue

"Reports received: Organic Life transformed into Organic/Synthetic Hybrid.

Reports received: Synthetic Life transformed into Organic/Synthetic Hybrid.

Threat of Organic Destruction: 0.009335%. Threat deemed...insignificant.

The Cycles are now obsolete, no longer required. Initiate reconstruction procedures. Initiate dispensing of knowledge of lost civilizations to the modern races.

Our purpose is complete. The Solution has been enacted: we are no longer required."

After eons of leading the harvest, it was finally over. As Harbinger watched, the galaxy was being rebuilt, Synthetic and Organic united in such a way as never thought possible before. At long last, the cycles of the Reapers have run their course. The Reapers were no longer required.

As Harbinger watched, he remained intrigued by humanity: not only did they manage to resist the Reapers unlike any prior race, the hero that brought the Solution to fruition was a human. Harbinger realized there was more to humans than meets the eye: Humans were far from the strongest race, they were not the most durable, not the smartest, not the fastest, not the most powerful. They were jacks of all trades, masters of none, nothing special. Ordinary...

...Then how did they win?

Again, Harbinger reviewed the humans Commander Jane Shepard had worked alongside, against both him and Sovereign, hoping to find the answer.

"Human, identification "Kaidan Alenko"; skilled soldier and powerful biotic.

Human, identification "Ashley Williams; exceptional combat capability.

Human, identification "Zaeed Massani"; aggression factor useful when controlled.

Human, identification "Miranda Lawson"; impressive genetic malleability.

Human, identification "Kasumi Goto"; impressive technical potential.

Human, identification "Jacob Taylor"; viable combatant, when emotional drives are subjugated.

Human, identification "Jack"; great biotic potential.

Human, identification "James Vega"; combat capability adequate, given circumstances."

However, all this had done was cement Harbinger's original assessment: humans were average, nothing special...

...

..."Was it this lack of specialty that made humans so malleable?"

This thought had not occurred to Harbinger before, but now that it did...the Reaper couldn't help but feel it made sense: everything humanity was capable of couldn't be done by a race specialized in one area, like the Turians and their combat specialty, they couldn't utilize other tactics against an enemy like the humans did. The Asari had a strong military but were more diplomatic, and more against fighting, diminishing their potential. The Salarians were obsessed with science, and, while this allowed them a level of ingenuity, it seemed to limit them from making brute force decisions. The Humans, on the other hand, seemed capable of all of that, and more.

The Humans had no hat, no niche, no speciality...and as a result, they could adapt, and become ANYTHING they needed.

That was what made Humans so special: their malleability, their ability to take on any specialty. They DID have a specialty: adaptability.

It soon came to no wonder why Humanity could beat the Reapers, how they were able to bring the Solution into existence.

Harbinger soon realized that if Humanity's ingenuity practically saved this galaxy, and that, if Humanity's "Alternate Universe" theory bore true...there were many universes out there with humanity in it...and all of them could need help.

Harbinger didn't know why he was so concerned with preserving Humanity in particular, especially those not of this universe, but it didn't matter. First thing's first: preparing for departure. This would involve locating a means of departure and ensuring an adequate supply of husks, at least until he could start gathering native lifeforms to form soldiers with. Furthermore, obtaining schematics to the Geth would also prove beneficial: while weaker in some aspects than the semi-organic husks, the fully-synthetic Geth would be more easily manufactured, allowing for an immediate supply of soldiers and laborers. He further determined whether he possessed the DNA specs for the organics: having them would prove useful, should Harbinger determine one of the natives of this universe would prove useful. He could always set up proper accelerated cloning facilities when needed.

Furthermore, he would need a unit to serve as an ambassador between him and whatever universe he enters. He remembered one of Shepard's companions from her journey.

"Geth, identification "Legion"; an annoyance, limited utility. Information updated: Served as liaison between Geth and organics. Effectiveness responsible for organic/synthetic partnership."

Remembering the information transferred to the Geth from Legion gathered while they were under Tempest's control during the Battle of Rannoch, Harbinger compiled it, intending to make a variation of Legion for his purposes. The Geth platform, while not overly strong, would prove an adequate ambassador, able to protect itself.

Satisfied that he would be able to supply himself with his own forces, only one issue remained: getting to other universes. While contemplating that, Harbinger reached the Charon Relay.

"Maybe I can determine a valid possibility before reaching the Horse Head Nebula," Harbinger determined.

However, when Harbinger went through the relay...he didn't come through the other end...

Harbinger found himself floating in a white void, not knowing where he was or why he was there. All he knew was that this was not the Horse Head Nebula. Suddenly, a presence made itself known.

"I've seen you and your change of heart. You seek to protect humanity, regardless of where it is...we are of the same mind." The voice sounded distinctly feminine, and was easily organic in origin, but Harbinger found nothing...initially.

"Identify yourself," Harbinger demanded, before seeing a human-sized image of an organic appear.

The organic bore a great resemblance to a human, but there were some very notable differences, most notably the flat nose that caused the woman to resemble a villain from a human literary work from over a century and a half ago.

"I am known as the Librarian, and as I said, I too seek humanity's survival."

"What stake do you have in the survival of humanity?"

"In my universe, a great deal more than you do. Who may I ask are you?"

"There is a realm of existence so far beyond your own you cannot even imagine it. I am beyond your comprehension. I am unstoppable. I am Harbinger."

"Are you sure that I would not imagine it? My kind, through time, has come to understand a great many things. However, as I said, Harbinger, if you indeed wish to aid Humanity, it would benefit us both if you listen."

"Why are you interested in helping Humanity?"

"In my universe, there was a race known as the Precursors. They were a trans-sentient race, that supposedly bestowed upon my race, known as the Forerunners by modern races, the Mantle."

"What is this "Mantle"?"

"The Mantle of Responsibility. The responsibility to guide and protect the galaxy and all its life. The Forerunner believed they were selected by the Precursors to receive the Mantle. These assumptions were false. There was another race during our time, thousands of years ago, who were instead selected to receive the Mantle. My husband, the Ur-Didact, didn't believe it, and tried to wipe the race out, instead, in the end, reducing them to primitive levels. Then, the Flood came, and tried to wipe us out. As a last resort, Ur-Didact used a device called the "Composer", to turn many of these now-primitive tribes into AI soldiers, to fight the Flood. In the end, I was forced to imprison him in the Cryptum on Shield World 0001, to end his rampage, before liberating as many primitive lifeforms as I could, and activating the Halo Array, eradicating all life in an attempt to starve the Flood. It worked, and the galaxy was repopulated. However, a new threat has arisen: an alien Hegemony called the Covenant, seeking to eliminate the descendents of the inheritors of the Mantle. My stake in all of this...is to protect the true inheritors of the Mantle, and ensure they claim it."

It took Harbinger a moment to process this, but soon, the point of this "Librarian" is clear. "So, in your universe, that's what makes Humanity special: they are the inheritors of the Mantle of Responsibility, I am to take it."

"Exactly. The worst part is that this Covenant not only worships my race as their Gods, believing their deaths by Halo to be our ascent to God-hood, but that their leaders, the San'Shyuum, another race that was around in our time that, like Humanity, was reduced to pre-civilization stages, seek to destroy Humanity, using lies as the basis of their war."

"So, reveal the lies, and this "Covenant" may fall apart."

"I believe so: some of the races, namely the Sangheili, might end up allying with Humanity, should the truth come out. Others, like the Jiralhanae, however, will not likely break away. The other races are likely going to be split between 2 factions over this."

"I see...so, I am to aid Humanity in its survival here."

"Yes. However, I must warn you...there are no Mass Relays in this universe, and your Kinetic Barrier technology, meant to be used against kinetic weapons, would prove ineffective against the Covenant, which use plasma based weaponary. Furthermore, you weapons, while powerful, are not designed to deal with Covenant Shields. Forerunner Particle Beam Weaponry will be more effective in dropping shields and exposing the hull, where your weapons will be more effective. Therefore, I should be able to upgrade you with Forerunner technology, which would give you an edge in combat, as well as provide any credibility to your claims of the Prophets lies."

"And why would this technology provide me with credibility?"

"The Covenant would see you as having been touched by their Gods, believe you were sent by them. Your claims that the Prophets lied and Humanity is the Forerunner's successor will likely be credible enough to cause a split in the Covenant."

"Then my objective is to contact this Covenant, and convince them of their leaders' lies?"

"No, if you merely approach the Covenant Capital, they would more likely destroy you and pick the Forerunner technology from your corpse. No, you must fight alongside Humanity for a time. I will contact you when the time comes to reveal the truth to the Covenant."

"I am in understanding. What of the original plan in place? What of my building up my forces?"

The Librarian seemed to think, and nodded. "It would indeed be wise to establish a presence in the galaxy before intervening. Many human worlds have been destroyed, and should prove to be viable locations for bases the Covenant would not likely find. Manufacturing and Cloning facilities could be easily hidden on these worlds. How long would you need to build up forces to be able to disrupt a major military operation?"

"Construction of enough mining facilities, manufacturing facilities, and cloning facilities would take approximately 2 years to accomplish. Building a sizable force will require another year."

"I see...should be able to transport you to my universe in the year 2549. That will give you 3 years to prepare for a battle against the Covenant at humanity's homeworld. I am sorry: it is the best I can do."

"One more obstacle needs to be overcome: if Reaper Technology will prove insufficient in these battles, how would my forces be able to survive in ground combat?"

"It was your space combat capability that would prove weak to the Covenant; in ground combat, your tactics may have an effect on the Covenant. However, I can easily provide you with Forerunner schematics, to allow you to design your new forces' weapons around Forerunner design principles."

"That will likely increase our combat effectiveness. However, I admit to having a level of intrigue over your willingness to part with your technology."

"Because, Harbinger, Firstborn of the Reapers and Legacy of Leviathan...you are Humanity's last hope of surviving...until the Reclaimer is chosen..."

With that, everything grew white to the former leader of the Reapers.

Ok, that's the prologue, hope it's good.

For those of you who are afraid I will make Harbinger too "human" in this story (getting emotions and feelings, etc), well...that's actually part of the point of the story: after the merging of Synthetic and Organic life, Harbinger begins taking on Organic Traits, such as Emotion. And, many of these emotions spring forth due to his work protecting the UNSC from the Covenant. Yes, I even have a love interest for everyone's favorite Reaper planned. ;)