Epilogue

"For us, the storm has passed. The war, is over." A tired looking lord Hood said somberly. "But let us never forget those who journeyed into the howling dark…and did not return."

Hood looked like he'd seen better days. Rings sat under his eyes, and stress wrinkles made him appear older than he actually was. But it was his eyes that were most notable. They appeared dull, lifeless. Samus noticed all of these things and more as she stood with the small group, gathered on a hillside, surrounded by the open African plains. She was in her Zero suit, feeling that armor was not right for this occasion. She felt the wind brush her hair, a usually relaxing feeling, but today it was anything but. Beside her stood Thel, the Arbiter, as well as a small gathering of soldiers. She shifted her gaze toward the monument that the Admiral stood before. It was nothing more than the wing off a Pelican, and yet its significance was much more.

Names, photos and letters were all attached to the monument, stuck on with tape or just laid on the ground around it. Samus glanced at the photos, like she had so many times since coming here. Many of them, she didn't recognize, but a few she did. The marine, Carmine. The red squad soldiers. Miranda Keyes.

Avery Johnson.

She swallowed, unable to tear her eyes away from the photo. In it, the Sargent was smiling. It was a better final image than the one she remembered. His body burnt, his grimace of pain…

Samus couldn't bear the thought, which caused her pain in her chest. She turned her attention back to lord Hood, in an effort to try and focus on something else.

"For their sacrifice required courage beyond measure." He said, his words ringing loud and clear, though his face looked like he just wanted to stop talking. "Sacrifice, and an unshakable conviction that their fight, our fight, was elsewhere."

Thel sighed beside her. Even he seemed saddened by the speech. He glanced her way, his mandibles clasped tight. She looked at him, once again going over the memories that had led them here.

She had left the hanger on the Dawn to go check on Thel, quickly navigating the corridors of the ship. She'd been feeling ecstatic, relieved. They had destroyed the Flood, and survived. The Covenant was all but gone, and nothing more threatened humanity. She'd smiled as she thought of what she could do next, her first genuine smile since waking up.

Then everything had gone white.

She couldn't comprehend what had happened at the time, but she realized soon after that the ship had been cut in half, the portal home closing with the Dawn only half way through. Samus had been on the Forward half, along with Thel, which plummeted down to Earth and crashed in the ocean. The other half…

Samus instantly stopped thinking about it, skipping forward a few hours. They had crashed, and had waited for 30 minutes before rescue came for them. The both of them had been taken to a nearby UNSC base on the coasts of Africa, were interviewed and debriefed, and were giving some time to recover. That had been two days ago, and the whole time Samus had been dreading this day. The memorial, to those lost in the war. Because despite everything, the deaths, losing friends, there was one thing she just couldn't accept.

She couldn't help it, having resist the urge since she arrived. Her eyes slowly moved, turning her gaze toward one of the 'tributes' on the memorial. This one was unique in that it wasn't a picture, or a name. In fact, rather than being on paper, it was carved into the metal itself. She had never called him by his designation, but she'd heard it enough times to know who it was for.

117

The number repeated in her head like a mantra, and she fought the urge to lash out and strike someone. It made her feel angry, sad, and a range of other emotions all at once. But most importantly, she felt like it wasn't true. It couldn't be true. From what she'd seen, he couldn't die. It was like fate was on his side. He couldn't just vanish like that…

"As we start to rebuild, this hillside will remain barren…a memorial to heroes fallen." Hood continued, his words snapping Samus back into reality. "They ennobled all of us. And they shall not be forgotten."

He took a deep breath, then gave a nod to the soldiers. The men all raised their rifles into the sky, and fired a short burst, a tribute. The sounds were dulled to Samus. What did they matter? Wouldn't bring anyone back from the dead.

Thel tapped her, startling her out of her thoughts yet again. He gave her a nod, then tilted his head toward the Admiral, who now had his back turned to them, staring at the memorial. He started walking toward him, Samus following after a hesitant moment. She wasn't sure she wanted to speak to the man, to hear what he had to say. More importantly, if he brought up working for him, or asking to examine her tech, she felt the day would end with more death.

Hood didn't turn, but he must have heard them, for his next words were quieter, and directed at Thel. "I remember how this war started, what your kind did to mine. I can never forgive you, but…"

He turned then, looking into the aliens eyes for a tense second, before he slowly extended his hand. Thel gazed down at the hand, raising his own just as slowly, the two eventually meeting and shaking loosely.

"You have my thanks. For standing by him till the end…it's hard to believe he'd dead."

There it was again. Another indicator that he was dead. And yet, she just couldn't accept it. Wouldn't. He was alive, he had to be. She knew it.

Thel sighed, his gaze shifting to look down at Samus. "Were it so easy…"

The alien then gazed up to the skies, where the Shadow of Intent hung in the sky, waiting for him. The Elites would return home after today, to Sanghelios. They just waited on their Arbiter now. Thel sighed again, looking down at Samus again. "Are you sure you do not wish to accompany me? You would be an honored guest in my home."

Samus smiled, though she knew it didn't reach her eyes. "No, it's ok. I'll see you around friend."

His eyes tightened slightly, but he nodded. He gave another nod to Hood, and then he turned and left, heading for a Phantom on a distant hillside. Beside it was her Hunter Gunship, which she'd flown here herself. Samus watched the Phantom rise, growing smaller as it ascended toward the Intent. Within moments, they were gone, and with it, Samus felt her last friend leave.

She looked back to the memorial, and realized it was now just her and Hood present, the soldiers departing earlier. Nothing was said between the two for what seemed like hours, the silence just as bad as the words earlier.

"Whatever you want to ask, just ask it. I'm tired of waiting." She finally said, her tone sharp and dangerous. She was not in a mood for games.

Hood didn't reply right away. "I told you at the start of all this that you would be free to go. I stand by my word Samus, you are in charge of your own destiny. What you do from here, is up to you."

The silence resumed, and as Samus looked down at the names and faces of the fallen, she knew exactly what she wanted to do.

She looked at Hood, her features softening slightly. "So I'm free huh? Free to do what I wish?"

Hood looked at her, expression unreadable. "I had hoped you would want to help the UNSC still, after the time you spent with…But yes, you can do what you wish…"He looked behind them, toward the distant Gunship. His eyes tightened. "Tell me, what are you going to do now?"

She wanted to chuckle, the way she usually would. But she just couldn't bring herself to do it. "You haven't already guessed?"

"I have. But Samus…you know the odds right? The chances of finding him…let alone if he's-"

"I know!" She shouted, causing the Admiral to jump. She sighed. "I know…"

She turned to look at him face on, her wall collapsing slightly. She felt a tear fall down her cheek. "But he can't just be left to drift in space. One way or another, I will find him…and bring him back."

Hood watched the tear fall, his own face softening. He looked into her eyes and for the briefest of moments, she was reminded of Admiral Adam. "Well, I wish you all the best Samus. And remember, the UNSC will always be your allies, as long as I am in charge. Do not hesitate to call upon me if you need to."

He extended a hand, which Samus grabbed gently, the two shaking hands slowly. He let go, before giving her a salute. She returned the gesture, and then turned to her ship. She glanced over her shoulder at Hood as she walked, but he had returned to staring at the monument, the proud man now looking a lot older then when she'd first met him.

She made it to her Gunship, stepping into the entry hatch under the ship, and waited for it to retract inside. She immediately made her way to the pilot's chair, typing in commands. A small holomap appeared on the ships windscreen, which Samus gazed at. It featured worlds and systems she'd learnt of since working with the UNSC, and others that they would have no idea existed. It was a big Galaxy…

"Do you have a course in mind, lady?" Adam asked, appearing on the dash. She gave him a brief smile and shook her head.

"Not yet, I just want to get out of here…" She muttered.

He nodded, his expression, usually neutral, sad. He vanished, and she felt the ship begin to start up. The quiet hum, and very faint vibrations. It comforted her slightly. As the ship began to lift off, and looked down at the monument one last time. Ever from this far away, she felt like she could see his number like it was right in front of her.

"I'm coming John…"

"John! Wake up!"

Chief felt his body slowly come too. His eyes opened groggily, and he reached for a handhold to stand with. When he couldn't find one, he realized he wasn't laying down, but floating in the air.

"What happened?" He asked, voice rough. How long had he been out?"

Cortana hesitated before elaborating. "When Halo fired, it shook itself to pieces. Did a number on the Ark. The portal couldn't sustain itself. We made it through just as it collapsed…"

John looked behind him, and took a breath. Behind them was nothing. Half the ship was missing, and the vastness of space stared back at him.

"Well…some of us made it."

He sighed, he understood. They were stuck in uncharted space, with no way of contacting the UNSC. He gazed around, noticing lights still flickering.

"Cortana, does the ship still have power?"

"Yes, though it's limited. I could pool resources to power one or two things for an extended time. Why?" She asked, sounding curious and doubtful.

He didn't answer, instead pushing himself off a wall and moving himself deeper into the ship. He winded through corridors, avoiding bits of debris floating due to no gravity. He made his way to the Cryo chamber, and as they entered Cortana understood. She sighed.

"I can drop a beacon, but it could take a while before anyone finds us…years even." She said, pausing. John began to climb into the tube, stopping only to shelve his rifle on a nearby rack. As the pod closed he thought he'd heard her take a deep breath.

"I'll miss you…"

He felt the effect of the Cryo tube taking effect, and he fought to tell her something comforting. But his brain was shutting down.

"Wake me…when you need me." He managed.

She seemed startled, before laughing lightly. John looked at her as his eyes began to droop. And as he passed out, his final thought was about her.

About the woman in blue.

And that my lovely readers is it for this story. I really hoped you enjoyed the ride, and do hope you will fav/review it if you did.

I will soon be posting the beginnings of the next story, Halo 4:Past is Prologue, so keep your eyes keen if you wish to see the story continued. Otherwise, thank you so much for reading! Until next time.