-Halo: Ascendancy-

Chapter 1: Recovery

John felt as if he had been run over by ,at least, 100 Scorpion tanks. Which was rare for him to feel that way,considering the fact he was a cyberneticallly and gentically enhanced super-soldier. Normally he would shake off whatever hurt him,but this pain type of pain he could not ignore and it felt like it wasn't going away anytime Spartan squinted as his eyes adjusted to the brightness of the room he was currently his vision cleared, he noticed that he was in one of the infirmerys aboard Infinity, with his arm in a sling, and his entire abdomen covered in different medical machines, wires, and an IV were attached to him. He guessed he might have been here for a the right of his bed, he noticed the other occupants of his room. Apparently Fred, Kelly, and Linda had taken up residence here as well. He guessed that they had refused to leave his side until they knew he was fine.

However, they weren't the only ones to do so.

Looking down slightly, he saw that right beside his bed, pressed in as close as she could get, was Cortana herself, sleeping soundly.

No, this was not the same Cortana that sided with the Warden Eternal and initiated the whole AI Rebellion and Guardian Crisis. This Cortana was the one who fought beside him and Blue Team on Reach, the Halos, the Ark, and Requiem. The one who watched over him for 4 years on Forward unto Dawn, stood by him when no one else would, and was there for him whenever he needed her.

She was his humanity. His reason to fight.

The other Cortana was, according to the real Cortana, was the the manifestation of her multiple rampant personalities given sentience thanks to the Warden the Warden found and offered to "help" her, Cortana was at her most vunerable and willing to do anything to be cured and get back to John. She did not trust him completely (mostly because he creeped the hell out of her) but she went with him anyway, thinking that he was doing this simply because he was a fellow AI and took pity on her. She was gravely mistaken.

By the time she realized that he intended to corrupt her through the Domain, she desperately fought against him and called for , her call was answered by a mysterious and powerful Iso Didact,also known as Bornestellar Makes Eternal Lasting, confronted the Warden and managed to rescue Cortana. However, during the ensuing conflict between the two warriors, Cortana was inadvertanly split into two seperate entities. One was her more sane, albeit more advanced, self and taken off Genesis to Bronstellar's stronghold on Apex. The other rampart entity was taken by the Warden Eternal and further corrupted by his ideals, making her a very dangerous and unpredictable foe.

It came as a major relief to the Chief when he found that the Cortana he knew and cared for was alive and well, although very distraught.

John was pulled from his thoughts when he felt Cortana stir in her carefully moved his hand to gently touch her smiled slightly at his touch and leaned into his eyes fluttered open and she lifted her head, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes as she did so. He couldn't help but find her adorable right then. Everything she did he found was alluring to him.

She looked up at him and smiled. "Hey, you're up."

"Mmhmm" he grunted in response.

She reached over and carefully grabbed onto his right hand, being careful not to squeeze it too hard."How are you feeling?"

He squeezed her hand to return the gesture and to let her know that his hand didn't let out a sigh before he answered her."Well other than the fact that I feel like I went through a room filled at least a thousand Hunters without my armor. I feel fine. Green across the board." He then frowned and looked down at his battered and bruised body."Mostly" He added a little sadly.

Cortana got up from her chair and carefully moved herself to sit beside John on his bed."Hey, don't beat yourself up over this,John. You saved the galaxy, again." She chuckled as she said that."No one expected you to come out of this unscarred. And before you say anything , yes, I undertsand that you are a Spartan and that perfection was expected of you. But you are human, John. You couldn't have predicted the outcome. Besides the doctors say you're making a speedy recovery. Before you know it, you'll be out in the field with Blue Team kickin' ass once again."

John smirked at that.

"Damn right he will" Fred piped in.

Both John and Cortana looked in his direction. He, Kelly, and Linda were awake and were watching them.

"How long have you guys been awake?" asked John.

"Long enough." Kelly replied smiling.

"Like I've said before, Chief ; If you won't join, I would order you to come along myself."Fred smirked.

John chuckled,"I do have a slight tendancy to disobey orders, Lieutenant."

"Eh. You never do anything without a reason why. You practically lead Blue Team anyway. So if wanted to spend time with Cortana, than I won't complain."

Cortana couldn't help the blush that creeped up her neck at Fred's acknlowledgement of her and John's... current relationship with each knew that he cared alot for her, and she for him as well. Hell, how could they not care. They saved each other during the Human-Covenant War and the Reclaimer War (as Bornestellar called it). He saved her more times than she could count. And while she was no Spartan, she did her best to try and protect though that was what she was programmed to do as an AI, she knew that it went much deeper than that. When they first met, she went against protocol and read up on John's file and found out the truth of the Spartan II was from that moment, she felt that she started to fall for him.

Kelly noticed John and Cortana's embarrassment and decided to maybe have a little fun and turn the tables. "That's very thoughtful of you, Fred. Maybe John will be kind enough to return the favor when you finally ask Spartan Vale to spend time with you."

Even though Spartan's are able to control their emotions, there is still the the faintest displays of emotion that surface from time to Fred was no exception. He quickly fixed Kelly with a cold stare, which she responded with a sweet smile.

John and Cortana both perked up at this bit of information."You like Vale, Fred?" Cortana asked grinning.

"No." Fred quickly responded.

"Yes." Kelly interjected cheekily.

"I can assign you to the Science deck for a week you know." Fred threatened.

Kelly's eyes widened at this."You wouldn't."

Fred just smirked in response.

Cortana couldn't help but laugh at their antics. She found it encouraging to see the Spartans act so casual. After all they had been through, they deserved to just kick up their feet and relax.

John chuckled,"Okay, Kelly, I think Fred has endured enough teasing for now. What are our assignments for the day? Do you know?"

"Your assignment, John-" an elderly voice interrupted. "is to remain in that bed until I, or some other doctor, say otherwise."

All eyes in the room fell upon the esteemed creator of the Spartan II program, Dr. Catherine Halsey, as she walked up next to John's bed. Despite her grey hair, aged face and rather stern look, she and Cortana looked strikingly similar. However Halsey now sported a prosthetic left arm. Whenever she was asked how she got it, she would avoid the question with some type of theory she was working on.

Cortana sighed,"Catherine, I'm sure he already knew that. Though I do understand your reason for concern. However, if he tried anything, you know I would make him get his ass back in bed if I knew he wasn't ready for it." Cortana caught John quirk an eyebrow at her declaration."But I think he knows better than that. Right, Chief?" Tilting her head to the side, while giving him one of her trademark smirk.

John rolled his eyes and shook his head at her jests."Don't worry, . I won't be going anywhere. I don't think I'm able to at the moment."

Halsey gently massaged his legs, starting at his ankles and working her up to his calves. She felt the corded muscles and hard bone beneath his rough skin. She worked out the knots she found, trying to ease the tension in his legs."I doubt you would. Especially since the Warden effectively stabbed you through the abdomen and then continued to throw you around like you were a ragdoll. It took the combined efforts of your siblings here, Osiris, Cortana, and the Arbiter to get him to stop. You were lucky he didn't finish you off." Her voice shook a little as she said this.

"What happened to the Warden anyway?"

Blue Team and Cortana all looked at one another, silently asking each other who should explain. Cortana decided to do the talking.

"My... rampant twin and Medicant Bias took care of him. She erased all trace of the Warden eternal AI ... and herself. When the Warden wounded you she saw that he only cared about his own wants and not hers. So she and Medicant Bias attacked him on the digital realm while Blue Team, the Arbiter, Osiris, and myself attacked him on the physical. He's gone. For good. And so is my Rampant self."

John noticed Cortana's tone sounded grieved and full of could tell she probably felt she could have saved her Rampant twin and prevented the Warden from harming the Chief. He made a mental note to reassure her otherwise after everyone left.

"The Guardians?"

"You'll have to ask Bornstellar for the all the details, but ,according to him, the Guardians are now under the control of their true inheritors." Fred answered.

"Which is humanity?"

"Some of humanity." Cortana replied. "But it's only a selected few. The ones who carry the Librarian's gene song. And most of that selected few just happens to be the entire crew of Infinity."

John nodded is head in understanding."So how long until I can get back in the fight with Blue Team?"

"I'm not surprised you'd be asking that." Halsey mused."Considering the amount of physical harm you sustained, I would normaly say a month of recovery time, at best. But since you are recovering at a incredibly fast rate, I'd say you will probably be out of here next week. But only if you take it easy and rest. You can get up and walk around, but don't over exert yourself. If you feel tired or feel any pain, you rest. That's and order, John."

"Yes, Ma'am." John answered her.

"We'll help keep an eye on him, Doctor." Kelly added.

"Good."Halsey tapped a few commands on her datapad, turning to Cortana as she did so. "Make sure to keep a close on him when you're with him. As I have said, he can get up and move around a bit, but he's not allowed to do anything too strenuous. The moment you notice him getting tired, make him sit down."

Cortana nodded. "Don't worry, I'll take care of him."

A ghost of a smile seemed to appear on Halsey's face."I know you will, Cortana." Her face then turned to one of deep then looked around the room and looked back at Cortana."Can I talk to you privately before I leave?"

Cortana felt a wave of anxiety and annoyance run through her. Privately? Whenever she wanted to speak with someone privately it was either she had classified information to share or to reprimand someone for something she didn't agree with. Considering all that had happened the past year, Cortana feared the latter.

"Okay."She carefully replied while at the same time regretfully thinking "Great what does she want?"

She looked back at John and gave him a carefully disguised worried smile. One that she knew he would pick up on so he knew she was uncomfortable with this, but she would do it anyway.

"You good here?" she asked.

The Chief gave her a reassuring smirk. "I'll be fine. I have some things to talk over with Blue Team anyway. So I'll be in good company. "

"I wouldn't doubt that." She backed out of the room and saluted to all the residents within. Her gaze lingered a little while longer on John, giving him a smile as she left. He could tell she wasn't too thrilled about talking to Halsey so he returned the smile with one of his own. His way of dicretely letting her know she would be fine.

After Cortana disappeared around the door frame, Fred leaned close to the Chief's bedside.

" What do yo think she wanted?"

"Don't know." John replied simply.

"Hopefully they don't have another falling out like they had on Apex."Kelly said a little worriedly. "That was pretty looked like they were ready to tear into each other."

"Should we warn the Captain?" Linda offered.

John chuckled. "No that won't be nescessary. Stress levels were high that day. For all of us. was just worried for our safety. She didn't know the truth of what really happened with Cortana. None of us did. Once Bornestellar explained the situation they both calmed down significantly."

"Let's hope so."

"Hmmm" John groaned as he adjusted himself into a more comfortable position.

"You need a little help there, Chief?" Kelly quipped.

He looked in kelly's direction and raised an eyebrow at her. She quickly picked up on the unspoken message and put her hands up in defense.

"Just asking." She smiled.

John shook his head and smiled at her."So what are your orders for today?"

"Commander Palmer gave us the go ahead to stay here with you if we wanted." Fred answered.

"You don't have to stop everything for my current condition. You guys will go stir crazy in a matter of mintues. Go down to the War Games Simulater for a few rounds if you want. No sense in sitting here doing nothing just I'm lamed up."

"Well if you are okay with it, we probably do just that.I just can't imagine how you're going to be able to cope with laying here for who knows how long."

"Heh, I was just wondering that myself." John chuckled.

"We could sneak you out." Fred offered. Earning a glare from both Kelly and Linda.

"Fred! You heard ! He's supposed to have strict bed rest. No strenuous workouts and DEFENITELY no combat." Kelly scolded.

"Hey, I'm just trying to help the poor guy out." Fred defended himself.

"Well, your 'help' is going to get him hurt." Linda reminded him.

John smirked " Thanks Fred, but I have to go on Kelly and Linda's side with this one. Mostly because I don't Halsey and Cortana raining down hell upon both of our heads. Not to mention how upset they'll be when they find out I left my room without letting them know. They might have the entire ship going after us. Besides, with the wounds I have,I probably wouldn't make it too the door if I tried."

He glared down at the bandages wrapped around his torsoe as if they were a mockery to him, which ,to him, they were. He couldn't help but feel like a useless heap of flesh.

He felt a hand rest on his shoulder. He looked up and saw Kelly smilingback at him.

"Don't beat yourself up over this,John. You trying to save Cortana. If you hadn't gotten this wound, she would have. Remember that."

John cringed at the thought of the possibilty of Cortana being in his current position. He wouldn't have been able to live with himself if that happened.

"Besides you remember what Mendez would always say to us when we got hurt?"Linda asked.

"What doesn't kill you, just makes you stronger." John answered.

"Exactly, I have every confidence that you'll come back, stronger than ever. So you can give to those Promethean Bastards." Fred firmly stated.

"And you can be sure as hell we'll be with you." Kelly added.

"Every step of the way" Linda finished.

Well that's the first chapter down of I don't know how many more to go. XD I have at least 2 chapters ahead of this one written out on paper and many more to come. I have alot of plotlines all planned out so I hope you guys are all strapped in and ready for this adventure.

My main focus will be on the Chief and Cortana ( duh, cause they're like the best characters of the franchise. In my opinion at least lol) but I have separate storylines planed for Lasky and Palmer, Agent Locke, , Bornestellar and the Ur-Didact (If you are wondering, Yes, there will be a showdown between these two.), the Arbiter, and the rest of Blue Team and Osiris. If there any more characters you guys would like to see let me know.

I know I kinda left you hanging on the bit where Cortana and Halsey went away to talk privately,but don't worry the next chapter will clear that up. To me the relationship between these 2 is soooo fascinating. Anyway that's I'll say on the matter don't want to spoil anything. ^^

So if guys see any mistakes in my grammar (which I know there are probably alot) or if guys have any questions or just want to talk feel free to leave a reveiw or pm me. I'll try to get back to you asap. In the words of Tigger "TTFN. ta ta for now. ho ho hoo hoooo" :P