Prologue

The Ark, Beyond the Galactic Rim, 2553

UNSC Master Chief Petty Officer John-117, SPARTAN, clung for dear life as they rocketed away from the Ark onboard the frigate Forward Unto Dawn, and towards the portal home. Pulling himself around a console in the main hangar, he collapsed in an exhausted heap, and allowed himself a rare opportunity to relax, although just a little.

It's finished, he thought. I've done what I came to do, and now it is up to the fates and luck. At that moment a distinctly soft female voice spoke to him, sensual yet with an underlying sense of strength and determination. Cortana, his ever loyal and trusted artificial intelligence, and a constant voice of confidence and guidance, seemed at a loss with the massive radiation pulse of Halo nipping at their heels and slowly gaining ground as they raced towards the portal.

"If we don't make it....." She started, but was cut off by the Chief.

"We'll make it," was his only reply.

"It's been an honor serving with you, John." She hardly ever called him by his first name, and when she did it was usually when he was injured or alone. The Chief, a man of very few words, resigned to closing his eyes, leaning his head back against the console and accepted his fate just as the white flash of Halo's pulse threatened to overrun them.

A slightly different time and in a much different place.........

"Chief, chief can you hear me?" Came Cortana's inquiry. Groggily, John fought his eyes open. At first he could not see anything, but he flicked his helmet's light on, illuminating the darkened cabin. "Ah, I thought I'd lost you too." Came Cortana's relieved expression.

"What happened?" The Chief queried as he surveyed his surroundings.

"I'm not sure, when Halo fired it shook itself to pieces. Did a number on the Ark though." Cortana's tone had dropped almost half an octave, betraying a sense of loss and defeat. "We made it through the portal just as it collapsed......." She paused as the Chief turned and saw space where there should have been a bulkhead. Looking out, it was apparent, the frigate had been cleaved neatly in two. "Well, some of us made it."

The Chief slowly nodded his head and closed his eyes, floating down a darkened passageway.

"But you did it. Halo, Truth, The Covenant, and The Flood. It's finished."

"It's finished." The Chief replied, his voice even more gruff, the edge of exhaustion finally working in as he faced Cortana, her blue avatar shimmering on a localized holoprojector.

"I'll drop a distress beacon, but it could be a while before anyone finds us." She paused, then continued, "years even." The Chief did not even look up as he locked his MA5C assault rifle on a nearby rack, then moved to settle himself into the cryopod.

Before the door to the pod shut, Cortana gave the Chief one last glance, and he, for his part met it. "I'll miss you," she said softly and her avatar hugged herself.

"Wake me, when you need me," was John's reply, and allowed himself a smile. Cortana looked up and smiled back, then down again. The Chief fell silent, the green armored giant at last resting comfortably.........for now.

At the same time in a not so different place.......

The gates have been unlatched

Headstones pushed aside

Corpses shift

A fate you must abide!

Then the voice fell silent in a deep slumber.