Two Betrayals
[Begin first cutscene]
[We're in the control-room again. The Master Chief and 343 Guilty Spark suddenly teleport onto the scene]
343 Guilty Spark: "-Which means that any organism with sufficient mass and cognitive capability is a potential vector."
[The Master Chief looks around the room]
343 Guilty Spark: "...Is something wrong?"
MC: "No, uh...Nothing."
343 Guilty Spark: "Splendid. Shall we?"
[The Chief begins to walk toward the terminal in the center of the room, 343 Guilty Spark floats to it]
343 Guilty Spark: "Unfortunately, my usefulness to this particular endeavor has come to an end. Protocol does not allow units with my classification to perform a task as important as the reunification of the Index with the Core...That final step is reserved for you, Reclaimer."
[The Master Chief arrives at the terminal and inserts the Index. A large funnel-shaped teal-colored hologram appears and rotates a few times]
343 Guilty Spark: "Odd. That wasn't supposed to happen."
Cortana: "Oh really."
[Cortana appears in the holographic display area, 343 Guilty Spark is suddenly thrown 15 feet away and hits the floor, seemingly kicked by some unseen force]
MC: "Cortana!"
Cortana: "I've spent the last 12 hours cooped up in here watching you toady about, helping that thing get set to slit our throats."
MC: "Hold on now, he's a friend."
Cortana: "Oh! I didn't realize...He's your pal, is he? Your chum? Do you have any idea what that bastard almost made you do??"
MC: "Yes...Activate Halo's defenses, and destroy the Flood. Which is why we brought the Index to the control-center."
Cortana: "You mean this?"
[Cortana holds up a holographic version of the Index]
343 Guilty Spark: "A construct, in a Core? That is absolutely unacceptable!"
Cortana: "Sod off!"
343 Guilty Spark: "What impertinence...I shall purge you at once!!"
Cortana: "You sure that's a good idea?"
343 Guilty Spark: "How...How...How dare you!? I'll-"
Cortana: "-Do what? I have the Index, you can just float and sputter."
MC: "Enough! ...The Flood is spreading. If we activate Halo's defenses, we can wipe them out."
Cortana: "You have no idea how this ring works, do you? Why the Forerunners built it? Halo doesn't kill Flood, it kills their food. Humans, Covenant, whatever. We're all equally edible. The only way to stop the Flood is to starve them to death. And that's exactly what Halo is designed to do, wipe the galaxy clean of all sentient life. You don't believe me? Ask him."
[The Chief turns to 343 Guilty Spark]
MC: "Is it true?"
343 Guilty Spark: "More or less. Technically, this instillation's pulse has a maximum effective radius of 25,000 light-years. But once the others follow suit, this galaxy will be quite devoid of life...Or at least any life with sufficient biomass to sustain the Flood. But you already knew that...I mean...How couldn't you?"
Cortana: "Left out that little detail, did he?"
343 Guilty Spark: "We have followed outbreak containment procedure to the letter. You were with me each step of the way as we managed this crisis."
Cortana: "Chief, I'm picking up movement."
343 Guilty Spark: "Why would you hesitate to do what you have already done?"
Cortana: "We need to go, right now."
[Sentinels begin to surround the area while 343 Guilty Spark talks. The Chief removes Cortana from the terminal and replaces her chip into his helmet]
343 Guilty Spark: "Last time, you asked me...If it were my choice, would I do it? Having had considerable time to ponder your query, my answer is not changed. There is no choice. We must activate the ring."
Cortana: "Get us out of here."
343 Guilty Spark: "If you are unwilling to help, I will simply find another. Still, I must have the Index. Give your construct to me, or I will be forced to take her from you."
MC: "That's not going to happen."
343 Guilty Spark: "So be it. Save his head. Dispose of the rest."
[343 Guilty Spark teleports away, leaving the Sentinels with the Chief]
[End first cutscene]
------
[Begin second and final cutscene]
[The Master Chief is standing in front of a pulse generator]
MB: "Let's find a ride and get to the Captain."
Cortana: "No, that'll take too long."
MC: "You have a better idea?"
Cortana: "There's a teleportation grid that runs throughout Halo, that's how the Monitor moves about so quickly. I learned how to tap into the grid when I was in the control-center. Unfortunately, each jump requires a rather...consequential expenditure of energy."
MC: "Something tells me I'm not gonna like this."
Cortana: "But I'm pretty sure I can pull it from your suit without permanently damaging your shields. Needless to say, I think we should only try this once."
MC: "Good."
[The Master Chief disappears in a column of orange light]
[End final cutscene]
