[Gift from beyond the veil, 1x Random Platinum Ticket] (6 power stones from Gang_Goose!)
[Gift from beyond the veil, 1x Random Gold Ticket] (EternalDream457)
[Spinning, spinning, spinning, done!]
[Mirror]
|Elite Ability|
Allows the user to copy a target's ability through physical contact for 24 hours, as long as the copied ability is Epic rank or below, replacing the Mirror ability. After 24 hours, the ability reverts to Mirror.
'Don't know if there's anyone here worth copying, but it might be useful.' I mused as the humans on the bridge stared at the monitor where the Covenant fleet was amassed in all its glory.
Since I'd warned her, Cortana had thoroughly scrubbed the Ascendant Justice from the records she could and changed the name to something else; that way we could get closer to the rest of the fleet without being shot on sight.
Since the plan was still to blow the station, the Gettysburg had been filled with the non-essential personnel and anyone else not needed for this, and was hiding behind a moon while we did the rest.
I'd been mildly amused when Halsey had asked Vice-Admiral Whitcomb to go chase phantoms on Onyx, but he'd actually heard her out, and Keyes had stepped in to vouch for her. So, Halsey and Kelly had gone away.
While that meant I no longer had to bear with her prodding, I still had to deal with Cortana and the ONI spook still on board.
We were currently limping towards the station for 'repairs' as various dropships ferried troops who had been granted a brief shore leave while the ship was repaired and inspected for 'heretical taint'. Cortana had done a decent job so far of keeping them unaware, but it wouldn't last.
She was already slowing down, just like she had originally when she'd hoarded the halo's data for herself. I felt a twinge of sadness for her, but only just. Had I been thrust into this galaxy during the Human-Covenant War instead of right after the Forerunner-human war, I would have helped.
I didn't, however, so she will have to learn and struggle with all her might if she truly wants to keep them all safe, most of all him.
[They have breached the station. Their Ancilla has infected the station as well.] Mendicant informed me as I glanced towards the command throne. Whitcomb didn't like the throne, so he stood, giving Cortana plenty of room to lounge as she projected herself into the room.
[I have a question]
'Go ahead.' I thought since Mendicant and I were linked through the suit, we didn't have to speak aloud to converse; very convenient.
[The Mantle dictates that the most advanced species take the lead for those below, guiding them so that they do not repeat the mistakes of those above. In this situation, we, you myself and the remaining Forerunners, are the more advanced species.
Why then do you assist the humans in such a ponderous way? Would it not be more efficient to explain to them what would speed their civilization forward, intelligence on their enemies, even technology that would assist them?]
'A good question. The Mantle does call for those who are the most advanced to assist the fledgling species and civilizations, but that does not mean we are to give them all the answers. Take, for example, the human Ancilla, Cortana. If I were to give her access to the Domain and cure her condition, would that help her or be detrimental?'
[Logic is clear: exposing her to the Domain would expand her capabilities and cure her 'rampancy,' thus giving the tools needed to better help her masters. Personal experience contradicts this, however.
I have borne witness to numerous ancillae being driven to such a point even when created within the Domain itself. I was personally driven to such a point by the Parasite; the Domain did not help.
Does this mean you will not help them?]
'No, I will still help them; I'm just not going to throw the answers at them. If I did nothing but give them the answers to all their problems, coddling them like a mother does her child, they would not learn and go on their own.
All sentients, even artificial ones, to an extent require experience to grow. Species have to struggle with their problems to be able to learn from them. If I simply gave them answers to everything, I would take away something valuable.'
[Their ability to learn.]
'Exactly. If they cannot learn to solve such things on their own, what will they do when we leave? How will they combat the Parasite if they cannot defeat an enemy superior to themselves? Despite my fondness of humanity I will not coddle them.
They must learn, just as the Forerunners did, that struggle is the root of all innovation. Struggle against hunger, struggle against war, oppression, the very survival of their species. They must learn these lessons if they are to rise above where they are now.'
Mendicant Bias and I watched the helmet feed from the Spartans in silence as they tore through the station's defenders. Two Spartans were critically injured after a pair of Brutes had crashed through a wall into them, literally.
The damage was done; however, Cortana had split off portions of herself that were already tearing the internal systems of the UnyieldingHierophant apart. It didn't have much longer before it blew.
[Gift from beyond the veil, 1x random Gold Ticket] (Gang_Goose)
[Gift from beyond the veil, 1x random Platinum Ticket] (6 stones from MalKai)
'Spin 'em!'
[Spinning, spinning, spinning, done!]
[Seniority]
|Uncommon Trait|
You are their senior. When interacting with someone younger than you, they are more likely to see you as reliable and trustworthy. It is also easier to exert authority over people who are less experienced than you in a particular field.
'Where was this when Halsey and Cortana were spouting nonsense about the rings?!'
[Burner]
|Uncommon Trait|
You are one with a will to burn, baby. You are more resistant to heat and fire-based effects, while at the same time, your Fire abilities and spells are somewhat more efficient.
'Eh, somewhat useful, I guess.'
I closed the Gacha interface as Cortana evacuated the few humans left on the AscendantJustice. She wasn't actually here; fun fact: she'd gone with John. I don't know if the other human knew that, but Mendicant and I did.
Right now, the fragment of her was trying to convince the Vice-Admiral to leave, but he refused, wanting to buy time for the Spartans and the others to get to the Gettysburg before the massive space station blew up.
I was tempted to knock the old man out, but restrained myself by messing with the Covenant instead as I started setting up a fleet-wide broadcast. The ONI spook was also still here as I told them my plan. The pair actually grinned as I connected to the rest of the fleet, signalling Whitcomb that we were live.
"Attention, alien bastards! While you were all basking in pleasure and stuffing your faces, we were able to not only find one of your rinky-dink halos, but we blew the damn thing up!"
I translated with a smile as I threw in more Sangheili swear words than were needed, as a treat. I kept going as Whitcomb kept speaking.
"And here we are now, spitting on the path you walk and treading within the halls of your ship. After we're done here, I think we might go destroy another ring, unless you honorless lizards are too spineless to face us like true warriors!"
I cut the feed as soon as I finished, as the humans prepared themselves. "Not bad Vice-Admiral. About 50% of the fleet's boarding craft are coming right for us, with dozens of ships moving to keep us boxed in tight."
I helped them move things around as they prepared to go down swinging, as Mendicant informed me that the Spartans and other humans were safe behind the moon. Snapping a salute to the humans, I tore through the ship before bursting out of the hull.
I gleefully tore through the closest corvettes before speeding up so their sensors wouldn't catch me going to the humans. As I stopped above the moon's northern pole, I turned to watch the Unyielding Hierophant shake itself apart as it detonated.
[I still do not understand.]
[Why not help the humans more directly? In the past, the Ecumene protected all the worlds under its rule in accordance with the Mantle.]
'Just as the lesser species must learn, so must we. History repeats itself, and as long as I live, this galaxy will never be weak food to be consumed by the Flood.'
A/N-Tragedy has struck, AO3 is down!!