Requiem

What was left of the Dawn was drifting aimlessly through space.

For 2 weeks Sean and Cortana had drifted aimlessly through space waiting for a rescue part to find and save them.

However now something was happening.

Cortana was checking the ships life support to make sure there was enough power to power the Cryo Chamber when an orange light in the form of a flat beam scanned the ship.

Now Cortana knew something was up and started to unfreeze Sean from Cyro.

"Wake up Sean. I need you." Cortana said as the glass began to clear revealing Sean with the Oxygen mask on still on.

Sean groaned as he began to wake up.

"What the?" Sean placing his hands on the glass.

"Sean's it's alright. You've been out for a while." Cortana said.

"Where are we?" Sean asked calming down.

"Still aboard the Dawn." Cortana said.

"So why did you wake me then?" Sean asked.

"Hang on I'm activating the Ship's gravity generators." Cortana said as regular gravity was restored before Sean got out of his pod.

"Let's get to work." Sean said taking her chip before placing it on his wrest.

"We've got intrusion alerts on multiple decks." Cortana said.

"Are you sure it's not a rescue team?" Sean asked before the ship shook violently.

"I wouldn't bet on it." Cortana said as Sean rushed to the observation deck.

"How long was I out?" Sean asked.

"About a full 2 weeks." Cortana said.

"Someone should have found us by now." Sean said before the orange scanning light appeared again. "What the? What is that?" Sean asked.

"Sensor scan, high intensity. Doesn't match any known patterns." Cortana said.

"How close are we to the observation deck?" Sean asked.

"It's directly above us!" Cortana said and Sean went to the Elevator. "Sean, Wait a minute!" Cortana yelled as he opened the doors only to get sucked it.

"Whoa!" Sean yelled as he grabbed onto a ledge. "Oh right I forgot. Most areas lost pressure since this thing split in two." Sean said before climbing his way up to observation deck only to come face to face with a commando Droid who grabbed him by the neck before Sean tore its head off. "I thought Ultron used up all the droids the Regime had." Sean said.

"He might have. But don't forget these are Trade federation droids. And there has to be factories." Cortana said as Sean reached the observation deck and encountered more Regime troops both Droids and Locust before Sean killed them all with ease.

"Why are they even here? Did they trace the beacon?" Sean asked.

"No. I made sure only the Alliance could find it. Plus judging from the battle formations we might only be dealing with a small platoon." Cortana said before Sean opened the blast doors showing the outside.

"Yeah I don't think so." Sean said seeing over at least a 20 Cruisers. "They're here for something. But I don't think their after me." Sean said.

"Then what are they after?" Cortana asked.

"Let's get outside and fire the missiles. I don't want them to get any bright ideas." Sean said before switching out his mask that was almost out of Oxygen with a fresh one.

Fighting through the Regime and heading outside to the missiles was easy. Then they saw something that was completely new to them.

"I'm sorry. Did I miss the fact that we were over a Forerunner Planet?" Cortana said seeing the massive planet that was encased in a metal barrier.

"Thats what this is about. Forerunner tech. Don't forget they tried to acquire those ships a while ago." Sean said before heading to the missile control system and tried to fire at the cruiser only for it to jam. "Figures. Gotta do it the hard way." Sean said heading for the missile before lining it up and fired at a cruiser and destroyed it.

"Ready for the next one?" Cortana asked before the orange scanner came back and scanned Sean. "The Regime wasn't the one scanning us." Cortana said as it came for the planet before it began to open up and started sucking in everything from the outside.

"Oh crap." Sean said. "Please tell me theres still escape pods." Sean asked.

"It's to late!" Cortana yelled as the entire ship was sucked inside the planet.

Minutes later

What was left of the Dawn was now a wrecked crash. A pile of Ruble began to move before Sean appeared out of it unharmed.

"Well, that was fun." Sean said before looking at the landscape.

"Strange. This planet is completely artificial yet everything seems so...Real." Cortana said.

"Yeah even an artificial sun." Sean said looking up at the sky. "I'll hand it to those Forerunners. They were really smart." Sean said before he found a few Warthogs. "As Turok said. Nature provides." Sean said getting in the Driver seat before driving off.

"I'm picking up a faint transmission on the high band." Cortana said as both listened to it but only got static.

"Not Regime thats for sure." Sean said.

"You seem a little unfocused." Cortana said.

"Is it that obvious?" Sean asked.

"Is it because of Doom? I know you two were good friends before the Storm..." Cortana said.

"Thats a small part of the reason and yes I'm sad about his death but no. I keep thinking about what Spark said. Being a descendent of the General. What did he mean by that?" Sean asked.

"You're asking me?" Cortana asked since she was just as confused.

"Was he talking about an ancient Human? Or something else?" Sean asked.

"Well, he did say ancient Humans were just as talented as the Forerunners if not more." Cortana said.

"I need more information and hopefully it's here." Sean said continuing to drive before he ran into crash survivors of the Regime before taking them out.

"What I want to know is why they even want to be here? After what Ultron pulled you'd think they'd want nothing to do with Forerunner tech." Cortana said.

"Anything to give them an edge. This tech is the highest all around." Sean said before he reached a structure. "This is as far as we go by vehicle." Sean said getting out and entered the structure.

"Theres that phantom signal again." Cortana said as it kept coming out all static but you could definitely hear something this time.

"It's getting more clear. Whatever it is must be moving." Sean said before entering a room full of sentinels. "Figures." Sean said walking past them.

"Over there. Theres a console." Cortana said making him walk to it and inserted Cortana inside.

"Well?" Sean asked.

"It's a localized site cartographer. Ah heres the name of the facility. A shield world known as Requiem." Cortana said.

"Well, at least now we know where we even are." Sean said before they got a more clear transmission coming from A ship known as Infinity. "Infinity? It's finished?" Sean asked.

"Another one of your projects?" Cortana asked.

"It was a massive cruiser with mixed technology of the Alliance. With Forerunner Engines we found when we found those ships. I'm surprised it's already finished even more so that it's on the move." Sean said.

"We'll we can't contact them here. We need something strong enough to generate a clean signal." Cortana said scanning the planet till she found something inside the core of the planet.

"The planet must be hollow like the last one." Sean said.

"Then let's get moving." Cortana said.

"Wait. See if you can get access to anyone known as the General." Sean said.

"Oh right sure." Cortana said before doing so. "I got it." Cortana said and he placed her chip back on his wrest.

"So what can you tell me?" Sean asked.

"Well, most of the files are heavily encrypted. What I can tell you is this guy was a prodigal Genius on the battlefield. But any other information regarding him is kept hidden. I'll keep trying to break the encryption." Cortana said.

Heading back outside they saw the Sentinels keeping the Regime out of a certain building.

"Looks like the Sentinels are trying to keep the Regime out for some reason." Cortana said.

"Let's try our luck." Sean said approaching them but they just ignored him.

"Never ceases to amaze me how lucky you get." Cortana said.

"I think I get it from mom." Sean said chuckling before they entered the building.

"I got another signal from Infinity. I managed to clear it up some more." Cortana said This time it was much more clear but still a little hard to understand other than a few small words.

"Sounded like he said artifact." Sean said.

"Wonder if it's related to what the Regime are after." Cortana said as they entered a room with a Terminal which Sean put Cortana in.

"Got anything useful?" Sean asked.

"Not much this is only one of a thousand terminals all over the planet. But when I accessed the Cartographer this symbol came up. One you recognize." Cortana said showing it.

"The symbol of Reclaimer. Humanity." Sean said.

"I also got some more information on the General. He was a someone highly respected by the Forerunners. In a sense he was the leader of the mantle of responsibility. He made millions of plans. Plans within plans and so on. But thats all the information I have on him right now." Cortana said.

"This guy sounds like a Forerunner. How can I be a descendent of a Forerunner when all my DNA is clearly human?" Sean asked.

"Well, you don't look Forerunner. Maybe Spark just had you confused with him." Cortana said trying to activate a portal when something happened. Strange metal Creatures that were unknown to them appeared by did nothing.

"Cortana! Get us out of here!" Sean said as she activated a portal and he quickly inserted her into his wrest before jumping through.

"Ok that I was not expecting." Cortana said.

"What were those things?" Sean asked.

"I don't know. They almost looked...Human." Cortana said.

"I've had my fill of Creatures that look human 12 years ago on Sharks Tooth Island." Sean said as they walked outside seeing something in a purple sphere. "Now what do we have here?" Sean asked inserting Cortana into a console. "We're in the core I'm guessing." Sean said.

"This is Requiems core alright. And that thing in the center is some kind of satellite. If we can get to it we can contact infinity." Cortana said.

"How?" Sean asked.

"Those beams are shielding it from us." Cortana asked.

"So take down the Shields and we can access the satellite?" Sean asked.

"Yes. I'm opening a portal." Cortana said doing so and Sean placed her back on his wrest.

Arriving at the West side Sean saw they were in a Barren land.

"Why aren't we at the shield generator?" Sean asked.

"This was as close as I could get us." Cortana said. "You'll have to walk the rest of the way." Cortana said.

"I need to stretch my legs anyway." Sean said walking to the generator.

Along the way they encountered those creatures but for some reason they refused to attack him.

"Why are they not attacking us?" Sean asked.

"I don't know. Maybe their like the Sentinels and have a program not to attack reclaimers." Cortana said.

"No thats not it. Spark had the same programing but he went against it and killed Doom. No...Something else is going on." Sean said as they approached the first Generator and shut it off.

"I just got another transmission from Infinity. They're nearing the gravity well." Cortana said.

"Have you tried to warn them?" Sean asked.

"Yes, but they're not responding. We need to take down the other Shield Generator." Cortana said before opening a portal to go back to where they were before and once they arrived there they saw a few Regime Cruisers. "I was wondering why Infinity hadn't encountered the Regime." Cortana said.

"The hell'r they doing?" Sean asked.

"They're going to the Shield Generator." Cortana said.

"That can't be a coincidence." Sean said.

"What are you thinking?" Cortana asked.

"Theres something more to that satellite then we're seeing. I can feel it in my bones." Sean said as they entered the next portal to the shield generator on the East.

Now the Creatures still didn't attack them but they did attack the Regime even their human Russian members.

"So much for not attacking Reclaimers." Cortana said.

"They must have some kind of programing that won't let them attack us." Sean said as they neared the generator.

"By the way I got some more information on the General. During his campaign against the flood he was only able to halt their advances. Even he was no match against them so he made one last plan. Care to guess what it was?" Cortana asked.

"The Halo Rings." Sean said.

"Bingo. He was the one who activated the Ark. However it mentions something about a rebirth plan. I'm not sure what it is though." Cortana asked.

"Is that all?" Sean asked.

"Thats as much information I could gather." Cortana said.

"Hmm." Sean said before approaching the shield generator and deactivated it.

"Still can't reach Infinity. We need to reach the center and use that Satellite to reach them." Cortana said before they entered a portal and went right back where they started again.

"The Regime is heading to the Satellite as well." Sean said.

"This doesn't make any sense. Why would they care about a broadcast relay?" Cortana asked.

"I don't think it's that simple." Sean said as they entered the portal and went to the Satellite where both the creatures and the Regime were already fighting.

"We need to hurry before Infinity enters the well." Cortana said and Sean quickly rushed through the Regime and surprisingly the Creatures escorted him to the control panel.

"At least they're helping." Sean said as he reached the control panel before placing his hands on it.

"Infinity, this is Commander Kruger of the UNSC Forward Unto Dawn Please Respond." Sean said but instead heard his message repeated on the Satellite. "Hmm?" Sean said as the sphere started to move before a powerful wave blasted the Regime back but left Sean unharmed before the lower half opened up revealing something unbelievable.

"A Forerunner?" Sean asked as the man began to have armor appear on his body before looking up at Sean.

"So the General's prophecy came true. As expected of my old friend." The Forerunner said before he began to take control of the beasts having their color go from blue to orange. "He even left commands for my Prometheans to guard and protect you to secure my release." The Forerunner said.

"Who...Are you?" Sean asked.

"I am the Didact. The creator of the Prometheans. And an old friend of your ancestor the General." The Didact said.

"The General? He was a Forerunner correct?" Sean asked.

"Indeed he was. The most honorable and intelligent of our race. If you believe you are not a descendent of him I understand why because of your human DNA. Come with me and I will show you everything you need to know. Sean Ashburn Kruger." The Didact said.

"How did...Very well." Sean said before jumping over to him and both entered the sphere while the Regime was destroyed by the Promethean's.

"I understand this may be very confusing as to how you are part Forerunner but it is rather easy to explain." The Didact said.

"Care to start at the beginning?" Sean asked.

"Of course. Long ago our race was at the hight of its power. We created the mantle of responsibility to shelter all. The General the most honorable and intelligent of the Forerunners led our race to an age of peace and unity. However we soon came to face a foe that matched our power." The Didact said.

"You mean humans. I mostly already know that our people were at war with one another before a truce was called.

"Indeed. By the General. He saw Humanity as a valuable ally. I never understood why till I saw them fight beside us. We made plans within plans and yet your kind simple just performed. It was unnatural yet interesting to see. However I'm sure you know of our war against the flood." The Didact said.

"Yeah. We've had a few encounters with them recently. But we finally managed to eradicate the last of the flood on the Ark. Firing a single Halo ring to eradicate them all. Which is how I ended up here when my Ship tore itself apart." Sean said.

"I figured as much. Unlike your generation we we're no match for the flood even with our forces united. However the General had one plan that he knew would succeed. But before he carried that plan out. He had to secure the future of the Forerunners as well as his own bloodline." The Didact said.

"Secure his bloodline? How?" Sean asked.

"He merged his DNA with that of the Human species. However the intelligence of his blood would not activate instantly. It would take many generations for it to unlock. Your generation." The Didact said.

"Why not just leave it pure with his kind?" Sean asked.

"I asked the same thing. But the Human race simply just performed while we made many plans. Combined imagine the possibilities." The Didact said.

"Oh. I see. But what about securing the Future of the Forerunners?" Sean asked.

"In order to make sure the Forerunners could thrive once more he took the DNA samples of every living Forerunner and stored it here on Requiem. He did so knowing that when the time was right the Forerunner race would live once again. However he not only made sure I would stay alive to guide the people he also placed another Forerunner here to make sure the next Generation would learn of our past. My wife the Librarian" The Didact said.

"I think I might have seen here before on the Ark." Sean said.

"Yes. Even in her prison she still has ways to guide others to where they need to go even off Requiem." The Didact said before an image of the Ship Infinity was seen crashing into a forest.

"Oh wait I forgot about that. I don't suppose you'd be willing to send those Prometheans down to help would you?" Sean asked.

"Of course. I will send you close by to your ship." The Didact said before he teleported him to the ground.

"This whole trip is getting weirder by the minute." Cortana said.

"Tell me something I don't know." Sean said rushing to Infinity.

"Open fire!" A familiar voice yelled making Sean stop and sought out the source before finding Green Arrow along with Turok and Karai leading a group of soldiers.

"This was supposed to be a rescue operation not an assault mission." Karai said.

"Missions change over time." Turok said.

"So do people Sean said jumping down and surprising them.

"There you are. What is this place?" Oliver asked.

"A Forerunner world known as Requiem. Listen I'll explain everything later. Right now we need to clear out the Regime and fast." Sean said.

"Not even back for an hour and your already bossing us around." Turok said making Karai giggle a little.

"Oh shut up." Sean said.

Later

After fighting off the Regime the Infinity was airborne again.

"Commander Kruger. Captain Lasky appointed captain of the Infinity." Lasky said shaking Sean's hand.

"Nice to meet you." Sean said.

"Now you mind explaining what is going on here?" Donny asked.

"Yeah what are those things?" Raph asked pointing to the Prometheans.

"Those are Prometheans. An ally of ours." Sean said before the Didact walked in. "And this is the Didact. One of the last two Forerunners." Sean said.

It didn't take long to explain the whole story to everyone.

"Whoa." Mikey said at a loss for words.

"These DNA containers. Where are they?" Donny asked.

"I believe somewhere in the western hemisphere." The Didact said showing the layout of the planet.

"So we go in. Free the Librarian find the DNA containers and head straight for the Forerunner home world and let them take care of the rest while providing assistance." Sean said.

"Maybe we should call in for some extra support. We didn't exactly come fully prepared for a large scale battle like this." Leo said.

"Might I ask why?" Sean asked confused.

"We just came responding to the beacon to pick you up. We didn't think the Regime would be here." Lasky said.

"We did." Oliver said referring to himself and Karai.

"Look doesn't matter and we don't have time to call for backup. If the Regime get their hands on those DNA containers they could influence the next generation of Forerunners for years." Sean said.

"He is correct. Right now securing the future of the Forerunners is far more important." The Didact said.

"Lets get started then." Lasky said.

Later

The group was on a large terrain vehicle called an elephant with a large cannon on the top.

"Scans show theres a large number of Regime troops in the area." Donny said.

"We'll deal with it." Sean said.

Fighting off the Regime was easy due to the heavy firepower they had along with the aid of the Prometheans.

"There a shaft down below. We'll hold off the Regime you just find the Librarian and the DNA containers." Green Arrow said.

"Got it." Sean said rushing down.

Arriving down to the lower levels Sean and Cortana found what they were looking for.

"The DNA containers." Cortana said.

"Didact. I found the Containers." Sean said.

"Excellent. Have you found the Librarian yet?" The Didact asked.

"I'll find her." Sean said before one of the doors opened. "Or she'll led me to her." Sean said following the hallway before he was sucked into a light.

"Who is there?" Sean asked before the Librarian appeared. "I Know you. You were at the Ark." Sean said.

"Indeed I was. I need you to destroy the flood like the General planed you to do." The Librarian said. "Sean Ashburn Kruger. There is much you need to know about your ancestor." The Librarian said.

"The Didact said the General was basically the leader of the Forerunners as well as the holder of the Mantel of Responsibility." Sean said.

"Indeed he was. And he was so much more. He led our people to peace for thousands of years. However he foresaw an even greater threat much more dangerous than the flood. He foresaw someone who would acquire ancient and forbidden power that no one should ever possess. The infinity stones." The Librarian said.

"I've heard of these stones. I've only seen three. The Space, time and mind stones. I already know how dangerous they are with just one being used. But what would happen if someone had all six stones?" Sean asked.

"Anything could be possible. One could erase all life in the universe if the wielder wanted it so. The General knew this person has to be stopped. Even with the Forerunners brought back even we would not be enough. So he ensured a way for the Universe to be saved. You." The Librarian said surprising him.

"Me?" Sean asked.

"Hidden in your DNA are power's and abilities of Multiple species. Only I can unlock it. This was done so to protect the Universe." The Librarian said.

"Could I defeat this person without them?" Sean asked.

"No." The Librarian said.

"Then do it." Sean said.

Sean's body started to glow before he smashed a fist on the ground as the powers the General locked inside him awakened. And the Librarian was free from her prison.

"Sean! What happened?" Turok asked on the comms.

"Nothing. I have the Librarian. Lets go home." Sean said.

Days later

"Finally your back." Talbot said in his seat.

"Your in my seat." Sean said amused.

"Well, Someone had to take over while you were gone." Talbot said getting out of his seat.

"And I'm guessing you hated it." Sean said making him chuckle.

"Like hell. Good to have you back." Talbot said shaking his hand.

"Yup. And boy do I have a story to tell you." Sean said.