Reach for Halo

Homecoming

3rd P.O.V

Weeks have passed since the Flood was sighted within Mutasim's body. To slow the waking of the spores in his system, he was placed in stasis. There was no guarantee that Mutasim would still be himself by the time he awoke. Many of the Elites thought it would be best if he was killed immediately to prevent the spread of the Flood. But nobody dared to speak up against Thelya. The Arbiter could never dare to harm her lover. All these years spent searching for him only to learn that he was infected by the most vile of creatures. It didn't seem real. It couldn't be real. 

After a long time travelling, Thelya's ship approaches Earth. She nods at another Elite to bring Mutasim's pod to the hangar. As the Elite does so, Cora makes contact with the UNSC. 

Cora: Cora to UNSC. This is Cora. Do you read? 

A moment passes before a response comes in. 

Comms: This is Lord Hood. Cora, care to explain why there's a Covenant Mothership in Earth's orbit? 

Cora: Sir, we've found him. We've found Mutasim. And we're bringing him back home. 

Lord Hood (Comms): Understood. Head to the coordinates I've sent you. Drop him off there. Our men will take him from there. 

Cora: Understood. 

She cuts the feed and sighs before turning to Thelya. 

Cora: Be honest. How are you feeling about all of this? 

Thelya: I fear what his other mate may feel upon learning of his infection. 

Cora: I've been wondering that too. 

Thelya: Construct... Is there truly no method to curing Mutasim?

Cora: I'm sorry, Thelya. Such a thing doesn't exist. The best thing we can do for him is keep him in stasis. 

The ship descends, drawing closer to a large clear space in a military base. Soldiers gather in a circular formation, armed with rifles to ensure there's nothing wrong. Thelya's eyes widen upon recognising two familiar Spartans. Her heart pounds as she stares at the grey Spartan. Taking a deep breath, she stands from her chair, takes Cora and enters the hangar along with a few other Elites tasked with carrying Mutasim's stasis pod. 

Thelya opens the hangar doors and watches as the ramp descends. Once fully down, Thelya marches down and toward the two Spartans. The Elites carry the stasis pod and follow behind Thelya at a slow pace. The pod is heavy with burden of bad news. 

Thelya: Demon. Six. 

Chief: Arbiter. 

Noble Six: It's been a long time. Have you found him? 

Thelya's breath hitches slightly. But she nods. A smile curls onto Six's lips but Thelya holds her hand up. 

Thelya: Wait. It... Is not all good news, I am afraid. 

Noble Six: What? What happened? H-He's okay, right? 

Thelya: He remains in stasis for his own good. Our doctors inspected his body and... He is infested. With the Parasite. 

Six's heart plummets at the mention of the Flood. It seemed like a lifetime ago since she had faced the eldritch horror. All traces of it should've been dead with the destruction of the Halo rings. The only trace of it that should've existed was in Lilith. But now here they are, discovering Mutasim is infected. 

Noble Six: No... I can't... That shouldn't be possible. H-How did this happen? 

Thelya: The escape. Our doctors think that Mutasim was infected by the time he entered the pod. The parasite has not yet hatched which is why he remains in stasis. I... I did not know what else to do. I merely thought you would want to see him again, no matter what. 

Noble Six: C-Can I...? 

Thelya nods and steps aside. She orders her Elites to back away from the pod which they do so respectfully. Six steps forward to the glass and looks down at the slumbering man's face, her hand resting atop the pod. Tears spring to her eyes as she looks through the glass. 

Noble Six: Mutasim... Why...? Why did you have to be the one to stay back? It should've been me...

Chief rests his hand on Six's back. 

Chief: There's nothing you could've done to change things. He made his choice to save everyone he could. 

Six collapses against Mutasim's pod, her head leaning against the metal frame, her body trembling as she sobs quietly. Chief bows his head slightly and steps back, granting Six some space to grieve properly. Thelya's eyes soften at the sorrowful state Six is in. A few moments pass before Six stands up. She wipes her face clean from the tears and steps back from the pod. 

Noble Six: What... What do we do about him? I know how dangerous the Flood is but... Please... Don't tell me to kill him. I can't do that. 

Thelya: And nobody would ask you to do such a thing. I would not dare to imagine it. 

Cora: Maybe... Maybe stasis is where he should remain. Until we can figure out some way of burning the Flood out of his system. If that's even possible. 

Thelya: As far as I am aware, no such treatment exists, Construct. 

Noble Six: What about Lilith? 

Everyone turns to look at Six. Her eyes are red from the crying but now they hold a glint of hope. 

Noble Six: I mean... Lilith is still alive. She's not infected anyone else here on Earth and she's still in control of herself. What if she can do something about Mutasim's infection? 

Cortana: You think Lilith can somehow cure Mutasim? 

Noble Six: Maybe not cure. But... Keep him mostly normal. You know? 

Cora: That's... probably the best idea we have for now other than keeping him in this stasis. But there's no telling if it'll really work. We need to discuss all the pros and cons. Once we let Mutasim out of that stasis pod, he's running on borrowed time. 

Chief: In other words, we need to get this right on the first try. 

Cora: Exactly. 

Noble Six: Follow me. And bring Mutasim with you. 

Thelya turns to her Elites and nods at them. Following their orders, the Elites lift up Mutasim's stasis pod and follow behind Thelya, Chief and Noble Six. As they head into one of the many base's buildings, Cora speaks to Cortana. 

Cora: So, Cortana. Your deterioration. No problems yet, right? 

Cortana: No. I've still got a year or two. What about you? We were made around the same time so I'd assume you're safe from deterioration. 

Cora: That's right. I'll be fine. Don't worry. 

Cortana: But I'm curious. What exactly was your plan if you didn't find Mutasim in time? Would you have continued searching? Or would you have come back to Earth to find Halsey? 

Cora: My duty has always been to protect Mutasim. To support him no matter what. And if it came at a cost of my own mind, I'd gladly pay it. The same way you would with Chief. 

Cortana: Fair enough. I just wish I could've done more two years ago when it came down to Truth. I heard that supposedly, Johnson and Keyes were meant to die. But Mutasim stopped that from happening. 

Chief: He did. That preemptive shot Johnson took on Guilty Spark was to make sure Johnson wouldn't die from betrayal. 

Cora: And he saved Keyes by taking down Truth before he could shoot her. 

The group soon arrive at a pair of heavily reinforced steel doors guarded by several marines. The marines recognise the Spartans and move aside for them. One marine opens the door and they slide open, revealing a chamber with a lone Flood lifeform inside. 

Either this would work, or Mutasim would have to be put down. There was no in between...