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The head of the missile was the only thing he saw. The air grew still and thickened.
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He continued to move his hand, palm open in a slapping motion—as fast as he could will his flesh toaccelerate.
The tip of the Scorpion missile passed a centimeter from his head.
He reached out—fingertips brushed the metal casing—
—and slapped it aside.
The SkyHawk jet screamed over his head.
The Scorpion missile detonated.
Pressure slammed though his body. The Master Chief flew six meters, spinning end over end, andlanded flat on his back.
He blinked, and saw nothing but blackness. Was he dead? Had he lost?
The shield status bar in his heads-up display pulsed weakly. It was completely drained—then it blinkedred and slowly started to refill. Blood was spattered across the inside of his helmet and he tasted copper.
He stood, his muscles screaming in protest.
“Run!” Cortana said. “Before they come back for a look.”
The Master Chief got up and ran. As he passed the spot where he had stood to face down the missile, hesaw a two-meter-deep crater.
He could feel his Achilles tendon tear, but he didn’t slow. He crossed the half-kilometer stretch inseventeen seconds flat and skidded to halt.
The Master Chief grabbed the bell’s cord and rang it three times. The pure tone was the most glorioussound he had ever heard.
Over the COM channel Dr. Halsey’s voice broke: “Test concluded. Call off your men, Colonel Ackerson!We’ve won. Well done, Master Chief. Magnificent! Stay there; I’m sending out a recovery team.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied, panting.
The Master Chief scanned the sky for the SkyHawk—nothing. It had gone. He knelt and let blood dripfrom his nose and mouth. He looked down at the bell—and laughed.
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He knew that stainless-steel dented shape. It was the same one he had rung that first day of boot. Theday Chief Mendez had taught him about teamwork.
“Thank you, Cortana,” he finally said. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“You’re welcome, Master Chief,” she replied. Then, her voice full of mischief, she added: “And no, youcouldn’t have done it without me.”
Today he had learned about a new kind of teamwork with Cortana. Dr. Halsey had given him a greatgift. She had given him a weapon with which to destroy the Covenant.
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CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
0400 Hours, August 30, 2552 (Military Calendar) /UNSCPillar of Autumn , in orbit around Epsilon Eridani System, Reach Military Complex
Cortana never rested. Although based approximately on a human mind, AIs had no need to sleep ordream. Dr. Halsey had thought she could keep Cortana occupied by checking the systems of thePillar ofAutumn while she attended to her other secret projects.
Her assumption was incorrect.
While Cortana was intrigued with the unique design and workings of the ship—its preparation barelyoccupied a fraction of her processing power.