Part 19 (1/2)

”No. Cortana resides in the interface between your mind and the suit, Master Chief. You will find your reaction time greatly improved. She will be translating the impulses in your motor cortex directly into motion-she can't make you send those impulses.”

”This AI,” he said, ”will beinside my mind?” That must have been what that ”upgrade” to his standard- issue UNSC computer interface had been for. ”That is the question, isn't it?” Halsey replied. ”I can't answer that, Master Chief. Not scientifically.” ”I'm not sure I understand, Doctor.” ”What is the mind, really? Intuition, reason, emotion-we acknowledge they exist, but we still don't my mind?” That must have been what that ”upgrade” to his standard- issue UNSC computer interface had been for. ”That is the question, isn't it?” Halsey replied. ”I can't answer that, Master Chief. Not scientifically.” ”I'm not sure I understand, Doctor.” ”What is the mind, really? Intuition, reason, emotion-we acknowledge they exist, but we still don't know what makes the human mindwork .” She paused, searching for the right words. ”We model AIs on human neural networks-on electrical signals in the brain-because we just know that the human brain works . . . but not how, or why. Cortana resides 'between' your mind and the suit, interpreting the electrochemical messages in your brain and transferring them to the suit via your neural implant. .” She paused, searching for the right words. ”We model AIs on human neural networks-on electrical signals in the brain-because we just know that the human brain works . . . but not how, or why. Cortana resides 'between' your mind and the suit, interpreting the electrochemical messages in your brain and transferring them to the suit via your neural implant.

”So, for lack of a better term, yes, Cortana will be 'inside' your mind.”

”Ma'am, my priority will be to complete this mission. This AI-Cortana-may have conflicting directives.”

”There is no need to worry, Master Chief. Cortana has the same mission parameters as you do. She will do anything necessary to make sure that your mission is accomplished. Even if that means sacrificing herself-or you-to accomplish it.”

The Master Chief exhaled, relieved.

”Now, please kneel down. It's time to insert her memory-processor matrix into the socket at the base of your neck.”

The Master Chief knelt. There was a hissing noise, a pop, and then cold liquid poured into the Master Chief's mind; a spike of pain jammed into his forehead, then faded.

”Not a lot of room in here,” a smooth female voice said. ”h.e.l.lo, Master Chief.”

Did this AI have a rank? Certainly, she was not a civilian-or a fellow soldier. Should he treat her like any other piece of UNSC-issued equipment? Then again, he treated his equipment with the respect it deserved. He made sure every gun and knife was cleaned and inspected after every mission.

It was unsettling . . . he could hear Cortana's voice through his helmet speakers, but it also felt like she was speaking inside his head. ”h.e.l.lo, Cortana.”

”Hmm . . . I'm detecting a high degree of cerebral cortex activity. You're not the muscle-bound automatons the press makes you out to be.”

”Automaton?” the Master Chief whispered. ”Interesting choice of words for an artificial intelligence.”

Dr. Halsey watched the Master Chief with great interest. ”You must forgive Cortana, Master Chief. She is somewhat high-spirited. You may have to allow for behavioral quirks.”

”Yes, ma'am.”

”I think we should begin the test straightaway. There's no better way for the two of you to get acquainted than in simulated combat.”

”No one said anything about combat,” Cortana said. ”The ONI bra.s.s have arranged a test for you and the new MJOLNIR system,” Dr. Halsey said. ”There are some that believe you two are not up to our proposed mission.”

”Ma'am!” The Master Chief snapped to attention. ”I'm up for it, ma'am!” ”I know you are, Master Chief. Others . . . require proof.” She looked around at the shadows cast by the Marines outside the fabric walls of the command dome. ”You hardly need a reminder to be prepared for anything . . . but stay on your guard, just the same.” Dr. Halsey's voice dropped to a whisper. ”I think some of the ONI bra.s.s would prefer to see you fail this test, Master Chief. And they may have arranged to make sure you do-regardless of your performance.” ”I won't fail, Doctor.” Her forehead wrinkled with worry lines, but then they quickly disappeared. ”I know you won't.” She stepped back, and dropped her conspiratorial whisper. ”Master Chief, you are ordered to count to ten after I leave. After that, make your way to the obstacle course. At the far end is a bell. Your goal will be to ring it.” She paused, then added, ”You are authorized to neutralize any threats in order to achieve this objective.”

”Affirmative,” the Master Chief said. Enough uncertainty-now he had an objective, and rules of engagement. ”Be careful, Master Chief,” Dr. Halsey said quietly. She gestured at the pair of technicians to follow her, then turned and walked out of the tent.

The Master Chief didn't understand why Dr. Halsey thought he was in real danger-he didn't have to understand the reason. All he needed to know was that danger was present.

He knew how to handle danger. ”Uploading combat protocols now,” Cortana said. ”Initiating electronic detection algorithms. Boosting neural interface performance to eighty-five percent. I'm ready when you are, Master Chief.”

The Master Chief heard metallic clacks around the tent.

”a.n.a.lyzing sound pattern,” Cortana said. ”Database match.Identified as-”

”As someone cycling the bolt of an MA5B a.s.sault rifle. I know. Standard-issue weapons for Orbital Drop Shock Troopers.” ”Since you're 'in the know,' Master Chief,” Cortana quipped. ”I a.s.sume you have a plan.” John snapped his helmet visor back down and sealed the armor's environment system. ”Yes.” ”Presumably your plan doesn't involve getting shot . . . ?” ”No.” ”So, what's the plan?” Cortana sounded worried. ”I'm going to finish counting to ten.” John heard Cortana sigh in frustration. John shook his head in puzzlement. He'd never encountered a so- called smart AI before. Cortana sounded . . . like a human. Worse, she sounded like acivilian . This was going to take a lot of getting used to. Shadows moved along the wall of the tent-motion from outside. . This was going to take a lot of getting used to. Shadows moved along the wall of the tent-motion from outside.

Eight.

There was a snag in this mission and he hadn't even reached the obstacle course. He would have to engage his fellow soldiers. He pushed aside any questions about why. He had his orders and he would follow them. He had dealt with ODSTs before.

Nine.

Three soldiers entered the tent, moving in slow motion-black-armored figures, helmets snug over their faces, crouched low, and their rifles leveled. Two took flanking positions. The one in the middle opened fire.

Ten.

The Master Chief blurred into motion. He dove from the activation platform and-before the soldiers could adjust their aim-landed in their midst. He rolled to his feet right next to the soldier who fired first, and grabbed the man's rifle.

John brutally yanked the weapon away from the soldier. There was a loud cracking sound as the man's shoulder dislocated. The wounded trooper stumbled forward, off balance. John spun the rifle and slammed the b.u.t.t of the weapon into the soldier's side. The man exhaled explosively as his ribs cracked. He grunted, and fell unceremoniously to the floor, unconscious.

John spun to face the left-flank gunner, a.s.sault rifle leveled at the man's head instantly. He had the man in his sights, but he still had time-the soldier was not quite in position. To John's enhanced senses, amped up by Cortana and the neural interface, the rifleman seemed to be moving in slow motion. Too slow.

The Master Chief lashed out with the rifle b.u.t.t again. The trooper's head snapped back from the sudden, powerful blow. He flipped head over tail and slammed into the ground. John sized the man's condition up with a practiced eye: shock, concussion, fractured vertebrae.

Gunner number two was out of the fight.

The remaining gunner completed his turn and opened fire. A three-round burst ricocheted off the MJOLNIR armor's energy s.h.i.+eld. The s.h.i.+eld's recharge bar flickered a hairbreadth.

Before the soldier could react, the Master Chief sidestepped and slammed his own rifle down-hard. The trooper screamed as his leg gave out. A jagged spoke of bone burst through the wounded man's fatigues. The Master chief finished him with a rifle b.u.t.t to his helmeted head.

John checked the condition of the rifle, and-satisfied that it was in working order-began to pull ammo clips from the fallen soldiers' belt pouches. The lead soldier also carried a razor-edged combat knife; John grabbed it.

”You could have killed them,” Cortana said. ”Why didn't you?”

”My orders gave me permission to 'neutralize' threats,” he replied. ”They aren't threats anymore.”

”Semantics,” Cortana replied. She sounded amused. ”I can't argue with the results, though-” She broke off, suddenly. ”New targets. Seven contacts on the motion tracker,” Cortana reported. ”We're surrounded.”

Seven more soldiers. The Master Chief could open fire now and kill them all. Under any other circ.u.mstances, he would have removed such threats. But their MA5Bs were no immediate danger to him . . . and the UNSC could use every soldier to fight the Covenant.

He strode to the center pole of the tent, and with a yank, he pulled it free. As the roof fluttered down, he slashed a slit in the tent fabric and shoved through. He faced three Marines; they fired-the Master Chief deftly jumped to one side. He sprang toward them and lashed out with the steel pole, swiped out their legs. He heard bones crack-followed by screams of pain. The Master Chief turned as the tent finished collapsing. The remaining four men could see him now.

One reached for a grenade on his belt. The other three tracked him with their a.s.sault rifles.

The Master Chief threw the pole like a javelin at the man with the grenade. It impacted in his sternum and he fell with awhoopf. The grenade, minus the pin, however, dropped to the ground. The Master Chief moved and kicked the grenade. It arced over the parking lot and detonated in a cloud The grenade, minus the pin, however, dropped to the ground. The Master Chief moved and kicked the grenade. It arced over the parking lot and detonated in a cloud of smoke and shrapnel.

The three remaining Marines opened fire-spraying bullets in a full-auto fusillade. Bullets pinged off the Master Chief's s.h.i.+eld. The s.h.i.+eld status indicator blinked and dropped with each bullet impact-the sustained weapons fire was draining the s.h.i.+eld precipitously. John tucked and rolled, narrowly avoiding an incoming burst of automatic-weapons fire, then sprang at the nearest Marine. John launched an openhanded strike at the man's chest. The Marine's ribs caved in and he dropped without a sound, blood flowing from his mouth. John spun, brought his rifle up, and fired twice.

The second soldier screamed and dropped his rifle as the bullets tore through each knee. John kicked the discarded rifle, bending the barrel and rendering the weapon useless.

The last man stood frozen in place. The Master Chief didn't give the man time to recover; he grabbed his rifle, ripped off his bandolier of grenades, then punched his helmet. The Marine dropped.

”Mission time plus twenty-two seconds,” Cortana remarked. ”Although, technically, you started to move forty milliseconds before you were ordered to.” ”I'll keep that in mind.” The Master Chief slung the a.s.sault rifle and bandolier of grenades over his shoulder and ran for the shadows of the barracks. He slipped under the raised buildings and belly-crawled toward the obstacle course. No need to make himself a target for snipers . . . although it would be an interesting test to see what caliber of bullet these s.h.i.+elds could deflect.

No. That kind of thinking was dangerous. The s.h.i.+eld was useful, but under combined fire it dropped very quickly. He was tough . . . not invincible.

He emerged at the beginning to the obstacle course. The first part was a run over ten acres of jagged gravel. Sometimes raw recruits had to take off their boots before they crossed. Other than the pain-it was the easiest part of the course.