LEVEL 12: "Gravemind"
CHAPTER 01: "Gravemind"
CINEMATIC
The Chief awakens somewhere deep underground, in a vast chamber, snared in a mass of slithering tentacles. He is lifted and brought before a huge creature.
CORTANA:
What... is that?
GRAVEMIND:
I? I am a monument to all your sins.
Gravemind brings the Arbiter to hang next to the Chief.
MASTER CHIEF:
Relax. I'd rather not piss this thing off.
ARBITER:
Demon!
Gravemind gestures to the Master Chief.
GRAVEMIND:
This one is machine and nerve and has its mind concluded.
Gravemind switches his attention to the Arbiter.
GRAVEMIND:
This one is but flesh and faith, and is the more deluded.
ARBITER:
Kill me or release me, parasite, but do not waste my time with talk.
GRAVEMIND:
There is much talk, and I have listened, through rock and metal and time. Now I shall talk, and you shall listen.
Gravemind brings in 2401 Penitent Tangent and the reanimated corpse of Regret.
2401 PENITENT TANGENT:
Greetings! I am 2401 Penitent Tangent. I am the monitor of installation 05.
REGRET:
And I am the Prophet of Regret, Councillor most high, Heirarch of the Covenant!
2401 PENITENT TANGENT:
A Reclaimer? Here? At last. We have much to do. This facility must be activated if we are to control this outbreak.
REGRET:
Stay where you are! Nothing can be done until my sermon is complete!
2401 PENITENT TANGENT:
Not true. This installation has a successful utilization record of 1.2 trillion simulated and one actual. It is ready to fire on demand.
REGRET (to Arbiter):
Of all the objects our lords left behind, there are none so worthless as these oracles! They know nothing of the Great Journey!
2401 PENITENT TANGENT:
And you know nothing about containment. You have demonstrated complete disregard for even the most basic protocols.
GRAVEMIND:
This one's containment...
Gravemind gestures to 2401 Penitent Tangent
GRAVEMIND:
...and this one's Great Journey...
Gravemind gestures to Regret
GRAVEMIND:
...are the same.
Gravemind removes 2401 Penitent Tangent and Regret.
REGRET (offscreen):
Huh? Augh! AAAAAAAAAAAH!
GRAVEMIND:
Your Prophets have promised you freedom from a doomed existence, but you will find no salvation on this ring. Those who built this place knew what they wrought; do not mistake their intent or all will perish as they did before.
MASTER CHIEF:
This thing is right. Halo is a weapon. Your Prophets are making a big mistake.
ARBITER:
Your ignorance already destroyed one of the sacred rings, demon. It shall not harm another.
GRAVEMIND:
If you will not hear the truth, then I will show it to you. There is still time to stop the key from turning, but first it must be found.
Gravemind gestures to the Arbiter.
GRAVEMIND:
You will search one likely spot...
Gravemind gestures to the Master Chief.
GRAVEMIND:
...and you will search another. Fate had us meet as foes, but this ring will make us brothers.
The Arbiter and the Master Chief are teleported.
CUT TO High Charity.
An army of Grunts and Jackals are trying to enter the Council Chamber, but Brutes are keeping them out. Inside, Truth is delivering a sermon, watched by a number of Brutes and Grunts.
TRUTH:
We are, all of us, gravely concerned. The release of the parasite was unexpected, unfortunate, but there is no need to panic. In truth, this is a time to rejoice, a moment that all the Covenant should savor, for the Sacred Icon has been found! With it our path is clear, our entry into the divine beyond guaranteed. The Great Journey is nigh, and nothing, not even the Flood, can stop it.
The Master Chief is teleported into the Council Chamber, right next to a very surprised grunt.
MASTER CHIEF:
Boo.
The Grunt runs away gibbering. The Master Chief picks up the needler it dropped. The Prophets' personal guards shield them with their polearms.
TRUTH:
Kill the demon!
The dias the Prophets have been standing on retracts into the floor.
END CINEMATIC
CHAPTER 02: "Inside Job"
CORTANA:
Brutes!
(After a few moments of fighting)
CORTANA:
The faster you can kill those Brutes, the better!
(Once you kill one of the Brutes)
CORTANA:
They don't have shield generators, but take them out before- It's beserking!
(Once you kill both Brutes and a wave of Grunts)
TARTARUS (over loudspeakers):
The demon has infiltrated the council chamber! Protect the Heirarchs! Seal the exits!
CORTANA:
Oh, I don't think so.
(Once you kill 2 more waves, a squad of Brutes will rise from the shaft the Prophets fled down)
CORTANA:
Watch out for the captain, it's got a Brute Shot!
(Once you kill all the waves of enemies)
CORTANA:
Put me down on one of those pedestals near the door.
(If you take too long to approach the door)
CORTANA:
They've locked it from below. There's a door at the other end of the chamber.
(Once you place Cortana on the pedestal)
CORTANA:
That Prophet, Truth- He has the Index. You've got to take it from him! Let me get these doors... Go. It'll be easier to track Truth if I stay in the network. Don't worry, you can pick me up later.
(Once you get through the next room and approach the door)
CORTANA:
Right this way.
(Once you reach the gravity lift)
CORTANA:
Truth is moving through the lower levels of the tower. I'll reverse this grav lift- drop down and try to cut him off.
(If you hesitate to jump into the lift, she says a few different things)
CORTANA:
It's safe, really! Just step in.
After that stunt on the Cairo I know you're not afraid of heights.
Fine, I won't watch. Meet you at the bottom, OK?
(Once you descend and proceed into the next room)
TARTARUS (over loudspeakers):
Reinforce all approaches to the holding pens! Slay the demon on sight.
CORTANA:
They're beefing up their patrols. Stay sharp.
(Once you pass through a curved hall)
CORTANA:
Wait a minute! I'm reading marine IFF transponders! The signals are originating somewhere below your position.
(Once you pass through a second curved hallway)
CORTANA:
There's another lift in the next room.
(Once you reach this new grav lift)
CORTANA:
Here, Chief! Jump in!
(While descending the grav lift)
CORTANA:
There are 2 groups of marines in this detention block. I'll deal with their location, you neutralize the guards- quietly.
(After killing the first wave of enemies)
CORTANA:
Come to the middle level, Chief. The marines are just inside. Careful of the guard.
(Once you free the first group of prisoners)
CORTANA:
Listen up, marines: The Chief's hunting a Prophet, and you're gonna help him kill it.
MARINE GM1:
Affirmative!
No sense sticking around here!
CORTANA:
One more group of marines to go, Chief.
(After leaving the first cell block)
CORTANA:
Come to the lower level. More guards, get ready.
(After rescuing the second group of marines)
CORTANA:
That's all of the marines, Chief. good work.
(After leaving the second cell block)
CORTANA:
We'll get out of this place the same way we came in- the central grav lift.
(After killing some more guards)
CORTANA:
Hostile reinforcements, coming down the lift!
(After returning to the gravity lift)
CORTANA:
The lift is clear, step on in.
(After exiting the lift)
TRUTH (over loudspeaker):
Fear not my brothers, for the Sacred Icon is secure. It was Tartarus and his Brutes who took the Icon from the Flood. For this, they have our thanks.
CORTANA:
Excellent. Truth is broadcasting on the move; it'll make him much easier to track.
(After going through a curved hallway)
TRUTH (over loudspeaker):
The Elites have failed to protect the Prophets, and in so doing put all our lives at risk. Let no warrior forget his oaths. Thou, in faith, will keep up safe whilst we find the path.
CORTANA:
I've got a fix on Truth's position just outside this tower, Chief. There's an exit nearby, hurry.
(After defeating a pair of Hunters)
TRUTH (over loudspeaker):
With my blessings, the Brutes now lead our fleets. They ask for your allegiance, and you shall give it to the them.
CORTANA:
You wouldn't believe the number of kill systems the Covenant are throwing down around me. Not to worry, it's pretty sloppy stuff. I guess they never expected a hostile intelligence to penetrate their network from the inside.
(After passing the first "outdoor" area)
CORTANA:
The Covenant just destroyed two of their own ships. And I'm hearing reports of small arms fire throughout their fleet.
TRUTH (over loudspeaker):
Creatures of the Covenant, the path is clear, and we shall walk it side by side.
(Once you reach the first grav transport)
CORTANA:
Slipspace rupture... It's In Amber Clad! Hailing... No response.
In Amber Clad flies overhead and out of sight.
TRUTH (over loudspeaker):
Be glad! .... (continues, but drowned out by IAC's engines; anyone?)
CORTANA:
She's crashed into another tower ahead of our position. I'll keep trying to make contact, but I'm not registering any human life signs.
(After passing a second grav transport)
TRUTH (over loudspeaker):
At this moment, the Council is gathered on Halo to see the Icon safely placed.
TARTARUS (over loudspeaker):
Rise, my brothers! Cast down the Elites!
TRUTH (over loudspeaker):
There are those who said this day would never come. What have they to say now?
TARTARUS (over loudspeaker):
Once the towers are clear, we'll drive them from the lower districts!
(After passing a third grav transporter)
TRUTH (over loudspeaker):
I have listened to the Oracle, and it has confirmed our greatest hope: The Great Journey begins at with Halo.
TARTARUS (over loudspeaker):
The Elites are falling back to the mausoleum. Fools! Their Arbiter can do nothing for them now.
TRUTH (over loudspeaker):
Who will doubt the prophets? What have we foretold that has not come to pass?
(After working through several more rooms)
CORTANA:
If we're going to catch Truth, we'll need to take a shortcut straight through the mausoleum. Look on the bright side- for now, they seem much more interested in killing each other.
(After reaching the mausoleum)
CORTANA:
You might consider sitting this one out.
(After defeating the enemies and approaching the chamber that held the Arbiter's armor)
CORTANA:
Hang on! I'm picking up 2 more transponders. It's the commander and Johnson! They're closing on Truth's position, Chief. They'll need your help.
(Upon approaching the exit)
CORTANA:
This way, Chief.
(After defeating the Elites and leaving the mausoleum
CORTANA:
This isn't good. I'm getting confirmed reports the Flood are leaving In Amber Clad's wreckage. Let's get the Index and find a way out of here, before things get really ugly.
CINEMATIC
Truth, Mercy, Tartarus, an an entourage of Brutes approach 3 Phantoms on a launching platform. They are taking Keyes, Johnson, and 343 Guilty Spark with them.
TARTARUS:
Split them up. One in each Phantom.
The order is carried out. Tartarus kneels before Truth and receives the Index.
TRUTH:
The hopes of all the Covenant rest on your shoulders, Chieftain.
TARTARUS:
My faith is strong. I will not fail.
A swarm of Flood Infections pours over one edge of the platform. The Brutes fend them off, but one makes it past them and latches onto Mercy.
MERCY:
Augh!
Tartarus goes to rescue Mercy.
TRUTH:
Let him be. The Great Journey waits for no one, brother...
TRUTH (VO):
Not even you.
Tartarus obeys, leaving Mercy writhing on the platform as the Infection gnaws at him.
END CINEMATIC
