[quote][b]Posted by:[/b] Jump Into Hell The Primordial(aka the Timeless One) is actually a Gravemind. This is revealed at the end of Primordium.[/quote] Yes... the Flood and Precursors became synonymous. [quote]"We are the Flood. There is no difference. Until all space and time are rolled up and life is crushed in the folds... no end to grief, war or pain. In a hundred and one thousand centuries... unity again, and wisdom. Until then - sweetness."[/quote] [quote]"You told me you were the last Precursor." The Primordial rearranged its limbs with a leathery shuffle. Powder sifted from torso and legs. "How can you be the last of anything?" the Didact asked. "I see now that you are a mash-up of old victims infected by the Flood. A Gravemind. Were all Precursors Graveminds?" Another sifting shuffle. "Or are you after all only an imitation of a Precursor, a puppet - a reanimated corpse? Are all the Precursors gone- or is it that the Flood will make new Precursors?"[/quote] * [quote]I don't remember reading anywhere that the Precursors thought that the Flood was the perfect life form.[/quote] From the Timeless One: [quote]"It was a long time ago decided. Forerunners will never bear the Mantle." "Decided how?" "Through long study. The decision is final. Humans will replace you. Humans will be tested next." Was the Primordial giving me a message of hope? Doom for our enemies... ascendancy and triumph for humanity? "Is that to be our punishment?" the Didact asked, his tone subdued - dangerous. "It is the way of those who seek out the truth of the Mantle. Humans will rise again in arrogance and defiance. The Flood will return when they are ripe - and bring them unity."[/quote] The Flood is seen as a being of complete unity and wisdom, exemplified by the Gravemind's dialogue in Halo 3 where he refers to the Flood as a "timeless chorus" that will "sing 'victory everlasting'" if humanity joins its voice with them. The Precursors and Flood became synonymous, this is the "truth of the Mantle" and the test for other races is whether they succumb and ascend to attain the Mantle or fail as the Forerunners failed by fighting back. As the Timeless One said, until "all space and time are rolled up and life is crushed in the folds" by the Flood there will be "no end to grief, war or pain". The Flood is a completely unified being free of strife and desire for conflict, a theme heavily brought out in Halo Legends: Origins through Cortana's dialogue that "there will always be war" as long as humanity is around. Thus the plot for the Reclaimer Trilogy is set: [quote]"Forerunners will fail as you have failed before. Humans will rise. Whether they will also fail has not been decided."[/quote] * [quote]Also, the humans threw their population against the Flood to spread the cure, which killed the Flood while sacrificing their own.[/quote] This is not what happened... There is no Flood cure, humanity simply passed the Precursor test and the Flood retreated, choosing not to infect them. They only thought the cure was real since this information is known only by the Bornstellar-Didact and Chakas 10,000 years after this even happened. [quote]"But most humans are immune," the Didact said. Then he seemed to understand, and lowered his great head between his shoulders like a bull about to charge. [i]"Can the Flood choose to infect, or not to infect?"[/i] The wide, flat head canted to one side, as if savoring some demonic irony. "No immunity. Judgement. Timing."[/quote] [Edited on 11.20.2012 10:57 AM PST]