"I've been in discussion with the board for a while now, and what's left of HIGHCOM want [i]you[/i] to take charge of the UNSC, Captain. Or should I say, Fleet Admiral Graham Daniels?" Graham could only stare with shock at the gleaming, solid silver stars held within Cole's hand. He then broke his trance, and looked up at Cole. "Sir, I-- a few months ago I was just a Lieutenant. I can't accept this!" "Oh, but you can, Captain. Aside from me, you are the highest ranking officer the UNSC has. I'm unreliable, and truth to be told I don't have many years left in me anyway. You [i]have[/i] to accept it, Captain. There's no one else." "But I--" A blinding flash cut him off as another glassing beam smashed into the surface of Sangheilios. The planet was already ruined by the Flood, and the Elites were determined not to let the decaying biomass fester and consume Sangheilios. They had decided to glass it, and 'cleanse the filth.' Tears had been in Imperial Admiral R'tas Vadum's eyes as he'd fired the first high-powered stream at the ravaged planet. "I don't know if I can do it, Admiral," Graham protested once the white light had faded, leaving behind the sobering image of Sangheilios burning as the UNSC [i]Hastings[/i] pulled away to regroup with the rest of the fleet convoy. Cole smiled, putting his hand of Graham's shoulder in a fatherly fashion and looking at him directly with those deep, intelligent eyes which had seen countless people die. "And that's why you'll be a great leader, Graham. Unlike Hood, Eden, or even Harper, you're always questioning and being cautious. You don't take unnecessary risks. I'll advise you, and help you out as best as I can. I doubt you'll be governing the entire populace anyway. The chances are that the Emergency Military Government is coming to an end." "You think so?" Graham asked, intrigued. Cole drew away from him, leaning against a railing and rubbing his side as if it were in pain. The Captain moved next to him, hobbling slightly as a result of the new prosthetic leg he had been fitted with the other day. It looked real, and even had nerves in, but still didn't really feel a part of him. "The war's over, Graham. It's time for change. There's no need for the UNSC to be in charge anymore; the Unified Earth Government will be established once again." "You really think we're in any state to vote for a President, sir?" Graham asked the Admiral with the ghost of a smile playing about his lips. Cole chuckled just as emptily. "Maybe not, but with time it will happen. The Elites are coming to live on Earth, and the Covenant have decided to keep [i]Placid Enrichment[/i] in the Sol system, so we're all able to watch out for each other easier. Keeping relations amiable will require democracy, not the military. It's a big bad Universe out there, Graham, and the Flood aren't the worst of it. We-- humanity, the Elites, the Covenant; all of us-- need to start rebuilding. If Mendicant Bias is right, then we're the descendants of a species which had a very, very large universal empire, and that empire almost definitely made some enemies in its time." "You really think grudges can be held that long?" Graham scoffed, shaking his head. Cole didn't laugh. "Before the Covenant attacked, I didn't think anyone would attempt to exterminate an entire intelligent species just because they conflicted with their beliefs. Before the Flood attacked, I didn't think anything could be that horrific. There are many things beyond our comprehension, Captain. The universe has subjected us to a few tests, and we passed. By the skin of our teeth. We need to prepare, because this is just the beginning." Graham looked at the Admiral's expression, and made his decision. "I accept the position HIGHCOM has offered me, Admiral Cole. I only hope I can be half the leader you are." Cole nodded gravely, before beginning the pin the five stars the Graham's uniform slowly. "I'm not a great leader, son. I'm just cold and heartless enough to send hundreds of thousands of people to their deaths without blinking if I think it will save many more. You'll do a much better job than I would, I'm sure of it." "Thank you, sir," Graham replied, having the force the words out of his throat. Cole laughed, before clapping him on the shoulder. "No more of this 'sir' business, Fleet Admiral. I'm not your superior anymore," the old man told him, before turning away and striding to an intercom on the wall. "Ensign Hall?" Cole asked, pressing down a button. There was a momentary pause. "[i]All systems are charged and ready, Admiral Cole. We're ready to make the jump into slipspace on your word.[/i]" Cole turned his head slowly, and looked one last time at the burning surface of Sangheilios. Many had died here, but the battle had been a victory. And that was something. "Do it." * * * * * * * * * "Well, Mr. 117--" "Please [i]never[/i] say that again," John protested to the Doctor weakly, still cringing. Doctor Thrace looked speculatively at him for a moment, before nodding. "Very well, [i]Master Chief.[/i] I'll start off by saying that quite frankly we never expected you to awaken from this coma. The fact that you did it quite the miracle. Someone up there must be watching out for you." Doctor Thrace didn't seem at all intimidated by the fact that John was a Spartan. On the contrary, it seemed to intrigue him. "A coma?" John asked, before shaking his head in denial. "There was no coma, Doctor. I [i]died.[/i]" Thrace smiled now, tapping the board he held in his hand with a pen absently. "No, Master Chief. The wounds you suffered at the hands of the Sentinels were grievous, but you survived. Just. I'm willing to bet that being a Spartan had a hand in that." [i]That's not true. I know I died. My heart stopped pumping, and I died, dammit![/i] "Did we win?" he asked Thrace, abandoning the previous discussion, knowing that the Doctor truly believed that he had lived. And why shouldn't he? After all... he was alive. "We did, Master Chief. After you fell unconscious, Admiral Cole managed to apprehend Offensive Bias and shut down his Sentinels. After that, it was just a simple mop-up operation. The Flood surrendered, and we spared most of them. I'm not sure why. We're heading back home now." "To Earth?" "Yes. The Flood left there were quickly eradicated too after the Gravemind was killed by yourself, and thankfully Earth hasn't been ruined like Sangheilios." [i]Earth. The Doctor called it 'home', but Earth wasn't his home. Reach was. But Reach was gone, along with all the Spartans he'd trained alongside on it.[/i] "Good," he said aloud, keeping the depressing thoughts to himself. "Do you know where my armour is?" "We have it securely stored, Master Chief. It'll be given to you when you leave." "And Cortana?" John pressed, concerned. It disturbed him slightly that he'd asked about his armour's well-being before Cortana's. It was almost as if MJOLNIR was his drug, and he couldn't bear to be abstinent from it. "Your AI? I believe she's currently on board the [i]Voyager[/i]. I'll inform her of your well-being, as well as the others who were concerned about you. The Arbiter particularly seemed distressed by your plight." "How is the Arbiter?" John asked, thinking of how badly burnt the Elite had been after being pulled out of the Longsword. Thrace hesitated. "I really don't know, Master Chief. He's alive, I can tell you that much. But I don't know a lot; the UNSC [i]Nightingale[/i] is a human medical ship, for human patients. I believe the Elites have their own medical ships. Anyway, I'll go and fetch equipment to make sure you're fit and healthy, and if you clear out okay we'll check you out. Then you can find the answers to your questions yourself. Can I get you anything?" "A drink would be nice. Water, if you have it," John added, before berating himself. [i]If you have it?[/i] Of course they had it. Doctor Thrace smiled warmly, walking towards the exit of the small room he was in. "Of course, Master Chief. Oh, and sir?" "Yes?" There was a pause, and Thrace seemed to struggle to find the right words. "Thank you. Without you, we'd all be dead. Thank you for everything." * * * * * * * * * * *