Halo: The Fall of Reach Page 236, 237 Cortana leaped to her "feet", turned her back to Dr. Halsey, and examined the photographs on the wall. She brushed her fingertips over the glass surfaces. "Which one will be mine?" "Which one do you want?" She immediately gravitated to the picture in the center of Dr. Halsey's collection. It showed a handsome man standing at attention as Admiral Stanforth pinned the UNSC Legion of Honor upon his chest - a chest that already overflowed with citations. Cortana framed her fingers anround the man's face. "He's so serious," she murmured. "Thoughtful eyes, though. Attractive in a primitive animal sort of way, don't you think, Doctor?" Dr. Halsey Bluched. Apparently, she [i]did[/i] think so. Cortana's thoughts mirrored many of her own, only unchecked by normal military and social protocol. "Perhaps it would be best if you picked another-" Cortana turned to face Dr. Halsey and cocked an eyebrow, mock stern. "You [i]asked[/i] me which one I wanted...." "It was a question Cortana. I did not give you carte blanche to select your 'carrier.' There are compatibility issues to consider." Cortana blinked. "His neural patterns are in sync with mine within two percent. With the new interface we'll be installing, that should fall well within tolerable limits. In fact-" Her gaze drifted and the symbols along her body brightened and flashed. "- I have just developed a custom interface buffer that will match us within zero point zero eight one percent. You won't find a better match among the other. "In fact," she added coyly, "I can guarantee it." "I see," Dr. Halsey sad. She pushed away from her desk, stood, and paced. Why was she hesitating? The match [i]was[/i] superb. But was Cortana's predilection for Spartan 117 a result of him being Dr. Halsey's favorite? And did it matter? Who better to protect him? Dr. Halsey walked over to the picture. "He was awarded this Legion of Honor medallion because he dove into a bunker of Covenant soldiers. He took out twenty by himself and saved a platoon of Marines who were pinned down by a stationary energy weapon emplacement. I've read the report, but I'm still not sure how he managed to do it." She turned to Cortana and stared into her odd translucent eyes. "You've read his CSV?" "I'm reading it again right now." "Then you know he neither the smartest nor the fastest nor the strongest of the Spartans. But he is the bravest - and quite possibly the luckiest. And in my opinion, he is the best." "Yes," Cortana whispered. "I concur with you analysis, Doctor." She drifted closer. "Could you sacrifice him if you had to? If it meant completing the mission?" Dr. Halsey asked quietly. "Could you watch him die?" Cortana halted and the processing symbols racing across her skin froze midcalculation. "My priority Alpha order is to complete this mission," she replied emotionlessly. "The Spartans' safety as well as mine is a Beta-level priority command." "Good," Dr. Halsey returned to her desk and sat down. "Then you can have him."