Halo_ First Strike - Eric S. Nylund [111]
"No," Dr. Halsey told him, and she removed her glasses. "You don't."
"Doctor?"
"Discovering how he survived is not what I wanted to discuss. It's what happens next to Sergeant Avery Johnson."
She shut off her monitors and eased back into the chair. "I've prepared two separate reports on this for ONI Section Three. The first has all relevant data on my analysis and the possible technology to counter an initial Flood infestation. The second includes the source material: Private Jenkins's and Sergeant Johnson's mission logs and the Sergeant's medical files."
She downloaded the reports onto two data crystals and ejected them from the port on the chair's arm. She set the clear cubes on the tray and gestured for John to take them. "I leave it up to you which to deliver to Lieutenant Haverson."
"Why would I withhold any data, Doctor?" the Master Chief asked and glanced at the crystals.
Her eyes focused past him as she struggled to find the words to match her conflicting emotions. "For a long time I had thought that we had to sacrifice a few for the good of the entire human race." She took a deep breath and let it go with a heavy sigh. "I have killed and maimed and caused a great deal of suffering to many people—all in the name of self-preservation." Her steely blue gaze found him. "But now I'm not sure that philosophy has worked out too well. I should have been trying to save every single human life—no matter what it cost."
Dr. Halsey pushed the tray bearing the data crystals toward the Master Chief. "If you give ONI the first report, they may be able to find a countermeasure for the Flood. Maybe. They would have a slightly better chance, however, if you give them the second report."
"Then I'll give them the second report." He picked up the crystal.
"Which will murder Sergeant Johnson," she said with a chill in her voice. "ONI will not be satisfied to take a sample of blood. They will dissect him to find out how he resisted the Flood. It will be a billion-to-one shot that they'll ever replicate his unique medical conditions—but they'll do it anyway. They will kill him because the trade-off is worth it to them."
The Master Chief picked up the other crystal and then stared at them both lying in his gauntleted hand.
"Is it worth it to you, John?" she asked.
He curled his hand in a fist and held it close to his chest. "Why do you want me to make this choice?"
"One last lesson. I'm trying to teach you something it's taken me all my life to realize." She cleared her throat of the lump thickening there. "I'm giving you the chance to make the decision that I thought I couldn't make."
She glanced at the clock on her display. "I'm sorry. Linda is almost prepped for surgery, and I have several things I must accomplish before then. You should go."
The Master Chief obediently turned and strode toward the exit, but halted in the doorway. "Doctor, don't let her die again." He then left the room.
Dr. Halsey watched until he rounded the corridor and was gone. She hoped she saw John again before she did what she had to do, but she might not. Would the thought she had planted within him take hold? The gesture might be the only thing she could do to atone for what she'd done to him and the other Spartans.
Such thoughts were luxuries when there were only three hours before Ascendant Justice exited Slipspace. There was too much to do before then.
She turned all the monitors to face her and typed in the command to unsquelch Cortana. "Lock the door," Dr. Halsey ordered Cortana. "Boost counter-intrusion measures to level seven."
ERIC NYLUND 247
"Done," Cortana said. The irritation at having been silenced for the last five minutes was like barbed wire in her voice. "What precisely was all that about? Teach the Master Chief a lesson? Giving him a choice? Save one man instead of billions?"
Dr. Halsey ignored her and rapidly typed in commands on her keyboard. "Give me access to your core