War.

That one little word fails to convey the true meaning of the concept it is meant to represent. It is all the human race knew for nearly thirty years. In that time period, twenty-three billion humans were killed by a genocidal alliance of aliens known as the Covenant. In that time, over one thousand human worlds fell. In that time, hundreds of men and women dedicated themselves to perfecting humanity's greatest weapons. In that time, thirty-three super-soldiers first gave humanity the will to hold the line. In that time, one finished the fight.

Peace.

That one little word is the one thing that man will never know.

New York City, New York, United States of America, Earth-199998

May 4th 2011

"I don't see how that's a party….."

That confused statement had only just left Black Widow's mouth as a Chitauri Leviathan chased the armored figure of Iron Man around the corner of a building, debris flying as the beast's monstrous form smashed through the building. A whirlwind of destruction followed closely behind that red and gold blur that was Tony Stark.

"Doctor Banner, now might be a really good time for you to get angry." Captain America said, his masked face remaining surprisingly calm.

"That's my secret Captain. I'm always angry." Banner replied to the Captain as he walked towards the Leviathan. Bruce turned away from the Avengers and rapidly mutated into his hated alter-ego, the Hulk. Like a boxer in the ring, the Hulk slammed his green fist into the face of the alien. After the brief sojourn provided by the lull in the conflict, the Avengers fought off the invasion with increased vigor. The battle reached its climax as the Avengers retook Stark Tower from the Asgardian exile Loki and Tony Stark destroyed the mother-ship of the invading Chitauri forces as the portal closed.

"Alright, uh alright, good job guys! Let's just, ah, not come in tomorrow, okay, let-let's just take a day." Tony said while lying on the ground, his suit mostly powerless and destroyed. His arms weakly flailed at his sides.

"You ever try shawarma? There's a shawarma joint 'bout two blocks from here. I don't know what it is but I want to try it…."

"We're not finished yet." Said the golden-haired Son of Asgard, grimly looking towards Stark Tower, where his adopted brother still lay unconscious.

S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, Currently over the Atlantic Ocean, Earth-199998

August 15th 2012

"Is there a reason you're reassigning me to Stark, sir?"

"Of course there is, Agent Romanov. Now I know he is a grown man who can take care of himself but ever since the New York Invasion, out of all the people involved in the Avengers Initiative, Tony Stark has shown signs of suffering from PTSD. As Iron Man, Tony Stark is one of the most dangerous people in the world- if he were to break under the pressure, we would be forced to bring him down and the future of the Initiative would be doomed. YOU need to make sure that doesn't happen. I don't need Mr. Stark screwing everything up for us because some kid in a diner asks him about New York. You got that? Now get your ass outta here and complete your mission!" Nick Fury ordered Natasha, his voice rising as his ire began to boil over.

Natasha replied to her superior, "Yes sir. Should I keep my distance or should I work as his secretary again?"

"You're the super-spy, use your own discretion! I shouldn't have to tell you how to do your damn job or should I!?" Fury's eyebrow raised as his voice got angrier and angrier. Natasha noted his words and left, giving a curt nod out of respect.

Shaking his head, Nicholas Fury looked downwards towards a crew member on the deck below him.

"ENSIGN PETERS! STOP PLAYING PACMAN!"

Wreckage of the UNSC Forward Unto Dawn, Orbit of the Requiem Installation, Epoloch System, Milky Way Galaxy, Earth-117649

July 21st 2557

"Mayday Mayday Mayday- this is UNSC FFG-201 Forward Unto Dawn requesting immediate evac. Survivors aboard- prioritization code Victor zero five dash three dash Sierra one one seven. Mayday Mayday Mayday- this is UNSC FFG-201 Forward Unto Dawn requesting immediate evac. Survivors aboard- prioritization code Victor zero five dash three dash Sierra one one seven."

The automated message played repeatedly, much as it had for nearly five years. This call for help became a routine as necessary as breathing was for a human to the A.I performing it- as well as the thousands of other processes she ran alongside the relative footnote that was the distress call. Existence was tough for a UNSC smart A.I; they literally thought themselves to death after seven years due of the compulsion to always be operating numerous tasks. Rampancy led to various delusions of grandeur and godhood. Cortana was doing her best to hold off the effects of her systems' decay by ceasing as many of her higher functions as possible.

She operated this way so that when she needed him, she'd have the capacity to work with her old friend without wanting to kill him. Then something found them. A
mysterious wall of light passed through the wreckage of the Forward Unto Dawn, startling the dormant A.I into activity. She formed her avatar with a look of fear on her face, clueless as to what it could be. Knowing the time had come, the holographic woman accessed the blue, glowing interface that appeared in front of her. There was only a moment's hesitation before she pressed the button to finish the procedure.

"Wake up, Chief. I need you."