Cortana (level)

Looking for Cortana, the Human AI?

Cortana is the eighth campaign mission of Halo 3.

It takes place in a Flood infested High Charity and is involved with the Index from Installation 04.

Upon completing it on the Normal, Heroic, or Legendary difficulties, the player will earn the "The Key" achievement and 40 Gamerpoints.

A curious note to add to this level is that if you listen carefully, Cortana will say some quotes by Dr. Halsey from Halo: The Fall of Reach. Also at the end she says something she says in the original Halo at the beginning of the game. She tells the chief to keep his head down, that there are two of them there now. She says this in the first level of Halo if you lose a bar of health.

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Transcript
NOTE: The transcript is still incomplete.

(The Master Chief flys a Banshee to High Charity. He finds an opening into the hive.)

(Co-op) ''(The Master Chief and the Arbiter fly Banshees to High Charity. They find an opening into the hive.)

Johnson (Radio): "Chief, I'll round up our survivors, fall back to the Dawn."

(Master Chief drops down)

Co-op (Master Chief and Arbiter drop down)

Johnson (Radio): "Arbiter will do the same with the Elites."

Johnson (Co-op): "Shipmaster will do the same with the Elites."

(The Chief shakes off stuff on his boot)

Johnson (Radio): "Cortana is in there somewhere."

Rampant
{Gameplay}

(Chief begins searching, further in the hive)

Gravemind (Gravemind Moment): "Child of my enemy, why have you come? I offer no forgiveness. A father's sins passed to his son."

(a little later)

Cortana (Cortana Moment): (Cries of agony)

(Sometime later)

Gravemind (Gravemind Moment): Of course, you came for her. We exist together now. Two corpses in one grave.

Cortana: "A collection of lies; that's all I am! Stolen thoughts and memories!"

Gravemind (Gravemind Moment): "And yet, perhaps a part of her still... remains.

Cortana: (Laughs)

(In the large room where the Tilt skull is located, a Terminal can be activated, but does not count towards the Marathon achievement. If activated, it displays another Cortana Moment)

Cortana (Terminal): It was the coin's fault! I wanted to make you strong, keep you safe. I'm sorry, I can't.

(After some fighting)

Cortana: "What's your name? It's very nice to meet you. You like games? Me too."

Cortana: "I'm just my Mother's shadow... don't look at me, don't listen! I'm not what I used to be..."

(Near the large room with the route to the reactor room at the top)

Gravemind (Gravemind Moment): "Time has taught me PATIENCE! I will know all THAT I POSSESS!!"

(Right before the Chief enters the reactor room)

Cortana (Cortana Moment): "I have walked the edge of the abyss. I have seen the future.  And I have learned."

Gravemind (Gravemind Moment): "SUBMIT! END YOUR TORMENT AND MY OWN!"

(As the Chief leaves the reactor room)

Cortana (Cortana Moment): "There will be no more sadness. No more anger. No more envy."

Gravemind (Gravemind Moment): "You will show me what she hides!!!, or I shall feast upon your BONES!"

(Right before you enter the room Cortana's in.)

Cortana (Cortana Moment): "This is UNSC AI Serial Number CCN0452-9. I am a monument to all your sins."

''(The Chief finds Cortana in a Stasis Shield in on of the panels in the room. He beats and bashes the shield until it finally breaks.)

{Cutscene}

Cortana: "You found me."

(Master Chief leans closer towards the panel Cortana's on.)

Cortana: "But so much of me is wrong, out of place. You might be too late."

Master Chief: "You know me. When I make a promise,"

Cortana: "You...keep it. I do know how to pick 'em."

Master Chief: "Lucky me. Do you still have it?"

Cortana: "The activation index, from the first Halo ring. A little souvenir I hung onto, just in case.  Got an escape plan?"

Master Chief: "Thought I'd try shooting me way out, mix things up a little."

(Chief inserts Cortana into his armor.)

Cortana: "Just keep your head down, there's two of us in here now, remember."

Nor Hell A Fury...
{Gameplay}

(If you stay in the room Cortana was in) Cortana: "Chief, get me out of this place. I... I don't want to stay."

Gravemind (Gravemind Moment): (ROARS) At last I see!! Her secret is revealed!!!

Cortana: "Wait, we need to buy some time. This reactor... destroy it. Destroy High Charity."

(After you destroy all three reactor pylons)

Gravemind: (Roars in pain)

Cortana: "You hurt it, Chief. But not for long. We need to get to Halo. Destroy the Flood once and for all."

(Near the end of the level)

Cortana: "I've got a friendly contact. Who would be crazy enough to come in here?"

(Chief and Cortana find the Arbiter battling Flood with a Flamethrower.)

Cortana: "Wait, you two made nice?! What else have you been up to...?"

{Cutscene}

(The Master Chief and Arbiter find a Pelican nearby and board it. One of the Gravemind's tentacles advances to the Dropship, but the heat from the thrust forces it to retreat. The Pelican takes off. The tentacle comes back and tries to wrap around the Dropship, but the Chief escapes it's grip. The Pelican just escape from the initial explosion, and makes it's way to the new Halo ring.)