Avery Johnson: Difference between revisions

He played a vital role in all three [[Halo games]], providing assistance to [[John-117]] at very opportune times. He is one of the selected few who are acquainted with the Master Chief, after the two fought alongside each other numerous times, though the [[SPARTAN-II]] often had to rescue him from enemy capture. He also had a strange liking for [[flip music]] and rock 'n' roll, which wasn't shared amongst his fellow soldiers and subordinates. He was renowned for his "never-say-die" attitude and was well respected and liked amongst his soldiers. He died during the [[Battle_of_the_Ark|Battle of Installation 04(II)]], in the hands of [[John-117]] when he shrugged off [[343 Guilty Spark (Monitor)|Spark's]] protests against prematurely firing the [[Installation_04_(II)|incomplete Installation 04]]. SgtMaj. Johnson is the only known sentient lifeform whose body has actually come into physical contact with a [[Flood]] [[Infection Form]] and not been infected, apparently due to his [[Boren's Syndrome]].

Johnson enlisted in the [[UNSC Marine Corps]] when he was nineteen<ref>Halo: Contact Harvest</ref> and was soon thrown into the [[Insurrection]]. His name was dubiously associated with dozens of black operations and programs, including assignment to the highly classified unit called [[ORION Project]], and participation on missions codenamed [[Operation: TANGLEWOOD]] and [[Operation: KALEIDOSCOPE]].<ref>[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]</ref>

Johnson was speculated to be a [[SPARTAN-I]] and may have been a member of [[SPARTAN-I Program|Project: SPARTAN-I]]. The files that contain the records of his involvement with the program are covered up by [[ONI|ONI Section Zero]], and anyone who tries to access them are automatically sent a fake file marked "\P_BS48789-2011-AJ.txt", also known as the "Paris/BS Spoof" File.<ref>Halo: Graphic Novel page 122</ref> He was a graduate of the [[Naval Special Warfare Sniper School]] (where he exceeded the expectations of his superiors), and received training in [[Human Entry Vehicle]] orbital drops<ref>[[Halo:Contact Harvest]] pg. 350</ref>, and [[CQB]] (Close Quarters Battle), while serving in [[UNSC Special Forces|NavSpecWar]]. He also served as a Squad Leader on many black operations missions during the Insurrection.<ref>[[Halo: Contact Harvest]], on their way down to [[Harvest]]</ref>  

In [[2524]], Johnson participated in [[Operation: TREBUCHET]], leading [[Alpha Squad]] of a platoon of [[UNSC Special Forces|NAVSPECWAR]] marines alongside [[Staff Sergeant]] [[Nolan Byrne|Byrne]]. Their squads used [[Hornets]] to conduct air assaults on multiple targets in efforts to eliminate [[Rebel]] bomb making factories. However, when a rebel (armed with a bomb) was cornered in a [[Jim Dandy]] restaurant, Byrne told Johnson to fire an [[M99 Special Application Scoped Rifle]], (A.K.A gauss-rifle), at an [[Insurrectionist]] holding a child hostage. Sgt. Johnson did not have a clear shot at the rebel, and his hesitation led to a civilian (a man trying to rescue his son) tackling the female rebel, who then detonated her explosives, which destroyed the Jim Dandy restaurant, along with all of the Marines in Byrne's squad (Except Byrne himself), and thirty eight civilians.

After the incident, he came home and found [[Marcille Johnson|his Aunt]] dead (of natural causes), and soon went on a massive drinking binge. He started a brawl with bouncers at a Chicago Club, and ended up in a gutter until he was found by [[Downs|Lieutenant Downs]], a [[UNSC Marine Corps]] [[recruiter]]. He was re-assigned to Harvest by [[Jilan al-Cygni]].

Officially, he was re-assigned to train the [[Colonial Militia of Harvest|Colonial Militia]] on Harvest, but their actual mission was to create a covert anti-insurgency unit, and to lay an ambush on insurgent forces suspected in the disappearances of DCS freighters around [[Harvest]]. However, he and Byrne fought four [[Jackal|Jackals]] in the first battle between the UNSC and [[Covenant]], on board the human Freighter called ''This End Up'', and they successfully defeated them (but not without a few complications). Johnson and Byrne (with the rest of the militia of Harvest) were also present at the initial negotiations between the [[Brutes]] and the [[Humans]]. They also fought [[Tartarus]], [[Maccabeus]] and several [[Grunts]]. He aided [[Staff Sergeant]] [[Byrne]] and ONI operative [[Lieutenant Commander|Lt. Cdr.]] [[Jilan al-Cygni]] in repelling the [[Brute]] ship ''[[Rapid Conversion]]'' long enough to allow most of the planet's population to escape into the [[Tiara]], a station attached to seven different Space elevators stationed on the planet. Later, he would become intimate with the [[ONI]] agent al-Cygni after escaping from the planet. After this, his UNSC career is unknown, but he is presumed to have served on many planets between 2525 and 2549, when the [[Siege of Paris IV|Battle of Paris IV]] took place.

A query by [[Cortana (AI)|Cortana]] into Johnson's medical history revealed that he had a condition known as [[Boren's Syndrome]]. This disease was contracted while he was stationed at [[Paris IV]]. When the [[Covenant]] [[Siege of Paris IV|attacked]] Paris IV, [[Sergeant (UNSC)|Sergeant]] Johnson fought valiantly; during the battle, he repossessed a crate of [[Plasma Grenade|plasma grenades]] when his troops needed them and used them all against the enemy troops to keep them at bay so his fellow soldiers could evacuate. He received a commendation for bravery, and a twelve-hundred-rad cumulative dose of radiation as an unanticipated "bonus" from the plasma grenades.<ref>[[Halo: First Strike]] pg. 244</ref> However, the Boren’s Syndrome apparently had an unexpected side effect, as it made him effectively immune to the [[Flood]] because the radiation scrambled his nervous system so much that the [[Flood]] could not force a match. This rendered the [[Flood]] unable to control him. However, [[Halo Graphic Novel, Page 122|page 122]] of the [[Halo Graphic Novel]] indicates that the Boren's Syndrome story (referred to as the Paris/BS Spoof), may have been a hoax to cover up Johnsons' involvement in the [[SPARTAN-I Program]].<ref>Halo: Graphic Novel Page 122</ref>

After the [[Siege of Paris IV]], he was assigned to [[Reach Station Gamma]], an orbital station above the planet [[Reach]]. While stationed there, a massive Covenant armada arrived, starting one of the [[Battle of Reach|largest engagements]] of the Human-Covenant War. During the battle, Johnson led a search and destroy team aboard the station, made up of [[Private First Class|PFC]] [[Wallace Jenkins|Jenkins]], and [[Private (UNSC)|Privates]] [[Bisenti]] and [[O'Brien (Marine)|O'Brien]]. They were almost killed by the attacking Jackals and Elites, but was later picked up by [[John-117]] and [[Linda-058]]. <ref>[[Halo: The Fall of Reach]], pages 325, 328, and 349</ref> He escaped onto the {{UNSCShip|Pillar of Autumn}}, which fled the battle into [[Slipspace]].

{{quote|Men, we led those dumb bugs out to the middle of nowhere to keep 'em from getting their filthy claws on Earth. But, we stumbled onto something they're so hot for, that they're scrambling over each other to get it.  Now I don't care if it's God's own anti-son-of-a-bitch machine or a giant hula-hoop; We're not gonna let them have it! What we'' will ''let them have is a belly full of lead and a pool of their own blood to drown in! Am I right Marines?!|Sergeant Johnson ('Pillar of Autumn' level on Legendary)}}

Coming out of Slipspace, the ''Pillar of Autumn'' came across [[Installation 04]]. The Covenant, cautious not to damage the ring world by firing at the ''Autumn'' in space, began boarding actions to "cleanly" neutralize the ''Autumn'' by boarding the ship and wiping out the crew and altering its course away from the Installation, before planting charges and blowing it up. On board, Johnson helped defend the ''Autumn'' from the invading Covenant boarding troops, but like everyone else was forced to abandon ship when [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Jacob Keyes|Keyes]] issued the order. Johnson was reported to be one of the last to leave the ship, ensuring that as many of the ship's crew - Marines and UNSC Navy personnel - made it off the Autumn as possible.  

Johnson’s escape pod and his [[Fire Team Charlie|squad]] successfully landed on the ring with most of his Marines alive. However, as soon as they geared up, the Covenant strike teams viciously attacked them. With his platoon scattered all over the valley, he was glad to see SPARTAN-117 coming up to assist in the nick of time.<ref>[[Halo: The Flood]], pages 68/69</ref>.

Johnson and Fire Team Charlie were evacuated by [[Echo 419]], and remained at [[Alpha Base]] for some time until asked to join a mission, led by [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Jacob Keyes|Keyes]], into the inner workings of Installation 04.

===='''Escape from the [[Flood]]'''====

[[Image:Hgn-johnson.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Johnson fighting his way out of the [[Flood]] Containment Facility.]]

The crew intercepted a Covenant transmission detailing the transport of numerous weapons to somewhere in the swampy regions of [[Installation 04]]. This, as well as a captured [['Qualomee|Elite's]] testimony of a large weapons cache located in a swamp, prompted [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Jacob Keyes|Keyes]] to investigate. Johnson, being an experienced and respected Marine Sergeant, accompanied [[Captain (Navy)|Captain]] [[Jacob Keyes|Keyes]] along with his squad.  

Shortly after they were dropped off, the squad came across a structure leading underground. As they ventured further into the facility, they came across several [[Elite]] corpses with scrambled innards. Passing them off as friendly fire, they proceeded deeper into the facility until they entered a seemingly empty room. Annoyed with [[Private (UNSC)|Private]] [[Manuel Mendoza|Mendoza’s]] paranoia, Johnson passed off the situation until [[Infection Forms]] barged out of the nearby holding cells and attacked the squad. As each Marine fell, Johnson was forced to attack and kill a few of his own men, who were mutating before his eyes and would have killed him if he had done otherwise. Johnson fought his way out of the nightmare through sheer tenacity and firepower. He was presumed dead after [[SPARTAN-117]] found a helmet recorder entry from Private [[Wallace Jenkins]], showing the gory details of the Marines' fates, but later escaped after [[John-117]] found [[Corporal (UNSC)|Corporal]] [[Lovik]] and the remains of his Marine team (Johnson was not seen with the second squad in ''Halo: The Flood'', although in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' his character model sometimes appears for no specific reason).  

There is much speculation as to whether or not Johnson was infected and managed to survive due to the complications of his [[Boren's Syndrome]], or if he never was infected and simply fought his way out. The [[Halo Graphic Novel]] story [[Breaking Quarantine]], as well as [[Halo Graphic Novel, Page 122|page 122]] of the same book, seems to indicate he was never infected, though it may have occurred before the story began.

Johnson met up with [[Lieutenant (UNSC)|Lt.]] [[Elias Haverson]], [[Corporal (UNSC)|Cpl.]] [[Locklear]], as well as [[Petty Officer Second Class|PO2]] [[Sheila Polaski]], after escaping the destruction of the [[Installation 04|ring]] in a [[D77-TC Pelican Dropship|Pelican]], moments before it collapsed in multiple explosions. Though in the Legendary Ending of ''Halo: Combat Evolved,'' Johnson is seen hugging an Elite as the ''Pillar of Autumn'' explodes which made his return in Halo 2 a surprise for many fans of the series who thought he had died. This ending was later said to be non-canon, ending this problem.

Polaski piloted the dropship away from the ring, meeting up with a [[C709 Longsword-class Starfighter|C709 Longsword-class Starfighter]] carrying SPARTAN-117 and the [[AI]], [[Cortana (AI)|Cortana]], who had also escaped the [[Flood]] and [[Installation 04]]. Having seen Jenkins’s video himself, John was alarmed by Johnson’s appearance and promptly pulled Johnson's own [[M6D Pistol]] and pointed it to his head. Johnson had expressed no objection, and assured John he was fine, although it took [[Cortana (AI)|Cortana's]] intervention to convince [[Master Chief]] that Johnson was not infected.

Without a viable way to return to the nearest safe outpost, it was decided that the new crew would take over the nearest Covenant ship in the vicinity, the ''[[Ascendant Justice]]''. The Master Chief assumed command due to his higher-priority mission, although Lieutenant Haverson was the ranking officer, and Johnson assisted Master Chief by helping him assert control over Corporal Locklear and Haverson. After they boarded the Ascendant Justice, Johnson and the others made their way through the ship towards the bridge, where he witnessed a showdown between [[SPARTAN-117]] and a [[Sangheili]], where he brought down the alien’s shields in order for SPARTAN-117 to push the Elite into an escape pod and send it away from the ship.

After they had captured the Covenant ship, not being able to return to Earth because of the [[Cole Protocol]], Master Chief suggested they return to Reach to regroup. When they arrived at Reach, however, the planet was almost completely glassed, except for a small portion. Using a [[Spirit|Covenant dropship]], they traveled to the surface of the near-dead planet, where Johnson was becoming nervous. After they landed, they found the surviving [[SPARTAN-II]]s and [[Catherine Elizabeth Halsey|Dr. Catherine Halsey]]. Johnson was the first to realize that they were surrounded by thousands of invisible Covenant, and pointed it out to [[Vice Admiral]] [[Danforth Whitcomb|Whitcomb]] before their dropship walked into the trap.

After a harrowing escape, Johnson accompanied the new and growing crew as the ship moved through Slipspace. Unknown to him, [[Dr. Halsey]] and the [[Master Chief]] were reviewing his medical files. They matched Johnson’s survival with the [[Flood]] to his Boren’s Syndrome: [[Flood]] DNA was present in Johnson’s blood, but was dormant and non-infectious. Halsey also confirmed that Johnson had gained some unique regenerative abilities as a side effect from the attempted assimilation back on Halo when they accidentally opened the Flood Containment Facility. Halsey had prepared two separate documents for [[ONI Section Three]] to review:

*All relevant data on Halsey’s analysis and the possible technology to counter an initial [[Flood]] infestation.  

*The file above, as well as Jenkins’s and Johnson’s mission logs as well as Johnson’s medical files.  

Halsey placed the decision of which data crystal to give to ONI in the Chief's hands. If he gave them the second crystal, ONI would have probably dissected Johnson in order to figure out how he resisted the [[Flood]], killing the Sergeant. The Chief had thought at first that the second crystal held the better solution, but later decided to save Johnson's life by crushing the second crystal.

Although Johnson's involvement in Operation: FIRST STRIKE was minimal, he came up with the idea to attack the [[Covenant]] space station ''Unyielding Hierophant'' in order to delay the Covenant from finding Earth. Johnson continued to be of assistance when the Spartans launched [[Operation: FIRST STRIKE]], staying behind with Cortana in the damaged UNSC ''[[Gettysburg]]'' while they charged head-on into the ''[[Covenant]]'' ship after the operation.

[[Image:Hood.jpg|thumb|right|Johnson is presented with The [[Colonial Cross]] along with [[John-117]].]]

{{quote|The message just repeats. 'Regret, Regret, Regret.'|[[Cortana]]}}

{{quote|Catchy. Any idea what it means?|[[Commander Keyes]]}}

|1 = Dear [[Human|Humanity]], we regret being alien bastards. We regret coming to [[Earth]]. And we most definitely regret that the [[Corps]] just blew up our raggedy-ass fleet!"

Most of the crew returned to Earth safely, and they were given time to rest and were debriefed on their experiences. Aboard the ''[[Cairo Station|Cairo]]'', Johnson was promoted to [[Sergeant Major]] and was awarded the [[Colonial Cross]] for his actions on Halo. During the ceremony, a Covenant excavation fleet headed by the [[Prophet of Regret]] arrived at Earth, sparking the [[First Battle of Earth]].  

Johnson aided the defense of the ''Cairo'' along with John-117. As the Spartan led the human forces deeper into the station, Johnson and [[Commander (UNSC)|Commander]] [[Miranda Keyes]] boarded the UNSC [[UNSC Frigate|Frigate]] ''[[UNSC In Amber Clad|In Amber Clad]]''.  

As they arrived on the surface, Cortana intercepted data that pointed towards one of the Covenant’s spiritual leaders. Johnson led the Pelicans into battle, but they were shot down by a Covenant [[Scarab]] before they got close to the [[Covenant Assault Carrier|ship]] that carried the High Prophet of Regret. Using a [[Sniper Rifle System 99C-S2 Anti-Matériel|SRS99C-S2 AM]], Johnson fought in the residential district of the city, providing cover fire and serving as a lookout. As John-117 went on to find [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marines]] from another downed Pelican, Johnson stayed back and joined the rescue units to provide cover. Viewing the Scarab as a threat to the mission, he returned to ''[[UNSC In Amber Clad|In Amber Clad]]'' to bring a [[Scorpion Tank|Scorpion tank]] for the Chief to use in a front line assault against the Covenant invasion force.

After the destruction of the Scarab, Johnson picked up the Chief and brought him back into ''In Amber Clad'', just as the massive Covenant ship took off into [[Slipspace]].

Coming out of Slipspace, Johnson was shocked to learn that there was another Halo, nearly choking on his ever-present cigar. Determined to find and capture the [[Prophet of Regret]], [[Commander (UNSC)|Commander]] [[Miranda Keyes|Keyes]] ordered SPARTAN-117 to clear a landing zone and the Sergeant to take two flights of Pelicans and land on the ring. Johnson carried out the orders and followed SPARTAN-117 and a small detachment of [[Orbital Drop Shock Troopers]] onto the surface, providing artillery and troops by the means of dropship to fight the Covenant stationed in the ring’s ancient temples.

During the mission, Cortana translated a message from Regret being broadcast on the Covenant network: Regret planned to activate Halo. Pulling information gathered from the previous ring visited, Keyes found the location of [[Library (Installation 05)|Delta Halo’s library]] housing the [[Index]]. She ordered Johnson to extract his troops and return to ''In Amber Clad'' for reassignment.  

Johnson and a group of his best Marines joined Keyes on a search for the Index. As they neared the center of the massive structure, the small pack was attacked by a large amount of [[Flood]]. They dug in and fought the creatures off, finally locating the Index. Johnson helped Miranda grab the key, but before they headed out, they were attacked by [[Thel 'Vadamee]], who had activated his camouflage to hide from Johnson and Miranda. Johnson was quickly incapacitated, and was captured by the Brute Chieftain [[Tartarus]], and brought to High Charity.

Johnson and Keyes were held in the Covenant city of [[High Charity]], until the [[Prophet of Truth|High Prophet of Truth]] told Tartarus to activate the [[Delta Halo|ring]] to initiate the [[Great Journey]]. Tartarus ordered the Jiralhanae to split Johnson, and Keyes and the captured [[343 Guilty Spark (Monitor)|Oracle]] into two different [[Phantom|Phantoms]]. Johnson was joined by [[Staff Sergeant]] [[Marcus Banks|Banks]] and [[Gunnery Sergeant (UNSC)|Gunnery Sergeant]] [[Pete Stacker (Marine)|Stacker]] for an execution by a pack of Jiralhanae. Moments before their deaths, Thel 'Vadamee and his squad burst out of the nearby structure and attacked the Jiralhanae, distracting them long enough for Johnson and his Marines to board the nearby [[Scarab]] walker.  

After the executioners were killed, Johnson and his Marines commandeered the [[Scarab]], and confronted 'Vadamee. They both agreed that [[Tartarus]] needed to be stopped. Johnson suggested that 'Vadamee commandeer a [[Banshee]] to provide air support. After that, they joined forces and traveled through the canyon towards the [[Control Room (Installation 05)|Control Room]]. Knowing the brute strength of the [[Scarab|Scarab's]] main weapon, Johnson fired at the heavily armored door, shattering it with ease. Arming himself with a [[Beam Rifle]], Johnson followed the Arbiter inside alone.

He arrived during Thel 'Vadamee's confrontation to Tartarus. He aimed his [[Beam Rifle]] at the Jiralhanae’s head, keeping him from forcing Keyes to insert the Index. Tartarus threw [[343 Guilty Spark (Monitor)|343 Guilty Spark]] at Johnson, knocking him over. Swiftly, he forced [[Miranda Keyes]] to insert the Index into the control panel, starting the firing process. 'Vadamee and his squad challenged Tartarus, and Johnson provided backup, using his [[Beam Rifle]] to bring down the Chieftain’s shields. With his shields down, 'Vadamee was able to kill Tartarus, therefore allowing [[Miranda]] to grab the Index and stop Halo from firing.  

With the remainder of the [[Sangheili]] squad keeping the area secure, [[343 Guilty Spark (Monitor)|343 Guilty Spark]] explained to Johnson and Keyes that the other Installations were ready to fire. This is a fail-safe if one of the Halo installations misfires, allowing them to be put on standby mode. This allowed them to be fired by [[Installation 00|the Ark]].

When [[John-117]] crash-landed on Earth, he was met by Johnson, Thel 'Vadam (previously Thel 'Vadamee), and a squad of Marines. After a few minutes of hiking through the jungle, he and his squad split off from the Master Chief and 'Vadam after encountering enemy [[Phantom|Phantoms]], reasoning that they would be safer apart than together. Johnson and his team proceeded to continue through the woods, and arrived at the evacuation site several moments before John-117 and 'Vadam. However, enemy Banshees soon discovered the awaiting Pelicans, and he was shot down, crash landing about a kilometer away. He and the surviving Marines were forced to flee pursuing Brutes. At some point Johnson and his men were captured and tortured. After being freed by John-117, he grabbed the nearest weapon and helped fend off incoming Covenant until [[Hocus]], a Pelican pilot, came to the rescue. Hocus eventually arrived, destroying two Phantoms that were pinning Johnson, John-117, the Arbiter, and the surviving Marines down. Johnson was evacuated along with John-117, the Arbiter and surviving Marines.

Sgt. Johnson, John-117 and Thel 'Vadam were brought to a UNSC base codenamed "Crow's Nest", deep underground in the African jungle. There, they linked up with Commander Miranda Keyes, who briefed them on the situation. He and 'Vadam stayed behind to defend the ops center from Covenant attacks, while John-117 went off to secure the perimeter. After a lengthy battle, he was forced to fall back as Jiralhanae overran the control room. He rendezvoused with Keyes and 'Vadam in a Pelican, and guided John-117 through the base to an elevator that would take him to the Pelicans. Unfortunately, the base exploded before John-117 could reach Johnson, forcing the Sergeant to leave him to meet up with [[Gunnery Sergeant (UNSC)|GySgt.]] [[Reynolds]] under the base instead.

Johnson warned John-117 that the Covenant had uncovered the Ark, and that John-117 had to get to it. Johnson provided air support for the Spartan and the Marine survivors, dropping off Warthogs so the Chief and Marines could break through the Jiralhanae blockades. At one point, he dropped off a [[Mongoose]] ATV to assist the Master Chief in destroying a Covenant Scarab. Johnson remained in a Pelican dropship for most if not all of the Battle of Voi, dispersing armor and troops throughout the city as necessary to help push the Covenant back. When the Pelican made a crash-landing in Voi, Johnson probably docked on the [[UNSC Forward Unto Dawn|UNSC ''Forward Unto Dawn'']] along with Commander Keyes. He was present when the Master Chief retrieved [[Cortana (AI)|Cortana]] and played back her message, and was one of the Marines that followed [[Prophet of Truth|The High Prophet of Truth]] to [[Installation 00|The Ark]]

Johnson descended to the Ark with a half a dozen Pelicans along with John-117, and helped him secure a landing zone and stop the construction of an AA battery. He later brought in some tanks from the frigate, helping throughout the mission, until the location of Truth was discovered from the [[Cartographer]].  

He then went on to command the second squad in taking down the third tower that was projecting the shield barrier protecting Truth in the Citadel. There, he, along with his squad, were overrun and captured by overwhelming Brute, Hunter and Drone forces.  

The Prophet of Truth attempted to use him to activate the Ark, but he only taunted the [[Jiralhanae]], in particular a [[Chieftain]] and took their abuse. Miranda Keyes attempted to rescue him by crashing a Pelican through a large observatory window. Keys was able to kill one brute, a Chieftain, and fatally wounded another, but was surrounded. Realizing what the Prophet of Truth wished to use them for, Johnson told her that she should kill them both so they could not be used. While Keyes hesitated, she was shot in the back with a [[Spiker]], killing her instantly. Johnson was rescued by John-117 and Thel 'Vadam, along with a horde of [[Flood]]. After the Flood turned on the three, Johnson managed to escape on Keyes' Pelican, but John and 'Vadam where knocked off of the Pelican by the Gravemind, forced to fight back through the Flood.  

{{quote|Don't let her go... Don't..Ever...let her go. Send me out, with a bang...|Avery J. Johnson in his final moments}}, said to [[John-117]]

Johnson helped [[John-117]] and [[Thel 'Vadam]] fight through hordes of [[Flood]] to get to the control room of the newly rebuilt [[Installation 04 (II)|Installation 04]], giving cover fire for the Chief and Arbiter with a [[Spartan Laser]]. Johnson tried to activate the ring despite [[343 Guilty Spark (Monitor)|Guilty Spark's]] suggestion that they wait for it to be finished, which could take several days. Realizing that his ring was to be destroyed again, [[Spark]] turned on his allies, firing his sentinal beam into Johnson's front armor piece and causing a fatal wound.  

While [[John-117]] fought the rogue construct, Johnson used the last of his life and fired his Laser, rendering Spark vulnerable. With a few choice words, "kick his ass", he handed [[John-117]] his [[Spartan Laser|weapon]] and fell unconscious immediately after the weapon left his hand. After the rogue AI was destroyed, he gave [[John-117]] the chip containing Cortana, and told him "Don't ever let her go". Despite John's promise that they would not leave him behind, the dying Johnson knew that he wasn't going to make it, requesting the Chief to "send [him] out with a 'bang'" before passing away. Following his wishes, [[John-117]] left his body in the Control Room as the premature ring activated and tore itself apart. Johnson's body was disintegrated in the explosion while Chief and Thel 'Vadam took his Warthog to escape on ''Forward Unto Dawn''. His death brought condolences from Cortana and Thel 'Vadam, whom Johnson aided in his fight against [[Tartarus]].

Avery Johnson's behavior seems to be eccentric, often delivering outlandish speeches to boost the morale of those serving under him. However, as shown in [[Halo: Contact Harvest|Contact Harvest]], he was a no-nonsense NCO, who, although caring deeply for his troops, pushed them hard during training.

Another peculiar aspect of his behavior is that he never refers to [[John-117]] or any of the other [[SPARTAN-II|SPARTAN-IIs]] as "Section Three freaks" or "Inhuman cyborgs". He has a large amount of respect for them, and appears to respect ''every'' human fighting for humanity, as well as the Elites, once they join forces with the UNSC in ''Halo 3''. In return, Thel 'Vadam respects him as well as after his death saying sorrowfully to John, "I am sorry, Spartan."

In ''Halo: CE'' and ''2'', Johnson seemed energetic and well humored, often cracking jokes, puns, and insults at the expense of the [[Covenant]] or even in response to UNSC transmissions, as shown in the following quote:  

However, in ''Halo 3'', it appears that Johnson's age begins to catch up with him, as he is captured (and saved, rather than escaping) numerous times, has fewer humorous lines, and generally appears to be tired. His serious side is seen more often, and he tends to fight more for the sake of getting it done, rather than enjoying himself as he did in ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' and ''Halo 2''. This may be due to old age, his encounters with the Flood, or the Human-Covenant War finally taking its toll on him.

*In [[Halo: Combat Evolved]], the popular [[Elite]] quote "Wort, wort, wort!" is actually a slower reversal of Johnson saying, "Go, go, go!"

*It may be presumed that Johnson could be or was married according to a quote during game play on the level [[Cairo_Station|Cairo Station]] where Johnson himself says that the Covenant are worse than his mother-in-law. In [[Halo: Contact Harvest]], Johnson was involved in a romantic relationship with his commanding officer, [[Jilan al-Cygni]] showing that he could have been married to her.<ref>http://www.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=12673</ref>

*Sergeant Johnson is partially based on the character Gunnery Sergeant Al Apone from the film [[wikipedia:Aliens (film)|Aliens]], with whom Johnson shares many character and physical traits, as well as some dialogue.

*Johnson was 82 at the time of his death. However, he was physically much younger.

*In Halo ODST Johnson always has a cigar in his mouth, as seen in the Gamestop trailer for the game, and screen shots.

*Currently, he has been in more games than any other character; a total of four (The only game he's not in is Halo Wars)