Bungie Universe
This topic has moved here: Subject: Sergeant Johnson: A Trojan Horse?
  • Subject: Sergeant Johnson: A Trojan Horse?
Subject: Sergeant Johnson: A Trojan Horse?

I'll get straight to the point:

Those of us who have read First Strike know that Sergeant Johnson isn't infected by the Flood because he carries the rare disease Boren's Syndrome; however, isn't it possible that Johnson has become a host for the Flood by carrying their "dead" DNA. Seeing as how Dr. Halsey described Johnson as having "some new regenerative ablities" in First Strike, then I think we should expect to see this "dead DNA" to play a major role in the storyline of Sergeant Johnson, and overall in the storyline of Halo 2. [color=green]Do you guys think this will manifest into a major part of the Halo 2 storyline, or is First Strike the last we'll here of it?[/color] [color=green]Any theories as to what will happen?[/color] Death and regeneratertion go hand in hand...



[color=red]Update:[/color]
I thought it was worth mentioning that Cortana also gains "new regenerative" or "self replicating" abilities in First Strike... that could really be a whole other discussion though:)

[color=orange]Update #2:[/color]
When I say Johnson is a trojan horse, or that he may betray the humans, this is what I mean:
Posted by: Eagle 117 (Me)
In Johnson's case, the flood spores can't infect, so they have started some type of regenerative process within his body to stay potient. Basically, if the spores can't infect the intended victim then survival insticts, if you will, kick in and the spores go dormant by using some sort of "regenerative process" inside the vicitim's body. Once the victim's ( Johnson's )DNA comes in contact with another living organism, the Flood spores will, in effect, wake up and infect the new organism. What I'm saying is, Johnson may have unknowingly become a "trojan horse" for the Flood spores,and it isn't because the Flood spores have a strategy, or Johnson is under their controll, or even because he wants to. It is because a mechanism of survival that's built into the Flood has activated. Not to mention that it kind of goes along lines of the History of Sparta and it's Spartans.


[color=yellow]Update # 3:[/color]
Posted by: Eagle 117 (Me)
My main concern centers around this new "regenerative process," not the gene fragments. Let me explain. The Flood genes usually reform the victims body into a Flood form. In Johnson's case, they could not do that, so they died... right? If they died, and this is why I center my thoughts on the regenerative process, then what is reforming Johnson's cellular structure? To have a regenerative process going on inside his body means he is being refomed completly on the cellular level. He is literally being given, or gaining, new life. Either one of two things is causing this to happen. First, the left over gene fragments are more potient then we are led to believe. Gene fragments alone can not reform Johnson's cellular structure into something new. To reform cellular structure sounds more like the "dead" Flood genes doing. This leads me to my second possiblity; which is, the Flood genes are not dead; but rather, they are in a state of hibernation. They are waiting out the storm, so to say, of Johnson's body untill a more suitable victim is found. In either case, Johnson has unknowingly become a "Trojan horse" for the Flood. This is why I see Johnson as a key character to the storyline. We know so little about his condition, a condition that could possibly lead to two outcomes. The Flood returning, or Johnson's resurrection, if not both:)

Now you may be thinking, "the regenerative process was probably started before the Flood genes died off," and this explains were it came from. Well, in my opinion, that doesn't make a difference. The regenerative process will completly reform (Webster's Dict.) Johnson and everything in his body, including the dead Flood cells. This effectively gives/gains Johnson new life, and the same could be said about Flood genes. The Flood genes have basically created a "stale mate" untill another victim comes in contact with them = Johnson's blood/DNA.


[Edited on 6/27/2004 1:43:24 PM]

  • 06.21.2004 6:38 AM PDT
Subject: Sergeant Johnson and the Flood: The Beginning of the End
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

You're serious? Sgt. Johnson is some sort of special human? We're talking about Sgt. Johnson, the guy that likes old rock, the guy that gives the little pep talk to the marines in the opening movie of Halo, that guy?! So is that why he's still alive?

He doesn't die... I was playing Halo (the second level) and when you come to the first base, right before you get the warthog he was there, well later on he died (he was with me in the hog) then I saw him again like ten minutes later at a different escape pod! What gives!?

I mean anyone that has beat Halo on Legendary has seen him hug the Elite and OBVIOUSLY must die in that blast. But then you see him in the gameplay demo of Halo 2. I don't get it....

  • 06.21.2004 7:10 AM PDT

Posted by: FriedHamster
You're serious? Sgt. Johnson is some sort of special human? We're talking about Sgt. Johnson, the guy that likes old rock, the guy that gives the little pep talk to the marines in the opening movie of Halo, that guy?! So is that why he's still alive?

He doesn't die... I was playing Halo (the second level) and when you come to the first base, right before you get the warthog he was there, well later on he died (he was with me in the hog) then I saw him again like ten minutes later at a different escape pod! What gives!?

I mean anyone that has beat Halo on Legendary has seen him hug the Elite and OBVIOUSLY must die in that blast. But then you see him in the gameplay demo of Halo 2. I don't get it....



We're talking about the same guy. It's all explained in First Strike, which really is worth reading between now and Halo 2. As for the Legendary ending, I think Bungie was just joking around:)

  • 06.21.2004 7:14 AM PDT
Subject: Sergeant Johnson and the Flood: It ain't over till the fat lady...
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

YOu could be on to someting and then again maybe not! Dr. Halsey did say that it was 'dead' and wouldnt infect anything but yes he does have the regenerative abilities! But one thing, he is already dying remember! The disease that saved him from the flood will kill him in less than a year! I think he is going to somehow save some1, maybe even the chief, in this one but sadly die!

  • 06.21.2004 7:23 AM PDT

I don't know, maybe I'm crazy, but I think that this "dead" Flood DNA is going to play a big role with Johnson. The diesease Johnson has, and I may be wrong on this, was one of the body and not the mind. Regenerative = Rise from the dead, maybe?

[Edited on 6/21/2004 7:31:08 AM]

  • 06.21.2004 7:30 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

The disease that Sgt. Johnson has, has a name! I cant remember its name though but its a disease that makes his DNA constantly change, which is why the flood couldnt use him because they have to be able to lock on to your dna code and they couldnt do this with Johnson! The disease he got from a side effect from intense plasma burns by the way! I

I really think that it will play into H2 somehow! Im with you Eagle!

  • 06.21.2004 7:37 AM PDT

Yea, I can't remember the name of the disease either. I'll have to look it up when I get off work:)

  • 06.21.2004 7:45 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Yep, righty! Now that the masterchief is like the only Spartan II left again and dr. halsey adbucted kelly, he is on his own.......... again!

Did you also notice how cortona was gettin flawed in the third book?

  • 06.21.2004 7:46 AM PDT

Did I ever. There are so many potential plot twist exposed in First Strike that it's sometimes hard to focus on what may happen in Halo 2... that's a good thing though. Something is going to happen with Cortana for sure, who also happens to have new regenerative abilities???

  • 06.21.2004 7:53 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

~?~

  • 06.21.2004 8:08 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Posted by: Hell Starter
Yep, righty! Now that the masterchief is like the only Spartan II left again and dr. halsey adbucted kelly, he is on his own.......... again!

Did you also notice how cortona was gettin flawed in the third book?


Firstly the masterchief isn't the last Spartanm II. Linda, Will & Fred are still with him.
Cortana is starting to malfunction because she is over her storage capacity. It's the same as tying up your PC with a lot of files. You have to deleate & defrag the drive every once in a while.

  • 06.21.2004 8:10 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Yea........... I know that! I didnt say he WAS the last, i said almost!
Cortona has other things wrong with her as well! She thinks she got a bug from the forerunner ring to!

That would be kind of weird, fighting along side with Spartans! I dont think that will happen in Halo 2 myself!

  • 06.21.2004 8:13 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

The name of Johnssons disease is "Borens syndrome", and I haven't even read the books

  • 06.21.2004 8:32 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Nice!

  • 06.21.2004 8:32 AM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

The flood DNA isnt really "dead" it iss sort of lying dormat, because of Johnson's disease, the flood dna is having trouble finding a match of the sargeant's blood, in first strike, it said that the flood dna has to match the blood and dna of the host in order ot begin to alter the organisms genetic makeup to transform it into a flood, with the disease, the flood dna inside is having trouble with this match and is firmly working forward to create it to make a flood out of the sarge, when this match occurs, i believe Johnson will be the source of the flood whenever they return.

  • 06.21.2004 11:55 AM PDT

Dr. Halsey on page 245 of First Strike:

"Further blood test show his ( Johnson's ) system bearing traces of flood DNA- very much dead and noninfectious, but some gene fragments are intact."

I used the term "dead" because that is the term used in the book:) My point being, I think you are correct in that the Flood DNA may still pose a threat, and I tried presenting that in the beginning of this thread, but it may not be a direct threat to Johnson. It may be that the Flood DNA is a type of "cure" for Johnson, considering that it has given him some sort of regenerative ability.


[Edited on 6/21/2004 12:27:40 PM]

  • 06.21.2004 12:23 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

yes, i agree it could be a cure, but because of this regenerative capability, what if the flood dna gets it as a side affect and regenerates itself to healthy dna and could possibly form another infection form.

  • 06.21.2004 12:29 PM PDT

A double edge sword... that's why I put "Hope and Chaos" in the subject line of this thread:) It could go either way, if not both. Not enough is really known about the situation to call it. Something is definitely going to happen with Johnson and Flood DNA he carries, as you pointed out. Figuring out what will happen is the fun part. Do you have any info to add to the riddle?

[Edited on 6/21/2004 12:50:23 PM]

  • 06.21.2004 12:48 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Not really any info on the sargeant but remember when the chief was stabbed by the infection form in the flood, could some dna be in the cheif as well, i am sure the truth will be clear when the next book comes out and when Halo 2 comes out.

  • 06.21.2004 1:00 PM PDT

That is exactly what I was thinking:) It wasn't really talked about in the books, so I didn't include it in the discussion. Perhaps I should have included it considering that is a huge potential plot twist. An infected Spartan II, the Chief no less, would be uber crazy. It would definitely make for a "pee in your pants" moment. I'll agree with you and say that we most likely will have to wait for the next book and Halo 2 to get more info on that.

  • 06.21.2004 1:07 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

Most definately, but i dont know if they would let that happen to the big MC himself. Anyway, must wait for further conclusions.

  • 06.21.2004 1:22 PM PDT

With Bungie, anything is possible. The MC becomes a "Super Flood" so the UNSC is forced to flash clone a newer improved version of him. Who knows?

  • 06.21.2004 5:50 PM PDT
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

The only explanation for Srg. being a flood guy would be that the flood have some prophet-like creature. Do you honestly think the flood are that smart? He acted fairly normal and flood are usually retared/decayed.
Borens might play a part though.
Then again I've killed Sarge about 50 times myself so in all respects he should be dead.

  • 06.21.2004 7:58 PM PDT

Johnson has been infected by the flood, but the Flood genes do not take to him because he has Boren's disease. The flood genes lie in a state of hibernation, if you will. Johnson becoming a Flood isn't the threat. The threat is that Johnson may unknowingly spread the Flood DNA to others.

  • 06.21.2004 8:21 PM PDT
Subject: Sergeant Johnson: The Enemy in disguise?
  • gamertag:
  • user homepage:
  • last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT

As I see it, Dr Halsey has already isolated or is in the process of isolating the regenerative DNA strands and probably intends on giving those abilities to the spartan she conveniently kidnapped to be used as a test subject. As for the Sgt, it would appear that he gets to be the a watered down version of a Halo Wolverine (my guess). The MC was struck, but because the stinger never made it to his spine, it was not able to insert the contaminating electrical pulses into his nervous system. I didn't see any mention of the contaminating DNA floating around in his system and the Doctor surely would have pondered the possibilty if she had detected it while tending his wounds.

My prediction would be that the current Spartans, along with the second group that Mendez was training will all have a regenerative capability at sometime in the not so distant future.

The real question is will this "twist" become apparant in Halo2 or in the books and possible sequel that inevitably will follow.

  • 06.21.2004 8:47 PM PDT