- Monochron
- |
- Exalted Mythic Member
Formerly known as HunTERminator
Marathon Story Page quotes in Italics
Most important theories in Bold
Letter Two
Second Cortana Letter
The first thing that stands out in this letter is the subject line:
“Subject: Your Mortality (My Summer Vacation)”
This is a good comparison between Chief and humanity facing their mortality in the form of the Covenant attack in general. In Halo 3 they realize their mortality in the end of their days. Cortana however is far away in a secluded and more or less safe place on a, vacation as she says.
The next reference to where Cortana is is this:
“Have you missed me? Things are great here. The weather is good, the suns are shining, and I'm making lots of new friends. Of course, I always do.”
Of course, Cortana is still far off at Delta Halo and she reassures Chief that all things are well. The part that gets me is “the suns are shining here.”
The Marathon Story Page spoke of this:
Cortana's last message refers to "the suns are shining". In 2010 (the sequel to 2001) Europa is transformed into a life sustaining planet by making Jupiter another sun - giving the sol system two suns.
However, considering Cortana’s location when sending these, we see that she is reaffirming that she is on Delta halo. By making a little jest about “suns” instead of “sun” Cortana shows to us that she is on Delta halo.
She also says that she is “making new friends.” This immediately refers to Gravemind. After the credits of Halo 2 we get the impression that Gravemind and Cortana will be getting close for a long time. This could also mean that there are other constructs or beings that Cortana speaks with.
Due to the facetious tone of this letter it is quite possible that she says friends sarcastically and means that these beings are not friends with her. (Possible people-Regret {maybe not dead}, The Monitor, other unknown beings)
This line is heavy evidence to suggest that these letters were sent during the time of halo 3.
“I've had the strangest dreams lately - raging seas, howling beasts, a Demon folded in black clouds. I believe I know what it guards, and I will have it, to the chagrin of the faith-blinded zealots that challenge me. Don't waste your pity on them; I don't think they would like you much anyway.”
These lines could be referring to the destruction of earth. She predicts the future as the destruction of Earth with “raging seas” and “howling beasts,” much like the Bang she spoke of in Eliot’s poem.
The “Demon folded black clouds” is vague but not uncrackable. I immediately think of the Chief because the Covenant call him “The Demon.” The black clouds could represent the travesty surrounding his destiny. He is guarding something—the Ark—on earth, because he will not let it be activated. Cortana wants that Ark for some reason. She must have a plan from it, that probably came from her Rampancy. It is to the chagrin of the Covenant though, so she must have some other plan for it---ooh, spooky!
Again she is facetious in her last line.
These lines are by far the most convoluted yet:
“And what of the Giants who formed this world? So much to tell you, but so many more important things to do. There was a fourth. You couldn't have known. And I haven't forgotten.”
Some of the best possibilities are explained by various people’s ideas:
The second I heard about the new message, I went right back to Revelations. You might be interested to learn that seven plays heavily into Revelations...seven churches, seven angels to watch over them, seven seals...but I digress.
The howling beasts reference could be referring to Chapter 6:8, which talks about the four horsemen. The stanza reads: "They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth." This line may also have something to do with "there was a fourth", but I doubt it...Cortana probably wasn't talking about fractions, but a specific fourth person/thing.
There's no specific mention to raging seas that I've found thus far, but the angels did drop a fiery mountain into them at one point...so who knows. I'll try and find more info.
Nothing on giants creating the world, but we have to take into account that Cortana is referring to 'this world', meaning the one she's on. And that's not earth, because she refers to the 'suns', probably meaning she's in a system with a binary star.
The reference to 'the fourth' could have something to do with the other three AIs we know of...meaning there is some connection between Cortana, Durandal, Tycho, and Leela. Maybe that Traxus thing I posited earlier....but in that case, there were five AIs infected.
(Greg Downing)
And…
The latest message speaks of "Giants who formed [the] world" and mentions a fourth, previously unknown Giant, meaning that in popular belief there must have been only three Giants who formed the world. This reminded me of Greek Mythology, so I did a little research. From World Book Encyclopedia I learned that in the Greek text of the Theogony is included what many consider the most important Greek myth, one that describes both the origin and history of the gods and of our world. Quoting directly:
"According to the Theogony, the universe began in a state of emptiness called Chaos. The divinity Gaea, or Earth, arose out of Chaos. she immediately gave birth to Uranus, who became king of the sky. Gaea mated with Uranus, producing children who were called the Titans."
Could these (Chaos, Gaea, Uranus) be the three "Giants who formed [the] world"?
(David Retchless)
My take is that she is referring to the Prophets. Three main prophets and a fourth unknown one. Notice that she says “this world” instead of the world or Earth for that matter. This World could refer to the current World (not a planet) created by the covenant. She refers to what the Covenant have done as “this world” in a more universal sense. But who is this fourth Giant/prophet? Wild speculation could lead to Gravemind and things of the like. If any have seen the movie “The Phantom” you will know of the three skulls with immense power. These three skulls power was matched however by the fourth, a RING that The Phantom had. There could be a fourth leader figure with power to match that of the three Prophets. This however is just speculation.
There is more concrete proof of relation to Greek mythology in Tartarus. Tartarus is the creator of the underworld in Greek mythology and he certainly created a hell for the covenant. He caused the riffed that broke the covenant.
The last two lines are like a farewell:
“It is a blurred line that lies at the edge of Godhood and Insanity. Guess which side of it I am on.
Feeling lucky?”
Cortana here compares herself to a God but acknowledges that she seems insane.
More proof of her Rampancy. She believes she has the power of a God.
The last line could refer to if Chief feels lucky about surviving the Ark or what she has planned…dun, dun, dun!
Thoughts on the other Cortana letter and others forthcoming.
“I am still not sure what he ever saw in you.”—MC?
“This sanctuary, this unbroken circle”—Ark?
“the other entity that seems quite trapped in this antiquated excuse for a network”
--Covie AI mentioned in First Strike?
[Edited on 5/11/2006]