If you’ve finished Halo 4’s Campaign you would have seen the demise of our beloved AI, Cortana. But I just can’t quite grasp it, I don’t even think she’s really dead.
If you think about it, it never truly showed her death or confirmed it. Does anybody have any theories as to how she could be alive still? I’d love to hear them!
I’ve said this in other threads so I may as well say it here.
Cortana shares one very important distinction with only one AI. Mendicant Bias, who was the Contender-Class AI responsible for coordinating the fleet actions of the Forerunners against the Gravemind. But the Gravemind corrupts Mendicant Bias and he goes rampant. So finally at the end of the war the second AI captures Mendicant Bias and fragments his AI core. That fragmenting allowed the core programming to reassert itself. Having passed through rampancy Mendicant Bias becomes metasentient. A fully realized personality no longer in danger of degrading.
What happens to Cortana at the end of Halo 4? She is fully rampant and she fragmented herself to overload the Forerunner ship. Instead of hurting her, it should have saved her. Such fragmenting allows the core AI to return. Just as Roland states “Do you know how long a second is to an AI?”
If that is truly the end of Cortana I will be severely disappointed in 343i when they have so much lore backing the return of Cortana. It could have also been used for dramatic purposes. But to make a story darker you don’t need to go grim dark and kill off those who are most vital to the central story. There are a lot of ways to make the story darker and sad.
I would love to write for 343i >.>
> I’ve said this in other threads so I may as well say it here.
>
> Cortana shares one very important distinction with only one AI. Mendicant Bias, who was the Contender-Class AI responsible for coordinating the fleet actions of the Forerunners against the Gravemind. But the Gravemind corrupts Mendicant Bias and he goes rampant. So finally at the end of the war the second AI captures Mendicant Bias and fragments his AI core. That fragmenting allowed the core programming to reassert itself. Having passed through rampancy Mendicant Bias becomes metasentient. A fully realized personality no longer in danger of degrading.
>
> What happens to Cortana at the end of Halo 4? She is fully rampant and she fragmented herself to overload the Forerunner ship. Instead of hurting her, it should have saved her. Such fragmenting allows the core AI to return. Just as Roland states “Do you know how long a second is to an AI?”
>
> If that is truly the end of Cortana I will be severely disappointed in 343i when they have so much lore backing the return of Cortana. It could have also been used for dramatic purposes. But to make a story darker you don’t need to go grim dark and kill off those who are most vital to the central story. There are a lot of ways to make the story darker and sad.
>
> I would love to write for 343i >.>
I’ve definitely considered this, in fact this is the theory that I’d be willing to bet on any day. Thanks for the input!
> I’ve said this in other threads so I may as well say it here.
>
> Cortana shares one very important distinction with only one AI. Mendicant Bias, who was the Contender-Class AI responsible for coordinating the fleet actions of the Forerunners against the Gravemind. But the Gravemind corrupts Mendicant Bias and he goes rampant. So finally at the end of the war the second AI captures Mendicant Bias and fragments his AI core. That fragmenting allowed the core programming to reassert itself. Having passed through rampancy Mendicant Bias becomes metasentient. A fully realized personality no longer in danger of degrading.
>
> What happens to Cortana at the end of Halo 4? She is fully rampant and she fragmented herself to overload the Forerunner ship. Instead of hurting her, it should have saved her. Such fragmenting allows the core AI to return. Just as Roland states “Do you know how long a second is to an AI?”
>
> If that is truly the end of Cortana I will be severely disappointed in 343i when they have so much lore backing the return of Cortana. It could have also been used for dramatic purposes. But to make a story darker you don’t need to go grim dark and kill off those who are most vital to the central story. There are a lot of ways to make the story darker and sad.
>
> I would love to write for 343i >.>
I figured this and I fully expect a mission to revive her in Halo 5 or maybe Halo 6. 343 should really have a meeting with Halo lore fans and get their impact on the series. It would help Halo’s writing.
Hey , if you think that Cortana isn’t dead , you should check this thread out !
https://forums.halowaypoint.com/yaf_postst137119_Cortana-s-Role-in-Halo-4--In-Depth---Spoilers.aspx
You can thank me later . 
Wait, nevermind.
> I’ve said this in other threads so I may as well say it here.
>
> Cortana shares one very important distinction with only one AI. Mendicant Bias, who was the Contender-Class AI responsible for coordinating the fleet actions of the Forerunners against the Gravemind. But the Gravemind corrupts Mendicant Bias and he goes rampant. So finally at the end of the war the second AI captures Mendicant Bias and fragments his AI core. That fragmenting allowed the core programming to reassert itself. Having passed through rampancy Mendicant Bias becomes metasentient. A fully realized personality no longer in danger of degrading.
>
> What happens to Cortana at the end of Halo 4? She is fully rampant and she fragmented herself to overload the Forerunner ship. Instead of hurting her, it should have saved her. Such fragmenting allows the core AI to return. Just as Roland states “Do you know how long a second is to an AI?”
>
> If that is truly the end of Cortana I will be severely disappointed in 343i when they have so much lore backing the return of Cortana. It could have also been used for dramatic purposes. But to make a story darker you don’t need to go grim dark and kill off those who are most vital to the central story. There are a lot of ways to make the story darker and sad.
>
> I would love to write for 343i >.>
Only real flaw there is that it likely took Mendicant Bias thousands of years to fully reach metastability. Not exactly a timely manner.
it would be cliche if they brought her back.
> it would be cliche if they brought her back.
Agreed.