> John-117 is the third Didact.
In terms of his metaphorical role and thematic journey, yes I find this quite agreeable. But physically, I doubt this.
> -Chief is immune to the Composer. The Ur-Didact also was immune to it.
The Ur-Didact’s immunity was a result of his botched brevet-mutation while he was attempting to immunise himself against the Flood. It was more deliberate with the Librarian, as it was one of the gifts that she provided humanity with their geas.
> -Cortana told Chief that his vitals were “through the roof”. This could have been a result of the imprinting.
My issue with this is that what we see in the Reclaimer cutscene doesn’t reflect the highly ritualistic process that is mutation, or even brevet mutation.
This shot shows John reaching towards an orb of light, then shattering when his hand makes contact with it. This vividly reflects Riser’s description of the new kind of geas he receives in Halo: Rebirth.
> Shimmering like rain over a campfire, she reached out to him. He drew back, but she was quick, from her hand flowed a bright, pulsing liquid jewel pattern. She manipulated this radiance with the sixth finger of her other hand.
>
> […]
>
> “You already have some knowledge,” she said, “A new kind of geas. Here is more.” The radiant jewel grew. He tried to fend off its light, but something held him in place.
>
> […]
>
> The jewel’s light drew up around his head, entered his eyes and ears, spread down through his neck into chest, and body. He lifted his arms and saw his veins glow. There were so many, so alive, beautiful! And Riser was not afraid. The glow faded, his flesh turned opaque again. He stretched. He was different, but only a little.
This description pretty much exactly matches what we see in this cutscene, and the scene that follows where John is in the Librarian’s beam – his body flowing with the same beautiful, pulsing energy that Riser describes (of course, we do not see the effects on John’s skin because he is armoured).
To me, this scene has more to do with the unlocking of John’s geas than providing any kind of mutation.
> -It’s possible that the “Gene Song” allowed humans to be imprinted.
That is certainly a possibility, it is made a point in the narrative that the Spartan formula is an artificial means of doing what Forerunners did naturally through mutation, and that this equates to humanity’s genetic destiny as a species - as Halsey says in the Prologue.
I will certainly grant you that it’s interesting how mutation has to be done under the direct light of stars, and John is taken to Haven which is described as:
> Resting high above Requiem’s surface, harmonic-resonance platforms appear to facilitate the monitoring and management of the shield world’s solar preservation system. These elaborate machines enable artificial planets to support their immense populations of indigenous life.
So it’s definitely a possibility that it was indeed a mutation of some sort, but I have my doubts about it personally.
