Epilogue: Time of Departure

Go home, Spartan, ancilla.

The vision hit them all in the dead of night, the first full one in thousands of years. But instead of looking forward or back, they found themselves looking out, beyond the walls of their universe to the billions and billions and billions of other divergent timelines. They whirled like individual stars around the center of their own universe - the Origin.

You must go home.

That universe was frozen in place, suspended in a moment in time - December 11, 2556. The anniversary of the portal collapse.

the ripples spread out, lapping at the bottom of the well

But there was a shadow over it all, a coming darkness. No one knew - no one could see - the Flood - the enemy Gravemind that had sent them to this world from that one-

Go home, Spartan, ancilla.

The major cleaving that had transported itself to them – it would be just enough.

Go home!

**********

Total word count: 51 525

**********

I'm coming home, I'm coming home,

Tell the world I'm coming home,

Let the rain wash away all the pain of yesterday,

I know my kingdom awaits and they've forgiven my mistakes,

I'm coming home, I'm coming home

Tell the world that I'm coming,

I'm coming home,

I'm coming home…

I'm coming home.

-"Coming Home [Standerwick Remix]", Dash Berlin feat Bo Bruce