Didact's Gift
From Halopedia, the Halo wiki
- "An alien AI full of human memories."
- — Dr. Catherine Halsey, after discovering the artifact's true nature.
The"Didact's Gift" is aForerunner artifact discovered onRequiem. It is a memory storage device known as aDurance,[1] containing theAI matrix or "soul" of aPromethean Knight.[2]
History[edit]
At some point in2558,Jul 'Mdama'sCovenant forces acquired the "Gift". DuringFireteam Crimson's pursuit of 'Mdama,CommanderSarah Palmer called in an airstrike which forced theSangheili to drop the device during his escape. Crimson quickly secured the device and brought it toGalileo Base for examination.[3] A joint Covenant-Promethean forceattacked the base to retrieve the artifact, though they were repelled by Fireteam Crimson.Fireteam Majestic arrived soon after to secure it.[4] In reality, 'Mdama had purposefully dropped the device to be recovered and ordered the attack to help sell its importance to the UNSC.[2]
The Gift was taken aboard theUNSCInfinity, where it was studied byDr. Catherine Halsey and the ship's AI,Roland. Upon being tampered with, the outer casing of the device split into multiple levitating fragments, revealing an object within that Dr. Halsey noted was similar to aUNSC AI matrix. Suddenly, the device released an energy burst, and began to display images on the room's monitors; these were then identified as human memories harvested by theComposer during theDidact'sattack onNew Phoenix,URNA six months prior. One of these images showed anothermysterious Forerunner artifact that was currently located in theInfinity's docking bay, indicating that the artifact was present in New Phoenix during the attack. 'Mdama, who had been communicating in secret with Halsey, set it up so that she would receive the Gift as proof of his intentions and before she was caught, Halsey told 'Mdama that it contained exactly what he had promised.[2]
Upon contacting 'Mdama, Halsey cited that only "the Didact's Hand" could've offered her a Promethean soul as the reason why she was able to identify him.[5]
Gallery[edit]
Concept art for various Forerunner artifacts inHalo 4, which may possibly have been used as part of the concept process for the Didact's Gift.
Fireteam Crimson finding the "Didact's Gift."
Overhead view of the "Didact's Gift" in an examination room aboard theInfinity.
The "Didact's Gift" unsealed, revealing an internal configuration most similar to a UNSC AI matrix.
The energy burst showing a distinctly humanoid silhouette.
List of appearances[edit]
- Halo 4
- Spartan Ops(First appearance)
- Halo: Escalation
Sources[edit]
- ^Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide
- ^abcHalo 4 -Spartan Ops, episodeMemento Mori
- ^Halo 4 - Spartan Ops, episodeDidact's Hand, levelThe Chase
- ^Halo 4 - Spartan Ops, episode Didact's Hand, levelThe Didact's Gift
- ^Halo 4 - Spartan Ops, episodeInvasion
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