Halo Finally Connects Halsey’s Forerunner Twist With Kwan Ha & The Mother’s Story

Spoilers are ahead for Halo season 2, episode 6, “Onyx.”

Halo season 2, episode 6, “Onyx,” connects Dr. Catherine Halsey’s (Natascha McElhone) knowledge of Forerunner technology and history with the UNSC to Kwan Ha (Yerin Ha) and The Mother’s (Olwen Fouéré) story, which teases Halo‘s all-consuming, parasitic Flood villain. In its premiere episode, Halo‘s sophomore outing used Kwan Ha’s connection to lore to hint at the Gravemind — the monstrous shared consciousness of the entire Flood species. Since then, Kwan has experienced disorienting visions of The Mother, a shaman who seemingly died when the Covenant glassed the planet Sanctuary.

Meanwhile, Dr. Halsey has been forced to confront the horrors of her past. The creator of the Spartan-II program, Dr. Halsey abducted John-117 (Pablo Schreiber) and the other Spartan soldiers from their families when they were children. The UNSC scientist only reiterates her dubious morals through her reliance on flash-clones and all-consuming obsession with Forerunner relics and technology. Needless to say, it makes sense that Kwan’s plot is finally connected with Dr. Halsey’s; much like the keystones, both characters have pertinent information to share with the other.

Halo Season 2, Episode 6 Reveals Dr. Halsey’s Connection To Onyx

After the Fall of Reach, Dr. Halsey, John-117, and other survivors of the invasion end up on the planet Aleria. Taking some time to regroup, the various characters realize they have unfinished business — with Halsey’s replacement, James Ackerson (Joseph Morgan), the UNSC, and, in the case of Master Chief, even Admiral Margaret Parangosky (Shabana Azmi). As a result, Halsey, John, Kwan Ha, Soren (Bokeem Woodbine), and Laera (Fiona O’Shaughnessy) head to Onyx, a UNSC-controlled planet that’s been scrubbed from maps and databases. According to John, Onyx only exists in “rumors” and “whispers.“

However, Dr. Halsey is clearly familiar with the planet. When Soren and Laera learn that the UNSC took Kessler (Tylan Bailey), Halsey advises them about where to find her son. In the UNSC scientist’s own words, “it all started here.” While the planet figures into Halo‘s core canon timeline, Onyx boasts a secret Forerunner connection: it’s actually an artificial planet that’s protecting a Forerunner shield world. While the Halo array might be the Forerunner’s anti-Flood weapon, shield worlds are defensive fortresses. In Halo lore, ONI keeps Onyx a secret because of its connection to the Forerunners.

Kwan Ha Sees The Mother On The Forerunner World Of Onyx

While Dr. Halsey wanders off on her own into the snow-laden woods of Onyx, Kwan Ha follows another vision of The Mother. Luckily, John takes out the UNSC patrols in the area, allowing the rebel to follow the red-cloaked shaman to a well-like structure. Kwan is surprised to find a soft landing, but even more taken aback by the return of Halsey, who clearly knows her way around Onyx. Dr. Halsey remembers where the flashlights are kept and starts to lead Kwan through a maze of dark tunnels.

A kind of secret within a secret, the underground labyrinth of Onyx has seemingly changed since Halsey last visited — or that’s what the scientist claims when she runs into a wall that wasn’t there before. While Kwan is dismissive of Halsey’s memory, she eagerly points the way toward the tunnel’s end with the help of her visions. The Mother guides Kwan and Dr. Halsey to a research outpost, where Halsey’s daughter, Commander Miranda Keyes (Olive Gray), is hard at work. According to Miranda, she’s finishing Halsey’s research; based on the appearance of the place, that research seems Forerunner-related.

The Mother’s Comments On Sanctuary Hinted At Halo’s Shield Worlds

In the Halo season 2 premiere, “Sanctuary,” John and his fellow Spartans try to assist with a civilian evacuation. Led by a shaman-like figure called The Mother, the people on Sanctuary can’t bear to leave yet another home — and yet another planet — behind. While the UNSC Marines and Spartans try to convince as many people as possible to jump on the evac ships, The Mother and some of her most devout acolytes stay behind. In fact, the group walks off, seemingly to wait out the glassing of the planet.

Death seems like the inevitable end for The Mother and her followers, but she makes a few startling remarks before disappearing into the fray that tease a possible late-season twist. When Master Chief returns from saving Corporal Talia Perez (Cristina Rodlo) from a group of energy sword-wielding Elites, The Mother questions John about his faith. In fact, much of Halo season 2 centers on the concept of belief — and what, exactly, the characters believe in. The Mother’s unwavering faith and dedication to Sanctuary hint at the fact that the planet contains a shield world, just like Onyx.

Dr. Halsey & Kwan Ha Are Close To Uncovering The Truth About The Flood

In Halo season 1’s ending, Dr. Halsey reveals just how obsessed she is with the Forerunner’s technology, hinting that she isn’t so different from the Covenant. For the scientist, the Forerunner artifacts could help her hone the next stage of human evolution. While Halo season 2 hasn’t confirmed precisely what Miranda is doing in the underground facility Halsey once worked at, the portal-like structure covered in Forerunner markings definitely hints at Onyx’s shield world. That said, Dr. Halsey and Kwan seem poised to uncover the truth about the Flood — and one means of escaping the all-consuming entity.