[b]Part 10: A touching reunion[/b] "So, you thought you could escape did you?" K'zath taunted, relishing the moment. "Yeah, now move out of our way or die." John replied in that same calm manner that always unnerved his enemies. The wave of Elites laughed. "You are in no position to be making threats Demon...And who is that traitor next to you?" The Kaidon said, motioning to the Arbiter. "You should know me well K'zath, you did serve me as Councillor for a number of years." The Arbiter replied. K'zath looked confused for a second, then his face registered disbelief. "Thel Vadamee? No...This must be some sort of trick!" K'zath exclaimed, obviously intimidated. "No tricks K'zath, it is indeed me, Thel Vadam', former Kaidon of the state of Vadam, and Arbiter of the past Covenant. Now stand aside." The Guards murmured, they were obviously unsure what to do. "Nay Thel, you shall die!" The Kaidon strode forward, and drew out his sword. Just before he was impaled, the Arbiter managed to block the strike with his burning blade. The other Honour Guards moved in to help subdue him. John didn't give them the chance to. He shot one of the Elites in the back, and they all suddenly remembered he was there. "Kill the Demon! I shall deal with this traitor myself!" K'zath shouted, and the Guards closed in on John. He ran, and the Elites followed. In the now empty hallway, K'zath and the Arbiter circled each other warily. "You cannot defeat me Thel! You taught me everything you know, and I have learnt much since then." The Kaidon mocked, suddenly lunging at Thel. With lightning reflexes, the Arbiter parried the blow, sending K'zath's arm upward. "Not everything...." K'zath's face distorted in anger, and, jumping up in the air, sliced at Thel's unprotected side. Just before the sword hit, however, the Elite rolled to the side, and with the tip of his violet blade, brushed the armoured leg of the Kaidon. K'zath gave out an ear piecing scream of pain, and drew out another sword. *************** John ran along, hearing the thirty odd Elites behind him crying out bloodthirsty screams. He deduced it unlikely that he would prevail in head to head combat, they were all, after all, Honour Guards, and all he held was a plasma rifle. Yet he knew he couldn't run forever. "Face us Demon! Have you no honour?" One called, obviously trying to aggravate him. John didn't care. He fired a few bolts back, and he heard a cry of pain. It seemed he had taken one out at least. The corridors were beautiful, John had to admit as he ran through them. Mosaics depicting past events in the history of the Elite covered long stretches of the walls. He could see an Elite shaking hands with a Prophet, one showing a Hunter being felled by what seemed to be an Arbiter. John saw a more recent one showing a human being impaled by an energy sword. The Spartan blasted it. Despite the pleasant scenery though, he still faced the problem of all the Elites. The Arbiter was most likely preoccupied with the Kaidon, so John doubted he would get assistance from that front. Then he noticed it. A blue streak in the ceiling, glowing vividly. A plasma conduit. An idea began to form within John's mind, he stopped running, and instead concentrated on the strip above. The Elites soon caught up. "Given up Demon?" An Honour Guard Ultra taunted, marching to the front of the group. John smiled. "Not quite," He said, and fired several bolts at the conduit in the ceiling. Burning plasma streamed out, landing on a large percentage of the Guards, including the Ultra at the front. They screamed in agony, hopelessly trying to bat out the turquoise flames dancing upon their bodies. Suddenly there was silence. Only ten Guards remained. John liked those odds. "You will pay for that, you Human scum!" One shouted in anger. "Try me." The Spartan taunted, picking up another rifle off the floor; now he held one in each armoured hand. As one, all the Elites rushed him. John readied himself. *********** K'zath swung at the Arbiter, dual swords creating an intricate pattern as they sliced through the air. With relative ease, he ducked under the two blades, and tackled the Kaidon, smashing him into the wall. Dust crumbled around them. As the Arbiter raised his sword to finish the Elite off, K'zath kicked his chest, knocking him off. The two were once again circling. "You always were reckless in your lessons K'zath!" The Arbiter mocked. In anger, the Kaidon lunged once again at Thel. Laughing, Thel easily deflected the blow, and retaliated with one of his own, aiming for K'zath's head. At the last second, the Kaidon dove to the side, and the violet blade missed by mere centimetres. *********** Johnson fired another burning shot at the Citadel, producing one more satisfying explosion. "Sergeant, I believe that John is no longer inside the main hall." Mendicant Bias spoke. "Say what? So I've been wasting my time shooting nothing then?" Avery questioned. "It would seem so." The Monitor seemed amused. Suddenly, the Sergeant heard a whooshing noise, and five Banshees flew overhead, releasing fuel rod shots. The Scarab shook. "Damn it, Banshees at Ten O' clock!" Johnson shouted, and Mendicant, who had integrated himself into the system, began firing the auto cannon that nested upon the top of the huge vehicle. "Reclaimer, I believe you should get down there soon. John may be in trouble." Another Banshee soared overhead. "Oh yeah? And how do you suppose I do that?" He queried. As if on cue, a plasma bolt from the Scarab's turret hit the driver of one of the Banshees, sending it crashing down upon the top of the killing machine. The Driver was dead, but the actual vessel was still very much intact. "I believe that is your answer Sergeant." Bias replied. Johnson sighed. "Very well," He began, slowly walking up the ramp of the Scarab. "You sure you'll be okay in here Light Bulb?" The Monitor looked at the Engineers, who were happily pushing buttons, doing what they loved most. The Scarab was operating at maximum capacity. "I'm sure we'll be fine." Bias said wryly. **************