"Perhaps I'm not stoic," the demon confessed, sizing up the Jiralhanae before him. "But as you can see by the numerous Elite corpses strewn across the floor, I am a killer." Suddenly the demon drew out a pistol, firing several shots at Orpheus in quick-succession. The speed with which the Spartan moved took Orpheus by surprise a little, giving the Spartan the time needed to cross the distance between he and the Jiralhanae. The Spartans hands too seized the heft of the gravity hammer, wrestling with Orpheus for control. But although the demon may have been as strong as Zharn, and in a display of hand-to-hand combat could no doubt outclass most of the Covenant put together, in a show of brute strength Orpheus came out on top. His pupils dilated and veins threatened to pop out of his arms as adrenaline flooded his system, sending him into a Jiralhanae state of berserk. The Spartan was pushed further and further down to the floor as Orpheus bore down upon him, canines protuding from his mouth. Finally, the demon's legs slipped from beneath him and he fell to the floor, heft of the gravity hammer pressed tightly upon his neck. The demon was brought down from god of death to mere mortal as his eyes widened, wheezing as the hammer's shaft was crushed down upon his neck, which threatened to collapse under the weight. Desperately, the demon tried to kick the Jiralhanae off him. Even through his almost-euphoric state induced by extreme blood loss, Zharn could hear several bones of Orpheus break; none of the pain was felt by the Jiralhanae, though. Eventually though, even a tree must fall when its support has been completely torn. And so it was with Orpheus, as the Jiralhanae's shattered legs sent his body flying onto the floor. The demon managed to pry himself from the crushing weight of Orpheus, eyes wide and breathing heavily as he recovered from the nearly strangulation. He put distance between himself and the threat, drawing out his weapon to deliver the killing blow. In doing so, he missed the true threat. The demon felt the cold hilt of the energy sword press against his back, and tried to spring away. Yet as fast as the Spartan was, he couldn't escape the rush of plasma fired out by the magnetic accelerators embedded within the sword's hilt. The blade drove straight through the middle of the demon's chest, poking out like some ill-placed third limb. With a startled cry, the demon turned its head to look at the one who had done this. Steely, cold grey eyes met the dimming eyes of Zharn, whose entire body shook as he struggled to hold the weight of the Spartan. "[i]You[/i]--" was all the demon managed to gasp out hatefully, before his words died in his throat along with him. Life faded from those grey eyes, until they resembled little but ashen pebbles deep-set in harrowed sockets. Exhausting the last of his energy, Zharn threw the demon's corpse to one side and lay back, facing the ceiling of the Forerunners as he wheezed heavily, droplets of blood flying out alongside breath. [i]Why didn't you light up for me?[/i] he thought deliriously, drunk through blood-loss. "Zharn!" he heard Orpheus' familiar rumble echo through the cavern, and looked to one side faintly to see the Jiralhanae crawling towards him, visibly wincing with every tiny movement. The serotonin had returned, and had brought with it pain. "Or-orphe" Zharn tried to reply, but found himself to weak to do so. He saw the Jiralhanae slide into his fading vision, looking down at him with worry personified. "Gods, you're a stubborn bastard," Orpheus uttered with a strange mixture between a sob and laugh. "Hold on, Zharn. I got here first via orbital insertion but Phantoms are on their way. What were you thinking?" "My honour," Zharn slurred. "To hell with your honour, Zharn! I know you feel bad after what Ahkrin did, but this is no solution. Just rest, we can speak when you are well." "If," Zharn corrected, coughing up more blood. He felt a dull throb in his arm as Orpheus injecting something, probably a shot of pure adrenaline to keep him fighting until help arrived. [i]So many 'if's...[/i] * * *