Elario & Tifa II

[Elario Luminus]

Kylar huffed a short laugh to himself.
No, of course not. You don't get any glory from killing me.

((You can post the coming-to-the-city part.))

[Tifa Lockhart]

They'd walked for a very long time through the darkness, Cthar following a short distance behind Kylar. They'd said very little to one another - after all, how does one initiate casual conversation with their worst enemy?
Finally however, it was Cthar who would break the silence, "I see buildings."

[Elario Luminus]

Kylar zoomed in on the structures he'd spotted at the same time. It looked quite small, for a city, which it undoubtedly was. Tall structures, bright lights scattered across the faces of the buildings, the distant buzz of traffic. Though it didn't sound like any traffic he'd heard before.
'Now what? We can't just barge in there, figurative guns blazing.'

[Tifa Lockhart]

"You're a human," Cthar offered dryly. "If this is your planet then you're the one working out the plans.
At that moment Cthar faded from sight, he'd obviously activated his camouflage. "I shall simply follow."

[Elario Luminus]

Kylar watched the Elite disappear from visual sight, but in the glare of his night vision he could make out the shape of his transparent shimmer.
'Even though you're playing hell with my motion tracker...' He gestured towards the city and headed that way in a sprint, every now and then diving behind what he could take as cover to look ahead for danger. As he reached the outskirts of the city, he saw some weird...structure like thing. Then it tolled its hidden bells loudly. The sound filter in his helmet dulled the noise, for which he was thankful for. As Kylar checked his motion tracker again, he found it was still swarmed with enemies, albeit false ones.
'We need to find a military or political base somewhere.'

[Tifa Lockhart]

Cthar followed close behind Kylar, covering his own motions in a similar way, though he didn't have to be quite so cautious thanks to his camouflage.
"Joyous is the day i walk into the hornets nest," the elite grumbled bitterly.

[Elario Luminus]

Kylar ignored the Elite, but couldn't help but wonder what it would be like for him should he somehow sneak into a Covenant Corvette, following an Elite that knew he was there. Pushing the thought aside, he focused on the mission ahead. He was at the bank of a river, and a quick scan from the dumb AI stored in his armour said it was safe to go under with no threats of underwater predators.
'Have you got a way of breathing underwater? I want to get to that tower to get my bearings, and the quickest and most concealed way is through the river.'

[Tifa Lockhart]

Shame began to stir deep in Cthar's hearts as Kylar asked him if he could breathe under water somehow. The truth of the matter was that Sangheili, while being a far superior race in combat, was a little lacking in the swimming department, their strong cloven hoofed feet hardly suited for treading water in any way.
"Perhaps I can find another way around," he answered, avoiding answering the question properly, for fear that the human would wound his honour with the reply.

[Elario Luminus]

Kylar found it surprising that the technologically superior Elite didn't have the necessary equipment for underwater engagements, a fact clear from the Elites lack of answering directly.
'Well, your active camo isn't permanent, and I'd rather not let you lose on the city alone. We'll head east; there's a small river bank there, low enough to be hidden from the roads, and solid enough for us to move around on. Let's go.'
The Spartan headed off in that direction at an average speed jog.

[Tifa Lockhart]

Cthar was uttely bewildered by the apparent care this human had for him. He'd never expected a human to alter their plans to compensate for his presence. He'd assumed the SPARTAN would just leave him to his own devices.
Is it sympathy... or more of the strange kindness we've bee witnessing? he thought to himself as he moved to follow the human.
He did something peculiar now though, he came to walk beside the man rather than behind, and deactivated his camo so he could be see in all of his 7ft glory. Cthar was tall, even for an elite.
"I am confused by you, human," he rumbled, speaking his mind. Cthar had long been having conflicting thoughts about the humans they battled, finding himself unsure about whether they really were the mindless, unintelligent upstarts that they'd been told by the prophets.

[Elario Luminus]

Kylar was stunned by the fact that he spoke his mind, this battle-hardened Elite.
'How so? You and I are not so different. Both military powers, both seen as leaders in battle, both warriors. Yet you and your alien rabble seem to think of us not as equals, but as dirt to be wiped off your feet. And for what? Some glorified promise of salvation?'
The Spartan had been thinking about the Human-Covenant War for some time, and always he found that the answers he'd sought after were in the minds of the very beings trying to slaughter him and his. Now was his chance to seize what he wanted.

[Tifa Lockhart]

Cthar seemed slightly uncomfortable with the brashness of his human companion, shifting his weight slightly as he walked along, with long slow stride.
"Your race are so poorly spoken," he grumbled almost inaudibly.
"I have never seen your species as dirt," he began firmly. "You fight with honour... distinction. Qualities I must admit i admire... but we must do the will of the prophets... even if we do not understand why."

[Elario Luminus]

Kylar huffed, aggravated at the Elite's unbending will to the Prophets.
'Why, though? Have you ever thought about why your Prophets, in all their wisdom, haven't just decided to absorb us into your conglomerate, as opposed to wiping us out inexorably for no reason? Surely the Covenant would benefit from having such a versatile species at its command.'
As he spoke, Kylar noted that they were getting close to the tower.
'But then again, as your kind so eloquently put it, our destruction is the will of the gods. No reason, we just are.'

[Tifa Lockhart]

"The motives of the Prophets are unknown to me. I do not know why they declared you heathens right upon meeting you. I do not know why they ordered your destruction," he paused, looking genuinely troubled now.
I know nothing of why i commit the vile acts i do, in the name of the journey...
"You would never join the covenant even if asked, would you?" Cthar asked with a small chuckle, he found it almost amusing he'd even suggest such a thing. The Sangheili knew much about the humans, after so long watching them. "Your race is too proud to bow to anything they cannot see or touch."

[Elario Luminus]

Kylar huffed in agreement. 'Mankind prefers the old motto of 'seeing is believing'. In a world where science and hard military training have been all you know, it's hard to say otherwise. Perhaps if you'd asked before trying to wipe us out, then maybe. The pros outweigh the cons for both sides if we had joined, provided you'd asked. Efficient though your kind are, humans would be able to implement some interesting tactics to your cause. And in turn, we would have gained some serious technological advances.'
They were at the base of the tower now, and Kylar could see the inner workings of it; several stories, all circulating around a central glass column.
'The door's at the front there. Looks empty, and motion tracker's showing nothing. Let's head in.'