The Red Twin and the Chieftain of the Jiralhanae crashed into each other like a couple of rams, the insanely territorial creatures with large horns found on Human worlds, and the smaller of the two collapsed to the floor. Unlike rams, who rarely, if ever, backed down from an adversary, Mar found himself already wanting to throw in the towel. All the Jump Pack Brutes howled in cheer as Cethegus sauntered back over to the right-hand side of Truth's holopedestal.
"Pathetic," the Chieftain said over his shoulder. "Like the rest of your species. Leave with your life or die with the Demon, it's your choice."
Mar wanted to strangle the arrogant mongrel, but rage alone wasn't enough to bring him to his feet. While he lay there deciding whether to get up, Madiba urged him from inside.
Get up! Get up!
I'm trying. Give me a minute...
Now!
Mar quickly staggered to his feet and waited for the subsequent dizziness to pass, both arms held out for balance. He wasn't sure how much more punishment he could take today, and was really starting to regret choosing to engage in single combat. Cethegus was bigger than him, and stronger than him. Mar was up against a freight train in full armor.
Aside from that, the Plague's lead pupil wasn't exactly in the best shape. But then again neither was the Demon, who he'd seen take his own fair share of what had to be bone crunching hits, yet there was never any complaints from the faceless green warrior. This alone inspired Mar to stand a little straighter, a little taller. He couldn't hide it, he was hurting, but he was also a Bin Son Sangheili. Like the noble ram, he would not back down.
That's it Mar. Head up. Made a promise, remember?
..Madiba...I need to rest...
"I gave you fair warning. Now meet your end!" Cethuegus screamed as he once again came running, this time with the gravity hammer raised.
Mar, who was tense and waiting for him to close the distance, was not prepared when Cethegus suddenly slammed the hammer into the ground before reaching him. A gravity shockwave erupted from the point of impact and swept across the floor towards Mar in a powerful tremor, but, somehow, he managed to keep his stance. It was a good thing he did, as that was merely a setup for the kill swing. Cethegus lunged forth and swung for the head, and Mar was ready.
He ducked low and fired a flurry of punches into the Chieftain's armored ribcage. With a vicious jerking motion, the Chieftain of Chieftains then swung the hammer back around for another fatal head strike. Mar saw his body telegraph the move from miles away and was able to dodge this one almost easier than the first. He leaned back as the hammer head whooshed past his face and didn't move in again until he saw both of his opponents hands holding the hammer over one shoulder.
He had a few seconds before he predicted Cethegus would swing again, so he decided to go for the helmet. He wouldn't be able to punch through any of that armor, but if he could get that helmet off, he just might be able to do some damage. However, the instant his fingers touched the surprisingly warm metal of the Cethegus's helmet, he knew he'd made a mistake.
Cethegus was more clever than he expected, and he felt foolish for approaching him as he would a common Brute. Cethegus, instead of going for another swing, decided to release the hammer entirely. Since the heavy stone head was over his shoulder, it dropped behind him and this in turn caused the handle to come up like a lever and bash Mar right in the chin.
The Red Twin saw stars and felt his jaw on fire as he stumbled back, eyes to the ceiling. He hadn't braced for the surprise blow, and it effectively took all the fight out of him. Mar was out on his feet, and could feel himself drifting out of body, yet he wasn't falling. He was just sort of... observing. He was exhausted and extremely confused, yet grateful, all at once. Unsure of what to do, he turned inward.
...Madiba?
Rest, Mar. I can take it from here.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Red Twin appeared to be revitalized. He attacked Cethegus with such ferocity and gracelessness, he bore no resemblance to the trained fighter witnessed by the spectators just moments before. This was a mad brawler Cethegus was dealing with, and the sheer change in approach caught the Chieftain off guard. Maybe he'd pushed the Elite into desperation. He wrapped the Red Twin in a tight squeeze to halt the wildly flailing fists and elbows, but doing so prevented him from picking up the hammer directly behind him.
"Thropius!" he barked at a nearby Minor.
If Thropius could get to his hammer and help finish the Elite, they could all just overwhelm the Demon and be done with it. Once he was out of the way, they would hunt down the Arbiter, then exterminate the rest of the Humans and Separatists alike. However, Thropius hadn't gotten within a foot of the hammer when a loud bang put him on the ground with a hole in his head. Everyone looked up as the Demon pointed his smoking magnum pistol at Cethegus.
"So much for honor!" the Demon called to the Red Twin, running for cover as all the Jumpers fired on him.
Madiba faced forward again to find that Cethegus had also been distracted by the commotion. Using his restrained position to his advantage, he locked their legs together and fell forward.
Timmmmber!
The loud, heavy drop instantly broke the bear hug. As the others fought on all around them, Madiba ripped off his winded foe's ridiculous helmet and wrapped both hands tight around his neck. He grinned like a maniac as Cethegus bulged his eyes and gasped for air.
Now! I will have my revenge!
Madiba had met his demise at the hands (or more accurate, the gravity hammer) of Tartarus, the former Chieftain of the Brutes. He'd be damned if he let his little brother suffer the same fate. However, Cethegus managed break the chokehold by punching down on Madiba's forearms. As Madiba fell forward, he drove his forehead as hard as he could into Cethegus's nose.
He pulled back to see Cethegus leaking like a faucet. Dark blood dripped off the Red Twin's helmet as he began to rain down hard with unrelenting, unforgiving hammer fists.
Dust! We shall grind him into dust!
Memories, shared memories, flashed through his mind. The Twins standing aboard a Scarab, having just destroyed the last enemy Banshee and unbeknownst to them, enjoying their last moments together. The vivid memory of Madiba slicing Tartarus across the belly, only to be smacked off the platform. Madiba, falling for what felt like years.
Madiba...
Cethegus was no longer fighting back. Yet the punches kept coming. So did the memories. Mar training tirelessly under the tutelage of Grandmaster Ludo "Plague" 'Macdem for hours on end. Mar and his special operations lance escorting the Arbiter and the Demon through a flood-infested town on Earth. Mar and Falzud face-to-face with a charging Hunter.
Mar had admittedly gotten Falzud killed by not retreating when the Scarab was about to explode. By not exercising patience like the Grandmaster had advised so many times before. He had only his own bravado to blame, but he understood now. He would live on for Falzud, but to truly honor his friend, he had to live for himself. He had to forgive himself, and not let the guilt of his mistakes weigh him down.
The Red Twin felt a hand on his shoulder. He stopped and unclenched his sore, bloody fists, realizing that he had brutally beaten Cethegus to death with his bare hands. Poor Cethegus was disfigured beyond the realm of identification, his face horribly mashed and bloated. Mar would be haunted by the image alone for years to come.
He looked over his shoulder and saw Madiba standing there, smiling. Falzud was behind him with a wide, goofy grin on his face. Mar felt a warm tear roll down his cheek as he smiled back. He looked down and did his best to blink the tears away, but when he looked back, it was the Demon who had a hand on his shoulder. Madiba and Falzud were gone.
"Come on, soldier," the Demon said as he pulled him to his feet. "Extraction's here. Time to go."
