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"Tell me, Spartan, what did you think of my story?" He asked as they trundled away from a happy father and daughter, left behind to eat their meal together. The Spartan beside him only turned his head slightly, regarding him silently, and he added, "I know you were listening."

"I was. And my team as well." The Spartan answered quietly, explaining simply, "Listening over squad-comms while they work."

"I suspected as much, yes." He nodded, explaining when the Spartan turned a brief gaze on him, one that he knew for the silent question it was even from behind his visor. "Your brother Demon, he told me you and your kin were listening to our conversation through his helmet. I presumed that such was the norm, among your kind."

"Among many of them, yes." The Spartan nodded, explaining in brief, "Tactical flexibility. We can project video or audio feeds to our unit."

"Understandable." He didn't need an explanation on how such features could be applied, tactically, and the Spartan respected him enough not to bother offering one. Humming, he added, "Often, I consider adopting your people's methods for their cleverness and usefulness, you know."

"I didn't." His friend answered, adding more quietly, surprised, "Thank you."

"Why do you thank me?" He chuckled, turning a wry look on his friend beside him, "I steal your ideas and methods to empower my own people. I should think a Spartan wouldn't like that sort of thing."

"A Spartan? Not normally, no." He answered simply, adding quietly, so much so he almost didn't hear it with the sounds of reconstruction around them ringing in his ears, "But I know you, Arbiter. You're not an enemy of the UNSC."

"I pray such remains true while I breathe and beyond, Spartan." He rumbled quietly, soberly, "For fact, I pray that the peace and friendship between our peoples might only strengthen, and outlast all but the stars themselves."

"I hope for the same." The Spartan nodded, adding in what, for him, passed for a joking tone, "Even if I don't pray."

"Mhm." He nodded as the Pelican came into distant sight, visible over the steadily growing mound of supplies and materials. Curious, he mused aloud, "I wonder where the supplies and materials came from, that they are so abundant."

"Stockpiles, sheltered across the city in special depots maintained for when these things happen." He explained quietly, after a few moments of silence. He turned a curious look on him and the Spartan explained, "Kelly asked a soldier overseeing clean-up efforts and search and rescue."

"Ah, I see." He nodded, musing further, "Such is as sensible as it is grim, given this world's threats. Humans have always been a tenacious lot besides, I'm unsurprised they have plans in case for such tragic inevitabilities."

"The UNSC had similar stockpiles and preparations, during the war." The Spartan returned, giving him a slow, sidelong look. After a moment, presumably to consider, he spoke, "They were rarely used."

"My people did not often attack your worlds and not then…" Burn them, he wanted to say, but the words stilled in his throat against his will. Instead, he only sighed, "Regardless, I digress. This is not what I asked you about."

"Your story." The Spartan nodded, giving him a look, "It was all true, then?"

"All of it." He nodded, letting out a tired sigh. It had been a long day already… Rest could come later, though. For now, he added, chuckling, "And yes, even the part about the 'great blue spirit' and the vision she imparted onto the heroes."

"Mhm." The Spartan hummed, processing the information for a moment and then asking, quietly, "The 'Monster'?"

"Something Ruby said to me." He explained, watching those they passed work while they wound their way through the crates and debris, towards the Pelican. "She said that I was a monster made by the Covenant. A beast, conditioned to obey and massacre at my master's wanton, corrupt command."

"And you agree?"

"I do." He nodded, watching the Spartan for his tiny little reactions. The Spartan watched him in turn, visor impassive but turned fully to face him and hands flexing at his side. The only real tell the Demon had was his hands. "She also said that she believed that monsters made the best heroes. Overcoming their evil natures to do great good. That it was easy for someone with every chance to be a hero to, in the end, be the hero."

"Nature versus nurture." The Spartan supplied, explaining when Thel turned a look on him, "What we are born as versus what we are made into. It's a theory of psychology, debated among many circles. The underlying question is wish is most important. One's natural base psychology, or one's developed psyche."

"You speak like a man that engages in said debates."

"Spartan training included basic understandings of psychology." The Demon answered simply, "As well as various other sciences and history, both cultural and factual."

"And this was useful to you?" Thel asked, earnestly fishing for information now, "These studies of things not related to war aided you? Your kin?"

"You tell me." The Spartan joked, or at least he did what passed for joking for him, "I believe that the Covenant knew our success rate as well as we did.

"A fair answer indeed, my friend." He chuckled, shaking his great, armored head. After a moment he asked, quietly, "What are you, then? A Spartan made, or a warrior bred?"

"Would it matter?"

"No, I would suppose it would not." And he knew when a warrior didn't want to consider, much less speak about, something uncomfortable. The Spartan was hard to read, the signs were the fore one perceptive enough. His hands, fists at his sides, and his shoulders set like stone. Instead, he nodded towards the Pelican and mused, "Your allies await us."

"I ordered them to stay near the Pelican, and to be waiting when we got here." True to his word, the Spartans were waiting.

The two women were nearby each other, standing at the top of the ramp and leaning against the inside of the hull to either side. The other man, though, had relaxed more than them. He sat on the bottom of the ramp, leaning back against it with his hands folded across his stomach, the perfect picture of careless ease. As if nothing around him posed him any threat, and so he had no reason not to be at ease.

Which was probably the case, to be frank. Thel doubted that any here were Hunters, and only Hunters could truly hope for a chance at facing a Spartan.

"Spartans." He greeted, bowing his head slightly as he reached them and the other man, Frederic, rose. "How went the work?"

"We're not laborers." Frederic grunted shortly adding, in as clear of an after-thought as he'd ever seen, "Arbiter, Sir."

"He means that we don't like a civilian giving us directives." The markswoman offered, not bothering to look up to him. Instead, she stared at the floor and, he could almost imagine, didn't bother opening her eyes. After a heartbeat she added, with just a scrap of heat, "Or an Elite, for that matter."

"Linda." The simple, quiet name, barely more than a mutter from the Demon, brought the woman's attention around and to them. All he did was shake his head, so slightly even he very nearly missed the motion.

After a quiet moment she nodded understandingly and pushed off the Pelican's hull. To him she said, "I apologize, Arbiter. I was out of-"

"Breathe no apologies to me, Spartan." He cut her off, waving a hand between them and then shrugging the matter off. "My sins are graver than I have any right to live to bear, I know this. You owe me no apology for their weight drawing out your ire. If you wish to apologize for breaking decorum, then consider it accepted. Both now, and in the future, should you ever express your ire again."

"...Noted." Was all the woman said, nodding curtly and turning a silent look on the Master Chief.

He nodded and, at a slight jerking off his head up, at the Pelican, the other Spartans turned. As they climbed aboard the landed craft the Demon turned to him. Another moment passed and he sighed, nodding towards the Pelican and grunting simply, "We need to talk, Arbiter."

"Understandable." He murmured, watching the Spartan join his companions. Turning to look for the yet absent children, and finding no one, he sighed and followed him.

The four Demons were waiting when he stepped into the darker interior of the craft, the women leaning against the hull that separated the cockpit from the seats. Kelly gave the other a look and Linda shrugged and shook her head, earning a shrug in return for her silent words. Frederic sat closest to the two women, his arms crossed and head down, seemingly lost in thought. He turned slightly as he stepped into the Pelican but soon his gaze returned to the floor, one finger tapping on his armored bicep.

The Master Chief, though, sat just inside the Pelican's entrance, watching the work outside while the Arbiter settled in across from him.

"So…" Frederic started quietly, "Where do we start, then?"

"Magic and gods sound about right." Linda answered, "Kelly?"

"Magic and gods."

"What do you know about either?" The Chief asked quietly, apparently serving as the mouth-piece of the group.

"For the most part?" He asked rhetorically, leaning forward to rest his arms on his knees and watch the work outside. Or, more accurately, to watch for the children's return. Without looking to the Spartans he spoke, "The Gods of Light and Dark, created this world, now known as Remnant. Salem went to them, first to plead and then to war, and they left this world. After annihilating most of those living upon it."

"Humans?"

"Humans." He nodded, turning to regard the woman that has spoken, "The Faunus came after the Destruction. Evolution, magic, godly intervention, I know not what brought them about. Only that by the time Ozma was brought back by Light, they were here."

"Ozma?"

"The Ageless Wizard." He explained, referencing his tale to the lost child, "The Wizard who dies and is reborn again anew, in a new body, to face the Dark One. Salem."

"...Fuck me gods are real." The markswoman sighed, shaking her head and waving a hand for him to go on. "Magic and gods."

"They charged Ozma with the task as I told it." He answered simply, "To unite the world and summon them back, for a day of reckoning. A day of judgement."

"And you intend to help bring this about?"

"No." He had, until that moment, been unsure. But the ease of the answer brought with it a surety he had not felt since he plunged the Prophet's Bane into Truth. And so, he accepted it. "I intend to protect this world, as the gods charged Ozma to do. To unite it and bring peace, if I am able."

"But not to summon the gods."

"No." He sighed, shaking his armored head, "They have proven themselves cruel, capricious and temperamental. Were they to grant this world their mercy," he growled the word, "then I have little doubt that they would, in time, devastate it once more. Or force the world to bend the knee to their whims, to reshape itself to their design."

"And you think this mission will unite your people?"

"In the service of the gods' goal of unity and peace among Humankind on this world, yes." He nodded, grimacing after a moment and adding, "In centuries, I fear a great conflict over whether to call them for their judgement. But that is a trouble for a distant day, and this world bleeds now. My people, those not needed on Sanghelios to rebuild and restore, can be of great help here, on Remnant."

"Then let's take you off world and search for a way back to Sanghelios." Frederic said, turning a look on the lead Spartan and then on Thel himself when the Demon nodded his permission. "Our job is to protect you, and if this world is half as dangerous as you say, you're at risk here. On the Black Sun, you'd be safe."

"I need to speak with people here." He answered, shaking his head and sighing, "The terror of my warships suddenly looming low in the sky… I might as well burn the settlements myself for all the kindness that would do."

"But-"

"Forgive me, but I will not be swayed on this matter." He cut Frederic off, turning to the Master Chief with narrow, hard eyes. "Atlas has promised me one of their craft to get to the Kingdom. And if you will not volunteer your ship for the venture, I will make use of it. So, decide our course, Spartan."

The Demon was quiet, for a long moment, before he finally nodded and turned to Frederic, "We'll be transporting the target to the Kingdom of Atlas for a meeting with local dignitaries. Once negotiations are properly under way, and more information is available on the matter, we will revisit returning to Sanghelios."

"Yes, Sir."

"Got it, Chief."

"Sir."

"Frederic, Kelly, prep for take-off." He ordered quietly, leaving Linda to her own devices and turning back to him to offer him another small, curt nod.

"Thank you, Spartan." Thel rumbled, bowing his head in gratitude, "Believe me when I say that this is the way. The way to a brighter and better tomorrow for millions of Humans and Faunus."

"I believe you." The Spartan nodded, turning and taking his seat. After a heartbeat he added, quietly, "You have an Aura."

"I do." Thel answered, "Though I know not how to properly wield it or my Semblance. As you already know, on both counts."

"Hm." Whatever the Spartan thought about that, or even why he'd asked a question he knew the answer to, he left unsaid. Instead he asked, "You're going to demand we allow those civilians-"

"Hunters are not civilians, Demon." He cut the Demon off, sighing good-naturedly when the Demon turned to look at him. "They are warriors. I ask that you accord them respect, and not refer to them as mere civilians. As those who need protecting."

"Hunters, then." He nodded, "I suppose you'll want them allowed roam of the Black Sun?"

"As much as I myself would be, aboard a Human warship, yes." Though he suspected that would in actuality count for quite a little access, it was still a point of merit. He would not see his comrades treated without due respect, after everything they had been through. "I hope that is not a problem?"

"No." He shook his head, "We'll only be aboard for an hour, while we move to an orbit over Atlas."

"Thank you, Demon." He said bowing his head, "I am grateful that you are kind enough to-"

"Oh Mister Scaaaalyfaaaaace!" A familiar, energetic voice called, drawing his attention around to the base of the ramp as the children, laden with their packs once more, approached the bottom of the Pelican's ramp. Smiling, Nora bounced from one foot to the other, holding out a little box to him, "A present from Jaune's family!"

"Oh?" He asked, rising, "What is it?"

"Caramel apples and your cloak!" Ruby called, holding the second item up for him as she stepped up and into the Pelican. He took it and nodded his thanks while the young woman bounced on her heels and asked, eyes wide and excited, "Soooo, canwegotospacenowpleaseyouguysIreallywanna-"

"If you're talking faster than a bullet, don't." Linda cut in, sighing and shaking her head tiredly, "I caught the first part, and yes. We're going to space."

"Once you've all boarded." The other Demon added meaningfully, easing back in his seat and nodding for them all to get aboard.

"You will be the first of your people to leave your homeworld, even if only for a short time." The Arbiter murmured as they all boarded the Pelican, Nora handing him his little box of warm, sweet smelling confections. While they all settled in, the two Spartans standing to make space since they would be more steady, he added, "You should, each of you, feel honored."

"Will we be able to see Remnant?" Ruby asked from beside him, bouncing eagerly in her seat.

"The Black Sun doesn't have windows or observation decks." The Chief said quietly, actually flinching ever so slightly when Ruby turned wide, obviously sad, silver eyes on him. Her shoulders sagged after a moment and the Spartan sighed, "But… It won't cost us fuel to drift for a moment. And let each of you take a couple minutes to look."

"Ohmygoshthankyousomuch-"

"Words are not bullets." Linda groaned again, earning a chuckle from the other Hunters.

Then, the Pelican's ramp began to close, and its engines began to hum to life. Within a few moments he felt gravity shifting as the crafted maneuver to punch up, through the planet's atmosphere and into space. As the turbulence worsened, he heard those who had never made the journey from ground to space murmuring curses, assurances to each other, and even a prayer whose origin he didn't know.

Then he heard a gasp and Maria swore, "I can't see!"

Then he heard something heavy hit the deck, followed by a hiss of pain. Ruby ducked and, when she came back up, she was holding Yang's mechanical right arm and stammering, "U-Um, Sis?"

"That fuckin' hurts!" The blonde growled, snatching the offending limb away and glaring at it, "The hell?"

"Dust doesn't work once you leave the atmosphere." Weiss sighed, shaking her head, "I forgot- I can't believe I forgot!"

"To be fair," Qrow sighed, "it's not the most important part about Dust sciences."

"Tell that to my eyes!" She said, pointing a long finger at the man across from her. Her other hefted her walking stick and she threatened, "My semblance still works, so don't think you can get away if I decide to smack you!"

"...Your Semblance works?" Jaune finally said, turning a look on Weiss.

"I use Dust for mine, besides the Summoning which needs space." She waved him off, "And Ruby's needs space as well."

"If one works they all work." Maria laughed, snapping her fingers and adding, "I might not be the first to see Remnant, but I am the first woman to use her Semblance off the planet!"

"We're turning about to see the planet." The Demon said quietly, interrupting their conversation. "Youngest two first, then partner pairs."

Ruby was out of her seat and dragging Oscar up from his before the man finished the word 'youngest'. Thel only laughed while the Demon stood and opened the door to let them through to see through the window at the front of the cockpit. Today, he decided, had been a good day.

At least, in the end.

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A short chapter, but one with, in my opinion, a lot of good dialogue and character moments. Getting word count up is harder when there aren't any fights, I find. And yet, no easier, lol.

Hope you all enjoyed it!

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Falloutman :

Even I, sometimes, make mistakes or slip up. I am, after all, only Human.

Green the Ryno :

They've seen some shit. Just not 'girl turning into rose petals for locomotion' levels of shit.

Smokey Panda :

Glad you puzzled it out, lol. And hope you keep enjoying the story!

Kpmh2001 :

He is! It's honestly kinda strange imo.

Combine117 :

Semblances aren't magic, but yeah. Shit's weird on Remnant.

Also, I can't have Thel and not Rtas. That's, like, a sin among sins.

Rook :

I really should update my profile to list more of my new ideas… My idea begins and ends, currently, at the Spirit of Fire ending up at Remnant, unfortunately.

As for the rest of your thoughts? S'alot of spoilers, so no comment~