Hi to everyone who has read this story, first thank you for reading, seconds I'm glad many of you have enjoyed the story so far. Lastly updates are unfortunately at a trickle at the moment due to real life, I'll write when I can. This means they won't be coming daily I'll try to get something out weekly but with the schedule at the moment that'll be lucky too :D. Thanks again, DC

Eight - The Runner

"The Arbiter lived here…" the Master Chief stated looking around the place, he had removed his helmet but was no less intimidating even sat down, he had been surprised that there was a chair capable of supporting him as everything was made or wood and mud, but there appeared to be some advanced design elements. Whatever the Arbiter had told these people about him had carried quite a bit of weight and the entire team were being treated as honoured guests, with various foods being laid out for them. McKay as always was taking an opportunity to sample the various foods.

"Yes, for two rotations of our sun" Stavros the dark skinned and bearded village leader explained. Immediately McKay looked at his data pad. "He lived in peace; he was our friend and our protector. Until the other came..." He said glancing down at the table.

"The other? Another Elite...Sangheili" the Master Chief asked correcting himself using the races name instead of the UNSC combat designation for the race.

"No, the other was a human, he called himself a Runner" Stavros explained looking up at the large armoured human.

"A Runner?" Teyla asked surprised

"What's a Runner?" Sheppard asked looking between the two, in the last year he had spent in the Pegasus Galaxy he had not heard that term.

"Eighteen months, six days, fourteen hours" Rodney McKay said triumphantly, looking up from his entry pad but suddenly seeing looks from the others. "What, I thought this was important..." he said seeing Sheppard's irritation "how long his friend lived here…" he said indicating to the Master Chief.

"McKay!" Sheppard snapped keeping his voice low but firm, it was helpful information just wrongly timed. "What's a Runner?" He asked as McKay leaned over to another plate and took a piece of food.

"A folk's tale, warriors captured by the Wraith who were hunted by the Wraith" Teyla explained what she knew "we used to tell small children if they did not behave, they would become Runners."

"The Wraith hunt everyone..." McKay began between bites of food

"Not like Runners, these are warriors who impress them and are pressed into service as prey" the Elder explained. "it's almost like sport for them" he continued.

"Perhaps I have a new greatest fear" McKay stated pausing for a moment in his eating before continuing.

"What happened to the Arbiter?" Sheppard asked scowling at McKay but trying to get the conversation back in the direction they wanted to go in.

Two years before the Thel'Vadam and Robyn were walking back towards the settlement carrying their hunting kills, they lived together and despite their physical differences he could not say he did not love her. His time as the Arbiter was like it was ancient history.

Between them nothing was off the table when it came to conversation, they were inseparable, they spoke and laughed together like any other day, but suddenly he stopped. "Do you hear that?" He asked in a low growl "the Ancient Ring." He stated suddenly dropping his catch breaking into a run, Robyn was left far behind, the Sangheili race was larger and stronger than most humans and they excelled at sprinting.

It only took a couple of minutes for him to reach the Ancient transport device as he arrived at the ring Thel'Vadam saw the ring deactivate. Several metres from it lay a human male with long dark hair, he was laying face down, he appeared to be badly beaten. The large Sangheili warrior rolled the man over onto his back his surprise was immediately apparent. "You are safe"

"The Wraith were right behind me" the man struggled out as Robyn arrived Thel'Vadam readied himself clutching his spear he lacked his armour or pulse rifle but he could still fight, his body tensed as the ring began to activate again.

"Help him, leave the Wraith to me."

The wormhole connected there was a "whoosh" of energy as the connection was made. Within moments the event horizon settled to a puddle. Two humanoid figures stepped through the event horizon both were dressed in all dark clothing; they had grey skins and silver hair, both had full face masks.

"You are not welcome here!" Thel'Vadam snarled his four jaw mandibles spread wide in anger. Without a word in response the two figures raised long silver tubular weapons to their shoulders. He did not wait instead he shouldered the spear and threw it at one of Wraith. The spear threw through the air, it slammed into one of the Wraith striking them in the chest below the shoulder knocking them backwards to the ground pinning them in place.

The other Wraith glanced in their fallen comrade's direction briefly which was enough time for Thel'Vadam to move, the Sangheili warrior leapt through the air at the remaining Wraith warrior as they tried to shoot at him, white bolts of energy flew through the air narrowly missing him. He came down with a striking leg onto the remaining standing warrior kicking his to the side.

Thel'Vadam took a step to the side and grabbed his spear which was still embedded in the Wraith's chest. With one fluid motion he ripped the spear through the Wraith tearing the warriors arm off. Spinning on the spot the Sangheili warrior spun the spear at head height striking the side of the other Wraith's head, Thel'Vadam then spun back the other way turning around to uses his momentum to ad force striking the warrior in the chest. The blow staggered the Wraith back several steps doubling them over in pain. Thel'Vadam used the space to twist the spear in his hands spinning it as he took the weapon over his head and then he brought it down striking the Wraith on the back. This third blow knocked the Wraith warrior off his feet and to the ground, Thel'Vadam brought the spear down forcing it through the Wraith's back. With his enemy now pinned to the ground Thel'Vadam wasted no time stomping down on the downed enemy crushing their skull. He stepped over to the other Wraith who he had disabled and he stomped down on that warrior as well ensuring that the alien was dead.

He turned back towards Robyn and the fallen human who was laid on his back a broad smile on his face, Thel'Vadam looked at Robyn who looked shocked and possibly afraid she had not seen this side of the Sangheili warrior, as Thel'Vadam slipped away and the Arbiter rose once more.

"He dismembered them..." Teyla commented carefully, she had no love for the Wraith but this Arbiter sounded brutal.

"Yuck" McKay said disgusted briefly stopping eating as if he was able to see it in his mind before reaching for another snack to the disgust of the others.

"As a way of dealing with Wraith I have no complaints" Sheppard said ignoring McKay and his behaviour, when he first met the scientist, he had been surprised by his actions, now nothing surprised him. "...but the guys at the gate were intact, dead but intact" Sheppard said continuing ignoring McKay.

"These were the first Wraith; it was not the end of our visits by them." Stavros explained "the Runner, Ronin was his name, was cared for us in this very hall." He said raising his hands "but he is warned other Wraith would come..."

For three days the Arbiter had remained close to the Ancient Ring, the Runner's words echoing around his mind. Unlike his previous visit to the ring now he wore his full armour and he was fully armed as well, he had barely spoken to Robyn or any of the other villagers.

As the rain hammered down on his armour, he noticed a humanoid signature appearing on his motion sensor, no-one had come through the Ancient Ring so he was confident that it was someone from his village or another nearby one. He remained at ease against a tree he had felled with his energy sword as Robyn came alongside him and rested on the tree. "I think there is a need for firewood, back in the village" she said glancing at the tree after several moments of silence between them.

"This tree will serve that purpose well once I am done with it" he grumbled his focus remaining on the ring.

"You do not need to remain out here away from us Thel" she said looking at him, she was getting soaked in the rain but that did not seem to bother her. "I know enough about your armour that you can detect if this ring activates."

"You are correct it can, but the Wraith could come at any moment, I have to be ready" he replied, several more moments of silence passed between them.

"You do not have to remain away from us, and away from me," Robyn said "seeing you" she said trying to explain further as he stepped in front of the Arbiter. "Seeing the real you, surprised me and possibly scared me a little."

"I am a Sangheili, we were born to fight, to defend and defeat." He said "I have been a warrior all of my life, our time here has been a welcome distraction" he explained "but now there is a threat, I will do what I was born to do."

"It could be months before they arrive" Robyn suggested, it had been a long time since she had seen them on this world.

"Not according to the Runner" the Arbiter explained, "Ronin said they are never more than four days behind him, I will wait."

"I can wait with you…" she suggested but she already knew the answer, "I'll bring you food…" Robyn said walking away from him black towards the village. As she walked away from the Arbiter the ring began to dial from an incoming wormhole.

"GO!" The Arbiter screamed as the wormhole connected almost immediately three Wraith exited. He opened fire with his pulse rifle, blue energy pulse bolts slammed into the first masked Wraith even as he raised his rifle like weapon. The plasma rounds burned into the three Wraith but they kept coming one of the pulse blasts from the Wraith weapons struck the Arbiter, the wave of energy seemed to go through him but had little to no effect on him or his armour's systems.

The Arbiter's plasma rifle overheated as the Wraith charged his position he switched to his carbine and fired two shots killing one of the masked Wraith with two headshots. Just before the two remaining Wraith reached him, he dropped the carbine and ducked out of the way of their blows. As he moved the Arbiter drew his plasma sword and sliced outwards with the blade cutting one of the masked Wraith down with a blow leaving one remaining Wraith. This one had no face mask it looked vaguely human but with some differences it looked like a male of the species and he looked tougher than the others.

The two of them faced each other this Wraith had a pistol like weapon which he aimed at Arbiter and fired, like the other weapon it had no effect on the Arbiter who just snarled in response. The Wraith dropped the weapon and instead drew a thin blade from his belt he brought it up to his face almost in salute to the Arbiter but already the Sangheili warrior was on the move swinging down with the plasma blade, the Wraith raised his own blade and successfully deflected the blow. The Arbiter's blade went to the left while the Wraith's went to the right, he immediately turned and swung the weapon again striking the Arbiter's back. His shields flared under the strike, he was out of practice, the Arbiter rolled with the blow taking him several steps beyond the Wraith's vision as he moved Thel'Vadam activated his suit's active camouflage and he disappeared. The Wraith warrior looked around confused looking for him moments later a red blast bolt flew striking the Wraith in the chest as it connected with the Wraith's chest the bolt exploded sending the warrior flying backwards. "You forgot about me!" the Runner shouted angrily running up to them.

Moments later the Arbiter reappeared "impressive weapon human" he growled looking at the downed Wraith. The pistol was clearly an energy weapon and appeared to be a single fire weapon, he did not recognise the design of the weapon.

"I get that a lot" the large human said placing his weapon back into his belt holster, while he was not as large, athletic, or as muscled as a Spartan warrior but he was still impressive to the large Sangheili. "I need to leave, more of them are going to come."

"Why do you not make a stand?" The Sangheili asked stepping up to him, the man stood looking at him not appearing to be intimidated even in the slightest.

"There's a lot of them" the Runner responded simply; he did not appear to be afraid of the Wraith but he also knew when it was a losing battle. "Anywhere I stay they will come…"

"Then perhaps we need a distraction…" the Sangheili suggested "I am Arbiter Thel'Vadam of the Sangheili." Bowing his head slightly.

"Specialist Ronon Dex of Sateda" he replied offering the large alien his hand which the Arbiter met with his four fingered hand. "Let's get to work."

"So, your friend met a friend and they killed Wraith together, sounds great I'd like to meet them both." Sheppard said smirking at the Master Chief who simply nodded Sheppard turned back to the leader of the village "I assume the display at the gate was them?"

"Yes, that is part of their display…" He said glancing to the side.

"Part?" Teyla asked the surprise obvious in her voice.

"Yes, they killed many Wraith" he explained "they displayed nearly twenty Wraith all of them facing the Ancient Ring. Before they decided to take the fight to the Wraith…" Stavros explained "the Runner knew of Wraith facilities…"

"You do not have to come" Arbiter Thel'Vadam said turning to Robyn, she and several of the other people had volunteered to join him and Ronin in their raid with each of the eight were armed with one of the Wraith stun designs.

"The Wraith are a threat to us all, we're with you." She said confidently, they were all stood at the dialling device behind them the Wraith that had been killed so far were strung up and displayed for all visitors to see.

Soon after Ronin dialled one of the addresses he knew and the ring connected to another system the group went through the gate together immediately entering a Wraith facility. From the bright world they had been in the environment was replaced with the dark cavern everything was purples and blues with some lights.

"You guys hold the gate" Ronin said looking at the villagers while Ronin moved out the Arbiter disappeared activating his active camouflage. The two of them moved through the facility quickly with Ronin acting as a distraction and the Arbiter taking out the targets both worked seamlessly together, it was clear to the Arbiter that Ronin was a seasoned warrior.

"Something isn't right…" The Arbiter said taking a pause, they were encountering only a few Wraith guards and the facility was massive.

"What?" Ronin said turning towards him, he did not like stopping, they needed to keep searching for more Wraith to kill.

"There are not enough Wraith, we should return to the ring…" He suggested he was concerned about the people they had left there.

"We can't let them slow us down!" He grumbled raising his arms wide.

"We led them here; leaders take responsibility for their actions" the Arbiter grumbled turning around back it been a long time since he had led warriors in combat but something felt off with this whole situation. Behind him Ronin followed at a distance clearly disappointed that their attack was over.

As they approached the Ancient Ring the Arbiter instantly saw a site of carnage, the group of eight humans who had come with them were laying spread all around the gate. They had been stunned and their bodies appeared to be deformed, frail almost, the Thel'Vadam saw the brown jacket that Robyn had been wearing and moved over to be at her side. Following the feeding she looked like she had aged forty-to-fifty years and she appeared very frail but she was breathing.

"The Wraith fed on them" Stavos said looking around the visitors "Robyn was left alive long enough for her to tell the Arbiter that there was always a price for attacking the Wraith and that all the remaining Wraith warriors had abandoned the facility." He explained "the Arbiter brought her home and she died a few hours later."

"The Wraith have no honour; they could not defeat the Arbiter in an open battle so they ran." The Master Chief stated in disgust he had fought many enemies during his career and he held a special hatred for those that lacked honour.

"The Wraith feed on helpless populations, if people resist them, they bombard the planets from orbit, it has nothing to do with it!" Teyla snapped, her people had been the pray of the Wraith for centuries. The Chief nodded in response indicating he understood. "Defiance is punished, it is their way, Stavos you are lucky that the Wraith did not come back here to punish your people…"

"When the Arbiter and Ronin returned, we buried our dead, and we began taking down their display. During that time two Wraith came through the gate, we scattered" he explained. "The Wraith looked at what we had and they retreated back through the gate again, we have not seen them since so we left what was remaining." He said smiling weakly "soon after Robyn and the others died the Arbiter and Ronin left this planet and they have never returned."

"Did they say where they were heading?" The Master Chief asked "and what they were planning?"

"The runner has a tracker embedded in his back, he is looking to find a way to get it removed, Ronin suggested the world of Alcyone, he said he had heard that there was advanced medical equipment there but he needed help getting in." Stavos answered

"That is impossible!" Teyla answered before anyone else could speak. "That world is death…"

"Teyla…" Sheppard said trying to get her attention.

"No, John please listen to me, if they have gone to that world they have gone to their death." She stressed looking at him, she was concerned but he could hear the fear in her voice.

"Ok…" Sheppard said carefully looking between the two of them "can you enlighten us?"

"Ronin said it was an ancient colony world which specialised in medical research" Stavos said "but he did not provide further information or the address." He explained the others eyes turned towards Teyla.

"Stories of Alcyone have circulated for years" Teyla explained "it was destroyed during the conflict with the Wraith, the atmosphere was poisoned and it is now said to be stalked by monsters."

"Monsters, like worse than the Wraith?" McKay asked but before Teyla could respond Sheppard spoke up.

"And you didn't mention this world why?" Sheppard asked he was slightly annoyed at her, they had been together for more than a year, they had made their intentions very clear to her that they wanted to find out as much information as possible about the Ancients and their worlds.

"Everyone who goes to this world dies, if you set one foot out of the gate you will die." She stressed to him; he could see she was rattled just by the mentioning of the name of the world.

"What if we don't have to step a foot out of the gate?" Sheppard suggested, suddenly McKay snapped the fingers of his left hand rapidly several times.

"The Daedalus!" He said triumphantly figuring out what the Lieutenant Colonel was suggesting.

"Thanks Rodney" Sheppard said making it clear he did not want any more mentioned about their available resources. Sheppard then looked at a confused looking Stavos, "you have been very helpful, sorry for your loss, thank you for your help." He said stepping back from the bench onto his feet, the rest of his team followed suit standing up. The others exchanged their goodbyes before the group left the world heading back to Atlantis.

Back on Atlantis Sheppard and the others joined Dr Weir in the meeting room and they briefed her on what had happened on their mission. "Sounds like they have gone on their own adventure" Weir said "unfortunately it may have to take a back seat…" Weir began

"A back seat?" Sheppard asked "Elizabeth this is an Ancient Outpost we are looking for, we could find a lot more than the Chief's friend." He suggested, while they had a plan to move the Forward Unto Dawn's reactor down to Atlantis the idea of getting more ZPMs or Drones was appealing.

"It sounds like a dangerous world, it's going to have to wait until…"

"Elizabeth, once we get the address, the Daedalus can take us into the system when we locate it and if there is a habitable region drop us down…" Sheppard explained running through the plan.

"The Daedalus is heading back to Earth, it'll be gone for at least three weeks" Weir explained "we also have pressing matters to attend to here in Atlantis, which I'm sure the Master Chief will understand" she said looking at the armoured giant, he had removed his helmet when they returned to base it seemed to put the others at ease being able to see who was under the armour, he simply nodded in response the Arbiter, if he was still alive had been in this galaxy for four years a few more weeks would make little difference. "Colonel, first we need to…"

"But we're on a roll here…" Sheppard continued, he did not fully understand her resistance to his ideas, he and McKay had already begun looking through the Ancient Database for clues to which world Acyone could be.

"Where's Cortana?" The Chief suddenly asked interrupting Sheppard, everyone stopped to look at him, he had expected her to be here when her returned but they had not heard a word from her. Dr Weir remained silent as the Chief slowly turned towards her "Dr Weir, where is Cortana?" He said directly asking her.

"That that is the problem." Weir said her eyes not leaving the Master Chief "we reach her. We do not know how…" she began to explain.