A Dreg stood silent, aware of its unwanted company. Said company stood with a gun poised and raised to this meagre soldier's head. His breathing quickened and thoughts of life so adventitious emerged from the dark of his mind. He stirred up memories of his brother's death; the way he had been slaughtered by some pitiless member of that conceited race. He was confident he would share the same fate in the next, somewhat meaningless, few seconds. "What're you doing here, then, my little friend?" The so-called Guardian disdainfully spoke his jeering words. The mockery required no answer, and the ill-fated Fallen knew better than to provide one. "Too stupid to even know how to speak. My word, you are a sorry little thing, aren't you?" The insult rewarded the Human with a sideways glance, to which it replied with a smirk. "Oh, so you do at least have the grace to understand English. That could prove useful; slaves are easier to control when they know what you're saying." "If you cherished your honour you would be gracious enough yourself to end this taunt, and rid you of my presence." The words arose hissed and mechanised as they passed through the translating filter in the Fallen’s helmet. The obnoxious creature had made its point, and his victim desired no continuation of the charade. “Anxious to die, are you?” “If it should relieve me of this petty game, then, of course.” The Human, being part of an arrogant species, disliked being referred to as petty, and continued to respond bitterly. “I can see why, you don’t look like you could lift the boot from your he-“ “In case it escaped your callous mind, I wished you to kill me quickly.” At last, what could pass for pity was offered to the Dreg, though the Human made its efforts to remain cruel until the alien was dead at its feet. “Oh, don’t worry” he said, narrowing his eyes and adorning a malicious grin. “I understood you all too well.” And, with that, the sound of a long awaited gunshot passed through the choked walls and into the desert beyond, only to be gathered by the wind and hushed by the sands of the storm.