Six hastily slipped on her winter gear and followed Emile out into the pitch black hallway, but not before grabbing a flashlight and switching it on. She let the beam sweep ahead of her as she caught up to the fellow spartan.

"You seriously want to disobey orders? You know we're not supposed to be doing this!"

" If you have a problem with it, then go back to the room." Emile said without turning around.

"I will!" Six huffed and turned to go, but Emile violent grabbed her arm and began to pull her along.

"You're coming with me, and you'll like it!"

"But you just said I could-"

"Shutup!"

They continued down the hall, trying to be as quiet as possible. A few minutes later Noble Six spoke up again.

" You don't even have an ax, how do you suppose we'll cut down a tree?"

Emile spun around and faced her, his helmet gleaming eerily in the beam of the flashlight. "I have my ways," was all he said before he continued walking again. Six could do nothing but shrug as she followed Emile.

They were almost to the door leading out when Six thought she heard a noise. She motioned for Emile to be quiet as she turned around, eyes scanning the dark, pulse racing. She felt like a little kid sneaking out to go to a concert. But after a few seconds of looking around and seeing no one, she relaxed.

"You're jumpy." Emile stated matter-of-factly.

"I thought I heard a noise. You can't be too careful." Six shot back.

"Just don't go all paranoid on me like Jun does, I can only stand one of him." He said dangerously. "Come on, lets get out of here."

Emile reached out to open the door, but suddenly...

Thud thud thud thud

He paused. "The hell?"

Thud thud thud thud

"Sounds like footsteps." Six turned around, shining her flashlight everywhere."...Big footsteps..." She gulped. The noise kept getting louder, when suddenly, from out of the darkness came a huge figure, hurtling straight towards Six and Emile.

'AaaaaaaaaaaH!" The two spartans screamed and cowered against the wall. Six frantically shone the flashlight at the figure, sighing in relief at who it was.

"Oh, Jorge. Its just you." She said, then looked at Emile, who was still screaming. "Emile."

"AaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaH!"

"Emile!"

"What?"

" Why are you still screaming?"

"Just look at what he's wearing!" A horrified Emile pointed at Jorge's pajama's, which were pink footies with bunny rabbits on them. Six's jaw dropped, she couldn't help but stare.

"What? They were a gift from Dr. Halsey." Jorge tugged at his pajama's, embarrassed. "Besides, what are the two of you doing sneaking around?"

"It doesn't concern you." Emile snapped, heading towards the door.

" Oh, alright, I'll just go wake up the Commander, then." Jorge threatened.

"We're going to get a Christmas tree!" Six blurted out, making Jorge pause, his face brightening up.

"Why didn't you say so, mate? Can I come?"

"Absolutely NOT! " Emile huffed. "This is MY adventure. So go back to bed!"

" Why can't I come with you but Six can?"

" That's different!"

"How?"

Emile was silent as he pondered the question, then gave an angry shrug. "Fine, you can come. We need someone to carry the tree, anyway..."

"YAY!" Jorge shouted happily and tore off his pajama's to reveal his winter gear, snow boots included.

" Keep it down, we don't want to wake up anyone else." Six shushed him.

"Yeah, like Jun." Emile snickered.

"Shhhhhh!"

The Trio opened the door and tramped out into the cold winter night. The sky was clear, revealing the stars high above them. The snow seemed to glow eerily as they trekked around the base and into the woods behind it.

Silence reigned amongst the trees, nothing stirred. Six looked around her, drinking in the peace and quiet. This was far different from her normal life, which was filled with gunfire, blood, and explosions. A smile twitched on her lips as walked.

"Don't let the peacefulness of these woods fool you." Jorge spoke from behind her. " They hide the most dangerous wildlife on the planet!"

" Orly?" Emil scoffed. "I think you have been reading too much Wikipedia of the Future, again!"

Jorge grew all sulky, so Six gave him a sympathetic pat on the back as they walked on. Suddenly Emile crouched down and rased his fist, bring his companions to a half.

"What is it?" Six whispered.

"Something's following us." Emile whispered back

" Dangerous wildlife!"

"Shutup, Jorge!"

The bushed behind them rustled, making them all spin around. Six got into a fighting position, fists raised as twigs snapped and whatever was following them came closer.

"It could be a were-bear!" Jorge said nervously.

"You think so?" Emile didn't sound so sure now, since whatever was coming sounded really big...

SMACK! A figure fell out of the bushes and started writhing in the snow.

"GAH! Nature! Get it off me!" whoever it was took a sanitizer can from his pants and began to spray it around him frantically.

Emile facepalmed. "Jun, what the hell, man?"

"So, you were following us?" Six went over and helped the sniveling spartan up.

"Yeah," said Jun, "I wanna come, too!"

"NO." Emile said matter-of-factly.

"Why?"

"Because I said so!"

"Aw, come on!" Jun turned to Six. "Help me out here, I saved your life in the prelude, yah know!" He pouted.

"But then you sprayed me with your smelly disinfectant, and I do have to admit, your Russian accent does kinda get on my nerves..." Six rubbed the back of her neck apologetically.

"Russian? I thought he was Asian!" Jorge spoke up.

"I thought he was Mexican..." Emile shrugged.

Jun: " ..."

"What?"

"Nevermind...anywho...aw, pweeease! I really want to come, it will mean so much to me, and I promise I won't be loud or anything!" Jun put on his best puppy dog eyes.

"Okay, you can come, just shut up!" Emile growled.

"Cool!" Jun and Jorge high-fived each other as they continued exploring. The forest was now filled with excited chatter as they marched deeper into the trees.

"Check it out, I think we are beginning to do some team bonding!" Jorge said proudly.

"This is bonding time? Aw, I should of brought snacks, maybe a movie..."

"What type of movie, Jun?"

" hmmmm, well, I always liked Twilight..."

Jorge, Six, and Emile stopped and stared at him incredulously.

"Whut?"

"Jun, come closer so I can snap your neck!" Emile hissed angrily

"Uh-oh!" Jun gave a girly scream and took off running as Emile charged after him.

"IS he really gonna kill him?" Six asked, unsure.

" Well...Do you know how Thom died?" replied Jorge.

" No..."

" Well, lets just say I think we need to rescue Jun." Jorge broke into a sprint, Six not too far behind.

They followed the foot prints made by the two spartans into a clearing, where they stopped dead in there tracks, joining and Jun as they stared at the object before them.

"What is it?" Six asked.

"Its...Its...BEAUTIFUL!" Jun squealed.

"No its not! Okay...maybe a little..." Emile muttered.

"Yeah, but what is it?" Six demanded.

"Its pretty!" Jorge smiled.

Emile struck a manly pose and pointed to the object. "IT IS THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS TREE!"

The epic conclusion to this Christmas tree hunt will be in the next chapter!