A/N: Thanks to everyone for reading this so far, please review if ya want, i want to know how good (or bad) i'm doing and stuff. Thanks :)

My hearing began to slowly come back before my sight. I struggled to open my eyes to see nothing but black. Great, all that effort and I turn out to be blind? Just great. I blinked a few more times, the action getting harder with each try. My hearing was still weak, everything being faint and muffled. I tested out my body, trying to twitch my hand; no luck. No feeling once so ever, no sight, and basically no hearing. It felt like eternity before something happened. Pain raked at my shoulder, invisible claws slicing and burning through my flesh. My neck arched and my mouth stretched to let out a screech of pain, but all that came out was a struggled whine. Another bullet of pain vibrates through my spine as a pressure is faintly felt on my hand. It feels like my whole body is asleep, but hurts like hell to move. I fall limp, gasping for breath as my eyes are stretched wide, desperately searching for something other than the pitch darkness that had acquainted me when I first awoke. Oh great, that internal shake had started up, nothing but pain filled my mind with each tremor. My eyelids are stretched to the fullest while my eyes feel like they're going through a stroke of their own. Breath sticks in my throat as my lungs start screaming for oxygen. Claws scratch at my insides as I try to desperately find out what's going on, or at least try to ease the pain that's clouding my mind. My lungs are on fire as electrical currents are suddenly forced into my body, the waves spreading out to the very tips of my fingers and toes. The intense thumping of my heart suddenly sounds from out of nowhere as my lungs finally expand once in an attempt to take in air, only to force it out as a cough racks throughout my system. It feels like my whole body decided to shut down, and left my mind to experience the aftermath. My head suddenly feels like it's being crushed and my face is cracking, something wanting to come inside my own mind. Then, just as sudden as it came, it left.

I shot up, gasping for breath. My eyes searched around as my heart started to ease into a slow rhythm. I place my hand on my chest and clench it. It felt so real, just like the others. It's been a week since my first mission, wounds still haven't healed in the slightest, and it haunts me every night. Jacob ran in and sat by me, carefully cradling me in his arms as I sobbed and tried to push those memories to the back of my mind without much luck. I died that day, I remembered, and lived to tell about it. I died that way, twice. I remember that they managed to get and drag me back to the awaiting pelican for immediate evac, and how Jacob was desperately trying to keep me with him. They had to perform CPR on me before they managed to get me to the medical bay back on the UNSC battleship, Ass Kicker. Yup, first kiss stolen when I was dead by a guy with blue hair. Really? Come on.

There, they had to do surgery on my shoulder. I was in surgery for three hours before Jacob and the rest of the team got any updates on me. Thankfully the plasma didn't reach my heart; unfortunately it managed to expose its beating form; which hurt like hell by the way. The plasma took out a quarter of my lung and a big chunk of flesh. I had gotten third degree burns up to six inches around the hole in my torso, going half up the side of my neck and down to my elbow. They managed to seal up the hole and repair my half eaten lung by replacing it with a healthy donated one. Then they grew some of my skin cells and managed to patch up the hole with the speed-grown skin. Luckily they didn't go with the option of using someone else's skin; I would've been too grossed out if they did. Other people's organs are ok, but nothing I physically had to look at and bare for the rest of my life.

They had to replace and support some of my bones in the shoulder with metal, one of the strongest types there is actually. We didn't know it at the time, but they were experimenting on me; seeing if a normal human being could have that in their body and not be badly effect by it. In fact, it managed to improve my shoulder quite a bit. I could deal a lot more stress with that arm than my right, and I could throw better swings with it. Something in the metal altered my muscles on that side, something with the minerals in it or something, and we didn't realize that it was spreading further along my bones and muscles. The scar form the whole injury was pretty cool though, a scar I'll always like, and never forget what gave me it.

Anyways, when family was allowed to visit my unconscious body, he never left my side. For 36 hours I was out, in which they had to start my heart once more, the only time I actually felt it. Jacob was later told about what I felt during the time I was "dead", and he knows about how I usually feel that time in my nightmares. I don't know how he puts up with it though, I manage to wake at least half the other squads with my screaming, yet all he does is comes in and comforts me until I either calm down, or fall asleep. My chest jumps with another hiccup as Jacob rubs my back soothingly. The rumble in his chest vibrates against my ear as he hums the song mom used to sing to us whenever we had nightmares. My eyelids became heavy and began to droop as his voice managed to quiet my sobs and lull me to sleep.

My face is in the dirt, and my body is numb. Something lifts me up by the back of my shirt; soon, I am face to face with an elite. It's left black eye had a scar going over it, visible even on the eye itself. The scar goes from the tip of it's eye ridge, down to it's lower half jaw. My eyes are stretched wide, but I cannot yell for help. Its jaws turn up in an alien like grin, before pain erupts from my abdomen. I coughed, metallic soon filling my mouth and I spit it out. I weakly look back up and gasp. The image morphs into something similar, but the orange eyes strike my core, a shiver running up my spine as I spot what is in its unoccupied hand. His arm goes back and he says "A mistake has been made, human. Now, you shall suffer for your sins." Plunging the energy sword into my gut as he finishes. Blood floods my mouth and runs down my chin. My body starts to grow cold, and I fight for breath. My vision goes black once again, but the pain does not subside.

I choked on air and clenched where the sword had struck me. My eyes whip around; making sure no one was in the room with me. Taking a struggled breath, I turn and let my legs dangle over the edge. Wincing as pain lingers in my body, most of it coming from my shoulder.

"What did it mean?" I breathed out. "Will I die because I helped that elite…?" My stomach answered with another spasm of pain and I wince. I brush the area where the blade had dug into my flesh, my skin burning. I shake my head, I must be getting crazy. Glancing at the clock that read 4 am, I force myself to my feet anyways. A walk couldn't kill me. Dressed in camouflaged shorts and a black tank top, I walk into the hallway, the door sliding shut behind with a soft swish. The only noise that could be heard in the dark hallways was my bare feet against the metal flooring. The floor was ice to the touch it seemed, but I shrugged it off, the cold only waking my tired body. After the nightmare, my mind was sharp, but my body needed this extra push.

My footsteps only grew quieter as my body woke up, stealth being an instinct now more than a skill. My eyes strained to see through the darkness, until I turned the corner and the star filled space filled my vision. Blinking, eyes adjusting to the new light, I looked around. No one was there thankfully. I used to be questioned about my old nightly trips around the base or ship, the people there getting used to it after a bit, but being on a new ship, a new surrounding was making me nervous. I didn't know my surroundings other than we were on a space craft, and I didn't like it. Walking close to the metal wall; staying clear away from the wall of see-through material. Being in space made me uneasy, if I had to escape, there was nothing but cold dark space to suck me in. On ground at least, there were numerous ways to get away. Walking down the hall, I looked around for some kind of sign or something to tell me where I was. No such luck as I turned the corner and was met yet again by a dark hall. I inwardly sighed, not too thrilled about being blind in unknown territory, and then made my way through the area. Occasionally turning right or left, I came to an abundant stop as realization hit me home. I forgot where my room was, and I had no way of getting back without either asking for directions (which, at 4 in the morning, no one should really be up, and I really didn't want to find out if the ships inhabitants were really human or not) or getting further lost by trying to go back and retrace my steps.

Weighing my options, I continued on, the situation being pointless anyway I look at it. Passing locked doors and staying clear of unlocked ones, I make my way through the darkness blindly. Muffled sounds of snoring reach my ears and I give a soft chuckle. I have no idea how people can sleep with that noise, although they must all be tired enough to ignore it. If so… I wonder how they would be tired enough to ignore and fall asleep to that racket. I brush the thought aside, never pausing my walk. Turning a corner, I pause. A chill runs up my spine, making the hairs on my neck rise. It feels like something is watching me in the darkness. I turn my head this way and that, but my eyes cannot see in the darkness. At times like these, I wish I was an elite or a Spartan, they can see in the dark easily; elites with their eyes alone, and Spartans with the help of their HUDs. Although, I'm sure they could see just fine in the dark without it.

My eyes still slowly searched my surroundings, my ears straining to hear even the slightest sound other than the sound of sleep from the nearby rooms. Minutes that felt like hours passed before I decided it was nothing. I willed the hair on my neck to lie flat before my muscles eased slightly, making me realize I was standing in a defensive pose the whole time. I blinked, then shook my head in my hand. I must be losing it. Waking up on a ship is bad enough, but waking up wounded and on the edge is even worse. I bet that nightmare is affecting me more than I predicted. "Damn nightmare, damn space, damn darkness, damn insomnia." I muttered under my breath.

I continued down the hallway after another moment, turning the corner at the end, only to find myself in a room, surrounded by the see-through material form earlier. Nothing, not even the floor was visible underneath my feet; just space. I gazed in awe, my unease from earlier forgotten. Distant planets and stars were scattered everywhere. The ship was going passed a planet closer than the others, the color being a lush green for the land, purples and blues for the water. I started to walk forwards, in a trance as I took in my surroundings. It felt great, just me and the stars and planets, and since I forgot that the doorway was the only indication was that I was still in a breathable environment, I would've believed that I was just floating in space, alone. The sensation was amazing. That is, until I ran into something and blacked out. Great.

(?)

I walked down the darkened hall, used to these kinds of hours. I, along with my brothers and sisters, were trained to be ready at all times, now being on a ship, sleeping hours generally got mixed up for me. Insomnia didn't help my case either, so I'm stuck walking around the inactive UNSC ship, patrolling the halls and the decks just to do something. I looked out a window and gave a small scowl. Space isn't my territory, especially if we were to go into battle. Ground battles are more my style, it's easier to eliminate your enemy.

Thud… Thud… Thud… was the only noise in the corridor, along with the near silent noises my suit made when moved. My movements froze, my eyes scanning the darkness ahead of me, then looked down to the scanner inside my HUD. A red dot appeared on the radar, drawing close towards my position. I glided to a slight dip in the wall, perfect for my body's width and stood there. My HUD's night vision turned on, its battery showing it was low and needed to be charged. I should tell Captain Schmed that next time I see him and see what we can do. The red dot drew closer, my fists raising, not needing the magnum in its holder on my thigh. I was about to spring when it came into view, just barely catching myself before I could kill the being. A girl stood a mere six inches from me, pausing and looking around. Her muscles tensed as she tried to surpass a shiver. Her eyes darted around before slowly surveying her surroundings. Her uneven cut hair swaying with her head as she turned it, looking this way and that. As she searched for the source of the chill that ran through her, I surveyed her, looking for something to tell of her name or rank. Nothing, her black wife beater shirt hung on her frame as her baggy camouflaged shorts seemed to be the only thing that gave me the impression she was in the military, besides the fact that she was standing on a war ship. Although, she could be one of the civilian survivors we rescued from the last mission. I considered the thought for a moment before tossing it away, noting the defensive position she took up. That's when I noted the damage her body has taken. Bandages covered the skin on her arms and legs, leaving her fingers and toes showing. Bandages were seen on her neck, no doubt wrapped around her torso, and a band aid on her forehead. Her left arm was in a sling, blood soaked bandages on the same shoulder.

Minutes passed before her muscles stopped eased reluctantly, another minute passed before she moved again. Taking her head into a hand, she shook it; muttering "damn" this and that. She started walking again after a moment and continued down the hall I came from. After a moment of keeping her on the radar, I quietly followed her retreating form. Why am I following her? Oh yeah, nothing better to do. Either this, or wondering around dull hallways watching out for any hidden enemies. Again.

I know I should have done the latter, but it gets boring after a while. A change is in order, for one night at least. I turn the corner after her and scooted back, peering around the corner. She stood in the room, nothing but space could be seen. Nothing on the ship showed, except if you looked back towards the doorway. Her body language told me she was shocked from the sudden difference of scenery. She looked around, her face showing awe. I'm confused, how can someone be awed by space so easily? Enemies could be lurking around in the darkness any minute of the day, and yet she's awed by it? I watched her for a few more moments, before she started walking more into the room. Then, she ran into the wall and passed out. Well that was… odd.

I then sighed, walking over and picking up her body. Hmm… light. Malnourished? I shook the thought away and exited the observing room, carrying her to the infirmary.