In the dead of night, when every head clouded with sweet slumber and dreams, one mind silently traveled the halls. With light feet and keeping to the shadows, the lone soul snuck through the space ship maintenance tunnels. A strange eyepiece covering one eye, no weapon visible, hands forcefully relaxed from the wanted tension.

I peered around the corner to the science wing, ears straining for any and all sounds. After a few paranoid minutes, I moved. I kept low, stayed absolutely silent, keeping to the shadows in the dim florescence light. My mind raced, the little annoying voice in my head yelling full-out in one ear as I managed to focus my attention on hearing with the other.

WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?

Let me say just one thing. Ow…!

After what felt like hours; I finally made it to the same observation room where the elite was. Again- was.

I cursed under my breath, the annoying voice silent in triumph as I thought of where someone that big could be held. Then it hit me and I couldn't help but smack my forehead with a hand. I flung my arms out, palms up, in exasperation.

Stupid!

After another 20 minutes, I was sneaking around the corner of the indestructible holding cells. Conveniently, it was right next to the science wing. Why? So the scientists could get their rare test subjects to the lab quickly with less chance of them escaping; even when they're drugged. I looked down the short hall, one side filled with empty cells while the other side had bulletin boards packed with pieces of useless information. My eyes drifted to the only cell occupied, a… 'slight' chubby guard sleeping across the room in a chair with his feet on the desk in front of him. I quickly checked for any cameras, seeing one before each cell but not towards me. I slid my back to the wall, pressing my body full flushed to it as I quietly crept towards the end of the hall. Reaching the edge of the shadows by the wall, thanks to the lamp on the desk, I took out my old camera, stepped up into the potted plant next to me, and brought the ancient camera up next to the still security camera. Pressing the button, the flash didn't go off, being broken long ago after falling off the table back home. I brought the camera back down to me, taking the photo when it came out. Fanning it until the image was clear; I held it just away from the lens sighting, before quickly slipping it before the lens. Waiting for an alarm that's not going to sound, I hopped off the plant pot, putting the camera away and crouching. Smirking and standing straight, I pause, face paling.

"Um… Hi?" I waved a hand as I whispered. Black eyes just watched me, silent and still. I crouched again when I regained my courage, reaching over and grabbing the pass key laying on the edge of the desk, just waiting to be taken.

I sneaked over to the cell door, slipping the card key into the slot, and gently sliding the door open. I flinched when the door gave a groan that seemed to scream in the stillness. I turned to grab something, only to jump when a low, grave voice echoed in the darkness.

"What are you… doing… female?"

My head snapped back to the darkness, finding two glittering black eyes peering at me from the back of the room.

I didn't answer. Turning back to my pant leg, I kneeled to get something out of the pocket. An airy heave made me look right back up, watching as a giant form stood up, a four fingered hand pressing against the wall for support, only for it to slump back down on the small bed.

"Don't move." I ordered, slipping the item out of my pocket and cocking it.

Silence filled the air after the click sounded. I looked back up, only to see grave eyes staring at me.

"You're here to… finish me… aren't you?" My eyes widened in realization at how the situation looked to someone else. I stood up quickly, hardly surprising the great alien with my quick movements. I didn't realize that my gun was pointed straight at where his torso would be in the dark until that moment. I pushed it down with my other hand, shaking my head.

"No no… I'm here to help you get out of here." I jerked my head towards the cell door. As I walked over, I saw that he was in chains. How he moved without making them clink, I have no idea. God they drug him with the strongest drug known to man and are still paranoid enough to restrain his movements? Damn they need a hobby… Before I got within five feet, he gently scooted away from me. I held up my hands, grip loose on the gun. He stared at me for a long moment; before I saw his eyes move up and down, telling me that he had nodded.

I shifted closer, slower this time until I was right next to him. I stuffed my free hand in my pocket, pocketing my gun in my back pocket before bringing forth what looked like a small strange metal object. I held it up, looking into the black orbs that somehow managed to shine in the darkness.

"Do you trust me?" I said softly, but completely serious.

"I don't see any other human trying to break me out of here."

"Huh, funny." I leaned back, hand on my hip as a smirk spread across my face. "I didn't know that elites had any humor."

"You'd be surprised, female; we Sangheili have a very good sense of humor."

I smiled before kneeling on my knee before him, holding out a hand. I felt something cold set in my hand. Flipping the cap off the metal object, it lit up the room with a flare. I brought the mini torch close to the metal clasp, holding it close but not too close as it began doing its magic.

After another ten minutes, the el- Sangheili was sitting on his small bed, (more like a chair for him), rubbing his wrists and neck.

I held out my hand, standing up. After a moment, he hesitantly grabbed my hand before I helped him stand.

Holy shit was he tall. I had to crank my neck back in order to see his head when he stood next to me. He could've used my head as an armrest if he wanted to. He had to be four feet taller than my 5'4" height.

I gently put his arm over my shoulders, feeling him immediately put some of his weight on me. I barely managed to keep from stumbling when he suddenly did that and straightened my spine, supporting his weight better. I rolled my eyes, shaking my head when I felt his body shake.

"Come on, I'm here to help so let me help." I almost regretted letting the words slip out of my mouth when he let go. When I say that he let go, he let go. I clenched my jaw when the weight intensified tenfold it felt like, letting out a grunt. As he hung his head, he answered my silent question.

"Adult male Sangheili usually weigh about 320 pounds in human standards."

I nodded before getting my gun out, putting my other hand on his wrist, only to have both of us recoil. Him moving his head away, his… -mandibles were they? - clenching with a click as my hand shot off his wrist the moment I touched it. I moved closer to his torso so I could twist my head to get a better look. I gently grabbed his hand, turning it over as I looked at his wrist in the dim light. The light shimmer caught my attention, alarms going off in my head.

"You struggled." It wasn't a question; the raw evidence was right in front of my face.

"Yes. But these" he held up his other hand, it glittering the same way as the one in my hand. "Are from the burning restraints they put on me while in that… torture room." I looked up at him.

"They put what on you? Oh that Irwin creep is going to get it…" I glowered.

"Who?"

"You're his "project"; he's the one who practically jumped at the chance to run dangerous tests on you, in attempts to find something to help exterminate your buddies." I glared at the ground, quietly snarling at the early memory of that creep and when I saw this elite through the window. When I snapped out of it, I saw him baring his teeth himself as his black eyes glowed in the dark. Just when he was about to unclench his mandibles, I interrupted him before he could talk.

"If you're going to say that you're going to kill him, get in line because there are a lot of people who hates that jackass's guts." I shrugged his arm over my shoulder more, my arm wrapping around his waist to help support him more. "Come on, we have to get moving before someone spots us."

Twenty-five minutes later, we were slowly making our way down the hall. I kept look out for any cameras and people, while the elite just worked on staying awake. During that time, it had been absolute silence. I decided to end the silence, since we were close enough to my courters so, if we had to, we could run to my door before anyone saw us. That is, if four jaws didn't pass out on me before then.

"How banged up are ya?" I asked; my voice unusually soft and quiet- solemn.

"Excuse me?" He couldn't move his head towards me, so he just used his eyes.

"I mean… how injured are you?" I corrected myself, my voice the same.

He didn't say anything. I took that as a bad sign.

"Think we could pick up the pace? We are only about five minutes away…"

"I…" His voice was weak, airy.

I shushed him, nodding as I fixing my grip on him after having it slip a little.

Silence laid like a blanket over us again as we walked, my socks silent (I left my shoes in my room, figuring the combat boots were too loud), as his hoofs made a quiet clink each time one hit the floor.

A door sliding open made us freeze. Slowly looking over our shoulders, we saw someone walking our way; and we were in plain sight.

A/N: Ok, that wasn't very long either. But since I updated again today, the next chapter will be longer. I just thought that that was a good cliffhanger. Same end note as last time. THANKS~