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Chapter 7 - The Cradle

The pressure on the sides of his skull had become a dull and persistent drone that triggered delirium which had stirred him from the quietness of his sleep. Kvaz had presumed his eyes open when he was greeted with a certain brightness that startled him, but his body, still asleep, did not budge. He felt paralyzed and cold, weakly lifting his fingers up to touch the slick, curved surface that incased him, dropping his hand and barely opening his eyes. His focus was confused as he tried to make sense of where he was; another hard shiver made his skin crawl, and he groaned out, tapping his fingers at the glass harder and harder, until someone would notice.

Xal had awoken from the soft taps and pushed him-self forcefully onto his legs, rushing to Kvaz's side and released the protective tubing over him. Kvaz's breath trembled as he groaned, his body shuddering harder from the pressure on his skull. The air was clean but chilling, and he felt the tips of his feet and fingers go numb from the temperature; he struggled to speak and jerked when a pair of hands touched his arm.

"Commander it is me, Xal; just relax." Xal grabbed his forearm and assured him he was ok, but the male's speech was incoherent, only remarking how cold he was, and trembling constantly.

"I-I am cold." Kvaz muttered weakly. The room felt like a freezer, his toes and fingers were numb.

Xal looked around the room quickly for some kind of device to cover him, but realized he would have to travel from the room. He dimmed the lights and left quickly; Kvaz was beyond him-self with confusion, did not know how much time transpired before he heard the comforting voice again. The heat that grew over his body was slow and gradual, it would be half an hour before he realized he had been covered by something, and Xal's voice was back in his ears.

He looks so weak--I really hope that Elsv could have been here to help me. I--do not know what to do. Xal felt hopeless as the Sangheili weakly made noises in his sleep and fidgeted, and he waited anxiously for if he would wake up; it had been two hours since Kvaz was conscious. The Sangheili shifted his legs and attempted to open his eyes now that the lights had darkened, and he looked over to see the bright yellow eyes of his friend watching him intently. Kvaz looked over the half burned feather crest and heavily damaged armor before closed his eyes and drifting in and out of his dreams once more. Xal remained his sentry until Kvaz would finally come to consciousness from hunger and dehydration, and forced him-self up onto his elbows.

He rolled his head back and groaned out loud before hunching forwards with his face in his palms, "God dammit--what did he do to me?"

Xal was curled up on a metal bench and Kvaz watched him curiously, sliding his feet off onto the cold floor and kept him-self up, sucking in a deep breath and grunted as he stood up. He carried the blanket with him and draped it over the Kig-yar, grabbing the pack from the floor and dug out food. He paced him-self the best he could, downing water ravenously first, and found Mut'nemlup, a personal favorite which he hungrily poured into his mouth from the silver packaging. He salivated as he consumed the meal quickly and cleaned his mandibles off with his arm, pushing him-self up onto his feet and looking around the sterile room. The rooms were always stark--vacant save for the one or two surgical pods present, but he oft did not spend time observing what they did. The doctors would gather around their pods, or other strange devices, some of them so far beyond his understanding he could only describe them as diabolic, even if they were operating on the Flood.

It did not hinder them from experimenting on other things--this is the perdition.

"Still--even so, my brothers have suffered unnecessarily for the atrocities you all committed." Kvaz muttered quietly, stepping to the wall where the metal pan concealed them from the eyes outside. He placed his ear to the wall and listened quietly for their muttering, hearing the faint whispers that had haunted him. It was not as loud as it was before--the buzz in his head was quieter now and he enjoyed the silence that came from the halls. It made him smile, and he was quick to damn them before the crackling of white noise over his gauntlet quickly took his attention from the wall.

"Come in--come in!" A deep voice demanded urgently, "I heard voices--if one of you are not dead, then please. . ."

"Who are you!" Kvaz crudely interjected "How did you get my frequency? Tell me now before I come to find you!"

"This is Anfi Kri'davee, of The Covenant Army. Who are you?"

Kvaz hesitated and cocked his eyebrow, spinning around from the wall and spoke directly into the microphone. "I am Commander Kvaz 'Alakavee, first and only son of Zeevu 'Alakavee and Commander of this Vessel."

The receiver was silent, save for the low breathing. "I cannot believe you are alive--Commander Kvaz! Do you know who I am?"

"Yes I know of you, you came aboard Popul Vuh four days ago." Kvaz answered unsurely, "And you know of me?"

"Of course I do, Commander! The most famous Ossoona of generations, you rose the 'Alakavee clan to its powerful reputation that it now holds!" Anfi sounded ecstatic now, and Kvaz admitted it made him feel proud to know his reputation existed, though he felt little of him-self anymore. Having failed to save those aboard he dismissed the excited elucidation and instructed Anfi to listen carefully.

Kvaz quietly continued. "Before we begin I have a question for you--why have I been unable to detect you?"

"I would ask you the same Commander: I have been aboard this ship for nearly four days--I have yet to encounter another survivor."

"There are none except my-self," He lied, looking over to Xal. "You were sent here to document, and extract, brother. Do you--realize the implications of your situation? Your ship has gone missing and there is a slim chance of escaping."

"Yes Commander--however, I did not intend for Z 'ba to attempt to kill me. I was able to escape after stabbing the bastard in the eyes. Where are you, Commander?"

"In hiding." Kvaz quickly answered again, "Where are you located?"

"I am in Spire three; I was attempting to access the communications board, and managed to send out a distress signal--those things have tried following me, but I have managed to avoid them thus far."

Kvaz laughed quietly, "Good luck with your summoning. They are not here to rescue you or anyone else--you were dead the moment you set foot aboard The Popul Vuh."

Anfi fell silent with a distress sigh and Kvaz could hear him quickly typing away at a console, and he felt pity for his brother--he was not overjoyed to hear another voice, he was beyond suspicious. "You mentioned betrayal--tell me what occurred, brother."

"Before the tram explosion that killed my brothers--Commander Z 'ba and my-self were--in a heated discussion, in the transition lobby."

Kvaz nodded briefly and narrowed his eyes, "And what caused such a fight that you had to stab him, Anfi? Insubordinate soldiers are tried by fire."

"Yes, I know Commander." Anfi replied quietly, "When we were fighting, he refused to leave until we found every scrap of evidence, and retrieved the artifact specified."

"And what was this artifact--I recall hearing similar discussions of a strange object. Some kind of--device used to amplify his influence. I do not know what it is."

"He hinted at something like a sepulcher--but that was all I had been told. We argued over when and what to do, then the explosion occurred."

Kvaz thought back to the situation and he seen neither of them present, however he decided that perhaps they had been out of sight or long gone when he arrived. Still he thought it selcouth they had been undetected for so long, and going with his gut he prodded for more answers from Anfi, who was greatly hesitant. He had been hiding for days and had barely eaten, and Kvaz instructed him from his location how to find his own source of nutrition.

"Commander, what will your orders be?" Anfi asked quietly, "Z 'ba is not dead--I believe he will attempt to secure the artifact, and decimate this ship."

"How would he intend to do so?" Kvaz asked quietly, "There are no self-destruct protocols on board, and there would be no secure means of destroying this ship."

"Ah I know sir, however, there are several Fusion Reactors, one at the base of every spire; he could easily over load them"

"Report back to me when you are done scavenging." Kvaz quickly commanded him, "We will discuss--how to get off of this ship, if possible, in two hours. Understood?"

"Yes--thank you, brother." Anfi gratefully assured him that they would find a way off, and mentioned bringing Z 'ba to trial for killing their brothers. "He will shed tears when he has to face his judgment for his betrayal to your kind!"

When the call had ended Kvaz sighed quietly and closed his eyes, walking to the left side of the room and looked at where a sliding door had been carefully obfuscated by metal plating. He tapped his claw over where a small, invisible button had been shown to him during his initial tour, and was greeted by a cleansing station. High metallic, dark steel walls lined with faucets and long translucent rods that provided intense UV lighting.

Kvaz lingered for a moment and looked it over, and heard a noise behind him, looking to see Xal had awoken. He greeted him kindly and kneeled down beside him; the Kig-yar yawned and too showed he was greatly exhausted, sitting upright with his arms in his lap.

"Who were you speaking to?" He immediately croaked out, giving Kvaz a cocked eyebrow, "What was his name?"

"Commander Anfi Kri'davee." Kvaz replied calmly.

"I thought you said that they were dead?" Xal prodded with a tone of annoyance, "How--?"

"I do not know, he did not tell me. He claims he, and Z 'ba have been alive all this time, separated after Z 'ba attempted to kill him, and everyone else. I was given only shallow information."

Xal sat up quickly and cast the Commander a wide eyed expression, "I--I did not expect you to be up so quickly! How did Anfi manage to find you now?"

Kvaz laughed quietly and shrugged his shoulders before standing, "Seems he has been hiding in the Communication's Bridge. He must have tried hundreds of signals until he found me; curious, is it not?"

Xal nodded unsurely, looking over the Sangheili slowly--he was acting different, strangely different. He was calmer, better expressed and his gaze --it was not as void and poignant as it was a day ago; Xal was worried at first that perhaps this would only be temporary. Seeing the Commander in full light was a new to him, Kvaz's eyes were a dark yellow, scanning the room constantly with a frown at his mandibles. He also stunk terrible, which Xal tried to ignore, even his own moschate flesh giving him a distressing odor that seemed to cling to the air around him.

"What will we do now?" Xal asked him, reaching into the bag to grab him-self food, looking to his right. "What is in there?"

"A facility where occupants of this deck could wash, and receive UV lighting treatment." Kvaz answered smoothly, rubbing at his temple with a grunt, "there are ten to each spire, roughly--I have not been in one in a very long time. It is disgusting."

Kvaz spun around to face Xal, who looked up from a bite into the bread like substance. "Xal--what did you do to me, in that pod?"

"I do not really know."

"You don't know?!" Kvaz exclaimed in shock and horror, "How can you operate on my--!"

"Commander please, calm down!" Xal quickly called over him, "Let me explain, please."

Xal quickly held up his hand to calm him down, explaining he was guided through an operation by a survivor of the Tram named Elsv, who had helped him get the Commander to this deck. Xal explained what the procedure had done, and that it had also removed the security chip as well; Kvaz was curious about this, and felt over his scalp slowly.

It indeed is gone--very clever Kig-yar, you took me off the grid. Haha--maybe that is why they are not pursuing me anymore! HA!

"Commander--you're smiling very widely." Xal confessed that it unnerved him, and Kvaz cast him a seriously glance and the Kig-yar worried if for a moment Kvaz was angry with him. Kvaz simply laughed it off and apologized for looking so gruesome, and Xal felt him-self laugh too, firs time it seemed to happen.

"I do feel different--crazy yes--you have to be to survive this place! However--it seems calmer now," Kvaz looked to Xal and then down, sighing quietly under his breath. "Before all of this I was not so deranged--arguing with a ship, I know you think that I am indeed far gone."

"No, I do not." Xal argued quickly, "I--have seen things here, when you are unconscious. Things that are beyond my understanding and more horrible than anything that I have experienced." Xal stood up now and gestured to Kvaz, "For all that you have survived, I think only highly of you, Commander."

Kvaz looked over at the Kig-yar and gave off a slight snort, moving to sit down on the bench beside of him, his gloomy expression now returning as he stared at the wall. "I was unable to stop an outbreak that no one predicted-- or even understands how it occurred. In the days that followed I had attempted to round up all survivors but I found--that most of my brothers were dead, even the children."

Kvaz held onto his head as he remembered the night that the dead child had caterwauled for hours upon hours, scratching at the door. He spoke quietly of this incident and all the nights afterwards--the restless sleep as he desperately tried to hide. The number of times he heard doors open and he would have to hide from them, not fight them--he could never bring him-self to killing what never seemed truly dead. It made his eyes glassy to think about it, and he pushed it out of his mind, wondering why this misery would creep up on him so viciously.

Xal leaned back and looked down, unsure as to what he could say or do. He thought back to Gat who would have held more answers or reasoning, and frowned deeply as well.

"Gat--was my one and only cousin, and member of my family. Our clan had over the years slowly been killed off--the women were remarried, and I lost most of my family. Gat stood by my side, which was--unusual, he was very loyal to me."

Kvaz looked over curiously, wiping his face quickly. Xal explained that Gat held all of his secrets about him, from his first missions to what he secretly spent his money on, which was trading for human goods, such as coffee. Kvaz admitted he had no one who really knew all of his secrets, except Tha, but he admitted that even though he hated Tha, he was the only closest friend he had, even if he held his own secrets against Kvaz.

"I do not think a true friend would--hold secrets against you." Xal admitted, "Gat did the same--he only did it to piss me off."

"Oh Tha knew it would piss me off. He said and did things because he was the most zealot believer I have ever met-- I never saw him die, he vanished during the influx."

"I--saw Gat." Xal quietly admitted, feeling his heart sink and stomach pull with tenterhooks to drag his heart lower. He could not block out the face easily, it haunted him--the way Gat looked at him, as if pleadingly for Xal to save him! Xal bit down hard and sucked in through his nose and grunted out loudly, sitting more up right. "I guess there is no one to tell my secrets too, when I get back home--there will be no one left."

"You were keen on your secrets too, I see." Kvaz admitted with a soft laugh, "They could not be so bad, you are a Kig-yar, what did you do?"

"I did not do anything," Xal admitted, "It is what I wanted to do. It was what caused me to originally be ostracized."

Kvaz cocked his eyebrow and looked over curiously now at him, "Tell me."

"What? No." Xal objected instantly with a heat of embarrassment, "That is nothing worth mentioning, to anyone, ever."

"Were you a cannibal?" Kvaz bravely inquired, "I know of some clans who--"

"HELL-NO." Xal loudly interrupted, looking at the Commander in shock and disgust, "I am not just some-- barbaric idiot like those filthy rats! I do not eat my own kind because I am too scared to make my living, or too stupid to cultivate!"

Xal hissed and breathed heavily, standing up and walking away from the Sangheili who merely watched him with raised brow, surprised to hear him suddenly become so angry. He laughed it off and Xal spun around to cast him a very angry glare, and Kvaz dismissed it, asking him then what could be worse than Cannibalism, if not him being a mass murderer?

Cocking his eyebrow Xal croaked with extreme annoyance and crossed his arms, "Tell me why you wish to know."

"It helps me think less about the death of my brothers." Kvaz replied in a deadpan manner, and Xal felt extreme guilt.

"That is--underhanded." Xal dropped his arms and looked at the Sangheili in disbelief, "Did you just say that with seriousness?"

"Yes, I did." Kvaz replied, "Now tell me your secret, I will not judge you, I promise."

Xal felt defeated and rolled his eyes, imagining that--if anything, Kvaz would chock it up to strange Kig-yar customs, or ignorance. He nodded and crossed his arms, looked the commander in the eyes intently, and spoke quickly and sternly as he stood in front of him now. Kvaz gave him a curious look, wondering what it might be and waited for Xal to speak, calmly keeping his hands together.

"I was at once--in a relationship with a male, which lasted two cycles. It was severed when he had died in combat; no one else knew of this but Gat, who was--oddly supportive. This kind of thing is looked down upon and if you wish to do the same then fine."

Kvaz's face made no gesture of surprise, nor did it crumble into a glower of disappointment or revile as Xal had originally felt from his own family. Instead the Commander nodded once and leaned back in the bench, giving the Kig-yar a curious look over, "Were you the husband, or the wife?"

"I--pardon me?"

"Were you--the husband--or the wife?" Kvaz asked sternly again.

"I-- that does not matter. You know this about me," Xal looked at him unsurely, "Are you going to judge me now, Commander?"

"No." Kvaz answered and stood up now, walking past him across the room, "Because it would be hypocritical of me to do so, Commander Xal."

"Hyp--" Xal's eyes widened and he spun around to look the Sangheili over in disbelief, "Do not play games with me, this knowledge you possess caused me extreme tension and isolation from where I came from!"

"You made the mistake of letting people know," Kvaz blatantly replied, looking over his shoulder at the Kig-yar, "You are the second and last person who will ever know this about me. It is--strange to meet another, like me. You know our customs are strict, and violations are met with very strict punishment."

"I know--but how have you survived so far, staying a bachelor?" Xal was struck with surprise by this statement and quickly rushed to the Commander to look at him in the eyes again, "How?"

"Because my anger repelled many away who would have been potential suitors." Kvaz admitted quietly, crossing his arms as well as he looked at the wall, "I lived in fear of being discovered and it triggered resentment. Tha--knew, but he held it against me--I doubt he respected me because of this knowledge."

"How did he know?" Xal asked slowly, "Was he your--?"

Kvaz shrugged and shook his head, "I do not know how he knew--perhaps something I said or did. However--he never told anyone, he knew I would kill him if he did; he was not my lover, no one has ever been."

Xal nodded briefly and laughed a little quietly out of nervousness, admitting it was quite a shock to know this, and explained he him-self disliked the Sangheili initially, until he met Elsv, the other survivor. They were both silent for a few minutes, Kvaz rapidly running thoughts through his head, staring blankly at the wall.

So now he knows--thank you for not hating me as well, Xal. Strange to have met another like me, not feeling as alone is unusual. Kvaz looked down at the Kig-yar for a moment, he is truly--the most interesting individual I have ever met.

Xal looked up to Kvaz and they stared at each other silently for a few moments before looking away, and Xal felt sick to his stomach with fretfulness and discomfiture. After some time Kvaz would then reach over and touch the Kig-yar apprehensively on the head and Xal jerked for a moment, looking up at him with wide eyes, as the hand rested over his feather crest. Kvaz brushed his hand over it gently, his own heart had become unsteady and he too felt that sickening tug of curiosity, and rapid visualization that he had forgotten were possible. When he removed his hand it felt a strange heat, the sensation of touching him again, as Kvaz had done so when the Kig-yar lay in his room when he entertained the idea he was but a hallucination.

He--is so unique--I regret ever saying he should not have survived.

The tension in the air was extremely unpleasant and both walked away from it, rapidly mulling over the thoughts and discussion. There was too much to process originally, besides escaping, surviving, and the ghosts--now these secrets about each other were known, but it was mutual. Xal knew he could trust Kvaz at least even more, and Kvaz felt rejuvenation at knowing Xal did not think him insane nor less of a man; he had since spent so long, compensating for this by being the most superior soldier he could be.

"A distress beacon was sent out: I do not expect rescue, in the mean time, you and I must decide how we intend to escape, furthermore--to where, is another question." Kvaz looked over his shoulder to Xal, "Do you have a possible plan?"

"Elsv said he was attempting to reactive the tractors to corral our ship from space, if he can locate it." Xal replied promptly, "After that--we should report what has happened."

"No." Kvaz replied immediately, turning to face Xal. "They intended for us to die here, and I do not trust Anfi, or anyone but you. We will find our own way off of here after securing the evidence of what took place--and provide it to those who would understand it." He looked around at the walls and frowned, "This--ship will make it hard to escape. You cannot understand what I mean, but it will try to kill us harder than ever before."

Xal had no reason to argue, remembering that horrible voice he had heard, and agreed to this, and would tell Elsv this when they next talked. After this Kvaz walked by Xal and then looked into the adjacent room and then to the Kig-yar, "I think we should clean our-selves before we come into contact with anyone else. The air purification system is not as optimal in some areas."

Xal twitched at hearing this, "You have--a strange sense of humor. I appreciate your guilt trips, Commander."

Kvaz chuckled briefly, "Yes--I am not very good with jokes, never have been."

? ? ?

"He is recovering well? That is great news! I am glad to that I could help save him, my friend!"

"You're far too knowledgeable of things Elsv, you make me envious." Xal laughed a little quietly, "Have you managed our ship?"

"No I have not, but I did find something interesting--aboard the main body, there are ships, large enough for two. I found them hidden under the floor in a secret stone chamber--it was amazing, you should have seen it!"

"This is great!" Xal exclaimed, "About Anfi--do you think we can trust him?"

"I am not certain--you said he did not even mention me to Kvaz?"

"No, he did not," Xal admitted, "I told Kvaz about you."

Elsv was quiet and hummed something to him-self, then disregarded it. "I'll continue to look for Z 'ba instead--Kvaz wants evidence of what took place, I'll help you out the best I can, until then--I will be radio silent, to avoid Anfi. Relay to me any messages you need."

Xal sat back against the bench as Kvaz emerged from the room, having finished drying off and rested his armor aside, wearing only his suit. The two had spoken only quietly since the discussion, avoiding eye contact occasionally, and when Kvaz sat beside Xal they did not speak for a few moments. Xal wondered what he was thinking--and he him-self found his thoughts thinking about how much he owed the Commander, and what would happen after he had left this place.

Returning home--alone. I never expected to care this much--I am such an idiot. I should have never told Gat to come here--never allowed him.

"What is wrong, Commander Xal?" Kvaz asked him.

"I am thinking--if I had not let Gat come with me, then I would not return home alone--without him. He would be alive." Xal closed his eyes and looked down at the floor and shook his head, speaking under his breath, "I am such an idiot."

Kvaz nodded, "If--I had been more attentive, and investigated the odd incidents--I would have possibly been able to prevent all of this. This is on my shoulders; I will never be able to repent for this failure--or the death of your cousin."

"That is not true. I have seen things here that are--unexplainable." Xal looked over to the Sangheili, "Without you, I would have been dead. Do not hate your-self because of things you cannot control."

"That is very philosophical of you," Kvaz replied, "Not expected either."

Xal laughed and nodded, "I have been influenced by Elsv, I would like for you to meet him soon."

Kvaz smiled at Xal and nodded, and then two looked on at the white wall in silence. The noise outside of the room had begun to grow and the creatures made more whispers, and footsteps about than usual; it did not bother them as heavily, this time around. Finally when Kvaz had grown weary of the noise, he informed Xal they would move when they monsters had ceased making noise, as there were no ventilation ducts to escape through. Xal decided he would help create a diversion, since he was smaller, and it would be easier for them, telling the story of how he had done so yesterday.

There will be much to do--the infested areas are too toxic to pass through even the ventilation ducts. This Elsv--Xal trusts him, and he aided in my survival too. We'll see what happens.

"What do we do now, Commander?" Xal began, "Are there other rooms we can move to?"

"None that I am aware of." Kvaz admitted, "Until the damned calm down, we will have to wait, Xal. Until then--can I ask you something?"

"Yes--what is it?"

"What do you intend to do, after all of this?" Kvaz turned to look at him, "Where will you go? Will you join the Separatists, or simply join another regiment?"

"I--do not know. I have not thought so far ahead yet. What will you do?"

"I am unsure as well--I am held in high regard, but the façade will surely crumble in time. If The Prophets intended for us to die here, wherein I know they intended--I cannot return without fear I will be assassinated."

"Well then--wherever you chose to go, I believe I should accompany you. No one else may tolerate you as I do," Xal bravely proposed, to which Kvaz merely laughed and nodded, and added that few Kig-yar were so brave, and determined as he. Kvaz reached over, gently brushing his hand over Xal's snout and head, and Xal tightened up slightly as he was touched. When their eyes met once more, Xal cleared his throat to find something to say, croaking out a question to the Commander, who looked back at him silently.

"If--you have such low standards--" Kvaz began with a slight laugh, but was stopped by Xal who grabbed his arm.

"Commander please," Xal interrupted with a serious tone, "I--my disposition with you is pragmatic. I trust you, and I doubt I will ever have another chance."

The Sangheili felt a twist in his chest at the words, while he had not heard them from such a small creature before--it was hearing them now, differently. He brought his arm around the Kig-yar and held him closer and met his face at the cheek, softly brushing against him. They both felt superlative delight and their arms wrapped around the other's body; Kvaz's breathing grew intense and hard, as he leaned over Xal, easing him onto his back. For a moment they hesitated, and Xal found his hands brushing over the Commander's thick chest, and pulled him close by his suit, and their lips touched. The kiss was initially strange and awkward, the hot breath and tongues touched curiously, and then more passionately as their bodies settled into the natural pulse of movement.

"Xal," Kvaz spoke low and in a deeply breathy tone, "I have never before done this and I do not wish to harm you."

The Kig-yar turned his eyes to the Sangheili's and met the intense stare, looking into them weakly as he was overcome by the ecstasy. He reached for the Sangheili's thick shoulders and squeezed them tightly; assuring the Commander he would be more than capable of _handling_him. Kvaz informed him they would not be able to, not now at least--and it felt painful almost to have to deny the intoxicating urges. Xal clenched tightly around the Sangheili and held onto him tightly, their bodies fully touching as Kvaz sorted a position which aligned their hips, and they grinded into one another.

"Commander," Xal said with a shaking, and sibilant voice, "My desire is ridiculously overwhelming for you."

Kvaz laughed lowly and flexed his hips into the Kig-yar more firmly, who moaned as he felt the brobdingnagian member grinding into his own pelvis. Truly he felt intimidated by its size, but he was suddenly overcome by greed of intense sexual fervor and grasped to feel it through the suit. Kvaz's hips flexed and the Kig-yar's hands felt over the erect appendage, and he felt him-self beginning to pant, looking to see the pleasure in Kvaz's face, which he enjoyed.

"Xal," Kvaz growled low as he dragged his mandibles over the neck of his new lover and wrapped his arms under the Kig-yar, "Will you take my name?"

The Kig-yar released Kvaz's member unwillingly and closed his eyes as the mandibles and tongue dragged over his neck, gripping at Kvaz's hips now, and feeling over his muscular backside at every muscle he could each. He said he would, his life was saved, and owed to Kvaz, and he knew he would not want anyone else, for they would never meet the standards. The Sangheili laughed at this and thanked him for his compliments and promised that he would be the best husband that he could be, when they escaped. After finally calming their bodies down from the suffocating desires they shared an intimate embrace aboard the surgical pod, Xal laying on his side and clutching onto Kvaz's body. Occasionally their hands would curiously drag over and touch one another, thrusting and moving with low growls, and promises of the delights that they would share together in the future.

Scrape--scrape--scrape

"Seems they want our attention," Kvaz muttered lowly, resting his head back to look at the roof. Xal had relaxed his ambitious hands and the two held onto each other peacefully, after an hour of rest Kvaz decided it would be time for them to try to leave this area.

"Rendezvous with Elsv; we will journey to the area where I know most experiments were conducted on this spire." Kvaz moved to sit up and Xal followed suit, still keeping their bodies close to one another and shared a smile to one another.

"Where will we be going, then?"

"We're currently in the middle of this spire: we'll need to reach the upper levels, and from there--I'll show you what I discovered, by accident.

They dressed completely and prepared them-selves, Xal contacted Elsv who was silent, but he informed nevertheless of his agenda with Kvaz. The lights were shut off and Kvaz slowly opened up the protective gate over the glass, stepping back as he saw the shivering, pallid bodies of his brothers. He stared at their disfiguration and decay, the lifelessly hanging mandibles and disorganized speech--a whispered message of help, which he had come to despise more than he did anything else. As he stared, Xal touched his hand to distract him, and the two set into motion the next objective to get their attention.

There are too many to avoid--we'll need to funnel them into a location, Xal thought to him-self. "Commander--how should we distract them?"

"We'll see--down there--see where the damage in the floor is?" Kvaz pointed through the window, "That will lead to the floor below--at certain points I recall explosions, from artillery."

"Then we should find a way to get them down there--let me do it." Xal suggest, "I'll lure them to it, when I do Commander you can escape to the elevator, and I will follow."

"Very well. What do you intend to do, Xal?" Kvaz looked at him curiously, but Xal had all ready begun to crawl underneath of the door into the dark hall. He quickly moved up the piping on the side of the wall, and Kvaz watched him crawl into a ventilation duct, crossing his arms and waiting. The creatures began to stir restlessly as Xal moved down the hall to where a gaping hole created from exploded pipes.

What in the hell does he intend to do--it should be interesting to see.

Xal slipped from duct and dangled over the piping, looking around as he hung from his arms. He dropped down and slipped into the dark space below, and then suddenly began to make loud howling, which shocked Kvaz who immediately feared the worst!

"WHAT IS GOING ON! SOMEONE, PLEASE OPEN THE DOORS!"

"HELP ME; GODS NO PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ME OUT HERE!"

"AAAARGH! GET OFF ME, YOU BASTARD! STOP IT, SOMEONE, HELP!"

Kvaz grimaced as he heard the screams beginning to fill the halls, loud, new cries of desperation and sobs of hysterical volume; the creatures rushed towards the center of the room and fell through. He watches as they fought for the space to move through the whole, or rushed down through the stairwell near the direction where they funneled into. Grasping the pack over his shoulders he slipped out of the room now he rushed down the hall to see his kin were thrashing and running through the hall underneath, and before he could call out for him, Xal called to him from down the hall where the Elevator was. Kvaz rushed across the floor to greet Xal who was caught his breath and laughed with him, remarking that it was scary how fast they found him, and how loud they were!

Kvaz rushed into the elevator and snapped his fingers to press a button on the console instantly, and the doors shut as the compartment rumbled, carrying them upwards to their next location. When a few moments had passed and they were ready to begin their next movements they were stopped when that silent voice which had haunted Xal made it-self known again.

. . .