//------------------------------// // Chapter 4 // Story: For Your Eyes Only // by Indie Cred //------------------------------// We’d been in the forest for three days before Dr. Opal decided it was time to move. She called me into the laboratory tent, and said “Alright. We’ve sat on our hooves for long enough. We’ll be making our way to the ruins in an hour or so.” “So you’re really going to go through with this, are you?” I replied. “As I stated, Captain, this is why we’re here.” Venom in her tone. “Leave three of your troops here to guard the camp, the rest will come with us.” “And I suppose you’ll have your crew fill the night shift?” I said, staring back at her. “We’ll worry about that when the time comes. I expect we will have plenty to carry back here, and I don’t want to have to leave anything behind.” She said, returning my gaze with a look made of ice. “You know, I liked you a lot more when you weren’t a bitch.” I said, walking out the door. “FALL IN!” I called out, and the remaining ten plus the Sergeant fell in in front of me. “Alright, today’s the day. PFC Quill, you and Privates Shore and Blooms will stay here to keep an eye on the camp. Anything noticed will be transcribed in the watch log. Understood?” PFC Quill straightened up and replied “Yes sir!” “Good. Take your team and start on the watch.” I waited until they had left before I continued. “The rest of you will be joining the Sergeant and myself. We will be accompanying the science team to the nearby ruins where we will set up a security perimeter and assist them in moving artifacts back to the camp.” The seven still remaining in front of me grew nervous. Glass, Speedy, and Ironside became noticeably paler. “I understand the apprehension, but the faster we get this done, the faster we get the hell out of here. That means no dragging your hooves, no complaining, and no ducking out of work.” “Sir, yes sir.” They replied. “Alright. We leave in twenty. Make sure your weapons are at the ready.” I stepped away, gesturing the Sergeant to follow. “I know, Sergeant. I don’t like it either, but they’ve got me in a tight spot here. Orders say the doc’s in charge.” “I know sir. I’m hoping seeing Twigs’ body will change her mind.” “I hope to Celestia it does, Sergeant. Because if it doesn’t, it’s sure going to change the troops minds…” As the troops had affixed their leg-blades and tucked their mouth blades into their sheathes, the Sergeant walked through the ranks, inspecting. I made my way to the lab tent, not entirely looking forward to my next conversation with the good doctor. “Alright, doc. The troops are ready to go. Let’s get a move on.” I called in, and stepped back from the door. Opal poked her head out of the tent flap, a sly smile on her face. “Why, Captain! And here I thought you didn’t want to go at all.” “Look, the sooner we get this over with, the better. Let’s get going before those kids lose their nerve.” “We’ll be out in just a moment.” She called, retreating back into the tent. At least she wasn’t being a total bitch at the time. We left shortly after, Sergeant Flathoof leading the way. About twenty minutes later, we found ourselves in a large clearing. A strange smooth stone structure was poking its way out of the ground at a slight angle, as if it had been dropped from a great height and had landed there. I quickly noticed the horrid smell of decay in the area and glanced around to find what was making it. A moment later, I found the source. The mangled body of Private Twigs lay out in the open off to the left of the pathway. As the Sergeant had said, there were great chunks missing from the body, his eyes still open. Even in the advanced state of decay, the fear in his face was apparent. I walked over to PFC Glass, and opened his saddlebag, pulling out a small tarp. I unfolded it and placed it over the deceased Private’s body. I started to walk away, then returned to take his tags, placing them in my breast pocket and returning to the group. Private Speedy began to weep softly. “Alright doc, what now?” I called back to Opal. She walked to the head of the group and said “Now, we look for an entrance.” I turned to face the troops. “Alright. You heard the lady, we search for an entrance. PFC Glass, you’ll take Twitch and Starch. Ironside, you and Speedy are a team. The Sergeant and I will continue together. If anyone finds something, you are not to approach. Contact myself or the Sergeant immediately. Dismissed!” The two teams set off looking around the building, Speedy still shaking a little, Ironside placing a hoof on her back as they walked. I turned to the Sergeant and said “Well, shall we?’ As we approached the structure, I realized that what appeared to be smooth stone was actually pitted, and in some areas seemed scorched. I ran a hoof over the strange material, finding it to be coarse and grainy, almost like hardened sand. As we made our way around the odd ruin, I found myself somewhat entranced by the peculiarity of it. It was so completely perfect in its symmetry. Like nothing I’d ever seen. There didn’t seem to be any holes or doors anywhere on it. Just solid stone, or whatever that stuff was. We had nearly completed a lap of the building when Speedy and Ironside ran over to us shouting “We found something!” “Lead the way!” I yelled, and the Sergeant and I followed them. They led around the corner to the middle of the northern side of the structure, facing directly away from our path. They stopped and pointed down at the ground. I noticed what appeared to be the top of a solid metal door, almost completely buried under the earth. “Go get the others, then get the doctor over here. I’m sure she’ll be pleased.” The two Privates ran off in search of the other team, leaving the Sergeant and I alone with the door. “What do you thing, Flathoof?” I asked. “Can’t tell yet, sir. I suppose we’ll have to dig it out first.” “I was afraid of that…” I said, sighing. The two patrols ran back to our location, panting with exertion. “The… Doctor will be here… Momentarily, sir…” Ironside gasped. “Good. Take a break everyone. We’ll have plenty more work for you soon enough.”