//------------------------------// // Chapter 12. // Story: Neutrality // by Debonair //------------------------------// Martin rolled through the door and fired at a strange creature and it fell limp. It must have been the only one because he heard no other movement. "Clear, but keep your wits about you!" He found a light switch and flipped it on. The generators took a moment to kick themselves into gear and bring the room to life. He went back to the body which had stayed motionless. What laid at his feet seemed familiar. He knelt down and once he saw it's face, his went white. "What's wrong?" Gilda ran in and found Martin on his knees and looking like he saw a ghost. "It's an X-od." (Ponyville.) Clarvious had found his way to Carousel Boutique the home of the one known as Rarity. He wanted to see how she had done in reforming his pack. He knocked on the door and it was promptly opened by his son Shepherd now, like the others, in human form. "Oh Mademoiselle are you home!" Clarvious shouted. "I'm in here," Rarity replied. Shepherd led his father to the back of the shop. "Good morning Monsieur Moonfang, I trust you slept well." "I did," "I couldn't bear to see them in such rags, I had to bring them all here for a brand new wardrobe. But I must admit your clothing seems splendid where ever did you attain it?" "My wife made it." "Where is she?" "Home," "Why isn't she here?" "She's pregnant." "Oh that's nice, it's good to have a family to go back to." "These things are cool," A small Unicorn filly slid down the banister and landed in Clarvious' arms. "Sorry." "Sweetie Belle how many times do I have to tell you." "If you slid down the banister, stick the landing with finesse." The filly groaned. "So who's this?" "This is Clarvious." "His mane is so soft and silky." Sweetie climbed over his broad shoulders and looked through his hair and back. "So is this an Earth Human?" "Earth Human?" Clarvious was a little confused. "Yeah three kinds Earth, Pegasus, and Unicorn, that's what we go by." Before Rarity could tell her that all humans were the same Clarvious answered. "Humans are a bit more complicated, Our Unicorns are called Magi, our Pegasi are called Angels, and our Earth Humans are just Humans." "Which one are you?" "I would say I'm a Magi." "Where's your horn?" "That depends on what your horn is." "It's what lets us use our magic." "Humans have vast amounts of energy stored inside them, but it takes special training to harness it. The eastern peoples used their minds and special movements to harness their magic called Chi. Using it to strengthen their muscles and extend it out through their arms and legs." He paused for a moment. "The ones from the south had herbs and potions that they created to heal and enhance their own bodies." "Like Zecora." "I however use a combination of what they called Tai Chi, and this." He shows Sweetie Belle his Lunar Diamond Pendent. "What is Knight?" Rarity asked. (Outside Carousel.) "Yes what am I?" I wanted to know what he thought of me. "An Angel," He replied. "You have the purest soul of any creature I have ever met." "That is nice of you to say." "But where are his wings?" The filly jumped off of his shoulders and onto mine. "If you're an Angel where are they?" She walked all over me strangely sticking to my clothing. "Nope not here," "Sweetie Belle, where did you learn to do that?" "Twilight gave me a book of basic spells, this one is a level two levitation spell. Nope can't find them anywhere." "That's because I'm hiding them." (VLA NM.) "You mean those things on the moon?" Gilda kept the blaster readied in case of an ambush. Her Gryphon instincts must have taken hold. "The X-od must have followed us back." (October 31 2185.) As I came to the realization a big flash of light blurred my vision. "Get him on the table stat we need to get this thing out of him before it takes over completely." I heard voices as I watched light after light pass by. "It's too late he needs to be quarantined." "What's going on?" I manage to ask. "No he's waking up, get him in there now." They threw me in a small room. "Contact the World Leaders, engage the Pangaea Contingency, we've screwed ourselves royally." "I'm the threat to the Galaxy. By bringing the X-od back to earth, It's all my fault." "Marty calm down, Crystal would've brought it to Earth anyway." "You don't know that." "I do, the years of loneliness would have gotten to her and she would've come back down anyway." "I hate to ruin the touching moment but this thing is still alive." Gilda flipped it over and it opened it's eyes. "Talk or I'll blow your brains out!" "Okay whadaya wanna know?" The creature held up his hands and asked with a Bronx accent. "What are you doing here?" "Stakin' out da scene makin' sure nobody's gonna try and figure out shit they shouldn't know." "Who do you work for!" Martin lunged at the X-od and pinned it up against the wall. "I don't know his name okay, I'm just the middle man." "How does he contact you?" "He jacks our brains man, implants instructions subconsciously, gives us payment incognito, he's a mystery. Nobody knows who he is." Martin grew angry and his eyes grew dark green. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you;" Martin placed his gun flush to it's head. "Don't do it Martin!" Gilda grabbed at his arm. "I'm gonna do it, I'm gonna blow his God damn head clean off." Martin's voice grew panicky, as his hand began shaking beads of sweat fell down his brow. "You're gonna die and no one's gonna care," The X-od's life began flashing before it's eyes, as the grip of reality finally caught him. This guy was crazy, and that somebody was going to die. Martin let out a nervous laugh, as he pulled tighter on the trigger. "I-I-I-I'll talk, just don't blow m-m-my brains out." The X-od stuttered. "Give me an answer, my trigger finger's starting to itch." "He goes by C. he deals through middlemen, backtracks, and leaves no paper trail." "How does that help me?" "Whatever's here he didn't want anyone to find it, he's gotta be afraid of something. Whatever it was he made it clear that no one sees it." "Martin." Gilda turned around and dropped her jaw. "What?"Martin turned his head still keeping his gun trained on the X-od. "Mother of God." A large Glowing green pod was hanging from the ceiling. "Gilda get him out of here," "Are you nuts, that thing'll hatch any minute." "I'm not worried about that one." Martin brought his gun back in front of him and grabbed the blaster from Gilda. "It's them I'm worried about." Martin lifted his gun and the X-od fell to the ground scared out of his mind. "We've got multiple hostiles enroute. ETA five minutes." "Slag it." Martin ran to a console and began typing.  Search Martin Wildes ..... .... ... .. . Martin Wildes (Deceased.) Age 27. COD: Natural Causes. "Natural Causes My Ass, Typical GCU." Search Crystal Wilkes ..... .... ... .. . Crystal Wilkes(Missing.) Age Unknown. Presumed Dead. "Are you sure this is the best way to use our time?" "You know we can't run from X-ods, they're the perfect killing machines, ruthless, night and day "He knows, everything Man!" The X-od Shouted. "He's gonna Kill all of us!" "Shut up, make yourself useful. Barricade the door." Martin took the Blaster and set it on the console. "Override Command 666." Command Acknowledged Firewall Activated. Ran across the computer screen.  "What will that do?" "That'll give us a few hours," "Anything that crosses the barrier line will be burnt to a crisp unless one of two things happens, the first they have a firewall of their own that's stronger, or they can withstand temperatures above 600 degrees Kelvin." Martin walked to the wall and flipped a switch, causing the wall panel to fall forward revealing hundreds of random shapes. "This is enough fire power to take out several flag ships. Harlei I'm plugging you into the mainframe, send out an SOS, better make it Morse code. Considering how low-tech everyone is."  "Wait can you send it in a high frequency?" Gilda asked. "What are you getting at?" Martin Took the earpiece at plugged it into the computer. A female face came onto the screen.  "There's a Dragon that I know who might can get help." "Should I send it on a Drakon Frequency?" "Go Ahead they're the only ones that can help." "Transmitting now." (Ponyville) Spike came running down the spiral staircase. "This is big!" He shouted as he stopped before me. "We need to go!" "Slow down Spike what's wrong?" Twilight heard the shouting and came from across the way. "Someone's in trouble," "Who?" "Gilda!" "G?" Rainbow Dash flew down through a cloud. "What has she gotten into this time?" "They're near Las Pegas surrounded by stange creatures with the intent to kill." "They?" "She's with two humans, they only have a few hours." "How do you know this?" Lady Dash asked confused.  "I'm afraid we have to postpone the Crusade, my friend." I placed my hand on Clarvious' shoulder.    "No Worries," "But Las Pegas is two days away on hoof, and ten hours by train." "How long by wing?" My Shoulders ripped through again and my black feathers found their way through the holes made for them. "An hour and a half." Rainbow Dash smiled. "Lady Dash and I will take Spike and rescue them,"  "They're so pretty." Sweetie Belle sat in the window looking on in awe.  "If we do not return by nightfall send word to the Princesses."