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// Prologue: Newbie in the New Labs 
// Story: Mad science in the Mad Science Lab! (Reader Insert Sorta) 
// by RazzleBerryBite 
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I start work today, here at the science labs held in Ponyville, the town is small and most of the residents are either farm hooves or working at the facility. What I can't seem to understand is the dark clothing, we don't get white science or doctor lab coats like the usual attire of most medical professions. Instead we get this black, reflective silver lined gear and it's almost like the texture is a tightly wove fabric, at least enough to be smooth and water proof. With a sigh I lift my hoof to adjust the silver buckle of the thick neck piece holding the top firmly shut, as to keep anything from spilling down my front. When I zip it up said collar overlaps it and hides the pull tab from view. The sleeves are short as gloves are likely meant to be pulled on to cover what is exposed, there is reflective fabric around the cuff and two gray patches further up the sleeve on shoulder so signify the floor you are stationed on. The coat reaches just near my flank, a reflective band lining its bottom. On my back legs are these sleeves that ride up on my hips and hang down my legs over a pair of rubber non-slip black boots, the sleeves are held up by cinching around my thigh and ankle but by also a band that uncomfortably wraps up my rump and over the base of my tail like a halter neck some of the fancy mares wear... only its for my butt. 
I tug on a pair of goggles before stepping from the changing rooms and into the slate gray and black hallway, there's a lot of dark hues in this building... The walls are a charcoal gray almost black and the floor is barely lighter than that with a shimmering sheen, the ceiling is just a pitch black void with bright lights spotting it all the way down the hall. The only color is the ponies walking to and fro and perhaps some blinking lights of the door authentication when someone swipes to enter a room. I lift the lanyard I bought to hold my ID and access card, it's yellow with mint dots and really stands out. I flush as I let it fall back to my chest and I begin to trot down the hall to my assigned lab.

"4034, 4036, 4038" -I slow to a stop as I reach a door just to the very edge of the hall- "Ah... Lab room 4040." 

My muzzle twitches into a hesitant smile as swoop my head down and take my access card between my teeth and swipe it into the dark plastic coated card reader, it blinks green, the door makes a click and I push it open. Unlike the rest of the building this room is a glossy and clean white with soft yellow walls, the color surprises me and I see happy posters taped all about the room, motivational ones. My mood is lifted significantly at the sight and I smile before perking up to some movement catching my eye. I look too see a pegasus stallion waving a light orange hoof and beaming a wide toothy smile at me, I blink rapidly as I approach and glance to look at his ID to which he quickly raises it for a better view.

"Oh, Dr. PleasantHaze!" I stammer in surprise, I hadn't expected him to be a pegasus.

"That's me! So newbie, ready for your training?" The stallion exclaims, leaning in on his forehooves and fluttering his wings. I nod nervously and he chuckles before stretching a wing over my back and guiding me to the counter in the far corner with a small desk on wheels beside it stacked with pencils and paper on top.

"This will be your work station while you are starting out, when you've shown improvement or capability for some more responsibilities under your belt, you'll be moved to a larger work space." PleasantHaze explains, rocking side to side on his hooves, his messy yet maintained sandy mane sways with his movement. I try to disguise my disappointed expression, don't get me wrong, I'm more than happy to be working here but I expected something a bit bigger than a thirty by twenty something area of space.
I snap my head to look PleasantHaze in the face, he peers straight on at me and since he hadn't removed his wing from my back he is extremely close. He garners an unreadable expression, no smile, and thanks to his light pink reflective goggles I can't see quite where he is looking. I attempt to finally utter a thank you or an apology or something starting with a stutter but he simply starts grinning again before I do.

"Like I said, you'll get an upgraded work space in time, no need to look so glum!" he states, his tone flat only changing in the last sentence to a more joyful lilt, making me break into a nervous sweat. The last thing I want to do is seem ungrateful to a higher up and on the first day no less. I rapidly nod my head before he guides me through some of regulations such as what to do during an alarm emergency and shows me on the back of my access card it reads what I should do for each color of code alarms with my current clearance... a lot of them have me stay put or vacate the premise. Finally he shows me some files I should study, likely for the exam I needed to take to keep my licence to to even work here. Time seems to fly by as he explains details, he shows me where the equipment is and tells me that if I need something that isn't already here I can send in a request, though he says with my clearance I shouldn't get my hopes up as there shouldn't be anything I really NEED anyways.

"Well then, that sums up most of the important stuff more or less, the rest is up to you and how well you work! You should already have your schedule for your breaks and clock out right?" He turns from showing me the menial functions of the sink to inquire to which I perk up quickly and nod.

"I have them at home on the door and a copy in my locker."

"Good! good good..." He falls silent as he blankly stares at me for a moment, I glance around before going to speak when he cuts me off with a gasp.

"Oh! I nearly forgot! I should show you where the cafeteria is, we can stop by and grab some lunch and then you can get set up and clock-out, come on!" He quickly nudges me along with a wide grin. I fluster as I'm given no chance to respond, I would of liked to maybe look at my desk a bit more but food does sound good so I oblige by finally walking instead of having him shove me the whole way there. It doesn't take us long to get to the second floor and into the cafeteria, it is lighter tones but still baring no colors much like the hall. I'm swooped past the line straight up to the food bar with PleasantHaze and no one seems to protest as we get a tray and make our way to sit, there's a lot of ponies here and all seem to at least know one another a little, giving nods here and there. I feel really out of my element but the pegasus guiding me brings me comfort besides his odd demeanor. We sit and eat in silence, I half expected him to talk a lot but he doesn't utter a single word as he eats and just pony watches without removing his goggles. I shrug and eat my meal totally fine with the silence since I have nothing to say either, only when I'm taking the last bite of hayfries do I notice he is staring in my direction with a small smile. I turn to face him and he smiles slightly wider before asking if I'm finished, I nod awkwardly before he takes both our trays.

"You head on back to the lab and do your thing," he turns away "I have some work to tend to." The ominous yet nice pegasus gets lost in the crowd and I stand from the table and make my way back to the lab as instructed, I get lost only a moment as the crowd in that hall made it hard for me to see signs but I manage to return without too much trouble. I spend the rest of the day setting up my work space and memorizing where things are, I look around the room as I realize nopony else has visited the labs all day from what I'm aware of. I poke about other work desks and only find about three other spaces that look like they're in use, this revelation pisses me off quite a lot since one work space which appears to be in disuse is about TWICE the size of MY workspace. I huff before deciding to wander a bit till my clock-out, I doubt PleasantHaze is going to be coming back here so late to check on me.
With my plan settled I slip out of the room and slowly make my way down the vacant hall, I assume everyone is back at work and decide to keep myself at a quiet and slow pace as to not disturb anypony. Passing the elevator I decide to use the stairs instead, I push to enter the stairway and glance down, my brow wrinkles in confusion as I see the stairwell extending down well past the ground floor.

"I thought there were only five floors," I whisper in my confusion, I slowly trot my way down, picking up my pace the further I go, I get to the ground floor and peak out the window to see reception and the hall to the exit. I'm tempted to leave but deciding to at least sate my curiosity a little I turn away and descent further. The sign has no numbers but a B next to it, my ear flicks as I continue down and this one says C, there's not too many floors now but something stops me at the C door or whats on the sign under the C. The B had nothing written but under the C is are labels and one bullet with the words "in vivo" I tense up as that sinks in. Acting without thought as I open the door quietly, like I might be sucked into the dark of the ceiling if I make even the slightest of noise as I creep down the hall in search of said room.
I swallow and try to work saliva back into my dry mouth as I glance at rooms, they have no windows, not even tinted ones. I look up for cameras but the ceilings are so dark in contrast to the lights I doubt I could spot one if there was. I come upon an intersection in the hall and look to my left then my right before the familiar orange of PleasantHaze freezes me in the center of the hall. He's swiping his card into the authenticator which flashes yellow before he leans in lifting his goggles to reveal a dull green iris as a light shines from the machine over his eye. He blinks rapidly to clear his vision, his peripheral no longer obscured by the goggle he does a double take and turns his head to face me. We stand there for a moment, the machine flashing before blinking green and the door clicks. PleasantHaze gives me a quick once-over with and unreadable expression, before pressing the door open, casting me a sideways smirk and entering the room and leaving me alone, speaking to someone inside. 

"I retrieved those files you wanted Miss Pie!" The door clicks shut just as a squeaky voice begins a response, the heavy metal cutting the sound off completely. I approach slowly, half expecting someone to step out and call me out for being where I'm not suppose to, or to nab me. My eyes wander and lock on the sign next to the door and I get close enough to read it. "In vivo" I wince, jaw going stiff as I back myself away. I take my path back to the stairwell and up into the ground floor before going to the changing room, I get undressed, grab my things and head out the door.