//------------------------------// // Waking Up From A Long Nap // Story: A Forbidden Spartan // by mattchilly //------------------------------// High above a planet that’s very similar to Earth is the GNA *Galactic Nation Alliance* flag ship, Honor. It’s a Charon-class light frigate much like the famous Forward unto Dawn. Its only staff is a small skeleton crew containing fifty androids, an AI called Freya after the Norse Goddess who was currently in the ships bridge and a single human who’s in cryogenic suspension. Freya’s hologram form is a dark red color with long hair tied into two braids on either side of her head. Freya was doing a routine scan of the planet when he noticed a strange anomaly in a dessert. “These energy readings are going crazy! What is happening down there? Freya weighed her options for a moment before nodding. “I guess it’s time to wake him up.” Freya’s hologram disappeared from the bridge only to reappear moments later in front of a Cryo-chamber. “Time to wake up Partner.” Freya said as she started the program that would wake up the inhabitants of the chamber. *Inside the Cryo-chamber Sigmund 1st person* In my opinion waking up from a Cryo-sleep sucked, mostly because my mind is fully awake in seconds while my body is slow as molasses to respond. After what felt like hours but was only five minutes I could move again. Once I climbed out of the Cryo-chamber with ice falling off my silver MJOLNIR Mark V styled armor I heard the voice of my old friend. “Slow to wake as always Sig. You really need to do something about that.” Freja said smirking. “You know me Freya . Cryo-sleep and I mix like water and oil. So, what’s the situation and how long have I been out?” As I said this I began the walk to the ships armory and Freya’s hologram form disappeared. “I picked up an energy anomaly six minutes ago, and decide it would be best to find out what happened, and you’ve been out for five hundred years.” Freya said her image appearing on each screen in the corridor. “How on Earth are you still fully functional? Don’t AI’s have a seven-year life span before they degenerate and go insane?” I ask my confusion evident. “Normally yes. I’m not quite sure myself as to why I haven’t degenerated. I have gone over multiple possibilities but I don’t have anything to backup my hypothesis, but we’ll have to save this desiccation for later. Right now, we have a strange power anomaly coming an unknown source on the planet we’re orbiting.” Freya explained. “How long have we been over a planet?” I asked as I past one of the androids which had sparks shooting out of its neck before it short circuited and collapsed. Sighing I ignored it and continued. “I can’t believe that any of these models still function! They were out of date when I got on this ship. We really need to find a way to upgrade them.” “I agree with you there but we need to keep focused on your mission right now. We’ve been above this planet for about six months, and the energy that’s been radiating from it was been stable in all that time, but it’s a completely unknown energy signature. The GNA’s never come across anything like it, not even any of the Covenant or Forerunner tech comes close to this kind of reading.” Freya stated as I entered the armory. Nodding I looked over the different racks considering which weapons would be the best suited for this mission. “I see, since this is the first time that your readings have changed you thought we needed to investigate it, right?” “Correct. For this mission, I would suggest you travel light.” Thinking for a moment I said. “Remind me, do we have any tranquilizer guns?” “Section 3, cabinet 25.” Freya said her image appearing on a nearby screen. “Thanks.” Moving over to the cabinet Freya mentions I opened it and pulled out a single a M6D PDWS *Personal Defense Weapon System* handgun with a silencer attachment, that fired powerful tranquilizers instead of the normal M225 SAPHE *Semi Armor Piercing High Explosive* ammo that was standard for this kind of gun. As I made sure the gun would function properly Freya said. “You should probably have other ways of defending yourself, just in case the tranqs don’t work.” “You read my mind Freya. I was thinking a Stun Knife and a BR55 Heavy Barrel Service Rifle.” *A BR55 is also called a Battle Rifle* As I was talking I was already pulling out the Stun Knife and attached its sheath on the upper part of my right leg. “Better hurry that anomaly’s reading is spiking again. I’ll prep a Pelican.” Freya said before her image left the screen it was on. Moving quickly, I grabbed a Battle Rifle. did a quick check to make sure my chosen weapons worked before grabbing some extra ammo and making my way to what I called the Hanger. “Pelicans ready for you Sig. After doing a more in-depth scan of the area I found a small town where the anomaly seems to be coming from. I’ve set the coordinates for as close to the town as I could. Once you land you need to head east.” Freya said her hologram appearing next to Pelican’s open entrance hatch. “What’s the ETA for landing and what time of day is it down there?” I asked as I walked into the Pelican and locked my Battle Rifle in place next to the driver’s seat. “Eta is fifteen minutes, and its currently an hour before sunrise down there. I had a Transport Hog attached to the Pelican. I know you prefer them to the Mongoose.” Freya said over the radio as the Pelican’s hatch door closed. “Thanks Freya. Now let’s find out what this anomaly is.” I replied. Once the Pelican’s systems showed I was good to go I said. “Everything’s green here Freya. Time to let this bird fly.” “Understood, launching… and do you have to put it that way?” “Nope but I wanted to.” As I said this the Hanger doors under the Pelican opened and cranes holding the Pelican released dropping the ship into space. “Your insufferable sometimes you know that?” Freya huffed. “Where’s the fun in being serious all the time? Besides I barely kept my sense of humor after all that damn training I went to through.” I said some of the harsher days flashing through my head. “Uggg just get on with the mission already.” “Already on it. I’ll radio in when I’ve found something.” I said smirking under my helmet. *Sixteen minutes later. On the planet* The flight down to the planet had been quiet, but then again, I wasn’t expecting any trouble until I reached this village. Once I was hovering ten feet above the ground I released the Warthog before parking the ship next on the spot Freya had marked as the drop point. I grabbed my rifle and placed it on my back so the automatic magnetic clips could keep it in place before opening the hatch. The first thing I noticed was the complete silence of the area. “Not even a single insect seems to be around, perhaps whatever this anomaly might have scared them away.” Activating the radio on my help I said. “Freya there doesn’t seem to be any of the normal animal or insect activity going on, but I would like for you to put the pelican on lockdown until I get back just in case, all right?” “Roger Sig, the Pelican is now on lockdown. Be careful alright? We have no idea what kind of life inhabits this place and being in the Cryo-Chamber for as long as you were might have some side effects.” Freya worned. “Affirmative.” Getting into the Warthog I turned on the engine and began to drive towards the town. After a few minutes, I pulled up next to a cliff and turned off the engine. Getting out of the car I crouched on the edge and activated the binocular feature of my helmet to get a closer look at the town. “Sheesh all but one of the houses are the exact same. That just screams something weird’s going on.” I thought. Grabbing my handgun and Stun Knife, switching the safety off I slid on the cliff side and slowly approached the town. “What’s your status Sig?” Freya asked. “I’m approaching the town and let me tell you it just screams that something’s up. It’s made of two rows of perfectly identical houses with one expiation at the end.” I replied. “That does seem suspicious.” Freya said. “I thought the same thing. I’m going to move towards the last house from the back of the houses on the right side. I’ll update when I’ve got more info.” “Got it.” Freya said as I moved along the houses. When I reached the last one I heard something that sounded like an old-fashioned PA system. “Freya I’m hearing some kind of PA system in the last house on the right. I’m gonna peek through a window.” “Be careful we have no idea what’s going on.” Carefully looking through a window I was shocked to see six sleeping women inside, from what I could see there wasn’t any furniture inside just a few piles of hay. “Freya whoever is running this place has six hostages in the house. From what I can see the only ‘furniture’ in there is just a few piles of hay. What do you make of this?” “Sounds like a very old-fashioned attempt of mind control. We may not know what’s going on but that’s always illegal. We’ll have to find the anomaly later, get those six out of there!” Freya ordered. “Understood.” Quickly moving to the front door, I found that it only opened from the outside. Quietly opening the door, I moved inside only to find that the occupants weren’t as sound asleep as I thought. “Who are you?” One of them asked. In the dim light, I saw that she had a horn and wings. “Sigmund, and I will be your rescuer tonight. Is anyone injured?” Everyone shook their heads. “That’s good, come on let’s get away from this place.” I said before activating my radio again. “Freya, you getting this? I need you to bring the Warthog down here.” “It’s already behind the house, once you get them to a safe distance ask them about what’s going on.” Freya ordered. “Will do.” I said. “Who are you talking to?” Asked a woman with rainbow colored hair. “My friend over a radio. I have a transport vehicle behind the house, does anyone need help getting to it?” Again, everyone shook their heads. “All right follow me and be as quiet as you can.” They nodded and followed me outside only to be greeted with a wooden staff pointed at me to which I responded by pointing my gun and the person holding it. “Well, well what do we have here?” the person said, and from the voice I could tell the person was a female. Quickly examining the woman, I saw she had light pink skin, purple hair with a light blue streak in it and like the one who first talked to me had a single horn on her forehead. The woman was dressed in a simple pink nightgown. “I’ll be asking the questions here, considering your armed with a stick. Who are you and why were these six women locked in that house.” I said. “I am Starlight Glimmer and you just interrupted the normalization procedure.” “Thanks, that’s all I needed to know.” I said. “What do you mean?” Starlight asked. “You are hereby under arrest for attempted mind control.” I said before shooting her in the arm with a tranquilizer dart causing Starlight to fall unconscious. “Have a little nap, when you wake up you are going to pay the piper for your crimes.” I said as I holstered my gun and kneeled next to Starlight. “Freya, you picking up anything?” “Yes, as soon as you knocked this ‘Starlight’ out the energy anomaly dipped a little. Whatever it is she’s the cause of it.” “Thanks Freya, I’ll ask the people I rescued about what’s going on.” I said before looking over my shoulder. “Change of plans, we’re getting out of the open. We’ll talk in that house.” I said pointing at the on the right. “I have a feeling she lives in that house considering it’s the only one that’s different.” I picked Starlight up and the seven of us walked into the house. I placed Starlight on a chair a looked around for something to restrain her, finding nothing I shrugged and asked. “You know my name. May I know who the six of you are and what going on?” Now that we were in the light I could see what they look like. The woman with a horn and wings had purple skin and long purple hair with a magenta streak that went down to mid back. She was wearing a light blue long sleeve shirt with a purple skirt, which for some reason had the symbol of a black equal sign on the sides. I know noticed that their legs somewhat reminded me of a satyr’s. “I am Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship.” “I am Rarity and thank you very much for saving us.” Rarity had porcelain white skin and had her purple hair in a unique hairstyle that I couldn’t quite describe with any other word but curly and like Twilight had a horn on her forehead. She wore a sky-blue dress with purple highlights when I noticed her dress had the same black equal sign I looked to see it was on the other’s outfits as well. “I’m Pinkie Pie nice to meet you.” True to her name Pinkie had pink skin and hair. Her hair looked like it was made of cotton candy. She wore a white shirt under a blue jacket and bubblegum pink pants but for some reason her voice had little to no emotion. “Names Rainbow Dash the fastest flyer in all of Equestria!” Rainbow Dash huh? Makes sense with her rainbow hair which was tied up in a ponytail. She has sky blue skin and wings and wore a dark blue jacked which covered her shirt and blue jeans. “Ah’m Applejack and that’s some fancy looken armor ya got there.” Applejack had orange skin and freckles with hay-blond hair under a cowgirl hat. She wore a white button down shirt and blue jean shorts. “I…I’m Fluttershy.” Fluttershy had soft yellow skin and wings, pink hair and had a forest green dress with a flower filled field on it. After everyone had introduced themselves Twilight explained why they were here, and when I asked what a ‘Cutie Mark’ was, explained they when a ‘Pony’ as they called their race, learned what their destiny is they gained a mark which showed what it was. Twilight even explained about the so called ‘Magical artifact’. “So, the fact that she can steal Cutie Marks is something that basically goes against everything you know and the laws of your world?” I asked to make sure I fully understood what was going on. “Yes, as far as we knew it should be impossible. The fact that she found a way to do this is terrifying.” Rarity said. Thinking about what they said I thought struck me, as I began to walk towards another room Rainbow asked. “Where are, you going?” Twilight asked. “To get some water and a towel. Something about this was bugging me, and now I have a feeling I know what it is.” I said. “What do you mean?” Applejack asked which caused me to stop in my tracks. “You said that your Cutie Marks represent you and when you lost them Twilight and Rarity lose almost all of their magic right?” I said looking over my shoulder. “Yes…where are you going with this?” Pinkie asked. “How can she have the power to remove Cutie Marks with a fake artifact if she doesn’t have hers?” I said continuing out of the room before anyone could respond. When I came back a few minutes later, with a cup of water and paper towel I saw that Twilight and the others were staring daggers at Starlight. “I’m going to need one of you to see if my idea is correct.” “Why’s that?” Rainbow asked. “Seriously? A fully-grown man undressing a fully grown unconscious woman in front of six other fully grown women? I’m a soldier and this is not the time for ME to do a full body search.” I replied chuckling “…Good point.” Rainbow said blushing a little and rubbing the back of her head. I handed the cup and towel to Twilight saying. “It’s not a problem, everyone makes mistakes. I’ll check the house in case she has anything interesting.” After I left the room I headed up stairs. After a few minutes of searching I radioed Freya asking. “So, what do you make of this situation Freya?” “I’m not sure but I have no reason to believe in their so called ‘Magic’.” Freya replied and I could almost hear her rolling her eyes when she said magic “Come on Freya this is a completely different kind of world. It’s not impossible that they have access to magic. After all the Universe is a big place” I said shaking my head a little. “That’s a good point, I guess we’ll just wait and see.” Freya replied. After Freya and I finished out small conversation I found six glass jars, each with a glowing image in them. “Another ‘villain’ who keeps the only thing that can stop them in an easy to get place and not in a secure vault. Good thing those bastards gave us some fantasy books to read in our off time or I would have never thought of this.” I thought as I opened the jars and one after another the images flew out the bottle and out of the room. When I went back to the others I was surprised to see Pinkie Pie literally bouncing around the room. “Where did you find our Cutie Marks?” Twilight asked as she looked over at me. “In glass jars, upstairs. Was my hunch about her Cutie Mark correct?” I asked. “Completely.” Rarity said. “You said your name was Sigmund but can you explain a little more about who you are?” Applejack asked. “As I said before my name is Sigmund I’m a Sixth-Generation Spartan, designated as V-9512. My official rank is Grade 3 Lieutenant Colonel.” I said while moving to look out the window. “That’s not much of an explanation.” Rainbow said. “What the heck is a Spartan?” I didn’t answer right away instead I just looked out the window. “ I said it before. I’m a soldier so let’s leave it at that.” I replied. “That still doesn’t explain much but if you don’t want to talk about it we understand.” Twilight sighed. “What do we do with her?” Applejack asked. “Take her to jail. What else would you do with someone who break the law? Especially if she can do something that allows her to steal Cutie Marks and convince an entire town to give theirs up, and besides. Brainwashing is always illegal.” I said walking over to the window. “How do the six of you plan to tell the village about her lying to them.” “We tell them the truth. And show them her Cutie Mark if necessary.” Twilight said. “Well the towns waking up and people are starting the come outside, so I hope all of you are ready.” I said. As I walked over and picked up Starlight. Luckily the explanation to the town went well, after they learned the truth the town charged off to break the Cutie Mark Vault. Afterwards the others enjoyed the thank you party the town threw, I was keeping a close eye on Starlight and tranqed her again when she began to stir. Once the party started to slow down I looked at Twilight and asked. “Do you have any plans on how you and your friends are going to get home?” “Same way we got here, a train. Why do you ask?” “I could give all of you a lift, plus I need to know where take Starlight.” “We would appreciate it. Thank you.” Twilight said. “K, give me a few minutes and I’ll bring over the Pelican.” I said walking off. “Pelican? What does a bird have to do with this?” Twilight asked. “You’ll see.” I called over my shoulder. Getting in to my Warthog I turned it on and heard Rainbow ask. “What’s this?” Looking up I saw that Rainbow was hovering next to my Warthog and replied. “It a vehicle nicknamed the ‘Warthog’, This version is for troop transport.” “So where are you going?” “I’m heading back to my ship, then I’m going to bring it here and give you and your friends a lift home before taking Starlight to the proper authorities.” “Mind if I come with?” “I don’t mind but you’ll need to let the others know, don’t want them thinking you vanished on them.” “Be back in a moment.” Rainbow said before zooming off leaving a rainbow trail behind her. “When she said, she was a fast flyer, she meant it.” By the time, I finished saying that Rainbow was already back. “Lead the way.” Rainbow said.