//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Well, Fuck Me... // Story: Mares of War // by LeafLock //------------------------------// Chapter 4: Well, Fuck Me… Noise filled the dark fissures of Sera’s underbelly. Miles under the surface, the Locust Horde gathered its forces. The open cavern had become an ocean of activity, a consortium of ordered chaos. Drones stumbled over themselves in an attempt to keep up with the rapid orders being barked at them by wrathful Theron Guards. One unfortunate soldier tripped and spilled an ammo crate, and was mercilessly slain by one of the overseers as punishment for slowing progress. Reaver riders prepped their mounts, the tentacled beasts ready to fly at a moment’s notice. Blood Mounts chomped at the bit, howling rabidly while pulling at their restraints. The giant arachnid Corpsers hissed as they were led by heavy chains through the lines of Grunts lined up for inspection, their many glowing eyes darting about. Several large cages stood ready, filled to the brim with the living landmines known as “Tickers”, all of which scuttled and chirped in captivity. Throughout the cavern, the restless feet of saurian-like Brumaks beat down like a chorus of hammers; their handlers were tossed about and occasionally trampled in their efforts to equip enormous rocket pods and artillery to the backs and arms of the behemoth living tanks. Ten thousand troops made ready for battle, an army gathered with but one purpose. Invasion. Scryed surveyed the force with contempt. This was but a paltry gathering of power, a meager show of force that paled in comparison to the Horde that the master assassin once knew. The humans had wiped out millions of Locust in mere minutes when they had poured the sea into the Hollow. The once unstoppable might of the Locust had been reduced to a shallow fraction of the numbers they once knew, all in a matter of moments. But that would change. This new world their Queen would lead them to, so rich and full of resources, would be the breeding ground from which a new tide of death would soon flow. All would tremble at the coming of the Locust once more, and this time there would be no stopping them. The Queen’s champion jumped off of the high ledge from which he had overlooked one of the Locust’s few remaining battle groups. His personal Reaver stood ready, waiting obediently for its master. Mounting it, he took to the air and made for a structure at the far end of the cavern. Inside, he guided his flying beast down and alighted next to a large ring shaped contraption in the center of the chamber. Though the crude device was not yet ready to sustain a portal long enough for an army to pass through, it was certainly ready for one warrior. At the assassin’s signal the engineers activated the device. The machine whined loudly as the ring began to rapidly spin on its axis, projecting an energy field while tainted Imulsion poured in. As it compressed, the already luminous substance glowed ever more intensely. Scryed left his mount in the care of a Theron Guard and pulled from his belt a stone he had found at the ruins of the primary portal. To any other soldier it was a simple piece of rubble, but his finely honed senses could smell the wretched stench of “human” upon the rock. He inhaled deeply, allowing the scent to permeate his mind. He felt the blood-lust boil inside of him, and he let it consume him. The hatred he felt for his targets burned white hot. His Queen had ordered him to find those responsible for the sabotage, and by her command he would follow them anywhere. The portal moaned in a quiet bass as it stabilized. Sanguine’s cultists had been instructed to expect his arrival, and their stabilizing magic now shaped the energies flowing across space-time. The miniature sun inside of the Modified Lightmass Field dulled quickly, and soon Scryed could see the tunnel into another world. Without thought or hesitation, he stepped through. He cared not where his quarry led him, he would find them. When he did, they would suffer. In the name of his Queen, they would die. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marcus was sitting on the edge a grimy cot. The air was drenched in the wet reek of rusted pipes and mildew, the walls were covered in filth. He could hear the scuttles and screeches of something in the air ducts above him. The ceiling dripped incessantly, and several flies buzzed around the room. There was a noise at the door, someone pulled back the cover of the view slot into his cell. “Jack, rip that door.” Marcus looked up, wondering who it would be. The bright light of a plasma cutter traced the lock on the heavy steel cell door. With a shudder the door swung open, and Carlos Santiago stepped into the dingy room. “Huh! What are you doing here?” Marcus found himself asking. “Getting you out.” his old friend replied. “Here,” he continued, tossing a heavy rucksack onto the damp floor. “Put this on. You’ll need it.” Once again Marcus heard his own voice speak. “You could get into a lot of trouble for doing this.” “Not anymore, things have changed…” Marcus pulled his armor from the bag and donned it quickly. He followed Carlos down the rotting hallway, and to another closed door. Carlos turned and looked him in the eye. “They need you Marcus…” He said, as the edges of the door shone with a bright light. Then the door burst open. Marcus found himself somewhere he had never been before. He was surrounded by small houses with thatched roofs, tiny market stalls, and everywhere he looked he saw ponies. The sun shone high and bright in the sky, and colorful equines went about their business, paying the COG soldier no mind. It was relaxing to watch. A small, mint colored unicorn with two toned hair turned to him, and he felt her gaze pierce his soul. Time seemed to slow, and the world turned gray. Then in a small voice, the little pony spoke. “Help us.” She recoiled, and began screaming in agony. A fire was lit under her skin and soon it spread over the entirety of the pony’s hide. The tiny horse burned from within, and as the fire died, it was replaced by ash. There, before Marcus was the still standing form of a pony, reduced to cinders, her mouth still wide in a silent cry of untold suffering. Marcus dropped to his knees and reached out to touch the heartbreaking sight. As he did, the pony dissolved, her ashes spreading to the winds. Everywhere the ash landed, fire spread. Soon, the skies blackened and the town blazed, ponies all around him began writhing in tortured agony. The cold grip of panic filled Marcus, and he began desperately looking for some way to help, but his legs were like lead weights, unmoving. He could only sit in horror and watch as the fires roared all around, quickly engulfing the entire town. Soon Marcus found that he was alone, a solitary figure amidst a raging inferno, though the cries of the townsfolk still pierced his ears. Marcus’ face fell into his hands, and he wept. “I am coming.” The voice was cold, but underlined with a burning hatred as hot as the hellfire around him. Marcus looked up and saw a silhouette through the flames. Tall and slender, but with eyes of deepest ebony. “You can not save them. You can not even save yourself. I am coming.” Marcus screamed as the fire consumed him. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sergeant Fenix’s eyes shot open. His heart throbbed like a hammer in his chest, and he was drenched in sweat. His glance shot around quickly, trying to focus, trying to remember where he was. Memories of the day prior slowly trickled into his mind, and he groaned loudly as he sat up. Gazing around the barn, he saw that he was the first one up. He rose and stretched his limbs. That had been one hell of a nightmare. Marcus was by no means unaccustomed to such terrors; after fighting the Locust, most Gears developed horrible visions at night. He had been haunted by a nightmare similar to this one for some time, but this was different. It had started familiarly, with him trapped in his old cell. He had spent years in the “Slab”, the result of a court martial for disobeying orders. A year ago, Dom had come to liberate him and re-instate him into the COG. In his dreams however, the person who released him often varied. Sometimes it was Anya, sometimes his father or mother. Most of the time it was one or more of the Gears he had served with over his long career. This however, was the first time it had been Dom‘s elder brother. It had been a bittersweet moment, Marcus had nearly forgotten what Carlos looked like. This was also certainly the first time that a burning pony village had awaited him beyond the door. Then there were those eyes… In an attempt to clear his mind, Marcus began his daily workout regimen, a quick series of exercises to help him stay sharp. After he was done, he noticed a breakfast of milk, eggs, and apples had been lain out for them on the work bench. He filled his plate quietly, and walked outside to enjoy his meal in the morning sun. He was surprised to be greeted by Apple Jack. “Mornin’!” She said cheerfully. “Ah’m just finishin’ up the chores, then we’ll be getting ready to head on down to Canterlot. How’s your breakfast?” “Compared to our combat MRE’s, this is a god damn feast.” He said, digging in. The orange mare chuckled. “Well, there’s a fresh water trough 'round the back if y’all feel like washin’ up a tad. Ah’m going inside to get Apple Bloom ready for school.” As Apple Jack disappeared into the farmhouse, Marcus leaned against the barn and enjoyed the sunrise. He was continually astounded by how vivid the sight was, as if the skies of his own world were nothing but a cheap forgery of what they should be. He finished his meal and after splashing some cool water on his face, he roused the other Gears. Once they were fed and washed, they met the Apples outside. The walk into town was quiet and peaceful. Apple Bloom skipped happily alongside Dom, chattering excitedly about her friends and something called the “Cutie Mark Crusaders“. Apple Jack was proudly discussing the business of apple farming with Cole, and how the Apple family provided food for the greater part of the valley. At the back of the group, Baird yawned loudly as he trudged along. He had been up into the wee hours of the morning reading up on local astronomy. From over the treetops came a voice. “Hey! ‘Morning!” Rainbow Dash came streaking down from the sky. “You’re up awful early!” Apple Jack remarked, ”Ah hadn’t expected you to be ready ‘til closer to noon!” “Yeah well, Twilight wouldn’t stop shouting outside my house until I got up. Anyways, everypony is down at the station waiting for us. Oh, hey Baird,” she added with a grin, “You mu-” “Yeah, that’s great Sunshine, but Daddy doesn’t feel like playing this morning.” Rainbow looked furious. She has clearly spent all night thinking of a great zinger to put the blonde COG in his place. “Well you-” “Listen ‘Precious', why don’t you see if you can’t find me some coffee and a bagel?” Rainbow growled in frustration, and told them that she’d wait for them at the station with the others. “Don’t forget the cream cheese!” Baird called after her as she tore through the early morning sky. Cole chuckled at the engineer. “That was pretty cold man.” “What can I say? I’m a people person.” “Ah’m gonna be sad when you go,” Apple Jack added between bouts of laughter, “Ah ain’t never seen no one shut her down the way you do.” As they crested the hill, Ponyville came into view. The sounds of a sleepy town was just waking for the day drifted through the air. The Gears could make out tiny school-ponies trotting along to a one room schoolhouse on the outskirts of the village. A gray pegasus fluttered about, toting a large bag of letters. Marcus gaped at the serene little hamlet, at the thatched roofs and market stalls. It was the same village from his dream. “Well, fuck me…” he whispered.