//------------------------------// // Introduction // Story: We don't go to Sub-Level Five // by RadBunny //------------------------------// “Evening, Flask,” Astral said with a casual wave, the orange earth pony in question tapping the fancy ID card onto the scanner. Replacing the item around his neck, the pony waved back happily, fishing out a lab coat from the briefcase strapped to his side. “Evening, Astral. Another slow night?” Flask Heat replied, the Thestral nodding. “Yep. You’re the fifth in so far. Thursdays are usually pretty slow, not as many ponies in.” Astral glanced at the high-tech readouts on the computer screen in front of him, green eyes narrowing as he ran down the biometrics. The ID card was the first line of defense; there were dozens of hidden sensors that surveyed temperature, heartbeat, even any rapid eye movements or shakes. But, none of that was of his concern. All that mattered was that the readout was pulsing a happy green color, making the large security booth glow pleasantly. “Alright, off you go. Take care, Flask,” the security said happily, tapping the large button to unlock the main doors to the elevators in the hallway. “Thanks, take care, Astral,” Flask called, trotting down and shrugging on a lab coat as he walked. The earth pony was one of the nicer ones. For having two Ph.D.’s in gene manipulation and…something else, Flask seemed fairly down to earth, no pun intended towards the pony. Between meeting the stallion outside of work on a few friendly lunches and the always-cheery demeanor, Flask was at the top of Astral’s friendship list from work. “Astral,” a unicorn stallion grunted. Astral’s supervisor, Ledger Knife, was the polar opposite. Not mean, but…well… “Ledger.” Curt. Another green glow, and in the unicorn went. The massive steel doors shouldn’t open and close so seamlessly and quietly, but there were many things about the odd facility that didn’t quite fit right. It wasn’t enough to leave, obviously. The pay was easily five times that which his position entailed, let alone the benefits. Astral sighed, leaning back in the cushy chair. His fluff ears flicked at hearing the AC turn on, a pleasant, cool breeze making his dark grey coat puff up slightly. The two previous ponies were usually the two extremes he saw. The chatty, and then the simple grunt of acknowledgment from everyone else. It was a simple job. Check the ID card, make sure the biometrics flashed green, and open the door. If they flashed red, then things got interesting. An in-depth scan using a bunch of magic the Thestral really had no idea how it worked. If that also flashed red…then the burly trio of unicorns got summoned to escort the individual off the property. If the pony got nasty towards Astral before the ‘detainers’ arrived, he got to press the ‘zap’ button. Thankfully, he had only needed to use that once. The booth he was in had hardened glass, and there was his crossbow if things really got out of hoof. The ‘zap’ button had only gotten one use, and Astral had to admit it was a bit of a cathartic memory. Crazy reporter. It’s not my fault you thought my kind are the spawn of Tartarus and should go back to ‘where we crawled out of’. Astral thought with a soft grumble. A mare trotted up, her ID card causing a red glare on the screen. “Wrong side, Staple,” Astral said kindly, the mare flashing a thankful smile as the keycard got accepted, the biometrics matching with a green glow. He knew quite a few ponies by name. However, there were a lot of employees for a two-story facility above ground, and four Sub-Levels. Well, four and a half, but that was an entirely different matter. It was what he was supposed to tell the press or anyone asking after all. There is no Sub-Level Five. Just Four and a Half, and it’s the maintenance and power generation floor. It had been the biggest question in the interview. Not if he could detain ponies, his experience as a Night Guard trainee. Not even why he had been discharged from the Night Guard training program. The basic stuff, and then that one question. Can you never confirm the existence of Sub-Level Five? No matter how many questions or threats? He had passed, obviously. That was why Flask Heat had hired him; the Earth Pony having been one of the interviewers along with Ledger. The fact that Astral had suggested the Company supply him additional paperwork he could hand out to curious ponies such as building schematics showing the existence of no such level had earned him a promotion on the spot a year later. Clearly, they took the ‘no-Five’ rule seriously. There weren’t too many rules when on the clock. Be professional, on-time, and as long as you could check ponies in and out, you were free to browse on the new, company-provided laptop, and do whatever you want. The biggest rule, the one that would get Astral fired immediately if he broke it, was simple. Never, ever discuss even the possibility there is a Sub-Level Five. Three years on the job, and Astral hadn’t even come close to breaking the rule. He wasn’t about to start now. “Evening Pen!” “Heya Astral.” Even if I don’t want to be here forever, this isn’t a bad gig. Pays for school, pays for a new house as soon as I decide where I want to live. I think I’m getting used to this. A few years more of this pay, and I could live on an airship! Now there’s an idea…