//------------------------------//
// Chapter Fifty Eight: Ignition 
// Story: We don't go to Sub-Level Five 
// by RadBunny 
//------------------------------//

The group trotted down the hallway, Astral and Sassi leading. The stallion noted how the office floor was mostly destroyed, cubicles and lab rooms utterly torn apart with bloodstains everywhere. The emotions still boiled in his mind, every sense searching for the right time.

“Yeesh. This is a mess…” Astral muttered in observation, spying a large metal barricade up ahead. “That’s the limit?”

“No, that was the final fallback. We’re good until we hit the main elevators,” Split said calmly, clearly not worried about either Astral or the Skitters. “First, however, a final word.”

He paused, looking over the clearly-frightened scientists.
“Any questions about your career opportunities in the future?” he growled, the lab-coated ponies shaking their heads.

“Sir?” Astral asked, Split smiling in a gesture that didn’t reach his eyes.

“There were some previous…conflicting viewpoints,” Split explained. “Memory wipes are messy. I’m just making sure everypony knows to let the Company handle the cleanup, stay quiet, and enjoy the mountain of bits that will be coming their way.” He then turned to Astral. “That seems reasonable, right?”

Astral paused, finally nodding.
“Well, you said Sassi will be ok, so yeah. Seems like a smart business move to me. This is above my pay grade. A tropical island sounds quite nice,” he mused, a blissful smile coming onto his face.

That seemed to satisfy Split.
“Good. Well, now then, onward. There’s an opening to the right.”

The hastily-welded barricade of metal and concrete covered the entire hall. A simple, crude door was bolted to the right side, and everypony slid through.

The wall beyond it was pockmarked with explosions and bullet holes, eventually leading to the main elevators. Of similar make to the others, their smaller design indicated that perhaps there were multiple elevator shafts on this floor.

“And now for the messy bit where Skitters may try to stop us,” Split sighed. “Sassi. You and Astral continue to take point…” the unicorn paused.

With a snarl, Split drew the pistol and promptly shot the nearest earth-pony scientist in the head, the gunshot echoing around the room.

Astral whirled around, forcing himself to not aim at the Director but more appear in shock, even as his stomach twisted and spasmed.

“S-sir?!” Astral asked, hating the fact that he promptly leaned over and vomited over in the corner, visor flipped up. Skitters and dead ponies weren’t a surprise, but a cold-blooded execution? 

The stallion had never seen such a thing before, let alone in front of him. His mental barriers to violence and gore had their limits.

I can’t hesitate when I kill him.

The thought was so calm and logical that it made Astral double-check himself. He was really going to-

Reaching over into the dead pony’s coat, Split withdrew a large data device with a frown.
“I knew one of you was trying to steal something. I saw you out of the corner of my eye. Come now, how stupid do you think I am? I told you what would happen. And yet here we are. What a waste,” the unicorn sighed, smashing the device with his hooves.

Split stowed the gun and left the pony on the floor. Vial and the remaining scientists shook their heads sadly but didn’t seem surprised.

“I warned them. We can’t have any data leaving here. From what I understand, there was a significant leak already, but I won’t know the full extent until we’re in the company headquarters.”

So, he doesn’t realize that he’s on borrowed time, that Royal Guards are outside?

“You alright there, Astral?”

The Thestral could have mistaken Split’s tone for being genuine concern, but he nodded, wiping his mouth.

“It’s…different. Y’know. Ponies or experiments,” he explained. “Doesn’t seem right.” Astral regretted the last few words that slipped out, even if they were an understatement.

“I see. Well, I’m sorry you had to see that, but we have to contain this as much as possible.”

Astral’s eyes widened at Split’s now suspicious tone.
“Sir? Does that include me?” he asked bluntly, the other unicorn shrugging.

“Does it? I’d rather not have you end up like that poor fool,” Split gestured to the dead pony. “And I’d certainly rather not dredge up certain facts from your past to make life more difficult for you once we’re out of here. Yes, I’ve read your file, Astral. I’m asking you again. Are we going to have a problem?”

Astral blinked, staring at Split for a moment. He then lowered his head, wings drooping.
“No, Sir,” he muttered, “I don’t see any reason for that. I just want to go home. I’ve had enough problems to last me a lifetime.”

“Good. Now, lead on with Sassi.”

Split was clearly smarter than Astral initially gave him credit for; the Director had known who he was from the start. While forthcoming with information, Split was always ready to shoot someone in the back.

But he’s still cocky and doesn’t think anyone will stand up to him.
I need to get that detonator. First, remove his horn. That should throw any magical control out of whack, and he can’t instantly press the button. I can grab it before he gets his hooves on it. Then I have to deal with the other two guards, but I should have a few moments.

Astral wasn’t sure when things would go into motion; he only knew the room had to be a certain size, and have everyone be in it at once. They pushed past another, partially—destroyed barricade. The torn body of a Skitter was draped across it. There was silence as they pushed through.

It has to be soon.

There were no Skitters, not yet. As the signs for ‘Escape Tubes’ grew more numerous, Astral knew he was running out of time.

They were running out of time.

The next room was a series of large utility elevators, the tiles splattered with blood. Beyond that, a glowing ‘Escape’ sign was visible hanging from the ceiling. Astral’s hooves moved in slow motion as he walked, heartbeat thundering in his ears. Was he about to do this? There was a high chance he’d simply get shot. The counter-commands to Sassi may not have worked, and the two other guards might just be faster. It ultimately came down to a simple question.

What would I do to protect Sassi?

The fire burning in his chest answered that question without coherent words, a monster roaring in defiance against a world that was so sick and wrong. What would he do to see her happy, to know this beautiful mare was free and able to chart her own path?

The rage and defiant anger came to the same conclusion, yet it was refined by a following thought.

If the stars aligned, he’d like to be the reason she smiled. If nothing else, he’d be her friend when she was able to live her own life. What would he do for that?

I promised.

Astral paused, shaking his head. It was time.
“I heard something,” he muttered, “Skitters in the elevator shafts?”

Split paused, shrugging.
“Sassi, do you hear anything?”

The mare paused, head tilting.
“Unsure. There could be a creature aware of our presence, waiting to ambush us,” she explained.

I hope that means the commands worked because all I heard was some shifting metal.

“Should we take care of it? Toss some grenades in there to get it to drop down?” Astral asked, taking off the grenade belt and fiddling with it.

“No. Let’s simply continue. We’re a few halls from the Escape Pods,” Split ordered.

“Yes, Sir,” Astral said, putting the belt back on.

Thankfully, nobody had seen him drop the flash-bang grenade from his armor pouch as the belt was put on once again. A simple flick and kick…

“SKITTER!” Astral roared, turning to confront a partially-open elevator.

As the scientists scrambled back into the recessed hallway, the guards stood in front of Split, looking towards the elevator, and the flashbang.

The grenade went off, blinding light and sound that would have deafened him if not for the helmet. Astral felt his active conscious thoughts take a back seat, a silent roar echoing through his mind. 

NOW!

The flash and sound immediately disoriented the guards, the two unicorns dropping their weapons and crouching to the floor with hooves over their ears. Modified or not, they had taken the full force of the blast along with Split. Astral’s helmet dampened the explosion to almost nothing. Sassi crouched into an at-ready stance, but the mare otherwise didn’t move.

Split seemed barely affected by the explosion, the unicorn blinking as he turned around. 

He had a sadistic smirk on his face as Astral aimed. Split’s drawn pistol drifted towards the Thestral; a magical grip also drawing out the detonator and beginning to flick the safety. The unicorn was fast, far faster than Astral had anticipated. It certainly wasn’t natural.

Astral’s first two shots impacted an invisible shield around Split’s horn, the unicorn’s mouth widening into a cocky sneer. The unicorn’s gun went off; the round skimming off of Astral’s armor plating. Split was still smirking when the third shot punched through the shield and turned his horn to dust.

Astral continued to fire, the shotgun roaring as six explosive slugs tore into the Director’s now-vulnerable head, neck, and chest. Chunks of gore splattered across the walls as the unicorn flopped to the floor, the detonator and pistol clattering out of his grasp.

Sassi collapsed to the floor as if a puppet cut from strings. The mare flipped up the visor, taking in massive gulps of air as she struggled to breathe. Tears flowed down her cheeks as her body was wracked with violent tremors.

Aim then shifting, Astral’s next shots missed before refocusing. His next shots were on point; the two guards then collapsed as their horns were blown to smithereens, recently-retrieved guns dropping to the floor. Astral kicked their weapons out of reach, carefully stowing the detonator in his armor after making sure it was on safety.

“Sassi!” Astral then cried, the mare not looking at him as she leaned against the wall. Even without her responding, Astral darted over to stand between the vulnerable mare and the threats.

Reloading the spent shotgun, Astral promptly trotted over and planted a hoof on the nearest Guard’s neck, and pressed down none-too-gently. 

“If you do anything other than lie there and snivel, I’ll shoot off your legs and leave you behind. Got it?” Astral growled, his voice not sounding even remotely familiar.

“G-got it…” the guard whimpered.

“Sassi, are you alright?” Astral asked, turning his attention to the mare. She shook her head, unable to speak.

Now we just have to get-

“Youff shtoooopid fruit sucker…”

Astral turned, eyes widening in horror as Split Tie tottered on his limbs, shredded mouth knitting back together as muscle and sinew regrew, a malevolent red glow igniting in his chest and behind the unicorn’s eyes. The holes in his neck and chest began to zip closed, black sparks of magic darting over the jagged edges.

“I’m going to enjoy this,” the unicorn growled, barely phased as Astral’s shotgun roared, blowing the pony’s jaw off again. Whipping his head back, Split glared at Astral as a furious scream left his mutilated face, the unicorn trying to jump and snag one of the guns on the floor.

As another few shots tore into Split’s torso, Astral felt a chill of fear run down his spine. Now exposed underneath shredded flesh, the unnatural interior of the Unicorn was visible. From beneath the rapidly-healing wounds, Astral saw that the Director’s head, spine, and ribcage were encased in some odd, grey metal. A faint red glow radiated from behind the pony’s armored ribs; a healing crystal if Astral had to guess. Every immediately vital part of the unicorn was protected by internal armor fused to bone and sinew. The shotgun rounds barely dented it.

No wonder he had been so cocky.

“You don’t have enough shots to kill me, bat pony,” Split spat, cracking his neck as his torso knit back together. “I’m going to make you watch us dissect Sassi, bit by bit. And then I’ll wipe your memory and make you watch it all over again on repeat.”

The shotgun roared again, Astral snarling as he fired.
“Shut up,” he hissed, Split still not being phased as the hole in his neck began to heal.

“Or maybe I’ll let my Guards have their way with It. Either way, you’re going to be-”

Another shot, and then another. Even the Unicorn’s eyes were armored, or at least the sockets were, because the bone didn’t fragment even with a slug shattering against Split’s face, eyeball fizzing back into existence.

“I said…shut up!” Astral bellowed, emptying his magazine into the unicorn’s chest.

As he reloaded, Split’s wounds continually knit closed, the unicorn now starting to laugh, a wet, meaty sound.

“You don’t have enough firepower!” he snarled, swiping at Astral with a hoof as the Thestral got too close. “As soon as my horn regenerates, I’ll rip your throat out!”

Backing up, Astral yanked off two items from the guards before trotting back over to Split, promptly shooting off the Director’s legs first. The unicorn’s horn was partially reformed, but Astral solved that problem with a swift punch of his hoof.

“You’re not even a pony,” Astral muttered, buckling the two grenade belts around Split’s torso and neck. The unicorn began to thrash but then settled on glaring at Astral and lashing out with a half-regenerated limb.

“All this for that experiment!?” Split growled. “What? Do you want some personal whore at your beck and call? Is that all this is-”

*SPLAT*

Astral’s punch tore off Split’s reforming jaw again, the Thestral snarling at him.
“You don’t get to call her that. After what you’ve done, what you threatened to do to her. To me, to everyone…”

Yanking the Director over, Astral checked the elevator shaft after prying the partially-open doors apart.

Empty.

To his credit, Split only glared at Astral, hatred, and rage glossing over his eyes. There was no pleading for his life or any more threats. Astral felt a soft flicker of pity for the unicorn. Not as a pony, but as…something else. It felt like the Thestral was putting down a rabid animal, not an intelligent being. There was no compassion, no life in the Unicorn’s eyes. Simply cold, calculated rage and hatred backlit by a red glow.

“All this for some experiment? It’s just a product!” Split spat.

Astral didn’t hesitate. He ripped the detonator cords off of the belts. There was only one thing Astral could say in response as he threw the Director into the elevator shaft, the Thestral’s roar echoing around the room.

“Not to me!”

As Split vanished from view, Astral heard a defiant bellow before the grenades ignited. A cacophony of thuds resonated up the shaft. Almost two dozen grenades detonating made flames lick out of the half-closed doors. It was enough firepower to shred an airship, let alone a single pony.

And then there was silence.

Astral took a few deep breaths, the scientists edging their way out of the other hallway. 
“He’s gone?” Vial asked, immediately snagging one of the pistols in a magical grip.

“Yes. Now let’s get out of here,” Astral said, turning towards Sassi, concern flooding his frame.

“Sassi, are you-”

It was only a split second, a stop motion film consisting of a few frames.
Sassi turned to look at him, the mare unable to stand as she leaned against the elevator door on the opposite side of the room.

The door opened, ripped from its mounts by two Skitter limbs.

As a colorful Spider latched onto Sassi’s neck, the first Skitter aimed a strike at the mare. Instead of plunging into her exposed neck, the limbs sheared off the saddle-gun mounts from their brackets before yanking Sassi into the elevator shaft.

Astral didn’t even hear himself let out a cry, the Thestral emptying the shotgun into the second Skitter that launched itself at him from the open door, fear, and anguish ripping out his throat in a single word.

“SASSI!”