//------------------------------//
// Chapter 4: Breaking and Entering 
// Story: Rifters of Equestria 
// by AldenExMachina 
//------------------------------//

							
Chapter 4: Breaking and Entering


"Here's how this is going to work." Alden said. "Clay, make your way over toward the landing bay on the south side of the base and set a thermite charge on the on the fuel resevoires. I'll make my way over toward the ventilation hub. Seeing as how we are dealing with a rather large A.I., it has produce a large amount of heat causing a system shut down and reset of the security systems. Not to mention the sudden increase of interior temperature." 
"They're gonna come pouring out like rats." Claymore said.
"Then we'll go in for the kill." Grey said deviously.
"Exactly. Oh, and Grey, take position near the entrance and get ready to throw up a mist shroud." Alden said.
"Got it." Grey said.
"Alright gentlemen, let's move out." Atlas said.

Clay moved toward the landing bay. Multiple aerial vehicles sat atop landing pads that were built onto a cliff ledge overlooking the mountain range. Below was a sheer drop down a steep icy slope. There were only a few vehicles driving around the compound used to carry cargo or troops and given the altitude of the base on the mountain they were most likely dropped in via cargo air ship. Oddly though, there were no ships for interstellar travel to speak of. There had to be some other mode of transportation. An enemy presence like this wouldn't just sit out here without any means of escape in case of emergency. Something was up.

Clay moved from cover to cover behind crates and vehicles, careful to stay out of sight. Although he was trained for it, stealth wasn't exactly one of his strong suits He was accustomed to more...aggressive means of operation. There were at least fifteen men within the immediate area, mostly engineers or soldiers. Clay followed a fuel line to the main fuel resevoire. It was a rather large black tank further to the back of the bay with multiple fuel lines originating from it a spreading out into the are towards the vehicles ready to be used. Clay planted the thermite charge on the back of the tank, as not to be spotted by any wandering eyes and keyed the signal to the trigger.

"Alden. Grey. I set the charge, what's your status?" Clay asked.
"Hey! Who are you!? 
Clay quickly turned around to see an armed soldier pointing an assault rifle at him.
"Hey, I'm just checking the pumps, making sure that the explosives I set are good to blow you stupid bastards to kingdom come." Clay said with a grin
"Explosives!?" the solider said.
"Yeah but, if I were you I'd be more worried about myself if I were you." Clay said with that same sly Grin.
"Oh yeah? How do you figure that?" the soldier questioned.
"Well, for starters I don't have an arrow sticking out of my chest." 
"Arrow? What the hell are you talk-"

Before he could finish his words the soldier was cut off by the the feeling of something striking him in the back and a strong pain in his torso. He lowered his gun and looked down to find a metal arrow was protruding from his chest.He looked back up at Clay who stood there shaking his head saying:"Sorry man". He fell to the ground as he gripped the arrow in shock and then let go, lifeless.

"Nice shot Grey." Clay said into his earpiece as he hid the body.
"I've got you covered." Grey said.
"You know, you stole my kill." Clay said.
"Yeah but, thought I'd show that guy a little mercy and save him from being turned into a barbecue." Grey said.

Grey was on the roof above the main entrance to the complex. He had his compound bow in hand watching the landing area from afar. From there Clay made his way to the facility's main entrance for rendezvous.
"Hey Alden, how are things going on your end?" Grey asked  
"Almost there." Alden replied.

Now all Rifters had powers had special powers and abilities as a result of exposure to Rift energy, which was present in all dimensions and could pop up randomly at any time with an unknown effect. Alden was able to manipulate electrical currents in many various ways from the the electricity in technology or machines to the electrical impulses in the brains of organic lifeforms. He also carried with him a High-Frequency sword, in which he could channel electrical currents.

Alden made his way toward the Ventilation Hub, a small building with a single door leading inside locked with a keypad. He walked up to the door and placed his hand on the pad. Energy began to surge down his arm into the the keypad as he neurologically interfaced with the system. A second later the keypad beeped and the door unlocked. Inside he found a terminal with a window to a huge room of fan walls and coolant tanks.  Alden placed his hands on the terminal and gave it a small charge. The screens turned an amber yellow as Atlas used Alden's body as a conduit into the system.
"I'm in," Atlas said "and the system is shutting down...now."

Suddenly all of the fans shut down then slowed to a halt and the coolant began to grow hot and bubble. The terminals turned red as Atlas disconnected and returned to Alden. Now Atlas was a highly advanced A.I. that was housed in a chip in Alden's shades but he was completely able to function within Alden's brain co-operating with his nervous system which benefited the both of them in combat situations, live data analysis, and advanced meta-cognition which can be defined as "knowing about knowing" or having  knowledge about when and how to use particular strategies for learning or for problem solving.

"Atlas, blow the charges. Guys, get ready." Alden said, heading outside. Grey, who was sitting on the rooftop, watched as the fireworks started. A huge explosion went off at the vehicle area, engulfing all in range in fire and smoke and caused the landing pads and some vehicles to topple off of the cliff and fall down the mountain in an avalanche of snow, debris, and destruction. Grey looked down to see about 20 soldiers run out of the base entrance heavily armed and at full alert. 
Grey pulled out his compound bow, took aim, and let an arrow fly straight to the group of soldiers.

Grey had the power of Aquakinesis. Through which he mostly manifested as mists in combat. His abilities also allowed him to  control, generate and/ absorb liquids, moving and shaping bodies of water to the his desire: lifting, parting or otherwise manipulating its form and/or density. He also carried with him two short swords, which he dual wielded and a black and green compound bow. As the arrow flew he engulfed it in a thick mist which trailed in mid-fight toward it's targets. On contact it exploded and dispersed into a thick mist, blinding and confusing the soldiers.

"Hey Alden I just set up a bunch of dead men walking, you close?" Grey said.
"Yeah, I'm closing in now." Grey looked ahead as Alden sprinted towards the still mist covered group of soldiers, all the while sparking with electricity. Claymore followed behind him.
"Alright Al, light'em up!" Grey said
Alden then jumped high into the air, extended his arm, and fired a bolt a lightning right into the mist.
"Energy 101 children! What happens when you introduce electricity to a water source?" Alden Yelled.
The electricity surged into the mist and through the bodies of the soldiers, completing a circuit and electrocuting them.
In many cases Rifters could combine their powers if compatible.
"Shock goes the weasel!" Grey yelled.
"Good job you guys, now let's get inside, it's freezing out here." Clay said, his head practically steaming as the three of them ran inside with the door closing behind them.

It was hot inside and only got hotter the further on they went.
"Damn man, it's burning up in here!" Grey said.
"Well, I did turn off the cooling system." Alden said. "The whole thing is tied into the A.I itself. Without it the whole place will just keep increasing in temperature until-"
"Boom." Clay finished.
"Exactly." Alden said."
"I kinda like it." Clay said.
"That's because your a human boiler. Your brain is probably just cooking in there." Atlas said with his usual smart-ass tone.

The three of them walked down a long corridor with multiple doors and hallways, all empty and silent. The halls were illuminated by red emergency lights. Most of the soldiers had dropped what they were doing and headed outside to manage the destroyed vehicles and fires, were searching the area for intruders, or were preparing for a possible attack.
"Alright, here we are." Atlas said. 
The three came to a large multi-lock door with large print that read: INNER-CHAMBER AUTHORIZED PERSONAL ONLY.
"I got this." Alden said as he unsheathed his katana from the scabbard on his back. It was a  a curved, slender, single-edged blade with a squared guard and long grip. Being that his sword was High-Frequency it was reinforced by a powerful alternating current and resonated at extremely high frequencies, allowing it to loosen the atomic bonds between atoms.
He brought his sword to bear, brought it back and slashed a series of attacks with incredible speed, cutting the door to pieces as it fell apart to reveal a circular lift. 

They all walked onto the lift and Clay pushed the down button and began to descend slowly into the shaft. Not dramatically slowly, but really, really slowly. Like, "what the f*ck?" slowly. So slow in fact, that the Rifters were getting a little pissed.
"Dude...what the actual f*ck?" Grey said flatly.
"It is going pretty slow." Alden said.
"Slow?! Alden, by the time we get down there scientists would have finally come to terms with the terrifying fact that the cast of Jersey Shore are NOT HUMAN!!!" Clay yelled.
"Nice." Grey said laughing.
""Well, what do you suggest?" Alden asked.
"Hmm. You know what, I've got an idea." Clay said.

Claymore's abilities were Pyrikinesis, which is the ability to manipulate fire. He can excite or speed up an object's atoms, increasing their thermal energy making it ignite, not necessarily objects, but also air particles. He can also control and move the flames, including the shape, heat and even color; that said, pretty much everything with this power comes down to burning. Which made sense that he was just fine with the increased temperature of the facility.

Clay stood in the center of the lift as his arms began to ignite with flames. He brought up his arms and threw several blasts of fire at the gears that the lift descended on. The metal quickly turned a white hot and began to melt.
"HOLD ON! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING!?" Grey yelled. 
"OH THIS IS GONNA BE FUN!" Alden yelled.
"HOLD ON YOU GUYS!" Clay said as they all grabbed on to the lift.
The entire lift began to groan and creak until the gears gave way and the entire lift plummeted to the bottom of the shaft.
"OHHHH CRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAP!!!" Grey yelled as they fell.