(Author's Note: If you've not noticed, Chapter 4, Identity Crisis, Has had a small update and is only one part. As always, any comments, suggestions, or concerns should be brought up and adressed. Please enjoy my loyal readers and first timers, and here's chapter 5!)
The group reached the top of the elevator. The little voice called, “Director Tiedemann has updated your locator.” The group walked down the single catwalk, and entered a room. The door was locked with a power lock, and vandal spotted the power core sitting nearby.
“Twilight. My kinesis is useless while I’ve got you. I need you to use your magic and place that core in the power slot.” Vandal explained to her. She nodded, and did as instructed. A smile crossed her lips as Vandal looked back at her. He saw her helmet was missing. “Twilight? Where’s your helmet?” His concern rose, not wanting to have her most valuable body part exposed.
“It’s right here.” She lifted the currently dark helmet. Vandal sighed.
“Please put it back on. We could be ambushed at any moment, and I’d like if you had your protection on.” She sighed now and slipped back into it. “Thanks. Now, let’s see if there’s anything good in these lockers…” Vandal knelt and set down Twilight, herself limping to lean on a wall. Vandal checked the lockers and storage units, finding nothing much of interest. He ejected the almost spent plasma cartridge and replaced it in his cutter.
He then tossed some blades to Rainbow Dash, who aimed it right and caught them in the storage pouch she had on her side. He was about to walk away from a locked locker, but something in the back of his mind told him there was something of major value in it. He took his saw, and sliced through the door, revealing to his pleasure, three stasis modules. Oh how convenient. Vandal took them, and attached them to each pony’s armor.
“Just stick you han- er… Hoof at what you want to hit, and think Stasis. But be careful, it is highly dangerous to hit each other with. You may slow us down and leave us defenseless to those monsters out there. You have a limited number of shots, but they recharge rather quick depending on your node placement.” Vandal explained.
“Uh, Vandal? What’s a node?” Apple Jack asked. Vandal dug in a pocket, and pulled out a circular device with a glowing light on it. It was rather small, fitting neatly in the palm of Vandal’s hand.
“This is a node. We can use them to open special locked doors, or place them in our weapons and armor to upgrade them.” Vandal pointed out. He pocketed the node and walked over to Twilight. “They can also upgrade your Rig to speed any healing processes.” He picked her back up, not bothered for she was rather light, besides the armor. In total, she probably only weighed about 150 pounds. A medium lift for Vandal.
* * *
The group stood wearily. It was late into Luna’s night. She had left them to perform her duties, and the group was growing rather tired. Celestia had ordered for some beds to be brought into the throne room, beings as three of their group had already fallen asleep. The others lay down and quickly made their ways into Luna’s dream land.
All that remained was Celestia. She stood, unwilling to leave the orbs. ‘Sister… Please… Sleep…’ She heard in her mind.
‘You know I can’t Luna. I must know how she does.’
‘Come sister. She is your student. She will be fine.’
‘I don’t know…’ Celestia heard no reply in her mind, but instead felt an irresistible urge to sleep suddenly. She knew who was doing this, and sighed in defeat. ‘Ok Luna. You win. I shall sleep…’
‘Good. I will keep an eye on her for you. Fret not dear sister. I have the upmost faith in her. Do you?’ And with that, Celestia found herself in a bed, eyes closing for the night.
* * *
The four came to another set of tunnels. But they found a door locked by two power cores. “Damnit…” Vandal groaned. He backtracked to the second tunnel, and instantly lost the will to move on. The tunnel was pitch black, it’s support light’s obviously broken. And as he had walked past the door the first time, a moaning noise came from inside.
“Vandal? Do we have to go in there?” Twilight asked.
“Yeah. Can you give us some form of light?” He asked.
Twilight’s helmet tip lit up, revealing a small ball of light. “Here, it’s not very powerful, but it also isn’t draining my energy.”
“Alright. Dash, Jack, I need you two to stick close and cover us.” Vandal instructed. He got two nods, and began into the dark tunnel. After a few screams and growls, some blood and guts, and even a curse or two, the group came out with the two cores. The door was opened, and the group glad to be out of that damned tunnel.
“Hey guys, this is Tyler. I sent a little present for you down the service chute. Should come in handy.” The four approached it, and picked up the credits and node. A monster jumped from behind them, and pinned Apple Jack. Rainbow reacted quite quickly, and tore the monster off her.
“Thanks…” Apple Jack muttered.
“No prob. I’d never leave a friend hangin’” Rainbow Dash assured her. The group left, and Vandal began another log.
“Audio log, Rig number 438642. Maybe I can make this right. Director Tiedemann asked me to repair the quarantine seal on Crossover Tube A. I don’t know if I’ll even make it there… But it’s my fault these things got loose in the first place. I have to try!” He ended and noticed the heads were turned his way.
“Did you say it’s your fault these monsters are everywhere?” Twilight asked, her voice full of disbelief.
“Yes… It was an accident… But no time for that. We need to get out of here.” Vandal admitted. They then entered, yet again, another tunnel.
“Ahm gettin’ real sick of these darned tunnels…” Apple Jack muttered.
“That makes two of us…” Vandal growled. Luckily, this was a short one that led to a small catwalk.
“Incoming transmission!” Called the voice.
“Vandal. This is Director Tiedemann. You must hurry! The monsters are gaining speed, and you still have Water and Food Processing between you and the Crossover Tubes.”
“Going as fast as I can Tiedemann. It’s not exactly an open road. Plus… I picked up a little extra cargo.” Vandal sighed out.
“I don’t care what you mean by that, just hurry!” He cut out.
“Well, he’s a bucket of sunshine.” Twilight commented.
“Yeah… Tell me about it…” The group moved on. They came to another catwalk above a bottomless pit. This one had a consol on it though. Vandal went to activate it, but that’s when he saw it. A replica of him and Twilight stood on the opposite platform. “Hey! Who’s down here?” Vandal called out.
No response. The replica just mirrored their movements. “Vandal… I… I see it…” Twilight gasped.
“You what?” Vandal was shocked.
“I see the copy… Am I going insane?” She asked him. He had ignored the replica and gone to activate the panel. As he did, the lights flashed for both of them, and it turned out to be a bladed monster with a baby on its back. Twilight blasted them away as they tried to grapple with Vandal. The two sighed as Apple Jack and Rainbow Dash ran up to them.
“What in the hay is wrong with you two? We tried to warn you of those monsters!” Apple Jack yelled.
“We didn’t hear you…” Twilight admitted. Vandal sighed once more and activated the panel. But was no more surprised when a lockdown proceeded.
“To the door!” Vandal yelled, suddenly aware of how venerable they were on the catwalks. They fought for a few brief moments, before the lockdown lifted and they were quickly leaving.
“Vandal, there’s another tram ahead of you.” Tyler informed them. They couldn’t have been happier to hear that. They stepped on the new platform, and Vandal set Twilight on the bench.
“Ok Twilight. I’m going to upgrade your Rig. This should speed your healing, so I won’t have to carry you the entire time.” Twilight nodded, and Vandal made his quick work. He shortly after herded the three into the tram car, staying inside with them as he shut the door. “Rest now. You all seem very tired.” And it was true. The three were almost ready to pass out.
Vandal activated the tram, and he lay with them, physically strained. The three had already removed their helmets, and were instantly sleeping. Vandal sighed. He knew his and their journey was far from over.