Princess Luna had just been getting to bed when one of the royal guards burst into her room. She had really wanted to get some rest after a long night of work. The night had been more interesting than most due to a rampaging Ursa Major that was barely stopped from reaching the the city of Manehatten. Luckily, no pony was hurt and the beast had been sent back to the stars where most of it's kind resided.
"Your highness, your sister Princess Celestia requests that you speak to her immediately. She did not say what the matter was, but she did make it clear that it can't wait," the guard panted.
"I'm surprised that Celestia is back so soon from here little excursion to the crystal empire," Luna replied,"I might as well attend to her wishes."
Later, in the throne room. "Sister, you wanted to see me?"
"Yes Luna, do you remember that trip I took to the dig site?"
Princess Luna sighed," Of course I do Celestia. You only returned from it a few hours ago."
Celestia blinked,"Oh, yes time seems to pass quickly when you have something on your mind."
'What could Celestia be so worried about that she had lost track of time?'Luna wondered. Celestia walked over to a shelf and removed a small black object that was made of something Luna hadn't seen in a very long time, plastic. Celestia handed it over to Luna who gave her a questioning look.
"There was an incident at the dig site. The site contained some old world technology that housed the remains of many creators; one of them was alive. It gave me this and told me it contained information on the fall of their race. After he gave it to me he unfortunately perished," Celesia said all this with a stoic face and was obviously trying to show no emotion; her facade wasn't working,"Shall we see if the recording still works sister?"
Luna stared at her sister as many memories washed back to her that she had pressed down into her subconscious for years on end. "Why should we sister? We already know more than we want to on the subject. Why would we want to learn anymore; even though you try to act indifferent I can see this troubles you," Luna snapped at her older sibling with spite evident in her voice.
Celestia paused for a moment then quietly said,"You don't have to watch then the recording if you don't want to sister. I know it pains you more than it does me, but I also know that you will stay with me for the same reason that I didn't destroy the recorder. You know we owe it to him, you know what he went through to give this to us."
Luna turned away from Celestia for a moment, sorrow had replaced the spite. "Sister, must we?"
"Yes, Luna, we must."
"If it is for the best sister, then please do the honors."
At her permission Celestia gave a sad smile and began to search her memory for the necessary spell. The elder princess's magic flare for a moment, focusing on the recorder then it dissipated as the device buzzed to life. Quiet beeps were audible and two lights blinked to life.
"System rebooting, accessing messages. Two video files recorded, one audio file recorded."
Celestia looked to Luna who nodded. "Access and play the first video file."
"Video file loading... Now playing."
A tiny panel on the device slid back to reveal a cube that was promptly raised by a cylinder. Light shone from the cube, searching for a flat surface. After finding a blank section of wall the recording began to play...
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"Hello, is this on? Yes, its on now," a man in a gray coat said to the camera. A lamp in the back of the room shone brightly. "Celestia, Luna, if you are watching this then I doubt that I still draw breath, but I pray that you are in good health. I am preparing this recording in case we don't make it. By we I mean the creators." The man sat back into a leather armchair. "If everything goes according to plan I will destroy this recording device and congratulate your success personally. If not... well, we had better not talk about that now. I have personally done the calculations and it is possible to heal the planet with the help of you two." The man leaned forwards and whispered,"By the time that you are listening to this we will know whether my math is correct."The man paused; 'I hope they are for the sake of humanity,' he thought. "you two are responsible for filling the earth with life again in the event of total human extinction. I will have already taught you how to use your abilities to do this. I will also make sure that the main computer AI will assist you after we convert him into a mobile unit and-"
A knock sounded from the office door. "One moment please! I'm recording a message of great importance." The door opened and the man turned off the recording. "What is it you know I'm not to be interrupted during matters of this importance."
A young man wearing a military standard vest walked in saying,"I'm sorry Doctor Hollens, but the AI is acting up again."
"It's fine Mark, I'm glad you told me right away. I'll have to check his firewall again."
"No doctor you don't understand. It's different this time. He's was acting more violent and injured a few security guards before I was able to pull the plug on his main power supply."
"Well this is troubling. I shall see to it at once." Both the doctor and the youth hurried out of the office.
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The recording ended as a silhouette opened the door. Both princesses were perplexed.
"I guess that the first recording was cut short..." Luna commented.
"Hollens acted as if these were important so whatever interrupted him was most likely essential. Let's watch the next recording. It may reveal some answers."
"Loading video file two... Now playing"
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"Warning, system damage critical. Please use manual override."
Doctor Hollens ran towards his office as the base's security system blared over the loudspeakers. Two guards followed close behind him. One of the guards, Anderson, tripped causing laughter to erupt from the loudspeakers. The guard yelled in alarm as a mechanical arm grabbed his ankle. Hollens didn't look back. He knew the guards fate was sealed. The second guard, Mark, stopped for a moment to draw his pistol and kill the remaining guard before he could be dragged off. The fate of those who were captured had become well known and the quick death of a shot to the brain was a mercy.That only the lucky would receive. The laughter stopped as the prospect of Anderson's demise vanished.
"Shut the door quickly,"yelled Hollens as he and Mark entered the office," I made sure to shut his influence out of this place long ago."
Marked locked the door as the doctor walked over to his desk and turned on the recording device.
"I don't have much time,but I must give you all the vital information you need to finish your task", he spoke to the small box."You already know the basic patterns for creating life and the formulas for generating organic matter. With your unique powers you won't require the machinery in this facility."
"Doctor Hollens, what is so important about these recordings? Why are you talking as if someone is on the other side? Is this about that project of yours? It failed, remember?"
Hollens ignored Marks comments and continued,"You two are my greatest creations. You are my life's work and the greatest success of my kind. To others you are my projects and my research, but to me you are more than that; to me you are like my children. I love you both-"
A beeping sound could be heard from the recording device signaling that I had been turned off. The lights in the office dimmed and the computers shut down.
"What just happened? Where did the power go?"
"No... no no no no no!"Hollens what yelling,"He cut off our power." Fear had entered his voice and he turned to Mark. "This place is no longer secure. We have to move."
"We'll have to split up. That way I can cause a diversion and you can get to a pod."
"No, take this recording and head for a pod. He'll focus on me, a scientist who could stop him not you, a simple guard.
If I get his attention then you will have a small window of time to escape."
Mark prepared to argue, but an explosion deep in the facility silenced him. He nodded and took the recording. Hollens turned from Mark and opened the office door.
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The recording cut out suddenly leaving the royal sisters with more questions than answers. Celestia checked the recording date. The first recording had been made a year before the second.
"I remember that day,"Luna quietly said.
"As do I sister. How could I forget it. At least we know that he was sincere in his kindness to us," Celestia replied as a tear rolled down Luna's face.
The recording device beeped suddenly and began to play the audio recording unbidden. Both sisters were startled and paid attention to the voice coming out of the machine.
"I remember the war. The war that ended all others. The war was all started so easily yet,it was so hard to end. At times I question if my existence is worthwhile, then I remember all that happened and I know I must remind others of our folly..."