//------------------------------// // A Small Briefing // Story: The Adventures of Crithion Krytech EP 1 // by armoredbrony1 //------------------------------// Morality Morality, its what determines right from wrong in your eyes and mind. Morality can be concocted, forged, tuned and forgotten. When times change, so can you! --------- I Fucked Up!...Badly. I thought that if I postponed the Data Reassessment until the near end it would work, clearly I was utterly wrong. Im a failure, the ponies In this horrid place where right! They told me I couldn't ever get something right, not even proper flight. Well its kind of hard when your fucking wings change from miniscule slabs to bloody enormous gliders when you just figured out how to use them in the former. And now, I just ruined any chance of liberation from this fucking hellhole. Great job Solar, ya done good. Ya done good indeed. But at failing the promise I made with Crithion, I managed to get something right. When I fucked up none a few minutes ago, 'Causing Crithion to get his Morals and Life lines stuffed'. I did something right in terms of the Rainbow Factory. I was competent in the eyes of Sapphire and not just her, The High Counsel as well. I stand here, with Sapphire by my side wrapping her wing over my back with sincere Appreciation because I did something correct for once and im guessing its her way of saying "im proud of you." But I sure wasn't proud of myself. At All! Taking a deep breath and letting it go, I politely asked Sapphire if I could finish up for the day. Sapphire gave a nod of her head and left the room, leaving my to my leisure. A few moments of silent pacing later, I headed over to my locker on the far side of the room close to my desk. After I got there I put on my saddle bags and locked up the room that was "Mechanics And Maintenance." Finding my bearing and stance, I slowly walked to the service elevator and pressed the ^ button next to the door of the lift. A moment later, the metal doors opened and I stepped inside also pressing a button marked with the words 'Level 5' and began my accent to the apartment facilities of the Rainbow Factory. While the soothing music played inside the interior or the lift, I had trouble adjusting to what could become of Crithion and what I had left for his own fate. Like what would these ponies do to him? Make him do? Or have him involved with the work done here? These were the questions that would now haunt me forever. What was the fate of the being I had trust me for the sake of the innocent, only for my own incompetence to ruin any chance of getting out of the Underworld and into Heaven. So to speak. The ding of the elevator doors indicating my stop broke my train of thought. Finding composure and exiting the lift for the one thousand time, I started my route down the stale halls towards to the ordinary dorms where all the lower employee's had to take shelter for their time here at the Rainbow Factory. Pushing the Key card I wore on my left fore-hoof to the small passage terminal of my door and holding it there for the desired seconds needed, the door opened and I slide inside and shut the door. Locking it strait afterwards, and turning on my lights that filled the small apartment up with a light yellow hue. Making it look like it was filled to the roof in some ponies piss, and the furniture looking like crap. They really know how to make a pony fell right at home now don't they. Giving a sigh, I turned off the lights and crashed onto my bed. Now in a relatively safe place to think, I went over todays events and slowly drifted off to sleep. A tear escaping my eye and hitting the pillow. ------------ I was in a world filled with hues of green and blue, the ground apparently made of clouds and the sun high in the sky. Rubbing my eyes and looking around aware of being unconscious, and also checking to confirm that by running a few mini-tests in a simulator program that was one of many other little functions I could preform with my semi-glorious body. Taking in full cognition of where and what was around me I could in a way identify what my mind thought to do while knocked out. To my left stood in all weirdness possible, a fifty foot tall mutant looking cactus monster with a sombrero on its head singing an unfamiliar tune. Wow, I am scared and confused on so many levels right now. Shrugging shoulders, I walked up to it and asked what was going on? "I'm afraid that you are soon to be gone" it replied in a sing-song voice. "I'm what?" I needed to hear that again, just for chances. "You will be yourself for not much longer, and in which will be a damage to those around you." it answered again in a very happy-go-lucky tune. As I processed this, the world I was in started to fall apart. A loud pitch rang though the area, like a downed radio giving off a distraught signal. The rest of it was like static from a TV that just had its wires cut and stomped on. The apposed clouds I was standing began to fade into nothingness an di could then see the eternal black void that was underneath the cloud layer. The clouds were non-existent now, I lost my footing and fell into the abyss of the unknown. Falling at a rapid pace, I barely saw the Cactus waving at me as I awoke from my unconscious world and entered the realm of reality. And unaware that every stich of good Morale was buried deep within me, unable to see the light of sun again. I woke, thrusting forward into a sitting position on the bed I was on and pushing the bed sheets off in the process. Composing myself and taking a look around told me I was in some sort of I don't know barracks maybe, there were a few guards around the place, more beds all over and a weapons rack on the wall next to the only means of exit. A guard noticed my sudden dispatch from the dream scape and left the room (probably to go get either Rainbow Or someone else of equal importance) and ordered another to stand by my side. Why? Im not going to hurt anybody. There is no need. Wait...I thought that... Maybe im imagining things but a few seconds ago, I thought that I was I dunno, being tortured. Nah, just forget it. it was all a crazy dream. Heh, brains are weird. Five minutes and a few incentive thoughts later, A Pegasus with a dark grey coat and a blue silver mane. Also bettering a cutie mark with a what was that... A storm cloud. I need to know more about this shit. I mean The history, how they are Formed or earned and what type of matter they are made out of (for science reasons). He trotted over to me. Looked me over and then Told me something. " My name is Thunderlane, and from this moment on. You are my apprentice in training." My Interface twitched a little, making my vision become impaired for a second. Shaking my head and clearing the static. " Your what?" I said. who does this guy think he is? "My apprentice or in more appropriate terms... An assistant so to speak." He returned. thinking about his wording on the subject. "And if I refuse?" I questioned. "Death!" Wow, I knew people could be blunt but...this was something else. "Wow, jeez. you really put the cards on the table now don't you?" I said, thinking over my options at hand...it was obvious what I was going to pick. For some reason I don't remember how I got here or why I was here, but I do remember the guards and their strengths. I am in no position let alone any condition to uptake that offer. ------- I agreed to his conditions (like there was any other choice?) and Thunderlane asked me to follow him to his office... Wait, Office? So this guy had authority here. Well, better to train with an official than someone under experienced. We where walking up some stairs (Wow, would it kill someone to put down some WD40?) and as we climbed another Pegasus was going down, passing us in the process. The Pegasus mare was of cyan colour and had a mane in the vision of the light spectrum (Rainbow), as we passed one another she glared strait at me and then continued on her route. "What's her Problem?" I asked My new master. He bit his lip, "Don't know, maybe its just that time of the month." I could see him curse under his breath. I decided to ignore it, maybe it was domestic issues...Don't know Don't care! We arrived at the top of the case, and before us was a huge iron door heavily stocked with guards but it was different. The Guards were wearing more upper mount gear. They adorned a steel helmet with a slit in the top to accompany their manes, and a few jiggered plates rode down the back of their necks. Heavy looking torso protection with some sort of symbol down near their flanks, im guessing a coat of arms or something similar. They hesitated, both at attention and shooting death stares at me. First that rainbow one and now these two, something's wrong here but its not the time to dwell on matters of the sort because the two guards had opened the door and I felt a tug at my arm. Turns out I was so focused on them that I had forgotten why I was here and Thunderlane was bitting the sleeve on the coat I was wearing. When did I acquire a lab coat, and why does it say Core-Tech Research and Development on the breast pocket. Another thing to ad to the list on things I can figure out in my spare time. Clearing the fog from my head and checking my vitals, Last thing I remember doing was...Actually I cant remember anything, Weird. But I must have done something to cause these damages, especially the strange devise that happened to be fused to my Core. I need answers soon cause this was all to confusing. I expected a fancy room with porcelain vases and a big desk to top it all off but not this time, what am I greeted with... A long hallway! Great, like I wasn't tired enough. More walking. HUZZAH!!! Keeping my composure, I soldiered on down the path. Thunderlane by my side We Had been treading the halls for around 10 mins when a thought hit me. " Exactly what type...of training am I going to receive?" I had to ask. That made him nearly trip over. "Uh, well. what I have in mind is a course that will teach you programing and how to use a "certain" machine." Thunderlane stumbled out. Huh, that was far less complicated than I originally thought. "So, im being taut how to program and use some device...sounds fair, I guess" I mumbled. After walking for what seemed like forever, Thunderlane halted me. I stopped in my tracks and looked to where we had arrived, it was a door but what really caught my eye was the plaque above it. Adorned with silver, it read. Thunderlane Chief Maintenance officer It was thickly engraved into the silver piece, resided above the large oak door that separated these halls to the sanctuary on the other side. The dark grey Pegasus entered a code into a terminal that was at the right side of the wooden door, and then it clicked open revelling its secrets to all. He ushered me in and closed the door, locking it not long after. Gathering my bearings, I found myself in a pre-room of some sort. The type that would let a guest take off his shoes and hung up a coat before entering the actual premises. I almost felt that I should hang up my own lab coat in respect for being a guest here in Thunderlane's private dormitory. He monitored me into the actual room, as I followed him inside my reaction was not of as I expected. First off, bare wooden floors. Not my taste if you ask me. Second, the room itself was not as big as I would have imagined. By guess it would be around a six by five metre perimeter space with a low roofing. Well the ponies in this place come up to belly height on me, so its understandable that the architects who built this place (wherever and what this is?) had made it to accompany their height and not mine. Third, a simple desk stood to my left facing the wall to my right. One weird looking seat one side of the desk by the wall and two slightly smaller on the other side. On the desk was another plaque but much smaller and its colour was slightly darker than the one outside. It read, Thunderlane Chief Maintenance Officer But lets forget about the desk for a moment, to my right on the wall was a banner of some sorts. It was tattered and stained a rust red, it held in the centre a golden circle, in front of that was a cloud, based with three arched pillars with wings extending from the sides. It was an insignia, for the company I now worked for I think...There stood another door on the same wall with the banner, they where right next to each other in fact. It probably lead into a sleeping courters or something similar, like Thunderlane had to sleep some ware right...or do these creatures with wings don't sleep at all. That would suck, I mean even I do it. Yes im mechanical but I sleep for two reasons. One, its a chance for IODINE to kick in properly and do some much needed repairs. Two, time to think! If I was just up all day doing fuck all would I get any thing sorted out in order or in fact any thing at all. I need time for think. And another thing about the room, It smelt of Rot! it was like taking a huge whiff from the devil's ass crack and living! "Finished gawking yet sunshine!" Thunderlane suddenly asked out of the blue. Snapping back to the real world, realising that I had left him waiting. "Sorry, just you-know looking around my bosses office" I said with a grin. "I know it isn't much, until im promoted. This it what I get." My Teacher said, looking around the office himself. A look of depression creeping onto his muzzle. I don't blame him, this isn't exactly room of the year and he has to live here for the foreseeable future. Ouch, that's harsh. "Just out of curiosity, what are the ranks here? in this place, is there some sort of system or something?" I asked him trying not to hit a soft spot. Thunderlane walked behind the wooden desk and sat down (how he can sit like that is confusing) and asked me to sit too. Taking his offer and joining him at the desk in one of the smaller chairs, barely able to sit comfortably but I managed and he proceeded with my request. "Let me start off with the highest rank, the chancellor. Currently occupied by Miss Rainbow Dash." I cut him off. "Wait, so that mare we saw at the stair case who looked like she would murder them if they got in her way. Is the Boss around here?" I questioned. "Yes, and if you have any common sense you would try and avoid her. That description you just gave her, is in fact accurate." Thunderlane told me. "Fuck! what are the people under her like?" I continued. shifting in the torture chamber of a chair I sat in currently. "Next to Rainbow, Is her adviser Spitfire. She tells her what to do and what not to do, in a way Spitfire has more power than Rainbow Dash. But if rainbow was smart enough to find that out, she would probably loose it and personally put Spitfire through the Pegasus Device." Thunderlane snickered at that last bit. "Hold on a second." I was confused now. "So If this Spitfire has more power than the rank above her, then why is Rainbow there? Why not Spitfire?" A puzzled look now adorned on my face. "To answer that, ill have to explain some thing about Rainbow Dash or as everypony else calls her "skittles". He grind. "Skittles" I questioned again. "I'll tell you the story behind that one later, but until I do. Don't you dare call her that when im not around. It wont end well for you, I promise". Taking in his adversary and listening on to what he has to say. If I was going to be working here, I needed intel of the people I was working with. "I'll spare you her backstory, ill give you the short version. First, she isn't very bright. Now you may be thinking, wait if she wasn't that smart...how could she make it so far up the track?" I nodded. "Well, the reason is. Rainbow Dash is powerful, not in a physical sort of way but, in the Magical sorts." Wait...Magic! "Hold on, Did you say magic...Explain?" I was keen for this. yes I was in the company of a flying horse so I was basically open minded from her on out but...Magic, you can't be serious. "Yes, I said magic. I presume you are known to its existence?" Thunderlane had tone of worry in his words. I...Presume he just immediately assumed I knew how it worked, I know zilch. But im rearing him of course, time to get back to the matter he was just discussing. "Never mind, Please continue with The Tale Of The Dash". This is me trying to lighten the mood...I know im terrible, so sue me! He looked at me weirdly. "Well, Rainbow Dash has a connection to a magical vein unlike any unicorn. But she is a Pegasus, and if that is so then why is she a threat to all of those who stand in her way?" My new teacher paused, waiting for an answer I presume. What he got was a shrug in return. All I could think about was this god awful chair I was sitting in. "She, and another five ponies are holders to a very special potent magic." Thunderlane Went on. "The Elements Of Harmony!" I was at a loss for words, I mean. The Elements of Harmony, That's, that's. Cheesy, And tacky. If your going to give a name to something that is powerful and persistent like 'Magic' or for what I know about it. Telekinesis, levitation and Teleportation. It needs fire, excitement and Originality. Yes, its current going is well original but. It could use some work, Now time for some insight. After about another 70 mins of explanation, what my job was going to be and general chatter so I could get to know Thunderlane better. I was given a card and instruction on how to use it, it was my new room key. I said goodbye to Thunderlane and he did as well, he also told me that I had my first training session tomorrow. No rush or anything. I arrived at the dorm with my number indicated by the access card I now held in my hand. 78 is what it read. Thunderlane told me that for the time being I was to be stationed in the 'Lower' levels has he had said it, and that it was a pretty shitty place down here. No worries, as long as the door locks. Im fine! I tried the lock with the card, It refused it. Odd, I did it again and again. Finally by the fourth time it worked. The door clicked open reviling to me my new courters or whatever. And Thunderlane had been true to his word! Before me was as expected, Stained walls, bad carpeting, no windows, that same poster with the weird cloud insignia on it and really bad furniture scattered around. Its not Spacious or beautifully decorated like a Five star hotel as I would have wanted it but hey like they say "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth". Stepping over the threshold and taking off the fairly pristine white coat I was wearing that beared the Core-Tech logo, still don't know what it means but that doesn't matter at the moment. I placed it on one of the two hooks that were on the back of the small door and did some more inspecting. Losing interest in it all, I collapsed onto the relatively snug bed spread. It was designed for pony use, So quit your whining! My Brain/P.C.U yelled. Pulling out my H.U.D glasses and putting them aside on the bedside table, I closed my eyes and did a revision on what happened today. First I wake up not knowing a damn thing, second I am offered a job and then a death threat swings my way and long story short. I work here now...Yay or Neigh? Finishing up, I tuned my power to focus on nothing but repairs during my slumber and then tuned out for the day. For what awaits me tomorrow? I will only find out in time. As Crithion drifted off into his land of unconsciousness, He was not aware that on the exact opposite side of the wall closest to his head. Solar Wind quietly slept with a tear stained pillow under her delicate head, experiencing one of her worst nightmares yet.