//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: Corruption // Story: The Manehatten Chronicles: Book 1 of 3: The Manehatten Typewriter // by Shadow rift //------------------------------// Awakening the next morning, I found myself refreshed and devoid of my anger, a sigh leaving my smiling lips as I rub the sleep out of my eyes with my wings. Gently, I begin to hover my way towards washroom. Reaching my destination, I turn the faucet on to spill warm water and begin my routine of splashing the warmth upon my face before brushing my teeth and ending with a quick comb through my deep blue mane. With my hygiene and hair care complete, I retreat into the kitchen where I begin my breakfast, a simple fruit bowl with a honey glaze, and proceed to eat, the television playing in the background the latest news reports in Manehatten. Only occasionally do I decide to tune in and out of this broadcast due to my thoughts staying with the topic of how to repair the android for future use. Hopefully both Minuette and I will be able to see where we went wrong... I am only drawn out of my thoughts when the words 'Breaking News' fill the screen in red words and displayed on an orange background. "Mares and Gentlecolts, the following information is about to affect your friends, family, and life." The reporter states, drawing my interest towards the screen as I float to my couch, the fruit bowl with a small fork in hoof. Sitting down upon my couch, I proceed to listen to this news report... "At approximately 5:00 this morning, our governor has just passed a new ordinance entitled 'The SADDAL V ordinance' and assigned it as active. For those of you at home who are not aware, SADDAL V is an acronym for 'Sales And Distribution or Division of Alcohol Legalization Void' that, as the name acronym states, makes it illegal to own, distribute, or manufacturing of any alcoholic beverage inside of Manehatten, an ordinance that has been heavily criticized by many politicians and citizens. Throughout the day, we will continue to cover this ordinance and its effects on you, the viewers at home." I'm almost entirely not surprised that this new ordinance was passed, seeing as how this governor seemed to make it her first priority when inaugurated into her position, nor am I entirely affected by this. I never was much of a drinker to begin with, and all this ordinance will do is anger some citizens. If there's anything life has taught me, no decision is without it's critics... Within a few moments, the fruit salad is reduced to nothing more than a small pool of glaze. Rising out the bowl, I decide to simply leave it in the sink with warm water inside to soak up whatever remains there were. Grabbing my coat and my keys to my apartment, I quickly begin to make my way to the science center, determined to make this breakthrough in science. *************************************** The sight I see before me shatters my world entirely as I arrive at the center, where a small mass of twenty collages of mine gather at its front, completely curious and devastated at the sight. The Science Center that many of us have worked at for so long now, is now crawling with Manehatten Police officers and bio-hazardous officials wearing their trade mark yellow and black suits, entering in and out of the building with almost complete disregard for us. In front of our home reads a simple yellow sign with black for its font color reading: "Because of residential concern and a radiation reading taken last night, the Manehatten Bio-Hazardous squad and Manehatten Police force have joined together to dispose of this building and any other waste left behind. Have a nice day!" "How could this have happened?" Is one of the many questions that everypony here is asking as they read the sign. I too am asking the same question. How did this all come to be? We keep everything under control here and in the proper storage facilities. How was it possible that there was a radiation leak?! The answer comes to me as soon as this notice did to the Professors and Doctors here. The energized magic. There's no way though! I think to myself. Magic has no radiation in it, as far as I know. And the energization of magic contains no radioactive byproducts or symptoms... Right...? "I'm going to speak to them." I say to the rest of my colleagues, trotting off angrily to one of the many hazmat ponies to demand an explanation. "Excuse me!" I say, gaining the attention of this pony quicker than I though. "I am Doctor Astra Aquaduct, one of the many who are working here. I demand to have an explanation for this!" "Didn't you read the sign?" The hazmat pony says in a snarky attitude, "We got a radiation reading last night and tons of angry families breathing down our necks. That explosion last night was the last straw, we're shutting it down." "But, you can't! It's the first time in months that something like this has happened. There are at least sixty other ponies who count on this for a daily income!" "Hey, I don't make the rules I just follow. If you've got a problem, talk to the big white fella over there. Blue mane, all official looking and crap." The pony says, turning her back towards me to continue whatever work she had been doing in the first place. Turning myself around, I see the stallion in question. I've sworn I've seen this colt before, but I couldn't quite say when. He is a strong and regal stallion with a blue mane and pearl white coat, a badge adorning his blue Manehatten police force uniform, which is covered by a black long coat. I immediately make my way over towards him, both angered but mostly scared at his presence. Up close, the stallion is even more large looking, easily taller than me and stronger. Any mare would fall for this stallion, and any stallion would rather die than deal with him. "Excuse me..." I say, pulling him out of his conversation with another mare much smaller than him situation purple mane and light purple coat, wearing a tan trench coat. "Can I help you?" He asked, his voice softer than I had expected. "Uh, y-yes you can. My name is Doctor Astra Aquaduct, I'm an engineer, bio mechanic, chemist, and marine biologist here at our research center. I'm requesting you to keep the science center open for our continuation of making Equestria a better place." He's silent for the longest time, pondering what I have just relayed to him in a look that seems genuine, but to me looks sarcastic. "Okay, sure..." He said, a smile on his face as he looked upon me. "I'll be sure to pull my team from here..." "Oh... Why... Thank you Sir, I'm glad we were able to come to-" "Not so fast." He said, quickly interrupting me. "I'll pull my team if you can answer one question for me." "Why yes. Of course sir. What would you like me to answer?" "It's Commissioner Shining Armor to you..." He said, almost in a way that spewed venom at me. "Y-yes Commissioner...!" I said, now stammering horribly. "Good. Now, there was an explosion that happened here last night. If you could tell me what was the cause of it, I'll give you back the Center. If not, well..." he shrugged, "We'll have to shut it down." I was now scared. If I responded, then that would mean I was responsible for this whole problem and get my... Our home, back. But if I didn't answer, we would lose this place. What do I do? The answer comes to me in the form of a blue unicorn, who had just barely arrived and witness what has transpired. I have to. For her. "It was... Me. I was working on a new android to do various acts of daily labor or chores. If possible, maybe even a new soldier. However, there were... Complications. The power cord we- I! Was using was a form of magic called 'Energized Magic' a completely harmless and radioactivity void substance. The frame of the android didn't reach well with the substance and caused a minor explosion. I was hoping to come here and, possibly, find out what I did wrong..." The entire time I say this, Commissioner Shining Armor stares at me blankly, raising his eyebrows every so often at the mare next to him, but nothing more. When I finish, he once again ponders what was just told to him, smiles to himself, and looks back down at me. "Well, I'm glad that you brought this forward. Thank you. You can get your facility back." "Wait... Really?" I ask, dumbfounded at this response. "Sure. I'll pull my team out ASAP. Boys!" He screams out to all the other ponies on the ground, both police and hazmats, who immediately make their way towards him. Smiling, he continues. "Change of plans. Mr. Aquaduct here..." He begins, patting me on the head, "has just informed me that it was all his fault for this and there's nothing to worry about. Let's go ahead and clear out. Rusty, Quiltton, pack up everything and make sure everything is spick and span." With his order, the pony and the stallion trot off towards the center and begin to tell the others about what happened, each of them happy to find that they won't be losing the home. "Whew... Thank you Commissioner for this. It's good to know that all of this was just a silly misunderstand-" "Frosty, Onyx, please escort Mr. Aquaduct out..." That sentence hits me like a thousand rocks were just thrown at my chest, rocking me to my core. "Wait... What do you mean escort...?" I ask, a terrified expression on my face as I look at Shining Armor, who looks as though he is hold back a laugh. "Sorry..." He says with a smile, "But if this place is gonna stay up, we can't afford something like this happening again, right?" I'm completely numb as this point. A whole year of complete dedication just for this? All my hard work and all my time in and out of libraries and classrooms, just to be thrown out of what I was destined for? The ground beneath my hoofs almost completely disappears as the magic aura of Shining Armor's horn envelops me in it. "Frost! Onyx! Come on! We can't let this guy stay here any longer or we risk a lawsuit." He says, and suddenly I am enveloped in yet another magic aura of half purple half light blue. "Hey... Don't sweat it. You'll find another job, and when you do, you can come back here! On a lunch break." Shining Armor said as I still stood numb and motionless, Chuckling ever so slightly as the two unicorns whisked me away from my home. The last sight I see, is the sight of Minuette as she turns back and looks at me with eyes full of concern.