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// A lab, equipment and preparation. 
// Story: Of Cyborgs and Augmentation 
// by MetalBrony20 
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Blackness. It covered everything. It was a symbol of evil and foreboding. The only sounds that could be heard were faint static buzzing and electronic beeping. With this was the sound of footsteps, faint and echoing. The sound bounced off the cavernous room and made it seem eerie, as it dissipated into the wide ebony expanse.

The footsteps grew louder, and as they did so, small florescent bulbs lit up, casting blue light over a thin walkway, made of thin mesh with small metal handrails either side. The steps grew louder again, this time a large mechanised column turned on. Panels with small screens and flickering lights appeared over, casting a green and blue light over the thin slender legs of the person.

Lights flickered on by a larger expanse, the walkway opening out to a platform. Again screens and other monitors flickered into life. Dials and lights appearing seemingly out of no where. What looked like thick power cables snaked along the ground, twisting and turning as they attached themselves to these vast banks of computers. The now loud footsteps stopped by a large metallic box and the feet shifted to face it. 

Long slender fingers, covered with pristine white gloves pressed a few buttons and pulled a few switches. A small whine, followed by a long hiss of escaping gas was let out as a large case was opened. Lit up by small lights, the artefacts were revealed. On a small pedestal, was a large robotic helmet. However it was beautifully crafted., not crudely welded together with a welding torch by a fool. Thick contoured metal shone, as it opened out at the top, revealing wires and electrodes, which were sticking out of the top slightly haphazardly, each wire connected to different parts of the top. Some however connected to a small metallic box, which jutted slightly out of the rear of the device.

Two large points, in the shape of ears, stuck out of the sides of the helmet; they looked almost like radar dishes, large and slightly rounded. Two red metal half spheres were below this, which were covered with antenna which pointed upwards a slightly jagged angles. A much thicker one, the base of which was coiled almost like a spring, pointed directly upward. Despite how thin they were, they did not give the impression of frailty, rather a sense of command and knowledge of surroundings.

Attached to the right side of the helmet below the antenna was targeting system; a large circular disk, made of green hardened glass and crawling in electronics. Behind this was a singular robotic lens. Deep red glass, almost ruby in colour, was situated in the end of this device. The left side however lacked these features. Instead it was hollow and it allowed a look in the dark insides, with several electrodes coiling inside the armoured casing. A small monitor above the helmet read ‘Helmet fabrication 99% complete’. Its dim glow illuminated the growing smile on the persons face. It was a mouth with displayed the malicious joy on their face. A small part of the top lip was obscured by a thick bushy moustache, which extended a little past his face. 

“After 20 years of extensive research and development, my actions have culminated to this” a voice spoke in a semi-monologue, it was a voice of sophistication, intelligence and a little hint of insanity. “Now all that is left to complete my dream is the crucial life data. I must extract the DNA of my choosing and cultivate it into the perfect being” Stepping forward he looked to a large glass tube. Inside it was a watery like liquid, with thin surgical tubes suspended within. Mechanical arms, glinting in the dim light provided, were splayed around the outside of the tube, leaving a small circle in which to walk around. Large bottles, filled with a variety of different coloured liquids, stood on a glistening stand, along with other surgical equipment and electrical devices. Close to this was yet another large area of computers, however it had a slight difference to all the others.

“Once I activate the portal, I must locate the most physically adept individual, then track them down to harvest the necessary tissue samples” Turning around to their left, a large oval shaped doorway was there. Lights pulsated as electricity flowed into the device. Large monitors were calculating and performing schematics; everything had to go to plan, it had to, to follow the vision and dream of the man who built it. A location flashed up on screen, it was titled ‘Equestria’ and below was a shot of a small town, surrounded what looked like apple trees, a large dense forest and rolling hills with what seemed to be a grandiose city embedded in the rock face. A large blue expanse was above this; wispy clouds hovered just below the bright celestial body that dominated the sky.

Adjusting his glasses, he peered through them with wide blue eyes. He pressed the screen and after inputting lines of code and algorithms, a small pop-up flashed up on screen. ‘Confirm portal connection and acquisition of portal appearance and location, yes or no’ followed by corresponding boxes beneath the two opposing options. It showed the predicted area it would appear in, which seemed to be a small farm road, surrounded by apple trees and white wooded fences. Extending a long bony finger, he pressed ‘yes’. After this, the air was electric, the portal pulsed more rapidly and flashed more violently. Contrasting the ecstatic exterior, a large green mass materialised slowly inside the frame.

“With the way this trans-dimensional portal is set up, I should morph into the most abundant and intelligent species in the area. I have the appropriate equipment for this mission, and with it shall be able to locate and acquire the genetic material of my choosing, whilst being able to return back here if there is no complications”. He shifted his sharp bony face back to the monitor. ‘Portal at 100% completion and stability has been reached’ the screen showed. 

Stepping forward one foot at a time, he stood only inches from the swirling vortex of green. “Look out Equestria, here I come” he mused to himself quietly before glancing behind himself, then walking through the void to a strange new world. It remained lit up for a minute or so more after he had gone through, then dissipated. All that was left in the room was a faint static buzzing and electronic beeping. Lights began to shut off automatically; the ones on the walkway shut off one by one, systematically toward the platform, where only the dim glow of the monitor that lay beside the portal, appeared in the seeming endless void of the room. Blackness now dominated again, as every day eventually gives way to the night. It penetrated everywhere and only your whit and courage can save you from the evil and foreboding force that was the blackness.