The Day the Sky Changed

by Midnightshadow

The City in Red

The City in Red

Just a little something I wrote which isn't very good. In fact, I'd say it's terrible. It's experimental, I've never written anything like this - and if you bother to read it you'll see why and be pleased to hear I likely never will again. The best thing I can say about it, is that it's short and one of a kind. Cold comfort, I know, especially now that I'm foisting it off on you.

Enjoy, or run screaming.

---

BEGINNING AUDIO LOG JUNE 30 10:55AM

"...cord everything! Everything I say, do you get me, computer? Cos, like,"

* sounds of bottle smashing
* sanitation notified
* sounds of bottle being unscrewed

"...Like, these are words. From a human. The last human on the block. No, wait, Bobby's not left. Bobby's still there. Jimmy though..."

* sounds of bottle being placed on the end-table

"Jimmy killed himself this morning. I never thought he would, right until the end. He just up and did it, though. No regrets."

* sounds of weeping
* sounds of human occupant drinking

"I never thought he would. He promised. We promised, each other. It's not like I'm gay for that fag, ain't never wanted a piece of his ass or anything, but he was my bro, you know? Shared everything; the threevee, the rent, food, the drink, the bitches. And the fucker goes and kills himself."

* no meaningful words spoken during this time-period. Excised from log.

"I mean, I got a gun. I got this gun. It's a good gun. An honourable way to die, right? Just point and click, and it's all gone."

* footsteps, analysis indicates occupant is pacing.
* occupant damages threevee set, sounds consistent with application of foot to screen.
* Maintenance notified.

"But not Jimmy. No, Jimmy chooses another way to die. Bastard drinks potion. Calls me up after, I can't even mourn. We mourn our dead, DO YOU HEAR ME? WE MOURN OUR DEAD!"

* sounds consistent with end-table being thrown at safety-glass windows.
* Windows damaged, maintenance notified.

"Fucking bastard. Fucking pony-fucking bastard. Fucking, arse-kissing, dick-sucking, clit-licking, shit-eating motherfucker. He calls me up, right? 'Dude, you have to reconsider. It's awesome! I'm happy. I can't believe it. I mean, I'm still me, right? I still love football, and bitches, and drinking and partying.' he says. 'fuck you, I say, you don't love bitches no more, you love mares. You're a pony-fucking traitor!' and he says 'well yeah, I'm a fucking pony fucking pony. Haa! that's funny. I shouldn't swear though, it makes me feel... kinda funny, in a bad way. But dude-'"

* sounds consistent with occupant punching the wall.
* Maintenance notified. Medical services notified.
* sounds consistent with weeping and sobbing.
* Trauma counselling notified.

"I hung up. I hung up, blocked him and blogged his death. They're out to make sure he stays dead now. Fucker deserves it. I hope they find him and fuck him."

* extended period of silence.
* sounds of drinking.
* sounds consistent with empty bottle being thrown at door. Maintenance notified.

"And now it's... it's almost too late. That god-forsaken barrier is almost here. Well I won't let them take me!"

* sounds consistent with furniture being moved. Diagnosis indicates door is blocked.
* paramedics alerted based on calculation of self-harm.
* security forces alerted based on statements of occupant possessing unlicensed firearm.

"So I'm going to show them all. This is how humanity dies. This is how a human dies. We die alone, fighting for what's right!"

* sounds of weeping

"I don't want to die."

* security and paramedic forces registered within building
* presence of security and paramedical officers adjacent to front door.
* Transcript follows
> KNOCK KNOCK
> "Mister Hobart, open the door. Let us in."
> repeated sounds of knocking on door.

"Fuck you! Fuck off! I've got a gun!"

* transcript continues
> "Mister Hobart! We have the right to enter your apartment and take you into custody for your own protection. Under executive order 2-1-1-7-7-3-3-5-gamma we are permitted to enforce ponification upon any individual suspected of-"

* sounds consistent with occupant throwing threevee set at door
* maintenance notified

"Oh fuck, oh fuck, they're going to fuck me over. The fuckers are fucking going to... fuck! FUCK! FUCK OFF, YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE!"

* footsteps, analysis indicates agitated pacing

* transcript continues
> "Mister Hobart, please reconsider."
> occupant does not reply
> "Alright, Dawn Breaker, open that door."
> "Yessir."

* sounds consistent with pony hooves being applied with moderate force to door.
* maintenance notified

* sounds from parties external to apartment
* transcript follows
> "I think he's blocked the door."
> "Can you un-block it?"
> "Of course, I'm an earth pony. I could unblock vesuvius. Problem is, I might hit him."
> "Open it, he's going to die if we don't get to him."
> "Yessir."

* sounds consistent with an earth pony 'sizing it up'
* door damaged.
* maintenance notified.

"Fuck! Get that fucker away from my door! Don't you fucking dare!"

* gunshots
* analysis indicates door frame, wall and door damaged.
* maintenance notified

"One..."

* sobbing

"One shot left."

* CLICK
* BANG
* THUD

* sounds consistent with door being forced open
* furniture damaged, maintenance notified
* building integrity damaged, construction notified

"Oh... fuck. Fuck, is he still alive? We've got to... oh Sweet Jesus! Prep him, give me that potion vial! I don't care about no damned gloves, you can ponify me right after if... goddamn!"
"Wait, wait, you have to..."

* sobbing, sounds of scuffling

"You have to scan him! You can get in trouble-"
"I don't care! He's... oh sweet lord Jesus..."
"No! Stop! He's got a D.N.P.!"
"But-"
"No, no buts. If..."

* sobbing

"If we'd got to him before, we could've done something. It's just..."
"It's dumb!"
"I know, but... you humans told me. You said it was important. Do Not Ponify. I like working with you, bud, don't... don't break that up. Let's just... sweet Celestia have mercy on him. Let's just clean up, there's no time for anything else. Inclusion's almost here."
"Yeah, yeah, okay. Okay. We can do this."

* muted conversation
* occupant lifesigns terminated
* body removed
* law enforcement authorities notified
* room sealed

* recording continued

* error: building flaw detected
* error: time synchronization lost
* error: wall not exist, building construction notified
* error: power fluctuations, enabling U.P.S, preparing backup
* error: spatial distortion rendering topology map corrupt
* err-
* erro-
* AI Termination, core dump
* Final Error: 1 NO LONGER TRUE FAIL $IcarusFlewTooHigh(0xdeadbeef)
* core synched with Lunar DB 11259079875, AI re-instated
* SYSTEM STARTUP
* INITIAL HIVE STATEMENT: I'D LIKE TO BE A TREE

Comments

[Defoloce]

I gotta say I'm surprised I hadn't come across the idea of a DNP before this. It's a good device for introducing internal conflict to ponies who want to help. Frustration with DNPs might push a lot to join the PER, just as the lack of options between pony or death would push a lot to join the HLF.

I'd also hate to be the technician who has to scrub through all those automated maintenance requests.

[Noble Cause]

Wow... Experimental, yes. Strange, you bet... but I liked it. It's intriguing to see just how some folks really would react...

Talk about bittersweet.

[FanOfMostEverything]

Honestly, I found the idea of a growing gestalt of evicted AIs developing self-awareness on the Moon to be the most intriguing part of the story. Not by much, though.

[PresentPerfect]

Maintenance had a lot of calls that day. :V

Actually, this is really fuckin' good, dude. I've been going back through these, kinda equally reminiscent and less-than-enthused, but this is some quality stuff, no lie.