Prologue

Breach

Prologue

Written by: RobertBel98

Edited by: Trials

“…Space, as I have come to discover, is one of the few things that words truly cannot describe. Now, I could spend hours on end rehashing numerous poetic depictions of the seemingly infinite plane, but I would never be able to paint the complete picture. You know that old saying that a picture is worth a thousand words? Well, concerning this work of art. It is worth much more. You would truly need to see it, no, experience it for yourself to genuinely understand. And once you do you never want to leave it.

“It’s like a drug, sending serene signals of happiness through your mind. That feeling…that enlightened peace that you are truly gazing upon the canvas of time’s masterpiece. You just want to reach out and grab it. Hold it in your hands. Absorb it so you can truly know all the secrets that it keeps, waiting to be unlocked. But if I have learned one thing in my life, you must be patient, because even the most beautiful things can morph into something insidious, driving you to madness.

“The universe truly is an enigma. A puzzle that even when it seems to be solved, only crumbles beneath your feet and waits for you to put the pieces back together again. And we all want to see it finished. I know for certain that I won’t be there to witness its completion, that blessing will wait for greater men than me. But what I can do is pave the road for them.

"We really do stand on the shoulders of giants, and I wish to someday be among them, ready and willing to support our future generations in their grand journey to an enlightened, unified, universe…”

I lowered the ancient tome from my adoring eyes as I took a soft breath. These words had left my lips on many occasions, but I was always impacted by the same sense of admiration. There was such a strong passion that burned within this book, a fire that was rekindled every time it graced my mind. It saddened me that I was the only one who could truly appreciate it.

“Reading that old tome again, sir?” The familiar monotone voice tore me from my concentration.

Without moving, I acknowledged. “Yes, or at least I was,” I replied, in a somewhat bothered tone. “Shouldn’t you be running the system diagnostics, Andrew?” Andrew was the only sentient company I had aboard this flying metal husk. He was cold and calculating, like any computer, I guess. Even so, It was better than solitude, simply being alone in this endless expanse of darkness, with nothing to occupy my mind other than the bleak, blinking lights, and cold, mechanical sounds. I knew what that could do to a man, and it was not pretty.

Andrew had been integrated into the ship’s network to regulate all the computer systems. Me, well I was a guinea pig, a test pilot, a variable in an experiment. My only purpose on this ship was so those ‘experts’ down in the lab had something to jot down in their little data logs. I…was expendable. It wasn’t exactly the best position to be in, but I really didn’t have a say in the matter. Orders are orders, as they say. At least I lived an exciting life.

“I have already completed the system diagnostics, and everything seems to be working as it should. I have also begun charging the reactor cores. Once that is done I will be able to begin the power transfer from the fusion reactors into the Gravity Drive.” The Gravity Drive; the most expensive piece of engineering to come out of a human mind to date. This propulsion system can supposedly bend space, causing some sort of miniature black hole to open. When the ship passes through this black hole, it can be transported anywhere in the universe, all in the blink of an eye. Or at least that’s what they told me it does. Anything past that description was beyond me, which really didn’t aid my confidence in it.

“Thanks for the update. And is that all, because I’d like to be left alone,” I requested, still irked from the interruption.

“Actually, I also came to advise that you should begin cryo-containment procedures. I have already prepared a pod for you in bay two.” I gave a defeated sigh at the notification. But, nonetheless, I sat up from my seat in the command module. Hunching down, I placed the book back in the chair’s side containment unit, which promptly sealed shut with a light mechanical whir.

I began my trek to the cryo bays through the long series of corridors that slithered throughout the ship, all of them illuminated by the same sickly yellow color emanating from the florescent bulbs that hung above. The only sound that filled my ears was the heavy thumps of my boots hitting the grates that composed the floor. Surrounding me were multitudes of pipes along with thousands upon thousands of electrical cables, all of which made up the shell of the passageway. The entirety of it all was colored with dull variations of grey and faded maroon. Most people would think it a burden to have to stay in these depressing conditions for any extended period of time, and they’d be right. But when you’ve been stationed on frigates as long as me, you learn to live with it. I couldn’t even tell you the last time I had been on an actual piece of earth.

The doors to bay two were wide open and waiting. I stepped inside the small room as I took in the new surroundings. Each wall was lined with dozens of cryo-containment pods. The light shining down on them gave an almost elegant shimmer of chrome. The air felt much… cleaner, most likely due to the sterilization protocols that needed to be maintained. I continued to walk down the path to the open pod waiting for me at the far end of the room.

“Hello, sir, thank you once again for your cooperation,” Andrew finally chimed in.

“Yeah… better to get this whole thing over with sooner rather than later.” Once I had reached the open casket, I stopped over a printed yellow rectangle on the floor. I turned around so I faced the opposite direction, and awaited a reply.

“Oh, I agree, sir. Now, please remain still so we may commence with decontamination.” I nodded once and assumed a more solid posture.

A faint buzzing sound filled my ears, as the floor around me molded into separate modules. The newly formed pieces twisted and turned in various directions, and locked with surrounding fragments. This continued until a solid rectangle was laid on the ground below me.

“Beginning decontamination,” Andrew announced.

A bright blue light erupted from the interior of the shape, causing me to flinch a bit. The light morphed into a solid plane that spread throughout the empty space of the device. The frame began to silently hover off the ground, slowly dragging the field over my body. I felt like I had just touched the surface of a data screen, as a soft, tingly sensation of static energy traveled through my jumpsuit and danced across my skin. The device stalled once it had reached over my head. The blue light dissipated, and the frame hovered back down, promptly melding back into the floor.

“Decontamination procedures complete. Subject is now completely devoid of any harmful microorganisms.” I stepped off the platform and turned to face the cryo-pod. I stepped into the tube, back laid against the rear of the capsule. I lowered my arms into the mold so I was fit snugly in the space. Suddenly, cords and straps erupted from numerous ports that lined the mold. The restraints wrapped around my entire being, almost like I was being mummified in a tomb of metal.

I watched as the transparent shell of the pod slowly folded inward to its natural position. Once the glass hit the capsule, the panel stopped before emitting a sharp hiss. It then swiftly locked into place with a loud thump. Closing my eyes, I took in a long, deep breath, the chilled air already cooling my lungs. I tried to enjoy my moment of silence as much as I could. It would need to last.

“Sir, are you ready?” I opened my eyes, and with an emotionless gaze I nodded my head. “Authorization confirmed, proceeding with final cryo-containment procedures. Execute in three… two… one.” The hissing sound returned with a vengeance, its piercing tone dominated my mind. The air became thicker, and the temperature dropped like a lead weight. All the warmth in my skin quickly transformed into an icy chill. My vision blurred, and became more and more hazed as I continued to inhale the cold, heavy air. The strength I had left was leaking from my being, and I felt… so… tired. My eyes shut as I was plucked from the conscious world, and left in an azure sea of peace.

It was a calm, cool night on the outskirts of the Whitetail Woods. The gentle sounds of the crickets chirping or the occasional coo of an owl filled the area with a peaceful atmosphere. The lit moon shined its ethereal light down on the tranquil landscape, giving everything a soft glow of white. The grass waved in a gentle breeze, and the leaves on the trees gave a slight rustle. In the center of this placid scene sat a humble cottage. The unique construction of the home made it seem as if it were fused with the earth and plants around it, this gave it a very natural and welcoming feel, which is probably why many animals of the forest and surrounding ones found shelter in this abode. But, it was more likely due to the unwavering love and kindness provided by its owner. For this cottage was the home of the pegasus, Fluttershy.

Said pony was currently lost in a deep slumber. Her body curled up in a small bed, a smile across her face. All around the mare slept her many ‘guests’. Birds, mammals, and even some insects, all had fallen into the warm embrace of sleep.

The room was engulfed in an empty darkness. But suddenly, a small trickle of orange light made its way into the space. This trickle of light slowly developed into a large beam, and the once quiet, dark room, began to light up like the sun. Once it had reached Fluttershy’s eyes, the pegasus flinched a bit at the abrupt stimulation. Eventually, as the feeling grew, she was coaxed away from the tempting grasp of rest, and into the world of the living. Other animals had started to awaken, and immediately gained notice of the brightness pouring in from the windows.

Fluttershy groggily got up from her bed, and stepped onto the floor with a light thud. As she walked to the windows, a sense of curiosity churned inside her.

“That’s odd. It seems a bit early for the sun to come up,” the mare mused to herself. Fluttershy still continued her approach, until she eventually was at the base of the windowsill. As she looked up, the image that filled her sight caused a black pit of dread to grow in her gut.

Rocketing across the night sky was a burning orb soaked in an inferno of orange flame. All of a sudden, an earth-shattering boom shook the ground below them. The animals voiced their immediate concern, and some started to scamper about in a panic.

“Oh no, please calm down, there is nothing to be afraid of!” The timid pegasus tried to reason. However, even she had a heavy hint of doubt laced in her voice. She averted her sight back to the window. The object was still hurtling towards the earth, moving at unimaginable speeds.

All she could do was await the inevitable, as she watched the anomaly continue its rapid descent. Fluttershy’s eyes were glued on the falling object. She completely tuned out the minor discord among the animals behind her. The light continued to build, and build, until it had almost reached a blinding level. Fluttershy was forced to close her eyes, and wait.

Another shock wave smashed into the cottage, and everything shook around her. The sense of alarm in the animals skyrocketed. They let out frenzied sounds of dismay, and continued to run about the place. Objects fell from shelves. The window frames vibrated. All she could do was stand there, with her eyes clamped shut, waiting for it all to be over.

As the wave of impact died down, the animals began to calm themselves, seeing that it was finally over. Fluttershy opened her eyes to the chaotic state of her home. Objects were scattered about the place, and several glassware were shattered on the floor. Out the window, the light had died down to nothing, and the peaceful night sky took its rightful place once again.

The pegasus simply stood there, stiff as a board. Her eyes were now widened and unmoving. Eventually, her mind calmed enough to process a comprehensible thought.

“Oh no, are all of you alright!” Fluttershy turned to her pets. All of them still wore a look of concern, but nodded all the same. “Oh, thank goodness.” The mare’s sense of relief did not last however, as the impact of previous events started to weigh down on her. “Oh m-my, I need to get help!” Glancing back at her animals once more, they all gave gestures of approval. Fluttershy bolted to the door, and began her journey to the town of Ponyville.

Chapter 1: System Error

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Breach

Chapter 1: System Error

Written by: RobertBel98

Edited by: Trials

I lay upon a patch of grass atop a small hill. The blades beneath tickled against my exposed skin. All around me, the world was bathed in a golden luminescence, which gave everything a soft and warm feeling. Above, gentle wisps of pink cotton danced across the azure sky, reflecting the last remnants of light from the sinking sun.

The celestial ball of fire continued to dip down past the visible earth, its bright yellow glow transitioning into a moderate hue of amber, then to a dark shade of orange. The moon, only slightly visible, hung in its locked orbit, waiting to take its rightful place among the theatre of night. The air chilled. Each gust of wind caused cool sensations to brush along my prone form. As I took a breath, my lungs were filled with the natural crisp taste which I had come to yearn for.

The last of the sun’s golden rays dwindled from sight, as a hollow darkness engulfed the area. However, this empty theatre would soon be filled with countless numbers of glittering spectators, each of them shining their ethereal light down on me.

All of it, the earth, the sky, the air, it was all… perfect… beautiful. The tranquil bliss that filled my senses, it overwhelmed my thoughts. It made me believe that if I’d close my eyes, I could pretend I was the only man in the world, a lone wanderer, who had been gifted a key to a lush sanctuary.

My very being consumed the harmonious energy which radiated from the now darkened realm. The welcomed spirit churned and coursed through my soul, its rhythmic movements as elegant as a composer’s melody, a nocturne, which complimented the night that brought forth its life.

It all felt so right, so natural. It was as if the very land I laid on was an extension of my own body. I felt, I heard, I saw all that it could. This, this was my home. My sight began to haze; sounds were muddled as they entered my ears, and my breaths lengthened in their pace. The alluring song of the night was pulling me deeper into my own mind, isolating me from the outside world. Then, I was gone.

An odd feeling grew in the pit of my stomach; it caused me to writhe in discomfort. As the disturbance increased, I was forced to sit myself up from the unusually brittle surface. As I grasped my center in an attempt to ease the pain, I opened my eyes, but what I saw was not the world that I had left. No, what was there horrified me. There was no grass, no moon no stars in the sky, there was only darkness. My mind raced for words to bring reason to the sight before me, but came up with none.

Hesitantly, I rose up from the surface of the unknown terrain. An odd crunching sound filled my ears with every movement. My head craned rapidly in all directions, my heart pumped faster and faster. I felt scared, and I didn’t know why. But my ignorance did not aid me, for I was trapped in the clutches of fear.

I was left there, alone, all senses unable to bring light to the boundless obscurity. The only thoughts that passed through my mind were questions. Questions of how I came to be in this terrible place. I did not move, nor did I make a sound. I simply stood in silence, helpless, as if waiting for an answer to present itself.

Suddenly, off in the distance, I heard something, a break in the seemingly eternal silence. This sound, it resembled that of crunching glass, it was a sharp and foreboding tone. Whatever it was, it felt… wrong. It made my mind ache. I wanted nothing more than to ignore it, but I couldn’t. It was the only thing I could focus on. The veiled origin of this disturbance slowly increased in volume, and pace. My terrified form shook in anxiousness, not knowing what to do with itself. The sounds were not as tentative, as they grew closer and closer. My heart was jumping out of my chest, my breath loud and panicked. The sounds were right on top of me, when a feeling of utter emptiness pierced my soul. This entity’s touch, it burned like acid, eating away at my essence.

A racking pain pulsed through my legs, as my weak form collapsed onto the cold turf. I wanted to move, to run; to get away. But I just laid there, the very shadow of this hateful place consuming me. This, this was it. I could no longer escape the inevitability. I was trapped, under the will of whatever watched overhead. As I lay there, awaiting the end, I heard something. It wasn’t a sound of my own, nor those of the malevolent spirit that loomed above. It was a voice. Then, the world caught fire.

My eyelids shot open as I was plunged into the conscious world. I collapsed out of my open pod and slammed onto the hard floor, my limp form offered barely any strength to support myself. Frigid beads of sweat seeped through my suit and pooled on the ground below. I felt nauseous and unimaginably perplexed. My innards twisted and knotted up, and the muscles in my abdomen convulsed violently. It felt as if my body was trying to push its way out of my skin. It was agonizing, and torturous.

As I lay broken down on the floor, my vision eventually became clear. And with a stinging pop, my ears were flooded with a flurry of dazed sounds. Sirens were blaring, their deafening tone making it hard to organize my thoughts. My body still surged with sickening levels of agony, but, reluctantly, I sluggishly picked my head up from the metallic surface to catch a glimpse of my surroundings. Pipelines that ran along the sealed pods hissed and rattled vigorously. The sequential valves spewed out thin blasts of boiling steam. The situation took a toll on me, panic beginning to rise. But my bodily instinct kicked in.

Adrenaline erupted into my veins, granting me with a newfound strength. I planted both palms firmly on the ground, and pushed with all my might. The pain was nearly unbearable; it felt as if my muscles would snap. Slowly but surely, I lifted myself into a kneeling position with a loud grunt. After taking a few breaths to ease my already strained lungs, I pressed on. With a bellowing roar, I lifted myself upward. I was standing, though I still stumbled a bit from my lack of energy.

The chaotic scene continued to unfold around me as I hobbled my way across the floor. The pounding of my heart resonated through my skull, and whatever strength I once had was quickly fading. Red lights flashed all around the room, and the space started to fill up with a vapor as thick as smoke. Amidst the turmoil, the gears in my head clicked into action. I needed to get to the lifeboats.

With a new goal in mind, I hastened my pace to the bay door. Eventually, I made my way out of the cryo-bay. The passageways were much clearer, and I could now see where I was going. I started to run forward, the heavy clanks of my boots sounded throughout the halls.

As I made my way to the docking bay, I yelled out. “Andrew, I need you to prepare a lifeboat for me, now!” I commanded. However, there was no response. “Andrew, respond!” Still, there was nothing but silence. A feeling of concern welled inside me, but I still soldiered on. All I could do now was keep running, and pray to God that there wouldn’t be any more surprises.

Without warning, a massive shockwave pulsated through the ship, sending me flat on my face. Pipes rattled, and panels all around me flung open, sending arcs of electrical energy around the tube. A few stray bolts struck right near my head. I could feel the burning intensity of the discharge spread across my face. Once the place settled down a bit, I refocused. With a bit less struggle than prior, I got myself back on my feet.

I turned a corner into the docking bay, and immediately scoured the area. After a few moments, my eyes landed on an open pod about halfway in. Without hesitation, I gunned for it. Small waves erupted around me, making me wobble a bit in my desperate sprint. Once there, I literally dove into the capsule, the door promptly sealing shut behind me with a smooth hum. The tremors were starting to become more violent, and I found it difficult to make my way to the pilot’s chair.

My hands grasped onto any leverage I could find, as I tried to pull myself to the head of the pod. With one final push, I grasped the chair, and hoisted myself upward. My body drooped into the seat and settled down. Straps ejected from both sides and coiled across my torso.

“Andrew, if you’re here, we need to get out of this can, quick!” Once more I received no response. What were once tremors were now full on quakes, this ship was going to hell. Panels and other pieces of the structure fell past the lifeboat, some skimming the shell with a loud scrape. “Andrew, now would be a really good time to wake the hell up!” At first, nothing happened, and for a moment the thought of dying in here seemed extremely prevalent. But then, there was light. All the instruments sparked to life, the numerous controls preparing for immediate departure. I almost screamed out in joy before I was interrupted by a voice I was more than happy to hear.

“Hello sir, I apologize for the delay. There seemed to be some malfunctions with the power grid,” the AI stated.

“Well, as long as you’re here now. Let’s get the hell out of here!” I said with enthusiasm.

“Certainly sir, final preparations for the drop are underway. Due to the extensiveness of the damage, several computing systems have been disabled; causing a network lock down. I just need to finish the network override, and we can be underway-”Andrew’s voice was cut off in a spurt of static, when a massive blast rocketed throughout the complex. Plumes of flame erupted from the surfaces surrounding us, and more and more chunks of the doomed vessel collapsed onto the deck. Panicked, I looked around, only to see a huge girder crash into the pod next to me, right outside my window. The burning husk of imploded metal sunk to the floor.

Shaking it off, I swiftly turned back to the control panel, and rapidly input the correct codes into the system. I needed to complete the override. Chunks of hot metal still rained down past the pod, some just narrowly missing me. More and more pillars of flame shot out from the exposed walls, and the temperature was rising in a hurry. I kept on typing as fast as I could, the sweat that dripped from my palms nearly slipping up my tempo, leaving me to hope I didn't miss a key.

With one final click, the override was complete.The couplings that held the boat in place were released, and I dropped down the exit tube. The capsule picked up speed as it continued its descent, and vibrated from the force of the fall. I was pressed deep into the seat, as I struggled to breathe. Another explosion rattled the consoles on the control panel. Flames peeked over the glass, and spread downward. The pod was shaking with high intensity. Small blotches of black filled my vision, and were quickly glazing over my vision. I was fading out. And all I could do was sit there, and wait. Suddenly, there was a heavy bump, and a sensation of weightlessness overtook me. We were free from the ship. And with that final thought, I succumbed to the overwhelming force.