The Bell Rings For Me

by Gold Cog

Rating: mature
Tags: Dark, Human, Anthro, Romance, Adventure
Length: 15911

Through pain and chaos humanity will always survive and always be at war with itself.

(Anthro Warning)
Though pain, chaos, and unspeakable horrors may plague humanity, humanity will always grab and cling onto life refusing to die no matter the cost.

The year as far as anyone can tell is 3277 referred to by some as humanity's last stand, I don't think anyone knows how the world came to be in the wounded state that me and my companions see now. For as far as you can see is the remnants of what was once the most powerful force in the solar system a fate no one could have foreseen. Now you must kill, scavenge, and sin to survive. Everyday is just another waking nightmare. My name… or label… is specimen d04 "The Stalker", I forgot what my age is but I believe it's around 100 or so, as to how I came to be I don't fully remember only that my own mind blacked it out. I don't know why I'm listing to the voice in my head right now, it told me to record what is going to happen to me, it seems stupid but whatever, so what you are about to read can only be described as a look into my daily life…fun.

(I apologize for any bad grammar or spelling, I'm only just starting to write.)

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-11-23 21:19:10 UTC

Chapter 1: The Job

Character Bios

Character bios are updated as new characters are introduced in the story, MLP Canon characters will not receive bios.

...

Haven Military Identification Database

Specimen: D04 "Stalker"

Code name: Hunter

D04 is a unique form of infected human hybrid made by the Haven Biological Research Division, having been grafted with multiple forms of infected DNA "Stalker" type being the most prominent. Due to his genetic type d04 had been made with multiple unique qualities, the first being 2x super human strength, two arms able to be quickly mutated from arms to unbreakable talons capable of cleaving titanium clean in half, the next is his ability to change his vision from regular and thermal with added features from his tactical mask. Being a "Stalker" d04 is able to pass by almost any type of enemy unnoticed for as long as he wishes. But his most remarkable feature is his carapace which replaces what would be his skin, d04's carapace is made form an unknown material that is immune to fire, corrosive chemicals, small caliber firearms, and lesser powered energy weapons, it holds many more properties that are unknown as of now.

Next is d04's personality, which to put simply is aggressive. If unprovoked d04 is a usually calm and levelheaded individual, but when angered little can escape his anger. Previous HUD recordings show the full extent of his anger, during an assault mission on an infected nest d04's closest companion c15 "Siren" or Tess was wounded in combat an rendered unconscious. The effects were devastating, in blind rage d04 abandoned his weapons and rendered the nest and building housing it to nothing but ruins, reports show as a result of his anger d04 mutated completely and in his wake left destruction on an never before seen scale since the war. All Haven citizens are advised to avoid and not to provoke d04 under any circumstances.

[All further data relating to d04 is classified]

Specimen: c15 "Siren"

Code name: Tessa

C15 is another one of the HMBR's (Haven Military Biological Research) unique creations. C15 or Tess as she has requested to be called is another human infected hybrid made from the DNA strands of a rare infected known as the sirens. C15 is the Haven Military's most infamous shock troop, she is feared due to her odd abilities, sound manipulation. As a siren hybrid c15 is gifted with the ability to mentally and vocally control sound waves, in combat from close to long ranges c15 is able to stun, deafen, blind, and even kill enemies with little more than a scream. But in doing so she is also at risk of harming any friendly troops nearby being unable to limit where the sound waves are directed. As for her appearance c15 looks like a very attractive blonde female human with an alluring figure, most sirens also share a resemblance although they don't fully look alike. Given her powers and appearance c15 can either kill or trick enemies into doing almost anything.

C15's personality is a very close match to that of a highly educated human, although her rate of learning surpasses any normal human. She speak normally and if not for her ID card would be able to blend in as a regular human with no one able to know until it was too late. Unlike d04, c15 does not get enraged when an ally is hurt but instead feels what appear to be physically painful grief and depression. Only a single "reported" case off c15 sorrow has been recorded. During an attack on Haven by a horde off mutants early on in c15 long life a Private by the name of [Data Expunged] was KIA as the result of a Creepers bite. When c15 saw this Pvt fall her dark side was first witnessed, from first hand reports all technological machinery withing a two mile radius of c15 was rendered temporarily disabled by the sheer sound of her voice, every panel of non reinforced glass was shattered costing hundreds of dollars in repair, and from witness reports every infected in the area suffered from massive cranial damage resulting in what can only be described as an agonizing death. C15 was detained for a time until she had recovered from her grief and was demoted to serve under her companion d04.

[all further data relating to c15 is classified]

Chapter 2: Second Chance

Chapter 1: The Job

The Job

Sweat, metal, gas, and other smells overwhelmed me as I sat in the confined space that was the HALO jumping bay of the warship. I checked my weapons, they were still primed with the energy cells cooled and ready on a moments notice. I looked around the small space my squad was doing much the same. I counted them once more to make sure all were present. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, wait where's Tess? I looked around to see the girl was no where to be seen.

I'm right here. I felt a weight on my shoulders after the voice in my mind spoke. I turned my head to see a pair of bright teal eyes and a lot of white hair. Tessa the Siren, your not so average girl. At a close proximity of my age, 100 something, Tess was a bit older than me by how much, who cares, she was a 6"1 gung ho recon troop, she had long matted down white hair and almost shining teal eyes to match. Her body was more built and elegant than most human women, but then again me and her aren't 100% human. Allow me to explain, both me and Tess are human mutant hybrids, meaning we both have DNA combined with that of various mutant DNA strands, how the bio-weapon branch of our science department got permission to alter human DNA and craft artificial human bodies for us, I'll never know. Quick fact is that we don't have parents so don't ask, both me and Tess are artificial our bodies were grown like plants without the use of a fertilized egg, we are often called homunculus after the ancient Latin myths of man made people.

My name and/or lable is d04 "The Stalker" I am a human made genetic breed of hybrid that is capable of changing it's skin color to camouflage. I'm 6'3 tall, my skin is pitch black and made from a biological mix that is tougher than steel the result being thick yet flexible carapace in place of my skin. I have the strength of 5 fully grown men due to artificial enhancements, and the speed of an F1 race car, I can also mutate my hands into single talons making the perfect pair of CQB weapons. Tess is a unique c15 "Siren" she can change the pitch, volume, etc of her voice enabling her to stun and even kill anything that hears her voice, it's always funny to see a walkers head burst into bloody bits from this, she is also fast but not as fast as me naturally, she wants to she can use sound waves to make herself move faster.

You ready? She asked, I nodded, I walked to the door of the jump bay and faced the others.

"Attention Recon Squad personal, we're HALO jumping in 10 minutes, everyone fall in and prep your wings." Since regular humans and some hybrids lack the ability of flight, special suits like ours had wings which were given thrust by small pulse batteries. Everyone had a special mask and wrist HUD which they used to activate their wings.

"Captain, before we jump what are we up against this time." I turned back to see who asked, I spotted the younger man who looked to be in his early 20's.

"Private Henderson, today your gonna see something that will leave any lesser man a quivering wreck. Today were up against a small pack, 3, Advance Stage Colossus." Everyone stopped what they were doing.

"Advance! Sir with all due respect we are not prepared to fight a single AC much less three!" Henderson shouted everyone else agreed.

"Private calm down, you aren't going to be on the ground. Only me and First Lieutenant Tess are going to be fighting these abominations head on." I called back, the squad still seemed unsure but carried on none the less.

A voice came over the inter com. "Attention all personnel in bay 1 prepare for HALO jump. Remember all hostile forces are to be dealt with and disposed before return, good luck."  As soon as the message cut off the bay doors opened.

Outside lay the remnants of the worlds once greatest city, New York. Skyscrapers lay broken and fallen, the city was stretched for miles around. Mutants sat upon roof tops looking for easy prey. I could see the sun in the distance the toxic air casting a red glow across the ruined city.

"Masks on!" I called over the wind." Me and Tess were immune to the effects of the toxic clouds that hung over the city but the others if exposed were not.

"Ready!" They called back,

I counted down in my head, I was given the drop location and the jump needed to be perfect if the squad was to stay airborne. "Alright men this is it! Go go go!" I waved them out, one after another they jumped their wings catching the air and sending them off.

I saw Tess run up and pecked me on the cheek. "Try and keep up." She teased before jumping off, without missing a beat I jumped after her. I felt the wind rushing against my mask and combat suit, switching the batteries on I shot forward through the toxic cloud covering the city. Quickly I took point in front of my squad.

"Fall in!" I barked into my mic, Tess and Henderson took my left and right side the other fell in behind them. I switched my HUD to thermal, looking below I saw the targets. Three hulking masses were charging down the main road cars were flung out of their path trucks were smashed.

"Hostiles spotted!" I called, everyone drew their weapons form their SD's. (Storage Deck)

"Corporal James you and your section take the skies above and keep lesser mutants of us, copy!" I called, he saluted and broke off with the others.

"Come on big boy let's move." Tess called dive bombing the mutants.  While Tess may be older I was of a higher rank due to the fact she had a thing for disobeying any orders that weren't from a personal friend. I flew beside her my LMG in hand, the colossus leading the trio was much bigger than I had first thought. The three behind it were only a slightly smaller.

"Tess do you know what these are!?" I asked, these colossus were not Advance type I knew that.

"Arch Colossus!" Tess called back, both of us ascended a few more feet. There are four stages in mutant variations, proto being very weak and easy to kill, normal being well normal, advance being about as strong as me and Tess, and last Arch type which are much more lethal than the previous three combined.

"I don't know about you but I don't have enough firepower for this shit, tell the squad to pull back!" I ordered, Tess shook her head and reached into her SD.

"We can't return to Haven until the job is done, so I packed a bit of back up." From her SD she pulled something that could have her court marshaled.

"Tess those are Ion Charges!" I flew next to her grabbing for them but only to have her fly higher.

"Hunter," I thought I told her not to use that nickname. "you heard the higher ups, this is a priority 1 mission and we can't return until it's done." She said, flying back down. I looked at the minor weapons of mass destruction before nodding.

"Alright fine! But if the Major gives me shit it's out of my hands from there." Tess grinned and motioned me to follow.

We flew a few yards ahead of the mutants into what looked to be their path, we each hid 2 charges onto shipping container and flew above. The mutants were just moments away from death.

"I hope this works." Tess said innocently, I give her a deadpan look.

"Yeah me to." Looking back I see they crossed the detonation area. There was a high pitched whine as the proximity detonators were triggered.

To any curious the massive shock wave and pure unrelenting power of particle destroying matter plowing into you at the speed of light is almost enough to kill me... almost. But for what was only seconds feeling like hours I was thrown down the abandon road and into a collapsed parking garage.

"*Cough* Holy shit," I groaned, "now that's a fucking bomb." I tossed a slab of concrete of my chest, shakily I got to my feet and stood. I looked over the carnage, chunks of mutant, metal, and other things were scattered around the street and what use to be the floor level of old buildings. "Tess!" I called out, looking for signs of movement.

"Hunter I'm down here!" I looked for the voice to see a large hole in the center of the street, walking over I saw it lead into a sort of tunnel. I wasn't a sewer because it had no waste and looked as if it had once been used as an VIP tunnel.

"Tess you okay!?" I called down, Tess was sitting in a pile of scrap.

"Minus a little bleeding nothing my regeneration won't fix." She said dusting herself off. "Where are the others?" She asked looking to the sky to see it was empty. I was surprised not to see our squad but even more shocked at the lack of Leapers, they're usually the first to react to loud sounds.

"Squad come in, this is Captain d04, come in!" I waited for a response over my headset but none came. I tried a couple more times but only was meet with static. "Shit. Tess can you get in contact with any of the others?" I asked, Tess closed her eyes her breath slowing down. I readied my LMG not want to get jumped by anything, I could hear a few things moving from inside the tunnel. Standing over Tess I looked down the hall, I could hearing something small or light moving around but I couldn't see anything not even a heat signature.

"Sorry Hunter the others are out of my reach." Tess said rubbing her head, I looked once again down the hall but the noises had stopped.

"Come on we have to get out of here, we need to find a place to stay before it gets dark." Me and Tess climbed from the tunnel back to the main street. The sun was barely visible over the buildings and flooded the area with shadows. "Hurry!" Me and Tess ran a a jogging pace weapons primed and eyes searching.

While mutants don't attack other mutants unprovoked there is one strain of the mutations that will. As a result of not finding food the virus had evolved in certain strains of DNA, these special mutants are called Gulas or Gula which means gluttony. The name may lead you to think these creatures are big and bloated but it's actually the opposite. A Gula is what appears to a be a human skeleton, it is held together by nothing but what looks like muscle. These mutants are incredibly sensitive to UV light, it burns the muscle clean off killing them. But the sun is the only thing that kills them, even Ion bombs can only break them apart allowing them to reform. As a result of this adaption they hunt in packs and in the dark, they also eat other mutants us included.

With haste me and Tess took shelter inside an abandoned convenience store. Inside we were meet with dim lighting from ancient but somehow still functioning lights. I placed fallen shelves against the front windows blocking the only entrance.

So much for upgraded radios. I cursed the techies that had given us our HUD's. I gave the store a quick once over, the shelves lay bare goods that had once stocked them either gone or decayed. Tess was sitting on a fallen cooler doing something with her HUD.  I walked to the stores counter looking for anything useful.

Bobby pin, scrap, fungus, dead rat, faded playboy mag, broken cell phone. I searched a few more cabinets but was only rewarded by dead rodents. Took a seat by Tess and began cleaning my weapon.

"Any luck getting contact with Haven?" I asked, she just shook her head. "How about the rest of the squad?" Tapping a few things into her arm ban an image flashed up.

"Oh... well shit." In front of me was the status of my entire squad.

Sgt. Shaun Tucker

Age: 21

Status: KIA

Cause of Death: Multiple stab and laceration wounds signs indicate a proto D-class specimen was the mutant responsible.

With the killer being a D class meant that this man had been killed by a Stalker like me. This could be bad if I'm blamed to be the once who killed him. I moved to the next update.

Pvt. Danial Barry

Age: 19

Status: KIA

Cause of Death: Decapitation and removal of all limbs and internal organs, no known specimen can be confirmed as of yet.

I've never heard of any type of mutant completely and specifically dismembering and disemboweling someone before. The rest of the squad had only been marked as MIA meaning their corpses haven't been found or they to were lost. Either way this whole mission had been one big shit storm from the beginning. I collapsed the image to see Tess looking at her feet grief covering her features. I took a seat next to her and put my arm over her she didn't even move.

"How can they all be dead?" She asked her voice monotone. "I knew this mission wouldn't be easy, but the others were prepared to fight almost anything with or without us. How did a proto manage to kill Shaun, and what monster would do something like that to Barry?" Those were questions I also wanted to know, the way Danial's autopsy photo looked made the cuts seem as though they had been done with surgeon like accuracy. I also knew Shaun would never been killed by something as weak as a proto stage mutant.

"I don't know the answers to your questions, all I do know is we need to get some rest and start our way back to Haven." As simple as that sounded it would most likely be far more difficult than it seems. Many types of mutants live in packs and are incredibly territorial. I brought an image from a our nations VSAT, I mentally groaned seeing the distance we had to walk on foot. Not wanting to frustrate myself even more I looked for a comfy spot to lay down. In the end I just gathered some old bits of cardboard and fell onto it. A few moment later I felt Tess lay next to me wrapping her self around my arm.

While both me and Tess are some of the strongest soldiers the Haven Military has to offer we both suffer from mental disabilities. Tess ever since we were young had slept next to me, she suffered from night terrors and i incredibly bipolar. I am schizophrenic by currently housing 1 very annoying voice in my head, I also have severe anger issues leading to mental instability. These defects where the result of our brains not being made to have been mixed and code with mutated DNA.

With Tess asleep my thoughts turned to the rest of the troops. If the two bodies had been recovered already than that meant HQ had already sent people searching for us. I wondered how long me and Tess had been knocked out after the blast, also what was in that tunnel under the city streets. When I had checked the VSAT no tunnels where labeled to be there meaning it wasn't suppose to be seen by the common officer or civilian. Feeling worn I closed my eyes and let consciousness slip away.

--Planet Equis Time 11:26 PM Location Unknown--

"Planetary alignment and targeting systems read 100% charge and accuracy." A mare said using her magic to further calibrate the machine.

"Wonderful, soon we will know if we are alone in this universe or if we have company." A large pitch black stallion said his grey main disheveled from long nights of work. "Has the "Eye" located any planets that may sustain life?" The stallion asked another scientist.

"Yes sir, 5 astral units from our star system is a planet not to different from ours. While the planet itself may hold life said life seems to live inside a toxic gas filled atmosphere." Said the scientist.

"We are only observing the planets surface to find life, not bringing it to us." The stallion said. "Power up the Eye!" He ordered, with haste the scientist scattered through the room began their work.

Unknown by them, their work would change the course of their planets future.

Chapter 3: Not Alone

Chapter 2: Second Chance

Second Chance

Wakey wakey. A voice echoed in my mind.

God dammit. I thought my eyes shooting open, I hefted my body from my makeshift bed. I saw Tess setting a small pile of old wood on fire, a metal pan filled with something on the other side of her. "Where the hell did you get food?" I asked stumbling over to her. She placed the pan on the fire, looking at it I saw it was a pair of k-type ration units. damn..I hate ham. I thought looking at the accursed chunk of swine meat.

"I know you prefer chicken but this was all I could snag us before we left Haven." She said handing me a cigarette and fruit bar. "I checked the VSAT again, it shows a Haven recon vessel has been sent out. It should be here in a few hours, giving us plenty of time to make a clear landing zone." She said, lighting her own cancer stick. The best part of being mutated is normal human illnesses like cancer are actually absorbed by our cells, making us a little stronger.

"Do we have any flares of tracer rounds?" I asked, knowing she would most likely had stolen some.

"Yep!" She cheerfully replied taking her bit of ham. "Now eat up the Colonel himself is coming." She said, I did a spit take dousing the flame with coffee.

"The Col is coming here!? Why!? Also how do you know!?" I panicked, Colonel Peter Hyde also known as "The Brute" is one of the strongest soldiers in the entire Haven military, the only reason he wasn't a General was because he lacked the intelligence required. He was also the only person whom I actually feared. With light speed I wolfed down breakfast and ripped the barricades from the front of the store.

"Chicken." Tess muttered before finishing her own meal.

Both me and Tess hurried to clear the area so the recon ship could land, seeing as how the ion charges had blasted damn near every thing away the job was done in minutes. We then began to place a few flares if the need for them arose.

"Hunter, I know I've asked you this before but you never did answer me. Why does Hyde scare you?" Every time the Col's name came into conversation Tess would ask this, and each time I would talk to someone else trying my best to avoid the topic. Sadly we were alone.

"That's... Well... It's complicated and is a guy thing." I said, with a quick swing Tess cuffs me in the head.

"Well you sexist ass, I am smarter than you and you know it, so don't pull that shit on me, kay." Could have fooled me. "So explain." I tried to stand up but only to have Tess pull me back down and pin me under her. "We can do this the easy way or the hard way." She said her voice changing.

I could easily move her but I didn't want to hurt her. "It's a long term rivalry that's all I'm gonna say!" I said shoving her off. She didn't look to please with that answer but stepped back, I stood and looked towards where Haven was. "Me and him ain't on the best of terms." I climbed onto the trunk of what was left of and old convertible.

"I've never even seen you two talk before, when and how did you two start fighting?" She asked, I tapped a few keys into my wrist PDA and sent her a very old news record.

As soon as Tess opened to article she read aloud. "On a cold December night when no one would have expected it a building in district D-1, an apartment complex was, to this day, mysteriously filled with toxic gas found only from beyond the walls of the city. Almost as soon as authority figures where on site, two soldiers from the Haven Military both daringly plunged into the gas and parasitic mutants that congregated inside set on saving the multiple families trapped inside, while not everyone was able to be saved even fewer would be with us today had it not been for the bravery of these two soldiers." Bellow the text was a picture of me and the Col being thanked by the many families we had saved.

"So you both got awards and praises, how did a fight break out from this?" She asked not looking up from the picture.

"After everything had settled down and both me and the Col were back in the barracks alone, he began yelling about how I disobeyed his orders and undermined him in front of the people. He had told me not to go into the building because it was the quarantine workers job to deal with things like that, but what was I suppose to do, wait until they seal the building and left the people inside to either die or turn. Even after we were both promoted for this he still said I made him look the fool." In anger I punched the car breaking it in half.

"So he got mad, that years ago, why do you still hate each other today?" She asked, I sighed and pointed to the badge on my chest showing my rank as a Captain. "After it all blew over I let it go, but a few weeks later a promotion that was going to be given to me for a later mission was given to him instead. I searched though the archives to find someone had changed the records. Either the Col or one of his subordinates had changed them, I worked my ass of almost literally for that promotion. Next thing I know some asshole meat head gets a promotion he never earned. Apart from the occasional assault and repel missions Hyde has never seen that much action, he kept saying how his strength was wasted stuck here instead of on the front lines fighting against the mutants. And what the hell can I do about it, he has more influence in the entire military than anyone, he could have me killed and get away with it." As I finished my rant I realized I had been punching anything in range leaving a large radius of chaos.

"You're right, you problem really is a guy thing." She said, I shot her a glare. "I mean you boys are so hard headed you care more about you ranks and "size" than you do the people you serve." She spread out on the roof of a car and yawned. "If you just left it alone then he would leave you alone and you can get another promotion later on, it's not like you won't have all the time in the world to work for it again." She said sarcastically.

It's not like I hadn't thought to leave him alone and hope he forgot about me, but he's usually the one who starts most of our arguments, but for both of our jobs I agreed. "Alright I'll lay low for a while but I'm telling you now it ain't gonna end until one of us is dead."

A few hours later and the sound of the recon vessel filled the empty streets. We looked up to see the large craft slowly landing in the area we cleared.

Tess put a hand on my shoulder. "Let's just finish this up and get home." She said standing by my side.

As the bay doors opened a loud hiss followed, and that was followed by a very familiar voice.

"Seems not even brutes or gulas can kill you two, guess a man should leave mutants to do his dirty work." An arrogant voice said from inside the ship. Wait... what did he just say.

They have energy weapons, heads up! Tess spoke into my mind. A man began to walk from the drop ship a Rail Gun in hand.

Colonel Peter Hyde of the Haven Military, douchebag and the most powerful man in Haven. He was a tall tan skinned man with rugged features and massive amounts of muscle that were unnaturally sized. He wore his formal attire armed only with his Rail Gun for him it was all he would ever need.

"What the hell do you mean!?" I demanded, the only advantage I had over him was my speed. His Tesla Shield would protect him from my claws and his mask would cancel Tess' sound manipulation.

"Come now d04 did you really think a group of super soldiers would be sent out on a simple assault mission, you know we could have easily just bombed this area to kill those monsters." He said hefting his weapon. "I thought you would be smarter than that, the sings were pretty obvious. I guess all you fakes can do is follow orders." He chuckled.

When he puts it that way I do feel kinda stupid, and he was right if any superior gave me an order I would carry it out. "I get the picture now, so what's gonna happen from here you gonna kill us." I asked, not like I didn't know I just needed a moment to think.

"Well as my sources tell me you've been making some noise among the troops. What was it 200 successful mission without the loss of a single troop, I must say that's rather impressive. Shame I could have had use for someone like you. It's also an even bigger shame you where unable to complete your mission to kill these brutes and got yourself and your squad killed, only to have me come in deal with these beast and recover you unrecognizable corpse." He charged his weapon, each of the soldiers copied with him armed their weapons as well, as he was about to speak again I interrupted him

Giving a sigh I said. "If your lookin' for a cliche scene where I'm given the choice join you or die you're out of luck, I hate shitty movies like that so don't expect any one liners or deals from me." Maybe it was my dumb mouth that got me into these situations or if it's just my unique nature to disobey his orders either way I wasn't about to get killed by a deformed body builder with an IQ level equal to that of the common potato.

"While having you work for me may have been a good idea you've been a real pain in my ass for too long for me to ask for your loyalty." They raised their weapons. "Goodbye d04."

**NOW!** Tess screamed into my mind.

With speed faster than they could track both me and Tess lunged to in opposite directions, we ran towards the blast zone and plunged into the uncovered tunnels below. As we ran bullets and energy rounds flew past us carving into the stone walls, a few rounds hit my back cracking my carapace in a few places. We came to a cross section in the tunnels each way leading to darker paths.

"Go right!" I called and we both charged to the left. I hoped Hyde would be dumb enough to fall for that. As we ran further into the dark corridors the sounds of the soldiers began to slowly fade. We made it, barely, but hell at least we're still breathing. Finally in a safe location both me and Tess stopped, breathing heavily.

"So...that... worked out pretty well." I panted sarcastically.

Tess couldn't respond so she just kicked my leg causing it to buckle and land me on my ass. "Let's just... move." She heaved before continuing down the hall. I walked to her side giving a quick glance back towards where the soldiers where. It slightly worried me that I couldn't hear their shouts, the halls should have echoed them pretty easily. Shaking my head I continued on with Tess. The hall seemed to stretch for miles, no doors or signs where present.

What the hell is this place? I groaned inwardly.

You're close to your goal. The wispy voice in my mind caused me to slightly flinch.

Ah, Auspicio, so great to hear from you again. I said, Auspicio is the name I had given the voice in my head. He was a very random character, he would only talk when he wanted to and never spoke clearly only in either riddles or psychotic ramblings.

The path lies paved in the blood of the tortured only to be traversed by those who can see the world for what it is not. Once again I had no idea as to what the hell he was talking about but it didn't give me a positive vibe. For some strange reason Tess never was able to talk or even sense another presence in my mind not even a split personality, I had no idea as to what Picio was. But he never seemed to be hostile so we left him be. As we continued I began to finally make sense of what Picio was talking about, first it began as small patches of blood and slowly began to become pools of blood on the ground limbs hung from the ceiling arms reached out from the walls frozen in place looking as if they where grabbing at something that wasn't there. Both me and Tess simply stared in fear at the nightmarish sight before us.

Tess keeled over and began to mix the blood with puke, I looked at one of the heads hanging from the roof.

It was a little girl, her eyeless face showed pain and unknowable fear. I felt my blood boil and my anger reach it's peak, I would tear the limbs from whatever had done this. I helped Tess to her feat, she was shaking and had to lean against me just to stay on her own two feet. She wiped the puke from her mouth before she spoke.

"Hunter, w-what's going on." She cried leaning against me trying to keep as far from the walls as possible .

"I don't know, but when I find who did this. They will pay." I felt my mutations taking hold, with practiced meditation I took a few deep breaths, and continued.

The path lies paved in the blood of the tortured only to be traversed by those who can see the world for what it is not. Spoke Picio once more, it was uncommon for him to repeat something unless I had done something wrong. Problem is, I don't know what I had done wrong.

"Only to be traversed by those who see the world for what it is not." I whisper to myself a few times, Tess simply moved forward unaware. Wait, to see the world as it is not. Taking a leap of faith, I let my mutations grow a bit and focused the change to act on my eyes.

Upon opening them I saw the world in a thermal point of few. I felt a weight lift from my shoulders, upon seeing the hall way as it was I saw there where no body parts or blood. I could see a cold rectangular object a few meters ahead. It was a door! Thank god for that, my body felt as it was about to give any moment.

"Tess I want you to close your eyes and only open you when I tell you okay?" I asked, she simply nodded. Leaning over I picked Tess' small frame up and jogged through the hall towards the door. Without wasting time I ripped to door open dashed inside and slammed it shut again. I forced my mutations to recede, upon opening them I look around the room we had entered. It was a bunker, cots hung along side the wall lockers and desks scattered her and there, and all of it had not been affected by the fallout of the past the bunkers air purifiers had preserved the room.

"Tess, Tess open your eyes!" I said in a lighter voice

Tess slowly opened her eyes, but as soon as she saw the room we had entered she squealed like a school girl. With inhuman speed she lept from my arms and into one of the cots. I chuckled as she ducked under the covers.

Poking her head from the covers she looked at me. "I don't really care too much but, what is this place?" She asked once more hiding from sight.

I took a bottle of what looked like vodka from a mini fridge. "Well, before the war, apparently people had been paranoid and afraid therefore they would make personal bunkers keeping them hidden and impenetrable." I said taking a sip of the drink.

"But why make one under New York, when the city crumbled the bunker could have collapsed under the weight of the buildings?" I thought about her question.

"Well I can think of a few reasons. From what my thermal vision could tell there were a few heat signatures past that door." I said pointing towards a door on the opposite side of us. "One could be that this bunker has something of value to either the city or someone who lived here before. Either way keeping whatever's inside so close and secure means it's of value.Or two some paranoid nut job built the bunker so close to home for a quick get away." I kept glancing towards the door.

"You're gonna take what's inside aren't you?" She said, she didn't need to read my mind to know that's what would  happen.

"Yep, I'll be right back." I said feeling my right arm become solid and razor sharp. I put a hole clean through the door and tossed it aside. "Tess," I called back. "I think I was right about it being valuable." I could hear her grumble annoyed at being called from bed. As she entered she was about to yell to me but stopped upon seeing the large metal vault door in front of us. "Alright step back I don't wanna hit you." Tess stetted a couple feet back.

I raised my talon to the center of the vault door and tapped it. "Titanium and something else alloy, whoever built this doesn't want anybody inside." I said getting to work and slid my talon into the door.

"Did you ever think that the doors that big so it could hold something in?" She said scolding my hasted attitude.

"You may be right." I said my whole talon was in the door so my face pressed against it. "I can't feel the other side." I said pulling back,

"Exactly so lets find another way out!" She yelled, I looked back to the door.

"Okay how about I put a hole in it so we can see what's inside, eh?" I said, I knew she was curious to. With hesitation she motioned me to carry on. With surgeon like accuracy I made a small hole through the door so single gap was made. As I peered inside I saw the light where on, I could smell a type of preservation chemical filling the air. "What ever's in there it isn't anything living, I can't hear any robots inside so I think it' clear to go in." I said, Tess still looked unsure but nodded.

Within minutes I had the door open, as we stepped in head held high, it fell right back down. Another smaller door stood in front of us. "Really, what the fuck." I didn't wait for Tess to say anything I charged the door and took most of the wall with it into the next room.

"Fuck doors." I said getting up from the floor and dusted my self off, the room was dark and the smell of chemicals was heavy in the air it made me feel dizzy.

"Identify-User." I jumped at the sound of the robotic voice, looking around I saw a single light flick on above a small screen in the center of the room.

"What is that?" Tess asked walking next to me.

"Don't know, it asked for a user." I looked around the room to see one way windows surrounded us on all sides.

Slowly we approached the monitor. On it the face of what looked like a butler looked back at us head floating in the white back ground.

"Identify-User." It asked again, me and Tess looked at each other and shrugged.

"Uh, User-d04." I said, the screen switched to a loading bar for a few seconds before a small ID card slid from it.

"Armory key card dispensed, a maximum of two guests are allowed to accompany the user. For any questions you may have contact you closest Admin." The screen went back to the butler but stayed silent. The quite lasted a few seconds before the lights came on and a hissing sounded from the windows on either side of us. As they rose the rest of the room was reviled to us, I could have died then and their.

"Now that's a lot of firepower." Tess said, on the walls, shelves, counters, and racks that filled the room where guns, ammo, armor, explosives, med-gear, and everything else.

"It's fuckin' Christmas!" I squealed in joy rushing over to the nearest weapon rack. "X-9 Rail Gun, MK-2 Heavy Rivet Gun, this place has got it all." I said, I was basically a kid in a candy shop.

"Calm down Hunter you know we can't bring all these-" Tess said, but stopped when she saw me shoving as many heavy machine guns as I could into my SD. "Hunter!" She barked, I stopped and looked at her a Pulse Rifle in my hand. She rubbed her temple again and sighed. "Hunter you can't fit every gun here into your one SD, only take what you need." She said, I gave her a deadpan look and pointed to larger locker. "What about those SD's?" I said, her face went blank. She slowly walked over to the locker and pulled it open. Dozens of military grade SD's were stacked in neat piles.

"I call the SMG's." She said, taking a couple of the devices.

--30 Minutes later--

I sat on top of an empty counter and looked at our work. In half an hour we had every gun sorted by class in some SD's, medicine in some, ammo filled have a dozen of the SD's, explosives and armor filled the rest leaving only a single SD empty. It would be filled with food if we found any. Me and Tess looked proud of our work.

"Think we can take Hyde?" Tess asked her head on my lap.

"We could take him an the rest of Haven if we really wanted to." I said looking at the pile of weaponry.

"How are we gonna carry all these?" I asked, while there may not be many SD's there was still too many to carry effectively. I thought about it for a moment before an idea hit me, Tess must have had the same idea as we both looked at the lone, empty, SD.

--5 Minutes later--

"We're geniuses." I said, looking at the one man army SD. "Why has nobody done this before?" I asked myself placing the device on my belt.

"Well it's better we thought of it now than later." Tess said securing two of them to her belt one filled with SMG's the other with ammo.

"So where do we go from here?" I asked looking around.

"All specified personnel are to report to Project: Second Chance after armament is secured." The virtual butler answered. I looked at Tess, she shrugged and the two of us walked to the screen.

I looked at the AI as it stared back. "Repeat that." I ordered.

"All specified personnel are to report to Project: Second Chance after armament is secured." It repeated, I sat in the chair and tapped a few keys. The screen changed to the user home screen, both me and Tess read the label displayed.

"Secret Service!" On the screen was the old logo for the US government. That came as a shocker to me and Tess, what the heck was a secret service base doing in a hidden tunnel bellow a New York street. I looked at two icons that were present on the screen. The first was labeled journal nothing shocking there, the other on the other hand was labeled, Second Chance. I clicked on the SC icon, a small alert popped up.

"Read previous journal entries before proceeding to their Second Chance."

I closed the alert and opened the journal folder, inside there were only three entries. I looked to Tess she said nothing and motioned for me to continue. I clicked on the first one and a video opened, immediately a single scientist came into focus. His hair was black and his skin was light, he wore a white lab coat, he cleared his throat and spoke.

Journal Entry 1

It's been four weeks since project SC has been made operational. While it was only two days ago we sent in the first squad of soldier, scientist, and politicians we have already obtained some very unique data. It seems as though the new world we had discovered has a different biosphere than ours but it completely able to sustain us with breathable air. This may be the chance humanity needs. I'm only worried about what the higher ups may do when they find out a banned project was made under their noses. But if all turns out well humanity might just be able to save it's self.

Professor Kevin Klein signing off.

The recording stopped, my jaw was in my lap Tess had swayed as if about to fall. I opened the next video with haste wanting to know more.

J-Journal Entry t-two

G-god... I thought this would fix our problems, this isn't what I wanted. *sniff* I finally decided to see this new world for myself, I wanted to know what my work had lead us to. At first it was fantastic, crystal clear water that sparkled in the sun's glow, the air was clean and fresh, the plants where like nothing I had ever seen. To many it would seem like paradise, but you'd be wrong... dead wrong. It was my second night over there when it all went to hell. at what we assumed to be midnight our soldiers near the lake where our base is set next to reported seeing things moving along the waters edge but nothing was ever there. It was two hours if I remember that same night when the noises stared, each night I always air locked my trailer using filters to keep clean air inside and everything else out it was this that saved my life. After few minutes the sounds had stopped, at first I was thankful at what I had thought to be the others. The next morning was the day I would remember forever. F-fuck, I still remember that damn smell most of all, I had left my trailer t-to find bodies. Everyone was dead, the soldiers must have been taken by surprise because none of their weapons had been used. The corpses where mutilated beyond recognition, some missing limbs and organs. Whatever had done this didn't kill them to eat, for all of the organs had been... removed, but where there. Whatever did this knew what it was doing, I regret not giving them a proper funeral but I couldn't handle it. I had run straight to the Rift Gate and lept back to our world without another thought...

Professor Klein signing off.

Tess sat on the ground her face puzzled and contemplating what she had hear. I held my head in my hands thinking about what this meant.

New worlds, aliens, secret underground illegal portal labs. What the hell is happening. My mind could barely keep up, I left the terminal chair and sat next to Tess on the floor. She leaned her head on my shoulder.

"A whole other world?" She said.

"Yep." I replied.

"One where we may have a better chance to live in that here."

"Yep."

"You're just gonna keep sayin that aren't you?"

"Yep." Tess punched me in the shoulder and walked back to the terminal I followed behind.

"Might as well see the last one." She said and proceeded to open the last recording. This time we where greeted by a horrid sight. Klein was on screen caked in blood and bits of flesh, he bullet wounds in his shoulder more specifically his heart. A crooked smile spread across his face.

*giggle* This is Klein's Journal *giggle* Number 3

He he, this new world, it's marvelous. AHAHAHAHA!.. Turns out I was wrong, this new world is so much more than another chance. Hehe, it's our salvation. It can effect our minds... make us feel good. I was sleeping like a baby in my bed *giggle* when I had a dream, a lady walked over to me told me things that made me feel good. I spoke with her her beauty unmatched. She told me she wanted, No! She needed friends, friends who she could be with always. She gave me a knife and a chore, so when I woke up I killed... wait for it... EVERYONE! AHAHAHAHAHA! It's wonderful! This boring place finally has some color to it, I was gettin' sick of that boring white... Ooh she's back, hehehehehe, got to go don't want to make her wait for her friends!  Ta ta!

The recording stopped there, I stared at the screen unable to move. My mind was racing a mile a minute it gave me a headache, I tried my best to piece together everything that had happened in the last few hours.

Alright first Hyde tries to kill me big surprise, second me and Tess find and underground tunnel system that is messing with our heads due to energy that could be from another world where a mad scientist has taken the bodies of everyone in this facility to to keep some dream bitch company... What the hell happened in my life to make this happen? I looked up to see Tess sitting by my feet her head in her hands shaking her head. I pushed the chair away and sat with her trying to keep her calm. I kissed her head and put my arm around her.

"What are we doing?" She choked out, her voice quivering.

"Where trying to stay alive inside a haunted secret service base." I answered and immediately regretted it, I knew she was close to crying and I knew what would happen if she did.

"What's the p-p-point!?" She sobbed into my chest. I held her closer trying everything to calm her down.

"The point is so we can keep going get out of here, do what we can for this place and kick ass. The world is fucked, I know that. So what, does that mean we just have to give up and turn into one of those mutated zombies? Or, does it mean we can at least try and make somethin' out of this hellhole with whatever time we got." I tilted her head up so she looked at me face to face. "After everything we have gone through over the centuries we've been alive don't you dare give up on me because of some nut job scientist and a computer recording!" I began to yell but she didn't give and just looked away.

"So we do what we can to have it all forgotten within a few years and then die, ooh fuckin rah." She mopped, I was surprised once more today that she would cave so easily to this shit. We had both been face to face with death and won every damn time. If this shit was getting to her I wasn't going to let it continue.

I pulled my hand back. *WHAM* Tess slumped to the floor her hand on her cheek a red mark of where my fist had hit. "Tess! Pull your shit together! I've had my ass kicked for you on more than a dozen occasions so we could both make it back home! If you're gonna cry every time we get put in a situation we've never faced before, the the girl I met all those years ago is long dead." Tess just stared at me as I stood over her, she wasn't crying anymore, she tried to wipe the tears from her face. "Now, are you gonna sit there or are we gonna take a peak at this "new world" together?" I put my hand out, she took it and got to her feat.

"I'm sorry." She said, I sighed and hugged her.

"You've got nothing to be sorry for, we both have been through more than the average person should ever have to." I said, she chuckled.

"Guess it's a good thing we are you average pair." She said, I grinned and broke the hug.

"That's better, come on we got a world to see." I walked back to the terminal and clicked the SC icon, the alert popped up but I continued. A window opened with some long lengthy parts and a safety form, I skipped most of it until it brought me to the last page. It read

"All personnel are to wear protective gear upon entering project: SC"

I pressed the confirmation button, the screen went black for a moment. A moment later numbers began to scroll across the screen and another window opened. I read it aloud.

"Please step away from the Rift Gate while it is charging." I was about to ask Tess if she saw any such device, but that question was answered as a section of the floor began parting. I watched as a square structure rose from the floor, each of it's four sides were about 6 inches thick and the machine stood 8 ft high. Blue sparks of electricity raced across it's frame, the sparks began to grow more intense until the center gap of the gate was nothing but a wall of lightning the crackling of energy made my ears ring.

"Any second thoughts?" I asked Tess, she wasn't as hurt by the sound being a siren.

"It's either there or we try our luck in finding a sky city." She stated, she armed her ion SMG and walked towards the gate. We both stood before the portal arcs of lightning connected to us as if trying to take us in.

"Well here goes nothing." I took a breath and dove into the gate. FYI jumping into a portal made from pure lighting hurts.

--Equis Hidden Location.--

"Professor! A spike has appeared in the data readings! Something just entered our world from the one we spotted!" The desk mare looked at the terminal screen her hands flying across the keyboard trying to organize the mess of data.

"What!? Find where it entered quickly! Whatever has come through must be secured with haste!" The Professor ordered rushing to his own terminal. Another scientist a stallion came to him next a small roll of paper in his arms.

"Sir! Whatever came through is incredibly powerful, our systems couldn't keep up with it!" He panicked.

The professor rubbed his head, he turned back to those working at the terminals. "Have any of you found where the anomaly has occurred?" A single mare stood, everypony else looked troubled.

"Y-yes sir we have located the site... but, well it hasn't landed in Equestria." The stallion hesitated at the last part. "The landing site is in... the Changeling Badlands more specifically ten miles from the queen's hive."

The professor fell into his chair his breathing was slow and his face blank. "Contact the princess now!" He barked before leaving into his private office. The scientist quickly began writing.

Inside his office the professor looked at a map, it showed all the explored lands. He glared at the eastern most area of Equestria where a massive desert lay. He glared as if trying to erase that area from the map.

I won't let my life's work be for nothing. He though to himself and sat at his desk and began to write.

Character Bios

Chapter 3: Not Alone

Not Alone

*sniff sniff* I felt something tickling the top of my head as I lay on the ground.

"Tess knock it off." I said and slapped away the stick he had been using, I heard a rustling sound next to me.

"I didn't do nothin'." She moaned, at that my eyes flicked open. A few feet away Tess was like me laying in a bed of thick, healthy, and green grass. Of course this lead me to think, what the hell touched me. Slowly I turned my head forward, I stopped and froze in place. I looked into a pair of glowing green eyes, the sun's light reflected off of it's glossy wooden form. Inched from my face was a dog made purely from wood. The dog...  no it was too big to be a dog, a wolf maybe, the wolf looked back at me with interest. Neither of us moved trying to stare into the others soul.

"Tess... Tess  little help here." I whispered, she rolled over to face me.

"What I'm tryin' to sl-" Here word caught in her throat as her gaze feel on the wolf.  It looked at her the same interest was ever present. After a moment a face slipping grin spread across Tess' face, with inhuman speed she lunged at the wolf and pulled it into a hug. "AWW, it's so cute!" She sat on the ground petting the wooden mutt, it let out a relieved huff and leaned into the hug. My look changed from shock to confusion, I stood up and dusted myself off.

"First thing you see in this place and it's a wooden wolf and you hug it, eh?" I said looking around, I saw we landed in an oasis, the sun shining high in the noon day sky. I knew this because past the trees and grass around the single body of water in the enter of the area, was red, brown, and orange ground.

"Oh come on hunter look at him, he's so cuddly!" Tess squealed, looking at the dog again I saw it was only a pup barely reaching my knee. I looked around and saw a few smaller animals but no other wooden wolves.

"Strange wildlife aside do you know where we are?" I found my weapon, an X9-Plasma Repeater. Tess gave the area a quick once over.

"Nope sorry." She said before cuddling the dog again. I shook my head sighed walking to the oasis, a brief thought about the recordings popped into my mind. It's in the water. I put my X9 away and pulled my Arc Welder, I held down the first trigger as electricity began to accumulate at the tip of the gun.

"What are you doing?" I heard Tess say as she was somehow standing next to me.

"Making sure this water isn't going to harm us." I said, and pulled the second trigger. A single massive bolt of electricity hit the water causing the whole spring to conduct the energy. The pup in Tess' arms tried to struggle away from the noise. I held the arc in place until a warning told me it was beginning to over heat. I released both triggers and the lighting stopped as quickly as it had begun, spare a few sparks in the water.

"Was that really necessary?" She asked petting the dog who still tried t escape.

"You saw the video like I did, we need water for this trip and I am not taking chances." I took a canteen from my belt and filled it with the clear water, I couldn't help but stare at the water for a moment. It was clear and shown like diamonds in the sunlight, unpolluted and untainted by man it was a preserved piece of tranquility. I wanted it to stay as such and backed away from it. "Any ideas as to where we shoulder head to first? I don't feel like hanging around here, this place feels... wrong." I looked around, in every direction was the same thing being trees bushes ending in a rocky desert.

"This place does feel weird, you think it could be something like that, hall." Tess shuddered remembering the hall full of bodies that where either projections, or something else.

"Well, let's just get out of here. We need to find people or something sentient that hopefully won't turn us into rambling psychopaths." I took another look at the oasis, nothing seemed to out of place. "I wish we either had a VSAT or drone to scout the area, but it looks like we're taking a shot in the dark this time."

Tess seemed, to think for a while before holding the wooden dog forward. "Let's have him show us."

I had never face palmed so hard my combat mask HUD scrambled. I knew Tess and me had our share of dumb as fuck ideas but this took the dynamite candle topped cake.

"You're gonna let a dog decide out fate, not just any dog but a wooden one that can't be older than a few weeks?" I asked, Tess nodded and put the dog down, it sniffed around for a few seconds before looking around. It was also at this time I felt my brain cells slowly commit suicide one by one, I must have been monstrously cruel to puppies in another life to deserve this.

I let out a pent up breath and said. "Tess the dog isn't going to just magically know where some desert utpo-" I was cut off as the dog barked, it began to walk westward looking back to see if we where following. I deadpanned as the dog simply trotted away, Tess trailing behind.

... "What the fuck."

--Canterlot Castle Same Time--

"Professor Clockwork I hold your professional scientific opinion higher than anypony in Equestria. But I can't simply believe this." A tall regal alicorn said, her coat was a pure white, her mane flowed in a rainbow effect in a nonexistent wind, she stood higher than most a 7"6 ft. Her name was Princess  Celestia Co-ruler of the nation Equestria.

Professor Clockwork stood before her his research lay spread out on the center table. "Princess you must believe me, all of our equipment, even the Eye, have located a quantum anomaly." He said, his voice tiered and wavering.

"Professor, from what you have told me. An anomaly in time and space has appeared?" She asked.

"Yes"

"And in the Changeling Badlands?"

"Yes." He said but quieter.

"And you want me to send in a squad of soldier to inspect the site?"

"Y-yes." He knew where she was going.

"Professor, even if this is something big it's out of my hands. I cannot send troops into the Badlands under the treaty with the changeling queen. Even if this force was somethin powerful the risk of war is too great, all we can do is wait and see what happens. I'm truly sorry your work has been so hard to lead to this, but please do not attempt to look for this thing." The professor collapsed into his chair looking at all the hard, tedious, worthless work. Without a word he pooled his papers together and left.

Clockwork hurried back to his lab, grumbling to himself. I'm right and I will prove it, but how? His mind raced as he tried to think if a solution.

--Changeling Badlands 1:30 PM--

We had been following the dog for an hour now, I had to admit it had lead to some results. The area we had entered was some form of canyon, but it was obviously made by something that knew how to dig. The walls had signs of blast spots from high explosives, mined out sections has marks of where axes had chipped away, even some form of tracks made by a wagon on my opinion.

"I told you he would show us the way." Tess gloated, I just kept quite looking for what may inhabit this area. It was obvious these natives were sentient, the sings of mining making that obvious.

"Congratulations, he dog either brought us to bomb testing site or a mining colony." I snarked, I looked around the edges of the canyon above us cautious for traps, avalanches, snipers, or hostile natives.

"Can't you lighten up, everything's gonna be alright once we get to a city." Tess said, her happy demeanor overshadowing the rest of her personalities.

"A city of miners, two soldiers armed to the teeth who are more or less qualified as two walking WMDs are just gonna blend right in, we'll be having a comfy life in no time." Tess just huffed.

After a few more minutes of walking later and we came to a cliff face, a few yards from the edge the dog stopped.

*Bark*

Me and Tess fell to the ground and crawled to the edge of the cliff, I looked over the edge. To any and I mean any city on earth was put to shame by this place. short farms, and other buildings slowly became bigger and bigger until they peaked at the top of what I had first thought a mountain, it was a fortress. Black and green material seemed to be the most basic building materials other colors where there but those to were the most flaunted. I noted three buildings that stuck out the most, the first being the main castle, the second was a large what looked like factory with a massive sphere above it filled with a swirling pink and purple liquid, the last was an incredibly tall cylindrical building.

But what caught my eye more than anything, where those who inhabited it. They where like... me, with my mutated vision I could see they looked very similar to me their skin was pitch black and made from the same carapace, their eyes where only different thing about them, and some where even turning invisible like me. There where some differences, like some had wings which made me jealous having only a wing pack and not real wings, they all had a single horn on their foreheads, and at the ends of their legs and arms where holes which I was glad I didn't have. But none the less I didn't feel threatened by them and was actually ecstatic to meet them. I could see Tess looking at the city below as well, but I couldn't read her face.

"Well you wanted to follow the dog." I said, petting said dog.

We both stood on the edge of the cliff looking down, our wing packs powered up. Having been shocked by the Rift they had been shorted out, but I was able to get them back on.

"So  where should we land?" I looked over the city, no area looked good for a landing except the from gate. Tess didn't really need me to tell her that though.

"It's more polite to go in the front anyhow." She said, I snickered and we both took to the air. As we hovered to the ground, the dog began to try and hide in Tess' jacket. I payed him no mind though hoping he just didn't like the noise. As we landed I noticed the front wall was topped of with guards, they wore thick heavy iron armor, spears and swords at the ready. Upon our arrival a guard and another not guard walked up to us, one was armed the other held a scroll. Tess stood by my side the dog hidden inside her combat jacket.

"Welcome brother," When the one with the scroll spoke I almost felt welcome. "What is your drone class and number?" He asked, my mind hit a wall. He must have thought I was truly one of them, I had to admit I felt a bit happy.

"Um d04 "Stalker" sir." I said not really knowing what else to say.

"Stalker? I don't have any d04's marked to have left the hive, who are you?" The guard native pointed his weapon at me.

"I ain't lying, I'm a d04 Stalker specimen, I'm just not from your "Hive" like you thought." The scroll native whispered with his companion for a few seconds.

"You said specimen, right?" I nodded to his question. "Well in that case excuse my hostility. Our kind is still on a very shaky treaty with the Equestrians, I will tell the guards to raise the gate. Welcome to the Hive." He waved to a pair of guards above, a few seconds later the large metal gate began to rise.

The Hive: Made from being hand carved from locally found minerals such as obsidian, iron, apatite, magnetite, and other oddly located minerals is the changeling Hive. With the use of heavy magic this location is stabilized for hospitable conditions. The Hive is one of four remaining changeling sanctuaries left housing at least 20,000 changelings. In the dark of night bioluminescent life illuminates the city as no other place can. This Hive also houses the queen of the changelings her self Queen Chrysalis, she is charged with taking personal care of each and every changeling inside the city maintaining stability, peace, and law. Also having no direct ties with other nations the changelings are famed for having quickly advancing technology, economy, and education this is considered a feat because everything they have learned is from personal study and experimentation. While this city like any other has it's dark, odd, or unexpected secrets it is a wonder to the planet kept safe and secluded from the outside world so it may continue to delve into it's study and ever advancing technology.

The Hive was.. stunning to say the least, the architecture put any human made city past or present to shame. The streets in front of us flowed with coordinated ease as the natives or changelings went about their work. I had never seen anyplace have so many working yet still be organized and direct as this place. Me and Tess walked into the city the massive black and green buildings towered over us. No one so much as gave me a glance, but many bright blue eyes focused on Tess, although she either didn't notice or didn't give a fuck, maybe both. I had none of my weapons out all of them stored in my SD, but I had one ready just in case. I didn't try and hide in the crowd, being the only two people here wearing combat armor and armed with advance bionic upgrades, SD's, and HUD's. To put it simply we where the most noticeable things in the city.

Hunter I know this is the only place we've got, but we don't have any local currency for food or a place to stay. Me and Tess had been mentally discussing what the hell we where going to now that we where here.

Well for a while we can camp out in the Badlands, once we got enough money we can stay at a hotel and work our way from there. It was the best thing I could think of to do.

What about all those things in the badlands, like those things on the recordings? I had thought about that but with our weapons mutations, etc not much could get in our way and live.

They would only be a minor problem, who knows there may be some bounty hunting jobs we could take on the monsters to get some money? Tess seemed to brighten at the thought of hunting monsters. For as long as I can remember Tess has always had an odd fetish for blood and grim-dark shit. Not that ripping a Bloater in half wasn't fun but Tess IS the kill in overkill. Maybe that's why I found her attractive the day we meet, she one tough chick who will beat you with your own arm if you make fun of her or other women.

Alright, but first lets see if we can find any place to get some work. I agreed as we continued down the road. From old books and movies I knew the best place to find odd jobs.

A bar!

Of course finding a bar was very easy, being a busy city a place with changelings lounging around and being heard over the crowd was an easy target. The bar was a tall wide building, I couldn't read the language but what it was was fairly clear. We walked into the bar and were greeted with an all too familiar scent, alcohol and something else we didn't know, it was just like Haven. We walked towards the bar the keep looked at me, then Tess, then back to me.

"Yes can I get you something?" He asked calmly.

"Yeah, me and my partner are looking for work preferably suited for our... talents." The barkeeper looked around making sure no one was listing.

"And what kind of talents might be in line for you and your partner?" He asked leaning on the bar.

"Grunt work, you know things like a bodyguard, private security, or hunting." He thought about it for a few seconds.

"Well in The Hive there is never enough jobs for a merc, but. If you want a good paying job check with either the guard or some of the more privileged closer to the palace, that is if you can get in." His suggestions weren't bad and went along with our old job.

"Wait you said if we could get in, what did you mean?" He looked shocked for a moment before chuckling.

"Well seeing as you to aren't from around here let me give you a word of advice. Don't go to the districts closer to the palace, if you give some of the drones there a bad look guarantee your as good as dead. Stick with more jobs around the outer districts, once you get a bit of money to your name you might have a shot at working higher up." Another patron called for the bartender, he handed me a small note and left. I gave the note a quick look.

"If your going to look for work in the guard look for a drone named Dust Walker." I folded the note and put in my pocket.

So what are our options? Tess asked.

Well either we look for this Dust Walker, or we try and get work in the inner districts full of rich assholes. I responded, she looked around the bar.

I don't think any jobs around here would get us very much. Might as well try the higher ups. Coming to our conclusion we left the bar, this time less natives or drones looked at Tess.

We began our way to towards the palace as the richer districts where surrounding it. I could see Tess window shopping, I had to admit some of the cloths here looked very similar to those back home, a lot of the food also looked pretty good but I couldn't identify what most of it was, and one thing I noticed was a popular drink. I had seen many of the drones walking or sitting drinking some kind of purple pink liquid. I just shrugged it off as a cultural thing. As we got close and closer to the palace, the buildings had drastically changed. The craftsmen ship and use of expensive items showed just how wealthy these changelings were. Some buildings where lined with a silver and sometimes blue trim adding a much more noticeable effect. The drones on the other hand, they had their heads held so high it was a wonder they knew where they were going.

Snobs aside the area itself seemed tense and prestigious, I saw a few street vendors along side the street I figured my best chance for work or to find where to look for work would be there. I walked towards the market, but Tess put a hand on my shoulder.

Check 2 o'clock.

I looked to the right, a couple of changelings, one male the other female where being escorted down the road. Other citizens stepped hurriedly out of their way, not wanting to cause trouble we did the same. The female wore a longs grey and jeweled dress, her black hair fell down her back, she was tall and slender her hips swayed from side to side.

Slut. Tess spat.

The male had was of similar height, he had an average build and wore a black suite with his short hair evenly hanging around his neck. I could tell the two of them where important and powerful. The drones escorting them where massive, their arms where as thick as my body, their torsos where twice my size, the legs where also big and looked like they packed quite a kick. They were obviously mercs, competent ones at that. When they passed the crowd went right back to what it had been doing.

This place has a very old yet modified version of the cast system. Tess said, it was true. While the lower class and higher classes where mixed together it was defiantly made obvious who's name held a higher power.

Let's just talk to one of these vendors and move. Me and Tess entered street market looking at the interesting things for sale. I walked to a younger looking changeling selling different manners of trinkets. Upon seeing us walk up to his stall he smiled.

"Ah welcome brother how can I help you?" He asked, it was nice to meet someone friendly most salesmen in Haven were either cheating scum or assholes.

"Me and my partner are looking for work, I hoped either you know of any close by or someone who may know." The changeling thought about it for a second.

"Well you aren't going to find any work that isn't either escort work or guard work. But if your up for it you can always ask check with the Hunters for work, the pay is usually very good from what I've heard." Hunters? I assumed they were most likely the ones who kept the creatures in the Badlands out.

"Where would we find these hunters?" He just laughed at my question.

"They don't have a set location, they usually occupy one of the bars in the city. There's one a few blocks down from here, it's called Black Water the building it's self is hard to miss. At least one one of the Hunters can be found there I know that, also if you are able to join them don't expect any of the work to be easy." I thanked him and let him get back to work.

Tess you've been quite for while, something on your mind? I asked walking in the direction the vendor had pointed.

I'm just trying to keep pace with everything that's been going on. I know this, we're in a different world, you're not the only sentient d04, we still have no idea what was up with those recordings in the lab back on Earth, and now we're just looking to hunt like some low life bounty hunter. Tess didn't sound too pleased at what we had to do, she had never liked bounty hunters because they held no manner or loyalty to anyone but themselves.

After we get a little bit of money we can get a room at a hotel or something and then we can take our time to sort everything out. For now all we can do is get a job, get paid, and hopefully figure out what to do with the rest of our insane lives. I know it's not the best plan in the world but it was all I had.

Alright... but after this we are taking things slower. I'm so tiered of not know what's going on. I put my hand on her shoulder.

I am to, but we have to get settled before we can figure anything out.

The Black Water Bar, it was definitely more expressive about it's purpose than any of the other buildings I had seen. Neon lights traced the edges of the roof casting a low red light. The building looked out of place among the high class looking district. None the less we entered, now it really looked out of place.

I'm okay with this. I shot Tess a quick glance.

The bar was a gentlemen's club... awesome. I could see changelings whooping to the strippers on stage, others we're being lead into private rooms. This was like the red light district back in Haven, full of perverts and drug dealers. I could see multiple bars dotted around the wide area, I walked over to one and this would most likely be my worst idea of the day. Standing on the other side of the bar was a rather busty changeling, her clothes did little for her.

Only Tess knows this but, I'm not good when talking to women. Now standing in front of me is an embarrassing moment waiting to happen, but it was too late now.

"Well hello there hun, how can I help you today?" Her voice was odd, from being with Tess for my whole life I knew when sound was being manipulated.

"Y-yes, I'm looking for someone." I said trying my hardest not to stutter, and failing. She just giggled, leaning over the counter top put her face inches form mine.

"And who would you be lookin' for?" I was glad for my carapace, if I had skin I would be sweating.

"I'm looking for a Hunter you know any?" I managed to at least level my voice.

"Aw shame, but business is business. If it's a hunter you're lookin' for talk to Jeremiah." She backed off and pointed to a lone changeling sitting in the corner watching the dancers with mild interest.

"Thanks for the help." She gave a sly grin.

"Any time sugar, come back and see me sometime." She walked off to tend to her other patrons. As I walked away my breath began shaking less and less.

Good job Hunter you managed to speak coherent sentences. Tess mentally cheered.

Let's just hurry. We walked to the changeling, I gave him a quick once over. His carapace matched mine perfectly, no holes and looked tougher than most, he had blue reptilian eyes similar to my own. He was a Stalker. As we got closer her turned to look at us.

"Yeah, what do you want?" He didn't sound agitated just bored.

"Me and my friend new in town, we don't have much to us except our weapons and clothes. We heard we might be able to find work with you're organization." I said, he motioned for us to sit.

"Now I know you're talkin' about the Hunter's, they are who yer' lookin' for right?" I nodded. "And what makes you think I'm a Hunter and what makes you think they'ed let just anyone join?" Hiss attention was focused on us.

"First I know a fighter when I see one, you have two scars on you chest and one on your arm. Both of them look as though they where put there by something pretty big. Two me and my friend aren't your normal fighters." He looked both me and Tess over.

"Alright, ya don't seem like some ego pumped merc so I'll give ya that. But what makes you so special, your a d04 like me, and other than some strange armor you don't look like you got that much." I could hear the grin spread across Tess' face.

"Well then allow me to show you what we bring to the table." With practiced ease I drew out an X-9 Rail Gun, Tess favoring her ZCT Wave Gun. I was glad we were in a booth seat, lest someone see our weapons. The changeling's eyes went wide, I was afraid his eyes would fall out of their sockets.

"Our group is leaving in the morning at 5 AM sharp, where hunting down a pack of Desert Worms that have been causing trouble for the outer walls. If you're up for it meet us at the gates a little earlier, I'll inform my boss of your coming so you should run into any trouble. For now take this." He handed me a small pouch. "You gave about 120 gems, it should be enough to cover a room at most hotels and food as well, your best bet would be to get a room at The Silver Sunset Hotel. It's a large complex building a few streets over towards the palace, it costs about 40 gems a night but stick with us and that won't be a problem, alright?" I nodded getting from my chair ,but as we stood to leave he grabbed my arm. "One more thing... what are you, really?"

I thought about answering him truthfully but I didn't not wanting every changeling in the city after my tech. "A merc with anger management problems." Was all I said, Tess in close behind we left the building. Outside in the streets we were once again greeted us with the sounds of buzzing, talking, etc. I had quickly gotten use to the changelings because they reminded me of the D class specimens but with sentience and personalities, instead of blood thirsty cannibalistic human mutants. Tess seemed to be taking things just as well and for good reasons, we had seen many things that would make any man or women make them put a bullet in their brains, this was just another Monday or whatever day it was here for me and Tess though.

The SSH wasn't very far from the bar it was only a few blocks down the street, it was also very noticeable. Shards of amber, topaz, and gold studded the walls in hand made patterns. In the sun they reflected an array of color, I can only guess during the sunset it would only become more impressive. Moving on the inside had a similar design, changelings sat in various areas some playing pool, lounging in another area, and what made my day was some were watching TV.

Wait they have iron armor and weapons that can't block crap, yet they can make a fully functioning HD flat screen  complete with color? I thought about it until my head hurt, I would figure it out later. But being in a hurry to finally have a comfortable living space felt like a god send compared to the places back in Haven. I walked up to one of the changelings working at the counter, she motion for us to hold as she spoke into an intercom.

"I understand just do what you can with it and move on." She tapped a key on the intercom and faced us. "Sorry about that, now how can I help you two?" She asked warmly, I could hear how much she practiced that one line.

"I was wondering if you had any two bed rooms available?" I asked, she looked between me and Tess and checked a log book on the counter.

"Yes we have a few open, are you looking for anything specific or just any room?"

"Any room will do." She wrote a few things in the book.

"Okay a standard two bed one bath room on the second floor, is this alright?" She asked, I nodded.

"Okay it is one the second floor on D hall room 126, and it will be 30 gems a night." I took the specified amount from the pouch Jeremiah had given us.

"Thank you very much, enjoy your stay." She handed me a small key, I thanked her and went to the nearest stair case.

I hope they have a bar. Tess randomly stated, I was also thinking of drinks. My mind was distracted as I saw a reoccurring sight throughout the city, it was that strange purple and pink liquid. Almost every cup I could see of the hotel's front area was filled with it. I tried to push it away though trying to deal with the current problems.

We stood outside our room the door reading 126 in big white numbers. I unlocked the door and pushed it open.

"Oh yes!" Tess squealed jumping up and down, I rarely ever saw her this happy. Rushing past me into the room Tess dove onto one of the rooms beds, with her face buried in the pillow she let out a relieved sigh. I grinned seeing her childish antics, walking to the empty bed I took off both my personal SD and the Armory SD as I had decided to call it see as it held one inside itself. I fell on my back to soft bed sagging under me, I wasn't fat I just had on about 90 pounds of extra gear than a normal Haven Soldier. I felt someone then lay onto me their head under my chest.

"Tess I thought you stopped doing this after we were almost court marshaled." In the Haven Military relationships between two soldier gender regardless is strictly forbidden. Now before I tell you the incident on base let me clarify a few things about me and Tess, we aren't a couple. We may act like it but we aren't, we're really good friends with benefits. Me and Tess are free to see who ever we want without grief from the other, I've had two other girls in my life and I think Tess has had over 12... in my opinion they were all assholes. Anyway, a few years back on base me and Tess where sleeping in the barracks when Tess decided to get cuddly. Long story short our old captain almost kick both our asses to there cerb had we not been in the special divisions as super soldiers.

I felt Tess hug me closer. "Aw come on, we are most likely framed as criminals back in Haven, we aren't even on Earth anymore, who in this world has the power to stop us? We can do whatever we want." She said wrapping her arms around my neck she looked at me face to face. "Besides, when was the last time you let off a little stress?" She said getting closer.

"6 nights ago when we both stumbled home after a long night of drinking with Tom and Sven." I said, pushing her back a bit. She let out a pout and went back to laying on my chest.

"Killjoy, when was the last time you were with a girl other than me?" She teased, just saying that made everything awkward. You just shouldn't ask someone if you slept with someone else other than them, it's just weird. But I went on.

"6 nights ago after a night with Tom and Sven." I replied, remembering Tess's friend Jackie.

Tess just pouted getting off of me and walking towards the bathroom. "I'll be out in a minute, I haven't taken a nice bath in days feel free to join." She shut the door, just not all the way. I gave a chuckle and lay my head on my pillow looking at the ceiling.

A couple minutes later a knock came from the door, I looked at it a moment wondering who it could possibly be. Walking towards the door I held a Combat knife readied inside my sleeve. Slowly I opened the door, I was greeted by the receptionist changeling from the front.

"Hello sir, I have a message for you." She said with a smile pulling out a small sealed letter, I took the letter checking the seal to see a green stamp with the letters QC in green.

"Thank you-" I said but upon looking up I saw she was gone, I closed the door carefully looking around. Turning back to the room I did a quick thermal, x-ray, and vitals scan but found it empty except for Tess and me. I looked again to the strange note in my hand, wondering who I could be. Using my knife I carefully popped the seal and pulled out the paper from within.

`You are either very brave or foolish to wander into MY Hive outsider, especially claiming to be one of my children. I do not know who or what you are or your intentions for my children and city but I wish to know, with as little violent action as possible. So, I send you this letter as a peaceful request to come to the palace tomorrow at noon so we may discuss our standings. But know this outsider, if you hurt one of my children you will not be able to escape my anger, so I suggest you avoid being late.

Sign Queen Chrysalis`

I read the note a few times, my headache returning. Son.of.a.bitch, can I go one decade without someone hating me for some dumb ass reason. First Hyde, then the laundry guy, then Pvt Dancer, now this Queen... a fucking queen! My headache went from small to a full on migraine. I sat on my bed rubbing the side of my head wishing I had my painkillers, or my weight in vodka. I set the note on the side table and walked towards the bath tossing my cloths off.

What else could go wrong, go ahead universe show me I fuckin' dare ya.

Well...

Well, I tried and fail... I am absolutely stuck. For anyone who liked this story, I apologize I just have no idea where to go from here. Sorry again for anyone who like this I just suck at writing apparently.

So long.