Fallout Equestria : Beyond the Nexus

Fallout Equestria: Beyond the Nexus

By TornadoFIM

Chapter One: Escaping From the Nexus

“You’re just a machine, you have no real purpose!”

Hope.

Was there any of it left? Especially since I had spent all of my life inside of this large facility. They called it the Nexus and even though I was created here, I didn’t like this place at all. I always wondered what the world beyond the force field walls was like. I always thought of it as a land of harmony, where ponies and other living things roamed together in an endless land of happiness. Of course, being an android, I was programmed to feel emotions unlike the others along with being a robotic life form coated in pony skin along with a mane. Life wasn’t easy here I must admit. But it was my home and I had to accept that, even though I wanted to get out of here. With me being the only Android out of all ten thousand within the Nexus who can feel emotions, I had the need to get out. But how I came to feel emotions was due to an accident during the making of me.

Sitting inside a large circular room with white clean, steel walls around me with a charcoal colored ceiling and floor, I gazed at the wall with no words. The electric blue neon lights that trailed across the ceiling and floor in a circle, I thought to myself. I really didn’t believe I had a purpose or at least not here. We followed the orders of the buck who keeps this place running. Both he and his assistant were the only pure ponies within the facility, the rest of us were androids designed to protect and serve them. But being the only one with emotions was sometimes horrible; it was as if he designed me to go through emotional torture each and every day.

Looking to the wall, the sound of the door opening behind be was heard. My robotic ears twitching before I rotated myself around to face who it was. And to no surprise it was the stallion who kept this place alive. Pulse was his name and he was one mean bastard. His coat was a pale white color, his mane a dark blue that was spiked violently. His tail was both the same style and color. His eyes on the other-hoof were a bright blue color. With a stern look, he approached me but I felt no fear as I had seen his face like this before.

“Android-1323, shouldn’t you be working elsewhere?” His deep, anger filled voice daunted on me or at least tried to, yet again I felt no fear. I just looked at him and blink, refusing to go. “Get off your lazy synthetic ass and get to work!”

He was stubborn yes, but I didn’t see any point in working for him or anypony else. We Androids have lives too, maybe we are robotic creatures who take the form of a pony, and maybe I’m the only one who has pony-like emotions. I can feel anger, hate, sorrow, happiness, love...while the others can’t, I still found it unfair of him to even talk to any android like that.

“Sir, with all due respe-” I began, but I was soon cut off by a heart stopping snap. At this moment, I kept quiet.

“I don’t care what you have to say - this is your home, and you help us rebuild it!” He exclaimed towards me, showing anger and hatred. But there was nothing to rebuild, the Nexus was in perfect shape. Well almost perfect shape.

“Yes sir.” I paused as I lifted myself onto my hooves. Walking towards the circular door at the end of the room, which was the same color as the floor and ceiling and had the same electric neon blue running around the frame of it. “Sir, what is the world like on the outside?” I asked. I didn’t open the door at this moment; I only stood by it, glancing back at Pulse.

“It’s a desolated world full of death and war, it’s a place where you will not want to go to,” he responded with an irritated tone to his voice. Walking up to me, placing a thick cigar in his mouth and biting down on it, he prepared to continue as he lit it up using his magic from his horn that stuck through his violently spiked mane. “The land it was two-hundred years ago is long gone.”

Well, I’ll believe it when I see it of course. I can’t just believe the buck and assume it is what he says it is. But it did grind against my hopes slightly, making me frown slightly from what he said. But I didn’t give up that easily, as I was planning to leave within the coming days - or at least try to. From the knowledge I had gained of this place, there are multiple teleportation devices which are normally used to get goods in and out of the Nexus from the world beyond the large force field that sealed this place off from the world. I just had to look in the correct place. Once leaving, I found myself upon a balcony on one of many towers stationed around the whole area. Walking towards the balcony, I looked at the many large steel spires that stood tall, some leaking with smoke from the tops of them. Others stood in the distance shooting electricity from the top to power the force field barrier around the entire area. There were small buildings within the distance that sat by the daunting towers that stood tall. All the buildings including the large columns that were tall and thin were all a jet black color and showed no reflection from the artificial sun that was caused by the barrier. The pale white sky yet again caused by the large dome that surrounded the industrial area beamed down onto it.

Wandering down the spiraling balcony that was fixed onto the side, I had heard the machinery that was scattered around the Nexus echoing through the unclean air as large mining machines that were sitting all over the city mined their way through the ground that they were placed on to find more metal to build Androids out of. However, me being the only one who could even despise such a place, I did. I thought of this place being a hell for all of us. Seeing many bridges taking the Androids from landmark to landmark. Walking across the closest bridge passing many of the emotionless Androids who were ponies. However most of them looked the same. There were no smiles upon their faces, no eye movement, nor was there any sound coming from these lost machines that were developed within this building. However, I counted them lucky – they wouldn’t have to endure all the emotional torture of being lost in a facility which you might never be able to depart from.

Booming alarms from the other side of the Nexus screeched throughout, as the sound of heavy machinery was heard moving in the chaotic streets below. Smoke engulfed the streets that were below of course, making it nearly impossible for any pure life form to live in those conditions. It was a thick smoke that surrounded it all, black and toxic. The fumes sometimes drifted up to here, filling it with warm breeze and also the stench of burning plastics and metals.

As the hours passed by, I sat within a factory crafting all sorts of useless weapons that were not needed at all due to this place being a fortress. The large room was tinted a red color from all the flames from the furnaces at the end of each conveyor belt. There were ten conveyor belts, as sharp hooks hung from chains that were linked to the ceiling, inconsistent in length. Sitting at mine, I watched the rusted steel carry the broken parts of weaponry over, before grabbing the small fidgety object within my hooves. Quickly assembling it back together, I placed it back on the conveyor belt, watching it carry the small piece of metal and joints along.

“You want to be free…don’t you?”

A deep, monotone voice that sounded like a synthetic machine was heard from behind me. Turning myself to face an emotionless Android who sat there fixing broken parts and checking other fixed parts for any lethal or disjointed connectors. Staring at it for a while, he looked at me with his glowing blue eyes, still completely emotionless. His bitter expression screamed help me, but he couldn’t scream it…he had no emotions. But all I did was not for a reply.

“Freedom is just a word among us Androids, but to you it means something doesn’t it?” He turned to me, his face completely straight, “I know how you can earn it…but you must be willing to intake some physical damage.”

The Android’s words did a smile across my face, with me being the only one who could feel emotions; the Android stared at me with a blank expression. But waiting for him to continue, he reached into the pocket of his plain blue jacket using his magic, his horn glowing a cyber-blue color before pulling a small data pad out and placing it in front of me. I raised an eyebrow, curious of why he gave me this.

“I cannot tell you face to face; my data pad should contain a journal which speaks of the exits that are hidden throughout the Nexus,” at that moment, the synthetic helper glanced up at the balconies above which contained guards with heavy plasma weapons and padded security armor that you would see in high security zones. They glanced down at us before they turned away. “They’re watching us – you’d best get moving.”

“Thank you,” I responded bitterly, no emotion behind my thanks. But I was grateful however, but now I had to try and get there in one piece. Not that I could really feel physical pain, the only time I could actually feel that sort of pain was if my core had been shot or torn out. Which my core sat within the place that most of the pure ponies call the heart.

Upon leaving my station within the factory, as the guards upon the balcony had their heads turned away from me, I scurried into a small corridor that was by the furnace. The heat however was scorching me, I felt like the metal beneath the skin I wore over it was beginning to melt. Rushing into it, darkness surrounded me as the light from behind could not creep its way in. Walking slowly, hearing my hooves clanking and clopping by each step I took, I kept the data pad within my wing’s grasp before sitting down by the now cold, rusty wall that was behind me. Looking down at the glowing screen as it flashed on, revealing a folder under the name of: Teleportation pad locations.

Tapping it with my hoof, a document opened up showing a letter. At least it was in letter format. The white text stood out from the cyber-blue screen that the data pad had. Beginning to read it, I focused my eyes onto it.

Android-3442

Data log-#0001

Subject: Teleportation pads locations.

For those who have managed to gain this data log after my death, then I can grant you instant freedom. Well, I cannot however, but I do know the locations of the teleportation pads that they use to get goods in and out of the Nexus. But be warned, the world beyond the walls of the Nexus is not what we all think it is – how we cannot fell the emotions that pure ponies carry, we can still feel disappointment of outcomes. If you’re willing to face a world that has been scourged by war, then keep reading and I can help you find your way out.

There are a two main teleportation pads within the entire facility, the others which are scattered around the Nexus being sub teleporters to transport the smaller items. The first of the major pads being within the weapons factory. However, this one is one of the harder ones to reach. It is within Furnace Deck-B13 which is one of many Furnace Decks below the actual factory. I have not yet analysed the heat below the furnaces, but what I do know is, the process is very short. But unfortunately, guards are preventing anyone from crossing them.

The second being in the recycling plant. It is where they take the dead Androids and recycle their metal and body parts so they can use it for other new creations. This one isn’t guarded as much, but it is a lot harder to reach – the recycling plant is like a labyrinth and it is active twenty-four seven. Fortunately, the process is a lot shorter; therefore the items that are taken in and out get to their destination quicker.

Whichever one is closer, use it. Being emotionless doesn’t make you an idiot. Even those who feel the emotions of a pure pony, those who feel fear should be able to do this with no worry.

Data log finish.

Closing the document upon the pad, I disposed of it immediately; I didn’t want to keep it. It was of no use to me now, I had gathered the knowledge of where I needed to go, and fortunately I wasn’t caught down here yet. Continuing through the dark hallway I was secluded in, the echoing hoofsteps of my own echoed throughout the steel corridor.

“HALT!!”

The echoing voice coming from behind me roared out in a neutral monotone, before I glanced back noticing two glowing navy blue eyes fixed onto me. Two heavy loaded battle saddles hooked onto their backs with huge cannon like rifles upon the holsters that held them in place. The long clean barrels that stuck out from the bodies of the guns filled with holes to create a roaring sound from the shot given.

“You are within a restricted area, Android-1323, leave the area or be eviscerated!” The synthetic voice from one of the guards called to me as they had their artificial eyes glaring at me. Unfortunately, I had no other option but to push on and fast before they even got close to catching me. “I repeat, leave the area or be eviscerated!”

Darting ahead, I ran into the darkness that had shrouded this entire sector. My eyes however lit up some of the way. Running down the long, dim hallway, the rusted walls that boxed me within this area were glaring from the dim light coming from my eyes. It didn’t help, but it gave me some idea of where I was. With the light from behind me dying out, the guards also went out of vision, but however they knew where I was going. I heard the same voice get propelled down the corridor, the sound bouncing off of the walls as it did.

“Halt or we will take legal action!”

Ugh! These guys were getting on my buckin’ nerve. Picking up the pace, I heard them follow me, getting closer by the second. Trying to drag myself ahead, I heard two echoing shots from behind me before seeing two bright bullets get thrown passed me. I quickly ducked down, seeing one of the shots slam into a wall next to me and the other travel down the tunnel before coming to a halt only seconds later. Quickly getting back onto my hooves, I sprinted ahead, yet again hearing another two shots swerve their way down the tunnel, just missing me slightly.

I quickly darted ahead, hearing the calls of the guards from behind me echo as bursts of the shots were thrown at me. Seeing many of the glowing projectiles shoot past me, some even scaring my hooves and cheeks. Quickly turning a corner, I darted down another corridor, hearing the guards following me at a similar pace. I pushed myself further, hearing more shots get fired to me, none of them hitting me this time. Now that the guards had acknowledged my position and also to where I was heading, the alarm lights that were fixed onto the ceiling began to rotate flashing the color red into my eyes whenever it faced me. The alarm itself rang out throughout the Nexus as a voice upon the loud speakers fixed onto the walls shouted out.

“Intruder alert!!” The loud exclaiming voice screamed rapidly on the speakers. I glanced around knowing that I was soon going to be cornered. Hearing multiple hooves running towards me from behind me, as multiple shots boomed from behind me, I quickly evaded the shots, diving down a shaft that was built into the wall.

Tumbling down the small shaft, hitting every single corner thrown at me which created a loud thundering sound, the sound of the guns that the guards were carrying were heard bursting shots down the tunnel. Each of the bullets puncturing holes within the fine steel. But the corners within the large tube like tunnel were not smooth nor were they the most comfortable. Each time I had felt myself turn, I had felt myself get rammed into a wall of some sort, sending me down yet another tunnel before the next steel wall was thrown at me. But it all came to a halt as I was thrown into a room, landing on the concrete floor roughly. The alarms from the corridor I had left were still heard faintly in the background, as the sound of the shouting voices and walking of the guards above also was hidden behind it. I considered myself lucky to getting this far and also luckily enough; this was the place I had been searching for.

The walls were made of a degrading concrete that was slowly rotting, large holes blown into them as puce from the paint that had been on the wall leaked out. Bent and broken pipes leaked water as pieces of scrap and rusted metal were scattered upon the floor just underneath the wounds within the concrete wall. Crumbling bits of wet stone from the corners came from the small cracks within the ceiling, where stains from the water and also black puce from the infected water that was surging through. The large underbelly of the furnace hung from the ceiling, fire blazing every four seconds, which lit up the room a blazing amber color.

Of course, my soul objective was to find the teleportation pad. As I slowly took each step around the room, checking each of the four corners of the desolated room, I couldn’t see anything. Just the walls rotting, now with a black coating beginning to gather on them. The wet floor beneath my hooves soaked the skin that my mechanical body was buried within. However, when walking up to a small circular pad within a corner, completely hidden, I noticed a blue gridline flash and initiate. The light glaring into my own eyes, I slowly laid a hoof upon it, seeing that it reacting with it.

Unfortunately, the sound of movement within the tunnel I had entered was heard. The echoing bangs of bodies tumbling within it roared out from the shaft’s exit. I knew I didn’t have much time. Upon using the touch screen pad on the handle that was before me, I selected teleport before feeling an energy source grip me. I couldn’t move at all. I felt myself get pulled down, through the floor until the whole world around me turned white…

Android-1323

Data log-#0001

Escaping the home I was created in, I had no idea what the world beyond the walls of the Nexus would have in store for me. I doubt it could be any worse than this place was, at least I’d have some dignity and also freedom beyond the walls I was sealed within. I am looking to start a new, maybe forget about this place and never come back…

Data log finish

Footnote: Level up!

New perk: Freedom! – You have finally left imprisonment within those walls, you gain 10 health points in the process and also you have now gained the ability to store items within your small storage compartment that sits below your wing.

Current Level: 2