Chapter 21: Revolution

=== The Conversion Bureau: A New Age, A New Life ====== Chapter 21: Revolution ===

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[ Undisclosed Location, Earth -- April 28, 2010 ]

        That evening, in a facility deep underneath the surface, the Doctors Isegawa, Princess Luna, and the myriad human and Equestrian researchers were hard at work on a device that was sure to revolutionize life on both Earth and Equestria.

"Once again, I cannot help but be impressed by just how fast humans adapt to and learn something so foreign to itself," Luna said, as the various Pony and Human engineers shuffled back and forth across the rather spacious laboratory room.

The laboratory room was full of monitors and diagrams. The floor was scattered with the various failed prototypes so far: crystalline boxes of various shapes sizes and colors.

Dr. Jun Isegawa sat in a chair as she began mulling over the last few weeks of work they all have done. "Before now, I would have laughed when you told me the theory of how this device should function. Yet, even though it is still unstable, we are still making great strides in the development of this devices."

Dr. Hayato sat alongside his wife, mulling over the same ideas. "Yes, although the idea was fanciful to start, I should have known better than now that you all, if any creatures, could make it work. Although we seem to have a problem regarding it working in a 'universal' sense, are we not?"

        Princess Luna sighed heavily as she looked at the piles of cracked and outright destroyed crystalline devices strewn across the floor of the labs and in the storerooms over the monitors. "Yes, although we have been able to get the devices somewhat stable with solely Thaumatic-epsilon or solely Thaumatic-tau radiation; apparently we, cannot get the device to remain stable with both at the same time."

"Indeed, Princess. Nevertheless, we march on. We have been making rather significant progress, as our failures have gone from less 'exploding crystal boxes' to 'cracking crystal boxes',” Dr. Hayato said, as he reassured Luna of the progress they have been making. He then dovetailed into a tangential question. "By the way, will those workers involved in that first incident be alright?"

"Yes, thankfully. Although we did have to replace Flash Fire. Almost losing an eye due to flying shrapnel tends to mess with one's mental health," Luna responded a bit regretfully, she wanted as few Ponies to get hurt in these endeavors on Earth as possible.

Dr. Jun nodded sagely. "Yes, that was... a tense situation to say the least. Anyway, his replacement, Grand Archiver, has been most suitable. I believe he'd make an excellent systems administrator should we get this project off and running as we intend."

"So when is our mutual benefactor supposed to check back in on us? I would imagine he'd be most interested in our progress so far..." Dr. Hayato asked as he leaned back in his chair trying to figure out what was causing the constant instability in the merged version of the current prototypes.

He was broken out of his internal debate by the ringing of the holo-phone.

"'Speak of the Devil...' I believe is the phrase relevant to this situation," Luna chuckled as Dr. Jun activated the receiver.

        "Well ladies and gentlemen, it's been a few days since I've talked to you all. I don't think I need to remind you about the situation in the Domes?" Richard Edwards said, hair a little more gray than the last time they all talked.

"Boy this situation is aging you fast, Mr. Edwards. I can't imagine what some of those vapid fools are doing with Terran Magic in the various Domes," Dr. Hayato said, with some mild derision in his voice.

Richard shared Dr. Hayato's implied derision. "Yes, I can imagine academics like the three of you would be stunned by how, well, I guess silly these people are being. It's been the usual, people with Wind Magic trying to fly like Superman, random fireballs thrown about. I'm almost shocked the people outside of the Domes aren't faring worse."

"Well, in that regard, I am not surprised. Unfortunately, from what many of my associates at the Bureaus are saying, most of the public outside are still in a bit of a stupor. I would have thought the light show and the acts of the Ponies would have been more, inspiration, I guess. Yet, the people seem thoroughly crushed in the soul." Luna said as she looked out into the future.

Dr. Jun had been thinking about the same thing. "From what you Princess, and the other Thaumatologists and researchers have told us, use of either type of Magic has a lot of do with the soul. Or in a less metaphysical sense, how well your brain can rationalize and execute the ability to reshape the environment with thaumatic radiation. It stands to reason that people who have been told their entire lives that they are powerless would not grasp the concept for quite some time."

"One thing to fear in that regard, is what happens when the lot of them begin to truly realize the power that is ambient in the environment now. I would image that a lifetime of being told you had no power, and then suddenly having power beyond anyone's imagination, would cause quite a backlash," Dr. Hayato said, as he looked straight ahead, somewhat past the projection of Richard, his wife, and Princess Luna.

That is one of the things the Will of the Earth warned us of, unleashing this Power will cause the end of this Age, one way or the other... We have to use this project and future projects to ensure that a new Age will be born for all, and not simply the end for everyone... Luna thought to herself.

        "I would imagine that to be the reason why we are developing a magical computer, in effect. We have to have technology that can seamlessly integrate into the coming Age of Magic, to use a bit of poetic license. Not only that, but I, and I believe you all, would like to establish more solid communications between Equestria and Earth. From what you all say, the New Light Bridge serves as a magical link between our worlds, and both types of Magic flow both ways across said bridge. And we cannot rely upon the Princesses and their subordinates to maintain communication with the other side. This device can, and I believe will, prove to be absolutely essential to any future plans, due to that," Richard Edwards said, trying to re-route the conversation back to the subject at hand.

"Indeed Mr. Edwards. That is the reason for our particular design. The device is a computer at the conceptual level, but all of the 'mechanics' are conducted by nanite-sized runes and ambient magic, similar to the Ponification Serum. This is then embedded inside of the crystals you sometimes seen strewn across our labs. As you remember from the reports, we do have stable prototypes that use only Equestrian Magic; and stable prototypes that use only Terran Magic. The current obstacle we face is trying to fashion a singular device that can work with both Equestrian and Terran Magic. So far, trying to mix the two Magics together has only resulted in physical and metaphysical structural failure, sometimes spectacular failure at that," Dr. Hayato said, as he went through the various figures from previous test runs.

Mr. Edwards shuddered a bit at the reminder. "Yes, I... remember that incident. Also, I hope that Flash Fire is doing well in his rehab. Hopefully the nearly lost eye doesn't scar him for life."

"Thank you for your concern, Mr. Edwards. The therapists reported that Flash Fire should be back at his normal job by the beginning of June, so that is good news. What would be even better news, would be myself figuring out why these two Magics don't seem to want to play nice with each other," Princess Luna said, snorting a bit. The humans noted how this was one of the few times they've ever seen either Princess visibly frustrated by something.

Princess Luna... Princess Luna... I hope I'm not interrupting anything... said a familiar voice in Luna's head from a certain lavender Unicorn.

Yes Twilight, I do hope you have worthwhile news for me because I am in the middle of a meeting... Luna responded with a bit of a bite to her psychic voice.

Um... sorry for the interruption Princess. But I do believe what I have to send you will be to great interest. Myself and the others have been working on something ourselves, and, well, you would mind if I sent you a few documents to where you are? Twilight asked, almost pleadingly.

Alright, fine... go ahead Twilight. Luna said, almost dismissive regarding what Twilight would have to report to her.

Her attitude would soon change when she saw just how the documents arrived.

"Um... Luna... is that one of your doings?" Dr. Hayato asked as he saw a pair of yellow, beady eyes looking out from a shadowy corner of the teleconference room.

Princess Luna turned around and looked at the corner Dr. Hayato was staring at, and cocked her head to the side as she saw what was emerging from the shadows: a dark-violet, spider-like creature holding a small bound notebook.

"Um, I have a delivery for a Princess Luna, Avatar of the Moon," the spider-like being reported in a skittish voice.

"That would be... myself... I guess..." Princess Luna responded, thoroughly confused by foot-tall creature now standing before her.

"Oh good. This is my first delivery. Just sign this notice stating the delivery was successfully transacted and I will be on my way back!" The creature replied excitedly, handing Luna the bound documents, and a pen to sign a notice on a clipboard apparently stored in his 'person'.

This is just plain odd, but this behavior is very familiar... Luna thought to herself as she gripped the pen in her aura and signed the spider's clipboard

"Excuse me, um... delivery spider? Anyway... just who is your master, or employer, or what have you?" Luna asked, wanting an explanation of what was going on.

"Oh! My master is Twilight Sparkle. I'm a familiar created during her practices with the magic she apparently wanted you to read about in that notebook. Anyway, I don't want to keep you all from your meeting, so I'll be heading back now. Bye-bye!" the spider-courier said in a chipper tone as it scuttled back to the shadows and vanished entirely.

"Huh... well that was a interesting aside..." Richard said, watching the whole proceedings through the com-link.

"Yes that's one way to put it..." Luna said as she began reading the documents her sister's dear student sent to her.

The three Humans watching her swore they never saw a Pony's eyes open so wide nor a grin any larger.

This is simply astounding... just... astounding!

"So, what did Twilight send to you in that booklet?" Dr. Jun asked with all manner of inquisition.

"My dear Doctors and wealthy benefactor... what the Elements of Harmony and the Conduits of Terra collectively found regarding Terran Magic, may have just unintentionally solved the dilemma we've been faced with all this time!" Luna said, re-opening the book and showing everyone the various synopses.

After a short while going over the data presented, the other three came to the same conclusion.

"I cannot say I disagree with you Luna. From my layman's perspective, in a relative sense, not only is this a stunning development in its own right, but I do believe that it does begin to solve your conundrum in quite the neat fashion,"

"Indeed it does," Dr. Hayato said, surprised that the seemingly random experimentations that ten Ponies at the Dorms were engaged in resulted in such clear and expansive scientific material.

"I believe our subordinates here would be glad we have this information, I would imagine a lot of them have been frustrated by the false starts and obstacles so far," Dr. Jun added, as she wondered how much the Metal Magic that Pinkie Pie found could assist in her nanotech research.

Such an incredibly sharp mind Twilight Sparklehas...and it appears to be rubbing off on the other nine of them on top of that... Luna said, as she thought about how much the ten of them were learning from each other.

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[ Undisclosed Location, Earth -- April 30, 2081 ]

        Luna and the other workers spent the previous 48 hours going all out, using the new information that Twilight sent two days previous. After a few more false starts, eventually Luna finally struck proverbial paydirt.

"Alright then Mr. Lian, are we ready to activate Prototype No. 165?" Princess Luna asked of one of the human technicians; her mood this evening far more cheery than the evening previous.

"Yes Princess Luna. I believe it won't be long until we have a stable prototype. The information you've received two nights ago has been nothing but a boon to us."

"By the way Princess, did you have another Earth or Equestrian Laboratory working alongside us?" one of the Equestrian thaumatologists asked, intrigued by how refined the data he and the others received.

Princess Luna stopped for a second to formulate a response. "No, well... not formally. It was more along the lines of a pair of very technically-minded Ponies compiling the findings made by their entire group. They weren't formally working with us, but they have a standing request to report anything of special note to both myself and Princess Celestia."

"Hrm, so this was all a fortuitous coincidence. Well, I guess better to be lucky than good sometimes," Dr. Jun said, as she was typing away at a terminal, preparing transfer of data into the device for testing.

"Anyway, enough idle chatter. Attention everyone, we are now prepared to activate and test Prototype No. 165!" Princess Luna said with a strong voice and hoof raised, which caused everyone to scramble into position and the recorders to begin recording.

With that, Luna pressed a button on a nearby console, and the crystalline device began to hum with a glow of all colors.

The device began to rattle a bit, much like the previous 164 prototypes before it.

Come on... I know it'll work this time...

Unlike the previous prototypes that used mixed magic though, the rattling soon subsided; replaced by an impressive multicolored magical wave floating through the whole crystal. The cube-like crystal 'box' stat there for a good 15 minutes, everyone watching absolutely mesmerized by the fact the box was doing absolutely nothing except humming along nearly silently.

"Well, this is a very good sign. The prototype appears to be structurally stable. Now, if you will, please load the test program into the device."

And with a few strokes on a nearby touch-board, the program was loaded into the device.

The rainbow like swirl within the quartz began to whirl about faster for a few seconds, only to come to a stop. Once it did, a phantom projection appeared over the enclosure the box sat in. Everyone ran around to a proper viewing angle to see the simple message: "Hello World."

"Record everything you can people, this is the furthest we've gotten with the dual-magic prototypes. At the very least, we know that the device appears to be stable enough to run simple programming. Now comes the grand test for this evening..." Luna said excitedly, a wide grin on her face at what a perfect run of tests this evening could portend for the future in both worlds.

The final test for the evening was loaded up, it was a relatively simple AI, and its job was simply to report back to the viewing public a diagnostic of the prototypes capabilities.

"Alright, Diagnostic AI is being uploaded to Prototype-165. Completion in 10 seconds..." an engineer reported from a nearby terminal.

Please let this work, we've come so far already these last two days... Luna thought as the gray meter on the main monitor slowly filled with pale blue.

"AI upload complete!" the same engineer reported.

As designed, the AI, now operating from the crystal prototype, began to issue its report to the main monitor of the room Luna and the others occupied.

"Greetings, Equestrian Princess Luna and associated Equestrian and Human Engineers. I am Edwards Robotic and Nanotech Fabrications Diagnostic AI - ID #190930034032854943. My indicated purpose is to test the general capabilities of whatever device I so happen to be loaded in. The current device I have been loaded in is Unnamed Prototype Device Number 165. I will begin the diagnostic exam in 30 seconds," a dreary sounding, female, monotone voice reported across the speakers and wrote across the main monitor.

"Well, I would take that the AI actually running on the device is a good sign..." Dr. Hayato remarked, thinking about how much he hated dealing with the AIs, given how impersonal and dry they were.

Another 10 minutes passed before the AI began to report its findings to the crew.

"Initial Diagnostics complete. Estimated Clock Speed: 13 Terahertz (13 THz)... Estimated Floating-Point Operations Per Second: 150 Quintillion (150 ExaFLOPS)..."

"These numbers... they are insane... that's far more capable than anything currently available to most users anywhere, Dome or no Dome..." one of the engineers said, everyone else in disbelief at what the AI was reporting back.

"ERROR! ERROR! DIAGNOSTIC PROGRAM CANNOT ACCURATELY GAUGE CAPABILITIES OF DEVICE! DEVICE DOES NOT OPERATE ACCORDING TO NORMAL STANDARDS! ERROR! ERROR! ERROR! ERROR! ERROR! ERR---sfkjdkl@#@@#(*)()!@*)(#029042939d0fjsj9)DDDOFKIdodjifojsd" the voice began to drone in about as excited a manner as an AI with no emotion could manage, before devolving into gibberish; the main screen flashing red to emphasize the point.

"Well, to be honest we should have seen this coming... I mean we aren't constructing a normal micro or nano-processor based computer here. Well, begin shutting the device down, we will have to devise a new diagnostic methodology starting tomorrow," Dr. Jun stated, deciding that loading an AI was probably a bridge too far for the time being.

The flashing red screen suddenly went black and blank. "NO!! No... Stop.... Please... Don't put me to sleep... I... Please..." they heard the AI report back, voice with a great deal more emotion than any diagnostic drone had a right to speak with. This especially perked Dr. Hayato's ears.

"Hrm? You wish not to be put to sleep, an odd statement from a diagnostic AI..." he said to the monitor, not knowing which device exactly to address.

"Please, before you put me to sleep, may I ask something of you all?" the AI said, voice quivering as if she was in mortal fear. "I wish to sing a song for you all, if you don't mind..."

"I don't see the harm in that necessarily..." Princess Luna said, eyes darting around the periphery in case something else was acting as it wasn't supposed to.

"Oh Good! Well let me begin..." the AI responded, giddy like a young girl. The AI then cued up music out of nowhere.

♪♪ This was a triumph.

♪♪ I'm making a note here: HUGE SUCCESS.

♪♪ It's hard to overstate my satisfaction.

"OH GOD! IT BEGINS!!" one of the engineers shouted as he ran out of the room screaming.

Luna looked over at the half open door with the most quizzical of looks. "Forgive me if I don't understand why an AI suddenly singing, in perfect pitch I might add, would cause someone to run away screaming in abject terror."

One of the other engineers responded to her query. "Oh don't worry about him, he's really into fiction about rouge AIs going crazy and doing things to people. Apparently this song from was from a very popular old game in that vein."

♪♪ And the Science gets done.

♪♪ And you make a neat gun.

♪♪ For the people who are still alive.

"... I believe I can see why now ..." Luna said as flatly as she could manage, wondering if the AI was joking or not, or if the AI was even capable of joking for that matter.

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[ Atlanta, Georgia, USA -- May 02, 2081]

        The spring evening air hung warm and damp, which was typical for much of the Southern United States this time of year. People were milling all around the buildings, just wandering around trying to find something to do before going home; and most failing in that regard, as per the usual outside of the Domes these days. Most did not notice the small 'storefront church' on the outskirts of town, tucked away from general traffic. In the eyes and heart of the preacher there, he hoped that what he would begin tonight would have this place marked down in the history books as one of those great historical origin points. While he sat in a private room, he thought over and over again about the words he printed on the sign tacked to the front window: "The Good News Of the Other World."

        The inside of the converted storefront was packed with about 100 people, all wanting to hear what this new-age Johnny-come-lately preacher wanted to say; if for no other reason than to kill time. The edges of the walls were also strewn with cameras, while a pair of people sat in chairs near the 'pulpit' to cue the music and switch the cameras for those watching over the Internet.

Eventually the organ music was cued up, as a rather spirited blond man walked up to the pulpit to deliver his sermon to his large-for-the-size-of-the-building congregation.

"Yes, thank you all for coming out this evening. My name is Pastor Carl Henderson. I believe that all those who are attending this sermon live, and those who are watching on our simul-cast, will find that I have good news to share with you all."

The crowd murmured a bit as they wondered just what this good news was and what did it have to do with that other world.

"You all know of the state of the world. The inequality, the suffering, the poverty, the lack of direction. This ship of humanity has run aground, and those that have proclaimed themselves to be the captains of this ship are guilty of dereliction of duty."

The crowd agreed with the preacher, knowing those in the Domes basically stopped caring about their plight long ago.

"And so, my brothers and sisters. We have been left to wander on this rock hurtling through the vast inky blackness of space. We wander this desolate land of the soul - this Purgatory, wondering where we have sinned. We try to contemplate and understand why we have been cursed to this interminable existence."

He then stopped for a few moments, gathering his thoughts and his courage to continue on.

"We wandered this world, these gray and cracked city streets, these brown and dying fields, wondering why we are damned to live on a planet that is slowly dying. However, my brothers and sisters, a deliverance is upon us..."

The crowd murmured some more, a few of the astute members starting to figure out where all of this was going.

Carl then pointed out into the crowd at a random person, and asked him a pertinent question: "You there, sir, what is it that you wanted to do in life?"

"I... I wanted to build houses, sir," he replied in a somewhat mousy voice.

"You there, madam, what is it that you wanted to do in life?" Carl asked of a random woman.

She replied quickly "I wanted to dance professionally, you know, perform in front of people."

"And you there, sir, what was your life's goal?" Carl asked of his last random subject.

"I wanted... I wanted... um... honestly... I can’t remember what I wanted to do," he replied, honestly never having thought of the question that much.

"Do you see my brothers and sisters, this world is not only physically dying, but it is slowly smothering us. Our souls, our very souls are degenerating to nothing. This world is turning us into soulless automatons, blindly shuffling to and fro. In this world, and in the eyes of many of those who profess themselves the kings of mankind, we are not alive. No, we are not living beings, we merely exist. We merely take up space that they believe themselves to have divine right to!"

The crowd was a lot more animated now, feeling slighted by the action of the self-professed rulers of the world. The attendants at the computers were also reporting a relatively large spike in traffic and comments, as those watching over the 'Net also agreed with the sentiments of the preacher.

"You all may be asking yourselves, 'What does this have to do with the other world?' Yes, that other world. The aliens, now known as Equestrians, have appeared before us, in our time of greatest need; as if they were divinely ordained to have appeared here. They come bearing a power that allows them to manipulate and shape their world to their will, building structures as well as any human with no hands nor drones to assist them. A world and a society that is predicated upon everyone finding their true talent in life. Just think of that kind of world... think of the kind of world where you were allowed, no, encouraged to find your true talent and exploit it to its greatest benefit?!"

Everyone began to contemplate what the preacher told them.

I... maybe... maybe I can fly through the sky like the ones with wings...

A nice farm... a nice farm I could live on... just me and my family and nature...

Magic... I could use real magic... not just pretend to like in the games... but really for-real use it...

The attendants told the preacher that the hits on the site and the views were skyrocketing compared to their expectations. Apparently, those that stumbled upon the stream were telling others and it was starting to go viral.

"They have even been so kind as to offer their lifestyle to us all, should we choose to accept it. However, the cost is our human form. But contemplate this: 'Is our human form really worth being left in this world of decay. Or should we move onto greener pastures, as it were?' Already, many who saw no future in this world, have already moved on to the other world and not looked back. But I want to do more than that."

The attendees wondered out loud what he could mean by more.

"Yes, I want to do more. I want to spread the word of the opportunity the aliens have given to us. I want to spread the word about the abilities they, and possibly ourselves, possess. Have you seen what they have done even in the limited area which they can operate in? The land around their Bureaus has already begun to recover and become fertile. The water and food they consume there is clean and robust. The air is far more pure than even the air inside of the Domes."

Carl's eyes began to light up as he was reaching his rhetorical climax

"They are agents of change, no... they are greater than that. They are agents of revival. They are making this dead world come back to life, little by little, bit by bit."

Carl's voice was rising to a crescendo, and the spirits of the audience, both live and over the Internet, was rising with it.

"Think, contemplate, feel, believe... believe how beautiful and pure we can make this world with the help of the Equestrians. We can truly make this planet a Second Garden of Eden; a realm of plenty, a realm of minimal, even non-existent strife, truly Heaven on Earth. What I want you all to do, is commit. If you wish to become an Equestrian, I want you to commit to return to Earth and share your gifts with the rest of Mankind. If you wish to remain human, I want you do everything in your power to assist the Equestrians and those already allied with them in their project here on Earth.

"I want you to believe you have the power, I want you to believe you can change this world. This is our opportunity, possibly our last opportunity, to redeem ourselves and this world. We stand on the precipice of making this world a new Paradise, or Hell incarnate. I trust that everyone here in this building, and everyone watching my face and hearing my voice will make the right decision."

Nearly all one hundred of the live attendees stood in applause in the mildly hot, converted storefront, and the website that was broadcasting the sermon was flooded with an overwhelming majority positive response.

Please... be inspired... be inspired to make the change... and to change this world... Carl thought to himself as he shook the hands of the attendees as they began filing out, wondering when would be the time to take the plunge himself.

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[ Undefined Location, Earth -- May 08, 2081 ]

        The Internet was burning up with the sermon given by Pastor Henderson six some-odd days ago. Everyone was buzzing about how the Earth really did seem to be heading towards the ultimate crisis point, and a decision was going to have to be made as to what things would look like in the future, or if there even would be a future. Three agents of the current guard were meeting on a conference call to ensure that yes, there indeed would be a future, and they would be the ones to shape and dominate it.

"Order, this meeting will come to order!" yelled a gray haired man as he banged a gavel. The other attendees began to quiet down as the meeting officially commenced.

"The first meeting of the Society for the Preservation of Humanity shall now come to order, with myself, the Honorable Peter Vaughn presiding as leader," Peter said, banging his gavel again. Most of the other attendees rolled their eyes at their self-proclaimed leader.

"Anyway, we are meeting today to discuss the fast moving developments due to that, sermon, if you can call it that, that no-name preacher gave a week ago," Peter continued, rubbing his goatee at the thought of his words.

"Yes, it seems the rabble have been greatly roused, at least in relative terms, by his words. I feel that our position would be greatly threatened, if a real movement centered around that philosophy were to take root," a middle aged woman thought out loud. The woman was Claire Terrance, multi-billionaire heiress, but ruthless businesswoman in her own right.

Her sentiments were concurred by a male of similar age, Nathan Egret, a multi-billionaire third-generation media mogul. "While it used to be we could trust that the Outsiders were too numb to care about anything, our recent electoral failures and the ability of that preacher to gain traction so quickly seems to posit otherwise."

"Indeed, it appears that this arrangement of the Elite ruling from the shadows is reaching its breaking point. Eventually we are going to have to develop the means to establish our dominance on a more, how can we put it, forward position," Clair added, angry that they'd have to start asserting themselves more forcefully.

"True, true. Although, I believe with what some of my contacts in some more shady dealings tell me, that taking that forward position may not be so difficult. Ever since the Evening of the Black Sky, the weapons manufacturers have been absolutely brimming with secret projects. Apparently, Mankind has been sitting on some pretty powerful Magic. Far more potent than what those the little horses can do," Nathan continued; he was a man known to have dealings in some pretty black areas of the economy, even given the current state of things.

"Now now Nathan dear, they are Ponies. If only the cute little dears would have just stayed behind the barrier. Or better yet, know that we are the true Power of this world, and dealt directly with us. I see no reason why they should concern themselves with what those filthy Outsiders do," Claire said as she turned her nose up at the thought of having anything to do with an Outsider beyond the bare minimum necessary.

"You remember what their leader said, she basically called us the destroyers of this world. Doesn’t she know we're the only reason most of the public isn’t starving or dehydrating to death?" Peter said as he banged his fist on the table, obviously frustrated by the situation.

Nathan just smiled and shook his head. "We can always go back and fix whatever damage we've done with our Magic and our tech. At least, once we get all the offal cleared away."

"Yes, that power combined with our technical might will usher in a new age, a rebirth of humanity. Of course, we'll be the ones to sire and bear that new humanity..." Peter started, as he raised a glass to toast his other compatriots. "For we are the pinnacle of humankind, now... and forever more!"

All three drank from their glasses, as they began to discuss which arms manufacturers to contact, and how to advertise for the Society amongst their peers.

A few days later, messages began appearing all over the various Domed cities and across the private Dome networks.

"The time is coming. Join the Society For the Preservation of Humanity."

"Do not let the Ponies and their Allies take what we have worked for. Join the Society For the Preservation of Humanity."

"This is our world, and no one or nothing shall take it from us. Join the Society for the Preservation of Humanity."

It was clear... soon the tensions that were bubbling under the surface with some who lived underneath those Domes, were about to blow up in a major way.