Dead Space: Purpose

Isaac was happily munching on his sandwich as he conversed with the scientific mind of Doctor Whooves from across the table.

"So," the Doctor asked, munching on a cucumber sandwich, "you're saying that they could tether in massive spokes and utilize the same technology from the ship, and then bring an entire chunk of the planet above its own orbit to mine without the risk of cave-ins!? Amazing!"

Derpy was just shaking her head as she watched the two scientific minds swap facts and theories and stories and such back and forth. The fillies were all munching on their own little burgers made of hay, with Spike sneaking some of their fries occasionally.

"One thing, though," the Doctor interjected, "what about the planet? What do they do if there's already a colony established?"

"Well," Isaac began, "usually if the colony's large enough, the planet gets a no-go for mining operations, since the entire shift of gravity would tear it apart, destroying the colony. Sometimes, though, if it's small enough, the Planet-Cracker would evacuate the Colonists before they begin the procedure."

"Has there ever been a case where a Colony was mined while occupied?"

Isaac pondered for a moment before remembering when the darkest part of his past began. He looked back up to the brown stallion and answered.

"Yeah. There was one in particular that I remember. Aegis VII."

"Oh? What happened there?"

"They mined the planet for a massive chunk of resources. It was a gold mine. Had every rare element and material we could think of packed in tighter than an atmospheric seal. But... eventually there was a... serious side-effect from mining it."

"Really? Like what?"

"I'd... rather not talk about it. It took someone close to me."

"Oh, terribly sorry, Isaac."

"Don't worry about it. It's behind me. But, let's wait until it's just the adults, alright?"

The group of young Ponies and Dragon looked up at Isaac with worry for a second before he plastered on a false smile. They returned to eating their meals in silence, unaware of the robbed figures entering from the stairwell.

\\\//////

Celestia watched out over the expanse of Equestria as she felt a massive dark magic signature from an all too familiar location.

"No..." she whispered.

She turned from the balcony and teleported from her spot into the forbidden section of the Royal Archives, where she kept the darkest of the secrets from even her most trusted advisers, in fear of their background. Once she reached the bottom level, there was a three-story door made of the most heavily enchanted Ebony that even the greediest of Dragons couldn't afford. Celestia activated her most powerful forms of magic. She concentrated her Sun power, heating the massive black door ahead of her to the point of almost boiling. Then, she conjured up all of her Chaos powers, which she secretly used to control the movement of her Sun, and finally the Fear magic she learned from her days fighting Sombra. With all three, the massive runed plates of black metal began to move apart, and she moved into the room beyond.

Behind the massive enchanted doors was almost nothing. A massive dome of a room filled with little to nothing, save for the massive runes and small case opposite the door in the center. She approached the small glass container suspended mid-air with caution and a sturdy mind, with her resolve apparent. She peered inside and gasped at the horror that met her gaze. The small piece of rock inside was glowing... violently so. She stared wide-eyed at the small rock with strange markings, remembering how its first glow brought forth the Chaos Storm, and the Nightmare Purge after that. Then, she remembered the conversation she just had.

"Isaac..."

She closed her eyes and begged to whatever deity that watched over her and her Ponies that the alien would be able to stop what was yet to come.

While the stone before her began to glow in rage at the mention of the one responsible for its reckoning.

\\\//////

Just as the fillies had finished their meals, Isaac heard a scream from the other side of the restaurant, and turned to see five Ponies in robes standing on tables, one of which was holding their waitress.

"Misguided ones!" the one with the waitress yelled. "Fear not! For soon, you shall know cleansing from our devout loyalty. With out help, you shall be freed of the tyranny of Celestia and Luna, and be freed from their lies!"

"Isaac?"

Isaac turned around to see that the fillies and Dragon were all moving close to him. He motioned for them to stay back while he rose from his seat.

"We are kind enough to extend this hoof to the lot of you, so that you may be reborn in the image of our true creator! Our Savior!"

"Excuse me!" Isaac yelled. "You're scaring the kids!"

The robed one held a hoof out to Isaac as he brought the waitress closer.

"Unholy One! Back! Back I say!"

"Look, just calm down, buddy. Let's talk about this-"

"NO! WE WILL NOT FALL TO YOUR LIES! FELLOW BELIEVERS! READY!"

The other Ponies in robes threw theirs off to reveal a series of wires and canisters strapped to them, along with a strap over their wings. The one with the waitress held her up to the table by her throat as Isaac reached out towards them with a hand.

"Woah, woah, woah! Calm down!"

"NEVER!!! TRUE BELIEVERS, WE CLEANSE THESE OBSERVERS! MAKE THEM WHOLE!"

The other Pegasi screamed in a sort of primal rage as they reared their heads, pulling the straps on their wings as they unfurled, causing the liquid inside to shift colors as they began to glow.

"Shit!" Isaac screamed as he turned for his table.

In a flash, the temperature of the facility rose violently as flames rushed outwards in all directions from the previous carriers of explosive devices. As the blast rocked the building, Isaac was flung to the side and into a wall, shoulder-first. He felt a massive impact and saw his Plasma Cutter on the ground next to him. Without a second thought, he reached for it and then stood to examine the damage.

The entire restaurant was on fire, and bits of the ceiling were starting to collapse as massive multicolored flames swayed throughout his vision. At the edge of the flames, he saw bodies burning to ashes as more families tried to run for the door. Isaac turned around and saw that his companions were still alright. He waved his Cutter out towards the door.

"Come on! Let's go!" he shouted.

Derpy, the Doctor, Sweetie Belle, Spike, and Applebloom all rushed for the door as Scootaloo pried her wing out from under a board, causing it to singe as she rushed by a collapsing pillar. Isaac ran ahead of the group and shot the door off its hinges, sending a sizzling board of wood flying into the streets outside. He motioned for the group to exit, one at a time. As they left, Isaac took one last look inside and saw something horrible.

Scootaloo was being held by another Pony in robes. Isaac abandoned his position by the door and ran for the two.

"Hey! Put her down!" he shouted, pointing the Cutter at said Pony.

It looked over to him and began to run for the back of the building as a piece of burning wood fell near Isaac's face, prompting him to activate his helmet. He ran for the back as the robed figure wrangled Scootaloo closer to it. They burst through the doors to the upper level as Isaac finally rounded back to his previous table. He felt a massive migraine as he approached the stairs.

"ISAAC!" he heard Scootaloo yell.

He rushed up the steps as a massive flash of light beamed through the doors to the balcony.

Isaac burst through the doors to see Scootaloo being held by the robed figure, his hood since removed to show a grey color with his wings extended out of the sides. There was a large group of similarly robed Ponies, all standing within a symbol.

"SCOOTALOO!" Isaac yelled, charging for her.

Before he could reach them, however, a massive light blinded Isaac as a violent high-pitched scream rocked through Isaac's mind, bringing him to his knees.

When he finally managed to open his eyes, they were gone.

He looked to the symbol on the floor, still burning with energy.

There, staring back at Isaac, was a giant, red, burning Marker.