Invictus

by Ducati

Rating: teen
Tags: Adventure, Princess Celestia, Applejack, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe, Sad, Princess Luna, Original Character
Length: 6185

An intelligent 12 year old filly named Lily Pond finds herself flying a Lunar Republic space carrier alone, after the crew and her parents perished. Lily Pond has to fight to survive the depths of outer space in her new, lonely, enviorment

A extremely intelligent 12 year old filly is forced to fly and control a Lunar Fleet space carrier, alone, after the passing of her parents and the crew of the ship. Her age, gender, and small size often overlook her extraordinary skills of flying a decent sized carrier. However, the Lunar Republic may be able to use her in yet another war with the Solar Empire, only 8 years after the revolution that split them apart. It all starts with a daring rescue that puts a Lunar squadron in her rather lonely environment.

Lily Pond (Captain Invictus as she calls herself) will have to accept her past and go above and beyond her limits to possibly help save a lost cause.

Published 2014-03-29 04:40:03 UTC
Last updated 2014-03-29 04:40:03 UTC

Prologue

It all started in this room I stood in now. For many it started in similar room, but I am one of the few that can remember that room, every detail of it. From the lone metal table in the middle, covered with a gossamer tissue, to the multiple metallic colored cabinets that lined the walls. It showed signs of wear, and lack of use from the multiple months being barren. It was in a secluded part of the EX-ONE, so I never came to it, except for when I had a very rare emotion. That emotion was mourning, depression, or sadness. One look into this room brought back peaceful memories of my parents and I. Though I can't remember the moment I spent with them in this small clinic of the two in the ship, my mother did. She told me the moments leading up to this one, when she was preparing for it. How she counted day after day, week after week. How my mother worked through many different side effects, but one faithful day, enduring unimaginable pain, she brought me to this world in this very room. I took my first breaths, wailed, and reached for the only thing I knew, my mom.

Later I would know the bright face that looked down at scrawny, weak, newborn me, and held my mother's hoof tightly while showing a constant expression of pure joy and pride. It was indeed no other than my father. Immediately the couple picked out the identifiable traits in the little foal. The darker red coat, orange-ish blonde mane (As my mother called it), a small horn, and a pair of big brown eyes. I was beautiful to them, brown eyes like my dad, a coat like my mothers, and a mane that was a mix of my great grandfather Rickton's, and fathers. Everything from the rounded stomach of my mother, to my first moments of life, all the way until I was 10 was recorded in pictures. From these moments, they would pick out things in my personality that the loving couple could find in themselves, as well as things I independently inherited. They would figure out quickly how smart I was. Smart enough to bury all hope of their return, and push away any details about this room or any memories made after it.

I was always affiliated with the war. Sometimes when I say that, ponies wonder which one. I could either be 12, like I am now, or 20, when I mentioned I was born into the dark side of pony society. It's hard to believe that only after 8 years, the Lunar Republic was yet again under attack by the unrelenting, massive, power of the Solar Empire. Even though the team I was born into was weak, and stood no chance in the war against Celestia and her mighty fleets, we somehow won. We broke free of the tyranny and formed a new nation in our own secluded area. The Lunar Republic was a small galactic country that was slowly growing, until 8 years later, when a bullshit excuse was made for the Solar Empire to attack again. They wanted their old territory back in the Equestrian Cluster. Celestia planned to destroy the new growing nation, and from the way things seemed now, she was going to succeed.

Did I see the pain and weakness of the republic in the second war? Or have to endure any of this pain or suffering my parents saw everyday in their lives before and after I was born? I was a single child, with a veneer put over anything that was ever bad or war related. That was a mistake my parents made. They wanted me to grow up intelligent, they figured out that was I was unique in that way quickly. In my parents philosophy, war was not part of the mix. Instead in the little time I had with my parents, when they weren't directing the EX-ONE, they tried to teach me to be book smart. Countless hours they sat little me in front of a book and played classical music, hoping I'd become a instant genius. Unlike being smart in general, it took longer for the two of them figure out how I learned. They never seemed to notice I learned from just watching. I watched every little detail of everything. When I wasn't even out of diapers, my parents would stick me on the floor of the bridge. In there I was a little celebrity, the crew loved my quirky personality, as well as the natural cute behavior and innocence any foal would have. But when I was in there, I didn't explore. Most foals would press buttons, make a mess, or want to touch everything. Me? I would make my rounds, say hello to crew members, that were like family to me, with nuzzles and hugs, and then just sit and stare afterwards. I would stare at all the operations going on. Like a sponge, I would absorb every detail. Every curve of each button, switch, and instrument. As a foal, I definitely loved watching the main pilot, who was my favorite. I would later become best friends with him, and it was no surprise.

At first I wouldn't be aloud in the bridge often. One mention of anything that even had to relate with the war, I was instantly out. My dad would snatch me up from my staring session, give me to my mother, and we would go back to our quarters on the ship. As I'm told, I didn't like it much. I usually threw temper tantrums up until I was 5, when they would escort me out of the room. My father was interested in me growing up to be involved in the war, and the well being of the republic, but my mother had different views. I still loved her anyhow, although when I was little I seemed to really prefer my father. After all, she was the one that cared for me the most. When we did get back from a long day in a bridge, mom would change me, get me in something warm, tuck me in inside my little cradle, and tell me stories. All sorts of stories about the vast ocean of space, and how her and daddy went out to conquer it all. Mom never mentioned the wars though, with all the death and suffering that came with it. What mother would tell a foal of such misery at bedtime? Those stories would be told to me every night before bed, that was one of my most fond memories of my mother.

I seem to recall memories of my early foalhood, more than my late foal hood, leading into my preteen years. That, or I just liked those memories the most. Everything else was extremely depressing. I don't like to believe it, I'm only 12. My mind just wants to have hope, or just believe that mom and dad could still be out there. But in reality, my parents died, along with all my crew friends, when I was only 10. I went through the stages of denying it, releasing anger over it, bargaining, making it my fault although it wasn't, I was depressed for 3 years after, and now I just accept it. I still am depressed, but not over my parents any longer. Just about purpose and life in general, which as Applejack tells me, is really bad for my health because of my age. I'm apparently a growing filly, but I don't think I grew a inch since they died. Coincidence, most likely, it makes me look a lot younger than I actually am though.

===============================================================================================

I remember the moments leading up to my parents death very well too. I spent so long trying not to, but they haunted me each night. I tossed, turned, cried, even wet the bed most nights. That's what Applejack meant by her words of wisdom she always told me. It's unhealthy for a growing filly like me to undergo such stress. But, sorry folks, I'm no pussy. I'm not the typical pretty filly, I'm a soldier, and I had to learn to be like that after the events of my pass.

In the bridge is where most of it went down, like most things. It started in there, weeks before their actual death. There was all sorts of innuendos of a dangerous mission that could possibly help the losing Lunar Republic regain some ground in a major battle. High officials begged my parents, who were of high status, to come off of their hiatus to help on a low-key task. The only problem was the place they would have to go in order to carry it out. Basically a dead zone of any kind of galactic activity. A side of space that nobody dared tread, due to the amount of debris left over from a supernova a light year away. The debris slowed down from bouncing off each other, their numbers lower, but still in this small, compact area, it was nearly impossible to navigate a ship. But thanks to the maneuvering skills of the pilot, my best friend who referred to himself as Rag, and the EX-ONE's size, we were calculated to get through it.

The weeks went by, my parents talked about it. Their destination was a dangerous one, but held valuable Intel. The target was a Solar base, located at the center of the swirling mess. The base laid on a planet filled with jungle, or at least the republic hoped. As for what lived there, the plants evolved to take the heat of a powerful white sun in the center of it's system. They grew huge, and when the plants evolved, so did the main inhabitants, primate ponynoids. Not only from heat were they protected from, but almost any weapon the Lunar Republic could produce. The Solar Empire? They killed the fuckers with one-shot, cheap pistols that the Lunar Republic just couldn't figure out how to produce. It was a good advantage to the enemy, since these beings seemed to be on more than one planet. It made a perfect place for a base, and that's why the republic was so desperate to investigate.

The EX-ONE never did dirty work, ever since I was born. It was turned into a cargo ship, but the Lunar council pleaded my father and mother to combine their tactical minds once again to find and destroy the base that was possibly supplying the truly bloody battle not to far off. They had no choice. The EX-ONE brought out it's weapons once again, and after a week of preparation for a very risky mission, it got as close as possible by magic relays. My mother put me in our quarters and told me to stay put during the mission. She didn't tell me what was going on, but I figured it out by playing close attention as I worked in the bridge. I was grown up at this point, and at this age I was already a valuable part of the crew. I understood more than a regular 10 year old, so I became useful on the bridge. Usually I'd do jobs for the pilot, Rag, by pressing buttons on the main council he couldn't reach. Sounds pretty boring, but the best thing was that every time I did, he would explain what each one of those buttons were for. My curious side loved this, since it was truly how I learned. Someday I'd fly this ship, thanks to him.

As for the mission, let me just say it wasn't a smooth ride there. After a good hour of my parents discussing the mission the ships meeting room, we finally went. The EX-ONE refueled quickly, and took the obsolete Delta-G magic relay as close as we could get. Since my mother forced me to stay in our small quarters in the ship, I didn't get to see the excitement of passing through a relay. I was kinda bummed, but I was more scared than anything. From what I heard, we could have been flying into a trap. What made it worse though, is that I couldn't decide. It could of been a walk in the park for them.

As soon as we reached the receiving relay, the ship jerked and turned in different directions as Rag tried to navigate the asteroids. It really startled me, making me think I was going to die although everypony knew that Rag was the best pilot in the Lunar fleet. Mom came in a few times to sit with me, trying to make me feel better about everything that was going on. She lied to me though, telling me that we were only doing a drop-off, and had to pass by a meteor belt. Sometimes I wondered how much of a idiot she thought I was, or maybe just like I did, she pushed away the thought that they were doing a mission that was more dangerous than even they could think of. Maybe to her, it was not much more than a drop-off.

As we approached, my mother's eyes widened. She trotted back and fourth anxiously as the ship slowed down, reaching the clear space the planets thick atmosphere created. I remember every detail of her. Such a skinny build, and a lovely face. The bluest eyes on the ship, that gave everyone hope when they were looked into. My mom was such a sweet pony, that never got caught up in the war. She was happy to be a cargo ship! The guilt of killing laid heavy on her heart, and she was not prepared to suddenly kill again after such a long peace time. After bringing me into the world, she always wondered if who she was going to kill had a foal of their own. But, loyal to my father, she still left. It was the last time I ever saw her. As the ship made it's approach, mom armored up for the last time. Thick metal alloy covered her, and prepared her for the heat of that god forsaken planet. Her eyes looked into mine, and I was so scared, I was shaking more than any other time I did in my life. It's like I knew she was going to die. Common sense told me this was a hard mission with what I knew at the time, but there was nowhere in my mind that thought anypony would die. Mom looked at me for the very last time, and gave me the tightest hug. She knew I knew of the mission, and it's risks.

"You're such a smart little girl. Remember Lily... You'll always be my smart little filly. I love you more than you understand... More than you will ever know, ever, in your life, until one day you have a little filly of your own" Her voice was as smooth as silk. I couldn't help but to cry. This was hard for me, to know my parents would not be in safety for the first time in a long time.

"I l-love you too mommy. I'll w-watch over the ship for you... P-Please don't get h-urt"

She smirked slightly, wiping the tears from my eyes before walking out, her brown tail being the last thing I see before the automatic door shuts. I took that time to continue to sob, putting my head into the ships standard pillows. At that moment, I felt horrible. I was so attached to the two of them, and them leaving the ship other than for a refueling was unheard of to me. The way I heard it, it didn't sound too bad, but it was a lot worse than I thought, or could ever imagine. It was a living hell on this planet, and it was a trap for the Lunar Republic.

The last person that came into the room, was no other than my dad. Unlike mom, when he came in, he had that smile on his face. A reassuring smile, like nothing was wrong, because in his reality there wasn't. Wearing the same armor as his partner, but thicker. It made him look like a hero to me, one of the armored heroes of the rebellion that I always say on the Lunar Republic recruiting posters. Dad looked down at me, crying, and he came over and started making breathing noises with the mask he was wearing.

"Lily. I am your father" He said through the mask, referencing one of our favorite shows. I couldn't help but to giggle a bit, he always did seem a lot funnier than he actually was with these corny remarks of his.

"Y-yes, yes you are"

"And you know what?"

"W-what?" I replied, wiping my eyes and sniffling. He picked me up with ease and tossed me in the air. Dad caught me and gently threw me onto the bed, where I bounced. After that I started giggling, forgetting about that sadness and fear for a short time. Not because I wasn't sad anymore, but I knew dad wouldn't want me to be sad. He needed me to stay strong, and I knew it when he stood over me and lifted my chin.

"You're smart" He remarked, smirking "You know where we're going... Don't you?"

I replied with a simple nod

"Well, Lily, you do know you are the direct daughter of the bravest ship captain of the Lunar Fleet, correct?"

I nodded again

"Mmhmm. That's right. But you know what? I gave that all up. Just for you. From the day you were born I vowed not to ever leave you. That would take away my job as a hero on the frontlines, but it didn't matter anymore that I couldn't participate in that dark existence. When I saw your pretty little face, the same one as your mother when I met her, my heart lit up from the darkness. I knew I didn't want to suffer, because I knew you would too. But you're growing up now. Daddy has to go back to work sooner or later. Just for this short while... So you, mommy, and I can see our country win!" He looked at me, giving me a kiss on the forehead.

"You'll come back?" I said, giving him my puppy eyes he seemed to love. Dad gave me a mane rustle.

"I wouldn't leave you for the galaxy sweetheart. I'll always come back" He gave me another kiss and offered me a hug. I couldn't help but to start crying again. He seemed to understand, and rubbed the back of my head gently when I grabbed him "I love yah sweetheart"

"I love you too dad...." I sniffled.

===============================================================================================

The EX-ONE easily got into atmosphere, not making a single shake or rattle. Rag probably slowly took her down on purpose, trying not to alert the enemy that wasn't there. I knew for sure the jammer was already on, it was something he told me kept our stealthy ship almost off the radar completely. I was still a bit frightened, so I kept my face in my pillow and waited for the nightmare to be over. The ship put those weapons to use and burned a massive LZ by the sounds of it, in the dense jungle. We had to do this before in other situations, so this is not what frightened me even more than I already was. That, was the sound of the ships back hull opening. Rarely did we open it, mainly because it had almost no purpose then to hold a complex, multi-use vehicle. For this mission, it sounded like we needed it, from the screeching of the loud door open for the first time in a long time. I even could hear them talking as they walked in the halls, with their armor clanking. The voices were those of the crew, I knew every name and every face, and hearing them going too made me even more scared. Who was going to stay in here with me? Our crew was small, and it sounded like a lot were leaving.

I would later find out that all of them left, except one. That one was Rag, who stayed with the ship and I. My parents knew they could trust him. I spent another hour in our quarters, eventually falling asleep. My friend came in not much longer after I drifted, scooped me up, and took me into the bridge. Rag was not a very built pony. Just like my mom, he was kinda skinny. He was actually a little scrawny, which didn't matter since he was a pilot. He still had to pass physical exams in the academy, but as long as he was a master pilot, the council didn't care about his scores. The republic needed anypony they could get. Rag was assigned to the EX-ONE, owned by my two highly ranked parents, and he was often in the stories my mom told me. He was actually one of the best pilots in the fleet, and one of the best friends a filly could have too. The young stallion served as a older brother and a grandfather at the same time. He was wise and humble, but funny and quirky too. He loved me, becoming the closest to me out of all the crew, ever since I was the cute little foal always staring at him. After he took me into the bridge I woke up, he was playing with a deck of cards.

"Why am I in the bridge?" I asked tiredly. I laid on the floor on a cover he laid out

"Well I didn't want you to be all alone. You told me your quarters make you feel secluded, so I took you up to where all the action is going on. You're welcome"

"What action?" I said, staring out the front window. The branches, leaves, and heavy brush was already gathering on the hull from the bridges view "You can't even see anything"

"Oh Lil" Rag chuckled "You know what I always tell you. These buttons and instruments are the action! I can track your parents and- Shit, don't think I was supposed to tell you that"

I gave him a funny look, smirking "All of you think I'm so dumb. They went out on a mission to look for a Solar Base. It's supposed to be dangerous...."

He swerved in his chair, chuckling as he took a swig of a beer in his hoof "Yup. Right on Lil. Knew you were smart... Well, it was pretty obvious, but you still are damn smart. Like your mom and dad. They'll be fine, that's for sure. Nothing is dangerous to them. Do you need me to recite one of your mom's old stories? Cause' they're all true, and I'm sure the end of them wouldn't come from some stupid trees, right?"

"I guess... But what about the Sol's?"

He put his beer down, stood up, burped, stretched, and headed over to me. Rag sat down beside me, looking down and smiling. He was significantly bigger than me, like most adults. The pilot took off his hat, put it on my head, and laid down on the blanket with a relaxed sigh. "Well?" I asked again.

"That's a dumb question"

"What? Hey! It's true isn't it?"

"Well yeah, but you know no damn Sol is getting near them if they don't know we're here. I took them in nice and smooth, with the jammers on. We were careful on everything. Thanks to me, we landed without making a noise, and your parents are wearing the stealthiest of armors. The problem is the damn heat. Other than that it's a easy mission, as soon as I cleared a debris field, I got a big reading up north. Idiots didn't think we would make it this far"

"Stupid Sol's, this is all their fault" I crossed my arms "I wouldn't be surprised if this mission is a hoax for the council to keep us out of the way of the battle. I heard mom and dad talking about taking the EX-ONE into it..." I sighed, uncrossing my arms and looking at Rag for a answer. He gave me another look, that I knew was him thinking I was asking stupid questions again. I didn't think they were too stupid at the time.

"That's a pretty expensive hoax. In reality, your parents were almost forced to join the battle, but they pleaded to get another job and this was it" Rag stood up and went back to the council. He sat down in his chair and yawned. "Why don't you go get something to eat? The cafe was fully stocked. Your mom even got you those cookies you love, Ace tried to eat them, but your mom whacked him with a spatula during dinner. It was funny"

I giggle a little bit "I think I'll head down there. Stay safe..."

"Me? Safe? We all know I am totally in danger sitting in this seat" I looked back at him with a funny look, he shrugged. It was obvious he was being sarcastic. Ironically, he would figure out where the real danger was later, and it was on this ship.

===============================================================================================

I took my time going to the cafe. The longer I took, the sooner mom and dad would be back. That's what I thought, but doing it only made things drag on. What I really should of done was talk to Rag longer, or play a game. Something to get my mind about it, instead of strolling down the hall with it being the only thing on my mind. When I reached the cafe, he wasn't lying about the cookies. There was a entire box of them, fresh from the Orion System's refueling station. I sat down and shoveled every cookie down. I was really skinny, so eating all this junk was not going to effect me at all. Maybe give me a stomach ache, but I didn't care. Eating seemed to take the stress away for a short time. That and staring at the pictures of the EX-ONE on the wall. The majestic ship having pictures taken from another carrier as it gently floated across the sky on it's first voyage. I remember it only as home, but to everyone else it mean't so much more. Mostly as hope of the republic some day winning. It was the first in it's kind, custom, and well built.

I got bored quickly after I finished the cookies. I tried everything from turning the box into a craft, or playing with deck of cards like Rag did. But whatever I tried I couldn't just rid of being bored and pass the time. The minutes just ticked by slowly. I was so used to the both of them being accessible, but now they weren't. It got so bad, that even though I was well caught up on sleep, I fell asleep on the table again.

I was woken up not much later, by Rag. I wondered what the hell he was doing making so much noise on the deck above me, but when I came down, my eyes widened in panic.

There stood Rag in a suit of armor. Same as my mother, but more fit to his size. It was able to take the heat, as well as act as a spacesuit for life support systems. These suits were only for these type of missions, not for any fun, so I knew this wasn't a joke. Rag was wearing a suit, and this could mean only one thing. He was planning to use it.

"W-what are you doing?!" I said as I stared at him. I looked at myself too, in the reflection of his unused, shining battle armor.

"They need me out there Lil"

I guessed correctly. But I couldn't help but to wonder about my own well being. My parents and most the crew being gone was enough, but my best friend too? "What about me!? You're just going to leave me-"

Rag put a hoof in front of my mouth. I stared at him "No. I'm scanning the perimeter. Your parents haven't responded to their calls, and I need to make sure the perimeter. I heard a banging"

"What?!" I started tearing up.

"There was a banging!" Rag growled "Why are you crying?"

"T-The ship has a built in forcefeild! I know that! I turned it on for you multiple times! You told me e-everything about it!" I wiped my eyes.

Rag sighed, trying to think of a lie although he couldn't. I knew what was actually going on. It was Protocol 7 The ship could totally withstand any intruders, but only for a certain amount of time. After awhile though, it would fail, and the ship could easily be infiltrated. I still sobbed, tearing up, wiping my eyes. I cried a lot that day, I was emotionally torn up. I never cried, but for some reason I was just a wreck. I still believe it was to make up for the tears I wouldn't cry for the next two years leading up to now. He saw this and scowled.

"Lily, this isn't you. Why the hell are you being such a cry foal? Since when are you so weak!"

"Since when are y-you a asshole! You're planning to leave! You lied to me and you know it!"

Rag sighed, putting his head down. He looked back up at me, and it was a look I will never forget. It showed defeat.

"Your parents knew what they were in for. That's why they were so sad, that's why you are feeling so off. It was a doomed mission from the start. Fuck the Lunar Republic Lily! Fuck our patriotism! All that matters now is that I carry out the last duty that your genius parents told me to do! That was to protect you. Your parents were family to me, and you are to. I won't let you die on this god forsaken planet!"

I was confused. I didn't know what was going. I fall asleep and wake up to, this? I didn't know to accept it, or deny it. I stood for a minute hesitating, but Rag pushed me along. It turned out I knew my fate from the start.

"We need to get you to your quarters. We're getting the hell out of here, your parents told me to do so if I didn't get a bounce-back from their locators for over a hour. Our navigation was knocked out, I need to take the top hatch outside and repair it"

"We can't leave them!" I blurted out in my flustered, confused state. Rag picked me up although I kicked and screamed. He showed no emotion, like he was supposed to. I was carried to my room, where he dropped me on the floor. I wish in our last moments together he was a little more caring. But I know now he did what needed to be done. I still yelled, whimpered, cried... All in hopes to somehow deny the fact that my parents were sure as hell dead. We didn't know of what was going to meet us there. At the time we didn't even know of the monsters that roamed outside the ship. But a locator always sends a beep back to the bridge each minute, so the crew can see where they are. Rag didn't get anything in an hour, which lead him to believe the almost indestructible chip had been turned off, which was almost as hard as breaking it. The only outcome was death. I did know, but I didn't believe it. Back then I had hope.

I didn't give up. I continued to fight him, but I was nothing compared to him. I hated him more than anything that day. He closed the door on me, and all I could do is put my hoof on the glass of the door and hope he'd just listen. Soon he walked away, and I tried everything to try and escape the override he put on the door. I wasn't as smart as I am now, so it was no use.

===============================================================================================

In the 15 minutes I sat in that room, I tried to bring myself back together. I cried, sobbed, and sniffled still, but I took some of Rag's advice. That was to calm down and act more like a soldier. A soldier didn't show emotion, at all. They only did what was had to be done, without much thought. But I was just a little filly, a innocent one at that. My parents hid the pain and misery of the galaxy, and now I was smack in middle of it. The bastards that killed my parents for the sake of war, by deceiving them. At least a worthy soldier stood up and fight, but although the Solar Empire was the much more experienced side, they sometimes used guerrilla tactics such as this one.

I heard the engines start, or at least start to warm up. I tried to stay as calm as possible, although my heart raced and I hyperventilated. Rag was up in the bridge, pressing buttons and preparing the ship for take off. At the time, I didn't know he already fixed navigation, but I would find out later. I couldn't do much but mope, and hope he'd let me out. With how much was racing through my head, I just wanted to be in some ponies company, it didn't matter. Even he, who would cast a dark shadow over my life that he saved. Rag eventually unlocked the doors, and I raced to the bridge. It was no surprise to see him sitting at the pilot seat, somber, and as depressed as I was. He couldn't hide the emotions either. As a last attempt of hope, I went over to the bridges main console to start looking for my parents trackers.

Rag swiveled around in his chair, his eyes showing pain as he still sat there in his plated armor "What are you doing, don't fire that up, we need every volt of energy to power our engines up"

"I don't care" I stated "I will find them. Did you fix the navigation?"

He shook his head, mumbling under his breath "I'm sorry kid. I'm so sorry..."

"You didn't answer my question" I stood tall, trying to act as soldier like as my weakened 10 year old body would allow me to

"I did" He said with a nod.

"Did you spot anything?"

"When I was out there? No. But I sure as hell don't want to look. Now Lil, sit down. If we hurry the hell up we can- We- We can radio for help" I didn't know he was lying. But at that moment, I uncovered another lie instead. One that looked me straight in the face as the red blinking of a dot on the main consoles map. I gasped over the engines starting to power up and roar. Maybe they were still alive? Or maybe the chip was malfunctioning? I could of been hallucinating too, but I saw a dot. I gave Rag a look.

"We have a signal! You said you didn't find any!"

"Sit down! We're taking off!" The engines grew louder

"B-But! You got a beep Rag! You got a beep back! They're still out there!"

He completely ignored me. Rag turned some dials. I tried to get his attention by yelling louder, but it was no use. I was infuriated. "What the hell! THEY'RE STILL ALIVE!"

Rag turned around suddenly to yell at me, but something else caught his attention. The engines died. All four of them suddenly gave out. They grew louder and louder, so loud that I thought they were going to overload and explode, but instead, when it got to it's loudest point that I have only heard them one other time in my life, they died. It was a complete shut-down. The ship laid silent, but before Rag could comment on what could have possibly gone wrong, there was another roar. Or it was more a series of grunts. They weren't happy ones, and it was the only thing the two of us heard now, directly under us.

-To Be Continued-

Author's Note

"What the hell! To be continued? Really? IT'S THE PROLOGUE. You can't have a 'to be continued' at the end! It has to run ALL the way through?"

Uh, yeah I can? Who says I can't? I want to start the first chapter people, not bore you with these characters you don't even understand yet. So a little peice of this scene will continue at the start of each chapter. Kapeesh?

May have it's errors. Eh, deal with that too. I'll edit it and pick out as many as I can.