Prisoner of Technology...

Explanation

The suit’s built in voice communication system

[Example] Announcer

The year was around 2030… Borsod Chem research facility, Kazincbarcika, B-A-Z county, Hungary, 5:30 AM… My phone’s alarm went off, it was time to get up and go to work once again… I turned it off, and climbed out of bed. Finally… This is the big day… I had much time left, enough to have breakfast before leaving… It wasn’t a nourishing meal, just bowl of cereal, followed by a cup of coffee and cigarette…

“Ryan… Do you really have to go in today?” Asked my wife from behind.

“Yep, today’s the big day…” I replied.

“Have you forgotten what day it is?”

“I know… I know… It’s her birthday… And saturday… I’ll do what I can, okay?”

“Have you even bought her anything?” She replied.

“I told you I have her gift pre-ordered, okay? I’ll get it on my way home…”

“If you forget it, don’t even bother coming back… It’s her graduation…”

*Sigh* “I know….Listen, I gotta go, see you soon…” I replied and kissed her on the cheek, got my access card, my lease, and ID, and booked it to the bus stop in my lab coat… At least I didn’t miss it, i got on, took a seat, and waited for my stop to come… The ride was short, tho still unpleasant...You know those students… Thick backpack, crowded bus, not taking the bags off their backs, in a sharp turn crashing your nose on impact with the window pane… Yeah, pleasant stuff… Do you really need a fucking PhD or MD to know not to wear a backpack on a damn bus?!

“Sorry man, I can’t take it off, there’s no room for it…” The guy apologized.

“it’s okay, it’s not that bad either..” I replied, and got off to walk the rest of the way. Good thing the weather was great, not a single cloud on the sky, no wind, sunshine… Some fresh air was nice too, considering I was going to rot in that hellhole for at least 8 hours… Once I got to the entrance, the same security guys greeted me as always.

“Hey Ryan, looks like they called in everybody in for today…”

“Yep, sure seem so...I hope it will be worth it tho, or else the administrator does better run…”

*Chuckle*  “I hear ya… I don’t even know who’s day will be worse… You, science guys thinking all day, or the security team like me, having to sit and stand still all day long…”

“Neither do I… The only reason I’m still not working in the rest of the world is the reasonable paycheck…”

“Yeah, at least you have the option...You got your education up the ass...MD, PhD, MIT, master’s degree in engineering… Your life is golden…”

“The only thing gold I saw was the bus I came with…” I replied with a grin.

“Well, you should get going, I heard they want you in the barrel too today…”

“I hope you’re joking...The air conditioning went to shit last week, and the barrel is like a sauna…”

“Quit whining will you? I’ll buy you a cold beer after work, okay?”

“Charming… Well, let’s get over it…”

“Good luck down there…” He replied, and gave my ID and Access Card back so I could go on… After a few meters I got into the elevator for a long dive of a few kilometers.

“Wait up!” Said a familiar voice… It was Cinthya, another member of the security team… I’ve known her for years now, we even went to the same elementary and high school….So I took the time to let her in. “Thanks, damn scanners acting up… Hope the IT guys get it fixed soon.”

“Is it now? It worked fine for me…” I wondered.

“Yeah, might be the terminal acting all weird…”

“So, where are you headed?” I asked.

“Today’s big project, what else?”

“You too?”

“Yep, all I need to do is get my service gear…”

“Well, we have plenty of time left, so I might as well come along…”

“Sure, I heard you’ll be in the barrel today…”

“Yeah, for some reason this reminds me of Half-Life 2…”

“Now that you mention, it’s actually similar… Let’s hope the alien shit doesn’t happen tho…” Eventually the elevator came to a stop, we got out, and got her stuff.

“Hey Ryan, Cinthya, here’s your gear for today…” The dispensing staff member greeted us, and handed over her firearms for today… A FEG-PA 63 pistol, an AMP-69 assault rifle, which could actually fire RPG grenades, and even  Gepard Anti Materiel Rifle… To what end did they give her a sniper rifle for indoor use is still beyond me… At last she was carrying a B.P.V (Bullet Proof Vest), a knight stick, the pistol, a kevlar helmet, the assault and the sniper rifle… Having the assault rifle on her back, pistol and stick at her side, sniper in hand, and 5 clips for each, even a few grenades for the AMP

“Thanks, but why the fuck am I meant to have the sniper?”

“Orders from above, all I know… Sorry.”

“Is the project really that important?” I wondered.

“I don’t know, but I bet I’m the only one with this sniping thing today…” She replied, and we walked over to the main site, where I put on The Barrel.... The actual thing was called S.É.V.E.E.R.H (Sugár És Vegyszer Elleni Egyenruha Rendkívúli Helyzetekre / Radiation And Chemical Protective Suit For Exceptional Circumstances.) It was a full body suit, plated with  metal on the outside said to be the reason it was fireproof, and had a black / neon-green paintjob… Why those colors? I don’t know… When I finally compressed myself enough to fit into it, I put the helmet on, which was kept in place by a pressurized air-lock, and had a built in oxigen tank should I find myself underwater…

“Fuck me, I feel like I’m going to war… Your shit has nothing to the weight of this thing…”

“Wanna see if it’s bulletproof too?” She asked with a grin, while holding the barrel of her rifle to my crotch.

“No thanks, I doubt my insurance covers this…”

“Hey, don’t sweat it!” She replied with another grin.

“Ow ha ha Cinthya, you know how hot it is inside?”

“This thing can talk now? God damn it, it’s worse than my mother in law…” I commented.

“Well, see you on the flip side…” She replied.

“Huh, at least this thing  still allows free movement…” I walked into the test chamber with the test subject, while Cinthya stopped at the door.

[Test Subject 19732, please approach the device for testing…] He slowly walked over to said object and held it. [Now, aim at the bright white wall to your left, and activate it!]  *Woosh!*

Cinthya asked through the comm system.

I replied.

[Well done! Now aim the the black wall to your left and activate again!] *Click* *Woosh* [Ryan, please approach Testing Object-1.] I walked up to the blue portal to left. [Now, proceed with caution…] I slowly walked through, and came out the other one, seeing myself entering the blue one. [Research Log-19374: The quantum space hole manipulator seems to work as intended…] [Now, Subject 19732, please hand over Test Object-0 to our coworker.] He did s asked to, and gave it to me. [Ryan, please proceed through Test Object-1 once again with the Quantum Space Hole Manipulator.] I walked up to aid portal, took a deep breath, and took  step in… *Bang* *Boom* *Crash* *Creek* *Thump* It blew up in my hands, and the explosion threw me across the room.

*Cough* “Fuck…” I muttered, and opened my eyes to see the two portals become unstable… With the Manipulator destroyed, which kept them at bay, they had the potential to become  worm hole, or even a black hole…

[Abandon testing! Abort!] *Boom* *Bang* *Crash*

*Cough* *Cough*

She replied.

I yelled in vain, as she was already trying to free me… I looked to my left, the subject was crushed by the part of the wall which collapsed, and a vacuum was formed in the middle of the room, slowly pulling her in. “Hang on!” I yelled, and grabbed her hand… But even the suit’s built in exoskeleton wasn’t enough to keep us safe, and we were both consumed by it…

I woke up to the airlock letting go and my helmet retracing into my suit and the announcer… The morphine must have been active, since I felt no pain. The only thing I felt was sand on the back of my head…  Was lying in a desert on my back. *Groan*

“Where the fuck am I?” I asked out loud, tho I was alone…

Great…   I sat up to look around, nothing in sight.

*Clank* *Clink* I heard something hit my back, so I turned around, and saw a pew...Ponies… Pegasi and Unicorns with swords and spears, looking at me with no idea about my intentions… The fact that they wore clothes enough to keep the sand off their faces in sandstorms gave me a bad idea.

“Do you understand what I’m saying?” One of them asked.

“Yeah…” I replied in shock.

“Are you friend or foe?” Asked their leader.

“I have no idea, but I mean no harm, that’s for sure…” He seemed to believe me, since he lowered his sword.

“Get up then…” He replied, and I did so… “Where are you from, newcomer?” He woondered.

“Faaar away… That’s all I know.”

“Huh, what’s your name?”

“Ryan.”

He motioned his hoof, and the others left. “Come on Ryan, a sandstorm is coming, we need to go.”

I was not sure if I should… A talking Unicorn telling me to follow him in the middle of a desert...On the other hand, if he was right, I would rather skip the sandstorm, even with the suit...  “Sure.” I followed him into a nearby town, and walked into a seemingly mud brick / sandstone house.

“Come, sit… It will take a while for the storm to pass…”He exclaimed while lighting candle.

 “Thanks.” I replied.

“Name is Aldir, by the way… Nice to meet you Ryan… Whatever you may be.”

“Yeah, that’s beside the point… Aldir, is it? Could you tell me where I am?”

“Yep, welcome to Stoneden…”

“And… Where is this town?”

“A small town in the Northern region of Saddle Arabia, near the Equestrian border.”

“Equestrian?”

“The neighbouring kingdom.” He replied.

“I see… No offense, but you’re a Unicorn, right?”

“As far as I know, yes… Why?”

“Just asking...Your kind doesn’t exist in the world I come from, it’s a little uncomfortable for me ...”

“And are you the only one of your kind who came here from your world?”

“No, an experiment went wrong… One of my friends should be wandering these lands too, but I don’t know where…I hope she’s fine tho...” I replied.

“Sad to hear, hope she’s not in the storm…”

I looked at the suit’s control panel on my left hand. “Let me just do this quickly…” I exclaimed, asking for patience.

“What was that?”

“My armor, it’s smarter than it should be…” I assured him… And looked at the easy control options

[Voice Command]

[Manual Control]

[Neuro-Command] I chose the last, and checked it’s description.

Neuro-Command: This Function Links The Suit With User’s Neurological System, Resulting In Most Functions, Such As Health Monitoring Becoming More Efficient… Suit Becomes Part Of User’s Body…

[Yes]

[No]

I choose yes.

[Yes]

[No]

I chose yes still…

*Splat* *Grunt* *Groan* *Wheeze* I dropped to the ground in pain, and passed out from it… When I woke up I saw Aldir string at me worried.

“Are you all right? What happened?”

“Nothing… This armor is now part of my body…” I replied and looked down on myself, all I saw was a paper thin looking copper red shirt on me… My hands? Gray, like the suit’s glove were, my skin the usual, yet felt heavy… That’s when I noticed my vision had changed, it looked like a computer screen...Great, now I’m a terminator…  I stood up and waited for lasting effects, none… Losing my Humanity begins, doesn’t it?

“Are you sure you’re ok? The storm is over too…”

“I hope I am…Good, then I can leave, right?”

“I doubt so… Since now you’re a guest of ours, I must show you to the town chief…”

“Will that take long? I need to find a way home…”

“I have a feeling only magic can help you home… And let’s face it, Saddle Arabia is not known for great spells…”

“Figures… Perhaps I’ll find more help in Equestria?”

“More likely, their rulers, the royal sisters are great Alicorns, controlling powerful magic. Anyways, put these on.” He replied, and put iron shackles onto my hands.

“Are these necessary?”

“Just to make them feel safer.”

“You know I could tear these off like a sheet of paper, right?”

“Of course I do, it’s just for the looks…”

“Fine.”  I replied and put them on. “Lead the way…” We left his home, and walked through the main street, until we came to a huge and more decorated building.

“Here we are, the town hall… Let’s go.” We walked in, and saw mare and a stallion inside.

“Ah, Aldir...Good to see you, who’s your friend?” Asked the stallion.

“Tamir, Kalin, good seeing you again too… This is Ryan, we found him outside of town before the storm, and I gave him shelter…”

“And brought him here as usual… Right, why the shackles?”

I leaned in and whispered. “Told you they weren’t needed…”

“Say… Ryan, is it?” I nodded in response. “What means threw you our way:”

“A failed experiment in my world put me here.”

“And what are your intentions?” Kalin asked.

“Trying to go back home.”

“Do you not enjoy our company?” Tamir inquired.

“It’s not that… It’s just, this world is new to me, nothing like my home.” I replied.

“Are you clear with where you are?”

“Stoneden, Saddle Arabia.”

“Seems so…”

Suddenly, I heard faint buzzing from a distance. “Aldir, is it usual to hear buzzing around here?” I asked.

“Buzzing?! No! Shit!” He replied.

“The Antlions…” Tamir replied, and grabbed his spear, while Kalin took her sword nd went outside.

“Come on Ryan, we must hurry!”

“Hurry where? Get this thing off of me!”

“Can’t you jus-” *Clank* *Clink* I tore the shackles off, and we followed Tamir and Kalin… They were talking to a handful of whom seemed to be the town guards… Ponies of all kind wearing metal plates, robes and weapons of their choice.

“Are all of you present? Good… Listen up folks, the Antlions are on their way again! We must prepare!” Tamir informed them.

“From the West!” Yelled the lookout.

“Come on, show those bugs who rules!” Yelled Tamir and they charged away in said direction, I followed them of course.

“Give me a blade, let me help…” I exclaimed.

“You? A blade? Don’t be ridiculous, it’s our duty to keep our families, friends, and guests safe…” Tamir replied.

“Bu-” I was cut short.

“Ryan, you can’t fight with us… If you want to help, go and try to keep the mares and foals safe.” Aldir replied...I accepted their decision and returned to the town hall, where soon after Kalin returned too.

“Kalin? What are you doing here?” I wondered.

“I forgot that as a mare I am not allowed to fight with them, just like you.”

“Oh, so, how can I help?”

“We have  few reserve guards, whose task is to gather the rest of the population and bring them to the House of Etarr.”

“Etarr?”

“One of our gods, he’s the God of Destiny… As you can see, it’s difficult to grow plants in these conditions, so his blessings are quite a requirement…”

“And what will we do?”

“Help them.” She replied, and we left to help them… Under 10 minutes we managed to get everybody to safety, and were the last to enter the sacred building before it’s doors were jammed shut. Once we made sure there was nothing passing through, we continued on to the inner sanctuary… It was a temple, well adorned… I had little time to look around, however, because a priestess greeted us.

“Cives, amicis, genitoribus abero, et dimitte nobis ... visitator obsecraret Deum nostrum ... ad signandum Etarr milites honorare locum tela declinare velit …” Suddenly a window popped up in my vision.

[Yes]

[No]

Shit, how do I even control which one I choose? I managed to figure it out, and turned it on.

Result: Citizens, friends, family, and visitor...Allow us to pray to our God, Etarr for his blessing... Soldiers, please drop your weapons to honor this sacred place…

From there on no matter what language I heard, my Subconscious or CPU translated it immediately, making it seem like it was spoken in English...

While they prayed, I picked up a spear the guards dropped and stood guard at the doors… For a few minutes things were quiet, until… *Bang* *Crash* *Crack* *Bang* Something began banging on the doors… Oh shit…

[End of Chapter 1]