Manics: Thunderball

-Chapter 7----GUNNY---

She was tired of it already. Ten hours after crashing- six hours asleep and four hours conscious- and Gunny’s brain already screamed in objection to the mere thought of staying in the helm. She couldn’t sit still and look at people- not now, not ever.

Gunny glanced at the other occupants in the room. Walker was sleeping (as ordered by Kat) against one wall with his arms wrapped around Joni’s shoulders. Her sister also seemed to be sleeping, with a look of content on her face. Malotov was sitting in the helmsman’s chair turning a CD over and over in his hands. Kit was sleeping against the helm itself, and the Captain was focused on a screen in attempts to eliminate the radiation build-up in engineering. Kat was floating idly next to the Captain.

Gunny yawned. Her arm was fixed up, thanks to Kat, so she could use it normally now, but it also reinvigorated her need for any sort of activity.

You know what, she thought. I’m outta here! Can’t take another minute of absolutely nothing going on! On top of that, someone forgot to bring the coffee; might as well get it myself.

She picked up her glow-light with one hand and put her signature hat on with the other before heading to the door.

“Gunny,” Joni’s voice called to her. “Where are you going?”

“Out,” she responded. The fact that her sister was awake surprised her. Then again, maybe she was, but she’s a light sleeper.

“Out, huh?”

“Yes. Out.”

There was a pause. “Gunny,” Joni said, slightly louder this time. “It’s dangerous to be out in the halls. The Gouches-“

“Same level,” Malotov interrupted, still twirling the disk in his hands. “The danger. It’s the same level in here and out there.”

“He’s right,” the Captain called over. “It just as dangerous in here as it is out there.”

“Yeah, but we’re in a group,” Joni argued, waking Walker and Kit up in the process. “We’ll never know if and when they’ll decide to swarm someone if they’re alone!”

There was a pause as everyone thought that out. It was a solid reason for not going out by yourself, but…

“Then I’ll go with her,” Kit said as she stood up. “I’m tired of this room. Malotov? What about you?”

“Captain?” Malotov spoke to Jast instead.

The Captain was stroking his beard in thought (which was ironic, since he was known for speaking out against that stereotypical action). After a while, he whispered something to Kat, who lowered her volume and “whispered” back. Suddenly, Kat jerked away, and one of her lights started blinking yellow. Everyone stared at her for a second.

“The PRE-C Data is being loaded,” she announced. “G-E-A-R. G-E-A-R.” Grab Everything And Run.

“Everyone,” the Captain shouted. “We’ll be out soon! Go and get your things. No time to worry about Gouches, just GOSAL! I’m staying here to work on the radiation and airlocks and shit, just… GOSAL!”

Malotov strode to the door, stopping when he noticed everyone was confused at what the captain had last said. He was the only member of the original crew left, so it was up to him to translate Captain Jast’s acronyms.

“GOSAL- Get Our Shit And Leave.” With that, everybody left the helm in a hurry.

Gunny was with Kit for a while, but found that she was by herself after the latter went down a different corridor. She found herself breaking into a run- her feet making a distinctive metallic sound against the floor as she did. It didn’t take long before she found her room and entered.

“Everyone,” Captain Jast’s voice rang out over a ship-wide com. “Something’s happening to the PRE-C Data. All of it has been loaded, but for some reason Kat doesn’t have it ye-“

Clang.

What was that? Gunny thought, instinctively going to her closet, opening it, and pulling out a machine gun. The gun was one of the first she modified, and her own personal weapon. She checked the ammo cartridge (full) and grabbed a second from the box she pulled the gun from.

Clang. Clang. Clang.

The clanging was varied in volume. It’s coming from different places on the ship…

Three more clangs rang out- from the same area, by the sound of it.

Clang. Clang. Clang.

That’s from storage… the pods? She lifted her weapon and turned towards the pod in her room: 0004- a guy with short, slate gray hair.

Another voice on the com interrupted her thoughts. “Captain! The pods are opening an- GAH!” That was Walker’s voice before he was cut of by a pinging sound. There were sounds of a struggle, then a door opening and rushed footsteps.

Walker’s panting got louder as he apparently approached the com. “That was 0007. I think I scared him, I think; he seemed to be afraid. The pods are really tough, and 0007 was strong, so be careful with them. He did something with the metal, it-“

CLANG! She heard a rush of pouring liquid and soon felt said liquid on her feet.

0004!!! Gunny turned to the door and rushed out of the room. I don’t want to fight him here. Not here. Somewhere with more dista-

Her sprint down the corridor was interrupted by someone shoving her, causing her to fall on her face. She was dazed, but managed to get up, start running again, and turn to take a look at whoever it was. Please don’t be him. Please don’t be him.

It was. He was gaining on her quickly. She fired her gun, but he dodged, amazingly. Gunny found herself wondering two things: How did he get clothing? What is he carrying? She turned back forward just in time to see the airlock to her right.

0004 grabbed her and slammed her against the wall. He repeated the action, only changing the fact that he grabbed the back of her head this time, bashing her face against the steel walls. He held on for a bit, apparently considering doing it again, but chose to let her go and stand by.

The world started to slide out of focus for Gunny, but she managed to stumble away from her attacker and support herself against the airlock’s inner door, which suddenly opened.

She heard the captain’s voice over the com, but it was muffled. “I got the airlocks open… what… what the hell, number two is the only one open!”

Irony. She stepped into the chamber, forgetting 0004 for a moment. She turned and saw him standing there, grinning like a madman. She turned back around to the outer door.

She was blinded by light and felt a rush of air wrap around her as the second door opened. At last, they were out of the woods… were they?

Free… Her world became darker, and her head felt like it was rammed against the wall, mostly because that was fact- 0004 had indeed grabbed her head and bashed it against the wall.

She heard a familiar voice call her name, felt the sensation of falling, and blacked out.

---JORDAN---

“GUNNY!”

Jordan rushed forward as his friend fell out of the ship, heading headfirst to the ground. He reached his arms out and caught her- one arm sliding behind her knees, and the other caught her back. Her head fell back, causing her to lose her hat. Fortunately, her psyche jewelry was still floating, indicating that she was conscious, just knocked out.

Damn, she’s heavier than she looks. He looked at her face, noticing a large bruise on her temple. What did this to her?! WHO did this to her? It looks like summon grabbed her and slugged her a couple times with a brick! The answer came from the metallic sound of footsteps from the airlock. He looked up, and whom he saw made his eyes widen.

“0004,” he whispered in shock. He had only seen him once- when they were checking to see if all the pods were connected to the computer. He personally checked him, and he had an uneasy feeling while he did it. This was more of a “paranoid unease” then the “creepy unease” he felt around 0001.

0004 wasn’t looking at him, but rather at the crowd of ponies, many of which had gasped in shock. He ran his free hand through his slate colored hair nonchalantly, as if he hadn’t just beaten the hell out of someone. He looked down and grinned at Jordan.

“Well, hello there,” he said sincerely. Somehow, this made him more menacing. “You’re… Walker, right?”

“Jordan,” growled Jordan. He walked closer to the ship and laid Gunny against it, positioning her gun across her lap.

“Oh,” 0004 shrugged. “Well, you’re all the same. Say, how is Gunny? It’s amazing she managed to walk after I slammed her skull against a steel wall.”

Jordan looked up at him with fury and pulled out his pipe.

“Oh, don’t get like that with ME!” 0004 shouted. “You don’t know what else I can do to your other friends…”

“How dare you…”

“Oh! There goes my limit!” 0004 thrust a palm onto the wall next to him. Bolts started coming out of it and a series of clangs could be heard. Not only clangs, but also he could hear a screeching noise- like metal grinding against metal- that prompted him to cover his ears.

After a few seconds, it ended, and 0004 withdrew his hand from the wall.

Applejack ran forward. “Now, what the hay was that?! Just who are ya?!”

“’What the hay was that,’” 0004 mimicked Applejack’s accent. “That, my southern belle, was me giving all of you a surprise. Not the good kind, either. Something that Oroon would like…”

“And who is Oroon?” Jordan challenged.

“Oh, you call him 0010, my boss- NEW boss,” 0004 answered smugly. “But enough chat, time to take care of something I didn’t finish off.” He jumped down from the airlock and turned to Jordan and Gunny.

Jordan lifted his pipe in front of him, getting ready to block an attack. 0004 just stood there with his weapon (some kind of sword that was serrated all around) on his shoulder and a hand in his pocket. He looked bored, but kept eye contact with Jordan, who stared back with angry eyes. The air seemed to thicken until…

CLANG! 0004 rushed forward with his weapon over his head, bringing it down as he approached. Jordan blocked the strike with his pipe, but the force of 0004’s attack was incredible- it brought him down to one knee. His leg started to shift under the pressure, sliding up against Gunny’s. His crewmate was still out cold behind him, and Jordan was the only thing between the two of them.

Ok, we’re evenly matched, he thought as the two weapons started to just shake in place, both wielders counteracting the each other’s strength. That when he saw 0004 press a button on the hilt of his own weapon. What the-

CRZEEEEEEEEEEE! The edges of 0004’s weapons seemed to blur as they began to whirl around the shape of the sword. It’s like a chainsaw! Jordan saw it getting closer to his face and realized it was doing exactly what a chainsaw is meant to do; it was cutting through his pipe!

If that gets through, I’m gone. If I back up, I’m in range for another attack, and my pipe will be useless that time. If I jump away, he could get Gunny. Wait…

There was no time to wait, he jumped back just as the chain-sword cut the pipe in half. He tossed the halves and quickly scooped up Gunny. She’s still heavy.

Duh, what were you expecting, he questioned himself.

He leapt to 0004’s right, just as the Proto Manic lunged. His weapon imbedded into the hull, showing just how sharp the chain was. He looked around for his victim until he saw him laying Gunny down behind a pile of rubble. This time, you won’t get awa-

POOM! Something heavy hit his back and threw him away from his weapon, which grinded to a halt and remained in the hull. Jordan looked when he heard the impact to see that Applejack had just bucked the attacker. Nice hit! He’ll remember that one!

0004 stood and glared at the interloper. She glared right back at him, but backed away as he slowly approached. When he reached his chain-sword, he tugged it out of the hull and started it again.

He ain’t gonna attack me, Applejack thought in disbelief. He should be rollin’ on th’ ground right now.

She couldn’t have made a worse mistake. 0004 threw the weapon into the air and dashed towards her. She felt his hand around her neck and tried to break away, but he only squeezed tighter, giving her barely enough room to breath. She tried hitting him with her front hooves, but he was too far. She could only look at his face, seeing that he wasn’t looking at her, but at his hand.

He clicked his tongue. “Nope, you’re not compatible,” he stated. “You’re useless to me.”

What’s he talkin’ about? Compatible?

The weapon came back down from the air and he caught it with his right hand, starting the chain blades again. He brought it up over his head, poising to cut her open.

No… don’t! Applejack started to panic. He was going to kill her in front of her friends and family! Her friends…

Not in front of them!

---???---

“What’s in here?” Sparkler wondered out loud.

She had no idea what was going on outside, but was rather preoccupied with a room she had found. It looked like part of the massive ship outside, but it wasn’t attached. After she had heard a ‘clang’ from this room, she decided to investigate; locating a hole in the wall for her to enter.

Wow, this looks like somepony’s room! Maybe it’s Jordas’s… or whatever his name was. Jordan? Right! Jordan’s room- this is what this place is!

Her attention turned to a large object on the far wall of the room. It looked like something that would resemble and egg if it were closed, but it wasn’t. There were four long, rounded, metal plates facing different directions in the center of the container, all of them dripping some sort of liquid she couldn’t see so clearly.

I wonder what was in it…

Squish.

What was that? Startled by the sudden noise, her horn began to glow and light up the room. She could see the liquid dripping from the pod- a greenish, slimy fluid, like some kind of watered-down jelly that Pinkie Pie would make.  She saw a puddle of it around the object… and a trail away from it going to a dark corner that her light couldn’t penetrate.

Squish.

She was frozen in place. The sound had come from that corner. That’s when she saw it- something barely moving in the shadows.

“Hey,” a voice from the corner spoke.

“U-uh…” she stammered. A bead of sweat came down from the side of her head, falling from her with a quiet pat on the metal floor. Her heart was beating harder and faster every second.

Run. Turn around and run. Get mom or Lyra or someone to come back with me. Just… run!

She didn’t. She kept her eyes trained on what was moving in the darkness.

“Don’t be afraid,” the voice said. “Come closer.”

Don’t do it. Her heart was in her throat, but she stepped forward anyway, illuminating the corner and its occupant.

He was like Jordan, but was wearing a soaked white shirt with matching long pants. Over his shirt he wore a dry, gray jacket- most likely one of Jordan’s that he borrowed. White hair covered his face from view, but he didn’t seem sinister. Sparkler calmed down a bit, but was still wary.

“Sorry I’m scary, it’s been a hell of a day,” he chuckled. This lightened the mood up a bit, making Sparkler dare another step closer.

“Who are you?” she asked.

“Hm…” the figure lifted a hand to its still-hidden face in thought. “I need a name, but that can wait. Call me 0001 for now, I’m used to it.”

“Ok… 0001…” Sparkler repeated slowly. “What are you… doing?”

“Waiting,” 0001 said simply.

“For…?”

“Someone.”

He’s being creepy, thought Sparkler.

“Can you come closer?” he asked.

He IS being creepy… but I think I can trust him… she took a few cautious steps closer. Now she was within arms length of 0001.

“Do you trust me?” he asked.

“What do you… what are you going to do?” Sparkler asked, worryingly.

“The answer is… complicated,” he answered. “It’s better if I show you, so… do you trust me?”

I doubt he’ll try anything, no doubt he knows about everypony outside. Still, he’s TOO creepy. She tried to look at his face, but it was still obscured by his hair. Yet, he had noticed what she was trying to do, and brushed it away. His expression was unreadable beyond indicating that he needed something.

“Well,” Sparkler said quietly. “I… think so.”

That’s when he reached his hand out and placed it on her chest. Suddenly, she seemed to realize that there was no going back on what he started. His hand went from warm to terribly cold on her coat, and she fond that she couldn’t move at all. It started growing some veins; glowing blue veins that were growing into his hand from her. They crept down to his wrist and his arm, hidden by his sleeve.

Sparkler began to feel numb all over. What… is he doing... to me? Then, she found herself an embrace from him.

“Sorry if I scared you,” he whispered. “Thanks.”

“For… what?” she asked.

He said nothing, but backed away from her, releasing his hand and curling back in the corner. A flash lit up the room, blinding Sparkler for a moment and causing her to get low on the floor. The combination of her lasting numbness and the flash made her dizzy. She opened her eyes after a moment; only to be met by darkness- she had lost focus on her spell. She lit the corner up again…

…and 0001 wasn’t what he used to be.

---JORDAN---

Something distracted 0004 the instant before he brought his chain-sword down on Applejack. He looked to his left and mouthed two words: “uh oh”. He lurched back as a pair of cyan hooves collided with the hull of the ship- on a path his head used to be on.

“Leave her alone!” Rainbow shouted as she made contact with the ship. In that same moment, 0004’s chain-sword fell, but did not carve Applejack. 0004 jumped back a little and just looked at the two ponies facing him with a scowl, which lightened up when his gaze went to Applejack. He started chuckling.

“What’s so funny?!” Rainbow challenged.

He pointed at Applejack. “Too late,” he said with a grin.

Rainbow Dash turned to look at Applejack, fearing the worst. A gash in her chest was gushing blood. Applejack looked up at Rainbow with a blank expression, then fell over unconscious.

“NO!” Rainbow yelled, landing next to the fallen apple farmer and holding her head up. “Wake up, Applejack!”

“She’s busy at the moment,” 0004 giggled, quickly stepping towards the two. Dash looked up just in time to see his hand reach down and grab her cheeks. He pinned her against the ship and stared at her, intently.

“Just… let Applejack go,” Rainbow uttered, though it was muffled by the attacker’s hand.

“Fine,” 0004 sighed in disappointment. Suddenly, he seemed to brighten up. “Well, look at that, you’re compatible!”

Rainbow felt cold, and then numb. She saw a glowing come from 0004’s hand, then it ended and he let go of her, letting her fall next to her fallen comrade. “What did you just do?” she shouted in a daze.

“Something important,” he said. “Well, time to end this game. Nice knowing you.” He lifted the chain-sword over his end, ready to bring it down again.

“Stop it!” Twilight’s voice shouted.

“Let them go!” Rarity’s voice did the same.

“Let Dashie and AJ go, you meanie!” Pinkie yelled.

“STOP!” Fluttershy was undoubtedly the loudest at this point. Hurricane loud.

“Heh, why?” he said.

“You promised you’d let Applejack go!” Rainbow reminded him, angrily. “It’s one thing if you… killed me… but why Applejack? You promised!”

He leaned in close, keeping the weapon in the same position above him. “But I didn't Pinkie Promise, did I? So I lied,” he cooed into Dash’s ear. “I’m supposed to; nothing personal.”

Dash’s eyes became as wide as dinner plates. How did he know about Pinkie Promises? That didn't matter now. The tough girl attitude was dropped; she was going to die! The only thing she could do was pull her wounded friend close and cover her defensively.

She shut her eyes. This can’t be happening. AJ… wake up! I’m supposed to be tougher than this, but he’s even tougher! She opened her eyes sullenly. Well… I hope this is quick… for the both of us. I’m sorry, everyone… Looks like I won't be joining the Wonderbolts...

0004 jerked forward, as if he were bringing it down on the two ponies before him. Rainbow Dash saw this in her peripheral vision and shut her eyes in expectation. When nothing happened, she opened them and looked up. 0004 was facing away from her, looking at his chain-sword rather than his victims. It was enveloped in a magical glow.

That’s not Twilight’s glow… whose is it?

A snarling unicorn stallion with a blue coat and a white mane was in a defensive position in front of 0004, who started laughing.

“Oh, it’s you!”

“Yes, it is,” the stallion growled before he charged.

0004 jumped to the side, causing the stallion to almost tumble over Rainbow Dash and Applejack. He had forgotten something, however: his chain-sword- still floating in midair.

Jordan left Gunny and ran for the sword, taking it as the new pony’s magical grip released it. Upgrade.

He located 0004- right where he landed from the dodge- and attacked. He lunged forward, but 0004 stepped aside and gabbed his arm.

“Thank you,” he said as he twisted his arm. Jordan felt the pain and instinctively lost his hold on the weapon, which 0004 caught. Jordan didn’t have combat training in this degree; he only really knew how to kill Gouches and sandbags. Obviously, those were different then something like this maniac.

“Story time,” 0004 said. “Do you know the one about the fact that Proto Manics don’t need a computer to do the DNA integration?”

What.

“It’s true,” he continued. “We just need to lay our hands on some compatible DNA to do what you can only do after getting a boatload or more of useless information about this place.”

“You said,” Rainbow said. “That I was compatible…”

“Yes, I did,” 0004 responded. “So you do the math. I have to take care of this, I'll be with you shortly.” He turned towards Jordan, raising the chain-sword again...

“Hey, jerk-off, over here,” a voice called. 0004 traced the voice to the last person he expected to be standing.

Gunny raised her weapon and fired. RATATATAT! The shots collided with 004’s swift-moving block. How he managed to block some of the bullets was beyond her, but one had managed to graze him- better than nothing, judging by the grunts he made afterwards.

“GRK! Bitch! Fine, I’ll go!” 0004 dropped the sword, which fell tip-first into the ground, imbedding into it.

There was a flash, and 0004 was gone and a blue-green pegasus with a glowing sword as a Cutie Mark stood in his place.

He transformed, Jordan realized.

“My name is Claymore!” Those were 0004’s final words before he took off into the air. He stopped as he reached the top of the ship, where he hovered for a moment, staring at something. That something stepped forward, into view.

0010. Oroon.

The boss stood on top of the ship, looking down at everyone below. His blue hair fluttered in the wind, only adding to the aura of superiority.

Jordan found himself shaking in fear suddenly. His eyes traveled to the chain-sword’s hilt, and he reached a hand for it.

Oroon looked up at the previously escaping pegasus and reached toward him. Claymore obliged to the gesture and approached his leader, who laid a hand on his hoof. A glow coming from his hand told everyone that his DNA was pegasus compatible.

Another flash, and Oroon transformed into a dark blue pegasus, whose Cutie Mark was a white and black circle- a Yin-Yang, but the Yin seemed dominant by taking up most of the circle. The two pegasi came back down, but stayed in midair. Gunny kept her gun trained on them the entire time, even though she realized it was empty- she finished her original clip, but had dropped the other one somewhere.

Oroon looked around at the group below him: the bearers, the stallion, and the two Manics. He kept a blank expression as he raised his forehooves and clapped a single time.

A cloud of dust picked up directly below him and quickly dissipated, revealing a curled up bi-pedal body. It was completely white, and as it got up, there was no evidence of genitalia, navel, or a face for that matter. Oroon clapped again, and a second one appeared in exactly the same way.

“That’s all,” he spoke.

“Are you kidding,” Claymore said. “There’s no way those will kill ‘em.”

“That’s all,” Oroon repeated. “Let’s go. The others will follow eventually.”

The two pegasi took off rapidly, leaving the two white bodies with the group below. The creatures proved hostile as soon as a ‘boom’ rang out from the sky and a wave of blue and red ran over the sky. The two began to spasm occasionally as they approached to attack the closest pony or person.

Jordan lifted the chain-sword out of the ground and slashed the one approaching him from one shoulder to the opposite hip. The two parts of the creature’s body separated before exploding in a flurry of white.

He saw a flash in his peripheral vision, and saw someone actually grab the other creature’s head and twist it. It, too, exploded, but the killer was a surprise for Jordan.

“Hello, Jordan,” 0001 said. “Sorry I couldn’t say that earlier. I was a bit wrapped up in keeping Claymore from killing those two.” He gestured to Rainbow Dash and Applejack, who were being approached by Nurse Redheart, the other bearers, and Gunny.

“But where is…” Jordan started.

“That was me,” 0001 stated as Sparkler approached.

“You’re… something else,” she said.

“No shit,” he sighed, inciting a raised eyebrow from both parties that heard the comment.