Fallout Equestria: Acts of Kindnessby TinkertonChaptersChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 1Chapter 1 Bzzt, bzzt, bzzt, bzzt. “Quick, administer the serum! We don’t have long!” Countless times. Experiment after experiment failing. Thinking it is so close, yet slips through our hooves, my hooves, again and again. “Sweet Celestia its loose! Quick, get ready to initiate emergency protocols!” Celestia. Once the proud ruler of Equestria, worshiped by some, admired by all, now reduced to a shadow of her former self. Some feel she abandoned us during our time of need, others thought she was not suited for times of war. A thousand years of peace, broken as suddenly as her announcement that she would be handing over leadership of Equestria to her younger sister, Princess Luna. The same princess, who despite her best efforts to lead this land, escalated this war by her mere presence. But without war, there would be no advancement. Without advancement pony kind would not be able to better ourselves. I didn’t hate the princesses. I did not even hate this war. I just hated failure. “Get that damn animal under control! I don’t want another repeat of last months debacle, that put us weeks behind!” I finally roared across the lab when it was apparent that my assistants seemed more bumbling then usual. I did not hate my assistant, although they do occasionally get under my coat, they do a good job, especially when push came to shove. Unfortunately it seems that I was the only one here that seems to do the pushing and shoving. I had under my wing (figuratively speaking) some of the best unicorns that have been transferred to this facility. I was always the first one to snatch up the good candidates. I had too otherwise somepony else would have. I needed to have the best. Without the best, failure was almost guaranteed. Did I mention I hate failure? I mean really despise it. Despise is so much that I realized that I am talking to myself. Again. “Lucky Shine, grab the serum. Dapper Darling, go grab the tranquilizers. I want to make sure that if this is another failure, that we can at least get some decent data so this doesn't happen next time! And remember, no magic! I do not want any arcane influences to taint this stage of the experiment.” Thankfully when I gave an order, it was followed. I did not know if it was out of fear or respect, and I did not care. As long as they did their job I was happy. Don’t get me wrong, I am not purposely unkind to them. I may lecture them after a failure, but I do not punish. And after every success they are rewarded. I guess I do take after my namesake, if only a little. Kindness. I really do hate that name. When I was born, the Elements of Harmony had already chosen their bearers, and my mother was infatuated with Fluttershy, the bearer of the Element of Kindness. She was always telling, well, everypony that kindness was the key to life, that if your kind to others, they will be kind to you. Even after the war started, she knew that if we were only kinder to the Zebras, none of this would have happened. I think that's why she named me Kindness. In her heart, she probably felt that it would make me kinder than others, that I could change the world and make everypony like Fluttershy. I think it also broke her heart when I got my Cutie Mark. She was hoping for some variation of Fluttershy’s butterflies to confirm that I was the second coming of kindness. Instead I got a laboratory flask with a DNA helix on it. I am really glad there were no butterflies, yet my mother still insisted she could see them somewhere in it. “Doctor Ness, I think the serum is finally working! Shall we hold off on the tranquilizers?” Dapper Darling shouted from behind an overturned table. “Yes, it looks like the rage is subsiding. Wait another minute and see. But if any more heightened aggression is witnessed, tranquilize it immediately. There has been no injuries yet this week, and I’d like to keep it that way.” I could have changed my name. There were many times I wanted to. I hated Kindness, but Ness? It had a certain, ring to it. I always avoid using my full name, even on my applications and transfer forms, my name was referred to as Ness. The only ones who ever used my full names were my parents. Although at times I think that even my father had disapproved of the name, then again, he did always want a son rather than a daughter. “Alright, it looks like it has calmed down. Put it back in the observation chamber and make sure it’s secured this time” I ordered as I looked around at the havoc the creature caused. Broken lab equipment, over turned tables and chairs, who knew that a small rabbit could cause so much damage. “And if you don’t mind cleaning up before leaving. I don’t want ponies to think that all this gray fur was from me. I may be under some stress, but not that much.” I left my assistants to take care of the mess as I headed back to my quarters to look over these notes. Today had not been a total failure. Sure the animal got out of control, and the injections did not show the results I had planned for, but at least the counter serum was working. If the serums and the tranquilizers had proven ineffective, we would have had to euthanize the creature. It was getting harder and harder to get test subjects for our work. Shortly after the war began, experiments started to pop up using animals as test subjects for measuring the effects of balefire radiation, finding ways to cure it, and other biological experiments. Of course when Fluttershy found out about this, she was outraged. A ban on using animals for biological tests that were not related to the medical field was created. Of course that did not stop most of the research facilities. Some started small hidden farms to breed genetically selective test subjects, and others, like this facility, had to get them smuggled in. Due to this, there was a limit to what we could use and how many can be delivered at a time. Loosing a subject could amount to days or even weeks of lost work while waiting for a replacement to be procured. But it was for the betterment of all pony kind. It was necessary, whether Fluttershy liked it or not. Once I got to my quarters, I shut and locked the door. My quarters were fairly small. A bed, dresser, bookshelf and a desk. Connecting to the main room was the bathing facilities. I did not have much in the way of personal possessions. Mostly my books and my work. My dresser consisted of lab coats and one off-white dress, decorated lightly with colored gems. A gift from my parents. I think it was their way of telling me ‘go and have some fun and relax, maybe find a nice stallion you can settle down with’. Like that would ever happen. Sure there have been a few males here that have turned my head once or twice, but it was nothing more than a distraction. A small distinction that can turn into a larger, work destroying distraction down the line. I’ve seen it before. A young upcoming scientist in the bio-magical field was nearly finished with a project that may have helped protect ponies from indirect radiation effect. Then one day she closed the project and went to Baltimare to elope with her apprentice. I removed the dress from the dresser and held it up against me in front of my mirror. There were times that I wish I had a reason to wear it, that some stallion would come and sweep me off my hooves. But this dress also brought back memories, memories of my mother. It was not long ago when the Zebra’s got a hold of the mega-spell matrices. Rumors quickly escalated how they had gotten Equestrian made technology in their hooves. Rumors that had included treason. Rumors of a certain yellow coated Pegasus. It was known that Fluttershy and her Ministry were working on mega-spells to be able to heal large amounts of wounded, but that it would effect friend and foe alike. None of the other Ministry mares were as dead set to end the war peacefully as her. My mother told me that if any pony would end the war, it would be Fluttershy and her kindness. If the rumors were to be believed, then kindness may end up being our downfall. Unfortunately, my mother did not take the news of these rumors lightly. She denied them so intensely, believing that Fluttershy would bring about peace, that she started to change. Every time somepony talked bad about Fluttershy, she would snap at them, at some points violently. Because of this, she lost her job, her friends, and even my father was afraid to be in the same room as her at times. These rumors, whether they were true or not, were driving her insane, all the while babbling on and on about how Fluttershy and her kindness will save the world. Eventually my father, afraid of her safety, along with the safety of those around her, decided to commit her into the Equestrian Mental Therapy Center south of Baltimare. My mother was sent to an insane asylum, and where was I? Working on a project. My work consumes me so much, that I had gotten irritated when I got the news, interrupting me in the middle of an experiment. Don’t get me wrong, I love my parents, but sometimes I think I love my work more. I promised my father that I would visit my mother when I was between experiments. That was four projects ago. Every time I finished one, I was so hyped up for the next project I could not think of anything else. This time will be different. I have some unused vacation time that I will be using (or should I say, forced to use by the higher ups), and I plan to visit my both my parents once this project is done. It has been a long time, and part of me is not looking forward to it. Maybe I will wear this dress when I visit her. I carefully put away the dress and took my lab coat off and tossed it in the pile with the others at the foot of the bed before proceeding to run myself a nice bath. When the bath water was at a nice level and temperature, I slid myself into the sudsy water until it covered my body up to my neck. I lifted my fore-hoof and brought up today's experiment notes and results on my Pipbuck. It seems that today was a better day than I thought. Give another month with few errors, this project might actually be close to completion. I already had a dozen different ideas for new projects once this one was completed once I got back from my vacation. Maybe I will let my assistants get a head start on this while I am away, they have been showing eagerness to work on an experiment themselves. Already in a better mood, I decided to take my Pipbuck off and just soak here for a little longer. Despite what everypony says, I actually do enjoy a little relaxation. I think I will just close my eyes, for just a few minutes. *** Knock, Knock, Knock. The noise startled me awake. I was still in the bath, but how long was I out? The water was much cooler than I remembered. Grabbing my Pipbuck I realized that an hour had past since I got to my quarters. Crap. The reports! I jumped out of the bath and used my magic to wrap a towel around myself to dry and proceeded to open the door. Outside was a bright yellow coated earth pony stallion dressed in a black uniform, symbolizing that he was from the administrative offices. “Doctor Ness, I am here for this weeks reports on your project. You typically have them uploaded to the server by now, and we tried to ping your Pipbuck and terminal but after not receiving a reply, I was sent to make sure everything was alright.” “Sorry I am almost done with them, I wanted to get clean first and lost track of time. I will finish them up and submit them within the hour.” “We will be looking forward to seeing your results. Have a good evening ma’am.” As I closed the door and thought came to my head. How come every time a cute stallion comes to my quarters, its all business. Sure, I did not have flights of fancy about finding Mr. Right, or even having a relationship in general, but somewhere deep within me, my hormones yearned for something more. I’ve learned to ignore them, putting my research and experiments as top priority in my life, but this mare’s body eventually expresses its needs, and often I find myself fulfilling them alone. While the urge was striking me now after that brief visit, I needed to finish my report and have it submitted. Then I can have some me time. Author's Note The first chapter of a story that came to me while playing Fallout 4. While this will be full story, it is also a writing experiment to help me flush out styles for an original novel I am writing so I would appreciate the feedback! *Edited it because I realized that I gave Ness the wrong Cutie Mark that I intentionally planned. Chapter 2Chapter 2 I woke from my slumber feeling well rested, which was odd because I never feel well rested. My dreams often turned to nightmares most every nights. Failed experiments getting loose and killing everypony, failed research resulting in my expulsion from the M.A.S., and failing to become a better pony than I am. My nights were often full of failure. Damn Luna back to the moon. I know it is not the Princess’s fault I have these dreams, its due to my own stress and fears, but everyone needs a scapegoat, and after a bad dream, it was usually the Princess of the Night that gets it. I get out of my bed and start my morning ritual of coffee, food, overlooking the day’s schedule, coffee, checking morning messages on my Pipbuck, and did I mention coffee? Sometimes I think its the only thing that gets me through the day. I finally gather my things and head from my quarters to begin the day again. Maybe feeling well rested will finally be the start of a good day, I think to my self as I get plowed over by somepony as I exit my room. *Thwomp!* “Oh your up! Sorry doctor, sorry, sorry, are you OK? You got to get to the lab, its an EMERGENCY!” “Dapper explain!” “It’s Doctor Calabrese! Lucky saw him in your lab messing with something!” “Damn that stallion. Let’s hurry up before he finds yesterday’s formula results. I will NOT have him stealing MY work!” As Dapper and I ran through the halls and security doors leading to the laboratory facilities, one thing went through my mind. It was not the fact that Doctor Calabrese, and I use that name lightly since I’m sure he stole that as well, was once again trying to steal another ponies work. It was not even the fact that I remember leaving my coffee back in my room. It was the fact that today was not going to be a good day after all. Maybe this was the nightmare. Maybe just maybe I will wake up from it and find myself lying in my bed and go back to having a normal day. As we got through the last of the security checks (luckily they are not fully automated, since a few of the security personnel must have seen the fiery anger in my eyes and ‘expedited’ the typical routines), we headed towards Laboratory Block Epsilon where my lab was located. As I connected my Pipbuck to the entry terminal, it occurred to me. How in the hell did he get in? These rooms are designed to only open for the ponies who’s personal Pipbucks are registered. He should not have even been able to enter without alerting security! I entered the outer room with my thoughts split between puzzling intrigue to how he even entered and bloody murder if I caught him with any of my research. I did not even know what to expect. Would I catch him rummaging through paperwork, or would he have already gotten away with who knows what? I did not notice anything in disarray, but he was very good at hiding his tracks. While everyone suspected most of his work was based upon forgery, he had never been caught. Then again he also must not have expected my faithful assistants being, forced, into coming in hours before the other crews even stirred from their beds. I always want to make sure everything is properly prepped upon my arrival. “Finally you’re here Doctor Ness!” Lucky Shine said as he ran out of Research Room Epsilon One. “I don’t think he expected anyone to be here this early. I got him locked in E1, I overrode the emergency controls. How ever he got in, he is not getting out of this one!” For all the failures, and all the assistants who have been assigned to me, Lucky was my favorite. He never questions my instructions, is the first to arrive and last to leave, has the best computer skills of anypony I know (which is great since I often seem technologically illiterate when it comes to them), and has quite the flank on him. He says he looks up to me more than anypony else, sometimes I wonder if there was more to that, but fraternization was not allowed, especially after previous incidents. “Let’s go see what Broccoli Head is up to.” Broccoli Head, the nickname everypony secretly calls Calabrese. It was not because of his green hued coat and mane, not even for the fact that he has a broccoli floret as a Cutie Mark. It was the fact that despite how much he says he hates broccoli and his past involving it, his mane always looks like a row of broccoli florets. It’s often uncanny how it looks. More often than not it makes me hungry. Depending on what he has done, I may be having broccoli for breakfast. The inner Laboratory was split into three rooms. Epsilon One, or E1, was the results room where we keep all physical experiment samples to be documented and observed. E2 was the active experiment room where most of the day to day work was done, and E3 was the supply closet. In reality it was the computer processing room where all the data is processed, filtered, and results are sent to the main database. Since I had no clue how most of those machines worked, that was where we kept the brooms and mops. Lucky takes care of all that nonsense. E1 had no windows save for a small circular window in the door. Typically the inner screen was closed, as to prevent any outside light from entering, but this morning it was open, with a very unhappy face pressed against it. “Let me out this instance! This is not how you treat your superiors! I will get all of you removed from this facility!” “Well, well. If it isn’t our dear friend Broccoli Head. May I ask you what you are doing in my research wing?” “That’s Doctor Calabrese! And for your information, filly, as a high ranking member of the M.A.S. I have the authority to be where ever I want to be for what ever reason.” “Ok grandpa, for starters, I happen to know that you are not registered for access in Epsilon. I don’t care how high ranking somepony is, if you are not registered in a part of this facility, you have no right to be there. Also, if you actually did have a reason for needing access to Epsilon, you of all ponies should know how to access my messaging service and requested permission, which I would have denied if you were wondering. Now tell me why I shouldn’t call security right now.” “I don’t have to tell you anything! My reasons are my own, filly.” I hated Calabrese. Honestly I don’t know of anypony who even liked him, but I think he actually hated me more. He’s getting in his upper years and still has not had any breakthrough's in any of his experiments. He wasn’t even that smart, he had his assistants do all of his work while he ‘supervised’. Everyone knew he was jealous of me. I made my first breakthrough in bio-science when I was still in school. I graduated years ahead of my peers, and was the youngest Unicorn to be assigned to a high profile M.A.S. facility. I have done more in my short time here then he had done in his entire life. His resentfulness always shown when he called me a filly, just as his realization of how pathetic he is when I retorted with grandpa. “Actually, I think I will have Lucky call security” I nodded towards Lucky, “what I want to know is, how in the depths of Tartarus, did you even manage to get into this laboratory anyways?” “Hmph. Like I said, nothing is out of my reach.” I was just about to scream at him when I got an idea. “Well then. As you know I am not that great with computers. My faithful assistants always help me with that.” I turned towards him with a smirk as I started activate a nearby console. “But there are a few things that I do know how to do. Activate the fire hazard system.“ I pushed another button and I could see a small yellow light flash from behind Calabrese. “Perform an emergency override of the security systems.” I pushed another button and twisted a small yellow nob, “and lastly, activate the Emergency Purge systems in each individual lab.” I said the last three words slowly as I pushed the final buttons and just looked at him with the largest smile I could make. That alone should scare the shit out of him. “What are you doing!? Get me the hell out of here! I’m sorry I’ll explain! Call security, have them lock me up, just let me out of this room!” I don’t think I have ever seen someone so panicked before. I could see the tears started to flow from his eyes as he banged on the door, screams reaching to a shriek. Then suddenly there was a click. It was very quiet on this side of the door, but from the look on his face, it must have sounded deafeningly loud. Then the emergency fire system went off inside E1. Typically a fire system would have water, but due to the nature of many of these experiments, water may create more harm then good if the room was suddenly flooded. So a special type of inert foam was used. It was designed to be harmless to ponies, but negate anything harmful within the room. It was a wonder of arcane-chemical creation. It also made Calabrese look hilarious as the doors finally opened and he fell face first onto the floor, covered in an inch of white foam. Just then security entered the lab. They actually had access here. “Doctor Ness…” One of the guards froze as he saw a pathetic foam covered pony lying on the floor. It was hard to tell but I think he was trying not to laugh. No-pony liked Calabrese. “Thank goodness you are here. As you can see, we have had a slight, predicament in regards to one of the other scientists.” “I can see that, but truthfully, we were already on the way here when we received your security alert. Omega-Zeta One has been initiated. We ask that you and your assistants please follow us to the Zeta chamber. Doctor Calabrese, we regret to inform you will have to wait until decontamination prior to getting cleaned.” Omega-Zeta One? That can’t be. The only reason that would ever be initiated is if… My mind drew a blank. I couldn't think of anything, there was nothing I could fathom to distract me from what this means so I started ease drop on one of the guards talking to Dapper. “The Chief won’t give us the details, said we will all know soon enough. It had to have been those damn zebras.” “You don’t think they actually used a Megaspell, do you?” Dapper said in her sweetest voice. She was always able to sweet talk the males into helping her in one way or another. Except for Lucky Shine. I think she tried to win her over, but never succeeded. “I really don’t know. They never tell us anything past our immediate orders. They probably think we wouldn’t understand it. We are just hired grunts to them.” “Honestly I have often envied you guys. Having free run of the place, getting to intermingle with the rest of the facility. In here it’s pretty much Doctor Ness, Lucky, and I that keep each other company. Not that I mind it at all, but sometimes I’d like to get to meet some more of the ponies here.” I knew she meant more of the stallions. She was a good worker, and incredibly smart. She’d give me a run for the money given another few years of experience. I was hoping to get them to promote her to her own project at some point. Unfortunately, it also seems like she is always in heat. Maybe its a good thing that she is simply an assistant for now. I hadn’t heard from Lucky during the walk. There was more security then usual, making sure that everypony was accounted for. I turned back to see Lucky awkwardly walking next to Calabrese with his Pipbuck connected to Lucky’s. One of the security detail was standing next to a very uncomfortable, and soapy, doctor, which explains why he was not actively fighting Lucky’s intrusion. “I think I figured out how he managed to get into Epsilon. It seems Calabrese somehow managed to integrate an access chip from one of the security Pipbucks into his own. It give him access to everywhere that security does.” “Well, well. Looks like after the briefing the Chief will have some company on the way down to the Stable” the security guard next to Calabrese said with a sly tone. That would explain how Calabrese managed to ‘acquire’ so much data in such little time. Once we get to the Stable, the Security Chief will have some fun with Calabrese. Stable. Fuck. I almost forgot where we were going. Omega-Zeta One was the emergency code to retreat to the Zeta Chamber. That was where ponies were sent almost a mile below the earth to where Stable-Tech was commissioned to build a Stable. We all knew about it. It was designed for end of the world scenarios. We were told it would keep us, and our research safe until it was safe to go up to the surface, after rebuilding had begun. We would then bring out research back to the surface and use it help pony-kind return to how things were. It was supposed to be a high tech cryogenic facility. While many research facilities would simply dump their data into safe keeping, it had occurred to somepony that even with the technology to rebuild Equestria, it would be worthless if there was no-pony who knew how it worked. We finally reached Zeta Chamber. It was a large round room, large enough to hold a hundred ponies. Inside the chamber there was faces I have seen, and many I did not recognize. There had to be at least seventy or more. This facility was not the largest, and only designed to fit around a hundred at any one time. The small size was to help keep it off the map so that Zebra forces did not locate it and try to destroy our research. It has been a long time since I was around this many ponies. Like Dapper had said, we are kept rather secluded from each other. Each laboratory housed nine facilities, each having three for a single assigned head researcher. Each of the sub-facilities were separated from each other, but all used the same type of experimental types. Epsilon was the bio-engineering facility. I knew of my colleagues, but was always too busy to get to know them. We must have been the last group. Once the doors behind us closed, yellow lights started to flash around us and klaxon's sounded from the ceiling. There was a rumble and then the ground started to move downward into the earth. Into the Stable below. I really, really hope that I am still dreaming and that this is a nightmare that I will wake from at any moment. I close my eyes. Any moment. Chapter 3Chapter 3 War. It was what brought me here to this place. I was told I had a gift. I just laughed and shrugged it off. I mean everypony has a gift, isn’t that what a Cutie Mark was supposed to represent? Your natural talents smack dab right on your flank for all the world to see. The problem was that I was good at what my mark told me I was supposed to be good at. Too good I think. Both biology and chemistry came natural to me. Sure I was horrible at mathematical formulas, but when I mixed together chemicals, I just seemed to know how everything goes together without ‘crunching the numbers’ as Dapper Darling always says I need to be doing. Why should I put effort into something that will just bring out the same outcome that my natural instincts told me? Lucky Shine tells me that it was necessary for the data logs, but at the end the Ministry will just suck it all out with a memory orb anyways, so what’s the point. I hate memory orbs. When the war broke out I had just recently graduated top of my class and we were the fresh new minds that the Ministries needed. The M.A.S. snatched me up quickly because of my grades. I was told that I was going to help the greater good and going to be the front line, figuratively speaking, of the war effort. I had originally been assigned to work at Maripony, but when rumors of Zebra forces targeting high priority places like that a few scientists, including myself, were reassigned to this place. A research facility so secretive that it never officially got a name. I heard that some ponies tried to come up with an unofficial name, but nothing ever stuck. Most of us just know it as home. Once assigned here, there was only two ways to leave. Have your memories stripped of everything, or if the war ended and you were no longer necessary, and of course have your memories stripped of everything. It was that much of a secret facility. Honestly that is one reason I stay. Well one of two. Firstly, and foremost, I really hate the memory orb process. Every time a project was finished, the knowledge of that project was copied to a memory orb. The feeling of having your thoughts ripped from you was horrible. Most say it was just me, that the process was simple and painless, but every time I have to submit to it, I feel drained. And that is with me actually keeping my memories. The thought of having them removed entirely scared me. It was like taking a piece of your very soul, your essence, and ripping it from your body. Being a Unicorn made it doubly bad. The fact that somepony can just touch an orb to my head and draw me into the memories and experiences of another just seemed so very wrong. I have only had to do it a few times, but I hated every second of it. The other reason that I don’t leave is because honestly, I love my work. I feel at home in the labs. Every advancement makes me want to celebrate. When I am surrounded by my work I feel at ease. Even when I am stressed beyond all belief I am happier than if I were out living a ‘normal’ life. The closest I have to friends are my assistants, and I am fine with that. I don’t have a love life but who needs that distraction when there is more important things to do. A quickie here and there is all that is needed to fulfill my biological urges. I don’t even have time for my family. Not to say I don’t love them, but with my mother locked away in an asylum, and my father disconnecting himself from the war and the world around him, at times I feel as if I don’t really have a family. It may sound cold hearted but its the truth. All I really need is my work. My research. My… “Fuck! My research!” I blurted out loud as I opened my eyes and suddenly snapped back into reality. Surrounding me were all the ponies that were shoved into this cylindrical room. It must have stopped descending at some point because everything was still. Worse of all it was mostly quiet until I broke the silence. Funny thing is that no one seemed to even notice my out burst. All eyes were transfixed on a large monitor above the doors we first came in. Displayed on it was the crackling image of Stable-Tech’s logo with the words ‘Please Stand By’ underneath. I turned and saw that both Dapper Darling and Lucky Shine were standing next to me. “I think I zoned out there for a moment. What’s going on?” “I don’t know. After the platform stopped moving that screen kicked on. I think were expecting some kind of announcement, or instructions on what to do next.” Not long after Lucky finished talking the screen flickered away and was replaced by the image of the head of the research facility, General Sandy Hoof. I only seen her a few times during our quarterly meetings but she was an interesting one. A scientist before the war, she joined the military and quickly rose through the ranks until she ended up joining the Ministry of Arcane Science and was a liaison to the Ministry of Wartime Technology. Her position allowed her to take control of this facility shortly after it opened, being a wartime research facility. “Good morning everypony.” General Sandy Hoof started to speak in a clear calm voice, pausing for a moment to make sure all attention was towards the monitor. “As you are aware, emergency protocols dictate that in the case of an emergency Stable 129, which is built deep beneath the research facility, is to become active and all essential personnel are to be evacuated into the Stable. Stable activation has begun and the chamber you are in is being decontaminated prior to entrance into the Stable. Once decontamination is complete, and the following briefing has ended, everypony will be escorted by specialized Mister Handy units to their assigned sectors based upon your Pipbuck Identification. For anypony without a Pipbuck, you shall be detained until proper identification can be found. “As all of you should know from your facility manuals, Stable 129 is rather unique in its form and function. Most Stables are designed to facilitate generations of ponies allowing the descendent's of the original occupants to resurface after a specific time frame. These descendants are then to help in the rebuilding of Equestrian Society after the ravages of the war. When our stable was built it occurred to many within the Ministries that it is entirely possible that even with proper education, future generations may not have the same aptitude to rebuild the scientific communities that exist today. To this end our Stable was designed not to allow its occupants to create future generations, but to personally lead the future generations. Stable 129 is equipped with the most advanced cryogenic facilities that exist, created through a joint venture between the Ministries, Stable Tech, and Robronco. It is by this design that you, leaders of the scientific community of the present, shall be the ones to rebuilt the scientific community of the future!” After General Sandy Hoof finished speak talking broke out in the chamber. At first it was quiet murmuring and then it became boisterous. Some were talking about how this will be the saving grace of the future, while others were seeming apprehensive about being frozen for who knows how long. I could hear a stallion asking one of the guards about his wife and children back home in Baltimare. A mare had broken out in tears about something involving a music box. Everypony had something to say but me. I just stood there thinking. Not about what may have happened, not about what will happen to us, but about my research. I knew there were fail safes set up to protect the digital data, but what about my hard copies? My experiments? There is no way that such sensitive equipment can be transfered to the Stables in such a short time. I turned to talk to my assistants about my concerns when the General started to speak again. “Now, I can tell that many of you have concerns and questions regarding friends and family's on the outside. I wish I could say that they were safe, that you will be able to see them again. I am sad to say that is not the case, nor will it be. Yes, many of you who accepted work at this facility had their family accepted into Stables near them. Those stables however will be functioning under standard Stable Tech operations. While time may seem to go by in an instant for those in the cryogenic pods, years, decades, even centuries may have passed outside this Stable. By the time all of you re-enter the world above, all that you have ever known will be gone. I myself will be gone as well. Despite my station at this facility, I am currently broadcasting to you from the Ministry Headquarters in Canterlot. The facility has gone into lock down and access in and out of it has been sealed until the day that this Stable is reopened. Once Stable lock-down is complete, all communications will also be sealed save for a single channel awaiting the all-clear to initiate reanimation procedures. Due to the nature of this Stable, specially designed Robronco Mister Handy units will be in charge of running day to day operations and monitoring all residents. Once you are all fully awake, these units will bring you up to date and then be accessible to assist with restoring the facility. Due to the possibility of potential aggression on the surface, special kits are available in the supply lock up that will allow for a few Mister Handy units to be modified into combat ready Mister Gutsy models. Please be advised that this is for emergencies only, that their primary programing is to aid in the rebuilding of the facility and acclimation of its residents. “Now, before this communication channel is closed, I want to inform you of the situation on the surface. A short time ago Zebra forces successfully detonated a Balefire Megaspell on the city of Cloudsdale. The city was destroyed and most of the surviving Pegasus have retreated to their other cities. Shortly after another Megaspell was detonated in Splendid Vally at our Maripony facility. Reports are coming in that other major cities may also be targeted. Canterlot is currently being bombarded by Balefire missiles, the Princesses have erected a magical shield so we are safe for the time being, but other places may not be so lucky. The emergency procedures started when the first Balefire explosion destroyed Cloudsdale, and will be fully initialized at any moment. I do not know how long you will be asleep, but I will tell you this. Once you have awoken, and both the Stable and the facility above is operational, I want you to make our great nation proud. Find any survivors and teach them. We have enough supplies in the Stable to last you a year while everyone recovers. Use them wisely. Doctors Willow, Ness, and Foolhardy, your projects while incomplete have the potential to help the surface recover the most, so you and your teams will have all resources needed allocated from you and from any surviving Ministry Operations that locate you. The rest of you will be in charge of restoring the facility and the perimeter and establishing a new home for you, and any that might seek refuge. “I leave you with this. I thank you all for your services, and while this facility is a secret to most, the future of Equestria thanks you as well. I wish you all a safe journey into the future, and while I wish that I could be there to lead you into that future, I know you will do well. The future of the nation lies directly on all of your backs. Think of the sacrifices we have made. The sacrifices that your friends and family have made. Make me proud. Make Equestria proud. You are the future, and to me the future looks bright!” The video cut off and was replaced by the Stable Tech logo again. Unlike before, the silence remained until the flashing lights turned on again. With a low hiss the doors in front of us opened leading us out of the chamber and into our future. A long an narrow tunnel lead to a giant circular door with the number ‘129’ printed on it. A Mister Handy robot came out of a small alcove and without a sound floated over to a panel and activated the door. More flashing lights came on along with a loud klaxon. After a second the giant circular door, which now that I saw it starting to move, resembled a gear more than a circle, rolled out of the way as a catwalk extended that was large enough to fit two ponies side by side. At the other end a gate opened up and a Mister Handy unit, its spherical body painted in blue and gold with a golden 129 painted on it approached us. “Greetings, I am the Mister Handy unit assigned to welcome you and to direct each of you to your assigned stasis room. Please approach me with your Pipbuck so we can begin. Welcome to Stable 129.”
Chapter 1Chapter 1 Bzzt, bzzt, bzzt, bzzt. “Quick, administer the serum! We don’t have long!” Countless times. Experiment after experiment failing. Thinking it is so close, yet slips through our hooves, my hooves, again and again. “Sweet Celestia its loose! Quick, get ready to initiate emergency protocols!” Celestia. Once the proud ruler of Equestria, worshiped by some, admired by all, now reduced to a shadow of her former self. Some feel she abandoned us during our time of need, others thought she was not suited for times of war. A thousand years of peace, broken as suddenly as her announcement that she would be handing over leadership of Equestria to her younger sister, Princess Luna. The same princess, who despite her best efforts to lead this land, escalated this war by her mere presence. But without war, there would be no advancement. Without advancement pony kind would not be able to better ourselves. I didn’t hate the princesses. I did not even hate this war. I just hated failure. “Get that damn animal under control! I don’t want another repeat of last months debacle, that put us weeks behind!” I finally roared across the lab when it was apparent that my assistants seemed more bumbling then usual. I did not hate my assistant, although they do occasionally get under my coat, they do a good job, especially when push came to shove. Unfortunately it seems that I was the only one here that seems to do the pushing and shoving. I had under my wing (figuratively speaking) some of the best unicorns that have been transferred to this facility. I was always the first one to snatch up the good candidates. I had too otherwise somepony else would have. I needed to have the best. Without the best, failure was almost guaranteed. Did I mention I hate failure? I mean really despise it. Despise is so much that I realized that I am talking to myself. Again. “Lucky Shine, grab the serum. Dapper Darling, go grab the tranquilizers. I want to make sure that if this is another failure, that we can at least get some decent data so this doesn't happen next time! And remember, no magic! I do not want any arcane influences to taint this stage of the experiment.” Thankfully when I gave an order, it was followed. I did not know if it was out of fear or respect, and I did not care. As long as they did their job I was happy. Don’t get me wrong, I am not purposely unkind to them. I may lecture them after a failure, but I do not punish. And after every success they are rewarded. I guess I do take after my namesake, if only a little. Kindness. I really do hate that name. When I was born, the Elements of Harmony had already chosen their bearers, and my mother was infatuated with Fluttershy, the bearer of the Element of Kindness. She was always telling, well, everypony that kindness was the key to life, that if your kind to others, they will be kind to you. Even after the war started, she knew that if we were only kinder to the Zebras, none of this would have happened. I think that's why she named me Kindness. In her heart, she probably felt that it would make me kinder than others, that I could change the world and make everypony like Fluttershy. I think it also broke her heart when I got my Cutie Mark. She was hoping for some variation of Fluttershy’s butterflies to confirm that I was the second coming of kindness. Instead I got a laboratory flask with a DNA helix on it. I am really glad there were no butterflies, yet my mother still insisted she could see them somewhere in it. “Doctor Ness, I think the serum is finally working! Shall we hold off on the tranquilizers?” Dapper Darling shouted from behind an overturned table. “Yes, it looks like the rage is subsiding. Wait another minute and see. But if any more heightened aggression is witnessed, tranquilize it immediately. There has been no injuries yet this week, and I’d like to keep it that way.” I could have changed my name. There were many times I wanted to. I hated Kindness, but Ness? It had a certain, ring to it. I always avoid using my full name, even on my applications and transfer forms, my name was referred to as Ness. The only ones who ever used my full names were my parents. Although at times I think that even my father had disapproved of the name, then again, he did always want a son rather than a daughter. “Alright, it looks like it has calmed down. Put it back in the observation chamber and make sure it’s secured this time” I ordered as I looked around at the havoc the creature caused. Broken lab equipment, over turned tables and chairs, who knew that a small rabbit could cause so much damage. “And if you don’t mind cleaning up before leaving. I don’t want ponies to think that all this gray fur was from me. I may be under some stress, but not that much.” I left my assistants to take care of the mess as I headed back to my quarters to look over these notes. Today had not been a total failure. Sure the animal got out of control, and the injections did not show the results I had planned for, but at least the counter serum was working. If the serums and the tranquilizers had proven ineffective, we would have had to euthanize the creature. It was getting harder and harder to get test subjects for our work. Shortly after the war began, experiments started to pop up using animals as test subjects for measuring the effects of balefire radiation, finding ways to cure it, and other biological experiments. Of course when Fluttershy found out about this, she was outraged. A ban on using animals for biological tests that were not related to the medical field was created. Of course that did not stop most of the research facilities. Some started small hidden farms to breed genetically selective test subjects, and others, like this facility, had to get them smuggled in. Due to this, there was a limit to what we could use and how many can be delivered at a time. Loosing a subject could amount to days or even weeks of lost work while waiting for a replacement to be procured. But it was for the betterment of all pony kind. It was necessary, whether Fluttershy liked it or not. Once I got to my quarters, I shut and locked the door. My quarters were fairly small. A bed, dresser, bookshelf and a desk. Connecting to the main room was the bathing facilities. I did not have much in the way of personal possessions. Mostly my books and my work. My dresser consisted of lab coats and one off-white dress, decorated lightly with colored gems. A gift from my parents. I think it was their way of telling me ‘go and have some fun and relax, maybe find a nice stallion you can settle down with’. Like that would ever happen. Sure there have been a few males here that have turned my head once or twice, but it was nothing more than a distraction. A small distinction that can turn into a larger, work destroying distraction down the line. I’ve seen it before. A young upcoming scientist in the bio-magical field was nearly finished with a project that may have helped protect ponies from indirect radiation effect. Then one day she closed the project and went to Baltimare to elope with her apprentice. I removed the dress from the dresser and held it up against me in front of my mirror. There were times that I wish I had a reason to wear it, that some stallion would come and sweep me off my hooves. But this dress also brought back memories, memories of my mother. It was not long ago when the Zebra’s got a hold of the mega-spell matrices. Rumors quickly escalated how they had gotten Equestrian made technology in their hooves. Rumors that had included treason. Rumors of a certain yellow coated Pegasus. It was known that Fluttershy and her Ministry were working on mega-spells to be able to heal large amounts of wounded, but that it would effect friend and foe alike. None of the other Ministry mares were as dead set to end the war peacefully as her. My mother told me that if any pony would end the war, it would be Fluttershy and her kindness. If the rumors were to be believed, then kindness may end up being our downfall. Unfortunately, my mother did not take the news of these rumors lightly. She denied them so intensely, believing that Fluttershy would bring about peace, that she started to change. Every time somepony talked bad about Fluttershy, she would snap at them, at some points violently. Because of this, she lost her job, her friends, and even my father was afraid to be in the same room as her at times. These rumors, whether they were true or not, were driving her insane, all the while babbling on and on about how Fluttershy and her kindness will save the world. Eventually my father, afraid of her safety, along with the safety of those around her, decided to commit her into the Equestrian Mental Therapy Center south of Baltimare. My mother was sent to an insane asylum, and where was I? Working on a project. My work consumes me so much, that I had gotten irritated when I got the news, interrupting me in the middle of an experiment. Don’t get me wrong, I love my parents, but sometimes I think I love my work more. I promised my father that I would visit my mother when I was between experiments. That was four projects ago. Every time I finished one, I was so hyped up for the next project I could not think of anything else. This time will be different. I have some unused vacation time that I will be using (or should I say, forced to use by the higher ups), and I plan to visit my both my parents once this project is done. It has been a long time, and part of me is not looking forward to it. Maybe I will wear this dress when I visit her. I carefully put away the dress and took my lab coat off and tossed it in the pile with the others at the foot of the bed before proceeding to run myself a nice bath. When the bath water was at a nice level and temperature, I slid myself into the sudsy water until it covered my body up to my neck. I lifted my fore-hoof and brought up today's experiment notes and results on my Pipbuck. It seems that today was a better day than I thought. Give another month with few errors, this project might actually be close to completion. I already had a dozen different ideas for new projects once this one was completed once I got back from my vacation. Maybe I will let my assistants get a head start on this while I am away, they have been showing eagerness to work on an experiment themselves. Already in a better mood, I decided to take my Pipbuck off and just soak here for a little longer. Despite what everypony says, I actually do enjoy a little relaxation. I think I will just close my eyes, for just a few minutes. *** Knock, Knock, Knock. The noise startled me awake. I was still in the bath, but how long was I out? The water was much cooler than I remembered. Grabbing my Pipbuck I realized that an hour had past since I got to my quarters. Crap. The reports! I jumped out of the bath and used my magic to wrap a towel around myself to dry and proceeded to open the door. Outside was a bright yellow coated earth pony stallion dressed in a black uniform, symbolizing that he was from the administrative offices. “Doctor Ness, I am here for this weeks reports on your project. You typically have them uploaded to the server by now, and we tried to ping your Pipbuck and terminal but after not receiving a reply, I was sent to make sure everything was alright.” “Sorry I am almost done with them, I wanted to get clean first and lost track of time. I will finish them up and submit them within the hour.” “We will be looking forward to seeing your results. Have a good evening ma’am.” As I closed the door and thought came to my head. How come every time a cute stallion comes to my quarters, its all business. Sure, I did not have flights of fancy about finding Mr. Right, or even having a relationship in general, but somewhere deep within me, my hormones yearned for something more. I’ve learned to ignore them, putting my research and experiments as top priority in my life, but this mare’s body eventually expresses its needs, and often I find myself fulfilling them alone. While the urge was striking me now after that brief visit, I needed to finish my report and have it submitted. Then I can have some me time. Author's Note The first chapter of a story that came to me while playing Fallout 4. While this will be full story, it is also a writing experiment to help me flush out styles for an original novel I am writing so I would appreciate the feedback! *Edited it because I realized that I gave Ness the wrong Cutie Mark that I intentionally planned.
Chapter 2Chapter 2 I woke from my slumber feeling well rested, which was odd because I never feel well rested. My dreams often turned to nightmares most every nights. Failed experiments getting loose and killing everypony, failed research resulting in my expulsion from the M.A.S., and failing to become a better pony than I am. My nights were often full of failure. Damn Luna back to the moon. I know it is not the Princess’s fault I have these dreams, its due to my own stress and fears, but everyone needs a scapegoat, and after a bad dream, it was usually the Princess of the Night that gets it. I get out of my bed and start my morning ritual of coffee, food, overlooking the day’s schedule, coffee, checking morning messages on my Pipbuck, and did I mention coffee? Sometimes I think its the only thing that gets me through the day. I finally gather my things and head from my quarters to begin the day again. Maybe feeling well rested will finally be the start of a good day, I think to my self as I get plowed over by somepony as I exit my room. *Thwomp!* “Oh your up! Sorry doctor, sorry, sorry, are you OK? You got to get to the lab, its an EMERGENCY!” “Dapper explain!” “It’s Doctor Calabrese! Lucky saw him in your lab messing with something!” “Damn that stallion. Let’s hurry up before he finds yesterday’s formula results. I will NOT have him stealing MY work!” As Dapper and I ran through the halls and security doors leading to the laboratory facilities, one thing went through my mind. It was not the fact that Doctor Calabrese, and I use that name lightly since I’m sure he stole that as well, was once again trying to steal another ponies work. It was not even the fact that I remember leaving my coffee back in my room. It was the fact that today was not going to be a good day after all. Maybe this was the nightmare. Maybe just maybe I will wake up from it and find myself lying in my bed and go back to having a normal day. As we got through the last of the security checks (luckily they are not fully automated, since a few of the security personnel must have seen the fiery anger in my eyes and ‘expedited’ the typical routines), we headed towards Laboratory Block Epsilon where my lab was located. As I connected my Pipbuck to the entry terminal, it occurred to me. How in the hell did he get in? These rooms are designed to only open for the ponies who’s personal Pipbucks are registered. He should not have even been able to enter without alerting security! I entered the outer room with my thoughts split between puzzling intrigue to how he even entered and bloody murder if I caught him with any of my research. I did not even know what to expect. Would I catch him rummaging through paperwork, or would he have already gotten away with who knows what? I did not notice anything in disarray, but he was very good at hiding his tracks. While everyone suspected most of his work was based upon forgery, he had never been caught. Then again he also must not have expected my faithful assistants being, forced, into coming in hours before the other crews even stirred from their beds. I always want to make sure everything is properly prepped upon my arrival. “Finally you’re here Doctor Ness!” Lucky Shine said as he ran out of Research Room Epsilon One. “I don’t think he expected anyone to be here this early. I got him locked in E1, I overrode the emergency controls. How ever he got in, he is not getting out of this one!” For all the failures, and all the assistants who have been assigned to me, Lucky was my favorite. He never questions my instructions, is the first to arrive and last to leave, has the best computer skills of anypony I know (which is great since I often seem technologically illiterate when it comes to them), and has quite the flank on him. He says he looks up to me more than anypony else, sometimes I wonder if there was more to that, but fraternization was not allowed, especially after previous incidents. “Let’s go see what Broccoli Head is up to.” Broccoli Head, the nickname everypony secretly calls Calabrese. It was not because of his green hued coat and mane, not even for the fact that he has a broccoli floret as a Cutie Mark. It was the fact that despite how much he says he hates broccoli and his past involving it, his mane always looks like a row of broccoli florets. It’s often uncanny how it looks. More often than not it makes me hungry. Depending on what he has done, I may be having broccoli for breakfast. The inner Laboratory was split into three rooms. Epsilon One, or E1, was the results room where we keep all physical experiment samples to be documented and observed. E2 was the active experiment room where most of the day to day work was done, and E3 was the supply closet. In reality it was the computer processing room where all the data is processed, filtered, and results are sent to the main database. Since I had no clue how most of those machines worked, that was where we kept the brooms and mops. Lucky takes care of all that nonsense. E1 had no windows save for a small circular window in the door. Typically the inner screen was closed, as to prevent any outside light from entering, but this morning it was open, with a very unhappy face pressed against it. “Let me out this instance! This is not how you treat your superiors! I will get all of you removed from this facility!” “Well, well. If it isn’t our dear friend Broccoli Head. May I ask you what you are doing in my research wing?” “That’s Doctor Calabrese! And for your information, filly, as a high ranking member of the M.A.S. I have the authority to be where ever I want to be for what ever reason.” “Ok grandpa, for starters, I happen to know that you are not registered for access in Epsilon. I don’t care how high ranking somepony is, if you are not registered in a part of this facility, you have no right to be there. Also, if you actually did have a reason for needing access to Epsilon, you of all ponies should know how to access my messaging service and requested permission, which I would have denied if you were wondering. Now tell me why I shouldn’t call security right now.” “I don’t have to tell you anything! My reasons are my own, filly.” I hated Calabrese. Honestly I don’t know of anypony who even liked him, but I think he actually hated me more. He’s getting in his upper years and still has not had any breakthrough's in any of his experiments. He wasn’t even that smart, he had his assistants do all of his work while he ‘supervised’. Everyone knew he was jealous of me. I made my first breakthrough in bio-science when I was still in school. I graduated years ahead of my peers, and was the youngest Unicorn to be assigned to a high profile M.A.S. facility. I have done more in my short time here then he had done in his entire life. His resentfulness always shown when he called me a filly, just as his realization of how pathetic he is when I retorted with grandpa. “Actually, I think I will have Lucky call security” I nodded towards Lucky, “what I want to know is, how in the depths of Tartarus, did you even manage to get into this laboratory anyways?” “Hmph. Like I said, nothing is out of my reach.” I was just about to scream at him when I got an idea. “Well then. As you know I am not that great with computers. My faithful assistants always help me with that.” I turned towards him with a smirk as I started activate a nearby console. “But there are a few things that I do know how to do. Activate the fire hazard system.“ I pushed another button and I could see a small yellow light flash from behind Calabrese. “Perform an emergency override of the security systems.” I pushed another button and twisted a small yellow nob, “and lastly, activate the Emergency Purge systems in each individual lab.” I said the last three words slowly as I pushed the final buttons and just looked at him with the largest smile I could make. That alone should scare the shit out of him. “What are you doing!? Get me the hell out of here! I’m sorry I’ll explain! Call security, have them lock me up, just let me out of this room!” I don’t think I have ever seen someone so panicked before. I could see the tears started to flow from his eyes as he banged on the door, screams reaching to a shriek. Then suddenly there was a click. It was very quiet on this side of the door, but from the look on his face, it must have sounded deafeningly loud. Then the emergency fire system went off inside E1. Typically a fire system would have water, but due to the nature of many of these experiments, water may create more harm then good if the room was suddenly flooded. So a special type of inert foam was used. It was designed to be harmless to ponies, but negate anything harmful within the room. It was a wonder of arcane-chemical creation. It also made Calabrese look hilarious as the doors finally opened and he fell face first onto the floor, covered in an inch of white foam. Just then security entered the lab. They actually had access here. “Doctor Ness…” One of the guards froze as he saw a pathetic foam covered pony lying on the floor. It was hard to tell but I think he was trying not to laugh. No-pony liked Calabrese. “Thank goodness you are here. As you can see, we have had a slight, predicament in regards to one of the other scientists.” “I can see that, but truthfully, we were already on the way here when we received your security alert. Omega-Zeta One has been initiated. We ask that you and your assistants please follow us to the Zeta chamber. Doctor Calabrese, we regret to inform you will have to wait until decontamination prior to getting cleaned.” Omega-Zeta One? That can’t be. The only reason that would ever be initiated is if… My mind drew a blank. I couldn't think of anything, there was nothing I could fathom to distract me from what this means so I started ease drop on one of the guards talking to Dapper. “The Chief won’t give us the details, said we will all know soon enough. It had to have been those damn zebras.” “You don’t think they actually used a Megaspell, do you?” Dapper said in her sweetest voice. She was always able to sweet talk the males into helping her in one way or another. Except for Lucky Shine. I think she tried to win her over, but never succeeded. “I really don’t know. They never tell us anything past our immediate orders. They probably think we wouldn’t understand it. We are just hired grunts to them.” “Honestly I have often envied you guys. Having free run of the place, getting to intermingle with the rest of the facility. In here it’s pretty much Doctor Ness, Lucky, and I that keep each other company. Not that I mind it at all, but sometimes I’d like to get to meet some more of the ponies here.” I knew she meant more of the stallions. She was a good worker, and incredibly smart. She’d give me a run for the money given another few years of experience. I was hoping to get them to promote her to her own project at some point. Unfortunately, it also seems like she is always in heat. Maybe its a good thing that she is simply an assistant for now. I hadn’t heard from Lucky during the walk. There was more security then usual, making sure that everypony was accounted for. I turned back to see Lucky awkwardly walking next to Calabrese with his Pipbuck connected to Lucky’s. One of the security detail was standing next to a very uncomfortable, and soapy, doctor, which explains why he was not actively fighting Lucky’s intrusion. “I think I figured out how he managed to get into Epsilon. It seems Calabrese somehow managed to integrate an access chip from one of the security Pipbucks into his own. It give him access to everywhere that security does.” “Well, well. Looks like after the briefing the Chief will have some company on the way down to the Stable” the security guard next to Calabrese said with a sly tone. That would explain how Calabrese managed to ‘acquire’ so much data in such little time. Once we get to the Stable, the Security Chief will have some fun with Calabrese. Stable. Fuck. I almost forgot where we were going. Omega-Zeta One was the emergency code to retreat to the Zeta Chamber. That was where ponies were sent almost a mile below the earth to where Stable-Tech was commissioned to build a Stable. We all knew about it. It was designed for end of the world scenarios. We were told it would keep us, and our research safe until it was safe to go up to the surface, after rebuilding had begun. We would then bring out research back to the surface and use it help pony-kind return to how things were. It was supposed to be a high tech cryogenic facility. While many research facilities would simply dump their data into safe keeping, it had occurred to somepony that even with the technology to rebuild Equestria, it would be worthless if there was no-pony who knew how it worked. We finally reached Zeta Chamber. It was a large round room, large enough to hold a hundred ponies. Inside the chamber there was faces I have seen, and many I did not recognize. There had to be at least seventy or more. This facility was not the largest, and only designed to fit around a hundred at any one time. The small size was to help keep it off the map so that Zebra forces did not locate it and try to destroy our research. It has been a long time since I was around this many ponies. Like Dapper had said, we are kept rather secluded from each other. Each laboratory housed nine facilities, each having three for a single assigned head researcher. Each of the sub-facilities were separated from each other, but all used the same type of experimental types. Epsilon was the bio-engineering facility. I knew of my colleagues, but was always too busy to get to know them. We must have been the last group. Once the doors behind us closed, yellow lights started to flash around us and klaxon's sounded from the ceiling. There was a rumble and then the ground started to move downward into the earth. Into the Stable below. I really, really hope that I am still dreaming and that this is a nightmare that I will wake from at any moment. I close my eyes. Any moment.
Chapter 3Chapter 3 War. It was what brought me here to this place. I was told I had a gift. I just laughed and shrugged it off. I mean everypony has a gift, isn’t that what a Cutie Mark was supposed to represent? Your natural talents smack dab right on your flank for all the world to see. The problem was that I was good at what my mark told me I was supposed to be good at. Too good I think. Both biology and chemistry came natural to me. Sure I was horrible at mathematical formulas, but when I mixed together chemicals, I just seemed to know how everything goes together without ‘crunching the numbers’ as Dapper Darling always says I need to be doing. Why should I put effort into something that will just bring out the same outcome that my natural instincts told me? Lucky Shine tells me that it was necessary for the data logs, but at the end the Ministry will just suck it all out with a memory orb anyways, so what’s the point. I hate memory orbs. When the war broke out I had just recently graduated top of my class and we were the fresh new minds that the Ministries needed. The M.A.S. snatched me up quickly because of my grades. I was told that I was going to help the greater good and going to be the front line, figuratively speaking, of the war effort. I had originally been assigned to work at Maripony, but when rumors of Zebra forces targeting high priority places like that a few scientists, including myself, were reassigned to this place. A research facility so secretive that it never officially got a name. I heard that some ponies tried to come up with an unofficial name, but nothing ever stuck. Most of us just know it as home. Once assigned here, there was only two ways to leave. Have your memories stripped of everything, or if the war ended and you were no longer necessary, and of course have your memories stripped of everything. It was that much of a secret facility. Honestly that is one reason I stay. Well one of two. Firstly, and foremost, I really hate the memory orb process. Every time a project was finished, the knowledge of that project was copied to a memory orb. The feeling of having your thoughts ripped from you was horrible. Most say it was just me, that the process was simple and painless, but every time I have to submit to it, I feel drained. And that is with me actually keeping my memories. The thought of having them removed entirely scared me. It was like taking a piece of your very soul, your essence, and ripping it from your body. Being a Unicorn made it doubly bad. The fact that somepony can just touch an orb to my head and draw me into the memories and experiences of another just seemed so very wrong. I have only had to do it a few times, but I hated every second of it. The other reason that I don’t leave is because honestly, I love my work. I feel at home in the labs. Every advancement makes me want to celebrate. When I am surrounded by my work I feel at ease. Even when I am stressed beyond all belief I am happier than if I were out living a ‘normal’ life. The closest I have to friends are my assistants, and I am fine with that. I don’t have a love life but who needs that distraction when there is more important things to do. A quickie here and there is all that is needed to fulfill my biological urges. I don’t even have time for my family. Not to say I don’t love them, but with my mother locked away in an asylum, and my father disconnecting himself from the war and the world around him, at times I feel as if I don’t really have a family. It may sound cold hearted but its the truth. All I really need is my work. My research. My… “Fuck! My research!” I blurted out loud as I opened my eyes and suddenly snapped back into reality. Surrounding me were all the ponies that were shoved into this cylindrical room. It must have stopped descending at some point because everything was still. Worse of all it was mostly quiet until I broke the silence. Funny thing is that no one seemed to even notice my out burst. All eyes were transfixed on a large monitor above the doors we first came in. Displayed on it was the crackling image of Stable-Tech’s logo with the words ‘Please Stand By’ underneath. I turned and saw that both Dapper Darling and Lucky Shine were standing next to me. “I think I zoned out there for a moment. What’s going on?” “I don’t know. After the platform stopped moving that screen kicked on. I think were expecting some kind of announcement, or instructions on what to do next.” Not long after Lucky finished talking the screen flickered away and was replaced by the image of the head of the research facility, General Sandy Hoof. I only seen her a few times during our quarterly meetings but she was an interesting one. A scientist before the war, she joined the military and quickly rose through the ranks until she ended up joining the Ministry of Arcane Science and was a liaison to the Ministry of Wartime Technology. Her position allowed her to take control of this facility shortly after it opened, being a wartime research facility. “Good morning everypony.” General Sandy Hoof started to speak in a clear calm voice, pausing for a moment to make sure all attention was towards the monitor. “As you are aware, emergency protocols dictate that in the case of an emergency Stable 129, which is built deep beneath the research facility, is to become active and all essential personnel are to be evacuated into the Stable. Stable activation has begun and the chamber you are in is being decontaminated prior to entrance into the Stable. Once decontamination is complete, and the following briefing has ended, everypony will be escorted by specialized Mister Handy units to their assigned sectors based upon your Pipbuck Identification. For anypony without a Pipbuck, you shall be detained until proper identification can be found. “As all of you should know from your facility manuals, Stable 129 is rather unique in its form and function. Most Stables are designed to facilitate generations of ponies allowing the descendent's of the original occupants to resurface after a specific time frame. These descendants are then to help in the rebuilding of Equestrian Society after the ravages of the war. When our stable was built it occurred to many within the Ministries that it is entirely possible that even with proper education, future generations may not have the same aptitude to rebuild the scientific communities that exist today. To this end our Stable was designed not to allow its occupants to create future generations, but to personally lead the future generations. Stable 129 is equipped with the most advanced cryogenic facilities that exist, created through a joint venture between the Ministries, Stable Tech, and Robronco. It is by this design that you, leaders of the scientific community of the present, shall be the ones to rebuilt the scientific community of the future!” After General Sandy Hoof finished speak talking broke out in the chamber. At first it was quiet murmuring and then it became boisterous. Some were talking about how this will be the saving grace of the future, while others were seeming apprehensive about being frozen for who knows how long. I could hear a stallion asking one of the guards about his wife and children back home in Baltimare. A mare had broken out in tears about something involving a music box. Everypony had something to say but me. I just stood there thinking. Not about what may have happened, not about what will happen to us, but about my research. I knew there were fail safes set up to protect the digital data, but what about my hard copies? My experiments? There is no way that such sensitive equipment can be transfered to the Stables in such a short time. I turned to talk to my assistants about my concerns when the General started to speak again. “Now, I can tell that many of you have concerns and questions regarding friends and family's on the outside. I wish I could say that they were safe, that you will be able to see them again. I am sad to say that is not the case, nor will it be. Yes, many of you who accepted work at this facility had their family accepted into Stables near them. Those stables however will be functioning under standard Stable Tech operations. While time may seem to go by in an instant for those in the cryogenic pods, years, decades, even centuries may have passed outside this Stable. By the time all of you re-enter the world above, all that you have ever known will be gone. I myself will be gone as well. Despite my station at this facility, I am currently broadcasting to you from the Ministry Headquarters in Canterlot. The facility has gone into lock down and access in and out of it has been sealed until the day that this Stable is reopened. Once Stable lock-down is complete, all communications will also be sealed save for a single channel awaiting the all-clear to initiate reanimation procedures. Due to the nature of this Stable, specially designed Robronco Mister Handy units will be in charge of running day to day operations and monitoring all residents. Once you are all fully awake, these units will bring you up to date and then be accessible to assist with restoring the facility. Due to the possibility of potential aggression on the surface, special kits are available in the supply lock up that will allow for a few Mister Handy units to be modified into combat ready Mister Gutsy models. Please be advised that this is for emergencies only, that their primary programing is to aid in the rebuilding of the facility and acclimation of its residents. “Now, before this communication channel is closed, I want to inform you of the situation on the surface. A short time ago Zebra forces successfully detonated a Balefire Megaspell on the city of Cloudsdale. The city was destroyed and most of the surviving Pegasus have retreated to their other cities. Shortly after another Megaspell was detonated in Splendid Vally at our Maripony facility. Reports are coming in that other major cities may also be targeted. Canterlot is currently being bombarded by Balefire missiles, the Princesses have erected a magical shield so we are safe for the time being, but other places may not be so lucky. The emergency procedures started when the first Balefire explosion destroyed Cloudsdale, and will be fully initialized at any moment. I do not know how long you will be asleep, but I will tell you this. Once you have awoken, and both the Stable and the facility above is operational, I want you to make our great nation proud. Find any survivors and teach them. We have enough supplies in the Stable to last you a year while everyone recovers. Use them wisely. Doctors Willow, Ness, and Foolhardy, your projects while incomplete have the potential to help the surface recover the most, so you and your teams will have all resources needed allocated from you and from any surviving Ministry Operations that locate you. The rest of you will be in charge of restoring the facility and the perimeter and establishing a new home for you, and any that might seek refuge. “I leave you with this. I thank you all for your services, and while this facility is a secret to most, the future of Equestria thanks you as well. I wish you all a safe journey into the future, and while I wish that I could be there to lead you into that future, I know you will do well. The future of the nation lies directly on all of your backs. Think of the sacrifices we have made. The sacrifices that your friends and family have made. Make me proud. Make Equestria proud. You are the future, and to me the future looks bright!” The video cut off and was replaced by the Stable Tech logo again. Unlike before, the silence remained until the flashing lights turned on again. With a low hiss the doors in front of us opened leading us out of the chamber and into our future. A long an narrow tunnel lead to a giant circular door with the number ‘129’ printed on it. A Mister Handy robot came out of a small alcove and without a sound floated over to a panel and activated the door. More flashing lights came on along with a loud klaxon. After a second the giant circular door, which now that I saw it starting to move, resembled a gear more than a circle, rolled out of the way as a catwalk extended that was large enough to fit two ponies side by side. At the other end a gate opened up and a Mister Handy unit, its spherical body painted in blue and gold with a golden 129 painted on it approached us. “Greetings, I am the Mister Handy unit assigned to welcome you and to direct each of you to your assigned stasis room. Please approach me with your Pipbuck so we can begin. Welcome to Stable 129.”
