Prologue: Discordant Warlord
The sunny day was beautiful as always. No evil demons trying to steal all the magic of the kingdom nor undead kings that rise within their lost kingdom looking for world domination through slavery and fear.
Indeed, they were times of peace, but it was only a cold and fake one. Imposed by fear more than anything, fear of the rulers of Equestria and his powers. Even if there were some races and other kingdoms that tried to impose themselves over the others, none of them were rivals to the magic and power that the Princesses of Equestria held.
Many had tried to disrupt this peace by attacking their defenders: The princesses, but few could do any harm to it. Their power moved the planet itself and keep it together. Many claims that such power was seeing as a sign of utter dominance and couldn't be allowed in a free world and thus shall be stopped or restrained.
Some thought that the Princesses were a potential menace to anything that exists, life could be wiped from any planet in a flick of their hoofs. The universe would be their playground if they wished to anytime they want. It only took one of them to go rampage to treat everything that lived, that danger couldn't be taken by many and were aside of those who oppose them.
Many conflicts were taken place in the world, but all of them were taken down through diplomacy. The fear of war was always there, it was common knowledge that a bunch of nations were afraid of Equestria’s power, and only were waiting for an opportunity to seize. Many could live with the constant fear, many couldn't. For someones, it was just part of their daily life...
But... For others, all of that was mere mortal struggles, completely alien to his own being. Civilizations could come and go, even races born and die, but he remained. And in all that time, one thing was as eternal and immutable as him.
War.
War never changes. The soldiers might, the weapons? Of course. Across all space and time, over universes, species, planets and everything that is and will be, war will ever remain the same; A chaotic dance of the death and the living for supremacy, warriors fight with all their skill and prowess, they shed blood and get rid of all of what make them sentient beings. They all come to their prime, allowing themselves to turn into pure chaos.
Even those called strategists turn into animals in times of war. They throw their friends and family just for what they think is good, they fight, they get rid of their morals and rules only to see their enemy's fall. A spectacle always entertaining for him.
He has seen all of them, all kind of wars. No matter how '*advanced*' those mortals claim to be, they are all the same, slaves of their emotions, to their instinct, to their… Mortality. They fight with stick and stones, with swords and shields, bombs and ships. Some of them have mastered the power of the stars, others claim for themselves the strength of the elders or the forces of nature. He has seen them all. In fact, he has been in all of them.
War has never changed and never will. Or at least, that's how it should be.
Usually, he never interrupts the course of the nature to spread his chaotic touch, sentient beings fulfill that role very well. But sometimes, on very rare occasions, some species dare to defile the purity of war and thus dishonor him.
And so here we are, in the clouds over a peaceful land filled with green grass and high tides. A strange and powerful creature was having a debate over a cloud-made table and chairs with creatures just like himself.
"How they dare to stain the best of my creations with such banalities!"
Yelled a creature seemly unkind to any other that inhabited that land. Such creature has parts of many animals composing his own body: One goat horn and the other a deer's antler, the left paw of a lion and the right claw of a bird, a dragon's tail completed the chimeric creature with different eyes and patch of fur across his body.
"I know, right! Those mortals, to think they can control chaos. Such pettiness." Another creature that was exactly the same as the first spoke.
"Those ponies think that they are smart enough to control everything." said a third one. "They dance and live, thinking that everything is 'harmony' and friends."
All of them were sitting in a chair made of clouds around a full square table made of the same material. Some of them were chatting with those on their side while others just screaming across the sky to reach their target. All the voices became louder and louder as they arose them to make their points until another one interrupted.
"SILENCE!" exclaimed the one on the far side of the table.
The commanding voice came from a creature with exactly the same look as the others, except for a green and red jacket full of golden badges and a general cap with his own face made of gold on the front.
The moment his thunderous command broke through the blue skies, the clouds went as silent as night. Not even a whisper could be heard from any living creature, the birds that were singing a moment before halted their song in an instant. All of the other creatures froze while giving a dumb fold gaze at the one with the cap.
"Now, may I have your attention? gentlemen," —a cloud-made flat screen appeared on the far side of the table as he spoke,— "As you can see here..."
The screen started to dance with strange figures, many of them were from planets around the galaxy. Suddenly the screen flashed once again and stopped in one small blue planet with white clouds and green hills.
"Those ponies are not the only problem we have, gentlemen. These self-called '*Humans*' has done something even worse than only stop fighting." said the being while moving his paw accordingly.
Many of the presents just scratched their chins looking for an answer to an unspoken question, the mention of something even worse that don't even fight. The ponies were harmonious by nature, yet they supposed harmony was nothing but an illusion, only a screen to protect themselves from their true nature.
"They dared to defile our purest creation. These ponies hate it, yes, but humans... They had turned it into mere games of assassination and bloodshed."
None of the presents really understood the meaning of those words at first, they all shrugged simultaneously while glancing each other in order to confirm that everyone has the same dumbfounded expression.
The capped looked at every single of his comrades, noticing how all of them had the same dumb expression on his faces. Then, with a face-paw and a gesture of his claw, he continued.
"Here, look at this!" —The screen flashed once again with some static before sending images from that blue planet that humans habits,— "they use automated machines to kill hundreds and hundreds in seconds, weapons that disappear entire cities in a blink of an eye, technology capable of disarming entire population with the press of a single button along with augmented soldiers, more machine than the living wander the battlefield. Such ways of killing: cold, calculated, and soulless only have one objective; to take another life as fast as possible, no remorse, no pain, no fight. Only death. The life of millions are in the hand of one being and can end with only one button..."
All of them stood up, dumbfounded of what they had heard. Across infinite realities, countless civilizations, no being was so reckless at the moment of executing their power.
"ID tag soldiers, carrying ID tag weapons, wearing ID tag gear. They use machines inside their bodies to enhance and control their abilities. Genetic control, information control, emotion control... Battlefield control...
War control..."
Everyone gasped at the same time at the spoken words.
"Absolutely everything is monitored and keep under control..." His face went down and gazed at the floor of the flat cloud he was standing on, his eyes had lost the fire they had seconds ago and were now full of sadness and regret. It took several seconds before he regained his voice, the knot that was stuck in his throat was something he hadn’t felt in what it seems like an eternity. His fists closed in, calling for all his strength to pronounce his next words in the stoic voice he had before... He failed.
He released his tight grasp to cover his face with his paw and then flicked off his finger to make the screen disappear, "They..."
"They have changed war..."
The crowd fell silent for seconds, seconds that felt like minutes as they. Thinking about the true meaning of those words.
"But... War can't change, does it? Can that even be called war anymore? They are just killing each other! War without chaos is just massacre after all. There is no meaning in that, no passion, no progress, no learning... Only death and utter annihilation. That’s not why war is meant for! War is supposed to make the species stronger, not only reduce his numbers. That is just... Genocide. Murder..."
The others nodded in agreement to the one that told those words and gazed at the capped one, searching for an answer.
"You are right, my friend. That isn't war. This is an abomination! And as one it must be treated."
He put his cap aside and turn his back, so the others couldn't see the single tear falling through his cheek. The fury he carried before wasn't real, it was only a mask he put to hide his true feelings. Sadness and sorrow were the only things he could think when he saw that screen. It wasn't only for those beings killing themselves without any remorse, no, but for the end of something beautiful.
He never showed her face, and, for a couple of seconds, no words were said. Only after a moment, he said to the wind, hoping for it to take his words and feelings and take it away.
"They... They were splendid time ago. They had so much potential. War was an art for them, they performed for it, entertained it and feed it with such love and passion that made me proud too many times. Those elders knew what was the true meaning of war, the beautiful art of instinct and intelligence, a dance of power that would lead to the evolution of the species. They trained, they polish their techniques, pushed his bodies and mind to the limit, they were so close to the peak... To think that they would lose their way like that..."
With his face full of sorrow, he struck the table just for it to disappear into the air and immediately reformed again, his face broke and his eyes were bloodshot.
"If only I was there... But these ponies... They trapped me for so long..."
All of the others glanced down, they eyes closed and their hands crossed as they took a minute of silence to take the loss of what time ago was like their son. It wasn’t a funeral, but a wake. A species that lived through war in his most pure state. It was certainly something rare and precious to this being. For a mortal species to understand and embrace chaos with such purity and dedication, it was pretty uncommon, and he appreciated any being that could do that. Now, to lose them like that and see them became just a twisted shadow of their former self because he couldn't help them. He blamed and cursed himself for not being there to watch over them, to guide them to the right path, to protect them from themselves.
"Then..." One of the presents broke the vote of silence, "What should we do with them?"
Many understood what was the meaning of that and began to ask themselves the same thing.
"Why, we will let them destroy themselves, of course, it's their decision and we will not interfere," said the capped one, his eyes still filled with sorrow, yet, full of determination. "After all, we need to take care of these ponies before they walk the same path."
Many were indisposed about his decision, others accepted it as the best solution. Few were thinking of others solutions before one of them rose his paw and asked in a very shy way.
"We can't let them die, right?" Many started to question themselves about that, many didn't see the reason, even the one with the green and red jacket.
"Explain, please"
"Well... They are the only sentient being on their homeworld. If they die, there will no more intelligent beings on that planet, and that means..."
All of sudden, everybody knew where he was going, it was so obvious yet all of them want it to be a lie.
"That means... No chaos."
They all understand it, no intelligent life means no chaos. Animals don't create chaos, nature can't disturb itself, no, that is the purpose of those who carry his own being over his shoulders, a heavy weight, but one of their own. Those with the power to embrace the chaos are the ones who have to wield it to force nature to keep working. Pushing the creation to its limits.
"So... We can't let that happen, can we?"
The question was a tough one, every one of them glanced at each other, uncertain of what to expect. A few paws were raised, but none of them had a solution that could please his general, after a short period, all of them engaged in a debate, looking for a solution to the problem at paw.
"We can't intervene, that's not our nature."
"We can't let them die either."
"What about the ponies?"
"What about them?"
"We can't let them like this. They will soon walk the same path."
"Then what do you suggest? Make them fight? Ha!"
All of the presents shut the chat in a split second as fast as that idea was throw. The leader literally dropped his jaw to the floor of the cloud and remained fixed in place at the sudden realization of such idea. Being able to shoot two birds... Or species with one war was very exciting, enough to cause shivers all over the body of this creature.
Before he could speak again, he crouched and took his jaw from the floor and with a bunch of tapes fixed it to his face once again, "that... That's brilliant!" exclaimed, "Ponies will get the war they much need, and humans will learn something about 'harmony'. Yes... Two broken species, fixing each other without them even knowing it, Ha! It's perfect! Why didn't I thought that?"
All of the presents cheered at their leader cleverness with claps and whistles as confetti began to fall from nowhere.
"But, how will we do that? These ponies will never go to war." said another one.
"That... That's true..."
"Well, they will not, that's for sure. At least, no if they think *they* will go to war. What if war come for them?"
"You mean..."
"Bringing the humans here?"
"Why would they come to Equus?"
"Oh don't worry about that, they will. Believe me. For I have a plan!" he put his cap once again while looking at the sunset, "This will work for sure,” his smile was going from ear to ear while he was playing with his hands, literally, “what wonderful times are coming! Listen here my friends, for I will show you now how to fix two entire civilizations in two easy steps!"
Everybody was expectant at the point that all of them were almost over the table with big eyes pointing at their leader, ready for whatever he has to say.
"First, I open a portal, or a gate if you want, between Equus and... What was that planet name?" From the air, one of the presents materialized book and a pair of glasses. He began to pass his paw over the yellow pages until the name was found.
"Earth. Or at least that's what we have registered.
"Wait... Earth? Are you sure? That sphere is all blue, why will they call it like that?"
At the same time that the other one disappeared the book and the glasses he shrugs his shoulders and returns a dumb fold look.
"Well... I will open a gate between Equus and *Earth*. Ponies will think that some creature did it and humans will think that another thing opened it. They found each other, think of the other as an invading species and there we go. Express war right on."
All of the presents clap their paws and claws for his leader, it looked like a victory after all. Both species will fight and both will win without even knowing what happened. He knew for certain that his plan was not as polished as he wished it, but the thrill of the war between those two filled him with excitement. Like if he was seeing a battle royale, two of his favorites civilizations, fighting each other.
The plan was ready, the sunset, the lights of Equestria lighted up the sky in a spectacle of light and fireworks. The Annual Festival of Friendship was taking place just below them. All of the ponies were happy as ever, the princesses were having fun, even Twilight seemed like she was having a good time, something weird for her for a couple of years now.
Songs were playing, a beautiful scenery was displayed as a bunch of ponies were acting historical parts, telling jokes, playing music, dancing, and living.
But, at the distance, where the sun was hiding from the zealous sight of his master towards the north Aurora. He could see what lies beneath that 'harmony'. Ponies, griffons and zebras, a conglomerate of species without a home, rotten corpses of those who died crossing the desert were clearly visible for the eyes of the creature that was over the clouds. Hunger, insecurity and hate, they were all growing while the princesses were having a party at their bright palace. Equestria was a paradise built over thousands and thousands of corpses, ‘harmony’, paid for in blood.
"Then... It's set." the capped one was just about to flick his finger, meaning that the reunion was over. But another one stopped him and ask his last question.
"So... Where will you open the gates?" asked, genuinely concerned.
"Oh, that's the best part, my friend."
Before the end of his sentence, his fingers flicked and with a loud noise, all of the other presents disappeared into the air and turned into clouds. The table and chair lost his shape and became part of the greater mist he was on. Even his clothes faded just like the sun on the horizon.
As the moon rose, his shine began to illuminate the creature over the clouds. The shades of yellow and orange were substituted by cold and blue colors. The stars were brighter than ever, maybe that was part of the spectacle. Then, when the moonlight touched his face, a massive grin showed up as he screamed at the air one last sentence as he jumped in excitement.
"I have no idea!"
“Yeah mom, don’t worry about me, this isn’t my first surgery you know?” a car passed by honking, causing the man on the phone to cover one of his ears to pick up his mom’s voice.
“I know, I know, it’s not about the surgery… You know what I mean. I don’t trust in those soldiers anymore…” the tired tone on the woman’s voice was notable, but more than that, her concern.
“You have nothing to worry about, mom. I won’t cross the portal. I will only be attending the personal that comes back through it. I can assure you that nothing bad can happen in the headquarters.”
Mom… Something happened. I’ll be sent across the portal. Only to help in the camp on the other side. Don’t worry. We’ll be fine. They are really well prepared. The only reason I’m being send in is because the medic in charge got sick and I’m the one that is immediately below.
Be safe. And don’t worry.
With love
-Chris
“Well… I finished my letter now, how about you, Elly?” he said while capping the black pen that has carved the letters CFUL.
“Almost there… You know,” she sighed at the time she looked above her, to the faulty light, “when I first came here, I was promised a regular schedule, dental plan, life ensure, but I don’t remember the part of traveling to another dimension,” the woman said reluctantly her writing piercing through the paper with more and more strength with each word.
Chris began to fold his letter while Elly finished hers, “And why do you think they put us there? I don’t know any of those guys,” he grumbled while raising his arm towards them. The other two men looked at him with their brow raised before turning down to their papers, “Sorry... Ah-Luckily you are here, I hate having to talk with new people,” he said in a low voice.
“And why did you became a Medic then? That’s practically the opposite of ‘Not having to talk with people’,” Elly just finished her letter and began to fold it as instructed.
“I hate talking to them, not helping them, OK? It’s not that weird. I meet a lot of partners that were as introvert as I, even more,” he fiddled the letter on his hand for a moment, then stored the wrinkled paper in a small package that has his and her mother's name along with an address, “I just… Like to help other people, you know,” his voice lower as he picked the package and left his table.
He then walked across the concealed room to the heavy metal door in the center. Resting on the frame stood a man in green and black clothes who was waiting for the four people in the room to deliver their packages. The man in the frame looked briefly at Chris' before taking the package to scan it. Chris looked at his back while the man finished his duty, noticing again the room he spent the last two hours. He rubbed and breathe on his hand to acquire some warm before looking at the room again. The only thing it had was four tables, four chairs, four white papers and four pens. The light was delivered by an old and faulty lightbulb since there were no windows or another kind of source of light.
“Excuse me, sir. May I know the reason why we can’t talk with our family directly. Why do we have to send letters instead?” he said with the package still in his hands.
The mysterious man on the door only lowered his lens and with a stoic voice said “I’m not qualified to tell you that information, sir. Once we check everything is in order, you will be informed of everything you have to do and how to proceed.”
“Of course we will…” he signed in defeat, and then lend off the package carrying his letter, cellphone, credit cards, keys, and everything that has any personal information of him, “Thank you anyways.”
“You’re welcome… Just–” the man hesitated for a moment, “everything will be fine. This is just procedure. Don’t worry, man. Cheer up!” he then touched Chris shoulder and gave him a comforting smile, like a friend would do.
Chris only could chuckle at the sudden display of humanity, “Thanks, that was what I wanted to know,” he replied with a weak smile before moving back to his chair at the side of Elly. “Well. As I told you, this is procedure. I guess they don’t want everybody to know where the portal is or something, you know, military secrets and that.”
“I know~,” grunted Elly, “but I don’t want to go. You know what the rumors said, about the poisonous atmosphere and the horrid monstrosities that live in that place,” she crossed her arms around her body in a tight and trembling embrace, “and the spiders… I heard there is giant spiders, Chris. GIANT. SPIDERS.”
“Wait… You have the status of Ranger, one of the hardest training in the army. You worked on intel around the world on things that I don’t even know, and yet you are afraid of spiders? Really? And spiders above all… You know that most spiders can’t kill humans and those that actually can usually flee before bite, right?” he said with a grin.
“Pfft. I don’t want to hear that from the one with fears to the heights,” she took her package and leaved to the door hastily.
“A lot more of people have died on a plane than by spider bite!” he yelled across the room, caring nothing about the stares coming from the two other unamused guest around him.
“Shut up already!” Elly just lend off the package to the man in charge at the door only giving a glimpse at the man’s outfit before turning back to Chris, “I swear I don’t know why we’re still friends,” she said with a grumpy face.
“Because I’m the best, and you are the cutest Ranger. What can possibly go wrong?” Chris said with a snarky tone. He knew he was playing with fire right there, but it was helping him to deal with the stress, and he hoped it was helping her too.
“You are insufferable when you are stressed out…” she crossed her arms and sat on her chair.
“And you are too easy to mess up when you are stressed,” he pulled his chair from the table at the side and put it by her side.
“I know~…”
“And that’s why this works so well, we both win!” he sat loudly enough to make her jump a little on her chair.
“It doesn’t seem like a win from this side, it looks like I became the punch bag.”
“Usually is the other side around.”
She hummed for a second, a knowing smile curling her face up as it turned into a machiavellian one, “That’s kinda true thou’,” she slowly came closer to him, and with a whisper she said the words he feared the most “Do you remember… Ohio?”
Chris gulped at the sound of that single word, “fine!… Just… Let’s not talk about that, okay? Gosh, you don’t let anyone have fun with you?”
“Nope, unless I want to,” she giggled.
“And… Do you want?”
“No.”
“Of course our lady will not partake on such barbaric ways.”
They both laughed at each other, and for a while, they just talked about nothing. About their life, Chris patients, Elly’s travels, they just talked, hopping to wash their fears and preoccupations away. They even so often glanced at the other two people in the room. One was a tall man with strong musculature, the other was another man whose height matched Chris’ but with very thick glasses and thinner physiology. They didn’t seem like the kind of people that could just end up in a military base out of nowhere, but at the same time they seemed so common in appearance, like the kind of people you just cross on the street while going to the groceries.
Minutes passed away without incidents, until a rather annoying alarm echoed through the cold room, making everyone present to glare at the man in the frame with an accusative look, expecting him to explain what that hideous sound meant.
“Well, that’s the sign. Come with me, I will escort you to the briefing room,” the man unlocked the door with an odd looking key and waited for all four to leave the room, “are you sure you aren’t leaving anything here? You probably will never see this room again.”
The group tapped their pants and backpacks, making sure that everything that was not confiscated by the soldiers at the entry was with them. The soldiers nodded to the man, who in response stepped forward and leaded them through a corridor full of red and white lights.
The passage didn’t take too long until they reached an almost pure white room filled with all kind of machinery. From high-end computers to robotic equipment and vehicles of all shape and sizes: Tanks, Convoys, personal motorcycle, and helicopters were among others that not even Chris nor Elly know they names.
But, in the middle of all those unknown machinery, one stood above the rest. It was a gate. A stone arc filled with all kind of symbols on the edges and made of a pure white stone. From the form of it, it seemed like the gate leaded to nowhere, a dark passage resided in the middle of that gigantic arc. At the side of it, dozens of men in white robes and other more in green and black camo outfits.
“So… This is the portal? It’s real after all…” said Chris to no one in particular.
“Indeed it is real, sir,” one man with white robe, abundant white hair and a pair of goggles over his head stepped in and replied, “My name is Julian Foss, and I’m here to answer all your questions, gentlemen,” he gave a look at Elly and with a nod he continued, “and lady. But first, allow me to tell you why you are here, and most importantly; What are all the secrecy around this whole subject.”
The man that lead them to the room give a quick salute to Julian Foss and then left from where they came.
“Thank you Mister Lawrence. Efficient as always,” said Julian while the man now named Lawrence left, “now. I’m pretty sure that you know about that ‘portal’ that the United States found somewhere in the country, right?” he said while taking off the stained goggles on his head.
The four nodded at the same time with concerned faces.
“Good, that will save me a lot of time. Well, all that you heard is real. We indeed found this strange gate. We are still trying to figure out what kind of material is made of...” Julian took a look at the imposing black gate with brightful eyes, “but one thing is sure. It’s not from around here...”
The group shared silent stares between them, until one of them spoke.
“You mean, here in California?” asked the thin man with the glasses.
“No, that’s not what I mean. I guess that you are Mister Johnson, aren’t you?”
“Norbert Johnson, at your service, sir.” he said while saluting Foss.
“There’s No need to be formal with me, Mister Johnson. You can drop the ‘sir’ thing, I’m a man of science, not a Colonel,” he began then to clean his goggles with a handkerchief he picked from his robe.
“Right, sir– I mean, Mister Foss.” Johnson stumbled while correcting himself and lowering his arm.
“Thank you, now, as I was saying. This material not only isn’t found in California, but neither on Earth.”
The four of them gave a dumbfounded look at each other, as if someone had just told them a bad joke.
“So, you are saying that some kind of alien put a door in our planet, and left it open?” said the tall and muscular man in a sarcastic tone.
“Not quite… Mister...” he paused for a moment.
“Freeman, Bill Freeman,” answered the man with an imposing voice.
“Thank you. But not quite Mister Freeman. According to many testimonies, the gate seems to have appeared from nothing. Materialized out of thin air into this impressive structure. Like if it was created from the other side and then it pierced a hole through space and time as if it was nothing.” All four tilted their head at the vague explanation, he then lowered his head and with a sigh he continued, “look at it like when you use a pencil to pierce through two papers. The same pencil opens two holes, the one from when it came, and the one from where it ends. We theorize that something like that happened here. Someone, or something from the other side created a door and that same door is the one that appeared here. We are seeing the same door, at the same time, but in different places.”
They all keep quiet for a second until a voice raised from within the group.
“Theorize?” asked Chris.
“You see, Mister White… Whatever or whoever created this is either underestimating us, or doesn’t know that the gate made it through the space and time. It took months before we saw the first native on the other side of the portal.”
“And… What happened?” Elly asked with a trembling voice, “are there giant spiders?”
“No, no… At least not that we know…” Julius kept silent for a while before he answered the question, “He did never come back. We only found his equipment many miles away from the gate. We still do not know what happened to him. However, if by any chance you happen to find him, his name is Onneil Anderson. He will answer by his nickname: Anon.”
“So… Are you sending us to die like him or what?” said Bill with anger on his voice.
“Of course not, Mister Freeman. That was many months ago. We have achieved a lot since then. There has been no more reports of the native’s encounters so far. We think that our constructions keep them away, or in the worst case scenario, they are playing with us, like a Lion playing with his pray.”
Silence reigned once again between the group, the only thing that could be heard was the machinery at the background and the mumbling of the workers. It took a few moments until one of them spoke once again.
“I don’t think you are convincing us here, doc. There is too many ‘thinks’ in your statement,” replied Chris with a brown raised.
“That’s what I thought. I would be disappointed otherwise, Mister White. That’s not the full story, of course. The reason why we do not shut down all this operation is, in one simple word. Resources.” All the four rolled their eyes.
“What kind of resources are we talking about? They called me to treat people, not risking my life just for oil and glorified metal, with all respects, Mister Foss.” said Chris in a calm but adamant tone. The other three shared a nod and look straight to Foss.
He looked at everyone else at their eyes, before speaking again, “of course not, Mister White. What lies on the other side is much, much better that just ancient dead corpses and shiny stones. The first expedition that was sent months ago found that beneath the surface, and in rare cases, above. There are ridiculous amounts of diamonds, gold, coal, wood, and the star of the show. What pays all the bills and keeps all this operation working: An unbelievable new material with more power than anything we have ever seen before. We called it “The Spark”, Foss took a small purple rock from his coat. The mineral shone with a pure purple pulsating light. It was small as a grape, yet the four could feel the air being electrified around them.
“What… What is that?” asked Norbert with shimmering eyes.
“This little rock right here, is ‘The Sparkle’. It acts like a battery, but, to put it simple. A normal battery could storage, let’s say, enough electricity to light up a small lantern for seventy-two hours. The same amount of “The Spark” could give us enough energy to light up half of the city of California for six months with no residues at all. Do you know what that means?” Foss said with a huge smile and expectation on his face. Yet his voice was melancholic and dubious.
“I’m a Doctor, Mister Foss, not a Scientist nor an electrician, yet even I can see that that is a lot of energy,” said Chris.
“It is Mister White. It is,” Foss took the purple stone in his hand and tightened his grasp around it, eyes fixed on the pulsating glow of the gem. “With this, we could end the energetic issue on the planet for thousands of years… We could finally cease the use of oils and his derivate. It could be the beginning of a new age, free from contamination. The abundant world that lies across that gate can lend us to a rich future with almost unlimited energy,” he once again took the in his fingers and raised it for everyone to see it clear, and after a brief pause, he continued, “diamond, gold, money, all that riches will not be necessary. They will be so abundant that everyone will have the acquisitive power to live a decent life.” he lowered his voice, all the ecstasy from before, now gone, “we are looking for what we lost long time ago… And that world can give us.” said Foss while covering the Sparkle with his hand.
“What do you mean with ‘what we lost’?” said Chris while tilting his head a bit.
“The illusion we live, Mister White. Our freedom.” Foss took the stone and put it in his coat once again.
“I think we are quite free here, to be honest, Mister Foss,” replied Bill with incredulity.
“Are we? Mister Freeman. We are all tied to our acquisitive power. Money, Mister Freeman. Money buy us freedom. Those who doesn’t have it are not free. Not at all,” sadness could be seen in Foss face, every time he referred to the money and the lost freedom, something in him was hurt. Even if it was almost unnoticeable, it was clear for Chris.
“I think that is too drastic Mr. Foss…” replied Chris, putting him in front of Bill.
“It is? Mister White… It really is?” his voice was lower and lower.
“The way you are saying it… Even if we believe what you said. It sounds too good to be real. Aren’t we stealing from the natives? It’s okay to you to go to another planet and take all they have for our own sake and greed?” asked Elly in a decisive tone.
“It’s not like that, Miss Dean. Once you see that world… That beautiful world, you will understand it. There is no way that our hand could impact that gorgeous land in at least half of a century. They resources are simply and ridiculously abundant.” said Foss in the same calm voice he showed up.
“How abundant are we talking?” replied Elly.
“We could duplicate the amount of gold hold in Fort Knox using only what we’ve found in the upper layer of the caverns close to the gate.” replied Foss without any sign of doubt.
“That… Is that true?” said Elly lowering her voice tone.
“I told you, Miss Dean. I’m a man of Science. I don’t lie. The amount of resources on the other side of the gate is just…” he signed at the lack of words to describe what he had seen, “no wonder why they have the power to open a gate across space and time.”
“Then… why us?” asked Chris
“That’s the question I was waiting for, Mister White,” he took his goggles and put them in his coat, “You, Miss Dean, are a Ranger, I’m right?”
“Yes, sir–, Mister Foss. I have fought in more than thirty missions, flew another twenty and commanded at least dozen. I’m an expert in recognizing and escort,” she said proudly while trying hard against her instinct to not salute.
“And you, Mister Johnson. If I’m not wrong, you are the one that hacked our operation two months ago. I designed that code, you know? That’s why I asked for you specifically.”
“So, you are the ‘mysterious’ patreon that get me out? It wasn’t kind to trespass my home and literally bring me here against my will. But I guess that it’s better than prison… And why do you need me here? For what I had read in your files, they surely don’t have Ubuntu on their machines, if they even have ones,” replied Johnson with a grin and a sarcastic tone.
“Of course they don’t, but what I need from you are your mind. Anyone that can solve the puzzle of my code are capable of find solutions for most of the problems we yet have to overcome. And… Well… I think you already know what can you do with your skills,” he said without even look at him, “and you, Mister Freeman. Your record is impressive as the one of Miss Dean, but you are an expert in another fields.” Foss glanced at Freeman with a kind of depictive look.
Freeman just replied Foss’ look with his own, he was used to that kind of treatment after all.
“And you, Mister White. Your record is the most interesting of all: Medals of honor here and there, successful missions on the most dangerous places around the globe. Wars in Mexico, Vietnam, China, Japan, even North Korea. Not many men come alive from any of them, you came back from all. I have never meet anyone with your record, yet a Medic… you resign was a shame for everyone,” said Foss as he got closer to Chris, “what was the reason of it, may I ask?”
“I had my personal problems to treat, Mister Floss. And my missions are far less impressive that what you think. I will use my Medical knowledge if there is a live in danger and nothing else.”
“As I expect of you, Mister White.” he nodded at Chris, “as you see, you four are now a team and we expect you to work as such. You are the few that not only know the existence of this, but that will help us to build the future for all mankind,” Foss turned at the gate and opened his arms at the ceiling, like giving thanks to the gods above.
“And what if we refuse?” Asked Elly
“Well, you will be jailed here and will not be able to leave until the operation is complete… Or you die. What happens first. For what do you think was the letters? That was your last words, kind of,” he shrugged.
Everyone looked at Elly as if they all knew that will be the answer.
“Well… Then what will happen now?” asked Chris, trying to get the attention out of Elly.
“We will give you all your equipment and then you will cross the gate. The rest of your instructions will be given at the other side.” Foss began to walk to the stone gate as he spoke, prompting the four to follow him, “we are building the future here, my fellows… Remember that. We must do what we must to bring prosperity to all the humanity.”
Every one of them were being attended by two mans in green that were attaching several machineries to their suits. Most of the things were specifically for each one, as for Chris there was a small gun and several med kits. For Elly a set of firearms with several ammunition to spare, the same for Freeman. Johnson, on the other side, received no weapons or protection, but a device that resembled a bracelet with many buttons at the sides. It was almost perfect fit for his arm. The wristband was connected to a ring with similar fashion but lacking of any buttons.
They were given the sign to walk in front of the gate were Foss was. As they got closer, many soldiers stood unamused at the new formed team, while others saw them with dead man’s eyes. Chris and Elly noticed this, while Freeman and Johnson walked straight, already used to that kind of looks.
Once in the gate, Johnson saw the equipment of everyone else and compared with the one he had, “and why do I receive these?” asked Johnson with a despicable tone, “why I don’t get any guns?”.
“Your instructions will be given to you on the other side, Mister Johnson,” he answered without even looking at them, “the only thing you have to do is to follow the given orders. I know your nation will be proud… No. All humanity will be proud of you, and you will be recognized as the pioneers of our future .” said Foss while with his eyes fixed on the endless black of the gate.
“So… we just… Walk in?” asked Elly, dubious.
“Yes, that’s all what it takes. The first time is a little messy, you might want to not face at anyone direction,” Elly gulped a bit, while Chris was as pale as the stone that made the gate. The four looked at each other, took their respective weapons, and, slowly, began to walk to the center of the gate. Their helmets powered up and gave them precise information of where they were and where were their squad members. All the information about the health status of themselves and the squad appeared at the left side of the lens as the information of their ammunition and current equipment was displayed at the bottom.
The beeping sound of an income communication caused Chris to shake a bit due his already weak mental state, as a voice labeled as Julius Foss entered into the channel.
“And with that. Lady and Gentlemens… Welcome…” the static noise caused a pause on Foss’ speech. Resuming a second after they crossed the gate.
“To Equestria.“
Author's Note
I apologize for the delay in all my stories. But, well, I'm still working on them, in case anyone is wondering, hehe.
Once again, I can't thank enough to sejox and Hubrist for their hard work in my almost readable drafts.
And thanks to anyone who was waiting for any updates.
