Project New Genesis

Space. One word, what some people have on mind all the time. The last limit. Endless void. New adventure.

It's 2076 year of the New Era. Mankind is advanced technologically and open for far space travels, but they lost their homeland. 30 years ago, Earth was destroyed by the human's exploitation and war for resources. Now, it's wasteland without any signs of life. Humanity had to colonize the closest planet in their range, Mars. Humanity lived, like earlier, on terrafromed planet. But, it wasn't enough. A new Government, known as Ares Senate, decided to activate Project New Genesis, interstellar mission to find a new colonies for mankind. For now, five searching spaceships started their journey to potential colonies: Zeus, Artemis, Hera, Hermes and Athena.

The last one, Athena, is the most advanced of them all and has the best crew in the Solar System: Dr. Sarah Sky, biologist; Prof. Arthur Nate, astrophysicist; Sgt. Marcus McCain, security; Off. Oscar Stone, main pilot; Col. Raymond Dracons, captain of the ship and Pvt. Jacob Dracons, colonel's younger brother and engineer on Athena. Their destination is planet called Terra-2 in Hades System. Why does it has this name? It's because this system completely breaks physic's laws. There's one planet in the green zone and has perfect conditions for human race, but it's sun and moon are circling around it upright. It's the reason, why they were sent there.

Athena arrived to the Hades System, after 2 years and 5 months of flight. All systems started to be reactivated by AI called O.T.I.S.- Operational-Transport-Intelligent System. O.T.I.S started also opening the stasis pods. The first one belonged to captain.

"Stasis pod 1 opened." O.T.I.S. said. "All functions-normal. Good morning, Colonel Dracons."

"Good morning, O.T.I.S." Raymond responded, yawning and combing his black hair with hands.

After full wake up, Raymond changed stasis suit into his captain uniform and walked on the bridge. "O.T.I.S., report."

The flight was very peaceful, captain. We had some meteor rains, but Athena has only one damage.

"What exactly?" Captain asked with little worry. Athena was a tough ship and very hard to destroy.

"One of engine A modules is damaged. Engines lost 23% of efficiency. Required manual repair. O.T.I.S. explained.

Raymond wasn't happy about this for two reasons. Indestructible ship was damaged and he had to wake up his brother.

"O.T.I.S., open Stasis pod 2." Raymond said with disaffection.

"Yes, captain.

Raymond decided to wait on the bridge. He loved his brother, but he didn't like his personality. Raymond was looking at the planet in front of him. Terra-2, planet-mystery. He looked on the left. He saw the sun of that planet. It was called Cornelius. He looked at right. He saw many stars, including Sun from Solar System. Raymond agreed on this mission to help humanity.

" 'Morning, big brother." Raymond heard brother's voice. He looked behind him and saw a man with messy, maroon hair, goatee, eyes like two ambers and left, bionic black arm. He was wearing black shirt, ruined jeans and dirty, blue trainers.

"Good morning, Jacob." Raymond responded.

"You know, I had a dream. About our new home. Grass, trees, vegetables..." Jacob counted and looked at his older brother. "I know that face." Jacob said with resignation. "Something's fucked up, right?"

"One of engine A modules. You need to find this damage and repair it." Raymond explained the situation.

"Give me some duct tape and I'll fix it." Jacob joked, like he had in habit and laughed nervously. Raymond wasn't in mood for jokes. He's never been. "I'll take my little mechanic's set." Jacob said and walked to his cabin. Inside he had everything, what he took from Earth. It was total mess, but Jacob liked mess. He said, that helps him find things, but no one believed him.

Jacob found his tool belt and welding glasses, then took them and walked to the engine. When he was at place, he felt huge wave of heat.

"We need only ticket box and we have sauna." Jacob said with irony, wiping sweat of his forehead.

"Concentrate, Jacob." Raymond instructed him through the communicator. "Find the damage and fix it, immediately"

"Uh, you're no fun." Jacob sighed and started to look for the damage.

As an engineer, Jacob's often been exposed on high temperatures and tight places, so he got used to it. But it doesn't mean, he enjoys that. Around him were pipes with core refrigerant, engines' controlling modules and many other instruments.

After a few minutes of looking, Jacob found a hole in one of modules. It was big and long. "We have a winner." Jacob said to himself with smile. He put on his rubber glove on right arm and put it in the hole, to find a meteor, what caused the damage. Jacob felt much higher temperature in it. Suddenly, he felt a short cut and quickly pulled back his arm. "Fuck." He said, seeing a cut on his hand. It was flesh wound but long. Jacob had a first-aid kit for situations, like this one. He took of his glove, cleaned the wound with decontaminating spray, wrapped it with bandages and put on a new glove. He thought, it was just some sharp element or piece of conduit, so he tried once again. This time, he found the reason of the damage. When he took it out, he was confused.

"Ray, I found, what caused the damage, but it's not a meteor." Jacob said, studying the found object.

"Then, what is it?" Raymond asked surprised.

"Some kind of horn or fang. It's long, curved and red." Jacob described it.

"What about the module?" Raymond inquired.

"We can turn it off, as well." Jacob sighed, taking of the glove.

"Dammit." Raymond responded. "Good job, anyways. Go back on the bridge. Dr. Sky will look further on that thing, what you found."

"On my way." Jacob responded.

Suddenly, engineer felt a huge headache. Jacob thought, that's from heat, so he ignored it and left the engine.

On the bridge, all crew was awake. Raymond was talking with Dr. Sky. She had long, blond hair, green eyes and lab overall on.

"Do you think, that might be a sign of life in cosmos?" Sarah asked, very excited. "I've always wanted to study some alien life form."

"Don't forget about our main goal. Find a new colony for human kind." Raymond brought the scientist on ground.

"Of course. But, I want to know, if that planet is safe enough. If it's a fang, I don't want to know the owner."

"Well, it would be nice to kill something that big." Sgt. McCain interrupted. Marcus was a security guard of all operation. He was also the only, black skinned member of a crew. He had short, black hair, unshaved beard, space battle suit in green shades and always ready plasma shotgun and laser automatic rifle on back. "I wasn't sleepin' 3 years just to shoot some flies. I need a dinosaur or other dragon." Sgt. said. Marcus always liked to fight. No matter, if it was a human, beast or alien.

"Dragons are only a myth." Prof. Nate joined the conversation, looking at Cornelius. Arthur Nate was an oldish man with bald head, round glasses and inseparable plaid sweater. He was more skeptic, than Raymond have ever been. He believed only in things, what have scientific explanation. Other things treats with very huge distance. Including magic and dragons. Always, when he hears stuff, like this, he makes sour grimace. "If Jacob found fang or horn of a mythological creature, I'm gonna eat my favorite sweater with ketchup. And I hate ketchup." Scientist made a bet.

"You better be ready, doc." Oz interrupted. Oscar Stone was the best pilot on Mars. Everyone knows his red mohawk and mustache He was born in space, so it became his one and true love. He knew a name of all planets and stars in Milky Way. At first occasion, he joined Air Force School and became fighter's pilot. "Space if full of surprises. I wouldn't be surprised, if we could find a planet full of talking horses."

"I still can't believe, I'm part of this mission." Arthur said with facepalm. "This ship is full of kids, not soldiers and scientists. Anyways, where's that clown, Jacob?"

Someone knocked the bridge door. "You should say, who's there?" Jacob said.

"Who's there?" Sarah took care of this.

"Happy."

"Happy who?"

"HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY, DR. SKY!" Jacob screamed, walking through the door, holding a curved object in two hands, like a gift. Sarah giggled, because she enjoys, sometimes, Jacob's humor.

"Thank you, Jacob." She answered and took it from Jacob. "So, this is the thing, what damaged Athena?"

"Yep. It had to hit pretty hard, because we need a new module in engine A." Jacob said with crossed arms.

Dr. Sarah was studying the object very carefully. "Jacob, can you go to my lab, with me?" She proposed.

"Sure, Dr. Sky." Jacob replied and followed the biologist.

In Sarah Sky's lab was a lot of chemicals, plants, animals sketches and the other biologic stuff. It had also B.M.S. (Bionic Modifications Station), what Jacob installed by himself, to have a possibility to modify his bionic arm and other implants in his body.

"Sorry for mess." She excused. Jacob was confused by this sentence.

"This place is flawless, Sarah." Jacob sighed.

"I know your meaning of order." She explained.

"Well, then..." Jacob said, putting his left hand on random bottle. "Let me help you with cleaning." Sarah's eyes whitened, when she saw, what Jacob was holding.

"JACOB, DON'T!" Sarah screamed. Jacob looked at bottle's tag.

"'H2SO3'? What the fuck it this?" Jacob asked confused.

"Sulphuric acid. Very toxic and corrosive." Biologist explained. "It was in school, 8th grade."

"I've never liked chemistry." Jacob murmured, leaving the bottle alone.

Dr. Sky placed founded item into the analyzer. "O.T.I.S.-analyze."

"Yes, Dr. Sky. O.T.I.S. responded. It's a horn of creature, which DNA is very similar to Earth horses. Readings show massive compression of dark matter and energy."

"Looks like someone's eating his sweater." Sarah said excited. "It's a unicorn's horn. We have found sighs of life! How old is it?"

"It has about 1000 years." O.T.I.S. established. "I've calculated it's trajectory. It's from Terra-2"

"Cool, planet full of unicorns. I'm leaving the next escape pod." Jacob said with sarcasm.

"Jacob!" Sarah said with anger.

"Kidding." Jacob said. "But, if they will sing songs about smiles and friendship, I'm fucking out."

"For now, let's tell about it the rest of crew in canteen. I'm starving." Sarah said, grabbing her stomach.

Engineer and biologist went to the canteen and grabbed something to eat. Sarah had spaghetti carbonara and Jacob Cesar Salad, because he's vegetarian. They both told about a discovery.

"Told ya', doc'." Oscar said with smirk to Prof. Nate. Pilot took off the professor his sweater and spilled it with ketchup. "Bon appetit."

"I hate young people." Arthur said, slicing his sweater with tears. He always holds one's word.

"So, we can expect interesting company down there." Marcus considered with mouth filled with steak. "Maybe there are griffins, pegasus and dragons."

"I don't believe in anything, now!" Prof. Nate cried out, chewing his beloved piece of cotton.

"I just hope, we won't have any problems with our mission. We're staying here for 3 years." Raymond reminded, mixing his tomato soup.

"Ray, O.T.I.S. said, that horn has like 1000 years." Jacob joined the talk. "Those unicorns could vanish, as well."

"That is correct, Private Dracons." O.T.I.S. stated. "Extinction is very unpredictable process, so forms of life on this planet could vanish before or during our voyage."

"Great words, my binary friend." Jacob confirmed.

When Jacob wanted to tell more, Athena suddenly shook, lights blinked and alarm rung.

"O.T.I.S.-report!" Raymond screamed.

Explosion in biologic laboratory. O.T.I.S. said.

"I swear, I've done nothing." Jacob assured.

"It's not everything. My sensors are detecting there a form of life. Utilities recommended."

"Dr. Sky, Prof. Nate, Pvt. Dracons, go to the docks." Raymond ordered. "Sgt. McCain, Off. Stone, come with me. That's an order."

"I must deny the order." Stone protested. "My main goal, during the crisis, is taking every part of the crew to the save harbor."

"Fine. Jacob, come with us." Jacob nodded.

Jacob, Raymond and Marcus went to the biologic lab with armored suits and assault rifles. The room was full of smoke.

"Fire at will." Raymond ordered.

In the air, they could hear a silent laugh.

"Whatever you are, show yourself!" Marcus screamed.

"I have really bad feelings about this..." Jacob said.

"You're right, kid. You should have bad feelings. Mysterious, deep voice said.

"What?" Jacob said with confusion. It felt, like he heard that in his head. Everyone was terrified, but Jacob was the most.

"Concentrate, private." Raymond said.

"Yes, sir." Jacob replied, still scared.

"Don't listen to him. You don't need his orders." Voice said again. Was that Satan or what? "You should give him orders, not receive them. I see a deep potential in you, Jacob Dracons.

"Ray, I hear voices." Jacob said, like he was about to pee. But there was no answer. Jacob was alone inside. But, he saw something. It looked like horse. It reached with it's head to Jacob's torso. It had the same horn, what Jacob found. Also had gray coat, black ethereal mane, armor, crown, royal cape and eyes from nightmare. Red, snake eyes with green glimmer, emanating with purple smoke. Jacob felt, like he was looking as Satan himself and pointed his rifle on him. "WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU!?" Jacob screamed terrified. The unicorn creature started to get closer to engineer. "STAY BACK!" Creature ignored it and walked further. Jacob couldn't resist and shoot it. Creature only laughed and disappeared.

"Jacob, what did I tell you?!" Ray screamed with fury.

"I SAW IT! It looked like a unicorn. UNICORN FROM HELL!" Jacob cried out.

"Don't say, that you're afraid of little unicorn." Marcus said playfully.

"IT HAD LIKE 4 FEET!" Jacob screamed, looking for Satan.

"O.T.I.S., where is it?" Raymond inquired. Jacob was still shivering.

"Too much disruptions." AI responded. "But I fixed ventilation system."

"Activate." Colonel ordered.

Ventilation was activated and smoke disappeared, showing a unicorn, what Jacob saw.

"WHAT THE..." Marcus said, pointing his rifle on creature. "I pay honor, Jacob. This looks like unicorn from hell." Creature only looked at them with devilish smile. Then, it responded.

"Can I talk with you, Jacob?" It asked with grim and deep voice. "But alone."

"I am the captain of this ship and no one will be ordering here, except..." Ray's sentence was interrupted by a black smoke, what pinned him and Marcus to the wall. Creature's horn was emanating with dark energy.

"LET THEM GO!" Jacob shouted, still targeting the unicorn. It responded with laughter.

"If you'll agree for a little talk, then I will release your brother and companion."

"Fine." Jacob agreed and dropped his rifle. After that, he turned off the blockades on his helmet and took it off. "Okay. What do you want?"

"First thing is, that I want to thank you. Your blood woke up my powers, locked in my horn and helped me to return into my physical form." It said with respect. "But, where's my manners. I'm King Sombra. Ruler of the Crystal Empire on planet, what you call Terra-2. Actually, former ruler. I've lost my Empire. I was conquered by Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, her husband, Prince Shining Armor and Princess Twilight Sparkle, his sister."

"Well, you look like a guy, who needed that." Jacob said. Sombra's smile disappeared.

"Appearances can be deceptive, kid."

"First, don't call me 'kid'. Second, you look like a unicorn version of Darth Vader. How can I trust a talking horse, with demonic, royal armor, green eyes and fangs like fucking vampire's?" Jacob asked, taking back his rifle.

"Here's the best part." Sombra said with grin again on his face. "When you touched my horn, some of my power crossed into your nervous system. If you will help me, I can teach you, how to control it."

"Blah, blah, blah. You even talk, like Darth Vader. 'Join the Dark Side, Luke.'." Jacob denied. "You know nothing about me."

"I already know your name, your family and your potential. You're the first creature, what was able to control my dark magic." Sombra was still tempting Jacob, but engineer was unbreakable.

"Three words. Suck. My. Dick." Jacob said and shoot the unicorn. But, it didn't do anything to Sombra. "What the..."

"Bad choice, kid. Looks like, I'll have to get rid of you. But, I'll give you 5 minutes head start."

"Self-destruction activated. Core will melt in T Minus 5 minutes."

"Tick-tock, kid. Sombra said and disappeared, with smoke, what was holding Raymond and Marcus.

Jacob was completely confused and he had so many questions.

"O.T.I.S.-deactivation code: 5094ty5234yp." Raymond said.

"Code denied." O.T.I.S. responded. "I prefer abandon the ship."

"I agree!" Jacob said and ran to the nearest escape pod, but it was interrupted by sudden strong headache.

"I'll give you some time, kid." Jacob heard Sombra once again. "I know, that you'll come to me."

Headache stopped and Jacob went to the escape pod, next to him.

"Jacob!" Raymond screamed. Jacob turned around. "Be careful, little brother."

"Don't worry. I won't be late for Christmas." Jacob joked. "I'll be back." He said, closing the escape pod. Jacob wanted to launch it, but it was broken. "Fuck." He tried to leave, but doors were locked. "Dammit. HELP!"

"Explosion in 3 minutes."

Jacob saw crew's escape pods leaving. He felt, like he was about to cry. Jacob tried again to escape from his cell, what supposed to save him, but it's no use. He tried emergency opening, but nothing happened. "I don't want to die like this." Jacob cried out. He felt abandoned. His companions left him to die on this ship. His brother usually checked on him twice. But today, he didn't even do this once. "How could they? HOW COULD YOU, MOTHERFUCKERS! WHAT HAVE I DONE TO YOU?!"

Explosion in 2 minutes."

"Fuck you, O.T.I.S. Fuck you, Athena. Fuck you, Sombra. FUCK! YOU! ALL!"

Even if Jacob could repair it, he didn't had any tools. Everything left in his room. Jacob just wanted this to end. At least he could die, like he wanted. In space, far from his home planet.

"Explosion in 60 seconds.

Then, he reminded about emergency code, what Ray told him about.

"O.T.I.S. Release all escape pods! Code: 4312ol9073lr!" Jacob was praying, that would work.

"Code accepted. Releasing escape pods."

Jacob was happy, like little kid in candy shop, when his pod left the ship. He was screaming, like there was no tomorrow. "YES! HAHAHA! FUCK YEAH! NO THIS TIME!"

When he left, Athena exploded and turned into space junkyard.