The Untitled Space Story

by Cromegas_Flare

Rating: mature
Tags: Dark, Death, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Science Fiction, Suicide / Self Harm
Length: 2181

An Overseer of a disease control unit gives out his latest records.

Soft Horizon is an Overseer of a disease control unit. He's in space, and on a really big ship. Society wants some secrets to remain secret. Did I mention a really big ship? This record originates from a new software that is dedicated to personal journaling. Please reach out to Equestrian Era Corporation for sales and information.

Published 2020-06-08 02:50:01 UTC
Last updated 2020-06-08 02:50:01 UTC

Untitled

Log one

My name, Soft Horizon. My place, on this ship. My Job, to stop mutations.

It’s been over 1,000 years since we left Equis. The planet that our ancestors loved. Over that time, a sick disease has infested our ship. We call it, the swirl. It would first affect the lungs. Restricting the airway. Then after a month of huffin and a puffin, the symptom would cease. When first discovered 900 years ago, we thought it would just be that. But a deeper effect took place. The affected offspring would then gain mutations. Not visible, but more mental. They would gain perfect knowledge of everything they come across. They could tell if someone is lying, they would know if something was not built right. They were the epitome of perfect perception.

There was one major flaw, and this was noticed about one generation of the mutated living on. They upset the civil balance. There are truths that must keep secret, and there must be places that are never discovered on the ship. On another ship, when the swirls started being more of a common thing, the political climate and social climate eventually destroyed the ship. The only thing left was the captains warning that the swirls would cause all lifeboats to collapse. That’s where my career started. Now, for every pony that turns 12, we test them. If they test negative for the swirl, they are dispatched. If they pass, they get to continue to adulthood.

This is the rough reality of my job. I find the mutations, and I make sure they don’t destroy my ship. In the end though, nothing will stop me from doing my job. I will make sure my ship survives.

Log 2

There are over 70,000 ponies on my ship. The captain has tasked me to watch over 10,000 of them. Out of those 10,000, 750 have had symptoms of the swirl. Of that 750, 56 had a child this year. That is 56 children that will have to be tested in the next 12 years. This year though, I am in charge of 80 children to be tested. Throughout their early lives, I get to have them come to my office and I give their annual analysis. For those that seem to be higher in intelligence I get to introduce to the schools of higher learning. At these schools, projects are taken to solve complex problems all over the ship.

Today, I had only one pony to test. At no point in their monitoring had they shown signs of intelligence, and their test came up negative. That’s another adult that gets to live on our beloved spaceship.

Log 3

Today, there was another test. This individual was enrolled in the schools of higher learning. This individual was tested, results: positive. An immediate bolt to the head terminated the threat. The remains were then sent out the airlock shoot.

Log 4.

An arrest had to be made. The previous subject which had tested positive had their parents start a ruckus over their now dead daughter. No amount of reason would satisfy their rage. An arrest was made, and a trial of treason will be underway. I hear Judge Jacket will be presiding over the trial. Doubt those criminals will get their way, and they will likely be executed. Probably a good thing, we don’t want that mare to bear another child.

Log 5

A friend of mine came to visit me today. They shared concerns with me as they stressed being ill with the swirl. She also expressed that they are now pregnant and that they feared for their child's well being. Like all of the ship, only a few know that the swirls are terminated. The rest of the ship believes that they are sent to other ships to maintain complex issues. I expressed my assurance that either way, their child will be leading a great life, and that the best way is to trust the system.

I’ll have to keep an eye on her if her child shows signs of being a swirl. That is if I’m the one who gets assigned to her.

Log 6
The trial was complete, and the parents were shown guilty of trying to upsert the swirl program and were executed for treason. The cheers of triumph in the courtroom was enough to bring a tear to the attorney's eye as justice was once again served, as it should be.

Log 7
It’s been about a month and nothing unusual has happened. A few ponies have gone around starting to protest the immediate deployment of swirls. These repelions have been put to an end swiftly though. Peacefully though. The Lieutenant of interstellar peace, and yes, that is his title, came out and was able to talk everyone down and reiterated the importance of their deployment. Of course, all of that was a lie.

Log 8
My sister called, she was crying. She had informed me that her 11 year old Daughter, Cinnamon, might be a swirl, and was going to get tested in the next couple of days. I was not able to make any promesses, and could only state that I had to follow the law. Least to say, I’m glad I’m not Cinnamon's overseer. I won’t have to deal with the trouble of possibly putting her down.

Log 9.
Well, things just got intense. As it turns out, Cinnamon was a Swirl. But unlike any of the others, she had managed to kill her overseer and escape. Least to say, news quickly spread as rumor that swirls were not sent away on covert missions to save the equestrian guard, but that they were killed. That is why no one ever hears from them again. The situation is not in an uproar yet, but it could be soon. But for whatever reason, no one has located Cinnamon, nor has the rumors become more than that, just a rumor.

Log 10.

Cinnamon came to see me today. Before I could even act, she hit me with some kind of dart. Filled with a nasty magic that made me unable to move. She told me that she was disgusted with me, that how could an uncle that she looked up to be a part of something so vile. I of course was not able to fight her, being frozen and all… Still, she expressed a plan. A plan that I would become a key part of. She told me that she would force me to see what was happening wrong, and that I will eventually willingly lead a revolution that will propel the ship's society to greater heights. I only regained control 10 minutes after she left. Too long of a period to get any leads on where she was going. In the end, I had to explain to the deployment board what had happened so they could at least try to triangulate the terrorists actions.

Log 11.
This was not meant to be, my friend, Thornberry who served in the hunting units, mostly to find basic criminals was killed today. At first I thought it was Cinnamon, but later another body was found with a note stating that this was the killer of Thornberry. Apparently they were closing in on her crew when one lost control. It was as if she was trying to send a message that she will not kill, and will punish anyone who does kill. Still with all of this going on, I continued with my overseer duties. No positive tests for today. Not since her escape.

Log 12.
Today, I was going to visit a school of higher learning when I fell into another one of Cinnamon's traps. When I visit these schools, I only enter into the front door, and head only to an office on the right side of the front lobby. That of course turned out to be the trap. All the teachers, and staff once I went into the office, were shot with the freezing darts. Cinnamon had her whole crew there waiting for me. She told me that she wanted to show me something that could change my perspective. She walked me though the doors, and into a large room. There I saw ponies lined up, under a spell, as they worked on putting together advance items for the ship. From pipage, to ion converters. It was as if I was looking into a prison. These ponies were working against their will on advanced factory type projects. Cinnamon told me that this was what school was like for her. A brainwashing never ending hell that would keep these smart ponies in line. And by the end of the day, they would have their memories whipped and filled with fun activities to tell their parents about. It was then that it dawned on me. I’ve been killing 12 year old slaves. Ponies who had no past to enjoy, and I robbed their future without a second thought. It was weird to think about, but in the end, I knew I was in the right. The safety of the ship matters most.
Log 13.
Today, I had to terminate another positive test.

Log 14.

Today, no positive tests.

Log 15
Cinnamon visited me again. This time she gave me a warning. She found out new information. She told me to look into what happened to each overseer after ten years of working. I know she’s playing with my mind. An overseer works for ten years, then retires. They go to the highest class part of the ship, and they live and start a new life of retirement. She left without saying another word. It was then I realized that she never shot me with a dart. It was also 20 minutes later where I realized I hadn’t reported her presence. I still reported her prencens once I realized my error.

Log 16
Cinnamon was right. All history of Overseers are blank after the 10 years are up. Just like how all history of the Swirls are up after the first 12 years of upbringing. I didn’t want to believe her, but it looks like that overseers share the same fate. Must be because the government doesn’t want anypony to know what actually happens. I have to do something to save myself.

Log 17
I think they are on to me. Probably because they noticed that I could have reported an incident 20 minutes sooner. Because of that, they probably suspect me now. I have no Idea what to do, but is this how Cinnamon feels? To be at risk of being killed? I have no choice but to be at their summons tomorrow.

Log 18.
I should be dead. Cinnamon saved my life. She intercepted the hearing I was at, and just before they put a bolt in my head, she came in and froze everyone, including me. She then had some muscle carry me out. As of today, I am a fugitive designated terrorist. Why, because I was supposed to die. For letting a wanted mare go for 20 minutes. I don’t know what is next.

Log 19
This would have never happened if that stupid overseer did their job and killed her. I would still have my job! But I may have been walking into my own death anyway. Now it’s time to find out some answers. I’m with Cinnamons crew, and we are about ready to invade the bridge. The bridge is the part of the ship that only officers of the law can go. A place I never once thought I could go. It’s meant to be violent. Even Cinnamon stated that it was time to bring in some of the big guns and not hesitate to take life on this run. I want to know what really happens to overseers.

Log 20
I knew it! All overseers end their career in death. I can’t believe Cinnamon is right. Maybe everything I’ve been doing is wrong. It’s time to topple this ship to its knees. I don’t care what happens to me any more.

Log 21
Civilization is in a panic. The captain is dead, and no one seems to know how to rush the ship. The only thing that can save it is by going into the highest of security areas. The arcane matrix. It’s not guarded by ponies, but rather than magic. It’s time to take down the brainwashing spell and release all of the swirls. That is the only way to save the ship. Tomorrow, we march.

Log 22.
All of this happened so fast. So much of us are dead, but I made it in. The spell is much more cruel in the making that I could have imagined. It’s so strong, that in order to shut it down, it will take a life. Well, since I was meant to die anyway, might as well be me.

Code 13i!3#%
Subjects life terminated, all log entries of Apex self documentations software is to go to next of kin. Butterscotch Horizon