Author's Note

Welcome back, another chapter means what it always means; more story. Hope you enjoy it and tell me what your favorite part is so far.

''In battle it is the cowards who run the most risk; bravery is a rampart of defense.''

-Sallust.

Shall Not

Dr. M and Jerry finished the release protocols for his newest. . .project. It was in his own words that this new revolutionary entity would be at the forefront of tracking and destruction. Bred in the lab with the highest grade of genetic material melded together in order to form an almost unbeatable apex predator with all of the needed skills to make short work of anything that came in its direction.

''Are you sure about this, Dr?'' Jerry asked as he watched the abomination known as Lyra come out of the tube that it was cultivated in for however long it had been given life in this world. The almost gangly, monkey-esqe form slimmed and formed into that of a pony around the size of the average female, the dark black sclera focusing on the pair as Dr. M smiled, using his magic to ensure the containment collar around it's neck would stay on there, and not come off unless Lyra got out of control. ''That thing looks hungry.''

''Hungry for death, my dear boy. And this 'thing' is the culmination of my genius into physical form! The codename L.Y.R.A. stands for Lifeform Yearning for Relevant Assimilation,'' Dr. M chuckled, approaching his creation with fervor, completely confident that he would not be in any danger at all; not when the prospect for Lyra to live a mildly determined life filled with no pain versus the constant anguish he would subject her to, should she deny his will seemed all the more alluring. ''You, from this moment on, are in control of a great many things. State your directive.''

Lyra finished adjusting her cellular structures, down to the different colorations for what would become hair and the other things that would need filling in the blanks to appear of this world when she was not. Her mind immediately attached itself to the nearest color combination, which was the blinding white of the room around her where she did not know where she was or to extent the room stretched and the red of Dr. M's mane. ''To discover all that is able, to crush what opposes, and to preserve the mission of higher learning.''

Dr. M patted her bright red mane, the action unaffecting her as her nervous systems that relayed information to her brain had yet to fully develop as of yet, so the action was literally unfelt by her, though she understood what was being done to her. In his magic, Lyra observed the saddlebags that were fitted with various supplies she instinctively knew she would need on her journey and mission. Two vials, one black and the other red were presented to her, the optical relays beginning to analyze. ''Behold, techno-organic Nitinol mesh intertwined with the latest cutting edge processors, giving her a calculation speed far greater than any other specimen.'' Dr. M said, ensuring any possible failsafe that would be prevalent within her programming would always neutralize any attempted changes and reroute to the original objective. It would take something highly unpredictable to make her break her programming and instincts, that he both had a hoof in designing to his specifications.

''Aren't you literally giving essentially a newborn the keys to a high-powered smart weapon that can think of pretty much any way of killing you the full reins without ANY consideration as to what could go wrong? Kinda like you're asking for a one-sided war,'' Jerry disagreed, not really wanting to go too far with the. . .opinions he knew would possibly get him fired, or worse. ''And who's to say she can even find the missing subject-'' Lyra walked forward, staring at Jerry very intently as he wanted to back away, fighting his muscles not moving to immediately send him in any direction except by this. . .creation. ''Uh. . .''

Lyra was torn between what she wanted to say first beyond her directive. This would. . .be a new sensation to get used to; being out of the containment tube, feeling the filtered and cooled air, and to know that she would be able to that which she held very faint ideals about, day after unclear day; hour after dragging hour, and second by precise second. She had a multitude of insults, facts, and otherwise word and phrase the one known as Jerry would not like, but she only settled for this. ''Shut up.''

''Ha! She got you there, dear Jerry! You almost look ready to defecate on yourself at the mere sight of her!'' Dr. M laughed, knowing that Jerry would only settle for doing what would make the most sense to him, which would be to flee in this case. It would take mere moments before his mind caught up to his emotions before he decided against what he knew to be wrong, depending on the situation. ''I say again, dear boy; she has a calculation far greater than anything seen before. The fact she settled on that meant that she could have said literally anything else to hurt your feelings, so take solace in that knowledge,'' Dr. M watched as Lyra flexed her muscles and looked herself up and down before her light blue eyes shone all colors of the rainbow as she analyzed the samples before her. ''Commence the hunt.''

Jerry took another step back, watching as Lyra's body shook, her back beginning to bubble and hiss, the smell of burning flesh and leather from the saddlebags fusing to her causing him to gag and shy away from as the mad doctor grinned from ear to ear, watching his creation take form according to his design. A light shone from Lyra's back, producing a small pack laden with lines that glowed blue before two small cylinders appeared on either side, the sound of propulsion being heard as she hovered in the air, her form tilting to move vertically in line with the ceiling as she zoomed upward, causing the small section in the lab to cave in from her exact shape as a few cables hit the floor in a tangled mess.

''Dr, I don't think letting subject Lyra out so soon without any preliminary training or supervision is the wisest thing to do, even for you,'' Jerry said, watching the proverbial gears in Dr. M's mind turned before he looked at Jerry, smirking.

''That is an opinion you are having. Lyra has been outfitted with the sum total knowledge of the number of predators in this land that we have been able to categorize and how they fight, their special traits, and instincts to a point that she will be able to handle even SCP-299, even with any hidden tricks that may come with the two of them,'' Dr. M said, knowing that Lyra would complete its mission before long, and by any means necessary. His pursuit of knowledge would be to not only sate his own curiosity but that as well as the princess and her agenda of power.

He would not be so foolish to give it all to her.

''Another question, as well. Where is Starlight? She has yet to report in the past week.'' Jerry's worried comment made Dr. M frown and groan as he would have to explain that to him, as well. ''Did you fire her?''

Dr. M did not want to use too much of the precious time that he had to study Lyra and all her capabilities in the practical sense versus entertaining his less than exuberant assistant about a project he had undertaken designing before the two of them came into any sort of contact with each other. Starlight was bright, brilliant, and if he were to tell another; beautiful mare who he would love experimenting with and seeing the true her, outside and especially in. ''If you must know, I sent Starlight out into the field to gather more samples, as well as to in a way, track Lyra should any of the instruments we possess not be up to the task of monitoring her movement in most conditions.''

''What happened to the trust in what you already did to her to essentially bend her to your will? I thought there was no worry, so-MMMPH!'' Jerry shrieked, feeling Dr. M stick a literal sock in his mouth, the unamused look dong little to make the whole situation any amount of better.

''I like you, Jerry; really I do enjoy your company and your afraid attitude at times, but trust me when I say this; grow out of this mindset before long. Lyra will stay the course, and Starlight shall be our eyes and ears for more than one reason. . .I sense betrayal brewing.'' Dr. M said, shaking his head in annoyance. ''From who, I am unable to tell, but I know that it shall come before any of us can understand the true severity of it.''

''MMph! Bleh! So what do we do until, Dr?'' Jerry asked, wanting to seriously have a talk with the good doctor about how to descale certain situations or properly express how one should feel besides stuffing a sock in another's mouth.

''We wait. . .and study.''