Chapters
The crowd of ponies gathered around the wall filled with missing report's of those who had been missing. Many of the ponies seeing these report's were constantly chatting, and talking amongst each other, wandering what exactly was going on.
"Maybe it's some sort of prop" One pony said.
"Something's out there to get us ponies" Another commented, while a bunch of other ponies were commenting the word "Crazy", after hearing these report's. One purple pegasaus walked up to a pink unicorn, wanting to know what the fuss was all about.
"Oh hey what's going on?" The mare asked, as the stallion glanced at her, then back at the missing poster's.
"Oh....another dissapearence" The stallion answered, observing the missing report's, while the chatter continued.
"We're not safe anymore" Another pony stated.
"Something out there is out to g-get us" Another pony quivered.
"Ponies just don't go missing" a third pony stated with an angry growl in his voice.
"Something out there is going to kill us" A fourth pony stated.
"What is causing this?" A gruffy stallion stated, as a pink crystal pony stallion began freaking out, his arm's flailing all over the place in complete panic.
"WE'RE ALL GONNA DIIIIIEEEEE!!!!!!!!" He screamed, until a stallion from behind punched him in the back of the head, leading the panicked stallion to fall face first onto the black pavement of the tiny, futuristic town.....known as The Grid. Everypony saw the stallion who had knocked the other pony onto the ground, recognizing him, as the great hero who had served in The Great Nightmare War....Sheriff Stryker.
"Everypony calm down....Grid security is doing their best to investigate these dissapearences. The last thing we need is fear taking over The Grid" He told them in a cold, yet intimidating voice. The other ponies looked at each other then turned, and looked at the Sheriff.
"Err....alright Sheriff" One pony stated, as he walked off.
"Grid security is doing their job to keep all of us safe" Another told other ponies, also walking away.
"If these security bot's were just doing their job's in the first place we wouldn't have these problem's." Another commented, also walking away from the missing poster report's.
"Your doing good work Sheriff" A mare stated, before walking off, as Sheriff Stryker took a minute to look at the missing poster's, before walking back to his office, leaving the crystal pony he hit....still on the pavement.
"WE'RE ALL GONNA DI.....eh, where did everypony go?" The crystal pony asked, not realizing what had happened.
*****
He heard the familiar footstep's of someone he knew very well approach him, as he had managed to look at his company with a serious face. His girlfriend....and a mare that had that had moved in with him for sometime. Deep down the two cared for each other, but still were uncomfortable of taking the next step. Her skin was mostly bright pink, with adorable scarlett freckle's, and if he could guess, she had a nice pair of DD-cup breast's, and a cream colored mane. Her name was Pixel
"I don't know Pixel...thing's aren't just adding up" He told her with a defeated sigh.
"Hmmm.....why don't you see which incident has in common....and go from there" She stated in her sweet tone.
"Mmm....I'll try that....thank's Pixel" He told her.
"Mmmhmmm....I'll take the trash out then" She told him, as Stryker nodded.
"Alright.....you do that Pixel" He told her, as she walked off. A small part of Stryker really wanted for him to take the next step with her, but this time he couldn't....not with the disappearences that he had in front of him to figure out. Pixel walked out of the building, and began to head toward's the dumpster....until a growling sound got her attention. Back at the Sheriff's office....Stryker inmiedietly noticed a pattern.
"Wait a minute....all these disappearences occured at a night" Stryker realized, as outside with Pixel, a Yautja had his thermal signature on, and rushed forward to grab her. She dropped the bag, and screamed....loud enough for Stryker to hear. "PIXEL!!!!!!"
Author's Note
Some of these chapter's in this series will range from short to long, it depend's on the episode...this series is going to have sequel's all of which only have 12 Chapter's long. Hope you all enjoy
Episode 2 (Gore)
The bodies of dead ponies were scattered across The Grid Security station where nice, soldier ponies had done everything in their power to keep The Grid safe. Now it was a bloodbath...bodies layed across the station of the officer's who had died. Many weapon's were still on the wall, but blood, claw mark's, gun's, and empty shell's were everywhere. Some ponies were strung up on the ceiling, completely skinned with their skull's, and spinal column's missing. A few were sliced in half, blown to bit's, had their head's sliced off....or were just sliced, and bled out.
The bodies that weren't strung up, each had a different type of gun in their hand, while the light's flickered on, and off. A radio was next to their bodies that was still picking up chatter. "Calling Basekeep....this is Stryker. I am in pursuit of an unidentified hostile....*static*....I repeat I....*static* ...target is potentially armed, and dangerous I....*static*....request backup all forces....*static*" One of the squad leader's was still alive with his arm clutching his deep wound, as he snarled through the pain.
"Grrrr....Stryker" He snarled, until a high heeled shoe, that looked like it belonged to a mare slammed down, and crushed the radio with her powerful step, as she held a huge scythe in her hand. "Uh....oh....GAAAAAHHHH!!!!!!!" He screamed, as the mare swung her powerful scythe, slicing the pony in two with blood spraying the wall's, as the light's went dark.
*****
Stryker asked, as Pixel continued to squeal muffeldly, until he heard the Yautja's click's, and growl's. He pointed his gun out into the darkness of the night, knowing what was out there. "Where are you hiding?" Stryker growled, his pistol cocked, and ready to fire, as he heard the Yautja's growl's get closer to him. "Show yourself.....GAAAAHHHH!!!!!!!" He cried, as something powerful hit him in the stomach, and slammed him against a buiding wall. "What the fuck was that...GAAAAAHHHH!!!!!" He cried, as something picked him up, and threw him against a wall again. Stryker began to open fire with his pistol to neutralize his opponent. The bullet's bounced off the Yautja's armor who de-cloaked, ready to face his opponent.
This Yautja was definetly not a Youngblood by standard's, the worst part was that the mask he wore was confirmation that he was an Elite Predator. He had mutliple marking's on his own mask, and had a blue color pattern to his armor. Pixel was muffledly screaming seeing the Yautja in terror. "PIXEL STAY DOWN!!!!!" Stryker warned her, as he began to fire his gun, each bullet bouncing off the elite's armor, but also pushing him back. The elite had enough, as he pulled out his Plasma Caster, and used his laser sight to make sure he didn't miss. The Plasma Caster discharged, as Stryker jumped backward out of the way, but the explosion knocked him into another wall, and slammed him into the ground.
Stryker was badly wounded, while the Yauta tucked away his shoulder cannon, and picked up the tied up Pixel, before activating his cloaking device. "P-PIIIXXXEEELL" Stryker groaned from his wound's, until he collapsed back on the concrete, blacking out.
3 week's later
In the hospital of The Grid, Stryker began to stir from his slumber, bandages on his forehead, belly, and left leg. The E.R. machine's beeped annoyingly, but was doing it's job to tell if he was alive, or not. "Ugghh....Urrrgghh......PIXEL!!!!!!!" Stryker shouted, jumping up from his hospital bed.
"Oh...your awake, it's a miracle you survived....about 70 perecnt of your body was fried....if it weren't for the Equestrian healing magic that we used, we really would have....." The doctor's statement's were cut off, as Stryker grabbed him, and started shaking him, completely worried.
"WHERE'S PIXEL.....WHAT HAPPENED!?!?!?!?" Stryker shouted, as the doctor looked down with a sad look in his eye's.
"Pixel's gone Stryker" The doctor told him, getting a strong reaction from Stryker.
"NO...IT"S NOT OVER....I'LL RESCUE HER!!!!!" Stryker shouted, as he tried to run, but fell off the hospital bed due to some of his wound's. "RRRRGGGHHH!!!!!" Stryker growled, his mind still on Pixel.
"Some of your magic still hasn't settled in...we had to replace all of your organ's with new organic ones thank's to our Equestrian healing magic...your still recovering...." The doctor tried to state, before Stryker cut him off.
"How long was I out?" Stryker asked, as the dcotor went silent. "HOW LONG DOCTOR!?!?!?!?!?!?!?" He screamed in fury, while slamming his fist on the ground.
"....3 week's" The doctor sighed, as Stryker collapsed onto the floor, defeated. The doctor picked him up, and put him back on the hospital bed, while putting his hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry about Pixel, Stryker....but there's nothing we can do.....she's gone" The doctor simply stated, as Stryker looked at him with a growl.
"I requested backup that night....why wasn't anyone deployed to help me?" Stryker asked.
*****
"On the night Pixel was taken....the station was attacked" The pony explained.
"By who...by what?" Stryker asked.
"We don't know Sheriff" The stallion answered him.
"Where's the security footage?" Stryker asked.
"Gone....whatever attacked the station cleared out the databank's; we don't have anything" The stallion explained. After Stryker was finished, he went back into the broad daylight of the area, as he looked up at the sunny sky.
"I guess it's up to me alone to protect The Grid" He sighed, until a voice spoke up.
"That won't be necessary Sheriff" A pony voice spoke out, as a huge Cyberman began walking up to him, until it came to a stop. He recognized the stallion who approached him, whom he loathed with his every being. "Meet the new generation of Grid security.....your service's, are no longer required" The stallion stated, as Stryker sneered.
"Regalias" He snarled.
"Time's are changing Sheriff....you saw first hand what kind of danger's exist outside The Grid.....your being replaced" Regalias told him.
"By this?" He scoffed, pointing at the Cyberman.
"By these Stryker....they'll be deployed on every corner of The Grid to ensure the safety of our citizen's. Enjoy your early retirement.....Sheriff" Regalias told him in a mocking tone, as he left with the Cyberman following him. Stryker new Regalias was trying to get under his skin, and scoffed.
"Hmmm....we'll see about that" Stryker growled.
The Cybermen were almost like giant titan's with the lookout post's that they were on, scanning, and communicating with one another to make sure everypony was protected inside The Grid. Many of them were spread out all over the city, as they watched the area. The sound of someone driving a motorcycle was being heard, as Stryker drove through the street's on his bike, until he came to the normal blocked entrance of The Grid that had been there for many year's, his bike coming to a stop. Stryker powered down his motorcycle, and approached one of the Cybermen who stood in his way.
"Halt....Identify yourself" The Cyberman stated, speaking in a voice that sounded....nothing like a Cyberman at all.
"I'm Sheriff Stryker....and your in my way" Stryker said bluntly.
"You are not authorized access beyond this point" The Cyberman stated coldy.
"Get out of my way" Stryker growled, as all of the Cybermen pulled out their hidden weapon's, cocking them just in case they were needed.
"Your access is denied...failure to comply will result in your detainment" The Cyberman threatned, as Stryker looked around him, before turning back to the Cybermen, as he began to back away.
"Alright....I see how it is" Stryker told them, as he got back on his bike. All of the Cybermen soon retracted their weapon's, while Stryker got on his motorcycle, and revved it to life, careening down the street's of The Grid, back to his house.
*****
"Alright....so look's like that's a dead end, and it look's like I can't go out there either" Stryker thought, until a voice spoke up.
"You really need to stop trying to leave" Regalias stated, leaning on the back of the house wall with a cigarette in his mouth.
"What do you want?" Stryker growled.
"You've been trying to leave The Grid...what type of message do you think that send's to our citizen's. Regalias asked.
"I'm trying to rescue PIXEL, and the other ponies who have been taken" Stryker judged.
"Face it ....Stryker....they're gone....and even if you were to somehow leave The Grid....where would you go?" Regalias asked.
"GET OUT OF MY HOUSE REGALIAS!!!!!!" Stryker shouted.
"In any case Stryker....STOP....TRYING TO LEAVE, the ponies of The Grid don't need to see their beloved Sheriff, trying to abandon them" Regalias stated, as Stryker growled. "STAY in The Grid.....The Grid is safe" Regalias told him, as he left Stryker's house. Many hour's had passed, and Stryker was thinking....a lot. He was rather depressed about not being able to do anything, until he heard his phone ring.
"This is Stryker" Stryker answered, as a voice spoke through the phone.
"Meet me at the abandoned district in the outskirt's...I can get you out of The Grid" a voice told him.
"Wait a minute....WHO IS THIS!?!?!?!?!?" Stryker asked, only hearing the line go dead after the pony on the other end, had already hung up. A few hour's later at night, Stryker began walking toward's the abandoned outskirt's, and came to a stop, as a voice spoke from the shadow's.
"Hello there" The deep voice gruffed, that made Stryker cock his gun, and point it to where he heard the voice. "It's been a long time Stryker" A pony spoke, as he fully stepped out of the shadow's, causing Stryker to lower his gun, sort of recognizing his old war buddy....who had a scar, and eyepatch on his face, he hadn't seen year's earlier.
"Raptus" Stryker gasped.
"We got a lot....to talk about" Raptus stated coldly.
The Grid was still on the highest of security...even at night. The Cybermen were watching from all different areas of the abandoned warehouse, almost like they were searching for someone. Raptus was watching through the abandoned warehouse, before quickly darting away, as he journeyed down into a secret basement that the outskirt's had. "The sentries are looking for you, there's no other reason they would come all the way out here to the outskirt's" Raftus told his old friend, as Stryker turned to him. The old place they were in had some pistol's, part's to make a cannon gun, a PKP Light machine gun, a sentry machine gun turret, and a shotgun with a few attachment's, plus grenadier round's.
"I don't understand....why keep such tight servaillance on me?" Stryker asked.
"Because Stryker.....Regalias doesn't want you figuring out the truth" Raptus told him, as Stryker stepped forward, curious.
"What truth?" Stryker asked.
"That there's a world out there....a world beyond The Grid" Raptus answered.
"Why wouldn't he want me to know about that?" Stryker asked.
"Because he's right where he want's to be Stryker....on top, and in charge, that's a lot for The Grid to get worse, but he won't make the sacrifice to make it better, he won't risk openeing up The Grid to new threat's" Raptus explained.
"THREAT'S....WHAT THREAT'S, AND HOW DO YOU KNOW ALL THIS RAPTUS!?!?!?!?" Stryker demanded.
"Because......" He stopped talking when they both heard the sound of one of the Cybermen getting close to where they were hiding, nearing the point where it was about to find them. "We need to get moving...." He told his friend, as he grabbed a huge knife. ".....last chance to go back Stryker...there's no going back after this" Raptus told him.
"I'm going Raptus....nothing will change my mind" Stryker told him.
"So be it" Raptus replied, as he closed up the weapon's that they had. "Let's get going" Raptus told him. The two journeyed into a secret hole which led to a very deeper underground area that no one went to for year's. This place was the way outside The Grid, and toward's the place to find Pixel. What Stryker would find there, he wouldn't know, but it was better than what was going to happen in The Grid. The twin train/minecart was being repaired, by a young Pegasaus who was working his best to make sure everything was ok. Stryker, and Raptus soon arrived with the stuff that they were planning to bring.
"What is this place?" Stryker asked.
"This was the facility used to leave The Grid, the tunnel's here lead's to the outside world" Raptus answered, before walking up to the green pegasaus who had fixed repairing the cart. "I brought the Sheriff" He told him, as the green pegasaus extended out his hand to Stryker
"Sheriff Stryker....it's an honor to join you on this rescue mission....my name is Shift, I'm your support specialist" He introduced.
"Glad to have you with us Shift...what is all this?" Stryker asked poining to the cart's.
"I've been patching this old transport cart together to take us out of The Grid, it would take far too long on foot, and we wouldn't be able to take much supplies, or equipment" Shift explained.
"You really thought this through" Stryker realized, as Shift turned to him.
"We've been meaning to leave The Grid so that we could explore the outside world again...." Shift stated, before he pulled out a small wristpad, and clicked a button on it which activated the transport, and turned on the light's the vehicle had. ".....but now...with you Sheriff we have found a newer puropose" Shift smiled, as Stryker grinned.
"Thank you....both of you....it mean's the world to me that you'd join me" Stryker said, thanking them.
"The honor is mine Sheriff" Shift smiled.
"Don't mention it old friend" Raptus waved off, as Stryker spoke up.
"Alright...let's go" He ordered, as all of them got into the cart, and journeyed down the train track's to get to the outside world.
Through the inky blackness, the cart traveled along the train track's that continued on it's journey. The light would shine through the darkness once in a while, but the cart continued on it's designated path. Thankfully if ever in trouble, the cart itself was loaded with two machine gun turret's on the caboose of the two train/minecart transport's. It finally came to a point where all of them needed to rest for the next few day's, the cart coming to a stop on the track, as the three ponies decided to make camp. Stryker crawled out of the cart, and looked around to see if there was anything with them in the tunnel's.
"Let's take a break here before moving on" Stryker ordered, as his two friend's nodded, while they did their best to set up camp in the harsh....concrete tunnel's. They all managed to get a campfire going, despite the harsh situation's they were in, using some destroyed, rotted plank's from nearby to fuel the fire. Shift at the time, set up two sentry machine gun turret's with them a few way's away from the cart.
"That should do it" He smiled, as the second sentry machine gun was retrofitted for defense, as both sentries were activated, watching the darkness for any hostile's.
"What da hell?" Stryker asked, seeing Shift with his sentry gun's, as he walked up to the stallion.
"Oh hey Sheriff" Shift smiled, ignoring the stallion's question.
"Are these really necessary?" Stryker asked.
"Better safe than sorry Sheriff...you don't know what's in these tunnel's" Shift warned him.
"Eeeeehhh, don't jinx it" Stryker groaned. After the two went back to camp all of them set up, they huddled around the warm campfire, none of them really speaking a word, while they searched through their thought's, until Stryker broke the silence. "You know....Raptus....I haven't seen you since The Great Nightmare War....what happened to you, and how do you know so much about the world outside" Stryker asked.
"A long time ago.....The Grid assembled a team of ponies to explore the world outside The Grid. There were four of us, the finest, bravest, ponies I ever knew. Filled with hope's, and dream's, we deployed from The Grid. When we came to the new world....we were greeted....by it's nightmare's....." He told them, recalling the horrible memory of a faceless, Nightmare being, wrapping it's bloody, and inky tentacles around one of his men, letting his body fuse with itself. When they ran...he rembered a giant mechanical corrupted dragon, scooping up a pony with it's claw's....crushing, and ripping him apart.
The same dragon also stomped a third one to paste, while the other's ran, as Raptus contiuned the story ".....we couldn't stay....we had to go back. Defeated, and lost....we trudged on through the wasteland's to find a way back home...and then we were attacked....by one of them...." Raptus explained, his memory shifting to a time where he encountered, an unusual Equestrian being that he couldn't identify that was tall, and held a katana. "...we should have taken off, while we could....but my pride got the best of me...." Raptus explained, remembering when he drew his sword's to fight his opponent.
".....I was no match for it...." He told them, also painfully remembering the same being hitting him with a single blow that slashed out his eye, where his eye patch was now covering. ".....as if to mock me it just walked away....leaving me to die in the wasteland's." Raptus explained, his mind returning to the present.
"But...you survived" Stryker said to him suprised.
"Yeah....I suppose I did" He chuckled mildly, before his smile faded. The silence now returned among them, until Shift broke it this time.
"I don't mean to be rude Sheriff, but after everything Raptus said....you really think the ponies out there are still alive?" Shift asked.
"I don't know Shift....but somehow.....deep inside....I know that somewhere out there....Pixel's waiting for me" Stryker told him, as he looked up high into the sky.
*****
It was in the middle of the day that Pixel, and a bunch of other ponies who were tied up in an unknown building. The Yautja that had taken them was now having a conversation with a pair of Cybermen who seemed to be programmed differently, or following someone else's order's. "What do you think they're talking about?" One of the captured ponies asked.
"Probably the best way to cook us up, and eat us" A mare answered.
"Robot's don't eat" One stallion grumbled, mentioning the Cybermen.
"I say we make a run for it" A stalion motioned.
"No way.....remember what happened to that last stallion that tried to run?" Another stallion asked.
"What last stallion?" The other stallion asked.
"Exactly....there is no more last stallion" The stallion pointed out.
"I'm gonna play dead" A third stallion told them, and fell flat on his face. The Yautja immedietly turned to the pony who had faceplanted himself on the dirty concrete ground.
"Urrrgghh...I c-can't go on any more....just...just let me die" The stallion whined, hoping his ploy would work. The Yautja immedietly drew his wristbracer, ready to grant the pony's request, as the stallion's eyes shrinked to pinprick's, seeing the curved blade. "Ha...hey....I suddenly don't feel like I'm dying anymore" The stallion said, standing up immedietly, saving himself from more than his ploy failing.
"Boooo" the other stallion groaned.
"Shut up" The third stallion grumbled. The Yautja retracted his wristblade, and turned back to the Cybermen, speaking in click's, and growl's, while motioning the band of ponies. The Cyberman walked over, eyeing all the chained anthropomorphic ponies.
"This batch is smaller than before, this was not the deal" The Cyberman told the Yautja, who replied in more in click's, and growl's. "You have failed to hold up your obligation's, we shall cut payment's, as we see fit" The Cyberman told him, as the Yautja roared angrily, getting upset about not getting his failed share of cut, not to mention having to deal with Stryker when capturing Pixel. "The high lord will not stand for this" The Cyberman snarled, while the Yautja kept roaring angrily. Nearby the knight known as Link was watching what was happening from afar, and let an emp grenade roll toward's the Cybermen which detonated loudly.
All of the Cybermen went offline for a few minute's, while the Yautja was knocked back from the blast. Link charged in, and began using his sword to slice off the chain's on all the ponies. "Thank's" One of the stallion's smiled. Link continued to slice off all the chain's, as Pixel smiled.
"Thank you...but who are you?" Pixel asked. Link heard a growl, as the Yautja stood up, getting his attention. Link motioned an exit for them to escape through then charged back in, confronting the Yautja. The Elite Predtor, pulled out his combi-stick, as he let out a thundering roar.
"HIIIIIYAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!!" Link shouted, charging forward to face the Yautja.
Author's Note
An Elite Predator vs Link from Legend of Zelda....let's see how this goes.
The sentry machine gun's were constantly swaying back, and forth, keeping an eye out for any sign's of movment, while Stryker, Shift, and Raptus stayed at their camp. The three stallion's were mostly alone with their thought's, until a loud shrilling noise echoed throughout the tunnel's, as the machine gun's stopped swaying, pointing to the right of them. Gunfire rang from the turret's, as they began to shoot at the dangerous being's that were trying to get the drop on the three stallion's. More gunfire rang, as more creature's came from the shadow's, as the turret's began to constantly open fire.
"Shift....." Stryker said concerned.
"Yeah Sheriff?" Shift asked.
"....get the transport started.....NOW!!!!!!" Stryker ordered. The three immedietly snuffed the campfire, packed up their stuff, while Shift got the transporter up, and running, as the sentry turret's contiuned openening fire against the creature's in the tunnel. Raftus was the last to get in, as more gunfire rang from the turret's, before the sheer number of the creatures overwhelmed the turret's which were shredded by teeth, and claw's.
"We got company" Raptus mentioned.
"MAN THE TURRET'S!!!!!!!" Stryker ordered, as he, and Raftus got on the turret's that defended the rear of the transport, while Shift tried to get the vehilce moving. Raptus, and Stryker opened fire on the swarm of Xenomorph drone's that crawled out of the darkness to rip them apart. The tunnel's began to become littered with acidic blood, as more Xenomorph's crawled out of the shadow's, hungry for pony flesh. "SHIFT GET US OUT OF HERE!!!!!!!!" Stryker shouted, as Shift flipped many switches, trying to get the transporter going. The Xenomorph's screeched, and roared, as they tried to claw their way to the transport, while the turret fire cut through them, their number's increasing.
"ANY....TIIME NOW!!!!!" Stryker motioned, as he continued gunning down the Xenomorph's with Raptus.
"HANG ON TO SOMETHING!!!!!!" Shift shouted, as the transport took off at high speed's with the gunfire continuing, as the Xenomorph's pursued them. The gunfire continued along the huge ride, until one of the Xenomorph's began to crawl up the front of the transport to kill Shift, but a blast from Stryker's turret splattered it's acidic blood onto the pavement. Shift looked back at his friend's, seeing that there were too many Xenomorph's crawling from the shadow's.
There's too many of them Shift thought to himself, looking at his friend's. Were not gonna make it Shift realized. "Sheriff...I need you, and Raptus to take the wheel" Shift told them.
"Raptus...you heard the stallion" Stryker motioned, as the two went to the front of the transport. Shift got into the back, while the other's got to the front. The ride continued, as the huge number of Xenomorph's still pursued them.
"This is goodbye Sheriff"" Shift told them, as he unhooked the rear cart, letting the lone transport with Stryker, and Raptus on it to keep going.
"SHIFT.....NO!!!!!" Stryker shouted, as Shift's cart came to a dead stop.
"I alway's wanted to be a hero like you Sheriff....but I was never brave enough....." He said, looking back to his enemies, while the Xenomorph's closed in. Shift brought a huge briefcase down that had some rocket's inside, while he carried a rocket launcher. ".....but maybe this time....I'll be brave enough..." He smiled, as he pointed his loaded rocket launcher at the approaching Xenomorph's. ".....tell Pixel, and the other's......I said hello" He told them, his voice echoing the entire time, as the Xenomorph's caught up to him. Shift fired the rocket launcher, which caused a huge explosion that seemed to consume his body.
"SHIIIIIIIIIFFFFFFFTTTTT!!!!!!!!!" Stryker screamed, his voice echoing across the tunnel's wall's.
The transport had come to a stop after it's long ride from the tunnel's. Stryker sat on the train track's....his mind still thinking, and mourning Shift's death. Raptus on the other hand, was going through the inventory of the military equipment that they had all packed on their trip. "We still have enough weapon's to last us a while" Raptus told Stryker who chose to ignore him, while Raptus contiuned checking their supplies. "If we're careful with our ammunition....we still have a chance" Raptus told him.
"We....just lost Shift.....AND YOUR CONCERNED WITH INVENTORY!?!?!?!?!?" Stryker screamed at his old friend, a little enraged.
"He knew what he was getting into" Raptus told him.
"DID HIS SACRIFICE MEAN NOTHING TO YOU!!!!!!!!" Stryker shouted with acusation in his tone.
"If he didn't do what he did... we wouldn't be here right now...his life was a necessary sacrifice...and he knew it" Raptus reminded him.
"Bullshit.....You don't know that.....WE COULD HAVE HOLD THEM OFF!!!!!!" Stryker shouted.
"THIS isn't some little conflict....your usually used to resovling in The Grid....out here....good ponies die, and the strong survive. If you aren't ready to accept the fact that there might not be a happy ending....Turn Back....NOW!!!!!!" Raptus told him, as Stryker looked down.
"I don't know what to do anymore" Strkyer said painfully.
"You keep going....you fight on....and you don't look back....I'm ready to die Stryker....are you?" Raptus asked.
"I'm ready to....." The two were interrupted by the sound of clanking footstep's of an unknown being approaching from the tunnel's.
"It's alone" Raptus realized.
"Good we can take it" Stryker smirked, ready to fight.
"No.....it's one of them" Raptus mentioned, as the footstep's grew even louder. "We need to go.....we're no match for it" Raptus told his friend.
"I'll get the transport started" Stryker pointed out.
"No time....it'll be here by the time the engine start's" Raptus replied.
"WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO THEN.....WALK ON FOOT!?!?!?!?!?" Stryker shouted, waving his arm's in the air. Raptus threw a box of ammuntion toward's him, as Stryker took it, along with his cannon gun that Raptus gave him.
"You will go on foot....I.....will buy you some time....." Raptus told him, as he pulled out two sharp Pinkamena shaped caravan knives. "....get outta here, while I distract it....I've got a score to settle" Raptus finsished, as he began to sprint toward's the sound.
"Raptus....WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!?!?!?!?!?" Stryker shouted in alarm, causing Raptus to come to a stop.
"Stryker....The Grid need's you....be their hero" Raptus told him, as went back to running toward the being that was approaching them.
"Raptus.....I won't forget this...." Stryker told him, as he turned, and fled, while Raptus finally came across the powerful, strange Equestrian being who he had encountered outside The Grid. The Equestrian dragon approached, fully clad in metal armor, while gripping a huge broadsword, as it's roar's echoed throughout the tunnel, while Raptus brought up his blade's, and charged forward. The dragon readied it's sword, and charged at alarming speed's toward's Raptus.
*****
All of the corpses had been ripped apart in some way, the entire torso was seperated from the head, and limb's, dried blood, and gut's were spread out on the floor. He wasn't the only one, Stryker spotted another pony that was without it's head, and upper torso, it's feet sliced off, and the belly ripped open, as if something at eaten the flesh on the inside, and out. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!" Stryker shouted, his voice echoing off the wall's, seeing all the dead ponies. From the dark depth's of the shadow's, three silver knives spread, as a certain being in this area.....had awoken.
Stryker began deeply breathing in, and out, as he pressed his body against the pillar, trying to remain calm. "Alright Stryker....calm down....you got this" Stryker told himself, doing his best to not be afraid, while continuing on...even though he was alone. He heard a loud clanking sound around him that only made the place seem more eerie. "WHO'S THERE!?!?!?!?!?" Stryker shouted. The loud clanking was now replaced with the sound of a 6-year old filly, humming peacefully, and happily which echoed off the cave like wall's.
He felt his heartbeat get faster, hearing the creepy humming all around him, inside this dark hell. He saw more movement three times, the creature being a blur of blue, and pink. Stryker then looked on the ground at one of the many severed pony bodies that was inside the cave, and saw a message written in blood.
STAY out of the LIGHT the message read.
"Stay out of the light?" Stryker read confused, as he looked up, seeing the creepy eerie, and only light that shined throughout the entire underground hole he fell through. Stryker quicky rushed over to a rather small pillar that was just tall enough for him to stay hidden in some form of shadow. He heard a creepy echo, and clank, as he looked around. A female pony appeared who moved irregularly, bone cracking with every movement she made.
"What's a little pony like you doin'.....aaaalllll the way out here?" She asked, before taking her big knived finger's, and slicing through the pillar, as Stryker dodged out from it, to prevent himself from being crushed. "HEHEHEHEHEHEEEE!!!!!" She cackled psychotically, as she took off with alarming speed, heading for Stryker who had been thrown near a fallen pillar. The mare popped out of a pillar, as Stryker gasped, and took off running, hearing the mare's Cupcakes Pinkamena giggle, echoing through the place. "AHAHAHAHAHA" She cackled, as she took off, pursuing him. Stryker managed to run far enough away, and hid behind another pillar.
With the cracking of bones's, the mare came to a halt, and hugged a pillar nearby. She creepily snaked her way up it, breaking bones in every part of her body....clearly too insane to even feel that pain, as she searched for Stryker with the vantage point of being at the top of one of these pillar's. The mare leaped off the pillar, before finding her target. "Are you lost......or did you come here to play, like all the other's?" She asked with a psychotic laugh, as Stryker pulled out his cannon gun, and cocked it.
"YOU'LL BE SORRY YOU EVER MESSED WITH US PONIES!!!!!!!" Stryker shouted, as he dashed out of his hiding place, and found the mare who immedietly turned around to stop him, her claw's at the ready. "EAT THIS!!!!!!!" He shouted, as his hand squeezed the trigger. The mare dodged the shot with ease, as it impacted into one of the pillar's next to her. "Oh....You Wanna Play" She said with a growl, as she readied her claw's, and charged at him with alarming speed. Stryker opened fire multiple time's, but the pony managed to dodge his gunfire, until she slashed him with her claw's, blood dripping from a new wound.
The mare attempted to give him a quick second lethal slash, but Stryker was fast enough to use the pillar's to dodge the attack. Stryker got back, as the mare kept laughing psychotically, as she sliced the downed pillar in half, and charged at Stryker. More gunfire rang from Stryker's cannon gun, until the mare vanished. Her psychotic laughing being heard from all around him, as he pointed his gun down certain path's, his fear keeping him alive. Stryker looked around, until her claw raised in the air, and slashed him in the shoulder, as he screamed.... losing more blood.
"Ooooh, braver than the last one....maybe I'll let you live" She smiled, until her face was blown to bit's, from a blast from Stryker's cannon gun, as he hid behind another pillar. The mare stood still, but a blood like type of magic reconstructed her creepy face, as her entire head rotated 360 degree's, her neck cracking a lot. The mare panted deeply, almost out of breath, as her psycotic laughter began echoing throughout the place.
"Ehehehe....EHEHEHE...AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!" She squealed psychotically.
"I'M DONE RUNNING!!!!!!" Stryker growled, as he jumped out of his hiding place, and pointed his Cannon gun at her. The mare only laughed in response, as she charged full speed at him. Stryker pointed his gun skyward, and fired, bringing a huge part of the ceiling down on top of the mare, which caused a huge, bloody splat. The stallion coughed, being somewhat struck by the cave-in, but alive in one piece. He looked over to see the mare's body was severed, as he saw her steel claw's go to a severed arm. "You will NEVER harm another pony again" Stryker growled, standing up.
He slowly began to walk away from the rubble to find away out, until he heard some rattling behind him that got his attention. The mare's severed limb's began to move, as it crawled toward's where her body was crushed. It was like the Iron Giant, where the head was calling all her bit's, and pieces of her body to come back, and make her whole. "You have got to be fucking kidding me" Stryker cursed, as the mare reconstructed herself.
She bursted from the rubble, and cracked all the bone's back in place, even rotating her head 360 degrees again to make sure she was still breathing. The mare turned her creepy head to look at him, and rushed forward, before stopping, and investigating him. "Alright pony.....we're gonna plaaaayyy a little game....if you win, I'll help you out.....if you lose....." She paused, bringing out her deadly claw's. ".....YOU.....DIE" She smiled.
"Fine....BRING IT ON!!!!!!" Stryker challenged.
Episode 12 (Season Finale)
Hour's had passed, before the psychotic mare would have Stryker be ready for his game with her. He had made sure his armor was ready, he had shaved some of his mane, and had a bandana on, while making sure he had cleaned his Cannon gun. He even had a metal piece of armor which was similar to the hand part of Iron man's suit that he had made down here. He tested it out, as it could do some deadly damage, as he had increased his Cannon round's to do more damage.
"FINALLY!!!!!!" The mare shouted, appearing next to him out of nowhere, causing Stryker to jump back. He hadn't really examined the mare before, but now that he had waited to start her game, this was a time he could actually get a good look at her. If it wasn't for her creepy feature's, you could say that she was kind of hot....in a Harley Quinn sort of way. During the time he had planned for their game, she introduced herself, as Scarlett Twinkle.
"What.....go where?" Stryker asked.
"To play our gaaaaaammmmeee" She said with a happy glee, turning toward's him, while using her claw's to point a way forward.
"Aren't we going to battle to the death?" Stryker asked. A few minute's of silence was heard, until Scarlett Twinkle erupted in a fit of laughter.
"AHAHAHAHAHAHA....AHAHAHAHAHA....what are you stupid....you spent our entire fight running from me, why would I play a game with you that I would ooooobbbvviously win?" Scarlett asked.
"DON'T MESS WITH ME, I HAVE NO REASON TO TRUST YOU!!!!!!" Stryker snapped back, raising his gun at her.
"Uuuuuggghhh....Fine then.....shoot me" She challenged.
"I'M WARNING YOU!!!!!!" Stryker shouted.
"JUST SHOOT ALREADY!!!!!!" She whined. Stryker fired his cannon gun, and immedietly Scarlett sliced the entire round, just by bringing up one of her claw's.
"No way......" Stryker said suprised, lowering his weapon.
"See....you can't do anything to me" Scarlett bragged, as she walked on, until Stryker rushed forward, stopping her in her track's.
"You could have destroyed me whenever you wanted....but you didn't" Stryker pointed out.
"Yes....but that is irrelevant" She told him.
"Then what do you want from me?" Stryker asked.
"That's what I want" She answered, pointing to his chest.
"What?" Stryker asked.
"A light....inside you....like a tiny bright star, glooowing within your body....." She cooed softly, her green eye showing an unusual vision where his body showed what look like the center of an Equestrian aura inside him. "......a light filled with curiosity, bravery, love, and puuuurrreee heart"
"I'm not sure I quite understand" Stryker told her, confused.
"You don't have to understand, but it's why your still alive" She sang in an eerie voice.
"This isn't making any se....AAAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!!" Stryker screamed, as Scarlett kicked him down another large tunnel that almost seemed endless, and with inky blackness that almost felt like it had no bottom. Stryker crash landed on the ground hard, while Scarlett landed on her feet. Stryker groaned, as he got up, seeing what looked like a gauntlet of trap's up ahead with a huge metal cube like vault at the end. "What is this place?" Stryker asked.
"The Vault" Scarlett answered.
"And what exactly are we playing here?" Stryker asked.
"We're hunting for treasure" She grinned, as she looked around.
"And what exactly are we hunting fo.....GAAAAHHHH!!!!!!" Stryker said suprised, as a wave of flames was created from a stone dragon mouth on the gauntlet path. After a long while, the flame's stopped spewing, as Scarlett turned to him.
"Where you are going.....is where thing's like me cannot enter" She told him.
"Thing's like you?" Stryker asked curiously.
"Yessssss....thing's like me.....evil thing's......horrible thing's" Scarlett told him.
"But I can?" Stryker asked.
"Bingo....because you are pure heart.....you will go in, and you will bring me back a golden chalice....thisss is our game" She explained.
"Alright....let's say I bring back your cup...what's in it for me?" Stryker asked.
"I'll safely escort you out of this horrible, underground place" She answered.
"And what gurantee do I have that you won't just end my life there, and then?" Stryker asked.
"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.......You'll just have to trust me" She winked. Stryker began having flashback's of the great people he met on his journey. Thinking of Raptus, Shift....and Pixel.....his love....Pixel. He was against many odd's....he could die here....but he had to try.
"....Fine.....how do I get in?" Stryker asked.
"At the top...there should be an access point" Scarlett answered.
"How do you know...you've never been there" Stryker told her.
"I've seen something go in, and out from there" She replied.
"SOMETHING!?!?!!?!?" Sheriff Stryker asked.
"Ehhh...it's nothing you need to worry about" She shrugged off.
"Well that's not re-assuring at all " Stryker groaned, as he went toward the gauntlet area, and found that when he crossed the line the flame's did not spew from the dragon mouth's. "My name is Stryker.....Sheriff of The Grid....REMEMBER IT!!!!!!!" He told her.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA......We'll see how it goes.....Stryker" Scarlett smiled. Stryker began journeying to the vault from a long walk, before finally getting to the top after climbing the cube shaped vault.
"Well whadd'ya know....she was right....there is an opening" Stryker smiled, seeing the access point at the top of the vault, as he climbed down into it. There was a bunch of gold....jewel's.....weapon's....and skeleton's that were down inside the vault. Not only that, but there appeared to be demon, or statues of horror that held many types of priceless artifact's. Stryker jumped down, and sighed. "Alright....what am I looking for? Cup, cup, cup, cup......hmmmmm....." He said to himself, until he saw the pieces of the statue dragon's from outside, clutching a sword.
"These look like the statues outside...maybe they're linked in a way" Stryker said to himself, until he heard a deadly roar. "Uh-oh.....that can't be good....wait a minue....THE CUP!!!!!!" Stryker realized, as he saw a huge demon skeleton holding the cup very close to it's mouth. "How am I going to get that cup.....I don't see any ladder's in here.....aaahh fuck it" He growled, knocking over the statue with ease until he heard a loud boom. "Aw crap" Stryker groaned, as the same metal dragon that Raptus fought was now in the vault, as Stryker saw his opponent. "Uhh....ummm....Uhhh.....I'm just gonna take this cup if that's alright with you"
Stryker told the dragon. The dragon turned to him, and snarled, standing up with it's sword at the ready. "OH COME ON YOU GOT A ROOM FULL OF SHINY THING'S....w-wait...." He stammered, seeing the broken statue. "....that was an accident" His pleas fell on deaf ear's to the metal dragon who charged at Stryker with full speed. Stryker dodged its attack, and fired a blast that bounced off the dragon's scales, as it stood up from it's charge, and went after him again. Stryker managed to fire three shot's, before dodging another attack from the dragon which knocked over a shiny sword.
A platinum artifact that fell off the sword, hummed, and faded from view. Outside....Scarlett could sense the tome that had faded from it's resting place that kept her outside, as she passed through the gauntet with the trap's disabled.
"You want this....come, and get it" Stryker challenged, pointing his gun at him. The dragon once again charged, as more gunfire rang from his weapon, before the dragon knocked him into one of the support's of the vault. The dragon was about to finish Stryker off, until the sound's of claw mark's was heard slicing through the vault's wall. Scarlett crashed through the vault wall, as Stryker groaned. "Here's.....your cup" He said weakly, as Scarlett looked back at him, before quickly running forward, and gutting the metal dragon, it's scream's piercing the air.
Stryker was fading in, and out of consciousness, as Scarlett approached him. "Drink up Stryker.....it's good for yoooooouuuu HAHAHAHAHA" She smiled, as she drank the entire cup, and poured a strange black liquid over his body. Stryker woke up, and found himself near the end of the tunnel that would take him outside The Grid. He had no idea where he was, or how he got there, but he saw an elevator that was operational, and above ground. "Look's like this is my ticket out of here" Stryker smiled, until he barely heard Scarlett's laughter echo around him briefly, while he got into the elevator, and went up.
The elevator took him up to the wasteland's. Stryker was out, and able to continue.
To be continued, In Season 2
"LET'S GO, LET'S GO!!!!!!" One of the ponies shouted, as they all ran toward's the exit of the abandoned building that Link had showed them.
"WE GOTTA GET OUTTA HERE.....LET'S GO!!!!!!" Another pony shouted, as all the ponies began fleeing toward's the exit. Pixel was rushing out with all the other's, until she came to a screeching halt. The mare looked back at her rescuer, as Link battled the Elite Predator who followed each of his blow's. The Yautja attacked with his combi-stick, but Link blocked the powerful attack with his shield. Link managed to use enough of his strength to force the Predator back, and attacked with his sword. The Yautja was able to block the blow with his combi-stick, before pushing Link back, and attempting to kill him with an eletrical dread-slam.
Link was fast enough to dodge the attack, as he climbed to his feet, and charged at the Yautja. "Guy's.....we can't just leave him" Pixel told the fleeing ponies, as one of the stallion's stopped with the rest of the group, as he turned to Pixel.
"Pixel...he's a total stranger, we have to get out of here" One of the stallion's mentioned.
"This Stranger came to save us, I'm going to help him" Pixel told them, and turned to help Link defeat the Yautja.
"FOR THE LOVE OF ASS PIXEL....." One of the mare's snarled which was deaf to Pixel's ear's. Link's charge, and sword attack was blocked by the Yautja's wristbracer who knocked the knight's sword aside, and prepared to attack him with his combi-stick, but Link blocked it with his shield, and forced the Yautja to the ground. The Elite Predator looked up to see Link approach him with his sword in hand, ready to finish off his opponent. Link soon heard a whirring noise, seeing that the Cybermen were slowly starting to move, and recover from the emp grenade that he threw.
At that moment the Yautja put away his wristbracer, and brought out his plasma caster, using his laser to aim at Link. The plasma caster discharged, as Link's shield blocked the attack, but the shot was powerful enough to slam him into the wall, and make him collapse to the ground. The Yautja got up quickly, and approached Link who had lost his shield, and sword from the blast. The Elite Predator locked his laser on Link, ready to discharge his plasma caster.
Link saw Pixel approach, as she picked up the sword....it was a bit heavy at first due to her captivity, but she still had some strength to wield it. The mare ran full speed at the Yautja, and slammed the sword into the Yautja's leg armor, causing him to turn to her un-amused.
"I guess this make's us even" She smiled. The two then turned their attention to see the Cybermen coming back online from being stunned by the Emp Grenade. They pulled out their gun's, and began to open fire, as Link shoved Pixel back, using his sword to deflect the bullet's. The gunfire got more out of control, as it began to fire at the ponies that were waiting on Pixel before escaping. "Watch out" One stallion told them, as he made the other escapee's take cover.
"Out of my way I gotta get outta here" One complained, but was soon forced to keep his head down to dodge a bullet. Link was soon unlucky, as the Cybermen shot hin in the arm, then opened fire through the chest. Link hit the ground dead with Pixel being shocked, and horrified.
"Oh no, Oh no, no, no, no.....GET UP!!!!!!" She screamed.
"PIXEL....." One of the stallion's spoke up, before dodging a bullet. ".....We cannot......*ping*.....wait for you any longer.....WE ARE GOING!!!!!!" The stallion mentioned, before fleeing for the exit. A thundering boom was heard, as a masked female Equestrian being, slammed to the ground with a scythe in hand that created an energy wave upon her arrival.
"Your not going anywhere" The masked female being spoke through her mask....her voice sounding both sweet, and terrifiying. The stallion stayed where he was, while the female Equestrian being used some form of magic to grab all the ponies, trying to escape....including Pixel, as she brought them to where they were.
"My Lord....The hunter has failed in bringing in the designated quota" The Cyberman told the female Equestrian who looked down at the dead Yautja, before turning back to the Cybermen.
"So he has" She replied with little to no care in her voice. It was a bit dark to see, but the Equestrian being seemed to not only be masked, but was wearing a black cape, while wielding her scythe on her shoulder. "Back to the outpost....we won't be needing these chain's anymore....your all smart enough to know what happen's if you run away" The female Equestrian warned them.
"Hey....what are you gonna do with us....where are we going.....ANSWER ME.....you can't just drag us around like this....WHO DO YOU THINK YOU AR.....GAAAAHHHH!!!!!" One of the Equestrian ponies began to speak up, unil the female Equestrian lifted him up in a powerful Force Choke....the gravity of her power's pressing against his throat. The female Equestrian lifted him up high, and yanked him toward's her, as she used her scythe to slice him in half.....blood, and gut's erupting everyywhere, while his severed corpse came to a stop.
"Any other question's?" The female Equestrian asked coldly, as the other's stayed silent in response.
