"Ma'am, you're online with Ms. Fluttershy."
"Thank you, sergeant."
"H-hello? Hm. Is this the right channel?"
"Hi, Fluttershy!"
"Vinyl? Is that you? It's so great to hear your voice!"
"Likewise! Anything up back at home?"
"Not really. Everypony in town is talking about your squad being deployed."
"I heard. I really miss you, Flutter."
"Me too. It's so hard for me to be away from you."
"Oh. We're almost at the Hydra. I'll call you later. I love you!"
"I love you too."
Then the screen turned off. Our pilot attempted to make contact with the UE Hydra for the hundredth time. We figured if there was somepony in there, they would pick up our signal by now.
"UE Hydra, this is Search Party, come in. Is anypony there?"
"Any answer?"
"No ma'am. Nothing but static."
"If nopony's there, why is the power still on? They're supposed to shut off the power if they ever needed to evacuate."
"Maybe they never got a chance?"
"It doesn't matter. We're landing anyway."
I pushed him aside and pushed the button on the communicator, letting my voice be heard.
"UE Hydra, this is Major General Vinyl Scratch. Respond."
"..."
"Very well, we are landing, with or without your permission. Prepare for our arrival."
I released the button and then told the pilot to land the ship. Everyone else was scanning the docks for anypony.
"There's nopony on the docks, Major. This is getting creepy."
"Pull yourself together, Frog. You call yourself a Planet Hopper?"
"Yes, sir."
As we landed, the sound of the engines echoed off the walls of the enormous loading bay. My team got on their armor, loaded their plasma cutters and checked them twice, applied the RIGS to our suits, then we all set off. Sonar, our radio expert, was in charge of all communication and detection throughout the mission. Bulk was our weapons expert, and Frog was second-in-command. Hawk eye was our pilot. He was in charge of protecting the ship as well, along with the piloting stuff, of course. Along with Lucky, Flesh, and Trigger.
Hawk eye dropped us off at different parts of the loading bay.
Sonar check his PMDD (Pony Movement Detection Device) and reported, "Spinner, I'm detecting movement in the main lobby, just past the door in Bay E4."
"Copy that. All units, meet up at Bay E4."
"Roger that."
"On my way."
After a while, everypony was at the door of Bay E4. We opened the door to find nothing. No pony was in the lobby, but there was something. There was suitcases all over the floor, most seemed like they were bashed open. There were occasional blood drops on the floor, but that was not something to be concerned about.
"Damn... Where did everypony go?"
"It looks like they left in a hurry."
"You guys see the blood on the floor, or am I just crazy?"
"Nah, you're not crazy. I see it too, but you are one fucked up pony, Bulk."
"Shut up."
"Bulk, Sonar. Zip it."
"Spinner, this is Lucky. I don't see anypony in lobby E3. And Flesh couldn't find anypony in E2 or E1. I have no idea where Trigger went."
"Find Trigger and tell him to meet us in the Cargo Hold, next to the Loading Bay."
"Copy, out."
"Alright everypony, let's head to the Cargo Hold."
"Why the Cargo Hold? Why not just go to the Bridge?"
"Because. If anypony is hiding from someone else, the Bridge would be the first place for them to check. The Cargo Hold is the last place anypony would guess to search in."
Just then, a loud alarm sounded off. Then there was a voice over the intercom.
"Hostiles have been spotted. Initiating Lockdown Sequence 1625."
All the doors slammed shut and the only source of light was our flashlights and a dull, red color coming from another source of light. Then, Trigger's voice came into my microphone.
"Spinner, this is Trigger. Sorry about earlier. Was checking the Repair Wing. Didn't find anypony though."
Then, Hawk eye came in.
"Spinner, there's door locking all over the ship!"
"We known, Hawk eye."
"I know what to do though. First, somepony needs to flip the emergency override switch. It should be in the receptionist's office behind you."
I looked behind me and saw the office. The door into the office was for some reason unlocked. Thank Celestia. I entered the room and found a switch on the wall. It was probably the emergency override switch. I switched it and all the lights came back on. A schematic of the ship appeared on the computer screen. The shape of the ship was all green, meaning the Lockdown Sequence was overridden. A door on the right side of the room opened and Lucky, Flesh, and Trigger entered the room.
"Hey, the door opened. Cool."
Hawk eye came on mic again.
"Good job, the ship is back to neutral mode."
But our victory was to be short lived.
"Spinner, I'm getting movement in Bay E4 again. They're in the air vents!"
Suddenly, something burst through the roof. It was a pony alright. But not like anypony I have ever seen. I had blades coming out of it's hooves, it's face looks as if it put it's head in a incinerator for hours, and it's stomach was cut wide open. It stabbed Flesh right through his back and dragged him back up the vent! He screamed in pain as he was quickly pulled from view.
"Holy shit! What was that!?"
"You think I would know!?"
My instincts kicked in and I ran after Flesh. Since they were in the air vents, the only way to follow them was by the noise, which wasn't exactly easy since the Hydra needs a lot of engines and contraptions to run it. Soon enough, I lost track. I contacted the rest of the team.
"Planet Hoppers, we lost Flesh."
"Copy that... What now?"
"We must find that... thing. There may be more than one."
"Uhh, you got that right, Spinner."
"Come again?"
"We got more of those things trying to get through the door! Lucky, Bulk! Cover the right entrance! Me and Frog got the left! Sonar! Get somepony on the line! We need to get the fuck out of here!"
"Roger that!"
Then the line went dead. I tried to reestablish contact. I did, but there was more static than words.
"They- through the door! - has been injured! - won't hold out much -! Shit!"
"What!? Say again!"
"..."
"Hawk eye! You still there!?"
"Yes sir! I got these things trying to get into the ship! I'm on the gun turrent, but the door won't hold forever! I need assistance!
"Negative! The E4 lobby has been compromised! I can't get past it! I have to find another way around!'
"Are you kidding me!? I'll be dead by the time you even find a way back!!"
"I don't appreciate that typ of negativity! Just hold out for as long as you can! I'll try and get to the bay through the other bay lobbies!"
"Just hurry!"
"I'm on my way!"
I looked at the lobby schedules. All the lobbies were locked and closed from my side of the doors. I don't think emergency override switches will help with this one. Luckily, I downloaded the ship schematics on the way here. There was another way to get to the loading bay, but I had to take the long way around. I had to go through the engine room and the gravity generator room. Mind as well get going. Better check up on Hawk eye from time to time.
The engine room door was unlocked. I pressed my hoof on it and it scanned.
"Identity confirmed. Welcome Major General Vinyl Scratch a.k.a Spinner. Remember to follow safety protocols when required." and the door opened. But before I could get to the engine room, I had to pass through a hallway that led to a decontamination chamber, then I could enter.
Hawk eye's voice rang in the mic. "Uh, Spinner? We have a situation here."
"Yes, I'm aware that you are under attack, just defend your ass until I get there."
"No sir, it's not that. I was looking for any spare health because one of those things broke in and slashed me, and I found something in the cargo containers. A strand of pink hair."
My expression dropped. "Are you shitting me?"
"No sir. I think your wife is on the damn ship!"
"How did you not see her!?"
"I do not know! I think she snuck around me when the lockdown sequence was still active!"
"Shit, shit, shit. This is not good. This is not good."
I came up to the decontamination center. I slammed the button down with my hoof, which made the showers start. I hope my suit doesnt rust from the water. Horrible thoughts ran through my head of Fluttrshy being on this Celestia foresaken ship. Was she ok? Was she dead? Was she scared? Suddenly, there was a loud alarm and the showers stopped. This time, there was no red light. Just my flashlight that was attached to my helmet.
"Engine failure detected in level 5. All systems shutting down for safety reasons."
There was somepony else in the center with me. I could hear hoofsteps. I pulled out my plasma cutter. A low hissing sound pierced through the darkness and made contact with my ears. Then an unknown force pushed me to the ground from behind. I rolled to my back and was faced to face with the fucking ugliest thing I have ever seen. It rose its hoof, ready to dig the blade Into me. I was ready to accept my fate, until I saw it. It was holding something in it's other hoof. It was a necklace. It had a black musical note on it. It was my first anniversary gift to Fluttershy. She never took it off.
Was Fluttershy dead? I didnt know if she was, but the sight of that necklace not being on Fluttershy's neck got me into rage mode, if you know what I mean. I grabbed the thing's hoof, and dug the blade into it's face instead. It lost its grip on me. I pushed it back and fired away. It took a few bullets, but I got him to go down. I ran to the necklace and took off my helmet. I put near my chest and began to cry.
I heard a banging sound. It was coming from behind me. I couldn't see it, but I could see it's shadow. It ran into a air vent near the floor. I pulled back to stock on my plasma cutter, which released a clip and loaded in a new one.
"Come on out, you ugly bastard..."
I could hear sobbing. The hell? I aimed my flashlight/helmet in the vent and saw a fimiliar face. It was Fluttershy.
Fluttershy was alive? Holy crap... I was so happy to see her breathing. But not at the moment. Those monsters were still going through my head and I could hear more coming.
"Fluttershy!"
She looked at me and hugged me in the tightest way possible. How strong was she? I couldn't breathe. My suit can withstand pressure in space! How can it not withstand a pony who won't even hurt a fly?
Fluttershy finally loosened her grip on my body, only to have my lips touch hers. I have no idea how long we kissed, but from my perspective, it was too short. After a while, we stopped. Now it was time for questions.
"Fluttershy, what are you doing here?"
"I... I just wanted to make sure you would be safe..."
"Fluttershy, sweetie... I'm a major general of the UEAF. I didn't get this rank because I asked nicely. I can handle myself. You have no idea what danger you have put on yourself."
"I don't care, Vinnie. I love you, and I'll always be by your side."
"No. You don't understand. Ther-"
"SPINNER! SPINNER, ARE YOU THERE!?"
"Hold that thought. Hawk eye! What's your situation!?"
"The ugly bastards got onto the ship! There's more types of these things! I just killed one that dosen't have back hooves! They have spiked tails! I ne- GET THE FUCK OFF ME!!!! I need help now!! How long before you can get your ass over here!?"
"I don't know, Hawk eye! I have to cut through the engine room and the gravity generator! Plus, I found Fluttershy!"
"Of all the damn luck! Just get over here! I can't hold them off much longer!"
"I'm on my way! Sit tight!"
"That's going to be a problem!"
I looked at Fluttershy, fear was filled in her eyes. She has never heard that type of language before. I've been trying my hardest to have never hear anything like that. I failed bad, huh? I tried to reply to Hawk eye, but the transmission already got cut off.
"Fluttershy?"
She looked at me.
"Will you promise never to leave me?"
She nodded.
"Grab my hoof. And don't let go unless I tell you too, ok?"
She stood up and grabbed my hoof. My helmet slid back in place and she jumped back. I gave her my plasma cutter and I brought out my laser sword, it was weak, but effective at close quarters.
The hallways were extremely long. The only thing that kept me from getting bored from walking was the sight of dead ponies with their stomachs split open, separated heads, and blood stains that covered the walls. I could tell that Fluttershy couldn't take it. She was clinging on to my hoof like it's the only thing that's keeping her alive. I could hear wimpers every now and then coming from behind me. I knew that it was from Fluttershy, because no monster could sound as adorable as she does.
Something wasn't right. There were air vents all over the ship, and over half the ones that we passed was broken open from the inside. It's almost as if it was used to hide before a ambush? A growling sound came from a air vent. There was two glowing lights coming from the vent.
"Fluttershy, get behind me... And don't look..."
"Why?"
"Trust me. You don't want to see this."
"But I don-"
I had my helmet come off my head, letting Fluttershy see my eyes. She nodded and closed her eyes. I brushed her mane than had my helmet reinsert on my head, then faced the vent. The growling noise continued. I turned on my laser sword. Then, the monster jumped out of the vent. It had no back hooves. It was a spiked tail, just like Hawk eye described.
It quickly crawled towards me. I tired to slice the monster, but it dodged and dove at me. It pushed me on my back, trying to bite me. My sword got pushed away from my hoof. I had to keep the monster's fangs away from me, while trying to get the sword. I grabbed it's head and snapped it. But that didn't kill it, it only stopped it from trying to biting me. It lost most of it's strength. I pushed it away and grabbed the laser sword. I then kicked the thing to the ground, grabbed its head and sliced its neck. Blood gushed everywhere. I released its head and pulled off its tail. To finish it off, I released my grip of the tail and stabbed it through the stomach.
It stopped moving finally.
"Yeah! Take that, you ugly fu-"
I stopped when I just remembered that Fluttershy could still hear me.
