The stairs stopped at level nine. Toxic expected that, especially if the ventilation systems were separate. He just had to hope an elevator was working.

He swiped the security card at the laboratory door, bright red in color to indicate a fire door.

Nothing.

Toxic tried again, but not even a flicker on the standard card-reader. He tried pushing the door-

and his hoof sank into the metal.

Toxic backed up a few steps, adrenaline spiking. Fear clouded his thoughts for a moment before he got himself under control. This wasn't right.

What were these ponies working on down here!?

For a supposedly secure facility, their precautions appeared to have failed spectacularly. His horn glowed brighter, light condensing around his head. Granted, Toxic wasn't the most powerful or adept magical user, but he had his specialized spells. In this case, he created a large bubble that isolated him from the outside world, if for but a minute or two.

He fished inside the saddlebag, pulling out the respirator the guard had given him. It was a heavier model, and appeared to be suited for this sort of thing. It was a step above the already fortified filters he had donned a few levels above. Even so, Toxic kept his light-armor the strongest around his head, lesser so for the rest of his body. To date, he hadn't found any chemical that could provoke a response on his skin or fur, but he'd rather not test that out. His eyes, mouth, and lungs, were sadly not as durable.

With a forceful kick, Toxic slammed the door open, the supposedly fire and chemical-proof metal folding like a bedspread. The lights in this area flickered, and the walls were...dripping?

Not good. A quick check insured the respirator wasn't harmed, and then Toxic carefully made his way down the hallway. The floor was a tad spongy, and considering it was suppose to be made of tile, made him more than a bit uneasy. The laboratories on either side were deserted, glass walls beginning to distort from the corrosive atmosphere. A few twists and turns later, and he made it to the main hallway, where the elevators were to be located.

At least, that was what Toxic had hoped.

Power was clearly fluctuating, and the elevator doors sat at canted angles, a dull glow from the elevator shaft casting creepy shadows across the walls. Toxic hated to send a call in to headquarters, but this wasn't on his 'ordinary jobs' list. He levitated a half-helmet onto his head, setting up the microphone and small camera.

He also hated dealing with the dispatchers. They couldn't get over his odd-sounding voice, since writing was out of the question.

“C-call HQ.” Toxic hoped the microphone would pick up his strange voice.

A brief pause...

“Toxic Shield. Your status?”

Wait, that wasn't the ordinary dispatcher. This one sounded more like a royal guard...

“Level n-nine. Cor-rosive air. Eleva-tors br-oken.”

There was the sound of a flurry of voices all clamoring for attention, but finally one boomed out among them all.

“ENOUGH!”

Ow. His ears would be ringing for a few minutes after that. Mr. Boom-voice began speaking then, his tone clipped and polished.

“Toxic, you need to get to level ten. There is a neutralizing agent there. The system should have engaged, but the electronics must have fried. You need to engage the tanks, and flood the area.”

“W-With wha-t?”

“Dang, your voice IS weird. Whatever. The substance is an emergency base concoction, strong enough to neutralize anything in there. It was suppose to engage in this sort of scenario.”

“Direct-tions?”

“The tanks are directly below you. First door on your right from exiting the elevator. You need to breach the tanks in the next room. Using a standard destructive spell should do it. Look, that stuff has eaten through the floors and containment areas, and it will eventually hit the water main, or an underground river. There should be a supply closet to your right, if this camera thing is working correctly. There is either an air duct to your left, where you can punch through to the lower system, or the elevator shaft. Anything we teleport in there will be degraded by that air- jeez, how is this guy even alive? These readouts are showing the air being corrosive to all types of metal! He should have melted by now!”

Toxic guessed he wasn't suppose to hear that last part. Supply closet it was. Trotting over to the door, Toxic gave it a nudge with his hoof. Thankfully, the metal didn't give as much. Maybe the supplies could be salvaged.

Even so, he was able to easily punch the lock and handle mechanism completely out from the door. He took a quick look inside, noting some durable rope and cable. That would have to do. There were also some spare respirator filters, the same filters as his current ones. Walking over to the elevator shaft, Toxic took a peek in-

And promptly couldn't breath.

Panic set in, and out of pure reflex he created a mini-bubble of clean air, ripping off his respirator as he backed away from the shaft. Now he was truly afraid. Toxic staring at the melted filters with wide eyes, not wanting to accept what he saw. What could melt these completely off? Even through his magic?

This was out of his league, but who else could help? The answer to that question caused him to pull out his personal respirator, which was considerably more durable than the others, but lacking the better filtration. A quick adjustment with the other spare filters, and that was remedied. So much for the elevator shafts.

As Toxic made his way over to the air vent, he took one of the one-use teleportation devices, keeping it tucked onto a specially-made holder on his shoulder. If things got bad, hopefully it would pull him to safety, assuming it didn't melt first.

For the first time that day, uneasiness began to creep into Toxic's heart. Sure, he had been scared a few times in the short hours he had been here, but this was different. Instead of an instance off fear, there was a pervading feeling. He wasn't used to that. Usually he was safe, the chemicals never being able to get through his protective gear. The few times they had, he knew exactly what he was dealing with. This was a complete unknown. Then again, that's why he signed up for this job, because he could improvise, because nobody else had his unique ability.

And because it got his mind off...things.

Toxic's eyes narrowed, the white glow flaring around his horn and body as he bolstered his armor. If need be, he could filter the air through his light-helmet, but that took a lot out of him. Well, there was only one route now.

He pushed the soggy metal aside, inching his way into the air duct. It supported his weight, but barely. Thankfully, someone must have been watching, because the eyepiece on the helmet refocused, showing the upcoming air shaft, and the best place to break through.

Unfortunately, he never got a chance to show that, because the air duct gave way.

Unknown to either Toxic or his dispatchers, there were others watching the live camera feed. In a large tower, deep in the heart of Canterlot, two alicorns sat in front of a large screen (one of the newer additions to the palace.)

“He fell from the air duct. Those chemicals must have eaten all the way through the ceiling and support braces.”

“Tell me, dear sister, did thy architects design said building, or didst you?”

“...I drew up the plans, they built it.”

“I see. Should we help him?”

“Of the many things I can do, survive in that sort of atmosphere isn't one of them, at least not for long. Neither can you Lulu.”

“Fine. Ah! He has stood up again! Thou was correct in summoning this one for the task. I am already impressed!”

“Hush. He's on the move again. Get ready to transport him out if need be.”

“Yes Tia.”

Author's Note

Woohoo! Another chapter! Let me know what you all think!
Also, thank you to all those who fav'd my story. It really means a lot =)

I request your feedback on an issue!

To show Toxic's speech impediment, I thought of trying this, to show a fluctuation in tone and pitch:
"SeE, lIKE thIS. BuT iT looKS a TAd aNNoyING"
^I think that just gave my eyes cancer....

Yea. I settled on using broken up works. 'Bea-cause'
Like that. But hey, let me know what you all think would flow the best/get the flow across!