Dead Space: Expendable

Chapters

Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2

Prologue

At The End Of All Things

Her red eyes stared at the figure from behind the glass. It was a symbol of twisted nightmares, a herald for a monstrous life after death, and the very thing that would end it all.

The Marker.

Two red stones twisted around each other, like a double helix from a DNA strand, and the markings printed on it glowed a low red. She didn’t want to look at the markings but knew that there was no way not to. Even if she didn’t, she could hear the damned artifact whisper in her mind, telling her things that would try to comfort her and tell her it was okay but then there was the side of it telling her to end it, to end her torture and become whole.

She wanted to.

The pulse rifle she held in her hoof was looking more and more enticing, and the urge to just put it up to her head and give in to its wishes was almost overwhelming.

No. Don’t think about it. I have to stop this...I have to stop this first.

She now stared at the metallic ground, trying her hardest to silence the whispers in her mind. They wouldn’t stop but this was not what had this mare on her final bastion of sanity. The whispers she heard were produced from the Marker, she knew this much, but the whispers and hallucinations were real enough for her.

The whispers of dead friends, co-workers, and even ones that passed away many years ago all spoke to her, some hateful and angry, while others were soothing and assuring. Regardless of this though, they all had one message in common.

Make. Us. Whole.

“Not yet...not...not until the Marker is destroyed. I have to destroy it,” she said to herself, now holding her head in her hoof.

She stared more into the metallic floor and noticed her reflection. Her face was speckled in blood and her security suit was drenched in it. Her blue mane was flat from blood and sweat. Even her weapon was covered in the accursed liquid.

Tears began to form at the corner of her eyes and fall silently to the floor but she didn’t let her painful mourning distract from what she needed to do. She lifted her head back up and readied her pulse rifle. Only the sound of her bloody boots were heard as she made her way to the glowing, holographic console that sat idle in the bloodied room with her. She knew what had to be done but she needed to let others know what had happened here.

She needed to send a message to any who would listen and hope that somepony could stop Celestia and the Markers.

Make us whole. Let’s be together again.

“Stop...please. I have to do this first,” the mare whispered to herself as she took a seat at the console. Beads of sweat began to form over her forehead and her breathing was steadily becoming heavy.

Make us whole. Why delay us?

She didn’t respond and ignored the whispers as she activated the console. A yellow holographic screen appeared before her and without delay, a small light emitted from the console and scanned over the mare’s red eyes.

////Initiating///Retina Scan Complete////

“Welcome Vinyl Scratch,” a monotone, female robotic voice said, “Please sync your RIG now.”

Make us whole Vinyl.

“Shut up,” she replied wearily, slowly losing herself in her own insanity. Vinyl brought her hoof up to a small button on her suit and pressed.

The console’s holographic screen was silent for a moment but then it began displaying information, reading as follows:

////RIG scan-Complete////
Name: Captain Scratch/ Vinyl Scratch
Sex: Female
Occupation: Head of Station Vera Security Detail

“Thank you Vinyl Scratch,” the robotic voice spoke again, “You may record when you are ready. Have a good day.”

“Begin recording,” Vinyl commanded weakly.

A smaller holographic screen now appeared to the side of the console and showed it recording her and taking video.

She began her transmission.

My name is Vinyl Scratch. I may be the sole survivor. We...we encountered an alien life form on the station. They have taken over the bodies of citizens and crew here. All residential areas are lost and life support systems are slowly shutting down. My team is dead...my friends are dead or missing. I have found information that has led me to believe that the Marker that Celestia had ordered to be created is somehow responsible for what happened here. If I fail in destroying it, to whoever may find this recording, the station and the marker...

Must be destroyed.

“Set recording to active and end.”

The console obeyed and shut down, storing her message and having it ready to be viewed by anypony that was, by some small chance, still alive.

Vinyl sat in her seat and closed her eyes, trying to suppress everything she had seen today. The corpses coming back to life, the screams of death and fear, and the countless bodies she had left in her wake during her fight for survival.

“Unng,” she groaned.

In the darkness of her closed eyes, symbols began to flash. She didn’t know what they meant, nor cared. They were symbols, nothing more. Symbols that belonged to a religion that she now despised and loathed.

“Fucking Unitologists,” she laughed softly, “A beautiful unity after death huh?”

It was ironic to her. Ponies who believed in Unitology often preached about how glorious and beautiful their unity would be and that the race before them that they would refer to as ‘a divine alien agency’ created the Marker so they could all be reunified in Heaven.

Vinyl usually didn’t get involved too deep with Unitologists and their beliefs but she knew for a fact that if this was their view of a beautiful life after death, then they were more fucked up than she thought.

They promised unity and life but instead, they received death and a twisted afterlife.

“Well, I guess if I die, at least I’ll know I was right about their shit,” Vinyl said with a solemn tone.

Please Vinyl...make us whole.

Vinyl got up from her seat and brought her pulse rifle into both her hooves. She walked over to the door that would lead directly to the Marker. Hoofprints and symbols in blood covered the mechanical door along with messages from others who have passed in the room, probably now dead and transformed into Necromorphs.

Make us whole Vinyl.

Vinyl prepared herself for her what was to come. Everything she had lost and witnessed had now led up to this. She had to destroy the Marker.

Her helmet began to form over her head, locking and clicking into place. Within seconds, her riot helmet was on. A red light protruded from the two slits in the head piece and she took a deep breath.

She opened the door and readied her pulse rifle.

"I'll make us whole."

P3RROHAMBRE

presents

Dead Space: Expendable

Chapter 1

Welcome To Vera Station

24 hours earlier...

Beep! Beep! Beep! Bee-!

Vinyl Scratch slammed her hoof on the small alarm clock, silencing its repetitive and quite annoying ring.

Fuck. Already?

The last thing Vinyl wanted to do right now was get up and start her day, knowing full well what was coming. Now granted, her job didn’t consist of anything difficult or strenuous...most of the time. On a typical day, she would only watch and patrol areas that she was positioned in. Here and there she would have to break up a fight between CEC workers or on rare occasions, actually arrest somepony.

But today was different.

Today, a special event was taking place within the Church of Unitology and the CEC in all their wisdom requested that her team specifically be there to ensure security. Vinyl wasn’t what you would call one to obey orders on the first go and she made clear how much she...disliked and disagreed...with her particular assigned task.

Alas, even with such protest, here she was lying in bed, loathing and cursing in her mind.

Why the hell would the Church of Unitology need security? This is complete bull.

The white unicorn slowly opened her eyes to reveal a semi-dark room lit with a few candles.

She had a simple room compared to most on the station, though some wondered why, since she was the captain of Vera Station’s security detail. Vinyl wasn’t one who needed much, just the basics. She had a bed, her holo-television, a desk for log work, and a bathroom. This was all that she required to be happy.

Okay...let’s get this shit done.

With reluctance, Vinyl slowly lifted herself up from her bed, rubbing her eyes and yawning.

“Lights on,” Vinyl commanded as she slid off the side of her bed and began blowing out flickering candles.

The overhead lights flashed on and a robotic voice was heard, though Vinyl really never paid any attention to it. If anything, it just annoyed her.

“Good morning Captain Vinyl Scratch. I hope you slept well.”

“Whatever,” Vinyl replied as she made her way to her bathroom.

As always, it was routine of the mare to freshen herself up before she started her day, though now she was wishing she was in some type of coma, at least until tomorrow. Vinyl entered the restroom and walked into the small shower.

“Please set preferred temperature,” the same robotic voice asked.

“Sixty degrees Fahrenheit.”

A small blue holographic screen appeared under the shower head and read sixty degrees, just as she wanted. In moments, a solid stream of water splashed against her body. It wasn’t hot or too cold and Vinyl had to admit that this was probably going to be the best part of her day.

She hung her head and let the water hit her blue mane, flattening it and letting the water’s soothing touch splash across her head.

Her eyes began to droop and her body was becoming more and more relaxed. It would be so easy for her to just go back to sleep, ignore today, come back to reality tomorrow, and-

“Incoming video call for Captain Scratch.”

“Huh?!” Vinyl yelped, her eyes shooting back open and her body going into full alert.

She snapped out of her lethargic state and quickly opened the shower door to make her way to the monitor in her room. She snatched a towel from her rack that was beside the shower and wrapped it around her body.

“Incoming video call for Captain Scratch.”

“Yeahyeahyeah! I hear you!”

Vinyl went back into her room and quickly sat down at her small desk. The blue holo-screen flashed a small green light in the corner, signaling that there was a call waiting. She looked at the caller information on the monitor.

Incoming Call: 1st Lt Dash, Rainbow
Request: Video
Subject: N/A

She pressed the green light with her hoof and in an instant, the pony who was trying to call her came on.

“Hey Vinyl! About time you answered. Thought for a minute you were still sleeping and I would have to come and wake your ass up again.”

Vinyl rolled her eyes.

“What is it Rainbow Dash? I was in the middle of a shower.”

Vinyl didn’t mean to sound annoyed with Dash or anything, but she couldn’t help it. This day was already going to be bad enough for her and she just wanted to be alone right now, but Rainbow Dash wasn’t one to call without reason. The pegasus was a good member of the team, despite her ego that she liked to flaunt at times, but Vinyl knew that Rainbow Dash always had her back, thus the reason Vinyl hoof picked her personally to be part of her team.

“Well sorry, but I wanted to tell you that our new suits and RIGs came in today from EQ Gov. finally.”

Vinyl raised her brow in surprise.

“Are you telling me we’re just getting them now? I thought CEC put in a request two months ago for them? Didn’t the Director forward that request?”

Rainbow Dash simply shrugged on the screen.

“Hey, don’t ask me. You can take that to the Director and ask.”

“I would but I can’t. EQ Gov. along with the Director, issued a 8934 Delta on the sector. They will only let authorized personnel in.,” Vinyl replied flatly.

“Still? They’ve had that in place for the past week ever since Celestia came to the station.”

Vinyl knew full well what her comrade was talking about. A week ago, Celestia, head of the Equestrian Government Vector in the entire Sol System, came to Vera Station. For what reason, Vinyl didn’t know and didn’t care. In all honesty, Vinyl could care less what EQ Gov. did. She worked under the CEC and those were the ones that she answered to, with the exception of the Director.

“Yeah, well, that’s none of our business Dash.”

Rainbow Dash rolled her magenta eyes on the screen.

“I don’t know Vinyl. You already know how I feel about all that.”

“Oh hell, not this again Dash. Just save-” but it was too late and the pegasus began onto her spiel.

“I mean, look at it. Ever since Celestia has left after last week and Gov. sector basically shut down, shit has gotten weird here; the murders, the suicides, the reports of hearing scratching in the walls? That shit didn’t start until after Celestia came.”

“Again, that’s not our concern. They have Gov. Specialists taking care of that. Probably just ponies going nuts from being on the station too long and with today’s event at the church, I can see ponies going a bit crazy,” Vinyl stated, but she shared the same question.

After Celestia had left the station and the Gov. Sector issued its delta command, murders and suicides had spiked by the middle of the week and had been continually rising since then. These weren’t just simple murders with obvious motives or suicides with reason though. What struck Vinyl as weird is that the ones who committed the murders and suicides. Little did her team know she was able to snag a few medical reports while she was stationed in the Medical Sector and what she found didn’t make any sense. Report after report showed ponies that were in good health, physically and mentally just a week before Celestia came to the station. Vinyl didn’t understand why now all of a sudden they would go and kill their own co-workers, friends, and themselves.

Then again, it wasn’t her place to understand.

“Okay whatever. Anyways,” Rainbow Dash continued on the monitor, “Your new RIG should already be stored within the station’s database and synced with all systems that you have clearance to. That’s at least what I heard from the eggheads up in Central.”

Vinyl nodded.

“Alright, thanks for the info Dash. Is there anything else you need, because I really need to get ready unfortunately.”

Rainbow Dash laughed openly.

“You’re really hating our detail today aren’t you?”

“You have no idea,” Vinyl laughed in response.

“Well can’t really blame you there. You should’ve heard the drunken rant that Berry was having last night about it and how she might be tempted to take a Force Gun and shove it through the preacher’s ass.”

Vinyl smiled wide and shook her head. Berry Punch, their newest member on the team, was a character to the say the least. She joined her team only but a few weeks ago due to a transfer the mulberry mare had requested from Sierra Station. Though she was a rookie, Vinyl couldn’t help but love the mare’s company. She was always a good laugh when she decided to have a few drinks and also good to have for morale.

“As much as I would like to see that, I rather not have her do that and put the team into a shitstorm with CEC.”

“Yeah, I don’t need any more write-ups on my flank either,” Dash answered with slight dismay, “Well I’ll let you go and get ready. Are you down for a quick smoke later at the Market Sector before we have to go listen to some sermons?” Rainbow Dash asked jokingly.

Vinyl smirked at her best friend and comrade.

“You’re bringing the sticks.”

****

Vinyl walked down the large hallway, now packed with ponies walking to whatever their destinations were. The metallic walls were plastered in electronic ads trying to sell merchandise and messages telling ponies how to get somewhere or if they’re arriving to a new sector. Vinyl didn’t really understand why there were messages like that considering that every RIG was outfitted with a locator.

Welcome to Vera Station! One of the messages scrolled.

Yep. Welcome to Vera, the station out in the middle of bumfuck nowhere.

It technically wasn’t a station out in the middle of space. It was established a few years before she was born and acted as a hub to transfer resources to colonies on different planets from the
spoils of planet-cracking.

This is what kept the equine race alive.

Vinyl was told stories by her mother, which were passed down from her grandparents, of Earth and the actual kingdom of Equestria and how beautiful it was. Grass, birds, flowers, and even the different types of woodland creatures that lived on the planet were described to her and they teased her imagination as a filly.

But soon enough, the resources that they were using from the planet eventually became scarce and as all things, came to an end. Generation by generation passed and the planet died more and more with each passing.

So, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna rose up and helped pony kind develop technology and persuaded their subjects to branch out into the stars and harvest planets for their resources needed to survive. In this, government was established and the two regals that once held the titles of ‘princesses were now head of EQ Gov. and CEC.

That was the story every filly or colt that was born now was told, but it wouldn’t matter when they finally realized that they will never see that once beautiful planet their elders spoke about. They would never know how green that grass was, how beautiful those birds sounded, and how cute those small woodland critters were.

She would never know but that was a sadness she had back as a filly. She no longer cared and accepted that this was her life and she was going to make the best out of it.

Welcome to the Market Sector.

Vinyl entered through the large mechanical doors as they slide open for her. She entered the sector with the door shutting behind her. A mass of ponies walked the artificial sidewalks with shops lining every pathway and corner, and a large glass ceiling that showed off the stars and other parts of the immense station.

This was a place ponies came to shop for necessities such as food, water, and clothes. Not to say that it wasn’t a place to have an enjoyable shopping experience either. There were shops that sold artifacts from Earth, some with upgraded RIGS and designs, others for certain professions, and even some for ponies who are looking for a bit of lustful fun. Regardless, this was the place to be if one wanted or needed something.

But Vinyl didn’t need any of this. Right now, she needed to get over to the smoking hub at the corner of the sector and find Rainbow Dash.

With her pulse rifle slung over the back of her security suit, Vinyl made her way over to the smoking hub and saw her rainbow-maned comrade sitting on one of the silver benches inside it, waving over to her.

Vinyl opened the door to hub and entered the glass chamber. A small air filter was running inside it and there were ashtrays installed in the sides of the bench, ready to incinerate their haysticks when needed.

“Look Cap, I know you’re really not about the whole Unitology detail thing, but do you think you could’ve taken any longer getting here?” Rainbow Dash jested.

Vinyl sat beside the mare.

“Hey, don’t try and say that you’re into this either Dash,” Vinyl answered with a smile and nudging the pony in her shoulder, “And you know I don’t like you calling me ‘Cap’ when we’re not on duty.”

Rainbow Dash shook her head and laughed as she pulled out a small white box out of a compartment in her suit. She wore the same exact security suit as Vinyl but the only change was that it had a blue color to it, unlike Vinyl’s suit which had a red. This was to be expected though due to their ranks.

“Sorry Vinyl, just like screwing with you at times,” Rainbow Dash laughed as she handed a haystick to her.

Vinyl took the haystick and thanked her real quick before putting it in her mouth.

“Yeah,” Vinyl said with the small white stick in her mouth, “You and CEC both seem to like fucking with me.”

Dash grinned at her.

“You know it,” she answered and popped in her own haystick into her mouth.

Within moments, the two haysticks flickered with a small flame at the tip and lit themselves. Vinyl inhaled deeply, taking in its flavor and puffing the smoke out. The smoke didn’t get a chance to linger and the air filter in the ceiling of the hub sucked it up in an instant.

“So is the rest of the team supposed to be meeting at the church?” Vinyl asked, now thinking about her upcoming task.

Rainbow Dash nodded her head and puffed out a plume of smoke.

“Yeah, Berry, Big Macintosh, and Applejack will meet us there. I told them that we were just going to stop for a quick smoke before getting on the tram.”

“Alright cool,” Vinyl said, taking another hit of her haystick.

“Oh hell, check that out,” Rainbow said, jumping up on her hind legs and taking a closer look.

Vinyl looked to where her friend’s eyes were staring at and noticed a mass of ponies forming in the middle of the Market sector, dressed in robes and clothing with strange symbols on them.

“Look Vinyl, your favorite type of ponies,” Rainbow laughed.

Vinyl simply scoffed at such a statement.

“Yeah the fuck right, I wouldn’t be caught dead being any type of friend to a Unitologist.”

“Well there’s some that aren't all hardcore about it,” Dash said with a bit of seriousness, “I have friends that are Unitologists you know? What do you have against them?”

Vinyl had plenty against them. A secret she kept to herself and didn’t really want to talk about. It was already bad enough she had to be in their company, she didn’t want to go into her past and what not about them too.

“Just not my type of pony.”

Rainbow Dash threw her hoof into Vinyl’s shoulder playfully.

“I guess-but hey- let’s get out of this hub real quick,” Rainbow now suggested as she threw her haystick into the tray, instantly turning the item into ash,” I see the mining teams are coming up for some breakfast and I want you to meet a couple mares I met last week while I was on duty down there. They’re pretty cool.”

“Well we got time, why not?” Vinyl answered, throwing her haystick and the same result following suit.

Rainbow Dash picked up her pulse rifle and slung it over her back. With her leading the way, Vinyl followed and just took in the different kinds of ponies that were now beginning their days in the market.

There were the Unitologists dressed in their attire, probably getting ready for their event in the church today and she saw multiple mining teams dressed in their gray and black pants and sweatshirts with the CEC logo patched onto their clothing. It was typical for workers, miners, engineers, and others of profession to come to the market sector and dine for their meals.

Rainbow Dash took a turn and into a small coffee shop that read Sol Jo. The smell of purified air disappeared and was replaced by the strong aroma of artificial coffee beans and breads.

“There they are,” Rainbow Dash announced to her captain and pointed at two mares that were sitting across from each other at a table.

One mare had a dark purplish mane with moderate violet and brilliant rose strands running down through it and her tail, and her coat being soft lavender. She was a unicorn and what Vinyl could tell from her CEC patch that read EG-01, it seemed her profession was an engineer for ships.

Oh, so we got a nerd. What about the-oh wow.

Vinyl was taken off guard by what she was seeing. The other mare had a yellow coat and angelic pink hair along with a wavy tail. Her eyes were a watery blue and she wore the same uniform that the purple mare had but her patch was for something different, reading M-33.

Medical Assistant?

Vinyl had to admit that the mare was kind of cute for a medical assistant.

“Hey Fluttershy, Twilight,” Rainbow Dash greeted the two as her and Vinyl made their way to their table, “What you guys up to?”

Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle turned to see what pony was talking to them and noticed the two security mares.

“Oh, hello Lieutenant Dash,” Twilight greeted first, “We’re just having a cup of coffee before we go down to the mines. How are you this morning?”

“Oh, um, hello,” Vinyl heard the yellow mare, deducing the medical assistant to be Fluttershy.

“Nothing much, Just me and my captain here,” Rainbow Dash said, pointing her hoof at Vinyl beside her, “Getting ready to do some security work over at the church for the day.”

“Oh!” Twilight Sparkle said and looked over to Vinyl, handing out her hoof, “So you must be Captain Scratch that Lieutenant Dash has told me about.”

Vinyl shook the unicorn’s hoof and smiled while darting her eyes over to her friend with a look of ‘WTF?’

“Yeah, that would be me.”

“Pleased to meet you. Over here is my friend Fluttershy,” Twilight pointed out.

Vinyl looked over the pegasus who now had one of her eyes behind her angelic hair and looked extremely nervous.

Vinyl held out her hoof to the mare, admiring a bit how innocent she looked.

“Hello Fluttershy.”

Fluttershy looked at Vinyl for a moment and slowly held out her hoof to meet hers. Vinyl shook it gently and noticed how soft the mare’s hoof felt.

Wow. She looks real good up close.

“Uh Vinyl?” she heard Rainbow Dash say and looked over to her.She noticed her friend’s eyes looking over to her hoof and Vinyl immediately realized that she was still shaking the ponies hoof.

“Oh! Sorry,” Vinyl nervously laughed, having her hoof retreat from the open.

Fluttershy chuckled a bit and pushed a side of her hair away from the side of her face. Vinyl was pretty impressed on how innocent and cute the mare looked.

“It’s okay Captain Vinyl,” Fluttershy assured with meekness.

Rainbow Dash snickered a bit, making Vinyl turn to her and giving her a look of annoyance though it was also in part due to her own bit of embarrassment. Rainbow Dash was a good friend but there were times that the pegasus could really annoy at her times.

“So are you two working the Tritan mines or Zerox ones today?” Rainbow Dash now asked Vinyl’s now new acquaintances.

“Well I’m working in the Tritan mines today. Fluttershy here has the day off and has a little ceremony to go to today at the church.”

“Wait what?” Vinyl blurted, taken a bit guard off this statement and looking over to Fluttershy, “Are you a Unitologist?”

Fluttershy nodded with a small smile.

“Oh yes. I've been a Unitologist for three years now. I’m still pretty new to it though, but I’m excited for the ceremony today.”

Vinyl felt her insides turn and felt a sudden disgust as she heard the word ‘Unitologist.’

Great. The good looking pony is a Unitologist.

“Oh yeah? Well Vinyl and me-”

“Vinyl and I,” Twilight Sparkle corrected, making the whole group go silent for a few seconds.

“Uhhh alright then, anyways, Vinyl and I are going over to the church and taking the tram to get to the Unitology recruiting center so if you want Fluttershy, you can come with us since we’re heading the same way.”

Vinyl huffed under her breath. She already saw that coming considering that if her friend had any chance of making her feel uncomfortable, she was going to take it. To make it worse, Rainbow knew full well how much Vinyl disliked Unitologists and was using it against her.

“Isn’t that right Captain?” Rainbow Dash nudged.

Vinyl nodded her head with reluctance.

“Yeah. Sure. She can come with us.”

“Oh no! I couldn’t let you two do that. I’m sure you two have other important things to-” but she was interrupted by a very persistent Rainbow Dash.

“Hey don’t worry about it. We got you,” Rainbow Dash proclaimed, now pulling the delicate mare by her hoof and onto her hind legs, making her emit a small audible squeal, “C’mon. Let’s get over there.”

“Oh alright. Well, I guess that’s a sign for me to get my flank on over to the mines,” Twilight said as she finished her mug of coffee and got up, “It was nice to see you Lieutenant Dash.”

Rainbow nodded her head in acknowledgement and Twilight turned her head to Vinyl with a warm smile.

“It was nice meeting you today Captain Scratch. I hope that I see you around more some time.”

You have no idea.

“Oh don’t worry, you’ll see me around,” Vinyl half-heartedly joked.

Twilight Sparkle waved and the three mares waved back, watching the unicorn walk away and off to her tasks for the day.

“Well let’s get going Vinyl. We got to take Miss Fluttershy here over to the church and get to the team before they start thinking we bailed out or something.”

Vinyl turned to her and nodded though she knew she wasn’t going to like this train ride over to the church. Today was just an all-around shitty day but now instead of just listening to services and ponies who were batshit crazy, she now was going to escort one to the damned place.

To make it worse, the Unitologist named Fluttershy was actually cute.

The trio made their way to the tram station, with Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy talking to each other, and her behind the two in silence.

What a fucking day this is turning out to be.

But she was going to regret that thought. Today was going to be more fucked up than she ever imagined.

And possibly her last.

Author's Note

Chapter 2

Dead Space: Expendable

Chapter 2

Sign

Vinyl’s body jerked to and fro as the tram took another turn. The metallic walls of it surrounded her along with seated and standing ponies. It wasn’t unusual for a tram ride to be a bit rough, but Vinyl was finding this particular ride much more troublesome and annoying due to the fact that she was surrounded by Unitologists who wouldn’t stop talking about the upcoming ceremony.

“These ponies are really hype for this thing,” Rainbow Dash said, who was standing beside her captain while holding onto one of the tram’s standing poles.

“I don’t know if hype would be the word to describe this,” Vinyl uttered in dismay.

She couldn’t stand being in the presence of what she considered as ‘deluded fucks’ and it just made her hate this day even more. It was one thing to have security detail at the church, but being packed into some small tram with them was not on her list of things to do.

“Then what would you call it?” Dash laughed as the tram jerked again, making everypony stagger a bit.

Fucking crazy...

“I don’t know,” Vinyl said, deciding that it was best to keep her inner thoughts to herself or risk a Unitologist overhearing her and giving her a sermon, “So what happened to that medical mare?”

“You mean Fluttershy? She’s over there talking to that group back there,” Rainbow Dash answered as she pointed her eyes in the mare’s general direction.

Vinyl turned her gaze and saw Fluttershy speaking to two stallions; their body’s covered in red and black robes with strange symbols embroidering the edges of their garbs. Vinyl stared at the group for a moment and studied them.

There were smiles and bit laughter among the trio. Vinyl couldn’t possibly understand why anypony would buy into Unitology and only seeing the three happy as they discussed probably something about their almighty prophet, Altman.

Then again, it wasn't’ her place to understand, nor did she care. Yet, she couldn’t take her red eyes off the yellow pegasus for some reason.

Arriving: Unitology Sector, Church of Unitology

Vinyl’s concentration on the mare was broken from hearing the monotone female voice, announcing their destination that they would be at in mere moments.

“Finally,” Dash said, “Thought this tram was going to take forever.”

“Can’t say that would be a bad thing,” Vinyl muttered, wishing the tram took more than forever, but she knew there was no way out of it.

The tram began slowing down and in moments came to a complete stop. The sliding mechanical doors opened and Unitologists began pouring out as Vinyl and Rainbow Dash stood in place, not wanting to get caught in the wave of ponies.

Vinyl’s eyes began to search for Fluttershy once again and saw the pegasus pushing her way through to get to them.

“Hey, what the hell is up with you?” Dash nudged the unicorn, making Vinyl turn her head back to her friend, “This is the fourth time that I’ve caught you staring at Fluttershy. What’s up? Don’t tell me you're just eyeing her down because she’s a Unitologist.”

Vinyl hesitated for a moment as ponies passed by her to get out. She didn’t really know why she kept looking and searching for Fluttershy. Was it her hate for Unitology that made her look, or her confusion of why a cute mare like her would be swept in the tide of fanatical illusions?

“I’m just keeping an eye out for her. You decided to bring her, so we have to make sure she gets to the church,” Vinyl answered flatly.

Rainbow Dash simply rolled her maroon eyes as Fluttershy made it to them.

“Oh good, you’re still here. I thought for a moment you both had left,” Fluttershy said in her soft voice.

“No way Fluttershy. I said we were going to escort you didn’t I? We don’t half-ass jobs,” Dash said proudly.

Fluttershy simply gave a weak, gentle laugh in response.

“Okay, let’s hurry up though. We need to get to the others before they start thinking we lost our way or something,” Vinyl said quickly as she adjusted the sling of her pulse rifle.

Rainbow Dash simply nodded with a smartass smirk, making Vinyl roll her red eyes. The trio exited out the trams metal doors and onto the platform.

Welcome to the Unitology Sector. Enjoy your day the monotone female voice said as the mares stepped out.

Yeah. I’ll be sure to do that.

“Wow,” Fluttershy said as she looked at the sector in awe, “This looks so amazing. This whole sector is devoted to Unitology?”

Both Rainbow Dash and Vinyl turned their heads to the mare, surprised of her reaction.

“Uh yeah,” Rainbow Dash answered, “You never had been to this sector before?”

Fluttershy shook her head as her eyes took in the scenery of the area.

“No I haven’t. I’m usually too busy with patients to come here, but if I would’ve known . . . “

The yellow mare’s eyes dashed around in awe. Holographic signs with scrolling text promoting the message of unity and being one were plastered all over the grand sector while stores filled with religious texts and souvenirs bustled with zealous believers.

But there was something that separated this sector from the others in Vera Station, a feature that caught Fluttershy’s eyes.

“Oh my goodness!” Fluttershy exclaimed as she began to trot over to get a better look, “Is that- is that the Marker?”

Vinyl and Dash followed behind her and they both looked up at the grand edifice made of stone. In the center of the sector stood the revered symbol of Unitology; the Marker. The double-helix statue rose up to the glass ceiling, reminding all that believed its promise of unity and peace. Upon closer inspection one could see the strange markings engraved in it, with no real order or pattern to them.

“Yep, well, at least a replica of that thing,” Rainbow Dash replied as she leaned on a rail surrounding the statue, “They had this built a couple years ago at the request of the Director.”

The two began to chat about how the stone replica came to be while Vinyl’s eyes began to fixate on the statue and the sounds around her began to fade out. It was already bad enough she was surrounded by lunatics, but she felt something weird inside her chest.

It was something different as her eyes scanned the marvel.

It wasn’t unusual for her to feel uncomfortable whenever she was in this sector, which was only a few times, but she was feeling more than just that now.

The Marker statue towered over her and she felt her heartbeat quicken a bit. Her breath became a bit heavier and her eyes seemed entranced by it. Unitologist saw it as something peaceful and holy, but Vinyl was seeing and feeling something much different than peace.

She felt fear, but not a fear that made one run away. It was a fear of the unknown and eerie. It was a fear that compelled one to find out what it was in hopes of understanding and calming such emotion.

She didn’t blink and it felt as if some force was pulling her closer to the statue as she went up to it and against the rail that surrounded it. Her ears began to twitch as she felt something cold tickle against them.

The sounds of Dash and Fluttershy were nonexistent and she could hear a small ringing in her ears. Her heart began to pound even harder and her breaths went from heavy and slow to a shallow and fast pace.

She stood on her hind legs, not even knowing what she was doing. The unknown force began to pull her more and she saw one of her fore hooves reaching out to it as she leaned on the rail, wanting to feel it and become one with its promise and whispers of. . .

“Vinyl?”

“Huh?! Wha-?!” Vinyl exclaimed as she snapped out of her stupor.

Vinyl realized what she was doing and quickly retracted her hoof and backed away from the rail of the statue. She turned her head to the two confused faces of Fluttershy and her comrade.

“What are you doing?” Rainbow Dash questioned as she raised her brow in perplexity.

Vinyl was at a loss of what just happened.

“I. . . I”, the mare stuttered as her eyes darted to and fro at the two mares, but no answer came.

What the fuck was I doing?

The white unicorn was beyond confusion. She wasn’t a zealous unitologist that believed this simple hunk of rock represented anything holy or sacred and she certainly wasn’t any kind of scientist that was interested in the most mundane items.

She was a simple captain of a simple security team.

But it didn’t prove any kind of explanation of what she had just done and what she had felt.

“Captain Scratch?” Fluttershy said with concern as she went over to unicorn and placed her hoof on Vinyl’s shoulder, “Are you okay? You have um- you’re starting to sweat.”

Vinyl brought her hoof to her forehead and noticed that she had started sweating, but quickly waved it off as she brushed Fluttershy’s hoof off her shoulder and turned away.

“I . . . It’s nothing. I’m just a bit hot in this suit, “Vinyl quickly answered, “We need to stop screwing around here anyways and get to the church.”

Vinyl began walking ahead; not wanting to discuss what she had just done any longer. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy simply looked at each other.

“Has she ever done that before?” Fluttershy asked quietly to the cyan pegasus, “She doesn't look well all of a sudden. Maybe she should go to the clinic and get checked out?”

Rainbow Dash shook her head.

“I don’t know, never seen her do that before, but I wouldn’t worry about it,” Rainbow Dash encouraged as they began trotting to catch up to the captain, “If she says it’s nothing, then I guess it’s nothing to worry about.”

Fluttershy nodded and the two caught up to the unicorn, thinking nothing more of what just happened.

For Vinyl, she now just wanted to get to the church and continue on with her day, acting as if what she had just done never happened.

But it wasn’t the act that disturbed her.

It was what she felt and it tugged at her heart, sending a cold chill within her soul that she was finding very hard to shake off.

She could only hope that maybe this ceremony could bore her to the point of sleeping and forgetting.

***

“Welcome to the Church of Unitology! It is always a joy to see more ponies come and join us for today’s ceremony. If I may, can I have your names-”

“No,” Vinyl interrupted the white mare dressed in black ceremonial garb, “Only one here is for the ceremony. My lieutenant and I are part of the security detail for the church today, and if I’m correct, part of my team should already be here.”

The white mare’s gentle smile that she had when the trio arrived disappeared and she raised her brow in either confusion or judgment.

“Oh, I see. I was informed by a mare named Applejack that a Captain Scratch and Lieutenant Dash would be arriving here sometime. I’m assuming that would be you?”

“That would be us,” Vinyl answered

“Then who’s the third?” the mare asked as she looked over to the yellow pegasus.

“Oh. . . My name is Fluttershy. I’m actually here for the ceremony,” the meek pony said.

“Oh good!” The white mare said as her smile returned, “It’s always good to see a fellow believer come to such sacred events.”

Vinyl gave a sigh underneath her breath, not wanting to waste time with this usher of sorts.

“Ma’am, could you please let us through. My team is waiting for us and I would like to join them sometime today.”

The mare turned her gaze back to the captain and simply nodded.

“Of course captain. My apologies. All you have to do is go through these doors and go down the hallway. You’ll find your team to the last door on the left.”

“Thanks,” Vinyl said flatly.

The mare moved out of the way, but before the trio could enter through the doors, the usher went over to Fluttershy.

“Fellow sister,” she began, “If I may, I would like to take you to the side sanctuary so that you may join our fellow brothers and sisters in prayer before the sermon starts.”

“Well I don’t know-,” Fluttershy began, not wanting to be rude and abandon the two that had taken the time to bring her here, but her explanation wouldn’t be needed.

“Go do your thing Fluttershy,” Rainbow Dash said, nudging the mare to go with the usher, “Besides; you can’t really come with us anyways from here. CEC would have our asses if they found out we broke protocol . . . again.”
As true as that was, Vinyl knew that wasn’t the real reason.

What are you planning Dash?

“Oh, I wouldn’t want to get you in trouble. If that’s the case. . .”

“Good,” the usher said as she began pulling Fluttershy, “Let me take you to the others so that you may join them.”

Fluttershy gave an audible squeak as mare pulled her away. The Pegasus quickly waved goodbye before being led to the sanctuary through a door adjacent to them and the two simply waved back and entered the door in front of them.

The two entered the hallway. The metal walls that were typical of the station were absent here and instead were replaced with ones that sparkled of silver, adorned with golden symbols of the blessed symbol, the Marker.

The floor was covered in a synthetic, dark red carpet and small holographic signs scrolled on each side of the hallway, promoting messages that Vinyl could care less for.

“You know, some of them may be crazy bastards,” Dash began as the two walked side by side, “But they sure know how to hook up their place.”

“Yeah. All they need to do now is hire their own security,” Vinyl answered with a small smirk.

“Or pay us more. That would be nice and then maybe I could get that signature Wonderbolt security suit I want,” Rainbow Dash laughed.

“Heh, in your dreams. CEC will never pay us that much unless we offered them to let them fuck us in the ass.”

“Uhhh, I thought they were already doing that?”

Vinyl simply laughed as the two kept walking through the lone hall, but something popped in her mind that compelled to ask her comrade something.

“Hey Dash, why did you tell Fluttershy that she couldn’t come with us?”

Rainbow Dash didn’t hesitate in her answer and held nothing back.

“What? Did you want her to come with us? If you want, I could go get her and-”

Vinyl stopped and cocked her head a bit. Dash liked to joke with her and play with her mind, as any friend usually did, and this time was no different. Her lieutenant was not a mare that cared for protocol and procedure, which in a way was why Vinyl liked her, but she knew sending Fluttershy away with the excuse of CEC was not a reason Rainbow Dash would use for anything.

Rainbow Dash following any procedure CEC put in place was unheard of.

“You know I don’t mean that Dash. What’s the real reason you told her to go with that mare? You and I both know you don’t give two shits about CEC.”

The cyan pegasus simply gave a devilish smirk.

“What do you mean? I was just removing any distractions so you could foc-”

“Wait,” Vinyl said, catching what Dash just said, “Distractions? What are you-oh you got to be fucking kidding me. You think I have something for that mare?”

“Now when did I say that?” Rainbow Dash chuckled and began walking once again.

Vinyl simply sighed and followed suit. There was no point in trying to argue with her comrade, as she knew the pegasus simply liked to screw with her.

But it made her wonder back to earlier on the tram and why she always kept looking at the pink-maned pony. Yes, she was a unitolgist and she couldn’t deny that inside it disgusted her, but at the same time, she couldn’t help but to admit that she wasn’t fanatical like most were. She was actually quite normal.

And cute. . .

The two eventually made it to the end of the narrow hallway and three doors stood. They turned to their left and entered the mechanical door, and as they entered the small room they were greeted with smiling faces.

“About time ya two made it,” a southern voice chimed, “We were starting to think y’all got lost or somethin’.”

Applejack, Big Macintosh, and Berry Punch stood together, dressed in their security suits and pulse rifles slung over their backs.

“That would’ve been nice, but then we would be out of a job,” Vinyl jested.

“Ah hear that. We already got one here on the brink, don’t we Dash?”

Rainbow Dash rolled her maroon eyes.

The pegasus might’ve been the second highest ranked within the group, but Applejack was seen as her equal. They were both great comrades and were very confident in what they did. With such qualities though also came dispute with the two. They were always competing with each other; who had the better rifle and aim, who had the better suit, who was the strongest?

Despite this, they were both good friends and undoubtedly worked well together.

“Ha-ha funny. Maybe if CEC didn’t put in stupid regulations then I wouldn’t be on probation,” Dash said as she passed by the freckled mare and went over to Big Mac, “And you look pretty tired big guy. Had a rough night?”

“Errrm,” the stallion of few words muttered as his green eyes began to dart around.

“It seems that’s a yes,” Vinyl chuckled.

Big Macintosh was a quiet pony, but not one to be taken lightly. He was stronger than any other stallion on the station and rarely did he have to prove it. There had only been a few instances where he had to show force, but most knew that they wouldn’t win a fight against him.

There had only been one pony he had sent to the clinic and put on the brink of death. A certain stallion named Tank had the bright idea of trying to force his stallion hood into an unwilling Applejack a couple years back

To say the least, it didn’t bode well for the stallion when Big Mac caught him in the act and smashed his head against a metal sink multiple times.

Tank went into a coma that same day. He still is.

“Big Mac? What the hay kind of answer is that?” Applejack said as she turned to him with narrowed eyes, “Were you messin’ around with ‘nother mare last night?”

Vinyl and Rainbow began to snicker, knowing also of the other reputation that the stallion held. It was a reputation that held very well with the mares on Vera station.

“Errr. . . nope.”

“Yer lyin’ aren’t you?! Damnit Big Mac! Ah told you not to be goin’ and gettin’ into some other mare’s private bits! Ah don’t want other mares at my door asking for yer services all over again. . .”

Rainbow Dash and Vinyl let the two siblings hash things out as they went over to their mulberry coated friend, Berry Punch.

“Hey Berry,” Vinyl greeted the rookie.

“Hello ma’am. First Lieutenant,” Berry greeted in an attention pose with a smile.

“Fucking hell Berry, how many times are we going to tell you? You don’t have to be all proper and shit. We only do that when we’re in public so the CEC don’t get on us. We’re all cool here, “Rainbow Dash said, hating the fact that the rookie was still in the ‘textbook’ phase.

“Lay off Dash, she’ll get it,” Vinyl said as she nudged Berry, “So how are you today? Bring any drinks with you?”

Berry shook her head.

“No ma’am. That’s against CEC conduct isn’t it?”

Oh well. Guess getting drunk is out of the question now.

Berry Punch was a mare that followed the rules, but also one that loved her alcohol. Vinyl had hoped Berry’s love for it would help bring her drunken deliverance from what she would have to do in a few moments.

“Yeah. . .yeah it is,” the unicorn answered flatly.

The group was together. Berry and Vinyl spoke to each other for moments longer while Rainbow Dash tried to quell the scolding that Applejack was giving her brother. Though they seemed like a ragtag group, they were proficient in what they did.

To all fellow sisters and brothers, a robotic, angelic voice said over the intercoms within the room, silencing the group, The Ceremony of Unity will begin in two minutes. Please make your way to the main sanctuary.

“Shit,” Vinyl said, realizing that it was time to perform her dreaded duty, “Okay guys you heard it. Let’s head over to the sanctuary and get this shit over with.”

Applejack adjusted her hat as she gave one last scolding look at a nervous Big Mac. Berry simply stood in place, ready for orders and Rainbow Dash stood by her captain.

“You ready for the sermon of your life?” the pegasus whispered.

“It’s going to be the end of my life.”

She had no idea.