Discordient Earth

Thanks to Arck1334 for helping me edit this story.

-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()

Experimental Group No.0001 Status: Terminated

Experimental Group No.0002 Status: Deceased

Experimental Group No.0003 Status: MIA/AWOL

-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()

Experimental Group No.0083 *Status: Active Mission: Terminate Discord***

  As I finish re-reading the unimpressive legacy of groups prior to ours, I once again notice the lack of variety among them. Every one of them either died or went AWOL. But that was to be expected of these groups. The original plan was to have 1000 of these groups formed before terminating the project and finding a better way to complete the mission. But due the amount of failure ours is the last group.

   On an earth like this, groups like ours aren't the most conventional way of doing things. It's been Ten years since the "Rebeginning" of earth began, ten years since Discord came. The world was immediately plunged into chaos. After being locked away for so long his excess chaos immediately flooded over us when he opened the rift to earth. It didn't affect everyone equally but about 93% of humans fell entirely victim to it. The excess chaos split their minds giving each one of them split personalities, which then proceeded to devour the originals and began to spread chaos, just as their purpose intends, they adopted the name Reformers. 7.9936% of the population was unaffected and stayed normal, but with such a small percentage at least 1/2 of these people have died off. I am of the smallest fraction of people, the last 0.0064%. All of these people suffered the effects of the split, however they weren't devoured by it and actually can live with it under control; we are known as Silent Screamers. Sadly we were a small amount to begin with and our numbers are dropping faster than any of the others. Because of the constant chaos pouring out from wherever discord is over the planet our splits will sometimes devour us with the added energy. I've only made it this long on fleeting luck and the fact that Wanderlust doesn't have any primary intention of taking over me. Most of mankind and most of our animal life all live within the domes. Discord's chaos sped up natural disasters causing massive earthquakes and explosions of ash to cover the earth. Most of our atmosphere is now filled with ash. Not that it matters, Discord sped up the erosion of the sun until after the supernova. All that remains is a shallow smoldering husk of the old sun. The only reason there any earth left is because discord opened rifts to transport the expansion away so he could bask in our chaos.

   We aren't alone in our struggle though. Shortly after Discord came though, Princess Luna and her guard also came though trying to track him. We weren't what they expected. They had assumed Discord had simply opened up a small tear to a remote part of Equestria but instead they found us, crazies and all. Luna moved their tear to the moon and assembled an impromptu castle. While normally they would've just used the Elements Of Harmony the amount of chaos is too much. It's either imprison Discord and let humanity die out from insanity or unsplit humanity and let Discord infect them again.  Knowing this she assembled hundreds of small squads made up of only pegasi and unicorns and found a different way to use the elements. Whenever people are transported to the earth base a small portion of the elements power is released to keep Discord from hijacking the portal and oozing chaos though it. Since guns are non-usable by earth ponies they weren't out into any squads. Unicorns use magic to pull the triggers and pegasi actually turned out to be excellent snipers, using side mounted guns, activated by shifting their wings when they're folded in, on the sides of their bodies with telescopes as sights. The purpose of these squads was to preform extractions of those without splits, using a device called a B.A.G.E.L. Bagel of course standing for Basic Assistance Guide and Endpoint Localizer. But I'm not in that sort of squad. Multiple pony squads used to be assigned to eliminating Discord but all of those died off too quickly to even learn anything. Then squads of unsplit humans and ponies were formed. While these were more affective they still didn't give very much headway. They only found a few random hints and some recovery of advanced human technology, such as earth to moon mining lasers. Regardless those programs have both been discontinued. I am of the last of the experimental squads. We aren't an impressive bunch to be truthful. We've done less that the pony only squads did. Each one of the squads, including mine, were formed of three people, 1 pony, a unaffected spotter on the moon and a silent screamer human who hasn't been taken over. Of course our squad wasn't meant to be formed. We were formed do the unfortunate fate of Experimental Squad No.0082.

-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()-()

7 months ago

   As I walk out or my hut I make sure to look out for any reforms walking too close to me. I see two of them about thirty feet to my right by my ladder and another only ten feet from me. I'll take out them out there's no need to use this thing and go loud. I think remembering what I took with me, just a few things I looted on my way here. 3 plasma knives, a few green smoke bombs from a fireworks stand I robbed and a Winchester model 2993 from a group of reforms who had been raiding gun stores and homes ,who I killed, and around 143 rounds for it. Because of my lack of silenced weaponry I usually try to get use the knives to kill while the smoke bombs are usually just to get out before the shit gets to deep. The reforms usually carry some more modern weapons that I can't use. Being as it is the year 3011 body fusion guns have become insanely common amongst the population and since one they're attached they are bonded to that persons' body if I try to use one I'll be killed from the self destruct safety feature. The problem isn't as much my outdated weaponry as it is the nature of my enemies. Since they're all insane they don't respond to fear or pain, and rather than hitting vitals to eliminate them the nature of armor has also changed. Rather than light armor in the outside of skin it's become imbedded into skin and made of new materials that resist penetration by older bullets but don't weight enough to be bothersome. Luckily for me the plating can't be installed in your head without killing you so I do have one place to aim this old gun and I found these plasma knives, invented for the singular purpose of becoming super-heated and carving though armor by siphoning materials out of the air for energy. So while my ranged combat is at a disadvantage I can still take down people close to me.

   Crouch walking up behind the man to my left I click the button on the end of the knife and the blade begins to glow a sickly orange color. I slice up though his spine and though his head with ease and then click the button of again. Taking one of my other knives out I slowly make my way over to the other two reformers. I click the ends of my knives and reactivate the plasma blades. One of them must've heard the low humming emitted by the older edition blade because she turned around and shoved her arm infused gun into my stomach. I swerved as she fired and was thankfully left unscathed from it. Good she has a suppressor. I might've been fucked if she didn't have one. This place would've been swarmed. The other reformer having already turned around with his weapon, which was luckily is suppressed like hers, pushed it onto my back and I duck down before he shoots. I kick my one of my legs back into his knees as he shoots and he falls over. The woman, having noticed her comrade fell, turned around and began to shoot at me. I turn my knife vertically and push it forward towards the barrel. My knife eats though the metal barrel and bullets as I swerve upwards and slice her face in a cascade of blood. I jump upwards and I begin to hear the man reposition. Turing around in the air I assume the fetal position and I flail my arms out wildly, hoping my knives would it though any bullets on their way to me. None of them did. As I land I side step expecting to be shot at. Nothing. Looking over to the woman's corpse I see the man crying next to it. Damnit this always makes it harder on me.

   While they've been consumed by their insanity every once in a while one of them will be whiplashed back for a moment. I never killed them before they were re-consumed. The reformers only want to kill and destroy any who aren't in their group and have almost no consciousness, I only kill them when they're consumed because I don't want the real person to see it happening. I used to have a friend with me for the first few days of the Rebeginning, I had to kill him. He broke free during it and I asked him how he wanted me to kill him. He said "Kill me when he takes back over. I can't see a thing when he's in control." And it's all I've ever done, I did it to him and I've done the same to all of them. Walking over to him I place my hand in his shoulder and simply mutter.

"I'm sorry." As I say this he looks up to me in remorse.

"Go to hell," Is the only thing he says as his face twisted back into a screw of madness.

   I take off his head and walk back over to my ladder and begin to climb. How many days has it been since I've seen that look? At least a year. It's getting less and less common with time. People are fading even more into the insanity. As I get up on top of the building I scan the rooftops for reformers. I don't see anyone but I do see a pony silhouette a few rooftops over. The lights begin to fade and I know the off cycle of the domes lights is about to begin. Pulling out my gas mask I strap it to my arm so I can put it on for night vision when they switch off. I've seen many of these pony rescue teams and talked to a lot of them. They save the unaffected people. Sadly I'm not that lucky. Since Wanderlust is still within me they consider me to unstable to be saved currently. This doesn't stop me from helping them out with a mission or talking with them though. Usually I get some food or water for helping them and it's nice talking with someone who isn't going to shoot you in the back for looking at them the wrong way.  Checking to make sure my pulse boot is still on form the fight I begin on foot jumping with my pulse boot from rooftop to rooftop. Pulse boots were designed for people to gain added mobility when controlling riots and by gangs to move weapons and information quickly. Not many were made though, I just got lucky and found one when I got my Winchester. I usually kick with it while I'm fighting since I have it set to repel what it hits when I'm not jumping. I land next to the pony who proceeds to look over to me and arm her weapon.

"Oh quit it. Just request information for Adam Reislen you'll find me." At this the pony lowered its guard slightly and brought up a small blue holographic over one of its eyes.

"It says you're a Silent Screamer whose secondary is called Wanderlust. It ways you're ok and willing to help a pony out. That true?"

"Yup. That's me." I say as she puts down her up gun with her magic.

"Heh, you’re just like my partner. He's a Silent too." She says holding out a hoof. Weird I was told all silent screamers weren't able to join.

"What do you mean? Aren't Silents unable to join up?" I say shaking her hoof.

"Oh yes usually, you see, Luna doesn't want pony only teams going out to hunt Discord anymore."

"Yeah I know, she switched to mixed teams of unaffected people and ponies now"

"Yes and she has now abandoned that project and began a new Experimental Group project. These groups consist of 1 unaffected person who uses a mining sniper and acts as a spotter, a pony who serves to engage ground people from range and close up and a Silent Screamer to help out the pony and head the operation."

"Well damnit, how do I get in on this?" I say being genuinely interested at the idea of at least having constant supplies.

"Yeah sorry about that, the original plan was to test this out over a 1000 squad deployment but that's been changed. I'm in group 82, we were formed and deployed one at a time. Every one of these has been a near immediate failure though, so after my squad has someone die the project will be terminated." FUCK! I finally get my chance at a semi-good life and I get a slap to face.

"Well fuck. Oh well I guess I can't get angry. Luna's just trying to do what's best to keep people alive and save us. So why are you here?"

"Our objective is to kill or neutralize Discord but since we don't where he is we're following a lead to someone who might know his location."

"Oh, so where's your partner?" I say turning to where she was looking before.

"He went into that building just across from here. He's supposed to meet the guy there." She says turning back to the building.

"How dangerous do you think this is?"

"It's probab-" But she never finished that sentence. And I no longer needed her too, because now the answer is right in front of me.

   I look to see a bullet drilled right through her skull and I then see a laser fly down next to me hitting a reformer who was behind me. Then another laser fires upward and a shot is never returned. Damnit. Damnit. *DAMNIT ALL TO FUCK! These ponies want nothing up but to help us and this is how we react? WHAT THE HE--*... No. No hate. I cannot hate them. No hate. However if this was an attack that means that guy in there is probably dead. But he might not be.

   Grabbing her communicator I fit it on and say, "Hey you alive buddy?"

"WHO THE FUCKER ARE YOU?" I hear a pained voice come across.

"Adam Reislen, the guy who's gonna try to get you out of there. Your partners are dead. So right now it's you and me. How badly injured are you?"

"Frank is the name. They shot me in my knee and shoulder. You're where Stellar was right?"

"If that was her name, yeah, we were talking and they shot her and your spotter. What do you want me to do?"

"What weapons do you have?"

"An old Winchester 2993, non-plasma cutter rounds just railient rounds, one newest model plasma knife and two older ones that hum when I turn them on and a few green smoke bombs."

"Well there's no way you’re using that rifle without a suppressor."

"Yeah I know. I'm just using the scope to look around right now. They have about 15 reformers down there. I have an idea." I say looking at the alleys.

"I'm all ears."

"I'll throw one of my smoke bombs down at one of the alleys the jump down with my pulse boot and slip inside and meet you. Where are you?"

"I'm on floor B34 making my way towards the elevator; no-one is shooting yet. I should be able to make it there. It comes up on in the cafeteria on the main floor. Clear that out and tell me, I'll be waiting eating some meds in the elevator and I'll come up then."

"Alright just make sure you're there and alive." I say clicking the mic off.

   Taking out one of my knives I turn it on and grab a smoke bomb. I bring the blade to the end of the fuse and light it. Tossing it down into the alley, making sure that it hit a few cans. As the smoke comes out I see the 13 of the reforms running over with their guns raised it the smoke. Two of the smarter ones simply raised their guns and waited next to each other. Seeing as how they weren't going to move I take out my second knife and ready myself to jump. Switching my boot to silenced mode I jump off and ready my knives. I just have to make sure I land on one leg from a good 500 ft. drop, no problem.

   Landing silently on my single leg behind them I switch to the light push mode and propel forward taking their heads along with me. Spinning on my heel I dash forward again towards my smoke and I take another head off a reformer. Stopping just before my smoke, I put my gas mask on so I'll be able to see them though the mist. Flipping on the HUD I see on my map my smoke covered part of the alley and around the corner. Looking forward I see they have formed 6 groups of two. Idiots.

   Turing off my humming knife I change my grip to a back handed grip and I walk towards the closest group. Taking their heads in halves after my first swing I get more blood on my arm. Taking out the next 5 groups I come up on the last two reformers, but these two are different. They're using masks like mine so I won't be able to walk up on them and their weapons are knives. The problem is that their masks are a series higher than mine. They're infused to the bodies and show waves when sounds get within a certain proximity of them. This is gonna suck ass. Wait. This might be easier than I'm making it.

   Taking out my lower grade knives I flip them on and throw them at their backs. As I expected they swerve to the right and left as they do this I pulse jump off the side of the wall and swerve in the air and switch my boot to repel mode and slam my foot into his while he's still disoriented. Taking out my good knife and flipping on the wall I pulse jump and click my knife back on. I manage to decapitate the first one but the second punches me back towards a wall. Hitting against it at that speed causes me to cough up a little blood but I'll just have to deal with it. The second one charges me and I pulse jump upwards to dodge it. Sadly my luck doesn't last. She then pulse jumps using her boots and drives her fist into my chin. Slinging my knife upwards randomly I manage to slice her chin slightly before falling back to the ground. She lands across from me as I access my situation; she turns her own knife on and lunges at me. I duck down and rotate a kick upwards pushing her up above me. I scurry out of the way before she lands and I see blood ooze from her right foot. That worked well. I had found the knife from the other guy and simply flipped it on and sat it there hoping it would hit her. And it did. Now that her right boot is destabilized I can get her. If she tries to jump with that one she'll lose massive velocity. She lunges at me with both feet and immediately is flung back into the wall form instability. Taking advantage of this opportunity I pulse jump forward and drag my blade though her skull. I pick up my two thrown knives and leave theirs. I walk over in front of the building where Frank is and I immediately know I'm in for a long fight if the guys in here have weapons and equipment like these ones. Oh well going through hell for strangers isn't that new to me anymore.