Of a Dying Breed

HISSSSSSSS

Welp, that's my cue. Nap is over.

I fell out of the sterile white pod and landed on my face on the cold rock floor.

"I always wondered, why don't they have restraints to keep that from happening." I heard a voice nearby

"It'd freeze and shatter." I responded as I pushed myself up. I saw a few other men in similar enclosed grey suits; strange thing to see, since they were black when we entered the pods. They were on either side, and seemed disoriented.

"I'm sure something could withstand-" I couldn't tell who it was, since they all had masks.

"Nothing inorganic can undergo the process. Were you hoping to be caught by a monkey?" The wall a few meters in front of me was covered in pods, all closed and dark.

"What about the pod interior?" A few of the other quick-risers noticed the wall of dead pods.

"It doesn't undergo the process, it's shielded." Pods always have a light on, to signify that they're working. Can't see it from inside, though.

"By what?" I walked towards a near dead-pod and peered in.

"Vacuum. Black hole, specifically, if I recall correctly. It's why the pods can reach absolute zero with the light on, and while not in space."

"How-" There was a yell behind me, somewhere.

"I NEED TO GET OUT, IT'S-IT'S-" A man began tearing off his suit.

"No!" It was too late. He had his suit off, and ran two steps, before falling dead.

I'm not sure how describe death caused by near absolute zero temperatures. You shatter, and turn to a kind of dust; but it's not immediate. You die first, then freeze, and then blow away in the wind.

At least, that's what you're told.

In reality, the best way I can put it, you omplode. Your warmer bits explode, while extremities collapse in on each other. Nasty sight.

A message played over the intercom:

Heating process has begun, please refrain from removing your suit until instructed to do so. Our ventilation system may not be able to handle your bits.

"Well, I think we should go to The Centre." I said.

"Seems like a good spot to regroup with the others." Another agreed. So we headed of to The Centre.

The Centre of the complex was almost as large as the rest of the entirety of the place. It was located in the center of the complex, and had everything. Weight training, video games, comm links, armory for the firing range; also located there, and had most every large important hall stretching from it. It was the body and heart of our race's only home.

We arrived to find it empty.

"Where is everyone? There were plenty closer to The Centre than us." I heard somebody point out.

"Maybe they're being held by their monkeys." Someone else mocked.

"Shut up. There may have been a personnel compromise; we need to get to the armory." My interjection as to the possibility of betrayal woke them up like a shot through the foot. We ran for the nearest rack of weapons and began grabbing them, though they were barely better than squirt guns. We took defensive positions and hid ourselves as best we could from all openings.

The Centre has been adjusted suitably for living and the V.I. is responsive. Localized broadcasts will be given for each area herein.

Of course we didn't take off our suits, that could have been a lie. I signaled to a soldier behind a fake streetlight to watch out for me.

"Computer?" I moved from cover and spoke calmly to the air.

"Yes, how may I help you?" A female voice that sounded like honey returned from nowhere in particular.

"Is this room safe enough to remove our suits?"

"Yes. Is that all?"

"For now." I looked back at my comrades. They shook their heads "no" vigorously.

I peeled my mask from my face, and promptly did not die.

"It's okay. Stay in position, remove masks at separate times; there may still be a threat."

I watched them take turns removing their masks for a few minutes, making sure there was nobody I knew. It was all said and done, and there were grizzled and scarred veterans looking around seriously.

In skin tight suits.

I didn't have much time to enjoy the sight before I heard footsteps coming from down a hall to our right.

We waited behind cover, stun guns ready, and peeked out to see a group of unmasked soldiers walking in formation from the tunnel entrance.

"Freeze, fuckers!" One of 'my' men jumped out and shouted. Eliciting a sigh of annoyance from me and, presumably, everyone else, who now had to follow suit.

The group, luckily for all involved, did so.

"Who the hell are you?" One of a dark complexion, and darker skin, asked.

"Soldiers. Where is everybody else? Why aren't all the pods on?" I couldn't make out his features in the dim lighting.

"We don't know either! What're you gonna do with those, any way? Throw 'em?"

I lowered my gun, "Nah, they'd probably shatter before they even got to you. Do you have any idea about anything?"

"Not a fuckin' one." He said sweetly.

"I-" I was interrupted by the VI.

"Warning! The interior has been breached! Six carbon life forms detected! Brain wave activity suggests sentience!"

"Somebody broke into our base!?" I confirmed.

"Inconclusive: movement and heart rate patterns are not indicative of humans. Cameras are non-operable! Suggest immediate action!"

"Mutes! A scout team found us! MOVE!" I screamed and began the run to the entrance.

"What will we use for weapons? These things won't even make a dent in the mutes' armour!" I heard a following call.

"Improvise! Use your genetic enhancements! They may not, under ANY circumstances, leave here alive!" I was easily going 50 miles an hour. "Computer, are there any operable weapons near the entrance!?"

"Left, just before the exit into Entrance Area, there is a cache of various laser weapons. I will prime them for you." She responded, with a twinge of worry.

We were approaching the turn, and the computer had put a map ahead of us to show that the intruders were about 7 meters beyond the corner to the entrance. I waved for the others to turn to get the weapons, and silently continued running. As I came upon the corner, I twisted myself to preserve momentum, while performing a double leg drop kick. I wasn't sure what I had hit, but there was the satisfying crunch of breaking bones and veins from it. I quickly spun myself up and paused for a moment to get a good look.

They were ponies. Except, clearly not; because no pony looks like they were painted by a five year old. Maybe their appearance was to shock the opponent into inaction. Let me tell you something: It didn't work.

Before they could react, I had the white one bloodied and broken 8 meters away from them. I was halfway through beating the orange one, when I was hit with, what felt like, a stun blast. I was tossed away from the orange mute and saw that there was a large white one in the gear shaped entranceway.

"Crap, that's the squad leader, or something." I thought to myself. Before anyone had a chance to do anything, I saw the black soldier come around the corner, with a giant gatling laser; and he was closely followed by more lightly armed soldiers.

"EAT SHIT AND DIE, MOTHERFUCKERS!" The unmistakable whine of lasers firing filled the air, as every one of the lasers was fired continuously at the intruders.