CH-2 The Armor

I half rolled, half fell out of my bunk and hit the Ice cold floor. Every muscle in my body screamed and I bolted up off the floor. It took awhile but i was able to calm myself down.

"Well that's one way to wake up"

Shakeing my head I sat back down on my bunk and checked myself over. I was dressed in my normal t-shirt and camo sleeping pants, nothing out of the norm. I looked up form my bunk and scaned the room. 3 rows of 5 bunks lined up down the middle of the room like anyother bunkhouse. I got up and walked around the room to make sure everything was in the same spot it was the night before.

"Ok now im just going crazy, I need to get out of here more often"

Finding nothing wrong I walked over to the small slit in the wall that passed as a window and looked out into the early moring sky. The sun was shining proudly and without a cloud in the sky, it would be a perfect day for some flying. I turned my attantion to the runway and there was a small flight of F-15 fighter jets parked out on the tarmack being inspected by the ground crews to make sure that they are ready for action. Seening the sun made me feel a tad bit better, but I still had this feeling I was beeing wached.

I turned around expecting to be shot in the face by some kinda russian spy but it turned out to be someone coming back into the room to get their dog tags. He looked over and waved at me a walked out rather fast. Great now he's going to go get the doc and have him check me out to make sure i'm still sane. I glanced over at the wall clock and found out i had spent an hour wandering around here like a moron.

"Well,I better go down to the messhall and get something to eat before I need to go test out this new waste of tax money" I sighed. I need to get out more.

Before I walked out I grabed my flight jaket along with my green flight suit and my sidearm. I always told myself never to leave my sidearm on my bunk. It's not because im paranoid of someone takeing it, it's just you never know what can happen around here. I walk out into the hallway and turn down the hall that leads to the cafe.

"Just a quick bite to eat and then off the the range, I need to get this strees out of my system before I go crazy."

I walk over to the line and pick up a small plate and begin my trip down the line. Same stuf day after day, I wonder if it would kill them to change the dam menu for a while. corn, bread, some kinda meat and gravy that looks like slop. I find a table by my self and dug in. I look up and there was no other life in here save the staf and they don't look capable of holding a conversahion.

Wow, its empty today. I thought there would be more people here.

I finished up and placed the plate down in the wash and walked out of the room. A sort time later i walked to the shooting range. Most us flyboys dont come down here much which I think is a problom. You can always inprove your skills with a firearm,Expecaly if you get shot down and are stuck behind enamy lines. I'v been trained in M9 sidearm along with the Scar-H. I have both stored in a compartment in my plane so i can get to them if needed. I have used plenty of other weapons like the M4, M16 and I even got my hands on a AK-47 but the Scar-H was the main firearm I used. I pull out my M9 and line the sights up on the target down range. Its a easy shot, it's only about 45 feet away so I sould have no probloms. Easy pull on the triger and the gun fires, Orange flame shots out as the 9x19mm shell flys out the front and strikes the target dead center .

" Ok,easy shot now lets try something biger"

I hostered the M9 and took out my Scar-H. My Scar has a red dot sight attachment with a tac-light under the barrel. I can swich the two out with a handfull of other attachments but I like this combo the best. I brought the gun up the the target and sight it. I swich it over to burst fire and pull the triger. 3 rounds come tearing out at breckneck speed and slam into the target hight to the left. I adjust my aim and fire again, stricking the target dead center. happy with my progress, I put it to full auto and empty the entire clip in a short spell. I rip the clip out and slam a new one home and fire at the target.

With less stress in me and two empty clips, I put the Scar back on the table and decide its time to pay a visit to the hanger to check this plane that im suposed to test out. As I walk out im stoped by a officer and im told to follow her to the hanger on the otherside of the base. As we walked down the white hallways and offices of the base it seem's that everyone is on edge today. That in the millitary is never a good thing with most people here haveing guns! We walked out onto the runway and got in a jeep that would  took us to the other side of the base. As we drove out onto the runway we passed that line of F-15's I had seen earlier. They where being worked on and armed for a future mission. Are jeep then came upon the hanger that we were driveing too. We went around the back and rushed in through the doors and deposited in the main room. In the center of the hanger was one bigass crate. Also there was a line of officers and other ground crew there to help out with the testing.

looking around and seeing the crate I felt kinda let down "So we got rid of the wings,engines and cockpit?. Geting kidna risky here with the buget are we guys?" I looked around for some kind of respose and only geting nasty clares. My jokes are lost with these people.

A woman in a white lab coat walked out of the line and over to me. She handed me a clip borad.

"Do try to take this seriously James, this could save the lifes of You and your fellow pliots . Sign here please."

I rolled my eyes at her. "Yea Yea sign my life to secrecey and if i talk I die right ?"

She only smiled and walked away, god what a bitch. I looked back the crate which was beeing assulted by an army of crowbars. The techs slowy pulled away at the metal sides and out fell what looked like a small....cube.

"Thats it?" i said and walked over to it. looked the cube over and kicked it."I can't fly that let alone get in it!"

"It gets better James" one of the techs said. he looks just like the woman, same white lab coat and everything. God I hate dealing with scientists, there all the same, they try to out smart you with bullshit logic and then treat you like shit. I want to punch him right now. It's also rather creepy how they all sound the same too.

"Really, im not that impressd by a tin cube the size of my boot."

"Look" and with that he pushed the center of the cube. It began to shake and i heard some kind of gear like noise come from it. Its legs sprouted from the side as it unfolded itself and began to resemble an Exoskeleton with bone like arms comeing out of the side. I steped back as it stood up on its legs and began to tower over me. Now to say it towerd over me is saying something, This thing is tall!. It stood atleast 7 feet tall and as one of techs told me, it wasn't even done yet. Small plates of Armor where sprouting from the body and placeing themselfs around the struture of the thing. When it was done it looked like something out of the roman army. It had broad plates that covered the soulders. On one side it had the U.S Air Force insignia place boldly on the side. On the other it was blank, no markings.I tryed to write my name in a black marker on it and it dissolved. I asked them about that and they said they would tell me later. The head peace resembled a spartan helmet without the fuzz on top. The eye's glowed a navy blue like the rest of the "Aircraft" as it finished its assembly. The legs were heavily plated and had muti-joints for movement. I walked behind it and almost could not belive what i was seening. There were two slots for what looked like swords.

"Why the hell are there swords on this thing?" I asked still dumfounded by it. "I thought I was a pliot not a gladiator?" I looked at it again to make sure it was really there and to my wonder it still was.

The woman steped up to me. " You never no James, you may need them later on"

That gave me a unsteady feeling in my gut. I chose to just go with it and see where this ends up.

"Ok, so what is it? it can't be a aircraft and i know  im going to be useing it so it can't be some kinda of new UAV".

"You will be useing it James, this here is the Mark 7 CPA or (Combat Power Armor)". she walked in front of it and waved me over. I stood infront and placed my hand on it. The center glowed with a gold light and the light moved around my hand in a circle before becomeing the same blue as the rest of the Armor. The chest moved and opened reveling the black insides of the Armor. I ran my hand over the fabric and it felt like kevlar but impossibly lighter. They seem rather exsited about showing this thing off but i wasn't sold.

"So do I get in it now or what?" i asked.

She looked at me then at the suit then replyed with a simple nod. I shruged and climed into the seat in the middle. I placed my arms and legs into the slots expecteing to have one of the tech's help me stap in. To my surpise the staps themselfs began to glow and place them selfs.

"What. The. Fuck is going on?" I looked at her and she put on a somewhat calming smile.

"Its alright James we are not going to hurt you, just sit back and hold still".

Hold still? for what, This thing to eat me alive!? I began to struggle against the straps on my legs and arms. I felt some force being put on my chest and i was pushed hard back into the seat. I looked up and saw her hand extended out and glowing with a fire-orange glow.

The suit slamed shut and everything was dark. I could hear talking outside and I started to panic. I felt the helment slowly mold itself around my head and suit with the rest of my body. It felt like i was being sqwiched inside a car crusher. I yelped in pain when it got too tight and it stoped.

"Can you hear me James?" It was that woman again.

"Yea I can, What the hell is going on?" I shouted back

"Just stay calm and move your arms and legs please" I slowly raised and lowerd both my arms and moved my legs around to fell how heavy the suit was. To my under Suprize it felt really light like i was wearing cloth around my body.

"Hey its still kinda dark in here, there a light swich around here or what?"

"Yea just say power on"

Power on? so its voice controlled, well thats kinda cool. Ok, get yourself together.

"Ok, power on" the lights kicked on and I got my HUD (Heads up display) and it showed my power readings and a bunch of other stuff that I did not understand. I also got a external veiw so I could see around me. I slowly looked  around to make sure i could still move my head and i looked down at the rest of my body. There where bright blue lights moveing up and down my legs and chest. a tryed to move my feet abit to see if i could move.

"Hey is it ok if i get up and move around abit?" I asked

"Yea just make sure you dont over extend yourself!" She yelled back

Sweet,so lets get moveing. I slowly placed my left foot infront of me and then the right, Felt normal. I walked slowly around the hanger to get used to this. I moved my hands and the robotic hands respond like normal.

"So James, how do you feel?" She asked

"I feel normal, but i still can't belive how light this thing its. From the looks of it, it sould way as much as a tank!"

"Well with your worlds tech and some magic, we where able to-" she stoped herself and looked around the room. she got alot of angry stares for saying that.

Wait magic? What the hell is she going on about? .

"Ok,Just what is going on here. Whats this about magic?" I glared at her behind the helment.

she sighs " I think its time we show you who we really are"

Show what, what is she talking about?.The next thing i know thers a blinding white light. I raise my armored glove in my face to try and shield me eyes. I blink and look around the room and nearly fall over. Before there were about 5 people all dressed the same way and standing in a line. Now there where 5 little...PONYS?! WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?

"Im sure you have full of questions right now James, but we simply dont have anytime to explain it all to you. So we need to send you now while there's still time" One of them steped up to me and spoke. By the voice it sounds like the same woman from before but now shes one of those small ponys. she had a fire red mane with a dark red coat and had a red horn on her head and with yellow eyes.

I got myself together and then asked them a simple question. "Who and what are you?"

She had to look up to meet my eyes. " My name is Firefly and these other ponys here are my assistants. We are from the her Majesty's Royal University of magic in Equestria."

Equestria? "That doesn't sound like a country I know of."

"Thats becuase its not from this world. We come from a planet of ponys like are selfs that use magic and such. We have 3 diffrent types of common pony, earth,unicorn and pegasi. We are ruled by the ailcorn princesses Luna and Celestia. They have all the powers of a unicorn, pegiasi and earth pony and they control the moon and the sun. I'm sorry James but we just dont have the time to go into full detail right now we need to get you to Equestira so you can help the ponys their". She panted abit before calming down.

"So let me see if i understand this. Your a race of talking ponys that can use magic, fly and move bodys like the sun and moon? And you want me to help you?" Still in shock over what she just told me.

"In a nutshell yes, we need the help of a human like yourself and we came here hopeing to find and enlist your aid." she explained.

One thing was eating away in the back of my mind. "Why me, There's plenty of other humans that are better for this kinda job. Im just one man, I'm not worthy of this kind of job."

Firefly seemed shocked at what I said . "No ,no, no, that's wrong James. We chose you becuase you are perfect. You have the will to fight, You are loyal to all your fellow crew members, You go out of your way to help others and dont expect anything in return. You even risk yourself to save other people. You are exactly what we needed to find and more.  I know what im asking of you is more then anyone has ever asked of you but think of it this way. You have always wanted to help others anyway you can and this is the perfect way too do just that." She pleeded

I looked at her and my mind went blank. so much to think about

"I need some time to think about this, I mean this is kind of alot to take in"

She was on what I belive was her knees begging my help. I looked up and saw that the entire pony crew was now doing the same, Big eyed and nearly to tears. What was i going to do? They went all the way from there home to an alien world to find someone to help them. Who was I to dash their hopes . Besides it was geting boring around here just shooting at russians and dodging missiles all day. I could go to some far off world full of mystery and advanture and meet some more of these talking ponys. But I had one major problom in my way, I already have a job here on earth and I just can't get up and leave. What was i going to do?

I looked down at her. She had started to wimper and her lip was qwivering like she was about to cry. I was nearly at tears myself.WHAT THE HELL AM I GOING TO DO?. At that moment i made my choice

"Firefly." she looked up to me " It would be wonderfull to come with you and your people"

If her eye's could pop out of her head they would have. At that news the entire hanger was filled with crys of joy and celabration. It made me feel good seening all those happy faces.

"You have no idea how happy we are to hear you say those words". She said as she jumped around me with glee.

"Yea well your going to have to show me how to fight in this tin can" I said and taped my chest pice.

"Sorry James, we dont have time to show you the ropes of combat in that thing. We need to get you to are world as soon as we can."

That reminds me." How are we going to get there?"

She looked back at her fellow ponys and then back at me. "Well we are unicorns so we just open a portal there and drop you in."

Wait..Drop me in?

"What do u mean drop me in?"

"Well we can't have you just walk in. Ponys will think your a monster and attack you,so we decided to have you "droped" into the everfree forest. That way you can meet up with are most powerfull ponys other then are two princess. These six ponys help us in are most dire of hours and I think they are the first ponys you need to meet."

So a drop into a forest so that I dont scare the locals. Not a bad idea and i get to meet some local hero's.

She went on " When you meet these ponys, tell them that you need to talk to the princesses. When you arive at the palace, tell them that firefly sent you, they will understand." We can't follow you the way we are sending you, we will just telaport are selfs there and meet you at the palace and help explain your pressence there. It may take you a day or two to get there because these ponys will want to show you around their town."

Ok so I drop in without them knowing and try to make some freinds. THAT does't sound so hard.

"Well whenever you'r ready im good to go" I said giveing them a thumbs up

She smiled and waved her freinds over to her. They formed stood around me and their horns begain to glow white.

"Ok James remember, meet up with those six ponys and gain there trust. It will make it easy to befreind the princeses with their support. And rember this, have some fun while you visit." She smiled and with that the room begain to glow white from all the power they were giveing off. I closed my eyes when it became too bright and held my breath. The last thing I remember was my feet giving out from under me and being lifted up into the air. My world went bright  white and I blacked out.

                                                  So began the longest day of my life...

I would like to thank a close freind of mine for pre-editing this chapter. Me and him read it and made as many edits as we could, there may be some more in there somewhere. As a reminder, please do leave comments about the story, I do try to get better and any advice would be helpfull. Another quick tidbit, I know it seems im rushing the story, I am kinda . I just want to get the starting chapters out of the way so I can get to Equestria and the good bits. Thanks, YB