DNA, the building blocks of life. These tiny strands of protein determine everything: sex. height, eye color, muscular build, even your natural lifespan.

DNA is not perfect however there are defects some physical, some mental. Not all of them are negative, some defects of mutations have aided in the evolution of species. Evolution revolves around the right kind of mutations nature created, but not all are nature born.

Amongst the stars are beings that call themselves ‘Gods’ and they are taking control of DNA and genetic coding from mother nature. They have already altered their own DNA so they can be more resistant to diseases, breath the air of other planets, and even live longer lives.

When ‘Gods’ came to Equestria they feared it for one reason, they could not understand how magic worked. Rather than destroying the planet then and there they sent some of their own to study the planet and later destroy it when the time was right.

They were to do just that, learn as much as they can then destroy the planet. To better understand ones enemy means getting uncomfortably close to them and observing them, dissecting them, and figure out what strand in their DNA allows them to use and create magic.

“Damn vision alternator.” A grey earth pony stallion with green hair mutters, attempting to loosen a metallic necklace with a green light emanating from a thin line in the center. “Cheap peace of junk.”

“Like to see you do better Mecca.” A larger earth pony stallion entered the room, same grey coat but with a black mane and the same necklace around his neck.

“I would if you let me have a look at your schematics Replica.”

“Not likely, I keep all my schematics memorized.”

“Show off.”

Just then a jet black mare enters the room, purple mane and yes the wearing the same necklace. “Just stop it you two, honestly you’re the only two Gods that can’t get along even with a common goal.”

“You’re one to talk Genetic. Wasn’t it your idea to go about the mission in different ways?” Replica said.

“At least I put thought into my idea, you just wanted to blow up the planet with an over sized ion cannon.” Replica’s expression stiffened. “This way we can still study the inhabitants, possibly even make sense of that energy of theirs.”

“They call it magic.” A midnight blue stallion with a lavender mane entered the room. “At least that’s what the inhabitants call it.”

“*psst* Magic,” Genetic spoke. “sounds like it came from a fairy tail.”

“That’s what they seem to call it, and you’re all welcome by the way.”

“For what exactly?” Mecca questioned.

“For gathering the language data for Replica’s vision alternators. Without that we won’t be able to learn more about them over our stay.”

“Yes thank you for that Flux.” Replica replied.

“Accepted, now then besides names do any of us know what we each are bringing to the mission?”

“Right, we were only given names and images of ourselves with the vision alternators on disguising our natural appearance.” Mecca spoke. “Well then I’ll go first; Mecca, bio-mechanical engineer.”

“Replica, robotics designer and AI programmer.”

“Genetic, DNA specialist and genome designer.”

“Flux; sub-species engineer.”

“Well then now that that’s out of the way how long until our ships are ready to launch?” Mecca spoke.

“Should be any minute now.” Genetic replied.

“Good, I’m setting my destination for a small mountain in that forest the inhabitants seem to steer clear of. The Ev… Eva…? Everfree, yes that’s it they call it the Everfree forest.”

“Isolation, good call,” Replica spoke “I myself am headed to an area not inhabited my ponies, rather a large flat land area on the other end of the planet, its inhabitants are even more primal and therefore less of a threat.”

“What is it that brings you to that flat land anyway?”

“Scans show the ground underneath is rich with ores; I’ll need it to build my machines.”

“Well wile you’re playing in dirt I’ll be taking base at the top of a mountain that seems to have a city of sorts build onto its side.” Genetic spoke, a hint of glee in her voice.

“Won’t you be exposed?” Flux questioned.

“Yes and no. regrettably I will have to mine out most of the inner mountain but I believe my ship should be undisturbed atop the peek. Not even the flying ones on that planet can go that high up.”

“I’ll be setting up base more towards an area the locals seem to call the badlands, past the edge of the pony nations boarders.” Flux stated.

“How do you know so much about them? Drones haven’t been able to gather that much data.” Mecca questioned.

“Like I said I’m a sub-species engineer. I created a parasite of sorts and sent it down to the planet.”

“Do the higher ups know about that?”

“If they did I’d still be going through regulations just to develop the parasite.”

Mecca gave a small smile. “Well that makes two Gods who don’t give a damn about the uppers regulations; I can’t stand all that nonsense they put you through.”

“Actually make that three Gods, I’ve broken more regulations then I care to count.” Genetic spoke, rubbing the back of her head.

“Four, my AI programs are untested and the uppers keep trying to get them shut down but they work better than standard programs.” Replica admitted.

“All of us? Why would the uppers send four Gods that they know don’t care about their regulations?” Flux began thinking of possible solutions.

“I can think of two good reasons.” Genetic replied. “One is that they just want to get rid of free thinkers. And two is that since we don’t give a damn about their rules and protocols they thing we’ll get the job done faster.”

“Personally I think it’s the first option.” Replica said.

“Yeah I was leaning towards that myself.”

Just then an orange drone enters the room, floating just two feet off the ground bearing an energy cannon that takes up most of its lower body. The drone carried a small metal box strapped to its back.

“Finally!” Mecca spoke, taking the box and the drone left once the box was removed.

“What’s that?” Flux questioned.

“Something that cost me more grief than I care to recall, a single Ile ore.”

Everyone in the room gasped. Replica specifically looked a tad faint.

“How did you get that?! There’s only three that currently exist!” Genetic spoke.

“Like I said ‘more grief than I care to recall’ and that was without the uppers knowing.”

“What are you even going to do with a metal that strong? I’m the robotics God!” Replica shouted in a fit of jealousy.

“In case you forgot I’m a bio-mechanical engineer. I understand robotics as well, and this will help me create the perfect weapon.”

“Like what?” Flux asked.

“If all goes well and the right test subject comes into my lab I will create the first immortal in existence.”

There was a long pause among the Gods. After what seemed like an eternity a loud ringing came from a small speaker within one of the walls.

“Show time!” Mecca shouted as he ran out the room, Ile ore secured in its box and strapped to his back.

The other Gods followed until they all found themselves within a large hanger. Ships of multiple sized docked and ready for flight. Among them are four smaller ships, all built in a similar manor but each carrying different components for the departing Gods to use.

Each God boarded their ships, seated in the pilot’s seat and ready to fly off. A large pair of metallic doors opens in front of the ships reviling the planet below, Equestria. Each ships engines roar with a low howl as the four Gods fly off to Equestria to accomplish their mission, learn as much as you are able then destroy the planet.

Genetic’s ship flew from the mother ship with a low hum of the engines filling the air within the cockpit. No madder what she is unable to get Mecca’s last words out of her mind. “The first immortal. That God better have something up his sleeve or else all that talk would have been for nothing.”

Still it is a bit foolish, not even the best of the Gods have found any trace of the secrets to immortality, just a longer lifespan. Because of that we can live up to fifty-thousand years if you cash out on the alteration. My lifespan should end around fifteen-thousand if I play my cards right, unless… I am a DNA specialist and genome designer if I take a look as the mutation they did to me I might can extend it. Of course not on myself directly but with cloned test subjects, maybe even some of the local crops can help.

With a small jolt Genetic is snapped out of her thoughts. Her ship has landed perfectly atop the mountain point. Down blow on the mountain side rests the pony city Genetic plans to extract samples from, Canterlot.

“Oh goodie, now to set up a home away from home.” Genetic un-straps herself from the pilots seat and heads towards the cargo hold. Upon entering she spots two drones in stasis pods, much like the one that delivered the Ile ore to Mecca but these models aren’t equipped with cannons, rather they each posses two arms with smaller artificial limbs for grab materials with. “Servant drones? Guess the uppers thought they’d be better for sample gathering, probably right.” Next to the drones are what appear to be terminals made of pure light. Genetic presses a small button on each and the drones come to life with a “butzz” and a “blee” each.

“Alright then my good lads I need you both to asses the outside terrain, I’m well aware we’re atop a mountain peek but see if there’s any way to dig into the mountain from our current position.”

The machines gave a “beep” each and floated off. It’s nice when you have good help. Now then what other toys did the uppers give me? The rest of the cargo hold held crates each labeled in the Gods written language of symbols. They read: food, medical arc, spare parts, weapons crate, resting pod, re-molder, communication, synthetic crafting, replication station, and genetic splicer. Except for the replication station and generic splicer this is all standard scouting materials, oh well as they say ‘don’t bite the tentacle that feeds you.’

Genetic makes her way to the exit/entrance of the ship, upon opening the door a genital breeze flows across her body and through her mane. “I forgot how nice a breeze felt, after this I might just head back to home world and take a vacation.” Genetic hops out of the ship and when her hooves touch the soil the gets even closer and sniffs it. “Nope, not organic soil, just highly pressurized rocks and minerals essential for plant life.”

When she gets back up she sees one of the drones floating back. “Got anything?” The drone gives an almost joyful sounding “beep” and slowly floats back to where it came from with Genetic following. When the two arrived at their destination Genetic spotted the second drone floating in front of a boarded up entrance. “Now what do we have here? This didn’t show up on the scans on the mother ship.”

At the wave of Genetic’s hoof the drones break apart the half decayed wood from the entryway and the sunlight that enters reveals a set of tracks with a cart some feet away from the entrance.

A mineshaft, well then this just got easier. It will need some major renovations but I can make it work. Genetic smiles while rubbing her hooves together, a menacing smile across her face.