Story: Pre-Subnautica + MLP
Chapter: 9. Warning: Entry might have unfortunate consequences!
Author: Black--Soul

As the first team entered the construction was clear that there entry was noticed when lights previously deactivated came to life. Gildas talons where shacking with adrenaline, but her mind was as sharp as possible. Rainbowdash wings twitched with nervous energy, but she dared not to fly. Her Aunty had warned her in every of her experienced storys that sound of wing flaps where just as helpful to stay hidden as hissed whispering. One simply spoke very quietly or better yet, used hoove/talon sign language.

To their luck did Rainbowdash and Gilda learned it to communicate better when pranking somecreature. It also helped to boost there respective grades in school to take the extra class. Not to forget that military units like the Wonderbolts had it as requirement to join the force.

There rear guard stand next to the door frame in a crouched position and ready to shot things if some scary alien tried to bite their face off. That or Zephyr was ready to bolt, it was a 50-50 chance at best...
Of course would they try run before a fight could break out, but better safe than sorry.

The overall light was green. Rainbowdash had slight flashbacks to the old Changeling Hive lights trough goo lamps.

One of the most striking features was a green glowing illusion over something with the resemblance of a map console like they used on the ship to find their way to the escape pods.

As they moved deeper into the structure slowly getting lower into and through the structure did they spot green cubes on raising platforms that changed how high they raised depending on the overall height of the one closest to it. As Gilda noticed when she walked besides Dash in her bipedal walk.

When nocreature was to be seen so far did the, first team returned to the end and grouped up with the second team to explore together.
Interesting was how well the isolation if the wall was. A singel wall could seperate their communication to one another.

The green cubes on the raising platforms had a magical aura that was 5 times stronger than that of their magical powercells inside their Lifepods.

Twilight mentioned that they should later take one for study with them. Zephyr ask if it was probably save to remove them and their magical signature was strong, but save to hoove around with. When Gilda touch it without a glove did it feel warm and sparks come off it that feel like sparkling effervescent powder overcome her talon in a pleasant way.

Rainbowdash licked one because why not?
And her fur coat, mane and tail becomes instantly static. Gilda mimicking it and did fluff up with static as well. Both returned to their normal appearance about three minutes after having licked the cube.

Twilight guessed the sounds it made was from its structure being unable to contain all the magic it holded. She mentioned that if somecreature was stupid enough to willingly destroy it with a magic blast it had enough power to blow a small Island up. But otherwise it seem fairly safe.

Going slightly deeper into the structure they found another console.

Next was a shaft coming up that had a hazy glow in it. When Zephyr get to close to it was he lifted up and dragged down. Zephyr was screaming all the way he was dragged and from the sound if it he was a lot farther into the structure until his screaming come to a abrupt end.

Everycreature had raise its Crossbow in panic. After a minute or two of tension did Zephyr shouted finally: "I am fine! I think its a magical elevator like the one in Canterlot research tower when they made the castle tour i visited once."

Everyone relaxed and Fluttershy was kicking away a imagend pebble because Zephyr was again fine. With him shouting from below instead if coming back up nocreature could accidentally make a arrow pillow out of him.
Again had Zephyr given Fluttershy false hopes...

Fluttershy sigh and get next into the elevator. Her adorable 'eppp' might have given weaker Griffons diabetic problems, but everycreature enjoyed the magic elevator ride.

Next did they came up in a large empty room, with nothing in it. Twilight guessed that it was a storage area, without ladders it seem rather difficult to store things though, unless flying was a option for the alien race.

When they came up in a large room did they see things at display and a staircase without stairs. But with the rough texture of the ground was going up no problem.

One of the things on display was what Gilda guessed was a Bowcaster and while it had no magical aura, could it have been in a unloaded state since it was clearly in a stable displayIng case.

Then they found another alien tablet it was purple as well. They left it alone for now since they still had one left from the Lifepod 33 salvage.
They might changed there minds when another force field would stop their progress. They take the last remaining purple tables from the Lifepodod 33 and open the path with it by shutting down the barrier.

The next room was full of pillars and it had a glowing console in it. When Spike try to interact with it did a force field keep his right arm in place and a metalic snake came out of the thing. It displayed a long rod or needle in its center and observed Spike for a moment before...

It tried to probably impale Spikes arm, but the rod or needle failed to get trough his scales. With a loud echoing *ching* did it fail to archive penetration. It tried 3 more times before it seem to look at Spike in frustration. It get longer and than take a swinging dash towards Spike arm.
It managed to break off its needle. It seem to look in disbelief at Spike and than ejected the rod or needle on the ground. It retreated for a few seconds until it returned with a longer needle.

66 times did it try to penetrate his scales but after a minute of *ching on a rapid fire* did this needle was broken in two as well. The snake apperently shake in rage before spitting the needle to the other discarded one and dissappeard.

After a minute of nothing happening did Spike ask the console if he could have his arm back.
As if in answer did the snake came out, this time with a drill.

Now Spike didn't like needles, but a Faust damn drill was no laughing matter. But before he could protest did it was already in motion toward Spikes arm.

Spike didn't like the look of it but had no way of pulling free and telekinesis from Twilight did not stop it from reaching Spikes arm. But luck for Spike did the drill got contact melted after another minute of failure to get penetration successful behind it to do what ever it had planned.

It retreated and another metalic snake came out. This one had a drill with two needles beside it. It hovered over Spike arm, started to vibrate its needles and made contact with his arm. After a minute seemingly without success did it give up. Until its drill started to be coated with a lubricant. It was acidic! Spikes scales slightly sizzling give way to the drill and Spike started to scream fearing it melting of his arm.

To his surprise did the drill stopped half way trough and both of the needles shot a solution on his scales that seemingly neutralize the acid.

The metalic snake retreated and the first came out again. This time it didn't fail to penetrate.

Spike exclamation of "Ouch! This motherbucker has bite me!", made it success clear.

The previous glowing area switch from a green to a red for a moment before saying something unintelligible. After which it finally released the arm of Spike.

After Twilight using a healing spell at Spike, was his arm as good as new. Zephyr surprisingly on his own accord tried it next. The first metallic snake come out and take a sample out of Zephyr left forleg. Rarity was next, than Applejack and finally Twilight.
The result was always the same. Next was Gilda and nocreature was surprised about the thing repeated its unintelligible message.

Leaving did they check the moving cube Artefact.
The cube with the orb in it open up and closed in rapid succession when one got to close to it. That thing was blindingly magical when scanned. Twilight described it as a miniature sun in magical output. When Zephyr suggested nocreature touch it, everycreature agreed. Especially making it later a rule so Pinkie Pie don't get the crazy idea to juggling the thing for fun and blowing them all up accidentally.

They left the cube alone and moved on downstairs. There was a lone chamber with a gate construction, but they left it alone for now. Twilight would try this gate out later probably. Since they had been inside the building for a while and had no working communication running, did everycreature agree to inform the rest of the Community of anything they learned so far. So they left for now.

When they went outside to inform everycreature that the air was clear of any other beings, did everygriff and pony relaxed, but was also disappointed that they didn't meet anything in there.

The two teams than went in a lot more relaxed than before hoove and give the alien consoles a examination.

Pinkie Pie apperently had switched guard duty with one of the Griffons and explored the alien building. Gilda and Rainbowdash followed Pinkie Pie so she don't try play with the miniature Sun artifact.

After a few hours of making no progress, did the original exploration crew left and evergriff else explored the building.

Pinkie Pie and Giraldi seem especially found of the Elevator and even Sharpbeak was caught using it as a joyride.
The gruff Griffon was a chick at heart yet, as Applejack later confirmed.

Unbeknownst to the Community did the alien building had activated long time dormant security drones. Three types got released on mass:

- a 'Warper' - a with bioengineering warping abilities given hunter unit versus anti personal operation.

- A 'Crabsquid' - able to use electricity as weapon and send out electromagnetic pulses. Used in hunting personal and maschine supported targets.

- Ghost Leviathan - Heavy attack unit bioengineered for rapid regeneration and being able to kill even the toughest targets given enough time.

Designated targets: Everyone showing visible signs of infection and positiv tested individuals.

The hunt is on...

Leave a rating and comments if you don't mind. Polite constructive criticism is always welcome.

Stay snuggly