Authors Note: Hello all and welcome to my Horizon on the Middle of Nowhere Fanfic. Just going to point some things out. This is not a pure Horizon work. This work is going to consist of elements from the Dead Space universe. Actually, this is a Horizon/Dead Space cross over. I simply have it listed as a Horizon fanfic because there is barely anything in there. I really hope this is okay.

Original Characters, if you've been keeping up with two other fanfics, "Those of the Horizon" and "Another Story", one thing you'll find in common with both is the presence of certain Original Characters. Characters I myself would very much like to use, but first I need to acquire permissions from their various creators before implementation into this work. Otherwise, I submitted my own OC to "Another Story", his name is Dimitri, and I'll definitely be using him in this story. To get a grasp as to who exactly the other OC's are, the Special Tactics squad as called by metalgearhunter, be sure to read Another Story and/or Those of the Horizon. Both are great material, and I really encourage you to read pure Horizon material in addition to this nice crossover.

As far as the story is concerned, other than the hopeful inclusion of previously mensioned OC's, I have no intensions of adding Isaac Clarke, (or other Dead Space franchise "Characters") or John Carver. The world ended long ago with the fall of the Divine States, and I'm pretty sure IF Isaac and company were alive around that time, they would've died. Does mean I can't make references. That being said aswell, you can be expecting the many various necromorphs, especially the new ones in Dead Space 3 like the Waster. If you haven't played Dead Space or it's sequels, you'll really have no idea of what's going on here. That's why, I will try to include the story details from the Dead Space universe into this writing so that you are no lost as to what's going on. For those that do know what Dead Space is, then I just want to let you know that I've played the three main games, and completed all three numerous times already. I've done a lot of research concerning the core aspects, because I know there are novels out there, so Dead Space fans will not be disappointed, atleast I hope so. As a plus, this story will be based on the events of Dead Space 2 and 3. With that, I now leave you to the story.

Oh yeah, I own none of the ideas that directly relate to Dead Space or Horizon.

Before time was figured in the known world, before Musashi even set flight into the sky, there was an Earth, there was an inhabitable surface. Testament archives tell of many events that must to replicated in order to follow history to what is understood to revive the inhabitants to their former Divine selves, to ascend back into the Divine States. The Testament Union works hard to make sure that all nations within and outside it's control follow the path of the reenactment of history. However, there is one key event that Testament scholars do keep hidden from the masses, the discovery of a strange artifact.

This artifact was located deep in the resesses of the plagued surface, researched by a government now long forgotten. Even though the states fell and disrupted the surface, this lone artifact stood. It stood several meters tall, emitting a deep, dark glow; untouched by the devestation before it. The many heiroglyphs on it shone briallaintly. It looked like two spikes spiraling upwards, wide at the bottom, then thining down to two sharp points that nearly meet. This is, the Black Marker; the original Marker. This artifact was known by the previous world as a source of unlimited energy; always, it emitted a signal that one would percieve as the energy it gives off; it is known as the Marker Signal.

The Testament Union also had a source of unlimited power, the power of Ether. Ether is perceived as what makes all living and non living things exist. It powers their weapons, it keeps the Musash afloat, and it is even inside the inhabitants living bodies. With this, power would not be an issue, no matter how far and how terribly war is waged; ether would be available to all, as all living and non-living entities emit ether.

However, the Testament Union also faced a severe problem: Ether will not last forever, for the apacolypse is nearing. The research of Queen Elizabeth of England has hypothesized that the apacolypse will come in the form of an ether consuming black hole. If this is the case, not only will power be lost, but also the lives of many. Another renewable energy source must be sought, one that is equally as sustainable, and one that might even help combat the apocolypse...

40 Years Before...

A foot step, a hardened shoe landed on the grey, dead remains of what would've been grass in the dead world of the plague surface far off from Japan. A soldier stood with several others. Drop ships flew by over head. Both the soldiers and the ships wore the Testament insignia. Testament squads armed with severe conditions protection gear ventured into the plagued surface none could inhabit, following a strange energy signal that looked similiar to ether on monitor readouts. As far as scholars could tell, this was another form of ether.

"I don't care how long it takes," boomed the voice of the young pope Innocentious. "I want that energy source. K.P.A. Italia will stand tall above all the other nations. Do you understand that!?"

"Yes sir," said a young soldier. He wore a plexiglass visor. His face was soft, yet determined. "But if I may speak freely, your eminance; how is this thing supposed to be another energy source? How can anything be a replacement for our ether power supply. The shrines are doing a good job maintaining everything, so-"

A man with a heavy cloak walked by the soldier, laying a hand on his shoulder. "That'll be enough son."

The soldier turns his head over to look at the man whom had just spoken. The man addressing him had a stern face. This soldier knew the man as Admiral Graves, he was a serious man, but very tolerant. He always spoke with authority in his voice. "Admiral," was his response. Without hesitation, he saluted.

The admiral took a step forward. "At ease," he released the soldier. "Tell me, Private..."

"Toombs, Sargeant Toombs, sir."

"Toombs," the admiral said, nodding his head. "Do you like going to your barracks at night knowing you can get a good night's rest in cool conditions when it's baking outside?"

"Yes sir" replied Toombs.

Graves nodded, "Good. Then I presume you also like knowing that your wife and kid are also safe at home. Having lights, playing with toys. Secure."

"Yes... yes sir," replied the soldier in a more relaxed tone.

"Well, that's good," said the admiral. "Now tell me this: Do you like knowing all this power is provided by our ever increasing supply of ether?"

Toombs nodded energitically. "Yes sir, yes I do sir."

"Alright, alright. Now, look me in the eye and say yes to this... if you dare." The admiral huffed in a bit, and walked. He signaled for Toombs to follow. "Did you know that all this energy is being provided, free of charge, by the hard work of shrines like the Asama Shrine down in Mikawa; non governmentally funded, and non-profit; an organization that could shutdown without notice at any given time."

The soldier looked around a bit. The thought that ether distribution from the shrines could be halted at any given moment did unnerve him. There were tons of other Ether creation methods and techniques that could be used, but the Shrines ultimated controlled the Ether distribution. If they hated a single entity, they could simply starve them of the much needed source.

"No," said the soldier hesitantly. "No sir, I do not like that idea."

The admiral patted Toombs on the shoulder once more. "Then you understand why we need to find a new source of energy; one that's governmentally controlled and funded; no chances of being held from the deserving, hard working individuals who need it."

"Yes... yes sir," said the soldier in understanding.

The Union's military of students always had qualms about relying on the Shrines for certain high level spells and applications. The shrines always supplied the ether required, especially if the country is locked in a battle. Still, for some unbenign reason, they could always withold and reject a much needed spell. That was why the Union was in search of it's own way of holding a sustainable energy source. No more waiting for spell approval from certain shrines during key moments. And ultimately, a possible solution to the apocalypse.

The small survey team reached a building that had long been broken down, a bunker. Three other signal trackers attached to several God Of War Mk II's triangulated the unknown, yet strong signal to this area.

"Okay team," said Toombs, "this is where we become immortal and forever carve our names in history."

Several other soldiers all let out a simultaneous whoop of victory. Toombs turned back, and with great effort, started to slide the steel doors aside. The steel was so heavy, it took several men to move the unlatched door whom had been sitting in that position for so long. It fell, and let out a loud, low bang when it hit the ground. The bang reverbed and echoed inside the facility. Slowly, the group entered, and brought out their lights.

"Let's go."

Inside, there had yet been a sign of any organic matter, dead or otherwise. All of it had been evaporated by the fall of the states. The walls looked baked. Many twists, many turns, and many flights of stairs led the team deeper and deeper into the facility.

The God Of Wars flying high above kept a good read on the teams position. The pope was heavily facinated by how far this ether signal extended. Sometime after his coronation, scholars had confirmed a suspicion long in research: the presence of another source of power resting in an area far from here, near the previous main land. Never had the pope expected that the signal would go out THIS far, over a thousand miles from the Testament Union's primary settlement. Scholars suspect this strange signal emits further, and possibly around the world and beyond.

"How is their progress?" asked the pope.

"They are making sufficient progress," answered the God Of War on the other end. "We speculate the team will arrive in at the signal source in as little as thirty minutes."

"That is good news," said Innocentious as he took a swig of wine. "That is most definitely good news."

Down another flight of stairs, the team continued to the bottom. Then, Toombs raised a hand, signalling the group to halt in their tracks. The team stopped, and listened for Toombs.

"Hey Crone," said Toombs, "what's that thing?"

The soldier named Crone looked at what Toombs was refering. A strange plaque on the wall seemed to have some sort of inscription.

"It's the first thing I've seen not completely incinerated," Toombs said. "Do you know what that is?"

Crone took another look at it. "Hmm, it looks like... English."

"English?" asked another soldier. "What in the name of the pope is that?"

"English man," Crone said. "As in England English. God you are stupid Reeves. Did you graduate with a major in Insensation?

The soldier known as Reeves looked around for a second. "N- no. What's that?"

Another soldier leaned by him, his tag read Badger. "It means stupid you moron."

"Cut the bullshit," Toombs ordered. "Crone, can you translate?"

"Of course I can, I'm from England; didn't you know that?"

Almost on cue, the group started to spout various responses related to no.

"What?" exclaimed Crone in disappointment. "I told you guys like five times I'm from England."

"Never heard," said Reeves.

Crone turned away. "Man, you guys are dicks."

"Translate the slab man," Toombs asked, now impatient.

"Okay okay, don't get your snake in a knot. The plaque says "Marker Storage", this way."

The group looked at one another. "Marker storage?" asked Badger.

"What the hell is a Marker?" Reeves said.

Toombs looked through the iron door into another dark hallway. "Don't know, but I guess we'll find out." He looked back at their fifth man, whom hadn't said a thing since they got there. "Hey Snake Eyes, you still got the Signal Tracker running?"

The tech soldier known as Snake Eyes simply nodded. Unlike the others, Snake Eyes was a dark angel, sporting demonic wings, and a slender, spike-tipped tail. Despite her appearance, she was a casual, quiet girl. "Yes sir, the signal's hot down this doorway."

Toombs looked to his group, "Well gang, let's go get us a... marker."

The squad walked down the hall rather slowly. It was a long trip, and the hall arched lower and lower into the ground. What ever this "marker" was, these people wanted to keep it hidden. The facility would've continued to hide the signal should the building, and everything around it, were not damaged and containment severed.

It took a while, but the group finally reached a huge set of iron doors. The area was untouched by debris, and an old monitor appeared to have little power.

Toombs openned his sign frame, and contacted the academy in K.P.A. Italia. "Hello, can I get a technical history expert here?"

It took several minutes, but finally, it appeared a scholar came to their call. "Yes, hello?" said a young boy's voice.

"Yes, Sargeant Toombs of K.P.A. Italia's Special Branch 044 here, we'd like a little help from the scholars at the academy."

"Sargeant?" asked the boy. "Of course, how can I help you?"

"I need you to tell me what this thing is. It appears to be a touch screen, interactive simulation similiar to our Divine Transmission. Can you tell me how it works?"

"Hmm, let me see..." said the boy. Paper could be heard being flipped through. "Ah, yes. That's heavily simple. It seems you've found an old "panel". These panels were used by early world indiviuals as a way of controlling something called electronic circuits. They date back to-"

Toombs swayed his hand. "Yeah yeah, listen, I didn't call to get a history lesson, I called to know how to open this door."

"Oh, that's easy too. You simply touch the button on the mounted screen that corresponds to the local language's OPEN. If it is actually receiving power, the door should open automatically!"

"Automatically huh?" Reeves looked about at the huge fine looking door. "Didn't think they had those."

Toombs patted Crone. "Alright, you're the Englishman; you open it."

"Got it," replied Crone. Examining the monitor, he found the words "Security Level M, Clearance to all controls granted to all individuals. Evacuate Immediately." He looked deeply at that message, did something happen here before the states crashed? He shook his head slightly and disregarded the message. "Alright, here goes nothing." He looked to the lower right hand corner, and found the panel that read OPEN. He touched it, and then the area shook, and the doors slowly openned.

"Alright men, and tengu, we're deep in. From here on out, consider anything you might see alive as a hostile."

Reeves looked his direction. "Hostiles? Dude, we are several hundred feet underground in a facility that has been long forgotten about in an uninhabitable land. What the hell's going to be down here?"

"You know the drill Reeves, don't give me bullshit. We know nothing's here, better safe than sorry though." Toombs holstered his weapon. "Hey Jinx."

Outside the area, the God of War monitoring their progress received the sargeants call. "Yes sir."

"Tell the pope we're going to have his prize momentarily. We're going to go fetch ourselves... a Marker."

Author's End Note: So yeah, this is going to be a two part prologue. Part II being shorter than this. After the prologue is done, you can be expecting the usual cast. Don't get too used to these Prologue OC's, because well... it's a prologue. No spoilers. Hopefully, we'll get to see the other OC's like Ichijou, Hituro, Ayumi, Kazu, Kuina, and Tsukasa among the main group; we'll see how that turns out though as I finish the Prologue.

Well, I hope you enjoy. Dead Space fans, you know what a Marker is and what it's capable of, please don't ruin the surprise for those who don't.

Otherwise, if you'd like, tell me what you think. Should I continue with this idea? I don't know, I'd like to, but we'll see how things turn out in a couple more chapters. 'Kay?