Fallout Equestria

Flux’s Capacitor

On a quiet Sunday afternoon in the government supplied apartment, Tear prepared tea and biscuits for her special guests.  She had saved up her ration stamps to ensure she would have marmalade and butter for this special occasion.  It would be in violation of her government monitored calorie intake, but minor infractions were usually ignored by the bbbff (big brother best fraternity franchise).

The arrival bell sounded and Tear turned her head to the monitor.  She wasn’t surprised by the early arrival.  Rift was always early.  Before she could reach the ‘authorization’ button, her other guest arrived as well.  Flux, well dressed and dapper as ever, was wearing a cranberry tweed jacket that complimented his standard purple bow tie.  Rift never bothered with clothes.

Tear turned up the monitor volume to hear them.  Flux said ‘good afternoon’ while Rift only grunted.  So typical of them, that Tear had no doubt of their identity, and buzzed them in.

The monitor automatically switched to another camera as they entered.  It followed them past the elevator doors and switched again to the ramp way that would take them to her apartment.  They didn’t just walk side by side – they marched.  They had been like that since she had used her special unicorn magic to find them.  Initially their dislike of each other had hindered their cooperation, now, grudgingly given way to the unmentioned mutual respect for each other’s abilities.

Flux’s attention to minuscule details certainly impressed Tear, while Rift’s impulsiveness and brute force proved quit reliable to get the most difficult of jobs done.  Tear saw herself as something in between the glue that held them together and the grease that allowed these divergent mechanical clogs to function.  Except that today, she would have to stretch herself and establish herself as the leader of this little group of revolutionaries, and that would require a dangerous gamble.

The monitor continued to switch from camera to camera as the twosome continued their decent to her bbbff apartment.

It was the government decision that private ownership constituted a theft of property, in that if one pony claimed ownership of something, then it was theft from all others.  Thus, the government justified their confiscation of all personal property and redistribution of said property to those most suited to empower its success, all according to the bbbff.  A sound principal in theory, except that in practice, an obvious corruption existed, as no system, however perfect, could co-exist with the self-inherent tendency of ponies to lie to themselves.  That lying ability or talent enabled them to persevere in spite of overwhelming evidence of the despair of effort.  And this talent made any attempt at an equalitarian society totally prone to futility and corruption.  Alas, under the present bbbff data management controlled society, resistance was futile.  Only a reboot of the entire system could correct the inadequacies, and that was why Tear had sought out and gathered both Rift and Flux.

They arrived at her door, and she opened it with a smile.  They entered and stationed themselves at polar opposites in the room.

“How progresses the operation?” asked Tear

“Great” responded Rift

“Excuse me, may I ask if?” interrupted Flux

“Yes, the bbbff listening devices had been temporary disabled” answered Tear

“And how was that done?” asked Flux

“The usual way, with magnets” answered Tear

“May I?” said Flux, not really waiting for an answer, activating his ECM device in his bowtie.

“You’re input is always welcome” responded Tear as she started pouring the tea.

“We are ready to commence a test operation” said Rift

“Agreed” said Flux

“No” said Tear

“No?” asked Flux “We have reviewed the calculation beyond my capacity to endure tedium.  I can offer no more inputs to those equations until we have collected actual data”

“He is right” stated Rift “We need to test the stress levels of his machine before we can start our project”

“You misunderstand” said Tear “What I meant is that this initial event will be no test”

“What?” exclaimed Rift

“You can’t” said Flux

“We must” injected Tear “what we are doing is being monitored by the bbbff.  The only reason they have not interfered is because they have no idea of our intent or ability”

“You mean to say that despite our precautions… “ asked Flux

“They know?” interrupted Rift

“Yes” said Tear “they know we are doing something.  Did either of you think that our unusual requests for materials would go unnoticed?”

“All of my requisitions were common and specified for my abstract art program” responded Flux

“That may cover the requests but when we finally use it, the bbbff will jump down our collective throats.  There can be no test” said Tear

“Big Brother is always watching” said Rift “then our operation is over”

“No” said Tear “not if we bypass the test phase and charge straight into action”

“That’s crazy” said Flux

“And irresponsible” said Rift

“And that is why it must work” responded Tear

“I like it” said Rift

“Forward into the breach dear friends” said Flux

“What?” asked Rift

“He said he agrees” translated Tear