Taking Redundancy

"Sweet Apple Acres Inc. has been instrumental in the housing and feeding of ponies for generations with our developments in the fields of agriculture and terraforming science over the past century. After the successful acquisition of Ponyville Express, a company with humble beginnings that later lead to it being at the forefront of interstellar travel technology, we have been able to expand our reach far beyond our own solar system and begin terraforming barren worlds into lush, green paradises much like our native Equestria. We are always looking for bright-eyed individuals willing to join us as a colonist on one of these frontier worlds and upon passing a physical you will be put through one of our award winning schools before being shipped to your new home and become a part in our operations by transforming new worlds from wastelands to paradises. Interested individuals should search SAA on any extranet terminal. Sweet Apple Acres, building better worlds."

"We should do it." Jade exclaimed, slamming down his hoof onto the bar, pointing at the screen.
"Do what?" replied Scoots, who had obviously not been paying attention to anything other than the group of mares in the corner of the bar.
"Colonists man, we should give it a shot! Think of the experiences and stuff we could see, not to mention the salary. You know they're looking for engineers and entertainers."
"Forget it Jade. I am not signing away five years, five years MINIMUM, of my life to some corporation I don't care about. Why can't you just be happy here, in Equestria where you aren't a slave to a corporation that doesn't give one hayseed about you?"
"Come on Scoots, do you think it's any better here, where you're some subject to the Princesses who will never know your name or care whether or not you're alive or dead? At least we get to be slaves in SPACE. Anyway, slaves don't get paid whilst we will; handsomely too." Jade said, knocking back the few dregs that remained of his drink.
"Now you've finished, I think I'll call it a night mate. I have work in the morning and Moneybags told me I need to be in at eight sharp." Sliding off his chair, Scoots telekinetically picked up his
coat and put it on. "Later Jade!"

"And that's why we're letting you go; we just don't need you anymore."
Moneybags looked straight through Scoots during the whole explanation, never actually meeting his gaze. His eyes glazed over as his former employer told him he had done such a great job in securing and organising the companies databases that very little else was needed of him which couldn’t be outsourced to freelance software engineers if anything were wrong. It was all about cutting costs and saving money.
"Really, after all I've done for you guys you're just letting me go? How is that even fair!?" Scoots voice began to tremble, choking back tears of rage and frustration.
"Listen, you're a good kid. Damn good at what you do, but I just have no more work for you. I'm sorry. Now could you please make sure you've cleared out your office by 5 this afternoon? Anything left we'll assu-" Scoots took a deep breath zoning out what the round earth pony was saying. For a second he thought his vision had gone monochrome as a result of what was happening, instead he was realising that the room had always been black and white, even Moneybags was black and white in his blazer and tie. The only colour in the room being Scoots own orange coat and purple mane. Had these offices always been so soul crushing? What was he going to do now? He'd never been good at saving bits so he had barely enough money for rent for anything more than a couple months. Jobs in his field were hard to come by and oversubscribed, it wasn't what you knew but more who you knew. Jade was not going to let Scoots live this down, but he really had no choice. Space it was.
"-I can suggest you to a few ponies I know but I wouldn't get your hopes up. Hey, what are you doing?" Kicking back his chair from under him Scoots had begun moving over to the door, looking back at the his black and white boss "Nothing too rash, just going to sign up for a few years of space travel"

"And he just told me that there was no work left and he had to let me go." Scoots voice echoed out of his empty glass, his muzzle resting on the rim.
"That's terrible, buddy. Next round's my treat."
Jade held out his hoof to rest it on Scoots’ shoulder before trying to hail a bartender. Scoots was glad that Jade had been able to make it, but realistically speaking out of work musicians aren't very busy. He was yet to tell Jade about his decision, trying to word it in such a way that Jade wouldn't rub it in his face. Scoots was not coming out of this clean.
"A pint of Bittah' for you gov!" Jade said in his strongest Trottingham accent, handing Scoots his drink. "And an Applejack Daniel’s for myself."
"Two things Jade: first, never ever speak like that again"
"Make no promises. Gov."
"Seriously, I'll hit you. Secondly, were you serious about Sweet Apple Acres?"
Jade was taken aback for a second, choking on his drink. After regaining his composure, he nodded,
"Of course, I'm getting rather bored never having any work other than odd bits here and there. Also I've always dreamed of it, I suppose it's the earth pony in me wanting to go out there and just help build something. Why? Had a change of heart?"
"In light of recent events, I've been considering it yeah. I just don't know if it's safe; I'd rather not be sent to some toxic irradiated hell-hole to die or toil in space mines or something."
"Safety shmafety Scoots. You only live once-"
"Some longer than others."
"-Shut up wimp. Anyway, you only live once. Let's go sign up first thing tomorrow morning!" "But you're never up before mid-day."
Jade rolled his eyes at that, "Let me re-word myself, oh Literal One. Let's go sign up first thing tomorrow at the crack of mid-day!"

Author's Note

Here goes my third attempt!

Just updated with some fixes, content is still the same - 17/06/2014