Grey Hatby JourneymanChaptersChapter 1: Absolution\\C:\whitelist\update.dat\\E:\Users\GlowCloud\Picture\wALLofHAIL.jpgChapter 2: It's Cold Out Here\\E:\Users\GlowCloud\Videos\TremblingFear.aviChapter 3: MagnasantiChapter 4: We Who Have Touched the Sun\\C:\Program Files (x86)\CharonCopier\data\rips\TS&V&C_ER_UArc.sdf Prologue: Black Tapestries\\C:\Users\BigBlue\Video\30432306ZG.ZIPChapter 1: AbsolutionChapter 1: Absolution Three weeks later... Fluttershy looked back and forth, completely at a loss for what to do. Applejack said to wait on the bench until she came back, but it was only a small comfort to know one of her friends was nearby. She searched from left to right for any signs of a cutiemark or stetson, but came up empty hooved. Being more of a country bumpkin than a city filly, being somewhere as big as Canterlot or Manehatten was enough to render her breathless by proximity. And those were cities with normally only ponies. It was hard to believe there were so many races outside of her own homeworld of Avol, far many more than she had ever imagined. It was enough to make her shrink back into the bench as far as she could go. The surface wasn’t like the comfy wood park benches she usually found dotting Ponyville. This one was cold and hard steel with only a small vinyl cushion to take the pressure off her aching legs. It just so happened to be that she sat right next to one of the most populated areas on board the human starship Absolution. There were people of all shapes and sizes in the expansive lobby in front of her. She could see some places of business selling wares she could not begin to fathom. The vast majority seemed to sell black and silver trinkets and baubles. People milled about and talked, discussing prices and the quality of certain items over others. Some of the larger items seemed to be in the shape of human body parts. Now that she saw it, several people had metal in place of skin. People could have replaced hands, arms, or legs. One odd individual had no skin or hair on his cranium, only a silver skull for a head. Most people gave him a wide berth. The affinity for prosthetics wasn’t the only strange thing. While the spaceship was largely dominated by humans, Fluttershy saw other species dot the halls. A tall feline creature she had come to identify as a Korg prowled about. It stood on its hind legs, looking over the crowd before returning onto all fours. Another creature she had never seen or heard of before looked like some kind of tall, thin amphibious creature. It did not speak as it weaved through the crowd. The dull buzz of busy conversation hung in the air like a fog. Distracting, but still pleasant white noise. As long as they didn’t stare... A particularly loud snort made her jump. She had almost forgotten a human was sleeping on the bench right next to her. He had been silent ever since she sat down twenty minutes previous. As far as humans went, he looked pretty old to Fluttershy, but not nearly as old as most humans she had seen with stark white hair. It was still difficult for her to tell some humans apart from others, a very inconvenient drawback when on board a ship of human design. He wore what Fluttershy had come to recognize as black and brown military fatigues. That would explain the scars on his exposed forearms and face, and the particularly vicious upturned scar across his left cheek that made him look like he was perpetually grinning. A soldier, if she had to hazard a guess. He scratched his fledgling salt and pepper beard, sighing slightly. He had yet to open his eyes, but she had the lingering suspicion the soldier knew she was present even if he was sleeping. It appeared he was doing his best to ignore her. She let him be. Other things occupied her mind. Her attention focused on a news monitor that had been blaring ever since she discovered it was there. It had been on a constant loop ever since she sat down, cycling through several news broadcasts. Having run out of things to look at and incapable of keeping track of the endless stream of humans and other exotic alien species, she took a moment and watched what the woman staring out of the screen had to offer. Rather unlike the occasional television she would see in richer pony cities, the monitor was an empty frame that broadcasted light into a solid picture. She had asked Applejack how it worked when she saw it for the first time, but she couldn’t make heads or tails of it either. The media circuits are abuzz with the last declaration from the new Alliance world of Avol. After the Alliance fleet battled with the hostile Dratali menace and secured the safety of Avol, co-rulers of one of the largest Avolian nations, Equestria, has opened trade and political negotiations with military diplomats. Recent Avol military recruit Twilight Sparkle has been appointed as a temporary liaison between Avol and certain Alliance factions. As Avol has yet to develop technology past the stage corresponding to the Information Age on Earth, sharing technology and certain data pertaining to Alliance and human history has been restricted pending further review. All inside sources state that talks are still in the earliest stages, but Equestria and its rulers, Princesses Celestia and Princess Luna, have initiated migration and travel quotas for the purpose of cultural sharing and exploration. In a recent interview with Vice Admiral Carter and Ambassador Dieter, the two co-rulers stated they encouraged travel between their races, but given that interstellar communication and culture mixing is still new to the new Alliance acquisition, immigration quotas are enforced in order to restrict movement until an unspecified date in the future. In order to better travel to Alliance space and allow certain Alliance carriers and dropships into Avol and Equestrian territory, the Alliance received permission from the Equestrian royal court to build a single staryard on its soil. The Alliance is currently negotiating deals with the Deus industrial corporation for supplies in that regard. This ground station would work in conjunction with the Harmony Station recently completed in geosynchronous orbit with Avol. Several corporations have clambered over each other to craft privatized contracts on Avol. Notable agrarian developer Organic Corporate Operations has made several bids for an earth pony workforce and their supposed unparalleled agricultural and farming techniques. Both Equestria and another Avol sovereign state, the Crystal Kingdom, have refused any and all deals concerning the mass export of labor forces until further notice. Ambassador Dieter has gone on record stating that talks are going well and any restrictions placed on Alliance dealings and demands are fair and reasonable under basic scrutiny, given the past circumstances concerning Lieutenant Sparkle and the recent Dratali invasion of Equestria. Primary concerns sent by most world leaders of Avol revolve around future relations with Alliance forces and the possibility of another attack on their homeworld. The Dratali vanguard spearheading the assault on Avol just over a year agowas destroyed by a joint effort of Alliance and Avol forces. Alliance intelligence assured both Alliance worlds and the Avol nation-states that an attack in the near future is very remote and promises aid to any world whenever an attack is imminent, especially their new Avolian allies. Preliminary reports concerning the Dratali attack seem to suggest that the aliens wished to exterminate all life on Avol under the wish to destroy all possible magic users. Given that Dratali had been previously thought to be the only race capable of using magic, the possibility of another race capable of the same feat could have been interpreted as a grave threat to Dratali strategies concerning their magic trump cards. In other news, another NOMAD facility was attacked by a joint task force of Factory and Essex-Inata-Imago corporate security. Initial reports suggest casualties were at a minimum. There are currently three reported arrests after the raid, far fewer than previously expected. Stay tuned for future updates. Two cyber criminals only known by the aliases DaemonJack and King Kludge have resurfaced after a long period of dormancy. Commercial Security and Safety Inc. security reports state that King Kludge may not have been taking a reprieve as previously thought, but assisting the NOMAD criminal organization for reasons unknown. Sources, however, all point to a long period of inactivity by his comrade DaemonJack, who has only recently resurfaced. Genetics and biotech corporation Biolab reported several attempted hacks into secure Magnasanti servers using methods that are typical of the notorious netrunner. No damage or lost data has been reported at this time. Fluttershy did her best to tune the broadcast out. “Even humans have bad apples, I suppose.” “You have no idea,” the man said in a deep, scratchy voice, making her jump. “Oh, really? Well I hope I don’t meet them.” He said nothing. “You must be upset that I woke you. I’m sorry, it’s just that this whole place is strange to me. I’m waiting for a friend of mine to come back–I’m just rambling now. I’m sorry, mister.” The man still did not move or acknowledge her. Fluttershy shifted uncomfortably in the silence. Compelled to say something to end the awkwardness, she said, “My name’s Fluttershy.” He finally gave the first sign of life. Lifting his head, he opened his eyes. They were a really bright green, almost too bright and seemed to shimmer slightly as he gave her a once over. His gaze paused longer than she would have liked on her saddlebags and cutiemark, but his face was as stony and unreadable as ever. “Sam. Sam Concord.” He lowered his head and closed his eyes again. “That’s... a nice name.” His lips curled ever so slightly, exacerbating his scarred smile even more. “You’re new here,” he said without a hint of a question. “Yes.” She had given in to her habit of letting her hair shield her from others once again. Sam had closed his eyes however, and thus could not interpret it as a slight against him. “I’m waiting for my friend Applejack to come back with someone who can give us a ship. We’re supposed to be helping humans with their plants and farming.” “Las’ I heard, none o’ you were allowed to go off planet.” “That’s right, but the princesses are making a few special exceptions. She’s letting me and Applejack go as a sign of good faith and to make friends.” “A whole lotta people are gonna hate you.” Fluttershy shrunk away from him. “Why? Is it because I am a pony? Is my mane done wrong? Am I talking too mu—” “You ponies use magic,” he said simply. He removed a small box from his breast pocket, opened the hinge, and plucked a small, solid metal tube. He stuck it in his mouth and the tip glowed red. “Last guys we’d seen use magic tried to kill us. A lot. That kinda hate don’t go away easy.” Fluttershy knew what the man was talking about. The Dratali. The newscaster spoke of them. The Dratali had learned of Avol’s galactic location through a defector unicorn and wished to exterminate them. The battle took tolls on both sides, but even though it was a unanimous victory for Equestria, the price was high. Friends and strangers alike fell before her eyes. The gravediggers were payed well that day. “I’m not like them. We’re not like them.” “Don’t matter, Flutters. We humans are like that; don’t make a whole lot o’ sense, our lot. Sometimes we forget we can be assholes.” Sam exhaled and a gust of sweet-smelling smoke exited his lips. Something in it stung her nose and Fluttershy sneezed. Sam’s lips curled again and put the tube back in its case. He put a finger behind his left ear. Tucked behind the cartilage was a dial so small Fluttershy could hardly see it. He gave it a flick, winced, and after a moment turned his head to the right. “Your friend’s comin’.” A large steel door opened on the far wall without anypony or anything to push it open. Fluttershy’s face lit up; sure enough, Applejack was at the forefront of a group of humans. She was currently speaking to a very petite human woman who looked so thin and wispy a stiff breeze would blow her away. She was dressed in fine white and blue clothes without a single crease or stain. A pair of earrings hung from both lobes. Sam flicked the dial in the opposite direction. “That be Anastasia Arias. This ship is the mobile headquarters of Zenith Inc., the leading producer of cyberware and cybernetic upgrades, especially for soldiers,” and he tapped his ear. Fluttershy stared back at him with a blank look on her face. “You’ll find out why that’s important later. Ana’s the CEO of Zenith. If anyone can get you a ship, it’s her.” The sound of Applejack’s hooves clattered loudly on the plastic and steel ship floors. Sam got to his feet as bones and tendons popped and cracked in his arms and back. He grunted as a particularly loud pop made them both wince. “Oh, I’m gettin’ old.” Applejack and Ana were flanked by a quartet of burly humans and one Korg who anyone could tell were bodyguards, even Fluttershy. A secretary of some kind was hidden behind the mass of flesh, a thin metal pad of some kind in her hands on which she was rapidly tapping. The group was, shockingly, completed by none other than Shining Armor. Leaning around one of the guards to see the reason for the sudden stop, his ears perked up as he saw the source and waved. Fluttershy returned the wave, but her ears folded back as some of Ana’s guards scowled at her. Ana stepped passed Applejack and smiled kindly at Fluttershy. She seemed nice enough and her heart-shaped face looked pretty to Fluttershy. Seeing her was still odd; she ran a company? She had so many bodyguards to follow her around? Mostly, Fluttershy tried to not stare at the jagged X-shaped scar on her throat. “Hello, Miss Fluttershy, my name is Anastasia Arias, and I heard from your friend you need my help.” Shining Armor trotted along slowly amongst the guards. Outside the guards, actually, as none of them would let him get close to Miss Arias. Applejack seemed fine with the ordeal, and was content to observe her surroundings in the meantime. Ana led the pack with a firm and deliberate pace after she spoke with Applejack. After pleasantries, she brought out a scroll from within the confines of her own saddlebags before chatting behind the usual wall of bodyguards. “By Celestia, they’re big,” Shining commented. The Korg smiled, his furry face revealing his large canines. Right. Big ears. Shining was used to being around humans, and they could barely hear anything with those ears of theirs. “So, how have you been?” Shining asked Applejack in order to fill in the quiet. Her freckled face smiled back. “Fine myself,” she drawled. “Ah’ve gotten mahself in quite the pinch, getting shoehorned into this trip. But Fluttershy would’ve been all by herself otherwise, and ah can’t rightly live with that. RD’s off with Spike, ah know better than to ask what Pinkie’s up to, Twilight’s with that boyfriend of hers,” Shining felt himself scowl, “and las’ ah heard, Rarity got shipped off for some kind of medical training. Mac’s the smart one, but ah’ve got enough brains to figure out that somepony gotta look after Fluttershy.” A thin woman with cropped brown hair and large glasses that made her eyes look far too large for her head stepped right in front of Applejack, blocking her path. “Miss Arias would like to speak with you,” she said curtly. Without another word or even checking to make sure either pony heard, she squeezed between Ana’s vanguard. For a moment, Shining had the absurd mental image of a bar of soap slipping right through his hooves and chuckled. “Duty calls,” Shining sighed softly, giving Applejack an exasperated smile. “Reminds me of boot all over again.” “Might as well get it o’er with,” Applejack said cheerfully. Too cheerfully. Shining had never known the farmer for being bubbly or any other word used to describe Pinkie. “What’s put you in such a good mood?” “No idea,” she said happily. “Not fond of all of this new stuff so soon, but ah like meetin’ strangers. This’s been all sorts o’ fun.” And with that, Applejack followed the shrew of a woman and vanished behind a wall of strong arms. Shining let the occasional buzz of conversation take a hold and let his mind wander. Meeting new people and places was all well and good, and he fully understood why Applejack could be having such a great time with the new stimuli, but the constant ups and downs over the last few days ever since he was assigned his own mission by Celestia herself had taken its toll. He’d had his own fun exploring the ship, but right now he felt the overpowering urge to sleep. A door he thought was a blank wall hissed open as they approached. Doors that opened without actual effort or magic was already added to his mental list of things that incurred involuntary dislike simply because they were too different. The hallway opened up to a very large lobby. Shining had already explored the majority of the lower deck that doubled as the open market for most of the civilians on board the ship. He paid the eager store-goers no mind; he had seen enough of them already. What interested him most was none other than Fluttershy talking to a soldier. The man stood and stretched, and upon Fluttershy catching Shining’s eye, he waved. “Will you put that disgusting thing away, Sam?” squeaked a voice he had come to recognize as Anastasia’s. She had parted from the pack with Applejack on her heels. Sam had reached into his pocket and pulled out a small metal tube and stuck it between his lips. “Missed you too, Deus,” growled Sam. His voice was low and gravelly, yet still carried authoritarian magic. “And will you cut it out with that nickname? I tolerate ‘fairy’, ‘Ana’, and ‘boss’, but not that one.” Shining’s ears flicked. He had noticed before there was something strange about her voice, a slight reverberation that he had not detected from Sam or any other human for that matter. His head turned back to the vendors selling replacement body parts and the people that held obvious signs of replacements and modifications. Humans practiced replacing their own body parts with mechanical components. Was that why Ana had a scar on her throat? Did she have something that replicated speech for a set of missing vocal chords? Fluttershy must have been pondering something else entirely. Ana saw Fluttershy’s befuddlement, but misinterpreted the source of her confusion. “An old saying on Earth is ‘Deus ex Machina’, meaning ‘God in the Machine’. My work has saved lives, so some of the marines and soldiers have given me the nickname Deus. I’m not a god and I don’t like to be called a god; I just run this company. I run Zenith and design cyberware, meaning everyone who buys it, including Sam here, has a piece of me in them.” “I love havin’ you in me..” Sam’s eyes were twinkling in mirth. It reminded Fluttershy how Celestia’s demeanor would change ever so slightly when committing some sort of subtle joke. Ana fumed, and some of her bodyguards smiled. ‘Friends?’ Shining guessed, thinking that she and Sam were previously acquainted if Ana’s bodyguards did not act on the sexual nature of the joke. Fluttershy’s blush was blossoming over her face. Shining hazarded a guess, “You build body parts?” Ana gave Sam one last dirty look before turning on the stallion. Shining was fairly big for a unicorn, and given that Ana was so small, he could look her in the eyes. “Sometimes I go down on the line, but my attention is usually needed elsewhere. I run the company and design parts and cyberware in my free time. Zenith Incorporated is contracted by the Alliance military forces and constructs cybernetic replacements for their Wounded Warriors program. While not solely dipping into bodyware and limbware—fancy words for replacement body parts in the chest or limbs,” she elaborated upon seeing his confusion, “it is one of our more fringe but still lucrative sources of revenue.” That got Shining thinking. Right as he spoke, both Applejack and Fluttershy’s eyes met; they knew what he was about to ask. “My sister... she lost most of a leg in a battle with the Dratali... She received a replacement from the Alliance.” It was a sore subject of his in the early days of Twilight’s return from the stars. The filly he had protected and doted on did not return. She had changed. Willingly or unwillingly, she had changed. Shining didn’t care about the lost leg, but what happened on the inside. War had galvanized parts of her, parts he still wasn’t sure he liked. The sounds of the crowds and shoppers seemed to recede into a slight mumble in respect of Shining’s dour. Ana and Sam turned to him. Sam’s face had morphed into granite-like unreadability, but Ana beamed in recognition. “The wayward child of Avol! I know her. Know of her, I should say.” “You built her leg?” Shining asked. “Well, no, but I was commissioned to design it personally. Once the Alliance knew she could use magic and considered her an ally, I was personally given top priority requests to construct equine cyberware. A tricky process, considering I needed to completely redesign the software to compensate for varying biochemical impulses specific to equines while working off only a few medscans and two physical exam reports. Plus, I needed to compensate for increased torque and blunt force trauma; people tend to lack the lean muscle mass of ponies.” The trio of ponies stared at her blankly. Ana simpered and rubbed the back of her head. “...It was hard, I’ll say that. Miss Sparkle’s leg is top of the line in terms of strength and durability, but contains little in terms of versatility. It’s just built to work. Now,” she said, clapping her hands together. “I believe you said you needed a ship... Applejack, was it?” “Yes, ma’am. I got some orders here from the princess and that admiral fella sayin’ we were goin’ to some city planet, whatever that is.” Applejack fished a second sealed envelope from her own saddlebags. Ana plucked it from her teeth, opened it, and examined the contents. Her eyes widened more and more as she progressed down the page. “Oh. Oh... Oh, dear... Well, if... Okay then.” “You don’t sound too happy about this,” Shining commented, scrutinizing Ana carefully. “You do have a ship for them, right?” “Yes and no. Ships I have, but I’m not the one taking you. It says that the two of you,” she nodded towards the mares, “are to stay here until ferried to your destination. You are going to one of our crown jewels, the city of Magnasanti, on board an Organic Corporate Operations transport ship. The Alliance is also supplying you with some private security once you arrive.” Sam glacially turned his head towards Ana. His eyes had hardened, and Shining knew that look all too well. He had seen it on himself, and on Twilight. Danger. Fluttershy’s ears perked as something clicked in her head. “I remember them. The monitor said that they are farmers.” Ana looked over the letter once again, showing a slight awkwardness with using paper rather than some sort of machine that displayed data. She started walking and spoke with her secretary for a moment before the latter immersed herself in her datapad. Her guards trailed behind her. Sam jerked his head to indicate the ponies should follow and caught up to her in only a few strides. Only then did Shining notice just how tall Sam was compared to Ana, or any other human or pony for that matter. Sam was a few inches over six feet; he was shorter than Celestia, but towered over both Ana and the ponies. Deep in thought as their benefactors were, Shining took a few moments to examine his surroundings once again. The Absolution, unlike the smaller transports and landing crafts he had seen, was massive. Ships tended to induce a feeling of claustrophobia, but the wide corridors and tall ceilings gave the false impression they were walking through the grand hallways of some great structure. Even the lobby alone was massive enough to hold half of Ponyville. Steel, plastic, and whitewashed metal dominated everything. It was so... clean. Sterile. He unconsciously closed ranks around the mares and cantered together to catch up. Sam was casually strolling behind alongside Ana, blowing the occasional puff of sweet-smelling smoke. “Out with it, Concord. This is my ship. No smoking in my presence,” Ana ordered. Sam exhaled another puff of smoke before putting the tube back in its case once again. “As for Organic Corporate Operations—sometimes called OrC. Op. or just OCO—they’re more entrepreneurs than farmers. Zenith builds technology, while OrC. Op. builds food, if that makes sense. They manipulate how food grows and reproduces, or alters their genetics in order to better feed the populace. You’ll learn more about them once you get there,” she added hastily; Applejack had opened her mouth to raise a fuss. “I know plenty about them, but I’m afraid my time is short and not ready for an extensive chat about corporate policy.” The secretary leaned forward and whispered something in Ana’s ear. “Good! It just so happens that your vessel had docked with the Absolution the previous day to pick up an order. They’re waiting for you in the main hangar bay. You, Mister Armor, will be here for another day until your ship arrives. Concord, go to Medbay Five, and hurry up if you don’t want to miss your flight tomorrow.” Ana walked briskly away, chatting quietly with her secretary. People automatically parted around her as she passed as if an occasional stroll in the residential and commercial decks was nothing new on the Absolution. Sam sighed, turned, and walked away. The wall he approached acknowledged someone was there and the steel doors parted to allow him access. He turned, looking back at the trio. “Know where to go, you lot?” Applejack looked around confused and smiled sheepishly. “Sorry to say ah don’t. This newfangled place has got so many nooks and crannies, it’s easy fer me to get lost.” “This place is so... big.” “What’d ya expect, Flutters? Dreadnaught-class mobile production ship. Five thousand meters from bow to stern,” Sam replied simply, “What!” Shining exclaimed. He was captain of the royal guard and commanded a fair bit of firepower, but never in all of his years did he anticipate something so large could actually exist. “How does this thing even move? It’s larger than most cities!” “You know where you’re going or what?” he redirected. “Don’t got time to chat. Gotta see the doc.” Sam jerked his head towards the still open door. Several guests and shoppers parted around him and the pair, either too nervous to talk to a pony or too scared to speak to a heavily scarred soldier. Shining nodded. He had plenty of time to wander and explore, but not his friends. “Not really,” Fluttershy said timidly. “Can you point us in the right direction?” Sam tsked, irritation leaking through his stony demeanor. He jerked his head towards the open corridor once more, saying, “This way. I’ll walk you most of the way there.” “Thanks,” Shining replied gratefully, even though he already knew where the flight deck was. His own flight wasn’t scheduled until tomorrow, but keeping Fluttershy and Applejack company until their departure would kill time until he figured out something to do. Perhaps he could peruse the cyberware Ana had been developing, but what he really wanted to do was speak with Sam alone. Sam led the trio to a small black panel and showed them what buttons to tap. “Most of the larger ships got maps, least those built to carry civvies.” The screen flashed with a large amount of white lines showing a rough diagram of a starship. Shining couldn’t help but watch as the lines and figures danced around Sam’s practiced strokes. It was nothing but a commodity to Sam, but the sight was strangely enthralling to the pony, almost beautiful in its exoticism. He double-taped a segmented room nestled on the starboard side. The Absolution diagram focused momentarily on the ship’s titanic engine nacelles jutting out of the hull before zooming towards a highlighted portion halfway along the ship’s exterior. “That’s where you’re goin’.” “What’s that mean? ‘Civvies?’” Applejack asked as she watched Sam access the console. “Civilians. Noncombatants or unessential personnel. People like you ‘n business personnel like Ana.” “Well, we’re ponies, not people.” Sam turned to stare at Applejack. It was like she was trying to stare at a brick with eyes. “You don’t laugh all that often, don’tcha fella?” she said sardonically. He sighed again and returned the tube between his lips. Fluttershy spoke up, “I thought that Ana didn’t want you smoking on her ship.” “No smokin’ in her presence, if memory serves.” Sam continued walking, a small wisp of smoke trailing him with every breath. Rather than pester him with questions, the mares began some small talk before Shining interrupted. “So why choose to come out here? Surely you could have turned the princess down if you wanted to stay in Ponyville. I know my loyalty is to the crown, but I can’t help but believe you all can choose whatever you want to do.” “Thats about right,” Applejack said as she readjusted her Stetson. The overhead lights felt strange to her: fake and too abnormal. It was definitely not the same as the welcoming sun back home. “But I couldn’t rightly leave Flutters on her own after she up and volunteered. We all gotta look after each other.” “What about Rainbow Dash?” The mare was Fluttershy’s oldest friend, after all. “What about your farm?” “Rainbow’s gone and jumped ship already. I don’t know all the nitty-gritty details but she got off planet faster than Winona after she caught a coon’s scent. Somethin’ ‘bout a contest or such and such. ‘n don’t worry ‘bout the farm...” A warm, almost tender, smile sprouted across her face. “‘Bloom’s got everythin’ taken care of.” A loud, terse whistle caught their attention. Sam had turned into one of the adjacent hallways as they conversed, leaving them behind. He jerked his head and continued walking, not bothering to see whether they followed or not. The trio quickly cantered to catch up to their guide. Something about him seemed... off. Sam’s behavior was stoic yet protective, despite him not having any reason to help the trio outside of altruism. Ponies were normally all too happy to help someone in their time of need. Seeing a human show little to no emotion for something they saw invoked a smile every day was a little offputting. Shining, personally, would have taken Sam’s apathetic indifference over the looks he was getting from other Absolution residents. They parted to make room for Sam, leaving a slow stream of humans and other life forms to observe them from either side. Some wore strange earing baubles that moved even when they weren’t. Others were followed by carts that levitated without magic, and yet still hummed with energy. The majority looked oddly intrigued, while some looked amused. Clad in their form-fitting grays, blues, and reds, Shining would have called them out as looking utterly absurd. He had been warned it was a social taboo and even a crime in some places to not wear clothes. He became suddenly aware just how exposed he was in just his saddlebags. Ana had told him she would make special exceptions to the clothing rule for the duration of his stay, but the eyes kept returning to him and his equine companions. Applejack and Fluttershy seemed glued to whoever passed them by. Their voices dropped to low whispers that prevented him from hearing them, which surprised him. He had been often told that Fluttershy suffered from an often crippling agoraphobia. Flinching at the slightest glance was one of the expected symptoms in such an alien environment, but her eyes were sucking in everything like a sponge. One sow of a man waddled passed the three. His entire right arm was covered in spiderwebbed circuitry. Several lights and displays dotted the machinery. His palm was open to the air and projecting small lights and lasers to form a solid, three-dimensional image. It was some type of race that had caught his rapt attention, but before he could take a closer look, the man waddled passed, oblivious to their presence. A tall ebony woman, even taller than Sam, with stark-white spiky hair bumped her fist into his in a friendly gesture as she passed. She was simply dressed in a pair of knee-high boots, sweatpants, and a tanktop that revealed some sort of tribal tattoos covering every inch of her arms. Shining’s gaze lingered a little too long on the intricate designs, and seeing she was being observed, the woman winked seductively as she passed. Well, at least some were... friendly. The corridor soon branched into a four-way junction. Stopping, Sam pointed down the left path. “Thataway. Just keep headin’ straight. You’ll run right into it.” Shining wished he had a phrase to describe Sam. He rotated around, looming over them, but yet did not exert the aura of menace his tall but slim frame suggested. Size had often been a measure of power or strength in Equestria, but here he was, eyes alert for signs of danger and helping those he’d known for only a couple minutes. Papa bear. That’s the phrase. “Thanks a bunch. Here’s hopin’ the doc gives you a clean bill of health,” Applejack said in attempt to be friendly. Sam just nodded and grunted, but gave no other response. His eyes were on Fluttershy, whose mouth opened and closed as she tried to conjure some sort of thank you. “Eep!” Fluttershy squeaked and flinched as Sam placed a comforting hand atop her head. “Don’t worry about it.” And with that, Sam turned on his heels and walked down the opposite hallway, both hands in his pants pockets. A few people looked at him with disgust as they passed when they saw the stream of smoke exiting his lips. “What an odd fella. And that there has got to be the strangest cigarette ah’ve ever seen.” “I think he’s nice. He just looks a little scary,” Fluttershy added, looking at his back as he continued towards the ship’s medbay. “Should we go after him?” “What for? He’s got an appointment with a doctor fer somethin’ or whatever. No good buggerin’ the fella during a checkup.” “I suppose you’re right.” Fluttershy pawed at the ground nervously. She turned towards the long, bland corridor Sam pointed to. Standing around as they were and devoid of their guardian, they were starting to draw more than a few eyes. Although he wasn’t as familiar with her as Applejack, Shining approached her and wrapped a hoof around her neck. “Hey, if it makes you feel any better, I’m leaving for the same place as you tomorrow.” That perked her up. “Really?” He gave her the same smile he’d given Twilight countless times when she was a filly, whenever her mind was exhausted or frightened. There was a level of strength behind Fluttershy; Shining knew that without a shadow of a doubt, but it took more than encouragement to show the steel behind the silk. “Come on, sugar. We gotta train to catch. Or plane. Or somethin’.” Applejack turned to Shining. “You really comin’ tomorrow?” “For a few days, yes. I can tell you in full when I meet you there.” Shining, instead of moving down the corridor, inched towards the opposite hallway that Sam took. “I’ll meet up with you in a moment, but I need to talk to Concord.” “Alright.” Applejack looked uncertain, but dropped it. “Don’t be a stranger. Stop by as soon as you can.” He must have looked eager to get away for a moment, so she just dropped the issue. Sam was already a speck of brown against the smooth whites and grays. Shining admired the fact that Ana could keep a clean ship with so many humans and different species aboard it, but the constant lack of any real color or variety was somehow irritating. Calming, yes, but still irritating. At a brisk canter, the stallion caught up to his target in only a few minutes. Sam did not appear to be in any real hurry to get to his destination. Shining’s hooves clattered towards Sam. His target stopped and turned mechanically towards the pony. “What?” ‘Blunt and to the point. Admirable,’ Shining thought. He could tell that Sam had seen some action, and despite whatever he had seen, he cut right to the heart of the matter. It was quite refreshing to deal with a soldier that never wished to dance around the issue, but there was one thing he wanted to ask before seeking an answer for the big question on his mind. “What happened to Miss Arias? I know wounds well enough to know that hers was not done by a scalpel. That’s not surgery; somepony tried to cut her throat. No surgeon makes an X-shaped cut like that.” Sam shrugged. “Don’t know; never asked.” Shining could only stare incredulously. “But you had to have noticed too!” Sam sighed, blowing another cloud of smoke that made Shining’s nose twitch. There was more than tobacco in that strange cigarette of his, something Shining couldn’t identify. Something very calming that made his head feel like it was slowly being stuffed with cotton. “You’re a soldier, ain’tcha?” Shining nodded. He had been in the guards for years. It was all he wanted to be when growing up. “Knew it. Could smell it on ya.” “Likewise.” He blew another puff of smoke before closing his eyes. After a moment, he opened them again and answered. “There’s an unspoken rule among people that states you should never ask why they buy cyberware or how they got their scars, especially among soldiers. Security reasons for us, but civvies buy cyber for all sorts of reasons; conformity, injury, or maybe because for the first time in their life, they can control somethin’ that decides their future.” The pony’s face scrunched up in confusion. “All you have to do is choose a path.” A deep, throaty chuckle issued from Sam’s throat, startling the pony. It sounded like sandpaper grating against his ears. “Not that simple. Our lives are dominated by rules and laws, lawman. Government, corporations, family, friends, jobs; we all have obligations to somethin’ before we’ve even sucked our momma’s tit. To some, the control is suffocating, and altering their own body is the first real step they can take to wrestle back that control. It’s not about a lack of identity, it’s a lack of power. “And yes, it looks like someone tried to shut Ana up, but she’s fine now; it’s her business ‘n it’s not my business to know her business. When people want some cyber, their reasons are their own, especially if they’re scumbag criminals. Same goes for their battlescars. Hers,” he pointed at his throat, “and mine.” His finger traced the the slash across his cheek. “It sounds barbaric.” Sam leaned back against the wall. “It can be; some take the process a little too far, but it’s not our place to judge. Can you say in your heart, little pony, that if putting a little bit of machinery in their body makes people happy, it is wrong? Altering themselves for whatever the reason should be outlawed even if it helps them be at peace with themselves? How does you or me knowing about Ana’s scars help anything?” Shining looked down to his legs, wondering how it would feel to see one flesh and bone, and the other cold, lifeless metal. “I–” “Look me in the eye.” And he did, looking Sam square in his stony face. Thoughts danced around in his head, each strange and confusing. It was the obvious price of working around rules and a world not his own. Taking a breath, he gave the answer on his mind. “I don’t know.” Another puff of smoke accompanied Sam’s newly formed half smile. “Not a good answer, but an honest one. It’ll do for now. That it? I gotta go. Don’t make me waste my time for nothin’.” “No... one more thing. Just one... Why did you get worried when Miss Arias mentioned Magnasanti?” Some irritated growl escaped Sam’s lips. “Nothin’ bad ‘bout the place on paper. Good city, lotsa business, but once you peel back the skin, then you see the problem.” “Which is?” “What happens when you leave an apple tree unattended for too long?” Twilight’s friend Applejack had spoken of her farming ways on several occasions. It was quite easy to pick up a few things, and as his mouth opened to respond, comprehension dawned on him. “The fruit falls... and rots.” Sam nodded curtly. “It’s what happens when people are left to their own devices for too long and given a big ol’ city to stew in for a couple o’ years. Lotsa people were left to fend for themselves while we played grabass in Dratali space. Soldiers were taken care of, as were those who got ahead in the corporate lines, but average people born to poverty, darkness, and crime didn’t have a lot goin’ for them. War let some forget what was happenin’ on the homefront.” “They could always ask for help! Every Alliance officer I have met has been more than willing to help!” Shining protested. This was so unfair. How could Sam possibly be telling the truth? “Ana didn’t seem to think anything was wrong.” “She’s too concerned about her company to worry much about everyone. She’s got people relyin’ on her already, and even when she does try to help, she can’t be everywhere and do everything. Even she has her limits.” Sam’s eyes narrowed. “People get mighty desperate when they don’t see help comin’ for them. The Alliance tried to step in at times, but they were stretched too thin already with the war. Magnasanti was one of the closest secure resupply depots to contested space, and it is dominated by the corporations that supplied war materials and received military outsourcing contracts. On the surface it is perfect, but that’s only the illusion of prosperity. Crime runs rampant on the darker streets, only there’s no one there to report or stop it. “Oh, they’re not all bad,” Sam said upon seeing Shining’s look of rising horror. “A lot of ‘em are really good people. A fair few that do try their hand at thievery are jus’ down on their luck and turning to crime to pay the bills and protect their friends, but that doesn’t make them any less dangerous. The corporations own the day, the netrunners and thieves own the night. That’s why you better turn back and warn your two little friends about what they’re gettin’ into. It’s not what you do see in Magnasanti that can hurt you.” Seeing that Shining didn’t have any more questions for him, Sam puffed a burst of smoke, stopped holding up the wall, and continued down his path. The captain watched him go, digesting what had been said. “Captain.” Shining’s ears perked as Sam spoke. “Yes?” “No, captain. Captain Samuel Concord.” Shining smiled. “Captain Shining Armor, sir.” For chapter commentary and my ramblings, visit my page HERE Chapter Commentary: LINK Edited by: Genesis1212, TheSynn, Midnight Spark Author's Note I hope you enjoyed chapter 2. Here I must say I have a little something to offer in light of these new developments. Just as Fluttershy began watching news boadcasts, a lot of extra material will be found later down the line in the form of broadcasts and similar media fluff. Ponies and humans alike, along with a number of species in between. There's bound to be far more fun and interaction than what I am writing, especially when Fluttershy and AJ actually get to Magnasanti. So, if you like the world I am building and would like to contribute a little, be it stories by your own characters of those not covered in the collab, shoot me a PM. We can work something out. At the very least I can link to it. \\C:\whitelist\update.datAuthor's Note And now for something a little different. There are a lot of people in the universe, both in my story and not. I thought it would be a little fun to see what would happen if the cloak of Internet ambiguity was stretched a good thousand years into the future. What would happen in the far future when a little spat of hackers, nerds, and outcasts poke fun at each other? I will tell you right now this fact: ALL INTERLUDES CAN BE SKIPPED. No interludes, chapters that can be identified by their pathway chapter names, are required reading for the story. However, if you decide to read the interludes, you'll pick up on some nice little tidbits and clues for future events. Also, have fun figuring out which username matches with each character. I hope you enjoy this little interlude. If you're interested in making your own interlude, feel free to read THIS for more information on the matter. \C:\whitelist\update.dat Shadowlands Lounge, Magnasanti Hub, The Matrix Personas Present: ~Bone Collector ~Captain Chaos ~MrOrion ~Synergy ~ZomZom Synergy: Okay, it’s days like this I feel like saying everything can just fuck off. Captain Chaos: Here we go... MrOrion: What’s up, Sin? Captain Chaos: Syn’s getting emo again. Synergy: Can’t be pissed off in peace, Cap? Captain Chaos: Go right ahead, but this is the third time this month. The Shadowlands isn’t your own personal blog. Once and a while is okay, but we’re not your therapist. Synergy: I’ll behave. Synergy: I almost got my arse kicked, Orion. CSS’s been hiring loads of new blood to work security, especially after them ponies started moving into our settlements. Nearly got arrested for loooking at a guard funny. Captain Chaos: I've looked into them. They've recently gone on a recruiting frenzy. ZomZom: I hate those guys. Uptight jerkwads, the lot of them. MrOrion: At least the benefits are good. Free medical after 10 years and everything. Bone Collector: I’m afraid I must agree with Zom. They’ve seriously stepped up their anal retentiveness, and for them, that’s saying something.. ZomZom: Don’t agree with me. It makes me nervous. --Adam has joined the chat-- --Eve has joined the chat-- Adam: Wow. What did I walk into? Eve: Flame war! Captain Chaos: Not quite. ZomZom: Who let in the newbies? Captain Chaos: This is my Haven. I changed the settings to let in some new blood. I’ll know if there’s anyone in here who’s not supposed to be. Adam: I’m a mechanic, ZomZom. Automotives, cybertech, engineering, blueprints. I do it all. Eve: I help. MrOrion: Zombie doesn’t like new faces. He’s like our cranky, racist grandpa. ZomZom: You’re older than me. Bone Collector: We still love you. > Bone Collector Transmitting to ZomZom: June 12, 3043 Posting includes 19 kb of attached files ZomZom: That better not be porn. MrOrion: Tee hee. ZomZom: Damn it. You’re gonna pay for this. Captain Chaos: What are you, Bones? Twelve? Bone Collector: Hahahahahahaha! MrOrion: How much have you looked into CSS? I haven’t bothered with the latest on them for a while. Captain Chaos: Enough to know why they are getting cranky. Like most of the problems of today, it’s the ponies. Bone Collector: I remember way back when where my biggest problem was getting backhacked by Essex-Imago-Inata. Ah, good times. Adam: The times, they are a changin’. Captain Chaos: Some ponies can use magic. That makes some corps nervous, and therefore makes them hire more security, something the armed security contractors like the Commercial Security and Safety specializes in. Eve: I saw that on the news. The joint corporate assault? ZomZom: See? This is why I don’t like kids and new faces; we never get anyone who knows their stuff. That was the Factory and E.I.I., not CSS. Trigger-happy retards CSS may be, they had nothing to do with that. I had a lot of friends and contacts there. Wiped out in a second. Synergy’s pissed, but she’s got nothing on me right about now. Captain Chaos: Calm down; Kludge did what he could to warn them ahead of time. Even Jack stepped in to help. MrOrion: After crawling out of whatever hole we thought he died in. Adam: I liked the NOMAD colony guys. I got a few calls from them every once in a while when they needed me to look over their specs. ZomZom: Sure you did. Eve: Really! The guys and gals we talked to specialized in cybertech research. While not our forte, we’ve got good minds for engineering and cybertech R&D. Adam: We work primarily in engines and automotives, but I like to dabble. MrOrion: Didn’t Valentine say Jack and NOMAD weren’t on good terms? ZomZom: And she’s right; Jack doesn’t talk to them that much anymore. Adam: I’ve heard whispers one of them did something to offend him. ZomZom: Whatever happened, I’m sure Jack started it. Captain Chaos: DaemonJack’s not the most reliable netrunner, but he doesn’t start fights when he doesn’t have to. MrOrion: Dude’s paranoid, I swear. Just wondering why he would step in all of a sudden after being gone for so long. Synergy: Speaking of paranoid, who’s willing to gamble Twilight Sparkle’s not under surveillance? Bone Collector: Less than zero people. Captain Chaos: I’ve confirmed two separate security probes from the Espa Robo recon teams. It’s anybody’s guess as to how many private security personal have been bribed or watch from a distance, let alone the military. ZomZom: I’ve verified an additional two by naval special forces. Eve: How much do you see, Captain? MrOrion: Chaos sees all, knows all. Captain Chaos: That is right. ZomZom: Right now the most talked about thing in the universe is magical talking ponies. The stupidity makes me want to swallow a Glock. Synergy: Now that you put it that way, it does seem kinda retarded. Adam: I get why she’s under watch, but what do they think they would gain? Magic? Dratali bodies have been recovered countless times, and they can use magic but you don’t see us all farting rainbows. How the hell are ponies going to be any better? Eve: Everything’s better with ponies. ZomZom: Eve, I will come over there and I won’t treat you nice. MrOrion: It’s to cover their bases and asses. ZomZom: Ask her new boyfriend and you’ll find out why. I was chatting with some of my old navy buddies and found out the truth. Major Curt Dupree, trained sniper, decorated officer, current partner of a talking horse, and–most importantly–is a dirty magic user. Synergy: Magic? Us? Bloody hell... Captain Chaos: I’ve heard something similar from DaemonJack. I haven't been able to confirm anything, however, and how he got his information is up for grabs. I’m getting the impression that it’s not under wraps, but no one’s talking. Bone Collector: That begs the question: how did he find out before us? Especially ZomZom and you, Captain? Eve: Was he just digging for info? Was that why he was gone so long? I don’t know much about Jack, but I know he disappeared for a while. ZomZom: No idea. He talks to Kludge more than any of us. As for why the major has magic, I haven’t been able to dig up much about that. All I know is that Sparklebutt has something to do with it. Every lead I’ve followed points back to her. I just don’t know why. Adam: Huh. So that explains it. MrOrion: Oh? Fresh blood has a secret worth sharing? ZomZom: Spill it. Eve: Adam... Adam: Eve’s right. Can’t share that at the moment. Would like to, but I’d like to get to know you all better before I start spilling my guts. It’s not that I don’t trust you, but... I don’t trust you. Captain Chaos: Fair enough, but know this: I don’t take too kindly to mining for intel here. Give and take rules apply, and you need to know when to pull your weight. Eve: Gotcha. Adam: Loud and clear. --King Kludge has joined the chat-- Synergy: Hail to the King! King Kludge: Hello everyone. Can’t stay for long, but I figured I’d stop in to say hi. * King Kludge -help info ######################## -op Captain Chaos King Kludge ZomZom -state open Shadowlands Lounge, Magnasanti Hub, The Matrix Personas Present: ~Adam ~Bone Collector ~Captain Chaos ~Eve ~King Kludge ~MrOrion ~Synergy ~ZomZom King Kludge: Got some new faces, I see. Slow night otherwise? ZomZom: Negative. Most of the regulars have been in off and on all day and night. Just not too many in ATM. Synergy: I’m just killing some time. Going out for some nosh in a bit. Bone Collector: Where’ve you been all this time? Gone for so long and then *boom* you’re here with Jack on your heels. King Kludge: I’ve been playin this 1 a little close to the chest. I should be able to tell you what’s up in a week or two. MrOrion: Secrets aplenty. No one trusts each other anymore ;_; King Kludge: We’ve all got our secrets, Orion. That’s just the way we are. I’ve got to keep a little bit of myself just for me. Bone Collector: How long do you have? King Kludge: I should be gone already, in truth. Just stopping by to say I’m not dead. ZomZom: Before you go, thanks for helping out my friends. King Kludge: Not a problem brotha. A lot of good people were there. A king has to look out for his peasants. Synergy: And cue the ego wanking. King Kludge: Don’t hate me because I’m awesome. And Zom, you’d better prepare for a little blast from the past. ZomZom: My Lord? What hath thou wrought upon my meager existence? King Kludge: Don’t want to spoil the surprise. Believe me, you’ll know it when you see it. --King Kludge has disconnected-- Synergy: Drama queen. Why doesn’t he just say “Whisper my name three times upon the eastern winds and I shall be there.”? Eve: I like him. Adam: Odd guy. Seems ok Captain Chaos: He is indeed a little odd. Adam: Is he always like that? Captain Chaos: Usually, yes. Adam: Is he... MrOrion: He’s just weird. ZomZom: I suppose I better find my gear and gun. They’re around here somewhere. Bone Collector: Buried under all the crap? --DaemonJack has joined the chat-- MrOrion: We were wondering when you’d show up. DaemonJack: Sorry; I’ve taken a pretty big job. My new client’s contract requires a lot of my time. Synergy: Let’s go for the hat trick. Let me guess, you can’t talk about it either? DaemonJack: Nope. Synergy: Called it. * DaemonJack -help info ######################## -op Captain Chaos ZomZom -state open Shadowlands Lounge, Magnasanti Hub, The Matrix Personas Present: ~Adam ~Bone Collector ~Captain Chaos ~DaemonJack ~Eve ~MrOrion ~Synergy ~ZomZom DaemonJack: Fresh blood! Adam and Eve. Husband and wife, brother and sister, father and daughter. I could never figure out the story between those two. Adam: We just picked the first thing that sprung to mind. DaemonJack: I’ve heard worse. Now has anyone seen Kludge? Bone Collector: You missed him by about ten seconds. DaemonJack: Frag it, I’ve been trying to get a hold of him for weeks. Slippery little weasel. What’s the current topic? Captain Chaos: Ponies and Twilight Sparkle. DaemonJack: Out of all things Cap, you pick her? Captain Chaos: It’s been quite a varied and informative topic so far. MrOrion: Care to throw in a bone? DaemonJack: Sure. She’s getting married to that human sniper Curtis Dupree. ZomZom: The major? Are you serious? Synergy: You’ve got to be shittin me. It’s true? Bonking a pony? Adam: Hahahahaha! Oh, she’s gonna love this! Eve: That’s fucked up. Can they even have kids? Ew. Bone Collector: Cross-species boning... I’ve got nothing worth saying. MrOrion: I can’t get that image out of my head. Seriously, the major is a horse fucker? ZomZom: Strange enough, I knew this. I didn’t take it seriously because I have an IQ over 100, but apparently some Alliance shit-for-brains doesn’t. Bone Collector: It’s a heartwarming story of love and affection! *hurk retch* Captain Chaos: Hybrids do exist after all. ZomZom: Yeah, but it’s been just barely two years since she left Avol. We’ve known our other dumbass alien friends for generations. In less than two years our dear friend Dupree overcame thousands of years of bestiality stigmatism. What, he couldn’t keep it in his pants? Bestiality is not a laughing matter, unless you’re fucking a hyena. DaemonJack: Heh, even I got a chuckle from that one, Zom. MrOrion: I need to ponder this. I don’t have an opinion right now. Synergy: Same.... ugh. Captain Chaos: So who do you have tailing her? DaemonJack: Just a little birdie. I’ll share any other useful nuggets when I get them. Bone Collector: Are you lying to us again? DaemonJack: I have audio. > DaemonJack Transmitting to #CHAT: June 12, 3043 Posting includes 15 MB of attached files Adam: Hey, just popped up. Let’s have a listen. ZomZom: I hate her voice already. MrOrion: Zombie hates something. That’s new. Captain Chaos: The audio is clipped. DaemonJack: I figured you didn’t want to listen to all the boring garbage, so I only gave you the good bits. Bone Collector: Who talks like this? MrOrion: It’s called “people”, you scavenging freak. Go outside or look out a window. You’ll see them walking on something called concrete. DaemonJack: Like them or hate them, yes, ponies are a part of our life now. Yes, one of them is getting married to a human. MrOrion: Tell me something I don’t know. DaemonJack: I’m currently not wearing pants. MrOrion: ... Captain Chaos: Wow... Synergy: ... DaemonJack: I think better when I’m hanging free. --MrOrion has disconnected-- Captain Chaos: I have no words. DaemonJack: Hey, any of you fraggers know what hode means? For chapter commentary and my ramblings, visit my page HERE Chapter Commentary: LINK Edited by: TheSynn, Midnight Spark \\E:\Users\GlowCloud\Picture\wALLofHAIL.jpgAuthor's Note Chapter written and produced by: blazikenking If you wish to write you own Interlude, feel free to read THIS for more information on the matter. \E:\Users\GlowCloud\Picture\wALLofHAIL.jpg Iron Rose, Terra Hub, The Matrix Personas Present: ~BraveLizard ~KingBob ~MechDemonHunter ~NancyTheTavernWrench ~VolTecha --BraveLizard has joined the chat-- BraveLizard: Who's alive in here? MechDemonHunter: I am. KingBob: Totes not dead. MechDemonHunter: Nancy's not really here, as usual. VolTecha: And I'm the new face here. BraveLizard: Yes you are. Could you tell us a bit about yourself? MechDemonHunter: So asks the most secretive of us. KingBob: Nice burn, Chase! VolTecha: I just got a computer recently, and I love it. I currently have just one screen, but I intend to fix that soon. It's on a rotating section of a wall so I can use it from one of two rooms. BraveLizard: A single computer that can be used from two rooms. How interesting. Would you mind sharing your design? VolTecha: The computer is mounted on a rotating panel, which also has some hooks for putting the keyboard on. It’s an all-in-one machine. The internet is wireless NancyTheTavernWrench: Do you think you could expand that so it can switch between two accounts with the flip? Say, one for business and one for personal use? KingBob: SHE'S ALIVE! VolTecha: I'm sure someone could come up with the code for that. VolTecha: Dare I ask what this would be for? NancyTheTavernWrench: I run a tavern on Terra and have a workshop right next to it. I want to be able to flip the monitor around between the tavern and the workshop. BraveLizard: Don't you have multiple monitors in your workshop? NancyTheTavernWrench: I'm sure that can be figured out. Say, do you think you could figure something out, VolTecha? VolTecha: I'm best with mechanical and explosive stuff (especially on Wednesdays). I could rig something up, but it wouldn't be as neat as someone who knew how to write the program. I might be able to find someone who could help you though. MechDemonHunter: Explosives? --SoupLadel has joined the chat-- VolTecha: Yes. Explosives are a weekly part of my life. Have been for years. SoupLadel: You sound kind of like somepony I know. KingBob: Wait, "somepony"? We have a pony here! We have a pony on the internet! MechDemonHunter: Thanks, Bob. As if we couldn't infer that ourselves. VolTecha: Oh? Go on, Soupy. SoupLadel: You sound like my best friend from high school. Her name was Technia. She was usually depressed and ate my soup. KingBob: Please, do go on. VolTecha: Please, don't go on. BraveLizard: Overruled. Please continue. SoupLadel: If you insist. She liked building all kinds of things. She even made a pencil stand out of a large paper clip once when she was bored. Or depressed. I couldn’t tell the difference sometimes. MechDemonHunter: VolTecha, are you the one SoupLadel is talking about? VolTecha: I don’t know. BraveLizard: What about the Technia who reportedly sat on a huge bomb that she detonated to take out a large number of Dratali on Avol? There's no way she could have survived that without some damage. NancyTheTavernWrench: I bet 20 creds that we have the same Technia here. BraveLizard: I bet 100 that it's not the same one. KingBob: Ditto what the lizard said, but without the bet. Chase? MechDemonHunter: I'm not going to bet anything. Is there a picture of the Technia mentioned in the source you got, Lizard? BraveLizard Transmitting to #CHAT: June 15, 3043 Posting includes 420 KB of attached files BraveLizard: There's a picture of her there along with some information on her. SoupLadel: That's the mare. KingBob: VolTecha, would you please turn your camera on so we can settle this matter? VolTecha: No. Not now. MechDemonHunter: Do it. KingBob: Oh come on. Please? VolTecha: I won’t do it. NancyTheTavernWrench: Just 5 seconds, please. Perhaps talk a bit, too? VolTecha: Once again, no. SoupLadel: Are you a regular here? VolTecha: I’m not sure. BraveLizard: How about we hold off on finding out? While our lifespans are infinitesimal compared to that of the universe, we have all the time in the worlds to find out. NancyTheTavernWrench: Wise words. Everyone, Bob, please refrain from spamming VolTecha about her species. All spamming will be met with two slices of bread. KingBob: HEY! KingBob: And how do you know VolT’s a she? NancyTheTavernWrench: I don’t. But now you can’t unthink that either. VolTecha: Thanks Nancy. SoupLadel: If it’s alright, can I be a regular here? MechDemonHunter: It should be. Behave yourself, poke fun at Bob, and you’ll be fine. BraveLizard: That sums it up nicely. Now then, if you’ll excuse me, I must take my leave. Food and business await me. Mostly business. --BraveLizard has disconnected-- MechDemonHunter: I just got an important message. KingBob: About what? MechDemonHunter: My theatric combat aspirations. A theater is willing to let me try out for them. KingBob: Since when have you been interested in theater? Or anything? SoupLadel: Theatric combat? VolTecha: Theatric combat? KingBob: Explain thyself, Chase. Your king politely demands it with an iron fist. MechDemonHunter: I have two such fists myself. You lose. KingBob: Okay. . . and I think Nancy’s died on us again. MechDemonHunter: I take it you don’t know what theatric combat is, Soup and VolT? VolTecha: I’ve never heard of it. SoupLadel: It sounds kind of scary. MechDemonHunter: Bob, cover your eyes. KingBob: Why? MechDemonHunter: The new faces are getting a short history lesson. KingBob: YOU MONSTER! SoupLadel: I like Bob. He’s our jester king. VolTecha: He’s worthy of the title. MechDemonHunter: Theatric combat goes back about 300 years, a few decades after the creation of live effects to replace special effects, such as fire, electricity, and transformation sequences. The first live effects were all scripted and planned out, but they got better, to where effects could be scripted, then selectively activated, and finally to mental controls. VolTecha: That sounds so cool! I must get some of this technology. SoupLadel: You really sound like Technia, VolTecha. It’s creeping me out a bit. VolTecha: I am and am not sorry. MechDemonHunter: All theatric combat armor covers every inch of the body and head. Generally, it’s a bodysuit with the armor put on it, along with a separate helmet. The armor and weapons must adhere to technical standards, but can otherwise be whatever you want. I already know what I want. SoupLadel: What is it? MechDemonHunter Transmitting to #CHAT: June 15, 3043 Posting includes 580 KB of attached files SoupLadel: And now I’m going to have nightmares tonight. Thanks. VolTecha: I’m saving those pics so I can build a robot that looks like that. KingBob: I’m scared too, Soupy. Not because of the pictures. VolT’s thinking of building that thing, and she could send it after me. MechDemonHunter: I don’t think she would, Bob. You wouldn’t be worth the effort. MechDemonHunter: VolT, if you want to try your hand at making theatric combat gear, I can ask the Lizard to send you everything he has on the subject. VolTecha: What makes you think he has that information? MechDemonHunter: He always seems to have the information you need. You could look it up yourself, but he can deliver it all in one neat file. VolTecha: I’d appreciate that. Thanks. Chapter 2: It's Cold Out HereChapter 2: It’s Cold Out Here Applejack gave Fluttershy a quick nuzzle both to focus her attention and to keep her going. She didn’t fault the poor dear for being worried; her own mind was still pondering what Shining had just said. Still, a few things needed to be done first. Thinking could come later. If Applejack could compare the Clementine to something she recognized, it was the tractor that had been in her family’s possession for almost twenty years. The faint aroma of old metal parts and grease clung to the air in a thin sheen. Other than the occasional odd look, the pair of them weren’t given too much attention. People scrambling back and forth with bags or parts in their grasp reminded her of Rarity when she being a fussy ninny. Fluttershy wasn’t watching where she was going, leaving her to take the lead. “And you got a room fer both of us?” she asked their guide, the resident quartermaster. “Yeah, yeah,” he grunted. The skinny human kept running a hand through his hair. Currently it was slicked into some giant cowlick. “You both were cleared for private quarters. Right here.” The man looked up from his datapad and clicked a button on the door they stopped at. “This entire section of the ship is the living quarters. Until the time comes when we arrive on Magnasanti, this will be your living quarters to do with as you wish.” Applejack had peeked in other rooms in the long and boring corridor, and what she saw was the same, if gutted, example. There was little more than a pair of bunk beds—fit for humans, of course, a small desk, and closet space. It felt like the size of her bathroom back home. The quartermaster handed Applejack a datapad. “A general map of the ship, including off-limits areas, event list, and a list of terms for the duration of your stay.” He inhaled deeply, causing Applejack to snigger slightly; it looked like he had been giving the same instructions far too many times this day. “You are only hereby permitted on board until we dock in Magnasanti, you are not carrying anything hazardous or unlawful such as... etcetera, etcetera, all unscheduled pit stops or detours at your request will be denied unless reasons listed in that datapad are given and validated, and you agree to not put forth any legal action against Organic Corporate Operations for any reasons listed below up to and including the following reasons for delay, also listed below, war party assaults on safe shipping lanes, and chesterbursters. Understood?” Applejack had been scanning the flat datapad carefully balanced on her hoof. What was a ‘sudden gravitational mass shadow’ supposed to be? “Mind if I get back to you on that? ...Wait, what!?” Yet before the quartermaster could answer for his choice of words, he had left to attend to his duties. Fluttershy had been nosing around the room while the quartermaster talked. At least she was proactively doing a little investigating. She’d hardly said a word since Shining’s warning. “Ah know it’s not the most comfy—” “It’s fine,” Fluttershy said quietly. Applejack blinked, surprised. Being quiet she expected, but Fluttershy never interrupted others. “...Okay then.” Although the majority of their luggage had been loaded into the cargo hold, there was plenty of closet space to store. After a few brief moments that were only filled with the stowing of bags, Applejack tried again. “Listen, ah know all this, “ she gestured around, “is a lot to take in, sugarcube. If you ever need to just talk...” Fluttershy did not reply. She was looking at the doorway, which someone currently occupied. He was a tall man with bronze skin. Grease and grime covered his blue-collar clothes, and welder goggles hid his eyes. A smile decorated his face. WIth a slight nod, and a little lengthening of his smile, he left. No hospitality at all. Applejack snorted and bit back a retort. Most people were like Ana and Sam so far; friendly or indifferent. Those without manners or who just didn’t like ponies, while expected, were becoming increasingly more common. The farmer smashed a hoof against the button that forced the door to close. Sleep would not come easy tonight. The scent of warm earth and animal fur was pleasant and welcome to Fluttershy. To her it reminded her of the forests and plains, of the running animals for which she shared her affinity for compassion. The foods and kibbles stored behind oaken doors sustained them, and the heat of sleeping bodies hung in the air. The hearth in Fluttershy’s cottage was alight with flickering flames. Two large, overstuffed armchairs were pointed towards the fire, but one of them was filled. Looking back towards the door nervously, she swallowed, steeled her shaky nerves, and hopped into the adjacent chair. He was a rather dignified looking unicorn dressed entirely in white, although red stitching along his lapels and tophat seemed to glow in the firelight. His charcoal fur made his red eyes stick out all the more. He was currently nursing a wineglass with some unidentified amber liquid. Without even shifting to greet his guest—it wasn’t even his house—he pushed an identical glass across the tabletop between them. Fluttershy stared at the fireplace. The heat and warmth of it or the presence of her home was no comfort at all. “Back so soon?” he asked politely. He had a very calm, soothing tenor. “Come now, my dear; no need for bad manners.” “This is my house,” she replied. “In more ways than one.” He tipped the glass to his lips and drained a portion, sighing contently. “Are you afraid of me?” The smells. The warmth. The sense of peace and calm. Everything that she could hold onto and form a bastion of comfort vanished into smoke and disappeared into the evening. “Why do you keep coming back here?” “That is not an answer.” She could feel his eyes staring at her. The side of her face began to itch. “You’ve never asked me to leave.” True. Without looking for him, she grasped the wineglass and sipped. It reminded her of the wine at Cadance’s and Shining’s wedding, pleasant with a peach aftertaste. “No...” The stallion looked at her over the rim of his glass as it hung halfway to his lips. The crackling fire cast shadows all across his face so much it was a surprise when he gave her a sorrowful smile. Setting his glass down, he removed himself from his chair. The floorboards squeaked noisily under the weight as he walked towards her own chair. His eyes reminded her of so many other unpleasant things. The color alone was enough to make her stomach dry heave out of reflex. She swallowed down the bile that instinctively rose to her throat. She sniffed loudly to suppress the impending waterworks that were clawing at the corners of her eyes. Still he waited patiently in front of the fire for her like a proper gentlecolt until hot, traitorous tears fell from her eyes in mass. “Shhhh... It’s okay.” Without even realizing it she was in his comforting embrace. The steady thrumming of his heartbeat soon drowned out the sound of fire eating the last little bits of ashen logs. “S-s-sorry,” she hiccuped, “for getting your suit dirty.” His comforting hoof stroked her head affectionately. “It is not the slightest bother, my dear.” She continued to sniff and cry her eyes out while pressed into his chest. Ordinarily such a thing would make her blush and stammer, she realized. She’d never let any stallion, or even a mare for that matter, get comfortable in her presence like that. What an odd thing to think at such a time, and yet as she lay cradled in some noble stallion’s warm embrace, she still felt safe. The last tears soon dried, but he continued to soothe away the pain and whisper sweet nothings in her ear. As she left his grasp he removed a kerchief to dab at her eyes. She must have looked terrible. Already she could feel the impending rat’s nest her mane had become, and crying for no good reason would have left her looking just awful. Rarity would have a field day if she ever caught her in such a state. “I’m s-sorry for that.” “Oh, it’s nothing, little one. There is no shame in acknowledging weakness. Don’t think for a second myself or your friends think any less of you for that.” She let him finish cleaning her up. Stepping away, he sat on his haunches and and awaited the lady’s needs. She almost smiled. If Rarity had ever had a stallion be so attentive, she’d be over the moon. “I see him whenever I close my eyes... When I sleep. When I’m awake...” She clutched her head and shook it hard enough in hopes the memories would fly off into some darkened space and be forgotten forevermore. “Make him stop. Please, make him stop...” Is this what she had been reduced to? Begging some stallion as if panhandling for bits? Hurt still tugged at her heart when he shook his head. “Bitter memories are one thing that time cannot erase so easily, Miss Fluttershy. It takes patience and healing, and even then, a scar always remains. They won’t leave no matter how far you go, little one.” Flashes of memory burst into her mind. Canterlot strewn with panicked screams and rubble in the streets. The stench of burning flesh that summoned carrion for a disgusting and abominable feast. Rarity, howling in agony to the smoky skies choked with ash of buildings and the fallen. A corpse still warm to the touch, its skin burnt while a pair of eyes bled accusations into her soul. Fluttershy gave a squeak of pain as her flanks impacted the hard hard floor, ripping away the memory. The blankets ensnared her in their tight, serpentine grasp. With a shake, she removed them and backed her rump into the corner. The end table shook slightly, the little trinkets on the surface rattling at the contact. Her eyes were drawn to her sleeping friend, yet Applejack did not wake. She slept like the dead. That was A-okay, but Fluttershy had to force herself to put down the limb that so desperately wished to shake her awake. Her breaths were coming in staccato gasps. In the small sleeping compartment every sound came crashing back. This place was small, very unlike her own home that had the smell of earth, a warm fire, and Angel’s furry hugs. She shut her eyes to stop the swaying, yet everything seemed dizzy and moving. Feeling bile in her throat, Fluttershy’s eyes landed on the door. Out... Too cramped! Need to think! The door opened with a hiss. Fresh, cool air hit Fluttershy and she gasped for breath. As she cantered out the door, a fresh wave of vertigo hit and the ceiling became the floor. Pain shot through her side and jaw. “Ow...” she moaned. Angel must have left one of his projects out again. Blinking back the blurriness and getting back on all four shaky hooves, she saw it was not one of Angel’s ill-gotten construction pieces and instead more plated flooring. A tiny splotch of red clung to to the silver, joining the miasma of mars that stained the floor. She put a hoof to her cheek. It stung, but it wasn’t bad. A loud hiss blasted her from behind. “Eep!” she squeaked and backed her rump into the opposite wall. No snakes or angry chimera heads. Just the door closing... Fluttershy closed her eyes to get her breathing under control. It always seemed to help, not being able to see, even though not seeing danger was generally frowned upon. Rainbow Dash always told her to never be scared. Being scared just happened to be something she was very good at. She took a deep breath and relaxed, the very same mental exercise Cadance and Twilight performed. In... Out... Inhale... Exhale... Slowly but surely, her limbs ceased trembling, yet the still image of the Dratalli still hid in the back of her mind. Fluttershy shook her head to clear the image. She blinked. Light streamed in through an open double doorway farther down the hallway. As she perked her ears instinctively, she heard light clicking sounds. Someone else was awake. Looking down the opposite end of the corridor confirmed all other doors were firmly closed. The gentle, lifeless hum of the ship’s interior mechanics was the only constant other than the high thrumming of electric emergency lights. “Applejack...?” she questioned softly as if her already demure voice and the wall were no obstacles to her call. She chided herself. Of course she couldn’t hear her. She was asleep on top of everything. Why would she need to wake her friend anyway? It was just someone else up. Even Angel got up in the middle of the night to get a drink sometimes. No need waking Applejack. It was best if she got all the sleep she could. As long as it was someone else, or better yet somepony else. Just not something else... The lightest hoofsteps echoed almost noiselessly across the narrow interior. Her head was hunched low enough to let the tips of her bubblegum-pink mane drag on the floor. There was an earthy scent in the air. It smelled familiar, but was unlike anything she could remember. As she approached the doorway, her legs locked up. A shadow had passed in front of her, casting a very human-looking silhouette. Despite confirming it as not some horrible creature that bred nightmares and ate fillies, that old sense of fear was back. Unoiled metal protested loudly from within; whoever it was had sat down. ‘It’s not some monster, silly filly. Just a person who can’t sleep. Like you! Maybe you both have something to talk about...’ She couldn’t stop those eyes from coming back to the forefront of her mind. “Someone there? You alright?” The insomniac moved again, the shadow craning its neck; its owner had noticed something. “You crying?” Fluttershy dabbed at her eyes. No tears, only dreams. Bad dreams. Maybe a few pitiful moans as well. “No...” she managed to squeak out. “Come again?” Male? He sounded nice enough, if a little groggy. The insomniac set something down. “No.” “Was that a no?” he asked. “N-no. I mean yes!” He paused in contemplation, his shadow scratching his chin. Fluttershy stood just outside the open doorway. She could smell other scents now. Grains, water, and salt, mostly. Looking up, it all made sense. Printed in neat black letters above the double doorway were the words: MESS HALL. Fluttershy slowly peaked her head around the corner. “Hey there,” came the response. Dozens upon dozens of tables were neatly aligned to her right. The tables themselves looked like they were white a long time ago, but had been stained a murky gray over the years. Steel bars held each one to the floor with the help of several large metal bolts. The bars curled outward, ending in a plastic bench for crewmembers to sit on. The only occupant in the room sat at the table closest to the door. He wasn’t too old, possibly middle-aged if she had to hazard a guess. Certainly younger than the soldier she met the previous day, but plenty older than Ana. He was dressed in a simple gray shirt that looked like it had seen several days of consistent wear. The cargo pants looked like they received the same treatment, as the dual empty toolbelts attested. Draped over his broad shoulders was an orange coat and it also came equipped with several pockets, these ones bulging with devices. Underneath his shaggy black bangs and curly beard were warm brown eyes. A disarming smile snuck through all the fur. “...H-hey...” Fluttershy pawed at the floor nervously. Looking at anything other than him, she examined her left. It looked like the cafeteria she had in school down to the shelves locking away their precious contents. Rainbow Dash had made weekly attempts to nick food from the pantry during flight school, just to see if she could. That same earthy scent caught her nose. It made her head buzz with energy, clearing away the fog incurred from sleep. There was fresh coffee in a pot on the counter. The man turned his head and spotted what she was looking at. “Want a cup? I’ve already made a fresh batch. Don’t think I’m up to finishing a pot on my own.” He seemed nice. Not mean at all, just kind of big and scary-looking, just like Harry the Bear. “Okay.” Fluttershy swore she whispered, but he still heard her. The table creaked noisily as he adjusted his weight and walked to the pot with long, even strides. He opened one of the cabinets and removed one of the cups, grabbing the pot on his way back. “Name’s Henry Stanford.” Fluttershy carefully took a step inside. It was soon followed by another, then another. Without even realizing it, she had joined him at the table. “I’m... Fluttershy.” He chuckled merrily. He sounded nice; another good sign. Maybe she was right and he just wanted some company. Fluttershy hopped up onto the bench only for her hooves to slide wildly across the surface and slipped backwards. The cry of alarm and fright was already past her lips before she stopped moving altogether. All she saw was the flickering fluorescent lights as she lay suspended. “Careful; table and seats have been worn smooth by now.” She didn’t even see him move! Henry was halfway over the table, a large, calloused hand wrapped around her foreleg, the only thing keeping her from tumbling backwards and cracking her skull on the hard floor and certainly not staring into the eyes of Dratalli looking over her. Henry pulled her forward just enough for her to get situated comfortably, or as comfortably as she could. The long, flat surface wasn’t quite right for ponies. Nothing on this ship was. “Thank you, Henry.” He gave her another bass chuckle, his eyes glittering like beetles in all that hair. “‘s nothing. Just watch out for yourself. The ship’s safe enough, but it’s the things you don’t see coming that hurt the most.” Soon the warm smell of coffee greeted her as he poured her a generous amount. Nodding gratefully, Fluttershy tipped the cup to her lips before asking, “What time is it?” “I’d say about four,” he said quietly. Danger averted, he seemed lost in his own thoughts. “Alarm’s set for five for most of the crew to wake up, so don’t worry about waking them just yet. Still, there’s always someone up. No rest for the weary.” He took a strong draft, draining half of his cup in just a few gulps. His own cup had been sitting there for a while if it had cooled off so much. “Sorry, no proper mugs on this boat.” “Oh? Oh! No, it’s fine.” Fluttershy down a few sips of her own. Well, it was the earthy scent she detected. Not much could be said for taste. It was like Sugarcube Corner’s chocolate-covered coffee beans if they’d been left out for about a month. Something must have shown on her face. “Yeah, blue collars don’t normally spring for the little perks. Good coffee is one of them.” He continued to nurse his own cup, eyes off in the distance. Fluttershy sat there quietly as she took gulp after gulp. It certainly wasn’t the best, and definitely not what she was used to, but she could get used to it with a little time. Having little else to do, she eyed her companion a little more. He did kinda look like a bear. He had a strong jawline and a wide nose that looked too large for his face. The curly brown mustache hairs made it look like a mountain poking out of a forest. “Can’t sleep either?” Henry’s voice jolted her out of her observations. The best course of option was to, of course, sink as deep into her cup as possible and hope he didn’t take offense for the stareing. “No...” She downed another nip only to realize her cup was empty. “Here,” he said, pouring her another cup and refilling his own. “Thanks.” “Not a problem, Fluttershy...” Henry trailed off again. “I can never sleep right on these boats.” Fluttershy tucked a lock of hair behind an ear to see him better. He had his head in a palm as he stared off into a wall. He didn’t seem sad or upset. “Just never felt right. I don’t like space. Even if there’s people right down the hall, I could never feel right. It always feels too different, too wrong somehow.” He set his cup down. He hadn’t even touched a drop since his refill. “No matter how much I get along with the crew, I can’t shake it. It’s cold out here...” Fluttershy tightened her grip on her cup. Why was he telling her this? The feeling of isolation was apparent on the ship from the start. Despite dozens coming and going when she and Applejack packed up for the night, most didn’t give them a second thought. It made her feel like being in the middle of Ponyville Square, with all of town mingling on the eve of the Summer Sun Celebration... and still feeling so very alone. Down went another draft of lukewarm coffee down her throat. Henry had tightened his coat around his form. Well, this had gotten a little too personal really fast. Unless he was talking literally, in which she was grateful she had a nice fur coat to help her stay warm. “Um... do you have any friends on the ship?” Fluttershy asked timidly. He shook his head slowly. “Nah; just a grunt who goes where the work is. No family.” “My friend Applejack helped me a lot.” Henry perked up, brow curled in confusion as he tried to guess where she was going with this line of thought. “She helps me when I feel like that. Sometimes I feel so alone I think no pony can help. She even tells—” Back to the cup. He didn’t need to know that. No siree. Her new friend had guessed the source of her discomfort. The warmth of his hand touched her hoof. She could feel the residual heat from the cup radiating off him. “I... heard what happened in Equestria.” Fluttershy flinched. Henry removed his hand, seemingly unsure if he offended her in some manner. The nightmares came and went as quickly as Ponyville weather changed. Dratalli invasion, the blood, the losses. Those eyes staring back at her... Nevertheless, he continued. “I understand; I really do. War, no; I’ve never been through that, and please don’t take offense when I say I hope I never do.” At least he was honest. Fluttershy didn’t want to force that on anypony or anyone else. Even a Dratalli. Even if they deserved it. He rubbed the back of his head as if enough pressure would reveal the answers. “It’s that need to run, even if you don’t know why. I can’t say it’s going to be better, but...” Henry trailed off, words failing him. The barest hint of anger puffed at her chest. How could he possibly know what she went through? Or even suggest it? So what if she ran away from Equestria! No more monsters, no more memories, no more monsters, no more memories no more memories no more monsters no morememoriesnomoremonstersnomorememories— ‘They won’t leave no matter how far you go, little one.’ The waterworks were already coming before she could stop them. White hot tears streamed down her face and she hurriedly wiped her face with a forehoof. “I’m sorry; I don’t know why that happened. I’m... not used to the coffee and the bed’s really uncomfortable.” Something soft dabbed at her face. Henry had pulled a handkerchief from one of his many pockets and dabbed at her eyes gently. For a moment he opened his mouth to say something, only to close it as words failed him. Together the sat in silence, only the cold he dreaded so much nipping at her mind. For chapter commentary and my ramblings, visit my page HERE Chapter Commentary: LINK Edited by: TheSynn Author's Note I have two alternate cuts with regards to the dream sequence. If you're interested in checking them out, you can find them here (mild gore warning) and here. \\E:\Users\GlowCloud\Videos\TremblingFear.aviAuthor's Note Chapter written and produced by blazikenking \E:\Users\GlowCloud\Videos\TremblingFear.avi Iron Rose, Terra Hub, The Matrix Personas Present: ~BraveLizard ~MechDemonHunter ~NancyTheTavernWrench ~SoupLadel ~VolTecha SoupLadel: That really is how my soup helped Technia through high school. BraveLizard: So we can partially thank your soup skills for stopping the Dratali? SoupLadel: I suppose so. Say, where’s the jester? MechDemonHunter: He got dragged to one of the few places in this section of space with no internet a few days ago. A family vacation, he says. VolTecha: He should be coming back today. I honestly hope he does. We need our jester back. SoupLadel: Understatement of the week. VolTecha: Yeah. Anyways, how’s business? SoupLadel: Souptacular! My whole restaurant is still smaller than most ponies’ living rooms, but I have plenty of faithful regulars. I aspire to making a soup buffet, but for now, I’m content with what I’ve got. BraveLizard: I’ve heard that even though you ponies can eat meat, you don’t actually have the means to produce much of it. SoupLadel: Yeah. What little meat I can get every couple years goes right to me. I’d love to get a consistent flow of actual meat, even if it’s only for a special once per week. It would certainly help business. MechDemonHunter: But could you handle that kind of business? VolTecha: Meat has its own cooking rules, and that means some of it may have to be cooked outside of the pot. NancyTheTavernWrench: I have some advice for you, Soupy. NancyTheTavernWrench: Before you expand to having meat, which I believe would draw huge crowds, I suggest getting more space and hiring some help. SoupLadel: And why should I do that? NancyTheTavernWrench: Take it from someone who runs a tavern. As skilled as I am at everything there, I can’t be everywhere at once. I’ve also been in popular hole-in-the-wall restaurants as big as yours, and when there’s a line, few people are really happy. Maybe you ponies are different though, and are content to wait in lines. NancyTheTavernWrench: I suggest you expand your restaurant, whether by moving or expanding the place. After that, hire a couple employees. If you want to make the soup yourself, then make them the wait staff or something. Point is that if you want to expand one thing, then something else will have to expand too. --KingBob has joined the chat-- SoupLadel: Thanks Nancy. Hey, the jester is back! KingBob: I’m back, everyone. What’s happened since I was gone? MechDemonHunter: Nancy just gave business advice to Soupy. You missed it by 8 seconds. KingBob: Thank goodness. That sounds boring. BraveLizard: I think I can set you up with some good meat sources Soupy. We’ll talk it over in another room. BraveLizard has invited SoupLadel to a personal chatroom. KingBob: Remember: use protection! VolTecha: Silence, peasant. BraveLizard has invited NancyTheTavernWrench to a personal chatroom. KingBob: AND NOW IT’S GETTING EVEN BETTER! MechDemonHunter: Shut up, Bob. VolTecha: Say, how’s that theatric combat gig working out, Chase? MechDemonHunter: I underestimated everyone. The gear you gave me works just fine and gets perfect marks on the tech specs, but I need to improve my skills. VolTecha: Can we see some video footage of you in action? >MechDemonHunter Transmitting to #CHAT: Posting includes 20 MB of attached files KingBob: And then nobody did anything. Video time! VolTecha: So far as I can tell, you have the weapon down cold in practice. It’s more how you move on stage that needs work. MechDemonHunter: Advise me. VolTecha: Try coming in from a dark area with the eyes glowing. Sound intimidating. Show no weaknesses. When you’re up close for melee, switch to the gun function unexpectedly and fire right there. Also, let me finish those little cars. I should be done testing them by the end of the week. I’ll use the same proxy on Avol to send them to you. MechDemonHunter: Thanks. Those should help me quite nicely. VolTecha: And once they're done, I'll make duplicates for the robot. KingBob: I KNEW YOU'D MAKE A ROBOT! VolTecha: And I’m still not going to send it after you. You wouldn’t be worth the effort. SoupLadel: I have a question for everyone here. MechDemonHunter: Hm? SoupLadel: Who wants to come to Avol to see the sights and try some soup of mine? I'm thinking the last week of July. VolTecha: I can't. I'll probably be working on something during that time. KingBob: Is there a catch of some kind? MechDemonHunter: There's a quiet time for theatric combat around then. I'll be able to make it. SoupLadel: No catch. You'll just have to stay at a hotel. A hotel built and run by ponies. Ponies that use magic with ease. Magic that you will never be able to have. KingBob: I find these conditions mostly acceptable. I'll tell you if I can make it closer to the day. SoupLadel: Excellent. MechDemonHunter: What about Nancy and the lizard? NancyTheTavernWrench: I'll be able to make it. I already agreed to it and will be bringing some drinks from my tavern, and my motorcycle. If they allow me to do that. BraveLizard: I won't be able to make it. I am a busy sapient life form. KingBob: If you're so busy, what are you doing here? BraveLizard: There's this little thing called multitasking, and I happen to be quite proficient at it. VolTecha: I just checked my calendar and I definitely won't be able to make it. SoupLadel: Aw. And we all wanted to know just what you are, VolT. Oh well. I think I'll invite Technia to come over. It's been a while since I last saw her. I hope she's still in Ponyville. VolTecha: You do that. I'll just work on Chase's little cars for now. --VolTecha has left the chat-- Chapter 3: MagnasantiChapter 3: Magnasanti Applejack stretched cat-like, trying to work out the kinks in her back. Oh holy horseapples, those beds were a pain to sleep on. As she walked to the room’s tiny mirror, she saw Equestria’s worst case of bedhead. Farm life gave her the ability to fall asleep at the drop of a Stetson in order to wake up at the crack of dawn the following morning, and the inability to wake up when the bed was made from the congealed hate of insomniacs everywhere. “Bless my back, one more day is one day too long,” she complained. “Rise and shine, girl.” Applejack’s hoof was already halfway to Fluttershy’s bed before she saw the disheveled mess it was in. Odd; not only was Fluttershy awake this early, but up and about before her. “Fluttershy?” Given their own room was so small, it was not hard to discover she wasn’t present. She was out and about in the ship? Even more odd. A tinge of fear crept into the back of her mind. Where was she? The outside corridor was empty, but the sounds of activity were still thrumming in the air. Raucous laughter echoed from the room she remembered being the mess hall from the quartermaster’s map. It was a good enough place as any to start looking. First, where was that hat? Her internal chronometer told her it was dawn. There wasn’t much of a sunrise in the void of space, but the scent of juice, coffee, and eggs was enough to tell her it was close enough to breakfast. Sleepy, bleary-eyed mechanics and other ship personnel were all in various states of dress and garbs. And there was Fluttershy. She was in a rather animate talk with a scruffy-looking human. Even more surprising, she looked rather content. And awful; there were dark circles under her eyes and her mane was in a desperate need of a good brushing, but she was smiling. “Hey there, Fluttershy,” Applejack said as she hopped up onto the empty seat next to her. The hairy man and Fluttershy unusually and a table to themselves, but no shortage of eyes and whispers aimed at their direction. Fluttershy blinked and smiled. “Good morning, Applejack. This is Mister Stanford,” she said rather quickly. Applejack tipped her hat to him. “Mornin’ stranger.” He waved his hand dismissively. “Henry’s fine. I’ve been keeping your friend company for a bit. Have to say I was a bit surprised to find out we’re in the same boat. Fluttershy tells me you’re a farmer?” Applejack eyed the both. Her friend seemed content enough. Good; she needed to get out a bit more. “That’s right. How about yerself?” Fluttershy offered her a cup of coffee. Not one to turn down a little pick-me-up, she gratefully accepted until she got a whiff of the contents. “Agricultural engineer. I’m going to Magnasanti to do some fixin’ for OCO.” He took a draft from his coffee. “Depending on where they send me, we might be seeing a lot of each other.” Henry offered his hand to her, to which the farmer extended a hoof. Not being able to quite grasp her limb effectively didn’t seem to bother him in the slightest, and he shook it with a firm grip. She could feel several fresh callouses on his palm, and strangely not many old ones. Thump! She jumped slightly at the noise. Poor Fluttershy almost fell out of her seat. The source of the noise was a tray brimming with eggs, bacon, gravy, potatoes, and other cheap breakfast staples being placed unnecessarily hard on the tabletop next to Henry. “Mornin’!” the tan-skinned newcomer exclaimed cheerfully. He was several inches shorter than Henry and younger by just as many years. What was immediately recognizable was the same type of military fatigues that Sam fellow wore. “Wondered when I’d be meeting you two. Ship’s been a buzzin’ ever since we left the dock. Ponies on board! Given front row seats to Magnasanti and a couple o’ leathernecks as guard dogs!” He proceeded to stuff a fork into some eggs and shoveled them into his mouth. “Shcuttlebuhtt’s ahl I got fer fun when ahm on boafs.” Henry and Fluttershy could only stare, the latter finally managing to cease her shaking. “And you are?” Applejack asked slowly. The newcomer tried to swallow, only to devolve into a coughing fit. After a few pounds to his chest, he managed to wheeze, “Corporal Jamie Ramirez.” “Oh?” Henry said. “What’s a marine doing here?” Before Jamie could offer a reply something collided with his head with a soft squish. His fork clattered to the ground and he scrambled to remove whatever it was. Applejack could only watch as a very busty woman stepped forward, a wolfish smile on her face. She too had her own tray and was dressed in similar colors, although a much larger shirt to cover for her height and ample bosom. After wiping the folded egg off his face, Jamie stood up to confront the newcomer, only to simper as he saw something behind her. “‘Bought time you both wake up,” a new voice added. The woman sat next to Applejack and she quickly gave a squeak of pain as she was smacked upside the head by yet another person. He, a thin, wiry human male, sat across from her, glaring at the two soldiers. “Sorry about that, ma’am.” He was perhaps the oldest human Applejack had ever seen with the gray consuming his hair as it was. Age lines creased his face and brow, and the scars on the back of his palms and military casual garb bespoke his occupation quite well. “Hope these two knuckleheads haven’t been bothering you too much.” Fluttershy had already clammed up and avoided eye contact again. Well, no use being rude when the guy was putting his best foot forward. Henry cut her off before she could respond. “CO?” “Nope.” Jamie was smiling mischievously at the woman. Whatever was going on in his head was quickly put to rest as the elderly man smacked him upside the head as well. “Behave you two.” Applejack couldn’t help but smile. In no way was it hostile, just a friendly reminder. Returning his attention to Applejack, he explained, “I’m Colonel Ethan Sokolov and you’ve met the kid.” He nodded at the woman. “That’s—” “Sophia Galerkin.” There was a slight drawl to her accent that popped up around her consonants. “First Lieutenant Sophia Galerkin. Now, you two wouldn’t happen to be Applejack and Fluttershy now?” ‘And why would you be asking that?’ Before Applejack could complete that thought, Sokolov pulled something out of one of his pockets. It was a datapad like Ana’s, only with the metal back coating faded with time and streaked with repeated wear. Sokolov cleared his throat, ““For the duration of your assignment, you are hereby assigned as acting military liaisons and protective details for the following person’s of interest: VIP Miss Applejack of Avol and VIP Miss Fluttershy of Avol. This assignment’s duration is scheduled to last no longer than one Terran year or termination of Alliance/Avolian contract. And etcetera, etcetera...” He trailed off, expectant. Applejack remembered the documents she had in her quarters. They did state that the two of them would be gaining security staff for the remainder of their stay. “Yeah, that’d be us fer sure, Mister So... Pardon?” Sokolov chuckled. “Sokolov, ma’am, but just call me Soko. Everyone does.” Soko reached a hand over the table to shake her hoof. “Please to meet you both. Pleasantries over, Fluttershy automatically spoke the next question on Applejack’s mind as she met Soko’s hand. “Jus’ Applejack fer me, then. So what do you mean by protective detail?” Sophia downed a glass of orange juice and pitched in, “We’re your escorts and security for your stay in Magnasanti.” “VIP foreign nationals are automatically offered up to a full squad with an officer of at least the rank of Captain. The Alliance assigned the three of us plus our CO,” Jamie added. He was still eyeing Sophia out of the corner of his eye, but now that Soko had arrived on the scene, they ceased their troublemaking. “Haven’t gotten your name yet,” Jamie asked Henry. “Henry Stanford,” he dutifully replied and offered his hand to shake. He had been relatively quiet, only watching more than anything. Still, there was something that bugged Applejack. Ana had read their contract and also said they’d be getting a protective detail. Even Princess Celestia and Twilight Sparkle warned that there might be trouble as they ventured forth. Not to mention Shining’s warning about the city... “Are we gonna expect some trouble?” The reaction was subtle, but it was there. Jamie halted the cup of juice raising to his lips before taking a draft. Mirth and a vibrant smile crossed Sophia’s face. What got her attention the most was a group of men and women who had cordoned off a table for themselves. Each wore some type of uniform of such deep blue it was almost as black as midnight. A magnificent white stallion was printed on the back along with a patch on each shoulder. It was reared up on his hind legs and as he whinnied some battlecry to the heavens above. One of them tilted his his head to get a better look at her table, and as he saw her, his lips curved in a smile. Soko answered her question with practiced ease. “There’s a couple other settlements on Argus Five, but Magnasanti’s a singular city and the biggest. Population: ten point seven mil. Violent crimes per year, at least last time I checked, was just under an even sixty-seven thousand per year. I’d be lying if I said bad stuff don’t happen, but that’s exactly why we’re here.” “Where are you deployed?” Henry asked Fluttershy. He’d already nursed his cup of coffee into oblivion. Half of a bagel was in his hand while Applejack swore the other half was crumbed in his beard. Guy could probably hide a filly in there. Still she drew a blank. She’d read it several times before, but the information never seemed to stick in her head for longer than a few moments. The name was hard to remember. Luckily, Fluttershy came to the rescue. “Um... I remember it saying about a bay...” “There’s a couple of bays in Magnasanti,” Sophia said before taking scarfing down a sausage. Wait, wasn’t her tray full when she sat down? Where did she pack that all down? Applejack’s eyes momentarily strayed to her bountiful chest before trying to purge the impending inappropriate images. Henry, however, spoke up again. “OCO’s got a new facility going in Sector Seven. Bay area’s directly north. My money’s on that one.” The lightbulbs kicked in. “Yeah, yeah!” Applejack exclaimed. “That’s the place a’right. Mah memory just ain’t what it used to be.” It was more than just the last year recovering from the battle, or even the year before that when Twilight vanished. More than just stress. Although nowhere near as old as Granny was—she was barely into her middle ages!—the weight of time was pressing on her back. She felt... tired. “Well, you don’t need to worry your little head ‘bout too much trouble. That place is well outta the city.” He kept looking at his cup in disgust after each draft, but kept on going back for more coffee. How much had he drank? However, his information did lift a little of that weight off her shoulders. Excitement, no matter how slight, wasn’t something she relished. “That’s good,” she said. “Yeah,” Fluttershy added. It was probably better for her more than anyone. There was still one more question on Applejack’s mind. Friendly banter was all well and good, and the four had been plenty friendly, but if there was one thing Granny had always stressed, although it was meant more towards bumping uglies than anything, it was always know who she was getting in bed with beforehoof. “So why’d ya’ll decide to jump ship and look after us? We’re just helping some farmers n’ growers. Can’t be all that excitin’. ‘Bout as interesting as filtering apple whiskey.” Sure, Rainbow had a blast drinking the stuff, but she’d sure as Celestia change her mind if she had to remove the crud that settled on the bottom of the fifty gallon tanks. Jamie looked at the ceiling in thought for a moment before smiling and licking his lips. Applejack made the mental note to never mention she had a quart or two stashed in her luggage. Soko answered, “I’m here as a favor for a friend. I’m about a year from retiring myself. When the brass thought it was just one of you going, they assigned him and these two knuckleheads. After he got word that it’d be the two of you, he asked me to hop along for the ride to even it out to four.” “Cap dragged me along, the zhopa. Concord’s been the boss for some time now. Plus I love Magnasanti, so a little less bad blood.” Sophia was almost vibrating with excitement. Sam and Soko together seemed to believe that Magnasanti was a somewhat dangerous place, even if they were avoiding it. This woman on the other hoof seemed absolutely excited to go. “Spent a year there between my second and third tour. Never had so much fun in my life.” “Yeah, I saw the tattoo,” muttered Jamie. “No swearing, First Lieutenant,” Soko chided Sophia with a glare. “They may not understand Russian, but I do.” Applejack snorted. “Ah’ve heard worse outta Granny when she’s sleepin’.” Jeez, the bile that mare could spit in her sleep. She didn’t know what this “zhopa” meant, but she had a whole slew of colorful swears in her arsenal to turn Rainbow Dash monochrome. “An’ you?” she asked Jamie. He shrugged nonchalantly. “What else was there for me to do? Pretty much the same as her.” he jerked his head towards the woman. “On the Cap’s squad, so I go where he goes.” Fluttershy knocked over her glass. It was empty, but the bedraggled mare scrambled to pick it up before asking, “Mister Concord?” Wait, that guy? “Hey, we met ‘em on Ana’s ship! Sam or somethin’?” Soko’s grin was wide enough to consume his face. “That’d be him. He’d be arriving in Magnasanti the day after us.” The other two soldiers only groaned. Concord didn’t seem that bad in the short time she’d known him. A little curt and withdrawn, sure, but ten minutes at most was hardly enough to judge the guy. “I kind of like him,” Fluttershy said demurely. Of course she would. The mare befriended dragons and bears and who knows what else. Fluttershy could get scared of anything, except when that dangerous anything showed even the slightest hint of acting “cute”. “Cap’s alright. Better than some.” Sophia nodded sagely. “What about you two? What made you decide to wander into the big black yonder?” The answer was simple. With a tilt of her head to Fluttershy, she said, “‘Cause of her.” “We’re here...” Fluttershy hesitated slightly before continuing. “We’re here to help these OCO people with their agricultural knowledge. Applejack came along to keep me company.” “What about you, bucko?” Jamie asked Henry. The engineer shrugged. “I’ve been going from place to place for some time now. Work, work, work. ‘S really all I do.” “Sounds kinda dull,” Sophia said quietly, her bouncing energy receding slightly. She eyes the man carefully, taking him in behind an unreadable expression. “Yeah, but what am I to do?” He shrugged. “Do what I do or not? All I know is that working’s better than just sitting there, idle. I’d rather be doing something than not at all.” “Fair enough,” Applejack said. Often enough she’d get that itch when on the farm to just get up and do something, even when all the chores were done. Never felt quite right, sittin’ still. “Ah’ve been meanin’ to ask you lot something’,” she continued. “What’s with that lot?” She nodded towards the group at the far table with the patches. Soko’s expression darkened without even turning to see what she was looking at. “Them’s that Security group. Half corporation, have brotherhood. They’re contracted out for protection jobs and hired security. They do their job just fine—better than standard security grunts, anyway— but it’s when they’re off the clock you’ve got to worry. Trust me. Just... avoid them.” “Gosh,” Applejack said sardonically. “Big ol’ city with a bunch of rapscallions,” Sophia choked back a laugh, “an’ jus’ us little ponies to go through it alone? Least I know no one’s gonna be chasin’ mah tail.” Jamie snorted. “You really don’t know anything about where we’re going, do you?” “All occupants, this is the captain speaking. Please return to your seats. We are entering Magnasanti atmo and expect a little turbulence. Repeat: all occupants, please return to your seats.” She and Applejack were already in their seats and strapped in for the eventual descent. The harnesses were snug and secure and didn’t cut into their skin, but still felt a little awkward. All other species they had encountered were bipedal, with the exception of the feline Korg which were perfectly content with walking on all fours when it suited them. Sitting upright wasn’t the most comfortable position for ponies. Unfortunately, that was all the OrC. Op. dropship had for them. Applejack had spent every possible moment out of her seat, if only to alleviate the uncomfortable pressure it forced on her spine. “You’d figure they’d come up with somethin’ a little more comfy than these,” she complained for the third time. Fluttershy leaned over to give her friend a comforting nuzzle. Getting strapped into the seats wasn’t that comfortable, she agreed. No harm in AJ venting a little. “Just a little while longer, Applejack. We’re almost there.” It had been a rough two days, although it was more than tolerable. Fluttershy had only spent a day on board the Absolution, but what a sight to behold it was. Ana had spoiled them with her kindness, and with such a large ship to run around in. Clementine was smaller by far, only built to shuttle people, and in this case, ponies, back and forth. Quarters were cramped, and there wasn’t much to do other than mingle. The room itself was fairly large, if an uninviting mix of grays and greens. Little more than a distended rectangle, every section of the wall was fitted with seats built or bolted directly into the wall. People were streaming into the bay via the rear catch, all in various stages of sleep or irritation. The first she recognized and couldn’t help but give a timid wave. Henry had quickly found his own seat before he pulled out some device. He was tailed by an irritated Sophia and a sniggering Jamie. Soko was nowhere to be found. The two found their seats and strapped themselves in as they mumbled comments to each other. Sophia took her seat by a closed window seat and her practiced hands made quick work of the belts and straps. “This rust bucket kinda reminds me o’ the stuff Big Mac n’ me cobbled together on the farm,” Applejack said, sliding a hoof across the floor. After having explored the Clementine and with a few questions answered, it appeared to be some kind of cargo ship retrofitted to carry passengers. What was once probably a cargo hold with the clamps to strap down loaded freight had been turned into a safe place for passengers to stay until landing. Fluttershy felt something tug at her navel as the ship pitched slightly before stabilizing. One of the engineers sniggered slightly, saying, “Don’t hit a Mjolnir, flyboy.” The other hundred or so occupants, most of them looking like engineers, did not seem to mind the sudden maneuver. Her dear farmer friend only grumbled quietly to herself. The Clementine shook here and there as the seconds became minutes. In a way it was kind of fun; it was like Big Mac’s annual hayrides during Nightmare Night. The other passengers were quite neutral towards the whole affair and endured the shaking with relative ease. Some were even drifting off into a fitless slumber, their heads rolling like pendulums on their chests. The windows, once open and now shielded, seemed to glow an eerie red from beyond their quiet veil. There was an entire hodgepodge of noise in the air now that they were in the process of re entry, all hidden behind Clementine’s steely walls. The omnipresent hum of the engine, the dull chatter emanating from the hold’s current occupants, and the bass-like growl of the ship as it raced towards the planetoid created a unique, almost lifelike, presence to the metal monstrosity. Every hiss and groan, a protesting grumble, every shake, some prodigious leviathan’s unwilling motion. Fluttershy could feel the pitch decreasing, the engine rolling back whatever great cisterns it possessed into naught more than a gentle hum. Now a new sound joined them, a steady scratching that punctuated the entire ship. Whatever it was, it caused Sophia to grin in delight. “Oh, I’ve missed this,” she cooed softly. She craned her head toward the blank panel that sealed off the window near her head. “And another safe entry. We’ll be interfacing with a Hermes node shortly. Estimated time of arrival: ten minutes. Feel free to enjoy the sights until then,” echoed the captain. The window arching slowly open reminded her of so many of Princess Celestia’s glorious sunrises. The single ray of light soon banished the dreary light produced by the ship’s inferior bulbs. The light always seemed sickly. Wrong, even. Here was something else entirely. This was a burst of energy, raw and untameable. What she had expected... well, Fluttershy wasn’t sure what she was expecting. Laid before her in the tiny window was a planet carved from steel itself. Lights blazed from intermittent points, blinding Fluttershy with the onslaught. As her eyes adjusted she saw the outlines of magnificent buildings. Entire blocks of steel and stone dominated much of the landscape in one large, consuming mass. Easily the most recognizable landmark around was a mountainous pyramid structure that dominated several city blocks by itself. Fluttershy could see far off in the distance another pyramid stabbing at the skies. The tallest Manehatten spires could never have dreamed to reach the heights of this place. “Welcome to Magnasanti, everyone.” The ship pitched down further. As the cityscape was momentarily obfuscated behind a fog bank, a million little ants rose into view. Each one moved every which way in every direction possible. Only when Fluttershy caught the glint of metal did she understand that every little ant was a vessel or vehicle quite like hers—they came in every shape, color and size she could imagine, from the utilitarian to the horrendously garrish. Soon the ship descended to eye level to the chariot-like things racing across Magnasanti’s surface and skies. The vast majority stuck to the group like a mass of steel rivulets parting around cyclopean boulders. Clementine was far larger than any other vessel she could see... for about thirty seconds. Some great leviathan of metal lurched into vision before dipping out of sight. “The rocker boys are out!” Sophia squealed with delight. She craned her neck to look out the window and Jamie just rolled his eyes at the sight. Fluttershy could feel a deep, slow thrumming that rattled her hooves and teeth. Applejack had perked her ears, straining to find the source of the noise. Soon that too faded away as the ship cleared the megalopolis. The pillars of heaven soon shortened into something more recognizable like the buildings she’d seen in magazines about Manehatten or Phillydelphia. They too tapered off into a large urban sprawl that seemed to stretch forever under the moons’ ruby and sapphire―there were two moons! “Ah wonder what Luna would hav’ t’ say ‘bout that...” Applejack wondered quietly. Sometime ago she must have finally stopped fidgeting and enjoyed the sights before her. Fluttershy could only chide herself quietly for not seeing them—it was kind of a hard thing, er, things, to miss. Well, the buildings were in the way previously. That was something she’d have to ask about later. Once they got settled in, a good library was on her list of things to find. The urban development soon gave way to dotted fields, plains, and small settlements before the engines began kicking in. The deep growl rumbled through the ship before quietly returning to its rest. “We are currently docking with the OCO landing bay. Standby.” Plains and crops soon morphed into a concentric ring of buildings with a large dome structure at the center. Fluttershy could only catch the slightest glimpse before the Clementine turned to hide it from sight. Soon the moonlight, as bright as it was, receded in the wake of a barrage of synthetic lighting inside the dome; it must have opened up to allow them access. What kind of building was this? Clementine lurched slightly before the leviathan quieted. Even the high whines and groans she had usually associated with the ship had died. “Ladies and gents, you are free to go, and have a safe night,” came the captain’s voice. “But it’s two in the afternoon...” Fluttershy said to the walls. Sophia and Jamie had unbuckled and were waiting for the duo. “Back on the Absolution, yeah. It’s night out here,” the woman replied. Fluttershy blushed. Of course, the moon—moons—were out. “Why don’t you two get your things. We’ll wait for you by the off ramp. They’ll have your stuff in the hold offloaded already.” After a short trip to pick up their meager onboard supplies, Fluttershy retraced her hoofsteps back to the off ramp. A steady stream of people were coming and going now that they’ve landed. The metal halls had never been so busy, even during the early morning hours when everyone was awake. Each person still bore the same mix of types, races, and builds as she found on the Absolution. Now, however, she paid more attention to their faces. Now they were looking back at her, and from the increasing number of sneers, they didn’t like what they saw. They whispered under their breath as she passed. What they were saying was certainly of interest... but she was pretty sure she wouldn’t like what she heard. Applejack glared at those who stared too long. Fluttershy flattened her ears against her head and couldn’t help but whimper slightly under the attention. Even looking at the floor wouldn’t block out their itching gaze. ‘Just breathe,’ she chanted to herself. ‘Breathe. Breathe...’ It was a little trick Rainbow Dash had imparted before they got out of Flight School. Fluttershy focused on her own breathing as she breathed in and out. The thrumming in her ears that had been her slowly panicking heartbeat steadied slightly. “Great trick; can you walk the corridors blindfolded?” Fluttershy squeaked and almost tripped before Applejack rushed to her aid. Sophia stood by the door with Jamie. Henry had vanished, but Soko had taken his place. After Applejack helped her to her hooves, she couldn’t help but take a moment and examine her new companions. Gone were most of the casual military fatigues and in their place full military gear and regalia. Sophia also had something in her hands and Fluttershy couldn’t help but wince slightly upon recognizing the rifle’s shape. She must have missed it, for after the visual inspection she slung it over her back. The dock was a fairly busy place. There were at least another two dozen ships being unloaded in the dome structure with enough people to populate a small town loading and unloading. A couple of people, young and old, stood in groups dotting the dome, apparently on break. Some simply chatted, others ate, while some operated more of their strange devices. A line of armed men flanked her posse on both sides. She flinched at the menacing sight before spotting what they wore. Each wore some type of exoskeletal suit and black, face-concealing mask. Each armored suit bore a stenciled white stallion at the base of the shoulder. “This way, ma’am,” came a garbled voice. The mercenary wore the patch as well along with some type of rank insignia on his chest. Fluttershy looked to Applejack, who in turn looked to Soko. The old man nodded. It was time to settle into their new home. Compared to the amenities on board the Clementine, Fluttershy was expecting a lot less than what she saw. It was by no means extravagant, but it their room certainly had a lot more money behind it. Soko had spoken with an OCO pencil pusher for their suite keycards, but even that adjective did little to assure her until she saw it herself. Plush silver and violet carpeting covered the floor, even if the textures felt a little strange under her hooves. The entrance opened up into a living room with several squishy armchairs, which in turn morphed into a study. Someone must have the foresight to ask about pony accommodations, as there was an indentation in the wall where there was a much larger desk fit for humans that had been replaced with one more at pony eye level. A small kitchen was tucked into a small terrace on the left parallel to a hallway that led to their separate bedrooms. “Nice pad,” Sophia said as she poked her head into the room. “Here; Soko got these off an OCO grunt. They’re your room keys.” She tossed a pair of key cards onto a lowboy. “Have ta admit, ah expected a mite bit worse,” came the voice of Applejack from somewhere in the kitchen. “Ah, shit, you should see where we’re holed up.” There was the sound of a scuffle and Fluttershy whirled around to face the noise. Jamie had tried to muscle his way past the woman and was now rubbing his sore cheek for his efforts. Fluttershy had a feeling her victory over the other mischief maker would be short lived. “Anyway, we’ve got to unpack too. We’ll wrestle some grunt to bring your luggage here while we’re at it. We can chat over breakfast tomorrow.” “It’s not night!” Applejack protested. “Yeah, jet lag’s a bitch,” Jamie’s voice quietly echoed as he walked away, leaving her with her thoughts. It was more than extravagant enough for her needs. Almost too extravagant to the point of ostentatious; she felt like she might break something as soon as she touched it. It reminded her of some of the overpriced hotel rooms she’d seen In Manehatten. They each had their own room and Fluttershy’s eyes were immediately drawn to a large and horribly gaudy painting above her bed. There was a white canvas background with... honestly it just looked like a bunch of smudges. There was the basic amenities, so good enough. “Not quite like home, but can’t rightly say it’sa barn full ‘o holes,” Applejack said as she walked in. Fluttershy agreed, even if it still felt off. Everything was all hard lines and unnatural. The scent of some lemon cleaner stung at her nose. At least on the Clementine the ship was colored by rough use and old age. It gave it a certain bit of character. Finally on Magnasanti, everything felt... blank. “Applejack?” “Yeah, hun?” “Did... did we make the right choice? Leaving Equestria?” Applejack stopped her perusal and sat down. She could never keep a straight face for the life of her and thus began chewing her lower lip in thought. “I left cuz ‘o you. You needed somepony to help you along and I wouldn’t be able to sleep right if ah let you go all on your own. Not right to let a friend hang in the wind like that.” This wasn’t the first time Fluttershy had wondered if fate had gotten things wrong with Applejack. Each little strand, every choice and decision, weaving a tapestry that binds ponies—now people—together, was so easy to build, and so much harder to break. Something as simple as choosing which fruit to eat with breakfast, or what virtue to carry for a lifetime, can all start with a single choice and ripple for decades to come, to define the very being of an individual. Fate had bequeathed the Element of Honesty to Applejack, but there was always the nagging suspicion in Fluttershy’s mind that another suited her so much more. With herself, Fluttershy could see it; she was almost cripplingly kind to all she came across. But Honest Applejack? Everypony was honest to some degree. No, what defined Applejack was family. Once and Apple, always and Apple, and nothing was more important to her than them. Loyalty to the core. Applejack sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. “Ah know ah’m not the best at this sorta thing, but ah’ll try. Ah think it’s good fer ya to leave. Clear the air and that sorta thing. Time back home was always good to us, but after... last year... ah know you had trouble dealing with... things.” She took a moment to think over her next words. “You know why you wanted to leave at all?” The stallion told her to, of course. He was right; she needed to leave Equestria, to put some distance between her and the memories that just would not die. Fluttershy nodded her head, and her friend continued. “You regret leavin’?” Fluttershy opened her mouth to say ‘No’ before stopping herself, stunned. Why? Why wasn’t she more upset at herself for leaving? “Yes.” “Well, why’s that?” “All of my animal friends still live there. I lived in Equestria my whole life. Everypony I know is there.” Friends, family, animals, for the crown and country. All loyalties pointed back towards Equestria, back towards home. The scent of fresh dew after the night’s timely chill and the first rays of sun on her face as the cock crowed. That’s where family was. What did this new life, as temporary as it may be, have for her? A home, the fresh thrill of adventure, new friends at her side, and an old one to catch her if she were to fall. A fresh start. Somewhere in her contemplation Applejack had taken off her hat. She hoped that was a sign the country mare was taking her question seriously. “We’ve grown up, Fluttershy. I... I know how it feels to be always asking’ yerself ‘Did I do it right? Why ain’t I givin’ enough?’ Ya can’t be a shield for everypony forever because it will grind you up inside. Fer one reason or another, ‘s time to start wandering out on our own. ‘s a’right to miss us, but you don’t owe us, girl. This is for you. Take some time to rest ‘n take yer mind offa things. Let me be yer shield.” Bile rose in Fluttershy’s throat as the scent of charred Dratalli flesh came to the forefront of her mind. Applejack knew why she left Equestria. She had to. Applejack wasn’t a good liar, but neither was she. There was still all the difference in the world between running towards something new, and running away from something old. “Eep!” Fluttershy squeaked. Applejack had leaned in close to nuzzle her cheek. Warmth spread across her face and something warm and tingly blossomed in her chest. It was just a short and sweet little show of affection to cheer her up before Applejack pulled away. “Hey, if you ever start thinkin’ about... things yer not comfortable about, ah’ll drop what ah’m doin’ fer you, girl. No matter what. Just ask.” “...Thanks.” Normally all she had to comfort her during her dark times were her occasional meetings with the stallion. The scaled little beast of worry and fear in her head relaxed slightly. All was good in the world. Applejack was here. Henry and the rest of the soldiers were pretty nice. Even Shining Armor was coming. All was good... Applejack smiled as the invisible weight lifted from them both. “Now ah’m going to stretch my legs and hope ah can wear mahself out a little.” She snorted derisively. “Since mah sense ‘o time’s been been thrown in the drier with a bunch of rocks and all that now. Wanna join me?” Oh, that’s right. It was night out here. Despite her own chronometer telling her it was past noon too, the emotional rollercoaster of the last few days had left her feeling exhausted. With a shake of her head, she climbed into bed. Before the hiss of the door reached her ears the darkness had claimed her. At least the coffee was better. The following morning or something or whatever—it was kind of hard to remember now—wasn’t kind to Applejack. Not disrupting her precious sleep cycle, a daily ritual she had preserved for the best of three decades, was woven into her very being by her rural way of life. Up at dawn, down at dusk. Coffee helped her to rise, but there was only one assured way to fall asleep quickly when her body refused. And that happened to involve enough booze to fill a swimming pool. She had happened to meet Sophia shortly after she left Fluttershy, the poor dear, asleep in her room. The flight must have tuckered her out more than she thought, even if it was only two days on a rickety boat. Henry was there also, or maybe they just found him later; things got a little fuzzy afterwards. Sophia sure was a chatterbox, but Henry shut her right up when he let the two of them in on a farmer’s tried-and-true pastime: bootleg liquor. Applejack caught the name tharra before everything became a haze of giggling, booze, and strange odors. And waking up in Sophia’s cleavage while the two of them were wedged inside a supply closet. No matter how hard Applejack prodded, the woman swore up and down nothing happened. After dunking her head under the tap to try and sober up and sooth the pounding in her head, the pair of them headed to the cafeteria to catch some breakfast. Something greasy sounded good, but breakfast itself sounded awful. ‘Food?’ Applejack thought. The instant wave of queasiness answered that question. ‘Maybe later...’ Why was her cutie mark itching? “Oh, sweet ambrosia,” Sophia moaned. She had a cup of coffee in one hand and a tall glass of orange juice in the other and was taking alternating gulps between the two. “Gimme that,” she said as she grabbed the coffee. It’d undoubtedly make the pounding in her head worse, but something strong was needed to get rid of the alcohol-induced morning funk lurking in the back of her throat. “Not so loud...” Sophia moaned. “Shit, I can’t even remember what proof that was...” The woman sunk into her arms and and Applejack almost thought she had fallen asleep if it wasn’t for the occasional moan under all her black curls. “I’ma gonna find Flutters,” Applejack said. “Uhhh...” “Don’t go nowhere.” Sophia waved her off. Coffee in hoof, she wondered out the cafeteria door. She had to admit she kinda liked the place, at least from a design standpoint. From what she saw that day and the scattered memories of the previous night with Sophia and Henry, the dome at the center of the concentric rings was one massive docking area used for shipping items in and out. Great trams shuffled ship contents from there to any one of the rings if needed, or even out of the building entirely. Engineering sections, botanical studies, repair and assembly, residential quarters; everything had a ring and getting from one section to another was nearly instantaneous via the trams. The tram doors opened with a loud hiss that felt like a railroad spike to her head. She’d much rather spend some time nursing it off in the cafeteria with Soph, as semi-lucid as she was, but she needed to check up on Fluttershy and make she she was doing alright. Inside were some other early birds who looked quite surprised at seeing a life form half their size on the other end of the door. “Jesus fuck!” a woman exclaimed as she dropped a box full of... uh, something metal. “Hey,” she said plainly. “Forgot my ID tag somewhere, but mah name’s Applejack.” Actually, when did she get an ID tag? Huh, she swore she remembered something about it somewhere. “We were briefed about Avolians coming,” another woman said as she helped pick up the little doodads rolling across the steel floor. With another hiss the tram started moving. Applejack could feel their stares but the current hangover was interrupting with her ability to care about the rudeness. The whispers were another concern. One by one they exited at their own stops. The machine shop looked interesting enough and she wanted to take a few notes for her brother and the agricultural engineers back home, but the excessive noise buried that idea pretty fast. It was a quick trip to the outermost ring in the OCO structure: the residential quarters. Memories of last night helped her find her way back to her own room easy enough. At least she was sober enough after last night’s escapades to not lose track of her room card. After a quick swipe, the door hissed open to reveal Fluttershy preening herself. She certainly looked much better than the state she was left in last night. “Mornin’, Sunshine.” Applejack tried to give her voice as much pep as she could. It had the desired effect. “Hi,” she said. And it was at a normal speaking voice, too! That was just short of shouting for her. “I’ve just got to run a brush through my mane and tail and I’ll be ready to go in a bit.” “Here,” Applejack said as she put down her coffee. The thing was just about empty now anyway. Finding her own brush, the two of them made quick work of the pegasus’ rat’s nest. It took a couple more minutes to fish out some informal dress wear to preserve modesty. She still preferred to walk about au natural, but she was told that humans had a taboo on public nudity. She couldn’t quite place who said that. “Come on; they’re servin’ breakfast.” Ugh, she felt disgusting even thinking about food. “Do you remember anything ‘bout ID cards?” It turned out Fluttershy didn’t. Nevertheless it was high time to hightail it out of their room. Given the chance, Fluttershy would probably want to hold herself up in there all day anyway. Best bet would be to let her get some air whenever possible. OCO’s Sector Seven base certainly smelt and felt a lot better than Ana’s ship. That place felt like living in a machine, all blank and lifeless. Clementine had a little more character to her, but this place—the “Ring” she heard by a few passing technicians— was a few notches above that, even if Applejack still preferred the great outdoors. The halls, despite containing the burning scent of chemicals in the air, still carried the faint traces of home. Axel grease, the distinguished scent of flora and wood pallets, fresh dirt; with the hangover she could almost pretend she was back in Equestria after one hell of a bender. Guiding Fluttershy to the cafeteria was no easy task, no thanks due to the tram. At least no one was on during the duration of their trip; Celestia forgive her for asking her to deal with Fluttershy’s agoraphobia in her current state of mind. She loved Fluttershy like a sister, but there was a time and a place for dealing with problems, and early in the morning after possible alcohol poisoning wasn’t one of them. Still, fate shined on them both. “Consarnit, I forgot mah coffee.” Hopefully the cafeteria was well stocked. The door opened. The cafeteria reminded her a lot of the one on board the Clementine, even if it was a lot nicer and so very much bigger. Viewing it out the starboard window gave the place no justice at all; the Ring was absolutely massive! Rather than having a single kitchen where no more than five can work without calling the place crowded, the far left wall was host to a large, rotating platform that cycled back into the kitchen. On it were fresh piles of breakfast staples such as pancakes dripping with maple syrup, fresh sausage right out of the frying pan, bowls of apples, applesauce, cereal, eggs, herb sprigs to garnish dishes, and all sorts of chilled fruits. Dotted intermittently in the huge hall were dispensaries to refill various beverages. Where was the one for OJ and coffee? “There’s a whole lot more people here than I realized...” Fluttershy muttered. She had closed in near Applejack as if she could vanish in her shadow. She had a point, though. The Ring looked little more than a lumpy bullseye from the air. Setting hoof down and exploring the place was the only way to give it justice. Before she could give it too much thought, she spotted Sophia. She hadn’t moved from her seat and looked miserable, but she was perked up upon seeing the new guests at her table. Soko had joined her. Strangely enough, two others she did not expect to see so soon were animately talking as well. Shining Armor’s unshorn fetlocks were in motion as Sam Concord was sitting back, smoking his cigarette and finishing a tale. She got close enough to hear the end of the story. What was a Quigley? Even Sophia managed to weasel out a smirk. The three of them belched uproarious laughter before Shining wiped at his eyes. “I got one too,” he said. “In my early years, I’d take the fresh recruits north in order to get them used to the cold as one of their drills. One of them was a native. Storm Wind was his name, and I swear I’ve never had a more difficult trainee in my life. He was a bully and a notorious brawler, and had about forty pounds on me. He constantly kept picking fights with the others, and was known for insubordination. “One day he just snapped. It was in the middle of a blizzard and I refused to call off training for the day. It was cold, wet, and I had a few tents of trainees that were whining behind my back. Everypony was miserable.” Shining shakes his head sadly, although no one had trouble seeing the grin he was trying to hide. “He just had to open his mouth. He said, ‘This is a load of trash, sir. If I was your officer, I wouldn’t let you treat us this way.’” Shining’s grinned finally cracked behind his muzzle. Sam gave a toothy smile, smoke billowing out between his teeth and giving him the visage of some beast clothed in the darkness. “Well, I couldn’t have that now, could I? I originally thought about tossing him in the brig to rot, but that’d only avoid the problem, not solve it. So I took him out back and told him to think of himself as a captain for the next few minutes...” Soko snorted loudly. “I like you already.” Sam prompted Shining to continue his retelling to which, as any stallion in a story-telling dick-measuring contest would agree, was of course what he did. “My lieutenant wasn’t all that happy about it, but I told her to shut it just so we could get it over with. It was a little too cold out after all, so we began. In short, I beat the crap out of him until he thought he got it in his head who was really in charge. I asked him, ‘Now, what do you have to say?’ “‘I’d like to be demoted and assigned to latrine duty, sir.’” “Not a chance; no dipshit in boot ever volunteers for latrine duty,” Sophia said through her giggles, although it was tough to hear her past Sam and Soko’s laughter. “I’m serious; he asked to be demoted and assigned to latrine duty. Never heard a word of lip around him for the rest of winter training,” Shining replied smugly. By then Applejack and Fluttershy had found their way to the table. “Hello, Samuel,” Fluttershy said shyly. Applejack hopped onto the seat across from Sophia with Fluttershy by her side. “Look who decided to get up,” said Soko. Like Applejack, he settled on coffee to perk himself up. In between puffs of smoke Sam was drinking... cranberry juice? “Don’t give me lip; it was two in the afternoon before I fell asleep.” Orange juice graced her lips as she poured half of her glass down her throat. She blinked. Delicious! It was nothing like the Clementine’s awful selecting of food and beverages. This actually tasted home-grown, if a little off. Different orange breed, most likely. Did they harvest this all from their own crops to feed employees? Not a bad employee benefit. Fluttershy had gathered herself a tray of assorted fruits and cereal. Upon one look at her, Sophia said, “You’re looking better.” “Um huh,” she said after eating a peeled tangerine. “I got some rest and that helped.” “Must be a lot to take in, all this,” Sam said, giving the room a wayward brandish with his arm. Soko had said he was a captain. In fact, Soko himself was a colonel, and yet none of them were formally dressed. She was never one to see an enlisted stallion, or human for that matter, out of some sort of military regalia. Then again, the armed forces never made it a habit to visit country bumpkins like herself all that often. Seeing them in plain grays and blacks, even with Shining Armor in a casual red and gold dress uniform, still felt strange. Hell, even being clothed herself was strange, so it wasn’t as if the weirdness was going one way now. “I’ll manage,” Applejack said. Fluttershy had busied herself with another tangerine before saying, “Applejack’s been helping me out. I’m... not good with crowds, but with her I can deal with anything.” Fluttershy offered her a friendly smile, which she returned. “Now what are you doin’ here, Shining? Thought you had some work to do off somewhere; big ol’ city and you end up here?” Applejack interjected. “I asked Miss Arias if I could come along with Concord. I’m meeting with the Mayor later this morning, so I changed flights in order to get to see you two a little before I get to work.” “What are you here for exactly?” Soko asked. “An exchange, mostly. The Alliance started a cultural exchange program with the Equestrian nobility. In return for certain technologies, they’re sending specialists in magic for various tasks. I’m here to ward nine buildings here in Magnasanti against Dratalli magic.” Well that doesn’t narrow it down. If there were over ten million people living in just one city alone, Shining was going to be wandering the streets for a while. Sam had other ideas: “So you meetin’ some brass for the exchange?” Shining nodded. “Ambassador Dieter.” “The Muses will be happy,” Sophia added. Before Applejack could ask what that meant, Sam lifted up a case at his feet and set it on the table. “Before ah forget, Ana got you two gals a present. Asked me to give it to ya when ah found ya.” Shrugging, Applejack nodded. Ana was nice enough, but what could she possibly have sent with Sam? She didn’t think she made that big of an impression. Then again, it did sound like the two of them, plus Shining, were the first ponies the woman had met. It looked slightly smaller than a suitcase, but was made out of tough plastic that looked like it could get run over by a tractor and come out fine. He popped the clasps open with a flick. Nestled in the soft foam were two pairs of devices. The first looked like some sort of clip-on, while the other was a wide black plastic loop that ended in a square piece of plastic so transparent she could barely see it. Directly behind the glass was a tiny prong that fed into the plastic loop, which in turn fed into a series of minute mechanical circuits. “A bit o’ free tech by the woman herself. Zenith’s xLinx V12 Tactical Headset, specially modified for Avolian equines by Ana herself.” “Alright... now what is it?” Sophia sniggered into her arms. Sam just smirked as he explained. “Communication. Phone call. This lets you communicate with any available device on the network that’s capable. Wanna give me or Flutters a call? You can do so no matter where you are.” Sam took a gulp from his glass. “Plus it doubles as your electronic thumbprint.” He looked down. “Er, hoofprint. Direct line to your bank account, means of paying for services, and broadcasting your own personal network. One-size fits all package for operatin’ in the our version of the modern world.” “And a smashing fashion statement.” Soko and Sam both gave Sophia a dead-eyed look. “Fine, fine, fine; I’ll wait to talk when the hangover’s gone.” And she slunk back into her arms and mumbled quietly. Applejack picked up her glass, only to realize it was already empty. “Frak.” “Applejack...” Fluttershy chided. Applejack just rolled her eyes. “Give me a bit. Haven’t quite sobered up all the way.” “Who’d a guessed?” The voice came from not from the missing Jamie, but from, as Fluttershy’s smile confirmed, Henry. The man had his own tray of various breakfast staples and sat across from Fluttershy. He gave the pile of sweat and shame that was Sophia only a single glance before dropping a pair of lanyards with both Applejack’s and Fluttershy’s ID on them. “Hey, thanks! Couldn’t rightly place where ah left ‘em.” “I... thought I gave them to you last night.” Sophia rolled her head to eye Henry. “So why do you—” “Did—” “I saw nothing,” he said simply before taking a nice long drink to stifle any attempt to get a response out of him. Fluttershy looked confused, while Sophia tried to sink her head through table table and wedge herself deep into the earth’s crust. “Not something I wanted to think about this early in the morning,” Soko said plainly. “The hell did you do?” Sam asked sharply to Sophia. That jolted the woman upright. “I swear, Cap. I met Applejack in the corridors while she was taking a walk and Henry took us both back for some late night drinking in Engineering. I don’t remember anything else.” “Me neither,” Applejack added. “What were you two drinking?” Soko asked, looking at the three Inebriati. Henry was the first to answer. Brushing some donut crumbs stuck to his hands across his overalls, he said, “Homebrewed tharra. All across Magnasnati, OCO has a surplus of sugarcane. A lot of the farmers swipe a bit and mix up a batch every now and then. I’ve got a couple connections so I asked for a bit and cracked some open last night. I was out first, so what happened afterwards...” he shrugged. “Beats me. Didn’t wake me up, so nothing happened is my guess.” Well she owed Henry one for the attempted save. Sam looked like he was about to start shooting lasers out of his eyes. Really, she could remember nothing about last night after her talk with Fluttershy, and that meant she had a great time. Speaking of Fluttershy, the girl’s blush had rendered her silent. “Sam, take it easy on the girl. We jus’ fell asleep was all. I’m not mad about it,” she looked to Sophia, who adamantly shook her head, “an’ neither is Soph. It jus’ kinda happened.” Yeah, that excuse never worked on Gran either, but Sophia and Henry were both backing her up. Shining Armor had been remarkably quiet throughout the entire exchange. Only now he tapped Sam on the shoulder to get his attention. Giving one last glare to Sophia, he leaned down to hear what he had to say. Applejack kept her ears as erect as she could to hear the conversation. Apparently she was the only one uninterested in what the knight had to say. On seeing her, he narrowed his gaze. Sheepishly, she withdrew. After a minute the two parted. Sam still didn’t look happy, but at least the look that made Sophia shrink under his gaze didn’t have nearly as much promise of impending doom. With a sigh to clear his thoughts, he turned on Applejack, “I’m sorry Ma’am for the fuss. I’ll have a word with her later.” “Easy, Sam; ‘s ju’ Applejack. ‘n don’t worry about it, really.” She waved him off. He nodded, thankfully letting her drop the matter. It’s not that anything too forward happened. At least not that she remembered. She wasn’t all that sore, so even if Sophia did give her a little late night snack, it couldn’t have been very filling. Hmmm... cutie mark was still itchy, though. “Anyway!” she said a little too loud, trying to surreptitiously slide her dress a little more over her flanks. “I really don’t know much about you lot. If we’re gonna be spending time together,” certain images came to mind, “w-why don’t you tell me a bit ‘bout yerselves?” “Earth, born and raised,” Soko began. “Sammy here’s got the military family, but my pedigree’s a bunch of craftsman. Shipbuilders, mostly. Uncle was navigation, as was dad and my two brothers. Mother was a ship’s medic, but her sister made flight recorders. I spent half my life on them ships, so I signed my papers as soon as came of age and joined the navy. Pops wasn’t thrilled, but what could he do?” He shrugged. “His fault for shoving ship building down my throat for almost two decades.” “I came from the rich jackass part of the Reach,” said Sophia. She had pulled a bottle of something from her pants pocket and downed a couple pills. “Always part of of the upper crust. Born to lead! Born to serve!” It sounded like she tried to be bombastic, but her voice ended up tapering into a dull rasp. “I didn’t know if I wanted to be a rule maker or rule breaker. I never had a mind for politics and social climbing. Oh, I tried my hand at it. That turned out well. Heh.” Now there was a smirk worth a thousand words. “Tried my hand at the marines at twenty two and I worked my way through sniper training. Been in the game ever since.” “Sounds like fun,” Applejack said dryly. “If it’s anything like what I made Storm Wind and his comrades go through... no. No, it’s not,” Shining added. “Not sure how ponies do it, Applejack, but for those with two legs instead of four, the military tries to break recruits,” said Henry quietly. “What?” exclaimed Fluttershy. “Why?” “See if they fold,” Henry added. He dunked his last donut in his coffee and took a big bite of its. Applejack was sure he’d need a vacuum for what he collected in his beard. “What use is a soldier if they crack under the first sign of pressure? You need to weed out the weak ones early before they face a situation where their failure does real damage.” “You know quite a bit about the military for a civilian,” Shining said. “What’s your story?” “Eh, nothin’ you can’t pick up on with enough time. As for me, no idea. Name’s Henry,” he offered to the stallion and then Sam. “I can trace myself back to a Heilengiest hospital taking refugees after planetoids in the Theta Cluster were attacked. Social Services took me in after that, and I just picked up things as I got shipped from place to place. Eventually I started playing with the things I found and, well, worked myself to where I am now.” How could he speak so casually about losing his home—his parents!—like that? “I’m sorry fer—” Henry was already cutting her short before the first word left her lips. “Don’t be. Can’t rightly miss what I never knew. Just a lad back then. Even smaller than you right now.” Still, his eyes were... cold. He nodded to Sam. “What about you, soldier?” Good question, even though the alarm bells in Applejack’s head were going off at what Henry had just said. But he didn’t want to talk about so reluctantly she acquiesced. “Yeah, old timer, what planet are you from?” He snorted. “Texas.” Sam snapped the xLinx case closed and put it back under the table. “Earth boy, born and raised. Been in the marines ever since ah turned of age. Call it stupidity, call it human pride; whatever it be, ah jumped ship at dawn.” Applejack waited for a couple of seconds for him to continue. After the occasional puff of his cig, it became abundantly clear that wasn’t going to be an option for the day. ‘These humans...’ At least two of the four gave pretty decent transparency. Sam must have picked up on something in her face. “Not really much to tell. Got plenty ‘o war stories, but that’s about it.” “What about Jamie?” Fluttershy asked. Yeah, what about the little runt that dropped off the face of the planet? Sophia snorted. “God knows what he’d say now. He changes it every time someone asks him.” “Bet twenty credits he’ll bring up the rancor story again,” said Soko. “I’ll take that bet.” Sam bumped his fist against his comrade’s. Turning to Applejack, he said, “I’ll give it to you straight if he don’t.” Sam got up and stretched. He was still freakishly tall. Well, he was the tallest human Applejack had ever seen so far. “I’ve still got some paperwork to fill out, and no doubt you two still need to get your itineraries finalized. I’ll be back in a bit.” “I’ll keep an eye on them,” Soko said with a wave goodbye. “Can we...” Sophia’s voice was soft enough to be drowned in the light din of voices in the cafeteria. Sam rolled his eyes. “Yeah, we can escort them into the city after a bit. Providing Miss Fluttershy and Applejack so desire, of course.” Applejack didn’t much mind. What could humans do when they put their mind to it. “Don’t see why not.” “Viva la Magnasanti!” “That’s not how you speak Spanish.” “Shut it, Soko.” For chapter commentary and my ramblings, visit my page HERE Chapter Commentary: LINK Edited by: Author's Note So... Yeah... About Applejack getting so trashed she doesn't remember what happened? I kinda wrote a "What If?" scenario that is as dirty as Soko thought it was. If you're a terrible person and in the mood for a little human/pony lovin', feel free to check out this (incredibly NSFW) link here. Have some horsefuckery. Chapter 4: We Who Have Touched the SunChapter 4: We Who Have Touched the Sun The door opened with a smooth pneumatic hiss. The humanoid figure was garbed head to toe in a cloak made of an almost luminescent material that glimmered as ceiling plasma coils shined light across the surface. Topped off with boots, gloves, and a gas mask, the entirety of the body was shielded from prying eyes. The blank, featureless corridors were empty of personnel anyway. All the better. The figure walked with steady purpose, only stopping to flash a keycard at the occasional door. Soon he came across the one bulkhead door that would not open to the magic touch. No doubt several inches thick and enough relockers to make the door impassable to tampering, it was overkill for even the wiliest thief or criminal. For a moment the figure stopped as if contemplative. Soon enough a singular muffled chuckle, male and musically airy, came out behind the mask. He had a reputation for getting where he wanted. One impossible vault-like door later and he was on the other side. It looked like an animal habitat that had only just survived the bad end of a vicious storm, both the upper and lower tiers. The sheer breadth of the habitat was enough for even the largest animals and every inch of it was tattered to some degree. The steel walls, some painted with murals of edenic prairies and sunsets, were smashed in and bent. Some were caked with mud; what would have been some rather lush grass covering the lower tier of the habitat was ripped up and destroyed. Indeed a vault door, not unlike the one he had just circumnavigated, lay battered and broken on the floor, far too heavy to be moved just yet. The room’s singular sycamore tree, a stout thing wider than any man, lay shattered to splinters across most of the lower tier He walked up the steps leading toward the upper tier. Reserved for more relaxation and sleep rather than play, it was at least a little less defiled, but still suffered from the storm’s angry tantrum. Here the lights were either flickering or dead. The secure steel frames that prevented them from being tampered with were all broken or destroyed. Disturbingly, the light near the back of the upper tier was speared with a chunk of the tree longer than he was tall. A form clung to that darkness, breathing thready but clearly in no danger. It stirred as he neared. It was larger than a full-grown human by a long stretch, but still it curled into a ball, either ignoring or oblivious to the world around it. The creature did not respond with anything other than to shrink away from him. “I have that effect on people. I wanted to see you,” he said. His voice now out in the open, it contrasted quite heavily with his menacing garb. Whatever had been the state of the creature’s habitat was mostly indistinguishable. Now it had just the shadows and a few scraps of steel surrounding a bed of leaves and flattened grass clumps ripped up from the lower tier. He stopped just short of the beast. “Not supposed to be here...” The voice, small and plaintive, held the tenor of a tired child. It was looking at him, that he knew. Whatever it was, speech seemed difficult for it for it took its time to enunciate every word as if unsure of its own voice. “I go where I am needed.” “...I don’t know you...” the creature trailed off slowly. Something fluttered and thumped in the darkness. Had he finally gotten its attention? “Not like the others. Your smell is wrong.” “I came to see what all the fuss was about. I’m not one of them, but they asked me to... keep the peace.” He waited for it to respond but the creature’s eyes were merely on him, waiting for further stimulus. Its eyes shined from the dark, glowing slightly and clearly inhuman. “Let me tell you the story of a child named—” “No.” It was the first clear sign of communication that didn’t carry the unsure drowsiness the clung to the beast’s voice. It curled back in on itself, a clear sign of dismissal. “Just let me sleep...” Despite the command, he stood still as the beast returned to a fitful slumber. He watched her as it slept. Be it the apparent failure of whatever mission he had, or the refusal to push the issue any further, he turned on his heels and walked towards the impassable door. The corridors were still barren and empty at his passing. That was good; he liked the quiet. There was something inherently pleasing about silence. There was the chance to ponder oneself, to think on the past or the possibility of events yet to come. The hum of electricity and the dull pulse of strange machinery buzzed softly through the air. It was a dreadfully unpleasant sound to his ears. As he turned one of the many corners on is wandering the first real sign of life other than his targets. He walked in front of the first terminal he had seen on that floor. The camera placed above the terminal to identify users made a click audible to his ears. He stopped dead and eyed the camera, curious what the user on the other end would would do. He’d know in time if they’d want to stop his wanderings, but for now he couldn’t help but smile ruefully under his gas mask. He continued his trek. For once he took the time to examine his surroundings in a little more detail. The plasma coils above him gave the current corridor more than enough light for him, not that he needed it. Still, he prefered the habitat more than his current location; it still felt more pure and lively. The walls were little more than a boring topsail hue that were undoubtedly supposed to be a mass produced calming color. As he came to a T intersection he encountered a yellow stripe branded with the words “EXIT” in black bold case. For the briefest moment he turned right towards the building’s exit only to stop himself. He couldn’t explain it, but his feet rebelled and led him in the opposite direction. After a few minutes in more plain walkways, he finally met the second sign of life. He didn’t bother to glance at the nametag across the man’s chest. He bore a white lab coat which exuded the heavy, heady scent of industrial cleaners. For the moment the man in the lab coat did not see his temporary companion as he was engrossed in the paperwork he juggled in his grip. His polished black work shoes scuffed the glossy floor with every other step, but he on the other hand was utterly silent. The cloaked man gripped his left forearm gently. Something clicked silently and the man kept going. The worker didn’t even turn to look at him as he quietly passed, exercising only a second’s curiosity to see what was so important in the man’s bountiful armful. Thoughts were thoughts, anyway. As dangerous as a single seed might be, there wasn’t a thought that could grow cancerous just yet. No, that had already happened. That pitiful sleeping wretch was a testament to that. His path led him to another wing of the building that was considerably more relaxed than before. Now the occasional painting or withered plastic plant decorated the intermittent spaces. The area near the habitat was devoid of most signs of life, but now he strolled past offices by the dozens. Research rooms, document storage, lecture halls, live testing; even now the sounds of life came to him behind closed doors. No faces came to mind, only a bland void of jumbled noise. Researchers, teachers, engineers, or whatever they were, he didn’t care; each face was a grey mask of nothing. The sounds of the endless gears of labor soon too faded as he stopped in front of another impossible door. Only... this one was open. He looked to the side, curious as to where wanton whims led him. PROMETHEUS SUBJECT 107 LEVEL TWO ACCESS REQUIRED What was the designation for the sleeper? Three, was it not? Again he stepped away to leave before he stopped himself. Open? His task was already complete. He wanted to see the sleeper. It... didn’t disappoint. There was a beauty in that smashed place, more radiant and divine than these workers would ever know. But... He couldn’t stop himself. He walked through the open door. It wasn’t much different than other research rooms. It was pleasantly large and spacious, the center dominated mostly by a table for project research or three dimensional imaging. Towards the left was a large array of terminals, all currently in sleep mode, while the other half was document storage. Neither interested him. Something... tugged at his mind, a curiosity rearing from some dark depth. Not that it wasn’t too hard to get his attention anyway. On the far end of the room was another impassable bulkhead door meant to seal itself permanently in case of intruders. It, too, was open. This wasn’t a simple whim anymore. It was rude to decline an invitation. For a moment he thought about rifling through the documentation to see what was on the other side of the door. He wasn’t allowed to, not that something like mere objection would stop him, but manners were still manners. Thoughts, however in good faith they were made, were still tainted with opinions he wasn’t interested in. He wanted something more base, more pure and direct. He leaned against a cabinet built directly into the wall and slid down the smooth metal surface. He lifted a hand up and knocked against its surface thrice. “Hello?” Her voice was smooth and melodic to his ears and he couldn’t help but adjust himself to capture every fibrant ditty. She sounded young. Far too young to be in a place like this. “Who is that?” He didn’t answer and instead chose to wait and see what she would do. He could hear soft movement; she must have been light-footed to make as little noise as she did. A child? “Can I see you?” Not yet, he thought. “Oh, fine then. I do wish I’d get to see a pretty face every now and then when it’s more than just a convenience. I don’t get too many visitors. It’s so dreadfully boring here. My last guest even had the courtesy of leaving the door open for you, the little brainless ninny.” A smile tugged at his lips. This one had charm. “Going to leave me talking to an empty room now? It’s not nice to do that. If you’re just a little flick of wind blowing things around in there, you the stupidest, most annoying, most boring little whim of imagination to have ever existed... but it’s not like I have much else to do than talk to the little voices in my head. Wanna hear a story?” He folded his hands patiently. “Good. I’m going to tell you the story of a man who had it all. A wicked little man who thought his wicked little ways was all he needed for happiness. He grew up as he did, blind to the troubles around him. At his king’s command, he developed a sickness to poison the land and all of the king’s enemies, and the sick little man did so at the behest of his liege. “The plague did its job and sickened the land; only those loyal to the king were spared. Wealth and fame were already heaped at his feet, but the science... the science was his love, his art. It consumed his mind and to him it was more real than any other. It was true, and it was absolute. The law of nature never lied. “So he was utterly astonished to find out that one not loyal to the throne survive the plague. She was a little girl who was, be it by fate or chance, had resisted to the poison in her veins. He took her in to study her, to find the one fatal flaw in his masterful design. Why had she not died? What was so special about her that gave her the strength to resist perfection, the disease he had engineered to perfection? And so he brought her into the fold in secret, frightened what others would think of his perceived failure. “That was until one day the spymaster found the little girl in the doctor’s study, reading. The doctor gave every excuse he could find to placate the spymaster. What he had failed to understand was the poison working its way through his very own heart the moment he spirited away the little one. He had cared for her ever since. He helped raise her. He fed her and clothed her. Twas a different beast, but a poison nonetheless: compassion. Despite the reason he had brought her into his life, he had come to care for the little one and worried for her safety. What would the spymaster do to her if they were separated due to something as insignificant as her heritage? “But the spymaster was of another breed entirely. Unlike pureblood childe, the spymaster was a street rat that grew up in the slums in one of the outer territories. There was nothing special about him whatsoever, until chance swooped in and changed his fate. The king had a program in place for quite some time to help keep their soldier numbers up: draft those that have displayed characteristics of strength, cunning, and survival. Born on the streets, the spymaster had smarts that helped him outwit others, and this was something that was coveted by the military. But you do not give power to a man who values only himself and his survival.” Strangely enough the man found himself with an ear towards the doorway with rapt fascination. She seemed content to recall her dark musings and continued with eagerness. “He didn’t turn in the scientist because he knew he had leverage over a noble. The situation amused him and on a whim he spared the man from... a rather unpleasant end. Right or wrong in his country’s eyes did not mean anything, only what could be gained. He bore the court of nobles and jesters no love, after all; it was merely the whim of the battlemaster than he had his position at all. A position, or death. “The child had softened the scientist’s heart. With time her innocence even turned him against the kingdom from which he had hailed. The spymaster even joined them, all in the name of amusing himself. Together the three of them joined the resistance to topple the evil king. With a man of noble birth, and the spymaster’s sheer volume of knowledge, that alone was priceless. You can’t kill a many-headed hydra with nothing but strength of arms... no, no they couldn’t do that so easily. It has to be cut to pieces, to have every little bit of it stripped away and the ashes burned before everything can start anew. Little by little, they undermined the evil king and all he fought so hard to build. To the capital city they marched. Pass the walls. Into the palace. The spymaster turned away to face his teacher. The scientist turned to face the battlemaster. Everything would be decided quickly, and all was held on the edge of a knife...” She trailed off as any noble bard would do. Here many often did so near the climax of the tale in an effort to uplift the crowd into demanded an ending. She took a deep breath and finished her tale. “This story doesn’t have an ending.” Oh? And just when it was getting to the good part. He shook his head, disappointed that he’d gotten more invested than he had thought. “But I do have something in mind. Do you want to hear it?” It wasn’t boredom that made him wander. It wasn’t even any true desire to upset the status quo and meddle in affairs that weren’t his own. Watching. Watching was important, watching and waiting just to see how the path would unfold around him. No, not around him, in front of him. Always an outsider, he was. “I do not wish for stories to end.” The girl was silent at his reply for the longest time. Time was something both had in abundance. There he sat listless to the world, and she undoubtedly inside a gilded cage. “All stories gotta end, sugar. Keep on going long enough and everyone dies. Or to just let them sit there, forever unfinished... it’s like all the love you pour into them was just a convenient way to entertain yourself. To let let them go on forever’s just as cruel.” He clicked his wrist once again and stood. As he breached the open door’s divide he saw her and all her radiance. The glass was no doubt reinforced to give even him a worthy challenge, but still she sat next to it with sweet little eyes and a gentle smile. She didn’t so much as flinch as he silently glided towards her and for that he admired her. So bright and eager she was. That smile was an infection consuming her face. He put a gloved hand to the glass and softly stroked where her cheek would be had it not stopped at a cruel cold divide. She even pressed her face against the glass as if delighting at the contact and a soft coo escaped her lips. “You have your mother’s eyes.” The briefest flicker of surprise crossed her face before she met his faceless gaze. “They don’t talk about her.” He said nothing. She was trying to prompt him into explaining himself, but that path was dangerously loaded. Nevertheless she seemed to detect the silent refusal. “They see as as monsters. No matter the smiles and friends, the jokes and the pranks, I can feel it. They hate us. They’re afraid of us.” Her eyes flashed in a way that reflect an inferno hiding deep within. She was alone in the room, forced to contend with the thoughts of a dreamer and the madness of the world. To not have gone mad in the meanwhile was nothing short of remarkable. He reached to the base of his throat on both sides of his head. She eyed him curiously, no doubt wondering what this strange person in her abode was up to. There was a slight trick to it but he deliberately went slow in order to not startle the girl in any respect. There was an audible click and a hiss from his mask that made her flinch and the slack around his mask loosened. “The world has become much more complicated, little one,” he said slowly. He often didn’t listen to himself speak for he knew what he wanted to say long in advance. Now... he just sounded tired. “What these ponies will do... What you will do, that affects them all. Advancement through necessity. Peace at the price of complacency. These are at each other’s throats and it only takes times for the kindling to burn. For now... Watch. Wait. Listen. And...” The rush of stale air as he removed his mask made him inhale deeply out of instinct. It was a disgusting feeling but certainly better than the world behind the blue-tinted lenses of a mask. He leaned down until they were face-to-face. She scrambled away from him as if he suddenly sprouted vipers. Her mouth was open in astonishment and struggling to voice the horrors flashing across her mind. “Just know you are not the biggest monster here.” He held their gaze for just a moment longer before replacing the mask. It hissed as the internal seals hissed closed and he was cut off from the outside world. She had since recovered from her surprise and now only bore a thoughtful expression. He turned his heels and slowly walked towards the exit. “Why are you here?” she asked. He stopped. “To keep you here.” Again she met him with silence. “Why are you here?” She smiled at him but it held no warmth. Despite the promptness of her answer he wasn’t certain she responded to his question or some thought in her nebulous mind. “I just wanna have fun.” For chapter updates and my ramblings, visit my page on Fimfiction HERE. Feel free to bother me on my tumblr under the username doctoredmundsirus. Chapter Commentary: LINK Cyberpunk Royal Guardpony by: Royal Metal Dragon Pony Citiscape by: MoreVespenegas Coffee Ring: Free Photo Gallery \\C:\Program Files (x86)\CharonCopier\data\rips\TS&V&C_ER_UArc.sdf \C:\Program Files (x86)\CharonCopier\data\rips\TS&V&C_ER_UArc.sdf Shadowlands Lounge, Magnasanti Hub, The Matrix Personas Present: ~Blackjack ~Bone Collector ~Dutchess ~Hesperides ~King Kludge ~LaLiLuLeLo ~MrOrion ~Ozymandias ~Sid the Kid ~Synergy ~ZomZom --Johnny26 has joined the chat-- Johnny26: How’s it hangin? King Kludge: Low and long. ZomZom: You’re late. Johnny26: Sry got held up. MrOrion: Late? ZomZom: I invited him over four hours ago. Johnny26: Traffic was all. Back in Johnny26: Hold on. Blackjack: Eh? Johnny26: Still learning all the chat commands. King Kludge: Type “--help chat” without the exta dash Johnny26: thx Ozymandias: So I’ve got some news. Fluttershy and Applejack are staying at the Ring. @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: How are you feeling? Bone Collector: The hell for? Ozymandias: Word is just like before: sharing Equestrian crop knowledge. Dutchess: Riddle me this: why bother? OCO’s not one to be lacking on that front. LaLiLuLeLo: It’s not about a lack of product. OCO’s been getting flack for not keeping promises to offer resources for refugees. Their reputation’s been taking several hits in recent years for biting off more than they can chew. Plus Ana’s has been a huge asshole on that front and publicly berated them for losing three cargo ships full of medical supplies and welfare. King Kludge: Not only that, Heilengiest has a better business plan. It has Arias’ and Zenith’s muscle to flex when needed. OCO’s been known for their one thing: innovation. Problem is that has some pretty significant operating and production costs attached to it. They’re spending money to make money, but profit’s staying about the same while costs are still going up, despite them being worth a lot. It’s profitless profit, fighting to just break even. I’m betting this is a move to shave off costs. When it comes to running a business, Ana just has the bigger dick. `¯ÿø+))0w: I’ve been better. Been worse, too. Blackjack: And she’s a huge cunt. Sid the Kid: Plus Bones won’t stop fucking with them. Bone Collector: I didn’t do it! ZomZom: Whatever it is, you did it. @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: I have a new selection of material for you. Hesperides: Snatching up Avolians has become quite the common practice. CSS’s been scouting those with military records, Deus the same with Earth Pony contractors, and OrC. Op. the same with a notable green hoof. Avolians have seriously stepped up their efforts to stop this practice, but there’s always those worming through the cracks. What makes me curious is how they managed to score two element bearers. Blackjack: Yeah, that’s ringing all kinds of alarm bells already. Who’s heard from the cap? LaLiLuLaLo: He’s still looking into it. `¯ÿø+))0w: Not my forte, but thanks anyway. > Johnny26 has turned onVoice Chat > Johnny26 has turned onSpeech to Text Johnny26: Yo. @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: Do you wish me to stop? Dutchess: Dude, lol. What’s up with your voice? Blackjack: You sound like your testicles dropped and wedged themselves deep in the planet’s crust. Johnny26: Sorry. I’m a prepubescent but my voice keeps confusing people into believing I’m a thirty year old black man. King Kludge: hahahaahahahahahaha! `¯ÿø+))0w: God no. I’m just out of my depth. Johnny26: Anyway, I’m moving into my new place and rather henpecking messages every other minute as I move shit back and forth, it’s easier to just turn this on. Synergy: Just don’t start fapping because then the text gets eight kinds of fucked up. ZomZom: Yeah. If anyone pulls that shit again, they’re going to get a metaphorical punch to the throat. @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: How so? Dutchess: Now I kinda want to. King Kludge: Let’s not. Dutchess: Even if I am unzipping as we speak? MrOrion: Bitch I will grab you by the pubes and pull. `¯ÿø+))0w: It’s end user documentation w/ redaction. Johnny26: Now I’m just curious about what it would spew out if I started beatboxing. Hesperides: Oh, the family we have weaved. Synergy: It’s times like these that make me unsure if sobriety is ever a good thing. `¯ÿø+))0w: It’s not easy picking up on the clues. Hesperides: To get back on topic: what is the topic? Synergy: There isn’t one. Last one was on Lafayette, but we exhausted that one pretty quick. @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: I’m sure you can manage. Bone Collector: I’ve got a suggestion. LaLiLuLeLo: Perish the thought. King Kludge: Go on. `¯ÿø+))0w: Who’s your supplier? Bone Collector: The Dratali pledge. Blackjack: I’m game. @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: Looking to cut me out? MrOrion: Go for it. King Kludge: Acceptable. Zom? ZomZom: Fine with me. `¯ÿø+))0w: No. Even middlemen need jobs. King Kludge: Bodacious. King Kludge -settings -chat topic newtopic New Shadowlands Lounge Topic: The Dratali Pledge `¯ÿø+))0w: Just curious as to what’s in it for you. Synergy: The hell is that anyway? LaLiLuLeLo: If I may, bones? Bone Collector: Take it away. @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: Money, of course. LaLiLuLeLo: Now I’ll be the first to admit my knowledge is incomplete. Ever since the defeat in Avolian airspace a little over a year ago, there have been cases of certain Dratali members pledging loyalty to other species. The details are sketchy, but the jist of it is that it is a method of atoning for one’s sins. I’ve seen at least one case where one who didn’t “sin” pledged himself to another, so there’s more to the story; chalk it up to incomplete information. LaLiLuLeLo: Furthermore, it’s not something that’s done lightly. From what I can tell it’s a form of indentured servitude that borders on slavery. Synergy: see? It’s this religious zealot bullshit that made me quit church in the first place. Ozymandias: Easy Syn. Dial it back a few notches. MrOrion: Why haven’t I heard anything about this? Bone Collector: It’s only been gaining steam in recent months, and only privately. LaLiLuLeLo: Dratali are private individuals. These are private matters that are thought as something not needed to be shared with others. I only know as much as I do due to sticking my nose where it doesn’t belong. `¯ÿø+))0w: I find myself awfully suspicious. ZomZom: Speaking of, I’ve seen a recent breakin in one of CSS’s secure file storage. Someone shot up the place, and a few people while they were at it. Dratali files were one of the items stolen. Your work? Dutchess: Jesus christ @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: I’d be surprised if you weren’t. LaLiLuLeLo: I didn’t kill anyone. Frankly, I think a little hospitalization is necessary in order to get the word out. Considering I’ve seen a classified CSS report that I cross referenced with some of my NOMAD contacts, I know all is still not well on the Dratali front. The extremist faction still has enough support to keep up the campaign. @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: It’s not par for the course to get contacts and intel myself, h/e. Bone Collector: So, any thoughts? Synergy: I’m a nobody living in the middle of a crowd. If I start screaming in a crowd that I’ve been stabbed, people would tell me to shut the hell up because Vasquez's newest single is on the holovid & i’m interupting. `¯ÿø+))0w: Very well. What do you have for me? Ozymandias: Stuck between a glock and a hard place? Sid the Kid: Youve got quite the bug up you but today @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: First I need something from you. Synergy: I’m nothign. Seriously. Politics is way over my head, I got most of my current events from you guys and gals, I can’t fight worth a damn, so even if a Drat rrocks out of the shadows there’s precisely jackshit I can do about it.. Why should I get worked up over something that doesn’t affect me and I cant change in the slightest? I’ve got enough to worry about. `¯ÿø+))0w: Oh? King Kludge: u need to talk privately Synergy? Hesperides: It’s compassion fatigue. ZomZom: Clear the crap off the floor, girl. I’m stopping by later today. --SecondSon has joined the chat-- @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: More accurately, I need two things from you. Sid the Kid: She does have a point. What does this mean to us? @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: Payment for services, if you will. Blackjack: Ask the closest security advisor and you’ll get your answer. SecondSon: Meaning you? `¯ÿø+))0w: Such as? Blackjack: It’s going to throw a huge clusterfuck into everyone who has to deal with security or public relations. At least physical security, not cybersecurity like Valentine. It’s going to cause so many extra problems it’s ridiculous. I haven’t had to deal with it myself but despite xenophobia it’s going to be next to impossible to tell if a pledge is genuine. Bone Collector: Pledges are legally binding. @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: First off, “He Who Walks Through Walls” is in town. Blackjack: My ass is legally binding to this chair. I’m pretty sure the concept of “take-backsies” exists across all cultures. Even if it doesn’t, all it takes is one asshole to pop one cap in one ass and then we have a public panic and then things are all fucked up. Security is going to be tightened harder than a virgin asshole awaiting a dragon dildo. This means more checkpoints, more surprise inspections, harassment, etc. It’s nto a question of true or not true. It becomes not a question of ensuring a pledge is genuine, but stoping those that aren’t. The value of something being honest is irrelavent because all people or headlines care about is that one time where someone breaks the rules. `¯ÿø+))0w: shit Johnny26: Shit, you ranted for like a good two minutes there. King Kludge: I’m impressed. --VolTecha has joined the chat-- @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: I want you to ignore him. Hesperides: Dratali pledges, hmm? One thing that should be noted is that Magnasanti is far too close to contested space. One of the first stops for an eager young mind waiting to purge sin is our favorite City of Night. `¯ÿø+))0w: Why? That guy’s not one you just shrug off. MrOrion: Also a good point. However, if I may interject? Bone Collector: Floor’s yours. `¯ÿø+))0w: If he’s here something big is going down. MrOrion: I think this is a good thing. For the first time the Iron Curtain is falling and we’re seeing signs of regret and remorse. This is a good thing. It’s showing that they can at least understand that they’re massive fuckups. The hardest thing for anyone to anyone to say is that they’re wrong. Here we have a species that is moving towards admitting their entire theology has a distinct flaw and are working towards recompense. --Hesperides has disconnected-- Dutchess: Problem being is all we have to work on is hearsay and L’s database. @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: Exactly, and that is why you will not interfere. > LaLiLuLeLo Transmitting to #CHAT: June 15, 3043 Posting includes 5.3 GB of attached files LaLiLuLeLo: I’ve also attached the files to the board in case anyone wants to take a look in their free time. `¯ÿø+))0w: I need to know why he’s here. Ozymandias: My heart says yes, but my mind is saying no, Orion. I don’t think you’re wrong, but I don’t think thre’s enough proof at this time to say for sure. --Grease Monkey has joined the chat-- Johnny26: What are the chances this isn’t another play? SecondSon: If they are coming, feel free to ask one of them yourself. Synergy: Pass MrOrion: There’s still enough to warrant further study. @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: You’re resourceful. Surely you can discover that yourself. Sid the Kid: Agreed. Dutchess: So what do official Alliance sources say on the matter? LaLiLuLeLo: Precious little and mostly hearsay. They’ve got a dedicated Naval Intelligence division going, but good luck cutting through bureaucracy. Red tape is something that will never die. @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: Secondly, I believe Twilight Sparkle will be coming to Magnasanti. SecondSon: Speed is on our side, if nothing else. --Captain Chaos has joined the chat-- @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: I need you to discreetly help her when that time comes. Ozymandias: yo cap `¯ÿø+))0w: One, I can’t ignore that guy coming here. Captain Chaos: Hold on. I need to check something. BRB, AFK. --The Crooked Man has joined the chat-- Grease Monkey: Can you get your hands on a few firsthand experiences with Drat pledges, L? @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: You will. LaLiLuLeLo: I’m already on it. @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: I don’t have to state why otherwise. King Kludge: Goodspeed, good man. Grease Monkey: My own opinion is this is a good thing. Should a Drat decide to fuck things over, we’ve got a bunch of colorful losers on our side now to send into the meat grinder ahead of us. If anything it’s a tactic to prevent attack by means of MAD. After all, ponies were a pivotal part of why the attacks let up. Can’t make a decision without bringing them into the mix. Having Avolians is going to force that do pledge to stick to their guns. @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: My current package cometh. Bone Collector: Ah, the pleasant smell of shame when you understand another can beat the hell out of you. Synergy: Go beat one off in a corner Bones. Johnny26: So here’s an interesting idea: what if these pledges become mainstream for them? @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: Let’s dispel any remnants of choice in the matter. SecondSon: Then another dynasty falls. The Alliance will fold yet another civilization into the mix after civil wars break out, but then events will settle down. MrOrion: Someone’s cheery. `¯ÿø+))0w: You think you can just spring this on me? VolTecha: Dratali, hmm? Interesting choice of topic. The Crooked Man: If, and only if, they stabilize their centralized authority, there might be a chance. Should they join the Alliance ranks now, on the heels of Avolians, the combined magical influx would boost development in all sectors across the board. We’d see a new renaissance in science, technology, art, and maybe even the birth of new sciences. King Kludge: Now there’s an idea to ponder. Yeah... that does tickle my cockles. Johnny26: Your... what? @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: Of course. Curiosity has killed more than cats. SecondSon: Imagine artisans and artists ushering a new era that hadn’t been seen since the Islamic caliphs in Earth’s Middle Ages. Sid the Kid: Yes I’m at half chub already. Now why has Zombie been so quiet? Dutchess: Yeah what up boss? VolTecha: I think the consensus so far has been cautious optimism, ZomZom. Your opinion? ZomZom: Screw them. MrOrion: An answer that came to the surprise of exactly zero people. King Kludge: Let him speak. Type. whatever. `¯ÿø+))0w: Oh, I know how this game is played. ZomZom: This shit’s been going on for almost 50 years. Dratali attack. Railese? Larimus III? Those places sound familiar? People keep dying; human, Korg, Avian, or otherwise. It’s standard war dogma that has happened since the beginning of time. I’ve got no problem with that. People have been killing each other for long enough that this is common practice. But now that there is an official end to the madness, some of them are pledging themselves to people they respect of those they themselves or their family have hurt. I will say right now I will shoot them right between the eyes if any Dratali approaches me and says they’ve made a pledge. Johnny26: Christ dude... ZomZom: It’s such a load of hypocritical bullshit. Oh, now they’re doing this? After fifty years? There’s the occasional whisper of defectors like always, but now the common people are making pledges? Screw them. It’s only happening now that they’ve clearly lost. I would have heard otherwise. So would Chaos, L, or even Jack. This isn’t honesty, it’s saving face. Even if they don’t believe in Dratali religious dogma, it’s only after they’ve lost. If they actually held up to their beliefs and kept at the crusade I could at least admire their tenacity. Now they’ve abandoned that at the first sign of defeat. So yeah, they can pledge and it’ll make things all better. Out of all the people hurt, out of the mountain of dead, feel free to pledge. At least your conscious is clean. @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: Really now? Ozymandias: shit... Dutchess: Still think it’s a good thing Orion? MrOrion: He hasn’t converted me but i concede he has a point. `¯ÿø+))0w: I’m still puzzling who’s pulling your strings. The Crooked Man: So you feel they abandoned their beliefs to save their lives? ZomZom: Either that or they genuinely feel this is enough to make up for what their kind has done. It’s either self-serving hypocrisy, or they have zero understanding of what it’s like to empathise with others. The Crooked Man: You can’t punish an individual for the crimes of another. ZomZom: I can judge him for believing he’s right when he’s not. Sure, maybe they genuinely believe they can make up for what their species has done. They can do all they want, but THEY DO NOT GET TO DECIDE WHEN THEY ARE FORGIVEN. King Kludge: I think things are getting a little too heated in here. @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: That package is much too expensive. ZomZom: Agreed. I’ve had my say. Blackjack: ending the topic early? Captain Chaos: Yes. Johnny26: And you are? Captain Chaos: I’m the sysop. Has the chat been working alright for everyone? @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: Now let’s see if you’re all bark. Dutchess: Seems fine. VolTecha: Everything working as expected, but I just got here. Grease Monkey: all systems go Synergy: all good King Kludge: What’s up? Captain Chaos: Not sure. One of the daemons threw up flags of high network usage I normally attribute to peak traffic hours. I thought the Shadowlands was getting a DOS attack or someone was messing around in my network. LaLiLuLeLo: I doubt a DdOS alone, even a coordinated DdOS, would bring down the Shadowlands. `¯ÿø+))0w: Bail. Captain’s on to us. Captain Chaos: Still needed to check anyway. Might just be a blip is all, but it just spiked out of nowhere. Sid the Kid: L posted some stuff. --[Unidentified User] has disconnected-- Captain Chaos: That might be it, but hold on just a moment. --[Unidentified User] has disconnected-- --Captain Chaos has disconnected-- VolTecha: I take it this morning’s been all sorts of fun? Blackjack: Morning? I must be in some god-forsaken hole because none of you assholes are ever going to sleep or waking up the same time as me. It’s night. Sid the Kid: You’re exactly where we want you. Blackjack: Fuck you Grease Monkey: the butthurt is strong in this one Blackjack: fuck all ya’ll Synergy: Sid. Now that I got a hold of you, did you get my package? Sid the Kid: Oh. That. Bone Collector: So are we done with the topic for today? King Kludge: I’m ending it early. Feelings are a little too hot for it now. I’ll bring it back up tomorrow perhaps. Synergy: Sid. Speak up. Sid the Kid: This... abomination is a piece of crap! MrOrion: Oh, I’ve gotta hear this VolTecha: What’s going on? Synergy: I told you it was fucked. I kno it’s not fixed, and I did my best. Now quit your bitchin, and what did you find? Grease Monkey: I got it to work. Barely. King Kludge: What are you two working on? Synergy: I’m trying to rework a defective microcircuit for the decommissioned Smartlink project on an Ingram Smartgun. In theory, holding a gun completes a touch-sensor circuit between your eyes and a pistol. It requires cybernetic eyes, but it’s supposed to line up a reticule in your field of view wherever your pistol is pointing. ZomZom: That’s... actually a handy idea. Blackjack: I take it the project still doesn’t work? Grease Monkey: I’m more concerned that Syn stole private blueprints. Synergy: I covered my trail. I’m fine. ZomZom: Munchkin, you just stole corporate secrets. You have some serious balls for that. Synergy: I found them in the dumpster. Sid the Kid: I imagine I know why. --ZomZom has disconnected-- Synergy: Explain, mortal. Sid the Kid: Do you know how many different ways the Smartlink can fail? You need a stable circuit on the palm which, when you’re in a gunfight, means your grip on the gun may be tenuous at times and the cybereye reticule would cut out if the circuit is interrupted for even the slightest reason. Pistols with full auto or even burst fire can cause the grip rangefinder and altitude calibration to melt if it overheats too badly. The targeting sensors are easily misaligned. Shove a clip in place too hard and you could dislodge the gun’s gyros. They used carbon nanotubes wrapped in viscera insulation to reduce signal propagation delay in the body, despite the fact carbon nanotubes are poisonous and a rupture in the viscera could cause additional internal damage! Sid the Kid: Then there’s the output design for the cybereye reticle. The only option available even through modification is this stupid ECR microcircuit that produces this horrible, wobbly signal that difficult to see on even the most advanced cybernetics, all in an age where we have RCA repeaters. And even when I did get it to work the system froze all the time, and I do mean all the damn time! Why nanotubes? Why ECR microcircuits? Why did I spend so long getting something this broken to work? MrOrion: Someone put a spoon in his mouth, SId’s seizing. Blackjack: breathe goddamit King Kludge: As fun as this is to watch, seriously I’m rofling right here. calm the fuck down Sid. Sid the Kid: No. This shit’s personal now. I’m getting this skidmark working whether it wants to or not. Blackjack: Do you need any help? Sid the Kid: No. I’m getting this to work on my own if it’s the last thing I do. --SecondSon has disconnected-- Dutchess: Buy a cold one on me and goodluck scrublord/ --Grease Monkey has disconnected-- Sid the Kid: alright I’m done rantning now kthx Blackjack: How many hours did you put in? Sid the Kid: Around 35 so far Synergy: I gave it to him a week ago. The Crooked Man: You’re due for some rest, friend. --Captain Chaos has joined the chat-- Sid the Kid: I can survive on water, but that doesn’t have the chemicals I need to keep me awake. King Kludge: Easy there. We’ve all got that project on occasion to keep us busy but dont overexert yourself Synergy: I’ll sleep when i’m dead. i’ll let the caffeine and amphetamines do their job in the meantime Sid the Kid: Amen to that Johnny26: I’ve gotta go now, but we’re going to continue the topic later? King Kludge: Yes. I’m not going to have it right now. Let people cool down a bit Bone Collector: Zombie was the only one throwing a hissy fit. The Crooked Man: This is true. You might need to talk to him about his behavior, King Kludge. King Kludge: Don’t worry; I will. Johnny26: I just have a question kinda sorta related to it before I go. As the resident new guy, I got a question for the mods. You’re one, right? King Kludge: Yes. Johnny26: I wasn’t sure I wanted to say it with ZomZom active. King Kludge: Out with it. Johnny26: What’s gonna happen when a Drat gets outed as one of the Shadowland’s members? King Kludge: huh King Kludge: well King Kludge: That will be an interesting day. For chapter commentary and my ramblings, visit my page HERE Chapter Commentary: LINK Prologue: Black TapestriesPrologue: Black Tapestries Darkness. One would not expect so much darkness in the middle of a populated city. The room wasn’t exposed to the city streets, however. It was just a barren, concrete room in some random, unremarkable building, yet no light from the comforting sun ever touched a single corner. By some unspoken command, light blazed through the room and splayed the silhouette of a figure in a chair on the far wall. A set of eight high fidelity monitors projected the same word: REMEMBER Given that the shockingly bright monitors hid the figure’s features in a dark silhouette, even something as simple as the figure’s species proved difficult to discern. The shadows and the light tugged the figure between them both, hiding it from either one’s grasp. “Marvelous, isn’t it?” The figure’s voice was a high and whimsical tenor, and easily discernable as male. One by one, each monitor, upon recognizing the vocal pattern, displayed some new information. The first displayed a set of monetary transactions but the exact details were still encoded. Another flashed a series of pictures in a never-ending loop: a human in an immaculate white suit and blood-red tie, a sow of a man sitting in a decadently decorated office, a fair-coated pony in a stetson with a trio of apples on its recognizably feminine hindquarters, an amalgamous creature posing with a statue that defied gravity, a man wearing a doctor’s garb with an expression devoid of any emotion, and a quietly demure pegasus—hiding her face behind a lengthy cascade of bubblegum-pink hair—proved to be only a few in the lengthy cycle. “Do you know the universe’s most dangerous killer? Its most prolific weapon?” the figure spoke to the room. Raising a pair of limbs, a holographic keyboard display manifested in front of him. He entered a flurry of commands and monitors flashed again and again with walls of data and text. Each one was quickly replaced by a new screen of data after he was finished. Despite the speed, everything seemed to be absorbed and understood by the figure. The setup was quite advanced for one working alone. Servers, wires, metal framework, and screen displays all shined with constant upkeep and state-of-the-art design. No commoner could possibly own or even use such advanced gear. Dozens of hard drives glowed white as their owner actively used what was in their confines, perhaps brimming with intelligence and research data, or storage for later. Various instruments littered the floor, some of them obvious devices and tools used for repairs, while others appeared no more than a dirty hodgepodge of wires and oily metal. Repaired or refurbished computer hardware stood on the far wall. Dozens if not hundreds of paper clippings and printouts littered the wall to his right, yet he paid them no mind. It was a shocking contrast to the otherwise spartan room that housed the figure’s workplace. Save for the computer setup and the wall of photographs and clippings, the room was completely bare. “Throughout the ages, throughout the vastness of time and space, you’ll receive the usual array of small-minded, self-deluded guesses. The stone. The spear.” He continued to speak, despite him being hauntingly alone. The noise and bustle of the outside world was reduced to less than a quiet hum. Beside the steady rumble of his machinery, everything was as silent as the grave. Each screen was composed of a hollow gray frame. Rather than have a solid screen, light projected from each corner of the frame to create a solid set of images. The first displayed a starship manifest from a corporation, one the figure was certainly not legally allowed to see or possess. OrC. Op. - Organic Corporate Operations “We don’t build, we grow.” Designation: S.S. Starjammer Passengers: 50 Date of Arrival: Today Port of Departure: Zenith Inc. North Atlantic Staryard, Earth Two thousand (2,000) kilograms of enriched hydrocarbons Five hundred (500) kilograms of phosphorus Four hundred fifty (450) kilograms of Gamma-Aminobutyric acid solution Four hundred (400) kilograms of OrC Op. seed treatment Four hundred (400) kilograms of synthetic proteins Three hundred (300) kilograms of Octasulfur Two hundred fifty (250) kilograms of potassium monopersulfate Two hundred fifty (250) kilograms of potash Two hundred (200) kilograms of five (5) kilogram copper ingots A light load, considering it was a medium-sized starship. As there were ports far closer capable of delivering the same materials and thus expending less fuel, it was an oddity that gained the figure’s attention. “The flame. The sword.” A few graceful and practiced arcs across his motion-sensitive interface revealed the ship’s own internal sensors and schematics, but it was still not enough to reveal anything of note. A little deeper search into ship records was in order. Specifically, a stolen security clearance to hack into secure ship records. CCV1 «» SECURITY AUTHORIZATION REQUESTED GREAR, BORIS «» PRIORITY ALPHA PROCESSING CCV1 5555*0000*X1 // 5894 »... »... »...PROCESSING... GREAR, BORIS «» PRIORITY ALPHA »... »... »PENDING... PENDING... PENDING... »... »... «» ALERT «» ALERT «» ALERT «» UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS DETECTED POTENTIAL LEVEL 4 SECURITY BREACH Red lights flashed across the selected screen as his own security software detected a backhack. A few more quick arcs across the keyboard and both the message and the warning lights vanished in a flash of holographic pixels; the Starjammer’s records were now no more than an open book. Apparently the ship now dwelled in the Magnasanti docks for engine repairs. Digging a little deeper into the ship’s own internal records, the figure discovered the Starjammer had recently undergone a full system overhaul. It was very unusual and unlikely that engine faults could have been overlooked, unless the ship was currently carrying a much heavier load than what was on the manifest, which in turn forced a stronger burden on the engines. Naughty naughty. Someone was hiding a dirty secret. “The plague. The land.” The figure gazed at a different monitor. After a few clicks and strokes, another hack into a secure database with a password recently earned after a respectful bribe, a police report from none other than the Magnasanti megacity police commissioner, George Clemmins, flashed on screen. It outlined a few facts, including several officers that were now under investigation for criminal corruption. Bribery, racketeering, racial discrimination, sexual harassment, the usual. Nothing unique in Magnasanti, the city of sin. Except for those rumored new Magnasanti arrivals coming in a few weeks. Sapient equines. Magic users. Applejack and Fluttershy. A pair of creatures as absolutely absurd as they were discomfortingly real. “The musket. The rifle. The rocket. Magic.” The figure chuckled merrily. Ponies. In his wildest dreams, he would have never guessed, let alone pondered the idea, that ponies would be coming into his domain. “Ourselves.” The figure opened up a tab on one of his many monitors. White text flashed across the screen. Securing network crosscom: 08% Securing network crosscom: 18% Securing network crosscom: 22% Securing network crosscom: 25% Securing network crosscom: 39% Securing network crosscom: 45% Securing network crosscom: 56% Securing network crosscom: 67% Securing network crosscom: 74% Securing network crosscom: 79% Securing network crosscom: 82% Securing network crosscom: 96% Securing network crosscom: 100% Retrieving contacts... Handshaking... Contact established with user: King Kludge A chat window opened. The blank blue background was momentarily empty, but a single line of white text appeared before the figure could do anything. King Kludge: Shit, friend. U’ve been quiet for months. I was beginning 2 think you got iced. After a few more clicks, the figure replied with his own text. DaemonJack: I’m like a cockroach; hard to kill, gets everywhere. Heard anything on OrC. Op.? King Kludge: Nothing of note. Should I have? DaemonJack: Not sure. Working on a hunch. Thinking there might be some dirty laundry worth snooping around for. King Kludge: Kinda busy with the NOMAD guys. I’ll look when I can. Anyway, heard about the OrC. Op passengers coming in a few weeks? It was “DaemonJack’s” turn to be surprised. DaemonJack: Not a peep. King Kludge: A booked landing craft will have a small armada of security escorting it to Magnasanti. I don’t know what white collar jerkass, snot-nosed ambassador, or tightass is heading that way in such force, but they’ve tripled security on the ship alone and that’s not counting the CSS security personnel escorting them. The underworld is whispering some of those ponies are coming. Something about them being national heroes or some shit. No idea why they want to go to your hellhole of a city. That got his attention and he shoved the potential OrC Op. contraband aside for later. Was it possible this Applejack and Fluttershy were coming to Magnasanti on board an OrC Op. jumpship? Why a corporate ship that specialized in agrarian development and research? If they were heroes, why not a diplomatic luxury cruiser? DaemonJack: I’ll look into it. Later, Kludge. King Kludge: See ya later, hode. --King Kludge has disconnected-- DaemonJack: The fuck does hode mean? The window shut down. For a moment, everything was quiet. What work the figure had been performing so vigorously was cast aside as he delved into his own thoughts. “But they’re all wrong,” he continued to say to the empty room. “It’s knowledge. The one thing that everyone always seeks, and of which they can never get enough. Money talks and power destroys, but nothing rivals the strength of information. Perhaps some little civilian shit wants to obtain a leg-up on his perceived enemies, or maybe a military spy has been bought by the enemy, or some random asshole just wants to get ahead in life at the price of his companions. Everyone needs to know something. It’s just a matter of finding out what it is. “I am the purveyor of knowledge. I am its collector, its keeper until its time to be shared comes.” The figure rose from his languor and moved from keyboard to keyboard, motion-sensitive interface to interface, hunting for more information. A virtual newspaper clipping showed a picture above the heading: SOVEREIGN MAGIC USERS JOIN ALLIANCE RANKS The picture was that of a man bearing the rank of vice admiral bowing in respect to a trio of horses. One possessed fur not unlike snow reflecting sunlight across the Siberian taiga. Perhaps the most startling aspect about her was a mane that seemed to billow in some nonexistent wind, as the marshal seemed unruffled by any such gusts. Or maybe it was due to her being at least a foot taller than the human, or her slender, compact form that hinted at the fairer sex and graceful facial features that declared a shrewd mind hid behind those eyes. The remaining pair were similar to, if shorter than, the mare. One had fur of a deep cobalt blue and a mane not dissimilar to that of a field of stars. It too seemed to dance in a false wind. The third companion lacked the ephemeral mane, but her perfectly groomed gold and violet locks hugged her youthful face. “So now the keeper of the keys finds himself capable of being at the heart of it all, at the very core of discovery and knowledge. You want to get into bed with me? You’re not the first to clamor for my attention. You will certainly not be the last, but, admittedly, none have one-upped the competition as well as you. It makes me wonder if you truly know what you are getting yourself into by asking for my help. Most don’t, but I can’t help but entertain the idea you do. Maybe, just maybe, I can stop being so fucking bored.” The figure pulled up yet another set of images, this one focused primarily around a single lavender unicorn. The first was the unicorn as a child alongside a light gray mare and blue stallion, likely her parents. The next was of some graduate class about the same mare. The figure continued to cycle through the images, his mind lost in his own contemplations and strange soliloquy. “Out of all the vices I could have obtained, all the faults, my greatest heel happens to be myself. I have access to untold secrets, I have information that can bring killers and kings to their knees, yet despite how amusing the prospects can be, despite how fun it is to fuck with the masses and misguided retards, it’s just... a distraction. A treatment, not a cure.” The figure clicked on a small envelope in the corner with a glowing red notification. A short message popped up on screen, a status report for his eyes only. Jack, Observation of Attis and Narcissus is ongoing. Continuing with starting mission. Initial suspicions about Narcissus are in question, but not dismissed. Possibly wears the Mask of Janus. Attis is inconsequential. It is not advised to separate them. As anticipated, Alice will venture down the rabbit hole. It is up to the Mad Hatter if he wishes to join her. The March Hare and Dormouse will accompany her. No word as to the thoughts of the Queen of Hearts or Caterpillar. Cheshire Cat is still a wild card and unpredictable. Awaiting orders. Awaiting payment. ~Tinman No matter how skilled a hacker may be, an information network pays the real dividends when a little simple legwork from hired help is involved. The figure sighed, closed the message, and pulled up several financial reports, including bank transactions. His personal bank balance, even in the single account he currently had open on screen, held more zeroes than most would ever see in their entire life. A far from insignificant amount drained itself and added onto one representing that of the so called “Tinman”. “And now the siren comes to me and sings her silly song. What does this sinner desire, my dear? An escape. I am good, devilishly good, at what I do, but my skill counts for nothing if it is never tested, never pushed to its limits. All these cocksuckers want me to do their dirty work, which I am all too happy to do with the proper payment. Hack this, provide support for that, turn off the alarm here, tell me this piece of information, all of that crap. I’m happy to do so, but I can't help but want... more. Something new. “I am stagnating. I hold all the weapons and power one could ever ask for, and it means nothing to me. I suppose that’s the trick, the grand universal prank only achieved when the wheel of time turns and we finally reach our end. We are all worthless in the grand scheme of things. There is no god to pray to, no people that you can forever trust, no comfort to find within weapons, each other, or even immortal alien horses with wings and horns. Nothing is permanent, not even the thrones in heaven or hell. “‘What is my purpose?’ It’s the ultimate prank. The answer to the ultimate question is that there was never a question to begin with.” The figure halted his lament before bringing up a final still picture on screen. Six mares hugged each other as they posed for a photo. Six friends, bound together in one of the strongest and most misguided bonds one could possess. They all looked so happy, so carefree. “It makes me wonder how they did it, how they managed to delude themselves so far. Applejack. Fluttershy. Pinkie. Rarity. Rainbow. Twilight. Friendship harder than stone, stronger than steel. We’ll see how far they can bend before they break. It’s not safe out here in the real world, unshielded from Eden. I suppose they will regress into their basic and primal instincts, just like everyone else. Lucifer fell from grace. They will be no different.” He sighed, thinking deeply on what he said and what still needed to be spoken. “I suppose only time will tell how far they will fall. Still, that doesn’t discount how important a role these six will play in events to come. Important to be sure, but as to how, not even my eyes can see. I suppose that does not matter; I have the opportunity to see for myself. How much will they alter our way of life? How far will they destabilize the natural order of things? “And I get to be at the center of it all,” he cooed softly. “Finally, someone gets to stir up shit across the board. The politicians jockeying for power, penthouse corporate execs dancing in the clouds, the gutter scum working in the shadows, and those like me. We’re not going to be the same after this. Our way of life is going to burn, and be rebuilt only for the fires of hell to come rolling in again. Take everything, my little ponies. Take it all. Meet us, greet us, work with us, work against us... No matter what, nothing will be the same after this. “I can’t wait to see it.” The figure turned away from the monitors with a squeak of unoiled chair hinges. The dark room was invisible to his eyes after looking at the bright screens for so long. The room was still empty of life, and the red light above the door told him it was still securely closed and the green light of an undetonated explosive charge told him no one tried to hack the door’s maglock. The figure smiled, a maniacal toothy grin that seemed to glow in the pale light against his black, impossible-to-describe silhouette. “I take it you want an answer, Miss Turmoil?” A quartet of knocks reverberated from the other side of the door. “I will give you one. The deal? I accept.” For chapter commentary and my ramblings, visit my page HERE Chapter Commentary: LINK Edited by: Genesis1212, Reader Review, Midnight Spark, Prereader: Softy8088, The Synn Lofsvard \\C:\Users\BigBlue\Video\30432306ZG.ZIPShadowlands Lounge, Magnasanti Hub, The Matrix Personas Present: ~Adam ~Blackjack ~Captain Chaos ~Eve ~Grease Monkey ~Hesperides ~King Kludge ~LaLiLuLeLo ~Ozymandias ~Rasta Blasta ~Sid the Kid ~Synergy ~The Crooked Man ~Valentine ~ZomZom King Kludge: Can’t sleep... ponies will eat me... Sid the Kid: Kludge, take a nap already. YOu’re weird enough when you’re lucid. Rasta Blasta: Sid’s got sticky fingers. Sid the Kid: Excuse me for capitalizing the wrong letter. Ozymandias: Anybody catch the last race? Hesperides: Adam. Rasta Blasta: Ask Chaos. Ozymandias: Captain! Wake up! You AFK? Captain Chaos: I’m here. Ozymandias: Catch yesterday’s game? ZeroG League? Captain Chaos: Nope. Sorry. Grease Monkey: The ponies are coming! The ponies are coming! Grease Monkey: Seriously, why are they in Magnasanti? ZomZom: Curiosity more than anything. Hesperides: Who doesn’t like a little zest to spice things up? Adam: It was a ZeroG League Classic match and Kane won. Piloted a VX-Nova crafted by Deus. 2.8L V10 with a top speed of 375 km/h. Modified dimpled chassis for decreased drag and lower weight, making it light and fast, but brittle as a pinecone and likely to get wrecked to shit at high speeds. Purrs like a kitten, but I’d bet 2000§ that he’s using exotic alloys for the engine. Rasta Blasta: Adam, where have you been all my life? Adam: Sorry, I’m taken. My one true love requires far more maintenance, needs tools to get at her goodies, and squirts if I press the right thing. Sid the Kid: OMG Rasta Blasta: Hahahahahaha! Ozymandias: lolololol LaLiLeLuLo: We got a wise guy. Good; we never get noobs with a sense of humor. King Kludge: Thanks for showing me. Sid the Kid: Damn it Kludge; go to goddamn bed. Noone sent ou nothin Rasta Blasta: Tweet tweet, time to sleep. Let the king lie and weep. Grease Monkey: Catch some Zs, kludge. See you in a few hours. King Kludge: Yeah. Night. --King Kludge has disconnected-- Eve: Every time he speaks is like watching a drunken leprechaun completely blitzed on Rampage. Hesperides: Good night Synergy: I bring munchies everytime i log on. More fun that way. Free show. --Hesperides has disconnected-- Rasta Blasta: It’s getting late for me too. Heading out. Synergy: Awwwww. Kludge & Hesi are gone. Don’t leave too! Rasta Blasta: It’s 7 where I am. Sid the Kid: Chica, your night hasn’t even begun. Rasta Blasta: In the morning. I’ve been logged in for 8 hours. Sid the Kid: Well, see ya then Grease Monkey: Night Rasta. Captain Chaos: Get some sleep, Rasta Blasta. Synergy: goodnight. Eve: Night Adam: Night Rasta --Rasta Blasta has disconnected-- Eve: What’s the topic for tonight? Captain Chaos: I haven’t set one yet. Adam: I can gush about the ZeroG League for a few hours. Ozymandias: oh god yes. Grease Monkey: I’m game. ZomZom: I had 300§ on Xia for last Saturday’s game. Close but no cigar. Eve: Ah, XenoKilla as she calls herself online. Grease Monkey: What a shitty name Captain Chaos: She’s in the Shadowlands queue for new arrivals. I’m ready to invite her through my VPN, like how I invited all of you. Valentine: She’s a good racer. I enjoyed her little spar with Rainbow Dash. LaLiLuLeLo: Watch it, Captain. I got a file on her. She’s a little too impulsive for the kind of subtly and confidentiality we need. ZomZom: Wait, back up. That Rainbow Dash? Valentine: Of course, dearie. The self-proclaimed fastest flyer in Equestria joined the ZeroG League. She’s an official racer now. Adam: She lost her first race. She was doing well, but there was something funny going on behind the scenes. Ozymandias: Funny as in ‘HAHA’ or funny as in ‘Holy shit, my car’s on fire’? Eve: The latter. We’re pretty sure someone was cheating. LaLiLuLeLo: I can confirm the cheating. Adam: Really? LaLiLuLeLo: Yes I can. Nothing tangible, but I have the word of people I trust. They can confirm. Adam: I admit... i had thought only DaemonJack, Kludge, and Captain Chaos were the ones to be reckoned with. Looks like I was wrong. Valentine: Honey, you have no idea what this collective can do. Adam: I’m starting to see that. What are you LaLiLuLeLo? Info Dealer? Racer? Media? Blackjack: It’s not good for your well being to pry. LaLiLuLeLo: Come off it, Blackjack. He’s harmless. Adam: Am I? LaLiLuLeLo: I’m fairly certain I know who you are. Adam: Really now? Eve: Only the Captain knows everyone. ZomZom: Nope. Captain Chaos: Some of us are only known by our Matrix handles and I invite those types through other means less personal. I am okay with that. I don’t know everybody, and to keep anonymity for all, I will keep it that way. Blackjack: Some value their secrecy quite highly. It’s unwise to stick your dick in places where it doesn’t belong. LaLiLuLeLo: Let’s just say I know people Adam. Adam: Advice taken, Blackjack. Eve: Where’s the fun in that? ZomZom: Blackjack’s right, Eve. We’re all pretty chill when we want to be, but we all have our secrets. As Kludge said a few days ago, we need to keep a little bit for ourselves. Press too deep, someone’s going to stomp a mudhole in your ass. Ozymandias: Wait, what the fuck? Captain Chaos: They’re words to take to heart, Oz. Ozymandias: Not that. I agree with Zombie. It’s just that I saw something weird as hell. The Crooked Man: As events truly tend to be. Eve: Where did you come from? The Crooked Man: I have been here for some time. Adam: What did you see? Ozymandias: A pony under armed escort. Grease Monkey: Told you. They’re here in the city. Ozymandias: Didn’t believe you. Blackjack: I’ve located no less than fifteen. Ozymandias: Make that sixteen. Oh shit, seventeen. ZomZom: Great. Just great. The Crooked Man: Why such despair? ZomZom: You’re not my shrink. Get lost. The Crooked Man: They have fought with honor and proven noble allies. I see no reason to take up arms against them. ZomZom: Arms? You got me wrong. Don’t want to kill them. Don’t even want to maim them a little. But just because I don’t hate them, that doesn’t mean I like them either. Adam: You took an interest in Rainbow Dash just a moment ago. Valentine: Can I have a glance, Ozymandias? I would be ever so grateful. Ozymandias: As you wish, My Lady. ZomZom: I know her by reputation. I just didn’t know if the racer and her were one and the same. Ponies have a weirdass way of naming their spawn. Grease Monkey: I wish pops really named me Grease Monkey. ZomZom: I swear you are all doing this to me on purpose. Blackjack: It is a wee bit of fun to grind your gears. Grease Monkey: Upon heat death of the universe, the one thing still burning would be ZomZom’s hatred of everything. > Ozymandias Transmitting to Valentine: June 23, 3043 Posting includes 386 kb of attached files Valentine: My, my, they are lovely. Adam: Can I see? Ozymandias: Sure. Blackjack: Me too. Grease Monkey: Same. Ozymandias: Okay. I— Captain Chaos: I’d like to see as well, if you don’t mind. Ozymandias: Ah fuck it. You all can have it. > Ozymandias Transmitting to #CHAT: June 23, 3043 Posting includes 386 kb of attached files --The Crooked Man has disconnected-- Sid the Kid: See ya, weirdo Adam: Shit, that’s Fluttershy. Eve: And applejack! LaLiLuLeLo: And now I know who you both are =) Captain Chaos: Jack was right. Those two truly are coming. Blackjack: The hell? That’s a shitload of guards. CSS private contractors, OrC. Op. security, and Alliance marines. Standard anti-personnel loadout for protection against unarmored targets, but what the hell were they expecting? Armed resistance the moment they stepped onto the dock? --VolTecha has joined the chat-- Ozymandias: Dem specs, plz. Blackjack: Eight man squad loaded out with what i guess are FMJ munitions. The same for the Alliance blokes, but I don’t see any NCO. ZomZom: MP-Laser system? Not bad. I prefer the SGL myself, but I’d use good old fashioned bullets over a laser any day. I see the Latino dipshit behind the nav-tech is juggling a nonlethal Hi-C Plastic Round, so points there for variety. ZomZom: And their body armor designed by Eden. Weird. Sid the Kid: Hey, Eden Enterprises has some pretty good shit. ZomZom: Whatever. I’m not a fan myself. I get my gear from NOMAD and Zenith suppliers. Valentine: They’re naked. They do realize Magnasanti enforces a dress code, right? VolTecha: Thank you for the invite Captain Chaos. Captain Chaos: You’re more than welcome. Synergy: That’s a fancy rifle she’s got. The tall chick. ZomZom: Nice... FAM S-700 semi auto with an effective range of 800 meters. That’s an Espa Robo make. Designed to be a lightweight medium-range rifle. --SecondSon has joined the chat-- VolTecha: I’m afraid I don’t know what’s going on right now. Sid the Kid: Bottle that rage, Zombie. He’s just a noob. Captain Chaos: I’ll send you the picture. > Captain Chaos Transmitting to VolTecha: June 23, 3043 Posting includes 386 kb of attached files VolTecha: Ahhhhh. An honor guard, I see. Captain Chaos: Those two are one step below nobility. Maybe even knighted. It’s no wonder they would have such security. Synergy: Is that a bandolier of HKGs? VolTecha: I think those are Fireflies. The surface looks a little too dimpled for an HK grenade. Synergy: i think youre right. Blimey... Sid the Kid: Oz, follow them. Ozymandias: Hell no, frager. I’m on my break. I’d get my sorry ass fired. Captain Chaos: Where are they going? Where are you? Ozymandias: I think they landed in the OCO private landing bay. South of the Bay Area. Sector 7. Captain Chaos: That’s isolated... ZomZom: Odd. I expected them to be in a little more public area. Magnasanti officials and corps would want to show them off a little. LaLiLuLeLo: You bet your ass they would. This... something smells wrong with this. I’d expect this treatment towards any civilian, pony or otherwise, but these are national heroes. Why shove them into a place to grow plants and shit? Eve: Ask DaemonJack. He seemed to be in the know. Kludge as well. Captain Chaos: Good luck getting a hold of either. No one ever sees Jack unless he wants it, and Kludge deals with money more than info mining. VolTecha: The easiest way would just be to ask the girls. Valentine: Where is the fun in that? ZomZom: Everybody lies. VolTecha: Ponies aren’t fond of lying. Sid the Kid: Doesn’t mean they don’t know how. VolTecha: I’m just saying there are better ways. Synergy: Of course there aer love, but don’t be daft; none of us are gettting close to them until they get settled in.. Give ti a few weeks. At least a few days. Ozymandias: Let them settle in. We can meddle later. Yeah, having them working with agrarian developers is weird, but we can wait and just let events unfold. Captain Chaos: I think I know the answer to this. Ponies are quite skilled in agrarian development themselves. ZomZom: I don’t buy it. That only applies to these so-called Earth Ponies. I can see our dear Fluttershy has wings. What would a pegasus being doing for OCO? Eve: Weather manipulation. Good shit right there, something OCO would kill for. LaLiLuLeLo: Fat chance. I bought a file off of Jack. Fluttershy is absolute garbage on the weather front. Her skills are subpar at best. If she’s there to work with OCO, it’s not because of that. Sid the Kid: So back to square one: Something’s going on behind the scenes. VolTecha: There’s another reason: Fluttershy is just being there for her friend. Applejack is an Earth Pony and still able to help OrC. Op. LaLiLuLeLo: I smell personal investment in this on your end, VolTecha. VolTecha: Pragmatism. I’m a scientist. Every option needs to be tested. Synergy: he does have a point Sid the Kid: Syn, you’ve been misspelling shit all night. VolTecha: She. I’m female. Synergy: Suck my dick. I’m bloody tired. I finished working a double and trying not to pass out. Captain Chaos: I will pull a few strings and make a few calls. See if I can shoot a few bullets and see who runs and who stops to watch. There might be something to these two coming here. At the very least I can trace the paper trail and see who authorized this co-op in the first place. I think this is just nothing, but I want to be certain. LaLiLuLeLo: Give me a call if you need me. Blackjack: What kind of scientist? VolTecha: A good one. I build things. Blackjack: Industry? Construction? R&D? Military? VolTecha: Secrets ZomZom: The recruits are learning. Ozymandias: I didn’t know it was possible to smell condescension. ZomZom: You got me all wrong. I’m pleased. Perhaps the three rookies aren’t sheep after all. Sid the Kid: Holy crap, a compliment from the Zombie. Eve: Thanks. Adam: We think? VolTecha: I’ll take it for now. Captain, I knew your comrades were unorthodox, but... this isn’t quite what I had in mind. --Dutchess has joined the chat-- Ozymandias: Welcome home, my friend. Sid the Kid: We’re a rowdy bunch, but we’re ok. VolTecha: I’m not... comfortable with what may be going on behind the scenes here. Captain Chaos: I give you the same offer as I gave everyone. You’re free to make friends and contacts, or go. However, you’ll be blacklisted from the Shadowlands for leaving. You are free to speak with everyone here, do anything, hire anyone, or allow yourself to be hired. Our words are gold here. We may protect our identities, but we’ve got each other’s back. When we make a promise to each other, we stick to it. Blackjack: Hear hear! Captain Chaos: This is my territory. I make the rules, I enforce the rules, and I make sure that the most important part of the collective is the bonds we have with each other. Yeah, we’re not perfect, and sometimes we do a few questionable things. It’s not safe out there, but we got each other to keep us strong and pull us out of the gutter. Valentine: You’re making me blush... Sid the Kid: Wow. Good speech Captain. VolTecha: I’ll... stay for a while. Don’t want to jump to conclusions too quick, after all. Eve: I look forward to getting to know you better. ZomZom: Welcome to the Shadowlands. Wipe your feet. Adam: Or hooves. Or claws. Or fins. Whatever. ZomZom: Stuff it Adam. I’m trying to have a moment. Synergy: I’m touched. I really am. Thanks for the vote of confidence Captain Chaos: You’re my friends. What can I say? Valentine: I’ll give my screen a little kiss for you, oh captain my captain. ZomZom: Don’t any of you say it... Sid the Kid: Friendship is magic! ZomZom: That’s it, I’m out of here. Synergy: i’m gonna sod off now. Tired, gonna eat, and then get railed until i can’t walk straight. Ozymandias: TMI, Synergy. TMI. Synergy: you know, I’ve thought about meeting 1 of them equines in a dark corner. THey’re a lot bigger than my limpdicked neighbors. ZomZom: No. NO. Grease Monkey: trololololo Sid the Kid: Channel your anger, Zombie... Yes... ZomZom: Fuck you Syn. Fuck you, fuck your thundercunt, fuck your life, fuck your neighbors, fuck the horse you rode in on. Synergy: Oh, Zom supports the idea, huh? ZomZom: Wait... Ozymandias: HAHAHAHAHAH!!! ZomZom: Damn it... Captain Chaos: You walked right into that one. For chapter commentary and my ramblings, visit my page HERE Chapter Commentary: LINK Edited by: TheSynn, Midnight Spark Author's Note I hope you enjoy this little interlude. If you're interested in making your own interlude, feel free to read THIS for more information on the matter.
Chapter 1: AbsolutionChapter 1: Absolution Three weeks later... Fluttershy looked back and forth, completely at a loss for what to do. Applejack said to wait on the bench until she came back, but it was only a small comfort to know one of her friends was nearby. She searched from left to right for any signs of a cutiemark or stetson, but came up empty hooved. Being more of a country bumpkin than a city filly, being somewhere as big as Canterlot or Manehatten was enough to render her breathless by proximity. And those were cities with normally only ponies. It was hard to believe there were so many races outside of her own homeworld of Avol, far many more than she had ever imagined. It was enough to make her shrink back into the bench as far as she could go. The surface wasn’t like the comfy wood park benches she usually found dotting Ponyville. This one was cold and hard steel with only a small vinyl cushion to take the pressure off her aching legs. It just so happened to be that she sat right next to one of the most populated areas on board the human starship Absolution. There were people of all shapes and sizes in the expansive lobby in front of her. She could see some places of business selling wares she could not begin to fathom. The vast majority seemed to sell black and silver trinkets and baubles. People milled about and talked, discussing prices and the quality of certain items over others. Some of the larger items seemed to be in the shape of human body parts. Now that she saw it, several people had metal in place of skin. People could have replaced hands, arms, or legs. One odd individual had no skin or hair on his cranium, only a silver skull for a head. Most people gave him a wide berth. The affinity for prosthetics wasn’t the only strange thing. While the spaceship was largely dominated by humans, Fluttershy saw other species dot the halls. A tall feline creature she had come to identify as a Korg prowled about. It stood on its hind legs, looking over the crowd before returning onto all fours. Another creature she had never seen or heard of before looked like some kind of tall, thin amphibious creature. It did not speak as it weaved through the crowd. The dull buzz of busy conversation hung in the air like a fog. Distracting, but still pleasant white noise. As long as they didn’t stare... A particularly loud snort made her jump. She had almost forgotten a human was sleeping on the bench right next to her. He had been silent ever since she sat down twenty minutes previous. As far as humans went, he looked pretty old to Fluttershy, but not nearly as old as most humans she had seen with stark white hair. It was still difficult for her to tell some humans apart from others, a very inconvenient drawback when on board a ship of human design. He wore what Fluttershy had come to recognize as black and brown military fatigues. That would explain the scars on his exposed forearms and face, and the particularly vicious upturned scar across his left cheek that made him look like he was perpetually grinning. A soldier, if she had to hazard a guess. He scratched his fledgling salt and pepper beard, sighing slightly. He had yet to open his eyes, but she had the lingering suspicion the soldier knew she was present even if he was sleeping. It appeared he was doing his best to ignore her. She let him be. Other things occupied her mind. Her attention focused on a news monitor that had been blaring ever since she discovered it was there. It had been on a constant loop ever since she sat down, cycling through several news broadcasts. Having run out of things to look at and incapable of keeping track of the endless stream of humans and other exotic alien species, she took a moment and watched what the woman staring out of the screen had to offer. Rather unlike the occasional television she would see in richer pony cities, the monitor was an empty frame that broadcasted light into a solid picture. She had asked Applejack how it worked when she saw it for the first time, but she couldn’t make heads or tails of it either. The media circuits are abuzz with the last declaration from the new Alliance world of Avol. After the Alliance fleet battled with the hostile Dratali menace and secured the safety of Avol, co-rulers of one of the largest Avolian nations, Equestria, has opened trade and political negotiations with military diplomats. Recent Avol military recruit Twilight Sparkle has been appointed as a temporary liaison between Avol and certain Alliance factions. As Avol has yet to develop technology past the stage corresponding to the Information Age on Earth, sharing technology and certain data pertaining to Alliance and human history has been restricted pending further review. All inside sources state that talks are still in the earliest stages, but Equestria and its rulers, Princesses Celestia and Princess Luna, have initiated migration and travel quotas for the purpose of cultural sharing and exploration. In a recent interview with Vice Admiral Carter and Ambassador Dieter, the two co-rulers stated they encouraged travel between their races, but given that interstellar communication and culture mixing is still new to the new Alliance acquisition, immigration quotas are enforced in order to restrict movement until an unspecified date in the future. In order to better travel to Alliance space and allow certain Alliance carriers and dropships into Avol and Equestrian territory, the Alliance received permission from the Equestrian royal court to build a single staryard on its soil. The Alliance is currently negotiating deals with the Deus industrial corporation for supplies in that regard. This ground station would work in conjunction with the Harmony Station recently completed in geosynchronous orbit with Avol. Several corporations have clambered over each other to craft privatized contracts on Avol. Notable agrarian developer Organic Corporate Operations has made several bids for an earth pony workforce and their supposed unparalleled agricultural and farming techniques. Both Equestria and another Avol sovereign state, the Crystal Kingdom, have refused any and all deals concerning the mass export of labor forces until further notice. Ambassador Dieter has gone on record stating that talks are going well and any restrictions placed on Alliance dealings and demands are fair and reasonable under basic scrutiny, given the past circumstances concerning Lieutenant Sparkle and the recent Dratali invasion of Equestria. Primary concerns sent by most world leaders of Avol revolve around future relations with Alliance forces and the possibility of another attack on their homeworld. The Dratali vanguard spearheading the assault on Avol just over a year agowas destroyed by a joint effort of Alliance and Avol forces. Alliance intelligence assured both Alliance worlds and the Avol nation-states that an attack in the near future is very remote and promises aid to any world whenever an attack is imminent, especially their new Avolian allies. Preliminary reports concerning the Dratali attack seem to suggest that the aliens wished to exterminate all life on Avol under the wish to destroy all possible magic users. Given that Dratali had been previously thought to be the only race capable of using magic, the possibility of another race capable of the same feat could have been interpreted as a grave threat to Dratali strategies concerning their magic trump cards. In other news, another NOMAD facility was attacked by a joint task force of Factory and Essex-Inata-Imago corporate security. Initial reports suggest casualties were at a minimum. There are currently three reported arrests after the raid, far fewer than previously expected. Stay tuned for future updates. Two cyber criminals only known by the aliases DaemonJack and King Kludge have resurfaced after a long period of dormancy. Commercial Security and Safety Inc. security reports state that King Kludge may not have been taking a reprieve as previously thought, but assisting the NOMAD criminal organization for reasons unknown. Sources, however, all point to a long period of inactivity by his comrade DaemonJack, who has only recently resurfaced. Genetics and biotech corporation Biolab reported several attempted hacks into secure Magnasanti servers using methods that are typical of the notorious netrunner. No damage or lost data has been reported at this time. Fluttershy did her best to tune the broadcast out. “Even humans have bad apples, I suppose.” “You have no idea,” the man said in a deep, scratchy voice, making her jump. “Oh, really? Well I hope I don’t meet them.” He said nothing. “You must be upset that I woke you. I’m sorry, it’s just that this whole place is strange to me. I’m waiting for a friend of mine to come back–I’m just rambling now. I’m sorry, mister.” The man still did not move or acknowledge her. Fluttershy shifted uncomfortably in the silence. Compelled to say something to end the awkwardness, she said, “My name’s Fluttershy.” He finally gave the first sign of life. Lifting his head, he opened his eyes. They were a really bright green, almost too bright and seemed to shimmer slightly as he gave her a once over. His gaze paused longer than she would have liked on her saddlebags and cutiemark, but his face was as stony and unreadable as ever. “Sam. Sam Concord.” He lowered his head and closed his eyes again. “That’s... a nice name.” His lips curled ever so slightly, exacerbating his scarred smile even more. “You’re new here,” he said without a hint of a question. “Yes.” She had given in to her habit of letting her hair shield her from others once again. Sam had closed his eyes however, and thus could not interpret it as a slight against him. “I’m waiting for my friend Applejack to come back with someone who can give us a ship. We’re supposed to be helping humans with their plants and farming.” “Las’ I heard, none o’ you were allowed to go off planet.” “That’s right, but the princesses are making a few special exceptions. She’s letting me and Applejack go as a sign of good faith and to make friends.” “A whole lotta people are gonna hate you.” Fluttershy shrunk away from him. “Why? Is it because I am a pony? Is my mane done wrong? Am I talking too mu—” “You ponies use magic,” he said simply. He removed a small box from his breast pocket, opened the hinge, and plucked a small, solid metal tube. He stuck it in his mouth and the tip glowed red. “Last guys we’d seen use magic tried to kill us. A lot. That kinda hate don’t go away easy.” Fluttershy knew what the man was talking about. The Dratali. The newscaster spoke of them. The Dratali had learned of Avol’s galactic location through a defector unicorn and wished to exterminate them. The battle took tolls on both sides, but even though it was a unanimous victory for Equestria, the price was high. Friends and strangers alike fell before her eyes. The gravediggers were payed well that day. “I’m not like them. We’re not like them.” “Don’t matter, Flutters. We humans are like that; don’t make a whole lot o’ sense, our lot. Sometimes we forget we can be assholes.” Sam exhaled and a gust of sweet-smelling smoke exited his lips. Something in it stung her nose and Fluttershy sneezed. Sam’s lips curled again and put the tube back in its case. He put a finger behind his left ear. Tucked behind the cartilage was a dial so small Fluttershy could hardly see it. He gave it a flick, winced, and after a moment turned his head to the right. “Your friend’s comin’.” A large steel door opened on the far wall without anypony or anything to push it open. Fluttershy’s face lit up; sure enough, Applejack was at the forefront of a group of humans. She was currently speaking to a very petite human woman who looked so thin and wispy a stiff breeze would blow her away. She was dressed in fine white and blue clothes without a single crease or stain. A pair of earrings hung from both lobes. Sam flicked the dial in the opposite direction. “That be Anastasia Arias. This ship is the mobile headquarters of Zenith Inc., the leading producer of cyberware and cybernetic upgrades, especially for soldiers,” and he tapped his ear. Fluttershy stared back at him with a blank look on her face. “You’ll find out why that’s important later. Ana’s the CEO of Zenith. If anyone can get you a ship, it’s her.” The sound of Applejack’s hooves clattered loudly on the plastic and steel ship floors. Sam got to his feet as bones and tendons popped and cracked in his arms and back. He grunted as a particularly loud pop made them both wince. “Oh, I’m gettin’ old.” Applejack and Ana were flanked by a quartet of burly humans and one Korg who anyone could tell were bodyguards, even Fluttershy. A secretary of some kind was hidden behind the mass of flesh, a thin metal pad of some kind in her hands on which she was rapidly tapping. The group was, shockingly, completed by none other than Shining Armor. Leaning around one of the guards to see the reason for the sudden stop, his ears perked up as he saw the source and waved. Fluttershy returned the wave, but her ears folded back as some of Ana’s guards scowled at her. Ana stepped passed Applejack and smiled kindly at Fluttershy. She seemed nice enough and her heart-shaped face looked pretty to Fluttershy. Seeing her was still odd; she ran a company? She had so many bodyguards to follow her around? Mostly, Fluttershy tried to not stare at the jagged X-shaped scar on her throat. “Hello, Miss Fluttershy, my name is Anastasia Arias, and I heard from your friend you need my help.” Shining Armor trotted along slowly amongst the guards. Outside the guards, actually, as none of them would let him get close to Miss Arias. Applejack seemed fine with the ordeal, and was content to observe her surroundings in the meantime. Ana led the pack with a firm and deliberate pace after she spoke with Applejack. After pleasantries, she brought out a scroll from within the confines of her own saddlebags before chatting behind the usual wall of bodyguards. “By Celestia, they’re big,” Shining commented. The Korg smiled, his furry face revealing his large canines. Right. Big ears. Shining was used to being around humans, and they could barely hear anything with those ears of theirs. “So, how have you been?” Shining asked Applejack in order to fill in the quiet. Her freckled face smiled back. “Fine myself,” she drawled. “Ah’ve gotten mahself in quite the pinch, getting shoehorned into this trip. But Fluttershy would’ve been all by herself otherwise, and ah can’t rightly live with that. RD’s off with Spike, ah know better than to ask what Pinkie’s up to, Twilight’s with that boyfriend of hers,” Shining felt himself scowl, “and las’ ah heard, Rarity got shipped off for some kind of medical training. Mac’s the smart one, but ah’ve got enough brains to figure out that somepony gotta look after Fluttershy.” A thin woman with cropped brown hair and large glasses that made her eyes look far too large for her head stepped right in front of Applejack, blocking her path. “Miss Arias would like to speak with you,” she said curtly. Without another word or even checking to make sure either pony heard, she squeezed between Ana’s vanguard. For a moment, Shining had the absurd mental image of a bar of soap slipping right through his hooves and chuckled. “Duty calls,” Shining sighed softly, giving Applejack an exasperated smile. “Reminds me of boot all over again.” “Might as well get it o’er with,” Applejack said cheerfully. Too cheerfully. Shining had never known the farmer for being bubbly or any other word used to describe Pinkie. “What’s put you in such a good mood?” “No idea,” she said happily. “Not fond of all of this new stuff so soon, but ah like meetin’ strangers. This’s been all sorts o’ fun.” And with that, Applejack followed the shrew of a woman and vanished behind a wall of strong arms. Shining let the occasional buzz of conversation take a hold and let his mind wander. Meeting new people and places was all well and good, and he fully understood why Applejack could be having such a great time with the new stimuli, but the constant ups and downs over the last few days ever since he was assigned his own mission by Celestia herself had taken its toll. He’d had his own fun exploring the ship, but right now he felt the overpowering urge to sleep. A door he thought was a blank wall hissed open as they approached. Doors that opened without actual effort or magic was already added to his mental list of things that incurred involuntary dislike simply because they were too different. The hallway opened up to a very large lobby. Shining had already explored the majority of the lower deck that doubled as the open market for most of the civilians on board the ship. He paid the eager store-goers no mind; he had seen enough of them already. What interested him most was none other than Fluttershy talking to a soldier. The man stood and stretched, and upon Fluttershy catching Shining’s eye, he waved. “Will you put that disgusting thing away, Sam?” squeaked a voice he had come to recognize as Anastasia’s. She had parted from the pack with Applejack on her heels. Sam had reached into his pocket and pulled out a small metal tube and stuck it between his lips. “Missed you too, Deus,” growled Sam. His voice was low and gravelly, yet still carried authoritarian magic. “And will you cut it out with that nickname? I tolerate ‘fairy’, ‘Ana’, and ‘boss’, but not that one.” Shining’s ears flicked. He had noticed before there was something strange about her voice, a slight reverberation that he had not detected from Sam or any other human for that matter. His head turned back to the vendors selling replacement body parts and the people that held obvious signs of replacements and modifications. Humans practiced replacing their own body parts with mechanical components. Was that why Ana had a scar on her throat? Did she have something that replicated speech for a set of missing vocal chords? Fluttershy must have been pondering something else entirely. Ana saw Fluttershy’s befuddlement, but misinterpreted the source of her confusion. “An old saying on Earth is ‘Deus ex Machina’, meaning ‘God in the Machine’. My work has saved lives, so some of the marines and soldiers have given me the nickname Deus. I’m not a god and I don’t like to be called a god; I just run this company. I run Zenith and design cyberware, meaning everyone who buys it, including Sam here, has a piece of me in them.” “I love havin’ you in me..” Sam’s eyes were twinkling in mirth. It reminded Fluttershy how Celestia’s demeanor would change ever so slightly when committing some sort of subtle joke. Ana fumed, and some of her bodyguards smiled. ‘Friends?’ Shining guessed, thinking that she and Sam were previously acquainted if Ana’s bodyguards did not act on the sexual nature of the joke. Fluttershy’s blush was blossoming over her face. Shining hazarded a guess, “You build body parts?” Ana gave Sam one last dirty look before turning on the stallion. Shining was fairly big for a unicorn, and given that Ana was so small, he could look her in the eyes. “Sometimes I go down on the line, but my attention is usually needed elsewhere. I run the company and design parts and cyberware in my free time. Zenith Incorporated is contracted by the Alliance military forces and constructs cybernetic replacements for their Wounded Warriors program. While not solely dipping into bodyware and limbware—fancy words for replacement body parts in the chest or limbs,” she elaborated upon seeing his confusion, “it is one of our more fringe but still lucrative sources of revenue.” That got Shining thinking. Right as he spoke, both Applejack and Fluttershy’s eyes met; they knew what he was about to ask. “My sister... she lost most of a leg in a battle with the Dratali... She received a replacement from the Alliance.” It was a sore subject of his in the early days of Twilight’s return from the stars. The filly he had protected and doted on did not return. She had changed. Willingly or unwillingly, she had changed. Shining didn’t care about the lost leg, but what happened on the inside. War had galvanized parts of her, parts he still wasn’t sure he liked. The sounds of the crowds and shoppers seemed to recede into a slight mumble in respect of Shining’s dour. Ana and Sam turned to him. Sam’s face had morphed into granite-like unreadability, but Ana beamed in recognition. “The wayward child of Avol! I know her. Know of her, I should say.” “You built her leg?” Shining asked. “Well, no, but I was commissioned to design it personally. Once the Alliance knew she could use magic and considered her an ally, I was personally given top priority requests to construct equine cyberware. A tricky process, considering I needed to completely redesign the software to compensate for varying biochemical impulses specific to equines while working off only a few medscans and two physical exam reports. Plus, I needed to compensate for increased torque and blunt force trauma; people tend to lack the lean muscle mass of ponies.” The trio of ponies stared at her blankly. Ana simpered and rubbed the back of her head. “...It was hard, I’ll say that. Miss Sparkle’s leg is top of the line in terms of strength and durability, but contains little in terms of versatility. It’s just built to work. Now,” she said, clapping her hands together. “I believe you said you needed a ship... Applejack, was it?” “Yes, ma’am. I got some orders here from the princess and that admiral fella sayin’ we were goin’ to some city planet, whatever that is.” Applejack fished a second sealed envelope from her own saddlebags. Ana plucked it from her teeth, opened it, and examined the contents. Her eyes widened more and more as she progressed down the page. “Oh. Oh... Oh, dear... Well, if... Okay then.” “You don’t sound too happy about this,” Shining commented, scrutinizing Ana carefully. “You do have a ship for them, right?” “Yes and no. Ships I have, but I’m not the one taking you. It says that the two of you,” she nodded towards the mares, “are to stay here until ferried to your destination. You are going to one of our crown jewels, the city of Magnasanti, on board an Organic Corporate Operations transport ship. The Alliance is also supplying you with some private security once you arrive.” Sam glacially turned his head towards Ana. His eyes had hardened, and Shining knew that look all too well. He had seen it on himself, and on Twilight. Danger. Fluttershy’s ears perked as something clicked in her head. “I remember them. The monitor said that they are farmers.” Ana looked over the letter once again, showing a slight awkwardness with using paper rather than some sort of machine that displayed data. She started walking and spoke with her secretary for a moment before the latter immersed herself in her datapad. Her guards trailed behind her. Sam jerked his head to indicate the ponies should follow and caught up to her in only a few strides. Only then did Shining notice just how tall Sam was compared to Ana, or any other human or pony for that matter. Sam was a few inches over six feet; he was shorter than Celestia, but towered over both Ana and the ponies. Deep in thought as their benefactors were, Shining took a few moments to examine his surroundings once again. The Absolution, unlike the smaller transports and landing crafts he had seen, was massive. Ships tended to induce a feeling of claustrophobia, but the wide corridors and tall ceilings gave the false impression they were walking through the grand hallways of some great structure. Even the lobby alone was massive enough to hold half of Ponyville. Steel, plastic, and whitewashed metal dominated everything. It was so... clean. Sterile. He unconsciously closed ranks around the mares and cantered together to catch up. Sam was casually strolling behind alongside Ana, blowing the occasional puff of sweet-smelling smoke. “Out with it, Concord. This is my ship. No smoking in my presence,” Ana ordered. Sam exhaled another puff of smoke before putting the tube back in its case once again. “As for Organic Corporate Operations—sometimes called OrC. Op. or just OCO—they’re more entrepreneurs than farmers. Zenith builds technology, while OrC. Op. builds food, if that makes sense. They manipulate how food grows and reproduces, or alters their genetics in order to better feed the populace. You’ll learn more about them once you get there,” she added hastily; Applejack had opened her mouth to raise a fuss. “I know plenty about them, but I’m afraid my time is short and not ready for an extensive chat about corporate policy.” The secretary leaned forward and whispered something in Ana’s ear. “Good! It just so happens that your vessel had docked with the Absolution the previous day to pick up an order. They’re waiting for you in the main hangar bay. You, Mister Armor, will be here for another day until your ship arrives. Concord, go to Medbay Five, and hurry up if you don’t want to miss your flight tomorrow.” Ana walked briskly away, chatting quietly with her secretary. People automatically parted around her as she passed as if an occasional stroll in the residential and commercial decks was nothing new on the Absolution. Sam sighed, turned, and walked away. The wall he approached acknowledged someone was there and the steel doors parted to allow him access. He turned, looking back at the trio. “Know where to go, you lot?” Applejack looked around confused and smiled sheepishly. “Sorry to say ah don’t. This newfangled place has got so many nooks and crannies, it’s easy fer me to get lost.” “This place is so... big.” “What’d ya expect, Flutters? Dreadnaught-class mobile production ship. Five thousand meters from bow to stern,” Sam replied simply, “What!” Shining exclaimed. He was captain of the royal guard and commanded a fair bit of firepower, but never in all of his years did he anticipate something so large could actually exist. “How does this thing even move? It’s larger than most cities!” “You know where you’re going or what?” he redirected. “Don’t got time to chat. Gotta see the doc.” Sam jerked his head towards the still open door. Several guests and shoppers parted around him and the pair, either too nervous to talk to a pony or too scared to speak to a heavily scarred soldier. Shining nodded. He had plenty of time to wander and explore, but not his friends. “Not really,” Fluttershy said timidly. “Can you point us in the right direction?” Sam tsked, irritation leaking through his stony demeanor. He jerked his head towards the open corridor once more, saying, “This way. I’ll walk you most of the way there.” “Thanks,” Shining replied gratefully, even though he already knew where the flight deck was. His own flight wasn’t scheduled until tomorrow, but keeping Fluttershy and Applejack company until their departure would kill time until he figured out something to do. Perhaps he could peruse the cyberware Ana had been developing, but what he really wanted to do was speak with Sam alone. Sam led the trio to a small black panel and showed them what buttons to tap. “Most of the larger ships got maps, least those built to carry civvies.” The screen flashed with a large amount of white lines showing a rough diagram of a starship. Shining couldn’t help but watch as the lines and figures danced around Sam’s practiced strokes. It was nothing but a commodity to Sam, but the sight was strangely enthralling to the pony, almost beautiful in its exoticism. He double-taped a segmented room nestled on the starboard side. The Absolution diagram focused momentarily on the ship’s titanic engine nacelles jutting out of the hull before zooming towards a highlighted portion halfway along the ship’s exterior. “That’s where you’re goin’.” “What’s that mean? ‘Civvies?’” Applejack asked as she watched Sam access the console. “Civilians. Noncombatants or unessential personnel. People like you ‘n business personnel like Ana.” “Well, we’re ponies, not people.” Sam turned to stare at Applejack. It was like she was trying to stare at a brick with eyes. “You don’t laugh all that often, don’tcha fella?” she said sardonically. He sighed again and returned the tube between his lips. Fluttershy spoke up, “I thought that Ana didn’t want you smoking on her ship.” “No smokin’ in her presence, if memory serves.” Sam continued walking, a small wisp of smoke trailing him with every breath. Rather than pester him with questions, the mares began some small talk before Shining interrupted. “So why choose to come out here? Surely you could have turned the princess down if you wanted to stay in Ponyville. I know my loyalty is to the crown, but I can’t help but believe you all can choose whatever you want to do.” “Thats about right,” Applejack said as she readjusted her Stetson. The overhead lights felt strange to her: fake and too abnormal. It was definitely not the same as the welcoming sun back home. “But I couldn’t rightly leave Flutters on her own after she up and volunteered. We all gotta look after each other.” “What about Rainbow Dash?” The mare was Fluttershy’s oldest friend, after all. “What about your farm?” “Rainbow’s gone and jumped ship already. I don’t know all the nitty-gritty details but she got off planet faster than Winona after she caught a coon’s scent. Somethin’ ‘bout a contest or such and such. ‘n don’t worry ‘bout the farm...” A warm, almost tender, smile sprouted across her face. “‘Bloom’s got everythin’ taken care of.” A loud, terse whistle caught their attention. Sam had turned into one of the adjacent hallways as they conversed, leaving them behind. He jerked his head and continued walking, not bothering to see whether they followed or not. The trio quickly cantered to catch up to their guide. Something about him seemed... off. Sam’s behavior was stoic yet protective, despite him not having any reason to help the trio outside of altruism. Ponies were normally all too happy to help someone in their time of need. Seeing a human show little to no emotion for something they saw invoked a smile every day was a little offputting. Shining, personally, would have taken Sam’s apathetic indifference over the looks he was getting from other Absolution residents. They parted to make room for Sam, leaving a slow stream of humans and other life forms to observe them from either side. Some wore strange earing baubles that moved even when they weren’t. Others were followed by carts that levitated without magic, and yet still hummed with energy. The majority looked oddly intrigued, while some looked amused. Clad in their form-fitting grays, blues, and reds, Shining would have called them out as looking utterly absurd. He had been warned it was a social taboo and even a crime in some places to not wear clothes. He became suddenly aware just how exposed he was in just his saddlebags. Ana had told him she would make special exceptions to the clothing rule for the duration of his stay, but the eyes kept returning to him and his equine companions. Applejack and Fluttershy seemed glued to whoever passed them by. Their voices dropped to low whispers that prevented him from hearing them, which surprised him. He had been often told that Fluttershy suffered from an often crippling agoraphobia. Flinching at the slightest glance was one of the expected symptoms in such an alien environment, but her eyes were sucking in everything like a sponge. One sow of a man waddled passed the three. His entire right arm was covered in spiderwebbed circuitry. Several lights and displays dotted the machinery. His palm was open to the air and projecting small lights and lasers to form a solid, three-dimensional image. It was some type of race that had caught his rapt attention, but before he could take a closer look, the man waddled passed, oblivious to their presence. A tall ebony woman, even taller than Sam, with stark-white spiky hair bumped her fist into his in a friendly gesture as she passed. She was simply dressed in a pair of knee-high boots, sweatpants, and a tanktop that revealed some sort of tribal tattoos covering every inch of her arms. Shining’s gaze lingered a little too long on the intricate designs, and seeing she was being observed, the woman winked seductively as she passed. Well, at least some were... friendly. The corridor soon branched into a four-way junction. Stopping, Sam pointed down the left path. “Thataway. Just keep headin’ straight. You’ll run right into it.” Shining wished he had a phrase to describe Sam. He rotated around, looming over them, but yet did not exert the aura of menace his tall but slim frame suggested. Size had often been a measure of power or strength in Equestria, but here he was, eyes alert for signs of danger and helping those he’d known for only a couple minutes. Papa bear. That’s the phrase. “Thanks a bunch. Here’s hopin’ the doc gives you a clean bill of health,” Applejack said in attempt to be friendly. Sam just nodded and grunted, but gave no other response. His eyes were on Fluttershy, whose mouth opened and closed as she tried to conjure some sort of thank you. “Eep!” Fluttershy squeaked and flinched as Sam placed a comforting hand atop her head. “Don’t worry about it.” And with that, Sam turned on his heels and walked down the opposite hallway, both hands in his pants pockets. A few people looked at him with disgust as they passed when they saw the stream of smoke exiting his lips. “What an odd fella. And that there has got to be the strangest cigarette ah’ve ever seen.” “I think he’s nice. He just looks a little scary,” Fluttershy added, looking at his back as he continued towards the ship’s medbay. “Should we go after him?” “What for? He’s got an appointment with a doctor fer somethin’ or whatever. No good buggerin’ the fella during a checkup.” “I suppose you’re right.” Fluttershy pawed at the ground nervously. She turned towards the long, bland corridor Sam pointed to. Standing around as they were and devoid of their guardian, they were starting to draw more than a few eyes. Although he wasn’t as familiar with her as Applejack, Shining approached her and wrapped a hoof around her neck. “Hey, if it makes you feel any better, I’m leaving for the same place as you tomorrow.” That perked her up. “Really?” He gave her the same smile he’d given Twilight countless times when she was a filly, whenever her mind was exhausted or frightened. There was a level of strength behind Fluttershy; Shining knew that without a shadow of a doubt, but it took more than encouragement to show the steel behind the silk. “Come on, sugar. We gotta train to catch. Or plane. Or somethin’.” Applejack turned to Shining. “You really comin’ tomorrow?” “For a few days, yes. I can tell you in full when I meet you there.” Shining, instead of moving down the corridor, inched towards the opposite hallway that Sam took. “I’ll meet up with you in a moment, but I need to talk to Concord.” “Alright.” Applejack looked uncertain, but dropped it. “Don’t be a stranger. Stop by as soon as you can.” He must have looked eager to get away for a moment, so she just dropped the issue. Sam was already a speck of brown against the smooth whites and grays. Shining admired the fact that Ana could keep a clean ship with so many humans and different species aboard it, but the constant lack of any real color or variety was somehow irritating. Calming, yes, but still irritating. At a brisk canter, the stallion caught up to his target in only a few minutes. Sam did not appear to be in any real hurry to get to his destination. Shining’s hooves clattered towards Sam. His target stopped and turned mechanically towards the pony. “What?” ‘Blunt and to the point. Admirable,’ Shining thought. He could tell that Sam had seen some action, and despite whatever he had seen, he cut right to the heart of the matter. It was quite refreshing to deal with a soldier that never wished to dance around the issue, but there was one thing he wanted to ask before seeking an answer for the big question on his mind. “What happened to Miss Arias? I know wounds well enough to know that hers was not done by a scalpel. That’s not surgery; somepony tried to cut her throat. No surgeon makes an X-shaped cut like that.” Sam shrugged. “Don’t know; never asked.” Shining could only stare incredulously. “But you had to have noticed too!” Sam sighed, blowing another cloud of smoke that made Shining’s nose twitch. There was more than tobacco in that strange cigarette of his, something Shining couldn’t identify. Something very calming that made his head feel like it was slowly being stuffed with cotton. “You’re a soldier, ain’tcha?” Shining nodded. He had been in the guards for years. It was all he wanted to be when growing up. “Knew it. Could smell it on ya.” “Likewise.” He blew another puff of smoke before closing his eyes. After a moment, he opened them again and answered. “There’s an unspoken rule among people that states you should never ask why they buy cyberware or how they got their scars, especially among soldiers. Security reasons for us, but civvies buy cyber for all sorts of reasons; conformity, injury, or maybe because for the first time in their life, they can control somethin’ that decides their future.” The pony’s face scrunched up in confusion. “All you have to do is choose a path.” A deep, throaty chuckle issued from Sam’s throat, startling the pony. It sounded like sandpaper grating against his ears. “Not that simple. Our lives are dominated by rules and laws, lawman. Government, corporations, family, friends, jobs; we all have obligations to somethin’ before we’ve even sucked our momma’s tit. To some, the control is suffocating, and altering their own body is the first real step they can take to wrestle back that control. It’s not about a lack of identity, it’s a lack of power. “And yes, it looks like someone tried to shut Ana up, but she’s fine now; it’s her business ‘n it’s not my business to know her business. When people want some cyber, their reasons are their own, especially if they’re scumbag criminals. Same goes for their battlescars. Hers,” he pointed at his throat, “and mine.” His finger traced the the slash across his cheek. “It sounds barbaric.” Sam leaned back against the wall. “It can be; some take the process a little too far, but it’s not our place to judge. Can you say in your heart, little pony, that if putting a little bit of machinery in their body makes people happy, it is wrong? Altering themselves for whatever the reason should be outlawed even if it helps them be at peace with themselves? How does you or me knowing about Ana’s scars help anything?” Shining looked down to his legs, wondering how it would feel to see one flesh and bone, and the other cold, lifeless metal. “I–” “Look me in the eye.” And he did, looking Sam square in his stony face. Thoughts danced around in his head, each strange and confusing. It was the obvious price of working around rules and a world not his own. Taking a breath, he gave the answer on his mind. “I don’t know.” Another puff of smoke accompanied Sam’s newly formed half smile. “Not a good answer, but an honest one. It’ll do for now. That it? I gotta go. Don’t make me waste my time for nothin’.” “No... one more thing. Just one... Why did you get worried when Miss Arias mentioned Magnasanti?” Some irritated growl escaped Sam’s lips. “Nothin’ bad ‘bout the place on paper. Good city, lotsa business, but once you peel back the skin, then you see the problem.” “Which is?” “What happens when you leave an apple tree unattended for too long?” Twilight’s friend Applejack had spoken of her farming ways on several occasions. It was quite easy to pick up a few things, and as his mouth opened to respond, comprehension dawned on him. “The fruit falls... and rots.” Sam nodded curtly. “It’s what happens when people are left to their own devices for too long and given a big ol’ city to stew in for a couple o’ years. Lotsa people were left to fend for themselves while we played grabass in Dratali space. Soldiers were taken care of, as were those who got ahead in the corporate lines, but average people born to poverty, darkness, and crime didn’t have a lot goin’ for them. War let some forget what was happenin’ on the homefront.” “They could always ask for help! Every Alliance officer I have met has been more than willing to help!” Shining protested. This was so unfair. How could Sam possibly be telling the truth? “Ana didn’t seem to think anything was wrong.” “She’s too concerned about her company to worry much about everyone. She’s got people relyin’ on her already, and even when she does try to help, she can’t be everywhere and do everything. Even she has her limits.” Sam’s eyes narrowed. “People get mighty desperate when they don’t see help comin’ for them. The Alliance tried to step in at times, but they were stretched too thin already with the war. Magnasanti was one of the closest secure resupply depots to contested space, and it is dominated by the corporations that supplied war materials and received military outsourcing contracts. On the surface it is perfect, but that’s only the illusion of prosperity. Crime runs rampant on the darker streets, only there’s no one there to report or stop it. “Oh, they’re not all bad,” Sam said upon seeing Shining’s look of rising horror. “A lot of ‘em are really good people. A fair few that do try their hand at thievery are jus’ down on their luck and turning to crime to pay the bills and protect their friends, but that doesn’t make them any less dangerous. The corporations own the day, the netrunners and thieves own the night. That’s why you better turn back and warn your two little friends about what they’re gettin’ into. It’s not what you do see in Magnasanti that can hurt you.” Seeing that Shining didn’t have any more questions for him, Sam puffed a burst of smoke, stopped holding up the wall, and continued down his path. The captain watched him go, digesting what had been said. “Captain.” Shining’s ears perked as Sam spoke. “Yes?” “No, captain. Captain Samuel Concord.” Shining smiled. “Captain Shining Armor, sir.” For chapter commentary and my ramblings, visit my page HERE Chapter Commentary: LINK Edited by: Genesis1212, TheSynn, Midnight Spark Author's Note I hope you enjoyed chapter 2. Here I must say I have a little something to offer in light of these new developments. Just as Fluttershy began watching news boadcasts, a lot of extra material will be found later down the line in the form of broadcasts and similar media fluff. Ponies and humans alike, along with a number of species in between. There's bound to be far more fun and interaction than what I am writing, especially when Fluttershy and AJ actually get to Magnasanti. So, if you like the world I am building and would like to contribute a little, be it stories by your own characters of those not covered in the collab, shoot me a PM. We can work something out. At the very least I can link to it.
\\C:\whitelist\update.datAuthor's Note And now for something a little different. There are a lot of people in the universe, both in my story and not. I thought it would be a little fun to see what would happen if the cloak of Internet ambiguity was stretched a good thousand years into the future. What would happen in the far future when a little spat of hackers, nerds, and outcasts poke fun at each other? I will tell you right now this fact: ALL INTERLUDES CAN BE SKIPPED. No interludes, chapters that can be identified by their pathway chapter names, are required reading for the story. However, if you decide to read the interludes, you'll pick up on some nice little tidbits and clues for future events. Also, have fun figuring out which username matches with each character. I hope you enjoy this little interlude. If you're interested in making your own interlude, feel free to read THIS for more information on the matter. \C:\whitelist\update.dat Shadowlands Lounge, Magnasanti Hub, The Matrix Personas Present: ~Bone Collector ~Captain Chaos ~MrOrion ~Synergy ~ZomZom Synergy: Okay, it’s days like this I feel like saying everything can just fuck off. Captain Chaos: Here we go... MrOrion: What’s up, Sin? Captain Chaos: Syn’s getting emo again. Synergy: Can’t be pissed off in peace, Cap? Captain Chaos: Go right ahead, but this is the third time this month. The Shadowlands isn’t your own personal blog. Once and a while is okay, but we’re not your therapist. Synergy: I’ll behave. Synergy: I almost got my arse kicked, Orion. CSS’s been hiring loads of new blood to work security, especially after them ponies started moving into our settlements. Nearly got arrested for loooking at a guard funny. Captain Chaos: I've looked into them. They've recently gone on a recruiting frenzy. ZomZom: I hate those guys. Uptight jerkwads, the lot of them. MrOrion: At least the benefits are good. Free medical after 10 years and everything. Bone Collector: I’m afraid I must agree with Zom. They’ve seriously stepped up their anal retentiveness, and for them, that’s saying something.. ZomZom: Don’t agree with me. It makes me nervous. --Adam has joined the chat-- --Eve has joined the chat-- Adam: Wow. What did I walk into? Eve: Flame war! Captain Chaos: Not quite. ZomZom: Who let in the newbies? Captain Chaos: This is my Haven. I changed the settings to let in some new blood. I’ll know if there’s anyone in here who’s not supposed to be. Adam: I’m a mechanic, ZomZom. Automotives, cybertech, engineering, blueprints. I do it all. Eve: I help. MrOrion: Zombie doesn’t like new faces. He’s like our cranky, racist grandpa. ZomZom: You’re older than me. Bone Collector: We still love you. > Bone Collector Transmitting to ZomZom: June 12, 3043 Posting includes 19 kb of attached files ZomZom: That better not be porn. MrOrion: Tee hee. ZomZom: Damn it. You’re gonna pay for this. Captain Chaos: What are you, Bones? Twelve? Bone Collector: Hahahahahahaha! MrOrion: How much have you looked into CSS? I haven’t bothered with the latest on them for a while. Captain Chaos: Enough to know why they are getting cranky. Like most of the problems of today, it’s the ponies. Bone Collector: I remember way back when where my biggest problem was getting backhacked by Essex-Imago-Inata. Ah, good times. Adam: The times, they are a changin’. Captain Chaos: Some ponies can use magic. That makes some corps nervous, and therefore makes them hire more security, something the armed security contractors like the Commercial Security and Safety specializes in. Eve: I saw that on the news. The joint corporate assault? ZomZom: See? This is why I don’t like kids and new faces; we never get anyone who knows their stuff. That was the Factory and E.I.I., not CSS. Trigger-happy retards CSS may be, they had nothing to do with that. I had a lot of friends and contacts there. Wiped out in a second. Synergy’s pissed, but she’s got nothing on me right about now. Captain Chaos: Calm down; Kludge did what he could to warn them ahead of time. Even Jack stepped in to help. MrOrion: After crawling out of whatever hole we thought he died in. Adam: I liked the NOMAD colony guys. I got a few calls from them every once in a while when they needed me to look over their specs. ZomZom: Sure you did. Eve: Really! The guys and gals we talked to specialized in cybertech research. While not our forte, we’ve got good minds for engineering and cybertech R&D. Adam: We work primarily in engines and automotives, but I like to dabble. MrOrion: Didn’t Valentine say Jack and NOMAD weren’t on good terms? ZomZom: And she’s right; Jack doesn’t talk to them that much anymore. Adam: I’ve heard whispers one of them did something to offend him. ZomZom: Whatever happened, I’m sure Jack started it. Captain Chaos: DaemonJack’s not the most reliable netrunner, but he doesn’t start fights when he doesn’t have to. MrOrion: Dude’s paranoid, I swear. Just wondering why he would step in all of a sudden after being gone for so long. Synergy: Speaking of paranoid, who’s willing to gamble Twilight Sparkle’s not under surveillance? Bone Collector: Less than zero people. Captain Chaos: I’ve confirmed two separate security probes from the Espa Robo recon teams. It’s anybody’s guess as to how many private security personal have been bribed or watch from a distance, let alone the military. ZomZom: I’ve verified an additional two by naval special forces. Eve: How much do you see, Captain? MrOrion: Chaos sees all, knows all. Captain Chaos: That is right. ZomZom: Right now the most talked about thing in the universe is magical talking ponies. The stupidity makes me want to swallow a Glock. Synergy: Now that you put it that way, it does seem kinda retarded. Adam: I get why she’s under watch, but what do they think they would gain? Magic? Dratali bodies have been recovered countless times, and they can use magic but you don’t see us all farting rainbows. How the hell are ponies going to be any better? Eve: Everything’s better with ponies. ZomZom: Eve, I will come over there and I won’t treat you nice. MrOrion: It’s to cover their bases and asses. ZomZom: Ask her new boyfriend and you’ll find out why. I was chatting with some of my old navy buddies and found out the truth. Major Curt Dupree, trained sniper, decorated officer, current partner of a talking horse, and–most importantly–is a dirty magic user. Synergy: Magic? Us? Bloody hell... Captain Chaos: I’ve heard something similar from DaemonJack. I haven't been able to confirm anything, however, and how he got his information is up for grabs. I’m getting the impression that it’s not under wraps, but no one’s talking. Bone Collector: That begs the question: how did he find out before us? Especially ZomZom and you, Captain? Eve: Was he just digging for info? Was that why he was gone so long? I don’t know much about Jack, but I know he disappeared for a while. ZomZom: No idea. He talks to Kludge more than any of us. As for why the major has magic, I haven’t been able to dig up much about that. All I know is that Sparklebutt has something to do with it. Every lead I’ve followed points back to her. I just don’t know why. Adam: Huh. So that explains it. MrOrion: Oh? Fresh blood has a secret worth sharing? ZomZom: Spill it. Eve: Adam... Adam: Eve’s right. Can’t share that at the moment. Would like to, but I’d like to get to know you all better before I start spilling my guts. It’s not that I don’t trust you, but... I don’t trust you. Captain Chaos: Fair enough, but know this: I don’t take too kindly to mining for intel here. Give and take rules apply, and you need to know when to pull your weight. Eve: Gotcha. Adam: Loud and clear. --King Kludge has joined the chat-- Synergy: Hail to the King! King Kludge: Hello everyone. Can’t stay for long, but I figured I’d stop in to say hi. * King Kludge -help info ######################## -op Captain Chaos King Kludge ZomZom -state open Shadowlands Lounge, Magnasanti Hub, The Matrix Personas Present: ~Adam ~Bone Collector ~Captain Chaos ~Eve ~King Kludge ~MrOrion ~Synergy ~ZomZom King Kludge: Got some new faces, I see. Slow night otherwise? ZomZom: Negative. Most of the regulars have been in off and on all day and night. Just not too many in ATM. Synergy: I’m just killing some time. Going out for some nosh in a bit. Bone Collector: Where’ve you been all this time? Gone for so long and then *boom* you’re here with Jack on your heels. King Kludge: I’ve been playin this 1 a little close to the chest. I should be able to tell you what’s up in a week or two. MrOrion: Secrets aplenty. No one trusts each other anymore ;_; King Kludge: We’ve all got our secrets, Orion. That’s just the way we are. I’ve got to keep a little bit of myself just for me. Bone Collector: How long do you have? King Kludge: I should be gone already, in truth. Just stopping by to say I’m not dead. ZomZom: Before you go, thanks for helping out my friends. King Kludge: Not a problem brotha. A lot of good people were there. A king has to look out for his peasants. Synergy: And cue the ego wanking. King Kludge: Don’t hate me because I’m awesome. And Zom, you’d better prepare for a little blast from the past. ZomZom: My Lord? What hath thou wrought upon my meager existence? King Kludge: Don’t want to spoil the surprise. Believe me, you’ll know it when you see it. --King Kludge has disconnected-- Synergy: Drama queen. Why doesn’t he just say “Whisper my name three times upon the eastern winds and I shall be there.”? Eve: I like him. Adam: Odd guy. Seems ok Captain Chaos: He is indeed a little odd. Adam: Is he always like that? Captain Chaos: Usually, yes. Adam: Is he... MrOrion: He’s just weird. ZomZom: I suppose I better find my gear and gun. They’re around here somewhere. Bone Collector: Buried under all the crap? --DaemonJack has joined the chat-- MrOrion: We were wondering when you’d show up. DaemonJack: Sorry; I’ve taken a pretty big job. My new client’s contract requires a lot of my time. Synergy: Let’s go for the hat trick. Let me guess, you can’t talk about it either? DaemonJack: Nope. Synergy: Called it. * DaemonJack -help info ######################## -op Captain Chaos ZomZom -state open Shadowlands Lounge, Magnasanti Hub, The Matrix Personas Present: ~Adam ~Bone Collector ~Captain Chaos ~DaemonJack ~Eve ~MrOrion ~Synergy ~ZomZom DaemonJack: Fresh blood! Adam and Eve. Husband and wife, brother and sister, father and daughter. I could never figure out the story between those two. Adam: We just picked the first thing that sprung to mind. DaemonJack: I’ve heard worse. Now has anyone seen Kludge? Bone Collector: You missed him by about ten seconds. DaemonJack: Frag it, I’ve been trying to get a hold of him for weeks. Slippery little weasel. What’s the current topic? Captain Chaos: Ponies and Twilight Sparkle. DaemonJack: Out of all things Cap, you pick her? Captain Chaos: It’s been quite a varied and informative topic so far. MrOrion: Care to throw in a bone? DaemonJack: Sure. She’s getting married to that human sniper Curtis Dupree. ZomZom: The major? Are you serious? Synergy: You’ve got to be shittin me. It’s true? Bonking a pony? Adam: Hahahahaha! Oh, she’s gonna love this! Eve: That’s fucked up. Can they even have kids? Ew. Bone Collector: Cross-species boning... I’ve got nothing worth saying. MrOrion: I can’t get that image out of my head. Seriously, the major is a horse fucker? ZomZom: Strange enough, I knew this. I didn’t take it seriously because I have an IQ over 100, but apparently some Alliance shit-for-brains doesn’t. Bone Collector: It’s a heartwarming story of love and affection! *hurk retch* Captain Chaos: Hybrids do exist after all. ZomZom: Yeah, but it’s been just barely two years since she left Avol. We’ve known our other dumbass alien friends for generations. In less than two years our dear friend Dupree overcame thousands of years of bestiality stigmatism. What, he couldn’t keep it in his pants? Bestiality is not a laughing matter, unless you’re fucking a hyena. DaemonJack: Heh, even I got a chuckle from that one, Zom. MrOrion: I need to ponder this. I don’t have an opinion right now. Synergy: Same.... ugh. Captain Chaos: So who do you have tailing her? DaemonJack: Just a little birdie. I’ll share any other useful nuggets when I get them. Bone Collector: Are you lying to us again? DaemonJack: I have audio. > DaemonJack Transmitting to #CHAT: June 12, 3043 Posting includes 15 MB of attached files Adam: Hey, just popped up. Let’s have a listen. ZomZom: I hate her voice already. MrOrion: Zombie hates something. That’s new. Captain Chaos: The audio is clipped. DaemonJack: I figured you didn’t want to listen to all the boring garbage, so I only gave you the good bits. Bone Collector: Who talks like this? MrOrion: It’s called “people”, you scavenging freak. Go outside or look out a window. You’ll see them walking on something called concrete. DaemonJack: Like them or hate them, yes, ponies are a part of our life now. Yes, one of them is getting married to a human. MrOrion: Tell me something I don’t know. DaemonJack: I’m currently not wearing pants. MrOrion: ... Captain Chaos: Wow... Synergy: ... DaemonJack: I think better when I’m hanging free. --MrOrion has disconnected-- Captain Chaos: I have no words. DaemonJack: Hey, any of you fraggers know what hode means? For chapter commentary and my ramblings, visit my page HERE Chapter Commentary: LINK Edited by: TheSynn, Midnight Spark
\\E:\Users\GlowCloud\Picture\wALLofHAIL.jpgAuthor's Note Chapter written and produced by: blazikenking If you wish to write you own Interlude, feel free to read THIS for more information on the matter. \E:\Users\GlowCloud\Picture\wALLofHAIL.jpg Iron Rose, Terra Hub, The Matrix Personas Present: ~BraveLizard ~KingBob ~MechDemonHunter ~NancyTheTavernWrench ~VolTecha --BraveLizard has joined the chat-- BraveLizard: Who's alive in here? MechDemonHunter: I am. KingBob: Totes not dead. MechDemonHunter: Nancy's not really here, as usual. VolTecha: And I'm the new face here. BraveLizard: Yes you are. Could you tell us a bit about yourself? MechDemonHunter: So asks the most secretive of us. KingBob: Nice burn, Chase! VolTecha: I just got a computer recently, and I love it. I currently have just one screen, but I intend to fix that soon. It's on a rotating section of a wall so I can use it from one of two rooms. BraveLizard: A single computer that can be used from two rooms. How interesting. Would you mind sharing your design? VolTecha: The computer is mounted on a rotating panel, which also has some hooks for putting the keyboard on. It’s an all-in-one machine. The internet is wireless NancyTheTavernWrench: Do you think you could expand that so it can switch between two accounts with the flip? Say, one for business and one for personal use? KingBob: SHE'S ALIVE! VolTecha: I'm sure someone could come up with the code for that. VolTecha: Dare I ask what this would be for? NancyTheTavernWrench: I run a tavern on Terra and have a workshop right next to it. I want to be able to flip the monitor around between the tavern and the workshop. BraveLizard: Don't you have multiple monitors in your workshop? NancyTheTavernWrench: I'm sure that can be figured out. Say, do you think you could figure something out, VolTecha? VolTecha: I'm best with mechanical and explosive stuff (especially on Wednesdays). I could rig something up, but it wouldn't be as neat as someone who knew how to write the program. I might be able to find someone who could help you though. MechDemonHunter: Explosives? --SoupLadel has joined the chat-- VolTecha: Yes. Explosives are a weekly part of my life. Have been for years. SoupLadel: You sound kind of like somepony I know. KingBob: Wait, "somepony"? We have a pony here! We have a pony on the internet! MechDemonHunter: Thanks, Bob. As if we couldn't infer that ourselves. VolTecha: Oh? Go on, Soupy. SoupLadel: You sound like my best friend from high school. Her name was Technia. She was usually depressed and ate my soup. KingBob: Please, do go on. VolTecha: Please, don't go on. BraveLizard: Overruled. Please continue. SoupLadel: If you insist. She liked building all kinds of things. She even made a pencil stand out of a large paper clip once when she was bored. Or depressed. I couldn’t tell the difference sometimes. MechDemonHunter: VolTecha, are you the one SoupLadel is talking about? VolTecha: I don’t know. BraveLizard: What about the Technia who reportedly sat on a huge bomb that she detonated to take out a large number of Dratali on Avol? There's no way she could have survived that without some damage. NancyTheTavernWrench: I bet 20 creds that we have the same Technia here. BraveLizard: I bet 100 that it's not the same one. KingBob: Ditto what the lizard said, but without the bet. Chase? MechDemonHunter: I'm not going to bet anything. Is there a picture of the Technia mentioned in the source you got, Lizard? BraveLizard Transmitting to #CHAT: June 15, 3043 Posting includes 420 KB of attached files BraveLizard: There's a picture of her there along with some information on her. SoupLadel: That's the mare. KingBob: VolTecha, would you please turn your camera on so we can settle this matter? VolTecha: No. Not now. MechDemonHunter: Do it. KingBob: Oh come on. Please? VolTecha: I won’t do it. NancyTheTavernWrench: Just 5 seconds, please. Perhaps talk a bit, too? VolTecha: Once again, no. SoupLadel: Are you a regular here? VolTecha: I’m not sure. BraveLizard: How about we hold off on finding out? While our lifespans are infinitesimal compared to that of the universe, we have all the time in the worlds to find out. NancyTheTavernWrench: Wise words. Everyone, Bob, please refrain from spamming VolTecha about her species. All spamming will be met with two slices of bread. KingBob: HEY! KingBob: And how do you know VolT’s a she? NancyTheTavernWrench: I don’t. But now you can’t unthink that either. VolTecha: Thanks Nancy. SoupLadel: If it’s alright, can I be a regular here? MechDemonHunter: It should be. Behave yourself, poke fun at Bob, and you’ll be fine. BraveLizard: That sums it up nicely. Now then, if you’ll excuse me, I must take my leave. Food and business await me. Mostly business. --BraveLizard has disconnected-- MechDemonHunter: I just got an important message. KingBob: About what? MechDemonHunter: My theatric combat aspirations. A theater is willing to let me try out for them. KingBob: Since when have you been interested in theater? Or anything? SoupLadel: Theatric combat? VolTecha: Theatric combat? KingBob: Explain thyself, Chase. Your king politely demands it with an iron fist. MechDemonHunter: I have two such fists myself. You lose. KingBob: Okay. . . and I think Nancy’s died on us again. MechDemonHunter: I take it you don’t know what theatric combat is, Soup and VolT? VolTecha: I’ve never heard of it. SoupLadel: It sounds kind of scary. MechDemonHunter: Bob, cover your eyes. KingBob: Why? MechDemonHunter: The new faces are getting a short history lesson. KingBob: YOU MONSTER! SoupLadel: I like Bob. He’s our jester king. VolTecha: He’s worthy of the title. MechDemonHunter: Theatric combat goes back about 300 years, a few decades after the creation of live effects to replace special effects, such as fire, electricity, and transformation sequences. The first live effects were all scripted and planned out, but they got better, to where effects could be scripted, then selectively activated, and finally to mental controls. VolTecha: That sounds so cool! I must get some of this technology. SoupLadel: You really sound like Technia, VolTecha. It’s creeping me out a bit. VolTecha: I am and am not sorry. MechDemonHunter: All theatric combat armor covers every inch of the body and head. Generally, it’s a bodysuit with the armor put on it, along with a separate helmet. The armor and weapons must adhere to technical standards, but can otherwise be whatever you want. I already know what I want. SoupLadel: What is it? MechDemonHunter Transmitting to #CHAT: June 15, 3043 Posting includes 580 KB of attached files SoupLadel: And now I’m going to have nightmares tonight. Thanks. VolTecha: I’m saving those pics so I can build a robot that looks like that. KingBob: I’m scared too, Soupy. Not because of the pictures. VolT’s thinking of building that thing, and she could send it after me. MechDemonHunter: I don’t think she would, Bob. You wouldn’t be worth the effort. MechDemonHunter: VolT, if you want to try your hand at making theatric combat gear, I can ask the Lizard to send you everything he has on the subject. VolTecha: What makes you think he has that information? MechDemonHunter: He always seems to have the information you need. You could look it up yourself, but he can deliver it all in one neat file. VolTecha: I’d appreciate that. Thanks.
Chapter 2: It's Cold Out HereChapter 2: It’s Cold Out Here Applejack gave Fluttershy a quick nuzzle both to focus her attention and to keep her going. She didn’t fault the poor dear for being worried; her own mind was still pondering what Shining had just said. Still, a few things needed to be done first. Thinking could come later. If Applejack could compare the Clementine to something she recognized, it was the tractor that had been in her family’s possession for almost twenty years. The faint aroma of old metal parts and grease clung to the air in a thin sheen. Other than the occasional odd look, the pair of them weren’t given too much attention. People scrambling back and forth with bags or parts in their grasp reminded her of Rarity when she being a fussy ninny. Fluttershy wasn’t watching where she was going, leaving her to take the lead. “And you got a room fer both of us?” she asked their guide, the resident quartermaster. “Yeah, yeah,” he grunted. The skinny human kept running a hand through his hair. Currently it was slicked into some giant cowlick. “You both were cleared for private quarters. Right here.” The man looked up from his datapad and clicked a button on the door they stopped at. “This entire section of the ship is the living quarters. Until the time comes when we arrive on Magnasanti, this will be your living quarters to do with as you wish.” Applejack had peeked in other rooms in the long and boring corridor, and what she saw was the same, if gutted, example. There was little more than a pair of bunk beds—fit for humans, of course, a small desk, and closet space. It felt like the size of her bathroom back home. The quartermaster handed Applejack a datapad. “A general map of the ship, including off-limits areas, event list, and a list of terms for the duration of your stay.” He inhaled deeply, causing Applejack to snigger slightly; it looked like he had been giving the same instructions far too many times this day. “You are only hereby permitted on board until we dock in Magnasanti, you are not carrying anything hazardous or unlawful such as... etcetera, etcetera, all unscheduled pit stops or detours at your request will be denied unless reasons listed in that datapad are given and validated, and you agree to not put forth any legal action against Organic Corporate Operations for any reasons listed below up to and including the following reasons for delay, also listed below, war party assaults on safe shipping lanes, and chesterbursters. Understood?” Applejack had been scanning the flat datapad carefully balanced on her hoof. What was a ‘sudden gravitational mass shadow’ supposed to be? “Mind if I get back to you on that? ...Wait, what!?” Yet before the quartermaster could answer for his choice of words, he had left to attend to his duties. Fluttershy had been nosing around the room while the quartermaster talked. At least she was proactively doing a little investigating. She’d hardly said a word since Shining’s warning. “Ah know it’s not the most comfy—” “It’s fine,” Fluttershy said quietly. Applejack blinked, surprised. Being quiet she expected, but Fluttershy never interrupted others. “...Okay then.” Although the majority of their luggage had been loaded into the cargo hold, there was plenty of closet space to store. After a few brief moments that were only filled with the stowing of bags, Applejack tried again. “Listen, ah know all this, “ she gestured around, “is a lot to take in, sugarcube. If you ever need to just talk...” Fluttershy did not reply. She was looking at the doorway, which someone currently occupied. He was a tall man with bronze skin. Grease and grime covered his blue-collar clothes, and welder goggles hid his eyes. A smile decorated his face. WIth a slight nod, and a little lengthening of his smile, he left. No hospitality at all. Applejack snorted and bit back a retort. Most people were like Ana and Sam so far; friendly or indifferent. Those without manners or who just didn’t like ponies, while expected, were becoming increasingly more common. The farmer smashed a hoof against the button that forced the door to close. Sleep would not come easy tonight. The scent of warm earth and animal fur was pleasant and welcome to Fluttershy. To her it reminded her of the forests and plains, of the running animals for which she shared her affinity for compassion. The foods and kibbles stored behind oaken doors sustained them, and the heat of sleeping bodies hung in the air. The hearth in Fluttershy’s cottage was alight with flickering flames. Two large, overstuffed armchairs were pointed towards the fire, but one of them was filled. Looking back towards the door nervously, she swallowed, steeled her shaky nerves, and hopped into the adjacent chair. He was a rather dignified looking unicorn dressed entirely in white, although red stitching along his lapels and tophat seemed to glow in the firelight. His charcoal fur made his red eyes stick out all the more. He was currently nursing a wineglass with some unidentified amber liquid. Without even shifting to greet his guest—it wasn’t even his house—he pushed an identical glass across the tabletop between them. Fluttershy stared at the fireplace. The heat and warmth of it or the presence of her home was no comfort at all. “Back so soon?” he asked politely. He had a very calm, soothing tenor. “Come now, my dear; no need for bad manners.” “This is my house,” she replied. “In more ways than one.” He tipped the glass to his lips and drained a portion, sighing contently. “Are you afraid of me?” The smells. The warmth. The sense of peace and calm. Everything that she could hold onto and form a bastion of comfort vanished into smoke and disappeared into the evening. “Why do you keep coming back here?” “That is not an answer.” She could feel his eyes staring at her. The side of her face began to itch. “You’ve never asked me to leave.” True. Without looking for him, she grasped the wineglass and sipped. It reminded her of the wine at Cadance’s and Shining’s wedding, pleasant with a peach aftertaste. “No...” The stallion looked at her over the rim of his glass as it hung halfway to his lips. The crackling fire cast shadows all across his face so much it was a surprise when he gave her a sorrowful smile. Setting his glass down, he removed himself from his chair. The floorboards squeaked noisily under the weight as he walked towards her own chair. His eyes reminded her of so many other unpleasant things. The color alone was enough to make her stomach dry heave out of reflex. She swallowed down the bile that instinctively rose to her throat. She sniffed loudly to suppress the impending waterworks that were clawing at the corners of her eyes. Still he waited patiently in front of the fire for her like a proper gentlecolt until hot, traitorous tears fell from her eyes in mass. “Shhhh... It’s okay.” Without even realizing it she was in his comforting embrace. The steady thrumming of his heartbeat soon drowned out the sound of fire eating the last little bits of ashen logs. “S-s-sorry,” she hiccuped, “for getting your suit dirty.” His comforting hoof stroked her head affectionately. “It is not the slightest bother, my dear.” She continued to sniff and cry her eyes out while pressed into his chest. Ordinarily such a thing would make her blush and stammer, she realized. She’d never let any stallion, or even a mare for that matter, get comfortable in her presence like that. What an odd thing to think at such a time, and yet as she lay cradled in some noble stallion’s warm embrace, she still felt safe. The last tears soon dried, but he continued to soothe away the pain and whisper sweet nothings in her ear. As she left his grasp he removed a kerchief to dab at her eyes. She must have looked terrible. Already she could feel the impending rat’s nest her mane had become, and crying for no good reason would have left her looking just awful. Rarity would have a field day if she ever caught her in such a state. “I’m s-sorry for that.” “Oh, it’s nothing, little one. There is no shame in acknowledging weakness. Don’t think for a second myself or your friends think any less of you for that.” She let him finish cleaning her up. Stepping away, he sat on his haunches and and awaited the lady’s needs. She almost smiled. If Rarity had ever had a stallion be so attentive, she’d be over the moon. “I see him whenever I close my eyes... When I sleep. When I’m awake...” She clutched her head and shook it hard enough in hopes the memories would fly off into some darkened space and be forgotten forevermore. “Make him stop. Please, make him stop...” Is this what she had been reduced to? Begging some stallion as if panhandling for bits? Hurt still tugged at her heart when he shook his head. “Bitter memories are one thing that time cannot erase so easily, Miss Fluttershy. It takes patience and healing, and even then, a scar always remains. They won’t leave no matter how far you go, little one.” Flashes of memory burst into her mind. Canterlot strewn with panicked screams and rubble in the streets. The stench of burning flesh that summoned carrion for a disgusting and abominable feast. Rarity, howling in agony to the smoky skies choked with ash of buildings and the fallen. A corpse still warm to the touch, its skin burnt while a pair of eyes bled accusations into her soul. Fluttershy gave a squeak of pain as her flanks impacted the hard hard floor, ripping away the memory. The blankets ensnared her in their tight, serpentine grasp. With a shake, she removed them and backed her rump into the corner. The end table shook slightly, the little trinkets on the surface rattling at the contact. Her eyes were drawn to her sleeping friend, yet Applejack did not wake. She slept like the dead. That was A-okay, but Fluttershy had to force herself to put down the limb that so desperately wished to shake her awake. Her breaths were coming in staccato gasps. In the small sleeping compartment every sound came crashing back. This place was small, very unlike her own home that had the smell of earth, a warm fire, and Angel’s furry hugs. She shut her eyes to stop the swaying, yet everything seemed dizzy and moving. Feeling bile in her throat, Fluttershy’s eyes landed on the door. Out... Too cramped! Need to think! The door opened with a hiss. Fresh, cool air hit Fluttershy and she gasped for breath. As she cantered out the door, a fresh wave of vertigo hit and the ceiling became the floor. Pain shot through her side and jaw. “Ow...” she moaned. Angel must have left one of his projects out again. Blinking back the blurriness and getting back on all four shaky hooves, she saw it was not one of Angel’s ill-gotten construction pieces and instead more plated flooring. A tiny splotch of red clung to to the silver, joining the miasma of mars that stained the floor. She put a hoof to her cheek. It stung, but it wasn’t bad. A loud hiss blasted her from behind. “Eep!” she squeaked and backed her rump into the opposite wall. No snakes or angry chimera heads. Just the door closing... Fluttershy closed her eyes to get her breathing under control. It always seemed to help, not being able to see, even though not seeing danger was generally frowned upon. Rainbow Dash always told her to never be scared. Being scared just happened to be something she was very good at. She took a deep breath and relaxed, the very same mental exercise Cadance and Twilight performed. In... Out... Inhale... Exhale... Slowly but surely, her limbs ceased trembling, yet the still image of the Dratalli still hid in the back of her mind. Fluttershy shook her head to clear the image. She blinked. Light streamed in through an open double doorway farther down the hallway. As she perked her ears instinctively, she heard light clicking sounds. Someone else was awake. Looking down the opposite end of the corridor confirmed all other doors were firmly closed. The gentle, lifeless hum of the ship’s interior mechanics was the only constant other than the high thrumming of electric emergency lights. “Applejack...?” she questioned softly as if her already demure voice and the wall were no obstacles to her call. She chided herself. Of course she couldn’t hear her. She was asleep on top of everything. Why would she need to wake her friend anyway? It was just someone else up. Even Angel got up in the middle of the night to get a drink sometimes. No need waking Applejack. It was best if she got all the sleep she could. As long as it was someone else, or better yet somepony else. Just not something else... The lightest hoofsteps echoed almost noiselessly across the narrow interior. Her head was hunched low enough to let the tips of her bubblegum-pink mane drag on the floor. There was an earthy scent in the air. It smelled familiar, but was unlike anything she could remember. As she approached the doorway, her legs locked up. A shadow had passed in front of her, casting a very human-looking silhouette. Despite confirming it as not some horrible creature that bred nightmares and ate fillies, that old sense of fear was back. Unoiled metal protested loudly from within; whoever it was had sat down. ‘It’s not some monster, silly filly. Just a person who can’t sleep. Like you! Maybe you both have something to talk about...’ She couldn’t stop those eyes from coming back to the forefront of her mind. “Someone there? You alright?” The insomniac moved again, the shadow craning its neck; its owner had noticed something. “You crying?” Fluttershy dabbed at her eyes. No tears, only dreams. Bad dreams. Maybe a few pitiful moans as well. “No...” she managed to squeak out. “Come again?” Male? He sounded nice enough, if a little groggy. The insomniac set something down. “No.” “Was that a no?” he asked. “N-no. I mean yes!” He paused in contemplation, his shadow scratching his chin. Fluttershy stood just outside the open doorway. She could smell other scents now. Grains, water, and salt, mostly. Looking up, it all made sense. Printed in neat black letters above the double doorway were the words: MESS HALL. Fluttershy slowly peaked her head around the corner. “Hey there,” came the response. Dozens upon dozens of tables were neatly aligned to her right. The tables themselves looked like they were white a long time ago, but had been stained a murky gray over the years. Steel bars held each one to the floor with the help of several large metal bolts. The bars curled outward, ending in a plastic bench for crewmembers to sit on. The only occupant in the room sat at the table closest to the door. He wasn’t too old, possibly middle-aged if she had to hazard a guess. Certainly younger than the soldier she met the previous day, but plenty older than Ana. He was dressed in a simple gray shirt that looked like it had seen several days of consistent wear. The cargo pants looked like they received the same treatment, as the dual empty toolbelts attested. Draped over his broad shoulders was an orange coat and it also came equipped with several pockets, these ones bulging with devices. Underneath his shaggy black bangs and curly beard were warm brown eyes. A disarming smile snuck through all the fur. “...H-hey...” Fluttershy pawed at the floor nervously. Looking at anything other than him, she examined her left. It looked like the cafeteria she had in school down to the shelves locking away their precious contents. Rainbow Dash had made weekly attempts to nick food from the pantry during flight school, just to see if she could. That same earthy scent caught her nose. It made her head buzz with energy, clearing away the fog incurred from sleep. There was fresh coffee in a pot on the counter. The man turned his head and spotted what she was looking at. “Want a cup? I’ve already made a fresh batch. Don’t think I’m up to finishing a pot on my own.” He seemed nice. Not mean at all, just kind of big and scary-looking, just like Harry the Bear. “Okay.” Fluttershy swore she whispered, but he still heard her. The table creaked noisily as he adjusted his weight and walked to the pot with long, even strides. He opened one of the cabinets and removed one of the cups, grabbing the pot on his way back. “Name’s Henry Stanford.” Fluttershy carefully took a step inside. It was soon followed by another, then another. Without even realizing it, she had joined him at the table. “I’m... Fluttershy.” He chuckled merrily. He sounded nice; another good sign. Maybe she was right and he just wanted some company. Fluttershy hopped up onto the bench only for her hooves to slide wildly across the surface and slipped backwards. The cry of alarm and fright was already past her lips before she stopped moving altogether. All she saw was the flickering fluorescent lights as she lay suspended. “Careful; table and seats have been worn smooth by now.” She didn’t even see him move! Henry was halfway over the table, a large, calloused hand wrapped around her foreleg, the only thing keeping her from tumbling backwards and cracking her skull on the hard floor and certainly not staring into the eyes of Dratalli looking over her. Henry pulled her forward just enough for her to get situated comfortably, or as comfortably as she could. The long, flat surface wasn’t quite right for ponies. Nothing on this ship was. “Thank you, Henry.” He gave her another bass chuckle, his eyes glittering like beetles in all that hair. “‘s nothing. Just watch out for yourself. The ship’s safe enough, but it’s the things you don’t see coming that hurt the most.” Soon the warm smell of coffee greeted her as he poured her a generous amount. Nodding gratefully, Fluttershy tipped the cup to her lips before asking, “What time is it?” “I’d say about four,” he said quietly. Danger averted, he seemed lost in his own thoughts. “Alarm’s set for five for most of the crew to wake up, so don’t worry about waking them just yet. Still, there’s always someone up. No rest for the weary.” He took a strong draft, draining half of his cup in just a few gulps. His own cup had been sitting there for a while if it had cooled off so much. “Sorry, no proper mugs on this boat.” “Oh? Oh! No, it’s fine.” Fluttershy down a few sips of her own. Well, it was the earthy scent she detected. Not much could be said for taste. It was like Sugarcube Corner’s chocolate-covered coffee beans if they’d been left out for about a month. Something must have shown on her face. “Yeah, blue collars don’t normally spring for the little perks. Good coffee is one of them.” He continued to nurse his own cup, eyes off in the distance. Fluttershy sat there quietly as she took gulp after gulp. It certainly wasn’t the best, and definitely not what she was used to, but she could get used to it with a little time. Having little else to do, she eyed her companion a little more. He did kinda look like a bear. He had a strong jawline and a wide nose that looked too large for his face. The curly brown mustache hairs made it look like a mountain poking out of a forest. “Can’t sleep either?” Henry’s voice jolted her out of her observations. The best course of option was to, of course, sink as deep into her cup as possible and hope he didn’t take offense for the stareing. “No...” She downed another nip only to realize her cup was empty. “Here,” he said, pouring her another cup and refilling his own. “Thanks.” “Not a problem, Fluttershy...” Henry trailed off again. “I can never sleep right on these boats.” Fluttershy tucked a lock of hair behind an ear to see him better. He had his head in a palm as he stared off into a wall. He didn’t seem sad or upset. “Just never felt right. I don’t like space. Even if there’s people right down the hall, I could never feel right. It always feels too different, too wrong somehow.” He set his cup down. He hadn’t even touched a drop since his refill. “No matter how much I get along with the crew, I can’t shake it. It’s cold out here...” Fluttershy tightened her grip on her cup. Why was he telling her this? The feeling of isolation was apparent on the ship from the start. Despite dozens coming and going when she and Applejack packed up for the night, most didn’t give them a second thought. It made her feel like being in the middle of Ponyville Square, with all of town mingling on the eve of the Summer Sun Celebration... and still feeling so very alone. Down went another draft of lukewarm coffee down her throat. Henry had tightened his coat around his form. Well, this had gotten a little too personal really fast. Unless he was talking literally, in which she was grateful she had a nice fur coat to help her stay warm. “Um... do you have any friends on the ship?” Fluttershy asked timidly. He shook his head slowly. “Nah; just a grunt who goes where the work is. No family.” “My friend Applejack helped me a lot.” Henry perked up, brow curled in confusion as he tried to guess where she was going with this line of thought. “She helps me when I feel like that. Sometimes I feel so alone I think no pony can help. She even tells—” Back to the cup. He didn’t need to know that. No siree. Her new friend had guessed the source of her discomfort. The warmth of his hand touched her hoof. She could feel the residual heat from the cup radiating off him. “I... heard what happened in Equestria.” Fluttershy flinched. Henry removed his hand, seemingly unsure if he offended her in some manner. The nightmares came and went as quickly as Ponyville weather changed. Dratalli invasion, the blood, the losses. Those eyes staring back at her... Nevertheless, he continued. “I understand; I really do. War, no; I’ve never been through that, and please don’t take offense when I say I hope I never do.” At least he was honest. Fluttershy didn’t want to force that on anypony or anyone else. Even a Dratalli. Even if they deserved it. He rubbed the back of his head as if enough pressure would reveal the answers. “It’s that need to run, even if you don’t know why. I can’t say it’s going to be better, but...” Henry trailed off, words failing him. The barest hint of anger puffed at her chest. How could he possibly know what she went through? Or even suggest it? So what if she ran away from Equestria! No more monsters, no more memories, no more monsters, no more memories no more memories no more monsters no morememoriesnomoremonstersnomorememories— ‘They won’t leave no matter how far you go, little one.’ The waterworks were already coming before she could stop them. White hot tears streamed down her face and she hurriedly wiped her face with a forehoof. “I’m sorry; I don’t know why that happened. I’m... not used to the coffee and the bed’s really uncomfortable.” Something soft dabbed at her face. Henry had pulled a handkerchief from one of his many pockets and dabbed at her eyes gently. For a moment he opened his mouth to say something, only to close it as words failed him. Together the sat in silence, only the cold he dreaded so much nipping at her mind. For chapter commentary and my ramblings, visit my page HERE Chapter Commentary: LINK Edited by: TheSynn Author's Note I have two alternate cuts with regards to the dream sequence. If you're interested in checking them out, you can find them here (mild gore warning) and here.
\\E:\Users\GlowCloud\Videos\TremblingFear.aviAuthor's Note Chapter written and produced by blazikenking \E:\Users\GlowCloud\Videos\TremblingFear.avi Iron Rose, Terra Hub, The Matrix Personas Present: ~BraveLizard ~MechDemonHunter ~NancyTheTavernWrench ~SoupLadel ~VolTecha SoupLadel: That really is how my soup helped Technia through high school. BraveLizard: So we can partially thank your soup skills for stopping the Dratali? SoupLadel: I suppose so. Say, where’s the jester? MechDemonHunter: He got dragged to one of the few places in this section of space with no internet a few days ago. A family vacation, he says. VolTecha: He should be coming back today. I honestly hope he does. We need our jester back. SoupLadel: Understatement of the week. VolTecha: Yeah. Anyways, how’s business? SoupLadel: Souptacular! My whole restaurant is still smaller than most ponies’ living rooms, but I have plenty of faithful regulars. I aspire to making a soup buffet, but for now, I’m content with what I’ve got. BraveLizard: I’ve heard that even though you ponies can eat meat, you don’t actually have the means to produce much of it. SoupLadel: Yeah. What little meat I can get every couple years goes right to me. I’d love to get a consistent flow of actual meat, even if it’s only for a special once per week. It would certainly help business. MechDemonHunter: But could you handle that kind of business? VolTecha: Meat has its own cooking rules, and that means some of it may have to be cooked outside of the pot. NancyTheTavernWrench: I have some advice for you, Soupy. NancyTheTavernWrench: Before you expand to having meat, which I believe would draw huge crowds, I suggest getting more space and hiring some help. SoupLadel: And why should I do that? NancyTheTavernWrench: Take it from someone who runs a tavern. As skilled as I am at everything there, I can’t be everywhere at once. I’ve also been in popular hole-in-the-wall restaurants as big as yours, and when there’s a line, few people are really happy. Maybe you ponies are different though, and are content to wait in lines. NancyTheTavernWrench: I suggest you expand your restaurant, whether by moving or expanding the place. After that, hire a couple employees. If you want to make the soup yourself, then make them the wait staff or something. Point is that if you want to expand one thing, then something else will have to expand too. --KingBob has joined the chat-- SoupLadel: Thanks Nancy. Hey, the jester is back! KingBob: I’m back, everyone. What’s happened since I was gone? MechDemonHunter: Nancy just gave business advice to Soupy. You missed it by 8 seconds. KingBob: Thank goodness. That sounds boring. BraveLizard: I think I can set you up with some good meat sources Soupy. We’ll talk it over in another room. BraveLizard has invited SoupLadel to a personal chatroom. KingBob: Remember: use protection! VolTecha: Silence, peasant. BraveLizard has invited NancyTheTavernWrench to a personal chatroom. KingBob: AND NOW IT’S GETTING EVEN BETTER! MechDemonHunter: Shut up, Bob. VolTecha: Say, how’s that theatric combat gig working out, Chase? MechDemonHunter: I underestimated everyone. The gear you gave me works just fine and gets perfect marks on the tech specs, but I need to improve my skills. VolTecha: Can we see some video footage of you in action? >MechDemonHunter Transmitting to #CHAT: Posting includes 20 MB of attached files KingBob: And then nobody did anything. Video time! VolTecha: So far as I can tell, you have the weapon down cold in practice. It’s more how you move on stage that needs work. MechDemonHunter: Advise me. VolTecha: Try coming in from a dark area with the eyes glowing. Sound intimidating. Show no weaknesses. When you’re up close for melee, switch to the gun function unexpectedly and fire right there. Also, let me finish those little cars. I should be done testing them by the end of the week. I’ll use the same proxy on Avol to send them to you. MechDemonHunter: Thanks. Those should help me quite nicely. VolTecha: And once they're done, I'll make duplicates for the robot. KingBob: I KNEW YOU'D MAKE A ROBOT! VolTecha: And I’m still not going to send it after you. You wouldn’t be worth the effort. SoupLadel: I have a question for everyone here. MechDemonHunter: Hm? SoupLadel: Who wants to come to Avol to see the sights and try some soup of mine? I'm thinking the last week of July. VolTecha: I can't. I'll probably be working on something during that time. KingBob: Is there a catch of some kind? MechDemonHunter: There's a quiet time for theatric combat around then. I'll be able to make it. SoupLadel: No catch. You'll just have to stay at a hotel. A hotel built and run by ponies. Ponies that use magic with ease. Magic that you will never be able to have. KingBob: I find these conditions mostly acceptable. I'll tell you if I can make it closer to the day. SoupLadel: Excellent. MechDemonHunter: What about Nancy and the lizard? NancyTheTavernWrench: I'll be able to make it. I already agreed to it and will be bringing some drinks from my tavern, and my motorcycle. If they allow me to do that. BraveLizard: I won't be able to make it. I am a busy sapient life form. KingBob: If you're so busy, what are you doing here? BraveLizard: There's this little thing called multitasking, and I happen to be quite proficient at it. VolTecha: I just checked my calendar and I definitely won't be able to make it. SoupLadel: Aw. And we all wanted to know just what you are, VolT. Oh well. I think I'll invite Technia to come over. It's been a while since I last saw her. I hope she's still in Ponyville. VolTecha: You do that. I'll just work on Chase's little cars for now. --VolTecha has left the chat--
Chapter 3: MagnasantiChapter 3: Magnasanti Applejack stretched cat-like, trying to work out the kinks in her back. Oh holy horseapples, those beds were a pain to sleep on. As she walked to the room’s tiny mirror, she saw Equestria’s worst case of bedhead. Farm life gave her the ability to fall asleep at the drop of a Stetson in order to wake up at the crack of dawn the following morning, and the inability to wake up when the bed was made from the congealed hate of insomniacs everywhere. “Bless my back, one more day is one day too long,” she complained. “Rise and shine, girl.” Applejack’s hoof was already halfway to Fluttershy’s bed before she saw the disheveled mess it was in. Odd; not only was Fluttershy awake this early, but up and about before her. “Fluttershy?” Given their own room was so small, it was not hard to discover she wasn’t present. She was out and about in the ship? Even more odd. A tinge of fear crept into the back of her mind. Where was she? The outside corridor was empty, but the sounds of activity were still thrumming in the air. Raucous laughter echoed from the room she remembered being the mess hall from the quartermaster’s map. It was a good enough place as any to start looking. First, where was that hat? Her internal chronometer told her it was dawn. There wasn’t much of a sunrise in the void of space, but the scent of juice, coffee, and eggs was enough to tell her it was close enough to breakfast. Sleepy, bleary-eyed mechanics and other ship personnel were all in various states of dress and garbs. And there was Fluttershy. She was in a rather animate talk with a scruffy-looking human. Even more surprising, she looked rather content. And awful; there were dark circles under her eyes and her mane was in a desperate need of a good brushing, but she was smiling. “Hey there, Fluttershy,” Applejack said as she hopped up onto the empty seat next to her. The hairy man and Fluttershy unusually and a table to themselves, but no shortage of eyes and whispers aimed at their direction. Fluttershy blinked and smiled. “Good morning, Applejack. This is Mister Stanford,” she said rather quickly. Applejack tipped her hat to him. “Mornin’ stranger.” He waved his hand dismissively. “Henry’s fine. I’ve been keeping your friend company for a bit. Have to say I was a bit surprised to find out we’re in the same boat. Fluttershy tells me you’re a farmer?” Applejack eyed the both. Her friend seemed content enough. Good; she needed to get out a bit more. “That’s right. How about yerself?” Fluttershy offered her a cup of coffee. Not one to turn down a little pick-me-up, she gratefully accepted until she got a whiff of the contents. “Agricultural engineer. I’m going to Magnasanti to do some fixin’ for OCO.” He took a draft from his coffee. “Depending on where they send me, we might be seeing a lot of each other.” Henry offered his hand to her, to which the farmer extended a hoof. Not being able to quite grasp her limb effectively didn’t seem to bother him in the slightest, and he shook it with a firm grip. She could feel several fresh callouses on his palm, and strangely not many old ones. Thump! She jumped slightly at the noise. Poor Fluttershy almost fell out of her seat. The source of the noise was a tray brimming with eggs, bacon, gravy, potatoes, and other cheap breakfast staples being placed unnecessarily hard on the tabletop next to Henry. “Mornin’!” the tan-skinned newcomer exclaimed cheerfully. He was several inches shorter than Henry and younger by just as many years. What was immediately recognizable was the same type of military fatigues that Sam fellow wore. “Wondered when I’d be meeting you two. Ship’s been a buzzin’ ever since we left the dock. Ponies on board! Given front row seats to Magnasanti and a couple o’ leathernecks as guard dogs!” He proceeded to stuff a fork into some eggs and shoveled them into his mouth. “Shcuttlebuhtt’s ahl I got fer fun when ahm on boafs.” Henry and Fluttershy could only stare, the latter finally managing to cease her shaking. “And you are?” Applejack asked slowly. The newcomer tried to swallow, only to devolve into a coughing fit. After a few pounds to his chest, he managed to wheeze, “Corporal Jamie Ramirez.” “Oh?” Henry said. “What’s a marine doing here?” Before Jamie could offer a reply something collided with his head with a soft squish. His fork clattered to the ground and he scrambled to remove whatever it was. Applejack could only watch as a very busty woman stepped forward, a wolfish smile on her face. She too had her own tray and was dressed in similar colors, although a much larger shirt to cover for her height and ample bosom. After wiping the folded egg off his face, Jamie stood up to confront the newcomer, only to simper as he saw something behind her. “‘Bought time you both wake up,” a new voice added. The woman sat next to Applejack and she quickly gave a squeak of pain as she was smacked upside the head by yet another person. He, a thin, wiry human male, sat across from her, glaring at the two soldiers. “Sorry about that, ma’am.” He was perhaps the oldest human Applejack had ever seen with the gray consuming his hair as it was. Age lines creased his face and brow, and the scars on the back of his palms and military casual garb bespoke his occupation quite well. “Hope these two knuckleheads haven’t been bothering you too much.” Fluttershy had already clammed up and avoided eye contact again. Well, no use being rude when the guy was putting his best foot forward. Henry cut her off before she could respond. “CO?” “Nope.” Jamie was smiling mischievously at the woman. Whatever was going on in his head was quickly put to rest as the elderly man smacked him upside the head as well. “Behave you two.” Applejack couldn’t help but smile. In no way was it hostile, just a friendly reminder. Returning his attention to Applejack, he explained, “I’m Colonel Ethan Sokolov and you’ve met the kid.” He nodded at the woman. “That’s—” “Sophia Galerkin.” There was a slight drawl to her accent that popped up around her consonants. “First Lieutenant Sophia Galerkin. Now, you two wouldn’t happen to be Applejack and Fluttershy now?” ‘And why would you be asking that?’ Before Applejack could complete that thought, Sokolov pulled something out of one of his pockets. It was a datapad like Ana’s, only with the metal back coating faded with time and streaked with repeated wear. Sokolov cleared his throat, ““For the duration of your assignment, you are hereby assigned as acting military liaisons and protective details for the following person’s of interest: VIP Miss Applejack of Avol and VIP Miss Fluttershy of Avol. This assignment’s duration is scheduled to last no longer than one Terran year or termination of Alliance/Avolian contract. And etcetera, etcetera...” He trailed off, expectant. Applejack remembered the documents she had in her quarters. They did state that the two of them would be gaining security staff for the remainder of their stay. “Yeah, that’d be us fer sure, Mister So... Pardon?” Sokolov chuckled. “Sokolov, ma’am, but just call me Soko. Everyone does.” Soko reached a hand over the table to shake her hoof. “Please to meet you both. Pleasantries over, Fluttershy automatically spoke the next question on Applejack’s mind as she met Soko’s hand. “Jus’ Applejack fer me, then. So what do you mean by protective detail?” Sophia downed a glass of orange juice and pitched in, “We’re your escorts and security for your stay in Magnasanti.” “VIP foreign nationals are automatically offered up to a full squad with an officer of at least the rank of Captain. The Alliance assigned the three of us plus our CO,” Jamie added. He was still eyeing Sophia out of the corner of his eye, but now that Soko had arrived on the scene, they ceased their troublemaking. “Haven’t gotten your name yet,” Jamie asked Henry. “Henry Stanford,” he dutifully replied and offered his hand to shake. He had been relatively quiet, only watching more than anything. Still, there was something that bugged Applejack. Ana had read their contract and also said they’d be getting a protective detail. Even Princess Celestia and Twilight Sparkle warned that there might be trouble as they ventured forth. Not to mention Shining’s warning about the city... “Are we gonna expect some trouble?” The reaction was subtle, but it was there. Jamie halted the cup of juice raising to his lips before taking a draft. Mirth and a vibrant smile crossed Sophia’s face. What got her attention the most was a group of men and women who had cordoned off a table for themselves. Each wore some type of uniform of such deep blue it was almost as black as midnight. A magnificent white stallion was printed on the back along with a patch on each shoulder. It was reared up on his hind legs and as he whinnied some battlecry to the heavens above. One of them tilted his his head to get a better look at her table, and as he saw her, his lips curved in a smile. Soko answered her question with practiced ease. “There’s a couple other settlements on Argus Five, but Magnasanti’s a singular city and the biggest. Population: ten point seven mil. Violent crimes per year, at least last time I checked, was just under an even sixty-seven thousand per year. I’d be lying if I said bad stuff don’t happen, but that’s exactly why we’re here.” “Where are you deployed?” Henry asked Fluttershy. He’d already nursed his cup of coffee into oblivion. Half of a bagel was in his hand while Applejack swore the other half was crumbed in his beard. Guy could probably hide a filly in there. Still she drew a blank. She’d read it several times before, but the information never seemed to stick in her head for longer than a few moments. The name was hard to remember. Luckily, Fluttershy came to the rescue. “Um... I remember it saying about a bay...” “There’s a couple of bays in Magnasanti,” Sophia said before taking scarfing down a sausage. Wait, wasn’t her tray full when she sat down? Where did she pack that all down? Applejack’s eyes momentarily strayed to her bountiful chest before trying to purge the impending inappropriate images. Henry, however, spoke up again. “OCO’s got a new facility going in Sector Seven. Bay area’s directly north. My money’s on that one.” The lightbulbs kicked in. “Yeah, yeah!” Applejack exclaimed. “That’s the place a’right. Mah memory just ain’t what it used to be.” It was more than just the last year recovering from the battle, or even the year before that when Twilight vanished. More than just stress. Although nowhere near as old as Granny was—she was barely into her middle ages!—the weight of time was pressing on her back. She felt... tired. “Well, you don’t need to worry your little head ‘bout too much trouble. That place is well outta the city.” He kept looking at his cup in disgust after each draft, but kept on going back for more coffee. How much had he drank? However, his information did lift a little of that weight off her shoulders. Excitement, no matter how slight, wasn’t something she relished. “That’s good,” she said. “Yeah,” Fluttershy added. It was probably better for her more than anyone. There was still one more question on Applejack’s mind. Friendly banter was all well and good, and the four had been plenty friendly, but if there was one thing Granny had always stressed, although it was meant more towards bumping uglies than anything, it was always know who she was getting in bed with beforehoof. “So why’d ya’ll decide to jump ship and look after us? We’re just helping some farmers n’ growers. Can’t be all that excitin’. ‘Bout as interesting as filtering apple whiskey.” Sure, Rainbow had a blast drinking the stuff, but she’d sure as Celestia change her mind if she had to remove the crud that settled on the bottom of the fifty gallon tanks. Jamie looked at the ceiling in thought for a moment before smiling and licking his lips. Applejack made the mental note to never mention she had a quart or two stashed in her luggage. Soko answered, “I’m here as a favor for a friend. I’m about a year from retiring myself. When the brass thought it was just one of you going, they assigned him and these two knuckleheads. After he got word that it’d be the two of you, he asked me to hop along for the ride to even it out to four.” “Cap dragged me along, the zhopa. Concord’s been the boss for some time now. Plus I love Magnasanti, so a little less bad blood.” Sophia was almost vibrating with excitement. Sam and Soko together seemed to believe that Magnasanti was a somewhat dangerous place, even if they were avoiding it. This woman on the other hoof seemed absolutely excited to go. “Spent a year there between my second and third tour. Never had so much fun in my life.” “Yeah, I saw the tattoo,” muttered Jamie. “No swearing, First Lieutenant,” Soko chided Sophia with a glare. “They may not understand Russian, but I do.” Applejack snorted. “Ah’ve heard worse outta Granny when she’s sleepin’.” Jeez, the bile that mare could spit in her sleep. She didn’t know what this “zhopa” meant, but she had a whole slew of colorful swears in her arsenal to turn Rainbow Dash monochrome. “An’ you?” she asked Jamie. He shrugged nonchalantly. “What else was there for me to do? Pretty much the same as her.” he jerked his head towards the woman. “On the Cap’s squad, so I go where he goes.” Fluttershy knocked over her glass. It was empty, but the bedraggled mare scrambled to pick it up before asking, “Mister Concord?” Wait, that guy? “Hey, we met ‘em on Ana’s ship! Sam or somethin’?” Soko’s grin was wide enough to consume his face. “That’d be him. He’d be arriving in Magnasanti the day after us.” The other two soldiers only groaned. Concord didn’t seem that bad in the short time she’d known him. A little curt and withdrawn, sure, but ten minutes at most was hardly enough to judge the guy. “I kind of like him,” Fluttershy said demurely. Of course she would. The mare befriended dragons and bears and who knows what else. Fluttershy could get scared of anything, except when that dangerous anything showed even the slightest hint of acting “cute”. “Cap’s alright. Better than some.” Sophia nodded sagely. “What about you two? What made you decide to wander into the big black yonder?” The answer was simple. With a tilt of her head to Fluttershy, she said, “‘Cause of her.” “We’re here...” Fluttershy hesitated slightly before continuing. “We’re here to help these OCO people with their agricultural knowledge. Applejack came along to keep me company.” “What about you, bucko?” Jamie asked Henry. The engineer shrugged. “I’ve been going from place to place for some time now. Work, work, work. ‘S really all I do.” “Sounds kinda dull,” Sophia said quietly, her bouncing energy receding slightly. She eyes the man carefully, taking him in behind an unreadable expression. “Yeah, but what am I to do?” He shrugged. “Do what I do or not? All I know is that working’s better than just sitting there, idle. I’d rather be doing something than not at all.” “Fair enough,” Applejack said. Often enough she’d get that itch when on the farm to just get up and do something, even when all the chores were done. Never felt quite right, sittin’ still. “Ah’ve been meanin’ to ask you lot something’,” she continued. “What’s with that lot?” She nodded towards the group at the far table with the patches. Soko’s expression darkened without even turning to see what she was looking at. “Them’s that Security group. Half corporation, have brotherhood. They’re contracted out for protection jobs and hired security. They do their job just fine—better than standard security grunts, anyway— but it’s when they’re off the clock you’ve got to worry. Trust me. Just... avoid them.” “Gosh,” Applejack said sardonically. “Big ol’ city with a bunch of rapscallions,” Sophia choked back a laugh, “an’ jus’ us little ponies to go through it alone? Least I know no one’s gonna be chasin’ mah tail.” Jamie snorted. “You really don’t know anything about where we’re going, do you?” “All occupants, this is the captain speaking. Please return to your seats. We are entering Magnasanti atmo and expect a little turbulence. Repeat: all occupants, please return to your seats.” She and Applejack were already in their seats and strapped in for the eventual descent. The harnesses were snug and secure and didn’t cut into their skin, but still felt a little awkward. All other species they had encountered were bipedal, with the exception of the feline Korg which were perfectly content with walking on all fours when it suited them. Sitting upright wasn’t the most comfortable position for ponies. Unfortunately, that was all the OrC. Op. dropship had for them. Applejack had spent every possible moment out of her seat, if only to alleviate the uncomfortable pressure it forced on her spine. “You’d figure they’d come up with somethin’ a little more comfy than these,” she complained for the third time. Fluttershy leaned over to give her friend a comforting nuzzle. Getting strapped into the seats wasn’t that comfortable, she agreed. No harm in AJ venting a little. “Just a little while longer, Applejack. We’re almost there.” It had been a rough two days, although it was more than tolerable. Fluttershy had only spent a day on board the Absolution, but what a sight to behold it was. Ana had spoiled them with her kindness, and with such a large ship to run around in. Clementine was smaller by far, only built to shuttle people, and in this case, ponies, back and forth. Quarters were cramped, and there wasn’t much to do other than mingle. The room itself was fairly large, if an uninviting mix of grays and greens. Little more than a distended rectangle, every section of the wall was fitted with seats built or bolted directly into the wall. People were streaming into the bay via the rear catch, all in various stages of sleep or irritation. The first she recognized and couldn’t help but give a timid wave. Henry had quickly found his own seat before he pulled out some device. He was tailed by an irritated Sophia and a sniggering Jamie. Soko was nowhere to be found. The two found their seats and strapped themselves in as they mumbled comments to each other. Sophia took her seat by a closed window seat and her practiced hands made quick work of the belts and straps. “This rust bucket kinda reminds me o’ the stuff Big Mac n’ me cobbled together on the farm,” Applejack said, sliding a hoof across the floor. After having explored the Clementine and with a few questions answered, it appeared to be some kind of cargo ship retrofitted to carry passengers. What was once probably a cargo hold with the clamps to strap down loaded freight had been turned into a safe place for passengers to stay until landing. Fluttershy felt something tug at her navel as the ship pitched slightly before stabilizing. One of the engineers sniggered slightly, saying, “Don’t hit a Mjolnir, flyboy.” The other hundred or so occupants, most of them looking like engineers, did not seem to mind the sudden maneuver. Her dear farmer friend only grumbled quietly to herself. The Clementine shook here and there as the seconds became minutes. In a way it was kind of fun; it was like Big Mac’s annual hayrides during Nightmare Night. The other passengers were quite neutral towards the whole affair and endured the shaking with relative ease. Some were even drifting off into a fitless slumber, their heads rolling like pendulums on their chests. The windows, once open and now shielded, seemed to glow an eerie red from beyond their quiet veil. There was an entire hodgepodge of noise in the air now that they were in the process of re entry, all hidden behind Clementine’s steely walls. The omnipresent hum of the engine, the dull chatter emanating from the hold’s current occupants, and the bass-like growl of the ship as it raced towards the planetoid created a unique, almost lifelike, presence to the metal monstrosity. Every hiss and groan, a protesting grumble, every shake, some prodigious leviathan’s unwilling motion. Fluttershy could feel the pitch decreasing, the engine rolling back whatever great cisterns it possessed into naught more than a gentle hum. Now a new sound joined them, a steady scratching that punctuated the entire ship. Whatever it was, it caused Sophia to grin in delight. “Oh, I’ve missed this,” she cooed softly. She craned her head toward the blank panel that sealed off the window near her head. “And another safe entry. We’ll be interfacing with a Hermes node shortly. Estimated time of arrival: ten minutes. Feel free to enjoy the sights until then,” echoed the captain. The window arching slowly open reminded her of so many of Princess Celestia’s glorious sunrises. The single ray of light soon banished the dreary light produced by the ship’s inferior bulbs. The light always seemed sickly. Wrong, even. Here was something else entirely. This was a burst of energy, raw and untameable. What she had expected... well, Fluttershy wasn’t sure what she was expecting. Laid before her in the tiny window was a planet carved from steel itself. Lights blazed from intermittent points, blinding Fluttershy with the onslaught. As her eyes adjusted she saw the outlines of magnificent buildings. Entire blocks of steel and stone dominated much of the landscape in one large, consuming mass. Easily the most recognizable landmark around was a mountainous pyramid structure that dominated several city blocks by itself. Fluttershy could see far off in the distance another pyramid stabbing at the skies. The tallest Manehatten spires could never have dreamed to reach the heights of this place. “Welcome to Magnasanti, everyone.” The ship pitched down further. As the cityscape was momentarily obfuscated behind a fog bank, a million little ants rose into view. Each one moved every which way in every direction possible. Only when Fluttershy caught the glint of metal did she understand that every little ant was a vessel or vehicle quite like hers—they came in every shape, color and size she could imagine, from the utilitarian to the horrendously garrish. Soon the ship descended to eye level to the chariot-like things racing across Magnasanti’s surface and skies. The vast majority stuck to the group like a mass of steel rivulets parting around cyclopean boulders. Clementine was far larger than any other vessel she could see... for about thirty seconds. Some great leviathan of metal lurched into vision before dipping out of sight. “The rocker boys are out!” Sophia squealed with delight. She craned her neck to look out the window and Jamie just rolled his eyes at the sight. Fluttershy could feel a deep, slow thrumming that rattled her hooves and teeth. Applejack had perked her ears, straining to find the source of the noise. Soon that too faded away as the ship cleared the megalopolis. The pillars of heaven soon shortened into something more recognizable like the buildings she’d seen in magazines about Manehatten or Phillydelphia. They too tapered off into a large urban sprawl that seemed to stretch forever under the moons’ ruby and sapphire―there were two moons! “Ah wonder what Luna would hav’ t’ say ‘bout that...” Applejack wondered quietly. Sometime ago she must have finally stopped fidgeting and enjoyed the sights before her. Fluttershy could only chide herself quietly for not seeing them—it was kind of a hard thing, er, things, to miss. Well, the buildings were in the way previously. That was something she’d have to ask about later. Once they got settled in, a good library was on her list of things to find. The urban development soon gave way to dotted fields, plains, and small settlements before the engines began kicking in. The deep growl rumbled through the ship before quietly returning to its rest. “We are currently docking with the OCO landing bay. Standby.” Plains and crops soon morphed into a concentric ring of buildings with a large dome structure at the center. Fluttershy could only catch the slightest glimpse before the Clementine turned to hide it from sight. Soon the moonlight, as bright as it was, receded in the wake of a barrage of synthetic lighting inside the dome; it must have opened up to allow them access. What kind of building was this? Clementine lurched slightly before the leviathan quieted. Even the high whines and groans she had usually associated with the ship had died. “Ladies and gents, you are free to go, and have a safe night,” came the captain’s voice. “But it’s two in the afternoon...” Fluttershy said to the walls. Sophia and Jamie had unbuckled and were waiting for the duo. “Back on the Absolution, yeah. It’s night out here,” the woman replied. Fluttershy blushed. Of course, the moon—moons—were out. “Why don’t you two get your things. We’ll wait for you by the off ramp. They’ll have your stuff in the hold offloaded already.” After a short trip to pick up their meager onboard supplies, Fluttershy retraced her hoofsteps back to the off ramp. A steady stream of people were coming and going now that they’ve landed. The metal halls had never been so busy, even during the early morning hours when everyone was awake. Each person still bore the same mix of types, races, and builds as she found on the Absolution. Now, however, she paid more attention to their faces. Now they were looking back at her, and from the increasing number of sneers, they didn’t like what they saw. They whispered under their breath as she passed. What they were saying was certainly of interest... but she was pretty sure she wouldn’t like what she heard. Applejack glared at those who stared too long. Fluttershy flattened her ears against her head and couldn’t help but whimper slightly under the attention. Even looking at the floor wouldn’t block out their itching gaze. ‘Just breathe,’ she chanted to herself. ‘Breathe. Breathe...’ It was a little trick Rainbow Dash had imparted before they got out of Flight School. Fluttershy focused on her own breathing as she breathed in and out. The thrumming in her ears that had been her slowly panicking heartbeat steadied slightly. “Great trick; can you walk the corridors blindfolded?” Fluttershy squeaked and almost tripped before Applejack rushed to her aid. Sophia stood by the door with Jamie. Henry had vanished, but Soko had taken his place. After Applejack helped her to her hooves, she couldn’t help but take a moment and examine her new companions. Gone were most of the casual military fatigues and in their place full military gear and regalia. Sophia also had something in her hands and Fluttershy couldn’t help but wince slightly upon recognizing the rifle’s shape. She must have missed it, for after the visual inspection she slung it over her back. The dock was a fairly busy place. There were at least another two dozen ships being unloaded in the dome structure with enough people to populate a small town loading and unloading. A couple of people, young and old, stood in groups dotting the dome, apparently on break. Some simply chatted, others ate, while some operated more of their strange devices. A line of armed men flanked her posse on both sides. She flinched at the menacing sight before spotting what they wore. Each wore some type of exoskeletal suit and black, face-concealing mask. Each armored suit bore a stenciled white stallion at the base of the shoulder. “This way, ma’am,” came a garbled voice. The mercenary wore the patch as well along with some type of rank insignia on his chest. Fluttershy looked to Applejack, who in turn looked to Soko. The old man nodded. It was time to settle into their new home. Compared to the amenities on board the Clementine, Fluttershy was expecting a lot less than what she saw. It was by no means extravagant, but it their room certainly had a lot more money behind it. Soko had spoken with an OCO pencil pusher for their suite keycards, but even that adjective did little to assure her until she saw it herself. Plush silver and violet carpeting covered the floor, even if the textures felt a little strange under her hooves. The entrance opened up into a living room with several squishy armchairs, which in turn morphed into a study. Someone must have the foresight to ask about pony accommodations, as there was an indentation in the wall where there was a much larger desk fit for humans that had been replaced with one more at pony eye level. A small kitchen was tucked into a small terrace on the left parallel to a hallway that led to their separate bedrooms. “Nice pad,” Sophia said as she poked her head into the room. “Here; Soko got these off an OCO grunt. They’re your room keys.” She tossed a pair of key cards onto a lowboy. “Have ta admit, ah expected a mite bit worse,” came the voice of Applejack from somewhere in the kitchen. “Ah, shit, you should see where we’re holed up.” There was the sound of a scuffle and Fluttershy whirled around to face the noise. Jamie had tried to muscle his way past the woman and was now rubbing his sore cheek for his efforts. Fluttershy had a feeling her victory over the other mischief maker would be short lived. “Anyway, we’ve got to unpack too. We’ll wrestle some grunt to bring your luggage here while we’re at it. We can chat over breakfast tomorrow.” “It’s not night!” Applejack protested. “Yeah, jet lag’s a bitch,” Jamie’s voice quietly echoed as he walked away, leaving her with her thoughts. It was more than extravagant enough for her needs. Almost too extravagant to the point of ostentatious; she felt like she might break something as soon as she touched it. It reminded her of some of the overpriced hotel rooms she’d seen In Manehatten. They each had their own room and Fluttershy’s eyes were immediately drawn to a large and horribly gaudy painting above her bed. There was a white canvas background with... honestly it just looked like a bunch of smudges. There was the basic amenities, so good enough. “Not quite like home, but can’t rightly say it’sa barn full ‘o holes,” Applejack said as she walked in. Fluttershy agreed, even if it still felt off. Everything was all hard lines and unnatural. The scent of some lemon cleaner stung at her nose. At least on the Clementine the ship was colored by rough use and old age. It gave it a certain bit of character. Finally on Magnasanti, everything felt... blank. “Applejack?” “Yeah, hun?” “Did... did we make the right choice? Leaving Equestria?” Applejack stopped her perusal and sat down. She could never keep a straight face for the life of her and thus began chewing her lower lip in thought. “I left cuz ‘o you. You needed somepony to help you along and I wouldn’t be able to sleep right if ah let you go all on your own. Not right to let a friend hang in the wind like that.” This wasn’t the first time Fluttershy had wondered if fate had gotten things wrong with Applejack. Each little strand, every choice and decision, weaving a tapestry that binds ponies—now people—together, was so easy to build, and so much harder to break. Something as simple as choosing which fruit to eat with breakfast, or what virtue to carry for a lifetime, can all start with a single choice and ripple for decades to come, to define the very being of an individual. Fate had bequeathed the Element of Honesty to Applejack, but there was always the nagging suspicion in Fluttershy’s mind that another suited her so much more. With herself, Fluttershy could see it; she was almost cripplingly kind to all she came across. But Honest Applejack? Everypony was honest to some degree. No, what defined Applejack was family. Once and Apple, always and Apple, and nothing was more important to her than them. Loyalty to the core. Applejack sighed and rubbed the back of her neck. “Ah know ah’m not the best at this sorta thing, but ah’ll try. Ah think it’s good fer ya to leave. Clear the air and that sorta thing. Time back home was always good to us, but after... last year... ah know you had trouble dealing with... things.” She took a moment to think over her next words. “You know why you wanted to leave at all?” The stallion told her to, of course. He was right; she needed to leave Equestria, to put some distance between her and the memories that just would not die. Fluttershy nodded her head, and her friend continued. “You regret leavin’?” Fluttershy opened her mouth to say ‘No’ before stopping herself, stunned. Why? Why wasn’t she more upset at herself for leaving? “Yes.” “Well, why’s that?” “All of my animal friends still live there. I lived in Equestria my whole life. Everypony I know is there.” Friends, family, animals, for the crown and country. All loyalties pointed back towards Equestria, back towards home. The scent of fresh dew after the night’s timely chill and the first rays of sun on her face as the cock crowed. That’s where family was. What did this new life, as temporary as it may be, have for her? A home, the fresh thrill of adventure, new friends at her side, and an old one to catch her if she were to fall. A fresh start. Somewhere in her contemplation Applejack had taken off her hat. She hoped that was a sign the country mare was taking her question seriously. “We’ve grown up, Fluttershy. I... I know how it feels to be always asking’ yerself ‘Did I do it right? Why ain’t I givin’ enough?’ Ya can’t be a shield for everypony forever because it will grind you up inside. Fer one reason or another, ‘s time to start wandering out on our own. ‘s a’right to miss us, but you don’t owe us, girl. This is for you. Take some time to rest ‘n take yer mind offa things. Let me be yer shield.” Bile rose in Fluttershy’s throat as the scent of charred Dratalli flesh came to the forefront of her mind. Applejack knew why she left Equestria. She had to. Applejack wasn’t a good liar, but neither was she. There was still all the difference in the world between running towards something new, and running away from something old. “Eep!” Fluttershy squeaked. Applejack had leaned in close to nuzzle her cheek. Warmth spread across her face and something warm and tingly blossomed in her chest. It was just a short and sweet little show of affection to cheer her up before Applejack pulled away. “Hey, if you ever start thinkin’ about... things yer not comfortable about, ah’ll drop what ah’m doin’ fer you, girl. No matter what. Just ask.” “...Thanks.” Normally all she had to comfort her during her dark times were her occasional meetings with the stallion. The scaled little beast of worry and fear in her head relaxed slightly. All was good in the world. Applejack was here. Henry and the rest of the soldiers were pretty nice. Even Shining Armor was coming. All was good... Applejack smiled as the invisible weight lifted from them both. “Now ah’m going to stretch my legs and hope ah can wear mahself out a little.” She snorted derisively. “Since mah sense ‘o time’s been been thrown in the drier with a bunch of rocks and all that now. Wanna join me?” Oh, that’s right. It was night out here. Despite her own chronometer telling her it was past noon too, the emotional rollercoaster of the last few days had left her feeling exhausted. With a shake of her head, she climbed into bed. Before the hiss of the door reached her ears the darkness had claimed her. At least the coffee was better. The following morning or something or whatever—it was kind of hard to remember now—wasn’t kind to Applejack. Not disrupting her precious sleep cycle, a daily ritual she had preserved for the best of three decades, was woven into her very being by her rural way of life. Up at dawn, down at dusk. Coffee helped her to rise, but there was only one assured way to fall asleep quickly when her body refused. And that happened to involve enough booze to fill a swimming pool. She had happened to meet Sophia shortly after she left Fluttershy, the poor dear, asleep in her room. The flight must have tuckered her out more than she thought, even if it was only two days on a rickety boat. Henry was there also, or maybe they just found him later; things got a little fuzzy afterwards. Sophia sure was a chatterbox, but Henry shut her right up when he let the two of them in on a farmer’s tried-and-true pastime: bootleg liquor. Applejack caught the name tharra before everything became a haze of giggling, booze, and strange odors. And waking up in Sophia’s cleavage while the two of them were wedged inside a supply closet. No matter how hard Applejack prodded, the woman swore up and down nothing happened. After dunking her head under the tap to try and sober up and sooth the pounding in her head, the pair of them headed to the cafeteria to catch some breakfast. Something greasy sounded good, but breakfast itself sounded awful. ‘Food?’ Applejack thought. The instant wave of queasiness answered that question. ‘Maybe later...’ Why was her cutie mark itching? “Oh, sweet ambrosia,” Sophia moaned. She had a cup of coffee in one hand and a tall glass of orange juice in the other and was taking alternating gulps between the two. “Gimme that,” she said as she grabbed the coffee. It’d undoubtedly make the pounding in her head worse, but something strong was needed to get rid of the alcohol-induced morning funk lurking in the back of her throat. “Not so loud...” Sophia moaned. “Shit, I can’t even remember what proof that was...” The woman sunk into her arms and and Applejack almost thought she had fallen asleep if it wasn’t for the occasional moan under all her black curls. “I’ma gonna find Flutters,” Applejack said. “Uhhh...” “Don’t go nowhere.” Sophia waved her off. Coffee in hoof, she wondered out the cafeteria door. She had to admit she kinda liked the place, at least from a design standpoint. From what she saw that day and the scattered memories of the previous night with Sophia and Henry, the dome at the center of the concentric rings was one massive docking area used for shipping items in and out. Great trams shuffled ship contents from there to any one of the rings if needed, or even out of the building entirely. Engineering sections, botanical studies, repair and assembly, residential quarters; everything had a ring and getting from one section to another was nearly instantaneous via the trams. The tram doors opened with a loud hiss that felt like a railroad spike to her head. She’d much rather spend some time nursing it off in the cafeteria with Soph, as semi-lucid as she was, but she needed to check up on Fluttershy and make she she was doing alright. Inside were some other early birds who looked quite surprised at seeing a life form half their size on the other end of the door. “Jesus fuck!” a woman exclaimed as she dropped a box full of... uh, something metal. “Hey,” she said plainly. “Forgot my ID tag somewhere, but mah name’s Applejack.” Actually, when did she get an ID tag? Huh, she swore she remembered something about it somewhere. “We were briefed about Avolians coming,” another woman said as she helped pick up the little doodads rolling across the steel floor. With another hiss the tram started moving. Applejack could feel their stares but the current hangover was interrupting with her ability to care about the rudeness. The whispers were another concern. One by one they exited at their own stops. The machine shop looked interesting enough and she wanted to take a few notes for her brother and the agricultural engineers back home, but the excessive noise buried that idea pretty fast. It was a quick trip to the outermost ring in the OCO structure: the residential quarters. Memories of last night helped her find her way back to her own room easy enough. At least she was sober enough after last night’s escapades to not lose track of her room card. After a quick swipe, the door hissed open to reveal Fluttershy preening herself. She certainly looked much better than the state she was left in last night. “Mornin’, Sunshine.” Applejack tried to give her voice as much pep as she could. It had the desired effect. “Hi,” she said. And it was at a normal speaking voice, too! That was just short of shouting for her. “I’ve just got to run a brush through my mane and tail and I’ll be ready to go in a bit.” “Here,” Applejack said as she put down her coffee. The thing was just about empty now anyway. Finding her own brush, the two of them made quick work of the pegasus’ rat’s nest. It took a couple more minutes to fish out some informal dress wear to preserve modesty. She still preferred to walk about au natural, but she was told that humans had a taboo on public nudity. She couldn’t quite place who said that. “Come on; they’re servin’ breakfast.” Ugh, she felt disgusting even thinking about food. “Do you remember anything ‘bout ID cards?” It turned out Fluttershy didn’t. Nevertheless it was high time to hightail it out of their room. Given the chance, Fluttershy would probably want to hold herself up in there all day anyway. Best bet would be to let her get some air whenever possible. OCO’s Sector Seven base certainly smelt and felt a lot better than Ana’s ship. That place felt like living in a machine, all blank and lifeless. Clementine had a little more character to her, but this place—the “Ring” she heard by a few passing technicians— was a few notches above that, even if Applejack still preferred the great outdoors. The halls, despite containing the burning scent of chemicals in the air, still carried the faint traces of home. Axel grease, the distinguished scent of flora and wood pallets, fresh dirt; with the hangover she could almost pretend she was back in Equestria after one hell of a bender. Guiding Fluttershy to the cafeteria was no easy task, no thanks due to the tram. At least no one was on during the duration of their trip; Celestia forgive her for asking her to deal with Fluttershy’s agoraphobia in her current state of mind. She loved Fluttershy like a sister, but there was a time and a place for dealing with problems, and early in the morning after possible alcohol poisoning wasn’t one of them. Still, fate shined on them both. “Consarnit, I forgot mah coffee.” Hopefully the cafeteria was well stocked. The door opened. The cafeteria reminded her a lot of the one on board the Clementine, even if it was a lot nicer and so very much bigger. Viewing it out the starboard window gave the place no justice at all; the Ring was absolutely massive! Rather than having a single kitchen where no more than five can work without calling the place crowded, the far left wall was host to a large, rotating platform that cycled back into the kitchen. On it were fresh piles of breakfast staples such as pancakes dripping with maple syrup, fresh sausage right out of the frying pan, bowls of apples, applesauce, cereal, eggs, herb sprigs to garnish dishes, and all sorts of chilled fruits. Dotted intermittently in the huge hall were dispensaries to refill various beverages. Where was the one for OJ and coffee? “There’s a whole lot more people here than I realized...” Fluttershy muttered. She had closed in near Applejack as if she could vanish in her shadow. She had a point, though. The Ring looked little more than a lumpy bullseye from the air. Setting hoof down and exploring the place was the only way to give it justice. Before she could give it too much thought, she spotted Sophia. She hadn’t moved from her seat and looked miserable, but she was perked up upon seeing the new guests at her table. Soko had joined her. Strangely enough, two others she did not expect to see so soon were animately talking as well. Shining Armor’s unshorn fetlocks were in motion as Sam Concord was sitting back, smoking his cigarette and finishing a tale. She got close enough to hear the end of the story. What was a Quigley? Even Sophia managed to weasel out a smirk. The three of them belched uproarious laughter before Shining wiped at his eyes. “I got one too,” he said. “In my early years, I’d take the fresh recruits north in order to get them used to the cold as one of their drills. One of them was a native. Storm Wind was his name, and I swear I’ve never had a more difficult trainee in my life. He was a bully and a notorious brawler, and had about forty pounds on me. He constantly kept picking fights with the others, and was known for insubordination. “One day he just snapped. It was in the middle of a blizzard and I refused to call off training for the day. It was cold, wet, and I had a few tents of trainees that were whining behind my back. Everypony was miserable.” Shining shakes his head sadly, although no one had trouble seeing the grin he was trying to hide. “He just had to open his mouth. He said, ‘This is a load of trash, sir. If I was your officer, I wouldn’t let you treat us this way.’” Shining’s grinned finally cracked behind his muzzle. Sam gave a toothy smile, smoke billowing out between his teeth and giving him the visage of some beast clothed in the darkness. “Well, I couldn’t have that now, could I? I originally thought about tossing him in the brig to rot, but that’d only avoid the problem, not solve it. So I took him out back and told him to think of himself as a captain for the next few minutes...” Soko snorted loudly. “I like you already.” Sam prompted Shining to continue his retelling to which, as any stallion in a story-telling dick-measuring contest would agree, was of course what he did. “My lieutenant wasn’t all that happy about it, but I told her to shut it just so we could get it over with. It was a little too cold out after all, so we began. In short, I beat the crap out of him until he thought he got it in his head who was really in charge. I asked him, ‘Now, what do you have to say?’ “‘I’d like to be demoted and assigned to latrine duty, sir.’” “Not a chance; no dipshit in boot ever volunteers for latrine duty,” Sophia said through her giggles, although it was tough to hear her past Sam and Soko’s laughter. “I’m serious; he asked to be demoted and assigned to latrine duty. Never heard a word of lip around him for the rest of winter training,” Shining replied smugly. By then Applejack and Fluttershy had found their way to the table. “Hello, Samuel,” Fluttershy said shyly. Applejack hopped onto the seat across from Sophia with Fluttershy by her side. “Look who decided to get up,” said Soko. Like Applejack, he settled on coffee to perk himself up. In between puffs of smoke Sam was drinking... cranberry juice? “Don’t give me lip; it was two in the afternoon before I fell asleep.” Orange juice graced her lips as she poured half of her glass down her throat. She blinked. Delicious! It was nothing like the Clementine’s awful selecting of food and beverages. This actually tasted home-grown, if a little off. Different orange breed, most likely. Did they harvest this all from their own crops to feed employees? Not a bad employee benefit. Fluttershy had gathered herself a tray of assorted fruits and cereal. Upon one look at her, Sophia said, “You’re looking better.” “Um huh,” she said after eating a peeled tangerine. “I got some rest and that helped.” “Must be a lot to take in, all this,” Sam said, giving the room a wayward brandish with his arm. Soko had said he was a captain. In fact, Soko himself was a colonel, and yet none of them were formally dressed. She was never one to see an enlisted stallion, or human for that matter, out of some sort of military regalia. Then again, the armed forces never made it a habit to visit country bumpkins like herself all that often. Seeing them in plain grays and blacks, even with Shining Armor in a casual red and gold dress uniform, still felt strange. Hell, even being clothed herself was strange, so it wasn’t as if the weirdness was going one way now. “I’ll manage,” Applejack said. Fluttershy had busied herself with another tangerine before saying, “Applejack’s been helping me out. I’m... not good with crowds, but with her I can deal with anything.” Fluttershy offered her a friendly smile, which she returned. “Now what are you doin’ here, Shining? Thought you had some work to do off somewhere; big ol’ city and you end up here?” Applejack interjected. “I asked Miss Arias if I could come along with Concord. I’m meeting with the Mayor later this morning, so I changed flights in order to get to see you two a little before I get to work.” “What are you here for exactly?” Soko asked. “An exchange, mostly. The Alliance started a cultural exchange program with the Equestrian nobility. In return for certain technologies, they’re sending specialists in magic for various tasks. I’m here to ward nine buildings here in Magnasanti against Dratalli magic.” Well that doesn’t narrow it down. If there were over ten million people living in just one city alone, Shining was going to be wandering the streets for a while. Sam had other ideas: “So you meetin’ some brass for the exchange?” Shining nodded. “Ambassador Dieter.” “The Muses will be happy,” Sophia added. Before Applejack could ask what that meant, Sam lifted up a case at his feet and set it on the table. “Before ah forget, Ana got you two gals a present. Asked me to give it to ya when ah found ya.” Shrugging, Applejack nodded. Ana was nice enough, but what could she possibly have sent with Sam? She didn’t think she made that big of an impression. Then again, it did sound like the two of them, plus Shining, were the first ponies the woman had met. It looked slightly smaller than a suitcase, but was made out of tough plastic that looked like it could get run over by a tractor and come out fine. He popped the clasps open with a flick. Nestled in the soft foam were two pairs of devices. The first looked like some sort of clip-on, while the other was a wide black plastic loop that ended in a square piece of plastic so transparent she could barely see it. Directly behind the glass was a tiny prong that fed into the plastic loop, which in turn fed into a series of minute mechanical circuits. “A bit o’ free tech by the woman herself. Zenith’s xLinx V12 Tactical Headset, specially modified for Avolian equines by Ana herself.” “Alright... now what is it?” Sophia sniggered into her arms. Sam just smirked as he explained. “Communication. Phone call. This lets you communicate with any available device on the network that’s capable. Wanna give me or Flutters a call? You can do so no matter where you are.” Sam took a gulp from his glass. “Plus it doubles as your electronic thumbprint.” He looked down. “Er, hoofprint. Direct line to your bank account, means of paying for services, and broadcasting your own personal network. One-size fits all package for operatin’ in the our version of the modern world.” “And a smashing fashion statement.” Soko and Sam both gave Sophia a dead-eyed look. “Fine, fine, fine; I’ll wait to talk when the hangover’s gone.” And she slunk back into her arms and mumbled quietly. Applejack picked up her glass, only to realize it was already empty. “Frak.” “Applejack...” Fluttershy chided. Applejack just rolled her eyes. “Give me a bit. Haven’t quite sobered up all the way.” “Who’d a guessed?” The voice came from not from the missing Jamie, but from, as Fluttershy’s smile confirmed, Henry. The man had his own tray of various breakfast staples and sat across from Fluttershy. He gave the pile of sweat and shame that was Sophia only a single glance before dropping a pair of lanyards with both Applejack’s and Fluttershy’s ID on them. “Hey, thanks! Couldn’t rightly place where ah left ‘em.” “I... thought I gave them to you last night.” Sophia rolled her head to eye Henry. “So why do you—” “Did—” “I saw nothing,” he said simply before taking a nice long drink to stifle any attempt to get a response out of him. Fluttershy looked confused, while Sophia tried to sink her head through table table and wedge herself deep into the earth’s crust. “Not something I wanted to think about this early in the morning,” Soko said plainly. “The hell did you do?” Sam asked sharply to Sophia. That jolted the woman upright. “I swear, Cap. I met Applejack in the corridors while she was taking a walk and Henry took us both back for some late night drinking in Engineering. I don’t remember anything else.” “Me neither,” Applejack added. “What were you two drinking?” Soko asked, looking at the three Inebriati. Henry was the first to answer. Brushing some donut crumbs stuck to his hands across his overalls, he said, “Homebrewed tharra. All across Magnasnati, OCO has a surplus of sugarcane. A lot of the farmers swipe a bit and mix up a batch every now and then. I’ve got a couple connections so I asked for a bit and cracked some open last night. I was out first, so what happened afterwards...” he shrugged. “Beats me. Didn’t wake me up, so nothing happened is my guess.” Well she owed Henry one for the attempted save. Sam looked like he was about to start shooting lasers out of his eyes. Really, she could remember nothing about last night after her talk with Fluttershy, and that meant she had a great time. Speaking of Fluttershy, the girl’s blush had rendered her silent. “Sam, take it easy on the girl. We jus’ fell asleep was all. I’m not mad about it,” she looked to Sophia, who adamantly shook her head, “an’ neither is Soph. It jus’ kinda happened.” Yeah, that excuse never worked on Gran either, but Sophia and Henry were both backing her up. Shining Armor had been remarkably quiet throughout the entire exchange. Only now he tapped Sam on the shoulder to get his attention. Giving one last glare to Sophia, he leaned down to hear what he had to say. Applejack kept her ears as erect as she could to hear the conversation. Apparently she was the only one uninterested in what the knight had to say. On seeing her, he narrowed his gaze. Sheepishly, she withdrew. After a minute the two parted. Sam still didn’t look happy, but at least the look that made Sophia shrink under his gaze didn’t have nearly as much promise of impending doom. With a sigh to clear his thoughts, he turned on Applejack, “I’m sorry Ma’am for the fuss. I’ll have a word with her later.” “Easy, Sam; ‘s ju’ Applejack. ‘n don’t worry about it, really.” She waved him off. He nodded, thankfully letting her drop the matter. It’s not that anything too forward happened. At least not that she remembered. She wasn’t all that sore, so even if Sophia did give her a little late night snack, it couldn’t have been very filling. Hmmm... cutie mark was still itchy, though. “Anyway!” she said a little too loud, trying to surreptitiously slide her dress a little more over her flanks. “I really don’t know much about you lot. If we’re gonna be spending time together,” certain images came to mind, “w-why don’t you tell me a bit ‘bout yerselves?” “Earth, born and raised,” Soko began. “Sammy here’s got the military family, but my pedigree’s a bunch of craftsman. Shipbuilders, mostly. Uncle was navigation, as was dad and my two brothers. Mother was a ship’s medic, but her sister made flight recorders. I spent half my life on them ships, so I signed my papers as soon as came of age and joined the navy. Pops wasn’t thrilled, but what could he do?” He shrugged. “His fault for shoving ship building down my throat for almost two decades.” “I came from the rich jackass part of the Reach,” said Sophia. She had pulled a bottle of something from her pants pocket and downed a couple pills. “Always part of of the upper crust. Born to lead! Born to serve!” It sounded like she tried to be bombastic, but her voice ended up tapering into a dull rasp. “I didn’t know if I wanted to be a rule maker or rule breaker. I never had a mind for politics and social climbing. Oh, I tried my hand at it. That turned out well. Heh.” Now there was a smirk worth a thousand words. “Tried my hand at the marines at twenty two and I worked my way through sniper training. Been in the game ever since.” “Sounds like fun,” Applejack said dryly. “If it’s anything like what I made Storm Wind and his comrades go through... no. No, it’s not,” Shining added. “Not sure how ponies do it, Applejack, but for those with two legs instead of four, the military tries to break recruits,” said Henry quietly. “What?” exclaimed Fluttershy. “Why?” “See if they fold,” Henry added. He dunked his last donut in his coffee and took a big bite of its. Applejack was sure he’d need a vacuum for what he collected in his beard. “What use is a soldier if they crack under the first sign of pressure? You need to weed out the weak ones early before they face a situation where their failure does real damage.” “You know quite a bit about the military for a civilian,” Shining said. “What’s your story?” “Eh, nothin’ you can’t pick up on with enough time. As for me, no idea. Name’s Henry,” he offered to the stallion and then Sam. “I can trace myself back to a Heilengiest hospital taking refugees after planetoids in the Theta Cluster were attacked. Social Services took me in after that, and I just picked up things as I got shipped from place to place. Eventually I started playing with the things I found and, well, worked myself to where I am now.” How could he speak so casually about losing his home—his parents!—like that? “I’m sorry fer—” Henry was already cutting her short before the first word left her lips. “Don’t be. Can’t rightly miss what I never knew. Just a lad back then. Even smaller than you right now.” Still, his eyes were... cold. He nodded to Sam. “What about you, soldier?” Good question, even though the alarm bells in Applejack’s head were going off at what Henry had just said. But he didn’t want to talk about so reluctantly she acquiesced. “Yeah, old timer, what planet are you from?” He snorted. “Texas.” Sam snapped the xLinx case closed and put it back under the table. “Earth boy, born and raised. Been in the marines ever since ah turned of age. Call it stupidity, call it human pride; whatever it be, ah jumped ship at dawn.” Applejack waited for a couple of seconds for him to continue. After the occasional puff of his cig, it became abundantly clear that wasn’t going to be an option for the day. ‘These humans...’ At least two of the four gave pretty decent transparency. Sam must have picked up on something in her face. “Not really much to tell. Got plenty ‘o war stories, but that’s about it.” “What about Jamie?” Fluttershy asked. Yeah, what about the little runt that dropped off the face of the planet? Sophia snorted. “God knows what he’d say now. He changes it every time someone asks him.” “Bet twenty credits he’ll bring up the rancor story again,” said Soko. “I’ll take that bet.” Sam bumped his fist against his comrade’s. Turning to Applejack, he said, “I’ll give it to you straight if he don’t.” Sam got up and stretched. He was still freakishly tall. Well, he was the tallest human Applejack had ever seen so far. “I’ve still got some paperwork to fill out, and no doubt you two still need to get your itineraries finalized. I’ll be back in a bit.” “I’ll keep an eye on them,” Soko said with a wave goodbye. “Can we...” Sophia’s voice was soft enough to be drowned in the light din of voices in the cafeteria. Sam rolled his eyes. “Yeah, we can escort them into the city after a bit. Providing Miss Fluttershy and Applejack so desire, of course.” Applejack didn’t much mind. What could humans do when they put their mind to it. “Don’t see why not.” “Viva la Magnasanti!” “That’s not how you speak Spanish.” “Shut it, Soko.” For chapter commentary and my ramblings, visit my page HERE Chapter Commentary: LINK Edited by: Author's Note So... Yeah... About Applejack getting so trashed she doesn't remember what happened? I kinda wrote a "What If?" scenario that is as dirty as Soko thought it was. If you're a terrible person and in the mood for a little human/pony lovin', feel free to check out this (incredibly NSFW) link here. Have some horsefuckery.
Chapter 4: We Who Have Touched the SunChapter 4: We Who Have Touched the Sun The door opened with a smooth pneumatic hiss. The humanoid figure was garbed head to toe in a cloak made of an almost luminescent material that glimmered as ceiling plasma coils shined light across the surface. Topped off with boots, gloves, and a gas mask, the entirety of the body was shielded from prying eyes. The blank, featureless corridors were empty of personnel anyway. All the better. The figure walked with steady purpose, only stopping to flash a keycard at the occasional door. Soon he came across the one bulkhead door that would not open to the magic touch. No doubt several inches thick and enough relockers to make the door impassable to tampering, it was overkill for even the wiliest thief or criminal. For a moment the figure stopped as if contemplative. Soon enough a singular muffled chuckle, male and musically airy, came out behind the mask. He had a reputation for getting where he wanted. One impossible vault-like door later and he was on the other side. It looked like an animal habitat that had only just survived the bad end of a vicious storm, both the upper and lower tiers. The sheer breadth of the habitat was enough for even the largest animals and every inch of it was tattered to some degree. The steel walls, some painted with murals of edenic prairies and sunsets, were smashed in and bent. Some were caked with mud; what would have been some rather lush grass covering the lower tier of the habitat was ripped up and destroyed. Indeed a vault door, not unlike the one he had just circumnavigated, lay battered and broken on the floor, far too heavy to be moved just yet. The room’s singular sycamore tree, a stout thing wider than any man, lay shattered to splinters across most of the lower tier He walked up the steps leading toward the upper tier. Reserved for more relaxation and sleep rather than play, it was at least a little less defiled, but still suffered from the storm’s angry tantrum. Here the lights were either flickering or dead. The secure steel frames that prevented them from being tampered with were all broken or destroyed. Disturbingly, the light near the back of the upper tier was speared with a chunk of the tree longer than he was tall. A form clung to that darkness, breathing thready but clearly in no danger. It stirred as he neared. It was larger than a full-grown human by a long stretch, but still it curled into a ball, either ignoring or oblivious to the world around it. The creature did not respond with anything other than to shrink away from him. “I have that effect on people. I wanted to see you,” he said. His voice now out in the open, it contrasted quite heavily with his menacing garb. Whatever had been the state of the creature’s habitat was mostly indistinguishable. Now it had just the shadows and a few scraps of steel surrounding a bed of leaves and flattened grass clumps ripped up from the lower tier. He stopped just short of the beast. “Not supposed to be here...” The voice, small and plaintive, held the tenor of a tired child. It was looking at him, that he knew. Whatever it was, speech seemed difficult for it for it took its time to enunciate every word as if unsure of its own voice. “I go where I am needed.” “...I don’t know you...” the creature trailed off slowly. Something fluttered and thumped in the darkness. Had he finally gotten its attention? “Not like the others. Your smell is wrong.” “I came to see what all the fuss was about. I’m not one of them, but they asked me to... keep the peace.” He waited for it to respond but the creature’s eyes were merely on him, waiting for further stimulus. Its eyes shined from the dark, glowing slightly and clearly inhuman. “Let me tell you the story of a child named—” “No.” It was the first clear sign of communication that didn’t carry the unsure drowsiness the clung to the beast’s voice. It curled back in on itself, a clear sign of dismissal. “Just let me sleep...” Despite the command, he stood still as the beast returned to a fitful slumber. He watched her as it slept. Be it the apparent failure of whatever mission he had, or the refusal to push the issue any further, he turned on his heels and walked towards the impassable door. The corridors were still barren and empty at his passing. That was good; he liked the quiet. There was something inherently pleasing about silence. There was the chance to ponder oneself, to think on the past or the possibility of events yet to come. The hum of electricity and the dull pulse of strange machinery buzzed softly through the air. It was a dreadfully unpleasant sound to his ears. As he turned one of the many corners on is wandering the first real sign of life other than his targets. He walked in front of the first terminal he had seen on that floor. The camera placed above the terminal to identify users made a click audible to his ears. He stopped dead and eyed the camera, curious what the user on the other end would would do. He’d know in time if they’d want to stop his wanderings, but for now he couldn’t help but smile ruefully under his gas mask. He continued his trek. For once he took the time to examine his surroundings in a little more detail. The plasma coils above him gave the current corridor more than enough light for him, not that he needed it. Still, he prefered the habitat more than his current location; it still felt more pure and lively. The walls were little more than a boring topsail hue that were undoubtedly supposed to be a mass produced calming color. As he came to a T intersection he encountered a yellow stripe branded with the words “EXIT” in black bold case. For the briefest moment he turned right towards the building’s exit only to stop himself. He couldn’t explain it, but his feet rebelled and led him in the opposite direction. After a few minutes in more plain walkways, he finally met the second sign of life. He didn’t bother to glance at the nametag across the man’s chest. He bore a white lab coat which exuded the heavy, heady scent of industrial cleaners. For the moment the man in the lab coat did not see his temporary companion as he was engrossed in the paperwork he juggled in his grip. His polished black work shoes scuffed the glossy floor with every other step, but he on the other hand was utterly silent. The cloaked man gripped his left forearm gently. Something clicked silently and the man kept going. The worker didn’t even turn to look at him as he quietly passed, exercising only a second’s curiosity to see what was so important in the man’s bountiful armful. Thoughts were thoughts, anyway. As dangerous as a single seed might be, there wasn’t a thought that could grow cancerous just yet. No, that had already happened. That pitiful sleeping wretch was a testament to that. His path led him to another wing of the building that was considerably more relaxed than before. Now the occasional painting or withered plastic plant decorated the intermittent spaces. The area near the habitat was devoid of most signs of life, but now he strolled past offices by the dozens. Research rooms, document storage, lecture halls, live testing; even now the sounds of life came to him behind closed doors. No faces came to mind, only a bland void of jumbled noise. Researchers, teachers, engineers, or whatever they were, he didn’t care; each face was a grey mask of nothing. The sounds of the endless gears of labor soon too faded as he stopped in front of another impossible door. Only... this one was open. He looked to the side, curious as to where wanton whims led him. PROMETHEUS SUBJECT 107 LEVEL TWO ACCESS REQUIRED What was the designation for the sleeper? Three, was it not? Again he stepped away to leave before he stopped himself. Open? His task was already complete. He wanted to see the sleeper. It... didn’t disappoint. There was a beauty in that smashed place, more radiant and divine than these workers would ever know. But... He couldn’t stop himself. He walked through the open door. It wasn’t much different than other research rooms. It was pleasantly large and spacious, the center dominated mostly by a table for project research or three dimensional imaging. Towards the left was a large array of terminals, all currently in sleep mode, while the other half was document storage. Neither interested him. Something... tugged at his mind, a curiosity rearing from some dark depth. Not that it wasn’t too hard to get his attention anyway. On the far end of the room was another impassable bulkhead door meant to seal itself permanently in case of intruders. It, too, was open. This wasn’t a simple whim anymore. It was rude to decline an invitation. For a moment he thought about rifling through the documentation to see what was on the other side of the door. He wasn’t allowed to, not that something like mere objection would stop him, but manners were still manners. Thoughts, however in good faith they were made, were still tainted with opinions he wasn’t interested in. He wanted something more base, more pure and direct. He leaned against a cabinet built directly into the wall and slid down the smooth metal surface. He lifted a hand up and knocked against its surface thrice. “Hello?” Her voice was smooth and melodic to his ears and he couldn’t help but adjust himself to capture every fibrant ditty. She sounded young. Far too young to be in a place like this. “Who is that?” He didn’t answer and instead chose to wait and see what she would do. He could hear soft movement; she must have been light-footed to make as little noise as she did. A child? “Can I see you?” Not yet, he thought. “Oh, fine then. I do wish I’d get to see a pretty face every now and then when it’s more than just a convenience. I don’t get too many visitors. It’s so dreadfully boring here. My last guest even had the courtesy of leaving the door open for you, the little brainless ninny.” A smile tugged at his lips. This one had charm. “Going to leave me talking to an empty room now? It’s not nice to do that. If you’re just a little flick of wind blowing things around in there, you the stupidest, most annoying, most boring little whim of imagination to have ever existed... but it’s not like I have much else to do than talk to the little voices in my head. Wanna hear a story?” He folded his hands patiently. “Good. I’m going to tell you the story of a man who had it all. A wicked little man who thought his wicked little ways was all he needed for happiness. He grew up as he did, blind to the troubles around him. At his king’s command, he developed a sickness to poison the land and all of the king’s enemies, and the sick little man did so at the behest of his liege. “The plague did its job and sickened the land; only those loyal to the king were spared. Wealth and fame were already heaped at his feet, but the science... the science was his love, his art. It consumed his mind and to him it was more real than any other. It was true, and it was absolute. The law of nature never lied. “So he was utterly astonished to find out that one not loyal to the throne survive the plague. She was a little girl who was, be it by fate or chance, had resisted to the poison in her veins. He took her in to study her, to find the one fatal flaw in his masterful design. Why had she not died? What was so special about her that gave her the strength to resist perfection, the disease he had engineered to perfection? And so he brought her into the fold in secret, frightened what others would think of his perceived failure. “That was until one day the spymaster found the little girl in the doctor’s study, reading. The doctor gave every excuse he could find to placate the spymaster. What he had failed to understand was the poison working its way through his very own heart the moment he spirited away the little one. He had cared for her ever since. He helped raise her. He fed her and clothed her. Twas a different beast, but a poison nonetheless: compassion. Despite the reason he had brought her into his life, he had come to care for the little one and worried for her safety. What would the spymaster do to her if they were separated due to something as insignificant as her heritage? “But the spymaster was of another breed entirely. Unlike pureblood childe, the spymaster was a street rat that grew up in the slums in one of the outer territories. There was nothing special about him whatsoever, until chance swooped in and changed his fate. The king had a program in place for quite some time to help keep their soldier numbers up: draft those that have displayed characteristics of strength, cunning, and survival. Born on the streets, the spymaster had smarts that helped him outwit others, and this was something that was coveted by the military. But you do not give power to a man who values only himself and his survival.” Strangely enough the man found himself with an ear towards the doorway with rapt fascination. She seemed content to recall her dark musings and continued with eagerness. “He didn’t turn in the scientist because he knew he had leverage over a noble. The situation amused him and on a whim he spared the man from... a rather unpleasant end. Right or wrong in his country’s eyes did not mean anything, only what could be gained. He bore the court of nobles and jesters no love, after all; it was merely the whim of the battlemaster than he had his position at all. A position, or death. “The child had softened the scientist’s heart. With time her innocence even turned him against the kingdom from which he had hailed. The spymaster even joined them, all in the name of amusing himself. Together the three of them joined the resistance to topple the evil king. With a man of noble birth, and the spymaster’s sheer volume of knowledge, that alone was priceless. You can’t kill a many-headed hydra with nothing but strength of arms... no, no they couldn’t do that so easily. It has to be cut to pieces, to have every little bit of it stripped away and the ashes burned before everything can start anew. Little by little, they undermined the evil king and all he fought so hard to build. To the capital city they marched. Pass the walls. Into the palace. The spymaster turned away to face his teacher. The scientist turned to face the battlemaster. Everything would be decided quickly, and all was held on the edge of a knife...” She trailed off as any noble bard would do. Here many often did so near the climax of the tale in an effort to uplift the crowd into demanded an ending. She took a deep breath and finished her tale. “This story doesn’t have an ending.” Oh? And just when it was getting to the good part. He shook his head, disappointed that he’d gotten more invested than he had thought. “But I do have something in mind. Do you want to hear it?” It wasn’t boredom that made him wander. It wasn’t even any true desire to upset the status quo and meddle in affairs that weren’t his own. Watching. Watching was important, watching and waiting just to see how the path would unfold around him. No, not around him, in front of him. Always an outsider, he was. “I do not wish for stories to end.” The girl was silent at his reply for the longest time. Time was something both had in abundance. There he sat listless to the world, and she undoubtedly inside a gilded cage. “All stories gotta end, sugar. Keep on going long enough and everyone dies. Or to just let them sit there, forever unfinished... it’s like all the love you pour into them was just a convenient way to entertain yourself. To let let them go on forever’s just as cruel.” He clicked his wrist once again and stood. As he breached the open door’s divide he saw her and all her radiance. The glass was no doubt reinforced to give even him a worthy challenge, but still she sat next to it with sweet little eyes and a gentle smile. She didn’t so much as flinch as he silently glided towards her and for that he admired her. So bright and eager she was. That smile was an infection consuming her face. He put a gloved hand to the glass and softly stroked where her cheek would be had it not stopped at a cruel cold divide. She even pressed her face against the glass as if delighting at the contact and a soft coo escaped her lips. “You have your mother’s eyes.” The briefest flicker of surprise crossed her face before she met his faceless gaze. “They don’t talk about her.” He said nothing. She was trying to prompt him into explaining himself, but that path was dangerously loaded. Nevertheless she seemed to detect the silent refusal. “They see as as monsters. No matter the smiles and friends, the jokes and the pranks, I can feel it. They hate us. They’re afraid of us.” Her eyes flashed in a way that reflect an inferno hiding deep within. She was alone in the room, forced to contend with the thoughts of a dreamer and the madness of the world. To not have gone mad in the meanwhile was nothing short of remarkable. He reached to the base of his throat on both sides of his head. She eyed him curiously, no doubt wondering what this strange person in her abode was up to. There was a slight trick to it but he deliberately went slow in order to not startle the girl in any respect. There was an audible click and a hiss from his mask that made her flinch and the slack around his mask loosened. “The world has become much more complicated, little one,” he said slowly. He often didn’t listen to himself speak for he knew what he wanted to say long in advance. Now... he just sounded tired. “What these ponies will do... What you will do, that affects them all. Advancement through necessity. Peace at the price of complacency. These are at each other’s throats and it only takes times for the kindling to burn. For now... Watch. Wait. Listen. And...” The rush of stale air as he removed his mask made him inhale deeply out of instinct. It was a disgusting feeling but certainly better than the world behind the blue-tinted lenses of a mask. He leaned down until they were face-to-face. She scrambled away from him as if he suddenly sprouted vipers. Her mouth was open in astonishment and struggling to voice the horrors flashing across her mind. “Just know you are not the biggest monster here.” He held their gaze for just a moment longer before replacing the mask. It hissed as the internal seals hissed closed and he was cut off from the outside world. She had since recovered from her surprise and now only bore a thoughtful expression. He turned his heels and slowly walked towards the exit. “Why are you here?” she asked. He stopped. “To keep you here.” Again she met him with silence. “Why are you here?” She smiled at him but it held no warmth. Despite the promptness of her answer he wasn’t certain she responded to his question or some thought in her nebulous mind. “I just wanna have fun.” For chapter updates and my ramblings, visit my page on Fimfiction HERE. Feel free to bother me on my tumblr under the username doctoredmundsirus. Chapter Commentary: LINK Cyberpunk Royal Guardpony by: Royal Metal Dragon Pony Citiscape by: MoreVespenegas Coffee Ring: Free Photo Gallery
\\C:\Program Files (x86)\CharonCopier\data\rips\TS&V&C_ER_UArc.sdf \C:\Program Files (x86)\CharonCopier\data\rips\TS&V&C_ER_UArc.sdf Shadowlands Lounge, Magnasanti Hub, The Matrix Personas Present: ~Blackjack ~Bone Collector ~Dutchess ~Hesperides ~King Kludge ~LaLiLuLeLo ~MrOrion ~Ozymandias ~Sid the Kid ~Synergy ~ZomZom --Johnny26 has joined the chat-- Johnny26: How’s it hangin? King Kludge: Low and long. ZomZom: You’re late. Johnny26: Sry got held up. MrOrion: Late? ZomZom: I invited him over four hours ago. Johnny26: Traffic was all. Back in Johnny26: Hold on. Blackjack: Eh? Johnny26: Still learning all the chat commands. King Kludge: Type “--help chat” without the exta dash Johnny26: thx Ozymandias: So I’ve got some news. Fluttershy and Applejack are staying at the Ring. @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: How are you feeling? Bone Collector: The hell for? Ozymandias: Word is just like before: sharing Equestrian crop knowledge. Dutchess: Riddle me this: why bother? OCO’s not one to be lacking on that front. LaLiLuLeLo: It’s not about a lack of product. OCO’s been getting flack for not keeping promises to offer resources for refugees. Their reputation’s been taking several hits in recent years for biting off more than they can chew. Plus Ana’s has been a huge asshole on that front and publicly berated them for losing three cargo ships full of medical supplies and welfare. King Kludge: Not only that, Heilengiest has a better business plan. It has Arias’ and Zenith’s muscle to flex when needed. OCO’s been known for their one thing: innovation. Problem is that has some pretty significant operating and production costs attached to it. They’re spending money to make money, but profit’s staying about the same while costs are still going up, despite them being worth a lot. It’s profitless profit, fighting to just break even. I’m betting this is a move to shave off costs. When it comes to running a business, Ana just has the bigger dick. `¯ÿø+))0w: I’ve been better. Been worse, too. Blackjack: And she’s a huge cunt. Sid the Kid: Plus Bones won’t stop fucking with them. Bone Collector: I didn’t do it! ZomZom: Whatever it is, you did it. @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: I have a new selection of material for you. Hesperides: Snatching up Avolians has become quite the common practice. CSS’s been scouting those with military records, Deus the same with Earth Pony contractors, and OrC. Op. the same with a notable green hoof. Avolians have seriously stepped up their efforts to stop this practice, but there’s always those worming through the cracks. What makes me curious is how they managed to score two element bearers. Blackjack: Yeah, that’s ringing all kinds of alarm bells already. Who’s heard from the cap? LaLiLuLaLo: He’s still looking into it. `¯ÿø+))0w: Not my forte, but thanks anyway. > Johnny26 has turned onVoice Chat > Johnny26 has turned onSpeech to Text Johnny26: Yo. @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: Do you wish me to stop? Dutchess: Dude, lol. What’s up with your voice? Blackjack: You sound like your testicles dropped and wedged themselves deep in the planet’s crust. Johnny26: Sorry. I’m a prepubescent but my voice keeps confusing people into believing I’m a thirty year old black man. King Kludge: hahahaahahahahahaha! `¯ÿø+))0w: God no. I’m just out of my depth. Johnny26: Anyway, I’m moving into my new place and rather henpecking messages every other minute as I move shit back and forth, it’s easier to just turn this on. Synergy: Just don’t start fapping because then the text gets eight kinds of fucked up. ZomZom: Yeah. If anyone pulls that shit again, they’re going to get a metaphorical punch to the throat. @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: How so? Dutchess: Now I kinda want to. King Kludge: Let’s not. Dutchess: Even if I am unzipping as we speak? MrOrion: Bitch I will grab you by the pubes and pull. `¯ÿø+))0w: It’s end user documentation w/ redaction. Johnny26: Now I’m just curious about what it would spew out if I started beatboxing. Hesperides: Oh, the family we have weaved. Synergy: It’s times like these that make me unsure if sobriety is ever a good thing. `¯ÿø+))0w: It’s not easy picking up on the clues. Hesperides: To get back on topic: what is the topic? Synergy: There isn’t one. Last one was on Lafayette, but we exhausted that one pretty quick. @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: I’m sure you can manage. Bone Collector: I’ve got a suggestion. LaLiLuLeLo: Perish the thought. King Kludge: Go on. `¯ÿø+))0w: Who’s your supplier? Bone Collector: The Dratali pledge. Blackjack: I’m game. @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: Looking to cut me out? MrOrion: Go for it. King Kludge: Acceptable. Zom? ZomZom: Fine with me. `¯ÿø+))0w: No. Even middlemen need jobs. King Kludge: Bodacious. King Kludge -settings -chat topic newtopic New Shadowlands Lounge Topic: The Dratali Pledge `¯ÿø+))0w: Just curious as to what’s in it for you. Synergy: The hell is that anyway? LaLiLuLeLo: If I may, bones? Bone Collector: Take it away. @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: Money, of course. LaLiLuLeLo: Now I’ll be the first to admit my knowledge is incomplete. Ever since the defeat in Avolian airspace a little over a year ago, there have been cases of certain Dratali members pledging loyalty to other species. The details are sketchy, but the jist of it is that it is a method of atoning for one’s sins. I’ve seen at least one case where one who didn’t “sin” pledged himself to another, so there’s more to the story; chalk it up to incomplete information. LaLiLuLeLo: Furthermore, it’s not something that’s done lightly. From what I can tell it’s a form of indentured servitude that borders on slavery. Synergy: see? It’s this religious zealot bullshit that made me quit church in the first place. Ozymandias: Easy Syn. Dial it back a few notches. MrOrion: Why haven’t I heard anything about this? Bone Collector: It’s only been gaining steam in recent months, and only privately. LaLiLuLeLo: Dratali are private individuals. These are private matters that are thought as something not needed to be shared with others. I only know as much as I do due to sticking my nose where it doesn’t belong. `¯ÿø+))0w: I find myself awfully suspicious. ZomZom: Speaking of, I’ve seen a recent breakin in one of CSS’s secure file storage. Someone shot up the place, and a few people while they were at it. Dratali files were one of the items stolen. Your work? Dutchess: Jesus christ @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: I’d be surprised if you weren’t. LaLiLuLeLo: I didn’t kill anyone. Frankly, I think a little hospitalization is necessary in order to get the word out. Considering I’ve seen a classified CSS report that I cross referenced with some of my NOMAD contacts, I know all is still not well on the Dratali front. The extremist faction still has enough support to keep up the campaign. @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: It’s not par for the course to get contacts and intel myself, h/e. Bone Collector: So, any thoughts? Synergy: I’m a nobody living in the middle of a crowd. If I start screaming in a crowd that I’ve been stabbed, people would tell me to shut the hell up because Vasquez's newest single is on the holovid & i’m interupting. `¯ÿø+))0w: Very well. What do you have for me? Ozymandias: Stuck between a glock and a hard place? Sid the Kid: Youve got quite the bug up you but today @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: First I need something from you. Synergy: I’m nothign. Seriously. Politics is way over my head, I got most of my current events from you guys and gals, I can’t fight worth a damn, so even if a Drat rrocks out of the shadows there’s precisely jackshit I can do about it.. Why should I get worked up over something that doesn’t affect me and I cant change in the slightest? I’ve got enough to worry about. `¯ÿø+))0w: Oh? King Kludge: u need to talk privately Synergy? Hesperides: It’s compassion fatigue. ZomZom: Clear the crap off the floor, girl. I’m stopping by later today. --SecondSon has joined the chat-- @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: More accurately, I need two things from you. Sid the Kid: She does have a point. What does this mean to us? @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: Payment for services, if you will. Blackjack: Ask the closest security advisor and you’ll get your answer. SecondSon: Meaning you? `¯ÿø+))0w: Such as? Blackjack: It’s going to throw a huge clusterfuck into everyone who has to deal with security or public relations. At least physical security, not cybersecurity like Valentine. It’s going to cause so many extra problems it’s ridiculous. I haven’t had to deal with it myself but despite xenophobia it’s going to be next to impossible to tell if a pledge is genuine. Bone Collector: Pledges are legally binding. @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: First off, “He Who Walks Through Walls” is in town. Blackjack: My ass is legally binding to this chair. I’m pretty sure the concept of “take-backsies” exists across all cultures. Even if it doesn’t, all it takes is one asshole to pop one cap in one ass and then we have a public panic and then things are all fucked up. Security is going to be tightened harder than a virgin asshole awaiting a dragon dildo. This means more checkpoints, more surprise inspections, harassment, etc. It’s nto a question of true or not true. It becomes not a question of ensuring a pledge is genuine, but stoping those that aren’t. The value of something being honest is irrelavent because all people or headlines care about is that one time where someone breaks the rules. `¯ÿø+))0w: shit Johnny26: Shit, you ranted for like a good two minutes there. King Kludge: I’m impressed. --VolTecha has joined the chat-- @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: I want you to ignore him. Hesperides: Dratali pledges, hmm? One thing that should be noted is that Magnasanti is far too close to contested space. One of the first stops for an eager young mind waiting to purge sin is our favorite City of Night. `¯ÿø+))0w: Why? That guy’s not one you just shrug off. MrOrion: Also a good point. However, if I may interject? Bone Collector: Floor’s yours. `¯ÿø+))0w: If he’s here something big is going down. MrOrion: I think this is a good thing. For the first time the Iron Curtain is falling and we’re seeing signs of regret and remorse. This is a good thing. It’s showing that they can at least understand that they’re massive fuckups. The hardest thing for anyone to anyone to say is that they’re wrong. Here we have a species that is moving towards admitting their entire theology has a distinct flaw and are working towards recompense. --Hesperides has disconnected-- Dutchess: Problem being is all we have to work on is hearsay and L’s database. @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: Exactly, and that is why you will not interfere. > LaLiLuLeLo Transmitting to #CHAT: June 15, 3043 Posting includes 5.3 GB of attached files LaLiLuLeLo: I’ve also attached the files to the board in case anyone wants to take a look in their free time. `¯ÿø+))0w: I need to know why he’s here. Ozymandias: My heart says yes, but my mind is saying no, Orion. I don’t think you’re wrong, but I don’t think thre’s enough proof at this time to say for sure. --Grease Monkey has joined the chat-- Johnny26: What are the chances this isn’t another play? SecondSon: If they are coming, feel free to ask one of them yourself. Synergy: Pass MrOrion: There’s still enough to warrant further study. @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: You’re resourceful. Surely you can discover that yourself. Sid the Kid: Agreed. Dutchess: So what do official Alliance sources say on the matter? LaLiLuLeLo: Precious little and mostly hearsay. They’ve got a dedicated Naval Intelligence division going, but good luck cutting through bureaucracy. Red tape is something that will never die. @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: Secondly, I believe Twilight Sparkle will be coming to Magnasanti. SecondSon: Speed is on our side, if nothing else. --Captain Chaos has joined the chat-- @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: I need you to discreetly help her when that time comes. Ozymandias: yo cap `¯ÿø+))0w: One, I can’t ignore that guy coming here. Captain Chaos: Hold on. I need to check something. BRB, AFK. --The Crooked Man has joined the chat-- Grease Monkey: Can you get your hands on a few firsthand experiences with Drat pledges, L? @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: You will. LaLiLuLeLo: I’m already on it. @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: I don’t have to state why otherwise. King Kludge: Goodspeed, good man. Grease Monkey: My own opinion is this is a good thing. Should a Drat decide to fuck things over, we’ve got a bunch of colorful losers on our side now to send into the meat grinder ahead of us. If anything it’s a tactic to prevent attack by means of MAD. After all, ponies were a pivotal part of why the attacks let up. Can’t make a decision without bringing them into the mix. Having Avolians is going to force that do pledge to stick to their guns. @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: My current package cometh. Bone Collector: Ah, the pleasant smell of shame when you understand another can beat the hell out of you. Synergy: Go beat one off in a corner Bones. Johnny26: So here’s an interesting idea: what if these pledges become mainstream for them? @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: Let’s dispel any remnants of choice in the matter. SecondSon: Then another dynasty falls. The Alliance will fold yet another civilization into the mix after civil wars break out, but then events will settle down. MrOrion: Someone’s cheery. `¯ÿø+))0w: You think you can just spring this on me? VolTecha: Dratali, hmm? Interesting choice of topic. The Crooked Man: If, and only if, they stabilize their centralized authority, there might be a chance. Should they join the Alliance ranks now, on the heels of Avolians, the combined magical influx would boost development in all sectors across the board. We’d see a new renaissance in science, technology, art, and maybe even the birth of new sciences. King Kludge: Now there’s an idea to ponder. Yeah... that does tickle my cockles. Johnny26: Your... what? @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: Of course. Curiosity has killed more than cats. SecondSon: Imagine artisans and artists ushering a new era that hadn’t been seen since the Islamic caliphs in Earth’s Middle Ages. Sid the Kid: Yes I’m at half chub already. Now why has Zombie been so quiet? Dutchess: Yeah what up boss? VolTecha: I think the consensus so far has been cautious optimism, ZomZom. Your opinion? ZomZom: Screw them. MrOrion: An answer that came to the surprise of exactly zero people. King Kludge: Let him speak. Type. whatever. `¯ÿø+))0w: Oh, I know how this game is played. ZomZom: This shit’s been going on for almost 50 years. Dratali attack. Railese? Larimus III? Those places sound familiar? People keep dying; human, Korg, Avian, or otherwise. It’s standard war dogma that has happened since the beginning of time. I’ve got no problem with that. People have been killing each other for long enough that this is common practice. But now that there is an official end to the madness, some of them are pledging themselves to people they respect of those they themselves or their family have hurt. I will say right now I will shoot them right between the eyes if any Dratali approaches me and says they’ve made a pledge. Johnny26: Christ dude... ZomZom: It’s such a load of hypocritical bullshit. Oh, now they’re doing this? After fifty years? There’s the occasional whisper of defectors like always, but now the common people are making pledges? Screw them. It’s only happening now that they’ve clearly lost. I would have heard otherwise. So would Chaos, L, or even Jack. This isn’t honesty, it’s saving face. Even if they don’t believe in Dratali religious dogma, it’s only after they’ve lost. If they actually held up to their beliefs and kept at the crusade I could at least admire their tenacity. Now they’ve abandoned that at the first sign of defeat. So yeah, they can pledge and it’ll make things all better. Out of all the people hurt, out of the mountain of dead, feel free to pledge. At least your conscious is clean. @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: Really now? Ozymandias: shit... Dutchess: Still think it’s a good thing Orion? MrOrion: He hasn’t converted me but i concede he has a point. `¯ÿø+))0w: I’m still puzzling who’s pulling your strings. The Crooked Man: So you feel they abandoned their beliefs to save their lives? ZomZom: Either that or they genuinely feel this is enough to make up for what their kind has done. It’s either self-serving hypocrisy, or they have zero understanding of what it’s like to empathise with others. The Crooked Man: You can’t punish an individual for the crimes of another. ZomZom: I can judge him for believing he’s right when he’s not. Sure, maybe they genuinely believe they can make up for what their species has done. They can do all they want, but THEY DO NOT GET TO DECIDE WHEN THEY ARE FORGIVEN. King Kludge: I think things are getting a little too heated in here. @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: That package is much too expensive. ZomZom: Agreed. I’ve had my say. Blackjack: ending the topic early? Captain Chaos: Yes. Johnny26: And you are? Captain Chaos: I’m the sysop. Has the chat been working alright for everyone? @°õN)0ÿÿl¯ÿ¯ÿ: Now let’s see if you’re all bark. Dutchess: Seems fine. VolTecha: Everything working as expected, but I just got here. Grease Monkey: all systems go Synergy: all good King Kludge: What’s up? Captain Chaos: Not sure. One of the daemons threw up flags of high network usage I normally attribute to peak traffic hours. I thought the Shadowlands was getting a DOS attack or someone was messing around in my network. LaLiLuLeLo: I doubt a DdOS alone, even a coordinated DdOS, would bring down the Shadowlands. `¯ÿø+))0w: Bail. Captain’s on to us. Captain Chaos: Still needed to check anyway. Might just be a blip is all, but it just spiked out of nowhere. Sid the Kid: L posted some stuff. --[Unidentified User] has disconnected-- Captain Chaos: That might be it, but hold on just a moment. --[Unidentified User] has disconnected-- --Captain Chaos has disconnected-- VolTecha: I take it this morning’s been all sorts of fun? Blackjack: Morning? I must be in some god-forsaken hole because none of you assholes are ever going to sleep or waking up the same time as me. It’s night. Sid the Kid: You’re exactly where we want you. Blackjack: Fuck you Grease Monkey: the butthurt is strong in this one Blackjack: fuck all ya’ll Synergy: Sid. Now that I got a hold of you, did you get my package? Sid the Kid: Oh. That. Bone Collector: So are we done with the topic for today? King Kludge: I’m ending it early. Feelings are a little too hot for it now. I’ll bring it back up tomorrow perhaps. Synergy: Sid. Speak up. Sid the Kid: This... abomination is a piece of crap! MrOrion: Oh, I’ve gotta hear this VolTecha: What’s going on? Synergy: I told you it was fucked. I kno it’s not fixed, and I did my best. Now quit your bitchin, and what did you find? Grease Monkey: I got it to work. Barely. King Kludge: What are you two working on? Synergy: I’m trying to rework a defective microcircuit for the decommissioned Smartlink project on an Ingram Smartgun. In theory, holding a gun completes a touch-sensor circuit between your eyes and a pistol. It requires cybernetic eyes, but it’s supposed to line up a reticule in your field of view wherever your pistol is pointing. ZomZom: That’s... actually a handy idea. Blackjack: I take it the project still doesn’t work? Grease Monkey: I’m more concerned that Syn stole private blueprints. Synergy: I covered my trail. I’m fine. ZomZom: Munchkin, you just stole corporate secrets. You have some serious balls for that. Synergy: I found them in the dumpster. Sid the Kid: I imagine I know why. --ZomZom has disconnected-- Synergy: Explain, mortal. Sid the Kid: Do you know how many different ways the Smartlink can fail? You need a stable circuit on the palm which, when you’re in a gunfight, means your grip on the gun may be tenuous at times and the cybereye reticule would cut out if the circuit is interrupted for even the slightest reason. Pistols with full auto or even burst fire can cause the grip rangefinder and altitude calibration to melt if it overheats too badly. The targeting sensors are easily misaligned. Shove a clip in place too hard and you could dislodge the gun’s gyros. They used carbon nanotubes wrapped in viscera insulation to reduce signal propagation delay in the body, despite the fact carbon nanotubes are poisonous and a rupture in the viscera could cause additional internal damage! Sid the Kid: Then there’s the output design for the cybereye reticle. The only option available even through modification is this stupid ECR microcircuit that produces this horrible, wobbly signal that difficult to see on even the most advanced cybernetics, all in an age where we have RCA repeaters. And even when I did get it to work the system froze all the time, and I do mean all the damn time! Why nanotubes? Why ECR microcircuits? Why did I spend so long getting something this broken to work? MrOrion: Someone put a spoon in his mouth, SId’s seizing. Blackjack: breathe goddamit King Kludge: As fun as this is to watch, seriously I’m rofling right here. calm the fuck down Sid. Sid the Kid: No. This shit’s personal now. I’m getting this skidmark working whether it wants to or not. Blackjack: Do you need any help? Sid the Kid: No. I’m getting this to work on my own if it’s the last thing I do. --SecondSon has disconnected-- Dutchess: Buy a cold one on me and goodluck scrublord/ --Grease Monkey has disconnected-- Sid the Kid: alright I’m done rantning now kthx Blackjack: How many hours did you put in? Sid the Kid: Around 35 so far Synergy: I gave it to him a week ago. The Crooked Man: You’re due for some rest, friend. --Captain Chaos has joined the chat-- Sid the Kid: I can survive on water, but that doesn’t have the chemicals I need to keep me awake. King Kludge: Easy there. We’ve all got that project on occasion to keep us busy but dont overexert yourself Synergy: I’ll sleep when i’m dead. i’ll let the caffeine and amphetamines do their job in the meantime Sid the Kid: Amen to that Johnny26: I’ve gotta go now, but we’re going to continue the topic later? King Kludge: Yes. I’m not going to have it right now. Let people cool down a bit Bone Collector: Zombie was the only one throwing a hissy fit. The Crooked Man: This is true. You might need to talk to him about his behavior, King Kludge. King Kludge: Don’t worry; I will. Johnny26: I just have a question kinda sorta related to it before I go. As the resident new guy, I got a question for the mods. You’re one, right? King Kludge: Yes. Johnny26: I wasn’t sure I wanted to say it with ZomZom active. King Kludge: Out with it. Johnny26: What’s gonna happen when a Drat gets outed as one of the Shadowland’s members? King Kludge: huh King Kludge: well King Kludge: That will be an interesting day. For chapter commentary and my ramblings, visit my page HERE Chapter Commentary: LINK
Prologue: Black TapestriesPrologue: Black Tapestries Darkness. One would not expect so much darkness in the middle of a populated city. The room wasn’t exposed to the city streets, however. It was just a barren, concrete room in some random, unremarkable building, yet no light from the comforting sun ever touched a single corner. By some unspoken command, light blazed through the room and splayed the silhouette of a figure in a chair on the far wall. A set of eight high fidelity monitors projected the same word: REMEMBER Given that the shockingly bright monitors hid the figure’s features in a dark silhouette, even something as simple as the figure’s species proved difficult to discern. The shadows and the light tugged the figure between them both, hiding it from either one’s grasp. “Marvelous, isn’t it?” The figure’s voice was a high and whimsical tenor, and easily discernable as male. One by one, each monitor, upon recognizing the vocal pattern, displayed some new information. The first displayed a set of monetary transactions but the exact details were still encoded. Another flashed a series of pictures in a never-ending loop: a human in an immaculate white suit and blood-red tie, a sow of a man sitting in a decadently decorated office, a fair-coated pony in a stetson with a trio of apples on its recognizably feminine hindquarters, an amalgamous creature posing with a statue that defied gravity, a man wearing a doctor’s garb with an expression devoid of any emotion, and a quietly demure pegasus—hiding her face behind a lengthy cascade of bubblegum-pink hair—proved to be only a few in the lengthy cycle. “Do you know the universe’s most dangerous killer? Its most prolific weapon?” the figure spoke to the room. Raising a pair of limbs, a holographic keyboard display manifested in front of him. He entered a flurry of commands and monitors flashed again and again with walls of data and text. Each one was quickly replaced by a new screen of data after he was finished. Despite the speed, everything seemed to be absorbed and understood by the figure. The setup was quite advanced for one working alone. Servers, wires, metal framework, and screen displays all shined with constant upkeep and state-of-the-art design. No commoner could possibly own or even use such advanced gear. Dozens of hard drives glowed white as their owner actively used what was in their confines, perhaps brimming with intelligence and research data, or storage for later. Various instruments littered the floor, some of them obvious devices and tools used for repairs, while others appeared no more than a dirty hodgepodge of wires and oily metal. Repaired or refurbished computer hardware stood on the far wall. Dozens if not hundreds of paper clippings and printouts littered the wall to his right, yet he paid them no mind. It was a shocking contrast to the otherwise spartan room that housed the figure’s workplace. Save for the computer setup and the wall of photographs and clippings, the room was completely bare. “Throughout the ages, throughout the vastness of time and space, you’ll receive the usual array of small-minded, self-deluded guesses. The stone. The spear.” He continued to speak, despite him being hauntingly alone. The noise and bustle of the outside world was reduced to less than a quiet hum. Beside the steady rumble of his machinery, everything was as silent as the grave. Each screen was composed of a hollow gray frame. Rather than have a solid screen, light projected from each corner of the frame to create a solid set of images. The first displayed a starship manifest from a corporation, one the figure was certainly not legally allowed to see or possess. OrC. Op. - Organic Corporate Operations “We don’t build, we grow.” Designation: S.S. Starjammer Passengers: 50 Date of Arrival: Today Port of Departure: Zenith Inc. North Atlantic Staryard, Earth Two thousand (2,000) kilograms of enriched hydrocarbons Five hundred (500) kilograms of phosphorus Four hundred fifty (450) kilograms of Gamma-Aminobutyric acid solution Four hundred (400) kilograms of OrC Op. seed treatment Four hundred (400) kilograms of synthetic proteins Three hundred (300) kilograms of Octasulfur Two hundred fifty (250) kilograms of potassium monopersulfate Two hundred fifty (250) kilograms of potash Two hundred (200) kilograms of five (5) kilogram copper ingots A light load, considering it was a medium-sized starship. As there were ports far closer capable of delivering the same materials and thus expending less fuel, it was an oddity that gained the figure’s attention. “The flame. The sword.” A few graceful and practiced arcs across his motion-sensitive interface revealed the ship’s own internal sensors and schematics, but it was still not enough to reveal anything of note. A little deeper search into ship records was in order. Specifically, a stolen security clearance to hack into secure ship records. CCV1 «» SECURITY AUTHORIZATION REQUESTED GREAR, BORIS «» PRIORITY ALPHA PROCESSING CCV1 5555*0000*X1 // 5894 »... »... »...PROCESSING... GREAR, BORIS «» PRIORITY ALPHA »... »... »PENDING... PENDING... PENDING... »... »... «» ALERT «» ALERT «» ALERT «» UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS DETECTED POTENTIAL LEVEL 4 SECURITY BREACH Red lights flashed across the selected screen as his own security software detected a backhack. A few more quick arcs across the keyboard and both the message and the warning lights vanished in a flash of holographic pixels; the Starjammer’s records were now no more than an open book. Apparently the ship now dwelled in the Magnasanti docks for engine repairs. Digging a little deeper into the ship’s own internal records, the figure discovered the Starjammer had recently undergone a full system overhaul. It was very unusual and unlikely that engine faults could have been overlooked, unless the ship was currently carrying a much heavier load than what was on the manifest, which in turn forced a stronger burden on the engines. Naughty naughty. Someone was hiding a dirty secret. “The plague. The land.” The figure gazed at a different monitor. After a few clicks and strokes, another hack into a secure database with a password recently earned after a respectful bribe, a police report from none other than the Magnasanti megacity police commissioner, George Clemmins, flashed on screen. It outlined a few facts, including several officers that were now under investigation for criminal corruption. Bribery, racketeering, racial discrimination, sexual harassment, the usual. Nothing unique in Magnasanti, the city of sin. Except for those rumored new Magnasanti arrivals coming in a few weeks. Sapient equines. Magic users. Applejack and Fluttershy. A pair of creatures as absolutely absurd as they were discomfortingly real. “The musket. The rifle. The rocket. Magic.” The figure chuckled merrily. Ponies. In his wildest dreams, he would have never guessed, let alone pondered the idea, that ponies would be coming into his domain. “Ourselves.” The figure opened up a tab on one of his many monitors. White text flashed across the screen. Securing network crosscom: 08% Securing network crosscom: 18% Securing network crosscom: 22% Securing network crosscom: 25% Securing network crosscom: 39% Securing network crosscom: 45% Securing network crosscom: 56% Securing network crosscom: 67% Securing network crosscom: 74% Securing network crosscom: 79% Securing network crosscom: 82% Securing network crosscom: 96% Securing network crosscom: 100% Retrieving contacts... Handshaking... Contact established with user: King Kludge A chat window opened. The blank blue background was momentarily empty, but a single line of white text appeared before the figure could do anything. King Kludge: Shit, friend. U’ve been quiet for months. I was beginning 2 think you got iced. After a few more clicks, the figure replied with his own text. DaemonJack: I’m like a cockroach; hard to kill, gets everywhere. Heard anything on OrC. Op.? King Kludge: Nothing of note. Should I have? DaemonJack: Not sure. Working on a hunch. Thinking there might be some dirty laundry worth snooping around for. King Kludge: Kinda busy with the NOMAD guys. I’ll look when I can. Anyway, heard about the OrC. Op passengers coming in a few weeks? It was “DaemonJack’s” turn to be surprised. DaemonJack: Not a peep. King Kludge: A booked landing craft will have a small armada of security escorting it to Magnasanti. I don’t know what white collar jerkass, snot-nosed ambassador, or tightass is heading that way in such force, but they’ve tripled security on the ship alone and that’s not counting the CSS security personnel escorting them. The underworld is whispering some of those ponies are coming. Something about them being national heroes or some shit. No idea why they want to go to your hellhole of a city. That got his attention and he shoved the potential OrC Op. contraband aside for later. Was it possible this Applejack and Fluttershy were coming to Magnasanti on board an OrC Op. jumpship? Why a corporate ship that specialized in agrarian development and research? If they were heroes, why not a diplomatic luxury cruiser? DaemonJack: I’ll look into it. Later, Kludge. King Kludge: See ya later, hode. --King Kludge has disconnected-- DaemonJack: The fuck does hode mean? The window shut down. For a moment, everything was quiet. What work the figure had been performing so vigorously was cast aside as he delved into his own thoughts. “But they’re all wrong,” he continued to say to the empty room. “It’s knowledge. The one thing that everyone always seeks, and of which they can never get enough. Money talks and power destroys, but nothing rivals the strength of information. Perhaps some little civilian shit wants to obtain a leg-up on his perceived enemies, or maybe a military spy has been bought by the enemy, or some random asshole just wants to get ahead in life at the price of his companions. Everyone needs to know something. It’s just a matter of finding out what it is. “I am the purveyor of knowledge. I am its collector, its keeper until its time to be shared comes.” The figure rose from his languor and moved from keyboard to keyboard, motion-sensitive interface to interface, hunting for more information. A virtual newspaper clipping showed a picture above the heading: SOVEREIGN MAGIC USERS JOIN ALLIANCE RANKS The picture was that of a man bearing the rank of vice admiral bowing in respect to a trio of horses. One possessed fur not unlike snow reflecting sunlight across the Siberian taiga. Perhaps the most startling aspect about her was a mane that seemed to billow in some nonexistent wind, as the marshal seemed unruffled by any such gusts. Or maybe it was due to her being at least a foot taller than the human, or her slender, compact form that hinted at the fairer sex and graceful facial features that declared a shrewd mind hid behind those eyes. The remaining pair were similar to, if shorter than, the mare. One had fur of a deep cobalt blue and a mane not dissimilar to that of a field of stars. It too seemed to dance in a false wind. The third companion lacked the ephemeral mane, but her perfectly groomed gold and violet locks hugged her youthful face. “So now the keeper of the keys finds himself capable of being at the heart of it all, at the very core of discovery and knowledge. You want to get into bed with me? You’re not the first to clamor for my attention. You will certainly not be the last, but, admittedly, none have one-upped the competition as well as you. It makes me wonder if you truly know what you are getting yourself into by asking for my help. Most don’t, but I can’t help but entertain the idea you do. Maybe, just maybe, I can stop being so fucking bored.” The figure pulled up yet another set of images, this one focused primarily around a single lavender unicorn. The first was the unicorn as a child alongside a light gray mare and blue stallion, likely her parents. The next was of some graduate class about the same mare. The figure continued to cycle through the images, his mind lost in his own contemplations and strange soliloquy. “Out of all the vices I could have obtained, all the faults, my greatest heel happens to be myself. I have access to untold secrets, I have information that can bring killers and kings to their knees, yet despite how amusing the prospects can be, despite how fun it is to fuck with the masses and misguided retards, it’s just... a distraction. A treatment, not a cure.” The figure clicked on a small envelope in the corner with a glowing red notification. A short message popped up on screen, a status report for his eyes only. Jack, Observation of Attis and Narcissus is ongoing. Continuing with starting mission. Initial suspicions about Narcissus are in question, but not dismissed. Possibly wears the Mask of Janus. Attis is inconsequential. It is not advised to separate them. As anticipated, Alice will venture down the rabbit hole. It is up to the Mad Hatter if he wishes to join her. The March Hare and Dormouse will accompany her. No word as to the thoughts of the Queen of Hearts or Caterpillar. Cheshire Cat is still a wild card and unpredictable. Awaiting orders. Awaiting payment. ~Tinman No matter how skilled a hacker may be, an information network pays the real dividends when a little simple legwork from hired help is involved. The figure sighed, closed the message, and pulled up several financial reports, including bank transactions. His personal bank balance, even in the single account he currently had open on screen, held more zeroes than most would ever see in their entire life. A far from insignificant amount drained itself and added onto one representing that of the so called “Tinman”. “And now the siren comes to me and sings her silly song. What does this sinner desire, my dear? An escape. I am good, devilishly good, at what I do, but my skill counts for nothing if it is never tested, never pushed to its limits. All these cocksuckers want me to do their dirty work, which I am all too happy to do with the proper payment. Hack this, provide support for that, turn off the alarm here, tell me this piece of information, all of that crap. I’m happy to do so, but I can't help but want... more. Something new. “I am stagnating. I hold all the weapons and power one could ever ask for, and it means nothing to me. I suppose that’s the trick, the grand universal prank only achieved when the wheel of time turns and we finally reach our end. We are all worthless in the grand scheme of things. There is no god to pray to, no people that you can forever trust, no comfort to find within weapons, each other, or even immortal alien horses with wings and horns. Nothing is permanent, not even the thrones in heaven or hell. “‘What is my purpose?’ It’s the ultimate prank. The answer to the ultimate question is that there was never a question to begin with.” The figure halted his lament before bringing up a final still picture on screen. Six mares hugged each other as they posed for a photo. Six friends, bound together in one of the strongest and most misguided bonds one could possess. They all looked so happy, so carefree. “It makes me wonder how they did it, how they managed to delude themselves so far. Applejack. Fluttershy. Pinkie. Rarity. Rainbow. Twilight. Friendship harder than stone, stronger than steel. We’ll see how far they can bend before they break. It’s not safe out here in the real world, unshielded from Eden. I suppose they will regress into their basic and primal instincts, just like everyone else. Lucifer fell from grace. They will be no different.” He sighed, thinking deeply on what he said and what still needed to be spoken. “I suppose only time will tell how far they will fall. Still, that doesn’t discount how important a role these six will play in events to come. Important to be sure, but as to how, not even my eyes can see. I suppose that does not matter; I have the opportunity to see for myself. How much will they alter our way of life? How far will they destabilize the natural order of things? “And I get to be at the center of it all,” he cooed softly. “Finally, someone gets to stir up shit across the board. The politicians jockeying for power, penthouse corporate execs dancing in the clouds, the gutter scum working in the shadows, and those like me. We’re not going to be the same after this. Our way of life is going to burn, and be rebuilt only for the fires of hell to come rolling in again. Take everything, my little ponies. Take it all. Meet us, greet us, work with us, work against us... No matter what, nothing will be the same after this. “I can’t wait to see it.” The figure turned away from the monitors with a squeak of unoiled chair hinges. The dark room was invisible to his eyes after looking at the bright screens for so long. The room was still empty of life, and the red light above the door told him it was still securely closed and the green light of an undetonated explosive charge told him no one tried to hack the door’s maglock. The figure smiled, a maniacal toothy grin that seemed to glow in the pale light against his black, impossible-to-describe silhouette. “I take it you want an answer, Miss Turmoil?” A quartet of knocks reverberated from the other side of the door. “I will give you one. The deal? I accept.” For chapter commentary and my ramblings, visit my page HERE Chapter Commentary: LINK Edited by: Genesis1212, Reader Review, Midnight Spark, Prereader: Softy8088, The Synn Lofsvard
\\C:\Users\BigBlue\Video\30432306ZG.ZIPShadowlands Lounge, Magnasanti Hub, The Matrix Personas Present: ~Adam ~Blackjack ~Captain Chaos ~Eve ~Grease Monkey ~Hesperides ~King Kludge ~LaLiLuLeLo ~Ozymandias ~Rasta Blasta ~Sid the Kid ~Synergy ~The Crooked Man ~Valentine ~ZomZom King Kludge: Can’t sleep... ponies will eat me... Sid the Kid: Kludge, take a nap already. YOu’re weird enough when you’re lucid. Rasta Blasta: Sid’s got sticky fingers. Sid the Kid: Excuse me for capitalizing the wrong letter. Ozymandias: Anybody catch the last race? Hesperides: Adam. Rasta Blasta: Ask Chaos. Ozymandias: Captain! Wake up! You AFK? Captain Chaos: I’m here. Ozymandias: Catch yesterday’s game? ZeroG League? Captain Chaos: Nope. Sorry. Grease Monkey: The ponies are coming! The ponies are coming! Grease Monkey: Seriously, why are they in Magnasanti? ZomZom: Curiosity more than anything. Hesperides: Who doesn’t like a little zest to spice things up? Adam: It was a ZeroG League Classic match and Kane won. Piloted a VX-Nova crafted by Deus. 2.8L V10 with a top speed of 375 km/h. Modified dimpled chassis for decreased drag and lower weight, making it light and fast, but brittle as a pinecone and likely to get wrecked to shit at high speeds. Purrs like a kitten, but I’d bet 2000§ that he’s using exotic alloys for the engine. Rasta Blasta: Adam, where have you been all my life? Adam: Sorry, I’m taken. My one true love requires far more maintenance, needs tools to get at her goodies, and squirts if I press the right thing. Sid the Kid: OMG Rasta Blasta: Hahahahahaha! Ozymandias: lolololol LaLiLeLuLo: We got a wise guy. Good; we never get noobs with a sense of humor. King Kludge: Thanks for showing me. Sid the Kid: Damn it Kludge; go to goddamn bed. Noone sent ou nothin Rasta Blasta: Tweet tweet, time to sleep. Let the king lie and weep. Grease Monkey: Catch some Zs, kludge. See you in a few hours. King Kludge: Yeah. Night. --King Kludge has disconnected-- Eve: Every time he speaks is like watching a drunken leprechaun completely blitzed on Rampage. Hesperides: Good night Synergy: I bring munchies everytime i log on. More fun that way. Free show. --Hesperides has disconnected-- Rasta Blasta: It’s getting late for me too. Heading out. Synergy: Awwwww. Kludge & Hesi are gone. Don’t leave too! Rasta Blasta: It’s 7 where I am. Sid the Kid: Chica, your night hasn’t even begun. Rasta Blasta: In the morning. I’ve been logged in for 8 hours. Sid the Kid: Well, see ya then Grease Monkey: Night Rasta. Captain Chaos: Get some sleep, Rasta Blasta. Synergy: goodnight. Eve: Night Adam: Night Rasta --Rasta Blasta has disconnected-- Eve: What’s the topic for tonight? Captain Chaos: I haven’t set one yet. Adam: I can gush about the ZeroG League for a few hours. Ozymandias: oh god yes. Grease Monkey: I’m game. ZomZom: I had 300§ on Xia for last Saturday’s game. Close but no cigar. Eve: Ah, XenoKilla as she calls herself online. Grease Monkey: What a shitty name Captain Chaos: She’s in the Shadowlands queue for new arrivals. I’m ready to invite her through my VPN, like how I invited all of you. Valentine: She’s a good racer. I enjoyed her little spar with Rainbow Dash. LaLiLuLeLo: Watch it, Captain. I got a file on her. She’s a little too impulsive for the kind of subtly and confidentiality we need. ZomZom: Wait, back up. That Rainbow Dash? Valentine: Of course, dearie. The self-proclaimed fastest flyer in Equestria joined the ZeroG League. She’s an official racer now. Adam: She lost her first race. She was doing well, but there was something funny going on behind the scenes. Ozymandias: Funny as in ‘HAHA’ or funny as in ‘Holy shit, my car’s on fire’? Eve: The latter. We’re pretty sure someone was cheating. LaLiLuLeLo: I can confirm the cheating. Adam: Really? LaLiLuLeLo: Yes I can. Nothing tangible, but I have the word of people I trust. They can confirm. Adam: I admit... i had thought only DaemonJack, Kludge, and Captain Chaos were the ones to be reckoned with. Looks like I was wrong. Valentine: Honey, you have no idea what this collective can do. Adam: I’m starting to see that. What are you LaLiLuLeLo? Info Dealer? Racer? Media? Blackjack: It’s not good for your well being to pry. LaLiLuLeLo: Come off it, Blackjack. He’s harmless. Adam: Am I? LaLiLuLeLo: I’m fairly certain I know who you are. Adam: Really now? Eve: Only the Captain knows everyone. ZomZom: Nope. Captain Chaos: Some of us are only known by our Matrix handles and I invite those types through other means less personal. I am okay with that. I don’t know everybody, and to keep anonymity for all, I will keep it that way. Blackjack: Some value their secrecy quite highly. It’s unwise to stick your dick in places where it doesn’t belong. LaLiLuLeLo: Let’s just say I know people Adam. Adam: Advice taken, Blackjack. Eve: Where’s the fun in that? ZomZom: Blackjack’s right, Eve. We’re all pretty chill when we want to be, but we all have our secrets. As Kludge said a few days ago, we need to keep a little bit for ourselves. Press too deep, someone’s going to stomp a mudhole in your ass. Ozymandias: Wait, what the fuck? Captain Chaos: They’re words to take to heart, Oz. Ozymandias: Not that. I agree with Zombie. It’s just that I saw something weird as hell. The Crooked Man: As events truly tend to be. Eve: Where did you come from? The Crooked Man: I have been here for some time. Adam: What did you see? Ozymandias: A pony under armed escort. Grease Monkey: Told you. They’re here in the city. Ozymandias: Didn’t believe you. Blackjack: I’ve located no less than fifteen. Ozymandias: Make that sixteen. Oh shit, seventeen. ZomZom: Great. Just great. The Crooked Man: Why such despair? ZomZom: You’re not my shrink. Get lost. The Crooked Man: They have fought with honor and proven noble allies. I see no reason to take up arms against them. ZomZom: Arms? You got me wrong. Don’t want to kill them. Don’t even want to maim them a little. But just because I don’t hate them, that doesn’t mean I like them either. Adam: You took an interest in Rainbow Dash just a moment ago. Valentine: Can I have a glance, Ozymandias? I would be ever so grateful. Ozymandias: As you wish, My Lady. ZomZom: I know her by reputation. I just didn’t know if the racer and her were one and the same. Ponies have a weirdass way of naming their spawn. Grease Monkey: I wish pops really named me Grease Monkey. ZomZom: I swear you are all doing this to me on purpose. Blackjack: It is a wee bit of fun to grind your gears. Grease Monkey: Upon heat death of the universe, the one thing still burning would be ZomZom’s hatred of everything. > Ozymandias Transmitting to Valentine: June 23, 3043 Posting includes 386 kb of attached files Valentine: My, my, they are lovely. Adam: Can I see? Ozymandias: Sure. Blackjack: Me too. Grease Monkey: Same. Ozymandias: Okay. I— Captain Chaos: I’d like to see as well, if you don’t mind. Ozymandias: Ah fuck it. You all can have it. > Ozymandias Transmitting to #CHAT: June 23, 3043 Posting includes 386 kb of attached files --The Crooked Man has disconnected-- Sid the Kid: See ya, weirdo Adam: Shit, that’s Fluttershy. Eve: And applejack! LaLiLuLeLo: And now I know who you both are =) Captain Chaos: Jack was right. Those two truly are coming. Blackjack: The hell? That’s a shitload of guards. CSS private contractors, OrC. Op. security, and Alliance marines. Standard anti-personnel loadout for protection against unarmored targets, but what the hell were they expecting? Armed resistance the moment they stepped onto the dock? --VolTecha has joined the chat-- Ozymandias: Dem specs, plz. Blackjack: Eight man squad loaded out with what i guess are FMJ munitions. The same for the Alliance blokes, but I don’t see any NCO. ZomZom: MP-Laser system? Not bad. I prefer the SGL myself, but I’d use good old fashioned bullets over a laser any day. I see the Latino dipshit behind the nav-tech is juggling a nonlethal Hi-C Plastic Round, so points there for variety. ZomZom: And their body armor designed by Eden. Weird. Sid the Kid: Hey, Eden Enterprises has some pretty good shit. ZomZom: Whatever. I’m not a fan myself. I get my gear from NOMAD and Zenith suppliers. Valentine: They’re naked. They do realize Magnasanti enforces a dress code, right? VolTecha: Thank you for the invite Captain Chaos. Captain Chaos: You’re more than welcome. Synergy: That’s a fancy rifle she’s got. The tall chick. ZomZom: Nice... FAM S-700 semi auto with an effective range of 800 meters. That’s an Espa Robo make. Designed to be a lightweight medium-range rifle. --SecondSon has joined the chat-- VolTecha: I’m afraid I don’t know what’s going on right now. Sid the Kid: Bottle that rage, Zombie. He’s just a noob. Captain Chaos: I’ll send you the picture. > Captain Chaos Transmitting to VolTecha: June 23, 3043 Posting includes 386 kb of attached files VolTecha: Ahhhhh. An honor guard, I see. Captain Chaos: Those two are one step below nobility. Maybe even knighted. It’s no wonder they would have such security. Synergy: Is that a bandolier of HKGs? VolTecha: I think those are Fireflies. The surface looks a little too dimpled for an HK grenade. Synergy: i think youre right. Blimey... Sid the Kid: Oz, follow them. Ozymandias: Hell no, frager. I’m on my break. I’d get my sorry ass fired. Captain Chaos: Where are they going? Where are you? Ozymandias: I think they landed in the OCO private landing bay. South of the Bay Area. Sector 7. Captain Chaos: That’s isolated... ZomZom: Odd. I expected them to be in a little more public area. Magnasanti officials and corps would want to show them off a little. LaLiLuLeLo: You bet your ass they would. This... something smells wrong with this. I’d expect this treatment towards any civilian, pony or otherwise, but these are national heroes. Why shove them into a place to grow plants and shit? Eve: Ask DaemonJack. He seemed to be in the know. Kludge as well. Captain Chaos: Good luck getting a hold of either. No one ever sees Jack unless he wants it, and Kludge deals with money more than info mining. VolTecha: The easiest way would just be to ask the girls. Valentine: Where is the fun in that? ZomZom: Everybody lies. VolTecha: Ponies aren’t fond of lying. Sid the Kid: Doesn’t mean they don’t know how. VolTecha: I’m just saying there are better ways. Synergy: Of course there aer love, but don’t be daft; none of us are gettting close to them until they get settled in.. Give ti a few weeks. At least a few days. Ozymandias: Let them settle in. We can meddle later. Yeah, having them working with agrarian developers is weird, but we can wait and just let events unfold. Captain Chaos: I think I know the answer to this. Ponies are quite skilled in agrarian development themselves. ZomZom: I don’t buy it. That only applies to these so-called Earth Ponies. I can see our dear Fluttershy has wings. What would a pegasus being doing for OCO? Eve: Weather manipulation. Good shit right there, something OCO would kill for. LaLiLuLeLo: Fat chance. I bought a file off of Jack. Fluttershy is absolute garbage on the weather front. Her skills are subpar at best. If she’s there to work with OCO, it’s not because of that. Sid the Kid: So back to square one: Something’s going on behind the scenes. VolTecha: There’s another reason: Fluttershy is just being there for her friend. Applejack is an Earth Pony and still able to help OrC. Op. LaLiLuLeLo: I smell personal investment in this on your end, VolTecha. VolTecha: Pragmatism. I’m a scientist. Every option needs to be tested. Synergy: he does have a point Sid the Kid: Syn, you’ve been misspelling shit all night. VolTecha: She. I’m female. Synergy: Suck my dick. I’m bloody tired. I finished working a double and trying not to pass out. Captain Chaos: I will pull a few strings and make a few calls. See if I can shoot a few bullets and see who runs and who stops to watch. There might be something to these two coming here. At the very least I can trace the paper trail and see who authorized this co-op in the first place. I think this is just nothing, but I want to be certain. LaLiLuLeLo: Give me a call if you need me. Blackjack: What kind of scientist? VolTecha: A good one. I build things. Blackjack: Industry? Construction? R&D? Military? VolTecha: Secrets ZomZom: The recruits are learning. Ozymandias: I didn’t know it was possible to smell condescension. ZomZom: You got me all wrong. I’m pleased. Perhaps the three rookies aren’t sheep after all. Sid the Kid: Holy crap, a compliment from the Zombie. Eve: Thanks. Adam: We think? VolTecha: I’ll take it for now. Captain, I knew your comrades were unorthodox, but... this isn’t quite what I had in mind. --Dutchess has joined the chat-- Ozymandias: Welcome home, my friend. Sid the Kid: We’re a rowdy bunch, but we’re ok. VolTecha: I’m not... comfortable with what may be going on behind the scenes here. Captain Chaos: I give you the same offer as I gave everyone. You’re free to make friends and contacts, or go. However, you’ll be blacklisted from the Shadowlands for leaving. You are free to speak with everyone here, do anything, hire anyone, or allow yourself to be hired. Our words are gold here. We may protect our identities, but we’ve got each other’s back. When we make a promise to each other, we stick to it. Blackjack: Hear hear! Captain Chaos: This is my territory. I make the rules, I enforce the rules, and I make sure that the most important part of the collective is the bonds we have with each other. Yeah, we’re not perfect, and sometimes we do a few questionable things. It’s not safe out there, but we got each other to keep us strong and pull us out of the gutter. Valentine: You’re making me blush... Sid the Kid: Wow. Good speech Captain. VolTecha: I’ll... stay for a while. Don’t want to jump to conclusions too quick, after all. Eve: I look forward to getting to know you better. ZomZom: Welcome to the Shadowlands. Wipe your feet. Adam: Or hooves. Or claws. Or fins. Whatever. ZomZom: Stuff it Adam. I’m trying to have a moment. Synergy: I’m touched. I really am. Thanks for the vote of confidence Captain Chaos: You’re my friends. What can I say? Valentine: I’ll give my screen a little kiss for you, oh captain my captain. ZomZom: Don’t any of you say it... Sid the Kid: Friendship is magic! ZomZom: That’s it, I’m out of here. Synergy: i’m gonna sod off now. Tired, gonna eat, and then get railed until i can’t walk straight. Ozymandias: TMI, Synergy. TMI. Synergy: you know, I’ve thought about meeting 1 of them equines in a dark corner. THey’re a lot bigger than my limpdicked neighbors. ZomZom: No. NO. Grease Monkey: trololololo Sid the Kid: Channel your anger, Zombie... Yes... ZomZom: Fuck you Syn. Fuck you, fuck your thundercunt, fuck your life, fuck your neighbors, fuck the horse you rode in on. Synergy: Oh, Zom supports the idea, huh? ZomZom: Wait... Ozymandias: HAHAHAHAHAH!!! ZomZom: Damn it... Captain Chaos: You walked right into that one. For chapter commentary and my ramblings, visit my page HERE Chapter Commentary: LINK Edited by: TheSynn, Midnight Spark Author's Note I hope you enjoy this little interlude. If you're interested in making your own interlude, feel free to read THIS for more information on the matter.
