Vanhoover Harbor, Cosmo’s Loft

Cloud Runner groaned as he stretched his arms out. He felt exhausted and drained, and for a moment, he couldn’t remember where he was. Then he remembered the previous night, Palmer’s silver body bouncing up and down on his-

“Morning.” Sighed the mare in question. She was still laying on his chest, face down with no clothes on. “Look, about last night…”

Cloud leaned down and embraced Palmer’s lips before parting. “You said it yourself. You had a shitty day and wanted to forget about it.”

Palmer rolled off Cloud, trying to get out of bed but instead getting tangled up in the sheets. “You mind?”

Cloud chuckled, grabbing his clothes off the floor and getting dressed before pulling Palmer free of the sheets. “Go get yourself cleaned up. I’ll go see if Cosmo has any coffee lying around.” Leaving Palmer to get dressed, Cloud walked back out to the loft’s main room, taking in the sparse interior décor before he saw the open kitchen.

“Find any of that coffee yet?” asked Palmer as walked out of the bedroom, wearing her ensemble from the previous evening.

Cloud started digging through the cabinets, pulling out the can of pre-ground coffee and a filter for the machine. “Prench Vanilla?” he muttered. Cloud went to work setting up the coffee pot, Palmer watching him the whole time.

“If it’s easier, I’ll take it black.”

Cloud nodded, pulling down two mugs while he pulled out some cream and sugar for himself while he grabbed the now-full pot and pouring the black liquid into the mugs, sliding one to Palmer. “You feeling better yet?”

Palmer shrugged, taking a sip from her mug. “I’m coping.”

“Guess that’s the best I’ll get.” Cloud put down his cup, having downed it in a single gulp. “Now… What does last night make us?”

Palmer sighed, putting her cup down on the counter. “What do you want it to be?”

Cloud shrugged. “I can live with a ‘friends-with-benefits’ type deal.”

“Then I can work with that.”

CLAP CLAP CLAP

Palmer and Cloud turned to face the noise, finding that Cosmo had returned, a fire burning in the fireplace behind him. “Already took care of the sheets, by the way.”

“What makes you think something was wrong with the sheets?” asked Cloud.

Cosmo rolled his eyes. “You two left stains.” Cosmo went red in the face, and he instead elected to get another cup of coffee. “Anyway, I’ve set up the other room for you Palmer and took the time to get you a decent wardrobe. Cloud, your stuff should be here later this morning.”

“So, I’m stuck here then?” asked Palmer.

“More like you’re being moved in. Celestia wants you two to stick with me for now.” Cosmo walked into the parlor, moving some books on the shelf and pulling a hidden lever.

The fridge slid forward behind Cloud, revealing a dark room beyond the doorframe. Cosmo waved the two to follow before flipping the lights on by the doorway.

Palmer let out a low whistle at the room full of weapons and armor, some in disassembled states on various work benches. “What sort of pay check are you pulling in?”

Cosmo shrugged. “The kind that gets you stolen armor and weapons. I’ve got most of this stuff post-Badlands as a payment for a job in Caledonia.”

“So you’re a gun for hire then?”

Cosmo nodded. “Part merc, part vigilante with a bit of ‘government contracting’ on the side.”

Cloud walked around, looking at the stands holding Cosmo’s suits of armor before he came across a blue and yellow set of riot gear. “Just going out on a limb, but I doubt this is yours…”

“And you’d be right.” Said Cosmo. “That’s the Tempest-Two, Steeljack’s personal armor. I helped him make it out of salvaged pieces of Enclave power armor. Arm-mounted twin cannons fed by microfusion breeders, vacuum sealed with a dedicated life support system and pulse jets off of the same suits of armor that were salvaged for the suit’s construction to increase user mobility. It’s all a complete waste if you ask me.”

“Mind explaining how an Iron Man suit is a waste of time?” asked Palmer. Cosmo and Cloud looked at the mare with confused looks plasted across their faces. “Iron Man, old movie from the 21st century? Custom made armor, shoots lasers out of his arms and flies?”

“You realize that I’ll end up labeling you a nerd, right Palmer?” asked Cosmo.

Palmer shrugged. “You can’t beat a classic.”

“You said the armor had pulse jets… Can it fly?” asked Cloud.

Cosmo shook his head. “I wish. We could never get it to sustain an actual flight due to power constraints.”

Cloud ran his fingers along the chest plate near the power cell. “Mind if I take a crack at it?”

“Why the hell not?” said Cosmo. “I doubt Steeljack is planning on coming back for it anytime soon.”

“What makes you say that?”

“He only ever used that armor once, roughly two years ago during the Enclave attack on Las Pegasus.”

Cloud turned back to Cosmo. “Wait that was an Enclave attack?”

Cosmo nodded. “Their first public one. Although it tends to cause panic when you reveal that five hundred deaths were caused by a group of terrorists and their alien allies, so that’s where the gas explosion became our cover story.”

“Can’t say it’s the first time I’ve seen that tactic.” Noted Palmer. “ONI pulled some similar stunts right after the first few battles of the war with the Covenant.”

“Except it’s a bit easier with this story, only because we don’t have a genocidal organization of aliens trying to wipe out our very existence.” Added Cosmo. “Anyway, go ahead and -” A burst of magic fire interrupted the stallion, dropping a sealed letter onto the ground. “Well, let’s see what we got…” Cosmo furrowed his brow as he read the letter. “Palmer, grab the black and gold armor on the back wall and suit up. We got a job to do.”

“And what would that be?”

Cosmo turned back to Palmer, that same determined look plastered across his face. “We got a hit on a group of Changelings hiding out in the coves north of the city. Canterlot wants the closest team to investigate.”

“Anything else I need to know?” asked Palmer.

“I really want that paycheck.”

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Equestrian Coast, North of Vanhoover

Palmer and Cosmo were walking up the edge of the beach, trying to stick to the rocks as they kept up their journey north.

“This stuff really wasn’t meant for comfort, was it?” asked Palmer as she tried shifting her shoulder guard around.

“What do you want from a model of armor that hasn’t been used in over a millennia?” asked Cosmo. “Especially considering that set is over a thousand years old…”

Palmer tugged the Helmet off her head, turning it over as the two kept walking. “There’s no way it’s that old.”

“It is.”

“But this stuff looks brand new!” insisted the mare.

Cosmo chuckled. “That’s the result of a preservation enchantment. The armor can’t scratch, dent or degrade as long as the enchantment is still in effect.”

“No shit…” mumbled Palmer as she put the helmet back on.

“Yes shit.” Noted Cosmo. “And if your next question is along the lines of that suit making a certain part of your anatomy look larger, trust me when I say it doesn’t.”

Palmer stopped for a moment, mulling over Cosmo’s words before she was hit with the meaning of his words. “I wasn’t going to ask you that!”

“You’re thinking about it now, aren’t you?”

Palmer sighed. “Alright, changing gears for a minute, what are we doing out here?”

“Simple recon. We locate external Changeling positions, access to any caves in the cliffs, don’t be seen or heard, yada yada.” Explained Cosmo.

“Then would now be a bad time to mention someone’s following us?”

“Ya, now would be a… Wait, what?”

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Vanhoover Harbor, Cosmo’s Loft

Cloud didn’t stop thinking as he sat drumming his pencil on the counter, spending his time going over some old plans to Steeljack’s armor. “So, the powercell fits under the outer layer of the chestplate…” He sighed as he sat back. “Wait a minute…” Cloud grabbed one of the letter seals that Cosmo had on the counter, scribbling out a quick letter before sending it off.

He sat for a short while, eventually opting to dig through the fridge. As he came away with a fresh apple, a loud pop resonated from the other side of the room, followed by a soft thud. “Cloud, do you know what you’re asking me to do?” asked a female voice.

Cloud turned to the voice and shrugged. “What else am I supposed to do Catherine?”

“Not ask me to rip the fusion core out of your armor and then hand delivering it.” Groaned the doctor. “Anyway, you were saying something about some suit of armor you want to plug this into?”

Cloud nodded, waving Halsey on into the armory. “Steeljack and Cosmo cobbled together a suit of power armor a few years back with some Enclave equipment. Built in weapons, sealed… Did I forget to mention that it has pulse jets?”

“Pulse jets…” Halsey mumbled. “It’s just powered by a normal fusion reactor, right?”

Cloud nodded. “Just underpowered for the weight they’d have to move.” He pulled the chestplate free and removed the powercell. “Granted I didn’t bother doing the math but unless I missed something, more power translates into more thrust.”

Halsey rolled her eyes, grabbing a rotary drill and started cutting out the mount for the old powercell. “While I’m not a fan of blunt-force engineering, you’re not wrong. Do you know how all of this is wired together?”

“I’ve got the blueprints out in the kitchen.”

As Cloud went to retrieve the designs Halsey finished her impromptu surgery, pulling free the excess material and pulling the wiring harness out of the cavity. “Let’s see if I remember… Black is neutral, red is positive…” The doctor touched the wires to the terminals on the reactor, and was rewarded with a whine from the armor.

“I might have left the main breaker on.” Said Cloud as he walked back in.

Halsey hit the switch, touching the wires to the terminals again. She was met with silence instead. “I’ll need a torch to fuse these.”

Cloud tossed a torch over to Halsey from the toolbox near the drafting table on the far side of the room. “So according to these specs, the most that the armor’s systems can take at a time is about a megawatt per hour. Should be more than enough… Wait, how long does that reactor last?”

Halsey turned from her work. “Under minimal load, near indefinitely. However, under extended periods of use… Maybe ten years before half of the generating capacity is expended?”

Cloud let a low whistle slip out. “Guess I won’t need to worry about a recharge then.”

“I doubt it.” Said Halsey as she fastened the power cell to the interior of the chest plate before flipping the main breaker, lighting the armor once more. “So if this is powered armor, how do you control it?”

“That pipbuck that’s built into the right arm acts as the interface.” Noted Cloud. “Of course, that’s assuming I read the plans right.”

“Then try it on.” Suggested the Doctor. “Worst case scenario, you fly right through the roof and promptly crash into the harbor.”

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Equestrian Coast, North of Vanhoover, Twenty Minutes Later

“You know how much I hate it when someone else is right!” yelled Cosmo as he tore through the underbrush.

“I wouldn’t know, I just roll with it.” Replied Palmer as she closed on Cosmo’s heel.

“Well then smartass, how do you think we should deal with our friends back there?”

Palmer stopped, turning to face the group of Changelings that were chasing the pair. “Simple-” She paused long enough to slug the closest Changeling in the jaw, sending him sprawling into the underbrush off to the side. “-We kick their asses.”

“Fine by me.” Cosmo pulled out his revolver, dispatching the two other Changelings. “Doesn’t it seem odd that there were Changelings that far out from the cove?”

Palmer nodded, kicking the two dead Changelings before dragging the lone survivor out of the brush. “Maybe this guy would know why?”

“I’m not saying a damn thing.” Groaned the Changeling.

Cosmo shook his head. “Please, it was a trap to begin with.” Another shot rang out, immediately followed by the spray of green blood. “Why else would they have followed us?”

“Oh, I don’t know, maybe it was the two armed people decked out in combat gear? Or were the guns a complete giveaway?” asked Palmer as she waved her rifle around. “Face it, we blew it. By now the Changelings probably have the perimeter locked down, and there’ll be no way we can get a good look at their camp.”

“Really, and who made you the damn boss?”

“Maybe it’s the twenty years of fighting genocidal aliens?”

“Palmer, you’re an ass.” Groaned Cosmo. “But you’re not wrong. Let’s get the-” Cosmo’s ears perked up, having caught a low whine in the distance. “You hear that?”

Palmer looked around, the whine slowly growing louder. “And if I do?”

Cosmo turned around, revolver ready. “Then I’ll follow your lead.”

“Alright, lets-” Palmer looked out towards the beach, noticing a light glow off the coast, slowly growing brighter and larger. “Shit, hit the deck!” Palmer tackled Cosmo, forcing his head into the dirt as a bright blue blur blasted through the brush and tumbled to a stop a few yards inland.

“HA! IT WORKS!” yelled a new voice.

“What the fuck… Was that Cloud?”

Palmer scrambled to her feet before hauling Cosmo to his. “Unless he learned how to fly.”

Cosmo paused, before turning his attention to the crushed foliage. “Or he got that armor working.” He tore off along the path of destruction before tripping over their mystery blur as he reached the end of the impact zone.

Palmer was close behind, and stifled a giggle when she saw Cosmo tangled in some vines hanging from one of the trees before her attention was drawn by the blue armored pony who was rising to his feet. “Good to know I don’t need to teach you how to make an entrance Cloud.”

Cloud chuckled as he pulled off his helmet. “What can I say? Crash landings are the perfect way to make an entrance.”

Cosmo finally managed to untangle himself from the vines before smacking the back of Cloud’s head. “And a perfect way to draw attention. What the hell are you doing out here anyway?”

Cloud shrugged. “Test flight."

“Already figured that one out junior. Anything else to add?”

“Halsey was betting that I crash in the harbor. Oh, and that letter might have been a really good forgery."

“Stalemate?”

“Who else?” asked Cloud.

“Fuck!” yelled Cosmo.

“Look, just calm down.” Droned Palmer. “Let’s assume that this is a well-conceived trap. We’ve got firepower, so let’s just spring it and call it a day.”

Cosmo sighed. "And why do you want to purposely spring a trap?"

Palmer swung her rifle off her back, checking it over for a moment. "Well, this Stalemate guy was the one who owns that club. And what do you know, I'm not exactly on good terms with the bastard at the moment."

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Palmer, Cloud and Cosmo were crouched on one of the cliffs overlooking the cove. Beneath them was a small group of armed changelings, positioned around the entrance to a cave in the side of the opposite cliff.

“Either of you see a problem here?” asked Cosmo.

Cloud shrugged. “Can’t say I do. Just a few guards, cave in the side of the cliff…”

“There’s a machine gun nest about a hundred feet below us, signs of recent digging down on the beach might suggests mines of some sort, and two of those guards are carrying cut down sniper rifles.” Muttered Palmer.

“Glad to see you’re paying attention Palmer. So, our goal here is simple. We drop down and take that nest, turn it on the guards and then spray where the Changelings were digging to clear any explosives. Sound good?”

“Good enough.” Said Palmer as she checked the magazine in the back of her rifle. “I’ll take the gun, you two keep me covered.” Palmer walked over to the side of the cliff before she dropped off the edge. A thud was heard below, followed by two gunshots.

Cloud poked his head over the cliff, watching as Palmer shoved the dead gunner out of the nest before she started spraying the beach, kicking up sand as she swung the gun back and forth. “If those are mines, why haven’t they gone off?”

“Damn good question.” Said Cosmo as he began taking pock shots at the guards down in the open. “You’re the one with the armor, go down there and find out. Palmer and I will keep you covered.”

Cloud nodded as the pulse jets on his armor came to life, lifting him off the ground. “Alright, just try not to hit me.” Cloud rocketed off over the cliff, flying down towards the beach before he forced himself into a hover over one of the spots Palmer first shot at. As he touched down, he stopped to look around. “Definitely not a mine…” muttered Cloud. As some bullets whizzed by his helmet, he knelt down and brushed away the sand. Beneath the layer was a white cloth, but Cloud was disoriented when a bullet bounced off his helmet, cracking the visor. He pulled it off and chucked it to the side, returning his attention to the cloth.

“Cloud, what the hell are you doing?” yelled Palmer from the nest.

Cloud disregarded the mare, digging through the sand until he found the edge of the cloth. He wasn’t prepared for the sight beneath the fabric as he pulled it back; the rotting remains of an blackened equine form.

Cosmo teleported down next to Cloud. “What the hell did you-” Cosmo looked down, removing his own helmet. “By Celestia’s beard…”

Cloud by this point had fell to his knees and was violently vomiting up the contents of his stomach while Palmer watched the spectacle from her perch on the cliff.

Author's Note

For those just joining in, this picks up from chapter sixteen of Broken Mirror (link below);
Broken Mirror Chapter Sixteen