Long Haul

Chapter five

Kira led Nebs to her quarters. As they walked through the station’s halls, Kira explained the ways of her people.

“We believe that Celestia still lives on in the glow of every star in the universe.” Kira spoke, “ And that the shards, the one we found on board the Tantabus and others, are the key to her rebirth.”

Bringing back their princess was something most ponies wanted. The centuries after her death were a disappearance period in pony history. War, famine, hatred. It wasn’t until the current Equestrian government was set up fifty years ago, that things started coming back together. After the various pony tribes were reined in, peace settled in quickly.

“One day, soon even, Celestia will live.”

“How can you be sure?” Nebs asked, still somewhat skeptical, “There could be thousands of those shards out there.”

Stopping, Kira smiled and pulled a golden chain out from under her robes. On the end of the chain was a small stone tablet inscribed with the same runes as those scattered around the station.

“It’s written in ancient equestrian.” Kira replied, “It speaks of seven shards, that will awaken the goddess. We have gathered six of them, not including the we found with you . Now, my question: Do you believe she will return?”

“No I don’t.”

“Are you an anticelestian?”

“No, I believe she was real. I believe she was an alicorn. But she wasn’t a goddess, and she’s not coming back.”

“Perhaps you are right, perhaps not. I do not judge you either way,” Kira spoke, “I believe what I believe, and you will believe your way. As long as you maintain a civil attitude I give you all due respect.”

Kira paused and stopped walking.
“This is your room.” she started pointing with her hoof into a low-ceilinged, square room. “It is not the most luxurious room, but it is the only empty room left, I am afraid.”

The room in question was a drab grey color, and had a single bed pushed into the far corner. If the door had bars it would have reminded Nebs of a prison cell. This room, as dreary as it looked, was spotless and had a window set in the far wall. Stars glimmered with faint yellow light beyond the pyroglas window.

“Thank you, Kira’sha.”

“You are quite welcome, Nebs. Also, you may call me Kira, if you wish.”

Nebs lay in her bed, asleep, her eyes jerking erratically underneath their lids. She was dreaming.
A voice appeared to her in the dream. A horrible, dark voice.

“The void beckons to the little one. Doth she listen? Doth she hear it’s speech? Doth she understand? The Great One knows the little one can know. But will her mind shatter? I shall soon see.”

The image of a pony appeared, it’s back turned to her. The pony’s body looked sickly and pale, almost skeletal.
Nebs nervously moved closer. The pony turned it’s head, facing her. Startled, she almost leaped backwards. The other pony’s face was not a face. Three black pits stared back at her, evaluating her like a giant would an ant.

The notpony’s lower face split open with a muddy sucking sound as a long tentacle-like green tongue emerged. It then screamed. A horrible, almost strangled sound of rage, deep and guttural, yet shrill at the same time. Nebs’ eyes widened as the thing stood, and moved closer, it’s movements jerky, and unnatural. It’s forelegs began ripping open, black sludge oozing from the tears. With a violent splattering sound, dozens of barbed tendrils extended from the creature’s flesh, dripping with sludge. The creature wrapped them around Nebs’ body and began pulling her in.

“Behold the wretched creature, little one, mine vision of thee, molded by mine, Ostzlekraz’s, will.”

Nebs sat up at the sound of a hoof against her door.

“Hold on” she said, climbing out of her bed, and slipping into her jumpsuit.

She opened the door to see a mare standing outside. She was a light pink unicorn with white hair.

“Nebula Dusk?” She asked,” I’m Mayflower, this station’s resident doctor.”

“What do you need?” Nebs asked

“Kira asked me to give you a quick medical exam, with your permission of course.” Mayflower paused, “Nothing too invasive, I’m just going to check your vitals and see if everything checks out.”

“Alright.”

“Good,”

The doctor reached into her bag and retrieved a small red and white device, a medical scanner. She pressed a button on the device and pointed it at Nebs, after about a second the scanner beeped and green light blinked on. Mayflower nodded.

“Well, it seems you’re healthy, you just need some rest is all. Take it easy for a couple of days. Is there anything else?”

“Yeah, I had a really weird dream last night, could that be caused by all the spice they use here?”

Mayflower nodded,”It could be, I wouldn’t worry about it too much. Here.”

She passed a yellow colored box of detox medicine to Nebs.

“Take one any time you consume any large amounts of spice, and you’ll be fine.”

“Thank you,”

Mayflower nodded, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll make my leave. Just come to me if you need more of those.”

“I will,” Nebs said nodding.

The doctor turned and left the room, and Nebs shut the door behind her and sat down on her bed.

Nebs was surprised at how many ships were stationed in the Cathedral’s bay. She expected three or four, but there were at least a dozen. Most were dirty older ships, however, there was an almost spotless Celestian Envoy.
The ship’s white painted hull was a bulbous curved shape, almost alien compared to the more utilitarian ships commonly used. Set in the sides were six round windows revealing a glimpse of the silver trimmed wood interior and red carpeting. The bridge was a pod attached to the top of the hull, towards the back.

To the side of the Envoy was her ship, the Mercy. She could see from here that the shield projectors were fried, and engine two had apparently been on fire at some point. She also knew that most of the ship’s electrical systems were basically destroyed. It would be some time before the Mercy was operational again.

A voice came breaking her from her thoughts.

“You’re Nebula, right?”

She nodded, turning. She spotted a rust colored pegasus standing behind her.

“Yeah.”

“Well, you’ll be happy to know I’ve got a couple’a R eighty-nine sublights to swap out those dead x-zeros with,” he said.”Sorry, my name’s Val, I’m the guy who keeps all this shi... I mean, stuff working for these ponies.”

Val was a short, but well built pony, relatively young. he had a weathered face that made him look older than he was, and a messy black mane. His eyes were a deep blue, not just the irises, but also the whites as well, a tell tale sign of copious consumption of spice.

“Well you seem to have your hooves full.” Nebs replied.

Val chuckled “I wouldn’t have it any other way. Did you need something?”

“No, I was just gonna run a quick diagnostic on my ship,” Nebs replied.

Before Val could talk further, Sero stepped in.

“Nebs, there are Equestrian Office of Naval Intelligence personnel here. They’re looking for you.”