Sleipnir Colony - A Short Story Collection

Bzzzzt!

“Yes what is it?”

“Call for you sir, usually one of our switchboard operators could deal with it but this stallion insists on speaking to you. He says he has some information for you.”

“Oh? Put him through then.” It was late morning, a Wednesday to be more precise. Striving Step had not had a very interesting week so far, R&D had slowed since the company had launched the new pads. It was always the same, the researchers took a small break figuring they had some time before having to find more ways of making new models. Their boss however thought different. Still, a phone call should at least eat 5 minutes of his time. The call was pushed through to his vid-phone.

When it connected he was greeted by a rather smug looking young stallion who was grinning on the other end. Striving Step simply blinked and spoke. “What can I do for you young man? I am exceptionally busy. My time is precious.” He said rather gruffly. At least the illusion of it might keep the young buck on his hooves.

“Well I have some information for you that would make your company even richer, but if you’re going to be like that I’ll take it to the next bidder…” He saw the young stallion start to reach for the end call switch.

“WAIT!” Striving Step called out, perhaps he had been a little too rambunctious. His ears had pricked up at what the young stallion had said. “Perhaps I was a little hasty there, what is your name?”

“I’ll tell you that if you’re willing to pay what I’m offering you, but I need to know you’re interested.” The caller replied. Striving Step was having a hard time making out his size, it was always difficult when it was a vid-call as it only showed faces. He was clearly rather fat, needing a pad sized pony as he cheeks wobbled as he spoke but beyond that he had no idea. It was nopony on the colony he knew.

“That depends, what are you selling and what price do you want for it?”

“Information, on a location of an Equestrian pad that can haul double the weight your puny things can. As for the price, I want one when your company reverse-engineers it and I want 25% of the sales of it. I think that’s reasonable.” The buck smirked again in the call, the grin on his fat jaw widening. Striving decided to prod a little deeper.

“Oh really? That’s a mighty big cut. How can I verify this information is real? Equestrian pads are impossible to get hold of outside the homeworld.”

“Not for a company, and that’s all I’m saying. Proof is I was deposited back to my home on one. My ex boss gave me a little more information than I think she meant to. Anyway I’m not telling you anymore until I hear the words ‘You have my word and it’s a deal’ come out of your fat maw porky.” The stallion said, he clearly knew how to negotiate even if a little rude, Striving knew he wasn’t going to get anymore information out of him until the terms were agreed to. He decided to push his luck though, it was always worth a try.

“I’ll buy your information...for one of these pads for you when they’re made and a 20% sales stake, no more.” He counter offered.

He saw as the gears turned in the stallions brain and he thought for a moment.

“Fine, I suppose you need your slice. Do we have a deal?”

Striving grinned, he could always get a little bit back his way. If he didn’t he would make a rather poor company owner. “You have my word and it’s a deal.” He simply replied. “Now tell me, what’s your name and where have you gotten this information?”

“Fireflash is the name, I used to work for Blubber King.”

The director laughed. “Haha! Blubber King! What were you doing? Eating all their burgers as a job? Nevermind, just my little joke. What has this got to do with a pad? I don’t see how you possibly heard this unless you overheard it as a conversation.”

“I was fired for taking too much of my daily food allowance and before you laugh. Yes I was eating all their burgers.” The now rather peeved looking stallion said. “Now do you want this information or am I going to have to contact other pad makers on other colonies? Your attitude isn’t helping mister big fat shot director.” He fired back. Striving thought he better curtail his comments.

“Fine, yes I want the information. Continue.”

“They have a way of moving ex-employees like me who abuse this. It’s an inevitable part of the job. Every Blubber King branch has a pad stored in the roof that is only used for getting rid of greedy ponies like me who abuse their post. What they don’t tell you is that these pads are Equestrian made and support up to 20,000 ibs. My boss in her anger shared that little piece of information, and as the colonies only pad making company I’m sure you can use it.”

Striving Step thought, if this was true they could easily reverse engineer the thing and find out how it supports so much weight. He sat for a minute. He was a stallion of his word however, there was no point trying to wriggle anymore out of the deal.

“Very well Fireflash, but I need some proof before I do anything about this. How can I trust you?”

“I have photos of the pad I grabbed on my vid-phone before it left my house, your R&D department can verify it from those. But before I send them I want written proof, a contract that you’re keeping your end of the bargain.”

“Fine, easily done - we can enter you into the company as a stakeholder which won’t look out of the ordinary. No one would pick it up in audit. I’ll have somepony put something together today and send it over. This information better be good, I don’t take kindly to liars Mr. Flash.”

“It’s just Fireflash, oh and add an addendum in small print. Your company will agree to pay all my food bills until I say otherwise. I want to put that pad to the test you know.” He smiled, he knew Striving was interested and had him by his pudgy rump exactly where he wanted him.

“Fine. But don’t alter this deal any further, we had an agreement. If you change it more things get tricky.”

“Don’t worry, I just wanted to see if you had some bartering power for both ends after taking 5% from me, I’ll be in touch once I have the contract. Talk soon fatty.” And with that the call ended.

Striving sat in silence for a mere moment, no doubt that a bigger pad would make the company richer. Ponies got bigger and bigger with every passing year. R&D however was only looking at a pad that could support next up to 12,000 ibs. If they could rocket to the 20,000 mark well… Ponies would be fatter and heftier than ever before, perhaps moreso than some of the more established colonies. A double sized pad would have ponies rolling over each other to buy one knowing they could stuff their faces further. He moved a flabby hoof and got in contact with his secretary.

“Miss Dewdrop, send for one of our Pony Resources staff would you? I need them to draw me up a stakeholder contact as soon as possible.”