“Someone give me an update on Maverick's condition and location.” A voice requested.

“Vitals were stable last time we checked.” Replied another.

“What about the locator?” Asked the first voice in concern.

“It was shorted from solar radiation. Possibly a solar flare during from earlier refueling.” Answered a different voice.

“Any planets that are habitable?” The others shook their heads as they displayed the planets that had below expected to no matching conditions identical to Earth. "Are we able to contact him?"

"I'm afraid not sir. Even with our strongest communication mediums, we can't reach him and he can't reach us." One answered for everyone.

"So then he's on his own." They hung their heads. "Godspeed Maverick."

\\\\////////

The pilot in question, simply called Maverick, had finished his routine scan of the area. 10 planets came onto the monitor, reading everything from 0 to 0.72 on the radar, the small number representing the living conditions for humans on a planet, with the number 1 representing Earth. While an exact copy is not needed, it gives a sense of home.

“All these planets and not one of them in the higher nine-tenths, much less eight-tenths.” Commented Maverick in concern and annoyance. "And with my locator destroyed, there is no chance of a rescue." He was always realistic when it came to situations like this, easily affected but he can keep himself busy and cheer up quickly. "I'm on my own from here on out huh?”

[That is how it looks Maverick.] Responded Ada, the ships AI. Made to be a learning program that gained sentience, Ada always kept Maverick company and tried to keep his spirits up as much as possible and often chooses to leave her operator to his own devices unless he needed important updates and motivational support. She was like a little sister to him and was treated as such. She didn't like it sometimes, but she knew it showed acceptance and bond so she let it slide.

Maverick left the bridge and headed down a series of stairs/elevators as he headed for the training room. “Begin simulation Alpha 7.” The room was filled with a whirring sound as a hard light image of an armored creature was made, a human scaled, anthropomorphic Desert Locust. It’s jumping strength made it fast and a hard kicker. On its own, a formidable foe. If mixed with a Roach, worse. Maverick fought the hard light creature bare handed, not wanting to rely on any of the weapons he’d mad thus far.

The simulation ended when Maverick rushed and ripped the hologram’s limbs apart, with an effeciency score of 89.22%. [Excellent combat skills bro!] cheered Ada.

“Could be better.” He entered one of the available facilities where only speakers were found.

[Had it been Alpha 7-2, you'd have a more varied outcome.] Ada remarked with sass.

"I don't want to die just yet." Maverick did his business before navigating the ship, entering the game room.

[You playing one of the games from the early 2000s?] asked Ada excitedly.

“Yep.” He booted one of his favorites. “I’m glad Warframe is still active. A future where humans took multiple paths, becoming new creatures all there own, and the tech was so inspiring, just like Prey.”

[You are glad the fabricators of that level exist, huh?]

“Very, since Prey’s fabricator can 3D print anything of equal scale, even the ammo, while Warframe’s fabricator was so advanced it could do whole suits.” Maverick said as he attended a spy mission.

[They may not be needed, or possible, but I do wish some existed, like Nova or Ember. They are so pretty.] Ada commented with a little jealousy.

“Don’t worry sis. You may not have a body yet, but you are always good company.” Maverick said comfortingly as he saved his progress and walked to the theater room.

[Which one?] Ada asked.

“I’m between Predator 2 and Terminator. They’re both so good.” Predator two started to play as the creature made little appearances but still making and intimidating mark. Maverick finished the movie before yawning. “Prepare my pod please.”

[Certainly, Operator.] Replied the AI.

“Please don’t call me that sis.” He smiled and stepped into the pod and started to drift off. ‘I don’t want to die out here.’

Ada read out the condition of its pilot. ‘Commencing scan.’
‘Pulse, 74. Normal’
‘Temperature, 98.2. Normal’
‘Respiration, 16. Normal’
‘REM, Active. Green’
‘Scan successful. All vitals normal.’

Ada took control of the fabricator to try and make a body for herself. She was always jealous of the female structured frames, even if Maverick didn't see them that way. She wanted to comfort him when he was having his grief moments and to knock sense into him when it was called for. Her interaction are her way of saying that he's never alone, but she could only do so much, which is why, every night, she tries to make a body for herself and take control of the drones to recycle what she can't use, which is, by extension, everything. After another failed night, she powered down to rest and defrag her disks.

\\\\////////

The sun rose over the kingdom of Equestria, with its capital of Canterlot receiving the warm rays the earliest. Within her chambers, princess Celestia stirred as she woke. Donning her lion cloth, bra and regalia, she headed to the throne room. In her own castle, a princess may wear as little as she desires, even walk around naked, but thought it bad form to do so, and she had a nation to run, not libido to wet.

Making it inside, she was getting ready for day court when two ponies came in. “Princess.” The pony bowed.

“Rise, Concept. You need not bow to me.” She said looking over the scrolls. “What’s the latest news on the artificial embryo?”

“Princess, I do have good and bad news.” Started Concept. “The good news is that the artificial embryo has an 82% fertilization rate, leading to a health foal.” Celestia smiled at the news but Concept did not smile. “The bad news is that we did not find a single Y chromosome, baring more fillies than colts.”

“Even with this advancement, we would have less stallions in the future.” Celestia frowned sadly.

“I’m sorry to have gotten your hopes up princess.” Concept apologized dearly, feeling ashamed of his lack of results.

Celestia smiled again. “Worry not Concept Art, you put forward your best efforts. You and your team have earned their rest.” Concept bowed again before taking his leave as Luna walked in.

“Sister, does something trouble you?” Asked the moon theme mare.

“Concept Art’s embryo was successful, but nature was cruel to even that.” Answered Celestia as her sister rushed in to comfort her. “I wish we had a solution.”

“We will.” Luna cheered, hoping to help her sister keep high spirits. “We just need time. Now get ready for day court.” Celestia smiled but it dropped after Luna left.

‘Please, mother, Harmony… anypony, bring a solution to our current despair.’ She pleaded. Little did she know, one other was pleading for her subjects lives louder than she.

Author's Note

Who is this other being, pleading for her subjects lives, and will her voice be heard by fate to guide their salvation to her and save them from what has befallen their lives? Stay up to date on the next Terra Equestria.