Chapters The sun was high as it shown down on the streets of Fillydelphia even with the nipping breeze from winters last days sending its chills through the streets. People were out and about having a good time, especially in one of the parks where a small carnival had set up. A simple carousel spun around with music and laughter, a clown on stilts walked around the crowd making kids and parents smile at his antics.
Right next to that park in a decently tall corporate building, a group of three people were getting ready. One was a male and gazing out at the carnival in the park with a smile as he thought of how his daughter would have liked to go. He was of average build but above average looks, with well combed and styled black hair and a healthy glow to his light tan skin.
Dressed in a fine business suit, that he repeatedly kept straightening out due to his nerves. He and his partners were about to pitch a business deal that if it went through they would be on easy street for years to come.
Glancing at his watch to check the time he saw the second hand suddenly come to a stop at fifteen seconds before ten thirty. He frowned in confusion and tapped the time keeper trying to jump it back to life bu8t to no avail.
With a small scoff he mumbled under his breath.
“It stopped.” One of his companions turned to him.
“What’s that Filthy?” They asked. Filthy Rich shook his head clear.
“Nothing… How we doing?” He asked his nerves giving way to excitement.
“Oh, we’re ready.” his other companion said a smile spreading across her face.
“You feeling the magic?” They asked him and his smile widened.
“Oh, I’m feeling the magic, all right.” He said holding up his fist and his two companions bumped it.
“Let hit em.” He said and started to make his way to the conference room.
“Let’s do it.” His male partner said, psyching himself up and following Filthy Rich.
“Let’s go make thirty million dollars.” Filthy said softly as he strode toward the double doors in front of him. The secretary opened them and ushered them inside. The glass tables with the company's board sitting around it dominated the room. All their head turned watched the trio enter.
“Good morning.” Filthy said with a smile. He felt a slight twinge in his chest but ignored it.
“Before I begin… Let me...” He blinked as the room started to tilt and swirl. He tried to breath but his lungs felt like they were encased in lead and wouldn’t take in air. He saw the world start to tunnel and fade to black as he fell onto the glass table and knew no more.
His partners rushed up to him in concern, ignoring the sounds of honking horns, screeching brakes and crashing outside.
“Filthy? Filthy!” They tried to rouse him but he wouldn’t respond.
“I’ll go get help!" One of the board members rushed out of the room. Filthy’s partners flipped him over and saw his dead, glassy gaze.
“Jesus, Jesus! Filthy!” They yelled.
“Call 9-1-1! Call 9-1-1!” They yelled. All the while sound of panic and screams were going on outside. At the carnival, the clown on stilts had fallen down and wasn’t moving and inch. The body of the man operating the carousel was being dragged in circles on the ground as the ride kept spinning. Scaring kids and adults alike.
Dozens of cars, a school and commuter bus were crashed into building and fire hydrants for blocks. Bodies were on the sidewalk where they had fallen dead as they walked. People trying to rouse them, help in some way but couldn’t. Sirens blaring in the distance as police and ambulances rushed to the scenes of one of the most baffling cases in the city’s history.
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
“Sound waves!” Dr Spike Dragnus, a decently tall and well built man in his mid twenties with purple skin, deep green hair and emerald eyes, announced in his best show mans voice as he tried to get his students interested with his lesson. Which itself was a chore. Not many kids or even adults had near as much passion for Geo-Magnetics and Geophysics as him but he still tired to make it interesting for whomever took his class.
He was upfront with a piece of chalk scratching out a formula for his lesson. To his left were his two assistants miss Maud Pie a brilliant geologist with a stoic demeanor, purple hair, light grey skin color and blue eyes standing next to Tom Boulder, a well built guy with slate grey skin, ash colored hair and moss green eyes. Both were tending to the electric equipment for Spike lecture demonstration.
“So, if we know that sound waves gain wavelength and loose frequency as they travel through more dense materials…” He paused as he finished the last bit of his equation on the chalkboard.
…”Then the anomalies in these waves are the means by which we can summarize the fundamental architecture of our planet.” Spike turned away from the chalkboard to face his class and gave a mental sigh as he saw he only had the attention of a small handful. He saw one girl with her feet propped on her desk, pretending to take notes but was painting her nails.
Spike let a small rueful smirk cross his face.
“How the nails coming Gemstone?” he asked her getting the rest of the class to chuckle and Gemstone to smile sheepishly as she quickly put her cosmetics away. He grinned at her but didn’t rib her further.
“Good… All right let’s have a demonstration.” Spike said gesturing to Tom to bring it to him.
“Mr. Bolder, Maud, thank you very much.” Spike said as he took the trumpet handed to him put it to his lips and played a single loud note that got all his students attention as it echoed around the room.
The students who had taken his class before fought to contain the grins that wanted to split their faces. Spike’s way of keeping his students attentions was always entertaining. Spike strode over to a table with three slabs of different rock were vertically propped up. Each had sensors and wires on it’s back and were attached to the equipment.
“Alright, Mrs. Limestone.” Spike announced placing a hand on top of the first slab.
“Being a big softie, you know, loves walks in the park, bedtime stories, big romantic, loves Chet.” Spike rambled on stroking the stone slab and his students trying their best to keep their chuckling as quiet as possible but not really succeeding.
“I can’t play Chet but I’ll see what I can do. Watch the Oscilloscope, all right?” He said gesturing toward a screen that displayed the sound waves. He kneeled down so the Trumpet was right next to the limestone block and started to play… badly. His student tried to follow his directions but they were having trouble doing so while containing their laughter.
A sound of someone clearing their throat drew everybody’s attention to the door on the side of the room. There stood two men both with white skin, short buzz cut black hair and one with sunglasses, both in black suits. Spike raised an eyebrow at the pair.
“Dr. Spike Dragnus?” The one without sunglasses asked.
“Maybe.” Spike answered with a bit of snark. He wasn’t the one to like people disrupting his class unless it was him. The guy didn’t react and just kept the extreme neutral expression on his face.
“Yes or no, sir?” He tried again.
“Uh, the first one.” Spike said. He was quite confused as to why these men were here. He got half of his answer when the guy without glasses pulled a folding badge from his pocket and presented it to him to view. Spike swallowed a small lump that formed in his throat when he read Department of Homeland Security next to the Golden eagle.
“Please come with us sir.” The guy said gesturing with his arm for Spike to follow. Spike did after he dismissed his class and told his assistants to head back to the office. He grabbed his coat and started putting it on as he and the two agents ushered him out the front door of the University.
“Guys, wh-what’s going on?” He asked, stuttering slightly in nervousness as he struggled to get his jacket on correctly as they walked.
“We don’t know sir.” The non glasses guy answered in a matter of fact tone.
“What do you mean you don’t know?” Spike asked still struggling to get his arm into the jacket.
“Your security clearance is higher than ours.”
“I have security clearance?” Spike asked incredulously. The man nodded in confirmation.
“We’re just here to bring you to your jet.” He said like Spike should already know. Spike tripped slightly but caught himself before he could fall.
“I have a jet?”
UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF TIME LATTER: CANTERLOT- CAPITAL OF THE UNITED STATES OF EQUESTRIA
The black car containing one Spike Dragnus pulled into the underground parking lot of a nondescript building in Canterlot. Getting out Spike was herded toward a ramp that ended in gate which was flanked by soldiers with guns. Needles to say Spike was a bit nervous. One of the agents flashed his badge, as well as him showing them his visitors pass and the guards open the gate. After passing through Spike could here some one cursing and a loud repeating thud echoing down the hall.
As he got closer his eyes widened and he smiled as he recognised the voice. His eyes set upon a single man, dressed in a simple blue suit with red sneakers and a head of spiky chocolate brown hair. His smile widened and a small laugh escaped him as he saw his good friend, Turner “Time” Hooves, beating up a vending machine.
“Bloody thing! I’ll show it not to take my money and not give me a drink.” The man growled as he struck the machine again.
“Hey, Turner.” Spike called but Turner was to focused on beating the machine up. Spike laughed again at his friends anger.
“Turner.” he called a little louder and finally got the mans attention. Dr. Turner Hooves, turned his head and locked his blue eyes onto Spikes green ones and surprised happy grin split his face. He gave spike a mock angry glare.
“It’s about time. You’re always late.” He said but couldn’t keep the grin off his face as he pulled Spike into a hug as the duo laughed. The two agents rolled their eyes slightly.
“Let’s keep moving gentlemen.” One said as he ushered the laughing and talking guys along.
“What am I doing here?” Turner asked Spike,
“They wouldn’t brief me until you got here. You know, there are biochemists everywhere, military. I hate them.” Turner continued his light hearted rant, Spike was just content to listen to the older man talk. The two started in on their usually tease each other spiel like they normally do when they meet.
“When are you going to meet a nice girl and bring her for dinner?” Turner asked him with a mischievous smirk on his face. Spike took the rib good naturedly and smiled back.
“I’m married to my work Turner, you know that.” he replied only to have Turner smirk wider.
“So am I… Which makes my wife my mistress…” Turner replied before leaning in conspiracy style and whispering.
“That’s why I’m still in love with her.” They both chuckled and were so engrossed in their conversation they didn’t notice the agents had stopped following them or that they had passed through a pair of double doors into a large room. The room hand vehicles and pieces of equipment lining the walls but the bulk of the room was filled with covered tables.
“I heard you guys moved to prance, man Turner, You were always the romantic.” Spike said shaking his head. Turner scoffed slightly.
“I love my wife.” He said firmly. Spike just smiled at him
“Yeah, I love your wife, too.” he said before his brain could stop him and he rushed to try and fix his verbal mistake. As he sputtered with his words Turner just laughed lightly.
“I know.” he said wiggling his eyebrows at Spike making the already fluster man want to bang his head off the wall.
“But I don’t love your wife. You know what I mean.” He crossed his arms and pouted slightly. Turner scratched another notch in his mental scoreboard under his name.
“You don’t love her the same way, you know.” Turner said. Spike sighed slightly.
“You’re a prench citizen now… it’s the Prench, I think it’s the cheese.” Turner laugh loudly at that as he and Spike came to a stop near the center of the room. Spike leaned onto one of the tables causing part of its contents to slip out from under the cloth. Turners face went white as a sheet and pointed at the human arm hanging from the table.
Spike looked down and jumped away with a yelp as they both really took in their surrounding for the first time and seeing all the tables around them.
“Whoa, wait. These are bodies.” Spike said as his head darted around.
“I think we’re in the wrong place here.” Turner said and Spike agreed with him.
“No. If you were in the wrong place, you would’ve already been shot.” A man’s voice echoed slightly in the room and drawing Spike and Turner’s attention to a military officer approaching them. He had silver eyes, blue skin and his white hair was non existent on the top of his head. He had three stars on his shoulders and dozens of pins and medals on the left breast of his dress blues jacket.
Turner smiled ruefully but greeted the man warmly.
“That’s a hell of a greeting.” He said and held out his hand and both men shook.
“Turner. Always a pleasure.” the three star general greated.
“Same here Cross.” Turner replied before turning and introducing Spike.
“Dr. Dragnus.” He said and Spike offered his had which the general shook.
“I know. Cross Sword.” he offered his name in return and Spike nodded in acknowledgement. After the meet and greet was done Cross clasped his hands behind his back and looked both men in the eyes before speaking.
“Gentlemen, you do realize that everything here is totally classified, okay?” Getting both scientists to know their heads. General Cross motioned for them to follow as he slowly walked down one of the rows of tables.
“At ten thirty am, local time, thirty two civilians, all within a ten block radius… died.” He stopped and turned to face the two scientists following him.
“They didn’t get sick first. They simple hit the ground dead.” He stated. Both Spike and Turner frowned in thought as they puzzled over this information.
“Nerve agent?” Turner asked but Cros shook his head.
“Our first guess. No.”
“They all dies at the same time?” Spike asked as his mind was firing off dozens of ideas a second.
“As far as we can tell, to the second.” Cross said.
“This hits CNN in one hour. I need a reason.” He said. Spike crossed his arms in thought and Turner scratched his head.
“Is there a variation is sex, age body type?” Turner asked. The general was about to answer when Spike cut in.
“They all had Pacemakers.” He said matter of fact like. Turner looked at Spike like he grew a second head. The General however, looked impressed.
“Under a minute. Your reputation is well deserved.” He said as he reached up and pulled down the cover of one of the tables, both Turner and Spike grimaced at the sight of the body of a man with the clear straight line scar on the chest.
“How did you guess? Without any clues from the victims?” Cross asked. Spike did his best to look anywhere but the body but morbid curiosity won out.
"No, that’s… Turner and I are the clues.” Spike said and saw the General’s look asking him to explain.
“I mean, he specializes in high energy weapons. I do Geo-magnetics. So calling us means you suspect an electromagnetic pulse weapon.” Spike explained getting the General to nod and pulled the cloth back over the body.
“If these are the only fatalities, they must be people susceptible to… Electronic interference.” Spike finished and Turner just shook his head.
“QED. Pacemaker… You’re spooky sometime, eh?” He said getting a look from spike. The General pulled them, both back into the conversation.
“Now I need to know, did some sort of weapon kill these people?” he asked getting Spike to shake his head.
“The power that you would need to create an EM pulse strong enough...I mean that’s… That’s not a weapon that I’ve ever heard of.” Spike said and Turner agreed. The general sighed in relief and his shoulders relaxed a bit.
“Okay. We’re done.” he said as he started to walk away. Spike wasn’t so convince though.
“We’re not done sir. There’s nothing on the other side of the equal sign.” He tried to get the general attention back.
“I agree with Spike.” Turner said but the general just kept walking.
“Thank you. Our greatest concern was this may have been an act of war, but since it’s not, I think we can all breathe a little easier, can’t we?” He said as he left and Turner rushed after him to try to convince him otherwise. Spike just ran his hands through his hair and spun in a slow circle, looking at all the table around him. One thought attacked his mind like a rabid dog.
“What the hell caused this? ”
Author's Note
Here's my first chapter of Destiny . I got this idea when i was watching through my movie collection and... You know, I just started writing. Let me know what you all think in the comments bellow.
TWO DAYS LATER - TRAFALGAR SQUARE - LONDON - MARENGLNAD
It was a cloudy day over Trafalgar square but it wasn’t anything out of the ordinary for the residents of London. It had rained earlier in the day so the street were still slick with water and the sky looked like it might rain again soon. This didn’t stop the tourists and families from walking about taking pictures, laughing and generally having a good time.
A simple family of three were standing next to Nelson’s column. The father was holding a video camera and shooting film of his smiling wife and his giggling son who were feeding the pigeons that swarmed the historic site.
As the father aimed the camera to follow a flock that had just took flight, the mother noticed her son was looking sad and confused.
“What’s the matter Pip?” She asked him getting his father’s attention as well. He looked at her then pointed to something a few yards away from them. His parents looked and say one of the pigeons on the ground dead. Pip’s father wrapped an arm around his son as he spoke.
“It’s okay, son.” He said in a consoling voice to his troubled child.
“These things happen all the time and…” He was interrupted but two pigeons smashing into the base of the column beside him. The father’s eyes widened as he looked around and watched more and more birds start to smash into things and people at random killing the birds instantly or injuring others when they struck.
In an instant every bird in Trafalgar Square took flight confused and panicked warbles and screeches. Pip’s mother quickly bundled him in her arms doing her best to shield him from the swarms of birds that flew dived all around them.
“Let’s go, Let’s go! Come on!” His father yelled as he pulled his wife and son along all the while scanning the sky for any feathery projectiles and looking for shelter. All around the densely packed square people ran screaming covering their heads and faces as the birds flew into them at full force.
People in the building didn’t fare much better than those outside as the birds struck and shattered the windows before flying inside the buildings like out of control missiles. The seemed to strike at random, more like they were blind and scared so they went in whatever direction they could go.
The streets were utter chaos cars brakes and tires squealed as they tried to avoid people running around. They drivers didn’t get far either as the birds smashed and cracked their windshields making it impossible to drive and sending many cars crashing into buildings people and other cars.
The worst was the double decker bus that was driving through that day. Birds crashed through the windows, clawing and flapping to escape and scaring the passengers. A few made it into the cab where the driver was and caused him to lose control of the wheel and flipping the buss onto its side and onto the people unlucky to be beside it.
Pip’s father pulled them along doing his best to cover his wife and son from the bird swarm, he noticed a shop open and rushed them all inside it to get out of the birds path. The trio huddled together as Pip cried into his mother’s shirt, frightened and she tried to comfort him as best she could.
Pips mother and father looked outside and watched in horror as the large flock of birds came at the windows of the shop they’d hidden in. Like a tidal wave of flesh bone and feathers the birds slammed into the windows shattering them to pieces and swarmed into the shop scratching and pecking at anything they touched.
Pip screamed in fear as the birds screeched and warbled around him. Then as suddenly as they’d come they left all the birds flying straight out and into the sky like it was another day leaving a traumatized PipSqueak and his fearful parents in their wake.
NEXT MORNING - SPIKE DRGNUS’S OFFICE - CHICAGO
Spike, maud and Tom were staring at his laptop monitor and watching a news feed about what happened in London the previous day. Spike had his arms crossed and his face was scrunched in thought as the reporter talked.
“The skies are empty over Nelson’s Column now, but a few hours ago it was a different story. Eye witnesses claimed that the frenzied swarm of birds were not in fact attacking people deliberately but seemed to be confused and flying blind. In the meantime however, eleven people are confirmed dead and dozens more are injured in the panic that followed the bizarre and terrifying incident in London’s historic Trafalgar square” The reporter finished and Spike’s attention was pulled to Tom when he gestured to the screen.
“And it’s not just this time. No, no, no, no, no, no, The Fortean Times reported violent bird swarms twice last month in Australia and Neighpan.” Tom said and brandished the magazine like it was a hidden relic.
“Hmm… Weird.” Spike agreed as he rubbed his chin and took a few steps away to think. Maud, in her strange sense of humor, said.
“Quite strange also.” With a completely blank face. Tom just smiled at her with a chuckle.
“Mm, strange indeed.” He said adopting a heavily stereotypical Indian accent. Spike just rolled his eyes and thought they should just kiss, get it over with then travel to a nearby hotel and… His brain screeched to a halt as something clicked.
“That might mean… ” He thought as his mind worked out the problem and his eyes widened in alarm. He needed to confirm this first before he jumped to conclusions.
“How do birds navigate?” He asked his assistants as he started to pace slightly. They both looked at him in confusion.
“By sight?” Tom answered hesitantly and Spike shook his head.
“No, no, no the long range stuff.” He explained. Tom just blinked so Maud took over.
“The magnetic field. The little ions in their brain align with the magnetic field of Equis.” She said confidently.
“Yeah, what she said. Right?” It wasn’t Tom field of study so he wasn’t sure. Spike eyes just got bigger and bigger as pieces of a massive puzzle fell into place.
“Boulder!” He said forcefully, making Tom’s head snap around and focus on him. Spike never raise his voice unless he was serious.
“Hit the ‘net, do a search for… um, oh, two years ought to do it. Any and all, like, “weird news”, you know. Bizarre animal migrations, specifically birds. Whale and dolphin beachings.” Spike darted around the office like a hummingbird turning on computers booting up programs grabbing books out of stacks that then tumbled to the ground and were ignored.
“Unusual atmospheric phenomena, unexplained plane crashes, you know, just use your imagination.” Spike said as he rushed over to a black board and started erasing what was on it. Tom sputtered for a few seconds before getting his mind in order.
“That is a huge search Spike.” he complained Spike turned and gave him a dead pan looked that just screamed ‘are you serious’.
“You can use our T-1 Line to look up that Lunar Sailor's crap. You’re up to this.” He admonished before finishing erasing and leaving a completely embarrassed Tom who was getting a raised eyebrow from Maud. Tom just shrugged.
“I like the outfits.” He defended before rushing away to start the search and get away from the stare of his crush. Spike continued to rush around the room before he remembered maud was there too.
“Maud, Maud, get me the brightest kids from the field theory class and design a computer model of an electromagnetic field.” He said before going behind his desk and digging in his drawers for something.
“What are we doing?” She asked him his head poked up from behind his desk to answer.
“I need a 3D computer model of the planet Equis to lay the field over.” He said as he carried a few binder out from behind his desk. Tom jumped back into the conversation at that moment.
“Whoa-ho-ho, The Planet Equis?” He asked a bit shocked. Spike just rolled his eyes.
“Yeah, the planet Equis, you know, the pretty blue one.” He snarked. A small snort found its way from Maud's nose and Tom pouted at her.
“Et tu Maud?” he sighed but Spike ignore him and continued talking to Maud.
“Map out the anomalies that Boulder finds and grunt out the equations. And uh, grab those smelly kids from the non-linear Diff class too.” He set down all the thing he'd gather at his computer station and start to frantically type away. Tom was starting to get worried about his mentor/friend.
“Listen, Spike, do we even have time for this?” He asked trying to make some sense about what Spike was doing but Spike just threw him for a loop once again.
“Do this and I’ll sign your doctorates blindfolded.” He said turning so he was looking directly at them and they could see how serious he was. This got him his own Maud eyebrow raise in response. Two in one day from Maud, a new record.
“Blindfolded?” She asked.
“Blindfolded. Do not pass GO. Go directly to PhD.” He said and turned back around and continued his frantic typing and clicking on his computer. Leaving both his assistants in shock till they both looked at each other and shrugged then went about their assigned tasks.
Spike finished his typing and waited for the computer to do its thing. He ran his hands threw his hair and found them to be trembling slightly. Clenching them into fists he took a deep breath and let it out.
“Be wrong. Be wrong.” He repeated to himself like a mantra as he continued to wrack his brain trying to solve this.
Author's Note
oooo, the plot thickens.
400,000 FEET ABOVE EQUIS
All was peaceful in the silence of space. The planet of Equis turned on its axis as it had done for millions of years. Clouds moved along their way in the atmosphere gracing the beautiful blue and brown marble. Everything seemed calm and at peace.
In orbit around this beautiful ball was one of the great engineering feats of the modern age. Shooting out bursts of gas from its thrusters, the USE Endeavor slowed down and turned around preparing itself for its next maneuver. Using the thruster on the upper nose of the shuttle fired and put it into a control flip so that her belly was facing the planet.
In side the cockpit, in the co-pilot seat was a young astronaut at the controls piloting the ship and getting her ready to return home. She had light blue skin, golden amber eye and her two toned orange hair was hidden by her cap and helmet. Major Lightning dust pulled and pushed the shuttle control stick till she was sure they were were they needed to be.
She and one of her crew mates were going through a few final checks while they waited for the commander.
“Hey Crank I’m coming a little hot, give me some drag will ya?” The commander’s voice called from from further back in the shuttle.
“Copy that.” Crank said and stuck his arm out and felt the commander grab hold and slow himself down before gliding into the pilots seat. The commander had white skin, deep blue eyes and a few strands of his three toned blue hair were poking out from under his cap in his helmet. Getting his buckles locked and tightened he listened to Lightning give him an update.
“We are in attitude and ready for an entry interface.” She informed him as he got himself situated.
“Nice work major.” He complimented. Getting the last strap in place he took hold of the control stick and started doing his own checks.
“I have the controls now for E.I.” He noticed out of the corner of his eye Lightning pouted slightly making him hide his smirk.
“I can take us in.” She said, the words ’may I please do it’ were what she left out though but he still ‘heard’ them.
“You could, but you won’t.” He said with a slight chuckle.
“I’m ready for this Shining.” She stated proudly getting a long suffering look from her commander.
“Oh, no you’re not Dust. You’re trained, and you’re certified-- Doesn’t make you the commander and the commander lands the bird.” He heard a quiet grumble from his co pilot and decided to trey and cheer her up a bit.
“Hey, you got to be the youngest person in space you should say thank you and be happy.” He said with a smile. Lightning didn’t want to but a small smile of gratitude forced its way onto her face.
“Now…” Shining armor flipped a switch and waited for flight to give the green light. He didn’t have to wait long. As the voice of command crackled to life over the radio.
Down on the surface of Equis in the N.A.S.A. command center in Hoofston Texas people were manning their stations and computers making sure everything was ready for the crew to come home
“Endeavor, Hoofston, at this time we show you go for re-entry.” One of the techs spoke into his microphone. Behind him stood the flight director, making sure everything was on the up and up. She had lightly tanned skin, bright blue eyes and black and white striped hair. She had a cane in her hand due to her injured leg. Zecora listened in and was checking the readings on a monitor as Lightnings voice came over the speakers.
“Hoofston, Endeavor descending through four hundred thousand feet coming upon entry interface.” She announced making Zecora smile in amusement. She tapped a button on her head set so she could speak to the crew.
“Endeavor, this is flight. Weren’t able to annoy the commander into letting you bring her in this time?” She asked, amusement clear in her voice. She heard a chuckle from Lightning.
“That’s a negative stick. I’ll have to be more annoying next time.” She joked.
“Is that even possible?” Shining asked without missing a beat and getting a bark of laughter from their third crew member. Back in Hoofston Zecora smirked at the commanders jab while the tech spoke.
“Endeavor , we see you in good entry config.” The tech said
“Roger, Hoofston.” Lightning acknowledged. The shuttle brought it’s nose up slightly as they started to reenter Equis’s atmosphere. The belly of the shuttle started to glow with the heat and flares of plasma trailed behind them like a fiery tail.
“Yep, I’m seeing those plasma trails now.” Shining Armor confirmed.
“We’re mach twenty four and a half.” lightning informed getting a nod from Shining.
“So, a minute to air.” He calculated. He heard a huff from Lightning.
“I don’t even believe in belts.” She said. Shining eyebrow rose but he kept his eyes forward. Making sure the shuttle didn’t flip to far back and bounce of the atmosphere or go to far forward and burn up. She sighed slightly, reentry was always been the worst part in her mind.
“Just get me through the planet’s atmosphere in this spaceship.” She mumbled. In Hoofston that was the last thing they heard as the coms went out, the video went static and the ship vanished from the screen showing its re entry course.
“Com drop out.” A tech called out getting Zecora’s attention. Loosing coms during reentry wasn’t unheard of but it was still a cause for concern till they were restored. She felt a small knot of worry start to form in her gut as she and her staff anxiously waited for com reconnect.
The shuttle quickly made it through the planet’s atmosphere, much to Lightning’s relief. She knew her commander and crew mate would tease her a bit but she could grin and bare it. She and her crew made idle conversation as they descended.
As the shuttle came lower into Equis’s atmosphere the signal to the shuttle was restored as well as video and coms.
“Com restored.” the tech called out. Zecora sighed in relief as she listened to the crews idle chatter. Her relief turned to fear as an alarm went off and her eyes snapped to the big screen. Her blood ran cold as she read the notice on it.
Re-ENTRY DEVIATION ALERT - SHUTTLE RE-ENTRY FLAWED. OFF COURSE BY 129.0276 MILES.
“What they hell happened? ” as her techs voices grew louder with the development.
“Quiet!” she called out and getting them all to settle down. They were no good to Endeavor if they let panic control them. Up in the shuttle they too were finding out something was wrong too. As they pass through the cloud cover and saw land Shining’s eyes narrowed in confusion and worry.
“We are out of position here.” He said calmly but his mind was racing to figure out the problem.
“Guidance shows us on energy and on course” Clank said from behind Lightning, Shining just snorted.
“Well, I’ve made this approach two hundred and thirteen time in the simulator. We’re not where we should be.” he said. His hand gripped the control stick a little harder.
“Where the hell are we?” Lightning asked, confused and worried. Down bellow Zecora was sharing those same feelings.
“Endeavor, Guidance is bad. You are now one-two-niner off course.”
“Roger Hoofston, we sort of noticed.” Lightning relied looking out her window and her eyes widen.
“Is that?”
“Los Angeles. That is confirmed.” Zecora’s voice said over the radio driving the last nail into the coffin for Shinings fears.
“We are one five thousand feet. We got maybe two minutes of glide time left.” He said.
“This doesn’t make sense. The guidance, the beacons are all wrong?” Clank asked shining, trying to make sense of what was going on and keep his mind off of fear. Lightning didn’t help in that though.
“We are heading straight for downtown.” She said grabbing her personal folder with some measuring equipment and a map inside. Her eyes darted over the map trying to find a place to land and doing the calculations as fast as she could. Down on the ground Zecora was push her people to work as fast as they could.
“They’re going to hit downtown L.A. at three hundred knots.” She mumbled to herself as she worked with her people for a solution. As they crew flew through the air Shining was racking his brain to find a solution.
“Shining, you know L.A.? Because I have an idea.” Lightning said but Shining was to focused on the problem to hear her.
“Hoofston those buildings are getting mighty big. Can you clear a freeway?” He asked hoping to God that they could. Zecora looked at the tech making the call and grimaced as she heard him get put on hold.
“Come on. Come on.” Shining growled as he was forced to wait for an answer. The tech gave Zecora a no head shake and she wanted to strangle the person on the other end of the phone but she forced her anger down and kept calm.
“It’s rush hour, commander and it’s bumper to bumper.” She replied and hated having to say it. Lightning was doing equations on her map and smiled triumphantly as she figure it out.
“Sir, I have an alternate. If you turn to heading one-seven-five…” But Shining interrupted her.
“It’s Hoofston's call. Hoofston?” he asked, even though he was annoyed that he had to ignore lightning. Zecora watched with a grimace as her tech typed furiously on their keyboards trying to find somewhere the shuttle could land. Cursing in her head she answered.
“Computers are still plotting.” The techs and computers seemed so slow. Shining grit his teeth at her answer.
“Come on.” He said again as his eyes were locked onto the outside as he did his best to try and find somewhere for them to land. As the shuttle got closer and closer, people on the ground started to notice. An opening day game for the L.A. Dodgers was going on and as soon as the batter hit the ball a loud boom sounded drawing all eyes skyward as the shuttle flew by over head.
Shining was near certain he could read the names of the players as he passed by they were so low..
“Hoofston, we are running out of time here.” He said, praying for a miracle.
“Sir I have an alternate.” Lightning said firmly, like she was answering his plea.
“Alright Dust, what do ya got?” He asked. Lightning nodded and got on the coms.
“Hoofston, I have coordinates for an alternate landing site. Can you confirm?” She asked. In Hoofston Zecora pounced on the chance with zeal.
“Endeavor, give them to me.” Zecora said.
“I show possible touchdown at 33.55 North, 118.10 West.” Lightning said and the tech put it into the computer and to Zecora’s delight it highlighted a long straight stretch in the city.
“Well?” she asked, the tech thought about ti for a second then nodded.
“It’s theoretically possible.” He admitted but he didn’t sound sure. Zecora didn’t care and took the chance.
“Endeavor, That is confirmed. Turn right, heading one-seven-five. Expect visual contact with Los Angeles river in five seconds.” Shining got a bad feeling in his gut but he pushed through it. Leaning the control stick he turned the shuttle to the new heading. His eyes widened slightly as the river came into sight. The odds of a safe landing seemed to dropped even lower.
“No, that will not work, Hoofston. We‘ve got bridges every few hundred yards.” he said. But there was little he could do now, they were locked into that course.
“Our wingspan alone is going to fold us up.” He explained while Crank sounded off their altitude and speed.The voice of Lightning Dust pierced his fear.
“I’ve figure the “L” over “D” max. We can make it if you can bring us straight in.” She said. Shining just went with it as it was the only chance they had.
“We’re coming high and hot.” Crank announced as he tightened his harness. As the river bed loomed closer Shining forced himself to calm down. His crew needed their commander level headed, calm and steeled and he wasn’t going to let them down.
“Two-ninety feet - Three twenty… two- seventy feet - three-oh-five.” Lightning called out loudly.
“Arm the gear.” Shining ordered and Crank flipped open a cover and pushed the arm button.
“Gear armed.” he said and a second later shining ordered him to lower the landing gear.
“Gear in transitions.” They all heard the hydraulic whirl as the landing gear lowered.
“Two-forty feet - two-ninety.”
“Hang on this isn’t going to be subtle.” Shining grunted as he fought with the controls and brought the shuttle into line with the river below them. Angling the nose of the shuttle down till the right moment he steered them onward.
“Two-ten feet - two-sixty-five.” pulling hard back on the stick and bringing the nose up for the landing, Shining prayed they’d make it. Below the shuttle on the bridges people scrambled to get out of their cares and off the sidewalks and to safety.
It seemed like time slowed to a crawl for the crew of the Endeavor as they waited to see if they’d land in the river bed. They didn’t know if they would till the heavy jolt of the rear gear hitting the concrete jerked them around a bit and back to reality.
“De-rotate.” Lightning said.
“Inward.” Shining responded and like a well oiled machine they both worked to keep them from crashing. The nose of the shuttle came down with a slam as they slowed enough. Shining kept his breathing calm as his eyes looked forward with laser forward.
“Two-thirty… two-ten.” Lightning kept track of their speed. To shining's annoyance they weren’t slowing down fast enough.
“Speed breaks!” He called out and Lightning yanked back the lever next to her seat making two flaps on the tail extend giving them more air resistance.
“One hundred percent.” She stated. Shining still wasn’t happy.
“Oh, we’re way to fast.” He tried to grumble to himself but Crank heard him.
“Deploy the shoot.” he advised but Shining didn’t agree.
“No. We’d snag the bridge. We’ll tear the tail off.” he explained through gritted teeth. Ahead of the he saw one of the bridges had a support post in the middle of the bridge. His eyes narrow in concentration.
“Banking right.” He said and pulled hard on the controls to turn and avoid the pillar. A loud screeching noise is heard by them and Lightning looked out her window and sees the right wings scrapping a furrow into the concrete wall of the river. Pieces of the wing flew off from too much friction and abuse.
Shining focused ahead and ignored the breaking wingtip as he steered them back to the center of the river. He saw the next bridge and his eyes steeled with determination.
“Commander, that next bridge!” Lightning exclaimed as he hadn’t done anything yet.
“Watch it! We’re way to high for that one!” She gripped the arm rests of her seat with white knuckles.
“Suck op the gear!”
“Not yet. We lose all steering.” Shin answered calmly his eyes sharp and his breathing even. Lightning was in awe at how calm he was even with all this chaos around them but that did little to assuage her fears.
“We hit, it’s over!” She exclaimed. Shining didn’t acknowledge her as he focused forward and counted down in his head. He had to time it just right.
“Gear up now!” He ordered. Crank flicked the switches and the landing gear quickly folded back into the ship which crashed into the ground skidding on it belly along the river bed, The jolt was so hard Shining was sure he got whiplash from how much he was jerked around in his seat. Sparks flew from a few of the consoles a the circuits fried and short circuited.
Further down the river a group of construction workers were repairing the last bridge and one of them heard the loud bang the shuttle made when the gear was lifted. He yelled for his fellow workers to run as he pointed and clamber down from the scaffolding in fear and they were quick to join him.
“Lock your harnesses, this is out of my hands.” Shining said as he gripped his seat and Lightning and Crank following his orders. They passed under the bridge but the tip of the tail was pulverized by the hitting the bridge as well as the win tips. After passing the shuttle went into a flat spin.
The construction works were all fleeing as fast as they could go… all save one. He had on a heavy pair of earmuffs and was using a grinder on a piece of steel, so he didn’t hear his friends panicked shouts of warning nor did he see the shuttle still spinning its way toward him.
Lightning clamped her eyes shut as the Shuttle slowed down with the ceramic plates on the belly grinding and screeching loudly against the concrete as they slid closer to the last bridge. Shining feared they were still going to fast and would plow right through.
The grinding got more pronounced as they shuttle slowed down, grinding and crunching closer and close to the man still working on the scaffolding. Slowly the shuttle slid right up to the scaffolding, casting its massive shadow down on the guy as it ground to a halt.
Seeing the shadow the man jumped up in alarm, dropped his grinder, whirled around and stared at the stopped space shuttle. In side it was near dead silent. All that was heard was the heavy breathing and and relieved sighs of the crew. Lightning slowly opened her eyes, blinking them to make sure she was really seeing that they were safe and sound. Shining pulled his helmet off and dragged a hand over his face as he finally allowed himself to relax.
Far behind the shuttle L.A. police and emergency vehicles sped along the river bed, their sirens blaring as they neared ready to help the astronauts in a n way they could. They had had one hell of a trip home.
Author's Note
Here is Chapter three. Hope you all enjoy.
CANTERLOT
Spike paced on the steps outside of the Canterlot Academy of Sciences, the results of what he and his assistants and students had compiled clutched to his chest. He was waiting for one of the greatest scientific minds to date to make her way out so he could convince her to confirm what he had discovered.
He’d been pacing their for over an hour but waiting had payed off because the doors opened and out she came followed by some reporters and her fans asking for an autograph She looked to be in her late thirties with two toned green hair, lavender eyes and white skin. Taking a cigarette from her pocket she lit it before starting to walk.
“Dr. Clever… Dr. Clever.” The reporters called trying to get an interview or ask questions. Dr Clover Clever ignored them as she slowly descended the steps pausing only to tell her secretary something or autograph one of her books for a fan.
Spike quickly made his way over to her. She smiled as he handed her his portfolio.
“Dr. Clever.” He confirmed and she nodded.
“Yes. what’s your name?” She asked getting her pen ready.
“Uh, Spike Dragnus. “ He said. She nodded and started to sign the front page.
“Spike..” She started but Spike quickly stopped her.
“No, ma’am I don’t need you to sigh it. I need you to read that..” Spike explained making Clover stare at him confused before she chuckled slightly.
“I’m sorry, I don’t have time. I’m late for the White House.” She said handing Spike the binder back and started to walk off. But Spike wasn’t so easily dissuaded
“Ma’am, Pease. I need you to confirm my results, ma’am.” He pushed as he walked beside her toward the street. Clover sighed, turned and gave Spike a long-suffering look.
“Young man, do you have any idea who I am?” She asked him. Spike ignore the slightly snobby attitude she was giving off.
“Yes, I do ma’am. Please read this.” He said and handed her the folder again, all but out right begging her to just take a look. Clover saw the man was serious. The White House thing had been a lie to just brush him off, but something about how serious he was gave her pause. After glancing at his eyes and seeing the desperation she sighed in defeat.
“I’m to kind for my own good sometimes. ” She thought as she grabbed the folder and flipped it open.
“What’s it about?” She asked with a slightly annoyed tone. Spike was so relieved he didn’t even care.
“It’s the end of the world.” he said getting a raised eyebrow for his trouble. With a sigh Clover motion for him to follow and they took the car to her office.
THREE HOURS LATER
Clover was standing over her desk not believing what she was reading. The charts and graphs of Spikes findings littered her desk as she poured over his work. This couldn’t be right… it was to insane to be real. Flipping rapidly through the page looking for some kind of mistake or error but she wasn’t coming up with one.
She shook her head, not wanting to believe this was right. Spike walked over to her, waiting for her answer. She looked at him with a uncertain smile. Spike just let out a defeated sigh and grabbed his coat.
“No, I… this is impossible. I’m sorry.” She she tried to explain but spike just put his coat on.
“I-i-i can’t have missed this. You-you have to be wrong.” She sounded more like she was trying to convince herself then Spike. Spike just stood there with a blank face listening to her.
“I mean, look, I’m sure with careful comparison to my own work, we’ll find that you are mistaken.” She flinched slightly at how that sounded.
“No offense, but…” Spike just shook his head and zipped up his coat with a rueful laugh.
“Well, I mean, we’ll know soon enough.” He said his tone wasn’t hopeful.
“The bigger effects will start up any day now.” He said with a humorless smile before making his way out of Clovers office leaving a slightly shaken Clover behind him. Clover leaned on her desk, staring at the evidence Spike had presented to her. The more she thought about it the more it made sense and the greater the dread became.
Biting the inside of her cheek in thought she made up her mind. Pushing herself up she quickly strode to the other door in her office where she stored her files. Making a beeline to the one of the drawers that had a combination lock on it she entered in the code and pulled it open.
She immediately reached for two black and red files that had the word SECRET printed on the top and gazed at them before pulling them out and closing the drawer with a sigh. She had work to do.
ELSEWHERE IN CANTERLOT
In white marble halls, military personnel briskly walked about on their own tasks. All save Major Lightning Dust who was dressed in her dress blues and gripping her cap tightly as she rocked back and forth on her feet. She was waiting for someone to show up and she was nervous as hell.
She kept peering around the corner every few second like he would just pop out of thin air. With a sigh she took a deep breath to try and calm her nerves. She looked again and saw him making his way down the hall and with a small smile she walked out to meet him.
The say General Cross Swords was pleasantly surprised was an understatement.
“Blitz?” He asked, using her childhood nickname, with a small smile, he had not been expecting to see her. She held out her hand and he clasped it with both of his as they shook. Lightning chuckle slightly.
“Only you and Dad ever call me that.” She smiled warmly getting a chuckle out of Cross.
“Well, Lightning. So what brings you to sunny Canterlot?” He asked as they both started walking down the hall. The slightly grim look she had on her face gave him a hint asher answer and he wasn’t looking forward to it.
“The Board of Review is next week.” She said as they started down a set of stairs. Cross sighed sadly. He knew her chances of getting through this unscatched were next to none and he hated it.
“I’m just trying to get a sense of the mood upstairs… How bad is it?” She continued. Cross wished he could say she’d be fine but he knew lying to her would only hurt her more in the long run.
“Your crew crashed the space shuttle. Now, how good do you think it could be?” He answered her question with his own. This was the part of the job he always hated, having to kill people's dreams.
“Sir this is my life.” Lightning pleaded. Cross kept his face neutral as they walked down the stairs but inside he was hating himself for not having the ability to change things.
“I was studying for the academy when I was thirteen. It still is and has always been my life.” She just barely short of begging him. As they reached the ground floor put a hand on her shoulder trying to give what comfort he was able before he spoke two words that might as well have been shit for how they tasted.
“It’s over.” He said and felt his heart gain a new crack at the completely crushed look on his little”Blitz’s” Face.
“I’m sorry Blitz, I’m sorry.” He said getting a small nod from Lightning that did little to ease the pain in his heart. They were soon jostled by the large crowd making its way toward the door temporally taking their minds off the subject.
“What the hell’s the hurry here?” Cross said out loud. Lightning was off in her own world when his phone rang. Pulling it out and seeing the number he hit the talk button.
“Blitz, would you excuse me please?” He said sadly and walked off to take the call leaving a distraught looking Lightning Dust behind. She wasn’t mad at him, she knew he had no real control over this. Lighting took a deep breathe, squared her shoulder and made her way to the front door. She wouldn’t let this set back stop her from doing what she loved.
“General Sword.” Cross said into the phone speaker.
“Cross, um, look…” The voice of Dr Clever crackled on the phone making Cross blink. Why was she calling him? Whatever he thought she’d say was quickly blown to kingdom come by the bomb she dropped.
“It seems that Destiny may have caught up with us.” She said making his blood chill slightly.
“What do you suggest we do?” he asked her.
“Gather everyone for a meeting, this is bigger then just you and I.” She said Cross hum in agreement.
“I’ll get them together. Anything else?” he asked. There was a slight pause on the other side as Clover thought it over.
“Can you have someone pick up a young a man by the name of Spike Dragnus please?”
Lightning Dust looked at the large crowd of people outside by the street. They had all gathered there and were looking and pointing at the sky. Following their gaze she tilted her head up… and her mouth dropped.
Flashing thought eh sky were ribbons of rainbow colors that dance to and fro under that stars. She had heard of an aurora borealis before but never seen one and never this far south. That small voice in the back of her mind, that told her something was going to happen was nearly screaming at her. While she didn’t know what was going on, she would keep her eyes open.
“Did Clever really try to give you her autograph?” Turner asked as Spike knocked back his fifth shot of liquor and tried to not spew it out from laughter as the scene played in his mind. He swallowed and nodded his head and he and turner started laughing. Snorts and giggles bubbled around them
With a deep breath Turner sighed.
“Ah, mademoiselle Clever. Clover Clever. Herr Clever. Superstar.” He exclaimed and they both lost it all over again. Turner drank his own shot as Spike blinked then grabbed his head with a groan
“I think I skipped drunk.” he said with a moan.
“Went right to hangover.” Turner sighed, as he set his drink down.
“I spoke with the kids. They don’t sleep at night.” He said with a small smile taking out a picture of his wife and two girls from his pocket. Spike looked and saw the smiling faces of Turners wife Ditzy and his two girls Dinky and Amethyst. He gave Turner a kind smile.
“They look at the sky at night, and… and they think it’s pretty.” He chuckle slightly. Both grew serious for a moment.
“Is there any chance you’re wrong?” Turner asked Spike, hoping for something. Spike had to disappoint his good friend as he shook his head.
“No. The sky, man.” Spike said playing with a shot glass.
“The sky-- I mean that’s just the beginning. That's high altitude static discharge..” He said his tone one of defeat. Turner sighed, even though he knew it was true he still want to make sure.
“I know.” Turner said softly.
“Dr. Dragnus…” A voice said directly behind Spike, drawing Turner’s attention as well. Spike leaned back in his chair and looked behind him upside down. The two agents that had picked him up at his class where standing there with the same blank expressions.
“Your presence is required at the Pentagon.” The guy said plainly. Spike smiled, the alcohol still affecting his system some.
“Ah…. it’s my best buddies. Hey!” He said with a goofy grin plaster on his face.
“Why don’t you join us for a drink?” He asked as he sat back upright, though not really serious.
“We’d be grateful if you could join us for a ride, sir.” The agent said calmly
“And if I were to say no?” Spike gave a mischievous look at Turner who grinned in return.
“Just asking.” Turner nodded in understanding.
“Well, we have no sense of humor.” The agent said making Turner snort as he tried to keep from laughing.
“That is true.” Spike said with a giggle, not expecting what was coming next.
“And we’re armed.” The agent said, still with a straight face but with a slight twinkle in his eyes.
Spike did his best to tuck in his shirt but it was being a pain and going down his underwear instead. The Sergeant first class escorting him opened a door for him to go through. He gave his thanks and walked into the big room with a large horseshoe shaped table with many officers sitting on the outside of it.
“Dr, Dragnus, welcome.” Cross Sword greeted Spike from where he sat in the middle of the table. Spike was still confused as to why he was here so he just nodded his thanks. Spike also so Noticed Dr. Clever sitting only a few seats down on the generals right side. Putting two and two together he had a suspicion as to why he was here now.
“Dr. Clever informs us that you made a useful contribution to her investigations, so she wanted you to assist her with the briefing.” Cross explained. Spike was a bit miffed that Clover had kinda used him as a springboard but given the seriousness of the situation he let it go.
“That’s very generous of you Dr. Clever.” He said. He’d let it go but he’d still let her know he wasn’t happy about it. Like the pro she was, Clover took the hit and rolled with the punch.
“Science is a selfless business, dear boy.” She said. Spike had to admit, grudgingly, he was slightly impressed.
“Now, why don’t you begin and I’ll fill in all the difficult bits.” She said, offering a kind of olive branch which he took. Spike nodded as he stood in the center of the group. Taking a deep breath he began.
“All right, I’ll put this a simply as I can.” He said, There was no easy way to say this.
“Everybody on Equis is dead in a year.” He said plainly getting startled looks and low murmurs from the panel.
“And let me explain why.” getting their attention back to him.
“Wrapped around Equis is and invisible field of energy. It’s made up of… Electricity and magnetism, so it’s called, creatively enough, the electromagnetic field. It’s were we get out magnetic north pole and south pole, and it protects us from cosmic radiation. So this EM field is out friend.” Spike said, trying to act like he was in front of a class of freshmen at the university.
“But now…?” Cross prompted getting Spike to nod but Dr. clover answered.
“But now, that field is falling apart."
“Why?” Asked one of the officers making spike exhale hard and scratch his head trying to think of a way to show them. Turning around he notice a few bowls of different fruits and saw one of them had a few peaches, an idea sparked in his brain and he grabbed one of the knives and started cutting the peach in half.
“Does somebody have a can of air freshener?” he asked the room getting quite a few odd looks. Cross gestured for one of the aids to go and get one and the aid quickly left the room. After spike finished cutting he held the cross section of the peach up for the room to see.
“Quick and dirty. The thin skin, that’s Equis’s crust. That’s what we live on. It’s thirty miles think.” He next pointed to the peaches flesh.
“The meat here, call it the mantle, and forgetting all the funky transitions, it’s two thousand mile thick.” He then pointed to the pit of the peach.
“The core, the peach pit in the center, that’s a tricky one. There’s two parts-- The inner core and the outer core, are you following me?” He asked them getting nods and ‘yes’ all around.
“The inner core is, uh… Well, It’s a big, solid chunk of iron, we think, and that’s surrounded by the outer core, and that is liquid.” Spike paused for a second to collect his thoughts and Clover took this moment to speak.
“Yes, but, most importantly, this liquid is constantly spinning in one direction. So a trillion trillion tons of hot metal spinning at a thousand mile an hour, so… “ She let it hang for Spike to pick up.
“Right, so physics 101-- hot metal moving fast makes electromagnetic field. This spinning outer core is the engine that drive the EM field. And that’s where we have our problem.” Spike looked around and saw a few confused faces before Clover spoke up again.
“This engine had stalled.” She said gaining all eyes in the room to stare at her.
“The core of Equis has stopped spinning.” Murmurs and questions flew around the table as they tried to comprehend what they had been told. No one saw the look shared between Cross and Clover.
“How could this have happened?” Cross said out loud but his eyes locked onto clover for a second who refused to meet his gaze.
“We don’t know.” Spike said, having missed their whole exchange. Cross leaned forward and narrowed his eyes in thought.
“What’s the timeline here?” He asked Spike.
“As the EM field becomes more and more unstable, we’ll start seeing isolated incidents. One plane will fall from the sky, and then two, and then… in a few months, anything… everything electronic will be fried.” Spike saw the grim expressions of the people in the room.
“Static discharges in the atmosphere will create “Super-storms” with hundreds of lightning strikes per square mile.” Clover added getting all the people to lean forward and pay close attention to what was being said.
“After that it gets bad.” Spike said, make the group go deathly quiet. What they had said wasn’t the worst part? Clover took over again.
“Equis’s EM field shields us from the solar winds, which are a lethal blend of radioactive particles and microwaves.” She paused when the aid came back and walked to Spike to hand him the can of air freshener before continuing.
“When the shield collapses, microwave radiation, will literally cook our planet.” While Clover explained Spike had picked up a large fork and spiked another peach on it. The can of air freshener in his left hand and the fork in his right he called Clover over to him for help. As she got up he explained what he was doing.
“This is the sun…” He held up the air freshener.
“This is Equis without the EM field.” He held up the peach on the fork. He held them both up and asked Clover if she would hold up her lighter. She did so and lit it with a flick of her finger. The long flame burned bright and Spike pushed the release on the can sending a hot flame of burning gas onto the peach.
If pictures can speak a thousand words, no body in that room doubted what one thousand words were being said as they watched with horror as the peach was engulfed in flames. After ten seconds Spike stopped and held up the still flaming peach to the group. Clover’s words were grave when she spoke.
“Three months, gentleman, and we’re back in the Stone Age. A full year, the field collapses…” She paused to nodded at the peach.
“And that.” She said with finality as she walked back to her seat. Spike walked over to one of the pitcher of water on the conference table and dropped the peach in it. As soon as it was inside it was encased in a shell of ice.
“Feel free to throw up. I know I did.” Spike said as he walked back to the center.
“So…” Cross said as he wrapped his head around the situation.
“How do we fix it.” Spike scoffed.
“We can’t.”
“Not in my vocabulary.” Cross said making Spike roll his eyes.
“Then you might want to get one of those word a day calendars General, because it’s impossible.” Spike said. Cross tried to retort but Spike didn’t let him.
“The core is the size of mars. You're talking about jump starting a planet.” Spike said hotly letting some of the stress that had been building up that week out.
“This is a superheated hyper-fluid of molten nickel and iron at nine thousand degrees fahrenheit, two thousand miles down, a thousand mile thick.” he argued making the Cross actually squirm a bit.
“And the deepest we’ve ever been is… seven miles, with a two inch drill bit.” Cross was a bit annoy he was being talked down to, even if the boy was right. As the two continued to argue neither saw Clover frown in thought before sighing. She had made a decision.
“If we can go into space, we certainly…” Cross tried to argue but was again interrupted by an annoyed Spike.
“Well Space is easy. It’s empty.” Spike said running his hands through his hair as he ranted on.
“We’re talking about millions of pounds per square inch. Even if we somehow came up with a brilliant plan to fix the core, we just can’t get there.” Spike said and he felt his shoulder slump as it finally set in what they were discussing.
Cross wasn’t doing any better. He was a do or die kind of person but this was way over his head, he had no idea what to do. Both Cross and Spike were pulled from their musing by clover speaking.
“Yes, but…” She paused for effect, with a slight smirk on her face.
“...What if we could?” she asked. She had an answer even though she was loathe to admit it. The reason she didn’t like it is they would have to go and see… him. She suppressed a grimace.
Author's Note
The plot gets thicker... maybe Celestia should lay off the cake, eh?
Build it and they will come
SALT FLATS - UTAH - AKA THE BADLANDS
The helicopter’s engine roared and the blades whirled as it flt forward on its mission. Flying over the vast, flat expanse of the Badlands. After a few minutes of flying the pilot saw his destination ahead. Small specks of buildings were on the horizon and growing bigger.
Soon the pilot made his first pass over of Appaloosa, an old western town that was abandoned long ago and was now a ghost town. Rusted tin roofs, broken windows and tumble weeds were all that was left. Seeing some more modern buildings, such as a massive warehouse the pilot angled his craft toward them and slowly began his descent to land.
With the chopper safely down, its for passengers jumped out and started making their way toward the warehouse. Spike, Turner and Clover looked around a bit as they walked while Cross kept his eyes forward. As they neared the warehouse doors they saw them open and the head of someone poke out.
They were to far away to make out details but soon the opened the doors wider and the person started to walked toward them. Spike saw that he was a guy, much older than him, maybe in his fifties, his skin was light grey with his hair mostly white with streaks of ash grey in it. As he got closer they could see he had a slightly unkempt beard on his face.
They stopped about two yards away from each other and Clover pulled out a cigarette.
“Hello Star.” She greeted with fake pleasure before lighting her cigarette. Spike saw Starswirl's intelligent, bright blue eyes narrow slightly behind his circular glasses before he chuckled in slight confusion.
“Why the hell aren’t you dead yet?” He asked, with a smile. Clover took a drag from her cigarette before giving a him an ‘are your serious’ look. Starswirl just shrugged in response.
“Okay, this way.” He said and motioned them to follow before walking back to the warehouse. Spike looked at Clover in confusion.
“Well, that went better than I expected.” She said in slight surprise before making to follow. Turner and Spike jogged to catch up to Cross who was walking beside Star.
“Dr. Starswirl, I see you know Dr. Clever.” He said slightly sarcastic. Star nodded his head as they walked.
“Yeah, twenty years ago she stole my research. After that we-we kind of lost touch.” He said with a smile but, like he was talking about the good old days but the sarcasm was so thick a baseball bat could have cut it.
“Research that was equally mine.” Clover pipped in trying to not make herself sound like a villain.
“That’s funny, I don’t remember a check from any of the patents.” Start said twisting his head around to give Clover that ‘smarter than you’ smirk she had always found annoying when she worked with him. Clover sighed heavily and just shook her head. Same old Star.
“All right, Star. Twenty years in the desert makes you a prophet and a martyr.” She said as Star lead them all around back.
“Look, we’re here about your legendary ship.” She said getting Star to stop, turn and look at her. His eyes trying to see if she was serious. She never flinched away from his gaze. Star got nods of confirmation from the rest of them as well. So he just shrugged.
“All right, I’ll show you what I’ve done.”
After about ten minutes of walking group of four found themselves out next to a large rock face with Starswirl setting up something. Star had explained that the ship he was designing would be able to go through the crust of the earth digging like a earthworm because of the boring mechanism he had designed. He was getting it ready for a demonstration.
Pulling the canvas off of the large machine with barrels on the front similar to a gatling gun, Star made his last few checks.getting behind the control stand he explained what this was and what it would do.
“This is the prototype of the boring mechanism here.” He said motioning toward the machine getting nods of understanding. Clover however wasn’t very impressed.
“Boring mechanism is right.” She mumbled to herself as Star continued
“Okay, I’m combining high-frequency pulse lasers with resonance tube ultrasonics.” He explained flipping a few switches to get the batteries warmed up.
“If you’ve ever seen ultrasonic waves break up a kidney stone on the discovery channel, it’s the same deal.” he said as the machine started to hum to life.
“You can put your helmets on now.” Star said absentmindedly making the four put the hard hat/earmuff/welding goggle combination on as quickly as they could. As they scrambled to get them on Star started the machine.
“Firing.” He called out as the tubes started to spin. Faster and faster they spun till the dull whine they had been producing turned into a high pitched scream that made Spike glad they had the earmuffs. Green light from the pulse lasers glowed inside the tubes as they spun making it look like a solid ring of green
Star pointed toward the rock face with a smile as he hit a button and all hell broke loose. The air in front of the machine distorted slightly in a tight, funnel shape and started carving a perfect circle into the rock. Throwing up a large dust cloud.
“WOO-OOH!!!” Star whooped as his invention had knocked his guest and his old partner Clover on their butts. Laughing at their shocked faces he let the machine go for a few more seconds before shutting it down. The distortion faded as the barrels slowed their spin. And the whine disappeared.
Doing a little jig and hosting a wide smirk on his face, Star danced his way over to the group who were getting to their feet and spitting out the dust that had gotten into their mouths. They pulled off their helmets and quickly walked over to the rock face. They stared in awe of the massive hole that that went completely through the rock and they could see the mountains in the distance on the other side.
Spike reached out and touched the stone carefully his kind trying to comprehend what he had just seen.
“Okay, I’m officially impressed.” Spike said. Clover was in shock and a little jealous. Star had manages to get one over her yet again. They heard Star walking up to them and turned to see he had a big grin on his dusty face.
“So, alright. You’ve made some progress with the engine, we’ll grant you.” Clover said grudgingly.
“Have you begun to think about a shell?” She asked her feelings conflicted. Hope that he had and the wish that he hadn’t.
Star had lead them inside to a small corner of the warehouse that had been set up. A large concrete block had been set on a pedestal with a purplish metal box sitting on top of it. Star was standing behind it hold the cover to the box while one of his workers held a small pet mouse.
“Okay this is Alex.” Star said with a smile as he picked up the mouse and showed it to the group getting a small chuckle from Spike. Star carefully placed Alex into the purple box and put the lid back on. He gestured to the set up he had.
“Okay, here we have a steel reinforced concrete block, and in back of that we have a two inch steel plate.” he stated getting nods. He jogged to the side of a smaller version of the engine he’d shown them earlier and started powering it up after a few seconds he announced its firing and the same distortion centered on the box
It didn’t take long for the concrete block to be vaporized and then a few seconds after a circular hole with with the box shape the only part not cut out melted away, part of the wall soon after that. Star powered down the smaller device and made his was over to the box.
All eyes were locked onto it as he took the lid off and pulled out a completely healthy and intact Alex the mouse. Spike and Turner could only stare in shock.
“Voila!” Star said in a whispered tone. Spike laughed and ran his hands through his hair as it set itn.
“That’s…” He started but couldn’t finish. Turner had no such problem.
“That’s Impossible.” He said in awe. Even Clover was amazed. The three scientists started bombaring Star with questions and he lead them over to his work space. Picking up a model of the materials molecule he explained.
“I combined the crystals in a tungsten-titanium matrix, at super cool temperatures and that’s what did the trick.” He said with a smile and a shrug. Cross was over the moon with this development.
“The applications for this are just…” He shook his head with a smile. Things were finally starting to look up.
“What do you call this material?” Turner asked as he examined the box. Star snorted in amusement.
“Well it’s real name has thirty seven syllables.” He said with a small laugh getting a few chuckles from the group.
“I call it Unobtainium.” He said. Spike just grinned.
“Unobtanium?” He asked at the irony of the name, since if you didn’t know how to make it it was unobtainable for you. Star nodded and lead them to the more open part of the warehouse that he used for making his prototypes.
“The unobtanium, will take the heat and the pressure and transform it to energy, which in turn, reinforces the shell of the ship, you see.” He explained as he showed them the different designs that he’s come up with.
“So the hotter and deeper she gets, the stronger she gets… theoretically.” He admitted. He tried to shoo a pigeon off of a object covered in a tarp but it wouldn’t move. He pulled it off and made the bird fly to the ground.
“This is Johnson, don’t mind him.” Star said pointing to the bird. Spike just smiled at the brilliant but somewhat eccentric scientist and inventor.
“This is the prototype for the cockpit here.” He said gesturing to the steel frame work he’d uncovered and started going on about different things but was pulled back on topic by Turner.
“Excuse me, Dr. Starswirl, when do you think the ship will be operational?” Turner asked. Star’s face scrunched as he ran though the numbers in his head.
“When I get my fabrication method perfected...twelve… ten year, ten years.” He estimated. Cross knew they couldn’t wait that long.
“What would it take to get it done in three months?” Cross asked with spike just behind him waiting for Star’s answer. Star thought they were trying to make a joke so he laughed a bit before answering.
“Fifteen billion dollars, I…” He laughed as he just made up an estimate number. He noticed his non laughing guests and he started to feel slightly worried. Reality slapped him in the face when Cross spoke.
“Will you take a check?” He ask with a perfectly straight face. Star just looked back and forth between their faces in shock.
“Why don’t you use a credit card? You get miles.” Spike chimed in with a smirk making Cross’s lips twitch as he suppressed a smirk of his own. Star had a feeling things were going to get really crazy. He had no idea how right he was.
Author's Note
What's gonna happen next? wait and seeeeeee.
