The Esurient Equines

“For pony’s sake…”

Rain lashed down outside the small but over-crowded lab of Stellar Gaze, who had been working now for months on the mixture she had been tasked to produce. Sometimes being an overworked and vastly overpaid scientist was more taxing that she liked to admit. The illusion of being underpaid however and keeping to a small lab kept ponies on their hooves.

If it wasn’t for the location and generous job offer she probably would have given up long ago, Planet Chrion was the perfect bustling colony to put the concoction to the test...when it was ready. Far from Equestria and generally prying eyes she found that the security was laughably lax for such a massive overpopulated planet. The whole colony, aside from a few massive public open spaces was basically a concrete jungle of epic proportions. If you looked at the planet from one of the many incoming orbital shuttles leaving the interstellar liners you’d think it was some sort of grey dystopian nightmare you were descending towards, but after you cleared the cloud cover that all washed away. The vast metropolis and its tendrils mingled into your mind and quickly any fears were abated. Probably why there was very little in terms of law enforcement, although there was some. Ponies here just seemed to get along, despite it being so vast and overwhelming.

It had not taken long for Stellar Gaze to find work after touching down, browsing the cybernet once she had managed to get hooked up at a local access point the job listings were awash looking for those with skills in science. The automotive industry, pharmaceuticals, you name it she probably could have applied for it. It made a change from the last colony she was on for sure. Then something had caught her eye…

A listing against a food corporation. In fact it boasted it was the largest and most profitable fast food chain on Chrion. At first she had gawped, but looking around from the access point which was situated like a small phone booth on the street corner she instantly spied a branch with ponies entering and leaving at a rapid pace. Well, as rapid as the larger ones could manage to waddle. That was another thing about Chrion.

The residents were big. It was extremely easy to tell an off-worlder from those that lived there. For a start, a pony like her who had recently arrived could still walk. She had observed quite a few on one of the bustling streets in the city as she had wandered in. She could only really describe the mode of transportation they used as an upgraded cart. Four wheels, a small control panel at the front but completely open top with four small walls hemming the driver in. Oh boy did some of them need to be hemmed in, if it wasn’t for the little walls around the edge of the vehicle their massive bodies would have easily spilled over causing a huge problem.

Stellar had enjoyed a moment when one had hit a pothole in the road, and been amazed at the incredible suspension employed by the vehicle. As it had bounced slightly the whole ponies body had taken the impact as if a bowl of jello had been dropped on the floor. Flab wobbled, a tidal wave of fat had washed backwards as the shock had rippled its way through the obese mare driving it. Amusingly as the cart bumped through the pothole, her body reacted to the shock as the mare let out a huge “BUUURRRRPPPP!” which made Stellar cringe a little, but the driver didn't even seem to notice. She had hardly batted an eyelid as she continued on her way, her fat body trying its best to escape the cart and utterly failing. The only thing that had really caught her attention seemed to be when some of her chubby neck rolls had squished upwards towards her face, quickly bouncing back down to their rightful position.

It was what had prompted Stellar to look into the listing further, clearly the food industry was massive on Chrion and working for a company that had a big stake in what went on here would be profitable. Maybe it might even include a pension plan…

The chain itself had advertised they were looking for not one, but several scientists to work on an exciting new project to captivate their target demographic and offer their clients something new. When she replied to the ad with her resume, to her surprise, in moments been contacted back with the request of a e-interview she had pressed further on the project.

The job had sounded simple, an additive formula for use in the fast food that the company, Mamba Burger produced. For such a massive company Stellar was amazed the CEO, one Scarlet Song had interviewed her. It had been short, sweet and just the sort of gig she was looking for to set herself up.

“So reading the ad the pay was seventy thousand bits per year, you provide me with a lab and as long as I submit a report on my progress each day you’re happy? Usually companies want me to work in their own facilities.”

“Let’s just say the nature of this project requires discretion, we also find a lab of the scientists choosing is a much more productive environment from past experience.”

“Past experience. I thought this was a new project?” That had made Stellar a little worried, which was quickly dismissed by Scarlet.

“Yes, we’ve been trying for a number of years to perfect the formula, the groundwork has been laid but we have a number of issues to overcome. Making it tasty and still producing the effects we want for a start. You’re not our first scientist and there are others already working for us. If you’re not quick they’ll solve the problems and perfect the formula before you. New is relative, it will be new when it hits our stores.”

So it was a race, to perfect the formula really. That made it even easier. Finding a spot to work had not been too hard, smaller built abodes were rather cheap and easy to come by as the bigger residents of the colony needed bigger housing to suit their needs. Stellar had got to work immediately and had made good progress, working for just over two months on the project. Her bosses had seemed happy with her daily reports. So far none had come back with queries or rejections.

But back in the present it was late, Stellar had spent most of the day working now and well, the past week trying to crack the taste issue with no luck. Usual tricks weren’t having the results she had hoped for which is why she assumed so many now had given up. She had already heard a couple of her colleagues which she never saw had already packed up and given in.

“For pony’s sake…”

She repeated it again, but this time put the vial she had been staring at down gently. Too easy to let your levitation spell off early and see it smash on the bench as it fell those last few inches down. Her weary eyes were beginning to droop as she yawned. She would have to continue her work tomorrow, there was nothing a tired brain could do this late, especially with that awful weather distracting her outside as the rain still crashed against her window. A quick report as was needed daily then off to bed.

‘Day 54. Work continues on the formula, like many others I am vexed about the taste issue…’