“And thus began nearly two months of constant trials, questions, pokes, and prods,” Rarity continued. “That damnable tech priest was relentless, barely giving me enough sleep before demanding I take part in another test.”

“How cruel,” Fluttershy whispered.

“Yeah, maybe these tau guys aren't the best,” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“But I thought that thing was a machine person which isn't a tau?” Spike offered, scratching his head. “I’m getting confused here.”

“I explained this before remember? The tech priest was a former member of the imperium of man, who became a member of the tau,” Rarity replied.

“Oh right. There's just a lot of names, and stuff getting thrown around,” Spike murmured.

“No kidding. Croatlids, tau, humans, alien empires. I feel like I need an encyclopedia just to know what's going on,” Sweetie Belle muttered.

“I don't like the sound of these humans. Despite a few working with the tau they seem… cold,” Luna remarked.

“You are lucky if you find one that is simply cold. The majority of them are intensely xenophobic and would sooner kill you than ask the time of day,” Rarity answered.

Luna frowned. “To think that the stars would be filled with so much hatred. Disappointing.”

“It's a dark, and grim place,” Rarity added.

“Surely there were some good things?” Pinkie Pie prompted. “It couldn't have all been bad, right?”

Rarity hummed to herself. “I suppose there were moments of levity, and even a few times where I was able to use my special talent.”

“Really? Did tall dark and cold ask you for a makeover?” Applejack asked with a smirk.

Rarity scoffed. “I wish. I’m not sure what was a worse crime. What they did to me or what they wore.”

“So, tell us of these times of levity. I do believe that a bit of good cheer is needed,” Luna offered.

Rarity’s parents along with the rest of the room’s inhabitants nodded as well.

“I suppose so,” Rarity admitted. “I will tell you a short tale about how I came to know Ardith. It all began after the first week of testing had come to an end, and-”

Rarity grasped the edge of her bed and heavied with all the strength she had left in her body. Though the effort was titanic, the pony was able to pull herself up onto the thing and lay sprawled out. Her horn smoked gently, and every muscle in her body screamed at her, almost as much as her brain screamed that she was a mess.

The urge to groom herself was only beaten by just how completely exhausted she was. However, the sting of her most recent string of tests left her unable to drift off into pleasant unconsciousness. So she lay there, staring at the ceiling and trying to conjure images of home in her mind in a desperate bid to ward off the feeling of loneliness.

“I wonder what Sweetie Belle is up to right now,” Rarity muttered to herself.

It was then that she noticed that she could hear voices coming over the speakers. Though distant, they were audible, indicating that someone had accidentally clicked the microphone on and had forgotten about it. Seeing an opportunity, Rarity turned her head to where she knew the thing sat, and where I-V S3I/H8T usually stood.

The towering cybernetic creature was not there, instead, there was a young human clad in the robes of a junior scientist. Only one among many of the hooded beings Rarity had seen through the glass, the human didn't seem to have any distinguishing features. Then she noticed the red eye visible just beneath the female’s cowl, its light following after her hands as she cleaned the bank of cogitators.

“Well hello there darling,” Rarity called.

The scientist paused and looked up at the pony, head cocked slightly to the side.

“Yes, I was indeed greeting you,” Rarity answered. “I hope you are doing well this evening, or at least I think it's evening.”

There was a moment of silent confusion before the young scientist leaned forward and spoke into the microphone.

“It's actually morning,” answered the untranslated voice of the woman.

Rarity grinned. “Well that's good, I think.”

The researcher went to disable the microphone, only for Rarity to beat her to it.

“Hold on a moment darling. Why don't we chat a little bit hmm? You can even continue working while we talk,” Rarity interrupted.

“That is… acceptable,” came the reply over the speakers.

Yes. Rarity thought to herself.

“Well, you know my name darling so why don't we begin by you telling me yours,” Rarity offered.

“It is best not to tell a psyker your name, lest they curse you,” answered the woman.

Rarity rolled her eyes. “You know very well that I am not capable of such a thing. Now, don't be impolite darling.”

There was a moment of hesitation before the human replied. “Ardith. My name is Ardith,” she stated.

“Tell me about yourself Ardith. What do you do around here, hmm?” Rarity pressed.

“I will not give you any information on my position or the station,” declared Ardith.

Rarity sighed. “Then don't. I am not asking you to. I am simply inquiring about you as a person. Surely you can tell me about… your favorite color?”

“Mauve,” came the response after a short confused pause. “It reminds me of my home world and the flowers that grew outside our home.”

“That's wonderful darling. I myself am rather fond of violet, though I’ve yet to find a shade of purple I have not enjoyed. Unlike yellow, so many unpleasant shades of that color,” Rarity remarked, sticking out her tongue in disgust.

“I suppose so. Though at last, it is not brown,” the woman pointed out.

Rarity chuckled. “Very true.”

“And so began a friendship that would begin rather standoffish, but would help to make my confinement at least a little more pleasant,” Rarity explained.

“I assumed she warmed up to you in time?” Fluttershy pressed.

Rarity nodded her head. “Oh yes. She may have been a tech priest as well, but unlike that overgrown spider, Ardith had not started replacing her brain with metal parts.”

“That can't be good for ya,” Applejack murmured.

“Yes, that does seem like a bad thing,” Rarity’s mother remarked.

“I don't know. If I could put a calculator up there that would really help me with work,” Added Rarity’s father.

“Or maybe some kind of radio transceiver,” Twilight muttered, mostly to herself.

“Though useful, I’d advise caution in that field,” Rarity warned. “I don't know which came first, but the head biologist became quite a cruel and calculating taskmaster.”

“Well it's not like that technology is anywhere close to real, at least in Equestria…” Luna paused and turned to Twilight. “Right?”

“Oh yes it would take decades if not centuries for such advancement to come about and thats assuming it's even biologically possible for us in the first place,” Twilight answered.

“Regardless,” Rarity interrupted, sitting forward in her seat. “I learned much of the tau, humanity, and the galaxy at large from Ardith. Though the companionship helped keep me sane, it was not to last I’m afraid.”

“What happened?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“Don't tell me that spider dude messed everything up,” Rainbow Dash remarked with a scowl.

“I will tell you,” Rarity replied. “You see it had been about two months since I had awoken in that damnable box when-”

Rarity lay on her back, forelegs extended toward the ceiling. Above her danced an illusionary copy of herself, one that had been able to bath, trim her mane, and the like. The real Rarity, the one made of flesh and blood was nothing like the duplicate above her, as she was a mess. Her mane had grown long and unruly, her coat shaggy, and worse still, she stunk.

With a sigh, she let the magical copy fade after it had completed its final pirouette. It felt nice to be able to use such a draining spell and barely feel winded, but that thought brought little relief. Though magically stronger than ever, she still didn't know any more spells then she had since she got here.

The click of the microphone signaled the arrival of… someone, prompting Rarity to glance over at the usual spot. There stood a familiar, and thankfully pleasant face, one that wasn't more metal than flesh.

“Good morning Rarity,” greeted Ardith.

“Oh it's so good to see you, darling,” Rarity paused and narrowed her gaze, her vision now so used to the lights that she was able to peer past them with relative ease. “I see you took my advice in doing your mane, er hair I should say.”

“Yes it looks quite lovely, I must say,” Ardith admitted, running a hand through her brown locks. “And to think it would take such little effort.”

“I told you a little bit would go a long way,” Rarity remarked, rolling onto her chest and pushing herself up. “So, how did the date go, it seems like it went well. What with that spark in your one fleshy eye.”

Ardith giggled, a hand going to her cheek. “Oh, Rarity you can read me like a book. And yes, it did indeed go well. I didn't think that they would allow a human to court a tau, what with all their rules but here I am.”

“Tell me all about it,” Rarity gushed, hopping off the bed and walking up to the glass barrier. “Did Varah appreciate the candle-lit dinner you had all setup?”

“She loved it,” Ardith admitted, pausing to giggle. “At first she thought it was a human intimidation tactic but after I explained things she seemed genuinely thrilled. We even set up another date for tomorrow night, and she’s planning the whole thing.”

“And your verbiage? Not still struggling with those propositions I’d hope,” Rarity pressed.

Ardith shook her head. “No, I practiced it for hours the night before. Though I may not be able to pronounce some of the more complicated tau words like you seem able to, it was apparently quite endearing.”

“That's better than bad,” Rarity countered.

“I was hoping for romantic, but I can take just not being laughed at. That language is no joke. I wish everyone spoke binaric cant,” Ardith confessed.

“Yes, wouldn't that be convenient?” asked a new, and unfortunately familiar voice. “Unfortunately for subject thirty-two, it seems as though her vocal cords are too complicated for our implants.”

Rarity scoffed at the towering spider-like cyborg that stalked out of the gloom of a nearby doorway. “I would never allow my perfect singing voice to be mangled by one of your silly implants. No offense Ardith,” Rarity hastily added.

“A shame. Perhaps then you would be something approaching useful,” I-V S3I/H8T remarked. “For as of right now you are much like junior researcher Ardith Mordain.”

“I’ve completed every work order given to me, head biologist,” Ardith retorted.

“I should rephrase that,” remarked the large cyborg. “You have outlasted your true usefulness as a ploy to gain more information from our guest.”

“Ardith? Really darling? I trusted you,” Rarity exclaimed.

“I was never told to do that. I swear,” Ardith professed.

“She is telling the truth. I had merely left the microphone on, and manipulated her duties so that Ardith was nearby,” I-V S3I/H8T admitted. “It didn't take much prompting for you two to hit it off as it were.”

“So that's why you mentioned that speaking to Rarity was not grounds for punishment,” Ardith murmured.

“I had hoped that a quote-unquote friendlier face would help garner more actionable intelligence from the subject. Unfortunately, that has not been the case,” I-V S3I/H8T exclaimed, their sharp, spider-like limbs carrying them around the much smaller, much less augmented human. “And now you will assist me in another test.”

“Wait a moment. Surely she could just be transferred elsewhere. I’ve been told this is a rather large facility,” Rarity interjected.

“Y-yes,” agreed Ardith. “Why I overhead sector five mention that-”

“Silence,” I-V S3I/H8T interrupted. “It is already decided. You will assist in testing subject thirty-two in a more vigorous manner than in previous.”

“What exactly are we testing for anyway?” Ardith inquired.

“We will find out if my hypothesis on the stability of equine psykers is indeed correct,” I-V S3I/H8T answered.

The color drained from Ardith’s face, while Rarity merely looked on in confusion.

“What do you mean? Of course, I’m stable. We established this what… thirty times already?” Rarity pressed.

“Though exceptionally resilient to the corruptive influence of the warp, no creature can truly be utterly free of its taint,” I-V S3I/H8T explained. “All we need to do is push.”

“But if you are correct you could destroy the entire facility, nevermind kill the subject, and likely myself as well,” Ardith retorted.

“We have taken the necessary precautions to ensure that will not happen,” I-V S3I/H8T stated. “Furthermore, the future of project wayfinder depends on these tests.”

“Project whatnow?” Rarity inquired.

“Project Wayfinder,” I-V S3I/H8T corrected. “Which aims to use your unique warp powers to aid in the creation of a new breed of navigators. Of course, that will take years, decades even, and would require the acquisition of many more of your kind but that is a concern for another time.”

“What is-” Rarity tried to ask.

“Silence,” I-V S3I/H8T barked. “I will not be taking any questions at this time. My patience has worn thin and I am eager to test the validity of my theory.”

“What would you have me do?” Ardith asked head bowed in subservience.

“Go to the loading port, and wait there. I will transmit my orders once you have readied yourself,” I-V S3I/H8T replied.

“Ardith, you can't do what this thing says. I just know they are planning something terrible,” Rarity pleaded.

“I serve the omnissiah, not you. Subject thirty-two,” Ardith shot back.

With that the human walked away, exiting through a side entrance and vanishing from sight.

“How dare you,” Rarity began, rising up onto her back legs and jabbing a hoof at the cyborg on the other side of the glass. “Ardith did nothing wrong and doesn't deserve to be a part of whatever sick game you have going on.”

“She is a cog in the machine, as are we all. Even the tau,” I-V S3I/H8T remarked. “We all serve to grease the great gears of progress, either with the sweat of our labor or with our blood.”

“What are you talking about?” Rarity demanded. “What does that have to do with anything, and what is this strange project you mentioned?”

I-V S3I/H8T didn't initially respond, the cyborg visibly distracted for a moment before turning back to Rarity. “You see,” they began, limbs clasped behind their back. “The tau move about the galaxy without the risks inherent in warp travel, but although safer, the method is not nearly as fast as traversing that other realm.”

“What is-”

“Silence!” screeched I-V S3I/H8T, their face lighting up for a moment to reveal their mostly metal features. “Do not mistake this as a discussion, or conversation. I am merely using you as a sounding board for my own thoughts. Now then… where was I?”

I-V S3I/H8T straightened and continued to pace. “Ahh right. The tau sunlight travel is good, but it could be better. Reproducing the necessary components such as Geller field generators and the like is nearly impossible, however. But-” I-V S3I/H8T held up a metal digit. “But what if there was a way to bypass this necessity by utilizing the organic Geller field generator that is that silly little horn poking out of your head.”

Rarity looked up at the ivory appendage curiously.

“With the proper augmentations, and preparations we may be able to reproduce the power of the navigators. Only without all the madness, and instability that comes with a mortal mind brushing against the warp,” I-V S3I/H8T remarked, not even speaking in Rarity’s direction for the most part. “All we need to do now is find out just what happens when one of you equines breaks.”

“But if you kill me you won't be able to run any more tests!” Rarity exclaimed.

“We can always put you back together again, and if we can't. Well, we have more than enough biological material in storage that we could simply clone more of you,” I-V S3I/H8T replied.

Rarity stood there aghast, jaw hanging open.

“Aww good. Your new playmate is ready. Lower her into the containment cell and ready the containment protocols,” I-V S3I/H8T barked, their voice turning into a mix of weird, harmonic static at the end.

The pony fell back onto all fours and turned to look up at the large square set in the ceiling where the mechanical arms always emerged from. Sure enough, it had already pulled back into the ceiling, allowing one of the manipulator limbs to descend alongside a familiar figure. Ardith held onto the mechanical arm, riding it down into Rarity’s enclosure, where she stood near the center, a dour expression on her face.

“Ardith! Oh, thank goodness you are okay. After you disappeared I feared the worst,” Rarity professed.

The human didn't respond, at least not with words. Instead, they tossed a metal bar at Rarity, the hunk of pipe rolling across the ground and coming to a halt a few feet away from the pony.

“What is this?” Rarity muttered.

A burst of static drew Rarity’s attention back to her tormentor, and head of biological research.

“Commencing test number one hundred and thirty-six,” I-V S3I/H8T began. “Subject thirty-two will now engage in combat with a junior researcher. This final stress evaluation should bring about more than enough evidence to sell this idea to tau upper command.”

“Combat, but I can't-” Rarity muttered.

I-V S3I/H8T ignored the pony’s murmurings. “Test begins in three, two, one, begin!”

Author's Note

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