For the Homeworld

I was back in my apartment looking over the data from the latest failure in the nude with flute playing in the background. Trying to de stress a bit. In my hand was a tablet as I try to come up with a far better processor. My favorite music playing in the background. I was fiddling with the design when I heard my doorbell chime.

“Who is it?”

“Hey cus, can I come in?” I recognized the voice of my cousin Cloud Seeker.

“You can come in.” my door opens and a pegasus mare with grey fur with sky blue mane and tail walked in and took a look at me.

“Wow, that bad huh?”

“It barely lasted a minute before frying.” Cloud winced.

“Ouch, that is bad. And you worked weeks on that design.”

“I know the only silver lining is that copies of it can be used on other projects and ships.” I sighed and looked at my tablet. “The core is just so complex nothing we have made can handle it. Not sure of we can in time.”

“That is a pickle…hhhmmmm.” I tapped away at my next design as my cousin thought. After a few minutes Cloud spoke up again. “Now I may not be a genius..”

“That doesn’t make you dumb.” I interject.

“Buuuuuut I remember school said we only use a fraction of our brains potential, so what if you base your processor off a brain?” I open my mouth to comment but then I thought about what she said. Could it be possible? I switched over to a scan of the core. Ever since it was discovered we have been studying it and scanning it with all the tools we have. While some things are beyond our understanding we have learned a lot. I closely look at the scans and things she had missed before were becoming clear. I had a lot of work to do. They proposal was finally finished who knows how many hours later.

* * * * * * * * *

I sighed as my cousin got lost in her work. It happens on occasion when she gets an idea in her head. I have learn that you can’t do anything to get her out of it. So I will come back later and make sure she eats something.

* * * * * * * * *

I worked on my plans double and triple checking my math. Everything was lining up to work. It will mean great sacrifice but it would be for the future of them all. I nibbled on the food Cloud made for me. Learned long ago that of I just eat they will not bother me as much then if I outright refuse it. I had to organize my findings to present to my boss. Got up grabbing my tablet and started heading for the door. Then I realize was still nude so I quickly threw an outfit on and headed to work.

When my boss allowed me into his office the pegasus stallion took one look at me and said. “Care, you look horrible. Did you get any sleep?”

“Not recently, but thanks to my cousin I think I found the solution to the core problem.” I handed over tablet to him and looked it over. At first his face was neutral then as he read on his eyes got bigger his eyes got. He then looked up at me.

“You’re serious about this?” I nodded in reply. “okay, let me get this straight. You think a pony connecting directly to the core?”

“Yes, it’s the only solution I can think of and scans of the core show that may have been the intent all along. The latest processor barely lasted a minute. By the time we could make one to take the load it be way too late for us. This is the only solution I see for us.” My boss sighed and looked at my tablet again.

“You do know that any pony asked to do this may be stuck in the core permanently.”

“I know thus it will be me.”

“You?”

“Yes I can’t ask anypony else to make that kind of sacrifice.” He sighed and copied my data to his own tablet.

“I will run it by medical before taking it to the council. Till I hear back go home and rest. You have done your part for now. Let me do mine.”

“Got it.” I said with a nod and headed home.

* * * * * * * * *

Two days later I was summoned to the council chambers. I put on my best dress and did up my mane and headed out. The council chambers were semi dark since only small slits of windows were allowed. The rays of light silhouetted the rulers of the various nations that form our alliance. My boss was next to me as we stood before them.

“So Dr. Sager, you have proposed a solution to the problem with the core.” My country’s leader said.

“Yes ma’am I have. I believe to be the only practical solution we have.”

“And have the doctors looked over the data?” The zebra councilor asked. My boss answered for me.

“I had them look it over. Everything checks out. They found some gel when it was first discovered and they ran checks over it. That gel can sustain organic life as far as we can tell.”

“As you can tell?” Another council member spoke up.

“Councilor, were dealing with technology far more advance then ours so a lot of what we do is guesswork.” My boss replied.

“And frankly we don’t Have time to be completely cautious. Our world is becoming less hospitable as time goes on. We have to take risks.” The councilors looked at each other.

“So we should start looking for someone to sacrifice for all of us.” I stepped forward.

“I will be the one to enter the core. I can’t ask anyone else to do this without offering myself.” They looked surprised at my response.

“Doctor, you do vital work for the planet.” One councilor started but I interrupted them.

“Which can be done by others. I hope with my knowledge of computer systems I can merge easier then anyone else.” The Councilors looked at each other.

“The council will consider this, you may go.”

* * * * * * * * *

Days later we got the approval and I hosted a party with my family to let them know my choice. Using a communal party area in my dome they heard my choice. Some were very angry at my choice, some sad, and some supportive. My cousin sat next to me.

“Care, you better keep in contact with me. I don’t care you are part of a machine you are still my cousin.”

“Will try. Not sure how it will be when I am part of it.”

“Fair enough.” I gave her a friendly nudge. And she smiled back at me. I looked away and saw my brother speaking with one of my sisters. They were smiling talking about their respective families.

They both had two kids between them while my other sister had one. Said kids were in the play area. My parents were enjoying some snacks. They had a big talk earlier in the party. They asked why I was doing this and was I sure of this choice. I told them why and yes I was. There was sadness in their features which was understandable. My life as we knew it was going to end. So they hugged me and let me spend time with the rest of the family. Through out the night I chatted with my family. It was a happy memory I treasure.