Discord Space

Two guards stood to either side of a large bulkhead. It had been primed to close. They were probably waiting for the order to seal off the royal deck from the rest of the ring. "Hey, you really think we're gonna make it out of this? I mean, isn't Applejack one of the old Elements?" The second guard shrugged from his relaxed position, leaning against the wall.

"I heard she's got a Changeling on their team, damn scum. Yeah, I think we'll make it out alright. But I wouldn't mind crushing another bug before we go." Two shots came out from the darkness. One drove right through the first guard's head to leave a nasty hole that a straw could be poked through cleanly. The other pulled the second guard's shoulder out, bringing him down to the ground.

"Funny, I enjoy crushing bugs too." A nano-fibre protected hoof crushed his head down to the metal with a firm stomp. "Though it seems that we have different opinions on what defines a bloodsucking monster." Shade retrieved the security key from his corpse while Applejack rushed in to get the other. There was no question about killing living ponies now. Twilight had rearranged the security teams before to ensure she had her own compliment of loyal soldiers.

Applejack had mixed feelings about Shade's obvious aptitude with military weapons. Two very clean and deadly shots from a semi-automatic rifle. "It's all clear Plasma. Let's get through before they close it down on their end." She made a swift break for the corridor from her hiding spot inside a cleaner's cupboard. Applejack nodded to Shade, both of them swiping cards at either side to activate the door controls. A few twitchers came close, none of them making it through before the bulkhead sealed.

"-eached the bulkhead. Moving in to set up defence perimeter. Request permission to destroy tramlines into research lab. Out." Applejack couldn't catch the sender's frequency, but at least they had caught that vital piece of information. There was nothing about a research lab with tramlines on the map though, and she certainly didn't see any signs of one near the government ring while outside in space.

She checked again to be absolutely sure. Nothing. "I don't get it, they could have easily kept it off any of the maps available, but surely we'd be able to see it." The others had become fixated on looking through one of the inner windows. "Girls, I swear there's nothing-" Right before her eyes, a giant column seemed to materialize right out of space inside the ring. "-there."

One of them at least recognized just what was going on. "Cloaking technology. They must've stolen and adapted it from Changeling vessels to hide the lab. Whatever it is they're hiding must be generating incredible energy to power it." Three of the tramlines in view exploded before their eyes. The fourth presumably was either out of sight, or being spared for the rest to retreat into the lab.

"There goes our path to the lab. Unless..." Applejack pulled up the map again for them to see. "Typical protocol says to take all maintenance vessels to the safest dock. There should be a few with powerful kinesis tethers..." Beneath the cyan glow of her helmet, a smile was growing. Plasma caught onto her idea with no hesitation on protesting. "To quote a cliché, we might just be able to bring them to us."

Shade backed away from them both. "Whoa whoa. That thing must weigh millions of tons. You really think the government ring can withstand an impact that heavy, even at a mere kilometre an hour? And what about just flying in?" Applejack was on the move again towards the royal docks by then. "You know, this is a stupid plan! But what the Tartarus, we're probably going to die soon anyway. Come on Plasma, let's follow her."

She was in full gallop after going back to her normal pose. Good thinking Applejack, pave the way for the necromorphs to charge in and wreak Chaos on the lab. Soon, you'll have all the answers you wanted, and the game will end. I promise. The royal deck was completely free of carnage. No scrawls in blood, no body parts lying around. There was plenty of luggage strewn about from the panicked evacuation however.

Things looked far worse in the docking bay. A few ships had been destroyed by collisions, probably during the power failure. Four of the kinesis shuttles had survived. "Great, we'll jump in one each. You two take the sides and keep it stable, I'll do the pulling. They did cover moving giant objects with these things in my course, just so you know." By now, she was eager to carry out her plan. It had to work, if the lab had cloaking technology, it would undoubtedly have anti-spacecraft defences too. That wouldn't stop them from merely walking over though.

The others were only just entering the dock by the time she lifted her shuttle off the ground. Both front hooves controlled two separate kinesis 'cannons' that moved freely from the front. "Trust me, this will work. I bet Twilight's in the lab, it seems to be the most reinforced part of the entire station. And remember, this is the last thing I'm asking of you." She had little doubt in her mind that she wouldn't be walking out of the lab. Given how much energy it had to be producing, an explosion would destroy the whole station, and any necromorphs they missed.

"If you say so AJ." The trio of shuttles flew out into space in a line. Shade was quick to work out their trajectory. "There's a reinforced dock there in government sector. I'd say that's the best place to crash this into." Soon, all three were in formation above the government deck. One of the tramlines ran between the dock mentioned, and a heavy bulkhead on the lab itself. A clear shot inward.

"Alrighty then, get ready." Three sets of kinesis tethers locked firmly onto the hull of the lab. Shots hadn't been fired at them, yet. "Activating reverse thrusters, full strength... now!" If they hadn't seen her before, they certainly wouldn't have to look hard now. Four engines burning off at once would produce a notable heat signature, and a lot of visible light. Applejack had to activate the sun visor on her helmet to keep her sight intact.

But the idea was working. With the others providing balance, and extra pull, they were successfully pulling the huge structure back towards her. "What the hay are you doing Applejack!? You cannot open the way for those things to get in here. If they manage to trigger Convergence, Discord will-" This time Applejack didn't cut Twilight off. More likely she was thrown about as the lab complex slammed hard into the government ring. Several minor explosions around the edges conveniently fused the twisted and torn metal together into a rough seal.

"We can celebrate when we get back to the dock. I'd rather not stick out here longer than necessary." While flying back, she could already see necromorphs making their way around the other side of the ring, through the founder's deck. Tell you what Applejack, as a reward for your diligence, I will return one of your respawns. Only this time, you won't have to die. You'll simply recover all of your health and move on, simple as that. Oh, and I've unlocked the unicorn cruiser for your friends. They'll make it back to Equestria safely, you have my word.

She touched down in the dock with a building level of joy. At last, the chance to undo the damage done, and save the last survivors of the outbreak. Plasma had already gotten out and hurried over, Shade soon joined them. "Well, here we are girls. That cruiser there will take you back to Equestria. Just stick around long enough for my last transmission, then get as far away as possible. I'm gonna make sure nothin's left of this station."

Two hooves were thrown around her neck at that moment, not severed ones to her relief. "There's always a chance you'll make it out though, right? I mean magic does wonders, even for earth ponies." Her helmet folded away to feel Plasma's cheek against hers. Possibly the last contact with another living being she'd ever have. That was why she couldn't leave after all. It was up to her to ensure that Equestria had a future.

As she slipped away to attend to the ship, their changeling friend stepped forward. "Applejack. Might I say that, before today..." She paused to swallow what could have been pride. "I saw ponies as nothing more than murderers, concerned only for their own kind. You opened my eyes, I won't forget that. Should we meet again, you have my full support." A glimmer of a smile formed on Applejack's face as she held her hoof out. It was met with a shake, one not just of friends, but also of resolving differences.

"Take care of yourself Cope. Tell Equestria what happened here. And please... don't let them make me into some sort of a hero. I never was that comfortable with being in the spotlight and all." This time, the long stare between them wasn't born out of animosity. Something had occurred to Applejack, something that she could see in the slitted green eyes of the one changeling she had befriended. "Maybe we will meet again. Optimism and Dedication, a good pair."

Shade didn't understand her last statement, nor did she feel the need to. "I take it that this last transmission of yours will be Twilight's head? If so, I don't think that I need the confirmation myself. I trust you to keep your word. Goodbye." She moved to join Plasma on the ship with that. Applejack was left there on the deck by herself, no longer afraid of what was to come. Her loss of sanity would be gone soon, the end awaited her.

"Indeed it does Applejack." She turned to see Discord standing there once more. "My original promise still stands, you can still choose to not destroy the station, and survive. It is too far from Equestria to do any real harm." Maybe earlier in the day, she would have doubted his word. But by her own admission, sanity was becoming a memory with every second. Living on a station full of dead ponies, or being blown up with it all. The options didn't seem so one sided any more. At least with one of them, she could pretend her friends were still alive.

Her helmet closed up for what could very well have been the last time. "I'll think about it. If the necromorphs stop trying to kill me, then maybe. But right now, I have to kill Twilight." His goatish face formed an evil grin a split second before he vanished. "Hey Twilight? Remember when I refused your help with apple buck season? You never gave up, and I'm not going to either. I suggest you start writing your will, because I'm coming."