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- Chapter 1: http://pastebin.com/TTsirrt6
- >You are sitting at the bar waiting for Silver to return.
- >She needs to get Diamond Tiara's buy in for the next part of your plan.
- >Gilda wasn't at Applebloom’s biopod, so you need to attack Sweetie Belle's frigate.
- >You see Silver approaching.
- >It doesn't look like she has good news.
- >”Diamond isn’t here.”
- “Why can’t you authorize it?”
- >Silver frowns at this.
- >”We make all of our decisions together.”
- >You can tell from her voice that it’s a lie.
- >Silver Spoon has always played second fiddle to Diamond Tiara.
- >”She’ll be back tomorrow.”
- >You decide to change the subject.
- ”You did well out there.”
- >Silver blushes slightly.
- >”You’re just being nice.”
- >There were a few hairy moments.
- >Silver needs to practice using her tractor beam.
- “No, I mean it.”
- >”Thanks.”
- ”Let me buy you a drink. What’s your poison?”
- >”Cider.”
- >Cider’s going to be a lot more expensive soon.
- >You should buy a few crates.
- >It’ll be easy money now that Applebloom can’t produce anymore.
- >You wave over at Gustav.
- ”One synthol, and a cider for Silver.”
- >He quickly places drinks in front of you.
- ”Cheers.”
- >She clinks her glass against yours.
- >As usual, the synthol is rough.
- >But you like it that way.
- >It reminds you that you’re alive.
- >”I never thanked you for saving me.”
- ”You’re talking about the mining thing?”
- >”Yeah.”
- >That was a few months ago.
- >Why is she bringing it up now?
- “I didn’t think three against one was a fair fight.”
- 1/10
- >”But you didn’t have to do it.”
- ”They weren’t freelancers like you or I. They should have realized that you were trying to run.”
- >You take a sip from your drink.
- “They were just run of the mill mercs who thought they could make some money.”
- >”So you didn’t do it because… nevermind.”
- >You raise an eyebrow at Silver.
- “I didn’t take you for the kind of girl who liked to reminisce.”
- >She doesn’t answer.
- “I know we've fought more often than not, but things can get complicated out here.”
- >You think back.
- >You were returning from a mission from Captain Spitfire.
- >She needed some dirty work handled, but she couldn’t break the treaty with the Griffon Kingdom.
- >
- >”I’m picking up some ships,” Gilda informs.
- “Anyone we know?”
- >”One of the Stargazers, the other three I can’t identify. Probably griffon mercs.”
- >Diamond doesn’t work with mercs.
- “We should check it out. Send the coordinates to my screen, and start charting a course.”
- >Gilda presses a few buttons, and green dots illuminate your monitor.
- >You roll the ship to head toward them.
- >”Why? It’s probably nothing.”
- “We’re just going to take a peek.”
- >”Your intuition is kicking in again?”
- “Yeah. How’s the calculation going?”
- >Gilda pushes aside the navcomputer, and buckles in.
- >”It’s ready.”
- ”Do it.”
- >
- >When you arrive you see Silver Spoon’s ship fighting three light fighters.
- >She’s trying to escape, but one of the ships is trailing close behind her.
- >The two others fly on either side, as if waiting for her to turn.
- ”How’s her shields?”
- >”Hard to say. Maybe 60%”
- >Green plasma bursts create a rainbow of light as they explode against her shielding.
- >Silver turns her ship sharply to her right, but her move puts her right in front of a wingman merc.
- 2/10
- >The mercenary releases two cluster missiles and Silver’s auto-lasers spring to life.
- >They shoot down about half of the bomblets.
- >There are too many and some explode against her shielding.
- >A few more sneak through the battered field and hit her ship.
- >Silver dives as the third ship moves to meet her.
- >She spins to dodge more plasma bursts and is barely able to avoid the attack.
- >Her ship returns fire erratically.
- >”She’s panicking.”
- “I’ve seen enough.”
- >You hail the merc ships, but they don’t open their communicators.
- >Looks like they only understand one thing.
- >Gilda doesn’t wait for instructions and pulls out the combat computer.
- >Fighting in space is an art.
- >Computers can help, but they are predictable and their attacks are easy to dodge.
- >You have to lead a ship and any change in direction will upset the computer’s calculation.
- >A person is much more likely to anticipate a pilot’s flight pattern.
- >With Gilda handling the turret you focus on piloting the ship.
- >Silver sees you and flies past your fighter.
- >You fly to meet her pursuers.
- “Let’s play chicken.”
- >”Don’t do it, Anon. Our shielding won’t be able to handle that.”
- >You ignore Gilda.
- >She’s always too conservative.
- >A fighter turns to meet your charge.
- >You pull your trigger to fire as the other pilot does the same.
- >The plasma bursts pass each other and slam into your shielding.
- >He isn’t turning.
- >You push the thrusters to maximum.
- >You take several deep breaths as the other pilot continues on a collision course with your ship.
- “He’s actually going to do it…”
- >At the last moment the merc pulls away.
- >Claxons spring to life.
- >Shields down.
- >Fucker scraped his shields against yours.
- >You jerk the joystick to follow him, but he pulls too hard and crashes into some debris.
- >The monitor flashes brightly before focusing on a different ship.
- 3/10
- >As you turn another merc flies to meet you.
- >The ship shudders against his plasma bursts.
- “FUCK!”
- >Your armor plating won’t be able to take another salvo.
- >A high chirp indicates that shields are back online.
- >As he overshoots you, you pull to turn the ship behind his.
- >He anticipates this and reverses course to meet you.
- >The two ships fly in a scissors formation like spiraling dragons.
- >Each turn is sharper than the last.
- >Gilda fires the turret and weakens his shielding.
- >He tries to break away to avoid more damage, but it gives you just enough room to pull behind him.
- >You fire another plasma burst and the pilot ejects.
- >The third ships breaks away from his fight with Silver and uses his tractor beam to rescue his comrade.
- >You watch as they fly away.
- >There isn’t any point in pursuing them.
- >Your monitor springs to life and you see an angry Silver Spoon.
- >”I can take care of myself, Anon!”
- >The screen flickers off, and Silver jumps into subspace.
- >”Nice girl.”
- ”Yeah.”
- >
- >Back at Fair Haven.
- “Why wasn’t Diamond there?”
- >”We tried to run. She was able to jump into subspace, but I wasn’t fast enough.”
- >Silver taps her glass a few times nervously.
- >”Let me buy the next round.”
- >You wave a hand to say no.
- ”That’s alright. You don’t need to thank me.”
- >You think for a moment.
- ”Actually, you can. Get Diamond to agree to send some ships with me tomorrow to rescue Gilda.”
- >”That’s a tall order. Do you –“
- ”No, I only have a few chits left, and I promised to spend that on anti-matter.”
- >”We don’t work on credit.”
- ”You know I’m good for it.”
- >A minute passes in silence.
- ”Anyway, I need to get some rest. I’ll see you tomorrow?”
- >”Maybe.”
- 4/10
- >
- >It’s a short stumble back to your ship.
- >You don’t want to rent a room until your navigator can do the same.
- >It’s sort of a self-imposed punishment.
- >You don’t mind sleeping in Juno.
- >Her leather chairs can fully recline.
- >You’re careful not to treat her like a home, though.
- >Things would get messy.
- >Juno was designed as a cross between a heavy fighter and a light cargo ship.
- >The Griffons only used them for 10 years or so.
- >Newer models were created to fight against the Equestrian Navy.
- >Now these ships are a common sight in the Neutral Zone.
- >The door easily opens.
- >You are pretty sure you locked it.
- >”Hello, Anon.”
- >You turn to the voice.
- >It’s Scootaloo.
- ”How did you get in here?”
- >She smiles at this.
- >”Shorted out your panel. You really should get that upgraded.”
- >She flies the same class ship as you.
- >No doubt she has all the latest upgrades.
- “Thanks for the head’s up. I’ll get a mechanic to price it out tomorrow.”
- >You continue facing her.
- >One hand is looking for your hidden blaster.
- >”Looking for this?”
- >Scootaloo pulls out your gun with a mechanical hoof.
- >Her robotic limb gleams in the light.
- >Though her hooves usually look like a solid piece right now it's seperated into four sections.
- >That probably makes it easier to hold things.
- >She carelessly throws it behind her.
- “You thought of everything, didn’t you?”
- >Her raises herself with her robotic hind legs and takes a step toward you.
- >She’s nearly your height now.
- “I appreciate you dropping by, but I have to get some sleep.”
- >”You can sleep all you want in my ship, Anon.”
- >Another step forward.
- >Now you have to make a decision. Fight in your ship, or chance it out on the dock.
- ”No thanks.”
- 5/11
- >You try to punch her but she easily grabs your arm.
- >You lash out to kick her but she catches that with a hind leg.
- >Your hand rotates to grab her and you throw your weight down.
- >The motion easily flips her over you.
- >Scootaloo quickly scrambles back up.
- >You dash toward the blaster, but she’s too fast.
- >Two hooves grab you and slam you to the ground.
- >She's standing over you now.
- >”Get up.”
- >You take this chance to look around for something, anything that you can use as a weapon.
- >Your bag is in the corner of the ship, but there is no way you can get the knife out in time.
- >Still you try.
- >You push against the ground to jump toward your bag.
- >A hoof grabs you and pulls you back toward Scootaloo.
- >You swing again at her, but she’s too fast and easily catches your hand.
- >Another hoof grabs your elbow and you feel your arm being wrenched.
- ”No! Don’t do it!”
- >”Do what, Anon?” She says sadistically.
- >Her hooves again jerk your arm, and you can feel your tendons stretching.
- ”Don’t break my arm.”
- >”Just like you didn’t break my legs?”
- >Fuck.
- “AAAaaagggghhh!”
- >Her motion is quick and you can feel pieces of bone ripping apart muscle.
- >She lets go, and you move to cradle your arm.
- ”You crazy bitch!”
- >She just laughs.
- >”What about this one?”
- >She grabs your right leg and you try to kick her off.
- >Every motion sends sharp pain up your arm.
- >”Still feisty?”
- ”I’ll go, alright? I’ll go!”
- >She grabs your shirt and pulls you up.
- >”Com’n we’re going to my ship.”
- >You slowly let her take you away.
- >All you can do is cradle your arm.
- >
- >It’s a long flight.
- >Scootaloo doesn’t bother chaining you up.
- >She knows that you won’t be able to fight her off in your condition.
- 6/11
- >Maybe she gets a kick out of knowing that you can’t possibly beat her in single combat.
- >You open your shirt and snap the bottom button to the third from the top.
- >It’s difficult with one hand, but well worth the effort.
- >The makeshift sling helps keep your arm in place.
- >Still, you are careful not to make any sudden movements.
- >Scootaloo doesn’t offer any pain killers, and you don’t ask for any either.
- >
- >”What happened to his arm?” Sweetie Belle asks.
- >”It was the only way.”
- >Sweetie doesn’t look happy, but she doesn’t chastise her friend.
- >”How bad is it?”
- “It’s bad.”
- >She frowns.
- >”Follow me.”
- >The loading dock is fairly large for a frigate.
- >You could easily park four fighters here.
- >Maybe five if you were willing to accept some scratches.
- >Cerberus class frigates are truly beautiful ships.
- >Equestrian craftsmanship is far superior to the Griffon’s.
- >Ponies easily blend form and function.
- >Griffons just want their ships to work.
- >They spend very little effort on aesthetics.
- >As you walk down the corridor with Sweetie, you try to make a mental map.
- >The engine room is directly next to the loading dock.
- >Next are a few mechanical rooms.
- >They are unmarked, but you assume they are either environmental or for the servebots.
- >Restrooms and crew quarters are next.
- >Finally you arrive at a small medical bay.
- >There are two beds and a single examination chair.
- >A servebot is charging against the wall.
- >All servebots are easily distinguished by an insignia showing their specialty code.
- >You can tell this one specializes in medicine by its articulated hands and the white badge with a red cross.
- >It also has improved optical sensors.
- >It’s possible to have any servebot perform any function.
- >All it really takes is installing a new control module.
- >Their replaceable nature quickly made them ubiquitous.
- 7/11
- >It takes a moment for this one to wake from hibernation.
- >”Have a seat, Anon,” Sweetie says.
- >The servebot moves toward you.
- >”[Request] State nature of visit.”
- “I have a broken arm.”
- >The servebot scans you before stuttering to a halt.
- >”[Statement] Subject not recognized.”
- >You should have expected this.
- ”Treat me like a griffon.”
- >The servebot makes a few chirping noises before returning to the examination.
- >Its small digits quickly undo your sling.
- “Fuck, be careful.”
- >The servebot makes no verbal response, but its motions are now slower.
- >It lightly moves your arm into position before scanning.
- >”[Diagnosis] Broken limb, arm, right, multiple fractures.”
- >It scans again.
- >”[Recommendation] Inject 20cc Hydropriaxzine. Apply regeneration splint.”
- >”[Query] Do you accept treatment?”
- “Yes.”
- >The servebot goes to the backroom to retrieve the supplies.
- >You want to ask why Scootaloo didn’t just get her legs fixed, but you stop yourself.
- ”Is Gilda alright?”
- >”She’s fine, Anon. We treated her very kindly. I didn’t want you to be upset.”
- ”You should have taken me.”
- >Sweetie frowns at this.
- >”We should have,” she concedes, “and, you shouldn’t have blown up our biopod. It’ll take a while to get a new one. We’ve both made mistakes.”
- >The servebot returns and injects you with Hydropriaxzine.
- >It’s a localized analgesic and your nerves quickly calm down.
- >With the pain gone the servebot easily fits the regeneration splint.
- >It goes past your elbow and locks your arm at a ninety degree angle.
- >As the servebot fills the splint with blue fluid you turn to Sweetie again.
- >Her look of concern has changed to uncertainty.
- >”[Statement] Refrain from sudden movements. Return in one week for splint removal.”
- >The servebot returns to its charging station.
- >You move your arm cautiously.
- 8/11
- >Pain only returns when you try to form a fist.
- >”How do you feel?”
- “Much better. Can I see Gilda now?”
- >”Soon enough, Anon.”
- >She motions to you to follow her.
- >You both continue down the corridor.
- >The crew mess is the next door you pass.
- >The next looks like a recreation room.
- >Finally you arrive at Sweetie’s quarters.
- >This is the moment you have been dreading since you were forced into Scootaloo’s fighter.
- >”Do you want something to drink? Some cider perhaps?"
- ”No, thank you. I don’t think alcohol and pain killers mix.”
- >”You won’t mind if I have some,” she says as if she is telling you, not asking.
- >She pours herself a glass and magics it over to her nightstand.
- >Sweetie takes a seat on her bed and motions for you to sit next to her.
- >”I’ve waited a long time for you, Anon. Can’t you see that we are perfect together? I can handle anything with you at my side.”
- ”I’m sure we would Sweetie, but that can never happen."
- >”Why not, Anon?”
- “If you hadn’t forced yourself on me, then maybe one day I would have come around. But any chance for that is long gone.”
- >”Just think about it for a moment.”
- >She takes a sip from her glass before leaning against you.
- >”All of this could be yours. All you have to do is be mine.”
- >You shake your head.
- >Sweetie frowns at you.
- >She places the drink back down on the nightstand.
- >”Think about your friend. You wouldn’t want us to hurt her, would you?”
- >This girl is insane.
- “No.”
- >”Good. Now we are getting somewhere.”
- >She smiles widely and nuzzles into your chest.
- >Her magic forces your left arm to hold her.
- >She’s soft.
- >”We can do this the easy way, Anon. We’ll be one big happy family. I think you will even enjoy it.”
- >She lays back and motions for you to lay next to her.
- >It would be easier to just give up.
- 9/11
- >You tried your best, but it wasn’t good enough.
- >You move to lay next to Sweetie.
- >”I know you’re hurt, so I’ll be gentle this time.”
- >She lays her head against your chest, and her magic removes your pants.
- >You close your eyes.
- >
- >When she finishes with you, she has a servebot take you to the brig.
- >She wants you to think about your new place in life.
- >”Is that you, Anon?”
- “Gilda?”
- >”Yeah.”
- >The voice is coming from the cell next to yours.
- >Instead of bars, a force field keeps you locked away.
- >”I knew you would come for me you cocky bastard.”
- >At least she’s in good spirits.
- >”Of course you would pretend to get caught.”
- “Gilda.”
- >“You always had a thing for theatrics, but leaving me here for seven days? Com’n I’m not that bad.”
- “Gilda.”
- >“You smuggled in some explosives didn’t you?”
- “Gilda!”
- >”What?”
- “I was caught, alright?”
- >”Gustav always said you were full of shit.”
- >Her cell's force field buzzes loudly.
- >She probably kicked it.
- >She has some anger issues.
- “I know."
- >”Anon, we can still do this. We just need to think.”
- >You hear her claws grinding on the floor as she slumps down.
- >”Who caught you? Scootaloo?”
- “Yeah.”
- >”She got me too.”
- >You don’t know how to break it to her.
- >No one is coming for you, and neither of you will be missed.
- “It’s over... We’ve lost.”
- >
- >
- >Be Silver Spoon at Fair Haven.
- >Anon isn’t at the bar.
- >Maybe Gustav knows where he is.
- “Is Anon still here?”
- >”He should be. His ship is still in the dock,” Gustav says without looking up.
- “Thanks.”
- >You get up to visit Anon.
- >You hope your mane looks alright.
- >When you arrive at his ship you knock on the door.
- >No response.
- “Anon?”
- >Still nothing.
- >You undo the latch and ask again.
- “Anon?”
- 10/11
- >You enter to find a disheveled ship.
- >There was obviously a fight here.
- >Anon doesn't have any enemies besides the CMC.
- >Theres a few drops of dried blood next to his bag.
- >You take a closer look.
- >Beside it are multiple dents in the old metal.
- >You place a hoof beside it.
- >It almost looks like a hoof in four pieces.
- >Scootaloo.
- >He was probably beaten here.
- >You have to save him.
- >
- >"Absolutely not. We had a deal with Anon and we finished it.”
- ”Di, when we first started we said that we would make all the decisions together.”
- >You slam a hoof against the table.
- “Instead you decide everything. Why can’t you just listen to me one time?”
- >”I do listen to you. You always go along with what I think.”
- “That’s just to be nice.”
- >Diamond slinks in her chair.
- >”Anon is nothing.”
- “He isn’t. When you left me in the lurch Anon was the only one there to help me.”
- >”It’s suicide. There is no way I’m going out against a sixth rate!”
- “Just once I want you to trust me!”
- >”I’m not doing it.”
- >You quickly finish your drink and slam it down.
- “Fine, I’ll go by myself.”
- >You get up to leave.
- >”Wait, Anon isn’t worth it.”
- >You frown.
- “Anon saved me once. I owe him.”
- >”Then buy him some synthol next time you see him. It's like you have a crush on him or something."
- “No I don't!”
- >Diamond frowns.
- >Diamond is your best friend, but you have never told her how you feel.
- >You were mean to him when he saved your life.
- >It’s the least you can do.
- “I do,” you say without looking at her.
- >Diamond sighs.
- >”Am I going to regret this?”
- >There is a time to speak and a time to be silent.
- >You don’t respond.
- >Diamond sighs heavily.
- >”Get our ships ready.”
- fin
- 11/11
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