private After Destiny

[1Bit 1,531]

A small cough escaped from Amber's tiny chest and she started breathing much louder as the thin air of the ship began to pass through her mouth instead of her nose. Her eyes flashed open and the veins that surrounded the retina were bloodshot to no end. Her vision, while fuzzy, was just able to make out a red pony looking over her as well as a dozen others. The smile she gave was very faint, but still just visible as she felt herself fading in and out of conscious. Celestia, why does it hurt so much?! My-- C-chest... As soon as she became very conscious of her breathing, it only made matters worse. Each breath she took became faster and faster until she was effectively hyperventilating. Panic spread across her, and she looked around at the shadowy figures that loomed above her, trying to say something. Anything!

 

"M-Morph...M-Morphine.."

[Unicorncob 5,675]

The red pony turned to Solar "Your suit! Solar, your suit! Your suit has basic diagnostic scanner, it won't find anything big like a rare disease but it's a start right? Those features in my suit are currently disabled, it would take some time to calibrate after decades of non-use. But your suit should have them already enabled!" She thought to herself 'I really hope she knows how to use it'

 

"Wait, it can do that?" Solar muttered, blinking with curiosity, and fished the cube out of her saddlebag. She pressed the button and felt the familiar sensation of the suit covering her body perfectly.

 

"...eww, sweat," She muttered in her tinny voice, "Remind me to wash this out."

 

...still smells like Amber though. Can't complain.

 

She raised her ankle and clicked through the PC, choosing some options. With some tinkering, she indeed found a diagnosing scanner. "Sweet, it can do that!"

 

She scanned Amber carefully, and the screen displayed the results.

"It says she's suffering from some kind of withdrawal," she explained, "it also picked up traces of... morphine."

[Mario3D13 167]

A small cough escaped from Amber's tiny chest and she started breathing much louder as the thin air of the ship began to pass through her mouth instead of her nose. Her eyes flashed open and the veins that surrounded the retina were bloodshot to no end. Her vision, while fuzzy, was just able to make out a red pony looking over her as well as a dozen others. The smile she gave was very faint, but still just visible as she felt herself fading in and out of conscious. Celestia, why does it hurt so much?! My-- C-chest... As soon as she became very conscious of her breathing, it only made matters worse. Each breath she took became faster and faster until she was effectively hyperventilating. Panic spread across her, and she looked around at the shadowy figures that loomed above her, trying to say something. Anything!

 

"M-Morph...M-Morphine.."

 

"Wait, did she just say morphine?!? Tuesday, pull up all info you have on morphine!" "Right away, sir. According to the data, morphine is a pain killer for moderate to serious pain with a high risk of dependency." 

 

"Wait, it can do that?" Solar muttered, blinking with curiosity, and fished the cube out of her saddlebag. She pressed the button and felt the familiar sensation of the suit covering her body perfectly.

 

"...eww, sweat," She muttered in her tinny voice, "Remind me to wash this out."

 

...still smells like Amber though. Can't complain.

 

She raised her ankle and clicked through the PC, choosing some options. With some tinkering, she indeed found a diagnosing scanner. "Sweet, it can do that!"

 

She scanned Amber carefully, and the screen displayed the results.

"It says she's suffering from some kind of withdrawal," she explained, "it also picked up traces of... morphine."

 

His heart skipped a beat. "No...you mean, she was addicted to that stuff?!?"

[Chaton 3,765]

"Wait, it can do that?" Solar muttered, blinking with curiosity, and fished the cube out of her saddlebag. She pressed the button and felt the familiar sensation of the suit covering her body perfectly.

 

"...eww, sweat," She muttered in her tinny voice, "Remind me to wash this out."

 

...still smells like Amber though. Can't complain.

 

She raised her ankle and clicked through the PC, choosing some options. With some tinkering, she indeed found a diagnosing scanner. "Sweet, it can do that!"

 

She scanned Amber carefully, and the screen displayed the results.

"It says she's suffering from some kind of withdrawal," she explained, "it also picked up traces of... morphine."

 

A small cough escaped from Amber's tiny chest and she started breathing much louder as the thin air of the ship began to pass through her mouth instead of her nose. Her eyes flashed open and the veins that surrounded the retina were bloodshot to no end. Her vision, while fuzzy, was just able to make out a red pony looking over her as well as a dozen others. The smile she gave was very faint, but still just visible as she felt herself fading in and out of conscious. Celestia, why does it hurt so much?! My-- C-chest... As soon as she became very conscious of her breathing, it only made matters worse. Each breath she took became faster and faster until she was effectively hyperventilating. Panic spread across her, and she looked around at the shadowy figures that loomed above her, trying to say something. Anything!

 

"M-Morph...M-Morphine.."

 

"Morphine! We need morphine! Medics, please find some morphine! We can get her off it later, but for now we need to fix this!" She then realised that Amber probably kept a cache somewhere. She cast a quick spell on Amber and opened it up to find anything with traces of her person. Skipping past Solar who showed up very clearly on the spell, she found a black and white bag with CAMs written on the side. "I think I found her bag! She much have a cache in here!"

[Unicorncob 5,675]

 "Morphine! We need morphine! Medics, please find some morphine! We can get her off it later, but for now we need to fix this!" She then realised that Amber probably kept a cache somewhere. She cast a quick spell on Amber and opened it up to find anything with traces of her person. Skipping past Solar who showed up very clearly on the spell, she found a black and white bag with CAMs written on the side. "I think I found her bag! She much have a cache in here!"

 

"Got it!" Solar nodded, and sped for the black and white bag. She grabbed it and rushed back over, fishing out the morphine needle, "Time to save a life."

 

A cute life.

 

Dammit Solar, stop, Not the time.

 

She gently craned Amber's neck and injected the morphine into it, hoping she would calm down.

[Chaton 3,765]

"Got it!" Solar nodded, and sped for the black and white bag. She grabbed it and rushed back over, fishing out the morphine needle, "Time to save a life."

 

A cute life.

 

Dammit Solar, stop, Not the time.

 

She gently craned Amber's neck and injected the morphine into it, hoping she would calm down.

After a moment, Amber stopped shaking as much. Scarlett also calmed down on the inside. "All right, this is good. She won't recover instantly, she'll need some time. I think we should find her a bed. Specter found a bunch of rooms earlier, and they're all quite large. There are more than enough to house everyone."

[1Bit 1,531]

After a moment, Amber stopped shaking as much. Scarlett also calmed down on the inside. "All right, this is good. She won't recover instantly, she'll need some time. I think we should find her a bed. Specter found a bunch of rooms earlier, and they're all quite large. There are more than enough to house everyone."

 

More coughing. Always coughing. Why was her throat so dry? Oh sweet celestia, my head... Her thoughts became much more coherent, her sense returning ever so gradually. She felt incredibly woozy though, the edges of her vision a cloudy black. "W-what...?" Her voice was croaky. Why was it so croaky? And where did these bright lights come from? "H-how...?"

[Mario3D13 167]

After a moment, Amber stopped shaking as much. Scarlett also calmed down on the inside. "All right, this is good. She won't recover instantly, she'll need some time. I think we should find her a bed. Specter found a bunch of rooms earlier, and they're all quite large. There are more than enough to house everyone."

 

At that, Lightning let out a HUGE sigh of relief. At least she'll live, he thought. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to talk to her after she's come to. 

 

More coughing. Always coughing. Why was her throat so dry? Oh sweet celestia, my head... Her thoughts became much more coherent, her sense returning ever so gradually. She felt incredibly woozy though, the edges of her vision a cloudy black. "W-what...?" Her voice was croaky. Why was it so croaky? And where did these bright lights come from? "H-how...?"

 

"Scarlett, if you don't mind, I'll find her a bed. Solar, wanna help? Amber seems to feel more comfortable around you." He winked at Solar as he said that. 

[Chaton 3,765]

Scarlett nodded to the science pony next to her and said "You two find her a bed, I'm going to go and process the calcite into a usable liquid that we can use it to filter the air. I'm not abandoning you guys, I just think we should be able to breath first. Keep me updated please."

 

She went for a walk in the ship to the main air treatment cylinder, and began working.

[Unicorncob 5,675]

At that, Lightning let out a HUGE sigh of relief. At least she'll live, he thought. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to talk to her after she's come to. 

 

 

"Scarlett, if you don't mind, I'll find her a bed. Solar, wanna help? Amber seems to feel more comfortable around you." He winked at Solar as he said that. 

 

Scarlett nodded to the science pony next to her and said "You two find her a bed, I'm going to go and process the calcite into a usable liquid that we can use it to filter the air. I'm not abandoning you guys, I just think we should be able to breath first. Keep me updated please."

 

She went for a walk in the ship to the main air treatment cylinder, and began working.

 

Solar nodded and helped Amber onto her hooves as gently as possible. "C'mon buddy, up you get..."

 

She helped Lightning escort her friends into one of the crew cabins, and set her gently down on the bed.

"There we go," she muttered, then looked at Lightning, "I can keep an eye on her, thanks."

[Mario3D13 167]

Solar nodded and helped Amber onto her hooves as gently as possible. "C'mon buddy, up you get..."

 

She helped Lightning escort her friends into one of the crew cabins, and set her gently down on the bed.

"There we go," she muttered, then looked at Lightning, "I can keep an eye on her, thanks."

 

"Okay. Uhh, you wouldn't mind letting me know once Amber is awake, would you? I need to talk with her, with both of you in fact. Thanks." As he walked away, he said to his onboard AI, "Tuesday, start looking for ways to counter opioid addiction." "Right away, sir." And so, Lightning trotted off to see how Scarlett was doing with the calcite.

Edited January 27, 2016 by Mario3D13

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,024]

@, 

 

Sapphire watched whatever happened with some of the others with a bit of confusion, she carried on regardless getting out her radio. "Well that was interesting, everypony hurry up and find what the doc wants us to get get a move on." Putting the radio away looking to Crystal, "you too lass."

---

"yes ma'am." with that Crystal and the others continued their searching for the various sands they required for the scientist teams, and one by one found what they were looking for and passed back through the gate, until there was Sapphire, Crystal, Flame, and the two guards at the gate.

---

"one of the mares said that there was a lot of the sand we need over there behind that hill." Sapphire pointing to a sand dune, "once we fill up our bags we can get back to the ship, come on ponies." 

[1Bit 1,531]

Amber's head felt...better. Still hurt. Definitely still hurt. But still...better. She slowly lifted herself up, acknowledging the softness that surrounded her and realising she was in some kind of crew quarters. Her head darted from left to right, horrid memories of what had transpired coming back in flashes. I-I crashed...? No no no no no! I can't have crashed! It hasn't been that long since my last injection~ w-was it? The thoughts tormented her as she lay there Oh goddess', what must they think of me? Ugh, stupid move Amber! Stupid! Her ears flicked when she heard a pony stirring beside her, and she could make out the form of Solar beside her.

 

"S-Solar...?" Amber blushed, hiding herself under the covers so that only the top half of her face was showing. "W-what are you d-doing here?"

[Unicorncob 5,675]

Amber's head felt...better. Still hurt. Definitely still hurt. But still...better. She slowly lifted herself up, acknowledging the softness that surrounded her and realising she was in some kind of crew quarters. Her head darted from left to right, horrid memories of what had transpired coming back in flashes. I-I crashed...? No no no no no! I can't have crashed! It hasn't been that long since my last injection~ w-was it? The thoughts tormented her as she lay there Oh goddess', what must they think of me? Ugh, stupid move Amber! Stupid! Her ears flicked when she heard a pony stirring beside her, and she could make out the form of Solar beside her.

 

"S-Solar...?" Amber blushed, hiding herself under the covers so that only the top half of her face was showing. "W-what are you d-doing here?"

 

"Well, to be specific," Solar answered, sounding incredibly relieved that her friend was forming complete sentences again, "I'm being close to soiling myself because a good friend of mine just had a drug withdrawal fit."

 

She put a hoof gently onto Amber's forehead, checking her temperature. "Are you okay now?"

[1Bit 1,531]

"Well, to be specific," Solar answered, sounding incredibly relieved that her friend was forming complete sentences again, "I'm being close to soiling myself because a good friend of mine just had a drug withdrawal fit."

 

She put a hoof gently onto Amber's forehead, checking her temperature. "Are you okay now?"

 

"Oh tartarus..." She groaned in disbelief, slamming her face into the pillow. "Ugh, I SUCK. I'm so s-sorry you had to see all that...I thought I was within my limits..."

 

She let Solar check the temperature, although she felt much cooler than she had been. "Well, I guess I'm better. Definitely not all spick and span, happy happy daisies and rainbows." She smiled weakly, grunting in pain. "But if you hadn't acted when you did, it could have been a whole lot worse." She shuddered, feeling ill again. But this time, at her own lack of control

[Chaton 3,765]

Scarlett finished her preparations with the Sodium Calcite. She had filtered out the normal sand with her magic and put the pure powder into the cylinder, along with a large amount of water. It was now a 5hin paste, and she lifted it up in her magic and slotted it into the socket in the wall.

 

As she pushed it in, the panel came down over it and a gently whirring sound could be heard from within. A meek 10 seconds later, cool fresh air began blasting through all the vents as the ships way of reverting back to a good level of oxygen. "Oh that feels so good" Scarlett said to herself as she slumped against the wall and relaxed with the new air being pumped around the ship.

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,024]

"Sapphire we should get more ponies to come through and get more sand."

---

"That is a good Idea Crystal go get the others to come back and more stuff to carry it more satchels and such."

---

With that Crystal went back through the portal and came back dumped her own satchels and looked to the ponies in the gate room, "we need more ponies to carry the sand through please ponies." The other volunteers dropped their gear and followed again with empty satchels dumping the sand in a pile in a corner of the room. More ponies followed through as they came back they went to the various spots and gathered more of the sand they were after and soon a trail was being formed as ponies ferried the sand to and fro. 

[Unicorncob 5,675]

"Oh tartarus..." She groaned in disbelief, slamming her face into the pillow. "Ugh, I SUCK. I'm so s-sorry you had to see all that...I thought I was within my limits..."

 

She let Solar check the temperature, although she felt much cooler than she had been. "Well, I guess I'm better. Definitely not all spick and span, happy happy daisies and rainbows." She smiled weakly, grunting in pain. "But if you hadn't acted when you did, it could have been a whole lot worse." She shuddered, feeling ill again. But this time, at her own lack of control

 

"Hey, as long as you're all calm now," Solar assured her, putting her hoof back down and smiling at her friend, "You had me scared back there, thought the suit was giving you heat stroke or something."

 

She removed the suit again and placed the cube in her bag. "If you don't mind me asking... morphine? How did that happen?"

[1Bit 1,531]

"Hey, as long as you're all calm now," Solar assured her, putting her hoof back down and smiling at her friend, "You had me scared back there, thought the suit was giving you heat stroke or something."

 

She removed the suit again and placed the cube in her bag. "If you don't mind me asking... morphine? How did that happen?"

 

There was a long pause. Amber hadn't really told anyone about her morphine issue, fearing it would cause more problems than it would do good. Possibly even threatening her position as a soldier. But why bother now? It's only Solar...you trust her right? 

 

"U-um..." Amber's voice was incredibly quiet, almost squeaky, as if she was struggling to get the words out at all. "At Corbulo, they ran us through so many training exercises and live-fire missions, I-I must have got injured three or four times a week. And y-you know...these weren't anything small, meant I often had to be drugged up on m-morphine-" She bit her lip even saying it. Morphine felt like a dirty word now. "-just for them to put the stitches in. I guess t-that it happened so much, I began to develop a...dependency on the stuff. Even if the injury was s-small, I'd want morphine, I--" Her voice broke, as the first few tears appeared. "I was just so weak." She raised her left hoof, attempting to dry the tears and sniffling. "I was so weak." She looked up at Solar with giant, wet eyes, shaking where she lay.

[Unicorncob 5,675]

There was a long pause. Amber hadn't really told anyone about her morphine issue, fearing it would cause more problems than it would do good. Possibly even threatening her position as a soldier. But why bother now? It's only Solar...you trust her right? 

 

"U-um..." Amber's voice was incredibly quiet, almost squeaky, as if she was struggling to get the words out at all. "At Corbulo, they ran us through so many training exercises and live-fire missions, I-I must have got injured three or four times a week. And y-you know...these weren't anything small, meant I often had to be drugged up on m-morphine-" She bit her lip even saying it. Morphine felt like a dirty word now. "-just for them to put the stitches in. I guess t-that it happened so much, I began to develop a...dependency on the stuff. Even if the injury was s-small, I'd want morphine, I--" Her voice broke, as the first few tears appeared. "I was just so weak." She raised her left hoof, attempting to dry the tears and sniffling. "I was so weak." She looked up at Solar with giant, wet eyes, shaking where she lay.

 

Solar bit her lip, feeling rather bad that she'd asked such a personal question. What the hell was Corbulo, and why the hell would they treat her so badly that she'd get hooked on drugs that she could OD on?!

 

If I ever see this place, I'll give it a piece of my mind. And by mind, I mean a hoof to the face.

 

She put a hoof on her friend's shoulder, offering her a soft smile. "Girl, you're anything but weak. You handle yourself really well on your own, and you kept it together better than most of us did earlier. You're awesome, Amber. Don't forget it."

 

Her ears flicked as a whirring sound started above her, and she felt the cooling breeze of fresh oxygen flow onto her.

"Oooh, fresh air," she purred, closing her eyes contentedly for a moment before looking at her friend, "Here, get some of that into your system."

[1Bit 1,531]

Solar bit her lip, feeling rather bad that she'd asked such a personal question. What the hell was Corbulo, and why the hell would they treat her so badly that she'd get hooked on drugs that she could OD on?!

 

If I ever see this place, I'll give it a piece of my mind. And by mind, I mean a hoof to the face.

 

She put a hoof on her friend's shoulder, offering her a soft smile. "Girl, you're anything but weak. You handle yourself really well on your own, and you kept it together better than most of us did earlier. You're awesome, Amber. Don't forget it."

 

Her ears flicked as a whirring sound started above her, and she felt the cooling breeze of fresh oxygen flow onto her.

"Oooh, fresh air," she purred, closing her eyes contentedly for a moment before looking at her friend, "Here, get some of that into your system."

 

"Oh please...I wouldn't even be alive right now if it wasn't for you." She paused, blushing. "F-for the second time. Sweet Celestia, I've had to rely on you TWICE now to save my sorry skin!" She groaned in frustration, falling back down to the bed and staring up at the ceiling with a melancholy gaze. "How c-can you even say I'm awesome after all that?" She was incredibly thankful for everything Solar had done, but she still struggled to believe the pegasus' words. Even though they did truly warm her heart and put butterflies in her stomach. "I-I just..." She didn't really know what else to say, a little groggy, a little meh, but at least she was alive. So instead, she just brought Solar in for a hug. Nothing too tight. She didn't have the strength for it. But it was a hug nonetheless.

[Unicorncob 5,675]

"Oh please...I wouldn't even be alive right now if it wasn't for you." She paused, blushing. "F-for the second time. Sweet Celestia, I've had to rely on you TWICE now to save my sorry skin!" She groaned in frustration, falling back down to the bed and staring up at the ceiling with a melancholy gaze. "How c-can you even say I'm awesome after all that?" She was incredibly thankful for everything Solar had done, but she still struggled to believe the pegasus' words. Even though they did truly warm her heart and put butterflies in her stomach. "I-I just..." She didn't really know what else to say, a little groggy, a little meh, but at least she was alive. So instead, she just brought Solar in for a hug. Nothing too tight. She didn't have the strength for it. But it was a hug nonetheless.

 

"Oh c'mon," Solar sighed, smiling and returning a gentle hug to her friend, "You can't be Supermare all the time. Besides, you've talked me out of a few funks, and you have no idea how thankful I am for that."

 

She took a few moments silence to appreciate the hug, and how warm and fluffy Amber's coat was. It made her tail flick with happiness just to feel it.

[1Bit 1,531]

"Oh c'mon," Solar sighed, smiling and returning a gentle hug to her friend, "You can't be Supermare all the time. Besides, you've talked me out of a few funks, and you have no idea how thankful I am for that."

 

She took a few moments silence to appreciate the hug, and how warm and fluffy Amber's coat was. It made her tail flick with happiness just to feel it.

 

"I-- thank you. Thank you so much." She felt one or two tears drop from her muzzle, as she brought the hug in further, scrunching her eyes shut. Holding Solar in her hooves made everything seem...right in the world. Like she never wanted to let go. There was plenty of times as a filly she'd had the odd crush or two, but nothing like this. Oh gosh, why am I blushing again?! Keep it cool, Amber...cool! "You don't understand how much it means to me to hear you say that." She whispered quietly

[Unicorncob 5,675]

"I-- thank you. Thank you so much." She felt one or two tears drop from her muzzle, as she brought the hug in further, scrunching her eyes shut. Holding Solar in her hooves made everything seem...right in the world. Like she never wanted to let go. There was plenty of times as a filly she'd had the odd crush or two, but nothing like this. Oh gosh, why am I blushing again?! Keep it cool, Amber...cool! "You don't understand how much it means to me to hear you say that." She whispered quietly

 

"Hey, don't sweat it," Solar whispered, hugging her friend a little tighter with a smile, "What're friends for, right?"

 

...hopefully we'll be more than just friends. Oh c'mon Solar, is this really the time?

 

...maybe it is...?

 

"If there's anything else on your mind," she went on, "Don't be scared to tell me."

[1Bit 1,531]

"Hey, don't sweat it," Solar whispered, hugging her friend a little tighter with a smile, "What're friends for, right?"

 

...hopefully we'll be more than just friends. Oh c'mon Solar, is this really the time?

 

...maybe it is...?

 

"If there's anything else on your mind," she went on, "Don't be scared to tell me."

 

"W-what? U-um..." Her blush deepened, staring up at Solar with a look of almost complete shell-shock. She searched Solar's eyes for answers...anything! "Anything else on...m-my mind..." 

 

Was there anything I want to tell Solar?

 

Of course there is! And you know it!

 

But that isn't what she means! You've made enough of an idiot out of yourself for one day Amber, don't screw even more stuff up!

 

Well she'll find out anyway! Have you even see how much you're blushing right now, girl?

 

B-but...agh! You're unbelievable!

 

No, you are!

 

You are!

 

I am so gonna smash your face--

 

Amber shook her head. Thinking was definitely not going well in the current situation. "Uhh..." She looked up at Solar. She blinked. Two blinks. Three blinks.

 

Before common sense got the best of her, she moved in and locked lips with Solar. She didn't care anymore. Screw it.