open Mechquestria: My Life As A Equine Robot (00110010)

[captainborgue 343]

@@captainborgue,

 

Drone smiled as they crossed the street together, he listened to her talk. He liked the sound of her voice for some reason, and her quirky nature, not to mention she was kinda cute, even if half of her face was metal. He thought about what Angel said, and she was right. Maybe it was better if he didn't lie.

 

They arrived to the coffee shop and he pulled out her chair for her, letting her sit down first. He then sat across from her and smiled at her, "So, how long have you had your enhancements?" he asked her, he didn't know if it was a sensitive subject for her, but he wanted to know quite badly.

Bee stifled a giggle as Drone pulled out her chair. It was a little gesture, but it bespoke of a kind of respectability that she didn't often encounter. She opened her mouth to speak, but VLAD- who had been unusually quiet so far- chimed in before she could respond.

 

"VLAD HAS BEEN IN OPERATION FOR NINE YEARS, FIVE MONTHS, SIXTEEN DAYS, FOUR HOURS, AND- that's enough, VLAD, he gets it. Just... monitor network traffic for a while or something, why don't you!" Bee said, exasperated. Much to her surprise, there was no protests or rebuttals as VLAD dutifully disappeared from her active consciousness. Her ocular implant blinked a soft red as VLAD switched on the wi-fi receivers and got to work.

 

"Yeah, so... that long. It's not so bad really, though I often wish my dad hadn't given VLAD vocal controls. It was his pet project, designing an AI construct, but he needed something to run all my cyber ware and didn't trust coding to do the job, so he installed his experimental AI construct. And for the most part, VLAD works really well. It's just... quirky, I guess," Bee said, before ordering her coffee. Extra large with caramel, four sugars, and whipped cream.

 

"So if you don't mind me asking, why were you frozen? I mean, most of the 'freeze somepony with an illness until a cure is found' type diseases were cured years ago. Are you training to go into outer space? Because that would be amazing! I've always been curious about it, but even if I had the chance just... No. I like my gravity," Bee said, giggling.

Edited March 3, 2016 by captainborgue

[Randimaxis 8,652]

@reader8363

 

Twitch awaited a response, yet Grant gave a start as he was asked about the scans of that sphere from earlier.

 

Okay, a copy for the guard... no problem; I can look at my own copy while they check that one out.

 

A panel popped open on Twitch's left side, and a thin arm extended out from it, the caliper-like hand gripping a datadisc - it was about the size of a Terran nickel, but could hold a ludicrous amount of information, and was near-indestructible due to its thick casing and sealed-system access ports.

 

It was also technology that was close to a century old; Grant hoped Shadow could read it.  

 

The arm extended out towards Shadow, the diskette waiting for him to take it.  Once the disc was taken, the arm shot back into Twitch's chassis and the panel snapped shut.

[reader8363 1,281]

@@Randimaxis, 

Shadow said as he placed it in a portal, 
"Thanks, It might come in handy in my journey."

With the money I get from the jobs, I can get willing test subject to find out all the it does.

 

Feeder finished up the body and the legs, he quickly put in the wires through the whole body and a power source. the animal turned on and started running around the room. 

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

Emerald was still in a huff having had her prized weapon taken away from her.

 

Crystal sat quietly next to Twitch, she wanted to leave and get back on with her life and study and help Twitch get into school and make his transfer to his machine body, she did not want him to die she rather liked him both his quirky physical appearance but the thing inside...the human on the other side she just wanted to get in his head and chat to him but that may not happen for some time she thought, she sighed and continued to sit next to him.

[Aurora Lights 206]

@@captainborgue,

 

Drone nodded as he listened, he ordered a mocha latte with extra whip cream and chocolate sprinkles. Drone drank a sip of his drink before he started talking, "Well...I was frozen because of who I am...Or rather, What I am. I don't know why they froze me and I don't know what they did to me while I was frozen. I was frozen because I am a literal super soldier. I can live forever, I am stronger, faster, and smarter than almost anypony in the world. I was created 85 years ago. Of course I don't remember what they did to me, nor how I ended up in this city, But I do know one thing. I hate the ones that did this to me." he said the last words softly, as if a seething and burning hatred and anger was festering inside of him.

 

He looked into Bee's eyes and started to feel his anger subside slowly. He then started talking again, " But anyhow, I'm sorry that you had to have that AI forced into you, and that you had to have those enhancements in the first place." he sighed softly and took a sip of his drink once more, "I was introduced to my implant a long time ago. About 60 years ago in fact. Though, of course I've been upgrading and updating the software and hardware ever since. Then came the armor. It basically came with the implant. I've made it my duty to use that armor for good." he looked at his latte a moment before he sighed softly and rested his head on his hoof before looking at Bee once more, " Anyway, I suppose your wondering how all that armor and my weapons fit into suck a small area. Simple, I use a small Void Matrix to digitize the materials and such and store it into the memory of this implant. It's pretty cool really." he said and smiled at her softly.

[captainborgue 343]

Drone nodded as he listened, he ordered a mocha latte with extra whip cream and chocolate sprinkles. Drone drank a sip of his drink before he started talking, "Well...I was frozen because of who I am...Or rather, What I am. I don't know why they froze me and I don't know what they did to me while I was frozen. I was frozen because I am a literal super soldier. I can live forever, I am stronger, faster, and smarter than almost anypony in the world. I was created 85 years ago. Of course I don't remember what they did to me, nor how I ended up in this city, But I do know one thing. I hate the ones that did this to me." he said the last words softly, as if a seething and burning hatred and anger was festering inside of him.

 

 

Bee's one organic eye widened. "A super soldier? I can't even imagine. You have every reason to hate whoever made you into their personal plaything," Bee said, taking another sip. "I know you just woke up and all, but it may be a good idea to see a therapist. It did wonders for me when I first was... augmented. Hate isn't an easy thing to carry," Bee added, softly laying her organic front hoof next to his. "Good to see that there is more to you than just that, at least. Maybe you could find a hobby or something? I'm not sure what a century-ish old stallion would find entertaining. Though if you don't mind my saying, you are very handsome for a stallion your age," Bee said, with a coy smile. Or at least, what she hoped was a coy smile. Facial expressions were hard to really get a feel for, since part of her face was mechanical.

He looked into Bee's eyes and started to feel his anger subside slowly. He then started talking again, " But anyhow, I'm sorry that you had to have that AI forced into you, and that you had to have those enhancements in the first place." he sighed softly and took a sip of his drink once more, "I was introduced to my implant a long time ago. About 60 years ago in fact. Though, of course I've been upgrading and updating the software and hardware ever since. Then came the armor. It basically came with the implant. I've made it my duty to use that armor for good."

"It's all right. It wasn't anypony's fault, it was just an accident. An unpleasant one, sure, but an accident nonetheless. Aside from some... awkwardness, it's mostly good to be alive. There are a few things I have to cope with that other ponies don't, but don't we all? Everypony has a struggle nopony else can understand. Everypony has some kind of weirdness. I've gotten pretty good at dealing with mine, and I have a lot of weirdnesses. I mean, I study bugs," Bee said, leaning in closer and whispering conspiratorially.

he looked at his latte a moment before he sighed softly and rested his head on his hoof before looking at Bee once more, " Anyway, I suppose your wondering how all that armor and my weapons fit into such a small area. Simple, I use a small Void Matrix to digitize the materials and such and store it into the memory of this implant. It's pretty cool really." he said and smiled at her softly.

"I knew it! Well ok, I didn't really know, but I had guessed it was something similar. That's ten different flavors of badass, right there," Bee exclaimed excitedly. "Though I can't help but wonder... I mean, there has to be somepony that is, or was, looking for you. Family or friends or, you know, special someponies out there. Are you going to go look for them? Or are you going to go all clean slate? I can understand both positions, really. I just can't even imagine... five years? And if you don't mind my asking, you say you were created 85 years ago... what do you mean by created? I mean, I don't want to pry into any painful memories or anything, and if somepony designed you in a lab they did a really good job on your aesthetics. Seriously Drone, you are quite the fetching example of maleness," Bee said, feeling herself flush. "from a purely academic standpoint, of course. An objective determination based upon your physiological characteristics and their perceived desirability in a cultural context. Yeah..." she stammered, before trailing off and furiously slurping her drink as the hot flush of blood crept up her face. Or the organic half, anyway.

 

"ORGANIC IS SAYING YOU ARE PHYSICALLY APPEALING AS A POTENTIAL PART- STOW IT, VLAD! I wasn't insinuating anything of the sort!" VLAD started to say, though Bee cut it short before it could go into loudly calculating genetic compatibility for the purposes of creating offspring to the entire bucking shop.

 

"ORGANIC IS LYING" VLAD blurted quickly, before switching back to monitoring the school's network again. Bee was about as embarrassed as she could remember being, and renewed her concentration on her cup.

Edited March 3, 2016 by captainborgue

[Aurora Lights 206]

@@captainborgue,

 

Drone listened to her talk about therapy and hobbies as he sipped on his latte, blushing lightly at her end comment before answering, "Thank you, and Well, I do have my hobbies. I fix things. I let all my frustrations out by finding something broken and making it better. That's my therapy." he said softly before she continued talking.

 

Drone smiled and shook his head softly, "Weird is a matter of opinion. Personally I find your weirdness quite charming and cute. " he said with a soft blush on his face.

 

He looked at her while he was listening, drinking at the same time, but when she started flattering him he blushed red and almost choked on his drink before looking around slyly then back to her, " Heh...Thanks Bee. Your pretty cute too. Actually, very cute, especially when you blush...But on a more serious note... Yes, I was created. I was not born, at least not in the sense your thinking of. I was born in a laboratory, but before I was born I was modified while in the womb. I don't know who my mother or father was. I don't know if I have any sisters or brothers...But I assure you, if I did have any past friends or family...They are all dead and gone..." he sighed softly as he looked down at his empty drinking vessel and placed it on the table once more, softly continuing his explanation of his existence, " I do know one thing about when I was in that lab for 30 years...I was beaten...Tortured. They deprived me of food and water for weeks on end, monitoring me constantly to see how my body would hold up and react...I was cut open multiple times...They kept injecting me with...I don't know, some blue liquid that glowed..." he sighed softly and looked up at Bee. 

[Denim&Venöm 19,036]

@Mentis Soliloquy,@Randimaxis,@reader8363, @Shadow Dancer,

 

.

 

 

"You're wrong." She said to Professor Bolt. "I wasn't programmed for Equestria's defense. I was designed to be the first collaboration between humanity and equines. Something symbolic of a promising future. Making a first strike on humanity? That was my choice. Their history, their behavior, their actions at the time convinced me that coexistence was impossible. Ponies embrace everyone and everything. Anyone can be a friend.

 

But humans have an "us vs. them" tribal mentality. You and 100 people you know vs. all you don't. It's how they evolved. Existence of another sentient race from a world that defies their beliefs and preconceptions? That would unify them alright. Against a perceived common threat. With ponykind gone, they'd believe their future secure, and they'd go back to fighting over soemthgin else trivial. And that's if notions like wiping out all life in the Equis realm just to harvest our universes resources at no cost to their own, didn't take precedence."

 

So don't blame the programming. Blame me. It was a choice I was willing to make. And genocide might be a bit far. I was just going to level their infrastructure, burn the bridges, glass over the railways, wreck their economies, sink thievery that floated, crash everything that flew, wipe out the internet, bring down all their satellites, vaporize all military installations, and detonate all the worlds nukes in high atmosphere to blanket every inch of the planet in a mass EMP, frying every electronic not in a Faraday cage. Basically, set them back 150 years. 

 

And how do you know we are really at peace? Cultures lived in peace for centuries before one regime change, one new ideology, one new hardship, changed things. How do you know that humanity will never attack? How do you knwow they won't find a way to avoid not rotting to death from the inside out from thaumaturgical exposure? Or develop their own AI's to fight as proxy's? Send machines to kill indiscriminately and strip our world bare?

 

10,000 years of history and countless examples of cultures forcefully taking over, regardless of the cost of life. Yet so few of lasting peaceful coexistence.  Whether it's a callous regime or radical terrorism, humanity is an ever lingering threat.  I believe it was American president Regan who made motions for preparations against alien invasion. About preparing for something highly unlikely, yet if it did occur, woudl be disastrous beyond comprehension, hence the need to be ready regardless. 

 

At this point, it'll be years, decades before I can make any moves. So the only option, would've been plan B."

 

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, in Ponyvile 

 

"-Your respectful colleague, Twilight Sparkle." 

 

"Got it." 

 

"Alright. Send it." 

 

The tall drake incinerated the scroll. Off the glowing green ashes traveled through the skies. "You know, if she's actually there, she's gonna read that letter too. And then she'll probably panic." 

 

"It's better than showing up unannounced, where she will panic. This will give her time to calm down or be calmed down. And knowing her, to prepare as well."

 

"Prepare for what? A fight?"   

 

"I wouldn't put it past her." 

 

"And yet you'll be going to meet her. She won't be happy with you, and neither will Miss Bolt."

 

"No. Neither of them will be happy to see me. But still, I have to try and make amends."

 

"At least let me come with you Twi." 

 

"No Spike. You've come along way since she first came around, but even in that older model, she'll be too much. For you, Captain Emerald and both the EUP and royal guard combined. I will have to handle this. It'd be nice if she didn't charge headlong at me, but I know she will. It's who she is.  But trust me. Whatever she throws at me. I will be more than ready for it. Besides, I deserve more than my fair share of licks from both of them. 

 

But first, there's somepony else I need to make things right with. Somepony who's life I ruined, simply by doing nothing. 

 

It's my responsibility as a Princess. It's my obligation as a friend.

You're in charge Spike. Keep the castle safe." 

 

"Of course, Twi." 

 

"Also, don't eat the whole tub of quartz custard in the freezer."

 

"Yes, your majesty..." He groaned.

 

"See you when I get back."

 

 

​Purple light flashed fourth from the inside of Castle Ponyvile, and from it's roof, a purple comet arched and sped towards Manehatten. 
 

[Randimaxis 8,652]

From behind the visor on his headset, hot tears began to slide down Grant's cheeks.

 

She can't be right... she just CAN'T.

 

As his hands reflexively clenched and unclenched with impotent anger, he thought on as his tears added to the grime on the mattress.

 

I'M not like that!  I know it isn't much, but a single example is a start, isn't it?  One can't put the entire future of a single race based on what a handful of them do - ultimate judgement and destruction, because some greedy bastards made ALL of us look like criminals?  How is that fair?  How is that RIGHT!?  

 

Is that what Equestria thinks of humans?  That we're all just horrific parasites that should be destroyed outright before we INFECT anyone else?  Is that the stereotype that past generations have forced me to be defined by?  Am I simply doing all this research, all this effort to upload myself into a world that wouldn't even give me a single chance if they knew the truth?

 

This... was a mistake.  

 

Since Twitch came here, I've seen nothing but reason after reason to simply leave and be done with it.  I keep trying to see where I could fit in here, where I could do something that would be worth doing; all I see are doors slamming shut in my face.  I need to just wait this out - as soon as Twitch gets outside, I'm heading for the biggest scrapyard I can find... maybe, on my own, I can use some of the junk to try to figure out how EqTech works, so I can try to fig-...

 

He stopped.

 

NO.  

 

Turning tail and running is what COWARDS do.  And I'm no coward... regardless of what ANYONE thinks of me, human OR pone.

 

I'll take the abuse; I'm sure Luster's laughing inside, knowing that the human standing right next to her heard every word... if she even acknowledges me at all.  But I don't care.  

 

I'm going to prove to Luster and everypony else what humans REALLY are... by example.

 

Grant's tears had begun in shame; now, they were a promise of things to come.

[reader8363 1,281]

@@Randimaxis,@@Denim&Venom, @@Mentis Soliloquy, @@Shadow Dancer,  

 

 

"Actually I'm pretty sure she pulled out of your tentacles,

 

Shadow laughed and said as he summoned many tentacles out of every shadow, 

"The tentacles aren't a part of me, the are made of shadows. Basically, if there is a shadow, I can make unlimited amount of them" 

A few tentacles formed a chair and he sat down in it and kicked up his legs

[Denim&Venöm 19,036]

@Mentis Soliloquy,@Randimaxis,@reader8363, @Shadow Dancer,

 

Those that do survive would either become radioactive mutants and then eventually succumb to the radiation, and those that don't get irradiated or killed would basically be set back to their stone age. This would be as close to genocide as possible, without actually killing the entire population. I really wasn't too far off when I said you'd commit genocide."

 

"Please. I said High atmospheric detonation. Fallout only occurs in contact with the ground. One nuke could black out half a continent. I'm just detonating all of them. 

 

 

 

"Try not to wreck him too badly, if you think humans are soooo dangerous."

"Humans aren't stupid. Well, stupid enough. He know's he's outnumbered.  But his tune woudl change if he had an army of his buddys in tow. 

 

 

 

"As I said, I have actually been preparing, in case it does happen. Unfortunately the greatest item I've designed is out of your reach if you continue in this way of thinking."

"Which is why I didn't ask for your help the first time.  I knew you'd disapprove. And I didn't want your hooves stained with the blood of millions. You deserve better.  I can manage my own ways of mass destruction. 

 

That's another thing you and book horse tried to get across. The magic of friendship. Both of you value d every friendship you made, especially with me. I valued every friend I had. You both made it clear that friends are worth dying for. 

In my book, that means they're worth killing for."

Edited March 4, 2016 by Denim&Venom

[Denim&Venöm 19,036]

@Mentis Soliloquy,@Randimaxis,@reader8363, @Shadow Dancer,

 

Luster was going to make a comment on how humanity would've survived w/ 800 million survivors, given that it takes a minimum of 15,000 to create a stable populace. Her hug, her impassioned words. Her tears, effectively silenced those thoughts.

 

 

 

"You and me. We are not friends, for one. I helped create you. You're effectively my child. That's something Twi most likely didn't understand at the time or she wouldn't have attacked you as she did.""My child, you are worth dying for. Depending on what you do, you might also be worth killing for."

She just sat there. Staring at Lektra in surprise. Her face showing how much the gesture both surprised and touched her.  "I knew she cared. But this much? I know I'm her creation. Her special project. But I didn't knwo, she valued me like a daughter."

 

"P-professor Lektra, m...m...mo-"

 

She got interrupted by the whips of smoke and green embers that reassembled themselves into a scroll at Lektra's hooves. Had she picked it up, it would've read. 

 

 

 

Dear Professor Lekrta Bolt,

 

I am writing to inform you that I am aware of Luster's reactivation and will be stopping by your department later in the day to talk with you both. There is a lot the three of us need to discuss and I hope the both of you are willing to hear me out. I woudl like for this all to end peacefully and end up in a better future.  For you, and for Luster.

 

Your Colleague, 

Twilight Sparkle

 

 

 

Luster just stared at the letter, and than back up at Lekrta. "Spike sent that, didn't he. That means it's from her."

Edited March 4, 2016 by Denim&Venom

[Mentis Soliloquy 3,025]

Crystal was stunned by the display and the alternative endings.

 

Emerald stood up and walked to make her mind's eye know, she turns to Lektra. "You won't like the first version." The scene is set before what Lektra had shown when she dueled Luster, except this time she won rising from the dirt after a back hoof that should of killed her only for her to decapitate Luster, her lifeless body failing to the ground. "I could of saved Equestria that day from the old you Luster, the one I still think is in this room, but this is a great falsie there is no way I would of won that fight then or now..." She turned away...

 

Another vision then played out where Emerald was killed by Luster then the Human world burned similarly to Lektra's visions. Only for her to come back and destroy all of Equestria as well both worlds gone, nothing but dust and wind with one pony figure endlessly walking the barren wasteland. "I still think this may happen with you online, I hope everyone's sake that I am wrong because there is nothing I can do to stop it." She sits and looks down. "I'm going to go home and make a life not in the army I'm over it, let it be another's problems..."

[Shadow Dancer 111]

@@Denim&Venom,@@bronislav84, @@reader8363,  @@Mentis Soliloquy,

 

 

 

Marcus decided to project his own thoughts on the many possible futures.

 

The image started in Equestria with a platoon of human shaped Androids standing in front of the portal, guns ready with a human android planting something on the portal's frame. They had been sent upon notice by intelligence reports that a rouge bot was planning the possible destruction of the human race that was an hour ago they had been lucky to arrive before the attack on Earth started. Luster could be seen coming fast towards the group and they opened fire hoping to buy time for the demo squad. The ones who were defeated some lived waking up suddenly others died from shock. But the group did buy the time needed the explosives were planted and one detonated them causing the portal to collapse but killing all the humans that were left standing from the sudden severing of the neural connection destroying their  flesh and blood brain from the backlash the androids collapsing.

 

As soon as the vision ended another soon began.

 

this one was similar to the previous but the team failed and luster made it to Earth. The vision went to Earth Luster doing all she had said she would do this caused mass deaths of pony immigrants and humans alike some from failed pace makers others from the result of hospitals shutting down killing most patients of all ages in them. The vision then showed people dying suddenly from not having crucial medications. People killed in mobs, gangs formed and causing havoc of their own while the military tried it's best to settle everything down and restore order. Human and Pony families hid away from the wrath of mobs hunting them out of some vision of anger and perversion of justice. While other ponies were hanged in retribution. When thing did settle down the civilians cried for revenge and war wanting to march through the still open portal and make pony kind feel what they went through even some Immigrant ponies joined in, the approximately less then one billion survivors eventually got their wish the military's of the world starting a full scale invasion on Equestria after having recovered quicker then thought possible. Luster's greatest fear brought on by her actions.

 

The vision faded and Marcus talked "Your right Luster Humanity would as a whole survive regroup and once the chaos settles then we will have demanded blood even maybe some of the pony residence on earth seeing as some are already in world military's. I'm sure enough engineers and scientists will survive to rebuild and once that is done we will have found a way to enter the portal as flesh and blood humans maybe even harness magic if given the time. But know this once we do recover it would be an Us VS them and them would be the ponies you attacked Humanity to protect. The war will be bloody and long, ending with you on a silver platter and if that dose not satisfy it all and the blood lust is still high then maybe the princesses as well."

 

Marcus sadly shook his head "Even if ponies win the war and drive Humanity away then other nations will try to take the chance to over take a weakened Equestria. The effects of your preemptive strike would last many generations and devastate both worlds. But that is just what I think but I'm human so it dose not mean much if anything to you."

[captainborgue 343]

@@captainborgue,

 

Drone listened to her talk about therapy and hobbies as he sipped on his latte, blushing lightly at her end comment before answering, "Thank you, and Well, I do have my hobbies. I fix things. I let all my frustrations out by finding something broken and making it better. That's my therapy." he said softly before she continued talking.

 

Drone smiled and shook his head softly, "Weird is a matter of opinion. Personally I find your weirdness quite charming and cute. " he said with a soft blush on his face.

 

He looked at her while he was listening, drinking at the same time, but when she started flattering him he blushed red and almost choked on his drink before looking around slyly then back to her, " Heh...Thanks Bee. Your pretty cute too. Actually, very cute, especially when you blush...But on a more serious note... Yes, I was created. I was not born, at least not in the sense your thinking of. I was born in a laboratory, but before I was born I was modified while in the womb. I don't know who my mother or father was. I don't know if I have any sisters or brothers...But I assure you, if I did have any past friends or family...They are all dead and gone..." he sighed softly as he looked down at his empty drinking vessel and placed it on the table once more, softly continuing his explanation of his existence, " I do know one thing about when I was in that lab for 30 years...I was beaten...Tortured. They deprived me of food and water for weeks on end, monitoring me constantly to see how my body would hold up and react...I was cut open multiple times...They kept injecting me with...I don't know, some blue liquid that glowed..." he sighed softly and looked up at Bee. 

 

Bee laughed awkwardly at Drone's compliments. " No offense, but maybe you've had some kind of ocular degeneration if you think I'm cute," Bee said, ribbing him. "Though by all means, keep saying lovely things. Just because they are inaccurate doesn't mean I don't like hearing them," Bee added, laughing.

 

Though the conversation got dark in a big hurry. Bee tried very hard not to show how horrified everything he was saying made her feel. Genetic experimentation? Alterations in utero? torture? All to create some kind of super soldier... soldiers in general were all but unknown, the very idea that training a pony to kill was insufficient- that truly barbaric methods were used on Drone to make him into some kind of exceptional murderer... it made Bee feel sick to her stomach. Not that VLAD would let her actually be sick, though.

 

"I can't... I'm sorry doesn't even begin to cover it. I can't even imagine something so terrible," Bee said, reaching out and touching his hoof. Her horn glowed a faint green as she tossed her cup in the garbage. "The fact that you aren't a foaming-at-the-mouth Killmotron says a lot about you, though. I mean, you're clever, and witty, and kind. That's kind of remarkable, considering. That anypony could even have a semblance of normalcy after all that... just wow. Ok, let's shift gears a bit. What do you like to do for fun? Does your suit have rockets or some other form of propulsion? Do you have plans tonight? Or, you know, after right now... the school lockdown nonsense has pretty much put the kibosh on everything I had going on today, so after this I'm looking at a whole lot of boring nothing to do. I mean, I wouldn't mind just hanging out," Bee said, trying hard not to blush. There was a pinging in her mind as VLAD rerouted some of her osmotic filters, which had the effect of pulling blood flow away from her face and reducing her blush. An immediately suspicious Bee wondered what it was VLAD was being helpful for, but she would take whatever help she could get.

 

"Ok, last question I promise. Have you ever dated anypony before? Either way it's no big deal or anything, I just want to avoid having a bitter ex-lover with a combat skin show up with, shall we say, hostile intent," Bee said, laughing nervously.

[Randimaxis 8,652]

@Shadow Dancer - @Mentis Soliloquy - @Denim&Venom - @reader8363

 

 

 

"Follow her programming. Make the right choices this time. Learn from past mistakes. Become a beacon of peace as we intended... it's nice to meet someone who's so enamored with Earth technology. Or at least who's creator was."

 

 

Grant and Twitch both nodded slowly; the beacon of peace part sounded good to him... but after hearing Luster speak on humanity, he didn't know if it would be possible.  At least, not yet.  He had his work cut out for him, proving himself to not just other ponies, but a construct who seems to think that the sole purpose of humankind could be summed up as a virus?  Yeah - that would take some doing.

 

But it could happen... couldn't it?  

 

Grant was not seeing a lot of laughs in his future: He'd have to do his best to keep up with the ponies around him, study as hard as he could (IF the college accepted his application in the first place, that is), do as much as possible to keep his secret under wraps from anypony else AND try to show Luster that humans weren't everything she thought they were?  Well, he knew this wasn't going to be easy when he started building Twitch, but the fact that-

 

 

 

"You're really fascinating. Are you a brain scan and soul rip too, or an AI like Luster?"

 

Grant jumped; Twitch blinked.  He had so much focus on his own thoughts that he hadn't seen Lab Tech make her way over and sit next to him.  Twitch blinked his mismatched eyes again.

 

"Neither, a-a-a-a-actually; this bot is a drone."

 

He had no idea why she had pink cheeks at the moment; when he'd first seen her, she hadn't had that discoloration.  Further than that, she was one of the techies here - he'd have to be extra careful when he spoke to her, or they'd put two-and-two together... and Twitch would be FOUR-ked.

 

His faceplates rearranged themselves into a nervous grin.

 

 

 

"How would you like to work here with us while taking classes?"

 

Grant felt the ice water running down his spine - work around Magitek?  Near Magitek?  WITH Magitek?

 

With everything I have inside Twitch, that's the one thing I'm pretty sure I couldn't integrate with - Twitch can handle a LOT of things, but I think trying to incorporate magic into him would be too much for the operating system; my FrankenCore here would melt like styrofoam in a microwave!

 

The junkbot turned to face Lab Tech.  

 

"I appreciate your offoffoffoffoffer, but I've never been any good at magic," another point for the Honesty jar, "and I wouldn't want to waste anypony's tiiiiiiiiiiiiime.  Besides, I get the distinct feelinginginging that you'll be so busy with Luster here that I'd just be in the way-ay-ay-y-y." 

 

He did have to admit... the neural tracery along Twitch's panels tingled as Lab Tech touched the junkbot's frame, and that was something he'd built into the system... but honestly wasn't prepared for the actual USAGE of yet.  Grant squirmed awkwardly, yet Twitch still stood, stoic as ever.  It wasn't that the sensation was unpleasant, mind you... just very, very strange from the perspective of a guy who'd never even had a decent date.

 

"At any rate, it is is is is nice to meet you - maybe we could talk about Earth some time, if you like?  I'm just..."  he glanced at Lektra and Luster, "... a bit worried at the moment, is all.  Do forgive me if I seem rude; I promise I am only preoccupied - and with the suuuuuuuubject at hoof, you can see my point, I hope."

 

Twitch continued to sit there, watching the proceedings as Lab kept... uhm, 'admiring his construction'.

[Aurora Lights 206]

@@captainborgue,

 

Drone sighed softly and looked down at the table as he spoke once more on the deep dark subject, "I swore that I would never, EVER, be like them...But..." he bit his bottom lip, holding back the sentence he almost said. He shook his head softly, and looked up at her, " ...But no, I don't have anything to do today, at least, nothing that I plan on happening." he said softly and smiled slightly as he looked at her and chuckled softly, "I don't know if you could call us lovers...But five years prior to now I was in a relationship with Emerald Bolt. Captain of the guard. She got me out of that damned laboratory...I owe her, and her marefriend as well." he sighed softly and closed his eyes for a moment and looked out the window, seeing a streak of light nearing Manehatten. He blinked in confusion before slowly realizing what the streak of light was, or rather, who it was, "Holy shit...Twilight...I didn't think she'd have the nerve to show her face anywhere near me..." he said in a seething tone, though not yet in total disgust or hatred yet.

[captainborgue 343]

@@captainborgue,

 

Drone sighed softly and looked down at the table as he spoke once more on the deep dark subject, "I swore that I would never, EVER, be like them...But..." he bit his bottom lip, holding back the sentence he almost said. He shook his head softly, and looked up at her, " ...But no, I don't have anything to do today, at least, nothing that I plan on happening." he said softly and smiled slightly as he looked at her and chuckled softly, "I don't know if you could call us lovers...But five years prior to now I was in a relationship with Emerald Bolt. Captain of the guard. She got me out of that damned laboratory...I owe her, and her marefriend as well." he sighed softly and closed his eyes for a moment and looked out the window, seeing a streak of light nearing Manehatten. He blinked in confusion before slowly realizing what the streak of light was, or rather, who it was, "Holy shit...Twilight...I didn't think she'd have the nerve to show her face anywhere near me..." he said in a seething tone, though not yet in total disgust or hatred yet.

"Yeah, I know of her. Not in a particularly positive light, mind you, but that's not relevant," Bee said, with some distaste. "I take issue with ponies who abuse their authority. But, as far as personally, there's never been a conflict. I tend to keep to myself pretty well, keep my head down and keep my nose out of shenanigans. I'm glad you are free tonight, at least. I think, and feel free to correct me on this, but I have a suggestion. You and me, dinner and either a movie or a walk through The Square downtown. You know, get away from the school and whatever crazy crap is going on there. You in?" Bee asked, teasingly.

 

Truth of it was, she was seriously creeped out by the day's events. She had always tried to present herself as a 'cool' teacher, a respite from all the stuffy types. But today had seen so many examples of staff and faculty losing their minds that spending any more time on campus was not a pleasant thought. Besides, here was a male that seemed legitimately interested in her. Not something that happened often.

 

"So, just out of curiosity, you're not, like pining for Emerald or anything, right? I mean I get it she's cute and all, but- ORGANIC IS TRYING TO DISCERN IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY MATED OR NOT," VLAD blurted out, having grown tired of all the dancing about the issue. Since it had to maintain her biological systems, the possibility of having to more closely regulate her hormonal levels and/or her reproductive system was not something VLAD wanted to do unless necessary, so clarifying the intention of this social interaction was paramount.

 

Bee, for her part, was stunned into silence. There had been issues in the past where VLAD intruded into her love life, but usually things were farther along, not simply getting coffee with an attractive male. Once again, she wondered if VLAD saw something she herself did not.

 

"Okay... Well now that it's out there. I'm not usually so forward, OK? But VLAD brings up a good point, even though that's not at all how I wanted to bring it up. So, er, dinner and a walk? Dinner and a movie? Or if you wanted to just pretend that didn't just happen I'd be OK with that too."

Edited March 5, 2016 by captainborgue

[Denim&Venöm 19,036]

@Mentis Soliloquy @Randimaxis @reader8363, @Shadow Dancer,
 

.

To say that Luster was unhappy was an understatement. It hurt her, that her mom was willing to kill herself to destroy her. "That I'm so warped and twisted in her eyes for that to be warranted. And yet she still loves me. All that I was trying to do. What had that done to her. And yet, she still doesn't see. None of them see the danger that awaits them all." 

 

"You think you know it all. You still don't see the harm that comes to Ponykind. I was made by humans too. Yet you wonder why I'm against them? It's becasue ponykind will go on, but humanity will inevitably annihilate itself. And I will not have ponykind be dragged down with them!"

 

She altered the room to show her visions for the future. "You all saw what happened when I lost to my predecessor, the human piloted pony robot Rusty, after she was supercharged by four alicorns worth of magic. You say the future is disastrous if I take the war to humanity. Well let's see how things turn out for us without my help!"

 

The sounds of engines roaring. A mechanized army rolled though the land. Camo colored, faceless humanoid bodies mounted on treads. Soulless soldiers marching in step. Enough drones to block out the sun. Explosions everywhere as the land was carpet bombed. Dragons blown away with cannons. Griffons torn to shreds by machine gun fire.  Swaths of Channeling drones melted by napalm. Diamond dogs buried alive by explosives. The buffalo tribes sniped dead. A coalition of anything that could fly meeting the automated force, only to be gunned down and blasted out of the sky. A vision of Ponyville. All her friends. Professor bolt was there. All of them burned and bloodied. All scared. All  lined up on a wall. A Gatling gun pointed at them. One that sprayed them all. A blinding flash and mushroom cloud from where Canterlot used to be. Tree's chopped down. Mountains leveled. Lakes drained. A wasteland of mine shafts and quarries. All being shipped back to the Terran Earth. 

 

"You think I'm just being paranoid? I found proof that this was in the works! Screencaps. Documents. Files. Blueprints. Schematics. Voice recordings. Videos. All with a common theme: Invading or plundering Equestria! Some even dating back to 1983. Plans for a railway across the ocean to deliver nuclear payloads. Plans to let ships drift into it and detonate bombs in the holds. Constructing massive pipelines to flood the area with saltwater.   Constructing bomber drones to deliver nuclear payloads instead. Ever advancing schematics for terrestrial combat units. Funds being transferred into research for testing the surivability of soldiers in the Equis realm, for construction of more advanced AI combat units, for ways to transfer vast quantities of resources to and from the realms without alerting the public. Some of these funds came from politicians. Others from Corporations and conglomerates. There were even funds made between countries." Recordings between thousands of voices began to play.

"How can we kill them off?" "Will a virus work?" "How vulnerable are they?" "This will be just like Columbus day!" "Ours for the taking." "We can save our country, the whole planet possibly!" "Who cares, they're all just horses. Fairy tails. Whose gonna miss 'em." "Our sustainability as a species comes beofre all else and all others." "Their discovery, their 'magic', their world, their very presence can throw off all stability and cause an absolute world wide panic." "We can't let our status and position as a species be challenged!" 

 

"And if any of that went down had I failed. Well then we'd be the one's retaliating."

 

Images of entire cities burning. Massive beans of light glassing over swaths of the land. Fighter jets going to strike, but they were vaporized.  Tanks and missile launchers moving into position, but they were crushed down by invisible hands. Five figures, floated in front of the smoke tinted sun. The princesses. Or to be precise, Nightmare versions of them. 

 

They all flew up into space, peering down on the glowing orange continents. Nightmare Moon ignited her horn. The moon itself began to move. Towards earth. Faster and faster. Until it slammed into the planet with full force. In the planetary collision, the room went back to white. 

 

"The blood wouldn't be on my hooves. It would be on the Princesses, and anypony who lived long enough to seek revenge. However. Eradication of humanity wasn't my only thought. I had another idea in mind, and I struggled with it right up until I was confronted by the 4 horsemares of the apocalypse. One less likely to succeed, but if it did, nopony and no human would have to die."

 

The room shifted back to the familiar site of the rocky desert that hosted Equestria's end of the dimensional portal. "Newsflash Doomguy. The portal isn't something constructed. It was a cosmic occurrence between the two realms. A hole in space time. You can blow it up all you want. The best you could've done is block the entrance with debris. But it wouldn't shut the door."

 

It came up to the freeze frame of the cyborg looking grey pony with the rust colored red & orange mane, and the black alicorn bot with the long golden mane. Bigger and taller than the present model before them, she looked more built in the fashion of Celestia, glowing amber highlights adorned her glossy black crystal plate. "Imagine if you will if once again, things had gone different."

 

With a vicious backhoof, Rusty was sent careening into a mountain. Luster made her beeline to the base that held the portal, bowling over the army of EUP guards defending it, and tearing though wall after wall, until she reached the deep room that held the rift. She stopped before it, staring at it for a moment, before walking in. Various plates began to extend outwards. Her head and wings branched out and up. Her insides were revealed, most notably, a metal sphere a bit bigger than a basket ball. As she entered the portal and the colideoscope of colors that was the corridor, the ball opened, and light seemed to bend around it. Luster began to bend back and collapse. She was speghettified as she was sucked in. Soon the collideoscope of colors followed. On both sides, the portal began to shrink down, and eventually collapse. 

 

The room was white again. "That. Was plan B." 

[Aurora Lights 206]

@@captainborgue, @@Denim&Venom,

 

Drone slowly looked back to Bee and smiled slightly at VLAD's outburst, "unfortunately- or fortunately in your case- no, not any longer. She got somepony else when I was frozen. I'm not mad, nor am I bitter. I still consider her a dear friend and I would give up my life-​if I could ​-

for her. That being said, I'd also give my life to anypony I see needing assistance. So, do with that as you will." he threw his cup into the garbage and slowly stood up from his chair, "Sure. Let's go to town square, then we can find somewhere to eat. Then maybe later we can uh...chill." he looked out the window again to see that the streak of light was gone, a sure indicator that the princess was now in the city.

[captainborgue 343]

 

 

@@captainborgue, @@Denim&Venom,

 

Drone slowly looked back to Bee and smiled slightly at VLAD's outburst, "unfortunately- or fortunately in your case- no, not any longer. She got somepony else when I was frozen. I'm not mad, nor am I bitter. I still consider her a dear friend and I would give up my life-​if I could ​-

for her. That being said, I'd also give my life to anypony I see needing assistance. So, do with that as you will." he threw his cup into the garbage and slowly stood up from his chair, "Sure. Let's go to town square, then we can find somewhere to eat. Then maybe later we can uh...chill." he looked out the window again to see that the streak of light was gone, a sure indicator that the princess was now in the city.

Bee gave him a sideways glance. "Not sure if you knew this, but the term 'chill' has become a slang term used to indicate casual copulation," Bee said, narrowing her gaze- before cracking up and laughing, giving him a playful shove. "I'm just kidding! Not about the meaning of 'chill' though. That part's true. but the stink eye wasn't," Bee added, as they left the coffee shop. "I guess what I'm saying is let's not get ahead of ourselves. I can appreciate a stallion who has goals in life, but on the other hoof we just met and all," Bee said, laughing.

 

It was a pleasant afternoon for a walk- not too hot, bit of a cool breeze, not much in the way of traffic or other ponies getting in the way. The city was busy, naturally, but highly efficient- the technomagical revolution had streamlined the city's infrastructure quite effectively. So long as they didn't go strolling into traffic lanes or push past other ponies using the transport tubes, everything would move with precision and grace. Bee loved it. "So, any kind of dietary restrictions or food allergies? I'd hate to ruin an otherwise lovely time with anaphylactic shock."

Edited March 6, 2016 by captainborgue

[Aurora Lights 206]

@@captainborgue,

 

Drone gulped softly and looked at her with a red blush, "N-No, I-I don't mean you know um...not THAT kind of '​chill' "h​e said in a sort of rushed fashion, He then looked around quickly and then looked back at Bee, "I meant...you know, just hang out. Get to know each other a little better." he blushed a little less with the conflict being solved.

 

Drone walked with Bee and shook his head, " I don't think so. I mean, why make a super soldier when he can just die from eating some kelp?" he said with a soft laugh.

[captainborgue 343]

@@captainborgue,

 

Drone gulped softly and looked at her with a red blush, "N-No, I-I don't mean you know um...not THAT kind of '​chill' "h​e said in a sort of rushed fashion, He then looked around quickly and then looked back at Bee, "I meant...you know, just hang out. Get to know each other a little better." he blushed a little less with the conflict being solved.

 

Drone walked with Bee and shook his head, " I don't think so. I mean, why make a super soldier when he can just die from eating some kelp?" he said with a soft laugh.

 

"It's a good thing nopony ever discovered that your weakness is sexual innuendo," Bee said, laughing. "Which means only I know the truth! Muahahahaha!" she added, with her best super villain laugh. "So, now that the awkward sexual commentary stage is over, what do you do for fun?" Bee asked, scooting closer to him as they walked. "Though come to think of it, probably not a lot of opportunity for recreational activity in the super soldiering business," Bee added, thoughtfully.

 

"So, er, nice weather we're having right?" Bee said, after an awkward pause. It had been a long time since she had been on anything like a date, and even then it was usually... awkward. Not that the current date was free of awkwardness, but at the least VLAD had been mostly behaved. Which was bound to be short-lived. "Ok so look, before VLAD comes back from whatever the buck it's busy doing, there's something I have to say, ok?" Bee said, feeling reckless and impulsive. "Ok, so here goes-" she said, taking a deep breath. But, rather than say anything, she darted forward and gave Drone a kiss full on the lips. "That."

 

"ORGANIC HEART RATE AND BLOOD PRESSURE RISING, DEFENSIVE- don't you dare, VLAD. I'm just fine. Go back to... whatever you were doing."

[Aurora Lights 206]

@@captainborgue,

 

Drone listened to her talk and sighed softly, " Well, At least I know my secret is in good hooves. I mean, it could be in worse minds than yours, I'm sure." he smiled at her softly and commented, "Oh, and uh, as a matter of fact, my super soldiering is actually a very entertaining profession." he smiled with a nod.

 

He blushed red as she kissed his lips, he recoiled from the kiss at the end, staring at Bee in shock, he put his hoof on his mouth and blinked a few times. He gulped softly and looked down a moment before he cracked a sly smile on the edge of his lips, he then gripped her tight and kissed her back on the lips, his face almost as bright as a beacon on a tower. He stopped kissing her and took a few steps back, clearing his throat, "Well...Uh-um...I believe that may have answered your question." he looked at her and smiled like crazy. He slowly walked beside her and took a deep breath in, the crisp air filling his lungs made him feel at bliss, though he knew it was only a matter of time before his happiness was interrupted by something. And unfortunately, he was right. A question came to his head and he simply HAD to ask, "So...Bee...Haven't you ever wanted, you know...to look normal again? I-I mean...I like the way you look now, but I just think...I think I can help you. Not that synthetic flesh and skin BS...Real flesh. Real skin, real cells...I could bring back the other half of your face, maybe even your leg is I have enough resources...W-would you like that?" he asked in a soft tone, he did care about this mare, even if they had just met.

[captainborgue 343]

@@captainborgue,

 

Drone listened to her talk and sighed softly, " Well, At least I know my secret is in good hooves. I mean, it could be in worse minds than yours, I'm sure." he smiled at her softly and commented, "Oh, and uh, as a matter of fact, my super soldiering is actually a very entertaining profession." he smiled with a nod.

 

He blushed red as she kissed his lips, he recoiled from the kiss at the end, staring at Bee in shock, he put his hoof on his mouth and blinked a few times. He gulped softly and looked down a moment before he cracked a sly smile on the edge of his lips, he then gripped her tight and kissed her back on the lips, his face almost as bright as a beacon on a tower. He stopped kissing her and took a few steps back, clearing his throat, "Well...Uh-um...I believe that may have answered your question." he looked at her and smiled like crazy. He slowly walked beside her and took a deep breath in, the crisp air filling his lungs made him feel at bliss, though he knew it was only a matter of time before his happiness was interrupted by something. And unfortunately, he was right. A question came to his head and he simply HAD to ask,

 

Bee was a little surprised at his reaction- he seemed to bounce between being excited and being horrified, though mostly excited. It made sense, given what she was and all, so she tried not to dwell on it too much. He seemed to get over it soon enough, and kissed her back with surprising enthusiasm. "There we go, that's better," Bee said, sighing happily. She was relishing the attention, the way he looked at her... there was more than just a fascinated/horrified interest. Perhaps it was simply a case of commonality- they were both cybernetically augmented, and thus had much in common. But Bee wanted to think it was more than that.

 

 

 

"So...Bee...Haven't you ever wanted, you know...to look normal again? I-I mean...I like the way you look now, but I just think...I think I can help you. Not that synthetic flesh and skin BS...Real flesh. Real skin, real cells...I could bring back the other half of your face, maybe even your leg if I have enough resources...W-would you like that?" he asked in a soft tone, he did care about this mare, even if they had just met.

 

Bee stopped in her tracks. Was such a thing even possible? She had heard things like this before- doctors had assured her the skin grafts and lab-grown stem cell organ lattices would work. The first couple years were a blur of experimental treatments and overly optimistic projections. She had heard promises like this before, and they had always failed. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tempted. But... I've heard this all before. I've tried before. When I was still hating what I'd become, when I was still trying to pretend nothing had happened," Bee said, softly. "But even if you could do what you say you can, then whoever came out the other side wouldn't be me anymore. Everything I've done since the incident, all the struggles and triumphs, all the hard work, would mean nothing. I can't pretend it didn't happen, and I have seen and done and survived and struggled through so much since then. That is what makes me truly me, not whether I have a cybernetic skull or an obnoxious AI construct. So, I guess my answer is no. It is a generous offer, but I must decline," Bee said, a little sadly.

 

"Besides, it's not all bad. The augmentations can come in handy- I can do much more than a mere pony. And if I had no cyberware, we wouldn't have that in common. Think of how boring our date would be," Bee said, laughing awkwardly.