private Celestial Conquest: Adventure in the Great Beyond

[rainbovv dash 110]

 

The effect of the painkillers was slowly coming up. Storm noted her mind was a bit fuzzy, today's dose would probably have knocked out any adult stallion in just a few minutes. The sudden smoke and rushed movements took her by total surprise.

 

Something was off, as soon as the smoke lifted she saw her situation. "DEAD EYE! I'M GONNA KILL YOU, YOU SON OF A BROODMARE!!" she yelled into the depths of the alley "Great, this is great!" she then added as she noticed

 

She sat against the wall, after all she hadn't noticed who had the key, and thought she would have to get out on her own. Looking unfocused at the other wall she addressed Aquila without looking at him, a rhetorical question she wished it wasn't "What did I do to make my life go so wrong?".

 

She shifted into a more comfortable position, hoping she'd stop being high before the guards or somebody else noticed her. Her mind filled with nostalgia, a feeling she would never get used to. This time the feeling took the form of an old song which had been special to her in the past, she started singing it in a low voice to dwell in the feeling and let her tears roll free.

 

"Silly foals with silly dreams, together eternally,

come out and play, well spread our wings... and fly!"

[Yes-Man 597]

Cerberus' eyes blinked open. Smoke ascended from the impact areas on his ship, and most of it was damaged beyond repair. He grabbed his nearby satchel, and starting putting his knick-knacks in it, with a few nessecities like tools, rope, or oil. He opened the door, and it fell out off it's place. Crashing on the ground with a large bang.

He turned his optic's to look at the area in front of him. With this mode, he could make out the shapes of some old buildings, obscured by the dense fog and darkness. He activated his "flashlight" eyes and object sensory technology, and began to explore.

@

Edited July 11, 2013 by Yes-Man

[MelancholicMemory 2,025]

Cerberus' eyes blinked open. Smoke ascended from the impact areas on his ship, and most of it was damaged beyond repair. He grabbed his nearby satchel, and starting putting his knick-knacks in it, with a few nessecities like tools, rope, or oil. He opened the door, and it fell out off it's place. Crashing on the ground with a large bang.

He turned his optic's to look at the area in front of him. With this mode, he could make out the shapes of some old buildings, obscured by the dense fog and darkness. He activated his "flashlight" eyes and object sensory technology, and began to explore.

@

Deadeye spotted something moving, approaching it. "Who are you!? What do you want!?" he called, holding his weapon at the ready. As he got closer he noticed that it was some kind of...robot? "R-robot? Identify yourself! I mean no harm..." He got closer, ready to move if it attacked.

[Durandal 623]

The smoke bomb, and the key, both took Aquila by surprise. As the smoke cleared, he realized that not only was he alone with that damned mare, but she was sobbing, lamenting over her life. A mare named Storm, mourning over a troubled life. How fitting.

 

Storm. These last few hours had been nothing but one tense moment after the next. Like a storm, he mentally quipped. And who's fault was it? Storm's.

 

"What are you, Bipolar?!" Aquila shouted, his jaw slack. "You drag us over here and somehow it's your-," He cut himself off, realizing what he was doing. Taking a deep breath, Aquila looked at the key in his hoof. He'd had enough of this mare, and he wasn't in the mood for games. He took another breath, turning back to Storm.

 

"Let's get something straight, Storm. I could shoot you right now and be rid of you. In fact, that's the most effective way of dealing with you. I fully expect that if I let you live, you will sooner or later see fit to off me yourself," Aquila explained, leveling his pistol at her head.

 

"A bullet is a supremely small cost for long-term safety, and from where I'm standing, an extremely good investment," Aquila continued, inspecting his Gauss pistol leisurely. "You've even said yourself that you want to die. So why should I let you live, Storm? Why should I take such a risk? I'm listening," he finished, giving the mare a cold, hard glare.

Edited July 12, 2013 by Durandal

[rainbovv dash 110]

"Did you ever get something straight?" she answered giggling like a school filly at the cruel joke. She then continued in a mocking tone "Well, I've murdered a bunch of ponies, stolen money from honest ponies to pay for drugs, hurt the feelings of almost every pony that has formed a part of my life... My life is an example of not being worth a damn."

 

She suddenly heard voices coming down the alley.

- "Here is were the shots came from"

- "Let me see"

 

Storm new exactly what this meant. The guards are coming! anything Aquila would do to her seemed like a joyride compared to be left out in the desert, without map and with just a small amount of water. No pony would last more than 4 days out there. It was cruel.

 

She stood up in panic pulling desperately at the chain. "Ok, do what you want but take a decision. Shoot me or let me go, I'll do whatever you ask for! Please! Just don't leave me like this." It was not her style to ask for mercy, but there was no other way this time. She put her hooves on the gun, holding it, and said in a dark tone "If you're not enough of a man to shoot me, at least be so decent to leave the gun here. I won't wait for the guards to grab me"

Edited July 12, 2013 by rainbovv dash

[Yes-Man 597]

@

Cerberus directed his vision toward the voice, and scanned the area.

He stood there, as if thinking, and his eyes turned blue.

"This unit is a Stampede V5.67, Guardian Class. It identifies itself as Cerberus, and is currently unaffiliate with any Master, Army, or Police Force."

He blinked at DeadEye, and slowly reached for his own pistol.

"Now identify yourself, Pony."

[MelancholicMemory 2,025]

@

Cerberus directed his vision toward the voice, and scanned the area.

He stood there, as if thinking, and his eyes turned blue.

"This unit is a Stampede V5.67, Guardian Class. It identifies itself as Cerberus, and is currently unaffiliate with any Master, Army, or Police Force."

He blinked at DeadEye, and slowly reached for his own pistol.

"Now identify yourself, Pony."

"My name is Deadeye, former colonel in the Coalition Lunar Guard...I currently work...independently...I came here to escape some...unruly colleagues. W-why are you here, Cerberus? What do you want? Where did you come from?" he asked, choosing his words carefully, not getting any closer, but keeping his weapon ready.

[Yes-Man 597]

"Those are questions we still ask ourself, Creator DeadEye."

He gazed off for a moment.

"Questions that truly indicate life... But if you are asking in the present tense, then I have come here to find a new master to serve under, as my Primary Programming demands. And I'm afraid where I came from is under highly classified files, ones that not even the captain of the Royal Guard can access."

He relaxed his grip on his pistol a little, yet still enough to fire if needed.

@

Edited July 12, 2013 by Yes-Man

[MelancholicMemory 2,025]

"Those are questions we still ask ourself, Creator DeadEye."

He gazed off for a moment.

"Questions that truly indicate life... But if you are asking in the present tense, then I have come here to find a new master to serve under, as my Primary Programming demands. And I'm afraid where I came from is under highly classified files, ones that not even the captain of the Royal Guard can access."

He relaxed his grip on his pistol a little, yet still enough to fire if needed.

@

Deadeye wasn't one for that philosophical mumbo jumbo. He wanted answers. "A-a new master? What kind of master? What do you do? And what happened to your old master?' he asked, suspiciously. ""Do you mean any harm?" He finished his questions and awaited answers...hopefully good ones.

[Yes-Man 597]

"One to serve, this unit is programmed to do so. Their wishes become it's wishes."

He processed the next few questions carefully.

"He was a crime-lord in the unruled space. Killed by a Zebra mercenary group. Bloody fight, that one. Might have even made this unit's list of top fights."

He tightened his grip a bit.

"I only harm if you do, Creator DeadEye..."

@

Edited July 12, 2013 by Yes-Man

[MelancholicMemory 2,025]

"One to serve, this unit is programmed to do so. Their wishes become it's wishes."

He processed the next few questions carefully.

"He was a crime-lord in the unruled space. Killed by a Zebra mercenary group. Bloody fight, that one. Might have even made this unit's list of top fights."

He tightened his grip a bit.

"I only harm if you do, Creator DeadEye..."

@

"I....I will not attack. What does somepony need to be your new master? And what exactly can you do?" he asked, lowering his weapon slightly. Perhaps this could be a good opportunity afterall...A robot would certainly be better than dealing with all sorts of crazy ponies.

[Yes-Man 597]

"Well, a pulse, and not to be a changeling."

He retracted his buzzaw and sawed a nearby tree in half.

"Although this unit is built for combat, it can do most common household chores, assist the elderly, and limited field medics. The rest is restricted under Protocol 9.789A."

(Darnit, I keep forgetting to mention you.)

@

Edited July 12, 2013 by Yes-Man

[MelancholicMemory 2,025]

"Well, a pulse, and not to be a changeling."

He retracted his buzzaw and sawed a nearby tree in half.

"Although this unit is built for combat, it can do most common household chores, assist the elderly, and limited field medics. The rest is restricted under Protocol 9.789A."

(Darnit, I keep forgetting to mention you.)

@

"Handy. Cerberus, how about I be your new master? I could use a good bot like you at my side. It certainly would eliminate a lot of headaches...So what do you say?" he asked carefully, preparing for anything in his head. He looked right at the robot's steely form.

[Yes-Man 597]

Cerberus processed the offer for a few moments, blinked a few times, and then took a step foward.

"This unit accepts your offer, Creator DeadEye. What shall it do now?"

He put his blaster away, and gave a perfect salute. Although he could not truly feel, his calculations told him this was the beginning of something beautiful.

@

Edited July 12, 2013 by Yes-Man

[MelancholicMemory 2,025]

Cerberus processed the offer for a few moments, blinked a few times, and then took a step foward.

"This unit accepts your offer, Creator DeadEye. What shall it do now?"

He put his blaster away, and gave a perfect salute. Although he could not truly feel, his calculations told him this was the beginning of something beautiful.

@

"Good. Good....Come with me. We need to pick up my ship. Oh by the way, can you do medical or mechanical work? I could use some help with that...." He started walking back to where he last left his ship.

 

(keep in mind that he's going to where it was. His ship is no longer there.)

[Durandal 623]

Aquila gnashed his teeth, looking down. Of course, he was finally going to find some finality in all this and guards arrive. He hated split-second decisions like this - not enough time to contemplate his actions, to work out the best course of action for his interests. He was already compromised, as his outburst showed. Now was not the time.

 

You should free her, a small voice suggested in the back of Aquila's mind. He recognized that voice - after all, he had taken considerable time in his life figuring out how to silence it. He hated how it applied morality to his situations, costing him in the long-run because of poor decisions. But he couldn't resist it - it had turned his panic against him, using its newly found ground to fortify its position in his mind. He knew he would regret this, but he had little choice in the matter.

 

"Consider it a favor," Aquila hissed, uncuffing the mare. Before she could retaliate, he retreated into the network of alleys, putting as much distance from the mare as was possible.

[rainbovv dash 110]

[...]

 

"Consider it a favor," Aquila hissed, uncuffing the mare. Before she could retaliate, he retreated into the network of alleys, putting as much distance from the mare as was possible.

Storm watched the stallion, every second felt like an eternity. Every second she hardened her grip on the gun, if he tried to leave just like that she would pull the trigger herself. Suddenly, the stallion motioned and started freeing Storm.

 

As Aquila was running away she noticed that she had stopped breathing out of the tension and inhaled deeply. The mare grabbed the scattered contents of her bag and started running in the direction Aquila already had made his escape, after all the other one was where the guards were coming from.

 

Her mind was racing and her heart was beating like an engine, everything she wanted was to run. So she did, using the obstacles she found on her way as tools to distract her mind and avoid thinking about what she had been through today. Other ponies would have called this 'parcour', she just needed a way to relax and to stretch her unused wings.

 

After all, her wings were the body part suffering the strongest consequences of her altered lifestyle. Flying was not compatible with sneaking, using them was like diving head first into her past. She dreamt of just spreading her wings and let the wind carry her away while she watched the golden fields turn into dark woods and cold mountains.

 

Not the slightest of this was left to her, she always crawled through this stinking city. Stealing to just feed herself with enough painkillers to drown her past away, a past she loved. A past she would have traded her soul for.

 

The sun was already lowering in the sky when she reached her apartment, the lock clicked and she opened the door, uncovering the mess hidden behind it. She sighed out of disappointment, home, sweet home she thought. Giving the voice in her mind a sarcastic tone.

 

She entered her bathroom. Every inch of her felt dirty, sweaty and tired. Her magical fur though kept her coat clean, in a perfectly shining yellow, just a few pearls of her sweat which weren't repulsed by her coat were visible on it.

 

The sight of herself in a mirror showed the image of past Storm. Everything was clean and perfect, yet she didn't feel so. Who deserved the right to rip her life out of her? Why couldn't she just not have a normal life?

 

A new wave of hate, nostalgia and helplessness washed over her. Yelling she hit the glass, causing it to shatter into a thousand pieces that rained on the floor and her foreleg, mixing with her blood as one or two of the shards injured her skin. She sat on her haunches, starting to sob anew, wishing some day she'd break out of her life.

[Miss Light Diamond 2,802]

@@Agent505,

 

((When did I say I was dropping out?  ))

Slicer shrugged and quietly followed behind Metal Gear, wondering if what they were about to do was a good idea or not...he could care less either way but he still wondered whether he and Metal gear should be suspicious of Deadeye...which he was of course...but that's just what made things more fun. "Well...alright then." He said.

[Durandal 623]

Eventually, Aquila reached his ship, the Cygnus Borealis. Taking a moment to inspect it, he retreated inside, locking the door behind him.

Taking a deep breath, Aquila sighed, smiling for the first time in hours. Grabbing a drink from his cooler, Aquila made his way to the cockpit, relaxing into his chair. The lights in the ship dimmed and the shutters slid over the windows, shutting out the outside world entirely. A few seconds later, the front window lit up, revealing the skies above the ship. It had already been dusk by the time Aquila retreated, meaning that Luna's domain was close at hand. Aquila leaned back leisurely, a smirk across his face.

"You know, Aegis... I've visited most of those stars, seen space like it truly is. But... It never quite compares to the night sky," Aquila said, losing himself in the image before him.

"Luna takes care of the nights of this world. Perhaps that has something to do with it?" A synthetic voice replied, the deep, rumbling tone itself succeeding in feeling almost philosophical. It was soothing.

"No, that's not it. The night sky is just about the same on most planets. Though Equis' nights are spectacular, the same could be said of my homeworld's. There's something about them that can't be matched by even the depths of space itself."

"Indeed. It truly is a sight to behold," Aegis Fate mused. Aquila took a sip of his drink, letting the star captivate him. Moments like these he truly prized - where he could gaze up into the night sky and idly chat. Some would argue that it was peculiar that he enjoyed the company of a Synthetic Intelligence over that of a pony, but Aegis Fate did not seem like an SI. He was not Max, who would address his owner as 'master' or 'sire', or the military SI who behaved as a subordinate. Aegis addressed him as an equal, and though he was often told it was a sign of disrespect, he favored it. He had very few friends that he could sit with at length and just talk with, so it was almost therapeutic to listen to Aegis' voice. And today, he could probably use some therapy.

"So, Aegis. It happened again today," Aquila spoke up, taking a sip of his drink.

"Your conscience got in the way again?" Aegis inquired, a knowing tone seeping into his voice.

"Yes. Met this cutthroat mare today, tried to lure me into her house to kill me or worse, ended up dragging me and another stallion into an alley when I tried to escape. I had a chance to kill her, to be rid of her, but instead I freed her. And I know she'll come after me eventually. Foolish, isn't it?" Aquila finished, shaking his head. Silence met him.

After a couple of seconds, Aegis finally responded. "Why would you say she's a cutthroat?" Aquila chuckled.

"She tried to manipulate me several times, and on at least one occasion attempted to murder me. She's a two-faced, moody low-life that cannot be trusted. I should have shot her out of principle." Aquila sneered, taking a swig.

"Hm," Aegis responded, pausing. "Why didn't you?"

Aquila sat in silence, staring at the night sky. After a few minutes, he answered with, "I don't know."

"Do you think maybe it was because you saw something in her that frightened you?" Aegis supplied, his tone experimental. Aquila raised a brow.

"Why would I be afraid of a cutthroat?"

"Because you saw yourself in her," Aegis responded immediately. "You saw ruthless, unprincipled selfishness. Someone willing to lie, murder, and steal if it advances their own goals. You saw what you could become, and it terrified you."

Aquila narrowed his eyes. Aegis had a point, but he didn't believe it. She was nothing like him; the entire idea was preposterous.

"I do what is necessary for the greater good - I'm principled. She has no principles, no cause," Aquila rebuked, trying his best to 'look' at Aegis.

"Then why didn't you shoot her? Surely the world would be a better place without her. Perhaps you feared becoming that which you fight? Strip away your intentions, Aquila. What do you see?" Aegis pressed on.

Aquila gulped down the rest of his drink, slamming it onto his armchair. He needed something to distract him, and Deadeye would do perfectly.

"Thank you for your input, Aegis. I shall contemplate it," Aquila forced, feeling the tension return. He knew Aegis meant well, but it was a hot topic for him.

"Of course," Aegis replied, the shutters lifting. Without another word, Aquila left, heading towards Makaanika's shop.

[Yes-Man 597]

@

"Of course, Master DeadEye. This unit can do so if given the proper equipment and/or ingredients. What shall it be doing first?"

He got into a readied position, his eyes flashing from brown with a gear to white with a Red Cross.

(Just though I'd use his eyes instead of his head to convey emotion this time around. Hope it doesn't get annoying.)

[MelancholicMemory 2,025]

@

"Of course, Master DeadEye. This unit can do so if given the proper equipment and/or ingredients. What shall it be doing first?"

He got into a readied position, his eyes flashing from brown with a gear to white with a Red Cross.

(Just though I'd use his eyes instead of his head to convey emotion this time around. Hope it doesn't get annoying.)

Deadeye raised his his leg with a still bloody bullet wound. "I have been injured. Once we get back to my ship, I'll need you to look at it and then see what you can do with my ship. Some buckin' saboteur posing as a mechanic bucked with it. He's the same fella who shot me. Let's go." He led the bot back to where his ship was. "Where the buck is it!?"

[RedStorm 66]

((I haven't really posted in a long time also this post sucks a little.))

 

Goldwrench cursed Deadeye under his breath.

"Made myself a complete fool infront of everypony... everypony was watching, it's not like they didn't wanna see it. And now they're thinking "Oooh, there goes the wussy mechanic who's dog died, boohoo." Stupid freaking idiots... are you kidding me?"

"Sir?" One of the crew members had stepped in.

"This is bad... see... well I'm going to make it simple for you, because you don't know anything about machinery."

"Uhh... yes, Sir?"

"Ok, so. .... We need to get Max to talk again, right? Well the only place that I know to get the parts to do so... is  Canterlot."

"Why don't we look from somewhere else?"

"Because it would take too long!"

"So shall we take course to Canterlot?"

Goldwrench sighed.

"Yes."

"Right away, Sir."

After a while, the ship was in Canterlot again.

*Oh great...*

Gold had spotted DeadEye there, his ship missing.

*Serves you right...*

Goldwrench was trying to get to the shop as fast as possible.

"Move out of the way...." He muttered to some random ponies, as he rushed past them.

[Agent505 661]

@,

 

(You didn't, but it's been 4 days since your last post, naturally, I assumed you weren't interested anymore, seeing you had been posting in other RP's)

 

Metal Gear didn't say anything on his way back to the ship, and as far as he was concerned the rest of their short journey was uneventful, save for fillies and colts playing in the streets running into him at one point, but that was nothing to worry about. 

Unlocking the door to The Asylum and entering his room, he unclipped his weapon and packed it back into the chest under his desk, turning to open another cabinet on the opposite side of the room.

 

He opened the door on the metal cabinet, and another saddle fell at his feet. "God dammit" he cursed "Bleedin' hook's broke again..." shaking his head, he lifted the saddle up and strapped it to himself. Down either side of it where several small, metal slats folded over each other. connected by a thick, sturdy yet light material. As he clicked the buckles in place around his chest, two metal bars protruded from either side of him, down his legs and clipped around his ankles. 

 

Lifting one leg out, the corresponding wing expanded, smacking against the wall of his room. Folding his leg at the knee, it flapped downward once like a pegasi wing, and then back out again when he extended his leg. He repeated the same process with the other, testing to make sure they would work alright when he decided to jump off a building next. "A'ight, good ta go" he grinned, walking out of his door and locking it behind him. 

 

"Slice, ya comin'? Might be a bonus fer gettin' there on time." He chuckled as he sat outside the ship, waiting for Slicer.

Edited July 14, 2013 by Agent505

[Miss Light Diamond 2,802]

@@Agent505,

 

 

Slicer wondered into the ship after Metal Gear. He walked to his room where he grabbed his gun...which he never used.
He strapped it to his waist before walking out of his room and down the hall towards the airlock doors...which were locked. He heard somepony outside say something muffled and he raised an eyebrow. He opened the doors and stared at Metal Gear. "Locking the doors and then calling me wont work all that well." He said, walking out of the ship and closing and locking the doors behind him.

[Agent505 661]

@,

 

"What in the hay are ya talkin' about Slice?" Metal gear asked as he looked him up and down. "Whatchya bringin'?" He pulled his head back skeptically, eyeing the weapon holstered by his side. "'Sat one o' mine or yours? I can't rightly tell much these days."

He reared up on his hind legs and stretched both of his front legs forward, extending the artificial wings ready for flight. "Where we suppose' ta meet this guy again? Docks or somethin', right?"