One for the road... · 1:57pm Jun 8th, 2016
Reservations are made for Las Vegas next week (I only wish it was Las Pegasus!). I'll be staying at Harrah's on the strip for six nights, leaving crack of dawn Sunday and returning Saturday to get my fill of poker, good food, and other vices. A couple people have requested updates on my play while I'm there, so I'll be posting regular blog updates while I'm there. Win or lose, I'll share.
In the meantime... I have one more Firefly chapter ready to go. You'll see it in the next couple days, but in the meantime...
Thunderbolt didn't wait for an introduction, instead pushing the door open himself and marching inside. “‘’Tis been a long time, General Squall Line.” Thunderbolt said as he saluted, the barest hint of an edge to his voice. “Congratulations on being named head of the Aerial Corps.” he added with a smile that did not reach his eyes.
Sitting at the rather ornate desk in the large office room was a dark grey pegasus with a brilliant gold mane, dressed in a Corps general uniform, dark blue with white trim and his rank stars prominent. He looked surprised to see Thunderbolt, although that surprise quickly turned into a wary, equally forced smile. “Lieutenant Thunderbolt! ‘Tis quite unexpected that you wouldst come here. I thought you said you were done with the Corps?"
“I did, and I am,” Thunderbolt replied, waving my family and I inside. “I'm here today on this young mare’s behalf," he continued, prompting me to remove my shaded spectacles. “She wouldst be a fine addition to the Corps, but there seems some… reluctance to accept her. Or give her a procedure that wouldst allow her the day vision necessary.”
The general, to his credit, did not change his facial expression one bit, although I saw a shadow pass over his eyes. "Ah… this would be Miss Fell Flight, then?"
“I am,” I spoke up, standing at attention as I’d been taught to do in basic. “And I wish to serve, sir.”
“Do you, now?” he asked me, his eyes flitting from me to my assembled family behind me, their presence perchance preventing him from saying things less tactfully or throwing me and the Lieutenant out on the spot.
“Sir, yes sir!” I said again.
“General, please. Our daughter needs this,” my mother, Morning Breeze, stepped forward beside me. “She is a good mare, and we’ve raised her as best we can, but her eyes have made life difficult for her and there are simply some things we cannot provide for her. We believe that the Corps can give her the outlets and sense of purpose she needs.”
“Outlets?” the General echoed as if he could read between the lines. “In other words, she was a problem foal who got into plenty of fights and had trouble getting along with other ponies?” he paraphrased with the air of a stallion who had such a foal of his own.
“I think it wouldst be more appropriate to say that other ponies did not get along with her, sir,” my sire spoke next. “I am Dry Line, a weather specialist at the Cloudsdale weather factory. My mares and I have always worked there; none of my family have ever wanted to join the military before. As Morning Breeze said, we've provided for her as best we can, but ‘tis now clear to us she will never happy in Cloudsdale or in our line of work. We feel that the Corps can do for her what civilian life can't--give her a place she can be accepted and a chance to make a difference whilst being free from prejudice. At least, 'twas the impression given her by the Corps' motto: 'all are equal'." he pointedly out mildly.
The general chose his next words carefully. "Indeed, all are equal in the Corps. And yes, your daughter is exceptionally talented, to judge by the fact that Sergeant Major Rolling Thunder made an appeal on her behalf," Squall Line replied, moving some scrolls around on his desk to reveal a separate set that were bound together by cord. “‘Tis true that you must have made quite an impression on him if a longtime trainer with high standards was willing to vouch for you. However, with the idea that 'all are equal' in mind, I cannot give special treatment to anypony, Miss Flight. Your eyes are simply a liability the Corps cannot afford. I am sorry to be so blunt, but your abnormal vision renders you physically unfit to serve."
“In one singular aspect, General," Thunderbolt said. "From what I hear, 'tis only her eyes that gives her trouble, and even then only when out for extended periods during the day. In all other areas of health, she is perfectly fit and even excels.”
"I do not dispute that," conceded the general, looking increasingly annoyed. "However, that doesn't change the fact that Miss Flight cannot safely remain in the daylight for more than a few hours at a time without protection. And attacks from Equestria’s enemies do not adhere to a schedule!"
"But Flight Sergeant Panacea had a remedy for that!" I protested. "An operation that could— "
"Ah, yes, this 'crystal lens implant'," Squall Line interrupted, flipping through the scrolls. "Quite frankly, it sounds like a pipe dream to me. These tales of this so-called Crystal Empire are unsubstantiated, and I fail to see why I should spend the Corps' resources on an experimental procedure based on what may well be a fairy tale. I am on a budget, and the ‘tis unlikely the Equestrian Council for Military Affairs wouldst look kindly upon on such an extravagant expenditure for a single soldier.”
“Sir, if the question is one of simple bits… then we wouldst be willing to pay for it,” my father motioned to my mother and the other mares of his herd, who all nodded in agreement, causing me to break bearing and look back in shock. ‘Twas the first I’d heard that offer, and it greatly touched me. They smiled at me in response, and I vowed to give each of them a huge hug when we were alone. “If it wouldst allow our daughter to serve as she wishes to, then we offer up our own savings to that end.”
Squall Line looked startled; he apparently hadn't considered that others would be willing to pay for the expenses of the procedure. Still, he was not going to give in that easily. “With respect, Mister Dry Line and Mrs. Morning Breeze, ‘tis not just a question of expense. The fact remains that this so-called solution is still unsubstantiated rumor and hearsay. I am no healer or unicorn, but ‘tis likely they wouldst say it could just as easily blind her as cure her. Are you really willing to risk your vision, Miss Flight?” He addressed me directly.
“If it means a chance at serving… yes sir!” I proclaimed without hesitation, my parents and herdmate aunts stepping forward to stand at my side.
“Sir, if the Corps is unwilling, we will pursue this procedure for her ourselves. If so, wouldst you allow her to enlist if she can then pass the eye exams?” my sire prompted.
Squall Line clearly didn’t like the bind he was being placed under, and I again had the impression that were it not for the presence of my parents and herdmate aunts, he wouldst have had us ejected long earlier. “Well, that wouldst be… helpful…” he qualified somewhat grudgingly. “But...”
“But, what?” I couldn’t stop myself from speaking up despite Thunderbolt’s warning glance. “But, you don’t trust me? Is that it?” I challenged, allowing a note of bitterness in my voice as I saw the general’s jaw set, betraying his feelings. “I’ve seen exactly one thestral in my life, sir, and part of the reason I’m here is she rejected me as a ‘half-breed’. I want to be here! Please sir, I want to belong somewhere!” I stepped forward and plead, tears in my eyes.
“Trainee…” he began, but I cut him off again.
“The Corps motto is supposed to be ‘all are equal’, sir! If I can pass the same tests, then why doesn’t that apply to me?”
“Why indeed?” Thunderbolt asked rhetorically, gently but insistently pulling me back. “Mister Line, Mrs. Breeze, honored guests. I respectfully request you please leave the room. Though I’m sure you all have much more to say at this point, I believe ‘twouldst be more fruitful for me to speak with the General alone...”
Damn... I really feel bad for Fell Flight now...
4008621 She had it pretty rough, thanks to the Lunar Rebellion.
Poor Fell.