//------------------------------//
// Part 10: Bearing Race 
// Story: The Transporter: Second Gear 
// by Unit_ZER0 
//------------------------------//

As the memory ended, the Princess filled in the blanks.
“As I stated earlier, Mr. Cole, you and Miss Lulamoon arrived at the Transport Division stable, and from there were taken to the castle infirmary. Your injuries are on the mend, and I have dispatched a team to recover your vehicle.”

The human took a few breaths, the memories beginning to integrate themselves with his consciousness, and the adrenaline rush he’d experienced seeing them again for the first time slowly faded.

“Princess, I cannot be 100% sure without seeing it firsthand, but I highly doubt I will be able repair my vehicle, let alone use it to retrieve both Earth Mover, and the package.”

Princess Luna hesitated for a moment, before shaking her head. “No, Mr. Cole, I suppose you could not. I do appreciate your desire to rescue Earth Mover, but this has now become an international incident. A citizen of another nation has been taken hostage while under the protection of Equestria, and materials formally given to the Equestrian Crown have been stolen. An incident like this will be resolved through either diplomatic, or other means.”

Here the human reacted by taking a deep breath, and squaring his shoulders. “Ma’am,” Cole began, “I am obligated to inform you that I am well versed in the “other means” you have just spoken of. I was a member of a team that pursued similar operations in my world, and I believe an unconventional approach may prove effective.” Taking another breath, he continued. “I also feel a personal responsibility in this. Firstly, my student was taken, and secondly, I always deliver a package to its intended destination. I’ve never failed in this last item, and I do not intend to break that record.”

The Alicorn and the human regarded one another for a brief moment, before the Princess sighed, and relented. “Mr. Cole, I am beginning to see that dealing with your species will be both fascinating, and frustrating, I suspect in equal proportions. Very well, you will be permitted to assist the operation to retrieve the hostage, and the items, but you will be second to local authority, as assigned by Myself. Is this acceptable?”

The human drew himself up in a formal manner, and brought a rigid right hand to his brow in a manner the princess immediately recognized as a formal salute. “Ma’am, yes ma’am. And thank you.”

The Princess tipped her head in acknowledgement. “You are most welcome, Mr. Cole And now, I believe it is time for us both to wake up.”

As the princess uttered those words, Cole felt the dream reality around him begin to dissolve, giving way to a comfortable darkness.
After a moment, the human felt himself back in his body, and began to rouse. It was slow, thanks to the full body ache he was currently feeling, but there was, thankfully, no pain.





As the human awoke, he shifted his eyes to where he had sensed a presence before he had passed out. Unsurprisingly, there stood Princess Luna. 
“Greetings once more, Mr. Cole. As you no doubt surmise, time is short, and we will need as much of it as we can to prepare.”

The human took a moment to take a deep breath, and then rose smoothly. “I understand, ma’am. What’s our first move?”

“Firstly, we need to assess the damage to your equipment, and determine how to procure additional supplies. Then we proceed with mounting a rescue.”

“I think I can help with the supply end of things,” Cole began. “I have a workshop with all the materials I will need, and some gear that can be adapted for anyone you assign to the mission.”

The Princess took a moment to consider, the nodded. “Very well, I will assign you to Sergeant Stormcloud, effective immediately. I will accompany you both to your workshop, and assist you in putting together what you need. My current duties are such that I can set aside ample time for such an endeavor. I will also have my staff begin drawing up documentation for a formal grievance regarding this incident with the changeling hives.”

As they continued to discuss the mission particulars, Cole had taken the opportunity to don his shoes (his other clothing having been destroyed between the crash and the infirmary), and was subsequently cleared to leave the infirmary. From there, it was a long walk across the palace proper, to the exterior stables.

Along the path they took, the Princess had paused in their discussions to point out come artifacts on display, and some of the architectural features of the castle itself. Cole had remarked on the anachronistic nature of some of the design choices, especially the contrast between the large widows, airy open corridors, and the distinct lack of defensive choke points, as compared to the structure of the building itself.

Princess Luna was pleased that the human had noticed many of the same things she had. Even having brought herself up to speed on the current peaceful state of Equestria, her heart still clung to some of the ideas of a thousand years ago, and the open nature of Canterlot castle still felt odd, open, and far too vulnerable. In light of the recent changeling invasion, it seemed her concerns were not without merit.

Along the way, they collected Sergeant Stormcloud, and the trio then took a look at what the recovery team had managed to bring back from the crash site. Balance Wheel, and Trixie Lullamoon also met them down in the area the Elantra had been parked.

The human stood before what was left of his vehicle, and sighed, running a hand across his head, and tugging on his chin. Turning, he regarded the clockmaker. “Balance Wheel, I’m going to leave the engine of this vehicle to you. I think you’ll be able to get the most out of it. As for the rest, Princess, I’ll leave it to your science and technology experts. I think they’ll be able to get a few insights into materials technology by studying it. Aside from the contents of the equipment bays, the rest of this machine is a total loss. If you all will excuse me, I need to put on some better clothes for our trip.”





After that short, awkward speech, the human nodded to the Princess, and took his leave. The others stood in silence for a bit, until the sergeant spoke. “Well, that was a bit abrupt, huh?”

“Agreed,” the Princess replied, looking thoughtful. “He hides it well, but our human friend is quite upset.”

“He told me once that in his world, vehicles like this one are cared for with great pride, and respect,” Trixie stated slowly. “I think he’s hiding a lot of how he’s feeling, considering how I would feel if someone did something like this“ -here, she gestured to the wreck- “to my wagon.”

The vehicle had been savaged in the crash, with all four tires flattened, all windows except for the smaller ones in the rear blown out, and the metal of the body crumpled and warped. It seemed surprising that the passenger area had held up as well as it had, until Balance Wheel used an X-ray spell, which revealed the tubular steel frame inside the body that protected the interior. The hood had been crumpled like a potato chip, and the trunk was crushed, but the engine was surprisingly intact, as were the transmission, and other mechanical components.

The Princess took the opportunity to inspect the wreck herself, wrinkling her nose slightly at the blood on the airbags, which hung down like misshapen curtains from the interior. It was clear that the human machine had a high level of safety built into it, and although it moved at great speed, if the reports on her desk were to be believed, it also was designed to protect its occupants well. She was sad she had not gotten a closer look at it when it was intact.





Morris Cole stood in front of the mirror in his room, adjacent to the classrooms and utility spaces of the stable. He had changed out of the hospital pajamas he’d awoken in, and now sported a pair of blue jeans, a t-shirt, windbreaker, and web belt. He had switched from his driving shoes to a pair of tactical boots, and was contemplating the day’s events. There were now three clear objective in mind: First, he had to assemble the equipment he’d need to complete the next two objectives, and that meant finishing it. The project he’d been putting off all this time. After getting it assembled, next was convincing his team leader they would need it. And finally, they would need to break into the fortress, and rescue the princess. 

No pressure.





Earth Mover groaned in her sleep, and then snapped awake. The last thing she remembered was firing blasts at an attacking changeling swarm, and then taking a stun spell to the face. Being flung out of Cole’s vehicle had hurt, and she remembered the awful sound as her left rear leg had shattered. A quick mental check revealed that the limb was achy, but lacked the sharp pain of an unset fracture. As slowly turned to look at it, she realized it had been set, and immobilized in a cast of changeling resin. A side benefit of having holes in your lower extremities was that it made fixing injuries in place with this method much easier.

She took a deep breath, and struggled to rise, groaning again when she had gotten her legs under herself, and took a moment to get her bearings. Her balance was a little wobbly, but mostly intact. She was bruised and scraped, but thankfully she’d managed to transform back to her natural state before hitting the ground, so she’d sustained far fewer injuries than she might have. Which, considering where she’d ended up, was a very good thing. It was obvious she was in some kind of holding cell, if the bare rock walls, recessed lumifungus pockets, and metal bars across the front of the room she found herself in were any indication. The single drone staring balefully at her from the other side of the bars was a pretty good indicator as well.

“You have awakened, this is good,” the drone stated flatly.

“Where is this place? Why have you taken the royalty of another hive hostage in this manner?” She asked.

“You are one of those who discovered the ark, yes? You are one who knows how to open it, and your presence will ensure the compliance of the ponies.”

“I don’t follow… You seem to think I’ll just give up information like that willingly. You have to know they will come for me.”

“My queen knows this. She is counting on it. You will be fed, and tended. You are valuable.”

With this last, the drone turned, and opening its wings, it buzzed away.

Earth Mover took a moment to process that exchange. Firstly, it was clear that this drone’s hive, whoever his queen was, did not value individuality all that much. At least, that was what it looked like. The drone was intelligent enough to relay basic information, and carry out simple commands, but not too much beyond that. In sharp contrast, the drones of her own hive were positively loquacious when spoken to. It could be a control spell, but it was more likely they were bred to have such a strong connection to their queen that they just didn’t need to think independently.

And this was bad. That meant the queen of this hive was exceptionally strong at mind control. Even with the natural defense of being a royal of a different hive, Earth Mover was uniquely vulnerable to the kind of pressure a full queen could exert, even one not of her hive. Thinking quickly, the changeling attempted to light he horn, and felt the telltale stinging emptiness of hardened suppressor gel on her horn.

This was going to take a bit more work than she’d initially assumed.