The Daedalus Technologies building was a sight to behold.
A sixty story black obelisk stretching toward Minos's skyline. Applejack had never seen anything like it, even in Manehattan. The building was topped with two things. One was the horns of a Minotaur. The other was a large screen that played a running montage of advertisements for the company. Including ones for Minos's new Cybermen.
"That's a bit unsubtle isn't it?" The Doctor mused. "May as well have labeled the place 'Doom Fortress'. I mean, look at it! A gigantic pitch black horned tower? It's the sort of thing you see in fantasy novels!" The Doctor took a deep breath. "Alright Doctor, you're just fishing now. Go into this with an open mind..."
"What're you talkin' about?" Applejack asked.
"I'm hoping that there's little I have to do here. I hope we simply get in, get the information, then get out," the Doctor sighed.
"I thought you said that Cybermen were bad news..." Scootaloo said.
"They are," the Doctor answered. "Or at least they were when I met them before. But with that contract, everything's different. There are people volunteering to be upgraded. The Cybermen aren't forcing people to do it this time. Out of patriotic duty, they've done it themselves. And if that's all there is to it, I'm not going to stop them. If I try to decide this for them, I'm taking away their free will. Then I'm no better then the Cybermen I've met before."
Apple Bloom scratched her head. "So... Everypony has a right to choose... whether or not they keep the right to choose?"
"Exactly," said the Doctor. "Though I think if you do it you're barking..."
"Philosophical!" squeaked Sweetie Belle.
"We're waistin' time," Applejack said harshly. "Let's get in there and figure out what's goin' on,"
The five ponies walked into the building.
The walked through the large white lobby up to a reception desk. Applejack hated this place on sight. It was too...sterile. Everything was at perfect right angles with everything else. It was creepy.
The Doctor walked up and showed his 'identification' to the receptionist.
The female Minotaur's reaction was... surprising.
"Oh! You're the Doctor!" she said brightly. "Mister Daedalus has been expecting you!"
The Doctor was stunned... "He has?"
"Yes! Everything's in order," the receptionist said reassuringly. "Just head to the executive lift and pick the sixtieth floor. Mister Daedalus is waiting for you there. Here's the key! Have a lovely time!"
The Doctor walked over to the elevator in a daze. "What... who... where... how?"
"I thought you said that card would only work as fake ID!" Applejack scorned. "I don't want it rewritin' somepony's mind!"
"It doesn't, I swear!" the Doctor said desperately. "I don't know what happened back there, but I was not the cause!"
The rest of the elevator ride was uncomfortably silent.
The elevator came to a halt on the top floor.
The Doctor and his companions walked toward the desk of what Applejack guessed had to be Obsidian Daedalus's secretary.
"Hello," the Minotaur woman had a very shrill voice. "My name is Gem, I'm Mister Daedalus's personal assistant? How can I help you?"
"Hello! I'm the Doctor and-"
"Oh yes!" Gem smiled. "The mysterious scientist from Equestria. Princess Twilight said you'd becoming. But... who are you're..."
"Ah! Yes... This is my secretary Applejack... and..." he looked at the three fillies. "I'm afraid she couldn't find a sitter. And we couldn't just leave them at the hotel..."
"I understand completely," Gem waved her hand in assurance, then bent her knees down to meet the Crusaders at eye level. "Luckily we have the best day-care in Labarynthian. So we can keep these three sweeties out of trouble."
"That sounds great, thank you!!" Applejack turned to the Crusaders. "Apple Bloom? You and your friends go with the nice lady now. Don't give her no trouble, you hear?"
"But sis!" Apple Bloom whined.
"No arguin'!" Applejack scolded.
Apple Bloom frowned. "All right..."
The Crusader's walked over to Gem.
"Mister Daedalus is waiting for you inside," Gem said as she left.
Obsidian Daedalus was an imposing figure. Much taller then he looked on the screen in the city square. But he wasn't who caught The Doctor's eye.
That honor belonged to a young mare sitting on his desk. She was quite a looker. Yellow coat. Caramel brown mane. Wearing a very expensive suit.
That wasn't what caught the Doctor's eye however...
"Flash your legs all you want, Ms. Marks," Daedalus said. "I will not release the schematics of the Cybermen to your company until we have enough."
"Oh come now, Obsidian," the mare said sweetly. "You really mustn't-"
"Excuse me?" the Doctor called from the doorway. "Your receptionist told me you were expecting the Doctor?"
"Ah yes!" Daedalus got up and went to shake the Doctor's hoof. "I'm Obsidian Daedalus. It's good to meet you Doctor. You're the princess's 'Stallion of Science', eh?"
The mare got off of Daedalus's desk and brushed herself off. Blushing, but still looking the consummate professional.
"Of course! How rude of me," the Minotaur pointed at the mare. "This is High Marks. Ms. Marks, meet the Doctor!"
"Doctor?" High Marks went to greet the Doctor. "Doctor who?"
"Oh just leave it at the Doctor," the Doctor smiled. "It's good to meet you Ms. Marks. What are you doing here?"
"I represent a Tech manufacturer in Canterlot. We're interested in making parts these new 'Cybermen' for Mister Daedalus," she smiled back.
The Doctor smiled and nodded. He had the uncanny ability to do that when somepony lied straight to his face.
He turned to Daedalus. "Mister Daedalus, I have to ask," he asked. "When did you first go in to weapons tech?"
"To be honest?" the Minotaur smiled. "Since the war began a year ago. Before then this company made household electronics. Home computers and the like."
"Then why shift to makin' weapons?" Applejack asked. As soon as she said it, Daedalus looked pained. "I-I'm sorry... I didn't mean-"
Daedalus raised a hand. "It's alright. It's a perfectly valid question. Look over there." He pointed to a screen on the wall of his huge office.
The screen flipped on and began to play footage of an explosion. The same explosion they saw on the screen in the city square.
"Black Horn Bay," Daedalus explained. "One of our most important ports, turned into a military base. We had been at odds with the Changelings for quite some time. War was inevitable. But we never expected them to start it like this. It was then I knew I had to fight. Do what I could to help my country. I'm to old to enlist now. So I'll do what I can from behind the lines."
The Doctor noticed everypony else's very strong reaction to the harrowing footage. Applejack was close to tears. Obsidian was grinding his teeth.
Ms. Marks was glaring in anger at Daedalus however.
The Doctor shook his head. "What are you doing here?" he mumbled.
"I'm sorry Doctor?" Daedalus asked.
"I said I hope that the lads who've signed up for this understand what they're losing," the Doctor easily ad-libbed. "I read that contract. You essentially remove any compassion they ever had..."
Daedalus nodded solemnly. "It's a sacrifice. War always is. But I can prove to you that they knew what they were getting in to when they signed the contract."
"How's that?" the Doctor asked.
"We should have a little chat with Cyberform Zero." Daedalus smiled.