Tools: Knowledge
Ratchet, Clank, and Twilight made their way directly back to Mukow, and from there to the arena, eager to meet up with Qwark to see what he'd found. Of course, once at the arena, they found they had to fight their way through a few challenges first, not that they were actually challenging. Several waves of enemies went down easily, only to be followed by yet another larger target.
The enemy itself, however, was rather unique. Its body appeared to be made entirely of energy, given shape only by its armor, which was somewhat reptilian in design.
"It's time for our next major contender of the evening!" Qwark announced as the beast flew in, waving to the crowd. "It's a giant...menacing...energy creature of some sort!"
Twilight stared flat eyed at the announcer box. "Seriously?" she asked, her voice flat. "That's seriously the best he can do?"
"It's Qwark," Ratchet pointed out. "What'd you expect?"
"Some effort, at least," Twilight pouted.
The creature was easily dispatched, however. Its attack pattern was predictable and easily dodged. The only challenge proved to be just how much punishment it could take.
Once it was down, Qwark rose up on his platform from under the arena. "Outstanding work, strangers I've never met!" he proclaimed expansively. "And now for the fruits of your labor! One holo-pirate disguise for Moustachio - perfect for parties and undercover misadventures..." He tossed the device to Ratchet. "And for the little guy-" He pointed to Clank. "A copy of my new exercise book, 'Body By Qwark'! Now you too can have the Calves of a Champion!" He tossed the book to Clank, knocking him on his back. "And for Periwinkle, a secret message from our sponsors!" He tossed an info bot to Twilight before his platform dropped back down.
The recorded message on the infobot spoke of a super computer by the name of IRIS, currently held in the possession of Captain Slag.
"Maybe this IRIS knows where to find the Dimensionator," Ratchet suggested.
"That would explain the Holo-pirate disguise," Twilight allowed. "Qwark doesn't know we're honorary members of Slag's crew. But...why the exercise book?"
Clank, who had wondered that himself and opened it, froze. "I will explain back at the ship."
As he refused to say more, the trio decided to adjourn to the ship.
"Aphelion," Clank stated, handing over the 'exercise book' to the ship's scanners, "please check the text of this book for data encryption."
"Scanning," Aphelion confirmed. "...the text itself has no encrypted data, but when scanned through pink, lavender, and violet light, three levels of data encryption are stored in the pages themselves, as though someone printed the encrypted data out in the pages, and then wrote on them to hide what they were. However, I am unable to determine the decryption password."
"Try LSBFF," Twilight offered, causing Ratchet and Clank to turn to look at her in confusion.
"...data decrypted," Aphelion replied. "It is the complete schematics of all of Tachyon's weapons, ships, and defenses, including a signal that can be emitted to disable the homing capacity of Drophyd weaponry."
The trio could only stare. "Okay," Twilight admitted finally. "I forgive Qwark's lackluster arena announcements. He certainly knows his spycraft when he puts his mind to it. He's just a terrible actor."
"Which may well be his greatest advantage," Ratchet allowed, "since any suspicious behavior is written off as him just being stupid."
"Remind me not to underestimate him so much in the future," Clank added as Aphelion - acting on the coordinates in the infobot - set course for the Kreeli Comet.
As Aphelion came in for landing on Kreelie Comet, several pirate ships were seen blocking the path to IRIS. "Any ideas on how to get through?" Clank asked.
Twilight opened a communications channel. "Captain Slag, can I access IRIS, please?" she called out pleadingly.
Captain Slag's visage appeared on the screen. "I dunno..." he replied worriedly. "Only the highest ranked officers get access to that comp..."
"Please?" Twilight begged, her ears going flat against her skull as her eyes widened. "When...when I saw what Tachyon had done to the Hall of Knowledge - and outlawing Knowledge, of all things - it made me so mad! But...but a supercomputer of mysterious origins with possibly all the knowledge in the universe...it's like a dream come true for me. Couldn't...couldn't you let me access it as a birthday present? My 15th birthday's coming up..."
"It is?" Slag asked, shocked. "Then I need ta ask IRIS what the perfect present'll be for ya! Come on, I'll show ya the way!" The Captain stepped out of one of the ships and waved them on to follow.
"The power of cute compels you...the power of cute compels you," Ratchet whispered, waving his hands jokingly towards Slag as though performing an exorcism. Twilight, Clank, and Aphelion all giggled in response.
With Slag's escort, the trip through the icy landscape of the Kreeli Comet was uneventful, and the group reached the vault where IRIS was kept without trouble. Twilight immediately raced forward to access the supercomputer. "IRIS?" she called out eagerly, her hooves on the touchpad. There was no response. "IRIS?"
"Huh...it was functional last time I was here..." Slag muttered.
"Twilight, let us investigate the inside of the system," Clank offered. "Perhaps we can make some repairs."
Nodding, Twilight ducked into the internal areas of the supercomputer along with Clank. They hadn't been in there long before Twilight climbed back out, glaring at Slag angrily. "Captain...would you care to explain why so many of the interior components are missing or damaged?" she demanded angrily, her mane and tail beginning to flow like flame.
"Well, we needed the spare parts-" Slag began.
"Spare parts!" Twilight demanded angrily. "You scavenged her for spare parts?"
"It," Slag corrected absently.
"Her!" Twilight snapped. "This is no mere machine or supercomputer. I already spotted what has to be a mere fragment of the most advanced personality core I've ever seen! IRIS is as alive as you or Clank or Rusty Pete!"
Slag stared, completely poleaxed. "B..but..."
"Captain, I'm going to want every part ever scavenged from IRIS to be put back," she ordered. "It's going to take a while to fix, but you are going to help!" She ducked back inside.
Slag bridled angrily. "Where does she get off orderin' me around? I'm the Captain-"
"Get me those parts or I'll take them out of your chassis!" Twilight barked.
"Yes Ma'am!" Slag replied quickly, almost instinctively, before rushing off to do as ordered.
Given how quickly Twilight worked when this intense, it was only an hour later when she'd finished the repairs. She'd sorted through the parts brought back to see what was still usable, what could be repaired, and what needed to be flat out replaced. "Alright, I've done all I can," she stated finally. "With the help of Clank and the Zoni that were in there, IRIS should now be at...80% functionality. At this point, once IRIS is activated, she can tell you what else she'll need to be fully repaired, and her auto-repair functions will take care of the rest. Just make sure to be careful when running around inside her in the future. She doesn't like grog, it doesn't agree with her electronics."
As she spoke, IRIS came to full activation. "Thank you, Twilight Sparkle," IRIS stated, her robotic voice echoing.
Twilight jumped. "You know my name?"
"I have been expecting the three of you," IRIS replied.
"What can you tell us about the Dimensionator?" Ratchet asked.
"Dimensionator," IRIS replied, calling up the schematics. "Created by the Lombax architects of Breegus Minor. Its creation marked the turning point of the Great War."
"Where is it now?"
"The last prototype was hidden by explorer Max Apogee in Kerchu City," IRIS replied.
"We'll have time for more questions later!" Twilight interrupted. "The Zoni told Clank that Talwyn was going to die in Zordoom! We need to rescue her!"
"Right!" Ratchet agreed. "Slag, can you blockade Kerchu City to make sure Tachyon doesn't get anywhere near it?"
"I won't let that scurvy dog within a hundred parsecs of the place!" Slag barked out.
Stats
Page generated in 0.056 seconds
Total duration
959 users online
295,939 hits today, 2,244,100 yesterday
FIMFiction
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Follow & Support Us
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
Extra capital letter.
... I was kind of expecting IRIS to at least mention that she had knowledge of Twilight's origin, or having Twilight at least ask her...
Goddamnit, fucking KILL STUFF ALREADY!!!
sound familiar?
global3.memecdn.com/Pinkie-Pie-Is-A-Zen-Master_c_114060.jpg
It's body appeared to be made
It's attack pattern was predictable
strangers I've never met !
It's creation marked the
1. Its.
2. Its.
3. Extra spacing.
4. Its.
And to Zordoom we go!
Cue giant gun being put against his head and Ratchet saying, "You don't want to make my little girl upset, it makes my finger twitch!" Or Twilight grabbing him with her magic, yanking his head down to ground level, and giving him a front row seat to Rapidash plus Moltres mode Twilight.
Anyone else see IRIS as Twilight's aunt?
And on that most glorious of days was when Slag surrendered his piracy and became a Priest of Twilight Sparkle, of the Kawaii Pantheon.
"The power of cute compels you...the power of cute compels you,"
AMEN *stab* oops my bad
Another enjoyable chapter. Good job.
6630951 in twilight delirium to fix IRIS and get intl on the dimensionator it just kinda slipped her mind.
I've been following several of your stories for some time now. I've enjoyed them for the most part, as they feature some of my favorite characters interacting with the ponies, but I have to confess that something has bothered me about your writing. I could never quite pin it down, and hesitated to dismiss you as a bad writer, which you are certainly NOT. I think the problem could be summed up within this one sentence:
There is little to no sense of danger in your stories, since every challenge from big bad to the humblest minion is absolutely no threat to the hero/heroes. A story needs a truly threatening antagonist in order to be interesting.
This is just my opinion, so take it with the grain of salt such a thing demands. I do enjoy your stories, I just wanted to let you know about a potential flaw within your writing.
6631477
Well, the main problem is that these stories primarily take place in video games, where the things you encounter aren't genuine threats if you're of sufficient skill.
6631477 I just love that a well articulated piece of criticism that isn't hostile and was written with the direct intent of helping the author improve is still downvoted.
6631514 True, but I'm not playing the video game. I'm reading a story, and if that story doesn't have a compelling reason for the heroes to fight, than you run the risk of losing the reader's interest. Like I said, I still think you are a good writer, just maybe consider writing a story instead of inserting ponies into a game play-through.
6631653 I hate to say it, but hater's gonna hate. I knew as soon as I posted that comment that there would be someone somewhere who wouldn't like it. My only hope is that the Author understands that I genuinely enjoy the story, but still see areas that could be improved.
6631678
Well, the compelling reason to fight is about their motivation and character interaction, rather than the battle itself. Much like in the game, the battles are obstacles, not focal points.
6631700 I suppose I can see your point, I think I'm just used to there being more of a conflict or stronger antagonist. Your story, you get to write it your way. I just finally realized what had been bugging me throughout your stories.
Han Solo can learn from this man
6631709
Ah, I see the point.
These stories aren't supposed to have antagonists. Whatever's going on throughout the story, the meat of it is in the ponies interactions with their adoptive families, however large and small, and how that interaction changes both.
So...you're missing something that, for these stories, isn't supposed to be there in the first place.
6631725 Indeed he could
Hyper theory craft go.
Tachyon manages to summon back the Cragmites, Ratchet summons back the Lombax's, and then the Lombax's + Robot Pirates proceed to kick Cragmite ass. RoboPirates have no issue killin em', Lombax's just subdue them.
Seriously Tats, I want to see a mother of all Omniwrenches thrown into this storyline.
As much as I enjoy your work, including your rate of update, I can't help but feel a little disappointment whenever I reach the end of a new chapter. They always end too quickly. Looking forward to more.
Keep up the good work. Deus tecum.
im very certain that ratchet is going to try and use the deimensionator for getting twillight home..
...How did IRIS know Twilight?
6632130
The same way she knew Ratchet without ever being introduced in the original game timeline.
...no idea. It was never explained.
6632134 Pinkie logic?
6632206 Super computer logic?
6632255 A detailed list of broadcasts from the past twenty years?
...
The alias Qwark gave Twilight reminds me of Crash Bandicoot.
Specifically, of Cortex.
...
His full name is Dr Neo Periwinkle Cortex.
6631477 as a ratchet vet, i can say that, provided your the kind of guy who moves through the planets to grind for bolts, arena's pose little to no threat. actually, i got so good at it in up your arsenal, i used it to grind everything up.
i miss my little devil chickens...
6632906
What pony would end raised by that madman?
6632134
She knows the answer is 42.
6631946
The main six finally manage to rip open a gateway to zero in on Twilight with all the interdimensional activity going on, sending yet another wrench into the works as a literal stream of Day and Night guards flood out to secure the Princess of Friendship.
6633375 Sunset Shimmer?
She's got the brains for it, plus Nina Cortex would like her.
6634992
"Someone" here thought it was a good idea to have her in Starfox... cause ya know... maybe he thought blowing up Tirek with a few missiles was funny?
6635520 Filly-fied Nightmare Moon then. She's got the evil aspect required for it.
6635547
Already in a Wreck-It Ralph cross.
6635573 FLUFFLE PUFF
6635625 Should be raised by solid snake
6640400 All of my yes. ALL OF IT.
I swear my heart actually stopped from the sheer weaponized cuteness of this
finally a proper use of the word parsec
I can't help but read IRIS's lines in FILSS's voice.
Okay, I'm really feeling like Twilight's use of cuteness as a cop-out is being overdone.
She's more like Dot Warner turned prodigal student.
"The power of cute compels you. The power of cute compels you." LMAO!!!!! My friends and I do the sequence of words all the time
6648353 You mean Sheila? Eh... I got GLADoS and Oz hybrid.
Especially because of his power of ignorance
.
Stupid powers activate.