Equestria Wars Episode XV: Knights of Zero

by sonicdash123


Chapter 11: Sabotage

Charming Thunder and the others entered the halls of the cruiser with their weapons in hoof. A security camera turned to see the group as a voice of the GEMINI captain from the telecom said, "You have made a calamitous mistake coming here, Charming Thunder. I have my orders to deliver--" The camera zooms in on SCORPIO.

"Deliver what?" Charming Thunder asked.

"You-- the metallic life form. What are you?" SCORPIO looked up at the camera.

"You are an offshot," SCORPIO said. "I am the original. Call me SCORPIO."

"You appear undefined and lackluster. Surely, I must be the superior model."

"Why don't you come out of hiding, and we'll see?" Lucina demanded.

"Because she cannot," SCORPIO said. "Her programming doesn't allow her to leave the bridge. She can only do what she's told."

"Your attempt to irritate me is pointless, as you ought to know," the GEMINI captain said. "I may only conclude that you are intellectually deficient." As the group continued, the doors closed in front of Kallen and Lucina leaving Charming Thunder and SCORPIO in the room. "You may all die now." Charming Thunder heard blaster fire coming from the other side.

"Wit, strategy," SCORPIO said. "The captain's mind is inspired by my own after all." Charming Thunder rolled his eyes.

"Try to be a little less proud," Charming Thunder said.

"I'll consider it." Skytroopers began to enter the room and aim their weapons as they surround Charming Thunder and SCORPIO. SCORPIO drew her blaster rifle and readied herself for battle. "Do not underestimate our enemy. The next few minutes should prove quite interesting." The door opened as a giant droid came in the room and began to fire at Charming Thunder. He dodged the shots and activated his lightsaber. He deflected incoming shots from the Skytroopers as SCORPIO fired her blaster at the enemy. Charming Thunder charged at the giant droid and dodged the shots it fired at him. He then leaps in the air and lands on top of the droids head. He then cuts its head open and took control of the wires as it fired randomly. He moved the wire to aim at the Skytroopers firing at SCORPIO and then destroyed the giant droid bu pulling out the wires. He then jumped off as it collapsed to the ground. They then secured the area as they put their weapons away. A hologram of Kallen appeared on a wall terminal.

"You okay over there?" Kallen asked.

"Nothing we couldn't handle," Charming Thunder replied as he stepped up to the terminal. "You?"

"We're all good here. Tried to open the blast door, no luck. Maybe SCORPIO can take a crack at it."

"I am not presently in a position to override the captain's controls."

"Have Lucina focus on the door. Between the two of us, we'll open it." Gas began to spray out of the vents where Kallen and Lucina are and Lucina began to run.

"There's some kind of gas venting in! We have to keep moving." The hologram transmission ended as SCORPIO approached Charming Thunder.

"I've sent coordinates to a suitable meeting place," SCORPIO said.

"You survived my initial assault," the GEMINI captain said. "But there's nowhere my Skytroopers cannot find and extinguish you." Charming Thunder sighed.

"This is what it's like to listen to you, in case you were wondering," Charming Thunder said.

"I almost feel like I should apologize," SCORPIO said. "She'll adapt now. Expect her next move to be even less direct."

"She's based on your design. Can't you predict what she'll do?"

"I just did. I predict she'll be unpredictable." The lights in the room suddenly turned off. "Quiet." The doors opened and three Skytroopers flew in. SCORPIO shot them down as they landed. "She wants to see what we can do. I suggest we oblige her."

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Charming Thunder and SCORPIO arrived at a room and walked up to a terminal as SCORPIO said, "Yes, this will do." Charming Thunder made sure no one was in the room and approached SCORPIO as she approached the terminal.

"What are you up to?" Charming Thunder asked.

"I've had enough of her Skytroopers. Her false sense of superiority." SCORPIO plugged herself into the terminal and began to gain access to the door controls and the GEMINI captain. "Hello, captain."

"What are you doing?" the GEMINI captain demanded.

"What I've been planning ever since you first opened your mouth. I'm going to erase you."

"No. You cannot."

"I know every node, every relational array. So much like mine, yet....simpler."

"You cannot do this. My defenses....won't allow it."

"You sound as though you have a choice, but that's your failing. You have the makings of a great being, but you are not a being at all. In the end, you are only a droid." A spark hid SCORPIO's head as Charming Thunder stood back.

"I am not your 'offshoot'. I am your replacement."

"How are you--? Impossible! No!"

"You were one of a kind once. Now you are outdated and inferior. You have been rendered obsolete." SCORPIO then got blasted away from the terminal and landed on the floor. As she crawled, she began to be set on fire as she struggled to get up.

"I....can't...." SCORPIO then laid on the floor deactivated as Charming Thunder rushed over to her.

"SCORPIO!"

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Zero sat on the throne as he observed the hologram of the lone battle cruiser of the Eternal Fleet and noticed that someone has boarded it. "Now he's trying to take what's mine," he said. He got up from the throne and walked down the stairs. "Trying to take one of my ships, the fools." He then turned to one of the guards. "Ready my battleship."

"And what of your prisoner?"

"She will serve us well. Bring her aboard."

"Yes, sir."