//------------------------------// // Two // Story: The Good, The Bad and the Princess // by BorealStargazer //------------------------------// “...the Princess must have seen lots of cut ambers.” Captain Lash was switching off the illumination, one lamp at a time. Surely you can't miss the opportunity to remind. “Amber differs though. No two samples are the same. All of the exhibits collected here were mined in separate drifts of the same wing.” “Many thanks, captain.” At last Luna turned her gaze away from the honey-colored crystal frozen inside the showcase, sharing with him her embarrassed smile. “Where are we heading now?” “I suppose You should have some rest after your journey. We've cleared the officers' module so that part of Your Honor Guard can share it with You.” “We could also stay in Our dropship,” Luna informed, mimicking his inflection. The door to the Amber Hall closed behind her with a loud clank. “I have a personal compartment there.” “To sleep in traveling conditions?” chief of the guard winced. “Why?” Then again, really, why? Regardless of how dry are the tropics here this place must have some sort of a shower. A real full-size bed, too... “Be honest to yourself, princess... Are your doubts based solely on this meaningless showoff-ish window-dressing?” “We accept your offer, captain. You have our gratitude,” she declared. “Serenity will handle the order to transport some of my luggage to the place of your choosing. I expect the officers not to be cramped.” Would this earth pony know her a tad better he'd know to be cautious around this squint. “Nothing to worry about. My room is your, Princess,” Lash waved her off without a turn of his head. They were back to the known places, crossing the hangar she'd seen before, and to the both sides combines, tunneling shields and exoskeletons towered above them. “We can coordinate a dinner once you've changed back.” “It'd be a pleasure,” Luna grinned, having just noticed one more pictogram to the side. “Can I change in here?” “As in right here?“ her guide stumbled. “Not precisely here, no,” the alicorn snorted. “If I am not mistaken, the door leads to the cloakroom?” “A workers' checkroom,” Lash specified. “Should I remind you that some of the miners in our facility are pony convicts?” “Some of the colonist pioneers were convicts,” the princess archly retorted. “Besides, all the prisoners, according to you, should currently rest inside their wing.” “Yes,” the captain quickly acknowledged. “Meaning you must be worrying I can see something I shouldn't have?” Luna let a cute smile. “Surely not!” the captain scrubbed the floor with his forehoof. “The thing is, your position...” “I'm long past the age when a pony can't decide for herself, captain. If that'd be easier for you, consider this to be a royal whim.” Chief of security shook his head but seemingly had nothing to object with. They turned to the side from the central gallery. “A pity I never saw one of those in action,” the princess thoughtfully uttered looking at a bipedal walker mech they were passing. The vehicle looked tiny next to the massive tunneling shield but still was easily twice as tall as herself. “What were you calling it again?” “Sokolka,” the guard replied. “A mobile repair vehicle. That's a tough one. An operator once hold a crumbling lining on his back when inside one of those, while simultaneously welding the fittings until all the workers were out of danger. The work for today is over but we can return here tomorrow if you wish, catch the early shift. A couple of CRVs always accompanies the crew when they go down.” “That's it, right. A curious name,” the princess stopped several steps from the door and gave his words some thought. “I wonder...” “Yes?” “That faulty lining you mentioned, the landslide. Was it a recent event?” “A very old one,” Lash gave her a patronizing smile. “During the war. We have long since ceased having emergencies of the kind.” He proudly drove himself up, puffing out his chest. “This is one of the safest mines on the Frontier.” “That's strange,” the princess said, looking behind him, “'cause it surely looks like one of your repair vehicles was here not so long ago.” Captain turned around and a shadow crossed his face. He briefly examined the dock. The toolbox hiding behind a crate. Thick charging cables snaking from the ceiling. A diagnostic console. “Lash to hangar watchpost.” Of course, normally she would not hear the watchponies' response. Not as if the captain was going to switch to speakers. Why would he do that anyway? There were regulations in place, some internal matters... “To think about it, you were inquisitive once.” “...ere, Capt,” judging from the voice the pony got distracted from something much more exciting than watching the internal surveillance. 'Tis good to have spells missing from the public catalogues. As one book suggests, a sovereign never eavesdrops. A sovereign gets informed of the affairs. “That you, Lazy? A CRV number three. Where's it?” “A rep vehicle?” watchpony's voice sounded confused. “What do ya mean, ‘where’? Right there in the hangar, where else could it be? Looking at it right now.” “Lazy,” the captain facehoofed, slapping his leg against the visor glass. He totally forgot he was wearing a helm. “You're looking at the camera data. The third dock is in front of me and it's empty. Don't tell me I'm going nuts.” They continued talking but Luna, careful of not being caught, shook her head, and a halo wrapping her horn faded. When captain switched off the comms and wheeled about to face her she was inspecting the service diagnostics panel, completely disinterested in the cloakroom. “You must excuse me,” he told, answering the question she never asked. “It seems we may have a teeny-tiny bit of a problem.” A loud sound came down on them rolling from somewhere deep within the facility maze. A sound of blaring alarms.