//------------------------------// // Chapter 10 Demonstration // Story: The metal HAWKEN // by NinjaTurtle //------------------------------// Chapter 10 Demonstration As I woke up, I looked out the window to see the sun on the rise. I climbed out of bed and changed my clothes. I got dressed into my causal stuff, which was a black pair of joggers, a black T-shirt with green trimmings and a black hoodie with a green inner lining. It was comfortable and warm. I opened the room door and walked out. Outside my door were Blocked heart and Blade wing. They were stood at attention and had their weapons and armour on. “Morning, how are you two? “ I greeted. “Oh, morning Connor. How was your meeting with the Princesses and the other representatives? “ Blocked heart asked. “It was fine. I told them the story of how I joined the military. It took so long that, by the time I had finished, the meeting was over. I think they might rewrite it. If you want to know the story, ask the guards that were there cause I can't be bothered to retell it. “ I answered. “Got anything plans for today? “ she asked. “Maybe a demonstration of my mech to test and show off the weapons and abilities, but that's after breakfast. You know where to get it? “ I questioned them. “Yeah, it's this way. Follow us. “ Blade said. As we walked down the halls, I looked at the guards. Those that were looking at me soon snapped back to attention. The staff workers have wondering looks as they passed and the nobility were looking in disgust. As if I care about them. The dining hall door opened as we approached and I sat at the table where I sat yesterday. One of the chef's came over. “Good morning, what can I get for you? “ He said. “Could I have bacon and eggs? If not, toast will do. “ I said not missing the little look of fear on his face. “Ah, yes…it will be out shortly sir. “ the chef said as he trotted away. “Good morning Connor. It's good to see you this morning. How was the accommodations? “. I turned to see the Princess enter the room, her sister not far behind. “Oh, hi. The bedrooms were fine. How’re you this morning? “ I greeted. They took their space at the table as a chef came and went with their orders. To start a conversation, Luna spoke up. “Oh, we are fine. So, what is your world like? “ asked Luna as the chef came back with my order. I ate a piece of bacon before speaking. “Well…it's pretty good. I mean yeah, it has it's bad history, but it's from these mistakes that we improve. No one is good or bad. Everyone is a bit of both but look one or the other to other people. Also, the fact we don't have magic is made up for in our technology. We went to the moon a few decades ago. “ I said before continuing with my breakfast. “Your race has gone to the moon!?! How!?! How could thous lunar guardian allow this!?! What crime did they commit to deserve so!?! “ Cried Luna as she stood up. “We don't have a 'lunar guardian’. We built a spaceship that got a few people on the moon and back. Since then, we've sent a rover to mars, a satellite out of our solar system, figured out how planets and stars form, looked at planets light-years away and we might send people to mars permanently to live there in the future. “ I said to the moon Princess. “Then how does the moon move? How does the sun get raised in the day? “ Luna asked, not so loud this time. I finished the egg in my mouth first before replying. “Ask Twilight sparkle. I told her already and I don't wish to explain it again. “. The chef was now coming out with a plate of pancakes with syrup that went to Celestia and another plate with toast which went to Luna. I was finishing the last egg on my plate as I saw DB out the window. At the same time, DB turned and saw me. DB then turned back to the ground, going back to what he was doing. “Well, looks like I'm done. I'm going outside to check on DB. See ya later. “ I said as I got up and left. Outside the door was Block and Blade. “Are you my private guard or is it just so happens that you two are the ones always being stuck with me? “ I asked. “Yep. Since no one volunteered for it, we were given that job. They said that we've spent the most time with you and you were more familiar with us. “ Blade said as we started to walk “We look forward to the demo you were scheduled to do as well. We've seen it's speed but not it's weapons or powers. “ Blocked said. “Oh, your in for a real surprise. Have I told you that there are mechs bigger or faster or stronger than mine? Or how we have created things that could level this entire mountain top and have effects in other countries? “ I rhetorically asked as we continued to walk. We made it to the courtyard. There was an obstacle course, a sparring area, a mess hall and a armoury. Over by a field, DB stood with a few guards around him. I called out to him. “Hey! DB! Over here! “. With that, the mech walked over to me while getting a lot of glances by the guards. One in the sparring area was to busy and didn't see the punch that connected to him in the face. “Hello Connor. “ DB said in the unique monotone voice of his. “Morning. Urm, we have a demonstration to do today. Just to test all the weapons and abilities, mostly to show off to the guards what we can do. “ I informed. “Affirmative. Would you like to enter the cockpit? “ He asked. “Naaa, I'll climb in later. Do you know a place to test the equipment? “ I said as I looked around. “There is a range nearby for them as they still use bows and arrows. “ DB said. “Huh. Well, OK then. We can go there later. Now I just need to find something to do in the meanwhile. Do we have any video games? “ I said. “Sir, you have a console controller in the rider compartments. I can use the holographic projector to display games on the wall for you to play. “ DB suggested. “Oh yeah, forgot about that. Have you got need for speed on there? “ I asked. The guards nearby now looked in confusion and muttered between themselves. “Yes, I have need for speed payback downloaded. “ said DB. “OK. Let me grab my controller and then start a new game. “ I said as I was lifted up and put on the mechs head. I climbed into the cockpit, lifted the seat and looked for the controller. The rider compartments were there so they could store stuff of there's. Some had photos of family or snacks. In my compartments, I had a picture of me, my brother and my mother. I also had two bags of sweets, one being mint inpearls and the other being butter sweets. I had five live ammo mags packed in the corner. Finally, at the bottom, was my father's old console controller for the PS4 but with a different of my mech and me being printed on the touch bar. I climbed back out and DB put me back on the floor. We both walked over to the most plain wall we could find. DB used his projector to put the game on the wall. The title screen loaded up as the guards, now too intrigued, came over to watch. I pressed a button and the cinematic cutscene started. I watched as the sound and growing size of the group watching made more ponies curious and then them to came over to watch. I watched the last part of the cutscene play out as the game play finally started. --------------------- A few minutes later. --------------------- I played up to the point that I picked my first car of the game. I had played this game so many times, I knew what car I wanted before the option dialogue finished. I looked at the crowd of ponies watching me play the game. “Alright, DB, you can save and turn it off now. Time for the demonstration. “ I said as the guards broke from their trance and went back to whatever they were doing, although I could still hear them mutter and talk as they did so. “What was that? “ Blocked heart asked with a look of fascination on his face. “That was a game from my world. One of my favourites as well. “ I said. We walked over to the range DB had found earlier. A few guards with bows and arrows were there and looked at us as we arrived. “OK, let's get this done. Fire the machine gun at one. “ I ordered. After a couple of loud bangs from the weapon, one of the hay bail targets had been torn up. “Good. Right, lock on and fire missles. “ was the next instruction. He took a second to lock on then he fired a cluster of four missiles at a target, which exploded on impact. “Good. Now, test the holographic projector. “. His left shoulder opened slightly one of the portable projectors casted a 3D model of DB. Aside from a very faint flicker, it looked identical. It moved around for a bit then I turned off. I walked over to it, picked it up and brought it back. I handed to DB. He put it back in his shoulder. “OK, just need to test the jets. Can you hover out there, do a down crash and then walk back. “ I said as he did so. The roar of the thrusters was a bit loud but nothing too major. When DB did the down crash, the entire ground shook and some guards lost there balance. He walked back. “Well, looks like everything is in working order. “ I told myself. “Yes, all systems functional. Hull integrity is at 100%. Repair drone operational. R-core at 34%. “ DB stated. “Great. Go back and power down for now. I'll come to see you tomorrow. “ I said as I turned back to the castle. I heard DB's steps as he walked off. --------------------- Celestia, throne room. --------------------- Celestia went back to sitting on her throne with Luna in the one next to her. They had been watching the machine use its weapons. The power and technology behind it was far beyond anything ponies have build. And to think his race had no magic, wings, claws or razor teeth. All they had was their own intelligence. “That was truly an impressive display, was it not, dear sister? “ said Luna. She was the most fascinated by the demonstration. “Yes, it was. But I wonder why they would need such tools of destruction. What was he doing before arriving here? “ she inquired. “True, but I have been in his dreams. He truly is just a teenager with a sense of humour. He rarely mentions our ranks as Princess and talks normally to us. He appears to not care which is so very rare these days. “ Luna replied. “But what if he turns evil? The elements of harmony might not work on such a magic-less opponent and our guards would never stand a chance against his might. “ said Celestia, now worrying a about these possibilities. Luna looked blankly at her. “But what reasons would he have? He has only made one mistake and he made up for it. If thee get to know him better, you would see he is not that bad. “ Luna reasoned. Celestia signed. “I guess you're right. We should get to him better. Let's go to meet up with him. “ she said. Celestia got up from her throne and walked out of the throne room, with Luna following behind. --------------------- Connor Irons, Palace entrance. --------------------- I pulled out the magazine of live ammo and loaded the paintball mag into my handgun. These paintballs were specifically made for me. The were all coloured a bright, lime green that could glow in the dark. I cocked it and looked at the two guards next to me. “What are you doing? “ Blocked heart asked, looking curious. “I'm going to do something funny and stupid. “ was all I said. I didn't want them to know, it was going to be a surprise. “What were those green pellets you put into the device? “ Blade wing asked, looking equally as curious. “Those are paintball rounds. Instead of firing live, deadly, ammo, I can use these to fire a splat of green, glow in the dark, paint. It also stains clothing, which is why commanders banned it from being used on uniforms but they are otherwise harmless. “ I said as I looked for my targets. They turned the corner and saw the targets. Before they noticed me, I shot both targets on their flanks. Both said “Oooww!! “ from both of them. The princesses turned to see a new green splat of paint firmly stained on their rear. Then both Luna and Celestia turned to me before I letter it back down the hall. Worth it. I ran through the hall as the anger rulers chased closed behind. I made my way back into the courtyard and ran for the bushes. I jumped over and did a roll before resuming my sprint into the other, bigger and more effective hiding bushes. I hid behind a bush near the entrance to a hedge maze and stopped, front to stay as quiet as possible. Soon, I heard the hooves of the princesses hit the ground and stop as they looked for him. Over three hours later, they found him. After another hour, he was free from there ranting, although, seeing their now obvious marking just made him snicker and giggle. By the time they were done, it was 4pm. He was also happy he was returning to ponyville tomorrow. End of chapter 10