//------------------------------// // Chapter 112 // Story: Voyage of the Equinox // by Starscribe //------------------------------// Explore the bridge. 50% Twilight considered for a few moments where they would go first, but really there was no debate. “The bridge is going to be treated as the most essential section of the ship. It’s most likely to remain intact against threats, and to contain the information we need.” “We already have some idea of what happened,” Rarity said absently. “Assuming we trust Captain Sunset’s story. About creatures getting sick, and the plan to evacuate?” “I know,” Twilight said. “I’m not saying we don’t trust Sunset. But we need the details. Then we can get the Canterlot out of here.” “To go nowhere,” Rainbow muttered, the last to pull on her helmet. “There’s no more Equestria. It wouldn’t be here if something terrible hadn’t happened. Sunset’s right about that part, even if she was wrong about everything else.” “I know,” Twilight said. They clambered down from the deck of the Prospector, down onto the bright yellow and black emergency patterns. Every step she expected to find the dead, ponies crumpled and shriveled after whatever horrors had brought them here. But there were none, not in the docking bay, and not all the way to the central elevator. The hardware inside looked different than Twilight remembered—the doors were automatic now, and there was no chair for an operator. Twilight hammered on the button for the bridge, and soon they were zooming upward. At least for a few seconds, before a series of loud metallic clicks echoed through the shaft, and the car lurched to one side as the emergency breaks engaged. Rainbow spread her wings in the space beside her, though of course they’d do her little good wrapped in plastic. “That’s not good. Captain?” Twilight was already on it, ripping the plastic panel off the wall and inspecting the flashing lights underneath. “Looks like we’ve got… a drive failure. We could probably get it to take us the rest of the way with just one motor, if we’re not in a hurry.” “Already on it.” Rarity blasted the service door over their heads open with a flash of magic, holding several tools around her. “Rainbow, give me a boost?” Can Rarity fix it? Yes She hopped back down another moment later, horn glowing to simulate gravity. “Ugh, well. I wouldn’t trust it for the return trip, but we should be able to get to the bridge this way. The state of things out in that elevator shaft… maintenance has really been neglecting their duties.” Twilight twisted the override key, and they began to rise again, amid constant electrical-sounding protests from far away. She remained tense every second, waiting for something to fail and drop them. At least she could shield the three of them if it did fall, or teleport them up into the shaft. As they neared the bridge, they passed abruptly through an opaque bubble, a shield that swallowed the elevator in just a few seconds. Her suit began to hiss, its exterior sensors flashing as it read the atmosphere outside. It read as barely safe, with dangerously high levels of C02 and other trace gasses. It was livable, but only just. “Keep your helmets on,” Twilight said. “We’ll rely on our own supply unless we don’t have a choice.” “Exactly what I was hoping you’d say,” Rarity muttered. “Can you imagine what it must smell like? From these readings, I’m guessing there are fungal colonies clogging up every scrubber on the station. Or something worse.” “Don’t think about it that way,” Rainbow suggested. “They made a station cross an interstellar distance. I don’t have a bucking clue how they did it. The Canterlot wasn’t made to travel, and yet here she is. We should be amazed for what they did.” Ten agonizing minutes later, they finally lurched into place on the bridge level, and the door opened halfway. Twilight shoved it the rest of the way with her magic, emerging into the expansive hallway that had once been the center of Canterlot’s affairs, packed with thousands of ponies and other creatures from all over the kingdom. Now the space was simultaneously crowded and deserted. Crowded with equipment, machines that occupied all but a narrow gap in the center. The beautiful planters and statues were all gone, replaced with thick pipes connecting one bank of machines to the next, sweating blue liquid. Cryopods. Thousands and thousands of cryopods. Twilight stepped out, walking until she was in the center of the hallway. The main deck was a ring, circling the entire station in a path roughly a kilometer long. She could see the gentle curve, packed with pods as far as she could see. Not all looked to be in good repair, but there were so many. “Sweet Celestia,” Rarity swore over the public channel. “There must be a million cryocoffins here.” “More.” Twilight said. “Imagine if they’d done this to every deck. Every cargo bay, the crew quarters…” but they couldn’t know that for sure of course, not until they actually reached the bridge. It wasn’t far, just a brief climb between the coffins, until they reached the massive metal doors. They opened, and Twilight was again struck with horror at what she saw. There were ponies in here, wearing navy bodysuits. Their bodies were strangely stretched, thin and reedy like a creature who had never known gravity. They froze in place, one letting go of their rusty toolbox so that it floated away in air. Another raised a makeshift knife protectively in their magic, baring teeth like a frightened animal. “Hey…” Twilight began. 1. Subdue the survivors with magic. We don’t have time to waste on a fight in here. 2. Talk them down. It’s the pony way. 3. Leave. Wait until they’re done and come back, they don’t look like they’re up for a chase with legs like those.