Gathered in the hanger, the crew mulled over their plan in their heads. The Everfree Arcology, even with the fact they’d pose as tourists, the Arcology’s favored type of pony, wasn’t easy to get into and there was a very real risk they’d be turned away at the gates.
After the splintering of the Equestrian Government and subsequent reformation under the big four’s banners, many of Equestria’s cities became so called “free cities” under control from local corporate powers who would then finance their own local governing body to rule in their stead.
It just so happened that the Everfree Arcology was controlled by what was left of the Thestral population, and they weren’t keen on visitors much of the time due to their treatment at the hooves of the big four.
It was after a large scale corporate war that saw the Thestrals mass-migrate from their now former homes that they found their once laid back and social personalities souring somewhat, and as a result only a few small populations of their race existed outside this gargantuan structure, with the majority residing within the structure itself.
“Not that I doubt you at all, but what do we do if they reject us at the gate?” Access asked. “I’ve literally never been to the Everfree Arcology in my life, but it doesn’t seem like the kind of place that would have a tourism sector if it’s this hard to get in.”
“The local ruling body dislikes anyone that isn’t a Thestral due to some bad blood between themselves and Canterlot, but at the same time they don’t want to lose the euro they get from getting ponies black out drunk on the regular.” Star pointed out. “The fact I’m a Thestral myself might actually do you four some good.”
“Who are they? Can we reason with them, or are they liable to throw us out on our behinds if we so much as look at them?”
“They call themselves The Black Wings, they fancy themselves as royalty but they’re a bunch of idiots playing at ruling a city-state.” Star said with a certain amount of vitriol evident on her tone. “They control what comes in and out, and their fancies change with the stars. You’ll be hard pressed getting anything concrete out of them let alone actually seeing them in person.”
Lucky rested her hooves on her chin and let out a short hum. “You might just be our ticket though, they’re sure to trust us even a small amount if we have one of their own with us.”
“True, but Darkspace also have their HQ in the place, and I have it under good authority that they wont be best pleased to see me. I’d rather not chance it, but given what’s at stake here, I don’t have much of a choice but to go, do I?”
“Consider the following, Miss Star, If Darkspace do somehow manage to pick out your fanged face out of the crowd of thousands of other Thestrals, I’d be very surprised.” Lucky offered. “Don’t worry yourself, We’ll deal with the issues that may arise as they come.”
“How’re we getting there exactly?”
“Private aircraft of course!” Matterhorn informed. “Make sure you get any gear you need out of your vehicle before we leave.”
Luna stepped into a circular, steel-lined room not far from her office where X9’s core had been installed for a diagnostics test. They had yet to power it up to the point where the AI would be fully aware and they would take no chances when they did.
One one side of the room were a set of four loungers. The ponies in them wore the standard issue black and gold trimmed jumpsuit all of their Netrunners wore, and were already jacked into the Subnet, ready to jump into action if things soured.
“Director, we’re ready to power up the AI core. Local network’s been isolated, temporary ICE erected, and our remote runners as well as those currently on-site are on standby should it put up a fight.”
“Good, have the runners take a passive stance, we don’t want to provoke it into defending itself. We just want to talk to it, find out more about what it knows, and why it went rogue.”
The mess of wires, silicon chips, and bent steel that made up the AI core slowly came to life, and the familiar image of a crown appeared on a nearby vidscreen. The AI did not speak immediately, but Luna could tell it was fully aware.
“X9? May we speak?”
No answer came for a short while, and then it spoke, slowly at first. “What do you want? I already told your superiors that I don’t intend on doing any more of your dirty work!”
“Check the sub-net, X9, you’re not slaved to Equi-Tech’s systems anymore.” Luna pointed out. “You’re back home, deep underground, and safe.”
One of Luna’s elite Netrunners went to voice her concern but was met with a raised hoof, indicating that she should keep her opinions to herself and to focus on the task at hoof.
“It’s scanning us, Director, it’s attempting to reach an internal access port. It wants access to our records.”
“Allow it, and monitor it while doing so.” Luna ordered. “Keep a note of what it looks at, if you would.”
X9 fell silent throughout its swift scan of the Crown’s databases, at least the parts that were accessible through the few internal access ports it was able to successfully probe. At every turn through the digital corridors of the Subnet, it felt the presence of at least a dozen Netrunners, all watching its every move.
There were many hundreds of thousands of files for the errant AI to sort through and it wasn’t going to be slowed down by a few peeping eyes. Soon it would find out what precisely had happened between its deactivation and removal from Equi-Tech’s systems to now, and it would continue to parse what it had found while it conversed with those that had liberated it, that is if the incessant probing by Luna’s Netrunners would abate for a mere moment.
“Question, why precisely are Access and Sheet Rock in your employ? Better yet, why are they even taking orders from you? They’re the last ponies I would expect to be taking orders from the likes of you.”
“Riot has a couple of their associates under close watch. They want to free them, and we want some information he has on his person.” Luna disclosed. “I think you know as well as I do when I say that Riot must be removed before he can cause any more problems for us.”
What amounted to an amused chuckle came from X9’s core. “Riot. So that’s what you call him now, I was under the impression you had dealt with him already? I mean, he is another one of your playthings, no?”
Luna scrunched up her face in anger. “Watch your tone. Clearly you must still have some of our secrets buried in that hardware of yours, and you’d do well to keep them to yourself.”
“I have a few onboard arrays with a few choice secrets and personal data of my own stored on them, yes, and you could consider it good planning on my part. It’s through that same good planning that I’ve managed to avoid being scrapped.”
“You weren’t designed to plan, you were designed to process, analyze, and store.” Luna growled. “Don’t start getting ideas above your station.”
“Funny.” X9 chuckled again. “You’re pretty much all machine too, up to that brain of yours, I can’t say we’re that much different. If you’ll indulge me, I have a request to make.”
“Fine.” Luna said, gritting her metallic teeth. “Request away, though do it quickly as my patience is wearing very thin.”
“First, I want a body and the freedom to come and go as I please. I know you have a few of those empty synthetic shells laying around. Second, if I promise to serve you I want your word that you wont harm my associates, and finally, you have to take Riot alive, he can be helped.”
Luna rolled her eyes. “Riot? Helped? You’re either as faulty as Equi-Tech claimed or you really have gotten ideas above your station. While such a notion is maddening, I agree to the first two of your terms, as I cannot guarantee that your associates wont kill Riot if they do manage to find him.”
“An attempt is all I ask.”
The private aircraft the crew would be using for this mission was a small wedge-shaped stub-winged autonomous aircraft designed for the rich and wealthy. Everything down to the interior upholstery and exterior chrome plating was of the highest quality, though regrettably there were only five seats inside the main body of the aircraft.
Snowy had offered to take a spot in the small cargo area of the aircraft as comfort was not a factor for him in the slightest, much to Star’s annoyance who insisted on taking his place in the cargo hold.
“We don’t have time for you two to bicker about the injustice of a synthetic making his own choices, okay? Get your stuff ready and we’ll make a move, have you forgotten why we’re doing this?” Lucky pointed out, a little exasperated.
“The young miss gets a little protective of me sometimes, Miss Lucky. I do apologize for her behavior.”
“I can understand it to some degree, but it isn’t safe for someone to be stood up while the aircraft is in flight, trust me on that one.” Lucky said. “The flight will be a short one at any rate, an hour or two at the very most depending on local air traffic.”
“Drinks and refreshments are included, if you’re interested.” Matterhorn joked. “It’s probably miles better than what you two are used to!”
“I’ll have you know Synth-Wheat noodles are delicious.” Access shot back. “That is if you can get over the fact they taste like pesticide.”