The borrowed Drop Pod clanked into the 17-B docking port at the Space Rig, rusty and worn, and jolted to a stop as the station’s magnetic locks latched on to it. After a long, agonizing moment, the doors hissed open, and the girls trudged down the ramp and stood tiredly around the Mission Assignment Table with bags under their eyes and zombie-like expressions on their faces.
Rarity was the first to speak. “Well, girls, I think we’ve earned ourselves a day off. We’ll do our next mission tomorrow.” She yawned. “Go rest. I’m going to crash after I check over my equipment.”
The others went to bed, and Rarity sat at the equipment workbench and rubbed her eyes. She set her shotgun on the bench to make sure it was up to specs. Before she could, however, she heard the clunks of a large, burly man stepping on the grated floor behind her.
“Stone Breaker Rarity,” Mission Control said. “A word?”
She turned around and yawned. “Yes, sir. How may I help you?”
He gestured to the elevator to the control room, and she joined him up there after securing her gear. She looked around. Consoles and displays covered every inch of wall aside from a few windows overlooking the planet, and several men along with Twilight Sparkle were spread around the room at various stations. A console beeped, and one of the men responded:
“Triangulation complete. Remote control reestablished, Team. Sending in fresh fuel cells for the Drop Pod. Stand by.”
Rarity’s Mission Control sat at his own console and crossed his arms. “How is your team faring?”
She cringed. “If I must be honest, sir, the constant stress is hitting us hard. When our comms died yesterday, we practically fell apart, and I’m afraid it might happen again.”
He frowned. “That’s what I feared. You girls are hard workers and decent miners, but you really aren’t meant for Hoxxes. I’ve spoken with Management, and they agree. We can arrange to send you all home on the next shuttle if you would prefer a safer life.”
“What was the deciding factor, if I may ask?”
“When you fired up that Drop Pod earlier this morning. It showed you have great ingenuity and can solve even the worst problems, but we knew it might not be worth sending you down again. This is dangerous work, Rarity, and until we can prevent communication loss it’s almost too dangerous to send miners into the caves. It can and will happen again, and Management doesn’t want to inform your local government of your untimely deaths.” He sighed. “As much as this is a safety move, it is also a political one.”
“My government told you to bring us back?”
“In a sense. Although we are an interplanetary corporation, we are also beholden to the laws of our employee’s homeworlds--including yours--as stated in Article III of the Company Charter.”
“What about Twilight, Pinkie, and Fluttershy?”
“Both Communications Manager Sparkle and Chef Pie have chosen to remain here. Once we rescue Greenbeard Fluttershy, we will offer her the same deal I am giving you.”
“Is there a severance package? Deep Rock is a company, after all.”
“You can either take a large sum as payment, or if you prefer we can safety and disarm all your gear for you to keep. This is the package offered to all DRG veterans upon their retirement.”
Rarity thought a moment. She could go home. She could see her friends and family again. She could return to her old life and run her boutique, following her dream and becoming a highly recognized and respected fashion designer. And she could keep her gear for the memories.
Or she could stay here. Mine the subsurface of Hoxxes IV. Fight Glyphids and journey the caves until she grew old and gray. Cheer her successes and mourn her failures alongside her friends and fellow dwarves. Upgrade her gear and rise the ranks of the Company. And what about Fluttershy? She was still down there.
There was really only one answer. “I want to defer, sir. I want to stay here until we rescue Fluttershy, and then I will make my final decision. I may not be a dwarf in the physical sense, but I’ve grown to hold the spirit of one. I cannot in good faith leave a dwarf behind, sir. I would never forgive myself if I did, and I can safely say the same goes for the others.”
“I see.” Mission Control crossed his arms. “Get some rest. I’ll have some forms for you to sign this evening for Management to send to your government explaining your deferral.”
“Thank you, sir. Rock and Stone.”
“Rock and Stone, miner.” He put on his headphones and turned to his console.
Rarity sighed and went to bed.
---------------------------------
That evening, the girls gathered at the bar, rested but still tired. Applejack, Sunset, and Rainbow Dash had tablets in front of them, each with a series of electronic forms for them to sign. Rarity had signed hers already, and now it was time for the other three to choose.
Rainbow rubbed her temples. “Paperwork? Really, Rarity?”
Sunset held her head in her hand. “Why did you defer? We could’ve all gone home.”
Applejack sipped her beer. “Yeah, why’d you do that?”
Rarity sighed. “Because if we leave now, we leave Fluttershy behind. I’m not boarding that shuttle until I can bring her with me. And I hoped you felt the same. Clearly, I was wrong. If you want to go home, tell Mission Control and he’ll set it up. But I’m rescuing Fluttershy even if I must do it alone.”
“Ah didn’t say Ah disagreed.” Applejack signed her forms before returning to her beer. “Ah’m all for bringin’ her home with us.”
Sunset rubbed her eyes. “I’ve put too much work into this to leave now.” She signed hers. “As much as I feel like I’m gonna regret this, I can’t leave Fluttershy behind. Not again.”
Rainbow looked at her friends. “Really? You guys are staying?”
Rarity shook her head. “Darling, you don’t have to if you’d rather go home.”
“I know.” Her hand hovered over her tablet, her fingers twitching. After a few moments, she finally tapped the screen and squiggled a signature. “No dwarf behind, I guess.”
Rarity, Applejack, and Sunset cheered. The team would stay, and Fluttershy was not going to be left on Hoxxes while they went home. The shuttle could wait. Their friends and family could wait. But their friend couldn’t. And no dwarf of Deep Rock Galactic, physical or not, would leave another behind.