//------------------------------//
// Meet the Engineer 
// Story: Meet the Team: Pony Fortress 2 
// by The Usurper 
//------------------------------//

	Last night's walk had been a relaxing one for Diana. It wasn't often that an opportunity to have some peace and quiet came along, especially in her occupation. Who knew? Maybe, in a different universe, there existed an Equestria which was peaceful and not the battlefield for an epic war between two alicorns that was overseen by the Administrator.

Speaking of which, she had heard the Administrator talking in a language the BLU Spy often used - what was it, Prench? - just before she was out of earshot. Of course, she couldn't understand a single word, but the Administrator had been asleep. Maybe he was sleep-talking.

That sounded enough like a flaw that she dismissed it immediately. The Administrator doesn't make mistakes like that. If he were prone to sleep-talking, he'd soundproof the room.

Come to think of it, why didn't he soundproof the room? It would make any conversations held within it secure from any eavesdroppers, and he could certainly afford it, if he couldn't cast the spell himself. If it had been some sensitive information, and the Spy had passed by and understood what he'd said, he could be in trouble.

He doesn't make mistakes like that.

So why did he?

Diana filed it away to mull over later. For now... She gazed at the thousands of apple trees around her, then at the piece of paper pinned to the arrow on her hoof. ... I've got to find out just where I am on this damn map.

"So, am I to assume that you, too, are unable to pinpoint our location?" Another pony asked. Diana turned to face her similarly lost counterpart.

"Yes, Rarity, I'm afraid that we're completely lost." She sighed as she rolled up the map and placed it in her saddlebags. "I don't think we could find our way out of this place even if we wanted to."

"Which we don't, of course." Rarity said. "My mission is to get to that Engineer and sabotage all of her sentry guns. And I'm going to do it even if it kills me. I will not disappoint my allies."

"That is, of course, providing that the rest of BLU team isn't just as confused as we are." Diana unrolled the map again.

"Any landmarks?" Rarity asked her.

"Yeah. Trees, trees, and more trees."

"Never mind." The Spy took her saddlebag off her back and began to leaf through its contents.

"What are you doing?" Diana asked.

"Making sure all these masks function as intended. It simply won't do if I find my target and discover all my tools don't work. Since I have time to spare now, I may as well confirm that they are in working condition."

"Really?" Diana put the map down. "Could I see them for a minute? I always wondered how they worked."

"Of course." Rarity handed the satchel over to her.

"Hmm..." Diana retrieved a mask and fitted it on her head. "Doesn't seem like much is happeni... is that smoke?"

"Yes. That means that my masks, or at least that one, are still untouched by any enemy saboteurs. Comforting to know."

"Alright. So, how do these things work?"

"Well, they've all been enchanted with class nine illusion spells."

"Class nine? Most unicorns can only cast up to class five spells without suffering from severe magical exhaustion. Of course, anything above a certain spell's class can easily override it or alter its abilities, but I doubt any unicorn could go around randomly casting class six and above spells at everypony trying to figure out who the true spy was."

"Actually, a higher class also makes the spell more foolproof, which is why these," Rarity gestured to the saddlebag, quite wrapped up in her explanation, "have been enchanted by Princess Luna herself. The stitching is all my own work, of course, but the credit for the true 'inventor', as it were, of the disguise kit, is the fine leader of our League. The Builders of Lunar Utopia aim to construct, not to destroy. We will give all ponies more power in their own nation."

Well, looks like I'm about to hear the BLU speech again.

"That is why BLU is the way to go. Long live the team. Long live Princess Luna. And long live the New Lunar Republic." Rarity noticed that Diana's eyes were glazed over. "Are you listening to me?"

"Huh? What?" Diana shook her head vigorously. "Yeah, of course I'm listening."

"Then what did I say?"

"You were talking about how BLU is about building and not destroying, and why it's the right way to go. Then you proclaimed the longevity of BLU, Princess Luna, and the Republic."

Rarity snorted. "Well, at least you were paying attention."

Good thing I've heard this enough to know the substance by heart. I wonder if the Engineer is going to recite the RED code to me too...

"In any case, here's your masks back." Diana gave the saddlebag back to Rarity. "I think I finally know where your prey is."

"Where?" The Spy asked eagerly. "The sooner I get to her, the sooner I can get this over with."

"Just keep quiet and listen."

Immediately, silence enveloped the area. A few seconds later, a huge explosion shook the orchard, followed by the continuous fire of a rapid-fire weapon.

"The battle has begun." Diana pointed in the general direction of the noise. "Go. Join your allies."

"Thank you." Rarity bowed slightly in appreciation before rushing off.

Diana waited for a few seconds before she decided that the Spy was finally gone. She then chuckled and opened her saddlebag.

"When will they learn," she took in the sight of the collection of masks that rested within the confines of the saddlebag, "that they should never interfere with my interviews?"

****

*bang* *bang*

Applejack glanced disinterestedly at the limp body that toppled to the ground near her level one sentry gun. The counter on the box beside her now broadcast her three hundred and twenty kills in a single life for anypony who wasn't too dead or dying to register it.

Another explosion rocked the valley where her sentry nest now resided, and several BLU team members were hurled off the slopes in a burst of flame.

Applejack sighed. "Reminds me a bit too much of Apple Bloom. Ah just hope that Diana's goin' ta come quickly, or else ah might just end up diggin' mah own grave in mah memories."

"I'm sorry, am I interrupting anything?" The unexpected intruder caught Applejack by surprise, and she spun around, pistol in hoof, ready to fire at-

"Diana!" Applejack's mouth broke into a smile. "Glad ta see a friendly face after so long."

"Likewise, miss Applejack. I must confess that you are the most amiable pony I've met so far. I have very high hopes for this interview."

"So do ah." The Engineer gestured to a pile of wooden boxes. "Please, take a seat."

"Gladly." Diana trotted over and relaxed on the boxes. "Shall we begin with the interview?"

"Sure. Let me just go over and repair mah sentries."

"Oh, you don't have to worry about that. I made sure that they - and by extension, we - are perfectly safe."

"Completely safe?" Applejack cocked her head. "Don't we have the whole BLU team tryin' ta kill us?"

"I already took care of that." Diana smiled. "I took the Spy's disguises, tied the Sniper's arrows to her bow, set all grenades and rockets to explode upon firing, filled the Medic's medigun with Jarate, and stole all the Bonk cupcakes. Nopony will ever get close enough to damage your sentries without being blasted sky high." Just as she finished, another explosion rattled the valley, and a blackened rocket launcher fell to the ground. "As you can see."

"Well shucks, ah'm honoured." Applejack grinned. "Ya sure put a lot of thought and effort inta this interview."

"Thank you, miss Applejack. I've had enough trouble with all my interviews so far to know that a little bit of early preparation wouldn't hurt."

"Well, at least ah didn't kill Spike. That interview was okay, right?"

"Um... yes. Definitely." Diana coughed. "So, first question."

"Go ahead. Ah ain't gonna lie to ya, if that's what ya'll are thinkin'. Ah'm about as honest as they come."

Honest, eh? Interesting. "I don't doubt that, miss Applejack." Diana smiled. "So, as I was saying, first question: How do you feel about your profession?"

"Ya mean do ah like bein' an Engineer?" She snorted. "Of course ah do! Would ah be doin' this job if ah didn't like it?"

"In that case, what is it about building and maintaining automated defensive turrets that appeals to you?"

Applejack put a hoof to her chin. "Well, there are a lot of reasons, but one of the most important ones is that it's predictable. If ah want ta build a sentry, ah know just what ta do. It'll do exactly what it always does, too. Makes life easier when ya know what's goin' ta happen."

"What about dealing with enemy Spies?" Diana questioned. "I find that anything but predictable."

"Most of the time it's just a matter of givin' everypony who comes mah way a little 'southern hospitality'." She chuckled. "And even if the Spy does get me, it's just a matter of goin' back out there and rebuildin' mah machines."

"Wouldn't they take advantage of that window of opportunity to capture a point or take the intelligence? That could prove potentially fatal in the long run."

"Ya win some, ya lose some." Applejack dismissed her question. "Even if they take the intel or cap a point, ah still got some fight left in me. And if we lose, ah'll just come back in the next battle with more experience under mah belt and, occasionally, a crafty new anti-spy strategy."

"So winning or losing doesn't matter to you?"

"If you're implyin' that ah don't take mah fights seriously, then you're wrong." She adjusted her trademark Stetson that had fallen a little lower than before over the course of the conversation. "Ah'll fight with everythin' ah got before ah let that damned BLU team and their little Republic take a new piece of land from us. All ah was sayin' is that ah won't let one defeat cripple me." She snorted. "That also means ah won't let one victory get ta mah head. Unlike a certain pegasus we both know."

"I can imagine who." Diana replied, her tone surprisingly neutral. It was a stark contrast to the exasperated tone Applejack had been expecting.

"Say, where is Rainbow, anyway? Ah haven't seen her in a while."

Diana sighed. "Please, miss Applejack, don't mention her again. I'd rather not think about that pegasus any more than I have to."

"If ya say so." She gave Diana a concerned look. "Are ya alright?"

"Yes. Yes, I am. Just some... unpleasant memories, is all. Now," Diana gestured to her interviewee. "Where were we?"

"As ah was sayin', ah take mah fights very seriously. Ah just don't let the outcome affect me too much, ya know?"

"A fine policy. It's not common to see somepony so resistant to the toll battles can take on the mind. When did you settle into this mindset?"

"It was... some time ago." Now it was Applejack's turn to sigh. "Normally ah wouldn't talk about this, but ah think I've kept it bottled up for too long."

"If it's something personal, miss Applejack, please do not force yourself to share it with me for the sake of this interview." Diana insisted.

"No, this is for mah good as much as yours. You're the first pony ta hear about this story, other than Twilight."

"Well, if you really want to, then feel free to share it with me. I assure you, nothing you say will leave this valley." Except on my report to the Administrator.

"It's okay, ah would've trusted you anyway. It's not like ya'll are a monster or anything."

Diana stiffened slightly. Thankfully, Applejack didn't seem to notice. That, or she chose not to react.

"Where should ah start? Hmm... guess ah'll just keep it short and sweet. It was in the middle of a battle in Badlands, see, and ah was defending one of our control points. That day, I'd brought mah... uh... sister... ta the battlefield."

"You brought your sister to the battlefield?" Diana asked disbelievingly. "Could she even fight?"

"...kinda?"

"Uh huh."

"Hey, ah'll have ya know that she was a fine fighter! Even better than me in some ways..." She wiped away the accumulating moisture in her eyes with a hoof.

"Please do not take it the wrong way, miss Applejack. It just seems rather dangerous to bring a pony without a respawn point to the front lines."

"Well, we hadn't fought any actual battles in a month, so I decided that it was safe ta bring mah sister with me ta work. She'd be alone at home anyway."

Diana scrutinised the Engineer carefully. She's not telling the complete truth, I can tell. I'll have to ask the Administrator about this. "When did this happen? In all my years here, I don't remember any time where there wasn't a battle of some sort raging somewhere."

Applejack looked at her strangely. "This was just a month ago. How could ya not know?"

"Just a month ago? Uh..." What was I doing a month ago? "... I suppose it just slipped my mind, that's all."

"That's a rather big thing ta slip your mind, don't ya think, sugarcube? Maybe ya ought ta go fer a checkup or somethin'. Ah'm sure the Medic will be perfectly willin' ta-"

"NO!" Diana shouted. She realised what she had done a few moments later. "Ahem. I mean, I'd rather not, thank you. I think avoiding a treatment from the Medic is in my best interests." But she's right. How could I possibly forget an entire month of no combat? I'll ask the Administrator. Maybe he knows something about this.

"If ya really think that ya'll are alright." Applejack said. "So, as ah was sayin', ah was defendin' the control point at Badlands, but I left my sister at the final point ta make sure nopony came close."

Diana was tempted to say something about the wisdom of leaving a pony with only one life alone with the task of defending a control point, but kept her mouth shut.

"But despite mah best efforts, that damned Spy managed ta get past everypony and attack her. Ah tried ta get back in time to save her, but... ah failed."

Diana put a hoof on Applejack's shoulder. "I'm sorry."

"No, don't be." Applejack shook the tears that had dripped from her eyes off her face. "After that, ah realised that emotions are bad for ya. Good or bad, they cloud yer judgement and make things unpredictable. Ah brought mah sister ta work because ah would miss her otherwise, and ah thought she wouldn't be happy, which made me sad. Ah left the control point ta find mah sister, which made us lose the point and later Badlands, all for something ah knew was hopeless from the start, because of my emotions. If ah had been more level-headed, ah could have avoided that Pyro, and if ah'd been thinkin' straight ah'd have realised that the Spy was usin' a dead ringer."

Friendship is mostly emotion. Diana thought. If she's truly purged it from herself, like she said, then there's no need to worry about her ever becoming a Bearer of one of the Elements.

"If ah really want to win," Applejack continued, "ah need to be a machine. Cold. Calculatin'. Emotionless." Her eyes hardened. "Only then will ah ever be able to destroy BLU team like the worms they are. And when that day comes, ah will finally get revenge on that monster who killed mah sister."

"Not all monsters are evil." Diana whispered, more to herself than anypony else.

"What was that, sugarcube?"

"Nothing." Diana quickly said, in a fashion that she hoped did not arouse Applejack's suspicion. "Now, back to the interview. I noticed that you were getting rather philosophical towards the end. That's quite unlike you."

"Nah, philosophy's just not fer me, ya know? Ah'm an Engineer, so that means ah solve practical problems. Ah don't answer questions like 'what is beauty?' because ah ain't that kind of contemplative, deep-thinkin' pony. If ya want answers fer questions like that, you could always ask the Spy once ah'm done blowin' her up."

"In that case, what problems can you solve?"

"Like ah said: practical problems."

An awkward silence persisted for a while before Diana cleared her throat. "More specific, please?"

"Oh. Of course." Applejack gestured to the treeline behind which BLU team was hiding. "For instance, how am ah goin' ta stop some big mean motherhubbard from tearin' me a structurally superfluous new behind?" She picked up a Wrangler which lay on the ground nearby and aimed it at the clump of trees. "The answer?" Instantly, two pairs of rockets flew out of one of level 3 sentries and blasted a new crater-shaped clearing in the orchard. "Use a gun." Whatever was left of BLU team charged out from behind the wall of smoke the rockets had left behind. "And if that don't work?"

The moment they detected the incoming horde, every sentry gun in the clearing swivelled on their tripod mounts to face the intruders.

Applejack grinned. "Use more gun."

*kaboom*

The rapidly expanding of sphere fiery death not more than a few meters away from Diana forced her to shut her eyes, and when she opened them again she gaped at the carnage and destruction strewn across the ground.

The sound of Applejack's chuckling drifted over to her ears from beside her. "That's the only kind of art ah'll ever get into. Quite a nice picture, don'tcha think?"

Diana was too distracted to respond with anything other than an automatic affirmative.

Idiot! What are you doing? She mentally facehoofed. You're not supposed to-

"Ah thought so. This is the only real art veterans of war can appreciate."

"Yes." Salvage the situation. You're not supposed to look bloodthirsty. "The art of war."

"Well, that wasn't really what ah was referrin' to, but ah guess that works too."

"Yes. Yes, it does..." Diana said absently as she gazed at the pile of bodies at the centre of the blast zone. Something about those corpses irks me. Somepony who should be there isn't. Not all of BLU team participated in this assault; Last she'd heard, the Heavy was with his gun that he'd sent to the Engineer for maintenance just in case the Spy had gotten to it, and the Pyro wasn't here for this battle, which was lucky for the Administrator at least, since now the RED Spy he'd sent sneaking around to keep him continually informed of the BLUs locations wouldn't have to worry about-

Diana's eyes flew open wide as realisation struck her just as hard and suddenly as the blow to the back of her head. She tried to turn her head to catch a sight of her assailant when she felt the tip of a knife between her shoulder blades. 

"You." Diana breathed.

"Yes, it is I. I have to admit, it was very crafty of you, stealing my masks like that." The very familiar voice of the BLU Spy came from behind her. "Thankfully, I can still do quite well with my Eternal Reward, and I can make do with the conjured masks for a while. Oh yes, before I forget, I found that disgrace of a Spy you sent to keep an eye on us." Diana could almost sense the smirk that stretched across the Spy's face behind her. "We had a little conversation, and it was unanimously decided by everybody who was still alive a few minutes later that I could assume her identity for a while."

Diana gulped. "Miss Applejack, shoot her, please."

"There ain't nothin' ah'd rather do right now." Applejack's shotgun, cradled in her trembling hooves, was leveled at the intruder's head. "But what about you?"

"I'll be fine." Diana stated. "Just shoot her." Applejack will shoot the Spy. I'm sure of it. She's probably already deduced that the Administrator would never send a servant so indispensable as his interviewer out to the battlefield without some sort of insurance. If she had emotions, they might get in the way, but unless she's managed to trick herself too, then she is exactly what she'd said she was. Cold. Calculating.

Kind of like me, now that I think about it.

"If you don't attack me, Applejack, I assure you that your friend here will be completely safe." The Spy grinned. "Surely you wouldn't pass up such an opportunity."

The gun in Applejack's hand wavered slightly, and Diana began to doubt her previous conclusion. Maybe she really was able to deceive herself into believing a lie. This isn't a life-or-death situation anymore. Then again, I suppose it never was Her eyes narrowed. It is, and always has been, a test. A test for Applejack. I can't help but wonder if the Administrator planned all this beforehand. That would be very, very much like him.

"Miss Applejack, shoot her." Diana repeated. "I'll be safe, trust me."

"Ah... ah..." Applejack sighed as she lowered her gun. "You win. Just let her go now."

Inwardly, Diana groaned. Looks like I was wrong. She's still a potential Element, then. I'll let the Administrator know.

The Spy smirked. "You thought poorly, Applejack, when you assumed that everypony was as honest as you." She slammed the knife down into Diana's back.

The smirk that was on her face disappeared when she realised that the knife slashed through the air as if there was nothing there. She turned her attention away from the blade to see Diana grinning at her from a meter away.

"Oh, sorry, did I scare your disguise away?" Diana she laughed. "No, that was your knife."

The Spy looked around her as every single sentry in the valley locked onto her. "Merde."

*kaboom*

Thankfully, Diana had time to brace herself for the shockwave that sent her flying several meters away. In her opinion, the dirt still met her curled-up form far too quickly, but it wasn't enough to kill her. She breathed a sigh of relief as she stood back up and brushed the dust off her coat.

Applejack was by her side in an instant. "Are ya'll alright? Did that Spy hurt you?"

Diana sighed again, though now for a completely different reason. "I'm fine, miss Applejack, but I think you might not be."

"What?" She cocked her head. "What do ya'll mean?"

"You are very honest. Am I correct to say this?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"No, I'm not. You lied. To yourself." Diana gathered all her belongings that were scattered across the ground and set off. "Well, this has been a most delightful interview, but I'm afraid that I must take my leave now."

"Well..." Applejack said, still a bit confused. "Goodbye then. Ah suppose ah have to thank ya'll too, fer helpin' me kill that monster."

Diana's eye twitched again. "It brings me no pleasure." Without another word, she departed, leaving an even more befuddled Applejack by herself, surrounded by all her sentries.

"...okay?"





A knock at the door woke the Administrator from his work-induced stupor. "Hmm? Oh, come in."

The door opened to reveal exactly who he had been expecting. "Administrator?"

"Ah, Diana!" The Administrator dropped what he was doing, which included a whirlwind of reports, his mug of hot chocolate, and a madly struggling Opalescence, and welcomed his interviewer in. "Tell me, how did the interview go?"

"As well as expected." Diana reached into her saddlebags and took out a bunch of papers. "Here's my report. And this," she hoofed over the whatever was left in the saddlebags, "should be returned to the Spy immediately. She will need it if she is ever to fight again."

The Administrator opened the bag. "So you managed to take her masks and her Eternal Reward. Impressive."

"It wasn't too hard dealing with her." Diana shrugged. "But the insurance did come in handy."

"I thought it might. I trust you are alright?" He gestured to her hoof. "You sure you don't need that arrow removed?"

"It might come in handy one day, I imagine."

"It's your choice." He said.

Should I ask him? Diana wondered. Oh, why not. What's the worst that could happen?

"Administrator, can I ask you something?"

"Of course." The Administrator leaned back in her chair. "What's your question?"

"Did something happen to me a month ago? I can't seem to remember anything from that period of time until about three weeks ago."

Suddenly, the Administrator leaned forward interestedly. "You can't remember anything?"

"No. Do you know if anything happened?"

The Administrator stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Well, last month was totally peaceful, since BLU team was being suppressed by new Aperture Sentry technology developed by the RED Engineer, though she hasn't used it since. As for your memory loss, I highly doubt that this was an accident. It is far more likely that this was intentional."

"Intentional, Administrator?"

"Yes." The Administrator told her. "I can't be entirely sure who did it and how, but what I do know is that there are spells that do exist that can alter memory, but those would have to be at least class thirteen and above, which no ordinary unicorn could cast. The only beings I know that are capable of such power are myself, Celestia, Luna and-" He stopped short.

"...and?" Diana prompted after a while of uncomfortable silence.

"No one else." The Administrator said curtly. "You may leave now, Diana. Go and do whatever it is that you do in your spare time."

"What about my amnesia?" Diana asked.

"I'll look into it." The Administrator's tone was sharp. "Leave, now, before I change my mind."

"Yes, Administrator." Diana bowed, then turned and left. What could possibly have caused such a drastic change in his demeanor? She filed it away with all of the other things she resolved to ponder later.

As soon as the door shut behind his interviewer, the Administrator groaned and slumped back into his chair. Comfortable as it was, it offered him no reprieve from the reprimand from his mind.

Why did I almost mention him? I know I swore never to speak of him again. Not until I finally end everything. Not until I win. Why did I nearly blurt out his name? He rested his head on the palm of his hand. Maybe I miss him too much?

No. It is impossible. I already blocked out feelings like this centuries ago. There is no reason for it to return now. There must be another reason.

But what?

I need to get my thoughts off this. He sat up straight. I need to think of something else. Something less... personal. He sat and stared at the wall for a few minutes. 

...Diana. I can think about her, I guess. Where should I start? Well, so far, her interviews have gone quite well, as have all the assignments I gave her. A true talent. I must treasure her the way she... deserves... NO! The force of his thoughts pushed his table back a few centimeters. The way she must be treated in order to preserve her loyalty. That's what I meant to think. He sighed. Okay, change topic. What else?

The war. Of course. Both Celestia and Luna are playing right into my hands. Everything is going as I anticipated. Soon, the all interviews will be complete, and then I'll be able to see him agai-

"DAMN IT!" He exploded with magic-fuelled rage, propelling table, documents, saddlebags, mug and Opal alike away from himself at top speed. "WHY IS IT I CAN'T GET RID OF THESE STUPID EMOTIONS?!" Anger, part of himself was quick to bring up, is an emotion too.

He panted from the sudden magical exertion for a few more moments before collapsing back onto his chair. Destroying random objects will not help matters. He glanced at the remains of the mug of hot chocolate. At least nothing else was damaged.

As if on cue, his table split down the middle and cracked in half.

Never mind. He shook his head. I have to stay calm and collected. Only four interviews are left, and after that, I sense... something. Something bad. I still can't tell what it is, but I have to make sure I'm prepared for it. I won't let it ruin my plans. Not after I've gotten so far.

I guess... I guess having emotions doesn't matter has much as whether I let it affect me or not. And I'll be damned if I let it influence my decisions. I will be the emotionless monster I need to be. Nothing can and nothing will stop me.

"Now, back to my work." He turned his attention back to the control room. "Oh." He snapped his fingers, and a microphone appeared in his hand.

"Yes, this is the Administrator. Tell the Engineer she is needed immediately at headquarters." He looked at what remained of his computer screens. "There are a few... uh... equipment problems to be fixed. And while you're at it, bring me a new table, too."





Dear Diary:

I wish I could have fought in the latest battle. Our entire team was apparently destroyed by one RED Engineer. If I'd been allowed to fight, I think everything would have gone differently. Someday, I'll probably go against my orders and attack anyway.

But before that, what's more worrying is that my interview is coming up soon. It's either me or my counterpart on RED, and I have a sinking feeling that it's going to be me. I may be the last, but it's still too soon. I wish that things could go differently.

I think tomorrow is going to be Fluttershy's turn. I'll head out and see how her interview goes. Once I know what to expect, I'll know what to do. I just hope everything goes well.

Pinkie Pie