//------------------------------// // A Tear Shed // Story: [Forlorn Ascension]|[Rites of Dominion] // by Desrium //------------------------------// The armored space suit was in a neat pile at the entrance to the bottom section of the shuttle, just in case there was another emergency. A few feet away, Phineas pried into the port side cannon storage unit, his Harmonizer's prongs crackling and flashing as the silver stallion tended to the weapon. Various panels were suspended in an orange levitation field sustained by the Harmonizer while Phineas rebuilt the phaser, his gaze hardened with his concentration. "Now if Shu'badi spell converters work like so... I should be able to reconfigure this spell-matrix to a new focusing frequency..." he muttered to himself as he worked, combining the best of Equestrian and Seapony engineering to update his craft. "Redirect mana flow to- oh geez!" Phineas said, pulling himself away as sporadic arcs of golden electricity jumped from the phaser cannon. Phineas quickly made adjustments, prodding at the machinery with the Harmonizer, which in turn ceased the spell reflux. "Right then," he noted. "Maintain mana flow exactly as it is right now." The minutes passed him by as he toiled away with the complex assembly of magic and technology. He pulled up his PDA, using the diagrams of Shu'badi machinery to emulate their functionality with Federation equipment -in effect reverse engineering the Desolus on small scale. The task was a daunting one, rife with mishaps and mistakes which Phineas had to correct as he went along. Many ponies of the past and many more from the future would have found it too much to bear with limited resources and preparation. Not all ponies were as astute as Phineas Startrot, however. However, his mind was not completely focused on optimizing the shuttle for combat. Even as he upgraded the second cannon, improved Spell-core energy output and shield capacity, questions kept nagging him. Questions he brought up himself when he told Tsubar about Discord. "Were the Elements used when Earth was being destroyed? Did they fail? Was a Star Terror too powerful for the magic of friendship to best? Are there Elements of Harmony on other worlds?" When he went over Tsubar's reaction to their mentioning...he inferred the answer to the last inquiry. He imagined that they would be completely different than the ones he knew of on Earth, yet still carrying out the same function. Just like how Federation tech clashed with Shu'badi tech, yet both produced craft capable of spaceflight. "On that count; I suppose we're fucked." Tsubar's casual dismissal was notably unnerving. Either Tsubar had shown a new level of cynicism...or the elements had been used before and proved ineffectual against the Hoof-Talons. Worse still, perhaps disarray had clutched the galaxy to such an extent that the Elements were rendered inert across all worlds. *** "Oh, I hate being right sometimes..." That was the stallion's reaction when he asked Romaz about it over his PDA. He was lying on his back upon his cot, spacesuit on the floor just underneath the bed. "Are you certain? I mean, your kind can live for ages...!" Phineas argued. "And we've lived many an age where the Elements on our homeworld have stopped working, Startrot," she replied, as if saying so was of little consequence, as if she were talking about the weather and not the most powerful form of magic Phineas knew of. "But why have they stopped working? Why is it that all of the elements have failed? It makes no sense!" Phineas cried out. It astounded him thoroughly how grim the reality of this future really was. What was hope to a realm of savages? "War, Phineas," Romaz said matter of factly. "This galaxy has been at war for centuries. The amount of hatred and bloodshed is like a poison. Such negativity can choke even the most pure and good things. Even the Elements of Harmony mean nothing if all that remain are havoc and animosity." "But the Elements are supposed to be the opposite of that! When all six are together and their bearers are true-!" "You've seen Gallopso. You've seen how the general populace is, correct?" Romaz stated. "Y-yes" Phineas stammered, caught off guard by the gruff change of topic. "How many Equestrians did you see there that could call themselves true Element bearers?" the Seapony inquired. "I see your point," Phineas replied somewhat bitterly. He heard Romaz sigh from her end of the comm-link. "It's the same across all the worlds. There is no true harmony in this galaxy. Only war, fear, and everything everyone does to try to forget that. Tsubar has his booze, Gaali has her recreation chamber, Javic has Uolix." "Javic and Uolix are a thing? I could have sworn Javic had some feelings for me... or am I projecting Prancer onto her...?" Phineas pondered. "And myself... I have my ship. Staying in space most of the time, you only have to deal with enemy ships and debris. Everything else is the stars and planets to admire." Phineas chuckled. "You know... at one point I would have agreed with you, that just admiring the beauty out there would have been enough to keep me happy... but now I'm not so sure. For most of my life, I've known struggle. For a time, I thought being the best of the best would be the end to it all. I thought that... if I could make myself into something better, all my problems would be gone." Phineas drew a deep breath and continued: "Gaali said I act the way I do because the good in me cannot stand to see so much wrong. I am compelled... to fix things. I fix things to the best of my ability with tools and knowledge and that worked for me until I woke up nearly four centuries in the future. Now I want to make a difference but... it's clear to me now. I am just one pony in a very large galaxy with problems that dwarf me absolutely... to face them would be like standing in front of an Iopteryx and staring into the depths of all of its light." "Are you... giving up hope?" Romaz asked tentatively. Though she did not know the silver stallion long, his boldness has always been what defined him. She did not expect him to ever resign from his zealous demeanor in such a way. "Not giving up hope. I'm just... accepting my place. In the Federation, we were all encouraged to be heroes, examples of pride for our nation. But I'm no role model or example for anyone. I'm just a pony that wants to live decently for myself and for others. And though I am not perfect and I am nothing close to being the best of us, I pledge to lead a life of goodness and righteousness. At least the spirit of Equestria can last just a little bit longer... like a waning moon." "So you've changed your mind about going after Hoof-Trots?" Romaz questioned. "No. I plan on fighting them and any other injustice I may come across. I'm just going to accept that just a few good deeds will not be enough to undo hundreds of years of misery and pain. But I'm not planning on saving the galaxy. I'm planning to live as myself. And living as myself means fighting the shit that doesn't sit right with me." "I have to say, our futures are-" That was all Phineas heard from Romaz before the ship shook and the explosions drowned out her voice. Split-seconds later, there was nothing but dead air being transmitted over the comms. *** The silver stallion's mouth gaped, his eyes were wide. He was locked into stunned silence, the Desolus continuing to be rocked by explosions against its hull. He was just speaking with her. He was just speaking with her! And just like that she was gone! It was an abrupt and brutal loss without any warning to betray it's occurrence until it was far too late. "Act." He looked to the PDA screen, bringing up the list of active communicators. Romaz's feed was missing. Gaali's was missing. Javic's was missing. The ship was without its captain, sensor analyst and defense technician. Phineas brought up the system list as a hologram. The projection of the Desolus had it's entire forward end colored a dark red hue. There was no readout available for that portion of the craft. It was gone -completely blown away. He wondered what it was that could have been responsible. Spell-core blaster? A Star Terror? The persistent explosions pounding against the ship supported the former. The Desolus was found yet again, but this time Hoof-Talons was the one to hit first. And what a hit it was, for the ship was without guidance or defense. "What in the name of Ghu'arat!?" Uolix shouted over the comms. "Forward blast doors just deployed! Power instability across all levels!" "Escape pods! Now!" Tsubar ordered from the engineering deck. "Our ship has been critically damaged. There is nothing we can do for it now." "But what about all that cargo...?" Uolix asked with a quivering voice. "... Tanis won't be getting its shipment this time, Uolix. It's time to go." "Romaz? Gaali?.... Javic? Oh please, for the great Ghu'arat not Javic!" the Seapony cried. "Uolix, you need to be strong and keep your head now more than ever. If we are going to get out of this alive, I need you with me completely. This goes for you too, Phineas," Tsubar said, his voice calm and level in spite of the circumstances. "We'll all meet up at the port side escape pod, deal?" "D-deal," Uolix replied, audibly fighting back her sadness. Phineas bared his teeth. Could he really let this aggression go unpunished? Could he truly flee? Once again he was thrust to the Iopteryx, watching as its systems failed in droves on his PDA screen. He remembered that drive -a motivation unlike any he felt before. One that made him put himself aside for the good of others; the one that had him running through the darkening corridors to the emergency bay to save the souls trapped in the malfunctioning launch chute. He helped his fellow crewmates escape doom in the past, for however fleeting a time it must have been in the grand scheme of things. He would be damned if he wasn't going to do something now: the only thing he could do. "No can do," Phineas replied. "Startrot, what the fuck!?" Tsubar snapped. "I'm going out there. Be it Hoof-Talons or something else entirely, I'm going out there. I'll try to keep them occupied so you two can launch without pursuit." "But-" he heard Uolix try to protest. "Damn it, do we have the time to debate this!? We sure as fuck don't!" Phineas barked. He never did have the compassion or patience to lead. "Launch when I give you the all-clear," he ordered the two Seaponies. "R-right..." Uolix said meekly. "Phineas..." he heard Tsubar start to say. "...It's been too short, friend. Too short." "So long. And good luck," the silver stallion said as he started to suit up. At least he was able to say goodbye this time around. "And the same to you." *** Once again he sat at the controls of the shuttle, strapped in save for his forelegs. "Time to put these guns to the test." He put in a command on his PDA, releasing the cargo bay doors and deactivating the holding clamps on the small craft. The giant door retracted for what would be the very last time, the vast star-dotted blackness awaiting through a ring of flame and smoke which formed a choking screen. Phineas put his legs in the neuro-link sleeves. The shuttle tore right through the smoky veil and out of the crippled freighter leaving dual streaks of purple from the wing mounted engines. He was greeted with a single ship; one that was slightly smaller than the cargo transport. The cruiser class ship was an angular V shaped craft with curved, crescent-shaped wings that extended outwards from the side. The plating of the craft was a dark gray with sapphire highlights, the taloned insignia the pegasi had on their armor on either wing. Its cannons were mounted on the underside of its hull, following the sleek contours of its construction. Three exhaust chutes marked where its Spell-core shone with bright white radiance. "What? No dragons!?" Phineas snarled, bringing the black and white shuttle around for a sweeping pass on the cruiser. The larger craft's engines fired up, a blinding flash of light marking when it sped off, swerving itself around in tandem with the silver stallion. The two vessels engaged in some strange twisting dance. This was not combat. The Hoof-Talons were showing off! They were toying with him! "So I see you've learned that you need to keep up with me, huh?" growled Phineas, breaking off into a roll abruptly. The cruiser shot out ahead of him, allowing him to target its engines and fire. Rather than a continuous beam of golden energy, the agile craft's phaser cannons fired alternating, high speed orbs, the explosive shots ringing out their hits against the enemy. While not as damaging as the blasters installed on larger craft, the guns were exceptionally powerful for things equipped to a Federation shuttle. The cruiser tore off to the side as well, corkscrewing through the vacuum. It's cannon turrets swiveled around on their mounts when the craft was upside down and they fired their crimson volleys when it was righted again. The shuttle dipped and and ascended spasmodically, Phineas' work on the engines enabling the shuttle to outpace the blasters. With smug satisfaction, he thought: "Even when you think you're ready for me, you aren't!" He broke off again, soaring over the craft but not moving over to the other side. The cruiser attempted to roll several times as it hurtled through the void; the tenacious stallion fighting them all the while. He kept the shuttle centered relative to the cruiser, matching its every maneuver effortlessly. In doing so he was leading it farther and farther away from the wreck of the Desolus. "Launch! Launch now!" Phineas barked to his Shu'badi comrades. The pod's departure was the jettisoning of a section of hull plating, the whole thing being a large funnel shape. A seam spread across the midsection, the pieces separating with a puff of vapor. When they fell apart, the teardrop-shaped capsule shot out, the broad end being the front and the engine being the tapered one. Trailing out from behind the tiny pod were six Arcane-Manipulators, the mechanical tendrils being longer than the escape vehicle itself. Phineas would not see this. His tears welled at the corners of his eyes, knowing he had sent them off and it was not probable that he was going to see them again. "Alright you fuckers... time to give you a true blast from the Celestia-damned past!" Phineas bellowed. The exhaust of the twin engines flared up and the shuttle streaked on ahead, pulling in front of the cruiser. The scarlet tide came as expected, proximity alerts crowding Phineas' HUD. The shuttle's magical shielding flickered into existence with each shot that hit, grazed or glanced off of it. Beneath his helmet, his lips were curled, his eyes fixed in a glare. His engines cut out then, Phineas leaving himself to drift ahead of the cruiser at insane speed. For this to work, he had to be quicker than quick. One engine fired a pulse, spinning the shuttle around, the opposite side firing a pulse to negate the velocity. The result: Phineas facing the onslaught being pelted at him -looking dead ahead at the cockpit of the Hoof-Talon craft. "Do you really want it!?" he roared. He unleashed the engines' full power then. The cruiser peeled away, rolling then banking, barely dodging the shuttle. The much more agile and speedy craft completed a pass before the maneuver was ever finished however. Phineas came up from its underside, his improved guns slamming the cruiser's turrets. One by one they exploded into a ball of flame and electricity, the shuttle screeching off of the cruiser's rear end less than a minute later. "I don't give a damn if you don't want it! You're gonna fucking get it!" The cruiser leveled out with Phineas coming back around again at speed. "This is for Romaz. This is for Gaali. This is for Javic. And this is for everyone before me who never got the chance to do this!" the silver stallion roared, the two cannons drawing in yellow streaks of light as they channeled their energies. For a split second, orbs appeared at the ends of the blasters which exploded forwards in the form of broad beams. They swept across the aft of the cruiser, slicing into the engines and setting them ablaze. Phineas shot straight up as the explosions rippled down the length of the cruiser, expelling debris and fragments in all directions. *** Awaken pilot upon detection of anomalies. Seek energy signature HCG-87: "HOOF-TALONS" The projection of the shuttle's autopilot directives flickered away. The spacesuit was stowed in the utility closet, as was Phineas' PDA. His toolboxes, containing the crowbar and Magi-flux Harmonizer also found their places in it once again. He closed the door on his things with a knowing expression on his face. There was no sense in despair, no sense in challenging it. There were only his last thoughts; his pledge. When he woke up again, he would be a soldier. "And a tear shed for the things left behind. Lets hope I won't be away for long," Phineas thought as he lowered himself into the stasis pod. The screen closed over him. The light came and swept him away, blinding, all encompassing.