//------------------------------// // New Recruit // Story: MLP: Friendship is FTL // by SabreXio //------------------------------// "Where the hell is that pilot?" I asked as I fiddled with my combat knife. We'd been waiting in this bar for what felt like an eternity, expecting to meet up with the pilot Sparks had recruited. "Calm down Blades," she said, "I'm sure she'll be here" Twilight Sparkle, or "Sparks" as I called her, was the best defense technician ever to graduate the Celestial Academy. She took care of the shielding systems and other defensive measures onboard our ship. She was also my best friend since we met back in the academy during a random combat simulation where a ship and crew were chosen and placed in a random situation. I still remember seeing her for the first time and thinking 'holy shit, I get to work with her?'. She was drop dead gorgeous: her long purple hair had pink and violet streaks in it, her eyes a similar sparkling shade, and that body: hot damn. She introduced herself as Sparks the defense tech and informed me that she'd be taking care of shields. I introduced myself as Blades, we shook hands and I told her that I was the weapons tech and drone system operator. The rest was history, the two of us grew close and eventually were inseparable, through Academy, Graduation and she even came along when I suggested we become 'freeroamers', spaceships that roam the galaxy doing jobs for others ranging from cargo transport to full-fledged mercenary work. And yes, I do have a massive crush on her. "I know, I know." I replied putting the knife down, "I just hate this waiting around when we could be out there exploring and getting into trouble" That's when a stranger approached our table. "Can I help you?" I asked slightly upset. "If one of you two is a Twilight Sparkle, then I think I can help you." she answered. "That's me." Sparks answered, "You must be the pilot I talked to" The pilot took a seat with us. "Yep, that's me. Name's Dash by the way." she said offering a hand to me "You got a name?" "Captain Clayton Cormorant," I answered shaking her hand, "But just call me Blades" "Can do. So is it just you two?" Dash asked "Just us and a few drones." I replied, then became serious, "So Dash, what qualifies you have to fly our ship?" "Well to start, I graduated top of my flight class. I've flown all kinds of ships, so I'm kinda the best pilot ever" she answered confidently I chuckled a little "Confident, I like it." I said "But have you ever flown a ship like this?" I brought up a holographic image of the ship, The Requiem, from the computer on my arm. Dash studied the data for a moment. "Hmm...impressive." she said "I've never seen a ship like that" "This is Requiem: it's an experimental Engi frigate Sparks and I salvaged" "Let's see here." the pilot said, "High output engines...active cloaking...well I can tell it's fast, which I like." "Do you think you can fly it?" I asked. "Will a Mantis eat it's young?" she asked rhetorically. "Well, I'm sold." I declared "Any objections?" "I got one question: what's with the hair?" Sparks asked Dash had hair that looked like a box of crayons, every color of the rainbow was represented and she had it pulled back into a tight pony-tail. "Because it's awesome" Dash replied making both of us laugh "Well then" I said "Welcome aboard The Requiem Dash" I got us some drinks to celebrate as we all talked and got to know each other. "So how'd you two get your badges?" Dash asked. She was referring to the patched on our suits that symbolized our specialties: mine was a bullet crossed with a knife, while Twilight had a purple spark. "I got mine because I'm a Combat Specialist," I said "If it has an edge or a barrel, I can kill you with it." "And I got mine when I mastered psychokinesis." Sparks said, creating a confused look on Dash's face. "Psycho-what now?" she replied confused. "She calls it that," I interjected "I call it magic." "But what does that mean?" she asked "It would be easier to just show you" Twilight replied. She then raised a hand to shoulder height and focused on her glass. A faint purple aura formed around it and the glass began to float into the air. "But...how...you..." Stuttered the pilot. "That reaction never gets old." I said. "But...how can you do that?" Dash asked amazed. "I'm not really sure." Twilight admitted, "I guess I was just born with it." I leaned over to Dash. "Just accept it." I whispered "Trust me, it saves a lot of frustration." "Got it." She replied with a smile "Next question, what do the two of you do on the ship?" "I'm the defense technician" Twilight said "I handle the shield systems as well as the armor and cloaking" "And I'm the Weapons Technician" I added "I handle offensive weaponry, automated drones, and I handle intruders" "So that means I'll be responsible for piloting and engines." Dash said "Yes, but don't worry," I replied "Sparks and I both have a little experience with engines, so we can help." We talked for another hour or so, just getting to know each other. "Well I don't know about you two," Dash said as she stood up from the table "but I'm itchin' to get going." "Yeah, we probably should get back." I agreed "Agreed." Twilight said I paid for the drinks and the three of us made our way through the spaceport to the docking bay, trying not to get in a fight with belligerent Mantis or Rockmen. This place was bustling with activity: Engi and repair drones were dashing around fixing ships, Rockmen were carrying huge supply boxes to be loaded onto waiting ships, Mantis and anti-personnel drones were patrolling to make sure no one got out of line, even a few Slugmen and Zoltan were helping out with the work. "Ah...there she is," I said "The Requiem." The ship was suspended in a work area surrounded by scaffolding. This ship was the picture of elegance with it's swept back wings and streamlined construction. It actually reminded me a lot of a ship from an old video game I played. What was that ship called again? Normandy...Nesasio...eh, something like that. "It's even more impressive up close." Dash said in amazement, "I'm going to enjoy flying this baby." We walked over to the elevator where a Slugman was waiting. "Boarding?" he asked. "Yes." I answered as the three of us stepped onto the lift. "Going up." he replied as the lift floated up to the starboard airlock. I entered a code and the door slid open. "Thank you, sir." I said as Dash and Twilight entered the ship. "My pleasure." the Slugman replied. I boarded and met back up with the other two in a central room near the center of the ship. "TWILIGHT!" exclaimed a happy computerized voice. We all watched as a small Engi dashed through a door at the far side and through its arms around Twilight's legs in a hug. "I missed you." it said. Twilight crouched down and returned the hug. "I missed you too, Spike" Another larger track-laying robot then entered. His V shaped red visor and broad body supported by a pair of caterpillar tracks "Subject: Captain Cormorant. Status: Returned. Emotional Response: Joy" the battle drone said in his procedural speech as he rolled up next to me. "Good to see you too, Grim" I said. "Um...I don't mean to break this up but..." Dash said as she pointed to the two robots "Who are they?" "ALERT, ALERT: UNAUTHORIZED PERSONNEL DETECTED" My drone declared as he armed his cannons. "Engaging" "Stand down Grimlock." I ordered as I jumped between him and Dash "She's a friend." "Disengaging defense protocols." Grimlock said as he disabled his weapons. "Emotional State: Apologetic" "He said he's sorry" I said to Dash "Dash, this is SP1K3." Twilight said as she introduced the Engi, "But we all just call him 'Spike'. He's my little helper" "Pleased to meet you." Spike said as he offered a claw, "How would you prefer I address you?" "You can just call me 'Dash'" the pilot replied as she returned his gesture "And this is Grimlock: he's a custom built anti-personnel combat drone" I said as I leaned on the shoulder tall robot's head "Grimlock acknowledges new allied unit. IFF data updated. Crewmember 'Dash' added" he said "Oh and I almost forgot" I said remembering one more member "Victor, why don't you introduce yourself?" "I think that's a splendid idea, Captain" replied a ridiculously over-enthusiastic tone "What the hell!" Dash exclaimed, her eyes darting around to find the disembodied voice, "What was that?" "Hello Dash, I'm the Requiem's onboard artificial intelligence" The computer said, "My designation is V1C70R, but everyone just calls me Victor, or Vic, either one's fine" "Is he always..." Dash began "Yes." Twilight and I answered. "Affirmative." Spike and Grimlock said simultaneously. "Ok then," she sighed "It's very nice to meet you, Vic." "Well now that we're all introduced, what's say we get this show on the road."