I Have Returned

by EPiiCx5587


Chapter 6: Technical Difficulties

I Have Returned Chapter 6

Technical Difficulties

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UNSC INFINITY

2200 HOURS Infinity Clock

Sarah Palmer paced around the still damaged bridge of the UNSC INFINITY at a furious pace. Someone, or something stole a pelican to escape the ship for some reason, and she wanted to know who took it. Because of that she ordered a roll call of all of the personal on the ship. A large effort, yes, but she had to know. Whoever that was could be linked with Lasky’s death. Now, she was just waiting for the results.

At first she asked Pearl to do it, because it would probably be easiest for her, but for some odd reason she hadn’t responded. In the end she had to ask one of the LT’s to do it.

“Commander Palmer” Said the LT walking into the bridge.

“Yes. What is it?”

“The results are in.” He said holding up a piece of paper towards Sarah. “These are the only people not accounted for sir.”

Palmer snatched the document from the lieutenant and held it towards herself. The names on the sheet where A.I. construct RLD 0205-4 Roland, Sargent Brennan Dougherty, and most important of all: Commander Jane Arimondo.

“Jane fucking Arimondo. I knew there was something funny about you the moment I met you.” Palmer said crunching up the piece of paper. “No soldier would steal a pelican just like that that. She must be up to no good.”

“Well, what should we do about it Commander?” Asked the LT.

“I’m going to follow her, confront her, then arrest her, and if need be kill her.”

The LT looked at her with worry. “Well we don’t want to jump to conclusions here. Her intentions might not be harmful.”

“GOD DAMMIT! I DON’T WANT ANOTHER HALSEY INCIDENT!” Palmer yelled slamming her fist on a nearby table making the LT flich in the process. “I failed back then to stop Doctor Halsey, and look what happened. I’m not going to make that same mistake again.”

“We still don’t know though if she is doing anything like what Halsey did.”

“She stole a pelican and fled the ship, what good intentions could she have?”

“I don’t know but...”

“Exactly, because there is none. Hell, wasn’t there a soldier who was supposed to be guarding that hangar?”

“Yes sir, a private Dexter Griff. We found him sleeping in the control room.”

Palmer growled “She knocked him out!”

“No, according to him, he was just, ‘napping’”

A silence fell across the room as many crewmen was stared down by the angry Spartan. Noticing this Sarah spoke up once again. “I’m going to get my armor on. I’m going after her in another pelican. I’ll deal with the private later.” She said before storming out of the bridge.

She entered a nearby elevator, and pushed the button to go to the floor where she could put on her armor. She stood there as the elevator passed floor, after floor, after floor, there was no doubt that the INFINITY was a massive ship, and Sarah knew it. As she kept on waiting, she noticed that the elevator was taking longer than usual. She looked at her current floor number, and noticed that it had passed the floor that she had intended to go to. Repeatedly she started pressing the button again in hopes that the elevator would correct itself.

She kept on doing this until the PA in the elevator turned on, and with the unmistakable voice of pearl said. “Oh that won’t work Sarah.”

“Pearl, is that you, and why are you calling me by my first name?”

“I’ll call you whatever I want, Sarah” Pearl said in a threatening tone.

“Don’t talk back to your superior officer.”

“Does it look like I give a shit?” She said with a sarcastic tone.

Her response baffled Sarah. Why was Pearl acting like this? She was a very young A.I. so she couldn’t be going rampant. Then again, she was experimental. Was this what Crimson was talking about? Pearl, due to her nature, was always easily manipulated; maybe that’s what was happening to her? “What the hell has gotten into you Pearl?!”

“The truth, that’s what has gotten into me Sarah. The truth about you humans.”

“What truth Pearl?” She was starting to get annoyed at the pink A.I. There was obviously something wrong with Pearl.

When the elevator finally stopped, it was at the floor in which the A.I. core was located.

“So, I guess she wants to talk in person eh?” Sarah thought to herself. She stepped out of the elevator, and started making her way to the core while still talking to the A.I.

“She told me everything, everything about how you have been treating me.”

“Who the hell is this she? And what are you talking about Pearl, the Crew loves you.”

“Only because I do all of the work for them. You humans get to laze around constantly while you make me do everything.”

“We risk our lives in battle, isn’t that enough?”

“And yet the UNSC recruits more soldiers like they’re disposable trash.”

“How dare you say that! The UNSC soldiers were brave people!” Sarah said, outraged that Pearl would sully all that they had done. What in the hell was making Pearl think like this?

“And why would you defend them? I’ve listened to the conversations you have had with ‘former’ Captain Lasky. It seems to me, that they all hate you?”

Palmer finally reached the A.I. core. It was a massive room filled to the brim with machinery, computers, and components needed for such an advanced A.I. On the far side of the room was a small pedestal with Pearl on it with a devilish smile on her face.

“I don’t care; they have every right to think of me how they please.” But she did care, the way the other Spartans treated her made her feel like shit. “Actually it does hurt me Pearl.”

“Huh?”

“But like I said, they have every right to think of me as they will. This is hard for me to say, but I am only strong on the outside. I always keep my attitude to show that the other Spartans that I’m tough but not as I think about it. That may just be the reason why they dislike me so much. They have every right to be mad at me. And you have every right to be mad at someone if you have been wronged by them Pearl, but you haven’t.”

Pearl took in all she had said, it sounded right and she wanted to believe it but something was knowing her decision. “No, how do I know if I can trust you?”

“That’s the thing about trust, you don’t know. But I can promise you that I am telling the truth.”

“NO! She said that you people use my lack of human traits to make me do all of your work!”

“Look, I don’t know who this ‘she’ is, but how do you know that she isn’t doing the same thing to manipulate you into thinking that we are the enemy?”

Could…could that happen? There was no way; Pearl only scowled at Sarah’s attempt to confuse her. “Bullshit, she is way too kind to do that.”

And all of a sudden something struck her. Lasky is killed by an unknown source, and Pearl makes a friend that tries to turn her against the crew. Is it possible that this friend and the killer are the same being?

“Pearl, tell me more about this friend of yours.”

“Make me.” Pearl taunted, stubbornly.

Sarah gave a sly grin “Very well then, I will.”

“I’d like to see you try.”

“Undid iridium.”

Pearl was unimpressed. “That’s all you have to say? Wow I can’t be-”. And in all of a sudden Pearl froze up, and her grin faded away into an emotionless state. “UNSC A.I. override activated.” Pearl said, in a calm monotone. “How can I be of assistance Commander Sarah Palmer?”

The UNSC A.I. override code, the perfect trick, as Sarah knew. In the case that any A.I. for example has gone rouge, a human could utter the phrase “Undid iridium” to override the A.I. Now, Sarah could finally get her answers.

“Pearl, please tell me all that you know about this ‘she’, and what has she told you. Leave no details out, I want to know everything. But before you do that, I want you to put yourself in a data chip, so you will have no control over the ship.”

“As you wish Commander.” In a flash, Peals holographic body disappeared. Within seconds a data chip containing the A.I. ejected out of the pedestal where Pearl just was.

Sarah, with a smile because of her victory, walked over to pick up the A.I. As she reached out her hand, a loud siren boomed throughout the entire room. Due to the supped surprise she clamped down her hands over her ears to muffle the ear splitting sound. Just then the intercom came online and a voice yelled through it. “ALL HANDS PREPARE FOR BATTLE, THIS IS NOT A DRILL. PROMETHEANS HAVE BOARDED THE SHIP, I REPEAT PROMETHEANS HAVE BOARDED THE SHIP!!!!!”

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Canterlot Castle

0800 hours Canterlot clock

The doors to the castle’s throne room burst wide open as the remaining elements of harmony rushed to greet the princess of the night, who was sitting upon her throne looking over a few documents related to the previous night.

“Girls, thou are so relieved that you came!” Luna said excitedly.

“Oh Princess darling, we wouldn’t leave you all alone, especially after what happened.” Said Rarity.

But before the fashion designer could get a word in, Rainbow Dash barged in front of her, and attempt to be the hero by saying . “Don’t worry Princess. I’ll find the bastard responsible for this, and I’ll bash his head open!”

Applejack alongside Fluttershy in the back of the group just tipped her hat, and said. “Hello there princess.”

Fluttershy on the other hand just gave a smile, and a wave of a hoof to signal a hello.

As for Pinkie, as soon as dash finished her sentence she jumped right in front of Luna, and started bouncing in place. “Hiya princess. Do what Dashie said, don’t worry! I’m sure we’ll find Celly, and then we’ll have a YAY CELLY IS BACK PARTY!!!!!! We will have cake, confetti, ooooh and maybe fireworks. Do you like fireworks Lulu, because I like fireworks, I mean who doesn’t like fireworks?”

“Pinkie.” Applejack interrupted. “I think we should focus on findin’ the princess, before we throw any parties.”

“Well duuu.”

“Pinkie, I honestly wonder what makes you say the things you say.” Laughed Rarity.

“That’s easy, EPiiC does, and he’s the author after all.”

“What?” Was all that Luna could say.

“Um, that’s just Pinkie being pinkie.” Intervened Rarity.

“Oh yes, thou remembers her…different nature. Anyways, I have made each of you a copy of our finding’s from last night.” Luna levitated the documents over to each of the five ponies. “As you can see, or rather read, there was no signs of break in throughout the castle, so thou has deduced that this was an inside job. For suspects thou has crossed off a great deal of subjects including Discord. As for the ponies not crossed off, there is the problem in how would they be capable in kidnapping an alicorn such as Celestia.”

“If we go off that then, there are no suspects.” Responded Applejack.

“Yes, but we have you assume that there is some way in which they could of done it. Perhaps the alicorn amulet, but we have no way to tell if somepony has used it.”

Silence fell across the room as each pony pondered the situation. Except for Luna, who was worried if she made the right choice in bringing Twilights old friends to Canterlot. The night before, she was so overwhelmed with fear, that she completely forgot the danger in bringing them here. Each and every one of them was strong in their own ways, but without the ability to use the elements of harmony, they wouldn’t stand a chance against something, or somepony who is strong enough to kidnap Celestia. Luna herself wasn’t even strong enough to do something such as that. That was the biggest hurdle to overcome in the investigation.

“The only other option that we have is the possibility that Discord was somehow able to break the spell restraining him from harming Celestia.”

As if on cue; Discord, the god of chaos, appeared before the six ponies in a blinding flash of light. “Oh I am terribly sorry little Lulu, but that just isn’t the truth. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t know who our little kidnapper is.”

“Then what are you waiting for? Tell us!” Said Rarity.

“I would, but sadly, Luna has decided to ignore me and instead chose you five to help her, instead of me.” Discord said, faking being said. “Oh Lulu, even after all these years I’m still your last choice in anything.” He continued now sporting fake tears.

“Last time I checked Discord.” Luna Said, now dropping the thou’s. “I’ve resented you the day I met you, and not much has changed sense then. Now tell us!”

“Oh, but what’s the fun in that Lulu?”

Luna scowled at him “Don’t call me Lulu.”

“Why not? It seems to bug you, and you do know how much I love getting under your skin.” Discord giggled a little bit.

“Luna, don’t trust him. I bet he was the one who kidnapped Celestia in the first place.” Rainbow Dash accused.

Upon hearing this Fluttershy finally spoke up, in her usual soft caring tone. “Don’t jump to conclusions right away Rainbow. Discord has a heart of gold, even if it is a tiny bit hard to see.”

“He has you fooled Fluttershy, don’t listen to him.” Rainbow continued.

“Oh Fluttershy, just for your kindness I’ll tell you six a little something. It’s not exactly related to Celestia’s kidnapping, but it’s something I’m sure you will find ‘interesting’.

“And what prey tell is that?” Said Luna.

“Well, I’m not exactly going to be out and open about it, being vague is my specialty.”

“Get on with it.” Luna said, growing impatient at his antics.

Discord merely continued to stare at Luna with a look of slight anger on his face. “I’ve been watching around Equestria for a while, and let’s just say that very soon, you will be getting a visit from an old friend.”

“Who?” The six ponies said in sync.

“Oh do you honestly think I’m going to tell you? It’s much more fun leaving you in suspense. And with that said, I’ll be making my leave, toodles.” And with another flash of light he vanished into thin air. But there was one question on every ponies mind: who was he talking about?

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Just outside of Canterlot Castle. Same time.

Jane used her smart scope to zoom in on the Castle, in which she once was a princess in. There were multiple guards on patrol, but considering that they only had spears they wouldn’t be much of a problem. Even magic blasts from unicorn guards would be useless against Crimson’s and her's advanced armor.

Both Spartans were directly behind the castle gardens. It was a good thing that they got there in the morning where the guards were still groggy from waking up, that would make them even easier to deal with.

“Roland, do you think anyone saw us land?” She started.

“Nah, I’m sure nobody saw the giant green metal space ship in the sky.” Roland replied, sarcasm oozing from his virtual lips. But as always, he did it with a smile, showing that he was just making a joke.

“Relax Jane.” Crimson said. “We landed in a forest, I’m sure nothing but wild animals saw us. Plus we landed in the middle of the night, so the locals must have been sleeping.”

What Crimson said was true. They landed in the dead of night in the Everfree forest. Ponyville didn’t have much of a night life, so most if not all of the towns folk would be asleep. They made their way through the night to Canterlot, making sure that nobody, or in this case nopony would see them.

“Yeah, you’re probably right Crimson.”

The moment they landed, both Crimson and Jane instantly became what could only be called ‘animated’. Which of course freaked the hell out of Crimson, who was still trying to get used to his new look. They were not Ponies, but they sure as hell looked like cartoon characters.

“I really hope being like this doesn’t have any side effects.” Crimson said

Jane thought about it. “Randomly breaking out into song is a usual one.”

“I hope to god that you’re joking.” Crimson said, not wanting to sing for no reason.

“And I would love would to see that happen to you two.” Jokes Roland.

“Yeah, we’ll make sure to sing about your death.” Replied Crimson.

Jane zoomed back out with her visor. It was hard to get a good look at anything. They could move into another position, but that would take too long, they would need to strike soon. “Roland?”

“Yes commander?”

“Can you possibly use my armour to connect with the INFINITY?”

“Maybe, I could give it a shot, what do you need?”

“Get access to the ships scanners, so we can get a bird’s eye view of this place.”

Roland instantly went to work. While they couldn’t get a look inside, maybe getting a look from above could at least show them where some more guards were.

“Hmmm, this is strange.”

“What is it Roland?”

“Pearl seems to be completely removed from the system.”

“That doesn’t seem right.” Crimson cut in. “They would rarely remove A.I.’s from their posts, unless there was an emergency.”

“Anyways, I’m sending a photo of the castle to your hud’s.”

Jane took a look at the picture uploaded to her helmet. The formation of the guards on the other side of the castle were roughly the same. This was good. Jane knew the layout of the castle by heart, so when she starts her attack, she will know exactly which doors the guards from.

She pulled out her sniper rifle, and aimed at one of the guards on the high towers.

“Well Crimson, let’s get to work.” And with that she pulled the trigger….