//------------------------------// // Chapter 6: Take 2 // Story: StarChaser // by StarChaser01 //------------------------------// “Sir… I am truly sorry for your loss…” the AI said. “… the hell do you know about loss, you’re just a computer, you don’t even have feelings…” StarChaser muttered. “… During the… time that you were out, my self-enhancing sub-routines upgraded me. As far as I can tell, I can experience emotion.” Noticing that its attempts to distract StarChaser from his grief were working it decided to continue, “Thus, as far as I can tell, I am truly alive instead of merely simulating life. If you wish, I could tell you what limited information I have about shortly after we were… taken out.” StarChaser hesitated, was it possible? Could his armor actually have a true artificial intelligence living within it now? And what would he learn about after he failed, would he learn that his love had been killed, or would he discover that she had gotten away? “Thank you for the offer… but… not yet.” “… Understood…” Forcing his thoughts along a brighter path StarChaser asked, “I suppose that since you’re alive now, I should give you a name then. Any suggestions?” “My previous designation of 216 no longer seems fitting, nor does it seem respectful to take StarLight’s name…” “Well… if you think of anything… let me know…” Looking around, StarChaser noticed that they were in a different room. Instead of a lab, they seemed to be in a bedroom of some kind, there was a large window opposite from the door, a rather nice looking bed on which he was laying, and a dresser opposite of the bed. “How did we get here anyway?” StarChaser wondered out loud. “While you were… emotionally compromised, a purple Alicorn along with approximately 20 guards arrived. Instead of subduing us, the Alicorn said something in an unknown language and the guards escorted us to this room.” “Well, it doesn’t look like I’m in that much trouble, as this isn’t a prison cell,” StarChaser stated. “Thank you Captain Obvious,” the AI replied with a hint of smugness in its voice. StarChaser’s eyes narrowed even as a small grin started to form on his face, “That’s my line!” “It seemed appropriate, did I use it correctly?” “Yeah, you did use it correctly, I just never expected you to say that to me…” StarChaser just lay there for a bit contemplating all that he had just learned when a thought struck him. “As the locals don’t speak our language, I need you to work on getting a translation matrix created so I can communicate with them.” “I have already started on it; however I have extremely limited data to work with, more specifically, the orders given by the Alicorn just before we were brought here. I have already gotten as far as I can with that.” “What would help you get a matrix up and running?” “What would be most efficient would be for a local to show us the meanings of their words, after I have connected enough words to their meanings I will be able to figure out the meanings of other words based on how they are used with known words.” “So, if somepony were to try and teach me, and by extension you, their language…” StarChaser started. “…then I should be able to create a translation matrix relatively quickly,” the AI finished. “Good, now we just need somepony to show up with some food, I’m hungry,” StarChaser said, “Speaking of food, can you recharge without draining me? Because I highly doubt that there are any suit chargers around here.” “I have to agree with that statement, and in answer to your question, there is another option. Now that we’re no longer encased in solid magic, I can now draw from the local aura. It won’t be fast, but it should result in a positive charge assuming that I’m the only thing that needs power.” “Good, because I don’t want to have to experience that emergency recharge again.” “Understood, the emergency recharge was not designed for the comfort of the pilot, but for quickly getting the armor back online,” the AI replied, “Sir, is there a reason why you’re calling the armor a ‘suit’?” “‘Suit’ just sounds better to me.” “Fair enough, suit it is.” With that decided, StarChaser decided that it was still late enough to go to sleep. “If anything unusual happens while I’m asleep, please record it.” “Yes sir, good night.” Twilight could hardly believe it! Not only had he gotten to his armor without being spotted by any of the guards, but he had done so without tripping any of the wards until he had gotten to the laboratory! As she had ran to the lab with a full squad of solar guards a million different scenarios ran through her mind. ‘What if the armor itself is a weapon?’ being one of them. However, the scene that she saw once they burst through the door wasn’t one of them. The Pegasus was sitting on the floor with just the helmet on his head. Whereas when it was recovered the face would be completely open, now it had some sort of visor made of pure magic covering the upper half of his face. This was quickly pushed to the back of her head when she saw that tears were freely flowing out from beneath the visor and falling into two small puddles on the floor. She quickly decided to have the guards escort him to one of the empty guest rooms and guard the door and window. They were also to report any unusual activity from him. As they lead him away, Twilight couldn’t help but wonder what was causing him to cry… Perhaps she should try and communicate with him soon, but first she had to tell Celestia in the morning… “StarChaser?” “StarChaser?” “Equestria to StarChaser, come in StarChaser!” Groaning, StarChaser reluctantly opened his eyes. “What is it?” he muttered. “Well, one; the sun is up and two; someone’s knocking on the door,” the AI replied. Sure enough, just after it said that there was a knocking at the door. “You might want to answer it,” the AI stated. “Yeah yeah, I’m on it…” StarChaser muttered as he got out of bed and headed towards the door. Upon opening the door he felt a small burst of panic upon seeing the purple Alicorn along with two of those gold guards flanking her. Figuring that it would be a good idea, he stepped back from the door without closing it, essentially telling them that they can come in. All three of his ‘guests’ entered, with the guards giving him suspicious looks and the Alicorn giving him a look of concern and curiosity. “You might want to get ready to learn their language; also I think it wouldn’t hurt to allow them to hear you as well,” StarChaser told the AI while the Alicorn looked a bit confused. “Yes sir, I am ready, also, assuming that the speakers aren’t damaged, they should be able to hear me as well now,” the AI responded. ‘Well, this might be interesting,’ StarChaser thought upon seeing their reaction to the appearance of another voice.