As it turned out Twilight had walked right past the entrance to the Valkyrie’s Cryogenics lab twice. Situated just behind the Bridge, the entrance to the lab had been fitted with the last working perception filter meaning Twilight hadn’t given entrance a second glance.
Within the room, the cryogenic pods hung like giant fruit from a strange tree. Giant branches spit from the central trunk, sub-diving out again and again. The smooth organic structure pulsing with eerie blue light as magically charged super-coolant was pumped through the life pods like a beating heart supplying blood to organs.
Twilight walked around the central control area studiously checking over all of the life support equipment needed to safely start thawing out the crew. It was going to be a long and laborious process to wake the crew up. Uneven time dilation from the rift had wrought havoc across most of the ship and while this room was the most well shielded area of the ship, mostly due to the remaining shards of the tree of harmony embedded in the core, but Twilight was taking no chances.
For a moment Twilight closed her eyes and tried to feel the great power pulsing at the heart of the tree. It was there, she could feel it, but like her own powers if felt alien and just out of her reach.
Just as Twilight finished double checking the last computer bank she felt the slight change in air pressure that indicated Nocturne teleporting in. “All pods checked.” The Filly reported, “Everything good up here?”
“Yeah, we can start thawing out the heads of staff as soon as the other two get back.” Twilight replied, “Good work Noc. Just while we’re alone… you are ok aren’t you?” Twilight asked, “It’s just that…well the state of you and your brothers Cyro-pod is a little concerning.”
Nocturne glanced over at the two pods set into a wall away from the main bay. Though largely undamaged it was obvious that her door had been forced from the inside. “That?” Nocturne said, waving a hoof dismissively, “Well you’ve spent the last half hour getting the computers working again, silly thing wouldn’t release the lock when I sensed the ship drop back into real space.”
Twilight looked hard at Nocturne. What she was saying was true and a perfectly reasonable explanation. It didn’t explain however why her brothers door had been ripped off its hinges with such ferocity or why Twilight had seen Nocturne tremble ever so slightly when she’d re-entered the Cryo-bay.
Before Twilight could press the subject Forge suddenly appeared next to the platform hovering on his repulsor-lifts, Umbra happily perched on Forges head. “All systems are nominal.” Forge said landing with a loud ‘clang’. Umbra jumped off and smiled at Twilight, blinking several times as he did so.
“Umbra says that Chief Engineer Talon is going to be super exited to talk to you when he wakes up.” Twilight translated. Umbra flicked his ear and Twilight giggled, “Provided he doesn’t try to take you apart first for touching his machines!”