“I am the wisest man alive; for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing.”
― Plato, The Republic
-----28 hours after crash landing------
A New Day, A new problem
Light filtered through the large window in the room. The bright sun coming up over the horizon, chasing its counterpart across the sky as the moon lowered.
I lay there with my eyes opened. I was awake for most of the night and so I watched the sun rise, which after finding out that a sudo goddess controlled it on her own with ease, became much more interesting to watch.
I groaned and pushed myself out of bed, my new wings stretched themselves out wide on their own. The joints cracking as I got out the morning stiffness.
I briefly wondered why they did that but then put it off as just reflex.
After getting up, I stumbled over to a mirror in the room that I occupied in the palace. I wanted to leave for the pod immediately but Sun butt insisted that I stayed a night and got some rest. This in all honesty was not really a bad idea, I was just eager to find my crew.
A cheesy grin spread across my muzzle at the thought of my new nick name for Celestia. If I was being honest with myself I was grateful for her help so early on but I still don't trust her any farther than I can throw her. And I don't even know how far I can throw anything anymore. For all I know, I can lift semi's and throw them across a city block...
I entertained that thought for a moment before chuckling and dismissing it for later.
My stomach chose that moment to make itself known to the world, growling in a rhetorical protest to its owner.
"Yeah yeah fine, I’ll feed you. You unquenchable beast," I mumbled, Still trying to clear the sleep from my eyes with a hoof.
Considering I woke up before the sun even rose I had plenty of time to think, and I came to a single conclusion.
This was completely insane.
My situation, my new body, all of it. Completely. Insane.
I groaned as I went over my situation again. I was stuck in a world filled with talking ponies and god knows what else. My crew and my ship are missing, I have the body of said multi-color pony, AND to top it all off my intro to this world was an emotional breakdown in front of one of the most important ponies in this world.
Smooth Clare, real smooth.
Shaking my head, I made my way over to the front door of my room, eager to start the day so I could get to that damn pod already. As I reached for the handle however a soft knock came from the other side, followed by a muffled, regal sounding voice.
"Ms. Riker? Are thou awake yet? We would like to invite thee to our morning meal."
I looked at the door for a moment before shrugging and clearing my throat. I opened the door to reveal a slightly smaller alicorn then Celestia. She was a dark indigo blue with large wings and a moon for a cutie mark. What was really interesting though was her mane. It shined a soft light, filled with brilliant stars, like staring into the night sky itself.
She seemed to catch on pretty quick at what I was staring at. Chuckling slightly she said, "We do not know why we have such a unique mane. Sister says it is simply part of who we are, being the controllers of the sun and moon do that to a pony I suppose."
"Huh...cool," I responded. Still in a bit of a trance from the mane that seemed to be defying all laws of physics.
"Are thou hungry?" she asked.
"huh?, oh sure I guess."
The night alicorn nodded in satisfaction before turning left down the hallway. "Please follow us then. Sister is waiting for us."
I nodded and began following her down the hall, closing the door behind me. I was a little hesitant at first to go but fuck it. I have no idea where I am, or in reality what I am, so the way I see it, these ponies are my only chance.
We made our way down the large hall to a single pair of large double doors. Their surfaces covered in unique designs and depictions of battles and moments in history.
The night alicorn strode forward with confidence as she pushed open the large doors with her magic, the very action still causing my brain to hurt.
Inside there was a very large dining hall, a large gold and silver table taking up the majority of the space in the room. At the head of the table was Sun butt herself. A plate of eggs and what appeared to be hash browns in front of her, and a tall glass of something in her magical grasp as she took a sip.
When she saw us come in she put the glass down and put on a small smile. "Good morning sister, Good morning Ryker," she greeted.
"Please Celestia, just call me Clare." I said, rubbing my temples with my hooves in mild irritation.
She nodded her head in understanding, "As you wish"
Luna took her seat on the left side of her sister with me taking the opposite. I barely sat down before the doors opened again and a butler with a convoy of trays behind him came over to the table. He cleaned off what was there with his magic, before setting a steaming plate of eggs and hash browns in front of me.
I looked at the plate questioningly. Trying to figure out exactly how I was supposed to eat this with hooves.
The night alicorn across from me chuckled softly, noticing the problem I was having, "Try using thy wings"
I lifted one of my wings, giving the alicorn a questioning look.
She lifted up one of her own wings and picked up a fork between two of her primaries. With practiced ease she twirled the fork around in her wing before setting it back down again.
I looked at my own wing and tried to move some of my feathers. To my surprise they actually bent back as if I was making a fist. It was like having my hands again, except larger and placed differently, and also extremely awkward feeling.
Curious, I moved my wing over to my fork and slid it between my two largest feathers. I tried to keep it there by putting pressure on it but the fork slid off and back onto the table. Looking at the fork in determination I tried again and again...and again, until finally I got it held firmly in my wing.
"Aha! Got ya!" I yelled triumphantly as I lifted the fork with my wing. It was a little wobbly but I could probably get used to it eventually.
Upon that thought I cringed on the inside. The thought of being stuck like this hadn't really sunk in yet. I guess I was just hoping to wake up in my room back on the ship and for this whole thing to be over...But maybe...maybe this isn't so bad.
I closed my eyes and tried to think of something else for now. Those thoughts could wait for later.
The night alicorn across from me smiled at my eating attempts before continuing to eat her own meal, putting the table into silence.
I lowered my wing and stabbed a piece of hash brown with my fork bringing it up to my muzzle and eating it. As I chewed my eyes widened in wonder; these were without a doubt the single best hash browns I have ever had.
After that little revelation I began digging into my meal with the eagerness of a starved creature, the cheesy eggs practically melting in my mouth as I moaned in bliss. The two alicorns at the table looked on in amusement and morbid curiosity as I tore away at my meal.
After several moments I realized I was being stared at and I slowed down considerably, smiling sheepishly.
The night alicorn cleared her throat, "We don't believe we have been properly introduced. We are Luna, princess of the night."
I nodded in understanding, "Do you always talk like that?" I asked, wincing internally at the brashness of my curiosity.
Luna simply smiled, "Yes, normally we do. It is hard to break one of such a habit after using it for a few hundred years."
"Huh, intre- wait...A few hundred years!?!?" I exclaimed.
Luna chuckled, "yes, we have...lived for well over a thousand years technically speaking. We alicorns are immortal you see?"
Wow, one thousand years...it’s crazy just trying to think of living that long. Let alone all the things you would experience in that time, and not mention the amount of death you would witness. I shivered involuntarily at the thought.
"So..." I drawled, trying to find a discussion topic that got my mind off of the pod and my situation. I looked at Celestia, "You said there were more of you?"
"Yes, there are two more besides myself and Luna. Twilight Sparkle, who was once my personal student at one time, and our niece Cadence," Celestia paused a moment before continuing. "I would like to ask some of those questions we talked about if you feel up to it."
Huh, even after I agreed to the whole deal she is still willing to wait it seems...There is really no more delaying the inevitable if I want answers though.
"Ask away"
Celestia paused as she thought of what her first question would be.
"How advanced is your race?" Luna cut in.
I groaned on the inside at the question. Of course it had to be one of the more classified questions for first contact protocol. But at this point, fuck protocol. I want my crew back.
"Very very advanced in relation to you...where do I even start?" I asked.
"How about the greatest invention your people have come up with?" Celestia asked curiously.
"Well...probably our quantum drives. There is one in every single star ship the human race have ever created as far as I know."
Celestia and Luna just looked at her as if she just spoke in another language.
"Err right...how do I explain this?...Basically it allows our star ships to go about 1/5th the speed of light, Allowing us to travel vast distances without the need for cryo sleep or long voyages across space."
The two princesses looked like their brains were about to melt but it seemed Luna at least got the idea.
"So thou are saying you can traverse the stars?" Luna asked in disbelief.
"Yes, that is exactly what I am saying. That and much much more; I guess you could say my race has a knack for ingenuity." I stated proudly.
"So then what are these star ships you speak of?" Luna continued.
Oh boy...
And so it was known as the single longest conversation I have ever had. Covering everything the humans have ever invented since the light bulb. Granted my history was fairly vague but I could at least give them an Idea. I explained how the Endurance was one of these star ships I kept referring to except it was built for the military specifically.
This seemed to put the two on edge, but for good reason I suppose. Knowing that the very ship I was looking for was designed for war in mind. I had to constantly remind them that I was the one lost and confused and had no intention of harming them in any way.
One of their questions during this conversation made me stop though.
"Would the humans, for any reason, attack us?" Celestia asked. Doubt clear in her voice after hearing about my ship in detail.
I had to stop and think for a moment. I was...well...used to be, proud to be human like the next guy but that doesn't mean we don't have our faults and it also doesn't mean we are free from corruption.
"The UEE and its according fleets would never attack anyone out right unless provoked or attacked first. We have a rule that goes without saying with first contact...don't fire unless fired upon. This is more or less a sacred rule in human history sense as far as anyone can remember really." Celestia seemed content with that answer and lay back again.
"However..." I continued. "I cannot speak for the other military contractors and races. Especially not the Vandull, those slimy bastards try to kill anything that moves these days." Immediately Celestia was tense again and sitting up strait.
"The Vandull?" Luna questioned.
"Yeah...Monsters with technology beyond their understanding. No respect for moral values, and want nothing more than to harvest every planet they come across. They move in hoards and raid colony's to survive, treating the humans and other species like live game that they get to hunt," At this point I was grinding my teeth and seething in anger. Flash backs of some of my more gruesome battles going through my head.
Instantly that all fell away when I felt a soft wing on my hoof, breaking me from my reverie. I looked up to see Luna with a concerned look on her muzzle, her wing lying gently on my hoof.
I looked down and realized I had at some point stabbed the table with my fork.
"Sorry...The humans don't exactly have the best track record with them..." I stated glumly. Luna took her wing away and the table descended into an uncomfortable silence.
Celestia was the first to speak, "I am sorry...I realize we must have brought forth some terrible memories. We can continue this discussion another time. First though, I must hold up my end of the bargain..."
Celestia rose from the table "I will begin making arrangements for transport to your "pod" and contacting Twilight about housing. In the meantime, make yourself at home. I ask that you do not leave the palace quite yet though."
My visual acknowledgment came in the form of a dismissal grunt, My memories still too vivid to create any solid mental process.
The screaming, the burning city's, the giant ships descending from the sky, cannons ablaze, lighting up the landscape in fire and death.
"Clare? Are thou alright?" Luna asked.
I shook my head and took a deep breath. Focus Clare, focus. I need to focus on the situation at hand...hoof...GAH!
I stood up from the table abruptly and started walking in a random direction, leaving Luna confused at the table. I had no idea where I was going but anywhere would do at this point.
I left the dining room behind and walked down the vast corridors of the palace, my mind a blank canvas as I tried to block out the images trying to force their way into my head. I had barely even noticed I ended up on a balcony until I was at the railing.
I looked up at the scene before me and felt my jaw drop. It was probably the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.
A crystal blue river cut right through the middle of an immense forest. Mountains towered on either side, the tips coated in a pure white snow. Off in the distance I could barely make out a group of Pegasi pushing clouds around and arranging the weather for the day.
It's one thing to hear about how flying horses pushed clouds around and created the weather. It was a completely different thing to actually watch them do it.
I sat there watching them go about their job, taking in the fresh air around me and relaxing for the first time since I had arrived here.
I looked up at the clear blue sky, Pegasi flying around going about their daily lives. Occasionally you would spot a small foal on a mothers back as they flew towards the building areas below. The sight brought a small smile to my face as I looked on, unable to tear myself away from the beautiful scene. I guess in a way, I wished earth could go back to this. Instead of the high tech commercial metropolis it has become.
"It is truly beautiful is it not?"
On instinct I spun completely around and went for my sidearm...which wasn't there, the very action causing me to fall flat on my face with my wings spread wide.
"Fuck..." I mumbled.
A small chuckle came from in front of me as I was lifted back on my hoofs by an unseen force.
Standing in front of me was Princess Luna, Her mane flowing in the wind, giving me an amused smile.
"Are thou alright?" She asked.
"Yeah I'm fine..." I grumbled, totally embarrassed by the fact that I tried to reach for a non-existent side arm and then ended up wiping out onto the floor for no good reason.
This only caused Luna to laugh again as she joined me on the balcony I had found myself on. She looked over at me with a curious smile. This then turned into concern as she looked into my eyes.
"Are th- Are you sure you're alright?" she asked.
I smiled at her little correction. She was probably doing it to make me feel more comfortable.
"Yeah...Yeah I'm ok, I just need some more time to process this I guess...I'll be ok though," I responded.
The balcony descended into a comfortable silence after that for a few minutes before Luna spoke again.
"We never got to inquire but...what is thou world like? If you don't mind us asking of course."
I looked over at her and sighed, "Well...which one? I personally don't live on a planet. My place is inside an asteroid field called the Henge Cluster in the Terra system"
"You mean to say your kind occupies more than one planet??" she asked.
"Yeah, the human race occupies...oh I'd say about 40 systems. Each system averages to about two to three planets more or less." I explained, my hoof waving around in pointless emphasis.
It still felt so weird referring to my hoof as a hoof and not a hand. It feels so foreign yet...strangely comfortable.
Luna's mouth was practically at the ground in a hysterical manner. Her eyes twitching as she tried to comprehend the scale.
"If what thou say is true...then how large is your population?"
I laughed, "Honestly I don't think anyone really has an answer to that. We are well within the billions though, More than likely trillions."
I smirked a bit at her boggled expression. "Either way, to answer you previous question I will start with Terra which is the closest planet to my place." I paused, trying to think of where I would even begin before settling for something simple. "It is a fairly clean world, although the military factories are starting to create air pollution. They haven't gotten around to putting in the atmosphere towers yet as the planet is fairly un-colonized besides the military."
"It's ok though, some fairly beautiful areas in the wilderness. I haven't really gone out and explored, not much of a point really since it's mostly the same on any planet." I looked over the green valley before me, my smile growing a little wider.
"Although after seeing this place, I might go do some freelance exploring if I ever get the chance again." A hint of sadness crept into my voice at those words. The thought of never seeing that planet again or any other planet besides this one struck home.
"I believe thou will find a way home, If not on your ship then perhaps by other means." Luna said determinedly.
At that, something suddenly occurred to me. "Why are you guys so eager to help me? I haven't done anything to get treated like this or to even receive help. Hell, I half expected to wake up on a random street and disregarded as a lunatic when talking with Celestia yesterday" I stated honestly.
"Why would thou think that? I don't think we could ever just leave somepony on the street. Especially if thee were in the same position as thou are in"
"Really?" I asked doubtfully.
"Well yes, our kind values friendship and kindness above all else. It might as well be a valuable resource to us." Luna replied.
"So you’re helping me...simply because you want to?" I asked, completely baffled by the statement.
"We suppose so yes, or rather we feel that you deserve to have at least something go right for you. So far all thou have had is bad luck, the least we can do is try to make it tolerable and try to help in anyway we can," Luna concluded. Her voice completely filled with a determination that I have never really come across. Like she had made a promise to herself that she was currently trying to uphold.
"Well...thank you then. I don't even want to know where I would be right now if it were not for you and your sister."
"Hmm, thou are most welcome. Now come, it is starting to get cold out here no? Let me show you around the castle, then perhaps later we can convince sister to let us explore the city a bit?" Luna suggested. There was almost a hint of mischief in her voice and her smile grew wider. I couldn't really place it but I almost felt like a kid again, about to do something I wasn't supposed to.
"Eh, sure why not?"
"Now let us flee!" Luna-in-disguise yelled as we bolted from the palace kitchen. Luna decided it would be fun to dress as commoners with a little magic and do some kitchen raiding and I must say so far it has been the most fun I have had in a long time. Although I did not need the disguise it sure was a trip to watch Luna change into an entirely different pony.
The chef was yelling a string of profanity in some other language at us as we fled the kitchen, pastries in tow, both of us laughing uncontrollably.
We ran through the halls, trying our best to keep the goodies secure on our backs as we made our way back to the balcony which has become a sort of a rally point. As it turns out, the balcony I ended up on was Luna's private balcony. Woops.
Once we were inside, Luna closed the door behind us and we made our way onto the balcony, laughing practically all the way.
"The look on that guys face was hilarious when you took his hat off him!" I laughed.
"Yes that was a good one was it not?" Luna said as she used her magic to turn back to her normal self.
I collapsed down on the ground on the balcony, a cupcake held in my hoof. Throughout the day Luna had been helping me get more accustomed to my new body, which thankfully had been a little easier than I thought. Throughout the day she had been teaching little tricks to help me around.
We sat on the balcony watching other ponies fly by going about their lives, eating our pastries. Every once and a while, Luna would have another question about my life or where I was from.
Eventually the sun started to hit the horizon, creating a beautiful sunset which cast an orange glow across the entire valley in front of us. Me and Luna watched as it hit the horizon and slowly started to disappear.
Around this time Luna had stood up and her own horn was glowing. I could only watch in awe as she bowed her head and slowly raised it, the moon slowly coming with it from the opposite end of the balcony. Her mane glowing, the stars in it shinning brighter than ever as the moon rose with her horn.
I looked on in astonishment as I watched the very basis of everything I knew being torn to pieces by what I was witnessing right then.
Eventually the moment ended and Luna sat back down a few paces from me on the balcony. However all I could do was stare at the spot she had been standing, my mind still trying to catch up with my emotions.
"I...wha?" Was all I managed to get out before Luna started laughing.
"It is quite a sight is it not?...Oh! I almost forgot," Again she stood up, her horn glowing again. One by one starts started to appear above us, a nebula spinning faintly into view, and the moon getting slightly brighter. It was like watching an artist paint a landscape, a very beautiful landscape at that.
"Bu-b-b-b-b-but...that....no....I" I put my hooves on my temples, completely at a loss of how to even react at this point.
"Is everything ok Clare?" Luna asked, clearly confused by my reaction.
"I...uh...remember I'm not exactly used to this whole magic thing...I just witnessed every law I thought I knew shoot itself in the head...so yeah...I guess something is a bit wrong," I responded, my hooves still rubbing at my temples.
Luna brightened a bit at that, "Oh, right of course..."
I stopped rubbing my temples and looked at Luna curiously. Was she...upset? Did she think that I thought it was bad?
"Luna are you ok?" I asked, honestly curious as to why she had looked so down.
Surprised, she turned towards me before her surprise quickly turned into a look of sadness. "We... I am sorry. I thought that you were criticizing our night in some way..."
"What?! No not at all!, I may not understand this world at all but that doesn't mean I don't think it's beautiful. Especially your night Luna, honestly it's the most beautiful thing I have seen so far!" That was true, Her night was elegant beyond words. I just didn't understand how she manipulated celestial bodies like that...Or any of it for that matter, still, why would she think that?
"Why would you think that?" I asked, deciding to voice my question.
"Well...When…I was very young, I was jealous of my sister because of how our subjects loved her sun. While I…well my night was barely glanced at. I was jealous because I felt it was unfair how nopony got to enjoy my night as they did her day.” She explained.
At first I was a little confused, first of all, who doesn’t enjoy the night? And second, why would that make her think I thought it was bad?
Luna seemed to catch on to my expression quickly enough as she continued speaking. “I was so jealous and hateful that darkness itself consumed me, and turned me into a pony known as nightmare moon” she shivered as she spoke the name, the name clearly bringing forth bad memories. “She and I, technically, were the same pony…However we were a split consciousness if that makes any sense at all”
I thought over the words for a second, a bit boggled by the story. “So…darkness consumed you…like dark magic? Then it created a manifestation of itself within you and created a split persona of you known as nightmare moon…wow...”
Luna nodded solemnly, “Back then I was young and arrogant. I never listened to anypony, not even my sister who tried to warn me where my path was leading me.” She looked up at the moon as she continued speaking, “In my rage as Nightmare moon I tried to create an Eternal night…Before I could do so, my sister banished me to the moon for over a thousand years using a weapon known as the Elements of Harmony…and now…well now I’m here. Reformed by the elements and no longer the arrogant, selfish fool I was,” she finished.
I was left a bit slack jawed next to her, my brain playing a hysterical game of catchup.
“A thousand years…so when you said that you had lived for well over a thousand years…You spent that long trapped within your own moon?” It was…well cruel to say the least. It seemed extremely overkill. Then again, I know nothing about dark magic or magic in general really. Maybe it just took that long for her to be “reformed” again, as she called it.
“Yes I was…” Luna replied.
The balcony descended into uncomfortable silence after that, the only noise being the occasional bird that flew by.
Eventually I decided to break the silence. “So…you’re good though now right?” I tried to put as much of a joking tone in my voice that I could manage in the hopes that I could bring her good attitude back.
At first she just continued staring out over the balcony as if she hadn’t heard me, which worried me at first. However after a few moments I noticed the corner of her mouth twitching up ever so slightly.
I rolled my eyes, “See now your just pulling my leg here.” At that she promptly rolled over onto her back and started laughing hysterically.
“Har har har, laugh it up Luna, just know I am going to get you back for this.”
After I said that she almost immediately stopped laughing and gave me the most serious glare she could manage, “Challenge excepted” she said.
I stuck my hoof out towards her, “To the death!”
She returned her hoof and shook firmly “Let the best prankster win!”
We held our serious glares for no more than a few seconds before we both started bursting out laughing again.
After we could catch our breath I turned back to Luna, my expression switching back to concerned “You ARE ok though right?”
“Yes Clare, we…I am fine, it was a long time ago after all” Luna replied while continuing to look out over the balcony.
After a moment, Luna abruptly stood up. “Clare, thank you for today. It was nice having fun with someone as me and not…well… Royalty ” She practically spat the word as she replied.
“Yeah of course, that was the most fun I have ever had in years…I know what you mean by the way, being treated differently because of who you are?”
Luna raised an eyebrow, “Really? How?”
I shifted a little bit from my place on the floor, trying to get comfortable. “Well I guess I never really mentioned it…but back where I’m from people look up to me, to them I’m someone who deserves respect or special attention because of one event that took place years ago.”
Luna merely sat back down and raised her ears, taking in every detail.
I smiled a bit at that “I was barely an officer at the time, serving on a relatively small dreadnought fittingly called the Reliant . The Capitan was dead and the crew was panicking, the fleet was in a state of disarray and rest of the fleet was either destroyed or retreating...”
“Everyone thought we had lost and that we were finished, but I wouldn’t stand for that. A long time ago I promised myself that I would never surrender to the enemy ever again. That I would rather die fighting than give myself up to those… things ”
“I went right up to the deck and took command of what little was remaining of the fleet, directing our firepower and what resources I had to defend the planet…” I trailed off for a moment as I remembered what that was like.
In reality I was scared beyond compare, 3 giant harvesters and a thousand other ships bearing down on the crippled fleet. It looked like the end of all things, coming to kill us all.
But fear is good; fear keeps us alive, fear is that instinct that keeps you on your toes when everything hits the fan. If I was being honest with myself I would say that primal instinct is what kept us alive that day.
“How did you beat them?” Luna asked, “You were clearly facing a force so much greater than your own and yet here you are still standing here,” She continued.
I laughed a small bitter laugh, “I wouldn’t say we won, more like barely survived. The only reason I am still standing here is because Admiral Bishop of the 86th attack fleet arrived to save our asses.”
I sighed as I took a bite out of my cupcake, mostly as an excuse to stop to recollect my thoughts again.
Luna continued to watch me, not with trepidation or fear of what I may have done. No, she looked at me with a look of curiosity and worry. A look that said “I can relate”, at that moment I didn’t worry about the how, but the fact that she could sympathize and seemed to at least understand on some level what I went through calmed me down considerably.
I took a deep breath before continuing, “By the time the admiral showed up, we had lost almost our entire fleet. The Reliant was a floating steel coffin at this point, the rest of my ships were not in much better shape, at least what ships were left…”
“We started with almost 10 dreadnoughts with an escort fleet of 20 or so frigate class ships and 3 bangal carriers. By the time he got there we were down to 1 carrier, 4 escorts, and the Reliant ...Almost 10,000 lives were lost to those bastards…”
There was a long pause after that as Luna was presumably taking in what I had said.
“I’m sorry…no one should have to go through that.”
I sighed, “Yeah…to the people I was a hero, I saved the lives of everyone on the planet. When I got back home I was commissioned the Endurance and a small fleet, a generous stipend of pay and the rank of admiral…”
”You didn’t feel like you deserved it”
“No! They were the ones who sacrificed their lives for the fleet! They were the ones that won us the war and what do they get? Absolutely nothing! Most of them didn’t even get so much as a damn hole in the ground!” I yelled.
The whole time Luna simply sat there listening, not judging or trying to convince me otherwise. Just. Listening.
“Better?” She asked after some time.
“Yeah…a little” I responded, finally calming down a little.
Luna gave me a small smile before standing back up “Well we think that thou could use some sleep yes? It has been a long day. We have some royal duties to attend to” Luna started towards the door.
I smiled at her little switch back to the old voice and followed suit, bidding good night to Luna and heading towards my quarters for some much needed rest. Hopefully the next day I would be able to get to my pod.