POV Steam Gear
The Delta Base. Home of the most advanced technology you could ever hope to find in Equestria or any other country for that matter. Home to a strange being that had a strange resemblance with a dog. Not that I would call Cruger that. He probably would be offended by the comparison. I could only imagine how many times he got called a dog, and I was definitely sensitive enough not to hurt his feelings.
And also, I didn’t want to get smashed into a bloody pulp like Tirek. I heard he was quite the mess, so I will admit, that I was a little afraid of him. Not that my fear was the main incentive to stay quiet about this, I really am sensitive! I mean sure, I’m also a curious one, but I can control these urges!
Well, I should probably introduce myself. My name is Steam Gear. I have a green coat with a darker green mane and golden eyes. The most obvious trait is probably my brown top hat that I’m always wearing. Oh, and I’m a Unicorn so that I have to cut a hole so I could even wear it. I’m also wearing a brown vest, white blouse and black trousers. You probably are not that interested in it, so I better get back to where I started my talk. The Delta Base.
It took some time for me to get settled in. You have to know, I’m always in a state of unrest when I encounter a new workplace, or anything new for that matter, as long as it wasn’t technology or wing related. It was nothing I could control. So you can probably figure out that getting acquainted with new ponies was also not my strong suit. Kind of a wonder why that was different with Fetch. I hit it off with him from the start. He wasn’t one of the pushy kinds and he often gave me the space to work and think, while still having some conversation from time to time.
My job here at the base is supervising and helping in the construction of new devices, as well as maintenance. So you could say that I keep things running around here, while making sure to realize all the necessary devices. Fetch was the one for the research and planning, I was helping him with the planning and build the devices then. So you could say we had a close work relationship.
Only downside on this job was that Cruger wouldn’t let me disassemble his ATV, no matter how much I tried to convince him, which probably sounded like begging to most other ponies. But still! Why wouldn’t he let me! I don’t understand his hesitation, I would piece them back together exactly as they were! Honest!
At this exact moment RIC, a robot dog in laypony terms decided to pounce on Cruger. I chuckled as I saw my boss get licked to death, "He seems to like you sir," I remarked.
It was moments like this that made me warm up around Cruger more. He looked strange and the stories about his great feasts might intimidate ponies like me, but inside he seemed to be a normal pony, uh, dog bipedal hybrid? Argh! Now it is bugging me again!
I was so focused on my thoughts that I almost missed his response. This happens too often for my comfort. I should learn to focus more.
"Came with the house, though I'd never send him to the pound." Cruger turned to his assistant, Sorrow Song a pure white mare, "Anything else scheduled for today?"
She then proceeded to check her daytimer. "You have a scheduled inspection of the new recruits in 2 hours, but other than that, nothing."
"Good, call me half an hour before then. If anyone asks, I'll be at home."
New recruits? Right the R&D needed more helping hoofs as well as some other departments. Fetch and I couldn’t run it on our own. Not to mention the other vacancies in the different departments.
I excused myself and made my way outside for a break, as my mind wandered back to RIC. I wonder if he will allow me to disassemble him?
The sky was a heavenly blue. A nice slight breeze could be felt at this time of day, and a sky blue pegasus pony was flying in the distance.
I love that this base is so close to Ponyville.
With haste I took out my spyglasses as I spied admired the pegasus from afar. This was by far my favorite pass time. She was quite a talented and daring flyer. She, the self-proclaimed fastest flyer in Equestria! Just look at these wing muscles. How soft one of her feathers might be? Maybe I should look for one in her trash cans?
No, I wouldn’t even reach her house in the skies. Maybe with a flying device? Fetch sure could help me build it.
…
Ok, just joking, that would be too creepy and I don’t want another charge.
At least that’s one thing we agree on, you creeper! said a harsh voice in my head. I just sighed at that.
Oh, you are there? I almost thought I was rid of you, I answered the voice in my head.
Many would probably say I was crazy at this point, but this brash voice formed itself over time to keep me in line and even help me to assert myself if need be. It does so in an insulting and annoying way, but it still holds some merit.
You wish! Oh, and by the way, you are drooling again.
This brought me out of my spying admiring. I wiped my muzzle with my hand, but then proceeded to watch her fly, only glad that no one was around at the time.
Can’t you go and play hide and seek in my head, while I’m trying to figure out the properties of pegasus wings?
Pffft! As if! You should better concentrate on your work! You still have to create the badges and spandex suits with Fetch.
I cringed at that.
You know how sensitive Fetch is about the suits, so don’t call them that! Oh, and by the way, we still have a lot of time for that. The A-Squad is not even arranged yet. Not to forget the new recruits Fetch and I have to introduce to their workplace.
I was starting to feel queasy.
By Celestia, meeting new ponies is just not my forte. I hope I can adapt to that quickly.
You wouldn’t have problems with that if you weren’t such a shut-in in the first place.
I’m not a shut-in! I protested, I merely like the peace and quiet. It is really relaxing.
Whatever you say, shut-in, he teased, Just get your rump back to work.
I sighed. Fine, I will do so in a minute, just let me enjoy this for one moment.
Just as I proceeded watching the rainbow maned pegasus again she flew right past the base. I let out a dreamy sigh. This really was the best location for my actions.
Normal actions. Not creepy ones.
I then held my breath as I saw something slowly gliding down.
A blue feather.
An honest to Celestia blue feather!
I instantly took it carefully in my magical aura and floated it towards me. I reached out with my hand and touched it.
It was soooooooooo soft and feathery! Oh, what would I give for a bed of these feathers! I could happily die then!
I wouldn’t mind if you did, taunted the voice again.
I ignored him. He couldn’t take this away from me.
With a bounce in my step I returned inside the base and walked to my quarters to bring my treasure to my quarters, before returning to work.
This was really the best location.
“Fetch? I’m back from the Vet,” I called out from the doorstep. An automatic door by the way. Wondrous technology. First thing I did was see how the mechanism worked. Cruger took it in stride, despite telling me to ask him next time.
He didn’t take too kindly to me disassembling things in the bathrooms though…something about exploding toilettes? In my defense, they had a self-cleaning lavatory seat system which was unheard of in Equestria! I just wanted to take a teensy little look at it. Yeah sure, I might have forgotten to return a screw or two as I assembled it back, but you can’t really blame me for that, right? …Right?
I sighed. Better not think about such small accidents and sacrifices for the greater good. Things like that happened from time to time after all. Exploding toilets weren’t THAT strange.
I had a plate with a grilled ham and cheese sandwich in hand, as well as a soda in the other. I casually walked into the research lab as suddenly the alarm rang.
"All patrol troopers be advised, robbery at First National Bank. Suspects have commandeered a train, heading south on track 5. Suspects have hostages,” boomed the voice of Blue Rush.
I tensed slightly at the alarm, but calmed as soon as it ended. It was nothing that concerned me, since I was not a patrol trooper. I was simply a gear in a well-oiled machine to support them and their mission. Only thing I had to do with this mission was the equipment check to make sure it worked once they were back. So simple maintenance work.
My walk continued and I soon found the unicorn with a dark yellow coat and his two toned mane, one strip black the other cyan. A pair of glasses sat on top of his muzzle and he seemed to be absorbed in his work at a table he sat on.
I sighed softly, as I sat the plate directly in front of him. He blinked owlishly at it, trying to comprehend what obscured his view.
“A grilled ham and cheese sandwich?” he asked, before suddenly his stomach grumbled.
I smiled at his antics. “Thought you might be hungry.”
I received a slight pat on my shoulder, which made me jump. “I agree! Even Fetch has to take nourishment to himself once in a while! He is going to starve himself to death otherwise!”
“Pony physiology can work at least three weeks without any solid food, so it is no big deal if I miss one meal, Princess.”
“You are missing meals on more than one occasion if Steam’s behavior is any indication. And on a long term base this simply isn’t healthy.”
I meanwhile stared at the creature behind me. She was a changeling, and none other than Princess Heart, daughter of Queen Chrysalis. I was not such a big fan of her to be honest. For me she was an alicorn, and I hated alicorn’s. And to top it all off she didn’t even have feathery wings! That alone was a crime in itself!
…Even though I was curious how they function.