The Koprulu Sector

by TheKopruluSectorUnion

Chapter 2: A Leap of Faith

“Let’s get out of here!” yelled Sweetie Belle. She picked up the logs with her horn and joined the crusaders as they made a rush for the exit.

No longer worrying about being lost in the darkness, but about rather being eaten by hungry zerg, the crusaders made their way out the torn doorway hoping to head back the way they came. Before they could even get past the second door, the steel doors slammed shut. A voice over the intercom announced, “Alien life forms detected. This facility is now under lock down. Please remain calm and stay in your quarters until the threat is contained. Thank you for your cooperation.”

Scootaloo futilely smashed her hooves against the door shouting, “We aren’t aliens! Let us out!”

“The computer can’t hear you Scoots,” said Apple Bloom. “And in case you didn’t notice, this is a terran facility. We are the aliens. Now let’s calm down and try to think of a plan that doesn’t involve breaking our legs on the door.”

“The zerg ripped down the doors in the command center. Maybe there are other doors ripped open too. We could see if those doors lead to another way around,” suggested Sweetie Belle.

“I guess that could work, provided we don't run into said zerg,” said Apple Bloom. While the blast doors in front of them were particularly thick, most of the doors in the shelter were only about as thick as the ones in the command center. That meant there was a chance one of those doors could lead to an exit. Of course they’d also run the risk of running into the zerg responsible for ripping down those doors in the first place, but it was better to attempt escape rather than wait around to be eaten. “Let’s stick together, and keep an eye out for any of those nasty critters. I reckon they’ll be looking for breakfast after being asleep so long.”

“How is anything still alive in here? Isn’t this place supposed to be hundreds of years old by now?” asked Scootaloo.

“I don’t try to understand the aliens in my life Scoots. I just despise their company,” answered Apple Bloom.

The crusaders continued to explore the facility, hoping to find away around the lockdown. It was annoying enough finding that most of the doors were still locked, but they were also being continually pursued by the voice on the intercom. “Warning, alien life forms detected in hall way 4. Warning, alien life forms detected the mess hall 2. Warning, female life form detected in male bath room 16.”

“I swear if I find that talking tin can, I’m ripping it from the wall; no if, ands, or buts!” announced Apple Bloom. As she turned a corner, she froze of the sight of an automated security turret. It came to life and pointed in her direction. The barrel began to spin and Apple Bloom closed her eyes awaiting her inevitable death. Nothing happened. She opened one eye to see the turret spin for another few seconds, then shut down.

The intercom once again made an announcement. “Security turret near AI control has depleted its ammunition. Please contact maintenance and place a requisition for- for- for- for,” the intercom cut out before it could finish the statement.

“Did you hear that?” asked Apple Bloom.

“Yeah, that stupid intercom finally shut up,” answered Scootaloo.

“Not that… well ok that too. But we’re near the AI control. We might be able to shut off the lock down and get outta here. We just need to find out which way,” replied Apple Bloom.

“Maybe it’s that room with the sign over it labeled ‘AI control,’” suggested Sweetie Belle pointing to said room.

“Oh… ya I knew that,” lied Apple Bloom blushing. “But even so, we still need to find away to get past that door.”

“What about that map on the wall?” added Sweetie Bell.

“I… I was just about to say that!” lied Apple Bloom.

Scootaloo let out a chuckle at her friend, then inspected the map. “Well this isn’t very useful, that door is the only way in or out of AI control. I know! Apple Bloom, you could hack the computer back at the command center. Just like when you hacked the school network to change my test scores last year.”

“Well… I think hacking a military computer is gonna be a bit more complex than a school network,” answered Apple Bloom. “Our families are going to be looking for us soon, and so far we still haven't run into any zerg. They'll eventually find these ruins, and before you know it, the military will be all over this place. Maybe the best thing we can do is just hide out until that happens.”

“But if they find us in here-” started Sweetie Belle.

“-we beg their forgiveness, and pray they show us some leniency. Technically we didn’t steal anything yet.” The colony was a small town, and everyone was very close with one another. All their parents knew the magistrate, and this wouldn’t be the first time they ended up in her office. "If we come clean, she might just give us community service again," suggested Apple Bloom. Sweetie Belle coughs, then shows Apple Bloom the audio logs they asked her to take from the command center. “Oh… right. I guess we’d best put those back before anyone finds out.” Apple Bloom hated to give up the logs before getting a chance to look at them, but they weren’t worth her friends well being.

As the crusaders made their way back to the command center, Scootaloo came to a stop and said, “Wait! Do you guys hear that?” The crusaders listened carefully and heard the sounds of banging coming from down the hall way. Scootaloo slowly made her way to the edge of the corridor and took a peak. She let out a sigh of relief and informed her friends, “no sign of any zerg.”

“But something is making that noise,” said Sweetie Belle.

Scootaloo looked down the hall way and listened carefully again. She cautiously made her way down hall and found the source of the sound. “Guys, I think they know we are here,” she said pointing to another set of thick blast doors.

The crusaders investigated the blast doors to see that they were relatively undamaged. At least on their side anyway. “How long do you think that’ll hold?” asked Sweetie Belle.

“Can’t say,” said Apple Bloom. “None of the other blast doors we’ve seen have been damaged; so that means the zerg aren’t particularly well equipped to deal with this. But I can guarantee you if we wait long enough, they will get in.

“Long before the military shows up,” said Sweetie Belle.

“Now calm down girls. I ain’t about to let my friends become these critters next meal. We just need to continue with our original plan, and find another way outta here. Let’s go check out that map again,” suggested Apple Bloom.

No longer their primary concern, Sweetie Belle discarded the logs in the hall way. The crusaders then made their way back to the wall map. Upon further investigation, Apple Bloom noticed all the blast doors were marked on the map. “Look at those doors girls. This part of the base is completely cut off from the rest. If all the doors are shut, we aren’t going anywhere.”

“It was probably to protect the command center and AI control,” said Sweetie Belle. “I’m guessing everyone outside those doors were left to fend for themselves.” Sweetie Belle filled with dread thinking about the poors souls trapped outside the blastdoors, just waiting for their inevitable fate.

“A lot of good that did them,” said Scootaloo. “The zerg still got in… wait… If the blast doors were shut, how did the zerg get into the command center?

Sweetie Belle continued to study the map and found the one place that wasn’t protected by the blast doors. Part of the shelter was labeled under construction and lead to an area labeled 'mining.' “I think I found it girls,” she said pointing down the hall way. Now all three of the crusaders were filling with dread. If Sweetie Belle was right, at one point the zerg came charging through that hall way. It stood to reason that if it happened once, it could happen again.

“Let’s go back,” suggested Scootaloo.

“And what? Wait for those critters to break down those doors?” argued Apple Bloom.

“Are you suggesting we go into the mining pit, which for all we know, could be crawling with zerg?” asked Scootaloo.

“I ain’t suggesting that Scoots. I’m just saying, we need to come up with a plan that doesn’t involve waiting around to die. Maybe we could find a crawl space, or an air vent or something. We just need to hide long enough for help to show up.”

“I say go into the mine,” suggested Sweetie Belle.

“I did not just hear that right did I?” asked Scootaloo. “I’m usually the one who comes up with reckless ideas, and even I can’t suggest that.”

“Girls, it’s a mine that was under construction when the shelter was attacked. That means there are tools inside. Maybe we can find something inside to help us open up the door leading to the exit outside, before the zerg open the door leading to us.”

Apple Bloom couldn't bring herself to support such a reckless idea. “I like that you’re thinking, but I’m with Scoots on this one. If there are zerg down there-”

“I’d rather take my chances in a room that might be filled with zerg, than wait in a room that we know will be filled with zerg,” argued Sweetie Belle.

Scootaloo and Apple Bloom couldn’t argue with her logic. Scootaloo did have something to say however. “Girls, I don’t know what’s about to happen to us. Before we go into that mine, I have to tell you. I’m really sorry I talked you into-”

“Don’t start with that,” said Apple Bloom. “We knew what we were getting into, and there was no way I was letting a fellow crusader come in here alone.”

“Same here Scootaloo,” said Sweetie Belle. “I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I let something happen to you and not done anything.”

Scootaloo cracked a smile at her friend’s responses. “At least if we go out, we go out together right?” Her words were grim, but in truth, every crusader would have gladly chosen to have gone out along side her friends rather than live a life without them.

The crusaders gave each other a group hug knowing it might very well be their last, then made their way down the hall and towards the mining pit.

The mining pit was a tragic site. According to Apple Blooms observations, they were working on constructing a new blast door to help keep the zerg from entering through the mine. Perhaps that blast door should have been their top priority?

To their relief, there were no zerg in the pit, at least not yet. Just as importantly, Sweetie Bells predictions about tools were correct. The cave had three space construction vehicles (SCV) that were being used for their mining operations, as well as a number of smaller hand held tools.

“Well, if these tools can be used to cut through all that rock, I’m sure we can find something to open up that door,” said Apple Bloom.

“Hopefully before the zerg make it in,” added Sweetie Belle. “You know how to use any of these mining tools?”

Apple Bloom inspected what looked like some kind of drill. It was meant to be wielded by a terran with hands, not a pony with hooves. While the tools were out of the question, she was confident should could pilot one of the SCVs, provided it wasn’t too different from the one she operated on the farm.

“I don’t got the thumbs for these tools, but we could use one of those SCVs over there,” suggested Apple Bloom. The SCVs were fairly large walkers that could be equip with heavy lifting claws, mining drills, precision repair tools, and pretty much any other tool one can think of. They were fairly tough vehicles, built to work in extreme conditions. As the name “space” in space construction vehicles suggests, they were equip with jump jets to help move around in zero gravity conditions, and magnetic boots to help keep them grounded.

Unfortunately they were all on the opposite end of a chasm. There was an un-extended bridge leading across, but it was heavily damaged, probably by the zerg attack. Apple Bloom approached the panel hoping it still worked. Fortunately, the controls were pretty straight forward. As the bridge extended, Scootaloo flew over the chasm to take a look downward. It seemed to go on forever. She picked up a rock and was about to throw it down before she heard a, “Scootaloo no!” come from Sweetie Belle.

“It’s just a rock,” said Scootaloo.

“The zerg up came from this chamber Scootaloo," said Sweetie Belle. "If that chasm is where they came up from, do you really want to run the risk of dropping a rock on one of their heads?

Seeing she made a good point, Scootaloo threw the rock away from the chasm, then watched the bridge continue to extend. After making it about half way across, the bridge jammed. “Things just can’t ever be easy can they?” asked Apple Bloom.

“What now?” asked Scootaloo.

“Get me across that chasm. Let me see what I can come up with,” requested Apple Bloom. Scootaloo grabbed a hold of Apple Bloom and lifted her across while Sweetie Belle teleported across the chasm. It was obvious two of the SCVs had sustained too much damage to be of any use. With the exception of a few scratches, the third one seemed to be in working order. “Sweetie, do you think you can levitate that SCV to the other side of the bridge?” asked Apple Bloom.

“I can try,” answered Sweetie Belle. She concentrated as hard as she could, but was only able to briefly get the SCV a few inches off the ground. It only moved a few inches forward before dropping. “Sorry, that thing is just too big.”

“Hmmm… let me think on this for a sec,” said Apple Bloom.

“It’s got jets, can’t it just fly across?” asked Scootaloo.

“Those are meant more for traveling short distances in zero gravity,” replied Apple Bloom. “I’ve seen people use them to jump on and off small cliffs, but nothing as long as this chasm. Hmmm... maybe if I can get a running start…”

“Don’t even think about it,” said Sweetie Belle.

“I don’t think we got any other choice Sweetie Belle," countered Apple Bloom. "But if it helps, you could use your magic to help give me some extra lift.”

Sweetie wasn't comfortable with the idea. “I’m not sure I-”

“I trust you Sweetie," interrupted Apple Bloom. "The jump jets and running start should do the trick. Though I would feel safer if you were helping. I know for a fact you won’t let me fall.”

“I… guess I could try,” agreed Sweetie reluctantly.

“I’m all for crazy plans,” said Scootaloo, “but these things have been here a long time. Do you even know if they still work?”

“Trust me,” answered Apple Bloom as she walked over to one of the damaged SCVs. “Terrans build stuff to last.” She gives one of the damaged SCVs a buck to the leg to prove her point. A rusted piece of a mining crawl falls off one of the arms towards Apple Bloom, but Scootaloo was quick to pull her out of the way of the falling scrap. “Uh… that was a one time occurrence, I’m sure of it. Just give me a second to get familiar with the controls.”

Apple Bloom made her way over to the SCV. Upon closer investigation, she found a dead zergling under one of the feet, and chunks of zerg flesh smeared on the drill and lifting claw. “I guess that answers our questions about whether or the not the zerg were in here at one point.” She also noticed there were holes through the glass cockpit. As Apple Bloom cleared the dust, she revealed another terran skeleton inside, its chest littered with some kind of spiky projectiles. Apple Bloom never considered herself squeamish, but she wasn't in the mood to move a dead body. “Umm… Scootaloo, did you still want to touch a terran skeleton?” she said in a shaky voice.

---

It took a few minutes to prep the SCV. The previous pilot didn’t have the courtesy of turning it off before he died, so Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle had to move fuel from across the chasm to pour into the SCV. Fortunately for them, fuel was in good supply. Apple Bloom was certain the massive drill in the mining pit was used for fuel extraction. If so, it would explain the abundance of fuel in the mining pit. On top of that, the pilots ID access card read “Engineer senior Dave Marko.” Apple Bloom figured it might prove itself useful so she held onto it.

Once the SCV was fueled up and ready to go, Apple Bloom took a few practice laps. She was right about it being very similar to the SCV she used around the farm. She used its speaker system to communicate to her friends, “This is it Sweetie Belle. I’m gonna make the jump, so get ready.”

Sweetie Belle had never been so nervous. She’s never had her best friend’s life in her hooves before. She was debating whether or not she should tell Apple Bloom to come up with a new plan, but the SCV was already on its running start, and there is no way Apple Bloom would be able to hear her inside that machine. All she could do now was do her part, and pray it was enough.

Apple Blooms SCV raced towards the edge of the chasm. With a brilliant blast of light, the SCVs jump jets roared with all their might. Apple Bloom had taken the liberty of disabling the safety devices on the jump jets, allowing her to ignite most of her fuel reserve in one burst. Now that it was air born, Sweetie Belle focused and did everything she could to help levitate the machine across the chasm.

Apple Bloom was filled with a mix of terror and excitement not knowing if she would be able to clear the gap. Her SCV was descending towards the bridge; it was the moment of truth. To her horror, she realized she wasn’t going to clear the gap. Thinking fast, she extended the lifting claw towards the bridge and clamped unto the edge.

“APPLE BLOOM!” yelled Scootaloo. Without a thought, she flew under the SCV and began pushing it upwards, as if by some miracle she’d be able to lift a machine several times her own weight.

Sweetie Belle was still concentrating on trying to give the SCV enough lift to make it over the bridge. Her attempts were futile. Even worse, now Scootaloos life was in danger. This isn’t happening. How could this be happening? she thought to herself. Both of her friends were about to die, and there was nothing she could do about it. Sweat and tears were drenching her face. At this point all she could do was help keep the machine from falling, knowing full well she’d never be able to lift it up the bridge.

“Scootaloo! Get out from under there!” yelled Apple Bloom through the speakers. Scootaloo refused to listen. She would not let her friend die, not when it was her fault for talking them all into coming down here in the first place.

Apple Bloom watched in horror as the edge of the bridge she was holding onto started to bend. She spoke into the speakers again. “Scootaloo, I’m going to open the cockpit, we can’t save the SCV, just lift me out here.”

That was one plan Scootaloo could agree with. Scootaloo flew over the top of the cockpit waiting for it to open. Apple Bloom on the other hand was having a bit of trouble with the restraints. “It’s stuck?!” she shouted to herself. “You guys made computers and machines that last hundreds of years, but you can’t make a seat belt that doesn’t jam?!” Apple Bloom tried opening the cockpit, but the glass lid refused to open. It's possible that igniting the entire fuel supply damaged some of the SCVs systems, so she instead tried reaching for the emergency release handle to the cockpit. The device however had a T-shaped lever that required the pilot to twist and pull to open. Having no fingers, she couldn’t get a good grip on it with just one hoof. She needed both, but she couldn’t reach across with the restraints keeping her in place.

Scootaloo saw her friend was in trouble as Apple Bloom was struggling to free herself. The foolish orange pegasus began bucking into the cock pit trying desperately to break the glass. She felt like her legs were going to shatter, but she would gladly lose a leg over a friend. With a final buck, she gave the cockpit a bone shattering kick. Her legs were ruined, the pain was excruciating, and it took all she had not to pass out in mid air. Despite the loss of her legs, she did create a hole in the cockpit, but it still wasn’t large enough for her to fit through. With no thought at all to her own well being, Scootaloo began punching into the edge of the glass, even head butting it; anything it took to free Apple Bloom.

The sight was unbearable for Apple Bloom as Scootaloos blood trickled on her face. Scootaloo was giving it her all, but it wasn’t enough; the piece of bridge she was holding onto finally gave. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, whose hooves were inside the glass trying desperately to rip it open, began to fall to their deaths. The decent only lasted a few seconds before something stopped their fall. Unfortunately the sudden stop caused Scootaloo to slam face first into the glass, knocking her unconscious.

Apple Bloom grabbed onto Scootaloos hooves to keep her from sliding off. As she looked up through the broken glass, she saw Sweetie Belle, levitating over the chasm surrounded with a brilliant green hue. It seemed impossible, but somehow Sweetie Belle had gathered enough strength to levitate the SCV by herself.

“You said I wouldn’t let you fall!” shouted Sweetie Belle. “I won’t make you a liar!”

Apple Bloom felt her SCV being lifted back up the chasm. Within seconds, the SCV was gently set down onto the bridge again. Apple Bloom was about to shout a thanks to Sweetie Belle, when she saw the hue surrounding her disappear. The effort had caused her to pass out in mid air, causing Sweetie Belle to fall down into the lightless abyss.

“SWEETIE BELLE!” Shouted Apple Bloom. This wasn't fair. They were so close. They were about to make it. Why Sweetie Belle?! She was the one who didn’t even want to be down here. If Apple Bloom and Scootaloo had just listened to her in the first place, they could be back at their homes, having a sleep over, watching a movie, or talking about how boring their day was. So much could have been avoided if they had just listened to their friend. In the end, she paid for their stupidity.

Apple Bloom looked down at the belt buckle on her chest. Now that she was calm, she could clearly read the words: TO RELEASE, LIFT CLAMP WHILE PUSHING DOWN ON SIDE BUTTONS. Apple Bloom followed the instructions, and the restraint released with ease. If she had just stayed calm, she could have reached the emergency cockpit release. Scootaloo wouldn’t have had to destroy herself trying to break open the cockpit. Sweetie Belle wouldn’t have been pushed beyond her limit lifting the SCV. Both of her friends would still be alive.

Apple Bloom looked up at Scootaloo still bleeding on top of the cock pit. Had she lost both of her friends in one day? Apple Bloom used the lifting claw to gently move Scootaloo to the side, then lifted her machine upright.

She looked down at Scootaloo, now a bloody mess. “Why did you have to do this to yourself Scoots?” She asked. “It was my stupid idea. You could have just flown off. You didn’t have to die… you didn’t have to kill yourself saving me!” shouted Apple Bloom who was now crying uncontrollably.

Both her friends were gone. They’d died trying to save her. She wished they’d failed. At least then they could have all gone out together. She looked over to the edge of the bridge. “Maybe we still can go out together,” she said to herself. Apple Bloom took a deep breath and brought her vehicle to the edge of the bridge. “All three of us will be together. You girls won’t have to wait long.” Apple Bloom took a deep breath preparing to make another leap.

Comments

[The Grey Pegasus]

No, doesn't need Mature. And yes, please, do not use the overly-butchered accent style for Apple Bloom.

Also, I actually never knew what SCV stood for until now.

One last thing to our ponies:

“It’s got jets, can’t it just fly across?” asked Scootaloo.

“Those are meant more for traveling short distances in zero gravity.” replied Apple Bloom. “I’ve seen people use them to jump on and off cliffs. But that was height, and this is distances. But maybe if I can get a running start…”

Girls, it's an SCV, not a Reaper.

[PrincessLunaTheGamer]

Yeah. Human seatbelts have that problem, ya know? Jamming a bunch. That's one of the flaws in the seatbelt. We just can't get it to not jam.