Chapter 51
Neither. Twilight has to know what's in that building 58%
We’re not ready for this. Applejack’s health is failing, Pinkie Pie is on the edge of a breakdown, and Fluttershy is two steps from trying to override my command authority.
What her crew really needed was six months of shore leave. A little farming duty in the morning, and hobby projects the rest of the day. Equestria’s destruction, if it were really imminent, would not hinge on six months when the trip was forty years.
“Node.” Twilight tapped on the metal plate next to it again, her expression harsh. “I don’t know why you choose some periods to be inactive and some to be helpful, but it’s time for helpful. I’m about to do what you want.”
That did it—the robot sat suddenly alert, tilting its chest outward so the cameras faced her. “You intend to penetrate the structure, as I said we ought to do weeks ago. I will accompany you. Are you ready now?”
“Yes.” Twilight was as well prepared as she could be—her saddlebags were packed full, with enough that she could survive alone for days if necessary. No survival shelter, though. There would be no way to carry enough without bringing one of the other ponies.
Of those, Twilight had briefly considered and then dismissed every one of them except Fluttershy. And her—Fluttershy might be needed if something went wrong with the pod in her absence, or if Applejack’s flu caused off-planet complications. The pony who would’ve been perfect for this, Rainbow, was still an icicle up in orbit.
She would have to make do with an alien robot. “But if I bring you, I want one thing clear. You’re going to answer my questions. You’re going to be useful. We’ll be working together from the second we walk in until we return to the Prospector. Are we clear?”
Node had no way of nodding, not without a head. But she hadn’t seen that kind of physical gesture from it anyway. “I have understood. We will collectivize our survival method. As I expressed previously, danger in this location should approach zero. This land is sacred. No harm would be done here.”
Twilight stomped right up to Node, glaring into one of its cameras. “While you refused to wake up, we found an escape pod from an Equestrian ship, buried under meters of soil. Something put it there, something covered it. If it had been left on the surface…” but then she stopped. The surface had sun, and exchange with an atmosphere to transfer heat far faster than simple radiation. Had burying actually been meant to protect the pod? But why not just wake the ponies inside? They could’ve taken care of themselves!
“A second vessel? I am not aware of another. This information is unknown.”
“Me too,” Twilight muttered, rolling her eyes. “Come on. We need to get out of here before Applejack wakes up and starts a riot.”
“Your crew will… riot?”
“My crew aren’t happy with my going in alone. They want to wait a few weeks… I don’t. There are five dead ponies out there, and I need to know why.”
“Then we will go quickly.”
They did. It helped that her crew were still emotionally and physically exhausted from the excavation earlier. The ponies most like to nose into what she was doing and discover her plan, Applejack and Pinkie, were both indisposed. They weren’t going to find her until it was too late.
The building was not a temple as Twilight knew the word. For a sacred place, it was remarkably utilitarian. The design was incredibly huge—as tall as the Equinox stood on its end, and big enough to fit dozens of Prospectors—but for all that, it seemed so… boxy. The design involved layers of overlapping rectangles, with some sections horizontal and others vertical.
What she didn’t see around the building was any evidence of current occupants. There were no ponies filling the air, or even any robots doing the landscaping. She watched the building for the entire kilometer-long approach, and not a single thing moved.
It seemed to be made mostly from the same concrete-like substance of the distant city, as resistant to age and decay. There were few windows at ground level, though Twilight could see plenty of them higher up. Where rectangles were built at different levels, there were often railed balconies.
“Do you think we should go in from the top?” Twilight asked, turning to her mechanical companion. “Wait, you… can’t fly. What about your creators?” she spread her wings. “Did they fly?”
“Not… here. Some did, but… physical distinctness required. Bones varied, arms… modified. Ultimately rare adaptation. Recreation hardware more efficient for that purpose.”
You have a very selective memory. Node had said it knew almost nothing—yet sometimes, it could answer questions like this in detail. Maybe it’s getting transmissions from somewhere. The idea that she was communicating with a machine was in its own way more terrifying than any buried escape pod. Other space missions made sense—intelligent computers not so much.
“Then we’ll use the front door.” Twilight set off again, though there was no door exactly. An empty doorway stood tall enough that a rocket could’ve been rolled out through it, with thin slivers of interlocking glass layered over and over until they formed an inward spiral. Like the shell she might’ve found on the beach, only… structural.
The doorway seemed placed perfectly to catch the light of the setting sun, staining the huge space with overlapping shades of amber and crimson that shifted in random patterns as the seconds crept by.
“It’s a little like the ocean,” Twilight muttered. “That… rushing sound, from up there. When you stand underneath.”
“Your abstraction is irrelevant. We are not searching for beauty, we are searching for truth. We have some options before us—perhaps you should use that organic mind and its heuristics to select one.”
1. Beyond the crystal entryway is a walkway up to higher levels of the building, go that way.
2. The building itself is largest along a central path through from the entrance. Beyond the hallway Twilight can see water on the floor.
3. Twilight’s magical senses indicate something underground. Search the building for the swiftest path possible and seek out the magic.
4. Fluttershy calls to convince Twilight of how stupid this is to do alone. Put the mission on hold and come back in a few months.
(Certainty 205 required)
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I vote magic. Water has water monsters.
Per ardua, ad astra. Go up!
Yeah that third option makes the most sense to me, especially plot-wise. If there's something she's actively detecting, that sounds important.
Hmm... Better to start from one end and work your way to the other. If you beeline you might miss something that might be dangerous and get boxed in. Top to bottom!
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Magic has magic monsters though
Well, Node is being a bit sassy!
Went with "da magicks" as it seems most likely to move the plot along, especially if it's directly related to the other Equestrian ship. But any of them other than turning tail would be fine.
At first I was thinking option 3, but the idea of beelining doesn’t sit right with me. I would say option 1 for now in order to make sure nothing can come from above, before than investigating the magical signature. That said, I’m going to wait to see some other people’s arguments before I vote
This feels like a terrible plan. Shame they don't have Dash awake for it.
4!
… it's remarkable how hard the sunk cost fallacy kicks in once we get a little taste. Option 4 is the objectively correct one for reasons discussed in comments last chapter. Twilight herself exposits that A) Rainbow Dash REALLY should be here and B) she knows she's half a step from mutiny after going over her friends' heads to do this. And yet I'm still awfully tempted to vote for one of the others, just to get something out of the trip.
Gonna have to listen to logic over temptation on this, though. She'll have to make an awkward apology to Node for getting its hopes up — and she'll have to ignore the assurances that there's something unique about this place keeping the GIANT DEATH WORMS away — but it's time for her to listen to her crew and play it safe. (Or at least go back and talk them into being on board with her plans.) They need the morale boost, and to be able to trust Twilight not to overrule them. And we need to not split the party further.
I hope that if one of the other options gets picked, though, at least we don't go underground. That's where the GIANT DEATH WORMS are gonna be.
If it was me, I'd look at every nook and cranny till I am satisfied, but theres a time limit
Well I suppose this was the least terrible option from last chapter. I'm really curious about that magic, but Twilight's narration (and other people in the comments) was right. They need shore leave. Node is not trustworthy enough. Wait until Rainbow is up and active.
EDIT: as of this comment, option 4 is in last place. Not surprised, but still. This mission really isn't urgent.
Put the mission on hold! There is no reason to go gallivanting across an alien world when two of your friends are still on ice, Twilight! And waking up this Sunset Shimmer nag will help answer your questions too, without exploring some alien tomb!
Was... was that sass?
Tempted as I am to have Fluttershy call in, I'm worried about Node's reaction if the ponies dangle its desired objectives in front of it and snatch them away. Option 2 seems like the easiest escape route when things inevitably turn sour; just turn around and run/teleport the other way.
But seriously, Twilight, you need downtime as much as the rest of the crew. It can all wait for a bit.
Come on guys, do we REALLY want to trust Twilight roll-failing Sparkle going solo here? When she has no backup except for a robot that she and us don't really even trust?
Well if Twilight dies maybe we'll get Sunset as the new main character.
I'm going with option 4. Wait a few months as fluttershy suggests. that way you got RD and rares there to help ya
likely
Hm, I'll leave fate to my dice again.
(If I remember to roll them when I get home)
Just got here, finding this story mighty interesting. Will hope that no-one gets killed.
Not sure why everyone finds Node super untrustworthy. It's a machine-- albeit a very intelligent one-- and as such, will do everything in its power to achieve its goal. If that goal is to let the Equinox survive, then that's what it'll do. I suppose it's possible Node has a not-as-altruistic goal, or is 'free' enough to decide its own goals and could turn against the crew, or maybe something else, but I find those unlikely. It's likely Node just needs time to adjust to being a member of a crew and subservient to an alien. Good luck arguing that to the other crew members, though.
Node mentioned the 'fathomless abyss' once-- though in passing, so Twilight probably didn't register it-- and both Pinkie and the crew of the Solstice had visions of some kind. I'm pretty sure those are related, and even if they aren't, it is clear Node has a very good reason to try and protect them. Node's kind were likely employed by their creators to defend them from that, and I see no reason they wouldn't continue that duty for any living beings that this threat could target.
Also, Twilight should probably ask Node about the capabilities of its body at some point. That knowledge would mean knowledge of risks that could be taken safely, and knowledge of when Node's skills would be useful in potentially life-or-death situations.
I was against coming here in the first place, so I'm going 4.
If you can’t trust your crew to hear the plan, it’s probably a bad plan. I wonder who is next in the chain of command for when Twilight ‘AWOL’ Sparkle gets fried.
Snark aside, I do wonder what the chain of command is past Twilight being captain. Going off on her own could get her killed or cause a vote of no confidence (read: mutiny).
The damage is likely done though. Crew morale will tank when they realize she doesn’t trust them, which isn’t resolved by Fluttershy talking her back. Turning around will also hurt relations with Node.
I shouldn’t be too snarky though, I did vote for dark magic a few chapters ago. Sometimes the bad decisions are just more fun.
Well if it's a typical self sustaining structure the power generation should likely be in stability, that's likely what is underground. The common area would be most accessible, likely the ground level option.
What would be the best? Well, working power is a good starting place for diagnostics...
Ok, now I'm just confused. After, what, four chapters was it? all with increasingly more imperative options to go to the structure, we now have a clear presentation of the risks and an option to go back, of all things. Was I reading too much of a hint into the story options? Am I reading too much into it this time? I don't know!
Well, we're already here. I say go up. If things go south, make for the nearest balcony.
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I, too, loved the robot sass:
dumpaday.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/oh-no-you-didnt1.jpg
But I have to disagree with those of you who advocate for option #4. It may have originally been the better option, last chapter when we weren't offered it. Perhaps Twilight could have kept Node on a leash for a few months' worth of R&R. But the die has now been cast. Do you really think Node is going to stand for that kind of bait and switch?
Don't go in the basement. Don't go in the basement. Don't go in the basement.
*votes for Option 1*
*sees that everyone has voted for Option 3*
You guys have about the same self-preservation instincts as someone who would see nothing wrong with dipping their head directly into a xenomorph egg.
So. As Twilight's very own voices in the void, we really should hear what the voices in the non-void have to say.
Especially the medic's. It's a sacred place, nobody is gonna touch it if we wait some months. Let's have the full crew prepared to when things get Olivia'd
In the other hoof, maybe nobody's home. We COULD go upstairs, or to the water, so Twilight can always fly away if the Wurmcoil Engine shows up. Going downstairs souns dangerous tho but as long as we don't die, it'll be good for me.
At the end it comes down to whenever we want an angry Fluttershy or a very annoyed Node. And I'd rather have the one whose job is keeping us alive in at least a neutral mood.
I think going top to bottom is the safest route.
Let's get a feel of what this building use to be before we explore something that could potentially be dangerous.
I really think Fluttershy's idea was probably for the best. But at this point if it was really an option then it would have been an option to began with.
I voted the magic but ...
My biggest fear for Twilight and the others is that more time has passed than Twilight thinks. The Equinox passed through a timy wimy portal and ended up in the future while a later vessel passed through (the same or a different timy wimy) portal and ended up in the past.
One way or another Timy Wimy stuff will happen .. or has happened .. or is happening right now.
Just as long as its not another Lost event. That would suck.
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We really have no idea at all what Node IS, nevermind their goal(s). They're almost certainly an AI, but what kind? Are they a digitized intelligence or a fully artificial lifeform? Why were they created? We don't even know if they're of the Signallers, or their destructors, or something else entirely.
Just about the only thing we actually know about them is that they want or need us alive, for now at least. Why, though?
We don't really know anything about Node at all, honestly. And they don't seem very keen to give details on damn near anything when explicitly asked, which is pretty suspicious if they won't tell us why they want in this damn building so much.
I would really like to trust Node, but they've given us basically nothing to work with.
I voted option 4 because it's what I would have voted last time if it'd been an option. If it wins, I do hope we get some of the passive-aggressive Fluttersass seen here.
We should listen to Fluttershy.
Twilight did even say so herself at the beginning of the chapter.
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Currently it is second place.
But it still mos likely won't be at the top once Certainty 205 had been reached.
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Second place? Wow. I tend to vote early, but I didn't think the "give up" option would get so much traction since story-wise, it's not very interesting. I normally wouldn't, but I haven't liked our options as of late. Hmm...yeah, we're at 185 votes total. 20 more people saying listen to Fluttershy won't top "Investigate the magic".
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I'm suspicious of Node for the same reason Twilight is: it keeps just going dormant and refusing to answer sometimes, cites limited memory at times while at others demonstrating a deeper well of knowledge than addmitted. It's not behaving like it trusts us, or cares about being trusted.
And yes, some of that is probably wonky machine logic, but that's only worse if anything.
Know what, the morale of the crew has fallen apart enough. We need to recover. Option 4 seems like the sensible thing to do
It seems that I've been abstaining quite a few times lately. It might have something to do with my busy schedule, but it's probably mostly because my mind doesn't want to think these heavy decisions throughly, and my principles won't allow me to vote without doing so.
It's even worse now: I've just come from a debate on morals and ethics in wartime on Ranger, and my mind straight up says "nope, thinking go away" at the poll.
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Not sure if
or
I honestly wouldn't mind either. (Though for the second one, I'd prefer Rainbow to be unfrozen first.
)