My battery is low, and it’s getting dark

by Naughty_Ranko

1. I'm not angry, just disappointed

*** Mission Log: Sol 5114 ***

*** AOS – undefined ***

*** Message Received (Source: null): See? Do you feel that? It’s a magic response. It can hear me. It answers. ***

*** PARTIAL COMMAND RECOGNIZED: Answer ***

*** Message Sent: ping ***

“Yes, I suppose I can feel it,” a dubious Twilight Sparkle acknowledged. “But it could also just be that it’s been built with some magic-conducting metal and what you hear is the thaumatic resonance from your own spell.”

Starlight shook her head vehemently. “It’s more than that. I know it!”

“Then what did it say just now?”

Starlight blushed and began to dig her hoof into the ground. “Well, it’s been harder than I thought fine tuning the translation matrix and … uh …”

“And?” Twilight waved her on.

The unicorn looked this way and that, trying to think of a good way to explain it or perhaps for Twilight to move on without pressing for an answer. But Twilight Sparkle was no longer a student, she was a princess and, more importantly, a teacher. And she’d perfected that silent stare that could force an answer out of any student.

“I think it just said PING, okay!?” Starlight blurted, her cheeks becoming even redder.

“Ping,” Twilight dead-panned. “Oh, well, if that’s the case then I totally see why you would risk ripping a hole in two universes, altering time and space or just plain blowing up the roof you sleep under. After all, you now have a machine that goes PING!” she finished with a flourish of sarcasm.

“Why are you so mad at me?” Starlight asked defensively. “Do you not see what this could mean? All the discoveries to be made?”

“I’m not angry, Starlight, just disappointed. After what we’ve been through, I thought you knew better than to haphazardly experiment with trans-dimensional magic.”

“I knew what I was doing,” she protested, then amended when given a raised eyebrow: “I had a pretty good idea what I was doing. Look, it was calling out for help. I had to do something!”

Twilight began to rub her temple with one hoof. “Something could have involved finding me first so you could do your experiment safely.”

“Getting talked out of it, you mean! You never believed me in the first place. Well there!” She jabbed a hoof at the Mars Exploration Rover, standing proud, if dented and dusty, in one of the castle’s myriad broom closets that Starlight had long ago converted into her personal workshop. “There stands your proof! I’m not crazy!”

“This isn’t about being crazy or being right,” Twilight insisted, her voice rising slightly. “This is about you being reckless! You have this habit of not thinking things through!”

Starlight scoffed. “Yeah, right. Like you’re one to talk.”

Without even realizing it, Twilight began flapping her wings, hovering in the air within the small room.

Meanwhile, Opportunity stood and listened, not to the ensuing shouting match since it had no equipment to record sound. But it was overdue for a check of its surroundings.

*** Attempting to read tau level: unable to get direct reading ***

*** Attempting to read lux level: 10.8 – Twilight ***

*** Cleaning event detected: Solar panel efficiency rising ***

*** Attempting to read temperature: 23° Celsius – within operational safety margin ***

*** Message Sent: My battery is charging, and it’s getting brighter ***

Starlight blinked, having just felt a message come through along with a wave of what felt like … happiness?

“Are you listening to me?” Twilight demanded, her wing flaps increasing in frequency which, unbeknownst to her, cleaned off the rover’s solar panels and allowed it to vigorously suck up what little light came through the lone window into its hungry circuits.

“Why are you so on my case about this?” Starlight asked, the curious moment forgotten and having been brought back to the argument with her teacher.

“You wanna know why!?” Twilight was now all but screaming. The gusts from her alicorn wings were blowing away the last of the dust, revealing the deep ocean blue of Opportunity’s solar panels. “I’ll tell you why! It’s because I don’t appreciate waking up to MY FRIEND lying UNCONCSIOUS on my roof! It’s because I DON’T RELISH THE THOUGHT OF MY FIRST STUDENT EVER BLOWING HERSELF UP WHILE I’M ASLEEP TWO STORIES AWAY AND UNABLE TO HELP HER!!!”

Starlight was visibly taken aback, her mouth hanging open and her lower lip trembling.

“Did you even consider what would have happened if your spell had failed,” Twilight Sparkle grated between clenched teeth, though her anger was subsiding. She landed, catching her breath and wiping away a tear from the corner of her eye. “That much power. If your calculations had been off by just a fraction, the magic backlash could have disintegrated you on the spot.”

“I … Twilight, I’m … I didn’t … I didn’t think …”

“No, clearly you didn’t,” Twilight interrupted, then sighed deeply and closed her eyes.

The ensuing silence was palpable, until Starlight began quietly. “I’m … sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you like that.”

Twilight nodded. “I’m sorry, too.” She stepped forward and draped a wing around Starlight’s shoulders. “I should have been there for you, supported you. Then you wouldn’t have felt like you had to do this by yourself. So please, no more flying solo, no more half-baked ideas. From now on, you take a partner when you study that thing.”

Starlight’s head came up sharply. “Study it? You … you mean …?”

Twilight smiled. “Yes, of course I’m gonna let you continue. What? Did you think I’d forbid it? This might be the biggest discovery in Equestrian history.” She motioned towards the rover with a wing. “And it’s yours. You saved it.”

Starlight nodded. “Thank you, Twilight. I’ll get started tomorrow. For right now, it feels like I’ve pushed all of my friends away as I became increasingly obsessed with this over the last couple of days. How does tea with the girls sound?”

“That sounds lovely, Starlight. And after that, let’s see if I can help you with that translation matrix.”

As the two mares left the room, the not so little rover, now that it resided next to equines roughly its own size rather than surrounded by the vast emptiness of Mars, happily concluded its readings while the power surged through its copper veins.

*** undefined – LOS ***

*** Message Sent: My battery is charging, it’s getting brighter, and I feel warm ***

*** Failsafe mode engaged: Powering down non-essential systems ***

Author's Note:

Alright so. First of all, wow! I did not think this story would take off like it did, rocketing up to the feature box within four hours of getting posted. So thanks for all that amazing feedback you’ve already given me.

Second of all, confession time. I’ve already seen some connections being drawn to the Maretian in the comments. And I consider that a huge compliment.

Changeling Space Program and The Maretian by Kris Overstreet have been a huge part of rekindling my own interest in all things spaceflight. So shoutout to those amazing stories.

Yes, I cried in every chapter that had Sojourner and Dragonfly in it. So it’s not a coincidence that My battery is low, and it’s getting dark is very reminiscent of that. I hope that, with all the kind words I’ve already received, I can produce something worthy of being compared to those stories as well as add my own, unique spin to it.

Comments

[Venerable Ro]

Second of all, confession time. I’ve already seen some connections being drawn to the Maretian in the comments. And I consider that a huge compliment.

Yes, when I first read the blub, I thought this was about Maretian!Starlight hearing about this issue, and somehow mounting a rescue attempt, or commemorating the poor thing as a fellow Martian.

I must say, this is better. Thanks for writing it.

[_Kenzu_]

I hope that, with all the kind words I’ve already received, I can produce something worthy of being compared to those stories as well as add my own, unique spin to it.

I hope so too, so far its super interesting and I'm really excited to see this story get better as time goes Do you have any editors or pre readers helping you with it?

[Joural]

9478565

I mean, Opportunuty died because it got stuck first and foremost. It's slowly been dying for the last few months because of that.

[Naughty_Ranko]

9478678
Not at the moment, no. I didn't think this story would be big enough to warrant it at first. But I might have to reevaluate that position.

[Daedalus Aegle]

Oh Twilight, you know you can't control Starlight. You just have to love her and trust her. And be ready to pick up pieces afterwards.

[Shimmer_Bolt]

Oppy lives on! Pinkie should throw it a party!

[Viper Pit]

Now what will happen

[_Kenzu_]

9478683
Actually it was Spirit that got stuck, pinned on a rock just large enough for it to each its underside. They came up with a solution of turning its wheels back and fourth in order to get it unstuck. Sadly, halfway through the process winter came. Because it was stuck on the rock they were not able to move the rover into a position that would put its panels directly in what little sunlight there was. The rover couldn't keep its heaters on at night when the temperature would dip far below -100F, and it essentially froze to death.

Oppy died because as they were running through their normal routine a dust storm sprung up quickly, too quickly for the team to get Oppy into a better position for its panels to get into the sun. As time progressed the dust storm came to a level that was one of the worst storms ever seen on mars which lasted months. Oppy had survived a dust storm before but never had encountered a storm on this level. What probably contributed to the problem was a glitch that Oppy had where if would not turn off the heaters in it's robotic arm. The team got around it by putting Oppy into a special setting where the rover would go into a deep sleep, turning off all the systems (including the heaters). However, when Oppy had to reset because of loss of power, it did not know it would need to go into this deep sleep setting, and the heaters likely stayed on draining what little power was left in its batteries. Oppy essentially froze to death just like Spirit. (Mars is actually a pretty harsh place to electronics)

*looks at the text wall he wrote..... "god I'm a nerd" *

[link4]

'and i feel warm' wait wait wait... is equis changing it?

[Extinction]

Yay the little boop beep is saved.:}

[Kevin Lee]

Next chapter:
Starlight: "Okay, little metal box. Lesson One: Friendship is Magic! Lesson Two: Practice Makes Perfect!"
MER-B: *** New protocols received. Organic matter detected. Begin assimilation. Search for Perfection. ***
Starlight: "Wait! What are yo--OWW! STOP THAT! THAT HURTS!!"
MER-B: *** Assimilation complete. New identification established: MER-B. Mare Equestrian Rover-Borg. Begin search for Perfection. ***

[_Kenzu_]

9478690
Well if it ever comes up I'm not sure how much help I'd be but I'd be all for Prereading chapters and helping out where I could or looking things about about the MER rovers. I believe their site is still active (....I think... ) so that could give some nice tidbits of info & facts that could help out the plot
Anyway hope you do find some great editors, I think there's some directions a story like this could take that would be awesome
(imagines oppy reconnecting with JPL somehow and becoming pony embassador possibly? Now I'm going off into tinfoil hat terrirtory )

[titanhades70]

Oh Twilight.. You can't blame her. You were a good teacher and she was just doing what you taught. Helping those who need help. Extending a hoof to a potential new friend.

[Parametric Ponymorphism]

"After all, you now have a machine that goes PING!”
"And it's the most expensive machine in all of Equestria! Aren't I lucky?"

[Iron Comet]

When someone calls for help, it's natural to reach out a hand to do so.

[Greyson]

*** Message Sent: My battery is charging, it’s getting brighter, and I feel warm ***

Sorry real life, this is canon now.

[TearingNose24]

Das ist gut. MORE

[Booster Spice]

If Opportunity in this situation, even with a bit of transdimentional handwaveing fixing certain faults due to flexing etc, being non nuclear, given the warmth i within operational parameter, switching off the massive power draw of the heaters would allow the battery to recharge fastest?

That and the CPU uses only a couple watts but I dont think the SRAM is bank switchable, given being Static, theres only CMOS leakage when not accessed so power draw is a tiny fraction even while retaining data?

I wnder if anyone who worked on the Mars Rovers did intern at NASA Kennedy Centre Hanger AE. Then again, given the timing. Spirit and Opportunity just might have been seen on their way by their Ancestors.

Oops. Doing a Starlight.

Oh well, at least Twilight got to say her Monty Python line. Shouldnt that have made Discord realise something up, if the massive transdimentional tear didnt? After Starlights school cannon, Id think he was especially noticing?

Opportunity is an explorer. Spike is something extremely intresting?

[PrinceJonathan]

I hope it gains full sapience. Like Johnny Five.

[gagiotter]

9478775

[Bobbles]

For anyone who's curious, this here is a very good technical overview of the data behind "my batteries are low and its getting dark."

[gamerj14]

9478934
I see it more like WALLE , oh well let's see how the author will go.

[Kittamaru]

Consider me hooked!

[strangephantasm]

9479046
As long as it doesn't sound like Alpha-5... the only robot in existence more flamboyant than C-3P0.

[EeveeTheFluttershyFan]

i have not read the story yet but it i think is based off earth losing conection to the mars rover

[The Last Cold Fang]

This is very cute and I look forward to seeing where it goes.

[reader238]

I am currently imagining sci/twi in the other universe mentioning opportunities last message to the others in sadness and sunset telling ali/twi about it in passing
9478726
Its not like that is a bad thing.

[meh]

9479278
Curiosity is currently five years into a 2 year mission

[All Might]

I'm still sad curiosity died. #missucuriosity
I'ma sad too
I know luigi.

[Meehan8615]

Reader 238 That has to happen now how can it not that would be to perfect

[Stelarwand030]

9479577
I just looked it up and Curiosity is back up but the mars Opportunity rover is dead.

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/after-a-reset-curiosity-is-operating-normally

https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasas-record-setting-opportunity-rover-mission-on-mars-comes-to-end

[All Might]

9479588
oh, I thought the other way

[IndigoStorm27]

Someone actually wrote a story for the oppurtunity rover. I'm so proud to be apart of this famdom.

[Pesoen]

9478370
same.. will be entertaining :)

also thanks for clarifying.

[Merula]

Opportunity LIVES!!

[Vash_ts]

I think I got some of that space dust in my eyes...

[Zaten the Changeling]

Is....
Is this a fanfic for Oppy?

...I'm not crying, you are!

[Lux Tenebris]

i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/027/927/Screen_Shot_2018-12-21_at_2.08.29_PM.png

[Skittlebug]

9479838
No.

We are.

[Eroraf86]

I wondered if The Maretian was what inspired you to write this. And so far, I'm thoroughly invested.

[Yutah123]

Starlight scoffed. “Yeah, right. Like you’re one to talk.”

As much as I love Twilight, I was about to say that.

Twilight nodded. “I’m sorry, too.” She stepped forward and draped a wing around Starlight’s shoulders. “I should have been there for you, supported you. Then you wouldn’t have felt like you had to do this by yourself. So please, no more flying solo, no more half-baked ideas. From now on, you take a partner when you study that thing.”

Fights caused by worrying over one's safety is worth it when scenes like this happen.

[JOEBLACK]

9478703
don't forget tolerate. they will love and tolerate (this is obviously a reference to something (probably involving the word destroy, annihilate, obliterate, or kill) but i can't think of what) anything and everything until it becomes a friend, leaves, or gets tolerated to death.

[JOEBLACK]

9478775
someone should do an omake of this

[JOEBLACK]

9478869
i can just imagine just before Nightmare Moon they receive a distress signal from space which causes them to rapidly advance their technology (assuming they don't already have a spaceship cause Alicorns, that's why) to respond. in my headcanon the Captain of the Lunar Guard would volunteer to seek out the source of the signal and give any necessary assistance. would probably run into a space anomaly (probably a black hole or worm hole) that breaks any connection to Equestria. would soon discover he was ironically responding to his own distress signal (cause magic that's why) and would run out of supplies before managing to repair the damage to his ship. loss of one of her closest friends would be the straw that broke the camel's back bringing about Nightmare Moon. connection would be reestablished and his signal found a couple years before Luna's return.

[PonyDragon]

“Ping,” Twilight dead-panned. “Oh, well, if that’s the case then I totally see why you would risk ripping a hole in two universes, altering time and space or just plain blowing up the roof you sleep under. After all, you now have a machine that goes PING!” she finished with a flourish of sarcasm.

Still worth it.

[RolkFlameraven]

Hope they think to talk to Sunset about this. Sure it will not be her worlds Opportunity (maybe) But she should know much more about it.

[nothingtoseehere]

equines roughly its own size

Man, those are some big-assed little ponies.

[BurningSkies]

Please tell me I'm not the only one who noticed "rocketing up to the feature box"

[Nyerguds]

“After all, you now have a machine that goes PING!”

Monty Python reference detected!

[darklight731]

So, when do we get some proper first-contact shenanigans?