Chapter 13 - Regrouping
Ember flies through the air holding on to Arc’s hands with her claws. Arc looks down.
“There’s the signal.”
Ember nods. “I see it.”
They descends near the spot. Arc lets go and hurries over to the others.
“Everyone okay?!”
Max nods. “Yes sir! No one saw us!”
Hugh grins. “Right. We were like ghosts!”
Rose looks all around. “My scanners indicate that we were not followed.”
Sereb nods. “My nose agrees.”
Arc turns to Max. “Did you get everything from that shed?”
“Yes. Sereb’s saddlebags are holding the entire shrunken contents.”
Sereb looks to his side. “This is… unsettling.”
Viktor’s voice comes over the radio.
“It’s a good thing you taught him that spell, sir. Really came in handy this time.”
Xenos turns to Arc. “What now, sir?”
Max looks to Arc’s gauntlet. “If you can open a portal, we’ll get this stuff safely home, sir.”
“Yeah… about that…”
Ember frowns. “Arc! Hurry up! The longer we stay here…!”
Cherry sighs. “Something happened to Arc during the battle. He can’t use his magic!”
Xenos’ eyes grow wide. “This is bad!”
Ember flaps her leathery wings as she looks at Arc. “I can probably fly you out of here.”
“What about the others?”
Max shrugs. “We’ll be okay.”
Rose holds up her robe. “Yes. We can cloak and walk back.”
Arc shakes his head. “Not too keen on that idea. Let me try my gauntlet. My magic ring worked earlier.”
He attempts to open a portal. But nothing happens.
“I guess I just got lucky with the ring.”
Ember folds her claws over her chest. “Well, this is just great! What now?!”
Arc shrugs. “I’m open to suggestions.”
No one speaks.
“Anything? I don’t care how crazy at this point.”
Rose steps forward. “I have an idea. But it’s a bit… out there, Arc.”
Max grins. “Come on. How bad could it be?”
A short time later Sereb runs quickly through the woods. Max narrows his eyes.
“I stand corrected.”
Ember looks over. “Rose, where did you come up with this crazy idea?”
Xenos falls over. “Yes! Do tell!”
Hugh holds his stomach. “I think I know.”
Rose smiles. “From my self-preservation programing. Mother designed me to always look for a way out of any situation.”
Arc steadies himself. “No matter how bizarre?”
“Right!”
Sereb shakes his head as he runs. A tinge of sarcasm in his voice. “I wonder why she did THAT?”
Ember looks to Arc. “I can’t imagine.”
Arc shrugs. “What? This plan seems to be working.”
Xenos catches Ember as she falls over. “No disrespect, sir, but this isn’t what I would call a success.”
Max nods. “Agreed Being only six inches tall is rather… unnerving, sir.”
“Look at it this way. It gives us a new perspective on life.”
Hugh looks confused. “How so, sir?”
Arc grins. “Now we know what it’s like at the bottom.”
Ember angrily. “At the…? Arc, we are LITERALLY riding in Sereb’s saddlebag here!”
Rose smiles as the bag shifts and Arc falls into her arms. “I’m not complaining!”
Xenos grins. “Nice catch, Rose!”
Ember frowns. “Was this part of your plan too, Rose?!”
“No. But it was a nice bonus!”
Arc stands back up. “Ha, ha.”
He looks up.
“Sereb. Anything out there?”
“I am taking a longer route to go around those searching for us.”
Ember grins. “Good idea. How you holding up?”
“I will be fine.”
Rose frowns. “Are you certain? Your heart is racing!”
“Let us just say I will need a good night’s sleep after this.”
Two hours later the group arrives back at Arc’s house. They walk into the warm kitchen with Ember in the lead. She immediately heads over to the heating vent.
“Ah! Warmth!”
Arc chuckles as he and the others enter. “You’re always cold, aren’t you?”
Ember rubs her hands together. “SO?!”
Hugh looks confused. “That’s odd. I thought you were dressed warm enough.”
Max nods. “So did I.”
Viktor comes upstairs. “Warmer than the rest of you anyways.”
Xenos grins slyly. “Maybe the commander can help you warm up, Ember.”
Ember turns to Arc and smiles. “Good idea!”
“Don’t encourage her, Xenos.”
Xenos chuckles. “Yes sir.”
Rose appears confused. “What’s wrong? Body heat is a perfectly viable way to… oh… never mind.”
Arc heads for the basement steps. “In any case, let’s get this stuff downstairs.”
Hugh nods. “That’s probably for the best.”
Viktor shudders. “It’s not very responsible to leave explosives lying around after all.”
Max frowns. “I wish you guys would take this more seriously. This stuff isn’t exactly safe! We don’t even know what it is yet!”
Arc walks over to the basement table and gestures for Sereb to join him. “Let’s solve that little mystery right now.”
Sereb joins Arc. He removes the miniature crates and sets them on the table. Arc squints at the labels on the boxes.
“Too small to read.”
Stepping back, Arc raises a hand to cast the Matter Compacting counter spell. But nothing happens.
Ember frowns. “Your Dragon Magic still not working, Arc?”
“Guess not. Sereb?”
“Very well.”
Sereb’s horn glows as he levitates the boxes to the center of the room. A few moments later the crates return to their normal size. Arc and company walk over to them as Viktor looks at a crate.
“Dynamite over here.”
Max looks up from another crate. “Here’s some more of those blasting caps.”
Hugh glances at another label. “Here’s something called ‘seefour’. What’s that?”
Arc frowns. “C-4?!That’s military grade explosives!”
Ember looks confused. “Where the heck did they get this stuff from?!”
Rose shrugs. “Perhaps the military?”
Arc shakes his head. “I doubt it. They’re pretty good about keeping an eye on stuff like that. Inventory goes missing and someone’s in deep trouble.”
Sereb frowns. “Then where?”
“Probably from the black market. Everything on Earth can be acquired for a price.”
He looks at the gray blocks.
“But that doesn’t make me any less nervous about this.”
Xenos looks to Arc. “Sir?”
“Did you find something?”
“I think so.”
Xenos pulls a heavy duty case out of a crate.
“I’m a little nervous about how they double packed this.”
Ember looks over. “That symbol on the front is foreboding as well.”
Hugh grins. “That must mean it’s really important!”
Viktor takes the case. “Let’s open it! The suspense is killing me!”
Arc walks over and looks at the case himself. “That symbol. Rose, can you scan the contents of this case without opening it?”
“Of course! Just a minute!”
She looks at the case for a moment before turning back to Arc.
“This contains a substance not found in Equestria.”
Max looks confused. “Is it dangerous?”
Rose nods. “Yes. Of that much I am certain.”
Arc frowns. “Can you elaborate?”
“It is only slightly radioactive. However…”
Hugh steps back. “RADIOACTIVE?!”
Viktor looks down at the case in his hands as they begin to shake. “The suspense isn’t killing me anymore!”
Max turns to Rose. “Are we in danger?!”
“As long as this case stays closed, no. Although it is unlikely anyone would be harmed regardless.”
Arc nods as he takes the case. “If what I learned in science class is to be believed, Rose is right.”
Ember frowns. “So, what IS this stuff, Arc?!”
“Uranium.”
Max looks confused. “I don’t think we have that in Equestria, sir.”
Xenos nods. “At least I HOPE we don’t!”
Sereb appears confused. “What is this substance for, Arc?”
“It’s used to generate lots of electricity in nuclear power plants.”
Rose smiles. “So it’s good then?”
“It’s also used to make some of the most powerful bombs in existence.”
Ember’s eyes grow wide. “I don’t like the sound of that.”
Max turns to Arc. “What kind of bombs? Like building destroyers?”
“Think more along the lines of city erasers.”
Sereb growls. “What kind of monsters would create such a thing?!”
Arc sighs. “Humans. We never learn.”
He looks at the case in his hands.
“At the very least I’m happy we were able to take this away from them.”
Rose nods. “So we won?”
Arc shakes his head. “I’m not so sure. If they were able to get this, who’s to say they can’t get more elsewhere?”
Max nods. “To say nothing for WHY they had this!”
“I can’t imagine it’s for anything peaceful.”
Arc appears lost in thought.
“Frank… why? Were you THAT desperate for your dream to become a reality?!”
Rose puts a hand on his shoulder. “Maybe he didn’t have anything to do with it, Arc?”
Viktor nods. “He is missing after all.”
Ember puts a claw on her chin. “Maybe he was against the plan from the start.”
Hugh snaps his fingers. “Yeah! And Stingray decided to take matters into her own hands!”
Sereb nods. “She is quite a fearsome opponent after all. Perhaps she simple became tired of taking orders?”
Arc sets down the case. “I really hope you guys are right.”
Cherry sighs. “Arc, you should get some sleep.”
“But I’m not that…”
“You are literally asleep on your feet!”
“That may be. But we have to figure this out! It might lead us to Frank!”
“Well, let’s say it did. What if you discovered his location right now? Would you have the energy to actually ACT on it?!”
Arc sighs. “…no, Cherry.”
Ember takes Arc’s hand in hers. “Let’s get you to bed, Arc.”
Rose puts her arm around Arc’s midsection. “I’ll help too!”
Arc, Ember and Rose head up the stairs. Sereb shrinks the crates and case back down before following them. Arc’s squad gets ready for bed. Hugh turns to the others.
“The commander is really dedicated to his old friend.”
Xenos nods. “Yeah. But I kinda expected that.”
Viktor chuckles. “It’s nice to be working for someone who would go that far for someone. Us included!”
Max smiles. “Right. When you’re a friend to the commander, you’re a friend for life.”
Meanwhile, Arc and his friends proceed to his parent’s room. Arc weakly points a finger down the hall as Sereb casts a spell on Ember.
“But…”
Ember shakes her head as she returns to her human form. “Arc, don’t fight us on this.”
Rose nods. “Right! We’re worried about you.”
Cherry giggles. “Don’t argue with them, Arc.”
The pair lead Arc to the bed and help him lie down before climbing in on either side of him. Ember smiles as she snuggles up to him.
“Comfy?”
But Arc has already fallen asleep. Rose takes Arc’s hand as she lies next to him.
“He must have REALLY been tired!”
Ember nods. Her face on his chest. “Arc didn’t even object to me getting in bed with him as a human.”
Sereb nods as he returns to his Cub Form. “I do not believe he had the energy to do so.”
Ember smiles as she traces Arc’s face with her finger. “This is like a dream come true.”
Rose appears nervous. “But you’re not going to do anything to him, right?”
Ember sighs. “I’m not.”
Sereb raises an eyebrow. “That is… surprising. Is it because you two are not alone?”
“No, Sereb. It’s because that’s not what Arc would want. Nor is it what I want.”
“Really? Have you not wanted that since before I met you two?”
“It is! But… I want our first time to be memorable and special. Not just for me, but for him as well.”
Sereb smiles at Ember. “You are learning.”
“Learning?”
“Yes. That there is more to mating than just carnal pleasure.”
Rose blushes. “There is?”
“Yes.”
Ember frowns. “What are you talking about?! It’s all about feeling good!”
“Is it? Then why do you and I not mate right now?”
Ember blushes furiously. “WHAT?! NO!!!”
“Why not? If pleasure is all you are looking for I am certainly able to give that to you.”
“Because I don’t feel that way about you!”
Sereb nods. “Now do you understand?”
“I… I think I do.”
Rose tilts her head to one side. “I am confused.”
Ember sighs. “It’s not so much that I wanted to make Arc my mate. I guess what I really wanted all along was for him to take me as HIS mate! This goes both ways, after all.”
“So Arc doesn’t want you?”
Ember sighs happily as she looks at Arc. “He told me before that being with me in that way would change our relationship forever. Arc wasn’t holding back to try and hurt me. He wanted to protect me.
“What from?”
Ember looks over at Sereb. “If you and I were to mate, I don’t think we would ever look at one another the same way again.”
Sereb nods. “Indeed. In my culture a Mating Pact is a strong and permanent bond between two of our kind. It is not something to be entered into hastily.”
Rose nods. “So it’s like marriage?”
“Yes. However, I learned that here in Equestria such a bond can be broken with a piece of paper.”
“A royal order, Sereb.”
“In our culture, such a bond cannot be broken except through death.”
Ember thinks for a moment. “What if you find out the one you formed the pact with isn’t really what you wanted though?”
“One must live with their decisions. Be they good or ill.”
Rose frowns. “That seems a bit extreme.”
“Mayhap. However, it does make us think long and hard about whom we choose as our mate.”
“In dragon culture it’s pretty much the opposite. A mate is just someone whom you live with. Multiple partners are quite common.”
Sereb nods. “The Forsaken are aware of this.”
“Really? But you never said a word about me wanting to get with Arc!”
“My tribe understands that our beliefs are our own culture. While you dragons have different ways of doing things, we respect your point of view.”
Rose thinks for a moment. “But you don’t agree with it.”
“We do not.”
“It is surprising that you two get along so well.”
“Ember is my friend. Her beliefs do not change that.”
“Thanks, Sereb. Although I have to admit, I’m starting to understand why you and Arc think the way you do. We all care for one another in our own way.”
Rose sighs. “I for one am a bit jealous of you and the others, Ember.”
“How so?”
“Your feelings are real. Mine are simply programed into my memory banks.”
Sereb turns to Rose. “You feel that your love is somehow inferior to ours, do you not?”
Rose nods. “I know the definition of every word in Equestria. However… I do not understand what love is. “
She turns to Sereb.
“Do you think it’s possible for a fake human like me to… to understand?”
“That is up to you, I suppose. Although you appear real enough to me.”
Ember nods. “You should speak to Arc about this tomorrow. Maybe he could give you a better answer.”
“I think I will. But you and Sereb should rest now.”
“And you?”
“I’ll… watch over you all. Pleasant dreams.”
Ember and Sereb close their eyes. Soon they are asleep. Rose sighs as she muses to herself.
“Living, breathing, loving and spending lives together. Living creatures are certainly lucky to be alive. Me… not so much…”
Arc awakens the next morning. Yawning he looks side to side.
“E-Ember?!”
She slowly opens her eyes. “Good morning, sleepyhead.”
“Why are you…?”
Ember smiles up at him. “Don’t worry. Nothing happened.”
“Good!”
Sereb looks up from his place at the foot of the bed. “I saw to that, Arc.”
“Thanks. Ember, why…?”
“Sorry. It’s just… I… look, did you hear any of our conversation last night?”
Arc shakes his head. “Sorry, but I was pretty out of it. Did I miss something?”
Rose opens her eyes. “Um… kinda.”
“Morning, Rose.”
Ember nods. “Rose needs to ask you something.”
“What is it?”
“I… um… do… do you think it’s possible for an android like me to find… um…”
“Find what?”
“Find love.”
She blushes. Arc turns to Ember.
“That must have been some conversation you three had last night.”
“S-sorry.”
“No, no! It’s fine and all. I think Rose and I need to talk about this anyways.”
Sereb stands up. “Ember and I will see you at breakfast.”
“We will?”
“Yes, Ember. Come.”
Sereb and Ember leave the room as Arc turns back to Rose
“So… why don’t you tell me what’s bothering you?”
“Well… I… we were talking last night about love and… a few other things. It got me thinking about myself and my programing.”
Arc nods understandingly. “And you’re questioning your own feelings?”
“Kinda. I’m just… wondering about my programing versus real feelings.”
“Real love?”
Rose nods. “Yes. I understand that my feelings for you are merely data that mother put into my memory banks. While I can’t disobey my directives, I also can’t help but wonder if… if my love for you could ever be… real.”
“By real you mean given a choice, right?”
“Yes. I… please don’t hate me for saying these things, but…”
Rose appears on the verge of tears.
“…I want to feel… I want to BE real! A real, living, breathing… woman! Just like… like…!”
“Like Cherry?”
“That’s right. Do… do you think there’s any way mother could… you know…”
“I don’t know, Rose. It seems like a really tall order to me. I mean… she worked very hard to perfect a design for you as you are.”
“Am I asking too much?”
“No. But it may not be possible. To create life isn’t something simple I would imagine.”
Rose grabs Arc’s hand. “But I want to be human so badly!”
“Do you? Even knowing what comes with it?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’d be limited to that which a human is. Eating, breathing, fatigue, bathing and… physical pain to name only a few.”
Rose nods. “You missed one.”
“I’m sure I missed quite a few.”
“I also want to be able to grow old and expire like a human.”
Arc raising an eyebrow. “You want to… die?”
“Someday. At present, my body can auto-repair itself theoretically indefinitely. Short of a catastrophe, I can’t be destroyed. Please understand that, while I’m not seeking death, I do one day want to feel it.”
Arc nods. “I understand. We’ll talk to Twilight about this when we get back to Ponyville. Maybe she has some ideas on how to make that happen.”
Rose looks surprised. “Wait! You… you’re okay with me becoming human?!”
Arc nods. “Yes. You’ll also have free will.”
“What?!”
“The freedom to choose your own path. You won’t be bound by your directives any longer.”
“What about my Prime Directive?”
“No.”
Rose looks nervous. “Can… would you allow me to stay?”
“Of course! But it would be your choice to do so. Now, is this really what you want?”
“It is! But… I’m just scared of the future.”
“Every human is, Rose. At least on some level.”
He stands up.
“In any case, why don’t we see about getting downstairs for breakfast?”
Rose stands and takes Arc’s hand. “Yes! Let’s!”
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Get rid of it, get rid of it, get rid of it, the gaammas can be picked up by drive by or drone flyover especially if someone drops hints as to where a cell is setting up to do something major,.
And I dont know if Equestrian Dragons are nuclear powered or resiliant enough to be able to consume what on Earth is a natural contaminant in coal, which comes from plants, but at usually very low levels, or if its even more toxic than Earth lifeforms.
10221047
Fortunately for them the uranium was in a proper case with shielding.
10221048
It aint the dose affecting people, its the detectors are tuned specifically for the gamma photons of given energy.. those things penetrate a lot of metres of material, so even if its 238, depleted, its a marker, tracer, if not useable in and of itself?
10222256
I was just thinking that Arc has definitely been working out. I almost start to think that he was a former soldier before deciding to settle down and care for his garden. I even suspected it as much as he had this strict routine of doing the same thing day after day, not to mention his instinct to rush into a fight, or even being willing to accept the risk the dangers may impose as if he's seen worse in his life.
10222746
In Tartarus, you either adapt to a life of constant danger or you die. At this point he's been there a couple months. It's assumed that Ember and the rest of the Vile Tribe taught him what they knew.
Arc has no former military training. I wrote that he had such a routine to illustrate that he was simply an ordinary Joe. No one of any real importance. The real question was, what would a normal person do if put into such a situation as being forcefully pulled into an alien world?
Our protagonist is always willing to stand up to the downtrodden due to certain events in his past. Bits and pieces can be found scattered around the various volumes.