Chapter 9 - Filling In
A few days later Arc, Rose, Luna, and Cadance walk down the corridor toward Celestia’s room. Arc turns to Luna.
“How is Sunburst coming along on his research from my last adventure?”
“He reports nothing even close has ever been recorded in Equestrian history.”
Cadance sighs. “It would be helpful if he could explore that region himself.”
Rose frowns. “I don’t believe Tempest would take kindly to that.”
Arc nods. “Right. She views Stableton as HER town, after all.”
Luna looks out the window as they pass. “If what Arc hinted at is accurate, some things should remain buried.”
Rose sighs. “Agreed. From what I saw of the facility, Equestria has little to gain from its technology.”
“And much to lose.”
Cadance looks over to him. “Lose, Arc?
Luna clears her throat. “The past must not be repeated, Cadance. Equestria needs to remain united if our nation is to remain peaceful.”
Arc nods. “Right. That and it’s something for everyone to fight over.”
They arrive at Celestia’s room. Sunburst is going over his instruments. He looks to Arc as they enter.
“Ready for the return trip to Earth, sir?”
“Yes. Any word on Princess Celestia?”
Sunburst nods. “We’ve been able to narrow her location down to a one thousand mile radius, sir.”
Cadance frowns. “That’s still quite a large area.”
“Agreed, your highness. But we’re working on tightening that number as we speak. It’s only a matter of time now.”
“Good. I worry my sister is in grave danger!”
“Aunt Celestia is a capable mare, Luna.”
“True. But she also wouldn’t stay away unless something was VERY wrong.”
Arc nods soberly. “I’ll bring her back as soon as I can.”
Cadance smiles at him. “I’m sure you will.”
“Are you ready, sir?”
“Yes.”
He turns to Luna and Cadance as the portal forms.
“Call me if you learn anything or if there’s trouble.”
The pair nod.
“We will, Arc.”
“Do be careful.”
Rose puts a hand on Arc’s shoulder. “I’ll look after him, your highness.”
“Thank you.”
Sunburst turns to Arc. “Portal stabilized.”
“Let’s go, Rose.”
“Right behind you.”
The pair enter the portal and are gone. Cadance turns to Luna.
“Do you think it’s wise for this facility’s location to remain a secret from us?”
Luna sighs. “We didn’t really have much of a choice in the matter.”
Cadance frowns as they leave the room together. “I suppose not. We’ll just have to trust Arc’s judgment on this.”
“Yes.”
Meanwhile, Arc and Rose step out of the portal into Arc’s backyard. Rose turns to him.
“What now?”
“Let’s check with my squad. See what’s happened since we left.”
They enter the house together. Max is just walking into the kitchen.
“Welcome back, sir!”
“Hi Max. Anything happen in the past few days?”
“No, sir. Your friend is still unconscious in the hospital though.”
Rose frowns. “No changes?”
Max shakes his head. “None, I’m afraid.”
“Yeah, I figured.”
“There is one thing, sir.”
“Oh?”
“I just got off the phone with Shelly. She wanted to know if you were still planning on coming.”
Arc looks confused. “Coming?”
Max nods. “She said you would understand.”
Arc thinks for a moment before snapping his fingers.
“How could I have forgotten?!”
Ember comes up the stairs with Sereb. “Hey Arc. Forgotten what?”
“Hi Ember. Every year I take Shelly and Lily out for dinner and some fun.”
Sereb smiles. “Oh? For what purpose?”
“This is the anniversary of the day Lily aged out of the orphanage. It marks the date the three of us were together again.”
Max nods. “Like a family, sir?”
“Exactly.”
Ember smiles. “If it’s that important you should go, Arc.”
Arc walks into the Living Room. “Agreed. I’ll call Lily back and tell her.”
Max follows him nervously. “That’s a bit of a problem, sir.”
“Huh?”
“Lily was saying something about Shelly having a bad day.”
Ember shrugs. “Maybe she just needs to get out and have some fun.”
Sereb sighs. “I get the feeling that is not what Miss Lily meant.”
Arc nods. “Right. Shelly’s condition puts her in a lot of pain. Some days she can function. Others she can’t.”
Ember looks confused. “Can’t… function?”
“Cook, clean, feed herself, or even walk to the bathroom unassisted.”
Sereb shakes his head. “That does not sound good.”
Ember nods. “Yeah! Anything we can do to help her?”
Arc sighs. “No. Her conditions are incurable.”
Rose turns to Arc. “Wait. Conditions?”
Sereb frowns. “You mean there’s more than one?”
Arc turns to look away sadly. “Yes. She has muscular dystrophy, the effects of which you can see. There’s… more wrong inside her though.”
Ember gasps. “But… but she’s so nice! There must be something we can…!”
Sereb puts a paw on Ember’s foot and shakes his head as Arc continues.
“Shelly doesn’t like to talk about the other things. Mostly because she doesn’t want Lily and I to worry about her.”
Max frowns. “Worry? But…”
Arc interrupts him. “At best, she’ll have half a normal human’s lifespan.”
Ember frowns. “Is she really in that much pain?”
“Sometimes. But she always think of everyone else’s needs before her own.”
Max turns to his commanding officer. “Sounds like someone else I know, sir.”
“Thanks. We’ve been lucky all these years. Her condition has always been manageable for this date.”
Sereb looks up at Arc. “Anything we can do to help?”
Ember nods. “I could take care of Shelly while you and Lily went out if you want, Arc.”
Max steps forward. “Sir, I’d like to go with Ember. Miss Shelly is a very nice human, after all.”
Arc thinks for a moment. “Let me talk to Shelly and Lily first. See what they think. With luck Shelly might improve by tonight.”
He makes his way to the telephone. Dialing the familiar number he waits for someone to pick up.
“Shelly’s Kitchen. Lily speaking.”
“Lily? It’s me.”
“Arc! You’re back!”
“Yeah. Just got in. I hear Shelly isn’t doing too well though.”
Lily sighs. “She really isn’t.”
“You want us to come down and give you a hand?”
“Would you? I’m sure you have a million other things to do and all, but…”
Arc interrupts her. “Anything for you and Shelly. Is the restaurant busy?”
“Nothing I can’t handle. But I’d feel a lot more comfortable if Shelly wasn’t alone upstairs.”
“I’ll head over and take care of her for you.”
Lily sounds relieved. “Thanks! You still have that key I gave you, right?”
“I do. You want me to use the side entrance?”
“You can come through the restaurant if you want. Either way is fine. I just didn’t want you to have to wait for me to unlock the door if we get a rush.”
“Okay. I’ll head over now.”
“Thanks again! Bye!”
Arc puts down the receiver and turns to the others.
“Sorry to run out on all of you again, but I’m going to head over to the restaraunt and take care of Shelly.”
Ember nods. “We understand.”
Max looks toward the basement. “I’ll let you know is something comes up, sir.”
“Thanks. Sereb, you wanna come?”
“Eh?”
“Shelly kinda has a thing for dogs. It would really help her feel better if she had a… uh… fuzzy companion.”
Ember chuckles. “That and you do look cute in that form, Sereb.”
Sereb rolls his eyes.
“If it will be of help to Miss Shelly, I will come.”
Arc heads for the door. “Thanks. Let’s get going.”
The pair leave the house together. They jump in the Jeep and make the quick drive to the restaurant. Arc sighs as he and Sereb get out of the vehicle and head for the building.
“Poor Shelly. She doesn’t deserve this.”
Sereb nods as he follows. Arc looks through the front windows of Shelly’s Kitchen as they pass by.
“Looks like business is picking up. They actually have customers for a change.”
He spots Lily waiting on a table inside. Arc smiles and waves to her as she waves back.
“They’re pretty full in there. While I’m glad to see that, I think Lily needs some help.”
Sereb nods as they walk up the exterior stairs to the apartment door. Arc uses his key and lets them in before closing the door behind him.
“Shelly! It’s Arc!”
A strained voice comes from the bathroom.
“I… in here.”
Arc heads for the Bathroom and knocks on the door.
“You okay, Shelly?”
“Um… I need a little help.”
“Can I come in?”
“Yes.”
Arc opens the door to see Shelly sitting on the toilet. She is reaching down as best she can and looking embarrassed.
“Sorry Arc. I… I just can’t seem to reach down far enough to pull up my… you know.”
Arc walks over. “No need to apologize, my friend.”
He carefully pulls Shelly’s pants up before lifting her into his arms and slowly carrying her into the Living Room.
“Sorry.”
“It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve done this. Today must be an especially bad one for you, huh?”
Shelly nods weakly. “Yes.”
“Should I take you to your room instead? I could give you a massage if that would help.”
“No, thank you. Lying down is more uncomfortable right now.”
“Your chair then?”
“Yes, please.”
Carrying Shelly into the Living Room, he carefully sets her down in a special massage chair.
“Shall I turn it on for you?”
Shelly nods. Arc carefully puts her arms inside the armrests.
“This is the tightest I’ve ever seen your arms! Are you sure this is what you want? A massage right now is really going to hurt.”
“I… I know. But I need to do it. We both know I’ll just get worse if I don’t.”
“Okay.”
He positions Shelly’s legs in their holsters and stands to pick up the remote.
“Should I put it on ‘full body’?”
“Yes. Please start me off slow though.”
“You got it.”
Arc pushes a few buttons and the chair begins its cycle. Shelly gasps.
“Shelly?!”
“I’m… okay.”
She looks to the couch as her body accustoms to the motions of the chair.
“Why don’t you have a seat, Arc?”
Arc does so as Sereb jumps up next to him. Shelly smiles weakly at Sereb.
“I see you brought your little friend with you today.”
“You still like dogs, right?”
Shelly nods happily. “Yes, indeed! He’s such a cute one as well.”
Sereb barks happily.
“I think he likes you.”
Shelly smiles weakly at Sereb. “He’s such a mild-mannered dog, Arc. Where did you get him?”
“I, uh… kinda found him.”
“Are you sure he doesn’t have an owner? He’s so well behaved.”
“That much I’m certain of.”
The massage chair stops momentarily. Shelly grimaces.
“I hate this part.”
The chair’s leg holsters tighten on Shelly’s legs and ankles. It holds them in place as it stretches her body out. She grimaces in pain for a few moments as her muscles acclimate. A few moments later the chair releases them and returns to its default position. Arc stands and walks over to her.
“I always hate watching that.”
Shelly nods, breathing heavily. “Yes… but I… do feel better after a session in my chair.”
Arc takes her hands and carefully helps Shelly stand up.
“How do you feel now?”
“A bit… looser. Can you help me to the couch please?”
“Sure.”
Arc puts his arm around Shelly’s waist and leads her to the couch. The pair sit down together.
“So… how did things look downstairs?”
“Pretty busy compared to what it’s been like.”
“Is Lily going to be okay down there?”
“Well…”
The sound of the apartment door opening can be heard. Lily quickly enters the apartment.
“Shelly? Arc?”
“We’re in the Living Room.”
Lily hurries by them heading for her room with a chocolate covered blouse. Shelly calls out after her friend.
“What happened?!”
Lily sighs as she quickly removes her dirty uniform. I was going too fast and dropped a milkshake. But it gave me a chance to run up here and see if you two were okay.
Arc smiles. “We’re fine. Shelly just finished a session in her chair.”
Lily breathes a sigh of relief as she pulls on a fresh blouse. “Can I bring you anything? A soda perhaps?”
“I’m fine.”
“Me too.”
“Don’t you worry about Shelly and I. Everything will be okay up here. You need help downstairs, Lily?”
Lily hurries back toward the apartment door. “I really could, Arc. But Shelly needs someone with her right now.”
She closes the apartment door behind her and hurries down the stair to the restaurant. Arc sighs.
“I wish I could help her.”
Shelly looks down at her hands sadly. “Sorry for being a burden.”
“You’re no such thing!”
Sereb lies down next to Shelly. She begins stroking his back.
“I’m no use to her like this.”
“We all know you have your good and bad days.”
“Yes, well… normally I can at least sit in the kitchen and watch the stove. Today I can’t even do that.”
Arc thinks for a moment. “Can I use your phone?”
“Of course. But what for?”
Arc chuckles as he picks up the receiver. “I’m calling for reinforcements.”
Later that afternoon the restaurant’s front door lock click shut. A moment later Arc hears the sound of footsteps coming up the stairs. The apartment door opens and Lily walks inside with Max, Hugh, and Ember. He turns his head and calls out to them.
“We’re in the kitchen everyone!”
Lily hurries in to meet them. She looks a bit tired.
“Thanks for coming, Arc. I’ll get supper going now.”
Arc steps back from the counter to reveal a freshly assembled lasagna. “Don’t worry about that Lily.”
“Oh! Why, thank you Arc!”
Hugh grins. “That looks tasty, sir!”
Max nods. “Sure does!”
Arc puts the lasagna is the oven. “It should be ready in about forty five minutes. I know how tired you and Shelly are after a hard day in the restaurant.”
Ember looks around. “Say, where is Shelly?”
Arc sets the timer on the stove. “She sounded pretty tired so I suggested she take a nap an hour or so ago.”
Lily appears worried. “How did she look?!”
“A lot better than when I came over. I think she’ll be alright when she wakes up. In fact, she wanted me to get her when you came upstairs, Lily.”
“Oh? But shouldn’t she rest?”
“She was pretty insistent on this.”
Hugh nods. “We should do as she asks then, sir.”
Max thinks for a moment. “Yes. Perhaps she doesn’t want to upset her sleep schedule?”
Ember shrugs. “That must be it.”
“I’ll go get her. Why don’t you sit down and take a load off, Lily?”
Lily heads for the Living Room. “Thanks. I think I will.”
Arc heads for Shelly’s room. Opening the door slowly he sees Sereb lying next to his friend. Her arm is draped over his gray coat. Arc walks over and sits down on the bed next to her. Putting a hand on her shoulder he gently shakes her.
“Shelly? Lily and the others just closed the restaurant.”
Her eyes slowly open.
“Arc? Is it time to get up already?”
“I can let you sleep if you want me to.”
Shelly sits up slowly. “No, no! I… I need to get up.”
Arc puts an arm around Shelly’s back. I’ll help you.
Slowly he helps Shelly sit up.
“Can you stand?”
Shelly shakes her head sheepishly. “I… don’t think so.”
“I’ll carry you.”
Picking Shelly up, Arc carries her to the Living Room and sets her down on the couch next to Lily. Sereb dutifully follows the pair.
“Thank you, Arc.”
Hugh looks over. “How are you feeling now, Miss Shelly?”
“A bit better. But I don’t think I’m in any condition to go anywhere.”
Ember nods. “Can we help in any way?”
Max walks in from the Kitchen. “Anything at all?”
Shelly shakes her head. “No. I just need to rest.”
Ember frowns. “But what about your plans for tonight?”
Arc smiles at Shelly. “The three of us can go out tomorrow. After all, what’s one more day?”
“No, no! You and Lily should go without me.”
Lily gasps. “What?! But it won’t be the same without you!”
“I’ll be fine here, you two.”
Max smiles. “You shouldn’t be alone right now, ma’am. I’ll stay with you.”
Hugh nods. “So will I.”
Ember nods to Arc. “You two can have a nice night out.”
“Well…”
“But Shelly…”
Shelly interrupts her. “Lily. I’d really like it if you went out with Arc tonight.”
Lily wrings her hands nervously. “Well, I… um…”
Hugh grins. “Awwww… take her out, sir.”
Max nods. “Yes. We’ll look after Shelly.”
Ember turns toward the door. “We should go home so you can get ready, Arc.”
“If you three say so.”
He turns to Lily.
“I’ll be back in an hour or so.”
“Oh… okay. I’ll be ready.”
Arc and the others head for the door together. Arc turns back to Sereb.
“Stay here, big guy.”
Sereb nods and walks back to the Living Room as Arc and the others leave. Shelly holds her arms out to Sereb.
“You want to stay for a bit? Come on up!”
Sereb does so as Lily smiles and stands up before heading for the Kitchen.
“I’ll see what else we have in the kitchen for…”
Shelly interrupts her. “Shouldn’t you be picking out a nice dress?”
“A… a dress?!”
“Yes. Arc always puts on a nice button down shirt and dress pants for the occasion, remember?”
“Oh, I… I was just afraid he might see this as a… um…”
“A date?”
Lily nervously nods as she blushes.
Shelly smiles. “It IS a date, Lily. You two are going alone. Remember?”
“But… but I’m not ready for that!”
Shelly sighs. “Lily, you’ve been saying that for years now. Take this opportunity to finally tell Arc how you feel!”
“But…”
“If you don’t, another girl might just turn Arc’s head. Take Ember for example. She’s awfully pretty you know.”
“I…”
“And the two of them ARE living together.”
Lily turns around quickly. “I’ll see if I can finds something nice to wear!”
Shelly smiles as she hears Lily’s bedroom door close.
“Good luck tonight, Lily. I really do think you and Arc would make a beautiful couple.”
She sighs and goes back to petting Sereb.
“That and it would be nice to know that you were taken care of after I’m… gone.”
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I wonder, given all teh work done in that Bunker, if the bot has any DNA repair and cellular reprofiling methodologies, magical assisted or otherwise?
Then again, the biggest problem with Mosaic, is that both X can be equally correct, but in such opposing activation directions to act as deletions and overstimulations amongst others.
Seen it in extended family by marriage.
10353464
In the past that was one of the functions of the facility, yes. However as it stands, all the equipment in the lab is dated and mostly useless. This is not the last we'll see of RD-001.
This is a repeat of Cherry and I know where this is going to lead.
Luna looks out the widow as they pass. “If what Arc hinted at is accurate, some things should remain buried.”
Luna some how looks out of a woman who has lost her spouse by death???? How
Window maby wuld properly worck way better.
11729407
Fixed.