So I was feeling numb, which was good, because I didn’t feel well at all. It was like that feeling you get when you’ve had too much to drink, but so much that you were away, just numb to everything. It was a relaxing feeling, so I dared not open my eyes until the feeling had left. But things only got stranger. Sitting in front of me was a purple earth pony stallion bobbing his head to a strange song playing on his pipbuck.

It kept playing, and he just sat there with his head bobbing to it. His pale blue mane had a green streak in it, it all bouncing with every bob and tilt of his head.

The stallion held up a sign, a pink sign with blue sparkly letters on it. “It’s going to be fine.”

Dropping the sign, another was behind it. “It’s always darkest before dawn.”

The second sign dropped, and a third was there. “You’re not alone, you have friends.”

“She wants you to break, so stay strong.”

“They’re on their way, so you must not give up.”

“You’re not the first to be entranced by her, and will not be the last”

“So when the darkness is at its peak, hold onto the light of hope, and don’t let go.”

The music faded, and I began to feel again. Still numb, but the back of my neck and my head felt unnaturally warm, the skin a tad too tight.

“Have you lost your fucking mind!” The voice was of a stallion, old, and authoritative.

“Don’t blow an oil leak, I know what I’m doing. She’s going to be a valuable asset.” The other voice, it was hard to place. Too androgynous to put my hoof down on gender, but it was very familiar.

“She’s going to damage the C.C.N. there’s a reason we only let the most loyal of ponies in it!” The old stallion huffed.

Opening my eyes, blurry at first, but they quickly came into focus.

A silver mare, Theremin, I remember now. “We have plenty of ponies connected to the network, one mare is not going to cause a problem. And if she was too, it’s not like we don’t have ways to disconnect her from the C.C.N.”

“My first option is a bullet in her head.” The old stallion said without hesitation. He was black, with a green mane and tail, some gray could be seen in it. His outfit was a black trench coat, and a black hat. Waterphone was his name, if I was remembering correctly. “Trust me, if she becomes even a small problem in the network, I’m personally removing her from it.” Waterphone stepped out of the room, the doors softly hissing as they closed.

Theremin was sticking his tongue out at the stallion, up until the door closed. Looking over at me, he saw me looking back at him. Still odd because he was in a mare’s body. “Oh good, you’re awake miss Echo, sit up and tell me how you feel.”

Sitting up, I found that I only had a medical gown on, which was enough to cover me, so I didn’t feel that naked. “A little dizzy, a bit bolted, and my neck is stiff. I also had a weird dream.”

Nodding his head, Theremin took a seat next to me. “That’s natural, just a side effect of the sedative we gave you.” He passed me a bottle and smiled. “Take two of these, and you should start feeling better in no time.”

Looking at the bottle, it was for moderate pain relief, and minor anti-anxiety. Chill and Med-X combined in pill form. “Thanks.” Opening the jar, I placed two pills into my right forehoof, and popped them into my mouth. Theremin hoofed over a glass of water, of which I drank it all. “What happened to me?”

“Well…” Theremin fidgeted a little, and sighed. “So we had a data jack installed into your neck, and connected you to the C.C.N. For your own good, trust me on that. Otherwise you have eventually done something reckless, and hurt yourself.”

I stretched back and placed my hoof on the back of my neck, metal hit metal with a soft clank, and I could feel the pressure of something artificial on and under the back of my neck. “Oh.” Pulling my leg back in front of me, I could see that my right fore leg was different. Fully cybernetic, and not like one I’d seen before. I lifted the leg in front of Theremin and raised my eyebrow. “And this?”

He chuckled. “I thought I might as well give you something fun. You know, as a sorry gift for tricking you. It’s one of our new cyber legs, just out of the prototype phase. The LACL-03, aka the light assault combat leg. Sturdy, quick, and can send millions of volts of electricity into anypony you hit with it.”

I concentrated on the leg, and pointed it at Theremin. A small spark of electricity flicked from the hoof, and a message popped up in my E.F.S. hud, telling me that the stun hoof was at 0% charge. “Plusgood.” My thoughts then trailed from the leg, and to my new cybernetic part. “Why the data Jack, and what’s the C.C.N?”

“The jack, that’s so that you can connect with everypony here. Almost all of Persephone Station is hooked up to the network, and requires you to be connected to it just to interact with anything. Not that we don’t have manual switches for things like doors and lights, but by being part of the network, you can access all that and more with just your thoughts.” Theremin leaned back and took a deep breath. “Which leads me to explain the C.C.N. the Collective Consciousness Network. I’m no egghead, as I told you, so I don’t understand the more complex parts of it all, but I do know the more important parts. The C.C.N. is simply the pinnacle of pony and machine combined to bring us into a unified group. We have a super computer the likes nopony has ever seen crunching numbers, as we all act as its eyes and ears, as well as adding our own knowledge to it. Through this, we have created the perfect civilization, no crime, no poverty, and no unhappiness. It’s the ultimate freedom, something I hope we can share with the rest of the metro.”

I sat there, soaking in what he was saying, understanding it all. “And I’m part of it?”

He nodded. “It was a risk, due to you not being properly conditioned, but I pulled a few strings.” Placing his hooves onto mine, Theremin looked into my eyes. “You’re okay with this aren’t you?”

I felt, I should feel violated. Angry at what he had done to me, ready to puke out my guts at the idea of some cables being shoved into my head without my permission. They might as well have just raped me in my sleep, placed a slave collar around my neck, and lobotomized me. But “I feel fine.” Worse than that. “I actually feel happy.” It was wrong, I knew it was wrong, but I didn’t feel wronged, I felt fixed. I knew that this should scare me, but it didn’t, not at all. “Umm, can I get some clothes, I’d like to look around, see more of the station.”

Theremin was more than happy to help me out, trotting off to get my clothes. I used the short time to myself to check Minerva, see what my status was. “Minerva.” Nothing, not even a beep. “Minerva?” my pipleg still didn’t respond. Looking at it, the screen was blank. I pressed and held the reboot button, and the screen came to life. After waiting for a long moment, the pipleg was back to its old self, or so I thought. Minerva had entered lockdown mode, and needed three passwords to unlock all the systems, until I did that, most of my pipbuck was heavily encrypted. The basic systems remained open to me, working like any other standard pipbuck, but all my personal logs, and programs were unavailable to me. Rolling my eyes I entered my three passwords; Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle. The default passwords for most of Orthrus’s pipbucks, and of which I was too lazy to ever change. I had a feeling that this was Rototom’s fault.

Giving up on the pipbuck, I at least still had the basic functions on, so no Biggy. Theremin soon came back into the room with my clothes, and was insistent that he help me get dressed. “Mares like you shouldn’t have to do everything by yourself.” Came out of his mouth. I found myself unable to object, which I thought would worry me, but it didn’t, he was simply helping me, what was wrong with that. With my black suit on, and new leg working wonderfully, I couldn’t help but skip a little as I left the room.

It was, well, if I was impressed by Persephone Station before, I was blown away by it now. It was clear to me that a lot of the beauty of the station was hidden behind the C.C.N. of which was now revealed to me. Every part of the station was lit up in lights, guiding ponies to where they wanted to be, all the posters now had moving parts in them, showing the ponies working together, and not just standing still. Shops, and other places where I can pick up the things I need had interactive menu’s, giving me all the information I need, and then some. We even passed by the theater and restaurant I was at before, yesterday I think, and I could see when the next show was happening, or what was the special I could order from the restaurant.

It was not just that, but somehow I knew everypony here. Their names, their family, and even their friends, I saw a pony and knew who they were like we were old friends passing each other on the street. Theremin too, I knew that she grew up here in Persephone Station as an orphan, her name was Fiscorn at the time, joining up with the republic when she was old enough, and became part of the M.o.A. as an agent. Nothing about her becoming a reaver, but she was able to track down and eliminate a Bandit Raiding band before they could hurt one pony, which we were all grateful for. It seemed that some point a few years ago, she switched to a he, and took on the name Theremin. “So do you know everything about me?” I didn’t feel disturbed by the idea of that, but felt like I should.

“Yep!” Theremin said unabashedly. “There are no secrets among us, all of us. Here, were one big family. Share and share alike, that’s how we formed this perfect society.”

Thinking about it, it didn’t seem right, but I felt content, like I was part of this big family. I know it was all wrong, but couldn’t bear myself to feel wronged by it all, which worried me, which comforted me. “Why has this not been spread to the other stations? I’m sure they’d love to be connected to the C.C.N.”

Theremin nodded. “True, I’m sure they would, but there are others who would be left confused, and thus confuse others. Mental disorders, twisted ideology, and never forget the capitalists, they would take the C.C.S. and pervert it into something that would enslave ponies, not set them free.”

“True, I know a few businesses that got in trouble for running sweatshops.” Nasty business every time they pop up. True as it was that the business’s gave the ponies working their a place to live and eat, but the ponies might as well have been slaves. “You can tell that if slavery could be legal, they’d would do everything they could to support it.”

“Ugly, truly and completely.” He said with a sigh. “It’s why we need to condition ponies into the republic, it keeps the capitalists from sneaking their toxic ideology in. But slowly, and surely, they will lose. Trust me, history will prove us all right.”

It all didn’t sit well with me, but that was probably because it was still all new to me. I was new to it, so it would take time, like with all things.

Theremin looked over at me, concerned, and smiled. “You must be thirsty. Metro-cola, right? Let me go get a few bottles.” He trotted off, and I found a bench to sit at. A drone floated by me, stopping to take a look at me. It was not as advanced as the ones used by Orthrus, it being not much more than an upgraded spirit bot. But still, through the C.C.N. interface augmenting my vision like E.F.S. the spirit bot drone wafted off color, and a screen of text appeared. ‘Vibraphone Echo, is this you?’

Strange, even if everything felt all warm and friendly, I was not about to answer some random drone that happened to pass by, that’s how foals are foalnapped. “Why, yes I am.” Phobetor spoke, she was sitting next to me on the bench “Is this about the letter I sent?”

The sprite bot nodded. ‘Oh it’s good to find you, even with the C.C.N. having us all connected, the white noise can be a problem at times.’ The text screen flickered, and was replaced by an image of an envelope. The envelope opening up and showing us a letter. ‘You are invited to the capitol building for a private party. The Tremolo Sisters performing their famous songs, and a tasting of the newest foods and drinks for the citizens will be given out, along with some of the more popular classics.’

‘Joy’ was all I could think to myself. “What a joyous invite, and with a show to entertain our souls, how could I turn this down. A stallion after my own heart.” Phobetor talked, not at the sprite-bot, but through me at the sprite-bot. It felt chilling that she could do this, like I had lost control over myself, and she was filling in the role.

‘Show starts soon, you can bring one guest, and dress sharp. Everything will be provided at the party, and directions will be sent to your pipbuck.’ The screen on the sprite-bot flickered off, and the bot floated off, bumping into Theremin on its way.

Theremin gave off a confused look as he passed me a metro-cola bottle, popping off the cap first. “What was that about?”

I smiled, or was it Phobetor, or the C.C.N.? I didn’t know anymore. “Looks like we’re going to a party. I know you will love it, the Tremolo Sisters will be there.” He was confused at first, but soon went with it after, a party was a party, and he was a fan of the Tremolo Sisters.

The capitol building was a different kind of impressive, the lights and color of the rest of the station was replaced with a more relaxed tone. There was still the holographic interface all about, but much more tucked out of the way, only coming into view when needed. This allowed me to see the building for it’s more classical appearance, though under the wood and carpet, I knew there was metal and concrete. But still, with the light from the outside, and the warm feeling I had from the inside, it was like I had stepped into the old world, before the time when the air had become poisonous.

The elevator gave off much of the same feeling, playing soft music, the mirrors reflecting my now repaired face. I couldn’t help but take a closer look at myself, the orbital fracture around my eye was almost invisible, same for the scar where my lip was split open. I couldn’t help but feel relieved, though my own looks were not on the top of the list of things that were important to me, it still worried me that I would never look right in a dress if my face was all cut up.

“You look fine. Better then fine, you look beautiful.” Theremins words were comforting, if a bit thick. It made me glad that he had no dick right now, as I was sure the gender confused pony wanted to fuck me.

Looking back in the mirror, Phobetor stared back at me, her golden eyes seemingly glowing next to her black coat. “You should just let the transvestite have his way with you, not like she has the balls to get you pregnant.” I glared at the shadowed reflection. ‘one, that’s never a guarantee with the kind of technology we have, two, he is not my type, end of story.’ Phobetor rolled her eyes. “You ponies have become such prudes, I remember a time when mares gallivanted around, rarely knowing who the father was.” It was a confusing statement. ‘What do you mean, a time?’

“Is everything okay Vibraphone?” Theremin sounded concerned, her… his voice showing some of it synthetic static as he asked. He actually tapped at his own throat, looking a bit confused. “Strange, something maybe I should go get checked out.”

“It’s probably just some security check point we passed through, strong magnets could affect the cybernetics, or even a magical field.” Phobetor spoke through me. ‘Will you stop that, this is my body, you have no right to do this.’ Phobetor laughed, not with my body, inside where nopony but me could see or hear it. “I think you lost all your rights to your own body as soon as you were plugged into this C.C.N. So just let me work, our deal will soon be done.” ‘What are you?’ “That answer is not part of the deal, but it will be revealed soon enough.”

Relaxing, Theremin rubbed his throat. “You might be right, if there is any place that has the best security on this island, it’s here. But it’s never messed with my systems before, strange.”

With a chime and a thump, the elevator came to a stop, and the doors opened. We entered a small waiting room, which had portraits and posters on the walls, the same I’ve seen around the station. At the end of the room the doors were opened and a sign leaned against one of them with an arrow pointing to the party. Leaving the waiting room, the main living room was moderately decorated. Enough colored ribbons to know that this was a party, but not too much to make it overly flashy.

We trotted over to the center of the room where a table held many glasses, and a punch bowl still filled with ice and liquid. “Is this normal Theremin?” though modest in how the party was decorated, still didn’t seem all that equal to me.

Theremin poured himself, and me a drink. “A bit uncommon. Normally we have open celebrations down in the station floor, but private parties are known to happen. It’s mainly a holdover from the old M.o.M. but soon private parties like this will be as open and equal as the C.C.N.

“Ain't that the truth!” a deep and loud voice almost bellowed from behind us. Turning around, I came face to face with an old lavender mirage pony stallion. His mane had long turned gray, along with a big bushy beard on his face. His prosthetics were made to look like normal legs, but came off looking like plastic from a cheap toy “But still there is a case for test groups, and some ponies don’t like large crowds. But once the CCN can go wide through the islands, parties like this can be shared among everypony.” Something about his voice sounded very familiar.

Theremin immediately straightened up, adjusting his tie. “Miss Echo, this here is Garmon Keys, president of the republic. Mister Keys, this here is Vibraphone Echo, our newest member of the M.o.A.”

Garmon chuckled, “Good to finally meet you, Shame that it couldn’t have been sooner, but it’s never too late to change your mind. A pony with your pedigree would do well in the I.o.E.”

I could see Phobetor standing next to him, lifting up a drink and sipping it. It was metro-cola clear, a bit sweeter than the normal stuff, and fizzier too. I could also taste a hint of alcohol in it as well. “As tempting as that may be, I think it would be rude to just abandon a group I’ve just joined.” Phobetor spoke through me. “But nothing stopping the two organizations from working together.”

“All too true.” The stallion agreed. “It’s my hope that one day we will not need the old ministries anymore, and just have the I.o.E. leading the charge. Everypony equal under one banner.”

Theremin cleared his throat, gaining our attention. “Sorry mister president, but I might be a bit ignorant on what’s going on here.”

“Oh sorry about that Synthesis, I may have forgotten to inform the M.o.A. about this.” Garmon said with a chuckle. “I got a message about miss Echo here two days ago. Vibraphone Echo, Dragon Slayer of Charon’s Stop, Friend and savior to the mirage pony princess, and has a heritage that goes all the way back to the second security chief of the R&D Stable. Not to mention having contacts with a few powerful ponies on Pineapple Island, and knows a few Specters on a first name basis.” He gave me a sly look. “You’ve got the kind of connections we can use to help make a more equal metro.”

Theremin sighed. “Sorry to tell you this, but I’m not Synthesis, I’m Theremin. Synthesis died of a brain hemorrhage two weeks ago, I’m just borrowing her body until mine is repaired.” He then glanced at me before looked back at Garmon. “And how do you know all this sir, we have yet to open it to the public?”

“Synthesis, dead? Poor girl. To die so young is a tragedy.” Garmon gave a depressed little sigh. “The last time I saw her; she was helping to distribute new posters.” He poured himself a little to drink, and took a sip. “As for how I know about miss Echo, I have my own agents keeping an eye on things, as you should remember. But two days ago one of my agents caught wind of miss Echo not long after she entered the station, and after some digging, we learned of the kind of connections she has.” Finishing his drink, he motioned for us to follow him. “Come now, let’s meet the others.”

Most of those connections I had were superficial at best, so Garmon’s interest would be with only one pony. “By connections, you’re only interested in Harp Melody, right?”

Garmon laughed. “Sharp as a tack. Not that the others that you're connected too are not important. But yes, Princess Harp Melody does hold a greater interest to the I.o.E. as a pony in her position could significantly help unify the metro. As well as help the poor ponies of the Orphic Kingdom.”

“Or start a war between the Orphic and Orthrus.” I added. Both Theremin and Garmon gave me a confused look. “Council member Phorminx is Harps father. I mean, that’s what Golden Rule told me.”

The old earth pony face hoofed, and shook his head. “Poor girl, just being a Mirage Pony is a political mess for her family, but being related to a member of the Orthrus council, Phorminx no less, that’s a disaster in the making.”

“Isn’t Phorminx the leader of the Specter corps?” Theremin asked.

“From what I know.” I scratched my chin. “He is like a grandfather to most of the specters, or something. That’s how my sister explains it. But for the most part, the specters are run by the whole council, and work independent under them.”

“Well the specters would have been a problem even without the family connection.” Garmon pointed out. “We will just have to factor in them being more aggressive if we ever get close to the princess.”

“A princess? You mean princesses, right papa?” standing before us was one of the Tremolo Sisters, the one with the soft blue mane.

“Maybe he is talking about another pony then us, dear sister?” The other Tremolo Sister with the rose pink mane flanked us.

“Oh my girls, were just taking business.” Garmon had a big smile on his face. “Here let me introduce you to my new acquaintance.” Pointing over at me, I took a sip from my glass. “This here is Vibraphone Echo, also known as the Dragon Slayer. The princess we were talking about is one of her friends, a member of the Orphic royal court.” He then pointed to the Tremolo Sisters. “These are my darling daughters, Lirone and Cello Tremolo Keys.”

Lirone was the one with the pink mane, and Cello with the blue. They both were in somewhat frilly dresses, though gray in color, both dresses had many silver sequins on that it looked like they were shimmering. “I saw you two perform when I first got here, it was very impressive.”

The two mares looked at me, their eyes scanning me over. “Yes, I remember you.” Cello said in a less than friendly tone.

“Yes, she’s the one from a few days ago, the one who didn’t sing along.” Lirone added.

The two sisters circled me, eyeing me up. “You liked the other performers before us, but not us.” Cello sneered. “Everypony loves our music, yet you seemed indifferent.”

Lirone huffed at me. “We know we were not out of tune, or fumbling lines. So what was wrong, what did you not like?”

I was, well confused. I couldn’t for the life of me remember why I didn’t like their music. I remember being there, seeing the others sing along, and me… not. Disconnected, I was disconnected at the time, that was it. “It was because I was not connected to the C.C.N. at the time, I think.”

The two sisters just stared at me, looking less than pleased with my answer. Garmon stepped between me and the two, waving them off. “Now don’t be pest’s girls, I’m sure you can convince her the brilliance of you singing later. But now’s the time for civility. So go, I’m sure their are others who would love to talk with you.” The two turned their noses up at their father and trotted away, mumbling to themselves. Garmon sighed, and gave a little chuckle. “I don’t know what’s more difficult, running a nation, or raising two teenaged mares.”

I finished off my drink and giggled a little. It was actually a bit cute how he shooed them away like that. “I think you’re doing just fine. And if they ever become too much of a problem, you can always send them to Orthrus, they’d straighten them out.”

Garmon laughed. “That’s very true. We may not see eye to eye, but I have to agree that there is no group more disciplined than Orthrus. If only I could convince them about the virtues of equality, gain some kinship.”

I shook my head. “Unlikely. The council are all independent leaders in their own right, with Naqara being an utter dictator half the time. As far as I know, they're more likely to agree to not do anything, then to do, well, anything.”

“I know what you mean.” Garmon added. “Whenever I do get to talk with them, it’s always one showing interest, and the rest voicing suspicion. Strange as it may be, Biwa is always the one most against me, even though we have the most common ground.”

This was a bit above my head, never having met any of the council member personally. “Well you’d know more than me, I was never more than a grunt in Orthrus.”

“Then why don’t we talk to some of my other guests?” Garmon guided us to another group of ponies, a mix of young and old mirage ponies in lab coats, among them was an all-black mare in a Stable-Tec lab coat. We also passed by a few foals as well, all the new kind of mirage ponies, happily chasing each other around, none on prosthetic legs. “I'd like you to meet the leaders of our new generation project.”

I couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. “New Generation project?”

An older mare cleared her throat. Her lab coat was a pristine white, her natural coat was a pale creamy blue, and her mane was monochrome gray, likely having lost it’s color with age. On her snout were thin framed glasses, that almost seemed to float in place. “Mister Keys, I know you're excited about the project, but not everypony is going to just understand.” She turned her attention from Garmon over to me. “Sorry about that dear, I’m Doctor Shinobue. The other researchers and I have been working on the new generation project for the last thirty years.”

“Thirty years! That’s, what… before the equalist revolution?” I was expecting ten years, or well however old Cello and Lirone were.

Theremin laughed loudly at my confused statement. “A lot of the projects the old republic had been working on were salvaged by our operatives, and repurposed for the benefit of the citizens. The C.C.N. alone was made for military use only, but we found a better use in helping ponies reach a new level of freedom.”

“Yes, freedom.” Doctor Shinobue said with a slight irritated tone in her voice. “But yes, my team started this project under the old rule, and for the most part we didn’t care about who was in charge. Our research was more important than politics.” She eyed me up, looking critically at me. “And you are?”

“Vibraphone Echo, new member of the M.o.A. and probably more well known for my connections with another pony, then anything I’ve done myself.”

Doctor Shinobue sighed. “Typical. You’re just another mare for Garmon to show around.” She glared at the president, and he rolled his eyes. “Well if you want to know more, you're always invited to see our labs. Really, it’s a better place for an explanation than a party. That, and we can always use another volunteer.” That didn’t sound appealing to me.

“I’m always interested in learning more.” My mouth moved on its own as Phobetor gave me a smile, using me like a puppet. “New generation, the C.C.N. they’re both so fascinating, yet hardly seems possible.” No longer in control, I gave Garmon a sly smile. “I’m sure that you know a few ponies who can tell me more about the C.C.N. as well.”

Garmon smiled back at me. “I’m sure I can. Maybe after this party I over, I can show you around the labs.” Yep, Garmon Keys was just another Politician, horndog and all.

“Excuse me, sir.” Theremin spoke up, sounding a little irritated. “I don’t think that would be appropriate, considering how new miss Echo is to the C.C.N.”

Garmon waved his hoof dismissively. “Oh don’t be such a worrier. Every test we’ve done shows that seeing the heart of the C.C.N. actually increases a citizen’s loyalty to it. I doubt Miss Echo will be different. Also, we will be passing through the New Generation labs first, If the foals don’t solidify her opinion on the republic, then nothing will.”

My hoof gave a playful little wave, feeling like a string had tugged on it. “I’m already well impressed by everything. But foals, that would be wonderful to see. In truth, I actually wanted to be a teacher, like my mother. Helping the next generation is something that I always saw as more important than treading mud. Sadly, the world outside the republic is less than fair, so one must take the jobs that are available.”

“Oh I do understand. In my youth, I was just a normal republic soldier. Lived through the whole Knights of Purity mess, almost got cooked alive by a flamer too. Thank goodness Orthrus put an end to that, or it might have devolved in a full scale war.” Garmon chuckled. “It’s why I’ve been trying to repair our relationship with Orthrus for the last few years. Get our groups to work together like they did with the old republic.”

“Personally, I think it’s going to take a change in leadership for Orthrus to start seeing things our way.” Theremin put out.

Doctor Shinobue shook her head. “The world does not work like that, we’re more likely to get a warmonger who would want power over having a revolution.”

“Very true, doctor.” Garmon said, clapping his hooves together. “The current council is more interested in maintaining order, than establishing it. This actually works to or advantage, as we just need to change the minds of the ponies who live under Orthrus. When Orthrus risks Revolution by maintaining their order, they will change their tactics to come more in line with us, and be more willing to come to the table of negotiation.”

I thought about it for a moment, and it all seemed logical. Get the population on the side of equality, and Orthrus would have to change in order to remain in power. But something in the back of my mind was gnawing at me, telling me that it would never work out in the way that they think it would. Not with politics alone. “I don’t know, Orthrus is well over a hundred years old now, something tells me that you would need more then pony power to get them to change. As long as they have their home stations, Orthrus is more likely to just bunker down and chip away at the republic until they can take power again.”

The two intellectual ponies didn’t have a response to what I had just said, simply stopping to think about it. The pony who broke the silence was Theremin, who laughed as he stomped the floor lightly. “She got you there, mister president. This is why she’s M.o.A. not I.o.E. Simply, to take care of the problem that’s Orthrus, were going to have to make a military move and push them out of their own station. Only then will they have to listen to the will of the metro.”

Garmon huffed a bit bitterly. “And going to war with them will only set us on the path of our own destruction. I understand what you’re saying, but until we have the majority of the metro on our side, such actions should be seen as foolish at best, suicidal at worst.” He tipped his head at the doctor, and us before backing away. “Well I have other guests to talk with, if you’re still interested in touring the labs, come talk to me after the party is over. I’m sure it will be very enlightening for you.”

We did just that, good food, drinks, and plenty of ponies who had a lot to talk about, though very little was interesting to listen to. Most of the ponies here were among some of the more important ponies in the republic, though mostly related to the Institution of Equality, them being station mayors, educators, and lab ponies. Theremin made a point to highlight that we were the only ponies from the M.o.A. After about an hour of mingling, I had come to the conclusion that the I.o.E. was just patting itself on the back. Even the few foals running about might as well have been I.o.E. spokesponies, just smaller and more energetic.

Though the company was less than interesting, the food was, moderately good. Drinks too, I guess. I tried out different things, but they all had a similar taste to them, making me wish for just a carrot to chew on. Even that would have had more flavor.

I was a little worried that the Tremolo Sisters would come at me again. Some mares never let even the smallest grudge go, and they seem like the kind to hold a grudge. Luckily for me, they were to perform one of their songs, so I could safely stay away from them. They started with the “our station” song I had heard before, and without the band backing them up, it sounded bland. Not that the two sisters were bad at singing, they were actually quite good at it, able to fill the room without the need of a speaker. The problem was with the song itself, seeming to lack any real originality, like it was just stolen, and reworded to match the station. Wouldn’t be the first time I saw that happen.

Despite my own thoughts about the music, I couldn’t help but enjoy it. Everypony else was too, I could feel it, all of them sending out their positive feelings. It was odd, but I liked it, and probably liked the song because of it, but I didn’t care. The only ponies I could not feel were the Tremolo Sisters, the foals running around, and Garmon Key’s. What I wouldn’t give to feel what the sisters were feeling as they sang, as we watched, feeling each other’s emotions. It was a disturbing, but intoxicating thought.

The mellow party continued for another hour and a half before ponies began to leave. The food was gone, the punch bowl had gone mostly dry, and the more talkative ponies were starting to repeat themselves, running dry on topics to go on about. With so few ponies left, Garmon and Doctor Shinobue were once more the ponies we were talking too. The conversation was nothing all that interesting to me, Garmon going on about his time as a teacher. I think he was trying to impress me, but much of what he said flew over my head. Mostly it was the parts about making schools more efficient. The stories I enjoyed more were about foals getting into and out of trouble, not time tables and studying tips.

“On the topic of foal’s, mister president, I would like to know more about the new generation. The ones like your daughters.” The party was about over, and I wanted to get this over with. Pushing the subject myself felt a lot better than Phobetor taking me over to do just that.

Garmon finished of his drink, placing the empty cup on a nearby coffee table. “Might as well. Just meet me over at the elevator and I’ll show you how the Republic is going to unify the metro.” The old stallion had trotted off, talking with another pony who was likely to be left in charge of the party.

We all met up at the elevator, the good doctor looking ready to go to sleep, and Theremin all too bored. I could understand how they felt, mostly because through the C.C.N. I could feel what they were feeling. Not completely, but enough to know if they were faking or not. It felt like I was missing something important, yet I was numb to it. Shaking off the feeling, I joined the others in the elevator as we watched Garmon trot over to us.

“Mister Keys,” Doctor Shinobue spoke with a yawn. “As soon as this tour is over, I’m retiring to the break room. If you let the foals in while I’m trying to sleep, I will give them lots of sweets and then let them loose in your home.”

“Like you would do with Cello and Lirone when they were younger.” The old stallion chuckled.

She nodded. “Yes, but instead of two hyperactive twins, it will be a whole herd of them.”

“Oh the horror!” Theremin laughed. “I might as well give them all kazoos as well.” I shook my head, imagining the thought.

Garmon pulled out his ECS pass card, and inserted it into a panel on the elevators side. “Alright miss Echo, you're about to see the future of ponykind.”

The elevator had continued to go down, pass the first floor, meaning we were now deep underground. When the doors finally opened, I entered a tunnel that had to be at most fifty years old, if not younger than that. Though a bit smaller, as it was likely not meant for trains to be in here. The strangest thing about the tunnels, was how the reminded me a bit of the tunnels from the big Island, just smaller, and not overtaken by roots.

Entering the lobby, a large map was on one side of the room, displaying how big this facility really was. If I had to guess, it extended as wide as the station itself, with large area devoted to projects. Weapons, Cybernetics, Medicine, Biology, and other military R&D projects looked like they took up nearly half the facility. It also had two large zones. The N.G. labs, and what was just labeled as the C.C.N.

“Impressive.” Was all I could really say about it, having only seen the map.

“It is, isn’t it?” Garmon boosted. “Before the revolution, this place was used to increase to power of the old republic. But now we use it to better the lives of our citizens. Yes, we still have to develop weapons, and other unsavory things, but now resources are diverted to better food production and medicine. With the crowning achievement of this all being the New Generation project.”

Trotting away from the map, I looked at the direction where this New Generation project was. “So, the Republic built all this?”

Doctor Shinobue opened the door ahead of us, using a badge she had pulled out of her coat. “Most of it. Originally this place was a Solarus robotics factory. I don’t know why they built it so far underground, probably trying to out compete Stable-Tec. But once the Republic had a firm hoof on law and order, they began expanding this facility, using it to continue some of the research the old world had started. The Cybernetic connectors originally came from here, as well as the early prosthetics that connect to them.”

“I remember hearing about that in school.” Looking around as I followed the others, I found it surprising how few propaganda posters were on the walls. They were there, but in a less obsessive way. Strangely enough it made me feel uncomfortable not having so many here. “It’s what got Orthrus to ally with the republic. They had the medical staff, and the republic had the tech. It kept the idea of Mirage ponies from being just a dream.”

Nodding, Doctor Shinobue took the lead. “Rightfully so. And without everypony working together, we would be nothing more than a few scattered tribes, along with Stable-Tec overseeing the death of ponykind. Good thing those R&D ponies had the right idea in mind to open their stable to all that needed help. Unlike the ponies in stable 50, closing themselves off, only coming out nearly a hundred years later to establish themselves as new royalty.”

“This is our biggest problem.” Garmon trotted up next to me, the elderly stallion clip clopping on his metal hooves. “Groups like the Orphic kingdom and the Trade Union are dead set at separating themselves from the rest of the metro, dividing us on fool hardy lines. That’s why we need Orthrus to side with the republic once more.” He had a big grin on his face, like he had just scored a win that no pony could take from him. “And the New Generation project is what will do it.”

We reached the end of the wide hallway, and Doctor Shinobue opened one more door. What I saw nearly floored me. Foals, everywhere. It looked as if there were nine of them in each group, all following a lab coated pony, or just sitting in a group. The strangest part is that each group looked like each other. Nine green maned, blue coated fillys, or nine red maned, dark gray coated colts. I saw at least two groups of foals where they were all different, but still had the spotted legs and muzzles like the ones at the party. “What is all this?”

A creamy blue colt with a dark gray mane broke away from his group, running up to us, yelling “Mom!” and ending his short sprint by giving the doctor a hug.

Doctor Shinobue chuckled “Good to see you too.” She lifted the colt onto her back, where he held onto her neck. “As you see, the New Generation project is a lot more literal than what its name suggests. The idea is that we're bringing in a new generation into the metro, healthy, strong, and without the need for cybernetics.”

I looked at a few of the groups that looked the same, and back at the doctor. “This is a lot of foals. And well, some of them look a lot alike?”

The doctor shrugged. “You're already here, and it’s not like the C.C.N. will let you leak any information. We had to take a few shortcuts to get the number of foals up in time, and the republic happens to have experimented with cloning in the past.”

“Wait, so the foals are clones?” The amount of foals I was seeing were like a small army, and there were likely more. Lots more.

“Yes and no.” Doctor Shinobue stated. “Follow me, I’ll show you to the nursery.” We trotted off, the colt still on her back. We passed by a few rooms with big open windows, many of them being classrooms filled with even more foals. There was one room we passed that was nothing but bunk bed cots. Every now and then there was a dining room, which looked like it only served the pink slime they called food.

We eventually arrived at what I could easily guess was the nursery. Here I saw many Mirage pony mares, some of them it was easy to tell that they were pregnant, very pregnant. Others were nursing baby’s, or simply watching over them. Also there were lots and lots of baby’s.

Doctor Shinobue stopped at the window, pointing out to all the mares. “Early in the project, we did use cloning to start our experiments, seeing what combination of genes were more viable. We have long since finished that milestone of experimentation, and moved onto production.” She lifted the foal off her back and presented him to me, the colt smiled and waved at me. “The old cloning technology we used before is now used to help make controlled groups, and have the mares give birth to three at a time, tripling the population growth rate.”

“But weren't there what, nine to each group I saw?”

She nodded. “Like I said, we used the cloning process to make controlled groups. Each group consists of three mares, who act as surrogate mothers. Once born, we keep the foals in family groups, and study their development.” Putting the colt down, she patted him on the head. “As for the other groups you saw, they are part of the uncontrolled groups, where we let the natural process take control, but still aide in the development of triplets. It’s success rate is much lower, but if we can’t have children naturally, this whole project is a failure.” Pulling out a lollipop from her lab coat, she placed it in the colt’s mouth. “This one here is one of mine, as you already clearly know. He and his sister are a mix of much of the staff, with me as their base. Sadly the third foal never fully developed, it happens in rare cases.” I could hear a bit of bitterness as she finished talking about her foals. I could only guess she wanted all three.

“Okay, so I get what you’re doing. It’s like the Orthrus Gene Therapy, but overclocked, and you're popping out three foals instead of one.” Being here was starting to feel weird to me, I could sense the staff, and Theremin, but the foals were not connected to the C.C.N. and so I could only tell if they were there if I was looking at them. It was like trying to keep track of ghosts. “But why so many?”

“Simple, really.” Garmon interjected. “They’re going to lead the second revolution.”

“Revolution.” Something about that word made me feel uneasy, like changing things for the better was not quite right. “So they’re going to unify the metro. But it be what, ten, fifteen years before their old enough to live on their own. Why not unify the metro before they’re of age?”

“That’s what the M.o.A. has been saying.” Theremin cut in. “With the orphic kingdom close to a change in leadership, now’s the time for a second revolution, to cast down the royal court.”

Garmon sighed. “I’ve gone over this with Waterphone already. A revolution now will only end in a bloodbath, and with no guarantee that Orthrus will not step in.” The president turned around heading back to where we had come from. “Come now, I’m sure the good doctor needs her rest.”

Theremin and I followed, passing by another group of foals. “And you think your plan won’t? The capitalists will find any reason to shed blood. It’s happened once, and it will happen again.”

“Now I do agree that they will not yield their power, but if we can pull the foundation of that power from under them, our victory will be assured.” Garmon stopped for a moment, as another group of foals passed by. “We’re not going to break the control the capitalists have over the working ponies by marching troops up to their doorsteps. It’s like using explosives to carve a statue. Yes it’s much faster, but you're likely to destroy you work in one foolish attempt.”

“Is that why you’ve been limiting the resources of the C.C.N.?” Theremin shot back.

Garmon rolled his eyes, and continued on. “Yes, the C.C.N., why don’t we show miss Echo and see what her opinion is on it?”

“Why that would be a splendid idea.” Once more the strings were being pulled, Phobetor next to me, pulling them. “All these foals are just so adorable, but the C.C.N. has been itching my curiosity. A new generation, and the height of technology. The next thing you will tell me is that you have a space program set to go to the moon.”

With a chuckle, Garmon lead us back to the lobby. “The idea has come across my desk, but we would need to reclaim the surface first. Something we plan to do once the metro has been unified. It’s a sad state of affairs really. The only thing keeping full blown war from breaking out, is that everything’s a choke point in the metro. If the surface was open to us, so would the old world style of war.”

Something in the back of my head agreed with him, but it felt like it was not for the same reason. Like I was forgetting an important point, something that was very important up until I had woken up. My thoughts were deterred by the sound of somepony tapping on my leg, looking to my side, and then down, I saw a little filly.

She had a golden blond mane, and peach colored coat. I’d say she looked a lot like me, except for her sapphire blue eyes, that looked like real sapphires. “Are you my mommy?”

I balked. “I ahh… No… sorry.” I took a deep breath. “I’m currently noponies mommy.”

“Can you be? I’d like to have a mommy.” The little filly was… well adorable, but it was not enough to make me just give up on my mission… wait, what mission?

Both Theremin, and Garmon chuckled. The older stallion opening the door out of the N.G.P. and giving me a knowing look. “With you working as a M.o.A. agent, I could arrange for you to adopt the little one. Having the Dragon slayer of Charon’s Stop as a mother, what filly wouldn’t love that?”

The filly bounced, her eyes almost bulging. “Dragon Slayer!? You’ve seen a dragon, and slayed it! That’s so cool, so awesome!”

I had to put my hoof on the filly’s head, to keep her from jumping onto me. “One, it was a paradise dragon, and two, I had my friends with me. If I was alone, I’d never have survived.”

“So you did slay the dragon! So cool!” The filly began bouncing around in circles, her distracted state gave me time to jump through the door, and close it behind me.

Taking another deep breath, I turned to the others to see them both smiling at me. “Hey, I like foals, but that one was just a bit too much.”

“Sure, a little filly is too much for the dragon slayer.” Theremin chuckled.

Garmon trotted over to the larger doors that lead to the C.C.N. “It’s not like we don’t have programs available to help a mare raise a foal on their own. If you want, you can even take part in the N.G.P. have a few foals without the need of a stallion. You get the proper housing to keep them in, a job that gives you the time to look after them, and even extra food rations.”

I shook my head. “I’d say it sounds tempting, but I rather have the foal to have a father along with me as the mother. Also, that sounds like I’m marrying, and breeding with the republic. As great as the republic is, if it was a stallion, he would not be my type.”

The larger doors opened, and a cold wind drifted past us. “That’s a shame.” Garmon trotted in, his metal hoof steps echoing at each clop. “Ponies like you are probably best suited for bringing in a new generation.”

“It’s probably because I had good parents.” I retorted.

The old stallion nodded. “Good and bad parenting is a generational thing, so I have no doubt.”

The walk to the C.C.N. took much longer then to the N.G.P. all the while it was much colder in here. Not to the point that I needed an extra layer of clothing, but enough that I was starting to shiver a little. Another thing was that the tunnel got a bit larger, both in width and height, making this facility feel a lot more imposing.

Theremin trotted up next to me, our sides nearly touching. “This here is what once was the old Solaris Robotics facility, now reconstructed for the Collective Consciousness Network. Home to the greatest supercomputer in the world, or well, what’s left of the world.”

“Hopefully not a Solaris supercomputer. Everything they make ends with ‘kill all ponies’.” I jested.

Theremin chuckled. “Goodness no. Though we may have recycled the robots and other tech, the C.C.N. was built from the ground up by the republic. Not only that, the foundational concept of the C.C.N. is pure republic. No connections to the corruption of the old world at all.”

Garmon huffed. “I still think it needs more time to be tested, not be converted into a tool for war.”

With a roll of his eyes, the cyberpony trotted a bit ahead of me. “You’ve seen the results. Through the C.C.N., the efficiency of mere recruits under an experienced commander is tripled at the lowest. Vibraphone here, if she was in charge of a CCN connected squad, I’m sure they’d become like veteran tunnel crawlers.”

We came to two more large doors, on either side it looked like there was a small barracks for soldiers guarding the doors. Four Republic soldiers aimed their magical energy muskets down at us, the guns looking of far better quality then I had seen before. More soldiers could be seen inside their barracks, looking ready to take their comrades place. Above us were to turrets looking down, the turrets looked like they fired smaller caliber rounds. But in front of us, to the sides, were two AG4 automated turrets. The heavy duty air guns looking ready to clear the floor in sweeping motions. Overall, it be a deathtrap to anypony trying to assault these doors.

Garmon stepped up, and took a deep breath. “I’m President Garmon Keys, here to personally see the current status of the C.C.N. Open the doors.”

A drone floated down from one of the barracks. It looked like a large twittermite with its wings being replaced by two propellers on each side. The drone scanned Garmon, and then scanned the two of us, it lingering on me for a few extra seconds, before scanning me again. “Insufficient Clearance.” The drone said with a mechanical voice.

“I grant Authorization.” Garmon called out.

The drone scanned me for a third time, and beeped. “Sufficient Clearance.”

Before us, the doors opened up, and a thick fog rolled along the floor. The other two trotted in, and I followed, the guards above us never lowering their rifles once.

Inside the C.C.N.’s room, it didn’t look all that different from most super computer rooms, cold to the point of frost, lots of flashing lights, and a few robots walking around. Two big things were different about this room. One it was very large, almost as large as the market place at Fishery station. Two, the supercomputer was missing. Normally there would be rows of circuitry, connected to a few terminals, all humming loudly. Here, there was just a big empty space.

One of the robots rolled over to us, a type I had never seen before. It was like a big can that moved on trends, and had two arms that looked as flexible as a tentacle, ending with claws. It’s head was most surprising, it having a glass dome with a brain inside. “Good day, President Keys.” The robot spoke with a friendly feminine voice. “It’s been too long since your last visit.”

“Good to see you too, Kazoo. How are the others doing?” Garmon greeted the robot with a sense of familiarity.

“All systems are nominal, and efficiency is up by twenty percent.” The robot backed up, the ground fog wafting in her wake. “Would you like to interface with the Collective?” Garmon gave the robot a nod, and she beeped. “It will just be a minute, sir. Please wait.”

I looked over at Theremin, and cocked my eyebrow. “What kind of robot is that?”

He rolled his eyes. “It’s a Robobrain. Solaris was developing them here. As it turns out, brains make a far better processor and memory bank then what we could build with our own hooves.”

“That’s not creepy at all. Where did the brains come from?”

“Originally, Zebra POW’s.” Theremin said with a sigh. “Most of the records were torched, but from what we could salvage, it seemed that the Solaris got themselves a sweet deal with the Equestrian Navy, and some of the POW’s found their way here. Some war hero admiral wanted Solaris to make them weapons for the war effort, so they made Robobrains. That’s about all we know.”

“If that’s true, then why are you using them?” There were about six Robobrains that I could see, probably more here. “It doesn't seem ethical.”

Theremin smiled, and looked at Kazoo. “They’re all volunteers, many of them too old or sick to keep going, but still wanted to help, not simply lay in bed and wait to die.” His gaze went on pass the robobrain and into the empty room in general. “Waterphone was worried that we would have to use the unstable zebra brains for this, but at it turned out, we had lots of volunteers.”

A loud humming noise filled the room, and with a ‘wrrr’, a box rose out of the floor in front of Garmon. The box was made of glass, and inside was a brain. “Hello professor, it’s good to see you again. I take it that you have decided to join us, your intellect would be a great addition to the collective.”

“Hello to you too, Livenka.” Garmon spoke, sounding a bit low in his greeting. “And no, I’m just here checking up on the C.C.N. Would you like to know about how your daughters are doing?”

“No need. I know that under your care Cello and Lirone will be just fine. And it’s not like I don’t see them every day.”

“Yes, through the C.C.N.” Garmon sighed, and looked over at me. “Miss Echo, I would like to introduce you to an important pony.” I trotted up to the brain in the jar, it having one cyber eye connected right under its frontal lobe. “This here is Livenka Fortissimo, our glorious leader of the revolution, and now the central intelligence of the C.C.N.”

“The famous Livenka Fortissimo, is a brain in a jar” weird. “And is the central intelligence of the C.C.N.” weirder. “Why?”

The cyber eye connected to the Livenka brain stared at me, it’s synthetic eyelid narrowing its gaze at me, before lazily opening up more, and rolling the eye. “Yes. You are Vibraphone Echo, the new recruit of the M.o.A.” Her synthetic voice seemed to ooze charisma and confidence. “Risky to connect an outsider to the C.C.N. which was no doubt Theremins idea. That mare could never stick to proper protocol, no patience at all.”

Theremin cleared his thought. “Stallion.”

Livenka’s eye glared at Theremin, and he straightened up. “I’m a brain in a jar, just be glad I don’t call you an ‘it’.” The eye relaxed, and returned her gaze at me. “Sorry about that. Our reavers are a new addition to our ranks, and they still have a few quirks to work out. The super egos that control their mechanical bodies tends to have their… obsessions. But it keeps them from mentally degrading, so it’s an acceptable variable.”

“That would answer the lack of discipline they show.” How Theremin quickly fell in line was all the proof I needed to know this brain was in charge. “So, why would you make yourself a brain in a jar?”

“Why indeed.” The eye closed for a moment, as though the brain was thinking to itself. Opening up, Livenka stared at me intensely. “Because, this is the path to true equality. Here we are all equal, here we can continue to serve the greater good. All of us can work to make a more perfect world, starting with uniting the metro.”

“All of… you?”

“Yes, all of us.” A loud humming started up, like from before. More glass boxes rose from the floor, each one with a brain in it. Not just the floor, the walls too, like towers with brains in jars in them. I quickly lost count, as there were so many. “We are the C.C.N. as are you.” Well Garmon and Theremin were right, I was impressed, but something deep down, I could feel it, the feeling of absolute horror.

I opened my mouth to talk, say anything, but found myself stiff… no frozen. My S.A.T.S. had turned on, yet I had no control over it at all. “Magnificent, truly and completely.” Phobetor stepped out from behind Livenka’s brain case. “This has been vexing me for years now, so many sleepers, but none of them dreaming. And the ponies who live here, their minds so clouded that it was like looking at a thick fog. But here it is, their great and powerful secret.”

She placed a hoof on the braincase, sliding it down until it stopped at a panel. “Well look at this, I think this is a port for directly interfacing with the C.C.N. I wonder what it would be like if you plugged yourself in. And how convenient, it comes with its own cable.”

Time returned to normal, and I found myself with five eyes on me, and strings pulling at my body. “Ingenuous, this method must give you a vastly superior processing speed, with the ability to infinitely increase its efficiency!” I wanted to puke, my mind being pulled at from two different directions.

Livenka’s eye softened. “True, the potential of the C.C.N. is nearly infinite. And with all the citizens connected to the network, our reach can potentially extend globally. At the very least, the whole of the metro can be brought under the C.C.N.’s protection.”

My head nodded. “Is there a way for me to experience to full extent of the C.C.N.? I can feel some of it, but not in the way like you do.”

Theremin smiled, but Garmon shook his head. “I don’t think that would be appropriate.”

“Neither do I!” The familiar voice of an older stallion boomed from behind us. Turing to see who it was, Waterphone stood at the entryway, along with two soldiers and four floating drones. They were like the one that scanned me, but armed with two energy pistols each. “An un-indoctrinated pony, plugging directly into the C.C.N.? Such a suggestion should be met with immediate execution, and wiped from all recorders and memories.”

Garmon sighed, and trotted over to Waterphone. “Now, now. No need to get hostile. I understand your concerns, but there is no way this mare can be a danger to the C.C.N. And as you can see, she’s under it’s complete control.”

The strings were being pulled, and my body slowly moved backwards.

Waterphone pressed his hoof onto Garmon’s chest, and glared. “I would more agreeable with that notion if it weren’t for one thing. This mare was able to get through a memory scan, with false memories. A miss Chime Catbell was the name, and with it she was able to stay under our radar up until recently. And now, she is at the heart of the C.C.N.”

“Are you suggesting she is some sort of agent?” Garmon chuckled. “If she was, her connection to the C.C.N. would have rooted out the truth.”

“So would have a memory scan.” The old Reaver said, gritting his teeth. “She’s something new.” Looking passed Garmon he glared at me. “You. I don’t know what you’re up to, but it ends now.” His aggressive stare turned into an eerie smile. “Now be a good comrade and stay put.”

More strings pulled at me. This time holding me in place, as the others pulled me backwards. His words were like… law. I had to follow them, there was no choice in the matter, I was compelled to do as he told me.

Phobetor trotted up next to me, and Waterphone slowly walked up to me, pulling out a small magical energy musket.

Theremin stepped in the way, blocking the much older stallion. “You’re over reacting, Waterphone. She’s under our control.”

“Is that so?” The old mirage pony raised an eyebrow. “Maybe we should test it. kill two birds with one stone as it is said.” The small musket was slid along the floor, stopping at my hooves. “What do you say Livenka, I know you’ve grown tired of playing the good martyr.”

“Now stop this madness Waterphone!” Garmon spoke up, also stepping in the way. “I’ve tolerated your paranoid prattle long enough. I’ve even let Persephone station be the testing grounds for the C.C.N. But you’re now pushing my patience. If you don’t stand down now, I’ll have you arrested!”

Time once more slowed down, my S.A.T.S. activated. “Annoying, but nothing that will interfere with our goals.” Phobetor trotted over to Waterphone, looking back at me with a smile. “You know of the term ‘mission creep’. It’s when a short term goal becomes a long term commitment, like how the securing of resources can become a war of attrition. I once knew of a being, Aries I think its name was, who loved this method of manipulation. Warriors would request power so that they would be successful in what they seek to accomplish. Vengeance, survival, greed, all petty in their reason, and every one of them found themselves in unending conflict, their own souls given up to Aries, never understanding that they were mere puppets.” Phobetor laughed, taking a step back from Waterphone and trotting past me. “I only need to whisper a few words, and the mission creep takes hold. Not that you would understand.”

Time returned to normal, and the four of us stood in silence. I looked at the gun at my hooves.

Theremin slowly backed up. “I don’t think this is the time or place for this.”

“Neither was bringing in an outsider into the C.C.N.” Waterphone shot back. That silenced the younger Reaver. “So Livenka, you think it’s time to test how well the C.C.N. Can override a pony’s self-preservation.”

A long sigh came from Garmon. “Seriously now, Miss Echo has valuable connections we can use. She's the only key we have into the orphic kingdom that would not result in war. We seek a revolution, not a bloodbath.”

“So easy for you to say.” Waterphone smiled, sitting back and crossing his forelegs. “As ponies like I and Livenka spilled our blood, you sat in your office, like the coward you are.”

More strings pulled at me, no longer holding me in place, or pulling me backwards, but now lifting my left foreleg, levitating the pistol, and charging it. A few beeps came from Livenka’s braincase. “It seems like we're at an impasse.” Livenka spoke, her words cutting into the tension like a sharp knife through a pineapple. “Kill the unknown factor, or spare a valuable resource.” The pistol hovered in the air, I controlled it, but was not in control of myself. “But you failed to get my opinion on the matter from the very start.” The pistol scanned over the three ponies in front of me. “Obsession bordering on the edge of madness, that’s how you survived so long Waterphone. We found you so far deep in the darkest cell, only a shell of who your once were, yet you so very much alive.” The older reaver took a step back. “Each of the drones you have, you named them after your old comrades, use them as a dump for your madness, and primal urges. Ingeniously simple in its implication.”

Waterphone took a step forward. “It’s proof of the C.C.N.’s success, everything that is wrong with me, suppressed by a collective, and in its place a more efficient pony, capable of withstanding the stream of data this body demands.”

“Right, and as the first of our reavers, you have served us splendidly.” Livenka spoke with a pleasant tone. “But now it’s time to move on.” The pistol turned on Waterphone, and with a bright pink flash, and a thawing sound, the beam of energy hit him in the chest. Engulfed in pink light, sparks flickered and burst as his skin turned to ash, and flames erupted from his mouth and eyes. It only took a few short seconds, and Waterphone was reduced to a metal husk, covered in ash. The four drones that followed him all fell to the ground, their lights slowly dimming.

Garmon turned about, and angrily stared at Livenka. “Why would you do that!? This violence solved nothing!”

“Why?” Livenka spoke with a chuckle. “Revolution, that’s why. And speaking of such, I think it’s time you retired, let the younger generation take over.”

The old pony took a step back, a look of shock on his face. “You can’t be serious! What’s come over you?”

Two robobrains rolled in, cutting Garmon off. “Once more, old ponies decide the fate of their young. One fearing the loss of their power, the other seeking to gain more. Like a revelation it came to me, that the republic had fallen into its old bad habits. That’s why we have come to a consensus that the next generation must take responsibility for our republic, and let the old take their part in the C.C.N.”

Garmon was grabbed by the Robobrains, the old stallion lacked the strength to resist their hold. “You can’t do this! Such reckless action will only ruin the republic, ruin the revolution!”

“Fear not professor.” Livenka’s voice took on a bit of a mocking tone to it. “You will still guide the republic, but just as part of the collective, where your intellect can do the most good.” I watched as Garmon was dragged away to another doorway, kicking and screaming along the way.

Silence fell upon the room, Livenka’s eye looking at me with a curious stare. Theremin took a step forward, clearing his throat. “So, who’s going to be the next president? If it’s not too much to ask.”

Livenka rolled her cyber eye. “In due time. The lack of a figurehead will do nothing that could hurt the republic.” Her gaze fell back onto me. “Now miss Echo, there is something we must do. A trade, was it? A secret for a secret, a fair deal that would benefit us both.” The cable connected to Livenka’s braincase popped out. “Now plug in, and we can share what we know.”

Strings, so many stings. All pulling at me, forcing me to walk forward, to Livenka. My body offered no resistance, like I had forgotten how to resist, only knowing to comply. The jack in my hooves, I reached back with it, and let my levitation talisman takeover.

*Click*

It was in, and I was connected. Strange, I didn’t feel like anything had happ….

Footnote:

Quest completed: The Secret to True Equality

New Quest: I think, Therefore I Am