Starbound Ascension: The Next Generation

Chapter Three: Recovery

The radio in the UPF hospital room sang out with a cheery psychedelic tune as Ship tried to pass the time. She looked at the stub where her right arm used to be and sighed. She felt rather depressed as she knew life would never be quite the same. She held onto the stub and sobbed silently.

“Dammit... How could I have been so careless?”

Her door squeaked open with Tough Heart poking in with a smile, “Hey honey! How you feeling?”

Ship only sighed as she messaged her missing limb. Tough could see the pain in her eyes.

“I brought you a surprise,” he opened the door fully as her whole family walked in. They all piled onto the bed to give Ship a big hug.

“Mama! Papa! Guys, you're all here!” she gasped as they surrounded her with love.

“We heard all about it. It was mighty brave of you to risk your life like that,” Smokey comforted his daughter. The brown unicorn stallion gave her a firm noogie along with Ship's mother.

“Mom! Dad! Why?!”

“Blame your father sweetie,” Rio stopped and hugged her again, “I'm so proud of you though.”

Ship looked at her mothers broken horn and looked back at her arm stub. Rio smiled as she touched her daughter's missing limb. This gave Ship some comfort.

“I know what you are thinking. It's not about that. We're the same because we have that fire in our hearts. Not because we lost something that makes us who we are. Don't ever lose that,” Rio sighed and wrapped her arms around her daughter.

“Thanks mom...” she returned the favor with her own embrace. Her mother's flowing fluffy black mane felt warm. She looked at her father. He was a manly stallion with a a well trimmed beard and reading glasses balanced on his muzzle.

Ship's three other siblings piled on and laughed, “Hi sis!”

She couldn't help but smile. She looked to Tough, “You did all this for me?”

“Mhm,” he gave a nod, “I know how upset you are about this. Which is why I pulled some strings.”

There was another knock on the door, “Captain Ship.”

“Come in, come in,” She happily sighed as her siblings gathered around her. Two UPF soldiers entered the room and in came their escort. It was Jill Rivers, one of the most well known UPF scientists and biomedical researchers. The Spinda Pokemorph looked at her.

“You may know who I am. My daughter, Strella, sends her regards,” she adjusted her round framed glasses and looked at her clipboard with her spiraled pupils set in vivid humanoid eyes, “I've been meaning to test a new experimental procedure to help you recover. But I will need you to sigh a waiver and some documents before we can proceed.”

“Hold up, what are you gonna do to me?” Ship was skeptical.

“I want to regrow your arm. I've reached a breakthrough with my organ growing technology and I must have some volunteers to test out my new practice,” she wiped off her glasses on her lab coat.

“What?! Oh! Okay! Where do I sigh up?”

Jill handed her the clip board, “Sign here, and here, and an initial here. Okay then. Follow me.”

Ship's family helped her balance upwards. Her one forehoof bounced back and forth to propel her forward.

“I'm so hoping this works,” Ship left her family outside as she took her place on the operating table. She was strapped in tight, “Um, why am I being restrained? Is this gonna hurt?”

Jill chuckled, “Only more than giving birth. Trust me, Strella wasn't the one to come out peacefully. Hold still!”

Like a mad scientist she donned her goggles as a blast of a radioactive ray hit Ship's stub of an arm. The accelerated regrowth of her new limb caused her whole body to spasm and writhe with burning pain. Her vitals were still well within parameters as Jill went on with the operation. What is was doing to her was accelerating her metabolism to rapidly regrow the missing limb as well as activating long dormant genes for regeneration. The process lasted five long and agonizing minutes. The pain was enough to knock Ship unconscious after the procedure.

“This is my favorite kind of magic... The surgery was a success! Bring them in,” Jill rushed out to greet her patient and her family.

“That was quick,” Tough poked Ship, “Did you knock her out before the surgery?”

Jill smiled smugly, “Um, yeah! Let's go with that! Assistant! Bring out the wasabi!”

A small cup of wasabi was spread on Ship's tongue and it aroused her consciousness. She jumped up and wiped her tongue of in rage.

“YOU SICK BITCH! WAIT TILL I-” Ship stopped as she looked out at her outstretched arms, “Oh... Oh my Celestia... It-it worked!”

She felt her right forehoof as gasped with joy.

“It feels so new! A-and natural!” she was frantic and overcome with joy, “Oh my Celestia and Luna in all the heavens! Thank you!”

She was unlatched from the operating table and rushed to hug Jill. Only to collapse slightly due to her fatigue. Her family was there to catch her but she continued to crawl to Jill.

“How can I ever repay you?”

“You are covered by our free healthcare. As an ally of the Federation you owe us nothing but your continued service. Your team needs you as their leader,” Jill looked on fondly at the photo on her clipboard. It was a victory pose of Task Force Frostbite 1 as they found her in the alternate universe after being sucked into the wormhole she boldly sacrificed herself to save the Federation. There was much joy that day as Jill was reunited with her now loving husband, David Rivers, “Go, run along now. But be sure to take the rest of the day off to gain your strength.”

“This was a miracle. Thank you so much,” Ship was surrounded again by her family.

“Any time. Miracles are what the Federation does best.”

-----

Night had fallen on the planet of Alpha Velocia 98 I. The teeming atmosphere of the big city lights of New Ponyville cast its rays on the landscape of the planet. Jet and Nelly went out for a midnight stroll in the brisk fall air. They were buttoned up warm and stayed close as they trotted on. Nelly was being all cute and rubbing up to Jet. Somehow Jet was still bothered by something.

“Hey,” she prodded him, “Why you feeling so down?”

“I could have lost you...” Jet let out a heavy sigh.

Nelly smiled, “But you didn't. Come on, maybe you need a talk with your dad.”

“Yeah, maybe,” Jet walked on with Nelly dug into his side. A short walk ended at the cemetery. As they approached Sky Buster's grave they could see an outline of a pony sat on her haunches. The multi-colored mane of the mare flowed in the wind. Jet approached, “M-mom?”

“Oh, hey Jet,” she sighed as well, “Rough day for you too?”

“You could always read me like a book,” Jet took his place next to his mother. Rainbow brought him closer and held onto her dear child. Her sobs chipped away at Jet's heart, “It's okay mom. I'm here.”

“D-don't you ever do anything that stupid again! You had me really worried,” Rainbow continued to sob.

“Mom, Avia was in trouble. I couldn't have just left her. You told us both when we joined the military together to watch each others backs. I was just trying to keep true to your word,” Jet embraced his mother, “Please, stop crying. I'm right here.”

Rainbow held on, “I couldn't live with myself if either one of you died.”

“You know mom. Nelly told me something nice today. She said we aren't dead yet so why lament over it?” Jet comforted his mother, “You're okay mom. I was always there for you.”

Rainbow Dash wiped away her tears and looked to Nelly, “Smart kid. See, I always knew you two would go together like zap apple jam and peanut butter. Come on, don't be shy.”

“I'm not Miss Rainbow,” Nelly bowed respectfully and joined in the group huggle.

Rainbow grinned as she put her wings around them, “You remind me so much about your father. You were always quite the Casanova Jumpy.”

“Mooom!” Jet blushed, “You're embarrassing me in front of Nelly!”

Dashie giggled and licked her hoof to straighten up Jet's hair, “I know. That's what I'm here for. Stay sharp kiddo.”

“Don't you worry mom. I've always done my best.”

-----

Avia was flying with her father through the skies of New Ponyville on their way back home. Soarin and his daughter looked back and forth to the ground.

“Now remember sweetheart. This is a surprise for your brother. I know he's been feeling rather down after that rough first mission.”

“That was kinda my fault though. I didn't see that opened window where that sniper shot me from. Look, there they are!”

They landed right near the cemetery with a soft thud, “There you are bro. It's getting late out. Dad and I were getting worried.”

“Avia I'm not a little foal anymore you know. Plus, mom is with me right here.”

“Oh okay then. I was wondering where she was,” Avia rubbed up to her mother, “You've been gone all day. I missed you.”

“My baby girl...” she returned her affection with a soft pat behind her head, “Come on guys. Let's fly home.”

“Ahem,” Nelly sat with a whimpered face. She pointed to her back and her lack of wings.

“Duh mom,” Jet rolled his eyes, “we'll just walk back to your house. We'll manage.”

“Okay then. See you guys there.” Soarin took off with Avia and her mother. Jet and Nelly looked at each other and sighed happily.

“You wanna say something nice to your dad while we're still here?”

“Nah, he's already done his part to heal my heart. Thanks dad,” Jet placed another small flower onto his father's grave. They trotted back to his parent's house.

-----

Hours before there was another round of exosuit training was up for Frostbite. Using their augmented reality devices they held a city wide event to simulate an invasion. The whole city was under siege by Mandarin forces. It was an age old rivalry between the two UPF provinces of USTN and Mandaria now being settled in virtual space. With civilians and noncombatants fully participating in the war event the training couldn't get any more real without harm. Frostbite was in position on top of an old factory building providing overwatch of the Emerald City port district.

“Multiple infantry targets advancing towards the shipping docks. If they retake that they'll cut off our surface to air defense grid,” Mitchell peered through his binoculars and marked targets for their allies.

“Confirmed. You have gunship support. Gu-1s are inbound,” the sound of jet engines flew past them as three wingless and rotorless gunships went overhead, “Foot mobiles spotted, engaging.”

The semiautomatic 25mm railguns mounted underneath them rang out with charged pulses. While in reality firing off empty discharges the augmented reality relayed the explosions back to their HUDs.

“Multiple confirmed KIA. Standing by for overwatch,” the gunships radioed back out as they hovered above to secure the SAM sights.

“Alright Frostbite. Good work keeping the docks open. Let's retask you to take back the air museum. Mandarin troops and USTN are fighting it out for the airport. The enemy has set up command and control assets inside the air museum's control tower. I need you guys to clear it out. Just make sure you don't damage anything,” their commander gave them their orders.

“Solid copy dad,” Alyssa responded to her father.

“Be advised. Strategic Defense Commandos are holed up in that location. Expect a heavy firefight on your hands,” Admiral Ghost advised, “Stay sharp kids. I know we're training you to the bone but keep it up. You're doing the UPF proud.”

“They always gotta say that,” Strella sighed, “Day in and day out it's always training, training, and more training. When do you think we can get a break squad lead?”

“When we're dead that's when,” Mitch rolled his eyes, “Besides, what are you gonna do if we have a break?”

They boarded an An-2000 VTOL that hovered near the edge of the building to pick them up. The ship lifted off and flew at low altitude to evade enemy radar.

“I dunno. Annoy my butler I guess. Take a soothing bubble bath, eat some fancy imported truffles, maybe go to Canterlot for the culture. You know, all the fru fru stuff I enjoy,” Strella preached her lavish wishes.

“Say Mitch. Did you hear about that sniper we took into custody that shot at one of those ponies the other day?” Q patted his cousin on the shoulder.

“Yeah, what about it?”

“Get this, it was Nightwing Laurent. The third best sniper in all the Federation.”

“What? No way,” Mitch shrugged it off, “He worked with your mom and was awarded the UPF Liberator Medal. How could he be part of that enemy terrorist group?”

“They've locked him up under house arrest. Turns out he wasn't taking his pills for his PTSD and just went off the deep end I guess. Strella, doesn't your mom have a cure for that mental illness yet?”

“I dunno Q. She's always off experimenting on stuff I don't know or even care about,” Strella sighed, “I'm bored. When are we gonna get there anyway?”

“ETA thirty seconds Frostbite! Get ready to drop!” the pilot of the VTOL opened the side doors.

“Look at that,” they looked out to see tracers of anti air fire and explosions coming from the city. As they took off their visors they reaffirmed that they were all just simulations plastered onto their vision. They refocused and readied for the drop into enemy territory.

-----

“Shh! Is he coming?”

“I dunno, shut up Prelude!”

“Hey, you're not the one trying to hide with a wheelchair Mac.”

“Can you please keep it down! They're gonna be home any minute!” Soarin's voice pierced through the dark room as everyone hid behind whatever they could find to await Jet and Nelly's arrival. Only a few seconds passed before Jet entered the room with the squeak of the door. He flicked on the light.

“SURPRISE!” the whole room was filled with the smiling faces of all his friends and their family. Nelly's mother and father came forward.

“Congratulations on the first successful mission!” Kim, now the head of the Equestrian Interstellar Spy Agency, saluted to Jet.

“But, Miss Kim. I almost had my entire squad killed,” Jet sighed.

“Oh lighten up good chap! This is a party after all! A party just for you and for all of you,” Tony Pony smiled as he pointed to the table. Digi was right there with Applejack to present the food.

“Knowin' you Jet. You must have a hankering for sum good ol' fashioned Fillypino food! So dig in!”

“Oh boy!” Jet rushed to the table, “Sisig! Lechon! Lumpia! Ano na man? Is that leche flan? Sino na loto ni?” Jet asked who cooked this in Fillypino.

“Ako man,” Digi responded, “Actually I ordered it from a Fillypino restaurant in Canterlot. And we all brought it all the way from there.”

“Salamat Tito Digi,” Jet hugged him and thanked him for the food.

“Since when did Digi learn Fillypino?” Nelly asked her mother.

“He lived there for a few years. Back before everything crazy,” Kim tucked her daughter under her wing.

“Mom! I'm not a filly anymore,” she blushed and giggled. When Nelly was younger she sought after the comfort from underneath her mother's wing.

“No, but you're still my filly,” she wrapped her wing around her and brought her closer.

“Eep!” Nelly let out a small yelp as her ears flopped over as she was flustered with embarrassment. Her brother and father took to the table to get some food.

Prelude and his mother sat together awkwardly in the corner eying the others at the party.

“So uh, what happened to your legs son?” Eliyora couldn't help but notice the wheelchair.

“Four gunships pounded my sniping nest bringing down a giant metallic sculpture to crush both of my legs, nearly killing me. Same old same old mom. How's the job at the newspaper?”

“Again, same old same old. But to be fair with all this time I have now I've been traveling back and forth between universes. And it all works out because I have to keep in touch with both realms for Equestria Daily,” Eliyora took off her regal blue jacket and placed it on her son, “Thought you might be cold darling.”

Prelude just rolled his eyes and smiled as he took another sip of his healing potion prescription, “I'll be okay. A few weeks of this and I'll be back in the fight.”

Commander Firebrand and Ink Rose were at the party as well. Like the others they took the time to catch up with their children.

“So son, how's it like working with the squids, flyboys, and army guys?” Firebrand chuckled.

“Surprisingly combat effective father. Even though the first mission didn't go as planned we still made it out mostly in one piece. Well, mostly. I'm not to sure about Captain Ship though. I hope she is doing okay,” Morning Shine glanced back to his father as he got another plate of food.

“How about that Night Petal girl in your squad. I've seen you eying her here and there,” Firebrand smiled.

Shine blushed and his ears flopped down, “Father please.”

“Nah! I'm just messing with you. Oh and can you make sure your sister doesn't set anything on-” Firebrand was interrupted as his daughter set her flan on fire.

“Too late father...”

“What? I actually wanted crème burlee,” Blossom blew out the small flame to her improvised dessert.

“Always with the fire huh Blossom?” her mother sighed, “I'm still amazed you never set the house on fire.”

“I was always careful with my bomb making. Don't forget the time I set the shed on fire.”

“The many times you've set that shed on fire,” Ink Rose corrected, “But to be fair it all worked out when you and your brother joined the Marines.”

“I honestly never knew how fun explosives were until I joined up as an EOD tech. I learned the best from dad you know.”

“I know,” Ink Rose tucked her daughter under her wing, “I'm just glad you're safe my baby girl...”

“Stop the presses!” Captain ship burst through the front door with her family in tow. The whole room looked to her in surprise

“Captain! Y-Your leg!” Jet gazed in awe.

“That's right. I'm back in business,” she entered the house with her familia.

“Ma'am, how is that even possible?” Shine came forward to see her new leg.

“I can explain that,” a peculiar looking pony in a lab coat walked in after Ship. She was escorted by two ponified UPF soldiers like before, “Greetings from the United Pokemorph Federation my friends. I am Jill Rivers. Lead biomedical scientist and researcher in all of the Federation. Pardon my pony form, I'm usually a Spinda. This helps me keep a low profile.”

“Um, how does that work?” Jet poked her. The peach and brown unicorn that was Jill rolled her eyes.

“It's a simple process really. I repurposed our teleporter technology into a genetic and molecule restructuring device to switch forms and identity at will. This is how the UPF likes to implant our spies in all nations. That and it serves well to disguise our VIPs.”

“Huh, high end tech for the rich guys huh?” Jet stroked his chin.

“Well, not exactly. We in the Federation keep an abundant quota of resources for the population. Which is why we are often said to be where the one percent is the ten percent in the Federation. Our middle class is your upper crust my friends,” Jill spoke with an air of sophistication, “You have to visit some time. Just don't mind the trolls.”

“Yeah, last I heard it wasn't all that welcoming to ponies like us. And all because we somehow were this girly TV show or something. What bullshit is that?”

“I know, but everything isn't perfect. This is the only time I've seen the country split on a decision. We're holding elections whether or not to continuing support your planet and your colonies or to leave you be. People in my nation feel threatened by your species,” Jill explained.

“For what?” Jet cocked his head to the side.

“They feel attacked by the very idea of the virtues you helped to preach. The right wing extremists say that the military tradition and very definition of masculinity is endangered by your race's 'contamination.' I for one think it's all a bunch of horse shit,” Jill flicked her tail.

“Makes sense seeing as how the UPF has a strong military culture and where everyone is expected to be tough enough to make the cut in the military. It's mandatory to join the military in order to have a say in politics right?”

“Yes Captain Jet. Going back to the elections at hoof, if it passes then the UPF will withdraw all its support for your nation and change its outlook from being our allies to a neutral entity. I'd hate to see that go. You have been such an inspiration for my nation.”

“That's bullshit,” Jet shook his head in disappointment, “Equus still hasn't established enough space colonies to be self sufficient. We rely on the Federation for supplies, exports, and imports to bolster our economy. Why would they do this?”

“Because the UPF has nothing to lose if connections are cut. To be honest I'm not the only one who blames the current president for this, even if he is my brother in law.”

“That's rough. I hope you can talk some sense into him,” Jet pointed his head to the table, “You want anything to eat?”

“No thank you. I've already eaten dinner,” Jill sighed, “I'll try to. Mikey is stubborn though. He always says how the ideals of Equus should not be taken seriously in the UPF and how it damages our society. He's concerned that it would make us too soft and stain the perfect military traditions of the Federation. After all this 'flawless' logic dictates that if it has worked for centuries then it should never be changed. He says the same thing about other alien influences other than Lylat.”

“I see,” Jet sighed.

“Well, no matter what happens Equus will shine on strong! We'll be okay just as long as the sun and moon smile upon us,” Captain Ship shared her renewed vigor and sense of optimism.

“Excuse me Captain. Can I try whatever you did to help heal my legs?” Prelude rolled up in his wheelchair.

Ship gave a little chuckle, “Trust me dude. You don't wanna go through it unless your arm was cut off.”

“I guess you'd give an arm and a leg for that huh guys?” Jet sat with a wide open mouth grin looking all stupid to the equally cheesy pun.

“Fucking Jet...” Ship just slid her face right into her hoof.