What a great first day on the job, Gristle, I thought to myself as I pushed myself back to my hooves.

Just then a wave crashed on the stable’s exterior submerging it once again and sending me–and anything not nailed down in the entire stable–from the floor to the ceiling as the structure tumbled over by the wave’s force.  A moment later every loose item thudded back to the floor as stable once again rose above the surface.  My pipbuck notified me that I had a concussion and that my left rear leg was fractured in 2 places.  I looked up and noticed the first aid box on the wall.  Though a healing potion was unlikely outside the infirmary, I figured there was at least a dose of med-x and opened it with my magic.  I dumped the contents onto the floor and scanned fro the chem.  Seeing the small syringe I grabbed it in my magic and injected it into my leg.  As the pain ceased I pulled myself to my hooves.

Another wave impacted the stable.  The floor slipped away and I went into freefall back down the hallway, though the door and back into the atrium.  I landed belly first on one of the balcony’s support beams and felt a rib crack as the wind was knocked out of me–though with the Med-X in my system I didn't feel any of the pain I should have.  Struggling for breath I wrapped my hooves around the beam for dear life as the stable once again rose.

What in the else in the wide world of Equestria could go wrong? I thought clenching my eyes shut.

A loud clap of thunder accompanying another wave answered my rhetorical internal question.  The sound of screeching metal echoed through the stable and the lights flickered and went out.  Then the emergency lights came on.  So did the red flashing lights and a siren indicating a leak.

“Altert! There is a breach in the stable exterior! Alert!” repeated an automated message over and over.

The stable rose again–much slower than it had before.  I let go of the beam and rose shakily to my hooves.  I trotted–limped–to the terminal by the door and hooked my pipbuck into it.  It recognized the Overmare/Stallion tag and gave me options nopony else could access.  Quickly I looked for where the breaches were and locked down the sections to prevent further flooding.

Then just when I thought the waves had calmed down, another struck the stable and tossed me against the terminal screen.  My horn cracked the screen and I blacked out.

***  ***  ***

I awoke in the infirmary free of most from the stable’s beating, through my head still throbbed and my chest ached slightly.  I also noticed healing bandages wrapped around 3 of my 4 hooves–all but my pipbucked hoof.  I still felt the rocking of the stable as it drifted over the waves, but it appeared while I was out the storm had calmed down.  I tilted my head to look around the room only to have my headache spike causing me to moan rather pathetically.

“Oversta–Grissy–um I mean–Gristle thank the goddesses you're awake!” I heard Posey shout as she threw her hooves around me, causing my chest to also spike in pain.

“Ahyeech!” I screeched and she let go immediately.

“Oh, Gristle, I’m sorry, I was just glad you were alright.  I didn’t mean to–”

“It is fine.” I rasped, interrupting her, “I’m glad to see you’re ok as well.”

Posey got pinker again signifying a blush when I said that.  I also noticed that only her rear right hoof was wrapped in healing bandages.

“Why are the bandages in such wide use?” I inquired.

“More than half the stable was injured in the wave thrashing.” Posey explained regaining her normal pinkness, “They simply ran out of healing potions and with supply room 2 and 4 locked down due to flooding they can’t get ingredients for more.”

“I see, and the power?” I said painfully rolling out of the bed and flopping to the floor.

Posey rushed to my side and let me lean on her so I was able to stand and it was my turn to blush.

“Th-thank you.” I stammered.

“It is part of my job.” she said smiling, “Anyways, we are running on backup power at the moment.  Rigger Up's waiting in your office to discuss options.”

“Anything else happen while I was out?” I asked attempting to regain my hoofing.

“Well, it is another issue with the power.” Posey began as if approaching information I would not like, “When you sealed doors to reduce flooding during the thrashing, you sealed the engineering staff on duty during your induction in the generator room.”

I fell to my haunches partially out of shock.

“Boltz, the twins Inflow and OutFlow, and Pure Water are stuck down there and Pure needs medical attention.”  Posey went on, “Boltz is not too fond of your leadership at the moment, but he was never fond of Gundhoof either.”

I pushed myself back to my hooves with the bed as support.  Posey came to my aid again, but I pushed her away with a hoof.  I noticed a Med-X syringe on the bedside table and injected it with my magic.  As the chem flowed into my body the pin in my head and chest faded.

“Anything else?” I said dreading any further bad news.

“Much with our shortage of medical supplies, our food stores are diminished due to the flooded store rooms and on backup power, water purification is down, but there is plenty Rad-Aways, so drinking unfiltered water shouldn't be that much of an issue–for now at least.” She said with a note of insecurity.

***  ***  ***

Posey helped me back to my office and to my terminal before heading to see the damages to her room.  Waiting for me sitting in a chair was Rigger Up.

before she left she suddenly hugged me again and whispered in my ear as she nuzzled my cheek, "Sorry about you mom.  If you need to talk, let me know."

I wanted to say something back to her, but Rigger had noticed my arrival and trotted over.

Rigger was a middle aged earth pony with an orange coat and white mane.  A modified stable utility barding covered his cutie mark, but I knew from his file that it was a rather amusing take on a skull and crossbones, but instead was a gear with cross wrenches.  For some reason he was embarrassed by it and wore his barding at all times.

“Well, Overstallion,” he begun, “as you no doubt know engineering is not at peak performance since the ceremony with the main generator being offline in a partially flooded room.”

“With Bolts, Inflow, Outflow, and Pure Water are trapped down there, with Pure injured.” I said recieving a nod from Rigger.

“Based on my projections, we have a day–maybe 2–before the backup generator blows out too.”  Rigger went on.

“Well, if there is a silver lining, there are engineers in there, they can make repairs.” I asked.

“Bolts, maybe,” he said hesitantly, “but the room is half flooded and many of the spare parts are located in storage room 1 since the parts are more commonly used to repair smaller systems.  We haven’t had such a major repair needed on the generator in years.”

I rubbed my temples with my front hooves trying to think of a way to restore power so we don’t end up dead in the water–literally.  At the moment, however, only one thought was on my mind: We are fucking screwed! Then I remembered my pipbuck’s radio feature.

“Could this be used as a broadcaster?” I asked Rigger holding up my pipbucked hoof.

“Well, no, unfortunately.  I think the Delta Mark II Pipbuck had a transmitter, but even in Gundhoof’s time it didn’t work.  Our technicians aren’t knowledgeable about that advance prototype, just regular pipbucks like mine.” Rigger replied.

“Still worth a try.” I said switching my pipbuck to the radio menu and selecting the MAS-EBS-NF1 from the list.

“Hello there Watery Wasteland, it is the siren of the sea, Venus, here with the news,” purred the voice of a mare, “The storm has passed and all has returned to it natural gloom.  The floating settlement of Floatilla has taken some minor damage and is dealing with a swarm of Water Logs.  There is also the report of a new boat on the horizon, but there is not much evidence to back it up.  A Ghoul Jet junkie from Cruse, says it is a metal network of tubes much akin to a stable and rose from the depths during the storm.  He also said it is heading away from them for now and is on course to Maretha’s Orchard.  Though it will pass in the path of Floatilla on the way.  If anypony is on this supposed new craft, care to lend a hoof to Floatilla, they could appreciate the help.  And a word of warning, mysterious craft, be wary of the inhabitants of Maretha’s Orchard, rumor has it they aren’t friendly to outsiders.  Now, here is some more music.  It is another Venus original.”

I switched it off as music began to play and tired to broadcast on the frequency, but as I had been told the pipbuck notified me that transmission capabilities were not functioning.  As I switched back to my pipbuck’s map I noticed a few new makers for Floatilla, Maretha’s Orchard, and Cruse respectively.  The one for Floatilla appeared to move slightly, but it may have just been a trick of the light or a glitch.

“That wasn’t a total loss.” I said confidently, “That mare–Venus was it?–She said something about heading by someplace called Floatilla.  If we can find a way to stop– to anchor–we could see if they could provide something to help fix the stable.”

“Sir, if I may, we don’t have time to wait until we possibly cross paths with this Floatilla place.”  Rigger replied, “I’ll work on an anchor, but you need to come up with a way to help now.  I think Dr. Turbulent Flow has some scuba suits that she never uses.  Seriously, what kind of marine biologist is hydrophobic?”

“Well, when water can do what it did earlier, I don’t blame her.” I said dismissing Rigger and limping out the door.

***  ***  ***

“Dr. Flow?” I asked entering the marine biology lab.

The lab was a large room on level 3 of the stable.  It had everything needed to study marine life.  It had the largest window of any room on any floor of the stable that allowed for observations of the sea life outside the stable. A rarely used airlock and dive suits for collecting specimens from the water outside were in the corner collecting dust, because once hydrophobic Dr. Marine Bio became head researcher most specimens were either bred in the lab or harvested by a mechanical arm that can be controlled from inside the stable.

When I entered the lab I was hit with the pungent smell of salty water.  The geiger counter in my pipbuck began to click quietly.  I looked around the lab.  Tanks were knocked over and spilled out.  Some equipment–oddly enough not water proofed– was sparking slightly on some of the tables.  The floor had a thin puddle of water on it, but it wasn’t enough to sustain the numerous small sea specimins flopping around trying to breath in the open air.  I looked to the large window and saw the bottom of the mechanical arm that had used to be there.  

Then I heard the crying coming from the supply closet.

“Dr. Flow?” I asked taking a step over a dead Rad-anemone.

The crying continued so I trotted the rest of the way to the closet and knocked on the door, “Dr. Flow, are you in there?  It is Gristle, I need to borrow some equipment.  Please come out.”

“No, no, no, the waves are coming to kill us.  They want to drown me.” A rather young voice said from behind the door.

“Dr. Flow, everything is fine now, the waves have calmed down.  They aren’t sentient and want to kill you.”  I said as comfortingly as I could–hydrophobic had been an understatement.

“But they are sentient.  The phytoplankton not so much, it is just a microscopic plants, but the zooplankton mutated by radiation can control the water at will.  At least that is my hypothesis.”  she said, “and they know I’m on to them and they are out to get me.  They attacked the whole stable because of me.”

“Dr. Flow the water is not out to get you.  The stable just dislodged from the ocean floor.  I believe though erosion.” I said trying to still sound comforting.

“Yes, my point exactly, caused by the water controlled by mutant zooplankton.” She said crying some more, “The water does want me dead and it will kill the whole stable to get me.”

I facehoofed, “Dr. Flow please get out of the storage closet.  I promise the water isn’t out to get you.”

“Get Gundhoof, she protects me from the water.” Dr. Turbulent Flow choked out between tears.

“Dr. Flow, I’m sorry to tell you this, but Gundhoof died in her sleep 2 months ago.” I said solemnly, “She isn’t with us anymore.”

“No, NO, NO! Shit! Fuck! That means the water got to her.” She shrieked, “She tried to prove me wrong by drinking some of my test water.  She must have been boiled from the inside by the zooplankton.  It is all my fault!”

“So the plankton can boil ponies from the inside out now?” I asked sarcastically.

“Yes, that is why even if the water is filtered I boil it, filter it, and boil it again.  Kills all the zooplankton so they can’t get to me.” She said, “Gundhoof died because of me.”

“It wasn’t your fault.” I said trying really hard to still sound empathetic, “She was old. It was her time. She died in her sleep.  And her insides weren’t boiled.  Please come out Turbulent, I’m the new Overstallion, Gristle.  Let's talk about this, then you can assist me with some equipment.”

“Wait, new Overstallion?  Since when?” she asked, suddenly not crying anymore.

“This morning actually. Right before the waves thrashed the stable actually.” I said beaming before realizing the can of worms I had just opened.

“Then you're in league with the water! You want me to come out so you can do the water’s bidding.  When the waves didn’t do me in, they sent you!”  Dr. Flow screamed, “You probably killed Gundhoof!”

“That’s it, I’m getting medical, you are clearly unstable.” I said walking back over the dead sea carnage in the lab.

***  ***  ***

“Noooo! you are all being manipulated by the zooplankton in the water!” Dr. Flow screamed a she was hauled to rolling stretcher by 2 stable security guards and strapped down, “The Overstallion is a bad seed!”

I just stared in shock at the seafoam green coated filly security had pried out of the store room.  Her yellow curly mane in a mess and damp with tears.  Her puffy, tear swollen, blue eyes bulging with fear as she was hauled away.  

She was then injected with a sedative by Health Heal, the stable’s medical doctor.

“He killed Gunghuff–” She said finally calming down as she fell asleep .

“I’m sad to see her act like that.” Posey said as the guards accompanied Health back to the infirmary.

“I didn’t think she’d be so young...Or unstable.” I said as I watched the door close.

“Well, she got her cutie mark really early.  She was a prodigy.  Too bad the stress got to her.” Posey said looking at her hooves, “She was a close friend.”

“She was unstable.”  I said dryly, “Why was she given such a position in the first place?”

“Overmare Gundhoof saw her potential.  She wasn’t like that when Gundhoof offered her the job.  Her work changed her.  She only recently became paranoid.  Leading up to Gundhoof’s death.”  Posey said solemnly.

“Well, I’ll add assigning a new head researcher to my todo list.” I said, “Have the second in command here in the lab and one of the nurses meet me here in an hour.  We’ll mount our rescue of the engineer ponies then”

“Why?” Posey asked before covering her mouth with a hoof, “Sorry, sir–Overstallion–I mean Grissy–no Gristle.”

She flushed that even more pink color that I was beginning to find rather annoying, but at the same time adorable.

“It is fine Posey, remember, dispense with the formalities.  We are friends, Gristle or Grissy.  Either is fine.  Just fetch the ponies I asked for, please.”  I said sympathetically, “I need this lab cleaned and my injuries to heal a bit more before we go.”

“Right away sir–I mean Grissy.” She stammered and trotted off.

***  ***  ***

With an hour to kill before meeting with what will be my rescue crew for the ponies trapped in lower levels I decided to head back to my new quarters and organize things since the wave thrashing likely knocked everything over.  Though the second I got into my quarters and looked at the mess I felt exhausted.  I used my telekinesis to lift the mattress back onto the bed.  Then I got into the bed and snuggled under the covers.  I was just drifting off to sleep when a wave caused the stable to shift abruptly.  I tumbled out of bed and hit the floor.  Then the stable shifted back and I heard the sound of a glass ball rolling on the bookshelf above my head.  I looked up to see what it was just as it began to fall off the shelf.   I reached out with my magic to stop it.

Oh shit! That is a memory orb! I thought a second too late and the stable fell away.

***  ***  ***

I was surprised when the memory showed the same room I had just been in.  I was told memory orbs usually show prewar events.  I felt older–much older–and I was in the body of a mare.  She got up from the bed–which really hurt her–and slowly she trotted over to the mirror on the closet door.  She looked at the body before her.  It was a light purple unicorn with a black mane–though there were grey roots peeking through.  She had healing bandages wrapped around her rear so I couldn’t see the cutie mark.  She looked into her own eyes as if knowing somepony else would be watching.  Her old grey eyes bore into mine–which were her’s in the memory.

“Overmare, ma’am, it is Posey.” My host–Overmare Gundhoof–heard from the door.

“Come in Posey dear.” Gundhoof called back.

The door opened and the pink mare entered balancing a tray of food on her back.

“Ma’am, I brought you some dinner. Since your fall you haven’t left your room as much.” She said as she entered.

“Thank you, Posey, you are too good to this old Overmare.” Gundhoof said turning to face her, “Just set it on the table, I’ll eat it a little bit later.”

Posey did as told and then left. Gundhoof waited until her hoofsteps faded before turning back to the mirror.

“If you're watching this memory, I’m likely already dead.”  She said very seriously, “It may seem like an accident or natural causes–or at least be explained as such–but I assure you it was not.  It was murder.  At the time of this memory one attempt has already been made on my life.  I was pushed down the stairs–though the investigation said it was an accident.  I slipped in my old age.  Such horse shit!”

What? So Turbulent Flow was right? Gundhoof was murdered? I thought as I watched.

“I fear I won’t survive the next attempt.  You viewing this should be proof enough of that.”  Gundhoof went on, “I’m not sure who to trust anymore.  I assume whoever is trying to kill me wants my job.  I hope they didn’t succeed.  Though if they didn’t, then you are next on their hit list.  Please grant the previous Overmare one last request: Find out who killed me and bring them to justice.  Be careful my successor, watch your back.  Trust no pony.”

Gundhoof turned to the food left on the table and the memory faded out.

***  ***  ***

I came to with the memory orb lying on my face–which still stung slightly from the impact that happened while I was under.  I turned my head and let it roll off and across the floor.

Gundhoof was murdered by somepony in this stable.  They wanted her job, but I got it.  I didn’t kill her so that means I’m next.  I thought wide eyed, Well there is no way I’m getting any rest now.

***  ***  ***

Footnotes:

Gristle: Level up

New Perk added: Sea Legs–You are very agile while on the open seas. +3 to agility and you don’t set off enemy mines or floorbased traps while on a sea farring vessel.  This perk does not stack with Light Trot.

Quest updated:

Bon Voyage–√ Get through the storm with your “ship” intact.

                √ Talk to Rigger Up about the Stable's condition

                √ Talk to Dr. Turbulent Flow about using the stable's dive suits

                Meet the lab's second in command and the nurse in the marine biology lab

                Use the stable’s dive equipment to rescue the trapped ponies

                Repair the leaks in the stable

                Fix the power generator

                Find a way to restock the medical supplies of the stable

                Find a way to restock the food supplies of the stable

New Quests added:

Help Floatilla Stay Afloat–See what you can do to help Floatilla

It's in the Water–investigate Dr.Turbulent Flow’s crazy theory

Gundhoof’s Dying Wish–investigate the circumstances of Gundhoof’s death