Yeah, I know I said the duel would be this chapter but... I lied. I cut the chapter up a bit so I could publish it at a reasonable time. I'm pretty sure that next one though will be what you expect. Sorry.

Jett was panicking now. Spitfire’s head had hit the table when she fainted, knocking her even farther into the darkness.

Jett had reached fast to grab her nightshirt before she fell but that didn’t go well as the satin material slipped through the metal grip of his hand.

Now she was lying on the floor, out like a light.

“Okay, okay, stop panicking. Loading medical protocols.”

Jett quickly scanned her body. She had a light gash on the back of her head as well as a mild concussion. Concussions. Normally they were minor injuries they did have the ability to be damaging to a degree unless the damage was repaired quickly.

He quickly ran over to the case in his bag and cracked it open, removing a rotary of tools with the medical cross on it.

Not bothering to hook it up he ran back to Spitfire, using the syringe injected a group of Nanites into her system. He kept track of their progress as they repaired the damage to her brain, no matter how minor it was.

Then there was still the problem of the gash on her head. Shit. No bandages here.

“Oh, I, uh, crap.”

Well here he was. Her head was bleeding, and bandages were not something to be found in Spitfire’s room, not surprising considering how messy it was.

“Hmm, disengage emotional subroutines.”

Okay, now this was easier to deal with. Objective, treat injury.

He calmly picked her up in his arms, careful of her head and ran out of the room.

“Access building layout.”

A map appeared over his vision.

“Infirmary.”

A path was carved through map that he followed. Soon he arrived inside the infirmary. It resembled a school nurses office with a little bit of hospital mixed in. He rushed past the doctor on duty and placed her on the nearest empty bed.

“Hey New guy, wh- oh dear Celestia what happened?” the man asked. He had one of those forehead things so he probably had some of those weird abilities.

“She suffered Class One TMI with a Level Two Laceration to her head.”

“What?”

The android let out an emotionless sigh, “Mild Concussion. Nanites have repaired most of the Damage but she should stay still for a while. And she cut her head.”

“Okay, we have bandages- wait. Nanites?”

“Yes.”

"As in?"

"Micromachines? You know, machines the size of cell?"

“But… that’s impossible. No magic in Equestria can even make anything remotely that small. That’s only theoretical.”

“No it’s not. They are repairing the damage to her Occipital lobe as we speak. If you had any understanding of Nano engineering you would understand this stuff.”

“All mana research into the development of that stuff has broken down at that level. You cannot do it.”

“Yes you can. Have you ever considered that not everything is mana based or whatever?”

“Civilization is built on it! We would have never gotten this far without it!”

“Well my people did and went farther. How do you think I was created?”

“Civilization requires the use of mana energy to develop.”

“And I am saying it doesn’t. My people have space ships and live on other planets. And we did that without the use of your ‘mana’.”

“Prove it.”

“Okay I will. After reading up on your people, everything, you believe, is infused with mana and thus can be manipulated by it.”

“Of course. The entire universe is like that.”

“And I’m saying it isn’t. Try and do a spell on me or something. Anything. Try to kill me even.”

“Alright.”

The crystal in his head started glowing. A bubble of blue energy began to form around him. It went to close and… passed right through the android without even so much as a twitch.

“But… But that’s impossible,” the doctor gasped, “How? How are you alive?”

“You see that’s the thing. I am not. Now if you’ll excuse me I need to help Spitfire.”

The android quickly found a first aid kit and got to work cleaning her wound before gently bandaging her head and setting her back down on the bed.

“I’m impressed son. For an outlander with not a day of medical experience you did that like an EMT with ten years’ experience.”

“That’s because I’ve been programed with the experience.”

“Programed?”

“Yes. I am an android after all.”

“An… android?”

“Yes. What? You thought this arm was just for fun?”

“Well it’s just that-”

“Don’t tell me, I’m only theoretical here to?”

“Yes. But that’s not what I meant.”

Jett sighed, “You know, with the amount of stuff I have loaded into my matrix I could probably confirm or deny every major theory you all have about the universe.”

“Well what do you have medical wise?”

“Medical wise? Well uh, what do you want to know? I mean, my people have found a treatment to literally every single ailment you could be struck with, down to looking old and death itself.”

“You can cure death?”

“Well not cure, but life expectancies have jumped into the hundreds of years. Used to be only to the eighties or nineties if you were lucky. Now it’s into the nine hundreds.”

“Dear Celestia… Only the Princesses have ever lived to ages like that.”

A moan at the bed got the android’s attention and he instantly rushed back towards it.

“Reengage emotional subroutines.”

Spitfire opened her pretty orange eyes, moaning she held her head.

“Ow,” she cried, “What happened? It feels like someone played the maracas with my brain.”

“You kind of fainted and hit your head on the table. Please stay still. I have Nanites repairing damage to your brain right now and they would appreciate if you didn’t move.”

She blinked, “Oh, okay. So what happened?”

“We were talking about me turning over a new leaf when you just… fainted and hit your head on the table on the way down. I tried to grab you and stop but…” he held up his left arm, “This thing doesn’t work well on satin.”

“It’s alright-ow. Damn it this hurts.”

“You cut your head to so that could be part of it,” The Doctor said, “Your friend here is quite the physician.”

“Thanks, Jett.”

“No problem.”

“Wow, suddenly I’m really tired…”

“That’s the concussion you got. Get some rest.”

“How long am I gonna be out for?”

“Well considering you have Nanites repairing you’re brain right now, I have no idea,” The doctor said, “You?”

“You’ll be fine tomorrow. And the Nanites can stay in your body if you want on a kind of permanent patrol.”

“Cool,” Spitfire yawned, “Wow, I am really… tired…” She closed her eyes.

“Ssshhh, get some sleep you flame headed nymph,” Jett laughed.

“Fuck… you…” she sighed as she drifted off the sleep.

Jett sighed, “I can see where she gets her name sake.”

“You get used to it after a while.”

The doors to the infirmary burst open and the rest of the team pilled in.

“What happened?!” Soarin’ asked, “Did you do something?!” He looked at Jett who returned his glare with a blank look.

“Oh relax my little idiot,” High Winds sighed, “I really doubt the guy took her in for six months only to hurt her now.”

“Well… I guess.”

Blaze rolled her eyes, “You really don’t think things through do you?”

“Well I…”

“Well you certainly didn’t get into the Wonderbolts for Brains,” Rapidfire laughed.

“What is this? Gang up on Soarin’ day?” he asked.

“Maybe.”

Everyone refocused their attention on Spitfire.

“So what happened exactly?” Misty asked.

“Spitfire fainted, hit her head on the table, concussion, being repaired, cut on her head, bandaged, rest, end,” Jett said.

“Why’d she faint?” Surprise asked.

“No clue,” Jett blinked, “We were just talking and then she mumbled something, her eyes rolled up into her head and… well here we are.”

“Did you try to catch her?” Fire Streak asked.

Jett held up his arm, “Smooth metal on silk. Not much friction to grip with. Physics still apply to me.”

“Well magic doesn’t,” Fleetfoot said.

“And the only explanation I can give is that I am not alive so… nothing.”

“Ah…”

…

“So now what?” someone asked.

“I don’t know,” Misty said, “Jett, you got any ideas?”

“Well I was gonna stay here and keep an eye on what’s her face here. You go do… whatever you do when you have time off.”

“Guess I can do some shopping,” Misty said.

“I’ll go too,” Surprise grinned.

“Got nothing better to do,” Blaze sighed.

The two Streaks looked at each other, “Dude… sports.”

“Well, guess I’m gonna hit the gym then,” Soarin’ yawned, “Gotta keep these muscles you know?”

“Soarin’ well all know you’ve been single for the past three years so just stop,” Fleetfoot said following everyone as they shuffled out of the room. An echo of laughter came down the hallway.

“Do they always make fun of him?” Jett asked.

“Yes,” the doctor laughed, “Pretty much a normal around here. They all jeer and make fun of each other all the time.”

“Ah…”

“So what’ve you got planned for today?”

“Nothing. I’m just gonna stay here and keep her company.”

The Doctor smiled, “That’s awfully nice of you.”

“Least I could do. She’s letting me stay with her so I could at least do this for her.”

The Doctor shook his head with a smile, “You do know that you don’t have to. She wouldn’t expect you to.”

“I guess… But I kinda feel some kind of personal responsibility for her. Like… I don’t know. Like it’s my job to keep her safe. I don’t know. I kinda panicked when she hit her head.”

“Well you’re welcome to stay as long as you like.”

“Thanks.”

***

Spitfire yawned. Her vision slowly returned to her. Blurry at first but soon everything became clear. Her head was not hurting, the pain having subsided.

She sat up in her bed. Jett was sitting in a chair next to her bed reading a book on foreign cultures. He had a small smile on his face. He looked up from his book.

“Oh! You’re awake! How are you feeling? Does anything hurt or do you feel any discomfort?” he asked.

“No… actually I feel great,” she smiled.

“That’s medical Nanites for you. And if you want they can stay in your body and act as an extra part of to your immune system. If you want that is.”

“So they’ll just stay in my body? Doing nothing until needed?”

“Pretty much.”

Spitfire blinked, “Okay.”

“Cool.”

“So what’re you reading?”

“More history stuff. Just some reading while you slept.”

“How long was I out?”

“A few hours. Not too long.”

“Good. So where’s everyone else?”

Jett blinked, “They’re… doing whatever they do when they have the day off I guess. I really have no clue. Not my business.”

Spitfire grinned, “Well I think we’ll pay them a visit then. Come on.”

***

The rest of the week went on as Spitfire slowly readjusted back to Wonderbolt life. Jett had avoided everyone else for the most part, not out of contempt but because he was spending all his time in the forge working on his mystery sword.

Spitfire didn’t care though. She had work to do. Apparently the others had gotten a bit lazy since she was gone. She wasn’t going to pretend. She had to but this was just ridiculous. She had reinitiated their training work outs and other exercises.

Jett had been getting out more like he said. That made Spitfire glad. He’d been going off on his own into the city, just exploring, getting around.

He was still staying in Spitfire’s quarters but had begun to express interest in getting his own place to stay. While she loved having him around, she had no reason to deny his request. Plus, there was a position in the staff that no one really wanted but with his skills, Jett might just like it.

“Soarin’! Get your lazy ass in formation!” Spitfire yelled as a group of three flyers zoomed past.

“That’s it Misty, keep that turn tight! Great work there, Rapidfire,” she called as the two practiced a two circle flow.

“Blaze! What the fuck are you doing?!” she called.

“Well excuse me Cap, but how much practice did you do while you were out frolicking through Cyberpunk land?”

“You would be surprised. Now get your ass in gear!”

Blaze sighed, “Yes ma’am.”

Jett walked up behind the flame haired flyer holding a drink. Spitfire, too busy yelling, didn’t notice.

“So this is what you do on a daily basis?” he asked.

Spitfire jumped and turned around, “Oh, you’re here! Yeah pretty much. Some of these guys fell out of it while I was gone so I’m whipping them back into shape.”

“Cool,” he said and began twiddling with an object in his hand. Spitfire turned. He was holding a rather nicely jeweled knife that had a slight curve to it.

“Uh… what’s that?”

“Oh… you like it? Just something I picked up today when I went for a walk.”

“How much did it cost?”

“It didn’t. Apparently people are wondering what kind of tech is in my arm or I guess any other part of my body for some reason. Some are nice and ask like normal people. Others are a bit more extreme.”

“So what happened?”

“Oh, I got stabbed.”

“What?!” Spitfire screamed causing everyone flying to fall out of formation and look.

“Relax, it’s not a big deal,” he said turning around. His shirt was torn near his right shoulder blade and there was a decent sized gash. Underneath it was all metal, “He hit my shoulder blade and well, the knife didn’t work very well.”

“What happened next?” Fleetfoot asked.

“Uh… he tried using his… what was it you called it? Magic? Yeah, that’s it. Kinda entertaining really. He just stood there shooting some green shit at me for like five minutes before some guard came up behind him and punched him in the neck. Darn shame too. I was having fun. Oh well. I got a cool knife out of it though.”

Fleetfoot blinked, “Dude, you’re crazy.”

“What? It’s not like he could’ve done anything to me to begin with.”

“Well you’re still like a walking tank.”

“… okay,” he turned to Spitfire, “So what was it you wanted me for?” he asked before sipping his drink.

“Oh that. Come on I’ll show you. Keep practicing you guys! If I even think you all slacked off, Soarin’ does 1000 push-ups.”

“What?!”

Everyone laughed.

“Come on guys, let’s get back at it,” Soarin’ pleaded.

“I don’t know… should we, Misty?” Fleetfoot asked.

Spitfire just shook her head as she led Jett away from the practice field towards the hangers.

“So what was it you wanted to show me again?” Jett asked.

They walked off the runways towards an unassuming looking hanger with an unusual metal plate embedded in the floor. A small console stood nearby.

“This,” Spitfire flipped a switch on the console and watched the metal plate fall into the floor about an inch before moving out of the way as an elevator rose up into the hanger floor.

Spitfire walked up to it, “Care to join me?”

He grinned and stepped onto the platform. Spitfire hit another switch on a similar console and the elevator descended into the ground. The door reclosed itself above them as lights illuminated the passage way.

“How far down does this go?” Jett asked.

“Not too far.”

Soon the elevator slowed and came to a stop in a darkened room. Spitfire pulled a lighter from her pocket and ignited it before walking off the large platform to a control pad embedded in the elevator supports.

“Come on…” she grunted as she pulled on some unforeseen object.

Suddenly with a loud click the lights in the room flashed on. They were standing inside a huge underground room. The large platform of an elevator they were standing on, Jett now realized was an aircraft elevator that was embedded nicely in the wall. To the right was a large open long room that served as a runway. Along the left side of the runway were various doors and other things of that nature. To the left them were a few old broken down planes. Judging from their looks there weren’t anything beyond 1930’s era tech with half of the control of a 30’s plane. Farther back were various machines and tools and other pieces of tech. The ceiling had a series of lights hanging from it, cobwebs sticking up above.

Over all, the place looked old and abandoned and unused.

“Yeah…” Spitfire rubbed the back of her head, “This used to be one of the main hangers. It had a bunch of machines and stuff for fixing and maintaining planes and even for building some. Now it’s not much to look at.”

“The hell happened down here?”

“Well this was before I was captain but there was a bad storm and the doors got jammed and it just fucked up this whole place. I mean, it did get cleaned up a bit and they fixed the doors but that was it.”

“So… why am I down here?”

Spitfire pulled another large lever down on the console. A heavy creaking noise was heard as the hanger doors opened, exposing the sky and the valley below.

“This place is embedded inside the cliff face,” Spitfire said, “Because of its location, management can’t have it demoed or anything else like that. So I was wondering if you wanted to fix it up and make it usable again.”

Jett looked around. The place was pretty old…

“There’s also some stairs up to rest of the base through one of those double doors,” Spitfire said.

“This was the job you wanted to pass up on me?” Jett asked with a grin.

“Well it’s not just that. I mean, you would be the only one down here. Normally this place had a staff of like 10 people. You’d take up all of the positions down here. Flight mechanic, chef, medic, machinist, all of them. So the pay would be pretty good and you’d have money to spend.”

Jett looked right at the open door and stepped away from the elevator. Behind him were the old planes and the machinist shop. The elevator sat as the divider line between the runway and the rest of the complex.

“So I’d just have to fix this place up a bit?”

“Yeah… to be honest, no one wanted this job. They all took one look at this place and said ‘fuck that.’ To be honest I don’t blame them.”

“Would there be any criteria I’d have to follow?”

“Honestly, management just wants this place to look nice. They could quite literally not give a fuck what you did with it.”

“Cool.”

“So…” Spitfire said removing the application from her shirt, “Whaddaya say?”

Jett looked at the paper before taking it from her hand and quickly reading the entire thing.

“So?” She asked hopefully.

“Pen,” Jett responded.

Grinning she removed a pen from her pocket and handed it to him. He quickly signed and initialed in all the right places before handing the document back to her.

“I’m gonna need to grab a few things from your room and I’m gonna need to go shopping.”

“Whatever you need,” she said happily.

Spitfire walked down the runway while Jett ran about the place exploring it and getting a feel for the place. She reached the edge of the runway and peered out the doors.

“I DON’T SEE ANY FLYING GETTING DONE!” She yelled up.

“Shit,” Someone said.

A series of streaks flew past up above.

“YEAH! THAT’S WHAT I THOUGHT!”

Author's Notes:

I was really tired when this was published and I only half edited it so there probably were some mistakes. Am I right?