"This thing is great!" Rango exclaimed, toying with his new ARHUD and holoband. "It's like, wow! Things are really in front of me!" He wildly waved his massive hands about, touching virtual controls I couldn't see. "But they're not."

"We have some spares in case something goes wrong with one of ours. Since we're going to be working together, you need to have similar equipment, just in case something like last night happens again," James stated, then hesitated. "Let's hope it doesn't, though."

I was only half-listening. Some vaguely-remembered, phantasmic dream from the night before was bothering me. I couldn't quite clarify why I'd awoken early in the morning in a cold sweat, but-

"Eris?"

"Huh?"

Mia peered at me. "Are you okay?"

"I think so, why?"

"I've been trying to get your attention for like ten seconds now. You just kept staring off into space, your eyes all blank."

"S-sorry, I must be tired. I didn't sleep as well as usual last night."

Mia narrowed her eyes in concern. "What's wrong?"

"Probably nothing. I think I had a bad dream, is all. I'd tell you more, but I can't seem to remember it."

"I see. I mean, it's not surprising that you'd have some weird dreams, considering all the stuff that's happened in the past few days."

"Yeah." I rubbed a hoof over my face. "So much for relaxation, eh?"

"I grab it where I can find it." Mia kicked back in her chair, tossing a grape in the air and trying to catch it in her mouth. It landed directly on her nose and bounced wildly under the table.

"Shit."

"Stop playing with your food," I chided. "And get your feet off the table. Commander Shadow is right over there!"

"She doesn't care," Mia insisted insubordinately. "Do you care, Tempest darling?"

"What?" The hornless unicorn gazed at us from over the box of communications equipment James was explaining to her.

"Do you care if I put my feet on the table?"

Tempest's eyes narrowed. "After what you guys did yesterday? I don't care if you dance on it. We're in your debt. From what Rango tells me, that thing would have been a nightmare to stop without your help."

"I just might dance on it. Well. There you have it, Boss."

"Get your feet off the table anyway, you ill-mannered sloth," I demanded, my tone lacking harshness. "That's just rude."

Mia rolled her eyes and took her feet off the table, sitting up next to me and sneakily placing her hand on my thigh.

"Uh, what-"

She prodded me gently between the legs with her finger. "Happy now?"

"S-stop it, you," I gasped. "We're in public!"

"You like it."

"I love it!" Rango bellowed suddenly, making us both jump. He swatted wildly at something invisible in the air. "Wow! Looks real!"

"I put some extra stuff in there for you," Mia told him. "Check out 'Anime Girls Dancing.' "

"Okay." Several seconds passed while Rango frowned into space, sweeping a finger around at intervals. "Ah. I found it." He scowled deeply. "Oh. Ah! What is this?"

"Do you approve?"

"This... This is amazing!" His face lit up until it practically glowed. "Such art! Such beautiful girls! And this music! What is this music?"

"It's called 'J-Pop,' " Mia informed him. "Do you like it?"

"It's the most beautiful thing I've ever heard! I want to hear more, see more like this!"

"I'll hook you up with some more anime," Mia told him. "I know some good ones I think you'll like. I'll transfer them to your ARHUD later on."

"Oh great, another weeb in the making," James called over. "How the mighty have fallen. Shame on you, Miss Carson."

Mia stuck her tongue out at him. "You watch your mouth, mister." She wedged her finger deeper into my crotch.

I sighed. "Not. Right. Now." I gently picked up Mia's hand and placed it in her own lap, giving her thigh a little squeeze with my hoof. "But definitely later," I added softly. "Oh, and since when is Commander Shadow 'Tempest darling?' "

"Since she thanked us for stopping that monster and said she didn't mind if I call her that," Mia replied. "Are you sure you're okay? You've been sitting here the whole time and you don't remember anything."

I shook my head. "I'll be fine. I'm just distracted."

Mia stared at me suspiciously, but she nodded. "Okay. But if you feel sick or something, let me know right away."

"I will. Promise."

"You wouldn't keep something weird a secret from me, would you?"

I shook my head. "No. Especially not these days. One never knows if something might be reaching out from the other side, or wherever it is these things come from."

"A dream, a whisper, a passing sensation," Mia said, somewhat oddly. "Just let me know if anything strange happens. I think you're more sensitive than the rest of us, at least the human ones. Because of your magic, you know."

"You're probably right. Don't worry though. I suck at keeping secrets." I turned my head back towards James as Cadance, watching them from a chair across from Grubber near the end of the table, spoke up.

"I'd like to check on my ship and crew this morning, if possible," she said, her eyes moving towards Rango.

"Wha-? Oh, yes, of course," he replied, making a quick sweeping gesture with his hand to clear the ARHUD and then looking at her. "Repairs are making excellent progress. I would be honored to take you to the hangar."

"Let's leave once James finishes up," Cadance suggested.

"Almost done," James announced, handing another object he'd been discussing to Tempest, who looked at it curiously, then tucked it away somewhere in her clothing, just like she had with several others. "A few more minutes, tops. She's a hell of a quick learner."

Tempest beamed at James through her own ARHUD, pleased with the compliment. I looked at Mia, who looked back at me.

"I think he likes her," I whispered.

"Should we be jealous?" Mia asked, furrowing her brow in mock concern before breaking into a grin.

We both burst out laughing, drawing quizzical looks from Cadance and Grubber.

Nestled amongst other great berthed airships, the Pride of Equestria loomed far above us when we entered the huge docking hangar, a scaffold partially encasing the front of her gas envelope while workers moved about the distant structure. It was too high for me to see what they were doing, but the sound of hammering easily reached my pricked ears, even with the other industrial noises echoing in the gigantic place.

Since we considered the hangar and city to be safe for the most part with their heavy military and law enforcement presence, Mia and James, standing beside me, were wearing just their ProteC uniforms and firearms, having left the exo suits in our room back at the castle.
Just in front of us, Cadance conferred with a Silenian wearing coveralls and a tool belt while Rango stood nearby, watching silently.

"Repairs are proceeding at a steady pace, ma'am," the airship mechanic team lead informed her respectfully. "I expect she'll be as good as new in a day or two, once the resin sets."

"Excellent. My thanks," Cadance said, smiling broadly.

"The pleasure is entirely ours, ma'am," the mechanic replied, looking pleased. "It's not often we get to work on an Equestrian vessel. The integration of magical artifacts into the ship's systems is quite fascinating. Challenging, at times, but with a little help from your crew, things are going very well."

"Thank you again, good sir. I must check on the crew now," Cadance said, waving a hoof. Her eyes got a little big when the mechanic suddenly seized her limb and kissed it.

"If-if ever you require our assistance, please feel most welcome," he finished hurriedly, then released her hoof, bowing gently and moving aside to return to work. I could see he was blushing as he headed back towards the ladders.

Cadance watched him go bemusedly.

"Looks like you have another fan," James observed, grinning. "At least he has good taste in women."

Now Cadance blushed a little, shaking her head at his comment. "I'll have you know I am merely an average-looking mare."

James rolled his eyes. "Nothing about you is average and you know it."

"Almost everypony is downtown, except for a few on security detail," Captain Starchaser explained to Cadance in the conference room once we'd made it onto the vessel. "Most of the repair work is done, and there isn't much reason to make the crewponies stay on the ship right now. The Silenians have been quite friendly, and I can easily find my crew at the nearby taverns." He rubbed his muzzle. "I do believe a few of the local ladies have taken a fancy after Equestrian stallions, as well," he added with a shrug. "I don't want to interfere with, er, international relations, if they're having a good time." He paused. "Maybe I've said too much."

"Not at all. It's most understandable," Cadance replied. "I trust your judgement, Captain. As long as there is no trouble, then it's fine."

"Thank you, ma'am," he replied. "Everything goes according to schedule. A day or two longer, and she'll be airworthy again."

"Great. And see that you take some time to enjoy yourself, as well. Just remember to be careful. I assume downtown in this city is about as safe as one can be, but there are still seemingly random monster incursions throughout the country. Be mindful of that."

"Understood. I've told the crew not to drink too much, in case we need to launch in short notice. For the most part they've been responsible."

"Very good then. It seems things are well under control here. If you should require anything, let me know," Cadance offered.

"Thank you, ma'am." Captain Starchaser bowed, then we turned and followed Cadance back out into the ship.

"So, it's difficult for ProteC to keep the growing number of teams outfitted with unicorn bullets," James was telling Cadance as we walked down the gangplank from our airship and followed Rango across the hangar floor.

"Not all unicorns are good at imbuing the crystals with the penetration spell," Cadance replied. "Still, it seems like this unwanted war is here to stay. We're going to have to find an alternative to crystal-tipped rounds soon, or I don't think we'll be able to keep up with the demand."

"There are some new weapon types I've heard about in prototype stage," James said thoughtfully. "They're working to make beam cannon technology more portable, or so I've heard."

"Hmm. Beam energy weapons allowed for us to use a single focusing crystal per weapon, and not have to constantly imbue bullet crystals, or so I remember from the reports I read. Such a thing would be greatly helpful if it was the standard."

"Yes, but I've only heard rumors. I certainly don't have any way to look up details out here. We're totally disconnected from the network, after all."

Mia and I were walking together just behind the other two, and I paused to look back up at the huge ship while Cadance and James, deep in conversation, continued to drift away.

Mia stopped beside me. "Elegant, isn't it?"

I nodded. "And this hangar is so huge to accommodate these vessels." I waved my hoof at the walkways and other airships moored throughout the staggeringly massive facility. "It's truly amazing."

"Hey, girls," a gruff voice called from behind me.

I turned quickly and saw two of the Silenian mechanics approaching us with expectant smirks on their faces.

"We found this jammed in a corner of the engine housing," one of them said insolently, holding up an object that made my heart skip a beat.

"No," I gasped under my breath, feeling the blood drain from my face. "Oh please, no."

In the fellow's grubby fist, suspended threateningly above me, hung the horrifyingly filthy lace panties I'd flung over the side of the gas envelope after being coated in monster sperm during the unfortunate jumbo-sized tug job I'd had to give on the trip over the ocean.

"Guess someone was having a wild time on one of the balconies or something. I wonder who they belong to, eh?" he elbowed the other, and both chuckled suggestively, eyeing us up and down rudely. "Couldn't be one of you fine ladies, could it? Not like there were a whole lot of other females on that ship. How about you, Miss Sexy Unicorn? Perhaps these might belong to you?"

I felt my ears and face burning at their gleeful prodding. Physics and nature had just conspired against me, bringing this object back from nowhere for the sole purpose of embarrassing me. "N-never seen them before," I stammered, my cheeks aflame.

"What's the matter?" the big guy chuckled down at me. "Don't you want your dirty little pony-panties back?" They both snickered.

I gave Mia a pleading look. Please don't throw me under the bus. Help me? I begged silently.

Mia caught my eye and grinned evilly back at me, a smirk of such utter mischievousness that I almost fainted on the spot. Oh no, here it comes, I thought, shrinking in on myself and preparing to die of abject humiliation. She's gonna tell them what happened, and they're all gonna make fun of me and laugh until I-

"Oh! My panties! Maybe I lost them when I was doing my open-air balcony strip tease," Mia squealed happily, giving me a quick wink.

I dared to breath again.

She reached out and plucked my filthily cum-soaked, air-dried, crispy, flaky lingerie away from the surprised Silenian, who just stared at her without moving. She then balled up the cardboard-like material without even a grimace. Nasty crumbs of dried monster jizz fell through her fingers, and I heard it crunching as she shoved it roughly into the pocket of her cargo pants. I shuddered with disgust at the memory of how those panties got so nasty, the bile rising in my throat along with the unbidden image of the giant, misshapen alien penis blasting me in the face. I really, really owe her one, I thought as I carefully gulped, trying to keep the acrid puke down.

The mechanics just stared at her curiously, no doubt imagining what she might look like wearing nothing but those panties, and evidently intrigued by the thought.

For her part, Mia didn't flinch or blush. "Thanks, guys," she twittered cheerfully, reaching up and patting one of them on his massive, leathery cheek. "You're both my handsome panty heroes."

"Y-you're, uh, welcome, ma,am," he replied haltingly, suddenly looking very confused and blushing profusely. His partner glared at him in evident jealousy, until Mia patted his face too, whereupon he blushed as well.

"Well, I suppose we shouldn't hold you two fine gentlemen here any longer, I'm sure you have very important work to do," she added sweetly with a girlish giggle, pushing her hips to the side, resting her hand on them, and tilting her head adorably.

"Y-yeah. Yeah. T-that's right miss, er, ma'am. V-very important things to, uh, repair, and such. Twas a pleasure to-to be of assistance." Obviously trying not to stare and failing miserably, they shambled off, stealing glances back while talking and shrugging at each other. It was clear they had no idea what had just happened.

Neither did I. "Baby, thank you," I told Mia earnestly as they left. "Thank you for not hanging me out to dry. Those two were going to have a good laugh at me, I could tell, and you somehow turned things around. I owe you one."

"I like to tease you in a fun way, not hurt your feelings," Mia said, reaching down and scratching behind my ears. "No way I could toss you under the bus after that frightened puppy look you gave me. I don't mind. I'll be the dirty scapeslut and save your good reputation, dear. What are friends for?" She cocked her head at me thoughtfully. "Although, if you really feel you owe me, which you don't because I'd do anything for you, I'll collect in the usual way."

I chuckled to cover a sudden lump in my throat, blinking back tears. For some bizarre reason her silly little speech had hit an emotional chord, something that resonated inside me as we stood together, two creatures from different worlds, both far from home, yet always home as long as we had each other and our boyfriend. "T-that sounds most agreeable," I managed to choke out after a moment.

"Are you okay?" Mia asked, suddenly concerned.

"It's nothing. Just a bit dusty in here," I smiled blurrily.

"Oh, Okay, then." Mia looked suspicious, easily seeing right through my feeble attempt at hiding my emotions.

"Also I really love being around you," I blurted out abruptly. "You make me so happy. Thank you!"

"Aw, baby. Me too." She bent down and hugged me.

"You guys coming?" James called back to us.

"Yeah. Be right there," I answered, still hugging Mia.

"Well, this day is definitely better than yesterday," James remarked cheerfully from the driver's seat of the SUV. "Driving down the road, backseat full of my favorite girls-"

"I love anime girls!" Rango interrupted him, once again using his ARHUD for non-business purposes while he rode in the passenger seat.

I rolled my eyes. "Now you've done it, Mia. Captain Rango is never going to be the same again."

"What?" she protested. "I've merely broadened his horizons."

"You've broadened something, alright." I tapped my jaw. "That reminds me. I meant to ask him about those fire ruby things you detonated in the basement yesterday."

Rango turned his head to look at me. "I'm listening, I hear you. Fire rubies are the fuel source for many things. They burn hot, no smoke, perfect for steam power."

"Fascinating," James interjected. "I feel like there's some unique weapon potential to such a thing- Ah, hang on, here's the castle."

Just as James steered onto the castle grounds, Cadance froze in her seat. "Hello?" she said, talking into space through her ARHUD. "Oh, hi. What? Oh dear, that's not good. Yes, I shall come directly." She turned to the rest of us. "Commander Sha- ah, Tempest just called me. She said she just received word of a town going dark last night. She's preparing to leave now with an army contingent, and has asked us if we'd like to go along." Cadance hesitated. "It might be dangerous. I can back out if you don't want-"

"Give us five minutes to grab our exos?" James said, glancing briefly back at me in the rearview mirror for approval.

"Of course we're all going," I agreed. "Like that's even a question." I glanced up at the sun overhead, which had already tipped past noon. "And grab some water and rations too," I added, remembering how late dinner had been the previous evening. "I have a feeling this might be a long day."