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XCOM: Ranger

by Wanderer D

Chapter 85: Chapter 83: Give

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Ranger

Chapter 83: Give

By Wanderer D

The ADVENT Supply station was very large, only two levels up, it extended down the valley with metallic low walls extending all along its perimeters, and a guarded rail with patrols coming up and down with regular frequency.

Fortunately, they were not expecting anyone to sneak into it, so Sunset and the others were safe for now. Unfortunately, the train was straight across on the other side of the base from their position.

"We can't be seen, but we need to get to that train…" Sunset said. She checked her watch and bit her lip. "If they stick to schedule—and ADVENT always does, the air delivery will be here soon."

Angel nodded and motioned, hissing.

Sunset pondered the Viper's words and then glanced back at the base. "It's fairly big."

"If the snake said we should backtrack and go around the base, I agree with her," Elena said. "Crossing the base in order to get there quicker, when the air delivery hasn't even arrived is folly."

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Sunset said, grimacing as the whirring sound of a transport made its way to them. "And there it is," she said, "We don't have a moment to miss, come on."

The sounds of heavy machinery echoed from the ADVENT Supply Station as Sunset, Elena and Angel backtracked a good mile and then started making their way around the station. It took them several minutes to do so, but they eventually managed to sneak in closer, this time right next to their immediate objective.

The ADVENT train looked like a sleek black bullet with red light streaming along the sides. Attached to it were two equally shiny and sleek boxcars, and finally a bulkhead flat car.

The flat car was almost fully loaded now with several deactivated MECs and automatic turrets, while smaller, more delicate-looking containers were being loaded into the box cars.

The whole process was not only automated, but fast. There were only a few things left in the transport, which meant that the train would take off immediately after being loaded. Previous reports had indicated that it was also automatic and none of the ADVENT troops in the site went in there.

Elena was the first one in. Under the impressed gaze of her teammates, she ran fast and sure, evading the guards with enormous skill, before jumping into the last box car.

Sunset activated her magic, allowing her to see the beating hearts of the troops. She tapped Angel and counted with her fingers.

When she saw the nearest troops begin to move away from them, she made a cutting motion and the pair ran out of the jungle, straight to the box car, getting it between them and the troops. Although they hadn't seen anyone on this side, Sunset kept a look around until they were safely inside the box car, along with Elena, who waved them over.

They moved some of the containers around them, making sure they were still secure, but creating plenty of cover for a passing glance to not notice them. Sunset didn't dare let go of her magical sight until the train was well on its way to its destination.

Twilight had installed a holographic screen in her room, and was currently designing a circuit. She looked down to a book, then to her notes, then up to the circuit design, and spun it in place, making corrections.

"Are you sure that's a good idea?" Jane asked, from where she was laying down on Twilight's bed, lazily looking up from a book she was reading. "If you up the power output that much, you'll end up frying your GREMLIN along with it."

"I've done the calculations three times! I'm sure that Gremliniscious can take it!"

Jane rolled her eyes. "You know that if you fry it again, Lily will take it away from you, right?" she asked. "Especially after your used your experimental magical drain utility on ROV-R."

"It was a sound concept! Who knew that magical ambient electricity would have a current type that could cause explosions?"

"Ever heard of AC and DC?"

"Only when the Commander calls me to her quarters to talk."

Silence.

"Oh, come on!" Twilight waited for Jane to react, then sighed. "That was funny."

Jane sighed. "You're such a nerd, Twilight."

Twilight shook her head. She glanced at her notes one more before looking again at the diagram, grimacing. Lily had really been upset with her on that last experiment, and had refused to allow any further personal modifications to Twilight's GREMLIN unless she oversaw it personally.

With a sigh, she saved her work and dismissed it. Instead, she opened up her documents on Elerium.

The alien element had intrigued her from the beginning, and she had begged Tygan for a chance to study its properties and potential uses.

Jane watched with some fascination as a device of some sort was generated on the 3D display. "What's that?"

Twilight sighed. "I'm trying to revive the mechanism for an old XCOM design," she explained. "I don't have the knowhow to create the armor itsel—"

Jane perked up. "Armor?" She sat up. "What kind of armor?"

Twilight gave her a look, but reminded herself that Jane saw a lot more combat. "Flying armor."

"You're kidding."

"Nope, Dr. Shen senior had a couple of sketches and they mentioned using Elerium as a fuel source…. but the designs were clunky, movement would be slow and they weren't as maneuverable as would be needed for soldiers not to get shot down."

"But still... " Jane shook her head. "So what are you working on then?"

"A propulsion system…" Twilight said. "Maybe a modular part for armors… the idea is that it would give you a boost, reducing movement for accessing rooftops and other high places. Maybe even stop a fall, if you're quick enough. If I can make the system soundless, it could even be used safely in concealed missions."

"Don't we have grappling hooks for that?"

Twilight turned off the screen.

"Hey, don't be like that," Jane said. "It's not a bad idea, I'm just asking what additional advantages it would have."

Twilight sighed. "Yeah… it's just… I can't seem to concentrate. Earlier today I felt… a pull from the Element. It's had me on edge all day."

"One more thing, huh?"

"Yeah, one more thing," Twilight grumbled. She glanced at Jane. "You don't need to worry about me, you know? I've talked to the Commander and Laetitia and… Princess Luna. I'm perfectly fine."

Jane gave her a half-lidded look of amusement. "Really."

"Really." Twilight said. "In fact, never been better."

"Then, do you mind telling me why," Jane drawled out, "you've kept your back to the book that started vibrating and then just ignored it after it did, literally looking everywhere else but at it?"

Twilight didn't say anything.

Jane sighed. "Look, if you need space to do that, I get it, but that's your family calling in," she said, pushing herself off the bed and stretching. "Don't keep them waiting. You might lose your chance one day to just pick up."

She patted Twilight on the shoulder and walked out of the room, leaving the alicorn-turned-human alone.

Twilight grimaced. The last letter from Celestia had been her attempt at reaching out to Twilight, comforting her (or attempting to) over her loss, but Twilight hadn't felt like replying.

If anything, she had been apathetic at best. Chrysalis had already helped Twilight considerably, and Luna's words and her own self-analysis confirmed that Twilight just… didn't want to have anything to do with Sunset either.

'I've never wanted to not answer the Princess… why am I acting this way now?' Then again, there was a chance that it was one of her friends, so ignoring it altogether was out of the question.

Sighing, she opened the book, immediately recognizing Celestia's writing.

My Dear Twilight,

How are you feeling? I know that my words alone are probably not enough to calm your heart, but I also know that you have still friends there that will be helping you through this hard period of time.

I understand if you need time to think and recoup… after what happened it is only natural. Your friends here also advised me to wait for your reply, rather than push it. I know you're safe, my former student, and that you have even more friends there to rely on.

As much as I do respect your much-needed time to recuperate, I would like to request a bit of understanding for this old mare—I had a premonition, Twilight, that something happened to Sunset.

That she was surrounded by darkness and suffering great loss. I… understand that you have some conflicted feelings about your relationship with Sunset right now… I am not sure why. I was under the impression you liked her, and well, she thinks the world of you.

Twilight, I apologize for asking this of you, but I can't bear the thought of losing either of you again or at all. From Princess to Princess… from former teacher to former student… from friend to friend… is there anything you could tell me? Can you tell me my lit that Sunset is safe?

Twilight closed the diary and and stood up, ready to storm out of the room. What was Celestia thinking? She wasn't her student anymore, and she had never become her secretary. She had already told her that Sunset was away on a mission, what else did she expect?

She shook her head. "People die in missions all the time, what does she expect me to—"

Eyes wide, standing still, Twilight slowly raised her hand to cover her mouth in horror at her thoughts. When had she become such a petty person? Why was she so angry?

She gulped, forcing herself to sit down and open the diary again. She re-read Celestia's message. It didn't make sense for her to get upset about that… if Celestia had had a premonition about Twilight, she would surely find a way to contact someone here, and of course Sunset would be the first person she would reach out to.

So why her sudden anger? That… stab of hurt when she had done the first reading of it?

Just why was she so angry with Sunset?

She re-read the letter. "...she thinks the world of you…" she read aloud. She slowly closed the diary, staring down at it.

On the one hoof, Sunset really hadn't done anything directly to Twilight… other than stealing her Element and being somewhat responsible for her current living conditions, but at the same time Sunset had done everything in her power to make sure that Twilight was safe.

But what did Sunset really think about Twilight?

The diary rested on her legs, a solid temptation. A certain betrayal of trust. Not something she would ever do to a friend… although Sunset really didn't feel like one right now for some reason.

Twilight closed her eyes, trying to fight the temptation at the same time she rationalized her actions for and against doing something she knew she shouldn't, and that she might regret. But… if she didn't face these feelings now? Then when?

Her picture was incomplete.

And Twilight hated incomplete puzzles.

Her hand traced the cover… and opened the book.

o.0.o End Chapter 83 o.0.o

Next Chapter: Chapter 84: Distance Estimated time remaining: 17 Hours, 9 Minutes
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