A cold sensation overwhelmed Binary as he began to awake from his coma. He was finally able to lift his eyelids so that he could see a haze of colors around him, blinding sunlight piercing his vision. Shutting his eyes, Binary tried to focus his vision. Once he opened them, he found himself in a bedroom, tucked into a bed.
Although it didn't look anything like a prison, Binary knew he couldn't lower his guard just yet. Slipping out of the bed, he hit the ground a little too hard and found himself lying on the floor while clutching his side in pain. He looked down to find his torso wrapped tightly in bandages.
Standing slowly, he made his way over to the door of a large room, filled with various plants. Gripping the handle, Binary contemplated on just walking into the next room, he could easily startle anypony on the other side. Clenching his teeth because of his side pain, he knelt to peer through the keyhole.
He swiveled his eye to watch the contents of the room beyond; it had shelves that contained numerous vials of different liquids. He also saw fearsome tribal masks hanging from the wall, and in the center of the room was a large cauldron. Noticing the absence of life, Binary slowly opened the door and walked into the strange room.
He gazed at the rest of the room before hearing a clatter from behind. Spinning sharply, Binary came face-to-face with a shuddering yellow pegasus mare with a pink mane, he wings wrapped against her body.
"Identify yourself." Binary commanded, trying to keep the upper hand in the situation.
"I'm, uh, I'm…" The mare stuttered.
"She is not the enemy you seek; we need you in order to keep Equestria from being bleak." A voice called out. Binary turned to see the owner of the voice as a female zebra.
"Is that so?" Binary questioned, shifting his stance so that he could watch both of them.
"Um, yes, we saw the horrible condition you were in when you feel into the Everfree Forest." The yellow mare replied quietly.
Binary cringed as he recalled Celestia's deception, "Yeah, speaking of which, what did you do with my suit?"
"We put it up outside, but it doesn't look too well." The yellow mare replied.
Binary imagined the condition the suit must be in from suffering a point-blank blast. He clenched his teeth as he began to walk outside. As he walked past the zebra, she eyed him both suspiciously and curiously as he limped by.
As he got outside, he could see that the house was located within a tree. He backed away and wandered around nearby until he found 8R0NY propped up against a curving trunk of a tree. Noticing immediately the burned steel from the explosion, Binary sighed in relief that only the outer steel layer had been damaged. On closer inspection, he also noticed that the vulnerable cables located in the neck had been protected by the face-plate when he had looked down at the bomb before it had exploded.
"Can you fix it?" The yellow mare asked from behind.
"Personally, no. The outer steel layer needs to be replaced because of the magnitude of the blast. However, I can remove the shrapnel quite easily. All in all, it'll still work, but the armor will be weaker." Binary explained.
"This machine seems to be different than the others, perhaps it is made to be unlike its brothers?" The zebra asked.
Binary found the zebra's rhyming odd, but chose to ignore it, "If you mean the other drones, yes. This suit was made as a battle armor for a soldier, in this case, me; but one of my technicians built it so it can run independently if need be."
"So it hurts others?" The yellow mare asked fearfully.
The innocence of the question stung, but Binary still answered truthfully, "Well, yes, it is a military weapon after all."
The zebra looked at the yellow mare, "My dear, it is the case whether the machine is a shield and not a sword, and if it is a shield, will it keep its word?"
"The answer is yes, I will defend my nation to my dying breath. Right now, it seems that I need to overtake it for its wellbeing." Binary clarified.
"Wait, take it over?" The yellow mare asked horrified.
Binary sighed on the fact that the mare was too in the clear of the dark times Equestria was facing, "Yes, in a sense. You see, until recently, I was the captain of the royal guard."
"Just like Twilight's brother Shining Armor!" The yellow mare said in response.
Binary smiled, "Now there was perfect captain, Shining Armor was my commanding officer back in the academy. To be honest, I was a little hot-headed when I was still a private, but he helped me through a lot. When he retired, I was sad but you wouldn't believe my shock when I was elected the next captain."
"What happened?" The yellow mare requested.
Another sigh from Binary, "Sheriff Iron Spear, or should I say Officer Iron Spear displaced me after a night of, should I say, 'disorienting' events. Anyway, apparently the terrorist attack followed that morning and Iron Spear took the chance to take my position while I was away. Now, he basically rules the nation."
"That sounds terrible." The yellow mare replied sympathetically. The zebra didn't seem convinced, but kept quiet.
"What are you going to do now?" The yellow mare asked.
"If your friend doesn't mind, I ask that you house me for just a few more days. I need time to prepare the suit for travel." Binary requested.
"Where will you go?" She asked again.
"To Draken Mountain in the north. That's where my base is located. From there, I will attempt to take Celestia hostage so that I can force Iron Spear to surrender." Binary explained.
"Oh my goodness, you can't do that to Princess Celestia! She doesn't deserve it!" The yellow mare protested.
Binary was mad, "And do you think I deserved to be killed by a bomb from her? That's how I ended up out here! I tried reasoning with her and she gave me a box and teleported me out here to die. How do you think I feel!?" He yelled.
The mare was frightened, "I'm sorry, I didn't know, but there is no way that Princess Celestia would do that!"
Binary sat down and stared at the ground, "Look, I don't want to hurt her, and I won't. She is being deceived by corrupt ponies in the government. I saw a note on the box she gave me that showed somepony was forcing her to do this. So this pony wanted to frame me so that I could be taken care of so that I wouldn't intervene later. My guess is that it was Iron Spear."
"I just hope you're not a bad pony." The yellow mare responded.
"I'm not. To prove it, I'm not only the captain of the royal guard, but the creator of all the security drones in Equestria." Binary confessed.
The two ponies exchanged looks that seemed almost fearful, "I don't want to sound rude, Mister, but Zecora and I find those machines rather scary."
Binary bit his lip, "That's the way I had them built, to instill fear in those who want to hurt our nation."
"I guess that makes sense." The yellow mare replied.
"Perhaps it is time to retire; I fear that the day will soon expire." Zecora commented on the setting sun.
"Zecora's right, we should go inside." The yellow mare added.
Binary nodded, "Alright, but just give me a second." he said while trotting over to 8R0NY. He input the light-mirror cover for the external plate so that the light from the moon would be able to create an invisibility cloak to keep the suit hidden. After setting the suit to solar charge like Circuit had instructed, he joined the mare and Zecora on the way back to the home in the tree.
"I just realized that I never introduced myself." Binary remarked on the way back, "My name is Binary Code, captain of the royal guard, temporarily replaced," he added, "and creator of the Equestrian drone system." He finished, giving a bow to his two hosts.
"This is Zecora, and my name is Fluttershy." The yellow mare replied, smiling warmly. Binary found it odd that this smile seemed genuine; generally speaking, he figured it came from the heart. Normally in his line of work, Binary watched many ambassadors, leaders, and politicians put on their best smiles when addressing the Princess. However, his royal guard training had taught him that many expressions can be fake in order to be deceiving, as if luring the intended target into a trap. In this case, they would try to convince Celestia to accept their conditions. Now, it seemed as if this mare had never been introduced into the corrupted part of society.
"It's an honor meeting you both." Binary said in return, bowing again. The bowing he was doing was also ironic as he made the custom of bowing to important officials as a normal routine. Now, he was doing it for these two ponies who had saved his life. It felt rude and insulting to do it to them. When they reached the home within the tree, Zecora and Fluttershy entered immediately, but Binary chose to stand outside for a while longer, gazing at the rising moon in the distance.
After a few minutes, Fluttershy poked her head out, "Are you coming, Mister Code?"
Binary took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh air, "Soon, I just want to take the scene in a little. To be honest, it feels like this'll be the last time I will have peace like this for a long time."
Fluttershy came out fully and joined him, "Why do you say that?"
Binary felt a great weight inside, "It's because until recently, I thought everything was going perfect. I thought I was going to go down in history as a great captain who helped revolutionize Equestrian security. Instead, it all started with a murder in Cloudsdale. Which by the way, I believe is still unsolved. That murderer could still be out there, plotting his next move. Hay, it could've been Iron Spear too. He seems to be at every situation that makes this whole mess worse."
Fluttershy remained quiet, almost as if she was scared to answer, but then she asked, "Mister Code, why don't you just leave Equestria. You're a wanted criminal, aren't you?"
Binary smiled at this, "It's because I'm something ponies like to call a nationalist, a loyalist, or a flag-waver. I prefer to call myself a patriot. Why? Because I'm a soldier, but not just any soldier, I carry the title of captain. I looked up the word in a dictionary once, definition nine said: 'An influential leader in a field or organization.' The others talked about rank. Rank doesn't matter to me because it just deems how you're all organized. If rank mattered to me, I'd heft the title of 'general' on there too. For what purpose? Because I've revolutionized security and warfare to a whole new level. My question is: Why aren't ponies thanking me? I mean, I'm saving so many lives they're uncountable. Not only in military recruiting, but also in national security. Going back to your question, it goes against everything I believe in. My sole duty in life is to protect my home, not desert it."
Fluttershy was quietly listening the whole time, "I'm not sure what to say."
Binary shrugged in response, "Then don't say anything."
Fluttershy looked at him, "When I see the things you made, they scare me; but the stallion I see here is completely different. At first you were scary, but then you lightened up."
Binary gave a solemn nod, "It's because I was practically raised in a lifestyle that taught me to be superior to others, to enforce control any way possible, and to display no emotions so that others cannot predict you're actions."
"That sounds brutal, we're you forced into it?" Fluttershy asked.
Binary shook his head, "I chose it. I wanted to be powerful, I wanted to shape the nation so it was a land of peace, back then it was more greed then innocent wanting, but I guess now I feel I need to set things right."
"You're so inspiring, just like all of my friends." Fluttershy noted.
Binary felt guilty, "Are they alright?"
Fluttershy looked up into the night sky, "From what I've last heard, Pinkie Pie and Rarity are still in Ponyville. Applejack is on her farm with her family. Rainbow went to Cloudsdale like the rest of the pegasi; and from the last I've heard, Twilight is still in Canterlot. As for my forest friends, I made sure to hide them deep in the forest so that nopony could get them. Angel is watching over my home for now."
"Wait, did you say that have a friend named Twilight in Canterlot?" Binary inquired.
"Yes, I hope she's alright." Fluttershy responded.
Binary gulped, "Is she a lavender unicorn?"
"Why yes, she is! Did you see her? Is she okay?" Fluttershy asked earnestly.
Binary sighed, "Yes, she's fine. We just had a bit of an awkward situation."
"How so?" She probed.
"Well, uh, I ran into her when I confronted Celestia in Canterlot." Binary explained.
"So, she's alright?" Fluttershy requested.
"Yes, besides the fact that I pointed my laser at her." Binary confessed.
Fluttershy looked horrified, "Hey, she called me a traitor. Besides, she probably would've attacked me if I didn't defend myself. I saw her hostility in her body movement." Binary added quickly.
Fluttershy considered this before replying, "What was she doing?"
"If I'm right about unicorn magic, she had force-fields defending their position in the
Princess's study." Binary responded.
"Well she wanted to keep the Princess safe." Fluttershy responded.
"Yes, but was there really a reason for them to be defending the study. I mean, why wouldn't she just shield the entire castle?" Binary asked.
"That is a good point." Fluttershy agreed.
There was a moment of silence before Binary suddenly mouthed outloud, "Flu-tter-shy."
She looked at him, "Yes?"
"Nothing, I just like how you're name sounds." Binary said with a grin. She fixed him with a questioning look, but said nothing.
"Well," Binary said stretching, "I guess it's time for me to really turn in." He then opened the door and gazed at Fluttershy, "Well, once again, it was great meeting you."
She smiled that warm smile Binary enjoyed so much, "For me as well. Good to meet you, Mister Code."
Binary smiled in return, "It's just Binary."
"Oh, okay. Good to meet you, Binary." Fluttershy responded.
He bowed again as he opened the door for her. When she walked past she smiled in a way that made Binary feel strange, almost light-headed. He liked it; it made his troubles melt away. He hoped it could last forever.
-Pick POV-
As Phantom led Pick through the expansive base underneath Canterlot, he recalled what he had just done. A part of his mind told him to feel guilty over the fact he had just killed somepony, the other part told him that justice had been served. His strength had easily snapped the factory owner's neck; it was sickening, yes, but also satisfying. Pick's mind also wandered to how he had claimed the title of "Captain Steel" so abruptly. Lately, everything he did was rash, but he figured that it was all in good reason. However, he didn't want to seem too headstrong and simply claim his new title in a conceited way. It was like dealing with the Preps back home, just that it was him instead of them. His thinking getting in the way, Pick didn't notice that Phantom had stopped until he heard him calling his name from down the hall.
"Sorry," Pick apologized as he jogged back to the waiting Phantom, "I was just thinking."
Phantom nodded slowly, "Taking things in, I see?"
"Yeah, it's just this is a lot to take in. I mean, waking up in an interrogation room is enough of a shock but now I'm part of a resistance force against the Princess-" Phantom suddenly held up his hoof and Pick quickly stopped talking, "Private, or should I say Captain, your events of shock are still far from over. I can see that you are stressed with what is going on, but we need to keep moving. Right now, I'm about to take you inside the bridge. There, we will add you into our systems and have some 'provisions' prepared. Think of it as an orientation. Understand?"
Pick nodded in agreement and Phantom turned and opened a heavy, steel door and led Pick into a spacious room dominated by long sets of modern displays. At regular intervals, Pick could see an earth pony watching a screen, each of them would record the series of numbers and data that would appear. In the middle area, was a raised area that had a long table were a large map of Equestria was placed on top. Pick could easily see Fillydelphia in the north-east and cringed when the memories began to come back.
Losing track of where he was going again, Pick accidently stumbled into the set of stairs to the raised area. He quickly regained his footing and looked embarrassed as several ponies turned their heads. There was a quick exhale from Phantom, probably expressing his disappointment, and Pick got in-line with him as fast as possible.
Reaching the top, Pick noticed all of the earth ponies sitting at the long table instantly stand and stomp their hooves against the floor when they noticed Phantom.
"Are you the leader or something?" Pick asked as he watched the rigid figures standing around the table.
Phantom didn't seem to notice the question and simply muttered, "Remember to present yourself." as he walked around to the other side and stomped once, causing the other ponies to sit down. Although Pick couldn't see Phantom's face through the fabric, he could feel his eyes on him as Pick tentatively stepped forward.
"Private, the council of the EPU and I welcome you into this organization. Please present yourself accordingly." Phantom instructed.
Pick decided to stomp his hoof down as he straightened himself and said, "Private Steel Pick, reporting for duty!"
There was a collective nod from the collection of ponies before Phantom spoke, "Now, to properly assimilate you into this group, we need you to repeat an oath of honor." He explained.
Pick nodded, trying to stay as serious as possible, "Yes, sir."
"Repeat after me: 'I, Private Steel Pick, hereby swear to follow my duties as a member of the EPU organization. I will follow my superior's commands down to the very last detail. I will strike without mercy, with honor, and with the group's goals as my focus. Long live the earth ponies!" Phantom said. Pick proceeded to say those exact words until the last sentence, where he shouted the words as if it were a glorious anthem. After Pick had finished, there was a collective stomping from the earth ponies in the room. Pick made sure to keep still and not make a fool of himself again.
He waited until the stomping had died down and Phantom began to speak again, "Another to discuss is the potential I see in this new recruit. I chose to initiate Private Pick through the method of prisoner interrogation. The results were a rather brutal success. As I see it, I believe Pick should become the new icon for our organization."
"You want to make a pony we just initiated as our icon?" A stallion said from nearby, he was leaning against his chair, eyeing Pick in an annoyed way.
Phantom seemed to shrug in response, "Perhaps, he does show the promise, and the strength."
Another stallion from the middle of the table studied Pick from afar, "How did the interrogation go exactly?"
"From what I witnessed, Private Pick quickly and skillfully assessed the prisoner as non-important and dispatched him." Phantom clarified.
"I see." The stallion at the middle of the table said, watching Pick more closely, "Those skinny limbs could barely snap a neck!" The stallion closer to Pick cried out, gesturing to Pick's front legs. Pick was angry that this stallion would misjudge his ability, but kept quiet and watched Phantom who seemed annoyed when he spoke.
"Rockford, please refrain from your personal comments." Phantom scolded dully.
The stallion named Rockford, a pale orange earth pony with a dark yellow mane, watched Pick in what seemed like envy with sharp blue eyes. He grit his teeth and adjusted his position so that he could see Pick better.
"Now that this had been done, I would like to continue that Private Pick has requested that his name be 'Captain Steel.' Who agrees?" Phantom asked.
There was a collective mumble from the ponies before Rockford literally exploded in anger, "You can't just raise his rank! He needs to earn this title!" Phantom seemed to twitch in irritation, and Pick noticed him nod in Rockford's direction, as if gesturing for Pick to shut him up.
Rockford turned to Pick, "Anyone of us deserve this promotion not you." He hissed in anger. As he turned back to Phantom, Pick leapt at him, positioning his left hoof to clip under Rockford's muzzle. Pick pushed Rockford's head into a nearby pillar, watching as Rockford crashed at full speed. He instantly crumpled to the ground, groaning in pain.
There was a moment of shocked silence before one of the ponies asked, "Phantom? Are you going to let him do that?"
Pick turned to study Phantom's masked face, "He's only proving his point. See that he just proved his worth in a situation. Now, all in favor of promoting Private Pick to Captain Steel?"
There was a murmur among the group of ponies before the stallion from before replied, "We vote that Private Pick is promoted." Pick himself couldn't feel more excited as Phantom's hidden eyes came to look at him.
"Private Pick, I hereby promote you in rank to the title of 'Captain Steel.' Congratulations."
"The hammer prepares to drive the nail of war while the Sun contemplates to show itself once more."-Next Chapter.