When Time Stopped and Space Collapsed 10

10 – Returning Home

Everyone stood gathered as they felt the ship moving away from the battlefield. Mike kept his guard up during the slight shaking, awaiting for any sudden surprises. The moment the shaking stopped, he leaned towards the cargo bay door and slid down, sighing in relief. As soon as he sighed, everyone fell down, the tension leaving their bodies.

“Finally safe.” Tucker spoke up as each group clustered near each other to relax.

“The Planet Eaters will be keeping Smith busy for a while, so during that moment we’ll take the chance to get out of range from his- from the Elements’ power.” Mike corrected himself, barely hiding his frustration.

“Smith broke them, Mike. Badly.” NightHawk commented. “Nature was willing to finish us off if the Planet Eater hadn’t appeared.”

“And that bloody cat managed to tear my duster!” Gabriel added, glaring at the claw mark.

“Then I can safely say we all lucked out.” Mike said, glancing at his mangled arm, currently being restored by the nanobots.

“Lucked out?” Danny asked, incredulous.

“It was a one-sided beatdown!” Timmy added. “We could barely make a dent on his armor, and he admitted he wasn’t even going all out!”

“Indeed.” Mike looked at Caleb.

Caleb frowned for a moment. “What Mike meant is that we all lucked out on surviving that encounter.” He started.

“He’s right.” Twilight added. “With everything we threw at him and then his last attack, if Mike hadn’t come back to block him and take over, none of us would be alive right now.”

“And the fact that Nature didn’t finish you off at the moment might have been because he was trying to drag you into his territory. He saw the fire spells and was playing safe.” Mike finished.

Everyone looked at Mike as he got up, his right arm dangling uselessly and still holding the broken swords’ handle.

“Mike… what are you?” Caleb finally dared to ask. “And why didn’t you use your swords or the Scythe?”

Mike sighed in resignation, as he felt too many questions bubbling between everyone. “For the answer to the first question, I’m still human. But an accident when I was still starting to master the Elements forced me to replace my human skeleton for a cybernetic one. An advanced fusion of biotechnology and a painful transplant were the results of what I have. The nanobots are part of the system, giving me some benefits, although it’s been some time since I’ve used them. As for the second…” he looked at everyone. “I lucked out.”

“Lucked out?” Phineas asked, confused. He then took a better look at Mike.

Those who knew Mike, rarely ever saw him so heavily wounded. But this time, Mike stood in front of them, fully muscled from having his restraints off, a recent closed hole on his chest and one arm almost falling off.

Shock and realization hit him, as Ferb widened his eyes. “Your blades and Scythe…” he muttered.

Calebs’ expression darkened. “You lost them?”

“Didn’t lose them. Part of the deal.” Mike replied.

“What? What are you talking about? What deal?” Sam asked, confused.

“Mike usually has a pair of swords and a Scythe that he only uses as a last resort.” Danny explained, remembering the stories he exchanged with the group. “The swords of Judgment and the Grim Reapers’ Scythe. The most powerful weapons he has.”

“If ya had those weapons, why didn’t ya used them on that Smith fella?” Applejack asked.

“Emphasis on ‘had’, Applejack.” Mike answered. “Smith is too powerful now. Even if I could use them, victory wouldn’t be certain.”

“Even so-” Timmy was about to start, but Mike cut him off.

“Listen, all of you. Long story short, in order to save you all from kicking the bucket, I had to struck a deal. I’m here, barely holding on to my life as my heart is still bisected and currently being held together and beating by weakened nanobots. Do the math!”

Mikes’ voice was harsh, but it was enough to convey what it meant for some. Everyone stopped talking, surprised by his outburst.

“Mike, if I could?” Caleb asked, reaching a hand. Mike nodded as he let his hand rest on the shoulder. After a full minute, he spoke. “Your state is worse than I thought, but I might be able to help you recover. But your heart need immediate treatment.”

“Tell me something I don’t… know.” Mike trailed off, finally looking around. “Something’s off.”

That statement made everyone tense. “What?” Danny looked around, confused.

Mike started walking, looking at the ground. “Cary, you there?” he called.

“Yes Mike, do you need something?” Carys’ voice was heard from the cargo speakers.

“Where is the Star Fortress?” Mike asks.

“Due to Smiths’ attacks across the World, the Fortress was relocated. It is currently in orbit.” Cary replied.

Mike walked towards the remains of NightHawk. “I see. And why didn’t you come and greet us yet?” he asks, reaching to a hidden lever next to the dashboard.

“Currently trying to check if we’re not being followed.” was the answer.

“Smith should be busy with everyone in dealing with the Planet Eaters, can you confirm?” Mike asks, pulling the lever. A clunking sound and hissing were heard, as the central panel disconnects from the dashboard. He then pulls NightHawk main central unit and black box out of the car without effort, gently putting it down. He glances towards the speakers. “Can you confirm, Cary?” he repeats again.

Silence.

Everyone looked between Mike and the speakers. “Something wrong?” Twilight asks.

“The fortress is in orbit, Smith is busy, we should be safe and sound.” Mike spoke, glancing at everyone. “We’re stable, there’s no answer.” He added.

Gabriel frowned. “A trap?”

“Only one way to find out. Can someone carry NightHawk?”

---

The group moved steadily through the corridors of the ship, keeping the silence between them. Each time they pass near an entrance, Mike took the chance to open the door and take a peek inside, closing it right after with a heavy frown on his face.

“This is too quiet.” Rarity whispered. “Seems more and more like a trap.”

“The Blade Breaker is a fully A.I. piloted starship.” NightHawk explained while being carried by Applejack and Pinkie. “Cary is the ships’ A.I. and also has a Heart Core like mine, created by Mike.”

“If it was created by Mike, then she should be on our side, right?” Phineas asked.

“The A.I. can be reprogrammed. The Heart Core can be corrupted.” Mike replied. “We need to reach the bridge to confirm my suspicions, but so far everything I saw just confirms it.”

“What do you mean?” Rarity asks.

“Rarity, look around us. Besides the decoration, what do you think the ship is in need?”

Everyone paused to look around the corridor they were walking. “Honestly, I think it would need a good cleaning, top to bottom.” Rarity replies, noticing some cobwebs at a corner.

“Exactly.” Mike agrees. “Cary usually keeps herself clean and maintained in case of a sortie, either by herself or using drones. However, the whole ship is showing signs of neglect.

Not only that, there is no defense system, no drone for security or maintenance whatsoever. And Cary has been silent this whole time.” They approached the door by the end of the corridor. “Time for some answers.” He spoke, pressing the panel for the door to open.

As the door slid open to reveal the bridge, everyone froze. The bridge of the ship was large, but it only had seats for four people. But what made them freeze in place was what stood in the middle of the room.

A young woman with bright green hair tied in a braid stood there, staring at them with a neutral expression. She was wearing a one-piece dress with red and black tones, the skirt reaching her knees and frilled. She locked eyes with Mike for an instant, her expression changing to one full of sadness. “Please hurry…” she pleaded in a whisper.

“What the… I didn’t feel any presence here.” Gabriel commented.

“Of course you wouldn’t.” NightHawk spoke. “She’s a hologram.”

Mike however, was moving at her words. He sat down at the pilot seat and opened the controls. Several holographic windows popped up, as he looked around. His hair twitched. “That bastard… he got her.” He muttered, typing furiously.

That sentence made everyone tense. “What can we do?” Caleb asks as he looks at the coding Mike was writing.

“Nothing.” Mike replied, barely containing his anger. “Cary, how much free will do you still have?”

“The Protocol overrode his programming, but I don’t know how long it will last.” Cary replied, keeping her eyes shut. Her body unfocused for a moment. “I’m trying to fight back, but it’s a losing battle.”

“Is the Dagger still operational?”

“Yes, but only as a dropship.”

“We should be going up.”

“My programming forbids me to leave the atmosphere.”

“Keeping yourself on his reach.” Mike finished typing. “We’re going manual.” He closed the windows and reached for a lever on the side of the seat. “Is the route still established?”

“Yes.” Cary opened the front view cameras, allowing everyone to see the front of the ship. All they could see were white clouds moving back.

“Good enough.” He pulls the lever, revealing a message on the screen.

Manual Override Activated

“Hold on to something!” Mike yelled as he grabbed the controls and put the thrusters to maximum.

The ship suddenly jolted as the screen revealed they were moving faster, as Mike pitched up in the direction of the marker on screen.

Timmy realized what was going to happen. “Cosmo, Wanda, Poof! I wish for everyone to be able to stick on walls!” he yelled.

A cloud with the word ‘sticky’ appeared for a brief moment, just before the ship starting to go diagonal. Everyone braced for the sudden pitch, but they all held on the floor. “Good thinking!” Twilight commented.

“Yeah, but there’s another problem!” Danny spoke. Everyone get inside the bridge now!”

“Why?” Timmy asked.

“If Mike needs to leave the planet, that jolt is nothing compared to the kick that comes from the afterburners!” Danny explained.

Nothing more was said. One by one, everyone entered the bridge, staying glued to the wall near the door. Caleb took the chance to get into the second seat, and Danny the third one. “Whenever you’re ready!” Caleb yelled as he saw everyone was inside.

“Cary!” Mike called. “Protocol Boost!”

Cary was suddenly serious. “Protocol accepted. Password required.”

“Let it rip!”

“Password accepted. Initiating.”

A schematic of the ship appeared besides the main screen revealing coding.

Protocol Boost initiated._

Rerouting all energy to engine._

Energy requirements not met._

Shutting down secondary systems and subsystems._

Life support online._

Energy requirements met._

Boost ready._

As the protocol finished loading, Mike slowly aligned the ship in order to be fully vertical. He kept the waypoint of his destination in view. “Time to go home.” He muttered, pushing the thruster lever to the limit.

The initial jolt they felt barely made them lose balance. This one they felt in their stomachs, as the starship went full throttle towards the sky and beyond. Everyone was pressed to the wall of the bridge, but most of them kept their eyes open towards the screen, as it showed the bright blue being slowly replaced by endless darkness. What felt like hours of pressure suddenly disappeared, as they felt the ship decreasing in speed. For a moment no-one said anything, as they all stared towards what the ship was heading.

A large castle, surrounded by five towers all connected with a wall, floated in the space between the Earth and the moon.

“Quite the nice view, isn’t it?” Carys’ voice was heard, but in a different tone.

All eyes flew towards the A.I. Her dress had suddenly changed, as her demeanor altogether. From the frill one-piece, now she wore a tight jumpsuit. “Don’t bother approaching, the defense system recognizes the Blade Breaker as an enemy after Smith got his hands on me.”

Knockknockknockknock

All eyes went to Mike as he knocked on the plate beside the chair. “Yeah, I had a feeling something like that would happen.” He spoke as he left the seat and faced Cary.

“And? What do you plan to do now? Sooner or later I’m getting the control back and return to Earth.” She asks, crossing her arms.

*Knockknockknockknock*

“We’re taking the Dagger towards the fortress, Cary. And I’m making sure Smith won’t use you ever again.” Mike replied.

Cary raised an eyebrow and smirked, crossing her arms. “Oh? And do you think I’ll let you leave like that?”

*Knockknockknockknock* *knockknockknockknock*

Everyone looked at Mike strangely, as he gave a rhythm to the knocking he was doing. Mike however, was focused on the A.I.

“No, you won’t. That’s why you’ll be rebooting as we’re escaping.”

Cary laughed. “And how will you do that? In case you’ve forgotten, Smith reprogrammed me, you cannot force a reboot that easily now.”

“Yes, I checked.” Mike replied. “But there was one Smith missed.”

“And what was it?”

“This one.” *knockknockknockknock*

*Snap snap*

Cary looked at her hands, confused as why she snapped her fingers twice. Her eyes widened as she looked back at Mike. “You-” was all she could say before disappearing and the ships’ lights went out, turning on the emergency ones.

“Addams Family, really?” NightHawk asked ironically.

“We’ve got 5 minutes, let’s not waste them now.” Mike replied, as his hair suddenly extended and got a hold of NightHawk. “Let’s get to the Dagger before the reboot is complete.”

Completely ignoring the Zero-G environment, everyone moved fast through the corridors after Mike, as he moved swiftly with the help of some hair strands. They’ve quickly reached the boarding bay of the dropship, only slowing down for Mike to open the hatch. However, the access code wasn’t working. “Dang it. Gabriel, hack it!” he spoke, stepping aside for the blonde angel to approach. Gabriel put his good hand near the access pad, chanting.

“Codes and keys under technology, poses no threat to an angelic key. Keeper of Gates, unlocker of fates, commands they open on the words of my melody.”

A beep was heard, and the hatch opened. “Everyone in!” Mike urged, casually flicking NightHawk inside. He stood outside as everyone boarded until the last one, and the moment he was about to board, the hatch closed as the lights turned on.

“Mike!” Phineas called from inside.

“Danny, await for my signal!” Mike yelled from outside as he turned around.

Cary stood there, glaring at him. “A reboot sequence using the Addams Family tune, seriously?!” she snarled.

“Hey, you can’t beat the classics.” Mike joked in a shrug.

“Too bad that they won’t be able to leave.” A jolt was felt. Mike could guess that the ship was turning around to return. “And neither will you.”

Mike closed his eyes, sighing in resignation. “Cary, I told you. Smith won’t use you anymore. Ever again.”

“I doubt that. The only way for you to do that is destroying me.” Mike opened his eyes. “You wouldn’t…” Cary started the moment she realized what she said.

“Protocol Shatter.” Mike spoke, sadness in his voice.

Cary was about to say something, but her voice was cut at the mention of the protocol. “Protocol Accessed. Password required.” She spoke neutrally, eyes wide.

“Broken Blade. Goodbye, Cary.”

“Password accepted. Beginning Protocol for Self-destruction.”

A tear streaked from Cary, as her appearance became the one with the frilly dress. “I’m sorry…” she started.

Mike rushed and gave her a tight hug. “Don’t be.” He whispered. “It wasn’t your fault. You may rest now.”

“Thank you.” Cary whispered as she faded. Mike stood in the same place in silence, teeth clenched.

“Damn you, Smith.” He muttered, as the emergency lights turned on again. “You won’t get away with this anymore.”

The speaker came to life. “Warning. Self-destruct initiated in T-minus 2 minutes. Evacuation advisable.”

Mike rushed towards the hatch, as Danny became tangible. “That was your signal?” he asked, extending a hand.

Mike grabbed it. “This way we’ll be safe from pursuit!” he replied as they both became intangible and back inside the dropship. The moment both became tangible, Mike rushed towards the cockpit and took the pilots’ seat, starting the dropship.

“Is everything okay? Won’t Cary come after us?” Twilight asks, as Mike starts the decoupling procedures.

“Not going to be a problem soon enough.” Mike replied, as the smaller dropship detached from the Blade Breaker. First thing everyone saw as the screen became visible was Earth, earning a few gasps of surprise and admiration. After a few seconds, the ship turned towards the right, switching the view to the fortress, before departing as fast as it could move.

“Woah, what’s with the rush?” Tucker asked.

A bright light, together with a shockwave that rattled the ship, threw everyone around. “What in tarnation was that?” Rainbow asked as she came out from under Fluttershy and Applejack.

“The reason why it won’t be a problem.” Mike replied.

Everyone looked at him. “You blew the ship.” Caleb spoke. It was an affirmation. Mike kept silent.

“There wasn’t another choice.” Mike spoke. “Carys’ Core was too corrupted, and the A.I. was beyond saving.” His hands gripped the controls tightly. “It was either her, or us.”

Fluttershy put a hoof on his shoulder, trying to comfort him. Mike returned the gesture with a small smile.

“So… how will we approach the Fortress, by the way?” Tucker asked. “Because Cary told us the defense system recognized her as hostile, and this dropship used to belong to her.”

“We’ll use the backdoor.” Mike replied, as they approached the contact range.

“Backdoor?” Caleb and Gabriel asked at the same time.

In that moment, the dropship gave warning signs, as the radar showed they were locked on.

“Um, Mike?” Tucker calls nervously, as the towers and walls of the fortress suddenly sprouted several lasers weapons.

Mike pulls the ship to a full stop and activates the comm system, opening a channel towards the fortress. “Gatekeeper, you there? Come in, please.”

Silence came from the other side for a moment. Everyone was nervous due to the amount of weapons pointed at them. Then a whisper was heard. “Access phrase.”

Mike smiled, as he took a deep breath and started singing. “Fly me to the moon, Let me play among the stars. Let me see what spring is like on A-Jupiter and Mars.”

“…Proceed.” The voice whispered.

All eyes turned towards Mike, staring at him in surprise and shock. Mike just looked back at them and shrugged. “Wait until we’re inside.” He muttered, following the directions received to land the dropship.