When Time Stopped and Space Collapsed 11

11 – Star Fortress

Floating between the Moons’ orbit and the Earth, a vast castle oversaw the latter. It’s shape was circular, keeping itself on the center of a large pentagon wall, with a tower on each point, connected to the center by a corridor. Each tower had a roof of a different color, representing an Element. In the space between the castle and the walls, large green fields could be seen, everything under a dome covering.

“The dome is a barrier and force field to protect against airborne intruders. It also serves as an artificial dome in case the Castle has to mobilize.” NightHawk explained from the corner she was in.

“It’s so beautiful.” Rarity commented.

“Thanks.” Mike replied.

Lowering the nose of the ship, the Dagger went down. Under the castle, several pipes and thrusters could be seen. The tip of a drill was noticed in the bottom center of the underside.

“Mike, is that Fortress always flying?” Caleb asks.

“Only as a last resort.” Mike replies. “Do you know how much energy it takes to lift off? It’s usually a manmade island on the sea. But if needed, it can take root on land.”

“That explains the drill.” Danny commented. “But-”

“Looks small? The drill is energy-based.”

Several ‘oh’ of understanding were heard.

As they slowly approached an opening between the thrusters, several turrets took aim at the Dagger. Mike didn’t slow down. “Open Sesame.” He spoke to the comm. The turrets retracted their aim, and a hangar door opened between them, large enough for the dropship to enter.

“That was easy.” Gabriel spoke.

“Until we’re sure there are no more surprises inside, keep your guard up.” Mike said as he prepared to land.

***

Somewhere inside the fortress, there was a surveillance room. Several monitors filled one side of the wall, keeping a view of the entire fortress. That room was usually manned by two people to monitor everything. Currently, one butler and one maid, the only ones with the best skills for that place, observed the dropship entering the hangar. They were the ones that gave the alert the moment Blade Breaker approached the fortress but were surprised when the Dagger detached itself from the starship and the ship suddenly self-destroyed. Both looked in confusion, but kept the security on high alert, quietly observing the dropship.

While observing, the Dagger hailed the lower levels of the fortress, contacting Gatekeeper. They knew the security down there was stronger ever since the lockdown, and Gatekeeper wouldn’t let anyone in without the password.

Imagine their surprise when the lower Hangar opened to allow passage.

Surprised and confused, two pair of hands started moving through the keyboards, accessing several codes and systems. Cameras from the lower levels were activated to see who managed to get past the first line of defense.

***

The Dagger lowered the landing gear and landed softly on the landing pad. The hangar door closed behind, as several lights turned on, illuminating the empty hangar, save for the dropship. The sound of pressurization was heard, as a forcefield went up near the place the ship came in.

After a few minutes of silence, the door hatch from the ship opened, allowing everyone to disembark. Pinkie immediately jumped towards the air, before falling flat on the ground. She looked confused at the ground. “Huh?”

“Artificial Gravity Generator.” Mike explained, getting a chuckle at the party pony antics. “We can move freely in here as if we were on solid ground.”

“Aw, bummer.” Pinkie pouted, much to the chuckle of a few.

“This place is incredible!” Phineas admired the structure of the hangar. “I can’t wait to explore the entire complex.”

“You and me, both.” Caleb added, his eyes roaming all around.

“For now, let’s get to the castle.” Mike suggested, as he guided them towards the opposite door.

***

The monitor showing the hangar revealed the doors of the Dagger opening. Their heads tilted when half a dozen colorful ponies slowly got out, but they found the entire group more strange.

Two adults, six teenagers, three small fairies? ‘What kind of group is this?’ was the collective thought of both as they disembarked the dropship. But one person was what got their full attention.

“Smith must be thinking that we forgot all that he did from his last attempts.” The butler spoke up, annoyed. “And this time he thinks he can trick us with a small group of survivors.”

“Let’s not jump to conclusions, Wade.” The maid spoke.

“Why, May?”

“I doubt Smith would know the passwords from the lower floors. Not even Cary knew.” The maid kept observing the group.

“Oh yeah? And what happened the last time we gave some trust towards a Mike lookalike?” Wade asked.

“Shut up.”

***

“Mike, if it’s okay, would you mind answering a few questions?” Twilight asked as they walked together.

“I don’t mind, ask away.”

“Why are you still carrying that?”

Mike looked at where Twilight was pointing. His right arm was completely unusable, a part of his long hair currently holding it together and functional. In his hand was the handle of the broadsword <i>Elemental</i>, its’ blade broken by its last battle against Smith. “Sentimental value.” Mike replied. “And despite being broken, it still has enough power to work.”

Caleb looked at the blade for a moment. His eyes widened. “What the…?!”

Gabriel noticed his brothers’ reaction and did the same. “Bloody hell?”

All eyes turned to them both, before Mike chuckled. “Yeah, I’m not sure if you can see it or not, but to keep it simple” he raised the handle “this blade has a Spirit of its own. Five different entities combined into one.”

“Spirit?” Applejack asked.

“The readings prove it.” Caleb replied. “That handle holds something. Something powerful.”

“For now, I’ll let it rest for a while. Being broken twice takes a heavy toll on itself.” Mike commented.

“Okay… moving on.” Twilight continued. “Back at the Blade Breaker, you said you made a deal. Can you tell us what it was?”

Mike slowed down to look at Twilight. Then looked at everyone. He sighed. “In order to return and save you all, I had to return the Scythe and the Judgments.” He finally replied in resignation. “As a result, I lost the power of the Reaper, together with some benefits.”

“What benefits were those?” Timmy asked.

“Immortality. Fast regeneration. Ability to go to the other side and back freely. The power and skills of the Grim Reaper. In other words, crazy overpowered cheat skills.”

Sam whistled. “I’ll say.”

“Now I understand the meaning of Last Resort.” Twilight commented.

“Then… you managed to hold out against Smith with nothing but the power of that sword and your skills?” Danny asked in awe.

“Smith might be able to use the Elements at his will, but he hasn’t mastered them yet.” Mike replied. “During the fight, I was able to notice that.”

“How?” Tucker asked.

“Big attacks, Area of Effect, Defensive Barriers… he knew I was playing safe and sent Nature to get you.”

“What about the Planet Eaters?” Wanda asked.

“By now Smith has dealt with them, for missing his chance at finishing me off for good.”

The group kept walking, asking questions and Mike answering them without hesitation. They all stopped in front of a huge, closed gate. “Seems like someone already tried to come through here.” Danny noticed, seeing the dents on the gate.

***

May kept observing. “The ponies are carrying some kind of black box. And the entire group seems severely wounded and exhausted.”

“Might be a good thing, or they might be trying to fool us.” Wade opened a comm channel to the staff at the castle. “Be alert, we have another lookalike. This time he’s with a small group, travelling through the cargo bay.”

“Understood, currently preparing for the last line.” Came the response.

Wade ended the call and joined May to observe the group. “How does he look like?”

“Currently without any restraints.” May replied, focusing one of the cameras on Mike. “Large wound on his chest, right arm severely damaged but holding the handle of Elemental… it’s like he just got out of a deadly fight.”

“To bring that sword here, you’re pretty much on point about the deadly fight.”

They’ve watched the group approaching the first defensive Gate. And opened it without problem.

***

“Let me deal with this.” Gabriel spoke, taking a step forward. Mike stopped him.

“Don’t. Check the shadows.”

At Mikes’ hint, everyone looked around and gulped. Hidden all around the gate were several turrets and spike panels, awaiting their turn to sprang out and finish any intruder who tried to force the door open.

“You should have told us that from the beginning.” Rarity commented.

Let me see if the passwords are still the same.” Mike spoke, stepping forward. “Gatekeeper?” he called.

Slowly, a humanoid shape materialized in front of the gate, standing between it and the group. The figure wore a full hoodie, hiding his features. “Welcome. What is the password for the first gate?” he asks.

Mike lowered his head, thinking. An amused smile appeared on his lips. He looked up, took a deep breath and started singing.

“Iiiit’s supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,

Even though the sound of it is something quite atrocious

If you say it loud enough you’ll always sound precocious

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocius!”

“…Access granted.” Gatekeeper nodded, disappearing. Loud sounds of unlocking were heard from the gate, before it split in the middle to allow passage for everyone.

Mike turned his head towards the group. Everyone was staring at him, jaws dropped, dumbfounded. Only Pinkie and Cosmo were still bobbing their heads to the tune. “The bloody hell was that?” Gabriel managed to ask.

Mike shrugged. “I was young and had a thing for the classics and catchy songs. If the passwords still maintain, then we’re in luck for now.”

“I could have opened that bloody door without hearing that!” the blonde android complained.

“You could. And then you would trigger the defense system and put us all in danger.” Mike replied.

“Point taken.” Caleb agreed, glancing at his brother. Gabriel grumbled, annoyed.

***

“Did they manage to hack Gatekeeper?” Wade asked.

“He’s impartial, hard to hack. And Woody and Fooly are backing up the protection of the fortress. If he was hacked, we would know.” May replied.

***

The group kept walking through the large corridor past the gate, some glancing around for any hidden traps. “Mike, how many gates do we have to pass?” Phineas asked.

“Only three. But if they all require the access password, then there is no problem.”

“And what about that song?” Timmy asked in turn.

“Some passwords are simple and complex at the same time. Others are just a jumble of letters and numbers. Would any of you suspect of a password hidden on a phrase or song?”

“Come to think of it, unless the enemy knows you well enough, getting through those gates will be quite the task.” Caleb agrees.

“But are all the gates like that?” Ferb asks.

“That’s the trick.” As the group talked casually, they arrived at the second gate. “If you go through a complex password on the first gate, you will keep that thought on the second.” Mike approached the gate, near a small square placed in the center, and turned towards the group. “By the way, old school joke: How much for shave and a haircut?” he asks, giving a rhythm knocking at the square.

“Two cents/bits.” Everyone replied. Mike knocked two times.

“Access granted.” Gatekeepers’ voice was heard, before the unlocking sounds and the second gate opening.

“First gate, long password in the form of a song; second gate, password in the form of a knock.” Caleb commented, as they resumed their walk. “You went through a lot of work to do this.”

***

May kept observing the group going through without difficulty while Wade sent messages, updating the rest of the staff. “By the way, it’s been a long time, but are you a first or second gen?” May asked casually.

“First or second gen what?” Wade looked at her in confusion.

“Getting here.” May taps the table.

“Oh, I was the second. Why do you ask?”

“What were you in for?”

“Hacking the White House to find Area 51.” Wade shrugged. “What about you?”

“Hacking several bank servers, taking 1% of each account they had.” May replied. Wade whistled. “Yeah, I was racking up a pretty penny without problem. Until I got caught.”

“Government?”

“Fooly.”

“How?”

“I always loved a challenge, so I tried to hack into the accounts of Master.” May recounted. “I was going well, until I noticed a small bird peeking at the corner of my screen. Next thing I know, he opens a talking bubble and writes ‘gotcha!’, and all my computers go up in flames. When I finally managed to put out the fire, someone knocks at my door, and Master is there looking at me, offering me a job here.”

“Either work here or go to jail, right?” Wade asked.

“Couldn’t refuse the offer. But I must admit it is way better than fighting in jail for hierarchy. As long we do our job and follow the rules, after doing our time we can choose to keep working here or leave with a new identity, as long as we don’t go back into our old ways.”

“Guess that option went out the window since Master disappeared.”

“I’m not complaining. And honestly, I prefer staying here. Free room, free rent, stable job with good perks and we can do what we like, as long as we’re not causing trouble.”

Wade raised an eyebrow. “Why are you telling me this?”

“A feeling.” May replied, as the group went past the second door.

***

“Yeah, a little paranoid because of what this place represents.” Mike explained. “This castle isn’t only a second home to me. It’s a safe haven, a secondary base of operations, a fortress against intruders and… well… a reformatory.” they reached the third gate. “I’ve got the whole world in my hands~.” He sang.

The third gate opened, revealing a circular platform in the middle. Gatekeeper stood in the middle of the platform as everyone approached. Mike looked up. “Yeah, full lockdown.” He muttered.

Everyone looked up, only to see a network of lasers all the way to the top. “So~, what’s the password for this one?” Danny asks.

Mike signaled for Gatekeeper to take them up, as he started singing.

“It’s a World of laughter, a world of tears

It’s a world of hopes and a world of fears

There’s so much that we share

That it’s time we’re aware

It’s a small world after a~ll.”

As the platform was going up, each wall of lasers was shutting down at Mikes’ song. The group of ponies and fairies were swaying by the song, while Gabriel tapped his finger at the rhythm, despite his unamused stare at the ceiling.

“I~t’s a small world after all

I~t’s a small world after all

I~t’s a small world after all

It’s a small, small wor~ld.”

The ceiling started sliding to the side, creating a perfect fit for the rising platform. Everyone shifted their gazes to avoid the brightness of the top. Once the platform stopped and their eyes adjusted, several gasps were heard.

***

“When I started working here, we were an even number. Thirty butlers, thirty maids.”

“When I started, it was to fill the lack of staff. Twenty butlers and ten maids.” Wade thought for a moment. “Did the majority left for good behavior?”

May looked at him, her expression suddenly haunted. “No. They thought it would be a good idea to go against Master and run away after starting a mutiny.”

“Then what happened?”

“Wade, this place is a reformatory of sorts. Master could deal with anyone. And he gave them a second chance.” She looked at the screen as the group finally passed the last gate. “If this is our real Master and not another clone lookalike, I surely hope the first generation can dissuade the second.”

***

They were now standing in the front courtyard of the palace, near the main entrance. Some were staring dumbfounded at the castle, while others were looking at their surroundings.

“Lots of vegetable fields around.” Caleb commented.

Mike agreed, looking around. “The garden can become a small field for agriculture. The fortress, should the need arise, can turn into an ark.”

Danny raised an eyebrow. “An ark?”

Sam approached the field, looking at the vegetables planted together with Applejack. “They were watered recently.” Applejack noted, glancing around. “But there aren’t any sprinklers around.”

“Mike, for there to be vegetable fields around here, it means that the fortress is manned, right?” Sam asked.

“Yeah.” Mike replied.

“Then where is everyone?” Twilight asks.

The front doors of the palace and towers swung open, and everyone was suddenly surrounded by a group of butlers and maids, every one of them holding blades and weapons, all aimed at the center platform where Mike and the group were.

“You had to ask.” Gabriel deadpanned, taking a defensive stance.

Mike looked around. “Refrain from sudden movements, do not attack, stay on defense.” Mike spoke in a low voice, keeping his eyes on the staff.

“Aren’t they supposed to recognize you?” Caleb observed. “Aren’t you the owner of this place?”

“Depends.” Mike replied.

“On what?” Tucker asked.

“On how many times Smith tried to infiltrate the Fortress.” Mike replied. “How many?” he calls out to the staff.

All eyes flew to Mike, together with every muzzle of the weapons. None of the staff replied. “How many?” Mike repeated.

Silence reigned in the courtyard. “Many what?” one voice called back.

“Clones. And staff lost.”

Some twitches were noticed between the staff. “Odds aren’t good.” Gabriel whispered, crouching a little. Mike gave him a sign to stand down. Caleb touched his brother good arm, shaking his head slightly.

Silence dragged for a few moments more, until another voice was heard. “Five in a year. Lost a third of the staff. The whole castle has been in full lockdown ever since.”

“Sebastian and Maria?”

“Perished against the fourth clone.”

Mike refrained his swearing. “Who are the ones in charge now?”

No answer.

“Is Val around?”

No answer.

“How many managed to pass through the full lockdown after the fifth clone?” the whole place is silent, but the tension is still high. Mike sighed. “Por acaso toda esta tensão tem a ver por não falar a minha língua?”

Shock and surprise ran through everyone as Mike started speaking differently. “Como…?” one of the maids started.

“I speak in English because it is easier for everyone in my group. And it’s been so natural to me that I didn’t notice. And c’mon. I doubt Smith would be able to get close enough to the fortress on full lockdown without being shot down. And I’ve built this freaking place to stop even ME!”

At those words, some of the staff slightly lower their guns, giving Mike a good look. The rest still kept their sight locked. “Even so” one butler started “five times are enough. Aim!”

“Mike!” Caleb yelled.

“Turtle up, I’ll be fine!” Mike yelled back, switching the handle of Elemental to his good arm.

“Fire at will!”