"I found her crying at the edge of the forest one day, so I brought her into my shop and just talked with her. Turns out all she needed was someone to be on her side for once. KC understood her, but it helped to hear it from someone else. So after another incident when she bashed the hell out of Red Devil, and got banged up in return, it was Osprey I took in first and repaired. I used to force everypony to be quiet and stand still, but after that incident with Osprey, I broke it, she was sobbing, and I couldn't handle her crying, so I stopped it. Took away her pain from injuries, and lifted the emotional weight from her shoulders." You say as Mriya had wiped her watery eyes and was intrigued by the story.
"Are you saying you want to help me?" Mriya asked.
"Yes Mriya, I want to help you, but I can't help if you don't let me in." You say hoping you've broken enough ice for her to let you in.
"Buran and I, we're very poor." Mriya said
"So was I when I got here. In case you didn't know, I worked my way to where I am now. Look at me, I'm sitting atop all of Avalon's Shadow. I had nothing but the clothes on my back and a need to find a new place." You say allowing Mriya see that you know what it's like.
"You were poor?" Mriya asked in disbelief.
"Yea, for about three years I barely scraped by, the shop was all I had at one point. I sacrificed so much to keep it open and supplied. There were months that I didn't have anything more than a 50lb bag of rice and if I was lucky a few fresh eggs. Those to me were the beg borrow steal days. Though it was more of beg and borrow." You say as you slide down against her hoof and sit on the floor.
"But it does not make any sense. How could you have been poor?" Mriya asked still in disbelief.
"Accidents happen. Humans aren't native as far as I can tell. I arrived through a storm, don't know how the hell that works, but I did, and I had nothing, no money, no possessions, nothing. You make the best of what you got." you say
"I have made best of what I had for Buran." Mriya said.
"And you've done all you can. Things change Mriya, all you've got to do is open that door when opportunity knocks." You say as she tears up again.
"How can I afford to do so when all money went into moving us here?" Mriya said as she started to cry.
"Opportunity takes many forms Mriya, and there's great one before you. Galactus, our C-5 here, well he's having a bit of issues transporting some of the heavier components of Buran's launch system. Perhaps you could give him a hand. From what I've heard from Twilight, there's been a lot of scientists that are looking for a very stable heavy launch platform. Maybe it's time for Buran to take care of you." You say as Mriya starts to cry a little more.
"How could Buran make enough to give both?" Mriya asked.
"Mriya, Twilight told me how much he's being paid, if he carries that satellite up and something breaks, he gets paid enough to cover the new processors. If it's undamaged, enough to cover the processors, and six turbine overhauls at a discounted price for residents with multiple engines. That's just the satellite alone. Adding in the other two experiments he'll make a couple thousand bits in one trip. Provided those scientists aren't dicks and pay for the research regardless." You say as Mriya starts to calculate launch costs and other things.
"Not covering launch da?" Mriya asked.
"Twilight's covering the launch, so all supplies going up with him, she's paid for. From what she's told me, the satellite has the potential to pay off huge for both her and Buran if everything goes according to plan. Though it's cost Twilight more than a few bits, and she's borrowed a lot and gotten a few science grants here and there to cover the launching of it." You say as Mriya smiles.
"So Sadie was right, when said moving here was opportunity to make Buran happy." she said as she now smiled.
"Yes. Avalon's Shadow is full of opportunity." You say making her happy
"Sometimes Mriya, you just have to go and seek it out. Throw old rivalries aside, take what you've got and make it better." You say
"Been trying to get along better with Sadie. Figure if she and I get along better opportunity come." Mriya said. as you nod.
"Yes, they did. Though you were still a little reluctant on taking them. I'm surprised you haven't jumped on every opportunity from Sadie." You say as you push yourself up from the ground.
"Well, looks like my work here is done." You say as you go to leave.
"Anon, you wouldn't have had anything to do with Buran's launch would you?" Mriya asked.
You shake your head as you leave.
"Had nothing to do with that. Might want to thank Sadie and Twilight for that opportunity." you say as you get to the door.
 
0800 hrs. "Mission Control"
"There's an awful lot of fancy computers and such in here Twi." Applejack said as you walked into the control room for the satellite.
"Applejack, most of it's just for data retrieval from my latest satellite. Oh Anon you're here." Twilight said as she noticed you looking at one of the schedules.
"Challenger's going up on the same day? You don't think something's going to happen do you?" You ask as you now sit at one of the computers.
"No, Challenger is carrying another satellite designed by a colleague for communications. Trying to see if the earth and pegasi ponies can use them with ground based radio transmissions." Twilight said as you nod.
"So like my phone?" You say as she's slightly confused.
"That brick I carry in my pocket that runs on electricity? You know the thing that receives radio signals and transmits my voice?" You say as she points to the one on the wall.
"Yea, one of those, but mine is wireless." You say as you place it on the table.
"Oh that thingy. Yea, that's magic." Twilight said causing you to laugh. It was in your pocket when you got here, and you were surprised it still works.
You want to fight her on it, but you'd probably lose that argument.
"So why are you concerned about their launch?" Twilight asked.
"They're citizens of my town aren't they? Shouldn't I care for them?" You say bringing that point around.
"Oh right I forgot about that Rex, so they did pick the right pony for the job." Twilight said almost insulting you
"Person." You say under your breath.
"Ah reckon he's done alright by them." Applejack said as you feign a smile.
"If you're going by them Applejack, might want to be careful. I can be pretty defensive of them. The latest incident with that AV-8 was a good example." you say
"Ah was referencin that. Mighty fine work." Applejack said
"If you say so, but keepin this place safe, that's just a job." You say being rather modest about it, well not that it's not in your nature to find ways to destroy things or play with fire and all.
"Well, I'm sure you'll make a fine commander Rex." Rarity said as you rolled your eyes.
"So they launch tomorrow? Guess you're all staying for that?" You say as you purposely cover an eye to see what Morgan's up to, and you realize you have to stop that.
Hate to keep invading her privacy, but then again, it does have it's uses. You both can see if the other is in trouble, or needs help. Provided Morgan figures that out. But right now, you've got that headache again.
"Wow this is painful. Am I happy I'm not biological like you." Morgan said but it was you who said it aloud. You frown and try to figure out how the hell she managed to do this to you.
"Morgan, you're uninvited. I'd like to know how you figured this out." You think hoping she'd respond as you force yourself to look into a reflective screen.
"Oh, so I am inside of your body. This is kinda odd. I don't seem to have the same level of control as you do." Morgan said again through you as she was now staring at the two of you, which thanks to that damned link, you could see her reflection too.
"Who are you talking to Anon?" one of the ponies ask
"Anon? Oh right, I sound like Dad. Isn't that right Dad?" Morgan said confusing them all
"Yea, you do Morgan. There's this link between her and I that allows us to communicate with each other without any need for magic or such. Though right now, it would seem that Morgan's trying to take over me, but as far as I know, the system doesn't work that way. Though this may be an unforeseen effect of me flying Morgan." You say trying to explain it, with only Twilight understanding.
"Wait so you're saying you and Morgan have some sort of emotional/mental bond that allows you two to communicate and see through each other?" Twilight asked.
"In a sense yes, but when he fully connects to me, he has absolute control over me. Though he tends to let me do things on my own. He's more of support, or backup for when things get really hairy." Morgan said making you smile like she does.
"Morgan, so you're really in there?" Twilight asked as she approached you, and you stand to defend yourself.
"Stay away." You and Morgan say and wait for Twilight to approach even closer.
"I must examine this." Twilight said as she walked face first into an extending ECM shield emanating from you to keep her away.
"I think not." You say as you try to figure out where the weak spot in your shielding was.
"But this link, I must learn how it's formed." Twilight said as the rest of her friends started to back away
"No, no you're not." Morgan said extending not quite a bit.
"I must know. There hasn't been anything like this before. There must be a reason why." Twilight said as she tried to approach you again, still being kept away by the ECM.
"Morgan, can you sense a weak spot in the shielding?" you think hoping she can sense it better than you can.
"Doesn't seem like it. You're small enough for the part allowed to you covers all of you." Morgan said as you almost took that as an insult.
"Great." You think and smile.
"Twilight I'd prefer not to find out how much control over this I have. Considering it might be harmful to the computers." You say as she's still trying to get close enough.
"Fine, I'll just monitor you remotely then." Twilight said.
"Remember, this shielding isn't just a physical barrier, it's also Electromagnetic, it'll cook anything electronic you put near me." You say as Morgan leaves you and still you have a good grasp on the shielding.
"You're starting to become insufferable." Twilight said as a purple bolt reflected off the shielding.
"Oh, so it does stop magic, that's pretty neat. Not to say you're nosy or anything Twilight, but we like our privacy here. The only one who sees it all is me, and I'm not about to ruin everyone's lives." You say rather impressed with the fact that the bolt of magic reflected.
"Uh Twi, ah hate to say it, but ah think he's right. Ya have been a bit nosy into these planes' lives." Applejack said trying to get Twilight off your case.
"Twilight, Applejack's right dear, you've got to leave these ponies alone." Rarity said still trying to convince Twilight to leave you and the ponies alone.
"Rarity, Applejack, there must be a reason behind why there's a bond and how these bio-mechanical ponies work. I'm staying until my satellite is placed into a stable orbit." Twilight said staying very stubbornly to her plans.
"She won't be too much of a problem. You're all welcome to stay with her if you wish. The launch is tomorrow anyways." you say as the shield drops
1200 hrs. Edge of Space upper section. KC's home.
KC was cleaning up parts of his home so that he could have a guest over. It wasn't anyone special, but to him, he'd rather make a good impression of having a neat and tidy home.
Today he was going to close the bar down earlier than normal so he could have time alone with his guest.
"Ah hope ah cleared up enough space for her." KC grumbled to himself as there was a knock on his door.
"Who's there?" KC called out as his door opened
"Just your buddy Phantom. Shit, what's with the cleaning KC?" Phantom asked as he walked into KC's home.
"Phantom, it ain't none of your business. Leave before ya muck somethin up." KC said as he pointed to the door.
"Oh come on, what's going on? You usually don't clean up like this." Phantom said as he wasn't deterred.
"Phantom ah said none of your damned business. Now Git before ah ban ya for the day." KC said as he was about ready to push Phantom out of his home.
"Shit, you don't ever do this KC unless there's a mare involved. I'm gonna guess that there IS a mare involved in this." Phantom said managing to figure out why KC wanted him out so quickly.
"Damn it Phantom, ah hate it when ya guess why." KC said frustrated with Phantom for figuring out the reason.
"Should have just said so KC. So who's the lucky lady?" Phantom asked
"Since ah know you ain't leavin until you know, Sadie." KC said as he reluctantly let Phantom stay as he got back to cleaning.
"I thought C-5 had the hots for her?" Phantom said bringing up what he knows.
"He does, why do ya think ah didn't want you knowing Phantom?" KC said as he cleaned
"Cause I've got a big mouth."
"You've got the biggest mouth left. Order of loudmouths was Sid, then T-50 and you. Ya best not say none of this to anypony." KC said showing his frustration with Phantom.
"Alright fine." Phantom said as he left.
 
1200 hrs. Shuttle commons.
"Mriya, how do ah look? There ain't a scratch on me is there?" Sadie asked the only other transport