As the trio landed on the planet Daxx, Big Al contacted them over the communicator. "From what I've been able to pick up, there are two high security computer terminals in that facility," he explained. "One in the facility itself, and one out among the islands."
"I guess we're splitting up again," Ratchet mused. "Don't want to risk missing anything by getting there too late and some self destruct protocol on the data kicking in."
"An excellent idea," Clank agreed. "Who will take which path?"
"I'll take the islands," Twilight affirmed. "That's going to involve a lot of aerial maneuvering with the Hypershot. With the two of you, one wrong step or angle and you fall to watery deaths." She flared her wings. "I have a backup in case that happens."
"So we get the heavily defended interior," Ratchet joked. "Great."
"We shall endeavor to make it through as best we can," Clank agreed.
"Good luck!" Twilight called as she turned. "Be careful!"
"You too!" Ratchet replied as they took their separate path.
Twilight made her way into the islands, leaping from platform to platform, using her Hypershot both to swing and energize platforms. She glanced around as she went. "Huh," she muttered as she approached a large gap. I'd think the path would be guarded by more than just natural hazards."
As she cleared the gap, a gunship came out of nowhere and opened fire, targeting the platforms she was walking on.
"Eeeyaugh!" she yelped, rushing down the path. "I guess it is better defended than I thought!" Once she made it off the breakable metal platforms, the gunship pulled away. "...I'm going to be facing off against that thing a lot on my way through, aren't I?" she grumbled.
Spreading her wings, she flapped her way up a wall jump slot, reaching a higher level. Once there, she glanced across a gap spanned by swing targets and Hypershot platforms. "More metal fan platforms," she muttered as she saw what was on the other side. "I'm going to have to move fast." Sighing, she made her way across.
As soon as she was on the metal fan platforms, she started running, as the gunship warped in again to attack. "Teleporting?" she complained, swinging to the next group of platforms. "Where did they get that tech?"
Swinging across a few more metal platforms, she reached another solid platform, and the gunship vanished. "I'm getting sick and tired of that thing," she growled, priming her RY3NO V3.
When she crossed to the next segment of metallic platforms, the gunship appeared again, but it was out of range. "Get back here and fight!" she yelled angrily as it continued to stay just out of range, making her pursue it as she evaded the missiles.
This time when she reached a solid ground platform, the gunship continued to fire on her, but still out of weapon range. Screaming in frustration, Twilight leapt across the next series of platforms until she reached a weapons vendor. When she did, the gunship vanished again, and she growled. "That's it!" she snapped. "Next time you appear, I blast you if I have to swing you around in my telekinesis and wreck the base!" She swung across a pair of swing targets to a wide platform.
When she landed, the gunship warped in...this time in range. "You're going down!" she snarled, unloading her RY3NO at it.
The gunship hadn't been prepared for the force of the onslaught, and was soon obliterated. "Ha!" Twilight proclaimed angrily. "Take that!"
Stepping into the lab that the gunship had been guarding, Twilight found the walls plastered with posters of Courtney Gears. "So, is Nefarious just obsessed with media stars in general?" she wondered. Approaching the computer, she began analyzing the data in the computer, and found a music video that Nefarious had apparently been editing for Miss Gears. Curious, she played it.
Twilight tilted her head as the video ended. "...I don't know whether to be more upset about Courtney trying to stir up a robotic rebellion...or the fact that that is apparently considered music! Ugh!" Growling in frustration, she copied the file to take with back to meet up with Ratchet and Clank.
On returning to the ship, Twilight saw that Ratchet and Clank both looked rather upset. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"Well, we got in," Ratchet admitted. "But..."
"Nefarious was able to delete nearly all relevant data," Clank admitted. "All we were able to determine was that Dr. Nefarious is building a weapon called the Bio-Bliterator, and that a supply transport recently went to somewhere in the Obani Moons system."
"Yeah...that's really not enough to go on for anything," Twilight admitted. "I got a pretty good lead, though!"
"Oh?" Clank asked curiously.
"Nefarious was editing a...music video...for Courtney Gears," Twilight explained. "Though I hesitate to call it music."
"Well, Courtney Gears isn't the number one pop star in the galaxy for her singing," Ratchet joked.
"I noticed," Twilight explained flatly. "Anyway, the lyrics seemed to be aimed towards stirring up some sort of robot rebellion across the galaxy."
Clank tilted his head. "You think Dr. Nefarious and Courtney Gears are working together?"
"It's highly likely," Twilight agreed. "I was thinking we could find an opportunity to grill her for information."
"Well, she presents grand prizes at Annihilation Nation," Ratchet pointed out. "You're already a champion there. Why not ace a few more easy courses and talk to her there?"
Twilight blushed. "M-me?" she gasped. "But...but I hate public speaking! How am I supposed to talk to a celebrity in front of thousands of people?"
"Pretend she is in her underwear?" Clank offered.
Twilight glanced at some of the music video footage. "You mean she isn't?"
Ratchet laughed. "Twilight, you are a celebrity...and a much bigger one than her. You're a hover board champion, a galactic hero, a Nobel Peace Prize of Conservation winner, and a holo-vid super star. She should be the one nervous about talking to you!"
Twilight blushed, this time in embarrassment. "But...but I'm just a kid..."
"Which means your star is still rising," Clank pointed out. "Hers is reaching the end of its limelight, however, if I'm not mistaken."
Twilight lowered her head. "Well...I suppose I could give it a try. I'll...I'll run a few other courses before going after a grand prize, though. Just to get my nerves out."
A plan of action in mind, the trio got back into their ship and set course for Annihilation Nation.
Courtney Gears... Eugh...
Damn it man (or lady), you're a writing machine! Seriously, I've been enjoying almost daily updates on multiple stories of yours...
How? How do you manage to write so quickly, change stories seamlessly, and still keep the quality so high?
Another enjoyable chapter. Good job.
... Why did they have to make that song so damn catchy?
uh that video, well if that kind of music is not twilights thing, what kind of music does she like in this story?
Though I hated fighting her, I won't deny that her battle music is kind of catchy.
I have no comment.
6018805 Most annoying boss ever, her music sucks, and she is a bitch to put it all into perspective. I'm gad I got to destroy ad finish her off without difficulty.
Awww, Twilight is so humble despite her fame and success. *hugs her*
If she can turn Courtney from the path of evil I'll be impressed!
6019242
She is a cute pony filly, so why not?
6019242 since when did u turn into Zecora?
...courtney....she is si bad r34 dosnt have more than 1 pic......(....nahhhh google is poor man)
Music wasn't bad, wasn't good either.
Thanks to your other fics having TFS references, I'm almost expecting the fight with Courtney Gears to end with Twilight going, "A real frickin' superstar."
6019404 Australian version had the plumber say 'sewer crystal jewellery'.
It often gets frustrating, knowing how the Aussie versions are different.
Sometimes it's inconsequential, like this, but others are frustrating, like Saints Row 4.
...
hmm
Johnny Gat raising Gilda would be hilarious!
6019011
Good music. I.E., not this cheap Britney Spears knockoff. Seriously, the real Britney Spears is better then her. And THAT is saying something.
I liked the song!
...
I mean, the message IS a little crazy of course, but come on! It's a nice catchy tune!
With all this bashing on her music and clothing choices, does this mean she is just a villain? Because that would be kind of suckish, and I was expecting so much from the last time Courty was talked about.
YEAHR!
want to play rebellious music?
how about some silent hill crossover music?
Uggh I can't stand Courtney gears! Also, how much debt do you think Twily can put the annihilation nation in?
6024344
Where is the error?
6025014 Arsenal: Phoenix Tools. not sure why your answer/question is in the chapter after.
6025165
No, where in the section you've presented is the error? I don't know what you perceive as incorrect if you don't give me that.
6025484 from the start of the chapter, 19 spaces or return key (I think) hits down, during the talk with Nefarious. the way it is put here, it sounds like he is answering himself and not Lawrence answering.
6028405
Then what you should have done is copy paste the section, put the incorrect name in bold/italics/underline, and then state the correction below. As it was, I had no idea what you were correcting in the section you'd posted, which is what I was asking.
6028997 then you have my apologies. I shall do so in the future.
t06.deviantart.net/Elp6Pupcv6dgW38fBdcuF57oFqk=/300x200/filters:fixed_height(100,100):origin()/pre01/d8cc/th/pre/f/2013/358/4/1/courtney_gears__wrecking_ball_by_karutimburtonfan-d6z9v5m.jpg
6581785
Is that Courtney Gears pulling a Miley Cyrus?
6019689
The thing is, satire like this comes in two flavors; one where the satire is a personal dig at the artist and their medium; and two where it's more a dig at the medium in general, and the fans.
Of course, given that this song was a play on 'Hit Me Baby One More Time!', I'd like to think that this was an obvious over-the-top dig against Britney Spears. Not a very good one either, as she actually does have some singing ability as you said; unlike Justin *barf* Bieber. Or InStink, which is the other group that was spoofed a lot during that time frame.
Speaking of Instink, they kinda reminded me of New Kids On The Block; wonder if they ever lip synced their won concerts... Wouldn't surprise me if they did...
6581785 My thoughts exactly.
6019344 oh snap!
Huh, part of me was hoping to see how Twilight would react to Ratchet's attempt at sexy dancing/posing.
sorry
Oh come on Twi, it's not THAT bad! Really, take the lyrics out and it makes for some good boss music! *wink wink*
#triggered!
the vid is gone
9238114
And now it's fixed.
9238130
I can see why you don't bother with these anymore they break to easily
Is it wrong that I think Courtney Gears and her back up dancers are hot?
Because I do.