Violence

Whole New World
Chapter 18
Violence

Dano awoke in the calm darkness before dawn to the sound of his team breathing slowly as they slept, and Echo snoring like a freight train. The survivor chuckled as he lifted himself off of his back, his spine popping as it bent. Once upright Dano rolled his shoulders, and his let out a soft groan has his chest muscles loosened. The night spent on the bench had left the survivor sore, but he ignored the tightness of his back and chest and started getting ready.

Dano woke up everybody in the room with a quick shout before pushing himself to his feet. The team rose with about the same speed as their commander, and each member kept a grim expression as they began their daily routine. Today was the day the stuck back at the raiders, and they would do it without mercy.

With every piece of equipment Dano put on he checked twice. He made sure his armor was as tight and non-restricting as possible, his ammunition was secure in his vest and that each of his weapons were loaded and prepared to do their job. The empty auditorium was silent except for the click of buckles, the sliding of magazines into weapons and hushed chatter as the team checked each other over.

The room was still pretty dark once they had finished getting geared up, and Dano looked out of one of the large windows to see an overcast sky blocking out the sunrise. The weather fit the mood each member of the squad put out. A determined calm, almost eerie, feeling emanated from them all.

Twilight had arrived a few minutes before the team had finished gearing up, and was waiting patiently in the reception area. Dano ordered Carrot to his post before moving out of the auditorium toward the mayor with the rest of his team. She wore a black pantsuit with a white undershirt that was vaguely similar to the one the old mayor wore. Short black heels covered her feet, and a plain purple tie was tucked into the suit jacket. Dano made his way up to Twilight, and she turned to match the survivors speed as they walked out the front door.

“Did you evacuate the street?” Dano asked in a flat, professional tone as he angled toward the road in question, Twilight keeping pace alongside him.

“Not yet. We are still moving them out of town to Sweet Apple Acres. That is the only place that could hold everybody.”

Dano looked around the street to see Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and several other citizens helping people gather essentials before ushering them out of town in groups. The girls all wore more average clothing than their mayor friend, but that was to be expected.

“When do you think you will be done?”

Twilight shrugged, an unnatural motion for her.

“I have no idea Dano. I have never done this before.”

Dano nodded sympathetically.

“Just don’t take too long. I will have to call off the whole thing if people are still in the area.”

Twilight sighed before nodding.

“We got this, don’t worry.”

Dano stopped walking and smiled slightly.

“Do I look worried?”

Twilight chuckled, but didn’t answer the question. Dano’s professional demeanor returned as he resumed walking.

“Who’s going to pull the raiders into the trap?”

Dano wished he didn’t have to put anyone in that position, but he couldn’t place his men in the dead center of town. A stray round could inflict friendly casualties for quite a distance, and evacuating the entire village would take too long.

“Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie are joining me. They volunteered and I’m obligated.”

Dano sighed as the group came to a stop at the end of the road.

“Very well. Stay safe and sharp. We don’t need a repeat of the last visit.”

Twilight nodded then wished Dano and his team good luck before leaving them. The survivor returned the gesture as he moved off of the street toward the woods with his team in tow.

The tree line was around thirty yards from the end of the road. Most of the smaller brush had been killed off by the leaves falling from above or the frost that was starting to appear late at night. To counter the lack of foliage Dano ordered his men to lay prone behind the trees five yards apart from each other and five yards from the tree line. The team took to using some of the exposed roots as platforms for their weapons, and with only the barrel of their rifles protruding from the tree they used as cover they were as camouflaged as they were going to get.

Dano settled behind his own tree at the center of the skirmish line with Echo lying next to him. The wolf placed his head in his paws before letting out a sigh, and Dano felt a slightly nervous vibe emanate from his friend. The survivor decided against his bipod and propped his rifle onto a root that rose about the same height as the attachment. Dano settled the rifle against his shoulder, his right hand resting on the rear pistol grip, and peaked down his scope.

The last group of villagers was being moved out by Applejack, Rarity and Fluttershy as Twilight, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash moved over to the fountain to wait for the raiders. The three girls took a seat around the outer wall of the decorative structure, and from what Dano could see were chatting away happily.

Dano pulled his face off of the rifle stock and rested his chin in front of him on his left forearm. The survivor sighed as he stared at the empty street while a slow breeze made its way through the forest around him, rustling the fallen leaves slightly. Dano’s mind began to drift as he waited, and he soon found himself wondering how far away Fluttershy’s house was to his right. A fraction of the feeling he had felt when he danced with the shy woman moved through the survivor’s mind, and it made him smile slightly. Dano checked his watch absentmindedly, and he let out a quiet sigh. The waiting game had begun.

Dano shifted slightly for the thousandth time that day as he tried to get comfortable. The survivor had been lying in the woods for hours with his chin propped up on his forearm as he stared down the road. Except for the on and off breeze tagging along with Dano and Echo’s breathing the world was silent. Occasionally the sound of someone shifting down the line was heard, but that was the only noise the team had made as they waited.

Dano was about to shift again when he saw movement coming from the third floor balcony of the mayor’s office. The survivor picked his head up off of his arm and returned it to his rifle. Through the scope he saw Twilight, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash rise from their seat as they looked up at Carrot. After a few seconds Twilight nodded before fixing he clothing in preparation for the coming meeting.

Dano heard Echo shift a bit before letting out a very quiet whine of anticipation. The survivor felt exactly the same way as his friend as he focused through his scope. Dano could hear the sound of the large diesel truck before he could see it, and it caused his heart rate to spike. After closing his eyes and taking a deep breath the survivor refocused on the town square through his optic.

After a couple agonizingly slow minutes the truck finally pulled into the tow center, and Dano watched as seven raiders piled out of the back of the truck along with an eighth clambering down from the passenger’s seat. The survivor noticed as he scanned the group that they were a bit bulkier than the last time he saw them, and he guessed with a mental curse that they were wearing body armor over regular utility uniforms.

The eight raiders formed a delta V formation around the front of the truck, which had not been shut off. The man at the tip of the formation was wearing the iconic red beret, and Dano watched as he called to the three women over the sound of the vehicle. In response Twilight, along with her two friends, approached the group. The two parties met, and Twilight began to lay out the trap as she spoke over the engine. She eventually pointed down the road toward the waiting soldiers indicating the location of the awaiting “delivery”.

The officer looked down the road, and Dano’s heart stopped. He swore the enemy was looking right at him, but the officer just turned his face back to Twilight. He began to speak before motioning with his rifle toward the end of the road. Twilight responded with word and nonthreatening gestures, but the officer wasn’t having any of it. His features began to show anger as he responded to whatever the mayor had said, and the three women took a step back defensively before Twilight nodded.

Dano’s heart dropped as Twilight, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie turned and began to walk down the street. The officer motioned for his men to follow, and the whole procession creped down the road. Echo whined next to the survivor, and he knew that the wolf knew exactly what was about to take place.

They couldn’t stop the ambush. Once the raiders rounded the corner they would see that there was no food they would execute the girls on the spot. Dano steadied his breathing and steeled his mind. He could only hope that the three women could get out of the way fast enough to escape the coming maelstrom of flying lead.

The group continued to move down the road slowly, each of the raiders scanning their surroundings for possible trouble with their rifles half raised. Dano didn’t see any of it though, he had zoned out of the world around him, and the only thing he could see was his target through his scope. The truck driver seemed bored with his menial task of driving, and was leaning back in his seat with a single hand on the wheel. Dano could feel a bead of sweat creep down his brow as he mentally counted down the distance from his target.

Fifty yards.

Forty five yards

Forty yards.

Thirty five yards.

Dano could feel the tension coming from the men around him. Each of them fearing for the girls in the crossfire while knowing that if they didn’t act they would certainly die. The survivor squeezed his left hand closed while his right pointer finger slid off of the trigger guard to rest on the trigger proper. His breathing and heart beat had slowed, and a calmness settled over him as he watched his prey yawn.

Thirty yards.

The tension suddenly broke with the piercing crack of a rifle, and time slowed as Dano squeezed his trigger. The MK14 pushed back into the survivor as a round flew out of its barrel. Dano watched the distortion of the air around his bullet glide through the air, pierce the transport truck’s windshield and push its way through the top of the yawning driver’s mouth. The raider’s head was forced backwards as the round pushed its way through his brain and out the back of his skull.

Dano’s shot went unheard as the sound of four more automatic rifles fired in unison, raking the enemy with relentless fire. The raiders didn’t even have time to raise their weapons before they were cut down without mercy. The girls, thankfully, had made their move once Carrot had released his round and dove to the ground as bullets whipped above their heads. The whole ambush came and went in seconds, and when it was over a silence settled over the world until it was broken by a single voice.

“MOVE UP!” Dano bellowed over the calm as he sprang to his feet, Echo right by his side.

The survivor moved quickly out of the woods his rifle raised as he scanned the area covered in bodies, and out of the corners of his eyes he team did the same. They were closing the distance rapidly when one of the raiders pushed himself to his feet, and Dano recognized the enemy by his red beret. A brief thought moved through the survivors mind before he reacted with deadly force.

“Sic him Echo!”

The wolf bolted away from the group, and closed the ever shrinking expanse between them and their fallen enemy.

The officer was trying to compose himself, and was reaching for something hidden behind the body of his comrade when Echo reached him. The wolf pounced on the wounded officer with the intention of ripping his throat out, but the enemy reacted just in time to save his neck. Echo ended up clamping down on the officer’s arm, and the wolf’s momentum forced the enemy to his back. Echo ripped and tore at the officer’s arm, snarling the entire time. Mere seconds after the fight between man and beast began Dano was upon the officer, his weapon pointed squarely at his enemy’s face.

“Big Mac, Braeburn. Pick this guy up for me. Echo, let him go.”

The three beings did as they were told, and the officer was propped up with Big Mac and Braeburn holding an arm each. The rest of the team created a semi-circle behind Dano as he stood directly in front of the new prisoner. Echo stood to Dano’s right, his teeth bared and growling.

“Soarin, check on the girls.” Dano ordered over his shoulder without taking his eyes off of the officer’s own. The enemy’s sun glasses had been knocked off when he fell, and Dano noticed that his eyes were a hard grey as they glared at each other.

Dano heard the sound of a rifle being shouldered and boots hitting the ground as Soarin did as he was told, leaving only the Doctor to hold security. The survivor shouldered his own weapon, and took a step toward the wounded officer without breaking eye contact. Now standing a foot away from the restrained enemy Dano broke his gaze away to look them man over, and he eventually found a dark red spot in the center of his left thigh. Carrot had either aimed low or missed to just wound the enemy, but Dano would talk to him later. It was interrogation time.

“Looks like you are bleeding buddy.” Dano returned his gaze to the officer’s eyes and filled his voice with mock concern.

The enemy only glared at Dano while taking in deep, pained breaths

“You mind if I ask a few question?” Dano kept a straight face as he returned the glare.

“Go fuck yourself.”

Dano shook his head as if he was scolding a toddler.

“Didn’t anyone teach you manners?”

Dano quick drew his M9, the securing strap making a loud pop as it released, and in quick secession pointed it at the officer’s right thigh and put a slug through it. Through gritted teeth the enemy groaned in pain, pulling against the men restraining him as he forced his way through the pain. Dano heard a gasp somewhere off to his left, and guessed the girls were watching. Ignoring the audience the survivor continued.

“Now, as I was saying, I have some questions.”

The officer regained his composure as best he could, and began to glare at Dano one again.

“How many men do you have?”

The officer didn’t show any signed of answering, and continued to stare at Dano with those hard grey eyes.

Dano sighed slowly before taking his pistol and hitting the officer across the face with it. The enemy’s head wrenched to the side, and he spit out some blood before returning to glaring at the survivor.

“Don’t make me ask again.”

Dano’s voice was hard.

“Go die in a hole you piece of shit.”

Dano kept his blank expression as he pressed the barrel of his M9 into the pressure point between the officer’s shoulder and neck. Despite the tactical vest, body armor straps and clothes the enemy could feel the uniformly increasing pressure on his nerve ending, and began to squirm as the pistol dug deeper and deeper into him.

“All you have to do is answer my questions and the pain will stop.” Dano said with some more mock concern.

The officer was now trashing so hard that his beret fell off to reveal very dark black hair. It was so dark it seemed to suck up the light around it.

“Alright!”

Dano pulled his pistol away from the officer, and the enemy’s head drooped as he tried to collect himself.

“How many men do you have?”

The officer continued to look at the ground.

“Thirty seven.”

Dano hid his discontent at the answer behind a straight face. Thirty seven is a lot of people to fight at one time, even if they had just taken out eight of them.

“What weapons do you have available to you?”

The officer lifted his head quickly to resume his glare, his lips pulled back to reveal his bloody teeth.

“You fucks have messed with the wrong guy. Sid is going to string you all up, but not after he butchers everybody in this god forsaken place.”

Dano frowned.

“That isn’t the way you talk to the person holding your life in his hands.”

Dano raised his pistol to the officer’s forehead, his finger resting on the trigger.

“Do it you son of a bitch.”

Dano sighed. His prisoner had accepted his fate and wasn’t going to say any more. A change in tactics was required. The survivor lowered his pistol.

“Listen, buddy. My friend here is a doctor. If you help us we can help you.”

Dano waved a hand at the Doctor, who was behind him to the right.

The officer eyed the Doctor before returning his gaze back to Dano.

“You promise that I will get treatment?”

Dano nodded.

“All you have to do is answer my questions.”

The officer eyed the Doctor one more time.

“Fine.”

Dano grinned slightly.

“But I want to be patched up first.”

Dano’s grin dropped. He knew the man being restrained in front of him was corrupt in mind. He would try to kill them all with his bare hands if he needed to, but Dano needed information.

“Let him go.” Dano ordered to Big Mac and Braeburn, and the released the officer. The wounded enemy fell to his hands and knees, for his legs could not support his weight.

For a few second the officer just stayed where he was, his eyes boring holes in the ground. Dano watched him intently, and before anyone else could react the officer removed his side arm. The enemy began to rise, his weapon in hand, but once his head turned up to see his target he was met with the end of Dano’s M9. Without a moment’s hesitation Dano pulled the trigger firing the round at point blank range into the officer’s face.

With his neck muscles already stretched to the max looking up at Dano the officers head didn’t snap back, but instead held its place as the round burrowed its way through the officer’s head, coming out the back and continuing into his back. Blood began to flow out of the officer’s new hole before he collapsed forward.

Dano watched the entire thing with a straight face. He was going to kill him anyway, but that was after he got his information. A sharp gasp came from the girls again, but this time it was accompanied with words.

“You promised you would help him.”

Twilight’s voice was soft as she stared at the recently deceased officer.

“He shouldn’t have removed his weapon.”

Dano’s voice was calm, and he holstered his pistol as he turned to look at the three women standing next to Soarin.

“Maybe he was just trying to take it out to throw it away.”

Pinkie’s voice was filled with denial as she also stared at the body.

“Didn’t look that way to me.”

Dano’s voice remained it’s scary cool.

“Dano. You shouldn’t have killed him. We are supposed to be fighting these men, not becoming like them.”

Twilight’s words struck a nerve in the survivor.

“Last time I checked I wasn’t killing teenage girls.”

Twilight, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash’s jaws dropped in unison at the response, and they tore their eyes away from the dead man.

“These “men”, as you like to call them, would have no qualms killing anybody here.” Dano pointed at Twilight. “You need to learn that before you start getting sympathetic.”

Twilight’s mouth moved as if to form words, but nothing came out.

“I’m going to need a detail of men to burry these bodies. I don’t care where or how, I just need them gone.”

Twilight recomposed herself with a quick shake of the head before responding with a curt nod.

“Big Mac, Braeburn, Soarin. You three will police these bodies. I want you to take their side arms along with their ammunition. Toss their rifles in a pile somewhere.”

The three soldiers responded with a ‘yes sir’ before moving off to do their job. Dano turned to the Doctor.

“Doctor. Take Echo and search the back of the truck for anything valuable.”

The Doctor nodded before he moved toward his objective with Echo in tow. Dano turned around to see the three women still standing around, eyes scanning the bodies strewn around the road.

“Ladies, I think it is time you left.”

Twilight was the first to respond, and without shifting her gaze pushed the girls lightly.

“It’s time to go girls.”

With uneven steps the three woman began to walk away from the warzone, and when Rainbow got a few feet away she doubled over and vomited. Dano ignored the girls, and got about gathering more intelligence.

The survivor moved to the driver’s side of the truck, which had died when many of the bullets fired at the men in front of it had damaged the engine block. Dano opened the door to see his only kill still sitting with his head resting on the top of the seat behind it. The survivor grabbed the body, and without any care pulled it to the ground. He then clambered up the running boards to get a good look into the cabin.

Dano looked around a bit until his gaze fell onto a small electronic device sitting in one of the cup holders that rested hallway up the consol. He grabbed the device and looked it over. It didn’t take Dano that long to figure out it was a GPS, and he quickly found the favorites menu. There were only two addresses put into the device. ‘Ponyville NY’ and ‘Home’. With a finger Dano brought up the route to ‘Home’ and the ETA that rested on the bottom left of the map that appeared told the survivor it was a three hour drive going the speed limits along the way. Dano pocketed the device in the empty rectangle vest pocket that rested over his left breast, and climbed out of the truck.

Carrot arrived with his rifle over his shoulder once Dano’s boots hit the ground.

“You missed Carrot.”

Dano said with a smirk.

“I didn’t want to hit the girls sir.”

Dano patted Carrot on the shoulder.

“There is a reason I gave you the long rifle. I trust that you won’t miss, so next time take the shot.”

Carrot grinned at the compliment.

“Now go help the rest of the guys with the bodies.”

Dano watched as Carrot nodded again and moved passed the survivor toward the front of the truck. Dano was about to go help them as well when he was called in the opposite direction.

“Sir. You need to see this.”

Dano turned to see the Doctor leaning out from behind the truck, and he moved toward the medic.

“What is it?”

Dano rounded the corner to see Echo standing on the tailgate next a chest the same color and size as the ones he had stored all of his things in back at his cabin.

“Look inside.”

Dano moved closer to see a small stack of off white colored bricks with big black lettering on the front that read ‘C4’. Next to the stack was a smaller wooden box, and after opening it the survivor found both the detonators and detonation buttons. Dano looked at the Doctor, and the medic had a big smile on his face.

“This is going to come in handy. Nice find Doctor.”

The Doctor chuckled.

“Nice find indeed.”

Dano chuckled in response, and after finding another pack like his own in the back of the truck removed the medical supplied from his ruck sac, put them in the new pack and gave it to the Doctor. The medic believed he could carry more, and Dano let him go back to his house to retrieve the new medical supplies. With room in his pack the survivor filled it with as many blocks of the plastic explosive and their corresponding parts as could fit. After filling his pack to the brim Dano threw it onto his back, and returned to the front of the truck to help out the rest of his team.

The rest of the morning was spent gathering the bodies of their enemy, stripping them of their weapons and ammunition, and laying them shoulder to shoulder in front of their truck. After the Doctor returned from his house Dano ordered his team to put on their helmets, and he donned the red beret the officer wore. With the new headgear in place the survivor then gave them a short introduction to their new side arms along with the order to only use them in an extremely life threatening position. Dano didn’t want his team using weapons they had just picked up unless absolutely necessary.

With the proper head gear on and new side arms on their hips Dano and his team left the ambush site. They made their way across town to Rarity’s shop and their vehicles. The group clambered onto their transportation, taking the same positions they had on the way in. Echo found a place in between the Doctor and Dano, much to the dismay of the physician.

“Move your furry butt.”

The Doctor shifted uncomfortably as the wolf forced his rear onto the very small spot between the two men.

Echo responded with a growl that Dano interpreted as playful, but the Doctor didn’t seem to get the joke.

“Alright, alright.”

Dano chuckled as he turned on the MULE he was driving, and pulled away from the Carousel Boutique with the two four-wheelers in tow.

The convoy moved quickly through town, and once they merged onto the main road out of the village Dano pulled the GPS out of his pocket. The device recognized the location, but on the 2D map it was just a road. Dano handed the GPS to the Doctor, and told the physician to navigate. The Doctor nodded before settling in for the drive, his hand resting on the M4 that sat between his legs.

The team picked up speed as they exited Ponyville. As they zoomed along they encountered the people they had displaced standing by the main gate to Sweet Apple Acres. They were waiting for Twilight to come get them, and they were probably going to have to wait a bit more as she disposed of the bodies.

As the convoy raced by the crowd Dano caught a glimpse of pink hair and canary yellow clothing out of the corner of his eye, and it tugged on his heart a bit. He wished he could stop and spend time with the shy woman that had become the focus of his thoughts lately, but he had a job to do. Dano pressed the gas pedal down a little harder in a vain attempt to leave his thoughts in the dust, but no matter how fast he went those deep cyan eyes always seemed to crawl back into his mind.

Dano let out a quiet sigh before he made himself comfortable in his seat. The drive was going to take a while, even a full speed. A small smirk moved across Dano’s face. Here I come Discord.

nice length, and we see some action. well done
thanks Twilight. im just happy you arent angry about the whole party cannon incident
yeah, we are really really really really sorry
its alright. i already have a plan to get you back
get us back?
yes, get you back good
i don't like the sound of that
*knocks on door*
who could that be at this hour?
you should go answer that
hmmm, not sure if revenge plan or RA.
its the revenge plan
probably an RA
it isnt an RA
*walks over to door, opens it, sees white alicorn with huge eyes*
oh no
see you suckers later!
*twilight teleports away*
i dont like this
oh please, not again
*alicorn leans in close to Giaus*
prepare your body

new chapter WOOHOO!
don't forget to rate and comment
that is all
kthanxbai