G.A.L.L.O.P.E.R.S: Dead Zone

The roar was all the two heard, before they saw them. A large number of Watchers was peaking out of the bush, maybe thirty at the least.

"Sweet Celestia's marehood." Artyom said, fear in his tone as he stared at the large number of hungry Watchers. One he could take out easily, two with some difficulty, but this....

ROOAARRRR! The Alpha, or what the two assumed was the Alpha, reared up and let out a ferocious roar to the skies, as he and his hunting pack descended upon the two, fangs and claws beared, ready to feat on the two Rangers.

Letting out a cry, Artyom and Shimmer started unloading into the beasts. Shells and casings littered the barren ground. The motionless corpse of a Watcher knocked Shimmer into a rock. Groaning, she screamed as a muscled Watcher leaped into the air. Breathing hard, she pushed the cadaver off her left front hoof, whipping out her Maretta, and emptied her clip into its skull, yelling "Eat lead mutie!"

With a sickening THUD, the beast fell two the ground, twitched slightly, then fell silent. Artyom pulled out a throwing knife, and hurled one at an advancing Watcher, which had yellow, glowing fungi growing on its back. The mutant stumbled back a bit, howling in pain, before rushing off, its remaining brethren following suit.

Breathing heavily, the two themselves over. Minor cuts and bruises covered their torsos and hind legs. Grimacing, Artyom looked over his fore and hind legs. Grimacing, her noticed his right fore leg had a decent sized gnash running through it.

"I don't think our med kits can heal that in time, and we can't waste them on cuts. Let me help." Shimmer said, her black horn glowing green. A cool wave of energy surrounded them, patching up any injuries the two had. "There."

Rainbow grinned, waving at the two from above, "Nice job you two, awesome team work!" she hoof pumped, before gasping and looking through her scope, "Guys, Knight's a few klicks north of you!" Artyom and Shimmer nodded, before galloping northward.

Galloping through puddles, snags, and weeds, the two finally found him. Knight was sitting on a metallic crate, possible containing a Shadow or some supplies. His right hind leg was crossed over his left, he was resting his right fore leg on the barrel of his rifle. Knight, in some sort of cruel irony, wore his dented and bloodied Ranger armor under a long dark grey-black cloak, the hood pulled up. His tan coat was freshly combed. His obsidian black mane and tail swung in the light breeze. His eyes, the red irises and gold pupils shined in the mild sunlight. Even though it was covered by both the cloak, and the black and gold armor, they both knew what his Cutie Mark was, two blades crossed in an "X". He was grinning.

"Ah, Private Shimmer, Ranger Artyom," He looked skyward, "And Knight Commander Rainbow Dash, what a surprise. Did Armor send you to stop me. Artyom and Dash I understand, send the best to fight the best, but Shimmer, that is unusual." He held out forelegs, a smirk on his face, "Well then, come and get me!"

With a growl, the two Rangers charged at the traitor....

......only to let out a surprised "Huh" when they proceeded pass right through him and slam into the ground, groaning as they connected with the rocky surface. The spectral ex-Ranger turned his head, "Sorry I couldn't meet you in person. I would have loved to see you and little Dashie again with my own eyes." He taunted, causing Rainbow to fume, she allowed only very few individuals to call her that, and that slimbe ball had lost that right when he turned tailcoat and joined The Order.

"What the Tartarus?! A hologram! What's wrong Blade, ain't got the balls to face us? трусливый пес! (Cowardly dog)" He yelled, dusting himself off, before helping Shimmer to her hooves, moaning in pain.

"Действительно Ranger? Это лучшее, что вы могли бы оскорблением придумать?Жеребенок может составить лучшую оскорблений! (Really Ranger? Is that the best insult you could come up with? A foal could make up better insults!) Knight replied in fluent Grussian, shaking his head slightly, sighing. "I'm afraid I have more pressing matters to deal with, Crimson Order business and all, just following orders. Surely you understand." His double reached into the case he sat on, pulling out a flare gun, raised it into the sky, and fired. The blood red flame flew into the sky, bursting into sparks. He tossed the empty tool aside. "It is of no consequence, we will meet soon enough old friend. My men will make sure of that."

Before anypony could respond, heavily armored soldiers burst out of the brush, weapons at the ready. "Shimmer, Dash, get help, I'll-" But Artyom was cut off, a one of the troops, a muscled turkey, bashed him over the head with the butt of his rifle, yelling "Kapa çeneni! (Shut up, in Turkish, which in this 'verse, is yes, a country ruled by Turkeys), his native language. The last thing Artyom saw as he he hit the cold earth and before darkness fell upon him, was the sight of Shimmer and Dash retreating back to New Ponyville, their hidden base.

Unknown Location-2:55 PM

Artyom awoke, groaning, his vision blurred. Shaking his head, he saw a bruised Earth Pony tied in a corner. Another Ranger, this one a llama, was bound, Knight stood in the center, next to what appeared to be a doctor or surgeon. They were currently examining a quivering Threstral.

The surgeon was holding a stylus, measuring the size of the Threstral's head. "Hmm, 302 by...oh, 306. Interesting." The surgeon withdrew the stylus. He spoke in a thick Cockney accent. He was an icy blue unicorn with a light grey mane, bushy beard, and tail, and grey within grey eyes, his Cutie Mark was a stethoscope.

Knight hummed, skimming the chart in his hooves, "Alright, that's a bit bigger than normal, but he is a Threstral, they have slightly bigger heads than other Equine species. Alright, Cutter, check the hooves." Knight had removed his armor, possibly located in his quarters. He still wore his black long coat, but now wore what appeared to be a dress uniform. Charcoal grey jacket, pants, and black shoes and gloves. His belt was made of leather, dark brown, with a polished silver skull buckle, a dark grey officer's hat with a black brim. The cuffs of his jacket and pants were gold. A red and gold blade over a conjoined sun and moon pin adorned the center of his hat and the the upper right of his jacket. A cruel smile adorned his face, a fire in his eyes.

Cutter picked pressed a button on the rim of his glasses, causing several magnifying glasses to appear over the main one. He slowly lifted up the pony's fore hooves, examining them, humming a tune. "Oh, it seems his left one is a few centimeters bigger than his right. Very unusual."

Once more Knight looked over the chart in his hooves, tapping it once he had found what he was looking for. "Oh dear, it seems, my Threstral friend, you have been found to be a mutant! And you know we can't have mutants polluting the genetic pool with imperfection." He reached into his coat and pulled out one of his gilded pistols, Maria, and loaded new clip into it. "I have two solutions to this problem. The first, and most painless, though slightly messy approach, is for me to simply blow your brains over the wall. The second, though it might hurt, is to sterilize you. Unfortunately for you, we are running low on chemicals to do so, we'll have to do it the old fashion way."

"Please, I'm not a mutant! The hoof size I got from my parents. I'm a Mareza (Hanza) citizen! I don't want to die!" The Threstal, Lock Wood said, tears streaming down his face.

Knight scowled kicking the stallion away. "Pathetic whelp, you don't deserve the honor of a swift demise. You'll have to live suffering. Herr Cutter, you, Mengele, and RIchtofen have a new patient to sterlize. I recommend the buzz saw, oil it will you." He grabbed Lock by his neckfur, tossing him to the grinning Ponton (Poxton, an area in the East End) surgeon, who dragged the screaming Threstral away.

Knight turned to the llama, a cold fire in his eyes. "Ranger Brelock, tell me, what was your mission? Does it have to do with bunker K7?" He shoves the male against the cold, steel wall.

Brelock grimaced as he slowly got to his hooves, a small cut in his cheek. "I won't tell you anything you racist bardstard!" He spat in Knight's face, but the stallion effortlessly wiped it away.

"You foal. If you won't tell me," He quickly grabbed the male, throwing him to the floor, before stomping on his right fore leg thrice, and hard. Artyom winced as he heard a resounding CRACK of bone and heard Brelock scream out in pain. Knight withdrew from his attack, grinning. Brelock lay on the floor, cradiling his limp, bloody, and broken foreleg, curled up in the fetal position. "Now then, if you won't tell me, then I guess torture will." He motioned to the door, which opened, and two lightly armored guards, a Zebra and a Pegasus came in, wielding stun batons. "Ah, gentlestallions, it seems our friend Brelock here is being uncooperative. Take him to the Level 2, I'm sure Shock Therapy will love to meet him." The guards lifted the llama, carrying him out of the room, just as an officer dressed similarly to Knight came in, minus the longcoat, and another guard.

The officer panted, before thrusting a hoof in the air, "Heil Celesties und Lunara." Knight repeated the motion, before the officer hoofed him a note. "Lieutenant Baking Soda reporting in, Herr Blade. The Prince wishes for you to join him at the rally." Knight nodded, before looking at the Earth Pony and Artyom.

"Soda, you watch these two until I get back." He said, before turning away and leaving. Baking Soda and the guard had their backs to the prisoners, chatting.

The Earth Pony nodded at Artyom, before rushing at Baking Soda, bucking him into the wall, while Artyom pressure pointed the guard, watching as he fell over, paralyzed. "Good job, Artyom, right?" At his nod, the stallion cut his binds with the officer's knife, pocketing it after cutting Artyom loose. "I'm Digger, and...I'm a member of the Emerald Line."

Artyom galked, the Emerald Line were a a society that did not believe in rich or poor, which, while a good thing, there was no economy, as the government said everything is everyone's property. The reason they were despised was because of their brutal government that eliminated any citizen who spoke out against the government, even if in passing. He shook these thoughts away, "The enemy of my enemy, is my friend." He said, caustiously shaking the stallion's hoof.

Digger grinned, picking up the guard's rifle, tossing Baking Soda's Minotaur made SMG and the guard's serrated knife, slowly opening the heavy iron door. "Come on, lets get out of here." He waved a hoof at Artyom.

Holstering his weapons, he followed Digger out the door, into the sparely lit hallway, illuminated only by a few lamps. He trotted beside Digger, as they entered a dark room.