Chapter One: Escaping From the Nexus
Fallout Equestria: Beyond the Nexus
By TornadoFIM
Chapter One: Escaping From the Nexus
“You’re just a machine, you have no real purpose!”
Hope.
Was there any of it left? Especially since I had spent all of my life inside of this large facility. They called it the Nexus and even though I was created here, I didn’t like this place at all. I always wondered what the world beyond the force field walls was like. I always thought of it as a land of harmony, where ponies and other living things roamed together in an endless land of happiness. Of course, being an android, I was programmed to feel emotions unlike the others along with being a robotic life form coated in pony skin along with a mane. Life wasn’t easy here I must admit. But it was my home and I had to accept that, even though I wanted to get out of here. With me being the only Android out of all ten thousand within the Nexus who can feel emotions, I had the need to get out. But how I came to feel emotions was due to an accident during the making of me.
Sitting inside a large circular room with white clean, steel walls around me with a charcoal colored ceiling and floor, I gazed at the wall with no words. The electric blue neon lights that trailed across the ceiling and floor in a circle, I thought to myself. I really didn’t believe I had a purpose or at least not here. We followed the orders of the buck who keeps this place running. Both he and his assistant were the only pure ponies within the facility, the rest of us were androids designed to protect and serve them. But being the only one with emotions was sometimes horrible; it was as if he designed me to go through emotional torture each and every day.
Looking to the wall, the sound of the door opening behind be was heard. My robotic ears twitching before I rotated myself around to face who it was. And to no surprise it was the stallion who kept this place alive. Pulse was his name and he was one mean bastard. His coat was a pale white color, his mane a dark blue that was spiked violently. His tail was both the same style and color. His eyes on the other-hoof were a bright blue color. With a stern look, he approached me but I felt no fear as I had seen his face like this before.
“Android-1323, shouldn’t you be working elsewhere?” His deep, anger filled voice daunted on me or at least tried to, yet again I felt no fear. I just looked at him and blink, refusing to go. “Get off your lazy synthetic ass and get to work!”
He was stubborn yes, but I didn’t see any point in working for him or anypony else. We Androids have lives too, maybe we are robotic creatures who take the form of a pony, and maybe I’m the only one who has pony-like emotions. I can feel anger, hate, sorrow, happiness, love...while the others can’t, I still found it unfair of him to even talk to any android like that.
“Sir, with all due respe-” I began, but I was soon cut off by a heart stopping snap. At this moment, I kept quiet.
“I don’t care what you have to say - this is your home, and you help us rebuild it!” He exclaimed towards me, showing anger and hatred. But there was nothing to rebuild, the Nexus was in perfect shape. Well almost perfect shape.
“Yes sir.” I paused as I lifted myself onto my hooves. Walking towards the circular door at the end of the room, which was the same color as the floor and ceiling and had the same electric neon blue running around the frame of it. “Sir, what is the world like on the outside?” I asked. I didn’t open the door at this moment; I only stood by it, glancing back at Pulse.
“It’s a desolated world full of death and war, it’s a place where you will not want to go to,” he responded with an irritated tone to his voice. Walking up to me, placing a thick cigar in his mouth and biting down on it, he prepared to continue as he lit it up using his magic from his horn that stuck through his violently spiked mane. “The land it was two-hundred years ago is long gone.”
Well, I’ll believe it when I see it of course. I can’t just believe the buck and assume it is what he says it is. But it did grind against my hopes slightly, making me frown slightly from what he said. But I didn’t give up that easily, as I was planning to leave within the coming days - or at least try to. From the knowledge I had gained of this place, there are multiple teleportation devices which are normally used to get goods in and out of the Nexus from the world beyond the large force field that sealed this place off from the world. I just had to look in the correct place. Once leaving, I found myself upon a balcony on one of many towers stationed around the whole area. Walking towards the balcony, I looked at the many large steel spires that stood tall, some leaking with smoke from the tops of them. Others stood in the distance shooting electricity from the top to power the force field barrier around the entire area. There were small buildings within the distance that sat by the daunting towers that stood tall. All the buildings including the large columns that were tall and thin were all a jet black color and showed no reflection from the artificial sun that was caused by the barrier. The pale white sky yet again caused by the large dome that surrounded the industrial area beamed down onto it.
Wandering down the spiraling balcony that was fixed onto the side, I had heard the machinery that was scattered around the Nexus echoing through the unclean air as large mining machines that were sitting all over the city mined their way through the ground that they were placed on to find more metal to build Androids out of. However, me being the only one who could even despise such a place, I did. I thought of this place being a hell for all of us. Seeing many bridges taking the Androids from landmark to landmark. Walking across the closest bridge passing many of the emotionless Androids who were ponies. However most of them looked the same. There were no smiles upon their faces, no eye movement, nor was there any sound coming from these lost machines that were developed within this building. However, I counted them lucky – they wouldn’t have to endure all the emotional torture of being lost in a facility which you might never be able to depart from.
Booming alarms from the other side of the Nexus screeched throughout, as the sound of heavy machinery was heard moving in the chaotic streets below. Smoke engulfed the streets that were below of course, making it nearly impossible for any pure life form to live in those conditions. It was a thick smoke that surrounded it all, black and toxic. The fumes sometimes drifted up to here, filling it with warm breeze and also the stench of burning plastics and metals.
As the hours passed by, I sat within a factory crafting all sorts of useless weapons that were not needed at all due to this place being a fortress. The large room was tinted a red color from all the flames from the furnaces at the end of each conveyor belt. There were ten conveyor belts, as sharp hooks hung from chains that were linked to the ceiling, inconsistent in length. Sitting at mine, I watched the rusted steel carry the broken parts of weaponry over, before grabbing the small fidgety object within my hooves. Quickly assembling it back together, I placed it back on the conveyor belt, watching it carry the small piece of metal and joints along.
“You want to be free…don’t you?”
A deep, monotone voice that sounded like a synthetic machine was heard from behind me. Turning myself to face an emotionless Android who sat there fixing broken parts and checking other fixed parts for any lethal or disjointed connectors. Staring at it for a while, he looked at me with his glowing blue eyes, still completely emotionless. His bitter expression screamed help me, but he couldn’t scream it…he had no emotions. But all I did was not for a reply.
“Freedom is just a word among us Androids, but to you it means something doesn’t it?” He turned to me, his face completely straight, “I know how you can earn it…but you must be willing to intake some physical damage.”
The Android’s words did a smile across my face, with me being the only one who could feel emotions; the Android stared at me with a blank expression. But waiting for him to continue, he reached into the pocket of his plain blue jacket using his magic, his horn glowing a cyber-blue color before pulling a small data pad out and placing it in front of me. I raised an eyebrow, curious of why he gave me this.
“I cannot tell you face to face; my data pad should contain a journal which speaks of the exits that are hidden throughout the Nexus,” at that moment, the synthetic helper glanced up at the balconies above which contained guards with heavy plasma weapons and padded security armor that you would see in high security zones. They glanced down at us before they turned away. “They’re watching us – you’d best get moving.”
“Thank you,” I responded bitterly, no emotion behind my thanks. But I was grateful however, but now I had to try and get there in one piece. Not that I could really feel physical pain, the only time I could actually feel that sort of pain was if my core had been shot or torn out. Which my core sat within the place that most of the pure ponies call the heart.
Upon leaving my station within the factory, as the guards upon the balcony had their heads turned away from me, I scurried into a small corridor that was by the furnace. The heat however was scorching me, I felt like the metal beneath the skin I wore over it was beginning to melt. Rushing into it, darkness surrounded me as the light from behind could not creep its way in. Walking slowly, hearing my hooves clanking and clopping by each step I took, I kept the data pad within my wing’s grasp before sitting down by the now cold, rusty wall that was behind me. Looking down at the glowing screen as it flashed on, revealing a folder under the name of: Teleportation pad locations.
Tapping it with my hoof, a document opened up showing a letter. At least it was in letter format. The white text stood out from the cyber-blue screen that the data pad had. Beginning to read it, I focused my eyes onto it.
Android-3442
Data log-#0001
Subject: Teleportation pads locations.
For those who have managed to gain this data log after my death, then I can grant you instant freedom. Well, I cannot however, but I do know the locations of the teleportation pads that they use to get goods in and out of the Nexus. But be warned, the world beyond the walls of the Nexus is not what we all think it is – how we cannot fell the emotions that pure ponies carry, we can still feel disappointment of outcomes. If you’re willing to face a world that has been scourged by war, then keep reading and I can help you find your way out.
There are a two main teleportation pads within the entire facility, the others which are scattered around the Nexus being sub teleporters to transport the smaller items. The first of the major pads being within the weapons factory. However, this one is one of the harder ones to reach. It is within Furnace Deck-B13 which is one of many Furnace Decks below the actual factory. I have not yet analysed the heat below the furnaces, but what I do know is, the process is very short. But unfortunately, guards are preventing anyone from crossing them.
The second being in the recycling plant. It is where they take the dead Androids and recycle their metal and body parts so they can use it for other new creations. This one isn’t guarded as much, but it is a lot harder to reach – the recycling plant is like a labyrinth and it is active twenty-four seven. Fortunately, the process is a lot shorter; therefore the items that are taken in and out get to their destination quicker.
Whichever one is closer, use it. Being emotionless doesn’t make you an idiot. Even those who feel the emotions of a pure pony, those who feel fear should be able to do this with no worry.
Data log finish.
Closing the document upon the pad, I disposed of it immediately; I didn’t want to keep it. It was of no use to me now, I had gathered the knowledge of where I needed to go, and fortunately I wasn’t caught down here yet. Continuing through the dark hallway I was secluded in, the echoing hoofsteps of my own echoed throughout the steel corridor.
“HALT!!”
The echoing voice coming from behind me roared out in a neutral monotone, before I glanced back noticing two glowing navy blue eyes fixed onto me. Two heavy loaded battle saddles hooked onto their backs with huge cannon like rifles upon the holsters that held them in place. The long clean barrels that stuck out from the bodies of the guns filled with holes to create a roaring sound from the shot given.
“You are within a restricted area, Android-1323, leave the area or be eviscerated!” The synthetic voice from one of the guards called to me as they had their artificial eyes glaring at me. Unfortunately, I had no other option but to push on and fast before they even got close to catching me. “I repeat, leave the area or be eviscerated!”
Darting ahead, I ran into the darkness that had shrouded this entire sector. My eyes however lit up some of the way. Running down the long, dim hallway, the rusted walls that boxed me within this area were glaring from the dim light coming from my eyes. It didn’t help, but it gave me some idea of where I was. With the light from behind me dying out, the guards also went out of vision, but however they knew where I was going. I heard the same voice get propelled down the corridor, the sound bouncing off of the walls as it did.
“Halt or we will take legal action!”
Ugh! These guys were getting on my buckin’ nerve. Picking up the pace, I heard them follow me, getting closer by the second. Trying to drag myself ahead, I heard two echoing shots from behind me before seeing two bright bullets get thrown passed me. I quickly ducked down, seeing one of the shots slam into a wall next to me and the other travel down the tunnel before coming to a halt only seconds later. Quickly getting back onto my hooves, I sprinted ahead, yet again hearing another two shots swerve their way down the tunnel, just missing me slightly.
I quickly darted ahead, hearing the calls of the guards from behind me echo as bursts of the shots were thrown at me. Seeing many of the glowing projectiles shoot past me, some even scaring my hooves and cheeks. Quickly turning a corner, I darted down another corridor, hearing the guards following me at a similar pace. I pushed myself further, hearing more shots get fired to me, none of them hitting me this time. Now that the guards had acknowledged my position and also to where I was heading, the alarm lights that were fixed onto the ceiling began to rotate flashing the color red into my eyes whenever it faced me. The alarm itself rang out throughout the Nexus as a voice upon the loud speakers fixed onto the walls shouted out.
“Intruder alert!!” The loud exclaiming voice screamed rapidly on the speakers. I glanced around knowing that I was soon going to be cornered. Hearing multiple hooves running towards me from behind me, as multiple shots boomed from behind me, I quickly evaded the shots, diving down a shaft that was built into the wall.
Tumbling down the small shaft, hitting every single corner thrown at me which created a loud thundering sound, the sound of the guns that the guards were carrying were heard bursting shots down the tunnel. Each of the bullets puncturing holes within the fine steel. But the corners within the large tube like tunnel were not smooth nor were they the most comfortable. Each time I had felt myself turn, I had felt myself get rammed into a wall of some sort, sending me down yet another tunnel before the next steel wall was thrown at me. But it all came to a halt as I was thrown into a room, landing on the concrete floor roughly. The alarms from the corridor I had left were still heard faintly in the background, as the sound of the shouting voices and walking of the guards above also was hidden behind it. I considered myself lucky to getting this far and also luckily enough; this was the place I had been searching for.
The walls were made of a degrading concrete that was slowly rotting, large holes blown into them as puce from the paint that had been on the wall leaked out. Bent and broken pipes leaked water as pieces of scrap and rusted metal were scattered upon the floor just underneath the wounds within the concrete wall. Crumbling bits of wet stone from the corners came from the small cracks within the ceiling, where stains from the water and also black puce from the infected water that was surging through. The large underbelly of the furnace hung from the ceiling, fire blazing every four seconds, which lit up the room a blazing amber color.
Of course, my soul objective was to find the teleportation pad. As I slowly took each step around the room, checking each of the four corners of the desolated room, I couldn’t see anything. Just the walls rotting, now with a black coating beginning to gather on them. The wet floor beneath my hooves soaked the skin that my mechanical body was buried within. However, when walking up to a small circular pad within a corner, completely hidden, I noticed a blue gridline flash and initiate. The light glaring into my own eyes, I slowly laid a hoof upon it, seeing that it reacting with it.
Unfortunately, the sound of movement within the tunnel I had entered was heard. The echoing bangs of bodies tumbling within it roared out from the shaft’s exit. I knew I didn’t have much time. Upon using the touch screen pad on the handle that was before me, I selected teleport before feeling an energy source grip me. I couldn’t move at all. I felt myself get pulled down, through the floor until the whole world around me turned white…
Android-1323
Data log-#0001
Escaping the home I was created in, I had no idea what the world beyond the walls of the Nexus would have in store for me. I doubt it could be any worse than this place was, at least I’d have some dignity and also freedom beyond the walls I was sealed within. I am looking to start a new, maybe forget about this place and never come back…
Data log finish
Footnote: Level up!
New perk: Freedom! – You have finally left imprisonment within those walls, you gain 10 health points in the process and also you have now gained the ability to store items within your small storage compartment that sits below your wing.
Current Level: 2
Chapter Two: A Place Far From Home
Fallout Equestria: Beyond the Nexus
By TornadoFIM
Chapter Two: A Place Far From Home
“This place died centuries ago...in my time it never was peaceful.”
Unknown.
I was no longer within the Nexus anymore, nor was I in the world I had been hoping to go to. But unfortunately, this was the land that was beyond the walls of the Nexus. Long grey plains stretched far and wide, as this world that was once spoken to be a peaceful and bright world, was nothing but a barren Wasteland full of disharmony. Pulse and the data log I had read had helped me were both right, this world was not the world it was destined to be, nor was it a friendly land. Skeletons laid within the soil that they had been buried in, eye sockets empty and blackened out from all the dust that had drifted within them. The thick black clouds above barely allowing the sunlight above the clouds to get through, some small holes allowed the bright light from above seep through from rays of light. Hills and large rocks stuck from the ground, preventing some of the view ahead being seen. A cracked and crooked road beside me led down into the plains that carried on for miles. The pad I had arrived from had been completely fried, the pad sat against a large boulder coated in the remains of what seemed to be ponies. The trees that were standing tall within the wilderness that seemed to be endless were all black and dead. The trees were rotting and it seemed like they were already dead. The stumps were a charcoal black as if a blast had completely fried the bodies of the trees that probably once contained leaves.
Tall ruined buildings that stood within the distance were daunting down on those who would pass them; some of the buildings even were higher than the thick clouds that shrouded the world around me. The sound of thunder was heard within the distance as flashes of lightning seen within the thick, horrible clouds in the distance. Some of the gaps within the clouds allowed the sunlight to shine on through mainly that were within the parts closer towards me, which lit up the horrible grey land. The warm air was hard to breathe in as the breeze from the air nipped and glided across my body with ease, it felt irradiated with a toxic substance...even I could feel it. The taste upon my mechanical tongue was rotten, it tasted bitter and vile.
Seeing the clouds that did linger above slowly swirl, I stared into the them seeing the flashes of lightning and thunder as echoing claps of thunder were heard in the distance. A storm was brewing overhead. But being within an uncharted world filled my core with fear...I had never seen anything like it despite being from a world that was in a similar condition. The horrible fumes within the air really shared a similarity to the Nexus. I was beginning to think I was still in the Nexus, but just within a small area that wasn’t underneath the barrier that surrounded it.
Wandering onto the hard and cold road, completely clueless of my surroundings, I continued down the long road with each of my hoofsteps tapping against the aging and dying asphalt that was below me. Feeling bits stone clatter against my hoof, I kept my vision focused on the road ahead, as the breeze from the world around me nipped at my neck. However the soft breeze that did nip against my artificial neck was warm...it wasn’t as cold or fresh as I had imagined. Continuing down the long and desolated road that I was on, I reached the top of a hill which gave me a view of the Wasteland; large stretching plains dominated most of the land. I saw a small village that was ruin nearby. Houses that were torn apart from some sort of blast, as the streets they were surrounded in seemed to be empty. I saw this as an opportunity, maybe there was somepony in the town’s ruins that could help me.
Steadily making my way down the steep hill, seeing tumbleweed slowly roll its way down the hill gently along with the breeze that pushed it, I had developed an uncomfortable feeling within my core. I felt slightly on edge with the world around me, as if anything could happen to me. I could get ambushed or even blown up. However, the road ahead was quiet. There was just the sound of the wind blowing within the warm, irradiated air as the clouds opened up slightly allowing the light to beam onto the small town ahead.
Beginning to pick up speed, I began to trot with a spring in my legs as I reached the bottom of the hill and then soon found a sign by the small town in ruin. The sign read the town’s name; most of it however was covered by ash and dust that had been blown onto it. Walking up to the large, wooden sign, I wiped one of my hooves over it to see the white, rusting text that had been displayed onto it.
Smileville.
How it was a strange name for a town that was now desolate ruins, I turned my attention to the seemingly empty streets where houses at both ends created a road that stretched down the middle before reaching a large building that faced towards me. The dome that sat on top of it was made of stone as large chunks had been torn out of it, the flames from within the holes were swaying within the wind and were beginning to die. Filthy ponies in rags for clothing sat by the entrances of their homes, some were looking towards me and even some were smoking. The houses themselves were missing the top portion of them, as the framework behind the wood that coated it was bent and splintered. Smoke leaked out from the top of the homes, and the wooden frames that stuck out from the top were coated in a black color. Sick foals played in the streets with each other; obviously this town had been hit hard by something.
Walking through the streets of the almost dead town of Smileville, I kept glancing at the ponies around me as I passed them; some even looked back with grim looks on their faces. There were no guards, no protection for a vile world like this...clearly something did happen to this world, maybe some were just too quiet to speak of it. The road however wasn’t made of the same asphalt; it was made of the dying soil that was a charcoal grey color. The large building that stood at the end had a large staircase leading up to the entrance of the building. The stairs themselves however were broken, crooked and unusable. I began to take note of this place, as I stopped in the middle of the streets. Analyzing the world around me, I glanced at all of the buildings, trying to get some idea of what happened here.
Looking to a pony who kept their eyes on me, I shot a glance at her before slowly turning away and avoiding eye contact with her. The pony was so dirty. She was covered in ash and dirt; even some bits of blood were seen within her midnight blue coat. Her brown eyes matched the state of her, and her mane was a horrible mess. Large flakes of dirt hung from her hairs, as the long mane that was probably once elegant was now a horrible mess. It was also a dying blonde color. I cringed slightly, but I continued onwards, trying to ignore it. I felt pity, how she hadn’t washed in day’s maybe even weeks.
Continuing down the long road that stretched through the streets of Smileville, the broken and desolated houses daunted over me as parts of rubble from the exterior that covered the frames of the homes was lying on the floor in pieces and covered in dust. The sun now shining brightly down on the village, it lit up the dome on the building at the end of the road like a light, but it didn’t stay long…the thick black and ghastly clouds above soon shielded the world and prevented any of the sunlight from seeping through, yet again bringing darkness over it all. It was a depressing and dark world I was in, again, not like I expected any of this. I’m beginning to regret leaving the Nexus.
Coming to a stop by the large staircase that led up to the large and civil building ahead of me, I noticed something in the corner of my eye. Turning my head to face it, I saw a sky blue mare with a dark, minty green mane and dark purple streaks through her mane. She was a Unicorn, her horn sticking out through her mane like a sore hoof. Her tail was practically the same as her mane, minty green with purple streaks. Of course, seeing this mare arriving into the village, she was also from outside of the village – not necessarily from outside of this world. Her coat was covered in some light dust, nothing heavy at all. Old battle scars across her chest that had turned into scabs now also stuck out visibly. However, noticing a fairly large saddle bag on her back, she walked into the village as the broken and shaken ponies of the village looked to her and began to limp to her weakly. She stopped in the middle of the street as the crowds of the weak soon gathered around her, impatiently waiting for something that she had delivered. I kept my eyes on the stranger who had just wandered into the town, hoping that they wouldn’t hurt her.
My curiosity soon forced me to walk over and join the ponies who were crowding around the mare with the saddle back on her. Hearing the sick and dirty ponies mumbling to themselves as the mare pulled out healing potions and bandages before giving them to the ponies that were crowding around her. She was a trader, or at least that’s what she seemed to be. Hiding among the ponies trying to reach for her, she kept levitating the items that she had within her saddle bag to the ponies that surrounded her. I didn’t need any of it, therefore I kept my distance, yet blending within the ponies.
“Is there any food?”
A lone voice from the crowd called, as a large buck that seemed to be starving soon walked through the crowd. The skin upon his body was dying, allowing the curves and gaps of his skeleton be seen through the now thin skin he wore. His coat was a dark midnight blue that was degrading from color, as his body which was skinny but tall stood in a slender fashion. His cracked lips were begging to be fed by water or some sort of drinkable substance as his face soon twisted into a frown. She looked through her saddle bag, her ears soon flattening before she shook her head.
“I’m sorry...I only have healing potions and other medical supplies,” she closed up her bag, obviously it being the last of her delivery. The sky blue mare soon began to head back the way she came. “I’ll be back tomorrow, hopefully with some food.” The whines and moans of the crowd that soon spread apart to allow her to leave was heard, as mumbles of different insults involving her was heard among the crowd. She however just ignored it and carried on.
My blending wasn’t working now; she stopped instantly, soon cocking her head to me. There really was no point hiding now. She slowly walked her way towards me, blinking before frowning. How I didn’t look dirty or in need of supplies, she really looked sorry and pitiful of not giving me anything. I however didn’t need it due to me being an Android and also, neither did I really care. She stopped beside me, blinking as she looked into her saddle bag for anything she could give me.
“I’m quite alright thanks.” I spoke, nodding my head slowly. She stopped, before closing it up again. She knew she had nothing to give, but she at least wanted to look like she was trying. She couldn’t fool an artificial life-form like myself that easily could she?
“But I didn’t give you anything...nor have I seen you around here before,” she began, before frowning. She knew I didn’t really mind not receiving anything from her, but it didn’t really amuse her. “Where are you from?” She asked in a calm tone.
“I…” I began. Telling her would just make her laugh, she wouldn’t believe me if I told her. I didn’t know anything of this world, nor did I have enough knowledge to make up a place in my mind. Again, she wouldn’t believe it. “Let’s just say I’m not from around here.”
She blinked, tilting her head slightly. “Well...where are you from?” She asked again. Ugh! I couldn’t just say I was from the Nexus. She wouldn’t know what it was and she wouldn’t believe me anyways, she’d want proof; she wasn’t that dumb I’m sure.
“I told you...not from around here,” I sternly replied. Could she maybe talk about something else? I had to change the subject quickly. “So what’s your name miss?” I asked with a friendly tone to my voice, trying to not seem like that stern stallion who she just met.
“Crystal…” Crystal responded instantly, “All I do is travel ‘n’ trade. Well, mainly it’s helping settlements which are a little less fortunate than others, like this one.” She looked down at the ground slightly, frowning to herself, “I don’t really get anything in return, but it is one step to bringing light to the Wasteland I guess.” She sighed with a frown, before lifting her own head up to look at me, “what’s your name then?”
“I’m...” Oh shit. I had to think fast, I couldn’t just say I was Android-1323 could I? That would just be strange and again, it wouldn’t make a good first impression would it? I looked to my flank, knowing I would have a mark. I saw a dark blue tornado that had a yellow bolt down the middle of it. Quickly looking back to Crystal, I smiled. “Tornado Dash...call me Tornado, Miss Crystal.”
“Tornado huh? It’s nice to meet you,” she nodded along with it. “I like that.”
The town seemed quiet. Ponies standing within the doorways of their homes that had been completely blasted apart from some sort of blast. Some of the homeless ponies enjoyed the goods they had received from Crystal, they seemed to enjoy them more than the ones who had places to live. I did feel pity for this town, yes, but I also wanted to leave it as soon as possible. With or without a goodbye, the ponies here didn’t exactly seem too friendly, mainly due to the hard lives that they have. At least I wasn’t sat within a large room, waiting for my core to soon burn and die out. Unfortunately, the town wasn’t as quiet as hoped. Hearing a cry from one of the civilians within the small village, I quickly turned my head to the sound.
“Thieves!”
The sound of gunfire echoed through the sky as the sight of the pony who cried on the alert was instantly shot down. I saw the blood from the impact spray onto the ground before staring in shock and then looking towards Crystal. But before my head could turn all the way, I felt a magical harness grip me before I felt myself get dragged along. Glancing in the direction of the sound of gunfire, I saw a band of ponies charging into Smileville loaded with small guns. They were covered in blistering, wooden armor that stuck to them like a magnet, with bandoliers strapped over them carrying some empty and even some loaded shells of ammo.
Hearing the dying screams of the innocent, I glanced to Crystal who quickly dragged me into an alleyway away from the danger. However, instead of letting me go, she kept me within the magical harness that wrapped around me like a strong belt of force. It was as if she knew that my intention was to help them fight off the Thieves instead of leaving them to die. I tried to shake myself around inside the glowing sky blue aura, but it didn’t work.
The alleyway was claustrophobic, dark and even wet. Darkness surrounded us like a plague, the brick tiling along the walls of the surrounding houses was covered in a moss that was covered in the sewage that came from the sewers below us. Looking out into the light, seeing ponies running before being shot down by the invaders made me cringe and even shocked at what the ponies who live within the Wasteland do. I had never seen anything like this before, even though I had my fair share of violence back in the Nexus.
“Stay here...let them pass, we’ll be lucky if they don’t find us!” Crystal hissed over me, keeping me inside of the barrier she had created around me. Seeing one of the intruders stop by the alleyway, as he levitated his large rifle beside him, emptying the clip and placing in a new one, I noticed him glance around as if he was scanning for anypony else to rob. These ponies didn’t just rob others, they also killed them.
Seeing the large buck that stood by the alleyway entrance look away from us, before levitating his rifle and firing an echoing shot bounced off the walls of the damp and dark alleyway. He was covered in the blood of those he had slaughtered to get the goods he needed. I wanted to help the others, but I couldn’t...even though the ponies of this town were unlikeable and unappealing, I still wanted to help them. Crystal’s strong grip on me however prevented me from doing so.
“L-let me go, they need help!” I struggled with a hiss, but her aura tightened on me. She looked at me sternly, also now using her hooves to hold me close to her. I couldn’t kick, nor could I even move within her strong magical grip...I was worthless inside of this barrier, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t free myself to assist the others.
She just remained silent, holding me within the tight barrier. I couldn’t move. The echoing gunfire and screams of agony was heard from within the streets of Smileville. Well, I had barely spent an hour in this new environment and I had already seen what this world was. The violent act of these invaders really shocked me; I was forced to watch all of it happen. All of the ponies being gunned down by the Thieves who had invaded the village.
As the violence soon stopped, I looked to Crystal with a bitter expression. Why didn’t she let me save them?! Why?! I could have done something good for once. The intruders of the village were now just looting the bodies of those they had killed and even looted them for any weapons, ammo, supplies and even currency. Which the currency part caught my eye. Seeing bent, rusted and even broken bottle caps get levitated by the Unicorns into their satchels that hung low on their bodies around their blistered armor, they soon looked towards each other before leaving out of the now empty ghost town of Smileville and out into the Wastes to where they came. I felt myself soon get released from Crystal’s grip, before I saw her step out into the empty streets of Smileville. Following her with a low growl, I glanced around at the many dead, bloody bodies that had been slaughtered by the invaders who had barged their way through the streets. I even saw foals that had been shot dead by them with no mercy. It was the first time I had ever seen any pure pony die or even get injured, and I must say...it wasn’t a pretty sight.
What seemed like hours had passed, Crystal and I were preparing to leave the small village we had been stationed in, I knew now that this world wasn’t going to be friendly at all. Completely defenceless and also weapon-less, my hopes were running low on if I was going to survive out there or not. Despite being an Android, if I was to take a lot of damage I would soon short circuit and soon shut down. Or as they call it, die. I was willing to search one last house for something to take for the journey ahead, I was hoping for a weapon of some form, but knowing that these ponies were poor and most barely managed to survive the attack, I knew I wouldn’t be able to find anything.
Walking through the doorway of a small and completely destroyed house, the living room had no ceiling. In fact, there was no roof above the heads of those who lived in the home. Looking up, I saw the frame of the house bent and crooked, hearing creeks as if it was going to all fall apart and collapse onto me. Seeing the couch had been toppled over and covered in bullet holes, I also saw two corpses behind the couch filled with bullet holes, and both lying in blood. One was of a mother who had been killed with her eyes open, and the other of a filly who had been forced to watch her mother die. However, walking over to a dirty, splintered drawer, I used one of my hooves to slowly open it up. What I saw inside was a small pistol, a few magazines and also a small tape recording beside them both. Staring in confusion, I soon took the recording from the drawer, and held it into my hooves. Since Crystal was not within the same house as me, I placed the small holotape into a small slot within my right foreleg before listening to it play inside of my head. The voice was of a mare...the mother of the child who had been killed within this house.
“Whoever is listening to this tape, you will know that I am dead. But, what I left for those who have found this tape is a few supplies that will help you out in the Wastes and hopefully, you’ll be more prepared than I was.
I heard about the attack the Thieves were planning, and I knew that one mare with a gun wouldn’t be able to change anything for the sake of others. But, you might be able to put it to better use than me. There are no caps unfortunately - but the gun works perfectly and it should be enough for you to take along with you on the long road you may walk alone. The Wasteland is a cruel and unforgiving place, there is no such thing as mercy out there in the barren Wastes of Equestria. The world has been rotting for centuries and it still is rotting. We might never see the day when light is casted over the Wasteland and we might never see the day that Equestria is made whole again.
I hope you use what I have given you to good use. Good luck, and remember...there’s always light at the end of the tunnel, even if you don’t believe in hope.”
The recording soon ended with a click. Removing the tape. I lifted one of my wings up, seeing a small compartment open up from underneath. Placing the holotape within the storage area, I also grabbed the gun and ammo before placing them into the fairly large storage compartment. Watching it close, I soon wrapped my robotic wing back over it before hearing the hoofsteps of a pony behind me. Quickly glancing back, I saw Crystal standing in the doorway. Her saddle bag was empty and fairly small now. It didn’t have anything in it; all I saw upon her face was a frown as she stared at me.
“Are you ready to go? We’d best hurry up before the Scavengers come for whatever’s left.” She spoke sternly. I blinked. She said...we? Come on, I had no idea who she was, so how would it work? Either way...I guess having help wouldn’t hurt.
“Who said there was a we?” I tilted my head, hearing my voice echoing on the walls. The feeling of dust from the crumbling ceiling dropped onto me as I kept my eyes fixed onto Crystal.
“I know you’re not from the Wasteland, I know you need help out there and you certainly cannot survive alone on your first day,” Crystal still had the stern voice coming from her mouth. However, she was right...I couldn’t survive out here even if I tried; having some assist would help me greatly. I had no choice but to accept.
“Okay - you’re right…” I simply responded, lifting a hoof slightly. But with a sigh, I walked over to her before stopping by her hooves and looking up at her with a small smile. “Thanks...I just didn’t think you would understand.”
“I understand - just stick close and you’ll be okay,” she smiled softly, her voice turning into an elegant, friendly voice. “I promise.”
Footnote: Level up!
New perk: Rusty Parts - your agility has increased by 20%, but due to this, your limbs are now weaker by 10% making your limbs easier to cripple.
Current level: 3
