Chapter Four: Gauge and Inette...*sigh* and Betty the Brahmin...

"Cute!"

"Yeah, super cute!"

"Funny, handsome, and probably really hung too!"

"Betty shut up, we've talked about your rambling. Don't make sow your mouth shut..." The two headed brahmin glared back at me but obeyed. I sat back in the wagon chair, goggles snug, cigarette lite. Doesn't really get any better than that. Been seven years on this side of the waste. Could have picked a better spot, could have picked a worse one. Just too much shady business from here to Old Mane. Gotta get this junk into shape, make some caps out of it. Faster we sell this orb though, the better. I knew it was risky but who's gonna know? Its not like those two idiots are gonna know were we are right? Even if they manage to spill our location we'll be kickin dust east before any pony notices. Besides, with Inette covering my ass, i'll be safe...

"You should be nicer to them Gauge, they do what you ask and they respect you for what you did for them. You could ease up on the tough pony act." Inette came from the back, just finishing strapping down most of newer inventory and a new passenger. Don't usually buy dead bodies...

"This an't an act Inette, this is how it is. And don't go saying that stuff out loud..."

"You know its true, and it is an act. Stop being so damn arrogant..."

"What the hell has gotten in your saddle? Did I hurt you or something?"

Inette glared at me, great,"You saved me from myself more times then i'd like to remember. I owe you my life. I just wish you'd take that more seriously. Betty and me, you mean a lot to us. We'er your family..."

I groaned, I hated when she did that. II hated being reminded of all that shit in the past. Its in the past so it can stay there, not so it can come back and visits for a week. I just want to sit back, smoke on this filthy cigarette and relax while my goggles cut the circulation from my face. Ya'know, just deal with the waste land, not women...Dammit, I do love these two...er, three? Urgh, doesn't matter, I went through so much just to keep them alive. And I kept doing it over the years. Gotten older, bones ache, can't hold a rifle the same way anymore. Get tired and cranky. Just wanna lay in the waste and rot sometimes. These two or three...Is Betty...fuck it. They are indeed my family, I just wish I could admit it, say it, but I had a family. Beautiful kids, wonderful wife. Had and old world service, never thought of it at first, thought my mare was crazy when she wanted to get married. Now, I just wish we could have gotten married everyday. Why not? Its fun, get to wear a nasty suit, kiss, go on a honey moon and get crazy. Bet the cake tasted better though, our cake had lots of different flavors. Could blame the cook. How do you burn icing?

We were getting further and further from rider. It was a nice place, Empty bottle and her sister are good ponies. But, it was full of cheapskates. Had to get way from that place. Made a little money but I'd rather go back to making weapons, fabricating ammunition. Those Readeamers knew how to live. Lost track of them though but ever since then i've been trying to find what suits me best in the waste. Hard to pin something down really.

Inette took her helmet off. She sighed," This heat is too much..."

"Not as bad down south, they get heat so bad that ponies burn alive. Cooked in their own skin..."

Inette grumbled," Can I just complain about something without you telling me something gruesome?"

"We live in a gruesome world. Been here too long to not notice it all ya'know?" We hit a bump. Heard a metal clanking sound when we hit it. Told Betty to stop, and she did. Inette raised her eyebrow at me, I looked at her sternly. She nodded her head and jumped out after me. I wasn't too surprised to see it but there it was, a whole mine field. Bunch of bottle cap mines. Who the hell took the time to do this? It was further away than the ones from rider though. There were some near the welcoming sign.

"Think its Raiders?"

"Maybe...they could be from the war. Nah, there not that old. Had to be when currency was switched over. But the war that took place in Rider, the one years ago. About ten years ago there was a huge showdown between these two warlord wannabes. Gathered up a bunch of guns for hire, some chem addicts...had a big bloodbath. You wanna know who won?"

Inette rolled her eyes," Doesn't really matter to me Gauge. Lets keep moving alright. That wagon train we saw earlier was fresh. I don't want to end up like them."

"Yeah...your right. Strange thing about that wreckage, there was some blood streaking from underneath a wagon. Like a pony just dragged themselves from under it. Probally dead now...poor pony...Alright lets go, mind the mines now!"

"Yeah, yeah, hurry up and get in ya old bastard!" Betty waited until we were in the wagon then took off. She stampeded through the mines.

"Betty what the hell are you doing!?" Some of the mines exploded and others just bumped against the wooden wheels. Wha the hell! Why is she...?!

"WOOOOOOOO!"

"This is fun huh!?"

"Betty this isn't a good idea!" Inette held on to the seat as the mad brahmin raced through the exploding streets of Old Rider.

"You crazy Bitch!"

Betty came to a complete halt and I shot right out of the wagon. Went flying, hit the door of our hut. My head was ringing, blood poured from my nose. I tried to stand but I ended up falling down again." Sorry Guage, guess we got a bit carried away!" Betty snickered as Inette hoped down off the side of the wagon.

~~~

Five years I was a slave. Three was spent trying to find my family. Some old family debt that followed me somehow. These asshole, they come out of nowhere demanding money, say that they'll execute us all if we don't pay up. The alternative wasn't any better. Some sympathizer suggested being and indentured servant. Basically meaning i'd be a slave. I wasn't treated too bad but i'd rather not share my experiences with the different masters. Got a scar for each one of them. Some scars that don't appear on the skin...Got tired of being owned, last master I had, choked'em to death. Escaped and bought a few others with me. I spent three years with a bunch of slaves searching for my family after that. They probably moved on...probally dead. Couldn't blame 'em either way really. I was young...thirty something...its been...shit...almost twenty years. Fucking waste, fucking waste of a life. Could've just killed those fuckers, I was just too fucking scared! Too fucking soft! I'd murder a whole goddessdamned family if thats what it took! I'd have done anything...anything...

~~~

"Fuck!"

"Hold still." Inette swabbed my cut. Bridge of my nose split right open. I swear, that brahmin is asking for it. "If you would have been a little nicer she wouldn't have done that. You know she can be a little...well she can be an ass."

"Ya think, ya really think so!?" I siged," I'm just on edge I guess. We gotta get this orb as far away from Rider as possible. Can't stop in this hut for long..."

"Once we sell it, we'll be rich. What should we do with it all?" Inette dabbed the rag again with whisky. Didn't want to waste potions, I didn't want to waste whisky.

"Retire, stockpile, wait for these assholes to blow themselves sky high."

Inette dabbed my cut again," You really think its that unstable...that it could..."

"Yes, and when it does, we'll be long gone. They would have gotten there filthy hooves on the orb soon enough, might as well milk it for all its worth before the fuck this miserable place up even more." I brushed away Inettes hoof," Thats good enough..."

I trotted to my cot. I was tired. This day only made me feel even more so. I just wanted to rest and get on with the next day. I took off my hat and and laid my goggles next to them on the table. The hut was small, just enough room for the two of us, Betty was outside. Thin sheets and a rotting mattress was what kept us comftable."G-goodnight Gauge..." Inette called out on the other side of the room.

"Turn the lamp off when you get in the bed...and goodnight Inette..."

~~~

She stared up at me, apologizing with those pitiful eyes. They were puffy and red. Her eyes were naturally red though, the irises of course. Her clothes were messy, stained. It looked as if she had been crying too. I approached her slowly but she flinched. Her eyes shut tightly when I raised my hoof. The feeling in my chest tightened, I felt pity, then I felt dirty for pitting my only friend in this world. She forced her eyes open and yelled something. Before I could answer she was holding my legs, hugging them, she was squeezing tighter and tighter. I wanted to kick her off, scold her. She was weak...I was weak without her. I let her cry into my hooves. A few tears dropped from my face. The scars on her legs, the dried blood. The bruises, the bight marks, she was shaking...I thought, I could end her pain, kill her, save her from this world...no, i'll let her suffer. She's all the family I have left...

~~~

"Pass me that over there...Thanks...alright, I think thats it."

We had finally finished packing up the loot. I strapped a small pistol to my underside just in case. Don't even know if i'll be able to hold it steady. Damn hooves are fucked, teeth are chattery, rather have a weapon then none though. Inette loaded her assault rifle. Made it herself, I helped...mostly. Picked her out of a line of ponies for hire. Needed some pony permanent, a pony I could trust with my life. Put her through the test and she passed, one thing about her stood out though. The one thing that made me doubt her, she's been so good for a while now.

Inette trotted to the door," I'll check on Betty..."

"Hey Inette...thanks..."

"All I did was pass you a knife Gauge..."

"No, not that dammit, I mean thanks for...thanks for having my back. I'm not the same stallion I use to be." Inette paused, she smiled and reached for the door. I heard something though...something, some pony...,"Inette!" I whispered loudly.

She stared at me with a confused look," Wh-"

I motioned for her to be quiet, she reluctantly listened. I pointed to my gun then pointed at her. She raised an eyebrow, thought it over then unsheathed her rifle from her back. She inched her way back to the table. She leaned against the table holding the rifle level with it. The door opened slowly...

"Don't sho-"

The feminine voice was cut short once Inettes bullet burst through the air. The bullet struck the mare in the head. Strange, no splatter. " Hold your fire. Keep that gun on her though." I slowly made my way to the mare. She was a scibe, unicorn, with the steel rangers i'd think. She had a couple of grenades, and a interesting looking revolver. Still in the holster. Opps...

"I said don't shoot..." The mare groaned. She held her head and staggered upward. Her horn started to glow.

"Hey, no tricks!" Inette took aim," Next shot will blow your head off!"

The mare stared at Inette," If I wanted you dead...Please, I'm just pulling out a potion. I didn't realize how little you'd tolerate visitors."

"How about you start with who you are before you start getting smart. Hate to have our first house guest to end up murdered in cold blood..."

The mare siged, she drunk the potion and wiped her face," I'm Sweat Peas..."

"Ha! Ha, ha...ahhahaahaaaha! Your what!?"

"My name is Sweat Peas, i'd apriciete it if you showed a little respect. You showed me more of that when you shot me..." Sweat Peas cleared her throat, I stopped laughing for her sake. Was pretty damned funny though." I'm here for something you two have. An artifact that could have dire effects on the waste. I need that orb, I know you have it, and i'll kill you both for it..."

Inette's hoof lightly grazed the trigger," You'd really kill us both, for some stupid orb?"

"You know its worth, or you wouldn't have risked bringing it here! Your both already in danger! The ones who seek that orb have already sent hunters, scavengers, and bounty hunters to find it! Their paying high prices for that orb. They don't care who dies over it! Give the orb to me and save yourself the trouble...!" Sweat Peas stared at me with wide, intimidating eyes, but they pleaded with a familiar sincerity. She might have a silly name, she might be a little assertive, but I believed her. Fuck the caps, I just wanted to be away from all this shit. Making money off this orb would have just put me right in the middle.

"Alright...I believe you..." Inette's jaw dropped. Sweat Peas smiled brightly.

"T-thank you...I...Thank you..."

"Gauge? What about the caps? How are we going to retire without it...Gauge?"

"Just get the orb Inette, i'm sick and tired of living this life as it is. We fix this shit up, sell it and move on. I'm slowing ya down anyway..."

Inette stared at me with hurt in her eyes. I swear if she starts crying...She reached inside the red puch and pulled out the orb. Sweat Peas held the orb in her magic. It floated to her," If you two wouldn't mind watching me as I delve into this orb...i'd be very grateful."

Inette gave me the look I gave her," Not a problem...?"

"Thank you...this might take a while..."

~~~

Repentence of sins. He told me thats what the water was for, to cleanse the dirtied vessel of his treacherous deeds. I laughed when he said that. He was my drinking buddy and now his some fancy preacher with a twisted daughter and a dead wife. I wasn't even sure if was going by the same name anymore. Didn't matter, told him that that life wasn't for me...not yet. Told him right off that I had the perfect candidate. She was hesitant but she took a shine to the daughter after they spent some time talking. She was beautiful when she tried, when she didn't...she was stunning. The way she fought, the way she challenged fate. Now, she was a shivering mess. Waking up in cold sweats, convulsing, vomiting everywhere...she disgust me. Instead of leaving her to the waste, I took'er back to get her fixed up. She was my warrior, my best friend, I needed her better. Jobe was the only pony I knew who could scare sobriety into any being of existence. I never asked what he did to her to make her quite for good...I didn't want to know...Tried to reach him again one day, never found him again. Locals say he just up and left after he heard the goddess command him to find the "end of the world". Sounded like some crazed ponies fantasy. Maybe the waste finally did him in. Maybe even the ones with there souls saved can't hide there broken parts forever. I wished long and hard that I wouldn't end up like him, and I didn't, i'm just worse. I'm aware of just how fucked I am, and now, I don't know how to take that. One thing for sure, I got my stunning warrior back...I need that to last...a little while longer...

Don't have much time left...

~~~

"Its as I feared...thank you. I will see to it that your rewarded..."

"Just do what you have to Sweat Peas...Sorry about the bullet though."

"I deserve much worse...," Sweat Peas eyes had a sad shine to them. Her yellow eyes focused on the door." And Inette...?"

Inette rasied her head," Yes?"

"Tell him..."

"Excuse me!"

I heard six hammers pull back, from outside," Inet-!" Inettes face was frozen in disbelief. A looked down, the hole she was staring at was on me. Oh yeah, theres a hole in me. It was slowed down, but by the time I noticed the wound, it was over. Rounds from what I believe to be six revolvers pierced the hut and ate through us all in as little as ten seconds. We all fell to the ground. I saw Inette twitching, trying to say something. The orb rested in both of the mare's blood. I watched as we all bleed to death.

Not how I wanted my retirement to go...