Chapter One: My Average Day
And another one down the hatch. The burn from the whiskey was long lost as I took another shot. I didn’t care much about anything at that moment. I didn’t even care about the ponies trying to break down the door to get to me. Whether they were going to kill me or try to take me alive I didn’t know. All I knew was that they were coming for me. Coming to claim the small bounty for one Destin Unum. So I just sat there staring at the door I had blockaded with random file cabinets. Hell, all I had left was one shot in my revolver and a half a mag in my rifle. Sure, I could get a shot or two off, but… it’d be useless in the end. Unless….
I floated my revolver up and stared at it. It was a beautiful piece and it looked like a custom make. The basis was the same as other .357’s, but it was lined with fine gold strips along the barrel and the grip was some sort of dark wood with a small purple hat on each side of it. The only part that confused though me was the small indention on the top which looked like it could fit something, but I wasn't sure what.
I sighed as I slowly brought it up and pressed the barrel against my head. Guess I’m not gonna find out what that thing is for. I thought as I took another deep drink of the whiskey. Surprising how such a petty thought was to be my last. I closed my eyes as I took a deep breath. One shot, and there’d be no more pain. No more running. One shot and I’d finally have beat the wastes to something.
“Wow. Never took you for a quitter.”
I spun around to the voice. Big mistake. My head span faster than I did and I fell to the floor. I lost my grip on my gun and it fell next to me, the barrel pointing at a dark blue batpony with an even darker mane and tail. Shadow Fall. A rather ruggedly handsome pony who’s not deranged, or wants to kill me or eat me or enslave me or whatever else those of the waste did. The perfect stallion in this fucked up world besides the small device around his neck. Some sort of Voice modulator that changed his voice so we could hear him. He had yet to explain how he had gotten it and tended to avoid any questions pertaining to it.
I watched as a smirk slid across his muzzle as he hopped down from the barren window sill and walked over to me.
“Well I didn’ zink you’d come,” I muttered, averting my eyes as my face heated up. I didn’t like him to see me drunk and now he was seeing me drunk, messing up my words, and almost committing suicide. Just how I wanted to look. For a moment I thought he was coming to help me up, but another particularly loud crash against the door brought my attention back to the present problem.
“We should go,” Shadow said quickly as he ran back to the window instead of helping me up.
“Yeah, yeah,” I mumbled and rose to my hooves. I had to take a quick moment to balance myself before I picked up and holstered my revolver. “Zo how we getting outta he- Whoa, hey!” I yelled as he pushed me to the window, “Whatcha zink yer doin’ Shadow?”
“Escaping.” That was about all the warning I got before he shoved me out of the window. Being drunk, my attempt at preventing myself from falling only helped it and I fell out… and then down. For a split second I was beyond pissed at Shadow, but as I saw the ground my intoxicated mind decided to try and fix the situation. Maybe if I wish hard enough I’ll fly and not splatter against the pavement! And since it was the only idea I could come up with I flailed my forelegs in an attempt to mimic wings.
I continued to fall for a few more seconds until suddenly I no longer felt like I was falling. Was I dead? I peeked open an eye and looked down to see the ground moving past below me. I was flying! I raised my hooves and gave a whoop when I felt something tighten around my chest. I glanced down a bit further to see a pair of forelegs wrapped around me. I followed them up to spot Shadow was in fact carrying me. So I wasn’t flying, but I did enjoy the feeling of him holding me. I’d always imagined other situations where he was holding me. I enjoyed it though. At least until my stomach decided to take acrobatic lessons and do a couple flips. I threw up, and since we were flying in the same direction I essentially threw up on myself. The stench mixed with the foul taste of bile made me vomit again, and again, and again. Soon I couldn’t throw up anymore so I just hung there weakly and
even more embarrassed now than ever until sleep took away my worries.
This dream. The same dream I’d been having for a while ever since the experiment. It was me and, well, five other Destin’s. All with the same pitch black coat, striking white mane, red eyes, and even the same cutie mark. That cutie mark. The one which was not my first but is now mine. All because of the experiment. My cutie mark was simple. Five lines starting at the five points of a star which swirled to a single center point. I was the center point. The five lines were my five alternate personalities.
The five are actually fragments of my one and after talking with them I had come to learn which parts they were: Lust, Anger, Fear, Compassion, and… madness. Each acted different based on those basic emotions. Those were the five lines and I was the center point. I was the neutral. The original. I kept us all together.
“And what a fine job you’re doing seeing as you almost killed us all!” One growled, almost immediately receiving a glare from another. This one was Anger. I didn’t feel like having to give them all specific names so I just named them after their emotions. Besides, I was too busy staying alive to worry about their names.
“Be nice. He didn’t think the others would come for him after what happened. It was a completely rational response,” Another, Compassion, defended.
Anger scoffed and looked away. “I knew Shadow would come.”
“Liar,” said another. When that one cowered at Anger’s glare I found that one was fear.
Lust was, as usual, looking me over. No matter how many times he did that it still made me feel weird considering I was essentially checking myself out.
“What? I can’t look?” Lust asked defensively. And the annoying part about all this is that I can’t really keep any thoughts to myself. Not one thought.
“Well of course not! We’re all in your head and your thoughts are in your head so it only makes sense that we know your thoughts,” the last, Madness or Madd as I tended to call him, reasoned before continuing, “Then again, what’s the fun in making sense?” Sometimes he made more sense than I did, which was unnerving at times considering the things he did.
“Must we always have the same conversations?” I asked, beginning to once again become irritated by the repetition of this dream.
“Well if you hate this dream so much why don’t you go have another one?” Anger asked, irritated.
“It’s not like I have much choice in dreams,” I retorted. Suddenly I felt a body rub against my side. I could tell it was Lust as he kissed lightly behind my ear.
“This is your mind, make your dream,” he explained in his usual sultry tone, “Like this.” The black surroundings we had been in dissipated and was replaced with a fairly simple room. It was clean and candle lit from the looks of it and…. My eyes caught on one sight. It was a bed, and on it was Shadow, laying a if waiting for me with the most loving look. My ears fell flat and I could feel my face burning red as I tried to look away.
“Time to wake up,” Lust said, except it wasn’t Lust’s voice. I didn’t get a chance to question as everything vanished.
I jerked awake, cold water dripping off of my coat. Thank you wake up call. I thought to myself. I was about to ask who exactly threw the water on me when another bucket was placed at my hooves. I looked up and spotted Diction. He wasn’t the rugged handsome Shadow was, but he did look cute. What with his purple and almost white- blue mane and those light blue eyes which seem so bright against his mint green coat. He looked like a sore thumb when it came to the wastes. Made it hard for him to hide. Not to mention he didn’t fight at all. Hell, he’d never even shot a gun yet. Which was surprising given where we've gone.
“Thought you might want to clean up,” he said, interrupting my thoughts, “and there’s some RadAway over there.”
It was at that that I noticed a rather insistent and annoying ticking coming from my PipBuck. Shouldn’t have been surprised considering how hard it was to find clean water. I didn’t complain though. The vomit that had matted my fur was getting wet thanks to the first bucket Diction had poured on me and the stench was returning.
I felt my face flush as I pulled the bucket and took out the rag floating inside.
“Thank you,” I muttered as he left the room. As I worked to get myself clean I glanced to see where they had decided to hold up. From the looks of it we were in some shack at best. Shadow must have flown us all the way out of the city. I couldn’t help but ask myself why he would do that. Why he would even come back for me after our argument over my reckless behavior.
He was right to be mad. More than once had I put us in danger, or put myself in danger and they came to help. Not to mention my drinking, which I really didn't think was a problem. It helped... mostly. I felt pathetic though. I never seemed to think of others when I acted. I didn't think of the consequences. They had trust in me and in return I put them in danger, but not anymore. I was gonna make a change.
I shook my head and set down the rag. I had gotten all of it clean, and I definitely felt better. I'd probably have felt even better once I was dry so that damned ticking would stop. I shook most of it off and dried the rest with what I guessed was an old garment. Yep, much better. I smiled and picked up the RadAway.
"Thank you Diction," I said to myself, chuckling a little before downing the drink. It wasn't too bad. Not something I liked to drink often, but after one case of radiation sickness I got real appreciative of the taste.
I pushed the door open and stepped outside, checking my chest real quick to make sure I got it all.
"So where are we hea-" I stopped as I looked up to the ever so warm welcome of a barrel being pointed at my face. Behind this barrel was, of course, a mercenary. Oh, and look! This one's a gryphon! That's a change of pace, and there was four of them. Fun.
"Well lookie here! Looks like we've got two of the three," my personal captor said. Still the same mercenary attitude though. I had to say though. He looked good for a gryphon. He was plain with light brown feathers and fur. It definitely matched nicely with the black armor with the familiar Talon Company symbol on it. Nice haunches too. With his size he might have a big - PAIN!
I stumbled slightly, my head stinging from the blow.
"Hey bitch!" The gryphon growled, pressing the barrel of the 9mm to my head. "Eyes up here and answer the question. Where's the batpony?"
Shadow?! They hadn't gotten Shadow yet. They were probably going to kill him considering his past. My eye twitched and slowly my jaw clenched tight.
"You... will never hurt him," I growled in returned and I let go. This was where Anger worked best and now it was his turn to help guide my actions.
Before he could react, a crack sounded through the air and the brown gryphon flew through the wall into the house. I turned to see where the shot had come from to see Shadow hovering in the sky with a smug grin.
"Well... come get you some," he taunted to great effect as two of the other gryphons took flight. I saw Shadow take off and the two take after him, leaving the last gryphon to hold Diction and me.
I turned to the last gryphon and smirked as she pressed her own gun against Diction's head. "Try anything and he dies," she warned. I sighed as I raised my own revolver. "I'm warning you!"
"You don't warn me," I growled. Before I even brought my revolver all the way up I slipped into S.A.T.S, or Stable-tech Auto Targeting System. The world around me slowed to a crawl as I targeted one shot for the head. As things began to speed back up my gun raised and one shot fired off. The bullet flew with the deadly accuracy of S.A.T.S and I watched as the back of her head exploded.
A grin swept across my face as her body crumpled and fell. I holstered my revolver, still grinning. That grin didn't last long as I heard a crash of wood and metal. I looked to the house to see the brown gryphon climbing out of the rubble. How the hell was he still alive?! A shot like that should have killed hi- oh, right. He had metal plated armor. Luckily for me he had to take it off. Probably because the shot had dented it in painfully. Not luckily for me he still had the blades on his wings so that was a problem. Then again all I had to do was put one shot through the chest with my-....
I had just noticed that I no longer felt the weight of my rifle on my back. Fuck... my life.
"Stupid bitch. May only be half the price to bring back your head, but I think the pleasure of killing your bitch ass will make up
for that." With that he charged at me, using his bladed wings to strike out at me. I dodged once, twice. Hey, this wasn't that hard, or so I thought until one blade cut down across my left eye. Pained seared through my mind and I could feel the blood already running down my face. That severely pissed my off. Yelling I launched myself at my attacker, not caring anymore. I just wanted to smash his filthy head in. It was at the second serious cut down along my right foreleg that I lost control. Anger took over and I blacked out.
Slowly I regained control of my body. First was hearing and just in time to hear myself say, "Who's the bitch now?" Lovely way to leave Anger. Just lovely. Next came taste and with it the coppery taste of blood. Then I regained feeling in my limbs. I wish I hadn't. There was so much pain from so many cuts, big and small and I could feel the blood soaking my fur. Finally my other senses came back and I saw just how things had turned out.
The sight was a little horrid. Not the worst I'd seen in my time in the waste, but still not something I wanted to look at. I myself was soaked in blood up to my chest and probably more. Beneath my hooves laid the brown gryphon. His head was not much more than mush and bones. It was completely crushed and smashed beyond recognition of even being a head besides where the gore was in comparison to the body. If I wasn't so used to worse sights I might have lost my lunch, not that I had had any recently. Instead I stumbled away from the corpse and sat down, leaning slightly against the side of the building.
I took a shaky breath in and slowly let it out. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Diction hesitantly step out from the side of the house.
"Are you..." he started, "Y'know. You?"
I gave a light nod which was about all I had the energy to do. Thankfully that was all he needed and he trotted over. I could tell he was clearly avoiding looking at the brown gryphon and I couldn't blame him. I didn't want to look at it myself.
"You really shouldn't be so reckless," He told me. His voice was soft, caring, if a little scolding.
"Yeah, I know." Sometimes I couldn't help it though. I watched as he brought a rag from his saddlebag. I hissed as he started to clean my eye. It was bad enough that the cut was recent, but now he was reopening it. Prick.
"Stop squirming you big baby."
"Yes mother," I retorted, but I did as he said and held still as best I could. It hurt. Then again so did most of the things in the wasteland. Suddenly a thought struck me.
"Have you seen-" I didn't get to finish as Shadow landed next to me. I hadn't even heard him fly over. I checked him over. Not because I enjoyed it, though I did, but because I wanted to make sure he wasn't hurt. He seemed to be doing the same thing with me until he looked to Diction.
"How bad?" He asked simply. Always to the point.
"Well he's got a couple bad cuts and plenty of small ones," Diction replied, "Two are more serious than the rest. His eye because of where it's at and his leg because of the length and depth. Luckily I don't think he'll lose his vision because it didn't get to his eye, but we're out of healing potions so it'll leave a scar." Great, now I'm gonna have a scar to deal with. "Same with his foreleg." Make that two.
"Can he walk?" Shadow asked.
"Yeah, I can-"
"He can," Diction interrupted, "if we wrap it first. The cut is still fresh and if he walks on it it'll reopen and he could pass out from blood loss. Not to mention we'll have to stop to re-bandage it to prevent infection." Eeyup. Leave it to Diction to be smart and make things difficult. Though in his defense it was to save my life.
Shadow looked me over again. Damn how I wished it were for a different reason. "Get it done. We need to leave as soon as possible," he told Diction before walking away, giving me a nice view. At least until Diction bonked me on the head.
"Y'know. I'm starting to wonder about you." Yeah, you and me both. Then another thought came to mind. What happened to those other two gryphons?
Level up.
New Perk.
Pistol Proficiency 1: You are now 25% more accurate with pistols while in S.A.T.S.
They say your past defines you. In some cases they would be wrong. In my case they couldn't be more right. Even before I came out to the wastes my past defined me. Before I was born, my future was essentially decided. In Stable 52 where I was born your heritage, your past, determined your future.
In Stable 52 there were essentially five types of ponies. Five Classes of ponies. Your class determined which section, or "Block", you lived in as well as where you stood in the order of things.
At the top were those of Class E. They were the high and hoity scientists and higher ups. Of them is, of course, the Overmare, the Chief of the Guard, and the Scientist's Board of Directors. They were the ones who made all the decision of our lives. Down to when we had to sleep. Being at the top, they had clearance to just about anything and anywhere in the Stable.
Below them were the ponies of Class A. They were essentially the normal ones who had all the maintenance and security jobs. Though they were below Class E they did have clearance to enter any Block that they needed to, but they weren't able to do everything. They also made up about a fourth of Stable 52's overall population.
The assistants of Class A and those who did most of the menial labor were those of Class C. They were generally overlooked because they were never expected to do more than simple tasks. Well, simple tasks or dangerous tasks, which is one reason Class C made up less than a fourth of the population.
Then there was my Class. Class F. We were the expendables. The ones bred to be experimented on and used. We were nothing more than materials used to solve whatever petty question some scientist might have. The worst part was that if you were born in a Class, then that was the Class you stayed in. You had no choice or say. That's your Class. End of story.
There were, however, rare cases in which ponies were transferred from a higher Class to Class F with the Overmare's approval. These were generally because of some sort of birth defect or other misfortune which caused one to be "Otherwise useless to the Stable's society." A more common transfer was from Class F to the one Class nopony ever wanted to be a part of. Class Q: the quarantine class. They were the ones who had once been normal ponies, but after some experiments, or many experiments, gone wrong they were transferred. They weren't even considered ponies after that. They were barely considered living. How could one live through such things?
And we just let it happen. Class F was the largest populated Class in Stable 52 and we never rebelled. We never fought back. We never resisted. We just accepted our fate. After all. "The Overmare knows best."
Each Class had a specific sector they lived in. Every pony in each Class had a passcard. Each passcard held your name, gender, race, Class, occupation, restrictions, and clearance. It was required that everypony had their passcard with them at all times. Any pony found without their passcard was punished. Of course the punishment differed depending on who it was. A pony of Class E might get suspended for a bit while a pony of Class F could get as many as 20 lashes.
That was the world I had lived in for years. And I lived alone for most of it. My parents had died when I was young due to the scientists "tests". Luckily I was too young for them to test on or they might have come for me as well. One major rule the scientists had to follow was that they could not test on any pony younger than the age of sixteen.
My parents had never been brought in for testing for a long time, even for a few years after I was born. That changed when the new Overmare took over. No more than a week after she took office my mom and dad were taken for experiments. At the time no pony thought about it. It was common for this to happen after all, but then they were taken for test after test until their bodies couldn't take it anymore. I didn't find out they had died until the morning after and I didn't believe a word. I spent days searching for them to no avail until finally I broke down. I locked myself in my room, and for a while I didn't eat and I barely slept.
So I lived alone mostly. I didn't really want to talk to any of the others. Until Diction came. He was one of the few Class E's that was accepted among us. We had to accept all of them, but there were some we liked to have visit us. He came to find me and since he was about my age I trusted him more than the adults. I let him in one day and for once I was almost happy.
So he visited and we laughed and joked and played. We became friends as the years went on, but I still didn't leave my room much. On my birthday I locked my door again and didn't come out. I barricaded it with my bed and dresser. It was a crushing reminder that I had no family as I remembered how they would always wake me early on my birthday. How we'd gather at the table to eat breakfast together before I opened my gifts. Now there was no wake up call. Just a descending silence. I didn't come out for a couple days after that. I wanted to be alone, and the others respected that. That is, until the Overmare paid me a visit.
It wasn't hard for the security guards to push my barricade out of the way to let her in. She was a light magenta coated mare with a dark pink mane, but what I remembered most about her was her bright red eyes which were so much like my own. I remembered what she said too.
"Well, well. Letting yourself die?" There was no compassion in her voice, only distaste. "Go ahead. It'll save me the trouble of waiting. Either way though, you will die and my problem will be solved." She gave a cheery, but grim smile as she turned away. "Ta-ta!" Short and to the point as I soon realized she always was.
I had to thank her for that though. If she hadn't visited I may have let myself die, but at that moment I hated her more than anything. I wanted to spite her and to do so I survived. I started eating and sleeping and learning everything I could to use to my advantage. I even learned a lot about my PipBuck which is hard when one is confined to F-Block.
But the day before my sixteenth birthday I was afraid. The Overmare wanted me dead and the next day she could start. I still remember those two days.
I stared at my passcard. All the information any pony needed about me was on there. My name was bodly placed at the top. Below it in smaller print was the rest of the information. The part I remained looking at was my Date of Birth. A date I feared.
I jumped at the sound of my door sliding open. My fear doubled as I saw who it was standing in the doorway.
The Overmare smiled as she stepped inside. "Well, well. It seems our little waiting game is nearing an end."
"Why do you want me dead?" I had to know. Surely she had a reason.
"Don't worry about that. Just go along with Diction so that he can get the information that he and his partner need."
Diction? No. Diction promised. He said he wouldn't. At least that's what I believed until I saw him step into the room. I wasn't sure what I felt more: disbelief or anger. Anger won out as I saw the Overmare's smirk. I wanted to wipe that smirk off of her face so bad, but I knew the consequences of doing so.
"I'm sure you two friends will enjoy catching up. Now I'd love to stay, but i have work to do. Ta-ta." And with that the Overmare left.
"Why are you-" Diction raised his hoof, stopping me.
"I'll explain, but.... Just come on for now," he told me before walking out. I grabbed my passcard and followed after him.
I wasn't really nervous until we exited F-Block. I had never been out of the section assigned to me and now I was going to one that was assigned for those I held such disdain for. It all looked the same, but where everything was was different. It actually scared me a little to not know where I was going. It didn't help that all of the ponies we passed avoided looking at me as if I was nonexistent.
When we finally stopped, Diction swiped his card through the reader to the side of the door.
"Come on," he told me simply as he stepped inside. I stepped in after him, expecting a lab room. Instead I found myself in somepony's living quarters. By the way everything was neatly arranged I assumed it was Diction's.
"So why did you bring me here? I thought you were going to test on me," I asked sharply. I turned back to Diction who was on his terminal.
He stepped back from it. "I'll explain everything, but first there's a file on there you need to look at. We don't have time for you to look at it now, but there is time for you to download it to your PipBuck."
"And why should I trust you?"
"Because," Diction started before giving an irritated huff, "Look, we don't have time for this. We've been friends for years and I'm asking you now to trust me."
I wasn't sure if I could. He had made a promise and now he was breaking it. But why would he befriend me only to betray me when he could easily not? The more I thought about it, the more unsure I became. If what he said was true then I needed to make a decision though.
I stepped foreword and plugged my PipBuck into the terminal. "Fine, but you have to tell me what exactly is going on."
"I will. Now copy the file named "Bloodline", and hurry." It didn't take me long to find the file and even less time to copy the image document over to my PipBuck. I unplugged my PipBuck and turned to Diction.
"Now what the hell is going on?" I wanted answers and I wanted them before I was essentially put on death row.
"Okay, so the Overmare wants you dead," he said quickly. Yeah, tell me something I don't know. "The reason why is because she believes she is 'cleansing the bloodline'. Apparently both you and her share a common ancestor back to the first Overmare."
Now I knew he was lying. "If that's true then why am I in Class F? You're put in the Class you were born in after all."
"Look, the answer to that is in the file. You can look at it when you get back to your room. For now we're out of time and I need to get you checked in," Diction replied. He sounded... sorry, if not hurried. Maybe he really was trying to help.
Diction didn't say anything more. He just walked out and down the hall and I followed after.
The check-in didn't take as long as I had expected and soon I was back in my own room. Truthfully, it had been nothing more than a moment for him to gather simple information like height and weight. I had barely paid any attention, besides when I was told to do something. I was too busy wondering what was in that file.
I locked my door and sat on my bed as I started through my PipBuck, quickly finding the file. When I opened it I saw it was an image of what looked like a rather long family tree. The title at the top got my attention quickly. "The First Overmare's Bloodline".
Well one thing Diction told me was true. At the top was two names: Scarlet Petal and Mint Fallow. From them, lines and names sprouted off. As the names continued down, some continued while others came to an abrupt stop.
I skipped down to the bottom of the tree and I stopped. I touched the screen softly, trying to reach through and touch the names of my parents. I sniffed a little, wiping my face before clearing my throat. I no longer had time for tears anymore.
That simple thought brought reality crashing down. I was going to die, and it was all because of this stupid family tree. I saw my own name at the bottom and on the other side was the Overmare's name: Silica Dowel. She wanted to clean her precious bloodline of the shame of a Class F. And there was nothing I could do to stop it.
I laid down and closed my eyes. There was nothing I could do anymore now. I prepared myself for what the next day held as I fell asleep.
I woke to the sound of soft tapping against my door. At first I thought I had imagined it, but it came once more. Slowly, I climbed out of bed and walked to the door. I unlocked it and opened it to see who it was. There was no one there. I stepped up more and stuck my head out to look down the halls. Nothing. Sighing, I blamed my imagination as I stepped back, but I didn't close the door.
Laying there on the floor in front of my door was a small package. I stepped back up and looked down the halls just to make sure I hadn't missed anything. Nope, still empty.
I picked up the box and brought it in before closing the door. I set the box down and sat down myself. The box was simple. Nothing overly special about it besides it being left out in front of my door. Seemed a bit suspicious. There was, however, a small not placed in the folded top
I brought it up. "To Destin. Happy Birthday from your family of Class F," I muttered aloud before flipping it open.
Destin. Know that all of us know of the upcoming test and many disagree with its happening. We have come to question the motives of the new Overmare and we have come to a decision. For years those of Class F have been looking for a way out, but as of yet we haven't found the opportunity. We now believe that you may have that you may have that opportunity. Your friend, Diction, is kind of heart and we hope that you can convince him to help in your escape. We know this is sudden, but if you can make it out then so can we. There is not enough time to explain it all, but inside is a chip. Use it and transfer the file to your PipBuck. They are the key.
Escape? Escape was impossible. The only escape was death or leaving the Stable, which led to death. This was seeming more and more like some cruel joke made by the Overmare to get me killed. To instill hope before crushing it.
Frustrated, I crumpled up the note and sent it across the room before turning my attention to the small box. Time I saw what this was all about. I opened the box and quickly spotted the chip like the note said.
I took it out and fit it into my PipBuck. It took a moment to read the data before coming up with two files: an audio and text file. I copied the files so I could have it personally on my PipBuck. i decided to listen to the audio file first.
It was a mare's voice. It was one that I didn't recognize, but most likely it was a mare from another Class. "The Stable is now locked down until the overland is safe. For the future Overmare's use, the pass code to open the Stable door is 'Pommel'."
There was no way this was true, but... what if there really was a way out? I could escape and live, supposing the world outside didn't kill me, but I'd need Diction's help. Which meant if that there was a trap then I'd be putting him in danger as well. I wasn't sure if I could ask, even if he did break his promise. I was even less sure I could do it without him though.
Maybe the other file-. At the sound of somepony coming I pushed the box beneath my bed and tried to act like I was just getting up. As the door opened I glanced to see who it was. A sigh of relief passed my lips as I saw Diction. That is, until I got a better look at him.
"It's time to go," Diction told me. He wouldn't look me in the eyes. He didn't even give me a chance to ask where we were going as he walked away. Not that I needed to ask. I trotted to catch up with him.
Ask him. But how could I convince him? Give him the chip. But.... Do it before it's too late. I bit my lip as I tried to choose. The sight of the door to E-Block made me realize it was now or never.
"Diction, I need your help,"
"With what?" Diction asked, his voice low.
"I need your help to escape." That got his attention. He stopped and turned to me and I could tell by his look he thought I was crazy.
"Escape?! Are you crazy?!" Called it. "There's nowhere to go!"
"Yes there is! There's a way out of this Stable!" I told him, though I still doubted it myself and I knew it wouldn't be enough, "Look. Take this and look at it and tell me there's not a way out." I took the small chip out of my PipBuck and gave it to him.
For a moment he just looked at me as if he was trying to decide whether or not he should believe me. Eventually he took the chip and put it in one of his pockets.
"I'll look at it later, but right now we have to go," He said before continuing on. That was all I could ask for. Well, that and to not die.
Again, I felt fear creep into me as we left F-Block. this time it was because I felt it might be the last time I see it. The last time I'd see those I had come to call family. Even the mare I kind of liked.
I was so wrapped up in thinking about the past that I almost didn't realize Diction had stopped. This lab was closer than where the check-in had happened. He opened the door we had stopped by and stepped inside. The room was a lot less grim then I had expected it to be. Actually, it was quite clean and the tools I could see were neatly arranged. Nothing looked dangerous, but it didn't ease my distrust.
Especially when I noticed that me and Diction weren't the only ones in the room. It was unnerving how the other stallion was just standing there, staring at me. It didn't help that he was whiter than the medical uniform he was wearing and his eyes were an odd, faded pink.
Diction didn't seem to have the same hesitance and walked up beside the white stallion and turned to me.
"This test will be a simple one. I ask that you cooperate with both the orders from myself and my assistant, Pale Cross. If you resist or refuse to cooperate in any way, security will be called and you will be forced to participate. Do you have any questions?" Diction asked, quite formally. I could tell this was some sort of formality that he was required to do by the mechanical way he said it.
"No," I lied. I did have a question, but I had a feeling this wasn't the time. That and that was obviously the right answer because Pale smiled, and even that was unnerving.
"Good. Now Pale Cross will prepare everything while I go and finish out the paperwork." With that, Diction left me alone with Cross.
I stood there, feeling nervous and a bit fearful as I watched the other stallion. He didn't say anything as he pulled a tray and placed it on a small table. On it was an assortment of pills.
"Take these," Cross told me as he set a cup of water on the tray as well, "All of them."
Hesitantly, I stepped over and looked down at the pills. I didn't want to take any of them, but I knew that if I didn't take them willingly then I would be forced to. Against my better judgement I swallowed each pill with a sip of water.
"Now stand here with your hooves on the marked places," Cross told me as soon as I finished. Already I felt odd as I stepped over to the spot mentioned. I felt... confused. I could feel my heart hammering like I was afraid, but I felt nothing emotionally. I felt mentally numb. I felt... separated.
I snapped out of my stupor as an odd rubbery material clamped around my hooves, neck, and my entire midsection. Oddly enough I wasn't panicking, or was I? I knew I should struggle, but I didn't feel the need to.
I did try to move some, but the most I could do was turn my head and watch as Cross brought over a dome like piece. There were several wires coming out of the top of it and falling down before snaking out of sight. As he fitted it onto my head he smiled with a cruel enjoyment.
"I'm glad the Overmare finally allowed me to conduct my own experiment. I've always wanted to break a mind," he said in a disturbingly cheerful tone.
At that moment, Diction returned and I could see the shock. "What are you doing?!"
Pale Cross merely grinned and whispered to me, "He can't save you now." I didn't believe him. Diction was in charge so he could stop the test, and by the look he had as he started towards us that was exactly his plan.
"Well, well." I watched as Diction stopped in his tracks and I knew why. I tried to see her, but she was out of my range of sight. I could hear her though. "You do know that interfering in an authorized experiment is a sever offense so I'm sure that what you are about to do is either help Cross, or leave."
I could see Diction fighting with himself, but I knew him well enough to know that he wouldn't go against the Overmare. Diction's head dropped as he walked out of sight.
"Good. Now that that is dealt with, please continue. Ta-ta!" The sound of the door opening and closing noted her departure. Now I truly was alone with Cross.
"Oh, how long I've waited for this. To watch the mind and body crack under duress. Sadly she wants you dead by at least the next day so I've had to speed up the process a bit. That's what the pills are for. To separate and confuse while this little baby," he tapped the piece on my head, "Will deliver a rather nice amount of electric shock which will...." I lost focus on what he was saying. I lost focus on a lot of things. The only thing that really seemed clear to me was that which physically affected me.
Then something did register and quite quickly. Pain. Intense pain shot through my body as I felt every muscle clench and tighten. Panic and fear raced with the pain, intense enough that I felt my my heart would explode, but at the same time I felt a really strong wave of calm fighting it.
As suddenly as it had started, it stopped. My muscles relaxed and I fell limp in my bindings. Okay, I definitely had my focus back.
"That was more fun than I had expected," I heard Cross say with a rather dark chuckle, "I think I'll increase the voltage tomorrow, but let's continue shall we?"
This time I heard the clack of a switch before the pain hit again. My body clenched tight again and a scream tore through my throat. Again my mind tore between fear and panic and calm, but now I felt anger. I felt hatred towards Cross for doing this to me. Towards Diction for leaving me. Towards the Overmare for wanting me dead.
Again the pain stopped and I slumped foreword. It didn't last long as the pain returned suddenly and ended just as quick. And it came and went again, and again, and again for what seemed forever. I soon lost feeling and after that I lost awareness until it finally ended and I lost consciousness.
Whispering. Everywhere and nowhere there were whispers. Constant, but unintelligible, I heard them. There was more than one I was sure, but I couldn't tell what they said. I couldn't see anything either. It was too dark. Everything seemed wrong, fake. Everything but the drone of whispers.
Suddenly, I felt a lack of pressure around my hooves. Something that seemed real in the surreal black around me. I latched onto that feeling. Then I felt a pat on my cheek and I blinked once, twice.
Then I closed my eyes.
As I opened them again I felt my whole body was sore and there was an intense pounding in my head. I felt weak, broken, and battered, but I felt something which told me I was alive. I looked around, but I could barely see through the blur in my vision and I could barely think through the drone of whispers in my head. Were they louder? Closer?
The clamps around my chest and neck released. As soon as I felt the lack of support holding me up I placed my hooves out to catch myself, but I didn't have the strength to keep myself up. I fell in a heap in the floor, wincing some.
Weakly, I raised my head as somepony stepped up to me. What with the blur in my vision and the darkness in the room, I couldn't tell who it was. I flinched reflexively at first, but the voice stopped me.
"I don't know what he's done to you, but I'm getting you out." It was Diction. He actually came back for me. "C'mon. Let's get you up." There was a sense of weightlessness before I felt myself being picked up and put on my hooves.
Of course I couldn't hold my own weight so I stumbled, but Diction was close to my side. I was thankful for his presence, not only for his support in keeping me up, but having a friend there was comforting.
Slowly, step by step, we made our way to the door. "So why... why'd you come back?" I asked. I had to force myself to stay awake and make each step. Even that sentence had to be forced out.
"Well.... I started thinking about what you said after I left. I already disliked the Overmare's methods, but after yesterday," he paused for a moment, "Let's just say I've chosen which side I'm on. That and I looked over those files and I think you're right about there being a way out. At least I hope so."
I nodded. Really it was the only thing I could think to do because he pretty much voiced my thoughts. Well, my thoughts minus the droning which seemed to get louder over the short time. Already as we walked into the hallway I could feel my muscle strength returning. I didn't quite trust myself to to keep myself standing on my own, but I was able to pick up the pace.
The hallway itself was dim, abandoned. Not one pony passed as we walked. It seemed that even the E Class had a curfew. then again if they had a curfew then there'd be guards patrolling the halls. Which meant if we got caught we'd have trouble.
"Aren't you afraid we'll get caught?" I asked, voicing my fears to Diction.
"No," he replied confidently, "I know the guard's routine and I already have a route mapped out. Besides. Unless Silica has someone check every once in a while she won't even know we've left for another four-"
"Well, well." The intercoms came to life with the Overmare's voice, "It seems we have a runabout. The test subject Destin Unum has escaped his confinement. He is likely deranged and dangerous. All security will acquire lethal weapons and find him. Termination of the specimen is authorized."
"That little-" He caught himself, "C'mon, change of plans." He hurried me down the hall before quickly swiping his card and pushing me through a door. Thankfully I had enough strength to catch myself.
I didn't have a chance to ask what he was doing as he rushed past me. It took but a moment for him to throw something in my face. I don't think he realized I was still a bit disorientated and I still didn't feel much emotionally, but the sense of urgency did quicken my actions. Thankfully I could actually see... a bit.
I pulled the thing off of my face and looked at it. It was a Stable 52 Utility Uniform and by the looks of it, it was for a repair pony.
"Put it on, and quick," he said without giving me time to think. I took off my own uniform and put on the utility uniform quickly.
"So why am I doing this again?"
"Because you happen to look very similar to a PipBuck repair mare named Fire Wire." Wait, did he just say mare? "And before you say anything I know there's a gender difference, but you look close enough to pass for her. Just keep your tail close and... she kind of a flirt so.... try to... flirt if we see any security. Oh, and raise the pitch of your voice."
I couldn't believe I had to do this. I was a stallion, not a mare, but if acting like one got us out then it was worth it.
I cleared my throat and tried my best mare voice. "Like... this?"
"Perfect, now let's go." Diction replied quickly. He stepped to the door and glanced down both sides of the halls before looking stepping out. I followed after him, catching up to him quickly so I could walk by his side.
We walked quietly and quickly, trying to get into the mindset of a flirty mare. I got a little closer and it felt... odd, but in a good way. A small smile spread across my muzzle as I added a sway in my stride.
The sound of approaching hooves brought my attention to the hall ahead and I glanced to Diction for what to do.
"Just act flirty," he told me before pressing very close and giving me such a suave grin. I actually felt my heart flutter a bit and I giggled. It felt good, right. No, it felt weird and right. I felt weird, but I... no something else made me feel like this was right. Or maybe I've always thought this was right and didn't know it. I sighed internally, confused.
"Hey! What are you two doing out?" A voice demanded. I watched as Diction jumped and cleared his throat. He truly looked as if he had been caught doing something embarrassing. Down to the blush on his face.
I looked down the hall to the one who had addressed us and saw that there was actually two guards in full security barding. One nudged the other and I could clearly see the smirks on their face. Something told me Fire was a bit more than a flirt.
"Well, me and Fire were heading to my place actually." Diction replied, glancing at me.
"So Fire finally got to you too?" One asked as they walked up to us, chuckling
I could see the blush on Diction's face deepen. I couldn't help but grin at him before looking back to the guards.
"Well maybe after we get this test subject we can take her off your hooves and have some fun."
I giggled, looking them both over closely. They definitely had the strong physique of a guard and the looked very appealing in their armor. "Tell you what," I said as I walked past them. Once past I stopped and looked back, "Whichever one of you gets him, gets me." I gave them a lustful wink before looking back to Diction. "Now you were taking me somewhere?"
Diction smiled and trotted to catch up with me. He actually seemed excited. Hell, even I was a bit excited as I pressed close to him again.
Thankfully the two stallions didn't bother us anymore, though I could hear them arguing over who would get me. It made me giggle a little at the thought. I wouldn't have chosen either one of them anyways. I had Diction. He was cute, smart, and he'd been there my whole life and saved me when I needed him. Plus it felt ever so good that he was right next to me.
It wasn't until Diction moved away that realization hit me. I was actually attracted to a stallion. No... yes... no... yes.... I cleared my throat and continued walking. I really didn't want to think more on it. Something was off and I knew it, but I hadn't realized just how off it was. I did realized two other things at that moment though. One was that it was too easy for me to act like a mare and two, the droning was gone.
I couldn't help but chuckle at the small victory. "Luck is on our side." I said as we turned the corner. Both of us froze as we saw a security guard standing in front of a door.
"That's our door isn't it?" I whispered, getting a small nod in reply.
"Let's go." He told me before walking towards the guard.
I followed him, but kept slightly behind. I frowned as the drone returned. Only this time it was much louder and I could tell what they were saying. Chanting at once, but separate. Run. Run. Run. Kill. Kill. Kill. Don't fight. Survive.
The closer we got, the more urgent the voices became. It was loud enough that I couldn't hear what the guard said even though I could see her mouth moving. Kill. We were right in front of her. Run. The way behind was not an option anymore. Kill. Survive. I blinked my eyes.
The guard made for her pistol and I made my decision. I wrapped my magic around the guard's baton and pulled it out. For a moment I saw her surprise before I swung hard, smashing it against her skull. I felt bad as she collapsed, but it was to survive. Then the droning stopped again.
Diction rushed to her side. "Why'd you do that?!"
"She was going to either kill us or turn us in which would kill us, now let's go." I replied sternly. I took Diction's card from his pocket and swiped it. As the door opened I stepped past them and into the room. Ahead was the door to the Stable. I stopped, looking at it. Then the voices came again. Not as a drone, but as almost clear voices.Escape. Survive.
Diction stepped up beside me and he didn't seem happy. "You're lucky you didn't kill her."
"It was never in my intention to do so," I told him, my voice quiet. "Can we go now?" There was a small pause.
"Yeah.... Yeah, let's go." He muttered. That was all I needed. I stepped up to the console and input the pass code. I physically flinched as the sirens went off around us. Then came the screeching of the Stable door opening. We were really doing this.
"Well, well. Seems our little escapee has decided to kill himself. I'm almost curious as to how you knew the pass code to open the Stable doors. Now I know where to send the guards to kill you, Destin." The Overmare's voice came of the loudspeakers again. "But, y'know what? Let him go. Fix my problem for me, rat. I'm tired of dealing with you. Leave the Stable and die to the radiation outside!"
I chuckled at the attempt for control and the oddly apparent lack of her signature 'Ta-ta!'. I didn't need her approval to leave, only my own. I nudged Diction and trotted to the Stable door and to the outside. One thought rang in unison through my head.
Freedom.
New Perk!
Multiple Personality Disorder: Due to quite a few pills that shouldn't be mixed plus near deadly electrical charge, you now have a little voice in your head helping you out. Actually, you have five. You now have a possibility for unique dialogue options with almost anyone you meet.
Author's Note
Finally, the second Chapter is finished! I hope you all enjoy it because I worked hard on this. I only hope that all the chapters get good reviews because I really care what you all think. I do apologize for any small errors (or any big ones). I tried to find them all and I had some help to do so, so if you see any that bother you than I greatly apologize. Other than that, I hope you enjoyed it.
