Broken Mirror, Part One

Chicacolt, Filly’s Pier

“Not specifically.” I said. “But you’ll do.”

Star simply rolled her eyes. “So what’s the problem?”

“I’m the only member of my team not being held captive by a bunch of psychos.”

Star nodded. “And you want me to do what exactly?”

I pointed at the minigun she was holding and sighed. “Do I need to spell it out? You have a big gun. They have two slightly smaller guns pointed in our general direction.”

“Alright, I’ll take care of those gun nests.”

“Thank you!” I yelled. “Next problem is that bridge. Starry, you and your brother are with me.”

“What?”

“You heard me.” I said as I grabbed her shoulder. “Oh, and mind the gap.” A quick teleport brought us to the top of the drawbridge, which made a good slide for the trip back to the ground.

Sticking the landing was a completely different story as the two of us discovered as we tumbled around and landed at the feet of two raiders once we hit the bottom. “Shit…” Starry groaned.

“Just follow my lead.” I muttered as I got to my feet at gunpoint. “Morning gents! So who do I talk to about getting a room for the night?” The two raiders kept their weapons pointed at me. “Ugh, I guess we’re doing this the hard way.” I flashed off a quick illumination spell to blind the raiders and slung my shotgun around.

BANG! schick, schick BANG!

The two raiders dropped as blood started spilling from the holes in their chests, leaving us unaccompanied. “Alright, bridge controls.” I muttered. “Any ideas?”

Starry looked back up at the bridge and pointed at a cable attached to one of the crossbeams for the deck. “Single cable from the looks of it. It’s gonna be quicker to cut it.”

“Alright, make it happen.” I slid two shells into my shotgun to replace the two used ones and shouldered the weapon, scanning the small yard around the drawbridge for targets.

“And how the hell am I getting up there?” Starry asked.

“Shit…”

“I got it!” Chaser yelled as he swooped in and wedged himself between the bridge and the cable drum. “This thing’s got a rotted cotter pin. Looks like it locks the drum to the gearing.”

“See if you can break it.” I said as I spotted a small group of raiders leaving a building along the water and heading for us. “And make it quick, we got company!” I put a shield up and motioned to Starry just as the first bullets smacked against the light grey wall I erected.

“Anyone got some explosives?” Chaser called.

I pulled a chunk of C4 out of my back pouch and tossed it up to him with the primer stuck in. “Will that work?”

“We’ll see.”

“Dusk, problem!” Starry yelled.

I turned back to the oncoming crowd and noticed that one was toting a large launcher of some sort. “What the fuck?”

“Sparkle cannon.” Starry groaned. “If today couldn’t get any better.”

The raider fired off a shot and I felt the impact tingle along my horn as the shield spell strained against the impact. “Chaser, you’re out of time!” I yelled.

The Pegasus touched down next to me. “Ready.”

I flipped the detonator switch on my pipbuck, nothing. “Shit, give me a sec.” I started toggling the switch back and forth. “Awe shi-”

BOOM!

As the bridge fell to the ground with no cable to support it with not much of a noise. I didn’t need to look behind me to realize that the clanking of metal coming closer was the reason that the raiders started to run back to their compound farther onto the pier. “Well how about that?” I asked as the Valentines trundled past followed by the Cruiser and the soldiers.

“Good work Dusk.” Jericho said as he walked up. “Now you want some good news?”

“Sure, as long as I don’t choke on it.”

“Someone still has their radio on.” Jericho handed me the older tablet pipbuck I picked up back in Manehattan. On it was a map of the pier with a number of flashing dots. “This grouping over here is stationary. From what the recon plane is seeing, it looks like a trash pile. But this other one.” Jericho tapped the lonely dot slowly moving around some buildings on the map. “Someone’s out.”

“That is some good news.”

Starry looked over the map and frowned. “Those are the slave pens.”

“Which might also make a good spot to keep prisoners.” I added. “Jericho, take your colts and move on the main building. We’ll take care of the pens.”

“Got it.”

“So what’s the plan?” Chaser asked.

“I’m thinking along the lines of a prison break.” I said with a grin. “What are we waiting for? Let’s start a riot.”

______________________________________________________________________________

Off in the distance I could hear the echoes of rifle fire. “As long as they’re over there…” I muttered. Patch and Lilith had elected to temporarily join my merry band of misfits while Star remained behind with Violet to keep the bridge open for business. As we finally reached the edge of the building adjacent to the slave pens I motioned for the group to stop. “Anyone hear something?”

I saw Chaser shake his head out of the corner of my eye before I felt someone tap my shoulder. “Almost like metal chipping against metal?” Patch whispered.

“Glad to see I’m not crazy.” I muttered. “Alright, around the corner on three.” I held my hands up, counting down the digits with my fingers before dashing around the corner with my shotgun up.

“Will you keep it down?” Whispered a familiar stallion as he tried to pick the lock to one of the larger slave pens.

“I’ll tell Jericho when I see him.” I said as I knelt down next to Steeljack. “What’s the situation?”

“Well this lock is a bit uncooperative.” Steeljack said as he finally put down his screwdriver. “As for everyone else, raiders took them to the hub. Thought they might be worth more alive and in one piece then in with these ponies.”

“Then why try to get the slaves out first?” I asked.

“Because I couldn’t get into the hub. Too many guards floating around looking for me to get in there without a distraction.”

“So a jailbreak then?”

Steeljack nodded. “Once I got the bridge down and those gunners out of commission, I was hoping to open the cages and tell the slaves to get moving. You just so happened to take care of the other part of the plan quite nicely.”

“Then how were you going to make sure these ponies got out in one piece?” I questioned. “There’s no way in hell you’d be able to hold off all the raiders.”

“Dusk if you got a point, you best make it.” Steeljack finally started pulling on the bars near the lock, slowly bending them towards him with his sheer strength.

“You were really just going to cut your losses and let these ponies run off?”

“You got a better option?” The lock on the cage finally bent out of shape enough where it couldn’t do its job any longer, yielding access to the pen under immense pressure.

“As a matter of fact I do.” I motioned to Lilith and Patch. “Make sure these ponies get off this damn pier in one piece.” The two didn’t have a chance to argue. One that first cage opened the now freed slaves flooded out and ran. I made quick work of melting the locks off the other two cages with a handy fire spell, and the remaining occupants quickly joined the stampeding crowd.

“What’s the plan now?” Steeljack called over the rushing crowd.

“We get to the hub to Gramps and company.” I replied as the two of us followed the last of the crowd out of the slave pens. “Now what are we dealing with when we get there?”

“Just raiders, didn’t see any defensive emplacements.” Steeljack pulled a pistol out from under his chestplate and slid a magazine home. “Our weapons got stored behind the reception desk, radios got chucked in the pile of tech they didn’t think they’d want.”

“And where were they taking you guys?”

“Second floor. Sounded like they converted some of the offices into holding cells.”

I nodded and swung the shotgun onto my back. “So we’re doin’ it the old fashion way?”

Steeljack nodded. It wasn’t that much longer before we reached the soldiers that had surrounded the ministry hub and approached Jericho. “What’s the word?”

The older officer sighed. “Peace talks have broken down.” He groaned, a hint of sarcasm evident in his voice.

“So we’re doing it our way then.” I said. “Any idea where everyone's holed up?”

Jericho brought me over to the back of one of the Valentines, which was being used as a stand for the readout from the Uhu. “They're a bit high up, fourth floor from the looks of it. Force recon elements report that they floors above have a number of planked over holes from where some of the concrete fell out.”

“Steeljack, you're getting sloppy.” I chided.

“Oh shut up.” He groaned.

I just rolled my eyes. “Think you can mount a distraction?” I asked.

Steeljack nodded. “You got an idea then?”

I smirked. “You'll know it when you see it.”

______________________________________________________________________________

Jericho wasn't kidding. What's left of the raiders on the pier are all upstairs, something to the tune of thirty some odd goons and their boss. The others jumped into the river and swam into the city proper before running off... I guess those howitzers on the Valentines have a good shock effect.

“Dusk, you ready?” Steeljack called over the radio.

I pulled the grappler that I had pilfered from Cosmo the other day before clicking the radio. “Ready as I'll ever be.”

“Got it.”

I started hearing banging on the door above me followed by the footsteps of the raiders as they ran towards the door to meet the intruder. “This is too easy...” I muttered as I cocked back the grappler and aimed it for the ceiling above me. With the pull on the trigger the hook shot up and through the rather flimsy wood of the floor above and pulled me skyward through it in a shower of splinters while two of the raiders fell backward into the hole to the floor below.

“Shit, behind us!”

The door blasted in off its hinges, taking the stunned raider out as it flew across the room and shattered against the far wall. I rolled onto solid ground just as Steeljack came strolling in. “Alright, who’s first?” He said as he cracked his knuckles.

Between the two of us the group of raiders started shrinking towards the middle of the room while keeping their weapons on the two of us. “Really guys, who wants to go first?” I asked. “You’ll only end up bloody and bruised.”

“Wait, what are we doing?” One of the raiders asked. “We got these bastards outnumbered!”

I rolled my eyes before running forward and yanking the offending wiseass out of the crowd. “And we’re just better.” I kneeded the stallion’s gut before grabbing the back of his head and forcing it down through one of the wooden plank floorboards next to me.

Steeljack didn’t wait before he charged into the group and close lined two more raiders and bashed another across the muzzle with his pistol. I ducked through the crowd to meet him, rolling off to the side when one of the raiders pulled a club out and tried to smash my head with it.

BANG! BANG!

As I sprung to my feet and swept my foot around to try and trip up one of the raiders I saw Steeljack shoving one off him. “Sorry, I’m taken!” He yelled.

Any chuckle I might have gotten out of the quip was knocked out of me quick as one of the raiders smashed into me and started running towards the wall before he threw me through the sheetrock. “Hey, foul!” I groaned as I got up and faced the raider. The raider flipped out a switchblade and began stalking towards me. “Fine, be that way.” I teleported to the other side of the room and swung out the shotgun.

BANG!

“Well I warned you.” I muttered as the raider crumpled into a heap. I stepped over the body and back out into the larger room, ducking around the corner just in time to avoid being sacked by a flying body.

“Let’s get the hell outta here!” I rolled my eyes as the last dozen or so raiders fled the room.

And in all honesty I don’t blame them. Steeljack only had a scratch across his cheek from where one of the raiders nicked him with a switchblade, with at least four of their buddies dead at his feet. I wonder how many were carried out of here? “You good?” I asked.

“I’m good.” Steeljack muttered as he led the way into one of the adjacent rooms. “Now we just find the cells.”

Once we came into one of the back offices we found a massive hole in the floor, the edges of which served as walkways. And at the bottom… “Took you long enough.” My grandfather said.

I only shrugged before I jumped down to the lower level. “Priorities Gramps, priorities.”

“Good to see you to!” Strike yelled.

Comet rolled his eyes. “Just ignore him.”

“I’m sorry, he was talking?” I said with a smirk.

I felt someone punch my arm before wrapping around my neck. “Guess who?”

“Oh I don’t know…” I felt Dart let go of my and smiled. “Maybe my partner in crime really just isn’t up to the job today.”

“Hey, we leaving or not?” Steeljack asked, having remained on the upper level. He tossed a rope ladder down and waved for us to climb out.

“You heard him gang.” I said as I stepped onto the bottom rung. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

It took us like what, ten minutes to get everyone out of that pit. I can’t say for sure, only because I wasn’t paying attention. The walk out was silent, occasionally interrupted by the groan of the floor under us as we walked over. We finally reached the entry way and I pried open the room behind the desk. I smiled when I saw what else was keeping everyone’s weapons company. “Dibs on the MG!” I giggled like a child as I picked it up checked over the ammo drum. I cocked it back as I rolled it over in my hands. “It’s got some weight to it…” I shouldered the weapon and went for the trigger.

BANGBANGBANGBANGBANG!

“Hello!” I yelled as I clicked the safety on. “This thing’s got some serious kick.” The bullet holes moving up the wall are good testament to that. Note to self, don’t just start shooting something without looking it over first. That’s when Comet walked over and ripped it out of my grip. “Oh come on!”

“Dusk, please. Let the adults play with the deadly toys.” He aimed the rifle at the wall and pulled the trigger, only getting a click in return. “Nevermind.” He muttered as he handed the rifle back to me.

I chuckled as I grabbed two of the other stick magazines that were sitting on the shelf next to it. I popped one of the rounds out and read the back of the casing. “.22LR…”

“So it’s a common round. Easy enough.” Strike said as he slid his weapon under his coat.

I handed the rifle and clips to Comet. “Hold onto it.” I said before I left the room. It didn’t take long to walk back outside, now one hundred percent less raider-infested. “Alright, how we ranking today?” I asked as I stepped over the body of one of the pier’s former upstanding residents.

“Chalk it up for us.” Gramps suggested. “We’re alive, routed a bunch of raiders and have the front door to the air force base under our thumbs.”

“Don’t forget the slaves.” Steeljack added. “They’re all out.”

“Then that’s the moral quandary of the day.” Comet muttered.

“Quandary my ass!” Steeljack yelled.

“Did you stop to think where they could go?” Comet asked. “What about the raiders that got out? Ever stop to think they might try to round up the escapees and try to recoup some of their losses from today?” He walked right up to Steeljack with arms cross and a scowl across his face. “You didn’t solve a damn thing.”

“OK, that’s enough.” I said as I pushed myself between the two. “Comet, shut up. He did the right thing.” I looked up at Steeljack and sighed. “Just… Just go take five.” As the two stallions walked off in opposite directions I felt a feeling of relief wash over me. “I guess Comet picked up his old temper?”

“Yup.” Dart replied. “He started acting that way just after you were abducted.”

“Did anyone try giving him a psych eval?” I asked.

“We did.” Gramps said. “Didn’t go well. Best guess I’ve ever had is that he still hasn’t got over being captured.”

“Strike, start talking.” I ordered

The Pegasus shook his head. “No way, not goin’ there.”

“Strike…”

“No.” Strike insisted. “I’m not opening old wounds, not now.”

“Just take his word for it.” Dart said.

Right… I’ll just shut up now.

______________________________________________________________________________

The Following Morning

I felt someone shake me out of my slumber and jab me in the side. “Well, you gonna get up?”

I sat up on my makeshift bed, a rather fluffed-up pile of hay, and looked up at Dart. “What if I wasn’t planning on it?”

Dart rolled her eyes and helped me get to my feet. “Just get moving. Boat’s waiting.”

It didn’t take me long to get ready. Just picked up the shotgun and shook the bits of hay out of my hair. A brief walk later and I was at the edge of the Chicacolt River looking at a small motorized barge burbling away. “Alright, I’m here!” I yelled.

“Glad you decided to wake up.” Gramps called out before he scrambled up over the side of the barge. “Alright you fillies, let’s move it. We’re burning daylight!”

I didn’t hear any arguments as we all followed the old stallion into the barge, and still didn’t hear anything as the barge started to turn and bob among the currents of the river. Me? I was too busy looking at the control tower that slowly appeared to get larger as we got closer. “We’re in the home stretch.” I muttered. It shouldn’t be much longer. Soon… Soon West Wind will be getting what’s coming for him.