The Conversion Bureau: Haven
By: no sh*t sherlock
I spotted the structure from at least few miles away. A gigantic brown enclosure can't be exactly be hidden- especially when you're in one of the flattest states in the U.S. From my current position I could see that it was an oval shape with maybe the area of a football field. It sat in a massive field that was empty save for it. I'd be incredibly exposed walking to it, but I went anyway. In the past month I'd slept only three nights in the same place and I was hoping to break my streak.
When I approached I could see that the entire enclosure was constructed from tree trunks. Thousands of them had been stripped of all limbs from top to bottom, tightly connected together and embedded into the ground. They all rose to around the same height, maybe 40 feet or so, and has their tops sliced so they all flat. I wasn't a tree expert or anything, but I was pretty sure that people who built it didn't a find a few hundred trees in the fields of Kansas.
I heard a low rumble behind me and turned to see low grey clouds maybe a few miles away. They looked as though they were heading straight for me. I cursed silently. "I will NOT get caught in another storm." I assured myself as I hurriedly began to walk around the enormous ring looking for any gaps.
“Damn.” I muttered to myself. I walked maybe a fourth of the perimeter and I couldn’t find one opening that was large enough or within my reach. Behind me I felt a rumble of thunder and as the clouds inched closer the sky was slowly growing darker. I pulled out my phone and checked the time: 6:25 pm. It would be dark in about an hour or so.
The status bar next to the time still had an 'X' on it. I had suddenly lost service two days ago. Before then I kept pretty frequent contact with my family far to the west. They'd no doubt be wondering what happened to me.
There was another thunder clap behind me. l was running low on options. I tried not to admit it to myself, but I was incredibly tired. If I couldn't get into this place, I wasn't confident that I'd make it to another shelter, especially with a storm approaching.
In desperation I put my eye to a quarter sized cracked in the wall. There was some kind of material on the other side; fabric or some other material that slightly diffused the light. There wasn't a whole lot to see, but I swore I could hear the faintest of voices. I turned my head and put my ear against the crack.
Somebody was definitely home. There were having conversation and I could make out four or fives different voices.
"Human or pony?" I asked myself. After years and years of Conversion Bureaus and humanity's ever decreasing population, ponies began to act snobbish towards to the remaining humans. If it did happen to be ponies inside, they would be very unlikely to help me.
I decided to continue to eavesdrop on them until I could determine what species they were. However this was cut short by a ground strike of lightning few fields behind me.
"Hey! I know you're in there!" I shouted. The voices on the other side suddenly went silent.
"Please! I've been on my own and I need some help."
There was a long pause after that. I couldn't even hear a peep with my ear jammed against the wall. Finally a male voice replied, "You a Human?" It was scratchy and raspy, most likely belonging to an older man
"Yeah." I said impatiently as the storm grew closer.
"You sound pretty young to still be a human." The man said sounding cautious. "How old are ya?"
"Im twenty-two. I never converted. Sir." I added trying to sound polite.
There was another pause before he responded saying, "Hold on a sec."
I backed away from the wall thinking a door or something would open up, but instead a thick knotted rope with a wooden plank through the end of it came sailing over the top of the wall. I put my feet on the wood and grabbed above one of the knots.
"If you're ready, hold on tight." Another voice instructed. I told them I was and was hoisted quickly to the top of the wall.
*********
"You're going to have jump." The man told me.
"You really don't have any ladders or anything?" I asked for a third time. I was sitting atop their wall with my feet swung over the side.
He shook his head slowly.
"Damn." I thought to myself as I took another look at the makeshift net below me.
"And you're sure this thing will catch me?"
"Absolutely." He assured.
"Fuck it." I said as I slide off the top and landed without issue.
I crawled to the edge of the net and dropped to the ground. I brushed myself off then stood to look at the humans who had helped me. It was a group of around 15 people who’d come to see me, however there were three who stood closer than the rest.
“Welcome!” The older man in the front greeted. “My name’s Edward. This here is Paul.” He pointed to a small bald man to his left who looked older than he did. “And my wife Jean.” He motioned to his opposite side.
“Kyle.” I said shaking his hand.
“Ooo, I like that. Nice firm grip.” He said smiling. I returned one and slid my hand back from his. "You seem very healthy, Kyle. Real tall and strong too. What are you 6'2, 6'3?"
I gave a polite nod. "Six foot four inches, sir and Thank you."
"Good genes I imagine." He said partly to me and partly looking back to his wife. "Anyway, what is it that you're seeking here, Kyle?"
“Just a night’s stay while the storm passes.” I said pointing behind us to the clouds. “And maybe so food and water for the road if you can spare it.”
Edward thought over my request for a moment with a stern face before lighting up again. “Well come on!” He said, “I’ll show you around the place.”
He took me around the perimeter of the enclosure and showed some of the major things. There was a large wooden pavillion with around two dozen picnic tables underneath. There were a few grills embedded in the ground- the simplistic rectangular kind you’d see at a park. Next to each grill were a few full buckets of charcoal. A few yard from the grills was a small log structure which rear face was the perimeter wall. Smoke was rising from chimneys. Inside were a few wood burning stoves at which elderly women were baking something.
“Man, That really smells great !” I complimented.
“You think so? I can make you a plate if you like.” One of them offered.
“Sure, I mean if its not too much trouble.”
“Nonsense!” She said happily. “We simply must keep you young people nice and healthy. She gave one last smile before Edward and I exited. We continued though a store room, which was filled with an assortment of nonperishable food and gallons upon gallons of water. It was more food than I’d seen in weeks.
“Whoaa!” I exclaimed as I spun around to room trying to absorb it all. “Where’d you get all this?!”
Every now and then we get lucky and come across things.” He smiled. “But they'll be plenty of time for that later. You must be tired. I’ll take you the living quarters.”
We passed a few more buildings that we did not enter and I saw a few more residents. I noticed something odd about them. I could see maybe a hundred people and they all seemed to be relaxing. A few people had paired up and were playing chess or checkers. Most were sitting in lawn chairs and reading books.
"Things seem pretty relaxed around here." I commented. " When do you find time for work?"
He turned and raised and eyebrow. " What do you mean?"
"Ya know, leaving this place to go get more stuff. You must run low on supplies at some point."
"Oh that!" He said as if it never occurred to him. "Most of us are too old to be running off and doing stuff like that."
"Well then who does?" I thought to myself.
We toured a few more buildings and got to talking about the state of the world. Edward explained how bad things had gotten since I'D
We entered the largest of the log cabin. It had a lower ceiling than the rest, but had stairs for a second floor. It was lengthy that it had to curve along the perimeter wall in order to fit.
"So where were you coming from?" Edward said as we walked down the hallway. On either side were reasonable spacious single bedrooms.
"I was living with some roommates in Baltimore." I said taking quick peeks into a few of the rooms.
"And you walked all the way here? How brave."
"Nah, I had a car for a few States, but I've legged it for maybe 200 miles."
"You seem very dedicated. Any particular reason why?" He said patting my back.
"Maybe a month and a half ago I got a call from California. It was from my older brother, but a few of my cousins and my Aunt and Uncle came on the line too. They say they've held off going to a Conversion Bureau for as long as they could, but they can't anymore. They told me to come find them before they make the change."
"I'm so sorry to hear that, Kyle." He said shaking his head. "But surely you must know by now?"
I stopped in my tracks and raised an eyebrow.
"There are no more humans living in cities, or suburbs or anywhere. Anymore humans that are not in this sanctuary are out there just like you were. Aimless wanderers."
I took a step back from him. Grief and anger began to swell in me. "I don't believe that."
"I'm sorry son, but it's the truth. We are the last collective of humans on this planet. "
I just stood there I couldn't believe it. How could we be the only ones left? No, no it didn't make sense. In fact I knew it wasn't true. I'd passed a town of people just a few days ago. Hell, I'd talked with my brother only three days ago and he sounded perfectly fine. This man didn't know what he was talking about.
He put his arm around my shoulder. "I apologize. I can see this comes at a great shock to you. But I hope you realize that there are certain responsibilities on us now." He paused briefly before guided me down the hall. "Please come, your room is close."
He led me a few more feet then motioned a hand to the door. I pushed it open and revealed a bedroom nearly identical to the others. The only difference was that there was already an occupant in my bed. A small brunette girl was fast asleep in the room Edward said was mine.
"What is this?" I turned to him.
“This is Ashlyn. She’s been waiting for someone like you to turn up.” He said cheekily while giving my arm a slight nudge. “Lucky for her you showed up when you did or else we might’ve had to choose one from among us.”
I turned back to the girl and then to Edward with a face of utter confusion. “And what the hell do you want me to do with her?!”
“She’s yours to mate with of course!” He said proudly. “Ashlyn is the only female among us that is still able to bare children. Time is obviously a factor, so we’d like you two to get at it as soon as possible."
I stared for a moment at the girl while I took in his words. She began to stir as if sensing our presence in the room. She rolled onto her back, removing a section of the blanket around her upper body. That's when my heart plummeted into my stomach and I gasped as I laid my eyes on it.
There was a thick metal collar clamped around her neck. I tilted my head to the side and saw there was a chain attached to it that fell from the bed and was clamped to one of its legs. That is also when Edward put his arm around my shoulders and shook them excitedly.
“Get the fuck off me!” I yelled throwing his arm off and pushing past him out of the room.
“Kyle wait!” He yelled after me as I sprinted down the hallway.
I sped to the door and kicked it open. The ground below was lower than I expected and tripped and rolled upon exiting the housing complex. My spill caused the residents in close proximity to take notice and many starting coming over to me. I stood up and frantically started to look around for a exit. My head was still spinning at what Edward had shown me and my fall hadn’t helped. I ignored those who tried to help and I stumbled forward for a few yards before Edward caught up to me.
"Kyle stop!" He pleaded. "We need you!"
"You're out of your mind, man!" I shouted back.
"Wait a minute." One guy said holding both hands up motioning for us to calm down. "Now what is going on here?"
I pointed a finger straight at Edward who gotten within a few feet of me. The other man stood in between us. "He's crazy! He's keeping a girl as a sex slave here!"
The man put on a confused face and paused. ".... You mean Ashlyn?" He turned to Edward who confirmed with a nod. "Oh she's not a sex slave, son. That's silly. However as healthy fertile young woman, she does have an important role to play in replenishing of the human race."
I looked around to the crowd that was forming. There was nods and "yeps" of agreement to what he'd said. All of them had bought into it. "Shit." I said to myself as I realized I'd willing entered into a giant loony bin.
"You have responsibilities too." He said grabbing my arm tightly. "You can't go running off and forsake what's left of your own people."
I yanked my arm to the side and easily broke his grip. "You're all nutjobs." I said as I took off, pushing my way through the crowd.
"Stop him." Edward shouted. They were no match for me though and I out ran them with ease. I ran towards the middle of the compound hoping to spot a way out.
All of the sudden there was a bright flash of lightning and the thunder crackle immediately. The storm I had tried to outrun was now right over us.
"Ahh right on time." I heard Edward behind me. "Stop that man!"
I turned around and Edward, but he wasn't looking towards me. He was pointing and giving orders to something in the sky. I looked up and saw a dozen pegasi pouring from the storm clouds. In pairs they carried large crates to the ground. However two of them came straight for me.
I tried to run, but their speed was unparalleled. They both hit me at the same time and we tumbling. They came out on top and put their hooves on my limbs pinning me on my stomach to the ground.
"Sorry, but this is for your own good." One of them said to me. Edward and his cohorts showed up a few seconds later and circled around us.
"He seems healthy and plenty strong." One Pegasi said. "Looks like you bought yourself some more time, Edward. I must admit we were growing impatient."
"I know." He sighed.
"Though he doesn't seem too excited. Is that going to be a problem?"
"No, no." Edward shook his head. "Hes just a little distraught from the realization, but he'll eventually get acclimated. Trust me."
