Cyber's Point of View
"Attention all citizens off GriffonStone! A war is upon us! The ponies and zebras have pushed eachother to the limit of a war fueled by balefire and nuclear vengeance! We, as the remainder of the dying Griffon species, must fight our own in this time of great peril! So fight! Fight to save the species!"
That announcement played over and over here at our Talon Company camp located in the middle of fucking nowhere. What is Talon Company you ask? Well...it was an organization put together by the Griffons of before and during the war that was meant to preserve the dying species by getting our best soldiers, scientist, builders, and even mercenaries to fight the war until the end. It was meant to preserve the species, and it did...However not to the wanted effect. At the time the Griffons had some of the largest numbers in all of Equestria, some even said it surpassed the Zebras. But instead our species went from those large numbers to a few hundred scattered throughout the wasteland. The only thing left from our Pre-war past was a few weapons, some armor, and thousands of copies of that damn recording!
Truth be told, that recording annoyed the living piss out of me and just about everyone else in this camp. However our camp leader insisted that it be played throughout the camp's static ridden loudspeakers twenty-four seven. But I guess that was the price of being a member of Talon Company. That being said I didn't have to join Talon Company in the first place...it's just better to join. It works like this: Only Griffons can be apart of Talon Company, obviously. So, when your born your parents are allowed to keep you under there wings until the age of ten. Once you reached that age your camp's current leader would approach you and give you this long, time wasting speech about the past and possible future of Talon Company and how you could contribute to it. Then you have to choose whether or not to stay. Of course everyone stays though. If you leave you are branded with an ancient Pre-war Griffon symbol that roughly translated into "Outcast", then you where kicked out into the wasteland with absolutely nothing. So in the end, picking to not stay with Talon Company was a death wish. Although even if you chose to stay with Talon Company, they needed a use for you. Of course that's where my problem was.
I definitely was a pure blooded Griffon, however do to my age I didn't qualify for Talon Company's number one use: Soldiers. You had to be at least 18 to be a soldier, I was only 17. You would think that they could make an exception just this once, especially considering that even at my age, I was still as big, if not bigger, then a lot of the Griffons in our camp. Then again my looks didn't really match the soldier look in the first place.
Other Griffons looked mean, fierce, like they've seen some shit. They often had coat and feather colors such as blacks, reds, oranges, browns, colors that made you look just plane mean. I however, didn't have that. My coat was a light grey on my body, wings, and tail. Then my head feathers where a shade of blue that almost looked white. Around each of my eyes was a dark blue ring, and my eyes where a dark purple of all things. Everyone always told me a got my size from my father and my colors from my mother.
So with all this being how it is, I wasn't put as a soldier, but instead a techy. I was the one who fixed everything. The one who repaired buildings, armor, weapons, even some of the pre-war tech we occasionally had lying around. This job, and my colors, is how I got the name Cyber.
That was another thing in Talon Company. Your parents didn't get to name you. Instead you where given more of a permanent nickname whenever you, so called, earned one. That alone caused for some lonely and boring childhood experiences. I just know that this rule is what ended up giving me this ridiculous name. I also knew that whoever made this rule should have been shot.
Couldn't argue with the rule though, or any of them for the matter. So I guess I should just keep doing what I'm doing. Which currently is just sitting here in my tool riddled tent and continue fixing the weapon and piece of armor I was currently working on.
Most of Talon Company's weapons and armor where all Pre-war. That being said, they where damn effective. All Talon Company armor was was just a very durable materiel that was often used by ponies in there standard issue combat armor produced by the Ministry of Wartime Technologies. The only difference was that Griffon combat armor was bulkier, rugged, and was always painted in an all black color scheme. Pretty much the same things could be said about our weapons to. They where pretty much just upgraded and bulkier versions of whatever the ponies used. Do to this though, our Pre-war weapons and armor where scarce now as they couldn't be produced anywhere nowadays. We had the same with problem with ammunition as well. All Griffon weapons fired larger, custom made rounds. So once you fire a round out of one of those beast, that's one less bullet for all of Talon Company's Pre-war weapons. This problem has lead us to begin using weapons, armor, and ammunition that our scavengers found out in the wasteland...and I would often be the one who would have to fix them up.
So that's what I was doing right now. I wasn't even getting to work on Griffon weapons and armor, it was just a busted 10mm pistol and a leather tunic that, for one, didn't look like it would protect against anything, and two, wasn't even big enough to fit a grown griffon. At least the pistol could be useful with the right parts. The barrel was cracked clean through and the firing pin seemed to be extremely loose, nothing I couldn't fix however.
I reached under my work table and pulled out my 'bin-o-parts'. Inside it was exactly as it was labeled, just a shit load of random weapon parts. I began digging around in it for a barrel that would fit the gun, and a spare firing pin. The noise of metal clinging against eachother as I moved the parts with my claws echoed throughout the tent, however I managed to hear the flap on my tent open up. I sat up and turned around.
Standing at the entrance to my tent was a young Griffon who was yet to have a name, but I still knew who he was. He was maybe around five or so, so naturally he was put to work as a camp messenger until he was able to have a different job. His coat was all brown, feathers and all. The only thing not brown on this guy were his eyes, which were a bright green.
"Yes Young One?" I said, calling him by what all nameless Griffons had to be called.
"The leader wants you in the servlants room."
Servlants room? What in the world did that mean, he was more then likely just mispronouncing something.
"Umm...what exactly is the 'Servlants' room Young One?" I asked, which he just looked at me like I was stupid.
"You know...the room with all the screens that show you what the cameras see." He said.
"Umm...do you mean the surveillance room?" I asked.
"Yea! That's what I said, the servlants room!" The young griffon yelled. "Our leader wants you there."
"Alright then. Go tell him I'll be there in a second Young One." I said.
"Okay!" He smiled as he turned and ran out of my tent.
Shit...better get going then. It's very frowned upon to leave the camp leader waiting. I stood up from my desk and opened the flap of my tent and walked outside. Then began walking up to the 'Servlants room'.
Cyber's Point of View
The camp was very empty and quiet this time of day. It was some time around noon, which meant that our soldiers and scavengers where out on jobs. This was easily my favorite time of day for that exact reason. I liked the quiet, and considering how rarely it was quiet at the camp, I suspected we all liked it. However despite all that, the camps where always on lockdown whenever our soldiers where gone. Now that may be a good thing as we are way more prone to raider attacks during this time of day, but it also meant that you where not allowed to leave your tent unless told otherwise. And considering the camp leader physically requested me told me that whatever was going on in the surveillance room mus pretty big deal, so I really should get there quick.
I increased my speed to a light jog and looked up at the metal surveillance tent at the end of the dirt trail connecting all of the tents, housing, and other buildings inside the camp. I noticed that the young Griffon from before was sitting outside of the tent, intently watching my every move as I inched closer to the metal tent. He didn't look worried or anything, but instead excited. And to be completely honest, I wanted to figure out why. Perhaps he knew something I didn't.
I tried to avoid direct eye contact with him as I approached the entrance of the building, but I could still feel the young griffon's stare. I gave into his stare, and looked directly at him.
"Is...is something wrong?" I asked.
"I think so, the leader is in there yelling at the guy who watched the screens." He responded.
As soon as he said that I heard a muffled yell inside the tent, along with a much quitter response. I could tell immediately that the scream matched that of our camp leader.
"Well, wish me luck then young one." I said as I opened up the metal door to the building, immediately catching the pissed off stare of our leader.
Our camp leader's name was Gridlock, and he really deserved such a name. Not only did it fit him perfectly, but it also proved his overprotectiveness of the remainders of our species. His entire body was a dark grey that might as well just be black. even his claws and beak wear a darker brown. He was also a much larger griffon, being slightly bigger then me. His armor of choose added to his size and stature though. He donned pre-war Talon Company commanders armor, along with bits and pieces of griffon power armor scattered throughout his body and legs. The power armor didn't function unless combined with all of its parts, but that didn't stop the pieces of it to be highly bullet resistant. However he didn't wear any armor on his head, something I thought was pretty pointless.
"You there! Techy! Why isn't this screen working?" He yelled, walking closer to me. I noticed the smaller female griffon behind him trembling, she must have been the one who watches the screens...I guess Gridlock decided to take some anger out on her.
"Not sure, I just got here." I responded as politely as possible. I may not have really liked our leader, but it was still better to not piss him off.
"You giving me attitude!" He yelled in response.
"No, just stating what I know sir. I just walked in, haven't had a chance to look at anything yet." I responded, taking a small step back as he inched into my personal space.
"Then get to work damn it! Come get me when it's fixed, and don't leave this building until it is!." He yelled as he walked passed me and outside of the tent, the young griffon slipping in behind him right before the door shut. He walked over and sat down beside me, smiling as he did so.
I finally was able to get a good look at the room now that Gridlock was gone. The inside was exactly the same as the exterior, dull, grey, and metallic. It was a fairly empty single room building. At the end of the room where all of the screens showing what all of the camp's outside cameras saw in real time, and just as I thought, one of the screens was completely blacked out. I looked over at the female griffon, she was shaking. Gridlock must have shook her pretty bad.
As I looked at her I took in her stunning appearance. She had a tan, slender body with light read feathers covering her head, end of tail, and tips of her wings. Her eyes were a pinkish color, her claws and beak where a stained yellow.
I slowly approached her. I must have caught her gaze as she looked over at me and just stared, continuing to shake. Guess I should say something.
"Umm...so when did you notice the screen go out?" I asked.
"About thirty minutes ago. Possibly forty." She responded, her voice was light and kind sounding.
"Okay then. Might just be a problem with the wiring. Either that or the actual camera outside was busted." I responded. "Let me go get my tools, I'll be right ba..." I was cut off by her.
"No no, I'll have my Young One get them for you." She responded.
"Your Young One? Where is he?" I asked.
"Oh, you two have met." She smiled as she gestured to the small griffon who I had been seeing all day now. I turned and looked him in the face, receiving a smug smile in response.
I wasn't sure how to respond to this. I just simply wasn't expecting him to be her kid. All this aside, I had a job that needed to be done, so questions could wait until later.
"Well then." I simply said, she giggled in response. I then turned to the young griffon. "Well, you heard your mother. My tools are inside a black bag lying on the table in the tent you got me from." I said to the young griffon.
"I'll be back in just a second!" He smiled as he turned and ran out of the tent...guess I had a few minutes to ask questions after all.
"So...what's your name?" I asked the female griffon.
"What's that?" She questioned.
"What's your name?" I asked once more.
"Oh, I'm Gizmo." She said. "Who are you?"
"I'm Cyber. I take it you got your name because of all this?" I said as I gestured to the screens in the room.
"Yep. Not really that fitting though. Wish they would go back to the pre-war way of naming griffons." She responded.
"You have zero clue how much I agree with that." I laughed. "So, umm...how old are you?"
There was a long, awkward pause before I got a response, her facial expression showed that she was thinking...or more debating on something. "Only 16." She finally responded...how the hell did she have a kid then? You weren't allowed to do that until you where 18.
"Um...no offence, but how do you have a kid then?" I asked, receiving a small chuckle before she responded.
"Ha, none taken." She laughed "But he's not actually my kid. His mother and father died the day after he was born in a raider attack, I'm sure you remember the one." She said, filling me with not only confusion, but the urge to know more.
"About five years ago?" I responded. "The one where both the mother, father, and kid where killed in the attack?"
"Yep, at least that's what Gridlock wants everyone to think. He lived...but he wasn't going to if no one decided to look after him.
"And I take it that's where you come in?" I asked.
"Yep. I made a deal that if Gridlock let me raise him as my own, I would work the surveillance room for him." She said.
"That's right. we got the camera's and stuff hooked up not much longer after that attack." I added in.
"Uh huh. So I've raised him as my own. He thinks I'm his mother, and I really don't think he needs to know what actually happened. So I play along and usually tell anyone who ask that I'm older then what I am...except for you Cyber." She said.
Upon saying this I became curious. Why would she decide to tell me...and only me at that.
"Why me then?" I asked, tilting my head in the process.
"You know...not sure. Just something about you Cyber. I could tell be the way you spoke to Gridlock that you hate this place as much as me...I could tell that you only decided to stay here because you used to be scared of the wasteland. Just like me." She said.
It was around this time when I heard the building's door open up once more, I turned to see the small Griffon, my tool mag dragging behind him as he held the straps of it in his mouth. I looked back at Gizmo, who winked, hinting that everything she just said was between me and her. I looked back at the Young One.
"That was fast." I said as I grabbed the tool bag from him.
"Yep! That's why I'm a messenger! It's cause I'm so fast! Right momma?" He said as he walked over to Gizmo, I could tell that he took pride in his speed judging from how he walked over to her.
"That's exactly why honey." Gizmo said as she lightly patted the Young One's head. "Well Young One, we should move and let Cyber work."
She then moved out from the table, the Young One following close behind. Gizmo then jokingly gestured at the screens.
"Have at it." She said, this brought a smile to my face.
I walked up to the screens and observed the darkness filled one. I noticed that there where large bolts at each corner of the screen, this most likely removed the entire screen out of its housing. If I did that then I could inspect the wires, so of course that's exactly what I did.
I reached into my tool bag and grabbed the appropriate tool to remove the bolts, and it didn't take long to remove all of them and pull the screen out of its housing. I gently sat it down and began looking at all of the wires connecting to the back of the screen. There was only four wires: A red, yellow, white, and black. And as soon as I looked at where they all connected to I spotted the problem. Every single one of the wires where charred at the ends.
"Well that explains a lot." I said.
"What is it?" I heard Gizmo ask from behind me.
"Well...did you happen to hear a popping noise when the screen blacked out?" I asked.
"No, the screen just simply shut off like you where to hit a power button." She responded.
"That's really odd then." I said.
"Why's that?" She responded.
"Well, all of the wires on this screen look blown." I said...then I realized that if these ones blew, why didn't the other screens go out as well. The only way for the wires to do this is if they received a large power surge, and if that's the case then every single screen should have went with it. I laid the screen back down on the table and began staring at it, attempting to process why only this screen went. It was this time when I heard Gizmo gasp behind me, I turned and looked at her.
"What's wrong?" I quickly asked.
"Look at the screens." She said. her eyes appeared to be stuck open.
I turned and laid my eyes on the screens...what I saw really confused me. All of the screens where turning off one after the other. It wasn't until only one single screen was left when I saw something frantically run across the screen, then peek out from a corner and point something at the camera...then it went black. It wasn't much longer when we all heard a gunshot, followed by the cutting off of the pre-war recording to be replaced with the camps attack sirens. I looked over at Gizmo and the young one.
"We're under attack. And this one is gonna be bad." I said.
