Fallout: Equestria - Time Can Bring You Down

"Wake up. It's time to see the world."

First words I heard after surgery. They accommpanied the indescribable blindness that followed. I remember waking up to a flash of light too brilliant for my eyes. It was rapturous. Incandescent. When I woke, I was free.

I wasn't asleep anymore.

There were old, bulky computers and machinations lining the walls. And the walls were more vast than I remembered, washed with grey from the cryogenic mist over my eyes. The rest was history. Those were my first memories of 'home', if you can call it that. I sometimes wonder if that was better than this... all this sex and violence and crime.

I put down my old holotape recorder and let it sit on a nearby coffee table. My eyes were fixed on the body in front of me. Her name was Calypso. It reminded me of what I was. Maybe she could've been happy if I never pulled the trigger. She was just a contract. Just caps. And sometimes dollars, if you rolled with triggermares.

Her face, her perfect mane and eyes. They were mine. I levitated an old silver hoof mirror up to my new face. It was prettier than I'd expected. I didn't want to admit it, but I loved being... free. Even if my freedom meant shooting people in the back to keep it.

I felt my ears perk skyward as a warm voice soothed my senses.

"Ms. Calypso...? When can I see my mommy...?"

Out from the corner of the stairway, I saw her bright, blue eyes. It was that kid Mother stuck with me. Only, she seemed older than I remembered. Seeing her face, that old twinkle in her eyes... it felt nice having a child of my own. Reminded me of what could have been if everything worked out like it was supposed to.

Her question caught me off-guard. Did my best to answer by downing some Glimmer Lager.

"I... I think soon. You'll get to see her soon, Pane."

The old mare was always picky about when she tagged along. Maybe it was just me growing soft. But I didn't remember a single day she went unhappy at my house. It was a total death trap, honestly. Her mom could find me at anytime. She could burst through the door at any moment and pop one right in my head. But, as cruel as Mother was... I didn't mind if I had one more day with Pane.

Pane looked back up, tilting her head with a plethora of questions.

"Are you sure...?"

I nodded softly, working a smile over my lips. Must've looked odd with that vivid gash over my eye.

"Yeah... Yeah I'm sure."

I sat there and watched her smile that ditzy little smile of hers. Couldn't place why, but the sunset could move me less. I missed her. I missed my little girl. What was a mare to do but keep her baby close wherever she could. If I had her then, or even a few years earlier, maybe I'd be a better mare because of it. Instead, I sat my ass down in Diamond City looking for a reason to drink and tell her old contract stories.

My gut told me to not get attached. But my heart, what was left of it, went out to her.

That poor filly, waiting for her family. She was sitting there with me and not her real mother. I did my best to smile. Even took effort just to frown the same. It strained my face just to try and pretend we were okay, me and her in our own little world.

In the door walked an old 'friend' of mine. XJ-99. She waltzed right in with those big glasses of hers. The coat tails of her courser outfit swayed lazily in the wake of every step. She always moved the same. XJ-99 was an efficiency person. Never wasted words or movement.

I leaned in and said my piece.

"Keep waltzing in like that and one day I might shoot you for it."

I went back to polishing my .44 when she kept walking.

"My apologies. But I don't care. New orders for you. One of our scientists left the Institute. She's gone rogue. Name's Doctor Grand Virgin. We know she's fled to the Radiant Sea. Here's the file."

Took the file and asked some questions. None too serious. Just the important ones.

"Wow. Some pigs are gonna fly for this. Hostage situation or should I neutralize her?"

"End her. She was contributing to a large project."

"Big bioscience player, huh? Sorry to hear that."

Typical. Answered me with no emotion whatsoever. Even though she had the decency to make eye-contact, it didn't feel genuine. She finished up and stood next to Pane. Little girl had guts, not even flinching around XJ-99 like that. Half of it was her bubbly innocence. The other half was being one of us. Deep down, I knew she must've felt off. But she was just too happy to pay attention. Usually, all kids were.

I started a cigar and spoke in a murmur.

"Guess that means you'll be taking the kid back, too..."

"Affirmitive."

Pane did her puppy eyes and asked 'so you're taking me home to my mommy?'

Didnt take much for XJ-99 to lie, even if it wasn't technically wrong. They answered with a simple 'yes, now hold still.'

I watched them leave as an old, cozy energy signature colored the air blue. It flicked about in harsh spasms of cyan electricity. The teleportation frequency fired up from XJ-99's old pocket radio and the kid said bye. Standing next to that old Zebra XJ-99, I couldn't help but survey every movement she made. If XJ-99 even thought about mistreating Pane, I'd pull up my revolver and blow her head off.

"Goodbye Ms. Calypso...! I'll miss you!"

I flinched and stayed quiet till they left. The silence kept me safe. Made me feel like no one was watching.

"I'll miss you too."

I closed my eyes and had a nice sip of Glimmer Lager, taking momentary puffs of Sand Francisco Sunlights.

Stared over my shoulder at the picture Pane drew for me. Sure it was made from white chalk and that didn't work well on paper. But who was I to judge. Taking that last sip of lager brought me back to my senses. I spent the rest of my night looking for a magnet of some sort. But when I couldn't find one, I settled for duct tape.

Was around midnight before I found myself smiling at the fridge... staring at that picture Pane drew for me.

Couldn't see anything. But Pane said it was us playing some baseball together.