Chapter 1: Metal on Metal
“You guys really don’t mess around”
I crawled out of bed moaning in annoyance at the alarm clock. I whacked it with my PipBuck until it shut up, breaking it in the process. Panel would be thrilled she had to fix my alarm... again.
I dragged myself through my messy room and yawned, leaning against my dresser, nearly falling asleep again. Fortunately, I had enough willpower to barely push myself away from dreamland. Pulling out a clean maintenance uniform I trudged past my hazy fatigue when I realized I should have put on my utility suit after my shower.
I growled at my own inattentiveness as I removed my barding and crawled into the shower. The warm water poured through my light grey coat erasing both the morning's exhaustion and my filth. I scrubbed my equally grey mane around my horn with the same somehow recycled shampoo everypony in Stable 19 had used for over two centuries.
When I trotted out of the shower I was much more awake than when I entered. I didn't bother to re-equip my blue and yellow uniform, which I had carelessly tossed on the bathroom floor, before I peered at myself in the mirror. I looked into my grey eyes that matched both my mane and coat. My mane was was as messy as ever with the best sign of organization being the large white streak that ran through the middle ruining the grey on grey pattern.
Despite my boringly depressing coloration, ponies constantly reminded me I'm anything but. My horn was the same shade of grey as my coat but what really got pony’s attention was my eyes . My uncle had told me I have those eyes that say "I'm the one who gets shit done!" 'The one' part was was sadly more literal than what he meant now days. Sometimes it seems I'm the only one who gets shit done. Everypony else seemed to give up when they got a little frustrated. When the Stable's systems can afford to give it up that is.
I was wired different, though. When I set my mind to something, I got results. They weren't always the best results but the statement still rings true. Sometimes I would accomplish my goal while other times it explodes in my face. The last part happens more often than I would like.
There was a downside to being reliable, however. Everypony wanted me to do something. Being a technician, the usual request would be to hack their PipBuck or terminal in order to make it do something. For example, I changed Tulip's PipBuck screen to glow pink and programed her terminal to always have tulips in the corners of the screen. I have to admit that I did enjoy that job, though. Not just anyone gets to see Tulip. She's sort of a celebrity in the Stable even though all she does is stand around and be pretty. It wasn't the most dignified job, in fact it was downright embarrassing the way I acted around her, but she seemed grateful.
I brushed my teeth and put my uniform on. One last glance in the mirror before I left catching a look at the terminal embedded on my flank. The fake screen on my cutie mark seemed to glow but I knew it was just an illusion caused by whatever magic allows us cutie marks.
Several security ponies charged across the living quarters when I opened the door to my room. I only recognized one from the few that I managed to catch a glimpse of, Snowflake, who I'd met at Marzipan's filly's birthday party last year. She was nice but we never hung out much after that. Sometimes I wished I was a security pony instead of a boring technician because they get to wear cool armor, carry weapons, boss ponies around, and no pony messes with them. Then I ask myself 'how would that help me at all?' I have no need for weapons, I'm not the bossy type, and no pony messes with me anyway. The only use I could get out of the job is looking badass in that armor. Snowflake made it sound kind of lonely too. She told me about how most ponies avoided her and the other security ponies in fear of getting ratted out on small things or that they'd tell The Overmare things that didn't happen. Nah, my job was alright, if a little boring.
I started to make my way to the auditorium to await my first task of the day and get some chow when my PipBuck started flashing. When I looked at the small computer on my foreleg it went to my data tab. A new file flashed green telling me I received a message. A job already? I thought with a mental sigh I guess I get a late breakfast then. I read the message to myself.
From: Wire Cutter
To: Error Code
Error, we could use your help in maintenance. Some crazy stallion snuck into the stable entrance last night. He's trying to get out but we locked down the door. Now he's using the terminal there to fuck up our access and lock the security ponies out of the chamber! He doesn't seem to know what he's doing besides locking us out so It's nothing to panic about but I'm having a tough time getting control of the entrances systems again. It's just me and the Rookie down here so I figured you were the best pony to call for something like this.
Huh? Why was Cutter up so early? I guessed The Overmare probably sent her down there when she found out about the buck trying to escape and security couldn't get in. This was the third attempted escape this month, but clearly this one caused the most trouble so far. The others either just pulled the lever on the entrance controls, which had a fail safe built into it to stop an escape before safe radiation levels were found through the Stable's mainframe, or just beat and screamed at the door.
I abandoned my hopes for breakfast in order to assist Cutter and the rookie. Another downside to being a reliable mare: maintenance ponies always asked me for help. Error, I never payed attention to this in training so can you do it? Error, I forgot what training said about this can you do it? Error, I'm just too lazy to do this and I couldn't come up with a good excuse, can you do this? My mind mimicked most of the maintenance ponies. I didn't just blame them for their ignorance but also at my unwillingness to refuse. Not only did I never say no, but I acted glad to say yes. It was like a mental block that didn't just prevent me from turning ponies down but forced me to be eager to please.
I trotted past the long broken elevator, and continued on to the stairs. I glanced at the sealed door a little ways down. Nopony knew what was beyond it. It was a mystery left after the world ended. Sometimes a foal or new maintenance pony would think they had a shot of opening it every once and awhile, including me a few times. We had all obviously failed.
Not much longer of a walk now, just down three flights and then I could get to the mainframe. Why they put the mainframe in the middle floor of the lower systems I have no idea. My contemplative thoughts kept me busy on my way down and literally before I knew it I was there.
After backtracking a few steps I stopped in front of the main frame's entrance. The door slid open after a quick scan of my PipBuck's authorization status. Inside was the large, fairly familiar mainframe of the stable. I say fairly familiar because I hardly ever needed to come in here. The reasonably big computer system was made to run with as minimum maintenance as possible required being loaded with different types of repair talismans. The only time we ever needed to come in here was when we needed to do something to the stable protocols or do something manually, like now.
Two other ponies were already waiting for me. The light green earth pony with utility barding that matched mine and a black filly ,who just earned her cutie mark, wearing stable security armor both turned their focus on me. The green mare looked at me with a warm smile while the filly remained expressionless.
"Hey, Cutter," I greeted the green earth pony with a nod. She always had a thin red headband in her dark blue mane for some reason but I never questioned why.
"Hi, Rookie", I nodded to the filly as well, flashing her a reassuring smile. She replied with a squeak that was probably intended to be a 'Hi'.
I liked the kid. She's supposed to be a security mare, but she spends most of her time with us repair ponies. None of the security ponies, not even Sundrop, the Stable Security Chief, say anything against it; except her mom of course. Her mom was a security officer and her mom before that and her mom before that and so on down since before the stable was closed. Her ancestors were always in some position of law enforcement, it seemed. At least, that's what the rookie told us.
Anyways, Rookie's mom thought it was important that she join the force, but her meek personality and her evasion of conflict begged to differ. That said, she'd much rather be in the isolated catacombs of maintenance where she gets the comfortable amount of company us repair ponies provide when we pass her with a quick greeting or small talk. We all enjoy her help and she's quite good with a wrench so we don't mind. Not that anypony would mind a filly doing what she's most comfortable with as long as she didn't get in anypony's way.
I never figured out her real name. I've heard other security ponies call her Rookie even before we were properly introduced and the name always stuck. I'm sure she told me her real name ,or somepony else had, but I forgot or wasn't paying attention.
"So who's the crazy stallion this time?" I continued.
"Greyberry," Cutter answered casually.
"Really?" I asked in surprise. Cutter nodded. Sure I didn't know him very well but from what I did know of him he didn't seem like a crazy pony. He was in charge of food dispensary and him and his friends usually kept to themselves. I remembered helping him retrieve some information he lost on a public terminal a few days back. It had been some old deleted file called The Key which earned me some extra grub.
I looked at the one screen the mainframe needed using the video surveillance and saw the entrance controls untouched. I saw the grey buck, instead, fiddling with a terminal hooked up to his PipBuck muttering something softly to himself.
"...first to leave... they're waiting...." was all I could make out from the clearly insane earth pony.
"Have you been able to hear what he's saying?" I asked curiously.
"Nope," she informed me, crushing my small hopes "The Overmare is beyond pissed right now, though,"
I could see why. I would be too if some random crazy stallion was about to jeopardize the stable too. I put my skills to use and found out how he was blocking us. The bastard put a fucking virus into the stable mainframe! It wasn't that tough of a virus but what was the little shit thinking!? It wouldn't be that hard to get rid of. Cutter should be able to take care of this easily but no she's too lazy just like everypony else.
I hit the last key needed when electricity surged through me. I fell back with my eyes clenched shut as the energy coursed through me looking for an exit and heard both Cutter and the Rookie gasp in surprise. When the shock faded into bearable but annoying tingles I rose to my hooves. I held my hoof to my head to soothe the slight headache growing in my skull before opening my eyes to further darkness. I looked around in confusion finding the only light in the room came from the mainframe's screen which had reported it was 'Repairing...'.
"The fuck just happened!?" I shouted at no one in particular. I turned to Cutter who was just staring at the screen like an idiot."Arg!" I growled loudly at the mare's uselessness and made my way back to the mainframe's controls. I just stared at it not knowing what to do in this situation. I didn't even know what happened! I knew I had to do something but I couldn't do anything. All I could do was wait and hope the mainframe can fix itself soon.
I looked back at the two ponies behind me. Rookie looked terrified and I didn't blame the filly. Who knew what kind of damage the mainframe sustained. Cutter was still lost in her shock still staring at the same spot she was a few seconds ago.
"Well!? You gonna help!?" I asked irritably to Cutter. She shook her head out of her stupor.
"What can I do!?" she countered.
I looked and the ground and growled angrily before looking back at the mainframe controls trying to find out how to fix this mess. As I went through my blank mind for a solution I thought that Cutter was right. She couldn't do anything and neither could I. This was more frustrating than the usual blow up in my face events.
I slammed my hooves on the controls and the screen went black. Not off but back to the camera in the entrance chamber where the lights had been shut down due to the odd power surge in the mainframe. I could see the outline of the large circular steel entrance door (which was now open!) and a few figures walking through. They were massive and made a 'clunk' sound with each hoofstep.
"Kill that one," I heard an unfamiliar mare's voice order to an unseen individual. One of the figures stopped.
"Fuck!" I heard Greyberry exclaim. "Hook up your PipBuck to the mainframe!" He yelled before the intruders made themselves visible with the biggest damn weapon I'd ever seen being fired at Greyberry rapidly. Huge bloody chunks ripped from the buck, splattering on the wall beside him.
I began to shake after what I saw. Not only did they just murder one of Stable 19's residents in front of me but they looked armed to the teeth. Only you couldn't see their teeth! Each was donning magical power armor I had only seen in history books. There were several of them with guns mounted to their sides that matched the one that killed Greyberry as well as other weapons I didn't recognize.
I smelled urine. I glanced back to check on the Rookie but it appeared that Cutter was the one to wet herself. When she noticed me looking at her she blushed. I would have facehoofed if it were a less threatening situation. I looked back at the screen and took a deep breath to calm me down. A moment later an explosion just out of the camera's viewpoint showered the chamber with light once again revealing the intruders' appearances. Screams from familiar voices and gunfire followed soon after.
"What are we going to do!?" Cutter cried hysterically. Rookie remained silent and I reached in my utility belt for my PipBuck connector cable. "What are you doing!?" Cutter looked at me wide eyed when she saw the cord.
"Doing what that grey fuck asked me to do," I answered trying to keep my cool and plugging the cable into my Pipbuck then the mainframe hook up.
"Are you crazy!?" the olive technician shouted at me "Who knows what he put on it!" I ignored her warning and let the transfer complete. By the time I got the mainframe's files (making sure I only took the most recent additions to its data for more effectively finding what Greyberry wanted me too) the screams stopped. The chamber was just a dark empty room. I knew there was no damn way our security team fought off those steel clad ponies.
I flipped through the files quickly finding two messages that shouldn't be there. One was from Greyberry's PipBuck while the other was from a some terminal in Hoofington. I read the one from Greyberry first.
I'm sorry.
If your reading this then I screwed up. I had to take the chance. They had been contacting the Overmare for a few months now. They promised us a safe peaceful place to live outside! All they wanted from us was this 'Key' but the Overmare turned them down several times. I had to take the chance. I told them I'd do it and transferred The Key from the Overmare's terminal to a public one. I was able to get a technician to open it for me and I'm going to let them in. I just couldn't take it any more in here! If I made a huge mistake...I'm sorry.
That crazy fucker killed us all! And tricked me! The Overmare had been talking to these guys? I knew I didn't have a lot of time to think about this so I opened the other file.
Dear, Director
We've placed one of our lesser known projects in a nearby Stable. I personally sealed it in an unfinished room in Stable 19. Please pick it up at your earliest convenience but when you do you might want to wipe its memory and alter its personality a bit. It can be quite the nuisance when it gets angry, which is a lot. Look for a construction pony named Pipe Wrench. He'll push you in the right direction. Oh and you'll need this.
The message never said who sent it but there was an encrypted file attached to it. I tried to decode it but failed. Maybe I could when I was in a less jittery state but for now we needed to find a way to stop the intruders. Why was this message sent to the stable when it was clearly meant for somepony outside of the stable?
The lights returned along with the stable alarm system raising the pain in my head even more. At least the siren should wake any late risers.
"We need to go to the sealed room," I announced "This file has something that can open it."
"Wha-" Cutter started but I quickly cut her off.
"I'm pretty sure whatever is in there is what these ponies want," I explained."Maybe they'll leave if we give it to them." Cutter let out more complaints but I trotted out of the room and began running down the hall. The stairs nearby were as empty as ever so the climb up wasn't hard. After two flights I noticed the Rookie and Cutter caught up to me. The other maintenance pony finally shut up but she still had her panic stricken expression.
Once I neared the destination I began to hear screams as ponies raced past me making me doubt my ability to get to the unknown room. Despite my fears I had made it to the door. A few more ponies charged past me yelling and gunfire rang down the stairwell with noise only the invader's weapons could make. They were close but I still had time. Sounds travels pretty far down here.
When I stopped in front of the door a light shined above it seemingly out of nowhere. That was something the doors don't usually do! The red light shined green after a moment and the door retracted into the ceiling with a hiss. Inside looked like it was half cave and half normal stable. My eyes widened at the sight of stone and the stalactites in the unfinished half of the room. Nothing but a strange cylinder shaped object about the size of my foreleg connected to the ground on the other side of the room was in the strange place. Cautiously, I put a fore hoof in the room and my PipBuck started making a clicking sound.
"Radiation!" Cutter informed with a shout. I looked down at the arcane device studying the geiger counter on the side. The needle bounced safely in the green.
"Its not enough to be dangerous," I concluded before walking further into the room. Rookie and Cutter waited for a moment before following. A compartment on the cylinder opened once I got close enough. Inside was just a grey opening but a light shined from it after a moment. I stared in confusion at s blue mass of light floated in the middle for a second before flying into my PipBuck. Before I could ponder what just happened my E.F.S, or my radar as ponies in the stable liked to call it, appeared in the corner of my eye with a large message in the center of my vision reading "AI ONLINE".
"Woah!" I exclaimed while stumbling backwards a few hoofsteps.
"What is it!?" Cutter asked surprised by my reaction.
"I have no idea," I told her truthfully. The message disappeared but my E.F.S was here to stay until I decided to get rid of it. For now I figured it would be useful.
"Get out of there!" an unfamiliar bucks voice ordered.
"Who said that!?" I yelled looking around.
"I said leave!" the voice continued "Get out of that room turn to your right and hide in the janitor closet at the end of the hall!"
"I um- ok," I answered back to confused to argue with the voices logic. From what I gathered from its idea in my jumbled head it wasn't that bad of an idea. "Follow me!" I told the others before galloping to the exit. I stopped at the door and looked back to see the Rookie and Cutter exchange an unsure glance. "Come on!" I ordered them and ran down the hallway once they started following.
The door was as simple to open as pressing a button. Not much to keep in a janitor's closet out of the public. Who wants to steal a mop? The others went in before me when I waved me hoof toward the open door. Inside was hardly enough to hold all three of us but it did. It wasn't very bright either but my PipBuck light fixed that. I heard loud metallic hoof steps coming from what I assumed was the stairs.
"Error-"
"Shhhh!" I cut of Wire waiting for the hoofsteps to stop. After a few moments the faded into the distance.
"It's safe," The voice told me. "Why are Steel Rangers attacking a stable?" it then asked.
"What the fuck are you!?" I growled looking at the ground.
"Uh, Error," Cutter began "who are you talking too? And what happened in that room?"
"You don't think he..." the Rookie cut in. I knew she was about to say that I went crazy, and I honestly didn't know how to respond to that. A random voice in my does sound like insanity but I've held up the best between us. Not that I can blame them. Our home was just attacked by armored death ponies, we watched a stable resident get shredded by a weapon we've never seen before, and we were nearly caught by said death ponies.
"Oh right, you probably want to know what the new voice in your head. Silly me!" the voice responded. "I'm the Stablecolt AI V-2 but you can call me Coy. At least, that's what Dr.Killjoy called me." A little blue pixelated buck appeared in the corner of my E.F.S and waved at me. He had a short curly blond mane, black one pixel eyes, and wore a more cartoony version of the familiar Stable suit. His flank showed the simple yellow number 19.
"So your an AI?...In my head?" I didn't want a computer thing living in my head. What if it could look into my thoughts or memories or OH NO my fantasies!
"Uh, what?" both my current companions yelped. Cutter a little more dramatically than Rookie.
"Not your head your PipBuck," the blue buck said almost to optimistically. It hardly calmed me down.
"Then how are you talking in my head?" I asked trying to keep as calm as I could but all I could think of was the little buck trotting around in my skull.
"I send synthetic sound waves into your brain the same way your E.F.S projects information to your vision. Don't worry I can't see which mares you want to rut" the AI joked with a chuckle. "Or stallions. Whichever you prefer," I blushed, glad that the others couldn't hear. After I calmed down I looked back at the mare and the filly.
"I got some sort of robot thing in my PipBuck. I think he's what these freaky guys are after," I told them almost casually which surprised me. They didn't look like they believed me. In fact, Cutter looked even more worried than before.
"I'm an AI, the 'freaky guys' are Steel Rangers, and call me Coy," the A- Coy corrected sounding a bit annoyed.
“Ok Coy,” I sighed trying to calm down more “Is there a way to stop the Steel Rangers?”. That earned more worried stares from rookie and Cutter.
“Not in this place,” Coy told me casually like this was a normal situation. Before I could yell at him he cut me off “You need to get out,”
“Get out? You mean...?”
“Yep,” he said in a casual tone again “You need to leave the stable.”
“No!” I shouted a little too loudly. “That’s not an option!” The last part was more of a yell.
“Error your going crazy!” Cutter screamed becoming hysterical.
“You have to go! You don't have the weapons or training to take on Steel Rangers,” Coy warned.
I didn't know what to do. I knew I couldn’t stay here or I would die but I didn’t know what lay outside either. I couldn’t leave all the other ponies in the stable with these murderers. I let out a long sigh.
“If they know I have you will they follow me out?” I asked Coy. Cutter started talking before Coy could respond.
“Even if you have an AI in your head, how do you know they’re after it?” Cutter questioned.
“It makes sense right?” I explained “Why else would they be here?” They had been talking to Greyberry about a key. I opened the file The Key for him just a few days ago which opened the door that lead to-
“Supplies” Rookie cut into my thoughts.
“Huh?” Cutter and I both turned to the usually quiet filly.
“The world ended. They might need supplies to eat or even rebuild,” the filly’s voice was filled with more wisdom than somepony her age should have. “For all we know they could have been finding stables and taking what they can from them. After they deal with the residents, of course,” I opened my mouth to argue but she made sense. Even Coy agreed with her.
“She’s right,” he said “For whatever reason they’re here, I don’t think they’ll just leave your stable alone.”
“So...everypony's fucked?” I glared at the ground before stomping on it in frustration.
“Not necessarily,” Coy said hesitantly. My ears perked. “ I assume since you’re in here means the world ended?”
“Yeah” I answered quickly. What’s that have to do with getting the Rangers to leave?
“How long ago?”
“I don't know. Around two centuries ago or so,” Coy was silent for a few seconds.
“You may be able to disable their armor,” Coy finally began “But I’m not sure how many are on the outside. If they’re here now that probably means there are more of them. With two centuries to recover there are probably a lot more. You need to get everypony out.”
“Uh...That’s easier said than done,” my ears drooped at the thought of even trying to convince everypony to get out.
“What’s it telling you to do!?” Cutter yelled “Don’t listen to it!” I ignored her.
“Let’s focus on stopping them from killing everypony first,” Coy suggested. I couldn’t disagree. “The mainframe is connected to several industrial sized spark batteries throughout the stable,” the blue AI explained “If you can get back to it I can plug a virus into your PipBuck,” I almost stopped him there but I decided to let him finish “The virus can cause the spark batteries to overload, sending a pseudo EMP. I would need to transfer somewhere else after I plant the virus, though. Preferably somewhere outside of the EMP’s range or else I would be shut down along with the Steel Ranger’s armor and your PipBucks.”
“Put a virus in the stable mainframe!? Are you crazy!?” I shouted. Both Cutter and rookie looked at me with shocked stares.
“Think of it as an excuse to get everypony to leave” Coy suggested. Damnit, I don’t know why I agreed.
“Fine, but where will you go to get out of range of the EMP?” I asked.
“There’s a PipBuck tag in the PipBuck repair bay that would be out of range of any blast. Go there right after. No distractions,” Coy ordered.
“Fine,” I looked my companions “Stay here. I’ll be back soon,” I told them before I opened the door. The corridor was nearly silent the only sounds being distant echoing gunfire and wailing from the stable’s pipe system. At least, some of it was from the pipes...
“What are you-” Cutter began but I cut her off with a ‘shhh’.
I slowly stepped out of the closet after I saw it was safe. I heard it slide shut when I was completely out of the doorway. My E.F.S told me enemies waited ahead despite my vision telling me it was clear. They must be above or below. I reminded myself I needed to be extra careful of the ones we avoided that went down to the lower levels.
As quietly as I could, I began my trot back downstairs, keeping as low as possible. I looked into the room I found Coy in to see the case he was in was severely battered to an unrecognizable shape. I guessed the Rangers weren’t too happy he was gone. I thought maybe they did only want Coy and maybe we could fix this and continue living in the stable.
I made it to staircase with no problems. Ok three flights down. I needed to be hopeful that there were no Rangers in those corridors. Stealth was harder than I expected going down the stairs as each step was sounded by a clunk of hoof meeting metal. I winced every step in fear that they’d hear it.
The first flight was safe. None were in view but when I made it to the second floor I ducked back around the corner. Two Rangers had their backs turned to me. They looked like they were looking at something. I worked up the courage to peer back around the corner. They had been studying a bloody PipBuck and talking about something. It didn’t take long to find the PipBuck’s owner slumped against the wall. I shoved my hoof in my mouth to stop myself from gasping.
I knew I had to continue but I really really didn’t want to. Almost too slowly, I began my way to the last flight of stairs. When I made it I let out a sigh of relief. I shouldn’t have. Alerted voices sounded from below. I froze but then I heard galloping heading away from me.
“Did you miss me?” Coy asked smugly. I feared the Rangers would hear him even though I knew he talked in my head.
“I didn’t even know you left,” I whispered.
“I made a little distraction,” Coy informed. “You’re welcome”
“What?” I asked.
“I trapped a knight in the tunnels. They’ll be trying to get her out but you’ll still need to hurry,” the artificial buck explained. I nodded and muttered a thanks. I went down less quietly. Another mistake.
“Who’s there?” a mare’s head appeared from the doorway to the mainframe when I reached it. Instead of being in-cased in thick metal, her head was wrapped in a rubbery substance with small bits of metal plating attached to it and her horn sticking out the top
.
“Hey!” she growled. I froze wide-eyed. She stepped out of the doorway her body protected by the same armor design. She glared at me with green hostile eyes. Her orange face being the only part visible, I realized I should have hit it but I was too surprised to move.
“Go into S.A.T.S!” Coy ordered. Without thought I obeyed. The world slowed almost to a stop. Her head was highlighted green and a 98% appeared next to it showing my chances of hitting her there if I struck.
“Ok here’s what you do,” Coy began. I couldn’t respond my body being as slowed as the rest of the world. “First, see her holster on her right?” With my peripheral vision I saw a holster and a strange pistol residing inside of it. What’s with the guys and their weird guns? “Use your magic to grab the laser pistol,” Lasers!? They had lasers now too!? “Then buck her away, use S.A.T.S to aim at her face. It’s the only part of her body the weapon will be effective on”.
My mind went blank like something took control of my body after he gave those instructions.I slipped out of S.A.T.S whipped the gun out of her holster and bucked her in the chest while she was distracted by my surge of magic.
She slid back but did not fall. I flipped the weapon’s barrel towards her and slipped back into S.A.T.S. I went back into control. I couldn’t shoot, I couldn’t kill her.
“What are you waiting for? Shoot her!” If I could move I would have ground my teeth. I couldn’t kill her even if her and the other Rangers attacked first and killed Celestia know how many ponies. Ponies I knew and grew up with. I had to do something. I... I knew what I had to do. Two strikes from S.A.T.S were locked and ready to go on my mental signal.
The pistol bashed against her skull twice. She staggered after the first blow but the second knocked her down with a shout. A loud shout! She would be on the ground for awhile but I could hear the others yell and gallop this way.
“Maybe I should have made sure the room was clear before you tried to get in,” Coy said in hindsight.
“Yeah that would have made this a lot easier,” I complained looking down the hallway waiting for one to emerge from a corner.
“Inside the room! I’ll lock the door.” Coy told me. Without hesitation I charged into the room to the mainframe. I heard the door slam shut behind me just as the shouts sounded close.
“I’ll open all the doors in the stable or else any effected by the EMPs will be will shut down,” Coy informed. A slam on the door interrupted. It dented!
“Hurry up then!” I growled.
“Done!” Coy said not even a second later “This is the only closed door left,” Another smashed on the door and light poured in from the sides. The shouts that I didn’t even know were muffled now weren’t. “The virus will activate when I’m gone. Remember, PipBuck repair bay!” Coy reminded.
“Alright just go!” I scolded in panic and another bash against the door almost threw it to the ground. I didn’t even know if Coy had left yet when I reached for my PipBuck connector cable. I knew he left when my E.F.S lit up with all sorts of gibberish all across my vision. Damn virus. I plugged my PipBuck into the mainframe just as the final strike against the door caused it to fly toward me. I barely ducked as it struck the mainframe behind me. A Ranger with the same kind of gun that killed Greyberry starred in an eternal scowl from the helmet. Two other rangers flanked him each with smaller (but still intimidating) firearms attached to their flanks.I clenched my eyes shut waiting for the killing blow.
BOOM! The deafening sound burst with a electrical echo. I didn’t feel anything. I opened my eyes to darkness. Was I dead? Had the the shot killed me instantly? My E.F.S wasn’t acting up, in fact, I had no E.F.S. Yep, I was dead. Flashes of light just ahead caught my attention. The flashes had been bolts of electricity jumping from ranger to Ranger. They stood up for a few moments before finally collapsing with a very loud metallic thud.
I wasn’t dead. The plan worked! The EMP shorted out the lights so I tried to turn on my PipBuck light but it didn’t work. I briefly inspected the arcane device before realizing it would be shorted out along with everything else.
The ponies inside the disabled armor shouted threats and complaints at me as I cautiously made my way around them thinking they would get up and blow out my chest with one of their huge guns. I made it into the hallway and luckily my eyes adjusted enough to see where I was going. I looked down at the mare I knocked out on the way in when a realization struck me hard. She hadn’t had power armor! If there were others like her, could they still move around and shoot!? Damn it, Coy! A laser shot above me from further down the hall.
“Lock me in a dark tunnel fucker!?” I heard a mare shout from further down the hall. I could see her armored silhouette from here. This must be the knight Coy locked in the tunnels for my distraction.
I screamed, running up the stairs trying to get away from my pursuer. As I ran I realized I placed my laser pistol in a utility pouch. Wait, where was the trigger on this thing!? It didn’t matter right now, I could outrun this mare, I hoped. I ran up the third flight of stairs to see Cutter and rookie emerged from the closet.
“Run!” I shouted before running up the next flight. I really hoped they listened. In my panic I was still able to pick out the floor with the PipBuck repair bay. A bonus of being a maintenance pony was you knew the layout of the stable to the specifics. I rounded the corner to the welcome greeting of shotgun barrel to the face. Two stable security ponies aimed at me through their visors. Both were unicorns. One had a combat shotgun while the other wielded a 10mm pistol.
I recognized the one with the pistol as Snowflake, the mare I met at Marzipan’s filly’s birthday party. Her bright white coat stood out in the darkness while her icy blue mane slid out from under her helmet. The other pony I didn’t recognize. He was familiar but everypony was familiar with everypony in the stable. He was larger than Snowflake and I and definitely looked tougher than both of us. His coat looked like rust and his mane was a bright yellow sticking out from under his helmet.
“Being...chased...other stable...ponies following me” I explained in between heaves. The nodded at each other and moved around me flanking the stairway. They didn’t react to Cutter and Rookie barrel through the stairway. Both ran to my side.
“What did you do!?” Cutter yelled.
Gunshots interrupted my response. Two shots from the shotgun and four by the pistol followed by a disembodied scream, metallic thumps down the stairs, and shots from the laser pistol that lit up the stairway. The two security ponies rejoined me and the the two others following me.
“Thanks” I huffed.
“No problem, Error,” Snowflake said with a warm smile.
“You remember me?” I asked. Very few mares remember me. “Wow.”
“Of course” she responded. “Why wouldn’t I remember you?”
“What happened?” the buck interrupted.
“I-” I decided it would be better if I didn’t tell him I broke the stable “The Rangers overloaded the spark batteries in the stable to turn off our E.F.S. I guess they didn’t take into account their power armor gets the same result as our PipBucks” I couldn’t help but feel stupid that the situation was actually reversed.
I realized a few Steel Ranger corpses littered the hallway the security ponies came down. Bullet holes piercing the visors. Looked like my plan down stairs saved them. A little bit of pride welled up inside me.
“The what?” Right, they don’t know that term.
“Never mind,” I said with a dismissive hoof. “I need to get to the PipBuck repair bay,” I explained “Somepony’s waiting for me there. Can I get some help?”
“Sure,” Snowflake answered “It’s on the way to the Overmare’s office but we need to go there right after.”
“Deal,” I said with a hopefully confident smile.
***
The way wasn’t as clear as I’d hoped. A few stray knights left both Snowflake’s and the buck I now knew as Gate’s armor with a few new scorch marks. At least the knights weren’t as armed as the normal Rangers.
We made it, though. The lights in this area were still on. Coy said the EMPs couldn’t reach this far. I feared any functional Rangers that could be in the area. I warned my companions as such.
It worried me that even with the power on the PipBuck repair bay was open. What if the Rangers got in, killed whoever Coy went into, and took the AI? I walked in and my fears evaporated when I saw a white mare with a two toned pink mane cowering between work benches with mascara dripping down her cheeks with tears.. Her PipBuck glowed a bright pink showing me she was who I already knew her as.
“Tulip,” I called quietly in concern. My companions followed me in with looks of concern and surprise.
“This is who’s waiting for you?” Snowflake questioned sounding a bit confused.
“Error!” Tulip blinked at me. She remembered my name too! “He told me to give you my PipBuck!” Oh, or Coy just told her... I really hoped it was the first possibility.
“Oh yeah,” I said a little more bitterly than I intended. “This place has tools to remove these, right?”
“Yeah” Snowflake answered “Who said you need her PipBuck”
“The voice in my PipBuck!” Tulip answered with a scared girly squeal while I looked through a toolbox for a tool that would fit the lock on my PipBuck. Great, she’s turning out like Wire.
“What?” both of the security ponies looked at her like she was crazy. By the sound if her voice, I assumed she almost was.
“There really is an AI!?” Cutter exclaimed. Enough with panicking ponies!
“I wouldn’t yell,” I stated “The EMP couldn’t reach here by the looks of it,” I added the last part quickly to not cause any suspicion of my involvement in breaking the stable. “There could be a few functional Rangers around here. Aha!” I found a tool that fit in the PipBuck lock. It was dark red and black and it looked looked like a cross between a key and a screw driver.
With a twist the arcane device popped open releasing my left foreleg. It looked almost like a shackle when opened with jaws waiting to encase somepony’s leg, except with padding for its wearer's comfort. With a grey magical burst I tossed the tool in front of the still cowering Tulip. She stared at it for a moment but eventually went to work opening her own PipBuck. That's when everything went to hell.
I heard Gate shout something from the hallway right before a large explosion cut him off and shook the room. Tulip yelped and dropped the PipBuck key. I heard similar responses from the rest of my companions, myself included.
"Gate!" Snowflake shrieked. I hadn't seen what happened to Gate and I decided I didn't want to with the splatter I heard from the hall echoing the explosion. SnowFlake jumped to the side avoiding an explosive shell I hardly saw fly past and slam into the wall behind Cutter and rookie. The two fell forward from the explosion's shockwave, leaving Cutter's rump with a light burn. I was about to try to get them out of the way when a pink aura surrounding a glowing pink arcane device obscured my vision.
"Take it!" Tulip shouted with her eyes closed. I didn't have time to wonder how she passed the PipBuck to me without sight. I took the device and attached it to my left foreleg with a click. My E.F.S appeared in the corner of my eye... and it was pink. I'd have to get used to that. Another explosion hit near the side of the door still outside of the room while Cutter and Rookie cowered in a corner curled with each other.
"Finally!" Coy sighed in relief.
"We're being shot at!" I half growled half screamed as another missile hit the wall inside the room. He sounded too happy in this situation.
"Right" Coy began taking a more serious tone "Your E.F.S says there's only one," I hadn't really looked at my E.F.S well enough to notice "So tell that security pony to say when the Ranger starts to reload"
"Snowflake!" I called. She stopped shooting her pistol, that I hadn't even notice she began to fire, and looked at me with a questioning look. "Tell me when he reloads!"
"He's reloading!" she yelled not even a second after I said to tell me.
"Well fuck, out of the room! Now!" Coy ordered. I knew it was a crazy thing to do but his plan worked before and hopefully it would again. I charged out without hesitation.
I started to have second thoughts when I made it out the door. The armored invader had a massive cannon mounted on his flank. The red gushy stuff I was stepping in didn't help my shock either. I found out what happened to Gate after all.
A smoking shell that fit the huge cannon's size popped out the top of the gun and landed with an audible thunk. The gun tilted down toward me. What I had just witnessed and the gore pile I stood in raised my determination to NOT GET HIT! I jumped aside to safety behind a wall just as the steel pony fired but the shock wave still caused me to land on my face.
My snout throbbed. When I got up I checked my nose with a hoof. That was a lot of blood. Wait... I looked back at the pile of gore I had been just standing in. My stomach couldn't take the fear and the fact I had just smeared Gate's insides on my muzzle.
After throwing up last nights dinner (and being grateful I didn't eat breakfast) I looked at the bloody pile once more thinking I caught a glimpse of something that didn't fit into the gore. Yes the shotgun! I reached out and grabbed it with my telekinesis, another large explosive shell nearly knocking out of my grip.
"Yes a gun! Of course! You'll need one of those for my plan!" Coy said enthusiastically.
"I'm really having second thoughts about this," I told him "Your plans seem to leave something important out."
"What was wrong with my last one!?" Coy asked irritably.
"Aside from this situation, the knights' armor doesn't shut down on them!" I pointed out.
"Well, lets focus on our current objective, shall we?" Coy chuckled sounding embarrassed. score one for me.
"What's your plan for this one?" Coy laughed at the question.
"It's easy don't worry," Nonetheless, I was worried. "Just use the hallways to circle around to the Ranger's side and take him out from there!" What!?
"That's your plan!?" another cannon shot caused me to wince.
"Running out of ammo!" Snowflake called. With a growl I raced to my suicidal goal maybe because the part of my brain that would think this over more turned off or I was just crazy. I started to fear it wouldn't matter when a knight trotted down a stairway directly ahead of me bringing a (what was that? never mind) gun to bear.
I dismissed my thoughts of failure and charged at her screaming with my best war cry, which wasn't that good. By the time she set up her aim I was close enough to strike the bloody shotgun barrel to her temple with more force than I thought could muster.
I ran to the hallway to my side without looking back at the mare I just hit. There was no way she had still been up after that blow. I turned once more straight away to the Steel Ranger. He was reloading again. I took the opportunity and I charged at him screaming again. He turned to me and I got ready to beat him with my shotgun. He simply held out a hoof which I slammed into, knocking what little breath I had out of me. I fell to the floor while he held me down with the same foreleg I slammed into. He raised his other hoof, preparing to beat the life out of me with it. This time my scream was of terror rather than determination. I could see Snowflake's bullets bouncing off his armor with no effect.
I panicked. I placed the shotgun's barrel to the Ranger's visor and pulled the trigger. Once. Twice. Three times. The sound of the shots so close to me hurt. My scream faded as my lungs begged for air and the Steel Ranger tipped over... missing his head! I scrambled to my hooves breathing heavily over what I had just done and my body's growing need for oxygen. Turning around to face away from the corpse I saw his head further down the hall, his visor almost gone, showing no eyes but deep bloody holes where the buckshot had pierced. I had killed him! Was it even a him!? I couldn't tell from their armor! I didn't even know what gender this pony was and I killed them!
My guilty thoughts were interrupted by a burning pain lancing down my shoulder. I screamed again and turned to the knight I hit a few moments ago. Her nose pointed in a direction I knew it shouldn't be and she wore an expression of pure rage.
She aimed her, I assumed from the burn I got, laser rifle at me. A part of me thought It would be good after what I just did. She exploded! The cannon on the dead Steel Ranger shifted and thundered, blasting the knight into a thick red paste.
"You’re welcome," Coy commented "Were you seriously about to beat a Steel Ranger with your shotgun?" I just sat there with my jaw dropped to the floor.
***
It had taken a few minutes to recover though I was still shaking from the ordeal. We made it to the atrium without anymore trouble, thank Celestia and Snowflake led the way now, her pistol raised and her eyes alert. She and the others had been impressed with what I did which I responded to with 'good, cause I don't think I can do it again'.
The shotgun lay across my back, spreading more blood on me. I was too focused on my actions earlier to care, though. Was there another way? Could Snowflake have helped? Should I have waited for her? Did I have to kill that Ranger? Even though every logical part of my brain told me not to feel bad, some piece of me felt guilty over the armored ponies death. They were a pony, enemy or not, with many years of life spent. Spent doing what? I don't know, but all those years and any more life he could have spent was put to a sudden halt because of me. I shook my head and tried to focus my attention on Snowflake and the others.
Speaking of Snowflake, she was taking Gate's death pretty well. I didn't know who he was to her but if he was somepony important to her she didn't show it. I knew was just using her as a distraction from my thoughts of myself but I figured it didn't really matter.
I started to think maybe I did the right thing when we started seeing bodies. We found only a few at first but as we got closer to the atrium more started showing up. Alone or in clusters all the bodies had gaping wounds in them. Some were even missing limbs... and heads. I noted that there were no Steel Ranger corpses though a few trapped in their armor from when the EMPs went off but Snowflake quickly took care of them with a shot to their visors. That was obviously the weak spot in their armor.
We took the long way to the atrium, skipping the living quarters. None of us wanted to see the carnage down there. We found no survivors on our path to the Overmare's office, making me wonder if we were the only ones left. This place was usually filled with activity but now everything was dead, literally. I was dreading the panic from residents I would witness when we made it to the more public friendly areas but this slaughter was much worse than I had ever expected. Silent, dark, and bloody. Not the best combination for comfort.
To my surprise Rookie was holding herself together better than Cutter. Cutter and Tulip both looked about frantically with tears sliding down their cheeks. They weren't meant to go through something like this. None of us were (well maybe Snowflake was) but they took it the worst.
Coy was surprisingly silent on our walk. For the short time I've known him he seemed very talkative. Maybe he knew now wasn't the time for talk out of respect or he could be up to something.
We made it to one of the entrances to the atrium. Snowflake took cover in the doorway and halted us with a hoof.
"Error what's your E.F.S say?" I forgot I was the only pony with a functioning PipBuck.
"Oh, uh," I checked my radar. Only the pink bars of my companions. "It's clear," Snowflake nodded and twirled around the door, scanning the area with her pistol raised.
I stepped out after her to the welcome greeting of even more corpses. Bloody holes and missing chunks of bodies decorated the atrium. A majority of the population had been here when the attack began. The lack of survivors here or in any of the surrounding rooms reinforced my worry that we were the only ones left. I glanced in the canteen and wished I didn’t. Foals. They had killed foals at a party. The canteen was by far the worst of the massacre. The foals’ small bodies couldn’t stand the Ranger’s massive weapons as well as adult ponies. Several corpses sat at a table. Not whole corpses. One of the kids was missing their top half. By the looks of it the top half was smeared all over the table, seat, and all the surrounding ponies. A colt had been close to the door but was blasted in two laying in a bloody puddle wearing a party hat. On the counter was a bundle of balloons and a preserved cake. No blood or damage to either of them.
I looked away shedding a few tears, I couldn’t take the sight. Between what we already saw, what I did, and finally this I felt broken. My home and all the ponies I shared it with were destroyed. The thought made me want to race through the hall until I found a knight and end it. Or use my shotgun.
I shook my head. What was I thinking!? I could hold through this. But what waited for me when I made it through? Where could life take me when the only life I knew was gone? My idea of staying I knew was pointless now. If I did, visions of what happened here would haunt me. Coy was right, we needed to leave.
I was the only one to check the canteen before I closed it. Rookie shouldn’t see, she might have known some of them. Wire and Tulip didn’t look like they were able to take much more. I could hardly take it. I couldn’t take it. Thoughts of joining the bloody ponies on the floor kept festering in my head.
“Error?” Snowflake asked concerned after the canteen door shut.
“Don’t look in there,” I said flatly continuing my trot to the Overmare’s office. The armored mare glanced at the door in worry before following. I took the lead to the office just wanting to get through the devastation without anymore unpleasant distractions.
We made it to the stairs leading up to the Overmare's office. Oddly, light had been shinning the porthole showing the office from the atrium. Maybe the EMPs didn't hit there. I trotted up the stairs to see two more Steel Rangers trapped in their power armor just outside the Overmare's door. The door being closed provided even more evidence that the EMP's didn't hit the room.
Snowflake brushed past me, quickly dispatching the downed ponies without so much as a glance, and knocked her hoof on the door.
"Overmare Cocoa, Security Officer Snowflake reporting. Are you in there?" Her question was answered by a hiss of the door sliding open. The sudden light stung my eyes making me wince back for a moment. Once I opened my eyes I could see a dark brown mare with a swirly brown and white mane.
"Officer Snowflake," the Overmare greeted after letting out a sigh of relief. "These miscreants nearly killed me before a flash shut everything down and they dropped," Miscreants? Seems like a reasonable thing to call genocidal death ponies. I felt more pride when I heard the EMPs saved the Overmare to. Too bad I couldn't tell them I broke the stable. "Who else is with you?"
"Just some of the surviving residents, Overmare," Snowflake stated bluntly turning to us. Her tone seemed to change more seriously when talking to the higher authority.
"Any more security personnel?" The Overmare asked looking behind Snowflake's shoulder at us.
"Negative, Overmare. My patrol was terminated," the snowy white mare's face looked sad for a moment but faded as she continued "Error Code has shown some combat prowess, however," she informed smiling at me. Yeah, if you count screaming and flailing as combat prowess. I noticed she didn't mention Rookie as part of the security force. The Overmare’s eyes went wide when she saw me.
"What happened to him!?" Cocoa gasped. Right, I was covered in blood.... Snowflake sighed.
"Most of it is Officer Strong Gate's," she informed sadly "He got covered in it retrieving Gate's weapon," she pointed her hoof at the combat shotgun on my back. The Overmare grimaced clearly not wanting to know what happened to Gate.
"Come in," the Overmare said "We need to come up with a plan," We stepped in the office. It was hardly big enough for all of us. Maybe without the crescent moon shaped desk in the middle. A few dozen terminals were on the back wall. I looked through the porthole to see a knight moving around. Hopefully he wouldn't become a problem. "So do you have any ideas on how to get rid of these intruders, Officer Snowflake?"
As they talked I wondered why Coy hasn't said anything. I understand why he was silent earlier but now was the perfect time to share some half assed plan. I looked at Tulip's now not so shiny silver and pink PipBuck to see if I could tell if he was on there but nothing was different. Well, besides the fact that everything was now pink...
"I see your PipBuck is shut down," Overmare Cocoa stated pointing her hoof at the device on Snowflake's foreleg. I completely missed out on whatever they were just talking about. The new topic snapped me back to reality, though. I saw the Overmare's PipBuck was still online reinforcing my idea that the EMPs didn't reach this far. "I could use this room's back up generators to jump start the spark battery" Never mind. "You'll probably need S.A.T.S"
"That would be great," Snowflake nodded but didn't smile. Damn formality, I don't know why it bugged me so much.
I waited as the brown earth pony powered up the others' PipBucks besides mine and Tulip's. The Overmare was surprised when she saw I was wearing Tulip's PipBuck and she was Pipbuckless but didn't press the issue too much muttering 'there’re bigger problems to fix first'.
Coy's silence was explained when the Overmare's desk lifted itself into the air by a field of blue magic revealing a stairway leading into darkness. We all stared in surprise except Cocoa who looked panicked. Coy's voice came back on my PipBuck.
"Go down there!" Coy ordered sounding hurried.
"Coy what's-" I tried to ask but Coy cut me off
"While you were wondering around I went to check things out," The blue AI began. "Some ponies came in with machines that run on spark batteries. They started booting up the Rangers power armor! A knight reported your position in here and several Rangers are on their way! You need to leave NOW!" Oh oh, this wasn't good. Not good at all. My eyes visibly widened even more to the others.
"Error," Cutter began "What is it?"
"We need to go! Right now!" I announced very loudly before running down the stairs. I knew they were going to want an explanation but we really didn't have time. I heard hoof steps behind me hoping that they all followed. I heard them shout my name minus Rookie and Tulip. They seemed to be the quietest of all of us.
Pink light surrounded when I turned on my PipBuck light. Now I could actually see a few feet in front of me. The stairwell was ridiculously long. Though, if it was supposed to lead to the stable entrance I understood why. The stable door was a good seven levels below the Overmare's office.
I eventually made it to an open hallway that was brown and grimy from lack of maintenance. I never knew about this place and I doubted many, if any, other's, knew about it as well. A musty rank filled the area. Several red bars on my E.F.S caught my attention but skittering in the edges of my light made me assume it was just radroaches. Damn, gross mutant roaches. They've caused more than enough technical problems for me and the other maintenance ponies in the past. I remember right after I got my cutie mark and became a maintenance pony, instead of using pesticide I took care of some of the nasty bastards in the generator room with my old bb gun. I got in a lot of trouble with the security chief and learned my lesson not to shoot down there.
I didn't get to much farther before Cocoa ran in front of me looking thoroughly annoyed.
"What was that!?" she scolded. "My secret passageway just opens on its own and you go charging down it like you know where it goes! I demand an explaination!" she stomped her hoof in frustration. I sighed.
"You know that room nopony can open?" I asked. She sat eyes wide almost looking dazed.
"Did you... open it?" she said the last words hesitantly like she hoped I'd say no.
"Yes," I told her. The older pony took a deep breath.
"What was in there?" she asked looking down sadly.
"Some AI named Coy. Somepony was supposed to pick him up here before the world ended but well, the world ended," the Overmare didn't move, so I explained more. "He's been helping us move through the stable alive. He's the one that opened your 'secret passageway' and he says we need to leave the stable," Overmare Cocoa closed her eyes and shuttered.
"What else do you know?" she asked.
"That you could have given these death ponies The Key months ago" I told her. She looked at me worried. "And you made the right choice" she shifted from sadness to confusion. "Greyberry let them in and clearly they haven't brought the friendship and rainbows they promised" The chocolate colored mare smiled.
"Well let's do what the AI said and leave" she announced taking lead down the dirty tunnel.
***
We hadn't walked long before Coy told me we were getting close to the entrance. I told everypony but Cocoa already knew. The way down here wasn't clear of hostiles, however. Fortunately, it had only been a few dozen radroaches. Snowflake said she was running out of ammo and switched to a baton I didn't even know she had on her. A few swings later and the way was clear.
Cocoa and Snowflake took the lead even though the Overmare was unarmed. She seemed pretty determined to get the ponies she was responsible for to safety. At least, however safe the outside was, which judging by the Rangers, wasn't very safe.
Muffled explosions echoed through the dark tunnels, bewildering us all. At first it started it off with a few individual explosions but we assumed that was just some unfortunate stable survivor getting found by the restored Rangers but as we continued however the booms became louder and more abundant. Now it sounded like a full on war zone behind the walls. Some even sounded they smashed right into the wall separating us from them.
According to Coy we were very close to our destination. It was just around this next corner. I became more eager and as did my companions. At least, most of them. Wire and Tulip just got more worried, unsure of our plan to leave. Even Rookie bounced in excitement a bit. My heart thumped so hard and fast it felt like it was going to pop out of my chest. We turned the corner ready to make a run for it out into the unknown.
It was a dead end.
"The fuck this!?" I cried in frustration holding out a hoof to show my annoyance.
"The door is disguised," the Overmare explained while walking up the wall. Oh, I suppose that made sense, don't want ponies to know it's here, but it could have just been disguised from one side.
Before the Overmare could do anything, an explosion shook the room. Everypony flinched and Wire let out a squeal. Once we recovered from the sudden shock, the Overmare looked at the wall thoughtfully. She glanced at us, took a deep breath, and tapped her hoof on a button I didn't see at first. The door slid open quickly, thankfully, but was accompanied by a loud screech from rust against metal.
SCREEEE! BOOM!
Something smashed into the wall near Cocoa. She fell on the floor sliding towards us screaming with large gashes running down her chest and forelegs. I jumped to the side on instinct, Rookie jumped behind me, Snowflake took cover in the doorway with her pistol raised, Tulip shrieked and ran back from where we came from, and Cutter curled into a ball on the floor shaking and sobbing. We were a good team... I whipped out my bloody shotgun and peered in the doorway.
I didn't think that shot was purposely directed to us. It looked like a war zone erupting from the... I think it was the entrance chamber, that would make sense. It was hard to see from all the smoke and limited space we could see of the room but some more power armored ponies were clearly visible amidst the chaos. Only they were painted with red trimmings.
Missiles detonated around them sending shrapnel into their armor. One was taking cover behind a wall leading to the stable controls. Another stood in the middle of the room and took whatever came at him while another dragged a fallen comrade out of the fire toward us! A pink glow shined from the fallen one's armor and... was it repairing itself!?
Even knowing the shotgun's range capabilities, I fired it as rapidly as I could in the Steel Ranger's general direction but it wasn't doing anything to the power armor. Snowflake tried to help out with her pistol but that did next to nothing as well.
The armored pony turned to us, dropping his fallen companion for a moment and shot something out of a smaller (but still intimidating) cannon on his side. It bounced off the floor like a grenade in the middle of us.
BOOM!
I couldn't see! My vision filled with white and my head throbbed. A steady ringing in my ears was the only thing I could hear yet I could still feel the combat shotgun in my grip so I fired it blindly. My hearing and vision came back slowly and an imprint of the sight I'd seen before the boom was stuck in my eyesight. The only one of my companions in my line of sight was Snowflake who was slumped against the wall with her eyes closed. I saw the Steel Ranger run into the room. I panicked and shot some more buckshot into him, but it did little. The gunfire sounded strange almost distant. I kept pulling the trigger but the gun stopped firing. The harsh thunder of the gunfire was replaced by a faint click telling me it needed a new drum.
I could do nothing but stare blindly as the Ranger charged at me. He bashed into my shotgun, knocking it out of my grip, and slammed into me, a sharp pain soared through me as the metal met my flesh. My light utility barding could do nothing to absorb that blow. I slid on the floor just as the Overmare did and looked up at the red trimmed Steel Ranger who in turn stared down at me. His read bar on my E.F.S turned pink and he ran back to the battle, and I assumed his friend. Just as my vision started to come back, it started to fade, this time to black. My body couldn't take anymore stress and began to shut down. I think Coy said something, but it was too fuzzy. I felt like I was spinning.
And then everything went black.
Level up!
Level 2: Stable Defender
New perk: Crazy Buck- Voices in your head tell you the best ways to kill ponies!
(I'd like to thank Kkat for making such a fun world to build on, both Lesolan Brinker and lazer726 for helping fix the many many mistakes in this story, and all the good people on the Fallout Equestria Document.)
Chapter 2: Preparation
“Look, there are a few things you’re going to need if you want to survive out here. A weapon (or at least more ammo for the one you have), armored barding, a bit of guidance... and most importantly, you need to make some friends.”
Everypony was having a great time. The Overmare reserved the canteen for my birthday party. She was such a nice pony. I was sitting on a stool admiring my cake, waiting for my dad to tell me it was time to cut it. There was the sound of a startled squeak, followed by laughing as I heard tiny hoof steps flee the area behind me. I recognized the squeak from my friend Shining Wish. She was one of my oldest friends all the way back when we became old enough to go into the stable school system. We started the same year, our birthdays being only a week apart. She was older than me by that week and boasted about that often, especially when we had her party last Thursday.
I turned back to try to see her getting chased by whoever tagged her. I found her pinned in a corner by Lion and Lily. Lion and Lily were some of my newer friends I met in medical after I tried to stop an older filly from stealing Wish’s doll. Well, I met Lion. I got beat up pretty badly but I was able to get the doll and scram with Wish when I knew I was going to lose. Anyway, Lion got in a fight with his sister and got beaten pretty bad too. Him and Lily were twins with matching orange coats and darker orange manes.
Despite the bad position she was in, Wish wore a huge determined grin on her face. I guessed Lily and Lion made a truce to team up on Shining Wish. The light green filly caught me looking at her and winked. Well, no way out of this now. There’s no way I’d turn down my best friend when she asked for help.
I hopped down from my stool with a distraction plan in my mouth. I approached the duo from behind. Wish tried to keep her eyes off me but she had a hard time keeping up her ruse. The twins were slowing approaching slowly and cautiously, not giving Wish any room for escape. I didn’t need to get right behind them but just close enough to know my throw would meet its mark.
Lion yelped at the fork that hit the back of his neck. He turned to me growling in annoyance. I smiled back at him with the most cocky look I could muster. Just as I planned the colt charged at me. His sister looked back and scolded him but he didn’t stop. I jumped out of the way when he reached me. He wasn’t the most accurate pony and quite a clumsy colt on top of that. I glanced back at the corner Wish was trapped in to see the filly wasn’t there anymore. I smiled again finding her being chased by the second twin across the room.
I looked behind me at Lion, who was turning back to face me. I slid under a table dodging Lion once more deciding not to take any chances. Wish looked at me and winked once more when she closed in on the table I was under with Lily almost reaching her tail. I knew what she wanted me to do. I jumped out from under the cover when the girls reached the table. Knowing this was going to happen, Wish kept running. Lily, on the other hand, stopped in her tracks, surprised at my sudden appearance.
Taking advantage of this, I tackled her. A startled squeak escaped the filly as we rolled on the floor. Once she was able to comprehend her situation, the stronger filly shoved me off of her. I staggered to my hooves, seeing both Lion and Lily ready to attack. Before they had a chance, however, Star Shine, one of the adults overseeing the party, walked between me and the other rowdy foals.
“You two shouldn’t be beating on this poor little colt on his birthday!” the purple mare lightly scolded the twins.
“H- he started it!” Lily defended her and her sibling.
“Did not!” I yelled to the filly. “I was trying to help Shining Wish!”
“Alright children, sinse this is your party” she spun her head to me “I’ll let you off with a warning. Just don’t do it again”
“Yes, Star Shine” I said with my head bowed in shame. After being shooed away, I trotted over to my Wish, who was now sitting in a booth sipping on a drink.
“Thanks for the help” she giggled as I trotted to her side. A strange feeling ignited in my chest and my throat felt tight. Mommy said I should ask her to be my girlfriend, for a reason I couldn’t find out. I didn’t even like girls yet.
My mouth opened to respond but before I could say anything the world went dark. My hearing was invaded by screaming, as well as my own. My eyes adjusted to my dark surroundings to see panicking foals running about and adults milling around trying to catch and calm them.
I planted my rump firmly on the ground, fighting back the urge to cry. I heard a familiar hissing sound as the door to the canteen opened, revealing a silhouette in the doorway. It was shaped like a pony but was of monstrous size and a light illuminated off the side of its head, blinding me for a moment. I heard a ridiculously loud bang and a quick, but intense, burst of light blinded me once more. I clenched my eyes shut, protecting them from any more damage, not a second before something forced me off my hooves and slamming me into something hard. I felt something warm shower over me.
I screamed and slowly risked opening my eyes. My coat was covered in red and behind me was the counter. I was lucky I didn’t hit a stool and break my back. I checked where Wish was to see in she was ok but... but she wasn’t all there! Half of her was gone along with most of the back of the seat she was sitting on. The bottom half of her smoldered and smoked. I could see bones and meat sticking out of her corpse! I looked at the area around her and shuddered when I realised what the red warm stuff on me was.
More light filled the room causing me to close my eyes again and more loud bangs pounded on my already sore ear drums until a high pitch whining was the only thing I could hear. Without sound, I built up the courage to open my eyes one more time.
I immediately wished I hadn’t. The bloody dismembered corpses of my friends and family laid around the canteen. All that was left of Lion was a pair of hooves next to a scorch mark on the ground. Blood surrounded the mark. Lily leaned against the wall with lifeless, terrified eyes and a gigantic hole in her chest. Star Shine’s spine stuck out of a hole in her back from a shot exiting her body.
I tried to move. To hide, run or anything, but a sharp intense pain shot through my side, causing me to fall on the ground. I screamed when I saw a large piece of the table stabbed through me. I cried and struggled across the canteen in a desperate attempt to hide under a table. The silhouette saw my pathetic crawl and aimed something big at me. I stopped when I felt something hit my side. Then I couldn’t feel anything below where I got hit. I looked back and saw where my body had split in two. I couldn’t think. Too much shock and pain too fast. Instead of anymore panicking or crying, I just sat there and... died.
***
The first thing I noticed when I woke up was the horrible aching in my head. It felt like somepony hit me in the face with a sludge hammer. I needed to stop drinking with Fizzy. I hardly ever did it, but whenever I did I woke up feeling like dragon shit. It's hard to stop when a mare offers you a drink, though. I never knew why she got me drinks, but I guessed it was to get a laugh at how I'm so much of a light weight. What exactly had I done last night?
I tried to look back on what happened, but all I could get from that part of my brain was fuzziness, not that it was surprising. With a groan, I opened my eyes with more of a struggle than usual, again not surprising. Light seared my eyes and lit up the inside of my skull with a stabbing pain. I groaned and closed my eyes and shielding them with my hooves.
Fortunately, after a few tries my eyes adjusted. The light above me was unusually dim. I looked around the room realizing I was in the medical bay. I was on a hospital bed with light blue sheets covering me. Curtains separated me from most of the room. A cart next to me held a healing potion and two syringes of Med-X. I injected the Med-X, sighing in relief as the painkiller immediately took effect and my hangover started to ease down. I drank down the purple flavorless healing potion soon after.
Wondering how long I'd been out, I checked my PipBuck. Something was majorly off about my PipBuck that, because of my headache, I hadn't noticed before. My PipBuck was pink and silver. I had Tulip's PipBuck... Memories flooded back to me. Greyberry letting the Steel Rangers in, the AI telling me to overload the stable's industrial spark batteries, killing that Ranger... That last part I still wasn't very proud of. According to my PipBuck it was around 6:00 PM. Everything that happened earlier was in the early morning.
I groaned once more and leaned against the wall, laying my head back, and letting the previous events play out in my head. I began to wonder why I was in here. Why I was still in Stable 18. We were about to escape when that red Ranger knocked me out. Did they bring me here? Why would they do that? What about the others? I really hoped they were okay. I didn't want to be the only one left. Left alone to the mercy of the deathponies that killed my stable wasn't a very appealing concept. I needed to relax. I injected myself with the second Med-X.
I wished Coy were here. Or Snowflake. Or anypony. I just didn't like the lonely silence, stuck playing out the horrors I'd went through and wondering what will be in my near future. I looked to my left and saw my bloody, seared utility barding hanging from a hook. It was completely thrashed. It reminded me to be grateful I at least wasn't covered in Gate's blood anymore. Whoever put me here was nice enough to heal me and wash me off, not to mention they left the healing potion and Med-x for me when I woke up. Maybe whoever they were they weren't that bad if they're willing to do that for me.
Hoofsteps nearby grabbed my attention. I turned on my E.F.S and nearly panicked when I mistook the pink bar as red for a moment. Still not used to that. A silhouette trotted behind the curtain to my right. It wasn't big and bulky like a Steel Ranger, but it was wearing some form of protection judging by the shape. It had a long frizzy mane and was about to walk around the curtain.
A white mare with a silver blue mane and eyes that matched her mane walked in wearing Stable 18 security barding. She smiled warmly at me. I couldn't help returning a smile at her reassuring expression. A holstered 10mm submachine gun hid Snowflake's cutie mark.
"Glad to see you’re finally awake" she grinned.
"I wish I could say the same" I laughed weakly. "I feel like shit."
"Oh, I left some Med-X for you" she informed sounding confused. "I thought that would help."
"No, I mean about what happened" I explained. "Are the others okay?"
"Yeah everypony is alright. Uh... you know what I mean" she added. I grunted, showing I heard her. I looked away for a moment, taking in this good turn events of Snowflake showing up okay. "If it helps," her voice brought my focus back to her "you missed a hell of a fight."
"How'd you beat the Rangers?"
"I didn't. The Applejack's Rangers did." Applejack's Rangers? Why did that sound familiar? Great, now we were dealing with two types or Rangers.
"Who?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"They're a lot like the Steel Rangers but friendlier." The security mare sounded hesitant on using the term 'friendlier'. "Cherry Cola said they were a part of the Steel Ranger not long ago. According to him, the Steel Rangers are set on collecting technology and the Applejack's Rangers want to follow the ideals of the ministry mare and help ponies that need it." Applejack was the head of the Ministry of Wartime Technology. That's why that name sounded familiar, I'd learned that in my classes here. "And you can have your friend back." she laughed, holding out her PipBuck. "He's been trying to hook us up."
"Sorry, man. She figured me out." A familiar voice rang in my head. The AI sounded shameful. I chuckled.
"It's good to have you back, Coy." I'd known the AI for less than a day but he was growing on me fast.
"Good to be back, boss." Coy joked playfully.
"So, who's Cherry Cola?"
"Some high ranking pony in the Applejack's Rangers." Snowflake explained, rolling her eyes. "Really, he's a dick, but he's the leader of the Applejack's Rangers that saved our asses."
"So, I guess he can't be that bad." I said, checking my body's status on my PipBuck. I could hear Snowflake make an unsure noise.
"Are you feeling alright?" The white mare asked.
"Yeah why?"
"Let's go then. More ponies survived the attack than we thought."
I left my burned and bloody barding, and jumped off the bed. I wobbled a little bit, probably from the drugs, before regaining my composure and following Snowflake out of the medical bay.
The rest of the stable was just as dimly lit as the medical bay. I wondered how the the lights were on at all after I overloaded the spark batteries. Snowflake was right about the survivors. As we walk through the halls of Stable 18, we passed by more than enough familiar ponies wearing PipBucks and stable jumpsuits. All wore expressions of sorrow, confusion, and a few of anger. We also passed some power armored ponies, which I wasn't too comfortable around, even if Snowflake explained that they were the ponies that saved us. The red trim on their armor made them even more intimidating then the ponies we encountered earlier.
Bodies still littered the place. I saw maintenance ponies trying to clean the corpses and blood but I knew this was an overload. From the experience of cremating an elderly pony I couldn't recall the name of, I knew the incinerators weren't designed to burn this many bodies at once. It could take days, even weeks. It wouldn't be healthy living here with all the bodies laying about.
"What are they going to do with the corpses?" I voiced my concerns.
Snowflake stared at the ground for a moment before answering. "Cola suggested we just dump them somewhere outside." I scowled in disgust. "But the Overmare was against it." I felt a little satisfaction about that. The residents didn't deserve to rot in the unknown. "However, Cola put up a compelling argument of the issue of storing the bodies in waiting of cremation." she sighed before continuing. "The Overmare reluctantly agreed." I kicked a wall in frustration as we walked. "None of us are happy about it." The security mare told me. "Especially, those with loved ones that died in the attack."
"So what now?" I asked. The depressing atmosphere of the stable was getting to me. I started to feel the emotional aftermath of the invasion.
"Just go to your quarters for now." Snowflake stopped and pointed to the door of my quarters. I hadn't even known where we were going. How'd she know where I lived? Maybe it was required to know where everypony's quarters was. That'd be horrible to have to memorize.
"I just wanted to see if you were okay. After the first few hours after you got knocked out, I was worried." she informed. "I know you were out for awhile so you aren't probably tired," I nodded, letting her know she was right "So if you want, the canteen is still open. Greyberry's niece took over earlier. You'll have to go through the atrium, though. It's still as bad as when went through it earlier." Great.
I nodded in acknowledgement. "I gotta go see the Overmare about some assembly we're going to have tomorrow. I'll see ya later." the white mare informed before trotting off. I waved my hoof as she left.
***
After taking care of some 'business' in the bathroom, it was 7:00 PM. I didn't even bother putting on barding before walking out once more into the destruction of the stable. Ponies trotted through the halls seemingly emotionlessly. I guessed I looked the same. The bodies and scars from the Steel Ranger's heavy weapons littered the entire complex. Nopony could truly take in the sights of their home without breaking down.I needed to get to the bar. I felt as though my brain was struck by an emotional tidal wave. Failing to hold them back, tears streamed down my cheeks. I really needed a drink.
When I reached the atrium I tried my best to ignore the bodies laying about. I nearly succeeded before I accidentally stepped on a corpse. I flinched back at the unwelcoming feeling. I looked down at who I stepped on. A green mare with a yellow mane. Her eyes were closed and her face looked peaceful. Not a quality I'd found on most of the bodies left. A huge hole shown from her side and her PipBuck leg was completely gone, save for a nub. I shook myself off and whispered an apology before continuing to the bar.
The bar had a surprisingly upbeat atmosphere. I was comforted by the laughing of drunken ponies having a good time. Most were the regular customers celebrating their survival, while I noticed some new faces. In fact, some of them were really new faces. Several ponies without stable suits nor PipBucks mingled with some of the drunken residents. I didn't entirely trust the Applejack's Rangers even if they did save us.
I caught sight of a very familiar mare talking to some stallions at the counter. The grey mare with a silver mane said something that made the others laugh. She glanced at me and her smile became wider as she waved me over. I smiled back and trotted over to join her.
"I'm glad to see your not dead Fizzy." I said cheerfully when i reached her.
"I as well." she replied "We're trading war stories, Code. Care to join in?"
"Sure." I said, jumping on a stool next to her. "Did I miss any good ones?"
"Only lying Nancy's here." she sneered jokingly. "He says he fought one of those big fuckers hoof to hoof."
"It's true!" a red stallion defended himself."I told you!"
"And I told you that no one believes you, ya stupid twat!" Fizzy retorted playfully. Well, as playfully as anypony can be when calling the other a twat.
"Well if you don't believe his, you definitely won't believe mine." I said, waving the bartender over for a drink.
"Shoot." Fizzy challenged. After I got my drink, I began my tale. I left out the little detail of breaking the stable's power source, though. The more drinks I got in me the more exaggerated my story seemed to be. And the more I went on, the more ponies began listening in. Before long, I had the entirety of the bar listening to my story of survival. The Ranger's seemed to be less believing then the other stable ponies, however.
"So then, I charged at the deathpony with the shotgun held high and my blood filled with rage!" I told in my best storyteller's voice. I could feel my cheeks burning as the alcohol raced through me. "The bastard fired his pony sized cannon at me, but I was too fast for his shell, and I ducked under it. I slid on the floor and fired three shots straight into his visor!" The small crowd listened intently. "Then, the guy's head flew right off! I released Tulip from her imprisonment and for thanks, she gave me her PipBuck" i waved my Pipleg around for everypony to see "and a blowjob in a janitor's closet."
"There's no way that's true!" an equally drunken green stallion accused.
"Is too! Ask Officer Snowflake or Wire Cutter! They know!" I told him waving a forehoof at him and nearly falling off the stool.
"I believe him." Fizzy told him. The drunk mare turned to me with a devious smile. "Sounds like you were packing some serious heat. I wanna see what other kind of heat your packing." she flirted.
"Oh I'm packing all kinds of heat." I assured. I wasn't very good at this when drunk, or at all really. "But, I keep most of it in my quarters." Fizzy bit her lip and made a suggestive noise.
"Well, you gonna show me? I'm feeling a lot of heat myself." The drunk mare teased. I hopped off my stool.
"Let's go then." I said with a cheeky grin.
The mare followed me out of the bar. Neither the devastation in the atrium nor the rest of the stable could turn my attention away from the beautiful mare. We messely made out and stumbled to my quarters. Hardly anypony was moving about in the stable at this hour. If there was we didn't notice them.
We entered my quarters, and Fizzy opened a distance between us. She tried to move erotically, but she just stumbled about, trying to remove her stable suit. When she removed her clothing, she hopped on my bed and spread her legs.
"Oh sweet Celestia!" I gaped at her invitation. My eyes traced down her body. Taking in all the curves and all around well form of her body. My gaze finally set on her...Oh Celestia, she was magnificent! Unable to contain myself, I jumped on the bed to join her.
***
I thought that the hangover I woke up with yesterday was bad. This was horrible. At first I had a mild headache, but when I moved it was like somepony stabbed me in the skull. I grabbed my head and groaned in pain. Another groan joined mine. Who was in my bed with me? Did I get lucky!? I flipped over, still holding my head, to see who I'd been with last night.
She must had been real fucked up. The grey mare surprised me. Sure Fizzy and I had some good times together but she never seemed interested in having that good of time with me. It just sucked I couldn't remember it.
I did my best getting off the bed, but, between trying not to wake the sleeping mare and my aching body, I wasn't doing it very quickly. Once up, I trotted to the bathroom to get some painkillers. I opened up the cabinet, and swallowed a couple of pills. I wished I had something stronger, like Med-x, but I knew that drug was very addictive. It was a risk even taking two yesterday.
When my head cleared up, I took a shower to get the musty rank of sex and alcohol off. By the time I got out, Fizzy had been up and moving about. She already helped herself to the small supply of coffee I had been saving for myself. Coffee, and other small consumable bits of enjoyment, were a rare treat in Stable 18. I only got ahold of the small bit I had as a gift from Greyberry from when I helped him get The Key. I felt a little bit of anger flare up in me when I thought back to when the buck tricked me.
"Hope you don't mind." she said, tilting her cup at me when she saw me. Her mane was a mess and her eyes looked tired. She looked bad and I'm guessing I looked bad too, even with the shower. "Did you have a good time last night?" She asked to my surprise. "Cause I did."
I blushed a little at that. "Yeah, I had a great time." I really wished I knew. For all I knew, I could have just jumped on her and fell asleep. I've heard bucks tell embarrassing stories like that in the bar before.
"You were an... interesting lay." she said with a smile. Crap, that meant bad didn't it? Well, it's not like I had too much experience with this sort of thing. "I'd like to do it again sometime." I perked up in surprise. What did that mean? So, was I good?
She downed the rest of her coffee and put on her clothes. "I gotta go meet my brother." she explained. "He saved me in the attack. I promised him I'd help him repair and clean the weapons used yesterday." I've heard her talk about her brother before. He was in security but often the one stuck with the jobs nopony else wanted to do. Much like me, forced to do the more boring things. Nopony else will do them.
I said my goodbyes and she left. I offered the use of my shower but she shot me a suggestive look and told me 'nice try'. I wasn't going to do anything but I'm guessing her experience told otherwise.
I put on a new set of utility barding and checked my PipBuck for job messages. when I saw the pink, I remembered I'd left my PipBuck in the repair bay. Then I realized something else, Coy hasn't said anything since I woke up. Where did he go now? Did he see what happened last night? Probably not, if he did he would have made a crack on it. I just went with the theory that he went to help Snowflake or somepony else.
I was about to leave and retrieve my old PipBuck when my door opened to a familiar green mare. She smiled nervously, as usual, and trotted in. The red headband wrapped around her dome.
"Hey, um, we need your help down below." she started. "Some pipes got damaged by that mare that chased us in the tunnels."
***
We had to completely replace sections of the pipes with some spare parts that had been become scarce, we had no choice, though. Damn lasers burned right through the metal. I remembered how much it burned when I got hit by one. It was 10:00 AM when I woke up and it was now a little bit past noon. It didn't take long for me to shower and get ready so we'd been working for about a half hour. I'd noticed, irritably, that I did the most work and I was the only one that didn't take a break. I thought sex was supposed to make you happy and not care about stuff like that. At least, that's what the guys at the bar said. I'd only had sex one other time and I didn't really remember how I was throughout the rest of the day. I guess blacked out drunk sex doesn't count on that idea.
The rookie was also down here. Even though she wasn't even a maintenance pony, she was the most help. I'm not even going to begin on how messed up it is that a non trained filly was more help to me than most of the maintenance team. I thanked the filly and heard the announcement to meet in the atrium over the intercom. I'd hoped they cleaned it up.
On the way, I was able to pick up my old PipBuck and check my messages. I only had three so I had enough time to read them on my way to the atrium. The first one was from Snowflake late last night telling me that Coy went to help her, the Overmare, and the Applejack's rangers sort out some issues. The second was from Wire Cutter, just asking for help on the pipes. The last one was as recent as after I left to work on the pipes. It was Fizzy asking if I wanted to hang out someplace besides the bar. The last one caught my attention the most.
If she wanted to hang out does that mean she likes me? If I said yes would she be my girlfriend? I sent back saying 'that would be great' and decided I'd see how it goes. I kinda hoped it would be a date, I like spending time with her, and I hadn't had an actual 'girlfriend' since I was a foal.
When I made it to the atrium, I saw I was one of the last to show up. Traveling all the way from the lower parts of the stable when a majority of the stable was in the area nearby the atrium, I wasn't surprised. They cleaned the place of blood and corpses but several dents and scorch marks scarred the was from the Steel Rangers' powerful armament. Snowflake waved and smiled at me flanking the Overmare. The Overmare herself nodded to me in greeting. I smiled and waved to both of them before scowling at the two armored Applejack's Rangers flanking both of my friends. I couldn't help but wonder why Snowflake was the only security officer in front of the crowd with the Overmare.
I took a seat on the ground amongst the gathering crowd. I fiddled with the systems of my old PipBuck and wondered if I should transfer my files to Tulip's. I didn't know if I could keep it or not. The pretty white mare hadn't asked for it back yet but it was a custom device. No doubt she would want it back. It was kinda growing on me, though. I concluded that I'd hold off on the transfer until I'd got some confirmation on what was up with the arcane device. I saw the pink maned pony further up in the crowd but before I could try to reach her, the Overmare began talking.
"Quiet down, everypony." She ordered, and the crowd settled. "No doubt you are all already shaken up enough by the attack yesterday." Yeah that was obvious. "But we have more problems. As of yesterday our spark battery powered generators overloaded." I felt a pang of guilt at the mention of that. "Without our generators, the stable cannot produce sufficient light in the apple orchards to help the trees grow. No trees, no food." Numerous concerned murmurs arose from the crowd but was halted by the Overmare. "This is not the only problem, my little ponies. The stable's water talisman was also damaged in the assault. We need a new one entirely. Like the apple trees, no talisman, no water." More murmurs arose and well as panicked shouts, but the Overmare rose her voice above the scared ponies. "I'm sure you've noticed the power armored ponies trotting around." the older brown mare pointed to both of the Rangers guarding her. "I would like to thank them for forcing the Steel Rangers out. Unfortunately, they can't spare any of their soldiers out to find the needed parts of the stable, due to lack of troops. Instead, security officer Snowflake volunteered to go outside and search for what we need."
What!? That's why she’s up there! More ponies joined in on the murmurs, as the security pony nodded. Why does she have to go? Just one of the Applejack's Rangers look more than capable enough to find the parts, with their intimidating power armor, and their huge guns.
"She has agreed to go alone." Overmare Chocoa began again. "But if anypony else wants to volunteer to help her on her mission, she will not refuse the help." Snowflake stood like a stone. Her emotionless face showed no worry. I couldn't let her go alone when it was my fault the parts were broken, could I? I couldn't survive out there, right? When the outside was filled with things like the Steel Rangers? It was crazy for anyone to leave! Snowflake was a tough mare but could she make it out there? Damnit if she left on her own and died I couldn't live with myself. What about Fizzy? Part of my brained pointed out. She just asked me out, I think, what about her?
I growled knowing what I was about to do. I raised my hoof hi and announced "I'll go too!" All eyes turned on me. Everypony looked at me with a rainbow of looks. I saw Fizzy in the crowd looking at me confused. I just sighed and continued. "I'll help her find what we need."
"Very well." Chocoa replied. "Anyone else?" No pony said a thing. She dismissed the crowd and waved my to her. Snowflake eyed me respectively as I approached. "I want you two to talk to Cherry Cola." the Overmare ordered when I reached them. "He will talk to you about what you'll be looking for once outside." The coffee mare turned to Snowflake. "Officer, you go to the armory afterwards." Then she turned to me. "Error Code, meet me in my office while Snowflake gets the supplies you'll need from the armory." I nodded. Then I realized I was missing something.
"Where's Cola?" I asked.
"In the science wing." The Overmare explained. "Snowflake will show you. Go now, my little ponies, time is of the essence!" She clearly wanted me to move faster than my hangover wanted. Just thinking about what happened last night suddenly made my head hurt, making me feel slightly irritated. While my attention was focused on my headache, Snowflake nudged me to where we were supposed to go.
***
The science bay was filled with Applejack's Rangers. Only some of which were working. I couldn't tell what the helmetless rangers were working on exactly but I could tell they were modifying some of the lesser systems of the science wing. Most of the rangers were talking in groups, completely ignoring us.
It didn't take long to get to the room Cola was in. I didn't know what was what in the science wing but this room looked important. It had a bigger workspace and had workbenches lining half of the walls. The other half was being occupied by some sort of holographic maps that I was pretty certain wasn't in the stable before. Opposite of the entrance was a table with several papers spread around it. A pony in Black power armor, minus the helmet, stared intently at one of the holo maps, mumbling to himself. His armor was black and grey camouflage with the Applejack’ Ranger’s signature red trim.
He turned to us on our arrival. He was a maroon earth pony with a black mane. His black mane was almost gone. I looked into his cold, hard, azure eyes and froze until I was able to pull my gaze away. The stallion scared me. I didn’t feel safe near him, like he was just going to snap on me. His sour expression reinforced that fear. He looked tired, frustrated, and most apparently of all, unstable. Didn’t help that he was from outside. I didn’t want to trust the unknown pony but I knew there was no other choice for the stable.
“Ah, Officer Snowflake.” The old buck greeted in a even tone that contrasted with his harsh face. “You got somepony to come with you? Surprising.” He looked at me with a raise of his eyebrow.
“Hello, Star Paladin Cherry Cola.” Snowflake said formally. “Yes, Error Code is one of the ponies that fought through the invasion with me.” She told him. Cherry Cola nodded in approval, and turned to the large glowing amber map behind him. He raised his hoof and a circular marker lifted by a robotic arm followed his movements. Now I definitely knew this wasn’t standard stable equipment. It held the locations of outside areas.
The marker settled on a square marked ‘Old Town’ and under the title the letters NCR were set in parentheses. “You’re going to need to retrieve a spell matrix from an industrial spark battery.” The Star Paladin (whatever that means) began. “We should be able to jump start the stable’s generators with it. That is your first priority. The stable’s apple orchard would survive, at least, a month without proper lighting.” He tilted his head to the map marker. “Old town is a good place to check first. It was built by stable dwellers two decades ago. We don’t know where their stable is but somepony there is bound to. Be careful, however.” He warned. “It was claimed under the NCR a little over a month ago. They are usually friendly but they can be a bit... harsh.”
“NCR?” I interrupted. Snowflake and Cola gave me looks that suggested I should have waited until after the ranger’s instructions to ask questions. I shrank back under the paladin’s gaze.
“The NCR” He started sounding annoyed. “is the New Canterlot Republic. They’re a new power to the Equestrian Wasteland, but thanks to the Lightbringer, they’ve gotten a lot of recruits. They’re already one of the biggest powers around. Good enough?” He challenged.
“What’s the Lightbringer?” I asked against my better judgement. Cola ignored me and turned back to the map.
“Moving on.” he continued. “Unfortunately, the town’s citizens use the stable’s water talisman for their purified water and we don’t know of any stables that we nor the Steel Rangers haven’t already cleared out. There is no doubt that there are many undiscovered stables you might come across. If possible, search through any you might find. Getting a water talisman isn’t such an immediate need, however. When we run out of water the stable already purified, one of the other branches of Applejack’s Rangers already agreed to lend us one of theirs if needed. We will need one, just not right away. That is all for now.”
When he stopped, the old stallion studied us for a few moments. He looked over each of us, thoroughly. “Is this what you’re planning on wearing out there?” I didn’t think it mattered, but when I thought about the Steel Rangers being outside and things like the NCR, I realized it would probably help to get more protection.
“Yes. Why?” Snowflake asked quizzically.
“Stable security armor is satisfactory protection wise, but it wouldn’t be wise to go out in just that.” Cola told us. “If the wrong pony figures out you’re fresh stable ponies, it could lead to trouble.” He placed his hoof on his chin for a moment. “Go find a orange mare named Cogwork in one of the repair bays. She was working on making some power armor operable. Last I heard, she wasn’t making good progress, but I’m sure you two could salvage some parts and make some better armor.”
Snowflake and I exchanged glances but she shrugged it off and beckoned me to follow after being dismissed by Cherry Cola. My PipBuck marker lead me through the familiar halls of the maintenance bays. I took lead this time, being more comfortable in the area. I heard Snowflake say something to Coy. Even though I couldn’t hear what the AI was saying, I blushed getting a good idea what he was talking about by Snowflake’s responses.
In what felt too long, we finally made it to one of the stable’s repair bays. Inside were several rangers, each repairing some piece of their equipment with the tools the stable provided. My marker pointed to the helmetless orange mare with a long darker orange mane. I briefly thought of how she could fit that into a power helmet. Her purple eyes focused on a suit of power armor lighting up with sparks. I was pretty sure power armor wasn’t supposed to do that. She cursed when a small flame erupted from open circuits in the suit.
As we made our way to her, she perked up and turned to us. “Oh hey! You’re that buck I hit in the face!” she said a little too cheerfully. The fuzzy memory of being attacked by the Applejack’s Ranger appeared in my head. Great, it was her. “Sorry about that...” she sounded more remorseful when she saw the look on my face. “What can I do for ya?”
“Cherry Cola said you could help us mod our barding with some scrapped power armor.” Snowflake answered for me. She looked at me, showing she could handle it. I gave her a small grateful nod.
“That old coot never trust me with getting stuff done” she laughed sadly, looking back at her work. “I have a suit beyond repair in the corner over there.” she pointed to a sparking pile of scrap metal shoved in a corner. The twisted mass looked like it was struck by a missile. Then I realized that’s probably exactly what happened, then add stripped of valuable parts on top of that.
“Uh, I don’t think we could get anything useful out of that.” I complained. Wasn’t power armor supposed to repair itself anyway. Well, I guess whatever repaired it could get damaged. Damn arcane science war stuff! I only knew computers and things the stable used, stop trying to make me figure you out!
Cogwork rolled her eyes. “Uhg, fine. You can have one of the suits that’ll no doubt be more trouble than it’s worth.” The earthpony trotted behind her workplace and pulled out an almost undamaged suit of power armor. The rubbery material on the neck was ripped, but other than that, it didn’t look like it needed repairing. I grinned like an idiot when I saw it. I would have a great time taking this thing apart! I know I just complained about arcane war stuff, but taking apart power armor sounded fun! “Poor mare took several buckshot to the face. Her head was completely blown off! Helmet’s too fucked up to fix. When the helmet was blown off, the programming fucked up. Won’t operate with the perks of power armor, like the extra strength. Some of the other functions still work but I doubt anypony will want to wear it. Too heavy without that perk.”
I shook my head and frowned when I realized this was the the same ranger I’d killed’s armor. I tried to shake the sadness with the reminder that she could have killed fellow stable dwellers. It worked. A little.
“I’ve got a lot to do.” She narrowed her eyes and pointed her hoof at me. “So I can’t help you get parts from it.” My thoughts were taken over by all the neat stuff I’d find out about power armor. I grinned like an idiot once more as I ran to a toolbox and Cogwork went back to fixing her arcane armor.
***
Fuck power armor! As soon as I tried to take off a shoulder pauldron, remember how I said things exploded in my face? Yeah that happened. And after that mishap, (and I wiped the soot off my face) I soon found out that the armor was way too complicated for me. I had to just plain break some parts off, or ask for some of Cogwork’s tools more than once. Snowflake left her security barding with me so I could mod it while she went to grab some weapons from the armory. She told me to meet her at the stable entrance after I met with the Overmare.
Eventually, though, I was able to attach some bits of power armor to our suits. I put on my up-armored utility barding to check if it worked fine. I was able to attach the chest piece to the front of my suit and got the left shoulder pauldron on with a strap tied around my side. Snowflake’s armor now had several metal plates on the sides of its sleeves and belly armor twisted all the way around to her back. I felt relieved to have finally finished our armor, and I had to admit, it looked pretty awesome.
I scooped up Snowflake’s armor and started my way to the Overmare’s office. I was disturbed of how I was already used to the burns across the stable and the depressing atmosphere filling the halls. I got more than a few curious looks and nervous whispers while I walked through the broken stable.
I reached the Overmare’s office in decent time. I was surprised to see her office lit up more than the rest of the stable. Then I remembered her generators. The Overmare sat at her desk with a silver revolver in a case in front of her. She appeared to be counting high caliber bullets dumped out of nearby boxes. Upon my entry, she lit up. “Hello Error Code.” She greeted formally. “Come, sit.” She invited, tilting her head in front of her desk.
Naturally, I obliged. “Look at you.” the swirly maned mare gushed. “Armored and ready to save Stable 18. I really can’t thank you and Snowflake enough for this sacrifice.” I didn’t know what to say so I let her continue. “So, I decided you should have something very important. Something saved for an Overmare to use when we left the stable.” She nodded toward the revolver. I hadn’t noticed just how big the gun was was when I came in. I didn’t know much about guns but it was clear that this was a very powerful pistol.
“I figure this would be just as good a time then ever for it to come out.” She continued. “It was passed down from Overmare to Overmare, waiting for the day we would leave this place.” Gently, the earthpony opened the case and set the gun in front of me and pulled out a black holster. “Take Guardian with you.” she told me. “It’s important.” I looked into her eyes. Full of hope and uncertainty. I couldn’t turn her down even if I wanted to. I levitated the gun and holster. strapping the latter on my right hind leg and sheathed the shiny revolver in it.
The Overmare then scooped the bullets back in the boxes and pulled out a pair of saddlebags from behind her desk. “Good luck.” she said.
“I don’t know what to say.” I told her honestly. I was struck speechless by such a gift.
“Don’t say anything.” She reached over her desk and placed her hoof on my shoulder. “Just go get what we need.” I nodded and got to my hooves and trotted to the door. “And, for our sake, don’t die.” I looked over my shoulder, smiled, and continued out the door.
***
I knew I should have gone straight to the stable entrance, but when I left Cocoa’s office, I began to feel the pressure of what I was going to do. If I was going to leave into the unknown for an undetermined amount of time, and possibly die, I needed to figure something out first. I needed to visit someone.
I maneuvered my way through the halls of the residential part of the stable. It struck me as odd that, after knowing her for around five years, I’d yet to find out where she lived. Luckly, I had her PipBuck tag on my E.F.S.
I stopped in front of a door, that I assumed was her quarters. I knocked a few times and waited for a response. A few moments later, my call was answered with the hiss of the door opening. In the doorway was the grey and silver mare who’d asked to hang out earlier that day. Her curious, blood red eyes stared in surprise.
I smiled. “Didn’t think I’d come?” I joked.
“I thought you were leaving.” she said. She still looked shocked that I came to say goodbye. “Awesome armor by the way.”
“I am and thanks.” I replied. “I just wanted to know if you were asking if we could, ya’know, go on a date?” My smile turned more sheepish and she smiled widely.
“Or course, ya silly twat!” she laughed. “You’ve been a decent enough buck! Not too bad in bed either.” She added and I felt myself blush. “I figured I’d give ya a chance. I think ya’d really need it too.” Then her happy aura vanished into regretfulness. “But now you’re leaving.”
I frowned and looked down. “It wasn’t you. I just felt like it was something I needed to do. I know it sounds cheesy, but it really feels like something I need to do. I’m sorry.” I looked back at her sad smiling face. “But I really did want to be with you. And still do.” We both just sat there for a few moments, looking into eachothers eyes. The same sad smile on her face.
She kissed me! She grabbed my shoulders and pulled me over for a nice long blissful kiss. When she finally let go she looked at me with half lidded seductive eyes. “You’re sweet, Code.” She said. “I’ll be here whenever you come back.” She raised long bushy tail to cover half her face, tilted her head, and batted her eyelashes at me. Damn she was playing me like a fiddle! I couldn’t move or talk. Just stand there and stare at the wonderful mare. She lowered her tail. “Now go mister knight in shining stable suit, and don’t keep me waiting too long for your nice ass.” She turned around and looked over her shoulder, giving me a nice view of her more, private areas, before the door closed in front of me.
I sat in front of the door, dumbstruck, a few minutes, glad it went well. Way better than I expected. I finally gained the sense to continue to my goal of the stable entrance. My worry and uncertainty were ignored and my thoughts replayed only one thing.
I just got a girlfriend!
***
Snowflake sat by the door controls at the entrance with her saddlebags next to her. Along with the saddlebags was a combat shotgun. Two holsters were strapped to her flanks. One with a 10mm pistol and the other with an SMG of the same type.
She smiled at my arrival. I dumped off her armor and nodded back. “What’s wrong?” she asked, seeing my still stunned blushing face.
“Oh uh.” I began, shaking my head and blushing even more. “Nothing. I’m okay. I’m really okay” I added and she looked at me confused. “Nothing.” I laughed. “Just get your armor on.” She smiled and nodded.
While she put on her upgraded barding, I gazed into the cave, the giant, gear shaped steel door revealed. I knew I should have felt fear of the unknown ahead, but I felt happier than I’d ever been in the stable. I should have felt sadness at what I was leaving behind, safety, a girlfriend, a home. Instead, fresh determination and excitement surged through me. I was ready for this.
“This is yours.” Snowflake broke into my thoughts. Next to me, she levitated the combat shotgun. My combat shotgun. The same one I’d used in the invasion. I grinned at her and nodded, taking the shotgun in my magical grip and strapping it to my back. I got a good look at her in the armor I made. I did a better job than I thought. The look in her eyes, under her visor, and her armed and armored appearance expressed readiness, as well.
“Let’s go” I said taking lead into the world outside mine.
Level up!
Level 3:Wasteland Marauder
New Perk: Repairpony- The technical skills you’ve learned in the stable and your minor experience with power armor give you a boost in your repair skill.
(I'd like to thank Kkat for making such a fun world to build in, lazer726 for being an awesome proof reader, and all the great people in the FoE Document.)
