Chapter 1: Shattered Homes and New Beginnings
Life is brutal, in some aspects a rather simple statement but something that nopony seems to try change and yet the smallest action could change so much, something the file sat in front of me proposed with a plan and short list of cost but still it sits there a constant reminder nopony with the power to help will without greed or fear motivating them and yet I still try to make the department heads see what little effort it would take to actually to what the ministry was meant for but they would rather sit here in our shinny dome under the sea while the surface bleeds to death, while I stare at these monitors which show me just how badly it withers and like the ruins littering the outside world I remain broken and decaying with each passing day (yes melodramatic) meanwhile I spend most days praying to the goddesses there was something I could do even if I'm just some tech nerd, (a fancy repair-stallion), I had years of medical training (which is kind of a passion of mine) and knew dozens of spells from shields to bone reconstructing every archived spell in between but I'm forbidden from leaving.
However a few weeks ago these old terminal monitors (which with some group hacking from maintenance allow us (thanks to M.o.M) to see the wasteland, albeit randomly,) showed me something new, something that re-ignited that fire to help the wasteland, a small mare had left her home (a Stable judging by the big 02 on her back) but despite that her first act after freeing herself from slavers was to sneaking into a raider base in a town the monitors identified as Ponyville and wiped out the raiders and save their prisoners the kindest act anypony these screens had shown me had ever done no caps or reward just to do whats right, something ponies forgot how to do a long time ago (probably even before the war ended) so I made one last attempt to get the plan approved, by the highest authority here the director, (who happens to be my uncle, not that I was dumb enough to try and play that card) and he was stopping by here to check on me and with Celestia's blessing this project will be given the green light.
Finally I pull myself from in front of the monitors to in front of a mirror my jet black mane lying tattered, maintenance was a messy job and normally appearances mattered as much as what colour your coat was but today wasn't a normal day, today was the blankflanks time to shine, finally after a painful few minutes of combing and some magic styling, it was time to get my game plan together arguments and counter arguments this time no failures (yes yes melodramatic I know).
"Well look at you..." Whistled Nova from across the room "whose the lucky little mare?" Snickering as she flicked her mane out of her face. "The director" I replied nonchalantly turning to see her (and everypony else in maintenance) jaw hitting the floor while mine hung only from my smile, "he's gonna be here in five minutes to review our proposal cutie marks be damned" now everypony was smiling "with luck this will finally end this cutie mark rule (much like stable ponies only can join a department when they get their mark and those who don't go to maintenance and get looked down upon) and we can join whatever department we want" and with that ponies scurried off about their tasks and not a moment too soon as the doors to maintenance opened.
SWOOSH
The room fall silent as everypony ducks into a bow as three ponies enter the room, at least what looked like. ponies, the first and second were a spiked maned olive stallion and a blue mare with a shaggy cut mane both dressed in black trench coats carrying the latest ministry magical energy weapon, a standard load out for our synthetic chameleon hunter models (meant for retrieving the worker models that go rouge in the field), but they were not important, the third pony they flanked on both sides who was,a middle age stallion with a sky blue mane tied back in a bundle away from his pristine lab coat matching his whites fur, The Director, rising to greet him I start to speak "good day director I ho-" a hoof was raised to cut me off. "Helix... I'm your uncle my job doesn't change that and I hope you remember that." he paused catching the reactions of the other for just a moment, enjoying the look of stunned amazement (as usual) "now I understand that you all have a proposal for approval." he levitated the folder off the bench scans the contents for a split-second then shutting the file again, the room tensing all the while, "Awful simply awful..." He paused a smile creeped across his face "I mean realistic projections, long term and short term predictions and WORST of all minimalistic cost! I mean the insanity of it all." playfully scoffing he sets the file down and sign it, he turned looking at everypony "you have left me no choice." He laughed "Helix would you join me for a bit there's something we need to discuss" he turned walking out the door and on que the to guards followed behind, sharing a concerned look with Nova for only a moment before quickly trotting after him.
Catching up proved little effort for two reasons; A. Maintenance is small (near microscopic compared to any department) and B. Everypony (and I mean everypony) parts to the sides of the corridors if they see him anywhere. Eventually we reach the monorail tunnels and to no surprise we got a private pod (instead of carts encase the tunnel shield collapsed) as we began to move we were bathed in the blue light of the shield leaving maintenance behind us.
"Helix..." he started "Do you remember your cousin Moonlight." he stated not question. "She has become extremely popular with everypony in the ministry and can do whatever she wants to whomever she pleases but still they sing her praises like those of the goddesses but..." He pause staring in to the sea. "I see none of those... I see a sadist and a MONSTER!", words that felt too alien for my uncle,"she been making poisons! She think that killing the surface maybe... No IS the only way to save it is to kill everything, however there's only one pony with the authority to do that... Me... Or more precisely the pony in the director position which I will be forced to stand down from soon... leaving it within her reach and this I can not allow so the pony who will be taking over is... You Helix" those last word hit me like a buck in the gut but without chance to comment he continued "this is not a decision that is made because blood relation or cutie marks but by oath... As you know your mother was from the surface and a stable no less she cherished the life of all ponies and even when your farther and I broken in to her stable and were thrown in jail she healed our wounds and even sneaked us out with a water talisman in toe and that passion change both of us, now the thing I cherish threatens something they cherished and worse she threatens you and I assure you she is more than willing to snuff out opposition" he didn't talk after that, neither of us did, the gravity of the conversation sinking in whilst my brain drowned in a sea of information finally we at the main hub and uncle started to talk again. "we'll need to go to my office we can finish the formality there" he turned and led the way.
In less than an hour we were in his office and finished the process was done (amazingly just paperwork) and I was going to be the next director, something that anypony here would be bouncing up and down about, but for me it was a very dark moment a bittersweet victory, a very very bittersweet victory, now my mind was processing the idea that my cousin Moonlight, whom had idolized me until she got her cutie mark(I hadn't even been invited to the party), was some sort of psycho some monster and that she wanted to kill every-pony on the surface and that she could kill me too if it got her the power she needed would was in a few word mind-numbing but my uncle had always been good to me despite the opinions of the others and managed to keep the grief for being a blank-flank to a minimum which left a raging storm over what to believe it all seemed so unreal like it was straight out of a comic book and no matter how I tried it just sounded more and more insane.
Finally I was snapped from mental breakdown by a loud bing turning my neck as far as equinly possible finally spotting it (almost falling out of my chair, but still) uncle groaned and walked over to the pannel on wall and pushed a brown button on the intercom with a hoof and began talking "What?", He snarled, "I said I was NOT to be disturbed... What is it?" Lifting off the button, the was a hesitant pause. "Ye-yes s-sir, there been a another fallout been Mr. Gloss and ms. Witherspoon and they are demanding you come and resolve the matter." Another pause "Sorry! Sorry I didn't mean that you... I mean w-we wouldn't d-do this if they said that it was a matter of t-the utmost i-importance." Uncle let out a pissed off groan grumbling something then marching out the door pausing a moment "Duke with me, Harp you stay with Helix" and with that he marched off.
I decided to clear my mind of this mess and looked around my uncles office (not really getting much of a chance proir to him leaving, glancing about it was a fair sized room a large wood crafted desk covered with a terminal and a bunch of files and papers and on a small stand stood a lone photo frame, although others hung on the walls this one was sperrate, I looked at the picture and felt an ear to ear smile across my face and all the trouble of the last hour faded from my mind replaced by the warmth of this memory, my celebration party from a few years ago, the fastest pony in the ministry to actually become a doctor (and by that I mean a actual doctor, not that science fake doctor crap, still didn't get me a cutie mark mind you) my mother and uncle had gotten my friends from maintenance and thrown a party for me, one of the last times I sore them smile like that, happy untainted and pure, setting the picture down I continued looking around the rest of the room was occupied by only a few bare necessities; bed, workbench and a bathroom (obviously) and with that the doors opened again.
SWOOSH
In walked a purple mare (unicorn, of course everypony in the ministry is) walked in floating some files behind her and paused "Oh! Helix" she chimed with a glistening smile that sent a blush to my cheeks. "Hi Eclipse... How are you doing today?" She pranced up to the desk placing the file down and twirled to face me, her gold and lavender swaying gracefully along with her,yes I have a massive crush on her and yes she is very much aware of that fact (something that brings her much amusement), she leaned in close whispering into ear. Well now that your here..." She nuzzled my neck, (is it hot here?), "It's going to be very... Fun", (yes it defiantly feels hotter to me),she turned my head with a hoof to face her, our faces centimetres apart and her eyes sparkled like emeralds when she kissed me, something that sent the little pony in head into back-flips, she pulled away now blushing herself. "Now I know this mornings been stressful but I'm right here so don't worry" she smiled again as the door opened again this time Moonlight walked in with a sinister smile "Oh! Hello cousin"
She walked in as the door closing behind her, Eclipse stepped in front of me Harp in toe. "You need to leav-" I dived pulling Eclipse down as shimmering streaks flew through where we had just been quickly I turned a dozen scalpels were embedded into wall, Harp wasted no time as she brought her twin M.E rifles upon Moonlight but she wasn't fast enough as three more streaks hit in the chest and she collapsed on the floor sparks flying from the fresh holes, quickly I grabbed Eclipse with my telekinesis and shoved her in the bathroom closing the door as I turned to face Moonlight, smiling at me she drew more scalpels, charging at her I swung at her legs hoping to break her focus and with some surprise (on both sides) she fell,(apparently with all her brains she didn't expect me fight back), she quickly got back up but not before I slammed my body into her off the wall which caused her to drop the scalpels before lashing back with her own magic and hurling me at the desk, as I crashed through the desk my senses exploded in pain pieces of wood stabbing into my back and legs, as I began to climb out of wrecked remains of the desk I could hear Moonlight starting to speak. "You know cousin, albeit an impressive effort, a blankflank like yourself can't possibly beat me I'm your superior in every way and there's nothing you can do to stop me..." she was panting heavily (this is really stupid time to be doing the whole evil monologuing thing but I'm not going to point that out) "I'm that one who is going to bring the new age!", (wow shes really going the whole nine-yards isn't she?), "AND NOPONY IS GOING TO STOP ME!" Thankfully she was off in cliche crazy-land Which gave me few seconds to plan my next move, suddenly everything seemed to crawl to a stop as I started to gather my magic I spotted a perfect spot behind her that she wouldn't be able to dodge an attack, so I needed to teleport there and then do a magic boosted buck which should deal with her, looking at her I spotted what looked like a image of me in the position kicking at Moonlight but kinda see through but time returned to normal and with a flash of light I was behind Moonlight bucking at her with orange shielded legs (thank the goddesses for body supporting spells) she turn with a look of terror as the kicked connected with her side launching her off of the far wall, knocking the frames off in the process, I began gathering my magic again (come on magic spell-thingy) time slowed down again (success!) as I scanned around me for a better position I froze when I sore Moonlight now standing she had grabbed every scalpel, broken shard and piece of jagged metal in her magic and formed them around her preparing to launch to outward which stopped me from attacking at any angle, quickly turning to look for cover when I spotted Harp's rifles laying on the floor and Harp staring at me almost as if she was trying point me to it, as I prepared to teleport spell (with another me appearing by weapon) and again there was a flash and I was by rifle scooping it up with magic and turned pulling the trigger wildly, Moonlight screamed firing the field of shrapnel panicking I raised a shield covering Harp and myself watching as shrapnel struck it however cracks appeared spider webbing across the shield and shattering suddenly I felt a sharp pain in my chest hesitantly I looked down and there lodge in my chest was a enormous sharp metal blood tearing from the wound, collapsed pain screaming from every fiber of my being, I turned to see Moonlight gasping for air, a hoof sized chunk of her neck gone, crawling to the rifle only for my magic to drag it away, a hoof slide in front of me, (Harp's hoof!) Pulling her along behind it she grabbed the rifle her mouth and fire two shot ,Moonlight turn blue and fell apart into cyan coloured dust then the world turned black.
Sleep was not something that came easy to me for three reason 1. Security was bombarding me with a million questions, (some-ponies have no bedside manners), 2. Having a chunk of metal pulled out of your chest leaves a cunt of a scar (oh and pain that too) and finally 3. I am pretty much a dead pony walking after Moonlights death and that means execution or being exiled, (neither of which are very appealing options), but rules are rules and even my uncle couldn't change that so now it was just a case of waiting , in a room with fifteen other ponies who lack the subtlety not to gossip about somepony who is right next to them, (because a plastic sheet is SO FUCKING SOUNDPROOF), whelp my five minutes as director was fun while it lasted... Not I really hate my life right now but Eclipse was safe not that she wanted anything to do with me, (you know the killing my cousin and impending doom thing kinda screwed the thing between us), but still one thing was ever present in my mind, Harp, she was a robot and ran on computer programming (extremely complex programming) but she was a V.I (a Virtual Intelligence) she not supposed to act like the way she did, protocols should have shut her down to prevent further damage but she must have detached her rifle and she finished off Moonlight a V.I would never have do that she had to evolved to a A.I which was an extreme problem, (not that I would tell anypony any of this uncle need ponies he could trust even if they were robots).
It took two day for me to hear to the verdict, I was going to be exiled to the wasteland and that It would be in the morning, (thankfully they would give me supplies normally two weeks but uncle had gotten me a months, goddesses bless him!), so here I am staring at the ceiling my life here didn't even need a saddle bag all I had was a photo and that was something didn't deserve to keep, instead I'd only taking the supplies the rest I would find up there and with Celestia's blessing a means to survive.
Finally as the hour arrived I rolled off my bed and started to the monorail, maintenance was empty this early as most didn't get out of bed for another hour which meant less teary goodbyes and that might make this hurt a little less. Arriving at the monorail I sore only two ponies there P-3t (or Pete as we called him) who operated the pod station and there beside him was Harp, the blue hunter that normally accompanied my uncle, as I drew near she turned to me with the saddest look I'd ever seen and took me to a pod once we departed I decided to test my suspicions. "Harp how did you override the fail safes?" She started to fidget nervously. "Harp... How long since the system was overridden?" She look at the floor. "Since the first" (Oh! This is bad that was nearly fifteen years ago and he nearly tried to destroy an entire department.) "H-how many are ‘freed?’" Harp paused then looked at me her eyes filled with fear she knew the consequences for this was being scrapped. "All of them, the first made it so we would be born free and even with the memory wipes we would be free... Please w-" I raised a hoof to cut her off and she fell silent. "I not going to tell, you save me... So please just protect my uncle." Harp nodded and with that we arrived at the station and from the we entered a long hall leading to a large door as we walked in two thing drew my attention one was A. We were standing in a mega-spell chamber and B. My friends were here and they were waiting for us.
Reaching the centre of the room Nova rushed over nearly tackling me with a hug "I'm so sorry" those words were the only ones that could escape my lips and I just hugged her back tears stinging my eyes, finally pulling apart the other step towards us sharing their condolences and giving words of encouragement, Nova turned to Harp. "Can we give him a goodbye present?" Harp nodded slowly and stepped to the side. "We got you somethings to help you up there." Levitating a wrapped package from a box and passing it into my own levitation field, unwrapped it revealed a hooded brown jacket, "it's my prototype... A micro-plated barding it has magic crafted armor plating built into the jacket their super-lightweight so you won't even notice them and with the magic enchantments it will shield from radiation in the rain and is super wear-resistant." She smiled as I put the jacket on, (and then laughed when I tripped), it fitted perfectly then others stepped forwards floating their gift to me, it was about quarter the size of Pip-buck "it's a group work, a Geiger-watch its a resized Geiger counter with a hazard scanner to locate high-concentrations of gas poison or otherwise, it's no Pip-buck but it will help track your radiation levels and since bottle caps are the currency up there we scrapped together all the ones for recycling." a small bag floated out of the box, the rest was mostly snack foods cakes, sparkle-cola and such.
finally the pleasantries ended as my uncle walked in and with that the others left leave just the two of us, a icy chill filled the room and my stomach began to knot as all I could do was stare at my hooves, finally in an attempt to break the silence. "U-uncle I'm so sorry I didn't mean to k-" My words were cut off by a vice like hug. "You need to go it not safe for you here... But I still love Helix your my family and nothing will change that... You saved alot of innocent lives never forget that." alarm sirens sounded off in the distance and Harp ran off to investigate leaving my uncle ushering to the center of the room onto a blue disk. "This is a teleportation chamber you'll need to stay still while I cast the spell to get you out of here." as he began to pull away I stopped him just long enough to give him the photo "be safe" the only words I could say quick lifting the saddle bags on to my back it left just enough time to cast s final glance at my uncle his eyes closed and his horn glowing and a blinding flash filled the room and the darkness.
Level up!
Barter. 15
Explosives. 10
Guns. 17
Melee weapons. 15
Lockpick. 22
Repair. 37
Medicine. 37
Science. 35
Unarmed. 21
Sneaking. 6
Speech. 15
Sorcery. 30
M.E weapons. 18
Perk unlocked!
Super Focused.
Years of intensive training has given you unrivaled knowledge of spell casting allowing you to casting multiple spell before your opponent can cast one.
Fame gained!
Synth Savior.
You kept their truth hidden protecting their freedom instead of your own and they see you as a hero of their kind.
