Lonely Among Us

I woke up confused, my vision was gone, and my whole body hurt - all I could hear was a jumble of noises.

“What the… where am I…?”

“Hey! He is awake!” I could hear something talking above my head, but I still couldn’t see anything.

“Well, well what have we here? I've never seen a creature like this one,” said somebody with a deep voice.

Suddenly my eyes spotted a dot of light, then another, and another - before I knew it, my vision started to come back, but when I saw the things that were talking above my head I thought my eyes were still playing tricks on me.

“Damn, and I thought I was ugly… hmm, I can understand them - I’m either dead… or this universal translator thing in my head is actually working…” I thought to myself.

Since I didn't know what was going on, I decided to play it nice... For now. “Hello, where am I, who are you?” I asked with a diplomatic voice.

“My name is Hurk - leader of diamond dogs, you are in our lair - what are you?”

“Name is James Gastovski, species human, or rather what’s left of one…" I scanned my surroundings, but all I could see was a dozen diamond dogs, around me. "Hmm… is this the afterlife? Am I in hell or something?” I asked calmly.

There was a moment of consternation, after which Hurk responded in his deep voice, “Well, as far as I know, this is not the afterlife, is it hell? Only if you won’t do as I tell you. HA, HA!”

It was then I realized my hands were chained to the bed I was lying in - and to my surprise, I didn’t have the strength to break free.

“So, what do you want from me?” I asked calmly.

“Simple - you will mine diamonds for us and we will let you live, how does that sound?” Hurk asked with a grin on his face - probably hoping for some fight.

“Crappy,” I answered with indifferent voice while, scratching my chin, “but I guess - for now - I have no choice.”

The leader of the dogs was definitely surprised by my attitude, he ordered to unchain me. “OK, rules are simple - you do what we tell you, and meet the daily diamond quota - you get food and water, if not…” Hurk pointed at one of the guards.

WHAM!

A huge whip landed on my left arm - it hurt like hell, but I didn’t show it. “... If not I get a massage from your guard?” this time, I definitely got the doggies irritated because soon I felt another whip - even stronger than last one - still, I kept my posture.

“Tough guy, huh? This was just so you get the picture, what the punishment is around here,” Hurk said with irritation in his voice. “Now, follow me - and no funny business.”

We walked for a few minutes, it was obvious we were underground. As much as I wanted to rip Hurk’s head off, I counted at least a dozen guards. Since my nano-abilities were still absent for some reason, I couldn’t risk open conflict just yet…

***

Finally, we arrived at a medium size chamber. It was sparkling - looking at the ceiling you could almost feel like looking at the clear sky at night - it was beautiful. I quickly noticed I wasn’t the only ‘worker’ out here…

“Dogs, and now horses? What the hell is this place? Disneyland?” I thought to myself, more confused than before.

“OK, here we are - take a pickaxe, and one of the empty carts and dig as much as you can, here is your ration of water,” one of the guards gave me an old rusty water flask, “for every full cart you will get another. No diamonds, no water - understood? If you don’t know where to dig, ask the white mare over there - she is our local ‘expert,’” Hurk laughed pointing at one of the prisoners, then left the chamber.

I stared at the tools lying on the table - they were all rusty and barely holding together. Apparently one of the guards didn’t like the fact that I was picky about picking my pickaxe and cart, as I felt the sharp pain of the whip against my back.

I turned to the guard, staring at him with my cold eyes. “What was THAT FOR?” I asked calmly, yet menacingly.

Apparently, he was hoping for a different reaction and for a moment didn't know what to do, but he has quickly come to his senses. “NNOO SLACKING OFF!” he shouted with a bit of hesitation in his voice.

I kept staring at him for a few more seconds… and then turn away to pick up my tools without further comments - only to realize that both mares were looking at me curiously.

“You! BACK TO WORK!” the guard shouted to them, with more confidence in his voice this time, and both quickly complied.

When I approached the wall we were mining, I noticed that the bigger mare was using the pickaxe… without touching it.

“What the… those things are robots? Is she using a tractor beam or something? Damn, I really could use APE assistance right now...” I thought to myself, as I started to dig.

After a few minutes, I was able to take a good look to my 'companions' - both had their eyes locked apathetically on the wall we were mining, I could see a lot of bloody lacerations from multiple whippings - the bigger one was crying softly, the whole time.

***

Some time later - when I was about to fill my first cart - I heard a loud noise, as it turned out the smaller creature passed out from exhaustion.

“WATER! Bring my sister some water... PLEASE!” the older mare begged the guard. But he was either one of those ‘rules are rules’ types, or simply too stupid to understand the gravity of the situation. He just kept repeating, “Cart no full, no water! Back to work!” definitely not the sharpest tool in the shed.

I still had my water, and since I was mining a spot between two horses - my chain was long enough to allow me to reach the kid, so I took the initiative. When I got closer my blood began to boil, I could see multiple bloody lacerations on the young body, she was in bad shape.

“Sick bastards…” I said to myself, trying to calm down.

I had poured some water onto the young mare, and fortunately, she has begun to regain consciousness. When she saw me up close, she immediately began to shake - it was obvious she was scared of me.

“Don't worry kid - I won't bite," I said as calmly as possible with a little smile, "Here. Have some more water,” I gave her my flask.

She hesitated for a moment, but her thirst got the best of her, and she grabbed the flask. As she was drinking greedily, I felt the strongest whip yet. The hit, caused me to lose my balance and fell on top of her. This frightened the young lady, her horn light up like a Christmas tree and then I felt a weak jolt of energy striking my body.

“Hey, my HUD… ?” I ignored the pain guard was causing me, as I noticed my HUD flashed before my eyes for a second.

“Kid, what did you do?!”

“I… didn’t… mean to…” she answered quietly with a frightened voice.

“No... I mean - can you do that again? Please, this is important!”

“I… can… try…” her horn started glowing once more, and I felt another - stronger - jolt.

A few seconds later my body was in the air - apparently, Mr. Guard didn’t understand, why his whip wasn’t working and decided to try a different ‘technique.’

“You stupid pony not listen! Pony must listen or be pain!” he was yelling at me - definitely not the sharpest tool in the shed… I mean c’mon, do I look like a fucking pony? Seriously?

I just lay there, looking at the yelling guard with irritation on my face when suddenly... I heard a beautiful sound. “APE reboot complete - APE unit available.”

“Finally, good to have you back friend,” I said out loud, adding to the guard's confusion.

“Thank you, sir,” APE responded with standard politeness in his synthesized voice.

“OK… now that the pleasantries are over… WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?!” I shouted, this time inside my head.

“I’m sorry, sir, but apparently our ‘attempt’ failed-’

“Yeah, no shit…”

“-but it drained all nano-systems of power. Until a few seconds ago, even emergency systems were out.”

As I listened to my assistant, I got up slowly, looking at the guard with the ‘please forgive me, sir! It won’t happen again’ posture, and the idiot bought it. When I got back to the mining wall, I heard a quiet ‘Thank you…’ from the older mare - I quickly nodded in acknowledgment and began to talk to APE inside my head again.

“Status report.”

APE responded as a litany of damaged systems flooded my HUD, “Extreme damage to most systems, core function mode... Limited nano-strength and speed available, but 5% power only - I recommend we wait a day or two for additional regeneration.”

“All right, sounds like a plan, and then...” imagining the look on Hurk’s face put a huge smile on my ugly mug.

***

I was snapped from my daydream when I heard one of the guards shouting at the filly. “Your cart is almost empty again! You think we will waste our resources on someone as useless as you?! You know the punishment…” as he said the words, I had noticed the kid retreated to the corner, covering her head with her hooves, and shaking uncontrollably.

Soon I realized why… the SOB pulled a giant whip out of his backpack!

“Probability indicates we are going with plan 'B.' Am I correct, sir?” APE interrupted, analyzing the situation.

“Oh… you know me too well,” I responded with an amused voice, as I grabbed my chain. My skin had started to glow red, as I cracked the shackle on my legs, then quietly run behind Mr. Guard, who was about to lash the kid.

Before he could act, I grabbed his weapon. “Hey, don't be like that - why don't we show the kid how to dig properly, instead?”

As he turned around in surprise, I put a grin on my face and added, “Pay attention young lady, you do it like THIS!” Split second later, his head slammed the nearest wall, cracking it in the process and revealing some diamonds.

“That’s what I call ‘teaching by example’” I said with a smile while looking at the motionless dog’s body.

After what I did there was no time to lose, and no turning back.

“You OK, kid?” I asked calmly - it was obvious she was still scared, but she nodded. “Come on, let’s get the hell out of here,” I said as I cracked the shackles around the young filly’s legs.

In the meantime, my favorite - ‘You pony mus listen!’ - guard was on his way, with his spear aiming at me… BIG MISTAKE.

CRACK!

I had turned around with extreme speed as my fist connected with his jaw - a second later, teeth flew everywhere - and he flew a good three meters back as well.

“See kid? That’s what happens when you don’t brush at least twice a day,” I added with an amused voice.

I had picked up the guard’s spear and quickly ran up to the older mare who was trying to free herself from the chains. By then, we could hear more guards on the way.

“Allow me, ma'am,” I cracked the chain right before her eyes. “Do you know how to get out of here?!”

“Ye... Yes! But there are many diamond dog guards on the way, we will never make it...”

I clenched my fist producing, very audible ‘CRACK!’ sound, “Leave them to me! Just tell me which way!”

She was still hesitant for a moment, but soon answered, “There, that path to the left!”

“OK, grab your sister and stay behind me! This is gonna get bloody...”

***

We quickly ran left, then right, left, left… “I really hope you know where we are going,” I said with a hint of doubt in my voice.

“I… do… trust me, darling. We... Are close...” she responded, trying to catch her breath at the same time.

She was right - soon I could see the exit in the distance, there was only one minor problem - or rather two dozen minor problems, with spears and armor - forcing us to stop.

Diamond dogs were looking at us with anger in their eyes - they thought they got us...

“I’ll ask you nicely once, AND ONLY ONCE - OUT OF OUR WAY,” I said calmly with as intimidating voice, I could muster.

The effect was predictable, they started laughing - hard. Finally, one of the dogs stepped up. “You no go anywhere! STUPID PONIES NO GO-”

“Pony… Pony?! PONY?! For FUCK SAKE! DO I LOOK LIKE A PONY TO YOU?! ARGGH!” I shouted as I kicked him so hard he flew ten meters back, hitting several of his companions on the way. Then my fury kicked in, “So all of you got a death wish? Fine! COME GET SOME!” I shouted as I charged at the group, burning with rage.

From the hunted, I turned to the hunter right before their eyes. Using my enhanced speed, I was inflicting deadly strike after strike. Their arrogance quickly turned to horror, as their number was getting lower with every second.

Three of the dogs had run towards the mares at the back, but before they could do anything, I threw one of the spears with so much force that it went through all their bodies and impaled them to the wall.

“Stick around guys! The party just getting started…” as I gloated, I let my guard down for a moment - second later, I felt a spear penetrating my back, and tearing up my insides - before I knew it the spear was sticking from my belly. “Argh! Hell!” I shouted - more from anger than pain.

I quickly grabbed the smiling bastard who got this lucky shot (or rather, thrust) and snapped his neck, then I pulled that damn thing out of me, and shoved it into the heart of another charging mutt.

By then, there were only 3 dogs left, but I was losing power fast. I knew I had to act quickly - I picked up the knife from one of the bodies and jumped the nearest guard.

His spear hit me in the right leg, but not before I sliced his head right off sending red liquid on his remaining companions and myself. As I stood up, covered in blood - I glanced at the remaining dogs with angry eyes, holding a bloody knife in my right hand. “Do you wish to engage?!”

They finally realized they don’t stand a chance - quickly looked at each other, and decided to run deeper into the hive. “Damn, I was hoping for ‘none shall pass’ not ‘run away!’" I said with an ironic voice, "oh well... You ladies OK?”

Both mares were fine physically - or at least not worse than they were before - but were looking at me with uncertainty in their eyes. “Come on, let’s get out of here,” I said calmly, without giving it a second thought.

***

When we stepped outside it was night, the sky was clear - thanks to moonlight I quickly realized we were on top of a mountain, in the distance some lights were blinking. I had thought we were finally safe when a gigantic rock struck my skull.

For a moment, I lost my balance and fell to the ground. When I had tried to get up, I saw him - it was Hurk, leader of the dogs, and he was mad with anger.

“YOU ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE!” he shouted as he began smashing my skull, with another giant rock - over and over again.

By then, the loss of blood had taken its toll - my super strength was gone, I tried to protect myself, but it was clear that Hurk had the upper hand.

The older mare was trying to get the dog off me, but it was no use. “RUN! Get your sister to safe-” my speech was suddenly interrupted by the stabbing pain, as a huge knife went through my chest.

The taste of my own blood filled my mouth, my lungs felt like they were filled with hot needles, I was fighting for every breath - but it was a losing battle - a few seconds later, I collapsed from exhaustion.

“You should have listened to your friend here when you had the chance!” Hurk shouted as he grabbed the filly.

Her older sister tried to stop him - but he knocked her to the ground, and stepped on her so she couldn’t move. I was lying behind him still impaled by his knife, bleeding out.

“Any last words before I tear you to pieces you little whore?!" the younger mare's eyes widened with fear - she didn't make any sound, but it was obvious she was terrified. "No? Fine, let’s go!” with that, Hurk started to pull the filly by her front and back hooves at the same time, literally trying to rip her in two. He took his time, enjoying every scream.

In the meantime, I tried to pull the knife out of my chest but didn’t have enough strength even for that. “Damn it… APE emergency power,” I said with a pleading voice, but the only answer was “None available.”

Suddenly, sharp jolt of energy shoot through my body. The older mare must have seen what her little sister did earlier, and with a final act of desperation, she used her power on me, the same way. It worked - I looked at her and smiled as I pulled the knife out.

“OK, that’s enough. Good night you little… ARRRR!” Hurk shouted as his own knife went through his right paw, slicing it off completely. As he growled in agony, he dropped the young mare to the ground.

With a crazy sounding voice I said, “Let me give you a hand...” before he could respond I jumped and knocked him to the ground. He was still struggling, but I was burning with rage, my nano-skin bright red again - indicating strength mode.

“ARGGH!” I shouted as I began to pummel his head into the ground. He tried to protect himself, but every time my attack hit one of his arms, it broke it in another place, soon he was screaming from pain.

After what seemed like an eternity, I realized I was hitting the rocky ground instead of his head. I snapped out of my rage, only to see his limp body lying in a pool of blood. His head was no longer there, only some bloody mush remained. I was covered with blood, dirt and brain matter…

I took a look at two mares, who were watching me with horror in their eyes.

“Well, it’s finally over - you ladies OK?” I asked with a calm voice, for a moment there was no response.

Finally, after a few seconds of silence and still shaking a little, the older mare answered, “As well as can be expected, I guess…" suddenly she stopped and glanced at me nervously. "But are you OK, mister? You are bleeding badly!” her voice sounded concerned.

“Nah, it's just a flesh wound,” with that, I got up, only to realize she was right - I was bleeding like a stuck pig, moreover - I could feel getting lightheaded. “Seriously… I... Will be… fineeeee-” I hit the ground and blacked out.

For a moment there was silence - Rarity and Sweetie Belle were just standing, scanning the scenery…

“Sis, we can’t leave him here...” Sweetie Belle said with a weak voice.

Rarity replied, “I know darling, but I can’t carry you both-” she stopped when she saw one of the cranes they used to put the diamonds into. “OK, I got an idea!”