Fallout: Equestria - Child of the Stars

Chapter 27:

Desert Steel

"Thanks, y'all. I guess I just got so used to doin' everythin' a certain way, I didn't realize there were any problems."

“You ponies can’t do this, I have friends in the Ministry, I know my rights. I did nothing wrong!” Exclaimed Blue Rose, tinny voice weary, as if she’d been shouting for so long her vocal cords were fried. “Just wait until my husband finds out about this, he’s going to kill you!”

“Threat of violence against prison staff is another check against your opportunity for bail, miss,” responded the very bored voice of another mare before she added. “And really, it’s the third time this week. I really don’t think you know how serious the charge of espionage is.”

“I told you ponies I’m not a Celestia damn spy! How about you put this much effort into finding the pony who almost blew the place up last week!?” roared the captive mare, hooves slamming on what I guessed was a metal table. “I told them at the station, I told that bitch who carted me over here, I told you every day this week! If all you want me to do is confess to a crime I didn’t commit then why stick me here in the first place!?”

“Because this is not about a crime you’ve committed,” sounded a new voice, tinny, reverberating almost a little too much for it to just be the recording. She sounded like Vertigo, only his tone at least seemed natural for his kind, this mare sounded plain wrong.

Why do I feel like I’ve heard that voice before? There was a nagging sensation at the back of my mind, even though I could not see her, I felt I’d seen the mare before. A tone that wrong just sticks with a pony.

“Your work is done here, I’ll deal with her now,” stated the messed-up sounding mare, and the guard that had been watching Rose huffed.

“It’s about time, this one really talks your ear off,” she grumbled, before the sound of a door whooshing open was followed by hoof steps approaching the recorder.

“And who are you supposed to be? I know you ponies are not with the MoM, so cut the shit,” Blue Rose muttered flatly, and as a mare who’d been on the end of my tether far too much before, I could sympathize.

“My name’s Stellar Swirl, former employee of the Ministry of Arcane Science, now I represent the interests of Oracle.” The name resonated with me as I matched it with her distorted voice.

She explained her role in so much detail, as if anypony other than her were a mere foal that needed every word spelled out. I was taken back to the last time I’d seen her, or felt what it was like to be her, more accurately. Being in her memories had felt so strange, like she were twisting from the inside, yet even then her voice had not sounded so… Wrong.

It hadn't been the same as how it felt to have my womb clawed at from within, at least. Yet her calmness at every one of those internal alien sensations had been even more creepy, more so now it almost sounded like they’d progressed. Rose didn’t appear to pick up on any of that as she responded.

“Funny, mare with that name was all over the Foal Free Press a few days ago.” The cautious undertone in her voice was evident, leaving me to wonder what she’d think if she’d known what I did about Stellar.

“Yes, crushed by a falling catwalk, I’m sure you heard. What you may not know is that was also a suspected assassination attempt on Twilight Sparkle herself, and took place in the facility right by where you were first spotted.” There was a long, uneasy pause before Rose started to blabber, seemingly unable to formulate words.

When Stellar laid it out like that, it all sounded so damming, more so with how I knew her mind was able to process things like some kind of supercomputer. Yet I’d seen the truth. Moon Dancer had been the one to want Twilight dead. Her boss and that freaky zebra had planned all of it.

Including the death of the mare who’s now up and talking in this log… Her own daughter! I felt a shiver run down my spine, mane crawling as if filled with biting ants as I recall just what it was like to be a pony post apparent resurrection. When did I ever hear anything good about something that wasn’t dead when it was supposed to be?

“You can’t be insinuating that I had anything to do with that? I’ve never even heard of Oracle… Besides, if you apparently died, that is all clearly a lie.” Cuffs rattled as I guessed Rose jabbed a forehoof at her sinister adversary. “Not that it matters, I know my rights, you can’t just lock me up in here without a court case… Fuck, even a call!”

“I think you’ll find we can, and… We will. The prison’s regulations are already stricter… Since the bombing.” As if there were an awkward knot in her throat, Stellar fought to speak for a moment before what I assumed was a metal chair rattled as she took a seat. “The judicial system is almost at a standstill right now, you’d be waiting months for a fair trial anyway.”

I heard papers shuffling, the dry tone of the mare’s empowered voice fitting perfectly with the mental image of some stoic office worker tapping her files into a neat stack. At least without the idea something were alive in her throat.

“Most of all with something as serious as espionage levied against you. It’s more than a good enough excuse to keep you here.” There was a pause and I half expected Rose to erupt into another tirade, while Stellar made a noise half way between a cough and a grunt. “But as I said… This is not about that crime, at all.”

“Then what, all just fun and games? Tax bits wasted on fucking with innocent ponies!?” Quivering voice dry as a river bed, Rose sounded like she was on the verge of cracking. “I have a family, you know? They’re gonna come after me!”

“Yes, yes, I’m aware. Married to the owner and proprietor of a lovely workshop on the South Las Pegasus highway. One daughter married to two wives in Ponyville, owner of a rather successful botanical company, and another…” Stellar trailed off. “Well, it would appear records on your other daughter are quite lacking?”

“What have my girls got to do with this? Rose Luck runs her agriculture stuff, sure… Lucky Star was just hired by some big tech company, Destiny. Big tower up in the hills, can’t miss it!” The almost total confirmation that the mare I’d seen stuck in that jar was Lucky Star didn’t hit as hard as I was expecting.

I could only guess the trauma of the last few hours, maybe even the last week, had softened the blow. I’d known it was her, how could I not? Hearing it for real just made me want to get to the bottom of this more and more, bumping up Stellar and her mother on the list of ponies I didn’t like in the process.

If that really was her, then what the fuck did they really want with her? Why did Destiny take her, why not be upfront, why erase her memories? Why a room that looked like it was made for a foal? It made me far more curious to listen to the final few of the notes I’d found under the tower. And why is Oracle so interested too?

“Oh, I’ve heard of them, trust me,” Stellar was swift to assure, as the sound of papers slipping across the metal table masked another odd sound in the back of her throat. "Before Oracle, you could say I was heavily invested, in fact.”

There was another pregnant pause, naught but a low grumble passing between them. From the odd fidgeting disturbance, I guessed Lucky’s mother was studying whatever it was Stellar had slid her way very carefully.

If only this was a memory orb, I’d love to see whatever that is for myself! I inwardly cursed, only to recall that the only reason Vertigo wanted to enter the prison in the first place was for memories. If that place was used to store Oracle’s dirty secrets, then surely more than just one of those orbs has gotta be important.

It made me more than a little happy to have grabbed so many of them, even if I’d hardly been thinking about that at the time.

“That’s great, and what in Luna’s name does all of that have to do with me? Those ponies who showed up at my door after Lucky left, the same ponies at the police station, they work for you, don’t they?”

“You could say that, every organization has its secrets, why do you think espionage is taken so seriously?” Stellar countered, distorted tone still managing to sound far too sly. “Just tell me this, ever since she left, has your daughter tried to contact you, even once?”

“Kinda hard for her to do that when I’m stuck in here but… I…” It was just as unnerving as it was shocking to hear a mare that had been screaming her lungs out two seconds ago totally lost for words. “No… No, she’s not. But she’s gotta be busy, that’s all.”

“Your memories don’t lead us to believe that’s how you really feel, Rose.” The matter-of-fact manner in which Stellar said that made my skin crawl, most of all knowing how her hyper-active brain functioned. On the flip side, it rendered Rose utterly silent. “Surprised? With as many connections to the Ministry of Morale as you claim to have, I’d have assumed you’d be well informed of the memory procedures?”

“You… What?” Rose’s voice quivered. “You bastards, what did you take from me, why can’t I remember that!?”

“It’s common practice to remove any knowledge of mental tampering, Ministry of Peace officials insist it’s more humane… Don’t worry, we didn’t find what we were really after anyway,” Stellar elaborated, her position on the list of ponies I didn’t like rapidly rising.

“And what’s that, you creep?” Rose growled.

“Your cooperation.” There was another shift as I could only assume more documents were slid to the incriminated mare. “We are prepared to make any charges against you go away, all you have to do is help us look into your daughter and her new employers.”

“What makes you think I know anything? You’ve been in my head, and I’m betting you know full well I’d not betray my daughter!” Rose yelled, cuffs rattling as she slammed the table again.

“Then I’m sorry to say it’ll be even longer until you can see her again. Bail is out of the question, and any chance for parole only comes after you’re officially incarcerated. I’d hate to be stuck in here that long, like you said, it’s already been bombed once. Not to mention, I suspect a drawn-out case like that is going to cast a dark shadow on the rest of your family,” Stellar warned, as if she knew far more than she should.

“So you’re threatening my entire family now too, is that it?” Rose huffed bluntly, while I suspected she was doing all she could to mask the slight quiver of dread in her voice. “You’d ask me to betray one daughter over the other, and for what, what is this Destiny place?”

“From what I saw of your memories, I know you want to find that out as much as we do. At least what they’ve been up to since Lucky Star left,” Stellar reasoned, sounding far more prim at the prospect Rose may actually be coming around on the idea. “Need I remind you, it’s not us that seemingly made her disappear.”

“I… Fine, so it does all seem a little shady, your ponies in black at my door hardly helped with that!” Rose spat, yet the apology Stellar offered felt ludicrously corporate. “I’ll tell you what I know, do what I can to get in contact with her. But you have to tell my husband at least, tell him I didn’t do what they say I did.”

“Of course, of course, we can take care of everything,” Stellar assured, sounding like she were gathering up her files.

“Okay, and what about that?” There was a bump against the recorder. “Every word here is on record.”

“Don’t worry, I have it on good authority what’s said down here, stays down here,” Stellar told her, before the log clicked off.

I laid back against the rusting wall of the ventilation tunnel, telekinetically plucking the ear bloom free. All I could think was what Rose had gone on to do. I'd no love for Oracle, Stellar Swirl now even less so, yet had she found her daughter, did she know how Lucky had ended up?

She never set her free, I know that much. I noted, pretty sure if I asked Overseer about the details he’d talk my ear off about the many different reasons he couldn’t tell me. Whatever it was, it has to have something to do with this.

Looking down, my eyes fell upon the small bump in my belly as one forehoof reflexively ran across it. In the dawn desert light, it was pretty clear it had grown. Not as much as the last time, but if it wasn't obvious I was pregnant before, now anypony with half a brain could see I was at least rather pudgy.

Of all my years of modifications, my barding has never felt this tight. I huffed, outwardly grunting at the fact right now it just looked like I was getting fat. Overweight and the Wasteland don’t mix well.

Even so, at least the pain had stopped, and while the fact I'd no idea what it really was still lingered. Now I was free of the radiation and the sensation I was about to explode, I could almost consider it a foal again.

Almost… I inwardly sighed, staggering to my hooves, sandy dust trailing from my back as the rusting metal of the cylindrical vent creaked under me. Urg, that shift in weight… Why does it feel so weird all of a sudden?

It was another thing I pressed to the back of my mind. When I had a bump the size of a melon I’d worry about how to compensate, right now I just wanted to get as far away from this hell pit as I could.

I really hope whatever Vertigo was looking for down there is worth it… Not to mention Fauna’s life. It was odd to feel so solemn for a pony who’d made monsters, yet I accepted the fact she’d at least died to fix it as I glanced ahead.

A set of rusting bars marked the outside of the grate, beyond which, the desert sun was just starting to peak over the horizon. The brief moment in the day I could see it in all its radiant glory, before it was stolen away by the thick clouds.

Goddesses, fuck the pegasi. The thought came to me almost every time I saw a sunrise, even if the few plumes of green smog that rose from the many caves dotting the cliffs around the ruined prison stole a bit of its majesty. I just hope all that steam did what Fauna said it would… I could do without a desert overrun by Nightstalkers.

“Ha, gotcha!” Vertigo finally declared as my eyes came to rest on the stallion by the barred gate. “All these years and I still got it!”

For a brief moment, it was as if that cocky, confident face he always wore melted away in smug glee. Of course, when I’d protested he teleport us both through the bars, for the good of my foal, he’d only pouted a little at the opportunity to prove he wasn’t a liability anymore.

“Cherry has you beat by a good fifteen minutes” I cooed, flicking one of his many broken lockpicks aside with my tail as I hopped down through the open grate, into the sandy crevice below.

Maybe she’s not the only pony who’d appreciate a copy of Today’s Locksmith? I thought, catching his flat look, only for a fresh smirk to flash under his helmet as he slipped it on.

“Yeah well, gates aren't the kind of thing I specialize in unlocking,” he countered, and I snorted as the two of us made our way down the narrow canyon.

The ruined shell of the prison blocks and towers loomed above the masa as if still on eternal guard, even if it was hard to make out most of the fort’s upper complex from down here. In the light of day, the bright red rocks practically glowed, lined by many glinting bands of erosion they looked far prettier than they had at night. Not to mention this time we didn’t have grenades belting down on us. I could only assume the rangers had given up when we’d lost them in the caves.

What were two native scavengers really worth to them anyway? And yet that Star Paladin seemed to know him. I recalled, glancing at Vertigo as I quipped back.

“Here I thought all the gear back there was fake?” He looked back at himself, wiggled his rump, then nickered as he corrected.

“More like a blank canvas that can be whatever you want it to be.” That had me blushing again as I imagined just how big… No, not thinking about his hypothetical peinus!

“Whatever the case, I guess now I owe you one,” he finally admitted, the softer side I’d glimpsed when he was dying in my hooves peaking free once more. “If I’d been alone, that may have been it for me.”

“Yeah, well as annoying as you are, you still gotta help me get to the bottom of this.” I nodded back to my midsection, and while he’d neglected to mention it, I knew he was well aware what the radiation had done to me.

He has the decency not to joke about that, at least. That fact made me just a little more glad he was still around, Transcendent on my tail or not, I was happier with the bug again. More like you’re happy he’s walking in front of you.

Not faced with imminent death, I hated just how fast my mind dipped back into a hormonal stooper. Seriously, is pregnancy like estrus on Stampede or something!?

“You can just admit you missed me, if that’s what you really want,” he cooed, while I staggered, snorting.

“Whatever, I just hope it was worth it,” I retorted, nodding back to my saddle bags. “Those orbs, I have a feeling they’re not about Project Nightstalker, are they?”

“No, if you’re little Pipbuck friend and Binary are right, they’re not,” he told me, adopting a more serious tone.

Goddesses, why is it so attractive, yet unnerving when he does that? For a pony like him not to joke, almost always meant something was seriously wrong. As if endlessly-birthing brood monsters were not enough.

I hated the fact that such a monster had almost been tailor-made to play on my maternal fear. That smug entity that was the wasteland, a constant, infernal puppet master.

“Binary suspected Fort Sandstone was where a lot of Equestria’s ol’ big shots dumped their dirty laundry when they didn’t want to just outright kill them. Logs of the place were bound to just be crawling with secrets… If we’d had a little more time, we could have found more.” He kicked a forehoof at the dust, ears folding.

“Yeah, well, the wasteland has a habit of messing up the best-laid plans,” I muttered, in the place of something snide, really wanting to remind him that it was me irradiating my tail off down there to get his orbs. “I really thought I was done for down in that radiation.”

“Just even more reason to consider us square, I suppose,” he quipped, glancing back at me. I wasn't like him, I could not sense his feelings, but by the way the eye domes of his helmet caught on my belly, I knew he could detect my apprehension.

“I don’t wanna talk about it like it’s a monster,” I stated before he could ask. “You were there last time, on the train, you saw… But this time, I felt it… It hurt, what kind of real foal does that?”

To my surprise, he stopped and rounded on me. The canyon was so narrow I had little choice but to stop too, visor to visor with him.

“I don’t know, but I said I’d help you figure it out, and I will.” His voice was robbed of snarky wit, and while I couldn't see it, I guessed his face was serious. “And I’ll do it before you have to go through that again.”

“My hero,” I mused, reflexively batting my eyes at him. I knew he didn’t need to see them, not to mention I was acutely aware my sultry mask did nothing to hide the genuine appreciation his remark summoned. “Just make sure to let me know if there’s radiation involved next time.”

“And narrow down our options when it comes to dates even more, how irritating.” Just like that, his serious side was gone. He turned and flicked his tail, my cheeks, and ears on fire once again.

Moving after him, I did my utmost to come up with an equally witty retort. Letting him get the last word in was becoming almost as bad as getting shot. The second something crossed my mind, however, I could only call.

“Vertigo, above, watch out!” The red bar appeared on my E.F.S right as the grenade flew through the air with a dull woosh, impacting the cliff above with an explosive boom.

In the light of day, the flashes were far less vibrant, yet the plume of dust and cascade of red rock that came crashing down at my back was far more colorful as the whole canyon shook. Sting levitating beside him, my companion took off, while I did my best to force my aching body to keep pace as I fixed my sights on the ridge above. E.F.S made it clear exactly where they were, three of them in total, yet like fish in a barrel there was no way I could get a good shot as another volley of grenades cut off more of the passageway behind me with a flurry of rocks.

They’re not trying to hit us, more like flush us out! The realization hit me right as the narrow canyon blossomed out into a shallow bowl between the smooth cliffs, the basin filled with loose sand. Ambushes… I’ve been through my fair share!

“Vertigo, wait!” I called, magically reaching out for him as he darted out into the open area, spinning back to aim Sting at the cliff top behind us.

Still recovering, my telekinesis failed, leaving me with little choice but to grab him with a forehoof. The sharp buzz of touching his lean rump faded the second his momentum heaved me into the middle of the basin with him. For as witty and all-knowing as he claimed to be, the bug could be a really oblivious fool sometimes. He glanced at me, the beady eyes of his helmet shunning the dawn’s glow as a ring of sand exploded upwards around us.

Before I knew it, a trio of metal spires speared up from the dust, rattling as they erected to full height. From flickering talismans at their peaks extended a glowing bubble of pink light. Within seconds the shield spell was complete, trapping the two of us within the glistening dome.

“A pacification mine, are you joking!?” Vertigo exclaimed, as I took aim at the bubble. “No wait, don’t!”

Safe to say, for as oblivious as I considered him, I really should have seen it coming when the laser bolt bounced from the inside of the bubble several times, lighting up the dome with a silver flash upon each impact. The two of us ducked before the rogue shot finally struck the sand with a soft fizzle, leaving naught but black glass.

“It’s a one-way shield on the inner side, any shots just gonna reflect!” Vertigo warned, forcing my rifle down with a forehoof. “Anti-teleportation tech too, I suspect!”

“Could have told me that a second sooner, genius!” I snapped, tapping on the bubble with a forehoof, only to get a sharp shock. “Ouch!”

“Must be one of the mines left over from the prison security. Damn it, all of these countermeasures should have powered down decades ago!” he muttered, digging in the sand to find a corroded metal disk, sparking with arcane bolts as if it had only recently been tampered with.

“You’d be right about that,” came a grizzled voice, accompanied by the metallic hoof steps of the Star Paladin as she appeared from one of the side canyons. “But what did you say about catching dummies out every time?”

*

It turned out, much to my and Vertigo’s irritation, that one of the perks of a one way shield was the fact a unicorn on the outside could simply levitate things off of us and over to them. Not only that, but the self-proclaimed guardians of ancient arcane technology, were also very adept at making it suit them when the need arose. Magical Steel Rangers were a rarity, yet the power armored unicorn, her helmet modified for her horn, was all too happy to see us as the ones stuck in place for a change. I had to admit, the changes to the suit were impressive, not quite what I’d have done, but right now admiring her hoof work was the last thing on my to do list. Most of all, as many of them scoffed at my own apparent bastardization of their gear.

I hate their power armor, doesn’t even let me see if the pony trying to kill me is at least cute. I thought, forelegs folded as she upended my saddle bags, everything from orbs, ammo, and the few nick-nacks I’d scavenged falling to the red dust. I had a feeling Cherry wouldn't be impressed to see so many tradable goods ruined, while I was thankful most of our more important things were still safe with her.

“No more weapons, ma’am, just the laser rifle and… This thing,” muttered the unicorn as she inspected Sting.

“I’d be careful with that if I were you,” Vertigo muttered, gesturing a forehoof at the weapon casually. “It bites.”

If power armor could shoot somepony a flat look, I imagined that was exactly what the unicorn did behind her visor. Of course, I bet she doesn’t know he can taste how irritated she must feel right now.

“You know ponies who run their mouths too much often tend to end up mute,” came the only slightly less grizzled voice of the Star Paladin, now she’d removed her helmet. “You’re just lucky we only had to restore three of those mines before hitting the exit you crawled out of.”

“Oh, you’re so welcome,” he mused, smirking at her. “And for the record, ponies who don’t talk enough tend to give everyone the impression there’s a stick up their tail.”

She huffed, one forehoof stomping in the dust with a metallic whirr. She’d at least had the courtesy to introduce herself as Star Paladin Chrome Hammer. Now she was up close, and we weren't running for our lives, it was clear she was big, even for an earth pony. Broken by rough scars, her coat was a sleet gray, her mane a blue similar to my own, with a lighter patch of fur marking the tip of her lean muzzle, almost making it look as if she had a perpetual scowl.

Her blue-trimmed armor and cannons had to be modified even more than the unicorn’s under her command. Extended pistons and wires compensated for her bulky shoulders and longer legs as she glowered down at Vertigo like he were the bug he really was.

She said she knows him, and she’s not just killed us outright. I noted, wondering if she was aware of what the stallion really was. Mr Green and the others back in Crimson sure seemed like they knew.

Either way, if she did, that didn’t appear to be what she cared about as she finally spoke up again.

“What I see is that we found two native scavengers on the road in the middle of the night. One of those turns out to be a known trouble maker, and then the two of them enter a locked down prewar facility that is currently marked as a place of interest.” I was impressed she could lay all the facts out in one breath as she stifled a rugged gasp. “So, instead of berating me for my discipline, how about you two give me a reason not to blow your sorry tails to the moon?”

Any other time, I’d have spat something witty as easily as Vertigo did at such a threat. If she wanted us dead, we’d be dead. Yet monster or not, I knew I wasn’t just fighting for myself anymore, not to mention I’d really hate it if I didn’t see Cherry at least one more time.

“We were after information,” I stated over the top of Vertigo blurting that we were simply scavenging.

I shot him a sour look, while he rolled his eyes and sighed. “Fine… Yes, we were looking for memory orbs. Though I can’t see how that’s any matter to you, if you want tech, go see if there’s anything left of the reactor.”

“After somepony performed an emergency purge, I know. We saw every cave blast steam from here,” she retorted, nodding to one of the great plumes of green mist that loomed into the sky. “You’re just as lucky the two of you weren’t incinerated.”

Some of us weren't so lucky. My mind added, Fauna’s last smile flashing across my sight. Still, Vertigo's right, what does it matter to them?

I said as much, jabbing a forehoof at her as I added. “You could have just killed us, why go to the trouble of activating this thing?”

At the static tingle that built up in my outstretched forelimb, I neglected to touch the shield again as Hammer’s brow furrowed. She looked me over from hooves to tail, yet if I was expecting to play the helpless mother card, it was futile as she made no mention of the bump under my barding.

“And you are?” she asked plainly.

“Dragonfire, merc out of Churn,” I told her just as bluntly. “Long way from home, I know, but if you think you’re the worst thing I’ve come across in the past two weeks, then let me tell you...” I nodded to Vertigo, and he frowned.

“Hey, I’m just unique,” he countered, yet oddly enough, my identity did seem to pique the Star Paladin’s interest.

“Same one who caused a ruckus for Crimson, I imagine?” she pressed, and feeling only a little put off as to how she knew, I nodded. “Really made the Brazen’s chatter. Maybe even made our jobs a little easier.”

“Hey, I had a hoof in that too,” Vertigo interjected, finally standing up. “And it’s pretty well known you’re no friends of theirs, so let’s say we just call this even…”

“You really have to improve your negotiation skills,” she deadpanned, eyes level as she glowered at him. “But, you.” She looked back at me. “Same mare that almost flipped Crossroads on its head too?”

Goddesses, since when did news travel this fast? Rapid’s not quite as on the ball as DJ Pone-three up north. I asked as much, and after a moment of thought, Hammer responded.

“Intercepted messages about a pony out of Churn almost three weeks ago. We don’t know who they are, but their chatter always comes in over the Brazen’s wavelength. Best guess, right into Stable Fifty.” I thought back to the last time I’d been home, the Transcendent pony with Griddle.

They knew I was coming, set me up to go into the lab. But they’ve been talking about it all this time too? The more pieces fell into place, the more it infuriated me. But where’s setting that bounty got them so far? The only other who could have wanted us there is Binary, and she doesn’t strike me as the type.

Even so, if it was to avenge her family, I didn’t know how much I could put it past her. On the other hoof, however, if the Transcendent knew about me from the start it made sense they’d also been talking about me. How deep does this go, did they mean for me to get impregnated too?

Overseer hated them, that much was clear. If continuing his eternal experiment on me made the process vulnerable to them, why would he do it? Unless he didn’t know they were watching me.

It made my head hurt. Regardless, at the risk of revealing too much information, I simply asked.

“Stable Fifty, that’s what the Rangers have been after for years, right?” She nodded, yet that was a pretty well-known fact. “What if I told you I also wanted to get in there? I already have the support of Crossroads.” I jabbed a forehoof at Vertigo. “And I have him, current situation aside, there’s no better infiltrator.”

“You know telling them that kind of ruins the whole point of an infiltrator, right?” he asked, but I stuck my tongue out at him.

“Just take the compliment, you’re always so desperate for them anyway.” That at least seemed to have him stunned for once as Hammer appeared to think deeply.

“Just think about it, those bastards down in Crimson have been terrorizing this place for decades. We work together, we stomp them out.” A few weeks ago, I’d have not even considered the fact, Crimson Springs wasn't my problem back then.

Maybe Cherry really is rubbing off on me? I considered, yet I was still way above the bar of being the good pony she was. I just need an opportunity to save Star.

“As popular as Crossroads is, I don’t think half a town’s worth of dash heads is gonna be much help,” Hammer stated, yet at that, it was my turn to smirk. “Only reason the Elder would back that idea is the prospect of leaving the town weakened enough to take ourselves.”

Just like the Rangers, always taking, giving nothing back. I thought, pretty sure I was walking a fine line of what to tell her and what to withhold.

“No, I don’t think they’d have to send anypony, but only if you play nice,” I told her and she cocked her head, finally seeming curious. “I make no promises, you make good with us, and maybe the army of Gyrotrons I may know of can help you take that Stable?”

That finally seemed to turn her intrigue into attention and the perpetual scowl on her grim muzzle flipped. I really hope telling them this doesn't come to bite me in the tail.

I knew the rangers well enough, one hint as to where those robots were and they’d just go and take them themselves. Hammer’s next words confirmed as much as I caught a few of her knights muttering.

“What stops us from just taking them ourselves?” I shrugged, then winced.

“Not me, but I’d like to think you’re smart enough to know that threatening the town is only going to have all those robots turned on you. Then no pony wins.” I drew out each word like I was talking to a pouty foal, earning a witty grin from Vertigo as Hammer huffed.

“I suppose you have proof to back this up?” she pressed, throwing a wrench into my idea. Sure Flare had said she’d have my back, but that was just her word, I was going to need more.

Plus, I’m still pretty sure she doesn’t want to see us again for a while. A more solemn part of me added.

“You wanna make that call here?” Vertigo asked before I could speak again. “Pretty sure Elder Thunder Hoof is at least the kinda stallion who’d like to hear her offer. Unless he doesn’t want to finally take Crimson?”

“You’re clearly not as in the know as you think,” Hammer stated flatly. “Elder Thunder Hoof was killed during the last blow at Crimson. His son, Cobalt Saber, is Elder now.”

I didn't like the way Vertigo’s expression flattened at that, and while I knew a fair bit about the supposedly unbreakable Elder Thunder Hoof, I knew nothing about his son.

How come that news didn’t travel fast? I thought, recalling that the former earth pony elder I’d heard about over my time in the Dust Bowl, had apparently been ten times more stubborn than a mule. They must be keeping it pretty close to the chest, of course they are.

“And here you’re saying you're gonna hesitate when we’re offering you a way to hit back at them?” Vertigo asked, fake sheepishness in his words as he looked at her as if she were a fool.

“I don’t know which of you needs to be mute the fastest,” she stated, scowling once more as her hard eyes rolled from him to me. “Fine, we’ll see what the Elder has to say, see if the folks over at Crossroads are willing to chime in. But don’t come crying to me if he just decides to have you killed, he lacks the aged nuance of his father.”

I had a feeling if Vertigo had known that, he’d have been more reluctant to bring their leader into the equation. Despite the threat to my life, however, a wave of relief passed over me. I’d deal with Cobalt when the need arose, but if this all worked, I’d finally be a step closer to actually taking Stable Fifty, saving my friend, and getting these freaks off my tail so I could try to figure out how to deal with my foal.

“Knight Gingerbread, knock them out, we’re heading back,” Hammer ordered the power armored unicorn, nodding to us. Being rendered unconscious was another thing that hadn't been on my agenda. At the split second of apprehension that revelation flared in me, I swore I caught Hammer smirk. “One of those memory orbs should do fine.”

*

Like an inescapable void, once more I was locked in the dark depths of Fort Sandstone. The dower cell was bleak, dusty air still, despite the slowly rotating fan that was hidden away within the mess of wires behind the grated ceiling. Dull light peaked between the creaking blades, the rotating shadow passing over my host’s face as I tried to figure out what I was. I was a male, that much I knew, the same awkward mix of pleasure and creepy that always came over me when I was a buck.

Yet he was not a pony, one glance at his talons on the silvery table before him was enough to tell me that. His reflection in the surface was faded, but as far as I could see the griffin was mostly black, save for his golden beak and sharp, yellow eyes peering at me as if they knew I was in his head. Safe to say, he was rapidly becoming the creepiest host I’d ever been in. The fact he was a griffin wasn’t even a first for me. They were strong and lean, while the predatory instincts that naturally thrummed through them was a stark contrast to the underlying prey anxiety most ponies knew all too well.

That was an instinct I’d mostly lost in my time surviving the wasteland, having it warped into more of a sense of caution than a feeling everything was going to eat me. That same sense of survival that was still pretty pissed at me for letting myself get trapped in this memory while the rangers did goddesses know what with my body. I did my best not to think about that, trusting Hammer wouldn't be there to mock me if I woke up a corpse.

Doesn’t really feel like her style. Besides, what options did I have? As much as I thought I could, I wasn’t too much into Vertigo’s idea that he could wit is way out of every conflict. Not that it matters, if this is one of the orbs he was so eager to get his hooves on, then what harm ever came from paying attention?

It certainly helped me deal with the idea the rangers could be breaking my legs right now and I’d have no idea until I woke up screaming. That would surely be a far cry from how it felt to be a griffin, though the claws did feel just uncanny enough to be uncomfortable. Looking at the sharp talons as my host peered right ahead, I noticed that despite his scales being black, the curved hooks were silver.

Metal encased them, shimmering like knives and making it pretty obvious why he was still cuffed, cell or not. His mind, however, was blank, more so than anypony I’d ever felt. Once again, I had a strange sensation he somehow knew I was here. The only thing he didn’t seem able to hide from me was his bitterness, he hated this place, he hated himself for getting stuck here.

I suppose the worst thing for a natural-born hunter is to be trapped. I thought, pretty sure every griffin I’d ever known would agree. Not that I’m too fond of the prospect myself.

He wasn't locked in the darkness to stew on his thoughts for long, however. The dry monotone of the ceiling fan was interrupted by the clopping of hooves and the jingle of keys. The instant the sound met his ears, my host’s mind went from a barren desert, to an explosion of ideas. Most revolved around how he’d break the guard’s neck given the chance, how weak and frail ponies were.

The savageness was courted by a calculative sense of reason, however. The prison was huge, and they had magic. He’d make it no further than the cell block before they caught him again. No, if he wanted to get out, he should have never been caught in the first place. The stab of bitterness that thought conjured felt sharp as a scalpel, even all these years later, most of all how he imagined how other griffins must see him now. The hunter, hunted. Regardless, his eyes shifted to the cell door, where bars sat up a pair of squat steps, the distinct prison shaft I’d seen under the fort beyond.

“Visitor for you,” said a unicorn mare in prison barding as she twirled a ring of key cards in her magic, her eyes oddly aglow with a faint orange light.

In combination with a magical sequence of numbers, the high-security door was heaved aside with a metallic groan. Even only being in this body for a few minutes, I could feel just how much the sight of a creature so inferior to him made his feathers bristle. He wanted to rip her throat out, he didn't care for the prospect of company. Even if the visitor turned out to be the most gorgeous griffin hen in the world, he still wanted to make the weak foals suffer. Yet another part of him was acutely aware that those weak foals were the ones who had him captured.

His arrogance was not willing to dismiss that completely, the level of understanding only making him feel that bit more lethal. I’d always considered a talon who could admit they’d lost to be far more deadly, even if they barely ever did so out loud. Every shred of the griffin’s will to lash out faded as the guard stepped aside, however, and a new mare stepped into the light of the cell door.

As if her shadow weren't simply limited to the long pillar of darkness cast across the dusty concrete, her black form rose atop the squat incline like a living eclipse. The same umbral business suit I’d seen in Moon Dancer’s memories appeared out of place in the cesspit that was the depths of the prison, as did her well-kept, silver mane. Yet for all the sly whistles and heckles Ebon Star earned from the crude inmates trying to grasp at her through the bars, she remained as imperious as ever. I had a feeling if any of those horny bucks saw her gaze, they’d think twice, it certainly affected my host in a way I didn’t think possible.

A mare that makes a griffin feel a little less confident in himself? Now I’ve seen everything. I thought as the dark equine stepped in, the door creaking closed behind her.

“Just call if you need, ma’am, I’ll be right outside,” said the guard, yet cuffed to the table or not, I didn’t feel the griffin would try anything with this mare.

“I don’t think that will be necessary,” Ebon Star said, studying the griffin up and down. “What a truly revolting state to find you in, Garro.”

“What do you want?” the griffin croaked as I caught his name. “My contract's gone. Is it not enough that your games have cost me everything?”

“That wasn't what you said when you agreed to take part in them,” she stated, looking around to the shelves, levitating up what appeared to be a claw-carved lump of stone. “But do not assume I am here to make a mockery of such things. I didn’t plan for you to get caught.”

“And here I thought your freaky zebra witch saw everything coming,” Garro rumbled, raspy voice as dry as his parched throat. “You told me that if I took my master now, the Nightclaws would be mine.”

“I told you that on the assumption you could pull it off,” Ebon retorted, setting the lump of rock down. “You’ve been very useful to me, assassin. Yet am I to assume the success of your mission only came to pass because you thought it was fated, not because the Nightclaws are supposed to be the best?”

“Not at all, I don’t need some stripe to tell me how to hit my targets… Great Egg, you should have let me hit the Ministry mare, I wouldn’t have missed,” he countered, and at the reminder of what they’d tried to do to Twilight, I felt a spike of apprehension.

Even so, if such things were not to be said out loud, Ebon Star didn’t seem to care. Either the guard mare was under the sway of her magic, or Vertigo was right. Fort Sandstone really was a place where secrets went to be buried. Between that and all the Nightstalkers, just how many guards were paid off, mine controlled, or did she just kill them all?

It summoned another wave of apprehension, recalling what she’d done to the doctor in Stellar's last memory.

“The matters involving the MoA are none of your concern. You were required to take lesser pieces off the board, and you fulfilled that role admirably, until now.” She moved up to him like a ghost of shade, unblinking as she peered down her dark muzzle. “Terboa didn't predict your effort to take control of the Nightstalkers. I assumed you could get that done yourself, now I see your successes only come to pass because you think they’re preordained, how short-sighted.”

Regardless of the wave of rich perfume that radiated in her wake, the air almost seemed to turn cold at her approach. Garro’s eyes found it hard to meet hers, lingering on the collar of her suit and the silver chain of some kind of necklace lingering below her breast. Feeling a frown on a beak was all kinds of weird, yet it made the fact he was doing his best to snarl at her all the more evident as he hissed.

“That was on you. Contract or not, you told me that you’d get me what I wanted. Instead, you ensured I ended up here.” He flared his wings at the cell. “The prisoner of such frail, insufferable, little equines, and for what? You’re not going to find another to do your dirty work!”

To her credit, Ebon Star didn’t so much as flinch at the avian’s aggressive display. It appeared he was boring her more than anything else as she drew back primly, rubbing the spittles of drool expelled by his yelling from her fine-pressed suit.

“Maybe that’s so, but as you are, it’s clear your usefulness has run its course,” she reasoned. “If what I require is surpassing even the skills of the Nightclaw’s best, it sounds like I require ulterior means.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked darkly, even as his anger slowly began to warp into interest. “I had that old bird at my mercy, one more shot, and I could have taken him.”

“And yet he still beat you,” she was swift to remind him, and once again his sharp eyes narrowed, feathers bristling like the spines of a radhog.

“As you keep saying.” The words escaped through gritted teeth as that aura of intimidation she projected began to fail in the place of his desire to kill her. “So how about instead of pointing out all that went wrong, tell me what you really want.”

“I’m here to offer you another chance, and this time, Terboa assures me you’ll succeed,” she stated simply, summoning a new wave of shocked rage in the avian feline.

Before he could demand what was different about this time, however, least of all how he was supposed to do so while stuck in prison, she went on.

“All you have to do is swear complete loyalty to me. No more jobs, no more contracts, sware yourself to something greater.” There was a long pause, then despite everything, a dry chuckle left his beak.

“That’s not how it works, and you know it. I was happy to do all you asked when you held my contract, but I’m not some common raptor ready to offer you my life now it's destroyed,” he stated, smirking at her. “Now, I work for money, nothing else.”

“Yet here you are, stuck rotting for the rest of your life with what that silly piece of paper cost you,” she countered, and even I had to admit that stung. He didn’t let that bitterness out, no matter how much I felt it stewing inside him.

“Then what, you gonna break me out?” he asked drily, rolling his eyes. “For as good as you think you are, Ebon, I don’t think you can do that.”

“No, not unless you agree to my terms,” she insisted calmly as she stepped back up to the door, peering down from the steps as she went on. “Yet if you don’t want what you think you’re owed, what I promised you, then feel free to decline. Your corpse will prove just as useful after they put you down.”

The gears in his head were working, pride battling desire and ambition. Honor destroyed with his contract, he didn’t want to serve her, not if he didn’t see a penny for it. But at the same time, being locked up in here at the whim of such weak fools was just as bad an option. Part of him couldn’t help but feel she’d somehow planned it all out. Led him to fail, only so he had no other option but to go crawling back to her. I noted it was similar to how she’d played Moon Dancer too, leaving me to wonder why. I knew most griffins would serve whoever held their contract, even if it killed them. Yet that wasn't true loyalty.

“My loyalty, money or not, that’s the only catch?” he pressed as the will to be free won out over staying here just to spite her. He wanted to tell her to bite his tail and get lost, the words were so close to his tongue it was painful, yet I knew just how selfish his kind were.

“Of course,” Ebon Star assured, yet there was no smile to accompany her prim tone. “All you want and more.”

“Then do what you have to, I’m not going anywhere,” he responded, slumping back. “My one term, I get to take out Master Nightclaw for good the moment I’m able, got it?”

“I think I can live with that,” Ebon said, the grin that parted her muzzle at that far more sinister as she backed up to the exit, and the guard let her out. “Are the charges in place?”

“Yes, ma’am, and the extraction plan, Bright won’t see it coming.” The blank look on the guard, the glow in her eyes as she responded, filled me with a hint of dread. Meanwhile, I had a feeling Ebon was totally aware Garro was listening in as she added.

“Good, then have this memory of his stored with the rest before tonight.” The griffin’s jaw clenched at the notion he’d have to go through that again, yet the desire for revenge swiftly burned all of that away.

*

The first bombing of Fort Sandstone, that was her? I thought as I slipped out of the memory. To what, free her pet griffin, why?

For some reason, I doubted it was so noble. Ebon Star seemed to be collecting a series of specific individuals to do her dirty work. First the zebra, Moon Dancer, now him. And that name; Garro Nightclaw, where have I heard it before?

I wracked my mind for the memory, only for a bump in the road to shake the idea free, forcing me back into reality. First thing’s first, I had no idea where I was as the desert cliffs drifted by the wagon. I could only assume that was the idea, the Steel Rangers were always rather secretive about where their southwestern headquarters was located. Looking about, I spotted no more than a cracked asphalt road snaking between a set of cliffs, a drop on the right marked by a rusting barricade, and a sheer slope on the left, between which sat an old railroad.

Yeah, I think I’m going to give trains a wide berth for a while. My horn still hurt at the memory, most of all as I saw a spark engine picked clean and pressed against the base of the cliff. We must be in the mountains east of Crossroads, it’s the only place that would let them hit Crimson’s east flank so easily.

“Look who’s finally awake,” Vertigo muttered as I looked across the wagon to see him rubbing his horn. “Hope it was a better memory than mine… I really didn’t need to feel a mare crawling from the inside.”

“Stellar Swirl?” I asked, and he nodded with a smirk. “Yeah, well that’s kinda how this feels, so better mind what you say.” I jabbed a forehoof at my gut, and he chuckled.

“Aww, but you looked so peaceful sleeping. I hear that’s a rarity for expectant mares,” he cooed, and my face fell flat.

“Yeah well, maybe you’d like to find out just how hard I can kick, hmm?” I warned, only for him to roll his eyes as I looked at the squad of knights around us, the unicorn I’d identified as Gingerbread pulling the cart. “Where are we?”

Clearly, the non-earth ponies don’t get first pick of the weapons. I noted, seeing she could only pull the thing due to the lack of cannons on her flanks. Looks like she’s the pack mule to boot.

“That’s what I’ve been trying to figure out, but pretty sure you’ll agree all there is to see is rocks,” he deadpanned, and I fought the urge to face hoof.

“Don’t bother, you get out of here, and you’ll be telling no pony,” Chrome Hammer called from just ahead, voice once again growling through the vent of her helmet. “Head Scribe Silver Dawn knows you’re coming, and if you know what’s good for you, you’ll stay on her good side.”

“I thought we were going to speak to the Elder?” I asked, and she huffed as if she’d just had to explain this.

No guess as to who was asking a second ago. I thought, glancing at Vertigo, only for him to shrug.

“That’s correct, but she’s his mother, and first, you go through her,” she informed me, summoning a whole new wave of mixed feelings. “Don’t worry, she’ll hear you out, anything to take her mind off her husband’s death, I’m sure.”

I could sympathize with that at least, losing a loved one wasn't easy, I knew that all too well. She’s a mom, maybe I can pull the motherly sympathy card after all? I thought, running a forehoof over my bump.

The pudgy mass quivered, not quite an outright kick, but far more like genuine movement than the butterflies that had plagued me before the reactor. Funny, when it’s not trying to eat its way out of me I can almost consider it cute again.

I really didn’t want to dive back into those thoughts, nor did I want the revelation about Silver Dawn to have me lapsing back to my own failures as a mother. In the corner of my eye, I caught Vertigo peering at me, a hint of worry in his expression no matter how much of a charmer he always wanted to be. It made more than just my stomach flutter.

“I’ll keep in mind not to bring it up,” I told Hammer, earning a nod from the armored mare as we all rounded a corner, coming upon a large quarry dug out at the rear of the valley.

The place was easily as vast as a sports arena, three rugged, sandstone cliffs hemming it in on either side, while the front entrance was a choke point between two more impassable inclines. The road sloped down, where the base of the quarry was naught but smooth sand, pale in comparison to the red rock of the walls and cool in the shadow of the towering mesas. Ahead, the rails to the right fanned out into many loading bays, the petrified skeletons of mine works and loading cranes lingering in rusting heaps beside each. Many more of the tracks disappeared into the cliff, where great curtains of corrugated metal covered what appeared to be a huge manufacturing mill under the mountain.

Scribes adorned in red robes, as well as initiates in their orange jumpsuits, all went about their business, watched over by many more power armored knights. The second we passed under the heavily-fortified gate at the quarry’s perimeter, my eyes were exposed to more stripped-down scrap than I could imagine. Everything of value had been picked clean, dragged under the mountain by the looks of the few ponies hauling nets of cargo into the flickering interior of the old mill.

What are they gathering in there, a dragon’s hoard? At the sight of the molten red flashes of industry within, I really hoped I was wrong about that. Name or not, I’ve seen enough actual dragonfire in my life.

Among the mountains of salvage, smaller shacks of metal had been erected, in addition to a concrete barracks, complete with a large broadcast array. I glanced at my pipbuck as we passed a set of rusty box cars filled with old munitions, hoping that the thing would kindly mark the hidden location on my map. Hammer was swift to assure me it would not, and that the secrets to jamming such a thing were just as closely guarded.

So quick to hoard, so slow to help. I thought bitterly, the idea nothing new, even if the reminder all of this potentially useful stuff was here stung. Still, I want their help, better to play along.

I kept that in mind as we passed more curious onlookers, scribes muttering to themselves before we finally moved under the shadow of the underground mill. The heat hit me first, accompanied by the blazing red glow of molten metal, the rattle of chains, and clang of heavy manufacturing. Ironically, it sounded just like I imagined Crimson Springs had so long ago.

No wonder they’re so interested in taking that place back. I noted, as the cart finally came to a stop, as did our armored escort. They could churn out weapons and armor for years.

“Alright, sound off. Ginger, you stay with me, the rest of you are relieved,” Hammer ordered, removing her helmet with a hiss of steam.

“Yes, ma’am,” the knights all said in unison, as many of them removed their helmets too, all but the unicorn as she unclipped from the wagon.

“Watch them, I’ll call into Silver,” the Star Paladin told her, then added. “Permission granted to remove your helmet too.”

“Yes, ma’am, thanks, ma‘am,” Gingerbread acknowledged, levitating off her helmet before tapping her horn with a wince.

Modified or not, I could see wearing that hurt. If she’s not an initiate, she must have been born into the rangers a unicorn? I noted, pretty sure her parents must have been earth ponies.

Born to another tribe… The reality brought back memories I’d rather it didn’t, it was at least something I could sympathize with. Not that she looks like she needs my sympathy.

Gingerbread glowered at us as if we were just as distasteful as the dirt on her power armored hooves, while Hammer marched under spitting sparks to talk into an intercom across the aisle. The place was huge, towering far above with several levels of catwalk between. They ran above the great pillars of arcane foundries that bubbled and blazed with hearts of molten flame, sparks cascading down in flurries as ponies in heavy work gear moved about the machines. Rivers of melted steel ran like magma, conveyer belts and pistons pressing slag into ingots. It was no wonder the rangers here possessed the means to keep the war with Crimson up for so long.

They’re both fighting over sites of production. I noted, recalling what I’d seen under the city, dreading to think what ponies this efficient would do with all that. I guess the Dust Bowl’s just lucky most of the production from here has to go out to the other chapters too.

The steel rangers had the disadvantage of being an Equestria-spanning group, while the Brazen Skulls were all going insane, falling to whatever the Rage was. The more I thought about it, the more I really had to consider if I was making the right call. Not that there was anything I could do about it now, they had my guns, and while I was pretty sure I could levitate them from the wagon, Gingerbread wasn't letting us out of her sight.

Robbed of her helmet, I could see she had a far more fair complexion than the rest of the grizzled ponies around her. Her coat was a light, cinnamon brown, her mostly-shaven mane a lighter satin color, while a patch of white marked between her green eyes. Even so, I had a feeling she wasn’t the biggest fan of her averaged-size horn, most of all by how sore it seemed. All in all, she was cute, large for a unicorn, yet lacking none of our elegance. Even if that would have been far more appealing if she looked the least bit happy with me.

“What are you looking at?” she asked, voice just as chocolate-smooth as her looks now she was free of the respirator. “Never seen a mare in uniform before?”

“On the contrary, you could say I’ve not seen enough,” I quipped, with a smirk, a smirk she didn't share.

Really, flirting now? I thought, a hoof on my bump as it fluttered in apparent irritation. What? It’s better to have her like me, right?

Her eyes narrowed slightly, lip curled in curiosity as she glanced over at Hammer. The larger mare was still talking to the intercom as the unicorn added.

“As much as I’d take the compliment, I’m not one for fraternizing with natives,” I admit, some of my hopes died at that.

“Eh, your loss, right?” Vertigo came to my aid as he nudged my side, then winked. There was no helmet to save me from the blush that summoned as my face scrunched in annoyance. All the while, Gingerbread looked like she wanted to throw up.

“You ponies are just out to breed like rabbits, I swear,” she muttered, and for a moment, I swore she was just about to point out the fact I was pregnant.

I was just about ready to tell her that it wasn’t his, yet at that notion, a part of me really wished that was the case. What… Me, him… But he’s a bug!?

Better than a monster that grows every time you take too many rads! My brain countered as the disguised changeling chuckled.

“Believe me, I’m not breeding with anypony any time soon,” he mused, wrapping a forehoof over my shoulder as I grumbled my discontent. “It’s called banter, maybe you metalheads should try it sometime?”

“To treat the sticks up our tails, as you put it, I presume?” she countered drily, standing rigid. “Let me ask you this, native. If you were born to serve a higher purpose, despite your differences, do you think you’d still make light of the situation?”

Okay, maybe the stick-in-the-mud reward goes from Hammer to her. I thought as she hit me with the facts like a mase. Still think you can sympathize?

“No, but I’d not let the flaws I was born with get to me as much,” I told her before Vertigo could quip. “Because believe me, I had a few.”

Like not having foals? Pretty sure that’s fixed. I shooed that nagging idea away as she blinked at me, then shook her head. If nothing else, knowing her insecurities is an advantage.

I was really starting to feel like Vertigo. The two of us were beginning to share far too many ideas. He smirked at me, obviously feeling my confused emotions, at least until the clang of metal hooves heralded Hammer’s return.

“Head Scribe Silver’s waiting for you upstairs. Your weapons all stay here.” She nodded for Ginger to fall in behind us, a distraction the unicorn leaped upon. “Follow me, and don’t touch anything.”

*

Despite everything, if there was one thing I could thank the steel rangers for, it was the fact they kept their catwalks in a safe condition. Peering down at the molten forges below, I really didn't feel like falling from another of the suspended death traps. More so as the heavy clang of both Hammer and Ginger’s armored hooves rattled the grated metal, leading us to a boxy room suspended atop one of the foundry’s vast support pillars, as if a whole section of the roof were levitating amidst the mess of pipes, wires, and concrete above.

Is it just me or does a whole section of this place look like it’s moving slightly? I wondered, trying to wrangle whether it was just my imagination. Yet it appeared a significant part of the ceiling was swaying like a ship in calm waters. What are they really using all this industry for, only weapons?

“I can think of a few ponies who’d pay a pretty penny to find this place,” Vertigo observed as he glanced around at the sea of production, then up at the curious ceiling.

The structure was odd, curving up from the center of the room like it were some kind of great cylinder. Many pipes, wires, and walkways spanned the inverted expanse like some kind of web, while several parts of it were torn open. Robots of all kinds assisted the ponies working on such breaches, like ants swarming over a hole in their nest.

“All the more reason to play our cards right,” I told him, voice low as my ears folded. “I’d rather take stable fifty than start another war over it.”

“That’s if the new elder is willing to listen, not to mention if Flare’s gonna stick to what we said when this reaches Cross,” he responded.

“She will, how can she not? They take out Crimson and her independence is pretty much guaranteed.” He shrugged while Hammer reached the door at the end of the catwalk, and Ginger came up close behind me.

“Or these guys just fill the power gap the Brazens leave.” I couldn't deny I had my worries about that, pretty sure my eagerness to just get into stable fifty was clouding my view of what may transpire after.

The doors ahead slid open with a woosh, sitting at another awkward angle to the catwalk as if the two things had not actually been built as part of the same entity. The wall curved up at an acute angle to the grated walkway, shifting almost up and down ever so slightly. Either way, any opportunity I had to inspect it further was stolen as Ginger didn’t offer any time to loiter.

“Head Scribe, Silver, the tribals from the north passage,” Hammer announced, gesturing a forehoof back at us.

The scribe herself didn’t really need an introduction, I’d seen my fair share of her kind running jobs for rangers elsewhere. Those chapters far more willing to allow mercenaries to do their dirty work. Her red robes were gilded with gold and a light-blue trim, embroidered with the symbol of her faction over where her cutie mark would be. Her coat was a cool blue, her mane almost white. Oddly, she reminded me of an older version of Binary. Though, I guess that was mostly just because of her goggles and the rather archaic-looking pipbuck on her foreleg. The beady things on her head were shoved down to rest around her neck as she looked away from the array of screens that inhabited the center of the large room.

Come to think of it, the more my eyes scoured the chamber, the more this place looked like some kind of control room. The far wall was glass, several cracked panels all curving down to the floor like some kind of observation deck. The walls on either side were fitted with many tiers of terminal screens, the foremost of which were complete with seats for at least half a dozen ponies. Besides the door opposite which we’d entered, there was another on the far side, each flank a mirror of the other, while a large pair of double doors stood to our right, across from the vast window. The center of the chamber rose up to form a squat plinth just large enough for a pony to stand on, ringed with blinking consoles from above, and below, with a seat suspended in the middle.

“Thank you, Star Paladin,” the head scribe acknowledged as she hopped down from the central pedestal, while Ginger took up a position by the door behind us. “Now I can finally see if all of this was worth my time?”

“Worth your time? You’re the ones who captured us,” I countered, yet like pretty much every other pony in here, her bored scowl was hard to shift.

I’m really starting to think Vertigo’s comments about what’s up their asses is not a joke. I thought with a sigh.

“Captured and not disposed of yet, I’ll remind you,” she responded, nodding to Vertigo. “Most of all for this one, a menace matching his description has been a thorn in our side for months.”

“What can I say, I’m good at my job,” he mused, casually rubbing a forehoof on his chest. “You’re just lucky you could actually get my description.”

“Yes well, right now I could very easily make sure that I never have to hear about you again,” she warned, yet he didn’t look convinced. “So in the interest of not having you both killed, what is this about a possible assault on stable fifty?”

I laid it all out as I had done to Hammer, both the Star Paladin and Vertigo interjecting with their own comments and details as the head scribe nodded.

“I’m sure Flare would be up for using the Gyrotrons too, she wants the Brazens gone as much as you do,” I finished, while she lifted a forehoof to her chin in thought.

The pause was infuriatingly long, part of me just wished Vertigo would say something witty so I didn’t have to sit and wait. Instead, all I got was a squirm in my gut, the rapidly-progressed foal really wanting to make sure I knew it was still there. Taking a deep breath, I did my best not to fidget, nudging the underside of my midsection with my inner thigh. I caught Ginger exchange a glance with Hammer, yet the Star Paladin didn’t say a word.

“And what’s your interest in that Stable, if you don’t mind me asking?” Silver pressed, strutting to my left, and looking me over. “As a Scribe, I’d tell you it was suicide, as a mother, I’d tell you it’s selfishly reckless.”

Great, so she does know. I guess the perception award goes to her! I wilted at the notion, the idea I’d put my foal in danger hitting me like a wall of cold ice. How about putting your monster child in…? No, brain, no!

“I didn’t think it was that obvious,” I sighed, catching Vertigo’s wince as he averted his eyes from the small bump. “I have a friend trapped up there, not to mention there’s some ponies in that stable I’d very much like to have a word with.”

“The benefactors behind Maulerfiend, I know about them… That traitorous bastard knows enough about our doctrines to be a pain in the tail as it is, without the backup,” she responded, drawing her eyes off my tummy, and trotting back to stand before us.

So, the rumors the Brazens were born out of what the rangers left behind decades ago are true? I wondered, yet those had always been little more than tall-tales from long before I was even born. I never thought they’d actually be open about it.

“Any other chapter, any other band of slavers, and they’d have been dealt with in months. But a former ranger and whoever’s backing him has turned that into years, and they’re just as interested in you, aren’t they?” She was right, the constant grudge match between them had been a thing for as long as I could remember.

As for what they wanted with me, if she couldn't shed light on that after hearing their chatter, then what hope did I have? I opened my mouth to say as much, only for the woosh of a door opening to snatch my words.

“Elder on deck,” Hammer announced as if it were a reflex, going stiff as a bored, as did Ginger.

From the set of double doors to the right strode a young stallion, barely older than a teenager. A cocky aura of boastfulness rather than actual experience hung around him like a bad smell, while a bulky set of leather barding left all but his head and neck to the imagination. Safe to say, I didn't think he was the one to slay the hellhound whose hide hung over his shoulders. That, and the get-up was far too big for him. So much so, he almost tripped as he came to a stop, saved only by the odd, crooked scepter topped with a set of cogs he held in one forehoof. He looked at the two of us, and much like Ginger, appeared like he was about to throw up.

“What’s this… Who brought natives aboard?” he asked, jabbing a forehoof at us, only for the loose fabric on the end to sag. “And why wasn’t I informed?”

“Because dealing with the locals is a matter that is below the station of elder, Cobalt,” Silver Dawn stated dryly, seeming more than a little bored as she glanced over at who was clearly her son.

Their manes and coats are almost identical, even if that dark blue stripe in his hair must come from his father’s side. I noted.

“We were just done here anyway,” she added, and I blinked at her as she waved for the two lesser rangers to be at ease.

“Wait, we are?” I asked, while all she appeared to desire was for her son to leave before she divulged anything more.

He didn’t, he drifted over to her, a scowl plastered on his muzzle like he were a foal robbed of a new toy.

“Funny, Father would have just had them shot,” he mused, smirking at us like we were stupid. “Look at them, it’s like they crawled out of a drain pipe.”

I mean, he’s not wrong. I thought as his mother glared at him. Goddesses, is that kind of stare a mom thing or what? Do I have that power now!?

I felt like I’d given such a look to Teal a fair few times, wondering if my newfound state would allow me to unlock such raw maternal will yet again.

“Don’t you act like you know what your father would do!” she hissed, and he melted like hot butter, lifting his forehooves in surrender.

“Okay, okay, I’m sorry… But what other reason do they have to be here?” he asked, then glanced at the two other rangers. “Anypony gonna fill me in, I’m your Elder!?”

“Found them on the road, sir. Came to us with a plan to take Crimson Springs, right after we caught the two of them infiltrating Fort Sandstone.” I had a feeling that from the looks Ginger earned from her fellow rangers, that they’d not wanted the Elder to have any idea what they were up to.

Is that serving her higher power or just trying to prove herself to the pony in charge, no matter who that pony is? I didn’t ask as much, adding my own sour expression to the ones shot her way, not that those of her superiors mattered as the Elder’s face lit up.

“Yes, if you must know, that’s what this is about,” Silver groaned, muttering Applejack’s name along with so many curses under her breath. “But if you want that to be the case, don’t be like your father, keep your nose out and let me deal with it.”

He snorted as if he’d been slapped across the face. Yet once again, the imperious glare of the mare who’d given birth to him caught his tongue.

“So, we’re not done here then?” I asked, jabbing a forehoof at her, and for a moment, I caught the sheer power of that glare as she glanced back at me.

“If what you propose is true, we’re going to need to set our terms.” She trotted back to the ring of terminals, forehooves tapping on the keys as her son slinked up behind her to peer over her shoulder at the screens.

“Aside from putting Mauler down, we want the stable itself, we can deal with the actual city later. I will also stress that the stable’s reactor is not damaged, all reports we have say it's fully operational. Most of all now the two of you have kindly proven the one under Fort Sandstone is a bust.” She rose up, stiff as a statue as she glanced at her intrusive son. “Do you mind?”

“Okay, goddesses, I never thought common ponies would get your tail in such a twist,” he huffed, peering over at us as if we were an oddity. “You sure we need their help?”

“What’s got my tail in a twist is that Crimson is not a nut we’ve ever been able to crack. We take it, and that stable would provide a perfect bulkwalk against the NCR to the west.” She glanced back at Cobalt. “Not to mention make you look very favorable to the other chapters, should we take it now.”

That finally appeared to have his attention, and his mouth remained shut for the duration of his mother’s work. All the while her attention flitted between the consul and her pipbuck, until she finally trotted back over.

“You have a Pipbuck, right?” she asked, handing me a holo-disc ejected from her pipbuck. “If what you say is true, those robots should be programmable with the right codes.” She flashed me the device on her foreleg again. “I suspect Crossroads will have them, after that, you can set the robots to run on an external, E.F.S. I’d suggest mine, but in the interest of seeing this go smoothly, I’ll settle for yours, being a neutral party.”

“What, you mean like run the things on my Pipbuck?” I asked, and she rolled her eyes as if suspecting such a lack of tech savvy from natives.

What, I’m not some dumb stable pony, I know what she’s getting at!? I thought, pretty sure the robots would be targeting things my E.F.S was marking as hostile, leaving her rangers and Crossroad’s unmolested. Also ensures she can’t turn on me, the rangers go hostile, and the robots hit them back.

I made sure she knew as much, and while her son appeared put off by my words, he neglected to speak as his mother nodded begrudgingly.

“A token of goodwill, if you will.” She gestured at me with a forehoof. “Of course, it will only work if you’re also within range of the stable, preferably in the stable itself, that gives them an objective to head toward, while we can reinforce.”

Okay, so this is why she’s being so lenient with me. I had a feeling she knew I was one of the few ponies who may be able to get in past the defenses. Though why do I feel like that may have to be as a prisoner?

I glanced at Vertigo, but he shrugged. “Binary will most likely have a plan to get us in there. I could do it too, but that’s a hard nut to crack unsupported.”

“Given your record, I’ll not hide my objections to that either,” Silver deadpanned, glancing at him flatly. “It has to be her, based on what I’ve heard, she’s the only one they won’t just shoot on sight.” She moved up to me, looking me over before saying in a lower tone. “They want you for something, any idea why?”

Her eyes drifted to my belly, as I felt an uneasy squirm. Yet I did everything not to look at it, a feeling that whatever the prize really was, it was the thing inside me. Whether she believed it or not when I shook my head was irrelevant, she simply took a step back, handing me another holo-disk.

“These are our terms, I’ll overlook the fact we’d confiscate any of your gear for safekeeping if you relay the message back to Crossroads.” She nodded over to the door. “Ginger can go with you, make sure you don’t try anything funny and give us their terms.” She looked to the knight, flashing her Pipbuck. “You can contact me directly from there.”

The unicorn stiffened, offering the scribe a salute. Real suck up that one. She’s gonna be so much fun to have around.

Sourness dripped from the thoughts like bile. Yet in the interest of not seeing this plan fall apart, I nodded.

“Good, this works out and we’ll consider all of this forgotten, him included,” she added, nodding at Vertigo.

“Guess that would put you back at square one with my identity,” he mused, but if there was one pony he’d not get a rise out of, this was her.

“Same way it would move you from the pony of interest list, to the kill on sight list.” I really wished I could shut him up like that comment did sometimes.

Even so, seeing the pieces fall into place around me, I simply nodded. “You got a deal, you just give us back our things and we’ll be out of your mane.”

I had to admit it was refreshing to say that with such conviction for a change. I knew she didn’t want to let me go, she wanted to kill me, take my things, and hide them all away in here. Oh, what good can a common enemy do somepony?

“Star Paladin.” Hammer was at Silver’s side the moment the words left her mouth. “See these two dropped off at a safe distance.” She glanced at Ginger. “Knight, ensure this goes exactly as we’ve just agreed.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the two mare stated in unison, while behind his mother, Cobalt was grinning ear to ear.

Foot note: Level Up

New Perk Added: Presence - Rank One: Maybe it’s your looks, maybe it’s finally the motherly glow, but you command attention by just walking into a room. The initial reaction of another person is improved by 10% for each level of this Perk.