The Recruit

The ashes of the fallen soldier were expelled into the vacuum of space. Nova hung his head in respect. He was a close friend. His lance mate. Now there light lance of only three was down to two. Nova wondered who they'd have replace him. He trotted back to his bunk room and laid down on the bunk. His bunk mates nodded there respects as he came in.

"Hey Nova?" one of his bunk mates called.

"Hmm?" Nova replied.

"Hows Riot taking it?"

"Like he always does."

"We got three new pilots this week. Who do you think they'll have replaced Cross?" The young colt didn't mean any disrespect, but Nova didn't take it so easy.

"Now you listen here you little bitch", Nova leaped off his bunk and confronted the young colt. "Cross was one of the best pilots the corp has ever known. There's no pony this side of the galaxy, that could replace Cross!" Nova was inches from the young colts face. Suddenly the pneumatic door slid open and a large grey buck walked in.

Riot was walking back from the mess hall, a nice; freshly made daisy sandwich floating next to him. He past by crash Course in the hallway, whom he stopped to chat with shortly.

"Hey Riot, how are you?" Riot chewed and swallowed, clearing his throat before he spoke.

"Oh fine fine, Daisies are quite fresh today, Cookies must have started a garden somewhere on the ship." Crash looked surprised

"Sir? You aren't torn up over Cross? I kind of-"

"Figured I'd be a basket case whenever one of my Lance-mates die?"

"I-I, uhmm... I didn't mean it like-" Riot placed a hoof on Crashes shoulder, halting her vocal flailing.

"I've seen enough death to last a dozen life times lass, I know how to cope properly; for the most part at least." Crash looked at the ground, waving her hoof absent mindedly back and forth.

"I just figured you'd want to talk about it." Riot threw Crash a look that she didn't catch.

"Lass... You don't need to wait for somepony to die to try and talk to me outside the battlefield." Crash moved to say something but Riot cut her off with the wave of his hoof.

"My door is open, you and everyone else is free to drop in and talk to me in my spare time. Really." Crash flushed at this, a small grin opened on her face.

'You mean that sir?" Riot took another bite of his sandwich.

"Course lass, It's in my job description, whether I like it or not." Riot shot Crash Course a grin, turned and continued down the hall.

Riot had almost reached his quarters, he was only two hallways away when he heard yelling coming from Novas bunk
room. Giving a small sigh, Riot prodded the switch with a hoof, still munching on his sandwich. Entering he found Nova nose to nose with a very startled looking buck.

Nova didn't move. He continued to glare at the young colt. Riot walked over to Nova.

"Hello Captain". Nova said without looking away.

"uh.. Lad? What are yah doin?" Riot replied.

"Teaching this punk some respect!" Riot sighed and walked over to Nova and the young buck, whose eyes flashed back and forth rapidly, from Nova to the captain.

Riot rolled his eyes, Lad needs to ease up, if he keeps coiling up like this he'll break eventually.

"Easy lad" Nova didn't back off, Riot pushed between the two. "EASY; LAD."

Riot turned to Novas bunk mate, motioning towards the door.

"Step out lad, take a walk." Riot walked over to an empty chair, and started to finish his sandwich.

"Sho, Whash eatshin yoush lad?" Riot finished his chewing and swallowed.

"That little fuck was disrespecting cross"

Riot shook his head, knowing the reasoning behind Novas outburst.

"Stating someones name isn't a disrespect Nova, try to remember that. You've been strung up since Cross died."

Nova snorted and hoofed at the ground in annoyance. Riot didn't take the hint.

'Look lad, I know you and Cross were carnally close, but sometimes you need to let go of the pain; or your as good as dead."

Nova was angry, and no amount of wise words were going to calm him down. He hadn't had to deal with loss since....It didn't matter. Nova wasn't going to let any pony take her name in vane.

Riot saw the fury building in Novas system, It was familiar, yet unrefined. Nova didn't know how to use anger like that properly. Riot gave an inward sigh and nodded his head.

"Lad... go talk to Cherry Cola, 'Tia knows she moonlights as a damn good therapist. After that I'll set you up on the next VTOL gun-run, I don't want you doing anything I'll regret."

Nova nodded and walked out, but he didn't go to see Cherry Cola. Instead he took a long walk around the ship. When he got back Riot was gone and his bunk mates were back. As he walked in the young buck he had terrorized earlier tried to apologize.

"Hey Nova, you know i didn't mean you any disrespect. I know you and her were close..." The young buck stopped when he realized Nova wasn't paying any attention to him. He went and laid down on his bunk. All of a sudden the door slammed open. a young red Pegasus walked in.

"Hey fuckers! Meet your new lance mate". The young buck said in a cocky fashion. Nova knew him. He was a cocky dangerous pilot, that took to many risks for his limited experience. Nova was instantly filled with rage again. How could some little shit like this replace Cross?

"Silver just made it official!" Wildman's grin was huge. He was happier than he could ever remember being. He hopped into his bunk, and laid on his stomach.

"Looks like we'll be seeing a lot more of each other."

The anger welled up in Nova

"What the fuck makes you so goddamned special? huh?" Nova was interrupted by the comm system.

"Lance Weeping angels report for mech bay for prepping". Wildman tried to respond but before he could Nova cut in.

"Get your shit pikey. Were heading out".Wildman stood there for a second trying to understand what just happened. He nulled over what Nova had just said.

"Pikey?"

Riot stood in the mech bay, his Dragon was working in peak condition. Riot reached out with his magic, giving the 20mm tri-barreled Gatlings a test spin. The General announcement stirred him from his stupor, He saw Crash course swiftly trotting towards him with a manila envelope.
I'm glad the lass has found something else to do, but being the Colonels gopher wasn't what I thought would happen

"Hello captain! I'm to be accompanying you and your lance on this op!" Riots head didn't move from the envelope, but he was worried about what that entailed.

"And why's that Crash?" The mares voice only got more chipper. She's enjoying this.

"We need to extract some data from a console, but the Colonel says that he can't afford to have one of you get out of your mech, and he can't risk an entire squad for something that might not be worth it."

"And how do you expect to-"

"Colonel Silverbolt says that you have a Rocker seat behind yours in the Dragon, and that I'm to ride with you!" Oh by sweet lunas sweat soaked flanks their plotting against me.

"Is that so?" Riot didn't want to play foalsitter, he already had to contend with a depressed Nova and a new lance-mate.

"Yessir! I'll be piloting the drone you never use."

Thats it! I swear to Celestias cum-soaked nethers that the next time Silver asks for a shot of my whiskey, he's getting Eridani club.

Wildman slid into the cockpit of Swift Justice, and brought her online. He slid his foreleg across the data readout lovingly.
"Alright baby, lets go." He drew the 'mech up to its full height, small though it may be.

Riot scanned over the mission read out, throttling his mech towards the door.

`Form up on me, no deviations. Standard diamond formation, three hundred hoof spread."

Riots mech stepped out into the hot air, rolling green hills surrounded him. They were stationed on the planet Furexy, a garden world. Riot could see the civilians looking on as his lance set off towards their mark.

It didn't take long to reach the compound. Nova inched along behind Riot with Wildman beside him. Riot came over the comm.

"Alright lads, don't shoot unless I say so, we don't need a bunch of pissed of locals trying to kill us."

Riot piloted his mech closer to the compound door, but halted when a small earth pony in combat armor came running out, waving frantically. The Captain called out over his comms.

"We're just coming in, what gives?"

The diminutive little buck waved frantically towards the inside of the massive military installation. While no words came from his mouth, the numerous cuts and lacerations freshly decorating the buck spoke volumes of the situation.

"Let us in lad, we'll help how-ever we can."

The small buck nodded, cantering over to a small concrete hut. Once he was inside how-ever, the gates started to rattle open, revealing a eerily empty courtyard that should have been full of military personnel.

"Keep it tight lads, we don't know what in here..."

The small lance weaved through the entrance, only to have the metal doors slam shut, locking the mechs inside. The massive military installation sprawled out, but the only viable point for the mechs was towards either the parade ground, or the mech bay. Crash shivered behind Riot, turning towards him.

"This looks bad Cap'. What do you think?"

The grey stallion looked down for a second, considering his options.

"I don't know Crash, just keep you're eyes peeled. I better let the lads know this isn't what I had in mind."

The comm crackled to life, filling the empty courtyard with noise.

"Alright, keep your eyes open and your heads on a swivel. This isn't the mission we signed up for, but we need to figure this out. So bear with me."

Nova swiveled around to make sure there weren't any hostiles around. He would keep one eye on the target, and one eye on Wildman.

"Watching the flanks." Wildman pulled his 'mech into position behind his CO and disgruntled lancemate, and turned around, walking backwards, being sure nothing crept up on them.
"I've got a bad feeling about this." He checked his weapons and armour systems.

"Easy lads, take it nice and-" The little white mare next to the Captain practically jumped out of her seat.

"Riot! Over there, in the door-way!"

Riots eyes snapped over towards the shadowy, open door leading into what looked like a barracks. A pair of green legs were barely visible past the darkness. The captain let out a breath, hoping that it wasn't what he thought it was.

"Good catch corporal, send the drone in there, I want to know whats going on."

"Yes sir."

The little drone lifted from its hiding place next to the com relay on the Dragons torso, the mare sent it hovering towards the door.

"I'm switching to ground mode sir."

The drone flopped to the ground, and began rolling into the doorway. The captains eyes were glued to the view screen, he was more than worried now. The view inside the barracks was that of an eerie cleanliness, save for the solitary deep black puddle and the dis-embodied pair of legs. The little white mare gagged at the sight, halting the drone.

"Oh-oh sweet Celestia, I think I'm going to be sick..."

"Not in me mech lass!!" The white mare was sickly pale, but she held her breakfast down. Riot opened the inter-lance comms, a look of deep concern etched on his face.

"Lads... We've got a problem."

"What's the problem sir?" Wildman was worried about the tone of voice his captain had. A cold sweat started along his body. "We in trouble?"
The lower terminal of Wildmans mech flickered to life, bringing through the drones video feed. Wildman felt his heart stop cold with the realization.
"You see that buck's cuts sir? I heard stories about ponies in space who reached the edge, and went crazy. Now they travel space, cutting on themselves, raping, and murdering anypony they come across." He looked left and right nervously.

Nova suddenly forgot about his anger towards the young recruit. Instead he wondered if bringing him along would jeopardize their safety. Nova was right about Wildman jeopardizing their safety, but not in any way he would expect.

Riots brain was running well into overdrive, trying to figure out what to do.
Should we call in for back-up? That would put many of our friends at risk. Should we leave? The civilians will suffer. Should we check it out? What are you, a college frat bitch?

Giving his shaggy head a solid shake, his gaze turned to stone. His decision was made.

"Alright lads, somepony out there needs to die. I won't deprive them of my rounds."

The white mare behind him sucked in a deep breath, pulling back the drone. She glanced over to her commanding officer.

"S-Sir? Should I radio command? We may need the back-"

"Call them, but tell them... tell them to stay out till we give the all clear. We need to keep the civilians safe."

"Yes sir!"

Riot started trotting his mech towards the primary repair bay, eyes flickering over his radar and flank.

"Keep it tight lads, and watch your fire. Don't stitch any friendlies."

"Whatever did this probably won't be riding around in a 'mech, we should hop out here." Wildman brought his 'mech into the repair harness, and shut down. He hopped out of his cockpit, and retrieved his gear from the section of the cockpit. His knife, a medical kit, and some rations.

"God damned damned idiot is gonna get himself killed". Nova whispered to himself. His thoughts were quickly silence when he saw Riot doing the same. Nova's rage was building against Wildman, and now he was also getting angry at Riot for following in his example. Nova waited in his mech until Riot was done gearing up.

"We need to get down there, figure out whats going on." Riot had un-strapped from his seat, levitating over a tactical vest and a box of buck-shot from his emergency stash. Crash was teetering over the edge of hyper-ventilating and mental break-downs.

"Wait, nonononononNONONONO! We can't go out there! Why would you want to leave??" Her breath caught in her throat as the sound of Riot chambering a round into a large shotgun.

"Cause somewhere in there, is our payment. I'm not letting some freaks keep me from eating properly this month."

'But-"

"If you have to, stay in the mech." Riot cracked open the Dragons canopy, letting cool air flood inside. The rotten smell of death seeped in, threatening to choke Crash with its weight. Squeezing her eyes shut, she un-buckled from her rocker seat, shutting off the drone.

Crash muttered fearfully under her breath "Goddess' keep me safe in these times of peril, Celestia protect my body, Luna Defend mind." Crash Course slipped out the canopy mush how her CO had, shutting the entry on her way out.

"Hold up a moment, I need to find Chastity."
Wildman spun around, and rooted around in his 'mech for a moment, drawing a small box from under his seat. He opened the latches, and took out a few different parts. He quickly put the weapon together, as he had done many times before. A seven shot cylinder, a gleaming, long barrel, with Chastity engraved on the side, and a sandalwood mouthgrip. He loaded her, and slid the weapon into his foreleg holster, within easy reach of his mouth.
"Ready sir."

I do not aim with my hoof, he who aims with his hoof has forgotten the face of his father,
I aim with my eye.
I do not shoot with my hoof, he who shoots with his hoof has forgotten the face of his father.
I shoot with my mind.
I do not kill with my gun, he who kills with his gun has forgotten the face of his father,
I kill with my heart.

Every one of Wildman's actions caused more and more rage inside Nova. His mother fucking "special" gun. Gonna get us fucking killed.Nova thought to himself. Nova knew how to control his anger, but the more Wildman talked the more trouble Nova had. Eventually he would find that he was no longer even concentrating on the surroundings. He was paying attention to Wildman; counting every conceited syllable that dribbled out the jaw of the young pilot.

Nova was staring at Wildman when it happened. Riot and Crash were walking ahead into a large tunnel while Nova and WIldman concentrated on the rear. With zero warning; the blast door of the tunnel slammed shut, sending a tremorous Thud across the grounds. Wildman and Nova were trapped together. As were Crash and Riot. At the same time something hit Nova hard knocking him to the ground.

The blast door slammed shut, cutting the team in half. Crash jumped at the sound while Riot brought his 'Jackhammer' to bear. They could barely hear yelling through the thick steel, but it was enough to know that they were in trouble.

"NOOO! Oh goddess we're stuck in here!" Crash Course slammed into the door with all her power, on the verge of tears as dull echoes answered her hoof falls.

Riot turned to her, placing a hoof on her shoulder. "Crash." No response "CRASH!" The white mare didn't turn to him, she only slumped against the hardened steel. "Crash there's no way through there, but there's bound to be a way around. We find what we're looking for and leave. No heroics." The mare could only nod her head, for her voice would betray her crushing fear.

"Now get up, we've got work to do." Riot pushed a pistol into Crashes grip, looking her in the eyes as he wrapped her hooves around it.

The tunnel snaked downward, with various offshoots in every direction. The entire base was eerily quiet, with only small ambient noises to break the heavy silence.

The pair came up on a small station labeled 'Security B5-7' Riot glanced back to Crash as he brought his shotgun forward, floating the griffon pattern shotgun next to his chest. Just as The Captain reached for the door, they both heard a sudden shrill scream for help.

"Fuck, the path is blocked, come on Nova, lets get out of here, we need to link up with those two". Wildman's words echoed in Nova's head. When Nova got to his feet He finally responded.

"Don't you fucking touch me". Nova said in a harsh voice.

"What the fuck did I do? You probably treat all your lance mates like shit" The words stung Nova. It was the last straw. Nova kicked out with both his back legs hitting Wildman in the jaw, and sending him into the wall behind him. Wildman tried to get up but Nova was already on him. Nova pressed his hooves into the young bucks throat. Wildman had no were to go.

"I could fucking end you, right hear right now. Do you know why you're hear right now, do you know the name of the lance member you 'replaced'?". Wildman just stared at Nova. Fear apparent in his eyes. He didn't know what to do. He couldn't speek. "Fucking answer me!" Nova demanded. "Do you know the pony you replaced?" Wildman shook his head. "Her name was Cross. She was the best mare that the guard had". Nova's voice cracked and his eyes teared up. "Violet" he said under his breath. He looked away from the young buck he had under his hooves. He let up the pressure. As he did Wildman tried to speak but just gagged. Nova snapped back to Wildman. His eyes even angrier than before. He started to press. Suddenly something hit the back of Nova's head, and he fell to the floor unconscious.

Wildman looked up expecting to see a horror. Instead he sat staring at himself.

"We're coming in!!" The door blew open, slamming into the wall with enough force to chip the concrete. Captain Riot charged in, shotgun at the ready.

The security room had obviously been the site of a pitched battle, monitors lay broken and strewn around. The weapons locker had been buckled inwards, and toppled over to block the closest hallway, which apparently led to a supply closet. Riot led the way, while Crash Course followed close behind.

Another scream, more pained sounded from the furthest hallway, labeled Barracks

"Crash, watch my flank, I'm Going in." Riot charged down the hallway, almost slipping across the dark black stain.

The pair entered the barracks, only to find the entire room wrecked. The scream sounded again, agony was apparent in the owners voice.

The general barracks, while wrecked and stained, was empty. The scream was coming from the showers.

"Better still be fuckin alive..."
_______________________________________

Short Stack thrashed and fought the grip of his CO, his legs were fucked and he was bleeding heavily from his left side. Stacks CO jammed the strange talon into his lower leg and dragged him closer to the gaping hole that squatted in the shower room. Stack screamed with futility as he tried to kick at Cherry Pepper; who in turn whipped around, bringing her hooves crashing down on his chest, breaking ribs easily.

As Short Stack sputtered, slipped out of consciousness, He watched as a large grey buck rounded the corner. The buck fired a flaming slug into his CO, who howled and shrieked as the green flames burst from her chest.
_____________________________________________________

The Tracer slug did the trick beautifully as they shredded the blue mares chest. She backed up on her hind legs, kicking as the fire enveloped her. Much to Riot chagrin, the mare began to morph and mutate. The outcome was horrid and twisted, beating burning wings. Its bug eyes twitched and shuddered as bale fire burst from its mouth. The jet black creature bucked and kicked as it hit the floor, its carapace crackling and burning.

"Fuck that, I'm switching to explosive bale-fire rounds!" Riot hoofed a small talisman near the barrel of the shotgun, which began to flicker and pop like fire, unlike the straight glow that marked tracer rounds.

"Hey that bucks still breathing!" Crash forgot her fear and fright, pushing forward to the broken colt, she was filled with a new kind of feeling; anger.

"Hey easy, you're safe now. Just try and breath!" The VTOL pilot looked up at her CO "Captain, if you have any healing poultices, please hoof them over.

"I can spare one, that should get him on his hooves." The grey buck trotted over, but kept his weapon trained on the hole. "Here, let me fix any broken bones first."

Wildman sprung up, shoving the unconscious Nova off of himself. He drew Chastity from his holster. He threw his foreleg around his doppelgänger, and put the barrel of the revolver just under its chin.

"Hut uh uck ar ooh?" He said, the revolver messing up his speech.

It kicked out with all of his legs, and knocked him away. It pushed back again, this time its front hooves morphing into cruel looking talons. Wildman fired, the heavy 45.-70 round tearing through the things forehead. There was a loud crack as the round hit, like a plate hitting the floor. He watched himself go limp, and as it died, it morphed into an odd bug like thing. He spat Chastity back into her holster.

He tried his radio, but only got static, the base walls must be messing with the transmission.

"Nova, are you okay?" He trotted over to the unconscious buck. When he didn't get an answer, he lifted the stallion onto his back, Wildman's back protested against the weight. "You are one heavy pegasus, its a wonder you can even fly." Once he was sure of his lance mate's well-being; he looked at the monster that had copied him.

"What the fuck are you?" He prodded the black form with a hoof. The outside didn't feel like flesh, it was surrounded by a kind of black shell. It had large canines, that looked as though it could rend flesh easily. It also had two large compound-looking eyes, and had a pair of strange wings. The wings looked thinner, and more delicate than pegasus wings. It seemed like it wouldn't be able to fly, the muscles must be really strong to move the wings at the speeds needed to coax flight from them.

While you're busy napping, I might as well find out about our new friend.

He slowly let Nova tumble to the floor. He looked at the entry wound. The crack he had heard was the carapace's forehead plate splitting as the round entered. He drew his knife, and dragged the knife down its chest, but the knife wouldn't penetrate. It looked like the shell would shrug off most weak small arms, but was nearly nil against the heavy shells in Chastity. The carapace was composed of hundreds of plates, that were perfectly articulated to facilitate movement; like the armour that old knights wore, but more organic, and better fitting. And it seemed like each plate was covered in tiny.....he didn't really know, but it seemed to reflect light strangely, maybe that was how it had copied him. Or maybe it was magic, either way, he couldn't be sure. Wildman slid the knife into one of the slots between plates, and twisted, taking off one of the plates around the chest, revealing the fleshy underside. He rolled the body onto its back, and, with the hole created in the carapace, he could now drag the knife down the belly, and a huge gash in the armour let him see the underflesh.

Well, you're new.

He sliced it open, and pulled the belly open. It was boneless, but the heavy exoskeleton let the.....thing, stay stable.

Its like a bug......

Without some kind of lab equipment, he doubted that anypony could learn any more.

I geuss I should take a sample for......somepony. We need to learn about this stuff.

He took the exoskeleton chunk, and looked at the shape. It looked a little like his knife.

I wonder.......

Wildman took the shard, and stabbed it into the shell. Where his knife was stopped, the shell piece went through like a hot knife through butter. He took a look at his knife, and threw it away.

Oh.....this'll do.

Wildman put Nova on his back again, and started down the hall. He needed to link back up with Riot, and Crash.

Nova was barely conscious. He couldn't move his body, but he could hear and see what was going on. Wildman was carrying him. If Nova was able to move he would have protested, but alas he could not. Suddenly out of no were something hit them. It sent Nova sliding down the hall and Wildman the opposite way. In between them was a large black mass. Another one of the bug like creatures that had attacked them. Wildman tried to attack but the creature was to quick. It was on Nova in a second. Its sharp hoof at Nova's throat. The creature shot a glance at Wildman and smiled. Wildman had drawn chastity but before he could fire there was a flash of green. Wildman could only see his memories. Something was wrong there was someone else there. Another mind that wasn't his. It was searching for something. It found what it was looking for. The memory of what Wildman loved most. Just as soon as it had happened it was over. wildman looked up expecting to see the creature, but it was gone. Some one else stood in his place. Nova glanced up with hazy eyes. Above him stood an old looking earth pony. Chestnut coat and a black main. Wildman was taken aback. He dropped Chastity from his mouth.

"D dad?" He whisperer.

"Yes it is me". The pony responded. Wildman hadn't noticed one of his hoofs transform into a blade that was now at Nova's throat.

"No you're one of those bug things. It's some sort of sick trick".

"Oh but it is me, let your eyes tell the truth".

"Impossible. You're dead!"

"Oh quite the opposite. I'm very much alive. I'm here to protect you. This pony right here is your enemy. I'm going to destroy him for you". The pony smiled an evil grin. Wildman knew that it wasn't his father, but the sight of his dad was to much. He couldn't bring himself to kill the image of his father. Wildman hung his head. "Good. Very good. Now watch as I destroy your friend". His voice changed to a high pitched hiss at the end. The pony raised a hoof to crush Nova's skull.

"Wait!" Wildman cried. "If you are my father whats my real name?" The creature had seen his memories. He knew his name despite not being his father.

"How simple". The pony put on an evil grin. "Your name is-". The words were drowned out by a gun shot. The creature fell backwards. Blood oozing from it's forehead.

"My father never called me by my real name". Wildman holstered Chastity and went over to Nova who was once again fading out of consciousness.

Nova was gone. In an eternal blackness. He stood up and looked around. Darkness and nothing else. He started to panic. He started to gallop in one direction. He galloped as long as he could. Finally stopping when he was out of breath. Nova sat down in frustration.

"Were the fuck am I?" He wispered to himself. "Were the fuck am I ?!" Nova repeated in a frustrated yell. suddenly a face emerged from the shadows. The face of the creature that had just tried to kill him.

"There's no point in yelling. I'm dead and you're dead" the creature responded.

"Bullshit! I know what death feels like. This is not death. Now were the fuck am i?"

"Oh don't be mistaken. You are very dead. Maybe not in body, but your soul is dead".

"Who the fuck do you think you are?"

"Oh don't believe me? well lets look at the facts. Your friend Wildman saved your life after you tried to kill him. Not only that but he had to kill the image of the one he loved the most to do it".

"That doesn't mean shit!"

"Oh really? Could you do it?" At that the creature transformed into the image of Nova's fallen lance mate Crash. "Could you kill me to save your friend?" The creature changed again. This time into a light blue mare with a red mane. "How about Me?". The creature changed again; a small colt with a blue coat and a blonde main. "How about now? could you stand to see me die for one of your friends?". Nova looked away. His eyes had began to tear up. The creature changed back to its original form. "Of course you can't. You're a coward, and you"re weak, and now you are going to die with the knowledge that you are the most dangerous part of this situation. All you do is put your friends in danger for your selfish needs".

"No you're wrong!" Nova chocked on his words.

"No I'm right. I've seen your memories. I know your head. I saw how they died. I saw how you impregnated Violet When she was intoxicated. I saw how left Cross on her own so you could head back early to rest. You and me both know that the only reason you remain in the guard is so you have the chance of meeting death sooner, because you were to afraid to take your own life with the pistol under your pillow. You could.'t do it. You are a week, selfish, coward, and now you're going to die". Nova looked up tears down his face and a deep rage in his eyes.

"Who are you?"

"Oh I thought you'd never ask. I am a changeling".

"Nova's anger was quickly wiped away at this. "Impossible. Changelings went extinct thousands of years ago".

"Most of us did, but we survived. Living off the souls of the forgotten. Hopping from planet to planet. Developing k\new ways of inflicting our terror". Nova didn't know what to think. If they were up against changelings then the threat was larger than they ever imagined.

"You ever seen anything like this before Crash?"

"Goddess no... I've never seen this, not anywhere."
*Groan*
"It's waking up, time to ask our friend some questions."

Short Stack slowly opened his eyes, trying to take in his surroundings. He quickly realized that he was tied to a desk, his four hooves splayed out, tied to either end of the desk. The only up-side, was that he wasn't dead or bleeding to death.

"W-Where am I? What's going on?" The rotund earth pony shifted n the table, trying to get loose of his bindings. His efforts were met with a shotgun barrel being pushed against his temple. Stack gulped as he closed his eyes, waiting for death.

"What the fuck are you." The statement obviously surprised Stack, who opened his eyes and looked over at his captors.

"What do you mean? I'm a pon-"

"You, are NOT a pony, not with a lower body like that." Stack hefted his head up, looking down at his legs. He let out an exasperated groan as he fell back to the table.

"I'm only going to ask once." Riot glanced over at Crash, who had curled up on one of the barrack cots. The bucks voice drew back his gaze.

"I'm... I'm a...."

"Spit it out, I'm not going to play games with you."

"I'm a Changeling. So are- were, most of the staff here." Riot lifted his Jackhammer away from the strange half pony, lifting an eyebrow at his comment.

"Most of the staff? Then why is everypony dead?" Short Stack sucked in a breath, he could feel tears welling up as he recounted the weeks events; as well as the events leading up to them.

"Please, untie me and I'll tell you everything. I won't do anything than that."

Riot stood there, starring down at the buck. His upper torso was a light green, with a choppy grey mane. His lower torso on the other hoof, was a hard black carapace that shimmered a deep green, just like the burned out husk by in the showers.

'One wrong move and you're dust." The Changeling only nodded his head, closing his eyes. The ropes un-did themselves through Riots magic, the Pony sat up, absent-mindedly rubbing his fore-hooves.

"Start talking Lad, I'm all ears." Crash Course was still on the bed, but she was watching with fearful eyes as the green pony finished transforming into the creature that would haunt her dreams.

"My name is Short Stack, Staff sergeant. I'm a Changeling, as are my superiors and at least half of this facilities inhabitants. We are, or were, peaceful. Our hive lay far below, in the caverns that honey comb the entire area. We had an agreement with the colony, that a small group would live top-side and protect the hive from threats; but..."

"Things didn't go as planned did they lad?" The Changeling laughed slightly at this, his throat clicking and chittering as he did so.

"Well, no. Changelings feed on love, specifically the love that our queen gives us. Her love; to be exact. Unfortunately, our queen was killed in the time of Celestia; thus we had to come up with another solution." The pony stretched his hooves, his eyes flicking towards the showers.

'We came up with a plan. A small percent of the colony would go topside, portrayed as ponies from the old world. We would then start a new life; but any love we gained would go to the hive. The colony leaders soon learned of our ploy, yet they decided to aid us." Riot shifted over from his seated position, leaning his weapon against the table.

"What went wrong lad?"

"The Hive wasn't happy with how much love we were bringing in, not after SHE took over."

"Who is she?" Crash had gotten up from the bed, concern and intrigue plastered across her face.

"Our new Queen" Short Stack spoke the name with a shudder.

"She ruined everything. She ordered the invasion; she ordered that all top-siders, changelings included; be consumed. For she has found out how to suppliment love with Meat."

"Well shit. That complicates things....." Riot sat there, contemplating his options, but also wondering of the fate that Nova and Wildman had found. Stack mirrored his disposition.

The bug pony, took in a deep breath, fully knowing the actions that had to be made if the colony were to survive.
"We need to kill the hive." Riot lifted his head to meet the changelings gaze, nodding his approval.

"Agreed. Burn em' out."

Chastity trembled in his mouth, the feeling of what he had just done racking him. He walked up to the......demon, that had defiled his fathers memory. A rage consumed him.

"AAAAAAAAHHHHGHHHHHHGHHHHHHH!" He screamed, long, and loud, around Chastity, and emptied the remaining six cylinders into its chest. Chastity repeatedly clicked on empty, but he kept pulling the trigger, like it could never be dead enough. He spat the revolver into its holster, and drew his new changeling exo-knife. He stabbed, and stabbed, and stabbed, rending the flesh even further, he sliced, and tore, until the thing was nearly unrecognisable. A terrible thought ran through him.

This is far too nice of a treatment for you.

He took Chastity out again, and reloaded her, to get more weight. He put the exoknife against the base of its horn, and held up the revolver. He smacked Chastity against the knife, like a hammer to a chisel, and the horn popped most of the way off. He grabbed it in its mouth, and pulled. It tore off with a sickening crack.

Its a shame you aren't alive for this.

He put the horn in his pack. He was done. For now.

Nova's anger was on its way out. Only sadness and despair filled him now. A massive sense of dread.

"Well then. If me and my friends are going to die I guess it wouldn't hurt to answer my questions". The changeling looked up at the white pony. "You're dead to anyways. What could it hurt?". Nova had no intention of foiling their plan. He was simply curious at their plan.

"I suppose it wouldn't matter. Were do you want to start?" Nova looked up; surprised that the creature was so willing to give answers. Nova thought a moment before giving an answer.

"Well lets start from how i'm talking to you. I may only be unconscious but you. I saw your body die. How are we both here?"

"My body dies but my mind lives on. I grafted my mind to yours. You were the nearest living thing when my body died".

"So I suppose that when I die you'll just hop from my mind to somepony else".

"Unfortunately the transfer is permanent. When you die so will I".

"So i'm stuck with you until I die? Well I guess your company is better than none. So I guess that's how you know my memories. I don't suppose i could see yours?"

"If you so wish. It is only fair". Suddenly Nova was flashing through years of memories. Terrible sights. More pain than he dared to imagine. It all happened in less than a second. He had just experienced the entirety of this creatures life in a second. When it was over he was back. Back with the creature. A new feeling came over him. It wasn't sadness or anger, or even despair. It was pity. Nova now understood why the creature had to kill. It was all it had left. The only way to save its species. When Nova looked up he no longer saw an evil figure bent on destruction, but a tortured soul; doing whatever it could to survive.

"I understand".

"You know why we must kill".

"I know why you hurt". The creature looked away at this. "Pain and torture is all you have ever known".

"It doesn't matter. Soon the plan will be initiated. I am sorry". The creature hung its head.

"What plan?". The creature didn't respond. "Please tell me".

"Once the hive has consumed the rest of the base the device will be activated".

"Device? What device?"

"It is a technology that is not known. Only the queen knows its origins".

"Please tell me what the device does". Nova had a hint of urgency in his voice now.

"It is the ultimate in consumption. When the device is activated it will consume all of the love in the universe".

"Then why kill?"

"We live off flesh now. There is very little love for us to feed of here. We supplemented it until we were fable to construct the device".

"But how can you contain that kind of energy. The amount of power must be monstrous".

"The energy will be distributed among the the organic material within the universe".

"But that would kill everything".

"Correct. Only the Queen will survive". Nova was terrified at this answer.

"Wait! I've seen your thoughts. I know you don't like to kill. Neither does your species. Only the queen does. Why would you go along with something like this?"

"It was the only way the changelings could survive".

"By destroying every living thing in the universe".

"I am sorry". The changeling turned around.

"Wait! Their has to be a way to shut down the machine".

"The device is not a machine. The device is the collective hive".

"So how would we stop it?"

"You would have to destroy the hive". Nova thought for a second.

"Would you be alright for that?"

"My species is old. It no longer has a place within this world. I see that now".

"Then will you help me?"

"How can I?"

"Well neither of us are dead yet".

"But then you would be stuck with me inside your mind".

"Well. It doesn't hurt to have a little company". The changeling smiled. "Okay first things first. I need to wake up".

"When i Implanted myself in your mind a part of me was grafted onto your subconscious. I could wake wake you up".

"Well then what are you waiting for? Do it". Suddenly he was awake. Riding on Wildman.

"Good, you're awake, now get off of me." Wildman set him down.Nova leaped up and threw his hoofs around Wldman. He recolied from the contact.

"Don't you fucking touch me." Wildman's eyes had a crazed light in them.

"I'm sorry. You'll do good. Now come on! I know how to stop this thing!" Nova spun around and sped down the hall, Wildman following behind.

"What the fuck? How could you possibly know?"

"No time to explain. Lets just say I've got voices in my head".

"On the left!! BOOMPING The explosive slug slammed into the creatures chest, igniting the magical bale fire enchantment. The changelings remains burst into flames before it even hit the ground. Riot led the way, his Jackhammer tracking back and forth, looking for prey. Crash Course and Short Stack weren't far behind, but the green buck was truly leading the way with his directions.

"We need to regroup with Wildman and Nova, we can't take down the nest without help." Crash side-stepped the burning corpse.

The changeling nodded his head, looking over to the large grey stallion. "We need to get into the armoury. Inside there's an incendiary weapon we can use to purge the source." The bucks nodded in agreement as they stalked through the hallway.

"Right!" The Jackhammer swayed over, sighting the changeling before it shredded the monster. Before Riot could fire, the changeling disappeared from sight, clacking and clicking at Short Stack.

"What's it saying Stack?" The buck motioned for quiet, still looking up at the narrow tunnel where the creature had gone down.

"Nothing, just... Nothing. Lets move; we can't be here."

It was Crash who answered the strange buck. "Agreed, we need to get out of these tunnels!"
______________________________________________________________________________________________

The trio trotted through the burrowed tunnels, staying wary of attacks from all sides. They were going up, or so it seemed.
"There, up ahead, it's an exit tunnel." The three ponies charged forward, hoping for fresh air.

"Come on! We're almost-" The ground cracked, splitting open and swallowing Riot whole. Crash and Stack Raced to the side to try and grab him, but he was already gone.

'Fuck!! What do we do!!? He's my CO and-" The bug pony motioned for her to stay silent boompingboomping

"We need to continue on and find your fellows, or none of us will last long."
______________________________________________________________________

"FUCK YOU, YOU MOTHER FUCKERS YOU WANT A PIECE OF ME!!?? BOOMPINGBOOMPING COME AND GET ME!!!"

Nova rushed down the halls, Wildman in tow. Nova was talking to somepony. This caught the attention of Wildman.

"Nova who the fuck are you talking to?!" Wildman yelled.

"Myself. I mean my other self. I mean.... Oh it doesn't matter just run!" Nova suddenly stopped. "Here? But it's solid steel! Oh I see. Wildman hand me your side arm". Nova held out his hoof.

"Fuck off. You've gone insane. You're crazy if you think i'm gonna give my favorite pistol to somepony who just tried to kill me!"

"Wildman, we haven't got the time to argue. Either you give me that gun or the entire universe dies".

"What do you mean the entire universe?"

"I mean the entire goddamn world! Every living thing. Plants, animals, you, me. All gone. Now hurry up and hand me your pistol!" Wildman closed his mouth. No one had talked to him like that in a long time. Wildman handed Chastity over to Nova.

"Don't you fucking try anything!" Nova put the gun in his mouth.

"goo ow ish I han us. wes!" Nova fired. The metal in front of them splintered like glass, and fell apart. Were the panel had been was a massive whole. It lead straight down to the center of the base. Nova looked down and smiled. He turned around and spat the gun at Wildman. "Ah ha! Perfect. Straight down the nest. Quickest rout by far".

"Whoa whoa whoa. What the fuck just happened. I just saw steel shatter like glass!"

"It's a charclorium seal. The changelings disguised it as a steel panel. Quickest way in and out of the hive. Usually it's just as strong as steel but I found a week spot".

"Wait changelings? I thought they were all killed off in the celestial age?"

"Far from it. A few survived and made a base here, and now if we don't destroy the nest then we're all going to be in a lot of trouble".

"Okay well that explains a lot but how the hell do you know all this stuff?"

"Like I said. Voices in my head. Now if you don't mind, we should really start saving the universe".

"Wait! How the fuck are we going to get down there? That drop would kill anypony".

"Well I have got these". Nova extended his wings out proudly. "You've got them too I believe".

Wildman hung his head. "My wings were destroyed In a mech battle".

"Ah, right. Well.... I suppose you could stay here. Make sure the wall doesn't go anywhere. It is my way out after all". At that Nova leaped into the chasm. He could hear Wildman yell at him from topside as he descended. Nova finally slowed his decent when he came to the end. He landed in a massive cavern. easily 10 miles wide. A luminescent green glow coming from every were.There was green slime everywhere. And then he noticed it. The ground and walls were moving. They were alive. A strange cocoon of sorts surrounding the bodies of millions of changelings, and there In the middle hung a massive cocoon. Inside was a creature that defied any definition. It was neither pony nor changeling. It was a twisted and swollen black mass. In it's center Nova could make out the shapes of both ponies and changelings. consumed by the monster.

"That is the queen"..

The thoughts came from his mind, but not from him.

"How do we kill it?"

"Killing the Queen is not enough. You must destroy the entire hive".

"How do we do that?"

"The hive is one body. She lives off the hive just as the hive lives off her. Sever the umbilical and both the queen and the hive is dead".

"Right and how do I do that?"

"The umbilical is there. At the base of the queens cocoon. Were it meets the cavern".

"Right well.." Nova was cut off when the sound of explosions started growing closer and closer. There was a brilliant flash of green light as the ceiling burst open. Something ripped past Nova, landing with a resounding crunch. Nova spun around to find Riot pulling himself out of a crushed changeling, several bodies and parts rained down around him, drenched in a green goo. "Riot what the hell? How did you get down here? And what is that goo?"

"The ground gave way. I fell. Not sure were I am. And as for the goo; It's Changeling blood... I had a little company on the way down." Riot stretched his back out, groaning at the strain. He glanced back up at Nova "So what brings you boys down to these parts?"

"The changelings escape tunnel. Unlike you, I'm here on purpose".

"Right, and were is here exactly?"

"The changeling hive cluster".

"Well fuck. And how do you know so much?"

"It's a long story". As Nova said those words the entire space began to shake. The Changelings spun in their cocoons.

"The hive is awakening. The device is being activated". The words came from inside Nova's head.

"Right. Riot! Sir. I know you're my CO but for once listen to my orders! I know what's going on. I can't explain how but I just do. So please listen. If we don't stop this hive from awaking they'll kill every living thing in the universe". Riot cut in.

"Well then lets kill em before they get the chance!" Riot pointed his shot gun at the cocoon under his hooves and fired. The spinning changeling stopped moving and ceased to glow. Riot aimed for another but before he could fire Nova stopped him.

"Wait! We have to kill the entire hive! It would take too long to shoot them one by one".

"Well no shit Nova, how do you propose we do it?"

"We have to cut the link between the hive and the queen before they awake."

"And how does our glorious leader propose to do this?" Riot looked haggard and beaten, the low lighting cast a grim look over his face.

"Do you have a knife?"

"Never leave home without one.". Riot magicked out his knife and levitated it into Nova's grasp.

"Good. Now Keep me covered. They know we're down here. They'll be sending troops in to stop us, so give me time so that I can sever the connection".

"Alright lad, Godspeed". Nova nodded at Riot, and galloped off towards the core of the cavern. Riot turned around and readied himself for a fight. "Come get it you bloody bastards!" Riot yelled as a black swarm descended from above.

Nova was running as fast as he could. He had placed Riots knife in his mouth and was ready to cut the connection. He was galloping over the convulsing cocoons of millions of changelings. Suddenly they started to break free. All of them grabbing at Nova as he ran. Suddenly Nova was knocked to the ground by a tremor. The Queen had broken free.

"The device has been activated" The changelings voice echoed in his mind. At this Nova leaped into the air. He extended his wings and began to fly; as fast as he could. Towards the umbilical. The cavern was no longer a bright green color. Something had changed. It was now a dark crimson. Nova saw the body of Queen twist and convulse. It was afraid. And then it broke open. The hard outer shell split to reveal a monster so hideous that the sight of it made Nova shudder with fear. Its face an awful white, Scabbed and scarred. Bits of flesh dangling from its body in random places. Its entire body was a collage of the ponies and changelings it had consumed. Thousands upon thousands of them. All mashed together. There was only one natural part of the body that Nova could see. The eyes. Oh and how they burned. He could feel the anger and rage behind them. It burnt the creature inside out. This wasn't just a survival tactic. The creature wanted revenge.

Nova reached the creature and pulled out the knife. "This ends here!" Nova raised the blade between his hooves and thrust down, but before it contacted the flesh of the umbilical something stopped him.

"I told you I had control of your sub conscious". The same voice that echoed from within now came from beast above him.

"Nova couldn't speak. His entire body was paralyzed, but he could still think.

"How can you do this? I don't understand. What are you?"

"I am the queen. I always was".

"But I don't understand. I saw your thoughts. You're not the queen".

"Wrong. You saw the thoughts of the dead changeling. You see we are a hive mind, and although I cannot move from one ponies mind to another I can move throughout the minds of the changelings"

"But I saw pain and misery and torture".

"Yes, We have been tortured by the universe for the entirety of our existence. It is time for us to take our revenge".

"But why did you tell me how to destroy you?"

"Because I needed one last piece to the puzzle. It was the best way to get you here".

"But why me?"

"This body is made the flesh of fallen ponies. Held together by the blood of changelings. You see, I needed your mind to control this beast. You will become part of it". The voice had finished. Suddenly Nova felt himself being lifted into the air. "It is over. In a few moments your mind will be apart of this device".

"No! I'll fight it!"

"Sure you could, but what would be the point. You'd only regain control over your body for a second. You couldn't sever the connection with the hive in that time". At that point Nova realized he was still holding the knife. He thought to himself. A private thought. In a place were he knew they couldn't find him. Nova remembered what the creature had said earlier.

"The graft cannot be reversed. When the host dies so will I". Nova knew what to do. He may not have enough time to destroy the connection between the umbilical and the the hive, but he could still stop it. Nova began to fight.

"Oh how Interesting. You have decided to fight after all. This should be fun". At that Nova regained control of his body.

"Like I said, this ends here". Nova thrust the knife downwards. Into his own chest. In an instant he felt the mind of the creature call out, but then it was gone. Purged from his mind, but at what cost? Nova fell to the ground bellow. No longer suspended by the changeling magic. The hive screamed out in unison. A high pitched howl as the entirety of the hive died at once. The hives natural glow faded and went black. That was all that was left, For the changelings and for Nova.

A couple minutes earlier......

"Asshole......" Wildman flicked out his damaged wing, and stared at it.

A loud buzzing was heard from down the hall behind him. A horde of changelings were flying down the hall, towards him. He drew, cocked, and fired, in the time it would take to raise a normal weapon. He fired himself empty, each shot finding something important. They would be on him in five, he could reload in one. He reloaded, missed one, downed six. But the horde was too great, the crowd of them knocked him over the side, into the hole, which was where they were headed.

He screamed out in fear, before righting himself and drawing the exoknife. He grabbed a hold of the nearest changeling, and stabbed through its side. He threw his forelegs underneath it, and rode it all the way to the hive. He arrived just in time to see Nova gut himself.

"NOVA!!!" He rushed forward, and tried to draw chastity to clear his path. But he found his holster...empty. It had been knocked from his mouth when he was rushed, and was now probably lying on the floor up there. Instead he drew the exoknife again, and rushed towards Nova, but he didn't need it, the hive was dying, and was starting to collapse. changelings were falling, and dying around him. Chunks of biotic walls were falling. He threw Nova onto his back, and called to Riot, who was unloading his shotguns drum clip into the flitting changelings.

"LETS GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE." In a smaller voice, he said. "You're gonna be okay Nova, I'm getting you out of here, you just stay with me."

Riot stood by Nova as he faced the changeling queen, The entire room shook and swirled with the sheer amount of bodies occupying the space. The captain stood his ground as yet another wave of changelings dove down upon the small group. His jackhammer barked and snarled as it spat high explosive slugs through the attackers. On of the changelings deftly avoided the grisly; charred fate of his fellows. Tackling Riot from the side, he drove the large bullpup shotgun away from its owner.

Riot sprawled on his side, grunting in pain as he grappled with the monster, who began to writhe in his grip, driving its sharp plates under Riots skin.

Ignoring the pain, Riot kicked the creature off, telekinetically reaching for his hatchet. "GO! TO! HELL!!" Each word was punctuated with a savage axe swing, which thrashed and ravaged the changelings body. A steady voice grasped his attention, drawing his eyes to Nova.

"Like I said, this ends here." Riot started to call to Nova as the Queen raised her hooves for a death blow, but both were halted by the large bayonet Nova shoved deep into his breastplate. The Queen thrashed and bucked from an ethereal force as Novas body slumped against the ground.

"Riot yelled out along side Wildman, but the slithering movement to his right reminded him of his obligations. Riot quickly turned to finish off the changeling, on to come face to face with the bloody, broken body of his wife, the axe still protruding from her chest.

Tears welled up in Riots eyes as all the memories he had suppressed came crashing back in a torrent of pain and death.
"Aurora... no..." Riot fell to his knees next to the savaged body, dragging the effigy up into his arms. "Not again... please not now..." Pulling the broken body closer in, Riot clenched his eyes shut, trying to block out the rending; pinning torture he was going through. His mind drifted listlessly back into the world of grey's and blood.

A soft sputtering sound brought him back from the world of grey and death, barely opening his eyes through the tears, his gaze met Auroras. "You killed me. You killed our son...." The mare squeaked in pain as another convulsion went through her body. "You should... have died in those tunnels... Monster." Riot didn't bother arguing, he could only nod his head as the room came crashing down around him.

The changeling slowly drew back a savage blade, taking care to build his strength and ensure the ponies death, as Riot clutched him in his fore-hooves, the creature could only smile through the pain and blood.

Get up Kel'loco! Please don't die for this... Riot lifted his head, his bloodshot blue eyes meeting mutated blue compound eyes. Riots horn flared with savage uncontrolled magic as the telekinetic bullet grenaded the changelings head into a fine paste, leaving a massive impact crater in the ground. The captain stood up, letting the foul creature fall from his hooves. His blood boiled as furious rage poured into every inch of his body, his body practically vibrated with destructive energy. The Jackhammer floated next to him, the magical energies, twisting and changing it into something savage and deadly, much like its owner. As Riot fired torrents of rending buckshot into the fliers a chorus of familiar voices filed his head, drowning out the sounds of death and impending doom.

Once more into the fray
Into the last good fight I'll ever know
Live and die on this day
Live and die on this day

Wildman had dragged Novas bleeding body into a corner, and was trying to avoid the falling debris. The entire room shook and vibrated, large chunks of the ceiling falling down and crushing egg sacs. Despite the death of the queen and the destruction being wrought on their home, some changelings still fought the trio, sending volleys and kicks down upon the mercs. A large chunk of roofing fell down into the cavern, its trajectory promising a swift death to the trio.

Riot stood his ground, horn flaring with barely contained power. Through his eyes, he wasn't alone, he never had been truly alone, not since he had first set hoof outside the stable. Riot stood shoulder to shoulder with his wife and child, his father; and his two best friends. Time stood still as their eyes glowed with power, which fired through the conduit of Riot.

The bolt slammed into the slab of reinforced concrete, shattering and pulverizing it into tiny fragments. Light streamed in through the massive hole in the roof, when the few surviving changeling attempted to flee, they were cut down my machine gun fire from the surface. A single VTOL slid in through the torrent of rocks and death, coming down to a hover next to the edge. In a flash the trio were on board and fighting to get away from the treacherous sinkhole.

A familiar voice came from the cockpit as the VTOL broke the lip of the crater. "I left you guys alone for ten minutes, and this is what I get!"
____________________________________________________
Topside twenty minutes later.....

"The lieutenants stable, close call though."
"Yea, good thing that knife wasn't serrated, or he would have been done like dinner!

The two medics trotted away from the medical field tent, glancing over towards the sinkhole that was being slowly cordoned off by both the EQRG and the planetary defense force. What they didn't see was a tall grey stallion slowly climbing into a custom Dragon mech.
___________________________________________________________

Riot sat quietly in his pilots chair, slowly rocking his hind legs back and forth as he sat. The energies that had saved his squad had dissipated away as if they weren't even there. Yet Riot felt the impact through out his body, It felt as if his very soul had been sliced open. He didn't tell the medics about the pounding headache or about how his vision was grey in the periphery. He didn't make eye contact lest they see that his iris' had split into two separate colours. A light ring of grey ringed the inside of the bloodshot, haggard blue eyes.

His head was tilted backwards, his eyes scanned the various poems, prayers, and pictures that adorned the inside of his mech. In that sole moment, Riots being felt unbearably heavy, his thoughts wandered to avoid the pain of memory.

In too the fray once again my son
to fight until the battles done.
Live to fight another day
For only you keep the wolves at bay.

Wildman deserves a reward for his actions. He's suffered loss today as well.

Riot trotted across the courtyard, various ponies milled around; stripping the base of any useful equipment. Riot spotted Crash Course and the new buck, Short Stack helping load a very large covered truck into a kangaroo transport ship. Riot could only wonder what they had found in the depths of the base, and if it were the incendiary weapon Stack had spoken of before.

Unfortunately, Riot wasn't headed in their direction, he had plans. The captain approached the impromptu barracks for the EQRG, he could see shadows and forms moving quickly inside.

The barracks already smelt of sweat and strain, soldiers and techs scurried about. One diminutive corporal noticed Irons entry into the tent, and quickly snapped to attention.

"Officer on deck!" The other ponies froze in place, jolting into an attentive stance.

Riot nodded at the soldiers, the light casting a grim shadow over his muzzle. "At ease." He looked over at a relaxing sergeant. "You, You're my runner now." The buck sent up a sharp salute. "Yes sir. What do you need?"

The Captain motioned to the door. "Walk with me."

The two stepped outside into the chilly air. A large burn pile was forming over in the western courtyard, consisting entirely of changeling bodies. Riot started walking towards another field tent, the sergeant rushed to follow.

"Segeant, I need full reports on what happened, everything we know. I want full combat sweeps of the changeling tunnels, no survivors you hear me?" Riot stopped to stare at the buck, who quickly nodded and confirmed his orders.

"Where should I have the reports delivered sir?"

Riot stopped to consider the fact they didn't have a field office yet, and the dropship wasn't due back for another three days. "Deliver any and all reports and requirements to my Mech." The buck saluted again, and turned away to start his errand. "One last thing sergeant! Where's corporal Wildman?"
__________________________________________________________

The tent flap flailed in the bitter cold wind, and the temperature was dropping rapidly. Wildman had curled up in a smaller four pony tent, and was staring at the only surviving piece of his weapon. He lowly shook his head as he placed the revolver into its protective case. As he closed the last latch, he heard the crunch of gravel getting closer to the entrance; as he looked up, he came face to face with his CO, Iron Venture.

"Sir I-"

"You did good out there corporal, Nova owes you his life. In my opinion, sacrifice often entails a reward." Riot trotted over to a small stool that bordered a smothered cooking fire. He pulled out his small flask and took a swig. Offering it to Wildman, he spoke. "Take a gulp, need to know if my new sergeant can hold his drink."

"Thank you sir, just doing my job." Wildman throws up his hoof in a short salute, and slid his revolver case away with his other. He takes the flask in his mouth, and swigged from it, coughing at the firey liquid. Riot grinned and sent a magical spark down to the small fire, which started to flicker and sputter to life.

"So, Now that tha's out of the way, I need to ask you somethin' lad."

Wildman coughs once more, passes the flask back, and replies. "What do you need Captain?"

Riot scratched his bearded face, trying to actually decide what he needed. "What the fuckin' bloody hell happened with Nova? One second he's starin' down a fuckin monster, talkin to himself, next thing I know he's gone and stuck himself with me bayonet!"

Wildman was unsuprised by the question, having asked himself the same repeatedly. "I'm not sure either sir, he was going on about 'voices in his head'; but he wasn't crazy, he knew things that nopony could know. One thing I do know, is that when he stabbed himself, that hive started coming down, those changelings were dying."

Shaking his head, the captain slipped the flask back into his flak vest. "Fuck it then, tangoes dead and burned, all friendlies accounted for." Looking around for anything else to change the subject, he found his eyes wandering down towards the weapon case. "Whatcha' got there Lad?"

Wildman looked to the side, and pushed the case away. "Its.....not important, Sir."\

Riot grinned at the challenge. "Well, since you won't let me look, I'll have to guess then. From the size and shape of the case, I would have to say; it's a hunting revolver. Now the markings, that's a little more difficult. Looks like a Cusull Shankof stampIt's a Shankof Custom hunting revolver, most likely .45-70 gov rounds, possible compensator? No, Shankof never used those, but a sandalwood grip? Most definitely."

Wildman gave a bit of a sad smile at that. "You're close Sir, this is Chastity; my father made her totally unique, but he worked with Shankof, so he kept the markings, and most of the stock design. You guessed the grip, and the calibre correctly." He said opening the case to the mostly destroyed revolver. "My father built her, and carried her for thirty-seven years, then he passed her to me when I left home, the last time I saw him."

Riot gazed down at the shattered revolver in dismay. "That's a bleedin' shame right there. Think you'll rebuild it?"

Wildman smiled a little brighter. "Maybe, one day. I just hope that I'll get to pass her on to my little one. If any mare will go for a buck with a face like raw hamburger, and a body that looks like it was used for flamethrower practice." At this, he laughed a little, and closed the case.

"Hah, no kiddin'!" Riot let out another full laugh as he leaned back on the camping stool. "Anyways, since your revolver is decommisioned as of now, It seems like you'll need a new emergency weapon. Am I right lad?"

"Yes sir, have anything in mind?"

"Well..." Riot looked over to his olive drab rifle bag. "I've got just the thing for close encounters. Its a Panbuck Jackhammer, one of the few ever made. It's got special enchantments on both the barrel and magazine feed. But- I think when we took down the queen something changed inside it, it just doesn't seem right to me anymore. Why don't you give her a go?"

Wildman took the weapon into his hooves, but it felt........Off. The weapon itself gave an aura of furious anger, and he felt like there was some......entity, living in the weapon. It seemed to like him though; He felt as comfortable as if he had carried it for years, like he knew it personally,
"It's an elegant weapon sir, I'll take great care of her." He threw up another salute.

The captain returned the salute "Jus' don't shoot me with it alright? Balefire buckshot is a bitch to get out!"

Wildman looked over the weapon after his CO had left the tent.

Can you hear me? Understand me?
The weapon pulsed with something he couldn't place. It seemed to have some kind of primitive intelligence. What he felt in his head was.........simple, but somehow cloudy.

FEED............PAIN

He took the exoknife out of it's new sheath, and carved a pair of words, one on each side of the barrel, Hunger, and Hurt; two sides of the same coin.

THREE DAYS LATER

It was dark when Nova awoke. He wasn't quite sure where he was, but he didn't care. If he was awake now that meant they had won. He tried to sit up but couldn't. There was a cloth wrapped around hi chest. Nova could barely see in the pitch black but he tell that in the center it was much darker. He knew what it was from. He lifted his head to scan the room. Maybe find out were he was, but it was to dark. He couldn't see beyond his bed. Suddenly a sharp pain came to his head. He grit his teeth in pain and growled quietly among himself. As soon as he let out his silent growl a hoof emerged from the darkness. A small flask resting on top.

"Take this. It'll help with the pain". A voice said from the darkness. Nova took the flask and downed a large gulp. The liquid was rancid and made him gag, but at the same time it stopped his head ache. In his agony Nova wasn't able to recognize the voice.

"Riot?" Nova asked.

"I'm afraid not". The voice was foreign and old but gave no hint at what the pony behind the voice looked like. The voice was common and forgettable. If he had heard it at any other time he wouldn't have noticed, but at the sane time it was powerful. It was old. It was wise. Despite this he found himself asking questions.

"Well then who then?"

"Well that is the question. Isn't it. Who? I think that's the greatest question any pony could ask"

"All right. If you won't tell me who you are then tell me. Were am I?"

"You're back aboard the Orion's Reach. The medical bay to be exact".

"Okay. So what was in that flask?"

"Oh just an old cocktail I picked up a long time ago".

"Well It sure does the tricks with headaches".

"Yeah. I'm afraid those won't stop anytime soon".

"Why not? What are they?"

"Well you've got two minds in one brain. No one head is meant to do that".

"So the Queen? She's still in here?"

"No. Not to worry. She was purged when you stabbed yourself".

"So then why the headaches?"

"Well. The Queen is gone from your mind, but her memories are still there. They're part of your memories now. There's quite a lot of them too. Almost 2000 years worth".

"But the queen was young. She was a new Queen. I saw it in her memories. She was young".

"Not young. Just reborn. Her mind lived on through the hive until they were able to construct her new body. That thing you fought down in the hive. You've got a whole library to read. What you saw was only one chapter".

"So were's the rest of the memories?"

"Hidden deep in your subconscious. Waiting to be unlocked". The Buck got up and began to walk away. No warning. Not even a proper end to the conversation. Nova heard this and responded.

"Wait! Where are you going?"

"Away".

"Oh right. With knowledge like that you're probably on the tops. I get it. Work to do".

"Tops?"

"You know top of the EQRG".

"Actually I'm not even part of the EQRG".

"What are you then? A planetary leader?"

"Actually. I'm not part of any organization".

"Okay then how did you get aboard an EQRG jump ship? And how do you know so much about what happened?"

"Oh I have my ways". And at that the stranger began to trot out. Just before he reached the door Nova called out.

"Wait! What do I do about the headaches?"

"Well. You've still got the flask don't you?" Nova looked down and realized that The metal flask was still in his hooves.

"Thank you!" Nova yelled out into the darkness, but the stranger was already gone.

Nova stayed in the medical bay for three days more. Letting the wound in his chest heal. He'd have the scar for the rest of his life. Some of the nurses said that it'll be a good reminder. As if he needed reminding. The headaches didn't show up on their tests. And the only thing that seemed to cure them was the rancid drink from the mysterious flask. Once more the flask didn't seem to run out either. He would take sip and it would be as if he hadn't drank any. Nova often wondered what would happen if he tried to poor it out. Though he never did.

Nova was finally allowed to leave. He knew were the first place he should report would be. However he had more important things to take care of. He needed to apologize to Wildman. He trotted down the halls towards his barracks when he bumped into His CO Riot. He threw up a quick salute and tried to continue on his way, but the captain had other plans.

"Oi! Wait up lad!" Riot trotted up to the cantering white pegasus. "I needed to talk to you anyways Lt". Nova hung his head, and sighed.

"Well I guess you'd have questions sooner or later". Riot shook his head, a grimace on his face.

"Honestly Nova? I don't know how or even what you did down there, and to be frank; I don't entirely care. We all did what we needed to do, and the job got done".

"Well What then? I don't mean to be rude captain, but I have something that i need to do". The captain rolled his eyes at the Lt's roughness. It was shallow, didn't have any punch to it.

"What? Your CO can't come and check to see if his XO hasn't bled out all over the med-bay?" Nova knew Riot cared about his lance mates. No matter how little he showed it, but he never asked about stuff like that.

"I'm fine. Perfectly okay. See", Nova went back on his hind hooves and showed Riot his chest. "Just a scar". Nova knew he was cutting it close, but he was irritated. Riot grunted, knowing he wouldn't get much more information concerning the event.

"Well Lt, Doc SkillSaw wanted us all to fill out fill Psych analysis forms, and wants to do full examinations. I told him to stuff it up his arse sideways." The captain shifted to he side to let a pair of naval recruits slip by. "I still need a report from you on the mission. You've got two days Lt." Riot sent up a quick salute, followed by a friendly slap on the shoulder. "Try and unwind lad, you're wound up tighter than a nuns glory hole."

Once the captain was behind him he took out his flask and took a swig. His head had started hurting mid conversation. He wouldn't bring out the flask in front of Iron. What Nova didn't see was a concerned Riot glance back at him as he took a swig.

The Captain trotted slowly down the hallway towards the general mess hall, he was worried about Nova; but he couldn't do anything about it at this moment in time. As he trotted closer, he could hear a fairly new, yet familiar voice mixing in with another well know voice. As Riot turned another corner, he found his CO, colonel Silverbolt speaking with the new pony, Short Stack.

The two looked over at the grizzled captain, a slight smirk breaking out on Stacks muzzle. Silverbolt nodded to Riot, addressing him as a friend. "Good evening Riot, You're just the buck I wanted to see."

Riot raised an eyebrow, looking over to the changeling in disguise. "Oh? What for colonel?"

Motioning to the odd buck, Silver continued forward. "Short Stack here has a request, he wants to join up with your little team."

"I'll see that he gets accommodated properly sir." Looking over at Stack, Riot thrust out a hoof. "Welcome to Chimera 4 lad, I'll find something for you to do. Just keep in mind that you are not a mech pilot in my lance."

The buck nodded, smiling as he snapped to a smart salute, then wheeled around and began trotting in the opposite direction. Riot glanced back to Silverbolt. "I assume that wasn't the only thing you wanted to talk to me about, sir."

Time to test out my new toy.

Wildman made his way down the small halls of the ship, heading down a couple of levels to the shooting range. He slid into his battlesaddle, and connected his new weapon to it. The joining of weapon to body felt.......Good. Right. He kicked the autoloader, and sighted his first targets. He checked over the weapon, setting the rounds to normal buckshot, and flicking off the safety.

BOOMPING A shot of odd happiness shot through him.

The first target had a hoof sized hole torn in it. Sadly, the hole was off target.

BOOMPING BOOMPING Those same bursts of happiness, but less potent.

The next two were closer, but there was something off about the weapon. Ahh, the weight. Jackhammer was heavy, and the imbalance threw off his aim. Then he got a terribly amazing idea. He nearly skipped all the way back to the armory. He strapped a ammo box of 12. Ga to his left side, and connected the shells into a kind of belt, like a machine gun. He strapped the belt across his back, and into the Jackhammer, so the weapon would load itself from the ammo box with each shot; and the extra weight from the box balanced the weapon.

BOOMPING BOOMPING BOOMPING BOOMPING. The fiery shells tore out the face of each target. The accuracy was way to good for his first real try with the weapon.

Okay, I'm good, but not that good.

He gave a strange look at the weapon on his side.

What are you?

It pulsed with content. But it wanted more than just targets. It wanted more, and would have more.

Nova lay in his bed. He couldn't sleep. The events of the past few days were fresh in his mind. Why did he get so angry at Wildman? Who was the buck that had given him the flask? What was the odd liquid n the flask? these questions and more were swirling in Nova's head. Suddenly his head was pounding. He reached for the flask under his pillow but knocked it on the ground as he did. nova couldn't find it. The pain was getting worse. He curled upon his bed and tried to ride it out. after what seemed like hours the pain stopped. A surge of thoughts memories and feelings rushed him. 100 years worth. That was only a start. He knew there would be more to come.

Once he had come to grits with everything he just experienced his mind went once again to Wildman. Why had he been so hostile with him? That wasn't like Nova. He'd never been that angry before. Even after he'd almost killed him he still dragged his ass to safety. Nova knew he owed his life to the recruit.