Fallout: Equestria - A Policemare of New Oatleans

A Day Different From Others

"When you walk your beat, you see faces. Some warm, some not. This isn't a beat. There are no warm faces."

Pain. Fear. Betrayal.

That's all I felt... all I could feel. The pain was getting irrelevant, as it wasn't too bad. But the pain of betrayal was still there. Then the fear...

I honestly thought that was the end. I thought I would die the second I felt the knife cut flesh. I thought I would never see Noteworthy again, nor my father... I still hadn't read the letter he sent. And that's something I would have regret should I have died. I felt a warmness radiating around my neck, both front and back and I felt a friendly presence alongside it. But my hearing wasn't great, and everything started to go bleak at the end. My vision was white, but it was fading back to reality. And my hearing, while it was damaged from the crack of Glory's pistol, didn't prevent me from hearing my comrade.

"Ah, she's bleeding, man."

"How bad is it?"

"Not too bad, I reckon she can still breathe."

I was demoralized, to say the least... Glory, had she really been a traitor this whole time? Posing as a friend, only to further advance the goals of our enemy? Well, she certainly wasted no time to show her true colors, right when we are hot on our target...

Reality returned, and my vision was flooded with the sight of the hallway we were standing in. The officers had pulled me to the side, and one had a cloth torn from a nearby curtain. It was bloody. I stared at the two in shock, before letting my eyes gaze towards the corpse of Of-

...To the corpse of Glory.

I gulped, looking at the body. There was a huge puddle of blood encircling it, and a hole on both sides of her riot helmet, a red liquid seeping from both sides. Blood was staining the muzzle guard. The window nearby had a good sized hole showing where the bullet had came.

"Target down. You didn't say you were in a hostage situation." The radio chirped. Magi reached for his and replied.

"We weren't."

"What... Am I alright?" I asked, keeping my eyes on Glory's corpse. Tusk, who was sitting next to me, applied the bloody cloth to my neck again. Telling me to be still.

"You have a cut, and its bleeding. But you'll be fine. It wasn't deep enough to severe anything vital, are you alright? You seem dazed." Magi asked.

"Dazed is one way to put it." Tusk huffed. Frowning as he gently wiped the blood seeping from the cut. I winced at the thought of having a slit throat, but considering I can still breath, she didn't have ample time to finish the job.

"Glory... she...."

"A traitorous bitch," Tusk said.

"Yes, Rails. She tried to kill you...I'm sorry. If its worth anything." Magi said. The whole department knew our friendship was almost ironclad. We were best friends. Of course, now that the situation had ended, I wasn't sure why I wasn't devastated by it. I should have been, but I figured my mind was blocking out the whole moment, allowing me to focus.

I kept my eyes on the corpse. Magi was making attempts to comfort me, but I rejected them all. I wanted no comfort. Tusk, however, was cleaning the blood off of me. He even wiped the nape of my neck when he noticed Glory's blood. My eyes soon moved over to the dead sleeper agent I killed. Her corpse lay there against the wall, lifeless, and her buddy was unconscious, locked in cuffs not far from her.

I was hoping there would be no death today, or at least not too much. But, to almost lose your life and to watch a pony who was your friend lose hers, its unnerving, for lack of a better word. I exhaled, not realizing that I had not been breathing since I fell down. Magi reached for his radio, but it sprang to life. A voice on the end other. Rotgut.

"What the hell are you guys doing? Get after the target! There will be time for mourning later!"

Rotgut... always the callous pony. Never caring for the lesser officers. From the little interaction I have had with him, I could tell he cared for no officer but the SWAT. Doesn't mean he wasn't a good pony, though.

I looked around for my shield, and there it was. Laying next to the unconscious stallion. I rose to get to it, ignoring the protests of officers Magi and Tusk. But stopped when I heard hoofsteps running down the hall behind us. I looked back to see Officer Trotter rushing return to us... he stopped when he saw Glory. A lifeless corpse upon the floor. Her blood staining both the curtains, and the walls.... what high powered rifle they used to do that, I had no idea. His mouth opened to speak, but stopped when he noticed the red line crossing my neck. He then spoke, with added terror.

"What the hell happened?!" He yelled.

No one answered. I grabbed my shield, hooking my left hoof around the handle, and gave a quick inspection. There was a small stain of blood on it from when I bashed the dead sleeper agent. I looked back at the officers.

"Trotter. Take him outside to the carriage and tell them we are down one officer." I ordered. He looked back at Glory before nodding, partially understanding. He trotted over and took the pony by his legs, and then proceeded to drag him down the hall, avoiding the blood. I turned my head towards the way I saw Bitter Exchange go. There was only one room. At the far end of the hallway. It wasn't really a hallway, more like a vestibule connecting with the hallway we were in. I assumed that it was a bedroom. I mean, why else would a room be connected to a vestibule? I hefted my shield up.

"Rails, are you gonna be alright? That was some situation you were in." Officer Magi asked, looking at me and arching his brows. I only scoffed, attempting to show that I felt better than what was actually true.

"Yeah, I'll be fine. We need to finish our job." I said, frowning and furrowing my brow. I didn't mind the concern, but I wasn't a child, I could handle it, and there was a job to do. "Lets roll."

"Wait!" I turned back to Officer Tusk, who had my helmet in hoof. "You might need this." He said, pushing it onto my skull. I gave a calm smile as he did. Feeling secure and happy knowing I have friend with me, but deep down I felt horrible. I decided to block it out, I would unleash the tears sometime tonight, away from my comrades.

I moved into the vestibule, Magi and Tusk behind with their weapons ready. They flanked the door, and I got in front of it. I looked at both officers, and they knew what I had to do. I stepped back a few paces, and then charged as fast as I could. Using all my shield to bash through the door.

The door fell apart at my charge; wood splintered apart as its full being failed to resist. Dust kicked up and wood flew. As I burst through it into the room it guarded, the doors remnants fell on the floor, making the sound you expect wood to make when it breaks apart. I opened my mouth the scream at the occupants to surrender, but I felt something push up against the back of my skull, and heard the cocking of a revolver.

"Drop the shield! Drop it now!" A rough but young stallions voice yelled. I complied, gulping. "Say the word, sir! Say the word and I'll drop her!" He yelled. I looked around the room, getting my bearings. The room was a bedroom alright. A king sized bed, paintings of ponies such as Starswirl the Bearded and the Gryphic King were on the walls. There were two doors, but where they led I knew not. There was a bench in front of the bed, with a radio next to it. A nice warm carpet on the floor, and blue painted walls... A literal blue bloods house. I noticed a pony, by his dresser. He had a briefcase sitting on top of it, with a few items in it. But his focus was on me. A dash of fear and surprise. But it was soon replaced with a warm smile. A warm smile I've seen him use so many times in public.

"Don't..." He said, approaching. The officers behind me couldn't get through the door, but they were yelling warning at the duo inside. My flank was still in it, and the gun to my head prevented me from moving for fear of losing my life. Essentially, I was a hostage again. "So, officer. I must say I am surprised. Really, I am. I did not think that, should a raid take place, you would proceed through my house so fast without taking so much as a step back. Or, at the very least, without a lot of casualties." He said, in his rich-yuppie voice.

"So, officer. I'm sorry I don't believe I learned your name. Its so rude to visit and not provide a name. So?" He said, sitting on the bench. I gulped, my mouth quivering.

"O... Rusty... Rusty Rails." I said.

"Officer Rusty Rails, pleasure to make your acquaintance. Too bad its not under better circumstances, or else I might treat you to a nice dinner."

"I'm already married."

"Are you? Well, then your husband could've joined too. You misinterpreted it for interest, but really it wasn't. But rather a friendship invitation... tsk tsk tsk. But such a thing will never be." He said, continuing his smile and pursing his lips only in the middle of his sentence, but resuming his smile at the end. I felt my lips quivering and quickly controlled them. Not wanting to give away fear. "So, Officer Rusty Rails. I'm sure your wondering what happens next. I'll admit it, I have no clue. As I have stated both now and before, I did not expect you all to make the progress you did. So, I'm at a loss." He bowed his head, but brought it up soon after and kept his smile. I exhaled heavily.

"You see the fine gentlecolt next to you? No? Well, let me introduce you... Officer Rails, you are standing in the presence of Rock Biter. Leader of the Bottleneck Mafia." He said, gesturing towards the unseen stallion.

"The same Rock Biter whose griffons you butchered in the living room." Rock added.

"Oh, yes. Such a bloody business that..." He said, before craning his neck to look past me. "And I see you killed Ms. Pennyapple. Such a waste." He said, closing his eyes. As if pondering on what to do. They opened a second later as he began to scan me. His eyes landing on my throat. "Oh dear, I believe you might be bleeding."

"Yeah, thank that to your friend, Glory." I defied. Furrowing my brows and giving him a glare. A glare that told him he couldn't win. I think he knew this, which is probably why he was still civil towards me.

"Oh, Glory did that to you? And here I was beginning to believe she was just a spy who infiltrated our group. Good to know she wasn't. She met death at your hooves, though, didn't she?" He asked, but I gulped. Holding my tongue. "Such a shame. Another wasted life." I heard a radio chirp behind me, but what they said was unintelligible in my ears. All that mattered right now was what was happening in the room.

"Boss, with all respect, we should ice her now!" Rock Biter said. Bitter Exchange, however, denied this motion with a shake of his head. "Boss, we are in deep shit. We nee..."

"No... No more killing." He said. "It takes a a strong pony to admit defeat. And I admit it." He continued. Rock Biter opened his mouth to protest, but was quickly silenced as Exchange spoke over him. "Think for a second, you oaf. If you kill her, then our lives are forfeit. Wasted. Wasted like our comrades lives."

"We will just be another loss in a war. Forgotten swiftly, as if we never existed." Bitter Exchange stated. Sorrow becoming apparent in his eyes, and his brow loosened. Throughout the whole exchange, he never did lose his smile. Minutes passed as he talked to his traitorous comrade. Trying to talk him into surrendering. He mentioned the Zebras pushing into our lands, and conquering us. He said the Zebras would honor the Equestrians loyal to the Caesar, and would torture the ones who were not. The infidels, he called us. He spoke with a convincing aura, and I could see why so many ponies followed him. A silver tongue he had, something I wish I had. But, he did not sway me. Nor would he ever.

"Boss." Rock said, "I..."

"Just stand down. The odds are not in our favor."

"I... yes sir." Rock Biter said in a defeated tone, closing his eyes and allowing the pistol to drop onto the ground. I did not move, but instead, I remained in halfway in the doorway. I looked over at Rock, who was standing there. Looking back at me. His ears lowered, and his eyes shown with defeat. "Well. Aren't you going to arrest us?" He asked.

"Right..." I said, looking over at Bitter Exchange. I opened my mouth to say something, but my nerves got the best of me. My mouth only hung open for a second before it shut. I was unable to articulate any word towards him, and I felt it was for the better. I turned towards Rock Biter. Once I had moved from the doorway, the officers behind me rushed through, yelling standard police warnings such as "On the ground, now!". They both complied.

As I got out the hoof cuffs, Rock Biter looked at me. His face still a show of sorrow, but also indignity. He opened his mouth to speak.

"Let me see my family before you turn me over to the Ministry of Morale. Please..." He begged.

<><><>

"Just apply some antibiotics every morning and night and it should heal in time. But for now, just don't raise your voice." The paramedic said, packing up a bunch of medical supplies.

"Why you can't you use a healing potion?" I asked, my voice slightly scratchy.

"For that little wound? Its not too serious to warrant one. You'll be fine." He said, smiling. He turned and walked away. Around me, officers were standing around. Talking, or standing guard. The public was kept well back under the guise of a drug raid. Four ponies had been arrested today. Bitter Exchange. Rock Biter. And two stallions. Turns out Vulpes team captured one pony downstairs. And they were coming to see what was going on when we captured Bitter Exchange. Redlight was sitting next to me, smoking a cigarette. The wound he suffered didn't penetrate his armor but did cause a nasty bruise. He took a puff, exhaling before he spoke.

"So."

"So."

"You gonna be alright?" He asked, looking over to me and taking another puff. I looked down at him, my eyes conveying my answer. He looked away, but a second later offered the cigarette to me.

"No, thanks. I don't smoke." I affirmed.

"You drink. But you don't smoke." He said, looking away. "Heh, you don't know what your missing." He said, looking back to me, cigarette in his mouth. I looked around, cops and SWAT were about their business. Either placing police tape or dealing with the captured ponies. Rock Biter was crying and carrying on, demanding to see his family. And one officer looked like he was losing his patience rather quickly. Vulpes was talking with Bitter Exchange, who had his pleasant smile still active. But Vulpes was another story. From where I was, I could see that he was frowning, and he had a blood-red glare.

He was very unhappy with Bitter. Close to anger.

"What are you gonna do now?" Redlight asked. I looked back at him.

"I don't know. Go home? Get a drink? Something, I... just don't know." I said, looking down. I was sitting in the doorway of one of the police carriages, Redlight laying down next to me. Every so often I would feel a burning pain from my throat, but the doctor said that it wasn't a fatal response and that I would feel it a lot in the days to come.

"Stop feeling sorry. She had gotten what she deserved for being a traitor."

"We were friends, closer than that even." I said solemnly. My eyes being cast downwards in despair. We were friends, best friends actually. But now? I just felt betrayed.

And it angered me. But also filled me with more sorrow than anger. Why would she do such a thing?

But I guess she did provide a reason, a fucked up reason it was albeit. My thoughts turned to Noteworthy. My husband. He was at home, and if the news wasn't being the nosy shits they were, then he wouldn't know what had occurred today. He wouldn't know that Glory is dead. Or that she held a knife to my throat. Or that.... that I survived.

I survived two attempts on my life, but at what cost?

The cost of a friendship. The cost of a life. A felt a tear stream down my cheeks at the thought of dying and losing everything. Losing Noteworthy, losing my friends. Everything. I heard a familiar voice speaking to me, and I turned my head towards the source. The Chief.

"Hey, Rails." He said."I heard what had happened in there. I'm sorry, for what its worth. I.." He started.

"It's fine, chief, I'm fine. Just.. I don't want to talk about it." I replied, looking up at him. I wanted to give a fake smile, but I could not summon up the will to do so. Redlight looked at me.

"Well, you'll be happy to know that with your recent injury and the effects recent events might have had on your psych, I will be giving you a week off. But if you want to come into work, then that's your choice. Its all paid leave, too. So don't worry about that, either." He said, giving me a comforting smile. I looked down for a second before looking back up at him. Not smiling, but not frowning either.

"Thank you chi-... Thank you, Justice."

He looked at me with a smile, then turned and walked off. But not after reassuring me that everything will be fine. I looked around, Vulpes now was talking with a paramedic. Neither looked too happy. After a moment or two, I decided I had to do something. I looked back at Redlight.

"I have to make a call, do you mind?" I asked.

"Not at all, go ahead."

I levitated my phone out and turned it on. My background -Soarin in his flightsuit- greeted me in a flicker. I found my way to my contacts and looked through it, eventually finding Noteworthy amongst all my phone numbers. I saw Glory's number as scrolled. One tap and my phone began to ring. I put it to my ear, and seconds later, I heard his voice.

I never felt so happy to hear his voice before.

"Hey, babe. What's goin' on? Lunch?" He asked.

"Hey, Noteworthy, I- I just called to let you know I'm alright."

"Alright? What do you mean?" He said, pausing mid sentence for a second."Do you feel OK? Your voice sounds hoarse."

"Yeah, I-I'm fine. Just... I'll tell you about it when I get home. I just wanted to you to know that I'm alright." I said, trying to remain calm. Trying to keep my voice from trembling at the prospect of never being able to talk to him again. And that fear almost became reality today.

"I uh, OK. See you when you get home, I guess. Love you."

"I love you too. I have to go now. Bye."

It clicked off; Redlight looked up at me.

"He question if you're alright?" He asked, taking a final puff of his cigarette before tossing the remains on the ground. He stomped on it to prevent any flames from the embers.

"Yeah, but I don't think he knows what happened." I answered, looking down at him as I put my phone away.

"And that's for the best, Rails." A voice said, next to me. I jumped slightly from the sudden voice and swiftly turned to see who it was. I should've known it was Vulpes, the Zebra accent is unmistakable. "Secrecy is one thing the Ministry likes. Even though the public knows of our activities due to Ms. Pinkies... lack of subtlety, we don't like plunging those unaffiliated with us into the massive aroma of controversy. That being said, the Ministry is grateful for your assistance, Rails. As it is with the whole police force for helping us." He said, looking at me. His armor looked a bit notched, signifying he got into a scrap in the building. But he had no bruises or wounds, so he must've been alright.

"You scared me." I said, grinning.

"I get that a lot. 'Sneaky sneaky', they say." He chuckled. "I heard from the paramedics you received an injury worse than Officer Redlight. That you actually bled more. I also received a report saying you were held at gunpoint and as a pony shield so I just wanted to see if you're alright. So, are you alright, Decanus?" He asked. I looked at it, my expression signifying that there was a faster way to say that. But also showed confusion at his choice of word at the end.

"Decanus?" I asked, looking at him.

"Oh, I'm sorry. Still used to my country's words and such... Sergeant is what I meant. Sergeant." He chuckled, blushing somewhat and smiling.

"Well, alright." I said, continuing my smile. I was happy he took an interest in our welfare. Its a quality of a good leader. But I have met some who wouldn't make a good leader because of the qualities they lack. "I'm not alright. I got betrayed. Held hostage. And held at gunpoint. I saw, or rather, heard, my "friend" get her head blown off. And now, I'm stuck with thoughts on what would've happened had things gone differently... and it- I-"

"You don't have to say anything else if you wish not to. I understand your predicament and its unfortunate that you went through what you did. If it means anything, I'm truly sorry you had to go through that. And I would also like to say that I'm surprised you kept your cool under all the stress you were put under. Most ponies would've broken down, crying. Or just simply given up. But you?" He said, his smile finally faltering. "Well, you have my respect." A paramedic walked past us, hurrying towards a body bag laying near the police taped gate. I looked back at Redlight, who had lit another cigarette. I told him how that would kill him, but he simply told me to piss off before laughing. And I joined him. Didn't think I would genuinely laugh after Glory's death, but... there you go.

What pegged me wrong was that everything seemed normal again. As if nothing happened. Sure, I sound a bit hoarse, and a few officers won't be going into work for a day or two, but everypony was acting like this was a normal occurrence. I mean, he was right. I went through a lot today. Most ponies would've cracked, but here I am, chuckling with a buddy and talking with an agent as if nothing had happened. Glory had her head ventilated, and I'm sitting here not even shedding tears... perhaps my subconscious was holding in all I had to shed until later, when I'm in the comfort of my home, and in the arms of Noteworthy. Or perhaps my brain is just blocking out the reality of the situation.

Whatever the case, I'm just glad I'm not crying in front of my friends.

"Hey, Rails, I have a question." Vulpes asked. I looked at him, and kept an indifferent expression as I calmly replied and asked him what he wanted. His face no longer an expression of relief, or subtle joy. But now a serious one. One with slight despair and anger. One with added amounts of grief.

"You're married, yes?" He asked. My brows were raised, and I looked around, trying to avoid eye contact as I felt slight discomfort with the question. I had no idea why I felt this way, as he didn't even ask me what he really wanted to know. Maybe its because I barely know him. I just nodded. "Ok, thought so. Your record did state that. So maybe you can answer this...." He mumbled. He turned and looked at me and opened his mouth, but quickly hesitated and closed it. But after a second of thought, he spoke.

"If...if you lose somepony you care about, or you were to lose somepony you cared about, deep care that is, how would you deal with it?" He asked, slowly. I just looked at him, blankly. As did Redlight. He even paused mid-inhale but quickly fixed that by exhaling, coughing from botched up puff.

"What?"

"I-I mean, you... you like somepony, and she likes you as well. And when you lose that pony.... just... ugh! How do you deal with it? Its not something I ever had to go through and.. well.." He asked once more in frustration.

"Are you saying...?"

"Yes."

I just stopped, unsure of what to say now. From what I gathered from this, he had somepony he cared for, loved is a better word, and lost them. Was it one of the sleeper agents? Or a SWAT? I didn't see any body bags with a SWAT pony coming out...

"Who was it?" I asked calmly. My voice as soft as a hoarse one could. For a second, he didn't answer. Preferring to remain silent. As if he regretted even bringing this up. But, he sighed when he realized there was no way out of this now. Of course, why he brought it up I'll never know.

"It... well, see. When I was acting as a double agent, I developed feelings for their maid. Ms. Copper. And she in turn developed feelings for me. When we breached the building, she was caught in the crossfire; she didn't know of my true allegiance until today and, well.." He said, looking away. "She died of her wounds on route to the hospital." He finished.

"Damn..." Redlight chipped in. I just looked at the zebra for a minute. Confused. He had an affair with their maid? My confusion, however, wasn't from this, though. It was because he decided to share it with me.

"Why are you sharing this with me?" I asked. He sighed.

"Rails... Sergeant Rails, I tell you this because, well, I learned from my time reporting to your Chief that, and your comrades agree too, you and your husband have the healthiest marriage anypony here has seen." He started, but Redlight chipped in again.

"That's true. I've never seen a couple so happy with each other. Not even that DJ mare and that blue-blooded cellist whats-her-face. I've heard they have had their fights."

"The question I ask came to me when I learned of her death. And I was afflicted with emotions that felt... strange for me. Despair. Love. General unhappiness, to say the least. I mean, as I've said, I'd never felt this way before. Its something I never went through, and I just want to know. What... how you would you handle? How do you deal with this? I mean, if you lost your love... how would you deal with the loss?" He asked, looking me in the eyes. The tone in his voice told me he was as serious as a threesome in a dark alley -very serious, if your confused-.

"Well..." I started, looking away uncomfortably. "There is no real way for me to answer that. I mean, I never really have been in that situation. But I guess you just.. live on. You live on in their name and you continue on remembering them. I mean, that's all I can really say. Like I said, I never really had to go through what you're going through right now."

"What about Glory?" Redlight asked.

"What about her?" I deadpanned. Not wanting to discuss her. Redlight took the hint and turned away, finishing his smoke. I looked back at Vulpes, who looked a bit happier. Although the sorrow from the loss was apparent. I felt bad for him, to be honest. As if he was living out an actual fucking spy film thing. But, in all seriousness, he lost the one he loved, and he didn't know how to feel about it. That's something that I could not even begin to imagine the feels on that. He smiled, somewhat comforted by my words. My advice.

"Well, thanks, Decanus. That's actually... more comforting than you realize. Remember her, huh?" He said. "Thank you." He turned and looked away, at a SWAT handling a pony in cuffs. The zebra got up, and trotted over. As if our conversation never took place.

"Hey, didn't I tell you to-" The agent said as he walked away.

"Well, that's that then." Redlight said.

"Yeah."

"You ask me, I'm surprised that a zebra fell in love with a pony. Especially in these times." He added. "But, what you said seemed to make him perk up a bit, so, good on ya. Glad to see your not all... errr traumatized by everything that happened today."

"Well, I'm not all that well, you understand. Don't be mistaking my calm demeanor. " I said.

"Yeah, yeah. Well, I know something that would fix that. Drinks, on me? I'm sure you could use one after today." He said. I looked at him, and my stiff form melted slightly at the thought of a nice cold mug of goofy juice running down my throat. Doubt it would be painless, but the alcohol would help anyways.

"That would be nice," I replied, a small grin shining.

Footnote: Level up!

No perk points awarded this level