Fallout Equestria: Junction

Chapter 2

Base Beneath the Clouds

-4 Hours Later-

Stable-Tec, a company almost everypony trusted to save us, a company made up of three lifelong friends, a company we thought would end the war, but now I question everything they've told us. What was their true goal? Why turn us all into guinea pigs for experiments? What kind of sick pleasure did they take in using us? Pulling the blinds over us and allowing us to trust them with our lives, only for them to pull the rug out from under us all? I hope they burn in hell for what they've done to us all. My blood boils with rage just thinking about Stable-Tec but my blood boils just thinking about the Equestria I once called home. I don't even know how to feel about it all, my home, my friends and family all dead, even though I can't remember them, but...

I'm not sure if I should feel sad or angry, well more angry than I already am. But even with all the anger I have, I'm still grateful for my rescuers, these 'Enclave' characters risked their lives to find and remove me from that blasted prison of Stable 149. But I now question what their ultimate end goal for me is? Are they going to screw me over like Stable-Tec did? If that's the case I won't let them get that chance...I don't belong here. The world has changed and I don't fit into the ultimate equation. Ugh I'm getting side tracked, where was I? Yeah I guess I should start with when we left Stable 149....

-4 Hours Earlier-

I'm was quiet, I could hardly speak a word after seeing the 'new' world for the first time in so long, I needed to figure out how long has it been since the bombs fell. But I just had no words to describe how I felt. Blue Sterling puts away the shot wave two way radio he was carrying on his person."I just gave them the okay to come get us." Blue let out a dry chuckle and looked between the four of us. Rocky Road and Lightning Clap were both helping Violet take off the armor she was wearing. I guess it was damaged more than they thought so it needed much more repairs, heh well more repair than they already need. I just sat there staring out off the cliff side. The land far beneath us was barren and desolate. Only thing of interest was the small town, couldn't tell what it was built with but it did hold my interest. I felt a tap on my shoulder and I look up to see Lightning Clap standing behind me clearly concerned for me. Heh, I guess you could say that he's my first friend."You holding up, 49?"

"My entire world has been turned into a barren wasteland, I'm fucking peachy." I snorted, not really caring about what reaction he would give off. Lightning just let out a sigh and took a seat next to me.

"I can tell you're absolutely livid. Red Glare should be here in a few minutes to take us back to Junction Base. Can promise that we'll take care of you. Besides, you're still bleeding." I rubbed my cheek with a hoof and see a small smear of slightly dried blood discolored my hoof. I realized also that I was shot again, but for some reason that pain didn't seem to be as bad as what I felt in my heart.

"So what did you pull from the Maneframe Blue? I really fucking hope it was worth it..." Lightning Clap gave Blue a look that could have killed him.

"We weren't here just for the Maneframe data, but it did have a lot extremely useful data. But it sucks that the Stable's water talisman was destroyed, well that and the missing Spark Core."

"We lost two ponies ya fucking idiot!? One of them was under my watch! Don't you think that would be a much pressing matter than what was in the damn terminal!?" Okay I thought Lightning was going to murder Blue Sterling at that point buuuut...

"Both of you stop!" Violet and I both shouted at the same time. We both gave each other a glance at each other before turning our attention back to Lightning Clap."You two are not going to argure right now. Wait till we get back." Violet continued.

"Speaking of going home," Rocky Road pointed a hoof up at the descending Vertibuck preparing to land near us."Looks like Glare is here. Everypony get your stuff and get ready." Rocky Road turned to me next."Unfortunately I'm gonna have to ask you to give up any weapons you have, ammo included." I let out a sigh and slid both my shotgun and bastard gun off me and gave them to Rocky Road. I then gave him my 10mm pistol and all of the ammunition for all three weapons."Sorry sweetie, just doing my job." Did...did he call me sweetie?

"Come on you two! Don't want Red Glare to leave with out you two." Blue Sterling called to us so we both follow him to the Vertibuck. It's been too long since I've seen one...think I was in one...was I? Anyway we boarded the vertibuck and we're, well I was greeted by a very red buck in the captain's seat. Mortar red with a wine red mane and dressed as a pilot.

"Hey guys! Fucking glad you all got out okay! I suppose this is the special cargo then?" He seemed cheery enough and I just gave him a simple wave after climbing in.

"Yup! This here is Ty-49," Lightning wrapped a hoof around my neck, heh speaking of cheery fucks."And he's the reason why we were able to get out. Did I mention I hate raiders?" I removed his hoof from around me neck.

"I wouldn't take all the credit. But you're welcome anyways." I said taking a seat."But I want answers when we get there, otherwise I won'gt be very happy."

"Oooh big and scary already. Watch out for this one Rocky." Lightning Clap nudged the light brown buck in the sides and he just rolled his eyes in return

And just like that we took off from the entrance to Stable 149 and headed upwards, towards the cloudy sky. I made a note to ask about the odd cloud formations. But the ride upwards was short and we already started to descend down on a Veritbuck helipad. But what's very surprising is that when we land, the helipad retracted back into the mountain side with a large blast door closing behind us. A cave system, a extremely large cave system with a few holes to filter in natural light inside but there was an entire military base built in here. This was impressive, very impressive. But I did notice how there was only two Veritbucks parked in here, ours being one of them. And this place seemed empty, like there's not a whole lot of ponies here. Felt almost empty, but there was a few ponies waiting for us, one was a lot taller than me.

We all line up to exit the Veritbuck and I was at the very end. I felt nervous, tired, and confused, for almost no reason, well except the confused part. The adrenaline wore off already so I felt the stinging pain from being shot technically three times. But...I killed....well its not the first time but...fuck its so easy to take a life its scary, too scary if you'd ask me. I finally got out of the Veritbuck and I was finally met with who ran this place. A large buck, gunmetal grey coat with a charcoal black mane, dressed like an officer. He was accompanied by two guards, dressed in combat barding, though the armor looked dirty, which got under my skin slightly. The large buck was already talking to Blue Sterling and Lightning Clap when I finally zoned back in.

"So this must be the special cargo?" The buck raised an eyebrow at me but I had the felling he didn't mean no disrespect to me, but still why did they call cargo? Blue nodded his head.

"Lieutenant Colonel Rolling Thunder at you're service." The buck gave me a small bow, a bit much for me.I just gave him a quick military salute, something I realized I'd probably be doing a lot around here, figured I should get used to it."Come follow me, we have much to discuss." He said waving us to follow behind him.

The walk to his office consisted with two flights of metal stairs and a short walk through an office type building, nothing much of interest happened during the walk as almost everypony was silent. I more or less just wanted answers at this point so I could care less about the state of this place. We reach the double doors to his office, complete with all of the typical items found within an office. Chairs, tables, filing cabinets, cloud terminal on the large main desk, and an actual Sparkle-Cola machine. I made a mental note as I saw a map layout of this place. The main chamber of this huge fucking cave has the parking area, or hanger if you will, for the two Veritbucks. From there two catwalks branch off, each one going left or right. The left houses the Medical bay, Armory, Equipment and Weapon repair, and Maintenance. The right held The Offices, Mess Hall, Barracks, Technical, and Command Center. We're on the right.

"Please sit." Rolling Thunder gestured to the large chair placed in front of his desk."Lightning, Rocky, and Violet, you're free to go get cleaned up if you want."

"No sir, we were saved by him, so I want to stay and throw in my two cents." Lightning Clap shook his head no and took a seat in one of the empty chairs. The others did the same and we waited while Thunder and Blue talked for a short minute, I assume Blue Sterling was loading up what he found in my Stable onto Thunder's terminal. Blue walks away and left room completely and Rolling Thunder pressed a button for the intercom.

"Attention, Nightshade and Dusty, can you two report to my office. Repeat, can Nightshade and Dusty report to my office. Thank You." He then gave me a few up down glances before clearing his throat."Now I'm sorry if I seem somewhat disorganized, it's been a hell of a time trying to manage this place. Now you're Ty-49 correct?"

"Uhh yes, sir. But...its not my real name. I don't remember my real name. Look I'm confused and I want answers, no beating around the bush." Thunder chuckled, something I'm surprised he'd do.

"Ah I understand. You've been out of the loop for while haha. We'll answer what we can, so ask away."

"How long? How long has it been?"

"200 years, give or take a few months." Lightning chipped in, my mind just goes blank. It...it can't be that long, could it?

"I can tell by your expression that you don't believe us, but unfortunately it's true." Thunder gives me a sympathetic sigh before continuing."I understand that this may be hard for you."

"I...I'm speechless right now. But...moving on from this...uhhh who are all you? The raiders in the Stable called you Enclave."

"Yep that's us, the Grand Pegasus Enclave. But...we're a bit different than most of the lot above us." Lighting Clap gave a light chuckle.

"Above us? Like above the odd cloud cover?"

"Eeyup that's their doing alright." Rocky Road chimed in."It only delays the inevitable."

"Of what exactly?"

"Well looks like you've been out of the loop longer than we thought." Rolling Thunder began to say but he stopped when Blue Sterling returned with two other ponies. One was more faded shades of purple like Violet but...she has robotic parts. Her left eye is cybernetic eye that glowed purple and she had wing braces, well they look like the frames to power armor attached to her wings. The other pony was a dusty tan color with light brown mane. He's wearing an older looking cowpony hat and is dressed like an officer."Ah Nightshade and Dusty, glad to see you two. Please come and sit down."

"I'll stand, thank you." Dusty said with a low grumble in his voice."So this is the Stable Buck Blue mentioned?"

"He is. Now that we're all gathered here, I would like for the four of you to retell us the events that transpired earlier." Thunder gestured to the four of us, leaving the two others out of it. We gave each other glances before I allow them to start this tail.

So what I can recall from the whole dilemma was that after a recent scouting mission that Lightning Clap went on to one of Stable-Tec's regional Headquarters, they found locations for several different Stables. Apparently Junction Base was and still is, is in desperately need of supplies so they decided to try to get into my Stable, which was practically a stone's throw away from them. But they got in looking for an intact water talisman and a spark core for the one of the generators. But they started to notice that there was things out of place, like recently opened cans of food, doors that normally open being inaccessible. When Blue Sterling and his guard, somepony named Dip, got to the Overmare's office and got access to the Maneframe, they found out about the cryogenic pods, Stable experiments, and me. Vec, another pony in Lightning Clap's squad was the one who put the intact Pip-buck, gun, and keys in my room, right before all the raiders that were hiding in the shadows jumped them all. Got their guns snatched pretty quickly and the raiders managed to kill both Dip and Vec. Vec...Vec was the first Enclave soldier I found. I started my story from there, thankfully the details were still sticking with me. After I finished my part there was a bit of a silence but I finally broke it."So what are you going to do to me? Am I a prisoner? Or what?"

"Well...you're obviously not a prisoner here." Thunder stated."But...uh Blue Sterling would you like to explain what you found in the Stable?"

"Of course. So Ty, do you know what they did to you? Before I start explaining everything I just wanted to know."

"No...no I have no clue...ugh..." I groaned and felt the white hot burning sensation searing its way through my skull. Blue let out an odd sound.

"Then what you're experiencing right now is part of it. The experiments conducted in Stable 149 was to surgically implant magical arcane-tech implants. Now these were put in specific areas on the body and how many were installed were based on your physical health. You still with me?" Blue stopped talking and checked on me. I was trying to fight the pain but the pain was starting to win. Everypony started to look concerned.

"Ugh...no...maybe. It hurts..." I blink a bit as white specks started to appear in my vision.

"Rocky go get a bottle of a Sparkle-Cola from the machine over there." Rolling Thunder got out of his seat at that point and went over to me. Rocky did as he was told and went over to the machine. My breathing is becoming fast and shallow, fuck I needed to snap out of it.

"He's trying to remember." Blue stated calmly, and coldly."That was one of the side effects. Something the researchers called 'The Bleed'. Reprogramming in the brain, permanent loss of memories, pain, you get the point."

"Stop...talking...before I fucking kick you...in the balls..." I groaned, the pain finally started to dull. I was given a bottle of ice cold Sparkle-Cola from Rocky and I popped the cap off and tossed it away, only for Nightshade to pick it up.

"Not to be rude but rule one in the wasteland, always save bottlecaps. Seems silly at first but this is currency out there. Here." She gave me the cap back and I just shrugged while putting it in one of my pockets.

"Eh its kinda like using cigarettes as trade. Used to do that back in the army, I think...I dunno, my mind is a jumble." I said drinking more of the carrot flavored soda, though I noticed my Pip-buck clicking a bit, hmm must be the built in radiation counter ticking. Rolling Thunder cleared his throat.

"Well I think it's time to have you all visit Medical. Dusty Breeze you're free to go if you wish."

"Good, I have other more important things to tend too. Goodbye." Dusty, the pony with the cowpony hat, left without another word. Yeah I already don't like him.

"Shall we be off then?" Thunder helped me up out of the chair and my legs feel like rubber.

The walk over to Medical was uneventful till we actually got there. I noticed there was only a hoofull of guards walking through the place. I also noticed that it was oddly quiet, like if I could remember anything, I remember military bases being noisy. But once we reached Medical and walked in, the door was open, we were met with a very interesting sight. Inside was a pink unicorn with a dirty blonde mane dressed as a doctor, taking a huge hit off a dash inhaler while snorting some kind of power. She didn't see us until Thunder got her attention."Double Barrel." The mare jumped like a ghost bit her in the ass and threw the inhaler across the room by accident, also she let out a yelp. Her muzzle is, especially around her nose, is covered in whatever the powder was.

"Fucking hell! Don't jump out at me like that! What do you want? Oh hey Nightshade." Yeah she's already getting high. Thunder just let's out a groan then a sigh.

"I was hoping you could patch up a few ponies but I see that you're busy. And why use chems during work? Ugh...look you know how I feel about you using chems."Thunder didn't seem happy. This mare, Double Barrel, let out a groan.

"Was hoping to ride this high but fuck it I guess! Alright which one of you little shits is the that wants to ruin my evening?" Wow, was not expecting her to be this blunt. Everyone took a big step back leaving me out in the open. I didn't want to be looked over by a doctor who was high, nor had this crazy look in her eyes that made me quite scared honestly.

"So it's you, huh? Fuck get over here I guess." Her horn glowed this off color dark yellow and I found myself being drug to this old looking chair."Sit down and let me look at ya." I'm roughly sat down by her and this mare starts looking me over. She...stank a bit, both her breath and natural body odor, I wanted to gag a bit. She grabbed my head and turned my head to the left so the gash caused by being shot, is visible.

"Hmm laceration on right side of cheek. So what's his story, hmm? Why bring this Stable pony all the way up here?"

"He has a name you know, Double Barrel." Violet Wave gave her a glance, which was met with a scoff.

"I know, but I'm upset that I have to work while I'm high, its bad for business."

"You've got that fucking right, still got the scar from that thank you." Lightning Clap grumbled and sat down in a waiting chair, forelegs crossed. I felt like this place was on some sort of down slop, what with this quack looking me over.

"He's from the near by Stable, Stable 149. I was hoping you could get me some X-rays on his anatomy." Blue Sterling was becoming an unlikable pony, and I was not okay with that. Double Barrel backed away from me and turned to grab a few things from a near by shelf.

"Why? What's so important about his anatomy to you? You already know what a pegasi's bone structure looks like."

"He was...experimented on while in the Stable. Little chips implanted in him. I want to make notes on what kind of implants he has, and if any of them are active." Double Barrel stopped and thought for a moment.

"Alright. But you might want to ask your boss first. Rolling Thunder, you've been really quiet over there. You want me to do this or just patch him up? His wounds aren't sever so a few healing potions and some bandages should fix him up."

"Ugh...as much as I wouldn't want to put him through anything else..." Rolling Thunder gave me a sympathetic glance before continuing."If he's willing, I would like to know what we're dealing with." Everypony looked at me and I just stared at the ground before letting out a sigh. I admit that I was curious at what was put into me so I nodded my head.

"Fine...just don't cut me open." Double Barrel laughed at that remark.

"Heheh I like this kid already. Alright let me fire up the Auto-Doc then we'll get your X-rays." She walks behind me and I could hear the sounds of a keyboard being pressed on."Ugh, it's gonna take a few minutes for it to warm up as power was detoured to other utilities." She gave a glare back at Blue Sterling, who threw his hooves up in defense.

"Hey I'm working on it! We didn't find anything in his Stable so I'll have to look back over my notes and maps for a different location." Okay now I want to know why.

"So is this place is going under then?" Thunder let out a sigh.

"I guess since you'll be staying with us for some time I figure you'd hear this from the rest of us. I'll be blunt, we're in a bad way down here. To tell you a much more shortened version of the story is that we're mostly cut off from the rest of the Enclave. Our homeland of New Cloudsdale does occasionally send down supplies. But that's rare now with everything that's been going. But we've had to ration out food and water. Our equipment has been breaking down and we're running out of power. Pretty soon if we don't find a fresh Spark Core soon, this place will shut down. We've had a few leads, one being your Stable but it was no luck. And we're almost out of fresh water, which is why we need a water talisman. There's an underground stream underneath us that we can get too but we don't know if it's drinkable. And with you here, no offense, you'll be another mouth to feed and another pony to shelter. I'm hoping you have something that you can do to pitch in around here." When he finished, Double Barrel jumped around to face me with a grin. either the drugs had kicked in full drive or something.

"That's how I got here! Their original doctor got really sick and Nightshade already knew about how good of a doctor I was, bar the few ponies who died under my care...but that's not important. Either way because I saved Nightshade's life and because she owed me a solid, I took up residents here! And I've been a huge help haven't I?" She looked back at the rest of the group, who gave varied responses. Double Barrel shrugged and picked me up out of the chair, damn she was strong."Auto-Doc is already for you. Just remove your cloths, step in, and just stand still, preferably on your hind legs." I just nodded, took off my Stable suit, and climbed into the large tube like structure.

It took only about 5 minutes for the machine to do what it was meant to do. I don't remember Auto-Docs before the war but I could care less about it. It healed my wounds, extracted another bullet out of my hind leg, and took X-rays like Blue Sterling wanted. I was in the middle of putting my suit back on when the X-rays were printed out for all to see, as well as medical reports, I guess for filing reasons.

"Well that is down right creepy." Blue muttered. It was my body so I must know.

"What is it?"

"You have...well six different implants, or chips if you want to call them that. Two embedded in your brain, one on your spine, one on your stomach, and two in your inner thighs, those last two I have no reason why they're there. But it gets worse from there. Uhh you sure you want to hear this?"

"Whatever it is, I need to know."

"You have a horn now. But let me explain. A few of the intact experiment logs I found were...disturbing. Apparently one of the chips in your head, the one latched onto your frontal lobe, is able to create a sort of artificial magic field. But it needed a conduit. So in order for one to be put in, they took a unicorn's horn, didn't say if they were dead or alive, but they melted the bone down and molded it to fit a certain area of your forehead. They took out some of your bone and put the melted unicorn horn in as replacement. So you still have bone there, its just more magical." The room fell silent and I tried to wrap my brain around the idea of Stable-Tec forcefully removing a unicorn's horn for somepony's else's use. It sickened me, and still does.

"Shit...taking a unicorn's horn is like taking a pegasus's wings and slapping them on an earth pony." Lightning Clap shook his head in disbelief.

"Agreed." Everyone in the room muttered to some degree. I was still silent till a question popped into my head.

"Can you remove them? The implants I mean." Blue just shook his head no, crushing any hope of ridding myself of this burden.

"No unfortunately. The was a fail-safe induced outlined in a log labeled, 'E-log2447'. It stated that if somepony was to remove one successfully, any other chips would release an unknown toxin that would kill them. As of right now though, your implants lie dormant, deactivated. But there are a...few ways that could reactivate them..." I didn't like what he was saying so I looked to Rolling Thunder and his...I'm assuming second in command, Nightshade, for help.

"Hey! Look I don't like bitching but could you please do something before I have to put Blue out for a while?"

"Of course. Umm Nightshade, since you're...ya know...more accustom to...well you know." Thunder seemed uneasy talking about Nightshade like that, must have been a sore subject for discussion. Nightshade nodded and stepped forward.

"Look seeing that I'm the only one here who....can speak about both sides," She drew in a breath and just looked hurt,"Ty was it? I understand that having something put into you without your consent is troubling to say the least but...cybernetics do have their uses. I can still fly like I used too and I can see out of my left eye again. So if I were to be given the oppertunity to to have very minimal cybernetics instead of these bulky braces and eye piece, I would gladly take them. But that's just my opinion." Fucking hell she made a good point somehow. I'm a solider, I follow orders and learned not to question change. I learned how to adapt and survive so if these implants could help me, then why not? I was already a ghost from an old world so why not go all in? I had nothing left to live for so fuck it.

"Alright sign me up. How can we restart these things?"

"Electroshock." As soon as Blue Sterling said that Double Barrel immediately shot up with a demented grin.

"Ooooh! I have the perfect idea! I have this old set of defibrillators we could use! I can overcharge them to give you a very nice and painful electric shock! Ooh this will be so exciting! I'll go get them!" She ran off and now I was left with the rest of them. Thunder and Nightshade walked up and tried to either comfort me or something. The rest somewhat followed suit.

"You okay? Electroshock isn't something we'ed just jump too." Blue stated giving me a look that I took as genuine concern for my health. I just shrugged.

"Go all in or die trying. I have nothing left to live for so if this kills me good, if it don't oh well there's always next time." I gave a dry chuckle."But don't worry about me. This place is falling apart and you all are worring about a ghost so don't." Violet stepped up.

"You risked your life and saved us now you just want to die because you found out your world is gone? You can make the most of it here, we can help." I let out a 'hmph'.

"We'll see. I think the quack is coming back." Double Barrel returned with an old rusted and faded white box with her. I guess the defibrillator was inside.

I laid back on the operating table with my clothing off as well as my Pip-buck removed. I reflected on how I reached the moment of being voluntarily electrocuted by a drugged out unicorn covered in scars and had a mad scientist vibe to her. I just laughed to myself and hoped that this would be enjoyable for her. Most of everypony left leaving only Rolling Thunder, Nightshade, and Blue Sterling. Double Barrel was warming up the defib unit and I had a single thought run through me, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, it seemed to fit my current predicament well.

"Alright! Clear!" Double Barrel pressed the paddles down directly on my chest and all hell broke loose. Ever been electrocuted to the point you could almost see the electrical arc between each other? This wasn't a quick zap like a doctory trying to jumpstart a heart again. Now this was a prolonged electrocution with a very old set probably way way over the expretion date. I screamed, I couldn't hold back screaming as I was getting electrocuted. She removes the pads to warm them back up and I was left gasping for air and trying to get off the table but I was strapped down.

"Double Barrel I think that was enough! Stop!" Nightshade tried to reason with her only to get shoved away.

"Too late! Clear!" She pressed the paddles back down onto my chest and an even bigger burst of electricity jumps through my entire body. I felt like I was on fire, I could smell smoke, and my head burned like somepony was stabbing me in the brain. My vision was becoming nothing but a blur...white specks dotted my vision. I felt something snap inside my mind and just like that all I saw was white light.

-Present Time-

I don't remember much of what happened after that. Nightshade had to subdue Double Barrel from going any further, that's what she told me. But what was most surprising to them all was when it was all said and done, and after my bindings were removed, I sat up and started muttering about...something...can't really remember what they said. But it had something to do with enemy positions and shit, but I actually climbed off the table and walked over to the nearest recovery bed and just collapsed on it. I was out for a good hour or so before waking up. No pony was in here but Nightshade when I woke up as Thunder had to deal with something else, something about maintenance, and Blue left to do some paperwork. I've just been sitting here staring half heartedly at nothing, just thinking. Nightshade walked out for a few minutes to get me something. But I noticed my cloths were gone completely...and I have burn marks for those paddles. I feel like that was one of the stupidest decisions I've ever made but I almost felt...I dunno...more alive when I was being electrocuted. Its an odd feeling to have, heheh somepony who likes getting hurt, I never understood that.

"Hey you there?" I jumped a bit, Nightshade snuck up on my like a ghost, dammit I was supposed to be the ghost.

"Y-yeah, yeah. I'm fine. I feel off, and I hurt a bit. But...don't worry, I think."

"Well you scared the shit out of us. I told Violet and she was fucking terrified. I think she thinks she owes you for helping her back at your Stable." I just shrug.

"I dunno. Seems like I should owe you all for just taking me in. I mean my life has just took a fucking left turn for better or worse, plus you're friend legitimately tried to kill me."

"Yeah...she's a damn idiot sometimes but...but she's still a good pony. A chem addicted ex raider and merc doctor with a kill streak. She's smart and she's good at what she does but damn does that mare have issues. Hey I brought you some fresh fatigues to wear. Oh and here's your Pip-buck back. Blue said he did something to it to help determine your implants or something but I didn't listen much." Nightshade sat a folded Enclave uniform with my Pip-buck laying on top. I thank her and get dressed. The fatigues fit well and thankfully my Pip-buck fit over the cloths. But when I looked at it I had a few things pop up on it. Something about new technology detected and something else about health or something, I didn't read it.

"Hey umm everypony is at the mess hall right for dinner, you're more than welcome to join us." Nightshade said while walking towards the door. I nod and follow right behind her.

The walk over to the mess hall was quiet and I honestly liked it that way. But the closer we got to the hall the louder voices became apparent. We entered that large cafeteria and there were was such as happy atmosphere in here. Classic pre-war music was playing on a radio while a few ponies were dancing. It...felt nice...like a pub almost. We both grabbed a food try and was severed steamed vegetables and some buttered bread, the meal of champions. The pony behind the counter, ironically named Crunch, had the sleazy bartender vibe, but was smiling. I guess morale was pretty high among everyone here. We met up with Lightning Clap, Rocky Road, and Violet Wave, sitting at near by table.

"Well damn, you're still kicking!" Lightning raised an eyebrow at me and I just sat down in silence before giving a sly grin.

"Why do you sound surprised? You put a bet on me or something?"

"Kinda. Rocky and I had a small bet going on. Guess I owe him and a few others a few packs of cigarettes then." We all shared a chuckle and we started to talk some more. I found out a bit more about my four new friends. Lightning Clap and Rocky Road were in a relationship and usually worked together, though Rocky worked in the Security department. Violet was one of only two engineers in Junction. Nightshade was Rolling Thunder's second in command here despite she's only a Lieutenant. A few questions were asked about me but I only gave vague answers as I didn't have some of the answers.

"So you're a veteran then?" Rocky asked and I nodded.

"Yeah...I think so. My memory is still fuzzy on that but I think so. I seem to have killed somepony before." I grumbled that last part.

"Hey don't think about that right now. Hey Crunch! Break out the booze, I need to cheer my savior up!" Would I be court marshaled if I bashed Lightning Clap with my meal tray?

A few shots of Wild Pegasus Whiskey later I feel much better. I can only remember bits of anything but I could remember that I have a soft spot for alcohol. Violet seemed very close to me after drinking too, hey more the merrier. But the fun seemed to stop after Rolling Thunder walked in. But he just chuckled."Please don't stop on my account." The small party seemed to restart some. Rolling Thunder walked up to us and he seemed surprised when he saw me, probably because I was trying to get the whiskey bottle from Rocky."I want some more dammit!"

"Fuck you, you've had enough! Let somepony else have som- oh Lieutenant Colonel Rolling Thunder!" Rocky gets up and saulted him, well he was a bit buzzed already.

"At ease Rocky. I was hoping to speak with Ty for a few moments but I see you're busy at the moment."

"No, no, I'm good I'm good." I said pushing Lightning Clap away from me, he was getting a bit to close."I'm not as drunk as the rest. I've had harder stuff in the past."

"Heheh alright follow me then."

Within a few minutes I was back in his office and we both took a seat. I found it surprising that I wasn't drunker than just a light buzz, something I found odd. Rolling Thunder's voice snapped me back to my senses."You zoned out again. Look Ty...I want personally thank you for saving some of my troops. It's been a hell of a time trying to keep this place running, and we were getting reckless, desperate for any source of supplies." He took a deep breath before continuing."We've...we've lost great ponies over the three years this facility has been in operation, including my friend and co commander here, Thicket, General Thicket."

"And he built this place?"

"Sorta. He pulled some serious strings in New Cloudsdale to start construction. I've been good friends with him for some time before he became General. But Thicket had visions for this place. You see...the Enclave are...isolationists, always have been since the Last Day. We closed up the skies and never looked back...well till now."

"So...you...you abandoned Equestria once the bombs started falling?"

"Y-yeah but-" I let anger get the better of me, and the whiskey too probably.

"TRAITORS! I sacrificed my blood sweat and tears for the country I called home! We lost great soldiers in the Great War and yet the pegasi, my own kind, abandoned your...your own red blooded Equestrians to the Stripe bombs that killed my friends and family!" I blinked...realizing I shouted way too hard...and then I started to laugh."B-but what's the point anymore? Hmm? The world I knew is dead and buried, so...why worry anymore? Take my chances and hope that this new world kills me fast..." Thunder glared at me for a moment before one of his grey wings roughly slapped me in the face, something I deserved. I rubbed my cheek for a bit before slumping back into my chair and look at the ground, a good way to show defeat. Thunder let out a sigh and sat back down in his own chair.

"Not apologizing for that,but I understand your anger...and honestly I share the same feelings sometimes. But that's why this place exists. Once it was fully operational we were going to give aid to the ponies of the wasteland. Most of everypony here shares some of the same ideals. But that idea faltered after Thicket's death..."

"What happened?"

"He was returning with his daughter Nightshade when an unknown group of ponies shot down their Vertibuck. Thicket died of his wounds pretty quickly but Nightshade survived. Both wings were broke and he left eye was...was just missing, and we couldn't recover her or him. But thankfully, by Celestia's own grace, and a bit of luck, Nightshade was found by a traveling doctor. Double Barrel, the same mare who gave you quite a shock...pardon the pun. She fixed her, heh even took it upon herself to steal cybernetics from the damn Steel Rangers. Look Double Barrel is a nut and has quite a past reputation of...torture and murder, but she's good at what she does. So...the reason why I brought you here is...well I wouldn't be asking this if I didn't need it...but we need help."

"You guys may be traitors but you're trying to redeem something. So go big or die trying, I'm in. What do you need?"

"Really just like that?" Thunder seemed to be taken back by that. I just chuckled.

"Look, I'm a soldier, a product of the army. I feel lost without getting orders, so I wanna help, besides you said I needed to pitch in to stay here. So what's the mission, sir?" This should be fun.

"We're running out of drinkable water and we're running out of power. You already know the reasons why so it's just a matter of getting you to someplace that has both things. You'll be going out into the wastes to find a water talisman and a Spark Core. I suggest starting at Junction R-7, the little town you saw at the bottom of the mountain. Its run by the Talons, a group of highly trained and well armed griffons. But there are merchants and traders that could point you to a location, preferably an abandoned hospital or military installation. Oh but you'll need this." Rolling Thunder pulled out a book from his desk. It's a makeshift book with a unicorn skull on the front.

"'The Wasteland Survival Guide, by Ditzy Doo.' Wait...I remember that name...I...ugh...dammit it hurts to remember." I groaned.

"Don't stress yourself out. I suggest you read up on that. Now there is one more thing. Blue Sterling and his almost magical way with technology, was able to restore a few files from the Stable about you. You're welcome to read them too if you want, there's not much but its a bit more than before. And here's a key to your room." He slid over a file folder and a small keycard.

"Room, sir?"

"Yes. I talked it over with Nightshade and we decided to give you General Thicket's room. Nightshade thought it would nice for somepony else to give the room some needed love and affection. She seems happier now which is a nice change of pace. But for now," Rolling Thunder rose from his chair and gestured for me to do the same, which I did."Welcome to the Enclave, Specialist." Her gave me a salute and I did the same.

"Glad to be back in the saddle, sir. Let's show those commie bastards who their messing with."

-Footnote-

Quest/Companion Perks-

Magix M22 Implant- A specialized neurological implant designed to produce a low level telekinetic field. Basic telekinesis spell acquired.

MG13-12 Implant- Implant designed to alter a pony's immune and digestive system so they can take in more hazardous substances for nourishment. Poison and Radiation resistance increased by 25%.

Author's Note

Big thanks to my friend for letting me use his OCs.