The Conversion Bureau: Waking From a Nightmare

A/N:Updating from my phone you lucky bastards.

Chapter 6: Injury

Kelvin moved to us, dangling a few vials of red liquid in his fingers, "Got the samples Boss."

I turned away, not being able to look into that man's eyes any longer. I heard Dash walk to Kelvin, "Good," she said softly, "Before we leave... let's uh... let's cut the power."

Kelvin gave Dash an inquisitive look, "Boss?"

Dash looked to a me, a frown on her face, "We can't leave them like this."

Kelvin hesitated for a moment, then pocketed the vials and nodded. The three soldiers set about unplugging the equipment in the room. Dash walked to me and pushed her muzzle into my side softly, a gesture of comfort, "I'm sorry you had to see this."

"Why did you need me to come here in the first place? I didn't help, and I didn't need to see this."

Dash sighed just as Jenkins unplugged the last EKG. "We brought you in case..."

"I'm disappointed in you Rainbow Dash." Dash snapped around towards the sound of the voice. Standing in the doorway we had come through were five guards, led by a very large, very intimidating white stallion. He was decked out in the armor of a guard captain, and his horn gave him away as a unicorn. "You know," said the captain, "For the Element of Loyalty you're not very loyal. How many years has it been since that little incident?"

I could almost hear Dash grit her teeth, "Two."

The captain laughed, "My sister was always quick to forgive."

I looked down at Dash, who now seemed more worried than anything else, "Dash, what's he talking about?"

The guard captain laughed, "Oh? She didn't tell you about her little traipse to the Royal Guard Tower? Well, I'd hate to spoil the ending, but..."

Dash stomped her hoof and stepped forward with a deep growl, "Shut the fuck up Shining! You have no right to talk! At least I have an excuse for what I did." A moment of silence passed before Dash continued, "Where the hell were you when Twi needed your help?! Where the hell were you when Cadence was arrested?! You talk a big game, but at least I can protect my friends!"

Shining stepped forward, his nostrils flaring, "How dare you?"

"Look at what you've become," she said softly, "You're so afraid of losing Twi and Cadence that you can't even do the right thing anymore. It's pathetic."

Shining faltered a bit, his eyes darting to the side, "I am doing the right thing. We're saving the humans."

Dash's eyes narrowed, "Are you so sure about that?"

"Wha..."

Dash gestured to the beds behind her, to the dead and the dying, "I'd say we just did more to save them than you ever could Shining. No one deserves to suffer through pain like that, and when they're converted they aren't even themselves anymore."

"They're happier."

"NO!" shouted Dash, "God just listen to yourself for one second! All their anger, their hatred, their passion, it's all GONE!"

"But..."

"There is no but Shining! Negative emotions are just as much a part of you and me as they are them! You're taking away who they are! That's worse than genocide, that's complete erasure! There's always another way and you know damn well that I'm right. Twi has been looking for solutions, for something better than this, because we are better and the humans deserve that effort. We've put them through enough."

"Don't bring Twiley into this."

Dash scoffed, "You don't get to call her that anymore."

Both parties fell silent. The tension in the air was thick, and I couldn't help but feel like it was about to be a life or death situation. This wasn't some debate between two political parties, this was two soldiers getting ready to kill each other for their beliefs. The only thing that was holding Dash back was that she somehow knew this guy.

"Suit yourself." With those parting words, Shining turned and left the room, leaving his guards to deal with us. I don't know how long we stood there at an impasse, but it was long enough for Shining to get away.

The first guard stepped forward, a smirk on his face, "You know, it's been a long time Loyalty."

Dash's eyes widened as the guard approached, "You."

The wings on his back signified he was a pegasus, his coat was white like Shining's, but his mane was a light grey color. It looked like the other guards he was with were all unicorns. The odds were clearly in their favor, but it wasn't them I feared.

What I feared was Dash's reaction when she saw that first guard.

"So you do remember me. I'm touched. Drop your weapons, surrender peacefully, and your friends here may get off with being forced into Conversion."

The M9 that had been given to me dug into my back, tucked in my jeans haphazardly. It was almost like it was asking me to use it.

Dash snarled, "You son of a..."

She was cut off by the guard's hoof slamming into her face.

I moved without thinking, pulling the M9 from my belt and clicking the safety off with my thumb before pressing it to the Pegasus' head.

Everything froze.

The pegasus smirked, "What is thiiiis? Tell me Loyalty, have you always been an ape fucker?"

I dug the barrel of the gun hard into his head, causing him to flinch, "I would choose your next words carefully."

The pegasus chuckled, "You haven't killed yet, Human. I can see it in your eyes. It's not as easy as you think."

"Don't push it asshole."

"Tell me Human, which one of her charming tactics did she use on you? It would be amusing to hear how you've become so... attached to her."

"If you think I'm not going to pull this trigger than you need a serious reality check."

"Oh, you won't pull it, at least not yet. After all, you're curious aren't you? You want to hear what I have to say about Loyalty, don't you?" He paused for a moment.

I wanted to look back at Dash, but I knew as soon as I did this guy would have gotten the drop on me. I wanted to ask her myself...

"You see," said the pegasus, "She used me a long time ago. Much as she's using you now."

My finger was getting itchy, "Dash, what's he talking about?"

"Do you want to tell him Loyalty, or should I? After all, who would take the word of a slut over a guard?"

Something inside me snapped at that moment. Never before had I held a gun in my life, nor had I ever intended to use one. It was so easy, really. All I had to do was pull that small metal trigger back just a bit.

Really, he should have kept his mouth shut about Dash.

When I actually pulled the trigger all hell broke loose.

The remaining four guards fired on us instantly.

Blasts of magic flew past me. I saw a a flash of blue and was tackled to the ground.

"WILCOX!"

That had sounded like Fredericks shouting.

I didn't have time to process it before I was pulled up to my feet by Dash.

"Frag out!" shouted Dash.

With a flick of her wing the grenade was sent flying towards the unicorns in the doorway.

The magic blasts stopped, "Shit!"

Dash gritted her teeth as she dragged my sorry ass towards a door at the other end of the room, "Fred, Kelvin, grab Wilcox! We need to get the hell out of here!"

The world shook when the grenade went off.

My vision blurred and my ears rang.

It felt like someone set off a church bell inside my head.

When my head cleared I saw we were in a back hallway. I had been to that hallway many times before, but I never went into the room it surrounded.

I heard Dash's panting close by and knew she was still carrying me.

"You idiot," she muttered softly, "You damn idiot."

She sounded worried.

"This is what you needed me for isn't it?" I asked. Dash's eyes widened before I continued, "The emergency shutter system has an eye scan deactivation. Good thing I..." I coughed, "I came along then."

Dash gritted her teeth, "Shit, stop talking you idiot. I've got you. Just stay with me."

A warm feeling started to spread around my side. It wasn't a comfortable warm like Dash was though.

"Crap..." I coughed again, "When did I get hit?"

"Stop talking, we're almost out."

I kept my grip on Dash as my vision began to fade, tucking my head into her shoulder.

It was... nice.

I dreamt again.

This time I was on a warm beach, the sand beneath my toes as I gazed up into the sky. There were a few clouds here and there, and the sun sat just above the horizon, giving everything a beautiful orange tint. I felt warm, and I felt at peace.

As if my feet had a will of their own, I began walking towards the water with a smile on my face.

It was awe inspiring.

I hadn't seen a sunrise like this in years.

"Don't you die on me! Don't fuckin' do this to me!

The sand... the sand felt so good. It was warm and soft, just the right amount of coarse. I would have loved to take a vacation on a beach like this with my family.

Did I have a family?

My parents, yes.

But they were...

C'mon Big Guy!

I kept moving forward at a slow pace, appreciating my surroundings.

As the water lapped against my feet I saw them.

My parents.

They were smiling warmly, arms around each other as the gazed down at me.

My dad had that stupid military cut he always got ever since he retired from the forces, and my mom, she looked like she had bed head as usual.

I smiled right back.

My dad laughed when I began to walk again, the water now climbing up to my ankles.

Please... please... not again...

My feet stopped.

My dad, still smiling, raised his free hand to point behind me. His mouth formed a word that I couldn't hear, but understood all the same.

'Go.'

I turned, and there was the woman from my first dream, standing on the edge of the tide.

I could see her this time.

Her hair was unkempt, and fell down her back, glowing with the colors of a rainbow. Her eyes were a beautiful magenta color, and as I looked at her I found myself lost in them.

The summer dress she was wearing was decorated with flowers.

She raised a hand to me and grinned.

It was a grin I recognized.

I started to walk towards her.

My eyes opened slowly.

Everything was a blur, but I could tell I was surrounded by the color white.

Another white room, just like a day ago, when I had been conscripted to join the rebellion.

"Hey Big Guy."

I turned my head to the left and smiled at the sight of my new friend, "Hey Dash."

Without warning, she jumped onto the bed and wrapped her forehooves around my neck, taking a deep breath of relief, "We thought we lost you for a second there."

My throat was sore, "How bad was it?"

She pulled back and sighed, still not vacating the bed, and it looked like she didn't intend to any time soon, "It was a graze, but with magic... humans aren't exactly built for magic like that. If it was dead on you would have..." she swallowed.

I smirked, "Good thing it wasn't dead on then."

"Yeah," she said with a smile, "Real good."

"OH MY GOSH DASHIE HAS A CRUSH ON THE HUMAN!"

Two things happened next.

Dash leapt from the bed like it was suddenly on fire, her face turning a deep crimson as she did so.

Next, the chair at Dash's side was picked up by her wing and tossed towards the door, where a pink pony with a cotton candy mane sat, a grin on her face.

The pink pony tilted her head to the side and stuck her tongue out at Dash.

"Dammit Pinkie!"

"Oh come on Dashie, I'm only having a little fun. OOOOOO, speaking of fun we TOTALLY need to throw him a welcoming party. I'll grab Rarity and we'll get some cake and balloons on the next supply run! While we're at it hey have you seen Gummie around anywhere? If he gets into the armory again I'll be in biiiiiiig trouble!"

Dash gritted her teeth, "Fine, party, whatever. And no I haven't seen Gummie around!"

A long moment passed before Dash's anger seemed to completely deflate. She walked towards the door with a warm smile on her face and wrapped her friend up in a hug, "You feeling better?"

Pinkie giggled, returning the hug, "Lots, thanks for everything Dashie."

"No prob. I'm gonna hang out with Pinkie Big Guy, you get your rest."

I gave a thumbs up as Dash led Pinkie out of the room.

I let my head fall back onto the pillow and closed my eyes.