The Conversion Bureau: Waking From a Nightmare

Chapter 8: Bros

The briefing room was completely silent after I finished my explanation, Rainbow Dash at my side through the entire thing, and Twilight Sparkle listening to every detail with what seemed to be intense focus.

Twilight Sparkle was not angry, nor was she disappointed, not after hearing the story I had to share with her. She did, however, look thoughtful for a moment before speaking, "You do realize that I can't play favorites, right?"

I nodded, "I kind of figured that."

"As much as I'd like to pin a medal on your chest for grinding his face into the ground, this is a military installation, and any violence is prohibited. That goes for you too Dash."

Dash sighed and scuffed the ground with her hoof, "Sorry Twi."

Twilight smiled softly, "That being said, Rainbow didn't do much, and you..." she pointed a hoof to me, her smile growing, "Are not on the roster, nor have you received any training, so a small amount of paperwork will be enough to clear this up. Keep your nose clean for a couple of weeks and you won't have anything to worry about. If Sharp Gaze or anyone else gives you two trouble, I want you to come see me, and I mean it. I know Matt has been busy lately, but I take command in his place, that means I can deal with our... less than desirable elements."

Dash's face lit up with a grin that would put her friend Pinkie to shame. "You are the awesomest pony EVER!"

"I'm just doing what I have to do. Sharp had it coming, and sexual harassment is the last thing we need right now. He will be receiving a very harsh punishment, and probably won't see the inside of a transport vehicle anymore unless we're moving base."

I let out a sigh of relief, "Good, people like him are the last thing we need out in the field."

Twilight nodded, then cleared her throat, "Rainbow, could you give me a minute alone with Mr. Grey?"

"Yeah, sure, no problem, seeya later Big Guy."

"Seeya Dash."

Dash flapped her wings and flew out of the room, and I turned back to Twilight, who looked contemplative again.

"What'd you need me for?"

"I wanted to talk about you and Rainbow."

My mouth went dry, "I... I uh... heard about the rumors from Dash."

"It's a non-issue."

"What?"

She smiled and gave me a wink, "I mean that it's none of my business."

I'd like to say that I kept my cool, but the fire taking residence on my face said otherwise, "So what did you um... want to talk about then?"

Twilight giggled, it was the first time I heard such a light sound come from her, "Rainbow requested that she be the one to train you, and I'm inclined to push it through. You two get on like a... what's the human saying?"

"A house on fire."

"Heh, yes, that. Rainbow has a lot of experience training humans for field work. I just wanted to let you know that while you're on duty it needs to stay strictly professional, is that clear?"

"Crystal."

"Good, you're free to go. Also, let Rainbow know she shouldn't be eavesdropping."

I raised an eyebrow at that last comment, but decided to think nothing of it...

At least until I made it outside the room and found Dash, red all the way from her cheeks to behind her ears, "Uh... hey Big Guy... heh..."

Michael Willis was running.

He didn't know where he would go, or what he would be able to do once he was there, but he knew he had to get away as fast as humanly possible. It wasn't supposed to be like this; there was a time when Mr. Willis was happy.

A time when he had a wife, children, and a career.

All he knew at that moment was that it was night time and he was sprinting through the park as fast as his legs would carry him, weaving in between the trees to try and shake his pursuers.

The situation would have been laughable if his life wasn't in danger.

"He went that way!"

"Fan out, utilize the rounds!"

"But... they're not ready, it could kill him!"

Michael's eyes widened, and he started to move even faster. His legs were numb, but he didn't care, all he wanted to do was get away.

He stopped hearing the hooves behind him, and leaned against a tree to catch his breath. After giving himself a moment he stood and resumed running...

At least until he felt the prick in the back of his neck.

His legs were the first thing to give out as he went tumbling to the ground.

Then he felt fire spreading through his veins.

He couldn't help it, he started to scream. It was probably the most painful thing anyone had ever felt, and to Michael, who never experienced much pain in his life, it was like hell.

He started convulsing just as others came to observe him, the ones who had been giving chase.

The ponies watched as he thrashed about like a fish out of water.

The pegasus leading them sighed and shook his head, "Back to formula, and make it right this time!"

Michael Willis died that night.

His wife and children, already converted, would be told he was missing.

-One Week Later-

"Again!"

The firing range was my favorite place once Dash started training me.

The sound of a magazine slamming into place.

Slapping the paddle and hearing the bolt shoot forward, chambering a bullet.

Then there was my favorite part.

Pulling the trigger.

Three successive rounds burst from the muzzle, two of them hit the target, which was about fifty meters away; the target being a silhouette of a person on a sheet of paper.

The range itself was inside, and we were required to wear hearing protection behind the firing line whenever anyone was firing. The day Dash and I got there it was pretty empty, so she started teaching me how to not shoot like an idiot.

She taught me how to use the iron sights, line them up and focus on the front sight, let your target be slightly blurry.

It was easy enough.

"Alright Big Guy."

I stood from the firing line and pushed on the magazine release before clicking the M4 to 'Safe'.

"It's easier than I thought it would be, honestly. People make such a big deal about guns, guess I expected it to be super complicated or something." I reached up to my head and removed the hearing protection.

Dash walked to me, smiling, "Not bad for a first timer."

I gave her a flat look, "And how the hell do you aim this thing Ms. Perfect?"

"Ha, I can't exactly put it in front of my face. I kind of just... had to get a feel for it."

"Kind of like those weirdos that can shoot from the hip and still hit everything."

"Yeah, kinda like that I guess. Hey listen, it's been a while since we hung out Big Guy. This past week has been clearing rooms of paper bad guys and tossing flashbangs around. You wanna go grab a drink?"

I shrugged, "Sure, why the hell not? Let's take a break for a day or two."

She grinned, "Awesome, let's go to the rec room. Also, after that I've got something cool to show you."

The rec room was pretty busy by the time me and Dash got there to sit down for some booze. There was some hoofball game going on, and the ponies had just managed to bogart some cable the day before, so there were literally tons of people there watching it.

"Kinda crowded in here," grumbled Dash.

I laughed and sat at the bar on one of the shorter stools for humans; Dash opted for a taller one.

The bartender, a bald guy who looked like he was going on sixty, grinned at the both of us, "Well if it ain't Double Trouble. What can I do you fer Mr. Grey, and while we're at it would you like some horse feed for this fine mare over here?"

Dash grinned and lunged for him with her forehoof, but he stepped back with a laugh, avoiding the hit.

Dash sighed and sat back, planting her chin on her forehoof, "You're such an ass Jim. Just get me a Jack and Coke, and get Big Guy on tap, start him with a Bud."

I held a hand to my heart, "You always know just what I like Ms. Dash."

She responded by hitting me in the arm, "Just for that you're paying this time."

"I don't have any money."

"Consider yourself in debt."

"How much is interest?"

"Fifty percent."

I let out a low whistle, "That's pretty steep, anything I can do to accelerate payments?"

Dash turned her head to me, looked me up and down, then turned back to Jim, "Nah, I'm not that desperate yet."

Jim laughed uproariously as he started to spray some beer from the tap into my mug. When he slammed it down in front of me he grinned at both of us, "That's not what Sharpey's been saying about you two."

I rolled my eyes and took a swig from the beer before responding, "Let that little cunt talk. Dash here is my bro," I reached over to ruffle her mane, and she blushed, "He fucked with her and got what was coming to him."

Jim smirked, "Consider the first couple of beers on the house kid, I like your attitude. As for the lady here, your Jack and Coke is free."

Jim set Dash's drink in front of her, which was weird, because I didn't even see him pour it for her.

Fucking Jim, how does he work?

Jim waved a hand, "Whatever, I know you two ain't involved, 'sides, s'not his business anyways. Man wants to make out with an alien I say let 'em."

I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose, "Captain Kirk would be proud."

"Pff, these fuckers ain't ponies. I had a pony back when I owned a farm, and it sure as hell ain't as cute as the lady here."

"You are a FREAK Jim," I said with a laugh.

"Hahahaha, like you ain't."

Dash grinned, remaining silent as she started on her drink.

I can't remember much of that night, but I do know that two hours later Dash and I were stumbling out of the bar giggling like retards. She hopped up on my back when it turned out I was running into the hardened concrete walls a lot less than she was.

"Hey," she said, "Hey Big Guy, hey..."

"Was'up?"

"Go right up here then jus' keep goin', k?"

"Bed?"

She giggled, "No bed, mush better."

I don't even remember getting there, but I did as Dash said, and eventually we were outside, on the side of the hill we were imbedded in. She must have guided me a bit more, because we ended up in a rather flat area with a canopy of pine trees surrounding it. The clearing itself was extremely soft, and I ended up on my back at some point, with Dash sprawled across my chest.

"In't this nice?" she asked.

"Yep."

I remember thinking about how beautiful the stars in the night sky were.

"'M worried about her..."

"Who Dash?"

Dash yawned, "Lunaaaa."

We were both out within seconds.