Fallout Equestria: Uncertain Ties

Chapter Three: Maintenance

“All you need is duct tape and some chewing gum.”

“Miss Skyfire…”

“Skyfire Lumia?”

There was a frustrated grunt and a loud clatter.

“Skyfire, it’s time to wake up.”

A crimson mane shifted as Skyfire’s eyes fluttered open, ears twitching. She blinked blearily, trying to wake up from the deep sleep she’d been enjoying. If only she could have a few more minutes of rest. Finally, she tried to search for the source of whatever awoke her. The lights felt awfully bright, a painful sterile white she still wasn’t used to, and she grumbled as she rubbed purple eyes with heavy hooves.

“Ah, you’re awake.” The voice of Healing Drops, that she began to get accustomed to, greeted her, drawing her attention to where the elderly blue mare sat on a stool. It almost felt like every time she awoke there was the elder mare, sitting and waiting with a clipboard in hoof.

“Good morning,” Skyfire yawned. With a bit of effort she shifted up to a proper sitting position, the rough green blanket on her lap the only respite to the cold sterile air.

Healing Drops gave a polite nod. “I imagine you’re starting to get stir crazy.”

“Maybe a little,” she admitted, brushing her mane idly. She broke eye contact, gazing about her quarters, there were a few books on the nearby medical table that Misty Sparks brought, having made good on her promise. They’d been her only escape from that small medical room, taking her to places she’d never even known existed, though they certainly didn’t now after the Final Day. She was rather appreciative of them.

Healing drops coughed as she floated out a clipboard in front of her, looking over the injured mare in front of her. Skyfire refocused on her and gave a shy smile. “It’s surprising you’ve lasted this long without complaint, though you’re the first pegasus in our stable. Trying to make a good first impression?” Skyfire awkwardly shrugged at the question. Healing Drops gave a soft chuckle and shook her head. “Well, it’s been a week and the Overmare has decided you will be evaluated.”

Skyfire blinked, pinning her ears back as she looked towards the ceiling. “It’s been a week already?”

“I’m afraid so.”

“I guess I hadn’t noticed, it’s hard to tell time here.” She used to rely on the sun, but with so much concrete, rock and metal between her and the sky, her sense of time was skewed.

“That’s alright. However, there has been no reported contact or indication of Enclave forces investigating the crash, not even so much as a fly over. You said that the Enclave would have arrived at most three days after a crash to investigate,” Healing Drops noted, nodding her head somberly. Skyfire closed her eyes, her grip on the blanket tightening as she let out a long sigh. Healing Drops’ almost judging gaze felt extra heavy on her.

“I see…”

A few seconds passed before Healing Drops jotted something down on her clipboard. “That being said, Overmare Flare felt it would be smart to let you start moving about again, and to let you start repaying our hospitality.” Healing Drops flipped through her notes until she was satisfied. “If you pass, you’re going to help out around the stable. You did say that you were a qualified engineer, right Miss Lumia?”

Skyfire took a few moments to process what Healing Drops was telling her. The possibility of getting out of that room and helping the stable was exhilarating and terrifying. Misty Sparks hadn’t mentioned if she’d been successful with her mother when she’d visited, leaving her anxiously awaiting any news. She didn’t want to consider what would happen if she made a mistake. The pegasus adjusted herself, carefully positioning her wings until she felt comfortable. She tried to look presentable. “I am a mechanics technician specialized in repairing Vertihawks and other small aircraft.”

“Verti-whats?” Healing Drops asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Uhm… Vertihawks, it’s an aircraft, like the one that I arrived here in.” Skyfire explained quietly and gave a strained smile. “What would you have me do?” She found her hoof playing through her long crimson mane, the sensation relaxing enough to help calm her nerves.

“Whatever they think they can trust you with fixing, or at least attempting to. I’m sure some of our systems are quite different from what you’re used to, but hopefully you’ll be able to adjust. Whether or not you’re lying about your profession, time will tell.” Healing Drop’s said as she glanced at the vitals reading from Skyfire’s monitors. Skyfire cringed slightly at the last bit, but she quickly resolved to prove herself to them.

“Looks like your vitals are in line with a healthy pony of your age. Please raise your left hoof up as high as you can. Okay now raise the other.” Healing Drop’s pen ran back and forth across her notes, filling in various details as Skyfire obeyed.

Healing Drops slowly stood up from the stool, grimacing as her knees popped, and then walked over. She floated her notes and pen along with a pair of surgical gloves. She leaned against the bed and slipped the gloves on. “Now stretch out on your side, I’m going to take a look at your puncture wound.”

Skyfire obeyed, trying to hide her grimace of discomfort as the blanket was pulled back. A chill ran down her spine, as the cold air rushed over her, only to be magnified by the touch of plastic covered hooves on her left side. “Extend your foreleg,” instructed Healing Drops. Skyfire’s grimace deepend as she did, extending it forward and then circling it around as Healing Drops continued, testing her limits of reach. While she couldn’t see what she was looking at, Skyfire could feel heavy slate eyes coldly examining her.

She tried her best to hide the pain it made, soreness radiating from that part of her that only worsened under such scrutiny. It was difficult to not think of it, making her side ache more, ribs feeling too tight around her lungs. Her mind began to buzz with worries, that the wound wasn’t healed enough and she’d be stuck there longer, barely noticing the pickup of the heart monitor.

“Get up,” Healing Drops ordered, moving aside to give her space and drawing her from the dark thoughts. Skyfire stepped down onto the tile floor, and blinked as Healing Drops removed the heart monitor attachment that had been wrapped around her left foreleg. “Walk to the door and back, please.” Skyfire obeyed, steps a bit wobbly from so much bedrest but beyond some discomfort she felt alright. Healing Drops wrote something down and gave a nod. “Now try hovering in place.”

Fire itched along her skin as she stretched her wings, giving a few experimental flaps before lifting herself into the air. She lowered herself back to the ground thirty seconds later, breathing heavily. She couldn’t remember hovering ever being so difficult before. Healing Drops made a thoughtful noise. Next she ran her through a series of stretches, testing to see how much mobility she possessed. Skyfire was only able to marginally hide her discomfort at some, especially if her left side was involved. After what felt like hours, Healing Drops gave a resolute nod.

“It seems you’re healing up well. You don’t appear to have motor functions impeded beyond general soreness. I think you’re ready to start doing light work again at least. Nothing too physically demanding for now, and avoid flying as much as possible. Does that sound agreeable?” Healing Drops asked as her pen scratched in a few final notes.

“I think I could do that,” Skyfire managed weakly, trying to catch her breath after all the exertion.

“Are you sure?”

Gulping, she gave an exaggerated nod. “Yeah.”

“I’ll be writing you a prescription for pain medicine, make sure you take them in the morning at breakfast. If you have any troubles, physical and mental, be sure to inform myself or any other member of the medical staff. I’ll be checking up on you in a week otherwise.”

“So I’m cleared to work?” Skyfire asked, one hoof idly playing with her long mane.

“Yes. Until we find you a proper quarters, this will be your temporary living arrangement unless we need use of it otherwise.” Healing Drops fixed her with a neutral expression. “Any questions?”

Skyfire nodded along to the instructions before frowning. “How will I tell the time if we’re underground?” She gazed around, confused. After looking around the room three times she gave up, not finding a singular clock on the wall, and gave a sheepish smile to Healing Drops. “Or am I just blind?”

“No, you’re not blind. When it’s time, somepony will escort you,” Healing Drops explained, “given you don’t know where anything is after all.”

Skyfire couldn’t hide her relief that she was being shown around, even if it meant somepony would always be watching her. It seemed a reasonable arrangement for both parties, and she couldn’t blame them for wanting to keep an eye on her. “Thank you.”

“Not to worry,” she replied as she gathered a few things and started for the door. “They’ll be by in about an hour. There’s some utility barding over in the bathroom waiting for you, go ahead and get dressed.” The old mare paused by the door, as if some thought was just on the cusp of her mind but unable to reach it. Deciding it unimportant, she shrugged, and departed.

There was a heavy knock on the door before it came open, whooshing with hydraulics not too unlike the heavy lifting equipment back in the Enclave. The sound was comforting for Skyfire, who’d spent the past hour pacing with rising anxiety over the impending assignment. Healing Drops’ remark that the stable’s systems hopefully wouldn’t be too different from what she was familiar with had been a haunting one to say the least. She was worried that she’d be kicked out if she was proven to be not only a liability with the Enclave, but a burden on their resources as well.

As a large, burly earth pony stallion came in, she felt small. Then he began to speak, and his voice was hardly more mature than a colt that’d just gotten his cutie mark. “Miss Lumia,” he said, clearing his throat a few times. He gave a thin smile. “I’m to escort you down to maintenance.”

“R-Right!” She tried to smile but it felt as strained and forced as his.

“If you’ll follow me,” he requested, backing out into the hallway and Skyfire was quick to obey. The hallway was full of posters reminding ponies a variety of basic medical practices; washing hooves and taking medicine, a blonde maned earth pony smiling in each of them. She admired one expounding the importance of sanitizing the workspace, before the buck grunted at her for lollygagging.

They passed a few other doors with numbered labels of ‘quarantine’ and then entered what she could only describe as an airlock chamber. A low hissing mist sprayed over them and Skyfire squeaked at the unexpected cleaning agent, instinctively shielding her face with her wings. The buck snickered. “Never been in one of these before, Enclaver?”

“Can’t say I have,” she said quietly, peeking out from crimson wingtips. She cleared her throat, and tried to regain some degree of composure. She fidgeted in the Stable 36 dark blue jumpsuit, with bright yellow accents that came to the middle of her barrel. It was just long enough to cover the injury on her side. This particular version had a series of pockets sewn into the sleeves and a belt, something she was sure would prove useful on the job. The wing-holes even appeared to be part of the actual design, rather than makeshift for her arrival.

The guard laughed as he caught her messing with it. “I wouldn’t worry too much about how you look, by the end of the day you’ll be covered in grease I’m sure.”

“Are things very messy down there?” She asked as a pleasant chime signaled the decontamination was complete and the front door slid open. The guard led the way, this time into a large lobby. Various ponies milled about working, waiting for aid in a small lounge, or otherwise occupying themselves. To her shock, almost everypony stopped what they were doing and looked at her. Her ears fell back and wings flared up as she found herself frozen midstep. The ponies of Stable 36 were staring at her.

“Move it, Miss Lumia,” he said with annoyance, nudging her with a hoof. The squeak that had been caught in her throat came out, and the mare fought the desire to dart right back into the decontamination chamber. Instead, she gave as friendly a smile as she could manage, half certain she looked deranged, and scampered alongside him to a large door with an exit sign above it. The lobby remained quiet. Ponies watched her go, and immediately bursted into noise as the doors shut behind the pair.

“The last thing you want to do is to be late,” the guard cautioned.

Skyfire gave an awkward nod, hide itching as she wondered just what they were saying about her. “Right, not a good idea,” she muttered, shifting her weight from one hoof to another. Her ears were burning.

“You’ll be working with the Chief of Maintenance today,” he went on, leading her down a long hallway towards a pair of elevators at the end. “He’s a bigger hardass than Chief Smokey. You really don’t want to get on his bad side.” More ponies moved about, though not near as many in numbers as inside the medical lobby. She tried to hide besides the large stallion, hoping he might shield her from the curious gazes of the stable ponies. She quite failed at that, due to her crimson wings and foreign appearance. Various doors and other hallways shot off from the main corridor they walked down, signs indicating research labs closest to Medical. Further away they became Security; an armory and brig specifically mentioned.

Still she saw no clocks.

By the time they’d reached the elevators, Skyfire’s hide was itching. “We’ll take the security elevator down,” he informed her, pulling a cord from his Pip-Buck and connecting it to the panel besides the metal door with red painted down the middle. After a moment there was a chirping noise, and he gestured for her to enter. The only splash of color in the grey elevator was a yellow medical box mounted to the wall, three pink butterflies adorning it.

“Is he really that scary?” She asked as he pressed a button for the 8th floor, the elevator jolting into life and starting a slow descent down.

The young buck shivered in his armor. “I do my best to avoid the C Shift if I can. Just… if he starts yelling just shut up and ride it out.” She gave a small nod and looked at the floor, even more concerned about the job. “Hey,” he added, nudging her with his hoof. “I’m sure it’ll be just fine!”

She gave a weak smile, thankful for his attempt at comforting her. The rest of the ride down passed in an awkward silence, with Skyfire trying to mentally prepare herself for what was coming. She needed to impress them, to prove she was worth the risk of keeping her until the Enclave came to the rescue. They had to be coming after all, they were just taking longer than normal because Jolts had upset them, but surely, eventually, they would save her! Or at least that’s what she was telling herself.

The door came open with a rattle, and the guard gestured for her to exit alone. “Good luck!” He shouted as it shut behind him, leaving Skyfire in another lobby.

“Hey!” A young mare’s voice came, “You made it!”

Skyfire straightened up, trying to find the source as she scanned the lobby. There was a long counter with boxes and terminals across it, broken machines jutting out at weird angles. The air was crisp, electric. A low drone of pipes churning away with spinning fans soon melted into a background noise. Finally she saw a clock, and sitting beneath it was a green earth pony mare with a pomp of dark purple hair typing something on a terminal. The mare jumped down from her seat behind the counter and trotted over, smiling with genuine excitement.

“Welcome to Maintenance! I’m Grease!” She held out an oil smeared hoof.

“Uh, Skyfire,” she replied, shaking it and glancing around nervously. “Are you… the Chief?”

The mare snickered and shook her head. “No, that’d be Hammers. He just ordered me to wait here for your arrival. I’ll go fetch him now.” She stepped back, scanned Skyfire over, and shrugged. “I thought you’d be taller.”

“I’m taller than you though,” Skyfire mumbled back, a bit confused, since she measured up a tad taller than Grease.

“Yeah but like, really really tall?”

“I’m not a princess… they’re the tall ponies.”

Grease squinted at her, lips pursed with thought. Skyfire pulled back, ears falling flat. Deciding something, Grease gave a cheery smile. “You’ve got the eyes of a princess, you’ll get there one day.”

“That’s not entirely how it works.” Despite herself she was blushing.

Grease shrugged once more. “Oh well, what do I know?” Turning on her hooves, she trotted to an office across the way. Momentarially left alone, Skyfire took the chance to better examine the lobby. Branching off in different directions were a series of hallways with large labels. It seemed everything from pipes to electricity was all on this one level, Skyfire’s focus settling on a large radiation symbol, standing out among other warning signs towards the reactor. She hoped she wouldn’t have to work there, she knew nothing about reactors.

Someone snorted heavily, snapping her attention to the large stallion besides her and Grease who gave a sympathetic smile. Both of them were wearing barding just like hers, though far from clean. The stallion was dark red with a tall black buzzcut mane, a horn sticking out of the top. Dark emerald eyes squinted at her, judging for all she was worth in only a matter of seconds. Something about his stature or perhaps his eyes, distinctly reminded her of Blaze. She cringed expectantly as he opened his mouth, the guard’s warning screaming in her head.

“Sure took you long enough,” he said, “that side all healed up?”

“E-Enough to work,” she replied.

“Good… Good…” Hammers said slowly, Grease backing away as stealthily as she could. “Because we’ve already wasted half a damn day waiting for you to get down here!” He snarled in a booming voice, practically punching the poor pegasus with his words. “We’ll be starting in the repair room today, nothing strenuous so I don’t want to hear any complaints about your side hurting or I’ll send you right back up to Medical! Understood?”

Skyfire rapidly nodded, trying not to shrink in front of him but he reminded her all too much of the flight sergeants back home. “Y-Yes sir!”

“Good! Slick here had to process paperwork instead of helping the others with our major repairs, so you best thank her for waiting up on you!”

“Uh- Thank you!”

“It’s no problem,” Grease replied, cringing at Hammers’ volume. “Honestly.”

“Around here, everypony has to pitch in,” Hammers continued as he started towards one of the hallways, the mares following right behind. “If one pony is out sick, it mucks everything up, and now accommodating you into the schedule means a whole lot of restructuring! You better be worth all the trouble, Enclave.”

“I’ll do my best!” She promised.

“Damn right you will, or I’m shipping you back to the clouds myself!”

Grease coughed, stepping forward to nudge Hammers with a hoof, her face barely hiding her annoyance. “Scaring her witless is probably not helping. And besides, what magical plan do you have to get her back up into the clouds?” Skyfire balked, she’d never have the nerve to talk to her superior like that, especially if they were as grouchy as Hammers.

“Grease!”

“Let’s just get to work and let Skyfire prove her mettle. You know she wants to go home, so don’t threaten her with something she actually would want,” Grease retorted, narrowing her yellow eyes. She quickly interfaced with the repair room panel, the hiss of hydraulics cutting through the uneasy silence. She looked back to Skyfire. “You coming?”

Skyfire jumped at the direct question, still processing the threat of being taken back up to the clouds. Her vision of returning home felt farther away than ever, so deep underground. She could practically feel the weight of all the rock above her. “I am.”

“Good now come on in then, time’s a wastin.”

Skyfire stepped over the pressured door, managing not to jump as it hissed shut behind her, before she searched the room. Grease had already walked over to a bench, patting the spot beside her. “Over here! I’ll get you up to speed on how we work around here.”

“Let’s hope for her sake you’re a quick learner, Enclaver.” Hammers grunted out as he passed by her, avoiding looking at the pegasus. He quickly settled into a spot in the room behind a large desk, a variety of small machines spread across it and got to work.

Skyfire soon found herself the only pony standing around, hooves frozen in place. Breathing in deeply, distracted by the comment with her heart starting to race, but after a moment she managed to calm her nerves. She wasn’t certain where she was supposed to go entirely. A friendly wave from Grease became her savior, and she was quick to trot over.

Grease sighed and nudged a toolkit to Skyfire, getting out what they’d need. “He’s unusually snappy today. Don’t mind him, the best you can at least. He’s normally understanding, a hardass but still. Not sure who put salt in his oats.” She shot him a suspicious glare, but the stallion was buried in his work already.

Skyfire sighed. “He’s upset because I’m messing up his schedule-”

“He’s upset because things aren’t going exactly as he wants them to. Some days he’s such a control freak, but what does he think is gonna happen? We’re short staffed as it is… not like you’re going to make things worse.” Grease growled out as she shook her head, then flashed a smile to the nervous pegasus.

“Right, no-no pressure at all.” Skyfire mumbled out, steeling herself to look through the toolbox. She needed to see what she had at her disposal. Her expression warmed as she recognized nearly everything she could get her hooves on. “Looks like we share the same tools, that’s a nice start at least.”

“Speaking of starts,” Grease said as she hoisted a lightly crisped fan in front of Skyfire, “here’s a broken ceiling fan. One of the unicorn foals decided it was a good idea to test out her magic on her room’s fan. It ended in a shower of sparks and burnt mane.” Skyfire’s eyes widened comically. “Don’t worry about the foal, she’s only embarrassed that she had to chop most of her mane off.”

“A ceiling fan, eh? That doesn’t sound too bad, uhm you have spare copper wiring right?” Skyfire inquired as she started unscrewing the device, resisting the rising urge to gag. “How recently was this? I can smell the burnt mane… it’s gross!” She added, waving a hoof, trying in vain to disperse the smell.

“That was this morning, probably before you were even awake. It’s… a more common goof up than you’d guess. But yes we do have copper wiring, you might need it. Good thought though to think of the wiring.” Grease admitted with a smile as she pointed out the spool of bronze wire. “Now why would you need the wire?”

Skyfire glanced at the earth pony, trying to size her up. She could easily guess the mare was trying to see just how knowledgeable she really was, a test even if it were something simple. “Judging by the smell… the coil is dead, I uhm hope you have a machine for wrapping the coil of the fan,” Skyfire commented softly, a pained look on her face. “Else this would be a unicorn’s job.”

“I haven’t looked in the fan yet, but I bet you’re right. We’ve got a wrapper. Go on then, open it up.”

“Right.” Skyfire quickly unscrewed the housing, coughing as the stench of burnt mane grew worse. “Did she jam her mane up into the fan? This smells terrible.” Grease’s giggles only compounded the mixture of worry and interest Skyfire held for the filly. A moment later and Skyfire was pulling off a slightly charred motor coil. She had guessed correctly. Looking around, Skyfire jumped as she felt a hoof on her shoulder, prompting another chuckle from Grease.

“Forget I was here? The wire wrapper is behind you on the shelf, be careful it’s a tad heavy.” Grease commented, a mirthful laugh escaping her as Skyfire blushed softly at her surprise. “I can get it for you if you need me to.”

Skyfire made an embarrassed noise, quickly standing up to carry the bulky device back over to her workbench. “I zoned out a little bit, I want to do a good job so I, um, don’t upset the stable if possible.” She tried to pull it off the shelf but was quick to tell it was much too heavy for her, even if she wasn’t recovering from an injury. “Uhm… can you give me some help?”

There was a loud snort from across the room and then a grey aura manifested around the heavy tool. It floated across to an empty space next to the fan on the table. Grease waved across to Hammers who wasn’t looking, the stallion focused on a broken terminal.

Looking back at Skyfire as she started to hook the fan up to be re-wired, Grease tilted her head. “What makes you think you’ll upset the stable?”

“Blaze mentioned it herself that Enclavers like me aren’t liked, because we uhm closed the clouds off.” Skyfire’s voice faded away for a moment, her gaze falling to the dull grey workshop floor. Skyfire managed not to flinch as she felt Grease press a hoof against her shoulder again.

“Skyfire, some ponies are going to have prejudices, and the only thing that will change that is you proving that you’re somepony different than what they think you are. I doubt Blaze hates you.”

Skyfire paused the final set up of the wrapping machine, glancing over to see Grease looking at her. She swallowed quietly, hooves tensing around the machine. “W-what makes you say that?”

“You’re a disruption to the routine way of life here, a newcomer. That’s exciting for her, plus you’re not bossy like, well, her bosses.” Grease leaned over the wire wrapping machine, nodding to the pegasus. “Also let me help you with this, or else you’ll be working on it for the next few hours. I’ll run the machine and you adjust and feed the wire.”

“Thank you.” Skyfire murmured quietly, starting the process. Grease began winding up the machine. A minute later the two mares pulled away from the machine, Skyfire proudly examining the freshly repaired fan-coil.

“That was a lot faster than it would have been if you were working by yourself. Still, you know the basics of wiring. You’re an engineer right?”

“I suppose you could say that, my job title is technician.”

Grease laughed quietly and sat back in her seat, starting back on a project of her own. “One of the jobs usually involves building new things, the other usually involves fixing things. Down here, they both mean the same thing more or less.”

Skyfire gave a small laugh. “Which are you better at?”

“I’m a bit of a grease monkey.”

“Oh sweet Celestia you make puns,” Skyfire groaned dramatically.

“Among other things,” Grease replied easily, a smug look on clear display. Skyfire couldn’t help but like the younger mare, she was being friendly at the least. It was certainly better than all the stares the ponies gave her earlier. “Now come on, let’s finish this up before Hammers yells at you again.” Skyfire eagerly agreed.

The pair kept working on the fan until it was completed, and then moved on to a variety of smaller repairs. Grease seemed particularly interested in Skyfire’s deftness with the tools, using them each a bit more gracefully than the earth pony did. Where Grease used brute strength, Skyfire was clever and found workarounds. By the time they’d cleared the table of appliances they were both a bit tired, but had sped the process up, along with fun conversation and a generally upbeat attitude she found relieving. The only thing missing was some blaring music and she’d have felt right at home.

Finally, some hours later, Hammers called them over to his desk, holding a hoof over a button next to a PA speaker. “Uh huh, another brownout?” He questioned into the mic.

“Yup,” a voice chirped back. “Looks like at least half the residential suites are reporting it on the fifth floor.”

Rubbing his brow with one hoof, Hammers sighed. “Alright. I’ll be by shortly to check it out.”

“Roger that.”

Hammers pushed back from the PA speaker, rubbing his temples. “What’s up boss?” Grease questioned, tilting her head.

“More fucking brownouts. I swear it’s another section every other day.”

“Are your wires going bad?” Suggested Skyfire. “This place was built during the war wasn’t it? I’m sure after all this time some of them would’ve gone out by now.”

Hammers fixed her with a deadpan glare. “Of course they’re going bad, when aren’t they? But this slew of brownouts is nothing short of a headache. We’re gonna take a look and make sure there’s no physical damage at the least. Last time this happened it was some radroaches, and I swear if it’s again-”

“We’ll get Security to clear it out,” suggested Grease before he could launch into a tirade.

Snorting, he jumped off his chair and started rummaging through the drawers of his desk. “Slick, go get her some protection just in case,” he ordered, “last thing we need is her getting bit by some Celestia damned bug and catching some disgusting sickness.”

“What about me? Aren’t I going too?”

“No, finish up this terminal for me, Smokey wants it back in Security yesterday. I’ve got notes on what I’ve done so far. I’m sure you can close it up.” He pulled on a pair of pants made of the same material as the rest of the standard stable barding, covering up his namesake cutie mark, then rubber boots. Grease sighed, and led Skyfire to a row of lockers across the way. Skyfire was quick to put on the clothes she removed from one. Once ready, Hammers already waiting by the door with a large hammer looped to his belt, Skyfire made her way over.

“Now once we’re in the electrical tunnels, do mind your head,” he ordered, starting out the smaller repair shop back into the lobby. He pointedly avoided the reactor entrance, eyes fixated ahead of him while Skyfire scanned it over once more. “Sometimes there’s loose wires, don’t want you frying your brain more than that crash did.”

“Healing Drops says my head is okay,” she protested softly.

“She also doesn’t know what you were like before the crash now does she?” He retorted, hitting the access panel for the tunnel labeled ‘electrical’. Almost instantly the low crackle of energy she’d first noticed upon reaching the maintenance floor tripled. Her mane stood on end as Hammers started down it. She had to admit she was grateful for the protective equipment as she followed close behind the large stallion.

The electrical tunnel was decently maintained, the thick wires running along their path kept secured with metal brackets. Occasionally she could see a patch job where the inner workings had spilled out, resealed with electrical tape or something of similar materials. There was a low hum that grew as they trotted down the tunnel, hoofsteps mixing with the buzz. Small lights illuminated the way, few bends in it fortunately so she wouldn’t fear getting lost, even if she somehow lost sight of Hammers. There was no sign of any physically damaged wires, though Skyfire knew that didn’t mean there wasn’t something wrong.

Eventually they reached a large door with emergency sealing, and Hammers unlocked it with his Pip-Buck just as the security officer had the special elevator earlier. Inside was a control room, terminals, monitors and other equipment lining the walls, various ponies stationed at them. Instantly one jumped up from his terminal, glasses barely staying on his face. “Boss! Thank Celestia you’re here already!”

Hammers scowled. “I told you I was coming, didn't I Plugs?”

“Yeah, but in the few minutes since we’ve had a total blackout in the gym!”

“Calm down,” he ordered, the frazzled earth pony ducking his head. “Have you investigated it yet?”

“Uhm… No. With you coming I didn’t want to, you know, do it wrong…” Hammers snorted, Plugs wincing. “Sorry.”

“You’re a supervisor for a reason Plugs,” he scolded, “I expect you to lead. Skyfire, we’re going to check out the gym’s wiring. Plugs, get some ponies to check the brownout sections.” The electrician gave a nod and galloped across to a few other ponies, ordering them quickly to action. Skyfire had to admit she was a bit surprised by Hammer’s tone, clearly disappointed but not demeaning the nervous stallion. She started to second guess her initial opinion on him, perhaps he wasn’t that much like the flight sergeants back home after all.

Dark emerald eyes settled on her, and she jolted upright. “Come on, we’re going to see what’s messing with my stable.” Following after him, Skyfire had to pause and shuffle past the other maintenance ponies, drawing an impatient grunt from Hammers who was waiting at the other side of the room. She gave a sheepish smile once she’d finally caught up with him.

Clearly unamused, Hammer rolled his eyes and then unlocked the door and led her into a dark utility tunnel. The small lights she expected to see were all off further down. There was a singular faint flickering light far down the tunnel. Skyfire squinted at it suspiciously. Hammers’ horn glowed a soft grey hue, the aura encapsulating it entirely before a mote of light drifted from the tip of his horn, illuminating the tunnel far more clearly than the Pip-Buck’s light would.

“We’re looking for damage,” he reiterated, “and I think we’ve already found it.” He started down the tunnel, scanning along for any other abnormalities. Skyfire kept close to him, the light from his spell not extending more than a few feet around him incentivizing her to not lag behind. Something clicked in her ear, making her mane stand on end, but she wasn’t sure if it was the sparks they were approaching or not.

Once they reached the offending sparks Hammers began to examine it. “Looks chewed…” He said in a low voice. Skyfire was half certain she heard fear at the edge of his words as he continued, “see if there’s others like this. Radroaches crawl everywhere and take a bite out of just about anything.”

“What- Uh what exactly is a radroach?”

Hammers blinked at her, genuinely taken off-guard. “You don’t have those pests up there?”

“No.”

“Of course you don’t,” he grumbled, turning to her entirely. “They’re big bugs that can fly around, brown and-” Skyfire cut him off with a scream, purple eyes wide at the very creature he was describing crawling up the wall behind him.

Spinning around as quickly as he could, Hammers barely avoided the bug as it flung itself at him, instead landing on Skyfire’s chest. The mare’s shriek pitched an octave, rearing up in a panic as her wings sprang out from her sides and propeled herself into the air for a second before she thudded onto her rump. Wide eyes greeted the hissing creature as Skyfire threw her hooves up in front of her face to protect herself. A grey aura surrounded the massive bug and yanked it off Skyfire. A moment later she heard a colorful swear and a disgusting squelch.

Daring to peek, Skyfire’s hooves fell to the floor. She saw Hammers, who was now smeared in bug guts, his hammer freshly sullied. The radroach’s legs twitched even in death, massive bug eyes staring at her in accusation. Her hide crawled even worse. “There’s never just one of these things,” he grunted, offering her a hoof up. She shakily took it. “Let’s get out of here, now.”

Suddenly, Skyfire was keenly aware that the noise she’d heard earlier was in fact, not electricity. The hissing clicks of the radroaches echoed around them, swarming as insect legs darted at them through the darkness. She dared look down the tunnel. Dozens of black bug eyes were seen in the light of Hammers’ spell. “That’s bad!”

“Yeah it is! Move it!” He shoved her towards the exit which felt like a mile away now. Skyfire’s wings spread instinctively, forgetting Healing Drops’ orders not to fly. Instantly a jolt of pain spread along her left side. A cry escaped her and Skyfire stumbled aside. “I said move it, do you want to become radroach chow?”

“I-”

“Oh for Luna’s sake!” The stallion extended his magic once more, the grey aura surrounded Skyfire and took her by surprise. He gritted his teeth, an overglow surrounding his horn. It began to glow brighter as his hooves were wrapped in a grey aura. Skyfire gaped as she felt herself lift a foot into the air, no need for wings, and was carried by Hammers towards the exit. “Damn useless pegasus!” He shouted, Skyfire’s mind was too much of a frazzled mess to realize he was speaking about her. His hooves still impacted with the concrete ground, but the stallion had succeeded in lightening himself. He carried them both swiftly towards the exit. “Damn these things to Tartarus!”

The bugs surged, cutting them off and swirling almost like a singular entity. Their clicking was maddening, Skyfire’s heart pounding in her ears. Hammers shouted with effort, sliding on his rubber covered hooves to a halt. He slowly began to back up, still holding Skyfire in his telekinetic grip. “Can’t you call for help?” Skyfire shouted.

“And let these things into the control room? They’ll flood maintenance!”

“W-well what do we do?”

Hammers gave her a look that somehow scared her more than the encroaching radroaches. “This might hurt,” he warned.

“What might- AH!” Skyfire screamed as he telekinetically threw her. She sailed right above the radroaches, moving at a speed that made her heart flutter, eyes watering. When he released her she carried the momentum for a few seconds longer, wings flaring open to catch a drift, and stumbled to a halt. “Hammers!” She shouted, whirling around just in time to see the grey magical aura bubble around the stallion.

The radroaches surged. They climbed along his large hide, biting every inch of the stallion, chewing through the protective barding with ease. With a scream, he cast the spell. The dark red stallion vanished in an implosion of grey magic, sending the radroaches sailing in every direction, some of them seared or even dead. He reappeared a few feet from her with a burst of light, collapsing in a heap. A faint light covered his body, smoke rising from his barding, before he fell into darkness like everything else.

“Are you okay!” She struggled with keeping calm, galloping over to the stallion and shaking his prone form. “Oh no no no!”

Hammers coughed raggedly, struggling to his hooves only to fail. “What are you still doing here?” He asked, wincing. The radroaches seemed to be confused, skittering about in wild circles trying to find him further down the tunnel. The magical light he’d cast earlier had faded away, only the emergency lights now illuminated the tunnel.

“What?”

“You should have gone for the door,” Hammers said, still trying to get to his hooves, grunting and swearing under his breath as he tumbled back to the floor.

Skyfire shook him violently. “What’s wrong? Did they hurt you?”

Hammers shoved her back. “Quiet!”

She suppressed a squeak. “Are you okay?” She asked in a brisk whisper.

“I will be if you get out of here, and go get help. We need a full extermination team to take care of this mess, and right now they don’t know where we are so keep quiet and get to that door,” he ordered.

“What?” Her voice pitched, and she clamped a hoof over her mouth. She could feel his angry glare. “I’m not just leaving you here. No pony left behind!”

“This isn’t some game, Skyfire!” He hissed tightly. “If a swarm this big got into the control room, the technicians wouldn’t stand a chance. You need to get there, discreetly, and I’ll just slow you down.”

She stood in the dark, heart racing and hooves stuck in place. The radroaches skittered and hissed down the tunnel, searching for them and sure to find them soon. She knew that even if she got to the door without alerting them, the radroaches would find Hammers before she returned with help. He would die.

“No,” she said firmly, not letting him argue. “No. Pony. Left. Behind.”

“Sky-”

“Can you cast that telekinetic spell still?” She interrupted, moving around his back and wrapping her hooves around his heavy body, thankful for her long legs. He didn’t answer with words, but instead the soft glow of grey surrounded his horn once more.

“Barely,” he muttered, “that teleport took a lot out of me.”

“Just hold it as long as you can okay?” She requested, spreading her wings, wiggling crimson tips. Her side ached in anticipation, but she took a deep breath to steady herself. It wasn’t far, she knew it, but she’d never make it if she had to drag him by mouth all the way to the exit. Her body was electrified, her heart was racing, but she was determined not to leave him there. She didn’t want another pony she knew to die. “Ready?”

“Ready.”

Skyfire flapped her wings. Lightning shot through her, jolting from her wound outwards through every inch of her body but unlike before she refused to stop. Gritting her teeth, trying not to scream in agony, she kept flapping until at last she felt them both lift from the concrete ground. Hammers grunted as well, using all of his magic to make him easier to carry. They’d just started moving forward when hisses reverberated through the tunnel. The radroaches had found them.

“Go go go!” Shouted Hammers, an overglow already surrounding his horn.

Skyfire didn’t fight the guttural cry any more, flying through it like a wounded bird, tears burning her eyes. Each flap felt like crashing, as if she would slam down into the vertihawk’s metal hull instead of hard concrete. The clicking hisses became panicked beeps, the echo of a missile alarm spurring her on faster. Maybe she could outrun this one. Skyfire’s throat was raw, lungs on fire, the taste of blood in the back of her mouth. Hammers bellowed with effort as a third overglow consumed his horn.

Then they slammed into the door.

Skyfire spun wildly back, head dizzy and stars in her blackened vision. She’d lost her grip on Hammers and wound up on her back. When she finally got her hooves steadily beneath her she couldn’t see him. “Hammers!” She tried to scream but fell into a coughing fit. The radroaches were closing in, their hisses battering her ears. “Hammers!”

The door swung open with a trio of ponies jumping through, flamethrowers floating in different telekinetic grips. They shouted incoherently as a torrent of flames erupted from the weapons, burning anything unfortunate enough to be on the other side. Skyfire gaped at the rescue team, the bright light painful, heat sweltering her hide. She couldn’t quite tell what was going on as a pony bit her barding and dragged her to safety, the extermination team turning the tunnel into an inferno. The door swung shut before she could even get a word out.

Somepony practically shoved a healing potion down her throat, Skyfire downing it breathlessly. She gasped as the pain ebbed to a more manageable level, the throbbing in her head lowering enough to think. “What… Where’s… Where’s Hammers?” She questioned, Plugs hovering nearby with worry on his narrow face.

“We got him out,” he reassured, “when we found a swarm in one of the tunnels chewing on the wires we called for the extermination team. Can’t believe it was so bad in yours though.” Skyfire struggled to her hooves, barely able to sit up. She winced as her side flared with pain. “Are you okay?”

“I didn’t get bit,” she replied, looking for the aforementioned chief. Hammers was laid out in front of a terminal, a mare wrapping his hooves in bandages from an emergency first aid kit. They were bloodying in seconds. His barding was torn to ribbons, the only thing still properly on the stallion being his Pip-Buck. “Oh no.”

“I think he’ll be okay,” Plugs said, “It’s more just magical exhaustion. We need to get him to Medical immediately though.” The stallion pushed his glasses up, and looked back at her. “You too.”

“I didn’t get bit though.”

“Radroaches carry disease, and you’re new here. You’re going,” he said with a bit more authority. She gave a whimpering nod.

Suddenly there was a familiar earth pony at her side, yellow eyes wide. “Sweet merciful Celestia! Are you okay?” Grease asked, poking and prodding her as she checked her over for wounds. Skyfire pulled away, ears pinning back.

“I’ll be okay,” she said, “I just… need to catch my breath.”

Grease gave her a wary look, calming down. “We better have you looked at. We heard you run into the door, that sounded painful!”

“Good thing pegasi are built to crash from time to time,” Skyfire joked awkwardly.

“Crash… You flew?!”

“Uhm...”

“Healing Drops expressly said you can’t- awh fuck she’s gonna kill me!”

“I mean it was that or the roaches got us,” Skyfire quietly argued, Grease muttering on about how badly she was going to get chewed out. Skyfire frowned. “Is it really that bad?”

Grease’s face creased in concern, pausing again. “Well… if you truly didn’t get bit then it might be acceptable, but what if you tore a muscle or broke some stitches?”

“I... feel fine though.”

“You feel fine right now, once the adrenaline rush fades you might say otherwise. Come on, let’s go. If nothing else they’ll check up on your injuries.” Grease grunted and nudged at Skyfire, nickering as she walked over to Hammers, a clouded expression hanging on his face.

Skyfire’s face paled at the sight of the blood on Hammers bandages, earning a scoff from him. “You think these are bad? You must be greener than I thought, Feathers. And… yet you managed to get us out. Not bad.” He momentarially appraised her, clearly reassessing the pegasus. He coughed before glaring at Grease. “What are you waiting for, Slick? Let’s move before I bleed through my bandages.”

“Right right we’re going Sir-”

“It’s Hammers, you know I hate being ‘Sir’d.”

“Right, Hammers, we’ll lug your sorry rump off to medical before you bleed out. That’d be a shame wouldn’t it? The great Chief Hammers- taken down by vicious radroaches?” Grease laughed back, a smirk on her face as she started helping him to his hooves. His legs wobbled beneath him, a moment of uncertainty on the large stallion’s face. Grease supported him best she could, not near as tall as him. Once she was certain he wouldn’t fall over, she smiled at Skyfire. “You coming along miss Feathers? Or would Cutey be a better name?” She flashed a wink to the mare before starting again, jostling an indignant Hammers.

“F-feathers?”

“Hammers said it first~”

Skyfire’s face reddened as she started after the pair out of the control room. She hissed faintly as her shoulder started throbbing. Grease glanced back, laughing quietly as she nickered the mare onward. “I told you about that adrenaline rush. You’ll probably be sore for the next day or so. This is why you’re going to medical to get checked out.”

Skyfire nodded in return, nursing her shoulder another dozen steps before gritting her teeth, catching back up to Grease. “I-I’ll be fine-”

“Less flirting, more walking, the two of you. If I have to limp there myself you’re going to be washing toilets for the next three months Slick.” Hammers grunted out again, prompting the two mares to keep going down the utility tunnel to take them back to the maintenance lobby.

It took a few minutes given the state of the stallion, but soon enough they were summoning the elevator. Skyfire turned to look over the panel once they were inside, opening her mouth nervously as she looked over to Grease.

“Floor three is Medical.”

“Thank you, Grease.” Skyfire commented as the doors slid shut.

“You know Skyfire, most patients don’t come back within a day for a completely new injury.”

“I know but Healing Drops-”

“But nothing, you’re supposed to help out in the stable, not get injured.”

“But Healing Drops...”

Hammers coughed loudly, butting his way into the conversation. “Feathers here was actually helping me when we encountered another radroach infestation. She made sure I got out of the maintenance tunnels. Give her a break, Dropper.” He shifted, grunting as he lifted up one of his hooves. “See this?” He then adjusted to show his other hoof. “And this, and this, annnnnd this, and-”

“I don’t need to see your rump Hammers, please sit back down. I understand that you’re the one who was injured.” Healing Drops interjected quickly. Her slate grey eyes were wide as she waved away the chewed up stallion in front of her. “Just how much blood did you lose?” She looked at the bag already connected to the stallion and back.

“Uhm… How much is enough to be concerned?”

Healing Drops made a particularly frustrated noise, sighed, and then regathered herself. “If you are the only one injured, why did Skyfire and Grease come with you?” She asked, pointing over to Grease who had a hoof over her muzzle, trying her best to not laugh. The technician was across the room near the door, lingering, while the other two were sitting on medical beds in front of the irate doctor. “Find something amusing?” Healing Drops arched a brow.

“N-no ma’am, Hammers showing off his new scars was not amusing in the slightest, not at all when he waved his rump at your face. Nope.” Grease said back through barely suppressed giggling.

Healing Drops snorted.

The young mare walked closer to give their feathered friend a soft bump on her barrel. “This one however I’m not sure if she got bit or not. The last thing we’d want is for Skyfire to get an infection.” She grew a bit hesitant, and tilted her head towards her boss. “Before uhm, Hammers got a bit delusional he thought the same.”

Skyfire tilted her head, looking at Grease. “Well I don’t believe I got bit. But an infection does sound bad. If I’m clean, where would I be going next? I’d uhm, like to keep working if that’s alright with whoever it needs to be alright with…”

“I’m most certain it would be Hammers, but he’s incapacitated, or will be once we get him shot with an antibiotic and some fluids to make sure he’ll be alright. Grease, you would be the next in command, correct?” Healing Drops started nudging Hammers into the bed, giving the tired stallion words of encouragement and floating the blood bag along with her.

Grease balked, her eyes widening for a moment. “Me? The next in line? I suppose it would be me, huh. Never thought ‘Second Technician’ would ever mean I will be…” She stroked her chin idly as she thought about it, glancing over to the worn out pegasus next to her. “Well first order of business would be taking old Hammers up top and putting him out of his misery.” She paused to wink, ignoring Healing Drop’s scoff as the medical pony started hooking up the chief to an IV drip as well.

“Right, I was joking. Skyfire, if you’re uninjured, we’ll go down and get some food, have some of that pleasant small talk if you’re the social type, then we’ll go finish up our shifts. I’m not sure what you’ll be doing after work to be honest. That would probably be up to Overmare Flare. Now if you’ve got some nasty bites, you’re stuck here with Hammers and Healing Drops. Really pleasant idea I know.” Grease beamed to the nervous pegasus again, patting her side. It did little to calm her nerves.

Healing Drops scowled as she finished up the basic setup with Hammers, turning to point a hoof at Grease. “You make it sound like spending time with me is a bad thing. Hammers here doesn’t mind my company. He’s the happiest stallion in the world right now.” She smirked at Grease, trying to defend herself. Hammers wore a lazy smile as he slumped on the bed.

Grease merely rolled her eyes, pointing at the IV drip. “That’s because you probably laced his fluids up with pain killers, he’s probably not even listening to us right now. Anywho, he’ll probably be out for the next day or two. I’ll take over and make sure everypony continues to work. It would be of great help if you could check over Skyfire. Her assistance will be crucial for us not falling even further behind.” The earth pony shuffled a bit, glancing at the clock on her pip-buck, they were about to start eating into her lunch time. She muttered softly to herself, “Celestia knows these radroaches are going to fuck us over.”

Skyfire had been looking over herself, checking for bites she might not have felt from all the excitement. She snapped her head up at the approaching Healing Drops. “I really don’t think I got bitten anywhere.” She stopped with a squeak when the medical pony started adjusting her limbs all about, inspecting her grey fur.

“I will be the judge of that, though honestly you would have started feeling the bites by now. Let me check your wings.” Healing Drops said, quietly examining her. Skyfire did her best not to twitch or squirm, sighing in relief a few moments later when Healing Drops backed away. “It appears you got lucky, very very lucky. You have no bite marks as far as I can tell, but you should probably take a booster shot to help you further acclimatize to this new environment.”

The old mare floated up a small needle, looking to Skyfire. She got a small nod, even if the pegasus looked nervous about it. She quickly floated the needle over to Skyfire’s shoulder, gently administering the injection. Skyfire squirmed at first, the sensation unpleasant to her. She relaxed once a reassuring hoof from Healing Drops gently touched her side. The discomfort faded away at the insertion point a few seconds later.

At Healing Drops’ biding, she stepped down from the medical bed. Skyfire stretched her wings experimentally, and then shook out her hooves. “Thank you.”

Healing Drops gave a small smile, and then nodded. “Now, you might feel queasy for the next few hours but you’re cleared to eat lunch with that injection. On the note Grease made earlier, please do see about your sleeping arrangements. I doubt you’d like to share the room with Hammers. From what our notes say he’s a loud snorer, and that’s just what a healing pegasus needs, right?”

“I’ll take care of that with Overmare Flare if I see her. Nice to see I’m not the only mare who’s putting some thought and care into the longer-term well being of our new feathered friend.” Grease replied, nudging Skyfire over towards the quarantine door. “Let’s go get food though, I’m starving.”

“O-Oh okay!” Skyfire replied, being practically whisked away. These stable ponies were so quick moving, not wasting time even with a bit of discussion. “Feel better soon Hammers!”

The drugged stallion gave an amused giggle, waved a hoof, and laughed louder at Healing Drops’ deadpan expression.

Skyfire - Perk Added! -Tenacious: When it matters, you’ll push yourself beyond your limits.