Subterranean Freedom

Chapter 3

Journey Through Darkness

Holding the hand of the mysterious pony with aquatic like features named Adagio, Sunset continued on their journey through the old waste shaft of the end sector. As they continued walking, Sunset began to ponder the events that took place before all this. What was that mysterious voice talking to her in her head, who was that shadowy figure in that dream she had, and more importantly who was this mare that was being taken away by that war genic? All this just because of a low rank mission of transporting an important cargo back to HQ. Not one of the best days to have for this low-D huh?

“All this is just so damn confusing. Getting attack by Trinity while transporting the cargo, ending up down here in a old waste shaft, and I lost the cargo within the wreckage. How in Equestria am I going to level up rank from low-D to something else?” Sunset said as she placed a hand to her forehead as she stopped to look back at Adagio who raised an eyebrow at her in confusion. “And to top it all off, I found this mare with weird looking aquatic features on her body. Dammit, I really wish that they gave us more about what was inside that thing-.” Before Sunset could finish her rant, her left ear twitch as she heard the sound of somepony taking the safety trigger off their gun and placing a hand on it. Placing a hand to her katana, Sunset stood in front of Adagio as she waited to see who it was that made the sound.

“Stay behind me, okay?” The ranger said as she looked back at Adagio as she nodded. Turning her attention back to the direction she was looking, Sunset’s ears twitched again as she heard the sounds of hoof steps heading towards her and Adagio. Unsheathing her sword, the ranger took up a fighting stance as she heard two gunshots go off. Seeing the bullets coming at them, Sunset quickly deflected the oncoming shots in different directions before seeing the pony that shot at them heading towards them.

“Dammit. Of all the times for somepony from trinity to attack us.” Hearing the gun fired off again, Sunset quickly barreled to the left as she soon charges after the pony that shot at them. Once close enough she tried to bring her sword up to slash at the gun mare’s head. Only for the mare to quickly duck and uppercut Sunset from below causing the ranger to fall backwards. Rubbing her chin from the surprise attack, she quickly looked up to see the mare in front of her aiming her gun at her face.

“Figures someone from trinity would be following us.” Sunset said glaring at the pony while the gun mare looked over at Adagio with widen eyes before looking back at Sunset.

“Ranger, you can’t help her. Go and leave her with me.”

“.....I’m sorry but….what?”

“We need that mare. She is the only hope that we have of saving this rotten world.”

“Listen mare.” Sunset said as she glare at her.“I don’t care what you want. I don’t deal with criminals.”

“Admirable for a ranger like yourself. Too bad you don’t realize there’s more to this world than what you can see with your eyes, also my name is Aria, Aria Blaze not ‘Mare’.” Aria said as she cocked her gun. “Listen idiot. There are some things you’d be happier not knowing. Now why don’t you forget that you met me and forget that you met that mare.” Aria soon turned her attention at Adagio and extend a hand towards her. “Come with me. You’ll be much safer with me then with this ranger.”

Adagio notice Aria motioning her to take her hand as she quickly rushed over to Sunset’s side and held on to her arm. Feeling Adagio touching her arm, Sunset eyes widen as she turned her head a bit to look over at the siren who was glaring at Aria while attempting to try and protect Sunset.

“.....Seriously? She can’t help you. Trust me on this.”

“Kinda hard to trust somepony when you have a gun pointed at the one that saved her.” Sunset said as she heard a snort coming from Aria. “Get angry all you want, you know it’s true.” There was a moment of silence, before Aria gave out an annoying sigh and lowered her gun away from Sunset’s face.

“Alright Ranger. Let’s work together then.”

“....You can’t be serious about that? You expect me to work together with you after shooting at me twice?”

“We’ll work together until we get out of the End Sector. Look it’s not like you can protect the mare while fending off the monsters down here by yourself, and I’m pretty sure after knocking you off your feet you’re not that skilled in a fight. So why not join together to get out of here together?”

“Again, you expect me to trust you?” Sunset said as she notice the mare take her mask off along with the cloth covering her tail. Once she saw her face & tail, she was taken by surprise from seeing her having aquatic like features as she looked over at her and Adagio

“We both want to protect her right? So it would seem fair that we work together for the same goal.” Aria said as she placed her gun back in her holster on her side as she extends a hand towards Sunset to help her up. “What’s your name?”

“Sunset Shimmer.” The Ranger said as she reached for Aria’s hand and pulled herself up from the ground. “Mind explaining why you look just like Adagio?”

“That’s because...That mare is my sister.”

(Old Waste Shaft: Floor 1)

While Sunset was busy making her way through the old waste shaft along with Adagio and the newly acquired teammate Aria. Trixie and her small team of ponies begin their investigation at the crash site from where the lift crashed while carrying the cargo to HQ. As they begin their investigation, Trixie ordered her squad to search around for any clues on to where the cargo is or if Sunset was still alive.

“See anything on your end Bon-Bon?” Trixie asked as she looked over the wreckage of the crashed train site.

“No, nothing on my end. I wouldn’t be surprised if Trinity got here before we did.” Bon-Bon said as she hopped off a piece of metal from the lift Trixie and Sunset were on.

“Keep looking around along with the others. We have to find the cargo and get rid of it no matter what it looks like.” She said as she looked over and notice Lyra heading her way. “Any luck on your end Lyra?”

“I don’t see the cargo or anything else in this area, but I do see a trail of hoof steps heading over to the doorway to the other room here.”

“You think somepony from Trinity got here before we did?”

“I don’t think so.” Lyra reached into her pocket as she pulls out a strain of red & yellow color hair. Trixie’s eyes widen as she snatched the piece of hair from out of Lyra’s hand as she looks it over. “You could’ve asked you know?”

“....You said you found this near the doorway right?” The unicorn asked as Lyra nodded her head. “Show me.” She ordered as Lyra began to lead the way to door that lead towards the End Sector. Pushing the door to the other room, Trixie, Lyra, and Bon-Bon entered into the room and began to examine the area inside. “Spread out and look around for clues. If this hair belong to Sunset, then that means she’s around here somewhere either passed out and injured.”

“I don’t think that could be the case.”

“What makes you say that?” Trixie asked as she looked over at Lyra who was motioning her to come over.

“Didn’t you say that Sunset took down a Genic once back at HQ?”

“Yeah, but I don’t think that-.” Before the blue unicorn could finish her sentence, she soon notice the dead war genic on the ground. “Oh….”

“There’s a pair of footsteps leading towards the exit. One belongs to Sunset seeing how she’s a size nine medium. The other happens to be that of a mare. About the same age, maybe older?” Bon-Bon said as Trixie continued to look down at the bloody hoof trail before sighing.

“Y-You don’t think that it’s the cargo that Vector Zero wants us to get rid of….is it?” Lyra asked.

“...We have a job to do ladies.”

“But isn’t she your part-.”

“We have a job to do. Get rid of the cargo...no matter what it looks like, nor whoever gets in the way. Unless anypony wants to go against Vector Zero’s orders?” Trixie asked as Lyra and Bon-Bon both looked away in annoyance. “Thought so, now where does this sector lead to?”

“It leads to the train shaft. Why did you ask?”

“Inform the others about this and have them move to the train shaft.” Trixie ordered as she turned around towards the doorway she and the others came from. “Five bits says that they’ll end up going there seeing how that’s the only trail that leads to the train shaft.”

“And what about Sunset?”

“...If she gets in the way, we’ll have to kill her. No matter the excuse.”

(Old waste shaft: Floor 5)

With the new member of this small group of ponies, Sunset, Aria, and Adagio continue to make their way through the old abandoned waste shaft. Sunset for the most part be either lost in thought to the point where she would be taken by surprise by most of the monsters that lived in the waste shaft. Had it not been for Aria’s quick draw skill, the Ranger would have bitten the dust long before they’ve met.

“Seriously, that’s like the fifth time you were lost in your thoughts Ranger.” Aria said as she place her gun back into her holster. “If you’re the best that the Rangers have to offer, then I would be surprise that you guys made it this far in this shit hole of a world.

“S-Shut up, i have a lot on my mind in case you haven’t notice?”

“Doesn’t mean you still can’t let your guard down while in here. Especially when you’re protecting my sister.” Aria said as she points over to the siren. Sunset looked over at Adagio who in turned smiled back at her while holding on to her hand. Smiling back, Sunset let out a sigh as she turned her attention back at Aria.

“Y-You’re right...sorry. I’ll try not to think about other things while we’re down here.”

“Good, because I would hate to have to drag your dead body around or have Adagio hate me for letting you get killed.” Aria said as she soon notice a room across from them that had a bunk bed in it. “Why don’t we take a little break before we continue. I need to have a little talk with you about something.”

“That...would be a good idea. We have been walking for a good three hours or so. Plus I think Adagio needs it as well.”

“Good, then let’s get moving.” Aria said as she, Sunset, and Adagio made their way to the bunk bed. Once there, Adagio released her grip on Sunset’s as she begins to explore the room they were in. “I’m still a bit shock that she’s your sister. How long since she’s been missing?”

“About a year or two, maybe. It’s kinda hard to keep track of time down here without a means to tell time. It was during a solo mission that are leader gave to the three of us. At first we thought it was easy, It was just a simple gathering mission...But what turned out to be a gathering mission, turned out to be an ambush as Rangers surrounded us. We were planning on going down fighting, but Adagio teleported us back to HQ. By the time we had gotten enough soldiers to return for her, it was too late...she was gone. At least I thought she was until today”

“I...I’m sorry.” Sunset said as she looked down at her hooves in shame.

“Don’t be. It’s not like it’s your fault that it happen. This is the underground. You need to be prepare for losing friends or loved ones.” Aria said as she pulled herself up and looked at Sunset. “So…Ranger. Aren’t you curious? Don’t you want to know what happen to my sister seeing how you were the ones transporting her?” she asked as the siren leaned against the bed frame.

“I am curious…but would you even tell me even if I asked a criminal like you?” Sunset asked as she took a seat on the military style bunk bed and looked down at the ground. "You seem to know a lot more then I do about the cargo I was carrying. So why not tell me what you know, if you are willing to that is?"

“Truth is…I don’t even know myself. Wasn’t told jack about what was inside it other then it was another siren. Just grab it from you guys and return back to Trinity is what the boss said...I'll have to have a personal talk with Sigma when I return to Trinity HQ if he knew Adagio was the Ranger's test subject.”

“Heh, guess we’re both in the dark about our missions to receive the cargo...Though I have my doubts that Adagio was inside that container I was transporting.”

“Ranger...This world you’re trying to protect...I don’t think it’s worth it.” Aria said as she looked over at Adagio who was busy looking around for a moment before looking at Sunset. “Especially if this world is willing to use us sirens like this...what the hell did they do to her?”

“I honestly don't know. But...m-maybe...I think I might be on the same boat with you on that...but there is so much stuff going on that I still need answers to.”

“I take it they’re the same as mine?”

“Along the lines of that, yes. I’m curious as to what they want her for?”

“Who knows. Maybe it has something to do with the markings on her body?” Aria said as she pointed at the circuit lines on Adagio's body. “You don’t see a pony with markings like that now do you?”

“No...that's something I want to know when I get to HQ.”

“And you think they’ll be okay with you asking something like that? If anything, they would possibly kill you on the spot for something that they didn’t tell you about.”

“Well then what would you suggest we do?”

“Sneak in while no one is looking and search for the answers that I’m looking for. But as it stands we can’t do much at the moment seeing how we’re stuck here. For now we better get moving before more of those monsters down here come and find us.”

“Agreed.” Sunset said as she pulled herself up from the bed and called out for Adagio to come over to her. “Where does this trail lead us too?”

“It leads to the abandoned train shaft. Once we’re there we’ll figure out where to go from there. But I would suggest we go to Trinity seeing how they’re more reasonable than you rangers.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Sunset said as she felt Adagio grab her hand. Once she felt it, she begins to walk back outside of the room as they begin to make their way back on the trail they were on.