MLP-Multiverse: Chimera - The Snake's Charm

Chapter 8: The Turncoat

"Why does it seem like the people closest to you are the ones that'll buck you over the worst?"

It had been about a day or so, when we started walking back from Celestia, with all of the honey and water, along with some packaged food we had managed to gather from the generous townsfolk as well. I turned to tell my friends that we were headed in the right direction, and close to the vault.

"Alright guys, we're almost home... or well, just 'the vault', for you. Dick.", I announce to em.

"Thank god for that. My feet are killin' me. Think when we get back, we can get ol' lady Palmer to make some of those sweet rolls?", Butch asks rather enthusiastically.

"I don't see why not? We're coming back as the Tunnel Snakes, heroes of-", and Butch shoots me a sneer that makes me freeze in place as I rephrased my words. "The badasses that found this shit to give to all those helpless scrubs." I smile at him, and he seems a lot more pleased with that response.

"Aight, THAT'S more like it, bud! The Tunnel Snakes RULE!", he flashes a big grin and gives me thumbs-up.

I join him in his self-made mantra as Dick remains silent, fiddling with his backpack. He's been pretty quiet for the longest time, but I figure he must be nervous about having to introduce himself to the rest of the vault. I'm not sure about how the rest of my friends and neighbors are going to react to an ex-raider coming into the vault, much less to one staying. I sure hope I don't have to go back on my promise.

Having continued on foot all night, not stopping at the junkyard for a second time, we had made good time, but by now we were drained like Hell of our energy. I wondered if Dick's dog would be okay with us leaving him behind until further notice. Perhaps if the vault is alright with Dick staying with us, we could go back out and look for him. One thing's for sure, Wally, Freddie, and Paul will be back soon as well. I can't wait to see if they were as successful as we were. Checking again on our hauls, I start thinking everything might be alright... for now, anyway. Soon we'll all be safe and fed, and the vault can see us as real citizens, not just the resident hoodlums. Butch may have his dreams of being a thug, but out here it's crazy, and in the vault, some of the biggest badasses look about as threatening as that dog on the outside. We can't be a gang forever, but we CAN be friends forever... but I could never say that to his face. Friendship... There's that thought again...

"Hey Snake-Eyes, get the lead outta your ass!" my thoughts are interrupted by Butch shouting at me. I take this as a "We're home!", and I move towards him, where the cave door comes into view. As we all walk in through it, the gigantic vault door greets us with it's large face and the number "101" painted in glaring yellow paint. I approach, cautiously, and I turn to Butch and Dick.

"Hey guys...", I begin, feeling anxious. "We got the supplies. Here we are. Does something seem off to you?"

Butch replied by laughing at me and saying, "Dude, we WON. Don't get your panties in a bunch."

"Fine... Let's give the vault suckers their supplies, right?"

"Friggin A-right, Snake."

We enter the password as before, "HeartofGold", and we enter the vault, and there to greet us, is Stevie Mack, but he doesn't look TOO happy. I see Wally behind him, with that eternal sourpuss look on his face, and Freddie, not even looking us in the eyes. What happened here? Is Paul back too?

"Hey Steve, is everything alright? What's the matter?", I say before he can even greet us.

"Hey boys, I hate to say it, but I've got some bad news and... who is THAT?", he starts off with that kinder tone that the vault security team taught him, but he spots Dick and begins to get a bit more unnerved.

"Hold on a minute Steve, He helped us out. Coulda betrayed us before, but he didn't. I wanted to ask Mr. Mack about him, but that can come later. What happened?"

Steve took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of his nose, and began to talk. "Well, Wally and Freddy have returned as well..."

I realize from his sentence, Paul's absence, and the expressions of my fellow snakes, what must have happened. I interrupt him, fearing the worst. "No... Is Paul missing?"

Steve regains his composure. "No... I'm afraid he won't be coming back."

Butch butts in, sounding angry and scared. "No way! You mean like? Is he?..."

Steve can do nothing but nod his head slowly. I look at Butch, who stares back at me, crestfallen. I wish I knew what to say, I could ALWAYS think of something to say... but not now. I try to think, and immediately, my eyes dart over to Freddie, who starts staring at me, and Wally, now averting his eyes indefinitely... as if doing a complete one-eighty from their original plan. They must know something. at least, I hope so.

Steve however, stops me from talking to them. "Snakebit... explain.", He points towards the scrawny, spiky-haired goblin of a hitchhiker, and demands to know what on earth I'm planning. I tell him I'm just seeing if I can bargain for Dick's acceptance into the vault, but keeping in mind that he was part of a band of slavers, albeit against his will, so we need to make sure he isn't planning anything stupid. He proclaims that I'm insane and takes Dick with him to Mr. Mack. I wave goodbye to him and give him my backpack as well, keeping my new pistol a secret... No way am I getting this item confiscated. It's a relic of our big wasteland mission, I think to myself.

I walk over to Freddie and Wally, and immediately, Wally is on the defensive. "Hey Snake, what the hell took YOU so long? Stop to pick up any other freaks on the road?"

Immediately, I'm... enraged. Not just by his usual shitty attitude, but Paul just died, and HE knows how it happened. He's the one who should be given the shitty attitude, not me. Against my better judgement, I give in, and press him for information by doing one thing he can't stand. Making him feel stupid.

"Yeah Wally, in fact, I did. Maybe since you fucked up so royally, Dick can become a tunnel snake now!"

Shock... Nothing but shock in his face. I guess he didn't expect me to snap at him like this, but even I don't feel myself doing it. I'm shaking with what feels like anger, but I'm putting up such a front to try and sound confident.

"What the fuck did you just say to me, you little shit-stain?", he steps forward, thinking I'm terrified. I'm only MODERATELY nervous.

"I guess you're incompetent AND deaf. You fucked up, not us. I don't see any supplies, and you lost Paul, so explain that, you fuck-up."

He grimaces for a second, but regains his composure, and slugs me right in the jaw, with a harsh THWACK! Ugh... that piece of shit. I knew he was hiding something, but surprisingly, I don't have to fight back... BUTCH, of all people, is jumping straight at him, and Freddie is holding them both back, trying to make peace. He's a nice kid, I'm glad we accepted him into the Snakes.

I get back up, my jaw aching, and I spit out a bit of blood. "You motherfucker. I knew you were hiding something. Now what happened to Paul? You have to tell us."

"Oh yeah, and who the hell said that?" He's losing it now. I look at Butch and Freddie, and check with them.

"Because three on one isn't a fair fight."

"You've got some balls telling ME what to do, you little spaz. I still don't have to tell you shit. Butch, is THIS who you're siding with? This horse-freak?"

Butch answers, "Shut up. Snake is more of a Snake than you're bein' right now. I ain't blaming anything on anyone, but you're bein really weird right now, AFTER Paul died, under your leadership. You gotta know what happened, and if YOU don't tell me what happened, I can ask Freddie. If I gotta ask Freddie, you are OUT."

"What? You can't fire me from MY gang!", That does it, here comes their stupid power struggle static again.

"Butch throws the first punch, and Wally catches it, kneeing him in the stomach. I can't just sit here, Butch is like my brother, so I charge in, putting my hoof into his chest, and knocking him into a wall. Freddie goes to pick up Butch, and Wally gives me another punch, this time in the shoulder. What an idiot, hitting me in a tougher spot. I wait until he recoils and I punch him in the jaw, thinking of payback, but when I try to kick his stomach, like he did to Butch, he catches it, pulling me to the ground and getting on top of me, ready to smash my face. Crap, now I'm in for it... Butch kicks him off me and shoves him to the ground like he did to me, following by kicking him in his ribs. I get up and join in, but after a few good hits, we soon hear a voice speak up.

"Guys! Enough. I'll tell ya what happened, just stop fighting!", It was Freddy. He never liked fighting, he acted like a bully, but he had some issues of his own. V.D.S., or Vault Depressive Syndrome. He never talked about it, but it made him grow up a bit differently. He stopped being funny and cheerful, and not like us, where I was getting used to my work, Wally was a sour apple or Butch who just... never changed. He just sort of floated around, like a ghost. They gave him pills for it, but I don't think they helped him, more, numbed the pain. It had really done a number on the poor guy.

Butch and I back away, Wally getting to his feet while we watch him for any sign of aggression. He looks like an angry animal, staring right at us. I watch him, and wave to Butch, and he hoofs it over to Freddie, and as they talk it out, I hear Butch question the whole thing. Wally stares at me like he wants to wring my neck, and all I do is return his glare, but I won't kill him, I'm in this to find out what happened to Paul. Interrupting our staring contest, Butch walks over to announce what happened.

"Snake, this fucker watched as Paul was torn apart by mole rats. Said he dropped his gun, so he couldn't fight back, and took Freddie's, but he didn't even use it. Lil' bastard didn't even fight back. Couldn't even give him a mercy kill, could ya?", Butch breaks from his rant to give a well-placed right hook to Wally's face. He recoils, Butch having broken his nose. I don't like how this is shaping up at all.

"Butch, this isn't right. Paul got killed out there, and thanks to Wally? We're supposed to be a team!", I shout unintentionally, just too angry with the situation to hold it back. I look at Wally, suddenly drained and more upset than anything. "Wally, what were you thinking? Mole rats? You could have shot the shit out of them..."

He just looks away, never answering me. Fine... so apparently we have a man who gets my friends murdered in our vault. I can't believe that I was worried about the new guy. Thinking of him, I get up and walk away. I hear Butch announce that Wally is no longer one of them, and Freddie breaks down crying in the background, poor kid. I head towards Mr. Mack's office and wave through the window. He presses a button on his desk and gestures for me to enter, which I do. I notice he looks stressed, and I just know it has something to do with Dick.

"Hey Mr. Mack, you doin ok?", I begin, "I brought back this guy since he helped us. He was-..."

I'm interrupted. "I'm aware. You mentioned he was an ex-slaver? Snakebit, are you an IDIOT?"

"You know the answer to that, sir. The truth is, he was forced to join in. He should have mentioned that."

"Yes, he's mentioned that, but unfortunately, we're not supposed to let outsiders into the vault, for fear of not only contamination, but betrayal. You're lucky I know you better, or I might consider THIS a betrayal.", What's with that tone of voice? Is he trying to make ME the bad guy now?

"Wait a minute, I know he's an outsider, but he's a good person, and if he told you about what happened to him, doesn't that at least make him better than any actual slavers? Besides, ME, betray the vault? That's just cold."

"Well, maybe it is, but you DID bring an outsider in. I have to help my people survive, regardless of how good you think this man is. I'm sure he helped you, but we can't allow a man who's no doubt had to kill in a wasteland to survive, this BARBARIAN, if you will, to stay in here."

I hear that, and I get angrier by the second. "Mr. Mack, What about WALLY? Thanks to him, Paul was killed. he took Freddy's gun and couldn't even shoot the damn mole rats. he just watched him get eaten..."

"My SON, Wally? You think long and hard about this, accusing one of my family of murder."

"I didn't say he killed him, Mr. Mack, I said he let him die. I HOPE it isn't true, but Freddy told us the whole thing. Apparently he saw Paul getting attacked, and he claimed he dropped his pistol, and asked for Fred's, but he never shot any of em, just watched him get eaten."

"Snake, Freddie's obviously lying, why wouldn't he do something?"

"I just told you, Wally asked for his gun.", I answer, getting a bit exasperated.

"Calm down, Snake... listen, if Wally took Freddie's gun, we just need to check them for weapons, alright? I hope you aren't jumping the gun, but if my son did something like THAT, this really is a lose-lose situation. Mr. uh...", Dick's name seems to escape our overseer.

"Dick, Mr. Overseer sir..", he answers, attempting to be polite.

"Don't brownnose me. It won't work.", he answers suspiciously, "I want you to follow us to the cell. First time we've had to use it, since Miss Armstrong."

"Ugh, don't remind me...", I add with a groan, and I notice Mr. Mack look at me kind of strangely. I always liked it better when we were on good terms.

"You wait there until this matter is resolved, and afterwards, We'll decide what to do with you.", Mr. Mack instructs, to which Dick nods, follows us, and sits down inside the cell, pulling out a bucking harmonica as we leave. I stifle a laugh as he starts blowing a bluesy tune.

Eventually, Mr. Mack and I come to the same spot where Butch and Freddie were questioning and then pummeling Wally, and he gawks, before running to stop the two of them from further admonishing him. Demanding to know what happened, wondering why I have no bruises, to which I show him my bitten tongue and swollen cheek, due to my green fur blocking the sight of any bruises, and in other words, panicking, we tell him the whole story, and he asks Freddie and Wally to hand over any weapons they may be holding. Wally claims Freddie handed his in, which of course, he denies, so I pipe up that Steve can help. He was the one who checked us all for weapons and supplies. Mr. Mack gets up to go get Steve, but as soon as he's out of view, Wally reaches into his pants and pulls out... the pistol he "dropped". Oh, buck me...

"Now all of you, shut your fuckin' mouths and back away. I'm not dealing with this bullshit anymore, not from you two idiots, or the freakshow over here. I honestly don't know which of you to shoot first. Maybe putting a bullet in Butch's head will actually do his brain some good... maybe I should do Freddie a favor... or maybe YOU.", and with that, he points the gun at me.

"Go ahead and try, you bucking psycho. I knew there was something off about you. Tell ya what, ya can't shoot all three of us..." I look around at Butch, more angry than afraid, and Freddie, clearly about to break down, but putting up his fists like a man of action. "Wally, you're a disgrace to the Snakes, THAT'S why this gang isn't yours. It never was. Now put the gun down and stop this befor-..." and immediately, I feel a bullet tear through my shoulder. I guess ya can't talk your way out of EVERY situation.

"Snake!", I hear Freddie yell out as I shout in pain. I start to fade in and out, with little fragmented THUDS and THWACKS and the occasional "motherfucker" thrown in. When I wake up, I see Mr. Mack running into the room, and breaking up the two of them, and taking the gun from Wally. "Hehe, get daddy's permission to do THAT.", I think to myself, and I try my best to get up, Freddie noticing my predicament and letting me lean on his shoulder. I can see what's happening, Butch and Mr. Mack are hashing it out, it seems, but then he pushes Butch, and steps towards me and Freddie, holding up the same pistol.

"Mr. Mack, why are you attacking us?", I ask, completely confused.

"Listen to me, I don't give a shit about your stupid Tunnel Snakes, hell, that's why I sent you out, and I'm sure as hell not gonna let you fuck with my family, but I need you alive. Gomez, drag the Pony to the clinic. Don't make me ask again."

I can't believe any of what's happening in front of me. I ask him, "Mr. Mack... Why are you doing this? I thought we were like, ALL a family."

"Well, I liked having you as my little pet, Snake, but last time I checked, the Overseer's rules are absolute, so that means I can order whatever I want."

My blood begins to boil hearing that damn word again. "pet", I am no one's pet. I push Freddy away and stand up straight, "Ya know what, Allen? If you're gonna abuse me and the guys who got your Celestia-damn supplies, alienate a real ally, and keep this sociopath by your side... fine by me, but I'm not staying, and neither are the Snakes."

"You don't have a choice, you brightly colored abomination. This was never ABOUT supplies. I'm just keeping you until that father of yours returns to reward me, or until you bring back more of that race of yours, so I can put them to work here. I have been planning this for too long to have you upstarts fuck it all up."

I have heard enough, and quickly, I pull out the Broadsider, before Mr. Mack can even begin his next rant. His eyes go wide, clearly seeing my new hand, and the pistol it was built to hold. I say to him, "Alright you fucker... I think you know what happens next. You release Dick, give us back OUR supplies, and we leave. and Wally gives us the jacket for good measure."

"You little shit, who are you to give me orders!?", around this time, we see vault security and other civilians move in, watching the whole thing, apparently knowing what went down the whole time. For once, I thank Celestia we live in such a cramped space where everyone can hear everything. I look at the stairs, as Steve comes down with his pistol raised.

"Dad, what in the hell are you doing?", He questions while standing firm, pointing it in our direction.

"'Overseer', son. We talked about this. and if you keep pointing that gun at me, I'm gonna have to put you away too. Your brother is in enough trouble as it is.", he answers. "I want you to take care of these two, and take Snakebit back to the doctor ALIVE. I tried to be fair, but he'll have to be sedated now."

"Dad, you're going nuts, stop this! put the gun down, NOW.", Steve tries to reason with the mad Overseer.

"No, son! get over here and help me deal with these renegades, permanently."

Steve is shocked and horrified, pointing a pistol at his own father, but he doesn't get a chance. Mr. Mack aims a shot at me and fires, but just as he does, Steve runs towards him and tackles him into the floor. I am so flustered that I don't know what to do, but I'm distracted by a certain someone at the base of the stairs, holding what looks like a lighter and... SEVEN STICKS OF DYNAMITE!?

"Hi everyone... So lemme guess, shit went south? you all are assholes who'll bite each others' heads off for a quick meal? Yeah... I figured. I see you there, Mr. Mack, was it? Stay there! I have dynamite and I WILL use it!

Holy shit, Dick was carrying dynamite this whole time. That bastard snuck explosives under our nose... I don't know if he's dangerous, or truly an ally. He steps toward us, between me and Mr. Mack and gives him an ultimatum.

"Alright fuckers! Mack baby, you listen to the Pony, OR, I blow your ass up. NOW." With that, he feigns moving the wick closer to the lighter's flame, laughing like a maniac. "Hehe, heh, c'mon, gimme a reason!"

I get up and point the Broadsider at Mr. Mack, telling him that me and the Snakes are leaving. Steve goes to retrieve the supplies, and the other citizens look on towards us, in terror, or sadness. Maybe it's both of them. I put on the backpack I was carrying, and pick up Butch from the floor. Freddie walks over to the vault door, and before Wally can do something stupid, I give Freddie the fallen pistol and remembering the double barrel in my backpack, I reach into my backpack and fish it out, giving it to Butch. I walk over to Wally and tell him to give me the jacket, but instead, he lashes out and punches me in the stomach. as I recoil, Dick panics and launches the dynamite at Mr. Mack before running into Wally with a sledgehammer... Road-apples, that's a little overkill. As the dynamite's fuse burns down next to the Overseer, and Wally's ruined jaw hits the floor, thus marks a dramatic decline in the Mack family, and a quick escape from the vault. As we open the door, with the citizens caught between radiation, or the blast radius of the dynamite, we storm out as fast as we can back into the wasteland, I think to myself, "Well... there is NO way that could've gone worse."

Leveled Up. Perk Selected.

"Poison Heart"

Upon further inspection of the human condition, it's perfectly ok to be an asshole... if every other option has been exhausted. You don't wanna be like THEM, do ya? You do a permanent 20% damage boost to anyone with Negative Karma, with a bonus 15% to hostile allies, so long as you've failed a speech check.