Chapters Previously on Off the Grid......
"I'm looking to gather some information"
"Excellent.....the High Lord will be pleased"
"They were already dead"
"Your just a scumbag who live's by preying off the weak"
".....Your right"
"Calm down Stryker.....there's no one here"
And now.....the conclusion
The Grid use to be a very nice, and quite place, but it now felt more like a prison complex, than the city it once was. Many thing's had changed with the Grid itself, including the rules of the city, and how heavily forced the law itself became. One of the many huge Cybermen that were assigned to the Grid, was currently speaking through the P.A. system that had been established throughout the compound. "Attention all ponies of the Grid.....a curfew has now been in affect....all ponies, return to your home's. All ponies of the Grid.....a curfew is now in affect, all ponies.....return to your home" The Cyberman kept repeating the same message to the bleak, and very quiet town.
Near one of the building's, a pink pegasi was peeking around the corner with keen interest.....trying to sneak out. He took his moment, and went for it....attempting to leave the town, but a stun blast hit him in the back by a Cyberman that spotted him. The pink pegasaus groaned, feeling the impact of the blast, as the powerful machine was on him in a minute. "A curfew....is in affect...." The Cyberman stated approaching the pegasaus who began waving his hand's in a pleading motion.
"Wait...no....please....I-I was just on my way ba....Gaaaahhhh!!!!!' The pegasaus choked, as the Cyberman slammed it's metallic foot on it's neck.
"You are in a violation of the curfew.....for the safety of the Grid, and all of it's citizen's.....violater's will be detained" The Cyberman growled, as he took his foot off the pegasi, and prepared to take him away.
"SOMEBODY.....PLEASE.....HELP......ANYONE.....HEEEEELLLLLPPPPPP!!!!!!" The pegasi screamed to any of the ponies who had opened their front door's to their home's to see what the ruckus was. Rather than helping the poor pegasi, they immedietly closed their door's, not bothering to bat an eye at him.
*****
"Eeeeeehhhhh.....tell them I'm busy" Regalisa told his guard.
"It is the High Lord" The guard replied, as Regalias's eye's shrank to pinprick's, as he stuttered a little, and got into a kneeling position, while keeping most of his body concealed in the tub.
"W-Well.....patch me through then" Regalias told the guard, as a huge screen turned on, revealing High Lord Vampra who was in her special chair. "High Lord Vampra, what a pleasent suprise" He tried to say in a estatic tone to which she ignored completely.
"Regalias since your so......"busy" I'll spare you the detail's.....the result of the destruction to Facility 7, pony quota will need to be increased" She told him in a cold voice.
"But High Lord.....I just sent you 50 ponies" Regalias told her.
"Then Send 50 more" She ordered.
"Won't the ponies of The Grid become concerned?" Regalias asked, trying to appease her with an easier situation.
"50.....PONIES.....REGALIAS.....Send them, before I give you something to be concerned about" Vampra growled. as Regalias let out a huge sigh.
"Yes my lord" He told her, as the two ended the transmission.
*****
"Proceed" Vampra ordered.
"Despite the increased bounty.....the pony Stryker remain's illusive.....our bounty hunter's, are proving to be inofficent" The Cyberman told her.
"No matter....." She told him, as she pulled up a new prison cell camera with Pixel chained to the wall. ".....I know just the thing to bring him out of hiding" Vampra grinned, as the camera zoomed on Pixel.....re-branded, as Prisoner 29
*****Styker's P.O.V.
'It's been three month's since my tragedy with Raptus....since then I've been scowering The Wasteland's....searching for Vampra's base....unfortuanetly, I've had no such luck in locating it.....allies, are few, and enemies are many. I can't trust anyone except myself"
End character P.O.V.
Stryker was waddling around a very unfriendly trading post, filled with Vampra's bounty hunter's, and other's who wanted to claim his head as his prize. Stryker had learn how to be elusive since then, and during that time he had taken down a few of Vampra's sepcial creation's that he had never seen before. Stryker's disguise was very easy in these part's, and he had survived, learning about the exchange system.
Apparently Equestrian ponies were able to disguise themselves as Scavenger's in some part's, and for Stryker to get some information about Vampra if he was lucky enough. There were many bounty hunter's, and more of those masked Equestria like being's that were there, trading like normal.
Stryker was waddling around the sandy, desert, run-down town with a wheelbarrow in front of him, as part of the disguise he wore. Stryker passed some of the robot trader's, and masked traders of the area, picking up the multiple conversations for information. "How much for that piece?" One masked customer asked the trader.
"For you.....I can do 100 bullet's" The trader replied.
"THAT'S A BLOODY RIPOFF......Do you know how much these go for?" The masked customer growled, pointing at the type of weaponry he recognized. Stryker came to a halt when he saw one of the robot trader's who had a Predator plasma caster near the item's on sale getting his interest. The robot noticed this, and looked at the Scavenger.
"Can I help you?" The robot asked.
"What is that?" Stryker asked.
"That is a Predator shoulder cannon....also known in their language as plasma caster, are you interested in purchasing it?" The robot asked.
"I'm more interested in where you found it" Stryker replied.
"That information will cost you" The robot answered opening his hand for payment. Stryker pulled out a scrapped robotic part that he had on him, and gave it to the robot. "Payment....accepted, transaction complete.....In southeastern quadrant's of the Outer Realm there is a canyon passage. A popular smuggler's route....." The robot told him.
"Here....." The masked trader said to the customer, and lifted up a modified Spas-12 pump shotgun. ".....how bout this one....this one I can sell you....." The two were interrupted, by a very unpleasant looking masked Equestrian who looked to be a very big bounty hunter.
"Excuse me gentlemen....sorry to intrude....but has anyone seen this pony?" The bounty hunter asked, holding up a wanted poster of Sheriff Stryker.
"If I were Stryker....I wouldn't be hanging around this dusty old base" The customer scoffed.
"Yeah....for the price of his head, anyone would be set for a tough life" The trader told the bounty hunter, as he looked at them, wanting answer's.
"I'll take that as a no?" The bounty hunter asked, continuing the conversation with those two, while Stryker was wrapping up his conversation with the robot trader.
"....And it was there that I salvaged this piece" The robot told him.
"Hmmmm" Stryker replied, as he moved along....dragging his old wheelbarrow with him. The bounty hunter was looking to radio contact with his team when he saw Sheriff Stryker walk right past him with the wheelbarrow in hand. Already....the bounty hunter was suspicious, and ended the radio contact with his team.
"You.....stop right there...." The bounty hunter told him, with Stryker's back to him. ".....have you seen this pony?" He asked Stryker, holding up the wanted poster in his hand's.
"HEY.....leave the poor scavenger alone, you know they don't speak our language" The masked customer spoke up, as Stryker contined to roll onward with his wheelbarrow in hand. The bounty hunter pulled out his pistol, and fired his gun at Stryker. The sheriff was forced to dodge the blow, landing on the masked soldier's trading table with a bullet in the wheelbarrow. The bounty hunter let out a sly chuckle, as a mischevious smile spread across his face.
"Last time I checked.....scavenger's don't dodge bullet's" The hunter smiled. Stryker immedietly threw his disguised cloak at the masked customer who growled, and screamed from being blinded. The trader attempted to pull out his gun, but Stryker was too quick, also blinding him with his hooded disguise. Now that Stryker revealed himself, it was time to get moving. The bounty hunter fired at Stryker, only for him to use the trader's arm to make the bullet hit the armor that the trader was wearing.
"Rrrrrr.....Get him" The masked trader muffled, while Stryker ripped off a pack of grenade's, as he pulled the pin on one of them, and threw it at the masked bounty hunter. He managed to dodge it in time, but all the grenade's detonated, creating a massive explosion that disturbed the market place. The masked bounty hunter looked to see the masked trader, and customer were dead.....and Stryker was gone.
"ATTENTION ALL UNIT'S THIS IS COMMANDER VOLTAR.....STRYKER IS ON THE RUN.....ALL UNITS ARE TO SECURE THE PERIMETER OF THIS OUTPOST NO ONE IS TO GET IN OR OUT AUTHORIZATION TO ENGAGE ON SIGHT!!!!!!!" The bounty hunter shouted to the robotic ponies, and Cybermen that were under his command, thank's to Vampra.
"Order's recieved" One of the Cybermen replied through it's in built communicator. Stryker was using the rooftop's, and moved as fast as possible to get out of the outpost.
"Authorization confirmed.....Meta-bot's.....mobolize" The leading Meta-bot ordered to it's other brethren, as they began to move out in search for Stryker. Elsewhere nearby through a ripped apart Cyberman, a masked figure was using it's radio tied with a military one, to pick up on the new order, and immedietly took off.....he.....had a pony to assist.
"All unit's are to secure the periemeter of this outpost.....Stryker is on the run. Notify High Lord Vampra that Stryker has bolted" The bounty hunter reported again. Stryker came to a stop, as he panted....very out of breath, while trying to escape. He ran into a pair of four Cybermen who immedietly noticed him, as they turned to the pony, arming their weapon's. Stryker dove to the ground, as the Cybermen opened fire, before charging after him.
Stryker went the opposite direction, until a bullet was fired at him which he blocked, thank's to the armor plating on his arm.
"Vampra want's you dead, or alive....which is it going to be?" Voltar asked the Sheriff.
"You can kiss my ass" Stryker replied, as Voltar scoffed.
"So be it" Voltar smiled, as he, and the Cyberman aimed their gun's at Stryker
Near the entrace of the outpost that Stryker had gone to, two Meta-bot's stood guard, making sure that no one else entered the area. They all heard a very strange clanking, and clunking sound that may have turned their attention a bit, but they payed it no mind, looking out over the outpost. A loud gunshot rang, and one of the Meta-bot's head's exploded with destroyed circuitry, and twisted metal sparking from a bullet wound in it's face. The other Meta-bot also shared the same fate, as it too was hit by a powerful shot.
The masked figure who had taken them down.....grabbed it's gear, and went moving to save the Sheriff himself. Stryker saw the surrounded Cybermen who approached him, as Voltar sat down with a proud sigh. "Alright.....let's get this over with shall we?' Voltar told the Cybermen, as Stryker was looking around, trying to think of a way out of this mess.
"We've lost contact with the perimeter security.....re-establish the central uplink" One of the Meta-bot's ordered to the other.
"There is an ion storm rolling inbound.... slight communication delay's are to be expected" The Meta-bot explained to the Meta-bot commander. The figure that got inside the outpost saw the Meta-bot's, and prepared to deal with them. The Meta-bot's began talking with each other, until one of the Meta-bot's noticed something.
"Motion detected" One of the Meta-bot's told them. Within a few minutes a huge metal disk was thrown nearby which transformed into a sentry machine gun turret, and immedietly listed the Meta-bot's, as enemies, and gunned them down.
"If you've got any last word's....now would be a good time" Voltar told them, as he, and the Cybermen cocked their weapon's at Stryker. A staticy noise came over his radio, as he paused to answer it.
"Hang on a minute.....this Voltar" He told him, wandering if it was Vampra.
We are taking heavy, enemy fire
"WHAT'S GOING ON OUT THERE!?!?!?!?!?" Voltar shouted through the communicator. The set-up Sentry turret's began gunning down multiple Meta-bot's, as they were torn apart before they could retaliate. "Hello....Hello?" Voltar asked, the communication's fading out.
Our number's are dwindling
"Somebody get back to me" Voltar said through the communication's.
OUR NUMBER'S ARE DWINDLING The Meta-bot repeated, as they attempted to retaliate, but the turret gunfire was too fast, tearing through them like they were paper with twisted limb's, and scrap metal filling the place.
"I want a full sitrep.....NOW!!!!!!" Voltar shouted, realizing that thing's were going on before when he was just about to execute Stryker. The Sheriff used the distraction to launch himself, at one of the Cybermen....using it's gun to kill most of them.
"WHAT ARE YOU IDIOT'S STANDING AROUND FOR.......SHOOT HIM!!!!!!!!" Voltar shouted, as he began firing his gun at the pony. The Cybermen took the hit's, as Stryker shot all of the Cybermen. Voltar finally shot the Cybermen's head off that Stryker was using.
"Uh-oh.....gaaaahhh" Stryker shouted, as he fell to the ground with the Cyberman pinning him to the floor.
"You know Stryker....I never understood how one little pony could be so much trouble........" Voltar said, as he looked at all the destroyed Cybermen all around him, before he cocked his weapon at the Sheriff. ".....your too dangerous to be left alive.....Vampra's going to have to settle for you dead" He told him, ready to aim his gun at him. A gunshot rang, as the masked bounty hunter's head was blown open, and he collasped to the ground.....dead.
Stryker looked around before seeing the huge sentry turret, and the masked figure that had killed Voltar. The figure quickly went over, and lifted the destroyed Cyberman off Stryker. "Thank's.....I guess I owe you one" Stryker told the masked figure.
"You don't owe me anything....." The figure told him, as he took off his disguise, revealing someone who he had thought died at the end of his journey......the engineer known, as Shift.
".....it's good to see you again Sheriff" Shift smiled proudly.
The loud clanking, and whirring sound of Stryker's secret outpost being opened was revealed, as his home for the past three month's had been well maintained. It was good to have a friend beside him after being alone once more. He, and Shift traveled down the elevator of the place, until it came to a rest. "Well.....here we are" Stryker told his friend, as he turned on the light's of his old home. There were a bunch of map's scattered on the wall, with a few near where the bed was. There were different sized bullet's, ammunition boxes, one of the wanted poster's of him from the Badland's, and more.
"Wow...." Shift said in awe, as he went over to the ammo boxes, while also seeing a U.45 pistol, a Spas 12 pump shotgun, an HMS submachine gun, a Dragonuv sniper rifle, a cannon rifle/musket hybrid rifle, and a Famas that had been retroffited to fire spike bullet's. ".....Sheriff this place is amazing" Shift smiled.
"It's not the coziest place, but it's been home for the past few month's." Stryker told him.
"No shit....it's crazy out there....I'm suprised you can even amas this much" Shift said, turning to Stryker.
"Well.... it was either adapt, and survive.....or die, didn't have too many option's" Stryker answered with a sigh.
"Well you defiently survived.....especially against that thing" Shift pointed out to a T-100 Terminator torso that was also hung on the wall with wires coming out of it, as it was de-activated, and very wrecked.
"Daaaahh......that thing....Vampra sent it to kill me a while ago.....I managed to disable most of it's motor function's, and shut off it's GPS system. I also data mined infromation out of it's CPU, until it overrided it's own programming to shut itself down. Since then i've been scrapping his body part's, and selling them to trader's." Stryker explained.
"Sheriff......this thing came out of Vampra's base.....if we can re-activate it....I can extract any information we need on Vamrpa!" Shift said with hope in his heart, as Stryker was a little skeptical.
"Yeeeeaahh.....but won't the security override cause it to shut down again?" Stryker asked, as Shift smiled.
"Well that's what ya got me for.....I've been out, and about Sheriff.....your not the only one that's learned a thing, or two....." Shift smiled, as he decided to tell Stryker how he survived against the horde of Xenomorph's.
FLASHBACK
I don't remember much......but when I woke up, I was in a huge cavern of sort's......
Shift gasped loudly, as he woke up from lying on the cold metal floor. He looked behind him to see a dead pile of Xenomroph's, twisted destroyed metal, bent railing's, and a very wrecked cart rollled into one. "Uggghh....what....happened?" Shift asked himself, as he looked around.
....I was just happy to be alive. I took what I could from the wreckage....and just kinda started following my gut....haha....not saying my gut was always the right thing to follow
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!" Shift screamed, as he was swinging around in a circle with a machine gun in hand, firing many bullet's at nothing just for pure fun.
Eventuallly I made it out of there, and started looking for you. One day I was scavening for supplies when I came across a surface tunnel.
"AAAHHHH!!!!" Shift cried, as he tripped over a barrel of oil, and landed directly in front of a metallic sealed hatch that he didn't notice before. He opened the place, and peered inside. "Whoooooaaa......trippy"
Turn's out.....it used to be one of Vamrpa's old research facilites. I found out she was performing experiment's on ponies....horrible procedures that extracted the organic matter of their magic straight out of the still alive pony who had their chest's ripped open, wing's cut off, or their horn's butchered off with some of their head's ripped open. The empty husk's were then repurposed into.....
".....Meta-bot's"
FLASHBACK PAUSED
"Right....the lifeless ponies are then fed into a reactor of some sort" Shift explained, as Stryker began thinking, and realizing the pieces that were coming together.
"She must be feeding on that magic to keep her alive....or make her incredibly powerful....or something" Stryker thought to himself, as Shift continued his story.
FlASHBACK CONTINUED
"COMPUTER!!!!!!" Shift shouted to A.I. machine that was somehow still working. "Tell me.....were is this reactor located?" Shift asked. Immedietly a loud, and annoying alarm was generated from the computer itself...until he punched it to keep it quiet. A loud whirring sound was heard, as a big powerful mechanoid came to life, and stared directly at Shift. "Oh you gotta be fucking shitting me" Shift groaned.
The mechanoid then pulled out a lighting shoulder cannon, and aimed it at Shift.
END FLASHBACK
"Yeah....that.....that wasn't the best day of my life" Shift groaned, remembering having to fight that thing off, and get out of there alive.
"And I suppose you didn't get to find out.....where this reactor was?" Stryker asked him.
"Unfortunately.....no....however....." He paused, as he turned toward the wrecked T-100 Terminator. ".....our friend there...maaaaaayyy know something" Shift answered with an idea in mind.
Vampra heard the news of the outpost of one of her best bounty hunter's...find Stryker....but was also killed, as the pony had evaded her for the last time. She had enough, this was the first pony in existence to cause her some actual pain, and now she was done with it. She stood in a dark empty room, and looked at one of the Cybermen who only nodded in response. A video camera was then activated, as Vampra started her live broadcast throughout the entire Badland's. "This is High Lord Vampra.....I am broadcasting this message to all squadron's, and sector's. The recipient for who this message is for.....is none other than the pony......Sheriff Stryker. I know your out there, and I know your hiding......."
As the broadcast went in other places.....from where Regalias was....he only looked down at himself, a bit guilty for being a part of this entire mess. Elsewhere in a deep, dark hole.....Scarlett Twinke was sitting on a small little bench, with an unsual change with her face. When the wrecked radio mentioned Stryker....Scarlett's power's amplified, as the radio constantly repeated Stryker's name. A psychotic smile, belonging to a very messy, lavender face of a mare that had faded from a certain war was present to whom she shared the fractured, broken body with her Nightmare split-personality self that had been known, as Scarlett Twinkle.
".....it has been a long three month's, but our game of hide, and seek, end's today......" Both Shift, and Stryker were currently watching the broadcast from the Terminator itself. ".....you have one week of presenting yourself before me at these co-ordinates...." She told him, giving Stryker the location to her base. "......you will do so, or I will execute your precious companion live on the broadcast network for all to see......" She told him, showing him, and everyone the cell camera feed of Pixel inside it, chained to the wall.
".....I'll be expecting you" Vampra told him, as she ended the broadcast immedietly.
"So that's Vampra....." Stryker pondered, quite suprised of seeing her being some sort of other wordly Equestrian who was danegrous.....but also a bit hot. However she was bitch, and she needed to be put down for the fucked up thing's she did to his species, and for taking his marefriend hostage.
"This is obviously a trap" Shift warned Stryker.
"Trap, or not.....it doesn't change the fact that she's got Pixel" Stryker told Shift.
"Pleeeeaasee don't tell me your thinking of actually going to Vampra?" Shift begged.
"Look.....this is my best chance of saving Pixel....it might be my only chance, but I need to go" Stryker reminded him, knowing how much he loved Pixel.
"Well in that case....count me in" Shift suggested, but Stryker stopped him.
"NO....it's too dangerous, I can't endanger anymore lives" Stryker warned.
"Sheriff....you can't do this alone you need all the help you can get, trust me I can handle myself" Shift told him, as Stryker thought it over for a bit, and arrived at his conclusion.
"Alright fine.....your right, we really do need all the help we can get."
*****
Her name was Sinon.
Sinon had been around the Badland's for quite sometime, and she had been traveling with her business partner, and the stallion that she had deep feeling's for.....Clint. The cyan blue stallion was also in the bar, having some relaxation with Sinon, and watching whatever news was on TV in the Badland's. When Clint saw Pixel chained up....he froze. Sinon glanced over at him, while having some mixed feeling's, as one of the masked men spoke up.
"Vampra really want's that pony dead.....speaking of ponies....I heard Vampra pay's.....reeeeeeaaallll well for anypony....." He said in an unpleasant tone, giving Clint a very mischevious look. "......ain't that right.....Clint?" The masked man asked. The music itself stopped, as tension suddenly surrounded the bar.
"Don't get any stupid ideas in your head" Clint warrned.
"I'n sure you've noticed.....but air in here is.....kind of tense, don't you think?" The masked man asked, as all of the other
"Listen pal.....whatever your trying to do right now....." He told them, and turned to Sinon who gave him an affirmative nod. ".....I'd promise you it won't be worth it" Clint told the masked man.
"Oh.....and why's that?" The masked man asked, as Clint pointed his finger at him.
"Because all of you would be dead before you even pulled the trigger" Clint warned. All of them were about to fire when Sinon pulled out her pistol, and quickly shot all of them with her signature speed that she had trained herself with since the beginning, as all of them were killed before they could pull the trigger. The music continued on, as other masked men who didn't fire at Clint had known him for so long to know he, and his partner weren't someone to trifle with.
Sinon holstered her pistol, as she downed the rest of the beer in her mug, before turning to her partner. "Collect their gun's, and amuunition....." Clint ordered, as she drank the last drop's in her glass mug, before shattering it on the ground, and did as Clint told her to do. The stallion himself let out a sigh, wanting to save Pixel which meant working with his rival. The same person he hated, betrayed, and also may have the Nightmare power in him still which was the reason he betrayed him in the first place.
Clint really didn't have much choice....it was getting to the point where he couldn't hide forever, and he would be forced to deal with Vampra himself. He really didn't need that heat for his business.....it was time to put Vampra in her place. "......we're gonna need it" He finished telling his sentence to Sinon.
Inside her cell, both Lyca, and Pixel were using wooden sticks that were leftover from their new prison to train with whatever strength they had left. Pixel was getting stronger, and stronger with each passing day. Even though she had been fed this time....unlike her last cell....water was still a bit of an issue, and she needed, as much as she can to get stronger. Since Lyca mostly stayed in her cell during her attempted escape....Vampra had beaten the chimpunk pony up, and had her moved into the new cell with Pixel.
A familiar cackle was heard that made both Lyca, and Pixel stop training, as they turned to see Vampra at her cell door. "That's very cute Pixel.....I'm sure you'll defeat many enemies with your little stick's" The female Equestrian shark being spoke.
"What do you want Vampra?" Pixel snarled in a bitter, and colder voice than before, but still sounded like her sweet old self.
"I'd like to show you something" Vampra replied. Pixel, and Lyca looked at each other for a minute wondering what she meant. Soon Vampra had her in cuff's, and next to her on a moving platform that showed Pixel what the dark mare had been up to for so long. She first passed many of her loyal Cybermen.
"Did you know all living being's generate a form of energy, or magic...." She asked, as she passed a blank cell space that had two Xenomorph's who looked at Vampra, and hissed at her, while she payed them no mind. "....did you know that energy could be harvested? I've spent year's experimenting on all manner's of lifeform's....researching how best to extract that life out of their bodies, converting it into a source of power....." Vampra explained, as she passed more powerful Cyberman, and came to a stop at a cell that had blood, and organ's everywhere.
Pixel was horrfiied seeing an untold demon that she had not seen before that had ripped the multiple victim's that were tossed inside, apart with relative ease. "W-What.....is that thing?" Pixel asked. Inside the cell was a young 10 year old human girl that was dressed in a very old black, and white striped school outfit. Her hair was a lifeless gray, and her skin was bleached white. She had no eye's....no ear's.....no mouth.....and no nose. Out of it's back, and left arm....three tentacles made of human flesh, and blood snaked, squirmed, and wriggled around in the air.
The demon girl was holding a lifeless Earth pony corpse that had it's organs removed, and most of it's face torn off. The hand holding the corpse, was not even a regular human hand.....but a clawed hand made of flesh, and blood. There were even robotic implant's imbedded into the flesh made claw. The being dropped the pony corpse, and looked at it's viewer's, letting out a mixture of blissful moan, and a demonic growl. "Impressive isn't it....it's a creature I captured from an evil place called the Nightmare Realm" Vampra replied.
"AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!" The creature began psycotically laughing.....her voice sounding like a bone chilling version of Scarlett Twinkle's laugh. "If you value your sanity.....don't stare at it for too long." Vampra told her, as she moved away from the sound, while the being inside let out a high pitched demonic scream which made Pixel shudder. Vampra finally came to a stop at another area.
"....and then I discovered The Grid....." Vampra smiled, as Pixel let out a horrifiying gasp.
"Nooo" She said in a high pitched voice, as the light's turned on. In green jar's there were many dissected Earth Ponies, Pegasi, and Unicorn's who were all deceased, and stuffed in the jar for Vampra's twisted purposes.
"....A single Equestrian pony generates more magic, and power than that of a dozen fuel cell's....and produces enough electricity to power a small power plant. Combined with my reactor's, and technology The Grid provides all the energy I ever need....." Vampra told her, as she took Pixel to the heart of her operation....her powerful reactor. "Marvelous isn't it....100% Durasteel constructed, re-inforced with armor plated Duranium, and powered by electric driver's, and crsytal circuitry......designed for a single purpose." Vampar told her, as Pixel looked at her worried.
"F-For what purpose?" Pixel asked.
"Let me show you" Vampra replied, as she took off her cloak, and used her telekentic power's to turn a ray machine on, and point it to herself.
"N-No.....it can't be" Pixel gasped. Alarm's were sounded, as a lot of Equestrian magic from those tubes channeled through the generator, and into the arm that Vampra activated, and into the twisted mare herself. Vampra felt all that magic begin transferring to her body in the form of blue, and green lightning.
"NO....VAMPRA.....PLEASE.....STOP!!!!!!!" Pixel cried, as she rushed forward to try, and stop her from extracting that magic, and was only knocked back by the huge transformation. After a few minute's, Vampra was glowing with energy, and pony magic lightning coursed around her body.
"Oh.....n-no.....what have you done?' Pixel asked, as Vampra played with the magic, and lighting in her hand's, as she looked at her with an evil grin.
"Let's have some fun Pixel" She smiled.
Shift, and Stryker had loaded up a supply truck full of many light, and heavy weaponry that they had used to prepare for this momemnt. They were ready.....they were ready to take on Vampra's base, and do whatever they could to stop her, and rescue Pixel. "You ready to go?" Stryker asked, as he walked up to Shift.
"Yeah.....I packed just about everything....I'm ready, as I'll ever be" Shift smiled, pointing to all the weaponry, sentry turret's, and ammo he packed. The two hopped into the supply truck, as Shift got into the driver's seat, while Stryker climbed into the passenger seat.
"Shall we?" Shift asked.
"Let's roll out" Stryker said with a bit of enthusiam, as Shift started the truck as the engine roared to life, and the two began to embark on their journey. During the long road trip.....Stryker let out a sigh, remembering the safety, and life he lived in Equestria, and The Grid. "I wonder how thing's are going back home.....I hope everything is alright" Stryker said to himself, as their vehicle drove on.
*****
He was still working with High Lord Vampra to give her the ponies she needed for her experimentation's without anyone noticing, or questioing what he was doing. The 50 ponies that were ordered to be tied up with the help of 4 powerful Cybermen on guard, while a huge crowd of ponies were at The Grid's city hall to discuss these term's. For Regalias.....it was not looking too good, as he anticipated. Too many had gone missing that the public was almost infuriated. "As you all know.....in order for us to survive some of us....must be sacrificed" Regalias told them.
"WHY REGALIAS....where are they going?" A mare shouted.
"Why do we have to keep making these sacrifices every month?" Another stallion asked.
"Yeah.....it doesn't make any sense" A third stallion stated.
"What are you going on about?" A fourth stallion asked.
"Are we in danger?" A fifth stallion asked.
"It's time for answer's Regalias" A sixth unicorn stallion stated.
"Yeah!" A mare yelled.
"YEAH!!!!!!" The entire crowd shouted with the mare again, as a green stallion watched from the shadow's.
"Alright settle down....I told you before the reason were sending them away is to keep whatever's hunting us in The Grid......OUT of The Grid....by hunting them instead" He answered, pointing to the ponies who were tied up.
"That is.....A HORRIBLE IDEA!!!!!!!" An infuratiated stallion shouted.
"WHO PUT YOU IN CHARGE!?!?!?!" Another stallion shouted.
"THIS WOULDN'T BE HAPPENING IF STRYKER WAS AROUND!!!!!!!!" One mare shouted, as Regalias growled.
"STRYKER ISN'T HERE.....AND STOP YOUR WHINING.....IF IT WASN'T FOR MY EFFORT'S IN TRYING TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE THREATS WE FACE.....WE WOULD ALL BE GONE.....THERE WOULDN'T BE A SINGLE PONY LEFT IN THE GRID!!!!!!" Regalias shouted.
"Why can't we fight baaack?" A stallion shouted.
"Because we'll all die if we do" Regalias replied.
"THAT'S A LOAD OF BULLSHIT!!!!!!!!!" The green stallion who was hiding in the shadow's, eavesdropping on the meeting shouted, as he revealed himself. Everpony turned to him, as the green unicorn held a Spas 12 pump shotgun in his hand that was loaded with bullet's. "We've all faced impossible challenges in the past before....." He growled, as he cocked the shotgun in his hand. ".....we can do it again" He growled.
"Put that gun down before you hurt yourself.....you don't know what your doing" Regalias ordered, as the green stallion snarled.
"I proudly served on the frontlines of the Great Nightmare War...." He growled, as he aimed his weapon at Regalias. ".....I know exactly what I'm doing....let all of those ponies behind you go" The stallion demanded.
"You don't know what your dealing with" Regalias warned.
"Ooooooh yes I do.....a cowardly purple stallion who let all the power got to his twisted head......Stryker would never had let you get away with this" The green stallion snarled.
"Stryker ABANDONED The Grid....he's a traitor" Regalias scoffed.
"Stryker is a hero, and a good guy.....and he'll be back" The green stallion ordered, as he aimed his weapon at Regalias.
"Kill him" Regalias ordered, as the Cybermen shot the green stallion, as he layed on the floor dead with blood pouring from his body, as Regalias scoffed again. "What's done is done" He said in a uncaring voice.
*****
"It's too quiet" Stryker growled.
"Well it's not like it's a trap, or anything" Shift replied. The minute he said that, a bunch of different masked human's popped out of nowhere, aiming their gun's at Shift, and Stryker from all different angles of the gas station.
"You Haaaad to jinx it.....YOU HAD TO SAY IT!!!!!!" Stryker groaned.
"Sorry.....sorry" Shift chuckled awkwardly, as a masked bounty hunter approached them.
"Hello Stryker.....I've been expecting you" A voice spoke, almost having a Russian accent to it.
"Uhhh.....do I know you?" Stryker asked.
"Sheriff your a wanted pony....everyone know's you" Shift deadpanned.
"I'm here for moooore than just a bounty" The masked bounty hunter smiled. A few many meter's away....Sinon was on top of a hill with her Barret 50. cal out, as she looked through it's scope to survey the situation.
"How many guy's do you see?" Clint asked through a radio he was using to communicate with her.
" Counting 4.....no 5 guy's" Sinon replied in a low voice.
"You got a clear shot?" Stryker asked.
"Yup" Sinon replied through a very small micro radio she held.
"Are you sure.....I mean...we can go a little closer" Clint suggested.
"I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear that" Sinon groaned in annoyance.
"Alright....Alright I'm just joking around....I'm gonna go negotiate....you know what to do" Clint told her.
"Roger that" Sinon replied, as she put the radio away, and looked through the scope of her sniper rifle.
"You killed my brother Voltar" The bounty hunter growled at Stryker.
"Hold up.....I didn't do that.....that was Shift" Stryker told the bounty hunter, pointing to his friend.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa.....those were auto-turret's....that wasn't me" Shift stuttered defensevly.
"But they belong to you....so that make's you the killer" Stryker accused.
"Whoa....hold up now...." Shift tried to retaliate, as the bounty hunter growled.
"SHUT UP.....I WILL KILL BOTH OF YOU.....STARTING WITH YOU STRYKER.....PREPARE TO DIE!!!!!!!" The bounty hunter shouted, as he pointed his two pistol's that he had with him at the two ponies. Without warning a loud barking was heard, as an Equestrian dog appeared out of nowhere that was brown, and had an eyepatch on, barking playfully.
"What....is that?" The bounty hunter asked, until the sound of a powerful gunshot got his attention. "WHO FIRED.....I didn't give the order to fire" The bounty hunter said to one of his soldier's near him, as one of his men fell from a high place, and onto the ground.....dead. Sinon re-loaded her sniper rifle, and fired another shot at another gunman who died immedietly. Sinon re-loaded again, and readied to aim it at her next target.
"SNIPOOOOORRR!!!!!!!" One of the masked men shouted, before Sinon shot him in the head. She fired again, and killed the fourth gunman. The bounty hunter looked around to spot the sniper, and when he found her position.....Sinon already fired, as bullet went through his head....killing him.
"Boom.....Headshot" Sinon smiled. Stryker, ad Shift groaned after getting down, while the Sniper shot their enemies.
"Ugh.....what the fuck just happened....and where'd that dog come from?" Stryker asked, as Shift also had gotten up with the Sheriff.
"He's with me" Clint replied, as the dog immedietly let out happy bark's, and went to Clint who appeared out of the blue. "How ya doing.....Stryker?" Clint asked in a mischevious voice.
Stryker immedietly rushed at Clint with full speed, and slammed him into a nearby wall, as Clint grunted with pain, while Stryker let out an unpleasant growl. "You've got some nerve showing up again you scumbag" He growled.
"STRYKER....Hear me out" Clint pleaded which fell on deaf ear's for Stryker.
"You had your chance on our last little journey" Stryker snarled, as he picked Clint up, and threw him hard on the ground, as Clint groaned from the harsh impact. Stryker attempted to punch him, but Clint dodged the blow, and kicked Stryker back. Stryker grunted in response, as Clint tackled him, as the two rolled, and fought.
"Hang on Sheriff" Shift told him, as he attempted to help, but a gunshot from Sinon caused him to freeze in place.
"Nuh-uh-uh.....I don't think so" Sinon told him with her gun pointed at Shift.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!?!?!?" Shift shouted angrily.
"Let them sort out their issues" Sinon told him with an eased voice.
"WHAT IF THEY KILL EACH OTHER!?!?!?!?" Shift shouted at the mare.
"Well that's not my problem" Sinon shrugged, as Shift growled.
"I don't know who you are......but your going down" Shift challenged, as Sinon couldn't help, but let a soft chuckle to herself.
"Bring it on kiddo" Sinon smiled. Shift immedietly deployed an auto-turret, as it targeted Sinon to be an enemy, and began to open fire. Sinon quickly dodged behind cover, knowing that she had to be careful around the sentry turret. She was joined by the dog Clint had, until a bullet shot through the cover...making the dog run off. Stryker, and Clint exchanged blows with their fist's, as Stryker knocked Clint down to the ground again.
Clint finally managed to block his blow's, as he threw Stryker to the side. He quickly got up, and pointed his gun at Stryker.
"Gaaahh......not now....AAAAHHHH!!!!!" Shift screamed, as hot steam bursted from the turret, and burned his face. Sinon pulled out a flamethrower, and bursted from cover, while spraying the hot flames. Shift dodged out of the way, while Clint dove to protect Stryker from the deadly fire. Clint got up, beside Stryker, as he turned to Sinon with a sigh.
"Maybe I should've put you in charge of negotiating" Clint sighed.
"Yeah....you should have" Sinon replied, while rolling her eyes. Stryker got up from the ground, as Clint approached him.
"Look Stryker....if we wanted to kill you....my sniper would have done it a long time ago" Clint told him, as Shift groaned, and got up...looking at Stryker.
"He has a point Sheriff" Shift replied. Stryker looked down remaining silent, until Shift spoke again after he got on his feet. "You saw those mercenaries go down" Shift defended, as Stryker let out an annoying growl.
"So what.......what's different now?" Stryker angrily asked Clint.
"Nothing's different.....I still hate you...." Clint shot back.
"RRRRRRRR!!!!!!" Stryker growled, angrily in frustration.
".....but Pixel need's us" Clint finished, as Stryker let out a sigh, while Shift looked at Stryker confused.
"Alllllriiighty then.....so.....uhhh.....truce?" Shift asked, as Stryker spoke next.
"Truce" Stryker answered.
"Temporary Truce" Clint shot back.
"How about the trigger happy one over there?" Shift asked, pointing to Sinon who let out a deep sigh.
"Uggghh.....I'm with Clint" She groaned in annoyance.
"Alright then.....Shift's got a plan" Stryker told Clint.
"Let's hear it then" Clint said, turning to Shift.
*****
"No matter if he's as predictable as he's proven to be so far.....he'll show" She snarled, as her hand curled into a fist, cracking a few knuckles.
Stryker was driving on a small, hover motorcycle, as he made his way toward's Vampra's base with the plan he, and the other's had set....already in motion, after all of them had stopped in a hidden place to discuss it with all of their weapon's armed.
[i"]Alright everyone know what they have to do?" Shift asked them
"Stryker will head to the great spire, and turn himself in" Clint explained.
"Assuming they don't kill you right there, and then.....she'll take you in" Sinon replied.
"Right....once she does they'll most likely disarm him, and confiscate his gear....I've installed a GPS, and an EMP emitter inside the Sheriff's armored bracer on his right armor plate. Once we know that the Sheriff is in the enemy base.....we'll activate the charge......disabling her network, and throwing her forces into disarray" Shift explained, as Spot came back, and went to sit with Sinon.
"Wait hold on......why is Stryker going alone again?" Clint asked.
"Vampra probably has some sort of pony detection system going on....I'n sure the range of the radar is immense" Shift answered.
"And then she'll know that I'm not coming alone....that's where you come in" Stryker pointed to Sinon.
"Because I am not a Unicorrn, Earth Pony, or Pegasi....I won't show up on their radar....due to my makeup which I kind of question if I'm acutally Equine like, or not....but nonetheless I can also provide backup from a range outside their detection" Sinon winked, as Clint chuckled.
"Heh.....someone's a cool kid" He smiled. Sinon immedietly pulled out her pistol, and fired a bullet next to him, as Clint gasped.
"Gaaahhh.....I'm KIDDING!!!!!" He told her defensively, as she holstered her pistol.
"Once the system's go down....the rest of us will roll in, and provide re-enforcement's for the Sheriff" Shift told them.
"What then.....rescue Pixel....Kill Vampra?" Clint asked.
"Rescue Pixel....kill Vampra....and destroy the reactor" Shift answered.
"You got a plan B.....just in case thing's go south?" Sinon asked, as the other's looked at her confused.
"Why would we go South.....The great spire is East of here?" Stryker asked, as Sinon facepalmed in response.
"Ugggghh....it's our equine like expression of when thing's go bad" Sinon explained.
"Oh.....well....uhhh....no" Stryker replied, as Sinon began banging her head on the table.
"Ooooooohhhhh boy" She groaned.
That was the plan, and it was set, as Stryker drove the hover motorcycle, until he came to a stop at Vampra's base that she told him to meet at. "Oh wooowww" Stryker gasped in appreciation, as he looked at the place. He saw the Cybermen, and Vampra standing out front, waiting for him as he got off the bike, and stood in front of her.
"Here I am Vampra" Stryker growled.
"Sheriff Stryker.....we meet at last" She smiled, as she gazed at her prisoner.
"Take me in.....but let Pixel go.....this is between me, and you" Stryker demanded, as Vampra chuckled.
"Did you......reeeeeaalllllyyy think that I was going to release her?" Vampra asked.
"YOU SCUMBAG!!!!!!!!" Stryker shouted, as Vampra bursted out laughing.
"I just wanted you to see her die.....up close, and personal" Vampra smiled, as she used her power's to yank Stryker close to the Cybermen, as they disarmed him, and tied him up in chain's. Sinon watched from a zoom in gear that was on the armor she was wearing which had, comm's, and a huge modiefied machine gun that she carried.
"Alright boy's.....Stryker's in the base time to roll out" She stated after Stryker vanished inside. Back at the place where they discussed the plan....Shift was in a similar get-up like Sinon's, while wielding his own machine gun.
"Let's go" Shift told Clint who had brought a bunch of revolver ammo with him which he prefered. The dog wanted to go with him, but Clint stopped the little guy.
"Hey little buddy.....can't bring you along for this one...I'll be back for you though....be good alright" Clint told him, as he went with Shift, while the dog guarded the base with a small dissapointed whine. Stryker struggled, and growled in his chain's, as he turned to Vampra.
"GRRRAAAHHH.....YOU WON'T GET AWAY WITH THIS!!!!!!" Stryker spat in her face, as Vampra laughed in response.
"Don't worry Stryker....I'll make it quick, and painless......for both of you" She snarled, her knuckles cracking, as her hand curled into a fist.
The Cyberman carried the disarmed Stryker along the prison cell area, as it soon found the empty cell it needed. It opened the metal door, and threw Stryker inside who landed with a pained grunt.
"Ack!!!" Stryker growled, as he landed face first onto the floor. Pixel was in the cell next to him, hearing him being thrown in. The door slammed behind him, as Stryker let out a louder pained grunt that was heard by Pixel.
"Stryker?" Pixel gasped, as Stryker immedietly heard her word's.
"Pixel is that you?" Stryker asked, hearing her voice.
"STRYKER.....YOU CAME FOR ME!!!!!!!!" Pixel shouted excitedly, as she went to the cell wall to hear Stryker more, who also did the same.
"DID THEY HURT YOU!?!?!?!?" Stryker asked, as Pixel still had a few scar's from her first escape from Vampra.
"N-no....I'm alright" She told him assuringly.
"There's so much I want to tell you" Stryker told her....having memories of all his adventures to this point.
"Me too.....but there's something you have to know....Vampra is harvesting ponies to prolong her life, and gain ultimate power" Pixel told him.
"I know....and I've got a plan to stop this madness" Stryker assured her.
*****
"The charge should be going off right about.......now" Shift replied.
*****
"What's going on?" Vampra shouted, as one Cyberman turned to her.
"The network has been compromised.....Virus detected in the ssssyyyyysssstteeeemmm.....rrrrrrrr" The Cyberman was unable to finish it's sentence, as it immedietly was shutdown by the EMP, as did all of the Cybermen around her.
"Re-establish network uplink" She ordered the de-activated Cybermen....whom she didn't know were offline, and got silence from them after giving her order.
*****
"Give us some cover fire" Clint informed Sinon, as he, and Shift drove toward's the base.
"Roger that" Sinon nodded, as she readied her weapon, and began gunning down the Meta-bot's, and Cybermen at the front gate.
*****
*****
Both Clint, and Shift got up from their rough ditch, as they both wiped the set off their brow's, as Shift felt the adrenaline pump through his vein's. "LET'S GOOOOO!!!!!!!" He shouted estatically, as Sinon got on her own bike, and drove to re-group with the two.
*****
"PIXEL!!!!!!!" The two shouted, as the two ran toward's each other, and hugged....feeling the warmth of their bodies pressing one another.
"I missed you" Pixel smiled, glad to be in her coltfriend's arm's once more. Stryker then broke their hug, and looked her in the eye's.
"I missed you too" Stryker smiled, as Pixel leaned forward, and kissed him passionetly, as Stryker returned the kiss, as the two had their moment. After they seperated....Pixel noticed the scar's, and wound's on his face....while he also noticed the two scar's on her face, and the branded number's on her arm.
"I guess we were both harmed when I came to get you" Stryker told her, as Pixel looked at his wound's, and spoke.
"I-Indeed....although I was a bit embarrased on how not to tell you.....it look's like you suffered, as much as I did" Pixel realized, as Stryker nodded.
"I know....now....take me to the reactor, we have to destroy it once, and for all" Stryker told her, as Pixel nodded as the two of them headed off in that direction.
Both Stryker, and Pixel were running down the hall's toward's the reactor. Meanwhile....Shift, Clint, and Sinon were moving forward through the bases, as their gunfire tore apart each Cybermen that they came across. Thousand's of wrecked Cybermen layed on the ground, as Stryker, and Pixel continued toward's the reactor, until Stryker stopped her to hide behind a corner. "Wait....." He told her, as a Cyberman walked past them, patrolling the cell's. "Okay...the coast is clear" Stryker told her, as they continued onward.
Shift turned a corner to an area, and immedietly stopped. "Uh-oh" He realized, as Clint, and Sinon also turned the corner with him, and turned to Shift.
"I thought you disabled them" Clint told Shift.
"I guess I missed a few" Shift shrugged.
"HOW IS THIS A FEW!?!?!?!?!?" Clint shouted, as a small army of Cybermen, and Meta-bot's turned their attention to the group, and pulled out the many huge weapon's they had, or were currently carrying. Near the reactor entrance, a guarding Cyberman was immedietly tackled, and ripped apart by Pixel, as Stryker went to the radio that was near the entrance.
"Good job Pixel, I'll use this radio to contact Shift" He told her, as he switched the radio's frequency to the correct one. Shift was currently shooting all the robot's with his turret weapon, while Clint, and Sinon were taking cover, until Stryker's voice came over the comm's.
Shift....SHIFT...This is Stryker He spoke, while gunfire from the Cybermen, and Meta-bot's continued, as Shift battled them. He managed to dodge a single bullet that almost hit him, but he continued to keep firing trying to break through the defense with a few Meta-bot's having Riot Shield's to hold the line. Shift....SHIFT......come in Stryker shouted through the radio, as Sinon heard it, and pulled it out of her backpack.
"Hey....HEY!!!!!" She shouted to get Shift's attention.
"Huh.....AAAAHHH!!!!!" Shift shouted, as he dove for cover, and answered the radio. "Hello?" He asked.
"Shift.....I found Pixel....she's ok" Stryker said through the radio.
"That's great to here Sheriff....and the reactor?" Shift asked.
"We're on our way to destroy it right now....how's it looking on your end?" Stryker asked.
"Uuuuuuuhhh....." Shift stammered, as he peeked his head over the cover area, and immedietly ducked back, as bullet's hit the area of where his head used to be. ".....we've run into a....delay of sort's....." Shift told him. Sinon looked at Clint with an idea in mind.
"Get out there, and dance" Sinon told him.
"WAIT.....WHAT I....." Clint stammered, as the Cybermen continued to open fire at their cover.
"DO IT.....or we're gonna be here all day" Sinon ordered Clint.
"Why are you calling all the shot's?" Clint asked her. Sinon cocked her gun at him with a slight smirk spreading across her face.
"Cause my gun is bigger" Sinon told him.
"Uuuuuuggghhh" Clint groaned, as he dodged out from the cover area, and began doing a very stupid dance. "Hey.....look it me I'm a pony.....wheeeeeeeeeee....oooooohh....hey over here" At that moment the robot's turned to him, as Sinon busted out of cover, and switched her ammunition from cannon round's to minigun round's. She immedietly gunned down a huge number of Cybermen, and Meta-bot's...quickly breaking through the defense. Shift turned back to the radio to finish his sentence.
".......but....uh we're making progress" Shift told him.
"Home in on my location....Pixel's going to lead me straight to the reactor" Stryker ordered.
"Roger that" Shift smiled, and de-activated the radio, as Stryker, and Pixel looked inside the reactor room.
"Alright.....look's empty, let's go" Stryker told Pixel, as the two entered the huge room. "Hold up.....this look's like some sort of....storage facility....let's look around for anything we can use, and be careful we don't know if any of these machines, are still active" Stryker warned Pixel, as he saw a bunch of gun's, and prototype weapon's in the storage room they entered. Stryker grabbed an extra pistol, while Pixel grabbed Link's sword that was in the place. "Let's go" Stryker told Pixel, as they headed for the reactor.
Back at the defense area.....there were still enough enemies to keep Sinon, Clint, and Shift at bay, as Sinon's gun stopped working, and forced her to dive back into cover. "RAT'S.....WE NEED TO GET A MOVE ON!!!!!!!" She shouted to Clint, and Shift.
"THERE ISN'T ENOUGH OF AN OPENING FOR US TO GET THROUGH!!!!!"" Shift shouted back.
"Then we'll have to make an opening" Clint told her, grabbing a belt of bomb's they had with them.
"HEY......WE NEED THAT FOR THE REACTOR!!!!!!!" Shift shouted at him.
"We got plenty" Clint replied, as he threw the bomb's over his head at the heart of the defense, as he fired his weapon, and blew the entire defense up with a single gunshot hitting one of the bomb's. The defense was down, but Sinon's huge gun was out of ammo, as she threw it on the ground. "There....alright....let's go" Clint told them.
"Nice one" Sinon smiled, as the two continued toward the reactor. During all this time Vampra was at the reactor room....waiting for her opponent. A gun was fired, and she used her scythe to block the bullet that would have struck her in the back.
"It end's now......Vampra" Stryker told her with a growl.
"You can't be serious" She said in a low tone.
"YOUR REIGN OF TERROR ENDS TODAY!!!!!!!" Pixel shouted at her.
"Let's get this over with" Vampra told them. Pixel charged at Vampra, while Stryker opened fire, as Vampra charged at the pair.....ready to end this.
Episode 12 (Season Finale)
Stryker kept firing, bullet after bullet from the pistol he had collected earlier, as Vampra used her hyper speed to slice each bullet in half with her scythe. Pixel charged in with an attack, but Vampra blocked the blow, and forced her back into the wall. Vampra took a step toward's Pixel, but a gunshot from Stryker turned her attention to him. At that moment Pixel got up, and managed to block an attack from Vampra. "Hold on Pixel....." Stryker shouted, as he attempted to aim his gun at Vampra.
Vampra immediately forced Pixel back, and used her force power's to slam Stryker into the wall, as he grunted painfully. Pixel immedietly got up, and charged, as she gave Vampra a deadly slash....as blood dripped from a fresh wound. Vampra was knocked back, but not out of this fight yet. Pixel stood in front of where Stryker was with her sword at the ready. "YOU LEAVE HIM ALONE!!!!!!!!" Pixel shouted, as Vampra got up, and shook off her wound. "I'm not scared of you" Pixel threatned.
"Let's finish this....." Vampra snarled, as she used her force power's to charge her body up with even more magic, as her current one was being used dry. Her wound healed, and she ready to kill her enemies....Vampra fired a powerful lightning bolt at Pixel. The earth pony, managed to block the blow, and tried to take the bolt's energy.
*****
"Well.....where's the reactor?" Clint asked wanting to get this mission over with.
"I-I don't understand.....it's suppose to be right here" Shift motioned, until he discovered the item that had the EMP signal, as he realized his mistake. "Oh no.....I followed the wrong signal"
"Yeah......well that's great.....real great it's not like TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE, OR ANYTHING!!!!!!!" Clint shouted angrily at Shift.
"LOOK THERE ARE A TON OF DIFFERENT FREQUENCIES....." Shift reminded him. The two began to argue back, and forth, until Sinon began hearing Xenomorph shriek's from inside the compound.
"What's that sound?" Sinon asked, as Clint, and Shift stopped arguing, as they listened through the darkness. The alarm's that had been going off were heard, as the cell door to the Nightmare being that Vampra had captured.....immedietly shut down. The little girl's demonic laughter echoed, and her tentacles squirmed from her bloodied room, as she escaped. Immedietly Shift, Clint, and Sinon were running toward's the reactor room, as fast as they could with the escaped Xenomorph's in pursuit.
Sinon came to a stop, as she primed a grenade, and threw it at the Xenomorph horde, and Xenomorph Queen which had also been imprisoned with it's drone's, after they came through the door. Her two grenade's killed the horde of drone's, but the Queen was unscathed....and very angry, as it hissed at her. Sinon pulled out her pistol's, as she began firing at the Xenomorph Queen which charged at her.
She managed to shoot the Queen down when Shift came a stop at the entrance. "COME ON THIS WAY!!!!!" Shift shouted to the other two, as Clint came to a stop, and turned to see Sinon fighting the queen.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!?!?!?!?" Clint shouted at his partner. At that moment, as Sinon looked at Clint....the bleeding Xenomorph Queen charged forward, and grabbed Sinon....lifting her up in the air. Sinon managed to shoot the Queen enough to drop her, and give it new wound's. Sinon stepped back, as she primed another grenade to throw into the Queen's mouth.
"DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!" Clint shouted, but it was too late. The Xenomorph Queen charged the minute she threw the grenade. The queen was too close, and the grenade detonated close to both the Xenomorph Queen, and Sinon who were knocked back by the explosion. Sinon could hear a lot of ringing from the blast, as she felt her vision becoming blurry, while her gun's were knocked aside. Shift had shielded himself from the blast, and Clint was knocked down after getting closer to his partner.
He then saw the state she was in. "NOOOOOO.....SINOOONNNN!!!!!!" Clint shouted, as he ran over to check to see if she was alive.
"Oh......no" Shift said in a worried tone. Clint set Sinon in his arm's, as he looked at her. Sinon was in bad shape, and she was bleeding out from the heavy, critical wound's she took from the grenade. "Hey....Hey....talk to me" Clint said to her, as he looked at his partner...trying to hide his emotion's.
"Clint?" Sinon asked weakly with a burn mark on her face.
"I-It's me.....we're gonna get outta here" Clint told her.
"C-Clint.....i-it's ok.....it's too late for me....I'm...." Sinon tried to tell her, as Clint shook his head in denial.
"D-Don't....don't say thing's like that.....your going to be ok" Clint told her, as she smiled at him.
"You have a job to finish....." Sinon told him.
"THAT'S NOT IMPORTANT RIGHT NOW!!!!!!" Clint shouted, as Sinon giggled.
"Liar...." She replied.
"W-What?" Clint asked her.
"I know.....how you feel about Pixel....I alway's did...." She told him, as he had a guilty look on his face, until she spoke. ".....Go......be hero....just like you were mine.....don't.....let.....me.......dooowwwnn" She said with her final breath, as Sinon died in his arm's. Clint held her close, and hugged her one last time before he got up.
"Clint....." Shift stammered, as Clint looked at Shift, before he looked at Sinon's body, and smiled.
"See ya around" He told her, as he went to where his gun was at that he dropped from the grenade explosion, and picked it up. "Let's go" He said to Shift.
"You gonna' be ok?" Shift asked, as Clint picked up his gun, and re-loaded it.
"Yeah.....now it's personal" He snarled in a cold voice, as the two proceeded to the reactor.
*****
Vampra immedietly fired a powerful bolt of lightning at him which slammed him into a wall. Pixel immedietly charged in, as Vampra fired another bolt of lightning at her, as she blocked the blow, until it threw her back against the wall. "Predictable" Vampra sighed, as she went over to where Stryker was who was wounded, and struggled to get up. "I'm dissapointed....I was expecting more of a fight from the great Sheriff Stryker" She smiled, as she used her force power's to pick him up, and slam him into the wall again.
"Pathetic....how does it feel to know that your knight in shining armor has failed you once again?" Vampra asked, as Pixel turned away with a guilty look on her face from what happened to Lyca.
"Don't worry Pixel....it's going to be ok" Stryker said assuringly, as Vampra laughed before she turned to him.
"I don't think you understand the situation your in right now" Vampra smiled, as she pulled out two twin knives that she had just created using the magic in her body. "You're already dead" She smiled, until a gunshot rang from a pistol which she immedietly blocked....causing her to look at the reactor entrance.
"I don't think YOUUUU understand the situation your in right now" Clint told her, as he lowered his weapon.
"YEAH!!!!!!" Shift shouted at Vampra.
"YOU MADE IT!!!!!!!" Stryker shouted with a smile, as Vampra let out an annoying growl.
"You Equestrian ponies alway's find new way's to be annoyingly unpredictable" She snarled.
"And your annoyingly hard to kill" Clint chimed in with a smile. He immedietly opened fire....keeping Vampra distracted, as Shift ran over to Stryker.
"Sheriff....I need you to buy me time, while I set up the explosives" Shift told him, as he gave his missing armor piece back that amplified the signal, as Stryker put it back on.
"You got it" Stryker smiled, as he got back up. Clint continued firing his gun at Vampra, as she used her new blades to slice each bullet in half, until he was out of ammo.
"Uh-oh" Clint realized, as Vampra stepped forward, unti she was forced to block another one of Pixel's attacks. Vampra forced her back, until Stryker attacked with his armor plate, as she used her knife blade to block the blow. Pixel immedietly charged in, as Vampra used her other blade to keep Pixel blocked, as she kept the two at bay. Clint re-loaded his weapon, and pointed the gun at Vampra who had her hand's tied.
Vampra managed to knock Pixel, and Stryker back, while Clint opened fire, as she blocked the blow. Shift started planting the bomb's as all of them activated, and were set to explode, as he pulled out the detonator. Vampra forced Pixel back from another charge attack, as she spotted Shift when she saw what he was doing. "I don't think so.....maggot" She snarled, as she charged up her magical lightning, and fired it at Clint, and Stryker forcing the two back.
She used her magical lightning to force Pixel back, and her force power's to bring Shift to her, as the detonater arrived at her feet, and picked it up. "Nice try.....you almost had me" Vampra smiled, until a distant shriek was heard, getting her attention. "What now?" She asked, as a Xenomorph Prateorian....that was also imprisoned, and didn't join up with the other's immedietly charged in, and attacked Vampra.
"NOOOOO!!!!!!" Vampra screamed, as the detonator was knocked out of her hand, and away from all the other's.
"NOW'S OUR CHANCE.....GET THAT DETONATOR!!!!!!!!" Shift shouted, as Clint immediately went for it. Vampra managed to finally kill the Xenomorph Prateorian, as she tried to use her force power's to snatch it, but made a crucial mistake, as Clint's attempt to get it....knocked it to the only pony who was there.
"STRYKER!!!!!!" Clint shouted, as Stryker had gotten up, and quickly grabbed the detonater, and smiled.
"Game over Vampra" Stryker smiled, as he pushed the detonator, and the bomb's blew. The reactor went out of control, as Vampra was electrified from the overloaded magic, as she screamed in agony....with too much magic harming her system.....she dissapeared in a blinding white light. The reactor began to collapse, and give way as it almost collapsed on Pixel, until Clint knocked her out of the way. The two ended up outside of the reactor room with Stryker, and Shift sealed inside the collapsing, sealed off area.
"STRYYYYKKKEEEERRRRR!!!!!!!" Pixel shouted, as he woke up from the debris....realizing he was trapped inside with Shift....no breathing room, and no air. Pixel shouted his name again, hoping to get a response. Shift attempted to remove the rubble, and grunted....but it wouldn't budge.
"Uuuuughh.....it's no use Sheriff.....it won't budge....GAAAHHH!!!!!!" The two shouted, as another explosion occured within their side of the sealed room, forcing them to get back from the entrance.
"Clint....take Pixel, and go....get out of her" Stryker told him, as Pixel looked back wth tear's starting to form in her eye's.
"No......I'm not leaving you" She replied....her voice breaking. Clint turned on his radio, as he spoke through it.
"Initate evacuation" He said to his smart motorcycle, as it drove through the base toward's Clint, and Pixel.
"Make it back to The Grid, and tell our story.....save our people....I'll find you again someday Pixel.....in this life, or the next" Stryker told them, as the vehicle arrived outside the reactor room to pick up Pixel, and Clint.
"Pixel we gotta get out of here" Clint told her, as Stryker spoke.
"CLINT GET HER OUTTA HERE!!!!!!!" Stryker shouted, as Clint grabbed Pixel, and got on the motorcycle with Pixel struggling with all her might, as tear's were flooding out of her eye's.
"NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!" Pixel screamed, as they drove out of the abandoned base which continued collapsing. In the darkest depth's of that closed off space, Stryker, and Shift were sitting down....waiting for their end to come.
"I guess this is it then" Shift said to Stryker.
"I guess it is" Stryker smiled, as turned to look at the Sheriff.
"It was an honor to join you on this mission" Shift smiled, as Stryker turned to him.
"Thank you Shift....I couldn't have asked for a better pony to join me" He smiled, as the place began to collapse....Stryker noticed that the place was immedietly engulfed in shadow, as a familair...psychotic laughter filled the air, as his eye's widened in response.
"Oh no....." Stryker realized.
"AHAHAHAHAHAHA" Scarlett Twinkle laughed, as Shift heard the laughter, and looked around confused.
"S-Sheriff....whats that?" Shift asked with curiosity, as Scarett Twinkle appeared, and tackled Stryker.......with her crotch grinding against his, as she looked into his terrified eye's.
"My....prince......mmmmmm.....you're finally all mine, and you brought a friend, as a bonus....let's see if your worthy" She cooed seductively, as the three vanished from where they were at, as the entire reactor room fully collapsed. Clint managed to drive himself, and Pixel out of there, as the building collapsed with what was inside it. The two made it out with the bike, as the entire base was reduced to rubble.
*****
"I'll alway's remember him" She said sadly....looking deeply into the campfire, as Clint sighed.
"Uggghhh....I'm sure you will" Clint replied, as he turned to Pixel. "What now?" He asked her, as she turned to him with a smile.
"Let's go home.....The Grid need's to know what happened" Pixel replied, as they prepared for the journey back home.
*****
"FOOOOuuuuNNNNNDDD YoooooUUUUUU!!!!!!" A demonic voice told her, as Vampra's face was frozen with fear....as the being that she had captured from the Nightmare Realm....was not only free, but stuck around to torture her. The demonic giggle echoed out of the little girl, as she walked slowly toward's her prey, as Vampra crawled, as fast as she could.
"NO....NO....NOOOOOO!!!!!!!" Vampra shouted, as a metallic clanking sound was heard, as Scarlett Twinkle appeared in front of Vampra after taking Shift, and Stryker to a secret place. "N-No.....GAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!" Vampra screamed in agony, as Scarlett Twinkle slammed her foot down on her opponent's hand. "YOU!!!!!!" She snarled, as Scarlett Twinkle leaned down to be at eye level with her.
"Remeeeeemmmmbeeeerrrr meeeeeeee.......wasn't very nice to keep me trapped down there in that hole......WAS IT BITCH!!!!!!" Scarlett Twinkle snarled at the end of her sentence.
"H-HOW DID YOU ESCAPE!?!?!?!?!?" Vampra demanded, as Scarlett Twinkle laughed.
"How did you lose.....AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.....Oh poor little Vampra.....there is more to Stryker than meet's the eye.....in fact he just might be the only one....who can be my chosen prince that can spell doom for all. After all......your fight against him was pathetic" Scarlett Twinkle smiled.
"W-What do you want?" Vampra asked.
"I want to bring my friend's back home......and for Stryker to be.....my......mate, but none of them are veeerrrryyy happy with you" She cooed, as the demonic girl behind her cackled, as she spread her tentacle's.
"NO!!!!!!!" Vampra gasped in horror, and her heart dropped when she saw Scarlett Twinkle spread her claw's, as the air was later filled with Vampra's tortured scream's.
To be continued in Season 4
Pixel, and Vampra now stood in a small dark area that seemed like a pitiful arena, as Vampra faced her opponent with her scythe out, and ready to do some serious damage. The air felt tense, and fearful, as the two stared at each other for a long time. Without warning an array of wepaon's were brought next to Pixel...all of them being different type's of sword's....one of them belonging to Link. "Go on Pixel.....take your pick....let's see how much you've improved" Vampra said in encouragement.
"I won't fight for your amusement" Pixel snarled, as Vampra entered a relaxing state. She motioned one of her Cybermen forward who carried, a very badly beaten Lyca who was tied up, and squirming from her bond's, but to no avail.
"Fight me.......or I will kill her" Vampra told Pixel, as she stood silent not knowing what to do, which then made Vampra turn to her Cyberman. "Kill him" She ordered, as the Cyberman pulled out his weapon, and aimed it at Lyca.
"NO.....DON'T HURT HER!!!!!!!!" Pixel shouted, as she grabbed Link's sword, and charged at Vampra. The evil Equine Shark raised her scythe, and charged full speed at Pixel. Their blades met with ferocity, as they each attacked with immense speed with their weapon's meeting again, and again. The two were then forced back, as Vampra saw an openeing, and used her force power's to throw Pixel back. The mare was knocked to the ground, her sword clattering away from her.
Pixel's senses quickly returned, as Vampra shot a bolt of lightning at her opponent. The mare quickly dodged it, and grabbed her sword. Vampra fired another bolt, and this time.....Pixel used her sword to catch the bolt....and block the immense power that had every intent of killing her. Pixel sent the bolt at Vampra, knocking the High Lord back, as Pixel quickly charged forward, and sliced off Vampra's arm that held her scythe.
Vampra hit the ground hard, as Pixel threw her sword at the Cyberman, and quickly ran to Lyca to free her. "Good timing" Lyca told her.
"COME ON.....WE NEED TO GET OUTTA HERE!!!!!!" Pixel shouted, as she struggled to undo her bond's. Without warning, an electrical charge was heard, as Vampra's severed arm re-attached with her body by it's own with the magic that she had fued within her body. "Huh?" Pixel said suprised, as both she, and Lyca turned to Vampra.
Vampra got up, and chuckled. "Very good Pixel.....but not good.....ENOUGH!!!!!!" Vampra shouted, as she used her telekentic power's to bring Lyca to her.
"NOOOOO!!!!!!" Pixel screamed, as she helplessly watched Vampra use her power's to break Lyca's neck, and watch her lifeless corpse hit the ground....dead. "O-Oh.....Oh no...." Pixel cried, tear's forming from her eye's.
"Don't worry Pixel.....you'll see her again soon enough" Vampra told her, then burst into an evil fit of laughter.
