Fallout Equestria: A Wastelander Tale

Fallout Equestria: A Wastelander Tale, Chapter Forty

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The trot back down the mountain was a lot easier, with even Wiretap and Plasma keeping up. We all felt refreshed, and clear headed as we waved down the pegasus transporter. Though Wiretap and I were happy to see the trade hub, Plasm was clearly getting more nervous, so I offered to hold her hoof as we landed.

The town itself was still its busy self, but the defenses were now more built up, and there were more ponies on guard. Noticeable was the Pear Valley Tribes who were bolstering the guards, their body paint and more primitive looking weapons standing out next to the more slick looking guards armed with guns. Still, having more ponies ready for a fight was a calming thing to me.

But there were also more ragged looking ponies all over, with worried looks on their faces. Some begged, but others seemed to be making weapons and armor themselves.

As we cut through the crowds, entering the casino, and making our way to Grizzly's office, we were stopped by the guards at the elevator. They seemingly focused on me, and my gauntlets. I looked at theirs, they were a mix of metal and rough hide, as intimidating as they were, they lacked the same beauty as mine.

Rattlebones then knocked them on the head with his staff. "I know what you two are thinking, and you better not. This mare earned those gauntlets honorably, and with a judge greater than I. Now step aside, I need to see what my niece has been up to."

Both guards quickly stepped aside and let us in.

"What were they going to do?" I asked the old stallion.

"You're not of the tribe, so they might have thought you scavenged the claws, or made an imitation of theirs." He said as he pressed the button to go up. "The young find it as a great insult, as it diminishes how special the berserker gauntlets are, forgetting that it's the pony that makes them special, not the gauntlets on their own. They would have challenged you to a duel for honor, and likely got themselves killed."

"Not to doubt Lottery, but is she that strong? Those stallions seem… quite fierce." Plasma asked meekly.

"Lottery, would kick their flanks!" Wiretap excitedly spouted.

Rattlebones chuckled. "Maybe, she is fierce herself, but no, I was talking about how Grizzly would kill them in the end."

We all then sighed, as that made sense.

With a ping the elevator stopped and opened.

There were more tribal ponies here now, less lazing around and more busy as they were talking with talons. One tribe mare wearing the pelt of a yao guai, with its head draped over hers trotted over to us. She was an even more intimidating looking pony, and yet was wildly sexy looking. If I was into mares, I'd be drooling.

"Auntie Prickle Fruit!" Wiretap squealed and she ran over to the mare and gave her a hug.

Prickle Fruit looked at us, taking a long moment to look at my Grizzly Claws before eyeing Rattlebones. "Heard you've been gimbaling again, dad."

The old stallion chuckled. "Guilty. But shouldn't you be back home, you only gave birth a month ago, put down the spear and enjoy being a mother for Celestia sakes."

The mare huffed in annoyance. "I've already done that five times, the baby will be fine with the mike mare. What's more important is this brewing threat you tried to not tell me about. As chieftain, I should have you step down from your position for keeping me in the dark, and now the Bailfire Fiends are involved. I'd deck you if we didn't need you alive."

Prickle Fruit then patted Wiretap on her head and smiled. "Let's go talk with your mother."

Rattle Bones then sighed. "She was so cute when she was little."

Following them in, I saw Grizzly at her desk with Sparkling Delight, both doing paperwork. Hans was here too, his black armor with a few new dents and scrapes. There was also several guns now haphazardly left on the desk, both likely as protection and as paperweights.

"I'm guessing that things have heated up over the last few days?" I ask.

Grizzly gave me a tired glance, then motions for Wiretap to join her. "In short, yes. Turns out that he works fast, and our assumption that was just bolstering his numbers before making a move, proved true. Thanks to Prickly Fruit's arrival, he's army hadbacked off for now. Unfortunately, that hasn't stopped the raiders from… well, raiding. We've been getting refugees from all over, but many more have been dragged away."

"And they're well armed." Hans added.

"But not the most disciplined of armies." Prickly Fruit spoke up. "In time we will grind them down and shatter their morale."

I cocked an eyebrow at the muscular mare, then looked back at Grizzly. "Does she know?"

"My meathead cousin doesn't recognize arcano-tec threats." She responded as she glared at Prickly Fruit.

The mare just laughed. "Because nothing beats earth pony power. No cheating old world gizmo can compete with our strength."

*Bonk*

Rattle Bones knocked his daughter on the head with his staff, looking annoyed. "You lift and throw a tank once and think you're now an alicorn princess or something. Though I bet your skull is so dense that mind control can't work on you." He then returned his attention to Grizzly. "So I'm guessing the war room is ready then."

Grizzly nodded. "Just go to the meeting room whenever, but you all should get a wash first. Oh, and I got Wiretap a magic tutor "

The filly froze as her mother held her a bit tighter, and Sparkling Delight pressed a button.

A moment later a quite handsome stallion teleported in, dressed in a brown suit and with stylish looking spectacles on. He would look downright dashing if not for the cybernetic eye and hoof…

"Spell Circuit! Is that you?" I blurted out.

He stroked his now not messy goatee. "Ya… Grizzly said I had to get cleaned up, and well… you know."

Grizzly clapped her hooves together to get our attention. "Yes, yes, we will ogle the stallion later, but first, Spell Circuit needs to take my daughter off to get a wash. She smells like an old boot. After that, start her first real magic lesson."

Wiretap struggled for a moment, but her mother held firm as her uncle trotted over.

Spell Circuit then smiles at me. "It's good to see you look… more relaxed."

He then reached out, and both him and Wiretap vanished.

With the foal gone, Grizzly finally relaxed. "So I take it that you're doing better?" She asked me.

I lifted my hoof and wiggled the claws on them. "Let's just say that things happened, and my head feels clearer. So if you're worried that I might freak out if I come across some raiders, I think I'll be fine. I'll still kill them as I see them, but if there's a plan to it, I'll stick to it."

Plasma raised her hoof "I might freak out… a little."

"Well that's natural, but...whoever you are, are not being relied on for any special mission." Grizzly told Plasma, then returned her attention to me. "Still, you should let me know if you need more time, Lottery. After what you went through, and did, none will blame you if you trot out now."

I shook my head, remembering both those horrible events, and what might come if Tripwire is not stopped. "Naw, y'all need the help, and I'm partly responsible for this in the first place. Anyways, where my rape was bad, I didn't have to suffer it day in and out like others had. If I give up now, it's not like those bastards will never find me again, and all while other ponies suffer. I want Equestria to be safer, and that requires sticking my neck out… even if it means I might get caught again, or worse, die."

"The mentality of a true warrior." Rattlebones said flatly. "It's not about honor or glory, but making sure the world is a better place for those you care about."

Grizzly then tossed me a key. "Right then, go get washed and meet me in the war room in… one hours. Molo will know where it is. There will be food and drink."

"Then I'll see you there." I told her, and then Plasma and I trotted out of the office.

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It was good to get a good wash after all those days outdoors, getting all the dirt out. I had also put my jumpsuit to the side to get washed, so I threw on one of the dresses that now filled the cupboard. A simple pink dress with some dog on the trim, it looked cute so I thought, why not.

Plasma had the same idea, though her dress was a bit more worn, patched red dress, looking like a scribe robe.

She also looked a bit uncomfortable.

"You okay?" I asked her.

Plasma then frowned, at me looking rather annoyed, but also a bit flushed in the face. I quickly realized it had to do with the scars. My own had started acting up as I washed, so it must have been worse for her. Without the tea Rattlebones was giving us, we were becoming restless again.

"I'll… be fine." She strained. "But… that stallion, the one with the cybernetics… maybe…"

I stopped her right there. "I aint playing matchmaker between my friends, you got that."

She slapped herself and took a deep breath, clearly trying to get ahold of herself. "Sorry. Now that I'm away from the raiders, I've been lowering my guard. Fuck, I feel like a whore sometimes."

I trotted over and gave my friend a hug. "You're not, and it's fine if you want a stallion. Here, I know a few ponies here that are real gentle."

"No… don't… I'm fine now. I'm fine." Plasma then broke away from me and took a few steps back, then pointed behind me.

Looking back, I saw a smiling Molo… in a rather cute dress, with her mane and tail all done up. Actuly, if it weren't for all the scars, she would have been downright gorgeous. "Ehhh, nice… everything.

"Ya… soooo… can you save me?" She asked.

Mint and Aloe poked their heads out from behind Molo, both in their suit dresses, clean white masks and… wigs!?

"Oh, you found the dresses, that's wonderful. You look so adorbs, Lottery." Aloe gushed.

Mint then sighed. "We kind of spent a bunch of your caps on clothes, sorry, but It's been over two hundred years since the last time we went shopping… but none of the dresses looked good on us as you can understand."

"But they looked good on Molotov!" Aloe excitedly told us.

Molo herself looked tired. "It was fun at first, but that was two days ago. Can you take these two off my hooves for a day, I need to shoot shit."

I had to hold in a laugh to maintain a stoic face, but even then a smirk snuck in. "Actually, I might take you up on that offer. But first you should take me to the war room." My gaze then drifted to Plasma. "In the meantime, you can entertain Mint and Aloe."

"Wait, WHAT!" Plasma said in shock.

Patting her on the shoulder, I then trotted over to Molo. "You'll be fine, and I know you'll look real cute."

"No, no you don't!" Plasma protested, but was stopped by the two ghouls.

Looking at them, I had to ask. "Why the wigs?"

Mint played with hers a little, a simple green mane and tail 5hat were clearly well cared for. "Never quite noticed how much we had lost until we were around normal ponies. It helps us feel… more us again."

"And the pony hair was on sale!" Aloe added. Hers was of a semi-long blond.

Looking closer, the wigs looked real… very real. "wait, are those-"

"Real, yes." Mint answered my question before I could finish asking it. "It seems that a lot of the ponies that have come out of hiding are selling what they can to get what they need. From what the gift shop pony told me, pony hair makes for good painting brushes, but more commonly for wigs or mane extensions."

"Yep, that's common." Molo said as she flipped her own mane. "I used to have a really long mane before getting kicked out of Fillydelphia. Had to sell it for caps, that and it was getting in the way. Oh, be careful if you get mane extensions, had an aunt who ended up with maggots in her mane because of it."

I was glad that I hadn't eaten anything for a long while, because I almost puked at that. "Why!?"

"Why else." Molo said, but when I didn’t give a response, she explained. "Scavengers will sometimes scalp bodies if they're fresh enough, and sometimes not even care if they're fresh or not. So if you're not careful on who you get extensions from, you might get a corpse mane."

That was a nightmarish though. Some scavenger finding my corpse, and selling my mane and tail like any other scrap.

"You know what, let's just go, I really don't want to think about this." I told Molo as I pushed her out of our room, then turned around to address the others. "Oh, see if you can get her in a nice out on the town outfit, we might go stallion hunting later."

"No, we're not!" Plasma again protested, but it fell on deaf ears as I closed the door.

Molo gave me a knowing look, a bit mischievous, but also had concern in it. "You both are still affected by that… Venus root shit, was it?"

I let out a long sigh. "Oh fuck I am. But it's under control. We just need to scratch an itch and things will be fine."

Molo rolled her eyes. "From what I heard, it doesn't work like that. And aren't you on a no chem thing. Including that contraceptive."

Lightly biting my own tongue, it helped get my head back on striate. "Right, you're right. Without something to keep my head clear, I guess my cunt took over my thinking. How did Plasma even manage to stay sane?"

"Well I'm not the best judge on sanity here, but maybe it's a good idea to have some fun. That mare is as wound up as a compressed spring. Wouldn't be surprised if she soon takes a side job as a Red Light mare." Molo said as a joke.

My own mind wondered, remembered that it was an option…

I killed the thought by biting my tongue again. "Then let's keep an eye on her so that doesn't happen."

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Hogan Highborn pushed several chess pieces along the large map. "My scouts have relayed to me that the slaver forces have spread out along the main routes. Raiders running ramped between them and us. If we make any push, the slavers will close in around us, and no creature wants a fight on two or more fronts."

Rainbows End placed several checker pieces on the map as well. "He has also secured a strong and decentralized supply route with the Fillydelphia smugglers. To do any real damage would require us to hit them all at once, but we only know of a hoof full of them. Hitting Dead Pony Pass has unfortunately taught them a lesson. Worse, I fear that as Gawdina pushes further into Fillydelphia, more and more of Redeye's remints will come here to join Tripwire."

"Then there are the Baelfire Fiends." Prickly Fruit said with clear disdain in her voice. "Both among the raiders and the refugees they are likely hiding among them. It's likely how the enemy has managed to read our movements."

I then felt real stupid, remembering what Bandsaw told me. "I can confirm that. They actually knew we were plotting something before we hit the raider base. Could have stopped us if the Bailfire Fiends didn't want Onyx dead."

"Likely their group suffered the least from the feral ghoul attack, so it's safe to say they're still at full strength." Grizzly added. "But unless they tell anypony who they are, it's next to impossible to root them out of Ursa's Rest. Anyways, I rather pretend we are ignorant on this subject, let them stick to the shadows and play their game."

"What are you planning, Grizzly?" Hogan Highborn asked her.

She smiled a wicked smile as she tossed a poker chip onto the map. It landed on a spot separated from the rest of the map by a red line and the Bailfire Fiends symbol. "Their home has always been a no pony land, too many raiders to even think about attacking. But now with them actively taking part in this war, I bet that their base is less full now. If they can be further drawn out, then we could finally rid ourselves of them once and for all."

Prickly Fruit slammed her hooves on the table and excitedly yelled. "I AGREE!"

Both Grizzly and Prickly then got bonked on the head by Rattle Bones. "Though I do agree myself, but alas, revenge must be woven carefully into this tapestry. We must see to it that Tripwire's ambitions are crippled before we drink on sweet revenge." He then pointed to three locations on the map. "The town of New Unity, its location being the Surmount Mining Unlimited gem and mithril open mining pit. Clearly it's where he is obtaining the materials needed to make more mezmetrons, and where all the captives are being sent. Then there's the Braking Grounds, location Fort Rock Hoof. It's safe to assume it's Tripwire's military barracks, and where most of the guns and ammo are being kept.

His staff then moved to a set of mountains on the map. "Naysayer manor, its location being the cursed mountains. Tripwire and the mezmetrons will be found there."

"Then we just go and kill the bastard," Prickly Fruit suggested aggressively.

She got another bonk on the head. "No, my daughter. Though ending that threat is our top priority, going after him first is a poor decision for all those who live in this region."

"I agree." Hogan Highborn said calmly. "Right now Tripwire is keeping all the raiders and slavers organized and under his hoof. Without him they will take what they can and scatter. We will be dealing with heavily armed raiders for years to come if that happens."

"Let's not forget all the ponies already captured by them," Rainbows End reminded us. "I dare not say what will become of them if they are not recovered before we make any real push."

"And the possibility of rogue alicorns is also a threat." Hogan added.

Prickly Fruit let out an annoyed huff. "Alright, I concede to your wisdom in this."

Hogan Highborn then began moving the chess pieces, making a parallel line of black and white pawned. "With the troops we have, we should be able to make a battle line and hold it for a week, maybe two if we water down the food." He then flicked one of the checkered pieces off the map. "We can even organize the refugees into a militia to drive out the raiders. They're willing, but they'll just need guns. If we can get this accomplished, then we can make a push for the Breaking Grounds, forcing all their attention on that battle and opening blind spots."

"Yes, then we send a team into New Unity." Rattlebones said as he slowly nodded. His eyes then looked over at Molo and I. "Though I doubt the same trick will work twice, don't you think, Lottery."

I furrowed my brow as I looked at the map and thought about it.

"I guess they would be expecting an attack, not like we killed everypony with the ghouls. Also, I doubt that pretending to be raiders would fly. Also the ponies there likely know magic, as Angle and his minions could make barriers." I spoke out my thought.

Molo then chimed in. "Also, Onyx Heart seemed to be sending that place a lot of small arms and melee weapons. Along with lots of armor. It's the kind of shit Fillydelphia slavers used around any labor slaves. They're the kind of ponies who have a keen eye, are assholes about rules, and love to issue punishment. Pretending like we belong is liable to just get us enslaved, worse if we pretend to be a slave. Best if we sneak in unseen, and then stay unseen."

"That I can confirm." Grizzly spoke up. "And if Onyx's documents are right, they have strictly controlled who goes in or out. The best option is to sneak in under the cover of night, and observe them until we can figure out how to save the captives and shut the mine down. But where do we even start?"

"I might know." Spell Circuit spoke up from the corner of the room. I hadn't even noticed he was here. Taking three checker pieces from the map, he placed them around New Unity, each one closer than the next. "I've had plenty of time to read the books in my family's library, including the journals and old property documents. Though the gems and mithril are valuable, my ancestor Pentagram, was more interested in the places around it. First and foremost was one of Twilight Sparkle's hidden libraries. Though my ancestors didn't seem to get along with the ministry mare, they did respect each other as scholars."

"And how are books supposed to help us?" Prickly asked.

"Books are always helpful… but in this case it's the library itself we can use. Pentagram had turned the library into a shelter in case things ever got worse. He didn't go into detail, but it seems he ran into remnants of the Equestria military there and helped them out. It should be able to safely hold the captives for several days if nopony has used it since, and I'm sure nopony has."

"But wouldn't Tripwire know about this place?" I asked.

Spell Circuit shook his head. "Pentagram's journal was one of the books I took with me, there's no way he knows about the library, or any other secret within it. The only secret knowledge my brother really has is about the mezmetron and other projects from the war."

Grizzly looked pleased, her eyes carefully studied the map, likely looking for anything she misses. "Then we have a place to hide the captives in, but what about the two other places? Are they from that journal too?"

"Right, yes. They are points of interest Pentagram left for his descendants." He lifted the second checker piece with his magic as he then explained. "Well there should be a cache of guns nearby, left by the military to be kept out of civilian's hooves. Not sure where it is but Pentagram mentioned helping an important pony recover them and reprogram a robot to guard them. If we're lucky, the guns should still be in good condition." He then lifted the third checker piece. Which brings us to the subway tunnel, which happens to be connected to the mine by accident. My ancestors had theorized that SMU may have known what Four Stars was doing, and helped them, as the mining corporation had mov their home office out of Equestria years before. Likely due to-"

"Less history, and more getting to the fucking point!" Grizzly told Spell.

"Oh, sorry." Spell said, his head bobbing up and down. "Well what I'm saying is that we could both rescue the captives and recover the guns you need."

I saw Grizzly Deal, Hogan Highborn, and Rainbows End all smile wide.

"That's some solid information, and a good plan." Hogan said as he reached over and grabbed the checker pieces in his talons. "But there's a flaw and." He then dropped the checker pieces on the table, letting them bounce away. "We can only do it once, and if we don't manage to end New Unity, there will be more captives and over time we will be back at square one."

The old griffin then leaned back, a dower look on his face. "Unfortunately rescuing the captives is secondary, though I loathe to suggest leaving them behind. But New Unity must be shut down, if not permanently, then at least long enough for us to get the upper claw. We need to assassinate its leader and then burnt it to the ground."

"I'm unfortunately in agreement with mister Highborn." Rainbows End added. "Our top priority must be to deny Tripwire the resources he desires, and remove Angle from power. Without the cultists on Tripwire's side, it should make things all the harder for him."

This time I smiled as I placed my hoof on the table, now fully visualizing this mission. "Alright, so we sneak in, scout around, and find out how to blow shit up. If we can, save as many ponies as possible, but above all else kill Angle." I then looked back at Molo. "Sounds like a plan to you?"

"Easier said than done, but ya, sounds like a solid plan. Though we will need to bring some good explosives with us." She said in agreement.

"I can help with that." Hogan said with a grin on his face. "We so happen to be sitting on several high explosives and plenty of flamer fuel. It was going to be donated to the NCR, but I'm sure Gwadina will understand."

Hogan then held his talons up, showing four digits. "But it's going to take four days to prepare, and four more to get this operation properly going."

Rainbows End nodded. "The logistics alone have been a nightmare. If we rush things, it's going to all fall apart on us."

"Then a timeline is set then." Grizzly spoke up. "In eight days this operation will start. We will make a push to the Breaking Grounds as Lottery's team sets out to destroy New Unity. Rescue any pony you can, but Angel must die and that town wiped off the face of this map. So until this operation starts, none of this must leave this room, no notes, no chatter. We know the Bailfire Fiends are watching us, so let them think we are dumb and blind."

She then looked at me with a steel glare. "And Lottery, if the Bailfire Fiends contact you, make them think you're on their side. I don't care what you must say or due, so long as they grow to trust you."

I nodded, "ya, if it's setting a trap, I'm your mare."

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I had to say, it was actually kind of fun just trotting around Ursa's Rest in cocktail dresses. Though I had become used to the hungry stairs of stallions, and some mares, it was clear that Plasma wasn't. Though after a while she just let her guard down and began to enjoy herself. It was likely due to Molo, Mint, Aloe and I keeping an eye out for her. Spell, Low and Cold Trails had also joined us, acting as a bit of a buffer between us and any Stallion getting funny ideas.

Though it was clear that Plasma's head was not the clearest after some time of trotting around, and had resorted to talking egghead to distract herself. Fortunately for her, both Cold Trails and Spell Circuit could understand some of the nerd talk.

"And you see, the reason why all spell matrix are so similar is because they are based on the Starlight Glimmer's layering spell technique. It mostly just on and off switches for spells carefully layered together, but Twilight took it to the next level. But that core idea is still the same." Plasma prattled on.

"Right, I remember reading something like that, though only in old unedited books. Actually I think megaspells are based on the same concept as well, which always puzzled me how Fluttershy managed to make one with all the complexities it involves. Stranger is that I think there was a book that had an interview of Fluttershy in it about megaspells. She said something about it being like knitting." Spell added to the conversation.

Sitting next to me, Cold Trails chuckled. "I think those two have left me behind. The Enclave education is good, but not that good. Maybe I need to read up on it."

"Not that books would ever help me." I said with a sigh. "Ma and Pa tried their damn best, but reading is just beyond me."

He nudged me with a smile. "Doesn't stop you from doing well out there. I don't know anypony who could lead a herd of feral ghoul to a raider base. And you took down that slaver where I was just shot down."

"About that, how's the wing?" I honestly asked.

He fluttered the wing. "Healing potions are wonderful things. Though still sore from pulling a whole bunch of mussels."

"And is why he is recommended to avoid flying for a few more days." Chain Lightning said as she joined us, wearing a rather nice black dress. Not far behind her was Silver, dressed up in what amounted to just underwear with a fishnet draped over her..

Cold huffed in annoyance. "Ya ya, stay grounded and recover. I'm not a foal."

Chain let out a giggle. "You sounded like one as we dug all the shrapnel and led out of you. Still amazed how you had been surviving with all those bullets in you since operation cauterize."

He shrugged, "I just had other things to worry about."

I glanced over at Silver Bristle Brush, whom seemed considerably relaxed now, no longer hiding behind somepony. "She seems to be doing well?" I asked.

This time Chain shrugged. "She is, remarkably so. No diseases, and isn't pregnant. Though Doctor Helga suspects she may be sterile and have one or two internal mutations. Her mental adaptation is also remarkably good too, though Coriander said something about underlining psychopathy being the reason, but I'm no psychologists."

"And the Venus root problem?" I further asked.

Chain leaned in to whisper. "Sadly I can't say much, as Mint has been leading the research, but by observing Silver, it seems to be getting worse, and fast. Such as that outfit she insisted on going out in it, or the begging for attention. How about you, how are you holding up?"

With a sigh, I told them. "Better, lots better. Though I feel like a bitch in heat sometimes. But I'm fine."

"Oh I know how that feels!" The squeaky voice of Sugar Honey butted in. "If your feeling in the mood-"

I cut my pink friend off. "No, I'm not doing sex work anymore."

She let out a long sad sigh. "Oh, okay. It's just that we're really busy right now, and could use a few extra ponies."

Putting my friend on the shoulder I just told her, " I'm sorry, as tempting as it sounds, I'm ordered by Doctor Helga to avoid sex for a month." I then eyed Cain, "how about you?"

The pegasus mare spat up her drink. "Oh fuck no. I already have a colt friend as it is." My eyes drifted to Cold Trails and Chain let out a huff. "No not him, as hansom as he is, the fucker is not my type."

"Thanks." Cold Trails said.

"Oh well. I guess I'll just hang out before work" Sugar Honey said, bouncing back and ordering a drink from the bar.

Cain then addressed me. "Say Lottery, you got a special somepony?"

"Did." I said with regret, "but let that chance get away from me."

"Oh, what happened?" She further asked.

"I didn't think I was good enough." I told her and then sipped my drink. "I was still working at the Red Light Showroom at the time, and felt he deserved better. By the time I understood how dumb I had been, we were already going our separate ways."

"Wow, that sucks. Maybe you two will cross paths again someday." Chain said sympathetically.

I nodded. "Maybe."

Cold Trails then cleared his thought, getting our attention. "Well if you're free, then maybe we can go off and do something between just the two of us. I looked around while you were out, and found this nice little place that made some good food. What do you say, you want to go out with me?" Cold asked

I raised an eyebrow a bit confused on what he was asking me about some food place. If he wanted some alone time between us… oh right, stallion do have sex on the brain all the time, it made sense. Though I probably shouldn't, he was a good looking stallion. "Alright, sounds fun." I said, agreeing to fuck him. Maybe it will help me forget those raiders for an hour or two."

"Then it's a date,'' he said with a big grin, then glanced over at Molo. "Say, I've been wondering, is your friend Molo, is she okay. She's been quiet lately, and from what others have told me, she's normally quite loud"

Looking over, Molo would now and then glance at Spell Circuit, sipping on a cocktail drink like she was a lady, and not some half crazy ex-raider. "She's… got a lot on her mind. That's all." I told him.

"Ya… I guess we all do." Cold said as he stared into his beer.

"Some more than others." Chain added

"It's the wasteland after all, it grinds us all down." I lamented as I looked into my water. With a huff I finished it off and requested. "Can I get a beer here,"

"Aren't you supposed to stay sober?" Cold asked me.

I smiled back at him. "Ya, but life's too short to stay sober. Too cruel. So at least let's have some fun."

Cold trails shrugged and then shot his beer down his throat. "Ya, life's too short!"

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