Fallout Equestria: Desperados V2 (of Blood and Dirt)

Desperado’s V2, Chapter 20

Rising Star (Part 2)

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"Alright, let's get this shit to the barrier, the boss will catch up to us after she's done inspecting the loot." A mercenary called out, armed with an archaic, but in good condition lever action rifle. "And remember, this is our pay, all of our pay. Any of you's caught sneaking away with any of it, is on permanent shitter duty, understand!"

"Yes sir!" The large group of mercenaries shouted.

From our hiding spot we watched them move out. The large group of mercenaries were pushing old mining carts along a rusty track, filled with strange looking steel barrels that remember old world beer kegs. Other were pulling flat carts stacked with old wooden boxes, painted tan and printed on them "Equestria Royal Army"

"My guess, that's surpluses of arms and ammo." Azure quietly commented.

I nodded in agreement. "Ya, and looks pre Ministry too. At least the boxes are."

We waited as the mercenaries passed us by, letting them get away with the cash of guns and ammo. As much as I'd like to stop them, we were too outnumbered and too outgunned. Anyway, they weren't going anywhere without Harp, and she was my biggest concern.

Once the cost was clear, we moved further in, the carved out mining tunnel giving way to smooth gray concrete. "Oh come on, you can at least enjoy yourself." Quicktrot spoke from further in, catching Azure and my attention.

"Enjoy myself, you killed my friend you bitch!" Harp yelled, which filled me with relief.

Quicktrot let out a chuckle. "Friends are overrated. If you want some pony to keep you company, then I'll find a pony. You be surprised what a pony would do for even a little bit of money"

"Why am I even talking with you? You clearly don't understand the concept of anything good. You're just some abomination made by accident." Harp said, chastising Quicktrot.

A loud slap echoed through the building as I crept closer. "An accident, says the bastard child of royalty." Quicktrot growled. "Unlike you, I'm destined for greatness, where I'll build an empire on the corpses of my enemies. You, you will stay as a bastard child, and amount to nothing but my toy."

Creeping further in, we made it to what looked like a small warehouse filled with mining equipment and carts. Along the walls were more of those barrel kegs, which came in different sizes, some of which were open. Same for the wooden crates. Confirming our suspicion, one of the open barrels had the same lever action rifle inside that the mercenary had. As for the wooden boxes, the cracked open one revealed several ammo boxes for clips of .308 rounds. Further in the back was a bunch of large metal boxes, all of which had stripes painted on them. Most looked like they could fit several ponies inside, but one box in the center of the rest was absolutely massive.

I had a bad feeling about this.

Refocusing on Harp, I was relieved to see she was alive, and mostly unharmed. She did sport a few bruises and a black eye, but all that can be held. Quicktrot herself stood over Harp, her body, Binary, was looking ready to fall apart, appearing more zombie-like then most ghouls. Flanking the bitch were two more mercenaries, though they didn't look like waste ponies like the rest of her lakeis, being more well built and clean… too clean.

Not far from them was one more pony, with a rat-like face and a two sizes too big suit. Lean Year stood by watching the scene, clearly enjoying the show. Next to him was all my shit, Worse, the fucker was touching my Outlaw with his grimy hooves.

Quicktrot got off Harp, strutting up to the one massive metal containers. "And here, my power will yet grow more. More money, more guns, less opposition. To imagine that such a grand treasure was left here to rot."

"Don't forget those who help you." Lean Year spoke up. "It wasn't easy finding that underground laboratory without the NCR getting tipped off. And the indentured workers, ponies would have been asking questions if they had families."

Quicktrot sighed. "I know, I know. The Golden Harvest Farmers Union will get their cut. A shame though, the cruel tea production was going so smoothly before that bitch set everything on fire."

"Well Percussion Cap wouldn't be a problem if you'd just lent out more of your mercenaries to help me kill her. " Lean Year complained.

A smirk formed on Quicktrot's face. "So impatient. Your lack of planning is what caused her to act against you." She then trotted over to one of metal barrels, pulling a lever wich cracked it open. "I'm under no illusion that sending waves of poorly armed mercenaries is a bad idea. Her crops already feed upon the corpses of those who tried before." From barrel she pulled out a fucking autmatic rifle, tne same kind that Rook used. "But, what if we gave them better guns, and more of them."

Lean Year trotted over, grabbing the large rifle, which only made him seem even more scrawny. "Yes, this is far better than what we got. But it's still Six Gun Red, are you sure it will be enough?"

"Oh, I know what you mean. That bitch is like a radroach, no kill like overkill if you want her dead." She then returned to the massive metal container, knocking on it with a loud thud. "It may not be a bailfire bomb, but damn will this thing do the job and then some."

As they talked, both Azure and I crept up onto the two guards, who were keeping an eye on Harp, and prepared to take them down. We just needed to be quick and quiet, then get Harp out of here. So picking up a nearby wrench, I got behind the guard, waiting for Azure to get in positions, then attacked.

*Clang!*

The wrench bounced off the guards head, causing him to wobble as all heads turned to me. Even the one Azure was choking out, not even fazed by the Lurkers attempt.

"Star!" Harp gasped.

"How the fuck!" Quicktrot growled.

"Kutholakele isigebengu!" The guard said as its head unnaturally turned all the way around. Then it's form flickered, revealing something that looked like a protect-a-pony robot, but striped. With a kick, I was launched back, its hooves clearly made of metal and not flesh. "Ukuqeda Ubutha!" The zebra robot said as it turned its body at me, where an old Griffinstone Typewriter was strapped to its side.

Its form then glitched again, causing the robot to sway and miss its shot. "Run, Star!" Harp yelled as magic radiated off her and her face grew pail.

Shit, was this place mildly irradiated, and Harp had saved me at the cost of her own health.

So I ran, but not away, but at the robot, it's form fickinging again, turning into some other generic stallion as I slid under it, dodging another burst from its gun. Kicking at a joint, the robot lost balance and stumbled, which I kicked again, knocking it over.

"Initiating elimination protocol!" The other robot yelled as it grabbed me, Azure still holding onto its neck as it ignored the lurker.

"Hay! Do something!" I yelled at my glowing acquaintance as the robot started to spin me around.

"I Hate robots!" Azure grumbled as he pulled himself up and covered the robots eyes.

"Warning sensory opticals blocked!" The robot announced as it let me go, sending me flying off again.

With a crash, I hit one of the wooden crates, the wood crumbling under me due to hundreds of years of rot. Around me rusted ammo boxes fell, one which broke open, spilling out still sealed packages of .308 rounds.

"Seriously, how the fuck are you alive, and a lurker, the fuck is a lurker doing all the way here!" Quicktrot snarled at me as Lean Year pointed my Outlaw in my face. "I watched you drown, no goddamn way your still alive!"

"But she's clearly here." Lean Year said, poking me with my own SMG.

I glared at the rat looking stallion causing him to avert his eyes. "You better not have scuffed my gun, or you will suffer a fate worse than death!" I then looked at my gun. "Also, you have the safety on."

Quicktrot laughed. "You think were so dumb as to fall for-"

*Click*

Lean Year was clearly dumber than Quicktrot gave him credit for as he turned the safety on.

Swiping the gun out of my face, I quickly jolted forward and gave Lean Year his prize, a hard kick to the balls. The stallion let out a whimper before falling over and passing out. With my Outlaw free, I took it, turned the safety off, and aimed at Quicktrot. For a split second I wanted to say something good, but I was alredy done with this brahminshit and unloaded on her.

The body she was possessing crumpled, blood spraying behind her. I even made sure to take out her head in case she was a zombie.

"Uhlomile unobutha!" One of the robots yelled as it began to fire at me, but fortunately its aim was off.

Grabbing my sword I rushed over to Quicktrot's corps, and used it as a shield. Several gunshots rang off and were absorbed by the corps, spraying me in some of the gore. Then the second robot joined in, and I tossed the body at it as I dashed to the first.

With one clean swipe, I lobbed one of its legs off, causing its holographic disguise to completely fail as it fell over. "Ubuqotho besakhiwo busengozini!" The robot yelled as it flailed its legs.

"I don't speak stripe ya fucking tin pony!" I said through gritted teeth before plunging my sword into its head. Its movements then slowed and stopped. "Good, one down one to go."

I then heard a strage buzzing sound from the striped robot.

"Get away from it, Star! It's going to self-destruct!" Harp warned me.

Grabbing my sword as I noticed heat was building up from the robot, I rushed to my friend, covering her just as the robot exploded. I winced as several bits of shrapnel embedded into my flesh.

With small hooves, Hrap held into me, tears running down her face. "You… I thought… I thought."

I gave my friend a hug, ignoring the pain in my body. "I know, I thought I was dead too."

A loud slap hit the ground nere us, and we both looked at the mutilated corpse of Binary, empty eyes looking at us. "I want to know too!" Quicktrot spoke, but now from the robot. Its holographic form flickered and shifted, becoming the purple unicorn mare with the almost white pail blue mane and tail. The jade colored streak she had extended far past her main and tail, glitching out and becoming fragments. She even had a cutie-mark much like Slowtrot's, but with an exclamation mark over a hoofprint then a question mark. With a metallic clang she stepped forward and cringed as her form flickered. "Fucking stripes, I though their robotics was advanced! The tech in the head of this shit is bear bones. How the fuck were they thinking of triggering an inserection with these toys."

She then looked at the unconscious Lean Year and rolled his eyes. "Then again, you ponies can be dumb as shit.

"And you think you can get away with this?" Harp said, bags forming under her eyes as the early signs of radiation poisoning started to show.

Quicktrot cackled, her mouth becoming unnaturally wide as her holographic form struggled to maintain itself. "Oh how precious, you think anypony is going to care about what happens in this shithole of a valley! Once I've killed everypony in this place, all I need to do is sell the land rights to the right politicians, then conveniently, eyes will focus elsewhere. Oh and Golden Harvest will be getting a cut, who then will use their connection to further embed me into the NCR. Of course, if that all happens to fail, what I obtained here will prove to be a suitable backup plan. It would have benefited you to just keep your head down and become my plaything!"

Pushing Harp behind me, I growled at the abomination. "Not going to happen, not now, not ever."

"And how are you going to stop me?" She asked.

*Bang!*

Quicktrot's head exploded, sending metal shrapnel out one side. Azure, holding one of the lever actions from the open barrel, then waved at us. "Villains like her always talk too much."

"That's how! Ya BITCH!" I yelled in celebration as the robot blew up.

Chuckling came from inside one of the large metal boxes, which Quicktrot stepped out. A look of enraged amusement was on her face as several more robot ponies trotted out of the same box. Each one taking her form, and in union, said to me. "Oh, this time I will draw and quarter you, then burn the pieces to make sure you stay dead!"

Azure provided us covering fire as I helped Harp to cover, several gunshots tailing us. Taking cover by a crate out in the open I took a deep breath. "Well, fuck."

"And there are more." Harp then said. "Look like each box holds ten robots, and there's six of those boxes."

"Greate, two down and fifty eight to go. Wait, what about the big one?" I then asked, but harp just shrugged and shook her head.

I tapped on the drum magazine of my Outlaw, figuring it was mostly full, then drew back the charger, which released a bullet. "Good to go." I said to myself and popped up, took aim, and pulled down the trigger.

Like an angry stick of butter, the Outlaw fired smooth and fierce, letting me land a good several rounds onto one robot before moving the sights to the next. The 10mm of my SMG may have been pistol rounds, but with enough hits to the chest, even the steel bodies of the robots crumpled and the insides shredded. As the second one fell to my attack, the robots turned their attention to me, and I ducked as they rained .45 rounds all around me.

"Star!" Harp wheezed, my friend still looking in a bad way. "You got to destroy her pipbuck, that's how Quicktrot gets around. She's likely controlling the robots from it, and without a host, it may kill her for good."

"Well it's as good of a plan as any." I said, and after the sound of one of the robots blowing itself up, I picked up my sword and dashed out. Seeing Binary's corpse, I picked up the place and as I got to it, I slashed off the leg with the pipbuck and dove for more cover.

"Hello!" Quicktrot said as one of the robots was already at the cover waiting for me.

The robot shook as spark came out of it and the holographic form dropped. Nearby, and once again, Harp had helped me by overcharging the robot with magic. Wasting no time I cut off its head, and readyed my hoof to kick it away. But time… it slowed, and I couldn't move.

Digitally warped cackling came from all around me as everything turned the green of S.A.T.S. "oh so close, yet so far." Quicktrot mocked as her translucent form hovered above me. "Did you know that a pipbuck can survive a lot of abuse? Say, like the self destructing explosion of a Zebra infiltration robot. But a pony on the other hoof, not so much. Now you just sit there as the timer runs out, think about all the shit you tried to do to stop me, and how I still won in the end!"

I glared at her form, trying to pour all the hate into her.

She laughed. "Oh, the evil eye again. Sorry to tell ya, but not even Victoria can use it on me. I'm just built differently But, I'm not opposed to prying into your memories again. No, wait, that's a bad idea… but then again." She got muzzle to muzzle with me, where I could see flecks of gold in her eyes. "Show me your secrets." She growled, sounding more like a chem addict trying to get their fix.

Again the magic of my evil eye warped, and I lost control over it. But something was different, as though something else was with me, holding onto my hoof. It was warm, and comforting.

"Such secrets are not for you to take, abomination." Persephone spoke, and everything shattered.

Time reasserted itself and I quickly kicked the robot away as I took my cutlass into my hooves. A dim blue flame sparked from my blade right before I plunged it down and into the pipbuck. The durable fetlock mounted terminal offered only little resistance as I impaled my sword through it and into the concrete floor.

All the robots let out a warped scream as their form flickered and then turned off. "Ithagethi itholiwe" one robot said, then another, and another. They all then began shooting at each other, as Harp and I kept our heads down.

One by one the robots destroyed themselves and exploded until only one was left, which was then shot by Azure. After waiting for the last robot to explode, we trotted out and looked at the carnage of it all.

"Star…" Harp said, looking even worse than before. "You… okay?" She said with pained breath. She might not have been physically hurt, but by just absorbing magic to hurt those robots, she soaked in a shit ton of rads.

"I'll be fine ya idiot!" I said as I scooped her up. "Worry about yourself! Let's get out of here and get ya some rad away."

Harp smiled as mevas she weekly held onto me. "Thank Celestia you're alive, I thought I killed you there. I… I thought I lost another pony I care about."

I held her close to me, doing my best to hold back my own tears. "I know, I know. But I'm still here, and I don't plan on dying anytime soon."

"Well look at this shit!" A familiar voice called out as a gray mare trotted in from outside. Rook sported a few new cuts and a burnt duster, but looked no less rundown by the wasteland. "So the stripes hid a robot strike force down here… hot damn, more .308 round, jackpot!"

Both Harp and I raised an eyebrow at her. "How'd you get down here?" I asked, realizing that the same question applies to myself.

"With fucking help, thats what." Another familiar voice spoke up as the sound of metal hooves on concrete was all I needed to know who just arrived. Percussion Cap trotted in, three pistols levitating above her, and an annoyed look on her face. "I'm getting too old for this shit, you all know that! But no, some crazy bitch is plotting to kill me because of some old grudge… fuck, thats just like how it was with grandma."

"Well, if it makes you feel any better, she wanted to kill me too." Slowtrot said as he also arrived. Seeing me, he rushed over. "Shit, are you okay?"

I waved my wounded leg, some shrapnel still inside. "I'll recover, but you need to give Harp some rad-away right!" He nodded and rushed over to our friend. Turning my attention back to PC, I again asked, "but how did you get through the barrier?"

PC kicked a dead robot before explaining. "I happen to be related to the Ministry mares. Don't ask which one, it's a brahminshit of a story involving a lot of magic and fuckary. So I was able to trot on through, only to get into a fight with some of those mercenaries, and then Celestia damned robots." She then looked over at the lines of pony sized metal boxes and frowned. "Fuck, was their an army of them down here? There's gotta be like what, nearly a hundred of them."

"Well sixty actually." Harp weekly spoke up, then took a sip from the rad-away Slowtrot gave her. "Blehh, hate this flavor. But ya, looks like the Zebras were planning on doing more than just dropping bombs. Thank Celestia that the M.o.M. prevented them from getting used."

"It sickens me that my fellow citizens would betray Equestria like this." Slowtrot commented.

I trotted over to the still passed out Lean Year and gave him a kick. "Well, at least it's over, and I think I'll need a long rest after all this."

"Just another day in the wasteland." Rook said as she picked up a package of .308 rounds, and skilfully with her hooves, opening it and reloaded one of her magazines. "Though you should grab some of the shit here first. Make it a finders fee." Several boxes of ammo were then tossed into a saddlebag under her duster

Percussion Cap also trotted over, even kicking Lean Year as well. "I'm tempted to leave this bastard down here, but making him the NCR's problem sounds a lot better. They'll likely take this situation more seriously if they got a pony to publicly punish."

A sharp whistle caught my attention as Pyrope trotted in, looking far sharper than I remembered. Clean suit, trimmed beard, and a hint of cologne. "Well look at all this!" He then saw Harp and rushed over. "Damnit, I knew we should have rushed over!"

"And what, get eviscerated by those robots?" Keep said as she arrived, followed by Live Axle.

"Did you bring everypony?" I asked Live.

She smirked at me. "Almost, but this is it. Percussion Cap didn't feel like waiting for everypony to grab their guns." She then showed off a Griffinstone Typewriter she had on her. "But we managed to scavenge a few nice ones." Her eyes then went wide as she rushed to one of the open canisters, grabbing a GAR. "Oh fuck, Elder Big Papa would kill to get his hooves on one of theise again."

Rook and PC trotted over to me, the older mercenary only sharing a glance with her daughter before the two White Scorpions returned to ignoring each other.

"So, from what the others saw, you weren't with Harp when they got away. And I do know that crab thing was with us at the time to." PC pointed out before asking, "she how the fuck did you get in here then?"

"On that, were sure you were dead too, can you explain that?" Rook added.

I awkwardly smiled back at them. "What if I said I also have a weird family ancestory that involves magical brahminshit."

The two veteran wastelanders gave each other a tired and knowing look.

A loud hiss then caught all of our attention, and blast door over at the exit then slammed shut with a near deafening clang.

"Oh fucking coarse!" Percussion Cap grumbled as she and everypony turned to the massive metal crate.

Laughter then came from within it, as though it knew we were looking at it, its voice deep, robotic, and filled with pure malice. "To think you'd save me the trouble of finding you by coming to me. Now I can kill you all in one go!"

I knew immediately what was about to happen, and it was pissing me off. "Oh come on, I killed you!"

A loud thud came from the crate as a massive dent formed on its surface, then another.

Slowtrot and Pyrope brought Harp over to a terminal, the weakened mare quickly getting to work as Azure and Live Axle pushed several crates to act as cover for the mare. Everpony else drew our guns and found cover to fight from.

With one more hit the front of the massive metal crate came undone, slamming down onto the ground and sending a blast of dust out. With a clang that shook the ground, a massive metal monster trotted out. It was like a tank on four thick legs with a cannon on its back, and two more smaller cannons sticking out the bottom of what looked like a head. On the side of the head were two radar dishes that stuck out like ears, and between the two guns was a thick and flexible robotic arm.

I was left baffled on what the fuck enen was this thing!?

"I'm not so easily gotten rid of. But for you all, I'll be extra thorough in smearing your corpses across the armor of this Robot. Give it some extra color." Quicktrot said as she pointed the two cannons at PC. "Starting with you!"

Percussion Cap clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Not this shit again!"

She scrambled as the robot shot a green beams of energy, cutting into the concrete floor and melting it. PC was fortunately quick on her hoove despite the metal back legs, easly getting out of the way.

Everypony retaliated, showering it with a hail of lead, with a few lucky shots taking out some of the robots lights, but doing nothing to its armor. "I think you need something more powerful than small arms to even hope to damage this thing. This is a MK6 autonomous siege tank, designed for breaking through walls of fortresses and trampling over even Steel Rangers. What hope do you think you have!" Quicktrot bellowed at us, the robot making a loud trumpet like noise to punctuate her point.

Worse was that she was right, but not entirely, as I did have my Cosmic Cutlass! Rushing over to my sword, I saw the robot turn its head at me, the large cannon pointed at me.

It sparked with power, and a loud hum could be heard. "Oh no you don't, Star!"

Right before the cannon fired, both Rook and Keep had climbed the robot, and pushed the cannon up just enough that when I ehen flat on the ground, a bright beam of energy passed just over my head. My pipbuck clicked wildly as it sensed a massive amount of magical radiation. Quickly looking behind me, the concrete wall and everything nere it had been turned into molten glass, which cracked and water started to pour through. Not wanting to wait for another attack like that, I pulled my sword out of the ground and pipbuck, and rushed in to join the fight.

To my amusement, Quicktrot let out a roar of frustration as she swung the larger cannon around, knocking the two mercenaries off the robots back. And as I got in close, the large robot arm came slamming down, cracking the ground, but fortunately missing me. "Damn this thing, all power but none of the speed or maneuverability. But I guess that's what the other robots are for."

The other metal crates then burst open, and from them more of the infiltration robots trotted out, all with Quicktrot form. They quickly grabbed whatever gun was left near their crates and got to fighting, a few simply rushing at me with wrenches in their mouth.

Now it was a full on fire fight, with everypony occupied with something attacking them.

"It's only a matter of time, soon you'll all be dead, and I will have won!" One of the robots yelled at me as it attacked me.

I had to jump back just as another attack from the MK6 came down at me with its big flexible arm, crushing one of the other robots. This forced me back to avoid the explosion, in which the other infiltration robot came at me. With a swing of my sword both the wrench and the robots head were cleaved in two, and again I was forced back, so to not get caught up in another explosion.

"And once again, my intellect has won out." Quicktrot cackled as the two smaller cannons were leveled at me, a green glow coming from the barrels. "See you in Tartarus, BITCH!"

As I saw the green flash, I did the only thing I could think to do, and got as low as possible. I could feel the burn of plasma along my back, smell the burning cloth and fur, but as the light dimmed I was sure I wasn't dead. Letti g out a breath I hadn't known I was holding, I realized that I didn't just go low, I had practically made myself flat, nearly melding with the water that had been pooling inside.

I was in pain, severely so, but I wasn't out of the fight.

And to my enjoyment, I could tell that Quicktrot was glaring at me in rage though the big robot's eyes. So I blew her a kiss.

"I see. . . I've not been dealing with a pony, but a pony shaped radroach!" The Robot stomped on the ground, shaking the room. "Fine then, I'll just trample you like one!"

I quickly scrambled as the big robot charged at me, sweeping it's one big robot arm, and sending me flying into Harps cover.

Slowtrot splashed me with healing potion, which probably helped, but didn't numb the pain I was in.

The robots big cannon then swiveled over at us, charging with power. "Oh yes, this time I'll get rid of you pests in but one shot!"

"Do you ever shut up!" I yelled at the big robo bitch.

"Not when I'm having so much fun." She mocked me as her cannon hummed with power, and all of our pipbuck's clicked with the warni g of radiation.

"Oh right, I forgot I had these!" Slowtrot said as he threw an apple grenade with a blue band around it. *Ping!* went the strange grenade as it bounced off Quicktrot's head, then whent *pop!* as it exploded. Blue crackling bolts shot around the robot, spreading to the infiltration robots, and filling fill the room with static electricity. Quicktrot froze as the red light from the robots head flickered wiledly, and all the other robots dropped their holographic disguise. "How do you like them apples!" Slowtrot yelled in celebration!

"Finally!" Harp said as she let out an exasperated sigh, and the blast door then opened. "The bitch was keeping me locked out, now let's go!"

"No need to tell me twice!" Keep said, a gun cylinder on her back.

Actually, almost everypony had grabbed something, which I didn't blame them for.

Several clicking then came from the robot, and my eyes focused on the big cannon. "Not yet!" I shouted as I pointed at Quicktrot. "No fucking way can we risk that getting out."

"Agreed!" Percussion Cap said as she stood next to an opened crate of explosives. "Cut the bitch open and I'll drop this mining charge in."

With my Cosmic Cutlass in my muzzle, I charged as the lights of the robot flickered to life, and the robot arm began to whip up. But it was too late for Quicktrot, and as she sent the arm at me, I sliced right through it, avoiding a direct hit. Pressurized oil sprayed like blood as I climbed the war machine, reaching its back and cutting a few wires connected to the big cannon. My pipbuck clicked ferociously as I likely was being bathed in more radiation then I had been in all my life, but ignoring it, I found a hatch, and cut the hinges and lock.

As I tossed the hatch away, PC lept over with what looked like the hole crates worth of mining explosives, shoving them inside the robot. A mad look was on the old mare's face as she used her magic to activate all the bombs. "I've been wanting to do this fore fucking years!"

"So have I!" Quicktrot said as one of her infiltration robots grabbed hold of PC.

I went to help her, only to be pulled back by another robot wearing Quicktrot's face. "Oh no you don't!"

The large robot let out a rore, stomping on the ground as though victorious.

Then both infiltration robot's heads exploded, causing them to lose their grip and fall over. Freed, we both jumped down to be met by both White Scorpions holding their rifles. We also found that our friends were now pushing three carts and two flat carts full of stuff.

"Ummm, you all work fast?" I said in mild confusion.

Harp stood on top of one of the carts, holding the same grenade as Slowtrot had. "Quicktrot! Prepare to eatshit and dispare!" Then threw it at the big robot

"Oh Fuck All Y'all!" Quicktrot screamed right as the EMP grenade went off and shut her down.

"How much time do we have?" Harp then asked Percussion Cap.

The old mare slammed into the cart, gritting her teeth as she pushed. "Not enough if we don't get moving now!"

Everypony who could, got to pushing the carts, and quickly they got moving. With a few thumps, the mining carts started moving on their own, picking up speed, and we chased after them.

"Why the fuck are we doing this?" I finally asked.

Pyrope chuckled as he jumped and climbed onto the cart. "Like fuck any wastelander worth their salt wouldn't take as much loot with us as possible!" He then reached over and helped pull me up. "Anyways, they were already mostly loaded, so why not."

We then helped everypony get on just as the carts picked up more speed. Then everything rumbled, and a green light could be seen getting brighter.

"Prepare for a water landing!" Slowtrot yelled as he fired his shotgun.

The carts shook as they turned down another track, and then off it. Right as we hit a flooded part of the mine, I saw a wall of baelfire roaring at us, looking more like the angry skull of Quicktrot, taking one last attempt to kill everypony.

For a long moment everything turned green as we kept our heads down under water, only surfacing once it had turned dark

"Well, I didn't lose another leg, so I'll call that a win." PC said with a sigh.

"Lets count heads first." I said as I turned on my pipbucks lamp.

Everypony was thankfully here, hurt or burnt in some way, but alive. Annoyingly, so was Lean Year, as somepony had remembered to take him with us.

"Um, Star?" Harp said as she looked at me with confusion. "Is there something you need to tell us?"

"About what?" I asked as I pulled myself out of the water, only to see my backwards hoof. "Oh, right… I can kind of explain this."

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