And If I'm Still Alive, Still Not Scared To Die
Agent Starlight Glimmer sat at a table with her team. Vortex 13 consisted of her, Double Diamond, Party Favor, Night Glider, and Sugar Belle. They were the best of the best, chosen specifically to defend Watchpoint Alpine that overlooked the Bone Dry Desert. HQ got intel on a potential attack on this place and Vortex 13 was sent to fortify and defend alongside the regular guards.
Starlight sipped her coffee as she tried to rest. Her AX50, a battle hardened sniper rifle, was slung across her back. She wore her Agency snow jacket as well as her beanie, she never went anywhere without her beanie. Especially up here in the frigid cold. She took another sip.
It's been two weeks since HQ has sent them up here and it was getting kind of boring. There was nothing to do up here, except play table tennis. And there were only two tables, not to mention after being here so long, the local guards were literal wizards with their paddles.
"Boss." Starlight looked up to see Double Diamond.
"Yes, Agent Diamond?"
"We've seen something up top. Agent Belle told me to get you."
"Then let's go see what's been seen." Starlight took one last sip and got up calmly and dignified. Inside she was cheering. Finally! Something out in this Sun-forsaken mountain.
The two Vortex agents walked up the stairs that led to the roof. She nodded appreciatively to see that her team was already up here along with their firearms. Agent Glider noticed them and nodded, Starlight nodded back. She always appreciated this of her team, their readiness and their respect. They knew how to react to situations calmly and retaliate with calculation and precision. Perhaps that's why they've been sent on so many missions compared to the other Vortex teams.
"What do we got?" She came over to Agent Favor who was currently looking through the telescope. There were several mounted alongside the bastions, built exactly for this reason.
"Some figures, boss. They're pony shaped, but definitely not pony." He replied with certainty. She found herself nodding.
"Keep an eye out on them. Meanwhile, the rest of us should be on the alert and check other directions. We wouldn't want to be flanked."
"Aye aye, boss." The squad split up. Agent Belle stayed up here and took up another telescope while Agent Diamond and Agent Glider went downstairs, no doubt to warn the guards and check on the lower levels. Starlight watched this before casting her gaze out into the snowy wilderness. It was beautiful in a sense, but in that beauty lay a danger.
She had no idea how long the three of them stood out there in the blistering cold, watching for any potential enemies when suddenly Agent Favor spoke up. "Boss, they're gone."
"What do you mean, they're gone?"
"I mean, they're gone! They just disappeared and I have no idea how! I was looking at them the entire time." Agent Favor was looking agitated, sweeping the telescope back and forth, desperate to find his targets. From his increasing frantic movements, Starlight would say he wasn't having much luck.
"Well, where were they last?" It was taking a lot of effort to keep her cool. She knew Agent Favor, she knows that he doesn't lie, she's experienced how effective he is, but she still couldn't help but feel annoyance.
"They were right there, behind that outcropping." Starlight looked to where he was pointing and felt her ears fold back against her skull. Something about this was fishy.
"Agent Belle!"
"Boss!"
"Have you seen anything?"
"Negative, boss."
"Then go downstairs and warn the others. I don't have a good feeling about this." Starlight took over Agent Belle's station while she skipped down the stairs. Casting a wide and slow glance, Starlight took in everything, every little detail. How the shadows were shaped, how the leaves moved, how the animal's kept their peace. Everything seemed peaceful, she didn't trust it. Peace meant schemes. Schemes meant enemies. Enemies mean fighting is inevitable.
Starlight pushed away the mounted telescope and brought out her sniper rifle. She double checked the magazine, making sure there weren't any jammed bullets and that it was topped off. She then checked her vest underneath her parka and checked those mags. Once she was satisfied, Starlight rested her AX50 on the bastion and looked through the scope. The times factor on her scope wasn't much different to the telescopes at max. With her left hand she tweaked the scope a little, taking it a few notches back to get a bigger picture.
"Belle."
"Boss."
"Still nothing?"
"Negative."
"Favor?"
"Also negative."
She heard the frustration in their voices. She was frustrated too. Nothing about this seemed kosher. More minutes clocked by without a whisper of anything. Starlight was about to sling her AX50 on her back when the klaxons sounded.
"Belle, Favor!" Nothing else needed to be said, they knew what to do.
Starlight took the lead heading downstairs at worrying speeds with her sniper out and ready for use. Doors and corners. That's what they were taught when infiltrating enemy territory or when enemies enter your territory. She hit the bottom of the staircase and she immediately crouched and swept her rifle in every direction. Clear.
Behind her, Agent Belle and Agent Favor thumped beside her, their weapons out. While HQ teaches and encourages everypony to use every single weapon in their arsenal, each Agent had their specialty. Agent Belle dealt with small handheld weapons. In her right hand she held a TTI Pit Viper, a specialized pistol with virtually no recoil, is ambidextrous, and has a faster reload. In her other hand, she held a throwing knife. Make no mistake about bringing a knife to a gun fight, Agent Belle knows how to use a knife. While Agent Belle was all about dexterity, Agent Favor had two Tactical Fabarms. Security 12 gauge pump shotguns. Sometimes he would duel wield them, but he only reserves that treat for when he's in dicey situations.
The three Vortex agents continued down another level and checked every door and every corner. The closer they got to the ground floor, the louder it got. Grunts of exertion, yelling, screaming, gunshots, explosives. It was chaos.
"Go go go!" Starlight commanded before kicking down a door that led to a room that had a balcony. Agent Belle and Agent Favor nodded and went down another flight of stairs. Starlight pushed a couch to the edge and slipped the muzzle through the seperation of glass and metal. Without hesitation, Starlight pressed her eye through the scope and took in the situation.
There were four hostiles, possibly more behind that wall. Agent Diamond were fighting them all with a damascus steel sword and the butt end of an AK-47. On the floor there seemed to be five bodies, only one of which was a friendly. Starlight positioned her gun within milliseconds and fired. Agent Diamond didn't even blink as one of the hostile's head exploded. Starlight slid the bolt back and let the shell drop onto the floor then slid the bolt back, a new bullet in the chamber.
One more shot was required as when she loaded another bullet into the chamber, Agent Diamond had dealt with the other hostiles. Starlight got up slowly and leapt off the balcony. Before she hit the ground, she tucked her knees and rolled to lessen the impact. She got up and faced Agent Diamond.
"Boss."
"Agent Diamond, report."
"Agent Glider is facing more hostiles in the other room. I haven't seen many friendlies." That was concerning. Either the guards defending the Watchpoint bailed or perhaps are conspiring with the enemy.
"We'll deal with them later. First, eliminate hostiles."
"Copy that."
Starlight let Agent Diamond take the lead, covering him with her sniper. They made it to the door that allowed access into the kitchen. With practiced ease, Agent Diamond kicked down the door with his sword raised while Starlight aimed and checked the doors and corners. Clear. Moving on.
They got similar results when bursting into the bathrooms, but their luck changed when they busted into the living room, or more accurately, what used to be the living room. Bodies were everywhere, blood covered the ground, parts of the floors and walls were gone from the explosions, couches were on fire, some of the furniture was downright missing.
Before the two could react however, a hail of bullets slammed into the doorway. Only their combat training saved them by ducking instinctively to the side. Starlight continued to move, rolling once or twice, crawling, to not get hit. Staying in one place is a surefire way to die. When she made it to another room did she look back. She immediately regretted it.
There lying in the doorframe was Double Diamond, bullet ridden. His pale and now lifeless eyes stared upwards, perhaps looking for the Sun. Blood had also started to seep into the floor, marking the spot forever. Behind his body, a hostile was coming up. Starlight barely had time to think when she raised her rifle and shot him in the head. She racked another shell.
Ducking away from another spray of bullets, Starlight cursed and kept on moving. Grief can wait until after the mission.
She moved all the way back to the kitchen and decided to take another route. The door to the left instead of the right. The process was simple and repetitive, but it had a purpose. Kick door down, check doors and corners. Clear. Starlight kept her head down and barrel up. She had no idea which room she was in, everything seemed dull now.
Before she could kick down yet another door, her earpiece crackled. HQ was contacting her.
"Sir."
"Agent Glimmer, status update." Their satellite must've entered the right zone.
"Hostiles have attacked, I repeat, hostiles have attacked."
"Ongoing?"
"Yes."
"Casualties?"
"Agent Diamond."
"'Alive.'"
"'Alive.'" It was their way of honoring the dead, by saying they were alive, it meant the survivors were keeping their memory in their hearts. It was romantic in a way.
"Making contact."
"Understood." HQ dropped the connection, but did not cut it.
Starlight kicked open the door and whipped her rifle around. It fired once and a hostile dropped without a head. She rolled to the side and behind a thick wall. Taking in the scenery, did she realize she was in a battlefield. Not only was it a battlefield, but a lost one. Bodies lay everywhere, more explosion marks and bullet holes decorated the ruined room. Behind a burnt couch was a severed leg. Normally this wouldn't be of any importance but Starlight noticed a cupcake emblem on the shin guard. Sugar Belle.
"'Alive.'" She whispered with a lone tear.
Tearing her gaze away from a fallen foe, she looked around the wall and was nearly shot for it. Four more hostiles. Even from that brief glance, Starlight noticed they were all wearing the same kevlar gear, ski masks, and assault rifles. She picked up a rock and chucked it to the other side and bullets followed it. Taking her chance, Starlight rolled over and fired a shot before rolling back. One more down.
After she racked in another bullet into the chamber, a door next to her burst open revealing two bodies. They were fighting hand to hand combat, one armed with a knife. Agent Glider was the one without the knife, but she did have an active bomb on her back, set to two minutes and counting. Starlight aimed and fired, the assailant fell the floor.
"Thanks, boss."
"Anytime. I see what you've got there."
"They can't take this place alive."
"I agree."
Agent Glider secured the bomb before scurrying back to Starlight's side. On her part, she was trading shots with the hostiles, but being trapped on one side of the wall meant she couldn't get the right angle on the hostiles.
"It's set. How do you want to do this?"
"Out the back doo..."
It happened so fast yet it seemed so slow. Before Starlight could finish her sentence, a bullet whipped through her peripheral and slammed into Agent Glider. She barely had time to cry out before she was felled, half of her face ripped off.
"Vortex 13. Come in Vortex 13. Do you copy? Over." It was HQ. They must be getting impatient. Starlight ignored them and rolled to the other side, firing once and hitting once. She pulled the bolt.
"Vortex 13? Over." The next part was garbled and couldn't be heard over the assault rifle slamming into the wall that was her cover. Starlight vaulted over the couch and rolled back to where Agent Glider was lying.
"A bit occupied here." Starlight fired again.
"Satellite shows you're overrun, get the team to evac, now!"
"The team is just me now." The bullets stopped and Starlight risked a look. Four hostiles. More must've come in while she wasn't looking. Three of them were looking in her direction, one was picking through a body.
"Help is on the way. Get out of there!"
"Negative, sir." Starlight glanced at the still ticking bomb. It said 38 seconds left. She knew HQ would understand. "I won't let them take this place alive."
There was a thud over the earpiece. "What!? That's suicidal! There's no way..."
Starlight pulled out the earpiece. "Ah, don't worry about it." She felt an overwhelming sense of peace wash over her.
"I've got my own way out."
She burst out of hiding and shot a hostile. The other three were so surprised by her sudden appearance that they didn't do anything until she ran past them. Then the bullets started firing but Starlight made sure to duck and weave and kept on charging. She put all her effort into running straight to a broken window, probably from stray gunfire.
She crashed into the glass with her full bodyweight and the window gave. Starlight was now in freefall, nothing underneath her except rock and snow. A few seconds before touching the snow, the building behind her blew and the wind ruffled her hair but luckily her beanie stayed on.
Then she touched the snow and Starlight slid. She let gravity take ahold allowing her to slide down without harm nor consequence. But she wasn't out of the woods just yet. Hostiles were on the mountainside she was sliding down so she looked down her scope and fired. She missed but that was okay.
Before she collided with the surprised hostile, she rolled up her arms so the hostile wouldn't collapse on her. The hostile instead went flying down the slope and collided with another hostile. Starlight rolled off the collision and pushed to a kneeling position, ignoring all the gravel and hard ice scraping her knees while she kept on sliding and took aim. This time she didn't miss and the body flopped off the side.
She kept on gaining momentum and physics now allowed for her to skid on her own two feet and did just that. Her army boots were built for durability so damage wasn't a concern. She racked a bullet and fired again, the body of the hostile flopped and started skidding down the slope but was slower. Starlight pushed off the ground to jump over the dead hostile and dropkicked the hostile behind the first one.
The second hostile fell onto his back and his assault rifle flew out of his hands. Starlight had her feet spread wide and below her lay the helpless hostile. It was shaking it's hands and over the wind, Starlight could hear pleas. She didn't care, she racked her chamber and point blank shot him in the face. The snow was spattered with blood, she continued past the hostile's body.
By her count, she had run of bullets. Below her, a hostile was firing on her, so she dropped onto her back while simultaneously unclipping her mag. Moving with her legs, she was able to stay away from the bullets while she reached into her vest and pulled out another mag. By now, the hostile was pretty close, so Starlight chucked the magazine into the air and slid right between the hostile's legs.
She sat up and caught the magazine, clipped it in, pulled the bolt back and skidded a 180. Bullets whizzed past her so Starlight leaned more downward while she scoped uphill and fired. The hostile fell to the ground and Starlight racked a shell.
The mountain was running out of hill to slide down so Starlight whipped around and jumped off a cliff. It was relatively a small distance between the cliff and the bottom but still, this was going to hurt. Beneath her there were even more hostiles. Midair, Starlight shot the hostile that was directly beneath her. The body hadn't even touched the floor when she slammed into it. Blood and snow erupted around her as she racked another shell.
She was aware of the shouting from the hostiles as well as the bullets, but it was like it didn't matter. When the snow cloud had settled somewhat, she fired again and killed the nearest hostile. The resounding crack of the muzzle dispersed even more of the snow, leaving the air clean and free. Starlight was on her belly and took in the situation.
Motorized vehicles with hostiles behind them. No matter. She racked the chamber and shot a hostile. Before the body had hit the ground, she had another bullet ready and unleashed it on another hostile. She kept her breaths shallow and controlled to make sure her aim was true. The bolt was pulled back and pushed in. Another hostile dead. The vehicles were getting painted in red. Another shell, another body. More bullets, more blood.
That last kill was through the vehicles window, no other hostile in sight. Starlight pushed herself up and started running. A hostile popped out of nowhere with blood on its clothes and started shooting. Starlight ducked and skidded and twisted, aimed and fired.
"'Alive.'"
Author's Note
10 points to whoever gets the inspiration to this fic!
