The Pack
Spike's Pov
When i was a hatchling i had many fears. the dark for example. Princess Celestia getting mad. Twilight's Panic attacks. but now as a growing up dragon i can safely say that those fears where nonsense. because the true bane of my existence is a pair of tweezers trying to take out a bullet from my shoulder.
“Stay still lizard! Don’t make this more painful that’s already is” a woman, with an armored leather jacket and a white band on her wrist, said this while probing the wound on my arm" those dam tweezers" they are like a worm burrowing their way through your flesh, poking everything.
“My name is Spike, you crazy lady!!” She was really getting on my nerves, literally.
“Oh, you got a name, good for you. Now stay still, so I can remove the bullet” I did as told and after a particular high spike of pain, it was all over “ there, you see this? That is the bullet that hit you in the arm” she said with a chuckle. It was so small barely the size of the tip of my claw, the source of my pain. With a sigh of relief I let her to bandage my arm. but it was not over. I felt a sting in my arm, and to my horror i saw a huge needle sticking out of my arm. Somehow the thing pierced my scales. It belonged to a syringe bigger than my claw with a watch on the other end.
I manage not to pass out as it left my arm, somehow feeling better and making the pain slowly go away. So I searched for Camille, only to find her wearing one of those jackets while another human was talking to her and a third was stitching up her suit while sitting on a rock a little farther away. With nothing else to do, I decided to do a little eavesdropping on their conversation.
“So, you are not a member of the caravans of Vault 101? Then who are you? And what are you doing at this place far from DC? This is not a place for vaultdwelers, you know?” the brown haired human asked her. He was wearing the same leather jacket as the others with some kind of armor below it with satchels and the symbol of a wolf with cogs on his shoulder pad. I could notice a helmet with some googles and wires hanging from his belt, also on his back strapped with an harness, was a bigger version of the guns that Camille showed me, but this one looked more complex, long with two tubes than connected near the tip of the cannon, and a curved metal magazine, if I remember the name correctly.
“My name is Camille Almodovar, and as I was saying. No, I am not with them because I am too young to apply for the caravans. I came here to find my father” she answered with determination on her voice. the other human looked at her, as the one who was stitching her suit raised his head.
“You are the overseer’s daughter? Then we should bring you back to the vault” he said to Camille ”my name is James Hargrave, the one on the rock is Albert, and the one treating your friend there her name is Mei. We will move when the rest of the squad returns” as he finished, Camille panicked, this was clearly not something she wanted. If she returned home then what happens to me?
“No please, let me look for my father” Camille said distraught but that James was not yielding.
“Look, we can’t risk you dying out here on the wastes. just let us bring you ba…..” .
“And who your father may be, kid” the one named Albert finished stitching up her suit finished, stood up and walked towards her, the only one that kept using the helmet of the three.I could see only the lower half oh his face, as his eyes were covered by the some googles.
“I don’t know who he is. I just want to find him, and show him that I exist. I have some faint memories of hi….” Camille was grabbed by the shoulders by Albert he put his googles on top of his helmet, and stared into her eyes for a long time looking in deep focus. After some time his eyes relaxed and he let her go “James, Mei. Finish what you are doing. We wait for the rest of the hunters to return, then you get back to the Citadel. Sarah will give you your next assignment” he said with a commanding voice. wasn't that James the leader?
“And what about you? And the girl here” James asked while three other figures appeared.
“Alright, the corpses have been burned. now what we do about the girl and the lizard Bert” said the human in the middle. he was massive with red hair on his head, and being a little taller than princes Luna, he surprised me. He has the same armored jacket as the others except for both a neckguard, that went from the chestplate, and the right shoulderpad being bigger with an armored arm guard. The other arm was almost uncovered. On his back rested a massive carapace with a metallic net on it, near it i could see the head of a strange looking hammer and finally an strange gun with a drum on the side and a blade on the tip.
The man on the left wasn’t wearing any jacket on top of his armor. Maybe that's where Camille’s jacket came from, i couldn't see his face behind that helmet and mask. but there were lost of cylinders that hung from harness on his armor and his weapon was some kind of rectangular gun that have an orange cylinder at the side and the one on the left was a women wearing the full armor set but i could see that she that one of her eyes was glowing red. she had the same weapon as James but with something bellow the cannon along with a handle near the magazine. i could also see a white band on her wrist on an arm that look metallic almost as if it were fake.
“Alright Arthur first things first. She is the overseer’s daughter of Vault 101, and the lizard is sentient. So, after i speak to you, I need you all to return to the Citadel and give my report of the patrol to Sarah. Also tell her that I will be traveling with these two for the time being. And before i forget tell her that. Initiate Hargrave and initiate Meiling have passed their first patrol and recon” he said to the man with the ghost of a smile.
“So, the greenies did pass. Heh, welcome to the wolf pack kiddies” the big man grinned while petting James. who has the smile on his face erased by the petting.
“Stop it, you asshole!” James said annoyed, while Mei was watching the pair with a silent chuckle.
“Don’t worry about them, Spike was it? Artie, the big one, always likes to mess with James. Now there, I advise you to keep that arm resting for a day or two, and don’t do any heavy lifting” Mei said while standing up while getting a helmet that rested on her belt with a red star on the side that got a red sea monster dragon and a sword in the middle, On her back attached to her jacket was a really long rifle, with a little telescope on the top, and on her belt I could make out a sword on its sheathe, she wore as the others humans a small scarf with a some kind of mask that rested on their necks. But this one was blood red. her eyes were different than Camille's. maybe the humans got tribes as the ponies.
“Thanks for patching me up, and sorry for calling you a crazy” come to think about it. I may have overreacted and I really don’t want to see those tweezers again, they are evil.
“It’s alright, just next time try to focus on something else instead of staring at my hand. While I am trying to get the bullet out of you” she said with a reproachful glare at me, I always get lectured no matter where I am, great.
as Albert and the massive man that is Arthur go to talk, I get curious. i know that Twilight and the girls has taught me better. but still these are armed people. and i don't exactly trust them. even if Camille is trusting them now.
"So what do you want to talk about Albert?" there was some tension here.
"one of the raiders had a sniper Arthur, and i do not recognize the blood markings on them" Blood markings?
"Do you think that they are a recon group? so near of Megaton?" gone was his goofy personality, as Arthur looked worried.
" you read my mind. we are missing somethings here. as i travel with this girl i will get some answers. maybe i can kill two birds with one stone" Albert stopped talking and approached us.
“Alright Camille, you will be traveling with me, but first we need to make a quick stop on Megaton. But remember, i may be helping you with this. but if determine that you are not fit for the wasteland, I will drag you back to 101, if I have to. Do you understand?” Albert said while looking at Camille she nodded and then Albert looked at me” And you Spike. While we are traveling, you tell me where you came from, and how you ended up on DC, seems like a good story” Albert the one that seemed to be the leader of those humans, he was different strange almost distant but warm at the same time. Should i trust him in keeping both Camille's and i alive?
the weapons he carried were also different than the rest. i could see some kind of pistol strapped to a holster near at the left side of his chestplate, and resting on an harness was the strangest weapon i have ever seen. it was like a bigger version of Arthur's weapon with a telescope and a lever and the canon got rings circling along side it.
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“So, let me get this straight. You are from a magic land that is populated by ponies and lots of mythical creatures? You know how crazy that sounds right? If you were not a talking dragon, and breathed fire in front of me just to prove a point. I would think you had too much of every chem there is” he answered to me after I told him my story, really? It’s that difficult to believe? I mean we are just talking about magical ponies here. well it didn’t help that Camille was staring at me as I just grew a third eye, then laughed as i continue to tell them about my world.
“It’s true, but I don’t know how I got here, I literally just woke up two days ago” I don’t know what to think about that, and how I am supposed to go back to Equestria. Will I ever see my friends and my sister again?.
“Look I will be honest with you. I don’t know how to bring you back, but I might be able to work something out. don’t worry, but first we have to ensure that you two don’t die on your first week here. Its the least i can do" what he said made me feel a little better, maybe there is a chance to come back. but will i be the same when i do?.
"Albert, i have meaning to ask you. Where did you get that Pip-boy?" Camille asked Albert, that's something that i have notice, is Albert from this Vault too?
" i got it on 101 Actually, i lived half of my life there, but i left to find my own father a long time a go" Camille's at first was disappointed then surprised. Does this Albert was also looking for his father? " he was actually a wastelander, a doctor of some kind" as he said that there was a crack on the horizon, the sound of a gunshot and a bullet ricocheted just above my foot. i felt a hand on my shoulder as i was forced to the ground "you two stay under cover" i notice Camille beside me
“That’s was one of the reasons why I didn’t want to meet people yet, someone almost shot me while I was walking down the road” Camille said, Albert looked at her and gave a little chuckle
“heh, How nostalgic” Albert said at her as he threw a cylinder of some kind to the ground ans smoke started to fill the road “Alright, you two keep walking on that direction. There you will find a big metal structure. That is the town of Megaton. When the sniper and the guards spot you. Then wave both of you wave your arms and approach the gate slowly. that way they will know that you are friendly. Wait for me at the entrance” as he said this he activated something on his belt and made and made himself invisible. It was not truly you could still see him if you focus enough, but it was hard.
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We kept walking, until we heard someone calling for us and spotted a girl she was blonde with dust a grime all over her body and clothes that were made from hide and was staring at me.
“What the fuck is that? “She asked surprised, and a little afraid.
“Don’t worry, he doesn’t do anything. And you, what are you doing here?” Camille asked with suspicion, the girl have just pop from nowhere and start calling for us?.
“ look my name is Sandra. me and my friends were attacked just a few clicks from here. I am the only one left. So I was heading to Megaton” there was something else that she wasn’t telling us, but the same happened to us not to long ago “ mind if I come with you?” she said a little nervous.
“Alright, but you walk in front of us” Camille responded, her hand was touching the grip of her pistol.
Just as we passed a small rocky hill we saw the town, covered in massive metal walls, there were guards patrolling all around, a men on a staircase, with a telescoped gun, and some kind of metal men.
He aimed at us, remembering what Albert said we started waving our arms, he then whistled while still taking aim and three of the guards came to greet us.
“Alright you two and….. What the hell is that?” the lead guard said while looking at me, then he aimed at my head.
“No please!! I mean no harm” I said as I remained still, the guard stopped for a second then he heard a familiar voice.
“Harden they are with me, don’t worry I will explain everything to the Sheriff” he said as he appeared behind us “and who are you?” he said to Sandra. who was shaking under his gaze, like she just encountered the Bogeymare.
“I am the only survivor of a caravan that was killed “ Sandra said to him, harden was looking at her with suspicion.
“Alright you can pass the gates, but don’t make any trouble. am I clear?” harden said while looking at me.
And with that we passed the gates to Megaton