A retired courier named Striker Dimlight will deliver a message given to him by a pony within a bar. He will start his adventure to give it to the one who he was asked to deliver it to.
Striker Dimlight used to be a courier but hadn't been in the business for nearly three years, until today. He had been asked to deliver a message to an unknown pony in a bar he visited after exploring the Redblight wasteland. He now starts his adventure to deliver his new possession and to find the pony that he had been told had to retrieve it. On this quest he will find new friends and enemies, even some he would never think to to meet.
Hello, my name is Striker and I am a courier, or at least I was a courier, It's been so long since I actually have been hired to deliver anything. Doesn't really matter now, I’m just your average pony that wanders though the ruins of what used to be equestria. But when it comes to weapons, I am one of the best you can find, though nopony really wants to find me. I haven’t really have made a name of myself out here, unlike that pony that came out of one of those Stables, she really has ponies talk about her, and then again I wouldn't really want ponies talking about me anyway, personally I would feel really weird about it. I’m not a pony who likes to have attention brought to myself, I usually like to mind my own business, but there are the rare occasions that I would help others cause I feel like it, and others where if I am being paid to. I was born in the wastes, never had the luxury of being raised in a stable, though I do like being able to not be kept in a compact area where you can’t move 5 feet without there being a wall, I like to move, I like to travel, that’s on reason why I had become a courier. But I think that’s enough right now. I should probably get to the reason why you are here…
*** *** *** ***
It had been an average day, well as average as you can get in the Wasteland. I walked into the Haysville bar, it was a small building in the middle of the town I had been visiting. It was vary well kept than most of the other buildings in the Wasteland, but even though it looked pretty well maintained, it still wasn't the best. I trotted over to one of the stools in front of the counter, it was loose and the soft part of it had badly repaired holes while the white material was partially leaking though them. I sat down onto it anyway, I had been walking for Luna knows what amount of miles and my legs were killing me.
There was a pony sitting in the stool next to me, he was a light gray pony with a even lighter gray mane that hadn't been cleaned in a while. He had a bent fishing hook with fishing line for a cutie mark on his flank. One of his eyes was a light pale color with a pair of scars on his brow. They had looked recent, I wouldn't really want to know what could have caused it, I don’t know many creatures with two claws, I don’t like not knowing either. What I had also noticed was that his other eye had been dilated while the damaged one was a non-changing size that looked about regular. What I found a little strange about him was that he had a limited edition modified stable tech Pip-buck 3500, I don’t think he originally owned it, they were rare to find. It seemed to not be in perfect condition with oil and scratches over it and on the screen. I should ask him about it later. There was a box of Mint-als set on the counter and he was putting a few into his mouth at a faster pace than he probably should have been.
He then stopped eating them and suddenly turned his head in my direction making me nearly fall out of my seat.
“Why you look at me?” He had said with a mouth full of Mint-als. I could already tell that he probably had maybe one or two more than he should have had, though any of them Is too much.
“Huh, no reason…” His dilated eye had been fixed on me while his other was lazily drifting over to who knows what.
“Din't dink so.” He then turned back and dumped the entire box down his throat. I don’t think he even swallowed them.
I don’t think I could really get anything out of him about the pip-buck.
I just sat there slightly disgusted and turned over to the oldish looking stallion running the bar.
“Uh, so. What are ya selling?” I said with some nervousness due to the pony now sleeping next to me.
“Look at the sign.” He pointed to a sign that I can’t believe that I had missed, must have been paying attention to the odd pony than it.
“Oh, thanks.” I started to look though the choices of drinks and small amount of food that there was to buy.
He didn't have very much of a variety to pick from. Most of the items I could have easily gotten from the wasteland.
“Could I get a Sparkle-Cola, some cooked Radroach and Bloatsprite meat?”
He simply nodded and went though a door in the back of the room.
I started to look around the bar to take in the view of it, I personally liked finding new ones that I haven’t been to before.
I turned my head to the left to find a young mare shouting at some raiders in the corner of the room sitting at a table with a fire I had guessed that they caused. They had been laughing in their seats while the mare stormed out of the room and came back out with a fire hose in a magic aura. She then sprayed the fire and them with what looked like radiated water.
“Get out!” She had yelled while pointing a hoof to the door.
Each one started to slide out of their seats and head for the door, still chuckling to themselves as they left.
I turned to the bartender as he set my “food” down in front of me.
“Thanks.” I said as I started to eat the small pieces of radroach.
“No, prob.” He said as he started to clean a pre-war cup.
I took a few bites of my food, it tasted better than it would have normally tasted, slightly spicy and a little less rad-roach flavored.
“This actually isn't that bad.”
“It is my special recipe. Combinations of some spices that I made. Some to help with the bad taste and something to help make it taste better. I also was able to remove some of the radiation using a prewar machine I found, couldn't remove it all though.” He said while giving a smile.
I continued to eat my food and drink, which I liked and should come here more often to get more sometime.
The mare I saw before that had dealt with the raider’s had slumped onto the counter face first and exhaled into it.
“I don’t know how long I can deal with those ruffians.” She said to I would guess nopony In particular.
“How long have they been coming here?” I said feeling some concern for her.
“About three or four days, I’m assuming they are coming from that raider camp that had been set up a couple miles down.”
“I could try to talk to them if you want” I said to attempt to relieve her apparent stress
“If you would I would be grateful.” She said will relief in her voice.
“You sure have a lot of ponies here. It’s been a while since I have seen this many in one place where nopony is planning for raiders or something.”
“Yeah, right now it is little much. The only reason I let half of them stay is because they give good business.” She then turned her attention to the pony sitting next to me.
“Him on the other hoof, he is too far out of control with his Mint-als and drug addictions.he is going to kill himself one day.” She sighed “He is mostly a kind pony, but his addictions have made him, eh, a little bit dull.”
“Do you know anything about his Pip-Buck? Its kinda rare and was wondering if you knew where he found it.” I said with curiosity in my voice.
She put a hoof to her head “I think he found it near Waterworks Gulf in a broken caravan wagon. But that’s just what I had heard.”
Interesting, I should check that out later.
“Thank you for telling me if you knew.” I said
"By the way, my name is Striker."
"Jem" She said, she smiled and went into the room in back of the bar.
I sat there finished my food and thought about the wagon, it might have been looted already, but I might find a clue to where it came from. It might even lead me to more items like it.
I heard some footsteps from behind me.
“Are you a courier?” a voice had asked.
I turned to see the owner of the voice. It was a whitish brown stallion unicorn with a light and dark brown mane. His cutie mark was an hourglass with musical notes forming a star in front of it. He had a device around his leg that seemed like some sort of camera for a use I couldn't guess yet..
"Who wants to know?" I asked. I don't just blow off ponies unless I know they won't be of any good to me.
"A friend, that's all you need to know. I have a job for you to do, a delivery of sorts, if you are interested." He looked at his device for a quick moment and pressed a couple of buttons and then looked back to me.
"I have a feeling that you would be perfect for the job."
A job? Firstly how did he even know I was a courier? I don't really have the usual courier attire and saying I'm "Perfect for the job" is kinda creepy.
"I guess it really just depends on the job, and by the way I haven't really been in the courier business for a while, still a bit rusty. I am better at using firearms nowadays." I said with a shrug.
"That's why you would be perfect for the job" He said with a grin.
"Okay, enlighten me, what exactly do you want me to do?" I asked, ready to listen.
"I would like you to deliver some items and a message to a friend of mine. He stays within a place in the Valestone Valley." He gave me the message and a package.
"The path there will be dangerous, something I cant do myself. I'm sure as you said before, you have good weaponry skills?"
"Yes, and another question, will I be paid to do this or am I doing this out of the goodness of my heart?"
"Indeed you will be paid, quite a lot actually. This is a very important delivery and you will be paid according."
Well I haven't done anything productive in a while, so I might as well do it.
"Sure, I'll do it."
"Excellent, You can start at any time, but I would advise you to start as soon as possible." He turned around and walked to the door.
"I wish you luck." He said as he smiled and walked out the door.
I was now left alone in the room, other than the remaining ponies and the chem addict. Well, now I'm not bored anymore. I walked to the counter and placed the caps for my meal onto it. The stallion took the caps and smiled.
"Come again soon, we don't get many new faces here."
I walked to the front of the building and opened the door to the wasteland.
Let's see, I have to go to the vale-stone valley. Last time I checked, it was around 236 miles away from here, If I was going to do this, I would need some supplies before I go, and I should deal with the raider's bothering Gem.
I started to walk out of the building when a voice called out.
“WAIT!”
I turned around to the same chem addicted pony now falling onto his face.
“Ah wan ta come wit you.” He said looking up to me with a wide smile on his face.
“Hmm, okay… If you really want to, Though I don’t see why.” I said the last part under my breath. I don’t normally bring ponies along with me for things like this, but I thought maybe he could help somehow, he did know about where he got that Pip-buck of his. He probably knew about different chems as well.
The pony slowly started to get back up to his hooves, I could see a few new marks on his legs from the fall. I walked over to him to help him up, I should probably help him with his addiction.
“By the way, what is your name? I don't think I heard it yet.” I said with curiosity in my voice. If I was going to have somepony with me I would want to know their name.
“Uh, Is Bait, well my friends only call me Bait, I don’t got's many friends.” He had a sad look on his face. after a moment he then regained his happy expression again.
“My names is Toothy Grin, I personally still like Bait though.”
"Okay, I'll call you bait." A strange name if you ask me.
I put the package and the message into my pockets. The items weren't very large so they could fit easily without any trouble.
"Okay, I'm going to have a chat with some raiders, so right now I want you to stay here for a little while."
"Mm, okey. I'll wait here." He said as he sat back into a stool.
Well, he sure is very persuasive, must be all the chemicals in his system. I'll come back and get him when i'm done with the raiders.
I walked outside, the clouds in this area didn't seem to cover this place as badly as the rest of the wasteland. The suns rays felt good, it was rare to get this much. I picked my sniper riffle off of my back and re-attached it to my battle saddle. I made sure I had it loaded in case things got out of hoof, I didn't care much for raiders, if I had to kill any, I wouldn't mind much.
It was time I had my talk with the raiders. I made sure I had all my stuff and I went my way.
*** *** *** ***
It took a little bit longer that I had first thought to get to the gate of the camp. I had to fight my way though a few wasteland creatures and some unfriendly terrain.
Luckily there was still light out. I didn't want to have a conversation during the night and I didn't want to sleep anywhere near the raider camp.
I walked up to the entrance, I saw two guards in towers wielding crossbows and two more guards with makeshift revolvers in their mouths. There was one more guard with a enclave battle saddle, I don't know how he had gotten that, and he clearly wasn't a pegasus.
I walked up to the gate hoping they wouldn't shoot me on sight, I was okay with them opening fire, I could probably take them out fairly easily. One of two things could happen, One, they could open fire and I kill them, or two, I talk to them and make out some kind of deal while both sides walk away unharmed.
"Well here goes nothing." I said to myself while they all spotted me an started to aim their weapons.
"Wait, I don't mean you any harm, I just want to talk for a minute." In truth I was kinda hoping a little bit that this would turn to be a shootout.
The raider with the battle saddle had stepped towards me. I am guessing that he is the one commanding this post.
"What do you want?" He said with a flat gravely voice.
"There are a few ponies that work in a bar a distance a ways over there. Some raiders said to have come from here have been giving them a hard time. I want to make some sort of deal that would work out for both sides."
"Maybe, what do you have that is of value?" He then grinned which didn't really make me feel good.
I only had a few bits of food from the bar, some assorted ammunition, my shoutout sniper battle saddle, my lockdown enchanted pistol, a mini dart crossbow and some stabilizer crystals. half of them were drained, but they still had value, I could also give my lockdown to them as well, I could always build another one.
"I have a few things that you might like." I said as I stepped closer and showed him the items that I had to offer.
"Hmm, these are good, Ill tell them to not bother the ponies anymore." he said as he took the crystals and the pistol while turning to go through the gate.
"Okay then, well cya I guess." I guess that was It. It was a little too easy if you ask me.
The ponies lowered their weapons and continued to watch me. I decided it was best to leave before they changed their minds for some reason.
I then headed back to the bar where Gem was to tell her that her problem was probably over.
*** *** *** ***
It was night by the time I had got back. I was really tired, I hadn't gotten any good sleep in days.
I stepped though the door, the bar didn't appear to have any more customers within and guessed they went home, continued traveling or whatever. The lights were still on, though they were mostly dimmed.
"Hey Gem, ya here?" I walked to the other end of the building when Gem had come though the door to the back room.
"Yeah I'm here." She said and smiled.
"I was hopefully able to stop your raider problem."
"Really? Thank you, that will make this job easier, they have burned at least one thing a day, if they kept it up they would probably burn this place down. So thank you for that. you probably want a reward huh?"
"Nah, I'm just glad I could help out. What I really want is some sleep. Um, do you by any chance have somewhere I could sleep for the night?"
"Actually yes, you could stay at my place, It is the small building outside. I have to stay here and clean up though."
"Well, Thanks. I'll leave in the morning." I turned and went outside.
The stars were shining though the spaces between the clouds, ponies that have been around a while say that the starts don't look as good as they used to since princess Luna was around. They do look nice anyway, the moon looks great as well, wasn't often that the clouds would move even a little bit for a peak the the stars.
I walked to the small building that I guessed was Gem's, the door hadn't been locked, but before I stepped in, I heard what sounded like snoring. I stepped back outside and looked around, what I found was bait laying on some cardboard boxes fast asleep. I guess he had waited for me the whole time. I'll talk to him in the morning.
I went into the building and pulled out a worn sleeping bag that I had stashed in my bag, it wasn't pretty, but it was do-able. I dropped my belongings into a corner of the room near the door and laid down into the sleeping bag. Today had been a little interesting, I haven't don't a lot in a while, I hope this trip I will be taking will be interesting as well. I closed my eyes and fell asleep.
I woke up in the morning feeling more energized then I had in a while. I got up out of my makeshift bed and stretched. My stuff was still in the corner where I had left them, I always have had worries that if I sleep, somepony will end up taking my stuff.
I grabbed my bag, put my sleeping bag into it and strapped it onto my back with my battle saddle. Stepping though the door, I could see that Bait was still sleeping. He was rolling around a little and mumbling words I couldn't understand.
I walked over to the sleeping pony. I nudged him slightly, he didn't seem to notice. I nudged him harder a second time, all I got was a few loud snores. I don't know if I should wake him or not. I'll wait a couple more minutes for him to wake up on his own.
I decided to eat the food that I saved from the day before and opened my bag to find the pieces of meat, I saw the few that I had and took them out and started eating. I sat near bait as he slept as I ate the remaining food, and after I was done I laid next to a nearby dumpster and rested for a little bit. The metal wasn't hot and the air was a cool temperature while the sun wasn't completely shining though the clouds.
As I rested, I heard movement to where Bait was, I opened my eyes to him waking up and starting to stand.
"Good morning." I said to him as he jumped.
"Agh, don scare me, I don like to be scared." he said as he gave me an angry look.
"Sorry. So are you still in the mood to come with me?" When I said that his ears perked up.
"Oh ya, I wan to come." He said with excitement in his voice.
"Okay then, we should start as soon as possible, and start early, I don't like to travel at night." Traveling at night was something I don't do, too many things could happen. Raiders, slavers, wasteland creatures, rain, any thing could end up finding us and I didn't have any sources of light so it would be hard to see. Its best to travel at day, preferably during morning till noon.
"May I see your pip-buck for a sec?" I asked him while pointing at his pip-buck.
"Wha? why?" he asked while raising an eyebrow.
"I want to see if your map function works, it would be easier to find out where we are with it."
"Oooooh, kay you may look, don break it." He extended his arm towards me to get a better look at it.
It had been a while since I had used one, the last one I had got fried by a run in with a hellhound. Saved my arm though, I was able to get away while the pip-boy had somehow melted against its spear, I don't think I want to know.
The pip-buck seemed to be in working order, I set it to its map function.
I was able to see a trail of locations that had seemed to be unlocked. I'm going to guess that is where he had come from, and would eventually lead to where he had gotten the pip-buck, and if my location skills are still working, it would seem that I would need to go that way to deliver my package as well.
"Okay... I'm done with it." I let him stand onto all of his hoofs to regain his balance.
"Okey." he said as he gave a smile.
"Well, we should get going. Do you have everything with you before we go?"
"Yus, though I didin have anythin to begin wit."
"Kay, there doesn't seem to be anything left to do." I said.
On this trip I should really think of getting his addiction removed, his speech is horrible and somewhat hard to understand half the time.
We made our way towards the old asphalt road, it had crumbled away due to the bombs and wear without getting repaired. We had to it and started walking.
*** *** *** ***
"So." I said
"What?" He asked while looking towards me.
"I kinda wanted to start a conversation, or something."
"Oh."
"What do you normally do everyday? Do you have a job somewhere?"
"Well... no. Ah never had a job, an every time I trah, they don't hire me due to my, habits..." He looked at the ground as he walked.
"Your addictions?" I asked. He nodded in reply while continuing to look at the road.
"Well, what do you do to pass your time though the day without a job? Other than stay at the bar."
He was silent.
"Oh, have you tried to quit using Mint-als or whatever else you are using?"
"Yes, ah have tried many times, when ah try, ah always end up with another box and I eat. I know it mit be much to osk, but... can you help, please?" He asked with sadness in his voice.
"I can try, sure." I said while putting a hoof onto his shoulder.
"Thank you." he said as he gave a warm smile.
There were multiple gunshots in the distance. They sounded like anti-machine and magical energy weapons.
"You hear that?" I asked to make sure it wasn't just me.
"Ya, ah ded".
"Those didn't sound to far away. I wonder whats going on over there."
We started to trot in the direction of the gunfire, though that probably would be a stupid Idea.
The sounds were coming from a small ravine like area to the left of the road. we went into it and found burn marks and cracked dirt from bullets on the ground and sides of it. The area was completely enclosed other than the opening to the sky and the way we came in.
"What do you think happened here and where are the ones that were firing? They couldn't have just varnished into thin air..."
"Dey could if dey have stealth-bucks."
That worried me.
"I have a bad feeling about this."
We both turned around as four familiar ponies with pistols and battle saddles appeared as their stealth-bucks worn off.
"Well well well, look who we have here." One of the ponies said with a grin.
"You are the raiders from the bar aren't you?" I said.
"Very observant, and you are the pony that thought he could bribe our boss so we couldn't have a little fun. So now if we cant have a little fun with them, we are going to have a little fun with you."
If they were looking for a fight they were going to get one.
"So, what kind of fun are we talking about?" I asked jokingly.
"The kinda fun where we put a bullet though yours and your friend's head there, and see how many creatures we can lure with them during the night."
Bait started to get worried and backed up a few feet.
"Really?" I said not being serious.
"You think we're joking?" He said with anger in his voice.
"No, but I know that I can take you all out if I wanted to, just because you outnumber us four to two, doesn't mean you have enough skills to kill me." I activated my battle saddle and quickly loaded my explosive rounds into the clip using a quick mechanism I created so I could change the type of ammo without grabbing a new clip..
"Or the firepower to do it. I could probably take all of you out with two shots in about three seconds." I aimed my gun at the pony in the front.
The ponies stood there, and started whispering to each other.
"We think you are bluffing." He said as they started to walk closer to us, raising their weapons.
I thought that now i guess I had no choice to fire at them, I put the firing trigger into my mouth and aimed. But just before I fired, I heard somepony clearing their throat, looked up towards the sound. What I saw upon a rock above us out of the ravine, what looked like a dark grey earth pony that had a light blue mane. He had a dual sniper battle saddle, some packs on his back and a leathery coat that probably had armor plating embedded into the material.
"Ya need any help?" I guessed he was talking to me.
"Ah heard the gunfire from a ways and though t' check it out."
"Um, I don't know maybe? I probably could handle them but it would be helpful." I said while looking at the raiders.
"Well then." He said as he jumped and dropped down into the ravine with us.
"Ill be glad t' be of help." He then loaded and aimed his twin riffles at them and fired to shots, one at the heads of the two raiders on the side and behind them.
"Wow, you don't hesitate do you?" I said while raising an eyebrow at him.
"Ah'm sort of a shoot first ask questions later kind' a pony." He said while aiming his guns at the next two raiders.
"Wait wait wait wait, can't we work something out? Please?"
I looked over to the new pony next to me and he looked back. I looked back to the raider.
"Okay, here's how this is going to work, I want you to leave and I don't want to see you again. If you come anywhere near us, I will kill you. This is your only warning."
He and the other raider looked to each other and backed away and walked off.
I looked over to the pony next to me.
"Um, thanks for the help, it was appreciated. Would it be to much to ask for your name?"
He smiled
"Mah name's Charcoal Darkwood, but you can just call me Coal."
"Well, it was nice to meet you Coal."
I looked over to Bait, now laying on the ground with his hooves over his eyes. I walked over to him and tapped him on the shoulder. He slowly moved a hoof away from his eye and looked at me.
"Its over, you can get up now."
"Okey..." he said as he hesitantly got up.
I turned back to Coal.
"So, you're a shoot first ask questions later kinda pony huh?
"Yep." He said simply
"So do you mind If I ask a few questions? Cause I think you are done shooting for now."
"Sure, what do you want to know?"
I thought for a few seconds on what I wanted to ask.
"Why did you shoot the two raiders like that? I mean you didn't really hesitate, you just shot them." I said raising an eyebrow.
"Well, for one, ah ne'er liked raiders to begin with, If they aren't doing anything immediate, ah won't mess with them, but as soon as ah see one doing anything ah find to be threatening to anypony, I'll kill em, or violently cripple them. Though if they are doing something or not, ah still hate 'em more than any other pony, the same goes for slavers, though ah hate them the most."
"Hmm, interesting. Second question, how far away were you went you heard the gunshots and what were you doing there? if you don't mind me asking."
"That would be two questions, and ah was maybe 5 mins away. As to what ah was doing, ah was heading somewhere 'ta sell some things."
"Ah, okay. Do you have anything you are willing to sell to us? I have caps that i'm willing to give up, heh." I said with a light chuckle.
"Sure ah do." He then pulled off one of the four bags that were attached to the back of his coat and opened it for me to see.
"These you can buy, the rest are off limits, but." He then pulled out a battle worn Cutler series pistol.
"Ah'm willing to sell this if ya got the caps." He said as he showed me the gun in his hoof.
"I have caps but I don't know If I have enough to buy that!"
"I'll tell you what, Ill give it to you for 100 caps. The next time we meet, you can give me another 100 caps, deal?"
That is probably one of the best offers I could get from one of them. The cutler series were very rare sets of weapons, only 3 sets have been made, each set consisted of a A15 - Cutler Pistol, A15 - Cutler Plasma riffle and a A15- Cutler Blade. This pistol looked like the C15 Variant, wasn't worth as much as the A15's mainly due to being made last and being weaker. The gun was still worth at least 1000 caps used and 5000 caps brand new.
"Really!? Sure yeah I can do that." I said as I took the caps from my bag.
"No catch or anything?" I asked, this deal sounded a little too good.
"No catch, ah have a feeling 'bout ya, so ah'm going to give ya it for this price."
I paid the caps and he gave me the pistol. The cutler's didn't use ammunition, they used radiation, to charge them, they would need to be set into radiated water for about 12 hours.
"So, what else are you selling?"
"Ah have some Varmint riffle ammo, some 9mm, 10mm and 20mm ammo, a Flamer fuel tank, um, a silencer and a grip for a riffle that ah don't remember what and a rainbow dash statuette that ah found a while ago."
"Rainbow dash statuette? How much is it?".
"Eh, ah don't know much about it, other than there were 7 made or something. I'll sell it to you for, 50 caps?"
"Sure." I picked the caps out of my bag and put them into his hoof. He gave me the statuette and I looked at some words that were inscribed into it. "Be Awesome!" That's Interesting.
"Well ah've got 'ta get going, trying to get to West Ironworks. Ah plan to sell the rest of the items ah've collected to a few merchants I know there. Cya you two, hope we meet again. And try not 'ta get into any more trouble?" He said as he walked off.
"Later. We won't, or at least I hope we wont." I said as I waved.
I looked over to my companion.
"Well Bait, we should probably get going, Id say we have had some good luck today overall."
"Yep..." he said as he started to walk with me out.
*** *** *** ***
We were now back onto the cracked road, It would be better to not take any detours from it if we don't want to run into any more trouble. One occurrence of trouble a day is enough for me.
As we walked, I had the statuette levitated using my telekinesis and was looking at all of the details on it. "Be Awesome!" I already had one other statuette, it was of Fluttershy. I opened my bag as we walked and pulled out the Fluttershy statuette and read the description "Be Pleasant." They were interesting objects, though I found a lot of things interesting, Interesting should be my catchphrase or something.
As we walked down the road, I noticed Bait's pip-buck Geiger had been reacting to something. I assumed it was the new gun I had just gotten. It must have still had some rads in it.
I put the statuettes away and pulled out the pistol. What I didn't notice before was that it also had some words engraved into it. It was small but readable, "Lock". I wondered that that meant. it also had a number above the trigger, "5." I wondered what the meanig of them were, but it would probably be best to think of it another time. I put the gun into my bag with the rest of my items. We should get some Rad-away If we were going to keep the gun.
I turned towards the road ahead and continued to walk with my companion.
We had just made it to the next location on the map, all that the Pip-Buck said was that it was called "Raided Caravan Wagon". I still don't know how the Pip-Buck even finds out name's of place's even when they have no visible evidence of what they were. How did it know it was raided? And how did it even know it was owned by a caravan? I figured it would be best to not think about it.
The site had multiple skeleton's of ponies littering the area. Two of which were laying on the road and one was leaned against the wagon itself. It was clearly falling apart and all of the containers were mostly empty of anything that had even a little value. Anything that remained, was either a empty bottle of sunrise sarsaparilla(which I took the caps off) or pieces of scrap metal and paper.
I tended to try to stay away from these kinds of places, never know who could be lurking around.
"I don't think there's anything left to salvage here, we should get moving." I said as I turned to continue walking.
"Wait, ah fund somting." Bait said behind me.
I turned back around to him.
"What?" I asked.
He cleared his throat.
" I...found...something." He said each word a clearly as he could. He started to lift part of the overturned wagon with no luck. I walked over to him and started to help him by levitating it enough for him to get what he said he found. After the wagon was lifted, he started to drag a skeleton wearing multiple items and gear.
It had been wearing a Stable jumpsuit and a broken Pip-Buck. The jumpsuit had the Number 222 on it. It was barely recognizable due to it being mostly shredded. The Pip-Buck was completely non-functional and looked like it would be nearly impossible for a pony with little mechanical skills to fix, I however knew a thing or two about Pip-Buck's. If I were to try to fix it though, it would probably take quite a while though, I wasn't an expert, but I knew enough.
It looked like a modified version of the Pip-Buck 3000, with some added parts to it and a desert camouflage paint job.
I whistled. "That probably looked good when it was new. I should take it and fix it later, might be useful. It would be better to use my own Pip-Buck instead of using yours, right bud?" I said as I then looked at him. I don't think he was paying attention to me. I saw that his eyes were fixated downward at the skeleton. I looked down to see what he was staring at, It was a small red medallion attached to a crudely made necklace made of paperclips. I tried to pick it up using my telekinesis but as I started to levitated it, the skull had come loose, detaching itself from the skeleton and rolled to baits hooves.
We just stood there staring at it for a few second's
"Uhh, mobe we should jut go now. Ah don like skeletons." Bait said as he started to trot down the road.
I looked back at the necklace, the object that was connected to it looked like it had been a talisman from a vault, probably the one the skeleton stable dweller came from. It didn't look like that it was going to work anytime soon. I decided to set it into my bag to inspect it later.
I double checked the area for anything else, but there was nothing. Why was there a stable dweller doing with a caravan? I never have seen many of them around very often, and I haven't seen many nowadays that still wear their jumpsuits. Maybe I'm just over thinking this.
I thought that I should just put it out of my mind for a later time. I took the Pip-Buck off the leg of the skeleton and levitated it into my bag. I had realized that my bag was started to get a little bit full. It wasn't getting heavy, just full, mainly due to it being very small. It was only meant to carry a small amount of supplies, I should find somewhere that sell's bag's and buy one of a larger size. I took the stable jumpsuit off of the skeleton as well, and put it in my bag to the side so that I could clearly see everything else. You are probably thinking," That is kinda weird to take the cloths off of dead ponies." But I don't take just any type of clothing, I mainly only take the stable jumpsuits. I have a thing for collecting them, to try to get one from every stable. I know a friend that knows how to repair damaged or torn clothing, so that helps when I find the unwearable ones. I don't exactly wear them myself by the way, I just hang them on a wall and look at them, like most collections, heh.
I quickly closed my bag and started to follow my companion to wherever he was going, He was headed the wrong direction.
*** *** *** ***
Bait had been moving fast, what he had also done, was go another direction on a road that hadn't been on the map. There had been a fork in the road behind us and he went the wrong way in his attempt to try to get far from the skeleton and was not paying attention..
"Bait...wait...you went the wrong way, we need to turn around." I said between breaths.
"What?" He said as he turned to me with confusion.
"You went the wrong direction, the right path was behind us."
"Oh... rerey?" He said while drooping his ears.
"Yep."
Just as I was turning to go back, I noticed what looked like a radio station on a nearby plateau. It didn't look like it was very far away. Radio station's usually had some scrap metal and tool's. If we went there, we might find enough to fix the Pip-Buck.
"Hmm, How would you like to go on a slight detour bait?" I asked while smiling and raising an eyebrow at him.
"Fine wit me, nutin better to do." He said.
"Kay then, lets go." I said as I started to walk in the direction of the station with bait behind me.
I may have a job to do, but it wouldn't hurt to some side tasks on the way. Doing my own little things along trips was one reason I liked to be a courier, I could always find some extra stuff along the way.
We were a little closer to the station, and on closer inspection, there was what looked to be a trail the went up to the radio station.
"Well that is going to help, I'm not really in the mood to climb sharp rocks a couple hundred feet up." I said as I headed for the path at the bottom of the cliff.
*** *** *** ***
"Em tired, con we rest, please?" Bait said as he stopped and started to lay down.
"Okay, sure, we can rest." I said. I then turned around and sat near Bait. I don't completely know why I thought this was a good idea, so far this is causing more harm than good.
*** *** *** ***
We had continued trotting up the path and finally made it to the station. It was basically how you would think one would look like. The station had a basic looking metal building with cables strung in almost all directions, some of which were connected to what looked like a power generator and and large metal tower that must have been the broadcasting antenna. There was a metal fence surrounding the perimeter of the mountain
I could hear the hum of the generator running. I'm going to guess this place isn't abandoned. I started to head towards the metal door of the station. When I had gotten to the door I decided to knock on it in case someone was there.
I really really really hope that the pony or ponies here are not a group of slavers or something. I gave the door three knock's and waited.
I could hear the sound of somepony inside moving around and hoof steps moving toward the door. Welp, this is it.
I heard the sound of a locking mechanism being undone. A sliding piece of metal opened to reveal the orange eyes of a stallion unicorn.
We both stood there for what seemed like minutes. I decided to break the silence.
"Uh, hello?" I asked
"Yo." He said simply
There was a short pause.
"Who are you and what do you want?" He asked
"Uh." I said again.
"Could you speak up, I couldn't hear you." He said with sarcasm in his voice.
"Uh, I'm a courier, and I was wondering, if you had any tools or spare metal I could have?"
He stared at me and looked at Bait. Bait gave a light smile.
"Who's he?" He asked, looking to me again.
"A friend. He's staying with me while I make a delivery."
He stared at me again.
"Kay you can come in." He said before he shut the metal hole.
I then heard more locking mechanisms begin to be undone before the door opened. The pony was a pale orange color with a black and dark red mane. He was wearing bandages on all of his legs, I think they are meant for show and not actually helping with any wounds. I did see a slit though his ear that had long since healed, but was visibly scarred. A pair of black goggles with yellow lenses was on top of his head above his horn which was slightly cracked and I had also noticed a red Pip-Buck around his leg. I am really finding a lot of Pip-Bucks lately...
"I didn't actually say that I wanted to come in, I just needed some metal and tools."
"What, you want to stay out there in the wastes where anything could come out and maul you over being inside a clean building where you know it is safe?"
"Okay, but, okay..." I couldn't really argue with that, he had a point.
Bait and I stepped into the building. The floor had old rugs covering it, they looked like they were Pre-War. He had a console with controls and a microphone in the middle of it, must have been to broadcast messages, music or whatever the station did. I looked into the corner of the room to find a sleeping cyan Parasprite.
"You said you needed scrap metal?" He asked me while moving towards a shelf with some spare wire, metal, batteries, lights and other objects.
"Yeah. How did you get that parasprite, I thought they all had mutated into bloatsprites and stuff like that by now?" I asked
"Well, I had gotten it in this stable here." He moved and taped his hoof against a small hatch in the corner of the room.
"There's really a stable here, was there anypony inside it?"
"Actually yes, and they still are, are are 15 ponies total."
"Really!? Why don't they come out?"
"What do you think? Down there, it is safe, it keeps a nice temperature, there is a large supply of food, why would they want to leave?"
"I guess you're right."
He picked a few tools and and metal from various shelves using telekinesis and gave them to me.
"You can use that workbench over there. Please don't touch anything else." He said as he walked to the console, couched under it and started to pull off a few panels and seemed to try and fix some wires and circuit boards.
I walked over to the bench and set the items and the broken Pip-Buck onto it. The screen somehow was intact, but the area around was bent open and exposed circuitry."
"Um, do you have a cutting torch by any chance?" I asked to the busy pony now working on his own project.
He got up slightly and turned to me, he then looked around the room and then pointed at a small footlocker.
"There, but please don't use it for too long, don't have much fuel for it." He asked while getting back under the console.
I opened the locker and picked out the torch with my telekinesis. I started it up, and I began to cut at the broken metal to get it out of the way. After that was done I checked inside for visibly broken parts, there was quite a few that had been sliced almost in half and many wires severed and just dangling freely. I used part of the scrap metal and used the cutting torch on a lower setting to wield them to the broken metal inside. Next I grabbed all of the wires and connected them to their colors, luckily they all had different color, so it was easy to connect them again without attaching them to wrong wires. I used the torch and wielded the wires together with some extras. It took 20 or so minutes to repair the more difficult bits and right them to where they belong. It didn't look like there was anything else to do, but to seal the holes with more metal. After that was done I tried to turn it on.
The Pip-Buck started, and the screen had been set to a default look and had no pony bound to it. Well that is really convenient. The unicorn walked over to me, he looked like he was talking a break.
"Nice Pip-Buck." He said
"Thanks, um, by the way, what is the number of the stable over there?" I asked, I really hope it wasn't 222.
"The stable? Let me think, It is number 196, why do you ask?" he said while raising a brow.
"Eh, no reason."
There was a small pause between us.
"What is your name, if you don't mind me asking?" I asked.
"Well, you seem like a nice pony that wouldn't use it against me or something, the name is Bass, or Dj Bass if ya want to get to get technical." He said while smiling.
"I guess that would explain why you are here I guess, and trying to fix the console over there."
"Yep, trying to get it functioning again, I can't seem to get it working. It was working fine yesterday, but now it just won't get a signal out." He said as he moved back to it and stated to move items around.
"Oh, I think I found the problem, there seems to be a vital part missing." He said while sighing.
"Funny how the problem is found at the end."
"I've had some, things, coming here and stealing my stuff, I didn't think they would go this far."
Well that didn't sound very comforting.
"What kind of things are you talking about?" I asked.
"How do I put it, these things are small, dragon-like and resemble parasprites. They seem to have the knack of stealing parts from me. I have also seen them around this area. Never really seen them up close yet." He said while shrugging.
"Why would small dragon-like creatures be wanting your equipment? I asked
"Beats me, all I know is they are talking my stuff." He said.
"Say, you said that you were a courier, right?" He asked.
"Yeah? You're going to ask me to get something for you aren't you?" I asked.
"If you would be so kind to, I could pay you a little bit for the trip. If you would do it that is. Do mind that I don't have much."
I was already on one trip to deliver something, this one might be harder for all I know, plus I would have to find the part and give it to him.
"Ooookaay, I'll do it." I said while sighing and looking at the ceiling.
"Rad dude, thanks. Now, the part will be found at West Ironworks, there will be a pony selling the part at a shop called Gears and Bolts, can't miss it, cause it kinda has a giant pair of gears and bolts over the store. The pony is a mare named Shine Tinkerer, tell her that Bass sent you and she should give you a discount, and for that part I need, it a a Flux Wave-Linker, helps to send signals and send them to other stations in the area. Now I won't rush you to do it, take your time but please don't be too slow."
"Kinda eager aren't you? Also just wondering, why wont you do it yourself and why can't you ask one of the stable dwellers?" I asked
"Well as I said before, they want to stay safe, so none want to leave, and secondly I sort of protect the entrance a little bit and, I really don't like the wastes, I don't have any fighting skills, I cant really do much with my telekinesis, can only lift small objects, and I don't have any weapons whatsoever." He explained.
"Ohhh Kaaay, I think I get it, but you really should get out more..." I told him.
"I know..." He said while frowning at looking downward.
"Whelp, I guess I'm on another trip." I said to no one.
"Another trip? Are you already doing something for somepony else? Sorry man, I didn't want to overload you or anythin."
"Naw its fine, its my job after all, though I haven't worked in years." I said
"And one other thing, Whats your name?" He asked.
"My name? It's Striker." I said.
"Well, It was nice meeting you." He said to me.
"So, Bait, are you ready to go?" I looked over to bait.
He had been poking at the now awake parasprite making happy sounding chirping noises at bait and fluttering its wings.
Bait looked at me.
"Uh, ya, I'm reedy." He said as he stopped poking at the parasprite and got up.
"Well, Thank you for letting me use your tools, it was much a appreciated. I'll try to get your item and bring it back when I can." I opened the door and let Bait leave first. After he was out I stepped out a well.
"Your welcome and thank you dude." He said and smiled as he shut the door and locked it.
"Well were back outside again, Lets go before it gets dark." I said as we started to walk back down the path to the bottom of the mountainous hill.
Here we are making another delivery, and we haven't even finished the first one. Whelp, wish me luck, I thought to my self.
We were now back in the wasteland. The sun had set and it was dark, I hate the dark. Ugh, I maybe should have asked if he would let us crash there for the night. If I meet any more strangers that ask for anything, I shouldn't help them, at least not until I get the jobs have done.
We were already more than halfway there, I could see the lights in the distance, but we still weren't going to get there for a little bit. I hate the dark, I absolutely hate it, too many things can happen while you are in its blind grip. I have had too many occurrences at night and in dark buildings, I would get caught in traps, get ambushed by raider parties, wasteland creatures would find my scent and try to get a bite out of me while i'm shooting at air. Just horrible, I try to only move in the safe daylight and to sleep in buildings at night, not the other way around.
Bait was walking as he normally would, didn't seem to mind the darkness. but me, not so much.
"Bait, how good is your eyesight?" I said while peaking over his shoulder.
"Absolutely terrible." He said while smiling.and trotting.
Well, out of all the things he could say clearly, that takes the cake.
"Well... that makes two of us." I grumbled to myself.
Another thing, I didn't really have the best of eyesight's. I could see well in the day, but at night, my eyesight was horrible.
As we walked, I felt that I could hear noises, like somepony or, something following us, but the darkness makes me more than a little paranoid, it most likely is...
"Okay, did you hear that?" I quickly asked Bait.
"No." He said.
I didn't find that comforting, but I'll just pay attention to the lights of the town, a lot better than being freaked out by probably nothing.
After a few minutes I realized I didn't hear anything else that sounded unusual anywhere nearby. That was a good sign, I'm not really good at close combat, I'm more of a medium range to long range kind of shooter. I couldn't see far due to the darkness, so that was bad, I could see partially close, but I was horrible at fighting anything within a few feet of me with a gun. I would use some sort of melee weapon, but I didn't have any on me. If we were attacked at all anytime soon, we would be in trouble, and I definitely don't think Bait could fight whatsoever.
We were getting a lot closer, I really didn't want to stay out here any longer. I started to see a couple corpses of various creatures, I even saw a few dead Venorm's laying around, they were basically large, irradiated earthworm's with a potent venom that can sprays though a few of the couple hundred spikes around the front of their head, it will irritate the skin if in contact. I rarely saw them, and I even more rarely saw them dead, they were tough creatures.
The air had a horrible smell to it, obviously caused by the corpses. The dirt and rocks were stained with blood. Some large stones in the area had some claw marks, some in groups of four and fewer in groups of two.
Well this is starting to look a little creepy...I stopped walking and decided to take a few spikes off of a Venorm, they were mostly rare but more native to this area and quite useful for dart guns, I even have heard of a few ponies that raise a few and farm their spikes. I had to make sure I didn't poke myself, their venom can paralyze a pony for days, don't ask why I know that, please. I then set them into a side pouch on the outside of my bag and continued walking.
I noticed that Bait looked a little bit on edge.
"Whats wrong? Other than the bodies." I asked.
"Eh, mmmm, the marks on the rocks and dirt, you see dem?" He asked me.
"Yeah?" I said
"The pairs of two, I may know who theys belong to." He said.
"Uh, what? What do you mean that you know who they belong to?" I asked.
"Mmmm, I don't really want to talk about it. Maybe later." He said while turning to the road ahead.
"Okay, I guess." I said. He really has to tell me.
There was maybe another 40 feet until we would get to the entrance. I could see a large gate with a couple of ponies guarding it on one side, and on the other side I saw, a Hellhound?
"The hay?" I said to myself.
*** *** *** ***
Bait was visually uneasy when he saw it.
We were about ten feet away, and I could clearly see what it was, it was a Diamond Dog, a regular unirradiated, not a hellhound, Diamond Dog. It stood at least a foot and a half taller than a pony, wasn't very large but it was still menacing. I looked at its paws, it had them crossed across it's chest while one paw was missing its thumb and pointer. Crudely made stitching had been where they had used to be, I'm guessing it had been the one responsible for the corpses. It wore armor made of pieces of metal plates wielded together and leather holding them onto shoulders. The Diamond Dog itself had a light grey color, didn't look like it was too strong, but it still looked that it could do some damage if it wanted to, i'm going to guess that it is a male as well.
"Hello." I said to the mare next to the Diamond dog.
"Hello." She said back to me simply.
"May we enter?" I asked her.
I noticed Bait was looking at the ground away from the Diamond dog, he seemed to not want it to see him. It looked at him, uncrossed its arm's and started to walk to Bait.
"I know you, turn your head." It had said while giving him a disapproving look.
Bait had not moved at first, but slowly turned his head towards the Diamond Dog.
"Yep that's you, you still owe me." He said while crossing his arms again.
"Wait, why does he owe you, and what does he owe you if you don't mind me asking?" I asked.
"He owes me Mint-al's. He kinda took them when I was sleeping in my home."
"So, how do you know it was him if you were sleeping?" I asked
He pointed at Bait.
"Take a guess." He said.
"Oh. oh." I said.
"He took them when I was sleeping, but he was clumsy and woke me up, I managed to, scrape him when he escaped, mainly cause I was mad, secondly so I would know who the thief was later."
He Chuckled.
"I guess it worked." He said while grinning.
"Why would you steal from a Diamond Dog!?" I said to Bait.
"I don't know! Ah couldn't find anywhere an It was dark an I don know what I was thinking!" He said to me.
"Okay, we really need to fix your addiction, somehow. Its going to get you killed." I said while putting a hoof to my chin.
"We do have a doctor in town that might be able to help." The mare said as we turned to her.
"What?" She asked while raising an eyebrow.
"You were all complaining about drugs and addictions and withdrawal and whatever, I just thought you should know." She added.
"Oh, uh, thank you, that actually helps a lot." I said.
"Your welcome, now another thing, can you all please go inside and argue about whatever else there please?" She said as she turned to the Diamond dog. "And Rivet, come back out and continue guarding when you are done." She added.
We turned back to each other.
"Well, lets go in shall we." Rivet said as he flipped a lever on the wall next to the gate.
The gate opened and rose into a space in the top of the wall with some steel chains. With the gate gone, we could see the town, most of the lights were off while few were still on. Couldn't really see much of it in the dark.
We all walked to a building with a light pole in front. The store was closed so I don't think anypony would mind us there.
"Now, lets make a deal." Rivet said.
"Since you obviously didn't steal cause you wanted to irritate me and because because im a good guy, I'm going to be easy on you, I want you to find me some new Mint-als, but not just regular ones, the party time variety, and I want to you see the doctor and get that addiction removed, one less addict is one less pony to steal my stuff." He said while crossing his arms.
"You do those things, and we'll be good." He said.
We stood there for a few seconds.
"Okay, I can try, but I dun know were to fine any of those." Bait said.
"Hmmm, ask around town, I've seen a few ponies walk though here with some once in a while. I would do it myself, but I don't have the time to, I guard the gate most of the day, and as you can see, some of the night as well. The rest of the time I spend either eating or sleeping." He explained.
"Why do you have such a small span of time to do anything else?" I asked.
"I was asked to do this job and I agreed to its conditions to have have somewhere to stay and to get caps, and I get a lot. One condition was to guard the gate for most of the day from noon till near midnight. I don't really need sleep to begin with, any radiation that I do have as made me a living energy source, or at least enough to keep me alert and not need hardly any sleep. He somehow managed to interrupt me during the time that I rarely get sleep which I enjoy. So don't wake me, unless you want your head severed and found somewhere celesta's sun don't shine." He explained.
"Well, we'll remember not to do that. Right Bait? I said nudging him lightly.
"Yes, Yes I will remeber, and did I said I was sorry yet?" He said frantically.
"You have not, and apology excepted." He said while grinning.
"Now, I assume you are tired, you can visit Split down the road, she run's a motel you could stay at. There doesn't seem to be anything left to talk about, so I'm going to go back to my post." He said as he turned to the gate.
"Wait, can I ask two more questions?" I asked
"Yes you may, you have one question left." He said
"What?" I said, oblivious to his joke
"You asked a question when you... Never mind, you may ask your questions." He said while frowning.
"Thanks.. Um, I was wondering, do you know where any other Diamond Dogs are? I haven't seen any live ones in my life, other than some pictures in some old books and skeletons of a few, and anything close to one iv'e seen is a Hellhound. Other than that, you are the first." I asked.
"Sorry, I'm just as clueless as you are." He said.
"Okay, second question, you said you use Mint-als right? You don't look as if you have ever gotten an addiction." I asked.
"Well that's because I haven't, I don't know how, I just know that I have never had any side effects to them. When I use them I get all of the advantages that ponies get, but they don't seem to last as long or as potent. They also don't last as long, but it works. The most I have ever gotten as a side effect is being really tired after they wear off." He explained.
"Wow, interesting. Well, I guess that's it for the questions for now, thanks for answering." I said to him.
"No prob." He said as he started to turn to the gate when he stopped.
"Is that a Cutler Series pistol you got there? Looks like a C15 Variant of the pistol am I right?" He asked me.
"You are correct, why do you ask?" I asked him.
"Oh I just happen to have a collect of a few in my place. I'll tell you what, after you get some sleep, come to my home in the morning, it is the small house on the corner of the street over there." He pointed to a metal house that was as he said, small.
"Okay, sure. Well bye for now, and goodnight." I said
"Night." He said as he opened the gate and walked back out.
"Well, he seems interesting. What do you think?" I said as I turned to bait.
"He better when he ain't trying to kill me, so I guess he, good." He said while turning and started to walk down the street.
The town looked like it hadn't gotten a lot of damage from any bombs, but still could use a fix. The street was mostly intact, there were a few holes here and there but was solid. The air had a cleaner smell than the rest of the wasteland, I don't know how, it just did.
*** *** *** ***
After walking for a minute or two, we found the Motel. It was a fairly large building that didn't have much damage than most building around here. Most of the letters on the sign had fallen off leaving only M-O. I found that slightly amusing for some reason.
We stepped inside to see a yellow earth pony mare with light green hair standing behind a counter. Her hair had been tied behind her head with a small dark green bow. Her Cutie Mark had been Ice cream with a banana on top.
"Hello, do you have any rooms we could stay in for the night?" I asked her while smiling.
"Yes I do, i'm going to assume you will be staying just for tonight? Or will you be staying for a longer period?"
"Tonight's fine I guess.." I said.
"That will be, 100 caps, it is 50 caps a night if you plan to stay more than three days." She informed us.
"Okay then, your room will be on the second floor, room 19B." she said.
I reached into my bag and took out the bits and handed them to her.
You know what, we might want to stay here for a while, and it would be a better deal too.
"I decided that we will stay for three days. " I said.
I took out some more bit and gave them to her as well.
She then reached at a shelf and gave me a key.
"Have a good night." She said while smiling.
Me and Bait then turned went up the stairs to find the room. We searched for a little while when we had found it. I pulled out the key she had given me and and unlocked the door. The room was clean, other than the few small holes in the walls or the partially stained carpet. I don't think it was coming out anytime soon. There was a bed in the corner of the room with a table at the end of it and a mirror with a dresser on the other side of the room, the mirror had a few cracked but was in overall good condition.
We walked in and I turned on the light with the switch on the wall by the door. I wonder how this place is being powered. I took off my bag and set it in the corner of the room near the bed and set my riffle next to it leaning against the wall.
"Bait, there only seems to be one bed... but I have my sleeping bag, so you can take the bed if you want." I said to him.
"Thanks you." He said while smiling. He walked to the bed and laid down onto it.
"Your welcome." I said.
I walked to the door, shut it and locked it, I didn't want anypony to come in while we were sleeping.
I walked to my bag, opened it and pulled out my sleeping bag. I set it into the floor next to the bed Bait was now going to be sleeping it, and rolled it open.
I just realized I never asked them where the doctor was, I should probably do that in the morning.
I could hear that Bait was already sleeping, that was fast. I went to my sleeping bag and laid down facing the wall.
"Well, goodnight Bait." I said to the sleeping pony knowing he wouldn't hear me.
I laid there for a few minutes before I fell asleep as well.
*** *** *** ***
I opened my eyes to a blinding white light. I used my hoof to cover it, but it didn't seem to help at all. The light felt like it was inside my eyelids. I was laying down on what felt to be some sort of tile floor, it was smooth and I could feel the spaces between each tile. I got up, slowly but I did, I realized that I hadn't had any of my stuff with me, even my courier coat was gone. The light eventually faded and I could clearly see where I was. I was in some sort of ancient looking marble room. There were gaps between large blocks that were maybe 2 feet across, it looked unfinished. I looked at the floor and realized my gun had been there, it didn't have the saddle attached, or the gas tank that supplies the propulsion. What had replaced it was a bright blue glowing orb. I picked it up with my telekinesis and and continued to look around. I turned, and what I saw made my jaw drop. The room's wall was gone, and what was behind it, was an endless void-like open space. There were carved blocks of stone in various shapes floating absolutely everywhere. Each of the sides looked to be perfectly smooth. Some of the stone blocks had pillars on them, with some glow at the top with no apparent light source, and each of them seemed to have a core that looked to absorb themselves, causing a glow but not casting light onto any surface's.
"Where the hay am I?" I asked myself.
"You are in my Dream Dimension." A mare's voice said to me from no direction I could pinpoint.
"How did I- Oh, i'm dreaming." I said.
"Yes you are, it was the only way I could bring you here. Now, come to me." She said as multiple small stone blocks floated in a path like pattern.
I walked to the edge, and I hesitantly placed a hoof onto the first block.
"Ok... this is really creepy." I said to myself.
I continued to walk over the rest of the blocks to a platform that formed in front of me.
It was made into a square shape of 20 by 20 blocks. There were four pillars on all sides with the same glow from before, but had a red tint to them and were slightly larger than the rest..
"Now, I want to test something." She said.
"Prepare yourself." She added.
"Wait, prepare myself for what?" I asked before the orbs began to glow brighter and multiple red glowing ponies made of stone shards appeared and jumped onto the platform. Glowing pistols made of the same shards materialized around them and they began to wield them in a telekinetic like hold.
"For them." She said.
"Uh oh." I said before they started firing at me.
I ran to my left to dodge the oncoming attack.
"What the hay, this is crazy!" I shouted.
She was silent.
"Well if that is the way you want it!" I shouted before I sprinted around the ponies and jumped off the side of a pillar. I turned and slammed my hoof into the jaw of the closest pony to me, shattering it into dust. I brought around my gun and fired into the chest of another, shattering it as well. The other two turned to me while one tried to punch me, I brought my hoof into the attacker's, in the process breaking it's leg into a fine powder, causing the pony to fall into the stone. I turned to the last and slammed my gun into its face, and sticking the end into its mouth and fired. On its "death" it too had broke into dust.
I was panting heavily and dropped my gun onto the floor.
"What...now?" I said between breaths.
"Well, that wasn't much, you do realize its all in your head, you aren't really tired. But nonetheless you have passed my small test, and you did complete it at an amazingly fast pace, I'm impressed. Come, I think its time you met me." She said with a chuckle.
Usually i'm not good at fighting close quarters...
More blocks floated into place in a stair pattern up to a round platform above me.
"Ugh, why am I here, what is the point of all of this. Way too much is happening way too fast..." I said while walking to the first step.
"You will know shortly, just get to me." She said.
"Well this is the weirdest dream I have had in a while." I said.
I continued to walk up the steps without asking any more questions for the time being.
There were about four more steps left before I got to the top. I could see that the platform had been circular with a strange rock-like buildup below it.
I had made it to the top and I saw her. She was a light blue alicorn mare with a purple mane and tail. Her eyes were a light shade of blue as well, but lighter than her coat. Her cutie mark was a light bulb with four or more stars, I couldn't tell how many due to her large wings covering it partially.
"Well, you made it. I would say impressive but I think I already stated it with you little fight down there." She said as she started walking to me.
"Your an alicorn?!" I asked.
"Yes and no, I am an 'Elecorn', something my brother came up with a couple hundred years ago. It is short for Elemental Alicorn which is also something he came up with. There aren't many of us left, and most of the one's that do remain are not really elements. I can't really explain the whole subject right now, you could ask my brother a bit when you get to him."
"And your brother is?" I asked.
"The one you are delivering your package to, I'm sure you know his name, Dark matter?" She said.
"He's your brother?!" I asked.
"Yes, he is" She said with a bored expression.
"I was just making sure." I said.
"Okay... now to the reason why you were here." She said.
"I brought you here, mainly to thank you for excepting the task of delivering the package for my brother. Well you excepted it from the one that gave you it, but you still agreed to do it. Secondly, that small fight was to test and see if you can fight well, we can't have you die and have somepony else take package can we? I wanted to see if you are worthy of it, it is very important, or so I am told."
"That's a great way to thank somepony." I said sarcastically.
"Indeed..." She said.
"Now, I understand that your trip will be long, I honestly can't tell how long it will be till you get here. But for the time being, I think I will give you a little something when you wake."
"I thought you said I was far away." I said flatly.
"Yes, you are, but I can teleport an item to you, now that I have a sort of mental lock on your location."
"Well that's not creepy at all." I said.
"So, do you have any question's you wish to ask before I end this?"
"Um, let me think..." I asked.
"Why is my gun like this? Why the strange energy orb, and is there any specific reason why this "Dimension" looks like this? It is kinda freaking me out a bit, a lot." I said.
"Quite a bit of questions. Well, I don't know exactly, most likely something to do with your subconscious, my plain generates based on the ponies mind as well. Sorry that it, freaks you out, blame your mind. Any more questions?" She said.
"Hmm, do you know the pony's name that hired me?" I asked.
"His name is Timely Notes, good friend of Dark. I assume that is your last question?" she said with some tiredness in her voice.
"Yeah, I guess so, I can't really think of anything else at the moment." I said.
"Very well, I have to get some proper sleep myself." She said.
"Sorry for taking over your sleep session, if you feel angry in some way." She said.
"It's fine." I said. I was a little bit mad, mainly for the sudden fight to the dream death.
"Okay, Oh, and another thing, watch out for my brother's patrol's around certain location's within a mile radius of this area when you do get close, They are ordered to not take kindly to visitors, but I will make sure they know when you might be coming if we do this again." she said.
"And especially watch out for any ponies wearing armor with a sigil of a triangle of various weapons. And watch out for Griffins or Hellhounds wearing it as well." she added.
"It was a pleasure of meeting you striker, I hope to see you again in person, farewell, good luck and goodnight." She said.
"Goodnight and, wait what?" I quickly said.
All of the lights above the pillars began to glow brighter and brighter, blinding me, I covered my eyes to shield from it. It became a painful glow and then, darkness.
