//------------------------------// // 1.2 - FIGHT BACK/UAA // Story: Detrot: Become Equine // by Andromidus //------------------------------// BELLE ESTATE - DETROT, EQUESTRIA DATE MAY 12TH, 1438 TIME PM 04:22:12 CHAPTER 1.2 FIGHT BACK Rarity had never felt so terrified in her life. Sure, she had her scares whenever the brave little trio had done something reckless… but they were foals doing what they did best, play. This was no foal. This was a grown pony brandishing a tool of war, one specifically meant to kill. And it was pressed against her skull. Did she fear for herself? No. She feared for the clueless fillies upstairs, waiting on her to finish cleaning up in the kitchen, unaware of the danger that lurked beneath the story. She was no combat droid. Not a single ounce of fighting experience ran in her code. She was no BM800 or SQ800. She was a simple UAA400, designed to take care of household chores. She was stronger than the average pony, sure, yet… did that really amount to anything? Could she really disarm her aggressor? Subdue them long enough for help to arrive? There were so many questions with so many indistinct answers. But one thing was for certain. So indisputable and intrinsic to her being. Perhaps so deeply driven into her character that it came out the other end as a flaw. She was a lady, and she was not going to take this one lying down. Suck in your fear, you've got the crusaders depending on you. “Very well, sir, what do you want?” There was no reason to play it stupid, though. Sometimes getting straight to the point was a favorable option. He shrugged. “This place looks pretty fancy. I’m sure you’ve got some valuables lying around. There’s gotta be some bits somewhere.” The stallion rubbed his stubble. “You seem like the pony to carry around a safe. You got one of those?” “If I did, I wouldn’t tell you.” This may work. “Lady, I ain’t the one with a gun to my head, so if you don’t want your thoughts all over that nice-looking carpet, you’re gonna tell me.” Rarity’s eyes shot to the left. She never enjoyed lying. But it was a necessary evil for the situation on hoof. “It's in the master walk-in closet hidden behind a dresser.” All I need to do is set the ball rolling. “Well then, that wasn't so hard, now was it?” He jerked the pistol with his hoof. “Now take me to it.” He paused, with an unamused smile. “One wrong move, however… I won't hesitate. Let's not make me the bad guy now, alright? Don't try anything with that horn of yours either. I'm sure I can pull the trigger faster than you can cast a spell.” Rarity blankly gave her affirmative. She started to lead the stallion up the stairs, careful to avoid the bedroom of her little sister. “So you're alone here, huh? I'd thought a mare like yourself would have ponies lining up by your door.” “I prefer to wait for the perfect stallion. I'm sure he'll come around.” The stallion grinned. “I wish you in the best of luck in finding him.” Rarity halted and raised a brow. “Pardon?” “Just because I'm holding you against your will doesn't mean I can't be a gentlestallion. Society hasn't crumbled.” The equdroid nodded. “Well then.” She continued to walk. Rarity dialed the emergency number, sending out a text message alongside it. She still had a disguise to keep, after all. Moving on, she pressed her sister's image on speed dial to ring Sweetie Belle’s phone. A second later, she was in a call with three fillies, one of which was considerably worried. “Rarity? What's going on? You never call under the same roof unless it’s an emergency!” Sweetie gasped. “Don't tell me—something bad happened!?” “Something did, dear. Remember when I had you practice an escape route in the inevitability something may happen?” The filly took a deep, shaky breath. Her voice cracked ever so noticeably. “Do you want us to take it?” “Please do, but be very quiet. I'll try to buy as much time as I can. I've already got a call out to the police.” Rarity sighed. “Know that I love you. Stay safe for me, okay?” Sweetie gulped. “O-Okay. But wait, Rarity! I want you to promise that you’ll be okay, too!” There was always the chance that something could go wrong. Life was unpredictable like that. Rarity never enjoyed lying, yet she needed her sister to believe it completely and find someplace safe to hide. “I promise, Sweetie. Now go, please, and for the love of the stars, do not make even a peep.” Returning her full attention to her guest, she got a good look at his features. The stallion looked like he had never gotten a decent shower or meal in days. Rarity felt a pang of pity run through her, weak as it may be. She briefly wondered how he had managed to get past the neighborhood security. If the pony had come up to her door without a loaded weapon and simply begged for a hot meal and some bits, she would've gladly accepted. Something in her demanded that she help others in need, to give what she reasonably could. Instead, she had been held hostage at gunpoint, life threatened. Synthetic synapses fired at the speed of light as she plotted his downfall. All she needed to do was get to her bedroom. “For such a nice place, it’s strange you ain't got any droids.” “My family doesn't need them. We are perfectly capable on our own,” she curtly shot back. “Heh. D’you know I lost my job cuz’ of those things? It's sad, frankly. Ponies with less specialized cutie marks get replaced because the bots do it better, or cheaper, or faster.” The stallion waved his weapon around in a bored fashion. “So with what I’m doing, no hard feelings or nothing.” “Oh yes, let me hold a gun to your head and let’s see how quickly that opinion turns around.” There was a crashing noise at the opposite end of the hall. Her captor forcefully turned her around, tugging on her mane. “What was that? Are we not alone? Got a coltfriend that you didn’t feel like mentioning?” I hope they're okay. “That was my cat, you ruffian. She can be quite the feisty feline, so beware,” Rarity chided. He huffed and narrowed his eyes in suspicion. “Any other animals you want to let me know about?” “Opalescence is the only pet I have, you certainly have nothing to fear.” He released her and gave her a shove to continue walking. “You're making this more difficult than it needs to be.” “You started it when you held that to my head,” she jabbed. Placing her hoof against the door, she pushed it open carefully and stepped inside. She kept the door slightly ajar. The lights inside were like a delayed sunrise, casting away the darkness as they gradually increased in luminescence. “We’re here.” He whistled. “What do you do for a-livin', lady? You an artist or something?” He dragged her along to the bed. “I’d only see this kind of stuff in picture books.” “Are we here to tour my home or are you trying to rob me?” He gave one last sweep before he turned his full attention back to her. As she spotted the familiar wooden surface, she couldn't help but smile. The air had been thick with tension, but now she could be rid of it. They arrived at the only manual hinged door in the house. Unlocking the handle with her array, she moved inside and quickly sidestepped. She slammed the door right on her captor. He squealed in shock, the force of the impact enough to tear his grip on the weapon away. She snatched it with her aura, only to send it further away as she was tackled. They crashed into a heap on the floor, “Damn it, mare! Just had to go and pull that shit, huh?” The equdroid struggled under his weight. She parried a hoof that was meant for her face and onto the hardwood. Despite that, Rarity couldn't stop the other punch coming her way, the strange feeling of pain diffusing across her skull. The fleeting moment of astonishment was all he needed to continue his assault. Another follow-up, coupled with a strong slap. Senses coming back to her, she retaliated with an awkwardly swung right hook that still managed to connect. Her assailant grunted as he stumbled into a cabinet. Rarity scrambled for the weapon, anything to get him to stand down and end the confrontation with her in favor. Scooping it up with her array, she pointed it to where she last saw him. She sputtered as clothing slapped her in the face. The pistol clattered to the floor in front of the pony. He exhaled loudly and picked it back up. “It really sucks to know that I'm going to have to hurt you now. I tried playing nice.” He slowly approached. He pulled the slide back and cocked the pistol. “I tried being nice. Having said that, it seems mercy is off the table,” Rarity said, throwing the article off. “Opal, go ahead.” A blur of white darted from the door. A writhing ball of fury and fur latched itself onto the pony, hissing in anger. The stallion screamed as he attempted to pry the cat off of his face. He stumbled around, screaming curses as synthetic cat claws dug in the flesh. Ornaments and family photos fell from the top of tables and furniture as the cat guided him around the room, intent on causing as much bodily harm as possible. Rarity gave a haughty smirk. She grabbed a cabinet drawer and emptied the contents on the floor. Holding it exactly like one would hold a baseball bat, she swirled it behind her to test the weight. This will do just fine. She sent the command for Opalescence to hop off and stop her assault. The cat gave a final scratch before leaping away. The stallion was breathing heavily, eyes wide. As his vision focused itself again, he caught Rarity swinging for a home run. "Never mess with a lady." The wood splintered as it smacked into his lower jaw and violently jerked his head backward. He slumped to the ground, bruised and unconscious. Rarity sighed, shoulders sagging. All she had to do now was wait for the police. In the meantime, she could go and tie him up and check on the crusaders. “Wow. Your sister just keeps getting cooler and cooler.” “Scoots!” Applebloom shout-whispered. Perhaps she didn't have to go looking for them. She spun around to see three fillies scrambling to hide.