//------------------------------// // Chapter 11 // Story: Linkin Pony - Recharge: Revamped // by Kaciekk //------------------------------// Back at the base, the rest of Team Xero continued to work on their camp. SpinningNote was put in charge by CharmingRhythm. Most of the time he spent was working on old computers. He was searching through the files of the first one he found. It was propped up on the desk in the main room. BlazingFlair entered and watched Spinning with his eyes glued on the screen. “Are you just going to do that the whole time?” Blazing asked, genuinely curious. “The journals on these are fascinating,” Spinning explained without turning his head. “The last few that are dated mention a Hybrid ambush. That must be why ponies left the village. But the pony who wrote these made it out like they were stuck in their homes, avoiding the Hybrids.” “And that means… what?” Blazing cocked his head to the side. “I’m just curious about how the ponies got out. We only found a few skeletons. If they had truly been stuck, there would be more.” “I mean, the Hybrids could have taken some of them back to their citadels,” Blazing surmised.  “I guess that’s possible. Hmm. This pony was talking about how much the ponies were trying to fight back…” Spinning continued/ “Why does this matter to you? We have other work to be done,” Blazing countered. SpinningNote whirled around and faced the orange Earth Pony. “I’m sorry. You’re right. I’m getting too caught up in the past. I just find it interesting. Though…” Spinning put a hoof under his chin. “What if Hybrids ambushed us? If the past residence couldn’t stop them, how would we?” Blazing shook his head and smiled. “You’re thinking too much about this. But maybe if you want more information, you could restore more computers. Let’s go out and clear out more stuff.” “That’s a good idea,” Spinning confirmed. Spinning was on the hunt for more computers. He popped in and out of buildings until he found one. It was set up on a wooden desk in a bedroom. In the corner of the bedroom was a safe, which caught Spinning’s interest. He attempted to pick the lock with his magic, but couldn’t figure out the right placements of the tumblers. Lifting with his magic, Spinning moved the safe to the outside.  BlazingFlair watched Spinning bring out the heavy safe. It dropped on a ground with a thud when Spinning released his magic.  “Why’d you bring this out?” Blazing wondered. “I want to see if I can open it. Who knows what’s inside. I can’t pick the lock with just my magic,” Spinning explained. “Well, you’re the best one out of all of use to pick a lock,” Blazing said. “You have magic after all.” SpinningNote reentered the old building he was just in and retrieved the computer. He set it down next to the safe outside, leaning against a wall.  Just then Spinning noticed FeatherTune flying towards them. Held in his hooves was a large clear water container. The Pegasus heaved it onto the ground with effort. He fell to the earth on his belly, his legs sprawling out.  “I wish we had the cab! I can’t keep doing this one my own!” FeatherTune complained with heavy breaths. “That’s halfway empty!” Spinning exclaimed, pointing at the water container. “It’s still several gallons of water!” Feather snapped as he pushed himself up. “I can’t carry it when it’s completely filled!”  “You need some strength training,” Spinning scoffed. FeatherTune’s scarlet eyes glared at Spinning. “Feather’s the only one of us who can fly right now,” Blazing defended. “Him traveling to the stream and back is probably faster than any of us can do, even if the container is only half full. It will do for now. I’ll go take it back to the base to filter.” Blazing started rolling the container away with his hooves, the water sloshing inside.  Spinning peered around to find EchoBeat. He had not seen the Earth Pony since that morning. Spinning trotted over to the east side of the village. There, EchoBeat was overlooking an open area, planning where to start a garden. However, Echo’s gaze was not set on the ground. He was staring off to the horizon in the south. “Hey, Echo,” Spinning spoke up. EchoBeat jumped and twirled around. He was wearing his goggles, which he then pushed up to his forehead with a hoof. “Yeah?” “Whatcha looking at?” “I was just looking… to make sure there are no Hybrids. Rhythm told us to look out, remember?” Echo told him. “You’ve been staring out there for minutes. Do you see anything?” Spinning quered. “No. Nothing out there now. But I just want to be sure.” Echo looked back at the ground in front of him. "What's your verdict on the gardens?" Spinning asked him. "I think this would be a good place. But knowing how many ponies could live here, we'd need a big tent.  We may have to take down these trees." Echo glanced up to the trees with disappointment. “It’s just a couple of trees,” Spinning addressed his concern. “What’s that compared to all the plants in our gardens?” “I guess you’re right,” Echo considered.  “Alright. I’m going back to the base. Let me know if you see anything funny,” Spinning said as he cantered back towards his loot. Echo only nodded and placed his goggles back over his eyes. The towers of Los Pegasus loomed overhead in the late afternoon. CharmingRhythm was loading his cab with supplies gifted to him by the president and her council. He had received a few boxes of foodstuff and medicine, as well as a small tent that could be used for gardening. He placed everything in the back seats. Rhythm still needed to obtain a computer. The council had requested one in the tech lab for him, all he needed to do was pick it up. “Hey.” An unfamiliar voice sounded as Rhythm finished his packing. Rhythm turned his head to see two ponies on the sidewalk. One in the front was a light grey Unicorn with a brilliant red mane. Next to her was a tan Pegasus with a raven colored mane. The latter watched the Unicorn as she spoke to Rhythm. “You’re CharmingRhythm, right?” The mare asked. “Um... yes, I am. Why do you ask?” Rhythm questioned cautiously.  “I’m Ash,” She said and glanced at the Pegasus. “And this is my partner, Jet.” The stallion shoved her with a wing. “Partner and boyfriend,” Ash mumbled defiantly.  “We were sent by someone on the council to help you,” Jet spoke up. “You need help with building a camp?” Rhythm glared at them dumbfounded. Certainly the president did send him any recruits to help. Then Rhythm remembered the Pegasus who had been eyeing him in the meeting room. Perhaps they were the one who informed these recruits.  “And what’s in it for you?” Rhythm asked. “We were told we’d be paid for it,” Ash said casually. “And we’ve got nothing better to do.” Rhythm gaped. “Paid? I’m not getting paid, at least not until the end of the assignment. I’m just given free supplies. Well, sort of.” Rhythm suddenly felt foolish. He had taken on the mission because he wanted to prove to himself, and the president, that he was responsible enough. He hadn’t considered money at the time, it wasn’t important to him. Lives of ponies were more important, and a camp could save lives. “Do you need some extra recruits or not?” Ash shot at him impatiently.  “I- well yes. I do need some extra hooves to help. But I don’t have any apartments with good living conditions just yet.” “Eh, not that big of a deal. We’re used to sleeping on the ground during our missions,” Jet replied. “We have sleeping bags.” Rhythm took a moment to think. “Well, if you don’t mind it then. But I may have to come back to get you, I have supplies to move.” “Don’t worry,” Jet assured, “We have our own cab.” “Really? That would be a big help, then,” Rhythm remarked. “It’s not in the best condition though, but it works,” Jet told him. “Believe me, so is this one,” Rhythm sighed, glancing over to the machine. “I can see that,” Ash retorted. Rhythm was annoyed. Ash was a lot more snappy than he would have liked, but she and Jet were offering help, which he needed badly. He would have to put up with her quips. “I’m going to need to come back to the city to get more supplies anyway. How about we meet up next week, and I can show you the way there?” Rhythm suggested. “Sure, sounds like a plan,” Jet answered. “We should have plenty of time to get ready then.” “Just don’t tell president Clarity about this,” Ash shot with her blue eyes narrowing. Rhythm blinked. Was it really that big of a deal? Would he or they get punished if she found out? Surely the president was out of control of which recruits he chose for his mission. The only thing she could control was giving recruits to him directly. Anyone who came to Rhythm at their own will was fair game.  “You got it,” Rhythm said anyway. “Let’s make it a week from today.”