SwiftHaze was up bright and early the next morning. Her first shift as security guard was an early one, but she was up nearly two hours before it began. Benefits of going to bed early, she guessed. Although she much preferred staying up late. Maybe she could ask for later, night time shifts.
Entering the dark kitchen area, she realized she had awoken even before her mother. What a pleasant feeling, she thought, to be alone in a quiet space. Even without her mother, it was almost impossible to be alone within the well populated Stable. While Haze enjoyed interacting with others, and even considered herself an extrovert, solitude was nice every once in a while. Most of the time, the closest to that she could get was within the shooting range.
Eventually, a door slid open behind the young Pegasus. “You’re up early,” Emerald stated.
“I want to be ready for my shift,” Haze said blandly, and then added, “It’s my first day on the job.”
“I see.”
Is that all she has to say? Haze didn’t even turn around to face her mother. She watched a green streaked tail pass by the table as Emerald reached for the counter.
Impatiently, Haze drew away from the table and announced, “I better get going!”
She returned to her room to retrieve her PipBuck and padded armor. Quickly she darted through the kitchen area and to the door that opened to the hallway.
It was nearly 6 AM when Haze reported for duty. Buffer assigned her a position and she was on her way.
SwiftHaze's shift was admittedly boring. Not much occurred, besides standing around waiting for something to happen. She had stood beside another guard who had to break up a fight between two school children. Neither of them were even hurt. Besides that, nothing interesting came up.
To pass the time, Haze listened to stories of much more exciting days from the other guards. Times when there were bar fights, when broken glass caused blood to spill. Or times when security had to go outside the Stable's massive door to fend off raiders, as if they could even get inside. There were even instances of ponies trying to get through security to pass through the door outside, not too much unlike Haze herself.
But I don't want to have to fight through my peers just to get outside, Haze decided. I need to earn my way out.
Haze and her shift partner were escorting a line of colt and fillies from their classroom to the cafeteria. She kept her eye out for any rough housing. She noticed the children splitting their line up to go around a pony who was trying to exit the cafeteria. It was OrchidRays. Once past the kids, Ray galloped up to Haze.
“There you are! I need to tell you something!”
Haze wasn't sure she had the time for Ray's ramblings. While she would greatly appreciate any distractions during her boring shift, she was still on duty.
“Sorry Ray, I gotta move positions. We can talk after my shift.” She checked the time on her PipBuck. “I get off at two. Can we talk then?”
“Okay,” Ray said with her head dropping. She maneuvered around the other mare and disappeared into the hallway.
Haze hated seeing Ray look so saddened, but she truly did have something to do. She continued into the cafeteria where she overlooked the school children's lunch session. Once done, she led them back to their classroom.
After her shift, SwiftHaze just sat on a bench in a hallway. Overhead was the soft humming of a generator, and the flickering of a light down the hall. I swear that light's been going for a month! And they still haven't fixed it! Maintenance is so lazy!
She clicked through the tabs on her PipBuck with her hoof. Once she placed an earbud in her ear, she shuffled a playlist. She continued to browse her PipBuck, doing all she could to read about the spells it offered.
“Hiya!”
SwiftHaze jolted in her place and snapped her head up. While browsing her PipBuck, she had become unaware that OrchidRays had walked up to her. Now the ruby colored pony was staring at her. It was as if she was unaware that staring wasn’t always polite, not that Haze really minded.
“What are you listening to now?” Ray asked.
“Huh? Oh, Muse.”
“Oh,” Ray said, sounding disappointed, as if she was expecting a Linkin Pony song name. She perked up a bit. “Muse is good too! I like Drones! Oh, and Absolution! What’s your favorite album?”
“Uh, I’m not sure. Maybe The 2nd Law?”
“That’s great!” Ray beamed. For a moment, OrchidRays just stared at her, silently.
“You wanted to ask me something?” SwiftHaze reminded.
“Oh yeah!” Ray let out.
Amused, Haze noted silently, she can be forgetful, yet remembers way too much about bands.
“Um,” Ray spoke up, but her eyes drifted away. “I know you said to keep a secret, but I may have told one pony about what you said.”
“What?” A flash of panic surged in Haze’s chest. “Who?” She demanded.
“Well, my cousin works on the overmare’s council. I asked to see if we- er, you, can get in contact with her.”
At that, Haze let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. “Really?”
“Yeah!” Ray perked up and beamed. “He said you can talk with her later this week!”
“Seriously?” Haze’s wings spread in excitement. “That’s awesome! And a lot sooner than I expected!” She was absolutely beaming. She lunged forward and wrapped her forehooves around Ray’s neck. “Awe, thank you Ray! Tell your cousin he’s awesome!”
“I already have!” Ray remarked.
Haze let go and chuckled, “Awesome.”
Suddenly, in her excitement, she changed subjects. “I need to go tell Cast Iron! He knows about the outside!”
As she began trotting around, Ray asked, “Can I come with?”
“Sure,” Haze accepted.
The two mares made their way to the shooting range. Haze poked her head in and searched around. There was a young blue Unicorn using the range, but not the usual grey stallion.
“Huh, he’s not here.”
“Come back later?” Ray suggested.
“I bet he’s in the workshop.”
Haze then began leading away from that section of the stable.
“Guns are so loud,” Ray said with her ears pushed back, looking uncomfortable.
“Eh, the sound echoes off the walls. I’m sure outside they aren’t quite as loud,” Haze explained. The sound never bothered her, but she suspected Ray was more sensitive to noise.
The two made it to the tool and weapon workshop, and just as Haze guessed, Cast Iron was inside. He greeted them as they approached.
“So, uh, what do you know about going outside?” Haze questioned almost too casually.
Cast Iron blinked. “Why do you want to know?”
“‘Cause I… kinda want to go outside myself.”
The stallion’s eyes widened. “A young mare like yourself… outside?”
“Hey, you weren’t that much older when you first went out!” Haze pointed out.
Iron sighed. “I guess you’re right. But, why do you want to go out?”
“I want to be free,” Haze said simply. “And I’m curious. And I want to help ponies if I can.”
“Like your dad.” Iron nodded. “You’re so much like him.”
Haze was aware she was trotting in almost exactly the same steps as her father. She became a security guard, and now wanted to explore the wastelands. However, her father was a security guard for a couple of years before he made it out.
“How do I get out? I know I gotta talk to the overmare, but what qualifies me for going outside?” Haze inquired.
Iron pondered for a moment. “Well, it’s preferred you have combat training, which you do. At least you know how to fire a gun. And yes, security guards are more likely to be chosen to go outside. But you’d have to be selected by the overmare to go on a mission to retrieve supplies.”
“I don’t want to retrieve supplies, I just want to go outside!” Haze snapped.
“Okay, okay, I hear you.” Cast Iron placed his hooves up in a defensive position.
“Sorry,” Haze said, realizing she had become quick tempered.
“Well,” Iron continued, “you’re going to have to prove to the overmare you are prepared to survive. Maybe if you just straight up tell her how you feel she’ll consider it.”
“Alright,” Haze sighed. “Well, thank you anyway.”
“Of course. And, hey, if you do end up going outside, you better come back here and take a gun with you.”
“Oh, I plan on it,” Haze smirked.
“I’ve got an assault rifle with your name written all over it,” the stallion said.
“You wrote her name on a gun?” Ray wondered, cocking her head
“Uh, no. Not literally,” Cast Iron replied, looking just as dazed as Ray.
Haze chuckled inwardly at Ray’s literalness. “We better be going, I’ll see you later, Cast Iron!” As Haze turned, she waved a wing in farewell.
As they walked through the metal-lined hallways, OrchidRays told SwiftHaze when she could speak to the overmare. Apparently there was an opening this Friday. It was Tuesday, Haze thought, so she only had to suffer a few more days before getting in contact with Stable management.
As the days passed, SwiftHaze became more excited, yet she kept her excitement to herself. She didn’t want anyone to get a clue of what she was planning. Less ponies to slip the secret to her mother.
One of her shifts was extended, making up for a guard who was supposedly sick. Although Haze suspected they were just hungover. She was scheduled for later that day, but decided to come in early just to cover for them.
Now, Friday afternoon, Haze was accompanied by OrchidRays on her way to the overmare’s office. Haze had assured Ray didn’t have to come with her, but the younger mare insisted. Something about that comforted Haze.
They climbed the stairs to the second level above the atrium. Haze watched the ponies come and go in the space below. A filly was excitedly showing her new cutie mark to her parents. The sight caused Haze’s heart to tighten with nostalgia.
A metal hoof prodded her side. She returned her gaze to the doors before her, which were sliding open. Inside, the pale pink Unicorn gestured to the two of them to come inside. The overmare swiveled her way around a large mahogany desk. She sat down, and watched them intently.
"So, why do you want to go outside?" The overmare asked, placing her forehooves together.
"Because I'm not happy here," SwiftHaze stated bluntly. "I know it's safe here, but I'm willing to risk everything to be free. Please, overmare."
"You only just started your career and you already want to leave?"
"Actually I became a security guard because I wanted experience to prepare for the outside,” Haze admitted, rubbing the back of her neck with a hoof.
"Do you even have any idea how to look after yourself out there?" The overmare continued.
"I've researched everything about the outside since I was a filly! I know about the radiation. I'll bring potions. And the raiders and monsters. I'm not going out unarmed."
“And you plan to face all of it alone?” The Unicorn mare wondered. “You shouldn’t go out without at least one other pony.”
Haze paused for a moment, considering that. Her gaze flashed at OrchidRays beside her. There was a pleading smile on her face.
"I'll bring OrchidRays!"
"And what does she know about going outside?” The overmare challenged.
“Well, um,” Haze was stumped.
"I can carry Haze's supplies while she does the fighting! And I know what potions are good for what!"
The overmare raised her brow quizzically.
"Ray doesn't know much now, but she's a fast learner," Haze offered. "And I know she has the sense to not run into a useless fight. She'd try peaceful solutions before any fighting."
Ray gave her an appreciative glance.
The overmare still seemed unconvinced. "Well, even if you did go out, it would be for a mission. But we don't have one scheduled soon.
"Please overmare, I've been waiting for this for years, and I'm not looking to do an errand run. I want out of here. I have skills that could aid ponies out there much more than in here. You wouldn’t keep a pony stuck here if she was unhappy, would you?
"What if we do go out, and we do find supplies, we could bring them back!" Ray suggested.
"Hmm, we could always use more spark batteries. We also need more weapons to equip future mission squads.
"Weapons should be easy to find," Haze remarked.“C’mon! We’ll bring back any of that stuff if we find it!”
The overmare sighed. “Alright. I’ll have the door scheduled to be opened early next week. Be prepared then.”
Haze hopped up in the air and danced on her hooves. “Ha ha! Yes! Woo!” She stopped, but still beamed. “I mean- thank you, overmare!”
SwiftHaze and OrchidRays left the office, the former being ecstatic. They began trotting down the stairs.
“So, is everything you said in there true?” Ray was asking. “Have you really been preparing to leave for years?”
“Yes, of course!”
“So, you want to leave everything behind? You’d… leave me behind?” Ray said in a feeble tone.
Haze stopped in her tracks to face the younger mare. “What? Ray, you’re probably my closest friend. I’d never leave you behind, not on purpose.” She wrapped a green wing around Ray. “I’m glad you're coming with me.” But I also dread it. If anything happens to her, it’s on me.
Ray’s glum expression quickly brighten into a grin, but then faltered. “I’m just worried about what I’ll leave behind.”
“And what’s that?” Haze asked genuinely. “I know you don’t really have any other friends besides me.” Haze tried to put it as delicately as she could, but cursed herself for being so blunt. Growing up, Ray had always been shunned for ‘acting different’.
“Well, I’ve collected a lot of things; tapes, posters. I’ve made sculptures!”
“Ray, those things are trivial. There’s so much more out there you could collect. And all the music you could ever need is on your PipBuck,” Haze reasoned.
“I guess you’re right.” Ray stared at the floor in thought.
Haze quickly changed the subject. “Promise me before we leave that you gather all the supplies we need, okay? I’ll get us some weapons and tools.”
“Of course!” Ray said with a sudden smile.
The day before leaving, SwiftHaze approached Buffer about her upcoming absence. He didn’t take it as well as she’d hoped. She assured him that it was nothing personal, and that he had been the best mentor she could have ever had. After all, it was his mentorship that gave her the experience she needed. Buffer bid her a bittersweet farewell.
“Shouldn’t you say something to your mom?” OrchidRays was saying.
SwiftHaze tensed up. “I don’t want her to end up locking me in my room. She’d go insane if she found out!”
“But she should at least know. And you should have some closure with her, whether it’s good or not,” Ray explained.
Quite a mature statement for such an inexperienced, naive pony. “I guess you’re right,” Haze sighed. “I’ll tell her tomorrow before we leave.”
It was the day of departure, and SwiftHaze was as equally nervous as excited. Nervouscited. She met up with OrchidRay in one of the hallways. Luckily, Haze was able to slip out of her living quarters with saddlebags while her mother wasn’t home. Ray was carrying even more saddlebags, supposedly filled with food, medicine, and blankets. Haze was boggled at how much the small pony was able to carry.
Now, Haze was on her way to do the one thing she dreaded the most. Through the cafeteria, Haze passed by some ponies chatting over lunch. She nosed her way into one of the kitchens. There she found her mother talking among a few other mares who were sorting out food rations. Not caring to listen to their meaningless dialogue, Haze approached.
“SwiftHaze?” Emerald noticed her. “Why do you have those bags?”
“Because,” Haze felt her throat close up, but she fought through it. “I’m leaving the Stable.”
Several gasps came from the other mares. Emerald gawked, wide-eyed, “What do you mean? You can’t just do that!”
“Uh, yeah, I can. The overmare is letting me. And don’t try to persuade me, because you’ve done nothing to convince me to stay. And don’t try to stop me.”
“I can’t believe you’d just leave me! After all I’ve done for you!” Emerald retorted.
“What you’ve done for me?” Haze questioned, her tone nearing anger. “You mean control everything I’ve done and nose into my personal life? Yeah, I’ve had enough of that. I’m taking control of my own life, and there’s nothing you can do about it, EmeraldShowers.”
Offended, her mother just gaped, the other mares mirroring her.
Swirling around and flicking her tail, SwiftHaze exited the kitchen. Quickly she paced through the cafeteria to the hallway where she found OrchidRays. Haze peered back but did not see Emerald. She isn’t even trying to follow? That didn’t matter now.
Haze sighed. “That was not easy, but I said what I needed to. Let’s go.”
As they made their way to the atrium, Haze continuously glanced back, anticipating her mother, but there was no sign of the green mare.
“Before we go can I look at something?” Ray asked.
“Sure,” Haze said, but was unsure what she meant. She followed Ray to the edge of the atrium.
Both of them stood before a long wall underneath the window of the overmare’s office, which overlooked the atrium. Along the wall were bronze plaques, all with names of significant members of the first generation of Stable dwellers. They consisted of famous actors and musicians, or members of the wartime government.
Ray had her metal hoof placed next to a plaque. Haze leaned forward to get a closer look/ It read ‘BlazingFlair, Bassist of Linkin Pony.’ Next to it was ‘CharmingRhythm’, and then ‘HyperBlitz’. Haze knew the last name before her was the reason she was here, and the reason she was a Pegasus. Perhaps she should feel grateful, but she felt no connection to her ancestor the way Ray did. Haze wasn’t sure how one was supposed to form a bond with someone they had never met, especially one who had lived so long ago.
Beside her, Ray was still staring forlorn at the plaque of her own ancestor. It was as if she was afraid to leave it behind. No, she was afraid of leaving his memory behind.
“You know,” Haze said, “I bet we could find out more about Linkin Pony than anything we have in here.”
Ray turned to her with huge blue eyes. “Really?”
“Yeah. I mean they did live out there before they lived here. I’m sure we could find out about their lives before the Stable.”
“That would be awesome!”
“So, what do you say? Should we get going?” Haze prompted.
Taking one last glance at the wall, and then back to her Pegasus friend, OrchidRays replied, “Alright. Let’s go!”
In front of Haze was the massive steel door of Stable 47, shaped like a cog wheel. They had been permitted past the airlock chambers, and now were waiting for the all-clear to exit. Overhead, the voice of the overmare spoke.
“I wish you both luck on your travels. If you find the outside is not suitable, you are always welcome back here. Stable 47 is your home.”
Not a few moments later did the airlock chamber close behind them. Lights began to flash and an alarm played. Ray appeared startled by the sudden change in stimuli. A large metal arm lowered from the ceiling and latched onto the door. With a hiss and a clatter, the door was pulled inward and rolled open.
Excitement fluttered in SwiftHaze’s chest as she took steps towards the open Stable door. That excitement faltered when she passed the outlet. She wasn’t outside quite yet. A rocky cave surrounded them, with only the lights near the Stable door dimly lighting the way. Haze heard the door move again with a loud clatter as it shut. She pressed forward, OrchidRays right beside her.