"Well, this changes plans a bit." Widow announced, stepping back from me and sighing, "Pip's not in ANY condition to continue on in this place. We need to get him out."
I wanted to protest, but I knew she'd shut my argument down in an instant, so...I did my normal thing and remained silent.
"But...we have to finish the charges." Artemis added, "There's still three dozen more that need to be placed, thanks to that Leviathan." the small, worm-like parasite which Artemis had decided to keep wiggled and swiveled it's way from around her shoulders to the top of her head at the sound of it's...old self.
"I must admit, that's actually kinda cute." Ghost said, chuckling slightly.
"Right, right, anyway," Widow continued the conversation, "So how do we deal with this?"
"I'll stay behind to finish the charges." Artemis volunteered, "And one of you two take Pip out of here so the other can help me finish. Simple."
Widow looked unsure about this. She had taken her helmet off to examen my damaged body, so it rested by my side. I looked at it absentmindedly while the other three discussed the plan. I felt down for being the cause of this roadblock...I must have been showing it too, since Widow suddenly knelt down with a reassurring smile.
"Hey, kid, don't feel bad about this. You were amazing in the way you dealt with the adversity." she explained, "In fact, I'm sure Artemis would have been proud at your aerial performance and quick thinking.
We looked to Artemis to see her giggling and playing with Sluggy.
"...I think..."
-------------
Well, ma'm, we are nearing the end of this debrief, it would seem. We're almost back to where I started...I still can't believe the Brutes managed to get an actual mind into the station's systems, though! You'd think those apes would be too...dense to have accomplished a feat such as that. I also can't believe that we had been watched by this same mind the entire time, since turning the power back on...anyway, I guess I'll continue.
-------------
"So...Pip...what are you looking forwards to for the Holiday?" Ghost asked, grunting slightly as my make-shift sled got caught...again.
We used some of the debris from the Leviathan's crash as well as some our own rope and stuff to make a little sled for me to be dragged by. It was then decided that Widow and Artemis would finish planting the bombs while Ghost and I left to evacuate the surrounding blockades and what-not.
He looked over his shoulder at me, and I shrugged in response to his question. He rolled his eyes before turnig forwards again, sighing with another grunt.
"You're too silent...gatta enjoy the little things, bro." He huffed, pulling me through a doorway and back into the construction room, "What the hell...?" I looked around him, almost falling off the sled, to see a somewhat daunting armada of mech-like figures which had not been there previously...and even all of the vehicles were FINISHED, "Wha...? When!? HOW!?"
Suddenly, our radios turned themselves on and the image of one of the Prophets appeared in the top right-hoof corners of our visors.
"Hello, Vermin." the image spoke, the figure moving as it talked, "Well, no, where's my hospitality? Plus, you did bring me back to life, so I shouldn't be so rude." he continued, while both Ghost and I just sat there, awed and shocked, "I swear, it was becoming quite an insane ordeal in all that darkness, but then you up and brought me back up! I swear, why those damn Brutes shut me down to begin with escapes my reasoning..."
"...but...you're all dead...Chief killed the rest of you!" Ghost shouted, slowly escaping the clutches of shock.
"Oh, what? He did? Such a shame..." the Prophet spoke somewhat emotionlessly, "You see, I'm not really...alive, persay, at the moment. Aren't you wondering how I'm in your communication system? I AM your communication system!" the self-proclaimed dead alien began to sound hysterical, "I AM the Factory! I was forced inside the AI to make production expediate! And ever since you turned me back on...I've been watching."
Ghost turned to look at me, obviously concerned, "This is bad..." he muttered.
"How do you think all of the Drones knew where to find you so fast? Or why my other...abominations knew just how to reach you?" he continued, "Because I saw, and I am connected to the minds of every, last, peice of technology in here...from the vehicles..." some of the Ghosts started to move, their systems activating without pilots, "to the bio-warriors..." a whole, massive swarm of V2s suddenly dropped from practically everywhere, causing Ghost to step back slowly in fear, "to the machines..." the mech soldiers all came to life, one by one raising their arms and taking ready stances. Ghost shook his head and started to turn to run, but the door closed tight on us, locking us in to our doom, "...and to the doors, as well."
"Fuck..." Ghost whispered, staring at the door sadly.
"Welcome to MY world, Vermin! Once I am finished with the two of you, which won't take long at all...I'll use the other two as test subjects for new and improved soldiers!"
Ghost, screamed and slammed a hand to some button one the side of his helmet, disconnecting the communication with the Factory AI using some kind of jamming device he built into our helmets, "Bring it!"
"Please, don't be so bold." the AI's voice rang through the entire room, causing every single last soldier and vehicle to menacingly move to life.
I don't know what exactly Ghost thought he was doing, but he seemed to as he raised his Assault Rifle.
"Let's see what you have, Vermin. I'd love to make a game out of this..." the AI seemed to laugh like a maniac at this, a small force of V2s charging their way to us.
"Pip, I have this handled." Ghost assured me, turning to nod in my direction, "I sent a distress beacon, they'll be here soon."
'Unless they get here in five seconds, we're screwed...' I thought blankly...until Ghost took matters into his own hands.
When the first V2, a blade-armed version, reached us, I thought for sure Ghost was dead, but when the thing brought it's arm down, Ghost just reached up and caught the sharp blade in his hand with a chink.
"What? What is this!?" the AI shouted angrily.
"Titanium gloves reinforced with a plasma gel-layer from your own tech." Ghost explained before pulling the V2 close so he could disembowel it with a couple rounds of AR ammo.
"What are you waiting for, Drones!? Kill him!" the AI screamed angrily, to which the rest of the V2s which came to attack us quickly moved again.
Ghost ripped the arm off of the V2 he just killed, then promptly speared it through the second bio-soldier. I never knew this geeky human had it in him! "That all ya got?" he quickly threw the two dead V2s into the crowd which surrounded us, grunting from the exertion, even though they barely weighed anything due to their bug-like nature. The bio-soldiers, with at least some form of self-consciousness quickly dispersed to avoid the impending explosions, but the mechs just stood there and took it.
"I grow bored of this." the AI suddenly growled, "Kill them, NOW."
Much to my horror, the very Scarab which had saved our lives earlier came to life, turning it's formidable gaze upon us as it's primary head-beam started to charge. Since I was unable to move myself, I looked to Ghost and tried to get his attention, but he just kept ignoring me, standing there and staring straight ahead...
'That's it, he's gone bonkers!' I thought, 'We're BUCKED!'
"Just a few more seconds..." Ghost muttered, clutching something on his back tightly. I looked to see what it was, but I just couldn't tell, "Let's see what'cha got!"
The AI, obviously ticked at being talked down upon by "Vermin," growled, his voice becoming distorted and robotic as he shouted, "Fire!"
I closed my eyes and awaited doom by incineration as the Scarab fired it's white-hot plasma beam at us. At first, all I heard was the sound of the plasma scorching everything it passed, but then, I heard a clang of metal, a small whirring, and a faint blip. When I opened my eyes, both Ghost and I were encased within a standard Bubble Shield, and the plasma was surging around us...we were unharmed!
After a couple of seconds, the plasma barrage ended and the shield evaporated, leaving a triumphant Ghost, and a severely pissed AI, "WHHA-A-AAAT!?" the pseudo-Prophet screamed, his voice stuttering.
"Yeah, anything else?" Ghost asked smugly, raising his middle finger to the army in front of us.
"Ghost...wha' now?" I asked quietly.
Keeping his very elegant symbol of rebellion standing, he leaned in and whispered, "Welp...now...we're fucked."
I nodded, looking out at the slowly approaching army as I wished I could make the same gesture Ghost currently was. Instead, though, I patiently sat there and waited. Didn't have to wait long, though, because a brave purple V2 zipped forwards and aimed straight at me, it's plasma charges flashing to indicate it had the same purpose as the kamikaze Grunts I had seen before. It was just going to up and pin me to to the ground so I would die along with it. I held up a hoof in defense, but Ghost once again saved me by punting the unsuspecting bug away, forcing it to explode in a sad ball of blue flame without accomplishing it's goal.
"Back off, ya pricks! He's hurt! That's just not fair!" Ghost shouted accusingly.
"And I CARE!?" AI shouted, "Go! More of you! Now!"
More kamikazes started lunging at us from every direction, but Ghost continued to force them back with both fists and legs...he was hell bent on keeping them off me. He couldn't hold-out forever, though, and one eventually slipped by...at first I was wondering why they were all focused on just me, and then I remembered I was about to explode...again, so I braced for impact, catching the V2 with my hooves as it hissed. I was unable to force it off on my own, though, and soon realized I would probably die right there...but Ghost, yet again, proved himself stronger than he appeared. He proved to me that he really did fear nothing, not even his own vitality.
"Pip!"
The last thing I saw before the whiteness was Ghost's face flashing a serene grin to me behind his visor while the angry V2 scrambled at the arm which held it back. I just didn't get it then...this was the first time I encountered any members of this team showing such compassion...I mean, Artemis lusted for Luna, but I never thought it was true love. To think...this Ghost actually cared enough about me to up and do something like that...
-------------
Well, Ma'm...we appear to be about where I left off...did I already say that? Nevermind...I...actually don't feel comfortable continuing...but, I feel like I have to, don't I?...thought so. Luna could weasel out of it because she's a Princess, and I'm just a grunt...just a grunt...Celestia damnit Artemis...yes, sorry, I will continue...
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"Go tell your 'favorite princess' I thought she was hot for me, hmm?"
She was at it again...she was going to make sure every last moving THING in that blasted factory was ENDED.
A blast from some kind of concussion grenade suddenly clouded my vision and mind again, though, and I saw nothing but white yet again...but i could still feel. There was a slight feeling of movement and shaking, then lifting. A couple moments later, my mind flashed back into reality and I found myself with a short, blurry scene. Everything was sideways and shaking; Ghost was being dragged across, what I first thought was, the wall, directly behind me, and Artemis was right behind us, carrying Undertaker, an activated Energy Sword, and two other, alien weapons which I didn't recognize; and V2s were just enveloping every inch of Covey tile. Unfortunately, I passed-out shortly after. Luckily, or maybe unluckily, I surged back into consciousness for another couple of moments to find myself propped-up on...something, and facing the very doors which we had entered though only a couple hours earlier. Groggily rolling my head, I caught a glimpse of Ghost slouched over in a Gauss Warthog, and Widow standing in front of me, appearing to be screaming at something. After a couple seconds I realized somepony was missing, so I looked to the blast doors again to find them closing...with Artemis, her back facing us, still inside...
"-ET YOUR FLANK BACK HERE GOD FUCKING DAMNIT!"
I shook my head, blinking a couple times and taking steadied breaths so clear my thoughts and mind. I still hurt all over, but at the moment, I figured there were more important things than aching sores and broken bones.
"Artemis...fucking ARTEMIS!"
Widow clenched her fists tightly, turning away from the door and glaring down at the ground. It took her a couple of moments to notice I was standing, using the Warthog to support me.
"Get on the gun." she ordered coldly, aggressively hopping into the driver's seat.
I did as I was told, grabbing onto the gun and using it to hoist myself up, then to hold myself up once there. I was about to just not question it, but my better judgement told me it was necessary, so...
"Wha' about Ar'emis?" I asked worried as Widow prepared to floor the pedal.
She suddenly stopped, slowly resting into a relaxed position. After what seemed like forever, she answered, "She's killing them all." Without warning, we screeched-off, speeding away from the Factory, "The charges won't explode unless the timer is set and protected..." Widow sadly explained as she gripped the wheel and swerved out of the way of a mobile barrier left behind by the soldiers which used to man it, "The Factory's systems prevent remote detonation...because we turned it on." Widow almost chocked on her own words, "So we warned everyone to evacuate...and we now have ten more minutes before..."
She stopped after that. She didn't need to go on, and frankly, I didn't want her to...I wish she didn't have to even begin that explanation. It only took us about eight minutes to reach a safe distance. Once there, Widow hopped out of the driver's seat and ran to the passenger side to tend to Ghost, which was also at the same moment I realized he was missing his right arm.
"...he..he'll be fine." Widow stated bluntly, "The explosion cauterized the wound, so he won't bleed out. When we get home, we'll get him a mechanical arm. He'll most likely enjoy this, so...heh, yeah."
I stared at Widow with a dropped jaw...even though she turned out to be correct.
"...zzzrfffey g-zzzzz..."
Widow's head bolted to the radio in the warthog at the sound of the distorted chatter
"...ouzzz ffft-ere?"
Widow dove for the transmitter and boosted the signal, "H-hello? Artemis!?"
"zzzup, fff-foo'?"
"Artemis! You-you're alive!" Widow cried happily.
There it was again...Widow, the cold-hearted, emotionless shell of a human was on the verge of tears. What happened to this team to actually make them human...?
"fff-f-ound P-Pip'szzzz he-el-el-nt. Boo-oozzzz-ted ss-zig-n-n-naaaa-al l-like he-e-e-ell." Artemis seemed to actually laugh...and it sounded creepy as hell through the distorted communication.
"S...so you're ganna make it out?" Widow asked hopefully.
"D-zzzzz-no. Gsszffffff-got th-i-i-i-rty szzzse-c-con-ssss le-e-ffffft."
Not wasting a beat, Widow pressed the receiver and screamed as loud as she could, "Then you get your scrawny flank up and run like hell!"
There was about ten seconds of silence, but she eventually came back, her signal a bit stronger.
"Way azzz-hea-ead of you."
"Run, run...RUN DAMNIT!" Widow screamed, "You cannot die here, you hear me? You CAN-NOT die here!" Widow choked, gritting her teeth and sniffling, "F-fucking run! You have to host the Christmas party! We need you to be there, damnit!"
"I szzee the e-exit."
"Keep running!" Widow demanded, her voice cracking as tears finally began rolling. I was appalled...this was insanity! "Who's going to constantly harass us? Who's going to make every mission interesting? Huh?"
"Five...four..." I turned and looked at the Factory, slowly counting the last seconds as a tiny ebony dot appeared to surge out of the blast doors, which had been blown open, apparently, on our way away from the factory.
"And what of Luna? What of poor Luna, damnit...?" Widow asked, sniffling again as she was unable to keep a solid voice, "How will she cope without you?"
"Three...two..." I grabbed binoculars from a compartment beside the large turret and peered through at the doomed mare.
"GOD FUCKING DAMNIT ARTEMIS DON'T DO THIS!" Widow burst down into a fit of sobs.
Artemis had stopped running, hunched over and breathing heavily from all the exertion...she just couldn't go any further than the doors. At the last second, her head snapped up to reveal the only expression I would expect her to have at this moment: Her eyes were serenely shut, her mane was splayed and disheveled, her ears were down, and her grin was as manic, happy, and comforting as always. Then...
Widow tore the whole radio out and flung it in the direction of the Factory, screaming Artemis' name like bloody murder only to have it ripped away by the explosion. The Warthog rocked over, almost flipping; I was nearly thrown off the Gunner's Mount, but I grabbed onto the gun itself at the last moment; and Widow was blasted off her feet, tumbling a ways before stopping flat on her face.
-------------
After that...a whole lot of white. I figure now that I probably passed-out again. But, I could still think, and boy did I think. Fearless Ghost gave-up his own arm for me, Soulless Widow cried and despaired over the loss of one of her subordinates, and Artemis...gave-up everything for us. She stayed behind to hold-off AI's Army so they would remain in the blast and so we could escape. The worst part of it all is that she never would have had to do that if we didn't turn the power on...of course Widow blames herself, as it was her final decision in every choice, so she thinks that she could have prevented this is she had planned things differently. I know she'll never live this down...oh yeah, and that little Sluggy that Artemis kept, it was destroyed in the blast, so don't worry about it.
Ma'm listen, as much as I'd love to stay here and continue to talk about probably the most uncomfortable subject I will ever know, I have a party to attend, and I do not plan on missing it...yes, now, if you'll excuse me...
//Audio track: End\\