//------------------------------// // Chapter 109: Warning: Hitchhikers may be escaped convicts. // Story: We don't go to Sub-Level Five // by RadBunny //------------------------------// The two Thestrals took a few moments to compose themselves. “So, prisoner block? Maybe fully of zeeps?” Astral asked, Sassi tilting her head adorably in curiosity. “Zeeps?” “Zombie Ponies. Zeeps.” The mare giggled, not able to help herself. “That’s perfect. Zeeps it is. But yes. It’d be easier if they’re all dead, honestly.” The dark statement made Astral frown, and Sassi unbuckled three times from one of their supply satchels; two armor-piercing grenades, and duct tape. “Astral, I need you to understand something,” she said seriously, flipping up the visor to meet his gaze. “If they’re alive, I will have to say a lot of stuff to get through this. So, don’t take it seriously at all, no matter how vile or nasty I might have to get.” “I figured that might be the case,” he admitted softly. “But thank you, Sas.” “I’ll need you to play along. Hopefully, I can reason with them, or lie enough to get us through. If it fails though, that’s what these are for.” She gestured to the grenades, taping it to her shoulder securely. “Two grenades against…oh,” his words trailed off, the full severity of what Sassi was doing hitting full force. “They’re not for the prisoners, Astral. They’re for us.” Sassi then paused, looking up at Astral. His heart clenched at seeing fear flicker across her eyes. “If things get bad, really bad, I need you to promise that if I can’t pull the pin, you will. I promise to do the same for you. Tape it to your armor so you can yank the pin with your teeth if you can get your helmet off. We should be able to have enough ammo to cut our way through. But if you’re going to get captured…” Astral’s eyes widened, the stallion taking a few deep breaths. “It’s-they’re that bad?” “Yes.” Her immediate response made him nod, the stallion taping the grenade to his shoulder. “Then I promise. But if we do get to that point, betcha I’ll take out more of them than you.” Sassi’s jaw dropped to the floor, the stallion staring at her in shock at his own words. “Wow, that was dark,” he admitted, “I have no idea where that came from.” “We cope in our own ways.” Astral could only nod in agreement, taking a shaky breath. “I think that’s a good assessment. Realizing I’m at that point is jarring. But logical.” “Thank you for promising though, Astral,” she said softly. “I’ve dealt with them before. And make no mistake, these criminals won’t kill you quickly. They want you to suffer in every way possible. I wouldn’t ask this otherwise.” “I get it, Sas. I’ve seen what evil is down here, and I’m with you. I’ll just play along and try to not take anything personally.” She smiled, but Astral could still sense the nervousness over their link. This wasn’t a light conversation in many meanings of the word. “We just need to pass through. If I can convince them fighting us is more trouble than it’s worth, they might have bigger fish to fry.” “And if they’re Zeeps, that makes our life a bit easier.” Astral then snorted in disbelief. “Fighting zombies instead of convicts, and that’s an easier situation. This place is so messed up.” “Agreed.” The two carefully edged down the hallway. The first security checkpoint was torn to shreds. What once had been a booth and security gate was nothing but mangled steel and glass. There were plenty of bullet holes and shell casings. Unfortunately, bodies were absent despite significant blood sprays across the wall. “Just stay behind me and watch our backs,” Sassi said as they navigated a second, similarly-destroyed checkpoint. Security cameras had once been dotted all over the hallway, but now were only shredded bits of metal and wire. “Can do.” The third security checkpoint was mostly intact. A series of metal grating and bulletproof glass covered a large, open door. It appeared to be crudely chained shut. There were two security cameras embedded in the ceiling, but the RASP suit couldn’t tell them more. The prison systems were independently isolated, making their task a bit more difficult. “Motion tracker clear,” Sassi muttered, casually swiping the chain apart with her hoof. “Stay close to me.” “Always.” She smiled, the two of them pushing through the double doors. The hallway beyond was dark, a second door barring their way. It had been reinforced with rebar and even a second door welded to each of the original panels, only opening inwards. More importantly, there were four motion blips on their tracker. Evenly spaced, the signatures were clearly covering the door. Two on either side of the hallway. “They’re not moving,” Sassi said. “AI, any radio chatter you can pick up?” “Confirmed. Short-range radio communications utilizing local two-way radios have been detected. Localized jamming prevents interception.” “So. Not zeeps?” “Not zeeps.” Astral sighed at that, a frustrated huff leaving his mouth. “So, what, we just knock?” Sassi’s head tilted, the mare trotting up to the door. “You’ve got to be kidding.” She grinned from behind the visor, smacking the door twice and turning on the exterior speakers. “Hey. Anyone there? Two non-freak ponies here. I’d rather not blast the doors.” Cutting the external speakers, Sassi sighed. “Follow my lead. This is about to get interesting.” The doors unlocked, the motion tracker filling up with a dozen more signatures as bright lights blasted the hallway. “Don’t move!” Another voice then chimed in, a low chuckle reverberating around the hall. “Well, well, well. If it isn’t the Terror of the Silos, Sassi Satin.” The two Thestrals were led down the tunnel, dozens of convicts bearing an assortment of cobbled-together firearms and blades watching their every move. The ten-story cell blocks were nothing but metal bars, gates, and concrete. There were security checkpoints on the bottom floor, roughly dividing a hundred cells apart. The massive area was still lit, armed creatures holding more official firearms and side-saddles posted on the upper stories. Apparently, Sassi knew the orange pony leading them, his cutie-mark cut off and replaced with a jagged scar. “I can’t believe you’re second in command, Raz,” Sassi huffed. “And you say Block is the leader? I’m both surprised, but at the same time, not. He always did have the brains. I’m just surprised he was able to take command with all the other creatures here.” “Same. But he did. I thought he was just some useless egghead till now,” the convict said, “well, until he bashed the brains of the other two guys in with a rock. That was after he hung the third from the top floor. He’s one cold creature.” Sassi let out an impressed whistle, looking around as they stopped. A full fifty convicts surrounded them; forty on the ground, and ten aiming weapons from above. “So. You didn’t shoot us first, which means Block is willing to talk. Yeah?” Raz nodded slowly at that, waving the large revolver on his forelimb from side to side. “Yep. But he wants to get the story first before he bothers to head down. So. Why are you here, and who is this?” the stallion asked, leveling the revolver at Astral. “Or better yet, why shouldn’t we kill them?” Sassi’s visor cleared, the mare rolling her eyes as she reached over to smack the minigun at her side with a hoof. “Oh, come on, Raz,” she sighed. “While your boss is the smart one here, but you’re not that stupid. Do you want a story? Lower the gun. I really don’t want to have to explain to the Boss why I killed all of you. It’d be awkward.” To Astral’s surprise, the gun was lowered with a smirk. “Fine. Still waiting on that story. Boss is listening,” Raz said, a more dangerous tone now entering his voice. It made Astral’s hair stand on end, an abrupt reminder that the creature in front of them could try and kill them without even a second thought. The prison so far had been clean, strangely clean. Sure, there was trash. But Astral had expected corpses and blood everywhere. It was almost orderly, the convicts clearly having direction and purpose to their movements. Somehow that made it worse. “Story is this. Silo went to crap after the systems were fried from some do-gooder hack job. All the experiments got loose, multiplied, and have been tearing the place apart ever since,” Sassi said firmly. “The homicidal AI dropped the first Silo on our heads, and the other reactor we blew sky high to fry as many of the freaks as we could.” She waved a hoof to Astral. “Picked him up in the first silo. Doesn’t talk much, just some security pencil-pusher at the front desk.” “And you kept him around? I’m surprised he could keep up,” Raz said with a cautious glance at Astral. “He’s not a VIP? He can be in that fancy armor you wear.” “He got an experimental boost for the armor. It took. That’s the only reason he survived this long,” Sassi explained. “Nice having someone watch your back. Somewhat. Still can’t get on my level though. So, he’s with me.” “Uh huh,” Raz said, clearly not convinced. His head tilted to the side, and Astral saw the glint of an earpiece. “Boss is still wondering why we shouldn’t kill you both and take your stuff?” “Because you all know that the chance of you doing that isn’t very high, even with those anti-material rifles up on the top floor,” Sassi said, then increasing her voice. “Yes, I saw those. You all know how fast I can move!” She rolled her eyes waving a hoof at the still-on-edge group of prisoners. “Second and third reasons? The armor is useless to you. It’d tear you apart if you tried to move. And finally, you want us alive because we’re heading out of here. You let us pass through, and we’ll clear all the freaks out of the way. Give us a six-hour lead, and you can follow. Should be a straight shot through the other Silo to the surface. You let us do the dirty work in exchange for letting us through.” That got the convict’s attention, Raz frowning as he listened to the reply in his ear. “Boss is thinking it over. Not totally convinced,” he muttered. “Why not?” Sassi said with a frustrated huff. “Come on. Block is smarter than this. He knows we can help each other. So let me talk to him face to face. Or does he like letting his lackeys do the work for him?” Sassi asked, Raz laughing. “Oh, he’ll come down to say hello. You’ll have to trade something to get through. Maybe the armor. Or the guns. Or something else.” The chuckles from the group didn’t even phase the mare. “Whatever the trade is, it’ll be with only Block. Certainly not with you or anyone else,” Sassi said flatly. “Right you are. So, let us talk.” A massive, brown earth stallion trotted up, two large gryphons flanking him. Welded metal barding covered the stallion’s frame, knives strapped to his hooves as a makeshift saddle held a crude shotgun. “Sassi Satin. Quite a strange predicament we find ourselves in,” Block said, the stallion taking an exaggerated bow with a grin. “And the Terror of the Silos finally snagged a stallion? These are strange times indeed. Last I checked, you snapped the arm of anyone who even glanced your way wrong. You certainly did that to a few of my friends.” “I worked for the company. They put a chip in my head. You think I was any freer than you?” Sassi spat back. “I did what I had to do to survive. I know you can appreciate that. But now I make my own choices. So. You all want to get out of here? That’s a lot more valuable than anything else I’ve got.” Block hummed, gesturing to Astral. “What does the strong and silent type have to say?” the pony asked. “You just along for the ride?” Astral took a few deep breaths, hoping the armor could hide the shaking of his limbs. “More or less,” he said, “she leads, I follow. Worked out so far.” “Hmm. A smart response,” Block mused, “not a leader then?” “Trust me. I’m trying to get him to lead on a few more things,” Sassi grumbled. Even with the joke being rather flat, it managed to make Block snort in amusement. “So. You let us pass, we clear out the freaks ahead, and you follow.” “And then when we get to this so-called exit of yours, there’s a platoon of soldiers waiting? I don’t think so,” Block shot back. “How about we hold your buddy here until we set up a secure escape route?” “That isn’t happening either.” The mare replied, frustration and worry humming over their mental link. “We can even leave a few grenades behind to sweeten the deal. Or are you just too focused on my flanks to want to leave here?” Block chuckled at that, shaking his head. “Oh, don’t get me wrong. That’s a fine reason to stay here for a little while. But you’ve caused plenty of us a great deal of pain over the years. Well, those who haven’t been chewed up by the Silos. There are lots of creatures who want some payback. Letting you go without so much as a scratch would be…unfortunate.” He then waved a hoof. “However, unlike them, I can understand you were in a similar position to us. At the whims of a company as it were. So, let’s walk through towards the exit and discuss terms. There’s only one other exit after all.” Something about the stallion changed, and it made Astral’s stomach do a flip-flop as the other pony looked back at them. The prisoners also took half a step back, as if a physical force was pushing them away from Block. “I promise you will not be harmed as we move through. We may be the trash of nations, but even we must have order. Civility,” Block said, raising his voice. “So. These two are not to be harmed as we move. Are we clear?” Dozens of voices answered in unison. “Yes, Boss.” Block smiled, nodding to the two Thestrals. There was nothing behind the grin, however. It was empty, and there was a cold, calculating look in his eyes. “Let us walk and talk then. We can discuss a fair deal, and then you can go. You won’t be harmed here unless you do something rash. On that, you have my word.” Sassi nodded in approval, the group now starting to slowly walk deeper into the prison. All Astral could do was trust her. That hadn’t led him wrong yet.