//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: The Conversion Bureau: Unforeseen Circumstances // by LightningRod //------------------------------// “I have a question.” Celestia cut in. I sighed. “Go ahead.” “You say that there were 100 people, and then later you switched to 1000?” “Hmm.” I thought about this for some time before replying. “Well, there were 100 living in Star Hotel directly, all the people important to the running of it, engineers and most of the military guys. But there were other, smaller communities outside the walls, refugee families we had taken in.” “Like Canterlot Castle and City?” Celestia Inquired. “Sounds like an apt description.” Celestia hmm'd, then spoke up again. "So, if Rick was so good with mechanics, why wasn’t he with the others, helping the generators?” “Well,” I started. “He was good at making stuff out of junk. I think he once claimed to make a working bear trap out of stuff you’d find in a bathroom. Tooth brushes, flossing string, y’know.” “But” I continued. “If you told him to fix a generator, he’d just stare at it for a minute, then ask if he could pull it apart to make a tank. We needed him more for his military knowledge. He was stationed around Star Hotel during the collapse.” “The collapse?” Inquired Celestia. “Sure. If you remove people from human society, especially the ones who already have ‘good’ jobs, then eventually, the more questionable people get stronger and ballsy. Rioting, theft, it all got so bad, the military got pulled in. Then, we were just told to leave. No warning, just a ‘You’ve done well, bye now.’ It’s why I was close, and why so many of the people at Star were military.” “Ok then.” Celestia said. “But what about when you called me?” “You want this chronologically, or wherever you want it to start?” I grumbled, angrily. Celestia sighed, a smile on her lips. “Thank you” I said. _\!/_ “Is this it?” John asked, checking his PAD. “Looks like it.” Replied a gruff, short man who was driving the car. They were looking at a few buildings surrounding a plaza, or, they thought they did. The largest building had it's back to them. “Alright then lads,” John said, turning on the radio as he did. “We need to clear the area. We’re looking for the usual, food, water, petrol and Ricks junk. We also need...” John looked over the list of mechanical parts for the generator. “Well, If you find anything mechanic-y just bring it back.” “Let’s get in and get out.” _\!/_ This was definitely not getting in and out. John and his men were pinned down under heavy machine gun fire. They were on the corner of a building, a few metres between them and the next building. Metres that were being sprayed by bullets, which would definitely hurt, should someone be as lucky as to get hit. The HLF hadn’t left, and John was reasonably sure they hadn't been here on a scouting mission. “What do we do?” Yelled one of John’s team members over the heavy sound of gunfire. John thought for a second, then pointed at one of his members. John mimed out actions as the young man watched. The man gripped his gun tighter as John went on, and when he was seemingly finished, nodded. John held up a finger, the used it to pull the pin out of a grenade. He held up a second finger, and tossed the grenade around the corner. He held up a third, and the machine gun fire stopped as the gunners presumably ducked for cover. With this, the young man lept round the corner, his finger squeezing the life out of the trigger on the gun. The light machine gun in his hand exploded into a orchestra comprised of gunpowder exploding and bullets richocheting. John pulled his arm down towards the other building yelling out. “GO!” The rest of his team ran around the young man, some taking potshots at the now hiding machine gunners, others tossing grenades they had readied. John went around the corner and slapped the top of the young man’s gun lightly. He then sprinted towards the sandbags the machine gunners were hiding behind, flicking the safety off his gun. Grenades exploded seconds before he got there, and before the HLF could recover, he lept on top of them, as time, for John, slowed. and he took careful aim with his gun. Within seconds, the clip was empty, and the HLF were dead. John reloaded, then turned and jogged back towards his men. The young man, his first time in a fight, just stood there gawking at the apparent inhuman speed that John possessed, mixed with the adrenaline of being shot at and shooting at another human being. He keeled over, vomiting the remains of his small breakfast. Some of John’s team gave him congratulatory and/or reassuring slaps on the back, while others moved past John to haul the bodies back to the van that they had brought with them. John turned around and saw the heavy encampments they had just torn through, and the courtyard full of technical equipment, guns, military rations, and ammunition beyond that. “Scouting mission my ass.” _\!/_ The rest of the scavenge went quickly. The men John had hand-trained were suited to urban combat, and were well rehearsed with the hows on clearing enemies out of a building. All-in-all, it took them about three hours to scour the entire place. John had a quick scan over what they had collected. “About three weeks food. Good work guys.” The soldiers beamed at this. “Parts that we need?” John asked, turning one of the soldiers. “We’re still missing a few parts.” Said one of them. “But they’re just small parts that we can probably find in the depot. Besides that, we have a bunch of stuff that’ll help with other things that need upgradin’. “As well as...” John’s eyes glanced over the rest of the stuff. “Guns and... that, other stuff Rick wanted.” “Well, anyways. Let’s get this loaded up and shipped back to home!” John yelled, moving back into his sergeant voice. _\!/_ The trip home was, boring, to be honest. After having you adrenaline going for so long, just sitting there seems drab and dull in comparison to the rush of risking your life, man after man, room after room. Every man killed, one more man, losing the fight. They got out about a mile from the Hotel, and spent an hour unloading and burying bodies. The young man that had stepped up to fire at the machine gunners was exempt. Everyone agreed that he’d had enough for the day. Burying bodies was a hard experience. It’s easy enough to shoot someone, but looking at their face, wondering what they did before it all... That was the definition of hell. Not the fight, thinking about it later. _\!/_ They had stopped again, a few of the men wanted to stretch their legs, get rid of the cramped feeling. The young recruit stood by John, watching as the men moved around the trucks and cars, swapping jokes and cigarettes. “Sir...” The young recruit said. “No reason to be formal” Said John, still keeping an eye out. “You only need to call me that when we’re fighting.” “Well, um...” the young man said, glancing up at the grizzled, statuesque man next to him. “What’s your name?” asked John. “Daniel sir.” The recruit replied, his voice unsteady. “Well Daniel,” John turned to face him. “My name's John, so you can stop with the sir stuff.” “Well, John. I was just wondering, why you didn't... you know, convert.” John sighed. “Why should I have?” “I’m not saying that you should have, but, why didn’t you?” “Well, why didn’t you?” “I wanted to finish up my studies.” John let out a laugh. “You stayed behind, to go to school?” “Yea...” Daniel said. “But it was kinda hard when the professors all left.” John laughed even harder at this, drawing the attention of some of the other men. Daniel let a smile grace his lips for a second. “What did you study?” John asked, after he had gotten over his laughing fit. “Psychology. Top of my class too.” “Well, Doctor, why don’t you tell me why I didn’t convert?” “Change.” Replied Daniel. “No-one likes change, but I think you like it even less.” “How’d you know?” “You carry a gun made in the twentieth century, you haven’t changed your hairstyle once since I got here, you have the same breakfast and dinner every day, and you didn’t get converted.” “Well now,” John said. “That doesn’t mean I hate change, and I haven’t changed my hairstyle caus’ I like the style, and ‘cmon, toast and baked beans is the best breakfast ever. And Pineapple's the only sweet thing we have left.” “You still didn’t get converted.” “Daniel.” “Yea?” “You’re smart, you’re talented, so why are you wasting your time not being a pony? I wasn’t cut out to be one, I just shoot things. You change stuff, get rid of all the fucked up shit that happens to people. All I do is create that shit.” “John, you’ve managed to pull together people in a wasteland. People are alive because of you. People are working together in a world where everything went to shit. All ‘caus of you.” John was silent at this, before smiling. “You know, you remind me of my father. He was a psychologist too, one of the first to convert as well. My brother went with him. I have no family left, did you know? No-one that I can relate to.” His smile dropped. Daniel replied calmly. “Everyone lost someone, but we can adapt John. We’ll get through this.” Daniel started towards the other men, leaving John behind. _\!/_ The convoy was spotted about a kilometre out, and the men Jon had left on duty started move the heavy barricades that had been placed around the Plaza. They nodded at John, and he in return. Some smiled, others saw more, and were worried. The convoy trawled through the roads, the buildings on either side filled with families enjoying canned food, and each other’s presence. The convoy rolled through the main gateway, and they slowed to a stop. John left the cabin, and started moving towards Star Hotel. He glanced over his shoulder, and yelled back. “Steven!” “Yea?” came a shouted reply. “Sort all this, will ya?” “Sure Sir!” John continued on his trek towards the Hotel, a somber sight for anyone looking. Head down and hands in pockets, he entered the lobby, and started up the stairs to his room. _\!/_ It had been hours. John simply sat the desk, staring into the monitor. He had made up his mind. “She’s probably not even awake at this hour.” It was mid-afternoon, and John doubted that she needed sleep anyway. “They’re all gone anyway.” He wouldn’t know till he tried. “She’ll think I’m bat-shit.” Um, hello. Magic. Goddess. Supposed mover of the Sun. “I don’t wanna...” His excuses exhausted, John pulled his forearm towards his face. “Geoff?” A crackling voice replied through his PAD, “Yea?” “Do the satellites still link up with Canterlot?” “They, um, haven’t been moved John. Why?” “I’m going to fire up the link.” “Sure thing John.” “Out.” “John?” “Yea?” “Thanks.” The radio cut off and a deafening silence filled the room. John hit the ‘on’ button, and the monitor in front of him blinked into life. Seconds drained, flowing faster than imaginable (or at least they appeared that way to John). A blank, cyan blue screen appeared. John pressed a button on his PAD, and a window popped up. He tapped some more buttons and the window disappeared, replaced with a button. John pressed on his PAD, and an ominous ringing sound resounded throughout his small room. Another few seconds passed and the ringing stopped. The screen showed a small, rotating hourglass, before it came up with live video, of somepony who definitely wasn’t Celestia. “Oh it Worked!” said the pony on the other side of the monitor, A deep blue alicorn. _\!/_ “Um, Hello?” said John, definitely not expecting this turn of events. “Oh, who’re you!” replied the Alicorn, a massive smile plastered on her face. (John was reasonably sure that Equestria only had Princesses) John shook his head several times, and snapped back into action. “John McGraw, at your service Milady.” “Oh, a gentleman, how chivalrous!” The Alicorn swooned in front of the camera mounted to Celestia’s Terminal. “Just being polite ma’am.” John said, blushing slightly. “And humble too!” The Alicorn said. “You know, I could get a chariot out to you within a day. We could spend some time together, get to know each other better.” ‘What?’ Thought John, the blush deepening. “Well, um. I’m actually married.” “Oh, I see how it is.” The Alicorn said, winking and giggling. “You kinky bastard. I like that.” ‘O.k. then.’ Thought John. "Oh but I haven't introduced myself! How unthoughtful! I am Princess Luna. Though you can just call me Luna." "I guessed." "And what can I do for you, John." "Well, I was, um... could you stop that?" "Stop what?" "Licking your hoof like that." "Enjoying it too much?" John gulped. "Could I speak to Celestia, please?" "Oh." Luna rolled her eyes. "You're one of those people. What, you don't want to talk to me?" "No, it's just, I called for her, and you answered." Luna tapped her hoof on the, whatever was under the monitor. "You people have no flexibility, no fun." John was getting impatient. "I just want to talk to Celestia for a bit. And why did you answer? I thought this was her private terminal." "I... Um... Crap." John sighed. "I don't care, just go get Celestia." "Ok then!" Luna said, smiling and walking away, perhaps swaying her hips a little more than necessary. John didn't know, he hadn't stared at a pony's flank before. John collapsed into the chair set up with the desk and sighed, waiting for Luna to get back with Celestia. _\!/_ John heard the clopping of hooves along the hallway. He stood up again, snapping a neat salute when the doors were pushed open. In trotted Celestia. Coat white as snow, check. Gaudy gold jewellery, check. Pastel hair on acid, check. She smiled as she sat down in front of the monitor, as John moved into a more relaxed position, at ease. "Hello again John." "Celestia." "May I ask why you called?" "Well, um... I, have a question." "Go ahead." "Well, some people in my, the colony have started to, uh, question our beliefs." "Uh-huh." "So, just so you know... this isn't for me." "What is it John?" "Well. I was wondering if what they say is true. About the underground Conversion Bureaus, ones that are still operating." "Yes, there are a few. Why?" "Well, there are some in the colony who want to convert, but there are no Conversion Bureaus left, at least, none I know of. If I knew where these underground Bureaus were, we could send them there." Celestia smiled. "Give me a minute." John nodded, and watched as Celestia moved offscreen. The shuffling of papers sounded through the speakers, and Celestia reappeared, several notes floating next to her. "Ok then, I believe there is still one operating at..." She checked the papers. "Gravel Bay." Gravel Bay was a day south by car, an easy weeks worth of walking. It was a small, seaside community, and was one of the first places ponies landed. It was a ghost town now, or so John had heard, and assumed. Just like the rest of the world. "Ok" said John. "Tell the guys there to get ready. We'll head out the day after tomorrow, get there a week after that. If anything changes, I'll give you a call." With that, John gave another salute, Celestia mimicking with her hoof. John walked forward to turn off the computer. "John?" Celestia's voice rang out through the speakers. "Yes?" John was very close to the monitor, he could easily see the massive smile Celestia cracked. "Thank you."