//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: The Mad Mojavian Adventures of Courier 6 and Pinkie pie // by Edmar Fecler //------------------------------// Pinkie’s eyes fluttered open as her brain began to wake. After a moment she lifted her head up to look around at her surroundings. Yep, she was still on the tattered and red-splotchy mattress she had laid down the night before. However, there was something distinctly different about the house then when she had fallen asleep. Double-taking her surroundings, she noticed the pile of bodies was no longer in the corner (not that she was complaining). Aside from that, the smell of something cooking reached her accompanied by a soft music floating through the air. Pinkie stood up carefully and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. “Jackie, you here?” Jacks poked his head out from around the open doorway at the opposite end of the small house. “Morning little miss sleepy head. I’m just fixin’ us up some breakfast.” The music and smell of cooked food intensified as she approached the doorway. “So, what’s for breakfast?” She looked up to ED-E, who was floating idly on the other side of the kitchen. “Mornin’ Eddy. Whatchya’ playin?” “--‘Morning Mood’, by Edvard Grieg. It’s a classical piece traditionally played during a serene morning, hence the name. It’s also what Jacks’ prefers to wake up to after he gets the chance to sleep.--“ Pinkie nodded and turned back to Jacks, who stood in front of a boxy stove built into the cabinet, minding an extra large skillet. “And as for what we’re having for breakfast: Eggs! Lots of scrambled eggs. Hope you like em’ ‘deathclaw flavored.’” He said with a chuckle. He continued jabbing and flipping the sizzling eggs gingerly, making sure they got cooked perfectly. “MmmMMMMMmmm~ I love scrambled eggs!” she put a hoof to her chin. “Maybe that’s why Fluttershy stopped having sleepovers with me… Anyhoo, aren’t deathclaws those mean ol’ motherhubbers’ three times your size?” “You know it. The bigger the beast the bigger the feast, that’s what I say. Besides, I hunt deathclaws on the side, so why not get a good meal after I’ve had a good hunt?” Pinkie grinned. “I don’t see any reason why not. So, when’ll it be done?” “About five seconds ago.” Jacks turned the stove off and turned around, holding the large skillet overflowing with eggs. She couldn’t help but giggle at a scorched ‘kiss the cook’ apron he was wearing. “Hehe, where’d you find that?” “I found it stuffed in one of these cabinets. Kinda’ like it actually; think I’ll keep it.” He continued as he walked over to the table that the raiders had been eating on the night before. After setting the skillet down, he pulled two plates and some utensils out from inside his cape. “Good thing these eggs have enough flavor as it is, cause I haven’t got any spices or salts to add flavor. In any case, hope you enjoy.” Pinkie bounced over to a chair across the table from where Jacks’ was and sat down. She bounced up and down in her chair excitedly as Jacks scooped a sizable helping of the eggs onto her plate before doing the same for himself and sitting down. She picked up her fork (somehow) and was about to dig in, but Jacks held up a hand for her to wait. “Hold up; we need to say prayer first.” After making sure she put her fork back down, Jacks bowed his head and folded his hands together. “Dear Lord, bless this food for the nourishment of our bodies. We thank thee for giving us strength in these times, and pray that you continue.” He opened an eye and looked to pinkie, who was mimicking his pose. “…I also ask you give my newest companion strength and protection in this unfamiliar world. I pray that you show me the means of returning her to her home before any harm comes to her. …Do you have anything to say, Pinkie?” “Oh, um… Thank you, Mr. Lord for giving me such good friends and protectors in this strange world, and um… yea, I wouldn’t mind finding a way home.” She looked up to Jacks. “How’s that?” “Not bad for a first time.” He chuckled slightly before bowing his head again. “In conclusion, thank you for this food, and may your blessings continue to be with us. Amen.” Concluding his prayer, Jacks unfolded his hands and picked up his utensils and calmly began eating his eggs. “So,” Pinkie began, following Jacks’ actions. “Who exactly is this God of yours?” Jacks swallowed his eggs and paused to think of a proper answer. “…From what I was able to read in the Bible, he is an all-powerful entity that created all of existence, even space and time. In the beginning, he created a paradise; the original Garden of Eden. However, the garden’s occupants, Adam and Eve, were tempted by the devil and broke the only rule in the garden. God banished them from Eden, and now watches over mankind. “Back in ancient times, it seems to me that he connected to people more directly than he does nowadays. Back then, when things got particularly heinous, he would do something to clear things up or help. For example, a really long time ago, when things were particularly rough, he sent down his own son, Jesus Christ, as a mere human to help us. And a life of saving lives and performing miracles, Jesus was sentenced to death by a corrupt government.” Pinkie gasped. “What did he do?” “What he came to earth to do. In allowing those who had sentenced him to crucify him, he sacrificed himself for all of mankind’s sins. He made it possible for any human, no matter how sinful, to have a chance to be forgiven and go to heaven, assuming they converted to Christianity.” Jacks sighed. “Of course, over the years, there have been many to change Christianity to use it for their own personal benefits. For example, a thousand or so years ago, the Roman Catholic Church abused these beliefs in order to make money and gain power.” Jacks shook his head. “Arrogant fools. It’s because of them and the overzealous antics of later ‘Christians’ that makes the rest of us look bad.” He forked another serving of eggs into his mouth, chewing them silently before swallowing them. “That’s basically Christianity in a nutshell. Of course, considering how big a thing Christianity is, that’s an awful small nutshell, but you get my point right?” Pinkie nodded. “Yea, I think I kinda’ got it. Sounds pretty cool if ya’ ask me.” Jacks nodded his head to the right. “While ‘cool’ isn’t really the choice of words I would use for it; yea, it is.” He grinned. “So, anything else you’d like to know?” “Hmmm…” she set her fork down and rubbed her chin for a moment. “Oh! Is Jacks your real name, or is it a nickname? Cause it sure sounds like one the way you use it.” “It does?” Pinkie nodded. “Huh… well, yea, it’s a nickname I gave myself. My full name is actually Jackmerius Tactheratrix.” Pinkie put a hoof up to her mouth to try and stop herself, but to no avail. A sting of laughs blurted out of her as she wrapped her hooves around her sides. “That’s..!” she wiped a tear from her name. “-That’s a hilarious name! I-I’m sorry, but that’s just crazy-funny!” Jacks chuckled at the hysterical pony. “Yea, it is pretty nuts. …Just goes to show how wasted mom must have been when she gave me that name.” Pinkie’s laughing fit stopped. “Oh… I didn’t mean-“ “No, its fine. I actually do like it. Heh, like you say; it’s a crazy-funny name.” He smiled when he saw Pinkie’s grin return. “Oh ok. My bad, it just caught me by surprise.” “Wouldn’t be the first.” The two of them continued eating their eggs silently for some time while ED-E continued playing classical music. Eventually Pinkie finished the eggs on her plate and looked around for something to talk about. “Sooo…” she began, breaking the relative silence. “What uh… What happened to those dead guys?” Jacks swallowed the eggs in his mouth calmly. “Buried them outside. They probably didn’t deserve to lay there and rot. …Probably.” “And that nasty raider guy?” “Hung his body from an old telephone pole out front as a warning to other raiders.” “Ah…” whether or not these sorts of things were considered traditional, or even conventional, Pinkie was having a hard time accepting it. However, she didn’t allow such concerns to negatively affect her outward appearance. After all, she did have a reputation as a happy-go-lively figure to uphold. Only in the worst of situations did she ever outwardly brood. Back in Equestria, doctors had said that bottling up such emotions was unhealthy and might lead to violent outbursts, but she paid them no heed. She was Pinkie Pie! It was up to her to keep Everypony happy and cheerful. She couldn’t allow herself to get depressed. And the few instances that she actually did become depressed… Well… …Perhaps the doctors were right. “Hey, want any more eggs?” Pinkie shook herself from such thoughts. “Uh, yea! I’d love some more!” Jacks grinned and scooped another helping on her plate, leaving very little eggs left in the skillet. Licking her lips eagerly, Pinkie shoved her face into the pile of eggs before her and began snarfing them down as fast as she could. “I’ll take that as a ‘holly crap these are freaking awesome’,” Jacks said with a chuckle. Pinkie pulled her egg-covered face up and nodded vigorously, slinging egg-bits hither and yonder. Jacks continued to watch as the energetic pink pony shoved her face back in the eggs and continued to guzzle them down. He figured they were going to get along just fine until he found her a way home. There was a sudden gunshot from outside and the window beside the door shattered, causing Pinkie to jump out of her eggs. Jacks looked at the busted glass and sighed. “I swear; can’t even have a decent breakfast without getting rudely interrupted.” “Alright Courier, we know you’re in there,” A gruff voice called from outside. “You’ve got til’ the count of ten to get your sorry ass out here before we burn the place down around you!” Pinkie looked between the window and Jacks, a surprised look visible through the layer of eggs. “What’s that?” “One!” A smug grin spread across Jacks’ face. “Must be room service. I was wondering when they would show; it’s been over an hour since I called them.” “Two!” “--My scans show that there is a line of five enemies a good twenty feet from the building. Two lightly armed, two with rifles, and the center one is wielding a flame thrower of sorts.--“ “Three!” Jacks rubbed his chin for a moment before snapping his finger. “Yep! Know who it is.” “Four!” “Shouldn’t we do something?” Pinkie asked calmly. “And who is it?” “Five!” “you’ll find out in a bit. Just follow my lead and don’t say anything unless I tell you to, ok?” Pinkie nodded. “Six!” “ED-E, same goes for you.” After seeing the eyebot nod, Jacks set his silverware down and stood up. “Seven!” He walked over to the window, though he made sure not to let them get a clear shot at him. “Don’t get your jimmies rustled! I’ll be out in a jiffy!” “Eight!” Jacks rolled his eyes. “Aight, fine; we’re coming out. Don’t shoot. …Or go ahead shoot; either way this is going to end the same way.” “Nine!” Jacks began to open the busted up door, but it fell off its hinges with a clatter. Shrugging, he stepped outside into the bright sunlight followed by Pinkie and ED-E. Thanks to his Aviators Jacks didn’t have to shield his eyes from the light, though Pinkie was temporarily blinded by the sudden intensity. Jacks looked over the line of raiders that stood roughly fifteen feet from him. The one to the far right wielded a marksman carbine while the far left held an average assault rifle. The man in the center, like ED-E said, wielded a large flame thrower that connected to a tank on his back. The raiders on either side of him had 10mm pistols, however the one to his right was missing an arm. “That’s him Cook-Cook! That’s the bastard who killed Cutter and shot me in the back!” the one-armed man shouted angrily. Jacks looked down to Pinkie, who stood by his side uneasily. “You see Pinkie? This is why you never let raiders get away.”