Fallout Equestria: Rolling Bones
Chapter 2-1: A Lucky Watcher
“Why, exactly, did we come here?”
The cotton bandage parted between scissor blades with ease. Instead of falling away, the absorbent fibers stuck fast, held in place by the dried pus and blood. Patches of fur and skin tore away as I removed the bandage, and I nearly gagged at the stench of infection and decay. More of the viscous fluids immediately resumed their flow.
Dabbing the fluids with a gauze pad, I tried to examine the seriously infected cut. Bike, I think his name was, hissed under my ministrations.
“How bad is it?”
“It’s not good,” I said, picking up a cotton wrapped, wooden bit and held it up before him. “You’re gonna wanna to bite this.”
The light of recognition dawned in his eyes as he nodded slowly. He took a steadying breath before taking it between his teeth and closing his eyes, hiding his trepidation of the coming pain.
I took a moment to consider my option.
What was once little more than a two inch knife cut when he came to us a week ago had gotten infected. Black necrotic tissue ringed the wound, and it needed to be cut out. The biggest problem was, honestly, my own personal issues; I did not like using Med-X at all. This, however, was one of those times I didn’t get to make that choice. Foregoing the addictive pain-killer could do more damage than using it.
Grabbing the auto-injector in a wing I held it just above the wound. “You'll feel a small pinch.”
The instant the needle’s base hit skin it hissed and the Med-X shot into his blood. I watched for a minute until the Bike’s face relaxed, his pupils dilating. Making sure it had taken effect, I used the spent needle to poke the sensitive frog under his hoof. Satisfied, I dropped the empty syringe into the wastebasket.
To stem the flow of blood, I tied a leather thong just below his knee.
Some ponies are under the delusion that healing potions are miracle cure-alls: they’re all idiots. Healing potions close wounds, and that’s it. Sometimes, if a pony is really lucky, it will push foreign particles out of the wound. Most of the time, however, anything that’s in there will remain in there: bullets, blades, dirt, sand, and, most importantly, infections. If the wound isn’t properly cleaned first, using a healing potion will cause more problems than it solves.
With a scalpel held steady between my pinions, I began to cut. The blade entered the clean tissue as close to the necrotic flesh as I could reliably get without risking missing any. I glanced up at the stallion. His head lolled from side to side, a small moan escaping around the bit.
If it weren’t addictive, Med-X would be a wonder drug. Rather than making the pain disappear like some other painkillers, Med-X just makes ponies not care about the pain. It means that a patient can still tell their doctor when something hurts without giving them a headache from the screams.
It was slow, bloody work. The amazingly sharp blade sliced through his flesh with ease. I was always fascinated with the way skin parted and for a brief moment the blood held off, displaying the texture and flowing lines of the meat beneath.
Carefully maneuvering the scalpel, I cut around the dead tissue. With painstaking care, I removed the infection.
Finally finishing, I took a moment to admire my work. The cuts were clean-ish, and there was no dead tissue to be seen. Placing the scalpel in the tray with the discarded pulp, I retrieved a small bottle of pure alcohol. With the leg held up and a thick wad of cloth under the wound, I slowly poured the cleansing liquid into the gash. Blood and alcohol flowed into the cloth, tinting it a horrid shade of pink.
I hate pink. It’s not even a real color.
Dabbing away the blood, I realized that I’d had to remove too much meat to have a chance of sewing the wound together. With an annoyed sigh, I fished inside the medical supply box and pulled out a healing potion.
“I’m giving you this,” I said, waving the bottle over his head, “only because I don’t trust you to keep your damn leg clean for a day, much less a month.”
The idiot didn’t respond, too doped up on Med-X. I wanted to smack him, but that’s not what Watchers do. No, Watchers fix idiots just enough so that they can go back out and get themselves hurt again, secure in the knowledge that there is a group of ponies stupid enough to stitch them back together.
I popped the seal and poured the magical liquid over the open wound. I had to look away as the flesh began knitting itself back together, filling in where the chunk of flesh had been missing moments before. Healing potions are wonderful things; they save lots of lives, but creeped the Tartarus out of me.
With my patient out for at least the next hour, I began cleaning up. The tin with the bloody gore got dumped into the wastebasket along with all the used bandages. I wiped the scalpel off and dropped it into the used equipment bin for a thorough cleaning.
I turned around to make sure I’d finished cleaning up and caught a look at my flank in the full size mirror set in the corner for patients.
“It’ll come when it comes.”
My ears quivered, unable to decide if they wanted to droop at the words or perk up at the voice. “Hello, Nurse.”
I could hear the smile in her voice. “I see you decided to forego the needle and thread today.”
“Not by choice,” I said, looking back at the fresh, pink skin surrounded by blue fur.
I felt Gray’s warmth as she stepped up next to me, touching her wither to mine. “I still don’t understand what you have against them.”
“And I don’t understand why every pony relies on them so readily, it’s not like we have an unlimited supply.” I sighed and shook my head. “Don’t you ever feel like it’s a waste of time? Like we’re just prolonging the inevitable? If he’s not back in a week I’ll give you my allowance for the month.”
Nurse Grays’ lips curled into a small smile as she crossed her neck over mine in an short embrace. “Oh, Lucky, that is what we’re doing. Until somepony finds a better way, it’s all we can do. And I thought you hated gambling.”
I grunted in response and poked the pony on the slab with a hoof. “I just wish I didn’t have to wait for the Med-X to wear off.”
“You don’t,” she said, moving away to sit in the corner. “I’ll be watching him, you have a class with Tracker.”
“Aw, crap. I totally forgot.” Almost jumping to the exit, I pulled up short just inside. “Uh, thanks Nurse. I owe you.”
I ducked through the tent flap stretching my wings and preparing fly to the back of the compound. Fate, and a yellow filly, had other plans. The yelp of surprise escaping my lips was cut short by when I hit the ground, tackled by a blue maned filly.
Hooves attacked my exposed ribs before I had a chance gain my bearings.
The element of surprise is only so useful, however. Especially when your opponent has an extra set of limbs covered in feathers.
“Sssstooopppp!” Aloe cried through her laughter. “Hehehe. I ca- I can’t breathe!”
“Ha ha. I am victorious!” I shouted in the deepest voice I could muster as I jumped back balancing on my hindlegs.
“Y- you cheated. Wh-wings are cheating,” she complained, still trying to catch her breath.
“All's fair in a tickle fight,” I said, sticking out my tongue and dropping back to all fours.
“Nuh uh!”
“Uh huh!”
“Nuh uh!”
“Uh huh!”
“Will you two stop it, you’re giving me a headache.” Hurdles said in a voice far deeper than most, already trotting away. “Come on, we’re going to be late enough as it is.”
“You’re no fun.” An idea struck me. If he was so concerned about being late… I flew up and landed on his back, “Forward, trusty steed!”
He stopped and turned to eye me. I smiled back and tapped my hooves on his withers, urging him to keep moving. About to kick his flanks, he bucked hard, launching me off his back. My wings caught air and I hovered above him. Before I could form any remark, Aloe leapt onto his back and wrapped him in her legs, giggling. Hurdles legs tensed as he prepared to repeat the preformace. It took all of a second for his ears to droop in submission to the filly clinging to his back.
I landed next to my friends, turning my head up and away. “I see how it is,” I said haughtily. Sticking my nose higher into the air, I pranced away from the pair. Hurdles groaned before cantering to catch up.
“Race?” the big red pony asked, pulling up beside me.
I looked back at the yellow filly still resting on his back. “You don’t stand a chance.”
“No wings.”
“Works for me. On three. One. Twothree!” I kicked up clods of dirt as I took off, leaving a stunned Hurdles in my dust.
My hooves hit a steady quad-beat as I galloped between the tents. Tracker's camp was near the back of the compound, closer to the wagon bay than the other Watchers. The medical tents were all located right at the gates. It was a good quarter mile between the two as I fly. Unfortunately, I wasn’t flying. I cursed under my rising pant. The heavy pounding of the other pony’s hooves sounded behind me, quickly gaining ground.
I could hear Hurdles heavy breathing as he closed the distance I had stolen. The rhythm of hooves was intoxicating, soothing, and exciting all at the same time. Hitting at counter points our steps were nearly continuous. The moment I left the ground he hit. The moment I hit he took off. The tight spaces between the tents were the only reason that he hadn’t overtaken me.
I exploded into one of the small gathering areas, the only place where he’d be able to pass me by. Curving around the fire pit in the center, I noticed Hurdles counter beat disappearing. A quick glance to the side showed his blue and white tail sliding out of sight between tents. I smiled and poured on the speed, barreling down the clear path. It was over now, he wasn’t even heading in the right direction.
Tents and ponies flashed by in a blur. Jumping over obstacles and turning down paths, I sped to the back of the compound.
I turned the last corner and tripped over my own hooves. Breathing hard, head hanging low, and standing on slightly wobbly legs, the big red stallion managed to smirk at me. The ground rewarded my temporary distraction with a surprise greeting. My rump continued to move forward at good clip as my face and barrel hit the ground. I rolled a few times before skidding to a stop, my muzzle digging a furrow in the dirt.
My eyes fluttered open. They slowly moved up the thick red post planted on the ground in front of me. The image of a white jump fence printed on red fur brought them to a stop. I groaned and rolled to my side. “Maybe next time I’ll let you use your wings,” he said, the smirk evident in his voice.
“Are you okay?” Aloe asked, poking me with a hoof.
I shooed her away with a wing, “Yeah... I just... need to... catch... my breath.”
“Come on buddy.” Hurdles said, helping me get to my hooves and graciously letting me lean on him as we moved to Trackers tent.
The small blue tent stood off by itself against the compound’s back wall. I put a wing to Hurdles chest when we stepped into the opening, bringing him to a stop. With my other wing on my lips, I began to step lightly towards the lone tent. Hurdles and Aloe stayed back, undoubtedly rolling their eyes.
I moved quietly across the open ground, my hooves rolling slightly to help reduce their impact. Each step was careful and deliberate. My breath was slow and controlled, in through my nose out through my mouth. The last paces brought me within hoof’s reach of the opening flap. I held my breath as I prepared to push open the flap.
“Fer a pegasus, yer noiser’n a cat in heat.”
“Hush, Tracker, I’m tryin’ to sneak... up... on... Uhg.” I pressed a hoof into my forehead.
A cracked hoof pushed into my cheek, “Don’ fret it colt, you’re gettin’ better.” The mushy pony looked over his shoulder, “Come on ya’ll, yer late and this lesson’s gonna take awhile.”
I didn’t move as the old ghoul trotted around to the other side of the tent. Aloe and Hurdles snickering as they passed me. Once they stepped around the corner, I finally sighed and moved to follow.
The loose flesh around Trackers lips was pulled tight as he watched the disgusted frowns on my friends’ faces. My eyes followed theirs.
Hanging by hindlegs, their purple scales shimmering in the combined light of the sun and fire, two gecko corpses dangled and swayed. Saliva dripped from the gaping maws filled with yellowed teeth. A bottle cap sized black mark was visible just between their eyes. My gaze immediately flicked over to the fire and the iron pot hanging from the spit, being licked by the flames.
"Uh... you do know that we’re vegetarians... Right?”
“Lucky.”
“Sorry, sir.”
Tracker sighed, “Y’are what ya have ta be ta survive, colt. When ya ain’t eaten for a week you’ll learn jus’ how far yer willin’ ta go fer a meal.” He motioned to the lizards, “When push come ta shove, is not whether it could walk that’ll bother ya. Now, y’all ready to get started?”
“You want us to... cook,” Aloes noise scrunched in disgust, “these... things?”
“Tha’s right darlin’: skin, clean, gut, cook, an’ anythin’ else ah can come up with.”
The normally bright yellow of her face softened to a cream, “I... I think I’ll let the boy’s take care of this one.”
“Hah, why do ya think ther’s only two? Well, come on colts, let’s git to it.”
Tracker hoofed out the tools we’d be using for today’s lesson. Heavy combat knives. I kept my complaints about proper equipment to myself. This was the one thing that he was truly serious about, and complaining wouldn’t do me any good.
Hurdles and I each stepped up to a gecko with blades in hoof. This wasn’t the first time he’d had us skin and prep an animal. It was usually one of the large rats that inhabited the sewers of Dise, though. I made the assumption that at least the skinning would work basically the same.
The first words out of Tracker’s mouth confirmed my theory, and I immediately went to work. Starting at the feet I carefully cut until I hit muscle. The knife was sharp enough to make easy work of the scales, and now that I knew how deep to make the cuts, I sped through the rest of the procedure. Cutting around the front claws for the sleeves. Starting at the tip of the tail I made a nice straight line down its belly to the tip of it’s jaw.
Stepping around to the other side I cradled its head in a wing and held it up for inspection. The black mark turned out to be a perfectly round hole that went at least an inch into its head. It had cauterized instantly, the flesh around the wound bubbling slightly from the intense heat.
My knife went to work cutting around the eyes and fins along the sides of its head. Moving back to the tail, I began peeling the hide away from the fat and muscle underneath. Once I had a good two inches I dropped the blade and took hold of the flap. The skin tore from the creature, the tissue between ripping with surprising ease. The hide peeled off, turning inside out as I pulled, until the last bit separated and fell to the ground, leaving the gecko’s musculature completely exposed to the world.
I looked over at Hurdles as he began pulling the skin off his gecko. His cuts were not nearly as straight. Nor done properly, apparently. I shook my head and smirked as the hide ripped. This was going to be a long day.
++FoE:RB++
Something poked me. I grunted and rolled away. It poked me again. I grunted again, mumbling and burying myself deeper into my pillow. There were hushed whispers followed by blessed quiet. I shifted slightly and began to drift back into my dream.
I should have known better.
A pair of hooves struck the side of my cot, flipping it over and dropping me onto my back. I cried out, cursing as I clutched the my head. Not surprisingly, a pair of snickers joined my groaning.
“Don’t you know what day it is?” Aloe shouted in a hushed whisper, bouncing in place.
“Uhg.” I buried my head under my hooves.
“No, silly, it’s not ‘Uhg’ day. It’s my birthday!”
“Yay,” I said, twirling a hoof in the air. “Happy birthday to Aloe. Can I go back to sleep now?”
“Eenope,” Hurdles said, pulling me up by the scruff of my neck.
My hooves dragged across the ground as he carried my limp body out of the tent. A few feet later, I was deposited back on the ground under the clouded night sky. I rolled onto my back and finally opened my eyes, for all the good it did. I blinked up at my friends standing above me.
“Uh, guys... it’s like midnight...” Aloe’s head bobbed violently in response. “This couldn’t wait for, oh I don’t know, sunrise?”
“Eenope.”
“Come on, Luckiiieeee. It’s my birthday, and you two are taking me out to the casinos! Aren’t you excited?” she asked, her face dropping into ‘The Look’. ‘The Look’, where her eyes got really big, her ears drooped down, and her bottom lip began to tremble ever so slightly. I don’t know where she learned it, but no pony with a soul could say no to it.
“Okay. Okay. Fine,” I sighed, “just let me get my—Oof!” a set of saddlebags dropped on my stomach. “Thanks big guy, you’re a real pal.”
“Wouldn’t want ya to accidentally forget your caps.”
“Yes, that’d be just awful, wouldn’t it,” I said, rolling to my hooves. “Celestia forbid I manage to save a few caps this month.”
“Oh, don’t be like that. Who knows, you may win it big tonight,” Hurdles said, a smirk barely visible in the darkness, “You are *snrk* Lucky after all.”
I sighed and laid a foreleg across his shoulder, “Why don’t you leave the puns to me tonight buddy. We wouldn’t want you to trip over yourself.” I swear I heard a light chirping sound in the distance. “You don’t get it do you?”
Hurdles shrugged and Aloe looked up at me with a confused expression. “You were making a joke?”
I frowned and let my leg fall back to the ground. “Nevermind. Let’s get this over with.”
We moved through the forest of tents without really speaking. Aloe was likely too excited about finally dragging us to a casino and thinking about all the things she wanted to do there. Hurdles was probably busy trying to think of some way to impress Aloe. I, however, found myself thoroughly distracted by the single glowing spot in the clouds.
I only knew that the orb of light was the moon because that’s what Nurse Gray and Tracker told me. Tracker, especially, was prone to reminiscing on the beauty of the night sky. To hear him tell it, there was nothing like laying back on a patch of soft grass and gazing up at the stars on a clear night. He claimed to have been able to name all the constellations once, but almost two hundred years had worn the unused memories. For that I envied and pitied him.
I couldn’t decide which fate was worse; to have once had the chance to see the sky unfettered by the ever present cloud cover—I could think of little that I would want more—but to have that taken from you, and to be on the verge of being unable to recall what it was like; or to have the ability to reach out and break through, perfectly capable of flying up into the sky to see it first hoof, but to have that freedom restrained, locked away by forces beyond your control.
The Enclave, an all pegasus military state, controlled everything about the clouds. The story goes that when the war ended the Enclave closed the sky and quarantined themselves from the rest of the world. They send down scouting parties every so often to check on the state of things, but have yet to make any real attempt to help those of us stuck on the ground. Moreover, there are ‘shoot on sight’ orders for any pony seen crossing through the clouds, or so I’d been told.
Dise, and Caledonia in general, also had the ‘honor’ of housing the Remnant. A rebel faction of the Enclave hiding from their former allies. In order to avoid drawing attention to themselves they have a standing altitude limit at just above the average height of a building in Dise. Any pegasus or griffin seen flying higher gets a single warning shot.
“What do you kids want?” A mare called, bringing me out of my thoughts and back to the present.
“We’re going to the casinos!” said Aloe, nearly bouncing out of her coat.
Even in the dim lamplight, I could tell that the two mares were rolling their eyes. “Well, we can’t stop you,” the left one said, “but listen up before you go. You know Dise is not a nice place, so by the Goddesses, stay together. Don’t trust anypony you don’t know and whatever you do, do NOT take credit from anypony, least of all the casinos...” I zoned out. I had no intention of doing anything other than making sure we all got back in the same shape we left. “... to drugs.”
With that the second guard pulled the lock bar for the door, allowing us to exit to the streets of Dise. Aloe led the way with Hurdles following and me taking up the rear.
Here we go.
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Footnote:
Prologue Progress: 66%