On Track
Morning.
Clouded morning welcomed them.
The Raider assault last night had kept them wary. As a result rest was shorten and guard shift was lengthen. Mare and men woke up still stiff from the lack of sleep. Although their body told them to lay down, situation and mind told them otherwise. The red clad men packed what they brought. Guns. While their unicorn companion tighten her saddlebag.
Dell slung his Rescue Ranger over his back and said, "A'right Ah' got good news and bad news. Which one's first ?"
No answer.
"Guess good comes first," the Engineer told them, "Good news is there's a town near here..."
"How about the bad news lad ?" asked the cyclops.
Dell sighed, "Bad news is were not in New Mexico. We ain't connected to the Respawn no more. Ah can't build anymore o' ma'h contraptions" he then added, "And we left all our backpack in Sniper's van."
"Crap," Scout cursed.
"Excuse me," said Viktor, "vut I also bring bad news. Ze power supply on my medigun is at a concerning level. Use vill be rationed."
"Aw hell," the Texan cursed.
The unicorn turned to ask, "Is that bad ?"
The medic explained, "Vell it is not entirely bad. But healing vould take conventional method if the Australium battery depleted. Methods zhat I haven't practice in many years."
The German physician's tone on his last words were menacing. It sent shivers down everybody's spine. Particulary the roving trader unicorn.
With merchandise safely secured in her saddlebag she said, "Well thank you for everything but I have to go."
The trader pony began to trot out of the vicinity of the camp. The mercenaries kept their eyes on her as she leave . She found the road again. And began traveled towards her initial destination. Past Tale followed the road. A road she knew well. A path she had taken since her migration Junction Town many time. Her hooves made sound on the broken path. Normally she would only listen to her own hooves. This time she listened to someone else. A lot of someone else's. She looked back.
Seeing that the six creatures she met following her, she asked, "Why are you all following me ?"
"Well we ain't exactly familiar with the things 'round here," the Engineer answered.
Realization struck the little trader. The one with the white hat had asked what was a Stable. Although he held possession of a Pip-Buck on his arm. He admitted he didn't come from a Stable. All she know they came from a place called New Mexico.
Demo said, "Well maybe ye can show us around lass."
"I don't know. I mean the folks in New Appleloosa aren't exactly familiar with all of you," said Past Tale.
The Boston youth, with a sly smile and finger rubbing his chin boasted, "Well maybe it's time they check us out."
"If you don't want to that's fine. We still hav'ta look fer Sniper, Pyro and Spa'h" the Engineer told her.
She considered the situation. Past Tale concluded that these creatures weren't going to last long in the Wasteland. She was given the proof last night. The unfamiliarity to Stables.
"Alright, you can come with me," she told the mercenaries.
"Much oblige," the Texan thanked her.
She sighed. Her day was getting awkward by the minute. She hoped this doesn't continue through out the week. Before she continued her way south to New Appleloosa, the huge man detached and took her saddlebag.
She shouted, "Hey ! Give that back."
The Russian gave an answer, "Little pony should not carry such burden. Heavy will carry pony's bag."
"I can carry my own stuff thank you very much," Past Tale said.
"Let Ivan carry your bag Fraulein. You already done us a favor," said the physician.
Then the roving trader said, "Well just let me grab my gun."
She pulled out a rifle with her telekinesis. It retained the stereotypical look of a rifle. It had a wooden body with little metallic part visible and a long barrel. She then took out its ammunition, clips of eight rounds. And continued their travel towards Appleloosa. New Appleloosa.
--- --- ---
Six men and mare on the road travel under the cloudy Wasteland sky. This time silent left. Replaced by the grumbling thunder. Rain was threatening to soak them.
The sky above them wasn't the only thing that replaced the voiceless Waste. The sound of friendly chatter had fill the air around the group. Past Tale was side by side with the Texan. The man in ten gallon was the only one she knew well enough. Both brought their conversation from last night.
Pointing to her side, the short man asked, "What's that symbol on yer side ?"
An open book with a chained time piece at one side.
"That's my cutie mark," the trading mare stated.
"What's that ?" Dell inquired further.
"It's what symbolizes a pony's talent," she told Dell.
Dell absorbed the information given. His logic didn't connect. But then again he was having a conversation with a unicorn the Texan thought. He quickly dismissed the thought of asking further. He already got an answer, further explanation was unnecessary.
As their walk continued, their subject of conversation changed. The men began asking the mare about the settlement they were heading.
"There's not much I can tell you about New Appleloosa," she told them, "you hav' ta see it for yourself."
The mercenaries were out of question concerning the place called New Appleloosa. They spent the rest of the walk in silence and the occasional small chatter between the men. With the exception of the Engineer. Who kept going through his armband processor.
Their German team member asked, "Herr Engineer..."
"Ah' told ya call me Dell," he told the Medic.
"My apologies. Herr Dell," the man of medicine asked, "I have to ask your opinion about our situation."
The Texan started with a sigh, "Ah' don't know Mr. Viktor this ain't exactly ordinary," he continued, "I doubt we ain't on Earth no more."
The Medic glanced at the pony, then told the his hard hatted friend, "Then we have similar thought of the current situation. But how ?"
"It's must've been when we all tryin' to get back to the city hall," Dell told Viktor, then he pulled out his wrench.
Looking at the Engineer staring at the wrench, the Medic asked, "Vhat is it ?"
"This ain't the wrench I remember holdin' in Teufort," the Texan claimed.
Past Tale shouted from the front of the group, "We're here !"
All the men looked straight. They beheld New Appleloosa. The walls of New Appleloosa. A series of stacked, rusted, decommissioned train cars with numbers of small roofed section acting as guard towers. Those towers were occupied by ponies and griffins clad in armor. All of them were armed.
As they approached the gate they were greeted by menacing looks of the occupants of those towers. But not all of them, some with eyes of bewilderment. Past Tale was the first to enter the city, she continued forward without intervention. The same can't be said to the red cladded men.
"Hold it right there !" said a commanding voice.
All of the men from Teufort stopped. And stared at the figure that told them to cease. A griffin in armor.
"Bloody hell," told the demolition expert, "is everythin' round here ken talk ?"
"Fascinating," said the German physician.
Seeing her newly acquired companions were halted by the local security, she came to their rescue.
The beige pony told the guard, "Relax they're with me."
The griffin glanced at the mare. Then back towards the six alien figure on the gate. He examined each with his pair of eyes. To the griffin they looked like Hellhounds in the same time they weren't. The absent of fur, sharp claws and energy weapons told him so.
He let them in, his action was replied by a hat tip from one of the alien with a Ten Gallon. And a salute from the helmeted one.
--- --- ---
Their arrival to New Appleloosa were greeted with ponies head turning to looked at them. They kept on following the mare that had brought them here. Towards another compilation of unused train cars. Above it was sign announcing its name. Absolutely Everything.
Past Tale tried turning the knob. The door didn't open. She turned back to the six alien in tow.
"Store's close we gotta wait 'till its open," the mare told the men.
Scout asked, "Anything we can do 'round here while waitin' ? "
"You can go to the bar if you want," she added, "and there's plenty to eat at the Golden Grub"
Demoman quickly asked the location of the bar and ran to it. He was followed by Jarvis and Ivan. Leaving their Engineer, Medic and Soldier with the beige mare. Past Tale announced to the rest she was going to eat and moved to the Golden Grub. Both Dell and Viktor went separate ways after she left. The lab coat wearing man saw a group of ponies donning similar clothing with the one he was wearing and walked towards them. While Dell approached a train engine.
Dell admired the engine in silence. He recognized it was a steam-powered engine. A contrast to the numerous diesel he had seen went through the badlands of New Mexico. The Engineer examined the aging contraption within a distance. Focused on the engine, he didn't heard a pony coming.
"Howdy," greeted a voice from behind.
Startled, Dell swiftly turned to look. He found another pony. A black buck with coat of grey. And a hat.
"H-howdy," the texan replied.
He asked, "Say stranger what'ca lookin' at ?"
"Oh ah'm just admirin' that engine that's all," Dell then asked, "does it work ?"
"Nope. No coal tha' run it," he said, "Oh where's ma'h manner name's Railright."
"Dell. Dell Conagher," the Engineer introduced.
Dell was taken aback with how the pony he just met introduce himself so calmly to a being like him. His first impression wasn't similar to Past Tale when he met her in the trailer. Then again this was a land where radiation ran rampant as told by the beige mare. He reminded himself to inform of this to the rest.
"Well Dell nice tha' meet ya," Railright asked, "say ah' never seen a Hellhound like you before."
"Well truth is ah ain't a Hellhound," Dell confessed, "never seen one before."
"If ye ain't a hound. What are you then ?" Railright inquired.
"Ma'h species call ourselves human," Dell informed him.
"Never heard one before," said Railright.
"Ah' gotta say that's a mighty strange lookin' gun you have there," praised the Engineer.
"Built it mahself," Railright said with pride.
"Can ah take a look ?" asked the Texan.
Railright gave Dell his Railway Rifle. The builder immediately disassemble the weapon. Railright watched in silent as the creature study his rifle. Dell asked about what was known as Spark batteries and its role to the gun. The town mayor explained. Knowing its uses he glanced at the non-working locomotive. He asked permission to board.
Railright gave a thought about Dell's request. Then he approved it. Both pony and man entered the cabin of the aging engine. Inside Dell suggested the stallion on how to get the engine running once more without coal. A plan in which uses almost the same concept of the gun he just briefly observed.
After Dell's explanation Railright said, "That......actually might work."
"But we're gonna need a lot o' them batteries," Dell told him.
From a distance Scout shouted, "Yo hard hat come 'ere for a sec."
He excused himself and approached the Boston youngster and the team's cyclops.
Dell asked, "What is it ?"
"Can you lend Demo. I mean Tavish some caps ?" Jarvis asked Dell.
"Bottle caps ?" the Engineer.
"Yeah apparently they ain't takin' dollars 'ere," the Scout said. He took another gulp of water.
"Then how did ya pay fer that ?" Dell asked.
"I got tons o' caps from Classic Bonk Cola !" the Boston youth claimed.
"Fer what ?" inquired Dell.
"They're givin' out prizes for anyone who collect a thousand caps that's why !" informed Jarvis.
"How much you got right now ?" Dell asked again.
"Now I got seven hundred and thirty three," Scout told him, "that cheap-ass bartender."
Before the Ten Gallon wearing wrench beater could muster a reply. Rattle of gunfire echoed from outside the walls. They all saw Railright ran pass them. Past Tale ran back to them from the Golden Grub, food still in her mouth. She mumbled a question. she swallowed.
"What's going on ?" she asked.
Dell relayed her question to Railright, "What's goin' on ?"
"Raider attack," the town mayor alerted them.
There were no rounds pinging on the metal of the boxcars. The town wasn't under attack. Someone else was being attacked.
Past Tale shouted to Railright from the bottom of the wall, "Who's being shot at ?"
One of the pony in barding took his binoculars. He saw the raiders position. He also knew who was being raided.
Railright shouted, "It's Ditzy Doo !"
Excluding the six men in red, everyone who heard what Railright just said gasped. And one yelled mommy.
"Any idea who is that ?" asked the Boston youth.
"The store owner !" the beige mare cried.
Running towards the wall Jane Doe cried, "CIVILIAN UNDER ATTACK !"
The Texan sprung into action and redeployed his Dispenser from the red toolbox. The last toolbox. Viktor followed his helmeted comrade, making sure the veteran combatant survived his next course of actions by overhealing him. He knew that he was wasting precious resources. But the situation forced him to, enforced by the fact that they weren't connected to the Respawn system anymore.
As Jane Doe ran he spewed call names used on his enemies. As the wall came close he aimed his Beggar's Bazooka downward. The next thing he does made everyone jaw dropped. Except his teammates. A maneuver that every Wastelanders knew a guarantee kill of themselves. A death through torn limbs via explosion. A technique that no book thought. A skill Jane Doe had polished over the years of battles. An impossible jump.
The Rocket Jump.
BOOM!
He blasted himself upwards and over the wall. At first the Appleloosan thought he was done for. But the undying profanity proofed them wrong.
Outside Jane Doe move swiftly as he could towards the Raiders. They shifted their fire towards him. Only to miss as the helmeted man rocket jumped again. Resulting in their death through three rockets. Jane came crashing down on a wagon filled with glowing green substance. One dirty and ugly looking pony came running towards him, machete gripped in his teeth. Jane kicked the goo. Splashing it to the ugly pony's face.
The raider screamed in simmering pain. Only to cease after a spade met his face. A round struck Doe's arm. He rolled into cover behind what was left of the wagon. Soldier then pulled out his shotgun, avoiding spending more rockets of his Beggar's Bazooka. As he slide rounds into the tubular magazine he met the raid victim. At first he thought it was a zombie. But then the pony golden, scared and pleading eyes convinced him she wasn't.
The helmeted man exit the temporary save haven of the wagon. With a pony ghoul in his arm and a shotgun in another. He send shots to the unruly thugs. Another goes down, as he retreated towards the wall. He backpedaled and sent shots to the attacking mob. Pulling out his Beggar's Bazooka once more, he shot the ground and soar through the air into New Appleloosa.
Soldier landed in front of his team. Along with some New Appleloosan. Their jaw still hanging, this time the jaws of his comrades were also loose. The veteran can't see it but it was brightly visible to everyone. He was glowing green.
Jane Doe let the ghoul pony go. And he face planted on to the ground.