Wolf took a step back, hit a panel on the wall, and a rack full of weapons came out. He grabbed a pair of M-72's along with a few extra magazines.
“Run. Now.”
As soon as he finished, a cloud of parasprites came rushing out of the doorway.
“MOOOOOOVE!!”
He opened fire on the cloud as they rushed forward. Twilight and Nyx wasted no time and ran back to where they came. Wolf turned and ran, still holding his rifles. He hit a switch as he came through the doorway and the door sealed shut. He looked up to the roof, and saw a grate, part of the ships ventilation system.
“This is a completely temporary solution....”
He turned around and ran. Making use of his increased speed, he easily caught up to Twilight, who was running along with Nyx. He looked to his left at the door that appeared.
“Over here, stop!”
They came to a screeching halt as they quickly turned around and followed Wolf's directions and ran into the door. The sound of buzzing wings again.
“These things just don't quit do they?”
He brought his rifles up again and opened fire once again, sending dozens of parasprites dead on the floor, which so far seemed to have no effect at all on the clouds size. His guns clicked empty.
“Crap....”
He tossed them aside as he dove into the open door. After completing his roll on the floor, he got up and shut another switch. The door sealed shut again. Wolf opened another panel and pulled out another M-72.
“Well, at least these do something...”
“Wolf, where are we?”
“AI core.”
He walked over to a console.
“Sam, where are you?”
No answer. Wolf hit the console lightly.
“Sam!”
“Yes Major?”
“You mind telling me what these damn bugs are doing on my ship? No, forget that, why didn't I get a warning at least?”
“Apologies, sir, all of my processing power was devoted to analyzing the DNA sample you gave me. I was too absorbed in finding a solution to the infestation.”
“Never mind that, how the hell did they get in here, I thought the ship was in lockdown.”
“It was, sir.”
“They how did they get in?”
A screen opened next to him, showing a cloud of paraspites going through a large metal tube. Wolf scoffed.
“Well at least they're original. The guns are the last place I'd expect them to come in through.”
“I will have synthesized a poison to eliminate them in roughly two hours.”
“Not good enough, we'd be dead by then. Twi!”
“Yes Wolf?”
“You're the smart one, any ideas on how to get rid of 'em?”
Twilight was silent for a while, then she lifted her head up.
“Maybe we can draw them out with something?”
“What, you want me to be bait again?”
“No, maybe we could draw them out with something besides food.”
A smile appeared on Wolf's face.
“I have an idea....” He said, as he turned back to the console.
“Sam, how much have you analyzed from the dead bug or whatever it's called.”
“All of it sir, I'm just looking for a way to kill them.”
“Do you have it's reproductive hormones?”
“One moment....” She paused.
“Yes sir, isolated.”
“Can you synthesize a large sample?”
“How large?”
“I'd say large enough to attract about ten thousand of those things. And in a gas form.”
“.....”
The long pause started to irritate Wolf.
“Sam?”
“The hormones have a very simple chemical structure, I can synthesize a large enough sample, but it would take time.”
“How much time?”
A screen appeared and on it was a countdown.
“36 minutes and 48 seconds.”
“Better than two hours. Start it up.”
“Already begun sir.”
“How much of the ship is infested?”
“The top decks look live hives right now, eight to five are partially infested, while the bottom decks are secure, for now.”
“Is the deck four armory secure?”
“Negative.”
“Then we go to deck three. Sam, have the...package dropped off in hangar 5. I expect it to be there in....” He looked at the countdown.
“Thirty-two minutes, and I need it capable to fit on a Minotaur.”
“Yes sir.”
“Twilight, Nyx, with me.”
“All right...”
Both got up and followed Wolf to another door at the back of the room. He raised his rifle, ready to unleash a barrage on anything that might lay on the other side. Thankfully, nothing was there and Wolf moved on through.
“Stay quiet...” He whispered to them, his voice barely reaching their ears.
“This way...” He whispered again, as he turned left.
While Nyx was shaking slightly, Twilight was extremely calm, Wolf's soft voice had a calming effect on her. She felt that she could trust Wolf, and that he would get them through this.
“Down here...”
They walked down the staircase. Wolf weaved through the hallways like a shadow, the two ponies behind him. He went into a room. Twilight read the sign on the door.
“Deck Three Armory”
The room was quite large, home to a large assortment of weapons. M-72's, HAR-36's and an array of other weapons filled the walls. Wolf grabbed what seemed to be a large metal tube, a smile appearing on his face.
“What's that?” Twilight asked.
A large burst of flame came from the tube, causing both Twilight and Nyx to jump up in suprise.
“Sorry. Let's go.”
30 minutes later...
Wolf walked into the hangar.
“Here we are, Hangar five.”
A large crate appeared from a loading system, accompanied by a voice from the intercom.
“Your package sir.”
“Thanks Sam.”
“Always a pleasure.”
Wolf walked over to the crate and grabbed it. With a grunt, he lifted it onto the back of a Minotaur light attack vehicle.
“Wolf, what are you doing?”
“Saving you all, again.”
“Ha-ha. But how?”
“Twilight....” He took off his helmet and let it drop to the floor.
“Chances are I won't come back from this. But I need to know that you're going to be safe. I need you to go hide.”
“No, Wolf NO! I won't let you do this!”
“There's no other choice. I'm not putting you or anyone else in danger.”
“We can find another way, you're not doing this!”
“Twilight...”
“NO!” She jumped up and tried to pin him to the ground, trying desperately to prevent him from going on what would be a suicide mission. She failed as Wolf caught her and put her back on the ground, holding her tightly.
“Listen to me. I lost everything. Everyone I ever cared about. I'm not losing you, or Nyx, or ANYONE else. Not when I can protect you.”
“But...”
“Shhhh.....No buts. Don't fight, please. Don't make this harder than it already is.”
Twilight's burst into tears, pressing her face deep into Wolf's shoulder. She hugged him tighter than she ever hugged anything before, tears streaming freely down her face. He shut his eyes as tight as he could, letting a single roll on his cheek, and fall off onto Twilight's coat. He embraced her as tight as he could. A few minutes passed, and Wolf finally loosened his grip. He tried to get up, only to be stopped by Twilight, who was still wrapped around him, still holding him tightly.
“Twilight...It's time for me to go.”
“Please....No...”
“I have to.”
He forced Twilight off of him. She resisted, but she wasn't a match for Wolf's superior strength.
“Hide behind those crates.”He paused.
“Please...”
Twilight did as told, taking Nyx with her. Wolf put his helmet back on, and got in the Minotaur. A cloud of parasprites came through the door, and headed straight for Twilight.
“Oh no you don't.”
Wolf kicked the small pump on the crate, causing it to brake off and spew a gas form of parasprites reproductive hormones in the air. He jumped into the drivers seat and started the engine.
“Sam, Hangar five doors open, NOW.”
“Yes sir.”
The door began to open, flooding the hangar in the suns warm rays.
The paraspites immediately turned around upon smelling the hormones and hovered there, unsure whether to follow the scent of a mate, or to follow the spells orders. Instincts eventually won over the spell, and so they began to follow it, free from the spell cast upon them.
The Minotaurs tires screeched as it flew forward, going straight out of the hangar and landing on the ground. Wolf sped towards Everfree, the entire parasprite swarm in hot pursuit.
* * * * *
The silence that ruled over the forest was broken with the sound of a roaring engine, branches breaking, and buzzing wings. Wolf maneuvered the Minotaur expertly, narrowly avoiding trees.
“Holy crap this brush is thick...”
- - - - -
“Almost there! DRIVE!”
Wolf did as he was told and sped towards the extraction point. He could already see the helicopter waiting for him. Only a few hundred meters away.
“LOOK OUT!”
An explosion sent the vehicle flying through the air, landing upside down. Wolf opened his eyes only to see the chopper lifting off, and a group of Spinar infantry advancing on the crash. He unholstered his sidearm and fired three shots at a drone, killing it. He turned and fires two shots at another one. It fell to the ground, either dead or badly wounded. He tried to turn and shoot another one, but a drone's leg came down on his wrist, pinning his arm and causing him to drop the gun.
He looked up to face the drone, only to meet a rifle butt in his face, knocking him unconscious.
- - - - -
Wolf snapped back to reality, and saw a tree in front of him. He tried to avoid it. He failed to do so. The Minotaur hit the tree head on, causing Wolf to hit the dashboard. He screamed in pain. It quickly passed as adrenaline surged through his body when he heard the approaching wings. He checked the Minotaurs GPS. He had made it deep into the forest.
He got out of his seat and lifted the nearly empty crate and carried it off, trying to lure the parasprites just a bit deeper into the forest. It was much lighter now, and so he could carry it quite easily. He brought the flamethrower with him, just in case he would need it. Which of course, he did. The parasprites were drawing closer , and so he had to drop the empty crate. Unable to run any further, he stopped and turned to the crate. The parasprites stopped directly over the crate, and after a few minutes, began their mating ritual. Wolf breathed a sigh of relief, and put his hand to his forehead. He quickly drew it back as it sent a wave of pain through his body. He looked at his hand to see part of it covered in blood. He slowly shifted his gaze to the parasprites, who had ceased all activity. They flew towards Wolf immediately after confirming the presence of blood. Wolf lifted his flamethrower and pulled the trigger. A wall of flame came forth, roasting the parasprites as they fell to the ground as a lifeless charred mass. The swarm stubbornly continued it's charge. They advanced further and further, almost blocking the tube of the flamethrower completely. Seeing no other alternative, Wolf turned and ran as quickly as he could, a new surge of adrenaline fueling his desperate dash for survival. He could hear a low roaring as he ran, getting closer and closer. He reached a small clearing, and there it was, clear as day. A cliff, overlooking a waterfall.
Without thinking twice, he ran as fast as he could towards the edge.
“Oh, I know I'm gonna regret this!”
He yelled at the top of his lungs as he jumped off, his yell muffled by the sound of the roaring water.
End chapter 14.