//------------------------------//
// Chapter four: Bandits 
// Story: Alien - Equestria 
// by Exo 
//------------------------------//

“Looky ‘ere, missy ‘ere just got ap from cryo sleep!” One of them says in a thick accent.
I don’t say anything and wrap my magic around the revolver.
“Okay guys, at ease” Another one, which I presume to be the leader, says.
Everypony lowers their weapons.
I slowly walk backwards.
“Little bitch doesn’t wanna talk, ey?” The leader says.
I quickly draw the revolver and aim at them, while Proton hovers up behind them.
“If you don’t mind, I’ll be going now” I say.
Suddenly, they draw their weapons!
I scream and fire two rounds into the leader’s chest.
He gasps and steps backwards, then looks up and smiles.
My heart sinks into my stomach as I realise he’s wearing a bulletproof vest.
“Get her” He says.
Two of the guys jump at me.
I plant a hoof right into a pony’s stomach, sending him flying.
The other one gets behind me and punches the back of my head.
The pain is unbearable.
I collapse on the floor, ready to die.
All I can see as I’m being hauled away is Proton.

? HOURS LATER

“hh” I hear as my vision and hearing regains.
“Hey” Proton says as he hovers in front of me.
“Ah, shit, my head” I whisper as I touch the back of my head.
“They’re playing a drinking game or something; this is my chance to get you out”
A laser emits from his green eye, poking at the cheap lock.
Eventually, the lock gives way and I catch it to prevent noise.
“They left your stuff in the armory” He says.
Before I can raise a hoof, he turns and faces a corridor.
“That way”
I gently place the half melted lock down and slowly trot to the room.
It’s not that big, one thing I notice is the sheer number of weapons.
They have hatchets, weapons I don’t have a name for and at least 10 of the same model of my revolver.
I find my saddlebags and drop them over myself.
Before I go, I decide to replace the revolver for a lightweight handgun that looks like a Glock.
As I’m leaving, I notice a large chest. Not wooden, but a futuristic metal.
I open it and see a giant L118a sniper rifle with metal camo.
I instantly grab it and sling it over my back, taking a few magazines as well. 
Next, I trot carefully to the main room, which is easy to find because of the voices and laughter. 

I pull out the Glock and carefully peek around the corner.
Three of them are sitting in a circle at a table, with five bottles of Applejack Daniels on it.
“So, what should we do ‘ith the ‘ittle bugger?” The one with the accent says.
“Kill her” Says the leader.
“I say we keep her, for… reasons” The other one says mysteriously, smiling.

“Cam on, speak up Ajax!” The accented guy says, “Why?”
“Speakin’ about the girl, i’mma go check on her” Ajax says to avoid saying anything.
I gasp quietly and run back to the cage and shut the door, using the darkness to hide my weapons.
“What are you doing?!” Proton says.
“I’ve got a plan” I say, “Go look for a vent”
“Mmm” Proton says as he flies away.
At that very moment, I begin to hear hoofsteps.
As he trots over, I pretend to act unconscious, until he notices the lock is missing.
I leap out, holding the knife and put a hoof around him, dragging him behind a barrel, knife on his throat.
“Say anything, you’re dead” I say, trying to act as intimidating as possible. I won’t really kill him.

He nods quickly.
“How do I get out?” I ask him.
Suddenly, I feel a searing pain as something large and sharp gets inserted into my back leg.
I hold back the scream and tears and, without hesitation, slide the knife quickly across his throat.
Blood splatters over the dark blue barrel as his lifeless body drops on top of me.
I groan as I slide his body off of mine and look at the bowie knife he stuck in my leg.
I begin to panic as I realised that not only was I in great danger, but had also just killed somepony. I control my hyperventilation and grab the handle of the knife. I pull on it gently to reveal another wave of terrible pain.
I groan as I let go of it.
I put my knife in my saddlebags and think of what to do next.

At that moment, Proton returns.
“Hey, I found one down there” He looks down a 15 foot drop-off into what looks like a hangar of some sort.
“Great” I say as I push Ajax’s body into the darkness.
I go back to the main room and look in horror as one of them is on the floor, bruised and bleeding.
“Okay, I think we’re getting out of here without alerting any attention” I say.
Proton nods.
Suddenly, Proton flies up and hits the roof, while making strange noises.
“What was that?” Says the leader.
“Proton! Let’s go!” I say as I begin to climb down the ladder.
“H-h-hackers!” He yells.
“Shit!” I say as I leap off the ladder, landing painfully and run behind a small space shuttle.
“Hey! There she is” The leader says as he points at me.
He draws an assault rifle and fires blindly.
Proton barely made it over.
“What is up with you?” I ask over the gunfire.
“Th-they h-eerr!-hackers! They’re i-i-interruping my system!” He yells as suddenly his eye turns red.
His voice goes deep.
“Ah, c’mon!” I say as I hold the massive sniper rifle and peek around the corner.
I aim at the accented guy and drop him.
Next, it’s time for the last one.
I bolt the sniper rifle, ejecting the .338 laupa cartridge, listening to the loud PING it makes when it hits the steel floor.
He looks down his sights and fires.
The bullet impacts my scope, flying straight through the first few layers of glass and getting deflected into another direction.
“She’s dead!” I hear.

As my hearing returns, I start to breathe normally and take cover again. 
“Oh… my” I panic as I digest what had just happened.
Using the adrenaline rush I got from that moment, I pull the release and rip off what’s left of the sight, using the gun’s integrated iron sights.
I peek around again to see the leader gone.
Suddenly, I hear the last thing I ever wanted to hear from Proton.
“SELF DESTRUCT INITIATED. ETA 60 SECONDS” He says in a deep robotic voice.
I panic and look around for an escape, when suddenly I notice my hooves are covered in a black liquid.
I check the space shuttle and see a massive hole in it, leaking fuel.
“Hell no!” I say as I dive into the vent.
“ETA 30 SECONDS” Proton says.
I crawl through the vent as fast as I can, being slowed down by the bowie knife in my leg.
“ETA 5 SECONDS”
I hear, too close for comfort.
“4”
I see the underside of a hatch.
“3”
I push on it with all my might until it budges, leaving a small gap.
“2”
I stick my hoof through the gap and push the hatch aside.
“1”
I climb up and shut the hatch, not bothering to check where I am.
I hear faintly;
“Self-destruct initia-“

The explosion is tremendous.