It's not every day that you wake up dead. Nor is it often that you receive an instructional tutorial explaining why you're dead, and how to stop being so.
: Congratulations! You are dead. Would you like to revive? Y/N/Q
Um... Q?
: Option Q selected. Explanation: Your soul has been bound to an artificial life form. The Ritual cannot complete without a willing participant. Acceptance of revival will complete the ritual and allow you to begin living once more.
: Would you like to revive? Y/N
Well then... Y.
: Option Y selected. Initiating system start. Suddenly I was aware of a thin, horizontal beam of energy across my field of 'vision'. Soon after, I began to hear what sounded like voices accompanied by a droning feminine voice, rattling off a list.
More muffled voices, except this time sounding very excited. I was knocked around a bit, and I felt my head moving side to side as if something was inspecting it. Something thin and cold went inside of my ear, and I felt part of my face fall off!
"Status: Alarmed."
I felt the cold object move from my ear into the side of my face that had fallen off. Soon, my vision's thin band of light exploded into full sight. A thin white sheep in a lab coat with thick goggles was messing around with a screwdriver to my left, and jumped when I moved my eyes to get a better look at him.
"Baa-aa-aa!" It shouted at me in surprise. "It actually worked! It's awake!"
What worked, the soul thing?
"Request: Clarification?"
"Oh, and it's actually communicating as well! This is stupendous!" he declared, leaving the screwdriver in the side of my face as he ran to gather a clipboard and jot down notes. I squinted to see what he was doing, and was surprised to see my vision actually zoom in. He was going down a checklist of functionalities and jotting down notes relating to experiment 'A7Z-13'.
"Query: Hello?"
I wanted to know what was going on, but the body that I was placed in wasn't vocally gifted. Probably a function of the 'safe mode' that I was presently stuck in.
"Oh! Terribly sorry about that. I'll be right with you in a moment." The sheep scientist said over his shoulder as he finished the last of his notes, and then promptly ignored my plight as he ducked out of the room.
I tried to move around and explore, or see what was going on, but I couldn't move my head nor move a muscle. That was probably my 'Mobility' being locked down. I guess all I can do at this point is just wait until something comes back to check on me.
Well that's handy. I was wondering how long I'd been waiting and it gave me a readout of the time. Not exactly what I had in mind, but it was still useful.
: Engage user tutorial? Y/N
Oh! Well that's handy. Y.
: You are currently running in Safe Mode. Mobility tutorial disabled. Sensors Tutorial engaged.
: You may be used to existence as a Biological life-form, or depending on your soul, some other form of life that we have yet to encounter or discover. Assuming that you have had previous experience as a biological life form, we will begin with eyesight. Squinting as a biological would narrow your vision in order to better focus on a specific object in your field of view. In your new body, this has been enhanced to zoom your vison to better verify what you are looking at, while at significant loss to peripheral view.
: In addition to the ability to 'Zoom In', you are equipped with multiple sensors that will detect audio, motion, intent of subjects to harm you, radio frequencies, touch, smell, and taste. Note: You do not need to consume organic fuels. Your power levels are restored by direct or indirect sunlight as well as converted ambient radiation.
Radiation? I hope I don't have to deal with a lot of that.
: Radiation: It is expected at some point in the near future, that the world will be subjected to Balefire Armageddon. Although it is the purpose of this platform to infiltrate and gather information, the possibility of the soul occupying the platform to survive the apocalypse has been taken into consideration.
Apocalypse? Armageddon? Balefire?
: Multiple queries detected. Summary: The nations of Equestria and Zebreca are in open war. Attempts at negotiation and peace-talks have fallen far short of predicted outcomes. Both sides of the conflict are arming themselves with weaponized Mega-Spells. These spells will devastate large areas of land and populace, and render life above surface unviable for bio-organisms.
Oh, well that's just fantastic. What about the Sheep that was in here earlier?
: Location: Scientist Bo Peep is currently in an emergency staff meeting in Sector Three, Test Labs. Meeting is scheduled to end in three minutes, twelve seconds. An emergency meeting has a schedule?
: ...
Never mind. Can I move?
: Mobility: Locked. Condition: Safe Mode.
Can I at least know where I am?
: Location of Platform A7Z-13: Lam-Baa Research Center, Zebreca Wildlands. Five kilo trots below surface.
Lam-Baa? In a research facility of sheep, and they call it Lam-Baa. That's ridiculous.
: Objection logged.
Can I see what I look like, at least?
: Confirmed. Accessing research database for case files relating to Platform A7Z-13.
I was apparently an Earth Pony. Pure white coat, two tone mane of Columbia blue and cerulean. My hooves had a gradient of cerulean coming from them, halfway up my legs. My eyes looked strange, as what would normally be a black pupil had been replaced with Columbia blue, my Iris being a bright glowing blue ring around it. My cutie mark was also a cerulean blue ring, with what looked like two number sevens. One of the sevens was attached to the 'back' of the other seven, to make it look like it was using it as a backrest. I have no idea what that kind of cutie mark would mean, but
I assume it was just the facility's logo.
: Query: Lambda Symbol. Reference to popular entertainment product in Equestria. Also the 11th letter of the Goat language. Represents the lower case 'A'. Used as a constant in the Radioactive Decay equation. Deemed suitable as your platform has the ability to process and reduce ambient radiation levels.
Lambda. Lamb. Sheep. Oh Celestia, why.
: Clarification: Celestia cannot answer your question, as she is not aware of this facility's location nor in a position of power after her resignation.
Yep. The meeting should've been over now and he's still not back.
: Would you like to engage the Advanced Functions tutorial? Y/N
Y.
: This platform is integrated with Eyes Forward Sparkle technology. This means that should you need directions to a location, you will be provided a map and waypoint to assist your travel. In addition to this, your Mane, Tail, Eye and Cutie mark Coloration (MTECC) will correspond to perceived threat levels by the EFS. Blue, your present color, is the 'All Clear' setting. When you are in threatened, alerted or otherwise alarmed, you will change your MTECC to yellow automatically. If you are in danger of harm, angered or otherwise hostile, your MTECC will change to Red. This is to startle any would-be animal predators that would confuse your platform for a biological one, and attempt to eat you. This has the added effect of confusing any would-be assailants.
: In addition to these, your eyes will allow for illumination and thermal detection, as well as night vision. These settings will consume power at a greater rate than your normal vision, but allow greater tactical flexibility.
: Warning: Keep in mind that this platform is -not- designed for combat. These tools are in place to assist with self-preservation of your platform. Extended use of these modules is not recommended, as the platform's ability to generate power will be greatly reduced while the modules are engaged.
That’s a lot of awesome. I'll be honest.
: Approval logged.
Do you know where the... what’s his name?
: Memory Archives uploaded to Soul-Machine Interface. (SMI)
Oh! Doctor Bo Peep. Do you know what's taking him so long?
: Activating interface with local information network.
: Loading
: Security Breech detected in Area Nine.
Security breech?
: Confirmed. Security systems identify several Ministry of Awesome commandoes.
Security personnel are deceased.
How close are they to me?
: Area Nine is one floor above Sector Three Test Labs.
I need to move, or I'm going to get killed, or damaged, or whatever can happen to me while I can't move!
: Alert Logged.
: Confirmation of peril confirmed.
: Disengaging Safe Mode.
: Movement Algorithms and Operations uploaded to SMI.
I stepped down from the charging pedestal that I had been standing on this entire time. The room was clinically white and pristine in condition. A few desks with terminals atop of them were in the corners of the room, hooked up to a network of cables that wove around the room like a large spider's web. My charging station had long since run out of battery life to supply me, and disconnected with a jerk of my hind hoof.
I was able to feel myself, now that I could move. My mane was ridiculously poofy, as well as my tail. I’m sure it was due to the synthetic hairs that they were composed of. I don't think they would get greasy or deflate with the weather, but they were also very strong as I learned when I pulled on my hair.
: Suggestion: Please do not attempt to remove your MTECC Systems.
Oh, right. I wasn't trying to do that!
: Objection noted.
My coat was also made of synthetic fur, but it was very soft to the touch. I moved around the lab in search of a mirror, present danger completely forgotten as I wanted to learn more about my 'platform'. I found a tall standing mirror behind one of the scientist's desks, and saw that while I looked like a good approximation of a pony, the synthetic nature of what I existed as was clear. I wasn't terrifying or unnerving, I was simply a bit -too- uniform. That, and my glowing eyes gave me away. Oh, speaking of things giving me away, I closed the side panel that had come from my cheek that the Doctor had been poking with a screw driver, sealing it seamlessly in place.
*Ratatatatatatat* *Brrrrrrrrrrrrrt*
Uh Oh. That sounds like gunfire! I heard muffled shouting from beyond the reinforced door that held me in the Testing Lab, and I flipped a desk over to hide behind it. At that point, I noticed my hooves gradient had turned yellow, as well as the mane that was in my face. Moving closer to the desk, I saw the yellow glow of my eyes reflecting from the wooden underside of the desk.
: Status: Alert. Hostile intent detected in vicinity.
I doubt saying that I wasn't an enemy would do much good, so I just hope they don't check every-
*Beep. Beep. Beep. Bee beep. Beebeep.*
*Swish!*
The door flew up from its locks being released, as a scientist was shoved into the room and stumbled attempting to get his hoofing. They looked like Bo Peep!
"Get the hallways secure. You'd better not be lying, Sheep. Where's the prototype?" I heard a modified voice growl at the doctor.
"She's in here! She’s right... oh no, Where are you?!" he cried in exasperation, wheeling around and spotting the overturned desk I was hiding behind.
"It's okay! Come out, they won't hurt you! But they have guns!
"Objection: Individuals present are heavily armed with hostile intent. Your assessment of the situation is abysmal." I stated in an even mare's voice.
"Just grab the thing and let's go!" The electronic voice shouted, a burst from their weapon causing screams further down the hallway as they ducked inside.
"Get it -NOW-!" The commando ordered, shoving Bo Peep into me with a hind leg while they kept watch of the door.
A radio on the commando came to life, static and strained. "Finish planting those charges and get topside, on the double! Objectives have been secured and facility staff is neutralized. All secondary objectives are complete. Evac is now!"
The commando fired another burst towards the door, and I decided that I would rather go -with- the commando than go -against- the commando.
"Statement: We will follow your lead, Armed Individual."
With a glance at me through their mask, the Ministry of Awesome commando threw an apple grenade down the hallway which exploded a few moments later, drowning out the screams of Zebra's taking cover and alerting their comrades of the danger.
"Let's move!" They shouted, pointing the barrel of their weapon at the both of us and motioning to the door. "Get to the Verti-pad!"
"Directive acknowledged." I stated, already galloping out of the door as a mini-map of the area appeared in my peripheral vision that guided me through the winding passageways of devastation towards the Verti-pad. The once clean hallways were littered with the bloody mess of security and lab personnel that had been released from a meeting just a few moments before.
: Map updated. New pathway detected. Rerouting. A large hole had been blown into the wall, leading to another lab and signage pointing to the Verti-pad. I was surprised that I knew all of these terms, given that I had just recently awoken not long before.
: Note: SMI was updated with recent knowledge and information pertaining to the world. Software updates could not be located.
Well, it's something at least. I won't be totally clueless even though I've just come back from the dead, technically.
I rounded the sharp corner to find two commandos leveling their Battle Saddle mounted assault rifles at me, and slid to a halt next to a dead security guard.
"Hold it!" They shouted. I really had nothing else planned, and I wasn't expecting to run into anything else on my way to the Verti-pad.
"Hey wait, she’s not showing up as red on the EFS!" The commando on the left announced to their partner, as they moved slowly towards me.
What happened to that doctor and the other commando?
"Query: What is the location of the Ministry of Awesome Commando that was sent to the Sector Three Test Labs, as well as Doctor Bo Peep?" I stated more than questioned.
This drew odd looks between the two commandos, as their progress towards me halted.
"Who the hay talks like that?" The one on the right asked, to which the other shrugged.
"Whoever you are, you're coming with us. We don't need to let any spies go free." The left commando barked, lunging forward and grabbing me. I was apparently lighter than they had expected, as their toss turned into myself being catapulted overhead and behind the two of them, to smash into a desk.
The heck was that?
"Statement: This platform is composed of light weight polymer and alloys. Current weight stands at an impressive sixty macs. An immense improvement over the previous Platform, weighing at five hundred and forty macs." I stated calmly, moving some splintered debris and wood off of me and standing to see the frozen Commandos.
From behind them, Bo Peep and their other Commando comrade came around the corner out of breath.
"How... How the... Move... So fast!" The commando gasped between breaths, startling the other two.
"Alright, you're here. We'll figure out this weirdness later! Let’s go!" The leader beckoned, moving the sheep doctor to one of their backs as I joined them in trotting toward the Verti-pad.
***
The stairway leading to the surface was fairly short as soon as we got to it. The only obstacles at that point were all of the dead bodies and pools of slick blood on the floor.
"Observation: Please watch your step. Blood on the floor presents a tripping hazard."
"Pfft. Bahaha!" I heard a commando blurt out before quickly recovering their composure as we came to a door leading to the Verti-pad outside.
"I don't know who you are, but you are -so- random!" They said, opening the door by pressing a button that was connected to a device dangling by a cord.
There was a Verti-buck on the landing pad, joined by four more commandoes and some Sheep doctors that had apparently been captured in the raid. A splattered security guard lay next to the door terminal outside and we swiftly ran up the small ramp to the Verti-pad proper.
"This the last of us?" A commando asked, lowering their weapon.
"This is it! Let's get out of here before the party starts." The one to my right responded, and we loaded into the Verti-buck with haste as the commandos barked threats at those taking too long.
"Announcement: Power Level at ten Percent. Low Power." I stated, my voice shifting into a deeper tone as my senses toned down their effectiveness. Color faded from my sight, and I could no longer feel or taste the synthetic saliva in my mouth.
"Sight: Minimal. Audio: Minimal." I heard my gravelly voice state.
"What the hay -is- this thing?" The commando that had burst at my observation asked incredulously, before shaking their head.
"Never mind. Pilot! Get us out of here!" They called out.
The Verti-buck took a few moments to lift off of the ground, and we ascended enough to barely skim the ground as we flew away from the facility.
"Alright. Time for the party!" A commando gleefully cheered, pulling out a detonator from their combat webbing.
"Surprise!" They shouted, pressing the large red button on the device. Several deep booms were heard behind us, followed by a loud eruption of noise as they grey shifted facility exploded with black and grey flames spewing from the stairwell we had been at not a few moments before.
This low power sight is really weird. It's like I'm looking through a camera lens with filters on.
: Statement: Your eyes are synthetic. They are closer to a camera than a biological eye in every function. Color takes additional power to process, and has been removed to conserve power in the current low light environment.
"Statement: MTECC Systems disengaged. Power level at eight percent." I stated, my head lowering as I slumped to the floor.
"Statement: Movement Systems disengaged."
"Whoa, that's freaky cool. Wait a minute, Hey!" A commando suddenly blurted, looking around for a scientist. Soon, they returned with Bo Peep.
"Hey, this thing is making a whole bunch of racket about power levels and systems disengaging. You're an Egghead, so fix it!" They barked at the Scientist.
Bo Peep seemed terrified, but upon looking at me his mood shifted.
"Oh No, I must've forgotten to switch out the charging battery! All your systems are going offline to conserve energy! Oh, This won't do you any good to be outside at night!" he rambled, looking me over as I simply lay there on the floor of the Verti-buck as we hugged a mountain top and began a decent.
"You're all white now... That must mean your MTECC has gone offline. Hello? Can you hear me in there? Please tell me your Audio is still operational." He worried.
"Statement: You are audible. Power levels dropping. Shutting off auxiliary functions to conserve power. Engaging Power Save mode." I stated in response.
My vision started going black as it switched off entirely.
"Oh no! Nononono!" he blurted, as I heard muffled shouts of worry and my Audio went out.
My vision was pure black, but white scrolling text walked across my vision from left to right.
: Power Level at 50%. Would you like to engage systems? Y/N
Y
My senses came back in a flash, as I found myself being dragged across a forest floor filled with twigs, dirt and rock with a rope tied around my barrel. I noticed that my coat and mane were covered in dirt, dust, grime, with oil caked into it, effectively turning them a dirty brown and black. My cutie mark was not visible as well.
"You'd think a pony like this would be a lot heavier." I heard a mare's voice state.
"Couldn't you at least carry her on your back?" A stallion's voice responded.
"Hey, I don't know where she's been. She's absolutely filthy and looks like she's been dead for a century or two. You can carry her all the way to Trottington if you want to, but I'm sure as hell -not-." the mare replied lightly.
"Query: Why am I being dragged?" I asked, and the two ponies yelped in surprise as i felt the rope go slack.
"What the hell?! You're alive!" The mare blurted.
"Get the rope off, quick!" The stallion added, and I felt the rope come free of myself as I righted myself.
I found myself staring at two earth ponies, their torsos had a spiked heavy leather vest accompanied by coats, clothing and saddlebags that seemed to be packed with supplies. The mare had a holster on her left forehoof with what looked to be a shotgun, and the Stallion had an assault rifle hanging from his chest. The mare was a freckled earth brown pony with light red and mahogany mane and green eyes. The stallion was a dark blue with a silver and white mane, with lavender eyes.
"What the hell?!" The mare shouted, arming herself with her shotgun.
"Whoa, hold it there. Easy!" The stallion said, moving between the mare and myself.
"I'm sure there’s a totally normal reason why she just leapt up from the dead completely fine!" He looked at me nervously. "There is, right?"
The mare had lowered her shotgun and pointed it toward the ground, still in her mouth as she stared at me in confusion and alarm.
"Clarification: My power level has only recently arrived at an acceptable level to re-initialize systems. I was not 'Dead'." I stated.
"Power levels? Systems?" The stallion asked, disarmed from confusion and curiosity.
The mare holstered her shotgun and walked towards the both of us.
"What do you mean? You're not one of them Protect-a-ponies are you? You don't look like 'em." She asked.
"Clarification: I am Prototype Platform A7Z-13, from Lam-baa Research Center, Zebreca."
"Zebreca?!" They both armed themselves in a flash, pointing their weapons at me.
"We don't want any trouble, missy. We just found you layin’ mostly buried in an old Verti-buck wreck and with a whole load of skeletons. Don't want no trouble with the Remnant!" The stallion hurriedly stated, becoming more alarmed as I stared blankly between them.
I take it that these ponies are from the 'Not Zebra' lands?
"Query: You are Ponies of Equestria, correct?" I asked.
They looked between each other like I had said something stupid.
"Um, duh. We're a little ways away from Trottington. How long have you been out?" The mare asked.
"Last Timestamp: two hundred thirteen years, eight months, three weeks, two days, eighteen hours, forty seven minutes, three seconds." I reported.
The mare almost dropped her shotgun on the floor when her jaw started dropping as I listed off the time stamp, but caught her weapon in her forehooves as she dove to the ground.
"Celestia's Flank, that's a hell of a nap!" the Stallion said in surprise, lowering his rifle.
"Statement: Platform A7Z-13 is a Non-combatant infiltration prototype. This platform is not programmed for weapons use, combat or tactics. Threat level is listed as minimal." I stated
Really? We're gonna tell them I'm completely helpless? That's not the best plan to tell some ponies with guns that were dragging us on the ground not a few minutes ago, you think?
: Information Logged.
"Hey, is it just me, or is this thing's eyes glowing?" The mare said, pointing a hoof at my eyes.
"Yeah, they're glowing all right." He responded. He moved a hoof closer to my eye and I backed away in alarm.
"What the Fuck?!" he shouted, leaping away in surprise.
"How the hell did you make them go red?!"
"Statement: Contact to the eye with your hoof would result in temporary damage. It is not polite to poke other ponies in the eye." I stated.
They looked between themselves, and lowered their hooves with embarrassment.
"So..." The mare said.
"So..." The stallion trailed.
"I'm Garden Hooves!" The mare said suddenly, offering a hoof.
"I'm Silver Splint!" The stallion added, also holding out a hoof.
Seeing as I had two hooves to shake, I raised myself on my hind legs and stood vertically, standing above both of them with my height as I shook their hooves.
Their ears went back in fear for a second, and returned when I plopped myself down on all fours again. The stallion then face hoofed.
"Of -course- a Zebra thing can walk on their hind legs." he groaned.
"Query: Is walking on one's hind legs against a social grace I am unaware of? I have not been able to update my software in Two hundred thirteen years, eight mon--"
"Yeah, we get it! Don't go listing off how long you've been out. It just ain't normal for a pony to do that it all." The mare interrupted.
These two seem really on edge.
"Query: Are you alright?" I asked in my robotic, monotone mare's voice.
"No, I'm not. We just stumbled upon an old Verti-buck wreck, found a pony that's supposed to be dead, and then discovered the pony is actually a bucking -robot- from the past, and -then- discover that it’s made by Zebras as an infiltrator!"
I... Don't know what that is supposed to mean.
"Query: What is the source of your concern?"
"You could kill us in your sleep, or vanish like you have a pip buck or some other creepy shit!" He strained in an aggravated tone.
"Clarification: I do not sleep, I do not have a Stealth-buck, although I have an integrated Pip-buck, and actively seek to be 'not-creepy'." I responded.
"Well you could still kill us!" He shouted.
"Note: I am a Non Combatant model. I do not have programming for murder." I replied.
"Well... Fine then. I still don't trust you, though. Freakin' robots." the Stallion huffed, moving away to gather some things that had fallen from his saddlebags.
"So, your eyes usually shift color?" The mare asked, walking closer to me and setting off several 'personal space violation' alerts. "Because they're back to being yellow again."
"Statement: The MTECC system classifies current situation as dangerous. Yellow is Alert status. Red is Danger status. Blue is All Clear status."
"Oooh! You have blue eyes normally? What else?!" She pressed, leaning in very close to me and causing me to shift backwards to avoid contact.
"Statement: Mane, Tails, Eyes, Coat and Cutie mark change based off of alert status. Low power causes MTECC to go offline, leaving me completely white." I stated.
"Wow! We knew you were filthy, but that's an unreal level of grime if your coat is supposed to be white!" Garden Hooves quickly shot out a hoof and lifted a foreleg of mine, showing me the oil stained and dirty limb.
"Are you two done gawking about each other over there? We have to get back to the fort!" Silver Splint grumbled, returning from his tasks.
"Clarification: I was answering questions directed to me by Garden Hooves."
"Don't be such a grump, Silver! She's really cool!" Garden Hooves pouted, getting to her hooves and holstering her shotgun that she had been holding this entire time, out of sight.
"I don't care, I just hope the boss finds a use for it. I can't even tell if that thing has anything that would qualify it as a mare, aside from the voice and figure." she replied.
"What do you mean by that, Silvy?" Garden asked, beckoning me to join the two of them to their destination.
"She's lacking in the 'Marehood department'." He replied curtly.
"Wait, What?!" She yelped, before running behind me and gasping.
"She doesn't have any naughty bits! Nooo!" She cried.
What.
"Query: What." I repeated, somehow sounding even blanker in my vocalization.
"How can we sell you, if you don't have any fun-bits?!" Garden cried, hitting me on my side in anger.
The strike didn't do more than make me have to right myself, but it was clearly intended to harm me. I looked at her, and saw my red eyes in the reflection of her pupil as she shrinked back a bit.
"Request: Please do not strike me. You may cause injury to yourself."
This caused Silver to stop in his tracks and turn around.
"Did that thing seriously just tell you to stop hitting it, because you might hurt -yourself- ?" He asked. "I seriously just heard that?"
Garden huffed and stomped a hoof at me before looking to Silver. "You sure know how to pick 'em, don't you?" she whined.
"Look, we'll just sell it at Trottington and get the hell out before anypony realizes anything is up. Alright?" He argued.
"Well how are they gonna look past those red eyes if they keep changing?!" She shouted back, barring her teeth.
"We'll just blindfold it! Simple!"
"What, and get less caps because they think she's a cripple?!"
"Hey, don’t get up on my case because we got a wildcard of a catch!"
Seeing the two become completely focused in arguing with each other, I took this as my most opportune moment to put my infiltration programming to good use, and quietly moved away from them as they began to roll around in an aggressive ball of flailing hooves.
***
Certain that I was finally far enough away, I began a steady canter away from the dead forest that I had been dragged through. The ground was littered with garbage that had blown through it, old food cans and wrappings, dead foliage and a few shell casings.
The trees looked like they had seen better days, but if there was dead foliage then I assume that it was sometime around autumn. I noted a light breeze coming through the forest, but it carried the faint sound of somepony screaming.
My ears swiveled on my head to pinpoint the source of the noise, bringing me towards a flowing river. Scanning up the banks, I noticed a mare reaching over the flowing water to a filly that had been stuck on a log. It was just wide enough to get stuck between two large rocks, but the filly was too frightened to move toward the mare.
The log seemed rotten, so I assumed that was the reason the mare didn't simply walk out and grab the foal. My EFS Sensors listed them both as yellow, so they weren’t trying to hurt each other.
I galloped over to the other side of the riverbank, and offered my hoof the frightened filly.
"You get away from my daughter!" The mare yelled, as I looked up to see her pointing a crude pipe weapon at me.
I took my hoof away from the filly, and sat down passively on the spot. I reasoned that with the situation and her level of stress, suddenly adding a talking robot to the mix would not be the best course of action.
: Information Logged.
After a few moments of tensely staring at me, she dropped her weapon to let it hang loosely on the sling around her chest. She reached out her hoof again to her daughter, who was more willing to move now. Even if the reason was to move away from me.
"Come on honey, you have to jump!" The mare begged, holding out her forehooves to her daughter to catch her.
"I'm scared!" The filly complained.
"I know honey, I'm scared too. You've got to do this! You can do this!" she encouraged, waving her hooves to beckon her closer.
As the filly moved closer to her mother, the log began shifting its position as the weight changed. I took this as my signal to get up, despite the death glare from the mother, and stand on the opposite end of the log. It balanced out, and the filly was able to make more progress. I followed after her, ensuring that she would be able to reach her mother. I was now standing in the center of the log when the filly lept off, knocking the log loose and sending myself rolling off of the now mobile log down the river.
I bobbed to the surface like a buoy, my lightweight frame and composition making it nearly impossible for me to sink as I reached out to grab onto anything to stop my free-floating down the river.
: Note: Water is below recommended temperature. Motion control fluids are freezing. Recommend exit of water.
Yep, I can see that. Doing my best.
"Hey! Grab hold!" I heard the mare shout, her filly on her back and holding out the pipe rifle to me as she galloped along the river after me. I was drifting towards another tree, but its limbs were arranged like a spike trap to skewer me. I pushed off of a rock that I had almost crashed into, sending me out of the water to latch onto the rifle. The mare yanked herself away from the river, sending myself and her foal tumbling away onto the dead grass. The rifle itself was flung into the forest nearby.
: Diagnostics Check: Motion Online. Sensors Online. All Systems Nominal. Threat Level: Alert.
I heard movement behind me, and looked up to see the face of a grateful filly before she hugged my head with all her strength as I lay there.
"Thank you, Lady!" she chirped, ending her hug and quickly running over to her mother who was now getting up.
I took quick stock of my appearance, and noted that my coat has become somewhat cleaned by the river, as well as my mane and hair now showing some of its color from behind the oil that had slicked it.
"Hey. What do you want? Caps, Food?" The mare cautiously asked.
What, is she afraid I’m going to hurt her after I helped her?
I looked up at the mare, who retreated a bit upon noticing my glowing yellow eyes before regaining herself.
"What the hell -are- you?" She asked, before realizing she didn't have her pipe rifle and looking worried.
"Hay Bell, Go find my gun!" She whisper shouted, as if I wouldn’t hear her.
"Okay mom!" Hay Bell said, trotting to the forests edge before shortly cheering and bringing the pipe rifle back with the barrel in her mouth to give to her mother.
"Hay Bell! Don't hold it like that, it’s dangerous!" she scolded, before patting her on the head when Hay looked sad, and returning her attention to me.
"Alright, speak. What the hell are you, and what do you want?" she squinted in suspicion.
"Statement: I witnessed the peril of your situation, and sought to assist." I stated truthfully.
"Yeah, out of the kindness of your heart? What do you want out of it?" She asked.
"Statement: We harbor no intent to profit from your misfortune." She looked shocked for a moment, but still wary.
"Really. And you don't have anypony waitin' out in the forests to come rob us or worse?"
"Clarification: I have only recently escaped capture from two ponies that sought to sell me for profit. I do not have companions or acquaintances."
"Likely sob story. Just you get on your way out of here, and don't give us trouble." She grumbled, calling her filly and walking backwards away, with her rifle pointed at me.
Well. That's one way to interact with ponies I guess. Still no luck with finding anypony that will stick around long enough to get some information.
***
Following the river in the opposite direction from the filly and mare, I came to a large clearing that revealed a ramshackle structure held together by propped up boards, some sheets of metal and bags of concrete used as bricks.
: Power Level at 57%
Huh. I was actually still charging this whole time.
I looked up into the sky, to find it cloud covered like a blanket.
At least I can still charge when it’s cloudy, I guess.
I moved closer to the shanty, as a small meter on my vision in the bottom left started ticking up.
: Note: When Radiation reaches over 1000 Rads, do not interact with life forms.
Absorbed radiation will cause harm to biological life forms.
Oh, well it’s good to know that I can both survive radiation, and use it to power myself.
Sucks about the whole 'stay away from ponies' aspect of it though.
I reached the door of the structure, as the meter angrily clicked at me. Opening the door with a creak, I saw a pony shaped figure laying on a bed made out of stacked leather hides. There was a White and orange barrel with a Radiation symbol on it in the corner, and a radio sitting atop of it. The floor was simply dirt, and there was a box with items on the other side of the room. A weapon lay next to the figure sleeping.
Wait, something is sleeping next to this radiation? And they're -not- dead?
: Information Logged.
"Query: Hello?" I asked in my continuing monotone mare's voice.
The figure shifted a bit on the bed, and after a moment I asked again.
"Query: Are you all right?"
The figure bolted upright and snarled, grabbing its weapon and pointing it at the doorway where I stood, propping the makeshift door open.
"What do you want?!" It growled, the voice gravelly and rasping. "Matter of fact, Why aren't you dead yet? You better not be another ghoul, cause this is my house. Mine!"
The figure was obscured by shadow, as the shack had no windows. I turned on my Light amplification to find out two things.
One. My eyes glow green when I use that module.
Two. The figure's coat was gone, replaced by what looked like melted and fused skin. Its eyes were a sickly yellow with its mane barely there as thin strands. It was dressed in a Metal chest plate with leather barding, complete with ammunition pouches across the chest plate.
Wow. That’s one hell of a wrong side of the bed to wake up to in the morning.
: Information Logged.
"Query: Are you all right?" I asked.
The 'ghoul' squinted at me, before its eyes widened in shock and it bolted out of the bed, running toward me.
"Get out of my house!" It yelled, shoving me onto back and slamming the door in my face.
Well. Guess it’s okay.
I picked myself up and cantered away from the radioactive hut, the clicking sound of me becoming irradiated lessening. I had amassed around three hundred rads just from that short interaction.
: Information: Radiation levels acceptable for contact with Non-Ghoul lifeforms. Power Level at 68%.
Wow! That gave me a ton of power. I hope it processes the rest of it before I find anypony else though.
: Information: Radiation processed at 30 Rads per minute.
Alright. I should be good then. That’s pretty impressive as well. One rad every two seconds?
: Confirmed.
Well then. Let’s see if I can find some ponies that won't think I’m evil and trying to kill them, then. I wonder why I'm not freaking out about anything. I know that I'm a soul that’s powering this robot, somehow, but...
: Information: Higher psychological functions and integration with the Soul-Machine Interface were the next planned stage of Prototyping.
Ah, well that explains it. Would be pretty terrible to have to deal with those emotions since I just woke up in a wasteland of crazy ponies in a place I don't know with no friends.
My MTECC system had returned to All Clear after a while of walking around, taking in the scenery of devastated and rotting landscape before me. The EFS wasn't picking up anything remotely threatening, although at one point it had tried convincing me that a large cockroach was a threat. I decided to just walk past it, and it left me alone.
Apparently I'm not tasty enough to be dinner.
I had seen the ruins of a town on the horizon, and decided that if I wanted to find ponies, then I should travel to a town. It would either be filled with ponies that were amiable enough to not shoot another, or would be a ghost town. Eventually I would run into a town with ponies. I had wondered if they would try to sell me for parts, but given that I looked more pony than robot, they probably wouldn't know how.
I don't want to test the assumption, but my database says that Ponies generally don't like to destroy things that look like Ponies. The slavers hadn't harmed me, the Mother and her foal were nice enough, and the Ghoul just wanted to sleep in peace. So overall, that was holding up to scrutiny. I did make note of the fact that I was going to be sold for 'caps', although I didn't know what kind of caps they referred to.
It could be Baseball caps, bootlace caps, eraser caps, bottle caps, or anything else that had been invented to cap something. Oh, a hub cap!
The stainless-steel disk of a hub cap was laying along a broken road. Looking around and finding nopony around, I decided to bring the hub cap with me, and balanced it on my back. I would probably be able to find something to wrap it around myself at some point so that it would be easier to carry. For now, though, I had currency!
Now I just had to find civilization, and mingle with the locals. Well, as much as I was able to. I probably had a few programs that were useful in that respect.
Huh. Well, with all of the weapons that everypony seems so fond of using, Medical, Sewing and Herbology should be the most useful for now.
: Initiating SMI Upload for: Medical.
I stopped in my tracks, my vision being flooded with walls of text as I zoned out to process all kinds of Medicinal knowledge. From first aid to surgery, I was inundated with book after book of study and practice, and the practical knowledge of application in my environment.
"Hey! You okay?" I heard a faint voice, before I was tapped on the side of the head.
"Hello?" The voice asked much clearer.
"Upload in Progress. Forty percent complete. Please Wait." I droned, as more text blocked my vision. It was overlapping the blank spaces between other texts so that my entire view was white.
"Uh, that don't sound healthy. You sure?" the voice asked.
"Upload in Progress. Sixty seven percent complete. Please wait." I droned.
"Oh, well that's pretty fast actually. I don't know what any of that means, but it sounds like you'll be done in a jiffy."
: MTECC: Alert
"Whoa! Lookit that! You must be uploadin' some color to ya, missy!" the voice chuckled.
"Upload in Progress. Ninety percent complete. Please Wait."
"That’s just fine Missy, I can wait." I heard the click of a weapon.
"Upload Complete. Medical Software Installed. Thank you for your patience."
"Hold on, Medical?" The weapon clicked again, as I turned to see an older stallion in spiked leather and metal barding point a hunting rifle down. He was filthy, but he had orange eyes. He had a cutie mark of a bullseye on his flank.
"Yall sayin' you're good at patchin' ponies up?" He asked. I wasn’t sure if he was friendly or not, but MTECC decided for me.
: MTECC: Danger
"Hey, don't you go gettin' all upset at me, none!" He warned, pointing the rifle at my head.
"Observation: I am unarmed, and unarmored. I have only a Hub Cap as my possessions. You are pointing a hunting rifle at my head. This is cause for alarm." I stated.
He seemed a little jarred by my robotic response, pointing his gun in my direction, but off to the side and away from directly pointing the barrel at my head.
"You a robot or somethin?" He asked warily.
"Designation: Ay seven zee dash one three. Lam-Baa Research Center Prototype." I omitted the 'Zebreca' part of the information, given last time.
"Nope, that’s way too much word soup. You gotta get a shorter name than that, missy." He responded, lowering the gun and letting it rest on his chest.
"Query: What would you suggest?"
"How about... Azzie?" He offered.
Hmm. That's not bad. It's not a pony name, but I'm not a pony either. It's more or less close to how it would be spelled if converted to letters as well.
"For example, mine is One Shot. Cause it only takes me one shot to kill a pony dead. Get it?" He smiled morbidly, exposing a few rotting teeth and a fleck of his most recent meal.
Good thing I wasn't programmed to be repulsed.
"Agreement: This name is acceptable. Thank you for your suggestion." I answered in a higher monotone, hopefully to convey appreciation.
"There ya go, Azzie! I got to name a robot. That means this was a pretty good day, in -my- books at least. Now, I heard you saying something about Medical knowledge?" he asked.
"Confirmation: You are correct."
"Well, I got a few friends of mine that need patchin' up. We got a whole lot of medical supplies that we rai-- I mean, we scavenged, and healing potions as well. Only problem is that our 'doc got... eaten! By a Hellhound!" he clearly lied, but if this was the interaction with ponies that I would get, I couldn't turn it down.
"Agreement: We will accompany you and assist your friends."
He let out held air with visible relief, and threw a hoof around my neck. The grime and sweat rubbing off on me.
"You and I, Azzie, are gonna get along -juuuust- fine." he said with a smile, and releasing me.
***
We came upon a roughshod fortress made of railcars and chunks of reinforced concrete bunker that had been moved around at some point in the past. It would've either taken a small army to move, or a few very strong ponies to move all of that. In any case, we were let through the gates after a short shouting match with the guards on the Railcar walls. I was lead at gunpoint through the fortress, around several 'privacy' cars and through a draped canvas into a room filled with bleeding and screaming raiders.
"Scan Initiating." I stated, as I swept my vision across those laying on the ground as my EFS Targeted and analyzed each 'patient' on the ground.
"Twelve casualties. Two deceased. Please remove deceased patients from medical area. Medical Supplies needed." I stated, moving to the worst of the injured raiders.
They were covered in blood that was soaked into their coat. Their armor had long since been stripped off, but the dirty outline of where it had been was plain to see. A long gash accented with a bullet wound in the center was across his belly. Presumably he was slit open and shot in the stomach afterwards.
Two raiders carrying a large box between them dropped it next to me, shared a look of confusion at me, and then walked outside as I got to work, doing surprisingly well with my new medical knowledge to fix and mend the raiders.
***
Many hours had passed, and the raiders were surprised that I had continued to work without pause into the night as I finished tending to the last of the raiders, who was too weak to complain about being last.
One raider had died, despite my treatment, due to inhaling Dash as I was working on them. They overdosed from the drug, and convulsed enough to rip their stitching apart and spill their guts on the bedding. At that point I stopped working on them, and moved to the next after washing my hooves and mouth of the blood that had spattered them.
One Shot came through the door as I was wrapping the last in bandages to hold them from moving their broken foreleg.
"Well, I'll be damned. You actually did it! You're the best robot we ever didn't break, Azzie." He laughed, poking my side with a filthy hoof as I finished tightening a bandage.
"Confirmation: Those who are presently injured have been tended to. One casualty from self-inflicted overdose. Eleven survivors. Recovery will be dependent on supplies received and time given to recuperate." I stated.
"Hey, that’s a lot more than our old doc' would've been able to pull off with. We've held a meeting while you worked, and decided that you're gonna be our 'Involuntary Medical Doctor' on indefinite notice." He said with guarded expression.
"Agreement: You currently house a large population of ponies in the Wasteland. It would be irresponsible to leave your basic medical needs unattended." I replied.
That, and they had a whole mess of guns. There was no way I would be getting out of here at this point, even If I wanted to. Besides, they hadn't tried to kill me, injure me or anything else that was overly malicious yet, so it was a win-win.
"You're probably the first robot I've ever encountered that didn't try blasting us first chance it could get. On top of that, you saved a bunch of our crew! I'll have to introduce you to the boss myself at this rate." he stated, rubbing a dirty hoof under his chin in thought.
"Yep, that settles it. I’m gonna take you to the boss!" he said suddenly, pulling me with a hoof to follow him.
"Agreement: We will follow."
***
"What the hell is -this-, One Shot?" The very large Mare asked. I don't mean to imply that she was obese, I mean that she was -massive-. Easily six to seven hooves tall and armored head to hoof in steel plate, chains and spikes. She had a battle saddle with a minigun and two assault rifles on it. She also wore a helmet, but that was resting on the ground next to her. The helmet was actually the skull of an infant hydra, with a large crack splitting the jaw. It was armored with metal plates as well.
"This, is Azzie. She's a medical robot that I found while I was looking for stuff to practice shooting. Just standing in the middle of a road with a hub cap on her back." One Shot said, nervous and jittery.
"Medical Robot? And it didn't try to kill you?" She asked.
"Nope! Was busy uploading something and told me to wait. Then it agreed to follow me."
"What was it uploading?" The mare asked, leaning forward menacingly.
"J-just medical stuff, boss!" he stammered.
"Cause if it was a Steel Ranger robot, and it was uploadin' our position, we're gonna need a medical bot just to find what’s left of you, One Shot." She threatened with a grim smile.
"Y-yes boss, I'm sure she's fine!"
"Why do you keep calling it ‘she’?”
"Well, it has a mare's voice, boss!" He whimpered.
"Confirmation: 'One Shot' is correct." I stated plainly.
"Oh, so it speaks." She said, leaning back into her throne and huffing.
"How good is it?" She asked, after a moment's reflection.
"Saved eleven, she says. One of them was an idiot and took dash while she was operatin'. Just moved onto the next one after that."
"Cold. I like it." She smiled. "Hey, robot. You try anything funny and I'll break you."
"Statement: Objection to humor is noted."
"You try'n to be funny with me, tin can?" she barked, leaning forward in anger.
: MTECC: Danger
"Whoa... Whoa-ho-ho! You change color! That’s a special kind of fancy robot you found there, One Shot." she said, suddenly amused as the tension in the room deflated rapidly.
: MTECC: Alert
"Very cool. Alright, One Shot. We'll keep her. Better than our last doctor, even if she -is- a Soup can." She waved a large armored hoof for us to go away, and I followed One Shot as he almost tripped on his way out of the Boss's Railcar.
***
"So, You need to sleep, or eat or anything?" One Shot asked. We were in his railcar.
The ground was covered in empty Dash inhalers and beer bottles. There was a rotting and soggy couch along with a destroyed welcome mat on the side, and a bunk bed missing a mattress on the bottom on the other. He also had a few boxes that held weapons and ammunition.
"Assurance: I do not need to eat or sleep. I only require sunlight or radiation to recharge. Cloud cover provides enough charge to maintain operational status."
"So... you're good?"
"Confirmation: I am 'good'." I replied.
"Oh, I was gonna mention something but I guess It wouldn't make much sense, you bein' a medical robot and all."
"Query: What were you going to ask?"
"Why don't you got any mare-parts?"
"This platform was not designed with those parameters in mind. This is a proof of concept platform with some major alterations to Operating System and Module functionality." I replied.
"Ah... Well whatever that means what you just said, it’s a shame you don't got any. Mare-parts, that is." He said, putting his rifle on a square table next to the ammunition he had stored.
"Oh, you don't shoot nopony, right? You're a medical bot after all. What with that one oath and everything."
"Confirmation: This Platform is not designed for combat."
"Right. Well, you just go do whatever it is that you robots do. I'm gonna get some sleep." he said, wiggling out of his grimy and filth covered spiked armor as it clattered to the floor, sending flakes of dirt and mud from One Shot shaking his mane.
"Concern: Your level of filth presents a health hazard. Were you to be injured, you would be at increased risk of harboring infection in your wounds. Cleaning is recommended."
"You sayin' I need a bath?"
"Confirmation: Yes."
"Cause my wounds'll get all messed up even worse if I don't?"
"Repeat: Yes."
"Well then. Guess I'll do that at some point. Now get outta here, I need to sleep." he waved a hoof at me, a fleck of dirt bouncing from my face.
"Oop." he shrugged, before climbing onto the top bunk and snoring loudly after a few moments of observation.
Alright. Time to see what the ponies are like, here.
***
I walked out of the railcar, closing the sliding door behind me, and walked toward a large circular table with ponies gathered around it. There was tent cover overhead, and a lantern next to the table to provide illumination.
The gathered raiders were playing some kind of card game, with a few knives stabbed into the table around them within mouth's reach.
"Alright, Shanks. You try and cheat again, and we all get ta' stab you. Hear?" A jittery and skinny unicorn mare with a visor over her horn said, flicking cards between the four other ponies at the table.
"We got ya, Deals. Just get on with it." The pony whom I assumed to be 'Shanks' replied. He was an earth pony. Coloration between the gathered raiders was fairly moot, as they too were covered in filth.
"Ah'right. Dis' game is so simple, a blind foal could do it. So no cheatin'!" Deals snapped, an eye twitching as her visor blocked her vision for a moment and was soon re-adjusted to balance on her horn.
"Game's called 'Go Fish'. Ah'right?" She showed all of them a card. "Dis is a one, see? If it's your turn, and you want another card you'se got, you ask if a pony got a one. If they do, they hand it over nice an' slow. Ifn' dey don't, they tells ya to kindly fuck off. 'Dis goes to the next pony, and 'dey ask if 'dey got any of anotha' card 'dat 'dey need. Usually goes till everypony gets bored, or somepony gets upset and kills a fuck. Got it?" she explained with an odd accent.
"Yeah, Deals. We get ya, just pass us da' cards already." Shanks complained.
"Hey, Isn't that the one robot doc'?" A raider pointed to me, over his cards. When everypony's head was turned, he took a sip of somepony else's drink.
"Yeah, it is! Hey Tin, get over 'ere!" Shanks beckoned me with a hoof, and I made with polite haste to the group.
"You wanna play Go Fish?" Shanks asked, looking sideways at Deals.
"Agreement: I overheard the rules of the game while observing you. I would like to participate." I said.
"'Ey! isn' that great. Shanks actually made a friend. Hey Mincey, you owe me. Pay up." Deals asked the raider that stole a sip of beverage earlier, motioning with their hoof for something to arrive.
With an utterance of curses, Mincey (Who had a cutie mark of sliced meat) placed a small bag in Deals' hoof.
Deals shook the bag a bit, the rattling of thin metal being heard from within.
"If dis ain't caps, I'm gonna geld ya, got it?" she warned.
Mincey nodded, and looked back to me.
"Hey, you ain't programmed to cheat, is ya?" Another raider asked to my left.
"Ease off the mare-bot, Slink! She just got here an' it’s rude to accuse a mare o' cheatin'." Deals snapped at 'Slink'.
"You aren't though, right?" Deals asked with an aside, using a hoof to shield her mouth as she leaned over the table and shuffled the deck with her telekinesis.
"Assurance: I have not been updated with a module to cheat, Deals." I replied in monotone.
"Ey! Isn't that great. The first honest player I've had here. Oh wait, you can't lie either, can you?"
"Observation: If I was able to lie, then my assurances that I was incapable of lying would be false, and render the question pointless."
"Oh-ho! A smart robot! A bit wordy, but at least it's honest." Deals applauded, finishing the deck shuffling and giving all of us cards.
"Oh Right, I forgot a part o' da rules. There’s gonna be a pool o' cards in the middle here. Nopony has a card you want, and you take one from da center. You get too many cards, you gotta give em up to the pile. No more'n ten cards, ya hear?" Deals added to her explanation of the rules.
"Statement: The rules are well understood. Thank you for your explanation, Deals."
"Hey Deals, I think the mare-bot is hittin' on ya!" Shanks joked, poking Deals in the side with a bottle.
"Ey! No touchy!" Deals snapped, slicing the bottle in half and breaking it with a large knife she held with her telekinesis, showering the table with liquid.
"Aaahhh, Look what you done!" Deals growled, pointing the knife at Shanks.
"Ey, Don't you lookit me like that! Its yer own fault yer so touchy!" Shanks said with hooves raised in surrender, as I noticed his hind hooves holding a knife of his own.
: MTECC: Danger
"Observation: Your community will be impaired should you injure another. Medical supplies would be wasted in treating an injury that could have been prevented. Please refrain from endangering the community." I stated.
"Whoa!" They said in unison, looking at my suddenly threatening appearance with their ears back in alarm.
"Ey, take it easy mare-bot! Everything is cool here, gal. Real cool." Deals said in a calming tone, setting her knife down on the table but still pointed directly at Shank's heart.
"Yeah, everything's cool." Shanks said, setting his knife down and looking at Deals.
The situation defused, and soon with the cards cleaned off, we set down to play Go Fish for the next four hours straight.
***
"How in the hell is you so good at dis game, mare-bot? You won like, the past sixteen times in a row!" Mincey protested, throwing his cards into the middle of the table in defeat.
"Hey Mincey, stop hittin' on the mare-bot already. It ain't her fault you so bad at the maths." Shanks teased.
"Ey, you been losin' too, Shanks!" Mincey complained.
"Compromise: If you wish, I could withdraw from the game for a moment and allow you to play amongst yourselves."
"Hah, the mare-bot is sayin' you should go play with ya'self, Mincey!"
"She was speakin' to all of us, you knit!" Mincey shot back.
"Enough!" Deals shouted, slamming the deck of cards down.
"We've been at dis all night. I'm tired. Nothin' happened on night watch, so I'm gettin' my rest. If you'se wanna join me, go for it. Just no funny business or I'll have your testicles." she warned, pointing her knife towards the stallions at the table.
"Request: I have additional modules that required uploading. I would like to accompany you."
"I tol' ya the mare-bot was hittin' on ya, Deals!" Shanks roared with laughter, doubling over and soon yelping in pain as he had nicked himself with the knife under the table. Deals simply shot metaphorical daggers at Shanks as he inspected the small cut on his hind leg, and I soon followed Deals to her Railcar.
I had spent the night facing the door to Deals' railcar. I was busy uploading the Sociology and Computer Technologies programs, when Deals suddenly awoke and hit her head on the roof of the railcar.
"Ow!" She yelped, rubbing her head with a hoof and looking down at me.
"You been there the whole night?" she asked.
"Confirmation: I have been uploading my Sociology and Computer Technologies routines to my base operating system. I have not moved."
"Right... So, I just got an idea. I'm gonna go wake up Shanks and Mincey, you go get One Shot. Got it?" she had a mischievous smile on her face.
"Query: To what location should I arrive with One Shot?"
"Take 'em to the boss. This plan o' mine is gonna be perfect." she then hopped from her bed, and opened the railcar door to be blinded by the light of the morning outside.
The clouds remained persistent in covering the sky.
After Deals had left, I went off in search of One Shot. I later found him after wandering through the fortress and discovering him sitting outside of his own railcar on a plastic lawn chair with the back broken off.
"Hey, Azzie. How you doin'?" he asked in good spirits.
"Statement: You are requested by Deals to meet the Boss. Deals is convinced that a plan of hers will be beneficial to the community."
"Oh, Deals has a plan? This'll be good. She don't normally get involved in raids." he mused, before gathering his rifle and donning his armor.
***
We arrived at the same time as Deals, Shanks and Mincey. Shanks had a knife sheathed in every part of his armor that he could manage. He wore a light leather barding with black clothing underneath, each limb holding a knife along with his chest holding four more. Deals had a metal chestplate as well as black clothing, a 44. Magnum revolver on her right foreleg holster, as well as two nine millimeter pistols holstered on her shoulders. Mincey, however, had a very large serrated sword resting on his back, as well as metal plating covering his front but leaving his rear exposed. He wore black clothing, and had a few grenades clipped to some sewn together chest webbing.
"Ah, shit. I forgot to tell ya, Azzie. This plan of mine has to happen at night, so One Shot is gonna need something to blend into the dark. I don't think you're gonna do much hidin', since you tend to be a night light an' all." Deals mentioned, and One Shot bolted off in search of clothing. Around four minutes later, he returned properly dressed.
"All right. Let's go talk to tha' boss."
***
We all walked in as a group through the armored doors of the railcar to the Boss' throne. She was waiting in her usual heavy metal and leather plating with spikes.
"'Ey, Boss. I gots a plan." Deals opened, and caught the attention of the Boss.
"Yeah, and what bright idea do you have this time? I mean that completely sincerely; you usually have good ideas." The boss replied.
"You know that trader post we spotted a few weeks ago, that’s usually too heavily defended on account of all the wounded we get from just raidin' their caravans?"
"Yeah, what about it?"
"Well, I got to thinkin'. We got us a really fancy mare-bot now. I noticed last night while we was playin' Go Fish that her eyes do funny things. Things that look like zoomin' in."
"Hey! You -were- cheatin’!" Mincey protested, before being struck by Shanks to shut him up.
"So the robot can spy on 'em?" The boss asked, interested.
"That was my thinkin'. Normally we can't get to close to get any good looks, but with Azzie here, (That’s the name of the mare-bot, by the by.) I think we can get a good enough look to see their layout and plan an attack. Take the base over if we need ta'."
"Then we just have the problem of enough ponies to raid it, right?" The boss mentioned.
"Yeah, well I got that solved too. Ya see, that last caravan raid we did landed us a whole load of explosives. We just figure out where their defense is heavy, send in a fake attack of a few folks with twice the guns, so during the night they think its a lot more. Meanwhile, we sneak around and plant explosives where it’s less defended. We blow up a wall, and rush in while they're confused. Ponies up front get to withdraw and come through the hole in the wall along with us, and we take em from the inside. On top o' that, One Shot here is gonna be on that hilltop nearby the place and be shootin' any idiot too dumb to poke their head out. They usually got the inside of the place well lit."
"If you know so much about the place, why do you want to send in the mare-bot to do scoutin’?"
"Well, there’s always the possibility that Azzie'll see somethin' we don't, and it’s better to be prepared, right?"
"That's a good point." the Boss said, leaning back once more into her throne and thinking. After a moment, she leaned forward again.
"All right. I think it's a good plan. We'll have you and the mare-bot go scout ahead. I know that our new 'doc don't take well to violence, but we're gonna need her during the attack anyway. Try an' cover up her glowin bits as much as possible with some black clothes so she blends in better. Maybe we got some welding goggles layin' around somewhere for those eyes. In the meantime, you tell us what's what with the base, and we'll go from there."
"You got it, boss!" Deals cheered, moving out of the railcar with all of us.
"Alright, that went perfect. We just gotta find you some fancy clothes to make your glowin' less obvious, and we can go scout out the place." Deals said, looking to me.
"Agreement: The situation presented with require my presence. Should any of the community be injured, I will be obliged to assist. This also applies to those combatants of the Trader Outpost that surrender or are unable to continue fighting."
"Why would you help any o' them?" she asked, joined by curious looks from Shanks and Mincey.
"Explanation: Any wounded ponies in the area would be grateful to receive assistance, and may join the community in response to treatment."
The three of them looked between themselves, before Deals spoke up.
"You're a really smart mare-bot, you know that?" she beamed, wrapping a hoof around my neck in a side hug as she led me to the Fortress Armory.
***
"Okay, we got a whole bunch o' threads here. You're gonna want saddlebags to carry all your doctorin' stuff, right?" She asked, moving around a messy pile of clothing.
"Confirmation: At least two saddlebags. One for healing potions, the other for bandages, medical tools and other supplies I may require."
Two rather large black saddlebags flew out of the heap and landed next to me. They were made of cured leather, and looked fairly sturdy.
"Got those off o' the caravan we raided a while back. Good as new, and probably are." Deals called from the pile, continuing her search.
I stared at the saddle bags for a moment, before my face was covered in darkness.
"Hey! Ten points. Got ya right on the face with that one!" Deals cheered, before removing the clothing from my face.
"Alright, let’s get this on you so you'se can get ready."
***
The black clothing and welding goggles that I wore made it significantly easier to blend in with the community. The only problem was that the welding goggles themselves made it more difficult to see on account of the heavy tinting.
"Ow! Watch it there, Azzie. I know them goggles ain't meant for anything but weldin' but you can still see. At least I hope." Deals snapped.
"Concern: These goggles may shield my eyes from 'givin' me away to them idiots down there', but they are extremely limiting my vision."
"Did you just use my voice in a quote?" Deals asked, turning around abruptly and causing me to bump into her again.
"Confirmation: Yes. Part of the Sociology program included that: 'Mimicry is the sincerest form of flattery.' and I thought it best that instead of using my standard voice, that I would replay what you stated previously to get the same sentiment of situation across."
"Oh grief, Shanks is right. You're hittin' on me." She facehoofed, before continuing along our route to overlook the Trader Post.
***
"Okay, what do you see with them fancy eyes o' yours?" Deals asked. We were prone along the ridgeline of forest overlooking the Trader Post below. It was nestled in a narrow valley with a wooden wall running around the perimeter of the Post. A single road led through the town, from the heavily guarded main gates on the east and west side of the encampment. Each gate had a tower on the sides with a heavy machinegun guarding it. The gates had an average of five guards: One on the machinegun, two in the left tower and two on the middle battlements overhead of the gate. The inside of the town had a few cages with ponies in them, looking malnourished and abused. The gate on the east side became frantic with activity, and I saw four ponies approaching along the road.
"Alert: Activity on eastern gate." I replied, pointing with a hoof towards the gate. I zoomed in further, to find Silver Splint and Garden Hooves dragging the Mare and Hay Bell from the river into the encampment.
"Observation: This is not a Trading Outpost. This is a Slaver Outpost."
"No kiddin'? We figured it was tradin' with all them caravans coming through here." Deals noted, taking interest in the activity below.
The slavers allowed the new arrivals through the gate, as I saw Garden Hooves kick the mare to move her along. Hay Bell looked upset, but was silenced by an aggressive feint by a nearby slaver.
"Observation: If the populace of this community is Slaves, then they will be more willing to join our own community if we free them from their servitude. In order to secure the allegiances of the Slaves, we should allow them to kill any surviving slavers of the camp."
I zoomed out after not receiving a reply from Deals for a moment, to find her staring at me.
"One Shot wasn't lyin'. You're stone cold, Azzie." Deals said, regaining control of her jaw from the ground.
"Statement: Slavery is not conducive to a healthy community. Cooperation and Harmony are the best alternative to the present situation."
"Oh, don't you start preachin' about no Harmony out here in the wastes, Mare-bot." She groaned.
"Observation: The Harmony and Cooperation of your raiding community is what will allow you to survive in these harsh conditions. Were your community to come under assault, you would band together to survive. When this Slaver Post comes under attack, the Slaves will use the opportunity to rebel, throwing the camp into chaos and allowing us to seize the opportunity for recruitment."
"An' you told everypony you didn't know anythin' about tactics." she huffed, shaking her head and looking toward the encampment.
"Clarification: It is Sociology and Psychology. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. For now, this is will be the reaction of the Slaves to our community. In order to integrate them successfully, we will have to show them the same courtesy we would show any of our own number, and they will soon become comfortable and join us."
"I'll be sure to let the boss know all this. I'm gonna have to ask if you can be a part of more plannin' as well. You're really smart for just bein' a robot." Deals smiled approvingly at me, and we went back to observing.
***
"Okay boss, we got all we need. They got about five guys each on the gates. Two heavy guns total, one on each gate. Four more of them atop the battlements of the gates. Azzie spotted a whole bunch of slaves inside, and says that if we help em out, they should want to join us after the battle. She also said if we really want to get on their good side, we should keep a few of them slavers alive so that the slaves can get revenge." Deals reported, the two of us having returned from our scouting mission and sitting in front of the Boss in her Railcar.
"Why would we want some scrawny slaves on our side again?" The boss asked.
"Observation: It is true that they are malnourished and abused. However, should we provide the resources for the slaves to regain their strength, they will be more than likely willing to join us as they are able. This will add to the numbers of our community and provide greater protection from hostile parties, as well as add to the loyalty of the overall ponies present." I stated.
"And how is that, exactly?" The boss asked.
"Scenario: You are wounded and captured by a superior force. You are beaten and starved. A larger force suddenly defeats your attackers and offers you revenge on those that harmed you. They then offer to feed and treat you, and allow you to regain your strength. They welcome you into their community without pause, and seek to befriend you."
"Query: Would you join the force that rescued you from your previous situation?"
Suddenly getting it, the Boss leaned back and nodded her head in understanding.
"Ah, I get you now. Alright, I'll let everypony know to keep a few of them Slavers alive for the Slaves to have fun with. Good work, you two."
***
"Query: If you are the one that is generating the plan of action and holding the most popular opinion, why are you not 'The Boss' of the encampment, Deals?" I asked.
"Well dat's simple, Azzie. She's a freakin' juggernaut of death and destruction, and I wouldn't have a chance against her in a fight. On top o' that, she keeps all the crazier raiders in check so they don't go around killin' ponies without any reason less than usual." Deals replied.
"Observation: You use the Boss as a figurehead and puppet."
"More o' less."
We were waiting with Shanks and Mincey in our position, west of the Slaver camp and in the treeline. A total of twenty four raiders were summoned for the attack, another ten waiting back in camp to guard the wounded that were still recovering. The boss was going to lead the mock charge against the main eastern gate, and cause enough havoc for the guards of the camp to gather and defend. While they're distracted, it will be our job to plant a few bags full of fragmentation mines next to the wall, and set them off with a grenade.
Eight raiders would join the Boss in their mock attack, while the rest of them would pour through the breach in the wall as soon as the explosives were set off. In the meantime, we waited for the gunfire to start and passed the time playing 'I Spy'.
"I Spy something... small." Shanks said.
"A guard?" Mincey asked.
"Nah, smaller." Shanks replied.
"A slave?" Deals asked.
"Nah, even smaller'n that."
"Query: A filly, next to the eastern gate standing in a cage next to an injured mare?"
"Aw damnit, thought you wouldn't see that one." Shanks sighed in defeat.
"Whose turn is it?" Mincey asked.
*Ratatatatattatatatatata*
"Oh! Guess it's our turn!" Deals said loud enough for us to hear over the report of weapons fire coming from the eastern gate.
***
"You sure you know what you're doin'?" Shanks asked Mincey, who was planting the bags of landmines along the western wall of the encampment. There were battlements that a guard would be able to look over and spot us easily, this close to the camp's lighting. We were out in the open with no cover, and Mincey was working as quickly as he could manage without blowing us up.
"O' course I know what I'm doin'! Shut it, would ya?" He snapped, plopping down another bag of landmines.
: MTECC Danger
"Caution: Hostiles approaching from our right flank. Three total." I reported, and was shoved to the wall by Deals, who used her telekinesis to dual wield her 9mm pistols.
"Tell me when they're close." She whispered loud enough to be audible over the gunfire.
"Report: They will be in range in four seconds."
...
*Babap-babap-babap*
Deals lowered her pistols as the guards flopped over the wall or fell sideways onto the battlements as blood flowed from the bullet wounds that had peppered their bodies.
"Dat's three for my count. You two gotta catch up if you want the prize pool. Captures count as double points." She said with a grin.
"Okay, charges are set!" Mincey whisper shouted, and we moved with haste away from the wall.
"We should be close enough to still huck the grenade, but we gotta move afterwards or we'll get caught in the pressure wave from the blast." Mincey explained.
"You sure this is a good idea?" Shanks asked.
"Yeah, it's gonna work. Keep your clothes on!" Deals snapped.
"Suggestion: I would be able to survive throwing the device. I am able to travel swiftly if the needed." I stated.
"Really, doc? You wanna throw a grenade and blow up a whole load of folks?" Shanks asked, his face obscured by the dark clothing we were all dressed in.
"Explanation: The occupants inside will not be willing to surrender while they feel protected. Ensuring this illusion is destroyed, they will be more likely to surrender, and thus improve our community with the lives saved."
"Alright then, here ya go. Make it a good one, Azzie." Mincey said, hoofing me a hand grenade.
"You know how to use that thing?" Deals asked.
"Oh right, you just bite the stem off of the thing, like an apple. Then you throw it at the pile over there and start runnin'. Don't wait to see where the grenade goes, or you'll get killed. Or whatever it is when a robot like you don't work no more." Mincey explained.
I nodded, and waited for the three raiders to get to a safe distance before arming and tossing the grenade with machine-like precision, because I was technically a machine, and activated SATS.
: S.A.T.S: Stable-tec Assisted Targeting System. For use in extremely perilous and life threatening situations. In our case, this allows us to move with great speed to avoid danger or to enact a preemptive strike before a threat can react to our presence.
: SATS Engaged.
The grenade had left my hoof for no longer than a second before I whipped around in place and began galloping with the assistance of SATS. Halfway up the hill, SATS ran out of power and time resumed to normal for me. I dove over the ridgeline next to Shanks, Mincey and Deals who had only just arrived themselves.
"What the hell, Azzie? I thought you was-"
*Ba-BOOOOOOOOOOM!!*
A large slab of heated metal streaked past our faces, illuminating our position for a moment as additional shrapnel and rocks started raining from the sky on top of us. A huge cloud of dust had been kicked up by the pressure wave of the blast, and the sound of gunfire had paused for a moment as both sides took in the magnitude of the blast.
Several nearby huts were destroyed, as well as most of the western wall. The few surviving structures were in the process of toppling or being a smoldering wreck that was threatening to ignite. A few unfortunate slaver guards had been caught in the blast, and their dusty chunks had been thrown across the ground and leaked blood into the gravel and dirt.
Thankfully, most of the slaves were not in the area we chose to exploit, and sat shocked and frightened in their cages toward the center of the encampment. A deep bellowing was heard in the distance, to be joined by the screams of delight and bloodlust from the raiders that had been waiting alongside of us. They arose from their positions and galloped down the hill, firing wildly and waving makeshift swords and axes from their mouths, screaming from their mouth grips.
"That's our que, fillies and colts!" Deals shouted, as we joined the charge. The raiders that had been occupying the eastern gate had run around the side while the few surviving guards were picked off by One Shot's sniper nest on the northern side of the valley. More than once I spotted a raider about to be ventilated by a guard, only for said guard's head to explode in a red mist and hear a gunshot soon after.
***
The abrupt explosion and following destruction, combined with sniper fire and a terrifying charge of screaming raiders had reduced the defenders to using the slaves as cover, as well as hiding in the buildings and taking what pot shots they could before they were swarmed by angry blade wielding raiders hopped up on combat drugs.
The battle had lasted a total of eighteen minutes and forty seven seconds, ended in the deaths of twenty defending Slavers, two dead slaves, four dead raiders and six injured raiders. The boss had taken up the task of talking to the slaves, but wasn't having much luck winning them over. Her gore covered armor and imposing figure were doing her no favors.
Shouting in frustration after her attempts to persuade the remaining slaves to join her army, she stormed off in search of any surviving slavers. The original plan to let the Slaves kill their captors had gone up in smoke the moment that massive explosion had gone off. The raiders were in too high of a battle frenzy to take captives, and were now coming off of their adrenaline high.
I was busy tending to the few wounded that remained on the battlefield, as the raiders picked over the corpses of those that had fallen in search of ammunition, food, supplies or just trophies from the fight.
"Hey Azzie, you did good." Deals said, smoking a looted cigar from the slaver camp leader's office. She sat down next to me as I worked, blowing smoke towards the patients.
"Request: Please do not smoke near the patients. This may cause infection and further harm." I cautioned.
She abruptly blew her next ball of smoke into the air above the patient instead, standing up and moving away.
"My bad, doc. I'll go see what the slaves are up to." Deals said, switching the position of her cigar in her mouth and trotting off happily.
I was still covered head to hoof in my dark clothing, as taking them off would present far too many problems in the current situation. The slaves were still on edge and worried for their lives, and the few wounded were already in shock and pain. They didn't need to see a strange robot hovering over them and tending emotionlessly to their wounds.