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Friends.

We all had some right? Friends couldn’t be there without enemies, am I right? The two new snipers called Swift and Cyber seemed awfully proud of killing one Raider out of a whole group. Still, at least they didn’t try and kill us at all. Crystal seemed curious about why they were out here in the first place.

“You do know you could have just flown away and left us to die!” Crystal irritably said, “You didn’t exactly save us, since you only killed one Raider out of around ten!” Thank you Crystal for telling them. I really wanted to hug her for that.

“We could have, but did we? No, we didn’t – however that Raider was going to kill one of you at least,” the bucks eyes slowly centered on me. I looked to the side a bit before letting out a sigh. Okay, maybe Crystal wasn’t right after all.

I turned to Crystal before frowning slightly, seeing the anger filled expression on her face slowly turn to me, “he’s right you know. If he didn’t kill the Raider, I would be dead.”

“See! At least he has some common sense!” Swift blurted out, scratching his ear with his hoof, “now, where are you folks heading?” The red buck’s Sniper Rifle slowly rocked around as he landed onto the ground with a smirk.

“Sunnyvale,” I simply responded, “why’d you ask?” At that moment Cyber and Swift looked to each other with a couple of snickers before looking back at me with a grin.

“And your reason is? Surely you wouldn’t kill yourself because your own curiosity drove you towards the battlefield,” Cyber then began to speak, taking a step forward and raising a brow as he did, “you’ll need a bigger army than that and I bet none of you can use Sniper Rifle quite like us.”

“Are you requesting to join us?” I asked, also raising a brow of my own. I began to walk to them, examining their weapons upon their saddles. The unique design of the Sniper Rifles consisted of a mechanical look. The scope upon the rail at the top covered in the same material, while containing a murky green scope.

Swift walked to me with a small smirk, “maybe we are, yes. Cyber does have a point; you surely cannot enter Sunnyvale with a party like that!” He exclaimed, placing a hoof to his face, “it is suicide. Have you been living under a rock or something?”

Wasn’t it obvious? I had been living in a Stable. Especially since my now completely wet and dirty jumpsuit even said I was a resident. But all they did was chuckle; Violet took a step forward, examining their guns also before looking up at them with a glare.

“Just one rule. I think we can all agree on this, no backstabbing – or I’ll kill you both myself,” Violet obviously wanted to inflict fear into the hearts of the brothers, but all they did was chuckle lightly and roll their eyes.

“So where are we heading now?” Dodge spoke out, looking out into the Wasteland which was now being bombarded by the violent storm, “surely we’re not continuing in this weather!”

“You’re right…but if we want to get there sooner rather than later, we’re going to have to face the storm, mate,” Swift flew to his side, before landing, “by the way, what are your names? If we’re going to travel, we have to know names.”

I then introduced myself with a raised eyebrow, once saying my name; I pointed and spoke the names of my fellow companions out.

Beginning to slowly trot back down the cliff, we ensured that we stuck close to each other; the two Snipers remained in front to scout ahead. With the storm calming down slightly, Cyber and Swift flew up, before looking down the scopes of their rifles and then giving us all the heads up of what’s ahead. They glanced down to us and nodded slowly, but remained above us so they could scout more.

Once we reached the bottom, we were back on the ground again. The sludgy, soggy soil getting all over my PipBuck as the rain slammed into my face. Crystal was trotting beside me as Dodge and Violet were slightly behind me.

“You’ll know when we reach Sunnyvale, a large Clocktower is just outside of the town – I’m sure you all saw it at the top of the mountains,” Swift shouted over the storm, I looked up at him as he slowly flew ahead to take a look of what could be ahead.

All I did was nod, yet picking up the pace, the storm started to soften as the scenic view of the Wasteland around us was in sight. The clouds now opening up to allow the sickly green sunlight to seep through and the darkness and rain vanishing. The grey, dead plains that carried on for miles and miles made me imagine the day of when the bombs fell. When one day it’s all sunny and beautiful - the next it turned into this wretched land where ponies had no choice but to fight to survive.

Reaching the side of a hill, a large hole in a hillside was seen. Swift and Cyber closed up their wings before slowly making their way down the hill. I followed them, hearing my companions slowly follow behind me. As Cyber slowly took a peek down the small darkened hole, he glanced back at us.

“It’s a Stable,” Cyber began, “an older one by the looks of it, we’ll go through here. Many Stables are said to have had escape tunnels built into the back of them.”

Cyber squeezed himself through the hole, as so did Swift. I peeked into the hole, before pushing myself through the gap. Another cave, woo-hoo? No, I fucking hated these caves – each time went into one, I could have sworn they’d gotten smaller in size than the previous one.

As we approached the large, rounded steel door, the metal upon the door was rusted, a small orange light that dangle above showed the small scratch marks and damaged bolts within the door. The number on the door however was partially missing, it had one part of the number but the other part was gone completely. It was as if it had been ripped off. Though there was some graffiti on the door, I leaned in closely to get a better look.

Griffin territory now! Turn back while you can!

“Griffin’s?” Crystal softly spoke, leaning in to get a better look, “Why would they want to come here?” She glanced to me, as she was right next to me. I looked at her in the eyes for a few seconds, completely emotionless, before turning back to the door and stepping back.

“Let’s get this door open!” I looked up at it, before glancing to the small console by the door. Unfortunately it was broken, electric sparks shot from the now destroyed console. No lights were on it whatsoever.

I looked to my PipBuck to see which Stable it was; unfortunately the map wouldn’t identify it. The only thing it notified me of was an unknown name. It wasn’t a name stating it was unknown; it was just a jumble of letters. Cyber and Swift were trying to slowly unhook the bolts upon the thick, steel door. Violet walked up to me, watching them unscrew each and every bolt holding it in place slowly.

“So, you’re going to trust them just like that?” Violet softly groaned, looking to me, “you have to learn that it isn’t that easy gaining the trust of strangers.”

I glared at the mare slightly, but all she did was roll her eyes and walk away. On the other-hoof, Dodge and Crystal were talking to past the time as the two bucks at the door slowly made their way around the door. I tuned into the radio on my PipBuck and began to listen.

“G’afternoon, Wastelanders. I bet your day is as shit as mine, but do you know what makes it all better for me? Speaking to each and every one of you tuning it. And now I have some news for all of you,” The buck on the other side spoke with a slightly jolly tone to his voice, “the battle for Sunnyvale continues, The Steel Rangers and Enclave are wasting each other like no tomorrow. I have seen that violence myself and it is some pretty hectic shit, the Rangers are getting bombarded by Enclave units!” He then sighed on the other side before continuing, “I wish you Rangers good luck in battle.”

Before he was going to continue onwards, Violet was sat with Crystal, Dodge and Violet. I sighed to myself before preparing myself for more; a silent cough was heard on the radio before he continued.

“The buck from Stable 30 however is doing fine; he’s also met a few friends along the way. Kid, if you’re listening, you’re doing the Wasteland a favour, you’re wanting to change this hellish land back to the world it was before…a land of peace. But unfortunately, while you’re saving the world, lazy bastards like me are sitting here just waiting to see what happens…good luck kid, you’re going to need it. Now for some music.”

The radio began to play some Equestrian classics. I turned the volume down slightly, so it wouldn’t distract to the two bucks at the door. Unfortunately, it took about an hour or two just to get the door’s screws from the edges.

“That should do it…” Cyber groaned as he began to catch his breath back. I slowly made my way down to Swift and Cyber, as so did my companions, “let’s open this thing.”

I pushed against it, seeing Swift, Cyber, Dodge, Crystal and Violet all pushing the door backwards slowly. The sound of the screeching mechanism was heard from inside, as the door slowly moved backwards. Gaps appeared in the sides, before I grabbed one of the ends and Crystal aiding me with it. Dodge and Violet also did, before we slowly pushed the door along, revealing a large, dark Stable entrance with its alarm lights rapidly twisting.

Bodies of the residents were lying in pools of blood with their insides completely ruptured by the sheer brutality of a Griffin’s claw. I tried to shake it off of my mind; the numbers that were marked on the jacket of the bodies was the number ten.

The grated steel staircase that led us into a small poorly lit up hallway, with blood written on the walls and corpses of more residents that had filled the Stable’s corridors. Some of them were young foals and fillies. I looked to Crystal, seeing tears brew inside of her eyes; I went to hug her closely to me while rubbing her back. Violet on the other hoof rolled her eyes and pressed onwards. I shot Violet a look as Dodge continued on behind her, Cyber and Swift however stayed behind as I held Crystal in a light embrace.

“Will she be okay?” Swift asked with deep concern, “we don’t have to go through here – but it’s much safer through here,” he looked with deep concern, before looking over to the mare in my arms. I nodded slowly.

“She’ll be okay, Swift. Just don’t wander too far okay?” He nodded in a reply; I saw him and Cyber leave down the hallway. I still held Crystal in the gentle embrace; I didn’t want to let her go. I knew how she was hurt by this, I know why she was hurt. Though, I didn’t want to say anything to hurt her nor did I want to speak, I just wanted to hold her.

Crystal and I shared a friendship so powerful. I was always there for her and she was there for me – ever since we met, I had always respected her for getting my life on track out here in this urban Wasteland. I was truly grateful for her actions. Hearing her muffled sobs, I gently stroked her mane. The sight of dead foals and fillies haunted her mind like a plague, at least that’s what I thought.

When she had calmed down, I ventured onwards down the claustrophobic corridors of the Stable. Crystal followed me closely, though my companions were not within sight. I kept glancing back at the mare behind me to ensure she was okay; she looked away from the corpses of foals and fillies, and tried to focus on what could lie ahead.

I opened a door that led into a large room. The Atrium. It was a large complex built inside the Stables where balconies would hang above the steel faced ground. Though the windows outside of the other rooms were misted up, the lights now a solar orange color. The metal felt rusted below my hooves, and a stench of blood was in the air. Dust floated around the room; it was visible within the light’s orange rays.

I then noticed Cyber, Swift, Dodge and Violet walk through a door opposite us. Cyber shrugged before leaning over the balcony’s rails and staring down at the rusted metal floor that didn’t leave any reflection from the light.

“We couldn’t find anything…maybe all the Griffin’s left?” Violet commented with a deep sigh, “I wouldn’t wonder why, this place is a shithole. I actually feel sorry for you, living in one of these so called Bomb Shelters,” she sarcastically spoke; she then frowned and looked away from me before turning to walk to Dodge. I blinked, before joining them. I saw Cyber and Swift peek through the small misted windows that were beside them.

I slowly looked around the atrium’s hall, seeing the rusted, peeling metal on the walls covered in blood and also graffiti. A large poster that tried to picture the Stable as a happy environment was imprinted upon a large, glowing billboard across from me. The dry blood upon the billboard made it hard for me to work out what it said, but I did manage to read it out.

“The Stable.

A happy environment for all residents. There’s no place like home, like a Stable!”

Bullshit. It was a fucking hellhole from what I could remember. I think they tried a little too hard to make it like the world above; the so called friendly environment really didn’t help anypony in situations they couldn’t handle. It actually made them worse. Though with my curiosity trying to dominate me, I began to explore around the balcony area, before walking through a doorway (the same doorway my companions came from) before continuing down the hallway, seeing all the blood that had been sprayed across the walls. The bodies of residents filled the hallways, eyes gouged out, chests ripped open and guts torn out. It was sickening, but I had to put up with it. I heard flies buzzing around the corpses that filled the darkened hallways of the Stable.

I heard nothing behind me, meaning no-pony followed. I ventured on through the twisting corridors, feeling an eerie presence. I stopped, glancing around myself. The hallway ahead was black from the darkness, as the lights were knocked out. Pieces of broken glass from the lights. I heard movement behind me, seeing my companions slowly make their way round, but before they could even walk ahead, I placed a hoof in front of them.

Violet being the unwise mare she was, she rolled her eyes before walking ahead into the darkness.

“It’s only the dark – buck up!” She called to us all. Cyber and Swift slowly began to walk ahead, but stopped at the very edge of the light. The light behind us that lit up area we were at began to flicker slowly. But something didn’t feel right, it wasn’t the darkness preventing me or my companions travel further, it was something in the darkness.

I slowly took one hoof step ahead, gently pushing my way passed the brothers. Crystal followed me closely, hanging her head low. The only light helping us now was the green light from the device on my foreleg. I glanced back at the ones in the light and frowned.

“Come on…it seems safe, at least for now,” I slowly made my way around the winding corridors of the abandoned Stable, feeling the temperature drop in some places. The stench of rotten corpses, the sound of flies was only heard within the everlasting darkness.

I kept glancing back to see if my companions were there. Luckily all Dodge, Cyber, Swift and Crystal were behind me. Violet however wandered off. I began to worry for her; I dipped my head down slightly, before slowly trotting up a staircase, hearing the metal clamp against my hooves. When we reached the top, it was still darkness. Violet was still nowhere to be heard or seen, was she really that fast? Either way, the sudden silence began to worry me.

“Violet?!” I called out, only hearing an echo from my voice. I began to walk ahead, looking around the section that was lit up by my PipBuck. Nothing, no response or anything.

“She’ll be fine, Torn. I know what Steel Rangers like her are like, tough as nails!” Dodge reassuringly said, I looked back to him with a frown. No matter how much of a bitch she was, I still considered her my friend.

I looked to Crystal, her actually being worried for her. I knew Crystal hated Violet, or at least disliked her in some way, but she was worried sick for the mare.

“That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t look for her, Dodge!” Crystal’s shaky voice showed she was worried, “maybe the Griffin’s got her?” Her ears flop down, before she began to trot into the darkness, searching for Violet. I quickly walked after her, trying to keep up.

A slight breeze was felt against my coat, before a dull, grey light was seen ahead. Walls had been completely torn apart, before I slowly made my way into a room with a large hole inside of it. And it was as we predicted, Griffins. I heard my companions follow me behind, before instantly stopping. There were too many of them, small lamps lit up small rounded tables around the room as they played poker and other gambling games. They were armed with heavy weaponry, even some with Spark-Hook’s. The light armor that they wore obviously made it easier for them to fly, and the war paint that had been streaked on their thick, grey feathers (some with golden feathers) was easily visible.

A few Griffins made their way in from the large crater within the walls; they landed with a thud, dropping off a mangled corpse. Some began to admire it, luckily I was hidden behind a small steel barricade, and my companions were hidden behind it too. I glanced around the room for any signs of Violet; I couldn’t see her at all. But something did give me some leads to her. I overheard a conversation about a treasure in armor.

“We found Pony wandering in our territory. Alone in the dark.”

“Are we going to sell her to Slavers or what? I don’t think it’s a good idea keeping prisoners like this, there’s a difference between collecting trophies and holding prisoners captive!”

“No. This one’s a beauty. I’m keeping her for myself; a treasure in armor is what she is!”

“Well what the hell are you going to do with her?!”

“She’s going to be mine and mine only – she’ll do what I want!”

Dodge growled slightly at this, I looked to him and shook my head. We had to find a way around them, it was the only thing we could do. Both killing them and waiting wasn’t going to help any of us.

“Might I suggest us sniping them individually?” Swift suggested, glancing down at me. I couldn’t risk getting us killed; besides, they’d get Violet out of there as quickly as possible.

The cold breeze from the large hole in the wall made me shiver lightly, but I then looked to Swift with a raised eyebrow. How I didn’t think sniping was needed, I don’t see how it couldn’t work – however, there were still too many for us all to take, we had to go in there quietly so we wouldn’t get ourselves killed! I then noticed in a small pile of corpses, the mare we came looking for. Violet. She was covered in all sorts of brutish wounds, deep and bloody. Her eyes closed and bruised from all of the pain she had endured and her mouth dripped with blood as if she tried to scream, but was instantly silenced. Her weaponry however now in the talons of the Griffins. Her armor was broken, parts of it removed and showing her white coat underneath covered in large scars. Especially across her chest and belly. But she wasn’t dead, I noticed her breathing.

Luckily enough, I found a Stealth Buck in a small pile of dirt and dust by my side. How convenient. Either way, I took it into my hooves and equipped it. Disappearing, I turned to my companions as they stared down at my nearly invisible body. I sighed to myself.

“I’ll go and get her, I promise. Then we’ll leave,” I stated. Cyber however chuckled to himself as if I was stupid, maybe I was. I shot him a look.

“That is the only way out – if you want to get to Sunnyvale, we have to go that way!” He hissed with a smirk. I rolled my eyes before glancing over the cover, seeing the Griffin’s laughing and drinking together, some even cleaning her weapons and then trying them on. It was worth the risk, even if I was killed in the process.

I slowly took each step carefully, as I slowly made my way passed the Griffins. Their large, muscular bodies daunting over me as their large packs of weaponry hung from their backs. I shivered as I slowly walked under them, keeping down and quiet. The lights that hung from the ceiling blinded me slightly as I glanced upwards, I winced slightly from the sudden flash in my eyes but then try to get my focus back.

As I made it to the young Steel Ranger’s body, I slowly pulled her from the pile and placed her on my back, feeling the weight of her force down on me. Her soft fur was felt against me, along with her blood slowly making its way down onto my Stable 30 jacket and then soaking it.

“You’ll be fine, Violet,” I whispered to myself, before I slowly began to make my way back, checking to see if any Griffins might see me. Fortunately, none of them were looking towards me. My hoofs slightly clanged on the steel floor, as I made my way back to my companions who were hiding in the shadows.

I nearly made it, thinking I was out of sight. In fact, hoping I was out of sight. Mainly because I couldn’t afford to fail here, if I did, we’d surely all die, no matter how powerful our weaponry was. They had the bigger guns; therefore they would win the fight. I thought I did make it, until I heard a vicious voice boom from behind me, making me freeze and shake in fright.

“HEY! Something’s carrying our prize away!” The dry Griffin voice was heard from behind, I slowly rotated to see a grey feathered Griffin with blood red eyes and a scar down her eye, she growled as she attempted to grab my hoof, eventually doing so and ripping off the Stealth Buck. I knew it was all over, her golden talons preparing to strike me as she looked at me with a horrid look, “I suggest you drop the body and walk away!”

How afraid I was, I refused to let her go. I looked at them with a glare, keeping the mare on my back. I used my aching wings to cover the pony on my back, wincing slightly, but still holding her onto my back. The Griffin smirked at me, it was either from mockery or that she was about to rip me apart, either way I knew I wasn’t going to like it.

“You really don’t want to test my patience, blue boy,” she spoke, sounding irritated. I glanced back to see Crystal looking frightened from all of this. She shook her head and signalled me to come back. Like Cyber said, this was the only way to go. I had no choice but to stay.

“She doesn’t belong to you,” I growled under my breath, “if she did, then why did you hurt her?!” I accused them due to her deep psychical scars. The Griffin looked puzzled of what to say, as if what I said had caught her out. I then heard a loud echoing bang, followed by a bullet puncturing a hole inside the Griffin’s talon. She let out a blood curdling scream as another shot was released, hitting yet another Griffin.

Dodge walked out of the darkness, firing the Revolver he had in his jaws, managing to hit a few of the Griffins. But as the battle started, they all grabbed all the weapons they could and began to fly around before firing down at us. Crystal came to Violet’s aid, grabbing her and latching her onto her back.

“Will you be able to heal her?!” I called over the roaring gunfire. She glanced at her wounds with a slightly worrying look, but she nodded to me.

“I’ll see what I can do, give me some covering fire while I do so, it might take a while!” She took her behind cover to begin the process, I nodded to her.

Running into the light with Dodge, I pulled the bolt back on my rifle before shooting it from my battle-saddle from the Griffins flying high. Hitting one in the wing, I watched it fall and scream, before it slammed into a large wall, leaving blood to where it hit, before falling unconscious. Cyber and Swift were helping from behind; the loud bangs from their rifles were heard echoing throughout the Stable. My ears began to ring, but I concentrated, shooting one of the Griffins in the head, watching it fall dead. From the hole next to us, a few more reinforcements swooped down, firing their heavy machine guns at Dodge and me.

I shoved Dodge down onto the ground, lying on top of him and shooting at the Griffins. Unfortunately missing all the shots, I had to reload, Dodge climbed out from under me, grabbing his revolver into his jaws again and firing at the opposition. He managed to clip a wing of one of the incoming ones, sending the Griffin down, watching it die on impact. The Griffin I had faced from earlier looked at me now with blood on her face and began to fly run after me. I instantly look off; trying to get away, but I felt her pull on my leg.

Feeling her talons tare through my leg, I yelped out in pain as I felt her claws dig in before she yanked me down. Another sniper shot was fired to the female Griffin making her screech out in pain as she fell down holding the recently given wound. I found this as an opportunity to execute her; unfortunately…I didn’t have enough time.

Feeling another Griffin yank onto me, I felt one of my wings break as I yelped and winced in pain. I hung lightly as they lifted me off of the ground. I was brought to the face of one, staring at them in deep pain and also anger.

“This ends now!” The golden Griffin screeched, he readied his claw to strike me, as I caught vision of Swift and Cyber upon one of the upper balconies in the area. They were trying to get a clear shot, as I was in line of sight. I nodded to them, signalling that they could shoot.

“L-look out,” I winced in pain from my shattered wing, as I closed my eyes preparing for the shot to be taken. After hearing a loud shot, I heard blood spill and also felt blood splash onto me. Opening my eyes, I saw the Griffin, his eyes wide open and a hole through his skull as blood leaked out. Bits of brain matter and blood fell onto me and dripped from me. Yuck!

I fell from the talon’s grip, before landing on my wing with a yelp. I held it, seeing Crystal come out with a worried look upon her face. I winced and held my wing in a strong pain, coughing bitterly before falling back and holding it. I saw Crystal come to my aid, trying to topple me onto my front, though I didn’t want her touching it…I didn’t want it hurting anymore.

With all of the Griffins dead…or at least most, silence dominated as Cyber and Swift came rushing out to see if I was okay. Dodge walked over to me, peering over me with frown and a roll of his eyes. I winced yet again in pain as Crystal attempted to shift me.

“Tornado…let me have a look at this wing!” She groaned, obviously irritated. I refused to move, not allowing her to even get close to my wing. It wasn’t that I couldn’t trust her, it’s because I didn’t want even more pain being dealt upon it. With a sigh, she turned away and then walked away, “fine. If you don’t want me to fix it, that’s fine by me!”

“Are you okay, Tornado?” Dodge looked concerned. I sat myself up with a wince and held my wing ever so gently, feeling the shooting pain go directly to the base of my wing before hissing in pain, “I’ll take that as a no.”

“We have to continue – we can’t stop now, even if it is to heal my wing!” I groaned, holding it gently. But as I did, Dodge walked over to where Crystal was to ensure Violet was okay. But with Cyber and Swift staring at me with a couple of smirks.

“Okay, whatever you say, mate. Don’t go crying to Crystal when you get fed up with it!” Swift turned away as he spoke, Cyber following him. As I lifted myself onto my hooves, I dragged myself over towards the large passage way and staring up at it.

Unfortunately, the thought of successfully taking down all the Griffins got me distracted as I looked to my PipBuck and began to look for any information on this unknown Stable. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find anything. Anything related to this Stable in fact was non-existent. It was as if it never existed.

Hearing groans behind me, I slowly rotated myself to see the grey feathered Griffin limping towards me with a hateful growl. I stared up at her, keeping silent, but Cyber and Swift took notice of the Griffin who was limping towards me. She lifted her talon, ready to swipe me up and as she did, I felt my broken wing crunch. GAH! It fucking hurt!

“Dodge, Crystal!” Cyber called out for them, as the clopping hooves of both were heard along with their frantic yelling. I struggled to get out as I became face to face with the Griffin, she snarled at me before raising the other talon, preparing to strike me.

“Y-you think you’re smart, being the hero and bringing this Wasteland to order?” She hesitantly coughed, “I will not allow you to cause any more damage than you’ve already done!” I just stared at her, trying to fight off the fear. I heard the screams of Crystal, begging for me to be release, the Griffin ignored her.

She then used her talon to grab my right eye, before tearing it from its socket. I screamed out in agony, as half of my vision went black. Feeling the blood flow down my face, I tried to hold the place from where it was. I felt myself get thrown to the ground, landing on the bad wing and yelping. I began to feel dizzy, the feeling of falling unconscious at any second…and within a few seconds, I did. The last thing I saw was Crystal racing to me, as Cyber, Swift and Dodge were trying to kill the Griffin. All I can say, she was one tough son of a bitch to take down, she never gave up. But was I going to die? Only time would tell…

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Footnote: Level up!

New perk: Reinforced Strength Tier 3, your overall bodily strength has increased, making it harder for you to go down in battle. Much like a brick wall, it’ll go down eventually, just not in one go!

Current level: 14

Next Chapter: Chapter Fifteen: Ocean Wing Estimated time remaining: 5 Hours, 28 Minutes