Chapter 20: And the truth shall set you free

“Supplies are runnin' low but we have enough for breakfast, maybe even a small lunch if were pious with this meal.” Hayseed commented as he sifted through a box of food stuffs that was supposed to be their merchandise. Again, Artemis was stealing from them in a sense.

Everyone except Lady who was changing the foal's diapers sat outside the pre-war prisoner transport as Hayseed fixed breakfast. The sky was an aquamarine blue with the backdrop of the green earth and rolling hills. NCR was truly a marvelous place seemingly untouched by the balefire bombs that scorched the land so long ago. But how did it return to this state of health and life? The zebras just didn't decide to spare the Equestrian Heartland of the balefire holocaust, actually this region should be even more devastated! This was a query Artemis often found surfacing in her thoughts. Perhaps an NCR citizen would know?

The others sat about on a dirty yellow quilt that blanketed the green grass as they waited for Hayseed to finish cooking breakfast. This only extrapolated her feelings of laziness and stagnation. The feeling only grew with time. Hans glanced at Hayseed's flanks while his back was turned to cook breakfast. Verity just seemed to sit there quietly, what was going through his mind? The cornflower blue griffon reminded Artemis of herself in a sense, deep in thought, he had her on stoicism but he seemed extremely reserved. Alpha sat on his metallic haunches as his head turned back and forth, back and forth, back and forth as he simply watched. Aroma released a hushed cry as she injected herself with the neuropozyne that the Followers had given her for her cybernetics. Weekly injections stopped the body's possibility of rejecting her new ears. After she injected the green liquid into her body with a hiss Aroma removed the needle and put it back in the pouch with her other syringes.

“Uh Aroma, maybe you should throw those away. That might be considered biohazardous waste now that you've used it.” Artemis suggested casually trying to drum up conversation.

Aroma glanced at the used needle but then looked around her. “I don't have anywhere to properly get rid of it.” She replied sounding guilty.

“Besides, I won't be losing these so I think I'll hold on to these until they're all gone and I have to get some more.” Aroma chirped as she stowed her pouch in her saddlebag.

“Breakfast is ready.” Hayseed announced stopping Artemis from falling into her thoughts.

An hour later they had all eaten their small breakfast brought to you and part by Hayseed's Caravan! Because when you're a humble family saddled with five heavily armed persons what else can you do?! Artemis still felt like they were abusing the small little family that was just trying to get by in this but she reminded herself to smile and say thanks for the food.

“Thanks for the food Hayseed.” Artemis said and flew a friendly smile.

Hayseed tipped his hat. “Don't mention it, we're more than happy to help. You ready to make the final huzzah to New Appaloosa?” He asked with a cheery finality. His words sent an odd chill down Artemis's spine, the last huzzah. It sounded as if this were the endgame of her quest. Her quest, wow they really were on a quest, an odyssey. But how come she didn't feel like a hero saving the day? She just felt like a hasbin way in over her head.

“Let's do it. I wanna see this town.” Artemis replied. She was indeed ready to see this New Appaloosa. They had traveled nearly the entire east coast of the continent and now it was time for answers.

Hayseed nodded, removed his hat and walked to the driver's door and hopped in. Artemis and the others helped clean up the breakfast refuse while Lady herded the foals onboard. Artemis raised the ramp and slid the back door shut. The engine rumbled to life and with a jarring shift the wagon moved onto the dirt road.

…..

Artemis held a council with the others in the back of the wagon as they decided their next course of action. Future planning would prove useful to them, and Artemis didn't want everyone to get bored. They sat in a jumbled circle, even Alpha because why not. For a machine he seemed like he fit in just like the perfect puzzle piece in their crazy little band.

“So what's on your mind Artemis?” Aroma asked cordially. The others looked at Artemis quizzically.

Artemis assembled her thoughts. “Well it's about Hayseed and Lady. We've basically taken over their whole lives and pretty much made them our slaves.” She began.

Verity hmph'd. “There's worse we could to do to them. I actually thought you were going to suggest hijacking this vehicle.”

Artemis didn't have a response to that suggestion. A thought like that had never crossed her mind but knowing that it had grown in Verity's was off putting. “Uhhh no, no hijacking. I had a more benevolent plan in mind.”

“What's the plan baby girl?” Hans asked casually but was offset by his risque' position laying around their circle.

“I don't want them going up to Fillydelphia with us. From what I've heard it's a hellhole of unmatched proportion, I'd much rather have them stay at Calamity's apartment while were gone.” Artemis revealed her proposition. The others nodded commenting in agreement or disagreement.

“You're probably right, Hayseed and Lady aren't trained for combat scenarios but neither am I.” Aroma said sheepishly.

“Don't sell yourself short Aroma. You've survived plenty of stuff, that Hunter's sniper the first night I met you, hell you saved us that night at the gas station and you held your own in Clopton.” Artemis reminded her stablepony friend.

Aroma looked with a melancholy smile when Hans asked bluntly. “Hunter? What's that?”

“I never told you about the Hunters?” She said disappointed in her possible shortcoming.

Hans rubbed his chin. “I don't think you have. I came along later after you met Artemis in Palomino.” He turned to Verity. “Has Aroma told about these hunters?” He asked Verity confused.

Verity shrugged. “No she have not. Aroma is a quiet pony.” He grumbled.

Aroma murmured worriedly. “No, it's not that. I'm just super shy around you guys...”

Aroma spent the next ten minutes reiterating her tale for the others. How she had taken her friend's place in the election and forced out into the wasteland, meeting Artemis and surviving her hunters where ever they lurked.

“Oh my goddesses Aroma honey that was a heart touching story. Why didn't you tell us about your Stable earlier?” Hans exclaimed dramatically and hugged her.

“So, you sacrificed yourself for a friend.... how noble.” Verity rumbled not moving from his seat.

Aroma patted Hans's head nicely. “Sacrificed? I mean to return one day. We'll all go together and be a happy family.” Aroma reminded.

Artemis grimaced inside, that dream seemed too idealistic for this cruel world. The following silence put a worried look on Aroma's face.

“What? Once I make a group of six friends and defeat the Hunters we'll have won and we can go to Stable G and live happily ever after.” Aroma said defensively unknowingly holding Hans's head tighter now.

“Why just six?” Artemis asked trying to stop the conversation from heading to Aroma's rude awakening.

Aroma rummaged her eyebrows curiously. “Why six? Because that's what the Overmare instructed me to do. Six companions and once I unite them we go back to Stable G for the next part of the game.”

“Next part?” Verity commented curiously raising an eyebrow.

Aroma tightened her grip on Hans who started to struggle to free himself. “Yeah there's a second part to this game of mine... but no one's ever survived long enough to unite six friends.” Aroma said and slowly grimaced.

“Is that why you were hell bent on keeping Obsidian Shine alive? You saw a potential ally didn't you?” Artemis figured. The name Obsidian Shine still had an icy cold to it.

Aroma became flustered. “Yes, I thought she could've been more. But now she's dead and probably on a cross outside Gryphondale.” She scowled at Verity.

Artemis spoke before Verity could retaliate verbally. The last thing they needed was a fight. “Six? You got me, Verity, Hans, and Alpha. All of us together makes five, you just need one more.” Artemis noted counting with her talons.

Verity shook his head. “Tsk tsk tsk. Aroma you will never live in the Stable again.” Aroma grimaced visibly and braced herself for the Verity's bad news.

“Things will never be the same for you now, you've been outside, you've killed ponies. Even if you could go back things would never be the same. The people in your Stable would see you differently, the foals would try to emulate you and leave the Stable. If I know Stables, you've left for good. If you're lucky you'll return for a short while to receive your next mission but you will never -live- there again.” Verity explained cynically.

Tears ran slowly down the orange pony's cheeks. She dropped Hans who inhaled and exhaled sporadically. “.... I... will never go home again? My family, my friends.. no..” She hung her head and began to sob.

It broke Artemis's heart to see the tender earth pony cry. She didn't deserve that, she didn't deserve to lose her family and home just for because of her Stable's social experiment.

“Well, we're like your family.” Artemis tried to cheer her friend up.

Aroma sniffled and rose her head, her eyes were teary and she bit her lip. “... You guys, my family...” She whimpered. “But, if I can't have my loved ones again then what's the point?” She added glumly.

Verity shook his head. “You sacrificed yourself because you want this Stellar pony to live on right?” Aroma shook her head in agreement. “Then you go on because you know that every night you're out here she's in her Stable safe and sound, because of you. You're the reason she's safe.” Verity explained in his subtle but commanding voice.

Aroma's tears seemed to cease. She blinked the remnants away and wiped her nose with the sleeve of her jumpsuit. “She's safe... because of me and she'll live to be old, because of me.” Aroma said with a rising sobriety.

Verity only nodded.

Aroma calmed down. Although she was still shaken by the idea that she may never go home ever again she did seem to come to terms with the possibility of it. It was a start and Aroma had a whole new family that would be there with her in her hour of need. If only Artemis had learned that earlier.

…..

Aroma and Alpha were talking with one another as the wagon rumbled from the occasional bump in the road. Artemis was examining her famas and what was left of her armor. The Leopard2 battle left her armor little more than smoldering clothes that smelled faintly of ozone. Her famas was scorched to an unusable state even after getting back from the NCR inspectors at Hoofer Dam. Black lumps of melted metal gathered and cooled on certain parts of the rifle, clearly this gun was little more than a doorstop now. Artemis eyed her baby sadly.

“Well ol' girl looks like that was your last battle.” She lamented. Artemis doubted that anyone besides a gunsmith of ungodly skill would be able to repair her baby; there just came point where something was to damaged to go on.

“Guess I'm in the market for a new signature weapon huh?” She told her broken famas stoically.

She sifted through the little firearms Hayseed had in his inventory. Dammit she was taking advantage of them again. This was their stuff not her's, how complacent had she grown? With an irritated sigh she ended her rummaging and instead examined her m1911. It was in decent condition but compared to her rifle it might as well be straight off the pre-war assembly line. Personally Artemis was just keeping herself busy to avoid falling into her thoughts. What did that mean when you're scared to fall into your thoughts? It seemed whenever she pondered on something her thoughts would just throw her around in vicious circles.

“I still don't understand Alpha.” Aroma proclaimed in a confused tone. Artemis perked up and began to eavesdrop.

“Exasperation: Must I reiterate again? I have no gender or genitalia, I am neuter.”

“Conjecture: Your continued use of the -he- pronoun may be because of my voice setting.”

Aroma blinked. “But still, wouldn't you want to be a boy or girl? I just felt calling you an it might offend you?” She emphasized the pronoun it.

“Correction: Since I have no gender the only correct way you should refer to me is with -it-.”

A coy smile happened across Aroma's face. “Ohhhh so you're a Grammar Neighzi?” She chuckled.

“Perplexed: I know not of what faction you speak of. I am just informing you about the correct way to address me.”

“Sure thing dude, I'll remember it.” Aroma said smirked.

“Audio file-recording2299:” Alpha said and then out of nowhere a hideous growl rumbled through the air. Artemis jumped to her feet, her neck hairs stood on end. Aroma shot back away from Alpha.

“What was that?!” She said breathing heavily.

“Satisfaction: An audio recording in my memory banks.” Artemis lowered her gun and sighed.

“What the hell made that noise?” She asked Alpha.

“Statement: There was no monster. I merely recorded your voice User Aroma and played it backwards and slowed six thousand times.” Aroma was shocked as were the others.

“Addendum: I only played the file to get back at User Aroma for goading me about her improper vernacular.”

Artemis glanced to Aroma who was still surprised her little voice could be transformed into something so monstrous sounding. It made Artemis hate to see what he could do with a real monster's voice.

“So, so it was a joke?” Aroma said timidly and slowly approached the robotic Pegasus.

“Affirmation: Yes User Aroma it was a joke.”

“B,b,but why?” Aroma said still shaken.

“Statement: I enjoy striking fear into organics.....” His words hung in the air ominously. Artemis looked to Alpha and then to Aroma who reflected her hidden worry.

There was a pregnant pause in the room before Alpha let out a static sigh. “Satirical Statement: Sheesh you two look as if I'm going to harvest all organic life and preserve them in giant machines.”

“You're not helping your case.” Verity commented idly from his chair. He did not wear the worry Aroma did. It's not that Artemis was legitimately worried about Alpha it was just unheard of for a machine to crack jokes. Although it was apparent that Alpha had a rather disturbing view of comedy.

“Playful Indignation: And I'm the robot?” Alpha stood up and primly turned around and faced away from the others.

“Miscellaneous Effect: Hmph!” Alpha sat down but kept his mechanical nose high.

Artemis scratched her head confused. It still didn't make sense, Alpha was a machine incapable of any kind of self thought but yet here he was acting like a real pony. The more Artemis tried to wrap her mind around the Pegasus the stranger he became. A machine no matter how advanced could not think for itself. Alpha was not sentient he probably just had to have very life-like processors right? Although Artemis far from knowledgeable about robots.

Aroma snapped Artemis out her thoughts with a mischievous grin. Artemis raised an eyebrow at the orange pony but Aroma only put her hoof to her lip in a hushing gesture. Lithely Aroma crept up on the metallic pony. With a leap she jumped on Alpha's back and started finagling with his settings. Quickly the robopony stood and immediately tried to buck her off his back.

“Vague Threat: User Aroma I request you get off me before I take countermeasures.” But Aroma held on until she had made the changes.

Once she changed his settings Alpha finally dislodged her. She fell with grunt but still looked satisfied with her prank whatever it was. It appeared Alpha glowered at her but his eyes showed no emotion. They were simply big yellow lens that made a helluva nightlight.

“What countermeasures?” Aroma said with a chuckle.

“...” Alpha didn't speak he just seemed to glare.

“Something wrong Alpha? What'd she do to you?” Artemis inquired curious to see what Aroma had done.

Alpha only shook his metal plated head.

“You wanna tell us?” Artemis amended.

“Resignation: I don't want to talk about it.” He no she said in a very feminine voice.

Aroma busted out laughing and Artemis snickered as well. Alpha's voice that was undoubtedly male now sounded like a young mare! She had to admit it was quite comical. Big bad Alpha the Enclave deathbot now sounded like she belonged on a grassy meadow picking daisies and watching rainbows.

“Aww mind making us some sandwiches?” Hans smirked.

“Yeah maybe we should all have a girls night out now huh.” Aroma commented falling on her back laughing.

“Unamused Laughter: Hahaha.” Alpha or in this case Alphine laughed roboticly.

“Declaration: Voice setting reset to Default Male 1.”

“Statement: You win this prank battle User Aroma.”

“Oh come on Alpha it was all in good fun.” Aroma said wiping her eyes. She walked up to the metal Pegasus and wrapped him in a hug, a hug he didn't return.

“Query: What are you doing?” He asked as Aroma wrapped herself around his foreleg.

“It's called a hug, it's a friend thing.” She explained.

“Bemused: Friend? Hug? You express camaraderie through physical affection?”

Aroma simply mhmm'd gingerly.

Alpha slowly returned her gesture. He gave her a hug that ended when Aroma's back popped. Alpha didn't realize how much strength he had to put into a hug luckily Aroma's wasn't hurt or anything. But maybe Alpha needed to work on his hugs.

…..

Midday. The sun is high over the sky and the gang draws ever closer to New Appaloosa. The wagon rumbled onward on the road after a quick bathroom break. Artemis rummaged through Hayseed's old gun parts in the hope of assembling a few he could sell, Verity was sharpening his sword with a flint rock; remembering the Hellhound in Clopton it did seem strange that Hellhounds would be in the Legion seeing that it's higher ranking members had weapons made from their kin but the possibility of getting an insight into their reason was nonexistent. It's rare to survive one let alone engage in conversation. But back to the others in the wagon. Alpha was sitting on his haunches for a change his head turned from left to right with an interval of two seconds left right left right left right, last but not least Hans was teaching Aroma how to curse- wait what?

“No no no sweetums.” Hans chirped and brushed his mane.

But what am I doin' wrong?” Aroma asked sheepishly.

Hans rolled his eyes and took a drag of his cigarette before levitating it out of his mouth. “If you're gonna be a part of the Equestrian Wasteland then you gotta be able to make overly obscene curse conglomerations. It's what we do.” He said with a wave of his hoof.

Aroma still stammered in her mind to put a decent curse together. “Uhh damn you..... punk.” Aroma squeed in embarrassment.

Hans sat up and cracked his back. “Nah sweetiepie, like this.” He flicked his cigarette out the back of the wagon.

“Hey Verity, you're a dumbass motherfucker.” He said with a suicidal confidence.

Verity stopped sharpening his sword and glared darkly at Hans. He was silent for a minute, Artemis began to think he was actually going to kill Hans right there even Aroma's face looked horrified by the potential bloodshed of Hans's words.

“.... Hilarious.”  Verity murmured and resumed sharpening his sword.

Aroma blinked in disbelief. “Whoa, I thought he was gonna kill you.”

Hans laid back down and propped his head on his hooves. “Yeah baby girl that was actually one of my lighter ones, why don't you try it on me and don't worry I've been called everything you could think of.” He said confidently.

“He really has.” Artemis chimed as she fixed a sliding mechanism.

Aroma rubbed her chin. “Nrgh! Fucking feces engine!” She yelled cutely. Her curses were impossible to be threatening.

“D'awww. Aroma darling they might be curses but they have to make an inkling of sense. Try something that is relateable.” Hans corrected and laid back down.

Aroma took a few deep breaths with an intense look on her face. “Hans you cock sucking cum guzzling  butt pirate ass rammer manwhore!” She eeked. A hushed chuckle escaped Verity on the other side of the wagon.

Hans shot up shock in his face. He turned away and start to cry heavily. He had Aroma good, the orange mare's face immediately turned to worry. She rushed to comfort and apologize but Hans swatted her away.

“I'm so sorry...” Aroma said frowning.

Hans turned his head with tears in his eyes. “You, didn't have to be that mean.” He sniffled.

Aroma teared up. “I...I..”

Hans turned back around normal completely losing his ruse. “Nah I'm just playing with you baby girl.” He said casually.

Aroma stuttered. “You mean you're not upset?”

Hans telekinetically grabbed a Sparkle Cola and popped the cap off. “No of course not. Believe it or not I've been called much worse.” He said and cooly drank the soda.

“I was just yankin' your..... err pulling your leg.” He changed his sentence.

Aroma wiped her eyes and blinked rapidly. “Really? What was the worse thing you've ever been called?”

Hans waved his hoof for her to lean in closer for him to even say the horrible word. “A liberal...” He said with a sarcastic fear.

Aroma's teary eyes seemed to dry with his little joke. “How horrible.... Wait, what?” She whimpered.

Hans nodded triumphantly. “You bet, I like my guns and I hate big government.”

Suddenly Hayseed's voice shot from the driver's seat up front. “Hey guys look there's New Appaloosa!” He said with a revived excitement.

Everyone rushed to the windows on the right of the wagon even Verity paused his sharpening to see the sight. Off the hill they were currently on laid a hamlet of a town. It was bigger than many of the cities in the San Palomino except Gryphondale. There no buildings over three stories high but they did seem in excellent repair they might not even be pre-war buildings. A small wall blocked off the city that faced south to the San Palomino.

“What's that?” Aroma asked and pointed outside the Appaloosa wall. Artemis narrowed her eagle eyes to see better.

Sure enough there was a large group of ponies gathered outside the town. What could it be? Raiders? Legionnaires? A riot? Artemis retreated from the window and rummaged through Hayseed's inventory to find some binoculars. Returning to the window she glanced down the goggles.

A handful of NCR soldiers lorded over several masses of ponies in orange jumpsuits. The ponies in the jumpsuits had chains on their hind legs, slaves. Just when Artemis had hope of the NCR being a decent civilization she discovered they kept slaves to work under their military masters. If this was the case then the NCR was a greener Legion and Artemis couldn't help but feel disappointed. The slaves were laying down a train track that went south it seemed.

“What're they doing? Are they slaves?” Aroma asked everyone, it appeared she came to a close conclusion like Artemis.

“It would appear so.” Verity answered in his steely voice.

“Nah honey, they're a chain gang. More likely than not they're convicts of some sort and that's their sentence.” Hans proclaimed finishing his Sparkle Cola.

Artemis returned her vision to the convicts. Criminals as they may be it still rubbed her the wrong way seeing them slave in the heat while the NCR soldiers kept guns trained on them. If she didn't know any better she would've guessed they were back in Legion country, the situation was too reminiscent of legionnaires lording over their many slaves and her mother.

“Pshh it just looks like legalized slavery to me.” Artemis said disgruntled and walked away from the window.

…..

The wagon came to a halt right at the gate and voices could be heard outside. Artemis and the others tried to listen in on what was being said. From the noise it must be Hayseed talking with a gate guard of some type. Artemis heard a door click shut and the clopping of hooves on the road coming towards the back of the wagon. She couldn't help but grimace, any NCR inspection never seemed to benefit their cause.

A brown stallion in the typical NCR uniform stepped to the back of the wagon and he motioned them out with a lazy wave of a hoof. “Just exit out the back we need to run a routine inspection.” He said drearily.

Artemis hopped out the back of the wagon. Not another damned inspection she hated theses! Wait! Maybe they could skip this inspection altogether.

“Hey didn't our driver show you our Ranger Badge?” Artemis asked sharply.

The brown buck shrugged lazily as the others started to shuffle out of the wagon as well seeing that the inspection was not going to be adverted. “Yeah but, we still wanna see you inventory to make sure you're not smuggling any contraband into the city.”

“What? What's the point in having a Ranger Badge if you're just gonna make us part of the system?” She complained indignantly.

Verity tapped her shoulder. “Artemis, use that radio Rusty's tracking us with. Maybe she can talk some... sense into these ponies.” He whispered.

Tracking? That disturbed her but that could wait. Quickly Artemis fished out her radio Velvet Remedy had given them back at the Dam. She found the radio and turned it on. Changing the small antenna just so and Artemis pressed the red button to speak.

“Hello. This is Artemis Arrow, we're outside New Appaloosa but these soldiers are being troublesome could you help us out Rusty?” Artemis asked the radio primly.

There was a pause, the brown soldier scowled at Artemis no doubt for the grief she's caused. A minute later the radio cracked. “Artemis? Who's that? Are you the griffon from Hoofer Dam?” Rusty asked nonchalantly it even sounded as if she was eating.

Artemis pressed the button to talk. “Yeah that's me.” She said a bit embarrassed.

“Huh. I'm surprised we didn't exchange names. I must be slipping. Shit.” Rusty said lazily and noticeably munched on potato chips.

“....Right, so do you think you could help us out?” Artemis asked awkwardly.

“Gate guards? Hmph yeah sure lemme talk to em'.” Rusty said and stopped eating her chips. Artemis handed the radio to the brown pony who stared at it with a strange grimace.

“Ranger Rusty sir?” He asked in a small voice.

Static. “Yes. These people are on special ranger business, you're gonna open the gate and let them in and if they call me again I'll have your job and your dick am I clear?” She threatened so casually and started eating not long after.

The brown stallion shuddered. “Uhh yes ma'am we'll let them in posthaste.” He said nervously.

“Good. Dismissed.” Static again. The stallion handed the radio back to Artemis.

“Open the gate.” He ordered and slowly the gate slid open.

Artemis felt a smug satisfaction in defeating the system. The other soldiers backed away and eventually made their way back to their posts, the commanding officer left without a word. Artemis climbed back in the wagon with the others, Hayseed seemed to share her smile at thwarting the system as well.

“You don't actually think they're tracking us do you?” Artemis asked Verity.

He nodded. “Without a doubt, you've obviously shown yourself to be an important asset to them, an asset worth keeping alive. Or perhaps an enemy to keep tabs on.” He explained ominously.

Artemis lowered her gaze at the small radio. This small olive branch conveniently doubled as a tracker for the NCR high command. What a dirty trick, Artemis wanted to toss it out of the wagon but then again what if she did need ranger backup? Right there it made even more sense; if she was being tracked then that could explain why rangers could be in her vicinity within minutes. That meant she had highly trained elite commandos away in the distance. It felt one part comforting another... unsettling.

New Appaloosa was a small town with a frontier feel to it. Wooden buildings with a long dirt road forming the main drag of the town. Artemis could make out a church with a steeple, a town hall of sorts, a saloon and what seemed to be a rail yard near the south side of town. It explained the convict slaves laying train tracks starting down there. Artemis also noticed a billboard that was re-purposed as a sign for a store...

“Absolutely Everything! New Appaloosa corporate branch.” The sign said cheerily with a picture of a jubilant mare with an overstuffed shopping cart. Artemis decided that she should drop by there and see about finding some new armor and maybe a new rifle.

The wagon seemed out of place as it drove into town seeing that most of it's residence were walking about but that didn't stop them besides, Artemis doubted she would sleep easy if they parked it with the other carts and stationwagons.

“Where is this apartment complex exactly?” Hayseed asked through the slot up front. Artemis scanned through her pipbuck and rummaged through her notes until she found the entry on Calamity's safehouse.

“It's uh near the back of the town actually.” Artemis said a tad surprised herself. The general's apartment was located in the western recesses of the town.

The further they drove with Artemis's coordinates the more she began to doubt her pipbuck. This area looked like no place a general would call home, the word dump came to mind instead. While most of the town had been rebuilt using the lumber of the countryside this section of town had been where most of the pre-war rubble had been sectioned off into. Cracked sidewalks and derelict concrete roads with piles of rubble varying in different sizes. Just as Artemis was about to tell Hayseed to turn back she saw it.

There out the window was an old abandoned apartment building. It was small, probably only consisting of only nine rooms six on each side. From the looks of it the apartments were most likely economical livings before the war, now they were just a building in the part of town where all the rubble was shoveled to. Their vehicle pulled into the faded yellow lines of a parking space and came to a stop, the engine dying as Hayseed removed the key from the ignition. Artemis nodded out the back and hopped out of the wagon, the others in tow.

Artemis checked her pipbuck, it was a little after noon. Artemis heard Lady herding the foals out and their mumblings. Artemis snapped her back to shrug off the fatigue of the ride and stretched her wings. Everyone else stretched except for Alpha who simply stood there with his head turning every few seconds. Hayseed and Lady walked to the back where Artemis and the others were.

“Well. I didn't know what to expect but not this to be honest...” Hayseed said trying to not sound demeaning.

Artemis looked at the old building. She would confess, it was dumpy and the last place she'd expect a general to live in. Although it could be possible that this was some kind of safehouse and not his main residence.

“Well, all it needs is a little tlc.” Artemis suggested hoping to keep morale up.

“Hmph.” Verity scoffed. “This place doesn't need tender loving care. It's supposed to be in disrepair.” Verity objected.

“Why? I was thinkin' we could have little montage of repairing this place.” Aroma suggested innocently.

Verity shook his head. “Think about it. If Calamity's mysterious closet is here then he would want it hidden from the prying eyes of the public and this ruin is the perfect ruse.” He motioned to the complex.

The others were quiet, Verity did make a point. If you wanted to hide something as precious as whatever the general had then you would want to hide it in the best place possible, in plain sight.

“Of course.” Artemis muttered. She hovered into the wagon to grab her pistol. “C'mon guys let's go make sure there's no squatters or anything.” Artemis pulled the slide back with a click.

Aroma handed Artemis the keys to the apartment. There were two keys on the ring and a piece of plastic that said “119” that could only be the apartment number. 119 was on the ground floor and behind the first staircase, the door was nestled in the back between a pile of rubble, it would've deterred the normal squatter but Artemis had come too far to be defeated by a bunch of dumb rocks. After clearing away the large pieces of rubble Artemis unlocked the door to apartment 119. Finally it was time for Artemis and her crew to do some work instead of Hayseed driving them all over creation, although they were still putting themselves in harms way but Artemis took a strange comfort in knowing Hayseed could have a break.

The apartment was far from a spectacular state of repair. The little furnishings it had were little more than ruined stained chairs, an old futon that had been left folded out in its bed form, a weathered wooden table with a radio on it sat alone in the small kitchen and an old refrigerator loomed not far from the table. Refuse and discarded Sparkle Cola and whiskey and other assortments of bottles littered the few smaller tables along with the other miscellaneous garbage. Obviously this wasn't pre-war litter. Someone had lived here before, possibly Calamity? But what would Calamity do here?

Artemis kicked on her EFS and scanned the compass. Looks like four red lights on the EFS, possibly squatters or drug fiends maybe but then Artemis heard the telltale frwt frwt of a radroach. Just as they turned the corner of the small foyer to go into one of the two bedrooms a radroach crawled harmlessly into view and whisked its antennae about and continued to crawl about harmlessly. However it might as well have been a demon from hell come to take Hans's soul.

Hans let out a terrified and feminine shriek before jumping in the air only to be caught by Verity who wore a disinterested expression. Verity dropped him calmly and wordlessly. The pink pony landed with a oof but resumed panicking when the roach casually crawled closer.

“Oh hell naw!” Hans panicked and levitated out With Love. But it wasn't With Love that killed the bug...

The roach turned to ash and left a black burn mark on the ruined carpet along with a fiery smell. Everyone turned to Alpha who had simply disintegrated the insect with his gatling laser that smoked with having recently been shot.

“Wow, I had completely forgot about that gun of yours...” Artemis admitted pleasantly surprised.

“Observation: My Eyes Forward Sparkle detects only three more entities in our vicinity. Using deductive reasoning I can concur reliably that they are a mutated version of the Periplaneta Equestrius Linnaeus as well.”

“You mean radroaches honey.” Hans retorted picking himself up.

“Suggestion: I say me and User Aroma go out back and work on the spark generators while you three dispatch any interlopers.”

It wasn't so much of a suggestion because once he finished his sentence Alpha turned and left for the door before anyone could say any different but at least it was a sound plan. Aroma sprinted after him with a “Wait up...” and a few seconds later they were gone. Leaving Artemis with Hans and Verity.

…..

Much like Alpha's prediction the radroaches were easily killed, well maybe except for Hans's dramatics. But now was the moment of truth. Calamity's closet lay before Artemis, the only closet in the house. It was located on the far end of the apartment in the back master bedroom. The only light in the apartment was the silver colored light that barely breached the blinds on the windows, this window was small and almost hugged the ceiling casting dark shadows over the room.

“Holy shit, it is real.” Hans exclaimed in a hushed tone. It appeared he didn't believe the general's story, until now.

“It seems our road has brought us here. We should proceed with caution but we need whatever's in that closet.” Verity intoned.

Artemis gulped and her skin crawled with anticipation or anxiety. The twins' words replayed over and over in her mind. Telling her that Calamity's scheme was only a distraction. Her heart sank as her drive began to leave her. Even though they had gone through all that they did she felt herself choke.

“I, I don't think we should open it...” Artemis confessed in a whisper. Hans and Verity shot Artemis a worried glance.

“Why not? This is what we came here for. After all.” Hans reminded.

“...” Artemis didn't speak. No lying but.

“.... Someone told me not to investigate Calamity's request.” Artemis glanced to Verity hoping he would understand who she spoke of. G & M.

Hans moaned in frustration. “Arty darling I know when you're playing coy, I've known you too long. What's happening?” He groused nicely and put an arm around her.

Not again. Artemis fully planned to confess to everyone about the twins but she didn't have time to tell Hans the whole story. Especially since the shadows themselves seemed to watch.

“Hans. I can't explain right now but I just need you to trust me that it's for the best.” Artemis implored to her good friend.

Hans eyed her suspiciously for a moment. “Hmmm. Alright, I'll trust you... but don't leave me out in the dark too long.” He warned with shadows on his face from the lack of lighting. Verity purred and when it was clear they weren't going to open the closet he walked out of the room.

There it was. All that journeying, all that danger and peril just to stop so abruptly. Artemis felt a hardness in her gut that she had done wrong, like she had faced so much only to falter on the precipice of making all their sacrifices worthwhile. No, Artemis wasn't going gloss over this with smart excuses she was going to march back in there and make their sacrifice worth something dammit!

Just before Artemis crossed the doorway back into the living room and she stopped dead in her tracks and charged back into the room with a fierce determination. She grabbed the plastic handle to the closet and she could hear Hans and Verity rushing back. With a hard thrust Artemis slid the closet door open and inside was-!

Nothing?.... Just an empty closet with nothing but an empty clothes rack and a single light bulb dangling from the ceiling. Her heart sank as her eyes scanned in vain.

“No... No!” Artemis despaired and yanked the closet light on. Even with the lights illuminating the interior Artemis could find no trace of anything being here. What Calamity had wanted them to find was long gone.

“Artemis I'm so sorry.” Hans condoled and put a hoof on her shoulder.

“No Hans, I'm sorry. I dragged us all over creation for, this.” Artemis waved at the empty closet. Hans couldn't respond so he gave her a comforting hug and nuzzled his head on her shoulder. That was until Verity nudged them aside.

“Stand back.” He said curtly with a small rebar club.

“Wait what're doing stahp!” Artemis yelled in vain as Verity broke the drywall with the pointed debris.

CRUNCH CRUNCH CRACK! Verity punctured the wall and it crumpled with a dry smell and scattering dust everywhere.

Verity put his battering ram down and let out a few wheezing coughs. “If it was important was the general made it out to be then it would only make sense to hide it well.” He revealed waving his talon to fan away the dust.

As the dust settled Artemis heard the faint pitter patter of water. All that lay behind the wall was more insulation, dust and the wooden/iron frame along with a now busted pipe that poured a gentle stream of water. Least to say her heart sank deeper now having had a small hope before.

“Dammit all to hell.” Verity cursed under his breath.

“Futashy fuck my ass.” Hans cursed in disdain.

“I'll go see if Aroma can close off that pipe.” Hans volunteered and trotted off to find Aroma and Alpha.

“Hey...” Verity whispered and placed a talon gently on her shoulder.

“You don't have to cheer me up Verity, it's okay.” Artemis said glumly and slowly stood.

Verity was quiet he just seemed to look at her with his piercing eyes. “...I know. It's just, I can see the disappointment in your face.”He scooped up her right hand with his. Now Artemis got it; Verity was be sweet. She felt a depressed yet fuzzy warmth inside her.

“I'll be fine, I just wish something could go as planned for once.” She gently let go of his hand to inspect the closet in vain hope.

“I've searched high and low. High! And- huh?” Artemis halted her dramatics and heard a faint squish on the closet's carpet...

The squishing sound came from her back leg she pressed down on the floor just to be sure and with a -squish squish- she turned around to see the water damage. No, it's wasn't water damage instead Artemis made out an indention in the carpet from where the water pooled slightly to form a square shape. Then it hit her.

“My god Verity it's not in the wall, it's in the floor.” Artemis said as she began to cut the square piece from the floor.

“Quick Verity help me cut up my carpet.” She motioned for his help.

Verity lowered his head. “I hardly think this's an appropriate time for that.” He smirked.

Artemis blushed intensely. “You know what I mean Verity.”

Verity knelt down and started clawing away the damp carpet as did Artemis. A couple minutes later they had cut the square off the floor and removing the innards of the floor had found their boon. There under the floorboards was a riveted metal hatch large enough for a pony or a griffon if they sucked in their gut. Artemis only stared at in disbelief, there it was, Calamity's secret. A small keyhole was centered on the middle of the hatch. Quickly Artemis ruffled through her stuff and pulled out the keyring Calamity had gave her, the second key on that ring had to open this hatch. It just all fell into place now.

Artemis slid the seemingly mundane key into the lock and turned hard. The lock turned slowly and with a final click released a sickly wheeze as it popped up slightly. Artemis looked to her lover anxiously before they both pulled up the extremely heavy door. Once they got it up far enough they let the hatch door rest on the broken wall. On the other side of the hatch was an assortment of cobwebs and dirty smudges and that wasn't the main attraction. Under the hatch and beyond the cobwebs was a dusty ladder that descended forever downward into the pitch black shadows.

“What the hell are you hiding Calamity?” Artemis wondered aloud in a hushed voice Verity’s face seemed to mirror that same thought.

Artemis flipped on her pipbuck's light and shined it down into the darkness, she also noticed that now her EFS identified as “Jammed” and the map screen turned to static. Artemis cursed under her breath as the light failed to penetrate the darkness. It only illuminated a long ladder.

“What do you think we should do?” Artemis asked Verity and rose up from the open hatch to oblivion.

Verity hummed and glared at the hatch. “Hmm well we don't know what or Celestia forbid -who's- down there but we shouldn't take any chances. I say we go get some supplies, high powered flashlights, NV goggle before going down there.” He suggested.

Artemis almost wanted to go now. She had finally found this mysterious secret Calamity had placed so much emphasis on but maybe it was for the best to come back properly prepared. She felt so alive like there were countless butterflies in her stomach from the thrill of this discovery, finally she felt like she was on the tail of an illusive enigma. Who knows, maybe something about the number station could be down there? Hell maybe even the damn station itself and the twins were lying! Her previous depression had now been replaced with excitation.  

“And when we go down there one of us should stay up here and make sure nothing happens to the hatch, maybe even ajar it from closing while we're down there.” Verity added as he examined the hatch before closing it, cursing anyone down there back to their darkness.

Artemis wrapped her arms around the blue furred griffon and nuzzled him with excitedly. “I feel like we're finally onto something. Some fruition.” She announced happily.

“Hehe yes, but let's be cautious.” He advised and lowered a wing over her.

Artemis looked at Verity. In all her excitement she seriously considered sleeping with him right now or maybe something else if time didn't permit- wait did she really just think of that? It made sense him being her boyfriend and all but it still just felt out of the ordinary to be actually considering a situation like this. She felt so excited Artemis thought she might explode.

“I think someone needs a cold shower.” Verity smirked playfully.

“Would you take it with me?” She flirted back.

“How else would you get cleaned?” He gave her neck a short kiss.

“Hey hey hey can I join in on the fuuuuun?” Hans asked gingerly and walked in with Aroma and Alpha.

Artemis and Verity released each other shyly. “In on what?” Artemis asked embarrassed at having been interrupted at such a... sensitive moment.

“Oh I think you know, maybe we do some kind of threesome- what the fuck?” Hans quickly changed his tone at the sight of the strange hatch in the floor.

“We found it. That's what Calamity's been wanting us to find.” Artemis explained and spun the keyring on her index talon.

Hans stepped on his cigarette butt and continued to examine the door.

“Statement: User Artemis my scanners detect dead zones, most likely jamming technologies.”

Artemis flashed her pipbuck which had returned to normal after closing the door. “Yeah, I kinda already found that out.”

“Well what the fuck are we waiting for?” Aroma asked so nicely despite her crude language.

“No baby girl if you're going to use cuss words you have to use them in a curse string otherwise it just sounds crude.” Hans corrected her use of the F word. Aroma nodded to her cussing mentor and turned back to Artemis.

“Well, what are we waiting for?” She asked.

“We have the key but we're gonna buy some supplies before heading down into that tunnel. Who knows what's down there.” Artemis proclaimed although the waiting would be difficult.

…..

Having decided to put the mystery hatch on hold Artemis and the others decided to help Hayseed and Lady move their stuff into the apartment, they also worked to move most of the debris out and with the electricity back on it wasn't long before the place was looking halfway decent to be honest. Throwing the rubble out back, emptying the fridge, picking up the garbage and moving Hayseed's home merchandise inside all to a couple songs by on Artemis's pipbuck with an oddly absent Djpon3 but the time did pass faster.

Aroma came in handy more than several time with her technical expertise and small figure that could fit in places the others couldn't like behind the fridge, washer and dryer and under the sink however Artemis refrained from asking her to go in the vents. Now she tinkered with a busted radio on the table. Alpha was good for removing the garbage with an incinerating blast from his gatling laser, several ash piles of varying sizes decorated the front lawn. Artemis and Verity removed the larger rubble by flying it to another part of the derelict part of town. Hans was the home decorator deciding where everything would look simply fabulous. He often couldn't decide between a few inches to the left or the right but in the end he was satisfied with the end results.

While the apartment had been completely revamped it still needed a few things, a few light bulbs, groceries, and a few mattresses because the old ones looked like... they needed retired. But all those things could be bought tomorrow for it was getting late and dinner was nearly ready.

“Eat up y'all earned it.” Lady said primly and levitated their plates around the table.

Artemis looked at their handiwork and she felt a solemn pride in their work. A little tlc had turned this place into a decent hovel. She looked at her friends faces and they seemed to reflect the thought as well. To think this was a place of her own, a place she could call home, she'd never had a home back in the San Palomino but now it was better.

“I have friend's, love, and a house.” Artemis thought to herself and she felt a fuzzy warmth blossom inside of her, not a smug satisfaction but a calm revelry.

This is the place she'd want for her mother. A place to call her own and a place where she could be free. Artemis felt her spirits lower inside, her mother was an aging slave that was always kind and supported Artemis in whatever she did and here she was hundreds of miles away gallivanting around while real people suffered.

“Damn...” She grimaced to herself. She missed her mother so much. “I'll make it right one day mom.” She promised her mother even with her absence.

“Something wrong?” Hayseed snapped her out of her thoughts with a worried look.

Artemis shook her head. “Yeah I'm fine, just sleepy.” Artemis forced a small yawn.

Next Chapter: Chapter 21 - The Good Book Estimated time remaining: 3 Hours, 10 Minutes