I grumbled, and muttered incoherent curse words as I walked down the rickety staircase that had been heavily barricaded no doubt by the same ponies who I was helping. I was lucky that I had spent enough time among the ponies of The Eternal Flame, as I was going to probably need every bit of magic I had oh so recently collected for this. It was hard enough to disguise yourself as somepony when all you had was a picture and barely any knowledge of what his voice was supposed to sound like let alone the personality of Red.

In my mind, I wish I was with the robots rather than against them, though I knew they weren't the ones from my Stable, I still didn't trust them. My thoughts wandered as I maintained my disguise and reached the bottom floor only by use of my hidden wings. My senses stretched out searching for some sign of life on the other side. To my surprise there was actually somepony down here. By Celestia's mercy was it mad. Enough blind rage to fuel a dragon's rampage I imagined, shivering. I opened the door, my normal barding was hidden underneath the scientist scrubs that I was forced to wear in order to complete the disguise.

My eye twitched as I thought of the scientists back at my stable. I sighed and prepared my weapons, readying them incase the source of these enraged emotions noticed me. The door came open with a soft creak and I felt the emotion suddenly shift from not only anger, but excitement. The hallway itself was dimly lit with emergency red lights, giving the room a horrible look as I saw the bodies of dozens of ponies lined along the walls. As I passed them I noticed reoccurring theme, they were all missing their heads.

My throat gulped, suddenly wishing it had better armor for our neck, or could at least have put on a helmet or something, but I needed my face exposed if I was to pass the security check. Still I had to breathe through my mouth in order to avoid the putrid smell of their decaying corpses. Oh I hated this even more already. I tried to speculate the odds that this... SIM-HB? Yes, that was it. My question would be if it would listen to the duplicate of it's doctor? Judging from the corpses, the answer was already an evident no.

I kept a close eye on that particular emotional subject, keeping him zeroed in as I progressed towards the end of the hallway, though the problem came when I ran into a intersection and the being who the emotions belonged to was, if I wasn't wrong, down the hall on my right was the large source of hate. Just had to cross the gap, though curiosity was getting the better of me. Just what did it stand for? SIM-HB that is. Maybe if I got a look at it...

Wasteland curse my curiosity. The little mare in my head shook her head in agreement at what we saw, the most noticeable thing that stuck out to me first was the pony shape that was brooding on a pile of heads. Another pony had been used as a test subject, then I noticed the faint glimmer of metal around the pony's form. He was an armored unicorn, but not any type of barding or metal armor. Not even combat armor, this was without a doubt power armor considering how heavy and bulky it looked. Despite being bloodstained and looking as though it hadn't moved in a hundred years the suit was still intact, curved plates gave way to long slender strips of metal that decorated each leg with metal, an inner layer also easily spot-able making me wonder if the outer strips were used for something else.

Gazing up him I could also spot that his back was burdened with what looked like a pair of metal boxes that were strapped to his flanks, with wires that lead to the internal components. Briefly I wondered what they connected to since the only indication of weapons were a series of four discs that were embedded in his armor that were far too small in my opinion to hold anything. His armor was blood red from blood though I could see from the sunlight reflecting off his armor that it was once originally a steel grey as with most power armor.

Wait... Sunlight? I averted my gaze upwards momentarily, caught by surprise as I spotted a hole in the ceiling, my mind put two and two together and figured out that if there was one hole giving sunlight then there must of been holes leading all the way to the top, meaning any second somepony or something could wander overhead. I took a moment to step back and breathe in when my foot hit something, a bone of one of the armored ponies past victims, causing it to skid and clank against the ground noisily.

The heart in my chest began to panic as I felt the emotions shift. I wanted to bolt then and there but something my instructor Grey Iron had once told me that was sitting on the edge of my mind, something about looking up. My heart and mind worked actively against me though, all instinct telling me to run away and survive. I doubted that would help though, it was closing in, think Aria think. A little Rose Luck in my head drew my attention upward to the ventilation grate that was above me. With little other choice I flew into it as quickly as I could without any additional noise and shut it behind me just in time as the steel clad pony trotted into view at an almost too casual pace. Faintly I could hear him humming a familiar sounding song that made my nerves want to scream.

Where had I heard it before? I waited as he moved passed me, his eyes scanning left and right as he searched for me. He leaned down looking at the bone that I had disturbed, his eerie humming coming into a momentary 'Hmm' of consideration before something even more disturbing happened. His helmet lurched upward revealing a jagged mutated jaw that reached out and grabbed the bone, breaking it and doing Celestia knows what to it, I didn't stick around to find out though as I creeped through the vent, taking extra care to not let my pipbuck hit against the metal sides of it. Something easier said than done when your crawling through a metal case that wasn't meant for something my height. I was surprised I fit in here at all.

Although now that I had a chance to think I remembered what Grey had told us before during a lesson about surprise attacks. No one when searching tended to look up unless they expected a flier or the like. My guess was that he didn't expect any Pegasus ponies or Changelings otherwise he'd had checked up here. Then I made a mistake as he wandered off completely by an accidental slip up during my perilous attempt at sneaking.

CLANG!

My pipbuck had accidently hit one of the pipes, I squeaked in panic as I felt the cyclone of violent emotions stop in it's tracks and turn around. I began to scurry as hurriedly as I could again, adrenaline helping my efforts as he started towards where I once had been. Seconds later the place where I had been was pierced by a metal object of some sort. I couldn't help but let out another squeak of terror as his head, jaw of razor sharp teeth extended, peaked up above the hole and I could just imagine him saying something along the lines of, "Hey there." in a creepy tone.

He started to force himself in, causing me to abandon any attempt at stealth in favor of rushing as much as I could through the narrow tube of death to the next grate. Luckily for me however he had a tougher time trying to climb through a vent in power armor than I was in stealth barding and a lab suit. I made it through the ventilation grate shoving it shut behind me and sprinted for the office, shouting in Red's voice, "SCIENCE IS MAGIC!" with all the emphasis of the Mister Handy's upstairs and dived in as the robotic door opened for me and slammed the shut button as the monster-pony rented through the remaining ventilation rather than crawl through the rest of it. I caught the sight of an metal limb erupting from one of the circular rings on his back and the door dented inwardly an alarming amount. It wouldn't hold him for long.

I looked over the room hurriedly, catching the sight of several metal filing cabinets which I shoved into the door with a burst of magic before I ran to the similarly metal desk that had a terminal on it. I pressed the button to turn it on before I began to shove more of the furniture against the door as the creature began to shove against it. Vaguely I could hear the security systems whine this and that about protocols being breached and about some non-existent pony security that was going to come down and arrest him. "Hurry up..." I muttered at the computer while using both my strength and telekinesis to shove another of the heavy filing cabinets onto the doorway.

The computer loaded and I ran to it, inputting the password with my hooves as the beast roared a shriek that could send shivers down a volcano and the door gave a similar protesting creak as it was battered a bit more inward, being unable to move anymore further due to the amount of furniture that was pressing against it that made the same furniture pile press against the opposite wall of the same room. I jumped as the noise grew louder. Then there was silence as the computer finally was fully booted and I began to change the hostile parameters to a file that Doctor Red had given me, supposedly it would update their targeting parameters to no longer include ghouls or ponies, not that I trusted the last part, or particularly cared with the monster that was peeking through the doorway. The red glowing orbs I could see in his visor was particularly menacing and I shivered as he roared something that could only be described as mind numbing.

I let the computer keep running as I unloaded my shotgun into it's face not causing even a small dent in the heavy armor that it was dressed in. Not even the visor cracked which gave me a whole new reason to fear it. Not only was it strong, but extremely durable, relentless and vicious. I looked for any other way out of this predicament when it suddenly backed off, disappearing from sight in the ruined doorway. I immediately knew it was up to something. The door didn't even look like it was on it's hinges anymore. Then I noticed the two metal tentacle that suddenly pierced through the door after a few metallic whines and jabs. It was going to remove the door, I scurried up to the back of one of the cabinets I had moved, the top most one that was near the door.

As the Monster pony's head began to peak around the corner I shoved it onto him, momentarily restraining the thing as I ran for the nearest intersection and took a left with my wings, Celestia bless my fortune of being able to outrun the dang thing if anything and with the delay of having to push off the filing cabinet I bought myself enough time to reach another intersection and go out of view as he barreled towards the first turn to try and find me. The ability to check his location through the whirlwind of anger he emitted at all times helped but I was forced to pause as something unexpected happened. He vanished. What?

A second later he was in front of me at the next intersection and I turned to bolt the other direction, it wasn't fair. Not only was he in power armor that my shotgun couldn't even scratch, had four metal whirling tentacles coming out of his back that ended in claws, but he could teleport as well?! Buck me with Luna's rear hooves and send me to the moon. I was bucked. I ran again reaching a bit closer to the exit before he intercepted me again. I was faster than he was, but it didn't mean squat if he could intercept me at just about every turn.

He was also purposely trying to herd me away from either of the exits I knew of now that he knew I could fly. Soon enough I found myself back in the main hallway that had the stairs on the opposite end with him between me and freedom. I would have to risk flying between his metal limbs if I wanted out, perhaps repeatedly. It was that or die running tired. I looked ridiculous flying around with my wings disguised though, I almost forgot I had my disguise on, but didn't have any time to drop it.

I gulped and began to fly towards the monster who merely roared at me as I approached, I could feel so much hate from him. Fifteen meters separated us, his limbs flexed and their claws widened in preparation to grab me. Ten meters. I gulped and swerved around trying to make the point of where I would try and pass him throw him off but he adjusted accordingly. Five meters. It was too late to brake, I shut my eyes tight as I charged over him. I felt his claw close on my tail and I was thrown to the ground. "Too slow," the dark voice of death said in my head. as I was smashed into the ground by the appendage that had grabbed me. The creature stood over me. What else could I do? I was now seconds away from being brutally murdered by this monstrous pony.

Wait it was a pony wasn't it? Right? My eyes looked up at the maw and shivered, my horn lighting up and blowing it's cover as my hat floated down to the ground beside me, I had enough time for one last spell... Better make it count. I slew the only spell that could possibly help with this situation, the same spell of which was located in a filly's pranking book I'd hope it would work better than a slow acting healing spell or the ineffectiveness of my now empty shotgun.

I shut my eyes as his maw opened unnaturally wide but I didn't feel anything, instead I heard a slowly rising piece of jazz music that seemed to distract the beast. It's jaw shut before my eyes and I could hear a faint voice slowly rising out of him, male I realized from the crotch guard of the armor, "Hi..." he started before repeating it, "Hi, hi, hi...To you all..."

I breathed a faint sigh of relief it could speak, but I wasn't out of the metaphorical sea of explosive temperamental land mines yet. I wanted to ask who he was but he beat me to it, "Who am I? Call me Maul!"

He moved off and fetched a mirror with a tentacle from one of the corpses, showing both of us each others reflections, he continued in a torn voice as a kazoo seemed to join the jazz music, "Who made me, so ugly," he turned on me raising both a hoof and one of his tentacles which whirled eerily, "Must be Doctor De-lic-ious." he pronounced each syllable like it was it's own word.

My eyes widened as he looked upon my disguise with hate, I tried to speak but he kept singing while lifting me up with two of his mechanical tendrils which gripped me in their claw like vices, "Oh you're the great old doctor, and you really rock." he slammed me into a wall, "With your magic science." He slammed me again, "Magic science."

He dropped me, leaving me dazed upon the ground trying to get my bearing he pointed each limb towards me, dropping the mirror and the hatred clear in his eyes, "It is plain to see, that you made a monstrosity from me." he lunged forward and I barely had the grace to dodge it with my slight bout of concussion.

He lunged again with his extra limbs while maintaining the beat, "What am I? I DON'T KNOW!" my body hit another wall and went though grime and blood covered glass this time, "Creepy horse or Metal plant?!" he sang and I didn't have the strength to lift my pistol let alone the shotgun or sniper rifle in my bags anymore.

I managed my own voice interrupting him with my pained rasp, "Well I got news... For you all... I'm not your hostile foal." I somehow managed to make the last word sound more along the lines of fall but it served the point as my disguise dropped from the lack of energy needed to maintain it anymore. The music stopped and the monstrous pony in front of me looked mildly surprised.

I think my chitin and rib was cracked... green blood? Yep, chitin was cracked and judging from the pain in my lungs the rib was broken. I still managed to wheeze though, "You're not the only one who was a test subject for crazy ponies..." I inclined to him.

I felt the frustration lessen and confusion as well as mistrust and other emotions, "Lies!" the mutant stallion hissed, giving an over lengthen amount of stress on the S. He pressed a hoof on my chest which caused me to wince in pain as he was far from delicate to the cracked chitin underneath my now battered Stealth armor.

"Believe me... I was made in a test tube..." I told him between jagged breathes, "Search my memories if you'd like... if you can..."I groaned, as his pressure increased, "I just want out of this building." I added.

"Don' know no memory spell." His jaw unhinged letting out a horrifyingly long tongue that licked against my bloody hide, "Don' taste natural though." he muttered. I shivered, I did not want to become his next meal. So I started rambling, I can do that occasionally during a life and death situation. I told him about my experiences in the Stable. How my class was raised as a batch, and rambled on and on about the various digit I had been called, Experiment 1993-13. How sadistic it had turned once we had begun to learn combat, I talked until my throat was sore and then some. He listened all the while, each mechanical appendage opening and shutting its three fingered claw that had, upon closer notice, a small red bulb located within each base. The pony was silent after I stopped talking, taking things in, my head was light from blood loss and as much as I wanted to drink a healing potion.

I dared not move lest he take it as a hostile action and killed me then and there. I had a good idea how fast that would end. He gave me a long look of what I presumed was consideration before he merely dropped me where I was and asked, "Why are you here then if you do not work for them."

"Came here..." I muttered between gasps, "For something for a job... Needed something called Project MISS for a friend of a friend..." no point lying his emotions were becoming calmer the more I talked to him. I felt something pang from the depths of his emotions, something I was familiar with in the stable, loneliness. "Have you seen it?" I asked him, garnering no response.

He waited a few moments, as though he was judging me. My life was in the hooves of something that could be considered worse than a psychopath and I was relying my life on the chances. I decided to play another card out of my deck that was running low, "I know where Red Delicious and the scientists are." I told him.

That drew his interest and I had to wheeze in pain as he was suddenly on my chest with both hooves, which was extremely painful considering cracked chitin being stood on by the weight of a pony in power armor, "Where." he demanded.

My voice wheezed, "Need.... Air..." he looked down and backed off giving me a chance to breath, "Up...stairs..." I groaned, "They forced me to come down here to install an override on the computer..." I looked at him again, if I ignored the blood and the fact that he had an unhinging jaw, he almost looked normal in power armor, but my body was screaming for medical attention, "Mind if I... drink a healing potion..." I groaned, and he snorted, nodding.

I gave him a nod of thanks and weakly searched through my bag for the few medical potions that hadn't shattered from the amount of physical trauma that I had been hit with. I felt like I had been hit by a train and I jabbed myself with some med-X in order to dampen it while I drank two of my five remaining intact potions, not quite healing all the injuries and cuts ,but, with a bit of aide with my own magic as well, I managed to reset my rib. All the while the healing potion healed the cracks in my chitin that threatened to spill out my insides from the intense beating. Still felt like I was rammed by a speeding carriage though as the saying went. "So what about you?" I asked him.

Mild confusion tinged his otherwise brooding nature, and I elaborated, wow big word, "What's your story."

"None of your business bug." he replied harshly.

My eyes gave him the best puppy expression I could manage and I chirped at him, a tactic I had seen other Changelings use when they wanted something from an older member. I had found it frankly adorable from the younger castes though I no idea if the cute act would work on him, so I added conversationally, "Can't share your story even after I shared you mine? Can't victims of science share stories with each other?"

He seemed to glare at me, "Don't want to talk about it. Besides you'd get better stories from plants." he stated in a halting demeanor, "What're you doing now?"

I took a moment to consider, "Try to find the project I guess, and my friend Cait and his dog Scrapyard." I wondered what happened to Scrap. I hadn't seen him since we had been separated, "Then get out of here... Alive... This entire place is going to Tartarus." I told him. There was something off about this guy I couldn't put my hoof on it until he turned around and I saw something between two chinks of his armor.

"You're injured." I murmured surprised.

He gave me a 'No shit' look and if a helmet could deadpan I swear it just did. By now I had recovered a good portion of what I had spent in the fight by draining the negative emotional torrent he had left in his rage and recovering a bit easier, "Here let me see..." I reached towards him, he skittered away, and I found a claw in my face glowing, "No." he stated. and I argued, "Want that thing infected with some disease? It's hardly sanitary down here." I tried to stay in his good side considering but it was also understandable, considering I still had a fear of scientists and needles myself.

"Please? I'll only use a basic medical spell. No needles or potions." that seemed to ease the doom-monster-pony somewhat and sheepishly he presented the armored leg to me. Each of the claws though seemed to eye me warily, I wrapped his leg in my glow and used a wash cloth to clean it out, finding a surprising amount of dirt, grime, and things I didn't even want to know in the way as I washed away the build up of a large amount of time. I eventually reached the cut, cleaning the fur around it which was a surprising shade of pale blue and began treating the wound. I could feel a wave of relief and relaxation as the creature in front of me relaxed as some misery he was in was lessened considerably.

A faint bang was heard overhead, reminding me of the predicament. I took out a bandage and wrapped it around the remainder of the wound, "Thanks he muttered."

I stood up, packing my stuff up after emptying it of most of the broken potions and I nodded, "I need to get back up there..." I turned to go but as I trotted I felt that he grew no further from me. He was... following me? I looked back, and he gave a response, "You helped a stranger who just tried to murder you." he tilted his head, "Why?"

I sighed, trying to think of my own reasoning, "Medical helps ponies." I decided, "Something Scientists need to learn. Besides you were just angry at the disguise I wore, not me specifically, probably for good reason."

"What are you going to do about the robots and doctors?" He asked, still following me.

I thought about it, this was the same scientists that made this... thing... such knowledge was not for the wasteland let alone Doctor Red had been at least one key participant to making this pony before me into a monster. I calmly told him, "I might not be able to get rid of my torturers. But from the looks of you... I can at least get rid of yours. Though the robots are a bit much..." I sighed.

"Have room for one more?" he asked.

I looked at him, he looked at me. Suddenly, odds were looking a lot better in my favor. I grinned, why not, I was already one monster by the text book definition of one as according to the books back in the Stable. While also at this point I was glad to accept help from anything that wouldn't stab me in the back or dissect me...Or blow me up, set me on fire... I thought back to the robots upstairs... Great... I nodded to him and together we approached the staircase, me with my shotgun being reloaded, and Maul with his... Tentacle... Claw... Things... Somehow shrinking back into their discs as we approached the staircase, the sounds of battle continuing on above us, about time I rejoined the chaos above.

Footnote: Level Up: New perk: Ferocious Loyalty: The power of your personality and genuine Changeling cuteness inspires die-hard loyalty from your followers. When you drop below 50% health, your companions temporarily gain a much greater resistance to damage.

Skills Note: Speech: 50.

Maul: Companion Perk: Brutal Mess Maker: This Companion seems far more than adept at dismantling things, as a bonus you are able to cripple limbs 20% more often in S.A.T.S. and your enemies tend to explode into bloody chunks more often as well. By Celestia is this guy mess. Are you sure you want this psychopath as your companion? I mean sure he's hard to kill and another escaped experiment but e-gads.

A few references here, as well as an Easter egg for the design of the new companion. Tell me if you can spot them, or even if you have noticed a few unintentional ones. A cookie for the pony who does. Metaphorical cookie of course. I doubt shipping an actual cookie would remain good during transport, let alone in tact... Also as always, in need of some editors since my current one has some troubles on the home stead and I'd hate to bother them. Hope you're enjoying it so far!