Field Note smiled brilliantly as he trotted onto the stage; the bright spotlights nearly blinding him as he gazed out at the crowd. He could feel tears in his eyes, tears of happiness in that all of his sacrifice and hard work was about to pay off. It felt like the greatest day of his life to date; all his work and sleepless nights cumulated toward this very moment. He could barely make out the face of the pony shaking his head vigorously as he stood before a crowd of hundreds, maybe thousands. Field felt his chest swell with pride as the speech began. “In recognition of outstanding achievements in the fields of physiology and human relations, we present the Trotbel prize to-”

“Fieeeeldy.”

Blinking in surprise, Field looked around as Flitters voice sounded out again all around him. His curiosity turned to horror as his award slipped from his hooves and the crowd began to dematerialize before him as he slowly began to wake up. “No! No please! Not like this!” His calls for mercy went unheeded, until he snapped awake in his sleeping bag.

Flitter withdrew her hooves, having shaken him awake. “You were crying in your sleep Field.” She smirked a small bit as the batpony’s face turned a deep red and he turned away from her to pout. “It's alright Fieldy, time to get up anyway.” The mare stood and stretched out, missing the swift glance Field sent her way as she did. Flapping her wings to get the circulation going, Flitter pulled on her hoodie and looked to Field as he remained inside his devilishly warm sleeping bag. “Come on, we have a human auction to attend.”

Groaning in exertion as he pulled himself out of his sleeping bag, Field slowly got dressed, his mind still lingering on the dream he’d never reach. Grabbing his bag of bits, Field looked over to Flitter and nodded. “I'm ready to go.” The mare smiled at him approvingly as she headed for the cave entrance. A cursory glance past the tarping showed nothing but a thickly snowed in forest, completely undisturbed by anything save for the wind. Flitter barely slowed by a fraction as she plowed through the snow drifts, leaving a slim trail for Field to follow along behind. The forest was disturbingly silent, the trees themselves barely making a sound as they softly swish and swayed in the wind. Field's eyes slowly swept about, taking it all in as he trotted behind Flitter. His eyes eventually returned to her, and he allowed himself a wistful sigh as he fell into a wonderfully warm daydream. Near the outskirts of Ponyville, Flitter stopped dead in her tracks and turned her head to ask Field a question. Her question was lost momentarily when he walked blissfully unaware into her hindquarters.

Shaking her head as Field backed up swiftly, Flitter ignored his bright red cheeks as she looked back over to Ponyville. “Where did the flyer say the auction was?” She looked back over her shoulder as he struggled with his bags.

“Aha! I found it!” Field's smile faded slightly when he looked back up at her with the crumpled ball of paper in his magic. Coughing quietly, he looked down at it and did his best to work the lines out of the paper. “Erm… Ponyville center… I don't know where that is…”

“I do.” Flitter turned back toward the town and started trotting, giving Field enough time to scramble to shove the flier back in his saddlebag and gallop through the snow to catch up. Flitter continued on once she could hear his laboured panting behind her again. “It's where they hold the annual Human show. You know, trainers and breeders bring out their best to try and win prizes. Makes sense, the place is meant to hold a lot of humans.” Flitter paused and cursed. “I should have brought some of his gear, that'd make it so much easier… dammit, Flitter you dummy…”

As Flitter quietly berated herself for the supposed slip-up, Field gave up on trying to muscle his way through the snow left in her wake. Tapping his flight talisman twice, he took to the skies and hovered along beside her with some effort. “Ponyville must have quite a market on humans to have a center.”

The mare snorted and shook her head. “No, it was just another waste of crown funds. The only breeders nearby are the Apples. I mean, there's plenty of trainers, and on occasion some breeders from out of town come to the shows, but generally we don't see many.” Flitter sighed. “So the mayor tries to make it seem like less of a waste by hosting all kinds of bullshit events, and only the same hoofful of ponies go.” She looked over her shoulder and smiled at Field. “Which means the auction won't have a ton of ponies at it.”

Trying to match her enthusiasm, Field smiled meekly and nodded. “I do hope so. This… job, may be quite difficult otherwise.” He cast his eyes around nervously, as if the few ponies out and about could read their minds and discover their intentions. Shaking her head at the stallion’s demeanour, Flitter continued to plow through the snow laden streets toward Ponyville center. The ticket booth was manned, and a lone stallion was working at cleaning the entrance of snow. Flitter motioned for Field to take point, and pay for their entrance. Nodding weakly at Flitter, Field trotted up and smiled at the mare behind the ticket counter. “Good, uhhh… good morning!” He pressed his smile, despite how fake it felt.

The mare glanced over with blatant disinterest, before swinging her chair over so she was facing him. “Entrance for two?” When Field nodded, and began fidgeting with his bit bag, she interrupted him as he went to speak. “Will you be purchasing anything today?” The stallion cast a questioning glance to Flitter, awaiting her answer to the question. Rolling her eyes, Flitter nodded, and the mare sighed. “That's twenty bits sir.” Taking the money from him readily, the mare pushed a pair of tickets to them and went back to reading her gossip magazine.

Not giving Field a moment to collect his thoughts, Flitter herded him through the door and took one of the tickets off him. “Okay, let's stick together. Pretend that we want to have a look at the merchandise before the auction.” At his wordless confirmation, Flitter smiled and patted him with her wing. “Take it easy Field, you're tense.”

“That's easy for you to say…” Field looked around nervously as he dispelled his flight talisman and pulled his Parka’s collar closer with his magic. “Okay. I'll follow your lead Flitter.”

Leading Field off through the center as ponies milled about while they waited for the auction to start, Flitter scanned for anything resembling a corral. The Apples had a small stall, and had obviously brought some of their overstock. A quick glance confirmed they didn't have Jack, or any of the tribals. Their humans just seemed too docile, too broken in and well trained. Next, much to Flitter's immediate disliking, was Miss Oakenbaulm and her select breeds. The older mare spotted her around the same time, and narrowed her eyes in suspicion.

Before Flitter could drag Field past her stall, the older mare cleared her throat and drew the stallions attention, which inadvertently brought Flitter’s. “I see your human isn't with you Flitter. Are you looking to sell him today?” Her voice held a portion of edge to it, but not enough to warrant the aggressive response that Flitter had to quash.

Shaking her head as she pushed at Field to continue in, Flitter shot a scanning glance over Oakenbaulm’s stock. To her surprise, the older mare’s personal human was for sale. “No. He’s been foalnapped, and we were hoping maybe we could get lucky and find him here.”

To Flitter's immediate surprise, Oakenbaulm seemed genuinely concerned as she looked to Field. “You must be the human’s out-of-town owner. I'm sorry for your loss sir, but I do not believe that he's here. Trust me, I would have seen him.”

Field opened his mouth to protest, before immediately closing it as he scrapped his response. “Y-yes… I'm feeling his loss quite… keenly. We haven't had any luck finding him so far. “ Field did his best to ignore Flitter's annoyed look as the older mare nodded.

“I can understand the pain of that loss.” Oakenbaulm sat back and seemed to consider a thought for a scant moment, before smiling. “I have a proposition. My human here, she's… she seems to be a special case. However, whatever she lacks in the mental department, she seems to be very, very good at tracking scents. I'd be willing to sell her to you for a fair price.”

Rolling her eyes, Flitter opened her mouth to shoot down the offer, but was cut off by Field agreeing and opening his bit bag. “How much would you ask for her? She seems healthy.” Again, he ignored Flitter's annoyed snort.

“Two hundred, for you.” Miss Oakenbaulm smiled kindly at Field as he counted out two hundred bits. “Just keep her fed and bathed. She has a tendency to get very dirty.” As Field hoofed over the bits, Oakenbaulm peered closer at his face and smiled with recognition. “I know you, you’re Professor Field Note. I read your paper, before you were kicked out of Canterlot.”

Flushing from the recognition, Field shifted nervously and smiled. “Well it's um… always good to meet a fan! Hah…” Field laughed weakly with Oakenbaulm as the human was collared and leashed.

“Your work with human psychology makes for quite the read, Professor Note. Please, enjoy your new human, and good luck finding your missing one.” Glancing to Flitter, Oakenbaulm leaned forward and spoke quietly to him, but loudly enough for Flitter to easily hear. “You may want to reconsider the company you keep, Professor. Have a nice day now.” She smiled professionally despite Flitter's angry scowl.

Returning the pleasantries, Field gently tugged on the leash and found the human female very responsive. “Flitter? Let's go, shall we?” Shifting her glare to Field, Flitter watched as his smile wilted and returned to its semi-frightened frown from earlier that day. Nodding wordlessly, Flitter followed him out of the center and into the chilly winter air. The small human shivered and chirped in discomfort as she crossed her arms in front of her slight chest to try and conserve warmth.

“So, Field. “ Flitter began as she trotted next to him down the main street. Field immediately regretted his purchase at the tone she was using. His hopes lifted ever so slightly as she sighed dejectedly and looked to him. “Do you really think she’ll be any help?”

With his eyes scanning for a certain shop, Field did his best to smile with certainty. “I do. Trained tracking humans are very capable. Not as much as hounds with scents, but definitely more versatile. Now, where can we buy her some winter clothes?”

Flitter glanced up at the whining and shivering girl who had clamped herself to Field's side in an attempt to leech warmth from him. “Just down the street. Rarity started selling human clothes again. Don't know what pulled the stick out of her ass on that though… “

Field's response was consumed by a girlish yelp as the human stuck her icy cold hands down his parka and buried them deep into his fur. The girl let out a happy chirp as she nuzzled him. Flitter bit her hoof to keep from laughing as Field shivered unhappily. His new response was considerably more icy. “I would appreciate it if we hurried then.”

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Once the young human was more appropriately dressed for the weather, Field and Flitter began their trek back into the forest. The human trailed behind them on her leash, the rapid clomps of her booties in the snow broke the silence between Flitter and Field as they approached the boundary between Ponyville and the woods. With the available trail growing ever slimmer, Field choked up on the leash and brought the still unnamed girl close to his side as Flitter lead the way through to Jack's cave in the woods. Flitter approached the entrance and slipped inside, leaving Field and the girl outside while she found something appropriate to let the human hound get a scent off of. The girl shifted nervously from foot to foot, eliciting high pitched chirps as she looked around. Soon enough, she was pressed firmly against Field's side. Thankfully, Flitter soon stepped back through the optical camouflage tarp with an old worn shirt held in her mouth. Walking up to the girl, Flitter held the shirt before her.

“Track! Find him girl, go, track!”

The girl pressed her face into the fabric, sniffing and huffing in the cold. Without warning, she jerked back and wheeled on her heels to take off through the snow. Field squeaked as the leash went taut and the human pulled him across the frozen dirt and snow. His hooves caught on a hunk of fallen wood, sending him careening down into the snow face first. Flitter raced over top of the fallen stallion as the woman weaved through the trees, her leash trailing behind her like a flailing tail. Pumping her wings as she was forced to go wide around a copse of trees, Flitter strained to keep her eyes on the brightly dressed woman as she pushed through the snow. Without warning the woman stopped, just before the tribal encampment. Alighting down next to her, Flitter grinned as she looked up.

“What did you find girl?” Flitter prepared the shirt again, in case she'd forgotten the scent already. The girl hopped from foot to foot, whining as she looked about the camp. She chirped meekly, before skirting around the snow covered encampment. Picking up the trail again, she set off at a more reasonable pace, allowing Flitter to keep up without difficulty. Tossing a glance over her shoulder, Flitter scanned the forest and the sky for any sign of Field. Spotting him circling slowly, Flitter spread out a wing and whistled into her hoof. Drawing his attention with her brightly coloured wing, Flitter didn't see the human stop in her tracks until it was too late. Field landed in the fresh powder as Flitter was pulling her muzzle out of the humans rear. Flushing hotly as she avoided his smirking visage, Flitter took a look over at the human. She was pawing at the snow, digging something out. Trotting over to her side, Flitter immediately recognised the garish orange and yellow cap, frozen stiff as a board.

“That's his hat alright… what happened here?” Flitter looked up and slowly scanned the small clearing. In several places, the snow had accumulated in old thrashed drifts and across the clearing. Something metallic and green drew Flitter's attention; whatever it was was sticking out of a medium sized hole. Trotting over to the hole, Flitter found Jack's entrenching tool, stuck blade down in the frozen dirt. “Jack was digging here!” Flitter lifted her head to find Field, only to hear her name being called.

Field beckoned her over before a large tree, where a hoof sized hole had been shot clear through. Blood and a thick tuft of furred flesh had crystallized on a nearby rock that was protected mostly from the falling snow. Swallowing lightly, Field frowned heavily. “There was definitely a fight here… see if the human can get a scent off his hat, or the fur.”

Holding the frozen hat in front of the girl, the pair waited anxiously for her to pick up another trail. The girl sniffed at it, and made a face as she pulled it from Flitter's grasp and buried her face into it. Dropping the hat, she began pacing the clearing as she made strange, unhappy noises. Without warning the human stopped dead in her tracks and craned her head awkwardly, before bolting off into the woods. With the two ponies chasing her as fast as their hooves and wings could carry them, the girl weaved between trees and under branches. Bursting from the woods, she carried on through a seldom used path and over an old stone bridge. Ponyville began to grow before them as the human made a hard line toward the train station. The girl followed the tracks for a half kilometre, before slowing to a stop and sitting down cross legged in the snow. Flitter trotted beyond the girl, who arched up and nuzzled happily at the now panting Field. Flitter’s features twisted in anger and defeat as she stared off at the city that clung to the side of the mountains.

“Canterlot…”

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A sharp shake and a quiet chirp awoke Jack from yet another dreamless sleep; he jerked upwards at the touch and tried to find the source as Elissa and the other terran man remained sound asleep. Blinking through his morning fog, Jack found himself staring at a very pallid Akasha. She tugged at his hand, and murmured incomprehensibly. Alright alright, I'm up… Pushing himself up after carefully taking Elissa’s head off his lap, Jack groaned as he stretched out his sore limbs. Akasha tugged at him again, and grabbed onto his fingers to lead him to the source of her concerns. The culprit soon became apparent as Jack approached. Gover was laying in the shade of the trees in the fetal position; a small pile of ignored food lay near him. The man looked as if we were just skin and bone; his skeletal structure pushed through his pale discoloured flesh, becoming painfully visible.

Letting out a sad sigh, Jack sat down next to the small man and shook his head. You ain't gonna make it, are you buddy… As if he could hear Jack's unspoken thoughts, Gover slowly cracked an eye and mewled softly at Jack. His dull eyes were fogged with pain, and yet he still tried to sit up. Shaking his head, Jack held him down until his barely noticeable struggling stopped. I'm sorry buddy. I wish I could help you. I want to help you. A near panicked thought crossed Jack's mind, and he reached to the small pile of food. He spent the next ten minutes trying to get the sick man to eat something, anything.

When he failed to get the man to eat anything, Jack let out a quiet sigh and brought the much smaller man up to rest his upper body in his lap. Gover nuzzled in weakly, and let out a slow breath. Closing his eyes, Jack wrapped his right arm around Gover's neck, locking it to his left shoulder. He began tightening his chokehold, cutting off blood flow to Gover's brain. Without so much as a chirp or mewl in alarm, Glover slipped into unconsciousness. Grimacing, Jack jerked his body abruptly to the side, earning a muted crack. Jack held the man like that for a long moment, feeling him slip away. Setting his jaw tightly, Jack laid Gover's body down softly on the grass and stood, brushing off his pants. Crossing the dead tribals arms over his now still chest, Jack turned his back on the body and looked up to find every set of eyes in the enclosure resting on him. Unable to hide his sneer of disgust, he treaded over to the small creek and began washing his hands off.

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Up in the observation area, scientists gathered around with their clipboards and notepads as Dr. Forge smiled with barely suppressed egotistical confidence. Standing next to him was Dr. Maltenics. The mare smothered her desire to pluck the hippogriff right there on the spot, and allowed him to begin his practiced and perfected sales pitch. Of course, this was just a ‘test run’ so the real buyer wasn't present. Just colleagues sworn to the same silence as the two scientists.

“Ladies and gentlestallions, for centuries we have sent out children off to fight wars, to do battle with our enemies and to keep us safe. For centuries, our best and bravest have thrown their lives away for meaningless swathes of land, for petty political squabbles.” He turned toward the enclosure and gestured with a talon. “Many attempts have been made to weaponize humans to fight in our stead, but to no avail.” He smiled like a snake, and Maltenics failed to cover her scowl this time. “That problem, my friends and colleagues, is one I have solved.” He waved his full set of claws toward one of the enclosure doors. “Behold. My child of war.”

The door shuddered as it slid open, and some of the humans began to gather near it expecting food. The area behind it was pitch black, revealing nothing to the scientists who craned their necks to get a look at what Forge had created. One of the humans approached the open door, chirping quizzically. A massive, muscled hand shot out and wrapped around the human's head and yanked him back into the dark. The other humans squawked and squealed as they retreated from the doorway. Forge smiled cruelly as a pale arm planted itself into the grass and his child peered out from the dark, causing the scientists to collectively gasp. “Enjoy the show.”

_______________________________________________________________________

Fuck me running...

Jack took an involuntary step back as the aberration slowly pulled itself free from the dark. It looked human in size, just about Algeron's size if he had weighed another hundred pounds more. Ropey, sinuous muscle layered its massive frame and was covered by pale waxy skin that was pulled so taut over the aberration’s muscles that it looked as if it were about to burst out of its own skin. Its body was crisscrossed with surgical stitching to match the clear tubes filled with a mix of sickly yellow and pitch black fluids. It lumbered awkwardly into the enclosure like a child taking its first steps. Jack slowly moved to regroup with Elissa and 3901, but before he could reach them, he caught sight of the aberration’s face. Stopping dead in his tracks, he stared straight into Blunda’s blackened dead eyes. Blunda's soft childish lips curled upward in a disturbingly sincere smile. A shrill chirp brought Blunda's attentions away from Jack, freeing him from whatever force had caused his body to freeze in place.

Shaking his head, Jack set his legs in motion to rejoin his peers as Akasha slowly approached what had become of her child. She warbled softly as Jack dug out his bone shiv and nodded to Elissa and 3901. The aberration regarded Akasha with open curiosity as she approached with tears in her eyes. She slowly reached out to it, brushing her dirty fingertips against the pale waxy skin of Blunda's cheek. It's eerily long fingers curled around the back of Akasha's head, mimicking a loving embrace. The next moment, a sickening crack echoed through the enclosure, sending Jack's dinner from the night before up into his throat as the woman's grey matter and shattered skull leaked between Blunda's long fingers and her body spasmed and twitched wildly. Blunda's lips curled upward again as he shrieked with delight and began playing with the still spasming corpse how a child would play with a new toy.

The bile in the back of his throat subsided as white hot fury overcame Jack and he gripped his bone shiv with purpose. I'm going to put. You. DOWN. Baring his teeth, Jack let out a long whistle, drawing the attention of his hunters. With a rage fueled roar, he jabbed the shiv at the beast that had once been a child and let out his war cry.

“UUUURRAAAAHHHH!!”

His fury proved infectious as the previously stunned humans snarled and mirrored his warcry so violently that it echoed inside the observation platform, shaking the protective glass that separated horror from science. The humans charged the aberration, screaming their guttural tribal battlecry as the beast turned toward them and giggled with glee. Flesh slammed into flesh as the trapped humans assaulted the aberration with vehemence; grubby, dirty fingers and hands searched for purchase against the waxy skin and dug into fresh sutures and earned oily black blood in return. Blunda slammed one of his balled up fists down onto Aram’s head, crushing the large ex-alpha like a soda can. Ducking under a blow that shattered a tribals chest, Jack stabbed forward with the bone shiv. The crude weapon bit between sutures, and dug in deep into the aberration’s flesh. Oily black blood trickled forth, and the beast roared in aggravation. With lightning fast reflexes, it grabbed hold of Jack's legs and hurled him across the enclosure with contemptuous ease. The reinforced glass and its metal frame buckled loudly as he impacted it, causing the scientists behind it to cry out in surprise as he fell out of sight and into the small stream.

Water flooded into Jack's open mouth, all the air in his lungs having been forced out by the impact. He came up spluttering and gasping; throwing himself to the edge of the shallow stream as the battle raged on. Half of Isotta’s body splattered bloodily as it bounced across the floor and skidded to a stop a few feet away. We're getting slaughtered! Gritting his teeth and swallowing the pain that plagued his body, Jack shook his head and propelled himself back into the fray. The aberration flailed at the humans, its enjoyment of the fight gone now that somebody had stabbed it in the neck. The shiv lay buried inside its putrid flesh, the beast's oily black blood slowly trickling out around it. Ducking under its arms with enviable agility, Elissa ripped the shiv from the blackened laceration and moved to slip back out, only to be struck by one of the aberrations flailing arms and sent to the ground. Blunda let out a high pitched squeal of delight as he lifted both of his arms up to squash her like an insect underfoot.

The strikes never came down as 3901 slammed into the beast; the sound of the impact echoed through the enclosure. Grabbing onto the beast's barrel chest, 3901 held it at bay in a wrestling grapple as Elissa removed herself from harm's way. With a mighty roar, 3901 heaved the monster off its feet and sent it crashing to the floor with a herculean hip toss; the boom echoed through the clamour of the enclosure and shook the windows of the observation post. The burly man’s monstrous muscles bulged from beneath layers of fat as he grit his teeth in exertion. With a twist, 3901 twisted Blunda’s mutated arm until it popped free of its socket and pinned it against the floor. The few surviving humans pinned down its right arm as Jack scooped up a large palm sized rock. Pouncing onto Blunda's heaving chest, he brought the rock down in a hard, swiping strike that took the beast's boyish face clean off. Jack recoiled in horror as the flayed face fell off like a wet mask, revealing the blank fleshy slate underneath. Pushing his horror to the back of his mind, Jack brought the rock down again and again, earning gouts of blood and strange sickly yellow gel that spattered his arms and hands. The severed child's face began to howl and squeal in agony; the sound sending a chill down Jack's spine and burying itself deep in his mind as he smashed its skull to pieces. Jack smashed the rock against its pulverized skull again and again, only stopping when two pairs of arms grabbed him from behind and pulled him off the twitching corpse.

3901 and Elissa let him go as they took a step back; they both huffed from the exertion of earlier and wiped at the viscous fluids and sweat that spattered and traced their bodies. Jack shook his head slowly, and doubled over as he held his pounding head. Crimson blood trickled onto the fake grass and stone; he wasn't even sure if it was his own.

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Turning away from 4859 and his wonderfully gruesome handiwork, Dr. Maltenics failed to hide her smug satisfaction as she looked across her colleagues to see Forge still staring down at the enclosure with shocked disbelief. The hippogriff blinked rapidly, before slowly turning from the glass and treading away slowly. Maltenics felt a sense of joy overcome her, up until she heard the laughter coming from the enclosure. Manic, hateful laughter drew her attentions back to the now approaching 4859. The human was grinning ear to ear, and looking right into her eyes. With a savage grin, he pointed at her, before slowly drawing a finger across his throat.

The display sent a chill down her spine as she looked over to the lead security officer. “Have a team separate 4859 from the others. Solitary confinement, bite mask and jacket.” The stallion nodded and set off to alert his peers as Maltenics cast a glance back down at the destroyed enclosure. Only five humans remained of the thirty-two that had awoken that morning. Bodies and severed parts littered the ground and intestines were spread about like holiday garlands. The rotten creature that Forge had created lay dead. Maltenics closed her eyes for a long moment, before turning away from the window and trotting back to her office. She had a lot of work to do.

_______________________________________________________________________

When one of the outer doors began to open, Jack bolted for it, hell bent on escape. A team of pony wranglers were on the other side, completely unprepared for the blood raged human who burst through the small gap between the door and the floor. Jack wrapped his hands around the first ponies head, and pistoned his armoured kneecap into the stallions muzzle. The muted crunch and high pitched scream went unheeded as Jack roared with fury and launched himself at the yelling guards. His hand found purchase on the padded grip of a cattle prod; the weapon was soon arcing through the air, splitting a mare's face wide open as it discharged its battery into her.

“Somepony call for backup!”

A unicorn screamed bloody murder and hit the floor hard as Jack smashed the cattle prod to pieces across her glowing horn. He grunted in pain as a low voltage prod jammed into his side and locked his muscles. The remains of the team began their counter barrage, beating and battering him as roughly as they could. With a fury fueled snarl, Jack launched himself at one of the few ponies left and dug his thumbs deep into the big colourful eyes that stared at him in horror. He barely noticed that the door had closed behind him, cutting him off from his peers, or that reinforcements had arrived for the wranglers. He pressed his thumbs in deeper and didn't bother hiding the manic open toothed grin he wore. A bolt of lightning struck his side, sending Jack off of the thrashing and screaming pony. A half-dozen armoured guards pounced on him, pinning his arms to the ground as his side sizzled from the magic strike. They pressed a heavy metal mask down over his face and clamped it shut behind his head, before manhandling him into a straight jacket. With one final rebel yell, Jack head-butted one of the armoured guards, splitting open the stallion's face with the heavy metal contraption now clamped onto his head. Hooves punched downwards, driving the air from his lungs as high voltage cattle prods turned his body into an unresponsive wreck.

Finally, the world went black around him as he slipped into a beaten and bloodied unconsciousness. Mark’s echoing laughter was the last thing he heard.

______________________________________________________________________

Flitter rubbed at her cheek as she and Field sat in Sugar Cube Corner; their coffees had long since grown cold. Another day had gone by with nothing. Field had tried to reach several old colleagues in Canterlot, but they either didn't return his letters or had nothing for the pair. The human girl was curled up on the carpet in the corner of the store, snoozing peacefully as they tried to plan. The doorbell clattered quietly, and Pinkie called out from the back in her high pitched singsong voice.

“Be there in a minute!~”

Not looking up at the newcomer, Flitter sighed and rubbed at her cheek tiredly. The human girl lifted her head and chirped curiously at the newcomer, who fluttered her wings to dislodge the snow that had fallen on them. The mare glanced at the curled up human, before looking back over at the pair seated by the window. Taking a steadying breath in, Cloud Chaser cleared her throat and spoke.

“Flitter? It's-”

“I know who it is Cloudy.” Flitter's response was fast and barbed, causing Cloud Chaser to wince as she trotted around to take a seat at the table. Flitter frowned heavily and cast an undesirable look toward her sister.

Smiling weakly as she rubbed at her forehoof, Cloud Chaser avoided Flitter's flat, angry gaze. “Listen, I…. I know I messed up, but could you come home? Please?” The mare fluttered her wings with worry as she kept her gaze low and apologetic.

“I can't.” Flitter took a swig of her cold coffee. “Nothing for me there anyway.”

Cloud Chaser's wings and features drooped at the verbal blow. “O-oh… maybe… maybe just for a few minutes then? Please?”

Field looked out the window in an awkward attempt to avoid the conversation as Flitter let out a long, pained sigh. “For once, maybe you could tell me what's really going on, and stop pussyhoofing around it. I'm a bit preoccupied, so make it good.”

Blinking in surprise, Cloud Chaser let her head hang as she crossed her hooves on the table. “I… okay. Mom’s holding an ‘intervention’ for you. I'm supposed to trick you into coming.”

“Oh, great!” Flitter snorted hotly. “An awesome reason to not go home. Just answer this question for me. Is mom fucking retarded?”

“No! No, I… okay, maybe…” The mare sighed weakly and rubbed at her eyes. “Look, I… I think Jack might get in trouble because of her. She said she was going to deal with him, and-” Cloud Chaser motioned to Field, who had since sat up and turned his full attention to the conversation with deepset worry etched on his features.

Flitter leaned forward across the table and stared hard at her sister. “Cloudy, who did Mom talk to? Who was going to do it?” When Cloud Chaser didn't answer fast enough, Flitter lunged across the table and grabbed her sister by her winter jacket’s collar and yanked her close, knocking over the cold coffees in the process. “Don’t fuck around on this, Cloudy. Don't you dare.”

Stuttering in fear, Cloud Chaser tried to pull away. “I-I d-don't know! I swear! I wasn't paying attention when she said the name!” She whimpered quietly as Flitter growled in aggravation and released her collar.

Flitter let out a slow, calming breath as she thought. She looked to Field and smiled without humour as she spoke. “Looks like I get to go to my own intervention and ask mommy dearest some questions.” Sliding out of the booth, Flitter left a few bits for the spilled coffee and tugged Cloud Chaser out of the store with her, leaving Field behind. As the stallion slowly slid out of the booth to find some paper towels, the violently pink cashier bounded out of the kitchen with batter splattered across her face and chest. The curl of her mane was smouldering as she looked at Field frantically.

“Hiyah! You wanna order?” She grinned like a lunatic, causing Field to draw a complete blank. She spread her smile to desperate, comical proportions. “Plllleeeeeaase? Mrs. Cake will be soooo mad if I missed a customer!”

His human murmured happily as she rolled over on the carpet, leaving Field on his own. He smiled sheepishly and nodded to the hyperactive mare. “Yeah, sure…”

______________________________________________________________________

The cell that they'd thrown Jack into was small, too small. Locked in the pitch black darkness with almost his entire body constricted, he was trapped with all the terrors his mind could conjure. Since they’d knocked him unconscious he'd lost all concept of time. Even the food was unscheduled, despite already being sparse. With the cold stone against his back, he couldn't help but begin to believe that the walls were slowly closing in on him. Settling the matter by clamping his eyes shut, Jack shifted uncomfortably and fell to his side with a grunt. The walls are getting closer, I can feel it! I can feel them getting closer… how much closer? Too close. Not enough room. Need to get out.

The rattling of cart wheels made his eyes shoot open behind his metal mask and his whole body to tense in preparation. The wheels stopped just before his door, and the vision slat slid open, blinding him with yellow clinical light. A voice he didn't recognise echoed through the tiny cell and set his teeth on edge.

“So… you're the human who destroyed my beautiful child… yes… your body will make for an excellent replacement. I will have to run tests on samples however.” The slat closed, and several muffled voices conversed behind the heavy iron door. The slat opened again, and red magic pinned him against the wall without care. The magic continued to press harder, as if trying to squeeze the air from his lungs. A muted pop sounded from his chest and it exploded in agony as the door began to open. Broken rib? Maybe. Gritting his teeth to swallow the pain behind his mask, Jack glared white hot needles at the wranglers who entered.

He recognised the leader; the mare he'd shot during the attack. Her horn glowed with the same aura as the one crushing his ribcage. You're dead. You're so fucking dead. I'm going to rip your horn off and gouge your goddamn eyes out with it. I'm going to rape you with it until you DIE! The mare smiled cruelly as she unlimbered her baton. “Not so big now, ain'tcha?” She tapped at his mask with the end of her baton. “Now be a good freak. Or don't, give me an excuse.” A sense of weightlessness passed over him as the wranglers lifted him with magic onto an unpadded gurney and strapped him down tightly. Then, they blinded him. Seems like they're not taking any chances. Jack grit his teeth and let his anger smolder to be used later. No way am I letting that bastard do that to me. I'll murder every pony in this goddamn building with my bare hands if I have to.

The gurney began to rattle down the hall, passing under lights that shone through the cloth that was covering his metal muzzle. They entered a room, and the gurney finally stopped. The male voice sounded out again, close to his side. “First, some samples.” The cloth covering his mask was removed, perhaps by accident, giving him open view of the new creature as it wielded a scalpel. Looks like a pony was raped by a house cat and carried it. Fuckin’ mutant! Jack spat past his mask as the scientist leaned close, striking him in the eye. Jack grinned savagely as the scientist recoiled and wiped at his eyes.

“Unruly bastard! Grah!” Forge wiped as the glob of spit that had splattered against his face as he glared down at the human. The molten fury that met Forge’s gaze caused him to pause, his body frozen in place. Jack sneered hatefully at the hippogriff, his inner desire to flay the muscle from the bastard’s bones wanted to become a reality so badly it made his teeth itch with anticipation. Forge let out a shuddering breath as he stared at Jack. With an air of reverence he spoke. “So much anger… so much suffering... it's beautiful…” The scientist waved a talon at the wranglers who all stood idly by staring at him as if he'd just lost his mind. “Begone. I have bone marrow to extract.” As the guards filed out, Forge leaned in close to Jack and smiled. “We’re going to reforge the world and make it beautiful, my friend… The corruption of the system, the sisters, the pointless battles and squabbles; it will all fall before us. It will be biblical.”

Jack jerked in his bindings in an attempt to burst free and murder Forge however he could. Laughing at the futile attempt, Forge retrieved a marrow needle and prepared it. “4859… Do you like hurting other people?” He chuckled as he inserted the needle deep into Jack's hip without anaesthetic. Jack gasped as his lower body began to burn in such deep agonizing pain it brought tears to his eyes and caused his breath to catch in his chest. With a cautious and uncaring pull, the now full needle was removed and set aside. Next came the scalpel; Forge began drawing incision markers across the portions of Jack's body that were exposed in preparation. “Next is tissue samples. I hope you don't mind too terribly.” The hippogriff smiled with sadistic glee as Jack's screams echoed through the halls.

_______________________________________________________________________

With Cloud Chaser galloping to catch up with her, Flitter said nothing as she stormed toward what she had called home. So Cloudy told Mom about Jack. Mom gets a friend to come remove him from the picture. Who... does mom know that could pull something like that off? Flitter wracked her brain for anything, but was drawing a blank. Maybe I should have paid more attention to her.

Behind her, Cloud Chaser swallowed nervously and finally fell into step beside Flitter. “So… somepony actually took Jack?” She sounded incredulous; the time she'd spent with the surly human had impressed upon her that he wouldn't go anywhere unless he wanted to, and convincing him otherwise would be…. unhealthy. At Flitter's single nod, Cloud Chaser let her head hang from the shame she felt. “I'm sorry Flitter, for… for everything. I know I'm a terrible sister, and I just… I'm sorry.” In her head, the proposed apology had been a lot more effective. In the real world, not so much.

“Save your breath, Cloudy.” The response was icy, even for Flitter. She felt a short pang of guilt as her sister's mouth worked like a fish's, before clamping shut with an audible click. The older mare let her head hang further in dejection as they neared the quaint cloudhome. Shaking off the regrets she had toward treating her elder sister so roughly, Flitter honed her attention down onto the only thing that mattered to her at that time. With a heavy pulse of her wings, Flitter took off toward the front door, leaving her sister in the dust. Not giving Cloud Chaser a moment to catch up, Flitter pushed the door open and stepped inside.

She could already hear the quiet, professional conversation in the living room before even crossing the threshold. Grace, and another pony she didn't recognise sat on the furniture chatting idly. Grace didn't bother looking to the door before speaking. “Cloudy, be a dear and make sure that flighty mare doesn't run off? It's been hard enough tra-”

With her teeth bared in aggression, Flitter stormed toward the couch. “Oh I'm not going anywhere, Mother.” The last word came out with so much pent up anger that it was closer to a loathing snarl than any real word. Grace turned on her over-plush politician’s rump to stare with wide-eyed, slack-jawed surprise as Flitter bristled with anger. “I'm not letting you leave either, until I've impressed upon you how deeply you have fucked UP.” By the time Flitter finished her sentence, her muzzle was pressed hard against Grace’s, pushing her mother's head back against the couch.

Grace fumbled with her words as she looked to the unnamed pony who blinked in surprise at the sheer vehemence that emanated from Flitter. The stallion pressed his hooves together as he steepled them before his mouth. “Flitter, I'm Doctor Sable. I'm a psychologist, and I'm here to-”

The rest of his sentence died in his throat as Flitter snapped a wing tip at him and shot him a furious look. “Can it. She's had my best friend foalnapped because she doesn't approve of him.” She bared her teeth at Grace and pressed in, pinning her to the couch. “So, who did you call up? Huh?”

The shock seemed to have worn off, as Grace pushed back at her daughter to get herself a tiny modicum of space. “Flitter, I am your mother and you will show me some respect! What has gotten into you!? What happened to my happy little filly?” The last question came out quietly strained as Grace pleaded with her eyes for answers.

Taking advantage of the momentary silence between the family, Dr. Sable interjected swiftly and with prepared words. “Flitter, you’ll get your answers, but violence isn't the solution.” He made a placating gesture with his hooves that seemed to calm her ever so slightly. “We're just going to have a quiet, civil chat. It will give you a chance to air your grievances. Does that sound alright?”

“... Yeah.” Flitter slowly sank into one of the empty chairs opposite her mother; soon Cloud Chaser slunk over and took a silent seat next to her mother.

Smiling pleasantly and disarmingly, Dr. Sable relaxed into his own chair. “Now, your mother requested that I come and help you over a supposed dangerous addiction to sexual activities with humans-” Flitter's cheeks blazed hotly and she looked like she could set her mother and sister on fire from across the room with her thoughts alone. Thankfully, the doctor continued and drew her attentions back to him. “- however I can see that this case is more complex. Now, I'm going to take a shot in the dark here, and say that you weren't always so quick to anger.”

Sinking into her chair as her anger abated, Flitter gave the stallion a long, searching gaze. His demeanour was disarming to say the least. Flitter slowly began to feel a strange calmness was over her as she nodded. “Yeah. I was a pushover. Did whatever they wanted whenever they wanted. Whined about everything and considered drowning myself on a semi-regular basis. Didn’t have any backbone, any… any pride in what I did.” She ignored the looks her family gave her, deciding to focus entirely upon the handsome stallion.

Said stallion raised a brow in surprise, before nodding in understanding. “Now, if you don't mind me asking, what brought about this drastic change in your attitude? You certainly don't seem anything like that.”

Letting out a quiet sigh as she rubbed at her face, Flitter sat forward and rested her hooves inside the hoody’s pouch. “You could say I… met somebody. Somebody so… just so…” she rolled her hooves as she searched for the right word.

“Corrupting.”

“Insane?”

Her mother and sister piped up, and both earned hot glares from Flitter, as well as a look of disapproval from Dr. Sable. He turned his attentions back to Flitter and motioned with his hooves. “Go on, I'm listening.”

Feeling herself smile at the friendliness of the doctor, Flitter continued to search her mind for the right word. “I… Jack is… Courageous. Stalwart. Unbending and unforgiving. He's… he is like a hero in a book, but at the same time he most definitely isn't.”

The doctor cocked his head at her as he harboured a half smile. “Care to explain?”

“I don't have the time to.”

Nodding, the doctor sat back and wrote something down on his notepad that Flitter couldn't see. “That's alright. I've… done some work with this kind of case. Now, how did he change you?”

Flitter smiled as she began to forget that her family was in the room. It was easier to breath when she did. “He saved my life, and I asked him if he could train me; to make me ‘tough’ like him. I had meant physically, but apparently he thought I meant mentally and emotionally too. When I reached a meaningful point in my training, I… I began to despise the ponies who had treated me badly before, the ponies who used me. Suddenly I wasn't the same worthless unemployed pegasus. I felt powerful, in control of my life. And then my mother somehow has him foalnapped.”

The psychologist nodded slowly, before turning his gaze upon Grace, who was scowling heavily. “Mayor Grace, could you explain why you thought it prudent to remove such a positive influence from your daughter's life?”

Turning her nose up, Grace sniffed indignantly. “I heard from my other daughter that Flitter’s new ‘friend’ was a psychopath, a danger to her life.” Cloud Chaser wilted under Flitter's enraged gaze as Grace continued unabated. “So I sent a letter to a friend of mine to take care of it. I can't have my daughter spending her days with dangerous maniacs. I just want what's best for her.”

“The only thing you want is what’s good for you.” Flitter snarled back at Grace as Dr. Sable interjected smoothly.

“Grace, your daughter is a grown mare, capable of making her own decisions. It's time you let her be that mare.” He ignored her as she fumed and snapped about needing his opinion on a family matter; his eyes returned to Flitter as he smiled readily. “Flitter, your mother has the right to be worried about you. Her concern is real, she just isn't showing it conventionally. Please, use caution when you have a moment to consider everything ahead of you.”

Nodding as she mulled his words, Flitter found herself smiling back with a sense of temporary ease. “I'm going to do the right thing. Mom, who did you send that letter to?”

The matronly mare was seething with anger, but Flitter had seen, and been on the receiving end of much, much worse. Through grit teeth, Grace hissed her answer. “Doctor Maltenics in Canterlot.” She frowned heavily with disgust as she snapped. “But you won't be able to do anything about it! She won't be releasing the human any time soon.”

Dueling the look of disgust with a shot of cocky assurance, Flitter grinned at her mother. “I wouldn't put bits on that if I were you. Field probably knows all about her.”

Grace looked as if she was about to have a hernia. “Professor Field Note!? You're associated with a thief as well!?” The mare stood on shaky hooves and trotted out of the room as she muttered under her breath, leaving the other three alone. Cloud Chaser shrank visibly and kept her eyes on the floor.

“I'm sorry Flitter…”

Patting her sister on the shoulder, Flitter looked to regard the psychologist one last time. “Thank you for the help doctor.”

He smiled readily in return and offered a wing for her to shake. “A pleasure. Please, if you are successful, I would love to meet this human friend of yours, he sounds at odds with the others I've met or read about. Good luck getting him home safe.” He watched as Flitter took his wing and shook it with an unexpected level of strength before flying out past the door like a shot. Dr. Sable's parting words passed right over her head as she flew. She rocketed across town, homing in on Field Note like a missile. They couldn't wait any longer, the train ride to Canterlot would take the better part of the day, and it was already midday. Setting her jaw, Flitter pumped her wings harder and focused intently on her target.

I'm not leaving you behind, Jack. It's my turn to save you.

_______________________________________________________________________

Dr. Forge took his time with 4859. He had to, a careless maneuver could cost him everything. And so, he made sure that the sample taking and preliminary testing went as slowly as he could allow them to. Of course, that meant drawn out agony for the human strapped down to the table before him. It meant little to Forge; it was simply more fuel for the fires that would drive 4859 to do his bidding, when the time came of course. The bonesaw shone sharply in the harsh lighting, highlighting the incision marks that he had made upon the human's forehead. The last of the samples he needed was a teeny, tiny sample of gray matter. 4859 hissed in pain through tightly clenched teeth as the scalpel bit into his forehead and opened him up. Dr. Forge hummed quietly to himself as he prepared to carefully remove the gray matter. The bonesaw caught on his skull as it glistened with fresh blood and caught the light. With a sure swipe, he ran it across the gleaming bone. Dr. Forge squawked in sudden surprise as the teeth of the bonesaw shattered as the ultra thin metal challenged its superior and fell short in every way. The hippogriff stared at the destroyed saw in utter shock, before slowly looking back down at his subject. The human barred his teeth savagely and began barking his rough and manic laughter. He was mocking Forge.

The surgery room’s door swung open swiftly, clanging like a bell as it hit the wall and Dr. Maltenics trotted in like a force of nature. Several guards flanked her, and at that moment Forge realised that his time with 4859 was over. For now. Maltenics was seething as her horn lit up and pressed the wayward scientist against the wall hard enough to drive the air from his lungs. She squeezed him hard, and for a very scant moment, enjoyed the look of pain that passed his features as she trotted closer. “I find it prudent to remind you, that this is my facility. Everything that happens in here happens because I say so.” She was practically pressing her muzzle against his face, her eyes burning angry holes into his as she kept him from getting his breath back. “This is my property, not yours. The next time you forget that little fact, I won't be so friendly.” She released her magic, dropping the bluing hippogriff. He hit the floor and gasped for air as Poppy and some of the guards wheeled 4859 out of the room to be bandaged up and placed back into solitary confinement. The remaining guards picked him up despite his best wishes and dragged him back to his office.

Poppy and the guards soon reached Jack's cell, where he was gently lifted off the gurney and set down on the blanket that had been spread out across a small section of floor. Poppy shooed the guards away, trusting herself to be able to keep the human in check as she stitched up the cut across his forehead and applied bandages to the various chunks of missing skin and muscle. Jack heaved as he sat against the wall, his stomach threatening to rebel now that the adrenaline had washed away to an aching emptiness in its wake. His body burned in pain as the cold air of the cell met his still bleeding wounds; his breaths came in stilted and through gritted teeth because of it. Poppy hummed softly as she cleaned away the caked on blood and did her best to soothe the pain.

Jack could barely bring himself to fight against the careful ministrations of the mare. With a groan of defeat, he slumped against the wall and allowed her to continue. Poppy nosed at him with her muzzle as she smiled kindly. “You're so strong, going through all of that…” The mare giggled as he grunted lightly in recognition of her comment. Her smile slipped slightly as she sat down on her haunches before Jack. “I don't think you're going to be here for very long… not with Dr. Forge and Maltenics going at it. We won't have much time together…”

Jack arched a brow at her as she let her head sag downwards. I want you to know, that if I wasn't trussed up like a turkey I would have beaten you to death with my bare hands. Just so we're clear on our relationship. His following mental quip died in his head as her horn lit up, gently pinning him down and caressing his body. Hey, hey no need to get frisky there horseface.

Poppy licked her lips as she looked up at Jack and smiled. “We're going to have to be quick.”

With his brows nearing his fringe in confusion and worry, Jack cocked his head at her. Uhh… swing that by me one more time? The mare’s magic began undoing his belt and tugging at his cammies, intent on getting at what they protected. Sudden realization flooded in with a thick lining of horror and panic. Are you fucking kidding me!? Get off me you furry cunt! Jack squirmed, intent on keeping himself as far away from her as possible. Poppy’s lustful eyes filled with sudden anger as she slamming a magic kinetic strike into his stomach, driving the air from his lungs.

“Don't make this difficult.”

[Authors note. We’re about to earn that sex tag. For those of you who are uncomfortable with what's about to happen, or dislike this sort of thing for any reason, feel free to scroll down to the next red line.]

Jack gasped for air as the mare finally succeeded in pulling his pants down and away from him, leaving his abused flesh open to the cold air of the cell. She licked her lips in anticipation as she gave his package an appreciative squeeze, earning a choked grunt from Jack. “Let's get you ready, hmm?” Using her magic to move him, Poppy pulled Jack down until he was laying flat on his back; his eyes burned angry holes into her as he laid trapped. A sense of predatory satisfaction spread throughout Poppy’s body, sending a lighting shiver of pleasure down to her swiftly dampening crotch. With a growl of wanting need, Poppy lifted his prick up with her magic to meet her fat orange tongue. Taking his head into her mouth, Poppy began rolling her tongue across it. She smiled as he failed to hold back a weak groan and slowly stiffened in her eager mouth.

Come ooon! Little Jack, don't you do this to me! Nononono- You fucking traitor! Jack thumped his head against the floor in hopes that the pain would stop his traitorous dick from getting any harder. It didn't, and the mare only seemed to grow more eager as she worked him until he was saluting her with painful stiffness. She pulled off him with a loud pop and seemed to admire his weaponry as it bobbed before her muzzle like a tasty treat. She let out a husky giggle as she lifted herself up, and repositioned so she was just above his lap, facing him. Using her magic to keep him in place, Poppy slowly lowered herself down onto him. The mare let out a high pitched gasp of pleasure as he pushed past her puffy lips and buried himself deep inside her now sopping warmth. Jack bit his tongue hard to keep himself quiet. Not gonna give her the satisfaction… this isn't happening… this isn't happening… this isn't happening…

Continuing his mental motto, Jack closed his eyes as Poppy moaned heatedly and began rocking her hips; the sound of her furry flanks slapping against his thighs burrowed into his mind like a voracious worm. The mare gasped as she rode him, his head sending little jolts of electric pleasure up her spine in sync with the squelching smacks and her hitched breathing. Poppy let out a heated giggle of pleasure as she leaned forward and began licking and kissing at his neck. “Ooohhh~ that feels amazing… Don't you dare stop…” Nipping at one of his ear lobes, Poppy wrapped her forehooves around the back of his neck and picked up speed. Finally, he failed to hold back his stilted moan of base pleasure; the sound came out as he shuddered underneath her. The sound sent Poppy over the edge; her muffled orgasmic mewl echoed in his ear as she soaked his crotch with her marecum.

Oh thank God… she's done…

Poppy shivered and panted as she sat up, his still stiff prick hilted inside her. She let out a husky growl as she began slowly riding him again. “Ah~ I-I know all about human endurance… we've got all the time in the world~”

Jack screwed his eyes shut and grit his teeth. This isn't happening. This isn't happening! He snarled in anger as she drove herself down onto him again with gusto; her pleasured moans only served as fuel for his burning rage. When I get out of here, I'm going to make you pay. I'm going to destroy you. When I get my hands on you, you're going to beg for death!

It felt like eternity. Having used him completely, Poppy spent a short minute quickly cleaning her own fur and wiping away the excess fluids that stained Jack's crotch before fixing her uniform. With a sultry smile she gave his neck one final licking kiss of approval before unceremoniously leaving the room. Feeling spent and used in the worst possible ways, Jack fluttered into unconsciousness and into the waiting nightmares. Unbeknownst to him, a very urgent letter had just landed on the Archmage’s lap, and two particular ponies had just boarded the night train to Canterlot.

Jack suddenly found himself in his old apartment again. He knew who had set this up. The pressures on his mind forced their way through the cracks in his psyche as the Lunar princess stood at the other end of his living room with her arms crossed across her chest. Luna stared at him, expecting an immediate assault upon her astral form. When it didn't come, she smiled to herself and spoke, not noticing the haunted expression on the human’s face. “Finally. I do hope you're passed your childish antics. Perhaps-”

Jack's manic laugh caught her off guard, drawing her attentions back up to him. He was grinning from ear to ear, but not in good humour. “Oh, ohohoh! I get it now! I get, I get it! I do I do!” Jack cackled as his psyche cracked again, and the dreamscape began to shudder. He stabbed an accusing finger at Luna as he spoke. “You wanna know how to use Delta King, tryin tah break me! Yoooou, wanna know aaaaall about him! Don’tchadon’tcha?” Luna took an involuntary step back as the apartment dissolved completely, and the dreamscape fell into the raging currents of his unconscious mind. Memories and nightmares flashed passed at astounding speeds, not allowing either party to see the contents; there was only enough time to feel the underlying emotions. Fear, anger and hopelessness saturated the dreamscape as Jack stood opposite to Luna. He barely noticed the swilling currents that threatened to drag him off to madness with their unpredictable eddies. He began closing the distance between him and Luna's human form. “You wanna see? Yah wanna see whatcha gonna get? Delta King’s gonna be the end of you, me, and everyone in a five kilometer radius! He’s our holy deliverer! Our flaming sword of humanity against the seething alien hoooordesaaah!” He roared like a frothing preacher before cackling at her as she frowned heavily at him.

“Jack, please, calm yourself.” She began forcing her magic into his mind to try and stabilize the dreamscape; her magic was hard pressed to subdue the chaotic eddies of his mind. Luna jerked in surprise as Jack closed the distance between them and roughly grabbed onto her, wheeling her around to look off into the distance with him.

Holding the lunar princess to his side, Jack began speaking in a low monotone that seemed eerie compared to his near manic screamings before. “Delta King is a HAVOK class tactical thermonuclear device carrying a modified two megatonne charge, designed to vapourize hardened subterranean structures.” A faint countdown echoed through the empty desert in Jack’s voice. He barred his teeth as he pulled Luna closer to his side. “Delta King is my grave. My final ‘fuck you’ to a fucked up world.”

Shaking her head, Luna tried to force her magic into the dream before they were both consumed by it. “Jack, please. You don’t-”

He shook his head, and returned his gaze to the horizon as the countdown continued. “You chose this. Those scientists of yours are bringing armageddon to your doorstep. Reap what you sow… Two… One…” Luna opened her mouth to interject, but found her jaw falling open in mute shock as the horizon flashed brilliantly as a second sun breached. The fireball burst forth from the ground, the shockwave sending the clouds themselves fleeing in terror. Jack released her from his grip and began walking towards the ever climbing mushroom cloud that boiled the sky. Jack lifted his arms toward the sky and bellowed as the wall of force and fire raced headlong to meet him. “BEHOLD, FOR I AM BECOME DEATH, DESTROYER OF WORLDS.” The wall slammed into him, the flames stripping flesh from bone in an instant. Luna took an involuntary step back as even his bones were reduced to ash, leaving nothing but his shadow baked into the ground. The wall of fire rushed forward as she was snapped from her shock; her magic working like mad to pull her out of the dream before her projection was destroyed. She fell from the dream moments before the fire licked at her heels.

Jack awoke with a pained gasp, and found himself still laying on the cold stone floor of his cell. He wasn’t alone in the cell. His body protested loudly as he forced himself to sit up and face Mark. His friend chuckled and shook his head. “Hell of a show, Jackieboy.” Mark leaned forward, and helped Jack into a sitting position. “How you feeling? You look like hammered shit.” A cigarette appeared between Mark’s fingers as he offered it to Jack. Greedily taking the smoke into his mouth, Jack puffed aggressively after Mark had lit it and groaned in quiet pleasure. Mark grinned with uneven teeth as he leaned back. “I’ll be honest with you. I’m bored with the Archmage’s plans and posturing, and letting you die in here, cold and alone, is a serious waste of such raw… potential. So, I’m going to cut you a deal.” Jack’s eyes snapped up, locking onto Mark.

In his mind, only one word came up in response. Talk.

Chuckling to himself, Mark stood. “Your freedom. A chance to get the one thing you want above everything else. I’ll even give you back your voice. Hell, I’ll give your friends their voices back too, just because it’ll be funny. All you gotta do for me, is give me a good show.”

Jack found himself grinning past his mask and the burning cigarette that hung between his lips. A good show? I can do that.

The man before him smiled with no kindness as his eyes began to glow a sickly chaotic yellow. “Goooood. I was hoping you’d agree, Jackieboy, All you gotta do for me, is give me a bit of chaos. I don’t think that’ll be too hard for a man of your disposition.” Mark grabbed Jack by the head, and began pouring the yellow light into him. The pain was immense, but Jack forced his mind to focus. To focus, on the one thing that he wanted above everything else. It echoed inside his mind, gaining speed and building momentum until it burst forth like a fission bomb.