The solid iron wheels of the train clattered as they passed over countless rail ties on the journey up the mountain. A great number of ponies found the sound soothing, the passing scenery picturesque and serene. Under normal circumstances, Field would be mid-way through a pleasant nap or working on a paper. Unfortunately for him, he was stuck in a car with a chirpy human, an incensed Flitter, and a duffel bag of human devices of destruction. Flitter sat perched over the large canvas bag like a protective hen, and her eyes refused to roam beyond the window. Casting a perturbed glance toward his human, Field bit the bullet and cleared his throat. “Flitter, are you sure we need so… so much? I mean, it it necessary?” His eyes wandered to the bag and his mind began to ponder what the devices inside were capable of. He knew what the folded exoskeleton could do, but beyond that he didn’t recognize the various cylinders, balls, and blocks. He had caught fleeting sight of a human firearm, but didn’t recognize it as the stubby thundergun Jack had used, or his fire-starting ray gun.

Flitter however, apparently didn’t need a second thought to bring them along. “We won’t get a second chance at this. We do it right the first time.” She chewed on the inside of her cheek before continuing. “Jack will know what to do with it all.”

“No second chance…. Flitter, what makes you say that?” Field curled his hooves up underneath himself. His fetlocks were growing unruly, he’d have to get them cut.

To his dismay, Flitter didn’t answer right away; he wasn’t sure if her dramatic pause was deliberate or if she really was becoming that kind of pony. “I… I can’t say for sure. My gut just says that if we don’t do this right, it’s going to go very very badly.”

Swallowing with a suddenly dry throat, Field nodded his agreement and returned his gaze to the window. It was morning; Celestia’s sun had been hanging in the sun for the better part of two hours. He felt the tug of exhaustion pulling at his head, beckoning for him to lay his weary head down on the soft cushions of the seat. Flitter somehow managed to maintain her composure, and Field silently envied her for it. How she managed to stay alert and awake for the entire journey, he had no idea. Of course, he wouldn’t be sleeping for a long while, not if the coming events had any say.

________________________________________________________________

Underneath Canterlot, hidden away from prying eyes and scrying spells, the Archmage’s forces were preparing. The surly lot of bandits and killers joked and laughed as they donned their gear and sharpened their blades. Underneath the jokes however, they all knew that this raid wouldn’t be like the others. The facility was too big, and had it’s own in-house security. This didn’t seem to dissuade the groups lieutenant; a burly orange bruiser of an earth pony who hid a sharp and malicious mind bent toward crime under his intimidating muscles.

His name was Dandelion Permrose, but he would rather die than tell anypony that little nugget of information. Instead, he went by Dominus, Dom for short. Dom allowed himself a certain amount of bent pride as he watched over his ragtag little group of killers. Their most recent raid had scored them a set of experimental black powder guns that the griffons seemed to love so much. Personally, Dom hated the damned things. They were thunderously loud and took far too long to reload. The long barrel that allowed them questionable distance had been cut down for close quarters fighting, and while Dom had his reservations to the weapons, he admitted that they were brutally destructive and utterly deadly to anything on the receiving end when the shot actually connected. He’d personally shot a lunar guard with one, dropping the arrogant bastard with a single shot that had rendered the defensive talisman and thin iron breastplate underneath useless. Dom smiled at the memory, and gave his boomstick another stroke. It was a love/hate relationship.

Pushing those thoughts aside, Dom pulled his armour on and ensured that all the straps and buckles were tight and that nothing jingled beside his shot bag. Turning his gaze toward his assembled crew, he called out for attention. They had little in the way of discipline, but they respected him enough to listen. It helped that he would maim or kill anyone who didn’t without a moment’s hesitation. “Alright you lot, listen up!” He nodded to the unicorn at his side, a nasty little unicorn mare who held a passion for hurting other living creatures and hid a lovely submissive personality in bed. Her horn lit up, showing a rough map of the facility they were about to raid. “This is the headquarters for Dynamic Research and Medical Sciences International.” He made sure to speak slowly and loudly for the more mentally stunted of his crew. “Boss upstairs wants what they have, and to send a message. That message is the same as always, ‘DO NOT FUCK WITH US.” He grinned as his crew hooted and hollered their approval. Wanton violence without fear of reprisal was always good for moral. He waited a moment for the crew to quiet down before speaking again as he jabbed a hoof at a section of the map. “We’re teleporting into the center of the facility, and working our way up and out. If it looks important or weird, grab it. If it’s human, wrangle it. If it ain’t us and has four legs, kill it.” He narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice to a warning growl. “We’re in and out as fast as possible, if I hear any of you are dragging ass to rape a lab coat instead of following the mission, you’ll be left behind for the guard to deal with. Am I clear?” The resounding affirmative brought the smile back to his scarred lips. “Good. Everyone head to the staging spot.” As his crew began hiking out of the camp cave, he bumped his second in command with his flank and grinned. “I got a good feeling about this mission.”

The mare grinned and licked her lips seductively. It was going to be a good night regardless. “Yah think’n so?”

He nodded as he pulled on his mask. “Yeah, call it a gut feeling, this one’s gonna be a massacre.”

____________________________________________________________________

The cell was pitch black, the stone as cold as ever as he sat cross-legged. He ignored the feeling of the walls closing in; stuffing his weak fears deep down to be burned up as fuel. His voice echoed quietly in the tiny cell, reverberating in his skull and feeding his desire for the coming fight.

“Lord, hear your lost child in his time of need. Hear his call and grant him the strength he needs to break the shackles of imprisonment. Grant him the endurance to exact righteous vengeance, and oh merciful god, if it is his day to meet you at the gates, let his enemies meet your judgement before him.”

Jack took a long deep breath, and reveled in the sound of his own voice echoing in the tiny cell; as muffled by metal and stone as it was. His next words came through bared teeth that disguised themselves behind a sick smile.

“And lord forgive him, for he will sin.”

______________________________________________________________________

Dr. Maltenics’ office was quiet, as it always was in the morning. Her coffee sat forgotten on her desk, its heat lost as she sat fixated with the object in her hooves. The small black device had proven to be quite the challenge to beat, but as always, she had persevered. The wheel of the weapon opened away from it, showing the six little brass cylinders sitting happy in their homes. Two had tiny indentations in their backs, and their heads were missing. It didn't take a genius to understand what it all meant, and Maltenics was most certainly a very smart pony. Clicking the cylinder back into place, Maltenics cocked the revolver's hammer and pointed it as she held it in her magic. She didn't dare pull the little trigger when the small safety switch had been turned off, she only had four of the little brass cylinders and she aimed to not waste them.

The knock at her door pulled her attentions away from the weapon and back into the present, where Poppy stood by the door with a small trolley. The mare seemed to literally glow with youthful exuberance. She'd had a good night apparently. Poppy beamed brightly at Maltenics as she wheeled the trolley in. “I brought the… energy thing, like you asked.” She gestured at the device as it sat on the trolley next to the multi-pocketed vest it had originally rested in.

Standing from her desk, Maltenics allowed herself a tired smile as she used her magic to pick up the vest and look it over. With a bit of effort concerning the sizing straps, there was a good chance it would fit an average sized pony. “Thank you Poppy.” Maltenics stared at the device and its strange trefoil warning symbols, as if they would suddenly speak and confide unto her all of their secrets if only she stared long enough. They didn't, and Poppy cleared her throat for attention.

“I didn't see Dr. Forge come in today.”

Snorting, Maltenics picked up the device and set it inside the vest for the time being. “Good.” Poppy shuffled quietly on her hooves, seemingly regarding Maltenics, the trolley, and the door. Unwilling to guess at what the young mare was thinking, Maltenics blew a few greying strands of her mane out of her eyes before speaking with tired impatience. “What is it Poppy.”

The mare started, as if she hadn't expected her blatant thoughts to be picked up. “Oh, um... I was wondering if maybe I could take today off? It's kind of my anniversary with my coltfriend. I filed for it a week ago.”

It took all of Maltenics’ willpower to keep herself from rolling her eyes before speaking. “Yes, fine. Just make sure you punch out before you leave please.” She forced her next words, in an attempt to sound friendly. “Enjoy your anniversary, Poppy.”

Said mare beamed brightly, her glow returning with visible vibrancy. “Oh thank you so much Lacey!” Poppy somehow managed to stop herself from hugging Maltenics as the older mare drew away and looked nonplussed. Instead Poppy coughed in embarrassment and offered a more respectful head bow. “Doctor Maltenics. Have, um.. Have a productive day!”

Sitting down at her desk, Maltenics flicked a hoof at Poppy with the hopes of shooing her away. “Mhm. Enjoy your day.” She lost all interest in the mare as she continued to speak her thanks as she moved toward the door. If Maltenics was truthful with herself, she doubted that Poppy's special somepony was really the reason for the day off. Of course, Lacey Maltenics didn't actually care. What she did care about was her cold coffee and how to replace it.

“It’s going to be a very long day.” Lacey muttered to herself as she poured the coffee out into the sink and trotted off to find a semi-fresh pot.

___________________________________________________________________

The train eased into the station with a quiet squeal of well oiled wheels. Coming to a stop, the doors opened, and baggage handlers began to unload the trains cargo. Ponies began filing off, collecting their belongings and greeting waiting family and friends. Unnoticed by a great many ponies, Flitter and Field exited the train with their human and immediately trotted away from the busy station. Ducking down a well worn back alley, Flitter turned her head toward Field and the human.

“Well? This is your city Field. Where is this place?”

With her gaze resting solely upon him, Field felt whatever confidence he had left waiver. “I-I… okay, but we won't be able to just… To just walk in through the front door… I'm-”

“Stole something from them?” Flitter wagered, remembering her mother's words. When Field's dark fur paled, she allowed herself a smile. “It's alright, I don't really care. You're my friend and my ally. Just… what was it?” She asked as the stallion shook his head and began leading her through a number of small streets and back alleyways.

After a few minutes of silence, Field caved. “They… I was kicked from the Royal Science wing. I had a disagreement with one of the heads of staff, and my… my paper on human psychology was torn apart and laughed at in front of the entire scientific community. The mere idea of humans learning, or with capabilities beyond what we consider as ‘normal’ was thrown out as being absurd. It's all herd mentality in there, and once the herd has its mind set on something, it becomes nigh impossible to change that focus. So… I was disgraced. The only place I had left was DRMSI. I… I could have ended up in worse places, but… again, I had a disagreement. A… an unprofessional one. Lacey, erm… Dr. Maltenics is a very passionate, intense mare.” He glanced back at Flitter for a scant moment. “Like yourself…” He allowed himself to trail off as his hooves continued on their own volition.

Shifting the heavy, lumpy bag over her back, Flitter smiled at the stallion leading the way. “And? Go on, I'm hooked now. You had sex with your superior, aaand?”

Field's cheeks and eartips turned a lovely shade of vibrant pink, prompting Flitter to grin a little bit wider. “I… I was going to lose everything. So… I stole a… a small amount of field funds.”

“And how much is a small amount, Professor?”

Relenting, Field let his head hang slightly. “Ten thousand bits in royal treasury notes…”

Flitter's hooves faltered, almost sending her face first into cobblestone. She sputtered, staring wide eyed at the stallion as he pawed at the ground like a colt about to be chastised by an angry parent. “W-.... I… oh wow…”

With the large bulk of the DRMSI building looming in the distance against the morning light, Field pulled himself together and took a deep breath. “I did what I thought was right. And I've found definitive proof that my work, my theories, were all correct. A stallion… has to stand by what he believes in.” Field allowed his own smile to return, even if it was shadowed by Flitter's own impressed expression. “Besides, the funds did have my name on them.”

A grudging respect for the timid stallion standing before her began to build in Flitter's chest. “That's…” She smiled at him, before shaking her head and motioning to the building. “Is that it?” At his nod, Flitter's smile disappeared and found itself replaced by a look of grim determination. “Let's go save our friend.”

Nodding in agreement, Field cast one last look up to the top of the large building before leading Flitter the rest of the way. Upon reaching the last street Field stopped Flitter and asked the question that had been plaguing his mind. “Do you have a plan for getting in?” He shifted nervously as Flitter cased the front of the building.

“...yeah.” Flitter grinned grimly. “We’re going in through the front doors. We’ll need disguises.” Field turned his head toward Flitter and found her swiftly pulling off the well worn hoodie. Field felt the blush returning to his face with a vengeance. His eyes drifted across her for a scant moment, before he turned his head away. For a society that rarely wore clothes, the act of taking them off seemed much more intimate. He grunted in surprise as she hit him in the face with the balled up hoodie. Blinking, Field looked up at her as she began using a small clump of snow to freshen her face. Field watched in idle amazement as Flitter went from tough and driven to naïve and vulnerable in under ten seconds. Staring back at him was a mare with wide eyes and slumped shoulders, her wings shivering in the cold breeze. Flitter smiled sweetly at Field, and he felt a tinge of… something, spark deep inside his chest. Clearing her throat, Flitter gestured at the hoodie that still hung off his head. “You gonna keep staring or are you gonna put that on?”

Flushing hotly with embarrassment, Field struggled into the garment. After a moment of fighting and help from Flitter, Field was quickly disguised; thankfully the up-flipped hood did wonders to hide his short, blunt horn. Grinning at him with a confidence he wished he could feel, Flitter motioned toward the building. “Grab the bag and follow my lead. I’ll chat up the secretary, you stay inconspicuous.” Without giving him a chance to chip in on the plan or ask for more details, Flitter set off toward the doors. Cursing his luck, Field struggled to throw the bag over his back like Flitter had. Grabbing the human’s leash in his teeth, Field set off as swiftly as he could to catch up with Flitter. The mare pushed through the thick glass doors at the front of the building, and moved straight for the secretary’s desk. Field followed suite, but broke off to ‘admire’ some of the office’s decorations. His human chirped quietly and fidgeted, tugging at her leash as Flitter held the secretary's attention.

“Good morning, do you have an appointment today, or are you looking for job opportunities?” The secretary’s greeting was rote and well spoken, contrasting with Flitter’s play by ear response.

“Hi, yeah, I’m here for an appointment wiith…” Flitter’s brain churned away rapidly to remember the name that Field had dropped. “Ah, right, Dr. Maltenics. I’m Fixer” Flitter lent out a winning smile, one which earned a light returning smile from the secretary.

“Okay, let me just check our schedule for today.” The secretary began leafing through a thin schedule; her smile quickly thinned to a tiny line. “I’m not seeing your name on the list, Miss Fixer. What time were you supposed to have your appointment?”

“But my name should be on the lists for appointments today at two, I’m supposed to meet Dr. Maltenics for my interview.” Flitter pouted and fluttered her wings for effect. The secretary sighed quietly, and leaned in to look over the list one more time.

“I’m sorry, I’m not seeing your name here-” Flitter circled around behind the small desk, her attention supposedly on the small clipboard. The secretary sat up to inform her that she wasn’t allowed to be back there- only she didn’t get the chance. Grabbing the prim mare by the mane, Flitter slammed the mare’s muzzle into the desk hard enough to make everything on it bounce and clatter. Field jumped in surprise and the human squawked as the secretary slumped out of her chair and onto the floor. The guard on station yelled in surprise, before galloping at Flitter. With practised ease, Flitter snapped a hind hoof out and caught him in the chest. The stallion staggered, grunting in pain. Spinning with the help of her wings, Flitter slammed one of her hind hooves into the side of his head, knocking the stallion unconscious. Flitter took a moment to break her professional demeanor and celebrate her surprising success, before beckoning Field over quickly with her wing.

“Open the bag, there’s a silver roll in there. It’s duct tape. Tape them together under the desk, I’m gonna see if there’s any keys…” Field nodded as he opened up the bag; his mind floored as he tried to hunt down the elusive roll amongst weapons and explosives. Finally having found it, he fought with his magic to tie the pair up in a way that they wouldn’t suffer too terribly. Halfway through his work, Flitter jingled a small keyring and grinned like a madmare. “We’re in business Fieldy, now gimme my hoodie, I’m freezing my wings off.”

Trading back clothes, Flitter pulled out one of Jack’s last remaining t-shirts as Field finished securing the two unconscious ponies. Holding it up to the human girl, she ordered as firmly as she could. “Find him. Go on girl, find Jack!”
_________________________________________________________________________

The unicorn’s mass teleportation spell went off without a hitch, dumping Dom and his crew into the middle of the facility. A number of scientist’s jumped back and yelled in surprise as the twenty pony bandit crew brandished weapons toward them. The security guards present scrambled for their shock batons, for what little good it would do them. Dom grinned as he stepped forward and looked over all of the ponies present. “Ladies and Gents, our employer sends his regards.”

The coughing explosions echoed inside the room, and were quickly overcome by terrified screams and pained howls. The acrid smell of shot-powder swirled amongst spilled blood and chemicals as the scientists and the paltry security force were cut down by the first barrage. Brandishing blades and bludgeons, the bandits began their brutal tradework.

______________________________________________________________________

The first echoing gunshot had awoken Lacey Maltenics from her power nap; she looked around in confusion, her mind not fully registering what the sudden noise had been. When the following barrage and screams reached her office, she felt her body begin to freeze with fear and disbelief.

“No...nononon… he… NO!” Anger scrambled in overtop fear, and the mare pulled on the vest that sat on her desk. Even without the device in it, it still had armoured plates inside it. Stuffing the device into its place in the vest, she checked the human weapon and strode out of her office. “You’re not taking anything else from me, Archmage.” She spat vehemently before gesturing at her stunned staff. “Go! Get to the exits! We have a security breach!”

______________________________________________________________________

The echoing gunfire had caught both Field and Flitter by surprise, but the human leading them seemed to not notice, or care. The girl hounded her way down a long hallway, ever intent on finding her target. Not wanting to lose the girl in the chaos, the pair redoubled their efforts and galloped to catch up to her. Ponies rushed every which way, yelling in worry and fear as security did their best to herd them toward the exits. Silently, Flitter thanked whatever disaster that was currently in progress for the blanket of anonymity it had dumped overtop of them. They galloped right past armed guards without a single glance their way.

The human girl came to a skidding stop by a large set of sliding metal doors. Field set his jaw and let out a breath. “This is one of the enclosures. He’s probably in here, bored out of his mind.” He smiled toward Flitter in an attempt to force a confidence he truly did not feel. She didn’t return it. Swallowing again out of habit, Field began working the mechanism to open the door. Just as it began to open, a small group of guards came to a stop by them.

“Hey, you need to get out of here! It’s an emergency!” The guard motioned for them to get moving, but stopped as he squinted at them. “Hey… hey, you don’t work here, who are you!?” The guards brandished their weapons, only to be met by Flitters. The muzzle of the heavy pistol wavered as she held it in her wing.

“Stay back! I’ll-” Flitters threat was cut short when a set of hands wrapped around the grip of the weapon and pulled it from her weak grip. Turning her head around to greet Jack, she found her words lost again as she stared up at a slender, muscular woman and a man who held more physical similarities with a shaved bear than any human she’d ever seen before. The woman fired the pistol at the guards hooves, disintegrating a hunk of stone the size of a large fist. Regaining her composure, Flitter smiled grimly. “Stay back or she’ll shoot you.”

The woman rolled her eyes, and motioned for the guards to move down the hall, away from them. Thankfully, the guards decided they had better things to do than deal with more insane humans. Flitter looked up at the red haired woman and grinned as the small group of guards galloped off down the hallway away from them. “Hi. We’re looking for another human, name’s Jack. Tall guy, kinda scraggly, black hair?”

Surprise found itself written blatantly across the redhead’s features, before being stuffed down and replaced by a curious, yet suspicious look. Her hands began dancing about, making shapes that neither Flitter or Field understood. Realizing this, the redhead grunted in disgruntled disgust and looked to her companion, as if he held the answers. Whatever she was going to ask him, it was cut off as Field’s human butted her head into the redhead’s stomach and sniffed. The taller woman looked as if she were about to strike the smaller girl out of surprise, only the strike never came as the bloodhound girl abruptly pulled away and chirped vibrantly. Smiling at his group, Field began following his human again. “Looks like she picked up the new trail!”

Flitter and the redheaded woman shared a look between themselves that spoke of mutual distrust, and the tall woman held onto the pistol, much to Flitter’s chagrin. Not that it mattered, they had a lead, and more Terrans. What could go wrong? Flitter found herself smiling as she wondered how Jack would react upon being freed. She hoped for a strong hug. She definitely needed it.

______________________________________________________________________

Jack struggled against the wall, the thin metal of the jacket’s buckles warping and twisting as he used brute force and a small section of protruding stone to break them open. His muscles burned from the continued awkward exertion, but he forced himself to keep at it. His arms could almost move, all he had to do was stay determined. He spoke quietly to himself to keep his mind on target; sharp and focused.

“Eight minutes since initial gunshots, maybe four more until they reach me. What if they aren’t here for me?” He pondered out loud as the sound of metal on stone scraped away at his ears. “Maybe. Doesn’t matter. Follow mission, complete objectives. Stay on course.” With one final twist and heave, the last buckles let go and his arms fell free to his side. He almost started laughing, if the sound of rapidly approaching hooves on stone hadn’t echoed inside his tiny, dark cell. Sit down, look trapped. Wait for the door to open.

_______________________________________________________________________

The bloodhound girl skidded to a stop before a heavy iron door that held a small sliding slat that covered the view port. “This has to be it!” Flitter practically yelled with excitement as she approached. Her hopes fell when her eyes found the heavy metal padlock locking the door shut. The redheaded woman lifted the pistol toward it as they grouped up before the door. Flitter jumped, and waved a hoof at her to get her to stop. “Wait! Your bullets might go right through and hit him, we need to open it a different way-” Flitter’s statement came to a screeching halt as she remembered a gift he had given her for her birthday along with the hoodie. A replacement for her bow. It had felt like a lifetime ago. Fishing the hand weaved det-cord bundle from her mane, Flitter wrapped it around the padlock and smiled at Field. “Fieldy, you wouldn’t happen to know any electricity spells, would you?” She gestured toward the padlock as he nodded. Field swallowed nervously as he felt all eyes on him; his horn sparkling lightly in the weak light. A small bolt of lightning lanced out from the tip of his horn, striking the cord. The resulting flash and explosion saw the padlock blown to bits, peppering the group and the hall with tiny bits of hot shrapnel. “Ah! Fuck me that was loud! I had that near my head!?” Flitter cursed as she shook her head. Ignoring the biting nips of shrapnel that had struck her legs and neck, she quickly ran up to the door and pulled it open. The cell was horribly tiny; it obviously would have broken several rules set by the geneighva convention on inequine treatment if it had held a pony. It was dark enough that Flitter almost had to squint to see the form trapped inside a bite mask and bound by a heavy straightjacket. Of course, she didn’t have to wait long to get a better look as Jack pounced from his seated position, roaring in anger as he took her off her hooves.

“YOU TRAITOR!”

Flitter’s train of thought completely derailed as she was slammed into the wall hard enough to drive the air from her lungs and Jack’s rage filled eyes drilled into hers. His pained voice had struck much deeper however, finding it’s way into the deepest recesses of her heart.

The shock of his flight only lasted momentarily for Field, who flung himself at Jack and tried to keep the human from killing Flitter with his bare hands. “Jack! We didn’t sell you out! It wasn’t us!” He pulled at Jack’s hands ineffectively.

Jack’s attention turned from Flitter to Field, and carried the same burning intensity. “You fuckin LIAR! How did they know where to find me!?” The bite mask did nothing to hide his animalistic snarl.

“Jack.” A third voice joined in, and Elissa’s hands gripped his. “I don’t think someone who betrayed you would come and save your sorry ass.” The woman licked her lips, still unused to the sudden return of her voice.

With tears in her eyes, Flitter nodded despite the hands holding her throat. “We’ve been looking for you all week… I’m sorry we weren’t faster, Jack… please, we’re trying to save you…” Flitter swallowed the lump that was blocking her throat as Jack’s murderous grip lessened and he let her hooves touch the ground again. “W-we brought your gear.”

Releasing Flitter fully, Jack turned away from the group and toward the bulky duffel bag that now sat on the floor. “yeah..yeahyeahyeah, makes sense… lied… Mark lied. probably not Mark anyway.” He kneeled down next to the bag and unzipped it to find an old friend waiting for him. “Get me out of this straightjacket.”

With the help of Elissa and Field, Jack was soon stripped of the straightjacket, but the bite mask’s lock proved to be too much. Flitter looked up at Jack, trying to catch his gaze. “Are you alright?” Her question went ignored as he pulled the exoskeleton from duffel bag and pulled it on. The chattering clicks and clacks filled the hall as he stooped and grabbed a number of grenades from the bag. A moment later, he locked his fingers around the lock holding the heavy metal mask over his face; with an angered yank he ripped it clear from the mask and pulled the heavy contraption off.

Elissa’s voice finally earned his attention as he stalked across the hall like a predatory animal. “Jack, what’s the plan?”

His enhanced fist shattered the protective glass covering the fire axe. Somewhere in his mind, Jack assured himself that there was a fire, somewhere. “Get the nuke.” With the large fire axe gripped in his enhanced hand, he turned toward the group and found them all taking an involuntary step back. “Maltenics has Delta King, and I’m getting him back.”

Nodding, Elissa treaded past the group and to Jack’s side, her stance and body language speaking of self-assuredness and highly trained skill. “I’ll take point. I’ve got the gun, after all.” Her cocksure smirk died as quickly as it had arrived when Jack’s eyes locked onto her. Thankfully, his attentions were pulled away by an unfamiliar voice and semi-familiar language sounding out from the large bear man.

“Мученик Кессель, почему ты должна вести войну на одной кобыле? Что, если она находится в правом?” He asked softly, as if pleading.

“Russian.” Jack muttered, before speaking back toward the bear man in a gravelly emotionless tone. “Война не определяет, кто прав, кто только осталось. И я намерен быть только один левый.” The larger man let his head hang as everyone else struggled to understand what words had passed between them. Turning back to Elissa, Jack’s voice held no warmth, only the threat of terrible, imminent violence. “You’re on point, GO.”

The screams were growing louder, closer. The occasional whip crack of gunfire echoed through the facilities halls, causing the smallest human in the group to whimper and pace behind Field like a scared puppy. Field himself stuck close to Flitter, who looked as if she was trying to hold back a whole slew of emotions. Elissa led the group through the halls, following the signage toward the offices. The woman moved like a predatory machine, clearing halls and motioning with her free hand as she stalked forward. A yell came from up ahead, and Elissa stepped out to look down the hall.

A familiar sound echoed in Jack’s mind, the sound of his .44 magnum being fired in anger. Elissa staggered as the powerful hollowpoint struck her neck, sending a spray of deep crimson arterial blood across the hall. The screams and yelling all fell away as Jack watched in horror as Elissa stumbled and fell, the sabot pistol falling from her grip as she gasped for air. Grabbing her by her arms, Jack pulled the bleeding and choking woman back and fell to his knees to try and staunch the bleeding. “Get a first aid kit! Somebody!” He clamped his augmented hands over her neck, but her blood continued to pulse through his fingers like water through a sieve. Her attempts to draw in breath sounded like air rushing through a ragged wet valve. “Don’t, don’t you fucking do this to me Elissa… don’t you fucking dare…” Jack grit his teeth in anger. “Where the fuck is that first aid kit!?”

Field was digging through the large duffel as fast as his magic could. “T-there isn’t one in here Jack, I-” His voice trailed off as his eyes fell on the now still and pale woman who laid in an ever expanding pool of her own blood. He watched as a shudder passed between Jack’s shoulder blades, his exoskeleton chattering in sync with his body. Jack slowly pulled the pistol from Elissa’s dead hands before running a hand over her face to close her eyes for the last time. Field didn’t have to see Jack’s face to know what was about to happen next.

___________________________________________________________________

Dom was angry.

Scratch that, Dom was furious.

One of his crew had been stabbed by the director of the facility with his own damn knife, and then the crazy mare had pulled a gun on him! She’d actually had the nuts to pull the trigger too, but thankfully she was a terrible shot. He was quite sure he was going to be deaf in that ear for days, at least. On top of that, the damned mare had slipped past them in the chaos, and had escaped. “Somepony, go after that bitch-”

“URRRAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!”

The roar of animalistic rage boomed through the room, drawing Dom’s attention swiftly to the hallway behind them. Catching sight of the charging human, Dom suddenly realized that he hadn’t known what fury was. He was about to receive a hands on lesson, and that fact froze him in place. Jack’s axe slammed down onto the first of Dom’s crew, cleaving the surprised stallion's head in two without finesse. The stallion’s skull exploded like an overripe melon, sending shards of skull, brain, and blood showering outwards, painting the attacker and Dom’s ponies. The human struck out, as if stuck in the trance of some macabre dance of death. His augmented strength had sent the axe head hurtling through the bone and meat of the first stallion's head, and his momentum carried the hardened rear spike into a bandit mare’s chest. The iron armour they wore did little to stop the sheer pneumatic force behind the swing. The axe spike pinned the mare to the wall as the wooden handle of the weapon shattered, unable to cope with the furious force that wielded it. Without skipping a beat, Jack spun and leapt upon the next armed pony, his fingers clamping onto Dom’s second in command’s neck. The mare had a split second to scream in terror before her throat was ripped out as he spun, letting her take a round that had been meant for him. Jack slammed her head into the ground at the end of the spin and pressed the sabot pistol barrel against her temple; her brains were scattered by the sheer power, and her eyes burst from the pressure of the superheated sabot passing through her head. One of the surviving gunners fired, his lead ball skimming the human’s torso and drawing a thick gout of blood as it trailed his ribs. The wound didn’t seem to slow the human at all as he turned on his heels and kicked the gunner hard enough that Dom heard the ribs shattering from across the room. Before the stallion had a chance to gasp for breath, the human was upon him. Metal covered fingers bit into the stallion's muzzle and head, holding it in place as the human began hammering it’s other fist down onto the stallion's head. Bone shattered and muscle pulped beneath the onslaught, the process only taking a scant few seconds.

Dom cursed hard enough to send his mother twisting in her grave, and instantly regretted it as the human locked onto him. Dropping the now dead gunner to the floor, where his pulped grey matter could wriggle out of his nose and ears like tiny worms, the human turned to Dom. The pure hatred in the human’s eyes served as a reminder that ponies had once been a prey species, and a lesson that Terran’s had become predators. The human came at Dom like a cannonball, slamming into him like a train and shattering bones like dry twigs. Dom gasped for air as the human ripped his weapons away with contemptuous ease. Death however, didn’t come as swiftly Dom had expected it. In a voice laced with fury and promising terrible, brutal violence, the human hissed in his ear.

“Where the FUCK did that bitch go.”

Maltenics. He had to be talking about Maltenics. With a shaking hoof, Dom pointed toward the door the mare had escaped through. “T-there!” The human’s attention snapped to where Dom’s hoof was pointing, and he silently thanked every single alicorn he could think of. Using the distraction, Dom broke the tiny capsule he had around his neck. The spell went off, and he was swiftly spirited away to safety by the stored teleportation spell.

Jack snarled as the stallion escaped his punishment, but he at least had a direction to go in. Flitter’s voice caught him, just before he began moving for the door. “Jack! Please, let’s-”

Cutting her off, Jack snapped at her as he wiped a bit of bloody bone away from his eyes. “Take Field, the girl, and 3901. Take them, and get the fuck out of here! NOW!”

“I’m not leaving you Jack!” Flitter yelled back at him, before turning to Field and the other humans. “Look, just find a way out, we’ll catch up with you!” She didn’t wait for their agreement, as Jack had already kicked the door out of it’s frame. “Dammit, Jack, wait!” She took off after him, hoping to catch up before he gained too much distance and lost her in the facility.

_________________________________________________________________

Maltenics galloped through the halls, sweat beading on her forehead and her breath coming in short, ragged gasps. She bounded over the bodies of her colleagues, her friends. Dr. Forge had caused all of this. She had to make sure that he paid dearly. But first, she had to escape, and she had to make sure that none of the 4859’s belongings reached the Archmage. If it took every last ounce of strength she had, she would deny them their prize. Up ahead, she could see a number of her security force, and some of her scientists and wranglers bunched up in a group, moving toward the exit and fighting off a hoofful of bandits. One of the guards spotted her, and waved as he yelled her name. He didn’t see the small olive drab sphere as it landed in the middle of the group, but Lacey did. She didn’t expect the earth shaking explosion that followed to come from the little olive drab sphere. Horror struck as she blinked her eyes rapidly and saw the shattered remains of her coworkers, their lives dashed away by shrapnel and fire.

“MALTENICS!”

The voice didn’t belong to anybody she knew; who could hold so much anger toward her? Turning her head as she stood across from the exit, Lacey swiftly earned the answer to her question. The human, 4859 was moving toward her like a raging storm, a strange pistol in his grip and another sphere in his other hand. Words escaped her as the human barred his teeth. “I’m going to gut you for what you’ve done.”

Maltenics didn’t need any more prompting. Before the 4859 could lift his weapon toward her, Lacey bolted for the exit, her hooves skidding and slipping in the blood and viscera of her exterminated coworkers and the bandits. The light of day nearly blinded her as she barreled out of the exit and into a small back alley. Without pause, she galloped out onto the street and toward the castle. A number of royal guard were at the front, but after the display that 4859 had shown her, Lacey knew better than to get her hopes up over a hoofful of guards. Her only hope for safety was the castle grounds, if she could reach them. It was a long run, but she had a head start.

He began executing the heavily wounded survivors of the grenade blast systematically and without remorse, it was better to just end their suffering than to let them bleed out. A part of him was enraged and disappointed that his original capturer wasn’t among them. Jack burst through the fire escape once he was sure that the ponies were dead. Flitter followed shortly, galloping and hot on his heels. He jabbed a finger skyward and turned his head enough to bark an order at Flitter as she burst through the door after him. “Sky, track her!” She didn’t dare question it, or delay. With Flitter taking to the skies, Jack burst from the alley way, and spotted Maltenics galloping down the crowded street as fast as she could. Gritting his teeth, Jack took off like a shot after her. Despite what he wanted to do, a small portion of his mind held him back, preventing him from firing at her through the crowded streets. He ignored the yells that came from behind him. Whoever they were, they could wait.

Ponies called out in surprise as Maltenics weaved and ducked past ponies and carts. It was mid-afternoon, and a saturday to boot. The streets were crowded with all sorts of ponies. Behind her, she heard yelling, and then screaming. Maltenics made the mistake of looking over her shoulder. 4859 slammed into a cart as it crossed the street, his momentum and sheer physical force saw the cart shatter around him, scattering its cargo across the street. If it hurt, the human didn’t show it as he picked up his speed again and locked onto her. He was moving far too fast, too fast for any natural human. There was no equine way she could possibly outrun him, as insane as that sounded. Whatever was chasing her couldn’t possibly be entirely human. Panic set into her blood, and her small adrenal glands kicked in like her life depended on them. Rhythmic thumping met the mare’s ears as she turned a corner, and spotted a large, popular club. She didn’t pause to consider why it was open so early, the screams and yelling behind her were enough to drive her toward the doors. She could only hope that it was busy inside.

Lacey didn’t stop to tell the bouncer to let her in. Luck was on her side however, as the bouncer had just let a pair of giggling mares in through the door, so it was still open when she careened into it. The bouncer began to yell at her as the door clicked closed, and she entered the thrumming club. The music thumped in her ears , it’s violent currents had the sizable crowd dancing in sync. Maltenics did her best to disappear into the crowd, as hard as it was wearing a blood spattered lab coat and a tactical chest rig.

Outside, Jack fired a single round over the bouncer’s head, sending the stallion to the ground. Bounding over the prone stallion, Jack slammed into the heavy metal doors and took them right off their hinges. With a pained snarl, he pushed himself up and entered the club. His eyes strained against the sudden shift in light, the dancing strobes playing hell with his night vision. He snarled, sending several ponies back as they spotted him lifting his pistol. Firing a booming shot into the ceiling, he raised his voice so it could be heard over the music and screaming ponies, Jack bellowed as loudly as his tortured lungs could handle.

"MALTENICS! NO MATTER HOW FAR OR HOW FAST YOU RUN, THE WORLD ISN'T BIG ENOUGH TO HIDE YOU FROM ME!"

Lacey could feel the weight of his fury from across the room, she had to get out. She couldn’t let him get his hands on her. Bolting for the back door, Maltenics ducked her head down as she pushed through the door. Jack roared in anger and opened fire over the crowd, perforating the wall just behind Lacey as she galloped. The sabot pistol boomed like a cannon in the confined space, drowning out the terrified screams of the ponies there. Not wasting time plowing through the scared ponies, Jack took a running jump and vaulted over the crowd, using the roof mounted lights as monkey bars to help vault him the extra distance. The back door was swiftly booted clear from it’s hinges, and the chase continued as the club's owner was roused from her sleep.

The light of the world flooded back as Maltenics galloped out of the club. Tears stung her eyes as she turned down a back alley, only to find it as a dead end. “Nonononno! please celestia please, don’t let this happen… please!” Maltenics galloped for one of the doors inside the alleyway and yanked on the handle as hard as she could, all to no avail. A shadow fell over the alley, and Maltenics turned to face the human bearing down on her like a force of nature. Lifting the revolver, she fired.

The first round dug deep into Jack’s chest, shattering a rib and narrowly missing one of his lungs as it flowered perfectly and carved through him. The second round struck him high on the forehead. The round shattered violently, producing a vibrant spray of sparks and blood. Jack’s eyes rolled up into his head as his legs stopped responding mid-stride. He hit the ground hard, and skidded to a stop a few feet from Maltenics. Not wanting to take any chances, Lacey began taking shaky steps toward the human, the last round in the gun meant for the back of his head. A banshee scream took her attentions away from the downed human and up to the pegasus dive bombing her. The last round was struck, and punched a hoof sized hole in the pegasi’s wing. That didn’t stop her from tackling Lacey to the ground.

Screaming in pain and anger, Flitter slashed at the unicorn with her knife, taking the mare’s horn off in a shower of magical sparks and stored energy. The mare screamed in agony as Flitter lifted the knife up and drove it down toward Maltenics’ chest. The unicorn’s hooves barely caught Flitters own hooves in time, stopping the blade just before it skewered her. The fight became a power struggle, as Flitter shifted her body weight over the knife, intent on seeing it in the other mare’s chest for what she had done to Jack. Lacey groaned in pain and exertion as the knife drew closer. She blinked in surprise when the pegasus took a hoof off the knife, only to use it as a hammer on the pommel of the blade. The knife, in it’s incredible sharpness, dipped down through the armoured plates as if they weren’t there and into her sternum. Lacey gasped as her grip went limp on the knife, and the mare hammered the knife’s pommel again, driving it deep into her chest. The third hammer blow was simply to drive a point home. Lacey began choking on her own blood as the knife bobbed in her chest with every breath.

Flitter drew in a ragged breath that bordered a sob as the scientist drew her last breath and fell still with her eyes wide open in pain and terror on the cobblestone. Pain wracked Flitter’s entire body as she dragged herself off of Maltenics and over to Jack’s horribly still form. Rolling him onto his back felt like a monumental task as she bled steadily from her perforated wing. A sob broke through her defenses and wracked her chest painfully as her eyes fell on the jagged laceration that had split his head wide open, revealing a thick metal plate that was marred from the trident hollow point’s impact. His blood began soaking into her hooves as the royal guards arrived, though she didn’t notice either. Pulling Jack close, Flitter whimpered as his soft breath tickled her ear.

"Please don't go..."

Author's Notes:

Wow, hell of a haul on this one. For those of you who're worried, no, this isn't the end. Far from it. Act Two will be starting as soon as my editors and myself give the first five chapters a much needed overhaul.

I wanna hold a little contest, because I have disposable income. Who ever delivers the radest fan art by the 12th of January get's a prize! (Maybe money, or vidya, maybe I'll write you a poem or serenade you via soundcloud.) If a ton of people post (Which I'm not expecting) I'll probably do tiers or something. All art will get posted in the upcoming Authors notes (If it doesn't break any terms and conditions, or hurt my brain.) Send to me via PM!

Entry is over, but hey, maybe we'll get one or two in. Eventually.
I swear I'm not doing this because my cover art commission hasn't responded in a month. No I haven't paid yet, but still, holy balls.