Tyler woke up bright and early before his alarm even had a chance to ring, after doing some stretches he grabbed his work out clothes and began his daily workout, after he was done he grabbed a change of clothes and hopped into the shower to wash off the sweat from his workout.

''Yawn man yesterday was great!'' Tyler says to himself while washing his body of the sweat from his workout, after he was done he changed into the clothes that he set out, it consisted of a pair of camo cargo pants, his combat boots, a grey muscle shirt with a white shirt to go over it and finally his jacket.

Heading down stairs Tyler was greeted with the site of a very tired looking Johnny who looked like he had just run thirty six miles.

''Jesus Christ, what happened to you?'' Tyler asked in a surprised tone.

Johnny just gave his younger brother a stare that told him that he was in no mood for anything.

''Never mind.'' Tyler said in a quick fashion holding his hands up.

Johnny just sighed and turned toward the fridge, grabbing the pitcher of water and just drank directly from it not caring that some was spilling on the floor.

''Sheesh what's got you so winded?'' Tyler says with a raised brow.

Johnny looks to Tyler with an annoyed but tired look. ''I spent all of yesterday and all night trying to trying to understand my new fire abilities. I burned through twelve pairs of fireproof gloves and eight pairs of shirts, including my favorite AC/DC thunderstruck t-shirt. I am not. in the mood. for talking right now.'' Johnny says before going back to drinking from the pitcher.

''Alright, alright I'll leave you be, no need to bite my head off.'' Tyler says grabbing a banana from the fruit basket on the counter.

''J'ai vraiment besoin de comprendre cela. (I really need to figure this out.)'' Johnny says in a different language.

''Really, you're using French.'' Tyler says in a tired tone.

''Pas de ma faute, vous n'avez jamais appris d'autres langues. (Not my fault you never learned other languages.)'' Johnny says pulling out a box of Chamomile tea.

Tyler just sighs and shakes his head before grabbing his keys and heads for the garage.

''Your sister's do back today, I need you to go meet her at the station.'' Johnny tells him.

''Yeah I'm on it.'' Tyler said grabbing a different set of keys.

Entering the garage Tyler opens his car to grab the Glock and holster that he keeps in the glove compartment, attaching the holster to his thigh Tyler places the Glock in the holster and grabs three spare mags for it.

''Don't feel like taking my car so I think I'll take the dirt bike.'' Tyler said taking a helmet off the wall, heading outside Tyler heads to one of the hangars where the vehicles are kept. ''Now where are you-ah there you are.'' Tyler said as he finds what he was looking for.

Starting the engine he drives the bike to the front gate were the drones were still standing guard. ''I wonder how everyone else is doing back home.'' He thought to himself as he drove to town playing Turbo Lover from his phone.

---

(Sweet Apple Acres)

It was an early start for the Apple family as they went through their daily routine from waking up, showering, chores and so forth. Applejack was in the middle of working on the first part of the south orchard when her ears picked up the sound of unfamiliar music.

''What in Equestria?'' She said as it got louder.

Applejack looked in the direction of the music and saw one of the humans on what appeared to be a motorized bike heading towards Ponyville at high speeds.

''Now where's that feller off to in such a hurry?'' Applejack asks with a raised brow.

---

Tyler was singing along to the Judas Priest song as he rode into Ponyville and to the train station where a matt black Humvee was waiting for the VIP's to arrive.

''Right I forgot that Johnny ordered a drone to wait here.'' Tyler said bringing the bike to a complete stop and turning off the engine. ''The train should be here in half an hour.''

(A half hour later)

The Ponyville express slowly pulls into the station and comes to a complete stop, as the doors open ponies start to file out from the train, some if not all stop to stare at Tyler and the vehicles.

''Mama what is that?'' A young filly asked pointing at him.

''I don't know sweetie, I think it's some sort of traveler.'' The mare tells her daughter.

''You know I can hear you right.'' Tyler says sounding a bit annoyed.

The mare jumped a bit and apologized for her carelessness when she spoke but Tyler told her it was okay but to be mindful of others.

''Hey Tyler.'' A familiar voice called.

Tyler looked and saw his sister Vick getting off the train along with the Russians, what puzzled Tyler was the fact that Vick was carrying an AK-74, a Saiga 12, a Vityaz SN and a couple of pistols.

''Whoa what's with the guns?'' Tyler asked a bit surprised.

Vick only looked at her brother with a tired expression before making her way over to the Humvee.

''Ok I'll just leave you be.'' Tyler said as Vick got in the Humvee.

The others got in the vehicle and the drone started the engine and drove off to the base with Tyler following close behind them, ponies were coming out of their homes to go to work or take their kids to school, some stared and fillies and colts looked in awe as the two vehicles drove by. Tyler decided to make a stop by the apple stand to pick up some fresh apples for the Russians as well as say hi to the Apple sisters who had just arrived at their stall and were curious about his bike, he explained what it was and its purpose, the tech that Tyler and his family has never failed to impress anyone who asked, granted it's just the mane 6 who ask and occasionally the crusaders but still. hopping back onto his bike Tyler begins his ride back to base while listening to some Rolling Stones, he enjoyed the songs that played and his favorite was 'Paint it Black' one of his favorites.

''Maybe I can kick it with Scoots after this.'' Tyler thought as he drove past Sweet Apple Acres and waved to Big Mac.

(Fort Independence)

Back at the base Vick and the Russians were disembarking the Humvee and began walking to the house.

''So this is the base for the Punisher squad? I expected more troops.'' Dimitri said looking around.

''I agree commander, this is almost like a ghost town, all I see are these strange robots.'' Boris said looking at the drones that wonder the base with equipment.

''I-it feels like we're in a w-weird sci-fi movie.'' Anton mutters in a low tone.

As the Russians follow Vick into the house they were met with the family dog Riley who sat in wait.

''Hi Riley, you miss me boy!'' Vick says as she give the dog a hug while Riley licks her face.

The Russians only watched as the young soldier played with the dog, Dimitri can see that despite being a mercenary in a well known company he can also still see that the young girl still has some innocence in her.

''You guys can wait in the living room.'' Vick says pointing in the direction of said room.

The Russians head to where she had pointed and took a seat on the couch while Vick had sat in a chair with Riley laying next to her. The four of them didn't have to wait very long before Johnny came down the steps in some regular clothes and freshly showered.

''Morning Vick.'' Johnny said yawning at the end.

''Hey J, you can take it from here while I go take a shower.'' She said getting up and headed up stairs but not before laying the weapons on the living room table.

''Sure, why not.'' Johnny said with a sarcastic tone.

The three Russians look at the captain as he turns around holding a coffee mug with a small string hanging out of it so they assumed it was tea of some kind, now that they can see the captains face more better they all saw the captains face a bit better.

''Должен сказать, вы не то, чего я ожидал от капитана известной наемнической компании. (I must say you're not what I expected for a captain of a well known mercenary company.)'' Dimitri said in his native language.

''I assure you that I am older than I look Colonel.'' Johnny said to the Russian. ''What were you expecting, if I may ask?''

''Right I forgot you can understand us. what I meant is that I expected someone a lot more intimidating what with all of the stories and rumors I hear.'' Dimitri tells him.

''Oh. And what do you hear?'' Johnny asked him.

''While some stories I hear just sound like fiction others sound like they hold merit.'' Dimitri tells him.

''Such as?'' Johnny asks.

''Lets start with the rumors. like the one that said that you've once took a sniper round to the chest and shrugged it off like it was nothing, that You've won battles without firing a single round. there's also a rumor that you've gone into battle with just swords doing things that shouldn't be possible and some say that you've walked through the gates of hell itself.'' Dimitri says to the merc captain.

Johnny can't help chuckle but also mentally frown at some of the rumors, they reminded him of his earlier years when he was reckless and just getting started in the merc business.

''Those are some interesting rumors and as for the gates of hell, in war we're all going through our own form of hell aren't we.'' Johnny tells him. ''Теперь, что из рассказов, я хотел бы услышать, какие истории люди придумали. (Now what of the stories, I would like to hear what stories people have come up with.'' Johnny asked curious about the stories.

''Как насчет того, кто говорит, что вы сделали целый лагерь повстанцев, исчезают за одну ночь, это правда? (How about the one that says you made an entire insurgent camp disappear in a single night, is that one true?)"

''I didn't do it alone, I was working with the Bloodhound during that op.'' Johnny says making the Russians eyes go wide.

''Бладхаунд. (The Bloodhound.)'' Dimitri says with disbelief.

''From the look on your face I say you know that name?'' Johnny asked the Russian.

''Y-yes I know of the Bloodhound, he was a very well known soldier back in ww2 with a team called the Wardogs and his wife who part of the KGB, they known for being Nazi hunters and went after high value targets during the war till they disbanded four days after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, to be honest I'm surprised that old dog is still kicking.'' Dimitri said to Johnny.

''It's gonna take more than the passing of time to bring down that old war dog.'' Johnny says with a smirk.

*click*

Johnny and Dimitri bring their attention towards the front door as it opened to reveal Tyler with a clear plastic bag.

''Hey J I brought some apples for our guests.'' Tyler says entering the house.

''Leave it on the table in the living room and meet me in the kitchen, I need to talk with you.'' Johnny tells him.

Tyler complies and leaves the apples and walks to the kitchen. ''So what'd you want to talk about J?'' He asked.

Johnny looked to his younger brother before pouring himself a cup of tea from the kettle. ''I want to know what you think of those three and if you think we should take them on.'' Johnny asked looking to his brother.

''I'm not sure what to think I mean I didn't spend a whole train ride with them, by the way where's Vick I don't see her anywhere?'' Tyler said to his older brother.

''She's in the shower, oh yeah that reminds me can you go up there and put some towels in there, I took the other one out to wash.'' Johnny answered.

''Sure.'' Tyler said going upstairs.

---

Tyler was going through the cabinet grabbing some spare towels for their bathroom, he was about to knock when he heard his sister shout.

''Can someone bring me some towels?!'' Vick yelled.

''Hey sis.'' Tyler says at the door.

''Oh Tyler you're back, hey listen can you bring me some towels?'' Vick asked behind the closed door.

''Actually I already have some towels, Johnny took out the others to wash but forgot to put new ones.'' Tyler tells her.

''Johnny forgot something, huh that's the first.'' Vick said with surprise in her voice.

''I know right, anyway here you go sis.'' Tyler says holding out the towels.

The door slightly cracks open enough for Vick to stick her arm out and grab the towels and closes the door. Tyler turns around to leave but Vick voice stops him.

''Hey Ty hold up for a bit I want to talk to you.'' She calls to him.

"Yeah?"

Tyler waited for a bit hearing the ruffling of a towel for a short bit before Vick exited the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her body and one around her hair.

''What did you want to say sis?'' Tyler asked.

"Not much I just wanted to know if anything happened during the last two days while I was gone.'' She asked walking to her room. ''Hang on while I get changed.'' She said going into her room to change which took her five minutes before she came out wearing a pair of pair of cargo shorts, a sports bra, a black t-shirt and a pair of regular shoes that Tyler gave her so she wouldn't have to wear boots all the time.

''Okay so what do you want to know first sis?''

Next Chapter: Chapter 15: Practice makes perfect and security matters. Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 33 Minutes