Glad I'm in here, and not out there...

Petiole and I snuck through the foggy fields as rangers patrolled the area from the ground, as flying wasn't a very good idea in these conditions.

Looking back, the sky was red, and I couldn't see anything of the city anymore. Just the big, red glow that came from the fires.

Before I could turn and look ahead of me, I had bumped into Petiole, who had stopped in his tracks, looking ahead, as if he saw something. He quickly turned around and signaled me to go back. I did as he requested without question after seeing a red dot appear on my Eyes Forward Sparkle to the south; straight ahead. If we saw their markers, then they were bound to see ours too.

We backed up a good distance away until they vanished. Even then, we continued back north, until we came across two boulders close together. We got between them and sat.

"Okay, so what's the plan now?" I asked in a whisper, looking at him.

He shrugged. "Sneaking through this without getting seen on their E.F.S. is next to impossible..."

I was about to ask how he knew they had them, but then I remembered... We had swapped memories. He knew everything I did about the Steel Rangers.

He continued. "I don't know how long the range is, but I can only hope they have the same radius as our pipbucks, if not shorter."

Okay, I guess he didn't know everything I did about the Steel Rangers.

I nodded to him and spoke. "The distance for an average suit of power armor reaches about 100 feet in all directions." I couldn't really account for Crimson's armor, though... Knowing his influence to the rangers, he probably had one of the best models that this chapter could get their hooves on.

Petiole nodded back and muttered. "Good. It's the same for our pipbucks." He coughed a little and put a hoof to his throat, groaning. "Damn it..."

I sighed, scanning the area via my E.F.S. We were alone for now. "Guess we're not getting any advantages there..."

"Guess not..." He said in a soft, raspy voice. "But they don't, either."

"We need to find another way out of this. And fast..."

I glanced back at the radio, but it was still shut off, despite the switch being flicked up. The light from the battery wasn't there, either. It had been that way ever since White Noise showed up. Looked like luck ran out...

I heard radio chatter in the distance from the rangers.

"Hostile visuals, E.F.S., 3 o' clock."

"Flank." I heard Crimson say through their channel. I didn't hear his voice around the area, so he must have been somewhere else. Another search grid, perhaps?

"Copy."

I quickly checked my E.F.S., but I didn't see any reds. They couldn't have been referring to us, could they...?

Petiole and I looked at each other in silence, not sure what to make of their orders.

Then there was an abrupt gunshot, causing us both to hit the ground as a bullet whizzed past. It struck the boulder next to us, showering us in powdery rock. Shortly after, a storm of lead joined in.

"We need to get out of here!" I shouted in a rushed tone, looking at him.

"How did they find us...?" He muttered as we lied there, getting covered in dust. I could just barely hear it over the one way firefight. "I thought their systems were the same as ours..."

"I dunno, but I'd rather not stop to ask them. Let's go!" I grabbed him by the hoof, and he pulled away immediately. I stopped and stared, and he stared back.

"What have I said about touching me?"

I shook my head at his response to my actions. We didn't have time for this right now...

"Then you're going to run."

He paused for a few seconds, then sighed as he climbed atop me.

"Good boy..." I stood up and raced for the west, as that seemed to be the better option. The east was moving away from our destination anyways.

Just as I started, I heard the rangers shouting to one another through the gunfire.

"What the fuck is that thing!?"

"Why isn't it dying!?"

Suddenly...

... Came the familiar roar from 32...

The beast.

One of the rangers started screaming in heart-struck fear. "AH, FUCK, NO! GET IT OFF OF ME! GET IT OFF! KILL IT! KILL IT!"

I looked back at Petiole as I kept running. "How did it survive?"

"Wanna go back and ask it?"

I looked ahead and kept running, keeping an eye out on my E.F.S. while listening to their chatter grow distant.

"You got something closing in on your six!"

More screaming.

"It's not going down!"

Less guns.

"Requesting heavy fire from the sky! I repeat, we need-AGH, SOMEPONY HEL-"

Stray rounds whizzed by.

We stopped behind a tree for some breath. We, as in me. I was the one doing all the leg work here!

I checked our surroundings via E.F.S., as the land around us was still smothered in a thick fog. We were still in the clear though. Well... figuratively speaking.

The screaming had gone silent, and not long after, did the guns.

What did remain, however, was the heavy footfalls of the beast as it trekked the fields. Thankfully, it sounded like it was getting farther away. I had already fought that thing once. Another battle with it would be too soon. We didn't even have the ammo to take it on again.

I set Petiole down - which my back was thankful for - faced a compass bearing of southwest, and began walking. Petiole walked beside me as we kept our eyes peeled.

"I guess we failed at keeping the virus off the surface..." I whispered as we made our way through the silent, cloaked land.

"I think it was inevitable by the time we set the reactor off."

"You're probably right..."

We walked for about five minutes in the same direction, keeping our eyes and ears open. Something I had noticed was that Petiole's armor wasn't glowing anymore. At first, I thought it was from the light of the outside that made it look like it wasn't lit up, but after closer inspection, when we went through the shade of a few trees that were huddled up together, I realized the lights were off completely.

We stopped under the shade of the trees and checked our surroundings once again to see if the coast was clear. My E.F.S. came up blank, with the exception of my traveling companion.

We both hunkered down at the trunk of a tree.

"Where do we go now?" I asked, looking at Petiole.

"Like I said earlier, Fluky said that the town is due south."

"Yeah, okay... but south where?"

He stared silently, and I groaned.

"When do we start heading south?"

"You're asking a pony who's been locked away in the ground for two centuries." He stated matter of factly. "I'm inexperienced with the geography."

"Ugh, fine..." I looked around, but all I could see was white. Stupid fog... smoke... whatever. "I think we should head west just a little bit more, until we can find where we started off, before the rangers started chasing me."

He nodded, and together, we stood up and started west.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." A strangely familiar voice said from behind. Where have I heard that voice before...?

I spun around, gun swinging out in front of me. I bit down on the grip, looking around, before I finally realized who owned that voice. I lowered my guard and continued to look around, but I didn't see him anywhere.

"Hey, where are you?" I asked, adjusting my helmet a bit. It went crooked a little when I swung around.

The leaves in the tree rustled a bit before I heard a thud on the ground. Something started to approach, causing me to raise my guard just a little.

Then a griffin materialized before us. Straight out of thin air.

"Sup." He said, looking at me with a blank expression. He turned to the armored ghoul, who remained silent as he stared back. "And you must be Petiole."

"Who are you?"

"I've been watching your good friend Charger here for some time now."

I turned to Petiole, who was now regarding me. "He saved me earlier, a little before I came across your stable." I turned back to the griffin after I received a silent nod from Petiole. "Still didn't get his name..."

"Rivet."

Huh... Easy to get out of him that time.

"Why should we not head west?" Petiole asked.

Rivet turned to him. "Because Charger's hunter is camped out there..." He regarded me. "And you should know he's not alone. He's spending a great deal of caps to catching you. Dead, or alive... It doesn't matter. Though, he prefers alive."

"Who's he hiring?"

"Mercs, mostly. But he's gone as far as gathering some of the local raiders that haven't gone completely crazy, and has hired them too. It appears that Fester and your chapter have made allies with one another..."

"And you know this...?" Petiole began.

"Been keeping tabs on both of them."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Griffins are known for doing mercenary work..."

He looked back at me with a faint smile. "It's true. I'm a merc. And yes. I've been hired to find you. But unlike the other mercs, I've also been hired to keep you safe and away from both Fester and the rangers. Not just your chapter, but all chapters."

"Who has your contract?" I asked, keeping my eyes locked on his as I was ready to bite down on the grip once more and fire. I couldn't tell if he was actually hostile or not... My E.F.S. said he wasn't, but I didn't know if I could trust that.

"They've asked me to keep that confidential. But they don't want any harm to come to you or your friends." He pulled out three rarities from a bush that I never thought I'd see out here. It's been a long time...

Stealthbucks.

"We're gonna need this for the trip ahead. I have one for each of us, but we'll need to move quickly. There's a lot of rangers ahead, out for your head. Not to mention the raiders."

"One and the same." I muttered with a flat look. "Where are we going?"

"I'm taking you to the trading town that the filly informed Petiole about. Her and Para are already there, and they're safe, waiting for you."

"No time to lose." Petiole said as he connected the device to his pipbuck.

I shook my head quickly as my hoof started to crackle softly. "No. Not yet." I looked back at Rivet. "I need to know what Crimson did to my mother. I need to know why."

Rivet stared for a few seconds, before shaking his head. "No. You don't. I need you alive, and if you go to him, he will kill you. Slowly. Anything you find out is only going to hurt more."

"You say you've been keeping tabs on him." I stated, glaring at him. "So surely you know something about this. What did he do?"

"I don't know." He glared back. "I don't know what he did. So quit asking. It's not important." He proceeded to tie a rope around my barrel, and then Petiole's, and then his own. It was to keep us from separating. Smart move. "Activate that stealthbuck, and let's go." With that, he started equipping his own to his pipbuck; a steel grey bracelet with amber text. Where did he get one? Griffins weren't generally stable dwellers... Also, why didn't he have one earlier?

I grudgingly connected the stealthbuck to my pipbuck, and on the count of three, we simultaneously activated them, and we, along with the rope tied to the three of us, vanished. I felt it tug forward a bit, and so I started walking. Petiole must have been following close behind, because I didn't feel any pull behind me.

Rivet hadn't been joking about the raiders and the Steel Rangers working together to hunt us down. There were camps set up all across the field. Not to mention the patrols...

I had noticed that my E.F.S. didn't register Rivet or Petiole being in the area, as there were no blips. A crap ton of reds... but no blues.

A lot of the raiders and rangers didn't seem to be getting along with each other too well. One side was making snide comments about shooting them down, while the other just thought of themselves as more sophisticated and powerful, which came to the conclusion of more snide comments about shooting the others down. The rangers had always thought of themselves as the master race. That earth ponies were meant to have everything...

They were on the same side, and yet they still couldn't work together. Maybe White Noise was onto something... Sides were a mistake!

It was a shocker that neither were shooting at each other already. They clearly hated each other, and definitely hated the idea of working together to take me, a common enemy, down.

We passed by a shanty house that was built in the middle of the field. As we did, the door swung open, and a raider stumbled out, holding a bottle of Wild Pegasus whiskey in her magic, chugging away at the contents.

I was so tempted on taking that for myself...

I almost reached for it, but that momentary pause sent Rivet yanking on the rope. Despite the surprise, I remained inaudible.

A Steel Ranger stepped out after her, fully equipped in their armor. "Don't get too shitfaced." That voice... "We need to stay sober, in case he turns up."

Firebright...

I stopped dead in my tracks again and stared at her as she stood in the doorway, observing the area.

"Go lick my cunt!" The raider shouted back in annoyance as she flicked her tail at her, revealing her marehood. It looked used up... and the stench that came with it...

I shivered at the scent and closed my eyes.

"You first. Fuckin' unicorns..." I looked back at my sister to see her shake her head. She went back inside after.

Petiole's head rammed into my rear, catching me off guard... and blushing a little.

Rivet tugged on the rope again, pulling me forward once more. I shook my head and moved onward, to which Petiole followed behind.

Before we even passed the shack entirely, the griffin flashed into existence before me. Turning around, there was Petiole, looking back at the two of us.

Fuck...

"Down!" Rivet hissed in a whisper as he lied down on his stomach.

The two of us hit the ground and followed as we crawled through the field. It wasn't as populated here as it seemed farther off to the north, towards the tunnel. But there were still far more problems here than I knew what to do with.

It was only a matter of time before the rangers saw the three blips on their E.F.S., but as far as I knew, the raiders didn't have any.

I sure hoped they didn't...

We quickly crawled to the next shack over, and making our way to the side, we came across a crawlspace that led underneath the structure. There were three hostiles in the building, but we needed to hide...

So we moved in and lied still, looking up through the floorboards as they creaked continuously.

The springs of a worn bed creaked too.

And there was the paced slapping I was all too familiar with...

And moaning...

I sure had quite the view...

Sweat had managed to slip through the cracks of the wooden floor and splatter on my helmet's visor.

Ball sweat...

Oh, damn it... gross...

"That all you got!?" A raspy female voice spoke, to which I heard the male punch her. Hard, by the sound of it. He continued fucking her as she groaned, then laughed.

"Don't fucking talk... Or I'll chain you up again..."

She continued to chuckle under her shaky breaths, and spoke in increments, between each thrust. "Fuck... that's the spot..."

He punched her again. "Shut up, bitch!"

Rivet rolled his eyes as he looked away, then turned to me. "Stay quiet." He whispered ever-so-softly. I could barely hear him over the action happening above us.

I nodded and passed it down the line, to which Petiole nodded back.

For a while, all we heard were the wet slaps and moans from the pair. There was no way ahead, as the crawl space ended.

Suddenly, I heard the door swing open, but they kept going at it.

"Ah fuck, yer at it again!?" Another raider stepped in. "I told you to stop messin' with momma!"

"Fuck off, mate." He replied between pants. "Her pussy's been begging fer a beatin'."

"Will ya cut that out?" He asked, annoyed. "We're s'posed to be on lookout fer that dipshit... Charbroil, er whatever the fuck his name is. I dun wanna miss out on 'em caps."

Charbroil, seriously? Fuckers...

"Yeah, yeah... Piss off. I'll be out later. Gotta impregnate this bitch first."

"You'll be an uncle... and have a little brother!" She said, still moaning as she looked at the raider in the doorway.

Another punch was delivered to her. "I said shut it!"

The third party groaned in disgust and stormed out. "Can't believe he's my brother..."

Oh. Incest. Fun.

Firebright would fit in well here.

Hell, she was right next door!

Another set of hooves stepped in. These ones were a lot heavier than the previous.

"What the fuck are you two doing?" Firebright asked in a stern tone.

Speak of the devil...

"What's it... hah... fuck... what's it look like...?" The mare said behind her moans. "Ah fuck, I'm gettin' close!"

Firebright sighed and shook her head as she watched her orgasm, but after she finished, her son kept going.

"When you two freaks are done, I'm sending you off to the tunnel. If he died in there, we want a team to go in and retrieve the anomaly. You both just drew the short straw."

Then she looked down at the floorboards.

Down at me...

For a moment, I thought that was it. That we were goners. I readied my rifle.

But that didn't seem to be the case. Instead, she turned and left the building quietly.

We waited until Rivet turned to me, holding up a talon. Three claws pointed up. Then two.

Wait...

One...

Shit, what was he doing...?

He cut the rope around his waist and burst up through the floorboards, taking the stallion down off his mother and digging his claws deep into his neck, only to rip out his vocals.

The mare scrambled off the bed, reaching out for a pistol on the table in the corner of the room. Rivet grabbed her and put a talon over her muzzle, forcing her mouth to stay shut.

"Scream, and I'll rip out your tongue and eat it." He said in a whisper as Petiole and I stepped out of the crawlspace. I undid the rope around my waist and went to undo his, but he pushed me away. Shortly after staring at me silently, he started doing it himself.

Right... No touching...

The mare looked at me and smiled as best she could behind his restraint.

"You gonna shout?" Rivet whispered into her ear. I noticed it was clipped by a bullet.

She chuckled softly and shook her head.

"I don't believe you."

And with that, he tore into her neck, causing her to gag as she choked and bled out. He let go, and she fell to the floor as she struggled to hold on to life.

"What did you do that for?" I asked, looking back up at him as I witnessed her final moments. Her eyes had grown distant as she looked up at the ceiling. "We needed her."

"No. We didn't." Rivet replied, wiping his talons clean of the blood he shed with a dirty rag. "If you think raiders care about their own kind being used as hostages, than you're mistaken."

"Oh, CHAAAAARGER!" Crimson shouted from outside the building. My body tensed up to his voice, and Petiole's LEDs flashed red.

"Fuck!" I sat on my haunches, trying to think of a way out of here before he came in.

"Come on out, give me the anomaly, and I'll only hurt you a little! Your friends can go free, so long as they can escape the raiders! I'll even give your buddies a head start! How does five seconds sound?"

Fuck no.

I pulled the radio from my pouch and tried the power switch. When it didn't turn on, I started slamming the device against the corner of the table.

"Wake up, damn it!"

"What are you doing?" Petiole asked, regarding me.

"Trying to get some help..." I continued shaking the machine. "Come on, Tuner..."

"Tuner?" Petiole tilted his head.

"I think I can fly us out of here..." Rivet said quietly, looking up at the ceiling.

I remembered what Crimson had said about my mother, and what he did. I stopped trying to wake Tuner, and stared at the door. My hoof started crackling with electricity.

"No." I slipped the radio back in my pouch.

Guns started loading up on the other side.

"What?" Rivet gave me a concerned look.

"Don't keep us waiting, Charger!" Crimson shouted.

"I need answers..."

Rivet rolled his eyes, then stared me down. "Damn it, right now isn't the time for this!" He shook his head and turned around. "Get on my back. We're getting out of here. I'm supposed to bring you back alive."

"Again with the backs..." Petiole muttered. "Can't you just carry me?"

It came to my attention that he didn't have the megaspell cannons on anymore. These new guns were more like harpoon guns.

"Why did you kill her!?" I called out. There was a brief moment of silence.

"Charger, what are you doing...?" Rivet stepped closer. "We don't have time for games..."

"You mean your mother." Crimson scoffed. "Now, that makes for an interesting story..."

"Tell me!"

"I'll tell you, if you give me that anomaly first."

"Ah, what are ya waitin' fer!?" An unfamiliar voice of a mare asked. Presumably one of the raiders. It became evident that some of them had a weird accent to them. "Jus' blas' 'em already n' be done with it!"

I caught a faint blue glow from the battery in the corner of my eye.

"Sir..."

I looked through a crack in the doorway to see a Steel Ranger stepping up to Crimson, who had his missile launcher locked on to the shack. Several other rangers and raiders stood around; guns locked on and ready to fire. Judging by the amount of reds on my E.F.S., they had the entire place surrounded.

"What is it?" Crimson said quietly, looking down at the ranger before him. Even looking at him was intimidating... His armor was bigger than the average models, and the average models were bigger and bulkier than a pony in the flesh! He was nothing short of a giant to me!

He didn't sound too happy being interrupted, either...

"Hostile sightings coming in from the east."

"How many?"

"Just one, but it could be what took out our patrols..."

"Deal with it. I'm busy with something else at the moment." He signaled the others around him to leave and go take care of the situation due east. "Take some of the raiders with."

"Oh, come on!" One of the raiders shouted, pointing a hoof at him. "You're not Fester! I'm not listening to your orders! Just cause your leader is agreeing to a truce with ours doesn't mean I have to listen to you! I say we go in and take them all!" The raider started pointing at the shack, then looked around at his friends. "Fuck them all, eat them when we're done!"

Some of the raiders in the area laughed and cheered at the idea.

"You're right about one thing." Crimson said calmly, turning to the raider finally. "I'm not Fester. But I'm sure he'll be okay with me killing an insubordinate."

The raider armed up and grinned behind his pistol.

And Para was complaining about me not brushing my teeth... Ew. Just... Ew. At least mine were white... and were all there... and straight!

"Bring it!" A raider shouted.

"Raiders and Steel Rangers..." Tuner said softly, followed by a yawn. "One and the same. Don't even have to mix letters around too much to get raiders and Steel Raiders. Hang in there, Charger. Got a surprise coming your way."

Crimson looked over at that exact moment, as if he had just heard Tuner. "THAT'S IT! I'M COMING I-"

Ping!

He froze and stared at the raider that had just pulled the trigger. The bullet had bounced off his head.

Fire, who stood beside him, readied arm and aimed at the raider, while the others aimed at the two. Some of the rangers that were headed back to take care of the beast from 32 saw what was going down and went back to the stand off, taking aim.

"Drop your weapons!" Fire demanded.

"Suck my dick!"

In an instant, the raider became no more than a red, glowing pile of ash.

Not even a second later, bullets flew one way, while lasers flew the opposite direction; both of which struck the other side. The rangers were holding them off better, considering the superior defense they wore. The raiders were dropping like flies.

"Okay, now is a great time for us to go!" Rivet blurted.

I kept watching the fight. Hoping that maybe one of the raiders would get lucky and kill either Firebright or CrimsonThunder. That maybe one of the raiders would get even luckier and manage to kill both. I needed them dead...

For a short while, Crimson was getting caught up on blasting the raiders with his missile launcher. His 50 cal. must have still been broken since our last encounter.

But then Rivet had spoken, and Crimson turned back to the shack, even when bullets bounced off his frame. The launcher reloaded and aimed at the shelter...

... And out came the missiles.

I ran back, tackling the griffin to the ground. Petiole was on the bottom of the dog pile, groaning in pain.

One second was all it took before the entire front half of the shack became splintering, fiery pieces of wood that rushed over us in a wave. Had it not been for my armor, I would have probably faced some serious cuts, if not burns. And since I was on top, I probably helped keep the other two safe.

My ears were ringing... Everything became muffled. Rivet was screaming something, but I couldn't understand it.

I rolled off of them and witnessed the red electricity flowing through my hoof. Crimson had his launcher aimed down at me as he stood where a doorway once was. The fight was still going on behind him. I couldn't tell which one Firebright was, but none of them seemed too interested in what was happening over here. They were all too busy taking out the raiders.

I rubbed my ears and shook myself out of the confusion before looking up at Crimson. Sound was coming back.

"The anomaly, Charger. Where is it?"

"Check up your ass." I backed up, still lying on the ground. Getting up didn't feel like a good idea at this time... "Maybe if you reach far enough, you can pull your head out of there, too."

He chuckled softly. "Looks like we have a comedian. Now, about that anomaly..." His missile launcher clicked, and he looked over. "What the...?"

Suddenly, a laugh track roared through the radio speakers, causing the party of three around me to look at it. Rivet and Petiole were just now lifting themselves off the ground.

"Now I see..." Crimson stepped forward. "Give me that radio, Charger. Or I'm going to kill your friends, and then I'm going to kill you."

"Not if I kill you first!" And with that, I slammed my electric-charged hoof against his chest, causing his armor to seize up immediately after the thunderous boom of my buck. His auditory systems went in and out as he screamed. Once second, they were amplified, and the next, they were muffled as the charge traveled through his body. Smoke emerged from the armor by the time the current was gone, and his rigid form fell to one side.

I got up and attempted removing his helmet, but it appeared to be stuck to his head.

"Come on..." I muttered behind clenched teeth. I needed answers, and he wasn't going to give them away willingly. Once I got those answers, I was going to kill him...

Some of the rangers, along with the raiders, noticed me trying to remove the helmet.

"Save the Star Paladin!" One of the rangers shouted as they turned their guns on me, shooting bolts of red laser our way. I ducked behind his bulky armor as they shot at us. My hoof was already starting to gain another charge.

"Come on, boys!" One of the raiders cheered. "Let's get that bounty! Drinks are on me!"

The two sides had the same goal, but a different motive.

I looked back down at Crimson, glaring. "Why did you kill my mother? What was her name? Who was my father? ANSWER!"

"Go ask your sister..." He replied with a pained chuckle. "I think that voltage was just what I needed... My sinuses are cleared."

"I'm done with you..." I turned away and sent another buck to his system, therefore frying it. Even through the gunfire, I could hear his muffled screams. I made my way for the rear of the shack, where Rivet took cover behind furniture. Petiole was standing out in the open, absorbing the incoming shots without even a flinch. He didn't seem to be affected by the rounds.

Rivet fired back with well placed harpoon shots. Unfortunately, he was only able to fire two total, before going back behind cover to reload.

The way we came in wasn't an option, cause my E.F.S. gave me a crap ton of red blips standing out there, guns blazing.

I jumped behind the turned over table that Rivet ducked behind.

"Glad you got that out of the way." He said with a glare in my direction. "Can we go now?"

I looked back at the firing squad to see all the rangers, with the exception of one, were firing at us. I turned back to him.

"Guess so. Petiole!" I turned and looked over at the armored ghoul. "What the hell are you doing out there?"

"I'll explain later." He said calmly as a bullet struck the side of his head. It didn't phase him in the slightest. "You two keep thinking of a way out of here."

Rivet glanced down at my hoof and smiled faintly. "Any chance you can use that?"

I looked down to see the electricity flowing again. I felt a smile growing on my features before I gave a quick nod. Still hiding behind the cover of the table, which wasn't going to last much longer, I lied on my back and gave the wall of the shack a nice, hard buck. At once, with the boom of thunder, large chunks of wood flew out, leaving a nice big hole for us. The shack was originally surrounded, but the firefight between the two sides drew them toward the front, like a bunch of idiots.

"Great!" Rivet spread his wings. "Get on!"

I jumped on, and shortly after, Petiole came to us.

"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU, CHARGER!" Crimson yelled behind his helmet; his voice strained and muffled from the failed systems. "YOU CAN'T RUN FOREVER!"

I looked back with a pained smirk. "If there's one thing that'll kill me, it's the demon called Time." I gave him a wink, and at once, we were out of there. Bullets shot up at us, but they were no match for Rivet's flying. I had no doubts he dealt with this sort of thing before. I on the other hoof, wasn't used to this...

There was a sudden roar, and looking down, I witnessed the beast ready to expand its mass as it took on the two sides. All firepower was diverted from us and focused on the monster, but I hadn't even been able to take it on with one of the virus' main weaknesses. They weren't going to stand a chance.

"Hang on tight!" Rivet shouted as he flapped harder. "We'll be at Virtue in 30!"

We came in for a landing on the mud-covered streets of Virtue. There were very few pegasi, but what little I did see took the role of security and lookout on rooftops. Some of the unicorns helped supply wagons with medical supplies and ammo, while the others sat behind booths, bartering with passerbyers. Earth ponies rolled the wagons out once they were given the all-clear.

Earth ponies, unicorns, and pegasi... working together... I wish the bunker was like that...

"Great. We're here." Rivet spoke in clear annoyance as he let go of Petiole. "Now get the hell off my back. You're both heavy. Especially the metal one." He glared at the two of us as he rubbed his arms. I hopped off his back, and he eye'd Petiole's bags. "Why the hell do you need four sets of saddle bags? If you're looking to become a caravaneer, get a wagon like everyone else."

"A lot of this is important research." Petiole stated, pointing at the bags closest to his flank. "I needed to take it with me before I left the stable. Otherwise it would be forgotten."

Rivet rolled his eyes and regarded me as I looked around the town, as if he knew a question was coming up.

And there was.

"What's going on around here?" I looked back at him.

He sighed as he put his talon over his eyes. "Hoofington is going through the grinder at the moment. Some big war or something. I don't know. I don't care. I'm not getting paid for whatever bullshit happens in Hoofington. Only for what happens in Vanhoover."

Wait... didn't Tuner mention something about a war happening in Hoofington...?

"But... what's this all have to do with the heavy shipments?"

"Virtue wants to participate in helping the residents of Hoofington, so they're sending a bunch of supplies over in hopes that it'll help them. It's a lost cause, if you ask me. A waste of both time and resources."

"But... that's a long way from here, isn't it?"

"They're not going all the way there, you idiot!" Rivet shouted. "They're just getting it to the train station. The train will do the rest of the work..." He paused and looked down, frowning. "... Assuming Fester doesn't intervene and steal the supplies. Again. Like I said... lost cause."

"Who is this... Fester you keep mentioning?" Petiole asked as I observed the loading of a wagon.

"He's the leader of a community of raiders, like the ones back north."

I lost track of their conversation as I watched a yellow coated unicorn mare lift a crate of potions up into the wagon with ease.

Wow... unicorns were allowed to use their magic here...

Her pale blue eyes came across mine, and she smiled, waved, and went back to work.

"CHARGER!" Rivet shouted, causing me to jump. I looked back at him.

"Yeah?"

"Don't make me repeat myself. I hate repeating myself." He softened his glare a bit and sighed. "The rest of your party is in the motel. Just ask for them at the front desk. I have to go warn Omegas about the threat due north."

Petiole spun his head toward Rivet, and took a step forward. "Omegas?"

Rivet looked back. "Yes, that's right. He's mentioned you a few times. Sounds like you two have a lot of catching up to do."

I looked over at Petiole. "Go and meet up with him. I'll check on Para and Flukes."

He nodded, and we parted ways.

All the buildings here were constructed after the war. Made up of metal scraps and wooden planks. The outskirts of Virtue revealed to me that this town was once built on a field of grass until it became mud, just off the side of a highway.

The horizon burnt in the distance with that warm, yet hostile glow. Ash still snowed down on us, and the fog was still thick, but it was a lot better than what it was, over at the raider camp.

I couldn't believe that Bristle had agreed to a truce with Fester... They had been at each other's throats for years, and now that I was the target, they were working together... I never thought in a million years that the two sides would join forces. Much less because of me.

Tuner was right, though. The two sides were one and the same.

I stopped at the edge of the town and looked to my left to see the motel that Rivet had mentioned. Virtue wasn't exactly a big place, so it was hard to get lost here.

I stepped in through the front door of the office and stood at the counter, looking over. I didn't see anyone here.

There was a bell at the counter, but the last thing I wanted to do was ring it. Para's insistent bell ringing was still a burden on my brain cells. A part of me could still hear him slamming his hoof down on it repeatedly. Ugh...

"Hello?" I called out as I tapped my forehoof on the surface of the counter.

"Agh!" A voice screamed from the room behind the counter; the door to it ajar. Shortly following that was the tumble of books.

Um... Sorry...?

I took the helmet off, as it wasn't needed, and my mane was getting itchy, trapped in there.

A few seconds went by, and the door creaked open. A black coated unicorn stallion poked his head out before adjusting his glasses and looking at me. His cutiemark consisted of three books stacked atop each other.

"O-oh! A new customer!" He smiled nervously and stepped out, closing the door behind him.

"Is... everything alright back there?" I raised a brow as I glanced at the door behind him.

"Oh, yes... Just caught me at a... bad time." His nervous smile became a nervous grin as he blushed. He quickly looked over the book that contained his customer's names and what rooms they ordered at what times. "Let's see... I'm afraid the uh... heh..." I caught him glancing over my form behind his glasses. "... Afraid the lover suite is taken, in case you were looking for some mid-afternoon action with your special somepony."

"Subtle much?" I raised my brow again, smirking. His cheeks became a darker shade of red, and he looked down at the log.

"S-sorry. Just... Heh... Sorry..." He brushed the black mane from his red eyes and adjusted his glasses again. "Let's start over." He reached out a hoof. "Hi. You're cute. My name is Shadow Hoof. Wanna go out? What's your name?" He paused, wide-eye'd. "Goodness! Did I say that out loud? I am so sorry... I'm... heh..." His shoulders slumped as his crimson eyes looked down at the log book. "Fuck my sideways with a shotgun barrel..."

I laughed softly and put my hoof over his, catching him by surprise. "My name is Charger. You're not too bad looking yourself."

His smile returned. "T-thank you! I thought I fucked that one up royally..."

I brought my hoof back. "It's all good, Shadow Hoof. No worries."

He nodded with a smile. "So, what can I do ya for? Looking for a room, orrrr..." He paused and 'discretely' opened a book behind the counter, reading quickly. He looked back up at me with a seductive grin... Or... I think it was a seductive grin. "Are you looking for some action under the sheets?"

...

... Oh goddesses... Did he really just say that...?

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. "I'm looking for someone."

He froze, and I heard a book slam, followed by the clearing of his throat. "Right... Ahem... Who are you looking for?" He stood straight, looking into my eyes with a dying hope.

"A stallion named Para with a filly named Fluky. White coat, impossibly bright teeth. Possibly blinding to look at. Golden eyes, brown mane. Wears a hat. Seen anyone like that?"

"Oh. Yes. They arrived just a little bit ago. Might I asked why you're looking for them?"

"I was traveling with them, but we got split up during an ambush. I came here with Rivet."

"Wait... you came here with Rivet?" He balked. "So you're... oh my..." He grinned. "You are a great deal of importance to the NCR."

"The NCR?" I stared in confusion. "But I never even met them before."

"I don't exactly know the details, but Rivet was hired by the New Canterlot Republic to protect you and your friends. You're big news to them. Maybe you have an idea why?"

I knew why. And it wasn't me that was big news. It was what I carried... and that made me a target...

Still, I shook my head. "Can't think of a reason why."

"Hm..." He looked down at the log. "Well, your friends are in room 18." A black aura grew around a single key on the wall behind him. It levitated forward and was set down gently on the counter. "Feel free to stay as long as you like. All expenses have been paid for, courtesy of the NCR." He smiled proudly, and I smiled back with a quick nod of my head.

I took the key in my mouth and started for the exit.

Then, he spoke again.

"My, what a big gun you have! Maybe you can take me somewhere private and let me play with-no, that doesn't work... Maybe you can take me around back and shoot m-oof, that's even worse... Let it go off in my hair? Fuck, this one's a wreck..."

I chuckled behind the key and looked back at him with a wry smile. "You know, you don't need to try and pick someone up with flirty quotes." And horrible ones, at that. "Just go with the flow, and see where life takes you." I gave him a wink, making him blush again, before turning and heading back out the door.

Door 18 was at the far end of the building, respectively. When I got there, I pressed my ear to the door. I didn't hear anything inside... Odd... And somewhat alarming, too.

I inserted the key, turned it, and pushed the door open gently. It was dark inside, but the luminescence of the outside seeped in. Through the dim lighting, I saw Para sitting in a chair, facing me. His hat was pushed forward a bit; the brim hiding his eyes. There was a faint smile on his face.

"Hello again, Charger."

... Okay, was it alarming that he actually got my name right for once? Or was that just me? And his voice was different... deeper...

He tilted his hat back to look at me, keeping that smile. His little buddy sat at his side, on the armrest of the chair.

"Happy." I stepped in, closing the door behind me.

He nodded, and his smile widened. "So you figured it out."

"Is this the part where you kill me?"

He shook his head. "Why would I do such a thing?"

"Because it's what you do."

He picked up his little buddy and set her on his lap, petting her as if she were a real rabbit. "You and I are a lot alike. We both seek to rid other ponies of their misery. I could definitely use the help of a pony that understands me. You and I are not murderers. We are saviors."

"I'm nothing like you." I glared.

"Of course you're nothing like him." A voice said through the radio. One that didn't belong to Tuner. This one was more scratchy and gruff. "You only kill other ponies for your own benefit. Happy does it to help others, but you're just in it for yourself. How greedy of you."

I looked back at the radio. "Who the hell are you?"

"Ugh..." I turned back to him to see Happy rolling his eyes; his smile disappearing. "There he goes again... Always complaining..."

"Where's Fluky?"

"Out there somewhere, helping the townsfolk with the deliveries for the big light show in Hoofington." He grinned again. "She's such a precious little thing."

"Sorry fucker won't even lay a harming hoof on her, and she's suffered a lot, no thanks to you!" The radio bickered.

"Who. Are. You?" I reiterated, glaring at the machine.

"According to Tuner, I'm four. The one that tore into gore. And if it were up to me, I'd have snapped that fillies' neck long ago. And then fed her body into a grinder, just for the fun of it. She's annoying."

"No, you're annoying!" Happy glared, but then calmed himself with some steady breathing. "It's a relief you don't have a body anymore." He put the bunny back on the armrest as he deadpanned. Shortly after, he stood up and calmly approached. "Thank you, Charger."

"For what?" I would have backed up more, but my flank was already pressed up against the door.

"For bringing the battery back to me."

"Why do you want it? Way I see it, if you have it, Para comes back."

He stopped before me and put a hoof under my chin, looking me in the eye with a relaxed smile. "It's true. I have to be stuck in that dreadful prison, while he goes around playing dumb. But it will all be worth it in the end."

"Why? What happens in the end?"

He moved closer; his muzzle pressing against mine as he gazed into my eyes. He whispered his answer.

"I win."

And with that, he snatched the radio from me, hugged it tight, and closed his eyes. After a few seconds had passed, he blinked a few times, then looked up at me and smiled. "Oh, hey!" He hugged me tight, as if nothing had just happened. He spoke in Para's voice. "How was the firework display?"

Firework display...?

"Uh... it was great, Para." I hugged him back. "How are you feeling?"

"Kinda... tired, actually. I must have passed out again. Been happening a lot more than I'd like..." He pulled back a bit, and his ears were folded back for a few seconds before they perked up. "I'm glad to see you again, though." He smiled as he took my security helmet, tossing it on the bed. "You look tired, yourself."

Then he got down and started undoing my armor.

"You should lie down and rest."

"Much as I like you undressing me, I still have things I need to do." Still, he kept at it until all my armor was removed and displayed along the floor.

"At least rest a bit, before you do anything else." He stuffed the radio in his jacket pocket and nuzzled my neck with affection I hadn't felt in a very long time...

I rolled my eyes and sighed, smiling faintly. "Alright, alright... I'll take a short nap."

I pushed the helmet off the bed and lied down, looking up at the ceiling before closing my eyes.

I lied there for about an hour, stuck with the same intrusive thought.

Why was my mother executed? What was her name? What did she look like? How did her voice sound?

All I got was Crimson's 'ask your sister.'

Ask Firebright...

That was about as possible as Para's wings growing back.

... Which, now that I thought about it, wasn't entirely impossible. All he'd need to do is bathe in radioactive waste, and then they'd grow back... maybe. Assuming he didn't die first, or turn into a ghoul. Even then, if he did get his wings back, he'd probably end up growing other appendages as well.

I let out a soft sigh and opened my eyes, staring at the worn out ceiling. "Ask Firebright..." I muttered to myself, before rolling over on my side.

"Hey, you alright?" Para asked, trotting over. He put a hoof on my head, gently petting my mane.

"Eh..." That was all I could get out at the moment...

I felt numb.

I didn't want to move, talk, or think. I didn't want to be alive, nor dead. I didn't want to be... anything.

"You should have a candy cane. Candy canes always make me feel better."

I heard the door open, followed by a set of hooves along the floor.

"Is he asleep?" Petiole asked.

"I'm awake." I replied, keeping my back turned to the two.

"I need DNA samples off you... and purge you of radiation, if needed. There's no saying how much of a dosage you got back at 32."

"Fine." I rolled off the bed and landed on all fours before walking over to him, looking down. "Let's get it over with."

Petiole turned to Para. "I'll need to do an analysis on you after."

"Awwwww..." Para pouted. "But I hate tests!"

"Don't think of it as a test then." With that, he turned around and made his way out of the building. Reluctantly, I followed behind.

Ponies rushed around, helping with the shipments of medical supplies and ammunition, as if the fight at Hoofington relied solely on their deliveries. It was nice that they were lending out a helping hoof in terms of supplies. Their business must have gone down by a landslide when Saddle was eliminated. They didn't seem too upset about it, though.

I wondered if they knew who was behind it.

"So..." I started. "How was your talk with Omegas?"

"It went fine." A pony dressed in a brown duster and a full head helmet trotted up to us. The visor glowed red, and his chest was armored. His voice, though... Now that was what I expected a ghoul to sound like. The type of voice that belonged to a 50 year old chain smoker that never knew when enough was enough. "You must be Charger." He regarded me through his NCR gear. I recognized that armor. The Steel Rangers were still at war with them, I think. And now the NCR wanted me. "I've been hearing a lot about you."

"I'm sure you have..." I muttered, looking away. "So, you're from Stable 32."

"I am." There was a brief pause before he resumed. "Petiole told me about how you and him destroyed it."

"I'm afraid we'll have to cut the conversation short." Petiole spoke abruptly as he stopped walking, staring at Omegas. "I have important business with Charger. Important, confidential business. Then, I'll take care of my business with you, ghoul."

Oh dear...

Omegas went silent for several long moments, before turning to me and reaching out a hoof. "It was nice to finally meet you, Charger."

We shook hooves, and he silently walked off. Petiole stared me down behind his visor.

"What?"

He shook his head and pointed to a canvas tent. "In."

With a roll of my eyes, I walked in. He followed close behind and zipped the flaps closed once we were both inside. In the center of the room was a stretcher, and around it were two surgical tables and an I.V. stand. Thankfully, I wasn't seeing any surgical equipment lying around. Most of what I was seeing were packets of Radaway and plastic, cylinder containers with orange caps.

And a metal bucket, for some reason.

"Lie down."

I did as he asked after making sure there wasn't anything that was going to keep me tied down, like last time.

I looked up at the ceiling quietly as he took out a syringe, cleaned an area on my arm with rubbing alcohol, and drew some blood. Again, it didn't hurt much. Kinda made me laugh a bit, actually. It tickled.

"So are you going to tell me why you were standing in the middle of a shootout?" I asked.

"I was buying you and Rivet time."

"By being a distraction."

"Exactly."

I stared at him flatly, but he went on.

"My armor changes when exposed to certain elements. Exposed to natural light, I have the defense of a tank. In darkness, I'm resistant to magical elements, but it loses the defense against anything that isn't magical. There's still so much more about Tungstian we don't know about yet."

When he was done with the blood sample, he removed the needle from the rest of the syringe and stuffed it in a plastic bag, which he placed on the surgical table next to us.

"I'll need a urine sample, too." He said, taking a quick peek at my pipbuck. "Radiation levels are really low. No need for a Radaway just yet."

I looked over, and despite my mouth opening, nothing came out.

"I'll give you your privacy, of course. But before I do..." He opened one of the cylinder capsules. "I'll need you to spit in this. I'm thorough, and if you think you might have something else in there apart from the F-virus, I need to be sure."

I nodded in agreement, pooled up some saliva, and released it into the container. He sealed it off shortly after, then gave me an empty spare for the urine.

"Take your time with it. Just fill it up a little more than halfway, and tell me when you're done. I'll be outside." He started to walk for the exit.

"Wait, what's the bucket for?"

He looked back slowly, then replied casually. "Stool samples."

I must have worn a look of dread right then and there, cause then he quickly added to his statement.

"Like I said, I'm thorough."

After I had given all the needed samples to Petiole, he let me go saying that it'd take at least half an hour for my results to come in. I chose to occupy that time by checking around Virtue. Seeing what there was to see.

After a rather short lived journey around the area, I had noticed there weren't any houses. It was all shops and booths, which made me wonder if the shop owners just lived in their stores.

They seemed to also have a sheriff's office. A poorly made one, at that, as everything here was shanty. But it still had a jail cell that looked sturdy enough. That had to count for something.

As I was passing by, I noticed a bounty board with quite a few job offers up for grabs.

I trotted up to the front of the building to see what they needed done. Surely I could make myself useful somehow, rather than hauling cargo on the back of wagons. I needed something more... me.

There were three wanted posters that immediately caught my attention. Two of the three made my heart sink deep in my chest. For a second, I had forgotten how to breathe...

The three of them were side by side, and the first one on the left was none other than a copy of the same wanted poster I had seen in Saddle.

The Happy Killer. The Killer Grin.

One of his blue eyes stared deep into my greens, while part of his mane hung down over his other. His silver coat shined bright on the paper, as did that grin of his... The same grin that belonged to Para.

No one knew but me... No one knew that the Killer Grin was sitting in Virtue's motel this very moment...

But I couldn't just give him up... He was my friend. I... liked him. Maybe not Happy. But... Para... I didn't want to give him up. So long as the battery stuck around, I didn't need to worry. Para was nothing like him. Para was good. Ignorant, and possibly stupid... But he was good.

I shook my head and looked at the other two bounties. The one in the middle was the ghoul known as Fester. Black, raggedy mane. He had a chipped unicorn horn, but it still looked operable. Pale blue, wrinkly coat underneath a tuxedo. Milky white eyes.

Gross.

He was wanted for 100,000 caps. Dead. Taking him alive wasn't an option.

The last bounty was the other one that sent shivers down my spine just by looking at it.

Bristle...

Charcoal black coat, white mane. Red eyes.

Yeah, I knew him all too well...

Surprisingly, his bounty was lower than Fester's and Happy's.

25 thousand caps, alive. That didn't sound right... I'd have happily paid a million to see his head dangling from the end of a rope tied to a flying Vertibuck... with the body still attached!

... Er... assuming I had the caps to spare.

"Sight for sore eyes, I imagine." A horribly raspy, scratched up voice said from behind.

I turned around to see the masked Omegas standing before me.

"I imagine it must be hard seeing him up there among the filth."

"Not exactly." I looked back at the poster. "His bounty should be higher. You have no idea what he's been doing to ponies down in that bunker."

"I was actually hoping you could help us find it. We could storm the place and put a stop to his power."

I sighed and hung my head down. "If only I could... I don't exactly know the way back. I had only been out of the bunker once, and I was exiled on the same day."

"Figures..." He approached the bounty board and stared up at the wanted poster. "Someday, I'd love nothing more than to see his head on a pike."

"You and me both..."

Things got quiet between us for a short while before I regarded him. "So... how did you get out of 32?"

"By killing the overmare, taking the code to open the stable door, and walking out."

I tensed up almost immediately. He... didn't just... "Did you leave the door open after you left?"

"There was... unfortunately... an incident with the system. It wouldn't seal the stable back up. Something I'm ashamed of, I'll admit."

"I thought you were too injured to take on her security." I stated matter-of-factly. "I read it in one of your notes, I think."

"My problem was underestimating myself." He looked back at me behind that red visor. "I was stronger than I gave myself credit for. And seeing as the pony I hired to take her out died from the sentries before he could even reach her, I had to take matters into my own hooves."

I looked over the bottom half of the bounty board to see a few calmer jobs available. Stuff like repairs, caravan duty, bodyguards, and salvaging.

"I saw that... tentacle thing coming right at you in Petiole's memory. How did you get away?"

"Like I said... I underestimated myself."

Vague... were all ghouls like this?

"And how did you become a ghoul?"

"Heh... don't drink from puddles on the streets..." He looked away and rubbed his hoof awkwardly. "Probably saved myself from what was going to happen otherwise, though." He paused and turned back to me. "You've been in Stable 32, so I'm sure you know about the virus' that came with it."

I nodded, and he continued.

"I'm infected with what Petiole calls the F-virus. My ghoulification halted the infection, but I'm what is known as a carrier."

"I'm assuming that's why you're wearing the helmet?"

"Well, that and I'm a part of the NCR. They gave me this armor and put me in charge of the law and order of Virtue once they found out about my past, before the bombs."

"Chief of police?"

He nodded. "Exactly."

I smirked and turned back to the board. "I wouldn't mind taking a job off this. Could use the caps... and the experience."

He 'sighed,' which honestly sounded more like a nightmare than any other vocal I've ever heard in my life. "I can't exactly stop you, but... I'd have to send Rivet with you. You're important to the NCR, and I can't have you getting yourself killed. Especially with Fester and Bristle hunting you down. But I appreciate that you want to help."

"Fair enough." I said, keeping my eyes on the board. "Thanks for not trying to stop me."

"Well... we could use all the help we can get."

I looked over the repair jobs. There were a few involving automated turrets, robots, guns, and even a train car. The pay was a lot greater for the car than the others, but that also meant it was more of a challenge. Something I was willing to tackle.

I ripped the paper off the board and held it out to him.

"I'm gonna try this one."

"That's a tough one..." He replied warily. "Are you sure you can do that?"

I shrugged with a wry smile plastered on my face. "Never know if I don't try."

"Hm..." He thought to himself for a short while before nodding. "Alright. Go on ahead. Though, I suggest you wait until the next caravan is sent off. Safety in numbers and all that. In that case, you may as well take caravan protection duty as well."

I took the job he recommended, and he held out a hoof. We shook, and he started to turn around. "Next caravan leaves in 48 minutes. I'll inform Rivet to come get you when it's ready."

"You're going where?" Para asked, holding his bunny close as he sat in the same seat I saw him in when I walked in the first time.

"For the last time, I'm going to the train station to help fix one of their cars." I replied, slipping into my barding and adjusting the gun's arm. I checked the sights after bringing it forward. Everything lined up like it should. "I shouldn't be gone long, and I'll have a lot of protection around me."

"But... the grain station..." He held out one hoof. "And grain cars..." He held out another, then put the two together, frowning. "That doesn't sound right. I've never heard of any of those things."

I sighed, shook my head, and slipped my helmet over my head, before looking over and smiling. "You're adorable, Para. Silly, and adorable." I trotted over and gave him a firm hug, to which he offered one in return. "I'll be alright." I pulled away to look into those golden eyes of his, smiling. He smiled back. "You just wait here, order room service... do what Para does in his free time." I looked down at Little Buddy and picked her up to wrap her in a gentle embrace, before setting her back down on his lap. It was a bit weird for me to hug a machine, but... it was best to just role with it. Questioning it only made my brain hurt.

"I did a nugget count." Para stated.

"Nugget cou-oh... Right." He was referring to the ammo. I smiled faintly.

"You have 30 bronze nuggets, and 23 blues, not including what's in those small containers you carry around." He raised a hoof halfway, closing his eyes and smiling proud at his count.

"Thanks, Para." I stood there for a few seconds as he looked back at me, keeping that adorable smile.

Ah, fuck it...

I leaned in and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. I couldn't resist...

When I pulled back, he was blushing behind a grin. "Wh-what was that?" He put a hoof over where I kissed. "And why did I like it so much?"

I giggled softly, before turning around and bringing the rifle to my side. "Keep the coffee hot. I'll be back in a jiff."

With that, I made my way to the door and stepped out, closing it behind me. The radio would have certainly been nice to take with me. Could definitely use the luck that Tuner provided. But I also didn't want to come back to a burning town, and I didn't know how exactly the whole radio thing worked. I didn't know for sure if I held the radio, and Para was around me, if Happy would come back or not. I didn't know if Para had to hold the radio to stay as Para. When I came back, I'd have to ask Tuner those questions. I didn't have the time right now, though. I could already see Rivet flying down the street toward me, which meant it was time.

I also spotted Petiole heading in my direction.

I approached him before Rivet could meet up with me. I didn't want him or anyone else knowing...

"What's the news?" I asked in a hushed tone.

Petiole stopped, looking directly at me. "It appears you're infected with something I've never even seen before. Sort of a... darkness... I can't find a better way to describe it other than a darkness. It's growing inside you. I..." He paused and looked down. "Sorry to say, but it won't be the F virus that kills you..."

I simply smiled and chuckled softly. He tilted his head at my response.

"What's so funny?"

I looked at him, keeping that smile up. "So what's the bad news?"

He froze for a second, before scoffing. "That's the spirit, Charger... Well, the infection hasn't reached your saliva, by some miracle. And your urine is clean. I'm only seeing a hint of the F virus in your blood. The... shadowy thing is more of a problem, on the other hoof."

I nearly reached out to put a hoof on his shoulder, but remembered that he didn't like being touched. I quickly pulled away and nodded. "Thank you, Petiole."

"For what? All I gave was bad news."

"For telling me the truth." I smiled sincerely. Most of my life and what I believed was starting to feel like a lie. It was nice to have some honesty for once.

"Yeah..." Petiole said softly, looking down.

Rivet landed beside us and looked me over. "Ready?"

I smiled at the griffin before us. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Petiole looked at me silently, to which I explained myself. "I'm going on protection duty until we get to train station. Gonna try and fix one of the cars there."

"Want me to come with?"

"Nah." I shook my head. "I got it covered. Just keep Para and Fluky company until I get back. And don't go trying to kill Omegas." I said with a frown. "I know your opinion on ghouls..."

"Alright..." He started to walk past in an annoyed tone. "Just be careful."

"Pfft." I looked back, grinning. "You know me! Careful is my middle name!"

"No. It isn't." Petiole said simply as he stopped to look back. "Charger Outlet Surge."

Rivet burst into laughter as Petiole continued on his way. I felt myself turn bright red, and a sudden sweat started to break out.

"Oh, do I feel sorry for you..."

Ah, damn it, he saw that part of my memory!? WHY THAT ONE!?

Author's Notes:

Hey there, readers. Sorry for the wait. Work gets crazy this time of the year, so we were doing a lot of overtime.
I want to start off by saying that I have a Discord, if you want to contact me, ask questions, or just talk. I also have a Discord server, but I'm still trying to figure out some stuff, so if you want in the server, you'll have to ask me directly. It only has a few members at this moment, but I'm looking to make it more populated. My Discord is Resultful #2103

Special thanks to Kkat for FoE, Somber for Horizons, Pines for... stuff, I guess. And Alchestbreach for fighting the radios and keeping us safe.

Pines:
Hello listener, er.... readers of Radio Static , we here at MMBT Studios would like to invite everyone to leave a comment or message any of us personally. We appreciate feedback and love being egotistical, hehe... All jokes aside, I hope you love what you read, I hope we can provide this great amount of content for you lovely folk, but most of all I hope to see all of you again, in the next Issue of RADIO STATIC!