“Well, do ya?” The white unicorn demands, waving the plasma cutter at them.

“No ma’am, no problem at all.” CD said quickly “We’re just a coward, an idiot, and a nutcase trying to survive. Thanks for all your help, you were very impressive, but I think my acquaintances and I should leave and get back to trying to survive. Have a nice day, ma’am!”

“Yeah, I’m the coward, would you mind not pointing the gun at me, I don’t even have a weapon.”

“And why are you three even in here? I thought this area was evacuated or slaughtered.”

CD responds quickly “We’re just looting, hoping we could get some food. But if you don’t like us around, I guess we’ll find another mall.”

“Or we could increase our chances of survival by having the five of us combine. None of us have combat expe-”

The white unicorn cut him off. “Fuck no, how do I know I can trust you guys? I can’t, and I’m not risking ‘Shy again!”

The yellow pegasus shivered and huddled against the mare in the engineering suit as she talked, eyes shut tight against the gore.

“Yeah.” CD replied, looking at Broker. “Besides, how could we help her? We’d just be dead weight, and slow them down, and personally I couldn’t live with myself if people died because I was useless.”

“I don’t want them either, I can’t carry much more supplies, not to mention I don’t know if they could keep up.” Sketch added.

“I am certain the white one could keep up. That yellow one however, I doubt. But it seems we have reached a verdict. So you guys, where to?” Broker said as he turned to his comrades

The mare in the engineering suit narrows her eyes. “You calling my marefriend useless?! Nopony... Nopony insults Fluttershy!”

“Well medical is a bust, how about we just look for more supplies, food and whatnot so we don’t starve.”

“We’re not going with them, and they are not going with us, we’d cause issues with each other, and someone will get killed for no good reason, and I don’t agree with that. Nopony is useless, but we can’t get along together without possibly hurting one another. Logic dictates we thank our saviours, and move on.” CD replies. “Sorry to bother you ma’am.”

“Yeah, fuck you guys too. Now scram.”

The butter-colored pegasus clung to her, but opened her eyes, looking up at her marefriend. She sniffled. “Uh- uhm, b-before you go... I ah, have a couple of s-spare medi-gels. If- if you want them, that is...”

“Now you’re mad that we aren’t letting you into a group you didn’t want to join in the first place? Yeah, that makes sense, Transformers roll out!” Sketch said, not hearing the yellow mare.

Fluttershy flinched away from the white colt, and Vinyl ‘hmph’d imperiously.

“Look, guys, arguing gets nowhere, if they needed help, I’d help them unconditionally, but they are fine, so we leave.” CD stated, looking at ‘Shy. “If you are offering something, I’ll only take it if we need it more than you, which we don’t. I appreciate the offer, but you may regret it. Have a nice day ladies, and good luck to both of you.” CD turns to leave.

“Try not to die you two!” Sketch shouted as he walked away with CD.

Vinyl just snorted and turned, rooting around in the store for stuff. Fluttershy reached into her pockets, pulling out a couple of medi-gel capsules and a video log.

“I- I have these two extra, and I found the log while we were searching the other end of the mall. It’s kinda useful... if you want it, that is. Y-you don’t have to take it, unless you want it, that is.”

“Well, okay, can we take a look?” CD asked, looking more at the Unicorn than the pegasus.

“We still need to find food, don’t forget that. Have you two found any?” Broker ask, looking towards the yellow equine.

“Broker, we are in a mall, we can get food anywhere, idiot. But we might get something from the video log, maybe in some weird twist of fate, it’ll explain my memory loss and what happened to me.” CD replied, walking slowly towards ‘Shy.

“Question is, will the trigger happy mare over there kill us if we even talk to her marefriend, let alone watch it? If I want to get shot I’ll just stand near Broker during the next monster attack.”

“I hate you Sketch, so much! Anyway, I really don’t think she will kill us for watching that video. I think, as long as we don’t insult her we will be fine.” Broker said glaring over at Sketch.

“So can I see that, miss? I am still hoping for an explanation for me being tortured for five months and my memory loss.” CD carefully approaching the yellow pegasus.

Fluttershy flinched at the mention of torture, tears welling up in her eyes.

“Sorry, too much information, I didn’t mean to scare you, miss.” CD replied, moving his hoof closer to the pegasus slowly. “Fluttershy, was it? I’m not going to hurt you.”

“I think you should keep away CD...” Broker said.

Rather suddenly, Fluttershy leapt forward, wrapping her forehooves around CD’s torso, giving him a tight hug. She weeped into his chest, sobbing out apologies.

“Don’t worry, it’s alright, besides, I’m not so fuzzy in this hacker suit, so I’m probably not very comfortable to hug. But you’re still cute.” CD said, smiling slightly, “But I would appreciate a look at that video log, I have so many questions.”

“Hey! Hooves off my mare!” Vinyl shouted the command from the back of the store. Fluttershy shook her head and let go of Copy, reaching into a pocket and pulling out a video log panel.

“I told you, Copy...” Broker said, not daring to move out of fear.

“Why so violent, all she did was hug him?” Sketch asked, backing away from the sociopathic mare.

“Yeah, I heard your colt buddy making moves on her. I’ve got my eye on you, earther.”

“Good to know, ma’am.” CD said, staying calm. “Now may I see that video log, please?”

“Before she assumes someone else is hitting on her marefriend and she kills us all, preferably.”

“Must you always make those comments Sketch? I may make dumb decisions, but I don’t make those comments that could get me killed by a mare that just gunned down an abomination.” Broker said looking over to Sketch again with a hard glare.

“Guys, stop the fighting, it get’s us nowhere. Please, can we all just calm down? I want to see this video and I just don’t see how being mean to each other is a good thing.” CD said. “Can we please quiet down and be calm? We are safe for now, and let’s not waste it, please.”

Broker just sighed. “I agree. Sorry. What’s on the video?”

“Uhm... J-just some stuff about these things, by some kind of scientist or something. Uhm... if that’s alright.”

“Uh... Does it mention anything called the,” CD takes a moment to shudder. “Sunset Device?”

“N-no... sh-should it?”

“It doesn’t have to, it would just be useful for me to know if it mentions what I want to know for sure. I’ll still watch the video.”

Fluttershy just nodded at him as she handed him the recording. CD took it, and downloaded the video.

On the Hologram it showed a man with messy brown medium length hair wearing a blue button-up overshirt, a white shirt underneath, with goggles around his neck, walking somewhere at a fast pace.

“This is not good, alright, to anyone watching this, or these if you find more of my recordings. This is a bad situation. What you see in these creatures is something created by something that was never meant to be unleashed, ever! It started years ago but, still that isn’t the point, these people, or what is left of them, have been corrupted by this thing, I... I-I just can’t remember the name of it!

Anyways, it’s influence is spreading, there is no safe haven, some of the security teams have been trying to kill those who have encountered this... thing.

A-anyways, If you're still sane enough I am going to leave something down the hall, go clockwise then proceed to go inward and pass about five hallways then turn right and head down, if I said that right, this should be helpful.”

The holo flickered out, leaving each of the ponies to contemplate it.

“Did you follow his instructions? What did you find?” CD asks, staring at the hologram.

“N-no, there’s a big group of those monsters, a-and we couldn’t get past them. So, w-we went into the ducts a-and came here.” Fluttershy stammered out.

“So I guess this doesn’t answer anything.” CD said, a bit sadly. “Oh well, it’s nobody’s fault, so I guess we-”

“Hey! Shy! Let’s get going. I think this whole thing’s gotten their attention, something’s in the ducts. And... ah... I’m mostly outta ammo. Sorry, Shy.” Vinyl motioned for Fluttershy to follow her.

“Well, I’ve got my own plasma cutter, any way I can help, ma’am? Er, what’s your name again?”

“You callin’ me old? I already told you my name’s Vinyl Scratch.”

Outside the shop, Johan and Victoria prepared to head elsewhere, the two security officers heading towards another part of the mall as the sounds of sentient violence began in the store. Not wanting to waste ammo on someone who might shoot back, they had decided to search elsewhere. The three stooge ponies had probably gotten stuck in a maintenance area when the monsters showed up.

“Hey, uh, Frost? How’s your shoulder doing?”

“I fixed it back when we were on the tram, it’s fine.”

“Ah, good. I’m not really that good with small talk that doesn’t involve innuendos or crude humor, so I really don’t know where to take this conversation.”

“You think I’m not used to your crude humor by now Johan? Or are you afraid that I’m gonna make you piss your pants again if you piss me off?”

“I didn’t piss my pants! A-and, well, I was just trying to find something you actually wanted to listen to.”

“Whatever you say, Johan. But I am curious as to know what you were thinking while I was holding your pecker at gunpoint.” Frost gave a small wink.

“Eh, something along the lines of ‘oh god, oh god, she’s going to shoot me just for spite and then I’ll never get her respect’?” Johan’s voice cracked slightly, his stride slightly different as he tried to shift his groin uncomfortably while walking.

“You’re such a baby, you know that? Even worse, you’re my superior and I’ve always seemed to have you by the balls, even when I was a trainee.”

“I dunno, you did point a gun at my junk. Superior Officer or not, you’ve got a lot of pent-up aggression.”

Frost stopped walking and looked at the ground, her voice soft and indifferent from what it usually is.

“Can you blame me?”

“I’ve never done anything wrong since that first day, when you kneed me in the crotch for making a pass at you. You’ve always been close-lipped about your past, beyond that your dad used to be a sergeant.” Johan had also stopped, and looked at her, concern in his voice.

“I’ve never told you... or anyone. Only my dad knew about that night on my way home from nursing school...”

“Ah... I think I can guess this story. You had to pass through the Orange district, didn’t you? trams were out or something, right?”

“Yeah, Dad was unable to get me because of his physical therapy...”

“Oh man, this was a few years ago, wasn’t it? That serial rapist guy in the Orange district.”

Victoria just nodded. Johan reached out a hand. “Victoria?” he only ever said her name when it was important. “Victoria, I would never do anything like that, alright? I’m a friend, at the barest minimum, okay?”

“I know...” she rubbed her arm. “But it’s something that’s haunted me for years. I still have nightmares about him sometimes...”

“I- I’m so sorry, Victoria.” Johan reached out to Victoria for a hug.

She hesitated for a moment before leaning in slowly, placing her head on his shoulder, taking in his scent. It’s something she’d always been familiar with, no matter if she was blindfolded and was unable to feel his features, she could always know it was him based on his smell, armor or not.

Johan simply held her close, the quiet scrape of enamel on metal and metal on ceramic the only noise as they stood in the massacre-filled mall.

Eventually, Johan stepped back, putting his hands on her shoulders, his helmet sliding back as he looked her in the eye as best as he could through her helmet.

“Victoria, I will never let anything like that happen to you, ever again. Alright?”

Frost’s helmet slid back as well, allowing her to wipe back a tear, nodding slightly in agreement.

“Sorry for making you shit your suit earlier,” she said with a laugh. “I’m new to flirting...”

“Don’t worry, I can do enough flirting for the both of us.” Johan laughed as well. “But I didn’t shit my suit. Uhm... sorry to break the moment, but we should get moving again, alright?”

“Right, right, sorry.” She cleared her throat before her helmet slid back into place. “Let’s go.”

Johan patted her on the back, armored gauntlet clanking on her RIG as his helmet slid over his face.

“I don’t think he meant to call you old, Miss Scratch. I think he was just being polite.” Broker said looking towards Vinyl Scratch.

“Yeah, didn’t mean to be rude. Anyway, should we run? Because I don’t know how many shots I have on my cutter.”

“Then don’t call me ‘ma’am’, fucking asshole. Makes me sound like some old fart.”

“I think we should stand here and negociate and not get shot while we run. Let us just talk this out, and accomplish something. We still need food, they need ammo. How about we band up temporarily and scavenge the stores while the area is clear? We all leave happy and loaded up on supplies.”

“Sounds like a plan, but what about the monsters in the duct, should we leave now and search a different floor?” CD looked at Vinyl. “You seem to know more about this than us, what do you say?”

“Would you rather stay and see if they want some fuckin’ tea? Fuck, I guess you’re coming with us. C’mon, we’re going to the food court.”

“Alright, sounds good. I’m hungry.” CD said.

“Oh shut the fuck up, I’m only taking you along so Shy doesn’t cry.” The white unicorn in the engineering suit snapped at Data, Fluttershy looking a little ashamed.

“How much ammo do you have, Vinyl? I have eight shots left, but I really don’t know how to use this yet. Also guys, we need more ammo.” Broker says.

“No fuckin’ duh... I’ve got around thirty shots left, and this thing carries twenty-four at a time. You, in the hacker suit, you know how to use yours, or are ya useless outta bed, too?”

“No, I’ve killed a few mutants on my own with it, my nickname’s CD if you don’t mind.”

“More like I don’t care. Let’s get going. We don’t wanna be there in a few minutes.”

“Can’t argue with that, let’s go.” CD replied.

The five ponies wandered out of the store, looking around the dark part of the mall. Each of the five watch different directions, Vinyl and CD leading the way, Fluttershy in the center. The eerie quiet of the abandoned mall began to creep into the group, and they all got more and more skittish.

Fluttershy especially was jumpy. As they passed a pile of boxes, a jug of cleaning solution overbalanced and fell to the floor, making the timid pegasus scream in fright. She kept clinging to either Vinyl or one of the guys for a minute or two each time.

Finally, they reached a stairway to the upper floor, the stairs in the center blown apart.

“Shit, how the fuck are we supposed to get up there? Shy’s the only one with wings, and she’s terrified of heights.” Vinyl complained at the situation, gesturing at the rubble.

“Maybe there’s an elevator or another flight somewhere?” CD asked, “Maybe not, but it’s worth asking.”

“What about employee only areas, for the people who run the station.” Sketch added.

“I could get into those areas with my clearance, despite how low it is.” Broker said.

“Uhm... I- I can f-fly up there... I-if th-that’s imp-portant.” Fluttershy stammered, looking utterly terrified of the mere thought of flying.

“Shy, it’s alright. You couldn’t carry us up anyhow, so no need.” Vinyl rubbed the pegasus’ back reassuringly.

“I don’t see it as a bad idea Vinyl. We could find something valuable up there. However, one of us needs to join her. If I could get up there, I would. But my magic is not the best.” Broker said looking at the broken stairs before them.

“So let’s find a different staircase, idiot.” CD said rolling his eyes.

“I- uhm, I used to work here. In the food court, I mean. I think there’s an emergency staircase i-in the back of one of the stores here. Uhm... sorry, I-I didn’t mean t-to interrupt...”

“Emergency staircase isn’t a bad idea. Vinyl, could you lead Fluttershy to those stairs and explore while the rest of us look at the employee areas?”

“How do we know they won’t just ditch us?” Sketch replied.

“Oh, fuck you too!”

“Okay, okay, one of us needs to go with them. Who volunteers?” Broker said looking at Sketch and Copy.

“Your idea, you volunteered yourself.” CD pointed out.

“Wait me? How are you going to get into the areas without my clearence?”

“I’m an engineer, if I can’t get clearance, I can make the door open.”

Broker sighed with annoyance. “Okay, I’ll go with them. Food and ammo, that’s what we need.”

Vinyl huffed, “Fine, you can come with. You two, don’t wander far, dumbucks. We’ll see if there’s any way to get you shits up. C’mon, Shy, let’s get this fucker up to the upper floor.” She shook her head, her helmet sliding into place over her face and head.

Broker hovered his weapon in front of his face. “You sure you can get us up there Fluttershy?”

“I- I think so... Th-the store is o-over this way...”

The shy mare began timidly leading Broker and Vinyl towards a Burger Barn. Behind them, Sketch and Copy sat at the base of the stairs.

“Hey, Data, if we hear shots let’s run to the right, we can find Broker later. If he lives.”

“Why right? What’s over there?”

“I think I saw some stairs earlier.”

“You think? Well, maybe.” CD said, thinking, “If there are stairs, how do we know they go where we want them to?”

“Well if they start fighting in there, going anywhere else is preferable, they draw in the monsters, we hide, then when they are all out we run for it. We can come back later for the mare’s gear and see if Broker lived.”

“I think the mares will live longer than Broker, so there may or not be salvageable gear, but I like your idea. Where were the stairs? Like, how far away?”

“Not too far away, want to go check some of the emptier stores? Less things for them to hide behind.”

“Yeah, that sounds smart and safe, and I’m hungry still.”

“We can rob a food stand on the way.” Sketch shrugs.

“Sweet. Let’s go.”

“I feel like getting a burger.” Sketch said, heading for the shops.

The two ponies wander aimlessly towards the same Burger Barn that Shy, Vinyl, and Broker went to. Searching through the place, they found a distinct lack of cooked food, except half-eaten soy burgers and some fries. And, someone left most of a ceasar salad on one of the tables.

“Well this was a bust, maybe I can open the cash register...” Sketch walked over to the cash register, after he hit a few buttons, the register blared loudly, forcing him to hit it until it stopped.

“Hey, genius, it’s a digital scanner, isn’t it? If it wasn’t, why is all our money in Credit disk-card thingies? If you wanna steal, you’ll have to download the money onto your card.” CD pulls out his card and walks over to the register and starts fiddling with it.

After a few moments of poking at the wiring, the till gives a shrill chirp, and the side blows out with a puff of smoke.

“Cool!” CD yelled. “How did I do that? I wanna do that again!”

A loud roar from deeper in the mall dampens his cheer, and the silence afterwards is almost as ominous as the roar itself.

“Okay, nevermind, that was bad. But it didn’t sound close, I say we-”

A second roar, louder and closer than the first, echoes through the pony’s ears, cutting him off a second time. He and Sketch both flatten their ears.

“Let’s get the fuuuck outta here.”

“Quietly.” CD whispered back. “And carefully.”

“Last one out is bait.” Sketch said quietly, “Also, I wonder how tubs is doing?”

“You better keep your hooves to yourself, buddy. Magic, too.”

Vinyl had been muttering dangerously at Broker for the last several minutes, alternating between standing between him and Flutters, and staying at the back so she could point her plasma cutter at him.

“Would you at least stop pointing that cutter at my head. It’s making me nervous. I promise to keep my hooves and magic to myself. I just want to find the food.”

Broker said shifting his hooves nervously across the metallic floor. He kept his steps light as well, on edge with the unicorn hovering the weapon at him constantly.

“Where are the stairs, Fluttershy?”

“Uhm, j-just a little farther. The manager always covered up the d-door.”

The timid pegasus began nosing rolling carts of meat and bun products out of the way, revealing a door labeled ‘For Employee Access Only’ outlined in yellow on the gray wall.

“Do you have access to this area, or am I gonna have to use my access?”

“I-I’m not a merchant anymore, so uhm, you’ll have to. I-if that’s alright with you...”

Broker nodded towards the pegasus before trotting over to the access panel marked in red. He pulled out his identification and placed it near the panel. A loud ‘beep!’ sounded, muffled by the stacks of foodstuffs. Slowly, the door slid to one side, revealing a dusty stairwell leading up.

“Jackpot! Nice going, buck.” Well, that had been the nicest thing the white unicorn had said to him so far...

“Thanks... I guess? Anyway, let’s go up. Hope this endeavor is worth it.” Broker added while he looked at the staircase. The butter-color pony looked up in fright at the darkness of the unlit area.

“Uh-uhm... c-can one of y-you two g-g-g-g-go f-first, p-p-please? O-or maybe we can go somewhere else? I-I don’t like the dark...”

Poor Fluttershy was huddled down and her eyes were wide and staring from fright. An echoing roar snapped her from her stupor, however, and she clung to Vinyl for safety. It sounded close, and potentially coming from outside the Burger Barn.

“Well, looks like we don’t have much choice, ‘Shy. Alright, dumbuck, get going up those stairs, unless you wanna stay behind and start slathering yourself in ketchup for them.”

Broker shook his head at the imagery the unicorn gave him and he paced himself up the stairs.

“No way am I facing those things.” He whispered, then adding, “Should we lock the door down just incase? Wait, what about the others?”

The white unicorn shrugs flippantly. “Well, sorry to you and ‘Shy here, but it looks like they’re just a bunch of pony mcnuggets now. C’mon, if they’re smart, then they’re hanging out near the big staircase, and we can help them out from there. If not, well... oh well to that.”

Broker looked back towards the corridor thinking of what to choose. His heart was racing in panic and fear, but his mind was screaming to run up towards the second floor. He sighs before saying anything.

“Okay.. Let’s get up these stairs. Can you lock the door, Vinyl?”

“No, dumbuck, but you can. You’re the one with clearance, remember?”

Broker nods and moved down to the door. He closed the door before putting his card in to lock it shut, the panel turning red as a result.

“Locked. Now let’s get up these stairs and find any supplies like we originally planned.”

“Wait.” CD said, quickly. “Weren’t we supposed to wait for Vinyl somewhere? I don’t think disobeying her would be a good idea.”

“Yeah, but I think if we stayed here we would be in pieces when they returned. Hey, you still got that video?”

“Yeah, but what could it do now? Monsters might be coming, and we aren’t where we’re supposed to be. Let’s head back to the staircase and hope Broker didn’t slow them down much.”

“Fine, but lets review the clip, we have nothing else to do besides avoid a painful death.”

“By turning on a device that makes noise? Brilliant plan, as I’m the only one with a helmet that can muffle the noise. And you wouldn’t be able to see it at all!”

“Dude, I don’t mean right now, later, for now we run.”

“Sounds good, preferably towards the stairs, where we are supposed to be.” CD started walking back to the staircase.

“Fine, who knows, maybe they found something useful, or Broker did something right.”

As they continue to run towards the shattered staircase, they skid to a halt, as a screech shreds across their eardrums.

“Did you hear that, or am I hearing stuff again?” CD asked, as if this might be normal

“I did, you're not hearing stuff again, and I really don’t want to find out what made that noise, to the batcave!”

“... Why... nevermind. Hold on, maybe I can ask Vinyl if they’re ready, if I can figure out how this helmet works.”

Checking the holographic controls, CD pokes the one he thinks is the RIGlink button, getting a burst of static at about the same time as another screech passes by the two ponies, this time louder and more painful than before.

“Ow, that was either that thing, or seriously bad feedback, I hope it was feedback, but I’ll assume it was the monster. How do I get this thing to call someone?”

“How would I know, I don’t use computers for anything besides drawing. Also, maybe we should hide behind something before whatever is making those noises eats us.”

“How about the rubble from the stairs? We won’t be too far, and I can keep working on my helmet.”

“Fine, let’s just go before Vinyl kills Broker.”

“Let me try again, and I’ll ask her.” CD ducked behind the debris and kept trying the RIGlink.

To his surprise, a crackling link showed up. But it wasn’t Vinyl. Instead a human male with a stern, clean-shaven face appeared on the link, glaring at him. There was an olive-drab military shirt and hat on him, but CD wasn’t sure of their actual names.

“Uh, hi? I’m try-”

“I know who you are, Mr. Data. And I will find you. I will find you. You are far too valuable to leave around in this situation. So stay put. The extraction team is on its way.” The RIGlink sparks and cuts out.

CD’s pupils shrank to the size of pins, and he started shaking. “S- Sketch... get me out of here, I don’t know how, but help me. Please, for the love of Celestia don’t let them put me back in that thing!” His voice was hoarse and terrified, and he’d backed up against the pile of rubble in utter horror, as if trying to escape a ghost.

“Yeah, lets just run, we can find the others later, and I don’t think Vinyl will flip shit yet, so Broker is most likely still in one piece.”

“Okay, let’s find Vinyl, if anyone had the resources to keep those people away from me, it’s probably her. Or Frost, but that’s neither here nor there.” CD’s voice still shaky.

“Just lead the way, besides the Manehattan part I am awful with directions.”

“Uh, wait, weren’t they supposed to come get us when they were done? Where are they? Come on you stupid helmet, work!”

“S-st-stairs are evil...” Broker says now sweating and breathing hard after successfully, but slowly, climbing up eight flights of stairs. “J-just give a moment to catch my breath. Then we can search.” He forces out the words before collapsing onto the ground.

“C’mon, dude, ‘buck’ up and get moving.” Vinyl gave a short laugh, cut off by Flutter’s upset look from her teasing. “I was only joking with him, ‘Shy...”

After a few more deep breaths, Broker got onto all four of his legs again.

“Okay, now. Let’s get to looting. Best be fast, too before those monsters get to the door. You two ready?” Broker said, looking towards the closed door.

The two mares nod, and begin following the colt, until an ear-splitting shriek drives them to their knees. Barely looking up in time to roll, Broker saw a shape, sort of like a pegasus, fly overhead. It had no forelegs, instead they were simply gone, the great, leathery wings of the creature allowing it to glide. A massive pair of yellowed, sickly-looking lungs hung from under it, and its mouth hung open in a not-so-silent scream. The back legs had twisted into a pair of scything claws, built like they were meant to grab or decapitate in passing.

“The fuck is that thing?!” Vinyl was the first to react to it, rolling in place to point the personalized plasma cutter at the swooping thing.

“Who cares! Shoot at it!” Broker shouts pointing his weapon at the monstrosity before firing at the beast’s head.

“Don’t shoot, you fucking tard! You might hit one of the exterior windows!” Vinyl screamed at the colt, finally squeezing off a shot of her own when it passed a stone section. The bolt slammed into its body, but failed to damage it much.

Broker aimed his pistol towards one of said exterior windows and hesitated to pull the trigger. After looking at the monster again, he fired off the shot. The round hit the window with an audible ‘pock!’ as it hits, a web of cracks spreading across it instantly.

The engineering unicorn to the side screamed for him to stop, firing again at the twisted bat-pony, as the thing screeched again. The noise was much closer and far more painful, so much so that Broker felt something break, and tasted blood. The world was overcome by a persistent ringing noise.

“Fuck! Get to the door now!” Broker yelled and he got back up, making his way towards the door. He kept his weapon aimed at the window however. “Move!” He shouted at the mares, his voice oddly muffled to his own ears. It was odd, but there seemed to be an odd red tint to everything, and it was a bit difficult to move.

A sizzling bolt of plasma flew by Broker, but he couldn’t hear it, the colt backing up as it hit the flying shot hit the monster, shearing off a wing. As it collapsed, a second silenced bolt cleaved its head in two, and a third ripped apart one of its flailing claws. At last, the monstrosity was stilled, and the ringing in Broker’s ears faded slowly.

Broker looked towards the cracked window. His vision soon shifted over to the two mares and the dead monster. He got back up and quivered in fear. Vinyl was mouthing something at him, and holding Flutters, who just held her head. Thin trickles of darker color ran from her ears, nose, and the corners of her eyes. Blinking several times, Broker realized that he probably had some blood in his eyes, too.

It was oddly surreal, the fear he was feeling strangely detached from him, and he tried stepping towards the mares. To comfort them, or something. He wasn’t quite sure, and his vision cut out after a step or two, only the vague sensation of hitting the floor on one cheek still with him as he fell unconscious.

CD kept messing with his helmet, trying to get a connection with Vinyl. “Alright, I’ll say fifth time’s the charm, and hope I’m right.”

“Hey! Losers! You still alive down there?”

“Yeah, glad to see you’re alive. Listen, some crazy, weird scientists want to take me back and screw with my brain, and they’re coming here. Any ideas that don’t involve me dying?”

“I guess you could try climbing up here. There’s some electrical cables I can cut and tie off up here, can either of you climb?” Vinyl shouted down from the top of the staircase,

“I can, for about 2 minutes before my jaw gives out. Can’t speak for Sketch, though.”

Sketch looked up at the top of the stairs, the metal frame for the concrete steps swaying slightly as he watched. “Isn’t there another way up? I don’t think my jaw can take it.”

“Wuss! Fine, I’ll carry you up, but only ‘cuz I owe Broker one.” Vinyl shouts back.

Looking up towards the top of the staircase, Sketch asked bemusedly, “Did he use himself as bait?”

“I ‘t ‘e ‘id” CD mumbled around the cable, as he climbed up.

“Does it matter? He saved Flutters, and that’s all that counts. And he’s currently unconscious.” Vinyl sounded a little defensive as she spoke.

CD pulled himself up to the top slowly, getting up and trying to readjust his jaw, before letting the helmet’s plates slide back into place. “I think I might have hurt something, but I don’t care, I don’t want to go back to the Sunset Device.”

“Alright, wuss boy, stand at the bottom, I’ll tie the cords in place and hoist you. Don’t squirm though, I wouldn’t want you to slip, or the harness’ll become a necktie.” Vinyl’s words spark thoughts of being left there dangling in Sketch’s mind.

“Insult me all you want, I ran out of fucks to give early this morning.” Sketch said.

“Whatever.” The response is curt and punctuated by the rough electrical cords wrapping around his barrel, neck, and uncomfortably under his tail, scraping against him through his civilian clothes. With a jerk and what was nearly a throw, the white unicorn lifted Sketch to the top of the broken stairs, leaving him crumpled in a heap for a few moments.

“And that’s why I climbed.” CD said, chuckling at the odd position Sketch was currently folded into, his laugh being cut short by a second of those metallic roars that herald the unicorn-things. “Crap, not again.”

“Let’s get going. You, whiteboy, help Flutters carry your friend. Then, lets get running.” Vinyl snaps at the group, readying her plasma cutter.

Author's Notes:

Well, that was chapter seven. Things are coming to a close for Act 1. I hope you're all enjoying this, and, again, if you see any mistakes, please tell me so I can correct them!

Thanks to the following for contributing to the story so far:
Itsmyfuneral, starring as Sketch
Hunterz263, starring as Broker Wordsmith
Rosethorn, starring as Victoria Frost
SomeGuy, co-starring as Johan Allegro
The Pieman, as Copy.Data