Day 9 of assignment 01230

Lero stretched after out from under the town hall, his clothes covered in the muck and grime of the underside of the building. It may be a disgusting job working on the towns pipes, but still brought him the simple pleasure of a hard days work. Bending back down, he dragged his tool box the rest of the way out from the shade of the building, then as he rose, he caught sight of Mesa. Catching his eye, the soldier smiled and nodded, and as he walked through the double doors, Lero tipped his hat in response. After the casual greeting, the human looked down at the ground, frowning. After the initial dust up, Lero was ashamed of how he acted, the feeling compounded by how his brother would have responded if he had seen Lero in such a state. Though both Lyra and Twi had forgiven him, his insides still twisted every time he remembered what he had done. And really, Mesa wasn't such a bad guy, a little cold perhaps, and Lero certainly wasn't thrilled over him letting the man who sold his brother out, but still, striking him or hating him wasn't going to bring little Jake back.Despite this inner reasoning, Lero still couldn't figure out why the soldier was here.

In general, other humans tended to stick to the cities. Since the portals opened, not hide or hair of Lero's species been seen anywhere near Ponyville or the woods surrounding it. And now, all of the sudden, a soldier from his former nation shows up, and not only a soldier but an elite one to boot. And why would a man like Mesa be assigned to a backwater post like this anyway. With his skills, or at least what was assumed he possesed, he should have been leading a squad against human  raiders or diamond dogs. Hell, if he wanted, he could have served as one of the Diarchs personal guards on his contract was up. It all seemed a waste to Lero, and as such meant no sense.

Lero raised his head and looked up into the sky. It was such a beautiful day, he mused. Reaching up, he gently stroked the pegasi feather he had braided in his hair, and his mind turned to his mare. Smiling, he closed his eyes, basking in the moment, then with a sigh lowered his hand. All this worrying was pointless. If he wanted answers, there was only one choice.

Turning, he walked into the town hall.

.....

As Lero contemplated outside, Mesa sat at the bench in his new home, and began to strip his ak. While he was out practicing, he noticed while at range the trigger of his rifle wasn't working. Removing the top cover of his weapon, he laid it down on the cloth on the table, then removed the receiving bolt. And after removing the recoil spring, he turned on the lamp over his work area, and scowled at what he saw. The triggers workings were shot to hell, no wonder the damn thing didn't fire. He hadn't checked it when he took it out, making the assumption that the armory maintained its stock. Sighing, he removed the springs and bolts, tossing the whole trigger mechanism into the trash next to him. Taking out another assembled peace, he reassembled the trigger, the began to oil the rest of the ak. As he began running a slickened toothbrush across the frame, he said "Do you need something?"

Lero lay his toolbox on the bench, and frowned. "Yeah, I want to know what the hell your doing here?"

Chuckling, Mesa continued his cleaning, and replied, "I was wondering when you'd come to me. I guess your brother got the brains in your family, not to mention the looks."

Seeing the other humans face slide into a scowl, Mesa looked up and batted his lashes. "Not to say your not a stud muffin in your own right cutie."

Lero groaned, and his palm made an audible slap as it made contact with his face.

"Are you gonna answer me or not?"

Grinning, Mesa lifted the rifles barrel to get a better look at it in the lamp.

"I guess your brother got all the humor too."

Sighing, Mesa face sombered as he began to reassemble his weapon.

"Ok, here's the deal. Lyra already knows this, but you can't tell Twilight or Rainbow Dash."

Lero leaned back against the bench and crossed his arms.

Sliding the spring back into place, Mesa continued, "Your know that two of your mares are elements correct? Well, their valuable assets, but Luna and Celestia wanted to make sure there safe. I don't know if you know this, but over the years, numerous attempts have been made on all their lives. And about a month back, one of the hired goons got a little to close. Unfortunately, as much as they'd like too, they can't deploy any of their own forces because it would appear to be unfair favortism, so instead they sent me."

For a moment, the only sound was Mesa tinkering, the Lero asked softly, "Is it enough."

Mesa shrugged, and put the cover back over his AK. "Well, you've got Lyra, a still way master, a green beret, plus Twilight who is perhaps the most powerful unicorn in current history, and your mare Dash, who as I understand it is coming home on leave, and who I also I hear a expert in not one but three martial arts."

Lero shook his head.

"No, it's not." He looked at Mesa.

Grinning, Mesa snarked "Hey there sailor. Lookings free, the rest will cost you."

"Teach me."

The soldier jolted out of his chair, too stunned to even speak.

"You heard me. I wanna learn what you know."

Mesa shook his head, and walked over the gun cabinet.

"Forget it."

"Why not? From what I understand, thats what green berets do,"

Rolling his eyes, Mesa took the SAW from its slot, and snapped back "Look Lero, you don't need to be a soldier." After inspecting the weapon a moment, he turned back with it in his hands, and paused at the look in Lero's face. Sighing, the soldier scratched his neck "Look, Lero, I know you miss your brother and all..."

"This isn't about that."

Sitting back at the bench, Mesa began to disassemble the weapon.

"Ok, then what is this about."

For a moment, Lero only looked at the floor, and Mesa watched him out of the corner of his eye. Looking up, Lero's face was set.

"I want to protect my herd."

Mesa paused in his work.

"It won't be easy, and it takes commitment. Theres no half assing your way through it."

"I can handle it."

"Even the killing part?"

Lero nodded firmly. Looking at him fully a moment, Mesa shrugged again. "Ok then, soldier. In that case, theres only one last thing." Suddenly, Mesa sprang from his seat and before Lero could react, the soldier was behind him, Grasping the ponytail, he pulled it back hard as the other hand lanced up, his combat knife clenched between the fingers. In one fell swing, it sliced through the hair, and he dangled it over Leros shoulder in front of his face, and said evenly "We have to get rid of this first."

Lero took a quick succession of breaths, eyes wide as he looked over his shoulder. Tossing the ponytail in the trash, Mesa walked around Lero, saying softly "Have a seat."

Slowly, Lero sat on the padded work stool, watching as Mesa walked over to his cot. Leaning down, he opened his duffle bag, and as he turned back and began to return to the slightly shivering human, Lero saw a can of shaving cream in one hand, the knife in the other. Standing in front of his new recruit, Mesa sheathed his knife then squirted out a dollop of white foam into his left palm. Lero winced slightly as he began to rub the cleaning product across he cheeks and under his upper and lower lip.

Nodding, Mesa removed his knife from its home, and taking Lero's chin firmly in one hand, he tilted his new recruits head to the side, and began to slowly scrape the sharp instrument over Lero's cheek. For a few moments, the only sound was the slight sound of grunts as his beard hairs were pulled. Tilting the recruits head to the other side, Mesa said "Say Lero, do you know where the armies hair style comes from?"

Putting a hand on the top of Lero's head and tilting it back, the soldier placed the blade against his recruits throat, and continued "It started with the romans. They'd wear it short or even bald so no one could snatch their hair and slit their throat from behind." At this, Lero's eyes bulged, and his adams apple worked against the knife as he gulped. Smirking, Mesa slowly slid the blade upward, removing the beard and foam, then with two swift motions, he finished the job by removing the beard from his new recruits upper and lower lip. Taking a small towel from his pocket, he silently handed it to Lero, and after taking it, his new recruit began to pat his cheeks, removing the excess cream and shavings. Turning around, Mesa walked back to his bag, saying "You can't be an official member of the army, and as such cannot receive pay, pension, or benefits."

Lero nodded, and after placed the can back into his duffle, Mesa looked over his shoulder.

"Lero, I'm giving you today and tommorow to think it over. The day after that, about four or five in the morning, I'm coming for you and you begin nine weeks of training. Is that understood?"

Lero grinned, and snapping to attention, he saluted. "Sir yes sir."

.....

Two days later, 0300

Lyra looked up from her book, and gazed quizically as Mesa walked through the door. Smiling, he pressed his fingers to his lips. Pursing her muzzle, she shrugged, then went back to her reading. Walking silently through the hall, he opened the bedroom door. Ahh, there he was, sleeping beauty. Tiptooing over, Mesa mouther sorry to the other sleeping form next to Lero, then raised his whistle to his mouth.

As the accursed let out its shrill screech, Lero body jerked hard to the left, and he cursed as he fell hard from his warm sheets. Twilight jerked up with a loud cry and glanced around quickly, trying to determine the origin of her wake up call. Grinning now, Mesa tossed a pair of sweats and shirt to Lero.

"Morning there recruit!"

Lero yawned and stretched. "What time is it?"

"zero three hundred!"

Lero jaw dropped. "You said you'd get me at four or five!"

"I lied." Clapping his hands together, Mesa rubbed them together enthusiastically. "Come on soldier, no time to laze about. Its time for all good men to come to the aid of their nation!"

Lero rubbed his temple, groaning out "Who wakes up at this ungodly hour?"

"We do recruit! Come hell or high water be damned, these are the times that test mens souls!"

.....

"Well my old granny she's ninety one!"

Lero gasped and stumbled, clutching his side as he ran well behind his companion. Looking over his shoulder, Mesa jogged in place a moment and shouted "She did PT just for fun!"

"When my granny was 92!"

Turning around fully to face his recruit, the soldier began to jog backwards.

"She did PT better than you!"

Lero scowled, and spat out "Evil basterd...."

"When my granny was 93!"

Mesa turned around again, and bellowed out "She did PT better than me!"

The two man jogged past Quills and sofas as Mesa sang out "When my granny was 94!"

Mesa waved to its owner, and shouted "She did PT more and more!"

Lero stumbled again, and almost fell on his face, but recovering quickly, gave a weak wave of his own to the baker.

Mrs Cake waved to the two men as they passed, and as she did Mesa belted out "When my granny was 95!"

As they passed the first couple of house next to the bakery, Mesa continued "She did PT to stay alive!"

The two joggers were coming up on Bon Bons shop as Mesa belted out "When my granny was 96!"

Mesa smiled and nodded at the bleary eyed confectioner at her shops door. "She did PT just for kicks!"

Raising his whistle to his lips, the soldier gave two quick tweets, and at the last tweet, Lero fell to his knees. Grinning Mesa walked over.

"Hey there kiddo whats wrong. Its only zero five thirty, we've got three and a half hours!" Next Chapter: Chapter seven Clarke Estimated time remaining: 8 Minutes