Fallen Flames
Chapter 3
"Ok, I've gotten a small taste of how hostile this world is. First we had some guys teleport into our base. I think they were robots. They attacked, but they then retreated pretty quick.
"Then Cynder sent me with some other guys for a raid. I didn't like that, especially after William gave me something to drink."
"I wish you girls were here...no...no, I don't. The further away you and your friends are from here, Twilight, the better. I'm going to find Smoulder and get us both back...somehow."
Spike clicked the book closed, putting it into a pocket on his armor. He'd gotten rid of most of the spikes, leaving just smooth metal. Some comedian had also painted a crude drawing of a dragon with stretched wings in purple paint on the chest plate too.
Part of him still wondered why he needed to wear armor. But then again, there's a chance something might be tough enough to penetrate his scales. Also, it would feel weird to be less dressed around Cynder.
Today though, he wanted to take a look around. He had a feeling the Blacks and Cynder were hiding something. Also, he was finding himself growing a little bored. There wasn't anything around her to do for entertainment.
To that end, he was going to sneak out and head north...just for a couple of days. First he'll need to get some food and water for the trip.
Some might think putting the Pack in charge of the base food supplies would be like putting Pinkie Pie in charge of a fat camp, but amazingly, it worked. The Pack, according to Cynder's orders, were sharing out food and water fairly and surprisingly nutritiously.
Luckily, at least in Spike's opinions, the Pack were the human equivalent of diamond dogs, albeit ones who could speak clearly.
Spike approached the current distributor and said, "Hey, somebody hasn't given me my rations for today."
The guard, wearing a plastic deer mask, tilted his head. "You sure?" he asked in a bored tone.
"Of course I'm sure! I'm hungry!" snapped Spike.
The Pack member yelped, falling backwards before running towards a old fridge, taking out cases of snack cakes and ready meals of some kind, as well as bottles of that Nuka-Cola stuff.
"Well, it's about time you- Hey, what's that?" asked Spike pointing.
The Pack trooper turned, raising a pistol, before frowning, and turning back to see the food gone as well as the dragon. "Oh, not again." he moaned.
"That was almost too easy," muttered Spike as he put the provisions in his backpack. The fence of the Blackwings base was already behind him, a map in front of him that clearly marked an apparent safe path. "Shouldn't have to go too far," said Spike, "Just a little light exploring."
3 hours later
"I AM SO LOOOOST!" yelled Spike in frustration.
Spike had no idea how he could have gotten turned around. It should have been easy to find his way back. But then again, these ruined buildings tended to blur together after a while.
It had taken him less than an hour to get up to the south of the city, though a nasty bog, and about 5 minutes to get lost, the sound of gunfire sometimes heard echoing.
The thought of simply flying up and getting his bearings before heading back occurred to him, but he would be easily spotted and shot out of the sky.
He ducked into an alley on reflex as several figures walked past, chatting amicably and wearing what looked like baseball umpire armor, though the machineguns were definitely not for baseball.
"Ok, how do I find my way back?" muttered Spike.
He looked around, before picking a direction and walking onwards, eventually ending up in what must have once been a nice pond, a strange sign saying 'Beware Of Swan'.
Spike had heard that swans could be aggressive and one blow from their wing could break a pony's leg. But this pond looked far too dirty for a swan to consider swimming on.
He also saw some sort of bot walking around, blocky, and a pointed glass head, and it seemed to have noticed him, lumbering towards him. The bot didn't seem to be armed, but Spike wasn't sure he wanted to take any chances.
"Er...hey...I'm just lost." he said, unsure as the bot walked stiffly towards him.
Mechanical parts rotated and lights blinked inside before it said in a mechanical, stiff, but somehow cheerful voice, "Lost? A...friendly...police officer...can help you."
Spike looking around. "Er...there's no guards around...can you help?" he asked, the bot making clicking and whirring noises, which Spike assumed was an affirmative to ask. "Er, I don't suppose you know where the Blackwings are, do you?" asked Spike.
The bot made several clicking noises before saying, "Sor-ry. I do not know that band."
"Ah, of course," said Spike. He tried to think back to any particular locations that Cynder or the others might have mentioned.
He remembered the sign outside the Blackwing base. "I'm looking for Federal Storage Site, 411-D," he said carefully.
The bot clicked before saying "I'm sorry...that site is off limits to the public."
Spike sighed, before throwing a stone in annoyance into the pond as the bot waddled off slowly. "I just wanted to do some solo exploring. Is that too much to ask?" grumbled Spike as he tossed in another stone.
The pool began to bubble faintly at this, more so when the second stole hit one of the half-submerged swan boat, which began to slowly rise behind Spike
"I just want something to go right here, even if it's a small thing," grumbled Spike.
A very deep voice said at that, "Who throw rock at Swan?"
Spike went stiff and turned slowly and looked up at a wall of green muscle to see a towering green human, wearing the swan boat as a hat, holding an anchor as a hand mace in his right hand and wearing a canoe as a arm shield...and looking rather annoyed.
"Oh...you're Swan?" asked Spike with dreadful realization.
"Who you? Why you in Swan home?" snapped the hulking...thing.
"Uh...would you believe I kinda lost my way?" asked Spike.
The creature's eyes narrowed before he roared "SWAN SMASH INTRUDER!" raising its anchor above its head and swinging at Spike.
Spike gave out a short scream before running. Tough scales or not, he doubted he could stand being hit with an anchor.
Another swing barely clipped him but tossed him off his feet, dazed. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" yelped Spike.
Swan raised his anchor before a hail of red beams hit his side, swan turning with a growl to a gas masked figure firing blasts from a boxy looking energy rifle. "Don't just sit there! Run!" snapped the figure as Swan turned to glare
Spike quickly got to his feet and ran. He was pretty sure that rifle wouldn't hold off Swan for long. The figure ran after him, catching up fast and pulling Spike into a ruined building just in time, Swan swiping at the wall.
"You're lucky Swan doesn't wander too far from his pond," hissed the figure. Spike just stared as the figure continued. "You must be new to the area. People know to avoid the commons." said the figure, taking off the mask to show a black-haired human
"Yeah, haven't been here very long," said Spike. He was a little bit suspicious. This guy didn't seem surprised at all to see a dragon.
"Now then..." said the figure, aiming the laser at him "Let's talk about why a Blackwing's so far north, shall we?"
"Uh, who said I'm a Blackwing?" asked Spike.
"The fact that you've been seen in their company." said the figure calmly
"Uh, would you believe I just went out exploring?" asked Spike.
"Not really. Raise the hands please." said the figure with a grin.
Spike raised his hands and asked, "I don't suppose you could point me in the direction of their base, could you?"
"Not really. Not in the habit of helping raiders...come on." said the figure, gesturing to a door on the opposite side of the vast room.
"I'm not a raider," protested Spike.
The man chuckled, "Yeah...funny how they say that when they're caught."
Spike sighed before asking, "Can I at least send a message?"
"No...come on," said the figure, pushing open the door, "It's a long walk to Sanctuary."
Spike glared before sighing. This was obviously just some misunderstanding...maybe propaganda by these 'Minutemen' and Gunners but a fight wouldn't convince this guy.
The two had stopped at an old campsite, Spike noticing to his chills that there were still some skeletons at some of the park tables. His captor's name was Alex, and he was apparently some sort of wanderer, one that was very well armed and at this moment he was setting up a campfire.
"Is it really that late out?" asked Spike, looking up at the overcast sky.
"Better to set up now then in the pitch black." said Alex, trying to get the fire to stay lit. "Bloody, wet wood," he muttered.
"Let me try," said Spike before taking in a deep breath.
Alex yelped as a blast of green flame hit the wood, turning it to charcoal in seconds, before he glared "Little warning..."
"Well, you knew I was a dragon, didn't you?" asked Spike.
"Didn't think you were a real one," snapped Alex.
Spike glared at him and asked, "And why wouldn't I be a real dragon?"
"Because they don't exist?" said Alex.
"Maybe not in your world," said Spike.
"Great...aliens." muttered Alex, before glaring "And hanging out with those raiders down south?"
"They rescued me," said Spike.
"Yeah, I bet." snapped Alex, before snapping "Get some sleep and if I smell even a bit of burning rope..." before he settled down on the ground
Spike glared back at him. Obviously, this guy wasn't the hero type.
As the two slept that night, a small group, clad in robot parts approached.
"Well, well, look what we have here," said one of them.
"One of em's a mutie," hissed another.
A third said, "Maybe he's Canadian?"
"Check him for any faction ID," said the first, "No telling who he might be with."
"I'm tellin' ya, he's Canadian," hissed the third, the others groaning.
Alex mumbled and turned over, the group froze. "Ain't he the guy who went through the boys at HQ like a deathclaw through molerats?" the first said weakly.
"This is the guy that killed Ivey?" asked the third.
"Nah, that guy that did in Ivey had a Pipboy," said the second. Alex mumbled, showing said Pipboy, the second muttering, "Ah scrap...Jones? Maybe this ain't the best guy to rob?"
"Or maybe this may be the only chance we'll ever get to slitting his throat," said Jones, pulling out a knife.
The other two looked at one another before running for it, Jone scoffing as he heard their running footsteps vanish into the distance. "Cowards," he sneered, leaning forward, before hearing a click
He looked down before Alex, in a tired voice, said "You shoulda joined your mates."
All Spike could see at first was green flames burning everywhere. Then he got to see what was actually burning. To his horror, he realized it was Ponyville.
The sky was green, faint flashes seen, sometimes highlighting airships of some sort in the air, hulking figures like those who had taken Smolder in the streets, stepping over burnt charred bones as they led shackled ponies and other lifeforms he knew.
Then he saw a new group of soldiers marching in. And to his horror, he realized their wings and tails must mean they were dragons.
More precisely, he recognized the leader.
Spike jumped upright at what sounded like an explosion, hearing a crash and looking to see a figure wearing heavy metal plates, Alex lowering a weapon he'd seen some of Cynder's troops use...a 'sawn off'. "Morning, kid." said Alex with a yawn, going over to the body and petting it down, holding up a knife before turning the body over.
"Um...why..." started Spike, his brain not fully together after just waking up.
"He was going to slit my throat," said Alex.
"So you shot him?" said Spike in horror.
Alex took out a blue metal pistol, yellow bulbs on the barrel. "Recharger pistol, these things are rare. Hey kid, you got an actual gun?" he said.
"Why would I need a gun?" asked Spike, "I'm not looking for a fight."
"Yeah, but these guys were." said Alex, tossing the recharger pistol to Spike. "Laser weapon, self-recharging. Hasn't got the best punch in the world but it's a good starter," Alex explained.
"You know I can breathe fire," said Spike.
"Ok, how much range have you got?" asked Alex.
Spike glared at that before relenting. He'd never really had a reason to practice his offensive firebreathing despite (to his annoyance) Smolder's insistence. He took the pistol, noticing a 'stun' setting.
An aggressive thought came to him. He could stun Alex and take him back to Cynder. Of course, Spike would need to figure which way her base is.
Alex had turned his back and was taking what looked like food, a frying pan and kindling out his pack. Spike made sure it was set to stun, a click as a blue lens went over the business end (obviously blue laser meant stun) and aimed, the gun making a feeble click. Alex held up a small battery. "Yeah, not exactly gonna give you a working gun, kid. Bacon?"
"You have bacon?" asked Spike. He remembers that most flavorful treat from when he and Twilight went to Canterlot High. Of course, he was a dog at the time, but his sense of taste hadn't been diminished.
"You don't?" said Alex, unwrapping a slightly dirty wrapper and tossing some thick meat onto the now hot pan. "Ok...so...while we wait, where were you heading?" he asked.
Spike paused. If this guy was Cynder's enemy then he had to say nothing. On the other hand, if he didn't say anything, he might not be able to find his way back.
"I'm headed west." said Spike finally.
Alex nodded, "Nice...that's something..."
"So, you know what places I should avoid?" asked Spike.
"Now why would I help a Blackwing? You people have been burning settlements and killing people across the south of the Commonwealth for months," said Alex calmly, turning back to his bacon.
"They're not that bad," said Spike.
"I've seen what they've done to farms down south." said Alex in a slightly darker voice
"I've had nothing to do with that," said Spike, "I'd never burn down a farm. One of my closest friends is a farmer and I know how much farms mean to people."
"You know? I actually believe that. You must be a newbie. Trust me...raiding is a dead end career," said Alex, using a knife to flip one of the rashers.
"Look, I don't plan on staying long here. I need to find my friend and get home," said Spike.
"A friend that needs you to join up with raiders is either super important or not worth it," said Alex calmly.
"Look, it's complicated," said Spike.
"No it's not. Raiders kill and main and steal, sometimes cause it's fun," said Alex calmly.
"They found me after I was left out in the wastes," said Spike, "I'd be dead if it wasn't for them."
"Even though you'll need to be a monster to pay it back?" said Alex harshly.
"Look, I need to find Smolder and I don't think it's going to be easy. For all I know, they've taken her to yet another world," said Spike.
Alex turned his head at that. "Now I know you're pulling my chain," he said, taking out two pieces of surprisingly clean-looking metal, putting one of the slabs of cooked meat onto one and sliding it to Spike.
"Look, I'm obviously not from this world," said Spike, "And I have a feeling that Cynder is from another one too."
"I've seen weirder." said Alex calmly, using his knife as a 'fork' to cut off and eat some of the 'bacon'. "Gonna ask you again, why go west? All that's there is Rust Devil territory, Blackwing. Look, you're young and clearly an idiot. You have a chance to not be a raider idiot but I can't help you unless you come clean."
"I was honestly only exploring," said Spike.
"Well I'm headed that way anyway. The Rust Devils are up to something screwy and the pump station that purifies water for the region's gone dark." said Alex, "Guess all I can do is drop you off with Diamond City security. They'll probably hang you as a raider."
"Hang?" asked Spike weakly.
"Well, they can't waste valuable ammo on every criminal," said Alex.
"I'm not a criminal." snapped Spike.
Alex said in a 'talking to idiots' tone, "Blackwings are raiders...you are a blackwing...ergo you are a raider."
Spike sighed and said, "You know, we're not just getting anywhere with this."
"Right, so how about-" started Alex before Spike swung around and whacked him with his tail.
Spike didn't bother to see where Alex landed, just running for an alley, even as a 'brakka brakka' was heard, bullets zipping past him before he managed to duck into the alley, turning a corner before Alex could catch up. He remembered the name 'Rust Devil'. Cynder had mentioned them once as allies, meaning he could probably count on them...after all, he thought, the dizzy feeling returning, Cynder wouldn't lie.
Spike headed east, keeping an eye out for anything that looked like water. The woods out here were just as dead, a large river with a damaged bridge the only way across.
"Ok, the purifier ought to be upriver, right?" muttered Spike.
He looked upriver, his gaze following the dead forest before seeing in the distance, several small buildings that reminded him of a facility attached to Ponyville Dam. That had to be it. He turned back to see on the other side of the river, the same side as the apparent purifier, a half-flooded town.
Fortunately, the bridge wasn't too dilapidated that Spike couldn't cross it, but it would definitely collapse under a vehicle or a large crowd.
He paused though when he got to the other side. Some sort of two-headed cow, boxes on his back lay slumped, one of the heads torn off and some of the box's contents spilled could be seen. Some weird guns...pipe rifles, could be seen scattered around but no bodies. He started to get an uneasy feeling. The kind of feeling where there were predators lurking nearby.
He looked at the road, one went through the half flooded town, the murky water down in the dark streets at least waist high. The other went through the even darker woods...well, almost dark, several pairs of yellow reptilian eyes watching from the woods, almost as if daring him to enter the woods.
Well, it didn't take a genius to decide which was the better road. Spike turned towards the half-flooded town.
The sense of being watched didn't go away as he splashed through the streets, in fact, more than once he paused cause he was sure the splashing was...off. If his wing wasn't still healing, he'd have just flown over the town. He couldn't get the thought out of his head that he'd be grabbed by the ankle and dragged down under.
He stopped again, this time hearing a single splash after he'd stopped. Ok, maybe he should risk the strain on his wing after all.
He heard more splashing coming closer from ahead, Spike slowly raising one of the pipe rifles, before a panicked woman wearing a shirt and trousers made out of linen, pausing, bloodied and looking terrified.
Spike sighed and said, "You nearly scared me out of my skin."
The woman seemed almost catatonic, Spike slowly walking forward and gently shaking her before she said "The...they...they..."
"They who?" asked Spike.
The woman however was staring straight ahead, before she seemed to stare past Spike and she screamed. Spike gulped before turning around.
The creatures behind him had probably been human at one point. Now however they looked withered...rotted, yellow eyes staring madly and cracked, bloodied teeth in their mouths. Some still had rags on, some were naked, some still wore armor and a few were bloated. One was even glowing bright green, his skeleton faintly visible.
The way they were crouched, armed outstretched and fingers hooked like claws, was clear they were nuts...or worse
"Those are ghouls, aren't they?" asked Spike, not really expecting any response as the woman seemed to prefer to scream now.
The ghouls seemed to respond, all of them howling before charging, Spike firing. They clearly weren't like in his comics as headshots weren't needed, though the woman wasn't helping, clinging to his arm and slightly throwing his aim off...and still more joined the horde.
Spike took a deep breath before breathing flames at the ghouls. They didn't catch on fire as readily as he hoped. It was mostly their clothes that burned. But at least it seemed to deter them some.
The woman however, seeing that screamed and ran, splashing towards one of the ruined buildings, Spike turning to yell at her to get back, before four of the ghouls tackled her, the girl screaming as two grabbed one end of her...and pulled her in half before they descended on her
That was more than enough to make Spike's courage give out. This was definitely not a time for fighting, it was a time for flying.
He began splashing through the water towards the clear end of the town and freedom, the water too deep to go fast, though luckily the ghouls were going slower for the same reason. One leapt, latching around his neck and trying to bite him before Spike threw him off. He flapped his wings to give him a little bit more speed, though he wasn't sure if it really added anything.
Another two of the pursuers tackled him, one trying to bite through his scales, tough given dragons could swim in lava, their biting wasn't much good. Spike punched that one in the jaw. He grimaced in disgust as the ghoul's jaw completely collapsed under his fist.
He also saw the horde closing in, more than enough to get even him, before a roar of gunfire was heard, rounds and laser beams smashing into the horde, mowing them down like wheat. Spike turned to see a group wearing the same armor as the people who had tried to rob him and Alex in their sleep, several ramshackle robots also firing, and from the cheers and whoops, these people were enjoying the shooting. The horde were already falling over each other to scatter in an animalistic panic.
Spike sighed in relief. "Thanks a lot," he said, "I thought those things were gonna-" He paused when he saw the gunners were now all aiming at him now. "Oh," he said flatly.
"It's always more fun when they think we're gonna save em," laughed one of them, his voice tinny behind the robot head turned helmet.
One of the others said, "More fun if they run." firing a burst into the water at Spike's feet, the dragon just narrowing his eyes.
"Oh, come on, I just got out of the last peril," said Spike, "Besides I need to see someone."
The first speaker splashed up to him and aimed a large revolver between Spike's eyes, Spike getting the feeling the sort of bullets it fired would go through even his scales. "Did I say you could-" he began, pausing as he noticed the black dragon wings on Spike's armor and the gun actually starting to shake a little.
"Oh, sorry, sir, didn't know she sent you," he babbled.
"What are you doing? Shoot him!" snapped another gunner.
"He's with the Blackwings, you idiot!" snapped the first speaker.
The others paused before one snapped, "Bullshit. There's only one of those lizard freaks."
Spike felt a bit of anger flare up. Not at being called a 'lizard freak' himself, but them calling Cynder one. How dare they speak of a great lady like that?
His hand shot out and grabbed the first goon by the armor, lifting him up, the others backing up. "Boneyard, take it back! TAKE IT BACK!" snapped the goon he was holding up.
"Ok, ok, I take it back!" snapped the goon, apparently named Boneyard.
Spike glared, before the feeling of anger went away and he realized what he was doing. Why did he get angry like that? Sure, it was bad manners to be insulting ladies, but since when did he care that much about Cynder? It wasn't as if she was Rarity or-
He looked down at that. Not many on Equus knew (indeed Spike didn't until Dragon Lord Ember had told him) that dragons could sense magic, Spike even more so thanks to living with the Element of Magic for almost all his life, and he could sense something on the painted icon...so that's how Cynder got such loyalty.
That said it wasn't a badge and Spike didn't feel like not wearing armor and these guys seemed to be backing off...did his scales look a darker purple? Spike was beginning to wonder if he should go back to Cynder at all. Maybe that Alex guy was right about...
He winced as the icon glowed. Crud, so much for that idea. "C'mon, 'sir'. It's not safe. The horde'll regroup soon and they like to roam at night. We should head to the pump station," said one of the Rust Devils in a dark voice.
"Uh, yeah, sure," said Spike distractedly. Yeah...his scales were definitely darker. Maybe he shoulda stayed with Alex?
The pump station had a fence made out of what could only be described as junk, tyres, wood, rusted cars, though towers of wood were placed there too. The other...decorations almost made Spike throw up. The only gap in the fence had two large metal pipes, each with a dead human impaled, smaller ones with just heads. The entrance itself was covered by two manned mounted guns manned by Rust Devils and some sort of robotic turret, though they seemed to be being repaired.
"What exactly is your group?" asked Spike, "I've not heard much about you."
"We just allied with your pals," said Boneyard.
Spike tried not to look at the bodies before asking, "So those are the guys we're trying to free this place from?"
The two Rust Devils started to laugh. "Free? Hah. Cynder's gonna help us rule this place," laughed Boneyard, adding, "These idiot Minutemen never even expected us and once we had everything set up, we shot those weakling wastelanders keeping this place going too.
"Kneecapped em and fed them to the mirelurks," laughed one of Boneyard's friends, saying in a mocking voice, "Oh please, I have a family. Priceless."
"Then what are you after here?" asked Spike.
"We're gonna win this little war of Cynder's in 3 days," said Boneyard, "This pump supplies half the drinking water for the commonwealth and we're gonna add a little radioactive extra to it."
One of his friends said, "In 3 days, the ones who aren't dead'll be in no state to stop us taking over."
Spike froze in horror. "But that'll give everyone...everything..." said Spike, "This place would be uninhabitable for years."
"We got the antidote too. We found it in the med tek labs in the north," laughed Boneyard, angry howls heard at that.
"Better get inside, kid," said one of the goons, the voice tinny.
"You're going to destroy the whole ecosystem," said Spike.
"Not like there's much of one anyways," said Boneyard. The howls sounded closer, the guards tensing up and the Rust Devil robots marching to cover the entrance and into the towers. "Everyone who's not a robot, inside," called Boneyard.
"Move it, kid," said the goon in armor, giving Spike a push.
Spike turned to snap and noticed something, a small tattoo visible, that of a skull above two crossed knives, before one final howl was heard and he ran up ahead to another goon, "Look, I need a radio."
Cynder was concerned...concerned for Spike though not for the reason you'd think. She was spending alot of her limited magic to slowly transform him into a more suitable purple for her and then he'd gone and caught wanderlust...into the middle of Minutemen territory no less. And there were more dangerous things out there. Even a dragon would struggle with a deathclaw or a pack of feral ghouls.
"What a waste," she muttered before a Pack member ran in.
"Er...alpha? We know that you are sad that your mate got lost...but..." he began before wilting under Cynder's glowing eye glare, whimpering "He's on the radio."
"He's what?" asked Cynder flatly.
"He's on the radio. He's with the Rust Devils," said the Pack member. Cynder pushed him aside and ran to the radio room. Maybe it wasn't a loss?
The radio setup, like everything, was a mess, the voice crackling, definitely Cynder's. "Spyr-...Spike, are you ok?" said Cynder's voice.
"I'm fine, but Cynder, we've got a big problem over here," said Spike.
"What's going on? Tell me where you are and I'll have the Blacks send a team," said Cynder with concern.
Spike said "I'm at the west pump station. Cynder, these people are insane. They fed unarmed humans to mirelurks, whatever they are, and they're gonna poison half the commonwealth."
"Poison half the commonwealth?" asked Cynder.
"Yeah. Their leader, Boneyard's, gonna live up to his name with a poison from somewhere called med tek," said Spike, adding, "You gotta get the Blacks team here to stop em."
"Stop them?" said Cynder in surprise, her voice starting to echo weirdly, "Why would I stop him? My men got the poison for Boneyard."
"Excuse me?" asked Spike.
"Look, if you're worried about getting poisoned, relax. I have power over poison. I can keep the farms and stuff from getting poisoned. It's only our enemies who will be getting it," said Cynder.
"And who isn't our enemy?" asked Spike in a tight voice.
"Our enemies are anyone not on our side, my love," said Cynder, her voice echoing harder, Spike glaring. "Spike...I'm going to need you to do something for me…" before the radio went to static.
"Cynder?" asked Spike before tapping on the radio.
A second later, something pressed to his throat and a familiar voice said, "I'm sorry, the broadcasting day has ended...not a word, kid."
"Alex, how did you catch up?" asked Spike.
"I was headed this way, remember? I thought I dealt with the Rust Devils last time...talk about a bad penny. These idiots don't even ask people to take off helmets for ID checks. Also I believe I said, 'not a word'. There a reason you're hanging out with people willing to turn the commonwealth into a mausoleum? You may speak now," said Alex's voice in the sort of voice indicating that, if provoked, he'd just cut Spike's voicebox and go on with his day without even a twinge of guilt.
"Hey, I had no idea this was going on, let alone Cynder was supplying them," said Spike.
"Bullshit. My lads told me Cynder had a new friend she was grooming...makes sense. Where there's one dragon, there's another one," said Alex coldly, before kicking Spike forward into the desk, Spike staggering forward before turning to see an old-looking revolver aimed at him.
"Hey, I want nothing to do with this," said Spike, raising his hands, "I don't like how these guys are trying to poison everyone and I don't like how Cynder's been getting in my head."
"From what I hear she has a habit of doing that," said Alex calmly, not lowering the pistol, "Fine, let's say I believe you had no say in this. What would you do if I gave you an opportunity?"
"For starters, I'm going to destroy that poison before it's dumped," said Spike.
"Good start, but not what I was thinking," said Alex, adding, "I'm gonna give you a chance to make up for Vault 95. Some of my men were helping the Gunners there." He unclipped something from his belt with his free hand and tossed it over, looking similar to the device he wore on his wrist. "Pipboy...put it on," he said.
Spike looked at it uncertainly. "It's not an explosive leash, if that's what you're thinking," said Alex, "And they're very rare so I wouldn't pass on it if I were you."
Spike slowly put it on, clicking the lock on and pressing what looked like the on button. He jumped as he felt a series of pinpricks in the skin under the gauntlet before his vision blurred a second, a bar appeared in the lower left of his screen, a smaller one appearing to the right alongside a 0/0, before he looked down to the screen, the words, 'HUD loaded'. Biological calibration complete. Pipboy 3000 Mk IV loaded.'
"It's also slaved to mine so I'll know exactly where you are and comes with a comm radio...useful for the job I'm offering," said Alex.
The door opened and a Rust Devil walked in. "Jacko, Bonesaw wanted to know what's taking-" he said, before seeing Alex "Shit!" he snapped, readying his rifle.
Alex spun his gun around and fired, the raider's head twitching before he started twitching, skeleton appearing with brief flashes and his skin turning pale and white before he fell forward. "Great...wasted one," grumbled Alex, grabbing the goon's rifle, which was covered in wires and capacitors.
"Ok, kid...Spike, if you wanna help, you got your chance. None of these raiders leave alive," he snapped, angry yells heard.
"But-" started Spike.
"No time to be a pacifist now," said Alex, "You want those townspeople to live, they have to die."
Three Rust Devils and an almost feminine robot came in at the far end of the room beyond. The robot sprouted swords from its arms and charged while the others began firing laser rifles. Alex used the weapon to fire a blue bolt that blew the robot's head off before ducking behind an ancient desk, the raiders focussing their fire. "SPIKE!" yelled Alex, Spike peering before a beep and a voice said "V.A.T.S active" before time slowed to a crawl.
For the moment, Spike's mind felt clearer. He didn't seem to be able to move any faster than everyone else, and yet he was able to think and react quite clearly. The first thing Spike did was head to that robot. He grabbed the robot's wrists and bent them until they snapped off, leaving them with a pair of swords in his hands.
A second later, time returned to its normal speed, the raiders looking surprised before aiming at him. Spike responded by grabbing the disarmed robot and holding it in front of him as a shield.
Alex's rifle boomed and one of the raider's head exploded, his body falling, the others backing up before a second shot sent another flying to crash into the wall.
"Not bad, but this isn't a sword fight. Everyone's going to be shooting at us. There's at least 6 more," Alex said, treating Spike as if he'd agreed.
"Shouldn't we focus on the poison?" asked Spike. "They're going to be between us and the poison," said Alex.
The last raider though glared "You little traitorous..." began he charged them. Spike instinctively reacted by throwing the robot at him.
Alex whistled as the raider was knocked senseless before walking towards him, kicking his rifle away. "Good news...he won't kill you if you tell me where Boneyard is," he said jovially, drawing a different pistol.
"Fuck off, 'general'," the raider snapped before howling as Alex shot a round into the raider's knee, raising a hand to signal Spike to stop as he took a step forward.
"Let's try again...where's...Boneyard?"
The raider managed, "Soon as the alarm went, he and the rest of the boys...ran...he's gonna dump the poison in Diamond City's water supply."
"Where at?" demanded Alex.
"Their...water supply...we got...a spy...there…" managed the raider as Alex stepped gently on the shot knee.
"I'm not sure if we can catch up in time," said Spike with worry.
"They'll be on foot." said Alex, looking at the raider who was pulling himself to his feet. "And where are you going?" he asked.
The raider said "You said you wouldn';t kill me."
Alex shrugged "I said he wouldn't kill you...buh bye." firing the rifle point blank into the raider.
Spike opened his mouth to yell at Alex about killing him. But a less-emotional part reminded him that this man was helping to destroy the commonwealth. And Spike didn't feel like giving any pity.
"Come on, consider this chase your job interview. Grab a gun, knives never work well against bullets unless you're in power armor," said Alex calmly.
"I have a tough hide," said Spike.
"Really? Care to test how tough?" asked Alex. Spike backed up...was this guy insane? "Thought so. Come on, we need to get to Diamond City fast. I know the city better than some Rust Devil."
"It's a baseball stadium," said Spike skeptically, Alex having pointed it out as they got closer, walking towards a half-raised mechanical bridge, a boat tug wedged in its gap.
"You have baseball where you come from?" asked Alex dryly.
"Yeah...though it's mostly played with hooves," said Spike.
Alex raises an eyebrow, "You aren't from Canada, are you? Heard the place is a bit cuckoo."
Spike said, "Why does everyone ask me that? And what's a Canada?"
"Never mind for now. We need to find those Rust Devils," said Alex.
"Why didn't they just dump the poison at the reservoir?" asked Spike, "Cynder said she could stop the poison from getting to the farms."
"The Rust Devils don't believe she can do that," said Alex simply, "They may spend their spare time looking for the screws that fell out of their heads, but they aren't that self-destructive."
"Hey, Alex, meant to ask, what are these red lines on the compass thing in the vision?" asked Spike as they walked along what had used to be a river side road in the city towards the bridge.
"Just one? Got an arrow pointing up above it?" said Alex. Spike nodded. "That's Kenny...raider, but mostly harmless. He probably has an anti personnel rifle trained on us right now," Alex added, spike jumping and looking around.
"Where? Where?" asked Spike before he heard a loud 'crack'.
Spike ducked, before a faded green bag bounced off Alex's head harmlessly, Spike picking it up to see it was a bag of peas. "Yeah, he'd be alot more dangerous if he had ammo and wasn't blacklisted by every weapons trader in the commonwealth. He's actually a nice guy if you get him drunk...which is usually most of the time. It's Friday so he hasn't made his resupply to Goodneighbor yet. I honestly haven't the heart to shoot back. It'd be like kicking a puppy. He puts so much effort in."
"So, he just shoots harmless things?" asked Spike.
"Mostly harmless," said Alex, "They still hurt if they get you in the eye."
"In the-" started Spike before another 'crack' was heard. Spike was immediately knocked sideways as a decent-sized rock bounced off him.
"And he's a little jealous...and sometimes has rocks," said Alex.
Spike groaned from foot level, "So noted."
Considering how big baseball stadiums are, it wasn't that much of a surprise that a lot of buildings could be set up inside one. It reminded Spike like a somewhat more cluttered Ponyville. The guards were easy to spot, using modified baseball gear, holding some sort of energy weapon. Some people waved cheerfully to Alex, though most people just were just going from A to B.
Spike noticed that few of them gave him leery looks, though he wondered if that was mostly because he was in Alex's company.
Alex though was headed for a building next to a doorway turned shopping front, though the woman in the doorway aimed the sort of glare Spike would have expected from Trixie when the staff coffee ran out. "Hey, Myrna, any new synths around?" asked Alex humorously.
"Not funny," said the woman icily as Alex put a key into the door, opening it into a darkened room.
"By the way, did the new shipments come in?" asked Alex.
"Yes...it was hard enough to find the parts for that junk in there," snapped Myrna.
"Good, I'll get you your caps in a minute," said Alex.
"That's what they all say," grumbled Myrna.
"Make yourself at home. I'll be back in a minute," said Alex, closing the door and lights coming on to show Spike was in an insanely well-furbished room, and, at the back, hanging from a yellow frame, was a hulking suit of armor.
Spike walked up to the armor. It was clearly not knight's armor. It reminded him a little too much of what those people who kidnapped him and Smolder were wearing. It was clearly a different model though. The respirator wasn't armored and the plating looked slightly heavier, though the diodes were strange.
Spike paused a moment. How did he even know all these technical terms?
Alex said behind him, "Grab a Nuka Cola. I've informed security and they're gonna up security round the water supplies."
Spike yelped and jumped. "Oh, and I wouldn't mention this particular armor to the Rust Devils, not unless you want to make them really mad," said Alex, "But then again, fuck em. They were slaughtering trader convoys coming into the commonwealth." He wiped some dust off the armor before setting a duffel bag of parts down.
"Now then...about what I'm offering. You're a leering was only cause I was with you. They're assuming you're what I'm offering you to be," said Alex, calmly.
"And what would that be?" asked Spike.
"To be a spy. You've seen what the Blackwings and raiders will do to win. You really wanna be a part of that, or do you wanna do some good?" said Alex, taking a bottle off a shelf, popping the cap off and taking a swig.
"Uh...it's not like I don't want to help, but I'm not sure if I can help," said Spike.
"Look, whatever you owe Cynder, it does not mean sticking up for whatever she's doing," said Alex.
"That's not it," said Spike, "I think she's got some, and you're going to laugh, control over me. Like some dark..."
"Dark what?" said Alex calmly.
"I know you're not gonna believe me, but dark-" started Spike before he found himself unable to speak. He started fumbling at the Blackwing insignia, but his head was starting to feel like it was going to crack in half.
"Ah crap...definitely dragons," muttered Alex, walking towards, opening and walking through a sliding door.
"Wait, she's got-" started Spike before his own hand grabbed his throat.
"Sounds like a post-hypnotic suggestion…a geas to me. You're lucky. Last raider from Blackwing I questioned snapped his own neck when he tried to talk," called Alex.
"Ackleck!" cried Spike in a strangled voice.
"Don't worry, I know the odd trick," called Alex, walking back with a large glass of something glowing and blood bag full of orange goop marked 'radaway'. "Glass first, radaway second, every last drop," he said.
Spike wheezed as he pointed at his rogue hand.
Alex passed the first glass over. "Do it or the geas will make you crush your own windpipe. Saw it happen to a friend in 2062" Alex said sternly. Spike wheezed before taking the glass. "Do it slowly," said Alex, "You want it get down your esophagus, not your windpipe."
Spike nodded, slowly downing the goop and hearing his Pipboy start to click rapidly like crazy, a small warning in the top right of his vision says 'minor radiation poisoning detected' though his rogue hand almost immediately fell back under his control.
"Good, now the radaway," said Alex, handing over the blood bag, "I don't think your system is meant to handle radiation any better than mine." Spike took the small straw in the bag and took a suck, gagging on the incredibly sour taste. "All of it," snapped Alex, grabbing the bag and squeezing. Spike gagged, but he was able to keep it down...just barely. "You let too much radiation build up, you start falling apart at the molecular seams," said Alex.
"Then what happens?" said Spike weakly.
Alex said "Remember those rotting people?" Spike looked ill. "Now then, you were talking about her dark magic?" asked Alex.
"You believe in that?" asked Spike.
"I was...well-traveled before everything went south with the world," said Alex, adding, "Now then...my spy offer..."
"Well, I mean, I'd like to, but Cynder has control over me," said Spike.
"Not anymore," said Alex. Spike looked down to see the Blackwing patch was bleached. "Now then, me and my friends know she's planning something big, but we don't know what. So, when you and me leave the city, you're gonna leg it back to this Cynder gal, find out what she has planned and call...this frequency," said Alex, writing something down.
"Frequency?" asked Spike.
"Don't tell me they didn't have radio where you come from," said Alex.
"Well...yeah..." said Spike, looking down to see a toggle switch, with the option of radio.
"Dial turns frequencies, use this frequency and listen to the music when you need to tell me something. Make sure you are alone and the doors locked," said Alex.
"Ok, I think I got it," said Spike.
Good...now for your grand escape..." said Alex with a grin.
"You let him go all the way to Diamond City?!" snapped Cynder, "Do you know what they do to mutants there?!"
"Our team also found what was left of Boneyard and his men and we have word our spy in Diamond City was apprehended by city security," said William, calmly, the two acting the professional.
"Well, so much for poisoning the rat's nest," grumbled Cynder.
Mags said calmly, "We warned you that the Rust Devils were unreliable and you lost men breaking through the ghouls in Med Tek too."
"Ok, maybe the Rust Devils weren't the best choice for that mission, but who else was going to go?" snapped Cynder.
"Our men could have done the job much better," said Mags smugly.
Cynder growled at them, before hearing clicks, seeing the other operators getting tense grips on their guns before calming down. Of course the Blacks had suspected her little geas. It was only her success that had so far kept their loyalty, but if the next...
A raider ran in at that, "Ma'am...it's the other mutie..."
Cynder flew up to get a birds eye view the second she was outside to see Spike running through the wetlands towards the road and the base, laser bolts shooting past him from a dozen Minutemen.
"You know, that busted wing is getting to be a real disadvantage for us all," grumbled Cynder. Then she took a deep breath and let out a fear scream. She smirked as the Minutemen, probably volunteers, ran for it, Spike reaching the gate and being pulled through the gate by an operator, the Blacks aiming at him.
"Hold fire, you idiots!" snapped Cynder as she landed.
"He's got a Pipboy. They have tracking devices," said William coldly, adding, "Our new little dragon's turning out to be a rat."
"And you want to get rid of a valuable commodity?" snapped Cynder.
"We should take that hand off at least. It's the only way that thing comes off," said Mags with a smirk, some of the disciples' raiders grinning at the thought.
"Ok, that's not even a suggestion worth considering," snapped Cynder, "Nobody touches him unless I say so." The Blacks looked to see all the marked raiders aiming at them before they lowered their rifles, stepping back.
Cynder landed on one of the sheds, her eyes and the icons on the armors glowing. "We're this close to the final battle to take this dump for ourselves. Our enemies seek to drive us apart. But we won't let them. The commonwealth will be a raider kingdom that will put Caesar's Legion to shame," she called, cheers heard, Spike pretending to join in.
"And let's not forget the queen and king who will be making this kingdom possible," added Cynder.
"Uh, what king?" asked Spike.
Cynder laughed, doing a flip jump down to land in front of Spike, "Oh, Spyro...so silly."
"Uh, it's Spike," said Spike.
"Spike...of course," said Cynder, shaking her head, before saying, "You must be tired. Your room's still as you left it."
"Yeah, good, I need some alone time anyways," said Spike.
"Good...good. On Monday, we're flattening those Minutemen for good," said Cynder. Spike nodded, backed up and almost ran away.
2 days later...Sunday
Spike fiddled with his Pipboy, wincing as Diamond City Radio played what reminded him of Manehatten nightclub music, trying to find the right signal. "I think Alex forgot about half of the instructions," grumbled Spike, "What am I supposed to do? Being the Blackwing's DJ?"
Finally he got to the right frequency, frowning as classical music came out the speaker. "Ok, so now what?" asked Spike, "Am I supposed to sing along?"
The air began to taste tinny like that, like a thunderstorm starting. "Now what?" snapped Spike before everything went white...and he found himself overlooking the river at a ruined farm of some sort. "What is this?" asked Spike.
He turned as he heard footsteps to see Minutemen, holding zap rifles, walk into view, all aiming, followed by Alex. "Hi...thought I wasn't gonna hear from you," said Alex cheerfully, waving to the Minutemen to lower their rifles
"What is this?" repeated Spike.
"Teleport array, I know some people and they agreed to be your taxi service. So, what have you got for me?" said Alex before frowning, putting a hand on top of his head before sliding it over to Spike, "You;re taller."
"The Blackwings are going to attack tomorrow," said Spike.
"What?" said Alex.
Spike nodded, "They've got enough explosives to flatten Diamond City 3 times over and enough bullets for everyone."
"Ok, gonna need some more exact details, like what direction are they coming from, what's the main target, how many raiders can we expect," said Alex.
"Everyone," said Spike in a small voice, "Cynder's nuts and not Pinkie Pie nuts. She keeps calling me Spyro."
"Is that supposed to mean something to me?" asked Alex flatly.
"It means something to her and it's creepy as all hay," said Spike.
Alex said, "Do you know where?"
Spike said, "Milton..."
Alex nodded. "Good...very good...tomorrow when the shooting starts. Keep your head down and dodge west towards the river. There'll be some men waiting for you." He petted Spike on the shoulder. "Just one more night before we send Cynder running and you're a hero..." before he stepped back, the air starting to tingle again.
"Wait, I need help with something else," said Spike, "I have to find someone."
"Tell me tomorrow," said Alex, before the world flashed and he was back in his room.
"Just one more night," he said to himself, not seeing something walking out of his shadow.
"Going somewhere?" asked a voice, "Or have you already went?"
Spike spun to see Cynder, with a cold look in her eyes, though she was still smiling. "It seems I've been going too slow with you," she sneered, walking towards him.
"I know you've been using dark magic on me," said Spike, "But it's not going to work anymore."
"Oh, you must mean the geas mark. I wasn't using that on you," said Cynder coyly, grabbing his wrist and his purple scales turning darker from her touch's contact. "I was being more direct, and yet not enough," said Cynder.
"What are you doing...let go!" snapped Spike, trying to get his arm back, though he was having trouble moving it...and now his shoulder, the numbness spreading, a pain in his elbows signifying yellow bone spines coming out his elbows.
"Relax, enjoy the ride," said Cynder.
"No...what are you..." managed Spike, the color change spreading down his body, causing more changes.
"We're going straight to the top," said Cynder. All Spike could do was shake as the color went up his head as his horns twisted into dark yellow ram horns, his eyes turning yellow, Spike shaking before calming down. "Feeling better?" said Cynder, letting go.
"Yes..." said Spike in a deep, guttural voice.
"Good...tomorrow, we take over the commonwealth. Won't that be fun?" said Cynder evilly. Spike grinned and the two started to laugh maniacally.
There's the third chapter which has a bit more world-building and introduces our version of the Lone Survivor. This fic is set after the main story is completed so I'll let you see for yourself which choices were made. The fourth and final part of this opening arc will be up tomorrow so keep an eye out for it and please review.