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// Gutter Level Patrol // Story: Back to the Past 01: Grave New World // by Zobeid //------------------------------//
Nitro accompanied Cloud on a patrol around the gutter level neighborhoods near their headquarters. Heftig had described this as a see-and-be-seen mission for Cloud: she could see what the neighborhood was like, and everyone else could see what a big and badass-looking pegasus Iggy’s Army now had in the crew. This was an image the pony had spent much of her life trying to live down. However, given the world she now found herself in, she reckoned maybe it was just as well to play along.
As they walked the dingy streets, Cloud once again noted the squalid conditions. Many of the buildings they passed were run down and crumbling, with boarded up windows and peeling paint. Graffiti covered the walls, a chaotic mix of gang tags, political slogans, and nonsensical scribbles.
Trash and debris littered sidewalks and alleys. The air smelled heavily of smoke, urine and other less identifiable odors. Ponies, donkeys, gnolls, and humans crowded the sidewalks, many wearing ragged clothing and bearing dirty, unkempt coats. Several had injuries or were missing limbs. They walked with their heads down, avoiding eye contact.
Cloud was appalled. "Is it always like this here?" she asked Nitro. He nodded grimly. "The gutter level doesn't get many resources from the city. The gangs control things down here. Folk just try to get by however they can."
As they continued on, Cloud noticed propaganda posters plastered on many surfaces. Some depicted Princess Celestia, or rather, Empress Sceleste as she was now called. Her image gazed down imperiously, with slogans like "Obey Your Empress" and "The Sun Rises and Sets With Sceleste." Other posters depicted menacing robots, warning that "Vectra Sees All." Puzzled, Cloud asked Nitro, "Who is Vectra?"
"Vectra is the AI that controls all the drones and bots."
"AI?"
"You know, machine intelligence. Like a computer."
"Computer?" Cloud frowned, wondering what somebody working math problems could possibly have to do with drones and bots.
Nitro looked askance, wondering (not for the first time) about strange gaps in Cloud's knowledge of the world. "Vectra is the network that controls all the drones, got it?"
"Network? Uhhh, okay. If you say so," she muttered. Nitro could see she still didn't get it, but he gave up trying to explain.
Nitro led Cloud through the dimly lit streets of Spaceport City, the neon signs and flickering holograms casting an eerie glow over the crumbling facades. Cloud stuck close to the pegasus pony, her eyes darting nervously as they navigated the deserted alleys. "Don't worry, Cloudy, I know these streets like the back of my hoof," Nitro said with a wink. "We're just making a quick stop."
He turned a corner onto a wider street and approached a small, dilapidated building with a flickering electronic sign that read: MARKET BASKET. Nitro pushed open the door, a bell jingling overhead, and ushered Cloud inside.
The interior was cramped and cluttered, shelves overflowing with an array of brightly packaged items. A chubby human female sat behind the checkout counter smoking a cigarette. Hanging in each corner was a bulging mirror providing a fish-eye reflection of the store's interior. Cloud's eyes widened as she took it all in. She wondered out loud, "How is this place even open? It's the middle of the night."
He said, "As if that matters here? Late night shopping, it's fantastic!" He pulled a shopping cart into the aisle, hopped onto the back of it and flapped his wings, propelling it forward. "Whee-ow!" he exclaimed, then pointed with a hoof toward a bin of small plastic bottles full of brightly colored liquid. "Grab a couple of those and toss 'em in!"
Cloud did so, taking a moment to glance at the labels. Apparently they contained "Fruity". Nitro pointed to more items, and soon the cart held boxes of "Chewy" and bags of "Crunchy" as well.
Cloud pointed at something she actually recognized and said, "Hey, there's bread!" The loaves were in a plastic case marked: FRESH BREAD BAKED IN STORE.
Nitro said, "They cook it round back in a little machine, right next to the toilet cleaning products. Ahh! Adds flavor and excitement."
Cloud made a face and moved along, but in a moment something else caught her eye. The machine had a transparent container, and paddles were turning inside, continually mixing some kind of colorful slush. "Whoah!" she exclaimed softly. "What is it?"
Nitro hopped off the cart and trotted over. "Wanna try a Frozo-Blam?"
Cloud watched in fascination as Nitro positioned a plastic cup that looked way too big and the machine whirred to life, dispensing a swirling mass of pink and white. Nitro inserted a thick straw and passed it to her, a grin spreading across his face.
"Go on, try it!"
Hesitantly, Cloud took the straw in her lips and drew in a mouthful of the frozen confection. Her senses were hit with slick, cloying sweetness, a burst of tart, artificial fruit flavor as thick as chlorine, and then the cold sunk in. Her eyes went wide, and she lowered the cup, squeezed her eyes shut and gasped, "Aaah! Ah! Brain freeze!"
Nitro laughed. "It'll do that, yah!" Then he said, "C'mon, give me the cart, and I'll pay for the stuff."
As they approached the checkout counter, the human clerk's eyes focused on the oversized black pegasus, then widened in fear. She dropped her cigarette into a half-empty can of energy drink and stammered, "I... I don't have the money yet. Please, just give me a few more days!"
Cloud tilted her head, confusion etched on her face. "Money? We're just here to pay for our groceries."
The clerk's gaze darted between Cloud and Nitro, her hands trembling. "You're not... you're not with the Iron Syndicate?"
Nitro shook his head, his expression serious. "No way, we're not with those goons. We're just regular customers, I swear."
The clerk let out a shaky breath, her shoulders slumping in relief. "I'm sorry, I just... when I saw her," she gestured towards Cloud, "I thought... the Syndicate, they've been coming around more often, demanding protection money. I can barely keep this place afloat as it is."
Cloud's brow furrowed, a mixture of concern and anger flashing in her eyes. "That's awful. No one should have to live in fear like that."
Nitro nodded solemnly. "The Iron Syndicate's been terrorizing folks down here for too long. Someone's gotta stand up to 'em."
The clerk rang up their purchases, her hands still shaking slightly. "Just be careful out there. The Syndicate, they don't take kindly to anyone who crosses them."
As they left the store, bags in tow, Cloud turned to Nitro. "I had no idea things were this bad. The way she looked at me... like I was some kind of monster."
Nitro placed a reassuring hoof on her shoulder. "It's not your fault, Cloudy. You saw how her nerves are shot, not that I blame her. But now you see why we gotta fight back. Folks down here, they're counting on us to make a difference."
Cloud nodded, a determined glint in her eye.
They sat outside the store and munched their snacks for a few minutes, then discarded the packaging and moved along. They passed a row of ramshackle vendor stalls constructed from scrap metal and wood. Skinny ponies hawked questionable food from steaming pots. One stall blared garish advertisements for something called "Fizzy Pop." Or maybe Fizzy Pop was a pony who owned the stand. One could never be sure with pony names.
Nitro led Cloud down a narrow alley. Trash bags and debris forced them to pick their way carefully. The alley opened up into a small courtyard with a dry fountain in the center. A mixed species group of youths loitered there. As Nitro and Cloud entered the courtyard, the youths tensed up and stared at them warily. One of the human boys nudged his pony friend and whispered something. They seemed ready to bolt if confronted.
Nitro raised a hoof in casual greeting. "Easy now. We're just passing through."
The tension eased somewhat, though the youths continued watching them carefully as they crossed the courtyard. Cloud was saddened to see ponies and humans so young already viewing others with suspicion and mistrust.
Or then again, maybe it was just her. Huge black pegasus with dragon eyes. Yeah, that.
They left the courtyard through another alley. Partway down, they had to step over a pony sleeping on some old blankets. His ribs protruded sharply and his coat was mangy. One of his legs was made of carved wood rather than flesh. Still, he slept soundly, no doubt exhausted.
"Why does nopony help?" Cloud asked Nitro, distressed.
He sighed. "Too many need help. Not enough resources to go around. Iggy's Army does what we can, but it's not much. Not yet. That's gonna change, you'll see." Cloud fell silent, continuing to take in the scenes around her. She noticed surveillance drones buzzing overhead between the buildings. Their cameras seemed to track her movements. She shuddered, remembering that the cameras had already recorded her chaotic entrance into the city.
They came upon a park area, if it could be called that. Mostly it was just dead grass and broken concrete. A rusted playground set stood abandoned. However, a group of foals played in the dirt with sticks and rocks, laughing and shrieking.
Nearby, a pair of elderly donkey mares sat on a bench, shelling nuts and gossiping. An old human man dozed with a patched coat pulled over his head. For a moment, it was almost like any other city park.
Nitro and Cloud sat on the edge of a crumbling planter box to rest. Cloud mulled over everything she had seen. This world she found herself in was so different from the Equestria she once knew. Could it ever be fixed?
She was about to ask Nitro's opinion when a propaganda van rolled into view. Mounted video screens glared with footage of Sceleste looking important in some palatial surroundings. Loudspeakers trumpeted, "Citizens! Report abnormal behavior to your local Commissar!"
The foals stopped playing to watch the van. Their eyes held neither fear nor awe, just a sort of weary resignation. The elders glanced up, then went back to their tasks. This was nothing new.
Cloud, however, watched with rising anger. Sceleste's influence was everywhere, even at the lowest levels of society. Her lies dominated everything.
Cloud stood abruptly. "Come on. I've seen enough for today."
Nitro nodded and they began making their way back through the alleys. Cloud tried to hold on to the image of those carefree foals playing, finding joy even in squalor. If they could cling to hope, then so could she.
Nitro and Cloud made their way back through the twisting alleys and corridors of the gutter level, retracing their steps from the patrol. The propaganda van had long since moved on, though its message still echoed in Cloud's mind. She walked with her head lowered, deep in thought.
Nitro kept glancing sideways at his brooding companion. "Hey, chin up," he said, nudging Cloud gently with a wingtip. "We'll get there. Iggy's Army is just getting started."
Cloud sighed. "I know. It just seems like so much to fix."
They turned down an especially narrow passage barely wide enough for two ponies to walk abreast. Halfway down, Nitro stopped abruptly, holding up a hoof for silence. Cloud nearly bumped into him before stopping as well. She listened, ears swiveling. At first she heard nothing but the ever-present distant din of the city. Then she picked up voices ahead, loud and aggressive. Nitro put a hoof to his lips and crept forward silently. Cloud followed his lead.
As they approached the end of the passage, the voices became clearer. A shrill, boyish voice yelled, “Nonono, leggo that’smine!” This was followed by a sharp zap, yelp and curses. Nitro's ears pricked up and he quickened his pace, gesturing for Cloud to follow.
Nitro paused at the corner, peering into a small loading area behind some shops. He ducked back and glanced grimly at Cloud, thumping the ground twice with a hoof to indicate the number of assailants. Cloud set her jaw and nodded. Together they leapt from the passage, wings flared.
The scene before them made Cloud gasp. Two gnolls clad in spiked leather armor loomed over a being that she struggled for a moment to identify. This resembled a red-orange weasel, or perhaps more like a pine marten, with large eyes and a pair of fuzzy antennae sprouting from its forehead. Cloud had seen beings like it somewhere before.
Oh, yes! It was at the first spaceport bar she’d entered, where the aliens gathered. Several of this species had been dancing there. She’d barely had time to take note of them before getting into a squabble with the Skarrens.
This one was sitting upright and protectively clutching some sort of storage case, as well as baring his adorable little teeth and growling. Laying flat on the ground nearby, twitching and smoking lightly, was a gnoll—presumably stunned by something the alien had done. The remaining two gnolls, however, looked highly antagonized, wary but in no way ready to back off.
At Nitro and Cloud's sudden appearance, the gnolls looked up in surprise. Then their muzzles split into nasty grins. "What's this, Durk?" the one pinning the alien snarled. "A couple fools looking to play hero?"
Durk chuckled grimly, flexing his clawed fingers and said, "This ain't your business, ponies. Best be on your way if you know what's good for you."
Cloud stood her ground, pawed at the ground with a hoof, tossed her head and snorted.
The gnolls laughed. "Oooh, that's a fierce one, Grak!" Durk said. He hefted a nasty looking club with spikes. "Let's teach her a lesson!"
He took a menacing step forward. Cloud partially extended her wings, which were now fitted (thanks to the efforts of Handy Walter) with traditional pegasus wing-blades. Then Nitro was there, placing himself between her and the gnolls. The alien took the opportunity to duck behind a dumpster, still clinging protectively to his package.
Nitro darted between the gnolls, using his speed and agility to avoid their clumsy attacks. Cloud could see he would need help, though. She flexed her wings, the sharpened blades glinting. With a fierce cry, she launched herself at Durk's back. Taken by surprise, he stumbled forward as her hooves impacted solidly. He whirled with a snarl, swiping with his club. Cloud pulled up short, and his swing was blocked by her invisible horn. The gnoll blinked, confused, and Cloud seized that instant to strike with a wing, scoring a slice across Durk's arm. He howled in rage and pain.
The other gnoll, Grak, seized the opening to grab Nitro in a chokehold from behind. Nitro thrashed, lashing out with his back hooves and bashing Grak's knee. With a grunt, Grak dropped him. Nitro rolled free, panting.
Cloud faced off with Durk, circling warily. He feinted left then slashed right. Cloud snapped her wings closed, trapping the blade between the razor edges. She twisted hard, wrenching the knife from Durk's grasp. It clattered to the ground behind her. Durk's eyes went wide. With a whinny, Cloud reared up and slammed both forehooves into his chest. He went down hard, the wind knocked from his lungs.
Grak lumbered toward Cloud, meaty fists swinging. She ducked and wove, avoiding the blows. As Grak overextended on a punch, she planted a hoof in his midsection. He doubled over with an "oof!" Cloud whipped both wings at his head in a scissor-like slice. Blood welled from gashes across Grak's cheeks and muzzle. Howling, he swiped a paw at Cloud's face. She reared back just in time, the claw tips grazing her jaw.
Nitro was back on his hooves. He launched himself onto Grak's back, pummeling with all four hooves. The gnoll staggered under the onslaught. With a powerful snap of her wings, Cloud knocked Grak's feet out from under him. He crashed to the pavement face-first. Nitro leapt free and the two ponies regrouped, standing over the groaning gnolls.
"Had enough yet?" Cloud demanded, wings still spread aggressively.
Durk crawled over to Grak. "This ain't over, pony!" he spat as he helped haul his companion to his feet. "You'll regret this!"
Supporting each other, the gnolls gathered up their still-groggy comrade who the alien had zapped, and they limped away down the alley. Cloud started to give pursuit, but Nitro stopped her with a wing across her chest.
"Let 'em go," he said. "They won't be back anytime soon after the thrashing we gave 'em."
Cloud reluctantly folded her wings. Her blood still pumped hard from the fight. She took a deep breath, calming herself.
With the gnolls driven away, the pair of ponies turned their attention to the alien they had rescued, who Nitro identified as a "Skiltaire." The alien poked his head up from behind the dumpster, antennae quivering as he looked around warily. Seeing the gnolls were gone, he emerged fully into the open. The Skiltaire was positively vibrating with excitement. He scampered over to Cloud and Nitro, chattering so rapidly his words ran together into an unintelligible stream. "Whoa there, slow down," Nitro said gently. "Take a breath."
The Skiltaire sat back on his haunches, taking a visible effort to calm himself. He drew in a deep breath through his nose, cheeks puffing out comically, then let it out in a whoosh. "Apologies," he said in a more measured tone, though still speaking quickly. "When the shkota hits, sometimes my mouth moves faster than my brain."
He hopped back to his feet. "But by the great burrows, that was amazing! You two really gave those rocks a walloping!" The Skiltaire punctuated this statement by bouncing up and down on his toes.
"Rocks?" Cloud asked in puzzlement.
"Er, right. You'd say gnolls, yes? That's what we call them. Rock hounds. Always trying to take our shinies."
Nitro nodded. "Yeah, they have sticky paws alright. What's your name, friend?"
"Oh! I'm TikTik," the Skiltaire replied, sketching a quick bow. "I'm Nitro, and this is my friend Cloud," Nitro returned with an informal half-bow of his own. "Happy to help. Looked like you were in a tight spot there."
"Very much so!" TikTik agreed. "I really can't thank you enough. Please, allow me to offer these small tokens." TikTik opened the case he had been guarding so fiercely. Nestled inside the padded interior were half a dozen shiny stones in various colors. TikTik selected two of the smoother, more rounded ones and held them out, one to each of the ponies.
"These are luck pebbles," TikTik explained as Nitro and Cloud each took one. "We Skiltaire give them to friends, to symbolize our connection. Keep it close, and if you ever need aid, look to fellow pebble holders. We help each other."
Nitro and Cloud examined their gifted pebbles. Each was about the size of a large marble, polished to a glossy sheen. Nitro's was swirled orange and red, like a miniature sunrise. Cloud's was a deep ocean blue. They were beautiful in their simplicity.
"Thank you," Cloud said sincerely. "This means a lot. I'm still learning the, uh, cultural nuances here."
TikTik waved a paw. "I completely understand. Even we sometimes find humans and ponies baffling! But with open hearts, we can overcome misunderstandings."
Nitro slipped his pebble into a pouch on his utility vest and said, "We'll treasure these, TikTik. Now, will you be alright getting where you need to go?"
"Oh yes, I know my way from here." TikTik carefully closed the case. "I must deliver the remaining shinies to my contacts. There's a major match coming up."
Seeing Nitro and Cloud's puzzled looks, TikTik chuckled and explained, "Apologies, I mean a sporting event. My clan sponsors several teams. These crystals help power their gear."
TikTik slung the handle of the case over one shoulder. "I won't keep you any longer. Thank you again! Until we meet at the burrows!" With a final bow, TikTik scampered away down the alley and disappeared around a corner.
Nitro watched the Skiltaire go, then turned to Cloud with a smile and said, "Well! That was interesting." Cloud smiled back. "It really was. I'm glad we could help the little guy. It feels good to start making real connections here." She tucked her gifted pebble securely into a pouch as well. A token of friendship, and an obligation to provide aid in return someday. She found the concept appealing.
"Let's head home," Nitro said. "Come on, we better let Heftig know what happened."
Cloud nodded and they started off down the alley. She was lost in thought, reflecting on the fight. She felt a warm afterglow. It had been a long time since she'd defended some innocent being like this. She glanced back at her sigil, the midnight blue heraldic shield emblazoned on her hip. It represented her special talent, her nature. Then a hint of melancholy seeped in as her mind wandered back to long-ago events, when her childhood friends had helped her find her talent, her meaning in life. She missed them.
Nitro seemed to sense her distracted state of mind. "You alright?" he asked. "First real scuffle is always a shock to the system."
Cloud chuckled. "It's not that. I've been in plenty of fights before. I was just woolgathering, thinking of the past. I'll be okay."
Nitro gave her shoulder a comforting nudge with his wing. "You did good back there. Kept a level head, fought smart. I'm glad you had my back."
Cloud smiled, appreciating his effort to reassure her. "Likewise, friend."
They continued on in a comfortable silence. The sounds of the city surrounded them, beginning to grow familiar and oddly reassuring now to Cloud's ears.
Topaz sat alone in the dim computer room of Iggy's Army headquarters, illuminated only by the pale glow of monitor screens. The unicorn leaned forward, intensely focused as she reviewed surveillance footage captured earlier that day. Footage skimmed by at hyper speed. Most of it was mundane—just another cycle of the ragtag rebels going about their usual routines. But something had caught Topaz's eye, making her stop the stream and replay one segment. There was Cloud, sorting through a pile of scrap metal and mechanical parts. Nothing too unusual about that. But then she had lowered her head, and there was an odd shimmer for an instant, like a mirage, and a unicorn's horn appeared. Then it began to scintillate, and so did the pipes and other scrap material, which levitated and floated, one by one, into the bins. Topaz watched the video, fascinated, until Cloud froze, eyes widening in alarm as footsteps echoed down the hall. The levitating items immediately settled to the floor, and Cloud's horn shimmered again into invisibility just as Heftig entered.
Topaz rewound and watched the segment again, looking for any other clues. "What in the world?" she muttered. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of what she had witnessed.
Hurriedly, Topaz transferred the footage to a mobile drive and headed out in search of Heftig. She found the griffin in her private quarters, looking over maps and plans.
"Heftig, you need to see this," Topaz said without preamble, brandishing the drive. She quickly explained what she had discovered while Heftig loaded up the video.
They watched together in silence. When it ended, Heftig slowly turned to Topaz, feathers ruffled in agitation. "Play it again," she ordered tersely. They scrutinized the footage several more times, but it yielded no further revelations. Finally Heftig stopped the playback, leaving an image frozen on the screen, and shook her head in disbelief.
"How… How is this possible?" she muttered, beginning to pace back and forth. "Cloud is clearly using unicorn abilities. But she has passed as a pegasus this whole time. I've never seen any sign of a horn!"
Topaz nodded grimly. "Exactly. It makes no sense. And that horn is huge, it's like four or five times as long as a typical unicorn's." She lightly tapped her own stubby horn for emphasis. "I mean, it looks like… well, if Cloud was pink instead of black, she could almost pass for Empress Sceleste."
"Another alicorn," Heftig muttered. "I thought Sceleste was the only one."
"She is!" Topaz asserted. "I mean, there are fairy tales about alicorns, comic books, toys, kid stuff. Nothing real."
Heftig's yellow eyes narrowed in thought. "A changeling? Flicker could transform into an alicorn if he wanted too, why not?"
"Uhh. In theory? Maybe he could mimic that shape? But surely he would have pegged her if she was a changeling too. And I didn't see any flames when her horn appeared or disappeared, like when Flicker transforms."
"Well then. Could it be some kind of tech trickery? Some device that lets her simulate telekinesis?"
"I suppose that's possible…" Topaz said slowly. "But I've never heard of technology that advanced. And look—" she gestured to the screen "—there's no device visible. It seems like innate magic."
Heftig made a small noise of frustration. "You're right. This doesn't add up at all." She ruffled her feathers again, beginning to pace faster. "And Cloud's story has been kinda flaky from the start. I mean, turned to stone for ages? But she wouldn't talk about how that happened. There's all the basic stuff she don't know and then tries not to show it. Fighting skills but lack of experience with weapons."
"The weapons part makes sense, though," Topaz noted. "I mean, if she always fought using magic before."
"Well, Topaz, you had her pegged right from the start."
"Uhh, did I? What do you mean?"
"Edgelord. Total edgelord."
Heftig stopped pacing and turned to Topaz, deadly serious. "I think we need to consider… Cloud could be an agent sent by Sceleste: a spy or provocateur meant to infiltrate and undermine us."
Topaz's eyes widened at the implication. "You really think she was planted by the Empire?"
"It's looking more and more possible," Heftig said grimly. She began ticking points off on her talons. "She shows up out of nowhere with dubious explanations. Conceals her true nature and abilities. Evades questions about her origins. Ingratiates herself with us rather quickly." Heftig fixed Topaz with an intense stare. "This has all the hallmarks of an infiltration operation. We were fools not to see it sooner." Topaz looked uncertain. "But to what end? I mean, she definitely hasn't acted like a provocateur. "
Heftig's expression turned calculating. "No, she hasn't. She's a quiet one. She did ask me about Iggy, though. And whenever Empress Sceleste comes up, Cloud acts all constipated. Pluck! I mean, just look at her! There's got to be a connection. Sceleste must have sent her, but why? Why mess with us?"
"Testing our loyalty?" Topaz wondered.
"To find out if we're nutzoidal like Iggy, or if we've put all that behind us and deserve… support, backing. To be the ones who push the Iron Syndicate out." Pacing again, Heftig continued musing out loud. "And when I met our new suppliers, from the upper levels, they sure gave us what I was looking for. No haggling, just handed over the keys, and kindly remember us when you're on top—with Cloud sitting there in the room. I wonder if they knew something about her that we don't?"
Topaz nodded anxiously. She hesitated before asking the critical question. "So, what's our move?"
Heftig considered for a long moment, then shook her head decisively. "We do nothing different for now. Confronting her accomplishes little, whether she's a spy or simply hiding something. Better to keep her close, let her believe the deception holds. That may work to our advantage. If she's reporting back to Empress Sceleste, we want her to paint the best possible picture."
Turning back to Topaz, Heftig said "Pass word to Nitro and Flicker too. Let's make sure she has no inkling we're onto her. But treat her like a star, and make sure she sees our gang as a rising star too. We're lean and mean, up-and-coming, a gang the Commissars can work with, and we are most definitely supporters of Empress Sceleste. Cold got to be!"
"Cold got to be!" Topaz echoed, and bumped her hoof against Heftig's scaly fist.
Cloud rose with the dawn, stretching out her wings and giving a great yawn. She had slept surprisingly well on the makeshift cot in the corner of the warehouse headquarters. The constant hum and occasional clanks from the machinery and ductwork that honeycombed the massive building had faded into comforting white noise. As she trotted out into the main area, Cloud was taken aback to find the warehouse already a hub of activity. Rebels bustled purposefully about on various tasks or clustered in lively conversation. The atmosphere was one of eager excitement rather than the casual camaraderie of the previous days. Cloud spotted Walter conferring with two ponies over a crate of supplies, while Nitro and Topaz seemed to be inspecting and taking inventory of a new shipment of equipment. She overheard snippets about "non-lethal alternatives" and "stun settings".
As she drew near, she noticed a workstation where an image of Princess Celestia played across the screen. The sound was muted, but a caption scrolled past, reading: "CITIZENS, YOUR EMPRESS CARES DEEPLY FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. . ." Cloud gave it the stink eye.
Topaz noticed the reaction and moved to shut off the propaganda broadcast with a derisive snort, then turned to Cloud with a broad grin. "Hey there, Cloud Strife! Heftig told us you'd be up and at 'em early. We've got some new gear to show ya thanks to those high-level featherheads."
She gestured proudly at the array of weapons and devices laid out on the tables. Shields were easy to understand. Less familiar were the smooth, sleek metallic staves or batons with subtle status lights, control studs and blunt prongs at the business end.
Cloud tried to mask her confusion. "Wow… great! This is really something!" She paused, fumbling for more to say. "So, what do they all, um, do?"
The unicorn levitated a staff. “We’ve got quite an assortment to pick through.”
Just then, Heftig entered from across the room and strode up purposefully. The rebels nearby straightened to attention. "At ease, soldiers," rumbled the griffin. "I know we're all excited to test out the new hardware. But let's not get ahead of ourselves." She turned to Cloud with a dip of her beak.
"Cloud Strife. I'm pleased you'll be here to witness this momentous day for our Army. The first shipment of non-lethal weapons. And—" she raised a clawed finger, "—we have an expert instructor to oversee training. You remember Seax, right?"
As she referenced the other griffin, the pale-gray male raised a forepaw in acknowledgment. Seax stepped forward, picking up one of the metallic staves. "Alright folks, gather round. I know much of this gear is unfamiliar, but don't worry. I’ll walk you through them," he said. He glanced around the room. “I can see we have quite a range of species here, so we’ll have to work out what weapons are suitable to which user.”
Sitting on his leonine haunches and hefting the baton with his forepaws, he continued, "Now this beauty right here is what we call a myotron, or a stun baton. She'll deliver a nasty zap to whoever's unlucky enough to be on the receiving end." Seax toggled a switch and the end of the baton crackled menacingly with arcs of electricity. Cloud's eyes went wide but Nitro just chuckled, unfazed.
With a meaningful glance toward Cloud and Nitro the griffin explained, "Our pegasi at least don't have to worry about accidentally zapping themselves. They have natural resistance to electrical shock."
Nitro nodded in confirmation. "Yeah, we can even work with lightning. A little tickle like that baton is nothing to us."
The griffin continued, "Holding and using the staff is a different problem for a pegasus, though. You don't have paws to grip it." The griffin glanced towards Handy Walter. "I've been told your man is good at modding equipment. Given a little time, I'm sure he could disassemble one of these and turn it into a wing-mounted stunner." Walter scratched his chin, but nodded.
Seax set the baton down. "Now check out these stun grenades!" He held up a smooth metal orb. "Just pull the pin, toss it at your opponent, and bam! Flash-bang explosion with a high-voltage surprise inside. It should stop just about anything in its tracks for a minute."
“Now you’re talking!” Nitro said. “That’s tailor made for Cloud and me.”
Next Seax reached for something a bit like the stun baton, but with a hose connected to a tank. “This is something experimental from the lab, a sticky-foam gun. It fires a stream of foam that sticks to whatever it hits, then rapidly expands and hardens. It can glue arms and legs to the body, or stick people to the ground. You can carry it slung over your shoulder until needed. Try to avoid the face unless you actually want to suffocate them.” He glanced at the other griffin. “Fair warning, Heftig, you might want to steer clear of this one. If any foam splashes on wings or feathers, it’s a real nightmare. I’ll bet your human or your unicorn could use it, though.”
Topaz said, “Y’know, I’m pretty good with just casting my own spells at the bad guys. I’m not so hot with magic shields, though. I might take one of those riot shields.” She levitated one off the table, hefting it experimentally with her magic.
“Fair enough,” Seax nodded. "We also have a lot of body armor here, although again I wasn't aware of how many different species we'd have to fit it to. The panels have adjustable straps, so we should be able to make the stuff work for most of you. Heftig, if I might ask, what is the opposition armed with?"
That griffin shrugged and answered, "Most of their goons on the street are gnolls and a few minotaurs, so they can carry just about any weapon. Lucky for us, they're not too bright and don't like to use anything more complicated than a blackjack or a Luger."
"Those ain't non-lethal," Nitro noted.
"He's got a point," Heftig said. "This riot control stuff isn't going to really put the fear in those Syndicate goons. It'll be like fighting with one arm tied behind our backs."
Seax shook his head. "This armor should be effective against anything they carry. And as for the non-lethal weapons, well… Once you've disabled your foes, anything could happen to them. Am I right?"
Heftig nodded slowly. "Yeah, lots of things can happen." She flexed her claws. Like other griffins, she didn't stand as tall as Cloud, but she was more powerfully built. Griffins were, in some sense, living weapons.
"Or not," Cloud said.
The others looked to her. Heftig said, "Go on, speak your mind?"
"Well… Where I'm from we didn't… uh… We weren't brutal to defeated enemies. I wouldn't be comfortable with that."
Heftig affixed Cloud with predatory eyes and said, "You know we ain't going out there to have no tea party, right? These thugs have been terrorizing our friends and neighbors for years. I don't see why we should play any nicer than they do."
Cloud frowned but held her ground. "I get that. Really, I do. But we have to be disciplined, show some restraint. It's not just about playing nice. It's practical."
Heftig sat down on her haunches, taking a deliberately non-confrontational pose, and prompted, "How do you mean?"
Cloud glanced down, pausing a few seconds to gather her thoughts, then said, "What I mean is, every gnoll or minotaur you kill or maim is a potential feud stretching long into the future. I assume they do have clans, families somewhere, hard as that may be to imagine. Plus, that kind of thing can really sour your reputation with the locals. You don't want those friends and neighbors to start seeing us as the new terror, just like the old terror."
Murmurs of consideration rose from the rebels. Heftig rubbed her beak thoughtfully. "You make a good point. But we can't be seen as weak here. We won't last long if we are."
"We can be strong without being brutal. In fact, it's more convincing that way. You only have to keep the people intimidated and fearful if you're afraid of them rising up against you. That's the Syndicate's game."
Seax then cleared his throat and interjected, "You also won't need to worry about bystanders getting caught in your line of fire. They can be released after the fight. They won't be happy, but it's better for your community than holding funerals."
"Yes!" Cloud pointed at Seax. "That's the sort of thing I was on about."
Heftig nodded. "Okay, I'm convinced. Nobody likes a sore winner. We'll take prisoners, we'll go easy on them and see how that works out. I'm not sure exactly what we'll do with them after, but we'll figure something out."
With that policy decision settled, the group turned attention back to examining and sorting out the new equipment. Seax turned and called out, "Hey… Walter, is it? Come on over here and take a look at some of this gear. I know you can put it to good use."
Walter ambled over, eyeing the array appreciatively. "Hmm, yes, I see a lot of potential for modding here," he mused, picking up and examining each item in turn.
For her own part, Cloud poked at the so-called armor with a curious hoof. In her time armor had usually meant custom-fitted plates of metal. These appeared to be more like thick, semi-flexible material concealed in a dark, cloth pouch with many straps hanging off the sides. She wondered how it would resist a simple spear or sword thrust.
The crew spent some time discussing tactics and figuring out how to employ their new gear. Meanwhile, Heftig pulled Cloud aside as the others continued sorting through the new equipment. The griffin's expression was serious as she spoke in a low voice. "Listen, that dust-up you and Nitro had with those Iron Syndicate goons... It's set things in motion. They won't just let that slide."
Cloud frowned, her ears flicking back. "You think they'll come after us directly?"
"I think we need to take the initiative before they have a chance to retaliate." Heftig's tail lashed, betraying her agitation. "We've got a narrow window here to strike first and catch them off balance."
The disguised alicorn nodded slowly. "I understand. We'll need to move quickly then."
"Exactly." Heftig paused, seeming to consider her next words carefully. "There's something else. That Skiltaire you met... Is there any chance we could leverage that new friendship? Get access to some of their alien tech?"
Cloud's eyes widened in surprise. "I... I don't know. I mean, he seemed friendly enough, but I wouldn't feel right taking advantage like that. We did that one Skiltaire a solid favor, but that's not enough to really make alliance. It's a start toward something, maybe."
Heftig sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. "Yeah, I get it. It was just a thought. We could really use any edge, you know?"
"I do know." Cloud placed a hoof on Heftig's shoulder. "But we'll find another way. We've got the new gear from Seax and Brise, and the element of surprise. That counts for a lot."
The griffin managed the avian counterpart of a smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "You're right. We'll make do with what we have." She straightened up, squaring her shoulders. "Let's get everyone together and start hammering out a plan. Time's wasting."
Cloud perched on a ledge high above the warehouse that served as the rebel headquarters, her wings folded tightly against her sides. A fine, cold drizzle filtered down from the unseen sky, beading on her coat and wings, adding to the melancholic atmosphere.
From her vantage point, Cloud could observe the activity on the streets below. Even at this late hour, the city never truly slept. Neon signs flickered and pulsed, their garish colors reflecting off the slick, wet pavement. A strange aircraft with exhaust ports glowing like angry, orange eyes glided overhead, perhaps headed toward the spaceport that lay beyond the city's sprawling urban expanse.
Figures moved through patches of light and shadow, some hurrying to unknown destinations, others lingering in doorways or alleys. Cloud watched a group of humans huddled together under a flickering streetlight. They seemed to be negotiating something, their gestures furtive and quick. A moment later, they scattered, disappearing into the labyrinthine alleys of the lower city.
Further down the street, a fight broke out. Cloud couldn't make out the species of those involved, but she could hear the snarls and curses, the meaty thud of fists on flesh. A crowd gathered, cheering and jeering, until a harsh spotlight cut through the darkness. One of the ubiquitous police drones hovered over the scene, its metallic voice barking orders. The crowd dispersed as quickly as it had formed, leaving only the combatants to face the impassive machine.
In the distance, a train rumbled along an elevated track, the rhythmic clatter of its wheels echoing through canyons of concrete and glass. Rail cars moved in and out of view as they threaded through the three-dimensional urban maze.
High above the streets, a skyscraper's holographic billboard came to life, its immense, three-dimensional images casting an eerie glow over the surrounding buildings. The advertisement featured a larger-than-life Empress Sceleste, her salmon-pink coat gleaming, her wings spread wide. She smiled benevolently down at the city, her voice booming from hidden speakers, extolling the virtues of loyalty and obedience.
Cloud frowned, her wings twitching with unease. The sight of Sceleste, even in this holographic form, stirred up uncomfortable memories. She tore her gaze away from the billboard, focusing instead on the activity below.
A group of street performers had set up on a sheltered corner, their colorful costumes and acrobatic feats drawing a small crowd. One of the performers, a lithe young human with some sort of long-tailed furry pet by her side, juggled glowing orbs that seemed to change color as they spun through the air. Another, a donkey wearing a garish mask, played a hauntingly beautiful melody on pan pipes.
For a few minutes the music and the spectacle seemed to bring a touch of joy to the grim, rain-soaked streets. But then a drone buzzed overhead, and, as quickly as it had formed, the crowd began to disperse. Each individual hurried off into the night, their brief moment of shared wonder already forgotten.
Cloud sighed, her breath misting in the cool, damp air. There was a dark majesty to Spaceport City, a grandeur born of its sheer scale and the ceaseless activity that pulsed through its veins. But it was a beauty tainted by the misery and desperation that seemed to lurk in every corner, in every shadow.
She thought of the poverty she'd seen, the fear in the eyes of the citizens, the casual brutality of those in power. It was a far cry from the world she'd known, the world she'd fought for. But even then, there had been the war. Before she was trapped in stone, the world had already started down the path that led… here, to this.
Cloud shook her head, scattering droplets of water from her mane. It didn't matter what she remembered, or what she'd lost. What mattered was the here and now, the fight ahead. She had new allies, a new purpose. And somehow, she would find a way to bring a little light to this dark, desperate place.