Kevlar led me back to my room, a few ponies watching with small snickers as we passed, only to be scared off as she glared at them. As we made our way down the hallways, a few more security officers started to follow a short ways behind us, trying not to draw suspicion as we approached my room. The door to my room slid upwards, and Kevlar walked me over to the bed as we waited for the other guards to arrive. “What the hell’s going on? Why are these augmentations failing? I thought they’d been tested to be safe!” I said, almost shouting at Kevlar.

“Shut up.” She gave me a swift smack across the back of my head, her normally cheery nature gone completely. I took to leaning away from her as we waited. Soon, three other guards entered the room, one looking slightly confused as to what was going on. “Alright, the Overmare ordered this room to be cleared out. Search for any contraband items first, then we’ll get to work on removing the comfort items. Clothing is to be searched, but will remain, got it?” The guards nodded, and promptly began to dig through my stuff. I was about to protest when Kevlar drew a pistol, pointing it at me. “Any protests, and I am authorized to use deadly force.”

I drew back in fear, as the guards opened up drawers and rifled through the contents. One dragged out an old empty box from the closet and began to pile books into it. I almost spoke up again as Rusty’s Electronics was thrown in, it's weathered spine and faded pages almost falling apart from the guard’s lack of care. One guard was digging in the dresser, pulling out several tools and dismantled weapon parts. I glanced back to Kevlar and shrunk back further. She sighed and shook her head disapprovingly. “Well, I suppose that’s at least a month of low rations. Assuming we don’t find any more.” She regained her composure, muttering something along the lines of ‘idiot, probably’d have a whole rail gun stashed in here if he could.’

It wasn’t long before the guards had emptied the room of everything but my jackets and a hotplate, the last of the guards trotting out with a box balanced on their back. Kevlar turned to me once the guards were out of earshot. “As the Overmare said, you are to remain in your room at all times, except when going to the bathroom, where you will be accompanied by a guard. Your food will be delivered to you and you are to have no visitors while you are in confinement.” She leaned in, her eyes narrowing a bit. “Any attempts to break free or contact someone about what you heard will be taken as an offer to volunteer for experimental augmentations.” She turned and left the room, the door sliding shut and locking behind her.

I simply sat on my bed, staring at the door. I could barely gather my thoughts together - failing augmentations, the Overmare’s sudden brutality, room arrest… I looked around at my room, which now felt much colder and harsher without my collection of books and junk strewn about. I looked back to the door again, unsure of what to do, almost too scared to move. This was going to be bad…

Days began to drag by, each blurring into the other as I sat in my room all day. At noon and six the guard would open the door and bring in a few cans of beans and a fork, which I then cooked on the hotplate that was my only source of entertainment aside from my Pip-Buck. When you’re trapped in a room for weeks on end, boiling spit becomes strangely diverting. Kevlar would occasionally stop by to check I hadn’t gone mad, though that was becoming more and more questionable as time went on. A few times I thought I heard Cross passing by the door, but he was swiftly ordered to move along by the guard.

---

I rolled over in bed, staring at my Pip-Buck. A month? It had only been a month? I groaned, the dates having blurred together, convincing me it had been nearly a year. I flipped back and forth between screens, feeling my psyche cracking from boredom. Empty map, Stable 76 PA, to-do list full of unfulfilled ideas, health monitor, empty map, PA, to-do list… I whimpered quietly, my ear twitching. I had to leave. If I stayed here any longer I was sure I was going to go crazy. I looked back at the door, trying to think of a way past the guard. Ok… if I can just knock him out, I should be able to run by… I stood up and quietly trotted towards the door, my heart starting to beat faster and faster. “U-uh, guard? I need to use the restroom.” I said, turning and bending my haunches slightly. There was an annoyed grunt from outside the room, and after a moment the door slid up as the guard stepped in. Before he could say anything, I kicked backwards, my hooves landing squarely on his jaw. He immediately fell to the ground, out cold. My heart was racing in my chest as I stared down at him, before glancing towards the open door. I couldn’t help but give a little mad chuckle before rushing out the door, and down the hall towards the armory.


Twintails' Story: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/11543593/