(story extract)
 
I awoke to the sound of Twintails sleep mumbling… again. I rolled over, grumbling a little, fiddling with the clock at the side of our bed - eight oclock. Well at least its a decent hour now. I threw back the covers, flopping out of bed, my mechanical hoof clunking to the floor. Guess that rubber sole isnt going to keep things that quiet. I tiredly trotted over to the pile of our stuff, cricking my sore joints and hitching up my saddlebags, figuring Id better head down to Razorwings to load up on some supplies and sell off all the junk we’d collected. I looked over at Twintails, half tempted to wake him with a nice hot cup of plasma to the rump. Funny as it might’ve been, Something in the way he seemed to sleep compelled me to restrain, instead writing up a quick note and placing it on my armor and his saddlebags.
 
I shut the door behind me heading down the hall a little ways. As I passed the front desk, the receptionist stopped me. Excuse me, but if youre checking out, might I take your keycard? I nodded, rummaging around in my bag before slapping my forehead. Gah, of course I left the card in the room… Oh well, I guess thats what bobby pins were made for. I explained the story, telling her my roommate would have it when he came down (or at least I hoped he would), before heading out into the frigid air.
 
The city seemed much more alive than during our first visit, despite the obvious dilapidation. Those trotting around shielded themselves from the cold with cloaks, though they seemed to be a lot more talkative, probably because it wasnt flank-falling off cold today - according to the one screen on my Pip-bu- er, Pip-Leg, it was just a little above freezing. I walked down the street, a young filly shouting to passers-by to visit Razorwings shop. Youd think as the only seller of goods around here, he wouldnt need a ton of advertisement. I turned the corner, recognizing the front of the shop a few blocks down. Turning into the shop, the bell ringed lightly above the door as it swung open.
 
Ah, hey, Bloodbeak said you guys made it back alright. Not to offend, but my hopes werent exactly that high for you two - she said you guys were practically glowing ones by the time you got back here. Hope those Radaways helped you out. Razorwing said happily, placing a coffee mug back on the shelf hed been dusting, moving on to polishing a pile of scrap metal. I suppose even in the wasteland things were more appealable when they were presentable.
 
Like you wouldnt believe, we could probably’ve powered a small reactor. Turns out the raiders had been hired by some ponies trying to fix up the facility. I chuckled a little, scanning the shelves for a few broken down electronics. Razorwing raised an eyebrow, turning towards myself and resting against the counter.
 
Huh, youd think someone trying to fix up that old place wouldnt try to steal from caravans. I know I wouldnt want to piss off a company that large. He looked over, finally getting a good look at me. Woah, yikes, what happened to your hoof? Decide to get that improved too? He chuckled a little, motioning to my horn.
 
Um… lets just say, fragmentation mines and snowstorms arent a good combination. Im just lucky we stumbled upo- I cut myself short. Perhaps telling the whole world about that facility probably wasnt the best idea. Most ponies werent that accepting towards Ghouls from the look of it, let alone those that are be rebuilding a giant Megaspell-slinging artillery mechanism.