Linkin Pony - Recharge: Revamped

Chapter 9

It was late next morning when HyperBlitz and CharmingRhythm prepared to depart. Hyper was lethargic, and had not ate that morning, as much as Rhythm wished he did. They said their goodbyes as they entered the rickety cab.

Both stallions were quiet for most of the trip. Rhythm drove them through the open desert. The train tracks came into view, and he began to follow them. They would lead them to the bridge they needed to cross. The site of the node in the distance popped up on Rhythm's left.

"If we see any Hybrids, we can run them over, if you want," Rhythm suggested, attempting to cheer Hyper up. He did not reply. His gaze seemed to be off in a distant world.

Rhythm looked at the dashboard of the cab and saw a radio. He clicked a button with a bionic leg, but no sound came from it.

"Why did I even think that would work?" he muttered aloud.

HyperBlitz stared at the broken radio for a second, and then turned his vision back to his own universe. Rhythm was reminded of past trekking missions, when the team had no radio from a cab. Hyper would burst out in song to pass the time. It seemed like all of that music was drained out of his soul now.

They crossed the railroad bridge and finally made their way to the city. Their first stop was at the clinic. The wait to see a specialist was much longer than Rhythm had hoped for. It was almost mid afternoon when they were finally called back.

The doctor, a rust colored Earth Pony, examined Hyper and the wing they had brought in. She stood up and spoke to both her patient and Rhythm.

"I'm not sure it's worth reattaching the wing," The doctor stated.

"I was afraid of much," Rhythm sighed.

"You mean you can't put it back on?" Hyper let out with desperation.

"We could try, but I'm afraid it won't heal correctly," the mare fret.

Rhythm didn't want to risk Hyper's wing healing incorrectly. If that happened, he'd have to get it amputated again, and then have a new one built. Rhythm knew the time spent during that healing would put Hyper out of the mission for far too long.

There were tears gathering in Hyper's eyes. "Could we take the wing back to the camp and bury it somewhere?" He whimpered.

"If that's what you'd like," Rhythm said in a comforting tone.

They left the clinic. Rhythm placed the wrapped wing back in the cab. They took the rest of the way on hoof. Hyper was crying when Rhythm took another look at him. The Unicorn put his hoof on the back of Hyper's neck and patted.

"I'm sorry, buddy," Rhythm lamented.

The duo made their way towards the prosthetics workshop, which was a department of the EPD building. Rhythm stepped up to the front desk, where a forest green Earth Pony worked. She peered up at the newcomers and greeted them.

"Hello. How may I help you?"

"You're new?" Rhythm questioned. He could not recall ever seeing this mare.

"Yep! I started my internship just last week," the mare claimed proudly.

"Is SlateMeasure in?" Rhythm requested.

"Um, yes he is."

CharmingRhythm moved passed the desk, Hyper following slowly behind him. The desk worker seemed shocked that they ignored her.

"Wait! You can't go back without an appointment!"

Rhythm shook his head, slightly amused. Most ponies in this workshop knew who he was, and did not mind him in their space. Rhythm trotted up to a wide doorway that was the entrance to a sectioned off room. Inside a grey stallion with a black and white mane sat. His back was turned as he worked on blueprints on a workbench. Rhythm tapped the inside of the doorway with a hoof.