The Institute was a perfect safe haven, perfectly halfway in-between R-7 and Manehatten, the ponies who ran it were friendly to all who needed safety from the wastes, finding an open space near the northern wall the group set up camp, a small fire burning as their food cooked slowly as out of the shadows creeped a familiar figure. The same mare as earlier appeared her sniper rifle aimed at the group, “Why are you here?” she asked again, “We told you earlier, we're going to Manehatten” Shard replied coldly not liking the way that gun was pointed, “No, why are you really here?”, asking the same question again with even more seriousness, “We are going to Manehatten..”, Shard replying just as coldly as before meeting her gaze and gun with his improved laser pistol “..why don't you believe us”. “Why don't I believe you, four rag tag ponies come from the wastes on there way to one of the most dangerous places in the wastes for a job that is more unheard of than a Celestia sighting, now you tell me if that sounds a little suspicious” a grin appearing on her face as she thinks she has bested her opponent, “We're telling the truth.. why, who do you think we are?” Screw joining the discussion taking her off guard, “What.. no one, just some raiders that’s all”, by now everypony was looking at her, “You're lying I can tell, why?, who do you think we are?” Gale entered in making it 3 on 1, sighing realising she was rumbled, “The heads of security think you're Red Eye scouts, sizing up The Institute, they were going to take you in for questioning tomorrow, i believed you but my opinion isn't enough to convince them..”, the telekinetic field on the sniper rifle disappearing as it drops to the ground, “.. i'm sorry, i couldn't do anything to help”, hitting her head against the dirt repeating 'useless' over and over again.
“Hey your not useless”, Gale said to her picking her up and sitting her down hugging her as they by the camp fire, “I am, some ponies are trying to do something good in this world and they end up getting arrested for doing so”, she said to them all, “All we need to do is tell them and that'll be enough” Screw said trying to reassure her that they'll be fine. Looking up at him before turning to each of them individually, “So when the chief comes along with some of his guards to take you to the station you would let him, taking away your weapons and everything?”, Shard begins to answer but stops when he realises that he was lying, they wouldn't let them take their weapons away and lock them up as he didn't trust them to follow procedure.
Night passed slowly as they chatted the night away, the found out more about the security mare, her name was Night Watch, her black mane that you saw was dyed from it's usual auburn along with her cutie mark hidden beneath her uniform was a beaker, originally a scientist she was kicked out for almost destroying a lab when she mixed the wrong chemicals. But their idle chatter was interrupted when an older colt appeared with his grey mane and beard along with three others all armed with battlesaddles, “Night Watch you have 10 seconds to explain what you are doing here before I kick your useless hide out of here” angrily bawling at her, “Gaining information, Sir” she said immediately standing at attention, “Information?, what kind of information?”, he asked intrigued by what she means, “I have found out proof that these ponies are not part of Red Eye's slavers, they have a document written by Ditzy Doo saying who they are looking for and the pay for the job..”, turning towards you, “quick show him the paper”. “Let me have a look at that, i've met Ditzy and know what her spelling is like”, Kenneth remove a few pieces of paper from his bag given to them from their employer handing them over to the security head watching him as he reads them intently as he finishes they watch as he starts laughing, “It seems that you were right Night, well there is a first time for everything”, giving it to one of his men who hands it back before leaving you alone with Night and the Chief, “I'm sorry for suspecting you it's just Red Eye has been showing interest in two locations around here, The Institute & another which we cannot seem to find on any records and as far as we know neither do they and because of that they keep targeting us for attacks, when somepony like you shows up we get a little suspicious, now you are free to come and go but do be careful as the area around here is not safe”, as he finishes his warning he walks away.
“Uh... are you full?”Night asks you, “What, no i've only had like one can of carrots.. or was it two, I can't remember but i still feel hungry” Kenneth replies crazily as usual, “No, I mean do you have room for one more?” she asks obviously wanting to join you, “Wouldn't ponies miss you?” Shard asks her concerned about how her leaving would be taken, “Couldn’t you see then, i'm useless, that may have been a joke but it's a stigma i have here, so will you take me?”.
Well now you have a quick question and a couple of actions you can take, will Night join your party as a follower & what will you do now, continue to Manehatten, help The Institute with Red Eye or something completely different.