It’s strange really. When you sign up you make a vow to protect the land you love. You blindly accept, thinking you know who the bad guys are and where your allies stand. For the moment you can tell your friends from you enemies as if they were night and day. Then the motives change. Questions are asked. But you are just forced to follow orders. You follow along and in their eyes you are a hero, but to the public you become a monster. Then the further up the chain you go, the harder it gets to tell the good from the bad. Once your own morals get into the mix you are seen as a threat, and you go from an asset to expendable. Now all of a sudden you are casted out, and you are seen as an enemy of the system. They cast you out, try to wipe you from the history books, and if you are lucky you barely get away with your life. But once you get away you realize that none of it matters. To both parties you don’t even exist anymore. The monster is supposedly dead. You could always go back to the way things were before you joined, but what if you have nothing to go back to? What do you become then?
The underground train car swayed back and forth gently as it rode along its track, the inside practically empty. A gentle roar filled the air of the cabin as two of the unicorn thugs dressed in loose baggy clothing having a conversation at one end of the car. On the other end, seated in the middle of an empty row of seats, was a lone sand colored pegasus with a ruffled black and grey colored mane. Daring was looking down at the floor of the subway, completely zoned out of her surroundings due in part to the half empty bottle of whiskey cider resting in her lap. Her fur was messy and knotted and her face looked like she hasn’t slept in days. Her eyes slowly started to close, hiding the blank look in her eyes, as the doors on the other end of the car opened. In walked 4 earth ponies, the lead one dressed in a leather jacket bumping into one of the unicorns. The unicorn shot the leather clad earth pony a menacing and threatening look as he reached a hoof down to lift up the bottom of the shirt he was wearing, revealing the handle of a small revolver tucked into his pants pocket.
“Where did you get that from a cereal box? Wanna see a real gun tough guy?” The earth pony got right in the unicorns face, looking him dead in the eyes daring him to pull the piece out. The unicorn holds his gaze for a while before backing away and walking to the other car, ushering his companion to follow him. Once both are out of the car, one member of the earth pony’s entourage walked up next to him.
“Shooter you just can’t keep doing stuff like that to these thugs on the subway man. You don’t know what kind of guys you run into down here, this is why your dad wanted us to take the car.” He said to the lead earth pony. Shooter looked back at his companion, his brown eyes shooting him a condescending look as he adjusts his jacket.
“Would you relax. I’m getting new hardware tomorrow so if anyone messes with me they will be more than sorry.” Shooter said as his eyes shifted from his partner over to the other end of the car, focusing on the lone homeless pegasus sitting all alone. “Besides, you get to make new friends on these things.” A smirk broke across his face as he started to walk over to the lonesome mare. Daring’s eyes remained closed, giving anyone who would give a second look the impression that she was in a drunken slumber.
Shooter walked over to the mare and stood over her, reaching out a hoof to grab the bottle of alcohol resting in her lap. In an instant, Daring’s hoof shot out from it’s idol position, her arm hooking around Shooter’s hoof holding it in a vice like grip. Surprised from the sudden move from the defenseless mare, Shooter tried to pull his hoof out of the mare’s grip and after several failed attempts Daring released the startled thug just as quickly as she grabbed him. Shooter took a few steps back, still in shock at the sudden change in behavior of this seemingly harmless mare. He shot a worried look back at his posse, all of his companions standing still mouths agape as to what happened. They all slowly worked their way up to Shooter as he retook his position in front of Daring.
“Nice bottle. Applejack Daniels. Didn’t bring enough for all my friends though. Maybe we need to teach you a little lesson about sharing?” Shooter asked as he leaned his head down to meet Daring at eye level. There was no response from Daring other than her closing her eyes slowly slipping back into the supposed drunken slumber.
The gang circled around the pegasus, the few ponies behind Shooter cracking their necks before one reached forward to grab Daring. Just as fast as she acted the first time, both of Daring’s hoofs wrapped around his arm pulling him into a painful hold. Another pony from the gang jumped forward to help him but was met by a perfectly timed kick to his snout by one of Daring’s legs. Daring used the leverage gained on the first thug she grabbed to pull herself out of the seat and once standing she threw her temporary hostage to the ground. One of the two remaining thugs charged her only to be met by one of the vertical aluminum poles as Daring sidestepped the thug completely. As Shooter launched at Daring, she met his attack by slipping around him and wrapping both forearms around the earth pony’s neck. As she applied the grip, it caused Shooter’s airways to constrict. He flailed his hooves around, gasping for air to no avail as he slowly slumped unconsciously to the floor of the subway.
Daring released her sleeper hold and stepped back from the four large earth ponies she just took down with little to no effort, the gravity and panic of the situation starting to set in. She ran a hoof through her hair as she looked around the subway car, her eyes immediately coming to rest in front of a security camera. She didn’t notice it until just now, meaning that the entire scrap was caught on tape. To make matters worse, she just gave the Manehattan police department a face to look for. She felt the subway come to a stop and took the opportunity. She quickly left the subway car and fled the scene as fast as her hooves would take her. As Daring worked her way out of the subway and onto the streets of Manehattan, a couple of police officers on the platform enter the subway car Daring just exited.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The apartment was dark. The only sign of life in the otherwise abandoned building was the light glow of a computer screen in one room. Inside the room sat the computer emitting the light, casting shadows behind the rather large unicorn seated in the computer chair. Any light not being cast onto the unicorn lit up the tack on board behind him. On the board were several photos of many different ponies. The arrangement of photos was divided by a long strip of paper containing several series of numbers connected to each photo by a piece of red string. The white unicorn behind the computer was monitoring the several security cam feeds on his screen, his eyes scanning for something in particular. He focused on one security feed from the subway systems and freezes frame on the feed. On the feed was Daring Do, staring directly into the camera. As the unicorn floated a glass of water up to his lips, a unicorn in a suit walks into the room and clears his throat to get the attention of the blue haired unicorn behind the computer.
“Sir I have some news concerning the asset you are following.” The guard pony said as Fancy Pants turned his attention to him, using his magic to adjust his monocle.
“I heard. I have been watching the feeds all night. It appears that our asset has dug herself into a little bit of a hole.” Fancy Pants said as he got out of the chair to face the tack on board, reviewing some of the rather new photos placed on the board.
“There was a search called for her by the MPD shortly after two officers saw the gang. They were interviewed and they used the footage to get a positive ID. It appears that they have connected her to a few murders in the past few months.” As the guard says this, Fancy turns away from the board and goes over to the computer, pulling up the security feed for the Manehattan police and flipping through the several rooms in the building.
“Well at least we know they won’t get a clear ID on her, after all she is listed as deceased. That and the several aliases she created. Where is she now?” Fancy Pants said as he flipped through the camera feeds.
“The search was fairly quick. They found her hiding in an alley somewhere in Northtown not to far from the subway stop she got off at. She is currently being detained in the homicide office.” The guard said flatly. Fancy Pants flipped the feed to the detainment room of the homicide office and, sure enough, there was Daring. Sitting alone at the moment in the room slowly tapping her hoof on the table waiting for one of the officers to interrogate her.
“Well I believe we have gathered all that is necessary to know our little asset. It’s time to strike while the iron is hot. Knowing her she is probably going to escape that office, once she does I want you to approach her and get her to the meeting location. I will do the rest of the talking from there.” Fancy Pants said, adjusting his monocle once again.
“I’ll send the car out right now.” The guard said in response as Fancy sat back down in his chair.
“Good. Give me a call when you have her.” Fancy Pants said as his attention returned back to the monitors. The guard gave a nod and left the room, leaving Fancy Pants to return to his close analysis of the monitor. As he watches the feed of Daring, he notices two officers enter the room. One was a griffon while the other was a steel gray mare with a navy blue mane. The two pulled up some chairs and sat on opposite ends of the table, flanking Daring on both sides. Fancy typed some inputs on the keyboard in front of him, pulling up files on both of the officers.
“Let’s see. Detective Gilda of the MPD. 20 years old entering her 2nd year of service. Currently working homicide.” Fancy Pants scans through the dossier put up on his screen briefly before moving over to the steel grey mare. “As for you. Detective Crimson Jones of the MPD. Age 35 entering 6 years in the homicide department, 10 years of service overall. Fair amount of prestige to allow a rookie like Gilda onto her cases.” Fancy took a sip of water as he goes back to the live feed. “Ok Ms. Do...let’s see how you escape this one.”
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Daring sat in the middle of the room as she watched the two officers enter. Her eyes remained fixed on the griffon officer, feeling slightly intimidated by the look that Gilda was returning her. Both of the detectives took a seat as Crimson cleared her throat gently before Gilda got up from the chair and slammed her talons down on the steel table.
“You know you have a pretty long rap sheet following you. We ran your hoofprints and we connected you to 5 other killings in the past 4 months. We have enough evidence to put you away for life pal and if it wasn’t for the fine and suspension I would get I would drop you right now sister! So tell us! Why did you kill those--” Gilda’s tangent was interrupted by Detective Jones slamming a hoof down on the table. Crimson shot the griffon a mean look before slowly continuing.
“Gilda we want to interrogate the suspect not intimidate her. Why don’t you take a coffee break and review the case notes I got this one.” Crimson said as Gilda huffed out in disapproval. The griffon obeyed her superior and left the interrogation room, leaving just Daring and Crimson. Once Gilda was out, the steel grey unicorn pulled over the TV in the room and switched it on. Putting a tape in the tape deck, the detective fast forward to the point where Daring defended herself against the gang of thugs. She pauses at the point where Daring is staring into the security camera and looks over at the pegasus in question.
“Those are some pretty good moves.” Crimson said as she rests both hooves on the table. “Now normally I would just say lucky action or maybe you study in martial arts but that degree of combat for a pegasus? You made it look effortless. Military grade even.” The sound of the word ‘military’ was enough to get Daring to make eye contact with the detective.
“You have a very keen eye detective. Not everyone can spot that kind of thing unless they have either seen or experienced it before.” Daring said in a scratchy voice. Crimson got up from her chair to walk over to the water cooler, getting a small cup of cold water and handing it to Daring.
“I was on the SWAT team before moving to homicide. My father was also a royal guard for Celestia just like his father before him. You can say it’s in my family. So what about you? Judging by your combat style I would like to say Army Spec Ops...but being a pegasus I’d have to guess CAFO?” Crimson asked as Daring took a large swig of water. Daring looked at the detective as she set the little paper cup down.
“Look...it’s kinda obvious that I am down on my luck...they attacked me and I defended myself and I don’t care what your machines say I didn’t kill anypony.” Daring said, her voice now clear again.
“I understand. Celestia drops people like you in other parts of Equestria, then they expect you to come back like nothing happened. But what my question is why when we ran your prints no name came up.” As Crimson mentioned that fact Daring sat back in her chair letting out a weak chuckle.
“You know it’s funny. You think of different names and identities to get yourself out of danger but the time you need a name is when you are in trouble.” Daring says raising her eyebrow slightly at the detective.
“Well I can assure you one thing and that is that our systems are very good. We’ll get your real name one way or another and once we do I’m sorry to say that you will be going to jail for a very long time.” Crimson said flatly as she got up from the table and walked out of the room, leaving Daring all by herself.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crimson returned to her desk seated across from her griffon partner. Using her magic she started to flip through the various papers and case files that cluttered her desk. Gilda came out of an office next to the interrogation room and sat down at the desk, getting a pair of reading glasses. It was enough to take Crimson away from her attempt to organize the several files on her desk to look up at her feathered friend. “So did we get a name?” Crimson asked raising a brow slightly.
“No dice. Whoever or whatever she worked for cleaned house. No matching forms of ID.” Gilda let out a disgruntled sigh setting the file down on her desk.
“Did you cross reference every single lead?” Crimson asked.
“Yes. Every single one.” Gilda looked down at the file and slammed it shut. Crimson slowly reached out a hoof onto her desk to calm the angry griffon down.
“Hey. I know this is only your second case and I know that you want to get another good report in. But you are still a rookie, this process is frustrating for everyone including me. Just promise me you will keep your cool from now on.” Crimson patted the top of her talon as Gilda looked up at her. She let out a sigh and nodded.
“You’re right. I got hot headed back there and I’m sorry Crim.” Gilda said before opening up the case file again. “So what happens to her now that we can’t pull up a positive ID?” She said before looking down into the open file on her desk.
Crimson let out a sigh and shrugged her shoulders as she levitated some of the old and unnecessary clutter in a nearby waste basket with her magic. “Well we can’t charge someone with no ID so we’re stuck with her for the next 24 hours. After that we have no choice but to hand her over to the higher ups.” Crimson reached a hoof over to Gilda’s folder and takes out the front information form with a picture of Daring attached to it. Levitating it in front of her face, Crimson looked completely lost.
“That doesn’t sound too bad I guess. I still don’t understand how we can’t get anything on her, not even an insurance number.” Gilda closed her file and looked around the paper in front of Crimson’s face. “I mean how can that happen? I thought everypony was assigned one when they were born?”
Crimson set down the form and nodded in agreement with her partner’s observation. “Gilda you do have a point but she is different. The way she took down those thugs gives me the feeling that she might be ex military. Maybe her number was covered up or deleted when she was assigned to a special forces unit like CAFO.” Crimson said as Gilda raises an eyebrow in confusion.
“Uhh....what’s CAFO?” Gilda asked.
“Covert Air Force Operations unit. It’s a special division of the RAF. Judging from her combat abilities, a pegasus like that would most likely be ex CAFO. It would also be a likely reason why there is no form of ID.” Gilda nods through Crimson’s explanation before getting out of her chair and stretching her wings.
“Well maybe we can hand her over to them?” Gilda said as she folded her wings back to her side.
“I’m looking into that possibility now.” Crimson said as Gilda started to walk down the hall towards the holding room where Daring is.
“Going on a coffee run. I’ll check on our little friend on the way.” Gilda said as Crimson went back to looking at the information report, sitting in silence as soon as Gilda left the room and went down the hall. Crimson snapped out of her studious analysis of the form as soon as Gilda shut the door behind her. Gears started to turn in her head and recalled that Gilda always shuts that door. She never leaves it open for any reason.
“Gilda always closes that door behind her...that means...” Crimson whipped her head around looking down towards the entrance of the homicide office just in time to see a glimpse of a black and grey striped tail duck through the closing doors.
“Damn it!” Crimson said under her breath as she got up from her desk and weaved around the office making her way to the exit. She briskly gave pursuit to Daring and exited the homicide office as soon as Gilda burst through the door.
“Crim we got a problem! She escaped! We gotta-” Gilda stopped as she looked around the empty office. “Crim?”
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Daring slipped out of the front door of the MPD looking around to make sure nobody followed her. She walked down the steps and stood on the edge of the sidewalk spreading her wings ready to take off before she was interrupted by someone waving their hand from a black car. Daring’s attention shifted to the white unicorn standing in front of the automobile. She rubbed her eyes to make sure what she was seeing was actually there. Cars were on the streets of Manehattan but cars like the one she saw were considered a luxury. Only the extremely rich could afford cars like that. Daring approached the white unicorn, hovering off the ground using her wings.
“Nice car you got there pal. Mind if you let a poor helpless pony like me borrow it for a while” Daring said while pulling off her best pair of puppy dog eyes. The guard pony didn’t budge and simply cleared his throat to speak.
“Ms. Daring my employer wishes to speak with you. Please get in the car.” As soon as the guard says her name, Daring is taken aback. Her expression quickly changes from shocked to slightly angry as she gets right in the guards face.
“Hold on a minute? How’d you know my name?!” Daring asked furious at the guard. The guard simply cleared his throat again and goes over to the back of the car opening the door.
“Please Ms. Daring. I assure you that my employer will answer any questions you have.” Daring backed off a bit and looked at the black leather interior of the car. She weighed her options carefully and looked back at the police department. She went back and forth between the car and the police before letting out a frustrated sigh. She got into the back seat and looked the guard pony in the eyes before he closed the door.
“Ok I’ll play along. But if I even get the hint that anything fishy with this ‘employer’ of yours, I’ll kick his teeth in and then I’ll kick your teeth in.” The guard did not respond and simply closed the door before getting behind the driver seat, using his magic to start the car. The automobile slowly drove off just as Crimson got out to the front steps of the department. Crimson looked around for any sign of the escaped suspect but no luck. Soon she was joined by Gilda as she scanned the area with her partner.
“Where did she go? Did you see her run or fly off Crim?” Gilda asked as she looked at her superior.
“No. She vanished.” Crimson let out a frustrated sigh and kicked the ground before going back inside. Gilda slowly followed sharing in Crimson’s frustration. “Man the chief isn’t gonna like this.”
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The car slowed to a stop. Daring slowly opened the door and shielded her eyes from the rays of the now rising sun. Once her eyes adjusted she stepped out of the car and looked at her surroundings. The first thing she recognized was the Bucklyn Bridge, one of its towers looming over the small area of park near the edge of the East Manehattan river. Her eyes then focused on the single white unicorn standing facing the river. His blue mane and black raincoat slowly moved in the wind off the river. He stood there silent as Daring took a tentative step forward. Fancy’s head slowly turned to glance at Daring before turning his attention back to the river.
“It’s good to finally meet you in person Ms. Daring. I know that you have several names and aliases but that is the one you like the most am I right?” Fancy said in his normal calm demeanor as he adjusted a pair of thin steel frame glasses with his magic. “You don’t need to worry Ms. Daring I won’t tell anyone.” Daring took another timid step forward anticipating any surprise this pony has in store for her. “I’ve been watching you for a while now actually. I know everything about you. I know about your identities. I know that you dropped out of flight school. I even know about your service with CAFO.” Fancy Pants turned around to face Daring as he continued. “Your skills are just the right set I am looking for.” Daring narrowed her eyes at him and took a step forward.
“Who are you? Secret Service or something?” Daring asked ready to pounce the white unicorn if need be. Fancy used his magic to adjust the glasses on his face, his stoic expression unchanging as he cleared his throat again.
“Oh no Ms. Daring I do not work for any branch of the government. Call me an interested third party.” Fancy said as Daring backed off slightly looking a little confused. Fancy’s expression then changed as a friendly smile slowly broke onto his face.
“My name is Fancy Pants...and I would like to offer you a job Ms. Daring.”