Tick, tock, tick, tock.
The sound of the clock ticking away was all I could hear.
I shifted my position in the seat as my haunches began to get sore.
Thirty-two minutes left... I thought.
All my paper work due today was done, and I'd finish the rest when I'll need too. Just thirty-one minutes now until I get out of work.
With my mind free, all my thoughts turn instinctively to the past. I cringe. Why do ponies feel remorse?
I banished all the painful thoughts from my head, and turned my full and undivided attention to the clock on the wall.
Tick, tock, tick, tock.
Thirty minutes now.
If only I-
"AGENT!" A huge figure with a bright orange coat, yet vibrant blue mane, came close to shattering the door frame as he entered the room.
"Yes captian?" I began as I scrambled back into my chair.
"2-20, I'll need you to investigate a series of chain occurrences that have been happening over the past two days. You must be done in three days for reasons I cannot state, my secretary will provide you with notes, evidence, and equipment to aid you, you shall turn over the case to higher branches if it gets out of hoof, and you shall be done in three days. Clear?" The captain stated all of this very fast.
"Wha- what?" I squinted my eyes at the captain, as if it would focus on his words.
The captain sighed and began again, slower this time. "A series of unusual occurrences have been spotted all over Equestria. I will provide you with the necessary information later, but you must be ready quickly to be done in less than three days." He paused here, as if I needed more time to process it all. "It is our job to investigate these things, but as soon as you identify the problem, we shall turn it over to a different branch. Clear?" The captain paused again, and I nodded. He then dropped to a more casual tone of voice. "While I usually wouldn't award such a case to a mare-"
"What?" I interjected at this point in the conversation. The question was rhetorical - I heard what he said and knew exactly what he meant.
"I mean to say - such a tender filly, at your young age..."
"Captain, I am quite sure I can handle and protect myself perfectly well." It felt like I'd said that a hundred times to him. "I'll take the case files and leave on my mission. To extend, if I prove myself well, you shall stop demeaning me on my gender and age, which out of context is extremely inappropriate for a stallion such as yourself."
"Agent 2-20, I do not have time for this..." the captain said through clenched teeth.
"Fine. But I have one more request..."
The captain sighed. It was obvious that he too couldn't wait for the day to be over.
"If I succeed in this mission, you will give me a promotion."
"Yes, if you succeed I will... think about a promotion."
I smiled, but quickly returned to a solemn scowl. "So, you shall promote me to the next highest branch, if I succeed in this mission within three days. You shall not hinder my progress or call me back in, unless one of your superiors has ordered you to. As soon as I fulfill the mission, I will return and you will promote me." I slid off my chair and headed to the doorway. In a mimicry of the captain's own mannerisms and professionalism - though I lack none myself - I turned to his face as I passed him and spoke: "Clear?"
He gulped, and I spent no effort in veiling my glee as I pranced out of the room with a smile on my face.
Now, to tend to this case...