I opened the door to my office to find Director Swanson seated in the guest chair, facing the door, and us. Her carefully composed face took the appearance of Trixie in stride. She was silent as we entered, but once the door was closed behind us, she rose. "Pleasure to see you all this morning." Her eyes were on Trixie. "We haven't met. I am Director Swanson."
Trixie looked mildly confused, but focused on her showmanship. "A pleasure to meet you, but the pleasure is truly yours, to meet the Great and Powerful Trixie." A handful of sparkling glitter exploded upwards at the announcement, and I felt a little bad for the janitor that would have to clean it up.
I decided to try to disarm any misgivings, "Trixie came looking for Starlight. She's not here to make trouble, promise."
Starlight had a less forgiving expression, brow arched. "You don't look surprised to see her."
Swanson stepped aside and gestured for the chair as if Starlight or Trixie might want it. "I had hoped to bring Miss Frohein onboard directly, but that failure doesn't make her any less of a matter of interest."
Trixie accepted the seat, plopping herself down and holding out a hand towards me. Right. I dug out my phone and placed it in the waiting hand. She giggled with her loot and began tapping away, seemingly oblivious to the tension in the room.
The way Swanson had said that... "I'm being watched."
"That you are. Cleared or not, you are the one with the information. As a loyal American, we trust you'll share it with the proper authorities?"
Free information? Basically not a thing. "We have an agreement already in place. I haven't received my payment" Swanson wasn't nearly interesting or adorable enough to pay for information with her presence.
"I feared as much." She crossed her arms. "You do realize, witholding information is another potential concern..." She suddenly waved it away. "Let's not play the posture game. We're both professionals. Here." She gave an underhanded toss of a flash drive.
I caught it, but didn't move to do anything with it right away. Smart people didn't shove strange flash drives into their computer as a first instinct. "And this is?"
"A revised contract. You'll be coming aboard as an outside informant." Her eyes darted to Starlight and Trixie. "Ideally these two as well. It will come with a working visa, so you'll stop breaking the law and start being documented."
Starlight rolled a hand in the air as she set the other on her hip. "So we're still getting paid, right?"
"Of course," assured Swanson easily. "It would be a crime to assume you'll work for free." She leaned forward towards Starlight. "It would seem the method used to gain access to America works reliably." Her eyes darted to the occupied Trixie before returning to Starlight. "Does it work in reverse?"
She was implacable, though I couldn't fault her, not really. She was doing her job. Trixie proved to be the one with the answer, even if her face never left my phone. "That's an answer you'll get after we've reviewed that contract."
Starlight flashed a bright smile. "That's the truth of it. We're sorry for our unconventional methods. We're not trying to cause trouble."
Swanson wiggled a few fingers at me. "Kindly do so quickly. I have a project pending that I want you present for, today if we can swing it."
She sounded impatient, and I didn't like impatient government workers. It was a good part of my job to make sure that never happened. I slipped in the drive and there were two files awaiting review within. One for me, and one for non-nationals, AKA Starlight and Trixie. I got right to reviewing.
While I worked, Starlight looked Swanson over. "So... You're like a Royal Guard, right?"
Swanson gave a little restrained laugh at that. "I've never heard it put that way. I'd think the military fits that title better, if any. America doesn't have royalty. No kings in this land."
Trixie asked without looking up, "What about princesses?"
"None of those, either," agreed Swanson, sounding amused. "We are a republic."
Discussion flowed naturally to what a republic specifically meant, but I tuned into the contract. It seemed clear. It had clauses calling for secrecy, to no surprise in general. Non-disclosures everywhere.
One part jumped out at me. "What's this about 'recovery of foreign nationals'?"
Swanson aborted the conversation she was in. "To put it simply, you are not to attempt the removal of any foreign citizen in our care without our direct permission. There are due processes to be obeyed." Her eyes darted to Trixie. "So we'll follow the rules. If you determine a way to return them to their native country, we can then investigate ways to do that properly. Until then, they are not to be moved."
A vision of the foal that had been shared with me came to mind. Swanson didn't want us grabbing one of those little ponies and dashing off with them. That seemed... fair. "I trust that doesn't include Starlight and Trixie?"
"If they sign on, they'll be properly documented and not subject to these clauses, being legally present and permitted to move as they please. Did you see anything else you had questions about?"
Trixie set down my phone. "And if we don't agree?"
Swawnson let out a soft sigh. "I'm trying to avoid threats, but I can't think of a way to say this that won't come across as one. If you don't become part of the project, you become a subject of it instead. You are a foreign national, undocumented, with no reasonable way to deport you, with the ability to cause mass panic with your presence. We would have to secure you."
Her eyes moved to me. "And don't think we've forgotten your situation. You're in a delicate position, one that could change two worlds at once. That sounds dramatic, but you're the only direct point of contact the entire country has with a new foreign one. I feel I should point out that this is not a secret just I hold. Your file has been making the rounds internally."
There was absolutely no way that was a good thing. Even if I shook off Swanson, there would be others behind her. My life was basically over. Not in that dramatic death sort of way, but the life I knew was gone, replaced by another. Welcome to being an adult. I signed on with Swanson, or invited greater examination and possible reprisals from her and others. As part of the project, I would have a place in the machine, and would likely be left alone.
That was a lousy choice. While I grappled with it, Trixie had resumed playing a game. Starlight was chatting with Swanson. Listening to the two was fascinating, just from the tones of their voices. The two were verbally sparring for information, perhaps a little dominance? I couldn't be sure, but most of my attention was on making sure the contracts were as clean as I could hope for.
That reminded me of something. As I swept back and forth over the document, reading obsessively and checking and cross-checking, I asked, "What about Kevin?"
"I should think you know." She crossed her arms before they went to her sides. "He'll be your contact, presuming you're onboard."
Oh... That was priceless. "He's my superior?"
"In this project, yes. He has clearance, you do not. I trust this won't cause issues?"
Starlight got the humor of it as well and burst into the laughter I was having internally. "This will be good for him, or at least see if he can handle it without it going to his head." She clapped Swanson on the shoulder. "We'll be good for him."
Swanson gave a mildly forced-looking smile. "See that you do. He may have to make decisions you do not immediately agree with, but if you trust him, and us, please follow directions."
That didn't sound shady at all... Of course, it both was and was not. We were jumping into the deep end of red tape heaven, or hell. "How fast do you need this completed?"
"Now would be ideal. I've already secured permission to take you all off-site to where it starts."
No pressure. I waved Starlight and Trixie over, and soon our signatures graced all the proper lines. The files were printed out and emailed and that was that. We were government employees. A position considered enviable at one point, but that point had receded into the past.
Swanson looked genuinely pleased. "Welcome to the project. I'll get the paperwork mill running on getting your visas mailed to you, in the meanwhile..." She fished out two little booklets, handing one to either of them. "These are temporary passports, properly stamped. They are your identification and should be used as such any time you are requested to provide them."
Even Trixie found that odd. "Why do you have one for Trixie? She just got here."
"You're an interest," repeated Swanson. "Your arrival was already known." She flipped open one of the little books. It looked a bit bare as passports went. "Yours does not have a photo, we need to remedy that immediately, but other than that, it is legally valid."
Starlight crossed her arms. "So how long have you been spying on Linda?"
The room became quiet a moment. "As soon as the warrant went through," confessed Swanson. "It wasn't an ambiguous case."
I imagined it wasn't. Permission to spy on literal aliens? What court would say no? "That's enough about that." I pushed away from my desk and rose to my feet. "Let's get going."
Swanson nodded as she moved for the door. "First, that photograph, then, we introduce you to the project properly. Kevin will be there. He's already enjoying the tour."
Trixie passed my phone back to me as she joined the departing line. "Trixie has not had a job, not like this. She usually works for herself. This is a new experience, but she will rise to it in an Astounding way."
Starlight gave a brief little chuckle as we left. "Can't say I've had much experience either, but this isn't a normal kind of job."
The secretary gave a friendly wave as we went past. "Good luck," she almost sang out. I hoped she never became jaded.
As it turned, Trixie ate up modern photography technology. Once she understood what was going on, she worked that camera eagerly and was sad when the photographer insisted he had plenty of shots to work with. "But she was just getting started. You haven't captured half her amazing sides!"
Starlight ribbed her friend lightly. "All your sides are amazing sides."
"Trixie cannot argue this." She gave a helpless shrug. "It's a curse, but one she bears with dignity."
...
So every foal that travels to earth by accident doesn't have any protections an average citizen has, and they won't be sent back until this organization says they can?
Loopholes galore when dealing with children.
8146713 Foal, adult, diamond dog, dragon, or anything else. No un-authorized travel across the border, landmass or dimensional within the States, thanks.
The more easily information can be disseminated, the more exhaustive and brutal the restrictions have to be in order to slow its loss?
We havent even seen the Agency yet either.
Hooray, Kevin has more-responsibility!
Hoo-ray.
... I do hope it goes well for him, and he uh... "deserves" it? The laughing could be seen as condescending/troubling, and it sorta looks like Swanson feels that way.
Ok they need to find out what is happening on the Equestrian side to find out why beings from their side keep showing up on Earth. Also Big Brother is in full force I see and it makes me very unhappy, hopefully Kevin starts to realize that something very fishy is going on.
Oh, oh I know! Linda's car has been replaced by an Autobot! It is a plot point apparently in the next Transformers movie so maybe other Hasbro franchises can show up! A man can dream can't he?
Paraphrased from Men In Black: the only way these people get on with their happy little lives is that they Do. Not. Know about it!
First Project Get! Wonder if the changeling will be involved. That would cause a bit of a stir...
Keep going! ;)
To be honest this story is becoming more and more like a legalized rodeo to get anything properly started.....
It started fresh and new as an idea but as more chapters pass and things happen the more the government and law interfere and its becoming more and more red tape, dont do that, classified ect.
There is not much sense of progression and right now all the way even from the whole trip all of this seem abit stuck? (cant properly express it)
Like the story is in a limbo of non progression but still there retaining its viewers/readers..... I feel like 1 good chapter now could make or break it, which should never be the case EVER for a story.
The whole grimdark notion of Linda becoming property and maneuvering her own life as a commodity that now belongs to USA since shes a point of interest to many parties is becoming quite bad.
Not only is her life stamped if she makes one bad call they will literary force themselves down her throat and might even take drastic action and simply take what they want. (its a very real possibility if she doesen't comply to their demands....Cash and job offer are only there for posterity to keep her complacent and less of a issue to get what they want the legal way)
This is turning into a bureaucratic nightmare without much happening to be honest. The fact Linda cant even help ponies on Earth properly without their say so and the way they spoke of ''the job'' in this chapter leads me to believe they will not like what they find, and many of the ''subjects'' which they are sure to become should they get out of line have been tested and experimented on. Atleast the basic things like blood tissue samples and more if you go that dark route.....
8148292 This chapter was literally the one in which things officially begin. You've chosen a strange place to say things are not happening.
In recent chapters: Minuette got involved, and Trixie tried to save Starlight and ended up joining her on Earth.
Things are happening. They are literally on the way to get involved.
Scary things are scary. They're scary for the characters too. I'm not sure how that's a bad thing for the story?
In the end, this is a slice of life story that has some exciting plot threads being followed, but is mostly about a lawyer grappling with suddenly being involved with Equestria. She's doing her best.
I hope that helps.
8148851
Yeah all that u have said is true, but i had to get my thoughts out and see what u think of them....... But as i said while things are spinning around and new elements are introduced its still feels stuck as in while things are happening they are barely impacting? (cant properly express myself as im not primary english speaker)
Hope the next chapter will be a deal breaker and the story can pick up in main happenings and intrigue. Trixie while amusing gets irritating fast. that's why i dont exactly like her so maybe that influenced my decision and view of things in the last few chapters? Maybe.......
I will not drop this story as im invested in it, but im interested more probably in the whole Celestia x TrueShot part more than the Earth happenings.
Minuette is a nice flavor to the whole story but so far its just that, intrigue as shes a Time mage but unless her actions are impactful or she actually does the whole 1 consciousness in 2 worlds or actually fixes the whole spend only a few hours a day in Ponyland its more of a distraction from the main thing (atleast it feels like it?) but i can see you working to fix the glaring issue TrueShot/Linda has.
And sorry for the opinion while i haven't even properly analized everything myself and simply wrote a review without properly criticizing or making anything constructive in which you could improve........
8149065 What, exactly, are we distracting from? You seem very focused on getting a specific thing 'done'. This story has been pretty solidly not about getting any great thing 'done'. That may be where your frustration is coming from?
If Linda discovers some lost ponies, she will not be their immediate savior, she will try her best to do well by them, because she is a good person, and has loved to learn ponies. She will not become a criminal, besides smuggling Starlight when she was undocumented.
She is a lawyer, and not in her 20s. She is a grown lady with a life and she has not agreed to abandon that. She likes her life. She likes her new life too, so far she has experienced it, but she has made no move to want to abandon the first for the second.
8149137
Yeah i think you nailed it on the head, Maybe that is a source of irritation for me since i dont know what it could be myself.
Sorry for bad reviewing ;) or comments. Maybe that very lack of a goal or just stumbling around trying to keep it together and the angst? is too much for me?? Ah well if i myself dont know what is wrong i cannot expect another to know :D
Keep up the good work in any case.
8149220 Linda is not the one angsting. She is trying to be an adult with varying levels of success.
So.... signed contract with a native outsider.... with one name.
Nope... no loopholes there, especially for the former-psuedo-lover of a millenias old demi-goddess level alicorn should the need arise.
On the other hand/hoof: yay passports. Now they can order pizza and be charged 24% interest on credit cards they never wanted.
I do still have to wonder what the general reaction would be to learning that they're in contact with a species that has the capacity to move a star with their mind(s).
Kevin as her boss made me laugh so much harder then it should have.
I like how you capture Trixie's personality perfectly.
8316883
Welcome aboard! You did an impressive rush of chapters there. The EqG mirror can now be turned on whenever Twilight wants thanks to her diary, but that world is not Linda's world.