E.S.S: 23 - Family's Feud
Canterlot, the grand capitol of Equestria. So peaceful, calm, and beautiful; yet under it's streets in the tunnels, Notts was slowly gaining a force that could change everything and IFE was just as much a danger. Alloy didn't know what his enemies were fully capable of, especially with IFE, an organization he knew virtually nothing about. Why then he willing to risk himself and his partner going their and dealing with it themselves? Maybe it was because he thought that he could get closer to Hertz without having to use all his resources, perhaps he was too confident. Regardless, what was going to happen was already in play.
Jackson and Alloy had gotten off the bus and were already scouting around the warehouse they had been captured in just yesterday. “Ain't look like no one's there” Jackson comments.
“It does look empty from out here, there's no movement, let's get a closer look” Alloy suggest; they sneak to the warehouse windows, peaking in. “Nothing but boxes”
“I'm willing to believe they got the hell outta here by now” Jackson says, “Want to go in and search the place?”
“Definitely” Alloy says, already entering the unlocked warehouse. “No security it seems..” Around them, as seen through the windows, the place is composed of crates and boxes, it seems untouched, but Alloy could tell they've been recently moved.
“They put the place back together ay?” Jackson comments.
“Sure seems like it, and they did so with cation” Alloy goes to the room they were put it in; it was now empty with the roof having been fixed. “They work fast, but there are some hairs from their manes on the floor” He picks up some hair samples and places them in a napkin and back in a suit pocket.
“Do we leave now?” Jackson asks, as he looks around.
“Yes, no point in staying here any longer.” Alloy starts to head out, when they both suddenly hear a conversation. “Shh, there are ponies outside..”
“Notts said they'd be in this warehouse” Someone says.
“I don't know, looks like a regular place to me” Another comments.
“This IFE should be here, Notts said we had to get rid of them here, so we're going in” The first states. The main doors open, Alloy and Jackson quickly hide out of site.
“Nothing. You sure this is the right place?” The other asks.
“Yes it is, but looks like we're too late” He points his gun around at the crates. “What a disappointment, I was really hoping to shoot something today.”
“Oh yeah whatever, you've never even shoot someone before!”
“Even more reason to be disappointed” He chuckles. They start to search the area.
“I'm telling you, no one's here” The other says with an annoyed sigh.
“Fine let's leave, but you're telling Notts.” He says. The other mumbles something. After they leave, Alloy and Jackson come out from hiding.
“Guess we're not the only ones Notts is after” Alloy smirks a bit.
“That's relieving, I suppose.” Jackson says, they get out of the warehouse. As they do so they could see that the two stallions were now someways down the road, still debating what to tell Notts.
“Well now what Alloy?” Jackson asks.
“I believe we should follow them, they seem to know about the IFE more than us.” He replies, Jackson nods and so begins the following of the Notts agents. As they follow they could briefly hear them arguing and blabbering on about their job. It is not till one of them turns a bit and see Alloy and Jackson at some distance that they suddenly stop their talk and begin to whisper.
“Think they know it's us?” Alloy asks Jackson.
“Dunno, never seen them befo at the hideout” Jackson says, they change directions in order to dismiss the possible suspicion of them tracking the two.
“We won't be able to follow them...what a shame, reckon we leave to check up on the agents around Canterlot.” Alloy stops at a jewelry store.
“You know, you didn't need to escape yesterday. It would have been much easier” The stallion in the suit says, coming out of the store. Jackson hops back, Alloy looks at him with some surprise.
“Didn't leave us much of a choice.” Alloy says, “I assume you must be someone important to have tracked us here just to chat”
“Heh, indeed, as you know” The stallion chuckles.
“A lawyer on your spare time, you live here in Canterlot. A regular citizen with no crime record, yet you've been secretly conspiring against your country all long”
“Perhaps” He starts to walk, Alloy and Jackson follow, “Or maybe I just want it to be even better.”
“Knowledge of bad things won't make things better. Yes, it will make you feel more intelligent, but ponies will start to take advantage of what they start feeling is right.”
“Better that than being negligent.”
“The ponies of Equestria aren't unintelligent, they know there is danger, they know not everything is flowers and sunshine.” Alloy says. Jackson nods.
“Ye man, if ya go to the poorer areas, even around here you can see the reality some ponies live in. While it's true most are well off, the system fails in some spots. It ain't perfect” Jackson inputs.
“How exactly do you think knowing about weapons of destruction, forbidden spells, and dangerous materials benefit Equestria as a whole?” Alloy asks.
Hertz chuckles, “Don't you think we can better protect Equestria? Imagine if one day a bunch of dragons come in and start wrecking everything, who's going to stop them? The Princesses? The army? The Main Six? No, because if we loose a princess, the nation goes down, the army doesn't have the equipment to take them on, and the Main Six can fail.”
“We have allies, we have spells good enough that are used by the army that can take them. And from what I've been seeing so far, the Six can handle disasters quite okay” Alloy says, they walk to a building, a lawyer office place. All of them enter, going to an elevator.
“And what of the citizens agent? How will defend themselves?” Hertz asks.
“That's why we exist Mr. Hertz, to prevent events, to help citizens” Alloy says, Jackson is a bit surprised Alloy found out so much about this stallion.
“Then what, brainwash them?” Hertz says as the elevator opens up on the fourth floor.
“It is necessary, so they don't know us as the ones who helped, and so they can go on living their lives.” Alloy says, they walk to an office room. Hertz takes a seat at the desk, the other two sit in the guest chairs.
“Necessary you say, I don't believe that. Celestia is the one who founded E.S.S right? How long has she been in power? A thousand years? Maybe more?” Hertz makes some coffee.
“What are you trying to say? It's been perfectly fine with her rule.”
“I suppose so, I just...think that things haven't been running as smooth as you make it seem.”
“If you're talking about corruption, then that's something you're going to see everywhere. We've managed pretty well as far as that goes.” Alloy states. Hertz drinks from his coffee cup, thinking a bit.
“You seem to know more about me than I know about you. So what's next agents? Going to arrest me now?” Hertz says in a casual tone.
“Not yet” Alloy says, Jackson looks at him a bit puzzled. Alloy turns to Jackson, “Can you wait outside?”
“Yeah sure” Jackson says and leaves the room.
“Something you want to say?” Hertz keeps drinking his coffee.
“Anyone can join E.S.S you know, it's not closed off to you or any other lawful citizen. It requires training and keeping knowledge safe of course, but it's an option. Heck, it's even listed under the criminal justice career choices at schools.” Alloy says in a more relaxed manner, “Not many join, why do you think that is?”
“I..know it's an option, but as for why ponies don't often join is beyond me.”
“I'll tell you why. Ponies are afraid, don't think they'll make it; it's a risky job, perhaps the most dangerous one on a job's list. And they don't know what to expect”
“What you say sounds reasonable...” Hertz finishes his cup.
“Do you have any siblings or relatives?”
“Why do you ask?”
“We don't exactly have a complete record of your family” Alloy says.
“Oh right, I took those out of the Archives” Hertz laughs a bit, “None that I knew are still alive”
“Are you certain?” Alloy asks, he wanted to be sure. If so, he thought his old self was had died.
Hertz stands up, “You might want to get down”
“Get what?” Alloy asks, just as a window at the office breaks open. He jumps to protect Hertz, three of Notts' agents point guns at both of them.
“Jackpot, Hertz and Alloy in the same place.” One smirks through a mask. “Make any sudden move and it's all over. Hooves up!” Alloy and Hertz do as he says. Jackson burst into the door, tossing the office chairs at two of them and shooting the other one in the head. The two fall out the window to the ground below, the other one lies on the floor with a stream of blood coming from his head.
“Kaboom, saved. Thanks” Jackson chuckles, he holsters his gun.
“That's going to leave a mark on the carpet” Hertz says, he levitates the dead stallion and tosses him out the window.
“I owe you one Ice” Alloy sits on the floor. Hertz looks at him.
“Tried to save me then Alloy? Didn't expect that.” Hertz looks down at the sidewalk where some ponies were now gathering along with police.
“Instinct..” Alloy stand back up and goes to Jackson to whisper, “There's already a scene below, we'll have to leave hertz here.”
“What? Are you insane? We just got this idiot and you want to let him go? I'll arrest him, you go down and take care of what's going on” Jackson says. Alloy nods slowly.
“That's a better idea..” Alloy says and leaves the room. Jackson takes out cuffs.
“Hey you, in the cuffs now” Jackson shouts to him. Hertz turns over, he appears to be in a deep thought.
“I think I've seen your partner before...I can't tell where though.” He says.
“Does it look like I care?” Jackson cuffs him by force. The cuffs are enchanted so the wearer can't use their magic. Hertz says nothing more as Jackson escorts him out. Various employees at the office watch as their collage is taken away by the unicorn in the hoodie. They whisper among themselves in confusion. Jackson hates their stares. “E.S.S move aside and don't interfere” He says, showing his badge to them all. They all sheepishly move away and resume their work.
“They must think I've done something bad if an E.S.S agent came to get me” Hertz comments to Jackson in a low voice.
“Boy, shut it” Jackson frowns as they get in the elevator.
Down below, Alloy steps by the fallen bodies, police are already holding back the crowd. A detective is on the scene.
“Don't tamper with evidence you” The detective looks to Alloy.
“E.S.S.” Alloy shows him his badge.
“Ah perfect, that makes my job easier. You know what happened?”
“These three assaulted a lawyer in this building above, we happen to be there by chance and dealt with it.” Alloy summarizes.
“Reason for assault?” He asks Alloy.
“They wanted him dead, my guess is some of the lawyer's clients weren't too happy with the trials.” Alloy says.
“And this lawyer, is he alive?”
“Yes, though we have taken him into custody for protection and questioning” Alloy says, “We'll have an official report ready for the justice department soon”
“Works with me, and these three bodies?”
“Either you tell the ambulance ponies to take them to the morgue, or I tell them. Oh and, they're equipment now belongs to E.S.S” Alloy vanishes away the guns and vests. The detective nods and notifies the police. He starts to leave the scene, he could hear some in the crowd whisper about what happened and mumble about E.S.S.
“Must be something bad if that guy's here...” Alloy hears one say.
“Think it'll be on the news?” Another asks.
“No, they don't report things when they're involved..” Someone replies. Alloy keeps walking, the citizens hadn't had time to see much of what happened, so he walked on, not worrying about any brainwashing. Jackson came his way with Hertz in cuffs.
“Everything taken care of?” Jackson asks.
“Yes, let's go to the castle. We'll hold him there” Alloy says. Jackson agrees taking Hertz along with them.
At the castle, Alloy and Jackson are greeted by Suzy. “Caught someone important I see” She says as she opens the door for them in the castle.
“Sure did, are the cells ready?” Alloy asks.
“As always Alloy” She smiles.
“Good, Jackson I'll take him from here, go see if your mare is doing okay” Alloy says, taking hold of Hertz, who has on a black veil.
“I was just about to say that” Jackson smiles and leaves to talk to his mare-friend; Suzy walks along with him.
“Nice, I figured we'd have a place in the castle for E.S.S” Hertz comments. After Alloy puts him in an enclosed cell, his veil is removed.
“Want anything to drink?” Alloy asks as Hertz takes a seat.
“Water will be fine”
“Alright.” Alloy leaves the room, returning soon with bottles water. Hertz takes it.
“This room is magic proofed.” Hertz says as he drinks, “Looks like I'll be staying here a while.”
“Will there be any attempt to get you out?” Alloy sits.
“I told my ponies not to come after me.” Hertz says with a small grin, “There's no way we could take on so many anyways” He relaxes in his seat.
Alloy is having a hard time what to say next, they sit in silence for some time.
“Are we going to do anything here? I have clients to defend in court” Hertz finally asks.
“Er, don't worry about it. I told my agents about that when I went to go get you water. They'll make sure they get representation Mr. Hertz”
“How nice” Hertz smirks.
“Just doing my job” Alloy states, “Ahem, I suppose I'll start asking more questions. When was the IFE founded?”
“Twenty years ago”
“By who?”
“Hell if I know, it was all extremely secretive back when it happened”
“Fine, are there any other leaders besides you?”
Hertz sighs and smiles, “There might be. How about we do a little information swap? You tell me stuff, and I'll tell you stuff.”
“Hmm” Alloy thinks, he know he shouldn't but Hertz was his brother even though Hertz didn't know it, “Yeah sure, ask first”
“So kind; okay, how many leaders are in your agency?”
“One. That's me”
“Ah, such a great honor Mr. Alloy”
“Your leaders?”
“Me and Two others. Matt Prime and Recky Potatogrower. Question, how many of you are there?”
“In E.S.S. there are twenty, as I mentioned before, not too many join” Alloy says.
“Lower numbers than I expected...” Hertz says in a both surprise and hinted happiness.
“A few weeks ago we were larger in number, there was a divide in our agency that caused many to leave or...Ahem. My question, what locations are you guys in?”
“Only Canterlot, you guys?”
“Ponyville, Canterlot, and the Gryphon Kingdom.”
“What..the Gryphon Kingdom exist still?” Hertz sips some water.
“My question” Alloy chuckles, “What happened to your brother.”
“You..guys have files on him?? I thought I cleared everything..He's dead..” Hertz struggles to say.
“Records on Dr. Flower Pot's notes says he's alive..” Alloy states.
“Flower Pot...I've never heard of him before, what was he involved in?”
“Many thing, one being brainwash.”
“What happened with him?”
“Don't worry about that stallion, you want to know of your brother no?”
“Y-Yes..but I haven't heard a thing about him in a long time and you're saying he's possibly alive?” Hertz says in a choppy voice. Alloy says no more and leaves the room. He couldn't reveal himself just yet, it'd be too much to say at once. He went over to Jackson, who was talking with his mare-friend.
Ice turns, “Alloy, how'd it go with that fool?”
“Well enough, they shouldn't interfere with us. They're pretty small in numbers and they're only here in Canterlot. Ah yes and they have three leaders including himself” Alloy sighs and sits close by.
Ice's girl friend looks at them both, “So you guys are getting' into trouble hu? What's with all this secret service stuff??”
“Eh, don't worry about it Kally, ain't nothin' bad gone happen.” Ice tries to comfort. Kally rolls her eyes and gets up, leaving to another room.
“You're right to a certain point Ice, we can take our worries off Hertz' ponies and focus onto Notts.” Alloy moves to Ice.
“Suppose so...what are we going to do about him then? Hertz?”
“We'll keep him here, no one's coming for him” Alloy crosses his arms. “As for Notts, I think we'll need to do a big flush out. We'll have special forces join us, guards will make sure nopony comes near the perimeter.”
“Oh man, finally! I've been wanting to get back at him in a long time. And I mean before he turned on us” He chuckles. Alloy smiles a bit in agreement.
“You know what? I'm hungry, want to go get something?”
“Yeah.” Jackson stands up, “I heard they opened a new place right by where old E.S.S building was.”
“They did now?”
“Mhm, so what do you say?”
Alloy's stomach growls, “Yes, let's go”
They rush off to this new place in Canterlot, the place's name was, 'La Petit Fast Place' aka, 'The Small Fast Place' Alloy looks at the menu of the place, “Hmm” He looks at the noodles and cringes remembering the Gryphon's place. He looks at the salads, “That one looks like a great one” Alloy points.
“Number 8 then sir?” The cashier asks, already punching the numbers into the register. Alloy nods, Jackson step up to take his order.
“Fo me, two number 3's and uh large drink.” Jackson says. The cashier nods.
“For her or to go? And are you paying together?” He asks from the counter, pacing him a large cup.
“Yea, for here and I'm payin'” Jackson takes the cup and poofs his wallet in front of him.
“Thirteen bits is your total.” He says. Jackson pays and goes to fill his drink. Alloy sits near a window, looking at the rubble that remains of the E.S.S building. Ice takes his seat and looks out as well.
“Look at that, why'd they demolish it again?” Ice asks as he sips, waiting on their order.
“I think it was vulnerable spot” Alloy replies.
“Yeah? That place we have in Ponyville is the same way, I mean Notts already sent is goons there before”
“Indeed, at least the distance is further away from his place.”
“At least we got that going for us...”
“Something wrong Ice?”
“Yeah..sorta. Dunno, just feel a little out classed.”
“We have all the resources at our disposal”
“But Notts..,I hate to admit, he makes pretty good plans, he's resourceful, he knows what he's doing. Hell, he had all this planned out for who knows how long! He manged to split apart an agency that has lasted for a thousand years..”
Alloy looks around them to make sure they're no drawing attention, “If you want to talk about this, let's do it outside”
Jackson nods; they wait for their order to come up and then leave outside. “I guess I'ma being a little pessimistic..”
“You do have truth to what you say, I don't think we should worry about it. We've got full support as I've said. We've got this, at least we've got IFE under control.” Alloy says, Ice nods and they continue to eat and talk, walking down the street.
A weak looking in stallion approaches Alloy and Jackson as they walk. He speaks in a dry tone, “You two there...spare any bits for me..?”
Alloy looks at the stallion, “Yeah sure” He takes out ten bits passing them to him. The stallion smiles and transforms into Silent Death.
“Thanks for that, I needed some bits for my dry cleaning” Silent smirks.
“What do you want, come to hunt us down?” Alloy frowns, Ice already has his gun out, ready to shoot.
“Relax, I'm not here to kill you, yet. I haven't been ordered to. Just here on my own, for myself, well that's a lie, I came to tell you something Alloy.” Silent moves closer to them.
“That's close enough” Jackson tells the shadow. Silent simply laughs and vanishes, he reappears next to Ice and does something that causes him to fall to his knees, dropping his gun.
“What the hell did you do?!” Alloy demands.
“He'll be alright, I just played a little mind game..” Silent chuckles.
“He better be okay! What do you want to tell me??”
“I heard Dr. Flower Pot hit the bucket...I'm here for my own interest..what did he have in his laboratory..? Anything, shiny, crystal like..?”
Alloy looks down at Jackson and sighs, “I didn't notice anything like that, I'm sure he ought to have something like that..”
“Yes he does have something like that...but did you see anything like that??” Silent slithers close to Alloy's face.
“There was..a lab area down some floors..he had numerous chemicals and items there, dark stones I'm sure..” Alloy backs away, feeling a cold feeling rush through his body.
Silent grins, “Yes...I'm going there myself, you won't need to worry about me..for now..” He fades away into a shadow, chuckling darkly with the last thing Alloy seeing being his sharp teeth.
Jackson gasps and stands up, soon after nearly falling before Alloy catches him, “You alright Ice..?”
“It felt like ice..a cold darkness..I-I don't know what that fool did to me..” Ice coughs a bit, regaining balance. He rubs his head and picks up his gun, putting it away. Alloy looks around him, the street was frozen except the spot they were at, any ponies in their sight were petrified, but soon began to blink and start to walk, some of them collapsing, complaining of head pains.
“I don't like that thing..” Alloy says, “It doesn't seem to have regard for what it does, his powers seem to be over anything I knew was possible”
“He's in the dark arts that's for sure, we got a bunch of stuff on it back at HQ...” Jackson shivers a bit. Both of them continue walking.
“I wonder where Notts found a guy like him; Silent Death doesn't seem to be the type of creature to need anything from anyone” Alloy thinks.
“Guess we'll just have to ask Notts himself” Jackson chuckles and coughs.
“More crystals.., now that I think about it, sending him on this crystal hunt was probably a bad idea..”
“Hey that guy's now out of the picture for a while, one less crazy to worry about.” Ice flips on his hood.
“Perhaps, but if he gets his hooves on more dark magic containing crystals..what will happen?”
“You worry too much, there's probably nothing there. I'm just glad he's gone man” Jackson says, he himself now starting to worry. Alloy grins a bit, but quickly resumes his regular resting expression, thinking about what he was to do next.
End of Chapter 23.