//------------------------------// // STORM Front // Story: In the Days That Followed // by shallow15 //------------------------------// “What do you mean they don't answer to anyone?” Celestia asked. She was currently standing in the kitchen, wrapped in a bathrobe. Luna had gotten home about a half hour before and had spent that time going through the contents of the envelope she had received. It was now almost two in the morning. “I mean that, from what I can see, STORM gets its funding from no less than six different government agencies, plus part of Homeland Security's discretionary fund, as well what look like stipends directly from Congress and the White House.” “Next you'll be claiming they run Area 51,” Celestia said dryly. “You wouldn't be too far off,” Luna answered. She pointed to several of the papers scattered across the kitchen island. “STORM's funding comes from some of the places you'd expect: the FBI, the CIA, and the NSA. But here's where it gets weird. Other funding comes from the DIA, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and they're primarily concerned with military intelligence. And even more bizarre, there's funds coming from both NASA and the National Science Foundation.” Celestia frowned and sat down next to Luna, looking over the papers. “That makes no sense. Why would two science agencies co-fund a taskforce with three intelligence agencies and the primary form of federal law enforcement?” “I'm not sure.” Luna picked up another paper. “But if you want to believe the official documentation, STORM's mandate is, quote, 'to investigate all unusual events, phenomena, or occurrences in both domestic and foreign theaters, determine whether said events are hostile or pose a threat to United States interests both home and abroad, and if so, neutralize and/or contain them.' As far as I can tell these are the people the government sends in when there's weird stuff nobody can explain.” “Such as magical girls with wings.” Celestia sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. “And we have no idea what agency in the government is overseeing them?” “If what we're seeing is correct, I honestly don't think they have any oversight. With both the FBI and the CIA footing the bill, that probably gives them authority on both the national and international level. I'm also concerned that the NSA and the DIA are involved.” Luna put the papers she was holding down. “If these people have that much autonomy, who knows what they can justify doing.” “What's their track record?” Celestia asked. “How do they operate? There has to be records of that here, right?” Luna moved several of the papers aside. “I saw something a few minutes ago. Where did I.. a-ha! Field reports to Congress.” Luna skimmed the report and frowned. She looked at her sister, her eyes wide. “This is bad.” “How bad?” “Well, for most of the last decade, not a lot seems to happen, but in the last six years, there's been a lot of payouts to various civilian businesses or individuals. Damage claims, complaints from local law enforcement, all sorts of instances where STORM has rubbed somebody the wrong way.” Celestia looked at the paper she had picked up. It was a brief synopsis of the history of STORM, complete with a listing of all the people who had held the position of Director of the agency. She looked at the name of the current Director and his date of appointment. “And the complaints started about six years ago, you said?” “About that, yeah.” Celestia passed the paper over. “That seems to coincide with the time the current Director was appointed. Cosmos Stormking.” “So, the current Director of STORM looks to be the type who shoots first and asks questions later.” Luna leaned forward and put her head in her hands. “Fantastic.” “Well, with luck, we won't need to deal with him directly. What did your friend dig up on Tempest Shadow?” Luna sat back up and brought over another stack of papers. “According to what CacoPhonee found, Tempest Shadow is the most successful field agent in the history of STORM. She has a 97% closure rate on her cases. She's also listed as the agent in charge in most of those damage reports and complaints. Former military –“ “Army?” “Air Force, actually. Decorated twice while in service. Later assigned to military intelligence, then when her tour was up, STORM grabbed her.” “What's she like?” Luna shook her head. “Doesn't look like CacoPhonee was able to get her personnel file. Most of what's here is stuff in the public record. But still, given her track record, it looks like she doesn't let anything stop her, and she seems to be willing to do just as much to close her cases. Not a fun person to be around.” Celestia let a breath out through her nose. “In short, the results driven leader of STORM has sent his top agent, who has a reputation for ruthlessness, to look into the reports of strange sightings in this city over the past year, which may or may not involve girls with horse ears and wings.” “That's about the size of it.” She looked down at the papers then back up at her sister. “Tia? Are we going to be able to protect those girls? This whole thing seems way out of our league.” Celestia put a hand on Luna's shoulder. “It is way out of our league, but we have to do what we can. They may have magic on their side, but they're still children, Luna. It's our responsibility to make sure no harm comes to them, or at the very least, try to keep harm coming to them.” “I could try to get more on her,” Luna offered. “I'd have to head to the next town over at least, but I think I – “ “No. I don't want you risking anyone else looking for NightmareMoon. We'll worry about Agent Shadow if and when she comes calling. In the meantime, we at least have a better idea what we're up against. Monday, we'll meet with Sunset and her friends and let them know who we may be dealing with in the future.” Luna sighed. “I really hope you know what you're doing, Tia?” “Me too, Lu.” When dawn broke the next day, a nondescript black sedan entered Canterlot City limits. It pulled into the lot of a local diner and parked. Tempest Shadow got out of the car and entered the building. She took a seat at the lunch counter and ordered her usual field breakfast: two eggs over easy, three strips of bacon and whole wheat toast, coupled with the lifeblood of all government field agents, hot black coffee. As she waited for her food, she sipped her coffee and let her ears work. She never went full bore into an investigation. It was much more productive to get a lay of the land first, and small diners like this were hotbeds of neighborhood gossip. She had gotten more than one lead by keeping her mouth shut and her ears open in places like this. “Do we have enough?” A high pitched female voice squeaked. Tempest's head turned slightly. That voice sounded familiar. “For the last time, yes, Sonata, we have enough.” The second voice, also female, was slightly lower and more nasal than the first. “Just like the last six times you asked.” “Well, sorry, Aria,” the first voice whined. “Excuse me for not wanting to wash dishes again when we turn up short of money to pay for the food.” “Maybe if you stopped spending everything you get from that job of yours as soon as you get paid, we wouldn't have to run out on the bill!” “Maybe you could actually get a job and help out with the bills! You don't do anything but laze around the apartment all day!” One of Tempest's eyebrows raised. This particular bickering seemed very familiar indeed. If her suspicions were correct, then a third voice should – “Would you two knock it off?” A third female voice, this one low and sultry, entered the conversation. Ah. There it was. “We have enough to pay the damn bill,” said Voice Number Three. “So can we, for once, just enjoy a meal in peace?” “If you want to call this stuff a meal,” Aria complained. “Right now, even the pathetic magic native to this world would be better than this crap.” “Well, you know we're never getting that again,” the third voice replied. “Those girls made sure of that!” Tempest's eyes shot fully open and she resisted the urge to spin around. There would be time to confirm her theory later. Right now, she didn't want to give the three any indication she was here. “And whose fault was that, Adagio?” Aria retorted. “I seem to recall you being just as interested in getting their magic as I was.” “Same here!” piped up Sonata. Aria let out a noise of disgust. “Not helping, Sonata.” “Helping what?” Adagio groaned. “Look, I... oh, forget it. I'm going to go pay the bill. You two do whatever the hell you want.” Tempest didn't move for the next few minutes except to sip her coffee. She slowly moved her eyes so she could see the exit of the diner out of the corner of her eye. Her patience was rewarded as she saw two teenage girls, one pink with purple hair done up in twin pigtails, and one blue with a darker blue ponytail shot through with streaks of purple go through the doors, still bickering with each other. “That'll be $17.50, hon,” said the waitress at the cash register. Tempest risked turning her head slightly. The yellow teenage girl with the voluminous golden hair handed over some money to the waitress. She received her change and turned to go to the exit, bringing her face fully into Tempest's field of vision. Tempest didn't allow herself to smile until the yellow girl had left the diner. There was no doubt about it now that she had seen them. The STORM agent drank down the rest of her coffee and signaled for the check. Well, hello again, old friends.