Predawn
Jorge Messon Drive and Milson Avenue
Margot carefully peeked through the blinds at the dirty empty street. Bits of paper and black plastic bags flew up the block. It was still too early for anypony to be out. She doubted that the few ponies that lived in the area wanted to be walking around. The hasty gallop from the safehouse was a tense affair. Every few blocks, they had to hide from DA patrol cars filled with alert soldiers. Margot noticed that all of them were half drained. Regular ponies could be convinced to ignore them, but half drained ones would definitely shoot first.
Nga'Devro walked up and peered through the blinds. “Nga'Devro wishes to know when the delivery truck is coming? He also wishes for this to be done already.”
Margot looked down at her brown and grey DA uniform and nodded.
Kiya looked at her watch. “In about two more minutes, they will be here.”
Margot sat back on her haunches and focused on passive sensing the neighborhood. At first she felt the life signs of the ponies with her like bright candles in the dark. Then her senses expanded out across the street and beyond. The few ponies that still lived in the area felt like guttering candles. A stray cold breeze could put them out without too much work. At the edge her sensing, she felt the delivery truck and the guard vehicle. Drained ponies felt like ponies, kinda but they also felt corrupt, tainted by Gleaner magic.
Margot sighed and came out her scanning trance. “They’re coming soon, get ready.”
Mackie and Emily walked up. They group gave them hugs and hoof bumps. Margot was the last. “Good luck to the both of you.” Mackie nodded and left with Emily.
Jerome walked up. “Well, it’s almost showtime. I will need some power.”
Skybreeze nodded. “I’m ready.” The car and truck came into view. At first it looked like they were going to drive right past, but at the last minute they coasted to a stop.
Far whispered. “Let’s do this.”
Jerome was the first out the door and at the greyish brown delivery truck.
Skybreeze was next with the rest of the group.
The guard who was driving opened the door and dropped the keys on the street. Jerome pointed at Skybreeze to pick them up. Margot went to the back of the truck and waited for Skybreeze to open the door. Skybreeze cantered to the back and opened the door then threw the keys to Jerome.
Most of the group could jump up into the truck except for Spike. He stood there wondering how to get inside. Rarity used her telekinesis to pick up Spike and put him in the truck.
Margot was surprised at the amount of space in the truck. There were just a few of the silvery cylindrical essence containers stacked inside under some pale yellow lights.
Kiya looked around too. “Okay, um. How about we arrange those containers in a circle and we can sit inside. That way it’s easier to fool the scanners.”
Jerome jumped into the truck and closed the door. “Okay guys, we gotta keep quiet.” The truck jerked and started moving.
Kiya and Nga'Devro quickly and quietly moved the containers so the team was surrounded by them.
While the truck drove down the street, Margot gazed at Jerome. She could see he was getting a bit tired.
Jerome looked back. “Don’t worry, I’ve done this lots of time. Piece of cake.”
Sweetie Belle looked at Rarity. “I could use some cake.”
Rarity looked back at Sweetie Belle. “Do they have cake here? It seems like such a joyless place.”
Sweetie Belle grinned. “We had a chocolate sheet cake.”
Scootaloo licked her lips.
The truck drove through the quiet city.
After a few moments. Kiya looked at Margot. “We need to get ready. I figure that there will be a checkpoint outside the Pentagon and then one at the loading bay. Maybe we should show the guards that the truck is empty so we don’t have to walk through the checkpoints outside the building?”
Margot shrugged.
Skybreeze looked at Kiya. “Well, what if the guards at the checkpoint see that the truck is empty and then tell the other guards? That might complicate things.”
Margot looked at Skybreeze. “Maybe we should save our power for later and chance this?”
Skybreeze’s ears went back for a second. “Why are you so stingy with your power?”
Nga'Devro stepped up. ”Nga'Devro remembers how we rescued Rarity, it required a lot of power. We may need more to get Twilight Sparkle.”
Jerome smiled. “Don’t worry, I got this. A quick suggestion and the guards will ignore us.”
Spike looked up at Margot. “I hope Twilight is okay.”
Rarity nodded. “I hope so too, Spike darling.”
Kiya pointed at Jerome with her left fore hoof. “Okay, he will handle the first checkpoint guards and I will handle the second set. Maybe we should get our stuff ready like the chains?”
Rarity grimaced.
A few moments later, Margot made the glossy black chains and put them on Rarity and Spike.
Spike smiled. “Public Enemy Number one! Yeah!”
Apple Bloom thrust her left forehoof in the air. “Royal Guardkiller, royal guardkiller!”
Rarity looked at Apple Bloom. “Where did you hear such awful stuff?”
Apple Bloom looked down. “Um, it’s ah song from NWA, Nags with attitude. Pipsqueak was listening to it.” The truck shook as it drove over a curb.
Far looked around at the dark grey walls. “Get ready.”
The truck stopped for a few moments. Margot heard a metal door open and did a passive scan. She sensed four DA soldiers and a turret in the ceiling. If things went south, Margot would have to summon a ballistic shield first.
Jerome whispered. “I got this.” The door opened and two guards gazed at them.
Margot stepped forward. “I’m staff sergeant Emily Woods. I have prisoners who have to go to Dr. Geist.” One of the guards stepped back and the other one followed him. The group followed Margot as she jumped down from the truck into the loading bay.
It was well lit with lights shining from the ceiling. Crates were piled up along a staircase. A smaller staircase led to a checkpoint with three alert ponies. They were behind green tinted bullet proof walls with slits for guns. Two ponies had guns and an unicorn waited behind another wall. Margot figured he was there to provide magical support.
She walked up to the checkpoint. One of the ponies asked for an id card. Margot gave it to him and prepared for the worst. The guard slid the card through a scanner and the status light glowed green. He gave her back the card and the dark wooden door in front of her clicked open.
Margot pushed the door open with a forehoof and walked into the hallway. There were ponies walking down the light pink hallway. She led the group into the hall then with a look behind her she cantered down the hall.
Skybreeze looked at the well kept glossy wooden doors and the occasional painting on the wall. “I’m surprised that this place has some decent decor.”
Margot looked back at Rarity who was trudging along with jingling chains around her hooves.
Spike on the other hand, looked around with wide green eyes.
The ponies that walked by the group didn’t gawk, they just glanced and went about their business.
A few doors down, they stopped at a checkpoint. Again several ponies were behind bulletproof glass and they had guns pointed at the group.
Margot pulled out her ID and it was scanned again. Again the door opened and the group went through.
This time the walls were a light blue color. Also the hallway was less crowded.
Margot kept her eyes forward and continued down the hall. She was dreading the moment when her ID would be rejected and they would have to fight. So far, so good.
The next hallway was a pale yellow color. This time it seemed like this level was deserted when a pony burst out of a room. Margot barely stopped her impulse to reach for her gun. The uniformed half drained stallion just looked at the group then trotted down the hall.
Far watched the pony leave. “Damn. That was a surprise. How much longer?”
Rarity sighed. “Two more.”
Spike looked around. “I hope Twilight is okay.”
Apple Bloom nodded. “Have faith! She will be fine.”
Margot trotted down the hall with the group following her.
The next checkpoint had the same arrangement. Semi bored ponies looked at her while Margot gave them her ID. The door clicked open and they went through.
This time the walls were a familiar grayish color. Something about that started to bug Margot. The paintings were also different. Instead of showing scenes of the area around Washington D.C. or sailing ships, there were scenes of worlds being dominated by the Gleaners. Also there were a few that seemed to be made by Eya Sore. After glancing at one horrible picture showing the twisting torture of wolflike creatures, Margot kept her eyes forward.
Scootaloo grimaced. “I’m getting sick of this world. When can we go home?”
Apple Bloom nodded. “Ah agree.”
Nga'Devro also nodded. “Nga'Devro also wishes to be back home, but not before we finish the mission.”
Margot looked back and said, “Shhh!”
When the group walked further down the hall they noticed that there were shiny grey metal doors with guards next to them instead of wooden doors. The guards watched them with some interest, but they stayed at their post. Finally, the group stood in front of the checkpoint to the last area. Margot gave her ID to the guard.
He looked down at a yellow pad. “Nope. You’re not on the list. Have ta wait while I verify.” The guard looked at Margot.
Margot sighed. This was going to be tough. The hallway was filled with guards. She didn’t want to get in a firefight here. “I’m working on orders from Dr. Geist and General Trample. You don’t want to interfere.”
The guard looked down then up. “Yeah, I don’t want to do this, but the Pentagon was hacked and we now get our orders by messenger. If Geist was expecting you, he would’ve told us.”
Jerome walked up. “Are you sure, you didn’t miss something?”
The guard checked the monitor.
“Yeah, you’re on the list.” The door clicked open.
As they filed through the door, Margot thought she saw Jerome almost stumble, but he was caught by Far. She wished she could’ve helped but enchantment magic wasn’t her speciality. Once the group was in the hall, the door clicked shut behind them. The hall was a familiar green shade, Gleaner corrupt magic green. They started down the hall toward the door that said, “The Love Room.”
Skybreeze looked at the title of the room. “I have a feeling we won’t love what’s going to happen in that room.”
Rarity sighed. “I’ll do what I can to free Twilight.”
Spike shook his chains. “Yeah, we’re coming for you, Twilight.”
Margot wondered and also dreaded what was coming up. She wasn’t at full strength magically, and it seemed like Jerome was almost at the limit of his powers. With a sigh, she pushed the door open with her left forehoof.
Then her mind s l o w e d d o w n.