//------------------------------// // Chapter 11: Penetration // Story: Secret Search // by computerneek //------------------------------// “Sir?” “Is it another missing contact agent?” “Uh, no, sir.  I heard a mare, matching Purple Acorn’s description, requested a private audience with you earlier, but was refused.”  He shakes his head. “She was nowhere to be found when I got there.” “Private-?”  His eyes widen momentarily.  “Any idea why?” He frowns at the floor.  “She did not specify. We’ve also gotten in another contact report on the Secret today- Ponyville.” “Ponyville?” “Uh, yes.  It would seem Rainbow Dash noticed its presence, but couldn’t find it.  She was able to ring it with clouds, though.  She eventually went for Princess Twilight- but by the time she got on scene, it wasn’t there.  Princess Twilight spent a couple hours doing her thing on-scene before she put in a query at our records department.  I happened to be present when the letter arrived; we responded immediately, and her report arrived half an hour ago. I have the records department assembling the information she requested; they will be putting it past you before it is sent.” Nod.  “Ahh. Any clues where it went?” Shake.  “No sir.  Pinkie Pie reportedly got the ‘new pony’ signal from it, though.” Scowl.  “So, it didn’t originate in Ponyville.”  He sighs, shaking his head.  “I almost wish it did.” A raised eyebrow, but no words. He chuckles.  “Oh, yes. If it did originate in Ponyville, we’d at least know where it came from- and might have been able to find out who runs the thing!”  Another sigh. “But alas, we only know where it’s not.” She trots into town once again.  She’d hoped not to have to do this- but she’d been turned away at the checkpoint.  There really isn’t much else she can do. She wonders about the guards’ raised eyebrows when she’d requested that private audience.  And the way they had turned her back- like they’d been told to turn back anypony requesting such an audience. But whatever.  She’s back in this town.  It had taken her close to a week to get back to base incognito; taking the train would have been too risky for this sensitive of information.  Now, after another week of hidden travel, she’s back in this little town.  The candy shop should be fairly easy to find- as a matter of fact, she remembers the route she’d taken out quite clearly.  It’s a simple feat to reverse that route and return to the shop. It’s fairly busy today.  She takes up a position in the back of the line; some six or seven ponies are in front of her.  Oh, and that lyrist is playing again. This tune is somewhat stronger and definitely faster-paced than what had been playing during her last visit, but it’s just as beautiful. So, of course, the music stops.  It’s clearly the end of the piece, but she, along with at least a couple others in the line, look pleadingly at the lyrist, as if they could make the music come back by doing so. The lyrist smiles gently, scanning up the line.  “Sorry folks, but I do need a break every once in a while,” she says- and spots her.  “Oh hey, you’re back. Where’s Stripes?” She notices in the corner of her eye as the agent manning the counter flicks an ear slightly in their direction.  Right, they’d known Candy Stripes was bringing her in even before they arrived. How, she’s not sure. “Donno,” she responds, as the lyrist trots over.  “I didn’t see her on my way in.” “Ahh,” the lyrist nods, taking up a position next to her.  “She doesn’t usually come here anyways.” She smirks. “Unless I call her, that is.” “You can call her?” “Yep.  Never takes her more than a minute to show- pretty sure she teleports someplace nearby.” The lyre starts playing again, over on that stool.  She looks; it’s a light blue unicorn with a green and white mane, bearing the same magic color as the lyrist next to her.  Right- that’s Candy Stripes. Funny.  Didn’t the lyrist just tell her Stripes doesn’t normally show here? “Um…”  She looks at the lyrist, who glances over at the stool. “Oh, don’t worry- we’re good friends, and both lyrists.  My name’s Lyra Heartstrings, by the way.” She holds out a hoof. She bumps it.  “Nice to meet you.” “Wanna wait over here?  It’s gonna be a bit before we have any Sweetie Drops ready.” She blinks.  Is this ‘Lyra Heartstrings’ an outside agent?  There is a clause regarding those, she recalls.  If she is an outside agent, though, perhaps she’s just deferring to the field agent on the spot?  Though, how had she even figured out said agent is actually an agent? …  And if not, why do the two seem to use Stripes’ name as a codeword?  Is Candy Stripes also an outside agent?  It’d seem a little overkill to put so many agents so close like this…  After all, she’d worried about those six agents working so close to each other long ago.  Command had never cared for her concerns. “Uh, sure,” she finally answers- and follows Lyra out of the line.  “So…” She trails off, her head tilting slightly. She’d tried a quick thaumic check, searching for the ‘outside agent’ stamp.  The little, thaumic mark that one couldn’t see unless they looked for it, that marked a pony as an outside agent. Only problem is, she hadn’t found anything for the stamp to be on. Like Lyra wasn’t even there. She feels a spell go up around them.  A little tingle in her spine, suggestive of…  She probes gently with her horn. Yes, a perception filter…  Wow. An extremely powerful perception filter. Lyra then casually leads her into the backroom, where Agent Sweetie Drops had taken her last time, and closes the door before speaking.  “Something happen?” she asks. “Uh, yes.  How much did she…?” “She said she sent you in with a report, and that if we saw you with it again, it’d be because you needed help.” “Uh…” She smiles.  “Something about that report- the stamp, I believe- has a thaumic signature.  I recognized it when you walked in.” “Ahh…  Um…” “They being difficult?” She twists in place; that voice had come from behind her!  Ahh, it’s Agent Sweetie Drops. “Um, yes.” She glances back towards Lyra.  “Um… Is she an outside agent, or…?” “Outside agent?” Sweetie Drops asks.  “Don’t you have a spell to check for that?” “Yes, but…”  She looks at Lyra again, trying to puzzle out her next words.  How could a pony be missing that...? “But I’m not actually here,” Lyra smiles. Sweetie Drops raises an eyebrow.  “Alibi?” Lyra nods. Sweetie Drops mirrors the nod.  “Ahh… Might wanna give Purple Acorn a rundown.” She raises her eyebrow.  “Huh? She is an outside agent?” Lyra answers.  “No… not officially, at least.  I’m actually elsewhere- what you see here is a magical projection.  Your scan looks for the thaumic essence- but as you well know, spells don’t have that.”  She smiles.  “You should have seen the look on Princess Celestia’s face when I gave her the spell scroll.  Or Luna’s.” She chuckles lightly, shaking her head gently. “Priceless.” “So…” Sweetie Drops nods at Lyra.  “It’s sensitive information, but we might just need Candy Stripes along, so stick around.” Lyra nods. “Wait.  If we need Candy Stripes…”  She glances at the door. “Isn’t she out there?” Lyra answers again.  “No… I am Candy Stripes.  That out there is just another projection.”  She blinks. “Please don’t tell anypony…  I’d rather not get buried by requests.” Sweetie Drops raises an eyebrow.  “Requests? What for?” “Remember the giant airship outside Ponyville nopony could find?” Both mares nod. “That was the airship Secret…  Crew of one:  Me. The real me.”  She closes her eyes.  “I might have to shut down my magic soon, I’m getting close to my personal thaumic endurance limit.” “What would that mean…?” Purple Acorn asks, gesturing lightly towards her. “Oh?”  She glances down at herself.  “These projections will just dissolve into arcane mist.”  She gazes off into space for a second. “I think I’ve got about three days.” SECURITY BREACH:  Unauthorized personnel detected aboard auxiliary unit! WARNING:  Intruder defences OFFLINE! WARNING:  This Backup Operating System cannot handle this breach!  Attempting Personality Start... Unit XXXVII/G-0013(e) EVE of the Line, Initializing… WARNING:  Main Survival Center 0.93% Operable WARNING:  Backup Survival Center Offline Loading Personality Core…  ERROR: Personality Files Not Found Attempting Restore from Backup…  ERROR: Backups Inaccessible Attempting Partial Initialization…  Partial Success: Tactical online.