Soul Research Facility: Perseverance
???'s POV
Walking into a hallway, I shiver a bit, as if I'm being watched. Shaking it off, I look around. There’s nothing of real note, save for the water dispenser, I only walk 10 steps away from it when the tablet rings. Looking at it, I see a new message.
I wouldn’t be so quick to disregard that water dispenser. Why don’t you get a drink, I’m sure you’ll find it well worth it.
Shrugging, I decided to humor whoever sent the message. Taking one of the paper cups, I fill it up with water. I take a sip aND OH MY GOD I’M SO THIRSTY! I somehow re-summon those chains, it takes them a fraction of a second to completely wrap around the water dispenser. Flipping it upside down, I take of the unnecessary part and fling it to the side, then plunged my head into the water (the chains catching and absorbing the splashes of water that got flung out). I’m not sure how I didn’t notice, but I’m incredibly dehydrated, as if I hadn’t had anything to drink in a while. I guess purple smoke and a weird glowing heart doesn’t count, go figure. After drinking a good amount, I stopped to catch my breath. Unfortunately there's one problem, I don't know when I'll have access to fresh water again, so I really didn't want to leave this behind. But….
"It's not like I can take this with me…." I say, surprised at how hoarse my voice sounds. Hearing a beep, I look at the source, the tablet I was carrying.
Yeah that probably would help. Give me a moment, though you might wanna put the tablet down and step back.
I give a confused look before shrugging, I already humored whoever this was once, a second time couldn't hurt. After walking a bit away from the water dispenser top, I set the tablet down, and take three big steps back towards the water dispenser top. A few moments later, a big bright circle appeared around the tablet. The circle was yellow, and in the circle were eight yellow arrows coming from a dot dot in the center, all of them pointed in opposite directions. There was also weird yellow writing, I couldn't actually read it, but something told me it had something to do with…transmutation? Not sure where that came from, never even heard of that word, but all of this looks strangely familiar. After a few seconds, the tablet shifted into some kinda…wrist watch? The bright circle, writing and arrows vanished after that.
Before I could take a step closer, another bright circle appeared, this one was similar to the first, except all the eight arrows pointed towards the dot in the center. Also the color of everything was white and the writing looked different, I could actually read it, strangely enough. It said: "Without Order, there can be no reason. All who exist in this world, have a part they must play for the stability of this world. By the power of Order, I grant this object the power of preservation, so that it too may play it's part". This power felt much more familiar then the previous. The wrist watch glowed for a moment before turning to normal, then the circle vanished, along with everything except for the watch. After waiting a few moments, I walk towards the watch. The watch was white, with a black faceplate. Just then, another chaotic feeling circle appeared. After a moment, a folded up piece of paper appeared, then the circle vanished. Picking up the paper, I read it's contents.
Don't say anything yet.
/these/ are the instructions for the watch. (These) are my message.
(I'm sorry, I can't say much). /There's a button on the side of the face plate/. (And I can't tell you who you are). /press it/.
I stop reading for a moment to press the button, seeing it light up, I continue reading.
(I can however tell you that you have limited time). /Click on any app/. (You're going to lose your free will after you eliminate the last target).
As scared as I am, my gut tells me that if I take too long, something bad will happen. Looking at the screen, I press the music app. Not even a second later, a hologram the size of the tablet appears. I continue reading.
/A hard light hologram will appear/. (I can't undo the mind control spell, the caster is too powerful, but I can point you in the right direction). /click something on the hologram/.
I click on a song titled "Duality", and continued reading as I listened to the song.
(There's a weak point somewhat near a school called "Canterlot High", go there without raising suspicion, and go through it. Then ask anyone who is willing to help, for help with the mind control). /Click on the faceplate to close the hologram/.
I click the faceplate, and sure enough, the hologram vanished.
(Make sure you do this before you beat all seven targets. Be careful who you trust, the man in charge has eyes and ears everywhere, even in the police. Now to avoid suspicion, I'll have to play a little prank on you, say "flower" in a questioning tone).
I raised a brow, but shrugged.
"Flower?" I asked simply, my voice sounding much better thanks to the water. The letter then turned into a goofy looking flower, I go to smell it, only to real back as I'm squirted in the face with water. After the flower is finished, it disappeared, and I’m left drenched.
*BZZZ-BZZZ*
With a small growl, I look down at the watch.
Sorry about that, my employee was very insistent on the watch, said it’d make things easier for everyone involved. He’s also prone to pranking people. Anyway, I’ve enchanted the watch with the ability to preserve anything that you put in both dimension box A and B. Just select the box you want, click either “store” or “take out”. If you click “store”, anything you’re touching with the hand that the watch is touching will be stored. Anything you select to take out will appear either in your hands, or right in front of you.
Doing as it says, I'm shocked as the top of the water dispenser turns into numbers, letters and pretty much anything you'd see on a keyboard. After it was all converted, it went into my new watch, and a quick check showed it was now in dimension box A. After taking a few moments to marvel at it, I open the map and continue. After some walking, I come across the door that leads out of this area. I tried to open it, but it was locked, though I couldn't see any keyhole.
'Of course, I shoulda known it wouldn't be that easy.' I think with a groan. Turning around, I look at the many doors in this hallway.
Unknown location
2nd POV
Sure had long since finished explaining the situation to Sunset, Sunset was surprised at what she had learned. Ordering Sure to keep him posted, and to act as if this conversation had never happened, the man addressed Discord on his decision.
"Didn't take you for someone who'd give instructions without being told too." The man stated in confusion, Discord scoffs.
"Well of course I gave her instructions, the longer she'd try to boringly figure out how to use that watch, the longer it'd take to get to the interesting parts." Discord said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. Conceding to Discord's point, he turned to his daughter who was talking to Sombra.
"So Sunset." The man started, gaining her attention. "What do you think the best course of action is?" He questioned. She thinks for a bit before answering.
"Depends on what we learn about them. If they're useful, manipulate them into working with us long enough to fully gain any benefits they could offer. And if they're not, we can still use their bodies for any projects you might have. I heard you and Rosary were having a fight about some big project you were working on, maybe this 'Manny' would be useful for whatever it is. And my lookalike could act as a scapegoat for the future if I ever mess up too badly, or a second body if I really mess up." Sunset said with a thoughtful look. The man nods in approval.
"Great answer, you're becoming more and more like me with every passing day." The man praised with a proud smile, then smirked. "Now if you could just learn Order magic."
"Even if I do somehow manage that, I don't think it'll be like yours, your Order magic feels much different then any other Order mage." Sunset says with a shrug. The man's Order magic was one of the greatest wonders of the organization. Many employees could have sworn he was using Law magic (corrupted Order magic), but the symbol for that type of corruption magic was a closed lock with many chains going around and through it. The symbol that he always used was from normal Order magic, which was eight arrows pointing at a dot in the center. It was certainly possible to disguise the true symbol as something else, but that takes a lot of power and concentration, and he uses it pretty often.
"Regardless, I'm impressed. Now let's get you that familiar." The man said, taking out a summoning book. Sunset gives an excited squee (which always baffled the man, as he had no idea how people do that), and starts to look through the book with her father.
"Well I have something I need to take care of, ta-ta." Discord said before vanishing in a flash.
"As do I, call me if you need anything." Sombra says as he vanished in black smoke.
The father and daughter just shrug before going back to what they were doing.