//------------------------------// // Chapter 6: Snatch and Grab // Story: Juggernaut // by Captain Flea609 //------------------------------// Later on when the sun had gone down, Soarin found himself going to Manehattan for what he usually did. Mull himself over a couple of drinks at a club called Scratch. He knew the bar tender here pretty well and the mare who owned this joint, which was none other than Equestria's number one DJ. He'd been here so often that he personally knew the bouncer as well. "Comin' here for the usual eh Soarin?" The bouncer said as he opened the door letting him in. "Damn straight Steel Hoof." Soarin replied to his friend as he entered. When he entered he was instantly hit by the loud pounding pulse of the exotic music that the DJ would always play. Every song that she played was her own creation, she never used other songs by other artists. He particularly liked the song that was playing. It had a catchy beat to it. He slightly nodded his head to the beat as he made his way past the dance floor that was flooded with ponies literally dancing there flanks off to the song as this one was DJ P0N-3's most famous song. He made his way to the bar expecting find the bartender Jazz Jax, but what he saw behind the counter was a white unicorn with an electric blue mane and a pair of exotic tented shades. It was DJ P0N-3 herself. "Vinyl? What are doing working at the bar? Where's Jazz?" Soarin was probably one the only ponies that she let use her real name. He took a seat while it took a while for her to notice him. She sighed and shook her head,"You know...I use to think Princess Luna was okay, but now she crossed the line here." Soarin assumed that she was in a way answering his question,"What happened to him?" "He got drafted that's what happened. Not only that, but most of my Bouncers besides Steel Hoof and some others got drafted." She seemed severely stressed. He couldn't really see her facial expressions under those shades of hers, but he could still tell she was under a lot of stress. He didn't blame her, she practically now had to run this pace by herself now and this was one of the most popular clubs in Manehattan. "Why the long face Wondercolt? Mare problems again?" She would always call him that as a silly nickname. Soarin looked at her realizing that he had the gloomy expression on and that his head was hanging low."Don't call me that anymore." "Why?"She chuckled with a smirk on her face. She would always have that same smirk on her face that for some reason was annoying the hell out of Soarin right now. "I'm not a Wonderbolt anymore." Again, Soarin could not see her reaction through the shades but he imagined she was shocked and was probably making hundreds of wild assumptions. "Oh my god what happened? You didn't quit did you? Did you get kicked off? Tell me dude!" "No I didn't get kicked off or anything."Saorin forced a fake chuckle. Vinyl was always so eager to get into others business. "Then what!?" It was hard to hear her over the loud music, let alone think. "I got drafted ok? Not just me, but Spitfire's entire team." The DJ just stood there looking at him while in awkward silence (well not really silent considering that its a club) while Soarin tried to guess her reaction behind those purple shades. She certainly didn't have that smirk anymore. "Well....." She began while scratching the back of her head. "That sucks I was gonna ask you if you wouldn't mind helping around this place. You know as a second job." Soarin got paid a good bit of money for every show he and his team performed, but still, he could have used the extra bits and he felt guilty for not being able to help her out when she could really need it. Or could he still help her? "Listen, I already know what the answer might be, but just think about it. How about I help you around just for tonight because I ship out tomorrow." Soarin asked generously. "I mean I could work around the bar while you do what you do best." The DJ put a hoof to her chin, "I don't know. I don't really trust you around alcohol." It was true no one trusted Soarin around alcohol except for Jazz Jax, but he would always just think it was funny watching the light blue pegasus stumble around in his drunken stupor. Soarin put a serious look on his face,"Vinyl I'm offering to take some weight off of your shoulders for the night and your not going to accept it? Come on, I'll stay sober all night if I have to." Vinyl gritted her teeth still contemplating whether she could trust him or not, "I still don't know." The Wonderbolt sighed, but it was only then when he thought of something clever. He turned around in his seat and looked at the DJ's booth sitting above the dance floor. "Wouldn't you rather up there in your booth doing what you do best than sitting here serving drinks? I'll serve up the drinks while you serve up the wubs. Deal?" Soarin didn't know why he was so persistent on helping her. He could really use a drink right now to lift off some of his stress. As if he wasn't always stressed. He could never find some time to relax, the only time he would feel relaxed is when he was drunk off his ass, but at the same time he didn't want to see one of his good friends deal with more stress than he was. Plus it would give him something to do this time than getting drunk. Soarin could see that the DJ couldn't resist an opportunity to get back in her booth and wow the crowd instead having it stuck on a play list."Ok fine, but there are a couple things I need to show you before I let you loose." "Alright cool, but Vinyl?" "Yeah? Whats up?" "Can I just have one drink and that will be the last one I have for the night."Soarin promised. The DJ thought it over, but Soarin could tell that all she wanted to do now was to get back to her booth so she didn't really think that much. She sighed,"Fine...but this is the only drink you will ever have tonight." She spoke in a surprisingly assertive tone. Almost parental. Soarin flashed a grin as he received his drink. *********************************************** Later that night..... "This is Azure one maintaining a visual on the target." Shroud updated her team on the coms. "Azure 2 here, solid copy. I've got eyes on." "Azure 3 here confirming visual on target." Shroud stalked her prey upon a roof top directly above using the night to conceal her. Azure one and two provided over watch from the roof tops from across the street. She looked over the edge of the roof to look down upon a group of six ponies. One of a which was her target. Only this time, her objective wasn't to kill the target, but kidnap it. "Azure 2 here, uh just to clarify our target is the cyan pegasus, correct?" There was a hint of nervousness in his voice. Shroud didn't blame him. Trying to kidnap someone while they're in a large group in a highly populated area was no rookie's job. They needed to be precise and swift and use every advantage they could take. "Affimative, the one with the Rainbow mane." Shroud answered two. "Why is the Great Leader so interested in this random mare?" Azure 3 asked. He was always the one to question the mission. Shroud thought he just thought to much and needed to keep himself focused on the mission. Shroud's assassins may have minor flaws in their behavior, but they were still considered the best in the Enlightenment. "Hell if I know. You should know by now that when the Great Leader sends us out on a mission you know he has a good reason. Just focus on the target." Azure two rarely corrected Three on his behavior. It surprised Shroud somewhat, but she didn't pay much attention to it. She was putting all her attention on her target. That cyan pegasus. She tuned out the world to study her every movement pattern, her awareness level, and even focused all of her hearing to try to listen in on the conversation below. It was rather difficult to tune out the sounds of the city and listen in on one particular conversation. The group of six mares just came out of the diner that she stalked on them from above, only just minutes ago. Her team had been following them for about half the day since noon. They were growing impatient and even Shroud was growing tired of waiting for an opportunity. She couldn't allow herself to get too anxious or else she might compromise the mission. "Uh two here, I think we got problem." "Go ahead" Shroud answered. "You see the black unicorn hangin' back about ten meters away from the target to my west?" Shroud broke her attention from her target and looked to her left down the side walk. A black unicorn with a white mane stood ten meters away from the group just minding his own business. He looked like he was waiting for something. "Yeah? What about him?" "I've been seeing this guy following that group for the past two hours something's not right here." "Are you sure it's the same guy?" Azure 3 asked. "Yes, I'm sure. Just look at his body language. See how he's constantly peeking a glance at them?" Shroud studied the unicorn. He did look awfully strange. You didn't really see pitch black unicorns a lot. She could see what two was talking about, he was indeed glancing at them constantly. Something did feel off about this guy she had to admit though. Just by looking at him she instantly got some bad vibes coming from him. Really bad vibes. The more she looked at him the more nervous she became. She began to tense up. She didn't know why and began to breath more heavily as if it were becoming harder to. She didn't feel right. What the hell is wrong with me?! Calm down! Deep breaths! Focus! "Yeah there's something not right about him." She finally answered. Shroud thought she had calmed herself down when she noticed that the unicorn glanced up directly at her. Their eyes met at a distance. He knew she was watching him. Shroud stepped back from the edge of the roof in an attempt to conceal herself from the unicorn. "I think he just saw me." Shroud said amazed on how easily this strange looking unicorn spotted her so easily. It was as if he always knew she was there. "Yeah I see him peeking glances at me too. I might have to change position." Azure 3 added. "Same here. I think we are all going to have to relocate." Azure 2 suggested. Shroud was trying to rationalize. Maybe he coincidentally glanced up at her and he didn't even know. No. That didn't seem like a good enough reason. He was staring directly at her. Not just her, but also the rest of her team. Who ever this guy was, he obviously wasn't some random pony that just so happened to see them and follow the same group they had been following. Who ever this guy was he obviously had plans of his own with their target. Either he was trying to nab her before they did or their was another reason why. She could tell by the way he was glancing at her that he had bad intentions. The only problems were that it was a busy street so taking him out would be out of the question. If he was smart he would keep to a crowd at all times. For now all she could do was just continue to stalk her target and keep an eye on that unicorn. "Azure 3 here, the group just split up. Four of them are walking away and the target seems to be leaving. However she is still accompanied by a pink earth-pony." Shroud risked peeking over the edge to see the cyan pegasus trotting down the side walk to her east with her pink companion at her side. She glanced back to see the black unicorn begin to follow them, keeping himself at a reasonable distance. "I'm watching you buddy." She muttered to herself. "Alright guys lets keep moving. Don't lose sight of the target." "Copy." "Rodger that." Shroud glided, leaped, and even climb up from roof top to roof top. Not letting the rainbow pegasus out of her sight. She would check about ten meters behind them to see that the same black unicorn was still following them. "Azure 2 here, any intel on their intended destination boss?" Shroud didn't listen in on the targets conversation ever since she noticed the unicorn had spotted her. She would have to listen in on their conversation. To not only get intel on their destination, but to get basic information on the target. Which she hadn't got much of. The only reason why she hadn't been attempting to listen in was because she feared the unicron would spot her again. Oh well, he already knows I'm following them. She jumped ahead of the two mares and waited for them to pass by on a low roof top of some old closed down shop. She tuned everything out to focus all her perception on the two mares conversation. They began to pass by. "So how much farther until we reach this club?" The cyan mare asked her friend. Shroud could faintly hear them over the buzz of crowds and the sounds of the lively city. "Not too far." The pink earth-pony replied."Just up the street and around the corner." "Is this place legit?" The pegasus asked. "Are you kidding me?! Its only the most ultra, super-duper, fantastic,-" "Ok Pinkie I think I get the point." The pegasus chuckled. Her pink friend, "Pinkie" was starting to annoy Shroud. The simple sound of her voice made her want to kill her. Unfortunatley she would have to continue listening in. She needed as much information about the target as she could get. That was one of her objectives and so far she hadn't even gotten, that target's name. "I even know the pony who runs the place. She's only the best DJ in Equestria." The pink mare "Pinkie" continued. "You think you could hook me up with some drinks on the house then?" "Ha! Don't push your luck Rainbow Dash. She never gives away anything for free." Rainbow Dash. Good, now Shroud had a name and really that's all she needed to know. She just wanted to get this over with, but there was no way she was ever gonna nab the target out in the open. In fact she was beginning to think that an opportunity would never present itself, but she reminded herself to never doubt her patients. As the duo passed by she backed off and began to just simply track them once more. She didn't need to listen in on their conversation anymore. She had all the information she needed. The target's name and their destination. Their destination was a night club so that meant a lot of other ponies. There was no way they could grab her while she was in there. So for now the only solution Shroud had at this point was to sit outside in a good over watch position and wait until they exited the club. Shroud switched on her team COMM. "Alright guys listen up. The target and her friend said they're going to a night club. It's not far from here, it's up the street and around the corner. So while they're in the club we're just gonna sit tight and wait for them to leave. Hopefully the two will part ways then the target will be easy picking. Copy all that?" "Copy." "Rodger that." Shroud continued to stalk them. Following them at their pace and gliding from roof top to roof top. They were just about to hit the corner of the street. "Damn that unicorn is still following them." Two whispered. He sounded extremely irritated. He was getting impatient. That was a sign that Shroud knew well. Shroud looked a little ways behind the two mares to see that the same black unicorn was indeed still on their trail. "I don't get it. What does this guy want?" Two continued. "Perhaps he's protecting them? Like an undercover body guard?" Azure 3 suggested. Shroud found his assumption quite interesting. Maybe his goal wasn't to snatch her up before they do, but to prevent her team from snatching her up. Shroud examined the unicorn's body language. He didn't seem to be content, nor did he look anxious. He had a look on his face. Shroud couldn't really describe it. It was more or less a determined look. Like he was ready for her and her team to strike. He knew they were there watching him so why didn't he do anything? Why hasn't he tried to warn their target that she was in danger? This unicorn's reasons and motives for protecting her, if that was even his goal, didn't to make sense to Shroud, but for now she would have to agree with Three. "I think you're right Three." She said. "Maybe." Two added in. "I don't know." The two mares finally hit the club. The bass pounding music could be heard slightly from outside. The target and her friend were waiting in line to get be let in by the bouncer. Shroud kept track of them as they gradually moved up in the line. Finally they were next to be let in. Shroud was about to update her team with new orders on the COM when she noticed a familiar black unicorn in line behind them. What made it worse was when he turned around to look up at Shroud once again and flashed a taunting smile. His teeth, looked as sharp as her daggers and briefly his eyes changed to black with glowing white irises. Behind Shroud's balaclava and goggles she she wore a horrified expression. The unicorn changed back to normal. Nopony seemed to notice his sudden change. "DID YOU GUYS JUST SEE THAT?!" Shroud whispered loudly over the mic. "How could I not? Or the better question is how did anypony not see that?" Three answered. "I told you! This guy is a fucking freak!" Two nearly shouted. As Shroud watched them and the unicorn enter the club. Fear and worry was threatening to overtake her mind. She needed to keep her cool, but there was no telling what that black unicorn was gonna do. After that demonic smile he gave her, she severely doubted that he was trying to protect their target. One particular assumption slipped through her concentration. Shroud couldn't help it because it was something that she should have considered the first time she saw that freak. He was trying to kill Azure Team's target. That way they wouldn't get whatever they needed from her. Shroud couldn't take the paranoia anymore. What she was about order her team to do was risky, but she had no other options that would satisfy her. "Azure! Drop your gear and weapons in the back alley of the club. We're going in there undercover." Sorry this took so long, but I had certain things I had to tend to over the last few months. Mostly school and some other shit. At First I considered cancelling this story, but I figured that I should continue it because things are about to get interesting. Again be sure to leave likes and comments if you enjoyed it, because I need feedback here. I'm still thinking about cancelling this story.