Sunset rode hard through the city streets, trying to get as far from the steelworks as possible. She avoided the main arteries and used side streets, alleyways, anything that had little to no traffic. It was still daylight and Sunset had plenty of time, before she had to meet up with the girls. However, there was one more thing she had to do.
Turning down another alley, Sunset pulled up to a garage door. Above it, she spotted a little security camera aimed toward the door, looking down at her. Knowing that she was most likely being watched, Sunset removed her helmet and straightened her hair, before looking back and glaring at the camera.
"Come on, Fuse." Sunset said in an irritated tone, "Open up."
A small speaker mounted to the wall cracked to life, almost making Sunset jolt in surprise.
"Why?" A voice asked, static making it scratch at Sunset's ears, "You don't have anything to offer me."
"What about when I pretended to shoot you, so you could disappear from LEGION's radar, huh? And, if memory serves me correctly, you said that you owed me. So, either open the damn door and help me, or I force my way in and shoot you for real. Your choice."
There was a moment of silence as Sunset waited for a response. She was thankful that no one was around as she addressed the person inside. But, it didn't help improve her mood either. However, the door did open, rolling up with squeaks and groans of metal on metal. Once it was open enough for her to enter, Sunset slowly rolled inside and the door closed again.
"This had better be good, Phoenix." A man about her age said, emerging from a separate room filled with monitors, "Or, do you go by 'Sunset Shimmer' now?"
Sunset stared back at him, a bit stunned to hear her name.
"How do you know about that?" Sunset asked, dismounting her bike and placing the helmet on the tank.
"LEGION had me as one of their top computer technicians for a reason, remember?" He replied, adjusting his glasses and glaring at her, "I could hack into any network, if I wanted to. I just so happen to hear something about you going rogue a day and a half ago."
"I didn't go rogue, Fuse. I've always been rogue. Everyone was just so convinced by my acting, I could get away with it."
"Until now, anyway."
Sunset approached Fuse, meeting his eyes with her own.
"Let's cut the small talk, alright." She said, glancing passed him and into the monitor room, "I need eyes and ears everywhere around the country. As well as LEGION's files on anything related to something called 'Equestria.' And, you are the only one I know can help me."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Fuse protested, stepping back and raising his hands slightly, "The country? Equestria? LEGION files? What the hell kind of drug are you on, Phoenix? Do you realize how ridiculous and idiotic that sounds? LEGION has the best software security system in North America. There are as many cameras in the States as there are people, maybe more. Most likely, only half of them have microphones. And Equestria? What the hell is Equestria?"
"That's not your problem. You can stay here in your little dark corner of the world, for all I care. But, I need a techy. I need someone who can open doors, keep me and my team off the radar, and feed me info. That'll be your job. I'll be the one getting dirty."
Fuse pondered for a moment, appearing to think about how to answer. But, eventually, he spoke again.
"Fine, I'll help you." Fuse grumbled, turning and going back into the monitor room, "But, after all this is over, you and I are even."
"Deal." Sunset replied, following him and scanning the various flicking screens, "I need to see the camera footage from the Harmony Street and Everfree Road intersection at about ten o'clock this morning."
Fuse took a seat in his chair and tapped his keyboard, bringing up a live video of the intersection and clicking on the timestamp. As they watched, Sunset scanned the screen, looking for anything out of place. But, after a few minutes into the video, she saw four black SUVs and two motorcycles cross the screen.
"Freeze that." Sunset demanded, aggressively pointing at the screen as the video paused, "Can you enhance the two motorcycles? It looks like something is tucked under their jackets."
Fuse did as he was told, enhancing the image and zooming in on the riders. But, even though they could see there was something hidden under the leather, it was nearly impossible to make out exactly what was hidden. However, Sunset had a good guess.
"Uzi 9mm submachine guns, most likely." Sunset stated, glaring at the image, "But, normally, riders only have Glocks or 1911s. An Uzi is a bit harder to conceal under motorcycle jackets."
"How do you know that?" Fuse asked, pulling up another video from a different camera further down the street.
"I was an enforcer and outrider for transports, before Saber promoted me to be part of her guard detail. I know how they work. But, I'm not concerned about that. What does concern me, is why they would send a team this big for something so small?"
"What do you mean?"
Sunset wasn't really comfortable telling Fuse what she had stolen. However, at the moment, he was the only one she knew wouldn't turn her in to LEGION. Hesitantly, Sunset took the green gem out of her pocket and showed it to Fuse.
"LEGION is in the city, looking for this." She said, holding the gem and watching Fuse as he studied it, "I don't fully know what it is, or why they want it. But, it can't be for money or some collection, they don't need it for that."
"Could it be a USB in disguise or something?" Fuse asked, standing from his seat and leading Sunset into another room.
"I don't think so. It just looks like an ordinary gem to me."
Sunset knew she was lying a bit to keep Fuse from learning the truth. She was thankful that it seemed to convince him.
"Here." Fuse said, flipping on the light and revealing a flattop machine that looked like a computer printer. "Place it on the top. If I scan it, I might be able to find something about it."
"What is this thing?" Sunset asked, gesturing toward the machine, "It looks like a photocopier, but different."
"It's a scanning machine that I 'commandeered' from LEGION. I managed to hide it away, before they sent you to fire me. Basically, it'll scan whatever is placed on the top and identify what it's made of. Hopefully, it can give us some idea what that gem is."
At first, Sunset was hesitant as she eyed Fuse and the scanner. But, after a moment, she gently placed the gem on top and Fuse approached another computer that was attached to the scanner. The smooth glass surface illuminated with a purple glow and a white line of light moved from one side to the other. Fuse tapped on a few more keys and several windows on the computer screen appeared.
"Now this is interesting." Fuse remarked, adjusting his glasses and tapping a few more keys.
"What?" Sunset asked, looking at the screen, unsure of what the various graphs meant, "Is the scanner not working right?"
"No, the scanner is working perfectly. But, it can't identify anything about the structural makeup of your gem. In fact, it's made up of several minerals and something else. It's almost like a strange form of electricity and... What's this?"
Fuse leaned closer to the screen and tapped some more keys.
"The electrical level in this gem is strong enough to power Vegas, New York, and L.A. combined!" He said, turning his eyes toward the gem, "How it's able to hold that much power and remain stable is beyond me."
"That's interesting." Sunset replied, following Fuse's gaze to the gem, "But, it still leaves a lot of questions. Why does LEGION want it? What does this gem actually do? And is it the only one?"
Fuse turned off the scanner and watched as Sunset took the gem.
"The fact that thing has enough power to fry you, but you're able to pick it up with your bare hand, is amazing in itself." Fuse commented, seeing Sunset deposit the gem into her pocket.
"It's certainly odd." Sunset commented, placing both hands on her hips and looking down at the floor, "Can you look into one more thing, while you poke around?"
Fuse didn't say anything as he watched the normally hardcore woman slightly deflate.
"Can you look for someone named; Horizon Flare? It's personal to me." Sunset said, lifting her eyes back to Fuse.
"Okay..." Fuse replied hesitantly, adjusting his glasses, "Who's Horizon Flare?"
"She's someone I was supposed to protect. But, someone from either LEGION or the government took her. I don't know where she is, or if she's alright. If you can do that and let me know, I'll be very grateful."
"Sure, I can look around."
"Thanks."
Sunset looked at a clock on the wall and saw that it was almost three o'clock. Reaching into her other pocket, Sunset took out an earpiece and PDA.
"Can you encrypt this?" She asked, presenting the little device to Fuse, "For everything to work, I need only you, me, and my team to listen and talk to."
Fuse didn't say anything as he took the device from Sunset and plugged it into the computer. He tapped some keys and a progress bar appeared on the screen.
"I'm installing a security virus, in case any unfriendly listeners tune in." Fuse said, setting the PDA on the desk as it was being loaded, "As well as one of my little programs."
"Program?" Sunset repeated, stepping closer to the monitor, "Why not just call it a hack?"
"Because it has 'hack' in the name. H4CKH3LP will directly link up with my computer via satellite from your PDA, anywhere you are. It will allow me to help you, just plug in to any terminal or computer and tap on the digital skull icon on the screen, so I can control it from here."
"Will it cause any issues with communication or anything like that?"
"No, it shouldn't. If anything, your screen will flash for a second, but it'll operate like normal."
The progress bar on the screen moved at a snail's pace, which irritated Sunset slightly.
"How long is this going to take?" Sunset huffed, crossing her arms and watching the progress bar.
"The program and the encryption are syncing." Fuse replied, switching his vision to another computer screen, "Plus, it's creating a private network. But, if I had to guess, it'll probably take two or three hours. You're welcome to wait, unless you have somewhere else to be."
Sunset checked the time on one of the monitors and saw that she still had five hours until she met with the girls. But, remembering that, made Sunset suddenly feel nervous. Spotting a recliner in the corner, Sunset took a seat and chose to wait.
"Fuse, do you believe in second chances?" Sunset asked, rubbing the back of her neck as familiar faces drifted through her mind.
Fuse paused as he turned in his chair and eyed the woman.
"Look..." Fuse sighed, removing his glasses, "If I'm being honest, you're asking the wrong person. Plus, coming from you, it doesn't sound right. Yeah, I believe in second chances. But, I think those are only given to certain people. You managed to give me a chance. However, in your case, that might be harder to do."
Sunset didn't say anything as she thought.
"All I can say," Fuse continued, placing his glasses back on his face and wheeling back to the monitors, "is do your best to make yourself worthy of a second chance. But, hey, what do I know? I'm just a computer tech."
Sunset remained quiet as she took out an old flip lighter and cigarette pack from her inside pocket.
"You got a phone or something?" Sunset asked, putting the cigarette between her lips and lighting it, taking a drag and blowing out the smoke, "I need to make a call."
"Back in the garage, on the workbench." Fuse replied, keeping his eyes on the various screens, "It's a secure landline. Not that it needs to be. Who uses landlines anymore?"