"LEGION Command Base, come in." A voice called over a radio, "Bravo Team calling Command, over."
Zero stood behind several people as they sat at various devices. The woman in front of him spoke into the microphone attached to her headset, addressing the caller.
"Bravo Team, this is LEGION Command, go ahead." She said, tapping the keys to her computer and bringing up various files.
"Roger, Command. We located the package, finding it damaged and empty. Phoenix managed to destroy our vehicle and escape. We are currently unaware of her location or the contents of the package."
"Is anyone injured?"
"Negative, Command. But, we'll need a transport. Over."
Zero stepped forward and tapped the dispatcher on her shoulder. Turning around, the woman saw the heavily built man looking at her headset, making a "give me that" gesture with his free hand. Without questioning the silent order, she removed the device from her head and placed it in Zero's hand, watching as he put it on.
"Bravo Team," He began, putting some power into his voice, "your request for transportation is denied, based on your failure to recover the package or neutralize Phoenix. At this time, I'm ordering you to continue with your mission, regardless of whether you are on foot or not. You are still expected to rendezvous with the others on time at the extraction point. If successful, you may be redeemed of your failure. Command, out."
Zero handed the headset back to the dispatcher and turned away, leaving the communication room. He turned down a hallway and began walking toward the elevator on the far end. On the walls, Zero passed several bulletin boards with several notices, documents, and invoices. Closer to the elevator, a large sign that read, "LEGION Private Security: A Branch Of LEGION Technologies And Research" was painted in blue on the wall.
Why someone would need a private security branch for a tech and research company, Zero didn't know. Nor did he care. They paid Zero to do his job and that's all he was concerned about. Although, some might say he did his job too well.
Reaching the elevator, Zero pressed the call button and waited, keeping an emotionless stone look on his face. Several people passed by the large man, but no one spoke to him. Then the elevator arrived and Zero entered alone, pressing the floor button he needed. It was fortunate that he was alone, because once the elevator doors closed, Zero's devil came out.
"AAARRRRRGGG!!!!!" Zero roared, throwing his fists against the metal walls of the elevator, causing dents, "You were armed with two QBZ-95s, a SPAS-12, night-vision and heat-seeking equipment, and the latest tracking software! But, you three were still outsmarted by a motorcycle bitch?! Dammit!"
Zero punched his reflection on the mirrored surface, denting the metal. But, before he could cause more damage, the doors opened and he marched out, brushing by three office workers, who quickly entered the elevator and pressed the button to close the doors.
Walking down another hall, Zero's presence cleared him a path, until he stopped at another door. Taking a few deep breaths and straightening his shirt, Zero knocked on the door.
"Come in." A feminine voice answered in a level tone.
Zero entered the room and saw a brunette woman sitting behind a desk, eyes focused on her computer monitor. Her fingers tapped at the keyboard. Stepping forward, Zero gently closed the door behind him.
"Hello, Zero." She said, keeping her eyes glued to the screen, "Don't move."
Without warning, a switchblade that she had been hiding under her hand opened and she threw it. The blade sailed by Zero's head and stabbed into the dartboard that had been hanging on the back of the door.
"You didn't flinch this time..." She said, finally turning her eyes to him, "Either you're used to that, or extremely pissed. Which is it?"
"Both." Zero said flatly, approaching the desk and taking a seat, "Phoenix managed to open the case and take the gem from it. Bravo Team failed to neutralize her."
"I said 'kill' her, Zero. Not neutralize. As for the gem, Project: Nexus can't continue without it. You know that."
"Don't talk to me like I'm a child, Saber. I know how important this is to you. But, you need to understand, not all plans work properly."
Saber turned in her chair and fully faced Zero with a stern expression.
"This is one of those times where it has to work." Saber stated, folding her hands in front of her, "Was she in Canterlot City, like I said?"
"Yeah." Zero replied, "The tracker lead Bravo Team to an abandoned steelworks, where she destroyed their vehicle and escaped. Amazingly, none of them were injured or managed to shoot her."
"I don't care. In a way, she lead us to her weakness."
"I'm not sure I follow."
Saber turned back to her computer monitor and turned it so Zero could see. On the screen, there were several files. Saber clicked on the first file, opening it and reading the contents.
"This is a class picture from when she was younger." Saber stated, moving the cursor around the image, "The six girls with her were her closest friends."
"What importance are they?" Zero asked, studying the teenagers, "They just look like average civilians to me."
"Perhaps to us and Phoenix, they do. But, to Sunset Shimmer, they're more than that."
Saber closed the image and opened another file.
"I've been doing some digging into her." Saber said, tapping a few keys, "From what I've been able to find, she has no blood relatives, no distant relations, no family at all. Except, these six girls."
"What about Horizon Flare?" Zero asked, reclining in his chair slightly, "Wasn't she close to Phoenix? Or Sunset? Whatever her name is?"
"Zero, you of all people should know, this line of work has no room for children. In truth, she's most likely some separate contract. Sunset has been with us for over a year and not once, did she show that she had serious relations with a child."
"No, but she did ask several times about looking into a missing child, which we did. It makes me ask, why didn't we tell her what we found."
"To not get her hopes up and keep her mind on the mission. But, let's focus on what's in front of us right now."
Saber turned the monitor back to it's proper angle.
"I'll send you the files of her friends." She said, scrolling there the files again, "You might like reading Rainbow Dash's and Applejack's files. They're a little like you, brutish, arrogant, and direct."
Zero didn't say anything as he stood up, taking that as his cue to leave.
"Just make sure that whatever you do, doesn't compromise the plan." Saber called, before her office phone rang and she answered, "Yes? He's here? Alright, send him up."
As Zero left, his PDA chimed, letting him know that he had received new messages. Obviously, the files for Sunet's friends. But, in a way, he knew Saber was right. The six girls he had seen would most likely be Sunset's weakness. As he marched back to the communications room, Zero began to think of ways to exploit them.