//------------------------------//
// Epilogue 
// Story: Sun & Moon Act II: A Crown Divided 
// by cursedchords 
//------------------------------//

Dr. Szill Tosak frowned at his computer screen. The tests had come back negative, which wasn’t exactly surprising. His team was searching for the proverbial needle in the haystack, so it only followed that there would be a lot of false leads before they found what they were after. The lab would move on to the next batch of candidates, but that test would take another two days. He swiftly dashed off an email to Dr. Hartleby thanking him for the update and promising that the whole team was eagerly awaiting a positive result.

Outside, the Sun was setting, casting long shadows from the tall spires of Argyla City. From his perch at the top of one of those spires, he could see all of the way down to the streets far below, where traffic still hummed along and the nightlife was only just beginning. Once upon a time, the bright lights of the late night had been a comforting sight for him, but that was a long time ago now. Tosak was by far too old to be out carousing with the young folk these days. Instead, he would end his evening by making his way down to the commissary for a light snack, before maybe sliding into bed with a good book.

In the halls outside of the office he passed several photographs framed and hung on the wall. The first was of him with the rest of the research staff: twenty men and thirteen women, all among the finest in their fields, and from quite a diverse set of fields as well. Biology, genetics, theoretical physics, organic chemistry. Back then he had been just a student still earning his doctorate.

In the next picture, Director Primrose posing with their research subject, back when they had both still been alive. Tosak found that he always had to stop and examine this one, the dour seriousness of the middle-aged academic Primrose standing at odds with the natural rugged handsomeness of the earth pony who had called himself Seraph. Such a wonderful conversation partner the pony had been, when he was still around anyway. Now, he was kept preserved in a freezer by the biology lab, while his cells were cultured for the tests.

Third, himself, now as Director of the project, and his first research student Inara Felt, standing outside the team’s then newly-built particle accelerator. This one he also liked to admire, just to remember what his hair had looked like while he still had some.

Through the next door, in the central atrium of the spire, a man was waiting for him. Though short, the peak of his officer’s cap made up for it somewhat. “Dr. Tosak,” he said, the clean and well-drilled accent of imperial service identifying him even before he showed his credentials. “Stan Reynolds, from the Imperial Science Office.”

Tosak motioned toward the elevators. “Hello, Mr. Reynolds, what can I do for you today?”

“His Excellency would like an update,” Reynolds replied simply.

“An update? Did he not find our most recent official report illuminating enough?”

The elevator dinged ahead of them, and Reynolds joined him in the empty car. Silently it began to head down through the floors. “Quite so,” he said. “But as I’m sure you’re aware the official reports are being scrubbed quite liberally now, after the recent leaks.” He shook his head as he said those words, and Tosak didn’t blink. Leaks were a part of the business, but those responsible had been dealt with, and nothing of the project’s purpose had made it to the press, at least not as he was aware.

Reynolds continued. “His Excellency is instituting a change. From now on, briefings are to be delivered verbally, and today that means you and I.”

“Ah, I see,” Tosak nodded. Working on secret projects could be such a bother sometimes. For not the first time, he wished that his team could be freed from the military and intelligence bureaucracy and just do their science in peace. “Well, I’m afraid that progress remains slow. Our understanding of magic has changed little from last year.”

The military man didn’t react. “Regrettable, but understandable. Please, tell me all of the details.”