//------------------------------// // A Dirty Little Chore // Story: My Little Strife: The Sigil Is Magic // by Ichtudirweh //------------------------------// Your next assignment after collecting your assault rifle, was to strike a deal with Mayor Mare with negotiation of the prisoners. You jog over to the town hall of Ponyville. It was located a hundred meters away from the trading square. Two emotionless red uniformed Acolyte guards; patrolled on parallel sides of the town hall's entrance. They gaze blankly at you, as you pass into the doorway while trying not to make eye contact. You begin to wonder how Mayor Mare kept her self preservation for all of this time. She was technically a 'mare', and a useless pawn to the Order. You guess she bribed the cult for her worth, fearing for her own life for the time being. After all, she was a smooth spokesmare. An incomming transmission from Blackmare pauses you from progressing further. "All that I know about the mayor, is that she's playing 'both ends' towards the middle. Here in front of you is her so called mansion." And a mansion it was. After the comet struck, Mayor Mare really fortified the town hall to greater heights. You open the front door of the town hall, only for your eyes to wonder around in awe to your new surroundings. The mansion was decorated with unique stone monuments, and the interior was littered with paintings of herself. More tame red uniformed Acolyte stand on guard inside the hallways. They stand on patrol with no signs of life or movement. You walk down the front hallway of the mansion, and make your way onto the right on the plush carpetway. As you did this, you made direct contact with a clumsy stallion courier. His mail scatters all over the floor. He kneels down to recollect his messages, and snorts up to you in frustration after doing so. "Excuse me sir! What is your business here? Do you have an appointment with the Mayor?" Choose the following dialogue: A) "Of course! My appointment was at one o'clock today! Did she forget already?" B) "Yes I do. My appointment was at three. I think I'm running late so I better go...." C) "Shut the buck up! That's none of your business! We have important matters to discuss so get out of my way!" A) You tell the courier in response. The courier strokes his mane while thinking to himself. He gasps aloud, and hollers dramatically in the mansion to capture everyone's attention. "NOPE! THAT IS NOT TRUE! WHAT YOU TOLD ME IS A LIE! THE MAYOR DID NOT HAVE ANY ASSIGNED APPOINTMENTS AT ONE O'CLOCK TODAY ON HER SCHEDULE! GUARDS! OH GUARDS! KILL THIS INTRUDER, HE'S GOING TO ASSASSINATE THE MAYOR!" What!? That wasn't true! You grasp the little nosy prick by his mane in animosity. The red uniformed Acolytes inside the hallway invigorate to life, and point their assault rifles in synchronization towards you. You let go of the courier and attempt to withdraw your assault rifle. Before you had the chance to arm yourself, the guards squeeze off an entire magazine in the direction of you and the courier. The rounds strike across your body, which as a result killed you instantly. The courier is caught in the unintentional crossfire as well. He tumbles down in a pool of his own blood. You have died. But heck, think about the bright side of the situation. At least you took out the little arrogant prick along with you.... B) You tell the courier in response. The courier examines you with his forehooves crossed, and a look of discontent from your arrival. "Well, your running late sir. The Mayor expected you at least thirty minutes ago. Please go to your left and follow the elevator up. The Mayor's office is located on the opposite end of the catwalk....." Damn! That was a huge relief on yourself. You pass the courier and ride the elevator to the second story up. As the elevator opens to the second floor, a gilded armored Acolyte patrols the catwalk on the second story. You walk across the catwalk into the Mayor's office, where you find her filing her forehooves. She was speaking to herself in third person, until you interrupted her train of thought... C) You tell the courier in response. The courier backs away from your menacing stature, with his eyes wide with fear. You crack your knuckles/hoof in front of him. The sound echoes throughout the mansion. He speaks with a nervous tremble behind his voice, with further instructions on how to locate the mayor. "I'm......I'm sorry sir...The mayor is located...is located up....I mean at the second floor....to the opposite of the catwalk....ha...have a nice day sir...." The courier gathers his belonings and scurries out the front door. There was no way your going to be intimidated by some arrogant courier. Being a mercenary has hardened your personality.He was probably one of the many spineless stallions that submitted to the Order. Besides, it was none of his damned business what you were about to discuss with the mayor. You travel up the elevator to the second floor. As the elevator opens to the second floor, a gilded armored Acolyte patrols the catwalk on the second story. You walk across the catwalk into the Mayor's office, where you find her filing her forehooves. She was speaking to herself in third person, until you interrupted her train of thought... "First they slaughter thousands, now they want all abled-bodied pesants for unspecified 'tests'. How does the Order expect me to keep the peace? What in Celestia's name do you want?" She questions towards your sudden appearance with a raised eyebrow. "A prison pass...Let's make a deal." The Mayor grins towards your proposal. "I like you already. Well, I have two chores that I don't want to do myself. One is 'messy', and the other 'bloody'. So what will It be?" Choose the following options if you: A) Take task of the 'messy' chore. B) Take task of the 'bloody' chore. A) "Alright, I'll take on your so called 'messy' chore. Call me the cleaner." You tell the Mayor with confidence. "Excellent! One of my minion's is stealing power with a tap on the main line somewhere. Find it and truncate his supply, and I'll provide you with what you want. Bring me something back as a token of your journey...." The mayor slyly grins for her need of materialism. "So where do I find this so called 'tap'?" You ask the Mayor. "If I knew, it wouldn't be a chore now wouldn't it? Come on dear, use your charm, but shut off his supply..." "Right then. I'm out of here..." You depart from her office. You walk back into the catwalk, to the elevator on other side of the office. You recieve another incomming transmission on your Com-Unit from Blackmare. "Greedy pig....I unfortunately have no futher information about a power coupling. So let's take this task slowly...." Great, that didn't the situation one bit. It was time to use your adroitness and ingenuity. You walk onto the streets of town, only for your train of throught to be interrupted with another incomming transmission. "We need to speak to somebody or somepony who knows the underground electrical supply, and can locate where the coupling is. Command says to find Lyra Heartstrings. She's in, what's politely called the 'bum' hole. (Get the reference?) Take the walkway by the sewage plant of Ponyville and head down the stairs." You wander around town, trying to find any possible leads to a sewer. Blackbird transmits another message to you. "Take your time with this mission. I can't get intel from command..." Finally, after a vigorous search around the streets, you locate a downward stairwell. At the bottom of the staircase was a scruffy mare, that was concealed from the Order's watchful eye. She squatted by an incineration barrel, trying to keep warm from the elements. You identified her as the mare you were looking for; Lyra Heartstrings. If you were a human, she would squeal from your sudden arrival to her. If you were a stallion, she could care less about your arrival. Her role was a mentor for lost citizens around town. "You seek answers from me, my human/ stallion friend? The Order has seen to it that we ask only one question. Why?" She boasts while trying to sound intimidating. It didn't work. In her state, you could clearly see that she was out of her mind. Even before the sudden arrival of the Order, you knew she completely lost it when the first humans made contact with the equines. "Where's the power supply for town? I need to locate the source of the power tap." You ask her. "I'll tell you where it is, but I don't know whos coupling you'll be tampering with. It's right here in the sewage plant. You'll have to pull that lever to get in." She points with her hoof over to a pull lever on the wall. You pull the lever down. The raw sewage levels drain into a basin from below. (If you've chosen to be a human, read the special dialogue from below. If not, continue after 'Dialog ends here'.) Special human dialogue: "Wait! Excuse me if this sounds rude.....but.....you have hands! Do you mind...If I can touch...See them? Oh who am I kidding? I wan't to feel them all over my body!" Lyra bounces in uncontrollable excitement. Her odd question throws you off guard. "Wait....What? Lyra, you have some odd interests, but I'll let it slip this time. However, Im not going to let my hands 'feel' you around your body." Lyra grins blissfully and prances over to you. This is truely an akward moment, but the fact that she was hunted by the Order made it only once in a lifetime situation for her. You take off your gloves in front of her. Lyra's eyes glimmer with light from the sight of your bare hands. You pet her mane, while rolling your eyes in disbelief. Her ears start to twitch with pleasure, and she relieves a silent cheerful whinny. Wait a minute, what are you doing? You have a mission to carry out soldier! "Look, I can't stand around for much longer. Sorry Lyra." "Aw.....fine. Maybe when you done with whatever your doing, you can 'pet' me some other time?" Lyra proposes to you with a glee. "Sure, whatever....." You roll your eyes once more. (Dialog ends here) You hop down to the lower drained sewer levels, while covering your mouth in disgust from the rancid smell. You hooves/feet make contact with the putrid sludge produced by Ponyville. A grimy encrusted doorway captures your attention on the lower levels. You move your hand/hoove to open the door. A motion sensor activates, and the door opens within itself. A large metallic powerline with a blinking power coupling, is the first thing that you spot when you walk into the undergound entryway. Was this coupling the source of draining power? Should you destroy it? You begin to think to yourself. Decide if: A) This the source of power drainage. Destroy it immediately. B) Do not tamper with the power coupling. Take a look around first. A) What did you have to lose? Your destructive insticts overtake you, as you overlook the ambient light of the power coupling. This object is the 'power tap' that Mayor Mare directly referred to. Even so, you could tell the device was consuming an immense amout of power by the heat it produced. This must be it. You unsheathed your punch dagger, and thust the blade deep into the core of the coupling. The coupling malfunctions with sparks, and a white flame erupts from the hole you've created. You grab the broken coupling and place it in your backpack, just when Blackmare sends you a transmission. It was a rather nasty message. "You fool! You shut off power to the jamming circuits that we use to conceal our base from the Order! Head over to Celestia's castle and take out the scanning crew NOW!" How were you supposted to know? Blackmare should have been more precise with instruction before you entered the underground room! It was too late. Now you were faced with the dilemma of taking out the scanning crew from the Order. You venture further inside the underground power supply, to locate your way back up to town. You approach Princess Celestia's front gate of the castle in stealth. You peek your head inside the front gate before ambushing the scanning crew. The last of Celestia's royal guard, now lies dead in front of the hidden passageway wall due to your actions. A number of Blue uniformed Acolyte guards, scan the interior of Celestia's chambers to spot any suspicious leads for the entryway of the Rebel base. You crack open the chamber doors, and surreptitiously sneak in the shadows of the chamber. The shadows provided temporary camouflage from the infared sensors of the Acolytes. You slowly withdraw your punch dagger once again, and close in behind an isolated Acolyte. The lone Acolyte examines the interior masonry nearby Celestia's throne, for anything that looks unusual or suspicious. As you pace yourself closer behind the unaware Acolyte, you lose your balance and tumble into the towering figure. This causes the Acolyte to loose his balance, and as a result discharges his assault rifle in the air. All due to your failed assassination attempt. The Acolyte's reinforced helmet drifted across the chambers from his fall, to reveal his grotesque cyber organic facial features. His skin was pale and lifeless, and visibly clear from any pigmentation. The Acolyte was once a human male, but all that you could see was an empty shell of a body. He had a crudely installed optical range enhancement device in place of his eyes. You could only imagine the horrific pain this man once endured during his operation. The Order was known for not being medically inclined towards their patients. He had no clear conscience left, due to the neurological device inhibitor visibilly drilled into his skull. The bottom line is, he wasn't a human anymore. You thrust your dagger into the chest of the sub-human cybornetic machine, directly in contact with it's still beating human heart. The Acolyte bellows in pain, but passes quickly when you withdraw your dagger. The discharge from his rifle, and the bellowing yell from the lone Acolyte, alerted the other Acolytes inside Celestia's chamber. As you sheathe your dagger, it was already too late for you. The Acolyte scanning crew spotted you over the deceased Acolyte. Before you had a chance to withdraw you assault rifle in defense, they discharge their rifles in the direction towards Celestia's throne. The rounds strike the area in a wave of lead, instantly killing you as a result. Moral of the conflict? Don't always trust your primal instincts of destruction, hence it will lead you to your own. B) Maybe you should have a look around before you take any actions. You leave the power coupling untampered with, and follow the power lines into the next area ahead of you. As you venture further into the dark caves of the power room, you locate an old rusted power coupling. You guesse that an electrician forgot to dispose of it. You grab the broken power coupling and place in your backpack. A incomming radio transmission from Blackmare, disrupts the ambient silence of the enclosed caves. "Good move! Mayor Mare is a lously liar. That power coupling is our only defense against the scanners of the Order. So let's get that prison pass." It was a wise decision you left that power coupling untampered with. If you were to destory that coupling, it would leave the Front vulnerable for any infiltrations conducted by the Order. You travel to a scending staircase from the underground power supply, which leads you back into town. You jog over to the town hall mansion, to meet up with Mayor Mare once again. She eagerily awaits for your arrival inside her office. You withdraw your backpack in front of her, and reveal the broken, rusted power coupling. The mayor buys your story with a speech of her own. "Oh I just love souveniers! Here, this pass card will get you into the prison. Make sure you speak to Fido of the Diamond Dogs. Whatever you do after that, I really don't want to know..." You grab the pass handed to you, and thank the Mayor before you departure. You walk out from the mansion, and head off to the prison gates, located directly left from the town hall. You take a deep breathe of relief, and peer in front of the towering prison with the pass clutched in your hand/hoof...... B) "All right, I can negotiate with dirty deeds. Im not squeamish." You return your answer to the Mayor. "Hm, tell you what....There's a dirty diamond dog named Rover, who's been selling children and foals to the Order. I will not tolerate that kind of depravity. Not without my cut at least. Rover works within the warehouse of Ponyville. Kill him and bring back his....ear. And I'll see what I can do for you." "How do I get into the warehouse?" You ask the Mayor. She withdraws a card from the drawers of her desk. "This key card will get you into the power station. On second thought, cut off his ear and then kill him. Much better..." The Mayor grins with the morbid thought to herself. Out of all the years that Mayor Mare has been elected, you could never recall her being this twisted with greed. It could be possible influence from the Order. However, you are a mercenary. This task isn't anything new to you. At least you were a merciful killer when assigned with dirty deeds. You took no pleasure during killing, but it was necessary for your own survival for the time being. As you leave the entrance of the Town hall, now converted mansion, an incomming transmission from Blackmare makes you halt your progress. "The warehouse is located on the lower floors of the power station. Let's make this assassination quick and painless....." Time to head off to the power station located inside town. You pass by the intrusive market vendors, and locate the front entrance of the power station from a few meters away. The power station contained a large electronic keycard lock. You swipe the card recieved from the mayor. A series of inner mechanical gears work to recede the door. You walk inside the entryway and peer to your right. An Acolyte guard inspector scans anyone entering or leaving the facility. As you show him your keycard, he trusts that you were a peasant working for the power company. You walk down the long narrow hallway, to pass into another metallic doorway. It leads you into the interior of the station. The metallic doorway follows you to an elevating platform that descends downward. You step off from the lift, and examine the hallways to the left and right. Large directory signs on opposite ends of the hallways, are visible to your stature. To the left of the platform, it read "Reactor Core". To the right, it read "Warehouse". Warehouse. That was your key ticket to finding Rover. You pace yourself until your are directly in front of the sign. The dead end leads you to a T intersection, where your instincts dictate to go left first. Acolytes on patrol pass by you. You pause your progress, as your eyes make contact with an Acolyte dressed in a unique uniform. He was located in a overlook watch room, to the right of the hallway. The room contained a viewport that peered to the bottom of the warehousing floor. Malnourished workers scurry around packaging various electronic componentd for the Order. The uniquely uniformed Acolyte was a foreman, with traces of somewhat of a human personality. You approach the Acolyte foreman with a few questions about Rover. "Hello, Im looking for a worker named Rover. Is he contained on the lower levels of this facility?" You ask the foreman. "Rover? Yeah, he's down in the warehouse, but your not getting in unless your cleared." The deep robotic voice bellows to you. "I've got clearance right here." You withdraw your key card and present it in front of the foreman. He scans the key card with his optical implant, and indentifys that it was issued to you by the mayor. "Go on." The foreman bellows with little emotion, as he presses an electronic switch on the wall. "Do you know where he is?" You ask the foreman with uncertainty. "I don't know where anybody is. I just keep the lid on the rat trap." The foreman fails to remark a pun. His information wasn't helpful, but at least the foreman gave you clearence to enter. You step downwards, to meet an Acolyte overseerer on the lower level. He bellows robotically: "Get back to work. NOW!" You grab a wooden box from the assembly line, and pretend that you were actually working. You conceal the punch dagger carefully inside the wooden box, and pace around the assembly workers to find Rover. You spot a large variety of familiar facial features from Ponyville. Stallions were hauling large crates on carts and wagons. Humans in assembly lines assembled electronic devices, and tossed them on the conveyer belt. An overseerer pulled off a human worker from the the line from a simple mistake. He punished him by striking his bare skin with an electrified stun rod. Visible scar markings were all over the workers as you pass by them. A human and stallion worker silently complain amongst themselves about having no down time. Rumors also persisted around the facilites about the overclocked work the Order forced opon the workers. "I think the Order is planning a surpression raid on the Front." One human whispers to the stallion besides him. "I hope not. We don't need anymore bloodshed on the streets." The stallion returns to him. You walk around the factory and finally locate Rover. He was in a dark corner besides two shipping containers, trying with all of his effort to keep the children silent. He appeared to be agitated towards your arrival. "Alright Rover, any last words before I kill you?" You discard the wooden box to reveal your punch dagger. Rover shakes violently, and starts to tremble with a cold sweat. "Oh...Damn. The mayor sent you didn't she? I was going to give her my cut, really I was! Ok, listen. I've got a stash hidden with gems. It's yours if you look the other way...." You didn't trust the crooked bastard, but the offer was tempting. He points over to a wooden crate that contained a visible knitted sack of precious gemstones. You run over to the sack, when all of a sudden he shouts aloud. "If your going to kill me, I'm taking you with me! Guards! Help me! Im being attacked!" Rover hollers inside the warehouse. You throw the bag of gems inside your backpack, and dart over from where Rover was attempting to escape. You tackle the massive diamond dog, and jabbed your punch dagger directly into his spinal column. It punctured his vital organs. You muffle his scream with your hand/hoof over his mouth. You quickly sever his right ear, and pocket the proof of assassination for Mayor Mare. You regain your posture, as the alarms of the warehouse start to sound off in synchronization. Acolytes discharge their rifles towards the sound of the commotion. You sprint as fast as you can, back to the elevator up onto the first floor. The red uniformed Acolyte guarding the front gate was unalerted by your actions. You hustle into the town square, as you attempt to catch your breathe. You find a piece of clothe, and wipe Rover's blood clean from your dagger. Mayor Mare eagerily awaits you back inside the town hall mansion. You trot across the catwalk to her office. You empty out your pocket with the severed ear clutched in your hand/hoof. "Do you have good news for me? Im all ears! Hahahaha!" She laughs aloud, due to her morbid pun. "I have it right here. The deed is done." You respond to her. "Oh, I just love souveniers! Here, this will get you into the prison. Talk to Fido of the Diamond Dogs. Whatever you do after that is your business. I dont want to know..." You grab the pass handed to you, and thank the Mayor before you departure. You walk out from the mansion, and head off to the prison gates, located directly left from the town hall. You take a deep breathe of relief, and peer in front of the towering prison with the pass clutched in your hand/hoof...... Prepare yourself for a prison break.