Harmony's Warriors: X-Questrians First Class

by Avenging-Hobbits


Act II - 10 - Connections

Act II:
“Break On Through to the Other Side”

Chapter Ten:
“Connections”

“Twilight, what’s bugging you?” Spike asked, arching an eye ridge incredulously as he spoke, walking over and watching as Twilight let out a long, grumbling sigh as she poured her coffee into the large mug she held in her hoof.

“What’s bugging me? You want to know what’s bugging me?” she asked, turning to face him with a grimace on her face. “We’ve been looking for Gustav for thirty years, and now, when he’s finally in our grasp, he slips away in a friggin’ submarine. That’s what’s bugging me, Spike.” She sipped her coffee, muttering something as she did so.

Spike nodded slightly. “Look, Twilight, I haven't known you that long, but you haven't been this edgy since you went to your dad’s funeral. What's really bugging you?” he asked, pouring himself a cup and giving it a quick warm up with his breath.

Twilight rubbed her face idly, shaking her head slightly. “I just haven't had a lot of sleep. It’s no big deal.”

Spike tilted his head in bemusement. “And why haven’t you been able to sleep? Last I checked, you were a pretty deep sleeper.”

Twilight sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose. “Well… it’s just…” her voice cracked slightly, and Spike could sense she was obviously fighting against her emotions. He reached over, softly putting a claw on her shoulder.

“Hey… it’s okay. I can keep a secret,” he said gently, causing Twilight to give him a small, fragile smile before her face once more grew downcast. She inhaled deeply, and her shoulders sagged, her expression growing deeply exhausted.

“It’s just… me, and Gustav, have met before. Back during the Civil War, he was a part of HYDRA. Red Skull’s right hand griffin. Back then I was young, idealistic, maybe a little naïve, I just wanted to help my country anyway I could. You know how it is. Anyhow, I joined, I mean, it helped that my dad was working on the Project Rebirth…” she paused, wetting her lips and simply staring into her coffee. She sniffed slightly. “Eh, I won’t burden you with all the details. It’s kind of a boring story, I suppose. Anyways, I eventually ended up helping the ESS, which is what NEIGHS’ used to be back in that time. Ended up working with Captain Apple-”

“You worked with Captain Equestria?” Spike cut in, his eye ridges rising on their own accord in surprise. He always knew Twilight was older then she looked, and had served in the war, but the image of her sharing ranks with somepony as prestigious as the Captain Equestria was a bit of information he certainly hadn’t known. Twilight meanwhile, just nodded slightly.

“Yeah. Me, her, my brother, Gilda, Surprise…” she paused, again, her eyes flicking towards the ceiling briefly. “Apple Bloom. All together. We were a team you know? Like a family.” She blinked harshly, pausing to rub her eyes slightly. “Anyways, we were on a routine mission. Bit of a milk run really, nothing much. Then everything went south.” She paused again, and was silent for a long time. Spike had honestly never seen Twilight quiet for so long, nor look so blatantly emotional. Spike moved to place his claw on her shoulder again, having let it drop off in the interim.

"Gustav?”

Twilight nodded tersely, her expression darkening. "The worst part, was that he smiled when he did it. No, not smile, laughed. He laughed at us. Like it was some kind of prank." She looked directly into Spike's eyes. "Do you know what it does to somepony to watch somepony else look so terrified, so helpless, and not be able to do anything?"

Spike shook his head. "No. No I don't."

Twilight sighed deeply. "So there you go. Ever since then, I’ve kinda wanted to make up for it. Every time we get a lead, I’ll chase it around for a while, only for it to go cold or end up being fake. Thirty years, Spike. Thirty years. Of course, the first time we’re within actual hope of finally getting Gustav, making him pay for all the stuff he did…” She tensed up, her teeth grinding in frustration, her tone having grown noticeably darker as she spoke. “That silly little filly had to go and screw it up! Why couldn’t she just focus like I do, I mean, is that so hard?!”

Spike sighed. “Twilight… listen to yourself. Cupcake, from what I saw, isn’t a ‘silly little filly’. She’s just a civilian who’s been practically drafted into doing something she has no real knowledge of. Did you seriously expect her to just know magically what you wanted from her?”

Twilight huffed slightly, but it lacked conviction. “Spike, she’s a psychic. You saw what she did. I mean, I can’t just let her freeze ponies like that. She could have-”

“Hurt somepony? Obviously. But we’re not talking about how she was acting Twilight. We’re talking about your actions. Think about it,” he moved up close, looking her in the eyes sympathetically. “How can you lead a group if you don’t understand them?”

“But Spike, I’m the expert here, not her.” She sighed, rubbing her temple. “Why can’t she just follow orders like a good soldier?”

“Because she isn’t a soldier, Twi. She’s just a college student. She’s probably scared, and was worried about her friend. I mean, if it was me who was prisoner in there, and somepony wanted to keep me locked up all night without any real reason, wouldn’t you do something to help? Wouldn’t you want me safe?”

Twilight opened her mouth to speak, only to close it again. Her whole body seemed to deflate, and she nodded her head. “Yeah. Yeah I would.” She was silent for a moment, and Spike could tell she was ruminating over his words. She pushed a lock of her hair out of her eye before speaking.

“I suppose I was acting like a real jerk lately, haven’t I?”

Spike nodded slightly. “Yeah. You tend to get like that when you get tired.”

Twilight was quick to scoff, but it was an empty one. “I’m not tired… just a little groggy-”

“Twilight. You yourself said you haven’t been sleeping lately, and last time I saw you go to bed was the night before we set out for Las Pegasus. Now, I want you to be honest… when was the last time you slept?”

Twilight’s eyes were slightly evasive, darting around randomly.

“Twilight. Come on. Just be honest,” Spike pressed ever so slightly, and Twilight slumped into a chair, finally allowing her lack of sleep to show itself.

“Night before Las Pegasus. Ever since I’ve just been drinking lots of espresso and coffee I guess… I just… I just didn’t want him to get away. I mean, he still talks to the hat, Spike.”

“Who does?” Spike asked, taking a seat next to her and letting her lean against him slightly.

“Shining. After I debriefed Las Pegasus, I heard him talking to that old hat he has on his desk. AJ’s hat. That got me worried. I honestly wonder sometimes if he ever got over it. So I just figured, if we could finally capture Gustav, make him pay… I don’t know, maybe Shining could get some closure. Move onto the next chapter or something. But I failed him. Now I’ve gotta go back to HQ, look him in the eye, and say we lost him. I mean what is he-”

“Twilight. Stop it. You’re talking nonsense. I mean, what’s Shining going to do? Fire you? No. Of course not. Anypony would agree that what just happened was totally unexpected. Nopony at NEIGHS knew about the boat, let alone the submarine. These things happen, nothing we can do to stop them really. Instead, we just gotta get up, dust ourselves off, and get back to work. Or else Gustav wins right? I mean, you’re not going to just up and give up because he got away this time right?” he asked, fully embracing Twilight with his arm. “And,” he continued, motioning towards the other agents, who milled about. “Nopony got hurt right? Everypony’s still alive, nopony died on your watch. I’d say that’s something to be happy about right?”

Twilight was silent for a long, quiet moment, before she smiled thinly.

“I guess you’re right… it could’ve been worse…” her expression darkened slightly. “Much worse. But, yeah, we’re all okay,” she looked up at Spike, smiling again. “Thanks Spike. I needed that.”

Spike simply nodded. “That’s fine Twilight. After all, what are friends for if not to help their friends out of the dumps?” he then lifted a finger. “You still need to apologize to Miss Silverhoof though. Because, no matter how stressed you were, you’re our leader, and a leader’s got to be cool and understanding under pressure. You can’t just dismiss somepony because you think they don’t know anything. Anyways, she did help us right? I mean, we probably would have run over that Carrot fellow with the boat if she weren’t there right? I mean, were you seriously going to let him drown so you can catch one guy? Is Gustav worth more than that stallion’s life?”

Twilight was quick to shake her head. “No. No he isn’t.” She rubbed her nose slightly, and sniffed again. “I suppose she was just trying her best. I know I was pretty much like that at my age. I guess I was just one big hypocrite.” She idly ran her hoof through her mane. “I’d better go and apologize then, huh? Mend the fence?”

Spike shrugged. “Well, that’s up to you. I mean, if it were me that offended someone without reason, I’d be pretty quick to say sorry.” He sat up slightly, reaching into his coat pocket to pull out a small bottle of whiskey. “But that’s just me.” He took a sip, before moving the bottle towards Twilight. “Want some? It’s from Wyremland. Great stuff.”

Twilight smiled slightly, but shook her head. “No, I’m good. Just coffee for this engine.” She stood up slowly, letting out a grunt of effort. “I guess you drive? She’s up in her uncle’s house. You know, that silly hippy stallion.”

Spike smiled knowingly. “Yeah, I know the place. Guess I’m your chauffeur again.” He capped his whiskey, slipping it into his pocket again and stretching. “Not that it’s bad. I kinda liked the drive. Nice and scenic.” He started towards the exit, motioning for Twilight to follow. Twilight nodded in response, turning and following after her friend.

Well, I guess it’s time for me to own up, she thought as she made her way over to the car, where Spike was already waiting patiently.

////////////////////////////

There’s sunshine in my stomach/Like I just rocked my baby to sleep/There’s sunshine in my stomach/And I can’t keep me from creeping sleep/Sleep, deep in the deep

The dark, slowly thumping music ebbed from the speakers of the turnstile, oozing and filling the room with its sound as Cupcake lay on the bed, glaring at the ceiling of one of the half-dozen guest bedrooms Uncle Albert had in his massively ornate home.

At some point, Uncle Albert had seen fit to glue dozens and dozens of glow-in-the-dark stars to the ceiling, all in the order of constellations. For the past hour or so, Cupcake’s eyes had been fixed on the one called “Lady Love”, which, according to old Equestrian mythology at least, was family to the Two Sisters. The stories were never very consistent. Sometimes she was a niece, in another a sister, and in yet another a daughter. The only thing that ever stayed consistent in the stories, was that she was the goddess of love and that she was the kindest of the gods.

Rather ironic really, Cupcake thought sarcastically. Staring at the goddess of love while you stew in rage.

Cupcake couldn’t quite remember a time in her life where she was quite this consumed by anger. She had half expected said anger to have at least boiled down to a simmering frustration, but alas, every time she tried to distract herself, her mind would find some way to insert Agent Twilight into the scenario, the arrogant unicorn standing over her and lecturing her as if Cupcake were a school filly.

Why did I accept this stupid mission? I’ve done nothing except be shunted from car to car, boat to boat, getting yelled at and treated like I’m some kind of simpleton. Makes me want to-

Cupcake let out a frustrated groan that roughly coincided with the music kicking into high gear and becoming more tense and frenetic, and she sat up. She knew that sleep wasn’t going to be an option tonight. She threw her legs over the edge of the bed and angrily shoved them into her slippers before stalking out of the door, leaving the music playing on the record player. She stomped down the halls, slowing down as she passed Fleur’s room, the instantly recognizable smell of cannabis catching her nose, ebbing from under the doorframe.

She must be pretty upset herself, Fleur never breaks out the recreational drugs unless she’s in a very bad way. Cupcake mused, briefly considering going in to speak with her. She let out a frustrated grumble, slapping her hoof on the floor as she started walking again. She had a sneaking suspicion that would just lead to another lecture.

Besides, Cupcake decided. I’m too angry to give her any healthy advice even if she was willing to listen.

She made her way down the staircase and headed to the kitchen. Just brew up some hot cocoa. That’ll calm your nerves. However, she stopped short in the kitchen doorway upon the site of the tall, bearded figure sitting at the kitchen table.

“Oh hai, little daisy chain, have the raven’s ruffling wings drove you down here?”

Cupcake sighed deeply, letting her shoulders wilt. “Hey, Uncle Albert.”

Uncle Albert tilted his head slightly. “Aww, looks like your daisy petals are a little wilted there.”

Cupcake simply nodded, moving towards the cupboards and pulling out a glass and a box of cocoa. “Yeah.”

“Bit of a barney trip tonight, huh?” Uncle Albert asked. “Brain go on a high scale vacay to the sky pilot?”

Cupcake turned and frowned. “What?”

“Bad trip?” Uncle Albert responded simply. Cupcake nodded.

“It sucked,” she grumbled, angrily dumping some cocoa into her cup.

Uncle Albert whistled. “Sounds like it did a metal conga drum on your language centers, little flitter bird.”

“Well, it did.” Cupcake stuffed the cocoa away, turning to walk over to the fridge and took out the milk, slamming the door shut, which considering the padding on the frame lost its intended effect.

“I’ve never seen you so backridged. Tell your Uncle Albert what has your soul doing sailor fingers.”

Cupcake paused, wondering how much she could say about what had happened tonight. It probably wasn’t wise to reveal anything, especially not after how things had ended. But…

“It’s just when…” She bit her lip. “... ‘The Man’ is ruining something you’ve found, something that should be protected and preserved unless it’s destroyed forever, and tells you to just go home and forget about it, that it's all for the greater good and security and you don’t know the real story… what are you supposed to do? Is the greater good every really good if it requires you to sacrifice morality to achieve it? Or do you become a hypocrite by employing the methods you are trying to eradicate? Is there ever really a necessary evil or is that just term made up for when people wanted to justify taking the easy way out?”

Uncle Albert nodded his head slowly, as if exploding into a morality filibuster at 1 in the morning was a totally normal and expected event. “My receptors seem to be indicating that your heart already has the answers to all your queries coursing within itself and you’re just soapboxing them for a presidential seal of approval. But you see, like you can’t make an orange run on clockwork, you’ll never get a seal from the president for anything except taking some dirty laundry to the cleaners. So what do you do when The Man asks for your soul and some of your blood on a contract without reading the fine print?”

Cupcake crossed her arms and stared at the floor, as if the checkered tiles would offer some answer. Or an escape from the answer she already had.

“You say no,” she muttered

“And when he won’t take no for answer?”

Cupcake took a deep breath and looked up. “You fight him,” she finally admitted.

Uncle Albert clapped his hooves together so suddenly Cupcake nearly jumped out of her skin. “Alright, alright, alright! I’ve been awaiting this moment with baited breath, little flower crown!” he cheered, raising one hoof in the air and shaking it about. “Fight ‘The Man’!”

That phrase is like five years out of date, Cupcake thought but just as it crossed her mind she had another image of Carrot in those hoofcuffs in that empty room, locked away with only that purple… nag and those faceless G-men, just another wave of monsters strapping him down to pick him apart…

Cupcake slammed her hooves on the counter, which was linoleum so it made a rather loud clanging sound. But she was so worked up now she didn’t even care, though her hooves were stinging and aching it felt good.

“You’re right, Uncle Albert,” she said darkly. “I’m going to fight ‘The Man’. He’s not going to brush me under a rug and he’s not going to steamroll over me!”

“That’s right, little freedom fighter!”

“Yeah! I’m going to fight for freedom, I’m going to fight! Enough talk!”

Cupcake stormed out the kitchen, her head swarming like a hive of hornets.

I’m not going to sit around like a lame old-mare, I’m getting Carrot out of that internment camp and that purple bitch can just try and stop me!

She stamped down the hall, her hooves smacking the hardwood floor.

And if she thinks she can lock me away they better think again because I’m calling the police, my representatives, my congressman and my senator-they’ll have half the Equestrian government on their hinds!

She grabbed the doorknob-

Ha, and just wait till Fleur catches wind of this, won’t she be thrilled some of her action has rubbed off on me! And Carrot can just eat his words when he sees this little rich girl saving his-

-She wrenched the door open and-

Agent Twilight stood directly in front of her, her hoof lifted as if she had meant to knock. Cupcake let out a squeak of shock and Agent Twilight winced like it was some kind of ultrasonic scream.

"Wha-what are you doing here?" Cupcake said, as all her heroic resolve she built up completely evaporated as she hid behind the door. However, instead of spitting out some sort of criticism or something, Twilight merely sighed, blinking in a noticeably sluggish manner. Her mane seemed to have frazzled somewhat since Cupcake last saw her, and her shoulders sagged as if she were carrying a heavy backpack or something.

“May I come in?” She asked, a questioning look on her face.

Cupcake blinked awkwardly. “Well, I… uh…” She swallowed slightly. “Sure, sure, come right in.” She opened the door more to let Twilight in, standing up a bit straighter to appear more confident. “So, uh… what can I do for you?”

Twilight let out another sigh, pausing to rub the bridge of her muzzle. “I came here to… apologize for how I’ve been acting towards you.”

Cupcake simply blinked again, having trouble connecting the words to their meanings. “Excuse me?”

“I said I came to apologize,” Twilight repeated, giving Cupcake a tired look before continuing. “I’ve treated you in a very condescending manner. I haven’t exactly gotten that much rest in the past few days, and my temper was very short…”

Cupcake opened her mouth to interject, but Twilight held up a hoof. “That doesn’t excuse my actions though,” Twilight continued. “And I didn’t realize that you were probably feeling just as stressed and under pressure as I was, if not more so. So, I’ve come here to ask for your forgiveness, and if you’ll accept my apology.” Twilight then extended her hoof. “Apology accepted?”

Cupcake stared at Twilight. She wasn’t entirely sure of what to say. Much of her righteous anger had spawned from the idea that Twilight would maintain her own self-righteous aura. To see the agent acting humble, even if it was a tired, worn down sort of humble, was a tad disorienting.

“I accept your apology…” she said rather slowly as she hooked her own hoof around Twilight’s and shook in rhythm with the lavender unicorn. She figured if it was her on the other side of things, she’d most likely faint from the embarrassment. “Do you want some cocoa or something? I just made some I think… and it is awfully cold out.” She gave Twilight a slight smile, hoping to at least smooth things over a little between them before moving on to the big moral quandary. Cocoa was an ultimate good after all.

Twilight was silent for a moment, her breath coming out in little clouds. She looked over her shoulder and back at the car that was parked a few feet back, headlights providing some light for the front door. Cupcake peered over Twilight’s shoulder and could just make out the form of the lanky purple and green dragon that had been following Twilight around.

“Uh, Spike, do you want some hot cocoa? Miss Silverhoof is offering,” Twilight called out, and the dragon’s head popped out of the window like a jack in the box.

“Really?! She is?”

Twilight turned back to Cupcake. “You are?”

Cupcake nodded slightly. “If you want, yeah,” she called out towards the dragon, whose face lit up in a bright smile at that. He ducked back inside the car, swinging the door open and waltzing over, his face completely overwhelmed by his own smile.

“Excellent! The cocoa they have back at the base is awful,” he said, coming up next to Twilight. He looked down at her. “See, apologizing has its perks!” he chirped, before looking over to Cupcake, who opened the door more to allow the two entry.

Once Twilight and Spike were in the house, Uncle Albert appeared from the kitchen, giving Twilight and Spike a critical eye from underneath the rat’s nest he called a mane.

“Are these the one’s who are rustlin’ your jimmies, little firebird?” he asked, and Cupcake nodded.

“Um, yeah, they are. But Miss Sparkle apologized.”

Uncle Albert’s eyes narrowed. “She did now? You sure she isn’t just using her flipping panthers to psychotropically scan your brain and brainwash you?”

Cupcake merely blinked, unable to find a proper response to that. Twilight on the other hand, rolled her eyes and shook her head.

“No, I didn’t brainwash her, Mr. Silverhoof. I simply admitted I was wrong.” Then she added rather pointedly, “Like a mature adult.”

Uncle Albert’s eyes narrowed and he simply shuffled away, muttering something about the government under his breath. This left Cupcake, Spike and Twilight alone to move to the kitchen. Cupcake discreetly motioned towards the kitchen table, pulling out two more coffee mugs to make the cocoa with.

“Uh, Agent Sparkle, I hope you don’t mind me asking, but, is it possible that you might be able to arrange for the release of, um, Carrot?” Cupcake asked, with her back turned to Twilight while she focused on the cocoa.

“Who?” Twilight asked, her tone slightly probing. Cupcake bit her lip slightly, nervously tapping her hooves against the counter. Her previous frustration awakening with a vengeance.

She doesn’t even know his first name?

“Carrot. Carrot Cake. The pony you found in the bay, remember?”

“Oh, him. Well, no, not at this time.”

Cupcake bit the inside of her mouth to restrain herself before asking, “Why can’t you release him?”

“Simple; he might be in possession of information that can help us track Gustav more effectively.” Twilight seemingly noted Cupcake’s unease at this, if her softening tone was any indication. “If it’s any help, it’s only going to be for a night or two, then he’ll be free to go chasing after subs again.”

“But you can’t keep him caged up like that,” Cupcake replied, turning around with a determined look on her face. “I mean, wouldn’t he be more cooperative if you give him at least some freedom?”

Twilight gave a slight nod mixed with a shrug. “Yes, that’s true, but if we gave him too much freedom, he might escape. I understand why you feel concerned, but right now, he’s the only thing we have to help find Gustav.” Twilight rubbed the bridge of her nose again. “Look, to be honest, I would rather prefer to just interview him and let him go. I don’t like keeping ponies in cages-”

“Then let me interview him.” Cupcake interjected. Twilight raised an eyebrow.

“Didn’t he try to kill you the last time you tried to speak with him?” Spike countered, speaking for the first time.

Cupcake’s shoulders sagged somewhat. “Well… kinda, but in his defense I had invaded his mind…” she hesitated slightly before continuing. “But I saw somepony who was just panicked and scared, like a cornered animal… somepony who needed kindness…”

“Don’t spend your kindness on ponies like him, Miss Silverhoof.” Cupcake glowered at Twilight’s words, only to be met with Twilight letting out a pensive sigh, before leaning forwards and, with surprising gentleness and saying, “You know what they say about leading a pony to water? He’s that pony, Cupcake.”

Cupcake didn’t say anything at first, instead silently grabbing the two mugs, now piping with coca and setting them in front of Agent Spike and Twilight. Spike’s face lit up as if the sun had just risen on it, and he was quick to take a sip, seemingly very satisfied with the drink. Twilight meanwhile, seemed more pensive, taking her cup and lightly blowing on it.

Cupcake paused, looking down at her own cup. She could barely make out some of Twilight’s surface thoughts, and sensed the older pony was only trying to be as kind as she knew how.

Cupcake let out a sigh, and decided rather than fly into a fury she should at least try to explain her position better. “Miss Sparkle, I know you’re concerned, and, from what you’ve seen, you have every right to be.” She looked Twilight head on. “But I did look into his mind and I’ve seen the life he’s lived. I know that if just one pony treated him with some decency he really could change. He just needs to be shown there are ponies who are willing to help him.”

Twilight’s response was to stare at Cupcake intently for a long time, while Cupcake held her breath, getting the distinct feeling that, somehow that there was more than Carrot’s jail time at stake here.

Twilight meanwhile looked down at the mug in her hand, picking it up and lifting it to her lips. She didn’t want to admit it, but the tone that the young Cupcake had taken had reminded her of a good friend of hers. A friend who was no longer with her, but one who wouldn’t be forgotten. Someone who always looked for the best in others, who had faith in the better angels of their natures.

She let her shoulders ever so slightly sag. Your faith in others is infectious, you know that?

Twilight looked back at Cupcake, carefully choosing her words. “Miss Silverhoof, if you so wish you can try to reason with him tomorrow.” She noticed Cupcake’s expression brighten. “I suppose you have an advantage no one else has, what with your gift,” she added, before taking a sip of the cocoa. “Damn good cocoa, Miss Silverhoof.”

////////////////////////////

Gustav peered at the helmet, carefully running his claws over it, examining every nook and crevice. So far, no evidence suggested a technological device hidden inside, which made sense. To his knowledge there was no such technology that could do what this helmet did. It must have been the helmet itself.

But what kind of metal could block his psychic powers? It obviously wasn’t lead, as it was far too light for that. He ran a talon over it again. The outer surface didn’t feel like your average metal. Instead, it had a somewhat rougher, more earthy texture, as if it were made of a mineral of some kind or-

“Dragon scales,” he murmured, the realization dawning on him as he let out a slightly pleased sound. “Clever boy.” He held the helmet up a little more, closer to the small, yet bright, bulb that was attached to the ceiling of his cabin. The prism like structure revealed itself, causing the light on the helmet to shimmer slightly.

Gustav chuckled. Of course it was dragon scales. After all, dragon scales had a natural resistance to the will of magic, so it made a degree of sense that it could have unpredictable effects on mutant powers. He was almost tempted to try the helmet on, see what would happen.

I’d need a test subject though… he pondered, never one for self-experimentation, unlike Aleister, who seemed quite fond of it. He set the helmet down on the small foldout table, pensively observing it as he reached over to the intercom, pressing one of the buttons. There was a sharp buzz followed by the characteristically fragile sounding voice of Angel.

“Y-Yes, Gustav?”

Gustav put on a smile. “Lily, I would love for you to come down to my cabin please, I need your help with something.”

There was a barely audible sound of fear before Angel’s answer. “Ye-yes, sir, I’ll be there right away.” The intercom then went dead, and Gustav leaned back in his chair slightly. He looked at the helmet again, picking up and placing on his head. He gave it a slight push, and it slid on surprisingly well.

Boy’s head is bigger then I remember, he mused, honestly not expecting the helmet to be such an easy fit. He took a moment to adjust it slightly and get used to the feeling of what basically a glorified metal bucket on his head.

There was a knock at the door, and Gustav quickly took the helmet off, setting asides, figuring it was best to look as professional as possible.

Goodness knows he looked rather silly in it himself. He thought, taking a more business like pose.

“Enter.”

The heavy steel door creaked open slowly, revealing the delicate, nervous looking Angel poking her head in. “Yo-You said you needed me sir?”

Gustav nodded, gesturing for her to enter. “Yes, yes I did my darling. Now, don’t be shy. Come, take a seat.” He motioned to the only other place to sit in the cabin, which was a bed. Angel nodded mutely, dutifully walking over to the bed, her hoofsteps making a barely audible clank sound on the metal floor. Gustav silently watched her take a seat, enjoying the way her insect like wings shivered slightly, betraying her near omniscient fear.

“Now, darling, I simply want you to sit there quietly, while I test something out. Can you do that?”

A slight sign of what seemed to be relief ghosted across Angel’s face as she nodded. “Yes sir, I can do that.”

Gustav gave her a shark like grin. “Excellent! Now then.” He moved to place the helmet on his head, noticing how her expression grew somewhat befuddled at the sight. Gustav merely increased the wattage of his smile, before focusing on her.

“What do you feel, my dear?” he asked smoothly, and Angel tilted her head slightly.

“Sir?”

“I said, ‘what do you feel’?” he repeated, keeping his voice smooth and oily. Angel blinked, looking down for a brief moment, before looking back at him.

“The same, sir. I don’t quite understa-”

Gustav held up a talon, causing her to clamp her mouth shut. He then smoothly removed the helmet, setting it back on the small table before refocusing his attention on her.

As if hooked to a switch, Angel’s face contorted in a swirl of pain and fear, and her body tensed up, her mouth opening in a cry of fear. She nearly fell over, her eyes watering as she cried for mercy.

“No! Make them stop! Please make them stop! Stop! Leave me alone!” she begged, already desperately pawing at her own body as if some sort of creature were crawling on her. Gustav merely grinned, deciding to refocus his attention elsewhere, releasing her from the pain. Angel let out a heaving sigh of relief mixed with a groan of pain. Gustav meanwhile, refocused his attention on the helmet.

“So, it does block my powers then. Interesting,” he stated analytically. He stood up, starting towards the door. He caught sight of Angel, still visibly shaken and hovering in a corner of the room, looking as if she’d just seen a ghost.

“Darling, you must learn to develop a thicker skin. You’re of no use to me if you continuously succumb to every little suggestion I send your way. Understand?”

Angel looked at him with fearful eyes, quickly nodding. “Un-understood si-sir. I’ll do better next time.”

Gustav smiled. “Good. Now, you may go to your cabin. I’ll call if I need you again.”

Angel simply nodded, before quickly trotting out of the cabin, not saying a word in response asides from a barely audible “thank you”. Gustav watched her leave carefully, taking in the sight of her flank disappearing around the corner before making his own way out of the cabin. He strode down the narrow passageway, heading in the direction of the bridge.

Due to the closed in, claustrophobic nature of the submarine, the trip was a brisk one, happily devoid of any lesser crewmen making their presence known to Gustav. He strode into the bridge, letting out a sigh of relief at the increase in space as he took an opportunity to flex his wings slightly. He slid into his chair with confidence, eying Aleister, who was still hunched over at his station, pouring over the tomes. Gustav didn’t bother to catch the zebra’s attention, as that would probably just start some sort of petty rant about ‘interrupting vitally important work’ or something along those lines.

So, Gustav instead focused his attention on the rather bored looking blood red mare who sat with her hooves on the helm.

“And how do we fare, Marie?” Gustav asked, putting a talon on the back of the chair. Marie let out a huff.

“Peachy. Just peachy,” she grumbled, her voice low. “I just love sitting on this annoying metal chair for hours on end while staring at a fuzzy green screen in the dark. So charming.”

Gustav rolled his eyes. “Yes, well, as boring as it may seem to you, it’s necessary. Unless you wanted to attempt teleporting all five of us at once?”

Marie was silent for a moment, before letting out a grumble. “Fine. You win.”

“As I always do. Now, just continue on this path. If my calculations are correct, we should be nearing our port of call soon enough. Just relax, enjoy the ride, and we’ll be out of this submarine and on dry land again.” He gave her a pat on the shoulder and walked back to his chair, taking a seat and steepling his claws. Things were coming along positively swimmingly. Ever since the Captain’s demise, Agent Sparkle and her brother had been his most persistent foes. They had been relentless, stalking him like hungry lions. But with the power of the Cyttorak, he would have to hide no longer. He would be the one doing the stalking. And then the world itself, would be his prey.