//------------------------------//
// Chapter 4_Separated A Consequence of Discovery 
// Story: The Breakthroughs’ Call. Another Equestria. 
// by Leafwebs 
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Chapter 4_Separated A Consequence of Discovery

It was only to be expected that Dan Forest, alias Chad Anderson; had been ordered reassigned and demoted after the losing the White Rabbit team two days earlier. The tan haired 42 year old should have acted sooner and let the tech heads strip down White Rabbit’s hardware.
“No… It could not have been helped; they programmed a timer after all.” Dan mutters softly packing a few personal effects into a box from his desk. He didn’t bother with neatness in his task due to it likely getting inspected as he was debriefed and before he would be sent out the door to his new post.
Dan’s superiors had been so disappointed in his lack of foresight they simply accepted his initial report on the loss and promptly informed him of his change of duties.
“So much to worry about besides my own future, the President convening an emergency meeting at the UN, defense contractors clamoring for access to the White Rabbit research, and media pundits snipping at one another about who proved who wrong about the gods.” Dan Forest continues muttering picking up the box. “I should feel lucky for my boring new assignment without the fate of the world on my back.”
“Agent Forest, there has been a development.” The director, a 46 year old balding black man; says as he leans into Dan’s former office. Director Frank Watson pulls out a Droid tablet and pulls up a video. “Thirty five minutes ago the agents you left at the residence made contact with White Rabbit.”
Director Watson starts the split screen video.
“House sitting is the life.” David Parks speaks casually pulling up a seat. “What is the procedure for dealing with any non earth natives if they return?”
“We hope they don’t bring back any first off. Secondly Director Watson has ordered that we record our stay, which I’m doing now; and if we have any contact to transmit the code word for the appropriate eventuality.” Tom Clark replies handing David a wrist mounted computer with a parabolic antenna attached to it. “Patricia sent us these probes to scan and record any radio or radioactive data their device gives off as it should help her in creating a jammer.”
“She really thinks it works like cell phones huh?” David replies shaking his head.
“The working theory off White Rabbit’s own notes, Patricia said; seems to suggest it dials up a different dimension with some type radio wave radiation ping which the prototypes then project onto the wearer pushing them into this other dimension. If we use these we can capture and override that signal and stop them cold.” Tom replies back heading to turn on the TV that was left behind. “She working on a model that may be able to push invaders back to their home world but she needs field testing data before she can even consider it.”
The sensor computers gave three loud beeps and turned themselves on. David and Tom looked to the displays on their wrists using the virtual direction finder to locate the signals source. 
“Yellow move in to assist!” Tom orders over his head set and drawing his gun.
Near the back of the room near a desk heat distortion like ripples started forming pushing scattered garbage away from them as four other agents entered the house guns drawn. On the wrist displays multiple reticules sprang into existence over the spots where the anomalies were forming, but neither Tom nor David mentioned them yet as a pair of figures shimmered into focus in front of the desk.
Mike and a metallic colored unicorn with an orange mane materialized into existence just a foot or two in front of the desk. Even before the two came into complete focus it was clear the unicorn was in some kind of distress as it collapses to the floor just before fully coming into focus.
“Hands up and don’t move!” Tom orders sternly gun trained on Mike.
“Oh Shit.” Mike mutters raising his hands.
Mike’s wrists and legs had something clinging to them that were distorting the recording directly over the things and only a small staining of blood to indicate what it must have been.
“We have a code pawn, repeat pawn!” David transmits over his head set the call word for hazardous materials transport.
“It… It’s… a planner incursion sir.” Tom stutters gesturing to strange dog like animal and a brown green and white Pegasus framed by a weirdly placed wilderness cliff cutting threw the back wall.
“An inv… invasion, how did they get here.” David sputters shaken.
“No sir, it’s confirmed this is their planer recall signal.” Tom replies concerned taking notice of his scanner which showed the three target reticules over each distortion. Two of the reticules were blinking with an extra wave form beyond the first they shared with Mike’s clean wave form. It was shortly after that the odd two started going back out of focus; the second must have been behind the desk as the video did not reveal the distortion itself. “It’s not stable. They are going to phase out again.”
When the last two reticules vanished the distortions over Mike broke up to expose something cutting into his arms and legs. It looked like ropes or wire, likely limitation of the video resolution preventing video identification.
“Secure the prisoner and don’t touch those vines. We wait for Hazmat crews!” David orders as two of the support team more forward.
Just before reaching Mike however the unicorn began raising its head it eyes opening. A sudden jerk of motion by the unicorn and a start of distortion over its horn startle the approaching agents.
“Dart it!” David orders.
Director Watson ends the video.
“This situation with White Rabbit just went critical.” Director Watson grumbles menacingly as he backs Dan into his office. “Dig out your badge, I can’t afford to reassign you at this juncture; White Rabbit is back and they are not alone. We must assess the diplomatic fall out!”
“Yes Sir.” Dan forest replies dropping the box on his desk and grabbing his shield.
Across Town outside the residence of the White Rabbit research team of Mike, Brian Tina and Lilly; a short bus length panel van pull up to the house in the middle of a formation of four black SUVs. The man power was more for neighborhood surveillance than to apprehend the residents of the home where a man and a unicorn pony were being dragged out of.
The CIA agents had wrapped parts of the man’s body with towels and duct tape in an effort to cover up wounds on his body that alien vines clung to. Before shoving him in the van another agent pyres off the mailbox form its post and tapes it over his metal arm.
The unicorn pony, on the other hand; was carried to the van due to his legs being tied together so he couldn’t run. On his horn a hastily modified Bluetooth phone was secured with duct tape and wires to interrupt any efforts in magic the pony might try.
“Reporting on today’s top story, a rather harrowing near accident was caught on the dash cam of a local motorist. The video opens with just your average inner city commute until two horse-like animals appear suddenly before the shocked driver literally out of nowhere.” A radio announcer’s voice cracks over the static. “These are not normal farm stock folks with the one bat winged horse just missing the windshield when the driver swerves to evade a pale red white horse.”
“Pale red white horse…” Mike mutters as if he should recognize it.
“Incidents like these have become a frequent concern after the LeClaire Incident. The President as such is expected to attend a UN Summit to discuss Australia’s evacuation plans after a Zerg colony took root in Queensland.” The radio announcer continues.
“Shit man there goes the planet!” David groans loudly before punching Mike hard. “You stupid science geeks don’t know when to quit.”
“David! Do that again and I’ll shoot you.” Tom menacingly growls left hand grasping his partner’s shoulder swinging him to face him. “This guy came to us, he didn’t spread this shit. We only have the advantages we have because of his cooperation.”
“Cooperation, they took off and he brought that back with him!” David retorts pointing at the unicorn.
“They also gave us the blueprints and theoretical data that let Patricia invent these.” Tom spits pointing to the wrist sensors. “The Director wants him taken in for questioning. As for the Zerg, The Japanese are sending their partner in the Fukushima clean-up effort to the Coral Sea as part of their UN assistance offer.”
“So we were too late…” Mike began only to get cut off by Tom.
“Save it for the Director, he’s the one who will handle your debriefing and your companion’s.” Tom remarks sternly.
The trip to the CIA run office building took about an hour and several minutes ending in the underground garage. Two of the SUV’s followed the vehicle that Mike and company rode in. While Mike was able to walk out of the panel bus under his own power and was dragged by three agents, the unicorn was carried still bound by two agents.
Despite not having a real understanding of a unicorn’s full power, the agents were taking no chances of him getting free and escaping as they took the two to the elevator to taken into quarantine and maybe even the director.
Dan Forest meanwhile waited for Director Frank Watson to put down the private network phone and begin his briefing.
“Okay Dan your contact from White Rabbit a Mike Edison is being taken to an interrogation room and a hazmat tech will be treating his injuries.” Director Watson explains. “We will be containing him and another being some kind of mini unicorn in that room until they are deemed safe to be in the same room with.”
“Injuries and unicorns, this is a little weird even when compared to current events.” Dan replies with disbelief.
“Weirdness can’t be helped, let’s go.” Director Watson mumbles motioning from to leave.
In the interrogation room that held Mike and the alien unicorn, a small team of doctors in hazmat suits were in the process of removing the few remaining alien vines from his body or were taking blood and tissue samples from the unicorn.
“Mr. Forest, Director Watson I have some serious concerns.” A 5’ 7” red headed woman with blue eyes in a lab coat calls to the entering colleges. “Hazmat informed us that Mike was being entered strait into quarantine and we have an alien.”
“Patricia what exactly has Hazmat found?” Director Watson asks.
“Parasitic vines of some type. The position of these vines being removed corresponds to the distortions in the video that appeared over Mike’s body during the plane shift activity.” Patricia replies agitated. “The vines seem to react to the Planer-transloctor’s output and could be the reason the others are missing.”
“What about the unicorn, could it’s magic be the real cause?” Dan Forest asks. “What about talking to him?”
“No, the reactions of the plant are the only correlation we have recorded. I want to run some tests on it once the labs are secured against contamination.” Patricia replies. “The unicorn doesn’t seem to speak or understand our language according to Tom. We could try to use speech recognition and writing software and internet stock images as some kind of accelerated teaching protocol that we could also use our selves.”
“You think the unicorn will understand what we are attempting and choose to help us instead of confuse us?” Director Watson asks. “What do you propose we try with him for the writing part? We do suspect that he can escape if he is free of the jammer.”
“We will be using a graphics tablet for the writing component of the translation. All that is needed is to demonstrate the tools use to him and hope he gets it.” Patricia replies.
“Director, we’re done in here. The intercom is all yours.” A Hazmat technician speaks depressing a call button before exiting the room.
Director Watson motions for Dan Forest to sit behind the microphone and talk.
“Hello Mike.” Dan speaks flatly into the microphone. “This is a very bad time to hold pertinent information back, so I will ask you several questions about your… test run. If any of your answers prove deliberately incomplete, deceptive, or wholly damaging to national security; we will throw you back to whatever shark you pissed on as chum. Is that clear?”
Mike flips up his left middle finger before sighing after a minute passes.
“Question 1, did you share this technology with your accomplice here or is this a kidnapping of an extra dimensional foreign national?” Dan asks.
“No, we didn’t make extra Trans-locators. I don’t know how the unicorn followed me, I don’t even remember meeting one before a giant shrub covered spider threatened to make a meal of us.” Mike replies with a hint of agitation to his voice.
“It’s good to hear that we won’t have more unauthorized travel from Earth out of you, but you helped facilitate an unauthorized travel from where ever he came from to here. Will we also get visitors who might want to wage war on us for kidnapping?” Dan retorts.
“Like I already said I don’t know how he ended up with me? I was in no position to kidnap anyone with that spider trying to snare us with thorny vines!” Mike shouts.
“Director, I think his tale is consistent with the facts so far. All the vines that were removed were from places on the body where it could be inferred he was restrained. Hazmat even found vines cutting into the prosthetic arm.” Patricia adds countering Dan’s assertion. 
“Continuing to Question 2 Mike, how much contact with the natives did you have?” Dan speaks into the microphone again.
“The plan was to avoid having any contact except through Lilly, but upon our arrival we had to rescue a Pegasus to protect ourselves from a freak storm.” Dan replies calmly. “We had been there only a few hours and just finished setting up camp before the Pegasus led us into the spider’s trap where a second pony was being used as bait.”
“I’m not familiar with this pony world you chose to investigate, but is this a normal pitfall?” Dan asks.
“No. This whole trip was a complete pitfall. The forest over took everything, even our camp was compromised in the span of an hour.” Mike replies disgusted. “According to Dandelion any formal country was long ago destroyed. Tina even confirmed that the ‘Two Sister’s’ and ‘Cantorlot’ prominent land marks were either missing or overrun with the forest.”
“How did you communicate with Dandelion? We were informed that the unicorn doesn’t understand us and in turn this Pegasus should not understand you.” Dan retorts. 
“I can’t. Tina and Brian had to translate for me.” Mike countered. “Something about the trees affected their implants giving them the pow… ability to understand the ponies. My arm also began to spark after awhile, but it responds to muscle nerves of my arm and not the brain directly.”
“Director, Hazmat has also informed me that the prosthetic arm has been fused to the stump. It might be dangerous to remove it for examination, but I might be able to patch into it to copy the diagnostic files to confirm if a surge happened.” Patricia adds.
“Director, I have nothing more to ask Mike. I need other evidence or testimony to compare this to if I’m to move forward in this interrogation.” Dan adds frowning. “We might need to move to that crash course in language comprehension first.”
“Okay, but we need to handle this delicately. That unicorn must be treated with care as foreign national until we can confirm Mike’s story.” Director Watson replies before activating the microphone himself. “I’m Director Watson we are going to hold you two here until you clear quarantine. Afterwards you will be participating in our efforts to translate the unicorn’s spoken and written language, we’ll handle the details.”
For the unicorn, captivity was wearing on his nerves. The sticky bandaging had been replaced for cold metal chain and was fixed to the floor. His horn would get stung by the thing that was attached to it if he focused too hard on anything. He had been poked and prodded while being held down. 
The human fared little better as one hand was chained to a desk and the other bound inside a metal cage and chained so it pointed at the floor. Thorny dead vines were dug from his body. A strange voice was coming from the opposite end of the room and it had the chained human upset.
After the voice stopped the human glanced to the corners of the room looking for something. In one corner a gray box with a glass sphere in center did move tracking the pair’s movements. It was like a predator’s eye in how it moved.
‘We’re being watched even if the eye isn’t real.’ The unicorn thought glancing at the human again. ‘He doesn’t seem to be afraid of being eaten, more like he had been scolded.’
The human looked at the unicorn for a second and sighed. The human gestures to the eye in the corner then over to the mirror across from the desk and lastly casts an eye at the two figures at the door.
‘Others like him are watching us.’ The unicorn mussed. ‘This trouble involves us both, but how much of it is about me?’
With nothing to do the human went to sleep. The unicorn looked at the ones near the door in hopes they were doing the same, but they moved little from where they stood and had very alert eyes.
A few hours passed and the unicorn started getting sleepy as a knock on the door caught his attention. The humans at the door lead in two others with a metal cart as it was rolled to the opposite side of the desk and was unloaded.
‘It was food.’ The unicorn thought with surprise seeing a bowl of mixed oats and grains placed before him. The human’s plate had a sandwich of some kind the unicorn couldn’t identify and some mixed fruits. The shackled human wasted no time in starting his meal so the unicorn decided to eat as well. The food the unicorn was given was good, but the small room and the thing on his horn almost killed any appetite he had. With nothing to do both the unicorn and Mike went to sleep after finishing their meals. 
Down a floor Patricia was gathering resources for the instructional program that would help teach Mike and the unknown unicorn each other’s language and also by extension everyone else connected to this investigation. The vines were sent a room over for storage until a lab was ready.
“Rick, I’m going to need you to gather Elementary thru 6th grade English disks and a durable graphics tablet with a 15” to 20” writing area we can use in 2 days.” Patricia states as he enters her office coming of dinner break.
“Why?” Rick asks stumped. “We don’t have need of basic English course materials for Translators. I’ll need to buy them. We do have a graphic tablet a floor down we can barrow.”
“The incident from this morning has landed us a non-English speaker with an unknown native language. We need to do a crash course.”Patricia replies grabbing a pair of wireless headset microphones. “Make sure you get speech recognition enabled types while you’re at it.”
“Okay I can have the software burned and installed by 6 tomorrow.” Rick replies with a smile heading out to his office.
While Patricia finished filing the paperwork for the hardware and software requisitions, Director Watson places a call from his office.
“Hello Senator, this CIA Director Frank Watson. I’ve got a question with regard to the Tracer Initiative.” Director Watson asks as he pulls out a pad and pen. “Particularly concerning White Rabbit’s operation.”
“I understand that Congress moves slowly and a little under a month is not enough time for proper deliberation of such a sensitive subject.” Director Watson continues. “However I need a suggestion here as of how to move forward. White Rabbit subject Mike has returned and he came back with an alien national.”
“Yes Senator it is that serious, two members are MIA with evidence suggesting that the pair might be in danger of either harm or diplomatic crisis.” Director Watson grumbles. “We have recorded their devices transmissions and we are awaiting analysis but our initial contact with them was lost on their end. Something prevented their return.”
“We can send the recording immediately if it will help mitigate the gridlock, sir.” Director Watson continues wiping his brow. “The interrogation of Mike will continue and you’ll be updated on our progress. We will also extend the necessary privileges to him if the situation escalates to that, thank you Senator.”
Director Watson hangs up the phone and begins to fill out several forms.
The next day was spent readying a lab to test the alien plant clippings and set up the computer for the language training course. 
The lab where the plant clippings were sent to be tested was one that was reserved for processing DNA samples and chemical residue found at crime scenes. HAZMAT spent the day and night since Mike’s recovery getting the lab up to biohazard containment standards, which was expected to take another eight hours.
Patricia meanwhile entered a small conference room where Rick and a maintenance worker were setting up the graphics tablet and the computer that would be the training station.
“I’m going to bolt these down so they don’t get wrecked by your student tomorrow. The wires are all hidden inside the desk so no one will trip on them. The only wireless connectivity you got on this is the tablet’s pointer.” The maintenance worker states pulling his socket wrench back in his tool belt. “I don’t know how a unicorn is possible, but I will not permit it to wreck all of our equipment with a casual thought threw the wireless network.”
“So we have a hard line to the instructor’s terminal?” Rick asks and the maintenance worker nods. “Thank you, I’ll make sure this gets back to you in the shape I got it.”
After the maintenance worker leaves Rick waves Patricia over to the new language training station.
“Okay we are all set to teach this pony unicorn English when the two are cleared of the quarantine tomorrow. ‘Rosetta Stone’ it’s not, but you have your voice enabled elementary to 6th grade English courses as well as a text reader. Lastly I’ve included a library of point and click text games and Playstation 2’s Lifeline to help speed up the process. Both have been modified to use the voice recognition library.” Rick explains as he points to each executable file.
“Never heard of that game…” Patricia mumbles shaking her head. “How will it speed things up?”
“Lifeline is completely controlled by voice commands; it can help him practice using what he learns in real time.” Rick replies. “He will either get good at it in a hurry or he’ll scream.”
“This will work for Mike as well?” Patricia asks a little uncertain.
“Basically let them do a round in their native tongs to get the hang of it then swap them. Force the pair to work through each others differing vocabulary. The text adventures will not be as easy to swap so Mike will have to go paper adventure with the instructor.” Rick replies. “He will just have to settle being behind the curve until the instructor has a working grasp of unicorn.”
“We will just have to trust that this will work, because the Director and most of the agents that handled them don’t trust that unicorn with any ‘magic’.” Patricia adds. “Thank you Rick, I’ll spring for lunch today for this.”
Back at the interrogation room where Mike and the unicorn were being held breakfast was being served to the quarantined pair after a supervised restroom break done from the sealed off hall.
“We have ham and egg mc muffins for you and assorted dried fruits with granola for the unicorn.” Dan forest announces over the intercom. “You got another fourteen hours maybe until your clear of the quarantine, than we can start with your training.”
“Training, what are you asking? I already told you I don’t speak pony.” Mike replies.
“We are going to try and remedy that problem. Class will be in session at eight am.” Dan replies. “Look you may have wanted to contain this crises, but now we have to work together to salvage this thing. We’ll do much better too if we all understand one another.”
“We draft diplomats now…” Mike began to sternly grumble before glancing to his right at the unicorn and continues sighing. “…right… I made the first contact here it only makes sense that it’s me.”
“Not just because of that Mike, we got some odd reading from you when you came back.” Dan continued.
“The trans-locator…” Mike adds worried.
“The plant you brought back, we’ve yet to run tests on it; but we suspect it reacted to the Trans-locator. Our lab boys think it’s responsible for the interference we detected at your place. It may even be the reason for why your unicorn is here.”
“What of Brian, Tina, and Lilly; and for that matter the two other ponies that were with us? We all got attacked when this happened.” Mike asks.
“The recording doesn’t show Tina or Brian, but we had three event horizons. One was obscured by the room’s desk, but the other one besides yours had an usually marked fox and a Pegasus at the other end. That could have been them.” Dan replies.
“What?” Mike blurts shocked as he starts too sweet.
“The interference was not uniform, each event horizon though sharing the same underlying pattern had unidentified noise layered over two of them. Both noise layers I’ve been told are different too.” Dan explains.
“You think that plant corrupted the Planer Anchor’s signal somehow?” Mike replies.
“Maybe, but we suspect that it was something else from where they ended up. The plant itself put out a noise pattern so we can’t rule it out until it’s tested.” Dan adds.
“I can help with…”Mike begins.
“No, first is the language class. If your Trans-locator rips you elsewhere you will need to be able to speak with the natives.” Dan loudly interrupts. “Preparations are being made now just for that purpose. Afterwards we may take you up on that offer.”
Mike slumped down worried. He had not considered that as a possibility. That he might be pulled back into Equestria.
For his part, the unicorn listened intently to the discussion with the disembodied voice. The mannerisms alone were enough to spook him some. He could see and hear the creature’s attitude change drastically during the short talk, but without his magic he could not comprehend what upset him.
Time passed mostly uneventfully the rest of the day for Mike and the unicorn. Patricia and Rick greeted the linguist who would be on duty the next day and checked on the progress of a prototype Tracer Trans-locator before heading home.
Director Watson on the other hand was about to receive bad news.
“This is Director Watson.” Director Watson states picking up his office phone.
Dan Forest enters Director Watson’s office with the recording from his talk with Mike earlier on a thumb drive.
“Someone is actually going to waste time threatening Open MMO’s event…” Director Watson grumbles rolling his eyes. “Someone actually has the nerve to abuse planer travel to, as you said; ‘stick it to male gamer pigs to prove their man cred’.”
“I will brief my men for the security detail and you can tell the event sponsor will look into it.” Director Watson replies. “Good day Sergeant Long.”
“How many days are they giving you to assemble a team for the event, if I may ask?” Dan states handing over the thumb drive.
“About four days from now. The event sponsor is catching heat for refusing to institute a sexual harassment policy in line with the large venues.” Director Watson replies inserting the drive into the USB slot. “He stated that the event size makes it unnecessary, but also claims that the policy has caused an outbreak of out of control slander and liable as a cover up for corruption.”
“We have a definite group or groups with planer technology then. What made the Sergeant call us?” Dan asks.
“They are sending it over in a refrigerated container. It’s a mutilated body of some kind with the words ‘male superiority disproved’ written on it. The note with it threatened to bring over that things killer if the event sponsor didn’t comply.” Director Watson replies.
“Deloris LeClaire must be so proud.” Dan menacingly quips. 
“Tom says David is upset about the Zerg encroachment in Queensland and assaulted Mike for it” Director Watson begins again after returning the thumb drive. “Your men need to check that attitude or they will be dismissed. Inform them of the sensitive nature of their current assignment.”
“Yes sir Director.” Dan replies.
“According to the Japanese ambassador a bounty hunter with experience in radioactive material clean up is making a detour to stop the Zerg.” Director Watson. “The UN session was to determine the extra pay and logistical support she would be offered on this bug hunt.”
“A planer traveler too…” Dan begins catching Director Watson’s head nod.
“Samus Aran in fact, the Prime minister was gambling on the hope that planer technology could bring an expert in who could fix their disaster in days not decades. She agreed to do it at a remarkably low price too.” Director Watson replies pulling out a file. “This thing with the Zerg however taxed her generosity and she now demands one ton in gold from each UN nation if split evenly for the new job.”
“Are we paying?” Dan asks grasping his head.
“The arrangements have already been made. We even have support of sixty-one percent of the voters due to current events… or maybe nerd nostalgia.” Director Watson mutters shaking his head. “David should relax. We are taking these matters seriously even the president has pledged surveillance drones and seismologists to the region to make sure none escape.”
“Well I’ll relax when our new contract exterminator gives us a clean bill of health. I’ll pass the message while I’m at it.” Dan replies.
“Get some rest; you have a long day ahead of you readying the new diplomats. The orders are prepped they will just need to be handed to him with a transcription in whatever the pony language is called.” Director Watson adds waving for Dan to leave.
“Good night sir.” Dan adds closing the door.
The next day Mike and the unicorn were unshackled, examined by HAZMAT again, and fed; before being led to the new class room.
Once the pair arrived, Patricia replaced the batteries in the jammer affixed to the unicorn’s horn and plugged her diagnostic laptop into Mike’s prosthetic arm to download the error logs. After she finished she exited the room to talk to the Dan and Rick before the class started.
“That plant is bonding with his arm. Simply plugging into the wires with the probes make the little bastards twitch erratically. I need to get to the lab now and start my examination on that parasite before it gets any ideas.” Patricia angrily states. “The unicorn by the way is secured.”
“Okay, keep the Director and me updated.” Dan replies.
After Patricia was out of sight, Rick turns to Dan with a grim look on his face.
“We need to talk in private before the linguist gets here.” Rick states glancing at Mike and the unicorn.
“Go ahead Rick.” Dan says patiently. 
“Word has gotten around to the other divisions about these two and their connection to the recent debacles around the globe. I had no idea I was involved in this case.” Rick states grinding his teeth. “Now that I see them up close while Patricia worked on them; it makes me very worried.”
“You notice something about them Rick, something beyond unjustified hate?” Dan retorts.
“Yeah…”Rick replies looking at the unicorn. “When Patricia first entered our alien national just tried to keep out of reach and was as submissive as scolded puppy when she fiddled with the jammer.”
“However the moment Patricia plugged into Mike’s arm, that child’s fantasy shot up alertly as though something poked it.” Rick continues drawing in a breath. “It was like something unseen were testing his reflexes, and it all ends when Patricia unplugs from Mike. That thing cast a look at her and her palm top computer as though she were responsible.”
“This don’t make sense, Rick.” Dan retorts. “You got any proof.”
“The video feed should back me up. We already have it running for security documentation purposes.” Rick replies.
“Of course…” Dan adds with a huff.
“The unicorn might also be infected with these plants linking the two on some level. The rumors around the office mentioned that these weeds are sensitive to radio waves and the like and Mike’s arm is infected.” Rick continues. “This could explain why this unicorn was able piggy back on Mike’s recall signal too.”
Footsteps from down the hall end Dan and Rick discussion as Larry Hoffman comes into view.
In the room the unicorn was more unnerved than the previous two days. He had been moved to another room, held still while a strange female of his roommate’s species while she fiddled with the thing on his neck that was attached to his horn, and had experienced an unexplainable body wide shudder and hallucination when the female stuck something in his roommate’s arm. Even still shackled he had succeeded in galloping quietly to the opposite end of the room from the muttering angry female as she went to leave.
‘What’s on me… what was it their doing to me?’ the unicorn thought wanting desperately to remove the blasted pain in the horn from his body.
The unicorn knew it was no use however as the shackles bound his front hooves to the back ones so he could not reach. He could walk but not run or escape.
The room the unicorn found himself in was a bit more eye catching than the other one thankfully for the pony. The walls had detailed drawings on them with strange writing on them.
‘It must be some kind of writing, there are the same symbols grouped up all over these.’ The unicorn wondered glancing around a couple posters.
He didn’t know what the symbols could mean as the pictures were still very simple on the posters. At the center of the room was a low desk with some kind of tools on it in front of a mirror wall. His roommate was already sitting at the desk giving him an odd look.
‘Okay, I get it. I need to relax.’ The unicorn thought as his roommate fixed him with a worried expression and moved out the spare chair so he could reach the desk.
With ears low the unicorn approached the desk. When he hesitate a few steps out, the roommate moved back some and waved him up.
The object on the desk glowed with light and displayed a few simple pictures. It wasn’t nearly as interesting as the posters but some of the same symbol groups were present on the screen.
It was then another strange pair entered the room, by the reaction of his roommate at and sound of his voice the unicorn now had a face for the voice of his captor.
“Today is the day we work on this communication gap.” Dan Forest states as he enters the room. “Also this puts you officially under my command Mike. This here is Larry Hoffman he will be running the remote terminal to walk you two through the lessons after demonstrating the work stations operation.”
“Hello Mike.” Larry says holding out his left hand. “I’m the linguist assigned to recording, transcribing, and finally teaching the pair of you how to hold a conversation with one another. Firstly let’s get some id tags made up.”
Larry pulls up the spare chair and sits at the work station and opens the first program which brings up a web camera image of Larry’s face. After he gets the pose he wants he presses a large green button between the keyboard and graphics tablet, this causes the screen to change displaying his photo and prompting him to write his name. Larry puts his hand on the pointer holding in the button as he spells out his full name across the tablet work area before lifting to pointer over to a section on the right end of the pad marked enter and clicks the button. The screen updates again adding his signature to the on screen id before he picks up a head set to speak his name into after which he hits the large green button again. Making sure the unicorn was still watching, Larry clicks Finish and the computer plays both the writing on screen with his voice over the speakers. Lastly an id card pops out of a slot in the side.
The unicorn found himself startled by the glowing box.
‘It spoke and wrote…’ The unicorn though. ‘no it… repeated what he did and said.’
The unicorn glanced at the one who used the glowing screen now seeing the new tag on its person showing its face and the symbols that were written.
‘Wait, it his name…’ The unicorn realized looking at the creature motioning him up into his spot. ‘You want… my name?’ 
The unicorn crawled up to the desk to face the glowing screen and his ears went back a bit as he seen his reflection move before him. With a shaky hoof he clicked the button the creature before him did and his reflection froze and for a moment he thought he should have as well but a blink later cleared some of his tension. 
Next thing was to write his name the unicorn thought barely noticing the head set being placed on his head.
‘Where is the writing… this was the thing he touched next.’ The unicorn thought putting a hoof on the pointer. ‘Do I just move it… why is it… not writing?’
The unicorn flicks an agitated ear at the tablet at not seeing what he was doing until he glanced at the screen and everyone heard plastic crack.
‘It appears only on the glowing wall.’ The unicorn thought impressed at his half finished name smiling. That smile disappeared when it seen the now broken pointer. ‘It’s… broken.’
“This lesson just ended.” Larry mutters shaking his head.
The door opens and Rick walks in.
“Maintenance is going to bill us and chew me out for wrecking the hardware on day one.” Dan groans.
“Let me handle this.” Rick replies disgusted approaching the unicorn. “I was going to use this later but now I got to improvise.” 
Rick kneels down next to the unicorn placing his left hand on its mane and using his right hand to pick up the hoof on the pointer.
‘I didn’t want to break it.’ The unicorn thinks with his ears down looking at the creature touching his mane just before something stabs him in the hoof and he jumps away.
“Rick what was that?” Dan scolds jumping out of the way.
“A RFID chip.” Rick replies putting away the needle. “Patricia was to implant our visitor just in case he attempted to escape but forgot over that plant.”
“That doesn’t explain why you used it now scaring our unicorn guest!” Dan scolds. “If he clams up we will be in worse shape.”
“I need ten minutes and you can return to your lesson. We’ll just use the chip’s signal instead of the pointer.” Rick replies opening up the tablet’s utility file.
After an hour and twenty three minutes Mike got the unicorn to calm down and Rick was gone. Rick had tried to make amends but the unicorn refused to let him get closer. Instead of wasting further effort he told Mike, Dan, and Larry how to get the tablet to work for the unicorn and handed over a stylus for the others to use. 
‘It like hoof painting without paint. I hope this will really help us talk and understand each other.’ The unicorn thought to himself as he wrote out the word for nest still marveling at how the glowing screen followed his moves and how it repeated his voice.
It was a simple word association lesson. See a picture, write the name for it, and speak the word for it. The drill was currently one sided as only the unicorn worked the station with his roommate and only one of the others of his kind watching.  The unicorn was up to his thirty second total object, however he could not make out what eleven of the show objects have been.
‘I guess it’s my roommate Mike’s turn.’ The unicorn Lava Gazer though as the glowing wall displayed Mike’s name and face. He was coxed to sound out the word even as he couldn’t place the meaning behind the words the rest used for names. 
Lava Gazer ‘s first attempts had been corrected by a combination of an unpleasant noise followed by a repeat of the name and after six or seven repeats he got it right.
As Mike touched the work station, Lava Gazer found he feeling something make a connection with him is the same way he was taught to craft magic. Unfamiliar patterns and symbols flooded his magical eye, but it was what was accompanying the sensation that sparked an epiphany.
Lava Gazer became aware of something alien organizing the language lesson, pairing his concept for each picture with its spoken and written word forms. But it was more than just what he was familiar with being transcribed before his mind’s eye as the objects he did not earlier recognize were now yielding to him the missing context that would let him know what it is. He just needed to focus.
“Mike... Hold up something filling in the unicorn’s side of the lesson.” Larry states confused. “The previously skipped material is now filled with strings of gibberish.”  
“Gibberish, could it be a bug?” Dan asks.
“My… my mistake, the computer just needs to catch up to whatever is adding the translations. Something is trying to correct the entries in real time.” Larry replies.
Mike takes his hand off the work station and the activity on the unicorn’s entry side suddenly stops. Before he could question it, Mike found his arm forced back into contact with the work station by a hoof and the changes continue.
“Con… tin… ue lesson.” Lava Gazer mutters before growling agitated and shaking his head only to try again. “Continue lesson Mike.”
“Well Mike shall we continue?” Larry asks over the intercom.
“It was that easy… really?” Mike asks annoyed.
Lava Gazer shakes his head and points his hoof at Mike’s arm than his head than lastly to the screen.
“Larry we found out what was changing the data.” Dan adds.
Three hours later Dan finds Director Watson in the lounge eating Deli sub for lunch.
“Good evening Dan have seat.” Director Watson states. “Sorry for Rick’s behavior he’s been reprimanded. How are the future diplomats?”
“We’ll be on to bilingual speaking and reading comprehension by tomorrow.” Dan replies happily.
“That is quite unbelievable. Dan what happened to put them so far ahead?” Director Watson asks credulously.
“Lava Gazer, the unicorn; was somehow able to interface with the computer thru Mike’s arm and completed a large part of the translations for us.” Dan replies causing Director Watson to cross his arms. “No sir, Lava Gazer is not suddenly going to be giving any speeches about himself; the knowledge leaves his head the moment Mike’s arm leaves the computer. The translation is stored in the hard drive and backed up so we can begin tomorrow in training them in the others native language.” 
“That’s quite the progress report can you explain how Lava Gazer was doing this as the jammer should have prevented any ‘magic use’.” Director Watson asks worried.
“Like is said Mike’s arm seen to be the key here, Rick mentioned before the session that Lava Gazer was acting like he was the one getting a physical when Patricia examined Mike. Maybe the plant is sending out its own wireless signal. I need both Patricia’s and Rick’s opinion on this.”
“Patricia is furious over that plants mysteries, she’ll demand the opportunity to learn of this development.” Director Watson states. “I don’t want Rick upsetting Lava Gazer, so I’ll be observing the next meeting.”
“Understood, any news about the convention?” Dan replies.
“We had another escalation by the terrorist group’s proxies threatening three of the developers with a meeting with their worst creations if they attend.”  Director Watson replies. “One has pulled out of the convention too over this.”
“How do we infiltrate this event and catch these punks.” Dan asks.
“The convention sponsor arranged us to send our agents in as part one of the developers PR teams. We get to dress up as sci-fi troopers and wander the event.” Director Watson replies.
“Cos-playing with the kiddies, I know a few men who need to unwind.” Dan adds. “See you in the morning.”
“You too. Bye Dan.” Director Watson adds as Dan leaves.
It was now fifteen after the sun set. Lava Gazer looked at the strange world below watching the cars on the street below. A small park was having a music event a block away. 
‘Even from here that is a little too loud. I can’t tell if the ringing is in my ears or the music.’ Lava Gazer thought.
Lava Gazer and Mike had practiced talking to each other but it was rocky. Mike was getting tongue tied and Lava Gazer still couldn’t grasp some of the idea behind some of images that he was shown.
‘Dice, fence, books, cars…  all on that glowing screen.’ Lava Gazer recalled the earlier lesson. ‘What was that glowing screen?’
‘Computer… that’s was what they called it.’ Lava Gazer thought and shuddered. ‘That can’t… be how it works. They had to touch it to use it… he had to as well…’
Lava Gazer remembered breaking the writing tool and rubbed his hoof.
‘That one human… does he not like me?’ Lava Gazer continues to ponder as the music ends and the crowd scatters. “He pets me then jabs my hoof.’
‘I could write again with the Computer… but I didn’t feel it magically.’ Lava Gazer thinks turning to Mike. ‘He touches the thing and I get a head rush, but I should not have understood it. Did our minds connect?’
Starring at Mike as he slept Lava Gazer ‘s heart raced as to why he had such a link with this human. He had never seen Mike before a few days ago after when his horn went berserk and he collapsed.
‘I’m lost and a prisoner… if that’s the right word simply for not wanting to get crushed by a tree branch.’ Lava Gazer huffs at his misfortune. ‘Can’t use my magic with this thing on me, but my horn is under control and my magic sight was clearer than it has ever been.’
“Might as well get some sleep.” Lava Gazer whispers lying down on his sides so the chains weren’t under him.
Noon the next day Director Watson summoned Patricia and Rick to meet him at language classroom on Dan’s request.
“Alright you two, Dan has requested your opinions on a detail that came up yesterday between our guests. They reported the remote programming of the work station computer thru Mike’s arm by the unicorn Lava...Gazer.” Director Watson states. “I will not allow you to spook him again Rick. We take thing slowly and verify these claims.”
“Yes sir.” Patricia and Rick reply obediently.
Mike and Lava Gazer were in the middle of taking turns completing one of the built in text adventures Rick had installed. Larry set up the game for co-op with Lava Gazer handling navigation and Mike handling character actions.
“Go to the… desk.” Lava Gazer speaks into his headset.
“Look… at the… fern” Mike mutters uncertain in the unicorn’s language triggering a buzzer for a wrong answer.
“File…” Lava Gazer quietly corrects.
“Look at the… file.” Mike speaks trying again making the on screen character picks up the file. “Take out the picture.”
“Go to the… wall… box.” Lava Gazer says causing the character to go the wrong way.
“Fuse box.” Mike whispers back.
“Sorry to interrupt your lesson Larry, but we are here to confirm yesterday’s observation.” Director Watson says quickly.
“Mike, yesterday while you were starting your part of the training; Larry commented on the computer rewriting Lava Gazer’s responses while you were working.” Dan states. “When you attempted to leave the work station Lava Gazer stopped you pushing your metal arm back on to the equipment to continue the lesson. It was during your direct contact that computer changes were made.”
“So I wasn’t imagining it when he fidgeted during Patricia’s examination of Mike.” Rick adds. “Our unicorn, Lava Gazer; was interfacing with the electronics.”
“That can’t be the only thing; Larry reported that Lava Gazer’s side of the translation corrected itself in real time.” Director Watson notes. “The responses were a bit wordy, more like descriptions than anything. We want to scan the room for any remote signal that might be linking Mike and Lava Gazer.”
“Are you… saying he was… in my head?” Mike asks gesturing to Lava Gazer hoping he heard wrong.
“Those… were… memories!” Lava Gazer replies stunned. “This brings a new meaning to personal space violation. Wait!”
“Easy for you to say.” Mike mutters rubbing his head.
“At least the lessons are not going to waste.” Rick notes. “How are we going to test this?”
“There is that radio in the break room with the busted control knobs; if the two of them can make it change anything we could measure that.” Dan suggests.
“Let’s go to the break room then. We can throw the old thing out while we’re at it.” Director Watson adds.
The walk to the break room draw uncomfortable gazes to the group. Most of the staff had found out about Lava Gazer thanks to the rumors surrounding their arrival. These looks were accusatory for nearly all of the onlookers that watched to group pass by.
Motivating these looks was current events. None of the staff was sure of Lava gazer’s intentions or Mike’s for that matter. Did he bring back a captive? Was he a mind slave? Could this be the beginning of an invasion or some collapse of reality itself? No one was sure and that made them suspicious.
Thankfully everyone cleared out for Director Watson who entered the break room to send away any who might be inside.
“Here we go…” Director Watson trails off digging through a small white wicker shelf to find and pull out a small gray radio with one smashed speaker and three missing buttons. After plugging the radio in Director Watson waves Mike over. “When I say to just put your hand on the radio.”
“Okay…” Mike mutters.
“Patricia turn on your radio scanner and give me a signal check while I power this up.” Director Watson asks pushing the power button bringing up a loud static chocked soft rock music channel.
“Can you turn that thing off?” A voice from across the hall shouts.
“I got the baseline I’m ready.” Patricia calls.
“Well Mike, touch the radio.” Director Watson casually orders.
“Let’s see your magic fingers.” Rick remarks folding his arms.
Mike touches the radio and before any could ask the cringing Lava Gazer the radio signal began to tune into the soft rock channel and remove the static as well as lower its own volume.
“That’s better…” Lava gazer mutters his ears perking up.
“Did you detect anything Patricia?” Dan asks looking at the unicorn relax.
“Yes.” Patricia replies stunned.
In the light of the radio test, Mike and Lava Gazer were separated for fear that the jammer might be neutralized accidentally. Patricia replaced the dying battery with a new one.
The next day went almost without a hitch with Lava Gazer and Mike able to hold a three way conversation with Larry swapping between both native tongs. They had engaged in a campfire style story stick game where each took turns narrating. Five hours of nothing but word play in the most literal of sense.
It was after they were sent to their rooms to sleep that Lava Gazer noticed his horn was not getting the occasional shocks to his horn from the device on his neck and made his move. Moving out of the camera’s view Lava Gazer casts a spell to imprint his image on the camera’s lens, having been inspired by the web camera feedback at the work station on the first day of class. The illusion was nearly perfect except for the shadows being all wrong.
Teleporting out of the room unseen had been rather easy. Lava Gazer’s magic was much more stable here even if it was weaker. Lava Gazer managed to sneak into a van before getting exhausted enough to require him to hide him-self to sleep before completing his escape.
By the time Lava Gazer woke up, the van he was in was moving and it was early morning with the sun just poking above the horizon.
Back at the CIA office Director Watson waits for Dan Forest to gather up Rick and the others involved in watching Mike after learning of Lava Gazer’s escape.
“How did he get loose?” Director Watson groans sweaty. “He couldn’t have reprogrammed the jammer.”
“He didn’t, our battery pack was a defect. I opened it up and found a short between the terminals.” Rick replies entering ahead of the group.
“Someone tell me we know where our unicorn went?” Director Watson shouts.
“How many teams are out? Have any seen anything strange?” Dan asks.
“It’s not just the active teams; he could have gotten into any number of agents cars and escaped during the shift change.” Director Watson groans. “That is too many possibilities to check before his lead gets to great.”
“Wait… Rick what was that RFID Chip frequency?” Dan asks.
At the Silicon Glades convention the doors were finally being opened to the crowds. The gathering of people certainly did not compare to something like E3, but it was more than the event planner had expected at 163 people not counting the exhibitors. 
This is where Kelly Mathews, age 26 standing approximately 6’ 1” with blond hair and green eyes; was assigned by her intermediate coding professor Wendy Kings from Hillcrest Tech Institute for the Dev Union Seminar. She was wearing a forest green leather jacket with gray trim under a simple brown leather vest, gray pants, brown boots, a replica rapier attached to her left hand side belt loops, and a small black winged imp girl doll on her right shoulder. 
Accompanied by her sister Erin, Kelly hoped to pick up the Dev Union’s Indy start up package of royalty free open source gaming script code for her class.
“So what all will get with this gift for taking this thing?” Erin asks.
“Aside from the Demos, the presenters are offering royalty free engines for shooting gallery, RPG, and platforming games. The RPG presenter is even offering a special character from his game Demo that will not be part of the normal release that can be ported a playable character into my own games.” Kelly cheers.
“Are you going to have to program in all it’s stats and junk?” Erin asks annoyed.
“Surprisingly, No; the engine creates a file containing all that info for importing and exporting custom characters. It even reserves a special slot on your battle party so it won’t interfere with your game that can be turned on and off.” Kelly replies passing by a silver coated, orange mane unicorn that was hiding in the shadows of some boxes. “Erin… you don’t know of any pony games debuting here today?”
“Only pony games I know of are the failure Barbie Doll stuff from a decade ago. Girl games belch! Why do you ask?” Erin asks curiously.
“There is … huh I thought I saw a prop back there of a silver unicorn with orange mane, but it’s gone now.” Kelly replies scratching her head.
“Sounds like the logo for UN Squadron. Talk about a cooler old property to bring into new age.” Erin replies smiling. “You have time to check out the souvenir venders before the Seminar don’t you?”
“Sure.”Kelly replies.
Not far away dressed like a cyborg marine, Tom had stopped his patrol to receive urgent news from base.
“Oh dear frack… ugh… acknowledged HQ will be on the lookout.” Tom groans into his head set. “Attention all units be advised Lava is on a walkabout.”
“Yes I Know; of all the possible complications. Just keep an eye out the retrieval team on route.” Tom orders. 
As Tom continued his patrol heading off in the direction of the venders, Director Watson drives Dan Forest, Mike, and Rick to the Silicon Glades convention.
“Tom’s team will be ready to assist when we get there. We’re going to drive Lava Gazer away from the crowds quietly; they still are under orders to prevent a panic.” Director Watson states.
“Rick is the chip still transmitting?” Dan asks turning to the back seat.
“Loud and clear, but why did he get into a van instead of run off?” Rick replies.
“Run off where, we’re in the city.” Mike replies. “He probably hoped to remain hidden until he got out to someplace more familiar.”
“We’ll ask him when we catch him. Twelve minutes till we get there.” Director Watson adds.
Back at the event Kelly and Erin reached the section where the venders were set up. With four stall in total, one being a snack stand, two being tee-shirt stands; the selection was rather sparse.
“It’s a shame. These are nice… but a shirt is hardly a good souvenir.” Erin remarks. 
“If shirts are not to your liking young ladies, I have a few little trinkets that might work.” A balding older man with bi-focal glasses in a pin stripe sweater vest combo remarks. A dark cloak of some kind rests on his chair. “I usually carry more wares myself but a small event from time to time is better on the back.”
The vender had dice, mini super hero and monster figures, key chains, a box of bargain manga, and booster cards that unlock extras in the games presented at the convention.
“I know it rather humble, but I promise you won’t forget you were at this convention for as long as you live.” The vender pleasantly commented to Erin before turning to Kelly. “Never thought I’d see someone cos-play Nigel the Wood Elf here. Didn’t expect to see anyone cos-play anything today with the rumors floating about, but I’m proud you young’ins won’t let cowardly punks scare you.”
“It’s been a little nerve racking with the threats, my parents almost insisted I stay home.” Kelly replies not noticing a cyborg marine heading their way. “Thanks for the compliment by the way; Link is not the only adventurer of gaming.”
“It may not be much but I think I can find a little something to complete the look.” The vender replies smiling and flashing a look of inspiration before searching his wares.
Tom approached the venders slowly as he used his scanner to track Lava Gazer’s RFID chip signal.
“Why couldn’t you stay put?” Tom groans turning a dial on his scanner. The scanners alarm beep begins to chime. “A planer trans-locator signal…”
Turning toward the venders, Tom slowly pans over the objects and people at the only stand with customers which were two young ladies. The scanner snaps to a dog head shaped whistle and locks on to it as it's handed to one of the ladies.
“No you don’t!” Tom shouts darting the lady who took the whistle with a tracer causing her to turn just before phasing out her friend screaming. “This is Tom, I have an abduction near the merchants. Repeat…”
Screams from the other end of the building interrupts Tom making him flinch. It was during his lack of focus that the vender moved grabbing the other lady with one hand and donning his robe with the other.
“I propose a fair exchange; the young girl and you get to play hero for your little gadget.” The grinning hooded merchant calmly remarks.
Outside the convention hall, Director Watson’s car pulls up to find David evacuating convention participants. 
“Status Report David.” Director Watson demands. 
“It’s a mess in there. I can’t figure out what those things are that these bitches called in, but they cut us off from Tom and we have are hands full covering the evacuation.” David replies ushering out three more people. “We need help containing the threat to the building.”
“Dan, we’re going to clear a path for you through this shit; take Mike and rescue Tom.” Director Watson orders. “We can’t lose his scanner. If that happens both the abducted hostage and Lava Gazer maybe lost to us.” 
“Got it sir!” Dan replies handing Mike his back up gun. “Mike I hope that fist of yours is combat ready you may need it more than this.”
“Move out!” Director Watson shouts.
The convention hall was in the process of being trashed, three harpies lay mostly helpless on the floor wings coated with fire retardant and legs tied up cables. The real problem was the creature with the were-wolf torso on a scorpion abdomen for a body that had blue glowing hexagon bracelets floating over parts of it body.
“Director we cannot hold this thing here, it shrugs off everything we hit it with. We only lasted this long because we brought down a spotlight rig and the live wires seem to scare it.” Jordan replies. “The hall leading to the merchant stalls is just beyond and it seems to have caught on to our intentions to get past it.”
“What is that thing?” Director Watson asks astonished and frightened the beast turning to lock its gaze on him snapping its claws.
Rick raises his scanner to get a reading on the beast.
“That won’t work something is interfering with the scan.” Jordan shout annoyed.
“As you attacked it did anything strange happen to those hexes?” Rick asks pointing to the bracelets.
“A couple time we noticed a flicker over the body but our ammo is nearly spent that is why we took out the lights.” Jordan replies.
“Time is of thee essence, we need past it.” Dan states with a scowl.
“Mike I want you to provoke it, lure it to the live wires. Everyone else fire of a staggered volley the moment it gets shocked.” Rick demands.
“What the hell…” Dan screams making the monster begin to charge.
“Do it quickly or this Data Bug will squish us.” Rick begins darting from the group to put the live wire between him and the Data Bug.
Mike complies using his mechanical arm’s finger torch. The flames light itself lacked menace but the charge made the Data Bug change direction only to stop short of the sparking wires.
The Data Bug gave a knowing look and launched its tail at Mike over the wire. With no other option, Mike flings a nearby chair at the Data Bug and the clang of metal on exoskeleton echoes across the building. Stumbling from surprise the Data Bug lunges with a claw at Mike sending him into a collection of video game cartridges as the deflected chair hits the live wire.
A spark of arcing electricity and a barrage of bullets later a flicker of hexagons burst forth from the Data Bug making it shriek with pain and agony drowning out a shout from the other end of the building.
Stepping between the Data Bug and Mike, Rick cracks his neck, scanner pointed at the beast with its display saying signal locked; and mutters. “I hope this works Patricia…”
The Data Bug meets Rick’s stare.
“Get out of our way and out of our WORLD!” Rick snarls pushing a button.
With one final but futile lunge the Data Bug phases out destroying Rick’s scanner but leaving him unscratched.
“Mike, Dan; your way is clear move!” Director Watson shouts.
While the Data Bug was blocking the reinforcements, Tom found himself cornered by a now very irritable robed terror with an innocent girl in a head lock.
“I will not offer you any further concessions. Stall me any longer and I will sell parts of your body as trinkets.” The mad vender scolds raising his free hand in which a nasty looking pistol sized shot gun ripples into existence.
Tom was scared stiff by the display of this vender power and by his scanner’s error message when it locked on to the hulking man. Tom was so stunned he missed the alarm beep signaling a new reticule appearing in front of the error one.
With a bright flash the robed hulk of a merchant found himself blinded right before something kicks him hard in the gut sending him flying.
Tom still rubbing his eyes from the first flash, feels hands grab him and before he could question it as his sight returns he nearly loses it again at the sight he beholds.
Between him and the robed figure was the unicorn, Lava Gazer; whose barrier just barely deflects an explosive shot of hot magical lead the young girl now cling to him for dear life.
“My my, I wasn’t aware you’ve been in contact with Equestria.” The merchant says stalking closer. “My apologies, but I will not have you undoing my work.”
The barrier was flickering and likely meant it would fail to stop another attack and Tom pondered the possibility that they would be killed as a loud metal clang rang out from the other part of the building.
Lava Gazer straining to think of some way out suddenly caught the image of blue-silver haired human wearing a white cape green tunic and pants and silver boots wave his hand out in front of himself as four orbs of burning flame merge into one another from their position framing the hand to create a lance of explosive fire. All of it overlaid by a magical symbols Lava Gazer hoped he could copy.
Without another thought Lava Gazer shouts. “Flaeli!”
The robed merchant having no chance to react is sent careening into the far wall and set ablaze by a lance of flame.
Dan and Mike turn the corner just in time to see the still smoldering fiend pick himself up gazing murderous hate at the unicorn and then at them.
“I think… it is… time to teach you some RESPECT!” The robed merchant shouts as smoke like anomalies rise over many parts of his body.
Again Lava Gazer see a strange humanoid this one has green skin and wares ceremonial white and blue clothing. Responding to this image Lava Gazer shouts. “Seals!”
The burned robed fiend snarls as twin yellow rings materialize around his waist and vanish, stopping the anomalous smoke all together.
A fatigued Lava Gazer turns to finding Mike a little way from the burning man; Mike’s arm beginning to spark wildly.
“Mike… when I tell… you raise your arm and shout ‘Nafoi’.” Lava Gazer shouts a plea. “Now! Negatis!”
“Nafoi!” Mike shouts raising his hand.
In the blink of an eye everyone found themselves yanked off their feat towards the now torso-less merchant, his upper half swallowed up by an eclipse like black spot that existed no more than a second. Mike's hand smoldered with the remains of a game cartridge he had not remembered grabbing.
The girl in Tom’s arms still cried as the group race from the building.
“Tom, are you alright?” Director Watson asks. “Rick proved the scanners modifications can send planer invaders back to where they came from; please tell me your scanner is intact.”
Tom chanced a glance at the still working only slightly dinged device.
“Let’s get everyone in contact with their rides then we can bring her back.” Dan suggests looking at the crowd.
During the work of arranging transportation the convention patrons, an evidence sweep of the building; the terrorist was caught when her planer devise was detected by its still active signal. Samples collected from the fight with the merchant were packed away for transport. The convention organizer expressed disappointment over the damage and frightened patrons, but was impressed with their success in stopping the monsters from hurting too many people. The surviving harpies though bound were cleaned up and sent back the same way Rick got rid of the Data Bug.
It was decided to attempt to recall the abducted Kelly back at the Head Quarters just in case they needed to address a hardware problem or some other glitch.
“The recall program should work fine based on Rick’s test. I am not thrilled with this “Merchant” thing you told me about.” Patricia groans. “The stains on our samples visually do not resemble blood on first glance I’m waiting on the chemical test.”
“How long till you get the test results?” Director Watson asks.
“A few minutes tops. We are not doing anything fancy.” Patricia replies as her head set beeps. “Patricia here. Okay… alright I’ll tell him go back to normal duties.”
“Anything?” Director Watson asks as Rick, Mike, Tom, Lava Gazer, and Erin look on.
“Water…” Patricia mutters frustrated. “The exact composition of the materials you brought back have degenerated into nothing but distilled water, all we have left are the pictures taken of the scene and the damage. This was no living thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Any of you know what this Merchant is supposed to be?” Dan asks.
“He was… a… plot device in… some MLP fan fiction.” Erin replies crying some and trembling.
“I remember Brian only mentioning this Merchant causally before the LeClaire Incident happened. It’s not something I meddled in as it was his free time.” Mike adds.
“I got something… The trope in question is a ‘Displaced Story’.” Rick states searching a fan fiction sight for subject ‘The Merchant’. “He seems to be like a genie of curse items. People buy stuff, get turned into stuff, and then are dumped into some alien world. The majority of his exploits are MLP related but some newer stuff has him branching out into other fandoms.”
“This guy is like some decease.” Director Watson ventures.
“More like the ‘Tall Man’ of Phantasm 3.” Rick corrects. “Explains why the body broke down so cleanly and his numbers of created Displaced. He is probably just one of an entire pocket dimension of the same guy.”
“That is something to discuss for another time. Let’s give this a shot.” Dan Forest remarks as he activates the recall system of Tom’s scanner.
A form of a blond haired elf with an odd gray trimmed green suit, brown boots, and gray pants shimmers into existence. Upon seeing Erin he runs over and hugs her tears in his eyes. The tracer dart still embedded in suit confirms his identity.
“Sister I… missed you. Erin how am I able to stand with you now?” The male elf suspected to be Kelly spoke with a hint of uncertainty.
“It was us. About three hours ago you were transported from our perspective, how long has it been from yours?” Dan asks worried.
“About… it was about… a month and a half ago from what I was told. Yet I only remember three days.” Kelly replies shaking his head.
“Kelly what happened to you?” Erin asks.
“I spent most of that time as a pony…” Kelly replies depressed. “I ended… up… in this small village… and was ambushed. I would have stayed that way if not for Princess Trixie, a former Lord of Luna’s Night Court.”
“We’ll have to address the diplomatic concerns later as the tracer dart is almost dead.” Rick notes examining the cracked and muddy thing.
“You mean Kelly could be ripped away from us again.” Erin replies distraught eyes going wide as she grabs Rick.
“I don’t know for sure. The Merchant trope indicates that his victims can only leave their linked universe during the duration of a summoning contract.” Rick explains shaken. “Kelly’s item was programmed to send her to this other world. When the dart fails it might think the contract ended and she be gone.”
“No, no, it can’t be true…” Erin cries running back to her sister.
“You could have been more tactful, Rick.” Director Watson scolds.
“Wait folks…” Mike speaks raising a hand slightly. “Programmed, her item is programmed to send her someplace else and turn her into this game character.”
“You’re suggesting…” Rick replies eyes lighting up in hope.
“I think it can be reprogrammed or patched…” Mike continues.
“This is a technology or magic we don’t understand, how do you propose we reprogram this item. We can’t hook it up to a computer and we don’t have the time to analyze it code before the dart dies.” Director Watson asks skeptically.
“We have a short cut through my connection with Lava Gazer.” Mike proposes.
“Hold on… It’s not… ” Lava Gazer sputters forgetting what language he was using for a second. “Wait I can’t just alter a spell like this without some idea of what the end result needs to be. I need at least a personal item and picture just to get her looks right and that doesn’t even address the other part.”
“I have her purse… It even has her id still in it. She gave it to me to hold before we talked to that jerk.” Erin meekly adds.
“We can use the planer trans-locator scanner to provide the baseline for reprogramming the location and for her form if we wire it into Mike’s arm.” Dan adds. “Will you give it a try?”
Lava Gazer nods ears splayed back in nervousness. “Okay I will do it.”
It took Patricia and Rick a few minutes to bring up a working scanner and Patricia’s diagnostics lab top to patch into Mike’s arm. Kelly and Erin spent a lot of time worrying over what to tell their parent’s and even Professor Kings. Kelly wept a little about giving up here dream of game development, but Dan offered to give her a lab top of her own so she could at least keep at her dream.
“I’m patched in how do we start this?” Patricia asks booting up the lab top.
“I should be… able to see the objects aura if you point that… at the items.” Lava Gazer replies nervously. “Once I have it… I’ll begin casting a… casting a spell on her item.”
“Turn it on.” Director Watson orders.
At first Lava Gazer couldn’t see anything in is magic sight; that changed as Patricia adjusted the scanner reveling a collection of symbols and a face… 
Her hair was indeed blond but it wasn’t spiky and it was slightly darker. Her face should be more oval as opposed to square top and pointy chin. Her legs should be more lightly muscled. It was these impressions that Lava Gazer began weaving into the first part of his spell.
“I think… I got the body right.” Lava Gazer huffs eyes squinted and horn glowing. “I’m… ready for the location.”
“I’m loading the planer address now, Lava Gazer.” Patricia replies finishing typing a command into her lab top.
Lava Gazer’s magic sight washed with color the moment the command was entered, nearly everything in the room took on a pale mint green tint with the only a few things not matching being Kelly appearing a neon purple, Mike’s arm and some bits of his insides that were a flickering rose red, and Lava Gazer as orange with the flickering rose red as well.
Focusing on Kelly, Lava Gazer willed the symbols to change trying to make her color match the rest of the green objects. It was giving him a head ache went slowly from purple to yellow to florescent gray to finally mint green.
“I… I think I… have it. Stand back.” Lava Gazer remarks tired and strained as the glow of his horn transfers to Kelly. For a small moment a band of purple crossed Lava Gazers brow, but all eyes went to Kelly as she returned to her true form. It didn’t last.
When the Spell died down the effect on Kelly stopped, making her revert back to Nigel. Erin’s and Kelly’s tears began flowing again.
“Why didn’t it work?” Rick snaps in disbelief.
“I don’t know, he doesn’t have this trouble… if I touch…” Mike adds before trailing off. “Miss Mathews… Kelly is it okay with you if I touch that whistle?”
Kelly walks up to Mike and stretches her hand out with the whistle in her palm.
“Lava Gazer please try again, just one more time for me.” Mike quietly pleads placing his metal hand on the whistle.
With a weak but determined nod, Lava Gazer takes a deep breath and his horn began glowing once more. This time as the glow surrounded Kelly, orange sparks also started racing across Mike’s arm sending the lab top attached to it into a frenzy as it collects the data. No one had a chance to ask if it was working before a flash momentarily blinds everyone.
In the lab where the Foxfire plant was being studied, the computers began to spark and the plants glow with a strange light scorching its container. 
In Queensland two alien armies that were trying to kill each other, the Zerg and the Metroids with Samus; momentarily stop their hostilities to regard the north western horizon with confusion having felt a wave of unusual power off in the distance.
“By the Chozo Ancestors what was that?” The gold armored bounty hunter snarls out her musing through grinding teeth before shooting off a Hydrolisk’s head that turned to hiss at the anomaly.
Elsewhere and worlds away in a cave where a crystal tree grows three mares witness a statue begin to crack, an eerie light seeping from the wounds in the frozen stone.
Several mile from there in a village where the flowers bloom under the moon near a memorial for the heroes who stopped an epidemic, an usual shrub on the cliff face behind it experiences an unnatural growth spurt. 
Lastly far from the forested plains, a gray stallion in plaid clock barring the shadow of Discord on it walks over to a small park bench under a tree. He turns to watch the various ponies and other visitors to the city go about their day as the sun starts it decent from the sky.
“This seems like the perfect place to wait for a friend.” The stallion comments almost merrily as he pulls his hood down revealing a dark gray mane.
When everyone recovered from the blinding flash in the waiting room they found Kelly returned to her original form. The whistle had morphed its shape from a dog’s head to a full dog’s shape even turning white and gaining a digital watch style display.
“Kelly!” Erin cheers and jumps for joy at her sister’s restoration.
“It worked… it really worked.” Kelly adds her look of surprise melting into joy. “I’m me again… I don’t know why this thing is counting down but I’m me.”
“Counting down… let me take a look at it.” Mike asks.
On closer inspection of the changed whistle Mike determines that the countdown is a new mode for the artifact that allows its bearer about 48 hours worth of time in their original form every sixteen days. Kelly would be stuck as Nigel for the time being, but Patricia was able to record the process used to change her as a computer program and between her and Rick even this condition might be fully fixed with time.
“Thank you all, I would have lost my sister if you had not come to our rescue.” Erin replies wiping away a tear.
“Glad we could help.” Lava Gazer says smiling and bowing.
“Something good came from our actions relating to this mess with White Rabbit and the LeClaire Incident.” Mike adds with a sincere smile. “I will pass your thanks along miss.”
However before more could be said and done Mike’s and Lava Gazer’s bodies started phasing in and out. Patricia managed to attach a tracer to Mike’s Planer Trans-locator and Dan handed a seal envelope over to Mike before the pair finally phased out.
“Their gone, Senator. Dan handed them the orders packet. If they run into any governing officials hopefully they will be open to diplomacy and help us find our missing people.” Director Watson states.
“Senator, White Rabbit is not our only asset in a foreign world now. A young girl, Kelly Mathews; was taken then recovered at the convention job…” Director Watson continues.
“It was by an inter-dimensional agitator called The Merchant. We suspect after interviewing everyone involved that he targeted us randomly. It was coincidence that we encountered him at all.” Director Watson Continues. “We gave Kelly orders to use her talents to investigate the worlds he touched for any trace of tampering. We are hoping to find out if these ‘Displaced base worlds’ are purely artificial or natural to gauge his power as his body apparently self destructed upon defeat.”
“We’ll have more information hopefully in the near future. Good by Senator.” Director Watson finishes putting the phone down.
In the mountain city of Cantorlot, Mike and Lava Gazer exit a small side street to enter a park just off the main street of the city. The sun was just starting to set as the pair pass a tree a little stunned to see a city of ponies.
“Hello Travelers, we wondering when you would show.” A gray stallion with a black mane and thin black mustache loudly call to the pair. “I’m willing to bet there is a lot we all need to know.”