Chapter 4
Meet the Inquisition
“PAX CHRISTI!”
Steel Needle slowly closed the door behind himself as he left one of the interrogation rooms in the Manehattan HQ. He looked to the right where a guard stood. “Nopony is to enter this room unless I say so!” He stressed.
The guard saluted and took a stoic position in front of the door.
With that Steel Needle walked through the halls until he arrived at a large, empty room, with a row of pillars at each side. He looked at the clock at the other side of the room and took a deep, calming breath. He took his wallet, opened it and took a bit out of it. As he looked at the coin he infused it with more and more energy until it was about to burst. He threw it at the floor and clapped his hooves, making air surge towards the coin.
“GATE THROUGH HEAVEN!”
A lighting struck and a portal opened mid-air. From it Time Gale emerged looking cold and stoic as ever.
“Good evening, Steel Needle.” He said, waving his mane to the side, covering his left eye.
“Sir.” Steel saluted and followed him as the two walked down the halls. “The prisoner is in the interrogation room. She should talk in about thirty minutes.”
Time Gale nodded. “I take you have found out who she is by now?”
Steel Needle shook his head. “We have run her data multiple times through our databases and always got multiple matches, all of whom are confirmed taxpayers, have medical records. In short, all who are real ponies but appear to be the same pony…”
“So we have no idea.”
“I’m afraid not…”
Time Gale sighed. “What did you feel during the interrogation?”
“Sir, I—”
“Answer the question, Steel.” Time Gale insisted.
Steel Needle became quiet for a while, casting his gaze down for a while before looking back at Time Gale. “Nothing…”
Time Gale nodded. “You know why I ask this, Steel.”
“Yes, Sir…”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Now arriving on track number six, local service stopping at Canterlot, Cambraya, Cincinneighti, Fillydelphia, and Manehattan."
A violet unicorn mare brushed away the bangs of her navy blue mane from her eyes, putting away the book she had been engrossed in to hop onto the train. She had been looking forward to this trip for months, her job as CEO leaving little in the way of 'personal time.' Now though, she was finally going to see her parents, who were as anxious to see her as she was to see them. Gathering her luggage into her magical aura, she made her way to the platform where her train was arriving.
She arrived at the scarcely populated platform before the train, the platform becoming more crowded as the train approached. The mare took a few steps closer to the edge of the platform so that she might simply step onto the train when she felt a sudden constricting in her chest. Setting her luggage down, she placed a hoof onto her chest and hoped the sensation would pass.
She then felt a foreign sensation pass through her body, as though a cold wind had picked up and had pierced her core. Her body shivered in reaction, unable to warm itself. Then, much to her own surprise, she found herself taking a step towards the rails and the approaching locomotive.
Not understanding this reaction, she frowned and willed her body to step backwards. When her body ignored her, she tried to force herself to step backwards, finding herself taking another step forward.
Not understanding this at all, she tried to turn her head to the side, finding that only her eyes would oblige her request. "Help me..." she whispered, drawing only momentary attention from the bystanders around her, "Please help me!"
She vainly struggled against herself as she approached the oncoming train, her body rebelling against her commands. Silent tears began to streak down her cheeks as the train's warning whistle sounded. She flung herself unwillingly onto the tracks as the sounds of screaming and squealing brakes filling her ears were the last sounds she ever heard.
As ponies crowded around in a worried, muttering herd, one figure stood unmoving. He leaned impassively against a pillar, witnessing the scene as it had played out in front of him. He gave a small smile and turned to leave, unnoticed by anyone.
Tayson had been staring at the ceiling for the last two hours while undergoing one test after the other. Blood had been taken from him, his eyes were checked along with pulse, mouth, legs, throat, everything. All while Maya’s eyes looked with concern at him.
After the last test Dr. Stable came back with the results. He took a deep breath and checked a last time the dossier. “Everything looks fine. But you might want to eat some more bananas, you’re low on Potassium.”
Tayson had been quiet till now, he sighed without even bothering to look at Dr. Stable. “That’s the least of my worries right now…”
Dr. Stable frowned and sighed. “Listen, I know you’ve been through a lot but—”
“Please stop there,” – Tayson interrupted – “Because you don’t!”
Dr. Stable bit his tongue to not retaliate on that statement. He took a professional stance and looked with cool indifferent eyes at Tayson. “Fine. But promise me that you won’t try to rush things. We’ll be able to help you.” With that Stable left the room, closing the door firmly.
As soon as Tayson and Maya were alone, Maya jumped up. “Stop it!”
It was the first time since they had entered the room that Tayson moved more than he needed to. “What do you mean?” His voice was still filled with an undertone of sadness, but was hidden deep under a thick layer of growing indifference.
“The way you just acted towards Dr. Stable was not ok!”
“So?”
Maya blinked a few times as if she couldn’t believe what she just heard. “SO?!” She stomped towards Tayson and came dangerously close to him. “He comes in, tries to comfort you and all you do is cut him off and act like you’re the only one who has lost something!”
“I—”
“Don’t you DARE to interrupt me!” She bellowed, silencing Tayson’s objection before it could be spoken. “Let me make you something very, VERY clear! Everypony in KAMI has lost at least someone dear to him. And the difference between them and you is that they won’t get those loved ones back!”
“And who did you lose then?!” Tayson spat back, trying to get back in the conversation. But instead got a smack in the face by Maya who was on the verge of tears.
“THAT IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!” With that she stomped out of the room, leaving Tayson alone with a sore cheek which he carefully touched.
He closed his eyes took a deep breath and lowered his gaze. “Well done, Tayson…”
It has been about an hour since Maya had left the room. Tayson was looking at the ceiling, lost in thoughts.
“How the buck—”
He got cut of as the door suddenly opened. Steel Needle and Time Gale entered the room.
“Tayson—” Steel Needle stopped abruptly as he saw how he shot up, “Are you alright?”
Tayson calmed his nerves quickly and just nodded
Steel Needle looked unsure but took Tayson for his word. “Ok… I got some good and some bad news.”
Tayson sighed. “With all respect, but just spit it out already…”
Steel Needle scrunched his muzzle, but just decided to not reply. “Fine, I guess… The bad news is that we’re not able to get the necessary information in time, so we’re making this thing public.”
“And that means.” Tayson asked in a tired, sarcastic voice.
“Well, it means that the mortal officials are now considering this a crime and are helping us in some way. The good news on the other hoof is that there is a way to get some more information out of the mare we captured since we have another… informant.”
“Splendid, so my friends are still captured.”
Steel Needle sighed, but nodded in the end. “I’m afraid they’ll be for a while, but we can change that!”
Tayson’s eyes shot open. “How?!”
Steel Needle motioned Tayson to follow him. “Let’s call it, persuasion…”
A chill went down Tayson’s spine. Hearing this words come out of Steel Needle’s mouth had an ominous undertone. Tayson gulped nervously as they walked down the halls.
They arrived at the interrogation room that Steel Needle had left his prisoner. Steel Needle dismissed the guard and the three of them entered the room.
It was a room in which a single-shaded glass separated the actual interrogation room and the room in which other ponies could follow the interrogation. The lights in the interrogation room were dimmed, which added to Tayson’s unease. Inside the room Maya was sitting, staring at the black window. She looked at the incoming ponies, but her eyes quickly darted back as she saw Tayson amongst them.
Her eyes were red and her mane was a mess. Her lips were curled into a small frown as if she were on the verge of tears, yet her posture was stoic and disciplined. Like she was supposed to.
As everypony sat down, Steel explained that the previous interrogation was without fruits and that he had to use some more… drastic measures in order to make her speak. He then pressed a button which made the lights in the other room go on and reveal the mare.
She was battered and broken, dried blood covered her coat while she was attached to a crucifix.
Steel Needle looked away, Time Gale and Maya just looked indifferent at the mare. Tayson didn’t even blink.
“Are you willing to talk now?” Time Gale asked in a calm but demanding voice. “If you do so, you’ll be free the moment you agree. You’ll get medical treatment, and there won’t any longterm effects neither from us nor the injuries. Your memory will be erased and you will be given a new identity. This whole thing will, at least for you, literally never have happened.”
The mare looked up with a twisted smile. “Tempting, but I’m afraid that I have to decline.”
“You know that we can keep you here as long as we want, right. Blackmailing a god is against the mortal law.”
“I know the law. This whole conspiracy won’t be enough to break me, you freaking buckbucket!”
“Conspiracy?” Time Gale’s eyes narrowed curiously.
“Oh, please. Do you really believe that nopony notices? After all, you guys are always involved whenever something big happens. The return of the Nightmare, Discord’s resurrection, Sombra’s siege. So many innocent lives were lost at those days.” The mare looked up with a manic smile on her face. “But did you ever stop them? No! You just wait till thousands of ponies die and watch while we have to fight the monsters YOU summoned upon us!”
Time gale leaned towards Steel and whispered. “No wonder you didn’t get anything out of her. She has already planned what she would say to us, her arguments don’t flow out normally.”
Steel nodded in agreement. “She has been like that since she came here. She felt rather enthusiast back then. Like it was some kind of reward that she got to talk to us.”
“We’ll continue this for a few more minutes, if that doesn’t work, I’ll contact Circadian Rhythm.”
Time Gale looked back at the mare and shook his head. “I’m sorry, but we’re not allowed to intervene in mortal affairs. Neither did we cause those events. They simply happened. Familiar with the term ‘accident’ or maybe better ‘natural disaster’? We don’t control you, we’re not even allowed to watch over you anymore. That with Luna was an experiment that went wrong. Celestia lost her sister that day, as did I lose somepony very precious to me. Discord is the manifestation of entropy. We got tons of them, the Qilins have Sacred crystal bells, the Gryphons wake over the power of Honour. Given that they don’t move and cause that much havoc, but they’re parts of nature and you can’t fight nature. And that with Sombra.” Time Gale snorted. “He was a king that got corrupted by power.” Time Gale stood up, getting more assertive as he gave more arguments. “Given, they were gods too, two of them were Divine rulers, something we’re not allowed to deal with! That’s part of a treaty that was mad generations before your ancestors’ ancestors were even conceived, after a war fought for a cause, that puts the petty cause of that little club of yours to shame.” Time Gale spat. “This conspiracy was made because you mortals demanded it! But you forgot, and we remembered. And now you want to blame us?”
“LIES!” The mare struggled to get off the cross, but it only caused her to yank back in pain. “MY WHOLE LIFE GOT RUINED BY YOUR KIND! ONE OF YOU JUST CAME BY ONE NIGHT AND MURDERED MY WHOLE FAMILY! BUT YOU MADE ME FORGET! I GOT PLACED IN AN ORPHANAGE WHERE I GOT BULLIED AND ABUSED!” The mare panted as her anger slowly cooled off. “But He made me remember. He was my saviour. He helped me get strong. And He will help your friends to become strong too.” The eyes of the mare burned right through my eyes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A knock on the door pierced the silence of the Howling Moon’s library.
“Come in.” Howling Moon laid the book, he was studying, aside.
Malachite entered the room respectfully, gaze cast down as to never look right in his master’s eyes. “Milord, the new... trainees have arrived.”
“Excellent. And… what about her?”
Malachite hesitated. “She went after the chaos god… And got captured… As is the squad that she had with her…”
Howling Moon sighed. He stood up and went to the desk of his office. On top of the desk laid a deck of cards which he levitated in the air and began to shuffle. “That is very unfortunate.” He looked through the cards, took the ones he needed and spread them on the desk. On each was the face of a pony, and on the one in the middle was the face of the mare. “She was very useful. Maybe a little to impulsive, but she has contributed a lot.” Howling dipped his quill in his inkpot. “Oh well, she can be replaced.” He then drew a cross over the mare’s face. From where the ink touched the card, the colours slowly faded away until only the cross remained. The ink then combusted, burning the card in purple and black fire.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The eyes of the mare shot open as she screamed in agony. Everypony startled at the sudden outburst of the prisoner.
“RELEASE HER!” Time gale commanded almost immediately.
Steel Needle looked confused. “But Si—”
“THAT IS AN ORDER, STEEL!” Time Gale’s voice cracked, on the brink of being amplified.
Steel Needle obeyed and stomped his hooves, making the needles that held the mare on the crucifix dissipate.
“Get a doctor, prepare to wipe her mind and get her a new identity! We're done with her.” Time Gale walked for the door. “After that I expect you at your office, Steel.”
Steel Needle saluted, took a piece of chalk and started writing on the wall. After a few minutes Doctor Stable arrived. The mare got carried to the medical wing. Maya and I got dismissed. In the hallway I tried to apologise to her. She listened, but didn’t reply, and after I was done she simply left.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Much had happened. His friends got abducted, he had his first real fight, he had angered his teammate and had seen a mare being tortured. At the moment Tayson had a lot to think about. What would he do if his friends couldn’t be saved in time… or even at all? What is he going to say to their parents? How is he going to act in school? What will he say to his friends when they are saved? How is he going to make up with Maya? And above all, will he stay in KAMI?
Tayson didn’t want to leave the safety of his bed, outside shone the sun, but Tayson was oblivious to that and to the thousands of lives that were cherishing the light of day. For now, the only thing Tayson wanted was to forget this day and what had happened in the interrogation room. He hadn’t said a word when he returned home. He couldn’t think of anything to say. All that was in his mind were the eyes of the mare that had burned down upon him with unrefined hatred.
A soft knock on the door was followed by Crystal slowly opening the door, making light pierce the pitch black of Tayson’s room. “Tayson…?”
No reaction.
Crystal now completely opened the door, making Tayson pull his covers over his head to shield them from the light. “Honey, I understand that a lot has happened, but—”
“I’ve never seen so much hatred…” Tayson slowly got up and looked at Crystal with exhausted eyes. “I’m scared, granny…”
Crystal walked to the window opened the curtains, making Tayson cringe at the now bright room. Crystal sighed and sat next to him in bed. “You have every right to be scared, you're friends are in danger… But remember that you chose for this.”
“But—”
“No buts, Tayson. When you chose to join KAMI you knew that it would be dangerous, you knew that your friends would be in danger. And right now, you have to be stronger than you’ve ever been.”
Tayson let his head down. “I don’t know if I can do that, granny…”
Crystal frowned. “I’m afraid that this isn’t a matter of can or can’t. You have to... if not, your friends might die.”
Tayson’s body got tense. “D-Die?”
Crystal nodded. “It is time to grow up, Tayson. You’re now in a world where you can’t depend on the elements of harmony to save the day. You have to survive yourself.”
Tayson got quiet. Crystal gave him a hug and left the room. “Now, get ready. Steel Needle has sent a message.”
Tayson took a deep breath. The thoughts weren't gone, and he felt far from better. But his grandmother did have a point. He chose for this, it was his responsibility now. If Silver and Lily were to die, then he would be to blame. He threw the covers from his bed and jumped out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A knock on the door disturbed the conversation of Steel Needle and Dr. Stable.
“Come in, Tayson.”
Tayson carefully entered the room, a nod of Steel Needle gave him the permission to sit down as he waited for the conversation to end. With a last document, Steel Needle thanked Dr. Stable for his time, who then left. Steel Needle turned over to Tayson. “So, how are you feeling?”
“A little tired…”
Steel Needle nodded to that. “Understandable.”
“What happened to that mare?”
Steel Needle sighed. “She has been wiped…”
“No, I mean, what happened in the interrogation room. After she, well, started to scream.”
Steel Needle looked confused for a while, but he then understood what Tayson meant. “Exactly what I said. Her entire memory has been wiped... spontaneously.”
“Oh, I see… and my friends?” Tayson looked a bit worried.
“From what she told us we know that they have no intention to hurt your friends. But she has been set back to a prior moment in her life. I’m afraid that there isn’t anything to recover from her.”
“So, we have no clue where they are?”
Steel Needle smiled knowingly. “I didn’t say that. It is true that she can’t give us any more information. But since we’re clearly dealing with a large organised group. The chances that she was our last lead are slim.” Steel Needle grinned. “I’m very sure a particular friend of mine will be more than willing to help us with this problem.”
Tayson almost jumped up. “And where does he live?!”
“I hope you don’t have a fine nose.”
Tayson cocked an eyebrow.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tayson looked at the manhole cover with a mix of curiosity and resent. “So when you were talking about an underground network…”
“I meant an underground network, yes.”
“This idea stinks…” Maya grumbled.
Steel Needle lifted the manhole cover and climbed down the ladder. “Probably not as much as the sewers.” A slight chuckle could be heard from the dark pit into which the manhole lead.
“Is he always like that?”
Maya shrugged. “He is probably just excited that he can take out some frustration on the poor guy we’re about to meet.”
Tayson took a deep breath and jumped in the manhole.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“Scruffy! Where are you, you old bastard!”
Scruffy’s eyes widened. That voice, that terrible, terrible voice. The voice that brought trouble with it. Trouble and pain. Scruffy gulped. “Oh no…”
Steel Needle entered Alligator Alley’s ‘finest’ bar. The place where the scum of the underground would come to handle of deals, get drunk and find some accomplices to plan some robbery.
Steel Needle went to ask the bartender if he had seen his old friend. Scruffy tried to make himself as small possible and sneak out of the bar without being seen by Steel. He was almost out of the door when his rat-like tail got trapped under Maya’s hooves. “Eager to leave, are we?” Maya asked dull.
Scruffy stuttered, sweat forming on his brow. “O-Oh, Maya, how are you? Look how you have grown.” Scruffy got up and wiped the slug of his fuzzy rat belly. He hugged Maya like an uncle would hug his niece. To which Maya pulled away like a niece would do with her least favourite uncle. “How old were you when we last met? You were so cute back then. Oh I have some pictures of that time, but they are at my home. I will go and grab them.” Scruffy started to sprint and disappeared behind the first corner, where he got stuck in some vines which carried him back to Maya. Scruffy struggled to get out but gave up and gulped as he stood eye to eye with Steel Needle who had a content smile on his face.
“Hello, Scruffy.”
“H-Hello, Steel…”
“You weren’t intending to just leave without helping your old friend with something, where you?” Meanwhile the vines had put Scruffy back on the floor and was Steel guiding Scruffy to a free table. “I mean it must be ages ago since we saw each other for the last time. We have a lot to talk about.”
Scruffy sat down and looked sceptically at the new face. “And who are you?”
“May I introduce, this is Tayson, my newest student and the reason why we came to visit you.”
Scruffy crossed his arms. “I have nothing to do with it!”
Steel smiled. “I know, but I also know that you know a lot more about what happens in the underground than I do. So tell, ever heard of ‘The Inquisition’?”
It became silent as everypony in the bar turned over to look at Steel Needle. “I take that as a yes.”
Maya gritted her teeth and slammed her hooves at the table. “What the buck are y’all looking at?! Mind your own business or I will make you!”
Everypony was suddenly eager to mind their own business after the outrage.
“You’ve become quite the temperamental mare, haven’t you, Maya?”
Steel nodded. “Guess where she got it from.”
Scruffy gulped. “Look, Steel, we’ve known each other for a long time. Would I ever lie to you?”
“Yes.”
Scruffy deadpanned. “Look, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Sure I have heard about them. But who hasn’t, why do you even need that info?”
“They have kidnapped two teenagers and are holding them hostage.”
“So?” Scruffy shrugged. “Not my problem.”
Tayson crunched his teeth, which made Scruffy regret what he just said. “Ooooh, I get it. They are blackmailing this little god colt.”
Steel nodded. “Exactly.”
Scruffy shrugged. “I’m sorry Steel, I have nothing. I’ve never had contact with them.”
“You know that …”
The conversation of Steel and Scruffy faded into the background as Maya checked out some crates that were stashed in the back of the bar. She subtly poked Tayson “Psst. Imma go check something over there. Just act normal and pretend that you’re not seeing anything.”
“Huh?” Tayson looked unsure at Maya.
Maya tapped the floor with her hooves and made some vines sprout. They slithered through the bar stools and the tables until they arrived at the crates. They quietly slithered into the crates. Scruffy couldn’t help but notice how Tayson and Maya were staring at the crates. He looked over his shoulders. “What are you two looking a— NO!”
Maya’s eyes shot open. “HOW DARE YOU!!” Vines erupted from the floor and wrapped around Scruffy.
“Maya, what are you doing?!” Steel was taken by aback by the violent reaction of his daughter.
“Take a look at the crates!”
Steel walked towards the crates. Meanwhile it became tense in the bar. Everypony was waiting for some final drop to make the situation escalate. Steel formed a crowbar in mid-air and opened the crates. Inside he found documents labelled with the sign of the Lotus Dragon imprinted on them. He took one of the documents and as he opened it the air in the bar froze. Through the silence, the only thing audible was Steel violently looking through the pages. He took another document, and another, and another. As he had looked through the last of them he turned around with cool anger all over his face. He took a deep breath and amplified his voice. “EVERYONE, OUT!!”
No sooner had those words left his mouth had the bar been emptied. Maya threw Scruffy at the hooves of Steel whose eyes burned with anger.
“L-Listen, S-Steel—”
“Tell me, how in Celestia's name, do you happen to be in possession of crates, filled with documents, about every agent that KAMI employs?!”
“I-I—”
“DO YOU REALIZE WHAT I AM JUSTIFIED TO DO TO YOU RIGHT NOW?!”
“S-Steel, I swear, I didn’t—”
“Listen, Scruffy, I give you exactly one chance to tell me everything I want to know. I do this because you are my friend and you have helped often in the past. But if I don’t get satisfied with whatever comes out of your mouth next, then this dirty hole beneath the ground will become your grave!”
Scruffy gulped. “Please, S-Steel, I swear I didn’t know what was inside.”
Steel’s face deadpanned. “Seems like I will get the chance to use a new technique.” He took a step back and thought of the right execution of the technique. “Let’s see. I just need to walk past you and then turn to you. Quite easy.” Steel concentrated energy in his hooves and took some steps forwards until his back was turned to Scruffy. He turned around and smiled. “Last chance Scruffy.”
“NO WAIT! STEEL, PLEASE, YOU KNOW THAT I’M NOT ALLOWED TO LOOK WHAT’S INSIDE!”
“Kiri—”
“Please, let me think!” Terror was now over his face.
“-Sute-”
“YESTERDAY”
Steel Smiled. “Let him go.”
Maya huffed and let the vines contract a little before letting him go, all while giving a ‘whoopsie’ from her.
Steel lend Scruffy his hoof. “You were saying.”
“Listen, Steel, if I tell you this, then I’m not safe anymore.”
“Not my problem. But depending on what you say, I might be able to help you.”
“Fine… It started… let’s think… a few months ago. A blue Pegasus called ‘Borealis’ contacted me. He gave me a letter and insisted that I didn’t open it under any circumstances. If you know what I mean. And he asked me to deliver the letter to some weird extremist mare who always wore a jumpsuit, I forgot her name…”
Steel sighed. “I know who you mean. Nevertheless, go on.”
“Well when I first tried to contact her, she almost killed me. She was rambling some things of filthy gods and wanted to stab me with a syringe. It was only after I showed her the letter that she stopped. From there on I have been going back and forth delivering this and that to both sides.”
“What did you transport
“I told you, I did not look inside. I delivered some letters, some crates, I swear I don’t know what I was transporting.” Scruffy pleaded.
“Did you know that you were working for the Lotus Dragon?”
“No! I swear! Steel, I’m greedy, a thief and a dealer, but I’m not stupid enough to knowingly work together with that shadow lunatic.”
Steel sighed. “Fine, anything else? Some more names?”
Scruffy looked with pleading eyes. “I’m sorry, but that was all they told this rat here. I swear.” He drew a cross over his heart and raised his hand like he was under oath.
Steel shook his head. “Maya, take him to the HQ.”
“P-Please, Steel, I don’t wanna die!”
Steel groaned. “You’re fine, but we can’t let you walk around freely, you’d be dead within days.” He spat.
Scruffy gulped. “I-I—thank you.”
“Oh, I’m not done with you yet. Pray that you know some more things, or your future will be dark, if not non-existent.”
The vines pulled him underground as Maya transported Scruffy to the cells of KAMI.
Tayson went to the crates and took one of the files. He flipped through them. Seeing many familiar faces. “What does this mean, Steel?” He pointed at the page. “Why is this so important to them?”
Steel took the file out of Tayson's hooves. “Knowing your enemy is the biggest advantage you can have over him. And as of right now, they now know us. They know our resources and the strengths and weaknesses of each single one of us.” He put the file back in the crate and gave Maya a sign to get them to the HQ too. “The one who kidnapped your friends has most likely a file like this but with your name on it.”
Tayson ran a frustrated hoof over his face. “But those are just medical records, right?”
“Medical records, relationships, CV, you name it.” Steel put a hoof on Tayson’s shoulder. “We need to know our members so we can find the right god for the job.”
“So, Silver and Lily got kidnapped, because you knew this information.”
Steel nodded apologetic. “I’m afraid so.”
After that Steel, Tayson and Maya left Alligator Alley.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Steel thought back to the events of the previous day. Scruffy… Scruffy, Scruffy, Scruffy, Scruffy, Scruffy… You’ve done some nasty little deals. But this just topples them all. Steel shook his head. But, how? And more importantly: why? Why would the Lotus Dragon work together with the Inquisition? Clearly they have different interest. Just the part that the Lotus Dragon consists mostly of gods should make the Inquisition despise them. Steel took a deep breath, looked from his window down at the plaza in front of the town hall. That doesn’t make any sense… Pfffft… an alliance. But why’d they choose Scruffy as messenger? It isn’t that big of a secret that I know him… I mean, let’s be honest. The amount I’ve looked him up at Alligator Alley should have made at least somepony realise that I know him better than is good for him… Did they want me to find him? But why go through all the trouble--
A knock on the door disturbed Steel’s train of thoughts. “In!” Steel yelled absentmindedly. Time Gale entered the room and cleared his throat. This startled Steel and made him turn around and salute almost immediately. “Goodmorning, Sir!”
Time gale smiled at the awkward reaction of Steel. “Goodmorning, Steel. You wanted to see me?”
Steel nodded and took one of the files out of the crate. “Look at this.”
Time Gale suspended the file in a levitation field and hovered it over to himself. He flipped through the pages. With a dull expression he put the file aside. “I take that you didn’t go through all the trouble summoning me here, only to show me files on our members.”
Steel shook his head. “Yesterday I paid an acquaintance of mine a visit. I wanted to ask him if he knew something about the inquisition. Turned out --” Steel pointed at the crate. “-- He knew more than he wanted to admit.”
“I take that you executed him on the spot, then?”
“Sir, I know the protocol. But he has nothing to do with it.”
Time Gale cocked an eyebrow. “How so?”
Steel put the file away. “I know him for some time now, he has helped with some shady deals.” He looked Time Gale deep in the eyes. “He is a criminal, a liar, a dealer, he has a strong fragrance. But no amount of money would make him risk his life, for he is the biggest coward I’ve ever known.”
“I see, so you think he didn’t steal the files.”
Steel snorted. “He wouldn’t even dare.” Steel shook his head, getting rid of his grin. “No Sir, when we were at Alligator Alley, he told us he had been delivering numerous letters, packages and crates to the Lotus Dragon as well as the Inquisition. But not even once was he aware to whom nor what he was delivering.” Steel had a sly smile on his face. “OR, he knew it exactly, and they wiped him every time.”
“What do you intend to do?”
“I asked you to bring Circadian Rhythm?”
Time Gale nodded. “She’ll be here after she has helped fixing a security hole in the file storage.”
Steel Needle was baffled. “Sir, you knew that there was a breach?”
“The hole was discovered a few days ago by accident. Files were missing, security cameras had some blackouts, oh and the night guard was found passed out on the floor…” Time Gale’s face was blank as ever. “At least now we know where they are, and who had them… We only need to find the mole. So, where is your ‘friend’ now?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The door of the interrogation room flew open, making Scruffy fall from his chair he’d been napping on for the last few hours.
“CHEEDDAARR!” Scruffy fell on his face, grumbled a bit and looked over at the door. “Oh, it is just you…”
Steel smiled. “Slept well, Scruffy?”
“I just had such a nice dream about chedar… And you ruined it.” Scruffy got back on his feet, wiped some dust from his rat belly and took a seat back on the chair he had fallen off prior. “Rather uncomfortable, but at least it doesn’t stink as much as the sewers. So what brings you here? I’ve already told you everything I know.”
Steel took a seat in front of Scruffy, behind him Time Gale entered the room together with Circadian Rhythm. Scruffy’s eyes widened. He leaned towards Steel. “Steel, buddy, that isn’t perchance --”
Steel looked over his shoulder. “Scruffy, may I introduce to you, the big boss of the KAMI organisation in Equestria, Time Gale.”
Scruffy jumped up and threw himself at Time Gale’s hooves. “Oh please, great god of time. Please, I’ve already told you all I know! PLEASE DON’T BURN MY SOUL!!” Scruffy got suspended in a levitation field and hovered in front of Time Gale’s face.
“Please sit down.” The words were firm. Scruffy shielded his eyes and fell to the floor. Like bitten by dogs he rushed back to his chair and started praying.
Steel facehooved. “Scruffy, listen, we believe you.”
“You do?” Scruffy blinked. Relieved he wiped his forehead.
Steel nodded. “We aren’t here for the things you know, but for the things you’ve forgotten.”
“NO! I swear, I’ve told everything--”
“Mister Scruffy!” Time Gale bellowed rather annoyed. “As you probably can imagine, I’m a very busy pony.”
Scruffy gulped. “Y-Yes, Mister Gale.”
Steel sighed and motioned to Circadian Rhythm to come over. “This is Circadian Rhythm, she is here to scan your mind in order to recover any information that has been wiped. This procedure will tickle a little, but is completely save.”
Scruffy nodded, and gulped as the Khaki coloured Unicorn created a green aura around her horn. She came closer and touched Scruffy’s head. Who then started to scream in agony. “THIS DOESN’T TICKLE, YOU FUCK!”
Steel nodded in agreement. “I know, I lied, but try to get someone to do this when you tell him that it will feel like getting your tongue ripped out via your skull.”
“BASTARD!”
Steel chuckled. “Oh you, stop.”
Circadian began sweating and pulled a purple fabric out of Scruffy’s skull. As the last piece left his skull, Scruffy collapsed. Circadian took the purple fabric and suspended it like a screen in mid-air.
“Shall I get doctor Stable to tend to him?”
Steel waved his hoof dismissivly. “Nah, I think it is his free day anyways. Besides, the strain isn’t that bad. I’ll let Doctor Tender Daze see after him when we finish here.”
Random pictures whizzed around on the screen. Circadian waved her horn around to get the pictures to stop and get a more coherent movement of Scruffy’s thoughts. “The Lotus Dragon was careful. No faces, no locations, the inquisition on the other hoof…” She fast forwarded. “And stop.” The screen now showed Alligator Alley from the perspective of Scruffy. The blue Pegasus, he was talking about, showed Scruffy a map with two locations marked. One was East from Canterlot. The other north from Manehattan.
“No sound?” Steel asked.
“Give me a second.” Circadian’s horn flared up. First there was a static sound, followed by crackling voices. Circadian was moving her horn as if she were tuning an old radio until she got a rather decent sound.
“-- the north of Manehattan is one of their training grounds. They’re using some strong Unicorns to make the place invisible. Normally if you get closer to it, you’ll feel an urge to go back. That is completely normal. The closer you get to it the more you’ll feel threatened. Do know that there is not threat as long as you can recite the formula we thought you.”
The screen bobbed as Scruffy nodded.
Borealis folded the map and put it away. He took the package and a bag filled with bits. “Here is a part of your payment in advance. The rest you’ll receive in a week when we meet back here.”
Scruffy greedily grabbed the bag and caressed it.
“Mister Scruffy, I know that you’re known for your ability to not care about what you’re transporting as long as you get paid. But – ” And this is where Borealis’ expression hardened. “ – I want to emphasize what we would do to you if you were to look inside the package.” Borealis’s expression was serious.
Scruffy gulped, making the screen shake a little. “Of course, Mister Borealis. You can be assured that nopony except the receiver will know what is inside the package.”
Borealis smiled. “Well then, I look forward to work with you, Mister Scruffy.” A handshake sealed the deal. Shortly after the screen went black. The screen went black.
Circadian looked at Steel and Time Gale “That is all there really is. We already know what he was carrying, and the rest he didn’t look at.”
Steel nodded. “Could you show us the map again?”
Circadian’s horn flared up. She quickly rushed through several images until the map was once again visible.
Steel stood up and walked to the map. He looked at Time Gale. “Looks like we now know where to look.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Tayson was absentmindedly flipping through the pages of his textbook. Greymane’s lecture had become a background noise that only made him look up when the tone changed. That he was daydreaming was an understatement. The events of the last few days were stuck in a loop in his head.
That two students were missing meanwhile had become common knowledge. The headmaster had given a speech in which he wished family and friends of Silver Breeze and Lily Petal the strength to deal with the situation, and that the two may return unharmed to their homes. According to the papers the couple was at home when they were surprised by the kidnapper. How or why the kidnapper entered the house was a complete mystery to the guards who had been examining the crime scene.
In the paper there even was a part where the parents begged the kidnapper to let their children go. The one they let do the talking during the interview in the paper was Silver’s father, Silver Wind. Maybe for the best. Lily’s parents are rather impulsive ponies, they quickly would say something that would insult the kidnapper than making him release their children. Silver’s mother on the other hoof is a very sensitive mare. Tayson could imagine that she wasn’t in the state of mind to converse with anypony except her beloved husband. From the four, Silver Wind was the most rational one. He knew how to analyse a situation, and stay calm while doing so. That, of course, didn’t mean that he wasn’t afraid of what could happen to his son. He just had a different way of dealing with it.
The picture in the papers of him holding his weeping wife, while having a deep frown was proof of that. He had to be strong for both his son and his wife.
Tayson sighed. Come on, dude, focus a little! KAMI is working on finding them. It will all work out. I hope…
Tayson closed his book in an attempt to listen to the remaining lecture. After five minutes however his book rumbled, and from between two pages a green flame erupted, causing a burping sound and his book to fly open.
Taken by surprise dropped Greymane his piece of chalk and turned around as to find out what just happened. “Was that you, Tayson?”
Tayson sweated and nervously ran a hoof over his mane. “No—I mean, yes. I’m sorry. I-I, you see, I’m a little sick… and well, my grandmother gave me some eastern medicine to fight the symptoms.”
Greymane frowned.
He’s not buying it, quick, think of something! “Th-They’re called Dragon Drops.” Tayson chuckled nervously. “And boy, do they work. But the side-effects are… a little… bizarre?”
Greymane’s frown persisted, but in the end he just shrugged. “Well, bless you then.”
Tayson wiped the sweat off his frown in relief. Who in Celestia’s name sends me a text during class?! As if it weren’t bad enough when your phone rings in class!
To: Tai Ichi
Come to the HQ as soon as possible, we know where your friends might be!
From: Maya
Tayson shot up immediately and almost yelled. “Sir!”
Greymane dropped both his book and chalk in surprise by the sudden outburst of his student. “By Luna, what is the matter, boy?”
Tayson quickly noticed that he had now the attention of everypony in the class. “I-I… Ahem… I forgot another side effect of the drops.”
“And that would be?” Greymane cocked an eyebrow in subtle annoyance.
“Nausea, and, well, ” Tayson sighed. “Can I just be dismissed? Please?”
The cocked eyebrow turned into a kind smile. “Of course, Tayson.”
Tayson grabbed his textbook and saddlebag and left as fast as possible. When he was gone, Greymane shook his head. “Poor boy, he must be worried as hell about his friends.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Maya was waiting in front of the Manehattan town hall. Tayson came just around the corner when he saw her looking around absentmindedly. Oh, sweet sweet revenge. He took his textbook in his hoof and prepared to throw it. “Hey, Maya! Think fast!” He threw the book, by that time Maya had looked towards Tayson, just in time for the book to hit her face.
“Hey?! What was that for?” Maya rubbed her sore nose.
“For texting me in class! Explaining your phone is ringing is easy, but now I had to make some shit up about some kind of medicine I’m not even sure exists!”
Maya huffed. “Not my problem! I thought you’d be happy that we could finally save your friends! So I sent it right away. I didn’t know that you had school today.”
“It’s Monday, Maya.” Tayson ran a frustrated hoof over his face. “Ok, look, I’m sorry I threw the book at you. I am happy, and grateful, but don’t you have a phone? I mean, I can’t use that excuse a second time.”
“Nope. Never had one, never needed one.”
Tayson deadpanned. “Ok, fine, we’ll figure something out later. Now, I need also a doctor’s note since I left school early today because of symptoms even a blind pony could see I don’t have.”
“And they believed you?”
Tayson snorted. “Oh hell no, but I can sugar-coat a lot of stuff.”
Maya giggled at that. “In that case, you’ll hear from me when I need something from Steel.”
“You’re not using me as a lying machine against your dad!” Tayson grumbled.
Maya winked. “We’ll see about that. Also, if you ask doctor Stable, and apologise to him (if you haven’t already) for your behaviour the other day, I’m sure he’ll make a fake one for you.”
Tayson gazed embarrassed at the floor. “Sorry again…”
Maya shrugged. “Look, Tayson, you need to calm down. I promise that you’ll have to deal with even worse situations in the future. And with such an attitude I promise you that even more things will go wrong.”
Tayson nodded. “I know, I… I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“I tell you, you were thinking too much. And it clogged up your mind. Analysing the situation is good, but if you try to analyse everything at once you won’t be able to analyse anything at all.”
With that the conversation died and the two entered the town hall.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
With a knock on the door Maya and Tayson entered Steel’s office. Steel motioned the two to sit down until he had finished sending some messages. A final circle made the letters vanish in green flames and Steel shift his attention to the two in front of him. “So, Tayson—”
“Where are my friends?” Tayson nearly jumped at Steel.
“Whoah, easy there.”
“My friends are in danger!”
Maya punched Tayson in the ribs. “Did you even listen to me?!”
Tayson rubbed the sore spot and frowned at Maya. “Yeah, I listened. This is why we are here right? You know where my friends are, now I’d like to know myself.”
Maya facehooved. “You’re an idiot.”
Tayson nodded. “I’m glad that we’ve finally settled that. Could we now get back on topic?”
Steel cleared his throat. “Tayson, I know you’re worried, but if we act too rash now we might lose them. So, calm down and sit back while I explain you two what we are going to do.”
Tayson was clearly not amused by that, but he calmed down and focussed. Steel nodded. He grabbed a file, took a photo out of it and showed it to Tayson and Maya. “This is the map we got from Scruffy’s hidden memories. On it there are two locations marked. The one to the north of Manehattan is, according to some of the recordings we got from Scruffy’s memories, a training ground for recruits. We suspect that your friends are hold here.”
Tayson crossed his forelegs. “So? What are we waiting for? Let’s charge the building, kick some flanks and get my friends back! Easy job, easy done!”
Steel deadpanned. “Yeah, sure, let’s do that. Let’s charge the building without a plan, trigger a few alarms and give them enough time to flee with your friends. Hell, let’s send them a letter, that way they’ll even have time to inform other hideouts.”
Hearing the sarcastic venom dripping from Steel’s reply, Tayson decided to keep his mouth shut.
“Charging head first isn’t the thing that we want to do right now. What we want to do is to get a small squad in, free your friends and gather as much information as possible before leaving.” He put the photo back in the file. “Preferably without being noticed.” He looked at his daughter.
“Oh, come on, Steel! I can be sneaky too!”
“I have to see that before I believe you, young lady.”
Maya grumbled.
Tayson looked at both of them. “Am I missing something.”
Steel chuckled as he got to tell a story. “Well, a few years ago we had the mission to free a family that was held hostage by a rogue god and his companions.”
Tayson cocked an eyebrow. “A rogue god?”
“A god that thinks he is a god of something else, and who gets mental in believing so.” Maya murmured.
Steel nodded. “Take for instance that Maya would not be pleased by being a god of the forests. She’d rather be a god of metal, like me. Then she would use her own powers to imitate my techniques. Believing that she would actually move metals.”
“Like in, she would summon plants, and take a piece of iron and throw it at somepony?” Tayson guessed.
“Hey! Don’t you underestimate me!” She tapped the metal bars of the table and from it sprouted a metallic flower. Which died as soon as she stopped touching the metal. “See!”
Steel chuckled. “You see, gods can use their powers in many ways. Sometimes being creative can work wonders in a situation. But anyways, don’t let us forget the story I was telling.”
Maya pouted in discontent.
“So, Maya’s job was it to sneak in, free the family and get them out alive as quick as possible, so we could charge the building and take out the rogue god before he would hurt anyone. Turned out that it wasn’t that easy, because our sneaky lady here, what did she do?”
*mumble mumble*
“What was that?” Steel perked his ears.
“I tripped!” Maya hid her face in shame. “I tripped, got all the attention I didn’t want and wasn’t stealthy at all.”
“And what had we to do then?”
“Please don’t make me say it…” She motioned to Tayson. “Not in front of him! Not in front of the newbie!”
Tayson huffed. “Excuse me?!”
“Oh don’t be so sensitive, you know what I mean.” She spat.
“Maya!” Steel insisted with a parental undertone.
Maya hid her face back in her hooves. “You had to save me too…”
Steel erupted in laughter.
“It’s not funny!!”
“Then why am I laughing?” Steel wiped a tear from his eyes.
Tayson cleared his throat. “I do thank you for the story, but if we could go back to the whole ‘saving my friends from a bunch of fanatics’ that would be nice.”
Steel nodded. “Of course. It is very simple, Maya, you and I are going to form the Alpha team, we’re going to infiltrate the hideout with the recruits. Another team from Canterlot is going to infiltrate the hideout near Canterlot, and do the same there.”
Tayson and Maya nodded in unison. “When are we moving out?”
“The day after tomorrow, we wait till the team from Canterlot is ready to move. Then the mission starts.”
Tayson didn’t like to wait another day, but he simply nodded.
Steel clapped his hooves and motioned the two to leave. “Prepare yourself well, especially you, Tayson. This will be your first mission. Don’t let it be your last.” With a serious look in his face he dismissed the two and returned back to his work.