//------------------------------// // Negotiations (ALMOST DONE) // Story: The Big One // by That Gamer Over There //------------------------------// Michael felt relieved when they had finally landed at Canterlot's little airfield. It wasn't that he expected to crash, or for the old cargo plane they were using (it was incredibly cheap) to have some major issue, but more that he expected someone to have to check their cargo, or that Trevor would fly them straight into a restricted area. So far, everything was going to plan: Ok, gentlemen... And Trevor. Hey, fuck you, Wheels! Our goal is to go undercover as staff in the school; Frank will a janitor, Trevor's a PE coach, Michael's an English teacher, and I'll be computer science. But first, we need to strike a deal with the principal. I already talked to her over the phone, and she's agreed to meet us. She hasn't told me what she wants in exchange yet, but I did some digging, and I found out that her sister, who happens to be the vice principal, was kidnapped last week. She's talked to the police, but they're all being paid to ignore it by the kidnappers. So, here's our plan: Michael and I will go meet the principal at a cafe called Sugarcube Corner. Trevor, Frankin, you two go to the kidnappers' safehouse and get the sister back. Try to be peaceful, but use any means necessary. Once we land, it's initials only until I give the word. They were relatively easy tasks, but Michael still had a feeling that something would go differently than anticipated... "This looks like the place." They were standing in front of a cozy looking cafe. The sign above door read "Sugarcube Corner: The Sweet Spot for your Sweet Tooth". There were a lot of people inside, mostly teens. Michael and Lester (or M and L, as they were currently calling themselves) stepped inside and started looking around for their "contact". As they were searching, Michael noticed a very familiar group of girls staring straight at him, and quickly looked away. As if he were in a movie, that's when he saw her. "Over here" he said to Lester, and they walked over to the principal's table. She didn't look much older than Michael, aside from the fact that her hair seemed to have three different streaks of color. There were wrinkles around her mouth, the kind you get from a lifetime of smiling. However, between her posture and the slight bags under her eyes (plus the fact that he knew why), Michael could tell she hadn't been smiling at all lately. "Principal?" The woman looked up, and Michael saw something in her eyes; something he'd seen countless times before. Sadness? No. Desperation. "I assume one of you is the mysterious L." Her voice was gentle, and yet it carried a weird surge of authority. "That would be me." Lester responded. Celestia narrowed her eyes. "Are you going to tell me what that stands for?" she asked. "Once we have an agreement, yes." Lester sat down across from Celestia, and Michael sat next to him. Celestia stared at him expectantly for few seconds before Lester realized what she was waiting for. "Oh, right. This is one of my associates, M." Michael held his hand, and they shook. Like her voice, her grip was gentle, yet firm at the same time. "Ok, down to business." All three leaned in to the table. "I've already told you what we want, and you and I have agreed on how this is going to work. Now all needs to be discussed are your conditions." "Wait a minute." Michael interrupted, and turn towards Celestia. "Don't you know something about what we're investigating?" Celestia glanced at him before answering "I do, but I promised those involved I wouldn't tell anyone about it." Michael slumped back in his chair "Of course you did. Nothing can ever be simple, can it?" "Celestia?" She turned back to Lester. "The conditions?" Michael pulled out his phone, and texted Franklin: How's it going? "Right." Celestia adjusted her posture. "First, I want you to promise not to get my student or staff involved in any criminal stuff." "If they do get involved, it won't be our fault." Michael muttered under his breath. "Second, if anything seriously bad does happen, I want you to help in any way you can." "Our ability to help depends on the situation, but sure." "Lastly..." Celestia closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "... I want you to find my sister." Lester and Michael looked at each other before Lester asked " You mean Luna?" Celestia looked up, surprised to hear her sister's name being said by some strange criminal. "Y-Yes. I came about a week ago and she was just gone. I tried calling her, but..." Her eyes started getting wet. "... A man answered, and he... he said he wanted $60,000 by the end of the month, or he'd kill her!" At that point, Celestia looked like she was doing her best not to cry." Michael's phone buzzed and lit up, displaying Franklin's response: We waitin out bac 4 u. He looked at Lester and nodded. Lester nodded back and looked at Celestia. "Well, Principal, looks we've reached an agreement. Our other associates are waiting out back. We'll introduce ourselves along with them." Lester and Michael got up, and gestured for Celestia to follow. "So... you'll get my sister back?" "We don't need to." Lester replied. Celestia was taken aback. "Why?" Michael turned around and gave her a sly grin. "Because we already have."