E.S.S 7
Notts and Conspiracy
By the time Alloy and Sugar arrived at BonBon's place it was 12:35 a.m, and Alloy had awakened Sweetie and Lyra.
“What's this about?” BonBon starts.
“It's about Notts.” Alloy says, pressing his importance.
“Hu? Who's Notts?” Lyra asks.
“It's one of my business partners, some stocks have fallen and I need BonBon to help me figure out how much I might lose” Alloy says to Lyra.
“Ah..hu, economics...whatever I'm going back to bed” Lyra yawns and goes back inside.
“What's happening Alloy?” Sweetie puts on a jacket and heads out with them.
“I received a note from A. It says that Notts is hunting him down and that he caused a fire in his store.”
“Why does this matter to us?” She asks.
“He had connections with Notts, and he also writes that he may be coming after us next.”
“What??” Sweetie says, “Why would he come after us?”
“I don't know, but according to A it's a possibility.” Alloy keeps on walking.
“Where are we going?” Sugar asks.
“I-I don't know, let's just get out of Ponyville.” Alloy says.
“Wait, Alloy, what's wrong with you? You seem so panicked” Sugar says. Sweetie nods.
“Sorry, it's..just I'm concerned for our safety.” He admits. They all remain silent until they reach the Everfree and stop there.
“Okay, I think I'm safe” Alloy finally says.
“Looks like it, what are we going to do?” Sweetie asks him. Alloy thinks hard.
“I don't know...it's best we...we need to find A.” Alloy says to her.
“You're probably right, if he's after A we might be next as he said. Where is he?”
“According to the note it says he's hiding out at the Ponyville hospital” Alloy says.
“Let's go then” Sweetie says.
“No, I'll go alone...you two go to the construction site of the offices I'll meet you back there as soon as you can” He says.
“Are you sure Alloy?” Sugar asks, “It could be dangerous.”
“And we need to warn Muffins as well” Sweetie adds.
“Go get her and meet at the construction area.” Alloy starts to pace towards Ponyville, “As for the dangerous part, it might be, that's why I'm going alone.”
“I want to go with you” Sugar comes up next to him.
“No, I'm going alone.” Alloy says again, picking up his pace. Sugar stays by him, “Sugar I need you to go now, you're not prepared if something happens!” He says in a warning voice.
“But..but what if something happens Alloy??” She says.
“Then...nothing will happen to you at least” Alloy teleports her away before she says something else.
Sugar is teleported back with Sweetie Drops. “What happened?” Sweetie asks as she picks her up.
“He wouldn't let me go with him..” She cries.
“Now now, it's just the way Alloy is, the only partner he'd take out with missions like this is Jackson, an old college of ours. Alloy knows how to handle himself.” Sweetie says. They start to walk to Muffin's house.
“Are you sure BonBon?” She wipes a few tears away.
“Look, Alloy has been trained as well as possible, I know so because I trained along side him myself” Sweetie assures her. They arrive at Muffin's small house, Sweetie knocks.
“Hmm..uh wha..BonBon? Sugar?” Muffins looks out her top window.
“Come on out we have a situation.” Sweetie says to her. Muffins glides down.
“It's..” She yawns, “Late, something going on?”
“Yes, we need to go to our office construction place, I'll explain on the way” They all hurry away.
Alloy arrives at the hospital and looks from place to place for A. One of the nurses goes up to him.
“Are you looking for someone? It's past visiting hours”
“A male, he has on a flame-shaped necklace. He's a close friend of mine.” Alloy says briefly.
“Well, okay, I'll let you pass. I believe I know what room he's in. Follow me.” She offers. Alloy nods and goes with her. They go upstairs to a room marked: Number 56, “Here it is, hope he's the right one.” She smiles and leaves. Alloy thanks her and enters the dim room. A is sleeping in a bed, he looks injured, as he has on various patches.
“Wake up A.” Alloy shakes him.
“What?? Hey! What's your deal man? I was sleeping, dreaming about the mares and-”
“I don't care about that. You left a note at my door, what's the situation?” Alloy says bluntly.
“Right right, as I wrote, Notts came in and burned my place down, I nearly died!” A says making various expressions.
“Why did he come to do that to you?”
“I don't really know man. He came in with a group of five, maybe seven others in masks. Looked like mercs to me.” A sits in his bed.
“Mercenaries? How interesting. Why do you think he's after my crew and I?”
“Just a hunch, you know, you guys being involved with him and all.” A takes a sip from a glass of water.
“I appreciate the warning. Do you think you're safe?” Alloy asks.
“I have a back up plan, you see I own a house her in town so I think I'll stay there for a while, then I'm moving to a remote town”
“How long will you be staying here?”
“Depends on how safe I feel, why?”
“I might need your help with a few things.” Alloy says.
“Well, what is it?”
“I see that you may have some contacts, I need you to help me find out why Notts did this.”
“Me? I mean, yeah I have the know-how about tracking but Notts is a whole new level of threatening.”
“It's up to you. I need to get going if you have nothing more to tell me.” Alloy says.
“Wait, there is one more thing that may prove to you that he's after you. He asked me when he began to light up my shop, that if I had supplied you with weapons.”
“Alright. Thanks. Is there a way to contact you?”
“I have a disposable phone I'm carrying. Here's the number” A takes out a card and gives it to him.
“Right. Bye.” Alloy leaves the room. He starts to go down the stairs when he hears a familiar voice in the lobby. Nott's voice. He rushes back to A's room and locks the door.
“What's the big deal man??” A demands.
“Notts is here, likely after you” Alloy opens the window, “We need to leave now”
“Woah, okay!” A jumps up from his bed.
“Do you think you can make it down?” Alloy asks him.
“Two stories? No problem!” A goes on ahead of Alloy and hops out. Alloy quickly follows, he hears a knock at the door, but is already out. He manages to close the window before taking off after A. They both run at a random direction.
“Where are you going A!” Alloy shouts from behind.
“I don't know! My house!” A says as he continuously runs.
“I'll go with you for your safety.” Alloy catches up to him. After a few minutes of galloping around they reach A's small private Ponyville home and enter it.
“Want..want a..drink..?” A offers Alloy a bottle of water, he himself being nearly out of breath. Alloy simply nods his head and A throws him a bottle, “He found us!” A says after taking a long drink.
“He found you, he probably didn't know I was there.” Alloy comments taking a few sips at a time.
“Whatever! He's here! I didn't expect him to track me down so fast!” A says.
“He's a professional, plus you're rather easy to find. All he had to do is ask ponies if they've seen a pony like yourself, since you have a unique mark and you're partially burned now.” Alloy takes a seat on an old sofa.
“You really think that's the way he found me?”
“It's just a theory, but if I were him, that's what I would have done.”
“So, what now?”
“I suppose you stay here, I'm sure nobody saw us coming this way.”
“You want me to stay here??” A nearly panics.
“There's no real other option, you can't come with me that's for sure.”
“Oh man...this is quite the situation..” A rubs his hair in a stressed manner.
“Just lock the door, keep the lights low, and don't draw too much attention here and you should be fine. If you do go outside, cover your mark, burn marks, and perhaps get a haircut.” Alloy suggest, he gets up and proceeds to the door.
“I think I can do that. How will I contact you? What is your name??” A asks.
“I'll contact you, forget that disposable phone he could be monitoring all calls. And call me by my code name: Blur Red.” Alloy leaves A's home and heads to his office.
When Alloy gets back Sugar is quick to give him a hug. “Alloy! Are you okay?? What happened? Did you get hurt?” She says in a frenzy.
“I'm good. As for A, he's now in his little safe-house here in town. Notts showed up at the hospital.” Alloy states.
“What did Notts do? Did you make contact with him?” Sweetie asks.
“I was thinking about it, but he was there after A so I had to make sure he made it out safely.” Alloy sits on the grass.
“So it is true, the whole thing with Notts.” Sweetie says with a sigh.
“I'm afraid so. I still don't have a definite answer to if he's after us. I spoke with A briefly about it and it still not a sure thing, but I'm going to be cautious just in case.” He says.
“Are we going to stay here all night?” Muffins asks.
“I would recommend we all stay together now, but if you guys have other opinions it's okay.” Alloy answers.
“I believe we should stay in pairs of two, I'll have Muffins stay over at my place, Notts doesn't know I live here. At least not that I know of..” Sweetie suggest.
“Okay, that leaves Sugar staying with me.” Alloy agrees.
“I'll contact you tomorrow, we have to make some sort of plan.” Sweetie says.
“Of course, it's late, you gals have a good night.” Alloy says to them, he is exhausted but still smiles a little. They wave goodbye as he and Sugar leave.
Sugar and Alloy arrive around 2:30 a.m at his house.
“Want me to make you a coffee, or something?” Sugar ask him.
“Thanks for the offer, but sleep is the best remedy right now.” Alloy sits on his sofa and takes off his vest.
“Oh, um, okay goodnight then” She smiles and leaves.
“Goodnight Sugar” He says. He gets up and locks his home down, closing the window shades and setting the house's alarm on. He then sat in his sofa for another hour or so making sure no one came along.
At 8 am the next morning Alloy was awakened by the sound of the phone ringing, he had overslept a little. Still he rushes over to answer it, he expected Sweetie Drops, but instead it was Notts on the phone.
“Alloy! How's it been going for you?” Notts asks in a friendly tone.
“Good mostly, and yourself?” Alloy asks.
“Oh it's been, interesting.” Notts chuckles.
“How so? Been doing some special missions for the royals or something?” Alloy asks casually.
“Haha, oh good heavens no!” Notts chuckles louder.
“Oh? So why are you calling, is E.S.S back on or something?” Alloy asks, well knowing it's a no.
“Not at all, I was curious, you have nothing going on right now right?”
“Not really why?”
“I've got a few things I want to talk to you about, it might get you back into some action.” Notts offers. Alloy thinks a bit the replies.
“Hmm, it has been rather boring around here, what do you have?” He asks.
“We'll need to meet up somewhere so I can tell you. This is all top-secret.” Notts says.
“Seems like something good” Alloy chuckles, “Where do we meet?”
“That's what I like to hear! Meet me at the Cantorlot downtown carnival, I'll be near an instruments stand wearing a trench coat.”
“Want me to bring anything?” Alloy asks.
“No, you won't need anything.” Notts says.
“Cool. I'll meet you there then, you'll be there all day today right?”
“Correct, but don't take too long to get here” Notts hangs up. Alloy sits there a bit with multiple thoughts. He'd need to be careful in case it was a set up. Sugar comes up to Alloy smiling as usual.
“Good morning Alloy, want me to start so breakfast?” She asks.
“I think we won't have time for that. Notts just contacted me, I need to speak with Sweetie and Muffins.”
“What's it about?”
“He offered to meet with me to give me a job of some sort.” Alloy heads to his room and chooses another pair of clothes, he puts on perfume since he didn't have time to shower. Sugar follows him into his room.
“Mm, smells good. So, are you going to Ponyville then?”
“No, it'd take too much time, Notts wants me to come over soon, but that's where I need you. Making a call isn't safe in case my phone is tabbed, so you'll have to go on your own and tell BonBon, from there you guys can decide what to do next.” Alloy says as he combs his hair. His cat meows for food but he ignores it.
“You...think so? I'll do it, but you be careful Alloy.” She says, “I'll also make sure to feed your cat.” She smiles a bit, trying to hide her sadness.
“Thank you Sugar, I appreciate it, make sure nothing happens to you, I wouldn't forgive myself if something happened to any of you gals.” Alloy sighs a bit and heads to his front door, he takes out a key and gives it to her and deactivates his house's alarm, “That's my house key in case you need to come back here if something happens.”
“Please take care Alloy...” Sugar hugs him before he leaves. He smiles.
“I will, remember to be quick” Alloy takes off. She stays at his house for a few more minutes, giving the feline food and preparing herself. She wanted to look around Alloy's house to see what more he had, but since time was a factor she decided to leave instead.
Alloy spotted Notts exactly where he said he'd be at, he had made a few rounds to see if there were any other agents that may ambush him. He then approached him and Notts smiled.
“Alloy! You came after all” He coughs a little, he is smoking a fancy cigar.
“Wouldn't want to miss an opportunity” Alloy says calmly. They begin to walk, “So what's this all about?” He asks.
“Many things, you can keep a secret right? Of course you can, you were one of my top agents” Notts says.
“Hmm, judging by your words I'd say it's something a little against the law?” Alloy looks forwards.
“Perhaps. I trust you with this information so don't you go ratting me out, got it?” Notts says in a more serious tone.
“Go on, might as well hear what you have first.” Alloy says.
“I'll get straight to the main things. E.S.S never ended, that was just a cover up to get all the agents that didn't know out. Unfortunately that included many of our good agents such as yourself”
“I thought the whole dismissal thing was odd” Alloy agrees.
“Planned. By me, and a few others.” Notts says.
“Seems random, why do that?” Alloy asks.
“The Princesses that's why! I have a plan to take at least Celestia out of the picture, that is I did until we got yet another Princess a while ago, so I began planning on taking Twilight out as well. But I thought to myself and decided I should start off small and gradually lead up to them. Since your dismissal, me and others have been taking out officials or replacing them, sometimes bribing, and others threatened.”
“That's quite the thing you have going.” Alloy says, rather casually, “So this where I come in right?”
“Yes, I need more agents to help speed up the process, and you can help, so what do you say?”
“I don't see many benefits in this” He states.
“Benefits?? Alloy, we'd be changing history! We'd re-arm the army, train them better, get rid of the Monarchy and start making Equestria stronger.”
“Seems like some little fantasy you got going, but if you feel that you need me, I'm in” Alloy says.
“Perfect. First target is a small nuisance to me. I've gotten close to getting rid of him, but he managed to escape twice.” Notts starts.
“Where do I track him to, and how does he look like?”
“The guy's name is A, he's got blackmail on me. He's an earth pony with this fire necklace he always wears. Last place he was at was the Ponyville hospital. I reckon that germ is still around there, he couldn't have gotten far with the injuries he has.”
“I'll get on it, any due date you want this taken care of by?”
“Whenever you can, I prefer within this week or we'll loose him.” Notts suggest.
“Got it. How many of us are there? Like the crew you work with?” He asks.
“Don't worry about that right now Alloy, let's just make this your little test before fully joining us” Notts grins.
“Whatever you say.” Alloy says, pretending to not care.
“I'll need to find a way to contact you, let's just meet up at this address when you finish the job” Notts gives Alloy a small note.
“Alright. Goodbye then” Alloy leaves Notts in the carnival.
Sugar arrived a bit later in Ponyville, she was still trying to get to know her way around the new places. Eventually she found the house in which BonBon and Lyra lived in, unfortunately when she knocked, nobody was there. So Sugar wandered around the town trying to find at least one of the agents. After even more time, with no success, she sat at an outdoor restaurant and laid her head down in frustration. A server came to her and asked for her order, but she was too angry with herself to respond, the server left her alone so he wouldn't cause any drama.
“There you are” Alloy said to her, coming up to the table.
“Alloy! I'm so sorry! I failed you...I couldn't find them, I tried but...” She cries. Alloy is suddenly shocked, he looks around a bit to see if they were drawing attention then takes a chair.
“It's all good Sugar, nothing bad occurred anyway.” He says.
“But..I failed..” She says with guilt.
“Well, you did, but it wasn't an official mission and everything turned out just fine, so don't worry yourself over it” He lifts her sobbing head. She slowly stops crying and hugs him. For about two minutes she is hugging him, slightly still in tears, “Now now, come on let's get going. We need to find the others” Alloy removes her gently.
“..Okay...” She lets go. Together they begin their search for the crew.
End of Chapter 7.