Case 45: Busters, Ready Go!
“Hold on… Dusk and Marri as well?” questioned Sora as she walked up to the door of the briefing room she was called to moments before.
“Um, Hi? And you are?” Dusk asked meekly, not having a clue as to what was going on and a bit worried.
“I can understand meeting you here Dusk,” said Marri, “but you, not so much. I assume you’ve been asked to join this Games and Theory group as well?”
“Well yes, but there honestly a lack of information which is odd. Getting me here is strange as I’m not very distinct among the B squad unlike the two of you. Also are we really going to go through the whole “who are you?” thing again, Dusk Roze?” asked Sora before calming down and taking a hand and holding the training bracer that was on her left arm.
“Oh! Now I remember you, sorry I was a bit distracted being nervous about apologizing to Steam about the Chicken Launcher incident… Which I am recently hearing has made him obsessed with the thing… As well as other high stress incidents that have occurred recently.” Dusk said sheepishly, calming down since she felt like she was with friends despite having only met Sky Gear only once before.
Marri sighed, “Honestly, can’t those guys in R&D go one day without getting into trouble?”
“Failure is part of constructing a truly good product Marri,” Sora chuckled to the unimpressed unicorn, “Also Dusk, I’m pretty sure we’ve trained together and that your advice to me was… ‘Next time, pay less attention to where you are, and more attention to where you're going’” Sora sounded like Dusk, if she was quite a bit more serious, “... Boss better get here some time soon and explain what’s happening here. Oh and Steam was always a bit odd with his weapons, don’t worry, he was already obsessed before the incident between you two.”
“Well, ok then.” Dusk said with a shrug before sharply turning her head in the direction of the door as if she sensed something on the other side of it. “I think the commander just arrived…”
The door opened to reveal Cruger on the other side, “Come in, time to get this briefing underway.”
Sora saluted towards Cruger before heading into the room, partially confused.
Dusk and Marri simply followed Sora into the room when the earlier of the two decided to make a comment. “Why am I getting a Charlie’s Pegasi vibe from this situation suddenly?” the shadowy mare asked.
Cruger snorted as he held back a laugh, “That’s more apt than you realize.” With that, he pressed down on the speaker of the conference phone in the middle of the desk. With a flash of light, they were no longer in a conference room, but a large circular platform with smaller pads, which each of which were now standing on.
Sora took a breath and she looked around before using her senses to feel the area around them, “Not inside the base, the feeling of the Everfree Forest is too far away.” she shook her head muttered, “This really is like Charlie’s Pegasi.”
Dusk merely stood still for a moment, almost as if she was paralyzed… That is, until she sprinted for the edge of the platform before losing her lunch.
Marri merely looked around, “Something tells me we’re here for more than just a simple reassignment.”
“Got it in 1,” Cruger said as he grabbed a can of ginger ale from a portal and handed it to Sora, “for your stomach, old sailor’s remedy for seasickness.”
“I think Trooper Dusk would have needed that… I’m fine at the moment Boss Kruger.” replied Sora.
“If you’re sure,” Cruger said before offering it to Dusk, who took it before chugging it down in hopes that it would make her stomach settle.
“Gah, the only thing that I can compare that to is getting hit in the stomach by Gilgamesh’s fist…” Dusk whined before letting out a small unladylike burp, causing her to blush a little.
Cruger winced in sympathy before turning to Marri, “You need one?”
“That was nothing compared to my trapeze training,” Marri replied, “that said, where are we?”
“Glad you asked, follow me.” As they started walking, Cruger continued, “Tell me, I assume you remember that big blue monster that attacked our home?”
“Not really… I think I was on patrol when that happened. Only heard that it happened from others.” said Sora looking around at things they were walking past.
“Same, I was a little preoccupied myself when it happened… Who knew that the training simulators had a program that involves death by bunnies.” Dusk commented with a shiver before handing a half empty bottle of the drink Cruger had given her back to him with a sheepish grin.
“I was… doing some personal training in the Everfree,” Marri responded, “so I only saw it from a distance, but I don’t think I’ll ever forget it.”
“Oi… shouldn’t you two have at least tried to help?” said Sora wondering why Dusk didn’t hear the commotion and most likely sirens that went off and why Marri didn’t attempt to at least help Delta Base.
Dusk blushed as she tried to avoid Sora’s gaze. “I… um… hehe...” She stuttered while ruffling her mane.
“By the time I arrived the Megazord had already finished up,” Marri countered, leveling a brief gaze at her.
“You omitted such information so I was misinformed Marri, so I don’t think I’m all to the blame for me being wrong.” started Sora with a sigh before looking to Dusk, “And please be ready for next time?”
Cruger just chuckled, “It was handled without any fatalities, so no harm done. That said,” Cruger stopped in front of a large window, “I’m thoroughly repulsed by the one who did this.” Marri, Dusk and Sora looked through the window to see a medical room similar to SPD’s emergency quarantine wing. Lying comatose on a bed was what looked like a blue unicorn mare, although there were several unnatural growths on several parts of her body.
“Oi… are we going to go and battle with mad scientist who modifies ponies?” questioned Sora as she put on her goggles to hide the anger in her eyes, but also record what was infront of her.
Dusk stared at the mare with both a mixture of horror and pity, wondering exactly what was going on now so she posed a question. “Why are you showing us this stuff, and what is with all the secrecy?”
“Before I tell you, let’s go over exactly what we found in her bloodstream,” Cruger said as he pulled out a datapad, “Poison Joke, probably for the transformation, the highly regulated and extremely dangerous steroid Ketracel Grey, a bunch of various other chemicals that lower intelligence, increase aggression and other nasty things, and raw Smooze.”
“Hold on… Smooze!?” exclaimed Sora looking to Cruger, “Didn’t SPD take care of that before this situation happened?”
“Whoever did this probably released it when they got a sample, probably on purpose when they were done so they could acquire the rest of the ingredients,” Cruger explained.
“So we were just pawns at that moment. We need to find out who is doing this and then end this.” said Sora as she slammed her hand into her fist, her anger radiating a bit off of her.
“That poor pony…” Dusk said absentmindedly as a mixture of emotions fluttered across her face before she calmed herself. “Yes I agree, let's put a stop to this.”
Marri turned to Cruger, her face set like cold stone, “What would you have us do?”
Cruger began walking again, “Right now, there are 2 suspects. 1 is a Thestral named Broodwing, although it is uncertain if that’s his real name. He was seen by A-Squad, and can be directly linked to the attack. The other is a being named Grumm,” Cruger pulled out a holographic emitter and turned it on, displaying a bust of Grumm, “he styles himself as a would-be criminal emperor, and I have no doubt that he was the mastermind behind it. You 3 are going to find his base, so that we can take him down.”
“Why us though, and how do you expect us to find this Grumm?” Dusk asked, her voice sounding a bit colder than normal.
“As you may know, I’m currently finalizing the formation of 2 new divisions of SPD, Lightspeed Rescue search and rescue division, and Twilight Sparkle’s new personal guard Mystic Force. What you don’t know is that I’ve also laid down the groundwork for a third division for covert operations, I assume you know where I’m going with this.”
“So… your eyes in the shadows, I get why those two are here then but why me?” asked Sora confused, “I’d get if you asked if I would help with Research and Development here, but being part of the team is kinda much. I’m training to become stronger, but I’m not there yet.”
“Maybe not,” Cruger replied, “but I’ve noticed your aptitude for adapting to unusual situations.”
“Hold on ‘adapting to unusual situations’ I’ve not done that… have I?” questioned Sora further.
“You’re the only member of SPD that hangs out in R&D that isn’t a member of it on a regular basis,” Cruger countered, “trust me, you’ve done it.” Sora nodded not knowing how to react beyond that.
“Personally, I think it makes sense for the two of them since they are a unicorn and a Thestral, but why little old me?” Dusk asked, trying to sound innocent despite being unable to take the icy edge out of her voice.
“Let’s just say that I believe that you’d do well in the shadows,” Cruger replied, “you were quite at home there during CTF training.”
“... I don’t know what your talking about…” Dusk said feigning innocence.
Cruger just chuckled as they arrived at a door, “All of you have skills that make you perfectly suited for covert ops, now,” Cruger opened the door to reveal a room with a table that had 3 objects that looked like they were meant to be worn on the wrist, “your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to identify and dismantle Grumm’s criminal network, with the final objective of locating his base so that we may take him into custody. If you accept, take up your Morphin Brace.”
“... I don’t want to make light of the situation or decision… but, Morphin Brace?” asked Sora, “I kinda feeling the morphine that feels off in the name.”
“I didn’t pick the name,” Cruger grumbled.
Dusk poked at the one to the far left, “Um, so we just put them on?” She asked before picking it up and strapping it on.
“That’s it,” Cruger said as Marri put on her own, “and Marri, I’d like you to lead this team.”
“It would be an honor!” Marri said as she tightened the straps on hers.
Sora sighed as she took off her training bracer before attaching it to her right arm, though this made her fall to the ground and took her a few moments before she stood up, “I’ll accept as well… I just hope you made the good choice in having me be a part of this team.” she picked up the Bracer and put it on her left arms where the training bracer used to be, before she started to play with it.
“I hope the specs for the suit I had asked Steam Gear to make me could be transferred to this… I don't think he has finished it yet but I don’t know how I would tell him to forget about it…” Dusk muttered as she fiddled with the dial out of curiosity.
“Um, careful with those,” Cruger said, “they have several features such as scanners and,” a cable shot out of Dusk and Sora’s Braces and pulled them into each other, “grapnels.”
“Ow…” was Dusk’s only comment as she remained as still as possible as to avoid falling over while tethered to her new partner.
“Sorry about that…” muttered Sora as she untangled the lines with an odd expertise before checking the bracer before nodding and retracting her own line, “I’ve also heard it state something about Morphing… so… Suits?”
“Isn't that kinda obvious?” Dusk asked, finally retracting the cable on her brace before walking over to cruger. “Um, is there a manual on how these things work?” She then asked sheepishly.
“Obvious… kinda, but as an Covert Operations Unit I would suspect that we would have different suits that would be more based around stealth or something less noticeable than the bright colors needed to get the attention of others that SPD’s old and new squads have.” She looked at Cruger, “So why do I have a bad feeling about this?”
“... I hope my suit is a dark color… I don't like bright colors…” Dusk admitted, agreeing with the comment Sora had just made.
“See for yourself,” Cruger said, “it’s the big button on the side.”
“Simple enough,” said Marri, “shall we?”
“... What, doing the special morphing sequence in synch?” asked Sora looking with a raised brow at Marri, “I don’t think we’re in synch enough to do that.” She didn’t actually touch the dial and watched the others.
“Its morphin time!” Dusk shouted excitedly while unintentionally striking a pose familiar to the commander, causing Cruger to chuckle slightly.
As they pressed the button, the clear section popped out and unfolded into a visor as a voice sounded from them.
It’s Morphin’ Time!
Sora looked as the suits constructed around the other two before looking back at her bracer and nodding, before moving the dial before it called out, “Morph.” then pressed the big button causing the glasses to flip up from the side, before the bracer called out “It’s Morphin’ Time!” looking at the green rings surrounding her, Sora smiled before bringing up her right arm to be horizontal before herself then pushed the side button of the bracer with right hand. Sora then called out, “Let’s Morphin!” as the glasses shot onto her face which formed a yellow helmet.
She took a moment to look her suit over before muttering “Guess I’m the Yellow Buster then.”
“Huzzah! I got blue!” Dusk cheered before freezing, “... You three have neither seen nor heard anything…” she said with a bit of embarrassment over her recent childish behavior.
“Seeing we’re a team and as such will need to get to know each other better, I think it’ll be better if we did.” said Sora with a smile as she shook her head, “Our weakness must be covered by each other, even that little blunder.”
Cruger clapped his hands to get their attention, “Now that you’ve agreed, there’s one last thing I need to mention. As covert ops, according to official records, this division doesn’t exist, and you three aren’t Rangers.”
“I agree to those terms, I hate the spotlight just as much as I dislike bright colors...” Dusk said while nodding her head, preferring her privacy a little more than most.
“Well be glad with blue, yellow and red plus not in their darkest version. Gobuster isn’t really thought about their stealth skills.. Which is why I’m wondering why your using this team for this squad Boss.” taking off the helmet, Sora looked confused at Cruger.
“Like I said, covert-ops. While Grumm’s focus remains fixed on SPD, and to a lesser extend Lightspeed and Mystic Force, you guys can hit where he’s not looking. Besides, it’s not like the ninja Sentai were any better. Also, nice initiative on taking a look at Gai’s parting gift.”
“Wait, who’s Gai? Did I miss out on meeting a Displaced again!?” Dusk asked with a pout.
“You need to get out of the simulator more often,” Merri sighed, “though I can’t for the life of me see how you missed the party.”
Guess you did miss Teach Gai and the Party.” said Sora with a chuckle before checking the whole suit a bit, “Also, of course I’ve looked through that book. It’s awesome and the data is great, but honestly the abilities of the Ninja Sentai have some stealth like abilities. Even if one of them outright states that they don’t hide.”
Cruger chuckled, “Ah Ninninger. Anyway, I wanted to go with a 3 member team, less people means you can operate undetected more easily.”
“Yet you went with the one with 3 main rangers and two extra with the Beet and Stag Busters and not a only 3 team of Sun Vulcan, Why?” asked Sora.
“Tell me, what does the Go-Buster’s full name translate to?”
“Special Operations Squadron Go-Busters” answered Sora looking a bit embarrassed before looking at the two others, “Ah sorry for holding up the rest of the explanation.”
“Now that that’s out of the way,” Cruger said as he addressed all 3 of them, “you’ll be operating off the books. According to the official records, this division is known as the theoretical situation identification office aka Games and Theory. But to us, and the men and women working here, it is known by it’s true name, Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters.”
Sora had said the name with Cruger and was quite happy before remember a few things, “Will we get beyond our normal workload at Delta Headquarters also a workload here?” There was one thing Sora despised the most, and that was more paperwork.
“Wait, you get work?” Dusk asked, “Also I get the feeling my experience as a former Vigilante is going to come in use for some reason… I should stop talking now shouldn't I?” She then ranted.
“Yes, you should,” Marri replied flatly.
“Considering we have freaking Assassins on the paycheck, it’s not much skin off of SPD’s back…” said Sora with a sigh, already dreading the extra hard patrols where beyond just walking around, she’d had to actually search for information about Grumm to add to the list of peacekeeping.
“My only real requirement is that you must have a good heart,” Cruger said, “and yes, I know how cheesy that sounds. And yes, you will be doing legwork from time to time, but you’ll have a full support staff once the current crop is done training next week.”
“I personally don't find the comment about having a good heart that cheezy.” Dusk told Cruger as she reminded herself of the true nature of her and her mother’s species.
“Cheesy?” questioned Sora, “This is Equestria we’re talking about, where we weaponize harmony, friendship and Love, now that is cheesy. Also… Moon damn it all… all those extra crimes I’ve got to stop because of that legwork… all that extra paperwork!” She slumped down to sitting on her hooves while scraping the floor in despair.
“Don’t worry, being an off the book division has it’s perks, like not having to do the paperwork required by the nobles, which is about 60-70% of it,” said Cruger.
“For you!” Accused Sora pointing at Cruger, “For us lowly peon it’s all about filling in papers on how the crime scene was, if we are able to be in court for a hearing, how did we apprehend the criminal and so much more, It’s SPD and the police divisions of Equestria that takes that workload and puts it on us!”
“... you really don't understand how off the books works do you?” Dusk asked, “Commander, have you done this before? And if so please explain it to her since I’m bad at explaining as well as giving advice it seems…”
“You guys are my first Go-Busters, but not my first off the books division. That said,” Cruger sighed, “the nobility have arranged a hearing about my misappropriation of funds and overstepping my boundaries, so I’m going to be spending the next week experiencing something I wouldn’t even wish on Grumm, probably. Anyway, off the books means that the only one who knows what you’re really up to is me.”
“Why was my part ignored?” muttered Sora under her breath before sighing and demorphing, “So we just do our best and keep low so that people who are breathing in your neck don’t notice that you’ve got a pawn behind them?”
“Thats sort of what he’s saying I believe.” Dusk said, demorphing as well before slumping against a wall. “Though now that I think of it, my mom is going to KILL me if she finds out I’m doing this kind of work again…”
“Hey, you’re still SPD,” Cruger said, “and you’re going to play a key role in taking down the vilest piece of scum Equis has ever seen, I can’t think of a mother who wouldn’t be proud of that.”
“... maybe, but if my identity gets out she’ll never let me hear the end of it… By the way, doesn't SPD stand for Space Patrol Delta, What's the Space part for? Are we going to end up dealing with aliens?” Dusk sighed before asking without regard for murphy’s law.
“Never said it was outerspace, just space so anywhere really counts.” stated Sora, “Also Displaced are kinda our Aliens and this has been already asked by a pair of Displaced, I was by their ship so I overheard that part… I think, or did I overhear it some other time.” She just shrugged.
“Ah, okay then.” Dusk said simply.
“And technically,” Cruger said as he pointed to himself, “Sirians are aliens, aren’t they?”
“Unless they are some kind of hybrid between dragons and diamond dogs, I wouldn't think so.” Dusk stated with a smirk, teasing the commander with a pet peeve of his that she had heard rumors about but was uncertain of. Sora could only facepalm.
“At least you didn’t actually call me a Diamond Dog this time. Now, before we get any further,” Cruger opened another door, revealing a rec room, and a full blown, if small, Pinkie Party, “I swear on the eyes of Faust I have no idea how she found out.”
“Hey Pinkie,” said Sora as she waved to the Pink Pony, “Was wondering when you would show up. Oh and since you finished your explanation I still have three questions Boss.”
“How did ...” Marri said, clenching her fists.
“It’s Pinkie Pie,” Cruger said as they joined the festivities, “questioning it is bad for your physical and mental health.”
“Really?” wondered Sora who had no trouble with following Pinkie. “Anyway my three questions are; 1: BuddyRoids, are we getting them? 2: when will the Powered Custom be possible and 3: do we have the powers that the three heroes have?”
“They’re in storage for now, once you have SWAT training, standard, now, shall we party?”
“Everything but the last one… Standard what does that even mean?”
“I hope that means that we just deal with our own power sets…” Dusk commented nervously as she remained near the doorway, unsure about the party or the strange mare hosting it.
“Plus a little extra that you’ll find useful,” Cruger said, “now, party while you can, tomorrow you hunt a psychopath.”
“Guess we’ll dine in hell tomorrow.” sighed Sora before walking into party, followed by a now grumbling Dusk and a perplexed Marri.
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How does Sora know about the BuddyRoids already? Aren't these the first GoBusters period? Or has Cruger made a public database of different rangers for SPD to look up on computer? Because, if that's the case, how exactly would something like that be covert ops? Would someone just look at the GoBuster page, look at the ponies in GoBuster gear and put two and two together?
7733978 Actually, as stated earlier in the chapter, Gai left a book with all the Sentais in it, and Sora's been studying.
Forget SPD...Cruger is building Hexagon...
7734024
Aha.
YUS
I did a thing~
7739612 Thats up to Cyber?
7734713
What was the thing?
7742950
My Displaced, Gai Ikari (Sentai Displaced) gave Cruger quite a few materials needed for him to form these additional teams of his at the end of his cross.
7742957
Ah. Gotcha.
7855597 Was wondering when someone would get that reference.
I am having a very hard time understanding what's going on. The characters switch from topic to topic in the span of a single sentence without any real explanation, and it's just... I don't know, it just feels cluttered.