Chapter 20- Insertions

We spent the next several hours doing what spies usually did. Disposing of bodies, cleaning up blood, and knocking my office back into a semblance of order. Of course the latter was only what I usually did, but since I had company, I wasn't shy about letting them help.
Blackjack was sent to the morgue, since he was nothing more than a hired goon. The still unknown assassin however was sent to the palace to be examined by Luna's personal scientists. Not before I managed to secure some dna samples myself to send back to Celestia.

After those trivialities were seen to, we could then focus on what we did best. Espionage. Moonlight procured a set of blueprints from the city archives detailing the layout of the Night Industries main complex. We had no illusions that this blueprint would be wholly accurate, but it gave us a starting point, and hopefully we could fill in many of the blanks ourselves before the operation.

Bonny was already making observations. “This layout doesn't scan with the info you gave us on your recent visit Johnny.”

“In what way?” I inquire.

“Well for one thing it doesn't show that elevator you used at all. Also, the blueprints only show one basement level and no sub-basement levels at all. Are you sure you saw those on the elevator panel?”

“Photographic memory runes don't lie. There were buttons for SB1-SB4. Right above those was a key slot with a red border, and above that was B1. Obviously you would need a key to make the elevators go lower than the basement, and I would be willing to bet that any stairwells would have similar security, if not more.”

Okay, given that there were no such restrictions on the other floors, we can assume that whatever we are looking for are on those other four levels.” Bonny says confidently.

“Well, let's not rule out Dr. Brass's office.” I interject. “I'd still be willing to bet there must be some worthwhile tidbits to be found in there.”

“On this I'd have to agree with Johnny.” Moonlight says. “And even if that doesn't turn out to be the case, Luna wants me to plant a few listening devices in there anyway. She is beginning to have doubts about the pony running her company for her.”

“Fair enough. I'll leave Dr. Brass to you then,” I say. “What else are we looking at Bonny?”

“Well it's a safe bet that the original schematics for their power systems are worthless. From what you two have told me they probably are generating their own power. If I were to guess, I'd say that was what their basement level is used for. That way it can be serviced without having anypony having to go into any of the restricted areas.”

“Makes sense,” I say.

And that is where we have our opening,” she says rubbing her fore hooves together wickedly. See, I don't care what type of power system they're running. No matter how clean burning it is, they have to have a dedicated ventilation system for it. Once we locate that, then me and Lyra can use it to make our way down to the generators. Then it's all a matter of what we need at the time. Shutting off the security, sealing the electronic doors, or, worst case, killing all the power to the building. Get me to those controls, and this place will be all yours.”

“I like how this one thinks.” Moonlight says to me, which is the closest Bonny has got to her speaking to her directly all night.

Glad to see things are improving.

“Bonny and Lyra's armor can make them virtually undetectable by magic and science.” I explain, “so we'll send them in first to disable all the electronic security. It's a safe bet that their security monitoring station will be on the same level with the generators so that they can keep an eye on them in case of some mishap. After you two disable the electronics, take out the security team. I guarantee one of them will be the one maintaining the magical defenses, and they should also be carrying a key for the elevator. Once those ponies are out, then the place should be safe for the rest of us to enter. Once Bonny gives the all clear, Moonlight will head up to Dr. Brass's office. I'll meet up with Bon Bon and Lyra, and we will check out the use the security pony's key to access the lower levels and find out just what Night Industries has REALLY been up to.”

I give them a few moments to mull it all over.

“Seems like as good a plan as we can make given the circumstances.” Moonlight finally admits.

“Really? 'Cause this is like a way more detailed plan that Bonny and I used to have to work with,” Lindana says happily.

“Stifle it.” Bon Bon mutters crossly.

“Oh that's right,” I tease, “I remember how Bonny used to be at all those simulations. “Go in all hooves a blazin' and fight until the last pony!” Wasn't that how most of your mission plans went?”

“Hey, it worked didn't it?” She fires back. Then more softly, “at least six times out of ten.”

“I like those odds!” Lindana chimes in.

“Yeah… no. Let's just go with the plan we got okay?” I say, before Moonlight can cloud up once more.

We spent a little time fine tuning the details, geared up, and teleported our way to an alley adjacent to Night Industries. That's where our first little glitch cropped up.

“Fly? Whaddaya mean fly? No pony said anything about me having to fly!” Lyra said in a near panic.

“Now, now, calm down.” Bon Bon said with a hoof on her shoulder. “It's not that big a deal. Ed and Lindana do this all the time. It's perfectly safe.

“Bonny, I am a unicorn. A UNICORN. If Celestia had meant for me to fly, she would have made me an alicorn princess.”

“Is there a problem,” Moonlight said crossly, trotting up to the pair.

“No, no problem,” Bonny assures hastily. “Just a little performance anxiety. Lyra isn't really a fan of heights.”

“Isn't a fan of- Oh by the Sky Stallion! Really!” Moonlight explodes.

“Hey, there's no call to be RUDE,” Bonny says coming between Moonlight and Lyra. “Lyra will be just fine. Just give me a minute to talk to her alone… away from you...” she says pointedly.

The two walk off to themselves, and Moonlight rejoins me.

“Don't you think you were a little harsh back there?” I ask. “You have to remember, this is Lyra's first time doing anything like this. Maybe you should cut her some slack.

“Cut her some slack? Do you hear yourself?” Moonlight retorts. “What we should do is cut her out entirely. She has no business being here. This is a job for professionals.”

“Right, right… professionals. A monster hunter, a semi-sober P.I., a spy, and two bugs. Yep, that certainly sounds like the perfect infiltration team. Stable Team Six is probably green with envy right about now.” I say dripping sarcasm.

“You KNOW what I meant.” She fires back. “Lyra is a civilian, Johnny. You send her in there and she's going to get hurt. And there isn't a thing I can do to stop it.”

“Ah ha! So THAT'S what this is really about. You don't want Lyra to go because you're afraid of what might happen to her. Because you won't be around to protect her.”

“Is that so wrong Johnny? To want to keep an innocent pony safe?”

“No Moonlight, it isn't. But you have to understand, Lyra is an adult. And she is capable of making her own choices. You aren't aware of it I'm sure, but those bug suits are a lot more advanced than you are giving them credit for. They were designed to be able to take control of the pony wearing them in case something happened to them. If, for example the pony lost consciousness, the suit is more than capable of completing the mission and returning with the pony intact afterwords. Lyra is safer in that suit than we are every night walking down the street. And Ed is every bit the trained agent that Lindana or myself is. All he needs is a host.

Now Lyra volunteered of her own free will to be that host. And she also volunteered to come on this mission. And if she suddenly decides to drop out of it, I won't hold it against her in the least. But until she does, I want you to treat her with the same respect that you would give me, or agent Bon Bon. Now is that going to be a problem?”

I wait tensely for Moonlight's reply. I didn't like to speak so harshly to her, but it was the way she said what she did that just really struck a nerve. It was like when those Canterlot nobles looked down their muzzles at Earth ponies, or even Pegasi. As if to say just because they were different, that somehow that made them inferior. I never did have any patience with ponies like that, and it bothered me to think that maybe Moonlight felt the same way. Her next words reassured me however.

“I'm sorry Johnny.” She admits. “It's not a lack of respect for Lyra that made me say that. If anything I think she's incredibly brave to just jump into something like this out of the blue. I- I just don't deal well with the idea of one of my comrades being in danger. That's one of the main reasons I normally work alone. At first I felt the same way about you Johnny. But you quickly proved to me that you were quite capable of taking care of yourself. I suppose it's only fair that I give Bon Bon and Lyra the same chance that you had.”

“I feel much better for having hear you say that Agent Shadow,” I say offering her a smile.

A few moments Later Lyra and Bon Bon return. Lyra looks at me confidently.

“Alright everypony, let's do this.” She says, her jaw set, and her eyes narrowing.

I cock an eyebrow at Bonny, she nods back once. Must've been a very motivational speech.

“All right you two. We'll keep an eye on the rooftop from the top of this building. As soon as you have disabled their security, and obtained that key, send one of you back up to signal us.”

They agree, and a moment later the two are once again encased in sleek black armor. For a second we watch as they unfurl their wings, Bonny's a large pair of black batpony wings, and Lyra's a pair of black pegasus wings with red highlights underneath, Blazing Star's signature pattern. Ed would probably never change that pattern, the pattern his former partner insisted on.

Then they both shimmered into invisibility, and with a whoosh of air, I knew they were gone. I looked to Moonlight and with a nod we teleported to the top of the fire escape, and, peering over the edge of the roof, checked for sentries or cameras from Night Industries. There were cameras stationed on every corner of the opposing roof, pointing downward, and two more pointing directly toward the roof of the building we were perched on. Soundlessly we settled down onto the steps of the fire escape to wait.

(Lyra)

Oh Celestia, I can't believe I let Bonny talk me into this. No, that isn't really fair, I suppose that deep down this is what I've wanted for a long time now.

I used to listen for hours when Bonny told me stories of her old life as an agent. And although I never said anything, I suppose it's only natural that I was a little bit jealous. I mean, she was this glamorous spy, this monster hunter. She's had all kinds of training to do all kinds of things. She was hoof picked by Celestia herself, heck technically she's Celestia's daughter, a 'princess by adoption' kind of thing.

I never really understood that, and Bonny would never go into any details. Must have been some big top secret kind of thing, although Bonny always gets quiet when I bring it up.

Anyway, none of that matters anymore. I'm flying! I'm actually flying in the air! Bonny is being really patient as Ed teaches me how this all works, along with everything he is capable of, but I can tell through the link that he thinks I'm learning fast, and that he really enjoys being airborne once more.

Poor Ed, he's gone through so much. He was hurting so bad when we first linked up. But it seems like ever since we got to this crazy city that he has been perking up. From what I can tell, this place is the kind of city he's been bred for. Dark all the time, potential danger around every corner. It's all just like some dime store suspense thriller.

I guess it all caught up with me at once when Bonny asked me to fly. For a minute there I had to wonder just what I thought I was doing. I mean I'm just a Ponyville pony. But Bonny was able to bring me back to myself. To remind me why we were roommates, why we were best friends. Bonny believes in me. She honestly does. And if somepony as special as her has that kind of faith in me, then I have to as well.

And here I am, walking right along with all these professional ponies. Murders, espionage, missing ponies. Bonny is happier than I've seen her in years, and THIS time I'm right beside her to share in the adventure! {I am so glad I met you Ed.} I send through the link.

{And I as well Lyra. I thought I was doomed to spend my last days being dissected in that vault. And then you came along. This wonderful mare who could see into my heart. And not only did you set me free, you helped me fly again! If only Blazing Star were here today, he would have been so happy to have met you.} Ed sends back, the joy he feels as the night wind flows along his sleek form transmitting to the link back to me.

{Judging by your thoughts, he must have been a wonderful pony Ed. It may take me some time to learn, but I promise you that I'll do him proud.} I send back confidently.

{You're a natural at this Lyra,} he sends back, and since there is no way for us to lie to each other, I can't help but smile. {You're natural empathy allows our link to be strong, and I have been teaching you everything I know at the speed of thought. By the time this mission is over, you'll know every trick and technique Star and I have ever developed. All you'll really need then is experience.}

He can't hide the twinge of worry this last thought gives him. And part of me agrees. Knowing something mentally is one thing, putting it to use is quite another. I've never had to hurt anypony before, and I have absolutely never considered doing half the things I am being taught how to do. A few of these techniques make me feel decidedly nauseous. Celestia forfend if I ever had to actually take another beings life. I honestly don't know what will happen if that moment ever comes. Ed assures me that every pony in Celestia's organization has felt the same way. That there is no shame if it turns out to be something I cannot do. Hopefully it will be a long time before I ever have to find that out.

We crest the top of Night Industries. I reflexively glance to the side, looking for Bonny and Lindana, but of course they are as invisible as Ed and myself are. Ed assures me that both he and Lindana are aware of where each other are. It's a bug thing I guess. We circle the top of the building twice, taking note of the cameras and magical detection spells they have in place. The living visor over my eyes shows me these things clearly, as if they we lit up with neon. An 'x' appears in the upper right hoof corner of my vision. It's our objective. Three large ventilation shafts, with fans attached to the sides to help draw out the hot air being generated far below. I take a second to just look at the air coming out from them. Though Ed's visor I see so many colors. Red for heat, purple for what is being identified as noxious gases,(tolerable levels the display tells me), and traces of other things differently colored, that are also being explained automatically as I watch. Ed is simply amazing! And I tell him so.

{Aww, please don't make me blush Miss Lyra, you'll set off the thermal sensing spells.} He sends back.

I can tell by the link that he is only kidding, although he does seem happier by my praise. He has been alone for so very long. If nothing else, I'm really glad I was able to help him be free.

I feel contact through the back of my suit. And then something is sent to me through Ed's link. {Hi Lyra! Isn't this fun!} Lindana sends, and I can feel a little of Bon Bon through the link as well. They both seem very happy that I am here with them. {Yes, yes it is!} I send back, projecting my joy at being here with them all. {Ed and I have determined that the middle vent is the one we want. The heat, steam, and certain other chemicals are consistent with what large M.I.S. generators would produce. Allow me a moment to take care of the grating and we can proceed inside. Okay?} Lindana sends back.

I quickly agree and move to the side. A second later a stream of green liquid comes from seemingly nowhere, and quickly begins to dissolve the grating. Ed tells me it is a very powerful acid that all parasprites use to help digest what they eat. It makes quick work of the grating, and I can hear Bonny and Lindana as they make their way inside. A moment later, Ed and I follow after.

Once inside, Ed and Lindana drop their camouflage and we can see each other once more. We are making our way straight down a vertical shaft, using our hooves to brace ourselves on either side of the inside of the conduit. The trip seems to take forever, but thanks to Ed I never seem to get tired. These suits really are amazing.

After a few minutes I being humming an old tune in my mind to help me pass the time as we descend. I don't know how long I was doing it before I felt a hoof strike me sharply from below. It was then that I realized that Ed had stopped moving.

{Lyra, please don't DO that!} I feel through the link, all Bonny, and no Lindana this time.

Slowly Ed begins to stir, as if waking up from a trance. I quickly realize what must have happened. {Sorry!} I send back to Lindana and Bon Bon. I feel what can only be described as a 'silly Lyra' feeling pass back through the link, as the hoof withdraws.

{You okay Ed?} I ask, as he begins to move once more.

{Yes Lyra, sorry about that, it's just your humming was so… enthralling.} He sends back in embarrassment.

{No, it's my fault. I send back, equally embarrassed. I forgot about the whole 'music' thing.}

{It's quite all right.} He replies. {Not something we want to make a habit of during a mission, but perhaps after it's all over, maybe you could treat me to some more?}

I can read his longing through the link. {Of course,} I say, without hesitation. {I'd be honored to preform for you Ed.}

I can tell this makes Ed very happy, and I smile inwardly. I do have to remember to break myself of the habit of humming when I'm bored though, that could get us in serious trouble down the road.

The rest of the trip passes without incident, and before too much longer Bonny comes to a halt. Looking over her shoulder I can see another set of grating, and on the other side of that what must be a huge generator. Ed assures me that the temperature is quite hot, but not anything that he cannot compensate for.

Bonny takes a minute to make her best guess as to where we should break out at. Judging by where the ventilation shaft was located, as well as the original building schematics she is hoping that her right side will be facing toward that wall and not into the main part of the room. We go invisible once more, and Lindana spews more acid which quickly eats out a hole large enough for us to fit through. Bonny makes her way out, and I take a deep breath preparing to follow. This is it, time to be a spy.

(Bon Bon)

We emerge for the duct work silent as the night. I was right, nothing on this side but bare wall. I take a moment to examine my surroundings. Two massive M.I.S. generators fill most of the room. Directly in between them hugging one wall is a room with a door on either side. Zooming in my vision I can see the words 'security and control' on a plaque on the nearest door facing me. It looks like Johnny was right as well. He always was really good at planning out these things.

I reach out a hoof and find Lyra and Ed. I send through the link my intentions. She and Ed go to the far door and keep any pony from escaping, while me and Lindana come in through the door closest to us. I can hear an echo from both Ed and Lyra, amusement back through the link 'Hooves a blazing' in Johnny's voice. I send back a mental scowl, and send a count down to them, but inside Lindana I grin.

Lyra is doing so well with all of this. Any other pony would have probably freaked out with what all has gone on in the last few weeks, but Lyra has just taken it all in with a grain of salt. She's only had that one moment of panic, when she found out she was going to fly, and of course little miss 'oh look at me, I'm Agent Shadow, I'm all professional and cool', had to act like a total jerk, and make poor Lyra feel worse. Fortunately, I was able to cheer her up. Remind her of just how special she was. I wonder if she knows just what plans I have in store for her and Johnny and me when this is all over? I doubt it. But even if she did, I'm sure she'd be okay with it. After all, one thing she's always known about me is that I ALWAYS get my way.

I feel Ed and Lyra moving off as the air next to me stirs. They are counting down the same as Lindana and I are. I quickly move to the nearest door to the control room. Thermal vision shows Three ponies in the room. Two unicorns and an earth pony. The energy readings from the unicorns show that they are the ones maintaining and monitoring the magical security measures that we bypassed on the way in here. I could see two control runes embedded in the control board in front of them. These would be linked to all the other ones throughout the entire building. If any of the wards were tripped throughout the complex, those runes would let these ponies know where. That must mean that the earth pony was monitoring the cameras and other mundane devices along with the generators.

Glad to see that I haven't lost my touch. What I told Johnny was the truth, we take this room, and I can disable all the security for the whole building. We'll have the run of the place.

I make myself ready to enter the room, them I remember that I'm not doing this by myself, that I have Lindana once more.

{Lindana, you still remember the recipe for sleeping gas that we used on that bugbear?} I query through the link.

{Of course, I never forget my recipes. Oh, wait. Are you NOT going to just bust in and hope they can't reach the alarm in time?} She sends back.

{Well of course I wasn't going to just bust in.} I totally lie,(although I'm sure she knows it anyway). {I've gotten much more mature over the years. Please mix up a nice large batch of gas, extra strength and shoot it through the keyhole please.}

In a matter of seconds, every pony in the room is unconscious. I open the door and flap my wings until the gas is dispersed, not that it would affect myself or Lindana, but I don't think Ed has built up an immunity to it yet. I'll give him a sample before we go upstairs so he can start working on that.

Once it's clear I make sure there are no cameras or security measures inside the control room. (There almost never are. I always used to wonder about that. Shouldn't THIS room be the most secure in the building? But it never is). Then I open the far door, and drop stealth. Lyra and Ed make their way inside and we quickly tie up the three ponies with silk secreted from Ed and Lindana. I take two magic inhibitors from a compartment in my armor and place them on the horns of the two unicorns, then turn and study the control panel.

The magical runes might be a problem, but the electronic devices were easy to disable. I turn to Lyra.

“Lyra, I'm going to need some assistance here. We need to turn off these two control runes. From the layout of those two panels, they control all the magical alarms for the whole building. Thing is, I'm not a unicorn. Is this something you are able to do?” I ask, trying not to seem concerned. I knew coming in here that Lyra would be the only one of us who could handle this part. Now it was all up to her.

“Give me a second.” She says as she studies the panels in front of her.

Right about now Ed is showing her everything he can about the energies those runes are emitting. Every bit of his skills and knowledge are being fed into my best friend. A few moments later, the horn on Lyra's suit begins to glow, and a second after that the runes go dark. First one, then the other.

“Whew,” She says as Ed flows off of her head. “That will be giving me a headache for a bit.”

I rush over to her and give her a big hug. “Lyra, headache or not, you just made all the diffidence between a mission success, and a mission fail. I'm SO proud of you!” I say hugging her again.

“Aww, don't try to butter me up. I'm sure you had a backup plan in case I couldn't do it.” Lyra says, playfully punching my shoulder.

I just stare back at her.

“Wait… you mean you DIDN'T have a back up plan?” Lyra says in shock.

“What do YOU think.” Lindana interjects. “Remember this IS Bon Bon we are talking about.”

“Oh my Goddess!” Lyra exclaims. “You mean this whole plan came down to just me?!?”

“Breath Lyra, breathe.” I say patting her on the back. “I wasn't worried for a minute. I KNEW you'd come through. Right Lindana?” I say, mentally prodding her for the answer I wanted.

“Oh yeah, like of COURSE. We totally knew you could do it.” Lindana says laying it on thick. Luckily Lyra was still too much in shock to notice.

I let Lyra have a few minutes to calm down as I quickly rifled through the belongings of the three ponies. I found what I was looking for in a matter of moments. Three identical key chains, with three sets of identical keys. These should be the master keys for all the doors and elevators in the building.

I told Lyra to stay here while I went back for Johnny and 'stuck up pony'. I quickly made my way back up the ventilation shaft, and signaled across to the building Johnny and Shadow were waiting at. A second later they teleported over and we made out way back down the shaft to Lyra.

“That was really good work you two.” Johnny said, taking in the three unconscious ponies. “I was especially impressed at how Lindana said you took them all out. Very smart. Very professional.”

“But of course.” I reply. “You'll find that I have gotten quite good at what I do in the years you have been gone Johnny.” I say smugly.

He smiles at me before turning to Lyra. “And an excellent job taking down those control runes Lyra. I know Ed helped with the background info, but to pull that off on your first time out shows you really have what it takes. If you were an agent, I'd put a commendation in your file. Nice work!”

Lyra practically beams at the compliment. I offer a smile and a 'hooves up' of my own. She deserves it.

But our joy at our success is short lived, as Johnny gets back to the matter at hoof.

“Alright everypony. We made it past the first hurdle, but now things get serious. All of our leads on this case keep dead ending here. Somewhere in this facility are the answers to all of our questions. Why they kept Ebon Shard in the Night Watch as a spy. Who was responsible for the attempts on both my life and Luna's, that resulted in the deaths of all those people at both the restaurant, and brothel. What was that unicorn with those tiny wings. And most importantly, who ponynapped Babs Seed, and why.

These are the answers we are after ponies, and by Celestia, I don't intend to leave this place without them!”