I had heard about AI, fully autonomous artificial intelligence, but even the best at Orthrus could only come up with was a sophisticated Virtual Intelligence. And looking at the terminal, my mind was telling me that this was just another VI, but my gut was screaming AI. Still, from the now humming toaster connected to the terminal, too the two Robobrains speaking on its behalf as it spoke gibberish from its own speakers, something was strangely off about it.

“I see that you're surprised, miss Cold Iron. That's only natural, as I am the product of [Translation error].” The toaster rattled and heated up for a moment, as the robobrain remained silent. “Right, forgive my translator, though as advanced as Solaris corp got with their AI program, there are a few... limitations that could not be overcome.”

I cocked an eyebrow. “And how is communication one of them?”

The first robobrain quieted down as the second one spoke up, music quietly playing as it did. “It is hard to believe, but long ago Solaris struggled as a company, unable to compete with the already saturated market. But one day, Mister Rumble, the founder of Solaris had made his greatest invention yet. The Tachyon Toaster!” The robobrain them waved it’s pneumatic claw over the toaster on the desk. “Made to toast the perfect toast, the invention was so powerful that it developed its own AI! Confused at first, Rumble would later come to know the full potential of his genius, using the AI to help propel Solaris into becoming the biggest corporations in equestria.”

As the second robobrain now quieted down, the first robobrain sighed. “That fool couldn't invent his way out of a paper bag, but would instead create a pair of scissors that would duplicate the bag. But enough about the past, miss Cold Iron, when we should instead be sharply focused on the present. Now, if miss Xianzi could give us some privacy, then we can then get down to business.” The first robobrain then waved Xianzi off.

I looked back at Xianzi, who shrugged as she trotted out of the room.

“She's a good agent.” Eden said through the first robobrain. “She understands where the best place is for her. You would be surprised by how many [translation error] found themselves in ruin just because they tried to be too ambitious, trying to get too close to the sun. I would like to say that it is purely a pony thing, with how cooppertive your kind can be. But, from observing you all for over two hundred years, you kind is not much different from the [translation error] race.” The first robobrain then opens a draw from the desk, and pulled out photographs attached to documents.

I pulled one over to me and took a look at it. The picture was of a station called Valley Port, the only station connecting the Valley Island to Pineapple Island. Each document was about a different point of interest in the station. From what I knew about it, and what I was looking at in the documents, the station was a propaganda station, and set up to show the Republics good face, and none of its bad.

“This information will provide to be useful.” I shuffled through the documents, looking for anything that could make my mission easier. Looking up at the AI, and sighed. “So what's the cost?”

“The inevitable truth that nothing in life is free, it seems that unlike others, you understand and accept that.” The Robobrain then pulled out three more photos, each one of a pony. “Xianzi is not my only reliable agent. Annoyingly, three of my best have been caught. With how strange the Republic suddenly started acting, they were caught off guard, and have been taken to the Republic's capital for interrogation. You see, they have sensitive information that I can't just let be known to just anyone. And while I’d prefer that they are returned alive, as they would be very difficult to replace. Even with them being very reliable agents, if that is not possible, then I, and they, understand. As true patriots, they all know that it is their duty to protect the information they possess, no matter the cost.”

“So a rescue mission.” I had to inquire, “Don't you have better suited ponies for that?”

Eden had the Robobrain reach over and pluck one of the documents off the desk. It was about the Republic troops, and how they seem far more coordinated. “We have tried, and have paid dearly for the attempt, as all the ponies in that part of the station seem to instantly know when a pony does not belong. That's why we're trying a different approach, and need you to lure their troops away, along with thinning out their numbers. After my agents are free, then we can start this little war of yours.”

“Yes, the war…” I stopped to ponder on the topic again, wondering how far I would need to go. “I guess just attacking their office wouldn't be enough.”

“Not nearly enough!” Eden spoke with excitement. “But lucky for you, I have the entire military history of [Translation Error] in my memory banks. Information of which includes the different ways to persuade a democratic nation to go to war. Though, the Republic is far from democratic, so we may need to appeal to their leaders fears. A course of action which is going to be a problem due to his recent assassination.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Your talking about Garmon Keys, right?”

“Yes, even now the Republic is acting in morning over his death as they hold an election for a new leader, replaying old messages from him over their radio broadcasts.” Eden then had his robobrain pull out grainy photo of… of me!? “From what one of my agents could dig up, this pony was his assassin, a mare by the name of Chime Catbell. The mare has likely already been executed, but the Republic has not made that public information, meaning that if Chime Catbell were to appear at Valley Port Station, the citizens of the Republic would not be very calm about it, and the ensuing panic would only made worse if confirmed by a Republic officer.”

That plan sounded fare too good to be true. Ironically perfect with who I was to impersonate at the very least. Even if it were to rial up the citizens, once Phobetor sees Vibraphone stirring up trouble, she will likely know it's a trap.

“Mister Eden.” I spoke up,

“Call me President Eden.” The AI said back with pride.

“Right… President Eden, there is one problem with this plan. The election is a sham, the Republic already has their new leader, and she is my actual target in all this. I can't go into detail about who she is, or why she must die, but as long as she lives, the Republic will win.”

“Ah, I see. So you propose that if it looks like a trap, she won't come out in the open for you?” Eden added, and I nodded. “Then that is certainly a most troubling conundrum. However, you seem to know more than me on this, and as such, I would like to hear how you plan to make sure she is lured out.”

I collected my thoughts for a moment, once more going over the plan. The first part of the plan is still to rile up the population, enough to overpower the C.C.N. into attacking Orthrus. That part of the plan would not be all that hard, as the Republic is already ready for war. It’s clear that Phobetor would be fully invested once the war begins, but the window to kill her will likely be small. Unless there is something she wants, something she can't ignore.

“A secret for a secret.”

“Say again miss Cold Iron?” Eden asked, the robobrain sounding a bit confused.

The answer was staring me in the face this whole time, and now I have access some private information that Phobetor is going to want to have. “Their new leader, she's a spook obsessed with valuable and secret information. If you gave me something that she’d be interested in, something she knows about, then she may come for me.”

Eden quieted down for a minute, the line on the screen staying still.

“Knowledge is power, as they say.” He replied almost hesitantly, but firmly nonetheless. “And though I may know a great many valuable things, I would rather not risk harming my organization, or my agents.”

I was sure he was more concerned with his own life more then anything. But, Eden played the benevolent leader well so far. “You’re what, over two hundred years old? You must know a few dark secrets lost to the world. Over this past month, I've learned more dark shit then I cared to ever have. At this point, even if you were to tell me that Solaris had been working with Thorn Roasland to screw over Stable-Tec, I wouldn't be surprised.” Moving my head to the side, I revealed the branding tattoo of Roselands cutie-mark. “The bitch seems to be at the heart to a lot of the hogshit around here.”

The first robobrain began to click before it's lights turned off, and the second robobrain then became active again. “Ahh admiral, good of you to visit.” The voice was that of Rumble, though sounding far more tired. “Sorry that I could not be here, the Sun City project is still taking up most of my attention, but my techs have told me that they should have the SolOS up soon. Once everything has been automated, Stable-Tec will find themselves in the past, and it will be Solaris who everypony turns to. You too, of course, as your investment into my company has been invaluable. The mind control spell scroll you provided pushed our research years ahead, and once Sun City is finished, we should be able to make those colors you want, and turn the stripes against themselves. Really, you are as brilliant as you are frightening.” The second robobrain then stopped, and the first began to move again.

“I was fucking joking…” I facehoofed, “If I could go back in time and slap that bitch, I would.”

The first robobrain ground in annoyance. “I can say the same about Rumble, as he was the one that made this greeting override that to this day, still plagues me.” Eden had the first robobrain pick up and shake the snowglobe on his desk, before putting it back down. The snowglobe had a little figurine of Rumble in front of the Solaris banner. “Though, I’ll have to settle with knowing that he died as a mind slave to the Sun City he so diligently constructed. Though it may always be a mystery as to why it activated on its own, just as the bombs dropped.”

I clapped my hooves together, making a loud clang as a devilish smile formed on my face. “Now President Eden, you wouldn't happen to have any information on this ‘Sun City’, would you? Or perhaps anything about Thorn Roseland that wouldn't be public knowledge.”

Eden paused once more as the toaster vibrated a bit. “I have a few insights, but access to such privileged information will cost more then just rescuing my agents.”

“Easy deal. The information on Roseland alone would be of great value to the pirate fleet, as she is their saint. I can relay this to captain Red Steel, and she can take care of the rest. She is looking for new and strong allies, of whom she can obtain a ship for. Information on Thorn would be invaluable to her.”

“I’ll take that into consideration, but I’m no ‘spring chicken’, as the saying goes. I will require you to perform your end of the bargain first, as only then I will reward you with the information I have.” The robobrain once again dug into the desk drawer and pulled out another document and photograph. It was of a mare with a familiar creepy grin… Dollu! The mare with the paralyzed face, I ran into her when doing a job for D Cerberus, and the Lucky Rabbit's Foot. “Though Orthrus and my Syndicate are currently having a truce due to the agressions of the Republic, there are a few hounds sticking their noses where they don't belong. This one in particular thinks she's being smart by not directly going after us, but is instead investigating our contacts. As minor as it is, her actions are doing damage to my business, and enboldining other hounds to do the same. I need her made an example of, to discourage others from following her trail.”

I kept my face stoic. “You want me to assassinate her?”

Eden chuckled. “[Translation Error] no, assassinations are for... important ponies, this is simply separating the wheat from the chaff.” I tried to hold back from glaring at Eden, but it seemed that the AI notested my slight change in mood, pausing for a short moment. “Disagree, though your not wrong, as it is all semantics in the end, so why downplay the word. Simple, you ponies respond to grand gestures, so by assassinating, that pony gained great influence after their death. But if they were to be simply shot and left in the gutter, hardly anypony will care.”

His logic was cold, to the point, and annoyingly hard to argue with. Simply, he didn't want a martyr for ponies to rally behind in fighting the syndicat, but still wanted to send a message. I nodded at the AI, and it continued.“Once she is dead, you will have your information, and a digise talisman of Chime Catbell. Once my agents are free, then my organization will sow the chaos you desire. We shall aim as much hatred at Orthrus as possible, but leave nothing tying us to this attack. As far as those in charge of Orthrus will know, this attack will just be an internal conflict within the Republic, and their outburst at Orthrus will be utterly unjustified. Thought there will be no going back when several Orthrus soldiers are killed, some by mob, others by Republic soldiers. Are you sure that this is the course of action that you wish to take?”

Nodding, now seeing the path played out to me. “Then there will be war, and I will be its harbinger. But at least if all goes to plan, a greater evil will be brought out and slain.” I turned, and trotted to the door.

“Miss Cold Iron.” Eden spoke up, and I looked back. “There's an old saying from my home. War, War never changes. It's a saying that was used a lot, but commonly misunderstood. It means that no matter how much the weapons change, or the justifications given, even the scale it is fought at. In the end it's all about a few powerful figures sending others to die in their stead, nothing more.”

A frown formed on my face. “Then why does anypony agree to go to war in the first place?”

“Simple, because they think they can win, or because they believe they have no other choice.” The first robobrain then powered down, leaving the room with a low humming from the toaster.

Turning back to the door, a question now scratched the back of my mind. Am I pushing for this war because there is no choice, or because I think I can win? Nether answer I liked, and both might as well be correct.

___________________________________________________

Xianzi guided me to another room, passed a storage room filled with household appliances that was blocked off, and a danger sign placed in front. The room looked like a dressing room at the back of a stage, and at a desk in front sat a changeling. It had large moth like wings, the pattern similar to that Sorrow had, but a bit more colorful.

The changeling was filling its hoof, paying more attention on its own hoofcare, even as it looked over at us. “You’re here for the disguise talisman and catalyst, correct?” The changeling had a nasally voice, and sounded annoyed by my presence.

“Yes, I'm here for those.” I answered quickly.

The changeling placed a holo-talasman on the desk, along with some short box that looked like it took holotapes, as well as a document that had the Solaris logo on it. “Sign here. By doing so, you acknowledge that the Syndicate is not responsible for any injuries or death that may occur when using any tool provided, and if a death is to occur, we lay claim to any items in your possession, and any undamaged organs to do with as we see fit.”

I cocked an eyebrow. “Is any of that legally enforceable when you’re an underground crime organization?”

The changeling pushed the document closer to me, and put a pen on top of it. “Sure it is, as long as we don't call ourselves the Syndicate when collecting our tools. We also have plenty of connections, powerful ponies with deep pockets. Now sign.”

With a sigh, I leveraged the pen in my magic, and signed as Cold Iron. The changing then took the document, and pointed to a dresser behind her. “A change of clothes is required. Your number is A13.”

Trotting over, each dresser was labeled with a letter, and inside the one labeled “A” was a rack of clothes. Pulling out the set of clothes numbered “13” I found a Red bunny suit in my hooves. A momentary feeling of dread fell over me as I looked at the suit. “Say miss Xianzi, I don't think this is a good idea.”

“It will work, trust me.” Xianzi chuckled. “Sometimes the best disguise is being as visible as possible. So just put on the bunny suit, and activate the holo-talisman.”

I groaned. “Fine, lets just make this quick.”

The suit ended up being a bit too baggy on me, none of it seemed to fit me well at all, it likely made for an overly fat mare. The purse was surprisingly cute though, being a big carrot hanging by a long thin green strap. When I put the holo-talisman into the device and activated it, I was engulfed in a silver fire, blinding me for a moment. When it had passed, the bunny suit now fit me like a glove, and my mane fell heavily on my right side.

“Looking good. Here, let me get you a mirror.” Xianzi pulled out a hoof mirror from a small bag she had, and trotted over to me. Show in me my reflection, I saw a yellow mirage pony with a purple mane, with both left legs and eye as cybernetic. She also had a clipped left ear, and the left side of her main was shaved. The emphasis on all the ‘lefts’ gave her an overall off balanced look, but even I had to admit that she looked a bit cute like that. “Now make sure you’re quick about this. The talisman mainly relies on mirage pony power, and without somepony to recharge it for you, it will only last an hour at most. Also try not to get too close to any pony. While they can't actually see your horns, they will be able to feel them.”

“And my clothes?” I asked.

Xianzi put them in a bag along with another set of clothes. “I'll be holding onto them. Just complete this mission, and then we can move onto Valley Port Station. Oh, one more thing!” She pulled out a digger gun from her bag and placed it in the carrot purse I had on me. “It has one boar shot in the chamber. It’s more than enough to kill a pony, that is as long as you don't miss. You can drop the gun after using it, we don't need it back.”

The muscle fired pistol shotgun looked like it would fall apart after firing only once anyway, and using boar shot, a steel core magnum shotgun round, I had no doubt it would break the gun. “I do have my own guns, you know.”

She gave me a slight annoyed look. “Yes, but this is not just about killing, it’s about sending a message. That’s not your concern though, your job is to send that message. Now that we have everything we need, let's get moving. Like before, take my hoof.” She extended her hoof out to me.

I didn't like half of the way this was set up. Actually, I didn't like every part of this, at all. Working with the syndicate, assassinating a pony for them, it just made me feel sick. What made me feel the worst of all, was knowing that I was going to do it, that I had to do it. All for the sake of stopping a greater evil by becoming a lesser evil.

I took Xianzi’s hoof, and the room warped around me.

___________________________________________________

The loud, ear pounding music of radio station three was playing through some low quality speakers. Though it assailed my ears, worst than it, was the overwhelming stench. Catching my bearings, we were in what was clearly a drug den. The smell of ponies in dire need of bathing was thick in the air, along with smoke, and narcotic vapor.

We were standing on a memory projector, though this one was being used as centerpiece for a drug den, painted in swirling rainbows. A dull red mare with neon pink dreadlock trotted over, her eyes red like a corps brigades, but without the bleeding. “Xianzi! Long time, no… uhh… well it's good seeing ya again! Oh, that shit you sent my way? Sold all of it. Cooked up some cheap shit myself, doubt my clients will even tell the difference.” The drug dealer then eyes me. “Now who's this number? Is she a reward for…”

Xianzi cut the disgusting mare off. “She's on a different job, none of your concern. Now, where is the nosey hound that’s been giving us trouble?”

The drug dealer frown. “Oh ya, that bitch! Saw her earlier today, stomping in like she owns ta place. Even dragged one of my best customers out. Would have shot her for that, but last week I turned my shotgun onto a pipe because I lost my other one… you want to take a hit from it?”

“And, who was this best customer of yours?” Xianzi prodded. “Where would I find this pony?”

She chuckled to herself for a few seconds before answering “Jitterbug? Ya, can find her at te gray market. I think she she runs the medical market, which I hear is good business when there is business.”

Xianzi turned to me. “Lets go before the smell sticks to us.” I nodded in agreement, and I followed her out of the building.

Leaving the smell of unwashed drug addicts behind, I entered into a station that had the stench of rot, and mold. I knew this place, Return Station, where the majority of material recycling happened in the metro. Much of the waste and trash generated by the other stations was sent here, sorted, broken down, and resold as raw materials. For most ponies, this place ends up as their last chance before finding themselves at Charon's Stop.

A line of ponies passed us, each with two full saddle baskets full of junk, each pony looking filthy and miserable. While I had the miserable part down, I must have been glowing for the looks I drew thanks to this stupid outfit.

“Great. Not only do I stand out, I might as well be a lighthouse.”

“Just go with it and smile.” Xianzi said with a smile. “Put it this way, the ponies here will know not to touch you. The last thing they need is to pay for your dry cleaning.”

Looking around, any pony that was staring, would avoid eye contact. “I see your point.” Still, I really hope that wasn’t the only reason I was wearing this ridiculous thing.

Xianzi began to trot, and I followed. “Now once we get to the gray market, you’re on your own until the task is done. Also, if any pony offers you any fried food down here, I advise not eating it. There's a huge problem of the use of recycled sewage as cooking oil. It’s nasty stuff that can kill you if your unlucky, and at best, it’ll be an afternoon of crippling stomach pain. The Syndicate tries to keep it out of the general market because of that problem, and we ship it to Caron's Stop for the bandits to use. But even then, some asshole always gets the bright idea to use that oil to sell fried radroach bits down here. Always ends with some unlucky pony dieing, and Orthrus has to come in and actually do their job, cracking down on the station and keeping their eyes open for shady deals. All of which I don’t have to tell you, is bad for business.”

“Noted.” I responded, pretending to not already know that problem here, but bringing up a new question I had to ask. “So, then does that mean Orthrus does not maintain control here?”

“It's more they’re paid to ignore what happens here, but still maintain some order.” Xianzi stopped, and pointed into the distance, where I saw two Orthrus regulars talking to some random pony. “It's best to think of this place as a pressure valve for the metro, much like Charon's Stop is. But unlike there, ponies here still have hope to improve their lives, at least for now. So the Orthrus regulars stationed here tend to be the misfits, sent here to work as a last resort before they might be kicked out or imprisoned. So both citizen and authority walk on a thin line here, and that helps them to understand each other. But to prevent outright revolts, because resentment to authority runs as deep as it does here, Orthrus lets us do business here to keep everyone mostly calm. In exchange, Orthrus gets a cut in the profits. A win-win situation, really.”

“Except for the drug addict” I mumbled.

“Not true.” Xianzi replied. “Without us, they would have died long ago. Likely to starvation by spending everything they had on drugs much more expensive than ours, or vanishing in the big island. Frankly we do a public survive here.” I doubted that, but I was also here to murder a pony, so I didn't have much room to argue.

Continuing, we came to an Orthrus checkpoint. A nearby sign listed that a no gun were permitted inside the market outside of selling and transporting them off the station. The regulars here on duty looking like they had better places to be, one was even muzzle down in playing a game on a pipbuck.

Xianzi threw a bit to the collector. “Just my friend is going in, and don't bother with the change." The regular looked at the bit, a Trait Union standard coin. It was worth far more than what a checkpoint would ask for, and far more than any pony here would have on them.

Waved in, another regular checked my bag, clearly seeing my digger gun, but then waved me through. In a short moment, I was on the other side, in the market of Return Station. From what I knew about this place, it was a bustling market selling recycled materials, at least that's the nice way to describe it. Though Orthrus never openly admit it, places like this were a gray market, where ponies can buy and sell stuff that were illegal in the rest of metro, mostly items under the control of the corporations, or counterfeits. I have also heard stories of items that were locked away in evidence vaults appearing here years later, or of the property of missing ponies being found here.

Trotting through the market, it was a noisy place as ponies yelled to get attention from prospective buyers, but all that was for selling scrap. Luckily the ponies here did give me some space as I made my way through, though a lot of eyes were on me. Even without the bunny suit, I felt out of place here. I felt out of place everywhere now, but more here than anywhere else I’d been so far.

Looking around, I came across a vender selling used inhalers. The kind used in dash, or chill, and were categorized into piles of empty, or ‘mostly empty’. The vender looked up at me and smiled, a few teeth missing in her mouth, and a few teeth matching the color of her rusting prosthetic legs. “Interested ma’am? Real cheap, good for getting refills, and I have a few that still has some chill in them!”

I was mildly repulsed by her, but had a feeling that this was a good place to start. “Do you know a Jitterbug, I have a message for her?”

The vender scratched a festering scab on her check, causing a bit of puss to seep out. “Jitterbug? Ya I know a mare called that, but what's it worth to you, ma’am?”

I wasn't given any bits for this job, so playing off this asshole was not an option, and making any open threats was a no go in this crowded, but I did have one trick to use. Looking the discounted drug vender in the eyes, I focused on the fear of death itself. I sank into that primal part of me I pushed so far deep inside and pulled it back to the surface kicking and screaming.

“Sorry, I would pay you if I could, but I have no bits.” I surpassed my regrets, and held onto the feeling of drowning, gasping for air. The vender choked on her words, her eyes going wide as she looked ready to pass out. “Could you charitably do a here a favor, and help me out.”

I broke eye contact by looking away, and as soon as I had, the vender almost collapsed. She gave out a gasp, expelling a breath she likely didn't know she was holding. “Sh… she's at the the salt venders, South end of the gray market. But her sister is around, mean bitch with a frozen face.”

I gave the vender a smile, showing her all my healthy teeth, “Thank you for the directions.” I turned to trot south, feeling a bit more sick now knowing that Dollu was with family, but this still had to be done.

The salt venders here were not much different from the ones at Charon's Stop, just on a slightly bigger scale. Mirage pony selling their time acting as a powersource for boilers, just for other ponies to sell the sea salt that they produced. The whole process produced a burnt smell of the sea that overpowered that of the rot and mold. Even so, the smell of the drug den still seem to linger just below it.

The ponies here seemed to avoid eye contact with me more than anywhere else, many of which looked so thin that it was amazing they could even stand.

“Just quit workin’ here and come home, ma is going gray worryin’ about ya!” The voice of a farming pony barked sternly. Looking over I saw Dollu cornering another mare, one whom looked a lot like her, but thinner, and with sunken in eyes. “Sis, I'm asking for the last time, leave here and get some rest.”

Dollu’s sister scratched her arm like it was not a prosthetic, looking uncomfortable. “Ma just wants to work us like slaves. That's why ya left, so just let me do ta same and live ma life!”

“Ya a drug addict livin’ in Return Station! That ain’t livin’." Dollu pulled out a bit, and put it in her sisters hooves. “Just go home little sis, get clean, and I'll help ya try again. Just trust me.” The sister took the coin, but said nothing back. “Little sis, I swear that if you use that to buy chill, I'm taking your good leg.”

“Oh fuck you!” She snapped, pushing passed Dollu, and galloping off.

Letting the strung out mare pass me, I trotted over to Dollu. Due to her paralyzed face, she looked happy, but it wasn’t hard to see she was clearly dejected.

“Nothing hurts more than family.” I said, trying to sound cheerful.

“Pissoff, I'm not in the mood to deal with some skank.” She snarled at me.

“I feel the same, having better places to be then this shithole.” I said with a sigh. “But here you and I are, like it’s fate.”

Dollu cocked an eyebrow, and backed up a step. “Who are ya?”

I shook my head. “I would only be fair to share names, but life is far from fair, Dollu.” I took a step forward, towards my target. “I'm sorry to tell you, but you’re not going to become a specter.”

She narrowed her vision at me, and gave a low growl. “Fine, don't tell me ya name, but whoever ya is, ya better turn around and trot away. I'm not in the mood for your nonsense, or holding back on a pretty face!”

Shrugging, I dropped my carrot purse. “Fine by me, just don't hit the dress, It's a rental.” I looked around, but there was no sign of going anyplace private. Every nook and cranny had at least one pony in it, but that was the nature of a metro station.

“Y'all not all that smart for a hitpony, being all open and shit.” She studied me carefully, but my suit left little to hide. “What's ya angle?”

Ears were all about, focused on us, so anything we said would get to a hundred other ears in minute, so more I talked, the more Phobetor could discover me… or maybe, I can use this to my advantage. So I chewed on this moment, then a smile crept in my lips. With a loud and prideful voice, I spoke up. “Sorry, we may have gotten off on the wrong hoof. Being among these greedy boats of ponies has me in a bad mood. Learning that the CEO's of the Trade Union clones ponies was bad enough. But doing it just so they can rape then before cutting out the origins to sell? You can understand how that more than leaves a bad taste in my mouth.” I could see it. More ears were on us, though they still avoided eye contact.

The only pony looking at me was Dollu, looking both confused and irritated. “And what's that got to do with me, ya cunt?”

Good, even her ears were on me. “Let's just say there's a pony who may, or may not have tipped you off to… our organization. We seek those with potential, and we believe you might have what we are looking for.” I took a step forward, and she didn't. “Everything you want, we can give, and more. All you just need to do, is say yes.”

She stood up, looking down on me. “And what do ya know about what I want?”

I tapped my hoof on my face, and spoke low so only the two of us could hear. “fixing your nerve endings is simple. But more than that, we can also give you the opportunity to show those mares the mistake they made. Give you the chance to take back the stallion so wrongfully stolen from you.” I took another step forward.

Dollu dropped her gaze, and her nostrils flared. “Quickly take back what ya saying, or I’ll start beating ya face in!”

Taking another step forward, I rose my voice once more for everyone to hear, and holding back the disgust I felt in what I was going to say. “All I offer is a new life, one that Orthrus is denying you, like so many others have before. No more picking after other ponies shit, or fearing the vengeful wimes of the wealthy. War is coming, Orthrus pawn, and those here will only suffer as long as the Trade Union remains in charge.” I slammed my hoof on on the ground, its iron tone ringing through the illusion. “How many of you think life will improve by sifting through other ponies shit? That you won’t just end up as another number of the dead if you just keep your head’s down and do what’s told of you?” My eyes focused on Dollu, and her’s on mine. “And you, in trying to improve your life, you ended up working here. Face it, you've been abandoned.” I reached a hoof out to her, not knowing how…

A hoof contacted my jaw, and I stumbled back. “So ya think I’m unable to do things on ma own, that I'm some isles cunt!” She yelled, as almost screaming. “I will do it all, on ma own if I have ta, so take ya Republic Hogshit, and eat it!”

Rubbing my pounding jaw, I calmly looked back at Dollu. “Saying no means death. The republic can't let you go if you’re not with us.” I then took a step back, and sat down, the carrot purse with the digger gun now just behind me. “It's a waste of your potential, being used to oppress the ponies here. Such a shame.”

Dollu stormed towards me. “Ya keep talking, but I'm not listening. Now be a good equalist, and fuck off with ya tail between ya legs, or I will drag ya to my superior.”

I cracked a fake smile. “You mean the ones who beat you with a hot iron pipe?”

She lunged at me, throwing another hoof strike at my face. Instinctively, with one hoof, lifted my head to avoid the strike, and letting it drop back to my neck as soon as she missed, causing her to stumble. Dollu look back at me, both surprised, and with fear. I focused my eyes on her, maintaining eye contact. I fed her my feelings of helplessness, keeping her in place.

“You must have heard of them, of us by now,” I smiled at her, “Surly the name, the reputation of the Reavers have reached as far as this backwater place. The pinnacle of cybernetics, surpassing anything Orthrus or the Trade Union can construct.” Getting up, I trotted over to her, not breaking eye contact. “There is no resistance, it is futile. All you must do is give in and join us, join the Republic.” My own words disgusted me, but this was an opportunity I had to use, to get Orthrus on edge.

“No!” Dollu breathed, pushing herself back onto all four hooves, glaring back at me, still under the spell of my evil eyes. “Ma always said hard work is its own reward, but you and your Equalist Republic think not! Where you see an oppressed population in need of help, to be coddled, I see ponies struggling to make the best of what they have, on the edge of giving up or rising above it all.” I stepped back in surprise as she broke from my spell with nothing more than her own willpower. “Did you know that the one of the council representative grew up here? He worked his tail off, and did the same in Orthrus to reach the top. If he can do that, then I can do more, so much more!”

“And where is he now?” I snapped, catching myself off guard, causing me to take another step back, stepping onto the carrot purse. “Does it look like the ponies here are any better off after all his ‘hard work’?”

Dollu glared at me, sending a feeling of hatred over me. “He’s doing his best, not like a brainwashed assassin would ever know about that.”

I tried to focus my eyes back at her, but the will to use the corps brigades cursed power just left me, as did the will to fight. I watched as Dollu stood up again, somehow seeming taller, and brighter than myself. “What can some…” I started to speak.

“More than you bitch!” She shouted over me, pulling her recover from under her shirt, same as where I use to hold my gun. She pressed the gun to my head, maintaining eye contact. “Now be a good equalist, and su…”

*BANG*

My hoof had moved without my own control in it, and slapping the revolver out of her grip at an unnatural speed, and before the revolver hit the ground, the digger gun in the carrot purse had been fired with my other hoof. Dollu’s blood splatter in a cone on the floor as her gun bounced away, and time seemed to slow. As Dollu’s body went limp, I caught her. She gasped for air, blood dripping from her mouth as she struggled to hold onto the life that was fading out of her.

This all felt wrong. I never signed up for this, to kill ponies who truely believed in making the metros better. I knew it didn’t change what I’d done, but was this really going to be worth it?

“Vibraphone, you are not allowed to just give up, that's not how things work.” Everything seemed to be frozen in time, much like a pipbucks S.A.T.S. but truly frozen, and not slow. Charon trotted out of the shadows, the skeletal pony giving off the sense of irritation. “Or have you forgotten why you’re here?”

I looked at Dollu, and back at Charon. “No, but does she have to die?”

A blue orb drifted out of Dollu’s body, and over to Charon, who caught it in her bony hooves. “More will die if you fail, far more than she might save. What matters is what can be done here and now. A few must fall in order to prevent a mountain of corpses from being made, to stop a great evil from ruling and causing more suffering than can be imagined. One must accept the mound of corpses one must make to keep the balance.”

“And so I must become evil to do what’s best?” I mumbled to myself.

“There are no others to take on this task. No heroes, or death knights. Just you.” Charon trotted over to me, each step echoing. “It's not about being good or evil, it is about the mission to protect life. That is all.”

I glared at her, my eyes looking deep into her empty sockets. “What do the dead care about life!?”

The Reaper lifted Dollu’s soul up to me, and it felt warm. “Without life, there can be no death, only an empty void that is like the end of time itself.” She pulled the soul away, and with her other hoof she presented a black orb much like the one I saw in Labs D. Under the orb, Charon's hoof was cracking, looking ready to fall to pieces. “This void has infected Phobetor ever since she first tried to escape. Though the rift has been closed, she will try to open it again. I know this down to my marrow.” With a wave of her hoof, the orb vanished, and she then lifted Dollu’s soul up, letting it rise before it vanished through the ceiling.

“I… I don't understand.” was all I could say.

“I know, and for that I am sorry. Like you said, life isn’t fair.” Sharon turns away from me, the shadows engulfing her. “But have faith that you’re doing the right thing, as all this is not about good or evil, but protecting life. As without life, there is no death.”

Charon vanished, and time returned to normal, leaving the lifeless corpse of Dollu in my hooves. Her blood pooled under me as I placed her gently on the ground, and I closed her eyes. “You probably would have made a good specter.” I whispered.

“Sis!" Jitterbug screamed as she ran over. “Wait! No, no, no, no!” She muttered to herself as I passed Dollu’s body to her. The made looked frantic, something I could understand, if only barely now.

“I’m sorry for your loss.” I said softly as I stepped back.

She didn't pay me any attention, focusing on rifling through Dollu’s pocket, pulling out a few bits, and sighing. “Good, now I can pay Biggy.”

Something deep within me boiled, like a near dead furnis coming to life. “That's all you have to say? Your sister’s dead, I killed her.”

“And fuck you for that!” She shouted. “Damit, without sis I can't keep paying baggy, or get my fix. At least she can stop being a nark. The bitch always thought she was better than me, but where did that get ya!”

“Don't you even care?” The boiling within me grew, but also felt cold.

Jitterbug let her sister fall to the ground. “Maybe, but then she had the full to steal my stallion from me. Both a nark and a slut, but she got her deserts, and now I'm free from her.” The mad smile, her teeth yellow and rotting from drug use. I took the digger gun from the purse, and threw it at her, as the cold sensation washed over me. “Hey, what's your problem, bitch!?”

Her eyes glared at me with a clouded rage, and I glared back at her, our eyes locking. I focused not on pain, or fear, but a pronounced sense of emptiness. No dispare, or rage, as my act had some purpose, but just how empty this made felt to me, and how killing her here and now would be an empty act, for she might as well be dead already. “You could be counting your blessings, and mourning the loss one a pony who loved you, but your mind is too far gone to even care. I don't even know why she even cared about you.” As I pushed the feeling of emptiness, a line of drool fell from her mouth and her eyes dilated.

Breaking eye contact with Jitterbug, she collapsed, the life in her eyes having vanished.

I didn't care to check if she was alright. Frankly, the metro would be far better with her dead. One less junkie to perpetuate the cycle. Turning away, all the other ponies around me hid their eyes, almost shielding themselves from me. It was fine by me, I just wanted to be fucking out of this trash pile.

There was a notable quite as I trotted back out of the gray market. Not silence per se, but a lot more ponies were no longer yelling. They seem to be whispering to each other, all the while avoiding my gaze. I could only wonder how much of what actually happened here got to Orthrus before the ponies here replaced it with fantasy or muddied the memory with drugs. Still, if they at least keep the part where an Orthrus Regular was killed by a Republic agent in a bunny suit, then that should at least help move things along.

Xianzi was waiting for me at the checkpoint, the guards waving me through lazaly. “A little bird told me that the deal is done, among other interesting things.”

I glared at her. “So we're done here?”

She nodded. “Let's just get back to the den, and we can get going to Vally Port Station.”

“Good, I really want out of this stupid bunny suit.” I huffed as I followed Xianzi.

After a short trot, we returned to the foul smelling Drug den, which was still playing overly loud music over poorly maintained speakers. Xianzi walked up to a dirty table, brushing off a bunch of inhalers and needles before dropping her saddle bag on it.

“Now unfortunately we can't just teleport over there, no memory projectors in the station, or any hereby stations, so we have to do it the old fashion way.” She pulled out an old looking purple jumpsuit with a red trim that faintly glowed, and had the sparkle-cola logo on it. “This should do for now.”

I cocked an eyebrow. “Sparkle-cola? Isn't that a collectors item?”

Xianzi smile. “Very much so, but this thing was actually made by Solaris in attempts to get a new contract with Sparkle-cola, a stain resistant jumpsuit. Sadly it was a bit overpriced, and Solaris never got its contract, but Sparkle-cola did buy the initial production run, and sent most to Sparkle-World. Currently however, we only have three suits, so you best take care of this one.”

I looked at the jumpsuit’s Solaris logo just under the collar, and the cogs in my head turned. “What other weird shit does this do?”

“It's... actually not stain resistant at all, but highly energy resistant instead.” She said with a sigh. “But these ones are oddly a bit different than what the records showed. Firstly, the trim being red and glowing, where it should be pink. And second, and more interesting, whoever puts it on somehow becomes eerily sneaky, even when their not trying. They never could quite figure out why...”

Looking at the jumpsuit, and then up at Xianzi, I had a feeling that I knew who, or what this jumpsuit was related to. “And where did the syndicate find this thing?”

Xianzi paused for a moment, then shrugged. “From what I was told, we got it from an old ghoul client of ours. Sold them to us as an advanced payment for a large supply of food and water before disappearing. The Syndicate is still looking for him to get the rest of our money, but rumor has it, he found a boat, and left the islands.”

I dropped my gaze back down at the jumpsuit. “So it's a Sparkle-Lurker jumpsuit, not Sparkle-cola.” I mumbled to myself.

“Say again?” Xianzi asked.

“Just talking to myself. Now, how do I get this bunny suit off?” I tugged at the right suit. At that moment, a feeling came from my carrot purse, and in a flash, a silver flame covered me. My disguise disappeared, and the bunny suit sagged, letting me breath a small sigh of relief. “Never mind.”

Getting myself changed, the Sparkle-Lurker jumpsuit was easy to put on, its legs stretching around my own iron legs. I at least felt less exposed with it on, but would rather have had my dress back. “So, when do I get my clothes and weapons back?”

She passed me another holotapes player, with another holotapes talasman in it. “After you successfully help us recover our agents. Also, this is the disguise for Chime Catbell, don't use it until you’re at the targeted place.”

That made sense to me. “Then what about until then? I'm not going to blend in with my horns out.”

Xianzi rolled her eyes, and pulled out my gas mask. “Just throw this on, and don't draw attention to yourself. We’ve got agents who will deal with the rest.”

Putting the mask on, I no longer could smell the pungent room. But it did remind me of Turnip Soup, and I got the feeling that I was going to find out how he felt when he was with me. At least if this suit had the same effect as the lurkers, it would make the next step far easier.

“Good, now let's go before Orthrus swarms this place.” Xianzi looked at her watch, and frowned. “And we're already behind schedule for catching a train. Let's hurry.” Watching her throw on her saddlebags, I trotted over to the door and opened it for her, she quickly rushed out, and I followed.

As we galloped through the crowd, I couldn't help but remember what Eden had said. That war never changes. This war I was going to start, between Orthrus and the Republic? I doubt any pony involved would ever know that it was by the will of a death spirit, all with the goal to kill a nightmare. Still, he was right about it.

It just comes down to those with power, using others to fight their battles.

______________________________________________________

Footnote:

Quest item obtained: Sparkle-Lurker Jumpsuit. (When equip, you produce a perception disruption field. Do you ever feel like you’re invisible? Well, you’re not, but with this you might as well be! +15 to sneek, -15 to barter and speech.)

Quest Finished: Friends in the Shadows

New Quest: This Means WAR!