--0459 hours, November 24, 2016. 6 hours before the events of 'Incognito'--

Alex stood alone in a dark room yet again.

There was one part of him that knew instantly that this was all just another nightmare. And yet, even after all this time, the rest of his mind didn't realize any of it. It was just him. Alone.

"It's a shame really.." A voice scorned behind him.

Alex turned around in shock. He couldn't see who was standing right behind him, as he was wrapped tightly in cold, metal chains that froze his skin with every small movement.

"All of this... And for what?" The voice continued. Three, no, four! Four shadowy figures fading in like phantoms in the night, their faces concealed, but their eyes gleaming red.

He at last recognized the voice haunting his still-unpleasant dreams.

The one who ruined everything for him, stripped him of his very life, liberty, and joy and replaced it with ongoing torment.

Agent Winchester.

"You..! You're dead! I-I-I killed you!" Alex stammered in cruel realization as his blood turned to ice.

"You ran away from him, leaving a trail of blood and tears behind you with every step you took, killed me, and you expect me to forgive you?" The second voice spat in hatred.

That second voice... Did that belong to..?

"K-Karis?!" Alex pulled hard at his bonds. The memory of her death still brought tears to his eyes. He didn't care about the cold anymore. He wanted to run, leave this place as far behind as he could!

"If you had just stayed behind at the castle to defend your so-called 'friend', everyone else would be safe! Do you not see that yet?" The third phantom scowled hatefully.

This voice he knew instantly, the voice of Karis' assassin.

"Sigma! You're behind all of this, aren't you?!" Alex reached out, this time, for a different reason.

"I'm just following orders. Guess who shouldn't have followed theirs?" She smiled cruelly.

Winchester, Karis, and Sigma. Those were the first three, but what of the fourth?

"You know who I am, Saigo." The fourth phantom called out.

Was he supposed to?

"I can't say I do. And who the hell's 'Saigo'?" Alex scowled back. This likely meant nothing but trouble.

"Don't you worry, Alexander. You will soon enough." The fourth raised the weapon in his hand, a sword, specifically a sort of diesel-punk katana blade, with a relatively large gun barrel that served as the cross-guard, he raised it higher in the air and brought it down on his neck!

---

Alex snapped awake, jerking straight upwards and hyperventilating, he was shaking and shivering as though he were outside during a blizzard for five or ten minutes.

He distinctly felt someone next to him, or rather, somepony. Who was that?

"Here, it's okay. It was just a bad dream." Fluttershy gently whispered, trying to calm him.

"I- Wha- Who-?" Alex stammered.

Fluttershy laid him down, and continued to try and relax him, and it was working to some extent.

"It's okay. Iris told me to come inside. She said you were having another nightmare." She explained.

Alex's breathing slowed down until his breathing was a bit more refined than it was a minute ago.

"Well, you aren't far off." Alex blinked slowly.

"Maybe I can help you. I'm...not much of a psychologist, but..." Fluttershy began to offer.

"Don't trouble yourself. Just being near me will probably make things worse for you." Alex declined.

"Are you sure?" She asked.

"Fluttershy, think for a minute here. Are you really able to deal with every problem I bring forward?" Alex asked.

"I can try." She straightened up, looking a bit more determined.

Alex himself slid off the bed, slowly staggering up.

"The answer is no, but thanks for asking." Alex replied.

She sighed, and walked out of the room behind him. Alex did feel a little bad for turning her down in the way he did, but he knew himself well enough that a pony, especially one as timid as she was, would be too...under-equipped... To deal with his psychological problems, however much they'd try to understand.

But there was one thing he needed cleared up.

"Hey, Fluttershy. One thing before I head off for work?" Alex asked.

She turned around.

"Sure, what is it?" She asked.

"I feel a little, uncomfortable about asking this, but..." Alex shook his head.

"Hmm?"

"This might seem like a stupid question, but what do you and the Elements think about...well... this?" Alex asked.

"I'm not following.." Fluttershy blinked in reply.

"The past month or two as a whole." Alex clarified.

"Oh! Well, for me, it's been a horrifying experience! I'm not around to take care of Angel and my other pets, and ponies are dying all around us! I can't blame you for what happened, not since Rainbow helped clear your name, but still...." She sat, her face downcast.

"I understand, anyone else share that sentiment?" Alex asked, regretting his words as soon as they sprang from his mouth.

"Yes, Rarity is scared to death, and so are Applejack and Twilight. Rainbow still wants to help, no matter what, and Pinkie Pie.." Fluttershy stammered.

"Yeah, I get you there. She's a lot like Vanoss' crew in that regard." Alex shrugged.

"You're not mad?" She asked.

"Mad? No. Twilight, I get why she's scared. Lots of paperwork-"

"-That she volunteered to work on-" Fluttershy defended.

"...my point is, with that plus her borderline OCD sort of personality, and the fact that she knows that we all might die before this is over.." Alex finished.

"They can handle it." Mako interrupted, walking down the hallway and slapping Alex in the back of the shoulder.

"Good morning, Mako." Fluttershy greeted.

"Hey, Mako." Alex wearily added.

Mako looked back at the two of them.

"Let me guess, this one had a nightmare again, and you were called down to soothe him awake." Mako concluded.

Alex blinked in surprise.

"How did you-"

"It's the only way I see either of you waking up at 5:00 AM." Mako replied.

"Yes, I was told it was serious. Something about his brain activity.." Fluttershy recalled.

"I can deal with the human taser, Fluttershy. Go back to sleep." Mako said.

"Okay. Good night Mako, good night Alex!" She waved goodbye and flew away.

Alex rolled his eyes.

"What?" Mako obliviously scoffed.

"'Human taser'? I've heard better electro-mancer puns from Yang, for chrissake." Alex chided.

"Oh, come on! 'Jelly Man' and 'bug-zapper' we're already taken!" She retorted.

"'Jelly man'? What are they, pulling these from f**king Pixar now?" Alex face-palmed.

"Okay, okay, in all seriousness. I need you to come with me for a moment." Mako tugged at his t-shirt.

"For what?" Alex asked.

"Small talk." She replied.

"Twenty-six year old CIA agent and a 15 year old kid with lightning powers going off alone. Sounds like a bad idea already." Alex rolled his eyes.

Mako colored slightly and sighed uncomfortably.

"No."

----

"So, these nightmares, how long have they lasted for so far?" Mako asked.

"Since after my arrest." Alex replied blankly.

"Since... August 6, 2016, right?"

"Only time I've ever been arrested." Alex nodded.

Mako nodded, her interest seemed to pique.

"Name every time these nightmares changed, better or worse." Mako ordered.

"Let's see... My arrival to Equestria, Crimson attacking me, the Canterlot Castle Raid, after my Escape to Remnant, and, most recently, my fight between Omicron, Blake, and I, and that's not even covering half of everything that damaged me." Alex replied.

"Sounds like a bad couple of months." Mako commented.

"I can't exactly say that." Alex thought.

"What do you mean?" Mako asked.

"If it weren't for...everything... I wouldn't have met some of the best people I've ever known, and I'm not just saying that because I was surrounded by the standard f**kboys and hipsters I would've had to deal with if it weren't for this. Instead, I met some of the most kind-hearted and sincerest people and ponies... Well... ever! And even if I lose most of them, I'll at least have the pleasure of knowing them in life!" Alex elaborated with a sense of optimism.

"Sounds like you've kept up some optimism." Mako noted.

"Only f**king thing that gave me any will to live in some danky, run-down, disused 5'-by-5' cell room." Alex replied.

"It seems like it all paid off." Mako smiled.

"Yeah. I guess it did." Alex smiled a bit himself.

"Then why do you think you still have these nightmares?" Mako asked.

Alex sighed.

"I think it's because, in spite of all the good that might come from this, it still can't patch up the bad." Alex moaned.

"Listen, Alex. You remind me of someone I knew from one of my old units, before Winchester's." Mako said.

"Hm?" Alex wondered.

"His name was Corporal Sanders. We worked together for a short time in the Militia when I was still taking espionage missions, and he told me about what the militia did to him and his family, they threatened to kill his wife and child if he didn't join. Obviously you can guess which he took." Mako sighed.

"I'm not surprised, these are the exact same people who would have killed me if I didn't join." Alex bluntly spat.

"True. Sanders didn't approve of everything the militia was doing. During an op back in 2015, when he was ordered to steal military aircraft, we secretly sabotaged the mission, and they only got away with a few Little Birds and a C-17. I told him we could get them in witness protection and they could tell us where to find Silas Kahn's Older brother, also in the Militia. Once the mission was set in place, I was cornered by Silas' brother, and Sanders took the bullet meant for me. He said that 'whatever happens, there are two people out there in the world who I saved.' I killed the brother, the news went crazy, and the rest is history." Mako explained.

Alex leaned back.

"It's people like him, and you, people who would selflessly give their lives if it meant they would defend the people they care about, that I'm truly proud to know. Kat, the Elements. The Huntresses, everyone. You all risk life and limb for a cause you believe in. The ponies, it's the protection of their country and leaders, for peace. For the huntsmen, it's defending their world from the monsters, human or not, that threaten it. For you, it started out with you only wanting to survive, but it's grown to so much more. Now, your goal is saving the multiverse, billions, trillions, octillions of people, most of which you don't even know." Mako put her hand on his shoulder.

Alex had just realized the depth of his own mission, this wasn't about him, or the 50,000,000 volunteers, and counting, or the 12,000 he was already working with. He was also fighting for his lost parents, lost comrades, and dreams that might never be.

"I never thought of it that way, Mako." Alex realized.

"No problem, kid. But we both have to get to work, Evan and some of his friends are on undercover ops starting today." Mako straightened out.

"I got it. Let's move." Alex nodded.

"One more thing, how's the stab wound coming along?" Mako asked.

Alex ran his hands along the scar on his chest, he had been using his Aura to heal that thing whenever he could. The doctors said that he might be able to fight as soon as tomorrow.

"It's coming along well enough. The Doctors say I could be out on the field by about tomorrow." Alex replied.

"Good to hear, let's get them geared up."

--12 hours later, 1745 hours--

Alex walked into the small room Blake had been using to keep in touch with Vanoss and his crew. Normally, Alex would've kept up with them himself, but he was scheduled into a training session with the Inheritors that lasted up until 4:00 PM.

"...And you're sure this person had a level 16 rank on the Aura Scanner?" Blake asked as Alex walked inside.

'That's what the thingamajig said. Wildcat said that another guy, a bit taller than her, gray-ish hair, he caught him walking around with the same level.' Vanoss replied from the communicator.

"Evan, have any of you been looking at that club, did you see either one go inside?" Alex asked.

"Glad to see you're well enough to walk around, Alex." Blake greeted, not even fazed at his arrival. She must have heard him come inside.

'Terroriser saw a bunch of people walk inside that club, but no real match yet.' Vanoss answered.

"Have someone watch that club around the clock. Front and back enterances, if you see anything, let us know." Alex ordered.

'We have Mini keeping watch on the penthouse, and we'll go check out places where we might be able to see the back.' Vanoss volunteered.

"Did they get anything that they can use for the mission?" Alex asked.

"At about 2:00 today, Evan got a camera." Blake answered.

"Evan, I have an idea. Set up a wireless link with your camera and your Scroll, stash it away at an angle where we can see the back entrance while still being out of sight. We're watching those things 'round the clock so Iris can notify us before you can." Alex instructed.

'Got you. Really f**king hope you're right about this.' Vanoss replied.

"We know what we're doing. Don't do anything that might give yourselves away." Blake assured.

'Okay. I'll set up they camera now.' Vanoss shut off the communicator from the other side.

"You really think they can save Vale?" Alex asked.

"Just in case, We had Iris keep in touch with the other students at Beacon." Blake replied.

"That isn't going to work." Sirius called behind them.

"Sirius?" Alex asked.

"If we have access to that scroll, so do they. When Sigma hacked into the Transmit Tower, she compromised all of Vale's security. Anything we do there that can be traced back to our scrolls, they're able to plan ahead of whatever we do." Sirius explained.

"We have those particular scrolls protected, Mr. Da Long. The Red Star would not be able to access them." Iris assured.

"They'll find a way. These guys know what they're doing. Besides, even if that's true, they'll find the camera." Sirius scowled.

"Then what should be our next move?" Alex scoffed.

"Get everyone you can out of Vale. There's no doubt in my mind that they'll find a way to release that bio weapon."

"Not as long as we have someone keeping an eye out." Alex defended.

"You're making a grave mistake, Admiral." Sirius pressed.

"If 400,000 people just suddenly leave the city, The Red Star know something's up." Alex defended.

"They already know we're onto them!"

"How?" Blake asked.

"Because someone let four members of the bloody A-Team inside working undercover! The two people that are following them are working for the Red Star! The DNA samples we tested with the Aura scanners after Omicron's attempted escape match theirs!" Sirius burst out.

Alex shook in realization and horror.

"Get Evan on the phone. Now!" Alex ordered

"Trying!" Blake replied.

"Iris! Issue an evacuation order on both Vale and Beacon, and send in as many hazmat troops as we can! We need to find that device!" Alex called.

"The evacuation has just been ordered. Most of them are leaving by Airship and heading here." Iris replied.

"Clean up the flight deck and send a medical team over there ASAP!" Sirius ordered.

"On it!" Iris answered.

"Iris, one more thing?" Alex asked.

"Yes, Alex?" Iris asked.

"Does Overcharge II protect from biological and chemical weapons?" Alex wondered.

"Yes, better protection than a hazmat suit." She answered.

"I'm going out there." Alex barged out.

Alex walked out of the room heading for the armory, Yang and Rainbow caught up with him.

"Alex, what's wrong?" Rainbow asked.

"Evan's been f**king compromised. The weapon is probably in there by now, and we just evacuated Vale and Beacon." Alex answered.

"You're going in there?! Are you insane?!" Yang gasped.

"You haven't noticed?" Alex replied sarcastically.

"The doctors said that you couldn't go out to fight yet!" Rainbow protested.

"Do you really think that's my concern right now?" Alex asked.

Yang blocked his path.

"If you're going out there, so is the team."

"And i'm the f**king crazy one!" Alex rolled his eyes.

"The Wonderbolts are going with you guys." Rainbow Dash saluted.

"I swear to god!!" Alex screamed in frustration.

"We have Overcharge suits too, you know!" Yang defended.

"That doesn't mean I'm letting you out there!" Alex replied.

"You have a stab wound and you're going out there!" Rainbow retorted.

"And you're an Admiral!" Yang added.

"For f**k sakes!!! Stay here! I'm ordering both of you!!" Alex yelled. Why were they throwing away their lives like this?!

"Tell us! Tell us why you should go out and not any of us!" Yang shoved him.

"Because you have people who need you here! I'm usually the one asking for help anyways!! THAT'S THE ONLY F**KING REASON I'M STILL ALIVE!!" Alex exploded.

Rainbow shrank back from the sheer hostility, only Yang was able to stay in place and look him in the eye.

"We're going with you. That's it. There's no way around this. If someone is going to help save our homes, be sure I'm somewhere in that mess." She put her hand on his shoulder.

"What-"

"Go to the armory, get that suit on, get your gun, and go. We aren't staying behind." Yang ordered.

Alex stepped backwards in shock.

"Fine," Alex surrendered, "Come with me, lose your friends and sister. Just know I'm not forcing whatever happens on either of you."

"We've known that since you left for the Embassy." Yang replied as Alex ran to the armory.

As Alex ran off to his destination, he felt angry and scared for them, all of them. They wanted to help him? Who would wish that on themselves?

That didn't matter. Not anymore.

He had people to save.

Author's Notes:

Not entirely sure what to put here. It's been, what, 60 chapters already?
I'm still thinking about the prospects of cover art, but I'm not entirely sure what would work for this sort of story.
Anyways, I should probably let you all know that the big climax of the story is likely going to be a six-parter with each chapter being something, like, maybe 5,000 words per chapter. Just putting it out there now.

-The Destoyer