"Hello, Doctor—it's Microfiche. How are you this evening?"

"Fine, fine. What's up? You get the hoverskiff and the kids together? And you should call me Zed, I told you that."

"We're here!" Kevin exclaimed.

"Yeah, the kids and then some," Microfiche mumbled, looking up at Mochi and Cotton Fluff who were both leaning in, listening with curiosity.

"Oh, wonderful," Doc Zed's voice said. "And have you explained what they're going to do next?"

"Er, no," Microfiche started. "Remember, you didn't—"

"For shame, Microfiche!" Doc Zed reprimanded. "Well, actually, that's fine. It's probably for the best that I should explain, anyway, since I know the plan best." Microfiche rolled his eyes and tapped a button on the comlink, amplifying Doc Zed's crackly voice.

"Now, first off, there's the matter of the parts. Microfiche, I need you to get the parts from the kids and then go back into Umberlight tonight to pick up the last of the parts I need. The kids should still have the list I gave them."

"Yeah, I've got it right here," Flight cut in, rummaging around in her saddlebag with a hoof.

"Wonderful. How many shops are left?"

Flight fulled the list out and glanced down at the tiny letters scribbled there. "Uh... two?"

"Good. Microfiche, why don't you go on down there tonight while the shops are still open and grab the last few things on that list?"

Microfiche looked taken aback ."Sir, it's—to get back in the city, I—" he stammered.

"You should be able to get back in like normal, don't worry. They won't think anything suspicious is going on for another day at least."

"If you're sure..." Microfiche didn't look convinced.

"I am. Now, from there, I need you to leave Umberlight again and then bring the parts to me in Dienna. Then, you can hide out at my place so the Bureau ponies can't find you. Also, Xiibal approved my request for you to work with me on... that project."

Microfiche blinked. "Wait, really? You want my help?"

"Heh, why wouldn't I?" Doc Zed said with a staticky laugh. "Come on, Microfiche—you didn't think I hated you, did you?"

Microfiche gulped. "No, of course not."

"Hey, wait... are we not going back to Dienna?" Kevin asked.

"Unfortunately, not yet. We've gotten wind of some... complications that would make it difficult for all of you to get down here and stay safe. But don't worry—I worked with Xiibal to come up with a plan for you kids... and that's where the hoverskiff comes in."

Flight raised an eyebrow. "Who's Xiibal?"

There was a sharp burst of static like the intake of breath that emanated from the comlink like Doc Zed was going to say something, but this was interrupted by Scootaloo, who stepped forward.

"Nevermind that—how in the hay do you know my name, and how come you keep telling everypony?!"

There was a long pause. Microfiche coughed awkwardly. Scootaloo stood there, staring at the comlink.

"Scootaloo, I'm with the rebels. You know that, right? And all about the Bureau?"

"Well... most of it, I guess. But yeah. I've got the gist of it."

"So, you know, part of my job is to collect and disseminate information to our operatives as they need to know things. And that's why I told Kevin, Flight, and Microfiche; they all were going to be interacting with you, so I figured it best if they knew your name."

Scootaloo frowned. "Luna below... it's like when you write a letter to somepony asking a bunch of questions and they only answer, like, two of 'em."

"Huh?"

"You didn't say how you knew my name in the first place. Wait..." Scootaloo's face lit up in realisation. "...Grey?"

"Excuse me?"

"Grey... was he one of your operatives or whatever?"

"Um... that name isn't familiar to me. Is that somepony you met? Did he claim to be from the rebels?" Doc Zed asked, sounding legitimately confused.

"Not exactly... but he sure wasn't working with the Bureau," Scootaloo said.

"Heh, unless he was really tryin' to screw with ya," Mochi chimed in.

"Huh? Who's that" Doc Zed asked.

"The name's Mochi, and it's a delight to meet ya, Doc," the mare said cheerfully.

"I thought it was just the kids with you, Microfiche."

"There's also Mochi and Cotton Fluff here," Microfiche replied. "I tried to tell ya, but this conversation has moved a kilometre a minute, I swear—"

"Cotton Fluff? The Cotton Fluff? Like, the shop owner?"

"That's me," the brown-coated mare said quietly.

"Huh... well I'll be. Anyway... where were we?"

"My name," Scootaloo asserted. "Where get."

"Ah, right. Well, I'm going to be honest... the truth is, I got into that locked cargo hold of yours."

"You did? What's in there? If it's food better than Gamsco's, I swear, I'm gonna..." The filly let her sentence trail off, having obviously not thought of what she was going to do.

"Um, I don't think so," Doc Zed replied. "But I did find a comlink and, while it is pretty primitive by our standards, I was still able to get it to work."

Scootaloo's pupils shrank. "No..."

"And, as a matter of fact, I got in contact with your friend Princess—"

"No, no, stop right there. I know what you're going to say, and I don't want to hear it," Scootaloo said flatly.

"Are... are you sure? I mean, I can understand if—"

"No," Scootaloo said, stamping a hoof on the ground. "I don't want to talk about her, or any of that."

"Well then..." Doc Zed continued, "I'll move on to talk about where you ponies are headed to next."