Aurora, Spotlight and Manic made their way into a cul-de-sac. Manic stopped and scanned the area. Spotlight put a hoof to her chin as she hummed in thought.

"So the cult leaders live here?" Aurora asked. Spotlight nodded.

"This part of the area is constantly monitored by A.S.S." she said. "Shows how badly they want to bury it." Manic snorted.

"I wouldn't be surprised if they have this place rigged with bugs and explosives." She said. Aurora spotted ponies walking out of one of the houses. She recognized White. With him was a cloaked pony and two ponies in glowing suites. Manic spotted them and frowned.

"Seems they got caught red hoofed." She said. Spotlight furrowed her brows.

"Oh White..." she said. Aurora studied the two. Their body language was unusual. They were tempted to go in and intervene. But there was hesitation as well. A flash image of Tom appeared and she blinked once before nodding to herself. She trotted past the two.

"Huh? W-wait, Aurora!" Manic stated as she held out a hoof to stop her, only to stop and watch as the android made her way towards them. Spotlight and Manic exchanged glances before following behind her. Just as she figured. They have stated their annoyances with A.S.S. and it was clear that even though they hated the services they provided, they were scared to even voice their opinions. She then recalled back when Candlejack suddenly stepped up to the NDS and stated their stubbornness to let her see her father.

'Why am I doing this?' she asked herself. 'Candlejack... Tom... are you both really ponies that see the world differently?" Her steps remained steady, despite the sudden feeling of dread that was creeping up on her. 'I hardly know Candlejack... but he hardly knew me and stated that he has killed many of my kind... yet he defended me?' She felt her chip register a confused and strange emotion. 'And Tom... he was different back then to those ponies. But he showed kindness I didn't think any machine was possible of.' This was true for her up to this point. Having explored the outskirts of Detrot, she has hidden from and fought off many machines that were rogue. It made her question if these machines really were considered citizens back then.

And the many she had dismantled, she didn't find hardly any luridium on them. It was like they had just one day decided to go rogue. Just like Deadeye. She then changed her stoic expression to a determined one. 'I'll save those two. One way or another.' One of the suited ponies noticed Aurora approaching and was about to wave when the other stopped his hoof and motioned around them. This caused her to raise a brow in confusion.

"Err... halt! Who dares to... uhh... advance upon the ass err... I mean A.S.S.?" the voice said. Aurora recognized it.

"Candlejack?" she asked. Candlejack shook his head.

"You have me wrong! I am not this Candlejack you speak of!" he said. Inside the suite, Candlejack began to form sweat. 'Crap, what is she doing here of all times!?' Aurora rubbed her chin before looking at the other one. Assuming it was Zelori, the suited pony nodded before putting a hoof on the other.

"We are done here. No need to trouble anymore. Let us report the info back to HQ." she said. White and the cloaked pony were confused as to what was going on, but when White saw Manic, he beamed.

"Oh hey, sis." he said with a wave. Manic frowned as she stepped around Aurora.

"Really? You are being escorted by A.S.S. and you are greeting me like nothing is happening?" she asked. White rubbed the back of his mane, the sweat forming on his brow.

"Oh uh... well... you see I..." Well this was awkward. No pony was expecting to see the other. Aurora watched the uneasiness between the ponies before noticing a mare canter out of the house. Her pallet resembling a bee.

"Excuse me, sir!" she called out. Candlejack turned to face her as she quickly held out a small looking tablet. "You dropped your tablet." Underneath the helm, Candlejack smiled and took it in his hoof.

"Why thank you Mrs. Flutter." She smiled.

"It's Miss. And I can't thank you enough for doing this." Candlejack smirked.

"Ever thought about modeling or something?" he asked. She blinked in confusion.

"Huh?" Candlejack shrugged.

"I was kind of referring to your mane." She batted her ponytail mane.

"Oh, I was cleaning house and since I don't have time for a mane cut, I just tied it back." Candlejack hummed in thought before smiling.

"Looks great though. And don't worry. We'll make sure that your family is safe." She gave a friendly smile.

"Thank you. And do be careful you two." And with that, she cantered back into the house, leaving Candlejack waving to her. Zelori, however, put a hoof on his shoulder, making him stiffen.

"Jack. We need to focus. If you really want to help them, we have to act like A.S.S." She said. Candlejack shrugged.

"Aww, c'mon, Zelori. The A.S.S. could use a bit more friendliness in their units." He then turned before pushing the two ponies ahead. "Sorry for the trouble! No signs of a cult meeting here. Just ponies enjoying simple conversation with one another. You all have a nice day." With that, Candlejack and Zelori trotted past them. Aurora watched them disappear around the corner before turning to White in confusion.

"What was that all about?" she asked. White darted his head around before motioning to them to follow.

"Not here. We'll talk back at home.” He said in a low voice. Manic snorted.

"It better be a good excuse to have to go to hell and back for a damn prayer." White balked and was about to say something before shaking his head.

"I promise, I won't leave any details. But we are out in the open. Let's get going before they realize the group they sent in got downed by those two." Spotlight blinked.

"Say again?" White shrugged.

"Just saying how beautiful you are looking today, babe." The cloaked pony followed White leaving the other three to exchange glances before trotting after them.

Candlejack and Zelori trotted down further into the community. Being disguised as the A.S.S., they were indeed shot with glares and nervous looks. Candlejack chuckled to himself.

"I almost feel like we can do a little more harm to their reputation if we just act all intimidating." He said. Zelori shook her head.

"Focus, Jack. We are not trying to cause trouble. We are trying to find where they are stationed." Candlejack sighed and nodded. It wasn't much info to go on. Thinking back to the interrogation, the one pony he had basically burned out an eye with a solarium knife spat at him when he removed the helm. Her eye was closed, but there was indeed flesh peeling and rashes from the strike. She growled at them, wincing in pain as the feeling of being burned and stabbed coursed through her.

"Keep it up and I bet the third degree burn won't be the only thing crippling you today." He said with a small smile. He must have made it a little more unsettling than he had thought as the mare's eyes widened a bit before she snorted in disgust.

"Lousy pure-wing! Your kind doesn't deserve to be roaming all high and mighty!" Candlejack shrugged.

"Lucky for me I don't know who they are exactly. So I wouldn't give two sense on it. Speaking of... what made you think attacking an old buck and his family out of assumptions was an honorable thing to do?" The mare bit back.

"I ain't sayin' nothin'!" she barked.

'So much professionalism for military grade badasses.' He thought sarcastically with a frown before shrugging quietly. 'Oh well. Means they are easier to break when pride is on the line.' Zelori tightened the cable tie around the ponies before stepping over them and slipping into the body suite before the armor suddenly contracted to her body. She brushed a small speck of dust off before turning to them.

"Then maybe you wouldn't mind if we borrow your tech." she said. Candlejack smiled and grabbed the solarium knife that he put on the counter and tossed it in the air before skillfully catching it and twirling it on the face of his forehoof.

"I have to say. Much better than ETG standards." He said. The mare balked.

"ETG?!" she suddenly bit her lip and adverted her eyes. However, it wasn't enough to not catch the threatening looks from the siblings. The ponies watching didn't think that three letters was enough to change the atmosphere. It almost made the presence of the Necronomica a cold breeze. Candlejack smiled.

"Hmm... been a while since I've seen that kind of expression. It's usually when I was in a unit that was too good for their own ego and wanted to extort credits for their drink." She tried her best not to meet his gaze. But she couldn't seem to avoid the orchid eyes of the pegasus. Something about this pony was more than a threat. His entire embodiment felt like a physical promise. And when Candlejack waved the knife to point at them, she immediately flinched. Zelori sighed.

"Jack, we need them alive. Put aside the thought of the Round Table for now and focus." Candlejack clicked his tongue and spun the knife again on his hoof joint.

"I know that. Just thought it would be interesting to hear how ponies from above ground know about an underground government." That did it. The look the mare gave was more than surprise. The understanding was plain as day. Something that Candlejack wanted to exploit to the ends of the earth. But keeping his temper in check, Candlejack stepped aside as his sister walked up to them.

"Where are you located?" she asked. The mare bit her lip, sweat forming on her brow. Zelori remained stoic. "Who is your commanding officer?" She waited again. She never thought that she and Candlejack would be doing another interrogation in their lives. Having gone through it themselves to implementing it on others against their will, Zelori was sick of having the past catch up to them. But they had to know. These ponies in this community wanted to never truly forget what they were. How else can anypony learn from their mistakes if it is buried from them?

'How ironic...' she thought. But the mare continued to say nothing. Until Candlejack "accidentally" missed the rhythm of his finesse and the knife hummed through the air before hissing as it pierced the floor in front of her.

"Whoops." Candlejack said with a shrug. The mare broke.

"A-alright! I-I'll tell you!" she stated. Candlejack looked disappointedly at her.

"Tch. Badasses my ass." He hissed in annoyance. The mare winced as Zelori plucked the knife out and placed it on the counter.

"Then please, do tell." She said. The mare grit her teeth, ashamed of herself for giving in so easily. But these ponies were something she wasn't entirely equipped to deal with. And it was painfully obvious.

"We don't have an HQ here. Just a monitoring station that is a few clicks east of here." She winced. The talking was making the burning feeling increase. So much that she groaned when it hit her again. Zelori looked to Candlejack, who arched a brow at her.

"We need her talking." She reminded. The pegasus bowed his head.

"Alright, fine. Does anypony have cooling gel?" he asked looking over to the sitting ponies. Flutter nodded before trotting over to a shelf in the kitchen and withdrawing a small wrinkled tube. She passed it to Zelori who immediately applied the remedy and the mare eased in her slight writhing. Her rash vanishing and the hair that was missing grew back at an unnatural but original state. But her eye was still closed. That was something no remedy would fix.

"Now then. Exactly what does this station monitor other than possible cult meetings?" Zelori asked. The mare took a moment before speaking.

"We also retain radio feedback to and from Aretilla." Candlejack rubbed his chin.

"Updating through radio waves. How many antennas are there out here?" he asked. The mare shrugged.

"Probably thousands. Most are likely not working. But some are valuable to maintain. Like the one in Detrot." Candlejack smirked.

"Well, better than the one that is the eye sore in New Equestria." He said. This caused a nervous reaction out of the mare. But Candlejack did his best to ignore it. Zelori continued.

"So you update Aretilla on the events of this community. You monitor the place like you have complete control of the area. But this is a community of adolescents and young adults. You really think anything interesting will take place here?" the mare growled.

"Mole ponies are best left under the rock. That's all I'm going to say." Candlejack laughed suddenly. The mare winced when the pegasus walked over to her.

"Mole pony. That's a new one. So then... from what I hear about the ponies above had great tasting flesh. I wonder if that is true?" Candlejack brushed a wing under his chin. "They always say there is a first for everything." Zelori shot him a look. But the mare seemed to be dragging herself slightly away on her side in fear. "Hey sis. I wonder how great hog roasted mare taste like?"

"Jack..." Zelori replied.

"I mean, it may take a while and of course we have to bear with the screaming. But eventually, she'll cook nicely."

"Jack!" Zelori barked. Candlejack shrugged.

"What? I'm just saying. Ponies make assumptions and I just roll with it." He then winked at the mare, making her curl at the wall.

"N-no! Don't roast me! I don't taste good!" she stated. Candlejack snorted in disgust again.

"Wow, and I thought ETG were paranoid pricks." Zelori hummed in thought before looking over to the pony.

"So, what is so interesting that a group of hired mercs are sent to watch this place over? Surely it isn't paranoia of possible influence of the cult. Your raid years ago handled that situation." The mare balked.

"How do you..." she caught the small smirk from Candlejack before quickly quieting.

"We are out of the rock. Now continue." Zelori stated with stoicism. The mare bowed her head again.

"W-we had questioned a group of adolescents that were playing 'cultists' and they stated that there is a possible chance that the cult might be gathering together again." She faced the gaze of the zebra mare. "We spent years trying to make sure that wouldn't happen again. The ponies that were sacrificed to their blind ways of the princesses was just disrespectful and inequine." Candlejack arched a brow.

"You thought it was blasphemy?" he asked. The mare bowed her head again and shook it.

"A.S.S. are tied to one religion and that is the guidance of our goddesses. The Cult of the Eclipse may have followed that path once, but after hearing about disappearances and strange practices in necromancy, Zillex and Aretilla gathered as much muscle as they could and stormed the place. I was just a rookie back then, but from what I saw in that church... I couldn't even..." Monocle, the mint green buck, looked sternly at the mercenary.

"You made the right choice in stopping their practices. But some of us weren't on board with it." He shambled over to them. "I did everything I could to prevent it from happening. But the influence of dark magic was just too much for one old buck to handle." He sighed and looked over to his daughter tiredly. The mare went over and hugged him. "I was just concerned for my family." Candlejack's look went grim.

'Damn... this is a predicament.' He looked back to the mare cowering on the ground. He was hoping that the mare would do something that would give him every right to sock her one. Probably burn another eye out. But seeing as the mare had no trouble spilling the beans and getting a small bit of insight on the event, he was left with one thing. "The previous cult leader..." Zelori looked at him.

"Jack?" Candlejack turned to Monocle.

"Gramps. How well did you know Constance?" he asked. The buck eyed him.

"A quiet and stubborn old buck. But loyal to the ways of the princesses." He rubbed his chin. "Or so I thought." He put a hoof around his grandson. "I wasn't there when the raid happened. But I was there when the book first came to us. One of our scouts stated he got it off of a strange robot merchant. Said that it would promise great insight into the sister's teachings. And Constance, having being inaugurated to the position when the previous cult leader passed from heat stroke, we had noticed a... change in our ways." He nodded to the book that laid on the coffee table.

"Everything was fine for the first few days. And then, we began to notice Constance locking himself into his room. He hadn't eaten or slept in days. The only times he would come out is when we would begin our usual sermons and knighting into our cult. But I should have known when he started calling in a few of our brightest minds into his room." He sighed. "One of my foalhood friends who had joined the cult at the same time I did was the first I notice the change in behavior. He began to twitch at every small sound and mutter quietly under his breath.

"Then came another of our brother. Then a sister. Then another sister. Then another brother and sister. At least a fraction of our cult had been called in and each one began exhibiting strange behaviors." His look darkened. "I then caught my friend wandering the halls, as if he was lost. But I could see it. The sickly green that replaced those hazel eyes. As if under a trance, I found him tripping over himself as he made his way up to the bell tower.

"I followed after him and before I could do anything when I reached the top, he shouted to the sky 'I go forth, in the name of our princesses! Long live The Sun and Night mothers!'." His eyes started tearing and the two ponies hugged him tightly. "He then... plummeted to an early grave." Candlejack and Zelori remained silent as the buck sobbed a little. Taking a moment to wipe his eyes, the buck was led to a chair and he was sat gently into it before continuing. "I was a fool for taking a long time to realize he needed help... my help.

"Constance then called me into his office and shared in my grief. His words sweet as honey yet cold as the night wind." He then growled. "Then he showed me the accursed book. He had apparently read through half of it and started to spout nonsense. I then... felt myself being called. Sweet words to lull me into a false sense of security. And I looked to a beautiful muse hovering over his desk where the book was. She was... enticing. And my mind in a state of grief wanted comfort." He rasped a chuckle. "Funny what an old mind like mine can think of at a time like that. I don't know what came over me, but I fought against the spell of the muse and it emitted this loud shrill that had me bucking out of the chair and bursting down the door.

"I ran as fast as I could, leaving the church and making my way back home to where I called my daughter to barricade the doors and windows. We spent a couple of nights in solitude before I was ready to face the cult again. The behaviors had continued, but Constance seemed to be playing patiently with mine. He implemented the sacrifices around that time too and I noticed my daughter was next in line. I spent that day with her, sun infused buckshots at the ready. That was when the word of the raid happened and I... I never felt so conflicted in my life..." Monocle slumped into his seat while Flutter tenderly stroked her father's hoof. Candlejack darted his eyes in thought before turning to the stunned A.S.S. merc.

"So then... did you slaughter them or detain them?" the mare bit her lip. But Candlejack wasn't feeling too polite this time. He walked over and put a hoof sharply on her neck and applied pressure. The mare choked. "Tell me... now." She struggled under him, gasping for breath. Zelori put a hoof on his shoulders and he lessened the pressure. The mare coughed.

"We... detained... them... shot the ones... that attacked us..." Candlejack leaned in.

"Did you happen to detain Constance?" he asked. The mare nodded quickly, struggling for breath again. She coughed and lurched when Candlejack removed his hoof and smiled. "Thank you for your time." With a quick strike across the muzzle with his flack, the mare slumped and fell limp. Knocked out and motionless, Candlejack looked towards the stunned ponies. "We don't need compromising. We will keep them here for the time being while I and Zelori go find Constance." White nodded.

"I'll go with you." Candlejack shook his head.

"Eenope." He said. White frowned.

"I want to save my sister from this fate. If Constance has a way of ending the curse, then I want to know!" Candlejack shot him a glare that instantly shot fear into the unicorn.

"You are going to ensure your brat of a sister doesn't do anything stupid to interfere with this plan. We will gather the info from Constance." Candlejack had a thing for putting ponies in line, as much as he hated having to get cold towards them. But how else was he going to keep his conscious sane if every little pony he has to manage falls under him like so many others have? He especially didn't want this pony to suffer a tragic fate like his parents. He then looked to Starbreeze, who trembled a little out of nervousness. "You know a little more on the topic of necromancy. I want you stay behind with them and ensure nothing supernatural happens." She balked.

"W-what? B-b-but I'm not equipped to face necromancy! I've only studied it!" Candlejack smiled and went to put a reassuring hoof on her shoulder, causing her to blush at the invasion of space.

"Which is why you are more capable of dealing with it." He then looked to the buck. "We will do this favor. But only if you can keep these ponies here for a bit." He rubbed his chin. "I'll find a way to get them to forget this chance meeting." That made the mercenary mare shiver in fear. When Candlejack turned, Starbreeze held his hoof to stop him. He looked at her in confusion.

"Err... Jack? You don't mind me calling you Jack, right?" Candlejack gave a cool smile in response. She fidgeted. "Just... be careful okay? For... my sake?" Candlejack chuckled a bit.

"I'm a P.U.N.K. I technically come out scathed or not but still living. We got this." Zelori rolled her eyes in annoyance. The mare seemed to give a nod of approval, but if she knew her brother, the advance was totally over his head.

'I'll keep that ignorance a bliss then.' She thought as she put the helmet on while Candlejack slipped into the suite. Candlejack snapped back to reality as they had trotted quite a good ways away from the community. He stopped and scanned the area.

"Err... she said a few clicks east. We... are heading the right direction, right?" he asked Zelori was also scanning the area. His ear twitched when he heard something crackle in his ear.

"Unit S-05, report." There was a crackle of static. The two exchanged glances before Candlejack put a hoof to a button on the side of the helm. He cleared his throat.

"Urm... Unit S-05 reporting." He said.

"S-05. Is everything okay? We couldn't get any video feed." That made Candlejack's heart skip a beat. Even Zelori stiffened. What luck they had right now. Candlejack maintained his composure.

"Apologies, erm... command. Solar rays must be interfering with the feedback." They waited.

"Damn. This weather definitely is becoming a nuisance. Report back to base. We will get your update there." Candlejack gave a quiet sigh of relief.

"Roger. S-05, out." Candlejack slumped. "Buck me, what utter luck." Zelori nodded in agreement. Candlejack then brought out the tablet. "There has got to be a way to get back to the base..." He turned on the screen and began tapping away at the strange pictures on the tablet. He beamed when he spotted a map app and tapped it open. Thankfully, the tablet was marking a locations and the words read "Command". Candlejack laughed a little. "At this rate, we might even sway the A.S.S. from not having to monitor this place." Zelori shook her head.

"Even so, remember the last time we had a stroke of luck like that?" Candlejack pointed at her with a smirk.

"That streak of avoiding arcane traps was indeed good on our part. But I swear that golem wasn't my fault." Zelori frowned.

"We were the only ones left at that point, Jack. P.U.N.K.... remember?" Candlejack sighed.

"Right, right. Title is a bitch and a half. In any case, we shouldn't waste anymore time. They will get suspicious if we don't report back." With that, the two made their way, following the map to their next destination. Out of the frying pan and into the fire, as they say.

The monitoring station was indeed a little more out of the way than they had originally thought. Candlejack and Zelori had hiked a sand dune and saw a small rectangular building that looked a little well-kept than the distant ruins. A tall satellite dish was overlooking the area. Barbed fences and a gate that responded to an auto chariot that appeared to have been leaving. Based on the bulk and size of the auto chariot, something big was being transported. But that wasn't the main concern.

When the siblings advanced down onto the fenced area, one of the station guards spotted them from the front of the gate and he landed in front of them, catching Candlejack's mock interest at the slightly larger wingspan than his. The guard was wearing a harness that was attached to his glowing alien like suite with a solarium rifle connected to the bit. Something that was used for those who couldn't get the hang of standing bi pedal and aiming a weapon. In either case, the wings are what Candlejack was more interested about. He smirked under his helm.

"Nice wings." He said. The guard made a motion with them in a salute.

"Keep the sarcasm to a minimum." He said with a small chuckle. "What's the update?" Candlejack rubbed his helmeted chin.

"Aren't we supposed to report to command instead of a stationed guard?" he asked. The pony rubbed his helmeted head.

"Oh, I know. I'm just so bored that I want to know what is going on." He snorted. "This place hasn't been getting much action as of late. The only thing we do is just throw our muscle around and intimidate those that want to 'regress'. But I digress." The two exchanged glances before Zelori spoke.

"We should report to command. Just to be safe." She said. The guard pointed at them.

"R-right! I'll uh... just be here and wait... like usual..." he said. The two trotted past him. Making sure they were out of ear shot, Candlejack leaned in to whisper.

"Well that was interesting..." he said. Zelori nodded.

"I didn't think A.S.S. was dying for some action." She glanced back behind her. "Let's hope that they aren't going to find something to do to beat that boredom." Candlejack snickered.

"Perhaps they will get so bored that they will just die of it." Zelori shook her head and Candlejack sighed. "Yeah, you're right. Wishful thinking and it isn't possible. But a stallion can dream, can't he?" They were saluted by the two stationed outside the door to the building. Returning it before heading on in, Candlejack was disappointed to realize how boring they took it. For once, he sympathized with the guard outside. This place was more entertaining than watching a Mud Grub sleeping in the roots. And when they entered into the only door that was in the building, they were instantly blinded by the many colorful monitors displayed.

A small group of ponies were quiet and tapping away at the keyboards. Candlejack even could have sworn he heard the quiet whispering of a mare stating her frustration to relaying a command from one of the scouts. The two descended the steps and up the walkway. Standing in the circular end was a mare dressed in a much sleeker looking suite than the rest of them. She glanced over her shoulder and smirked. Candlejack felt a small nip in his head.

The mare may have looked rough with her serious looking hazel eyes and stern look. Her plum purple coat and cream colored mane did bring out the prettier side. Candlejack saluted.

"Sir." He said. The mare looked back to the monitors in front of her.

"Status report?" she asked. Zelori spoke.

"No sign of any trouble. Rumored cult meeting was a fluke. Only a visit of friends and family." The mare sighed.

"As usual... Thank you, you may return to your duties." Candlejack spoke up.

"So... how come nothing is happening?" Zelori shot him a look under her helm. The mare looked back over her shoulder and narrowed her eyes.

"What do you mean?" Candlejack motioned to the quiet group.

"I mean... we're just monitoring a community of adolescents. You would think that by now that they wouldn't just rebel against us." The mare turned fully. Candlejack's suspicions were correct. There was a small tiny horn poking out of the earth pony's like build. 'So these must be what Pseudos are like? Funny.'

"If you are referring to cult activity, you have just investigated it yourself." She tapped her head. "Frankly, I wouldn't mind joining the scouting team or hunting team. But damn me, this job does suck at times." She snorted. "I agree that kids don't get into as much trouble as before. But even then, it's like we had just finished up any remaining traces of the cult. But Aretilla is still paranoid of any activity and want us to continue monitoring the area. The only thing that can keep us sane from this boring job is the radio show that the DJ hosts.

"But even then, the DJ seemed to have taken a small vacation from the show 'cus all we ever get now are just repeats of old news." Candlejack shrugged.

"Must be tough." The mare suddenly squinted her eyes.

"Wait a minute... what happened to the third one that was in your team?" Zelori bit her lip. She knew they had stalled too long. Candlejack shrugged.

"Heard something was bothering her eye, so she told us to go on ahead while she finds some eye drops." He chuckled. "Amazing what a solarium knife can do to flesh." The mare balked and before she knew it, the stallion suddenly socked her across the muzzle, sending her stumbling into the lower area. The ponies stationed at the monitors suddenly stood up and backed away to see what was happening. Zelori face-hoofed her helmet.

'Jack, you better hope that your boredom isn't going to get us killed.' But this wasn't entirely the case to Candlejack. Was it PTSD or just plain out right hate for anything authority? In his mind, he just wanted to spice up these ponies lives. But to do so, he was hoping to get something a little more out of it. Something that probably retains to a certain cult. He was deadly curious about the past. And with this station having a direct line to Aretilla, they can probably find some files on any possible conversations about the cult. Candlejack hopped down and pinned the mare under his hoof by the neck, making her choke and struggle under him. She attempted a swipe at his tender area, but Candlejack deftly stepped to the side where she wouldn't be able to.

He plucked the pistol from her side and tossed it over to Zelori, who skillfully caught it and aimed at the nearest pony. "Move." She said sternly. The stallion balked and did as he was told, Zelori herding the ponies into one side of the room. "Remove the comms. Toss them over to me." She darted her eyes at them. No pony moved. She then let off a warning shot at their hooves, making them yelp and quickly toss the comms off and over to her. She stepped on them when they did and nodded to Candlejack.

"Thanks, sis! Now then... He removed his hoof and the mare lurched forward, coughing. But Candlejack bit her by the ear and dragged her over to the rest. She spat at him when he let go.

"Bucking bandits! How did you manage to take down three of our scouts?!" she barked. Candlejack removed his helm and gave her a challenging smirk.

"Well, like I said. When you don't expect a solarium knife in your eye, that definitely causes a lot of confusion." The mare growled and looked over to Zelori. The pistol subtly moving between the ponies held hostage. Candlejack moved over to one of the monitors and began scrolling through the files.

"You won't get out of here alive! This place is made from the tough hooves of Aretilla. You are being monitored of this action right now!" Candlejack shrugged.

"I could really care less about more of you showing up to teach us a lesson. Now that I think about it... that sounds like a lot of fun." He grinned to himself, making the mare suddenly shiver at the disturbing expression. Zelori then looked over to him.

"Jack, you want to be certain about this?" She was questioning his judgment more than what he was actually doing. Candlejack was focused on scrolling through the files.

"Just curious as to what happened to the cult and probably find out more about its' leaders while we are at it." He beamed when he found a file that red Aretilla Relay. Scrolling through it, he frowned when it was just constant "Everything Normal" response with the occasional report of possible vandalism, bandit trouble and the... Candlejack arched a brow.

"Young filly charged with property damage on misfire of projected missile?" he said. He looked over to the mare, who returned it with a glare.

"I ain't telling you shit!" she hissed. Zelori read Candlejack's mind and she whipped her across the muzzle. Both sides were bleeding now and she spat out a bloodied tooth. "You're going to have to do a lot better than-." Zelori fired off a shot right into her foreleg. The mare screamed and writhed, clutching her now burnt leg into her chest and curled. The ponies huddled together, shivering in fear. Zelori remained stoic. She couldn't let them try anything funny while Candlejack was busy with whatever he was doing. She vowed to keep him safe. And if that meant regressing back to tactics in ETG, then so be it. Candlejack sighed.

"So... this particular filly... I take it... was being monitored for a while." He scrolled through the document. "Day thirty five. Unleashed a rogue robowolf into Mrs. Fannypack's backyard and left her traumatized at the sudden kill command that ended both the robot and the cat. Day fifty. Filly was responsible for a high concentrated reading of luridium activity and when confronted, told us that she was testing the effects on a pair of Pseudos in her containment boxes. Results were conclusive as both scientific to research and unauthorized inequine treatment." He frowned. "Who's the real bad guy there?" The mare heaved in her breaths as she rasped.

"Piss off! That filly... cost us more resources... than the bucking raid!" Candlejack rubbed his chin.

"The raid that left a few questions unanswered? You call us bandits, but when you think about it... you're really just stealing their past. All we ever done was steal lunarium."

"And that resulted in your arrest with the ETG." Zelori said. Candlejack made a distressed emotion.

"It was more about accidentally killing somepony. But a year in prison definitely can change your outlook in life." Zelori narrowed her eyes.

'Jack...' She remained quiet after that. He then scrolled through more of the files about the filly causing trouble and damages that she apparently refused to pay up for.

'That explains the debt... perhaps I can find someway to clear her of the charges.' Taking the time to find a way to do that, he was suddenly stopped by the sudden pop up of a prompt.

Unauthorized access to database. Please input password to continue.

Candlejack nodded to Zelori, who then aimed the gun at the ponies, causing them to huddle even more together.

"Clearance. Now." She said sternly. No pony moved. The commander glared. Zelori returned it before placing the pistol right between her eyes. "Now!" The commander growled and rasped her words, nursing her leg.

"F-L0-CK004." she said. "All capitalized." Candlejack put in the password and it blipped to confirm it. He smirked and went back to looking over the files. Zelori eased back a bit, but then suddenly, one of the ponies hit her across the helm with a heavy utility wrench. She groaned and stumbled, causing the commander to sock her across the visor and let the ponies pile on her. The commander rushed Candlejack. Before he knew what was happening, the mare struck him hard on the cheek. He stumbled before being shoved and bucked in the chest that sent him careening into the monitors. He shook away the daze and looked to see the commander quickly type something in. He saw a prompt that stated the files being backed up and deftly plucked a USB from the side with her sickly purple magic.

One of the ponies stumbled out of the fray with Zelori and bit onto the drive before cantering out of the room. Candlejack found himself grinning and stood up. The commander readied herself, only to look back when she heard the sound of a loud thump and a scream. Zelori had thrusted the barrel of the weapon into the chest of one of the ponies and it pierced right through her. The mare fell to her side and Zelori shoved the other three off before quickly killing the three with a single shot to their heads.

The commander looked back and gaped to see Candlejack rearing up in a bi-pedal stance and within a single bound, he wrapped his legs around the neck, tossed her to the side and making her stumble before he planted the forehoof into the back of the mare's head and into the monitors. With a loud crack of electricity, the mare gyrated and screamed as the volts of the electronics coursed through her. Candlejack removed his hoof and the mare went limp, her body only twitching as the electricity zapped her. The two nodded before cantering up the walkway and down the hall. The saw the pony that had escaped trying desperately to put in the code to leave the building.

He balked when he saw them galloping towards him. Remembering what the code was now, the door opened and he dove right through. The guards outside were shocked to see a pony dive out of the place. Especially with a gaping burnt hole in the back of his head. Zelori had fired off a shot and struck true when the pony dove out. The guards reacted a little too slowly. Candlejack, remembering exactly where they were positioned, took a hold of the pistol and dove out, rolling to face them and shot them both in the helm. They screamed before falling limp to the ground. Candlejack looked to see the other patrolling guards spot the activity and took aim.

Candlejack picked up the USB and with Zelori, took cover behind a metal crate, falling an A.S.S. who was taking a smoke break around it. Zelori picked up the rifle and cocked it, making it hum to life. Candlejack pocketed the USB and smirked at her.

"Now that wasn't so bad, was it?" Zelori shot him a glare.

"We need to have a long talk about your methods of acting." Candlejack shrugged.

"I think I did pretty good up until I realized how dull this place was."

"Boredom is not an excuse!" Zelori peeked out and returned fired. She grazed a couple and fell one. Ducking back into cover, Candlejack frowned and looked over to the building. He then noticed it was smaller than the main one. But the sign above it was clear as day.

Detainment Center

Candlejack tapped Zelori's shoulder and motioned towards it.

"Since stealth is no longer an option. Let's say we even the odds?" Zelori eyed him suspiciously before looking at the building. She sighed.

"If they decide to use black magic on us, I have you to blame for me not being blessed by Gaia." The stallion smiled.

"I'm sure Gaia has a different opinion about nature right now." With that, the two rushed out of cover, using their bi-pedal bounding to quickly close the open space that was between them and the building. Candlejack could hear one of them shout.

"Are they running on two hooves!?" Reaching the building, Candlejack bucked it open with a good kick of his hind hoof, startling a pony behind the counter. The pony behind the counter was a cute looking mare. But looks were instantly shot out of the window. The mare's head exploded when Candlejack fired and her body slumped back. Candlejack and Zelori entered, Zelori covering the flank and shutting the door.

"We don't have much time, Jack. Make it snappy!" Candlejack moved over to the body and pushed it aside before digging through the desk. Finding a strange looking card, he picked it up and tried it on the reader. With a pleasant beep, the door opened and he entered into a hallway that had cells on both sides. Each one had at least four to five ponies sitting in them. Each looking starved or miserable. Some looked like age hasn't been too kind on them.

Ten years must be quite an unforgiving time in the cell. Candlejack was lucky he only got one year in prison. But seeing the bi-pedal standing pony enter into the room, they immediately backed away from the cages. Candlejack made his way down to the middle and looked in each cell.

"Which one of you is Constance?" he asked. No pony spoke. But he did see them suddenly look over to an old buck that looked rugged. His ribs showing through his brown coat and sickly green mane shagging. A beard that resembled a nest covered whatever rugged expression was hiding it. He looked up and Candlejack narrowed his eyes. Meeting the gaze of this pony felt unnerving. And when he saw the small purple tendrils wiggling from the sides of his green and purple fiend like eyes, he could tell that he had found the right one.

"And who might you be?" he rasped. Candlejack fell on all threes, holding the pistol in his other hoof and remained stoic as he replied.

"Names aren't important right now." Constance chuckled.

"And yet, you barge in asking for mine. To what honor do I owe the informality?" Candlejack waved the card over the cell and it opened. The ponies inside hugged the cage walls. But Constance remained where he was.

"Years of regret and possible necromancy charges that I'm willing to overlook for information. Specifically pertaining to a book that happened to fall into the hooves of an unfortunate family." Constance's alien eyes widened.

"Necronomica? It still lives?" Candlejack nodded and looked over to see Zelori firing back. Based on the sound of beam fire, they were nearing the building.

"And I'm willing to overlook the cult's sacrifices and dark dealings if you can tell me exactly how do we kill it?" Constance darted his eyes in thought. He then narrowed them onto Candlejack.

"You... seem like you are on the verge of breaking." Candlejack arched a brow before aiming the pistol at him.

"Spare me the sermon and get on with it. I doubt the princesses will ever forgive me for the acts I have done today." He smirked. "And I'm willing to test any theories you all seem to be making right now." Some of the ponies looked clueless. But Candlejack could tell they were trying to process the situation.

Gunfire. A pony aiming a gun and demanding Constance to tell them how to kill a book of dark magic. He opened the cell... for what reason? Candlejack's mind was quiet about that last one. But his orchid eyes remained glued to the pony's corrupted eyes. Constance smiled.

"Those eyes... how brightly they burn. But how cold and dark they remain. I can see it... your destiny." Candlejack fired off a shot, grazing the pony's cheek.

"You done yet? Because I'm about ready to go off on ponies. Been having a good streak going and I feel like I want to keep it that way." Constance lowered his head.

"Cloptuu neighrava nickter." He said. Candlejack arched a brow. "It's the mantra that the book reacts too. I... used it to change my subject's loyalties to my own." He nodded to the ponies around him, who seemed to still be processing the situation. "A strange verse. But one that seems to be the epicenter of it all." Candlejack frowned.

"Do you believe it can stop the magic?" he asked. Constance nodded.

"It reacts to it in ways you couldn't even imagine. It brings those souls that were lost to the void and allow them to live again." Candlejack shook his head.

"You see, I would believe that, if I wasn't an agnostic and I had a sister that was dead sense on the whole dark magic thing. Also, there is a filly that would really love to sleep." He smirked. "So what's it going to be? Are you going to help us end this whole thing or am I going have to tear through the undead to get your sorry ass to confess your sins?" Constance was laughing. It unnerved the pegasus. Constance eyed him now.

"Oh yes... your destiny is an interesting one. I would love to see it play out. A shame... Death has a much keener interest in you that it would allow you to keep living the way you do." Candlejack spat.

"I give two shits about death right now. So hurry up. Get ready to run for cover and if you even think about running off... my aim is much sharper than an AI's programming process." Constance smirked and looked to his followers.

"Come, my loyal subjects. She calls to us." Candlejack proceeded to unlock the rest of the cells and lead the disgruntled ponies to the front. He looked at most of them and saw that they would have a small chance of living. But dead or alive, he couldn't care. Constance was the priority. Zelori withdrew from the window, a few grazes and scratches from the infused bullets nicking her. She nodded to Candlejack and she bucked open the door, sending it off its hinges and pinning two of the guards that were about to breach. The prisoners funneled out, stampeding the two unfortunate ponies under them and scattered, causing the guards to cease fire. It was enough opportunity for Candlejack and Zelori to rush out with them and took aim at the mercs. Pseudos fell left and right in the confusion.

Some of the cultists grabbed the fallen weapons and fired back while a few were downed by stray fire. Candlejack, Zelori and Constance took cover. Candlejack peeked out and noticed the remaining guards had took cover by a nearby garage of where their auto-chariots were parked. A couple of them fired from cover, making him duck back and rub his chin in thought.

"Those chariots are our get-away. But they seem to be taking refuge in it. If we can get them without damaging the vehicles, then we can get you back to the suburbs." Candlejack frowned. "Under the supervision of us of course. You guys even think about trying to influence the young and naive, we won't hesitate to kill you in front of the town." Zelori shook her head.

"I have a better idea. The filly's containment grids. If we can hold them there, not only will their influence be secluded, we can probably get some more info out of them." Constance chuckled.

"The brave and the bold. Very well. I don't want to fall here, so I wouldn't mind the safety of a containment gird to be more... comfy than a poorly kept cell." Candlejack smiled.

"No worries. It has brain poking devices and all you can eat buffet. You will definitely feel at home." Candlejack looked over to the remaining cultists that were still able to fight while the others were being treated by those that didn't want to be involved in the outcome. The A.S.S. mercs continued to fire from behind cover, but Candlejack nodded and they dashed out of cover. Using two hooves to close the gap quickly, he dove to his side and fired, landing on the half buried cement driveway and falling the remaining guards. Two of them got caught trying to advance on him in CQC, but found themselves being shoved to the wall and being opened to fire from the pegasus.

The dust settled and Candlejack signaled the all clear. The cultists quickly came out of cover and surprised Candlejack with some hotwiring skills that some of them had. The vehicles roared to life. Zelori trotted over to them, only to stop and see a strange yellow port-a-potty open and the guard they had met outside the gate adjust his suite before stopping and looking at her. He then looked past her to see his fallen comrades. He then slowly backed away into the port-a-potty and closed it, the little lock going from vacant to occupied. Zelori looked back to see Candlejack roll up in a chariot with Constance buckled in the back.

"I prefer a bi-wheeled one, but this will do I guess." He said. Zelori hopped in and Candlejack looked back to Constance. "Can we trust your goons to make it as far as the suburbs without diverging from the path?" Constance reassured him with a smile.

"My followers are loyal to me. And it calls to us. We will finally be able to return to it. And as payment for your aid, we will help you save this family from its' grasp. By the princesses divine light, you have my word." Candlejack and Zelori exchange glances.

"You can shoot them to make sure they don't diverge." He said to her. Zelori reloaded the rifle and cocked it, a hum reaching their ears. Candlejack then turned the wheel and pressed the pedal. With a loud roar of the motor and loud screech of tire against sand, Candlejack moved the vehicle and rammed into the gate, knocking it down. The rest of the vehicles were piled in by the cultists, wounded and battered but alive and followed them. Candlejack frowned. 'I hope I'm still swooning lady fortune. Because by the everlasting flank of our so called goddesses, I will not be sleeping well tonight.'

Borealis studied the monitors as a mare with a neatly trimmed mane showed her what she had picked up.

"This was received just moments ago." she said. Borealis narrowed her eyes. The images were inside one of the monitoring stations near Detrot. It showed two ponies in similar armor as the rest being held hostage. There was a video playback that Borealis had ordered the mare to play. It showed one of the ponies suddenly being piled on by the researchers and the commander bucking aside the stallion. Seeing her backing up the files and having a stumbling researcher gallop out of sight, she widened her eyes to see the two make quick work of them. The pony had made his way out, but not before getting pelted as he dove out by the zebra. The video then switched to outside where the ponies proceeded to take on the guards. Eventually, the video showed them breaking out the detained cultists and using them as a means of escape.

"It seems The Cult of the Eclipse is back in session..." Borealis said. She then trotted away and over to another monitor. It clicked to life and the handsome face of Master Macarole smiled at her.

"I take it our... 'interests' have been busy?" he asked her. Borealis bowed and opened her hoof panel, transferring the images and video to him. On the other side, Macarole opened up the images and video, having it displayed to share. Macarole leaned back in his chair and grinned. "So then, gentlecolts. Do we have an agreement?" He turned to face the window that over looked Aretilla. Only, this time it was displaying the many darkened avatars in tile screens.

"Don't bullshit on this, Macarole! If this info about these two are conclusive, then maybe I will think about it." a voice said. Macarole sighed.

"And here I was hoping the reward would be worth the effort." Another voice chimed in.

"Hot damn! I wouldn't mind grabbing that bolt stack! I'll be sleeping like the next Duke of Maretonia!" Macarole grinned as a mutter of voices merged into a jumbled reply. Macarole had enjoyed the discussion of a game. The rules? They are to bring the two to him and be rewarded generously with half of the cut of the bolts in the funds. They could send anypony they wanted, their best or weakest or probably themselves. Bring as much arsenal they can manage. Hell, probably send an army. Just as long as they are brought back alive and to him.

"Keep in mind, if I happen to have my agents capture them, then the chance is lost. But you will all be given a small split of the reward for your participation." One of the avatars made a bashing sound.

"Buck that! I'm in it to win it! My Jumpers will take care of them, no problem!"

"Hah! Good luck! Remember those Jumpers they wasted in their escape? If anything, my children will see to it they are captured!"

"Pssh, your thestrals can't even handle the sun. Get lost!"

"Well, I will be sending my best men to detain them! That stallion is such a cutie!"

"Keep your nethers in check, Princess! It's bad enough your are getting rutted right now as we speak!"

"You best bite that tongue!" Macarole held up his hooves.

"Gentlcolts, gentlecolts! We are all professionals here. When the game is on, then you can decide who should be eliminated and who shouldn't." The chaotic exchange of verbal abuse continued. However, Macarole grinned when he noticed one of them that hadn't talked when he showed them the images and video. He quickly enlarged the avatar and muted the rest. "Is something the matter?" There was no response. "You have been quiet in this discussion. Do those ponies strike you familiar?" There was another brief moment of saying nothing before a voice spoke through.

"He will not hesitate to kill." the voice said. Macarole smiled.

"Then I expect that you will be playing your deck carefully?" he asked. The voice was quiet again before speaking.

"I know it first hoof how capable he is. I will keep in touch, Macarole." Macarole nodded and smiled as the avatar vanished. 'The game is on, gentlecolts... let's see who can catch the game and display them proudly on their mantle?' He dismissed the many avatars on his screen and brought up an live video feed of Borealis's stoic expression. "Borealis, my dear. Care to join me for a night of Particle Mare? I hear this weeks episode is going to be uncensored with the passionate scene of her and the young professor. You love romance, don't you?" Borealis blinked once.

"Romance isn't a registration I am familiar with, nor have I had the time to explore." she replied. "But I will see you once I am done relaying information to the stations." Macarole nodded and dismissed the feed, leaning back in his chair.

"Hmhm... That pegasus and the zebra... you will submit to the ways of Aretilla."

Author's Notes:

Wow, been a while since we've seen anything from Zillex. Let's hope the juicy scene of Particle Mare and her professor to be one good episode that Aurora will probably be missing. We are catching up to the end of Act 1. Act 2 will act a little more differently than Act 1.

But we will cross that bridge when we get there.