“I don’t exactly understand the point of this, since I’m already going to be cooperative to the questioning,” the Changeling said to Applejack as she was tying him to a support pole of the barn.

“While that may be true, and I believe you, I’m not taking any chances,” she said, tightening one of the knots a bit harder in additional response.

“Ease up, Applejack,” Bayek said as he examined his daggers. “You’re not the “Bad Cop” in this interrogation. John is going to do that.”

“I have a feeling I’m going to regret asking this, but why am I supposedly a ‘bad cop’?” John asked curiously, seeming a bit insulted by Bayek’s remark.

“Because as a cop, or former cop...whatever you are, you know how brutal you can be without breaking ethics laws, if those exist here,” Bayek answered. “Besides, I sometimes find it easier to be kind and sympathetic.”

“I’m sorry, but I fail to see how you can say that seriously,” John remarked as he grabbed his sword, resting it on his shoulders as he turned to the Changeling and said with an almost sadistic grin on his face, “But I think I will enjoy this.”

“Just make sure he stays alive,” Bayek added. “And keep him sane. He’s probably barely holding on after whatever Pinkie said to...him? Her?”

“It’s ‘him.’ You got that?” The changeling said.

“I’d have gone with it,” John responded, with a sigh before adding. “Besides ‘it’ never told us its name afterall.”

“My name is, and I’m serious, ‘Drone Designation: Rogue.’ However, you can call me Rogue. It’s easier that the full thing...and please refer to me a male,” the Changeling said. “We may be technically genderless or Bi...whatever. We also get to choose whether we are referred to as male or female.”

“You really think I’m going to bother calling you anything more than ‘it’? You are, for all intents and purposes, the suspect for the kidnapping of both Yang and Applebloom.”

“You are half right,” Rogue said. “I may have been mostly responsible for the kidnapping of this Yang, but Applebloom was taken by The Slaver. As for Yang, I was under orders from The Harlot.”

“And who are these two people you are referring too?” John asked.

“I don’t know their names, but they are two mares that run a slave business and gladiator arena, with a brothel on the side,” Rogue said. “Their aliases make it pretty obvious who runs what end of the business. The Slaver enslaves non-pony and pony alike, but takes delight in handling them differently. She gets non-ponies addicted to a drug that pretty much keeps them in line. Ie, ‘if you’re a good boy/girl, you’ll get your fix.’ With me so far?”

“Okay, and why exactly do they do that, and what’s the point in you telling me this?” John asked.

“Pony Supremacy, but my point has to do with Applebloom, who you want to find, if I’m not mistaken,” Rogue snapped. “The Slaver uses different manipulation tactics when dealing with pony slaves and gladiators. She uses the loved ones of the pony in question. And from what you got from that now fully dead stallion-tree thing, that pony is-”

“Ma?” Applejack finished.

“...I was going to say ‘Pear Butter,’ but that works too,” Rogue deadpanned.

“So she was kidnapped to keep Ma from attempting to escape or rebel?” She asked. Rogue nodded.

“Okay, so why take Yang, and what can you tell us about this Harlot character?” John asked, seemingly calm and non-threatening, being that Rogue wasn’t currently causing any trouble for them.

“Both go hand in hand,” Rogue said, before he shivered in disgust and fear. “Long story short, I personally call The Harlot “The Slut” when she isn’t around. She works alongside The Slaver and takes advantage of the drugged up non-ponies for her personal lust...male, female, or both. When I reported to The Harlot about you through a makeshift hive mind communication to her, she insisted on having one of you brought to her. I went with Yang because she was the only one I could capture fairly easily, as despite her strength, I could see that she lacked the desire to use said strength. Easy “prey” in any book.”

“And yet you chose to not take the easier targets with no powers?” John asked in confusion, “It doesn’t make any sense on your part.”

“You guys are more armed and armoured than she was, powers or not. That, and she was engrossed in her search, so she was distracted, making her quite easy to knock out and replace,” Rogue explained.

“Okay, next question where are they hiding?” John asked this time picking his sword off this shoulders and seeming to get into a stance as if he was going to swing the blade at Rogue if he didn’t answer quickly.

“They are in an abandoned Diamond Dog den East of Ponyville,” Rogue said quickly. “The ‘proper’ entrance is impossible to find, and even if you did, it’s heavily booby trapped. The secret entrance is hidden in a certain portion of the Everfree Forest. It is hidden under a lone birch tree just a few miles south of the gem fields.

“How long does it take for the Drug to fully affect its victims?”

Rogue gestured his head towards Bayek. “That guy mentioned that you’re a cop, so imagine the most addictive drug known to your kind and that’s practically what it is.” He answered.

John then walked over to Bayek before he said, “So, we’ll head off now to save them, but what should we do with him?”

“We can keep him here for now,” Bayek said. “After we take care of The Slaver and The Harlot, we can see if we can make him an Assassin...and I’m really thinking we need to come up with a less negative or intimidating name.”

John nodded his head in agreement before he looked towards Rogue, then asked Bayek with a smirk on his face,“One more bad cop moment before we go?”

“What is it?” Rogue asked in slight fear as Bayek nodded.

John walked back over towards Rogue before suddenly swinging his sword towards the Changeling's head, only stopping a few centimetres away from striking him before he said, “We are going to save everyone. If we come back, and you have tried to or have escaped, I will hunt you down, take your wings and horn, leave you chained to this post, and let you waste away, and if by some miracle you survive beyond a month, I will make your end the most agonising and drawn out death you can imagine.” He pulled his blade away before leaning in and whispering, “Do you understand what I am telling you?”

“Yes sir!” Rogue squeaked out.

“Good,” John responded, patting Rogue on the head before saying, “Now stay here and behave. We’ll be right back,” almost as if he was talking to a child.

Bayek, John, and Applejack left the barn. Just as the door was closed, Bayek asked, “We can pretty much assume that he was telling the truth. As for what he told us, what do you guys think?”

“I think these two, this Slaver and Harlot, are just sick, twisted ponies,” she answered. “With a few exceptions, I don’t think anypony, or anybody for that matter, would be able to do any of what he said they did without some form of guilt or feeling sick.”

“Trust me when I say this: many criminals commit acts that most would feel the same way you do, without a hint of shame or guilt for their own actions,” John admitted as he looked to the sky before he said to Applejack, “I can only imagine that you’ll be wanting to follow us when we go after them.”

“You bet your bottom bit I would,” she boasted. “And if anything happened to Applebloom, I’ll beat the living daylights outta them!”

“And I have no doubt that you could, but let me ask you this. Is that really the best course of action for you to take… we need someone to stay here incase someone comes back and besides if they see you, it could make it so you could be branded as a criminal if things go wrong. Just leave saving Applebloom and your mother to us, that way even if we get caught we can get your family back to you.”

Applejack could only growl in frustration. “I hate it when someone is right and it conflicts with me wanting to keep my land and family safe,” she complained. “You better get her home, you hear? One hair out of place, and good-bye to consciousness for both of you!”

“I’ve already said “Hello, Undeath” quite some time ago,” Bayek remarked. “Saying good-bye to consciousness won’t sound that bad.” Applejack pulled her fist back, causing him to flinch. “And said good-bye will be painful! I understand. Please walk away.” Satisfied, she walked away, ready to get more farm work done.

---

(Later that night)

“A lone birch a few miles south of the Gem Fields,” Bayek muttered to himself as he and John searched for the secret entrance to the Slaver and Harlot’s lair. “That’s what he says to us. But, as far as I can tell, he failed to mention the fact that there are birch trees every couple meters!”

“Well he did say a Lone birch tree, obviously none of these are by themselves, so they obviously aren’t the tree we’re looking for.”

“Well, we’ve gotten this far. What did we miss?” Bayek asked in annoyance. “Is the ‘Lone’ we’re looking for actually ‘Loan?’ Or am I just thinking too hard!?”

“For you… possibly,” John responded before knocking on a nearby tree, hearing a noise reverberate through it almost as if there was a void inside it, “Umm… What if the trees are fake?”

Bayek took a closer look at one of the birch trees, only to see that the black striped trees looked like shoddy paper mache colored over with crayons. “Then either my eyesight is poor or someone is very good with illusions,” he answered before he pulled out his sword and swung it at the fake, slicing through it easily. “Well, timber.”

Almost instantaneously after Bayek cut through the tree, it floated to the ground as a gentle breeze got inside the completely hollow paper mache tree. John looked to Bayek as he said in annoyance, “Are they serious about this?”

Bayek sliced through another fake tree and watched it fall apart as well. “It seems that that is the case. Get chopping,” he said. John shrugged and pulled out his sword and began “chopping” the birch trees.

The “chopping” went on for roughly half an hour before one of their swings hit more resistance than the rest. “Huh, I think I’ve actually hit birch,” Bayek said, getting John’s attention.

“Do you think you’ve found it?” John asked as he walked over towards Bayek.

“Only one way to find out,” he said as he put his sword away and pulled out his mace. With a grunt, he heaved the mace in the direction of the tree, smashing it against it. On impact, the tree shimmered, being replaced by a barely intact, shack-like building thing with a broken door. On the door, it said, ‘Lone Birch.’

“Maybe we should have asked him to be more specific after all,” John admitted as he sheathed his sword.

“True enough,” Bayek said, sheathing his sword and drawing his Daggers of Nefertiti. “Let’s see about getting in there and-” an explosion was heard from the entrance and briefly shook the ground like a small earthquake. “What was-”

“INCOMING!!!” The two heard from behind them. Bayek was the first to turn around and saw Applejack heading towards him at full sprint, all while armed with her new hatchet and a hunting musket. Without any time to react, she barreled through him, disintegrating his body into sand and leaving his head on it as she rushed into the entrance.

A few seconds after Applejack’s rush, Bayek could only sigh. “If Undeath has a concept of healthy, I don’t think this is it.”

“At least you’re able to pull yourself back together,” John pointed out. “And I swear we told her to stay back at the farm.”

“Oh, ha ha. Not that that fact makes it any less painful,” Bayek shot back. “And if you were in her situation, minus the fact that you’re a cop, would you do what she just did?”

“Well, replace her sister with my child or wife, and I most likely would,” John admitted.

“That counts,” Bayek said, managing to raise a half formed hand out of the sand for a thumbs up. “Why don’t you go on without me. I’ll stay here, and once I’m fully formed, I can catch any stragglers as they try to escape this way.”

“I’ll hold you to that, just pull yourself together as soon as you can. I’ll make sure Applejack doesn’t do something stupid and get herself branded a criminal,” John responded as he ran into the doorway after Applejack.

“Aye-aye, sir!” Bayek answered, managing to pull two arms out before John vanished.

---

As John ran down the corridors in pursuit of Applejack he constantly heard more and more explosions echoing through the maze of tunnels. He could also faintly hear dangerous music as well, and it was soon on the move.

After a minute he saw Applejack running in the distance as he shouted out, “Applejack slow down and listen to me!”

Without any warning, she pointed her hunting musket at him, almost getting it shoved up his nose, had he not stopped when she turned. “And why should I!? My sister is trapped down here and explosions are going off! I don’t care if I’m branded a criminal, I’d rather her safe and me jailed or dead over her being dead and me alive!” She yelled at him.

John then reached her before quickly slapping the musket from her grip as he shouted, “And you think it only affects you! What repercussions do you think it will have on everyone else? You're grandmother can barely move so she can’t help with the farm and that leaves your brother and do you really think he could handle the whole farm alone?” John then quickly slapped Applejack in the face before adding, “And you so caught up on one thing that you can’t see why I told you to stay, you end up getting killed or imprisoned your family’s livelihood would crumble faster that it would take me to blink.”

Confusion started to appear on Applejack’s face as she comprehended John’s words. “Bloom...but Granny and Mac...Gotta save Bloom though…”

“We can avoid both of those problems. Just slow down and-” John stopped and turned his head slightly. “Hide in here, quick!” John pulled Applejack into a decorative alcove, barely big enough for both of them, seconds before a squad of armed and armored ponies ran past. “If you had kept running and not thinking, they would have been on your tail and you’d have never gotten out safely.”

Applejack remained quiet, her thoughts racing with what could have happened if she had been caught. “Yeah.” After a couple seconds of silence, she asked, “Are we going to follow them?”

“Well considering if we don’t we will be trying to find our way through this maze with no clue where we are going, what do you think?” John asked Applejack as he looked out of the corridor they were in before adding, “Come on, we better catch them up before something bad happens.”

“Alright.” Applejack followed John out of the alcove and after the guards, who didn’t notice that they were being followed. After a few moments of following them, they stopped at a stalemate in a section of the hall. A hooded and masked mare wearing a rather revealing red and black monokini with side skirts hiding her cutie mark was holding Applebloom with a knife to her neck. In front of them was Yang with literally flaming hair and rage on her face. A series of armored guard ponies surrounded the two, all weapons (black powder and otherwise) pointed at the fiery woman. “That pony seems like the Harlot...and she’s…” Applejack began to growl in anger.

“Applejack, calm down. Don’t do something stupid, If your not careful you could get Applebloom killed,” John said carefully as he tried to decide what to do.

“Well, something’s gotta be done!” She whisper-shouted at him. “As much as you trust this Yang, I can’t just up and trust her!”

“Then don’t,” John responded as he started to walk forwards, “Just wait for my signal.”

“What signal?”

John didn’t respond as he walked up behind the guards that were ahead of him, crouched, and aimed his pistol between two of them. He fired three bullets, two of them going through The Harlot’s legs, making her fall to the ground, dropping the knife and releasing Applebloom in the process. The third shot went into a nearby guard’s knee, and he was soon down as well.

He then quickly spun around using his Hidden blade to spear the guard who had been next to him through the neck killing him. As he did so, Applejack pulled up her musket and shot another one that was turning around after hearing John’s shots and seeing his comrade getting “shanked.”

In the middle of it, shortly after the knife was dropped, Yang picked up Applebloom, looked around, and shoulder checked a guard into a wall, and stopped near John and Applejack. When she saw the two, she seemed to collapse a bit. “One little sister, ready to go. Are you picking her up or do you want home delivery for three bits extra?” Yang asked.

Applejack gave her an incredulous look before saying, “Get her home in one piece, cleaned up, and I’ll double that.” Applejack didn’t miss a beat before she turned to the guards, pulled out her hatchet, and began dueling with some of them. Any that got particularly close got extra attention from the hatchet.

It was then John quickly jumped forwards as he drew his own sword stabbing it forwards through one of the oncoming guards chest before getting next to Applejack before whispering, “You focus on getting the others out the way we came. Bayek’s out that way and can get everyone clear, I’m going to go through them all and free everyone I can.” Applejack nodded, collected her musket, and began to leave the way the two entered, with Yang and Applebloom following.

John then turned back the the guards in front of him before asking, “So… who’s first?” as he placed one hand out gesturing for them to attack him as all the guards charged towards him with their own weapons bared.

---

After a few minutes of fighting all of the guards were on the ground groaning in pain and unable to stand or dead, it was then he walked over to The Harlot before kneeling down in front of her before he said, “So what is a pretty woman like you doing in a place like this?”

She gave him a coughing laugh. “Well, you know, dying, but at least I won’t die a virgin,” She answered. “What about you, handsome hunk? Came to sample any of this?” She gestured to herself while speaking with lust.

“Well, I may consider your option, if you wanted something more exotic, but I don’t do things for free. I’m sure someone like you could accept that fact,” John responded with a kind smile.

“I can probably guess what you want. However, you won’t get it directly,” she said, coughing up a little blood and then licking it off of her lips. “The little foal you saved from my associate's machinations is the daughter of one Pear Butter. Inside a hidden compartment behind her cage is a handful of documents, mostly the Slaver’s manifest records and some of my letters to some exotic friends I have. Will that be enough?” She asked with a hopeful smile.

“Depends, do you want saving so you could live to ‘enjoy’ yourself another day or do you want to enjoy yourself after I save your life?” John asked as he rubbed The Harlot below her chin.

“As good as those options sound, I’m gonna have to pass. If you end up saving me, I’ll be a target for both the Order, and those who may be related to the people enslaved here. No, better to die here in relative peace than to be killed violently.”

“You do realise those wounds won’t kill you,” John pointed out.

“Yes, but it won’t matter,” she said. “A little extra info to have you kill me as you kiss me?” She removed her mask and hood and scooted her skirts to the side, revealing her identity. “What do you say?”

“Do I get some ‘real’ accurate information first?” John asked as he pulled her closer.

“Some before and some after the kiss,” she said.

“If that's case can I make a request?” John asked as he backed away slightly

“And what is that, sweet cheeks?”

“I want to know about any special ‘medicine’ you give people here,” John requested.

“The ‘medicine’ is made from an extract of cockatrice venom, refined love from changelings, and soy milk. The best way to counteract the effects of the medicine is apple juice mixed with refined love and coconut milk. Additional information on ingredient sources and mixing proportions are included in the manifest records, so obtaining and brewing them will be easy.”

“I see, and I wouldn’t suppose you would throw in the secret to how to help ‘fix’ people who are on this can you, Lyra,” John whispered into her ear.

“I just did,” Lyra answered, as she traced his jawline with a finger. “So, you want the other bit of info, kiss first.”

“I see no harm in it my little Lyra,” John responded as he leaned in to kiss her.

After a few minutes of kissing, Lyra pulled herself away gently and breathed in with a lustful shiver. “And my last bit of information: don’t trust Celestia. She has believed the lie, ‘All is well’ for so long, she cannot see it any other way. Even and especially when true proof and evidence of the contrary is presented. Such a mentality has allowed the Order to operate without hindrance from Nightmare Moon’s banishment, until now.” She then laid down on the ground. “And a minor request, make sure whatever weapon you use to end me hits the heart.”

John then leaned down before he said, “of course” before standing up bringing his sword over her before he added as he pulled the blade away from her, “but I never said I would kill you my little Lyra.”

“You really know how to stroke a girl’s heartstrings, don’t you,” she said, before grabbing the blade and pulled it into her chest, easily impaling herself. “Enjoy your life while you can, killer.”

“You really think I’m letting you out of this that easily?” John asked before wrapping the Shroud of Eden around her before placing her over his shoulders as he added, “you're going to lead me to the others, if you do I may kill you as you wanted me too”

“Killjoy,” she muttered angrily at him.

“Don’t worry if you do as I ask from here on out I promise you that i’ll kill you the exact way you wanted me too, okay Lyra,” John offered with a kind smile.

“If it’s gonna be like that, at least let me grip your butt,” she said with a lustful smile on her face.

“How about no, I’m only going to allow that if you decide to serve me for the rest of your life and don’t ask me to kill you.”

Her response to that was to slap a hand on his butt, squeeze it a bit, and peck him on the cheek. “When you put it that way, I might as well. However, if I’m killed by the Order or other peoples, you take the blame for that. No if’s, and’s, or butts about it.”

“I’m a cop, I’m always blamed for everything,” John responded as he said whilst scratching Lyra behind one of her ears, “So where were you keeping everyone you had captured?”

“Most of the prisoners were kept in a few rooms in the right halls. All the other halls lead into staff rooms and Gladiator arena viewing rooms. The tunnel we’re in will eventually lead to the Slaver’s office and Pear Butter’s cell.

“And is your friend the Slaver here right now? You can’t tell me more about her can you?” John asked as he began to walk where Lyra had just directed him.

“I don’t look too far into the details of what she does. I do know who she is though,” Lyra said. “Her name is Bon Bon. Most common ponies think she’s a candymare. Most nobles think she’s a secret agent. But her “name” easily gives away her ‘job’.”

“I see, thank you for telling me that Lyra,” John responded while rubbing the back of her neck. “You’re being a great help.”

“Why thank you, handsome hunk,” she purred, squeezing his butt again.

“Lyra, please stop that for a bit,” John requested as he saw that she had healed completely and took the Shroud of Eden off her before having her walk beside him.

Lyra whistled as she and John continued to the cells, the pathway covered in scorch marks. “That girl really had some fire in her.”

“Are we sure she didn’t rub off on you a bit?” John responded with a smile.

“She does hit like a train, I will admit, but the rubbing didn’t happen,” she answered, cuddling close to him. After reaching the end of the main tunnel, they arrived at the main office. One cell near the door was severely damaged, a pair of bars pulled into it and the area in front littered with a number of scorch marks.

A cell in the opposite corner held an earth pony inside it, the pony had what looked to have pale peach coloured coat that was covered in dirt, a curly orange mane and bright blue eyes with a look that almost made it look like she had no hope left in her.

“And now I remember why I didn’t like Bonnie’s method of working with other ponies...and sometimes other species,” Lyra said with a slight shiver.

John then walked up to the cage before he said, “Miss, is your name Pear Butter, also known to others as Buttercup?”

The pony looked up, only to focus her sight on Lyra. “So, keeping up with your family business, Lyra?”

“Okay, for the record, I handed that to Bonnie. I hate enslavement. However, I couldn’t just leave the Order, and so I just simply “tread water” while here, faking the idea that I was still working with them...not sure if they bought it. Bonnie didn’t, at the least.”

The pony sneered at her before turning to John. “And who wants to know? A disguised agent of the Order? A Cultist, hoping to recruit me into their cause against Equestria?”

“Let's just say a friend of the family and I can safely deny both of those statements,” John responded as he blinked activating his Eagle Vision and looking at her, “let's just say, you're not the last of us anymore.”

“Huh, it’s been a while since a member of the Sicarius Fratrum,” she said. “Nihil est verum. Omnia licent.”

“I take it that would mean, Nothing is true. Everything is permitted?” John asked as he said, “Anyway, I’ve come to get you home to your family.”

“Really?” John nodded. “Oh, thank the stars. I almost lost hope of getting out.” She got up, but faltered slightly. “What about the other prisoners?”

“I plan to free everyone,” John admitted as he looked to Lyra as if to tell her to open the cage. Without saying a word, Lyra pulsed magic from her horn, opening the cage and the secret compartment just behind the cage.

“Yes, well, unless the drugged people here are good fighters, we aren’t gonna be leaving anytime soon,” Pear Butter said as she walked over to a weapon rack and grabbed an odd looking scythe-spear combo.

Lyra got wide eyes at that statement and banged her head on the stone wall. “I knew I forgot something!” She shouted. “Disturbing the illusionary trees at the entrance, damaging the entrance, and/or entering the entrance without proper approval or Order Membership, triggers an alarm at the nearby outpost, causing a virtual army to come to attack or root out intruders. Celestia and Luna DAMIT!!!”

“I’ll have to beat some sense into that damn Rogue for not telling us about that one,” John groaned in annoyance before adding, “Lyra, I have no doubt you have other hidden entrances or exits. Are any of them usable?”

“The only entrances or exits are the one you entered, and the ‘false,’ booby-trapped one,” she said with a sheepish smile. “Our only other option is to get the Diamond Dog prisoners to tunnel us a way out that is far away from the Order. I’ll see about getting that going while you gather the documents and free any prisoners I may miss.” She ran off, heading towards the other cell blocks.

As Lyra left, Pear Butter gave John a little bit of a glare. “You sure we can trust her?”

“Well considering the fact that I left a guard alive, who heard her betray the Order, I don’t see her having much of a choice but to follow my orders,” John pointed out smugly.

“Smart ass,” she muttered before pointing to the compartment. “You get those documents, I’ll keep an eye on the horny mare...and she’s horny in both senses of the word.”

“Agreed, if you keep an eye on her, I’ll secure all the documents,” John offered

“Just do it,” Pear Butter said, before leaving the room.

---

A good half hour or so later, Lyra was standing behind two Diamond Dogs as they were starting their tunnelling. Behind her were all of the prisoners, John, and Pear Butter, the latter two seemingly impatient.

“Can’t you get those mutts to dig faster!?” Pear Butter asked in agitation.

“Hey, digging through 6 inches of magically reinforced bedrock is not a quick process,” Lyra shot back. “Once they get past that, the digging will go quicker.”

John, for the most part, remained calm pointing his pistol down the corridor that led to the hidden exit before saying, “Well, keep moving as fast as you can. I can hear the fighting getting closer, and it sounds like a lot more than I would have expected.”

Just as he said that, a nearby door was knocked down, with Bayek and an Egyptian looking Jackal being pushed through. The two got back up and did a mock phalanx, poking their spears through the door, and blocking entrance with their shields.

“I have a feeling I don’t want to ask,” John responded looking at Bayek.

“You don’t have to,” Bayek said. “I’ll just tell. Yang ripped out my kidney, turned it into a shoddy sword and killed one of the Order soldiers, making this guy. Say hello, Ba.”

“Not now, milord! We’ve got to keep these Order fools away!” The jackal, Ba, aggressively shot back.

“I see,” John responded looking back to Lyra as he asked, “How far off are we?”

“3 out of 6 inches complete!” She answered.

“We need to buy them more time,” John responded before seeing a large mask on the ground before he picked it up placing it over his face before saying, “This will do,” as he walked towards the door.

“Please don’t tell me you’re hoping they’re stupid and will follow what you say,” Pear Butter said, with an accompanying facepalm.

“No, I’m hoping this will hide my face from them while I buy us more time,” John responded.

“What are you planning?” Bayek asked.

“Probably something stupid,” John responded as he walked towards the door, Ba and Bayek giving him room to go through without giving an inch to the Guards.

John then walking towards the oncoming guards without saying a word his hand on the hilt of his sword before looking towards the guards gesturing for them to attack him.

“Fire muskets!” The commander shouted at the marksmen. They obeyed, firing a volley of crossbow bolts and musket shots at John and the mock phalanx. John simply didn’t responded as he placed his hand towards the oncoming bullets as they all seemed to slow down to a halt by the time they reached him dropping to the floor harmlessly.

“A Tainted One,” the commander said, disdain clear in his voice. “Back away! I’ll deal with this abomination myself!” The commander stepped forward and drew his sword.

“A tainted one? What the heck of you on about?” John asked as he slowly drew his own sword.

“You wield weapons used by the cursed precursors. To be able to do that, your bloodline must have their blood. With very few exceptions, Tainted Ones are a blight to this world and must be destroyed,” the commander said. “Nothing against you, it’s just my job.” He then rushed forward and made an attempt to stab John.

John once again did not responded quickly turning sideways, narrowly avoiding the blade, before grabbing his pistol as quickly firing once into the commanders head before saying, it's nothing personal it's just good business,” The commander’s forward momentum carried him forward and down, dead from the bullet wound.

The guards looked between their dead commander and John for a few seconds before they backed away, as if in fear.

John then walked forwards stepping on the commanders dead body before he said, “if you don’t want to join him, turn away and leave now. Otherwise,” he then paused pointing his gun towards towards the terrified guards. “You get the picture.”

The guards stopped and suddenly their fear were replaced with determined rage. “Oh, we get the picture, but let’s count the numbers,” one of the guards said. “One of you with one gun and one sword, against roughly 100 of the Order’s finest. Even if your gun is more advanced that what we use, that is really tough odds to work with.”

“Maybe it is, but are you willing to take that risk?” John asked somehow remaining calm throughout. The guards’ response was a unified yell (which oddly sounded like a train whistle), and a sudden charge that literally took John off of his feet and he landed at Bayek’s and Ba’s feet, with stab wound up and down his torso.

“Great plan, idiot,” Ba said in a snarky tone. “You bought us a full minute of time with maybe 15 minutes of what we already had!”

“Maybe I did,” John responded standing back up, “but it’s a minute more than holding the door would have given us. Which I can keep extending,” John responded unsheathing his sword.

“Good luck with that,” Ba said. “I’ll just be here and hopefully not die again.”

“...Not going to ask. Let's leave that till after we get out of this mess,” John responded as he flicked his sword out is a horizontal arc as the blade suddenly shone in a blue glow before what almost looked to be lightning jumped from the blade jumping between all the guards, their armour working as a conductor moving the lightning through the group of in quick succession.

The guards were electrocuted and were tossed back, all unconscious with some of them twitching. “I was going to say ‘if,’ but what you just did changed my mind,” Ba said.

“What the hell was that?” John asked himself looking at his blade in confusion the lighting still sparking through the blade, but not moving through the hilt of the sword.

“Isn’t that sword supposed to be a Sword of Eden?” Bayek asked, lowering his shield and spear.

“I have no idea, I thought it was just a very ornate sword,” John admitted flicking the blade to the side as the remaining sparks jumped towards one of the nearest guards, electrocuting said guard again, causing him to soil himself.

“If you guys are done stroking each other’s egos, the diamond dogs goootttt what the heck happened in here?” Pear Butter said, confusion reigning the last bit. “And did that guard shit himself?”

“Yes, and it’s better you don’t ask because I have no idea myself.” John admitted as he sheathed his sword.

“That sounds fair,” Ba said. “Now let’s get going. Ms. Butter here seems to have failed to say something about the Diamond Dogs, which means that we’re probably a good ways behind them and we need to catch up.” He then slung his shield onto his back and walked off to the newly dug tunnel, with Bayek and Pear behind him.

John nodded his head, kneeling down to pick up his gun before he looked to the Commander he had killed, reaching down and closing his eyes before whispering, “Rest in peace,” before standing up and running off after the others.

Lyra lagged behind the former slaves a little, waiting for the group to catch up. Once they did, her horn glowed a turquoise color and the room they started in collapsed. Soon, they were free.

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