"You nervous?"

The man looks down to his tan colored companion. Even though she asks this, she herself looks skittish. "A little," Crimson responds, mostly hoping to sympathize with her.

"Yeah, me too. Still, you've got a look on your face. What's wrong?"

"Just... can't imagine the fact I'm mixed up with gangs again. Feels like a joke."

"Far from it, Crim. The info you're looking for would've put you in this spot eventually."

"... Yeah."

The duo fall silent, standing on a lonesome corner on one of Baltimare's many alleys. The city bustles with life on this refined morning, but other denizens are void in this shaded forgotten speck. They've become acclimated to the rancid smell that was coming from somewhere deeper in the alley. They hope it hasn't smeared itself on them.

Both become still and diligent once three figures suddenly emerge from around the corner. This team is composed of two ponies and one human--

Crimson's eyes break open. The human looks like... no, it is him, wearing a spiffy suit. This duplication of him glares at him very seriously.

"How the...?"

A harsh pressing blink to break himself out of his stupor. He looks again. What he thought he saw is no longer there. The human is short, stocky and finely dressed. The two ponies are mares, one a pegasus and the other a unicorn. They as well are dressed in business casual. Their appearance as a whole doesn't demonstrate uniqueness, they look like any other resident of Baltimare.

The three come in for the approach, nearly colliding with Crimson and Dahlia, but the duo begin to walk as the other human and pegasus come to a halt.

Crimson and Dahlia now walk alongside the unicorn, who stands in between them, just as she had before. A seamless exchange of bodies. Now, the three set their sights to Baltimare's airport, where a carriage being guarded by three pegasus stallions awaits their arrival.

Once they reach their boarding, the three suited stallions give harsh grimaces to the on-comers. Once they catch the deep purple eyes of the unicorn which guides the duo, they are quick to relinquish their consternation and dash to their reins. Hitched up and ready for take off, they await the three to take their seats.

Crimson steps in to open the carriage door for the mares. The quiet unicorn shoots her listless orbs towards him, her expression subtly emitting something akin to amusement. She boards first and sits on the far right. Dahlia shrewdly tilts her head to him, signaling to sit between them. He takes her hint and comes in next, and she follows last.

Once boarded, the stallions look back to the unicorn, and she responds by delivering a slow but firm nod. The stallions neigh in preparation before kicking off in a sprint, spreading their wings and taking to the sky.

The man feels eyes falling upon him - Dahlia's. He glances to her, noticing that she's giving him a concerned look. He knows why, but can't bring it up now. She looks away and so does he.

Another opportunity to admire the view, Crimson thinks. One more relishing in Equestria's beauty before it shows him its darkest side.

‎

‎

Beautiful as ever is the land below him. As of now, the carriage has been effectively flown over Equestria's entire width - the setting sun agrees with the time they've traveled. He has become mildly concerned for the stallions piloting the carriage, but judging from their excessive stoicism, they're superhuman. Or superpony. Their haul has hardly tired them at all, it seems.

East to west, they’ve flown up and over much of the landscape, including Canterlot. Valleys, towns, plains, mountains, Crimson marvels at how diverse Equestria is from one stretch to another. The western oceans are now visible past the clouded horizon, including a few fairly large harbor cities that he has never seen before. He assumes one of the largest mountains in Equestria is to be their destination, considering their course is beginning to angle to it the closer it becomes. He doesn't know the name of a single thing around him, land or civilization. Their unicorn benefactor hasn't been keen on speech whatsoever, and neither has Dahlia.

He understands why Dahlia doesn't speak. The very same reason his silence is also commanded. Recalling what Gloriosa told him, after Vera, it's a ballpark beyond her scope of influence. Everything action now is to his and only his discretion.

His previous assumption is answered soon enough. Their trajectory completely fixes towards the aforementioned mountain. About a mile away, details become clearer and clearer. Something he finds interesting are the structures propped at the mountain's zenith. Their general existence isn't too captivating, he's already seen a Featherline base using the same tactic to build on a mountain. What draws his attention is the fact that it looks completely totaled. Many structures, tents, lumber and spikes, all of it looks destroyed or burned. It's as if the base was raided and ransacked.

Still, they head towards this base. Their approach is steady and quick, within a few minutes they are entering the mountain's threshold. Their descent surprises him, they do not land inside the torn down base, and instead fly just past it, down towards one of the mountain's sides. The pilots of the carriage circle around and ease up their speed, taking an unassuming cliffside as their landing.

Crimson catches glimpse of the unicorn to his side reaching and gripping onto a handle on her side of the carriage. Dahlia seems to note this too, and she does the same. With no handle to grab onto, Crimson leans back and puts his arms across the backrest, behind the heads of both mares. Again, from the corner of his eye, he notes the unicorn giving him a peculiar glance due to his actions.

SKRRRRRRRT!

The stallions using a very rough tactic to land, skidding on their hooves and flapping their wings against their speed. It causes the carriage to jut the passengers forward, but luckily everyone aboard braced themselves for the landing. With some whiplash, everyone gets acclimated and sits back up.

At lifting his head and studying his surroundings, Crimson is stunned to find a metal door on a archway made of rock, one which appears to lead into the mountain. He swears he took in the face of the mountain as they were landing, there was definitely no door. But now that he's here, it's... right there. He doesn't know if the whiplash is causing him to see things, but shooting quick eyes to Dahlia, she appears just as flabbergasted. It makes him feel slightly better about being this confused.

No words are exchanged as they come off the carriage. The unicorn mare uses her cobalt-colored magic to open her carriage door and extend the staircase. She primly and properly comes down, step by step, until her hooves clop on the rocky surface of the cliff. Crimson follows after her. Dahlia comes down using her own carriage door, skipping the stairs.

The pilot stallions give serious stares to the unicorn, as if awaiting her approval. The mare’s uninterested gaze roams for a moment, looking for any intrusions. Once she's satisfied, she nods once to the stallions just as before. The trio huff and grunt, kicking off into another sprint off the cliff. It looks like they just ran off the edge and killed themselves, but after about four seconds, they appear from below and fly off into the distance with impressive speed.

Dahlia is the first to take her eyes off the pilots, directing her attention to the door. When she does, she notices the unicorn mare staring directly at her. Her profound violet eyes put Dahlia in a cautious state. She doesn't know who this unicorn is, but if there is one thing she’s certain of, she’s a Black Horseshoe - through and through. Out of the many things this unicorn might be capable of, getting Dahlia killed on command if she happens not to like her is one of them.

Crimson stiffens at the silent staring contest, par with Dahlia's rising anxiousness. Despite his desire to knight over Dahlia, he knows to restrain himself. While some disagreed with him, he learned back home to wait for the problem to come, not start it by saying or doing something stupid. Most of the time, what seemed like a problem ends up being the opposite.

"What's his name?" the inscrutable unicorn unexpectedly asks, her voice calm, youthful but impersonable.

Dahlia takes a moment to internalize her question, clenching her teeth briefly so she doesn't sputter incoherently. "Sky."

She seems satisfied with Dahlia's response, noted by a meek smile taking the left corner of her lips. She begins to walk, directing Crimson and Dahlia to do the same. She fearlessly approaches the heavy-looking metal door, encompassing it in her magic. Some very hefty-sounding locks are clacked and crocked on the other side, coming out to four. Once undone, the door hiccups, as if a terrible weight was lifted off of it, and it comes to a slow, hulking opening.

Once open, Crimson sees that this entrance leads a few feet into the mountain to another door made of metal. This one doesn't look nearly as industrial as the first, but still sturdy and more technologically advanced. The three step into this vestibule of rock and metal. The unicorn closes the hefty metal door behind them. Crimson glances over his shoulder, having a closeup at the massive locks getting turned, clamped, and clicked into place.

In front of them, technology presents itself on a panel to the right of the door; some sort of terminal with buttons and a blue... eye? Crimson can’t quite figure out what it is, it's definitely not organic. But it's round, it's smooth and reflective, it has a dense blue color that radiates a very passive light. It feels like it stares back at him.

The unicorn mare presents herself at the door's front, and without the need to interact with anything, the door hisses some steam from the sides, then begins to rise. Audible mechanisms work to lift the metal. Crimson can't begin to fathom what the fuck any of this applied science is, but he feels this isn't the end of it. He can’t help but get Dahlia’s reaction, a sly glance her way shows she’s just as befuddled. Furrowing his brows, God only knows what awaits them inside.

Another hallway made completely of metal, lit by tan LEDs, takes them into the guts of the mountain. The unicorn leads the way.

Stepping into this lair, Crimson and Dahlia witness this to be a hidden base carved into the rock. The hallway they walk through ends with a few quick steps, revealing a labyrinth of rooms, mechanical doors, halls, ponies in lab coats, others in suits, some wearing nothing, and a plethora of magical contraptions. Everything is painted greys and whites, the lights add a yellow-ish tint, and it all looks unnaturally pristine.

Dahlia feels her hooves quaking at each step, but she fights to remain composed and calm. What makes it a little easier is the simple fact that no one seems to care about her or Crimson’s presence, everyone is too busy with something or another. As a matter of fact, what everyone else is doing is much more interesting.

Behind glass windows, offices and labs are dotted throughout this web of a facility. Said laboratories have experiments of all sorts happening in them – she even swears she saw a cocky-looking earth pony levitating in place and gyrating without any apparent magic manipulating him, whilst others nodded in approval and wrote into clipboards.

Black Horseshoe members of all types are scattered about doing a plethora of unimaginable activities - most probably illegal in more than one way.

The unicorn continues to guide them, much less impressed than Crimson or Dahlia about her surroundings. They pass through a multitude of steel doors that open without touch, eventually leading them into a modest laboratory that has one single pony working inside.

Said laboratory has standard lab equipment, including flasks, beakers, the works. What is most alluring is the large screen in the very middle of the lab with a terminal on it, showing all sorts of statistics and information in Ponish. As the three enter, the pony’s attention is directed to them. It’s a stallion with a short mane, colored mostly grey with thin streaks of blue. His coat is a light grey color as well, just a tad darker than his mane. He seems upbeat, curious, and somewhat excited to have visitors. To Crimson, he looks oddly familiar.

“Doctor Kaleidoscope,” the unicorn mare calls.

“Tch, come on, Bon,” the stallion replies with dissatisfaction.

The mare named Bon stops and clears her throat, “… Doctor Kleid.”

“Better,” he hums in satisfaction. “Welcome back! Gimme the good news!”

Bon approaches him and reaches into the chest pocket of her blazer, retrieving something small and circular. It kind of looks like…

"Collateral's comm button?" Crimson thinks as his eyes dilate behind his hair.

“Haha! Good, good, good! Knew I could count on you, Bon!” The mare nods in response. “Nice, good, and great! Tell Faykur about your job well done, and make sure to let him know Six-Three-P-Seven~”

A very satisfied smile takes Bon’s lips. She nods once and steps back. She presents both Crimson and Dahlia with the wave of her hoof. “These two are for your… ‘other’ project.”

“If you brought them, I’m sure they’ll do perfect! Thank you, thank you, Bon! Go on, spoil yourself! You earned it!~”

Bon nods again, her smile growing slightly wider. She exits in silence, her simper prominent and her chin held high. Crimson and Dahlia are now left alone with this lab-coated stallion. He looks at them both in anticipation.

“It’s very great to meet you!” he speaks directly to Dahlia, practically ignoring Crimson. “I’m sure you heard, but please, call me Kleid.”

“Uh, hey. Name’s Wisp,” Dahlia replies.

“Ooooo, hoohoo~ Now I see why Bon brought you. Wisp~” He nods repeatedly. “Treasure hunter! Responsible for a number of our relics and artifacts! Now I can put a face to the name!”

“That's... yeah. Guess you know about me."

"Sure do! I've worked on numerous projects involving your acquisitions! Remember that studded platinum banana?"

A spark ignites in her memory, visibly contorting her face in remembrance. "Yeah. Yeah, I do actually! Wow, how long ago was that? Like five years ago?"

"Six! It had one of the juiciest enchantments I've ever seen to this day! We have yet to name it, but it works as a composite-wide auto-monomer when held, which allowed for absorption of any organic substance with a ninety-five percent genetic compatibility ratio!"

Both Crimson and Dahlia stare at him in stupefied silence.

"... Which basically means you physically absorb your own kind to be immortal!"

Now they react, where Dahlia is very much shocked and Crimson suppresses his emotion. "You... absorb your own kind?" Dahlia inquires.

"Indeed! If I held the banana and I touched you, a ponysapien just like me, which means we're genetically similar," he leans in and murmurs through the corner of his lip, "you would turn into a fleshy blob as most of your cellular compounds travel into my body and become absorbed, restoring my aged or damaged cells to keep me youthful! Notice, this is only really effective if you absorb somepony younger than you. It doesn't exactly work if you're trying to fix old with old, y'know?"

Dahlia has zero response to him, only complete and utter shock.

"Ha! I'm boring you with the details!" Kleid throws his hoof. "Anyways, point is, your finds are incredible, Wisp. A lot of our recent innovations in technology are in due to your discoveries!"

"Uh... thanks?"

"No! Thank you! It's great to know I have a good hoof at my side! It's safe to assume your human there is also a valued asset?"

Attention is now brought to the silent man. Dahlia gets closer to him and reaches her hoof around his waist, pulling him towards her. "Yup! Whatever you need, he's good for it."

"A very interesting specimen! Has he gone through any somatic enhancements? He sure looks like it!"

Dahlia finds herself stumped at this question, finding an astonishing inability to answer it directly. "... Uuuh... I'm... not sure? He was shipped over to Baltimare already like this. I-I'm not sure if..."

"If Gatten's Brains already toyed with him?" Kleid finishes for her.

"Yeah! They probably did, knowing them."

"Pffyeah! Always the Baltimare shipments. They really like getting their grubby hooves on everything. But! That's besides the point! As long as he can get the job done, that's what matters!"

Dahlia silently sighs in relief at accidentally bullshitting her way through that. "You can bet on it."

"Then let's talk business!"

"Let's."

"Good and great! So! Any questions or concerns about what Keeler told you?"

Even though Dahlia never met the name in question, she recalls what she read in the files, letting her eyes drift to the left. "Yeah, but... I'm curious about the honchos. What's up with them? Is there a reason they're acting like this?"

"Oh, pff, yeah. Looong story. Doesn't surprise me you don't know since you're not family blood. Since we do have a little bit of chit-chat time, and I do love telling stories... here's what's happening~"

Dahlia smiles, giving him the stage by keeping quiet.

"A lot of internal hoofticuffs between the Horseshoe leadership. It all really boils down to the Four Doyens wanting to work everypony over."

"Who are they? The Doh-yens?"

"They're last remaining grandsons of the original Black Horseshoe founders. Those old coots are riling everypony up trying to gather even the tiniest piece of power they can. Rumors have been spreading for years about what their plan is and what they're doing, but honestly? It's super obvious. Me and some of the other Brains have been tasked to acquire certain... 'goodies' for them, and they don't like to add the 'why' to their demands. After the third tackle, we knew what they were after. It's actually relating to what I was telling you about earlier!"

"... Immortality?"

"Right on! Immortality! Now, don't tell anypony I told you this, buuut... we don't think their plan is gonna woOOooork~"

"Why not?"

"Because! They're going about it all wrong!" he barks rather heatedly. "Their method of choice for their supposed 'immortality' breaks so many constants of the continuum that it would never work!"

"... W-What's wrong with the method they're using?" she almost doesn't ask the question due to Kleid's rising emotion.

The stallion freezes, staring off at nothing. He slowly, very slowly cranes his head towards her, giving her a progressively unhinged look. "... What they're using?" His smile cracks just a bit wider. "... TIME!"

His shout startles Dahlia and she hops back. Crimson remains in place.

"Time! Time is what they're using! Do you know how STUPID that is!? You can't use TIME to be immortal! Your physical form traverses through the continuum and DOES NOT CHANGE! Their withering corpses will ROT in tartarus even if they jumped back and forth! ASSUMING that's even possible with these relics! Have we tried telling them that? YES! Do they listen? NO! They just want the quickest way to gain as much power as possible! And the Relics of Aramani are their solution! Have they even considered the fact that the relics amount to ONE TOTAL ARTIFACT!? AND THERE'S FOUR OF THEM!? NO! Because they're stupid too! What are they gonna do, take turns sharing it!?"

Dahlia's ears lay flat on her head as her dilated eyes and deep frown stare at him hyperventilating.

But as if nothing ever happened, Kleid composes instantly and smiles. "But, despite their absurdities, at least they provide us with meaningful work! Dissecting these ancient magics is such a treat! It's incredible how much talent was lost because of the Great War! It makes me fear another battle happening again and making us lose what we've discovered in this age!"

Dahlia's inner conflict of too much information at once and intimation by this Brain keeps her silent for a few seconds. Luckily for her, Kleid keeps speaking.

"So because of the arrogance of the Doyens, much of the Horseshoe family is split between bowing down to them and getting spoiled with as many riches as they could ever want, or! Pretending to still be apart of the ilk while deviating as much as possible until they can find a way to successfully break off! Me? I'm happy where I'm at. I think the same could be said for most Brains. We can't afford to miss out on such succulent history!"

"So, uuh... I guess you'll need me-- us," she glances back to Crimson quickly, "... to uh... get the relics. That's what Keeler told us."

"Uh-huh! Uh-huh!" he nods repeatedly with enthusiasm.

"We're getting paid for all five relics?"

"Not quite! We are already in possession of one of the relics, the hourglass. Though it was destroyed during its acquisition, our lab was able to repair it and mend the enchantment some time ago. We are missing the other four."

"Was there an order of which you wanted first?"

"Grrreeaat question! There certainly is a relic we should obtain first, for I have much worry. It's a grey metallic band with many tiny holes in it, fits on the horn of a unicorn! The Ring of Conteriima - the relic of the mind and space! It is in the possession of an ex-Brain, his name is Keeper Alonne. I fear that it may have not survived his tampering.”

“What, is he trying to break it or something?”

“Basically! Last I’ve heard, he’s learning enchantment reversal so he can take the power for himself! Fortunately for us, it’s an extremely rigorous procedure that few have mastered, so it gives us possibly years worth of time. Though, it’s unfortunate, Keeper was once a great mind for the Family - he was a pioneer in human research. But, like many, he fell victim to the clutches of whatever magic he was absorbed in, and it has been many months since he's defected along with the relic. It’s sickening. We of brighter minds should know above all else that magic is volatile! It brings nothing but chaos!” He turns to the left, suddenly putting up a sultry smile. “But that is why it is sooo beautiful~” He faces Dahlia again, frowning. “It is important we acquire the relic in his possession first.”

Dahlia acknowledges him with a firm nod. “Can do. Are we gonna need anything special? Or do we find him and just clock ‘em?”

“Hmm, direct confrontation may not be suitable…” he falls into silent pondering, “… unless…” Dahlia furrows her brows at him. “… Hehehe… yeeeessss.” He turns around and trots towards one of the large metal cabinets at the farthest end of his office next one of the desks. He opens it and skulks through it, letting out a resounding, “Ah-ha!” He retrieves something, but stays facing away. “Is your human trained to understand Ponish?”

Dahlia quickly glances to Crimson, seeing him highly dissatisfied with the remark. Still, they both play along. “Yeah, he is.”

“Excellent!” He turns around, holding multiple things. They catch what they see to be bracelets and two small black pieces of tech. The pieces are immediately familiar to Crimson. “Take them!”

Dahlia approaches him and takes one bracelet and ear piece first, looking at them curiously. She puts the bracelet around her left upper foreleg and still holds the earpiece. “What’s this thing?”

“That is a two-way prompter! It takes vocal waves and uses resonance magic to locate the other prompter and cast a tiny vibration spell on it, mimicking the initial vocal wave!”

“So this thing basically… lets me talk to somepony from far away?”

“Precisely!”

She still looks at it skeptically.

“It goes in your ear!”

Her eyes go wide briefly, feeling a bit stupid for not catching on. She places it in, tucking it snug in the inner crease of her left ear. Dahlia moves to take the second set from Kleid and gives it to Crimson. He takes the earpiece and slots it in himself while allowing Dahlia to wrap the bracelet around his left wrist, buckling it on.

After fitting, Dahlia faces Kleid again. “What’s the bracelet—DO!?” Her heart nearly leaps out of her throat when Kleid suddenly charges a magic bolt and fires it at her. To both of their surprise, Crimson steps in instantly to take the hit.

It’s Crimson’s turn to be impressed, seeing the magic bolt bounce right off of him as his bracelet pulses his entire body with a faint purple shield. The wry bolt hits the glass window of the lab and disperses into nothing, window completely intact.

Glares from Dahlia and Crimson are thrown to Kleid. “Does that answer your question?” he snidely remarks.

Dahlia, still a bit sour at the mouth from the scare, huffs and nods. “Yeah, I guess. Don’t do that.”

“Hah! Sorry, I can’t help it! I do that to everypony I show the magical refractor to!” He pushes down his giddy happiness to sober up. “Good reflexes on that human, definitely has some sort of perception accelerator. So now! You’ll need that refractor to stand even the slightest chance against Keeper. His offensive magic is very powerful, so if we negate that, we only have to worry about his goons!”

“Goons, huh?” She looks to Crimson with a smirk.

“Indeed, he is currently in a Sleeping Talon base as he conducts his work! So you’ll have to get through them, not including Keeper’s humans!”

“Huh,” she hums with much less appeal.

“And be warned! His humans are magically enhanced! Some of the strongest in the field!”

“… Oh,” she states stumped. Crimson’s brows twitch. “Are we getting any help?”

“Help? Hah! You are the help! You have the strength and cunning to get the job done!” His happy, peppy expression begins to churn slowly to a serious, pop-eyed glare of judgement. “… Right?”

Dahlia grits her teeth and rears her head back, feeling as if he is looming right over her even though he’s a few feet away. “Damn right we do!” she expresses with pseudo-confidence.

“Grreat! I like the confidence! Remember, if you feel you need additional equipment, feel free to ask! Our resources are well-put for your success!”

“Good to know,” she says, wiping off a bead of sweat from her forehead. She looks down at her bracelet. “Nothing else I could really think of.”

“What about your human? Is he specialized in any weapons or tools?”

Crimson reaches into his duster, taking out the pistol that sheens under the lab’s amber light.

“Hah, wow! Is that a second-gen Dart Flinger? Pretty neat tech! We have first-gen darts in stock, but I do think they fit the magazine! What are the dimensions, two inches by half an inch?”

“Uuuhh…” Dahlia’s confusion is luckily pushed aside when Crimson offers the pistol.

Kleid takes it into his teal magic and clicks the button on the side with it, taking out the mag and releasing the top-most dart. He sticks his tongue out and inspects it. “… Mm... hm… … yup! Give or take less than a centimeter! Only real difference between these pikes and the first-gen ones is the engravings and brand labels. Not that engravings give any tactical advantage!” He slots the dart in and slides the mag back, letting the pistol click before levitating it back to Crimson. The man takes it from the air, hiding it away in his inner duster pocket. “I’ll get you a few magazines for your human there! Be right back!” Kleid trots out of his lab, the metal door opening by itself and closing the same way behind him. He is seen pass by the window before disappearing into another part of the base.

The two sit in silence for a moment. Dahlia isn’t sure what to say, and even if Crimson could speak, he couldn’t find any words either. After a profound mulling, Dahlia speaks the only thing she feels. “… We’ve really gotten into some deep shit, huh?” Crimson nods very slightly, barely noticeable. “You think we’ll survive?” Crimson nods again, this time more firm. Dahlia can’t help but smile a little at the man’s resolve. From his confidence alone, she feels slightly better. “… Yeah, we got this.”

Kleid appears on the other side of the window, holding small rectangular white and orange boxes in his magic. The door opens and he steps through with a happy trot. “Lookie what I fooound!” He presents the boxes with a wide grin.

Dahlia tilts her head and reads the text on the branded boxes. “Dart Flinger pikes… six mags by fourteen rounds… barbed, level-two penetration rating… neuro-paralyzing?” She questions with a scrunched muzzle.

“Yes indeedy! Looks like we still had some modified pikes in stock! These badboys will punch through light armor, stick more effectively, AND! They cause immediate nervous system shock and lock up the target! Mind you, these darts still work with the power setting. The target will die if set to lethal. The tranquilizer setting will neutralize ninety-five percent of targets for roughly a full day. It's up to your discretion to keep it up or off. But if I had a say, might as well keep it up! Better safe than sorry!”

Crimson absorbs this information. He reaches his hands out to take the boxes, which Kleid levitates them onto them, totaling to four. They’re not too big, he can likely fit them inside his outer duster pockets. He takes two in each hand and does so, they slip right in and make themselves at home. He won’t be able to put his hands in his pockets like he’s used to, but it’s a small price to pay, he thinks.

“Good, good, good! Remember, if there’s anything else you need, you let me know! I'll be sure to run you two through our plans tomorrow! Lots to cover, but all to ensure your success. I recommend getting some rest until nighttime, it’s best to strike when they’re vulnerable! We’re taking the “Sleeping” Talons very seriously! Haha!”

Crimson almost smirks at the stupid pun, but Dahlia is way less impressed. “We gonna bunk here for tonight?” she asks.

“That you are!” his horn glows and a button next to the cabinets is pressed. Steam puffs out of metal pipes formed like an archway just beside it, and the metal walls lift to reveal a modern sleeping quarters on the other side.

"We’re taking your room?”

“Ooh, don’t worry about that. I won’t be needing it tonight, I’ve got a HOT date, hint hint~” He raises his brows twice with a grin.

Dahlia stuffs her disgust down, “Uuh... thanks.”

“Complimentary snacks and beverages in the pantry cooler! My casa is your casa!”

“Gras-i-as?”

“Haha! I would try to keep it going, but that’s all the Sponish I remember! Now I need to get ready for my date! It goes without saying, but,” he leans into Dahlia, glaring her deeply in the eyes. The mare steps back again with ears laying flat on her head. “Do not touch anything in the labor-ah-tory.” He zips back, smiling and waving. “See you two tonight!” He trots off, letting the metal door sound off his exit. As he passes by the window, he is still waving.

Dahlia feels her throat tighten, only released once he’s fully gone. She sighs deeply, “What a fucking nut-job. It’s always the eggheads, I tell you.”

She proceeds past the archway and into the room lit up by white lights. The room is a light pastel blue and white, with smooth marble floors and tiled walls and ceilings. There is a bunk-bed on the right, one a bit too small for Crimson’s size, a nightstand with a clock and a single rose in a pot on top, a single-seat couch to the immediate right, a free-standing clothing rack on the far left, and the door to a walk-in pantry to their immediate left.

“… Cozy,” Dahlia states sarcastically. She proceeds in, flying up to the second bunk. She sits on the edge of it, letting her hindlegs hang off.

Crimson steps in after her. Once the sensors on the archway detect no more bodies, it closes behind him automatically. It startles him somewhat, but once he notes a button exactly like the one Kleid pressed on this side of the room, he figures this is normal. He swings himself to the couch, sitting down on it and reclining back with a sigh. He holds the side of his head with two fingers, letting his tired hazel eyes stare into the void.

Dahlia examines the bracelet that is still on her leg. She notes it has very, very missable grooves, and sheens with faint purple magic when put under direct light. “Think this place is sound-proof?” she asks, turning her orbs to Crimson. He shrugs. “… Don’t wanna risk it, huh?” He shakes his head. “… Probably a good idea.” They revert to hanging in silence.

They idle together, Crimson keeping himself entertained with his thoughts, Dahlia with anything of interest she can find. Once she’s bored of the bracelet, she looks at her wings. Bored with her wings, she starts to analyze the room. Once bored with that, she falls onto her back and sighs her boredom out.

Only now does she realize that Crimson staying quiet isn’t the blessing she thought it would be. Even though all they really do is argue and banter, it passes the time. She might even say she misses it. Maybe. Is being bored better than being angry? She can’t answer herself. She finds that she can’t answer a lot of introspective questions. She really doesn’t like thinking about it.

“There a light switch or something?” she asks into the air. Crimson breaks out of his mind and glances around, looking for the switch. He finds it just behind him, next to the archway. He reaches up and flips it down and up quickly, flickering the lights. “Cool. Mind turning it off for me?”

He does as she requests. The room becomes pitch black for a moment before a soft strip of amber light turns on at the very bottom of the walls all around the room to provide a faint bit of light.

“Hmh,” Dahlia hums, mildly impressed. “Cozy.”

Crimson reclines back again, resting his head against the cold tile wall. He stares up at the top bunk, ready to let himself drift back into thought. That is, until he sees a cute little mare’s head pop up.

“You don’t wanna lay on the bunk?”

He shakes his head twice. He lifts his hands and makes his palms parallel before shrinking the distance between them.

“Yeah, that’s true. No way you’d fit on it comfortably.” She pouts her lips, dreading the silence that eventually engulfs the room again. “… Well, I’m gonna get some shuteye.”

Crimson lifts his palm at her, signaling his ‘goodnight.’ Her eyes drift listlessly to the left. A steady exhale comes from her nose and she lets herself drop onto the pasty-white sheets. Her magenta orbs stare past the ceiling, trying to keep her brain from doing things like think self-consciously.

Crimson had noticed her restlessness. He thinks it’s coming from a menagerie of things, most obviously due to being in a technologically advanced facility controlled by the most notorious gang in Equestria. He figures they could gas him and Dahlia while they sleep, in the possible event that they already know who he is. He thought his disguise worked well, and maybe it does, but being this close behind the line is making his survival instinct work in overdrive.

He tries to get some rest, already having been awake for over two days. He’s bound to be able to get some sleep today, he will give his body no choice.

He closes his eyes and stresses to relax. Whatever awaits him tonight, he’ll need to be ready for it.

Next Chapter: Camisado Estimated time remaining: 9 Hours, 29 Minutes