NCIS: Crossroads
Chapter 1: Prologue - Coffee and Lance Corporals
Load Full Story Next ChapterCanter City, Massachusetts
Canterlot High School parking lot
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Sunset Shimmer slung her backpack onto her shoulders and exited her sedan, taking a brief moment to enjoy the sunrise over Canter City. It had been barely a month since the Friendship Games, and Canter City was quiet for the first time in a long while.
Sunset had volunteered to help clean the High School's atrium as an extra credit opportunity, and as she approached the statue in front of the glass front doors, she gave a nod of approval at the portal to Equestria.
Then, she stepped in something wet. As she looked down and realized she stepped in a puddle, she rolled her eyes. Then she widened them upon realizing it hadn't rained at all recently. She looked around and knelt, eyeing the liquid cautiously.
As she dipped her finger in, she gasped upon seeing red liquid trickle down her hand, and realized what it was.
It was blood, and by the looks of it, it had been spilled recently.
As she cautiously followed the trail, pulling out her cell phone in the process and powering it up, she stopped upon reaching the source, and she screamed in horror.
Lying against the front doors was a man in green military fatigues, clutching a black crystalline needle in his leg. His dog tags lay nearby, covered in blood. Sunset rushed over and knelt down next to him, dialling 911 in the process.
"911." the operator chattered. "What's your emergency?"
"I need an ambulance right now!" Sunset cried as she yanked the crystal out and started putting pressure on the man's injury. "I'm at the front steps of Canterlot High School, there's a man with a stab wound in his leg!"
"Okay, Police and an ambulance are on the way. Stay with me, ma'am." the operator replied. As Sunset continued first aid, secretly using some healing magic in the process, she didn't read the dog tags laying nearby in a pool of blood.
Lance Corporal Thomas Grant
11-17-97, Christian, Baltimore, ML
United States Marine Corps,
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Quantico, Virginia, NCIS HQ
Office Area
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As the elevator gave a "ding!" and the doors opened, a middle-aged man with white hair, carrying a travel cup of coffee, entered the office area and proceeded to his desk. NCIS Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs set his coffee down and powered up his computer, eyeing the three empty cubicles belonging to Tony DiNozzo, Ziva David, and Tim McGee. He stretched, watching the computer's desktop appear.
"Good morning, Gibbs." Ziva said, sliding into view with a carton bearing three coffee cups, as usual. "Is there anything new?"
"Not really." Gibbs replied, taking a sip from his own coffee and then proceeding to open his email. "Nothing's popped up so far."
"Well, I'm happy to hear it." said DiNozzo as he and McGee walked in, casually plucking their coffee from Ziva's carton. "Maybe we'll have a non-chaotic day for a change."
Gibbs then suddenly closed his email and sighed loudly in disbelief and frustration, before he suddenly head-slapped DiNozzo, making Ziva and McGee chuckle.
"Gah! What was that for, boss?" DiNozzo grumbled as he rubbed the back of his head with his free hand, balancing his coffee and his bag with his other hand.
"You jinxed it, DiNozzo." Gibbs replied. "Grab your gear, we've got a Marine down in suburban Massachusetts, and they need us there right now. Ducky and Palmer are already waiting for us outside."
"Just brilliant." McGee said as the four agents entered the Elevator. "And everything was going so well for us, Tony."
"When did I become the scapegoat here?" Tony complained, only to receive another headslap from Gibbs.
"About two minutes ago." Gibbs replied with a smirk.
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After an extended drive to Massachusetts, the NCIS team found themselves standing outside Canter City's local High School. The local Police had sealed the school and cordoned off the bloodstained area before the NCIS agents arrived. There were a few Police units speaking with onlookers, but for the most part the scene was quiet.
"Not a bad place to get an education." Tony said as they passed by the statue in front of the school. "Where's the victim?"
"Lance Corporal Thomas Grant is already at the local hospital's surgery wing, getting several stitches in his leg." Dr. Mallard said as he and Palmer approached with a tackle box full of medical equipment and tools. "The EMTs report that he had lost a copious amount of blood, but it could have been worse as he didn't remove the object in the wound."
"What kind of object are we referring to?" Gibbs asked as he observed the bloodstained area on the ground and wall of the school,
"A large, crystalline thorn, made from onyx or ebony-like material." Dr. Mallard said, offering the thorn in question, sealed within an evidence bag, to Tony. "Never seen anything like it before."
"Who found him?" Ziva asked.
"A student at the school who came in early. Her name is Sunset Shimmer, and she's being interviewed at the Police station here." McGee said, looking at his PDA. "Quite an interesting name."
"I'll say." Gibbs frowned. "Ziva, get photos of the scene. Tony, check for any cameras nearby. McGee, find out more info about our Lance Corporal. I'll speak with this Sunset Shimmer, see what she knows."
"Got it." Ziva replied.
"On it." Tony affirmed.
"Yes, Boss." McGee finished.
As Gibbs left and entered one of the NCIS team cars, before he headed downtown, he took a little time to admire the town atmosphere. A few stores, a bakery, boutique, an apple orchard, a park...it reminded Gibbs of his hometown when he was young.
He soon arrived at the Police Station, and was greeted by the local Captain, Shining Armor. After an exchange of IDs, Shining brought Gibbs to his office, where a girl of about seventeen, with red and yellow hair was waiting for him.
"Sunset Shimmer?" Gibbs asked.
"That's me." she replied.
"I'm Special Agent Gibbs, NCIS. I'd like to ask you some questions about this morning." Gibbs said as he sat down.
"Sure thing." Sunset replied. "What do you want to know?"