The Secrets That Lay

The good part of being placed into a room with someone to take her measurements was that the dreaded handcuffs had been removed, the marks from where the metal dug into her skin, in some part biting through and drawing small bits of blood. To her surprise, though, whatever small cuts were caused had disappeared minutes after being removed.

The bad part of being placed into a room with someone to take her measurements was everything else. To start things off, the room was empty and no one was there, prompting her deliverer to remain there. Dash was clearly the impatient type and crossed her arms, tapping her foot.

"I'm supposed to be training right now," She said in annoyance.

"Training?" Despite the fact she was free from having her wrists all put planted together and that she probably could have took the colonel if she wanted, she remembered seeing someone with a pistol stationed near the door. And beyond that who knew how many more soldiers awaited.

Glancing over at her, Sam released a sigh, "You know, running, shooting, all that crap. Geez, you think you never were a solider.

"Did y'all forget the part where that doctor said I couldn't remember a darn thing 'bout myself?"

"Still, you don't need memories to know what a solider does."

She rolled her eyes. Myers was barely tolerable now and was working her way towards making the blonde dislike her.

She took a look around the room. A modestly-sized room that was crammed with a lot of stuff. A desk in the corner lined up with many piles of paper, each containing a design from the looks of it but with a big red x scribbled in marker over scattered across. File cabinets and tables with boxes on top were in peculiar positions. The only part of the room that seemed decent was where Dash stood. A simple small drawer that had a sheet of paper on it, blank from the looks of it rested there.

"So, what is it this girl does exactly?"

"She makes armor and stuff for us all," Samantha responded, fiddling with the strap of her gun in a way that made the other female feel a little worried about being left with her. Especially when it was pointed right at her.

"I take it y'all aren't a big fan of her?"

"Na, Rarity's pretty cool. It's just she gets weird when she starts getting creative."

"Maybe she's just determined?"

"Sure, let's go with that."

Another silence washed over before Dash sniggered.

"Sure was funny when Twi gave you the soup."

"I thought when you got a sandwich in yer face really stole the show."

Myers rolled her eyes then, "Pinkie gets a little too excited. It was your fault, anyways. You set her off."

"Y'all shouldn't have went blabberin' yer mouth off."

"It was an accident?" The blank look sent her way showed she didn't accept the excuse and she sighed, "It kind of was-"

The door of the room pushed open, a very pretty woman with purple hair that looked as if it had been worked on for an eternity entered the room, azure eyes sparkling with her eyelashes perfectly lined with black kohl.

She stopped in her step, her eyes moving over between two figures; one donned in light armour with a rifle in one hand. Judging from the vibrant hair it had to be only one person; Samantha Myers, otherwise known as Major Dash to most people (a ridiculous nickname might she add).

Placing a hand on a curved hip and raising a plucked eyebrow, Rarity Belle stared with slight confusion at the other. Not because she had no idea whoever they were but because of the state they were in.

Ruffled blonde hair that reached about the small of her back that looked to be in a desperate need of a wash. Her eyes were a bright emerald colour though, a drastic difference from her scruffy appearance. Freckles sprinkled along her cheeks, almost blending in with the bronze skin.

Her nose wrinkled a bit at her dishevelled clothes but drew her mind from it. That was the casual wear giving to all officers here, minus the fact the t-shirt was a different colour each time.

The white surprised her. That colour was only used for guests or potential recruitments.

"Oh, hey, Rare," With a wave, Dash leaned off against the wall, "Glad to see you're here. This here is-" She paused and shrugged, "Well, I dunno. She hasn't a name. Call her Zero." A glare was shot from the blonde and she returned it with a curled grin, "I expect to see you out in the fields tomorrow at zero-six hundred hours, you'll be joining my squad for training."

And before she could hear a protest, she disappeared, leaving the two alone in the room.

"You don't have a name?" The woman inquired, hand resting on her hip. Only now did the other notice she wore a white dress jacket that went with the skirt she wore.

Fancy shoes, she noted before looking up, shaking her head, "No, Ma'am. Well, I do, jus' don't remember it is all." She stuck her hand out to be polite, "But, er, yeah, names Zero…fer now."

Rarity stared down at the extended hand. She wasn't exactly certain she should accept the handshake as she didn't know where this lady had been. Nonetheless, her own palm reached out and clasped the others, the two giving a polite shake for a few moments before it broke.

"Well, I am not going to refer to you as that right now. Zero is quite a vulgar nickname," She closed the door and headed towards one of the messy desks, opening a drawer and producing a pen before glancing up at her, "Might I ask how you don't know your name?"

"I…well, Doc told me…er, I mean Doctor Sloan came to the conclusion I don't have any memories," She crossed her arms, frowning, "She's probably right. I don't remember a darn tootin' thing."

For some odd reason, being around this ladies presence made her feel quite odd. Maybe it was the fact that she herself looked like she belonged on the streets and Rarity looked as if she should be anywhere but a military site.

Or wherever the hell she was.

A puzzled look growing on her face, it soon dropped, "Well, let's forget that matter right now. Are you here to get fitted?"

"Supposedly so, don't know why though. I ain't gonna be asked ta fight or anythin', am I?"

"I'm afraid I do not know," Picking up some measuring tape, she beckoned for the other to follow, "Spread your arms please." As she did so, she lined up the tape against her bicep and then to her wrist, "Introductions are in order on my behalf. I am Rarity Belle and I design armour for everyone here."

"Ya make it?"

"Oh no, even though my talents are quite brilliant-" Geez, another Rainbow Dash? "To make a costume for everyone here would take forever. No, I only create for the likes of the higher ranks."

She nodded, watching as Rarity moved to her other arm, "I see. Well, thanks fer this anyways."

"It is my pleasure," She stopped then, examining her over, "I would think from you slim figure you might need something light. I doubt you're strong enough for the heavy type."

"My strength remains unknown for now," She might not be strong but she determined something was wrong with her.

Humans were not meant to jump off buildings and land safely on their feet and also not be affected by drugs. Or maybe they were. Heck should she know.

"Well, unless you end up being able to carry a heavy weight and I get proof of it, you'll make do with the light armour," Rarity continued measuring around her arms before moving down to her side.

With a hefty sigh, the blonde shook her head but remained quiet.

It would be over before she knew it. Right?

~~~~

"Come on, Williams, move it! You're moving slower than my grandmother was when she was alive!"

Being compared to the speed of an old lady didn't seem to affect the young man as he continued to slowly make his way through a hand-built obstacle course. He panted, sweat dripping down his face as he continued on.

Just his luck he arrived late to find everyone else lifting weights. As punishment, he was told to start climbing through the course until Major Myers was satisfied.

The leader of the company Williams was in was tough but fair. He knew that despite his protests, he got what he deserved. Next time he needed to get there earlier than he should have.

He got down onto his stomach, crawling underneath the mesh net. His sixth go made his performance slower and slower as it continued and he groaned inwardly as he finally got through the net, jumping to his feet and continuing on as he hopped over a wall and fell down in the mud with a plop.

"Good job, Williams. Almost made me nearly proud. Join the others with the weights now," Dash ordered strictly and he jogged over to the others, lifting up the offered weights and sighed.

"Alright, everyone, listen up!"

The attention turned towards the Major as she stood before them.

"Tomorrow someone new will be joining us and I want no one, and I repeat no one to give her any hassle. I don't want the General on my ass because blondie goes crying saying someone here messed with her," Her eyes narrowed as she scowled in a way to threaten them all. It worked like a charm, "Some of you might actually know her and some might have met her." Her eyes went to one soldier who stared back weakly, "Don't beat yourself up to hard, Marsh, tomorrow's training can do that instead."

The man in question was the one shot in the neck by the amnesiac and dragged into a room. He awoke with nothing but slight shame at his actions.

"Another thing, on my way here I was informed that under any circumstances you do not, and I repeat this slow and deadly, you do not tell blondie anything about herself. She has no memory and the council plans on keeping it that way. If one of you do it," She grinned sadistically, "It won't be me you'll be worried about. General Luna will be on edge the next few weeks. And if she found out something went wrong? Well, good luck."

Before anyone could gulp or even piss themselves in fear, she clapped her hands together, "Alright, everyone drop and give me fifty. Anyone stops and you'll be doing a repeat of what Williams was doing until you vomit your own body weight!"

~~~~

Hours later, 'Patient Zero' found herself sitting in the waiting room of an office. Arms aching, head drooping as she fought to stay awake, she thought back over the afternoon.

Sam wasn't kidding when she said she'd be a long time. Rarity had finished measuring her after a half hour but then she found herself being asked about a billion questions that ranged from necessary to herself thinking why the hell was she being asked about it.

She was then directed (quite roughly and rudely) to this room where she was told to sit down and wait until she was called in. Sitting at a desk, typing away on those strange doo-hickies was a woman with pink and blue curly hair. She glanced up only once towards the blonde and it wasn't a surprise at seeing the mild shock run through her expression.

And here she sat, waiting and waiting as the minutes ticked by, turning into an hour, which lurched into another sixty minutes. Maybe she was impatient in a previous life because right now, she felt it.

The sound of something ringing went off and the woman lifted up a pale hand holding a strange device and placed it at her ear, "Yes? Of course, Ma'am." She placed it away and looked up, "You may go inside now."

As she approached the door, she had to fight back a sigh. What now? She had been bounced all over the place and she still didn't know why she was here.

As she entered the room, two women were conversing. One of them was (to her dismay) General Luna and the other looked a lot like the other, sharing her wavy hair but it had four tones of colour in it this time. She looked to be the elder as well and was seated at the desk, suggesting this was her room.

A warm smile was sent from the unknown lady whilst a cold stare came from Luna, "Ah, hello, please sit." She indicated a chair opposite the desk.

As she took a seat, she took another look towards the handcuffs. Drugs didn't harm her, she could jump off buildings and live. Maybe she could break these if she wanted. It wouldn't be a smart idea with a dangerous lady who almost choked her in the same room.

She pulled her wrists apart lightly, soon stopping as the chain erected to its' full potential. She sighed before glancing up, "Alright, I'm gonna make this clear and straight; what the hell am I doin' here and when the heck am I gonna get out of here? An' I don't take no fer an answer."

"You will refrain from speaking in such a tone!" Luna snapped at her with a harsh tone matching the blondes but a hand from the other woman silenced her though it didn't stop several dirty looks being sent the others way.

"Sister, please. She is just scared of what is happening," She ignored the scoff from the amnesiac and placed her hands together, "My name is Celestia Solaris and I am the leader of this organization."

"It have a name?"

"Yes it does, but it will not be revealed towards you."

"What?"

"Doctor Sloan has informed me that you appear to have no memories, correct?" She inquired.

"Y'all got that right."

"Well then, as much as this pains me to say even though I did not plan our first meeting to proceed like this but you will not be told of anything involving you. We wish for you to remain with no memories of yourself."

"What?" She said in a short tone, her eyes beginning to narrow into a glare, "Yer not gonna tell me anything?" She felt a flash of anger run through her and she jumped to her feet, "What the hell would ya do that?!" Screw it, she thought as she gritted her teeth, pushing her hands apart, ignoring the pain from having the cuffs dig into her hands as she continued.

"I know this sounds tough but I believe it will be for the best. If you gathered enough information to maintain a healthy dose of your memories, it might end up backfiring."

"Backfirin'?! Backfirin'?! I don't know what the heck yer on about but I am not stayin' here! I will not be forced to do whatever it is y'all want me to do!" She forced them apart more, the chain straight as an arrow.

Luna looked at Celestia, "Sister, perhaps we should-"

"No, Luna, she's just angry, let her calm down and-"

The sound of metal breaking was heard and a clatter as the broken handcuffs hit the ground. With her arms free she placed her hands on the desk and leaned forward, her face inches from Celestia's who maintained a cool calm expression.

"I see that your abilities still seems to be working. Good."

"Abilities?" Her anger faded for a few seconds as she blinked, "What abilities?"

"You really have lost all your memories," She replied as she tilted her head slightly, "Sit down and I might explain. I know you want to attack me right now and trust me, I understand why but before you do something stupid, just let me explain."

"Why should I?"

"Don't you want to learn some things about yourself?" She raised a coy eyebrow.

She had her there. She was literally desperate for any info. She sighed and plopped down into the seat, rubbing her sore wrists as she looked at the handcuffs with shock. She actually did that? Her just her strength?

"Last night you jumped off the third-story floor and you landed on the ground without any injuries. I was surprised at that, I figured maybe your abilities wouldn't have kicked in seeing as the knockout darts seemed to strangely work. And then the drugs given to you to make you weary didn't seem to activate at all. And finally you broke those cuffs apart by barely straining."

"I don't understand you. How can I do that?"

"I am afraid I can't say," As the blonde narrowed her eyes she added, "But just know you are different from the average human, Miss and will be like that from every day of your life."

"Is that why you want me?"

"More or less," Luna then butted in, not pleased with the results of what her strength had done, "We need someone like you to help us out."

"Help y'all? With what?"

With a sigh, the blue-haired lady crossed her arms, "Equestria is at the brink of war." The name sounded familiar to her though it didn't pop up any memories, "We have remained calm for nearly seventy years now but that could change any minute."

"War with what?"

"An opposing country. We cannot give you all the details but know that the last war we had was with them. An agreement was made and things were quiet but unfortunately, it all changed."

"Why?"

"We can't say, I'm afraid," Celestia butted in, shaking her head, "For now, that is all the answers we can give you. But we need someone like you." A perplexed look was her answer and she sighed, "Our soldiers are frightened, scared that something bad will happen and its' going to. We are just delaying the inevitable. But we need a symbol of hope. And that is where you come in."

"Me?"

"This is going to be troublesome without revealing info to you," She muttered underneath her breath, rubbing a crease on her forehead, "With your abilities, we could show the army that everything here is safe and under control, that we will be able to defend Equestria no matter what. And for that to happen, I need you to trust me and also to work with me."

With a cold laugh, she glared at Celestia, "And jus' why should I help you?"

"We can hold you here against your will for the rest of your life, we could do worse but I won't go into detail."

"That's blackmail."

"Yes, but also. You could find out who you are. I know you must have questions about your past and who you are and if you help us, I will tell you everything when this is over," She looked up, pink eyes pitiful, "Please?"

Her mouth opened and closed again, her brow furrowing. She couldn't possibly be considering helping her out, could she? What could she do; be forced to stay in a white room her own life or try and do something to help a country.

Both had its' ups and downs but eventually she sighed, "I jus' have to be a sign of hope?"

"You will be assigned for a few weeks to a squad. Train with them, act like one of them to show you that someone average could be strong-willed and brave. Then move to another and do the same. The training with Major Myers' squad begins at zero-"

"Six hundred hours," She finished before she groaned and laid her head in her hands. Somehow she felt physically sick and regretted her decision immediately.

"Yes. Now, you are probably curious about your strange abilities. I myself am unsure what the extent is but enhanced strength, agility and apparently your body resists any drugs given towards you. I think that might be all you need to know today."

"Wait, one more thing," She looked up, frowning, "I still need a name."

"Oh, of course. Well, there isn't no harm in saying your actual name. First term only. Jacqueline."

A few minutes of silence followed as the blonde contemplated the idea of the name though she shook her head, "Too formal, long. Shorten it. Jack maybe might do. Not too shabby, perhaps. Sure beats Patient Zero." She grumbled the last part with a roll of her eyes.

"Speaking of patient, Doctor Sloan expects to see you on Friday afternoon for another session. She will help you deal with this place. You will be assigned a room and also, Luna, please.

Only then did the recently named Jack notice the woman beside her and felt something clamp onto her arm and a wave of pain. Craning her neck, she saw a strange bracelet on her upper left arm and she winced a bit as she swore she felt something drive into her arm.

"That will make sure you don't try to run off. You take one step off the grounds and we will know. You will not make it five steps before being electrocuted with three hundred volts," Luna stated coldly before she nodded her head at Celestia, "Sister." She took her leave.

"I am sorry about her, she is kinder most of the time."

"Yeah, I figured," The hug she gave to her was signs of that. Jack looked over towards Celestia and yawned, "Y'all mentioned somethin' about a room?"

With a warm smile, she stood up, "Let's go get you one then."

As she exited the office, the full realization of things began to hit her.

She was strong, could jump off buildings like it was nothing and survive being injected with chemicals (unless she was recently awoken or whatever the hell happened when Dash shot her).

She was also somewhat a figure in helping soldiers prep for a war that could arrive any minute.

She would have to play along with this little game Celestia was trying to conjure up. If she wanted to know anything about herself she'd have to do as told.

And last but not least, she had a damn name.