Chapter 7: The Odd Pair

Ampere’s first location to find the colt was the alleyway that he cornered him at.  As he started for the alleyway, he remembered that he didn’t ask for the colt’s name but it was of no importance to him.  He simply wanted to get this task finished with and on with the rest of his day.  Although knowing his name would have narrowed his search options, he decided, as usual, not to make this situation any more personal than it has to be.  After arriving at the alley, he stopped and looked around at the entrance.

Hoping not to be ambushed again by the thief, he commanded, “Hey kid!  Your mom’s looking for you.  Come on out.”

No reply.  He ventured deeper into the alley.  Once he reached the end he examined the walls and looked behind the dumpsters.  Nothing.  Ampere sighed.

Ampere knew that he was throwing his generosity out of proportion.  He didn’t have to do this.  No.  He didn’t have to.  There existed a shred of dignity in him but he merely dismissed it.  It was just another task for him to do and he was a mere passer-by.  He didn’t like abnormalities to his normal schedule.  A fundamental change, however, would occur in the upcoming events.

Ampere then took a trip to the local trolleys to see if the little thief was resuming his mischief there.  After a while, with no hooded colt in sight, Ampere became frustrated and chose to retire.  He believed at this point he had given a needlessly large amount of effort for something that was trivial.  Ampere took the eleven-fifty trolley back to Plaza of Dusk and hurried back to his office.  It was approaching twelve o’clock and his shift ended at that time.  Always in a rush to be early, he clocked back in quickly and marched upstairs.  Sodia, who returned early just like Ampere (she always tried to find opportunities to see him) was shocked as he displayed a furious but silent temper.  She gave off a worried look on her face as she hid her head below the heights of the desk.  When he was finally up the stairs and out of sight, she quietly left off an “Oh...”

Going to his office, Ampere gave off a small sigh.  He then opened his door.  There he was, the hooded thief, sitting in his chair, playing with Ampere’s stapler.  The colt starts to stammer.

“Your mom is looking for you.”

“Wait, what?”

“I said your mom is looking for you.”

“You mean... you mean you’re not mad at me?  I jus- I just broke into your office!”

“I’m not going to repeat myself a third time.”

“...”

“Volta.  She’s looking for you.”

“How-how do you know her?  Did you do something to her!!!”

“I have to repeat myself, don’t I?  Look, I met her today at Brown Gold at the Plaza of Dusk.  I don’t want to have a repeat of what happened this morning so are you coming or not?”

“What if I don’t want to?”

“...”

“Your name.”

“What?”

“Your name.  I never asked.”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?”

“If there’s at least one thing you can do for me, how about that?”

“...”

“Resistance.  Ohm LaResistance.  Ponies just call me Resistance.”

“Resistance.  Hmm.  Seems fitting,” Ampere said, his last breath an utterance.

“What was that?”

“Nothing.”

Yet another pause of silence.  Resistance looked around, left to right.  Ampere sighed and walked over to his chair.  Resistance was cautious and wore a stern countenance.  He sat down.  Resistance was still worrisome, as he hung over the desk, letting his feet kick back and forth.

“So why’d you do it?”

“What?”

“The wallet.  Now this.  Did you plan on stealing something from me?”

Resistance’s childish instincts overcame his will and he let spilt the first cracks of truth.  “I... I followed you here.  To-to your work.  At least I’m thinking it’s your work.  You’ve got a nameplate, an office, the works.”

“And you planned on stealing something from my office?”

“No!  Well, I-I.  That was... it was um-it was something I did think about but-“

Ampere sighed, “Look, I don’t care anymore.  I just don’t care.  If you stole something like a pencil then just keep it.  I won’t tell.  Let’s just get you back to your mother.  Deal?”

“S-sure.  Yeah.”

The two began walking outside of his office and began to trot downstairs.  Ampere approached reception desk with Resistance cowering behind his moves - like a lost child without a father, hoping that familiar blood would be a source of comfort.

“Sodia.  I’m checking out for twenty minutes.  Time:  12:04 P.M.”

“But, what for?” said Sodia, amazed that Ampere would deter from his regular schedule.  She thought she knew enough of his pattern.

“This kid got lost in the office.”  He motioned his head towards Resistance.

“But I’ve never seen him before, how did he get in?  Oh, and he looks scared...” Sodia said as she was working up a friendly smile.  She picked up a lollipop from her desk and stood up to hoof it over to Resistance.

“What’s your name little fella?”

Resistance took the offering.  “R-resistance.  T-thanks.”

“Aw, you don’t have to be afraid of me!  Why I’m-”

“Sodia.”  Ampere severed.  “We’ll be leaving now.”

“Y-yes Ampere.”

“Like I said, I’ll be back in twenty.  Make note of any messages I get within the period.  Other than that, business as usual.”

“Yes sir.”

Ampere left off a small sigh.

“Let’s go now.”

The two headed for the door and trotted off for Volta’s apartment.