The Game: Chapter 3

By: AlphaOmega

November 13, 11:30 P.M, Slums near Cloppington

"I said two pounds of ammunition and three bombs!" The charcoal pony at the end of the table yelled, spit flying everywhere. "I knew you were useless! That cutie mark is good for 2 things: Shooting and killing. Damn delivery services...If you can't do the job right, I'll look for someone else!"

What a disgusting pony, I thought. Perhaps his mother never hugged him and even when she did, she did it to take the money out of his saddle.

I recollected my thoughts along with the items I had dropped off. "So are you saying you WON'T pay for this?" I instinctively moved for my holster. His eyes caught the movement. Feeling a gut instinct, he coughed some alcohol out and began to simmer.

"Look, Gunz, this ain't good for business if you keep attacking your customers. And I am useless to the higher-ups if I'm dead. So I'll cut you a deal." He smiled. I never did enjoy the smile of a man I know as Double Dealer. Perhaps it was the cutie mark of a knife in another pony's body or the countless deals he had cheated out of me for years.

"No deals, Double. I want the money I'm owed. You know some gets lost in transport. If you don't appreciate the trouble and the price, then I'll take this and go." I put on my best face. My cutie mark may not have been cards, but I had a decent poker face.

The black stallion just huffed. Then sighed. "It's not that I don't appreciate it Twins, it's just that the people who REALLY want these keep askin' for more. I can't do much about it." He moved to get another bottle of rum, or whatever you could smuggle in.

"Well it is hard when the Raiders keep attacking." I argues. "Hasn't the Council decided on anything concerning those thugs?"

He merely aimed a glance at me. "How should I know? I'm just the middle man. But I will give you advice: Celestia gave you that cutie mark for a reason. Perhaps it's time to-"

"No."

"Can't blame me for trying. You know the job would be easier if you just got rid of the road blocks, right?" He did have a point.

I shook my head. "You know damn well why I don't use my Talent anymore." I moved to gather my things, including the empty holster. "Speed is better. I can outwit the enemy and out run them; why do I need to make it bloody?"

The dark stallion merely smiled. "Because that is the way our life works!" He said excitedly. "A bullet for a bullet; an eye for an eye. That's the way it works here in Cloppins. No shame in it, either. Celestia or Luna doesn't give a damn about this city, neither does the companies. We're just shit to them, to be used and then thrown away." He looked at me, contempt in his eyes. "You know this."

I couldn't argue. My job was to make deliveries, nothing more. "I'll pay you this time." Double Dealer announced. "But this may be the last job. I keep getting crap from the higher ups. I'll throw in your bonus." He stood up to leave the meeting place. Then paused as half his frame was out the door. "To the usual location?" He inquired.

"3000 bits to the usual." I responded. He laughed out loud. "Funny?"

"Ya know, I always wondered why you asked me this favor. Most ponies don't give a crap about their loved ones in this city. I wonder why you haven't changed?" He explained. A knife appeared next to his head. He didn't flinch at all.

"One more word," I warned, "And you can drink out of the hole in your head." He merely sneered and left. As did I.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cloppington, city of smugglers. Cloppins as it was known by around my parts. I never really liked the inner city, much too violent and smoky. But in the Slums, it wasn't much different. Violent was rampant, freedom have a misguided notion, and no one cared about you unless you were someone that made lots of money.

I love this town.

My job is easy enough. I make deliveries to various buyers; more of a middle man really. I do my job well enough at a fair price. Only problem was that I had to deal with horrible customers. Oh, they were nice enough when getting started, but when you work with them often enough, they tend to get kinda nasty when not all their goods get to the specified location.

So what do I deliver? None your damn business. That's the way it works.

After the meeting, I decided to blow off some steam. There was a pretty nice bar a few blocks away and had cheap booze. On top, I just got paid a decent amount. The landlord could wait a few more hours.

I trotted at an even pace. The night was feeling rather excited, I could feel it. The knife in my holster was ready just in case someone-or some pony- decided I was an easy mark. Fortunately, only a few travelers passed my way. Except one.

"OOOf!" I yelled. "Watch were your goin' punk!" I made sure to check my saddle. Everything was still there. Never know when someone's gonna pull a "bump and lift".

The robbed figure merely smiled. "My apologies." It walked away as if nothing happened. I was able to deduce a few things. Her horn was obvious. So definitely a unicorn. Which meant it was a pony. Interesting. The types you meet around here were usually earth ponies or Pegasi, such as myself, running deliveries.

I shrugged it off as I passed near my complex. I stared up at the massive stone building. Certainly beautiful at one point, it was not just an annoying and loud place to live in. But it was good for my job and paycheck, when I did get one. I had a bed, radio, a stove, and water. That was everything I really needed. When some preferred to have a gun, I decided a knife was easier. Speed weapon for a speed pegasus.

I kept on going. The bar's sign lit up. "Jack's Pub" illuminated the night sky, which was a surprise. Usually, the dark clouds of smoke coming from the city covered the night sky to the point that you could not see anything. Yet on this night, I could see stars. Perhaps the factories had taken a day off? PFFFT yeah right.

As I walked in, the heat of the closed bar hit me. The noise and smell of booze brought me back to the real world. The same crowd was here. Heavy Drinker, another delivery pegasus, was drinking rather...heavily. Another in the dark corner, Stalker, was enjoy a cup of coffee (it may have been a bar, what there was coffee and even milk for the less daring). A griffin name Gazer was talking to a customer, probably on a hitman deal. She made a good deal of money but did have a habit of accidentally killing several other obstacles in the process. Oh, and she insists I owe her a favor for something.

"Hey Jack!" I called over to the bartender. He strolled over. "Well if it ain't good 'ol Gunz. How's the evenin'?" The smell of the alcohol he should be selling instead of drinking hit me.

"Nothing much mate. Just another delivery. The usual."

"Ahh," he sighed. "Another night?"

Jack The Donkey was a rather interesting character. He seemed to pick up hints and catch small tid- bits of info. He knew more about the ponies in this room than what was outside. Then again, he did live here...

"You know the answer to that." I replied. In this business, it was important to remember customer confidentiality. Even after a hard job, complaining could lead to complications, especially if certain parties overheard about it. It had happened more than once in the past and did tend to happen at this bar.

Jack just walked away. He never pushed further than needed. As I continued my drink, I went over a mental checklist in my mind. I had to make another delivery tomorrow. Then I would check in on the twins. No doubt they were giving their mother a hard time. And then-

"NO ONE MOVE! THIS IS THE POLICE!" An officer yelled as he ran in, guns blazing. Behind him, a squad of various police officers strolled in. Taking positions the head honchos of the group walked in. They were a real eyesore.

I noticed as some patrons of the bar began either slowly unsheathe weapons or move towards an exit. This would not end well.

"Officers!" Jack came over. "He's over there!" The donkey pointed...at me.

"Hey what's the big idea!" I yelled. Two officers came over to me. Judging from badge on an approaching griffin's uniform, I was about to be confronted with the captain.

"Hello, gutter monkey." The captain said. "You are under arrest for suspicion of the bombing of the bombing of the Monument. You have the right to remain silent..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1:25 A.M. Cloppington County Jail

Yeah, this is going nowhere, I thought. How to get the damn pegasus to talk. He certainly refused to give up any information on the bombing. He even seemed to not know anything about it. Unfortunately, the evidence was damning.

Analysis’s had gone over the information gathered at the bomb site of The Monument. 8 dead, all currently unidentified. The bomb was made from a high quality bomb material that would require "delivery services", some that this pony would have connections to. Yet, he had no recall of any such deliveries. Either that, or he just refused to talk.

On top of that, his very same hair was found at the scene of the crime. This may be just an attempt to throw us off. Nonetheless, I don't enjoy playing mind games with criminals.

I stared at the accused. He had a smug smile on his face. I didn't have time for that.

"Answer the Celestia-damned question!" Vintard yelled. "Why was your hair at the scene of the crime when you were nowhere near it?" The accused began to speak, "I know why. No need to say. You simply sent some poor foal to their death. You are just a courier, correct?" The accused just sat there, refusing to speak.

Vintard slapped him. "We don't have time for your minotaur shit. People are dying. What is your motive? Who is your leader!? Why-"

"Enough!" I yelled. "Vintard, you are excused."

"But-"

"DISMISSED!" I yelled at the Lieutenant. With one last glare at the accused, he left the room. I breathed a sigh of relief. He was a good officer, but certainly not the kindest. I took a seat opposite from the pegasus.

"I apologize for my partner." I began.

He let out a grumpy sigh. "I've seen worse. Why am I here? I don't understand. I was-"

"Nowhere near the site, I know." I finished. "Here, why don't I explain. Sit back a little and listen because this story does take quite a bit of time to tell." The pegasus did so, but clearly ready to pounce on any sign of weakness.

~~~~~~~~~~

Testimony of Captain Saber Eye:

It all began around 9:20 A.M. this morning of November 13. We received a letter from an anonymous source that bombs had been set up. Naturally, we started asking questions. However, we knew nothing about this random threat notice. It seemed completely out of the blue.

At approximately 11:00 A.M., a bomb went off in the tunnels of a coal mine. 7 total dead out of 22 regular miners who go in.

A few hours later, another bomb went off at the Monument in Cloppington Park. That is where you come in. Strands of your mane were found at the site, the middle no less, where all the other civilians were dead.

We have gone look for anyone who may have seen it or have some connections. Your hair samples are all we had.

~~~~~~~~~~

As I finished my little speech, I took out a lighter and cigarette and decided to calm my nerves. Hopefully, he knew just what he needed to know. The other bombing and arrest were unnecessary for him to know. Perhaps a slip of the tongue would lead to something.

"Now my question is-"

BOOOOOM!

"What the-"

An officer slammed open the door. "Captain! A bomb just went off in the east wing! We don't-OOF!" Too my shock, the smuggler had taken this moment to attempt and escape.

"Shit!" I reached for my radio. "Vintard! The pegasus is getting away! Apprehend him at all costs!" A crackle later. "Roger! I see him! He is heading for the front gate!"

Damnit! If he got away, they would lose their only lead. He could set up the electric fence, but that may kill the pegasus. Then it hit me.

The Electric fence was on in the front at night. The bombing had occurred in east wing, the same room as the electric generator for the gate. And a bomb just happened to go off and the suspect escaped. It was no wonder he was so calm.

There was a spy in the police force.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was certainly a rough escape. I assumed that the explosion had occurred on accident. Of course, I took the chance to escape.

"Captain! A bomb just went off in east wing! We don't-OOF!" I ran to the officer with my hooves tied. I quickly knocked him over and grabbed a master key. I never knew my pick pocketing skills would help me so much. The stunned captain quickly regained his senses and called for his little bitch to come find me.

The hallway of the detention center were on the opposite side of the entire facility. Thankfully, the smoke and fire hadn't come this far yet. I ran down the halls. A few other prisoners cried out.

"Help me, bro! I don't wanna die here!"

"Hey you! How'd ya get that key?"

I ignored it all. My life came first. And the master key may come in handy again. As I passed the last cell, a hoof reached out and tripped me. I turned to yell, but the glare froze me for a moment. The figure spoke. "You are more important than you know."

I didn't have time to mess with the random message. I grabbed my saddle at the end of the hallway and made a run for the exit.

~~~~~~~~~~~

GUNZ'S WISH: DISCOVER THE BOMBER and CLEAR HIS NAME.

CAPTAIN SABER EYE'S WISH: DISCOVER THE TRAITOR, CATCH GUNZ, and DISCOVER THE BOMBER.

Author's Note

Chapter 4 and 5 will be coming out near Christmas.