Thursday, July 9, 905 CE. 6:53 AM.
I'm in my apartment, number 36, in progress with hacking an unspecified section of the New Lunar Republic's military casualty logs. Ebony Aura's the real deal with it comes to the real guts of hacking - I actually owe her all I know, not to mention showing me the true face of the NLR. If I hadn't confronted her that one day in high school, I wouldn't be where I am today.
Wednesday, May 21, 904 CE. 11:31 AM.
I make my way to one select lunch table of thirty others, a tray of monotonous foods and plastic cup of processed water hovering in front of me, both surrounded by a deep red aura. The nearest end of the table is unoccupied, thank Luna, yet it's unfortunately closely monitored by a Davy's gray mare. Most of her black mane covered by a pastel red bandana and her face now looking at another pony opposite of my general direction, I cannot clearly identify her. Maintaining my momentum, I continue walking towards the empty seating space. As I get closer, I can clearly make out what they're saying.
"...eah, the bastard that told me to save him a seat."
"Did he really?" utters the cerulean mare she's speaking to.
"I fool you not," she replies. "He actually gave me two bits."
The other one begins laughing hysterically, her short, six-colour mane jittering about. "What a bucking idiot!" she bellows between laughs.
Good grief, my vision's really wearing out... There's Rainbow Dash. She's just about as self-centered and brutal as a Senior pegasus can get. She's known across the entire school, a panicked discussion about her at almost every corner. She's relatively kind and forgiving when she's not in a bad mood, which only occurs once in a blue moon, I dare say, unless she's with a certain other pony. Now that I think about it, this does seem to be the pony Rainbow usually hangs out with. But just to be sure...
"I know, right!? What was he thinking?"
Just about finishing her laughter prematurely, Rainbow looks at me with her narrowed cerise eyes, points a hoof and says "You're a sad bucking wretch, you know that!?"
Slightly shaken by the statement, I flatten my ears. Just as I open my mouth to speak, the grey mare turns to me and swiftly back at Rainbow.
"Dash!" she exclaims. "This isn't him!"
"Oh, ponyfeathers..." Rainbow leans forward. "Look, I didn't mean that. I thought you were somepony else."
"It's fine," I mutter coyly.
"What was that?"
"It's fine."
"Alright, then." She looks back at the grey mare, resuming the conversation she was previously in. "Did he say anything else?"
I suppose it isn't a direct confrontation, but remains as a technical confrontation nonetheless.
Later on, she asked to meet up with me in a certain area in the courtyard for a sort of briefing. She thought I had the stuff for the task in mind, something about "a look in my eyes."
Wednesday, May 21, 904 CE. 12:03 PM.
There she stands, near the SouthEast staircase, consistently scanning the courtyard for my face. I've yet to understand why she wanted to meet me near the end of lunch. Her eyes widen when she catches my luminescent white eyes, and waves a hoof in the air for my attention. As I don't want to keep her waiting, I swiftly approach her.
"What eyes?" I humour once within an adequate distance for regular conversing.
She chuckles under her breath. "Nevermind that. Listen, I just need some minor assistance while I'm infiltrating the school's database. One of my brothers who attended this school was murdered by another anonymous student. There's information the school has but desperately hid from the police department. They feared that their reputation was on the line if the police department knew of the precise details. Anyway, It'll be a swift one-two-three; look for the casualty log, download it, and get right out of the system before anyone catches us. I'll take care of the rest. Now, I can teach you the basics after school, and then we'll get started in Mrs. Hail's IIT class during seventh period tomorrow. However, if you don't think you're up for it, I can send you on your way and we shall never speak of this again. It's your choice. Get it thought out quickly, though, because we don't have much time."
"This isn't just something minor," I imply. "You're talking about illegally accessing their database."
"Are you in or not?" she stresses, desparate for a final decision. It is critically nearing the end of lunch, which would explain why she's in a slight panic. "We'll sort out the details later. Just give me an answer right now."
I couldn't let her down. With the information she chooses to share, it does seem legitimate. I emit a lowly sigh before finally responding. "Alright, I'm in."
Just then, the transition bell rings - just in time, too.
Thank Luna I had made that hasty decision; as much as I insisted it was my pleasure, Aura continually expressed more gratitude than expected; this brother of hers seemed to be very important to her. Nonetheless, she did not go easy on me after school. As heartening as the memory may be, It'd be best I focus on the task at hoof. I cannot afford any more delays.
Thursday, July 9, 905 CE. 6:55 AM.
The mouse's incessant clicking becoming somewhat annoying, I sigh in relief once I successfully execute the download. My body was ready...to give out on itself, I was so tired. I drag myself to the dirty, ragged mattress just behind my work station and fall right into a blissful sleep, not even bothering to throw the scruffy navy blue blanket over me, despite the bitter cold temperature in my apartment. I don't care about any of that anymore; I've finished an all-nighter task, and some shuteye is just what I need.
Thursday, July 9, 905 CE. 7:00 AM.
A sudden droning noise suffering major corruption jolts me awake. A groan of grief and fatigue slip through my gritted teeth as I push my weight against gravity and sit upright. The back of the room's wall, the source itself being my laptop's monitor, is overlayed by a distinct blue hue, one I utterly loathed to ever see again. Just barely able to lift myself in bed, I'm not too keen on trying to get on all fours. It was mandatory, nonetheless; with my first attempt, the weariness took great effect, making my regular body weight seem five times heavier.
I eventually reach my work station and lift the portable intercom to my ear as if it were a mobile telephone.
"Hey, Aura, I need a bit of help here."
...
No response.
"Aura?"
I bring the device in front of my face and squint my eyes. How embarrassing it was to discover that I had to hold the button for the device to detect sound. With said button held, I repeat my distress call.
"Aura, I need a bit of help here."
"Shadow!" she abruptly replies in a gleeful tone. "It's the fourth time you called me today!"
She takes a sudden pause for whatever reason, and with her attention in my hoof, I therefore choose to address the issue.
"What the buck is it now?"
The abrupt interruption catches me off-guard. "I was just about to tell you," I mutter, stress clearly expressed. With yet another sigh, I resume in my attempt to state the problem. "I got another bluescreen, this time during a download."
"Yeah? What's it say this time?"
"Let's see..." I quickly scan through the report, looking for anything of interest. "It says here that Hor.exe is the source of the error."
Her tone suddenly changes. "You received this error during the download, correct?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, buck..."
"'Oh, buck'? It's probably just another-"
"Shadow, you need to get out of there!"
My brain's slow to pick up, but it eventually got the message; I've been caught. "Oh, Tartarus..."
"If the error just occured, they'll be on your flank real fast - E.T.A. 10 minutes!"
A place immediately came to mind: Checkpoint A. They've never received information too quickly, so I might have a chance at slipping into the Eastern territory.
"I'm heading to Checkpoint A."
"Are you bucking crazy!? You'll be shot down by Luna's private militia!"
"You and I both know the security guards in Checkpoint A are some slow ponies."
"No, Shadow, I'm referring to the militia patrolling the streets!"
One of Luna's private militias, the LMC - short for Lunar Military Company and the abbreviation itself often used to identify their hardened soldiers - is a sort of prestige system, where the few of her best-trained experts in marksmanship picked from the crowd of 200 other veterans are given a privilage to rank up from Private. The select few that make it to the LMC show undying loyalty to Princess Luna and the Lunar Republic as well as demonstrating stellar marksmanship, lightning-fast reflexes, and eyes of griffons. With the LMC roaming the streets, aware of my presence, it's practically a death wish to step outside. I have a chance, though, so it's worth a try. There's always a chance.
My M1911SD within range, I drag it towards me and check for ammunition. "It's not the greatest idea, I know, but I have to try." Having verified the handgun is loaded with a full magazine and a chambered bullet, I reinsert the magazine. "Farewell, Aura. May our paths cross in the future."
"Shadow, wait!"
I lay the portable intercom back on my desk, refusing to respond to her.
"Shadow? Shadow, please don't ignore me!"
I'm wasting time.
"Shadow!"
If I’m going to successfully slip past the LMC, I’m going to need a disguise. There’s no time to conceive an alias, I can only pray that Checkpoint A hasn’t been informed of me just yet.
First thing’s first – how am I going to disguise myself?
With a glare towards my ragged navy blue blanket, an invisible lightbulb illuminates directly above my head. I instantaneously snatch the blanket, throw it on my back, and tie two corners together at my neck.
…Ponyfeathers, I’m going to need more than this.
I sit down on the cold, wooden floor, hoof on chin and glaring around the room, looking for a way I could cover my face while still appearing normal.
That’s it! I can use that old, black fedora a friend of mine bequeathed upon me before his departure to the Solar Empire’s province. Despite his betrayal, I’ve treasured the worn piece of apparel, and Luna’s sake, I’m glad I did!
I swipe a Duffel bag from under my work station’s table. The lack of apparel filling the bag gives it a lumpy appearance and not as much weight as one would expect, in spite of the fact that these are usually made of some thick fabric. I open the Duffel bag, only to find miscellaneous attire. Doubting the fedora had just disappeared, I shuffle the clothing inside, hoping it’s just hidden under the other clothing. With luck on my side, the fedora was infact under a familiar tattered red vest. I examine the hat to check for any damage or imperfections, and then if I’ve yet to outgrow it. The hat hovers above me and slides itself over my head, my horn sliding through an intentionally-created hole in the front.
Still fits.
I lift the back of the hat to conceal my excessively-long mane within it.
Let’s see… What else am I missing? …Oh, the portable flash drive; I’m going to need that!
As I grab the flash drive, a thought gets me wondering.
But Tartarus, if they catch me, all my data’s going to the NLR’s records. There has to be some way I can preserve it. …Gah! Think, Shadow, think! You’re running out of time!
…
Aura! Ah, but she probably hates me for what I did… Such a betrayal is never so easily forgiven, but it's still worth a shot. After all, someone once told me that you never know until you give it a try.
With a flip of the gun, I slip it into a leather holster and strap said holster around my neck.
Hopefully I'll only use this as a last resort. The last thing I need is to be tried in court for treason AND first degree murder.
I levitate the portable intercom to my mouth, ready to speak. I hesitate prior to pressing the button.
"Aura?"
I wait patiently for a reply. Eventually, she picks up.
"Shadow."
...
"Aura, listen. I-"
"Are you aware," she intercepts, "how distressing it is to know a close friend of yours is in harm's way, and they deliberately restrict communication? Do you have any bucking idea!?"
"Aura, I-"
"It's not just distressing, but also rude! Betrayal, even! It-"
"Aura!"
"Don't 'Aura' me, you bastard! I'm not done with you!"
"Just say what you needed to say already!"
"I was going to offer you to duck in my place, but nooooo, you just blocked me out! You couldn't even devote ten bucking seconds to listen to me!?"
Three heavy knocks sound off, their source being the door.
"This is the LMC," shouts a mare. "Drop any and all weapons or you will be shot!"
"Excuse you," I snap, "Madam Trigger Hoof McRude-Flank! I'm tryna have a conversation here!"
"McRude-Flank," Aura echoes. "Quite hypocritical, when you really think about it."
I squeeze a few words through compressed laughter, just barely coming out as "Ah, buck you, too!"
"This is your final warning!" the LMC operative affirms. "Drop your weapon and surrender! Now!"
"...Wait, what?"
"I'm not going to repeat myself!" She rams something into the door.
"No, I'm not referring to that-"
The same slamming noise recurs.
"And stop banging on my door for a sec! What did you say you were?"
"LMC - the Lunar Military C-"
"LMC? Luna's sake, why didn't you say so?"
"I did, you idiot!"
"Oh." While she waits for anything else I may have to say, I corner myself behind the door. Just then, the door nearly snaps in half as she rams right into it. Her pink hooves grasping an assault rifle equipped with an underbarrel flashlight, she scans the room up and down, thoroughly searching for any trace of me - except for behind the fragile, grey-painted wooden door currently shielding me.
She releases the foregrip previously held by her left hoof to grasp an object attached on the chest area of her uniform. Her right hoof, still firmly holding onto the pistol grip, rests on the floor for support. "PFC Pinkamena Pie to Base," she says through her walkie talkie. "Come in, Base."
"...ase to P...kamena... ...your status?"
"Shadowdancer is no longer in the vicinity. I repeat, we've lost sight of the target. Over."
"...None of...reinforcem... ...to have seen the t... He m... still be in th... ...Put... on lockdown..."
"Sir, there's civilians within the hotel. Are you sure that's-"
"We'll have... ...nforceme...s evac... each ...maining c... Focus on ...ain obj..."
"Sir, I-"
"Pinkamena, I will n... ...rgue with you ...ny longer."
"Yes, sir." She emits a lowly sigh before turning to her companion. "Alright, let's move out." The two march along the hallway, their hoofsteps eventually dissipating to soundlessness.
I appear from behind the door, utterly shocked and with no clue as to why she did not search everywhere. The only excuse anywhere near logical is that she's a Private First Class.
"We gonna get back to arguing? Or have you decided to come with me?" Aura asks in a certain tone, as if expecting me to select the second choice.
Remaining somewhat shocked, I hesitate to reply. "The latter."
"Alright, but you owe me."
"Deal."