Broken Mirror, Part One

Equestrian Wasteland, Exact Location Unknown

Dusk stepped out of the portal into a room lit by sunlight streaming in through cracks in the roof. “Let’s see…” He looked down at the pipbuck and pulled up the map. Fetlock?” He muttered. Zooming out, he got a better view of the surrounding area. “Alright, just outside Manehattan. I can work with that.”

Meteor was the last one through the portal, swinging his revolver around the room slowly as he searched for targets. “Nothing here?”

Dusk looked back down at the pipbuck, checking the IFF marker. “I’m not seeing anything.”

Steeljack clambered up one of the damaged walls, peering out through the cracked wall. “Looks like we’re in an office park.” He jumped down, landing in a crouch.

“Does Fetlock mean anything to you Steeljack?”

The stallion shook his head. “Just a town outside of Manehattan.” The portal kicked off and shot out a small array of sparks from its control terminal.

“Guess we’re not going back through there.” Muttered Strike.

“We don’t even know where we’re going, do we?” Asked Meteor.

“I know somepony who might.” Suggested Steeljack. “DJ Pon3. I don’t know how, but she usually knows what’s going on.”

“Where is she?” Asked Dusk.

“Her studio is at Tenpony Tower.” Replied Steeljack. “Hell, just turn on your radio. Ususally she’s broadcasting something.”

Dusk nodded and clicked on the radio and was met with a melody from a closing song.

Zzztttt… “Aaaannnnd hello children! This is DJ Pon3 coming out to all of you enjoying this wonderful day in the Equestrian Wasteland. It’s as if apocalyptia is the new normal.”

“Sounds more like a colt to me…” Noted Comet.

“Voice changing mic. Good disguise to use.” Replied Cosmo.

“Now we’ve got some juicy news for all of you today. We’ve got reports coming in that some newcomers to the wasteland scene are out looking somepony. Damn, isn’t that the story of my life? And guess what, they’re looking for little-ole’ me.”

“Dusk, is she talking about us?” Asked Strike. “It’s just plain creepy.”

“If you’re listening, no I’m not god. I’m just that good. So what are you waiting for Dusk? You and your friends swing on by, I’ll tell the colts downstairs to expect you. Now, let’s change gears for a minute and get down with some of that smooth music from yesterday. Ain’t that a kick in the head?”

Dusk clicked off the radio and stared at Steeljack. “Is it normal for this DJ to call ponies out like that?”

Steeljack shrugged. “She did some similar stuff when I was traveling with Star. Hell, she did that to Littlepip, the Security Mare… And plenty others that catch her attention.”

“I guess we’re just that important then.” Dusk led the group out of the building, emerging in a dilapidated office park. “Let’s see…” Dusk looked down at his pipbuck and pulled the map up. “Looks like we’re headed southwest.”

The group began the long walk towards the city. Clearing the town, they came up on a ridge overlooking what was left of Manehattan. “I’m sorry, we’re going there?” Asked Strike.

Dusk dropped down the cliff and landed in a puddle. “You have better places to be Strike?” As the others made their way down the cliff face, Dusk stopped near a gate into a small cave. “You guys hold here. I’m gonna take a peak down the rabbit hole.” Before any complaints could be made, the unicorn was through the gate and into the dark cavern. He pulled out his light and clicked it on, shining it around the cavern before stopping on a yellow glint under a cloth. “What do we have here?”

Dusk walked over and pulled the cloth away to reveal a dead royal guard, flesh long given way to bone. On the corpse’s arm was a pipbuck with some tapes scattered around, which he promptly scooped up. Dusk looked around the cave again, noticing three other cloths and a corpse slumped up against the wall near where he walked in, wrapped in a makeshift blanket. Further examination revealed all wore black pipbucks and had similar armor, yet unlike the first none had any tapes like the first body. “What happened here?” He muttered as he walked out of the cave.

“Find anything interesting?” Asked Steeljack as Dusk emerged from the darkness.

“Bunch of dead guards and some old tapes.” Replied the unicorn.

“So nothing that can’t wait?” Asked Meteor. As Dusk nodded, the old stallion started walking down the hill. “Then let’s get moving. We’re burning daylight as it is.”

______________________________________________________________________________

East End of the Luna Line, five hours later

“Are we there yet?” Asked Strike. The group had reached the Luna Line’s northeastern end an hour prior, and were busy hiking down the crumbling tracks in the waning afternoon light.

“Dusk, it might be a good idea to find a place to camp for the night.” Suggested Steeljack. “We aren’t too far from Grand Central. We can lay low there, then get to Tenpony in the morning. Should be about a twenty minute walk come morning.”

“Then let’s just keep going!” Insisted Dusk as he clambered over a chunk of concrete that fell from a leaning building off to the side of the tracks.

“Do you really think that’s wise?” Asked Meteor. “We’re in unfamiliar territory with no guarantee of continued safe passage.”

Dusk sighed. “Fine, but we sleep in shifts. You, Comet and Strike sleep first. Me, Steeljack and Dart will keep the perimeter secure.”

Dart punched Dusk’s shoulder. “Did you stop to think I’d like to get some sleep?”

“You can sleep later.” Said Dusk as the group entered the platforms for the crumbling station. “We’ll hold up in the old info booth. Steeljack, get up top. Dart, take one end, I’ll take the other. Anypony on break, take the middle.”

Dusk took a seat at the east end of the booth, propping his feet up and fishing out one of the tapes he found earlier. There was a number one scrawled across a worn label. He pushed it into the slot under the top of the pipbuck’s screen and pulled back the pair of headphones from next to the slot. “Let’s see what you have to say…”

“Canterlot Second Guard Division, Alpha Company, Lieutenant Dusk Light commanding. October 10th, 2077. Princess Celestia teleported us out of the capitol to some sort of bunker outside of Manehattan. Damn, this place is fully equipped. Comms, life support, stocked armory… I’d rather be in Canterlot. I don’t trust half of those recruits to keep her and Luna safe. Well, at least we’re not getting pelted with cruise missiles.”

Dusk stayed still as the tape popped out of the pipbuck, indicating it had run through its message. “Son of a bitch…” He muttered. He popped in the tape labeled two.

“Canterlot Second Guard Division, Alpha Company, Lieutenant Commander Dusk Light commanding. October 25th 2077… Damn, that sounds weird saying that. ‘Lieutenant Commander’… Anyway, I’m getting ahead of myself. Two days ago we lost contact with Cloudsdayle. At first I thought it was a glitch with our gear, at least until the damage reports came in. Damn Zebras broke out balefire-tipped cruise missiles. After that, we started losing contact with other posts. Splendid Valley and Maripony were the next to go. Gramps called in from Canterlot and transferred command of the Second Division to me along with the promotion. We lost contact right after that. I’m guessing Manehattan got hit from how the bunker shook. After that… Who knows? We still haven’t been able to raise anypony outside the bunker. For now, I’m assuming that we’re all that’s left of the Equestrian military. Might as well keep a tally… As of now we have fifty ponies still active in Alpha Company, including myself. I’ll try to keep these tapes as logs. Dusk out.”

Dusk grabbed the tape as it was ejected from its port. He sat back in the chair and let his arms go limp, his headphones getting torn away from his ears. “That was me back in the cave. I…” Dusk fished out the third tape, turning it over in his hand before pushing it into the pipbuck and replacing his headphones.

“October 30th, 2077… Comet managed to get the comms working again, got an uplink running with the MAS hub inside the city. I’m impressed that the MAS eggheads thought ahead to install a massive shield spell. Damn, how’d they do it? I’m getting off track again, aren’t I? Yah… Anyway, we know there’s ponies surviving in the tower. Civvies from the looks of it. Just can’t get in contact with them, but we can see them and hear them. Wonders of modern surveillance technology, right? Got a good look at the crater south of the tower with those cameras. Not many intact structures left, but it looks like there’s something on the northwest side of the city. Once the radiation dies out, we’ll have to investigate. Dusk out.

Dusk moved to pull the tape, but it didn’t pop put. Instead, it continued with another message.

“November 1st, 2077. Yah, that trip to Manehattan isn’t happening. The one working camera near the entrance is showing black rain. Geiger counter is off the charts right now. Lucky us, we’re safe down here… I hope.”

The tape finally popped out, and Dusk replaced it in one of his side pouches. He sat in the chair for what felt like hours while he just thought about what he had heard.

“Something on your mind?” Asked Dart as she walked in to Dusk’s end of the booth. “It’s time to change shifts if you aren’t too occupied.”

Dusk got out of his chair and followed Dart into the middle of the booth, passing Comet as he walked in and found a makeshift bed by the wall. “Is it a problem that I’m feeling tired all of the sudden?”

“I wouldn’t blame you.” Dart plopped down in the bed, tossing her jacket to the side. “You coming?”

Dusk got down in the bed with Dart, grabbing her jacket and tossing it over the two of them as a makeshift blanket. “You think that this DJ will be any help?” he asked.

“You ask like I’m supposed to know.”

Dusk pulled Dart closer, and she reciprocated by resting her head in the crook of his neck. “I know you don’t… I could just use some good news right now.” Dusk felt Dart’s brow contort in confusion. “Dart, those tapes I found…” He paused to think of his words carefully. “Some of what I’ve heard is bugging me a bit. It’s all post-war logs from a surviving guard commander-”

“Dusk, just don’t think about it.” Replied Dart as she tugged on the coat a bit. “That was what, two centuries ago? Why don’t we worry about what’s in front of us instead?”

______________________________________________________________________________

Dusk had dozed off for a few hours, waking while the early morning light was starting to stream through the train shed’s remaining stained glass windows. His pipbuck read 5:30 AM. Tossing the jacket off, he hauled himself to his feet and walked out of the info booth.

“Sleep well?” Asked Meteor as he climbed down from the roof.

“As well as I could.” He replied.

Meteor sat down on a bench propped up against the wall of the booth. “You think we’ll ever get home?”

Dusk sat down next to his grandfather and groaned. “Maybe… I just don’t know how at the moment.”

“So we’re on a suicide mission then?”

“Most definitely.” Affirmed Dusk.

Dart walked out of the booth, followed by Comet and Strike. “Think it’s time to get moving?” She asked. “That isn’t to say I’m not looking forward to another night sleeping on a pile of cardboard.”

“Alright, I get it. Let’s roll.” Dusk walked out the west end of the platform into the early light of the morning.

The walk down the tracks towards Tenpony Tower didn’t take long; after a few minutes the tower was visible from their path. “Steeljack, are there any other settlements around here?” Asked Meteor.

“Friendship City, assuming it’s still there. Bunch of ponies took up residence in an old statue down at the mouth of the harbor. Beyond that, I’d assume any intact buildings in the city are still abandon or have been taken over by raiders.”

“So it’s a city of sinners then?” Wondered Comet out loud.

“And we’re the saints.” Retorted Strike. “Ain’t that fucked up?” He stopped short when a piece of rock was sent flying by an impact, leaving a small crater in the concrete. “Sniper!”

Two other nicks were taken out of the concrete. “Anypony see him?” Asked Dusk as he swung out his shotgun.

Another round impacted, sending a chunk of concrete flying to the left. “Right side, right side!” Yelled Strike as he jumped over another bullet. “Old hospital at two o’clock. Bastard’s somewhere up high.”

“Just make a break for the tower!” Yelled Dusk as he tore off.

“Think you could wait?!?!” Yelled Dart, ducking on reflex as a bulled sailed past her face. Meteor tore past her and unloaded his revolver at the building. “You know what? Fuck all of you!”

“Pretty sure most cultures consider that cheating!” Yelled Comet as he ran past Dart.

“Oh come on! I’m getting outrun by a nerd!”

Steeljack signed and scooped Dart up over his shoulder and broke into a sprint. “Would now be a bad time for a performance review?”

“Damn right it is!”

“Well too bad.” Retorted the stallion as he passed Comet and Meteor. “You take smartass remarks way to seriously.”

Dart hit Steeljack’s back in frustration. “You’re an ass .”

“Also, you can’t take criticism when under pressure.” He jumped over a fallen out section of the elevated line’s superstructure and continued running. “I’d suggest working on that.”

“Hey, quit the chatter!” Yelled Dusk. As he bounded over a switch in the line, a bullet clipped his leg. “Fuck!” He tried to keep going, but instead fell to the ground behind a concrete barrier between the two tracks, his companions following suit and ducking down with him.

Meteor dragged Dusk closer to the middle of the barrier, looking over the bullet wound. “Took one right in the calf. Doesn’t look like anything important got nicked…”

“You call that unimportant?” Growled Dusk through gritted teeth.

Meteor rolled his eyes and pulled out a can of biofoam and some bandages. “This might sting a bit.” He wrapped the bandage around both sides of Dusk’s leg and slid the injector under it and pulled the pin as Dusk gritted his teeth. “How’s that feel?”

“Like someone injected me with acid.” Groaned the stallion as he propped himself up against the barrier and looked towards the tower. “Well fuck me sideways…”

“What?” Asked Meteor.

“I can see the front door…” He muttered. “And the assholes who won’t come over and help our sorry asses!” He screamed.

“You in good enough shape to stand?”

“Maybe, who’s asking?”

“Steeljack, get Dusk to the tower.” Ordered Meteor. “Once you get there, try and keep that sniper pinned. The rest of us will follow in twos. Got it?”

“Got it.” Steeljack grabbed Dusk under his arm. “Ready?”

Dusk nodded, and Meteor stood up from behind cover. “Suppressing fire!”

Steeljack hauled Dusk to his feet as shell casings from Dart’s SMG started bouncing off the ground. Dusk didn’t pay any mind, he was too busy focusing on the pain in his leg. That changed when he was tossed and landed up against the door to the tower.

“Who the hell are you?”

“We’re the welcoming committee, what do you think?” Retorted Steeljack.

BANG BANG

“Meteor, Dart, now would be a good time to move!” Yelled Steeljack.

Dusk strugged to get to his feet as one of the security guards joined Steeljack, laying down fire towards the old hospital. The other didn’t bother stepping in, simply staying back and fiddling with his… “Hey, what’s that?”

“This?” Asked the guard. “Balefire egg launcher.”

“What’s the range?”

The guard paused and held his launcher defensively. “Hey, I’ve only got three rounds to this thing.”

Dusk rolled his eyes and ripped the launcher out of the guard’s hands with his magic. “Then you’re about to be one short.” He hobbled up to Steeljack and used him to level the launcher.

“Oh, don’t mind me.” He droned sarcastically. “I just live to be a walking bipod.”

Dusk rolled his eyes. “What’s the blast radius on one of these?”

“Enough to rip the top of that hospital off, why?”

Dusk shrugged. “No reason.”

“Ah ha…” Steeljack lowered his rifle. “No need to waste ammo then… Alright, the lot of you get your flanks over here!”

Dart and Meteor were at the front, about halfway from the door when Dusk put his finger to the trigger. “So how’d that old song go?” He wondered aloud, pulling the trigger and sending the egg flying into the floor below the sniper.

SHOOOMMM!!!!

As the mushroom cloud rose through the roof, and the hospital began falling in on itself. “Oh yah. Big badda boom.” The guard ripped his launcher out of Dusk’s hands and smacked him upside his head. “What? Easy solution to an annoying problem.”

“More like using a pistol to kill a parasprite.” Muttered the guard.

“Dusk, your leg.” Mentioned Steeljack.

Dusk looked down, now noticing the blood running down into his boot. “Shit… You guys have a doctor?”

“Let em’ in.” As the door swung open, the guard motioned for the stairs. "Helpinghoof should be two floors up, to the left out the elevator."

Dusk nodded, swinging his shotgun down to use as cane as he hobbled inside.

“How you feeling?” Asked Meteor, finally caught up with the wounded unicorn.

“Eh. Stinging stopped, but the foam didn’t stop all of the bleeding.” Grunted the stallion.

The elevator was already open, being held by a grey mare with a rather bright blue mane that clashed with her simple button-up shirt and vest. “Run in with some raiders?”

“Sniper.” Replied Dusk. “Hey, can you hold the door for a sec?”

“Sure.” Comet and Strike piled in, with Dart and Steeljack slipping to the back of the car. “So, headed to Helpinghoof?” Said the mare as she hit the button.

“He a good doc?” He asked.

“As good as you get around here.” As the door opened, Dusk’s group piled out. “Come see me in the penthouse. I think DJ Pon3 is waiting for you.”

The elevator closed and cut off the mare’s amused expression. “Not even here an hour and the word is already out…” Muttered Dusk as he hobbled towards the doctor’s office. He kicked the door open with his good leg, walking in while ignoring the assistant. “Doctor Helpinghoof?”

The brown colt walked out of the back room, tapping his pencil on a clipboard. “So you’re the bunch of morons who blew up the hospital across from us?”

“Well, not them…” Muttered Dusk. “Just me.”

The doctor rolled his eyes and motioned towards the bed. “So what happened?” he asked as he started pulling the bandage off.

“Sniper round.”

“What caliber?”

Dusk layed back on the bed. “No clue.”

Helpinghoof pulled a chunk of the biofoam out of Dusk’s wound. “What the fuck is this?”

“What? It’s just biofoam.” The doctor’s silence was telling. “It’s a disinfecting and sealing agent primarily used to temporarily patch gunshot and other types of puncture wounds.”

Helpinghoof pulled the last of the material out, shining a light into the wound. “How’s it made?”

Dusk looked over at Dart, who shrugged. “No clue.”

“Then I’ll be keeping this for study if you don’t mind.” Replied the doctor. “Hmm… Looks like a .308 round. Armor piercing from the absence of shrapnel or large cavity.” He got up and walked over to his cabinet. “This stimpack should patch you right up.”

“I’m sorry, but-”

“Did you just walk out of a time machine? These things are so damn common, I’ve got nowhere else to put them!” Hoof jammed the needle into Dusk’s leg next to the wound, injecting the liquid contents. “Give it about a day and you won’t know you got shot in the first place.”

Dusk nodded and got off the table, testing his leg to make sure it would handle his weight. “It’ll do. What do I owe you?”

“Call it square.” Replied the doctor. “Life Bloom, I got a job for you.”

Dusk walked out of the office, the others having already cleared out. “Steeljack, where’s this studio?”

“Penthouse. Elevator should take us there.”

“Alright, you do that.” Added Meteor. “I’ll take Comet and Strike to find some supplies.”

“You have anything to trade?” Asked Steeljack.

Meteor pulled out a small bar of gold, shit-eating grin plastered across his face. “Like hell I do.”

Steeljack rolled his eyes before Dusk dragged him into the open elevator.

______________________________________________________________________________

Tenpony Tower, Radio Studio

Dusk walked out of the elevator into the studio and looked around. “Hello? Anypony here?”

“HELLO CHILDREN!”

Dusk swung out his shotgun and backed towards the elevator. Dart knelt down behind a couch with Steeljack and checked the magazine in her SMG. “DJ Pon3 I presume?”

“You could say that.”

Dusk swung around and shouldered his shotgun towards the grey mare from earlier. “Steeljack did say you’re a mare…” He slung the shotgun back over his shoulder. “So, what’s your real name?”

“Call me Homage.” Said the mare as she brushed by. “Come on, let’s have a bit of one-on-one time.”

Dusk glanced over to Steeljack, who motioned for him to follow the mare upstairs to a small dining room, a microphone on the table. Pulling out a chair, Dusk sat down and stared at Homage as she shut the door behind them. “So what’s this about?”

“You’re out to help the good fight, aren’t you?” She asked.

“You’ll have to bring me up to speed.” Replied Dusk.

“You’re on a mission that’ll make the Wasteland a bit better, right?”

“You could say that…” He muttered.

“Oh come on, don’t be coy with me. It’s not every day that a dead guard walks out of the history books and into my studio.”

Dusk perked up at that. “What are you talking about?”

Homage sighed and levitated a picture frame over to the table, placing it in front of Dusk. “You’ve been here before.”

Dusk looked at the picture, an old print of him in the same living room that he had got off the elevator in standing alongside a mirror image of Dart. “They must have abandoned the bunker…”

“What are you talking about?” Asked Homage.

“Look, that’s not me.” Retorted Dusk. “Well… It is… But it’s complicated.”

“Try me.”

Dusk looked around, grabbing a mirror off the wall with his own magic and bringing it to the table and pointed it at Homage. “Alright, what do you see?”

“Uh… My reflection?”

“So what do you think this picture is?” Asked Dusk.

Homage furrowed her brow at Dusk. “You came through one of the mirrors.”

Dusk started clapping his hands. “Give yourself a round of applause Homage! You got it hook, line and sinker.”

“So then what are you looking for?”

“Information.” Answered Dusk. “I’m looking for an Enclave general, goes by the name West Wind. What do you know about him?”

Homage got up out of her seat, grabbing a notebook off a shelf behind the table. “Name rings a bell… Alright, found him.” She folded the page in question over and tossed the notebook over to Dusk. “You sure he’s a general?”

“Pretty sure…” Muttered Dusk as he flipped to the page Homage had dog-eared. “Dashite… What the hell is a Dashite?”

“Any Pegasus that abandons the Enclave and its ideals are branded traitors, Dashites, after the Minsitry Mare Rainbow Dash. After the Last Day she refused to join the surviving pegasi, believing their isolation and desertion of Equestria was the wrong move.” She answered. “I’ve got to ask though, what makes you think that West Wind is still Enclave?”

“The power armor and hordes of shock troops are a good indicator, if any exists.”

Homage drummed her fingers on the table. “How could a Dashite pull that off…?” She muttered.

“Does it matter?” Questioned Dusk. “He and his allies are responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent ponies.”

“Give me a day. I’ll see what I can dig up.” Replied Homage as she got up from the table. “But I want something from you before you leave.”

“What do you want?”

“An interview. Something to tell the wasteland that there’s another soldier out fighting the good fight.”

“You do realize I’m not necessarily the most public of individuals?” Asked Dusk.

“Neither have any of the others who’ve walked off that elevator.” Assured Homage. “But if you really want to scare the good General, tell the world you’re out to get him.”

Dusk nodded and made for the door. “Alright, I’ll do it. Now, one last question… Who do I talk to about getting into the old lab in the sublevels?”

“Good luck with that.” Droned Homage. “If it’s anything to do with the old ministry that called this place home, the Twilight Society probably has it under lock and key.”

“Then who around here is part of that social club?”

“Well… There is Life Bloom-”

“Helpinghoof’s assistant?” Asked Dusk. Homage nodded silently. “Then I guess he’s my ticket in.” Dusk walked out of the room and jumped over the railing to the floor below. “Dart, Steeljack. Hang here, I need to go do some shopping.”

“Anything particular you need?” Asked Dart as she tossed Dusk a small gold bar.

“Knowing where you keep all the gold can wait.” He said as he walked into the elevator. “Oh, and if you hear what sounds like a gun fight… Come save my ass.”

______________________________________________________________________________

Tenpony Tower, Doctor Helpinghoof’s office

Dusk checked over the shotgun and made sure his new beanbag rounds were ready on the bandolier he swung over his torso. “Figures… All the gunshop had were beanbags and slugs…” He muttered as he walked into the office, shot gun hanging over his shoulder by the sling.. “Life Bloom? Got a minute?” He yelled.

The unicorn walked out from behind a partition on the far side of the office. “Yes?”

Dusk shut the door behind him, pulling the back room door shut with his magic. “Project Ichor. I need access.”

“What?” Questioned Life Bloom

“Don’t play stupid.” Groaned Dusk. “The Twilight Society has been in this building for close to two hundred years. You’re telling me that you don’t know what’s under your own feet?”

Life Bloom started to glower at Dusk. “How do you know about Ichor?”

“Who do you think caved in the tunnel?” Asked Dusk. “Contrary to popular belief, this isn’t my first time here.”

“Come with me.” Life Bloom led Dusk out of the office and down the hall to a decrepit-looking door that he swung open with a creak. Dusk followed him in, as he shut the door and left him in the dark.

Dusk grabbed his shotgun, flipping on the tactical light and swinging it around. “Bloom, now really isn’t a good time to fuck with me.” He said, shining his light across the bookshelves that lined the walls. “You know what I want…” He ducked as a bolt of magic came from behind him and buzzed past his shoulders, swinging around and pumping his weapon. “Come on Bloom, don’t do this.”

“You’re asking me to give you access to something that no pony should know exists.” Came Life Blooms voice from the shadows. “How do I know that isn’t what you and your friends came here for?”

Dusk sighed. “They don’t need to know what I’m up to, not this time.”

Life Boom ran up behind Dusk and tackled him, forcing his face into the ground. “Then convince me to help you.”

“Ozymandias. You can’t get Ozymandias to unlock the system without administrator access.” Grunted Dusk. “I’ve got that access.”

“Life Bloom, get off him.” Came a new voice as the room lit up. Two cloaked ponies hauled Dusk to his feet and dragged him over to the leader, wrapped in a purple cloak with a mask. “It’s been some time since you set foot in this building Lieutenant.”

Dusk rolled his eyes. “Do I need to do the mirror analogy again?”

“For now I’ll consider it irrelevant.” Said the society member. “For now, we have need of your services.”