Manehattan Project

"Fear keeps us focused on the past or worried about the future. If we can acknowledge our fear, we can realize that right now we are okay. Right now, today, we are still alive, and our bodies are working marvelously. Our eyes can still see the beautiful sky. Our ears can still hear the voices of our loved ones." - Thich Nhat Hanh

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Hot Leaf Coffee, Tea, and Donuts

22nd Street, Lower Manehattan

"What did you say to him?" Night asked as Sparks left the interrogation room.

" To be honest," Sparks said "I don't know, I like to think it was me. What time is it?"

"About nine a.m. why?"

"Oh," Sparks said "I just haven't had my morning coffee yet."

Sparks and Night left the headquarters building and went down towards 22nd Street. There was a little coffee and donut shop called the Hot Leaf which was a favorite of his. Sparks ordered two hot hazelnut coffees and a muffin for Night. She munched on it daintily while he sipped on the coffee.

"So what do you think about what was said earlier?" Night asked him, taking another petite bite of the muffin.

"Honestly," Sparks said "I don't know. Intel hasn't backed anything up and I haven't heard from any of the other agencies."

"What if," Night said "he's actually telling the truth. That there is a plot to assassinate Celestia, Cadence, Luna, or Twilight?"

"Wouldn't be the first time," Sparks said taking another sip of coffee "there's a reason why you never hear about it on the official news reals. Celestia and Luna wanna keep everything on a pretty low profile."

"I know that," Night said "I've read previous reports myself. But do you think that the Canterlot Capall, or whatever they're called would actually dare to do something like kill Princess Celestia?"

"I wouldn't put it passed them if that were so," Sparks said "the questions are when and how."

At that exact moment an explosion rocked the city. Car alarms were going off from ten blocks down the road. Ponies were rushing outside to see what was the problem. Spark's phone vibrated "Sparks," he said after raising it to his ear.

"Sparks," a voice said "get the hay down here. The blast came from inside!"

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Manehattan Central Police Station

500 E 200 South

"Status?" Doctor Luft said coughing.

"Most of our equipment is totaled doc," his orderly Acute Tinsel said "that includes X-ray, the tables, and our testing computers."

"What happened to Swift Vision?" Luft asked "I thought we had him contained nearby?"

"We did sir," Tinsel responded "that's where the blast originated."

"He had a bomb inside of him?" another orderly named Arrow Light exclaimed.

"No," Doctor Luft corrected "he must have planted it or had it on hidden away. We don't exactly scan for bombs here at the HQ. Which means that it isn't the most secure place in the world."

A phone rang and Doctor Luft picked up "Yes?" he asked "Ah, Sparks. Yes, I was just informing my orderlies as to the current state of affairs here in the Headquarters building."

"The current state of affairs is that the building's on fire Doc," Sparks said while standing outside of the main doors "in fact, I can see several fires developing. Thankfully the Fire Department's here."

"Indeed," Luft said "the blast must have originated from Swift Vision or the belongings he had with him at the time he was brought in. I remember that we didn't scan him properly for any Improvised Explosive Devices."

"Did you find anything interesting Doc?" Sparks asked.

"Well," Luft said "I did find one thing interesting with regards to his blood tests. He also had a high concentration of Calcium Fluoride in his system at the time of the interrogation. I think he must have been an addict."

"So what," Sparks said "he was going through withdrawals when I talked with him?"

"It seems to be the case Sparks," Luft said "unfortunately, you may not have been as intimidating as you thought."

"How did he slip a bomb past us though?" Sparks asked "and also, that was enough explosive to almost knock an entire floor out from underneath his hoofs."

"Quite possibly," Luft said "he could have had it in his shoes. If you get a compound explosive and mix it properly, unless you..."

"Doc?" Sparks asked "What is it?"

"Binary explosives are very stable Sparks," Luft said hurriedly "in order for one to explode it requires a high velocity object to impact on the pre-mixed solution or powder. Say a car or..."

"Or a sniper round?"

"Precisely," Luft said. At that moment, Spark's phone disintegrated in his hand. Sparks dropped to the ground and rolled over drawing his pistol as Night followed his lead.

"Where'd that shot come from?" Sparks asked Night.

"From the second story of that office building across the street," Night said "I saw a muzzle flash a second ago. You alright?"

"Yeah," Sparks said "nothing that a little trotting can take care of. Keep him trained, I want to know exactly where he is when I move ok?"

"Got it," Night said and raised her pistol to the ready position. Sparks dashed from behind the car, zig-zagging across the open street, a bullet zinged past his right ear and pinged off a light pole. He rolled and got behind another car that was parked on the opposite side of the street.

"Where is he?"

"Fourth window to the right," Night said "should I call a counter sniper?"

"No," Sparks said "he's no use to us dead. I'll cover you. Move!"

Sparks popped up and emptied five rounds from his magazine towards the window which was fifty yards away. He knew he probably wouldn't hit anything but he also knew that it would keep the sniper's head down. Night soon joined him. Sparks looked at Night "How many exits do you recon that building has?"

"I'd say about three," Night said "including the garage for the employee's cars."

"He won't take the front," Sparks said "that leaves the rear and the garage. Which one do you want?"

"I'll take the rear," Night said.

"Okay," Sparks replied "I'll go for the garage. Let me know in case anything happens."

They both dashed out quick as a flash, with two more bullets whizzing behind them. Night galloped to the left and Sparks to the right. The garage was on the right side and faced towards the next block on 210 South. Sparks headed there and stopped at the exit and reloaded his pistol. He heard shots fired inside the building and panicked screams. A few minutes later, a car started its ignition. Inside, he could see a male pony with a bad wound across his head that was still bleeding. The car accelerated towards Sparks. He braced himself, and when the car was within thirty feet, he shot the left tire. It sped off right into a fire hydrant and it erupted in a geyser gush of water, drenching the vehicle. The driver stumbled out and tried to run away, Sparks raised his pistol again and fired twice more, one bullet hit the right flank and the other the front left shoulder. The pony went down. Night galloped up to him "You got him?"

"Yeah," Sparks said walking up to the pony who was still trying to crawl away as he pulled out his hoofcuffs "you have the right to remain silent. If you do say anything, it can be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to have a lawyer present during any questioning. If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed for you if you so desire."

The pony grunted in pain as he was hauled to his hoofs. Blood was now coming from his mouth and he spat it towards Sparks. Sparks dodged and said while wagging a hoof "Now, now. This is a brand new jacket. You wouldn't want me to put one of my trusty bullets where the sun don't shine now do ya?"

He hauled the pony forward with Night acting as a rear guard. The police station wasn't completely trashed, but the floor which contained Swift Vision had disintegrated into a firestorm which was soon put out. The office on the other floors went back to work as if nothing had happened. After several hours in the medical hospital to remove Spark's bullets from the pony's backside, he was given back into N.E.I.S. custody. His name, was Maverick Bolt.