Ghost in the shell: Equestrian architecture

Twilight sat in Celestia´s office next Rainbow Dash. Osborn and Applejack sat in the chairs opposite them. Fluttershy was in her usual chair facing the chief with her bunny in her lap.

“So what did you find, Fluttershy?” The chief asked.

“I´m afraid I don´t have good news.” She petted her bunny. “Trixie’s brain was an almost complete blank.”

“What?!” Rainbow Dash turned to Fluttershy. “How could that be?”

“I don´t know.” Fluttershy replied.

“Calm down, Rainbow Dash.” Osborn said. After returning his favor to the farmer, Osborn had undergone a transfusion and his shoulder and right arm where covered in bandages. Luckily the wounds were shallow and no bones were broken, or vital organs damaged. “You said it was an almost complete blank.” He turned to Fluttershy “What did you find?”

“Only this.” Fluttershy started the holographic display and played an audio file that produced a cackling laughter.

“And what about Sunset Shimmer?” Osborn asked.

Twilight could see his lips twisting and the corner of his eyes twitching has he adjusted himself in the seat. Should have taken the time of, Osborn. Twilight thought. When they brought him in his face was almost painted with blood and according Aloe´s report he had suffered a concussion during the crash. Despite the warnings Aloe gave him he refused to leave his team. I guess you can take a mule to the river but you can´t make it drink.

“Since her brain was damaged it´s been difficult to get any data from it.”

“What are you thinking?” Celestia asked.

“I´m thinking that maybe Trixie is smarter than I thought.” He rubbed his stubbed chin and looked over at Applejack.

“You said that both you and the major had you ears, at the very least, hacked when Sunset Shimmer killed herself?”

“Yes.” Applejack raised her brow. “Are you thinking that Trixie is still out there?”

“I wouldn´t call it impossible. When Sunset Shimmer killed herself she had a lockdown collar in her sockets and still somehow managed to get her gun under her chin.”

“Are you suggesting that Trixie planted a failsafe in Sunset Shimmer´s brain in case she would get caught?” The chief asked.

“And then used a full prosthetic body in combination with fake cyber brain in order throw us of the trail.” He shrugged. “It would go explain why she fell for my little ear trick.” He tapped finger behind his right ear.

“That´s right,” Twilight agreed. “when the hacking initiated it would have assumed that your com was an actual cyber brain but a quick look at you would have shown her that she had no control over you. The AI she employed probably didn´t think to do that.” Twilight thought for a moment. “Can you pull up the audio file we got from the cyber body that looked like me?”

Fluttershy tapped a few keys on the holographic keyboard in front of her and played the file. It produced the exact same cackling laughter.

“That´s what I thought.” Twilight pushed her thump up under her lip. “Rainbow Dash, you wrote in your report that Trixie laughed when she was hacking into your brain.”

“Yeah?”

“Did it sound anything like that?” She played to sound again.

Rainbow Dash took a moment to answer. “She cackled, definitely. But I can´t say that if it sounded exactly like that.”

“Maybe that laughter is just her calling card.” Applejack said. “Wouldn’t be surprised if the only thing we find in Sunset Shimmer´s brain is the same audio file.”

“Damn taunt, is what it is.” Rainbow Dash grunted. “So we´ve basically have gotten nowhere and are no closer to grabbing who´s behind this?”

“No.” Celestia said. “We got an idea of who did it. We still don´t know why she did it but we know how.”

“Think that´s gonna be enough for the prime minister?” Twilight bit the inside her of cheek. “We have a face, but we don´t have an arrest. Just the body of a low ranking assassin and a bullet farmer that refuses to talk.”

“I don´t think he knows anything more that would be useful to us anyway.” Osborn said while staring into the holograms.

“Does that mean we can throw him out?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“If it were up to me I would lock him up and throw away the key. But until the heat´s off him we have to keep him here.”

“To get back to the matter at hand.” The Chief said. “The only results we have managed to get is the suspicion that Trixie is responsible for the hacking into a government facility and attempted murder via proxy on a federal officer.”

“So basically all we can give her is manhunt for Trixie.” Applejack said tired tone. “I don´t think she´s going to be pleased.”

“No, she won´t.” Celestia shock her head in agreement. “But it doesn´t matter now. It´s all we can give her.”

“So what will be our next move?” Rainbow Dash asked. “If Trixie is still out there she´ll probably try to stay under the radar and avoid detection.”

“We don´t have much of a move to make now.” The Chief said. “The only thing we can do now is to prepare for the prime minister’s speech and wait for Trixie to make her next move. You all know your tasks in this mission. Any questions?”

None of them said anything.

“Dismissed.”