Rogue Hunt: Gems and Beauties

"Heh-heh-heh... yes, this will do nicely. Mmm~"

Starlite paused for a moment, hands stuck in an awkward position against her chest, as she was in the middle of putting her bra on. There was a strange presence nearby, a flicker just in the corner of her vision, but when she turned to look, she only saw her own curious expression staring back at her from the mirror. She hummed thoughtfully and took a step closer, then smiled and shook her head. Just nerves, I guess.

She finished putting on the bra, then turned left and right to examine herself. The fine silk was sure to impress Mistress, not to mention her decision to put it on. Without being told to, no less! Why yes, Starlite had been making an effort to "improve her style", as Mistress kept suggesting, often with a not-too-subtle jab from her tail. Starlite's smile widened as she pictured how the dragoness would react to this 'treat', and once again, something caught her eye. Something all too familiar about that grin in her reflection. The piercing gaze, too, almost as if...

Starlite shook her head. Enough dawdling! She had work to do, and little time to waste. She gathered the rest of her outfit and swiftly put it on, not letting anything else distract her. It took a few attempts to get her heels on, as her hooves kept fumbling with the tight space they were meant to fit into. For some reason, she kept having to double check to make sure her shoes weren't a size too small. Or several...

Finally, having made herself presentable, she picked up her bag and took off. The limousine ride gave her just enough time to go over her paperwork and schedule one last time. That is, whenever her gaze didn't wander out the window to get caught on odd glimpses of light. It was unlike her, as she she never liked this city very much. Most of it was ugly, and anything that wasn't was just trying to trick you. But as of late she found herself wondering what kind of treasures might be hiding in plain sight.

Her train of thought was cut off when the limousine came to a halt outside the entrance. The secretary hurried through the doorway and headed straight for the elevator, her mouth feeling dry as she saw the doors open in advance, as though it had been waiting for her. She fixed up her dress and checked her makeup, staring at herself in the pneumo lift’s mirror to try and stay calm. On her way to Dr. Numinous’ official administrative residence within the very heart of their compound, she had no intentions of appearing careless.

Now, in all fairness, she spent the last week exercising considerable mental rigor to avoid either overworking or slacking off. Her most recent close encounter with the Mistress may have given her perspective, but it didn’t make her everyday life any easier. Still, she tried to remain balanced, without appearing as though she tried too hard. It didn’t stop her from being an oppressive presence amid other secretaries, which, in turn, allowed her to keep tabs on the progress of things throughout the compound.

So she knew that whatever the topic of their conference, most of Numinous’ favorite beauties were already in on it. Starlite was justifiably miffed, but over her time under the Mistress’ command, she learned that a lot of her more arbitrary steps tended to have a motive. This thought was enough to keep her pacified as the lift came to a halt.

It was best not to think of how Numinous admittedly loved messing with her.

The large portal gate opened before Starlite, revealing the dragon’s massive office. “You wanted to see me, Doctor?” the mare asked.

“I have called you here for a matter of great importance,” Numinous informed her. There was no sarcasm nor playfulness in her tone this time. In fact, she sounded unusually formal.

The unicorn couldn’t help but notice that the path to the Doctor’s desk was lined with statues of those they’d marked 'unworthy' several weeks back. Keeping to Numinous' fondness for gems, each figure wore an exotic ornament, either wrapped around a limb, their neck, or resting on top of their head. Starlite lost herself in the many polished crystals embedded in the jewelry, gaze sinking into the different colors, the overhead lights highlighting countless facets. Her mouth watered, and a strange longing nagged at her in the back of her mind. It took her a few moments - not to mention Numinous clearing her throat sternly - until she snapped out of it and turned back to her Mistress.

“Of course!” she blurted out. “Hopefully my… performance, of late, has been acceptable enough.” She gestured to her side. “I’m not joining these losers, am I?”

“Hm. No. Let us not hurry matters.” Numinous put her hands together. The wall-sized display behind her lit up, causing her throne-like chair to stand out in the gloom. “It is time that you learn of my current project. Come over and I’ll show you.”

Starlite let out a tense breath and straightened herself. “Yes, Doctor,” she replied and approached the dragoness’ desk, locking her hands behind her back.

Numinous rotated in her chair and crossed her legs, watching the display, currently on standby, showing their operation’s colors – green, cyan and pink and a rotating, psychedelic pattern of gemstones.

“I know your intellect has allowed you to decipher a great part of my plot,” she said. “Thus, I will affirm the chief hypotheses I know you to have. Yes, we are to begin active combat operations against a non-negotiable threat. My personal amusement has ceased to be the key criterion for mobility within my strata of attention. Weaknesses are being patched, and our enemies’ weaknesses are being removed as well. Our modus operandi is threatened, as trade of exclusive technology and luxury goods through our numerous contacts relies on non-existent suppression from any hostile cells within the City. This, by itself, jeopardizes my greater goals.”

Starlite only nodded in response. As Numinous just said, she did put all this together. So, she was finally about to find out who was able to compete with their unparalleled might and influence…

“I have a rival in this City,” the dragoness finally stated. “And it offends me that I have let their filth slip beneath my notice for so long.” She glanced at Starlite through her spectacles, the sheen of the screen obscuring her eyes, yet the pony found the stare quite palpable. “Any guesses?”

“Well… I really don’t think we’re taking out Task Force Rogue,” the mare remarked. “It’s inefficient, and your influence within the Force is enough to throttle any attempts to go after us. Some of our external agents are kind of threatened by the City’s organized crime groups, but I can assume we’re working on taking control of those as well… There must be something obvious I’m overlooking, surely?”

Numinous clicked her fingers. The screen changed to a rather expansive collage of info sheets put together by their informatics team.

“Yes, you are. But I don’t blame you.” The dragoness smiled. “After all, it relates to something I have had to mangle quite severely.”

“I’d… kind of guessed…” the mare mumbled.

“Hmmm. Indeed.” Numinous got out of her chair and walked toward the enormous screen.

Using gesture controls, she zoomed in on one particular area. Starlite felt a pang of familiarity there – it was a series of traffic surveillance logs extracted by their agents in the Force. The footage tracked the carriage they had to hijack in order to escape the District of Beauties back during their first entry there.

Or, her first entry there, anyway.

“When I was on my solo mission to subjugate you, Starlite, everything proceeded as planned – as it always does. Everything, but one particular incident. One incident where I, for the first time in decades, came within so much as a suggestion of harm.” The dragon puffed her nostrils. “You remember it now, I’m sure.”

“I- Wait… You…” Starlite’s memories rushed back to her – their scuffle with the Hazard Force-equipped goons was not an incident one could easily forget, but with everything else that transpired, such brawls had fallen to the wayside. “You mean to say you were not, umm, acting? Back when we made our escape from the Protocol minions?”

“I would have expected you to discern that I was, indeed, genuine.” Numinous shrugged. “Genuine in my failure to control them. For they-”

She gestured again, this time zooming in to a… rather unpleasant set of diagrams and autopsy closeups.

“-are already being controlled. Controlled by this creature you, and others, call Protocol.”

Starlite’s gut churned. These were details from a Task Force Rogue analysis reel on a deceased Protocol goon. She knew they were trouble, that they were weird, but this went above and beyond. The pictures included examples of all affected species, and none of them were truly members of their respective species any longer. On the inside, they were at least half machine. Their cranial implants, in particular, left very little to resemble even a face, clearly designed to be forever interfaced to their masks. Those Hazard Force uniforms weren’t just a shtick. They hid remotely controlled automatons.

“That’s- that’s pretty sick,” Starlite admitted. “I had no idea they were this messed up.” Her hands balled into fists.

“These are their grunts,” Numinous proceeded. “Directing them are cybernetic monstrosities of a different make, rising in complexity – and reprehensiveness – up through a rather complex chain of command. The Protocol army is not bandits in costumes led by a masked freak.” The screen closed in on one picture after another, showing various degrees of alteration imposed on Protocol soldiers. “It is a machine. Each cog is controlled by influence of another, and all are in perpetual awareness of all others, delivered through various conduits of command. As you can see, some retain their more… genuine appearance; some even remain in possession of emotion, or impulsive cognition. For some, obeying the machine is even a choice.”

Starlite shook her head, witnessing reports from various crime syndicates and other Rogue minions of their run-ins with various members of the Protocol. A strange surge of disgust hit her, going beyond the basic revulsion set off by the images. Something about this felt wrong, and her thoughts were already racing about ways to address it, at least until Mistress spoke once more.

“But they are all compromised. All are irrevocably connected to the Protocol himself. Their brain matter is altered through means that none of my scientific beauties have been able to fully understand.” Numinous advanced the report, moving to a series of slides that were frankly indecipherable. Therein, layers of complicated diagrams and terminology explained various hypotheses as to how exactly the Protocol controlled its troops. “He has control over them at the click of a button. In exchange, they are each purged of the deep, intricate complexity that makes you you.”

The dragoness pointed specifically at the mare, who could only speak through gritted teeth.

“Has he got control of other Rogues yet?” Starlite asked. She found it suspicious Numinous singled her out. It bore wondering if those of the Rogue breed were also susceptible to this.

“…” Numinous crossed her arms and lowered her head. For the first time, the secretary saw her truly stumble. Or, come to think of it, it was now the second time. “I have information enough to believe that may be correct.”

“So Rogues aren’t-“

“No. Rogues ARE quite distinctly different,” Numinous cut her off. “I have empirical proof thereof. Believe me, Starlite, I had experience.” She took a deep breath. “The fact is… most of the Protocol’s more dangerous operatives are all willing accomplices. They approached him. That likely includes at least a few small-time Rogues. Those who wish to distance themselves from the chaos and turmoil of everyday existence. Those who want a way out of concerns for security or sustenance. Those who have but one singular goal, and will take any trade it takes to perform it. Those with little vision… yet still the hypercapable minds and abilities of Rogues.”

Starlite grasped her knees and nearly doubled over, letting out all her air in one continuous, overwhelmed gust. She shook her head. Rogues were her specialty. She remembered that now – as if she’d ever forgotten. To hear that some of them ended up like this was worrying. She found herself echoing Mistress' words in a low murmur before looking back up at her.

“He… he doesn’t just kidnap people and stuff them full of machinery?” she asked in disbelief. “This is… done voluntarily?”

“Ah, well, no, not quite,” Numinous hurried to assure her. “Most of the fodder is indeed kidnapped, picked up off the streets, or absorbed from gangs of lowlifes. No important matter, that. Really, that’s quite nominal among Roguekind. Yet, his officers tend to be… different. They are problematic. They seek him out, or otherwise willingly agree to terms outlined in his official correspondence.”

The screen displayed examples of messages sent to various individuals confirmed to have joined the Protocol. There wasn’t much to look at – just a long string of heavily encrypted code with rather complicated decryption instructions attached in separate files.

“Yeah. I think I’m starting to see where you and the Protocol have their differences, Mistress. It’d be-“ Starlite shook herself upright. Something staggeringly obvious suddenly occurred to her. “Wait. Gunther was a Protocol agent, wasn’t he?!”

“Yes.”

“I… thought that was set up as a reward for my service,” Starlite said, sulking. She sighed. “That was… kind of presumptive, I realize now.”

“Oh. Who says it wasn’t? Please. My motivations aren’t so simple.” Numinous shook her head. “Much unlike the Protocol himself. You bring me to the next most important point of this presentation.”

The screen switched to displaying a highly detailed report on Gunther’s activities over the past year. Seemingly sourced from several criminal organizations with ties to the Force, it was compiled a short time before Starlite and the Doctor paid him a visit at the Sun and Moon. The secretary scowled, having to see that old grouch again – now with a secondary layer of revulsion, as she fully understood just how insidious he was in nature. The speech Numinous delivered during Gunther's final moments made a lot more sense now.

At least she could feel proud for being on the right side of this fundamental battle, as well. A smirk flashed on her face, and she could almost feel her fangs dig into her lower lip.

“Gunther was a unique piece in the Protocol’s army. Perhaps the most independent actor, although significantly less clandestine in his appearance than some others.” Numinous zoomed in to a rigorously cleaned up and enhanced image of Gunther in his duty gear, something Starlite had rarely ever seen, as he was chiefly a command officer when she was on the Force. For that matter, Gunther himself looked younger, and possessed less implants. In that image, he was just barely visible conversing with another large shape, in what the image’s metadata stated to be the Sun and Moon. “Gunther and the Protocol shared a goal.”

Starlite ground her teeth together.

“Gunther had never gone under direct control by the Protocol. He was trusted explicitly, despite his… chaotic tendencies. Similarly, he trusted the Protocol in return.” Numinous zoomed the screen back out, allowing Starlite to look at the big picture again. “And you would know better than anyone that Lieutenant Colonel Gunther does not trust, nor appreciate, much of anything, unless it agrees with him perfectly.”

“Yeah, I know that…” the mare mumbled through her teeth.

“And you, of all ponies, would know that Gunther wanted nothing more than to exterminate all of Roguekind. So does Protocol. He is a Rogue against Rogues.” The dragoness placed ominous emphasis on those words. “Him and Gunther would remove all inordinate elements from the City. Install perfect order through any means necessary. Assimilate all that go against order and function. I don’t expect they would have remained in alliance to that end; after all, Gunther was never the most peaceful individual. Yet he had gone to some length to enable the Protocol to unroll his own operation, and to perform numerous direct strikes at the City’s crime and beauty.”

“…damn it.” Starlite gripped her head. “How did I never notice?.. There had been less and less crime coming from the lower Districts. Less Rogues, too! No wonder I was so eager to answer your call. I was starved on any news about your kind. Ugh! I was so careless – how could I just take this for granted?”

The dragoness smiled and approached the mare. She put her hands on her shoulders, rubbing at the orange patches.

“That is good enough, Starlite. I shall level with you: I too had been willingly ignoring these tendencies, so assured of my power in this place. If not for our fateful encounter with those brutes, serious damage could have been dealt to my plans.” It was a rare display of Numinous being earnest, her words devoid of venom or honey, instead sending a wave of soothing warmth through Starlite's whole being. “Do know I would not admit such a thing to just anyone.”

The mare sighed and nodded, managing to put on a gentle smile. “Thank you, Mistress.”

“You understand now what we have been preparing for, and why it is that we are going to war with the Protocol.” Numinous' hands tightened around Starlite’s shoulders, and she lowered her snout, breathing directly into the mare’s face. “And this is where you come in.”

“Uh… Yes, Mistress?..” Starlite looked up with some trepidation.

“Gunther despised you for your attitude toward the Rogues. He wanted them gone because they broke from normality. You wanted the praise and glory for conquering someone so clearly greater than you.” Numinous smirked as the mare blushed and averted her eyes. “In his world, glory hogs would only get in his way. But you? Oh, I find this little quirk rather charming. It is the gaping wound from your fundamental differences that I used to get my hooks into you, after all!”

A slight shiver ran up Starlite's back. “Yeah… kinda…”

“I think you are quite agreeable. In fact… I once found you amusing. Now that we’ve gotten quite a lot closer together... I believe you and I share something quite fundamental. What we do, we do for our personal enjoyment and gratification.” Numinous nodded to herself. “And now that I have disposed of the utter, horrid mess that was Scarlet, I have a strong feeling that you now combine the best of both worlds.”

“U-uuhhhh… Th-thanks,” Starlite murmured. Mistress' words were... reassuring? Her flanks were stinging, but even without her instincts, she could tell there was more to the dragoness' words than mere praise.

“So, without further ado…” Numinous whispered and stepped away from the mare. Starlite had been so awash with thought that it only now registered in her that two gemstones had been placed on her shoulders – gemstones that had now merged with her uniform. They flashed briefly, and her orange patches were rendered a dawn shade of pink, identical to the dragoness’ hair. “I would like you to be my chief accomplice. My right hand mare. My one and only Starlite.”

“…” The mare struggled to do more than keep her jaw off the ground.

“And I would like you to take charge of our war with the Protocol,” Numinous added. With a flick of her tail, she switched the screen to one last image.

A composite sketch of a massive, mostly robotic minotaur appeared on the display. Faint pictures taken from the same meeting where the younger Gunther was depicted were referenced all around, having been the source for this depiction. Sharing many of the same implants, the minotaur glared at the screen with a vacant, yet insidious stare. That was no artistic interpretation – only this single picture of his current appearance existed, the notes stating that it was taken by one of Numinous’ gemling scouts, the result of a fatal expedition through the District of Beauties. They had apparently been brought to be seen by the big bull himself.

That was the day right after the duo paid their visit to Gunther. Apparently, the image also came with an attachment. Starlite understood now that Numinous was talking to Protocol, not Gunther – and clearly, the message had gotten through. The minotaur glared at the camera with his robotic eyes, the distortion obscuring all other details. The image had so many layers of corruption that merely looking at it was painful, even through Starlite's shades. According to a comment by their informatics team, the metadata contained his direct response. So far, it had fried two consoles they uploaded it onto, and they were still busy decrypting it.

“So, you see, dearie?” Numinous laughed. “Now you just need to find his headquarters, invent a method to take down his rather considerable army, oversee the training of our troops, and grind the Protocol into dust. This… is all yours. I know my beauties well. And this is where none, including myself, are better than you.”

“...so he knows about us,” Starlite cracked her knuckles. It was all falling into place. She felt an urge to laugh - nay, holler with excitement, but kept herself in check, lest she embarrass her Mistress. “Well, as long as our systems aren’t compromised...”

“Pffsh. Don’t worry. I’ve been assured our data infrastructure is horribly decentralized. Whatever that is supposed to mean, I do not know, but just like how I trust you, I trust some of my techno-wiz beauties – ones you will be working rather closely with… Yes…” The dragoness put her hands together and twirled in place, smiling widely. She looked at Starlite with wide, glowing eyes. “Well, you see, dearie? I did get you your Rogue after all.”

Now was Starlite’s cue to laugh. She let out a resounding, triumphant cackle. She always knew to be faithful, that she’d be understood, that she just needed to wait… and the wait was worth it. Her own voice was music to her ears, and a 'pressure' she had bottled up for what felt like a lifetime now left her insides. She could feel it again, that strength and size in her limbs, sharpness of senses and wit. This would be perfect.

“How adorable. Just remember,” Numinous pointed out. “Being my right hand mare in charge of a full-out war against the Protocol… doesn’t mean you aren’t still my special pet. In fact, I will expect to see you in person whenever our schedules permit. Knowing you, I will need to de-stress with you many many times more. Mhm?”

“…” Starlite wheezed, phantom sensations flaring across her body for a moment. She smiled back at the dragoness. “Yes, Doctor. Mhm. Now… When do I begin?”

“Oh but why do you ask?” Numinous queried in mock surprise. She threw out her hands. “You have full authority over this branch of our operation. Me? Oh, I will simply ask you for tales from the frontline now and again. And should you think I might be useful to have around on a covert operation – well, I might just agree.”

The secretary – the right hand mare – stood in place, eyelashes fluttering. She had to will her mouth shut to avoid drooling.

“He’s… He’s… mine?” she muttered.

“Mmmmhm,” the dragoness replied. “This?.. This is yours!”

Starlite knelt before her and lowered her head. She meant it with the greatest reverence she’d ever shown to anyone, even herself. Her tail flicked back and forth, limbs tensing up in anticipation. Somehow, even on the floor, she felt no smaller than her beloved Mistress. After a lifetime spent chasing a Rogue, expecting a clash of fire and ice, she found they shared a lot more than she expected...

“And I, too, am yours, Mistress,” the mare swore. Her voice was almost a low hiss, dripping with lust and satisfaction. “Conduct me where you wish, and know that I will grind that rusty bastard into dust.”

“Yes.” Numinous said. She placed her hand under the mare’s chin, getting her to look up. Starlite's reflection stared back at her from those purple pools, mouthing the words that rang in her head. “You will.”