Rogue Hunt: Gems and Beauties

After about five hours of aggressive dress-up, invasive hairdo and makeup reapplication – all of which she initially did herself, only to be deemed unfitting for the occasion – Starlite and Numinous were finally moving on with today’s highly important business. It was, indeed, important enough that the mare kept her cool and did not ask anything aloud. She did wonder whether it was necessary to spend this long on beautification if the meeting they were to attend as Jade and her secretary – their mundane selves – was this important. And yet, apparently, she was underperforming in all things beauty to a staggering level.

Starlite struggled to see what exactly she did wrong, as the dragoness was otherwise disposed. All she could tell for sure was that her chest was highlighted considerably more, her suit now gave the illusion that she possessed something approaching an hourglass figure, and her hair somehow looked more stylish – although to her eyes, her mane was still done up in the same bun and comb-over with a red tipped hair clip to contrast her cyan streaks. Numinous was busy making singstone calls while working on the mare, holding the speaker to her face with her tail. To Starlite's frustration, she was compelled to avert her attention and pay no mind to what was being discussed over the numerous calls the dragoness made in preparation for their departure.

For her hard-fought determination and dutifulness, before they stepped into the limo, Starlite was rewarded with one particular item. The unicorn stared at the pair of shades with a momentary reverence. With a sleek rectangular frame and a fairly light tint, they were a perfect fit to her dark coat and teal eyes, their sharp angles contributing to her freshly updated look. They weren’t necessarily the blocky, pitch black pair once signature to her appearance, but putting them on did give her some sort of distant ease.

“Here you go, beauty dear,” Numinous said. “These should make you feel rather more comfortable, hmmm? So adorably straight-laced yet unassuming, yes, I don’t keep my secretaries bespectacled for no reason, it’s just precious. But I do want you more businesslike for this outing.”

Starlite put the shades on, unsure how she felt and how exactly it made her feel an odd, now partly requited longing. “Yes, Doctor,” she said in a hushed tone. “It’s nice to wear shades again. I, uhm… appreciate it.”

“Well, we are heading to the District of Stars, and while I possess the more durable draconic retinas, you should be saved the eye-sore. You really were a victim of circumstance, you know, dearie? Before I made you into my perfect gem.” The dragoness clicked her tongue, flipping over a page in their limo’s regularly updated fashion magazine. “Someone of Scarlet’s low stature couldn’t possibly afford resistant contacts, so it’s simply natural you’d develop such an affinity to tinted glasses like these. Now, she did refuse to spend any of her money… hence why it is in far better hands now… but I will give her this little bit of leeway. It’s normal to develop such a habit. Hmmm.”

“Getting used to new things can really throw you off.” Starlite shrugged. “I remember trying a pair of these contacts once. I could never do it, my eyes were killing me a day in.”

Numinous paused, then let out a quiet snort, covering her mouth and shaking her head. She sighed and poured herself some champagne from the limo’s freezer.

“Starlite, sweetie, a note for future reference: you take contact lenses out for the night.” The dragoness swirled her drink, watching the embarrassed unicorn through the glass. “Goodness, aren’t you glad we’re past that now?”

“Well, they weren’t mine to begin with… I, uh-“ Starlite shook herself off and fixed her collar. “Doesn’t matter. We’re to be formal on this outing, correct?”

“Oh, yes, quite formal. Don’t worry, you look positively officious with these shades,” Numinous assured her.

“So what is the purpose of this meeting? I’ve gathered it’s something quite important as we haven’t discussed it yet.”

“Yes and no, dear Starlite. Quite important, yes. But I’m keeping it secret.” The dragoness sipped at her drink and exhaled. “From you.”

Starlite fondled the pen in her front pocket, biting her lip. She looked out the window. Her suspicions were slowly being proven true based on what she saw outside.

“Under… ssstoood. And, if I may ask, where are we-“

“Why, but you already know. There’s only one place someone of my caliber can be heading to attend an important meeting in the District of Stars.” Numinous shook her head and batted her eyelashes. “As a matter of fact, I wonder if you feel any nostalgic heartstrings.”

Starlite gritted her teeth and sighed. The Sun and Moon Casino Palace took up roughly 15% of the District’s entire area, and was a cesspool of crime, villainy, and worst of all, politics. More had been done within that overdecorated, gaudy monolith to decide the City’s fate, than in the Royal Palace, whenever that was. In its private gambling chambers, fates of entire District sectors were decided over a game of craps. The gambling was usually more of an accessory to meetings between important figures who would rather not be seen together, nor cast light on their interactions. Or, sometimes it was involved quite directly.

She was one of the very few who knew all this first-hand and had recorded evidence of several such dealings. That was her breakaway case, which led to a massive payout, followed by a two year long bounty hunt. Chances are, there were still assassins after Scarlet, though the persons behind the hit were likely long dead themselves. It didn’t matter enough to investigate herself.

More to the point, there wasn’t a "Scarlet" to hunt down anymore, the mare figured.

“Yes indeed, that’s exactly where we’re headed. Don’t worry, Starlite, you won’t be required to go through the veritable circus performance it took last time. Though I know how much you like dressup, of course.” Numinous grinned at her and fanned herself before checking the time. “We’re there rather officially this time. Very much so written on paper, indeed. Now, there will be violence, but Scarlet’s patented ingenuity shouldn’t be vital to our survival, like it was once to hers.”

“Ahem… Violence?” Starlite muttered. She cleared her throat and turned to face Numinous. “M-Mistress, I’m not sure about that. If it’s just going to be you and I, we-“

The dragoness puffed her nostrils. “Starlite, are you saying you don’t trust my plan?” she asked, tilting her head.

“I don’t necessarily know your plan, Mistress, but I-“ The mare stopped herself. She knew she was striding on the edge of what was acceptable. She knew how stupid it was to go up against her serpentine overlord, not to mention that, as a Rogue, she most certainly had the means and skills to do such a thing… but Starlite was afraid. She was just afraid.

If this had been suggested to Scarlet, that mare would have punched the suggestive party in the face and ran away, perhaps even moved house. Starlite, however, wasn’t even informed about it before it happened, and that… for lack of productive frustration, triggered the fear response. Or so she assumed. Her knowledge of the mind’s internal workings came mainly from listening to Numinous’ every word.

“Why, no, you don’t. And your anxiety, while charmingly pathetic, has some credence to it… Especially considering who we’re coming to meet! Oh, no, no. You might disappoint me.”

“Wha-?!”

The dragoness tapped her chin and momentarily stuck out her tongue. “Yes. I’d rather be sure.”

The dragoness’ maroon eyes transformed imperceptibly. A hand stroked the mare’s chin, lifting it for uninterrupted eye contact. Her other hand flicked the pendant in its grip, each swing punctuating a key word. Several intonations that slipped into the dragon’s words caused the mare to sit up at attention, teal shapes covering up her vision, be it physical or merely a trick of addled perception.

“On my command, you are to do violence. Obey my voice and be your brutal self. On my signal, you understand that you bear concealed weapons.”

“Yes, Mistress. “

“Until I do, you are my secretary. You are aware of nothing. Be decoration.” Numinous performed one last flick of her pendant and poked the mare’s forehead. She sunk her nail firmly, yet carefully underneath Starlite's horn, causing the mare to wince and look up, eyes glazed over, nervous system still shuttered. “I’d like to have fun, to be perfectly honest… Yet you are to consider this important. Don’t disappoint me.”

“…”

Starlite gulped and heaved in return, although her body desperately wanted to proclaim her eagerness. The pall then lifted, only the faint suggestion of possible violence now resounding somewhat alluringly in her psyche, dwelling more on her confidence in knowing how to deliver it. The desire in her blurry, sparkling eyes must have been enough, as the dragoness drew back with a faint smirk.

“I know to depend on you,” Numinous said. She bared her teeth at the mare and twirled one of her pink locks. “But do remember to address me as Jade, please. Just be your wonderfully sharp self - I have this situation neatly under control. Don’t be an errant factor… I wouldn’t assume you’re this dull, but let’s just make sure we don’t leave any trails that need covering for.”

The secretary nodded rapidly. Her and the dragoness progressed through the numerous checkpoints, each of which returned with a success for the both of them – even the mare, who up until recently didn’t quite exist in an official sense. She could but roll her eyes underneath her new shades, realizing how fallible seemingly high tier security really was when faced with a competent Rogue and her resources. As she tried to follow that train of thought, however, a strange pressure forced her mind back on track, abandoning any further speculation. She simply kept to the dragoness’ side, as they agreed, enforcing silence in her head as they entered the establishment. Right on time, a fellow, much lower ranking infiltrator within their operation – integrated as a casino aide months ago - led them to a row of private areas.

The mare squinted and kept her ears sharp, well aware of what sort of place this was. She knew, however, that their meeting was with someone of considerable importance, that baseline guard-and-camera security was far lower in these private areas, and that without the Doctor’s generous gift, she would have been half blinded by now. The Sun and Moon was a District of Stars all on its own – until they finally entered the private areas. It was considerably dimmer, then.

It helped her stay inconspicuous in her sharp, grey suit, overshadowed by the towering, rather fashionable dragoness. Subtlety was helpful for keeping calm as they entered – oddly unscanned and unannounced - into a roulette hall that contained Lieutenant Colonel Gunther of Task Force Rogue, multiple high-ranking Force officials playing through holoconnection, and a small detail of personal security.

The griffon didn’t even pay the opening portal any mind, sounding off dismissively at the newcomers:

“Put it on the service table! And make sure it’s orange this time! I am not paying for another lemon lime!” he sounded off dismissively. “Your stupid magic machines cannot process a simple order! It’s not adequate…”

Starlite tensed up, skipping a breath. The nature of their meeting became evermore questionable now. It wasn’t just the guards populating the spacious gambling hall – nor the fact they were still yet to react to their entrance. The Lieutenant Colonel happened to be no average high ranking officer of the TFR. On top of being a rare non-pony in the City’s law enforcement, he was also someone she was quite familiar with. This griffon was in charge of the Task Force’s recruitment, logistics and mission control.

Even after all that had happened, the unicorn remembered her time on the Force quite well, and particularly clear was her memory of trying to apply for Task Force Rogue. The City’s Rogue-focused elite crack team of specialists was a meritocracy that could be applied for by any Force member – at least on paper it was. In reality, Scarlet Strand, by far one of their best recruits, spent three years being continuously rejected without any in-depth review, her rejection signed each time by the same name. And while she eventually did get approval, only to quit half a year later, that was beside the point.

It was massively suspicious that they were visiting such a character with her in tow. Yet once again, the subtle 'leash' Numinous placed on her mind pulled taut, and Starlite emptied her head of all the distressing thoughts. She stuck to the plan and stayed in the dragon’s shadow, trying not to show herself. There wasn’t much of a Scarlet Strand to recognize anymore, after all… or so she told herself.

“Can’t get any good help?” Numinous asked, caressing her pendant. “That’s unfortunate. You weren’t expecting us, I take it?”

“Those are great questions, because I did not authorize your visit.” The griffon rubbed his face, his talons scraping against the metal plate that covered his left eye and part of his skull. “This is ridiculous. Miss Jade, I don’t WANT to be crass, but I cancelled our meeting a week ago.”

“I suppose it’s just what you get in this City ran by ponies, no?” Numinous snickered. “That really is unfortunate. No wonder you’ve found yourself needing help.”

“Heads will roll for this – I knew not to trust my aides to so much as send a message!” Gunther slammed his arm on the table and gestured at the holo-call, signaling for it to pause. The gems that projected the other players in his game, however, had paused shortly after the dragoness spoke up. Starlite had been on guard since then, but Gunther only noticed now. “...unreliable arcane rubbish. Ugh. Listen, how about we come to an agreement between us two. You see I am otherwise disposed right now – you should’ve been turned away before you even got here.”

“Ah, but you do look like you have a lot on your plate, yes. Stressful job?” the dragoness queried.

It was at this point that Starlite became fully aware that the private security in this chamber were completely docile, simply staring ahead or repeating the same task, as if sleepwalking. Her horn, too, emitted a hollow hum, signifying magic being ushered out of it without her control – if the sensation was anything to go by, it was to exclude her from whatever was affecting the guards.

“Yes. I’m engaging in stress relief right now. Or, so I was, until- Grh!” The griffon slammed his fist on the table again and rose from his chair. He kicked the crystal holo-projector generator with his metal prosthetic left leg, then cast a glance over the room, seeing the docile guards. Gunther’s eyes, both organic and transplant, focused back on the dragon and the unicorn. He took a step back, his metal wings whirring.

“Ah, yes, you really don’t have any luck with good help, Gunther. Your guards are drooling puppets, and your psych aide attends your private gambling getaway where you were doubtlessly about to dispose of this month’s salary – not that this is your main mode of income, of course.” Numinous twirled her pink locks. She then patted Starlite on her head, causing shivers to run up the mare’s spine. Her muscles tensed up. “But this is all a matter of perspective, you know? I’ve found I have no trouble with getting highly qualified help whatsoever. And look at me, I’m just as inequine as you are!”

The griffon tilted his head, scanning both of them with his cybernetic eye. His knees then buckled and he heaved, before clearing his throat.

“Who do you-“ he grunted. Breathing heavily, the griffon grit his beak. “I really don’t understand what you’re getting at, dragon. You walk in here, then you start talking like this. It’s not a smart move, you do understand that? What causes you to think any of these actions are smart for a lone dragon to undertake in the position you are in?”

“Now that is simply not entirely correct.” Numinous rolled her eyes. She put a hand on Starlite’s shoulder. “I’m not alone. I did, in fact, discuss my help for a particular reason.”

“Oh. You brought a secretary along. I see. No, that only makes this all the more absurd, I am very sorry. I’ve had enough; security! Security?” Gunther groaned, squinting in confusion. It had dawned on him now that his guards were otherwise disposed. The fact may have bothered him, but he remained on the offensive: “Shall I have to evacuate you myself? I’m not interested in this conversation.”

“Ah-ah-aaah!~ That’s very much not the correct mindset, Gunther, you meddling slime.” The dragoness' tone suddenly shifted to a noxious, guttural hiss, though it didn’t stop her from following it up with a light giggle. She then tapped Starlite on the back and forced her to take a step forward, ensuring the griffon paid mind to her. “I’d like you to consider if perhaps you’re the one doing something wrong. For example: picking the wrong side. Your former colleague of some six months would agree, wouldn’t she?”

Starlite glanced back at the dragon, then at the agitated, confused griffon. She was conflicted on how to feel, especially considering the security detail was slowly coming back to their senses…

“Colleague? Who- Ah.” The griffon’s eyes focused squarely on the secretary. “Oh. Great. You. Scarlet Strand. You don’t even have that stupid red streak anymore. Ugh. I knew something was foul here.”

“Good to see you too, Lieutenant Colonel,” the mare muttered through gritted teeth. Her eye twitched. “Good to see you’re still the same pathetic, crippled old bird.”

“Hah. Look who’s talking. Oh, wait. Talk was all you ever did! Talk, disobey and complain!” Gunther snorted. “Just who have you thrown in with? Standing around holding stationery for a psych guru! What is this circus? You whined like a baby when you were made to wear our uniform, and now I see you in such a costume?”

Starlite did not know where this was going, but she would be lying if she didn’t appreciate the chance to get back at perhaps the key model for foul authority in her life.

“I made better acquaintances and got an upgrade. You, not so much.” Starlite shrugged. She tossed a quick, subtle glance at Numinous, who smiled back at her. “I think I’ve got a much better deal than what you’re about to get.”

“Unbe-“ Gunther couldn’t finish his bark, once again grasping his head. His talons dug into his grey plumage and scraped at the metal plate covering the rest of his head. He suppressed a desire to hurl, some of his metal joints briefly malfunctioning. “What is… going on?.. Did someone- If they… if they spiked my-“

“No-no-no, this is very real,” Numinous pointed out, twirling her pendant in the air. “You’re just a little nauseous, as your fleshy griffon brain is not entirely there. Which is, interestingly, itself the point, as otherwise you’d be in much the same trance as your private security. But it does pose a problem. A problem I have an interest in solving.”

Gunther stepped back to the wall, kicking away his chair. Though the guards were now somewhat more active than before, it didn’t make much difference for him. The griffon shook his head and raised his prosthetic arm into the air.

“What do you want?” he said. “Just humor me, dragon.”

“Oh, Starlite…” the dragoness chirped with laughter. She then put a hand on the mare’s shoulder, leaning in, as if to whisper in her ear. Instead, she spoke rather loudly, staring directly at the griffon: “…he thinks he’s going to kill us.”

“I think he’s stalling,” the mare said, eyeing him with derision.

“What do you want?!” Gunther repeated, more agitated now, his metal palm facing towards them. “You’re short on time.”

“Well, Starlite, what do you say you want, hmm?” the dragoness asked, grinning in the mare’s face. “How about settling some old scores?”

“Is SHE supposed to do something to ME?” Gunther let out a single laugh and hung his head. He took a step towards them, the mechanism in his arm revving up rather loudly, informing them that he meant to fire. Starlite considered whether the Mistress’ notice about keeping things formal still held, which it clearly did not. She stuck out her middle finger in response to the griffon, although the dragon quickly swatted it away, wagging her finger at her secretary. “Enough of this,” the griffon bellowed. “Tell me what you’re here for so I have something to report when I’m back to the office.”

Numinous sighed. “Oh, I intend to send a message.”

She snapped her fingers and produced a noise Starlite could neither discern nor describe. Yet, the moment she processed it, her mind was awash with a blaze of furious anger. It was nothing artificial, not really: it simply removed all of the mare’s concerns and inhibitions, letting her focus on a raging desire to finally put the griffon in his place. It also removed the mental block that kept her from realizing that the pen in her front pocket was a custom made, disposable EMP spell designed to avoid detection.

Less than a second after the dragon’s signal, she had fired it off, causing Gunther to fly back into the wall. He was, from that point, unable to get up, weighed down by his numerous cybernetics, turned to immobile junk by the blast. Despite being bigger and stronger than the pony, he only had one leg and one arm to fight back with – not to mention over a decade of desk work to corrode any real fighting skill he might have had. Starlite, meanwhile, could remember only two things: her numerous beatdowns on tight lipped contacts, and her burning hatred for this conceited old fuck.

And she had been set off her leash.

Starlite moved with the same drive and ferocity as when she was breaking through the Jungle. Perhaps she was powered by the same primal core now – only instead of battling the control imposed on her mind, it was acting out one of her longest standing revenge fantasies. Gunther’s superior size and considerable body mass meant nothing to the sharp dressed unicorn mare, who handled him like a stiff rag doll.

She did not keep track of time, nor pay attention to anything or anyone else in the chamber. The mare was in a superequine state of focus, enough to exert such control over her body that somehow, in some way, she avoided dealing damage to herself Considering the level of physical trauma she dished out to her former commanding officer, that was quite impressive. Needless to say, Starlite was on cloud nine, as her primal urge was finally being fulfilled, rectifying years of pent up frustration, which were the only thoughts that managed to linger. She was busy making a large dent in the monolithic game table using Gunther’s head by the time Numinous finally called her back.

The dragoness once again clicked her fingers, snapping Starlite out of her fury. None of her hatred or satisfaction had gone away, but she was now acutely aware of her own ragged breath, strained muscles, aching elbows, and bruised knuckles.

“Ah, Starlite, sweetie, how wonderful, I’m so glad you’re enjoying yourself,” Numinous said, nodding her head. “I suppose I knew what I asked for! A moment, please?”

Starlite bashed Gunther’s head once more against the table, finding it hard now to hold onto his plumage for purchase. Numinous sighed, at which point the mare realized that the griffon’s security detail were all sat around her with vacant eyes, drooling into their helmets, some of them clinging onto her tall legs. Several of them bore marks of a brief melee, but all were safely cooked out of their minds.

“Ahem. I think that’s enough,” the dragon stated sternly. She gestured at the mare, and she lifted Gunther’s head off the table so he could face Numinous. “Wonderful. So, then, that was interesting, don’t you think? Look at what my humble secretary just did. Why, look at what I just did, ensuring all this advanced technology turned to junk with but a press of a button. How deeply unfortunate, don’t you agree?”

Starlite panted from the exertion, while Gunther let out a strained, wet cough, each breath turning into wheezing and whistling. Sparks shot off his headplate, while the rest of his cybernetic limbs jittered and spasmed: most of them had come back online by now, but, being connected to his nervous system, they no longer afforded him any fighting chance. Starlite was surprised he was still alive – more to the point, she was unsure he could hear or understand any of Numinous’ words. Nevertheless, she saw to it that he stared at the Mistress as she spoke.

“Just think about it. My ordinary unicorn associate and I, we simply walked into the Sun and Moon Casino Palace, entered this private gambling area, interrupted a roulette game between high ranking members of the Force, and did all this.” Numinous gestured first at the living scrap heap Gunther had become, then at the drooling, murmuring security guards. “One might call it impressive. But for me? Simply a matter of contacting a few collaborative beauties and asking nicely.”

Numinous put her hands together and tossed away the guards. She stepped forward to look directly into Gunther’s eyes.

“I happen to possess a clear understanding of what power is. It’s frustrating that I find myself having to explain such basic concepts, but do listen well: power is in the management and maintenance of… problems. We all have problems. Why, this whole City is one big bother!” She giggled. “Offer even a subtle, a subconscious idea that perhaps these problems can be unmade, and you will find willing, helpful assets, ready to be made into their better selves. They’ll simply improve themselves if you encourage them! Or get out of the way should they be unneeded… Asset management – perhaps that’s a more understandable metric of power, yes?”

“Ghhhlkkk-“ the griffon grunted, trying to open his organic eye. His metal wings whirred in place for a moment before letting out a series of error signals.

“Indeed. And, you see…” Numinous stared directly into Gunther’s face. More specifically, she starred at the whirring bright red oculus on his headplate. “…I am quite powerful.”

The dragoness then stepped away and turned her back to the mangled griffon. She put her hands behind her back.

“Look at your problem solving. Look at your motivation. Look at your application of, bleh, what measly power you do have! It’s unbecoming – it’s pathetic. I pride myself on my understanding; after all, I am, in fact, a master of psychology. But you? You offend me.” Numinous turned around sharply and glared at Gunther. “You have taken all the beautiful, colorful intricacy in the problem solving exercise of existence, and you began to cheat. This is not admirable, inventive cheating. You refuse effort. You do not appreciate the nuance carried in this colossal problem these silly little ponies have created! You forgo even that artifice which holds elegance, that which is based in the inherently emotional element of magic. Instead, you deal in stapling of metal parts, in augmentation, in perversion of that which makes this all… worth it.”

Starlite had caught her breath by now, and was starting to have trouble holding the immensely heavy Lieutenant Colonel up any longer. She put her back into it, however. Seeing him driven down so low by her new Mistress was nothing short of gratifying. The secretary knew she could strain her muscles for a while longer if it meant making Mistress proud… but she also began to draft her words for when she had to suggest the idea that the griffon couldn’t hear the dragoness.

The idea did not hold for long.

“You got…” Gunther managed to blurt out. His voice was a wheezing, incoherent whisper – instead, his words were made audible by a redundant voicebox in his throat, which doubled over his speech with a dull, distorted, emotionless voice. “…no idea… wha-what you are in-in-in for… We kno-know you. Bitch.”

“Hmmm. Consider what I enabled a humble unicorn secretary to do to a decorated, highly skilled Task Force Rogue veteran.” Numinous bared all her teeth. “Pfeh-heh-heh. You’re just a convoluted machine.”

“I-I AM NOT-NOT A MACHI-“ Gunther’s voicebox struggled, then finally gave out and proceeded to emit a loud, obnoxious error tune while the griffon spat and hacked.

“And machines won’t do,” Numinous concluded. She exhaled. “I will make sure to enjoy this City once I am done with you.”

Starlite looked at the dragon flick her tail in the air and twirl her pendant in the air, signaling to one of the concealed cameras. As she did so, the holo-transmission resumed, connecting Gunther to the officers’ game once more.

Starlite grinned at the unfamiliar figures and hoisted Gunther into the air for them to see. Her muscles whining, she drew the Lieutenant Colonel’s head even further back. His earpiece had been destroyed by the beatdown she delivered, so their reaction could not be heard, but she didn’t need to be told that they were here to make a point.

“I think they’re impressed,” the secretary pointed out, watching the commotion going on in the holo crystal display.

“Mmmm-hm. I see they understand what you’ve done. Good that I knew you had it in you,” the dragoness replied. “Let’s leave before we run the infinitesimal chance a response team arrives to extract this wretch.”

“What about those?” Starlite pointed at the drooling guards.

“Oh, there wasn’t much to erase there at all. I think they’re perfectly happy going on…” Numinous stepped over one of the guards, lifting her tail so as not to brush it against the body. “…like this.”

Starlite laughed. She glared at the officers shouting orders, most of them hardly in frame. Some were still observing, but she didn’t care. This was it, then.

“Guess what - never would’ve made it if you weren’t such a piece of shit, ain’t that fucking funny?” She grinned and let her shades slide down her snout. “I win. You lose. Go get scrapped, tin can man.”

Having said that, she heaved him back and smashed his head against the table one last time. The mare whistled, wiping her hands on the back of Gunther’s civvie outfit that wasn’t yet stained with oil or blood. One less loose end weighing down on her – all thanks to the choices she had made... and choices Numinous made for her. She cracked her neck, flexed her shoulders and followed Numinous on her way out of the chamber, giving a hearty kick to one of the remaining docile guards.

“Ugh. I appreciate your fervor, but I’ll learn you some neater means around enacting a fatality…” Numinous clicked her tongue as she gestured toward the door, swinging a fake magic signature gem side to side to convince it to open. “What an unpleasant sound, hnngh. I did not appreciate that, no. Hm... Oddly reminiscent of watermelon.”

“Yeah, that piece of shit fell apart just like any regular old bastard made of flesh. Go figure! So much for all that tech. I mean, did you see his beak get-“ Starlite went on an excited tirade and found herself abruptly silenced. Numinous had clamped her fingers around the mare's snout, pulling her along in the dragoness' wake.

“Language! Goodness, have some manners!” Numinous lectured her. “I don’t set you off your leash just so you can begin to misbehave! Just because I needed your talents for messy brutality does not mean I enjoyed it! It’s crude, and I only employ crudeness when beneficial! You’ll soon get to learn more elegant means of disposal. This was more of a… one-off. I believe you’ll take to it well. After I wash your mouth with soap.”

That said, she let the unicorn’s mouth go. Starlite breathed in deep, doubling as a sigh of relief – they had passed the decontamination threshold, where all the blood, oil, and sweat was removed from her body and suit on exiting the chamber. Her charcoal coat avoided the bruising on her knuckles from being easily seen. She reflexively fidgeted with her suit and fixed her hair, even though both were only mildly ruffled, and finally replied to her Mistress in a more appropriate, level tone.

“I’m sorry for that outburst, I let myself get too excited,” she said. “Of course I’ll learn all you need me to learn.” Even as she spoke, she could hardly hold back a smile tugging on her lips, her hands quivering a little, which she tried to conceal by rubbing them together. “I’m... deeply grateful for the opportunity you’ve given me today. I dreamed of this for years… years! Do know I will never take this enormous favor for granted, Mistress.”

“Hmmm.” Numinous shrugged. “Understood, Starlite, dearie! Maybe I won’t be quite so literal in applying the soap to your mouth, then. This all said, I am quite glad you appreciate the mindfulness it took. Goodness, don’t you just love it when a plan comes together?” She patted her secretary on the head, then trailed a claw down to the mare's trembling digits. “Now you know why I had your fingerprints completely replaced and overwrote your entire core, rendering your magical signature entirely untraceable compared to what it once was! Ahh, but I do like plotting. To think we’ve only just begun…”

Starlite nodded and finally lowered her hands, leaving them at her sides, returning to a proper pose. She risked one last question before they entered the main casino area. “You’ll let me know when we proceed with our plan, right? Whatever it is.”

“Oh, yes, I will. But no more questions.” Numinous caressed Starlite's head, gently running her claws through that cyan streak. While she was at it, she removed the mare's hair clip and redid her coiffure on the go – a few strands had come loose during the melee, after all. She fitted it back on somewhat forcefully, causing Starlite to yelp. “You’ll know as much as you need to, when you need to. Thus far… I’m satisfied, if a little nauseous. I am not going to be able to eat watermelon for a week.”

“Sorry, Mistress.”

“Now-now, let’s remove ourselves from this noisy place.”