Nightshade: Death of a Psychic

"Hey!"

A masked hooded figure bolted down the sidewalk pushing past a group of ponies, knocking down a few mares in their wake with the police hot on their trail. With a hard flap of their wings, they flew fast and low, weaving through the street and traffic as they evaded capture. The figure dipped into a dark alleyway, laying flat on the ground as a whole squad of officers flew past and overhead. They let out a sigh of relief as they removed a bag from under their cloak, the bag had been weighing them down, but they felt it was worth the risk.

Footsteps from the entrance of the alley caught the pony's attention, but they kept calm.

"Hey, citizen," the officer who entered the dark alley called pointing a flashlight at the figure sat on the ground, "Hey, there's been a robbery and- "

The hooded pony pressed a hand against their chest and hunched over towards the officer with a pained grunt, the officer rushed over to their side.

"Local units, repeat, local units! We have a potential stabbing- Agh-!"

The pegasi officer suddenly couldn't breathe. The pony hunched in front of him made eye contact with the officer, the officer looked down and there was a midnight black blade sunk to the hilt in his chest. They struggled for breath only making pained gargles before shrieking out into the night.

Nightshade stuck his head out of Pandora's doors, "Nice! Here we are Torri, twenty-third century Pegasi Station Solaris. Or Celestial if you like that one better."

Torri stepped out of Pandora and her mouth hung open, whispering a quiet 'wow'.

"See, I told you it would be cool. Oh, hold on," The unicorn stepped back into Pandora, grabbing a small cylindrical tube with a dark red tip. He reemerged offering his hand for Torri to take. "Now before we do anything, I have a few rules. One, don't wander off. Two, pay attention."

Toro just nodded along excitedly but wilted slightly, "But my eyes- "

"Funny you mention that... I thought about that and figured you might need these."

The charcoal pony reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a pair of ordinary-looking glasses, much to Torri's confusion. He ignored her doubting face and gently placed them on her face.

"Boom. Glasses. Timelord tech. It'll fix your vision for as long as you wear them."

She nudged her glasses up her nose, "Timelords sound awesome."

"Yeah... They were..." Nightshade almost frowned but changed the subject before Torri could get a word in, "Now let's not dawdle, I have a few friends around here. We can go visit them."

He flashed the filly a sharp smile before snapping his fingers, Pandora's doors closing and locking, and beginning to lead her down the sidewalk. Despite the fact that they were hundreds of years in the future, Torri couldn't help but feel like she was in Manehatten. With hovering cars zooming around the streets and ponies soaring overhead in a clear rush.

Nightshade smiled, She's just like him.

They continued down the noisy streets, from how busy it was Nights could only assume he had the misfortune of landing them on a Monday morning. He would have to pay attention next time, but that was for next time. He turned the corner at an electronics store just as a breaking news story began to broadcast, much to Torri's confusion he slowly came to a halt holding her hand firmly.

The newspony looked worried, a streak of grey in his jet black mane and his teal fur looked dull in comparison to his blue suit. "There is an update to the robbery that took place just last night. The suspect was last seen wearing a long tattered cloak and a metal mask, they are to be considered armed and dangerous. Two officers brutally attacked, one killed and one in the hospital from injuries sustained. If you spot a suspicious pony, inform your local Peacekeepers."

A tug from Torri's hand snapped the unicorn back, "C'mon Mister Nightshade!"

I can't let her worry about this, I'll pop in for a visit and then we leave. Nights thought anxiously. He picked up the pace, keeping the smile on his face as the walked down another street and his destination came in sight. A small tech shop on the nearby street corner, the neon sign read 'Ze's Upgrades'. He hurried over, holding the door open for Torri. Nights took one last glance back at the street and froze when he made eye contact with a pair of red eyes that belonged to a well-dressed unicorn who stood across the street. It seemed improbable but he knew who it was, it was him and next to him stood a blonde pony that he couldn't identify. The two Nightshades nodded at each other before the one in the street grabbed the pony by the hand and vanished in the crowd, Nights shook his head before joining Torri inside the workshop.

"Lassie be careful with that," a voice shouted. Nights walked farther in to find Torri holding a prosthetic arm and an older white unicorn slowly taking it from her, "You're right trouble, where's yer- Nightshade! So this little hellion belongs to you? You finally smashed that royalty then?"

The unicorn lit up with embarrassment, "Zenith! Don't say stuff like that in front of her!"

"Oh please, when I was a wee lass- "

"To answer your question, no. Nothing happened between Ace and me. We actually aren't on speaking terms right now."

"Hurt his feelings?"

"He thinks I'm dead."

"So I'm gonna assume you're gonna be leaving soon? Seeing the recent events?"

Nights simply nodded.

"Well, surely you could help out to eliminate this murderous thief. They've been scaring away me clientele, for Celestia's sake they've rolled out the Peacekeepers."

"Ze. I can't. I have Torri with me, I'm not gonna put her in danger to help out. I'm sorry-"

"No, Nights. I'm sorry." The white unicorn looked away running a hand through her wild greying mane.

"For wha-" Nightshade stood defensively in front of Torri, she clung to his leg as officers surrounded them. The officers looked different from what he expected. They wore polished minimalist armour, only enough to cover shoulders, torso and legs. Some wore tactical visors and others wore helmets, on some the outfits were form-fitting. All of them were armed with automatic rifles, all pointed at Nights and Torri. "You bastards, you Equestrians love using force to get what you want- Put the damn guns away! You're scaring her. Don't you morons have any decency?"

Nightshade scowled at the security detail as they marched him and Torri to the Peacekeeper HQ, a massive skyscraper in the centre of the station. From the outside, it was an elegant and ornate building that stuck out like a beacon of light. Inside there were agents milling about, some armed, some in plain clothes, some in fancy suits but all of them had a pistol or gun of some type on their person. It was almost impressive to him, but he was still pissed about them aiming a loaded weapon at an 8-year-old. The two were marched into an elevator in the lobby with security following them inside and hitting a button at the top of the panel, the doors soundlessly slid closed and soft annoying music began to play as the elevator rose up. Nights took his free hand and dug it into his jacket finding the sonic screwdriver, it had been given to him by The Doctor as a birthday gift. He pressed down on the button of the screwdriver getting a warbling noise before the music cut, earning a confused look from the security. Before another song began to play.

"Straddle the line, in discord and rhyme, I'm on the hunt, I'm after you, mouth is alive, with juices like wine, and I'm hungry like the wolf..." The speakers kicked out the familiar tune and Nights nodded his head along.

Then the unicorn noticed the stares, "What? It's a classic! Loosen up a bit, geez..."

The doors opened to an office with an amazing view of the nearby galaxy and sun, dark oak desk and bookshelves lined with countless files and books. The floor was made to look like smooth wood panelling if it wasn't for the circumstances that they were there under he might have taken a few notes on interior design. Nights and Torri stepped off the elevator but the security detail stayed inside and let the doors close. At the desk sat a zebra in a clean grey suit, polished shoes and a shaved mane. The blue eyes stared into Nights' blood-red with amusement.

"You know," he began, putting a cigar in his mouth before lighting it and taking a quick puff. "You're quite the difficult pony to get a hold of-"

"So you point guns at a child?" Nightshade snapped.

"Unfortunately we're in a situation where this is needed, seeing as I don't know if you heard but, someone robbed one of our military installations last night. We heard of you and your skills through the grapevine-"

"No."

The zebra looked confused as Nights let go of Torri's hand before the unicorn crossed his arms, "That sounds terrible, but it also isn't my problem. I don't do that stuff anymore. You got some psycho willing to rob a military base? No deal, especially because I have- "

"Han." Nightshade whirled around just in time to see a gryphon firmly grasp Torri. She squirmed and protested, Nights bared his teeth in a snarl at the zebra who smiled wide. "Maybe you misunderstand me. You will help us catch this bastard. Hopefully, my new bargaining chip will help you see reason. You will help us capture this terrorist, dead or alive. This is motivation- "

Nightshade raged behind his relatively calm eyes, he considered killing these two but he couldn't. Not in front of Torri. He only had one choice.

"If you move a single hair on her head out of place, there won't be enough of you left for a funeral."

"Excellent! Head back down to the lobby and my Lieutenant will give you all the information you need to know. Good luck."

Nightshade gave Torri a little pet on her head as he passed by and entered the elevator. Stay strong kid. Nightshade thought as the elevator zoomed down to the lobby. When the doors opened a mare stood waiting, or at least what Nights initially thought was a mare due to the pony's stature, the pony stood a good foot shorter than him. It wasn't all that surprising considering he was actually decently tall but they seemed like the runt of the litter, a short dark brown mane brushed neatly over one eye, grey fur, hazel eyes and a smug looking grin that almost irritated him to look at. They wore a smaller chest piece that seemed more for show than for protection. The brunette had a large katana strapped to their back. Wings neatly folded against their back and helmet held in their hand against their hip, Nightshade's eyes lingered for a bit too long.

"I thought you'd be taller." It was a male voice, albeit effeminate sounding.

Nights growled, "I thought the LT was a stallion."

"Really? How tall are you? 6'2? I didn't know they stacked shit that high."

That one got a chuckle out of the black unicorn, it had been a while since he had someone to banter with. He felt like someone was missing and knew who.

"Now that formalities are out of the way, I'm Lieutenant Princess."

He motioned for Nightshade to follow as he began to walk through the lobby.

"Wasn't my idea and not my actual name. It kinda just stuck. My drill sarge heard my name and called me a princess. I was a bit of a diva in training camp. After all, my parents named me after a princess. Just call me LT or Lieutenant. You're Nightshade. I know."

"We should head to the crime scene- "

"I can take you to the alley where the murder happened, but the military base is under lockdown. Nobody in or out kind of deal. There have been whispers that this was an inside job, they say this was carried out by Peacekeepers. They think we did this."

Nights shook his head as they exited the building, "I know the feeling. You're just trying to do your job and people think you're the villain."

It wasn't long before the two stood in the opening of the alleyway, it was blocked off by police tape bit the forensics team was long gone. All that remained were splatters of blood on the ground and walls with the faint metallic odour of blood. Nights light up his horn and stepped into the alley, walking slowly as his magic began to create a choppy image of what had occurred. He was really missing Ace now as he felt the painful strain of using lots of magic at once. He didn't have a clear image but there was one detail he'd managed to glean from it.

"Lieutenant," Nightshade looked over his shoulder, "I've got some bad news."

"What do you mean, this fucker is among us?"

Reasonably, the LT wasn't taking it well.

"LT, one of your guys did this. The killer had on one of your bodysuits. I couldn't catch their face- do you know what they stole?"

The two hurried into the Peacekeeper HQ, making a beeline for the barracks. The LT put their helmet on before bursting into the bunk room that was bustling with life. Peacekeepers sat around talking, playing cards and cleaning weapons.

"Atten-ttion!" LT barked.

Nights' jaw nearly dropped as all of them stood in two rows at attention not a single one even showed a shadow of dissent. A few had been in the middle of a card game and there were now cards scattered all over the floor.

"Agents? This is Nightshade. He's so graciously offered his services to help us solve this case and find this bastard. I've got news, boys. He's identified a crucial part of the perp's outfit. In fact, all of you are wearing it. There is a traitor among us agents. The barracks is now under lockdown, head to the mess hall. You will be questioned by Nightshade if there's even the slightest bit of deception... You better hope he can hold me back. Dismissed!"

Nightshade glared at LT as the other peacekeepers filing into the mess hall looking sombre and paranoid, "Well what the fuck did you do that for? We had the element of surprise-"

"Trust me. I know all my men, they wouldn't dare disobey a direct order. You're free to question all you like. I have two guys sweeping perimeter and making sure nobody can get through any nearby airlocks."

Nightshade loosened up, the LT had a handle on the situation. If one of the PKs did it then they would have to be in the barracks, there would be no escape as the whole place was locked up tight. There would be no escape. And I can get Torri out of here. He thought with a scowl.

Nightshade frowned after his first rounds of questioning on the superior officers, a few of them seemed shady and clearly were doing illegal activities but none fit what he was screening for. He looked to the LT who had walked back into the room and was carefully watching the room, making sure nobody left.

Nights hurried over to the LT, "Hey, where are those two guys on patrol? There's something I need to ask them- Well, I might as well ask you. Was anyone here in the squad that was chasing the guy?"

"Yeah," He murmured, "Styx and Tungsten were... Shit, they're on patrol. Go find them, I'm gonna try to get them on the horn. They should have been back by now. They should be circling just around the entrance-"

Nightshade took off sprinting down the hall, hastily pulling out the sonic screwdriver. It wasn't a weapon but it gave him some reassurance. The unicorn hit a hard left, skid around a right and rounded another corner and stumbled upon something on the floor quite literally, nearly falling as he caught his footing and whirled about. On the floor lay the bodies of who he assumed to be Styx and Tungsten, both stallions lay dead on the floor with their helmets shattered as discarded. Their throats were slit and blood had already begun pooling around them. This was recent, Nightshade's mind reeled in realisation. Nights yelled for the LT and the pony came charging down the hall, sliding to a kneeling position next to one of the bodies. The scent that followed the LT was akin to that of chemical cleaners and that distinct hospital smell.

"You a medic, LT?" Nights asked.

"I am, but it's way too late for them-"

An explosion rocked the barracks and smoke billowed out from a nearby hall, words didn't need to be exchanged for the two to understand what was happening. Both bolted out but Nights ran towards the lobby that looked like a warzone blew through, he rushed into the elevator and smashed the top floor button. He tried to take deep breaths, the place was well guarded and that bodyguard should have-

The doors opened to the gryphon bodyguard's head sitting on the desk, his blood painted the office and his lifeless eyes still seemed to show horror. The window behind the desk was shattered from the inside, Nights already knew what he would see but walked over to the window and looked down. The body of the zebra lay in a dark red puddle on the sidewalk. He turned away in disgust and spotted the glasses, Torri's new glasses laying in the gryphon's blood. He reluctantly bent down and picked them up. I did this. I brought her here because I wanted to show her the world... Why did I do this? Why did I think it was a good idea? He walked into the elevator and smashed his fist into the lobby button before taking a deep breath and focusing his magic on the glasses.

A memory began to play in his head. The deafening burst of gunshots filled the air and now he could see hands and knees scrambling across the floor. He must have been looking through Torri's view! He watched as she crawled across the floor over to a vent near the elevator, Torri's vision glanced back at the zebra and his bodyguard but the two were focused on the elevator. She focused on the vent cover, sound seemed muted but he could faintly make out the filly's feverish hyperventilating breaths. She pulled at the cover, the metal digging into her small hands. Just as she broke the cover off the hinges, the gut wrenching sound of a pin being pulled reverberated as the gryphon screamed. There was a blast and the glasses lay still on the floor.

Nightshade let his magic rest, he saw what he needed. There was a chance. That Torri got away and she was safe. He was going to catch this guy. Nights stepped off the elevator in a huff. LT looked Nightshade's way with concern, he only shook his head.

"Any word?" The unicorn inquired.

"Reports of a masked and shadowy figure headed towards the docks. We can end this, I can get us some EVA suits in case things get ugly."

They took off, LT leading the way as he called for all forces to converge on the docking bay and be ready for a potential spacewalk. Whoever the pony was who had done this left a trail of destruction, Nightshade would probably have to kill them. He would have liked to leave that in his past but it seemed to not want to leave him without a fight as if it was part of his very soul. Luckily for the LT and his troops, not to mention Nightshade, the docking bay wasn't too far.

The LT gathered his men, "Alright! Alpha, go secure a perimeter of the entire port. Nobody comes in. Beta, go suit up in EVA. If he tries to leave, you blow him to hell. Nightshade, let's hunt this bastard."

"Wait, " The unicorn followed the angry lieutenant inside the port, "Shouldn't we suit up-"

"No time, we can't let them escape. Too many died today. This ends here."

The two split up to cover more ground, although the unicorn would have preferred them sticking together. He felt sick as he stepped over countless bodies and following a trail of bloody footprints on the metal floor. Nightshade could feel adrenaline rush as there was a shout as the sound of a scuffle, then a gunshot. He bolted towards the sound, hurdling workbenches and sliding under a low hanging transport ship. He turned and growled. In front of him was the hangar's energy barrier that kept the deadly vacuum of space out and a shadowy figure holding the LT with their arm wrapped around his throat. Nights pointed the screwdriver upwards and activated it, the spotlights came to life and illuminated a familiar face. He looked different, speckles of grey in his fur and mane, his fur and mane seemed to now have an iridescent golden sheen to them.

"Well," He started with a pained toothy grin, "I haven't seen you in a few centuries. Still licking Celestia's boots?"

"Darkstar." Nightshade growled lighting up his horn.

"You know this asshole?" The LT struggled and Darkstar tightened the grip.

"Ah, ah, ah. Language. Now come on, I don't see you for year's and this is how you greet me? Quite frankly I'm hurt-"

Nightshade tried to step towards the two but Darkstar seemed to be prepared for that as he pointed a gun at the unicorn.

"Don't think about it. You know you should thank me- I mean, you were trusting this... What are you? I can't tell- a stallion? Shaped like a succubus this one- I'm helping you. Trust me."

Nightshade snarled, "Trust you. Trust you? In the past, you tried to end reality! You tried to kill my friends. You tried to kill Ace-"

"You do know that playing nice for that fool isn't gonna get you any right? Nevermind, you believing me doesn't matter. This is- "

The ground shook as the cargo ship that Nightshade had passed a minute ago now began its automatic takeoff cycle before slowly flying out, much to the annoyance of Darkstar.

"Dammit Nights! You always have to fuck up my plans don't you?"

"Let the lieutenant go."

"That's the thing you never understood about me Nightshade, you think you can control me. Say hello to Celeste for me-"

Darkstar seemed to leap backwards, still holding LT hostage. "Nightshade-!"

That was the last thing that escaped the stallion's lips before they passed the barrier, the sound cut short as the two floated off slowly and silently. Darkstar might be like Nightshade, but not even he could survive open space without a suit. It was almost ironic how Darkstar scolded Nightshade for his distrust, then commits mass murder. Nightshade looked away, he couldn't bare to watch the LT's body float away lifelessly.

"It didn't have to be this way..."

It was only mere moments before Pandora materialized beside him and he walked in with his eyes closed. First priority is to find Torri.

"Computer, station-wide scan. I'm not leaving until I find-" The stallion opened his eyes. Torri stood next to Computer with a few scrapes and cuts. Nightshade picked up the filly, hugging her right and bursting out in relieved laughter. Compared to the shitstorm that just occurred, this was a bright spot. "My God kiddo, you had me worried! I thought... It doesn't matter-"

Torri looked sad however, "But I dropped your glasses when I escaped the bad pony-"

Nightshade couldn't believe it, the girl was set to cry over something so trivial. "Fuc- I mean, forget the glasses. I'll make you new ones, better one's. How's that?"

The figure huffed as they closed the airlock on the cargo ship, ice chips covering portions of exposed fur. An impromptu spacewalk was not in the plans, but thanks to Nightshade it was needed to make an escape. They flicked the frost of their wings and began to make their way towards the cockpit, the grumbled softly about how shitty the ship was and how they could have taken one of the experimental ships. Hindsight was always twenty-twenty. The hazel-eyed pony sat down at the controls and adjusting their perfectly brushed brown mane, with a smug smirk.