Organization

"It cannot be understated how little faith I have in this plan."

I massage my eyes and sigh. The mirror shimmers before me, Celestia's doubtful visage on full display. The frown on her face makes my guts churn up into butter. I pace before the mirror and straighten out my tie. I look back up to her with a matching frown. Month one, surveying, digging.

"We talked about this, you agreed this was the best way forward," I say rigidly. Month two, digging, rain, delay.

It's too late to back out now. Too many things in motion, too much to lose. We've already hit one-hundred meters in depth... too much work gone into this. Need to defuse her.

"I am well aware, however-" I raise my hands.

"I understand your concerns, but this will work," I reassure. Celestia's breathing down my neck, much like she's doing now. Celestia trumpets an exasperated tone, one I don't appreciate considering the amount of work we've done.

"Why do you believe this will work, Liam? Why will this succeed where your Foundation failed? Tell me again." Month four, digging, building. Lying to her isn't really an option. I tug on my belt and lean against my desk. I can't give her spiel again, might as well be honest.

"Truthfully, I don't know that we'll succeed, but I do know this is the best option across the board. I've done what I can to get us up and running as soon as possible, but there is a technological gap to account for as well. The engineers you've given me are working to close that gap, albeit slowly."

I should've lied to her. Month three, digging, cave-in, two injured.

Celestia's magenta eyes put on a full display of mixed emotions, a bag I don't feel too comfortable with. She levitates the tiara from her head and lets her mane flow out, ethereal wind taking it up into the air. She's distressed, and I don't really blame her, considering I've been stonewalling her for the past two weeks.

"How is construction coming?" Month five.

"We've finished up the base-structure of Levels One, Two and Four. Three and the finishing touches will be completed by the architects and engineers we have on retention. We've met our deadline, and they've made record time considering the setbacks. I'd be hard pressed to find any human engineers that could get this done in the same timeframe with the same obstacles."

Celestia pauses and chews on her lip.

"How many levels do you need?"

I click my tongue.

"Just the four. We'll expand as we need with the staff on retention."

Celestia walks about her chambers, a look on her muzzle I've become familiar with. These past few months, she's let her guard down around me some. Maybe a gesture of goodwill and trust on her part, but one I can plan around. Her emotions, being plainly visible, gives me ample room to navigate our conversations without fear of being played.

The look in her face now is the one she makes when she's about to make demands, a passive-aggressive display of mild annoyance and pleading.

"Have you considered my proposal?" There it is.

"I have, and I disagree. We need to maintain an international presence while remaining completely opaque in our intentions and operations. It will be close to impossible to remain transparent and I understand-"

Celestia scoffs and gets closer to the communication mirror.

"Do you have any idea how difficult that will be to establish in diplomatic channels, if not impossible?"

Her tone takes a hard edge to it towards the end. I pick up the small Equus globe sitting on my desk, turning it over in my hands slowly, rolling it around.

"Yes, I do. With the political environment as it is, it's going to be overwhelmingly hard, but it's necessary. Fortunately for us both, I have another plan." That's month six. It's hard to believe it's been so long. Time flies when the roof falls in on top of you. At least we're not sleeping in those fucking tents anymore.

She recoils as though struck.

"Oh, for...!" She walks away from the mirror, muttering curses I can't pick up in various different languages.

"Yes. Another plan. I'm still hammering out the details, but I have faith it will work." Faith, and a massive amount of pressure.

"And the other architects? The pay is substantial, but you surely do not expect them to remain silent?"

I set the globe down on my desk with a thud, the world tilts slightly on the oak surface.

"They won't say anything, not a word."

"Liam, I must be honest, I am unsure if I trust your capabilities."

I grimace and push myself off the desk. I approach the mirror, hands on my hips.

"That's something you should've said in August, don't you think? We're a little past the point of no return."

If she pulls the plug now, all of this will have been for nothing. Keep your cool, keep reminding yourself that it'd not be wise to piss off the bankroller to this entire thing. Well, anymore than she already is, at least.

"I didn't ask you to trust me, I didn't ask for this job, I told you what needed to be done and how. I'm not a doctor, I'm not a soldier and I'm not a diplomat. I'm a scientist. If you want to see this through to the end, that's your call. Either we do it my way, or we don't do it at all. I'll see you and Luna tonight."

I wave my hand in front of the mirror. The image within begins fading away, Celestia jumping towards me, eyes wide and mouth open.

"Liam-!"

I just hung up on the most powerful person in the country, maybe the world, using a magic phone. I let out a hiss and decompress, shoulders slouched and hand in my hair. I round the desk, tapping on the surface with my knuckles, then sit down on my chair. We ran out of the nice faux-leather ones a little while ago, I opted for wood to give mine up to Doctor Stitch. What a mistake that was. My back has been killing me for weeks.

I lean back over the edge of the chair, trying to crack my back with no success. Can't win 'em all. I imagine I'm going to get quite the ass-chewing soon, and for good reason too. Well, at least Luna will be there. Some good news. Haven't seen her in quite a while now. I look over the blueprint on the wall, wondering how soon it'll all be finished.

Truly finished, every room, every cell and every lab. Only time will tell.

I look at the ceiling, panels missing here and there, exposing insulation and cold hard rock above. Limestone, if I remember right. These walls need to be painted. And finished. I've deliberately placed the mirror against the one finished wall so it doesn't look like I'm holed up in a cave somewhere, hoping that gives me some credibility in these talks with Celestia. I've got a lot of time to kill before the celebration dinner tonight. Going to need to find something to do before then, keep my mind from wandering.

I inspect the tarp over the sign behind me, a dull gray sheet. Underneath... well, that's for tonight.

There's a knock at the door, gently. Almost didn't hear it.

"Come in!" I call.

The door handle jiggles about for a moment before the door swings open, and standing on the other side, a dark green unicorn mare with a lime-green mane. Across her eyes and running over the bridge of her muzzle is a jagged scar, mostly hidden by a purple blindfold wrapped neatly around her head. Her face is neutral when she comes in, head turning about, listening for me. Her movements are slow, careful.

"Hey, Peri."

She smiles in my direction, ears pivoting towards me. She steps forward with more confidence, something I'd planned for, given the tumble over the chair that used to be in front of my desk.

"Hi Liam, whatcha up to?" she ask warmly.

"This and that. Your mirror works perfectly, by the way."

She beams, a slightly darker green blush rising in her cheeks.

"I'm glad to hear it!"

I stand up from my chair and her ears pivot towards the sound of the wood creaking.

"You want a seat?"

"Oh, no thank you, me and that chair have a feud." I chuckle.

"So it would seem," I sit back down. I rub my chin.

"Any luck with the warding spell?"

She groans and falls back onto her rump. She shakes her head and sighs.

"Not really. I've worked with mules less stubborn than this. It just... have you ever tried to read somepony else's cursive?"

"Uh... yeah?" I lie. They didn't teach me cursive in high school. Close to the only thing they got right in my curriculum.

"That's what it feels like. A whole bunch of nonsense and I have to pick it apart piece by piece. It's taken forever, doesn't help I can't see or write down any notes. It's hard to remember where I left off," she complains.

"I believe in you, Peridot. Your cutie mark believes in you, too."

"Ha! As if. I got this deciphering a riddle spell, hardly a qualification for this."

"I'll let you in on a little secret; hardly anyone is. We're all just flailing around pretending we have a handle on things. The best you can do is smile and press forward."

"That's... not reassuring," she grumbles. A loud grumble from her stomach follows soon after. My eyes narrow.

"Have you eaten today?" I ask accusingly. She hoofs at the ground in embarrassment.

"Um... no, I have not," she smiles sheepishly. I sigh.

"You can't do that. Don't push yourself too hard, Peri."

"I just... I'm just trying to be helpful. I know that I'm..." her voice trails off in a familiar fashion. I jump in.

"Stop. You are helpful, more than that. What you did with this transmission mirror was a marvel, same with the power grid. You're an important part of this operation, and without you, I'd be sitting in the closet with my thumb up my ass."

"Liam!" She laughs. It's a marked improvement from her crying.

"Hey, it's true! Really. You've been spectacular. I don't know how I would've managed any of this if you weren't there to keep me sane," I confess.

Her smile softens, her head dipping slightly.

"Thank you, Liam."

"No, thank you, Peridot. Now let's get you something to eat, okay?"

"Alright."

I stand from my desk once more and walk around, setting my hand on her shoulders. We both turn to walk out, my hand acting as a guide to keep pace with me. She trots alongside me, my right side, and we make our way through the door. Limestone rock walls are illuminated by off-white floorlights, glowing and shining on the metal grate floors. Once we get this all dug-out and properly set up, we'll get those damned laminate floors from Area-14.

Despite our work down here, it does still smell like a damp cave. Hopefully, we can get some air freshener or whatever the Equestrians have been using in the castle down here.

"Liam?" Peridot asks.

I stop and she does too.

"Yes?"

She doesn't turn her head, but her ears pivot towards me.

"Do you think that thing, the Plague... do you think it could follow you?"

A pit opens in my gut. Just hearing the proposition makes the blood run cold.

"I don't know," I mumble, "if I made it through, it can too. The best we can do is prepare, and even if it never comes, Equestria has too much dangerous magical shit lying around for my liking. That Zebrican pendant that was in the Royal Vault for example."

She groans.

"Ugh, don't remind me. It took forever to turn those frogs back into ponies."

"Plus, our special guest. Your idea with the clocks was a nice touch, saved our bacon. Uh, our butts."

She nods absentmindedly, probably still hung up on the whole frog thing. Turning an entire squad of too-curious Royal Guards back into ponies was definitely a hassle, more so when we had no idea Celestia was sending us that pendant in the first place. We arrive at my secretary. A solitary plywood desk is situated against one of the finished walls, wooden boards laid underneath atop the metal grates.

Seated at the desk is a white earth pony with a greased-back black mane sits at the desk, half-frame glasses perched on the bridge of his muzzle, jowls hanging low like a bulldog. A small mustache, neatly trimmed, sits just above his lips. He looks up from the newspaper in his hooves.

"Good afternoon, Director Webb," he utters in monotone.

I stop and nod to him, "good afternoon, Mister Treble. Has Daring come in yet?"

He shakes his head. "Nothing interesting to report, sir."

I begin to worry that Daring Do has encountered difficulty with her assignment. Given how naïve and gullible ponies seem to be, I was hoping that her treasure-hunting experience and run-ins with various villains would've changed that. Then, I remember that the villains of Equestria share the same traits. I can only hope that she'll be back soon.

I sigh. "Let me know if anything changes, Mister Treble."

"Very well, sir," he responds in his Trottingham accent. The parallels between our worlds have stopped surprising me at this point. Now it's what we don't have in common I find surprising.

We resume our walk, lumbering over the metal grating beneath us. The grates shift and vibrate as we go, making our way towards the elevator. The elevator shafts were basically the first thing to get built, considering the hassle of using ropes and ladders to descend dozens upon dozens of meters. Given the rather quick nature of our build, the shafts are still exposed limestone with a metal frame embracing the elevator, wires and pipes running down a long concrete pillar in the back. With our skeleton crew, we couldn't possibly afford any injuries or fatalities just trying to get around in these caverns.

I press the button to call the elevator, a small metal circle embedded in a frame of spaces out metal bars and exposed magical circuitry. I need to get that covered up with a faceplate or something. The elevator descends in the open space in front of us, the Victorian-style open-air doors parting to allow us access. A dim orange light sits in the ceiling of the elevator, and I usher Peridot forward. I begin to enter, then lean out of the elevator to call back to Treble Tree.

"I told you to stop calling me sir!"

"Very good, sir," he drones back mindlessly.

Peridot laughs. I grunt and enter the elevator, punching the button up to L1.

"You ponies are going to give me a fucking aneurysm," I grumble. She laughs again, and I can't help but smirk at it.

I love them all to death.

I push open the doors to the mess hall, the most furnished and completed room in the facility, though there isn't much to compete with. Rows of cafeteria-style tables, about ten or so, given the space constraints. One of the only rooms in the whole facility to be painted, white, stripe of green running horizontally along it.

Need to have an interior decorator come in. Maybe I can get replacement lights put in, ones that aren't so cold and lifeless as these.

I guide Peridot over to the serving table, buffet dishes guarded behind thin, rounded glass in a plastic frame. The server, a teal unicorn, looks up at us with purple eyes, pink mane done up in a hair net. She smiles at us, then notices the blindfold. Her smile falters.

Must be new.

"Here we are, what are you having?" I ask Peridot, looking down at her.

"Liam..." she trails off.

"Oh, shiiooot. Right, sorry. They've got hayburgers, hayfries, garden salad..." I look over the limited assortment of food, pretty much all of it catered to the Equestrian diet. I hesitate to introduce meat-based products in a facility of almost only ponies.

"It smells good. Anything else?"

"Lady, we just got the kitchen up and running, would you rather go outside and eat grass?" I sass her.

"Shut up," she jabs me with a hoof. "I'll take a hayburger."

"Alright, one hayburger, please. Any fries?"

"No, thank you."

"No fries, then. Drink?"

She pauses and her lips purse. Her head turns towards me.

"Do we have lemonade?"

"We have water, coffee and Dazzle-Cola," the mare behind the counter says. I look at her nametag. Minty Daze.

"A Dazzle-Cola, please."

"You heard the mare, one Dazzle-Cola, Miss Daze," I say with a smile. The mare smiles back and starts filling the plate.

I turn back to Peridot and ruffle her mane. She sticks her tongue out at me. I chuckle, then remember the nightmares she's been having. How she hardly sleeps in the bunks.

"How have your dreams been, Peri?"

"They're... better. Princess Luna has helped a lot."

Good to know that she listened to me then.

"Have you spoken to the psychologist?"

"No, but you're one to talk. You hardly ever leave that office. Ponies come and go, but you stay. Do you sleep in there?"

"Hardly an office, but you're right. And... not always," I confess.

Minty Daze levitates the plate of food and a dark blue bottle of Dazzle-Cola over the counter. I take them in my hands and nod my thanks to her.

"Why haven't you spoken to Doctor Songbird?"

"I've never been good with therapists. I've got your food here, let's go sit down," I say and start walking towards a table. A few other ponies sit here in the cafeteria, eating, doing their best to not be seen staring at me. Given how rarely I leave my office, I imagine it must be quite a sight.

"That's not a good excuse," Peridot says next to me, snapping me from my thoughts.

You're right.

"That's too bad, that's the one you're getting," I say and set the food down on the table, "here, bench is in front of you."

"Thanks," she mutters, reaching forward with her foreleg. She meets the bench with her hoof, then goes about getting herself seated before I move the food in front of her. I sit down beside her, gently take her hooves onto the table and guide them to the plate and her drink, letting her know where everything is. I pop the lid on the Dazzle-Cola and set it down where I put it before.

"Are you scared?" she asks before taking a big bite out of her hayburger levitating in front of her.

Terrified.

"I'm pretty sure I'd scare him off," I say back. Her mouth twists up some.

"Thar's katchip on dis," she manages through her mouthful. She swallows the bite.

"You don't like ketchup, huh?" I look away from her and over the cafeteria. I turn back and she's holding the hayburger in her magic.

"Hey, don't divert. You need to talk to somepony about it," she says.

"I do, and I know I need to talk to someone about it, so drop it," I snap quickly. She dips her head down a little bit, deflating.

"Okay. Sorry," she says quickly.

"No, it's not your fault. It's alright. I'm sorry, I need to talk to someone about it. You're right."

I take a breath and close my eyes, dragging my finger over my right brow.

"You're right," I mutter.

"Liam?" Peridot starts. I open my eyes and turn towards her.

"What's up?"

"I heard that Zebra from Ponyville joined the team, the one that lived out in the woods?" Her hayburger moves back and forth in her magic like a human might move their hands while eating. The sight robs me of words before I can answer. My brain starts back up.

"That's right. Researcher Zecora, L2 Offices. She's been working on our... well, I'll tell you later. Why?"

She takes a bite of her hayburger and tries talking, but it's garbled muffled nonsense.

"You wanna try that again?"

She swallows and has a sip of her Dazzle-Cola.

"So, anypony... um, anyone can join?"

"I want every species in Equus to be on our team, Peri. This isn't just about Equestria; it's the whole world. I better not be finding out you're a pony supremacist, now."

She laughs.

"Absolutely not! It's just... I was trying to say that it sounds ambitious, but it's good that the doors are open to everyp- everyone. Also, she said everything's ready for the dinner tonight."

"Good. And I better not find any friendship windmills carved into your desk, or I'm gonna smack the green out of your mane," I jokingly threaten. She quirks an eyebrow and laughs, but the smile slowly disappears into confusion.

"Director Webb," Treble says over my shoulder. I turn over and find his mustache remarkably close to my face. His eyes look down into mine with possibly the least enthused look I've ever seen.

"What's a friendship windmill?" Peridot asks quietly behind me, more to herself than me. I grimace.

"You don't want to know," I say back to her then turn back to Tree, "and yes, how may I help you, Mister Tree?"

"Agent D has returned with a report, sir."

"Excellent, have it sent to my office, I want to get my eyes on that immediately. Sorry to cut this short, Peridot."

"It's okay. I'll see you later? Or... hang out, because... y'know."

I awkwardly laugh and she smiles a tad.

"Yes, we'll hang later, have a nice day Peri."

"You too."

I stand from the bench and Treble Tree stops me.

"Sir," he begins, bringing a hoof up to stroke his mustache, "she was insistent on sharing the report with you herself."

The open-air doors part and I step out of the elevator. I adjust my tie and step forward, Treble Tree following close behind. As we walk, I chew on my lip. Why would she need to present this in person? Did something happen? Was she able to make contact? My shoes thud against the metal grates below and I heard Treble break off and have a seat at his table. I grab at the door handle and pause.

Could it be trouble?

I open the door and step inside. Daring is sitting patiently in the chair in front of my desk, but that patience seems to evaporate the moment she turns around and looks at me. She launches from her chair and gives an exaggerated grin.

"I'm back, boss!" she exclaims.

I put my hands up.

"Excited, huh? I take it everything went well?"

"Yessir! Everything should be in the report right here," she opens her saddle bag with her wing and pulls out a folder in her teeth.

"'ere yew go!" she says through her teeth. I take the folder from her teeth and walk around the desk. I flip it open and skim over the papers within.

She found the hive, documented some wildlife in the area, watched from afar. Logs stop after two days of reconnaissance, when she went inside. Scrambled notes about the structure within, nothing detailed. Gave up rather quickly then? She should've stuck around longer.

"Well...?" Daring says.

My eyes shoot up from the folder and over to her.

"Well what?"

"You're not going to say anything? I risked my neck out there!" She throws her hooves around in exasperation. In the motion, I gently sit down in my chair and rub my eye.

"Well, you found the hive, but there were no changelings to be seen. That's not good news," I say neutrally.

She tilts her head and looks at me.

"Never mind, good job, Daring," I say, give her a polite smile and look back at the lackluster report.

"Thank you sir!" Her wings flutter. She leans forward in the chair and my eyes go over to her cutie mark.

Huh. That's interesting. I chew on my lip and feign interest in the report.

"What was the inside like?"

"The inside?" she drags.

"Of the hive," I clarify, a little terse.

"Oh... uh, it was... all slimy... and gross, everything was black."

"Mm."

"Is there a problem, sir?" Her body language is shifting. Defensive, on edge.

"Oh, no. I'm just disappointed you didn't find Chrysalis. Well, these things happen."

"Right, alright, I'm going to head-"

"Why don't you stay awhile, Daring?"

Her rose eyes shoot wide open. Her mouth drops somewhat.

"S-stay?" She stutters. "Uh, why?"

"Let's celebrate," I say with fake enthusiasm. "The changelings are gone! I have a Sweet Apple Acres Cider in this desk here and two glasses. Let's drink to a job well done," I smile.

"Okay," she says uncertainly.

I remove the cider from the bottom drawer of the desk and set two glasses down on the counter. I uncork the bottle and begin pouring the cider, looking up at her while I do so. Her eyes linger on her glass, an uneasy look in her eyes. I cork the bottle back up and set it aside.

I push her glass towards her then take mine in my hand.

"To your health," I say, then tilt the glass to my lips.

"And yours," she says nervously. She take a sip and immediately coughs. Her eyes scrunch shut.

"Blegh..." she sticks her tongue out.

"You don't like it?" I ask.

"Uh, it's a little strong, sir."

I chuckle, then set my glass down on the desk. I rap the ends of my fingers against the felt.

"That's funny, I thought it was your favorite drink."

"Oh, uh, no. I prefer wine," she lies.

I shake my head and look at my glass, eyebrows furrowed.

"Weird, maybe I'm imaging things."

She opens her mouth and begins to push out another lie.

"But then I remember, you gave me this bottle. How weird is that?"

Gotcha.

"Sir, I don't-"

"You haven't called me sir once since we met," I say calmly.

"Well, it's good to be polite," she quickly adds in.

"Hm... maybe so. Sorry, paranoid lately," I wave my hand around.

She's not biting. Oh well.

"That's alright," she says cautiously.

I open my drawer and pull out an item. A small, gray device with a black screen. The power button's stuck in, dents on the outer casing, crack running down the glass. Bits of sand and dirt are still lodged in the top speaker, some in the microphone. Charging port was sealed shut by dirt, no doubt the thing is ruined.

But I need it as a springboard.

"Have I ever told you about this?" I hold the phone up in the air.

"No?"

"Ah, that's right, I haven't." I bring my hand up to my face with a light smack. I look over to her and roll my shoulder. "It's something I brought with me from Earth, lost it in the Everfree. It sat in the mud and the rain and the undergrowth for a few months before I found it, decided to go back out there and see if there was anything else I lost. Now, this cell phone is useless at this point, little more than a paperweight. Maybe I'm just sentimental about keeping it, a reminder of home."

"Well, it's always good to remember where you came from," she says with a smile. She thinks she's in the clear now.

I set the phone down on the table, then reach back into the drawer, producing another item.

"But this? This right here is what I really wanted to show you. See, it sat in that forest for the same amount of time, collected all that dirt and grime, rust and wear. I don't know if it still works," I roll the old bullet across the table towards her. Her hooves shoot forward and catch it.

"What is it?" she asks, holding it in her hoof. She inspects it curiously.

"That little thing right there is called a bullet, well, specifically the end of it is the bullet. Nine millimeter. It loads into the magazine, which is loaded into the bottom of this device here," I say as I produce my old pistol.

"M9 Beretta. I remember when I got this. It launches the end of that bullet upwards of one-thousand hooves per second at a target, usually to lethal effect. Problem is, it hasn't been properly maintained or cared for, like a dulled sword edge, or... a blunted arrow, much like that bullet there. What do you think the chances are that it still works?"

"I wouldn't know," she says cautiously. She eyes the gun.

"That's right, you wouldn't; you're not Daring Do."

I level the gun at her. Her eyes narrow and her wings tense, but aside from that, she doesn't move. Her pupils constrict.

"Now before you do anything stupid, let me tell your options. You could try and fly across this table, maybe smack the pistol out of my hand. That's a bad idea, considering I've already got the drop on you. You could try to run, but again, you're contending with a bullet that travels faster than you could possibly imagine. Or, changeling, you drop your disguise and we can talk. Then again, maybe the gun doesn't work. Maybe I pull this trigger and nothing happens."

Neither of us move.

"What's it gonna be? My gamble against yours."

Slowly, the tension bleeds from her body, peals of energy ripple over her as the disguise disappears. Sitting there before me, a changeling, black carapace and teal eyes staring back at me. The wings at her sides buzz in agitation, an anxious look on her fanged muzzle.

"Smart. Now, where's Daring?"

She pauses, as though unsure of how to continue.

"She's safe, but unconscious. What tipped you off?" she says in a voice not too dissimilar from Daring's.

I smile.

"It was a bunch of things, but number one was you got the cutie mark wrong. It's a compass with four points; you had five."

She pauses again, then sighs.

"Ah shoot."

I put the gun onto the table, barrel facing her, then lean over the desk, propped up on my elbow.

"What's your name?"

"Fronse," she says finally, "what do you want?"

"First, I want Daring back, unharmed. Then, Fronse, I want to meet your queen."

The cafeteria is alive with action. All of the construction crews, engineers and architects, gathered at one ungodly arrangement of the bench-tables into one *long* dining table. Clear Compass, Big Bolt, Stronghoof and more, all talking and laughing with the mares and stallions under their purview.

We sectioned off the cafeteria to all nonessential personnel. Only security and the guests tonight.

I don't want anyone to see this.

I walk through and a few whistles make their way over. I see Peridot, maybe a little overwhelmed with all the noise, sitting there at the table. Zecora, sitting with her hooves neatly folded, not engaged in any conversation. She looks at me with a knowing look. Beside her, Sunny, his scarred visage nodding towards me. I nod back and round the table, patting some of the ponies on the shoulders as I pass.

"I can't wait to show tha boys back home that trick we did with tha power grid, oh hay, they're gonna lose they marbles!"

I take my position at the head of the table, next to the sign placed nearby. The sheet hasn't been moved, looks like. Good.

I clear my throat and speak to the group.

"Welcome, everyone. I'm not going to be here too long, take up too much of your time, I have a dinner tonight with the Princesses that I can't miss. I'll let you get to the food soon enough," I smile.

They chuckle amongst themselves. I stand in front of the covered sign. I reach over to the glass on the table before me, holding it by my waist. The whiskey within sloshes about. The assistant ponies begin moving forward to the table, taking the bottles and pouring champagne into each of the glasses. The ponies watch the spectacle in varying levels of interest.

"I wanted to offer a toast to your work and commitment to this project. Without all of you here, this wouldn't be possible. Not by a long shot. I'd like to give special thanks to Clear Compass and his team from Seaddle; it cannot be understated enough how well Level Four has come together, in part due to the wonderful contributions of Miss Peridot Beam," I raise my glass.

Isolated cheers and whistles echo around the table. Peridot smiles bashfully under the praise, and I can't stop myself from smiling along with her. I take a sip from my glass and continue.

"But it's not just her. It's all of you. It's a tradition on my world to clear your glasses at the end of a toast, so if you'll indulge me, bottoms up!"

Everypony in the room knocks back their glasses, draining every drop. When they finish, they stomp their hooves while the more refined among them tap them together, Clear Compass being one of them. A few cough as the bitter drink goes down, but the more seasoned drinkers hold it together.

"Can I get this refilled? That there's some good buckin' stuff ya got," Strong Hoof proclaims in his heavy Manehattan accent.

"Not yet," I say, setting my glass down on the table.

"Now, on a more personal note," I sit down at the head of the arrangement. All of their eyes stay on me.

"I'm a stranger here, an alien. Without the help and support from the Princesses here... I'd be dead, plain and simple. So I want to take this moment to tell you that you have two very special rulers, ponies you should be proud to have as leaders. Honest and kind, trustworthy. Rare qualities in the leaders of my world."

The ponies take the opportunity to whistle and shout again, whooping cheers and clapping, stomping and smiles all around. A pit forms in my stomach, but I press on.

"I am not them."

"What?" Clear Compass asks, having noticed the sudden tonal shift. The ponies quiet down.

"While I appreciate all you've done, some of you will not be staying onboard with us. It's nothing personal, nor is it meant to offend any of you, but the project simply cannot have all of you."

Big Bolt lurches forwards, blinking slowly.

"What's happening? Director Webb?" he slurs.

"You might've noticed the effects of the serum by now. That's why I've been stalling. Don't worry; it's not poison. You won't remember this meal. You won't remember working on this project. You won't remember meeting me, or anypony else in this room. It's a special ritual amnestic, coating your glasses, courtesy of the newest member of our team," I nod towards Zecora. She nods.

"Am... nest-" Strong Hoof goes down onto the table with a bang, slumping forward in his chair.

"I buckin'... knew... ya were trouble..." Big Bolt utters, fading out of consciousness slowly.

"This is... outrageous!" Clear Compass stands from the bench, surveying the swathes of ponies falling unconscious. He slams his hooves down on the table, his glass falling off and shattering on the floor.

"Sit down, Compass."

"My," he gasps in exasperation, "you've drugged half my team!"

"Sit. Down," Sunny orders, wings extending.

Clear Compass shoots him a glare, then looks to me, fury in his eyes. Slowly, he sits back down.

That might be a problem later.

"Now, before the rest of you pass out, I do want to say that you'll all be returned home safely. You will be paid as per our agreement. I cannot thank you all enough for the work you've done, and I'm sorry we must end on these terms. Not that you'll remember it."

"How could you-..." Big Bolt manages before his eyes finally close.

"Director, what was that?!" Peridot shouts.

"What was necessary," I declare. "Sunny, get these ponies out of here and ready for transport."

Sunny Skies nods and motions over to the security watching the spectacle from the walls. They close in on the table and begin removing the amnesticized ponies.

"Now, as for the rest of you, your packets will be provided shortly. Welcome to the Anomalous Containment Bureau."

Author's Note

With that, Act One is completed!

I'm thinking about switching to a permanent third-person for Act Two between the different characters, but we'll see!

Thank you all for reading up to this point! I hope it's met/exceeded your expectations, and I hope you'll stay along for the rest of the ride. Leave comments and critiques below, I love reading them and it helps me improve as a writer, plus I get to interact with you all!

And, on a final note, welcome to the ACB! We've got dental.

EDIT: Unedited, btw, lemme know if you find errors!