Neon Dancersby David SilverChapters1 - A Neon Dance2 - Assembling a Team3 - Milk Run1 - A Neon DanceNeon Dancer leaned back against the pole, slowly extending a leg towards the audience as loud music pounded all around them. She could feel every beat pulsing through her body as she gyrated around the pole with a come-hither look at the crowd, having no idea what was about to happen. The stallion behind the bar swirled his pen, concentrating on the drink he was mixing, waiting for the precise moment to put the finishing touches on it and deliver it to the customer. It was another day at the bar, or so both thought until the moment gunfire interrupted the show, and ponies began to scream and panic as some kind of struggle took place between two groups of unicorns. In all the chaos, only the unicorn mixologist noticed that Neon Dancer was still dancing; if he hadn't known better, he'd have sworn she was oblivious to the danger. Neon threw her body backwards just in time to miss a spray of deadly bullets. Her horn glowed as she grabbed one from the air, redirecting it back at the group of thugs who'd just burst into the bar. Her attacker spun away, looking to shoot at her again, but she teleported herself right behind him and slammed his face into the wall. "My bar. My rules," she purred in a tone that implied more sultry tones rather than angry ones. The pony didn't respond, and Neon pulled her head away, allowing the blood to run down her hoof and onto the floor. She leaned in, kissing him gently on the cheek before he could pass out from the shock of having his brain leaking out of his skull. "The rest of you want to get out of here? You're not wanted," she growled. A stallion rolled a grenade at her from behind a stack of boxes, and Neon slammed it back at him with a small blast of telekinesis. It exploded, knocking everyone away, including her. She sprawled across the ground, but she was laughing. She was bleeding, which exposed chrome bits beneath the surface. Looking back, she could see her assailants had done far worse. Most of them wouldn't be getting up again. That was when Neon saw Spike come into view. He'd emerged from an alleyway, stepping into the middle of the street to survey the scene. "Huh, that's a throwback look for sure," he muttered. He hopped over the fallen attackers. "Giving me more work, as usual, Neon?" "You know me," she replied. She smirked as he leaned down and picked up a rifle. He held it against his shoulder, aiming at a prone unicorn about to fire at her. She put a hoof against it, gently nudging it away. "Enough red in my bar for one day. Pretend you're a cop and actually arrest her." Spike snorted at that. "If I arrest her, do you have any idea how much more paperwork that is?" He nudged at the fallen body. "Fine. You're up on your payments to the police. I'll take them in, and we'll be even." Neon laughed, brushing herself off as if she hadn't just had a life-threatening situation. "See, that's why I keep you around. Thanks, Spike. I mean it." She picked up her coat and draped it over her shoulders, striding past the terrified patrons and out of the front door. "My shift's over." The mixologist knew this wasn't true, but didn't argue it with Neon. After all, it wasn't like she'd bothered to clock in or out, so there was no way to prove otherwise. He slid a drink over to one of the stunned customers. "That'll be ten bits." Neon walked down the glittering street, the bright nights of Neo-Canterlot blaring around her with the thumps of many different beats and actions all around her. Her long pink mane and tail swirled behind her as she pushed her way through crowds of ponies who barely even seemed to notice her, though some did take the time to stare and wonder where they knew her from. She gave those a little wink, but she had a place to be. There, just to her left, she veered through the crowd towards one of her favorite quick-fix shops. She reached into her coat pocket and pulled out an old envelope. It was worn, but the black ink still stood out. "A Full Chrome Reboot. One for me, doc." The doctor leaned forward, pressing his horn against her neck. "You got roughed up again?" He reached out and she didn't stop him from inspecting. "They got you a few good times. Damn. I thought you were faster than that." Neon chuckled, running a hoof through her hair. "I guess I'm not as young as I used to be." She let him examine her wounds before walking to the back. There was an operating table and a screen on the wall that displayed her vitals. She calmly slid onto the table. "Get me back in one piece. The gawkers don't come to see their girls all full of holes. "Alright, so how much is this going to set me back?" she sighed, imagining the price in her mind with far too many zeroes in it. The doctor paused, glancing up at her from his screen. "With the damage to your hooves? The sensors are shot, so I'm gonna have to replace them entirely." He tapped at her hoof. The disturbing part was that she didn't feel it. "Surprised you came in here so smoothly with that damage. What about a hoof? Did they get it, too?" Neon cringed as she tried to lift it, only to realize that she could barely do that. She lifted the edge of her leg, finding that it looked as bad as it felt. "Wow." She wondered how she had missed that. "Must be the adrenaline, and that's running out, so that's starting to hurt. Put me together and let me wail about the price afterwards." "Got it." The doctor nodded as he closed up the coat, then glanced at the door. "Give me half an hour." With a hiss of a needle, a drug ran into her system. Far from the first, this one sending her into a dreamless void where he could do his work. It was easier that way for all of them. When she awoke, she found herself staring up at a completely different room. This one was dimly lit by the neon light of the bar sign just outside, pouring in through the slats in the blinds over the window. She sat up with a scowl. "Doc? You park me in the back to get other patients? Rude, but I get it." She slid to the ground, testing each hoof. She was intact. "Thanks for that, but where the hell are you?" She found the doctor sitting on a stool near the door. It was clear he'd been watching her, his hands stained with blood. He smiled and motioned to the mirror across the room. "You were unconscious for the process, so I'd like to show you the results before you go back." Neon smirked. "You really did shove me in the back to make room for more customers." She turned to the mirror and did a little swirl. "I look great. Good job, but I'm insisting on a discount for being put away like a dang sandwich you plan to get to later." She checked herself over, noticing there was nothing missing. That had been her first fear. "That'll do, I guess." "Wait. Before you leave," the doctor muttered, leaning forward. "The shrapnel cut your wires in several places. It took me hours to splice them all back together. But more than that." He thrust a hoof at her. "You're getting to retirement age. Your body can't handle what you're shoving on it. If you keep this up, you'll lose far more than some circuits and wires. You'll lose yourself." Neon scoffed. "Sure, doc. Whatever you say." She winked and blew him a kiss. She was all better, she could feel it. She trotted out onto the street with a whistle, melding into the thick crowd of ponies. There was a cacophony of voices, advertising, and various noises as they filled the streets with their day-to-day activities. Neon let herself flow through it all, a bit like the tide itself. She pressed through the chaotic storm of noises until she felt a hoof brush her rump. She coiled almost instantly, but her guard fell. "Ruby! You'll get me in trouble." She grinned as the familiar mare stepped forward, then wrapped her up in a hug. The red coat, dark red mane and tail, along with those intense eyes... Neon shook that off. "Some punks trashed my place over a turf scuffle. You should have seen it. Took out half of the front. I think there's still a body wedged into one of the booths." She was coy as she flashed a grin at Ruby. "You should come see. I miss having you around." Ruby laughed gently at that, guiding Neon to a slightly less crowded place to stand. "I would, but I have bills to pay. I'm glad dancing that pole gets you your bits, but that isn't my job and you know it. Maybe when we were young, but that ship sailed a long time ago." She rubbed a hoof over her cheek, revealing some wear on the area. Neon noted the minor wear. She knew there were prosthetic replacements for those things, but Ruby hadn't yet bothered to get them. "A little chrome could rewind your clock." She leaned in, almost touching. "I'd like to keep you around." "We're both too old for that, Neon," Ruby murmured, gently pushing her away. "I still remember those early days with you. I mean, how could I forget? We went through everything together." Her eyes went distant, thinking of long-ago events. "We gave them hell, and got some in return. Look, I'm not cut out for that anymore. I need my sleep and comfort." Neon threw her head back. "Are you saying you've grown soft? What happened to the wild mare who gave us that nickname? All because you found a damn store called Neon Dancer that sold outrageous clothes!" Ruby shoved Neon, but there wasn't any real force behind it. "You loved it so much you stole their name, damn it." She laughed almost painfully. "I miss those days, but they're gone." She glanced away and back at Neon. "Look, I need to find somepony to spend some quality time with. If you aren't paying, I have to go. I've got bills, remember?" Neon scowled, shaking her head. "Yeah, I get it." For just a moment, she considered paying her own friend for her time, but that felt like a step too far. "Visit, when you're free. You know where I usually am. Please?" Ruby stared at Neon. "Alright, if it means that much to you. I've got a show tomorrow night. It's been awhile since we talked, and I'd love to catch up with you." They exchanged a hug, warm, but too brief, and Ruby vanished into the wave of flowing ponies, lost to the city. Neon let out a sigh as she began walking down the street, trying not to think about the feelings Ruby had dredged up from her past. Neon reached the corner of the street and walked to a specific door in the middle of the street, slipped through, and quietly locked it behind herself. Other ponies just walked past it, not seeing it, but also refusing to crash into it. The door didn't exist. A soft light flickered to life, showing the crime-ridden interior. Everywhere were stains and bullet holes, a few bodies and old bloodstains that probably didn't belong there. "You're getting messy." Neon smirked as she picked her steps among the cleaner parts of the floor. "Place somehow looks worse every time I come visiting." Author's Note Say hello to Neon. She is facing a few things, but she means to keep her eyes on it and march ahead. How well will it go? Let's take a walk at her side. Join the special community of folks who like my stories and/or get your own here at atreon! Don't want to do an ongoing thing? You could Join my discord to chat! 2 - Assembling a Team"And you love dragons," taunted a female voice as Neon turned the corner to spot one seated behind a worn-down counter. "Hey, Neon. You smell of paint and glue. Just put back together?" Neon growled softly, shoving away memories. She climbed up onto a stool that hadn't changed since before she'd joined the Dancers. It was always a bit shaky and not exactly stable, but it fit her. "Hey, Smolder." She nodded to the orange dragon. "Rough day. Any new schemes I can distract myself with? Don't feel up to returning to 'work' right now." "Sure, sure." Smolder tossed a paper file across the desk to Neon. "You missed my daughter's birthday last month. I really need you to return this when you get a chance." Neon reached for the paper, but it was her magic to grabbed it and pulled it up for her to see. "I should be more careful." She knew she hadn't borrowed anything from Smolder, or their daughter. All keywords, which she ignored for the moment in favor of taking in the details on the paper. "Must be secretive, not putting it on digital." "With that PonDex system?" Smolder growled, baring her fangs. "Forget it. Digital means nothing in your hands. That's for saps who can't write a single damn letter with their own hands." She wriggled her talons with a chuckle. "Which a lot of ponies, these days? I guess they can't." Neon watched the dragon tap her claws on the counter, as if that proved her point. She opened the file and started to read. It spoke of a 'secret project' some small company was about to deliver to a larger corporation. The small company, being smaller, had lighter security. If someone, not naming names, could grab it before it was safely in the hooves of the larger corp, there were bits on the line, potentially a lot of them, depending on how safely it made it. The papers listed various assets involved and assets they'd have to work around, then a place, a time, and other vital details. She took a moment to absorb the information, humming gently as she went. "Alright." She tossed the paper back down where Smolder could get it. "Any of the others in on this, or am I flying solo?" "You know the rule," Smolder replied, folding the paper back up and setting it under the desk. "You go, you bring others, but no one gets the info but you. Ain't like anyone's gonna chase you for it, anyway." Neon huffed gently. "Look, I wasn't asking that. I was asking if any of the crew's checked in recently. I don't want to have to chase them down all across the city if I can help it." She tapped a hoof on the counter. "Time is money for all of us." Smolder chuckled at that, shaking her head. "They'll find their way to you when they're ready. For now, guess you're on your own." She hopped up onto the counter and pointed Neon to the door in the back of the office. "I think Miss Belle is in, if you wanna bother her." Neon sneered. "Miss Belle? Yeah, she might be handy for this." She slid from the stool back to her hooves. "Thanks for the info." She trotted deeper into that dark place. Spilling from around the closed edges of that door, bright light was visible. As she pushed through, Neon blinked hard as the transition took hold. There were bits of droids scattered about. Most looked like old Chimeras that had seen better days. A few looked like ponies that had lost their way. In the middle of the mess, a unicorn looked up at the noise of the door opening. "Neon!" She bounced to her hooves and pounced on Neon, hugging firmly. "Missed you. What are you here for?" Neon gently hugged the young adult mare. "Sweets. Always a treat to see you." They touched noses briefly. "I'm about to take a job. A mare with a sweet voice and a knack for droid operation? I'd like that on my side. You get an even cut of the take, of course." Sweets perked up at that. "Sounds interesting. Count me in." She was so genuine that it hurt Neon's heart, just a little bit. "Let me get my things together and we'll head out." Neon let Sweets get to gathering her things. "Don't suppose you've seen any of the others recently? We could use somepony with some muscle. Always good to have one of those." Sweets shook her head. "You're the first one to come by since my parents got arrested. I heard something about a factory robbery?" She stepped up to Neon's side. "The police were doing random checks today, so they missed me." She snickered as if that was just a normal thing that happened around her. "Pity for them. Are we gonna go straight there?" "We're gonna stop at my place first. A little walk'll be nice." Neon pushed open the door again and exiting. Neon made her way through the dark space until she was back in the dingy bar, then out into the city streets. The lights and sounds of them were a welcome return to her usual. "You remember my bar, right? Where I dance?" Sweets skipped after her. "It's a great place. I really like the dancing. Why do you wanna stop there? To check in?" Neon nodded. "I wanna see if any of my girls are available for work. Also to make sure they cleaned up after the mess this morning." She led the way speedily through the crowd, swimming against the current to get to her beloved bar. She glanced at the sign above it and then through the window to see that, indeed, the area was cleaned up. There was a body sitting in one of the booths with a large tablecloth covering it. She pushed open the door and a wave of sounds assaulted them both. It was the sound of music, tempting ponies to move, or to watch the dancers move. Neon could see three dancers were up on the stage, doing their best to satisfy the small crowd. They were all ignoring that lump in the booth. "One sec," Neon called, waving a hoof for Sweets to follow as she made her way to the bar and leaned over it. "Yo, bartender! Any of my girls in today?" It was the same mixologist she had seen when the attack happened. He smirked softly. "One of them's up there, dancing." He inclined his head at the line of mares doing their best. "You know this place isn't your home, right? I still expect you to come in and work your shifts like a normal pony." Neon bared her teeth in a cheeky grin. "I don't get paid to guard this place, but I almost got shot, and took out the creeps responsible. You should be thanking me, ass." She thudded him on the chest with a hoof. "Don't get cheeky." He chuckled, nodding to Sweets. "Who's this?" "Sweetie Belle. She's an engineer. Just recruited her for a job." Neon pointed at the mare in question. Sweetie waved excitedly. "Hiya!" She slid up onto a cushioned stool. "I've been here before. You have nice dancers." The mixologist smirked and poured her a drink. "Yeah? Glad you like them. For a few bits, I can get one of them to dance just for you." He slid it over. "For free, for you." Sweetie grabbed the drink in her magic and sipped as she watched the dancers perform their best. "Just for me? I'm not that greedy." Neon burst into laughter and gently punched Sweetie in the shoulder. "I promise, you pay for one of them, they'll be thankful. Still, I get the idea that you aren't looking for that kind of dance, Sweetie. Let's stay focused. Don't get drunk either. We're about to take a case." Sweetie swirled the drink. "Maybe another time." She slipped from the stool and back to her hooves. "We're taking a case?" She followed Neon to the door that led to the back room. Back there, a dancer was gently puffing her face with some powder. She paused when Neon came in, relaxing when she realized who it was. Neon smiled at the dancer. "Hey, Renee. You okay? Did the creeps mess you up too?" Renee shook her head. "Not badly. Some of us thought we should stop working today because of what happened." She wrinkled her nose. "I just want to pretty up before I go back there." She looked past Neon to Sweetie Belle. "She doesn't look like she belongs here, but she's cute. She considering trying out?" Sweetie grinned, shrugging. "If I need to, I could! Maybe if we get some time later, you could teach me? I'm kinda in the middle of something right now." Neon thrust a hoof. "Adorable, but yeah, middle of something. We're about to take a job, the kind that pays bits, more than you can get from a night of dancing. Up for it?" Renee raised an eyebrow. "Did Spike give you that one? You know he has connections to the police. They've been getting handsy around here lately." She pulled a brush from her dressing table and started using it on her face. Neon shook her head. "Wrong dragon, but one of those, sure. Doesn't matter. Simple snatch and scram. We get in, get it, get the hell out, and we get payday." Renee hummed at that. "Alright, I'm in. But you're gonna have to fill me in when we're somewhere safer. Those police have ears." She glanced at Sweetie. "And probably eyes." Sweetie colored at the implications. "Hey! I'm on your side." She huffed and moved in next to Neon. "She recruited me first." Neon snickered gently. "No fighting, both of you. We're a team now. Let's pretend, eh? I'll go over the deets after work, and we go get this done." She turned to Sweetie. "Now, you want to see some dancing? I'm more in the mood now. Going to hit the stage." Sweetie nodded. "I've been wanting to see you do it again since the last time I was here!" She rushed over to a chair that faced the stage and sat down, eagerly waiting for Neon to step out. Neon glanced back at Renee. "See you on the stage." Neon went out a different way, allowing her to saunter out onto the stage. The lights zoomed in on her, a star of the show, and she made every move count with a sultry growl. They had come for a show, and she had one to give them. She caught sight of Sweetie, and performed as best she could for her new teammate. Sweetie was gasping softly as she watched Neon work her magic, having almost forgotten the outside world for a few minutes. She clapped her hooves along with the strong beat of the music and cheered Neon on. Unlike most who watched her, her calls were free of adult impulses. Though she was grown, she was cheering on a fellow friend, and admiring the beauty for its own sake. Renee crept over and set herself down on the chair next to Sweetie Belle, who was so distracted that she didn't even notice the mare sitting next to her. She grinned and let Sweetie enjoy the show as much as she could. Unable to restrain herself, she broke the silence between them, "So, she's good at dancing, huh? I can dance too." Sweetie perked up, grinning at Renee. "Yeah! I always loved coming here to see her, because she makes me feel happy. All the other ponies watching her are more focused on being..." She seemed to fumble even finding the word for that emotion she seemed to lack. "I'd like to see you dance. I bet you're really good too!" Renee chuckled, letting Sweetie enjoy herself as Neon finished her routine. Sweetie clapped loudly as Neon finally stepped off the stage, her short fur shining with sweat. She made her way over and gave Sweetie a hoof bump. Renee walked past. "My turn. Looking forward to your innocent little comparison when I'm done." Sweetie grinned at Neon. "Oh, yeah! We get to watch her now. I'm excited." Neon had a cocky grin on her face. "She's a real show mare." She took the seat Renee had been using. "Worth a watch. How'd I do?" Sweetie gave Neon a few more hoofbumps. "Great! It was awesome! I wish I could dance like that." "Oh? I can teach you some moves sometime." Neon leaned in close to Sweetie. "You were considering joining us. Do you like dancing?" "Actually." Sweetie rubbed her hooves together. "I'm not that good at that, but I can sing! I like singing too." She blushed, watching the other dancers get into place. Neon smirked, glancing back as Renee took the stage. The spotlight slid over her with practiced ease. Then she started moving to the music, taking a sultry and powerful stance. Her long purple mane and tail swayed to the beat as she dipped down low, giving everyone in the audience a view. "See?" Neon leaned close. "You ever join the crew, you'll learn how to do this." Neon leaned back against the counter. "On the other hoof, if you like singing, why not do that? A singer would be a nice addition. A break from all this techno-bop we got going on. I bet the regulars would go crazy for a nice innocent little thing like you singing genuinely." Sweetie blinked, glancing around the room. She noted all the expressions on the ponies' faces and their obvious desire to watch the dancers. "Uh... maybe? I'm really good at working with machines too. It's not dancing, but I can sing." She blushed, wondering if she was being weird, or too plain, or something. "I just, you know, feel awkward about this kind of thing." Neon bumped Sweetie with a hoof. "Don't sweat it. I had to work up to being used to working here. Get your head in the game. You got a chip?" Sweetie looked confused a moment, then tapped at her head. "'Course! Can't talk with droids without one. Why?" "Check it out," Neon muttered, turning back to the stage. Renee had hit her stride, getting more energetic and enticing with each move she made. The music carried her as she spun, making sure her tail swished over the crowd with each pass, who cheered and reached for her, but she kept dancing just out of reach, expertly flowing with the crowd's movements to keep them so close, but never making contact. "She's a pro. Now, I'm asking because of this." Sweetie started as a box appeared in her vision. Neon sent information to her wirelessly, dumping the layout of the place they were to break into. Sweetie pulled it up on the screen, scrolling through it. "The Citadel? We're breaking into the place? Isn't that the local broadcasting station? That's like, guarded with tons of droids!" Neon smirked faintly. "And look at that, I got a droid expert on the team. Good thinking, me." She nudged Sweetie. "You up for it?" Sweetie hesitated a moment, then looked over the plans again. "It's in a private server room." Her doubt began to melt. "Guarded by you, you, and you." She pointed at things only she could see. "So if we, and then." Her mouth moved with other plans working through her mind. "I think, um, maybe we can do it." Neon didn't interrupt Sweetie as she tried to work out how it could be done. She could tell when the little mare had finally come to a decision. She smiled brightly. "Alright, so there are only two big things." She held up both forehooves. "And, lucky you, you don't need to worry about it. In fact, being a tricky little droider, I bet you won't even need to be there. You can support us from off-site, right?" Sweetie's eyes went wide. "Oh! Um, I guess I can do that." She seemed embarrassed at having the idea not cross her mind on her own. "I mean, sure. That makes sense." She saluted, which was a poor salute, but a well-intentioned one. "I'll do my best!" Neon gently rubbed Sweetie's shoulder. "Good. You stay safe. I don't want you getting a single hair out of place. Let Renee and I handle the physical stuff. We'll be the ones getting in there and getting dirty." Sweetie blushed, looking at the bar around them. "I guess I could use a little bit of practice with this sort of thing, huh?" "Hey, hey," Neon leaned against Sweetie, eyes glistening. "You're ready, I can feel it. You just handle those droids and you'll have earned every single bit of the prize at the end." Sweetie took a breath, then looked at the door to the stage, where Renee was returning from her performance. She slowly stood up as Renee slid over to them. "That's all I can do." Renee slid down on the other side of Sweetie. "What are you doing? And I'm waiting for that review. Little girl, how'd I do?" Sweetie smiled, shaking off her nerves as she turned to face Renee. "You did great! I've never seen anypony move like that before!" She gave her an impromptu hug. "You two are great! It's amazing. You're both dancing, but you feel very different, in both amazing ways." Renee ruffled the unbrushed mane of Sweetie with a laugh. "Good spirit, or you're trying really hard not to compare us. I'll take it either way." She slid back into her seat. "So, what's our game plan?" Neon's smile softened, seeing Sweetie get along with Renee. She could tell they were going to get along well. "Sweetie is our droid expert. I've already shared the plans her way. Here." She knew Renee was chipped, and sent much of the same plans, minus the droid locations. "She'll handle the robotic presence for us. All we have to do is handle the organics. Slipping past them would be preferred. If they never raise an alarm and we're gone? Top marks." Renee skimmed over the details, frowning softly. "Doesn't seem too hard. Simple server room job, I assume?" She tapped a hoof on the table, testing it. "What's our big score here?" "New product." Neon folded her arms. "On the way to big hooves with lots of bits. We stop them from getting it, and pass it to somepony willing to fund our lives for a while. They win, we win. Everypony but the big corp wins." Renee whistled. "Not bad, not bad. How're we going to make the delivery? If they have hooves in the police, can't trust them." She drummed her hooves on the table, calculating. Neon reached across Sweetie to thump at Renee. "Wrong dragon! This one's not with the fuzz. She's way too rebellious to get along with them. They aren't involved. Speaking of the cops." She looked over to the lump in the booth, covered poorly. "Why in Equestria is there still a body right there? Wasn't he taking them all away?" Sweetie shifted, her horn lighting up as she magically moved the cloth over the corpse and displayed him. His chest was a ruin of bullets and shrapnel. "I think they figured you already made him dead enough." She dropped the cloth back into place with a thick swallow. "I guess?" Renee burst into laughter at that. "Sweetie, I love you. Marry me?" Sweetie looked baffled. "I'm joking. I'm sure Spike is just a lazy jerk. He'll come back when he feels like it and finish his damn job. Cops, I swear." Neon narrowed her eyes, feeling they were avoiding the conversation. "What do you have against Spike? He's been in our corner for years." Renee glared at Neon. "Yeah, well, I know a lot of the po po, starting new and getting in there. Give them time, and they learn to oink like the rest of the pigs. His tail just hasn't gone curly, yet." Author's Note I'm loving the feel of this story. How are you enjoying it? Or not? Lemme know! Join the special community of folks who like my stories and/or get your own here at atreon! Don't want to do an ongoing thing? You could Join my discord to chat! 3 - Milk RunSweetie glanced back and forth between them, then dropped her gaze. "Are we sure this is safe?" "As safe as any of our gigs," Renee admitted with a sigh. "You'll be the safest out of any of us, staying far away." She slid to her hooves. "Almost jealous." Neon got to her hooves as well. "Alright, you two. Go get your things. We're going to do this now. Gotta strike while the iron's hot." She winked at Sweetie. "You head to where you're safest, and have the best Net connection." Sweetie leaned against Neon briefly, then broke away. "I'll set up outside the building. Don't get hurt!" She raced from the bar before Neon could offer a parting remark. Neon turned her attention to Renee. "You have the plan. Enough words. The less we talk, the better." The two shared a nod, and headed out into the densely filled streets of Neo-Canterlot. They made their way towards their target location. Even in the light of day, it was a foreboding structure. It looked as if it had been hastily constructed, and wasn't all that tall, but it stuck out of the skyline like a sore thumb. Whoever had purchased it was clearly going for cheap more than aesthetics. It was out of the way of amenities, and didn't look like it had many built into it. It was just barely enough to get the job done, with a simple internal design, made easier by the fact that most of it was either temporary or on hold until later. That meant it was an ideal target. As they got closer, Renee glanced around for Sweetie. She didn't see her, and that was a comfort in a way. Sweetie was safe. "Heading in." She strode for the front gate, forcing a welcoming smile as she closed the distance. The guards took one look at her, and didn't even have a chance to process what she was doing before she was right there. "Package for the boss?" She chirped. The guard went upright. "Package? Bring it around to the back." He pointed a hoof around the building. "Have your ID ready. The ponies back there will take it." "Yup, just gotta get to the back," Renee purred, blowing the guard a kiss. "Hope you have a good day!" She trotted around the corner, then saw a camera perched over the entrance. Everything she was doing was being recorded. It was hard to do much in that time without being on a camera, if not a dozen. Being a runner wasn't a position to take up if one was famous. Not if one wanted to survive. Renee circled the building, confident that she wouldn't be questioned until she got to the back at least. That gave her time to examine it, looking for vulnerabilities. She was not disappointed, spotting one window that was wide open. Her mind drifted to Sweetie. She knew Neon was sneaking around the front as she distracted them, and hoped she'd had the sense to keep hidden. There wasn't time to worry about that newbie. Renee launched herself up at the window with a powerful leap that carried her farther than any un-augmented pony could have reached, landing on the edge daintily. She swung through the window into an empty room. "What the hell?" She was greeted by several surprised guards. She turned towards them with a grin, winking. "Surprise, I'm your package!" She had hoped nopony would notice her entry, but the second best outcome was to take them out, swiftly. She slammed one guard in the throat, sending them collapsing to the ground, choking for air. A second guard didn't hesitate and lunged at Renee. She could tell from how their balance shifted that they were about to throw a punch. It was almost boringly predictable. She slid to the side and they stumbled past her. She lashed out a leg, brutally kicking them into a wall to finish their clumsy charge. That left one last guard in the room. He screamed into his radio for backup. "Code red! We have intruders!" Renee rushed him, tackling him out of the doorway as he tried to leave. "You're gonna wish you hadn't done that." "What's going on?" hissed Neon over a radio in Renee's ear. "Place just lit up. I thought you were being covert!" Renee had landed on the guard, her teeth sunk deep into his shoulder. He was still writhing under her. "They saw me coming in," she whispered back. "What are you, jealous?" "Hardly. Mission just got harder. Sweets? Droids down?" Neon paused for an answer. "Sweets, are the droids down?" There was only static over the channel. Renee wanted to reply, but her mouth was full of blood and flesh. She tore it free of the stunned guard and sat on them just for good measure. "Your cute newbie's being quiet. She's in trouble, or she bailed on us. Figures." Neon bit back an answer. "I'm in. Gotta take the boss down. I'll be your backup if you need it." She let out a string of curses as she came into contact with an armed guard. Renee scurried into the next hallway, darting from intersection to intersection. She had a map of the place overlayed over her vision and updating as she moved. She knew where the target should be, so she pressed towards it. A heavy metallic thump brought her to a sudden stop. One of those droids they'd been worried about was just ahead of her. It raised its weapon. "Security breach. Halt or I will fire." "Punk," Renee snarled. The last thing she wanted was to fight a droid. They were heavily armed and armored, enough to make a battle an arduous affair that could ruin everything. Not to mention it might just tear her apart. She wasn't in the mood to test that. She dived into the first door beside her instead even as bullets rained just behind her tail. "Dammit!" She slammed the door shut behind her, hearing it being riddled with bullets. A pony shouted from within. "What the hell is going on?" She turned to face the voice and came nose to gun with a guard. "Put your hooves up," barked the guard. "And sit down. You are under—" She kicked out his legs. His gun fired wildly, peppering the walls, but missing her. The door behind her blew inward. She shoved past the guard she had kicked, making a dive for the next door. It was already unlocked, so she was able to burst through. She didn't hesitate as she scrambled into the next room over. The map said her target was getting nice and close. "Hope it's working for you, Neon. Almost there!" Renee jumped on top of a desk and barreled through the door. This time, she leapt right on top of her target before he could say a word. Her hooves connected with his body in a swift kick that sent him crashing back into the wall. That one was just some scientist. She almost felt bad for battering him. Almost. He was just another pony in the way. She reached out a wing and yanked a cabinet drawer open, revealing a dense collection of data drives. One of them was the target. Each had a little number printed on their side. She smirked, shoving as many as she could into her pocket. There was no time to be picky. "This better be the right one!" She sprinted back the way she came, hoping the guards weren't smart enough to track her through the offices. "I have some data drives, pray it's the right one!" she barked across the radio. "Sweets, you in there? You back?" Renee wasn't greeted by Neon's voice. Instead, it was Neon's gunshots. That was far from a good sign. She could hear multiple sets of hooves rushing after her, including the heavy stomping of the droid. The stomping paused. "New instructions received. Compiling." Renee perked an ear at that, confused. "Compiled." New gunshots fired over the radio, but the pained howls that called out weren't Neon. The droid was attacking the guards. It had gotten new orders to do so. "Where are you?" Neon snapped, sounding a little stressed. Renee tossed a glance over her shoulder as she rounded a corner, rushing deeper into the building. "Heading towards the back exit. Got some data drives. Did you hear me?" "This is a mess. Sweets, we can't hear you, but thank you for the timely assist." The radio went still. Renee focused on her escape. She heard the stomping of the guards behind her, trying to keep up with her, but it wasn't working. Their lungs just couldn't match hers, and she could run faster than any normal pony. The map had their positions tracked, and she could see Neon closing in on her position as well. She jumped, diving into a chute and turning in the air to slide down it. In what felt like an instant, she was spat out of the building's chute into a garbage bin that lay directly beneath it. "Neon, I'm out! Tell me you got your package!" She ran for the back fence, knowing the gate wouldn't open for her. "I got mine. Just evac. Nothing else matters right now." A bang was heard, a hoof against something metal. "Locked door, bloody hells!" A beep? "It unlocked? Sweets, if that's you, I owe you a kiss." She grunted, taking a hard fall. "On my way out. Stay on the line, I need to know where to go." Renee jumped and clung to the top of the fence. "I'm there." She swung over the top and dropped heavily. She was on the street. There were ponies pushing past. Rather than try to push through them, she melded into the crowd and let its flow carry her away from the building. "Okay, Neon, we got out." Neon hissed, stumbling from the back exit of the building. "Thanks, Sweetie. Think we're good." She wiped blood from her lips. "Messy job." She spotted a bike and dashed over to it. "One last favor, get this running for me." A nearby light flickered off, as if having never been on at all. The bike hummed to life. "Thank you, Sweets. You're a sweetie." She mounted the bike and rode it away from the building with a hum of its electric engine whirring her away powerfully. "I'll meet you both in the usual place." With both infiltrators away from the hot zone, they made their way through the city. Neon abandoned her bike along the way, fearing it'd be eventually tracked. She made her way back to Smolder's place by any route she could, and eventually wound up back at the dingy bar. Renee was already there, flirting with the bartender as Neon came in. Neon spotted Sweetie also at the bar, looking nervous. "Sweets!" She charged ahead. "There you are." Sweetie had clearly been crying, her eyes red. "You're back! Are you okay? I heard a lot of bad things over the radio." She wrung her hooves. "I wanted to go back for you, but I was afraid." Neon wrapped Sweetie in her arms, squeezing her gently. "Hey, hey, it's okay." She rubbed Sweetie's back in long strokes. "You were there every time we really needed you. I couldn't ask too much more from a runner at my back." Renee finally slid over to them. "Her online like that, watching your backs? Can't ask for more than that. You do well for us, we'll do well for you." She grinned. "Which starts with splitting the pay!" She pulled out all the drives she had found, making a small pile of them. "Here's what I found. Tell me one's the right one." Sweetie glanced at the pile. "If they're numbered, the second one should be it." Neon and Renee blinked at Sweetie. Neon was the first to reply. "Second one?" She ran her hoof from the top down to that second one, reading the number quietly, then checking her notes. "Damn, yeah. You memorized it?!" Sweetie laughed nervously. "I'm good with numbers." She tried not to make eye contact as she tugged on her mane. "It's why I don't need an ear chip for tech work." She shifted her weight from hoof to hoof. Neon nudged Sweetie. "You are a treasure and I plan to keep you." She slid the drive aside. "Here's the—" She didn't get to finish, Smolder casually snatching the drive. "Thank you." She plugged the drive into a terminal beside her. "I'll upload that to the client, and we all get paid for the trouble, hm?" Neon tapped a hoof on the counter. "Don't you know better than to interrupt your customers? If I wanted you involved in this, I'd ask. Do the job you were paid to do." Smolder hiked a brow. "I am. You got the task from me. I'm the middle-dragon between you and those sweet bits." Her terminal chimed. "Upload complete. Now if they accept it." Her eyes went to the screen, waiting. Renee bit her lip. "How long is that going to take?" She waved at the bartender for another drink. "Could really use one right about now." A new sound, like coins being stacked, played. "Ah, that's approval." Smolder leaned in with a grin. "Bits are in the right place. Now, I hope you have your bank apps up, because I'm about to split this pay." Her hand hit the table as she divided the reward into three parts. Neon, Renee, and Sweetie all looked at their screens. "Oh, wow, yeah. That's nice." Sweetie clapped her hooves. "Wow, I'm a runner now?" "Well," Neon huffed softly, "that wasn't how it was supposed to go. We could have used some more careful entry and exit. Instead, it was guns blazing from start to finish." She glared at Renee. Renee shrank under the stare. "It was an honest mistake! Anyway, yes. You are a runner." She reached to ruffle Sweetie's mane with a hoof. "And still adorable. See you around." She slipped away, disappearing into the dark depths of the bar. Sweetie swooned gently as she looked after Renee. "Okay, I'm definitely doing that again." Her eyes darted to Neon. "But, um, first, about singing?" Neon rolled her eyes. "I have to sleep at some point, but fine, I can make time." She motioned for Sweetie to follow. "We'll get you signed up at the bar, schedule you in to sing for the crowd. I already told you, pretty sure they'll eat it up. Just don't let them get their hooves on you unless they paid you enough that you want them to." Sweetie scrambled after Neon, beaming brightly. "I won't! Thanks so much for helping me." She rushed ahead, spinning and prancing in place as she waited for Neon to lead the way. Author's Note That job could have gone better. Part of me is like, this could be a fine end to this short story. Should we press further? Lemme know. Join the special community of folks who like my stories and/or get your own here at atreon! Don't want to do an ongoing thing? You could Join my discord to chat!
1 - A Neon DanceNeon Dancer leaned back against the pole, slowly extending a leg towards the audience as loud music pounded all around them. She could feel every beat pulsing through her body as she gyrated around the pole with a come-hither look at the crowd, having no idea what was about to happen. The stallion behind the bar swirled his pen, concentrating on the drink he was mixing, waiting for the precise moment to put the finishing touches on it and deliver it to the customer. It was another day at the bar, or so both thought until the moment gunfire interrupted the show, and ponies began to scream and panic as some kind of struggle took place between two groups of unicorns. In all the chaos, only the unicorn mixologist noticed that Neon Dancer was still dancing; if he hadn't known better, he'd have sworn she was oblivious to the danger. Neon threw her body backwards just in time to miss a spray of deadly bullets. Her horn glowed as she grabbed one from the air, redirecting it back at the group of thugs who'd just burst into the bar. Her attacker spun away, looking to shoot at her again, but she teleported herself right behind him and slammed his face into the wall. "My bar. My rules," she purred in a tone that implied more sultry tones rather than angry ones. The pony didn't respond, and Neon pulled her head away, allowing the blood to run down her hoof and onto the floor. She leaned in, kissing him gently on the cheek before he could pass out from the shock of having his brain leaking out of his skull. "The rest of you want to get out of here? You're not wanted," she growled. A stallion rolled a grenade at her from behind a stack of boxes, and Neon slammed it back at him with a small blast of telekinesis. It exploded, knocking everyone away, including her. She sprawled across the ground, but she was laughing. She was bleeding, which exposed chrome bits beneath the surface. Looking back, she could see her assailants had done far worse. Most of them wouldn't be getting up again. That was when Neon saw Spike come into view. He'd emerged from an alleyway, stepping into the middle of the street to survey the scene. "Huh, that's a throwback look for sure," he muttered. He hopped over the fallen attackers. "Giving me more work, as usual, Neon?" "You know me," she replied. She smirked as he leaned down and picked up a rifle. He held it against his shoulder, aiming at a prone unicorn about to fire at her. She put a hoof against it, gently nudging it away. "Enough red in my bar for one day. Pretend you're a cop and actually arrest her." Spike snorted at that. "If I arrest her, do you have any idea how much more paperwork that is?" He nudged at the fallen body. "Fine. You're up on your payments to the police. I'll take them in, and we'll be even." Neon laughed, brushing herself off as if she hadn't just had a life-threatening situation. "See, that's why I keep you around. Thanks, Spike. I mean it." She picked up her coat and draped it over her shoulders, striding past the terrified patrons and out of the front door. "My shift's over." The mixologist knew this wasn't true, but didn't argue it with Neon. After all, it wasn't like she'd bothered to clock in or out, so there was no way to prove otherwise. He slid a drink over to one of the stunned customers. "That'll be ten bits." Neon walked down the glittering street, the bright nights of Neo-Canterlot blaring around her with the thumps of many different beats and actions all around her. Her long pink mane and tail swirled behind her as she pushed her way through crowds of ponies who barely even seemed to notice her, though some did take the time to stare and wonder where they knew her from. She gave those a little wink, but she had a place to be. There, just to her left, she veered through the crowd towards one of her favorite quick-fix shops. She reached into her coat pocket and pulled out an old envelope. It was worn, but the black ink still stood out. "A Full Chrome Reboot. One for me, doc." The doctor leaned forward, pressing his horn against her neck. "You got roughed up again?" He reached out and she didn't stop him from inspecting. "They got you a few good times. Damn. I thought you were faster than that." Neon chuckled, running a hoof through her hair. "I guess I'm not as young as I used to be." She let him examine her wounds before walking to the back. There was an operating table and a screen on the wall that displayed her vitals. She calmly slid onto the table. "Get me back in one piece. The gawkers don't come to see their girls all full of holes. "Alright, so how much is this going to set me back?" she sighed, imagining the price in her mind with far too many zeroes in it. The doctor paused, glancing up at her from his screen. "With the damage to your hooves? The sensors are shot, so I'm gonna have to replace them entirely." He tapped at her hoof. The disturbing part was that she didn't feel it. "Surprised you came in here so smoothly with that damage. What about a hoof? Did they get it, too?" Neon cringed as she tried to lift it, only to realize that she could barely do that. She lifted the edge of her leg, finding that it looked as bad as it felt. "Wow." She wondered how she had missed that. "Must be the adrenaline, and that's running out, so that's starting to hurt. Put me together and let me wail about the price afterwards." "Got it." The doctor nodded as he closed up the coat, then glanced at the door. "Give me half an hour." With a hiss of a needle, a drug ran into her system. Far from the first, this one sending her into a dreamless void where he could do his work. It was easier that way for all of them. When she awoke, she found herself staring up at a completely different room. This one was dimly lit by the neon light of the bar sign just outside, pouring in through the slats in the blinds over the window. She sat up with a scowl. "Doc? You park me in the back to get other patients? Rude, but I get it." She slid to the ground, testing each hoof. She was intact. "Thanks for that, but where the hell are you?" She found the doctor sitting on a stool near the door. It was clear he'd been watching her, his hands stained with blood. He smiled and motioned to the mirror across the room. "You were unconscious for the process, so I'd like to show you the results before you go back." Neon smirked. "You really did shove me in the back to make room for more customers." She turned to the mirror and did a little swirl. "I look great. Good job, but I'm insisting on a discount for being put away like a dang sandwich you plan to get to later." She checked herself over, noticing there was nothing missing. That had been her first fear. "That'll do, I guess." "Wait. Before you leave," the doctor muttered, leaning forward. "The shrapnel cut your wires in several places. It took me hours to splice them all back together. But more than that." He thrust a hoof at her. "You're getting to retirement age. Your body can't handle what you're shoving on it. If you keep this up, you'll lose far more than some circuits and wires. You'll lose yourself." Neon scoffed. "Sure, doc. Whatever you say." She winked and blew him a kiss. She was all better, she could feel it. She trotted out onto the street with a whistle, melding into the thick crowd of ponies. There was a cacophony of voices, advertising, and various noises as they filled the streets with their day-to-day activities. Neon let herself flow through it all, a bit like the tide itself. She pressed through the chaotic storm of noises until she felt a hoof brush her rump. She coiled almost instantly, but her guard fell. "Ruby! You'll get me in trouble." She grinned as the familiar mare stepped forward, then wrapped her up in a hug. The red coat, dark red mane and tail, along with those intense eyes... Neon shook that off. "Some punks trashed my place over a turf scuffle. You should have seen it. Took out half of the front. I think there's still a body wedged into one of the booths." She was coy as she flashed a grin at Ruby. "You should come see. I miss having you around." Ruby laughed gently at that, guiding Neon to a slightly less crowded place to stand. "I would, but I have bills to pay. I'm glad dancing that pole gets you your bits, but that isn't my job and you know it. Maybe when we were young, but that ship sailed a long time ago." She rubbed a hoof over her cheek, revealing some wear on the area. Neon noted the minor wear. She knew there were prosthetic replacements for those things, but Ruby hadn't yet bothered to get them. "A little chrome could rewind your clock." She leaned in, almost touching. "I'd like to keep you around." "We're both too old for that, Neon," Ruby murmured, gently pushing her away. "I still remember those early days with you. I mean, how could I forget? We went through everything together." Her eyes went distant, thinking of long-ago events. "We gave them hell, and got some in return. Look, I'm not cut out for that anymore. I need my sleep and comfort." Neon threw her head back. "Are you saying you've grown soft? What happened to the wild mare who gave us that nickname? All because you found a damn store called Neon Dancer that sold outrageous clothes!" Ruby shoved Neon, but there wasn't any real force behind it. "You loved it so much you stole their name, damn it." She laughed almost painfully. "I miss those days, but they're gone." She glanced away and back at Neon. "Look, I need to find somepony to spend some quality time with. If you aren't paying, I have to go. I've got bills, remember?" Neon scowled, shaking her head. "Yeah, I get it." For just a moment, she considered paying her own friend for her time, but that felt like a step too far. "Visit, when you're free. You know where I usually am. Please?" Ruby stared at Neon. "Alright, if it means that much to you. I've got a show tomorrow night. It's been awhile since we talked, and I'd love to catch up with you." They exchanged a hug, warm, but too brief, and Ruby vanished into the wave of flowing ponies, lost to the city. Neon let out a sigh as she began walking down the street, trying not to think about the feelings Ruby had dredged up from her past. Neon reached the corner of the street and walked to a specific door in the middle of the street, slipped through, and quietly locked it behind herself. Other ponies just walked past it, not seeing it, but also refusing to crash into it. The door didn't exist. A soft light flickered to life, showing the crime-ridden interior. Everywhere were stains and bullet holes, a few bodies and old bloodstains that probably didn't belong there. "You're getting messy." Neon smirked as she picked her steps among the cleaner parts of the floor. "Place somehow looks worse every time I come visiting." Author's Note Say hello to Neon. She is facing a few things, but she means to keep her eyes on it and march ahead. How well will it go? Let's take a walk at her side. Join the special community of folks who like my stories and/or get your own here at atreon! Don't want to do an ongoing thing? You could Join my discord to chat!
2 - Assembling a Team"And you love dragons," taunted a female voice as Neon turned the corner to spot one seated behind a worn-down counter. "Hey, Neon. You smell of paint and glue. Just put back together?" Neon growled softly, shoving away memories. She climbed up onto a stool that hadn't changed since before she'd joined the Dancers. It was always a bit shaky and not exactly stable, but it fit her. "Hey, Smolder." She nodded to the orange dragon. "Rough day. Any new schemes I can distract myself with? Don't feel up to returning to 'work' right now." "Sure, sure." Smolder tossed a paper file across the desk to Neon. "You missed my daughter's birthday last month. I really need you to return this when you get a chance." Neon reached for the paper, but it was her magic to grabbed it and pulled it up for her to see. "I should be more careful." She knew she hadn't borrowed anything from Smolder, or their daughter. All keywords, which she ignored for the moment in favor of taking in the details on the paper. "Must be secretive, not putting it on digital." "With that PonDex system?" Smolder growled, baring her fangs. "Forget it. Digital means nothing in your hands. That's for saps who can't write a single damn letter with their own hands." She wriggled her talons with a chuckle. "Which a lot of ponies, these days? I guess they can't." Neon watched the dragon tap her claws on the counter, as if that proved her point. She opened the file and started to read. It spoke of a 'secret project' some small company was about to deliver to a larger corporation. The small company, being smaller, had lighter security. If someone, not naming names, could grab it before it was safely in the hooves of the larger corp, there were bits on the line, potentially a lot of them, depending on how safely it made it. The papers listed various assets involved and assets they'd have to work around, then a place, a time, and other vital details. She took a moment to absorb the information, humming gently as she went. "Alright." She tossed the paper back down where Smolder could get it. "Any of the others in on this, or am I flying solo?" "You know the rule," Smolder replied, folding the paper back up and setting it under the desk. "You go, you bring others, but no one gets the info but you. Ain't like anyone's gonna chase you for it, anyway." Neon huffed gently. "Look, I wasn't asking that. I was asking if any of the crew's checked in recently. I don't want to have to chase them down all across the city if I can help it." She tapped a hoof on the counter. "Time is money for all of us." Smolder chuckled at that, shaking her head. "They'll find their way to you when they're ready. For now, guess you're on your own." She hopped up onto the counter and pointed Neon to the door in the back of the office. "I think Miss Belle is in, if you wanna bother her." Neon sneered. "Miss Belle? Yeah, she might be handy for this." She slid from the stool back to her hooves. "Thanks for the info." She trotted deeper into that dark place. Spilling from around the closed edges of that door, bright light was visible. As she pushed through, Neon blinked hard as the transition took hold. There were bits of droids scattered about. Most looked like old Chimeras that had seen better days. A few looked like ponies that had lost their way. In the middle of the mess, a unicorn looked up at the noise of the door opening. "Neon!" She bounced to her hooves and pounced on Neon, hugging firmly. "Missed you. What are you here for?" Neon gently hugged the young adult mare. "Sweets. Always a treat to see you." They touched noses briefly. "I'm about to take a job. A mare with a sweet voice and a knack for droid operation? I'd like that on my side. You get an even cut of the take, of course." Sweets perked up at that. "Sounds interesting. Count me in." She was so genuine that it hurt Neon's heart, just a little bit. "Let me get my things together and we'll head out." Neon let Sweets get to gathering her things. "Don't suppose you've seen any of the others recently? We could use somepony with some muscle. Always good to have one of those." Sweets shook her head. "You're the first one to come by since my parents got arrested. I heard something about a factory robbery?" She stepped up to Neon's side. "The police were doing random checks today, so they missed me." She snickered as if that was just a normal thing that happened around her. "Pity for them. Are we gonna go straight there?" "We're gonna stop at my place first. A little walk'll be nice." Neon pushed open the door again and exiting. Neon made her way through the dark space until she was back in the dingy bar, then out into the city streets. The lights and sounds of them were a welcome return to her usual. "You remember my bar, right? Where I dance?" Sweets skipped after her. "It's a great place. I really like the dancing. Why do you wanna stop there? To check in?" Neon nodded. "I wanna see if any of my girls are available for work. Also to make sure they cleaned up after the mess this morning." She led the way speedily through the crowd, swimming against the current to get to her beloved bar. She glanced at the sign above it and then through the window to see that, indeed, the area was cleaned up. There was a body sitting in one of the booths with a large tablecloth covering it. She pushed open the door and a wave of sounds assaulted them both. It was the sound of music, tempting ponies to move, or to watch the dancers move. Neon could see three dancers were up on the stage, doing their best to satisfy the small crowd. They were all ignoring that lump in the booth. "One sec," Neon called, waving a hoof for Sweets to follow as she made her way to the bar and leaned over it. "Yo, bartender! Any of my girls in today?" It was the same mixologist she had seen when the attack happened. He smirked softly. "One of them's up there, dancing." He inclined his head at the line of mares doing their best. "You know this place isn't your home, right? I still expect you to come in and work your shifts like a normal pony." Neon bared her teeth in a cheeky grin. "I don't get paid to guard this place, but I almost got shot, and took out the creeps responsible. You should be thanking me, ass." She thudded him on the chest with a hoof. "Don't get cheeky." He chuckled, nodding to Sweets. "Who's this?" "Sweetie Belle. She's an engineer. Just recruited her for a job." Neon pointed at the mare in question. Sweetie waved excitedly. "Hiya!" She slid up onto a cushioned stool. "I've been here before. You have nice dancers." The mixologist smirked and poured her a drink. "Yeah? Glad you like them. For a few bits, I can get one of them to dance just for you." He slid it over. "For free, for you." Sweetie grabbed the drink in her magic and sipped as she watched the dancers perform their best. "Just for me? I'm not that greedy." Neon burst into laughter and gently punched Sweetie in the shoulder. "I promise, you pay for one of them, they'll be thankful. Still, I get the idea that you aren't looking for that kind of dance, Sweetie. Let's stay focused. Don't get drunk either. We're about to take a case." Sweetie swirled the drink. "Maybe another time." She slipped from the stool and back to her hooves. "We're taking a case?" She followed Neon to the door that led to the back room. Back there, a dancer was gently puffing her face with some powder. She paused when Neon came in, relaxing when she realized who it was. Neon smiled at the dancer. "Hey, Renee. You okay? Did the creeps mess you up too?" Renee shook her head. "Not badly. Some of us thought we should stop working today because of what happened." She wrinkled her nose. "I just want to pretty up before I go back there." She looked past Neon to Sweetie Belle. "She doesn't look like she belongs here, but she's cute. She considering trying out?" Sweetie grinned, shrugging. "If I need to, I could! Maybe if we get some time later, you could teach me? I'm kinda in the middle of something right now." Neon thrust a hoof. "Adorable, but yeah, middle of something. We're about to take a job, the kind that pays bits, more than you can get from a night of dancing. Up for it?" Renee raised an eyebrow. "Did Spike give you that one? You know he has connections to the police. They've been getting handsy around here lately." She pulled a brush from her dressing table and started using it on her face. Neon shook her head. "Wrong dragon, but one of those, sure. Doesn't matter. Simple snatch and scram. We get in, get it, get the hell out, and we get payday." Renee hummed at that. "Alright, I'm in. But you're gonna have to fill me in when we're somewhere safer. Those police have ears." She glanced at Sweetie. "And probably eyes." Sweetie colored at the implications. "Hey! I'm on your side." She huffed and moved in next to Neon. "She recruited me first." Neon snickered gently. "No fighting, both of you. We're a team now. Let's pretend, eh? I'll go over the deets after work, and we go get this done." She turned to Sweetie. "Now, you want to see some dancing? I'm more in the mood now. Going to hit the stage." Sweetie nodded. "I've been wanting to see you do it again since the last time I was here!" She rushed over to a chair that faced the stage and sat down, eagerly waiting for Neon to step out. Neon glanced back at Renee. "See you on the stage." Neon went out a different way, allowing her to saunter out onto the stage. The lights zoomed in on her, a star of the show, and she made every move count with a sultry growl. They had come for a show, and she had one to give them. She caught sight of Sweetie, and performed as best she could for her new teammate. Sweetie was gasping softly as she watched Neon work her magic, having almost forgotten the outside world for a few minutes. She clapped her hooves along with the strong beat of the music and cheered Neon on. Unlike most who watched her, her calls were free of adult impulses. Though she was grown, she was cheering on a fellow friend, and admiring the beauty for its own sake. Renee crept over and set herself down on the chair next to Sweetie Belle, who was so distracted that she didn't even notice the mare sitting next to her. She grinned and let Sweetie enjoy the show as much as she could. Unable to restrain herself, she broke the silence between them, "So, she's good at dancing, huh? I can dance too." Sweetie perked up, grinning at Renee. "Yeah! I always loved coming here to see her, because she makes me feel happy. All the other ponies watching her are more focused on being..." She seemed to fumble even finding the word for that emotion she seemed to lack. "I'd like to see you dance. I bet you're really good too!" Renee chuckled, letting Sweetie enjoy herself as Neon finished her routine. Sweetie clapped loudly as Neon finally stepped off the stage, her short fur shining with sweat. She made her way over and gave Sweetie a hoof bump. Renee walked past. "My turn. Looking forward to your innocent little comparison when I'm done." Sweetie grinned at Neon. "Oh, yeah! We get to watch her now. I'm excited." Neon had a cocky grin on her face. "She's a real show mare." She took the seat Renee had been using. "Worth a watch. How'd I do?" Sweetie gave Neon a few more hoofbumps. "Great! It was awesome! I wish I could dance like that." "Oh? I can teach you some moves sometime." Neon leaned in close to Sweetie. "You were considering joining us. Do you like dancing?" "Actually." Sweetie rubbed her hooves together. "I'm not that good at that, but I can sing! I like singing too." She blushed, watching the other dancers get into place. Neon smirked, glancing back as Renee took the stage. The spotlight slid over her with practiced ease. Then she started moving to the music, taking a sultry and powerful stance. Her long purple mane and tail swayed to the beat as she dipped down low, giving everyone in the audience a view. "See?" Neon leaned close. "You ever join the crew, you'll learn how to do this." Neon leaned back against the counter. "On the other hoof, if you like singing, why not do that? A singer would be a nice addition. A break from all this techno-bop we got going on. I bet the regulars would go crazy for a nice innocent little thing like you singing genuinely." Sweetie blinked, glancing around the room. She noted all the expressions on the ponies' faces and their obvious desire to watch the dancers. "Uh... maybe? I'm really good at working with machines too. It's not dancing, but I can sing." She blushed, wondering if she was being weird, or too plain, or something. "I just, you know, feel awkward about this kind of thing." Neon bumped Sweetie with a hoof. "Don't sweat it. I had to work up to being used to working here. Get your head in the game. You got a chip?" Sweetie looked confused a moment, then tapped at her head. "'Course! Can't talk with droids without one. Why?" "Check it out," Neon muttered, turning back to the stage. Renee had hit her stride, getting more energetic and enticing with each move she made. The music carried her as she spun, making sure her tail swished over the crowd with each pass, who cheered and reached for her, but she kept dancing just out of reach, expertly flowing with the crowd's movements to keep them so close, but never making contact. "She's a pro. Now, I'm asking because of this." Sweetie started as a box appeared in her vision. Neon sent information to her wirelessly, dumping the layout of the place they were to break into. Sweetie pulled it up on the screen, scrolling through it. "The Citadel? We're breaking into the place? Isn't that the local broadcasting station? That's like, guarded with tons of droids!" Neon smirked faintly. "And look at that, I got a droid expert on the team. Good thinking, me." She nudged Sweetie. "You up for it?" Sweetie hesitated a moment, then looked over the plans again. "It's in a private server room." Her doubt began to melt. "Guarded by you, you, and you." She pointed at things only she could see. "So if we, and then." Her mouth moved with other plans working through her mind. "I think, um, maybe we can do it." Neon didn't interrupt Sweetie as she tried to work out how it could be done. She could tell when the little mare had finally come to a decision. She smiled brightly. "Alright, so there are only two big things." She held up both forehooves. "And, lucky you, you don't need to worry about it. In fact, being a tricky little droider, I bet you won't even need to be there. You can support us from off-site, right?" Sweetie's eyes went wide. "Oh! Um, I guess I can do that." She seemed embarrassed at having the idea not cross her mind on her own. "I mean, sure. That makes sense." She saluted, which was a poor salute, but a well-intentioned one. "I'll do my best!" Neon gently rubbed Sweetie's shoulder. "Good. You stay safe. I don't want you getting a single hair out of place. Let Renee and I handle the physical stuff. We'll be the ones getting in there and getting dirty." Sweetie blushed, looking at the bar around them. "I guess I could use a little bit of practice with this sort of thing, huh?" "Hey, hey," Neon leaned against Sweetie, eyes glistening. "You're ready, I can feel it. You just handle those droids and you'll have earned every single bit of the prize at the end." Sweetie took a breath, then looked at the door to the stage, where Renee was returning from her performance. She slowly stood up as Renee slid over to them. "That's all I can do." Renee slid down on the other side of Sweetie. "What are you doing? And I'm waiting for that review. Little girl, how'd I do?" Sweetie smiled, shaking off her nerves as she turned to face Renee. "You did great! I've never seen anypony move like that before!" She gave her an impromptu hug. "You two are great! It's amazing. You're both dancing, but you feel very different, in both amazing ways." Renee ruffled the unbrushed mane of Sweetie with a laugh. "Good spirit, or you're trying really hard not to compare us. I'll take it either way." She slid back into her seat. "So, what's our game plan?" Neon's smile softened, seeing Sweetie get along with Renee. She could tell they were going to get along well. "Sweetie is our droid expert. I've already shared the plans her way. Here." She knew Renee was chipped, and sent much of the same plans, minus the droid locations. "She'll handle the robotic presence for us. All we have to do is handle the organics. Slipping past them would be preferred. If they never raise an alarm and we're gone? Top marks." Renee skimmed over the details, frowning softly. "Doesn't seem too hard. Simple server room job, I assume?" She tapped a hoof on the table, testing it. "What's our big score here?" "New product." Neon folded her arms. "On the way to big hooves with lots of bits. We stop them from getting it, and pass it to somepony willing to fund our lives for a while. They win, we win. Everypony but the big corp wins." Renee whistled. "Not bad, not bad. How're we going to make the delivery? If they have hooves in the police, can't trust them." She drummed her hooves on the table, calculating. Neon reached across Sweetie to thump at Renee. "Wrong dragon! This one's not with the fuzz. She's way too rebellious to get along with them. They aren't involved. Speaking of the cops." She looked over to the lump in the booth, covered poorly. "Why in Equestria is there still a body right there? Wasn't he taking them all away?" Sweetie shifted, her horn lighting up as she magically moved the cloth over the corpse and displayed him. His chest was a ruin of bullets and shrapnel. "I think they figured you already made him dead enough." She dropped the cloth back into place with a thick swallow. "I guess?" Renee burst into laughter at that. "Sweetie, I love you. Marry me?" Sweetie looked baffled. "I'm joking. I'm sure Spike is just a lazy jerk. He'll come back when he feels like it and finish his damn job. Cops, I swear." Neon narrowed her eyes, feeling they were avoiding the conversation. "What do you have against Spike? He's been in our corner for years." Renee glared at Neon. "Yeah, well, I know a lot of the po po, starting new and getting in there. Give them time, and they learn to oink like the rest of the pigs. His tail just hasn't gone curly, yet." Author's Note I'm loving the feel of this story. How are you enjoying it? Or not? Lemme know! Join the special community of folks who like my stories and/or get your own here at atreon! Don't want to do an ongoing thing? You could Join my discord to chat!
3 - Milk RunSweetie glanced back and forth between them, then dropped her gaze. "Are we sure this is safe?" "As safe as any of our gigs," Renee admitted with a sigh. "You'll be the safest out of any of us, staying far away." She slid to her hooves. "Almost jealous." Neon got to her hooves as well. "Alright, you two. Go get your things. We're going to do this now. Gotta strike while the iron's hot." She winked at Sweetie. "You head to where you're safest, and have the best Net connection." Sweetie leaned against Neon briefly, then broke away. "I'll set up outside the building. Don't get hurt!" She raced from the bar before Neon could offer a parting remark. Neon turned her attention to Renee. "You have the plan. Enough words. The less we talk, the better." The two shared a nod, and headed out into the densely filled streets of Neo-Canterlot. They made their way towards their target location. Even in the light of day, it was a foreboding structure. It looked as if it had been hastily constructed, and wasn't all that tall, but it stuck out of the skyline like a sore thumb. Whoever had purchased it was clearly going for cheap more than aesthetics. It was out of the way of amenities, and didn't look like it had many built into it. It was just barely enough to get the job done, with a simple internal design, made easier by the fact that most of it was either temporary or on hold until later. That meant it was an ideal target. As they got closer, Renee glanced around for Sweetie. She didn't see her, and that was a comfort in a way. Sweetie was safe. "Heading in." She strode for the front gate, forcing a welcoming smile as she closed the distance. The guards took one look at her, and didn't even have a chance to process what she was doing before she was right there. "Package for the boss?" She chirped. The guard went upright. "Package? Bring it around to the back." He pointed a hoof around the building. "Have your ID ready. The ponies back there will take it." "Yup, just gotta get to the back," Renee purred, blowing the guard a kiss. "Hope you have a good day!" She trotted around the corner, then saw a camera perched over the entrance. Everything she was doing was being recorded. It was hard to do much in that time without being on a camera, if not a dozen. Being a runner wasn't a position to take up if one was famous. Not if one wanted to survive. Renee circled the building, confident that she wouldn't be questioned until she got to the back at least. That gave her time to examine it, looking for vulnerabilities. She was not disappointed, spotting one window that was wide open. Her mind drifted to Sweetie. She knew Neon was sneaking around the front as she distracted them, and hoped she'd had the sense to keep hidden. There wasn't time to worry about that newbie. Renee launched herself up at the window with a powerful leap that carried her farther than any un-augmented pony could have reached, landing on the edge daintily. She swung through the window into an empty room. "What the hell?" She was greeted by several surprised guards. She turned towards them with a grin, winking. "Surprise, I'm your package!" She had hoped nopony would notice her entry, but the second best outcome was to take them out, swiftly. She slammed one guard in the throat, sending them collapsing to the ground, choking for air. A second guard didn't hesitate and lunged at Renee. She could tell from how their balance shifted that they were about to throw a punch. It was almost boringly predictable. She slid to the side and they stumbled past her. She lashed out a leg, brutally kicking them into a wall to finish their clumsy charge. That left one last guard in the room. He screamed into his radio for backup. "Code red! We have intruders!" Renee rushed him, tackling him out of the doorway as he tried to leave. "You're gonna wish you hadn't done that." "What's going on?" hissed Neon over a radio in Renee's ear. "Place just lit up. I thought you were being covert!" Renee had landed on the guard, her teeth sunk deep into his shoulder. He was still writhing under her. "They saw me coming in," she whispered back. "What are you, jealous?" "Hardly. Mission just got harder. Sweets? Droids down?" Neon paused for an answer. "Sweets, are the droids down?" There was only static over the channel. Renee wanted to reply, but her mouth was full of blood and flesh. She tore it free of the stunned guard and sat on them just for good measure. "Your cute newbie's being quiet. She's in trouble, or she bailed on us. Figures." Neon bit back an answer. "I'm in. Gotta take the boss down. I'll be your backup if you need it." She let out a string of curses as she came into contact with an armed guard. Renee scurried into the next hallway, darting from intersection to intersection. She had a map of the place overlayed over her vision and updating as she moved. She knew where the target should be, so she pressed towards it. A heavy metallic thump brought her to a sudden stop. One of those droids they'd been worried about was just ahead of her. It raised its weapon. "Security breach. Halt or I will fire." "Punk," Renee snarled. The last thing she wanted was to fight a droid. They were heavily armed and armored, enough to make a battle an arduous affair that could ruin everything. Not to mention it might just tear her apart. She wasn't in the mood to test that. She dived into the first door beside her instead even as bullets rained just behind her tail. "Dammit!" She slammed the door shut behind her, hearing it being riddled with bullets. A pony shouted from within. "What the hell is going on?" She turned to face the voice and came nose to gun with a guard. "Put your hooves up," barked the guard. "And sit down. You are under—" She kicked out his legs. His gun fired wildly, peppering the walls, but missing her. The door behind her blew inward. She shoved past the guard she had kicked, making a dive for the next door. It was already unlocked, so she was able to burst through. She didn't hesitate as she scrambled into the next room over. The map said her target was getting nice and close. "Hope it's working for you, Neon. Almost there!" Renee jumped on top of a desk and barreled through the door. This time, she leapt right on top of her target before he could say a word. Her hooves connected with his body in a swift kick that sent him crashing back into the wall. That one was just some scientist. She almost felt bad for battering him. Almost. He was just another pony in the way. She reached out a wing and yanked a cabinet drawer open, revealing a dense collection of data drives. One of them was the target. Each had a little number printed on their side. She smirked, shoving as many as she could into her pocket. There was no time to be picky. "This better be the right one!" She sprinted back the way she came, hoping the guards weren't smart enough to track her through the offices. "I have some data drives, pray it's the right one!" she barked across the radio. "Sweets, you in there? You back?" Renee wasn't greeted by Neon's voice. Instead, it was Neon's gunshots. That was far from a good sign. She could hear multiple sets of hooves rushing after her, including the heavy stomping of the droid. The stomping paused. "New instructions received. Compiling." Renee perked an ear at that, confused. "Compiled." New gunshots fired over the radio, but the pained howls that called out weren't Neon. The droid was attacking the guards. It had gotten new orders to do so. "Where are you?" Neon snapped, sounding a little stressed. Renee tossed a glance over her shoulder as she rounded a corner, rushing deeper into the building. "Heading towards the back exit. Got some data drives. Did you hear me?" "This is a mess. Sweets, we can't hear you, but thank you for the timely assist." The radio went still. Renee focused on her escape. She heard the stomping of the guards behind her, trying to keep up with her, but it wasn't working. Their lungs just couldn't match hers, and she could run faster than any normal pony. The map had their positions tracked, and she could see Neon closing in on her position as well. She jumped, diving into a chute and turning in the air to slide down it. In what felt like an instant, she was spat out of the building's chute into a garbage bin that lay directly beneath it. "Neon, I'm out! Tell me you got your package!" She ran for the back fence, knowing the gate wouldn't open for her. "I got mine. Just evac. Nothing else matters right now." A bang was heard, a hoof against something metal. "Locked door, bloody hells!" A beep? "It unlocked? Sweets, if that's you, I owe you a kiss." She grunted, taking a hard fall. "On my way out. Stay on the line, I need to know where to go." Renee jumped and clung to the top of the fence. "I'm there." She swung over the top and dropped heavily. She was on the street. There were ponies pushing past. Rather than try to push through them, she melded into the crowd and let its flow carry her away from the building. "Okay, Neon, we got out." Neon hissed, stumbling from the back exit of the building. "Thanks, Sweetie. Think we're good." She wiped blood from her lips. "Messy job." She spotted a bike and dashed over to it. "One last favor, get this running for me." A nearby light flickered off, as if having never been on at all. The bike hummed to life. "Thank you, Sweets. You're a sweetie." She mounted the bike and rode it away from the building with a hum of its electric engine whirring her away powerfully. "I'll meet you both in the usual place." With both infiltrators away from the hot zone, they made their way through the city. Neon abandoned her bike along the way, fearing it'd be eventually tracked. She made her way back to Smolder's place by any route she could, and eventually wound up back at the dingy bar. Renee was already there, flirting with the bartender as Neon came in. Neon spotted Sweetie also at the bar, looking nervous. "Sweets!" She charged ahead. "There you are." Sweetie had clearly been crying, her eyes red. "You're back! Are you okay? I heard a lot of bad things over the radio." She wrung her hooves. "I wanted to go back for you, but I was afraid." Neon wrapped Sweetie in her arms, squeezing her gently. "Hey, hey, it's okay." She rubbed Sweetie's back in long strokes. "You were there every time we really needed you. I couldn't ask too much more from a runner at my back." Renee finally slid over to them. "Her online like that, watching your backs? Can't ask for more than that. You do well for us, we'll do well for you." She grinned. "Which starts with splitting the pay!" She pulled out all the drives she had found, making a small pile of them. "Here's what I found. Tell me one's the right one." Sweetie glanced at the pile. "If they're numbered, the second one should be it." Neon and Renee blinked at Sweetie. Neon was the first to reply. "Second one?" She ran her hoof from the top down to that second one, reading the number quietly, then checking her notes. "Damn, yeah. You memorized it?!" Sweetie laughed nervously. "I'm good with numbers." She tried not to make eye contact as she tugged on her mane. "It's why I don't need an ear chip for tech work." She shifted her weight from hoof to hoof. Neon nudged Sweetie. "You are a treasure and I plan to keep you." She slid the drive aside. "Here's the—" She didn't get to finish, Smolder casually snatching the drive. "Thank you." She plugged the drive into a terminal beside her. "I'll upload that to the client, and we all get paid for the trouble, hm?" Neon tapped a hoof on the counter. "Don't you know better than to interrupt your customers? If I wanted you involved in this, I'd ask. Do the job you were paid to do." Smolder hiked a brow. "I am. You got the task from me. I'm the middle-dragon between you and those sweet bits." Her terminal chimed. "Upload complete. Now if they accept it." Her eyes went to the screen, waiting. Renee bit her lip. "How long is that going to take?" She waved at the bartender for another drink. "Could really use one right about now." A new sound, like coins being stacked, played. "Ah, that's approval." Smolder leaned in with a grin. "Bits are in the right place. Now, I hope you have your bank apps up, because I'm about to split this pay." Her hand hit the table as she divided the reward into three parts. Neon, Renee, and Sweetie all looked at their screens. "Oh, wow, yeah. That's nice." Sweetie clapped her hooves. "Wow, I'm a runner now?" "Well," Neon huffed softly, "that wasn't how it was supposed to go. We could have used some more careful entry and exit. Instead, it was guns blazing from start to finish." She glared at Renee. Renee shrank under the stare. "It was an honest mistake! Anyway, yes. You are a runner." She reached to ruffle Sweetie's mane with a hoof. "And still adorable. See you around." She slipped away, disappearing into the dark depths of the bar. Sweetie swooned gently as she looked after Renee. "Okay, I'm definitely doing that again." Her eyes darted to Neon. "But, um, first, about singing?" Neon rolled her eyes. "I have to sleep at some point, but fine, I can make time." She motioned for Sweetie to follow. "We'll get you signed up at the bar, schedule you in to sing for the crowd. I already told you, pretty sure they'll eat it up. Just don't let them get their hooves on you unless they paid you enough that you want them to." Sweetie scrambled after Neon, beaming brightly. "I won't! Thanks so much for helping me." She rushed ahead, spinning and prancing in place as she waited for Neon to lead the way. Author's Note That job could have gone better. Part of me is like, this could be a fine end to this short story. Should we press further? Lemme know. Join the special community of folks who like my stories and/or get your own here at atreon! Don't want to do an ongoing thing? You could Join my discord to chat!
