High Crimes: Manehatten

Charon's hoof-falls sounded along the cobbled alley ground. The tracking charm the Diamond Dogs had taken now pulled him to their base. A sweet song, audible only to those channeling magic, sung in the paws of some gang member. Charon whistled to it's tune as he paced towards it.

The mission was simple: he was to infiltrate their lair, and try to locate the horse-napped business ponies likely held there. One, an owner of a long-established freight transport service, had been missing for days. Were he to "disappear", nothing could stop the Dogs from seizing it. How Snakes had come to know this was beyond him, but he suspected that Snakes had eyes-and-ears around the city. More importantly, it was up to Charon to free everypony.

The tune changed in pitch and tempo right in front of an old apartment complex. The charm was inside, and hopefully so were the they. He became a shadow, gliding to the dimly lit front door. A quick test of the knob surprised him; it was unlocked. He moved into a empty hallway of chipping paint and moldy smells.

Sounds of normal life came from floors above - the Dogs had kept this a well-hidden secret from the tenants, then. Jazz floated down from the stairwell, mixing with the tune sung by the charm. Up a floor, the Dogs had taken their spoils. Keeping watch around him, Charon ascended.

The music he heard entering was a live band, playing behind a propped door. The sound of soft applause, cheers, and clinking glass emanated as well. A quick peek and Charon was in, blending with the club's regulars. He pulled his hat low as he found a seat. Dark wood covered every surface - lit by soft lamps to hold back the gloom. The smell of cider was think and strong where he sat. If he weren't on a mission...

The night crowd was mostly made up of ponies. A few Unicorns were tending the bar, and the band was led by a Pegasus on the trumpet. Diamond Dogs were present all around, but none were recognizable from earlier. Some of these shuffled through a door in the back. The charm lured him that direction as well - this club was a pleasant front for the gang.

In a moment when the band hit up a rousing climax, Charon slipped through into the back rooms. Wood floor gave way to carpets, muffling the sound of his hooves. He followed turns in the passage, avoiding the sound of paws and growling. A peculiar smell filled these halls, coming from what sounded like kitchens.

The charm gave out one last burst to say it was close. It was a door to an office or suite, emblazoned with a large gemstone. Behind it he could expect lots of the Dogs, and hopefully clues to where the hostages were kept. Holding a steady breath, he -

"Is Sompony lost?

A lone Dog stood behind him, blocking his escape. The hallway stood empty though; now was the best time to try some tricks Snakes taught him. A quick buck, just below the ribs, brought them eye-to-eye. Charon pounded the side of the neck just so: the Dog crumpled into early dreams. Carrying him away was a bit more of a problem, but Charon fit him inside a storeroom.

Behind him he heard more Dogs waddle through the hallway. Their raspy, uneven voices carried through. "... boss moving a whole pack out of the city for a big raid!"

The other barked out a laugh. "It beats sticking here, tending our prisoners..."

The voices faded as they left earshot. Charon pulled up behind them, softly padding in their wake. They opened the room where the charm lay (a small antechamber with a reception desk) and proceeded through the door behind. On the desk lay the Mortician's bag of tools, a pouch of bits, the charm, and assorted pieces of trash. All but the last Charon collected, before the sounds of a struggle snapped him alert.

In the next room, the Diamond Dogs were carrying a Mare hog-tied. She tried to scream through the gag, but only muffled sobs came out as they lugged her back. Her mane was unkempt from a long confinement, and one eye was swollen shut. The Dogs lifted her up on a pole, growing as they moved.

"Another one for the kitchens... I'll buy a drink for who thought of this!"

"A little sweet for me, but very tender." The second Dog licked his lips, almost drooling as they marched out of the room. Charon pulled his head out from under the desk - his make-shift cover. He watched as they marched to the kitchens...

They were eating the hostages?!

Charon's body shook, in spasms that increased in ferocity. Shrieks of pain echoed in his head as he was pulled back into an abyss of horror.

Fire lept from his surroundings, burning away his coat and tearing his eyes with smoke. He choked on the depleted air as he tore through fallen beams of timber. Coals fell in his face and mane: moving forward was an inferno that flared as he moved ahead.

He tore through a smoldering wall to see his parents trapped on a blocked staircase. He screamed as he rushed to pull away the wreckage. Ash exploded from beneath him, hurling down through floor after floor...

Soft halls encased him now, hooves bound together in front of him. Time ran away from him, leaving only horror and pain. Ponies in white coats pulled him through a nightmare with howls of laughing and weeping following his steps. Lightning arced through his body as they tried to cure him, but all he could hear were screams...

All of this swept through Charon's mind as he shook. His bag of tools lay open in front of him, and cold steel reflected wild eyes...

Charon bolted out of his bed, still shaking. A presence placed a cold cloth on his head, and filled his hooves with a steaming drink. He sputtered on the hot cider as the room settled back into the soft buzz of a city night. A fuzzy outline resolved into Snakes. A look of concern softened his eyes, slightly, and he eased the Unicorn back into bed. The green stallion hung by the doorway for a moment, just long enough for a soft whisper to catch him.

"Snakes, I-I can't go back. It'd be too much, and I - "

Returning to the bedside, he gazed into Charon's eyes. Fear, genuine terror glazed over the pupils. Snakes sighed, "There's only one way to beat back those memories."

He sat down, momentarily placing a front hoof over Charon's head and chest. " You have to fight back here, and here. Nothing will hurt worse, or be more difficult, but I need you here."

"Why?" This question caught Snakes off guard. "Of all the ponies who would have joined you, why come and find me?"

Silence stretched as the older pony thought. Moonlight outlined a face that was as still as stone. Finally, Snakes grunted.

"That is something you need to learn yourself, but I also can trust you. Keep that head clear and you will shape up to be a dependable stallion. You are the pony I need if you decide to be. Now, get some sleep."

Charon was left alone again, but this time felt anything but. His dreams could not touch him that night: he shoved them away for the night. He had a mission, in the morning.

Outside the room, Snakes poured over street maps and the scroll he carried with him constantly. The Dogs had taken the transportation service like he had feared. Their next move was clearing out a warehouse on the bayfront, likely to open up a black market connection.

Charon would fit the mission nicely, but he could not send him alone again. Reading through the list of names, one agent stuck out. He would be a good eye for the younger pony, in the meantime.