#14#TenMihara|GM##> Your dream is now replaced by a memory sequence
#14#TenMihara|GM##> The sequence in question is just a very boring day at an MAS office, doing research that doesn't seem to be going anywhere that you can figure out. You're in the body of a female unicorn.
#14Keen#> "THIS IS WEIRD"
#14Keen#> "NOPONY'S TRIED TO KILL ME. THERE'S NO ASHES OR BLOOD ANYWHERE."
#14Keen#> "ALSO, I BELIEVE I HAVE MISPLACED MY GENITALIA."
#14#TenMihara|GM##> XD
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 You emerge form the memory in a dark room. You are sitting in a chair, not bound, but slightly uncomfortable
#5Keen 's eyes flutter open like butterflies. It was so nice for a while. It was boring. He missed boring. Boring meant nopony was getting shot at. H
#5Keen e tries to do his morning yawn and stretch as usual.
#5Keen is vaguely aware, then very awfully aware, that this isn't his sister's room. In fact, he didn't much remember this room at all.
#5Keen tries to get up out of the chair with a jolt.
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 A spotlight shines on you, blinding in the previously pitch dark room
#5Keen "OW! SHIT, OFFICER! I SWEAR I DON'T-" wait this isn't jail where the hell is he "Where the hell am I?"
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 At the edges of the light, three cloaked figures step forward. You can't see their faces; the cloaks seem to unnaturally obscure their visage.
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 One of them speaks up; "You are Keen Shine correct?"
#5Keen lulls back, realizing just what had happened. Shit. "Look, I don't know anything. I'm not making anypony like that again, it was a one-time deal. If you're going to kill me, kill me and get it over with."
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 The talking figure looks aside, and the pony to his left shrugs. "Last night, you travelled up to the twenty third floor of this tower and, with the assistance of a young filly, broke into a room that had not been used since before the megaspells. Once inside, you not only rummaged through the contents, but broke into a safe and spent the night there."
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 Another of the figures speaks up; "How many of this Tower's laws do you think you broke?"
#5Keen gave a drained smirk. "I dunno, how big's the book?" Hey, if he's going to die, he's going to die a smart flank.
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 The leader shakes his head; "This is not a laughing matter. Under normal circumstances, you would have been arrested publicly, and most likely executed. The filly would have been thrown out at the very least. However, we did not publicly arrest or execute you. Why do you think that is?"
#5Keen shook his head, a headache soon developing. "I don't know. Because I'm just that pretty?" Woo woo! The snark train has no brakes!
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 There is a glow of magic and you are pressed more deeply into the chair. "Mr. Shine, we are not here to play games with you, we simply wish to know how much you know. Do you know who the previous occupant of the room you broke into was?"
#5Keen snickers. "Why bother? You're not going to believe me. You're going to think I'm some bathrobed pony who wears bright orange for the hell of it."
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 "You'd be surprised what we find to be believeable. The former occupant of that room was a mare named Shimmer. She was a high ranking researcher for the Ministry of Arcane Science. You went specifically to that room, with purpose. What we really want to know is why."
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 The trio of cloaked figures lean in towards Keen, awaiting their answer
#5Keen shakes his head and smiles. "Alright. Alright, believe this. I came there because I woke up in a fucking tube from a hundred and sixty-something years back. I was a prisoner, I have a brain aneurysm and I just wanted, just fucking wanted to die with some damn purpose. And then I woke up in that tube and the world was fucked and I just wanted to go home and sleep this off like a bad hangover....
#5Keen ...And then when they told me Cloudsdale was gone, I was fucked anyway, so I wandered around and found Hovelhoof, joined with a bunch of ponies who were stupid enough to come near me, and got the money to come here so I can see where dear old sis ended up. And then I got here, I wanted to sleep this thing off again, and then some flankfaces with a spotlight kidnapped me and won't fucking...
#5Keen ...believe me when they said they wouldn't believe me. So now, they're gonna torture me for something I can't tell them! Fucking hilarious!"
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 The lead stallion shakes his head; "This is a civil interrogation, not a tortue chamber. Now, those are some pretty bizarre circumstance." He looks to one of his companions; "Go see if there's anything in the archives about it." One of the others nods and runs off. He looks back to Keen; "However, you still haven't properly answered me. Who is Shimmer to you? Why did you seek out her room and posessions?"
#5Keen seriousfaces. "I don't need to tell you something you should've guessed by now. Keen Shine? Shimmer Shine? Siblings. She's my little filly sister."
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 The cloaked stallion is silent a moment. "Shimmer's last name is Shine. This does not strike me as coincidental, but I have seen elaborate ruses before. Let me tell you how it is: If you are who you say you are, you may be able to help us with something. If you are lying however, we will have no reason to show any leniency for the regular laws of this Tower."
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 The stallion leans in; "I take it you know who Twilight Sparkle is."
#5Keen lurches up a bit. Well. Fuck. He didn't expect that to go so well. "What? Do you want me to tell you names? What I got them for their birthdays?  My mom and dad were Radiant and Sheen Shine. I was the oldest brother. Then came Shimmer. Then came little Lustrous. Shimmer was the nerdy one of the bunch who wanted mom and dad's approval, Lustrous was more of a breakaway. Shimmer was a photomancer. Lu
#5Keen strous worked with the earth." He considered the question for a moment. "... She's that mare from Ponyville, right? The librarian that turned into the head of the MAS quick, right?"
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 The stallion nods almost impercetibly. "Yes. I asked that merely as a lead in to save some explanation. We are the Twilight Society; an organization founded in this tower after the war dedicated to recovering the work and research of the MAS, eventually with the purpose of using it to benefit the Equestrian Wasteland."
#5Keen smiled a bit. "Yeah, I saw her a couple of times. She was the one working the wingpower measure the day we were training up to send the water up to Cloudsdale. Rainbow was coaching. Kind of a bitch, that one." He realized that he should probably stop snarking at them. Eh, one more. "You're doing a great job. It's sunshine and rainbows out there, really."
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 The stallion would not look amused if you could see his face. "As it stands, we have unlocked much of the secrets of this tower, but not all of them. Shimmer, being a high ranking researcher, had her own research area that was sanctioned off by a barrier that only she was allowed through unless it was deactivated from inside. However, there is a chance that, with the way the bypass works, -you- will be able to get inside."
#5Keen hung his head. Shit. If she approached guarding her job the way she guarded her stuff when they were growing up, Keen was going to be screwed. "What do I need to do?"
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 The stallion turns on the lights in the room, setting the spotlight aside. The cloak still makes it impossible to see his face properly. "Come with us." He turns and leads to a door out of the small chamber.
#5Keen cracks his neck and wiggles his tail some. Right. Okay, if this thing doesn't work, I'll try to make a break for it. I still have my wings. I used to be a junior speedster, damn it. Okay. Follow them. You might not die. You might die pretty damn obscurely.
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 The other remaining cloaked pony falls in behind Keen, keeping him between the two of them. As they lead you through this unfamiliar area of the tower, they are rejoined by the third member from earlier. He whispers something to the lead stallion, who looks back. "It seems you at least have your facts straight Mr. Shine. Although I'm curious; the records end when the experimental stasis pod was being moved from one MoP facility to another."
#14Keen#> (to another)
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 (just ." after that)
#5Keen nods. "Yes, that's true. I woke up in the back of a transport vessel. What of it?"
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 The lead stallion nods; "Must have been on the day of the megaspells then. How long ago did you wake up?"
#5Keen sighs and scratches his chin. "Around three or four weeks ago." Really? That's all? It felt... Longer. It felt like a year, years of effort.
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 The stalion nods, and eventually they stop in front of what looks like a continuation of the hallway, albeit a short one, with only three more rooms visible further. Gesturing for Keen to pay attention, he taps a hoof against the air in front of him, which ripples and shimmers briefly. "A shield spell enhanced to remove its opacity. Didn't even know it was there until one of us walked into it a few years ago."
#5Keen smirks. "Same old Shimmer." He said, thoughtfully knocking on it twice. I miss you, filly sis. I never stopped missing you.
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 Keen's hoof passes right through the barrier as opposed to striking it. The Stallion manages to seem surprised
#5Keen snickers, then feels a bit of shock as he fell through it face-first. Well, he did expect it to hold his weight, his sister had a nasty way of throwing these things up whenever he was practicing for the speedsters when he did something to make her angry at him. It was only fair. And here she was years past that with one last prank. Luna damn it, I miss you, sis.
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 The stallion steps forward and, just to be safe, taps the barrier again with his hoof. Still solid. "Well, it looks like you -were- telling the truth. Bypass spells are imperfect, and function on genetics. Since you're a direct blood relative of Shimmer, you were admitted. Now, I would ask you to kindly find the terminal operating the barrier and deactivate it."
#5Keen smirks a little, getting behind the barrier. Leverage. "First, let me ask you a few things. Honest answers from the both of us."
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 The stallion seems to glare; "You may ask, but certain things we are not permitted to answer, but what we can we shall say truthfully."
#5Keen coughs into his hoof. Right. Answers. "First off, who are you fine fellows and what is your purpose?"
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 The stallion snorts; "We gave you that explanation already. Twilight Sparkle believed that the old war could be won through superior magic, and she came so close. Now we seek to finish her work, perhaps even one day restore Equestria through that same principle."
#5Keen half lids his eyes. "That's not what you do, that's a mission statement. What do you do on your average day-to-day lives?"
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 The stallion shrugs; "We search for the keys that will bring us closer to that goal. As it happens, you have just become one of them. Your sister's research will undoubtedly be an asset, but hers was not the only part denied to us. There are plenty of other parts of the tower we have not yet reached."
#5Keen frowns. Now comes the part where he expected lies. "What do you think you're going to find in this area?"
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 The stallion shakes his head; "I could not say. Most of the individual research areas were classified. However, you said she was a photomancer. That right there has a number of possibilities."
#5Keen would ask him to expand upon it, but he has a fairly good idea of what her sister did. After all, he's her sister. "If I do this, what happens to me?"
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 The stallion nods; "Don't forget that you violated the laws of this tower to get to this point. With your cooperation, your record will be expunged, and no action will be taken against you, the filly, or any of your companions."
#5Keen sighed. Almost good enough. But it would have to do. He couldn't risk their safety again. He trodded up down the hallway to look for any terminal.
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 The terminal is located at the far end of the hall
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 It's locked
#5Keen sighed. Of course. Time to try hacking this.
#5Keen parsed the data for clues.
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 The Stallion watched curiously from the other side of the barrier
#5Keen is actually... Rather depressed about that password. Did she just say that? Was she really still... Like that? He typed in the password- "Reisand".
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 The terminal flickers to life. There are a few encrypted research files, and a command to deactivate the barrier.
#5Keen attempts to browse through the files to see if there's any interesting topics that came up before letting the shield down.
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 The files are all encrypted beyond yoru ability to access.
#5Keen grumbled and lets the shield down already. He missed her. He wanted to know what had gone on. He knew where she'd went but... Was she okay after the divorce? After Raynor and Reisand died?
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 The stallion trots forward. "If there is nothing else, you are free to go. We shall begin our work here shortly."
#5Keen sits down, looking rather... Sad.
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 The stallion seems only slightly interested; "Yes? Do you have further concerns?"
#5Keen is a little teary-eyed. "Do... Do you know what happened to her while I was gone?" He said in a weak voice.
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 The stallion shakes his head; "She transferred out of Tenpony a few days before the end of the war, and we don't have any further records."
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 The stallion adds; "In case it wasn't obvious, you are not to speak of us to anypony else." He turns and trots away, taking the other two with him.
#5Keen is a little abashed now. "L-look. I'm sorry I was so rude. I... Well, you did kidnap me. And technically, that room would be mine since I don't think she's... Well. Among us anymore."
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 The stallion stops; "The laws of this tower do state that proprietary property is transferred to next of kin. You may use the room, but we retain the right to seize any research materials that may related to what we seek."
#5Keen frowns. "Thanks... And, well. If there's anything I can do to help. I'm a shitty doctor and... Well, a shitty hacker and a shitty shot with a beam weapon..."
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 The stallion shakes his head; "You are not a unicorn, so I doubt there is much you could do to help us. Although if you find any other MAS facilities, we would be interested in the information."
#5Keen grimaces at that. Ouch. An entire childhood in a sentence. "I... Look, do you know of any place named 'Maripony'?"
#5Keen peeked up with a hung head and bright green eyes wide. "And... And would you mind if I took a look around? It's... It's my sister's old workplace. I... I kind of want to see where she... Well, you know."
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 The stallion sighs; "You may look around, but do not remove anything... wait, did you say Maripony?" He turns to look towards Keen.
#5Keen 's ears perk up. "Yes. I did. It's where she went next."
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 The stallion grimaces, although you can't really make it out for the cloak. "Maripony was hit by a megaspell. Not only that, but Splendid Valley was used as a dumping ground for magical toxins and waste products. You don't want to go there."
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 (Was kinda hoping to have this wrapped up so you could run into them on the Elevator)
#5Keen gave him a severe look of grim determination. "Yeah. I do." He did his search, then went back into the elevator.
#14Keen#> Anything nifty?
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 Nothing you really know what to do with
#14Keen#> Any pictures of the kids?
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 although there is a small, framed picture of her family (all of them) on one table
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 You, Shimmer, Lustrous, and the nephews
#14Keen#> I'll take that.
#14#TenMihara|GM##> #3 all yours