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Bait & Switch; Archon / Jane Doe
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Topic Started: Feb 20 2015, 04:21 PM (198 Views)
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Jane Doe
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Feb 20 2015, 04:21 PM
Post #1
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The last few weeks had been interesting for Jane. She learned that a mysterious stallion in black armor had countered Shortfuse's attempts to capture Princess Twilight Sparkle. This unicorn was not working with the Equestrian government to EI-6's knowledge and was surprisingly one trot ahead of his competition at all times. Worse, the only lead Jane had to go off of was his work between Canterlot and Ponyville and that he had been killing off Shortfuse's lieutenants. Jane had the bright idea that she could pose as one of the still-living lieutenants and take on their risky mission to meet one of Shortfuse's other contacts for him.
And so here she stood, questioning her life choices and tapping her hooves nervously while taking large puffs of the cigarette in her mouth. The lieutenant she replaced was all too happy to not have to place herself in danger if it meant Jane doing it instead. A stream of curses was released with every exhale at such cowardice, but it did place Jane in an advantageous position of meeting this stallion herself.
Her appearance was currently a pegasus with a scar between her eyes, brown coat and tan mane, matching the lieutenant perfectly. While she didn't often smoke, it was a nervous habit that emerged once in a blue moon. She didn't bring Alpha along to watch her back and she was seriously questioning that decision right now. Standing at the entrance to a tunnel that ran just below street level, she kept an eye out for the unicorn in question. He wouldn't be so stupid as to attack a pegasus from any angle except one that would scare her into the tunnel, where her flight would be useless. Or such was her logic. She almost hoped Shortfuse's contact would show up so she could just leave the area and call the bait mission a loss.
"Calm down, will ya? You're making me nervous." Said one of the two generic henchponies beside her. This earth pony in particular had the gruff start of a beard and a sledgehammer on his back. "Yeah, it's like you think that stallion's gonna show up and kill us before we realize, haha. He wouldn't attack some small-times like us, so quit yer shakin'." replied the other one flippantly. This particular stallion was a unicorn as well and had a spear leaning against the wall beside him. His comment only yielded an aggravated huff from Jane before spitting out her cigarette and stomping on it. "I just want this night to be over is all." came Jane's accented voice.
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Archon
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Feb 20 2015, 05:13 PM
Post #2
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Archon leapt from rooftop to rooftop, using an invisiblity spell too not be spotted. He perched on top of a nearby building and surveyed the three ponies milling about... This is where Archon learned of Shortfuses' agent was going to show up and they did so. Archon looked over the field as one of the generic goons started to pace.
He lifted his artillery bow and magically formed the arrow, from his vantage point he could see all three... He held his breath. One. Two. Exhale. The arrow shot forth from the bow and landed into the pacing ponies side once he wandered over to his compatriot. After a moment the arrow exploded with a concussion wave. It broke all the bones in the goon's body and sent the other one not hit with hte arrow further into the wall they were leaning on, his eyes rolling up from the sudden expansion of force.
Just before the sound wore off Archon jumped down and landed in front of the lieutenant. The golden glowing eyes of his helmet heralding the drawing of his sword.
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Jane Doe
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Feb 20 2015, 05:31 PM
Post #3
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The sound of a loud crashing explosion rocked Jane's mind as she fumbled for footing afterward. She looked up as her dazed vision returned to show that her two guards had been dispatched and focused on the glowing eyes now staring at her. As she looked onward with wide eyes and tiny pupils her worst fear was confirmed; the black knight was upon her. Nervous laughter escaped her as she backed away slowly. She couldn't care less about the two goons he had just killed, but she feared he would kill her just the same. "Haha no. Nope!" she called out as she turned and jumped down the steps of the tunnel before running down its dimly-lit lengths. The tunnel would eventually lead to a large hub room that connected multiple other tunnels, where Jane would stand while looking confused as to which route to take.
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Archon
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Feb 20 2015, 05:40 PM
Post #4
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Archon look up for a moment, wondering why the pegasus just didn't fly away. He found that very odd.
He stepped into the sewer and continued on, slowly approaching Jane. "Your fate is sealed, you unwittingly cornered yourself."
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Jane Doe
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Feb 20 2015, 06:02 PM
Post #5
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Jane turned to look back at Archon, fear obvious in her eyes and her panicked, exhausted breathing. "Yeah, the sewers weren't the best idea I ever 'ad. Bad place for a grave right? Heh, look can we just talk this out? What d'ya like, tea? Whiskey? Blood of your enemies?" she rambled on nervously as she backed away from Archon slowly, leaving the center of the the room.
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Archon
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Feb 20 2015, 07:06 PM
Post #6
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Archon continued to walk closer. "Information." he responded, stopping about ten feet away.
"We'll make a trade. You tell me where the other two Princesses are or who would know other than Shortfuse and I'll let you go on your merry way." He brought his sword up to rest on his shoulder.
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Jane Doe
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Feb 20 2015, 07:24 PM
Post #7
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"Hm. Fair enough." Jane stated with more confidence than she should have for the moment. She gave a kick to an inconspicuous brick that was behind her, one of thousands that were in the walls. The brick lit up with a magical glow, quickly spreading its glow to beneath Archon almost instantly. Anything metallic on him, to include his suit of armor, would be pulled to the ground with a powerful magnetic force. Jane's smirk became evident as she approached Archon, closing the distance halfway. "I'd say Princess Cadence might have a clue. So before I can let you trot about your merry way, I want information as well~." she replied as her devious demeanor came into full view. Sadly, she wouldn't be able to draw her own weapon on Archon, since the spell would simply pull hers away, too.
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Archon
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Feb 20 2015, 07:29 PM
Post #8
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Archon's sword got pulled to the ground and soon after so was he, he managed to keep his head up, despite falling to his fore-knees.
"None of Shortfuses lackey's would have been able to pull this off. They'd also try to kill me immediately. You're a pegasus and yet your first thought is to run into the sewers, even when flying would be faster. let alone safer." Archon said his golden eyes looking up at Jane and his modulated voice, rising in pitch denoting annoyance.
"You're not a hireling at all." He concluded
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Jane Doe
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Feb 20 2015, 10:02 PM
Post #9
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Jane gave a victorious little chuckle at Archon's assessment. "Oh~? I wouldn't put it part one of Shortfuse's goons. It isn't hard to see how you're worth more alive than dead. And a magnet isn't really all that hard to figure out... But you've put me at a loss of identification you see..." she replied as she sat down and gave a fluff of her hair. For a pony with a nasty scar and gruff appearance, she seemed to show some class bleed through her mannerisms. "I'm just all sorts of curious as to who you are. Chess is a game for two sides, but then you put your own piece on the board and neither player truly knows your motives. It's maddening really. Won't you be a dear and give a lady your name?" she asked him sweetly.
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Archon
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Feb 20 2015, 10:29 PM
Post #10
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Archon hummed a bit as if in thought and then looked at Jane.
"Who I am?" Archon asked, raising his chin a bit. "I'm Archon." He answered with an honest inflection.
"So, fairs fair. Who're you? Nevermind. I think I already know: Jane. "
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Jane Doe
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Feb 20 2015, 11:59 PM
Post #11
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Jane's smug expression was lost immediately upon hearing her name. She hated hearing it from anypony that dared whispered it in her presence. Even more so when she didn't know who was speaking. Her lost expression morphed into a glare. A green magical field melted her wings away and soon her horn reappeared in place of the scar. She did not change any of her other features, though. "What a good guess. So that puts you on a very short list of ponies of who you could be Archon. Let's reveal the mystery behind the mask, hm?" she stated with some scorn as her horn lit up. She then attempted to remove Archon's helmet.
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Archon
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Feb 21 2015, 12:12 AM
Post #12
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Jane would find that the helmet wouldn't budge and that it was actually connected, seamlessly to the rest of the armor.
"So I see I was right. So, lets take a step back. You work for EI:6, and you've trapped me because you know I 'kidnapped' Princess Twilight Sparkle. The truth is Shortfuse attacked the Princess with the help of a as of now unnamed Traitor Duskblade." he explained and used his considerable bulk to stand straight despite the magnet.
"I'm on your side and I represent a group who supercede's your authority. In fact..." he trailed off "I'm ordering you to follow the Eclipse Protocol."
Edited by Archon, Feb 21 2015, 12:49 AM.
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Jane Doe
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Feb 21 2015, 01:12 AM
Post #13
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Jane huffed at her failed attempt to remove the helmet, glaring at Archon. She had a solid ten minutes to get it off and perhaps more physical means would be required. She trotted off down one of the tunnels as he spoke. "Keep talking~." she called out as she seemingly retrieved something. His news of Duskblade piqued her interest, but none so much as finding out who Archon really was. As she returned to find him impressively standing in place she sported a sizeable boulder, with the obvious intention of dropping it on Archon. Which he almost did, if he didn't spit out the words she hated second only to her name.
She froze in place and a pure hatred welled up inside her. She knew what those words meant and that she was now powerless over the situation. Whoever Archon was, he had some serious pull on Equestrian government. She grit her teeth and her eyes twitched with anger, but she nonetheless dropped the boulder somewhere other than on Archon's head. "Who are you?" she yelled as she tossed the boulder into a magical line on the wall, severing its connection and breaking the magnetic hold on Archon. She felt like a child scorned, unable to do anything when the answers lied before her. "I'm tired of not knowing things! Shortfuse showed up with his own damn agenda and now Alpha isn't even telling me what the hell is going on..." she replied, turning her face to hide her scared expression.
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Archon
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Feb 21 2015, 01:34 AM
Post #14
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Archon stepped over to Jane, rolling his shoulder now that the magnetic pull was gone.
"I know how you feel, I really do." He said as he put a hoof on Jane's shoulder.
"Suffice to say that I AM Archon and that is all you need to know about me." He said before taking a step back.
"Heres what I will tell you though. Princess Twilight is safe and sound and is currently directing my efforts to oust Shortfuse. His grip is rather tight however so we need him to mess up, make mistakes. So that way the common ponies will support a rebellion. There is no other way to remove the power form the house of lords." He explained turning around and looking at the sky.
"If you seek out the Prince of Whinns you'll get far more operation knowledge than asking me. I'm a scalpel, Jane. I cut out the dying flesh. I had thought of eliminating you: what after the assassination of Marshal Solaris, but I can see that isn't necessary." He turned back around.
"If you want to know what I am, just look throughout Equestrian History. Of warlords who suddenly die only after they are on the cusp of threatening Equestria. Or of foreign politicians that promote violence against Equestrian citizens. Every single one disappears or is found dead with nary an explanation. Then you'll understand exactly who and what you're dealing with."
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Jane Doe
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Feb 21 2015, 09:24 AM
Post #15
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Jane flinched when Archon put his hoof to her shoulder. It was obvious that the spy had seen better days of self-control and maintaining her cool. She listened to Archon speak to her without her looking back at him. She even shivered a bit at the talk of him ousting her. Right now there was nothing she could do to him and she once more felt powerless in the grand scheme of things. She gave quiet sigh before composing herself and looking back to Archon. "I will seek out the Prince of Whinns and offer my aid in removing Shortfuse. I shall tell him that Archon sent me, but... If I've any good guess, assuming that Wit kept his sardonic mouth shut about my name... you're a pony who should have stayed dead. But it isn't my place to know these things, is it? I'll just do as I'm told again." she replied, looking off to another direction.
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