Dark Star starts has embarked in a new venture - infiltrating cells of leftwing radicals at a local university.
>>149919Silver nods.
"We will talk later then. Ready to go, Mala?"
>>149920“Yes.” Mala looks up towards Silver, standing by his heel
>>149921And thus, the pair leave through the front door, walking towards the bar where he met Cauldron. At least, until they can flag down a taxi.
>>149925Walking outside, there is a strong, chill wind blowing north from the bay. In the short time Silver has been inside, the temperature has fallen even further to something more appropriate to Winter than Baltimare typically provides. As the pair walks west towards the city, no taxi is forthcoming - not that taxis are particularly numerous in Cherry Hill in the morning.
>>149926"Winter Cold. This is time when thick coats of fur are most useful, like what you and I have."
>>149927Mala nods, smiling. It's colder than Silver has ever felt in Baltimare before. And yet it's hardly cold at all, and Mala is no more bothered than Silver. He walks along at a fast pace, sometimes pulling in front of Silver, and sometimes waiting for the stallion.
>>149928"Are there any types of jobs in particular you would like, by way? We are going to be partners, after all."
>>149929Mala moves his eyes up towards Silver
"It's probably best to... keep it simple" he says, moving his eyes back to look where he is walking
>>149930"Simple. We can do simple. We may have to take dangerous jobs sometimes, in order to make more money. Is that okay with you?"
Do I have to tell you again that (You) are a cute pony?
Spark should be back tomorrow.
>>149939Hello!
wavesThe last reply to Dark Star was
>>149860>>149932gaspsN-no u!
>>149917Spark heads over to the doctor.
>>149941The doctor turns to look at Spark
"Oh, you're back?"
>>149942“Yep. How are things here?”
>>149943"Well, we got in contact with the doctors. They did a first surgery to remove growth over night, and he's recovering this morning."
>>149944“When will be good to head back?”
>>149945“For who to head back? You, me, and the other two?”
>>149946“Yes, but also when Miskobag will be. I realize he will be here a while, but we will need to get him out of here.”
>>149947Looking up and away, almost joyfully.
“Oh, well after a surgery like that - it’s quite invasive - they usually give the patient time to recover. Could be a couple days.”
He pauses, and looks down at Spark with wide open eyes, lips pulled slightly back to show teeth, and ears straight up and forward.
“Do we… do we need to leave sooner than that?”
>>149948“He should be fine to stay, but it would be best for us to leave. Wellspring is resistance.”
>>149950“……”
He pauses a little longer
“Is that what she said?”
>>149951“Yep. Which explains why there are changelings scouting for here.”
>>149952His ears fall down
“WELL GET HER AWAY FROM HERE BEFORE THEY COME BACK!”
>>149953“We need to move out in unison. They would be less suspicious if we move and they don’t find her at all.”
>>149954“Oh… okay… what, what, what are you going to do about the older wolf? And the two big ones that are younger? And where is she going? Where am I going? [unintelligible]…”
>>149955“We will head back to the forest, then I will set up a meeting with the resistance to pick her up.”
>>149956“Oh-okay…” he quiets down somewhat
>>149957“Besides, hanging out in a city full of changelings isn’t exactly the greatest way to spend our time.”
>>149958“….. When do we leave?” He asks
>>149949"Yeah..." She turns her head down, but her eyes still up and making contact with Solar Night's, her lips pulled back and showing her teeth and fangs, and her wings spread in part.
>>149991"Everything doesn't seem ok,miss nadir"
>>149992“It’s just…” she looks away
“I feel a little… less than them, sometimes…” she looks down and away from from Solar Night’s face, though possibly into his fur.
>>149993"aww Nadir, you are just as Good as they are. Everypony is equal."
>>149994She looks up, and gives a weaker smile.
“Are you sure? Because I often feel less so…”
>>149995He pats her back
"Of Course,Miss nadir. you are a Great pony."
He gives her a hug
>>149996Nadir leans in, letting Dark Star hug her. With her velvety, webbed wings open, it’s a little difficult to wrap himself around her, and he’s likely to get a face full of batwing regardless. She makes a strange high pitched squeaking sound, which at least sounds content.
She closes her eyes, smiles, and places her left hoof on Dark Star’s shoulder.
>>149997>>149996“Thank you… and, and… so are you.” She says
>>149997>>149998"I Appreciate you saying so,Miss Nadir."
>>149999Blue Skies is still best pony“Do you, um… do you want to tell me more about you?”
She pulls her lips back in an awkward smile, again showing her small fangs
>>150000Checked and correct"Well sure i can. what did you want to know in particular?"
>>150001She looks down and to the left again, and her ears momentarily pop down.
"Do you ever... not feel like a great pony?" She asks, and moves her eyes up almost as if peaking behind cover
>>150004Moving her muzzle up, she asks,
"But why though? You are nice, very nice, and you are able to attend the university, like the other ponies with money and talent. What do you lack?"
>>150005"Im not very athletic. and im not Good at a lot of things. for example that dart game earlier."
>>150006"Heh." This makes her smile
"And I'm not a very good flier..."
She again raises her wings somewhat.
>>150007"Oh im sure you are,miss nadir. i bet you can beat any pegasi in a race."
>>150008She smiles, lowers her ears, and half turns her head
"I don't... I don't think I could."
She continues blushing
"What brings you to the university?"
>>150009"Ah you should give yourself more credit,miss nadir."
He Adjusts his Glasses
"The pursuit of knowledge."
>>150010She smiles a bit more warmly, making eye contact
"What knowledge are you looking for? I don't understand much of it. But it seems so impressive, like what that stallion said earlier tonight."
>>150011he smiles as well
"Well any kind of Knowledge in General. but im looking for something a little......Esoteric."
>>150012Her ears twitch, and then focus on him, and she tilts her head
"Esoter..ish? What does that mean?"
>>150013"Esoteric means Hidden Knowledge. knowledge the masses wouldn't be interested in or wouldn't care to know. Knowledge they most likely couldn't handle."
>>150014"So... Not for me?" She asks, seeming a little confused
>>150015"Well Of course it could be for you."
He adjusts his glasses again
"But its not for every creature. they might not like what they find."
He thinks about the Book he found at the estate. with the cosmic entities
>>150016She blinks, and both ears double their focus on Dark Star. She moves slightly closer
"What do you mean?"
>>150017He Grins
"Oh you know, Stuff about the True nature of the World. and beings that may or may not have control over our lives."
>>150018The smile fades as her eyes widen. Her lips narrow
"Why would somecreature not want to know that? Isn't that what June was talking about. You know, gain power through knowledge?"
>>150019"Well i find."
He takes a sip of his beer
"Some Creatures have a...willful ignorance when it comes to these types of things. and yes it is similar to what june was talking about."
>>150020Her right ear twitches. He most definitely has her full attention
"Go on..."
>>149959"We will leave once everypony is ready. We will have to make a return trip for Miskobag if it will take days to get him out of care."
>>150038“Oh… alright. Well then. Just… tell me what you want to do with the older wolf. Err… Miskobag.”
>>150039"Well, we are going to pick him up and take him back home once he has recovered. So make sure he is well cared for for when we come back. If all goes well, it shouldn't be long."
>>150040"Okay.... Well, get her out of here." He says
>>150041Spark heads back to Wellspring.
>>150043Wellspring has once again made herself comfortable on the living room couch, albeit on the smaller loveseat opposite the main sofa, and by the closed blinds of the streetwise windows. She keeps her eyes on Spark as she silently watches him approach.
>>150044"Well, are you going to be ready to head out?"
>>150045“Yes.” She says. “I have what I could save.”
>>150046"I don't suppose there is a prescribed way to contact other members once we make it out of the city, is there?"
>>150021"Well, upon my travels i may have come into the possession of a certain book that describes Equestria's ancient past and Some Supernatural Cosmic beings"
>>150048She sits upright on the sofa, with her forelegs next to her body, and both of her cat-like eyes focused on Dark Star. She listens with the wonder of a child.
"You, you did? What did it say?"
>>150047"There's a safe word they have... But they change it every few days. You can ask around. But they are always looking for informants. I had a token... but it was taken..." She looks away.
>>150049Dark Star searches his bag for it
>>150049"Do you know where there is a typical meeting grounds at? Surely they frequent certain places if they look for informants?"
>>150058Well, it still exists, so maybe he still can. It just won't be in his bag. What will Dark Star do instead?>>150057"Well... I may know a ranch out of town that has some ponies who know some ponies."
>>149931"Dangerous is alright. But.... What will others think of what we do?" He asks, looking up at Silver
>>150050>>150061Looking in his bags, Dark Star does not find it. It was among those that survived the fire, he is sure. But Blue Skies has it, or had it.
Nadir listens intently as Dark Star tries to describe the contents
>>150064"Well a group of unicorns called beings known as the outer ones from beyond the stars,and made a deal with them."
>>150067Nadir moves her head in closer towards Dark Star, mouth partly open
"Unicorns did that? 'Outer Ones?'"
>>150059"That's a good start. Where at?"
>>150069"Outside of the city. Somewhere north and east, I think."
>>150068"Yes,that's exactly correct. From what i remember there goal was the Domination of all pony kind. they come from beyond our moon.They assumed them to be gods, but from what i read they turned out to be devils."
>>150071Her mouth comes open, and her wings unfold more so, tilting down below the couch on her right, and hitting the side of the couch with her right.
"Are they... gone now?" She asks
>>150070"Sounds like a good place to begin."
Spark looks for the others.
>>150074They are all nearby. Makade is near Spark, while Waabishki and Petal are in the kitchen. Ply Press has gone to Petal
>>150072"From what i read, i believe they are....although. they can still be contacted."
>>149904Iron ensures to nod along at all of Cauldron's somewhat blatant lies just to make the trip smoother for everypony involved.
>>150076She blinks, and then looks down
"My mother would tell me things... She says her clan would contact spirits... in the mountain pools when the moonlight hits them. Spirits that live on the moon, or the moon itself. They would call to them, and give sacrifice."
>>150077She stops at the Watering Hole, and if Iron desires it he is alone with White Sands for a period of maybe 5 minutes. Then she comes back, and directs the the taxi to "Union Station." Iron exits in front of a beige stone, tall, neoclassical building with brass lined doors and revolving doors on the side, and great Doric columns lining the entry level, which is accessed through a flight of stone steps almost a building story tall.
>>150075Spark goes to get Waabishki.