Digital Waltz

(Twilight)


"You heard my demands didn't you?" the man sighed and bit off the apple: "We were soldiers. Warriors of Soren, long before the Union even existed.

We fought, bled and died for our country. We lost our friends, our lives... our limbs...

Soren promised to take care of us. They promised us free healthcare. Cybernetic limbs, to replace the old ones. And so on.


But once we came home from the front, it all turned out to be a hoax. We didn't get a damned thing. And the cybernetics they installed, turned out to be faulty. We began to suffer from Tilerium poisoning. That's the stuff they lace cybernetics with, to allow you to control them with your mind.


Ever seen Tilerium poisoning? People loose strength. Loose health. Loose their ability to work.
Can't pay the bills. Find themselves on the streets. Then slowly started to huddle together in the sewers below Adelheid.


In short. We want our lives back. We want what was promised to us" the man frowned: "And we're not about to back down"



Kaylee, who sat quietly this whole time, suddenly called in a hushed voice: "I've... I've never heard of Tilerium poisoning before.."


"Not surprised" the man swallowed what remained of the apple: "Its not exactly a juicy story that Soren would want people to know"

Moon sighed and slowly approached the woman, crouching down to her level. "Hello?" She asked quietly before turning to the driver and mouthing 'piss off' at him.

(Everyone)


The driver waved his hand in frustration and returned to his car.


The woman continued to sit on the ground, shielding her head: "This isn't real. This world isn't real. Its not... no no no no no..." she quietly mumbled, hiding her head in her knees.

(Arnold)

When he gets close enough, he holds out his hand. "Greetings, citizen! I hate to interrupt your activity, but you're kinda blocking the way. Would you kindly come with me to somewhere off this road? Don't worry, I won't hurt you, on my honor."

(Twilight)

"I was kinda knocked out by you before I could hear it, thank you very much."

She then rested her fingers on her chin, as far as she could. "I never heard of it either, but I suppose it's possible. After all, it's still a metal, with all possible complications."

Her face then became a scowl. "But it seems the thread did come from underground. Not by the remnants of a dead terrorist, but by it's own people, demanding healthcare for their services in battle?"

She then turns to the other hostages. "Is this how the politics in the Union are played?"

(Everyone)


"Who cares.. its just a dream.." the woman slowly looked up at you. Her eyes slightly red, hazy.

She suddenly got up and walked off to the side. There was an underpass, located just under the road. The distance downward was significant. Well over 15 meters drop.

The woman drifted towards the edge of the road and started climbing over the guard rail.


"Hey, hey what are you doing!" Tomas screamed out and rushed towards her.


"All I have to do is jump off.." the woman quietly said: "That's how you wake up right?... if you die in your dream, you wake up... that's how it works.. right?" she already climbed over the fence and was holding on to it, as she stood on the edge and looked down at the 15 meter drop below her.
















(Twilight)


"No! Gods no.." a woman in a suit called with concern: "The Union spans the entire globe. A joined economy means more money for everyone. More budget, to do things we could not do before.
Lower costs of academic education. A higher minimum wage. Better healthcare programs.

The Union can fully afford proper cybernetic limbs for its soldiers. I don't understand how something like this could have happened. This is the first I've heard of it.

Not to mention, faulty cybernetics that poison their patients. No complaints ever reached my desk. I would've known."



The woman looked at the elderly pegasus with concern: "...But, if you claim there's been some sort of... problem or.. miscommunication.. we'll gladly review all the details and I assure you, we can afford proper medical care for all of you"



"Aha.." the elderly pegasus nodded. His expression seems cynical.

Moon slowly followed her and climbed over the fence, one arm grabbing the fence and the other reaching out and grabbing her arm "This isn't a dream. You can't wake up from reality."

(Everyone)


"This.. can't be.. reality.." the woman slowly said. Her desperate gaze slowly scanning the horizon:

"..buildings like these, don't exist...... these cars look weird... these... everything..."

She slowly looked down, trying to suppress her tears: "I... don't understand..."

"Neither do I" she admitted quietly "I don't understand technology at all. It scares me. It's not a dream, it's just a change." Moon said "But I assure you, this is reality."

Violet slowly approches the girl, she slowly guides her away from the edge, "this is as real as it gets sister..." she whispers her arms carefully wrapping around the unknown mares back, her golden eyes and her voice came out gentle and caring, "this is the first time i'm seeing this as well sister... It doesn't feel real... But it is..." she says in a calm almost motherly tone.

(Oboro)

"Oh great, she's delirious. And the two talking her out of it are... Technophobes?!"

She took off of the ground, flying to the mare. She hung under her, so she would catch her in case she did jump. She also mumbled under her breath.

"Geez, what a great fucking day."

(Arnold)

He got as close as he could, as long as it didn't spook her. He then began to talk.

"If this place is new to you, foreign, or strange, running away won't work. Jumping of that ledge will not wake you up. But there is something what can be done."

He took one step closer. "There are some good people here, they can help you understand this place. They can explain to you what this all is. They'll do it gladly for anyone."

Another step closer. "All we need of you, is that you come back over this ledge, so we can talk. Please, don't run away."

(Twilight)

A scowl was on her face. Clearly, her mood was not improving.

"I had a feeling that the Union was like this. When something becomes complicated, they'd get rid of it."

She looked at the man who was pushing the invasion order so hard. "So what's your... excuse?" Her tone was dangerous.

(Everyone)


The woman slowly looked at everyone, suppressing her tears, then looked at the horizon again:

"...this... world... feels fake..." she slowly looked at her open palms: "...this body feels fake...
How can all of this be real?"

She closed her eyes, desperately trying not to cry: "...I don't know where I am... I can't remember how I got here... I don't understand what's happening!.."



Tomas grimaced and pressed his hand on the earpiece. His quiet voice echoed in your ears:

"...this is bad... she's suffering from 'De-personalisation' and 'De-realization' disorder. Its a mental disorder where a patient feels as if his body is not his own, as if he's in a dream. And the reality is perceived as fake.
She needs help, we need to get her off the ledge-"


He stopped before he finished his sentence, as the woman gingerly looked at everyone and slowly took hold of their hands, gently stepping over the fence again and moving away from the edge of the road.

She seemed scared and confused, but a little calmer now. She kept twisting her head left and right, looking at the cars, the TV addboards and an occasional airplane that passed high above.

Her expression was confused and miserable. After a moment she called:

"..w-..where.. am I?.."

(Twilight)


The man in the suit scowled back at you: "Oh please. Spare me your anti-Union babble. You'd pick up any excuse to support your opinion. You're so biased against the Union, I'm surprised you're not self aware.

Fact of the matter is, my father fought in the Soren skirmishes. Somehow he received proper healthcare. And even if it was insufficient back then, it changed once the Union was established. We have the budget and the means to support our wounded soldiers and it is our moral obligation to do so.
And if you don't believe that I am uniquely invested in this, because of my father, you don't have to look any further than your friend here-"


The man looked at Kaylee and frowned at her: "Captain! Nothing to contribute? How are you registered in the Union healthcare system?"


Kaylee became grim: "...I am registered with a disability.."

"And what disability is that, Captain?" the man pressed.

"...I lost my leg in the line of service" Kaylee stiffly replied.

"But Captain, I don't understand" the man feigned ignorance: "I saw you walking on two legs this morning"

"...The Union provided me with a prosthetic" Kaylee replied: "...Tilerium laced. The newest model on the market. Allows the host to control his limb with his thoughts. A perfect synergy. It feels like a normal leg. I.. don't limp anymore"

"That sounds like a very pricey product" the man pressed: "I believe it costs thousands of credits. Captain Brown, how much did you pay for it?"

"...I didn't" Kaylee replied: "...the Union gave it for free. As part of the soldiers healthcare plan, each year, the Union provided me with the newest prosthetic model on the market, since I lost my leg in the line of duty.
Even when my old prosthetics would be blown up or damaged during combat, the Union provided me with new ones, ahead of time. And if I had to pay for the spare ones, it was pocket change for a soldier"


The man in the suit looked at you with a very annoying smile: "...Case. And. Point.
Somehow the Captain didn't end up homeless in the sewers and she never even heard of this Tilerium poisoning.
To be frank, I don't believe a single word this man said" he scowled at the hostage taker:

"We sent 50 different scouts into the sewers and they all reported the same thing - The Disciples of Marek are there, and they're planning an attack.

Unless you want to suggest that all 50 of them lied? Why the hell would they do that?"



The elderly pegasus smiled: "...now that, is a good question. Why would 50 different people, lie"

"Adelheid" she replied, keeping hold of her hand "Don't worry, it's a perfectly nice place." Moon said, smiling a little. Her other hand was twitching a little as she looked up at the sky.

(Everyone)


"Adelheid???" The woman asked in complete shock: "This is Adelheid?"

She looked up at the skyscrapers again, scanning the horizon. Her expression was puzzled, confused:

".. no... way.... it.. can't be.." she quietly said, staring at the skyscrapers in confusion.



"Ma'am?" Tomas quietly called. He came a bit closer and slightly bowed:
"My name is Sergeant Tomas Köhler. I'm a police officer of the Adelheid P.D.
Could you please tell us your name, ma'am?"


"Right, um.." the woman nodded and looked down, struggling with something:
"My.. name is.. um... its..... uum..." her expression slowly turned worried, then panicked: "I... can't remember...
I can't remember my name!.... Why can't I remember!.." she looked at you. Fear beginning to vividly reflect in her eyes.

Violet takes her hand, "calm sister." she nods, "you may not remember your name now but you might remember later. Calm down for now hun." she says continuing to comfort her.

(Arnold, Oboro)

Oboro flew back up and landed, folding her wings back in. Thinking she wouldn't jump now, she let them take care of it. In the meantime, she was looking for the 31st on the Victory street.

She keeps looking around. "Damn it, where is that Jane... Doe..."

As it dawned upon her, she turned back to the situation with the hysterical lady.

".... You gotta be kidding me."

(Twilight)

Twilight looks unconvinced at the arguments made about the prosthetic. "I guess pointing out the holes in that argument is a waste of time. Let's focus on the news at hand."

She gave a look to the man taking them hostage. "50 witnesses is quite a lot. When it comes to that, it's not a human error. It's a systematic error. So who's been pulling the wool over our eyes?"

(Naomi)
"And to think that some would still call her a bloodsucker," Naomi commented to Mira, keeping her voice quiet enough so the frightened mare wouldn't hear "I'm just glad it was us that showed up"

(Twilight)


"That's a very good question" the man smiled: "...I urge you to save it for later.

You see, it doesn't really matter what I say to you now. Without evidence, my words are just wind. Countless other men will come here, after I'm gone, and they will twist and turn my words, until it fits their fairy tale.
They will present their own facts and their own witnesses and once they're done, everything I have said will be discredited to the point of hilarity.


No. I'm gonna wait, until I have evidence to back my words. And I'm gonna make you see it. With your own two eyes. Not through a piece of paper that someone else wrote.

And then, I will tell you, who pulled the wool over your eyes"



Kaylee was looking at him with a very strange expression: "...who are you" she quietly called.

"...Clopin" the man slightly smirked.

"...is that.. an alias?" Kaylee called.

"Obviously" Clopin shifted in place, taking a more comfortable position on the desk: "Now, if you'll excuse me, your friends need instructions" he smirked and picked up the radio.

As he did, you noticed that he both had an earpiece, and a portable radio box.
Why he needed two different radios was unclear.


Clopin picked up the portable radio and began speaking into it. As he did, you could hear the person on the other side as well:

"...I see you found Jane" Clopin said, grinning.

"How did you-..." someone replied through the radio.

"...I've told you" Clopin smirked: "I have eyes everywhere.
Now, your next objective - escort Jane Doe to Doctor Zarovee's cybernetic lab.
You must guard Jane with your life. If any harm comes to her, if she dies... well... there will be dire consequences. Do you understand?"


"Dr. Zarovee's lab?" someone repeated: "That's on the other end of town. And with the electricity out in 30 blocks, there will be traffic jams. It may take one or two hours to get there by car"


"Then you better get going, sunshine" Clopin smirked and placed down the radio.

















(Everyone)


The woman looked at Violet and slightly nodded: "Okay... okay.." she nodded a few times, calming down.


As you look around, you notice you're only a few dozen meters away from the 31st building on Victory Street.


Mira slightly nodded to Naomi: "...yeah.. no kidding" she said, then suddenly frowned and gasped a little, despite herself:
"Uuuhh... guys?..." Mira called, pointing to back side of the unknown woman's head.


As you follow Mira's line of sight, you suddenly notice that the unknown woman had some sort of a metal part, inside the back of her head.

It looked like a socket for a Neurochip. But the Neurochip was absent.

You've seen so many videos on the news, explaining how the Neurochips work and where they are installed, it was impossible to mistake it for anything else.


At some point, this woman had a Neurochip. And at some point, it was removed.


The woman looked around in mild confusion, trying to get a read on you: "...w-..what?
Is something wrong?"


Tomas raised his hands in a calming manner: "Ma'am, could you tell us the last thing you remember"


"I.." the woman looked down, visibly struggling: "I can't... I can't remember anything.."

"Amnesia.." Tomas quietly said with a pained expression.

"What??" The woman called, her expression panicked again: "Why do I have Amnesia? What happened to me?"




At that moment, your radio earpiece suddenly went off, and a quiet raspy voice ringed in your ear:

"...I see you found Jane" Clopin said. You could almost see him grinning.

Tomas looked around the street, then pressed on his earpiece: "How did you-..." Tomas stopped and looked up. There was a security camera, hanging from one of the light poles.
the camera was directed right at you.


"...I've told you" Clopin audibly smirked: "I have eyes everywhere.
Now, your next objective - escort Jane Doe to Doctor Zarovee's cybernetic lab.
You must guard Jane with your life. If any harm comes to her, if she dies... well... there will be dire consequences. Do you understand?"


"Dr. Zarovee's lab?" Tomas repeated: "That's on the other end of town. And with the electricity out in 30 blocks, there will be traffic jams. It may take one or two hours to get there by car"


"Then you better get going, sunshine" Clopin called over the radio.



The unknown woman looked at you in mild confusion: "...who are you talking to?.."

(Naomi)
"You can call him your guardian angel, he was the one who let us know you were in trouble" Naomi smiled to the woman "And like us, he cares for your safety"

(Serena)
"Let's see if we can't find a quicker way through this," Serena already had several lines of code written out on her tablet "I'm going to use traffic statistics for the year, the van's GPS, and the camera's around town to find us a faster route through this power outage."

(Everyone)


"My g-... what?" the woman asked in confusion.

"Ma'am" Tomas called: "I know you probably don't remember, but do you know anyone named Clopin?

"No" The woman shook her head in confusion: "....Clopin.. what an odd name.." she fell into thought.

"Umm..." Tomas uneasily began: "Since we.. don't really know your name... will it be okay if we call you Jane, for now?"


The woman looked at Tomas and shrugged a little: "Um.. okay.. I think... So um, w-where are we going?"



Serena's tablet sent out a little alert message, letting you know that the optimal route has been found and set into the GPS.

"Let's get going." Moon said, scanning the area for threats. "We shouldn't stick around for too long, don't know what could happen." She kept close to Jane, a concerned expression on her face.

(Arnold, Oboro.)

The mare pinched the bridge of her nose. "Really? Jane Doe is a Jane Doe in every sense?" A sigh escapes her mouth. She turned to the group.

"Okay, since our next objective is that doctor, who has a ton of work ahead of him, should someone go ahead to to warn him? A lot will be coming his way soon."

Arthur nods. "I shall go then. Though I may need someone to guide me, in case I get lost."

(Twilight)

She leaned backwards, a bit annoyed.

"Right, later... I could go for a smoke."

Violet fidgits with the baton, "i can go as well... I might be able to offer my services as well! I took medical classes back when i lived in the city... I still remember it quite fondly. Nyx being newly built... A fantastic new start to the batpony race! Of course... Under the iron hoof of our opressors but it wasn't THAT bad... I got a farm and sure they took half of my goods, i never got payed for that half and some verbal and sometimes physical abuse... Sure it was shit but at least we weren't enslaved." she held her calm and gentle tone during her whole shpeal about her past in the nyx, "oh... Im rambling again... So sorry mas-" she stops herself and clears her throat, "guys..." she takes a deep breath and lets it out slow.

(Everyone)


As you look around, you notice quite a lot of people looking at you from the sidewalk. A lot of them where taking pictures or filming you on their phones.

Tomas looked at them with a frown, then sighed and turned towards Arnold and Violet:


"Its alright, Dr. Zarovee was already notified when Clopin first stated his demands.

The doctor is being transported to his lab via police escort. The fastest way we can get to him, is just head to the lab as well. Come on" he waved everyone to follow and climbed back into the van's driver seat.



The crowd gathering here was rapidly growing and it made Tomas visibly nervous.

Mira and Jane slowly climbed into the back of the van. Mira kept looking at Violet with concern, it seems her story really got through to her.


"Violet, guys" Tomas called, as he started the engine and the van pulled a U-turn and began rolling down the streets again:
"If anyone has medical expertise, can you look over Jane? Make sure she's not injured?"


Jane was still twisting her head left and right in confusion. She finally took a seat in the van and quietly called: "Umm... where.. are we going?"


"A cybernetics lab" Mira replied with a small smile.

"Cyber..what?" Jane slowly repeated.

"A place where people with robotic limbs are treated" Mira nodded.

"Robitic?... limbs??" Jane looks stunned: "...but... I don't have any robotic limbs"

"Are.. you sure?" Mira cautiously asked: "You mentioned.. you lost your memory.."

"No. I would definitely remember having a robotic limb installed" Jane firmly nodded with confidence. She was about to say something else, then her expression changed:
"Uuhh... guys?... why is my picture showing on that giant building over there?"




Jane pointed through the window, at one of the skyscrapers nearby. As the van rolled down the street, you noticed a massive TV add screen, hanging from one of the skyscrapers.

The screen showed a giant profile picture of Jane, in the same clothes she is now, with the same confused expression.

The text under the picture read: 'DISCIPLE OF MAREK'.


"..guys?..." Jane slowly called in alarm: "...who's.. Marek?"


The giant TV add board continued to play, a rather loud echo from its speakers began dispersing across the street:

"...-Have just confirmed the identity of one of the 'Disciples of Marek'.
The woman you see now on this picture, is a criminal, responsible for the deaths of countless Union citizens and the robot attacks over the past few months, including the one that took place this morning, in front of the Union Council Building.

This woman is an extremely dangerous, cold blooded killer, who has already claimed the lives of hundreds of people.

If you see this woman, report to the police immediately and proceed with maximum caution"



Jane's eyes grew wide in shock and horror. She reeled back from the van's window and looked at you in panic:
"...no... NO! I... I'm not a criminal! I don't want to hurt anyone!" she called, her voice ringing in fear.



A few seconds later, Clopins angry voice suddenly rang in your earpiece:

"What the bloody hell are you people doing down there! Its been half an hour since I've taken a Councilor hostage, and somehow the media still didn't report on it!?!

Can someone please pick up a phone and carefully explain to them, that broadcasting garbage like this, will endanger Jane's life, and by extension, endanger the Councilors life as well!!!"



Mira scowled: "Bloody hell. First, not enough police force show up at the Council Building, now the media is sabotaging the hostages safety!? Tomas! Your police department has a really gross miscommunication problem!"


"I phoned the media and the P.D. about this my self, I swear to god" Tomas said, anxiously watching the rode, as the van rolled down the street.
Then suddenly, he hit the breaks and the van came to a violent stop.



"You guys!" Jane called in alarm: "What the hell is going on!"


"...we're too late" Mira quietly mumbled. As you look through the windshield, you see a mob of people, blocking the road entirely.
They had lead pipes and baseball bats and they were clearly looking at your van and marching towards it.


"...what the hell is this.." Tomas quietly called, his face turning pale: "...its as if.. they knew which van to pull over... how did they know... the information is being spread way too fast..."


The mob started angrily shrieking and approaching the van, firmly blocking the road forward. The way they shrieked profanities and raised their makeshift weapons, didn't leave much doubt to their intent.


Jane slowly sat in the corner of the van and slightly curled up in there, shaking.


Mira, who sat in the front seat next to Tomas, began turning rapidly pale, as the mob drew nearer:
"...what do we do.." Mira called in a shaking voice: "...what do we do dammit!? They're blocking the road!"

(Twilight)


"I'd let you smoke in here, but your friend over there is asthmatic" Clopin tilted his head towards Kaylee: "We wouldn't want her suffocating, prematurely.."


Kaylee was firmly looking at him, trying to read his expression: "...you seem to know a lot about me" she quietly said after a moment.


"Of course" Clopin nodded with a smirk: "I did my research" he said, studying Kaylee's expression as well. After a moment he called: "...I know what you're planning Captain, and I would advice against it. Attempting an escape would only result in unnecessary injury.
Don't try it"


He said, then jumped off the table and walked off into the far corner. Pressing his hand into his earpiece he began angrily talking with someone.