1) ...casually close your notebook and try to follow them without looking like you're following them.

...You close your book with a yawn, and then stand up to stretch. You try not to act too obvious as you watch them disappear out of the train station. Once they're out of sight, you hurry across the station, dodging commuters in your haste to catch up. You think briefly of what Al will think when he finds you gone.

Stepping around two duffel bags piled on top of each other next to the wall, you lean up against it and peer around to see if the men are still there. They aren't, so you step into the hallway and turn the corner. You catch a glimpse of their backs retreating into the open air. You follow cautiously behind, hands in pockets and looking casual just in case they should turn around.

They continue walking down the street at a brisk pace. You stroll quietly behind them. "We're pleased to have an expert with us," the man with the cigarette mentions to the other, who smiles. "It will be an honor to make history with you, Garwin."

You feel like you were slapped in the face. Make history? If they were doing something illegal with alchemy and making history at the same time, they couldn't be making gold: it had been done before (you yourself are a testimony to that). So they must be talking about--

"Messing with human bodies is not to be taken lightly, Mr...?" he searched for a name.

"Brigman," says the man with the cigarette, smiling. "Ray Brigman." The name sounds almost familiar, but you can't imagine where you might have heard it—if it actually is his real name.

"Mr Brigman," the second man says. "I hope you and your partners realize that."

"Of course, Garwin, we may not be as skilled in alchemy as you, but we are hardly dunderheads. We know that such a complicated technique is no laughing matter."

"And it would be even less of a laughing matter if word were to get out," says the alchemist with a grimace. "None of you will be joking about it if the government finds out."

You raise an eyebrow, wondering at the irony of it all.

"They won't," the first man assures him.

"Don't get cocky, Brigman. Those military dogs are everywhere." As if expecting to find one right behind him, Garwin turns to check.

And he looks straight at you, stunned.

You stare back, panicking mentally. While listening to their conversation, you had forgotten to keep a good distance and act casual.

You swear briefly and...

1) ....run!

~It's not too late to escape! Choose #1~

2) ...get ready to fight.

~If anybody was leaving this with their tails between their legs, it would be them! Choose #2~

3) ...refuse to run or avert your gaze. They can't prove you heard anything. Unless they don't care if they have the proof....

~If you're going to stand your ground, choose #3~