Chapter 4
"So. You're telling me that you want to know all my secrets without telling me any of yours?" you challenge, raising a single eyebrow.
"Of course not. Fair is fair, after all. Equivalent exchange, and all that. You tell me a bit about yourself, and I'll tell you a bit about me."
You sit up straighter, suddenly, smirking. "Here, I have a better idea. You tell me what you think my secret is, and I tell you yours."
He seems amused. Not surprised. Not upset or confused. Just very mildly amused. He smiles slightly and leans back in his chair. "Very well. I don't think you lost that arm or your leg in the Eastern Rebellion at all. I think you lost them trying to bring your dead mother back to life. Your brother too. There's nothing inside that suit of armor, is there?" He cracks his eyes open and glances back at you, apparently looking for some reaction. You give him none. You simply sit in your seat watching him stoically. He thinks he has the upper hand. You will soon prove him wrong. "You committed the ultimate taboo. Human transmutation."
"That's right." You nod once. You are as calm and collected as he is. You don't think you've ever had this conversation so casually before. Although, it is a conversation you try to avoid. "Is it my turn?"
If he's surprised by your reaction – or lack thereof, he doesn't show it. He only frowns slightly, but nods. "Yes. It is."
"Good. Because I think you transmuted your wife."
He blinks. "... excuse me?" You notice that he's sitting up straight. His face still isn't revealing any emotions, but the fact that he is sitting up and watching you is more then enough proof that you now have his full attention.
You close your eyes and lean back, in an imitation of Tucker's own pose when trying to surprise you with your own secrets. "Two years ago you created a talking chimera. Nobody knows how you did it. Two years ago your wife left you. Or did she die? Nobody seems to know the answer to that either. But I do. I know what happened to your wife and how you made that chimera." You sit up abruptly and lean forward, locking eyes with him. "I also know that your assessment day is coming up, and you're getting desperate. I know that you're planning to create another talking chimera!"
He frowns at you for a very long moment. The silence seems to stretch on forever. Finally, he smiles at you. "They said you were clever. But that's not just being bright. How did you know all that?"
"You- you're not even going to try and deny it?" You ask, surprised.
"Of course not." He's still smiling at you, and it's unnerving. "You're obviously very well informed." He leans forward as well, shortening the space between you even further.
"The question is, what are you planning to do with your information?"
"It depends. As long as we're being totally honest here, you mind if I ask a few questions?" You narrow your eyes at him, not having expecting this conversation to go so smoothly. You're both acting so... civilized.
"Of course not, Edward. Go ahead." You wish he would stop giving you that damn smile.
You nod. "Okay. Tell me what you plan on doing when your assessment day comes."
"Well, failure is not an option. And I did so poorly last year... so I'll have to do something amazing."
"Like creating a second talking chimera."
He nods. "Why yes, that would just about do it."
"But the only way to do that is to transmute a human."
"That's very true, Edward."
"Then who do you plan on using for your transmutation?"
"Well I-"
"You promised not to lie."
"Well. Initially, I did think about Nina." There. You didn't say it. He did. You made him say it himself. It takes everything in you to keep from leaping across the table then and there. This man deserves to die. "I mean, think about it. If I fail, the result will hardly be different. She won't have this house, or good food, or new clothes! What would be the point then?"
His calm facade is slipping. This is not the mild mannered Shou Tucker you lived with for months. This is the psychopath you met in the basement lab, the man who murdered his own daughter for his own selfish gain. You shake with anger as you try to hold yourself back. If he says another word, then forget self control. You'll be on top of him and the bastard won't see tomorrow.
But there has to be another way. A way to make him realize how utterly insane he's being. There's over a month before his assessment. If you can just find another way for him to recertify, then nobody will have to get hurt. No matter how much they deserve it.
To try and talk him down and convince him there's another way, go to chapter 8
To hit the bastard where it hurts, go to chapter 12
