June 9th, 1986

Tore really hoped the meeting that afternoon would go as well as the one that morning. Hildar and Elinor had been quite happy on their tour earlier, and had willingly poured over everything the archaeologists were willing to share, offering insights and confirming interpretations. They hadn't known what to make of the apparent transmutation circle either, but they had been familiar with many of the symbols. Elinor admitted she had seen several of them before, because they showed up often in the old written stories, and they were often symbolic of specific gods too. So she had woven several of them in her work dozens of times.

The fact that they also represented specific gods was useful information, as well as the possibility that they might be looking for evidence that there had ever been a blast hot enough to turn some of the sand in the area to glass. While it certainly sounded like a fairy story, Tore wouldn't dismiss out of hand the possibility of evidence of a lightning strike in sand in general, branch-like shapes of fused sand. A sheet of glass just wasn't possible. He should know, given how many things he had struck with bolts of electrical current from the sky in his life.

He didn't say that, however. It would be rude, and they were allies in the goal of saving this beautiful historical site if possible. Tore would be objective, but he really didn't want to be. He would much rather have reveled in his natural enthusiasm for the subject. Ed, Al, and Will certainly were. Minxia practically glowed with it, and he knew that wasn't because of her condition. She adored her work, and felt passionately about the places where she helped unlock their long-hidden secrets.

It had been a fulfilling and enjoyable morning, followed by a simple, tasty lunch and good conversation. Now Tore felt the subtle tension in his neck that always formed when he was placed in a position of responsibility in which he had the possibly of royally screwing things up. Not that he honestly expected anything catastrophic to happen. It was an old twitch, one that kept him from getting too cocky. He had learned caution the hard way, and he tried to listen more to the sensible voice in his head that usually—to his amusement—sounded like either Edward in his old teaching days, or Charisa, scolding him with gentle firmness. He definitely preferred it when the voice sounded like his wife.

Today the voice was telling him to stay calm, remain neutral, and do more listening than talking. This was an opportunity to make a good first impression, and perhaps start building ties that would make this situation easier to resolve.

The meeting place was at the entrance to the site. Tore stood with Thrakos and the Cretan law expert, Rio Vinaro. They had decided, after much discussion, that Ed, Al, and Will would remain at the main office tent where the larger meeting would take place. It also made the initial meeting more even, the Cretan representatives and the Kartosians, and Tore. Vennson, and the Government representative—a man whose name Tore had learned was Ainar Drakk.

They arrived separately, in two different cars that parked within a minute of each other in the small parking lot set up outside the dig. Naturally, no vehicle was allowed to drive on the site itself. Tore only knew the men by description, but he had little trouble telling them apart. Ainar Drakk, was an older gentleman, tall and lean, for a Kartosian. They were all taller than Tore, but most of them had a solid build, as Tore would expect from the Armstrong family. This man was thinner. His hair was thick and white, and his goatee trimmed close to his face instead of the shaggier beard that seemed to be the fashion.

The man beside him was far less impressive, at least in Tore's mind. He was on the short side for a Kartosian—which still made him at least three inches taller than Tore—but had none of the warrior bearing that so many of the others seemed to have. He was also nearly as broad in the middle as he was in the shoulders. Despite wearing a very modern, very fashionable suit, he looked to Tore a bit more like a used car salesman than a real estate investor. He was closer to Tore's age, with thick hair that was just starting to turn from gold to gray.

They approached, shaking hands with Thrakos first.

"Mr. Drakk, Mr. Vennson, good to see you again," Thrakos commented, and Tore was impressed at the younger man's ability to sound sincere. He supposed years growing up the son of the President would have given him a lot of practice. "This is General Closson, the Amestrian representative here to deliberate on our situation."

To his credit, Drakk sized him up subtly as he shook Tore's hand with a firm grasp. "On behalf of the Kartosian government, I welcome you. I do hope you can help settle this matter."

"It is my hope we can come to a mutually beneficial agreement between you," Tore replied with a reassuring smile. He hoped the neutral phrasing would make it clear Amestris was not taking an official stake in things.

Vennson didn't seem impressed, and the handshake he gave Tore was cursory at best. "I should hope so. I have a building schedule to keep."

Tore managed not to scowl. Thankfully, he didn't have a moment to respond to that because Thrakos and Vinaro cut into the discussion, escorting them all back towards the main office as they filled Drakk and Vennson in on the schedule.

Their most recent findings would be discussed at the meeting. Tore was looking forward to this, mostly because he knew that Ed and Al's recent meeting with the locals had provided background information that helped put a new light on much of the information they had been able to pull out of the dig. It was still Tore's opinion—and that of the other alchemists—that the primary use of the stone circle at the center of the sight was for alchemy, even if they didn't entirely understand how it had been done yet. That did not rule out the possibility of it being a religious site. Certainly early Kartosians, particularly priests, might have been alchemists. The oldest stories spoke of powers given by the gods. To the experienced ear, it definitely sounded like most of it could be alchemy. The rest might just be hyperbole.

Not that they had said this in front of their guests and allies, who were kind enough to give them the stories of the gods. Even Edward hadn't said anything that purposefully might step on their beliefs.

Tore just hoped what they had was enough. He didn't think it would save the site, but it might buy them more time. The challenge of course was that the Kartosians didn't care much about alchemy. The reputation of the Elrics here was entirely related to their decades of experience researching antiquities.

Everything was laid out carefully when they arrived. A casual looking gathering that had actually been painstakingly prepared. The two Kartosians running their half of the dig—Tore only knew them as Ullf and Laren—sat on the other side of the table, with Minxia between them. In another situation it might have been comical, their large forms hulking over her diminutive frame. But here, right now, it was clear she was equally in charge. Ullf and Laren had purposefully leaned their chairs slightly back, giving the illusion that Minxia was in front of them. Subtle, but effective.

Edward, Alphonse, and Will sat to their right around the end of the table, leaving the other two sides open for four who had entered. It had the appearance of convenience and offering them equal footing in the seats, but in truth they had carefully determined in advance where to position their guests for best effect. No matter where Vennson sat, he was staring into the eyes of hulking men, or the Elrics.

Tore was a little amused that they chose to sit facing more towards Edward, Alphonse, and Will. If they thought that would be advantageous, they didn't know who they were dealing with.

Pleasantries were brief.

"Mr. Argyros tells me you've already got some information about this site worth looking at," Drakk got right to business.

"That we do, sir," Ullf smiled, gesturing at the carefully chosen selection of diagrams and notes spread all over the table. "I think you'll find them interesting."

Vennson snorted derisively, but said nothing as Drakk reached out and picked up the nearest diagram.

"What you're looking at," Edward explained from where he sat across the table, "is very possibly the most unique ancient site discovered in ancient times."

"How so?"

"Well I know you're not particularly interested in alchemy, but that collection of standing rocks out there appears to be not only some sort of alchemy circle, but also directly related to the god Taor. We're not entirely sure whether your ancestors were trying to communicate with him directly, or offer tribute, or recreate his massive powers, but all of the signs point clearly to Taor."

Drakk looked mildly interest. "So this connection makes this unique? There are other altars and sites that were dedicated to Taor, and all of the other gods."

"But none with these markings." Alphonse leaned over the table and placed a hand on another large sheet of paper covered with images. "They've already been compared to all of the standard markings archived and categorized by your research teams in your University." He gestured to the thick bound tome also sitting on the table, where all of those records had been previously published. "There are much, much older."

"Older?"

"Hundreds, perhaps thousands of years older than your oldest recorded site." Will nodded. "There's nothing this old in any archive in Creta, Amestris, or Xing. Certainly not regarding Kartosian sites. Your historians are very good, particularly given their limited sites." His tone made it sound as if this were simply a matter of the weathering of nature, even if Tore knew it was a subtle dig on the government and the fact that they had allowed most of their historical sites to be removed in the face of progress for centuries. It wasn't like this was a new issue.

"The simple fact," Ed stepped back into the conversation, "is that what you have here needs to be thoroughly investigated. This is a lot to uncover in the short months that this team has been working. There is a high likelihood of ties back to the original settlement of your country here, and surely that deserves a thorough investigation."

Vennson looked as if he had swallowed unpleasant, but was apparently smart enough to know when to keep his mouth shut.

A shame, Tore thought. It would have been nice if Vennson had made this easy for him.

Drakk, at least, seemed inclined to hear it through. He looked at what was in his hands and nodded. "All right. Talk me through all of this."


Minxia did her best to convince herself that the twisting in her stomach was just nerves, and not the potential beginnings of her first bought of nausea. Instead, she focused on presenting an outward, calm appearance as she took over the explanation of their discoveries on the dig site, and the theories they had put together based on the markings and layout of the stones, and the supporting buildings scattered around their primary structure. There was not only the apparent temple, but several—for the time—particularly well-built standing stone structures, far different from the normally wooden homes of much of the previous Kartosian settlements. This had been built to last more than just a few generations, and had certainly been a settlement with more than just a local tribal leader.

There was, truly, plenty of reason to give credence to the local versions of the ancient tales. With a strong oral tradition, it wasn't as if they were merely hearsay. Their friends had even provided multiple published accounts for cross-referencing purposes that demonstrated that the stories themselves remained virtually unchanged through recorded Kartosian history.

For their part, her colleagues from Kartos sat behind her, looking calmly intimidating without trying to be, and making it clear that Minxia was the one in charge of this meeting. While she appreciated the backing, it also made her nervous. She had never had to fight for the continued existence of a dig location before. While she and Thrakos had pushed for funding, for preservation rights, and other things, none of the sites she had worked on in Creta, or anywhere else, had been in imminent danger of destruction. In Xing, you almost had to get a permit to sneeze on an ancient location. Creta reveled in their history and rubbed it in everyone else's faces. Even Aerugo was very protective of their heritage. Kartos was a bit of a mystery to her.

Minxia focused on the facts, highlighting what was unique and really required more time to study to determine if their ideas were verifiable. There were, already at present count, at least fifteen new symbols they had not yet identified, and nearly twenty that seemed related to but not quite the same as ancient symbols already in the Kartosian lexicon. That concentration of unusual findings alone would have been enough in any other country to render the site a protected government treasure. Here, it was one piece of the proof but might not be enough in the long run. Minxia was grateful that the stone carvings had weathered well. The originals must have been gouged unusually deep to survive this long. The stones sizes were estimated to have been a little larger, possibly multiple millimeters, originally before being worn down by the elements. As the oceans had moved, sands shifted, and waters risen and fallen, the site was now more than a mile inland from the beach, but it was clear that at one point it had been on sand almost right on the waters. At least for a time.

Minxia went through it all, in immaculate detail, hoping that Drakk was impressed. She knew that, however uninvolved he was supposed to be, Tore Closson was not disposed towards plowing down priceless artifacts. He was not likely to site with the Kartosian government—or, more importantly, Vennson—unless they somehow presented an amazing argument for putting up over-priced modern housing on the land instead. And they had to convince Drakk, because only the government had the authority to change the terms of the real estate agreement.

Finally, she ran out of anything new to add, coming to what they had determined that morning—though she didn't mention their recent guests. "So, that's where we are," she finally finished up, mouth dry from talking for nearly an hour. "We've made incredible progress, very quickly. We just need a little more time to verify if this site is what we think it is. Surely you can see how important this could be for Kartosian pride…perhaps even commerce. You don't have a huge number of historical sites. Imagine if this were turned into a museum and tour center. Build it up on the hill above the site when it's restored, let people see their fascinating heritage for themselves."

She hoped Drakk liked that idea. It seemed to appeal more to Kartosian sentiments, where were very much based in profit progress. Vennson had said very little at this meeting, despite the bluster she had come to expect from him, and that worried her. He seemed a little more keen on the money part, as if he were considering that as an alternate financial plan for the land. Minxia hated the idea of him in charge of something like that, but almost anything would be better than losing such an amazing find.
"How do we know this isn't a bunch of dreck?" Vennson finally spoke in very thickly-accented Cretan. "You might make up anything to save this place."

If he couldn't tell evidence from tossed together facts, he didn't deserve an answer to that question, but even as she seethed inside, Minxia smiled. "We don't have to. As

I've just explained our logic and evidence to you, I'm sure you can see that. You could have analysts and other experts come in and check over all of our work. You'll find every bit of it genuine, and every theoretical based in solid fact."

Drakk nodded thoughtfully. "I think," his response cut of Vennson, who was turning red already, "That it is fitting to extend the period of your study, to see if any of your ideas bear fruit. The government prefers not to be overly hasty in matters of importance, and I am at the very least convinced that the matter should be fully considered before they are written off."

"But this is my land!" Vennson griped.

"Once the government hands over full rights. In the instance that this land proves to be a critical national landmark, it falls under government jurisdiction and you will receive back precisely what you paid for it," Drakk reminded him. "Thoughts, General?" Drakk looked at Tore.

Tore had remained very quiet throughout the entire thing, maintaining a presence that radiated quiet competence and no clear preference. Now, he nodded at Drakk, and smiled. "That seems a wise course of action, presuming the archeological team does not object."

As if they would! Minxia looked back at Ullf and Laren. Both men were smiling broadly. "That seems very reasonable," she agreed, looking back at the government official.

Drakk nodded. "Excllent. Now, remember that we expect results. If you cannot demonstrate for certainty the importance of this landmark, or find evidence contrary to your claims, we expect an honest report."

"Understood, sir."

"Very well then. We will get out of your way so you can continue your work." Drakk set down the papers in his hands and turned to Vinaro. "Please come with me. I'd like to speak to you on the way back to my car."

The Cretan law expert nodded and led the way.

When he was gone, Minxia collapsed back into her seat, letting out a loud breath of relief.

"Well done," Ullf's giant hand patted her shoulder. "You were quite convincing."

"Yeah, but you weren't the one I was trying to convince." Minxia smiled, though she was far more relieved by Thrakos arriving on her side of the table holding a large cup of ice water. "Thank you."

"You about talked their ears off, I thought you might be thirsty," he said calmly, though his eyes said something else entirely. You looked tired and thirsty. Are you okay?
Minxia took a long, slow drink before responding. "You read my mind." I'm fine, quit worrying.

Thrakos gave her a look that clearly said you know I can't do that. Aloud he chuckled casually. "Now that would be a useful skill to pick up. If I could read minds, I'd be a better politician than my father."

"Or a very frustrated one. Mind control would be much more useful," Great-Uncle Ed quipped from his seat, where he was looking very smug about how this had turned out. At least, that was her assumption. Ed looked smug a lot.

"But unethical," Grandpa Al pointed out before turning to her. "Well done! That was very convincing."

"We didn't have to do much of anything but sit here and look intellectual," her father agreed.

"Is that what you call it?" Thrakos laughed.

"What would you call it?" Minxia asked her husband.

"Antique."

Fortunately, Thrakos was good at dodging thrown objects.

June 10th, 1986

"Dinner and good company, it doesn't get any better than this," Charlie grinned as he sat down across from Shelby at the tiny table in the apartment above the garage. He'd had closing again tonight, so he knew his family wouldn't miss him. Shelby's parents were having dinner with friends. As had become typical, Shelby had brought the leftovers that they wouldn't be able to sell tomorrow from the little bakery-deli, so they had roast beef sandwiches and raspberry pastries tonight.

"It's perfect," Shelby agreed. "Almost like we already live together."

Charlie liked the sound of that, and from the pleasure in Shelby's tone, she did too. "I have good news about that," he admitted as she divvied up the food. It had been all he could do not to blurt it out as soon as he'd let her in the building.

"What did you find out?" Shelby asked, as she set down his sandwich in front of him.

Charlie had left the house early that morning so he could run by the city library. There, he had spent nearly an hour looking through local laws, and had found precisely what he had hoped for. He pulled the folded photocopy out of his pocket and handed it across the table before reaching for his food. "City rules haven't changed in forty years," he grinned. "Any couple can get married without parental consent as long as both of them are at least seventeen years old with reasonable cause and bring a witness." It would just be legal paperwork, but marriage was marriage. Their parents wouldn't be able to do anything to stop them.

"Marlie or Gill would come." Shelby nodded, scanning the paper eagerly. "So that takes care of the witness. But what about reasonable cause? That implies the city official could say no."

"From what I could find in the public records that just seems to be to avoid particularly awkward legal entanglements like someone marrying two people without telling the other, or strange things like that. The law exists to keep parents from keeping couples from getting married due to family differences."

"So we just have to wait until December."

Charlie nodded. Shelby's birthday was in late November, his at the beginning of December. As soon as they were both seventeen, they could force her parents to stop keeping them apart. At least, unless they managed to talk them around by then, which seemed unlikely. Shelby had stopped even bringing up any kind of potential boyfriend at home. Charlie hadn't wanted to upset his parents either, now that they finally seemed happy with him again, and his mother was feeling better. "December should be enough time. You've got your job, and I've got mine. Between us we can put together enough to afford a place." A small place, but one of their own; Charlie hadn't told his parents he was saving every penny he made this summer towards that end. They knew he was working hard and making money, but they assumed he was saving up for something more typical, like a car of his own. As much as Charlie would have loved that, he loved Shelby more.

"I still wish I knew for sure they wouldn't turn us down," Shelby admitted, looking nervous as they both started to eat.

"I'm sure we can convince them. After all, I love you."

She smiled. "I love you, too."

Charlie let quiet fall as they ate. He wished he felt as certain as he sounded. There had to be a way to be sure the city officer would marry them. They'd just have to build a very good case on the chance that whoever it was wanted to drag their parents into it before the paperwork was signed.