Author's Note/Disclaimer: Apparently I lied about the faster updates. Sorry about that.
Aside from that, I think you know the drill: I don't own Hetalia. Enjoy.
France leaned back in his chair and took a sip from the glass of wine he was holding. When he finished, he set the glass down on the small table in front of him and sighed heavily. Hours of working in the lab with nothing to show for his efforts had worn on the Frenchman's patience, and a glass of good wine would help him calm his nerves before he went back to work.
After another sip of wine, France decided to check his phone on a whim. Maybe one of the other nations had found something that would prove useful to finding a cure to this bizarre virus. For whatever reason, France had not really expected any messages at all, and so he ended up doing a double take when he noticed the text from Germany. He stared at the message for several seconds.
Of course I haven't made any progress! France thought to himself as he reread the text. Doesn't he realize these things take time?
France toyed with the idea of sending a sarcastic reply, but thought better of it. While he stared at the buttons on his phone, formulating a reply, France thought back to the discussion he'd had with Germany, Prussia, and England (of course, England had not actually been present, but was on the phone).
Prussia's country had been dissolved not long after World War Two, France already knew that. So, at least for a little while, Prussia had been mortal and vulnerable, just like America and Lithuania were now. It explained how Prussia had so quickly figured out what had happened to them; he'd been through it himself. But it wasn't Prussia's quick deduction that had France so concerned right now.
Despite his efforts to hide it, Prussia had looked scared for the first time in decades.
He's one of very few of us that has survived dissolution, France thought. And yet he's terrified because America and Lithuania managed to lose their nation status…
France sipped more of his wine. He looked at the glass, now a little less than half full, and set it back on the table and tried to focus.
But America and Lithuania turned mortal from a virus, not actual dissolution of their nation. I wonder if that's why Prussia was so upset; someone's found a way to kill us that doesn't require anything be done to the actual nation we personify. We're just as vulnerable as ordinary people now.
"Mon Dieu…"
France quickly entered a polite reply to Germany's text, telling him he hadn't made any progress, but that he was working as hard as he could. He sent the text, then set the phone next to his wine glass. He leaned back in his chair and stared intently at the wall.
But if it's possible for Prussia to continue living as a personification, despite having no country, would it be possible for America and Lithuania to do the same? France wondered.
However, the thought had just barely formulated in his head when he reminded himself that the country of Prussia technically no longer existed; the United States and Lithuania still existed, but their personifications had somehow been cut off from them. This sort of thing had never happened before, so there was no telling what would happen; either to the actual nation or to its personification.
France spent several seconds staring wide-eyed at the wall, taking a moment to dwell on the enormity of the situation. He thought back to his long hours in the lab, and the frustrating lack of progress he had made. He was about to get up and return to the lab for what would likely be more hours of frustration and disappointment, but suddenly an idea came to him.
Perhaps a different approach will yield better results, France thought. He reached for his phone again.
(-)
Japan and China exited their plane and made their way into the terminal, where they briefly took a seat while each nation checked his phone. As it turned out, neither one had received any messages from anybody. They put their phones away and headed to baggage claim, where they had to wait several minutes for their luggage to show up on the carousel.
"When Germany told us to 'keep an eye out for enemy activity in Asia'," Japan whispered. "Is he telling us to just keep watch in our own countries… or do we need a broader view than that?"
"From the looks of things, the only activity so far has been in my country," China replied. "It seems I'm Charles' next target, so I think we should both stay in my country and look for more of Charles' allies and take them out, aru."
"Will that work with just the two of us?" Japan asked. "Or should I contact our neighbors?"
China looked thoughtful for a moment. "That's a good idea," he said. "We can let them know what's going on; however, I don't need everyone showing up at my house to help out, aru."
The two nations retrieved their luggage and left. They were on their way to the parking lot when China's phone rang. China got the phone out and answered with a greeting in Mandarin. He and the individual on the other end talked for several minutes, and by the time China hung up, he and Japan had arrived at the spot where China's car was parked.
"That was my boss," China explained as he and Japan let themselves into the vehicle.
"What did he have to say?" Japan asked.
"Well, he says that after both my car and the other car had been towed away, some investigators checked the enemy's vehicle, aru," China said. "They also recovered the bodies of the enemy agents. My boss says that one of them had a syringe filled with clear fluid hidden in his jacket. As we speak, Chinese doctors are trying to identify it, aru."
"We already know what it is," Japan pointed out.
"We do, but my boss doesn't," China said. "So I had to explain it to him, aru."
Japan nodded. He and China climbed into the car and fastened their seat belts. China revved the engine and started to drive.
"I also told him that the drug was intended for me," China said. "He said he was going to step up security to prevent me from being attacked again, aru."
"I'm still going to contact the others," Japan said, pulling his phone out as he spoke.
China merely shrugged in response as he pulled into the busy Beijing traffic.
(-)
England and Canada ended up staying in town that night, in a small hotel. They also abandoned the car they had stolen, leaving it in the parking lot they had stopped in prior to the phone call with Germany. While they definitely needed a vehicle, both England and Canada decided it was too risky to continue using that one. So, the following morning, England and Canada took a bus into town, where they eventually located a car rental place. Before long, England was driving him and Canada out of town in a white Camry.
"Alright, Canada, Russia says you have to do something to get the fake America's attention," England said. "Do you have something in mind?"
"I have to do something to America's country," Canada said. "But…"
England shot a curious glance over at Canada before returning his attention to the road. "But what?" he asked.
Canada stared intently at the floor.
"I'm not America," he said at last. "I don't have access to his people and government; I'd have to use my own to somehow interfere with them. And it has to be severe enough to need the fake America's immediate attention."
Neither nation spoke for almost a minute.
"Well, hang on a minute," England said.
"Hm?" Canada looked over at England, a curious expression on his face.
"We don't even know where the fake America is at the moment," England said. "If this plan is going to work, we're going to have to do some reconnaissance first."
"What do you mean?"
"We're going to spy on him," England explained. "Figure out where he is, where he's going, and what he's going to do."
"But you just said we don't know where he is," Canada said.
"We can find out."
Canada glanced over at England.
"What are you going to do?" Canada asked.
England's phone rang before he could answer. He reached into his pocket and retrieved the phone, holding it up to his ear to answer it while trying to steer with just one hand.
"Hello?" England said.
"Hello, comrade. Where are you and Canada at the moment?"
"Russia?!" England exclaimed. "Why are you calling me? Aren't you supposed to be looking for Charles right now?"
"And that is what I am doing," Russia replied. "But I need you to help me; can you tell me where you are so we can meet up?"
"Why can't we do this over the phone?" England asked.
"This has to be done in person," Russia insisted.
England was silent for a minute. Canada stared at the Englishman, confused. After a long, awkward silence, England finally spoke again.
"Do you honestly think I'm not going to think this might be a trap?" England said. "Why must this be done in person?"
Russia started to say something in reply, but was interrupted by another voice on his end.
"For God's sake, Russia!" said a voice with a thick Scottish accent. "Just explain your plan; no need to make everyone paranoid!"
"Scotland?" England said. Hang on; Germany told Scotland to team up with Russia to look for Charles…
"What is going on?" Canada asked gently.
England put his phone on speaker so that Canada could hear the conversation as well.
"Alright, let's try this again," England said. "Why do you need to meet up with me?"
"I'm going after Charles, and I need you to help me trap him," Russia said. He paused, then, "By the way, has Canada… started on his part of the plan yet?"
"No," England replied. "Why?"
"Good; he can help me too."
England sighed in exasperation. "What is your plan already?!"
"Relax," Russia said. "First, we have to find out where either Charles or the fake America is. Where one is, the other won't be far away."
"Is that so?" England said.
"He figures that Charles and the fake America are working in tandem to attempt to capture other nations," Scotland cut in. "It almost worked back in Lithuania, when they went after Russia."
"Alright, that makes sense," England said. "So what do we do once we find them?"
"Well, actually, that will depend on them," Russia replied. "We'll have to plan our next move based on what they do and where they go. But, before we can begin looking for them, I say we meet up. Combine forces."
"Indeed," England said. "Where are you, anyway?"
"A few blocks away from America's house in New York," Russia replied. "And you?"
England arched an eyebrow. Canada also looked mildly surprised, but said nothing.
"We're driving on the freeway, not far outside New York," England said.
"Oh good, that makes things easier," Russia said. "Could you meet us then? I'll give you the address…"
England and Canada exchanged glances.
"Go ahead," England said.