Author's Note/Disclaimer: Happy New Year, everyone! It's still technically 2013 in my time zone, but whatever.
There's not a whole lot of exciting stuff happening in this chapter, I'm afraid. The fun stuff comes later, I promise.
I don't own Hetalia. Honest, I don't.
Germany was silent on the phone for several minutes, listening to Japan recount everything that happened in the raid on the base they found under a building in Beijing. When Japan finished, Germany thanked him and said he would tell everyone else what he had just heard. Then, he hung up. Still holding the phone in one hand, Germany made his way back to the door of the room he had left, where his brother, the Italian brothers, France, and the fake Lithuania were waiting.
Dozens of thoughts ran through Germany's head at lightning speed. China and Japan's raid had solved one problem, but generated more. The discovery Germany's group had made with the laptop and the map presented a similar situation; one question answered, only to have more introduced.
Well, at least England's spellbooks are out of enemy hands, Germany thought. That's one less thing Scotland and England will have to worry about, at least.
Germany gripped the doorknob, but didn't open it yet.
The enemy has what seems to be a fake China, but China was never injected with that drug, was he? And just how much more of that drug does the enemy have? Four syringes, in that one base alone! And there were probably more in there that China and Japan missed!
Shaking his head in a futile attempt to calm his thoughts, Germany finally opened the door and rejoined the rest of his group. Everyone – except the fake Lithuania, who was staring at the floor – was giving him curious looks as he entered.
"What took so long, West?" Prussia asked.
"I called Japan, and he told me that he and China found another base," Germany said. "I told him to tell me everything they found…"
"And what did they find?" France asked.
Germany sighed. "Quite a lot," he said. "Well, I guess – to start with – Scotland no longer has to find England's spellbooks. They were in a box in a lab in that base."
"That's good; England will get his spellbooks back now," Italy said.
France furrowed his brow. "They were in a lab? What are these people trying to do, use science to duplicate Angleterre's magic?"
Germany shrugged. "It looks that way," he said.
"What else did they find?" Romano asked.
"A few more syringes, likely filled with that same drug that was used on America and Lithuania," Germany replied.
"No surprise there," Prussia said. "Come on, West, there's got to be more than that. Something big. What else did they find?"
Germany sighed again. "An imposter nation," he said. "Or, at least a lookalike; we're not sure what he is to these people yet. But Japan tells me the man claims to have no memory. I'm not sure what that's supposed to mean, but that's what he said…"
Germany trailed off and shrugged. He went over to the nearest unoccupied chair and sat down.
"You say 'lookalike'," France said. "Which one of us does he look like?"
"China," Germany replied.
Several nations' eyebrows went up. Even the fake Lithuania did a double take.
"How many more fake nations do these bastards have?" Romano said.
"There's no real good way of finding that out," Germany said. "Except for what we've already been doing."
The room was silent for several seconds as everyone exchanged glances.
"That was all that Japan told me," Germany said as he stood back up and headed to the door. "I'm afraid there's little else to do at this point but wait on everyone else for more information. In the meantime, I'm going to bed."
Germany left the room.
"Hang on, West-" Prussia said, also getting up and heading for the door, but Germany had already disappeared down the hall. "You forgot to call the others…"
"I'll call them," France said, taking out his phone and walking past Prussia, heading into the hallway as well.
Prussia shrugged and followed France out, leaving the Italian brothers alone with the fake Lithuania. Italy and Romano exchanged glances with each other, then with their prisoner.
"What should we do with him?" Italy asked.
"Tie him up and throw him in the basement or something; I don't care," Romano said, casting a disdainful look at the fake Lithuania.
"Tie him up," Italy repeated, looking around the room. "With what? There's no rope in here."
Romano gave his brother a dismissive wave. "Go find some, then!" he said.
Italy left the room. While he waited for his brother to return, Romano faced the fake Lithuania, glaring threateningly at him the whole time. The fake nation stared back, his expression unreadable. This staring contest lasted quite a while, but eventually Italy came back into the room, carrying a handful of rope, and a pair of handcuffs. Romano looked at the items and arched an eyebrow.
"Give me that," Romano said, grabbing the handcuffs and putting them around the fake Lithuania's wrists without even waiting for a response from Italy.
Once the handcuffs were on, Romano grabbed the fake Lithuania by the arm. He looked at Italy, then jerked his head in the direction of the door. Italy nodded, and the two brothers led the fake Lithuania out of the room.
"Where are we taking him?" Italy asked.
"I think we should tie this bastard up and lock him in an empty room," Romano replied. "Where is a spare room we can use?"
Italy nodded. "This way," he said.
(-)
France decided to call Russia and Scotland first. Once he was comfortably seated in the couch in Germany's living room, he entered Scotland's number.
"France? What do you want?" Scotland said when he picked up. "Did you find a cure to that drug?"
"No, I'm afraid not," France replied. "However, there are other things that you and the others need to be brought up to speed on."
"Such as?"
"You don't have to worry about finding Angleterre's books anymore; Japan and China found them while raiding an enemy base in Beijing," France explained.
"Oh, good," Scotland muttered, just loud enough for France to hear. "I'll have to let him know tomorrow morning, then."
France heard someone else talking in the background, and Scotland responding to them. He waited until Scotland was done before continuing.
"There were a few other things they found there," France said.
"Oh aye?" Scotland said. "All right, go ahead. What did they find?"
France repeated to Scotland everything he heard from Germany, including the fact that the China lookalike apparently had no memory. He also explained his idea about the drug and the fake Lithuania, and told him that before the call with Japan, France had injected the fake Lithuania with the drug. Lastly, France also told about the discovery Prussia had made while they were experimenting with the stolen laptop.
"Right," Scotland said when France was done speaking. "Now let me tell you what's been happening here…"
Now it was France's turn to wait quietly. He was silent for several minutes while Scotland recounted everything that had happened since he and Russia had arrived in the United States. He started with Russia's plan, and how he, Russia and the Baltics had met up with England and Canada. Then, he went on to say that changes in plan had to be made when Lithuania's condition had unexpectedly worsened.
"Mon Dieu," France muttered. As fast as Lithuania's condition is worsening, time is of the essence… We have to figure out how to cure him soon! He thought.
Meanwhile, Scotland continued telling his story. He explained how he got into the White House, and everything that happened to him while he was there, including the fiasco involving Canada being seen by the fake America, and Russia's group being temporarily captured. He ended with Charles being placed under arrest by the president, and everyone leaving.
"Let me make sure I understand you," France said. "The president not only convinced the fake Amerique to release Russia, but also put Charles under arrest. Yet he is still convinced that the fake Amerique is the real one?"
"Two out of three isn't bad, especially for America's boss," Scotland said. "But, all joking aside, yes, you've got that right. Why?"
"Well, to me, it seems rather odd that America's boss would be so… helpful, especially when you think of how easily the fake America deceived him. It could be a ruse, or a trap, or something," France replied.
"What do you expect us to do about it if it is?" Scotland retorted. "Russia explained this to America's boss back in the White House; if the fake America or anyone in the US government touches us, they risk war with our countries. I doubt even the fake America wants to risk that."
"You have a point," France said. "But, what if Charles' supposed arrest is actually covering his escape?"
"True, but I'm not about to go back to America's boss and demand that he turn Charles over to us," Scotland said. "We'll have to capture him some other way. Besides, I think the more pressing problem at this point is finding the real America."
France sighed. "All right then," he said. "I think we're done then. If you could relate what I told you to Angleterre and Canada, I need to inform Allemagne what you just told me…"
"Sure." Scotland hung up.
France sighed and put his phone away. He stood up and paced in front of the couch for a minute, thinking over everything he had heard so far. Germany had said he was going to bed, so there was no sense in trying to talk to him now, and everyone else would probably be going to bed soon as well, so France decided he wouldn't bother them either. There would be plenty of time to go over everything tomorrow morning.
I should probably get some rest myself, France thought as he went back into the hallway. Allemagne has guest bedrooms in this house somewhere…