August 20th, 1990

Ted was almost certain he had simply been forgotten, or determined unimportant enough to be ignored, and while he knew that—compared to the summit going on upstairs and the plans being made that might end up involving every country in the continent that shared a border or near-border with Amestris—he really wasn't that important, his optimism that they might go less harsh on him began to fade with each passing day. He tried to remain optimistic, but it was difficult. Anika was allowed to visit him one other time, and she had been full of updates mostly about the animals at the zoo, because that was where she had been. She and Niki had not been asked to speak to the full Summit again, though more than one of the delegates had chosen to come to the Drachman Embassy to speak with them. She didn't know anything more about when or if they would get around to giving him a court martial hearing, or just making a decision without him. Closson had no further information either, and Ted was starting to feel like some kind of pariah. Had he truly burned all of the bridges even with his family with his decision? He didn't even know if his family had been told he had returned, since no one would tell him and he couldn't receive calls. Did his siblings know? Three of them were right here in town. His parents?

Yes, Franz and Sara knew, and now clearly Will and Ren and most of Great-Uncle Alphonse's side, but had they been sworn to silence? Or was he over-estimating how far that had reached. Maybe Minxia, Thrakos, Mao, and Jiu were also sworn not to say that they had seen him.

If not, well that did not bode well for his future either.

Ted had read the newspapers Closson brought him, even the new ones, and done every puzzle in them trying to keep his mind from driving him crazy. It had helped, but only temporarily, and not much even then.

The lack of a clock in the room did not help. Ted was not at all aware of the irony of the fact that if he had not thrown his watch at his uncle months ago, he might have at least been able to tell the time.

So all he knew from his decent internal sense of time, was that it was well after lunch, and near to dinner, when the door opened again.

This time, it was not Closson, but Colonel Willis, an officer Ted had never worked with closely, but knew by name because he worked with the military courts. "They're ready for you, Elric." His tone was matter-of-fact, and he displayed no personal feeling about the situation one way or another.

Words he had been dying to hear, yet dreading at the same time. Ted was glad he'd taken to sitting around in most of his uniform so as not to be caught off-guard. He stood, gathering calm around him he hardly felt, and reached for his jacket. "Thank you, Sir. I'm ready."

Willis nodded, then turned, leading the way as Ted followed him down the hall, around the corner, and directly to the door of the Military Court Chamber. While Ted had run through a dozen scenarios in his head, explanations, and ideas of how it might play out, he felt under-prepared as the door opened, and he was motioned inside, with Willis now walking behind him.

Ted had never actually been inside this room. Never had he been in this much trouble, and never had he been asked to testify in a hearing. He realized now as he looked up at a panel consisting entirely of higher ranking officers than himself—mostly Generals, but not all—that he had been very fortunate that none of his other brilliant ideas had landed him here. Of course, that was because most of them had happened during times of conflict, and they had usually had very positive outcomes for Amestris and its allies. This was different.

He moved to the position where he was directed, stood at attention, and waited.

Ted recognized the faces above him, though he had never served under any of them directly. They passed in the hallway, or the mess, or the gym. He saluted when necessary and went on his way. There were no familiar, semi-friendly faces in the room. The only person he recognized was President Heimler, sitting off to the farthest right.
The General sitting in the center, presiding, was grizzled and old, and looked like he should have retired with Ted's grandfather. "Lieutenant Colonel Edward Elric, Proteus Alchemist. You are here today to testify regarding your actions in the past several months, as reported. These reports include crossing a closed international border into a forbidden zone, taking part in military actions in a foreign country against the direct and public orders if the Amestrian government, and in the service of military officials from a foreign nation, against the oaths you swore upon taking your commission as an alchemist in the service of Amestris." He looked up from his notes, and down at Ted with an unreadable yet severe expression. "Are these allegations true?"

Here was his first test. Ted had no way of knowing what his uncle might have told them before this moment. If they had been told that he had done them under orders, as Heimler had implied in the summit meetings, then he had more hope for less severe consequences. If they had been told the unadorned truth; that he had thrown his watch in his uncle's face and run off with no one's permission but his own, then he was dead. Still, he did not want to say anything that might incriminate himself unnecessarily.

"Yes, Sir," Ted began carefully. "They are technically accurate." He hoped that wasn't all he would be allowed to say, but he didn't try to plow forward with an explanation. Not yet, and it would just make him sound guilt-ridden which, in all honesty, he was not.

"It is also reported that you brought six Drachman refugees into Amestris, along with several dozen un-quarantined exotic animals, knowing that the borders were closed and it was illegal to do so." He paused, one eyebrow arched.

"That is also correct, Sir. I did bring Gavril Mihalov and five other Drachman civilians across our border with the Desert to the East, when I returned with my intelligence." He pushed a little further this time. The border had not been the one that was officially closed, even if it was a technicality. He had also brought at least one politically very important person with him who was proving to be incredibly useful to the government. Three, when Niki and Anika were considered, as children of an esteemed Drachman General and government representative, who was even now helping lead the resistance.

Ted did not quite claim that the return had been planned for the timing it had proven to have, but the implication would not hurt him.

More scowling and considering faces above him. Some scribbled notes.

"You will now make a statement regarding your reasons and motivations behind these actions."

That was it? Ted couldn't think of a vaguer and threatening open-ended statement. It wasn't even a question, and he had been given nothing to work with. Of course, that was probably the idea.

Ted nodded briskly. "During our previous operation in Drachma, to retrieve the Amestrian ambassador and civilians in Karmatsk, my team found itself in the favorable if unexpected position of working with members of the Marskaya family, who were instrumental in helping us with that mission. In return, we were able to offer aid in the rescue of key members of the Drachman government who stood against the Zinovek uprising and its political members, while causing extensive damage to their airfields and military aircraft on our way out of the country." That was all in the reports, so none of it should be classified from these men and women. "Through my team's efforts, we developed a working relationship with that branch of the government, and those few remaining with which we had been allied. So, the best place to get real-time intelligence was within the resistance itself, from people to whom we had already proven ourselves reliable. It would also place someone within an appropriate distance to take productive action clandestinely or directly if the opportunity arose."

"How would your presence have been more beneficial than the undercover intelligence operatives already in place?" a woman with Colonel's rank on her uniform asked.

"No offense to intelligence, but they aren't State Alchemists. Our wide scope of abilities and duties makes us much more likely to be able to see the opportunity and take it, including the risks. That, and intelligence is never supposed to reveal itself. Our training allows for more mobile covert operations, and alchemy gives us abilities that others simply don't have to get out of trouble as well."

"Would you have us believe that you got involved with Drachman resistance activities as part of an intelligence gathering mission?" Another General asked from the left.

"It was the only way to blend in to the resistance, continue to have their trust, and see things for myself, Sir," Ted responded, restraining the bristling feeling in his spine. Now was not the time to get defensive, just to defend his actions with facts and hope that his usefulness outweighed his transgressions.

The questions continued in that vein for several more minutes, until they got to the one he had most been dreading. "What is the nature of your relationship with Miss Anika Marksaya, and how has it affected the objectives, motivations, and results of your mission?"

Aside from being his primary motivation for everything? "As I mentioned earlier, Miss Marskaya worked extensively with our team on our first mission into Drachma, assisting us with getting into Karmatsk without being caught, and in our limited work assisting in securing the city for the protection of its citizens until we were able to evacuate the rest of our own people. During that time, we got to know her quite well. It was that connection that dictated my choice of where to go looking for the Drachman resistance." That much, at least, was absolutely true, and as objective as he could make it. "Over the past several months, we have worked together often one-on-one, and… we have grown much closer." He did not know how much they knew. Had they seen Anika? Did they know she was pregnant? Or that he was the father of that child? "As soon as the paperwork is completed that will allow her to legally remain in the country, it is our intention to marry." There, that should be enough. He hoped they were smart enough to realize that having the General's daughter living in Amestris was another ace for them when it came to dealing with Drachma. Ted was just grateful that his soon-to-be father-in-law had not tried to stand in the way.

Given it was his understanding that all of the Drachmans he had brought with him were being given permission to remain in the country as long as they had work there—which easily covered all of the zoo folks, Anika included, since they had all of their animals to care for—that paperwork should not take too long. Weeks at the worst, but he was hoping for days since it was already in process.

There were no comments in response to his statement about marrying specifically. He was taken into a small room off the main one while they deliberated, and was made to sit there in a tiny, cramped space, on a hard stool, in a room where he could hear nothing outside it but the low indistinct murmur of voices. After nearly half an hour, he was brought back in. Everyone was in the same positions they had been earlier.

The old General nodded. "This court has made their decisions and has made the following verdict: Edward Elric, Proteus Alchemist: You are forbidden to leave the borders of Amestris for any reason excepting direct military order for the span of one year. Any attempt to do so will be seen as an act of treason against the country and you will be tried as a criminal. Orders or not, you will go only where you are told and when, on or off duty, for the duration of that time. Additionally, you will not qualify for review for promotion for that same span of a year."

Ted nodded in understanding, but did not speak. So far, it was well within the realms of his expectations. He could live with not making Colonel in the next year. That meant they weren't running him out and leaving him without a job. The first part was interesting, since it implied he or others might be ordered into another country. What it did mean was no visiting any friends or relatives outside the country for any reason, no leaving Central without permission even, and no returning to Drachma of his own volition as he had done previously.

The General continued. "Furthermore, you will be subjected to additional monthly review from your direct superior officer, and those reports will be provided to the President of the Military, and to the members of this Courts martial, with the stipulation that should you receive any unsatisfactory reviews of your performance of your duties in that next year, you may be demoted to Major, or discharged."

Neither of which Ted had previously ruled out as possibilities. He was almost more surprised that they weren't starting there. The reviews would be a pain, but Closson, and Fischer, had always given him very fair reviews, and as long as he towed the line and followed orders and didn't get creative, he would be fine.

"Do you accept the judgment of this court?"

The question was, of course, a formality. Ted's choices were to accept it, or lose his commission. Accepting it meant he would finally be free to go, and no longer required to be locked in a tiny room away from people who needed him, unable to take part in the events unfolding right now that he knew would change the course of history. "Yes, Sir."

Then, shortly, it was over, and he was dismissed. Ted walked out the door into the hallway from which he had come, to find himself gratefully alone, even though he suspected it wouldn't last.

Though the last person he had really expected to see walking toward him down the hallway was President Heimler. He didn't dare think of him as Uncle Franz at the moment. He turned and saluted.

"At ease." Heimler looked at him for several seconds, then relaxed just a hair himself. "You are free to collect your things and return to your own quarters. For the time being, you are assigned to headquarters until further notice, to work specifically with the Drachmans to assist them in settling in and understanding the laws of Amestris. You are officially back, and the official story outside of that room stands; to anyone you speak with, you were under classified orders from me directly to gather further information on the Drachma resistance, using your connections. The attempts to track you leaving the country were in part a ruse to cover Amestris' ass so the Zinoveks and Savahin couldn't claim Amestris was meddling in Drachman affairs if you were discovered."

Ted nodded. "I understand, and I'll stick to the story. May I ask a question, Sir?"

"You may ask, Lieutenant Colonel."

"Why?" As much as he'd like to think his uncle was being kind, he knew better than to assume that his law-abiding relative and ultimate boss would do anything that could be construed as nepotism. "Given what they seem to believe in there, what is the difference between letting everyone go on thinking I lost my head and ran off to find some Drachman girl and happened to stumble into useful information, and using the cover story? I mean besides the altruistic element of not undermining my credibility and entire career."

"It keeps up the image that Amestris has the State Alchemists under control," Heimler pointed out, "And that our officers follow orders."

Of course. "Yes, Sir."

They stared at each other for a minute, and finally his uncle's expression softened, ever so slightly. "The men and women under your command still need to respect and trust you. If your superiors can't, then they have no reason to. As long as we both stick to the story, the chain of command is preserved. Step out of line again, and there will be nothing even I can do."

Ted nodded again. "I understand, and I won't. You have my word."

"I hope so." With that, he pulled something out of his pocket, and held out Ted's watch. "You'll be needing this."

Ted's hand closed around the cool, familiar metal. "Thank you."

Aldon tried to keep calm as he and Cassie rode with Sara over to the Drachman Embassy which was, where he had been told, Ted would be found this evening. Sara had picked them up directly at the train station, filling them in on the news of the day; good news, that Ted still had his commission. That visas were in process for Anika and her colleagues, and no one was being ejected from the country. It also meant they didn't have to pretend that no one knew Ted was back in the country.

They had declined stopping anywhere to get dinner first, preferring to go straight to their son. Beside him, Cassie was anxious and eager, two moods that had been growing the entire trip to Central.

While it was a fairly short drive, it felt like an eternity. Still, before long they had pulled through the gates of the Drachman Embassy, and pulled up to the large house at the end of the drive. "I should probably tell you, that Ted doesn't know you're coming," Sara grinned as she put the car in park. "I told him that I had called and let you know he was alive, but he's probably tried to call your house this afternoon."

"If he called Mom and Dad, they'd have told him we were on our way here, wouldn't they?" Aldon asked as he opened the door and got out. Cassie had already bounded out the other side.

"Only if I hadn't told them not to." Sara's grin turned smug. "Though that was mostly to keep information distribution to a minimum, because a lot of what's happening is still not yet for public consumption."

"Understood." Aldon knew that meant he and Cassie were probably going to see and hear several things in the next few days, particularly here, that they might not be able to repeat. He was fine with that. Though the last time he had been in the close vicinity of more than two Drachmans was when he had fought in the war.

They were met at the door by a Drachman woman who introduced herself as one of the Ambassador's aides, and they were escorted down the main hallway. They passed several rooms on their way, but it was clear that they were being led somewhere specific. Ahead of him he could hear the soft murmur of voices. They reached an area where both sides widened out into larger open archways, and he saw an empty dining room to the left as they were led around to the right, into what proved to be a very large sitting room, with multiple groups of chairs and couches, clearly designed for entertaining.

There, sitting on a couch, one arm resting on the back and around the arms of a lovely blond woman, smiling as they talked quietly, was his youngest son.

At the angle they were sitting, the woman—who must be Anika—saw them first. She stopped talking and made a nodding gesture, and Ted paused and turned. Then his eyes widened. "Mom? Dad?" He stood, and Aldon took in the details. Months of rough living had definitely made his son even leaner, and with his hair grown out enough he had it pulled back in a low tail, the resemblance between Ted and Aldon's father were even more striking. "What are you doing here?"

"Well there's a fine hello," Aldon replied gruffly, though he smiled. "We've been on a train for three days just to see you."

Any formality or decorum was destroyed as Cassie moved forward, gathering her son in her arms and hugging him fiercely. "Edward, if you ever run off like that again I will ground you until you're sixty."

Ted looked stunned for only a moment, then started laughing as he hugged her back. "Don't worry, Mom. We're not going anywhere."

Aldon took the few steps forward needed to pull them both into his arms. Through the shirt, he could feel how lean Ted had grown. "Didn't they feed you in Drachma?"

"Not really." Ted squeezed him back tightly. Though he let go of them before they let go of him. "Dad, Mom, there's someone I'd like to introduce you to."

While they had been hugging, Anika had stood up, and was waiting expectantly, but patiently. Up close, Aldon could tell she was definitely pretty, with near-white blonde hair, braided back but so long the braid fell most of the way down her back. Though it was not a soft kind of beauty. There was something in her eyes that reminded him of his own mother, or Riza Hawkeye. There was experience there, and probably danger if you got on her bad side. He remembered how before he had left, Ted had mentioned more than once what a crack shot she was with a rifle. That, coupled with her choice of working with large wild carnivores for a living, definitely belied a strong will, no matter the soft, slightly nervous smile on her face in this particular moment.

Ted reached back, and clasped her hand as he looked at her, then back at them.

Anika stepped forward. "Anika Marskaya," she introduced herself. "It is an honor to meet you."

"Aldon Elric." Aldon held out his hand, shaking Anika's free hand in greeting. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you in person."

"Cassandra," Cassie introduced herself, shaking hands as well, though it was clear she would probably have hugged the other woman if that might not have been too forward. "It's nice to meet you, Anika."

Aldon could only too well remember the first time he had seen Cassie's parents when they first returned from Briggs, very-quickly married and Cassie pregnant with Coran. Neither set of parents had been particularly pleased with the situation, even though they had no objections to them marrying in general.

This was thankfully a different situation.

Aldon decided to break the ice. It was clear that both Ted and Anika, however calm they appeared externally, were more anxious about this meeting than he was, or even Cassie. "So, I hear today is full of good news." He looked askance at his son.

Ted picked up on it, and nodded, relaxing ever so slightly. "You mean that they're not executing me for treason?" he quipped, then looked sorry when Cassie winced. "You heard correctly. Aside from a few stipulations on me remaining inside Amestrian borders on all of my non-existent upcoming vacations, I've still got my commission, and my rank. They've also approved Anika and the others for work visas, so as soon as the paperwork is done, they won't have to remain at the Embassy or the zoo under guard all of the time. Which will make it much easier for us to plan."

That seemed to be the opening Cassie had been waiting for, because she nodded eagerly. "You have a lot of planning to do," she commented, in words that were general but laden with meaning.

Meanings that Ted obviously picked up on: he knew his mother. He smiled. "Yes, we do. And while I'm still surprised you got here this fast, I'm glad, because one of the first things we need to do before we can do anything that requires both of our names on anything is get married. The visas are supposed to be official on the twenty-third, so we thought, as long as there were no other delays, we would go down and get the license and sign the papers on the twenty-fourth. I mean, it's not any kind of a wedding but given how insane things have been, we'd just like to quietly get it taken care of. But, I know we'd both appreciate it if you were there. We'll need witnesses."

"Really?" Cassie's eyes lit up, even as she looked between them. "You're sure?"

It was Anika who nodded in the affirmative. "It wouldn't feel right without you. My father will understand. When this is all over, we can all celebrate together."

"You wouldn't object to a little family get-together though, would you?" Cassie asked. "I can take care of everything."

Ted's smile widened. "I've never been one to turn down festivities in my honor, but it's not just my party. What do you think?" he looked at Anika.

For her part, she had relaxed considerably. "I think it sounds lovely. Thank you."