Ch.5
"Reichsminister, ich verbiete es, wir können es nicht zulassen, sir!" Ambassador Reiss said as he looked at Karl from across his desk and Karl looked up from a file evenly.
"Sie verbieten es, Botschafter?" Karl asked and Reiss' eyes widened slightly as he realized his mistake but Oberfuhrer Diels stepped in.
"Ich glaube , was er meint, ist…"
"It matters not," Klaus said as he brought his fist down on the desk, bringing the two men to a quick silence. He breathed out, "While our security worked effectively in getting me out of a dangerous, unclear situation, it appeared suspicious," He said as he raised his eyebrows, "And rightfully so, think of what our Reich would have thought had the roles been reversed." Reiss looked at Diels who was watching Karl closely, "What the Kempeitai are asking is reasonable gentlemen." He said and Diels shook his head.
"Nein, this contract would give them the ability to do with you what they would. You would be signing over your safety, your well-being, to a bunch of...of inferior…" He began but Karl raised a hand.
"And the alternative Oberfuhrer Diels," He said as he looked at him, "Could well be war. Jetzt bin ich bereit, viele Sachen auf meinem bewussten zu haben, aber nicht diesen Krieg," Karl said, "Nicht diesen Krieg." He nodded then breathed in, "I understand what this document means as I hope you both do as well." He said as he raised his eyebrows, "Officially, I am conducting business in Japan essential to the Reich, namely the renewal of ties between our great nations following this tragedy." Karl said as he picked up a pen and bent over the document, "That explains my absence." He said as he looked at them, "If you break this silence and I live through this…" He said and his eyes completed the threat for them both, convincing them in that moment to hold their silence, "Wenn ich nur an das Schicksal glaubte." He said as he bit his lip and smiled wanly, "Zur holle damit." He said and signed the bottom line above which he put his official seal and had Diels and Reiss sign it as well. He straightened up and looked at them then nodded sharply, "We all must be willing to do what we must for our Reich, for our Fuhrer, regardless of rank or personal opinion." He said then he gave the file to Reiss, "Send it to the Japanese." Karl said as he sealed the file, "And keep your silence." He said as he adjusted his tie.
The two men thought Karl was insane, but their respect for him eclipsed this feeling as they watched him straighten his suit and pull a cigarette packet from his jacket. He offered them each one but they refused. He put it in his mouth and lit it then breathed in and nodded, leaving his lighter and cigarette pack on the table, "Viel gluck, ich sehe euch beide bald." He said as he smoked and scratched his eye. The two men snapped smart salutes and Karl looked at them for a moment then returned the salute and walked out, never looking back once. He only paused for a moment, when he was standing outside of the embassy, at the checkpoint. He had left all of his official documents in the embassy and he put his left hand in his pocket with a grimace as he walked across the line, into the Pacific States.
As he approached the tall buildings, he could see the Kempeitai up ahead, Kido standing in front of them, his tall forbidding physique looked more shadow than man, all except for his spectacles which gleamed in the light. Karl walked up to them, just behind the cover of the buildings and in a wide alley so that no one from the embassy or any passing citizen would look twice.
He took the cigarette from his mouth and flicked it into a puddle in the alley as he looked at the eager young Kempeitai guardsmen, "I would ask you to remind them, watashi wa jibun no jiyu ishi de kita." He said and the guardsmen looked at him in shock at his impeccable Japanese.
"Reichsminister," Kido said with a bow, "Allow my men to escort you to our headquarters." He said as Sergeant Yoshida moved his arm and six men jogged over to Karl, three on each side of him, all of them with rifles. Kido watched Karl's face and Karl nodded and raised his eyebrows.
"The file is at your office, I take it you will uphold your end."
"Neither of us wants a war." Kido said and Karl nodded then walked with his escort to the waiting truck. He paused for a moment and Kido watched as he squared his jaw and got into the truck.
"Sergeant, an interview room only." He said as he watched the truck leave, "And no one knows his true identity save us two. To everybody else, he is a citizen of the Pacific States, of our Empire."
"Hai." Yoshida said as he bowed.
Karl was escorted into the large Kempeitai building and he was led up some stairs and into an interview room. The guards never spoke a word, their rifles only clicked slightly as they shifted the bolts or changed their grip on the wooden handles. He was left in the room alone with guards outside the door and he let out a pent up breath as he looked around at the cement walls and the metal door and heavy metal table bolted to the cement floor. There was a metal drain in the middle of the floor and Karl smiled wanly when he saw it, metal drains and cement were always the easiest way to clean up a mess. He took off his suit jacket and draped it over the back of his chair as he put a hand in his pocket and walked across the room to look at a dark mirror intently. He turned slowly as he heard the door open and he saw Inspector Kido enter the room and place a thick file on the table, "Please." Kido said as he put out his arm. He watched Karl move across the room with his slight limp and he studied Karl's bruised face as he took his seat, "You have a very prominent limp, Mr. Rommel." He said as he took his seat slowly and looked at Karl with a grimace, "Not something a person of...eighteen years," He said as he looked up from the file, back at Karl, "Often has."
Karl nodded, "No," He said, "But much like you I have struggled with the Resistance in my life."
"They killed your mother." Kido said emotionlessly as he looked down at the file.
Karl looked at him for a moment, "They nearly killed me." He said and Kido looked up at him, "I have hunted these people all across the world, I would not help them attack your Crown Prince." He said then raised his eyebrows, "If that's who you suspect did this."
"We are considering all possibilities." Kido said as he gave Karl a smile that was more a grimace than anything else.
Karl looked at him for a moment, "I do wish you luck Inspector and I hope you take that seriously. You must have a very finite time before your honor requires you to take action." He said and Kido looked at him for a moment then breathed in sharply.
"Luck will not help me do my job, but cooperation may." He said with a wan smile and Karl looked at him for a moment and nodded, "You are a leading member of the Reich at the age of eighteen." He said and Karl looked at him as he flipped through the file slowly, "You have an intelligence quotient of…" He said then looked up, "185." He said and Karl looked at him evenly, "You are well-renowned for your boxing talents, you have participated in many operations for the Reich, you are...an invaluable asset."
"No man is invaluable, no one irreplaceable."
"Do you know who shot the Crown Prince?" He asked as he looked up at Karl.
"Of course not." Karl said.
"Then why, Mr. Rommel was there an extraction plan so well established for you that before security could lock the perimeter down, you were back on Reich soil?"
"You would have to ask Oberfuhrer Axmann." Karl said, "I am not in charge of my own security." He said and Kido looked at him for a moment.
"Oberfuhrer Axmann was taken by the Resistance earlier this morning, we are unaware of his location." He said evenly as he looked down at the file and Karl's eyebrows shot up in shock.
"You mean…" Karl began as Kido raised his eyebrows and studied him closely, "He's dead?"
"We do not know, though I highly doubt the Resistance would go to such efforts to capture him alive, only to kill him." He said as he looked at Karl, "You are more than colleagues."
"We grew up together, our families are close."
Kido nodded as he looked down at the file, "I will be very honest with you Mr. Rommel, myself and Sergeant Yoshida are the only ones who know your identity, the rest of the Kempeitai believe you to be a citizen of the Empire," He said and Karl looked at him for a moment then nodded, "Why would a high-ranking official such as yourself sign away any sense of security you had and hand yourself over to us?"
"You sent the papers Inspector." Karl said, "Why would you send those papers not expecting me to sign them?" He asked but Kido was just looking at him. Karl grimaced slightly then nodded, "We have had to make sacrifices for our country, both of us…" He said and he breathed out, "My safety, my security was worth forfeiting if it meant avoiding a war." He said and Kido looked at him for a moment then looked at the mirror and nodded.
"There is one last thing, Reichsminister before we release you." He said as he stood and the door opened to reveal a doctor, "A suspect involved in the shooting was shot by one of my men in the chest, if you would remove your shirt." He said and Karl looked at him for a moment then nodded and loosened his tie. He slipped it over his head, placing it on the table then he unbuttoned his shirt but before he moved to pull it apart he looked at Kido.
"You will see...damage." He said then he removed his shirt quickly to reveal a thin, but very well-muscled frame with broad shoulders and a small waist. Kido grimaced as he studied Karl unabashedly until his eyes found the tip of a scar, it ran across Karl's left rib cage and as the doctor leaned in to study it closer, he had Karl turn and the full extent of the trauma of the attack became apparent. There was extensive scarring running down Karl's left rib cage and across to his back and, Kido wagered, to his hip which explained the limp. The doctor ran his fingers lightly over the scarring before he moved on to examine the rest of Karl's chest.
When he was finished he straightened up and bowed to Kido as he shook his head. Kido gave a curt bow back as Karl slipped his shirt back on and began to button it slowly as the doctor said something in Kido's ear before he left. Kido watched Karl closely as he finished buttoning the shirt and put his tie around his neck, returning Kido's gaze as he tucked his shirt in and nodded, "You should have died." Kido said and Karl raised his eyebrows.
"If I always did what I was supposed to Inspector, it would be a far less interesting world." Karl said as he sat back down, "Satisfied I'm not your...mystery suspect?" He asked as Kido sat down as well.
"One more question," Kido said as he breathed in, "Who were the men assigned to cover the buildings from your Reich?"
Karl looked at him for a moment, "I don't know Inspector." He said and Kido looked at him and nodded.
"Then I will not keep you." He said as he stood.
Karl stood as well and donned his jacket then he paused, "You are not what I expected." He said and Kido raised his eyebrows as he turned to face Karl once more.
He grimaced, "What exactly were you expecting?" He asked as he clasped his hands behind his back.
"I expected you to take advantage of my weakness here. I expected to be held and questioned about Reich secrets, to be tortured," Karl said and Kido nodded.
"We are both honorable men." Kido said, "My duty is to find who shot the Crown Prince. I am not a monster." He said and Karl and he locked eyes for a moment. Karl nodded and bowed sharply. Kido returned the bow as he opened the door, "Allow me the privilege of walking you back to the embassy."
Karl inclined his head as they walked side by side through the building together, drawing some strange looks and stares from those who saw them. Karl walked with his hands clasped behind his back and with his light brown-hair and blue eyes, unassuming, limping gait and young face, one would never think of him as the asset and danger he was, Kido thought as he looked sideways at Karl, "You have a family, Chief Inspector." Karl said and Kido noticed it was far more of a statement then a question.
"A wife and two children." He said and Karl nodded, "I suspect it will not be long before you know that joy."
Karl let a wan smile cross his face as he looked around at the grey, cloudy day, "She would have a lot to put up with I'm afraid." He said and Kido nodded.
"We have our burdens, they have theirs."
"I can understand why you wouldn't bring them to San Francisco. It is still very much the….wild west, ja?" Karl said with a smile as he nodded.
Kido looked at Karl, he was very much a young man in his sense of humor and the way he viewed things such as romance, but his eyes had seen horrible things and his hands were stained with the horrible deeds he'd done. Kido found that what he most felt when he looked at Karl, the feeling that eclipsed his respect for the young man, was pity. When one so young is asked to shoulder such responsibility and bear such hardship it causes lasting damage and a ripple in their life that will forever mark them, Kido thought. Karl was stuck in between being that athletic, joking child that he could have been and the cold, calculating Nazi official he had to be and Kido could see it was tearing him apart. He didn't doubt that Karl probably drank and smoked more than most and he didn't doubt that whoever fell in love with the quiet, handsome, unassuming young man would have a lot to break through and polish up. He raised his eyebrows a fraction, his wife certainly had, "Perhaps one day." He said pointedly as he scanned the crowd.
"Inspector, who took Oberfuhrer Axman?"
Kido breathed in sharply, "We have apprehended a worker who has, for some time, been allowing certain persons in and out of the city without properly performing his duties." He said as they approached the embassy, "He is in custody."
Karl looked at Kido and Kido, for the first time that day saw a spark of cruelty in his young eyes, "May I speak with this man?" He asked and Kido considered the question for a moment.
"Of course, Reichsminister, I will have the times available forwarded to your office." He said as they stopped by the line delineating where the Reich territory started. The Nazi guards, upon seeing Karl, had begun to walk towards the line as the Kempeitai did the same on the opposite side upon seeing Chief Inspector Kido.
Karl nodded then clenched his jaw, "Oberfuhrer Axman and myself served together in an uncertain time in both of our lives. We are brothers, Inspector." He said as Kido watched him closely, "I will use any and all means necessary to ensure his safe return."
"We both will, Reichsminister, though I would remind you that he is within the territory of the Empire of Japan and not that of the Reich." Kido said and Karl looked at him, both men understanding exactly what the other meant. The guards were drawing closer and Karl saw the Nazi officials pointing weapons at the approaching Kempeitai. Karl put up a hand as he continued to study Kido's face.
"Of course Chief Inspector, I believe it has been made abundantly clear that the last thing either of us wants is an incident." He said then he snapped his heels together and delivered a sharp bow which Kido returned. They looked at each other for a moment longer then Karl turned and walked across the line into Reich territory where Kido watched as each of the guardsmen snapped a precise and official salute that Karl returned before shaking all of the men's hands and saying something that caused them all to laugh. Kido turned to face the Kempeitai guardsmen and he looked at their young faces for a moment before he swept past them and headed back into the city.
Hans sat in a chair across from Ip and Henry. He hadn't said a word since Ip had stopped talking five minutes ago and both Henry and Ip were watching him intently as he looked at the ground and furrowed his brow, deep in thought. He breathed in sharply but didn't stop looking at the ground as he began speaking, "What you are telling me I must do is treason. It betrays everything I was ever taught, everything I believe, every value I hold." He said as he shook his head, "On the word of two Resistance fighters, two of my enemies, two men who would be happy to see me dead in a gutter."
There was silence for a moment, "Two men who, like yourself do not want to watch the world destroy itself." Ip said and Hans looked up at him, "You have shown a capacity for altruism. You care for people because they are people not because it benefits you or because they are Reich citizens." Ip continued and Hans looked up at him, his eyes almost pleading for an explanation, "These tapes can save this world or they can condemn it, all based on the actions of individuals like you and me." He said, "There are hard things we must all do for a greater good and this is the only greater good." He said and Hans looked at him, "There is a reason you didn't turn in the tape immediately."
Hans already knew what he would do, he knew all about the tapes, he knew the Fuhrer needed them, but he also knew his only chance to get out of this alive was to play along. He breathed out and looked at the ground, "It's in the Embassy, but I can't get in and then out after such a long absence, not with Diels sniffing about. He'll have me sent back to Berlin for a debrief as soon as I set foot on Reich soil."
"Do you have someone in there that you can trust?" Henry asked as he crossed his arms.
Hans shook his head then stopped and looked up at them, all his moves choreographed perfectly, "Maybe." He said, "But I'd have to call him."
Henry walked over to a desk in the corner and brought over a phone, "So do it." He said.
Karl was sitting in his room when his personal line rang. He breathed out and drained the rest of his drink before he picked it up on the second ring, "Hallo," He said.
"Karl, it's Hans." A scratchy voice said and Karl furrowed his brow and leaned forward.
"Hans, what the hell is this…"He said as his eyes widened.
"Listen Karl, I need to ask a favor." He said then there was silence for a moment, "All men must accept aid at some point." He said and immediately Karl reached for a pen and paper. It was code meaning that everything he said next was not to be listened to, but each of the first letters of the next four words he spoke would spell out what he needed, "Knowledge is distracting often in our line of work, but I have need of it now." He said and Karl wrote down KIDO on a pad of paper then listened intently.
"Of course...I thought you were still investigating the Crown Prince's assassination."
"This may be a part of it, in my room is a tape. I need you to bring that tape to the abandoned warehouse next to the Chinese restaurant on Powell, do you understand?" Hans asked.
Karl breathed out, "This is a strange request Hans, are you alright?"
"Yes, but I don't want Oberfuhrer Diels breathing down my neck, ja?" He said, a clear signal to only involve Kido and not their own forces.
"Well I can certainly understand that." Karl said then breathed out, "Alright Hans," He said, playing reluctant to keep Hans safe, "I'll be there, but you have to give me a day, Diels is leaving for a trip up the coast later today, it will allow me time to sneak about, though I do seem to draw attention."
Hans let out a soft chuckle as Ip and Henry listened in closely to the call, "Ja, well I didn't imbue you with wicked intelligence. I'll see you in a day Karl." He said then hung up.
"Karl," Henry said as he put down his receiver and looked at Hans, "Karl Rommel? Reichsminister Karl Rommel?" He asked and Hans looked at him evenly then breathed out and stood.
"I need some fresh air."
"This is perfect, get the tape and take out a senior official." Henry said and Hans stopped as he stood shoulder to shoulder with the young man.
He looked at Henry and spoke quietly, "I will kill you before you touch a hair on Karl's head." He said and Ip saw both of the young men preparing for a real fight this time. Before anything could happen Ip was between them. He delivered a palm strike to Henry's chest, knocking him back several feet as he simultaneously bent Hans' arm behind his back, putting pressure on his left shoulder and bringing him to his knees as he stood over him.
"Zou kai," He said to Henry who looked at them for a moment as Hans breathed heavily through his nose and looked at Henry, fire in his eyes as Ip kept up the pressure on his joint, before he turned and walked outside haughtily. Ip could feel Hans' strength, but he could also tell Hans was in pain, "Your friend will not be harmed." Ip said as he looked down at Hans, "Do you understand?" He asked and Hans let out a breath.
"Yes." He said as he breathed out in pain. Ip let go and stepped back as Hans immediately grabbed his shoulder and stood.
"Henry is young and he lost everything in the war, everything." Ip said as Hans looked at him and furrowed his brow, "He was too young to fully recognize his loss at the time, but it has become apparent since then," Ip said and Hans furrowed his brow as he studied Ip's face then he breathed out.
"We all lost something during that war." Hans said and he genuinely felt for the boy, "I see a lot of myself in him." He said then looked at Ip with a wan smile, "Maybe that's why we don't get along."
Ip looked at Hans for a moment, he didn't for one moment believe that Hans was on their side, but he had to believe Hans would help them. The reality was that they were desperate for this tape, and in the wake of the Crown Prince's shooting, it was just the time to exploit the chaos and go in for a high value target. Ip's face never betrayed his thoughts as he puzzled out the best course of action, he had no choice but to send in Hans and trust him, worst case scenario they would kill Hans and remain in the city to assist Karen in retrieving another tape from the Yakuza. He breathed out, "Clear your head and walk, it is beautiful here." He said and Hans looked at him in confusion as he watched him leave then he walked slowly outside to see that he was in a small shed that was a part of a larger complex with a well kept garden in the middle and a simple house to his left. The complex was right on the edge of a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean and all around them was nothing but trees and grassland and mountains.
Hans smiled wanly, now he understood why Ip had let him walk outside alone, there was nowhere to go, no place to run to for miles at least. He looked out over the Pacific Ocean and ran his fingers through his blonde hair as he looked out over the ocean, "Das ist richtig, das ist das richtige." He muttered to himself and he knew it was true but he furrowed his brow as he wondered why, if it was right, it felt like betrayal.
Henry was sitting on a rock by the cliffs, his eyes closed as he attempted to focus in on the ocean noise. Memories kept interrupting his thoughts, images and voices that he would, above all else wish to forget. They kept getting louder and louder until he finally couldn't stand it any longer. He planted his hands on the ground and kicked up with all his strength, striking a low branch on a tree near him and breaking it off of the tree with a loud snap as his feet sailed in an arc through the air until they were planted firmly on the ground once more and he was standing, facing the ocean never having opened his eyes, "You never did take to meditation." Ip said softly and Henry breathed out as he opened his eyes and turned to face Ip, "I am sending you with him." He said and Henry raised his eyebrows in shock, "It is time." He said as he stepped up to Henry.
Henry put his right fist in his left hand and bowed respectfully, "Thank you Ip Sifu," He said as he looked up, determination in his eyes.
"Remember all that I have taught you, you will need to use it all. Remember that martial arts must be practiced and used in a state of benevolence, and remember that there are times to fight and there will be times to run." Ip said and Henry looked at him as he furrowed his brow. Ip put a hand on Henry's shoulder, "Ni shi wo de erzi." He said and Henry inclined his head, "You must allow what will be to be." Ip said, "The universe has a plan for us all and there is no use struggling to avoid the inevitable, it is our calling to allow the waves to push us, not to break through them." Ip said and Henry nodded.
"I will not fail you."
Ip smiled, "I know you will not." He said, "Do not trust him, he has had years of indoctrination, he may be planning something. If that happens, you must take his life then find Karen and help her in any way you can. Make no mistake, you are a major player in this fight, if the Japanese find you it will not be easy but if the Reich finds you…"
Henry nodded, "The son of Churchill, I'm guessing it will be far more unpleasant."
Ip looked at Henry, "Trust yourself Henry, trust your heart." He said as he placed a hand over Henry's chest then grasped his shoulder and pulled him into a warm embrace. Henry breathed out as they broke the embrace and he nodded as Ip smiled then sunk into a fighting stance.
"You sure you're not tired Sifu?" Henry asked jokingly as he put his hands up, "I wouldn't want you…" He began but Ip had darted forward and thrown a punch. Henry immediately blocked it and made to return the blow but Ip expertly blocked it with his forearm and slid it off to one side, delivering a quick blow to Henry's face that Henry barely felt since he was recoiling from the blow in anticipation at the same time Ip made to land it. As he was leaning back from the blow he brought his left arm to shove Ip's arm away as he struck out with his right hand. Ip raised his eyebrows in his emotionally neutral look he always had whilst fighting as he reached up with his left hand to block the blow quickly.
This fighting style was so quick the average person would miss the nuances in what was happening as they moved in a slight circle, kicking up loose dirt with their quick foot movements and sharp kicks. Their upper bodies, while held upright in perfect form and alignment of the spine, seemed to be loose but their arms were a blur of movement as blows were exchanged. They continued practicing until finally Ip saw an opening and he punched through with his body, grasping Henry's neck and turning the boy's own momentum against him as he flipped him to his back, brought him down and raised his fist in what would have been a devastating blow to Henry's face. Henry let out a pent up breath as Ip let his head down slowly and he laid on the rock. Ip stepped back and nodded as he bowed respectfully, "It was a good fight." He said, "You have improved greatly."
Henry got up and sighed, "It's been nearly ten years." Henry said and furrowed his brow as he looked at Ip.
Ip smiled, "In fifteen years you will beat me no problem," He said and Henry looked at him skeptically, "Every man gets old, no one is invincible." He said then he smiled as he looked at Henry, "Practice then," He said reading Henry's body language, "But come in soon and eat and sleep." He said and Henry nodded as Ip nodded then walked away. As soon as he turned his back on Henry, worry furrowed Ip's otherwise smooth forehead.
Hans was sitting on the cliffside with his legs dangling down the rock wall. He looked down at his side to see that red spots were seeping through his shirt. He got up slowly and breathed out as he raised his arm and looked at it, "Come," Ip said as he walked over to Hans, "I'll look at it." He said and Hans looked up at him.
"Why didn't you have them kill me? It couldn't be just about some magic tape." Hans said and Ip looked at him. Ip never once trusted Hans, not for a moment, but he found that he wanted to. He was so young, Ip thought as he looked at Hans. Too young to have done, to have seen what he had seen, but then again they all were. He didn't know if it was a product of him getting older or simply of perspective but every soldier, every Resistance member, they all looked like children to him and he felt for them all.
"I saw you," Ip said simply then turned and walked towards the house.
Hans followed him and breathed in, "What does that mean?"
"I saw the real you," He said, "The one who helps orphaned, hungry children, not the one who shoots a man in an alley at night." He said as they walked into the quaint house. Ip turned as he heard Hans' footsteps stop and he looked at Hans who was watching him, "It may surprise you to hear this, Oberfuhrer Axmann, but you are not a bad man, try as you might." He said and Hans looked at Ip.
"You don't know me," Hans said quietly, not in an offensive or childish tone, simply declarative. Ip looked at him for a moment then put his arm out to indicate that Hans should sit. Hans put his coat on the back of the chair and unbuttoned his shirt revealing his bare chest.
Ip put a basin of water with a white cloth draped over its side on the table next to the chair and he set clean bandages next to the basin. Hans shrugged his shirt off and sat completely bare-chested as Ip looked at the dirty, blood-stained bandages closely. He unraveled them with a gentle hand as Hans stared at the ground in front of him. As he worked his eyes ran over knife wounds and various scars, but he caught sight of another bullet scar on Hans' chest and he furrowed his brow very slightly as he pulled away the last of the bandages to reveal the stitched wound. Hans barely moved a muscle as Ip soaked the cloth in water and washed the wound. The only indication he had that Hans was in pain was the fact that Hans was gripping his knees tightly, other than that, the boy had not moved an inch. Ip finished cleaning it then rebandaged it quickly and expertly.
Hans stood, nodded his thanks and turned to walk back outside, "Do you know yourself?" Ip asked and Hans paused for a moment, halfway through the door before he continued walking.