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Games without Frontiers

Chapter 34: When the Wrong Word Goes in the Right Ear

Rating: T

Soundtrack: One Thing Leads to Another – The Fixx

The rest of the Ball went by without incident. Eventually, Colonel did come to her and claim his dance from her – the last dance of the evening, to be exact.

"It's all right, Captain," he said, placing his hands properly on her shoulder and at her waist. "That ass Archer is gone."

Riza relaxed at that bit of news. "What did he say to you, Colonel? I don't think I've ever seen you that upset in a setting like this." It was the best she could do to let him know that he had skated on very thin ice back there.

He took the hint. "I apologize. He was... he actually implied that your condition might become a detriment to my unit."

"What?" Riza managed to keep her voice down.

The Colonel nodded. "Exactly. Apparently, he's of the school that pregnant soldiers are an inconvenience to the military and should be shelved until they give birth." That spark of anger was back in his eye, although to anyone looking he was properly neutral. "Oh, he didn't quite say it in those words, but that was the gist."

"Colonel, when we find out what the hell he's after, can I empty a clip into him?" She smiled with false cheer. "Please?"

He chuckled. "I might consider it your sworn duty as a proper soldier of this man's army."

"I certainly hope you didn't react toward what he said the way you did after he left," she said quietly.

"Of course not. As much as I wanted to incinerate him for even implying such a thing, I didn't think the sludge spot he would have left behind would have been an acceptable decoration for such an event."

"I think you and Hughes should go have a few drinks after this," she suggested. "Gracia has invited me to take tea with her this evening."

"Isn't that kind of late for tea?" he asked, frowning.

"Gracia saw Doctor Winters when she was carrying Elysia," Riza said simply. The Colonel had no further comment for her.

Edward finally appeared from his hiding place, having realized that the ball was almost over. Still disgruntled to be there, Riza was surprised to see that he managed to maintain his immaculate appearance.

"Did you enjoy your first Officers' Ball, Edward?" she asked him, noticing the light smell of cigarette tobacco around his person. She wondered how much time he'd gotten to spend with Jean.

"It was okay," he muttered reluctantly. "As long as I don't have to speak to too many more of these old blow-hard generals."

She chuckled. "It is part of the job, Edward."

"Not my part."

Riza shook her head. The saw Gracia gesturing at her and moved toward the black car that awaited them.

Inside, Riza kicked off the little slippers and wriggled her toes. "I have been dying to do that!"

Gracia laughed and did the same. "Damned inconvenient things," she said. "You know, if you are very tired, you are more than welcome to a bed. I'm sure I have some spare clothes from my time."

Riza smiled in wholehearted gratitude. "I think I'll take you up on that."

In the small, but comfortably furnished quarters, she waited while Gracia checked on her daughter. "Sleeping like an angel," she said as she came into the front room. "It's a good thing her father isn't here with me, or she would wake up and be awake half the night."

"Hm... I'm not sure I'm looking forward to that part of this thing," Riza said.

"I wanted to ask you..." Gracia actually looked a bit uncomfortable as she made herself busy making coffee.

"Gracia, please. Your husband and the Colonel have been friends since they knew how to get themselves into trouble together," Riza said. "I would like us to become friends as well. Feel free to speak freely." Because she was intending to do just that herself.

"Does the idea of having this baby worry you?" Gracia asked. "I mean, as far as your duties go."

"Almost every other day," Riza admitted, taking the cup from her. "The bigger I get, the more I worry about being able to perform properly." Her eyes grew troubled. "It's important that I stay active for as long as I can."

Gracia nodded. "I understand. You and Roy have been a team for years." She tilted her head. "What took the two of you so long to...solidify your relationship?"

"I never actually thought it was possible," Riza shrugged. "And I had no idea that the Col – Roy – had those kind of feelings for me."

"You had feelings for him this whole time?"

Riza shook her head. "Actually, when I first met him, face to face, we were very young. I couldn't stand him." She smiled in remembrance. "I thought him the most arrogant little piss-ant in the world."

"Yet later, you still decided to work for him."

"It didn't take me long to realize it was an act, for the benefit of those who wanted him to be that way."

"I'm glad you said that," Gracia said. "Roy is not only a good friend of my husband's; he is a good friend of mine." She gave Riza an intense look. "I was very glad when Maes decided to work his magic on the two of you. He needs someone like you in his life, beyond the military. Beyond all of his plans and machinations."

Riza nodded. "I know," she said quietly.

Gracia changed tracks again. "What is it that you wanted to ask me about Doctor Winters?"

Riza blinked. "How–?"

"I think I picked up some of my husband's more...inquisitive habits over the years. When I said her name, your eyes told me a lot. I know you're seeing her. She is the one all of the...special cases go to."

"Why did you go to her?" Riza hedged a little.

Gracia looked at her. "You know why."

Riza nodded. "I wasn't sure if I should say anything. Did... did that woman ask you anything about Maes' abilities?"

"God, yes. She was curious from the beginning to the end. It's an obsession for her, I believe."

"And...Did anything strange happen to you...while you carried Elysia?"

Gracia shook her head. "Nothing beyond the oddest dreams. Nothing that I can remember. I don't think Elysia has any of the abilities, anyway."

"Do you believe that the abilities are hereditary?"

"I know Maes does."

Riza put down the coffee cup before she dropped it. "What did you say?"

Gracia nodded. "He does. You know that all alchemists have a sphere of study that they specialize in, aside from their special 'weapon' as it were?" She laughed. "His sphere is that of... conundrums. Puzzles, mysteries. Finding solutions to problems. Figuring out how things became the way they were. Like exactly what makes an alchemist...tick. And why."

Riza should have expected that.

"That was why he sent me to Doctor Winters, actually. She expressed an interest in the same thing, so..."

"Didn't you mind?"

"Oh, of course I did!" Gracia frowned. "He and I had many an argument about it. I didn't appreciate being one of his... theoretical experiments. And I told him if he was thinking of the same thing with you that I would cave his head in for him."

Riza chuckled. "You two are a match made in heaven, you know that?"

"I did from the moment I met him," Gracia nodded. "It took him a little longer. Nefarious influences, if you catch my meaning. Anyway, then I met Doctor Winters." She leaned forward and took Riza's hands in hers. "Be very careful of that woman. I don't know why Maes doesn't see it, but something isn't right with her. I tried to figure it out while she cared for me, but I couldn't put my finger on it."

Riza began to worry. "Do you think that my relationship... will she jeopardize–,"

"No, I don't think so. If she exposed you, then she couldn't... study..." and Gracia shuddered at the thought, "you anymore. And I don't have any idea how many other women are like you under her care."

An anger began to brew inside of Riza; one that she knew would simmer for a long time. She really didn't appreciate being anyone's theoretical experiment either.

By the time, Roy and Maes returned from their jaunt, Riza was fast asleep in a spare room. Through her sleep-haze, she felt her bed dip and arms circle her waist.

Before she could protest, Roy murmured. "Don't worry, I don't plan on staying. I just wanted to make sure you were all right. That bastard, Archer. You are right–there is more to him than meets the eye." He cursed lightly. "I just wish I had the time to figure out what it was."

Riza sighed and allowed the embrace for a few moments. "I just want the next three months to be over with as soon as possible."

"I know." He ran his hand over her stomach and the both of them felt the baby move inside of her. It made him gasp; it was rare that he or she performed for an audience.

"Then I can figure out what I'm going to do...about all of this," she finished.

He was silent, but she could feel him tense slightly. She knew he hadn't thought of this, not very well in any case. With his assessment coming, he couldn't have.

She had. Almost constantly these past weeks. There was going to come a time when she wouldn't be able to perform her duties. For a short time, to be sure, but she knew that was when Roy would be most vulnerable. That nagging suspicion that there were things afoot that were not quite right would not leave her. The explosions. Major Archer. Kimblee. Doctor Winters. His re-assessment. Even the situation that Edward was dealing with. Somehow, she knew they would all converge and wind up in Roy's lap. She had a sinking feeling it would all happen when she wouldn't be able to be there to see it coming.

]o[

Roy pinched the bridge of his nose and wished that the pounding between his ears would go away. Then, he could respond to the information he'd just received with the amount of heat proportional to the way he was feeling.

Instead, all he could manage was a soft whisper. "I don't believe you're standing in front of me, telling me all of this two days before I'm supposed to leave for my assessment!"

"I'm sorry, Roy," Maes said. He sat on the couch to the left of Roy's desk. Roy couldn't even look at him, because every time he turned his head, it felt like it was going to roll right off of his shoulders.

He'd been pressing himself too hard, preparing for the assessment. Moreover, the lack of sleep hadn't helped. The only good thing was that he had managed to spend the past two nights with Riza. He wouldn't have been able to make it through the next few days having to spend it alone in his own home. Now, Maes was sitting there, telling him that there had been another explosion of a cargo train, this time right near the town of Risembool. He was telling him that this cargo train, like the other, had passed through the Eastern Headquarters station inspection with the device still intact.

Enough evidence to prove that there was someone on the inspection team who had prior knowledge. That his inspection team was the epitome of carelessness.

Either way, he was responsible for them.

"After this explosion, they're finally releasing me to come and personally question your inspection team," Maes was telling him.

Roy looked up. "You didn't bring that Major along, did you?" he asked sourly.

"Major Archer is currently in his office at Central, going through about three thousands of my older cases" Maes' smile was a nasty little thing. "He'll be occupied with learning the ropes for the next twenty years."

Roy folded his hands on top of the file on his desk. "Why don't you just transfer him out of your office?" he asked.

"I can't."

"What do you mean you can't?"

Maes shook his head. "Because he was transferred by one of the high brass." He leaned back and crossed his legs at the ankles. "Apparently, he's a friend of General Hakuro's, who thought he would be best suited to the field of investigation."

"And so he just trotted over to your offices and made himself at home?" Roy was irritated at the way things worked in Central. The senior officers there did as they pleased, when they pleased, for whatever reasons they pleased. Here in the ass end sticks of Amestris? There was an audit every four months.

"The Fuhrer approved the transfer himself."

Roy looked up from his mental complaining to give his friend a surprised glance. "The Fuhrer?" he exclaimed. "What the hell does the Fuhrer have to do with the appointment of a lowly Major?"

Maes shrugged. "If only I could tell you the extent of what goes on in Central..." He sighed. "But I can't."

"Can't? Or won't?"

"Roy, if I told you, then you would know far too much!" Maes almost exploded. "And you're in enough hot water as it is."

Roy sighed, wishing Riza were not in Central right this moment with that Doctor of hers. "So, are you here to personally question me?"

Maes shook his head. "Actually, no. I was told to leave you be until after you made it through the assessment."

"Or not." Roy leaned back and pushed the heavy pen back and forth on his desk. "If I don't make it, it won't matter what I know about the bombs on the trains. I'll be out in any case."

"Roy... do you think you're going to fail?"

Roy gave the question a serious measure of thought. Then, finally, shook his head. "No. I'm still unparalleled with my talents. My current research is up to date. Everything is in place. I don't think I'm going to fail." He looked up. "But I still could. It's all up to what they decide."

Maes cursed. "Why?" He scrubbed at the back of his head in that manner he had when he, for once was stumped. "I can't pinpoint a reason or rhyme to this whole thing!"

"That's because there are too many things going on at one time. They may or may not be related."

Maes slapped his hands on his knees and stood. "Well, I'm not going to be able to pick it all apart by sitting here, yammering on about it." He looked around. "Where is everyone? I'm kind of missing Breda's unique snore."

Roy gestured at the clock. "Mess time. And Riza's in Central, seeing the Doctor."

"Ah. No wonder Gracia's making that extra batch of sweet cakes."

"You know that it is dangerous for those two to become such good friends?" Roy asked, arching his eyebrow.

"We'll never get away with anything... ever again."

"Our lives are over."

"We need to take time to say goodbye to what little freedoms we had in proper fashion."

"Tonight?"

"The usual place?"

"Of course."

"You're on." Maes headed toward the door. "Well, I'm off to find this lax and possibly conspiratorial inspection team."

"Maes."

His friend turned at the door.

"You don't believe they're in on some conspiracy, do you?"

Maes shook his head. "I don't think so, but with the ways things have been going these days, you can't tell anything."

"Falman is actually in charge of that team, you know."

"Yes, I know." Maes nodded. "That's why I think this line of questioning is rather useless."

Roy rubbed again at his forehead after Maes left, and finished writing the detailed instructions for Riza to follow in his absence. As if she needed instructions from him, but he had to make sure the level of professionalism between them was beyond reproach. Especially now that the Investigations Division was snooping around, asking questions.

He really couldn't blame Maes for doing his job. He knew that his friend would do only the minimal amount of work necessary to complete the investigation. Still, it was Roy's responsibility to make sure that Maes wouldn't have to do any more than that. If that meant doing a few sheets of extra paperwork, then so be it.

However, it wouldn't do for those who were watching him to realize that he knew they were watching him. He flipped through the work on his desk and decided that at least a quarter of it could wait until he returned – that due date wasn't the real due date, for goodness sake. Everyone knew that. Into his bottom drawer those folders went.

He grinned to himself as he realized that when he did return, he would find those folders on the top of his desk, on the top of an extra high pile left him by his newly promoted Captain through his newly promoted First Lieutenant.

Jean's reaction to the promotion was priceless. Completely unexpected for him, even though it was common practice to fill a vacant position with an officer already present in the unit. Jean was deserving of the promotion in any case. Hell, if he could have given them all a promotion at one time, he would.

The telephone rang, startling in the silence. He reached over and barked his name into the receiver with his usual brusqueness.

"Sir, it is Captain Hawkeye."

Roy smiled at the clipped, sober way she said that. "Uh… yes, Captain?"

"I just wanted to make sure you remembered that your train is leaving the station at 2017 exactly."

Of course, she did, he thought. "Thank you, Captain."

"And the first part of your assessment is at 1130 tomorrow. Please don't forget."

"I don't know what I would do without you."

"You would miss your train and be late for your assessment, Sir."

All right, that was enough time. If someone were trying to listen in, he or she would be bored stiff by the regular conversation. The Captain was always calling the Colonel to remind him of important dates and time, considering that the Colonel always seemed to forget these things until the very last moment. He'd heard none of the telltale clicks that, for some reason, those tapping phone lines could not keep quiet. "Anything else?" he said, as their agreed-upon signal that they spoke through an unsecured line.

"So, tell me, do you want to know?"

It took him a moment. The question was wholly unexpected and incomplete. He had to add up all kinds of variables before he realized what she was asking. She'd been visiting Doctor Winters. She was officially seven months pregnant. What had she told him about this particular visit? Oh, yes.

His hand shook for a moment as the import of the question landed squarely in his mind. She was asking him if he wanted to know exactly what their child was going to be. How it was possible for them to tell, he had no idea, but apparently this Winters person had access to that kind of technology. Another reason to worry about the woman. She had far too much access to things that were normally not available for just anyone.

"Hello? Are you there?"

Riza's voice snapped him out of his reverie. His answer came quick on the heels of it. "No. I'll find out when I'm supposed to find out," he said. It felt like cheating to know. He actually was looking forward to that rush of feeling when they would tell him whether he had a son or daughter.

She chuckled. "I knew that's what you would say."

"Do you know?"

"Of course. If she can tell me, then I want to be prepared."

"Ever the practical one."

"Good luck tomorrow, sir."

"I'll see you when I get back."

In the train, he thought about the idea of knowing the sex of their child before it came into the world. Of course, Riza would have taken the advantage handed to her. It was completely within reason to expect her to want to be prepared. He briefly wondered if he could get her to tell him between now and then.

It was obscenely late when he arrived at Central. The next time, he promised he wouldn't take that damned express. He disembarked groggily and managed to find the car waiting for him. He prayed solemnly that he wouldn't snore on the way to the officer's barrack; snoring usually accompanied drooling and it wouldn't do for a subordinate to see the great Flame Alchemist in such a state.

The Quartermaster on duty saluted around a yawn and found him appropriate quarters for the night... or morning.

Roy waved away any assistance and dragged his own suitcase to his own room, and promptly proceeded to collapse across his bed in the clothes he had on his back.

One of his epaulettes had come loose in his sleep and left an ugly mark on his face the next morning. He drooled. As he looked in the mirror, he shook his head, wondering how Riza didn't run screaming from her own house on those nights he stayed with her. He stripped, dunked his head in the washbasin and did the best he could to clean up in the borrowed quarters, glad he had left his office at 1700, per the usual, and managed to get a shower before going to the station. He managed to get his hair calmed down from its apparently frightened state and dressed in a fresh uniform. Then he returned the room to its former pristine state and ventured out to find breakfast.

After two strong cups of tea and a reasonably freshly baked roll, he felt capable of facing the assessment board. Looking at the clock on the wall, he realized he had just enough time to get his materials and make it there.

There were two other alchemists facing assessment that day; they looked just as nervous as he felt. When they saw him, they winced. He found a spot to sit and wait and flipped open the notebook he'd brought with him, pretending a nonchalance he by no means felt. Every time he came for his assessment, he felt as if he was sixteen years old again and waiting for his first certification.

The other two made it through the first phase rather quickly, which boded well for him. When he walked into the room that he expected to be half-lit, he was surprised to find it fully flooded with light.

He looked around in a slight confusion and noticed that he was facing a board of generals. This wasn't normal, but it explained the slight delay between his entrance and the exit of the person before him. He saluted.

"Colonel Mustang," General Hakuro spoke, drawing his attention to that side of the table. "Your assessment will proceed in twenty minutes. However, there is a matter that we must discuss with you before then."

He hated the sound of that. He kept his face straight while every muscle in his shoulders tightened up.

"It has come to our attention that there have been at least two bombings of cargo trains within your jurisdiction."

He relaxed only slightly. "Yes, sir. I understand that Lieutenant Colonel Hughes is investigating the matter. He is currently at Eastern at this moment, questioning the inspection team."

"That inspection team is under suspicion for either conspiring with the bombers or procuring and installing the incendiary device themselves." The General said his face impassive. "That inspection team was under the command of Warrant Officer Vato Falman, correct?"

"Yes, sir."

"And Warrant Officer Falman is under your direct command, correct?"

A lead weight sank somewhere down near the pit of his stomach. "Yes, sir."

General Hakuro looked toward the center of the table, where the Fuhrer sat, patiently awaiting the completion of the few terse questions.

"Colonel Mustang, I am sure that you realize that you are responsible for the behavior of the soldiers under your command," Fuhrer Bradley said. "Our cargo trains are very valuable to this army. Without them, the necessary supplies cannot reach their locations in a timely manner. Our efficiency as a force is undermined by this." The man leaned forward. "Such wanton destruction of military property is a very serious offense."

Roy held himself from a flinch. "Yes, sir. I am aware of this. However–,"

"You realize that you will be questioned in conjunction with this affair."

"I expect nothing less, sir."

"However, the good Lieutenant Colonel will not be performing the–questioning." The Fuhrer's good eye gave a glint that sent a shaft of fear straight down to the base of Roy's spine. "We do not doubt the Lieutenant Colonel's integrity, you understand, but we must prevent any hint of impropriety."

Roy nodded his head slowly.

The Fuhrer looked over at the General, who picked up the lecture again.

"When you have completed your assessment, you will be confined to quarters here at Central until your questioning is complete."

Roy's heart stopped. Confined to quarters?

"Oh, General, I don't think such serious consequences are warranted here," the Fuhrer suddenly said, drawing Roy's attention. "I believe he can be confined to his own quarters in Eastern until you've completed your investigation of his part in this situation."

Well, thanks for the small favor, Roy inwardly cursed. Confined was confined and dammit, he couldn't be confined to quarters!

"Sir, may I speak?" he asked, keeping his voice steady by pure will alone.

The Fuhrer waved his hand.

"Who will be in command of my unit while I am... confined to quarters?"

"I believe that since Lieutenant Colonel Hughes has a very capable assistant holding down the fort here at Central, he will be staying there. It would be more convenient in any case, since he must question all involved soldiers from that location."

As much as he wanted to sigh in relief, he had a strong feeling that this was not a blessing in disguise.

"I realize this is an unfortunate circumstance, but you do understand the reasoning behind this," General Hakuro said.

Of course I understand, you son of a bitch!

"Yes, sir. I would expect nothing less." Actually, I would. A few weeks ago, this was no big deal. Suddenly, you've decided that this was such a serious occurrence that you have to keep me under lock and key?

There was a good side to all of this in the end. He was so wound up by the order, he failed to be intimidated by the re-assessment and passed with excellence.

He suffered the armed guard back to Eastern in silence, and watched morosely as they disconnected his phone and withdrew to leave him sitting in his home, cut off from anyone who would have assisted him in this matter.

He took the parchment that re-confirmed his status as the Flame Alchemist, with the present rank of Colonel, in service to the Army of Amestris as a piss-poor reward, because he didn't really know how long he would hold any of that status, and whether the confirmation was even worth the damned paper it was written on.

He almost set the fucking thing aflame, even had his glove on and was poised over it, when he stopped himself. Such a display would solve nothing, and with the way his own temper was flaring, he might actually set the whole place on fire.

That would be the epitome of embarrassment, to burn his own damned home down around his ears. He wouldn't give anyone the satisfaction of knowing how much he felt the loss of his freedom – even if he was confined to his own home. He barked a harsh and bitter laugh and retired to wait the outcome of this sorry state of affairs.

Then the door opened again and his guards were back… to take away his ignition gloves.