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Games without Frontiers

Chapter 42: I'm in the Details with the Devil

Rating: T

Soundtrack: My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark – Fall Out Boy

She looked at Roy, who nodded once. She looked down and explained exactly why Roy had chosen that subject for his research.

Maes was floored. Riza, exhibiting the abilities of an alchemist? Simply because she was carrying one? He listened to all of the medical explanations for the possibility, and then nodded. "It makes sense now. Order 3217 protects women who are carrying the children of State Alchemists." He looked over at Roy, whose bottom jaw was making good progress toward the floor. "Specifically should one parent be a State Alchemists, because they are a known quantity. Doesn't matter how the women get pregnant, or who they are." He looked back at Riza. "It was as if it were expected that this type of... fraternization would go on."

"Perhaps it did go on freely, long ago," Riza murmured.

"And that's why I have that file cabinet full of people who are being protected from discovery. I let Sheska poke through the folders. Each one of them, over the years, had some connection with a State Alchemist. All the way back to the beginning of the institution." Maes plucked at the blanket. "There was also another disturbing folder inside the drawer. A girl from that town Edward went to... the one with the false prophet."

"Liore?" Roy asked.

Maes nodded. "You know the Fuhrer sent troops to quell the rebellion that erupted there. Well, a girl was taken... someone Edward has mentioned before."

Roy nodded. "A young girl who had blindly followed that fake son of a bitch."

"She was taken. And..." he sighed, even slightly unwilling to say what he was going to say. "She was given to... damn! I can't believe Hakuro had a hand in this!"

"She was given to Kimblee, wasn't she?" Riza said.

Maes looked at her. "What makes you say that?"

"He was the only State Alchemist in captivity, so to speak, who would be capable of participating in such... research. You're mentioning her in relation to this order, and it seems like a difficult thing for you to say, so I'm assuming she was given to that bastard to play with for a while."

"Until she got pregnant."

Riza shuddered.

Roy cursed. "I'm assuming that didn't work, did it?" he growled. "Is that why everyone is so patently ignoring the fact that Riza isn't naming the father of her child?"

Maes nodded. "Apparently Archer went to the medical facilities a few days ago," he said. "According to Sheska, he returned looking like a cat who ate every bird in the aviary. He was muttering about the Order, and how it would be perfect to 'bring someone down'."

Roy clenched his fist. "Me."

"Yes, but Hakuro told Archer that the order protected the Alchemist as well," Riza broke in.

"Actually the only thing a State Alchemist can't do with impunity is pre-meditated, unsolicited murder," Maes said. "A State Alchemist can kill with a direct order of the Fuhrer. Why do you think Edward can get away with half of the things he does?" He gave Roy a look. "Or that you don't get censured more than you do."

Roy murmured. "So the fact that you set this whole thing up just worked right into their hands..." His eyes grew stormy. "And Archer thought to use it against me?" The laugh he gave was too nasty by far for Maes' comfort.

"But what does this have to do with what happened to you all?" Riza wanted to know.

Maes shook his head. "Not sure. However, one of those creatures mentioned something about a laboratory and medical facilities. And warned us all that things were not what they seemed."

"I hate the sound of that," Roy said tightly. "Of course you're going to keep digging?"

"Of course. If Gracia will ever let me out of this room."

"Be careful."

"I'll do my best." He waved a hand in Roy's direction. "That's why I want you to stay out of this, and Riza to have some protection." He held up his hand again when Riza would have protested. "If Winters is poking around for information from you, and Archer thinks he can find a way to pull Roy down with all of this, I don't think you're safe together or apart. And if this is all connected in some crazy way... no way you want to tangle with those things without some back up." He moved down into the bed, suddenly tired. "Go to my office. Sheska will introduce you to your new aides, Riza."

"Aides?" She asked.

"Did you forget? You're a Captain. You're entitled to at least one aide. And me, being who I am... I managed to get you a second."

Roy shook his head, laughing. "You should have been called the Alchemist of Insanity," he told his friend, standing up.

Riza gasped. The two men looked at her. "Wasn't Doctor Winters Gracia's doctor?"

Maes saw that piece move on Roy's mental board and saw the slight frown. He ground his teeth. "Yes."

That was why he wasn't going to rest until he found out everything that connected Order 3217, these laboratories, and medical facilities, to those homunculi.

Because Gracia and Elysia were indeed his world. These plotters and schemers had involved their dirty business into his world without him knowing it. And that, he would not tolerate.

]o[

Riza spent the ride to Maes' office in a dark silence. Roy observed it with trepidation. He didn't recall a time when he'd made her quite so angry. All he had done was suggest she stay at Eastern while he checked on things in Central. He had no idea what they would have been walking into and he did not intend to let her come to any harm.

After making the suggestion and fully expecting her to comply and take herself to the office, he suddenly felt the urge for a winter coat. She hadn't spoken to him since the words had left his mouth. She'd glared at him as she dressed and strapped on her shoulder holster. Then she grabbed an umbrella and overcoats and waited, arms crossed near the door. Faced with her implacable will and determination, he really couldn't argue. Especially when she wouldn't argue back.

Even now, hours after arriving at Central and checking on everyone involved in the melee, she still hadn't really directed one comment or word or even a good look in his direction. Finally, he couldn't stand it anymore.

"Maybe I was wrong to suggest you stay at Eastern," he finally burst out, all at once.

Riza gave him a frosty look. "Maybe?" that was the first word directed at him after what felt like an eternity. He would have been relieved if it hadn't made him want to cringe and hide under the car seat.

Riza turned her attention back outside the window. "How long have I been working with you, Colonel?" she asked.

It took him a moment to realize she really wanted an answer. "Um... long enough?"

She turned back to him. "Long enough. Long enough for you to realize that this," she put a hand on her stomach, "won't keep me from doing my duty." She shook her head. "If I had known you would behave so... crazy about this, I wouldn't have–"

"Don't say it," Roy said quickly, afraid of what would come from her mouth.

She sighed. "Colonel... Roy, please. Could you just think before you speak? I know you have a lot on your plate, but if only for the next two months, could you just do that?"

Roy nodded, feeling like a heel. He knew Riza was more than capable. It was just... "I suppose the idea of all of this is finally hitting me," he said softly. "I feel like I should be doing more for you. It seems like you're carrying it all by yourself."

"I am," Riza said simply. "I will be for the next two more months. But that doesn't mean I'm an utter invalid. I wish all of you would remember that at the same time." She sighed and squirmed against the seat. "It's bad enough that I have strange officers wondering about my abilities. I expect more from my commanding officer." And the father of said child, she left unsaid.

"I know. I know you're still here to protect me." He looked at her, really seeing her. "I just want to do the same for you."

"The best way to do that is for us to stay together," she told him. "Employ the practice of safety in numbers. I have very bad feelings about all of this... Edward's situation, Archer, the doctor..."

"What I have bad feelings about is how Maes could be so blind about it all," Roy muttered. It did bother him that Maes hadn't seen at least some of this coming. He'd worked with Doctor Winters for this long, for goodness sake. Why hadn't the man figured out that woman was up to more than she appeared?

"Despite his obvious intelligence and foresight, Maes Hughes has one key weak spot. His family."

Roy frowned. "Explain."

"Who does Maes answer to? The Fuhrer, and no one else, really. The Investigations Division, the Courts, they all answer directly to the Fuhrer. That means that the Fuhrer knows more about Maes than even you do. Bradley is a very smart man; else, he wouldn't be where he is. He wouldn't arbitrarily choose anyone to run those departments without knowing everything he needed to know about that person."

"True."

"The Fuhrer probably knows exactly what buttons to push to move Maes in the directions that he wants Maes to go. Remember, Doctor Winters treated his wife. The doctor would have delivered his daughter had the weather not interfered." Riza scratched behind her ear. "They know Maes in as alchemist."

Roy stared at her. He'd almost forgotten about that.

Riza smiled. "Why wouldn't they? He never actually conceals the fact that he can perform alchemy. He just doesn't use his abilities where those who would take advantage of him would see." She crossed her arms. "Think, Roy. You told me that he failed the alchemy exams."

Roy groaned. "Yes, he failed. On purpose."

"When did he take the exam?"

"Right before he was sent to Ishbal."

"In order to take the exam, he had to display an ability. I wonder who discovered that ability. Did you recommend him?"

"No."

"Then who do you think recommended him?"

"Shit."

Riza chuckled. "When it comes to those you care about, you have quite a blind spot yourself, Colonel. I bet if you reach back in your memories, you'll remember a time when the Fuhrer came and scooped your friend up for a nice, long chat."

Roy did shove his brain back to that time, and yes, he did remember such a meeting. "But, I refuse to believe that Maes is–,"

"Oh, Maes is probably completely in the dark about a lot of things. For now. Probably allowed to be by the very person who put him where he is."

Roy stared. "What are you getting at?"

"The same thing you should be getting at, Colonel Mustang. Please apply that amazing intellect for a moment or two."

Roy leaned back and did the mental gymnastics necessary. And concluded that, obviously, Riza had reached during that dark silence during the beginning of the trip. "This... at least the part about that involves Winters and Archer does stem from–,"

"The top."

Roy cursed. "I don't want to believe this. That means that the very people we – you and I – were concealing this from probably know all about it."

"And all of the measures we employed were unnecessary. They probably were laughing themselves silly watching us."

There was a dangerous note in Riza's voice. Roy sympathized. "You know what?" he growled.

"What?"

"I don't like being made a fool of."

"I know."

"You know what else?"

"Hmm?"

"Neither does Maes."

"Something else."

Roy met Riza's stormy eyes, and the things brewing back there that made him very grateful she was on his side of things.

"Neither do I," she said.

]o[

Riza's new aides came as a pair, borrowed in actuality from Major Armstrong. As soon as she saw them and heard of their qualifications, she knew exactly why Hughes had chosen them.

"What do you know about firearms, Second Lieutenant?"

Maria Ross reminded Riza of herself, in days before. Not in age, rather in the idealism she had when she'd first joined the service. It was quite refreshing to see a pair of eyes completely free of guile.

The young woman saluted. "Sir, I'm more experienced in hand-to-hand combat." She nodded toward the young man at her side. "He's the one who is the marksman."

Riza turned to him. "Certified?"

The young sergeant – introduced to them as Denny Brosch – grinned even as he showed his respect for her rank. "Yes, sir. Two years straight."

"I'll meet you at the firing range, then," Riza smiled.

"Our office is going to be pretty crowded with two additions," Roy said dubiously.

"Not really, Colonel," Riza said. "If I call this right, I believe their purpose is to assist me in my duties after I've gone on my leave." She looked at Sheska, who nodded confirmation.

The door opened and Major Archer entered, pausing on the threshold for half a step when he saw them.

Roy stared at the man, wondering how much time he would get for ripping the man's throat out.

"Stand down, Colonel," Riza whispered from the side of her mouth.

Archer gave Roy a salute that was technically proper. "Sir, it is good to see you back in uniform again," he said ingratiatingly. "Investigations can be a terrible business at times."

Roy merely grunted, not bothering to give the man an answer.

Archer's smile dimmed slightly before he turned to Riza. "And Captain, I'm betting that you're glad to have your office back to normal," he said to her. "I'm told that such stresses are not good for someone in your... delicate condition."

"Doctor Winters has said as much. She also said that caffeine wasn't good for me." Riza's smile was just short of feral. "It seems I thrive on both."

"I would expect nothing less from such a competent soldier such as yourself." He looked around and noted the other two officers. "Ah, I see you've met your new aides. Major Armstrong was kind enough to offer them–,"

"Yes, I know," Riza said, turning back to the two in discussion. "Second Lieutenant, Sergeant, please be ready to leave within the next hour." She looked back at Archer, whose mouth was still hanging open in mid-word. "If you'll excuse us, I believe the Colonel did want to spend a few more moments with the Fullmetal Alchemist and his brother before we return to our home base."

Roy made a note to give that woman a medal when they returned to Eastern. A big shiny medal. One that was so gaudy that it would outshine even Armstrong at his most extravagant.