"What's this about?" Max asked getting out of the car.
"Not entirely sure, but I have an idea or two," Tobias replied. "Tell the others where I am. I'll be back soon," he said following after Sophie and leaving Max standing alone. "You've gotten your hair cut," he noted, speaking to Sophie. "Not as long as it was when we last saw each other."
Sophie touched her hair, which was now just past her shoulders. "Thought I would try something different," she said blankly.
"Trying to impress somebody?" No reply. "Wanting to be noticed then." Again no reply. Tobias tried changing the subject. "I thought the Fuhrer was getting a new assistant?"
"He has many assistants," Sophie replied. "I'm just his preferred one."
Tobias pondered this. "Hm."
She lead him to the top floor of the building. She made him stop walking and then knocked on the door before opening it slightly and speaking into the room. She turned back to Tobias and motioned him in.
"Ah, Colonel Mustang, so glad of you to join us this early in the morning." Fuhrer Kalmin gestured to an empty chair. "Please, sit and have some tea."
Tobias could not see who was in the other chair. All he could see was short brown hair over the top of the chair. As he walked across the room to the empty seat, Tobias the recognized the brown hair even before he saw the other man's face.
"Hey there, Colonel," First Lieutenant Reese Michaels said raising his cup to him with a smile.
"Lieutenant Reese!" Tobias exclaimed as he sat down. "What are you doing here?"
"Having tea with our Fuhrer, just as you are," Reese replied taking a sip of his tea. "I see my sister was able to find you."
"Your sister-? Oh, you mean that woman, Sophie, is your sister?" Tobias was taken aback.
"Yes, both of the Michaels work for me," said Fuhrer Kalmin before Reese could answer himself. "Now, please. Help yourself to something to drink. We also have little biscuits if you would like something to eat, Colonel Mustang."
Tobias shook his head. "No thanks on the biscuits." He looked between the two of them while Reese poured him a cup of the tea. "What's going on?" he asked, leaving the tea untouched on the table.
"First Lieutenant has been informing me on your adventures," Fuhrer Kalmin stated taking a drink from his own cup. "You've been quite busy these past 24 hours."
Tobias realized the trouble of the situation. It was not good. Tobias cleared his throat. "Adventures?" he inquired.
"Your date with a Miss Riza Hawkeye and Major Rachel White," Kalmin replied. "I'm assuming it went well with the Major seeing how you both went to your apartment last night."
Tobias looked over at Reese. "You were spying on me. All this time?"
Reese nodded smugly. "And you never found out until now."
Tobias scowled. "Now, now," said the Fuhrer, "there's no need to get upset now. We haven't even fully discussed what we've learned, Colonel." He wiped his mouth on a napkin. "I bet you're wondering what I know and what I don't know."
"You read my mind," Tobias replied. "But I have questions other than that."
"The issue with your parents I presume?" the Fuhrer asked. "That is a different matter that we will discuss later. Now, First Lieutenant, finish telling me what you were saying earlier."
"Well," Reese started, "as you know, I was sitting nearby at the counter where I could overhear the Colonel, Riza, and then eventually the Major talking. I heard as Riza told the Colonel who you really were." Tobias sat astonished as Reese was able to report everything last he had done that night. The Fuhrer sat quietly and sipped his tea as he listened intently.
"But, I even checked before I had any of those conversations for anybody watching!" Tobias cried. "How did you get past that?"
"Different costumes and devices," Reese replied.
"The science department has developed many new inventions for spying. We were testing them on you and I am very glad to have done so," imputed Kalmin. "Know that we know they work, we're going to send them into different countries to spy. Xing, Drachma, and others."
"Xing is our ally," Tobias said confused. "I mean no disrespect, you of all people should know that, sir. If they find out that you have sent spies into their country, Emperor Yao may break the alliance."
The Fuhrer poured himself another cup of tea. "I am not scared of the Xingese people or its government. I have complete trust in our military power."
"Except for some individuals," said Tobias. He still had not touched his cup of tea.
"Precisely. Now, Colonel, you haven't touched your drink. I assure you it is quite safe," the Fuhrer said with a small laugh. "You are paranoid, aren't you?"
"Just cautious," Tobias replied.
"Better safe than sorry," he said. "I will tell you though, the information Riza Hawkeye gave to you was true. My real name is Solf J. Kimblee. I was an alchemist; however, in this body, for some reason I was never able to perform alchemy. I was an enemy to your father."
Tobias interrupted. "If you were just an enemy to my father, then why kill my mother as well? She had no blood on her hands."
The Fuhrer shook his head. "You read the report I gave you a few months ago. Everything was corrupted against them both. Natasha would have revealed who I was as soon as Roy was put on trial. You also did not have the same information as she did," the Fuhrer stated. "You, being not well known just yet, would not have had much of a voice. Even if you were the son of the now infamous Flame Alchemist."
"Then she could have told me," Tobias said. "I would have revealed it if she didn't."
"My name would not have meant anything to you at that point," the Fuhrer replied matter-of-factly. "If she had said who I was, then you would have put that information far back in your mind or perhaps you would have forgotten it. It would have held no value and she knew that."
Tobias was stumped. He was in deeper trouble than he had previously thought. Max had been right, the enemy had thought of some things he had not. He wondered how he was going to get out of this.
Reese had kept quiet while Fuhrer Kalmin and Tobias had spoken. By the slight smile on his face, he seemed to be enjoying watching his higher up be beaten. He continued to sit silently and drink his tea while he listened to their conversation.
The Fuhrer stood. "Colonel Mustang, you have searched long and hard for the truth. Now that you have it, what are you going to do?"
"Why ask me such a question?" Tobias replied. "It almost seems like you care," he said sarcastically.
"I'll dismiss your disrespect. My time as the leader of this country has lead me to soften in some aspects," he replied walking towards the window and looking out. "However, I do not regret giving the orders against your parents."
"You still have not answered why," Tobias informed him.
"I'm aware," he replied glancing back to look at him. "But it wouldn't matter anyway," he said passively while fiddling with the sword handle at his hip.
Tobias tensed and stood. "Well, it has been a wonderful time spending time here, Fuhrer Kalmin," he said hurriedly. "I expect we'll have many more conversations like this one in the near future." He made his way to leave, but Reese stepped in his path.
"Lieutenant," the Fuhrer said, "make sure he stays in the same spot. I don't want to miss his heart." The Fuhrer withdrew his sword out of its sheath, the silver blade glimmering in the light. He began walking forward. Tobias thought of as many possibilities that could end in his life being taken. He wasn't going to let that happen.
As soon as Fuhrer Kalmin had gotten close enough to thrust his sword towards Tobias' chest, Tobias had pulled Reese in front of him, blocking himself from the shimmering blade. Kalmin was as surprised as Reese was. They stared silently for several moments, each man in his own shock. Reese stared down at the sword lodged in his torso and reached to grab it and pull it out. Kalmin roughly ripped the blade out of his flesh and did not bother to watch as Reese fell to the ground, dead.
The Fuhrer smiled evilly at Tobias. "Colonel Mustang, I'm surprised at you," he said. "You put someone else in front of the sword to avoid being killed. You sent out a pawn and watched it die."
"Seeing how he was never actually loyal to me in the first place, it doesn't concern me anymore," Tobias growled.
The Fuhrer scowled. "Again, I'm surprised at you." This time, instead of taking his time, Kalmin ran at Tobias. Quickly, Tobias grabbed a nearby chair from under the table and used it to shield himself from the slashing of the sharp cutting edge.
If only I could get to my alchemy gloves! Tobias thought. The chair was not going to keep him alive for much longer. Chunks of the wood were already littered on the floor. Fuhrer Kalmin was stronger than he looked.
"What's the matter, Mustang?" Kalmin taunted. "Can't you defend yourself? Are you really that weak?! Hell, you aren't even half the man your father was! He was actually a challenge!"
My gloves! Tobias thought again. He was near panicking. At any moment, the chair could break and leave him defenseless for precious seconds while he reached into his pocket. He waited until they had gone the length of the room before taking what was left of the chair and striking Kalmin across his face. The Fuhrer got angrier and continued to come at Tobias vigorously. Suddenly, the what remained of the chair was knocked out of Tobias' hands. Quickly, he then reached into his pocket and slipped on a glove.
And that is where I will leave it for suspense this time. I enjoy writing cliffhangers. Hope you enjoyed this chapter because I had a lot of fun writing it. Please review! (and thanks again to my friend for editing my story!)