(I own nothing)
Each nation had met with their respective leaders to further discuss whatever the hell was happening, but even after that it still didn't feel real. They had blood, hair, fingerprints, and even skin follicles tested for similarities and, without a doubt, the women who had been introduced to them were related to France, England, and America. During all of this the women were being taken back to their holding cells an hour away.
But the day didn't end with first impressions, smashed up doors, and relentless testing. No, because afterwards England, France, and America were to individually meet their….what do you call this? Counterparts? Siblings? Let's go with siblings. They were to meet their siblings in a well-fortified interrogation room twice a week at the very least and, while the other nations weren't required to, they were pressed to at least introduce themselves in hopes of further developing the mystery of the missing nations and unlocking memories lost over a hundred years ago.
It was 8:29 PM now, nearly 13 hours after the initial incident. It was a hectic day, but it all led up to this first real face-to-face introduction. America, France, and England were taken to a special institution that sat on a lonesome field of low cut grass. To it was a singular road, but all around the compound were guards, barbed wire, and watch lights.
"You'd think these women were serial killers with all of this." England remarked as they were ushered in.
"This is no way to treat any lady, especially one related to moi." France replied.
America, for once, was oddly silent. He kept replaying the morning incident in his head over and over. He saw this woman with a scared, crazed look in her eye, but it felt so familiar, like when you see a distant friend that you only played with during your child years. And the strength she exhibited. Nobody could see it, but he felt the pull of air around that fist. He could see the damage it could do because he's seen his own uninhibited strength. If anything, this woman is either super human or they really are related.
Grieves and three guards met with them at the split of the single way hallway they had been walking down. "Gentlemen, you'll now be led to your counter's cells. We're counting on you to further this investigation and bring those missing nations home."
"Listen pal, I'm not here to interrogate anyone. I'm here by bosses order." America said.
"Understandable, but you won't be interrogating these women. You'll simply be having conversations. Whatever's said will be recording and analyzed by our network."
America was led down the right wing, France and England the left. The walls were cold cement, perfectly plastered as though it were new.
"Here we go Mr. America" said the female guard.
The guard opened the door and followed America in, but he turned around and said "you know not to be mean but I think this'll work a lot better if it's only me. I mean, you guys are constantly watching right?"
The guard paused, gave a nod, and left the room. She shut the door behind her, leaving America in a room with a singular stainless steel table and two bolted down chairs. In one was Amelia, her hands cuffed to the table, her feet cuffed to the ground. America sat in the empty chair across from her.
"Uh, hey" America didn't really know what else to say.
She didn't reply. Instead, she stared down at the table.
"Listen, I don't really know what's going on so if you could just tell me what your deal is."
She still didn't move. America was growing impatient but kept his cool. He held out his hand. "Hey, my name's America. What's yours?" He gave his signature goofy grin.
She looked up, revealing a bruised face. "Is that some kind of sick joke?"
She looked at his hand, and then down at her own locked down hands.
He put his hand away. "Wh-what happened to your face?"
"You don't know? These men don't classify my friends and I as humans you know, so abusive interrogation is completely legal. I'm a goddamned walking loophole."
"That's awful! What the hell?"
Amelia looked up at him in surprise, but kept her mouth shut.
"You aren't staying here." America said. "Stay right here."
"Sure thing" Amelia said sarcastically.
America walked out and to the guard. "This isn't right! You can't treat someone like this."
"Would you like to speak to Grieves" she asked monotonously.
"Yes!"
She radioed Grieves. "Mr. America would like to speak to you."
"Why?"
"He would like to speak to you about Ms. Jones' living arrangements."
"Who cares?"
America grabbed the walkie talkie. "Now!"
"Mr. America if you would like to speak then please come down to the left wing."
"Can't you just come..agh ok whatever I'm on my way." He handed the walkie talkie back to the woman. "Your boss sure is something lady. How do I get there?"
"Just walk straight back the way you came and keep walking until you see him."
America did just that, taking a last quick glance at Amelia's door before sprinting down the hall. He came up on Grieves looking through a window. "Yo Grieves!"
America walked to him and saw that he was looking at France and Francoise in the room. She kept her face up high and her lips tight while France spoke about something America couldn't make out. He recollected himself and moved his attention to Grieves.
"You can't keep these people here in these conditions. They aren't criminals, and you aren't going to get anywhere with them locked up here."
Grieves gave a sigh and pulled out a cartridge of cigarettes from his pocket. He stuck one in his mouth and lit it with a silver lighter. He gave out a puff of smoke. "Unless they take back their labels as nations, they're legally bound to be tried for everything they've done since birth. America, imagine if you weren't protected by your label. Where would you be?" He paused. "Would you like a cigarette?"
"I don't smoke." America grumbled. "Don't change the subject. What you're doing is wrong. If these women are who you say they are then you can't hurt them like this. It's archaic."
"Archaic? That's a big word for you Mr. America. Well, what do you propose we do?"
America looked at France and Francoise. He saw France try and lay his hand gently on hers, but instead rested it against the cuff. France felt the cuff with a disgruntled look.
"She can stay with me. And if the others don't want to take in their sisters then I will. I'm the hero I can't let this go on."
He let out another puff of smoke and started walking a little ways to the left. America followed until they got to another two-way window. They watched as England was going off about something, looking around the room. Alice had bruises on her face like Amelia, only these were much worse. There was bandaging around one eye and one of her pigtails had come loose. She looked lifeless, the only proof of life being her moving chest.
"Is that really what you want? We'd have to put trackers on them. We do have state of the art wrist cuffs to track and analyze any fluctuations in their internal system."
America looked at Alice harder, trying to figure out what felt off about her. "Yes, that's what I want. And I'm sure it's what the others would want to."
He gave a puff of smoke. "Very well; take the visitors out of their rooms and have the women tagged." He said into an ear piece.
The guards inside the rooms ushered France and England out of their rooms to convene with Grieves and America.
"What have you been doing to that woman? Even if this is a load of bologna I won't have you hurting her!"
"They won't speak a word." France kept looking towards Francois' room.
"Mr. America here has given us a doable proposition. If you three would follow a list of regulations, then the I.C.T would be happy to have these counters living with you in your own homes. Of course they would be tracked and monitored via bracelets, and you and the members of I.C.T would be notified of any strange behavior. But Mr. America believes this would better suit our mission to track down others and restore memories."
"If you guys say no I'll take them." America abruptly said.
France and England exchanged glances. "That's a little brash isn't it America? I mean…I haven't even spoken to this woman. What if she tries something funny?" England said.
"You'll be equipped with a remote that will allow you to knock them unconscious in case of a situation that severe."
"That's horrible!" France said.
"But necessary."
There was a pause. "Well guys? Quit being chumps and make up your mind!" America was getting impatient.
"Ok ok fine! I guess." England said.
"Oui, if it's what we must do then very well." France was still looking at her room.
"Very well; have the women tagged and equipped with remotes. Men, please follow Violet out to the entrance of this infrastructure for your next piece of information." A watch woman came over to the three of them and led them out.
France looked into her room one last time, and saw something peculiar. Francoise was speaking in the air; he waved it off as a coping mechanism.
When the three were gone Grieves pressed his finger against his ear piece. "For nations, they're very thick. But we did it. They think it's their idea to house them, so make sure bugs are set." He paused and listened to his cohort speak when a man came running to Grieves.
"Sir! Sir! I have important information."
"What is it?"
"The secret tipper has reached out to us again. They say there are two more counters at these coordinates." The man gave him a piece of paper.
Grieves analyzed it. The destination was set in Italy. "Is it only Feliciana?"
"No sir. The tipper said Ms. Vargas and Ms. Bielschmidt are together."
Grieves gave a slow puff of his cigarette. "Good. Get them."
(I hope you guys are enjoying the story so far. Remember, questions will slowly be answered as more stack on, so stay tuned! Also your comments have made my day and thank you so much for your support. Criticism is always welcomed!)