The Waters of Lethe
Disclaimer: I don't own FMA, nor any historical characters. I just like to play around in it's world and torture Ed for awhile.
Author's note: post series and slightly AU. Some movie events may happen, but differently
Warnings: Movie spoilers. Also violence and death, maybe sex.
Beta: Jedimasterwithapen
63. Through the Portal (Durch das Portal)
April, 1935-Munich,Germany
Stunned silence greeted Eckart's proclamation and it echoed withoout interruption in the Great Hall until the sounds finally died away. Like most of the watchers, both Himmler and Goebbels were struck dumb and both stared slack-jawed up at the Portal.
They started when Eckart spoke. "Isn't it beautiful, gentlemen?"
"Frau-Fraulein, Eck-Eckart," Himmler was quite unlike his usual self. He took out a large handkerchief from his coat pocket, removed his hat and mopped the sweat from his receding hairline. "It seems w - we misjudged you."
"It is a glorious day for Germany!" declared Goebbels who was faster to recover his composure. "The Fuhrer will be very pleased by the news of your coming conquest of Shambala. Heil Hitler!"
He raised his right arm in the stiff Nazi salute and the rest scurried to copy him. Ragged shouts of "Heil Hitler!" echoed around the vast space for ninety seconds before the echoes died away.
Not to be outdone by the propaganda minister, Himmler replaced his hat, clicked his heels and bowed towards Eckart. "Please excuse me, Fraulein. I will telephone Berlin and inform the Fuhrer of your success."
He marched away towards Eckart's office and Goebbels followed right on his heels after mumbling something about needing to prepare a speech.
Dietlinde smiled contentedly. Those two fools would fight and scrap to be the first to tell Hitler and bask in the warmth of his approval. She was startled when footsteps sounded to her left and she turned to look.. With a genuine smile on his face, Karl Haushofer came up and took her hands in both of his and praised her.
Karl was one of the first members of the Thule Society and he was one of the few who stood by her through good times and bad. His simple words of congratulations meant more to her than all of Goebbels's high-flown speeches put together.
/
The Puppet Alchemist crouched forgotten by the edge of the Array, the dying blue lights reflected in his glassy golden eyes. He didn't even twitch when Rudolph Hess knelt down beside him. Not a murmur of protest did he make when the leather collar encircled his neck. Hess put two fingers between the collar and Edward's neck before he secured the buckle. It couldn't be too tight, nor could it be too loose.
The collar was just a thin band of tanned deerskin, perfectly oiled, with sterling silver buckles. The inner side was lined with lambs wool to prevent the chafing of the Shambalan's delicate skin. He clipped on the matching six-foot leash and gently tugged on it.
"Stand up!" Hess ordered.
Edward slowly rose to his feet, his face still a perfect blank.
"Hess? What are you doing?" Concern colored Dietlinde's voice when she saw Hess so close to her Puppet.
Rudolph Hess started guiltily before he smiled and held out the leash to Eckart. "The future ruler of Shambala should have fine strings for her puppet."
She took it with a surprised murmur of thanks. Hess was a true believer in the Thule Society as well as the Aryan race, and the ideals of the Third Reich. Maybe he believed too much because the man's zealous attitude skated close to the edge of insanity at times.
But Hess was spot on. She WAS born to be a ruler, and now it was time to marshall her forces.
Eckart began to crisply issue orders - the launch of the rockets was set for twelve hours from now - soldiers had to be assembled and briefed, the ships loaded with arms and supplies - she wasn't sure how long the Portal would stay open.
Although she wasn't going to admit her doubts to anyone.
Last of all, she handed the leash over and ordered Edward's keepers to return him to his cell and feed him. He stumbled at first, like he'd forgotten how to walk, as if his legs needed time to remember.
Edward moved slowly, like he was sleepwalking.
/
Howls of anguish came from behind a locked door. Alfons Heidreich woke up cold and alone, and with his head aching horridly. He pounded on the door with both fists and demanded to know where his fellows, his colleagues were.
No answer came from without and finally a fit of coughing forced Alfons to stop. He fell to his knees feeling dizzy and sick because the coughing fit was hard enough to make his whole body shake. He breathed in shallow gasps and looked at dismay as blood filled the palm of his right hand.
A key rattled in the lock, the door opened and Karl Haushofer came in with a covered tray. He exclaimed in shock at the blood and knelt next to Alfons before he pulled out his own handkerchief and wiped blood off the younger man's mouth and hand. "Does Eckart know you have been coughing up blood?"
"No. I didn't tell anyone. I was afraid I would be forced to stop and let someone else take over. But, this is MY project and my pride wouldn't let me show any weakness." Alfons looked up at Karl, silently pleading with him not to spill his secret.
Karl smiled and promised, "I will keep your secret, Herr Heidreich. But you must realize this one could be the death of you." He helped Alfons to his feet and led him over to a small wooden table with one chair. Then he returned with the tray, set it on the table and whipped off the cloth cover. "Eat your dinner now. I have orders to bring you to the Great Hall in an hour. Tonight we launch your rockets to Shambala."
/
Alfons couldn't help himself, at the sight of the Puppet Alchemist, he tried to launch himself at the silent figure. He wanted to punch him, slap him, pummel him until his arms gave out. But the soldiers holding his shoulders yanked him back and one cuffed his left ear with a fist.
Eckart was imperious before him. "Be proud, Herr Heidreich. You shall get to lead the invasion force into a new world, unlike one you've ever seen before!"
His hands were untied, and he was forced into the rear of the two-seated rocket plane where the controls were. From this cockpit, he would control the ascent, flight and landing of the machine.
He'd designed and built it with dreams, sweat, and his own two hands, Alfons knew every inch of it.
To his disgust, the puppet, the one who'd killed his friends was cajoled into the front cockpit and strapped into the front seat. The canopy was closed and locked and the launch platform cleared. Alfons hurrridly snapped shut his own belts, a protective webbing of his own design.
There was a gut-churning jerk when the hydraulic arms moved the platform from horizontal to vertical, then the twin engines fired and the entire jet shook as it moved ponderously into the air. Slowly at first, but it quickly gathered speed and roared up towards the Portal.
It glimmered and glittered as if mocking Alfons.
He was in an untenable position because he wanted to kill the puppet, even if he died too. But at the back of his mind, he was curious about this world Eckart kept yapping about. Alfons decided he wanted to see Shambala as well.
He would kill the puppet another day.
His left hand pulled the throttle all the way back, and the engines roared louder. The jet plane leapt forward, the force pushing Alfons back into his seat. The Portal glimmered hugely in front of him for a moment, and then they were inside it. All around the plane was yellow nothingness, but from the corners of his eye, Alfons thought he saw black hands trying and failing to seize the plane.
He figured he must have blacked out for a moment because when he came to himself again, the yellow was fading.
Then it was gone, replaced by a brightly shining sun, blue sky, and puffy white clouds. He said aloud to no one in particular.
"So, this is Shambala."