Chapter 5: Finding a Child

Lloyd Forger smiled and waved at a passing orderly as he marched beside an older woman in wearing the deep blue uniform. She was Lieutenant Marsha Strauss, a woman in her late fifties who was in charge of the hospital's third floor. Meant for treatment that was less severe, after all, it was hard to get badly injured up three flights of stairs, it was a place where general medical check ups, illness recovery, and newly introduced to East City, Psychiatry. Twilight followed the woman, who had sharp eyes but a small smile, through the top floor, all the way down one of the corridors, near one of the emergency exit stairways.

"This is your room dear," she opened the door, and saw what was a fairly plain doctor's office. There was a desk on one end of the room, with a set of two chairs on the other side of the room, where he would speak with his patients. Alongside the room opposite the window was two large bookcases, filed with books that Twilight recognized were related to the practice of Psychiatry. He smiled and nodded at the lady, before walking over to the desk, and placing his briefcase there.

"Thank you so much Lieutenant Strauss," he said, nodding back at the older woman. She smiled at him, before looking at his hand, "Oh, you are married are you?"

Twilight inwardly grinned to himself. He had remembered to keep the ring on his left hand this morning, as it would do to build up his reputation and backstory. He was going to need a wife and child after all, and having a relationship that had actually resulted in a child over the age of six, the minimum age for the tutoring group that Selim Bradley was said to be joining, was going to be an important cover to allow him to get closer within the ranks of the military. That meeting with his temporary landlord had reminded him that having a ring on would be a way to build up his history, and make it harder for people to think of him as anything other than a friendly doctor.

Lloyd Forger frowned, looking down at his hand ruefully, "It actually would have been our anniversary a few weeks ago..."

"Oh dear," Strauss suddenly covered her mouth, before reaching down, and placing a hand on Lloyd's shoulder, "I'm so sorry to hear that. I should have been more considerate."

"No, no," Lloyd nodded at her, "I probably should put this away," he looked back at his hand, "There are times I just can't help but think of her-"

"Ah, no need to put it away," the older woman waved her hand. She then raised her left hand, showing a ring on her finger as well, "I've been married for thirty years. If my husband were to die, I don't know what I'd do," she waved her hand, "And to think, looking at you, your wife must have been so young..."

"The plague came through," Lloyd admitted, which Strauss nodded at.

"Yes, there are still pockets of it," she shook her head, "One of the State Alchemists lost his mother too it a few years ago. Tends to strike young healthy people."

"Wasted away," Twilight had been looking at diseases that had been around the Eastern province of Amestris while building his background, and was struck by the luck of an unnamed plague taking hundreds of rather youthful women in the past five years. He'd actually been struck by it when reviewing the boy alchemist who had been taking his train.

Fullmetal.

Twilight felt his stomach drop. They were turning a teenager into a weapon. He'd been sixteen when he had joined the Crestan military, but he'd forged his papers to get in two years early. That they made a thirteen year old a weapon of mass destruction here in Amestris was...chilling.

"Well," Strauss said, clearly a little shaken by the conversation. Twilight wondered internally what it meant for a hospital worker, especially a military hospital worker, to be so shaken by a death, but he'd let it slide. She was an older woman, had likely been away from any real conflict for a good while, and was probably trying to connect with the new young doctor working on her floor, "I'll leave you to your office. Once again, I am sorry for your loss."

"Thank you for your concern," Lloyd helped her out of the room, all the while Twilight kept considering what would the best option be. He'd originally been hoping that the Agency would have a wife at least, but they were low on female operatives already, the Handler was already known as a member of Cresta's ambassadorial staff, and agent Nightfall was busy with a task in the North, finding out strange communications between Drachma and several corrupt colonels in Amestran military. Being a widower would explain why he had a current child, after he adopted one, and would allow him to pursue some of the single women as his cover wife.

'Now,' Lloyd said, pulling open his briefcase, he began to flip through the papers inside. Twilight noticed that the document was created on March 3rd, meaning Code J, 'The only orphanage in East City is a little outside the city limits to the north. They don't have much paper work due to some damage sustained to the records during the Ishvalan conflict, so it should be easy to pick out a child, and move forward with Operation STRIX.'

Anya didn't like the orphanage, but she knew if she was going to get away from the dark people, she was going to have to get someone big to take her in. And the spy was the best to do that.

Anya shook her head as she listened to the other kids around her. They were often think about how hungry they were, how tired they were. And how miserable they all felt staying there. It didn't seem pleasant, which meant Anya was going to have to play this as well as possible. She rested as close as she could to the front of the orphanage, continuing to wait for the spy. There weren't many people coming in today, no new adoptions starting up, and most of the children were just moseying around the building. Just as she was about to get up from the boredom of waiting so long, she heard the front door open.

"Hello," the fat man at the front desk, the owner she had learned from reading his mind, said, "Welcome toe East City Home for Disadvantaged Youth."

'Please let it be someone rich,' he inwardly groaned, Anya feeling her back shiver from his greasy tone, 'I need to get one of these mouths out of here. I'm not running a charity.'

Anya didn't understand what a charity was, but tried to focus on the one who had entered.

"Hello, my name is Dr. Lloyd Forger," a familiar voice carried across the room, and Anya almost smiled as she recognized the spy's tone, "I am new in town, and I had heard that this was where I should go to."

'Disadvantaged Youth,' there was almost a sneer in the Spy's internal voice, 'Just trying to give a more respectable cover to your racket. Still, this is an ugly business, but not a fully illegal one. And you should be amenable to allowing me to adopt a child as quickly as possible.'

"Hello Mr. Forger," the owner of the orphanage laughed, 'Oh man, a doctor. He must be rich,' the slime seemed to drip from the man's thoughts, 'can't wait to see what I can get from you,' the man then thought about putting together the most cheerful face he could, "What brings you here? Are you looking to start the process of adoption?"

"Start and end if you don't mind," Lloyd continued, 'Might as well be as direct as possible,' he didn't seem to be happy, "I was hoping to adopt a child by the end of the day really."

"My word doctor. Adopt a child in less than a day, surely you understand that I can't just do that," he put on a sad face, but inwardly was cackling, 'Oh, he must be desperate,' he then controlled himself, "Of course, we can at least introduce you to the children, and then we can start the process, and see if we might be able to extradite the process."

'You mean bribe you,' Lloyd inwardly sighed, "That would be wonderful. Thank you for your assistance."

The two then shook hands, and walked began to walk forward, towards where Anya was sitting. She was in a room with around a dozen children, most of whom she had managed to push out of her head to listen to the more interesting conversation with the owner and the spy. She shook her head, and continued to listen in on their thoughts, all the while realizing they were getting closer.

'I"m going to need a child around 6,' Lloyd considered in his head, 'That is the minimum age for the tutoring group for Selim Bradley.'

"Six," Anya repeated to herself. If she understood, she was four, but four and six were pretty close, and she was pretty sure she could make that lie pretty easily.

'Also, they'll need to be smart,' Lloyd continued, 'at least able to read, but do so at a high enough level to earn the right to sit alongside the finest tutors in the country.'

'Read...' Anya could read. She'd seen the doctors and the military men read books, and had learned from reading their minds that scribbles meant specific words, and she knew a lot of them. It was hard, but she at least had some idea. She looked around quickly, and then spotted a small bookcase on the side of the room she and the children were staying in. She moved as fast as her legs could carry her, and picked up one of the larger books she could see from a high shelf, and on the front she saw a dark skinned man with his hands holding a bright orange circle. She then ran over, and placed it on a small table that several other were playing on with puzzles and blocks. She opened it up to a short way in, and began to read.

"The," she groaned, not knowing the next word, but continuing on, "smile at the new day. The true had show him. He," she skipped another word, and continued, "the sands around him, and the water-"

"Any of these ones catch your eye," Anya was snapped out of her attempt to read the book, as she realized that the two had come into the room, and were looking over her and the other children. It took everything in her power not to look back, but she had to make them think she was smart, since that was what he was looking for. Slowly she felt Lloyd's gaze come onto her, and then look at the book beneath her.

'That is a pretty large book for such a small child,' Lloyd suddenly returned his focus to the owner, "What about the girl with pink hair, the one reading the book?"

"Oh her," the owner inwardly smiled as he looked at her too, "She is one of our best. She," he was looking at her, and yet she could tell he was inwardly frowning, 'I don't recognize that one,' he then moved quickly, "She is a smart cookie. You can see by the book she's reading of course," he then shouted out, "Dear Miss, would you please come here for a moment."

Anya then took this chance to look up from the book, and her eyes met Lloyd for the first time. He was tall. Really tall. Unlike many of the scientists he stood straight, and she could see he was constantly looking around the world. 'This girl is probably too short, she looks like she might be four at best...'

"My name is Anya," she said, suddenly bowing at the two men, before picking up her head quickly, "And I am six years old."

'Six...' Lloyd seemed to be stumped at the speed of the answer to his question. Anya almost felt fear she had pushed too far, but then she heard, 'likely something they are often drilled to say to prospective parents.'

'Prospective?' Anya kept that thought in her mind, and continued to listen.

'Good girl,' the owner had pushed past any questioning of her, clearly glad she was making progress, 'Somehow managed to save my ass, and answer one of his questions.'

'Small, but could just be short for a six year old,' Lloyd internally nodded to himself, before looking at the book on the table, and walking over to it. He looked over Anya's shoulder, and began to examine the book, 'And the book is clearly for nine year olds. That should be far above her reading age. And yet...'

"Anya," Lloyd asked, "Could you please read this for me?"

'I need to see if she is as capable as she seems...'

Anya looked at where Lloyd was pointing, and then smiled. Because, since Lloyd was looking at it, he was reading it. And if he was reading that...

"The Sage smiled at the new day," she began, and she could feel the worry in Lloyd begin to disappear, "The Truth had shown him the way. He tamed the sands around him, and the waters flowed towards the people. As the water began to wash over the crops and fields, he fell to his knees and declared, "Truth of Creation. You have granted me this miracle. I am whole again, and shall spread this to all your chosen people."

'Impressive,' Lloyd nodded, 'but maybe a little more just to make sure this isn't some memorization,' Lloyd's eyes then moved, and Anya continued to read aloud the book.

"Then the Truth said, "Sage, you have been granted the truth, and you will spread waters to quench the thirst of your people. But forget it was not you, but the Truth that quenches your thirst. Knowledge of the Truth can wet your throat, fill your belly, and raise your mind, but be not arrogant, for you do not know the full Truth. Only the Truth itself knows the Full Truth, the whole of knowledge eternal. Seek knowledge that the Truth has not granted to you, and your hosannas of praise will only be filled with lamentations of sorrow.""

"Excellent," Lloyd said aloud. He then turned back to the owner, 'I need to get her as quickly as possible, and moving this quickly will allow us to forge papers quickly,' he nodded at the man, "I would like to adopt Anya if that is possible."

"Well," the owner himself was actually a bit in shock, 'I didn't know I had a kid who could read like that,' he rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "Well, you know it's a bit hard to let an adoption go forward so quickly. I mean, you saw this child, how smart she is," he waved at the girl, 'I might be able to push this sale up a bit. Plus, I need to get in contact with my guy down at the record office to build out papers. I don't even know if I have this one listed on any registry,' he sighed, "To sign all the paper work-"

"Sir," Any spoke up. She needed to get adopted quickly, and that meant helping Lloyd get past thig guy, "Didn't you say I don't have papers?"

"What?" Lloyd and the owner said at the same time, one in sudden terror, and one in mild shock.

'You BRAT!'

'Really, no papers,' Lloyd looked over at the owner, who suddenly was waving his hands back and forth, 'That may make this easier than I thought.'

"I can assure you Doctor Forger," the owner began, "I certainly have papers related to little Anya her-"

"May I see them?"

It had indeed been surprisingly easy.

Lloyd began to walk down the steps from the orphanage with his new "Daughter". The lack of papers had basically been enough of negotiating tactic to allow Lloyd to get away with controlling the negotiations. He and the owner had spent thirty minutes alone in different room, all with Twilight in complete control. He had had to spend a pretty large sum of money to get the adoption all covered and for him to buy off the owner so he'd never claim to have had her, but the money had been so good, and the child already so disconnected, that it had been relatively smooth. Especially since he and Cresta had more than enough money to buy any sort of anger away.

"Papa," the girl said aloud, as she walked beside Lloyd. The spy sighed, 'I'd rather her say father, but Papa will probably be better for a girl of six. More believable.'

'Still, besides everything,' Lloyd nodded to himself, 'Operation Strix is proceeding as planned,' he looked forward, staring down towards the setting sun, 'I have secured the child that will have to enter the school. And without her having any papers, it should be easy to forge brand new certificates to cover for any questions that might arise. And this child appears to be a genius. This is going to be a lot easier than I thought.'

GRRRWWWWLLLL

Twilight looked down at the little girl next to him. She then looked up, with one hand sitting on her stomach, and another hand wiping away her face.

"I'm hungry," she said aloud. And it was proven again as another growl roared from her stomach. Twilight looked down at her, and then felt sweat begin to roll down the back of his head.

'Please let this be easier than I thought.'