Grand strode into the room, flanked by two more personel and a clipboard in his left hand. Having his subordinates shut the door behind him, he directed his attention to the clipboard in his hand. "2nd Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye, assigned to Major Mustang during the Ishbal rebellion to prevent him from going AWOL," he snorted somewhat angrily, "and has herself been missing for the past few months," he finished reading from his clipboard and then directed his attention to Riza and folded his hands in front of him. "Now tell me Lt. where you and Major Mustang have been and why you decide to come back now and I might consider reinstating you as your grandfather requested," he said gruffly and in that tone of voice that makes you feel he can think of far worse things if you don't co-operate.
"Sir." Riza gave a small nod of acknowledgement, desperately hating how dry her mouth felt. A quick, deep little breath, then she went ahead with the one story that stood a chance. After all, what was she gonna say? Oh, I'm so sorry, Brigadier General, we've been stranded in another dimension where people randomly turn into deer.
Right.
Please stay in the Nexus, Major, she begged inwardly. If he found the place, he'd be in even more trouble with what she was about to say. But it was the only thing she could think of that might give her a chance to escape and get back to the Nexus, back to him, like she promised. They were both rather deeply screwed here anyway
( ... )
Grand raised himself out of his chair and turned his back to Riza, thinking for a moment before speaking. "If I didn't know your tracking skills were far better than what you make them out to be Lt., I might have believed you. Unfortunately for you," he turns his head to look behind him, his eye cold and heartless, "I know better. You have some of the sharpest eyes I've ever seen, why else do you think I assigned you to watch over Flame?"
He turns around to face her and slams his palms upon the table, "Now tell me the truth Lt., where have you and Mustang been for the past three months?" he asks, his voice low and his eyes squinting dangerously.
She flinched a bit when his hands hit the table, making it rock a bit and rattle on the floor.
Oh. Shit. Think.
"I'm aware of that, sir. That's the main reason I wasn't willing to call it quits when he finally did lose me. He had a head start, and seemed rather familiar with the terrain the further north I tracked him. Yes, I'm good, but he's an alchemist, and had begun using arrays to destroy his trail."
He continued to stare her down as this new bit of information was relayed through his mind. She's hiding something, those responses are much more vaugue than the majority of her reports from before. Now I just have to find out what.
After a few moments of choosing the right words, he pressed on, "Why didn't you send for backup when you left searching for him, Lieutenant? You know I don't like losing anyone from underneath my watch, particularly if they are alchemists." His patience was beginning to wear thin.
"I'll accept responsibility for that error in judgment, which was foolish of me. I hadn't wanted to admit I'd failed at a task without trying my best to resolve the situation myself." Riza swallowed hard, trying to keep from shaking too much. Stay calm and focused and clear-headed and ready to give a good answer to anything he asked.
Grand turned his back to her again, several things going through his mind. The main thing, however, was the sheer ludicrusey of Hawkeye and Mustang going AWOL. They were loyal to the state, there had to be more to it. A plan began to formulate in his mind to find out exactly what was going on. "You're free to go, Lt. You have answered my questions to my satisfaction and have decided to reinstate you to your rank. Continue your pursuit of Flame, but this time you will have a team I select accompanying you at all times, do I make myself clear?" he said without turning around.
She took care to keep her little inward victory dance from showing... not that it was difficult when he brought up the search team.
Shit.
Well, it still went well, overall. She wasn't being imprisoned or executed. She'd just have to be wily and give them the slip and make her way back to-
A cold knot formed.
She wasn't entirely certain the portal was still there.
Oh, people went back and forth from their worlds all the time, including the other Amestrises. No sense in inviting unnecessary trouble or worries.
She stood, dropping one hand to her side, the other coming up for a snappy salute. "Yes, sir! Thank you, sir!"
Don't count your chickens before they hatch, Riza, there's more to it. "You will send me a report on everything you find each week and send another at the exact moment you find Flame. You are then to bring him here to me for questioning within one week of capture. Trust me, I'll know if you don't do what I'm ordering you to do."
He turns to face her again, his eyes narrowing, "I don't think I need to tell you what happens if you fail me Lt. You are to leave with my team at 0700 hours tomorrow morning, now get out of my sight before I change my mind about giving you a second chance," he says pointing to the door.
At the exact moment? That would be an interesting trick to accomplish, unless I somehow developed telepathy.
Of course, her inward snark didn't reflect on her face. She dropped the salute when he pointed to the door - he didn't have to ask her twice. "Yessir. Thank you, sir."
Whew.
Now. Question was, should she wait until deployed with her own heels getting nipped at by Grand's hounds, or should she get out of there at the first available opportunity?
As Riza was leaving he motioned for one of the two who came in with him to join him and spoke to him in a low whisper. "Make sure she goes to the dorm and keep a guard outside her door and around the ground to prevent her from escaping. Also, send me the best tracker we have, I want to have a word with them about something." As his personel left to fufill his orders, he couldn't help but smirk. Now I'll find out just what you and Flame have been doing, Hawkeye. One way or another, I'll find out.
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Right.
Please stay in the Nexus, Major, she begged inwardly. If he found the place, he'd be in even more trouble with what she was about to say. But it was the only thing she could think of that might give her a chance to escape and get back to the Nexus, back to him, like she promised. They were both rather deeply screwed here anyway ( ... )
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He turns around to face her and slams his palms upon the table, "Now tell me the truth Lt., where have you and Mustang been for the past three months?" he asks, his voice low and his eyes squinting dangerously.
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Oh. Shit. Think.
"I'm aware of that, sir. That's the main reason I wasn't willing to call it quits when he finally did lose me. He had a head start, and seemed rather familiar with the terrain the further north I tracked him. Yes, I'm good, but he's an alchemist, and had begun using arrays to destroy his trail."
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After a few moments of choosing the right words, he pressed on, "Why didn't you send for backup when you left searching for him, Lieutenant? You know I don't like losing anyone from underneath my watch, particularly if they are alchemists." His patience was beginning to wear thin.
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Shit.
Well, it still went well, overall. She wasn't being imprisoned or executed. She'd just have to be wily and give them the slip and make her way back to-
A cold knot formed.
She wasn't entirely certain the portal was still there.
Oh, people went back and forth from their worlds all the time, including the other Amestrises. No sense in inviting unnecessary trouble or worries.
She stood, dropping one hand to her side, the other coming up for a snappy salute. "Yes, sir! Thank you, sir!"
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He turns to face her again, his eyes narrowing, "I don't think I need to tell you what happens if you fail me Lt. You are to leave with my team at 0700 hours tomorrow morning, now get out of my sight before I change my mind about giving you a second chance," he says pointing to the door.
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Of course, her inward snark didn't reflect on her face. She dropped the salute when he pointed to the door - he didn't have to ask her twice. "Yessir. Thank you, sir."
Whew.
Now. Question was, should she wait until deployed with her own heels getting nipped at by Grand's hounds, or should she get out of there at the first available opportunity?
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