German Hospitality

It had been days since Rebecca last saw a familiar face and that was Chris. She told him not to follow her, but she knew that she'd see him again. The Americans would be marching into Germany any time now, and he'd look for her. He wouldn't stop until they were united again. She wished that weren't true, but all of these startling revelations lately. . . And he was holding such contemptuous secrets. . .

She needed to find somewhere to stay. Adolf Hitler was treated in the same way here as Roosevelt in the States. It was eerie to someone receive such monumentous praise, even after he had salvaged a downtrodden economy.

She came across a house, hoping the proprietors would be kind enough to let her stay. She didn't know how she would pay them back, but she would do anything for a home now. Her body cringed at what she may have to do. She messed up her hair and shifted her ragged clothes to make herself look less attractive.

Durr household. . . She hoped they were nice. She knocked on the door and awaited an answer.

It was a good day when Durr could make it to Sunday. No work, no training, time to be with his family... he heard knocking. He hadn't expected anyone today.

He opened the door cautiously, not sure what to expect. What he found was a disheveled looking woman of Asian descent. He turned to call for his wife, only to find her already standing there, blinking owlishly at the unexpected development. Apparently she didn't have any clue on what was going on either.

Between the bodies of an adult, their daughter managed to squeeze out. She stared at the stranger for five seconds, and proceeded to bombard their new comer with questions in a mixture of low German and French. As his wife attended to the talkative child, Ferdinand finally addressed the stranger properly, "Forgive my manners, how can we help you? Would you like to come inside?" Winter hadn't arrived yet, but the air had long since turned too uncomfortably sharp to stand comfortably outside for too long.

Rebecca pressed her briefcase into her chest and wiped some dirt from her face. She hadn't bathed since London.

"My name is Rebecca Ohashi," she bowed like her father would bow, "I just need a place to stay until the war is over. May I stay with you?"

She fully expected another no. No way anyone would be so kind to accept an enemy citizen into their home. She should have anticipated that, but her mind had become a storm lately. She was afraid that this storm may never end. Not with what she knew now.

Well, she was straight forward. In the realm of backstabbing politics he lived in now, a bit of bluntness now and the was surprisingly refreshing.

But he had no idea who this person is, she might as well have dropped from the sky. Instead of answering request immediately, he answered, "Please, allow me to invite you inside. My wife made bread recently that would be good with some coffee, and maybe you could explain to me how you found your way to my door step?"

"Thank you so much," Rebecca sat down at the table. The little German girl peeked just over the table at her. Such an endearing sight. It was amazing to see just how wrong the propaganda was. These Germans were not monsters, but ordinary people living ordinary lives. Already it seemed like their only crime was living on the opposite end of the conflict. Then again with all of the flags and propaganda and the worshiped leader, Germany didn't feel all that different from home, either. Granted, here the hatred was aimed at the Jews. Rebecca didn't know anything about them, but at least they weren't hating the Japanese, so she could stay here safely... hopefully.

"This last week has been Hell on me. I hope you can forgive me for being American, but ever since the Pearl Harbor attack, I've become a second-rate citizen. Not that we were ever treated well to begin with. But now we're being rounded into camps. I had to get away. I heard the Japanese were accepted in Germany, so I didn't know where else to go."

The Sergeant nodded, "That is true, after all we are allies with the Japanese, however," he struggled with word for a little bit, struggling not only with the somewhat unfamiliar English language (he was far more comfortable with German and French), but how to explain the complexities of the situation in Germany. Asians generally weren't actively discriminated against the same way that- say- the Romanians were. At the same time, they weren't Aryans either, and faced some of their own challenges in day to day living. Many Chinese, for instance, chose to leave for Spain or for China itself. Finally, he settled with, "I don't entirely understand how things worked in America, but many have chosen to leave Germany."

He glanced towards the kitchen, finding his wife suitably busy. His daughter was not. "Camilla, would you fetch our guest the a hairbrush? The one in your mother's dresser?" She made a sour face, displeased with being sent away from the excitement, but obeyed no the less.

As she disappeared, Ferdinand leaned close, speaking in a low voice, "I don't want to worry my wife and child, but the fact of the matter is this war is on our way to our doorstep. It won't be long before Germany becomes the battlefront of this war. Do you really want to stay here?"

"'Honorary Aryan,' I believe is the word they used. I don't know what it means, but I'm willing to stay wherever I won't be persecuted. Even after the war's end, I suspect that Germans won't look on Japanese like we're monsters. Back home. . . I don't know. All of that hate. . . It may be a long time before it cools down. Even when it does, will we be able to stop the oppression we were facing anyway? I mean, my boyfriend and I can't even get married in more than a few states, because of racial laws," Rebecca cast her focus into the coffee, hoping that Mr Durr would not notice that she was not purely Japanese, but rather more Scottish than anything else.

Camilla returned with the brush which was gladly accepted with a smile and pat on the head. She tried to brush her own hair, but it would only go so far down her scalp before getting blocked by the tangled waves of her mother's Celtic hair. It didn't help that she also inherited the Asian hair's thickness from her father. She removed the brush and set it on the table.

"How long will you let me stay with you?"

Ferdinand nodded to the young woman's explanation, and answered, "Well, the final decision goes to my wife," he explained, glancing towards the kitchen from which she would soon emerge. But, even as he said that, he knew he what her sense of hospitality would lead her to decide. "What I would recommend is that you take a look around Germany, get to know her before you decide to make her your home. If you decide to stay, we'll do what we can to help you locate more permanent living situation. If you decide to leave, I'll do what I can to get you out." Not that he entirely knew how to accomplish either of those entirely, or he would have slipped himself and his family out of Germany by now.

Then again, as a member of the Templar Order, Ferdinand was still unsure how deep their networks ran, nor what his alliance with them would mean, if it meant anything, as the global war moved into Germany herself.

As for the young woman before him, Ferdinand wondered if his boss would have any resources to help her in either direction when the time came.

Finally, his wife rejoined them, offering more bread and more coffee. "I am Frau Durr. This is my husband, Sgt. Durr, and you've already met Camilla." Camilla broke from the bread she was eating, offering a grin. "I didn't get your name earlier, Miss-?"

"Rebecca," she beamed as she accepted Camilla's offer, "But you can call me Becky," she took a sip of the coffee. She didn't even like coffee, but it was nice to have something warm to drink for a change, "I will certainly spend some time in town, but I'm afraid that I'm running short on money. I had to sell almost everything I had just to get out of the States. Mr Durr, would you know anyone who may have some leftover clothes? I'm afraid that all I have is what I'm wearing."

It was Frau Durr that stepped in, "We can buy you some more clothing tomorrow, when the shops are open. We have more disposable income for now. As for today, I can loan you one of my extra dresses, though I fear you'll be swimming in it."

Durr did the math in his head. His promotion did come with an atypically high pay raise, making such a purchase more doable than it had previously. That, and for that matter, material goods may be more valuable then cash before too much longer, should history repeat itself. He nodded his head in approval.

Rebecca beamed at this notion. It must have been some kind of miracle that she had stumbled across such friendly and generous strangers. Who knows? Maybe even after the war, she could stay here in Germany. She just needed to survive the war. Regardless, their kindness could not go unrecognized.

"Thank you so much. You've been so gracious and you have a lovely home. How could I repay you?"

Evilgoodguy wrote:"Thank you so much. You've been so gracious and you have a lovely home. How could I repay you?"

"We're always happy to open our home," Frau Durr replied.

"Just do your best to keep out of trouble," the Sergeant claimed, earning a momentary scowl from his wife. What he wanted to say was, Don't be fooled by the lies. We're surround by lies, entangled in it like flies in a spider's web. Horrible things are happening that I don't want to be a part of, and I don't want to see anyone else get caught in. Then again, that would be deadly unpatriotic, so instead he added, "And Camilla could always use help getting a head start on English."

Rebecca glanced over at the girl Camilla and back to Mr Durr, "Watashi wa kanojo ni oshiete yorokonde irudarou."

Rebecca paused with a crossed face. She had no idea what had just happened. She knew the language was Japanese. Her Pop would occasionally use it, but only to curse. She had never spent any time trying to learn it because it was never something she had needed. She shook her head to try to get the Japanese out.

"I would be glad to teach her, but may I see your bath?"

Colonel Stramm felt compelled to look into his new protege and check in on his progress. Plans to ensure the safety of the Order were of the upmost importance as even though the German Templars and American Templars are working together the common American soldier would still shoot a German on sight. He walked to the door escorted by his personal guard. He carried in his hand a small leather briefcase full of classified documents. He knocked on the door with three distinct sharp raps.

"Herr Durr the colonel wishes to speak with you." Hugo said. As he stood like a golem waiting for a reply.

Stramm waited patiently for an answer at the door. He couldn't afford to look like he was worried in the least bit. Because you can never be to carful of who is watching.

Rebecca switched on the hot water before she covered her briefcase with her ragged clothes. It was good to finally be out of them. She checked the water with her big toe. It was perhaps a little too hot. No matter. If she submerged herself quickly enough, she should be able to adjust. It burned at her feet, but she ignored it. Once her torso went under, everything would be fine.

"Ah, much better."

The heat embraced Rebecca's skin and loosened her muscles. She dipped her hair and tugged on it with a brush. It came apart much more easily and allowed her to get it back to its former waviness.

She heard a sharp knocking on the door.

"Just a moment!"

No wait, that was the front door. Hm. Who could that be? And where was the soap? Rebecca wasn't certain, but these Europeans didn't seem to have the same restrictions on nudity as Americans. But that would be so weird. She cracked open the door, hiding her body behind it, "Mr Durr, where is the soap?"

Some men in very fancy Nazi uniforms were sitting with Durr in the den. One of them wore a red cross that Rebecca remembered from the papers in the briefcase. She shut the door tight, not even waiting for an answer.

Ganolith wrote:"Herr Durr the colonel wishes to speak with you." Hugo said. As he stood like a golem waiting for a reply.

Stramm waited patiently for an answer at the door. He couldn't afford to look like he was worried in the least bit. Because you can never be to carful of who is watching.

Ferdinand's Sunday seemed to include a number of surprise guests this time around. More bread and coffee was circulated after the Sergeant invited his cohorts and superior inside. The fact he had a superior who looked after his underlings could was potentially a good sign, even if it took an unfortunate toll on his wife's homemade bread.

Evilgoodguy wrote:"Mr Durr, where is the soap?"

Some men in very fancy Nazi uniforms were sitting with Durr in the den. One of them wore a red cross that Rebecca remembered from the papers in the briefcase. She shut the door tight, not even waiting for an answer.

Ferdinand heard the door shut, and shrugged. He'd have to ask Frau Durr to check on their guest when he had the chance. To his cohorts, he explained, "I have a family member of Japanese descent who is taking refuge from the oppression in America." He made a mental note to suggest to Rebecca that she take on a pseudonym- Rebecca sounded too uncomfortably Hebrew in origin for the racist mindset of many Germans.

Stramm looked at the picturesk family. He began to open up his briefcase "Durr I need to speak with you on matters most urgent privately for a moment. If you wouldn't mind would you care to lead me to your study."Stramm suggested

Rebecca dried herself before opening the briefcase to make sure she wasn't being paranoid. She found a matching cross. Templar Order. Age-old enemies of the Assassins. Chris was an Assassin. Does that mean that he was protecting her from the Templars? Or was he looking for the heirloom? Or was he only protecting the heirloom and using Rebecca for sex? Or was he sincere when he said he only wanted a quiet life with her? Was this whole thing a coincidence? No. It couldn't be a coincidence, but that was not important. A Templar was in this house and Rebecca needed to make sure he wouldn't find the heirloom. God! No matter how hard she tried, she just could not escape this conspiracy. Or has it always been around her? Have the Templars and Assassins been fighting in the shadows around her all along? Just a quick flash in the corner of the eye, where you're sure you've seen something, but there's nothing there? Was this the thing that goes bump in the night? Her mind continued to swirl with such questions, most of which were not so well-developed.

She needed some kind of plan. If she stayed in the bathroom until the Templar left, she could possibly avoid seeing him altogether. Running away now would just get him to follow. She needed to speak to Mr Durr. Find out who he is. Wait. Shen did she become so calculating? For some reason, a part of her reached for the golden ball. It glowed a little when she touched it, but nothing happened. She closed the briefcase. Whatever this thing was, it was apparently very special, for some reason.

Rebecca covered her suitcase again with her clothes and the towel she had just used to dry herself before returning to her bath. She kept an eye on the door and an ear past it.

Stramm paused for a moment he thought he heard movement in the home. "Do you have more guests Durr? I would very much like to meet them. Just for a chat you see. Would you mind inviting them in here for tea?" Stramm asked haphazardly. For all knew of his influence and his means. He paused for a moment and looked at Hugo it was like he was a telepath. Hugo understood without a word and started to serve tea. "Do ask them to hurry. I know it is impolite to rush someone, but I feel the need for an introduction is in order Herr Durr and as this is your house I must remind you that it is your job to produce such persons at the request of a ranking officer. That being said you have a very lovely family." Stramm leaned in to Durr and whispered. "Your family is safe from us. I wish not to blow your cover as a Templar my boy just in case we have need of this," Stramm straightened his Coat and looked out across the meadow, "May I smoke my pipe?" he asked, "As this your home I wish not to offend."

Ganolith wrote:Stramm paused for a moment he thought he heard movement in the home. "Do you have more guests Durr? I would very much like to meet them. Just for a chat you see. Would you mind inviting them in here for tea?" Stramm asked haphazardly. For all knew of his influence and his means. He paused for a moment and looked at Hugo it was like he was a telepath. Hugo understood without a word and started to serve tea. "Do ask them to hurry. I know it is impolite to rush someone, but I feel the need for an introduction is in order Herr Durr and as this is your house I must remind you that it is your job to produce such persons at the request of a ranking officer. That being said you have a very lovely family." Stramm leaned in to Durr and whispered. "Your family is safe from us. I wish not to blow your cover as a Templar my boy just in case we have need of this," Stramm straightened his Coat and looked out across the meadow, "May I smoke my pipe?" he asked, "As this your home I wish not to offend."

"I would appreciate if you waited to smoke," the Sergeant requested. Frau Durr found it distasteful, so Sgt. Durr himself went through great pains to keep his smoking outside of the house, no matter what the time of year.

"As for my guest, she just arrived earlier today. It took her everything she had to get here. I have another proposition, if you are willing? Perhaps you would like to rejoin my family in a few hours for dinner instead? That would give her more time to prepare herself after her long journey." It was true that as an officer of his rank, Stramm undoubtedly had the authority to order his guest to their office right then and there. For that matter, Durr could ask him to hand over his house and life savings and would have the authority to do that after a little bit of paperwork. However, Durr was hoping Stramm would respond to an appeal of courtesy.

Stramm locked eyes with Durr was he hiding something he didn't know it really was in Durrs best interest to make availible the coming and goings of suspect individuals in this time of war. "Durr I have no intention of usurping a mans athority in hos own home. But like I said my friend it is my job to ensure everything is ok."Stramm said coolly as he wrote on his pad. He then passed the note to Durr.

You are aware that certain individuals have escaped our custody we are only trying to find them as you are new to the knights Templar you were not privy to this sensitive information. I will continue to act as if we are just old friends. But I strongly urge you for the safety of your family these assassins will hunt them if they find out you are one of us becarful brother. May the father of understanding guide you.

H. S.

Stramm looked Durr in the eyes again he wanted Durr to understand the danger of the assassin order. But he couldn't really talk about things with an unknown variable in the house. He looked at his watch. "We'll return In about oh say two hours I still have some more papers to deliver to high command. But alas I wish this silly war would end so I could spend my days like you my friend hugging my own darling wife and child maybe I will bring them over when I return along with some of my officer rations I have wonderful news to bring to all of your family. Well until later."Stramm looked around casually and walked outside and returned to his vehicle.

"Hugo I want at least three people to watch the house put them in plain clothes I don't want put new brother Hurt by a foolish assassin. Just in case."Stramm ordered Hugo.

"Yes Herr doctor." Hugo responded.

Ganolith wrote:"Durr I have no intention of usurping a mans authority in his own home. But like I said my friend it is my job to ensure everything is ok."Stramm said coolly as he wrote on his pad. He then passed the note to Durr.

You are aware that certain individuals have escaped our custody we are only trying to find them as you are new to the knights Templar you were not privy to this sensitive information. I will continue to act as if we are just old friends. But I strongly urge you for the safety of your family these assassins will hunt them if they find out you are one of us be careful brother. May the father of understanding guide you.

H. S.

Stramm looked Durr in the eyes again he wanted Durr to understand the danger of the assassin order. But he couldn't really talk about things with an unknown variable in the house. He looked at his watch. "We'll return In about oh say two hours I still have some more papers to deliver to high command. But alas I wish this silly war would end so I could spend my days like you my friend hugging my own darling wife and child maybe I will bring them over when I return along with some of my officer rations I have wonderful news to bring to all of your family. Well until later."Stramm looked around casually and walked outside and returned to his vehicle.

Durr was as still as a statue when he finished reading the letter, but was far too disciplined to let shock over take his mind for too long, wishing his superior a safe trip as he left the house.

After this, Ferdinand read the note two additional times before he retrieved a match and an ash filled metal can. Striking the match, he engulfed the bottom corner of the paper in the flame, dropping match and paper into the can as the lively flame quickly spread upward.

"Ferdinand, are you smoking?" his wife complained from outside his study when she caught a whiff of the smoke

"Sorry liebling," the Sergeant apologized, as he watched the last of the paper reduce itself into orange embers and gray ash. Assassins. Prior to that, he could no more hate them than he could claim to love the Templars- a relationship he would currently describe as a loose affection at best, albeit a growing one. But the very nature of the enigmatic Assassins, and the very possibility of their existence potentially placing his family in harm's way, was a thought that drove him well away from neutrality.

Forcing himself to unclench his teeth and relax his features once more, Durr exited his study.

Meanwhile, after the Nazi officers filed out of their home, Frau Durr knocked on the bathroom door. "Rebecca, our company has left. Are you doing alright?"

"I'm fine, but I think you're out of soap. I can't seem to find any."

Evilgoodguy wrote:"I'm fine, but I think you're out of soap. I can't seem to find any."

Frau Durr's expression puzzled a moment, before her eyes lit up in realization. "Oh, I thought for sure- I must have used the old bar up. Give me a moment."

She might have taken longer than Rebecca would have expected, as wife and husband exchanged a few words before Frau Durr at long last returned to the bathroom door, knocking once more with a hand-made bar of soap in hand, "Here is some soap. I also have a few clothes you can borrow from now, though we'll have to get you some proper ones soon. I'll have to help you pin up the extra fabric. I can also help you with your hair if you'd like," she offered, pausing a moment, before informing the newcomer, "Do finish up as soon as you can- we have our company returning to join us for dinner in a couple of hours, and my husband and I would like to speak with you before hand."

"I better give our mutual friend a call." Stramm said from the local pub. Hugo nodded. As Stramm was finishing his cigarette. He picked up the telephone.