Lost Panzer

4

The mood in the well lit office was one of confusion. Peter sat tensed on the comfortable sofa, fiddling his fingers. Across from him, Karl was staring blankly at the scenery outside. It was silent except for the bubbling of the water machine. In front of them, sitting behind the desk, was a man trying to figure out what exactly is going on.

"So what you are telling me is that you both are German officers?" The well dressed man asked the two.

"Yes, sir." Peter answered, "We found ourselves here." He hadn't felt the need to mention the time traveling aspect. His story was unbelievable already.

"And you speak Japanese?" The man said, palming his face. "As far as I can telling the German embassy did not dispatch any officers. And you two are too young to be officers anyway." He stood up. Peter and Karl immediately followed the gesture out of habit. "Its fine. I just need a break." Said the man. He left the room, leaving the two Germans alone.

"Peter, what do we do?" Karl asked. Peter sat back down and thought for a second. If they revealed they were time travelers, what would happen to them?

"We are reenacters, with amnesia or something." Peter said. "It is that or we request to see the German embassy." He didn't sound too confident in his idea. He paced around. "We are stranded in this foreign world and I don't even know if I want to go home."

"There is nothing left for us in Germany, past or present." Karl softly said, "We may as well carve out a new life here."

Peter and Karl's attention turned to the opening door. The man stepped back inside and looked at the two.

"You two are still too young to be on your own." He said, walking to his desk. "Are you two really German?"

"We-" Peter paused, glancing at Karl, "Don't know."

"Hmm. Well, your Japanese sounds native." He noted, "You must have spent a lot of time here."

"We don't know, sir." Peter responded.

"You can't remember?" He questioned. Peter shook his head. "Who wrote War and Peace?"

"Leo Tolstoy, sir." Peter swiftly replied.

The man thought for a bit. "Now, hold on. How did you know you were German officers?"

"We woke up with the uniforms and badges, and we tried to make of the situation as best as we could." Peter lied.

"So, you don't know." He nodded and wrote something down in his paper. "Very well. Now, would you rather go to the German embassy or stay here?"

Peter and Karl looked at each other. Silently, they came to an agreement.

"We would like to stay here."

"Good to hear." The man stamped the two papers laying on the desk, after signing it, he handed it to the two. "As you are not on file with any other country. You are now officially Japanese." He got up and shook their hands. "As of now, since you do not have any parents, you are under state custody." He informed them, "You are also required to attend a school." The two former officers shrugged in response. "Which will be Oorai Girls Academy."

"Pardon, but isn't that a school for, you know, girls?" Peter asked.

"Well it is." He replied, uncomfortably shuffling around the papers on his dark, oak desk. "But to get you off the carrier, with say a helicopter, will require funds that will need to be approved."

"But the carrier will have to dock soon right?"

"Yes, however we just docked a day ago. We will be on the sea for perhaps a few months"

"So this is temporary then?"

"Yes, until we dock, you will attend the only school aboard the Zuikaku." He said. Following a moment of silence. He reached into his pocket and pulled out two keys. "These are for your dorm room in the school." He instructed. "A caretaker employed by the government will act as your foster parents. You are expected to maintain high grades and keep your room clean and organized. A monthly allowance will be given for extracurricular activities but any additional funds must be earned through part time employment."

The two accepted them graciously and gave their thanks. They picked up their bags and prepared to leave.

"Also, you are a few weeks late for the start of school. You need to catch up." He said, waving them goodbye.