Chapter 8

'I'm having a few second thoughts about this, if my sister were here she'd be reprimanding me,' August's voice entered Cort's mind.

'Well she isn't here,' he said in way of reminding. 'And I really don't want to be thought of as a spy, I think it would make life a little difficult.'

'I know... but maybe I should be a little more forthright about it, though, it won't be half as fun.'

No one had said a word yet, but Cort knew it was conning soon. He was kind of amazed by how fast August and him could communicate with thoughts. Speaking seemed almost inconvenient compared to it.

'You seem to care a lot about your sister's opinion,' Cort noted.

'Yeah, you try being that close to someone, we practically share every thought.'

The sound of talking still came from behind Hogan's door, and Cort could tell that it was a pretty heated argument. And from what August conveyed to him, Hogan and his men were arguing about them.

'What are they saying?' Cort strained to hear.

'Two of them are convinced we're spies, and the other two think we're all right. Hogan isn't sure.'

'Then Hogan is the closest to the truth.'

August kinda chuckled, 'Perhaps he is, but If we're supposed to be here as spies it's not for Germany or any of the other Scouts powers, 'cause I would never betray my country, so at least we have that.'

'I'm definitely not on the side of our captors either.' Cort's voice was smooth and quiet, calming in August's mind.

'Yep, great. Now let's just clear that up with them.'

'Well they shouldn't be hard,' Cort commented.

'It shouldn't be, but when it comes to telepathy most people immediately jump to the conclusion that they're imagining it, and the struggle is convincing it's real. You're a slight exception to that.'

Cort shrugged, 'Well, my brother can talk to animals, so why not?'

August smiled, 'I think we may have the best chance with the younger one, Andrew, to start with. The English fellow, Newkirk, would probably think it's even more suspicious.'

'Do you think they'll listen to him?'

August nodded, 'They all really respect eachother, dispite their banter, I can tell, it kinda reminds me of my friends.'

The door opened rather abruptly, and August and Cort were waved inside. "You don' look like bloody Krauts, why would-" Newkirk started immediately.

"Now Newkirk, calm down and let them talk," Hogan cut in authoritatively, but somewhat amused.

"Yeah, Peter, I don't think they're bad guys," Carter said.

August took advantage of the moment, and even though he wasn't talking to him Cort could hear. 'Thanks, you know we're not, I'm just as American as you.'

Carter's eyes widened, "How did you do that?!" Everyone looked at Carter.

"Andre, what are you talking about?" LeBeau looked irritated, but Carter kept his eyes right on August.

"Are you some sort of ventriloquist?!"

'No.' August cocked his head and said out loud, "What?"

"My mind!" Carter looked around at the rest of them almost sheepishly, "I heard his voice in my mind!"

"Andrew, that's not possible." Newkirk scoffed.

'Yes it is.' August spoke into the unbelieving Englander's mind now as well, and got a completely flabbergasted look from him.

"Oui!" LeBeau laughed, "I think that you have been working too hard!"

"Yeah," Kinch agreed, "It must be all of that thinking."

'Thinking is exactly what it is.' August spoke up again, this time in all of their minds, making them all look at him with disbelief.

"What did I say?!!" Carter looked at them with an I-told-you-so-face.

"It's a trick." Newkirk made a skeptical look. Hogan also looked suspicious. LeBeau and Kinch just looked incredulous.

'You were right, he will be the hardest one to convince.' Cort nodded sagely, rightly assuming that August would project it to everyone else.

"You too?" Carter looked like his eyes were going to pop out any second.

'Actually, it's more August.' Cort smiled.

"All right." Hogan held up a hand, "That's enough. You've proved your point. You got something to say, spit it out, then I'll decide if I believe it or not." He gave a small frown, "I've seen some pretty funky stuff, so I think I can handle whatever you've got. Don't mince words. We don't have time for that."

"Okay," August said verbally. "Well... um, we're not really from here, not Germany, but, well, this time and world. And before you say anything let me explain a little better, then you can decide. I was born in the nineteen nineties. I grew up watching cartoons on Saturday mornings, um, I think you'd be rather envious of our TVs, their huge, and have color." August had been talking rather fast, and he paused now tapping his for nervously. "I've studied WWII in school, I know how it's gonna end, some of the major events in between. I suppose to prove that it would take a little time but I could prove it."

They'd been listening kind of quietly, Cort could tell that many of them were even more disbelieving, but Hogan seemed to be trying to be very judicial and keep an open mind.
Hogan shook his head slowly, "We'll put you to the test. But what about Cassel here, is he from the future too?" Cort could hear a hint of mocking in the colonel's voice.

Cort just shook his head honestly, and said simply, "I'm not from this world."

"Well great," Newkirk said, "so now we 'ave a bloody time traveler and an alien. You two're the worst spies ever, or just full of it."

Hogan nodded his head, "Exactly, Newkirk, do you think spies would make up such a fabulous story?"

"No," Kinch spoke for him.

"Then either they're a couple of Americans who have read one too many science fiction novels, or they're telling the truth."

"I think they're tellin the truth," Carter said. Cort couldn't help but like him, it was a bizarre thing for him to stand up for them, yet he was doing it.

"Oh come on Carter, you can't-"

"Newkirk, that's enough," Hogan snapped. "How about we just put them to the test?"

"Well then, 'ow does the bloody war end?"

August went to reply, but Hogan held up his hand, "Let's do events closer to now," Hogan suggested. "Besides, if he is telling the truth I don't think we really want to know all of earth's history."

"Well I want to know who wins the World Series for the next little while," Carter spoke.

August grinned, "Well, I know a few of them."

"Carter, you can discuss betting later, for now we need him to prove it."

"Well I still want to know 'ow the bloody war ends. We win, righ'?"

August nodded quickly.

Cort found himself liking Kinch, who, for the most part was sitting in silence and observing the conversation. Cort noted that he didn't really speak unless he had something to say. "Well, I just got a communication from London informing us of an upcoming battle plan, perhaps if he can tell us correctly how it ends, then in a few days we can see what happens, and if he's right."

Everyone nodded in agreement, "Thank you Kinch. And if he's telling the truth, I think it's safe to assume that they both are."

"Wait," August interrupted. "It's not like I have all of the war memorized. Just a few major battles-"

"Well cer'ainly you 'ave the end of it memorized."

"Can it, Newkirk."

There came a knock on the door and a disturbance from outside. 'Thank you' August thought.

"Colonel Hogan," Shultz popped his head in with an apologetic look on his face, "I'm sorry, but Kommandant Klink wishes to see you."

"No, it's all right." Hogan's look was one of irritation, then thoughtfuness as he looked at the strange duo, "We're not finished yet though, so don't think you're off the hook. In fact, grill 'em while I'm gone fellas, maybe they're scared of my eagles." He gave a cheerful grin as he followed the fat sergeant out of the room.

"You're lucky the Colonel is so lenient." Newkirk looked at them disbelievingly, "If I'd heard that load of baloney, I'd've strung ya up an' hung you out t dry first fing!"

"Good luck trying that," Cort said in a bit of warning.

"We're not switching our stories, it's the truth."

"Well, you 'aven't really proved it now 'ave you?"

August looked a little hesitant. 'We'll convince them sooner or later.'

Cort nodded, wondering why August didn't just share them some of his memories like he had with him. He realized that perhaps August trusted him more than the others... except, August seemed to trust Carter.

'Why don't you just show then some of your memories... could you show them some of mine?'
'Well, yeah... Are you sure you'd want to? I just don't know how well they'll take it, you
know. Many of them are already doubting what happened earlier.'

'Well, what about Carter? So you think he may be able to convince the others eventually?'

'Possibly.' August seemed to be weighing the odds.

'I could show them a little magic, that might convince them.'

'Maybe, ... it depends on your magic.' August frowned.

Cort grinned a little, 'I can control mist, make it into things.'

August smiled and shrugged. 'I guess it's worth a shot. Besides, sooner or later they're bound to believe us, we're telling the truth.'

"Well, you got any proof?" Newkirk looked at them with a smug smile, obviously disbelieving, "I'm practically dyin' ta see it!"

"Newkirk, give 'em a chance." Kinch admonished, apparently against goading.

"I have proof." Cort held out his hand and mist began pooling at his feet.

"What are you, some kinda wizard?" Carter moved slowly till he was against the wall.

"No." Cort smiled slightly as the mist snaked up around him, and went through his hand which cupped around it, then went straight to the floor. "I'm a wanderer." The mist then hardened, making a long grey staff in his hand. He held it out to Newkirk who looked the most skeptical. The Englishman took it slowly, obviously dubious.

"'Ow'd you pull that off?" He seemed half convinced, "I've seen magic tricks, but nofin' like this."

"That's because it's not a trick." the staff dissipated into mist, leaving Newkirk looking stunned.

"Is that all you can make?" LeBeau still looked unbelieving.

"I can make whatever I want." He allowed his sword to appear in his hand, mist still swirling about him. Kinch hesitantly took the blade, touching the edge.

"Guys, I- I think this is real."

"It is." Cort nodded, and noted that even August looked surprised at the sudden profession of belief.

"I thought it was from the beginning." Carter seemed just as shocked, "You believe now too?"

"We've seen crazier things since we were shot down, haven't we?" Kinch directed his words at Newkirk and LeBeau, "A white officer who doesn't care about skin color or rank as much as actual worth?" Maybe it was Cort's imagination, but they all looked sorta guilty at that. "We didn't have an open mind then, why not have one now?" Kinch finished with a meaningful look.

"Yeah, and now we've done the impossible too!" Carter grinned, "Tunnels, sabotage, and we all speak German to boot! I vote we give 'em a chance!"

"I second that." Kinch smiled at his younger companions enthusiasm.

"Well I'm not from a democracy." Newkirk sniffed.

"I say that the only thing I care about it whose side they're on." LeBeau shrugged, "The rest? Well, this is war."

"Le's wait till the Colonel gets back, then I'll decide." Newkirk seemed indecisive, especially now that he was the only one not believing.

"Decide what?" Colonel Hogan's head popped into the room. Cort was quietly impressed with how easily the man had snuck up on them.

"Wether or not to believe them." Carter supplied helpfully. Kinch then filled the Colonel in on what had happened since he'd left. Hogan looked thoughtful, then finally looked at them,

"You're on our side?"

"Yes." August nodded.

"Well then, now's the time to prove it. I just found out that the Gestapo will be here, checking out our new prisoners." He looked a little angry, "That means you're going to be interrogated. We also happen to have a mission that was going to happen at that time. The Gestapo being here sorta ruined that plan. But, if you can do all you say you can do, then I'd be more willing to believe you if you used it on them for us while they're here." He glanced up at them from his brooding position against his bed, his eyes conveying that he was apologetic. "Would you be willing to do that?"

"Yes." Cort beat August to answering, "And I can make sure that the Gestapo regret interrogating me."

"Me too." August looked almost excited at the proposition.

"Well, then here's what were gonna do." Hogan smiled at their enthusiasm, leaning in with his palms on his desk to lay out his plan. Cort couldn't help but think that it was gonna be rather fun.

Author's Note

That was considerably shorter.