Chapter 1 - The Golden Transmutation
Rating: T - Some uses of "damn", "hell", and "bastard". Though if you've watched the show, which you should've, it's not that bad. A little bit of violence as well.
A/N: Thanks for deciding to read "Dog of the Military"! I hope you enjoy the story and feel free to send me a message anytime! :3
Edward Elric could feel the weight of coins smacking against his leg as he sprinted down the musty hallway. It was the remainder of the 520 cens Mustang had lent him the week before. Though, at the rate things were going, he doubted he would ever get the chance to pay him back. That damn colonel would pay for sending him on this mission alone.
Water splattered across the floor, reminding Ed that he had to be careful not to slip. That would only give his pursuer the advantage in this foolhardy race down the corridors of the lab. No, this wasn't a lab, it was more like a torture chamber; a hellhole designed to satisfy the sick desires of a demented alchemist. An alchemist that was currently preparing a transmutation circle for his newest experiment. One that had Ed set on escaping that place before he was caught.
If only Al was there. Maybe they would've made it out by now—no, Al was his younger brother and it was Ed's job to keep him safe. This mission was anything but safe. But if Mustang had at least sent someone to go with him, he wouldn't be running for his life. Instead, he was sent on this stupid "Solo Mission" and it would probably be the last mission he ever went on.
Turning another corner, Ed risked a glance over his shoulder. He could no longer see the cold beams of flashlights reflecting off the walls. He refocused his attention to the path ahead of him before skidding to a ungraceful stop. The largest of the alchemist's goons glared at him from the opposite side of the hallway. The moonlight lit up the saliva dripping from his jaws. Of course, he was a chimera, half-dog from the looks of it. Behind him, the door leading to the exit.
The chimera's claws looked just as terrible as the teeth in his mouth. The sight sent shivers down Ed's spine. He could either turn and try to find another exit, or stand and fight. He chose the latter.
His voice rose in a threatening shout as he charged toward the chimera. He struck the beast on the snout; a moment after, the chimera's teeth snagged his coat sleeve. The red fabric ripped and Ed backed off before the chimera could land a blow. A fierce growling came from the beast, it leapt towards Ed and knocked him to the ground where he landed with a loud thump. The chimera gave him no time to react as it gripped the teen's throat in his claws and shoved him against the wall so that his feet barely skimmed the ground.
The rancid breath of the chimera choked Ed when he tried to speak. As his retching faded, the chimera's claws began to prick at his skin. He aimed a kick at the beast but it didn't even filch as his foot smacked it's chest. Ed let out an annoyed growl, "Let me go you bastard!"
The chimera let out a low chuckle, "Unlikely, Edward Elric." It's grip tightening around his throat, "Besides, I do have a name you know. It would do you well to mind your manners in this place."
"Why should I care what your name is? I just want to get out of here!" Ed retorted, his hands flying to the clawed one curling around his neck.
"You won't be allowed out of here anytime soon little alchemist," The chimera smirked as the boy's nostrils flared in anger. "The boss wants to meet with you first. And whether or not you want to know my name, it's Moritz."
With a sudden jerk, Ed clapped his hands together and transmuted the top part of his automail into a weapon. He slashed at Moritz's arm and felt the blood splatter across his face as the hand loosened and he dropped to the ground. Immediately he turned to run but the chimera was faster. Ed yelled out in pain as the chimera's claws dug into his left shoulder and pulled him back into Moritz's grasp.
Ed felt the hot breathing of the chimera on the back of his neck and his body tensed up. "I wouldn't try that again if I were you."
The moistness of the blood soaking his shoulder made him realize the chimera was right. He didn't have much of a chance against him. Especially since he wasn't the only one Ed had to worry about. He replied to the beast's advice with a tight nod and Moritz leaned back with a satisfied grunt. Reluctantly, Ed transmuted his automail back into a regular arm and allowed the chimera to lead him down the hallways, back the way he had come. Every once in a while, he would catch another chimera slipping through the shadows. It seemed as though they were following him.
Multiple thoughts occurred to him at once. Is Al okay? Are they after him as well or is it just me? Winry's heading to Central to help Mustang and Hawkeye with an automail related crime, is she involved in this? But the most alarming one repeated itself in his mind until it became a tedious chanting. Will I make it back? Will I make it back? Will I make it back?
It felt like hours before Moritz finally turned towards an open door and shoved Edward inside before he could try and turn back. The chimera stepped in the room himself and closed the door behind him.
"Ah, thank you Moritz. I would've gone after the boy myself of course but I had to finish with the… preparations."
Edward observed the man in the center of the room carefully. By all means, he looked like a normal Amestrian. However, there was blood staining his lab coat and his grin was sinister. This man was a killer and with a shudder, Ed was reminded of a previous State Alchemist, Shou Tucker. The man who had sacrificed his wife, daughter, and dog for his own scientific desires. His decisions leaving him with nothing and in the end he was killed by Scar.
But there was something more alarming about this man. He knew what he was doing, and he was by no means insane. That's what bothered Ed the most. Whatever the alchemist was planning, it wasn't good and it didn't seem like something that could easily go wrong.
There was a large transmutation circle in the center of the room, white pieces of broken chalk scattered around the circle. It was a complicated design, one Ed hadn't seen before. There was an empty space in the center of the circle where the alchemist crouched, a grin spreading across his face.
The alchemist caught Ed's eyes and held his arms out wide. "So you've noticed my masterpiece Fullmetal Alchemist. Have you not? Such a wonderful creation, one I'm quite proud of. Unfortunately, it takes an entire Philosopher's Stone to activate it. The Stone will be deconstructed immediately so once I've activated it I won't be able to do it again until I get my hands on another stone."
Ed was thrown off for a moment, what kind of transmutation would require full use of a Philosopher's Stone? He glared at the alchemist. "Who are you? What are you planning to do?"
"Forgive me, I'm Dr. Enrico. As for what I'm planning to do? I'm experimenting on you of course."
"Like I'd let you do that! Just let me go already!" Ed yelled.
The doctor shook his head, "Sorry, I can't just let our most important subject leave." He got up from his spot on the ground and backed up a bit. "Moritz? Would you mind pinning him down over here? Oh, and remove his shirt. I need to finish the transmutation circle."
The chimera gripped the back of Ed's coat with one hand to hold him still. Ed tried to clap his hands together to transmute his automail but Moritz let go of his coat and yanked Ed's hands behind his back where he held them with a steel grip. With his other hand, he tore off Ed's coat and jacket, leaving him in only his shirt. Soon, that was torn off as well and the coolness of the air stung his bare skin. He struggled frantically against the chimera's grip but he couldn't loosen Moritz's grasp.
As the chimera pushed him towards the center of the circle, Ed turned his head towards the doctor, standing at a distance. "What the hell are you doing to me?" His voice sounded hoarse and he winced.
Enrico followed quietly as Moritz led Ed towards the center of the transmutation circle. The chimera pushed Ed to the ground and pinned him there face-up. The doctor approached and cast a quick transmutation that caused the ground to stretch up and wrap over Ed's wrists and shins, strapping him to the ground.
"You'll see." Was Enrico's only response as he grabbed a small wooden bowl from the table right outside of the circle. He walked back towards Ed and pulled a paintbrush out of his pocket.
Dipping the paintbrush in the dish, the doctor coated the brush with a strange golden paint. He smiled, obviously pleased, and bent over Ed's left arm. With careful strokes, he began painting a series of lines and symbols down his arm. The paint felt cool to Ed and he narrowed his eyes at Enrico's work. The patterns reminded him of those on Scar's right arm. He recognized a couple symbols; the symbol for gold and the antimony, symbolizing the animal spirit of man.
Other than that, he had no clue as to what Enrico was doing. He could only struggle hopelessly against his bonds and spit obscenities at the doctor. The alchemist laughed and continued to paint symbols upon Ed's chest, "Don't worry Edward. This will all be over before you know it."
Moritz watched from the corner of the room with a steely gaze. He looked like he was considering something, with his eyes studying the doctor's movements. But Ed had other problems to worry about as Enrico moved on to his automail arm. The doctor grinned at Ed briefly before returning to his work. "Such a fine piece of craftsmanship. If I remember correctly it was created by a childhood friend of yours."
"Leave her out of this!" Ed snarled at the doctor. tugging uselessly at the strips of ground that pinned him down. "My brother as well! I'll kill you if you touch either of them."
Enrico sat up and scanned Ed, then the circle around him. "Don't bother. They aren't the ones I'm after. You see Edward, you're the only one I'm concerned about." The alchemist stood and walked back towards the table he had gotten the paint from. He placed the bowl and brush down, then he grabbed a syringe. It was filled with a red liquid and seemed to be infused with a golden one.
As the doctor neared, Ed noticed that the red liquid looked exactly like blood. He eyes narrowed in disgust. "What the hell is that?"
"I would tell you, but that would ruin the surprise Fullmetal Alchemist." The doctor taunted as he knelt down next to Ed. Without warning, Enrico pushed the syringe into the vein in Ed's upper left arm. Ed let out a cry of alarm and pain as the substance entered his bloodstream. The pain was dull but it spread throughout his body rapidly until his whole body ached.
The paint began to sting Ed's skin and he writhed around uncomfortably, his jaws clenched to keep from shouting. He watched out of the corner of his eye as Dr. Enrico stepped to the outside of the circle. Moritz approached the alchemist and motioned to the transmutation circle. "Well? Is it ready?"
Enrico clasped his hands together enthusiastically, "Yes. We just need the Stone. You brought it with you?"
Moritz pulled a red stone out of his slacks. The stone glinted in the low light, and Ed froze. The one thing that could return Al to his original body. It was right there. He kept his eyes on the Philosopher's Stone as the chimera dropped it in Enrico's open palm. If only he could free his hands. Then the rest would be easy. Ed yanked against his bonds once more but the effort only scraped his wrist.
"Edward Elric, you know much about alchemy. Haven't you at least made a good guess at what I'm attempting?"
Enrico wore a confident smile on his face as Ed glared up at him. Now, the paint was really becoming irritable but he kept his resolve as he stared back at the doctor. "No. I've never seen a transmutation like this."
The alchemist sighed, "Oh, I was really hoping to see the look on your face when you realized what was going on. I guess I'll have to wait just a little longer." He stood at the edge of the circle so that he was in Ed's direct line of vision. Immediately, Moritz backed up from the circle, his eyes wide in a mixture of awe and fear. Enrico grinning wickedly, he slapped his hands to the edge of the circle.
The transmutation circle began to glow a brilliant gold, its light reflecting off the walls and piercing the darkness. The paint on Ed's chest and arms began to glow as well, inflicting an agonizing pain that ran all the way through his body. He let loose a tortuous scream that blended in with the transmutation's crackling. His spine arched as the force of the pain seemed to pull him off the cold, cement floor. Golden eyes widened in terror as his vision began to ebb away. Black splotches decorated his eyesight; he tossed his head back and forth to seek for anything that could help him. Anyone.
Terror gripped Ed as the severity of the pain increased. There was no reminiscing for him, the pain numbed his mind and his body. The darkness clouding his vision closed in just as the eye opened up underneath him.
A/N: You made it to the end of the first chapter! That's great! I'm not too sure how many people are still actively in the FMA fandom so I'll need all your help to get this fanfiction recognized! If you know of anyone who loves this anime/manga (or you can just introduce a friend to the show first), it would be awesome if you could recommend "Dog of the Military" to them. Of course you don't have to but if you ever want to show your appreciation for the story that's all you need to do. c: I hope I don't sound too greedy, though, Greed is my favorite character and I wouldn't be surprised if it rubbed off on me. That's all for now and thanks again for reading!
Coming Next: Chapter 2 - Return to the Gate