As I have stated in the last two installments, I do NOT own FMA or the Transformers. Blah, blah, blah... This will pick up from were Escalation left off. And any fan art, I'd sttill like to see. :)
This chapter is brought to you in part by, the city of Flint, Michigan. Where "Drag Racing" means more than just chasing a guy in a dress down, Dort HWY.
Central
Bludgeon lies on the ground in silence, staring up the smoke filled night sky. His moment was suddenly interrupted by the sound of foot steps. He turns to face the sound, only to notice the end of a gun barrel staring back at him & the sight of Sixshot holding it. "Time to pay Megatron his 'dues', Bludgeon." A loud shot was heard, striking Sixshot in the back with a large amount of purple energy, knocking him face first to the ground next to Bludgeon & out cold.
Bludgeon scans the area with the field of vision that is available to him as he hears foot steps coming closer. He turns to face the sound & to his surprise, looks up to the transformer. A four pointed crown on his head & a large orange barreled gun attached to his right arm. "You? Then, it is true... He is alive?" Bludgeon asked. "Bludgeon... You will serve the Expansion."
The Long Road Home: Arrival
Mu Ko Ang Thong Island, Thailand. August 17th, 2012. 11:55 PM, local time. (+15 hour difference from California.)
The moon shined brightly in the night sky. The area was peaceful & serene. A picture perfect night. High above the island, a bright golden light floods the area with the sound of large doors creaking open. A large helicopter emerges from the light & begins to travel to the Northeast. A moment later, Thunderwing emerges & transforms landing on the shoreline of he island. "Dammit, I lost track of him." He said as the Gate closed behind him.
Inside Ed, who sat in the front of the cockpit, checked to make sure he, Lust & Wrath made it through in one piece. He looks over behind himself & saw Lust sitting in the center seat & Wrath just behind her. "We'll find him soon enough. What we need to do is find out where the hell we are?" Ed proclaimed. Thunderwing scanned the area & noticed several different radio waves streaming through the air. The language was foreign & indistinguishable to him, or the others. The feeling of trouble brewed inside his gut. Telling him to leave & now. He changes to his jet form & flies off to the East.
"Where are we going?" Wrath asked, noticing they were low the surface of the water. "And why are we flying so low?" Ed asked. "We really need to hide & figure things out... We're too exposed." Thunderwing replied as his monitors showed those inside local geographical locations. "What is all this?" Ed asked curiously. "It's something that society here calls, the World Wide Web. Also dubbed the 'Internet'. A lot of information mixed with mindless bullshit. I'm using it to find us a hiding place." Thunderwing replied.
"Can't believe there is something on the other side of the Gate... Are we in the future, or is this a world similar to our own, but yet, different?" Ed asked as he slowly rocked back & forth. "That Edward, is some really good questions. A couple of which, I can answer... The year here is 2012. We are more than ninety years from where we were." Thunderwing stated calmly, taking everyone by surprise. "N-Ninety years?! How is that possible?" Ed asked, almost jumping out of his seat.
"Honestly, I don't know. I do know that this world-as alien as it may be to us-holds excellent technology." Thunderwing answered, taking Ed by surprised. "And because of this, we really should do something with your arm & leg since we don't know what the people & environment are like." He added. "So, what are you planning on doing, Shadow?" Lust asked as she folded her arms. "We need some supplies & materials. But first, we need money. I'll be sure to make a small withdrawal tonight. " Thunderwing said, putting a hand to his chin. "Withdrawal?" Ed asked nervously.
Bank of America branch in Los Angeles, California. August 18th, 12:15 AM local time.
Several police cars sit in front of the large building as Detective Mustang walked inside & noticed the vault door lying "face up" in the center of the main lobby. Looking calm & collected as he surveyed the damage. "Who or what the hell could do this?" He thought before another officer approached him. "We finished our preliminary sweep of the scene, but it doesn't look like much was taken." He said. "That doesn't make much sense... Why go to all this trouble, just to take so little?" Mustang asked. "CSI was about to check the surveillance footage & noticed all the electronics were fried throughout the building." The officer added.
"Detective, a call just came in. Something is going on at the USC Medical Center! Code 30" Another officer shouted as he ran up to Mustang. "Jesus Christ... First a bank job, now more shit hitting the fan?!" Mustang asked furiously. Meanwhile, at the USC Medical Center. Wrath walks through & gathers several different pieces of surgical equipment that he was tolled to search for & places it all in a duffel bag. "There's quite a bit of high-tech stuff in here, do you think you have enough room?" He asked. "Don't worry about that, I can manage without it. Just take the necessities & hurry, it's starting to turn into a circus out here." Thunderwing replied as he hovered in his jet form above the facility.
"Attention, unidentified aircraft. You are inside United States airspace... Please squawk 'I-dent' & leave the area at once. If you refuse to comply, we will use deadly force." The voice said over Thunderwing's communication channel. "You people must be crazy, if you plan on following through with such an act. Especially, in a populated area... That'd make for a bad headline to act so recklessly. Besides, I'm just borrowing a few things for a while... So keep your panties on. I'll be out of the area in a minute." Thunderwing replied sternly over the comm. channel as Ed looked out the window in disbelief that he is now becoming a thief. "Somebody just shoot me."
"Wrath, hurry up! They're becoming trigger happy & want to rain on our shopping spree." He ordered. "Okay, I'm done." Wrath replied. A cylinder of light surrounds him before fading into nothing. Thunderwing's engines ignite forcefully, shattering every window in the building below & quickly taking off into the horizon. "Do you think we'll get into trouble for this?" Wrath asked, looking back behind them. "Did you leave that note?" Thunderwing asked. "No. Why?" Wrath asked. "Just curious." Thunderwing replied.
Santa Maria, California. 12:30 AM.
Three yellow cylinders of light appear alongside of a local Holiday Inn hotel. Ed walked next to Lust with Wrath in tow as they entered the main lobby. "I'll check us in & get a couple of rooms... Wrath, try not to break anything." Lust stated before making her way to the front desk. Wrath scoffed at the comment, not wanting to take orders from her, even though she was the only adult with them at the current moment.
Lust returns after a few minutes holding a single key. "This place is booked solid. All they had left was a room with two beds... Sorry." She said, noticing a slight sense of nervousness in Edward's eyes. "What's he worried about?" She thought as they made their way to the elevator in the lobby. They walked into their room on the fourth floor & admired the look of the room. "Wow, I feel like I'm moving up in the world... And all with stolen money." Ed said sarcastically as he walked inside & laid his overcoat on the foot of the bed before sitting down at the left side with an exhausted sigh of relief.
"I'm going to have a shower... I recommend you two do the same as soon as I'm done." Lust stated before walking into the bathroom. She turns her attention to Ed, who continued to sit contently at the edge of the first bed, watching Wrath bounce on the second, like it was a trampoline. "Edward..." She said, causing him to look at her curiously. "Now, be a good boy & don't peek-in on me. Alright?" She said seductively & giving a playful wink. Wrath stopped his jumping & took notice of Ed's blushing. "Sure... Like we want to see you... You're not that special." Wrath stated maliciously. Lust extends the first two fingers of her right hand, both blades just missing his neck's jugular veins.
"I'm sorry, what was that again?" She asked angrily. "Um... (gulp) I said, I'll keep an eye on him." Wrath answered nervously. "I thought that's what you said." She commented as she retracted her blades, walked into the bathroom & slammed the door shut. "Wow, nice job of pissing her off." Ed commented, after waiting for a few moments in silence. "Look, Elric. It's not my fault that she can't take a joke." Wrath spatted as he folded his arms in smug filled defiance. Ed quickly stood to his feet angrily & began to stare him down. "That was not a joke, Wrath! You were insulting her & she almost took your head off for it!" He shouted.
"Jeez, I didn't mean to insult your girlfriend. But she did betray our master & our cause. And besides, I don't have to li-" Ed grabs Wrath by the caller of his shirt, cutting him off in mid-sentence. "In case you've forgotten, your master is dead! And you're alive probably because of dumb luck. And now that we're stuck with each other, you think you've got the right to 'rag' on her or anyone & for what?! She has honor & dignity, try showing a little more respect & treat her like a person, you gimp!"
"Ha! That's like the pot calling the kettle 'black'... Envy told me, you've been the same hight for the past six years or so." Wrath retorted. Ed released him, took off his flask jacket & laid it at the foot of the bed behind him. Wrath looks at him curiously as Lust walked out of the bathroom wearing a dark blue bathrobe. She suddenly caught the image of Ed punching Wrath with his left fist. She watched, slightly shocked at the sight. "Is that the best you got, Beany?!" Wrath said as he propped himself up. "No, but this is..." Ed said before his left foot connected under Wrath's chin, sending him over the other side of the bed.
"Edward, what the hell are you-" She was interrupted as Wrath quickly rose to his feet & prepared to make a flying lead at him when a yellow cylinder of light suddenly surrounded him & disappeared with him. "Sorry I didn't show up sooner, but I wanted you to get your punches in." A familiar voice said through Ed's wristwatch. "What the hell is going on?" Lust asked sternly, but Ed only walked past & gently closed the bathroom. "Lust, can we talk for a minute?" Thunderwing asked through her wristwatch.
Ten minutes has pasted & Ed walks out from the bathroom wearing the same attire he walked in with. He runs his left hand through his damp hair before he noticed the half-darkened room he now enters in. The moonlight lighting the section near the front door & first bed that Lust was now sleeping in. He climbs into the neighboring bed & rolls to his right side. The idea of sleep was interrupted with the sound of voices emanating from the neighboring room.
"Hey, do you have the stuff?"
"Yeah... You got the cash?"
"Right here. Show me the stuff."
"Nah uh. You show me the cash first."
Ed turns to face Lust in the neighboring bed as she turns to face him as well. Both with annoyed & frustrated looks on their faces.
"No! You show me the stuff, then I show you the cash!"
"Fuck you! You show me the cash first!"
"Oh, for God sakes... HE"S WEARING A WIRE!" Ed shouted.
"What?! You dirty son of a-" The speech was interrupted by a hail of gunfire as several bullet holes formed about three feet above their heads. Afterward, Ed released a sigh of relief as silence took hold once again.
The following morning, 8:30 AM
The sound of car horns honking outside began to ring through Edward's ears, waking him from his slumber. His eyes fluttered open & he attempted rubbed them with his left hand, but found it to be weighted down. He smelled a sweet fragrance hit his senses. Making him to quickly notice that there were a pair of slender arms wrapped lightly around his waist & to peer down to see that Lust's face was gently nestled into the lower portion of his neck. "What the hell? What am I, a teddy bear to her?" He thought as he started to blush lightly at this "awkward" moment. Especial when he noticed his arms were wrapped around her.
The only plus out of this, seemed to be the fact that her robe was still on as well as his clothes. Comforting him with the thought of knowing they didn't do anything they might've regretted later. Nothing is worse than not remembering what you did from the previous night. The sudden images of his nightmare from the last night began to haunt him. He slowly began to creep his way free, doing his best not to disturb her. After a short moment, he finally freed himself & noticed how peacefully she slept.
He quietly put on his shoes on & walked outside, wondering what may have possessed her to cuddle him like that? He leaned against the handrail & deciding not to dwell on the thought, but went back to his nightmare. The being he saw was massive in size & had a thunderous voice. Was this another premonition, much like the Thunderwing scenario? His train of thought was interrupted when a pair slender arms secured themselves gently around his neck from behind. "Good morning, Edward." a familiar sultry voice whispered in his ear.
"Um, yeah... Morning." Ed replied nervously, also wondering what is possessing her to act like this? "There's no need to be shy... What's wrong? Is something on your mind?" She asked worriedly. "Yeah, it's about last night... That dream was just so haunting, like what I had with Thunderwing... For a short moment, I saw it destroy another world. Actually, more like devour it." He replied as he stared at the ground below. He felt her arms loosen from around him before feeling a pair of hands began to massage the base of his neck. "I wouldn't worry about it Edward... It may only be a dream." She said as she noticed him relaxing in her hands. "Funny, that's what I thought about Thunderwing" He replied.
"Edward?" She asked, hearing a small groan in acknowledgment as his head tilted slightly forward. "I was thinking... While we're waiting for our large friend to finish your new arm & leg, and since we have some spending money, let's have some breakfast & then we can do a little shopping." She said in a calm & yet, seductive tone. Ed turned his head slightly & wondered what may be going through her mind. Why was she being so nice to him? Was it because he tried to defend her from Wrath's behavior, or is she taking a "shine" to him in some odd way? And if that's the case, why is he questioning it?
His thinking was interrupted with the growling of his stomach, catching Lust's attention. "Well, I guess breakfast would be a good idea." He said with a slight embarrassing tone. She smiled & turned to walk back into their room. After a few moments, she walks out wearing her traditional black dress & holds his flask jacket & red overcoat in her arms. "Would you like me to braid your hair for you?" She asked as she held out his hair tie. "Umm, okay." He replied, not knowing how to react to her gesture, but he can't do it with one hand either.
He stood quietly for a moment & began to think back to the past. Smiling at the thought that someone that was his enemy then, is standing behind him & helping to braid his hair now. On top of which, having a homunculi controlled Thunderwing may seem insane, but as a bodyguard while treading in an unknown world, may be the sanest choice. "There... All done." Lust said in a somewhat cheerful & yet, content tone. A tone that caught him off guard & now puts him in another awkward moment as he turns to face her.
"Can I ask you a question?" He asked while rubbing the back of his head with his left hand. "What's on your mind?" She asked. "Well, I noticed we were in the same bed this morning & I hate to ask, but did we do anything?" He asked nervously. "Edward, how can you not remember something that we shared? I could never forget the passion you showed me last night." She answered, watching Edward's expression changed from curiosity to pure terror. "What?! Did I sleep through it or something?" She smiled & began to lightly laugh at the sight. "I wish I had a camera right now. The look on your face is priceless."
Ed suddenly calmed his nerves & realizes, he was just played. "You're just screwing with me, aren't you?" He asked, as she calmed her laughter. "Well, I saw an opportunity to play with your mind & I decided to take advantage of it. After all, I am that which is my name. I use the emotions & temptations of the weak-minded to fuel their desires, so that I can manipulate them into doing my will when they don't even know it or refuse to see it for what it is... You Edward, on the other hand I will admit, you're a rather tough individual to tempt." She added while handing him his black flack jacket.
"Thanks for the compliment. Seriously, that makes me feel special knowing that I can resist your abilities." He said sarcastically as he put his jacket on. "Well, eventually Edward, you will succumb to such temptations. After all, you really are no different than any other man I've ever met." She assuringly said as she began to walk away still holding his overcoat in her arm. "Sorry, I'm not in the mood to play games." He added as he followed, sticking his hands into his pockets & suddenly discovered the locket was still in his possession. He wasn't sure what to do with it, especially since alchemy doesn't seem to work in this world. They learned that back at the bank last night.
Abandoned town of Betteravia, California. 9:00 AM
Inside a large yellow storage barn, the now seven foot tall Thunderwing stands in front of a small workbench & tirelessly continues to finish manufacturing Edward's new leg as Wrath walks inside through the main doors while eating a Milky Way bar. "What'cha doin'?" He asked as he walked up to the table. "Working on Ed's new leg... Watch your eyes." He replied as he grabbed the handle to the near-by MIG welder. Wrath grabbed a pair of welding goggles & held them up to his eyes just before Thunderwing started welding the final section to the new leg while Wrath watches him curiously as he finishes.
"What's with those flat panels that you took, did you really need that many?" Wrath asked, looking at the stacked 48'' x 48'' silver panels that rested against the nearby wall. "Those are panels made from titanium. The material strength is as strong as some steels & it's about forty-five percent lighter & highly resistant. Basically, this makes Winry's stuff seem like tinfoil." Thunderwing replied with a cocky grin.
"By the way, while you're here. I want to make something very clear..." He adds as he turns to face the young boy. He suddenly grabs him by the front of his shirt, lifting him off the ground & ending at eye level. "If you ever insult or try to kill either Ed or Lust like last night again, I will personally & aggressively smash your head out of your ass... Do I make myself clear?" He asked in a stern & angered tone. Wrath acknowledged his question with a slight nod combined with a look of fear. "Good... Now make yourself useful." He added as he placed him back onto the ground & handed him a Dell laptop computer. "Play with this & try to find some information that is helpful." Wrath looked at it curiously before going to sit in a nearby chair.
Los Angeles Police Department, 9:30 AM.
Detective Mustang sits in his office, still baffled over the previous night's events. Nothing made any sense, the robbery at the bank, the strange jet over the college. He ran a hand through his hair as another officer with short blond hair walks in & closes the door behind him. "Hey, Roy... I got good news & bad news." He said discouragingly. "Wonderful... So what do you have for me Jean?" Mustang asked as he put his feet on the edge of his desk. "The guys in the lab couldn't get much off the recordings... And worse yet, if you think having the Feds on the case is bad, try having those even higher walk in & takeover." Havoc replied.
"What are you talking about?" Mustang asked, placing his feet onto the floor & leaning forward in his chair. "I'm talkin' about the N.S.A. They walked in, confiscated everything & left... But, the guys in the lab did manage to get something out of the security footage." He replied, presenting a CD-Rom disc to Mustang. He inserts into his laptop's CD drive before looking back at Havoc. "How much did they find?" Havoc lights a cigarette before giving his answered. "Not much... About thirteen seconds worth."
They watch the scene & look on in shock of the ten to twelve foot Thunderwing rip the bank vault door off it's hinges & tosses it onto the center of the lobby room floor. "You can't be serious... This has to be a trick." Mustang said as he leaned back in his chair. "I know this looks weird, but if the N.S.A. is going around & eying everything that happened last night, this would have to be something big." Havoc added. "What the hell are we looking at then?" Mustang asked.
N.S.A. Headquarters, Washington D.C.
In the morning's hustle & bustle through the hallways of the building, near the deputy directors office is rather quiet. Inside, a slim, dark haired, well dressed young man sits at his desk as he overlooks the lawn down below. He swivels his chair around to face his desk as he reaches into his breast pocket & pulls out his cell phone. He turns to look out his window once again as the phone rings at the other end of the line.
"It's me... I know I'm not suppose to call, unless it was important. But, I feel this is an extremely important circumstance... It would seem that, those on the 'other side' have dropped the ball, so to speak."
A short pause as he waited for his opportunity to speak once again.
"It would appear, we have unexpected & very possibly, unwelcome guests. Simply put, one of which being, Thunderwing."
Another pause.
"Yes, it's him... And he's not alone. There are three individuals tagging along & it appears that he can manipulate his size at will... I mean, he broke into a bank vault in Los Angeles & stole about two hundred thousand dollars in cash, was seen hovering over the USC campus, then took the three passengers to a hotel in Santa Maria before flying out to Betteravia where he has been hiding out in an abandoned refinery... Your thoughts?"
Another short pause.
"Currently, we're monitoring any & all movement with satellites & we're recording all phone conversations. My question now, how do you wish to proceed?"
A lengthy pause comes through as he leans back in his chair.
"Alright... But if you're sending them, tell them not to screw up again & get caught like last time. You have no idea how many strings I had to pull to get that to go away."
A short & final pause occurs as he stood to his feet.
"Agreed, I'll keep you informed." He said, ending his conversation.