The Tucker Phenomenon

by Raven On The Writing Desk

Chimeras have always been a problem, but not always as much to the general public. However, at the abandoned Tucker home, recent sightings by passersby have been reported of seeing strange, sometimes grotesque amalgamations, all gathering around the home. The Amestrian military can't afford to have a public panic, so something must be done to find why they are gathering there.

1. The Mission

Chimeras were still a huge problem for the Amestrian military. They didn't bother the citizens within the city limits, but on the edges, where the forests and plains butted up against the town, citizen complained of still seeing them occasionally. They weren't attacking, rather they seemed oddly calm, but that didn't put to rest people's fears of attack, and understandably so. A report had also been filed about the abandoned Tucker property. People who passed it complained of seeing a large gathering of chimeras around the old home, and occasionally finding nests or dens. There was concern someone was still there, creating new creatures. In response, and to prevent a public panic, a statement was released to the public, saying that once every three or four months a team of two highly trained military personnel would be dispatched to the location to examine the situation and take a count of the chimeras. However, unless there was clear public danger imminent, the area would otherwise be left in peace, so that the creatures would have a place to live instead of invading the city. This seemed to calm the people for a while, but soon after they demanded the results be released to the public, and so they were. In recent months, the number of counted chimeras was rising steadily, maybe by only one or two, but it still concerned people that they were gathering in greater numbers at that one spot. Another bulletin was released to try to calm the panic, saying the place still had some alchemical energy about it, so it was likely some sort of migration resting point. Still, even at the presence of the military personnel the creatures showed no aggression, and so they would be left in peace.

Come the fifth survey announcement, the team that elected to go check out "The Tucker Phenomenon" was none other than Colonel Roy Mustang and Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye. They were to stay at the property a full twelve hours to report on the chimeras, their behaviors, numbers, and to dispatch any aggressive individuals. They were given packs with the basic supplies; an extra hand gun, ammunition, food and water to last a day, medical supplies, and the like. Packed and ready to go, the two made the drive to the abandoned property.

Upon arriving and being able to see the state of the grounds for the first time, there was a faint alchemical residue in the air, that much was immediately felt. Oddly enough, they hadn't yet seen a single chimera, but there were large holes and dens dug and lots of fallen trees, so it was very possible they were all hiding just out of sight and watching the two intruders. Riza steadied her hand and kept to the back to prevent ambush while Roy, ready to snap, no pun intended, took point. They walked slowly, barely picking their feet up off the ground for fear of stepping into a burrow or onto a small creature that would then warn the others. It was eerily silent, nothing made any noise and the house wasn't yet in view, however, once it was, it was, the reason for the silence was instantly obvious.

Where the old Tucker home should have stood, there was a crater, a large, perfectly circular crater, though one that in no way could have naturally occurred nor swallowed the home, yet the home was gone, and only the pit and some smoking debris remained.