I'm so excited to get this new story started! This is my sequel to Gender Bender, and you will understand this if you don't read it, but if you do if you haven't already I would appreciate it. So enjoy!
Roy's joints in his hands ached. The tedious train ride had lasted a never ending three hours so far, and his fists had been clenched tightly the entire duration of the voyage.
"Please loosen up sir," requested Riza sternly, but officially, saluting to signal she meant no offense to the higher ranking officer.
Roy's jaw altered from its grinding position, to a painful laugh. "No need to be concerned about me," He gestured for the lieutenant to release her salute.
It had been a tiring journey. Colonel Roy Mustang, the flame alchemist, and several lower ranking companions had successfully completed an incredibly time consuming mission in the town of Spirit. It resided in the most barren depths of northern mountain range, and military officials had been called in to settle a dispute between a state testing lab there and several angry locals.
Many complained the experiments there had gotten out of hand, and even after a week of consultation, the matter didn't seem to have eased much.
Roy could almost smell the mountain of papers that likely were abandoned on his desk. Then of course there was a report about their mission due to the fuehrer, and he would undoubtedly not be pleased about their failure. He could only do so many things at once after all.
Back at head quarters…..
Fatigue was consuming the entire western wing of Central HQ. Roy hadn't allowed but a mere three hours of shut eye for himself or the rest of his team for the week following their return. They all had a week of work to account for over the absence, and no one had the sympathy to get ANYTHING whatsoever done for them while they had been away.
The work and stress seemed to build exponentially, especially when the dreaded "new girl" Mina always came to deliver more paperwork, or confront one of the officers on a new duty.
The girl was cute, Havoc had even attempted to date her to reduce his own pity-stack of duties, but Roy, taking advantage of his status forbade Havoc from doing so to keep the labor progressing.
They were all descent, experienced officers, but they couldn't last forever under their present condition. One meal, Three hours of sleep which doubled as "personal" time, and pile after pile of work.
Completion of one week of hardship….
The tiny bell, signaling entrance to the main office chimed briefly. A familiar echoing footsteps of black military boots squeaked on the concrete base floor.
The team of exhausted military staff had endured a whole week. Even the best of them were collapsing from lack of necessity, only to be nudged out of such a state by a downpour of a raw liquid substance, unidentifiable, and a stench to be feared. (One of the less creative methods of obedience by the colonel.)
Mina's light cheery voice greeted the group with a sentimental "hello" but in turn was shown no response.
The small girl fondled her short copper locks shyly.
Her vibrant red hair was short and curly, and partially tied into a small green bow at the back of her head. Two long strands of hair dangled over her shoulders, which were usually hunched into a respectful bow.
She beamed at the stumbling first lieutenant; dark brown eyes alight with jovial ambition.
"The Fuhrer King Bradley has ordered Colonel Roy Mustang and his associates to relieve themselves of duties for the following week," Mina chanted the orders.
"Time… Off…?" confirmed a drooling Cain Feury.
The messenger nodded immediately, and the whole staff emitted a sighs in unison.
Riza slouched from her post at the bookshelf, Roy's head collapsed amongst his stack of documents, and the rest relieved themselves of any action except breathing.
Mina was abandoned in the sea of unconsciously delirious officers. She saluted to no one, and scampered from the room hastily.
Did you like my little introductory first chapter? I'm just getting in the mood, I promise. This story will be humor, and lots of it. I needed to start out with a casual situation, and the freakish stuff comes in later. Species bending soon to come. Please read on.
Chapter 2 coming soon!