Edward Elric, I Presume?

By Dragon-Child of Lightning

Chapter One: Laboratory 5, a.k.a. Hell on Earth

The place where the chimeras resided was a brutal, living nightmare. Regular humans in blue uniforms and white lab coats either executed inhuman tests or taunted the chimeras. Even worse, if you messed up, even once, you were tortured or terminated, but only depending on how valued you were. It didn't matter what species you were made of. And the same went for the human hybrids. You could have the crispest mind and the deadliest hand, but if you were chimera, you were as good as deflated balloon.

If you were to ask a normal chimera in Laboratory 5 anything at all, like how they were, most likely they would either ignore you or growl warning; but that was only because they were truly animals. But that wasn't the case for all the chimeras; just ask Joyce Ann.

Normally, this chimera girl would spend her days in a metal cage or, if she behaved, a cement cell. But that was only if she didn't fight the constant blood syphoning, drug emitting, and all in all painful needles of the day. Either way it was a miserable experience from day one. She had been here from her first breath. Her mother was tragically rumored to be one of the scientists and gave her child up for the crude research they had already started in the philosophy of it being for 'the greater good of the people'. But no matter what Joyce had tried to figure out who the woman exactly was, her rumored mother wouldn't reveal herself. But with that said, Joyce became the first in a long line of humans to be transformed into chimeras 'for the greater good'; a few years ago the scientists started on adults that had invaded Ishval to silence them.

One thing Joyce Ann understood is that she was a rare chimera; one of only a handful who were human hybrids like the Ishvanan invaders. She knew they were the ones who were fusions of a cow, a dog, a lizard, and even a crocodile and a snake. Joyce Ann had never met them personally, but she yearned to so she could say she had (not that there was anyone to tell it to).

Joyce Ann had been stuck in Lab 5 for thirteen years without any real contact with others and it was figuratively killing her. The scientists said she was 'demented' from her 'lack of human interaction' and was soon to be 'retired' if she didn't learn to intermingle with others in the lab.
Joyce knew better. The only deranged persons in Laboratory 5 were in the scientists and military that worked there and it was they who made her that way. They all were the same though; cold, heartless, calculating. Oh how Joyce Ann wished she could escape to a better place.

And it all happened much sooner than she ever expected.

It started when the scientists had left after another night of prodding and poking. They were gossiping about current events, especially about the state alchemist prodigy. He was supposedly a midget blonde with an automail arm and a red coat. Supposedly he could just clap his hands and transmute.

The scientists had all left after another hour, turning off Florissant lights and leaving many howling blindly into the dark for several ticks. That's when the announcement came over the speakers.

"Attention chimeras: please do not be alarmed," a deep voice cautioned. "This is for those of the human variety. I have grave news; tonight you might all die."

Joyce Ann's eyes widened in the dark. The unaccompanied voice continued. "There is a dangerous intruder within the building along with his associate; it is imperative that they're both captured and eliminated. If it at the expense of your lives, I apologize beforehand. Do stay out of the way if you are somehow freed."

Joyce was silent as other chimeras bayed in understanding. The voice was Number 48, a suit of armor with a soul (two actually, but the other brother normally stayed hidden). There was another suit of armor named Number 66, who was newer and, to put it simply, a pain in the ass. Both had bodies of flesh once, both were insane murderers. But why on earth would Number 48 make an announcement to her and the others? Did he care?

"Nonsense," she breathed. That was when she heard the clattering of metal on cement and pure, giddy chuckling. As the voice drew closer, Joyce stared at where her hands would be.

"Why is it you pass by my room, Number 66 a.k.a Barry the Chopper?" she murmured unemotionally.

The clanking stopped. "Oh, is that where I am?" he asked almost innocently. "I wouldn't have known, so thank you chimera girl."

"Why are you passing by here?" she asked again.

"For the sake of it," he replied. "You heard Slicer right? The dude outside needs to be taken care of too." Silence. "You don't like to reply to your own questions? How rude."

Joyce played with her hospital gown. "It's not that."

"Then what is it?" Barry took a step towards her cage, amused.

"I don't know," she silently sighed. "I'm just… thinking. Like why Number 48 made that announcement. It could've accidently warned the intruder, could it not? Why would he warn us?"

"Because if you got in the way it would be a treeee-mendous mess, wouldn't you think?"

The chimera sighed again, listening momentarily to the other living life forms in the room. "I suppose."

"Good."

"Number 66," Joyce called as the guard left.

"Hmm? Yes?"

"Who are the intruders?"

Barry giggled. "I think you've heard of him and his brother; that midget prodigy and his armor wearing brother."

Joyce Ann's mind sparked interest. "Armor?"

"Yep. We're all thinking the same thing now aren't we?"

Indeed they were; there was another armor bounded soul on the outside of Lab 5? This was fascinating indeed.

"Quite the prodigy the midget is then," Joyce whispered as the guard finally left.

The other chimeras continued their calls of distress, sensing the danger they were in. The howling, the whining, the growling and barking… all in a vain endeavor for freedom from Lab 5.

Freedom; ah, a word Joyce Ann did not know the taste off. Few truly knew the definition of it. It was a right that only humans seemed to completely control. The ones in power and with that freedom in their blood-soaked hands controlled the rest of the world as if everyone else was their own personal puppets. Humans had the control; so shouldn't that mean, Joyce Ann often thought, that she should also have a taste at freedom? But the idea quickly fell when she remembered she was only half human.

And that was once again the semi-disturbing thought that was going through Joyce's head as she sat in her metal confinement. She was only half human.

Joyce's dog cage seemed to press in just a little more than usual. She could feel her mutation wrapping around her back allowing limited space. But what do you expect, really, when you have a full size pair of wings and matching tail feathers, right?

All Joyce Ann knew is that her chimera features were thanks to a peregrine falcon, a martial eagle, and a barn owl. With that knowledge, she knew she had superbly beefed up senses, powerful and silent wings, and not to mention a dive that reached speeds 200 miles or more. But when you're penned up since, to put it lightly, birth, you have really no skill.

So, Joyce Ann was stuck, calm as a gentle, summer storm in her confinement. She knew she had to get out, fast; find a way to freedom so she could survive the night. Taking the piece of scrap cloth she kept wrapped around her thin wrist, Joyce tied her pale blonde hair into a tight pony tail, wincing a little when she pulled her hair too much. She began to churn the storm a little as she thought. The hospital dress, she knew, wasn't going to cut it if she was to escape. Joyce also knew that the scientist kept extra clothes around in case something burned (which was actually very often).

The closet was only three feet away. If only I could reach it… thought Joyce Ann. Curious to see if she could she reached her spindly arms out, inches from the handle. She whimpered in frustration. As she retracted her arm, an alarm went off, high pitch and ear splitting. Joyce Ann shielded her sensitive ears while other chimeras screeched, howled, and whined in pain. The alarm was honestly not as loud as it seemed, but Joyce still covered her ears. She opened her eyes just enough, catching movement.

Something was lurking in the shadows at the corner of Joyce's vision. Looking over at the wispy darkness, a tall, shadowy figure stood. Its teeth gleamed and eyes glowered.

"Well hello, doll," the figure said quite gravelly. "Let's get you out of that thing." In a flash, the ghostly figure did what it said; it released Joyce Ann, as well as all the other chimeras.

Joyce was stunned. "T-thank you!" she called in a raspy voice before the figure blended into the shadows, vanishing from view.

Joyce Ann stared dumbfounded at her exodus. Freedom was inches from her. But something was preventing her from taking those first anticipated steps. What was it; oh yes, it was fear of the unknown, fear because of no experience in the unknown. What was she supposed to do? She couldn't stay, but what could she do? She was useless. But…

Taking a deep breath, Joyce Ann slowly inched out of her dog cage and then sliding off the table her cage was suspended on. The cold linoleum floor felt foreign on her feet. Its smoothness was different from the gritty, dirt ridden floors where physical tests were done on her.

She tried to take a step, only to stagger and collapse. A few more chimeras poked their heads out as well. Being freely let out without a restraint wasn't normal and arose suspicion.

Joyce Ann stood up again, this time with more stability. The closet has so close. Joyce finally hooked her fingers on the handle, finding that its contents were just what she was looking for.

"I hope these fit me," whispered Joyce. She went into the closet and changed out of her hospital gown into her new outfit. Coming out, she felt the strange material on her. Soft fabrics concealed her skin. They were lovely, unlike anything she'd ever worn before. She played with the end of the skirt for a brief moment and smiled like a child.
Joyce skimmed her surroundings and found a fairly good sized trash can. She took her timeworn hospital gown and shoved it in the can. She had a sudden and desirable thought on burning the gown as some sort of memorial, in honor of the gown she just threw in the trash and the gowns-of-past who had served their purpose well.

Joyce Ann saw a few random chemicals lying about in open cabinets, striding over to them. Hydrogen peroxide, colloidal silver, benzoyl peroxide, liquid nitrogen, and sodium phosphate were just to name a few. Joyce glanced them over till she found a simple amount of flammable chemicals. She poured them all into the trash can, grabbed a lighter from a near-by abandoned lab coat, and lit the can aflame. It flashed a simple blue and orange flicker that ate the paper thin material of the hospital gown till it was all gone. Just like a soon-to-be past…

"Now, which way out?" the chimera girl thought out loud, hands balanced on her hips. "The exit and entrance doors look the same." Joyce Ann turned to the nearest door of maybe-freedom that she often saw the scientists leave out of. "Worth a shot." With that, the chimera girl stepped through it and into a black hallway, leaving the other disorganized chimeras behind.

As said, the hallway was dark, almost pitch-black; the only exceptions were a few dim, flickering light bulbs dangling like hanged men every few yards. Joyce shivered, feeling a sense of unease sweep over her, hearing the clang of metal overhead. Slinking in semi-darkness with no clue or direction, Joyce decided, wasn't her favorite thing ever, especially since she had always been blind folded when escorted threw here. There were no land marks she coul spot and think, Ah yes! There is the fire extinguisher, or, Now there's that deep dent in the wall. To simply put it, it was like deciding you didn't want to sky dive but were already freefalling in the pitch black sky; can't stop now.

A few more steps. Pad, pad, pad. She hugged herself and shivered. The feeling of unease had not left her quivering wings. Pad, pad, pad.

Joyce Ann paused. Voices; she heard voices. Soft, indifferent voices. And they were coming from up ahead.

Tep, tep, tep. Now Joyce Ann was lightly tip-toeing across the cement, her feet leaving close to no sound. The voices were much clearer now in the dark of the hallway.

"You'll free us officially? And exactly does that translate to?"

"Why should we even trust you?"

"Because I'm the only one here who knows what's going on in this damned place. Am I not right?"

"Sure but still; how do we know we can trust you?"

"…This is going to take a while."

"Oh come on! I freed you and I say follow the guy! I'm leaving and no one is goin' to follow me!"

Five voices, four male and one female, spoke up with questions from, what Joyce Ann depicted, a small crowd. Her super senses picked up every little detail until the room came into view. The room was lined with jail cells had only one row of bright lights that nearly semi-blinded the chimera girl. Pillars that separated the cells were broken, the door way in shambles. The fallen rubble gave Joyce a place to hide. She jumped behind a pile of broken cement before anyone could see her feathers flicker in the stronger light. In the room stood a small group of human chimeras, a strangely dressed man in black, and Number 66. None of them had heard the soft pad of feet through all of their heated chattering

"Look," the man in black tried to explain, his eyes flashing. "If you come with me, you'll be free of Laboratory 5 forever. No more experiments, no more being poked and prodded. The place is already coming down as it is. I'm giving the only convenient option, am I not?"

Joyce Ann's eyes widened. A way out of Lab 5; what luck! Joyce smiled, almost squealing in glee. This man was providing a possible way out of 'Hell on Earth'! But, trying not to reveal herself, Joyce calmed and listened with the intensity of a predator hunting prey.

A big man in a blue uniform and carrying a sledgehammer spoke up. "Alright, so let's get this straight: we go along with you and be free; I mean we won't be your slaves. But we also will help and protect you from your supposed enemies, right?"

The man in black grinned a toothy smile. "Yep."

The only female in the room finally spoke. "Honestly it sounds like a good deal; we get out of this hellhole and we're body guards. Loa, Dolcetto, what're your opinions?" The man in the blue uniform grunted and another in white and with a sword nodded with a smile.

In the rubble, Joyce Ann smiled; but it quickly disappeared when one of the chimeras lifted its head, the one with the sword.

"Hey, someone's here," the swordsman said, sniffing the air.

"No kidding," the burly one with the sledgehammer huffed.

"No, I mean someone new Loa."

Joyce Ann froze in place and stopped breathing. She knew exactly who that "someone" was. The hybrid girl quaked in anticipation, feeling something rise up her spine and noticed that the man in black had vanished. Where had he gone?

Another shiver, this time going down her spine, over took her. Joyce gasped inwardly, and then turned slowly. A tall, dark figure identical to the figure that had been her abscond minutes ago, loomed over her, causing Joyce Ann to cry out and stumble back from tripping over the remains and into the light. She covered her eyes in pain from the sudden shock of light.

"Well, hello doll," the man cooed. "Look who's finally out of her cage boys and girl."

"So that's who it was. Should've guessed it was Chimera 1," said the swordsman nonchalantly.

Joyce's eyes grew in size. She was surprised they knew who she was. The fact was though, Chimera 1 had a reputation around Laboratory 5 as being very powerful and had the only wings. Not to mention, unlike many of the others, she couldn't hide her mutation inwardly since it was an external mutation. No no, Joyce was indeed well known throughout the Lab, as the First Chimera.

"You- you're the one who released me?" stuttered Joyce Ann.

"Why yes." The man raised his left hand, revealing a tattoo of a serpent like dragon eating its own tail. "The name's Greed; I'm a homunculus who was trapped here like all of you chimeras."

Joyce knitted her brow, thinking. Homunculus… she thought. She pondered the word a moment more, then scrapped it in the dump of her mind. "Is that why you want to help us?"

The man named Greed smiled. "Yeah; or at least 'yes' to a point." He crouched in front of the girl, grilling her with vivid and dangerous wine colored eyes. "So, what's your decision; stay and die, or come with me to freedom?"

Someone sneezed.