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Disclaimer: Fullmetal Alchemist (c) Hiromu Arakawa
Hatenkou Yuugi (c) Minari Endou
Claimer: Everything else (c) me and Sapphire-Immortal
Chapter Two: Unprecedented Knowledge
"That was a close call, brother." Alphonse whispered towards Edward. The shorter sibling nodded, looking back at the trailing trio.
"They may have helped us getting rid of those idiots, but I think we should warn Winry. Something's not right about them." Edward said.
"They don't seem to use alchemy, that's for sure." Alphonse looked ahead. East City was growing close now. "But there's something about them that sets them aside from other people... something... magical, almost."
Edward scoffed. "There's something that sets them aside alright," he agreed. "Annoying group of nosey travellers." Magic, my ass, he glared at them. They were too casual for his taste, especially Rahzel, even though her niceness could make up for her irritation.
"Come on!" He shouted, waving his arm forward. As if on cue, Rahzel skipped towards them. You can't be serious, Edward sighed.
"Well, that was fun, wasn't it?"
"What was?" Alphonse asked.
"The fight." She grinned. "Oh hey, you got your pants dirty." She said, pointing at Edward's leg.
He blinked. "Oh, whatever. It's not like appearances are everything, right?"
xXx
"YOU TRANSMUTED YOUR AUTOMAIL AGAIN, DIDN'T YOU?" A blond girl screeched, hammering Edward's sore head with a wrench. "HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT THE AUTOMAIL IS A DELICATE MACHINE?"
Alphonse and the other three stayed at a corner. "Erm...Winry...?"
"What?" She shot a fiery glare towards the younger sibling.
"You might kill Edward if you continue doing that." Alphonse shrunk just a tiny bit.
"And I thought Edward had anger issues." Rahzel whispered towards Alzeid. Baroqueheat, on the other hand, was intrigued by the delightful ferocity displayed by the blonde.
The girl calmed down. "Well, I'll do a maintenance check on it, but that'll cost extra." She added wickedly.
"Awww, have a heart." Edward moaned, struggling to get up. "You're bleeding me dry enough as it is."
Not with the amount of money Edward has in his research funds, she's not, Alphonse thought, helping him up. "Well, at least you survived that one, big brother."
"So who are you guys?" Winry frowned.
"Well, this is Rahzel, Alzeid, and Baroqueheat." Edward introduced in their respective order. Winry decided she didn't like Baroqueheat - he was smiling too much for her taste.
Nevertheless, Winry smiled politely at her guests. "Sorry you had to see that," she apologized, "I'm Winry Rockbell, it's nice to meet you."
Rahzel smiled. "I'm Rahzel Andais, it's nice to meet you too," she greeted, extending her hand out to Winry for a handshake.
Winry grasped the hand firmly and shook it, smiling at the young girl. She seems so polite, she thought. Then she turned to Edward.
"So Ed, are these your new friends?" she implored innocently.
He scowled. "Hardly," he said bitterly. "More like travelling companions." He leaned closer and whispered additionally, "Be careful and don't say too much. I don't trust these guys."
Winry winked in understanding, then turned to the three odd travellers. "So what brings you to East City?" she queried.
"Do you know a man named Karl Bennet?" Rahzel asked. "He's a scientist, I believe."
She nodded. "He's a friend of mine," she said, "but I haven't heard from him for a while. Why are you looking for him anyway?"
"He might have some important information that we need," Baroqueheat answered. He wasn't exactly lying, but he knew better than to tell her everything. He knew better than to reveal so much information to the obviously-violent automail mechanic.
Winry turned to Ed. "By the way, Colonel Mustang told me to tell you to go see him for a new assignment the next time I saw you," she informed. "By the way, the Brigadier-General was in town for her own assignment. She gives you her best regards."
"Is she still here?" Alzeid demanded.
The mechanic looked at him in surprise. "You know the Brigadier-General?" she asked.
"Alzeid was her ex-boyfriend," Ed informed. "They seem to have been pretty close, considering General Dragomir still has that picture of him on her desk in Central."
The albino felt a deep longing in his heart, fully aware that he was still in love with Alicia Dragomir, and truthfully he felt very happy knowing that she still loved him too.
Perhaps we should reconsider dating again, he pondered, because evidently our feelings still held strong even being apart for so long.
"Ooh, really?" Winry said, very amused, "I also keep hearing that she gets asked out a lot by her subordinates."
A vein pulsed on Alzeid's forehead, obviously in jealousy.
"Anyway, no," the mechanic finally answered. "General Dragomir left on her assignment not that long ago. She went with her convoy just not too far outside of East City. She was on a recon mission or something. If she's back already, she'll be at the Eastern Headquarters."
Edward nodded slowly. "How's business been going lately?" he queried.
She glared at him. "With careless customers like you, business has been pretty good," she snapped, obviously still angry with him about dirtying his automail.
Ed grinned sheepishly. "Awww, come on, Winry," he said, "don't be like that."
"That's right." Winry nodded. "You're the cash cow anyway." She added with a grin.
Edward shrunk down to a dismal, dark corner, with Alphonse trying to comfort him. "There's no love for me here..."
"There, there, brother." Alphonse sighed.
Such odd people. Baroqueheat noted. There must be something very suspicious about those Elric brothers, but he was nonetheless very amused by their antics so far.
xXx
One hour later, the group found themselves at Eastern Headquarters, approaching Colonel Roy Mustang's office.
"Colonel." Edward said through gritted teeth towards a man with strayed spiked black hair.
"Fullmetal." The Colonel returned with no less attitude. "I expected you a few days ago."
A vein popped on the 15-year-old's head. "Things can't be helped, right?"
"Right. But before you are going to receive your next assignment..." Mustang tilted his head over. "Who are these people?"
Rahzel, whose curiosity knows no bounds, looked over every book title on the shelves, observed Lt. Havok and Sgt. Fuery as they processed through the paperwork, observed Sgt. Breda when he made a few calls, Warrent Officer Falman when he was talking with a sergeant, and watched 1st Lt. Hawkeye when she was getting paperwork for Mustang. She had the utmost resistance to not glare at the girl. Meanwhile, Baroqueheat was just about flirting with every woman in the office (including Hawkeye), and Alzeid lazed around on an available chair.
"I'm Rahzel. Nice too meet you." She said cheerily. Mustang blinked.
"Yo, I'm Baroqueheat. Alzeid the lover boy is over there." He gestured over to the albino, almost lost in his thoughts if it weren't for the 'lover boy' comment.
Ah, it's him again, Mustang thought distastefully.
"Lover boy?" Hawkeye said.
"Erm...it seems he has ties to the Brigadier-General, Alicia Dragomir." Alphonse said helpfully.
"Just more than ties!" Baroqueheat added quite loudly with a grin. He received a series of scowls.
"Shut up!" Alzeid growled. "Anyways, we have something to ask you, if you're done with small-fr-"
"Who are you calling a speck of dust?" Edward moved in very closely next to him, with flaming eyes.
"He said nothing of the sort." Sgt. Fuery chuckled, looking up from his boring paperwork.
Mustang smirked at Alzeid. "Good to see you've been doing well, Alzeid," he remarked. "I still wonder what the general actually saw in a rebel like you."
The albino scoffed. "Don't forget that Alicia is your superior," he threatened, "it's a bad idea to insult her."
"I see you two seem to go back," Baroqueheat commented in amusement. "I take it Alicia introduced you two?"
Mustang nodded, turning to Edward. "So were there any troubles on your previous assignment?"
The alchemist scoffed. "As if," he replied hotly.
"But we did get attacked on the train on the way here," Alphonse added, knowing fully well that his brother would not admit it. "Rahzel, Alzeid and Baroqueheat were helpful in taking them out."
Things were getting a little suspicious as Mustang and Hawkeye exchanged glances.
"Describe them," the Colonel insisted.
"They were dressed in black suits with sunglasses and guns," Rahzel described, "They weren't that hard to fight but there were a lot of them."
"They must be somehow related to that lab that was abandoned," Hawkeye suggested to her superior, "If they're all part of the same organization, then General Dragomir might be in some trouble."
"Who is this organization you're talking about?" Edward demanded. "This seems definitely like something we should know"
Colonel Mustang looked at them. "It appears that you must have been attacked by an organization called 'Seventh Sigma', also known as 'S.S.'. They're a terrorist group that specialize in psychological warfare by the use of bio-terrorism and mutant weapons," he explained, "They are a very diverse group that also attack by destroying towns through the use of alchemy." He then turned to Edward. "Fullmetal, your next assignment is to go to investigate the best you can along the outskirts of East City and see what you can find about this group. According to General Dragomir, the Eastern Headquarters will serve as home base for the investigation of this group, led by General Dragomir herself."
"Do you happen to know where Alicia has gone?" Alzeid implored.
"General Dragomir went with her convoy to investigate a suspected lab of Seventh Sigma's," Mustang answered, "but if even you guys were attacked by these terrorists, General Dragomir might be walking right into a trap."
Rahzel had a determined look in her eyes. "Then let us go and find her!" she suggested, "We'll help stop this organization too!"
He shook his head. "Absolutely not," he responded sternly. "This is too dangerous of a mission to allow civilians to join."
"You'll find that we're not any mere civilians," Baroqueheat hinted with a smirk.
"They've been a great help so far," Alphonse added.
"The Colonel's right," Hawkeye argued, "we're dealing with national terrorists here, not just child's play."
Mustang nodded in agreement. "It's best if just Fullmetal goes," he stated, "as a State Alchemist, it's his duty to follow orders. There will be no further arguments about this."
The doors burst open, and a raven-haired woman appeared in the doorway, her azure eyes filled with fatigue and pain as a long brown travel cloak was draped around her body. She was clutching her side, bruises and cuts on her face. At first glance, no other wounds could be seen due to the cloak concealing the rest of her body.
"Stand down, Colonel," Brigadier General Alicia Dragomir ordered roughly, "I know that Alzeid and Baroqueheat can be trusted. If that girl is their companion, then she should be trusted as well."
"General!" Mustang said in surprise, eyes widening. "What are you doing here? Where's your men?"
Her hand slipped and the brown cloak dropped to the ground, unveiling the terrible damage done to her body, and Mustang's team gasped in horror. The young woman was badly injured, covered in blood and bruises. Her left arm dangled limply by her side, a gunshot wound pierced through her upper elbow.
"Alicia!" Alzeid gasped, standing up from his chair.
"What happened?" Roy Mustang breathed, and she stumbled forward before collapsing swiftly into the Colonel's arms.
She winced at her numerous wound. "My convoy was ambushed when we went to investigate the lab," she explained. "We were overwhelmed, by both men and... strange things called Chimeras. I don't know how many of us managed to escape when I called for a retreat. There may be a possibility I might have been the only one..."
"But that's impossible," Alphonse protested. "You had the top team in the entire military."
"Chimeras?" Edward echoed the word. He immediately thought of Nina, and clenched his fist.
Alzeid immediately hurried to her side, pulling aside her uniform coat to reveal a deep wound in her side, blood pouring out from the deep, claw-made gash.
"This isn't good, you're badly hurt," he told her. "Just hold on a little longer, Alicia."
Mustang looked at his 1st lieutenant. "Hurry Hawkeye, go get help!" he ordered, and the woman quickly ran out of the room, several of the others of Mustang's team following.
"Just what have you gotten into, Alicia?" Baroqueheat sighed as he and the others joined by her side.
Alzeid pressed his hand against the bleeding in attempt to slow it, and she gasped in pain, her eyes fluttering as she looked like she was threatening to succumb to her wounds.
"Just hold on, General," Mustang urged, slowly getting out of the way for Alzeid. "Help is on the way."
"Hang on, Alicia, "Alzeid pleaded as he took her from the Colonel's arms. "Hold on, okay?"
"Idiot!" she hissed, "I'm not going down that easily! I'm just...a little dizzy from the blood loss."
Ed touched her cheek. "What the hell are you talking about, General?" he demanded, "You're freezing!"
Alicia shook her head, but regretted it instantly as she felt her head spin. "I'm a magic-user, and I've learned how to master alchemy," she explained quietly, a lopsided smile forming on her face, "can't get rid of me that easily."
Alzeid held her tighter. "Alicia, who did this to you?" he demanded, his hand cradling her cheek.
"I-I don't know," she admitted, "it just happened so fast. I'm pretty sure they're part of the organization we're investigating, or at least one of the divisions of it..."
"Shhh..." he hushed, stroking her hair. "It's alright now."
Taken aback by this sudden scene of blood and romance, Edward simply stared. "Shouldn't you be in a hospital...?" He had seen injured people before, but her state was simply too astonishing for her to stand, let alone talk and get hugged. "Um..."
"Shhh." Rahzel hushed him quickly, leaving him indignant. "He's hurt too, you know. Just emotionally."
"I know!" he hissed quietly in response, "But if we leave her to bleed like this, she's going to bleed to death!"
Immediately a group of medics rushed in through the door, taking her from Alzeid's hands as they lifted her onto a gurney. He almost reacted violently to the gesture, but Rahzel instinctively blocked his way. "No, they're gonna get her to a hospital! Calm down!"
"Take her pulse." One of them muttered. Another checked for further broken bones or infections.
"B-But..." Alzeid glared at her harshly, eyes bouncing off from her and Alicia. The Brigadier-General was panting hard, almost dazing off. Her formally-bright azure eyes were glazed over with pain. "Fine."
Rahzel smiled gratefully, letting him go.
"A-Alzeid..." Alicia breathed, and he rushed to her side to catch her words, squeezing her hand just faintly in both of his. "You know... that I... still love you... right?"
He bit his lip, fighting back his overwhelming emotions. "Idiot, save your strength," he scolded before lightly pressing his mouth on hers."I love you too."
With the last of her strength, Alicia's lips brushed against Alzeid's ear in a whisper, and he nodded, placing a second kiss on her lips. Pressing another gossamer kiss on her forehead, he reluctantly released her cold, bloody hand as the medics rolled her out. He stared out after them, fearing for her life.
"She'll be alright, Al-chan," Baroqueheat reassured, knowing that he had to be serious now. Rahzel held her tongue. "After all, she's been through worse when she was with us in the military."
That didn't seem to reassure Alzeid much, and his hands clenched into fists as he knew he was helpless. There was nothing he could do but wait and hope that she would be alright. But there was another assumption he could make... one that he would hope would never be true.
If that punk Kiara has done anything to her, Alzeid swore to himself, I swear I'll hunt him down and kill him. If he's even gone near her with that drug Angel Text, he's going down!
"Colonel," Rahzel said respectfully, "with General Dragomir's permission, may we accompany Edward to this lab?"
The Flame Alchemist stared hard at her. "What part of 'State-Alchemists-only' do you not understand? At a stretch, we could also allow Alphonse to go along as well, but no more. Just look at what happened to the Brigadier-General, and she's one of the best and most well-respected commanders this military's ever seen."
"We're not ordinary people." She insisted. "We need to go there."
"Oh? What for?"
Rahzel bit her tongue. She said too much.
"This is the military, not a school." He said firmly. "There are no mistakes. Even if … Baroqueheat, was it? Yes, even if he and Alzeid used to be in the military, you're certainly not capable of handling the situation there."
"What?" Rahzel nearly shrieked in the utmost rage, nearly using up all of her patience with the stubborn Colonel. "I just said I'm not an ordinary person!"
"Is it just me, or did the room just get a lot hotter?" Edward frowned, whispering towards Alphonse. The armour nodded vigorously.
"You could be someone's rich and powerful daughter for all I care," Mustang responded harshly. "But this assignment is just too dangerous for a girl like yourself to go."
Rahzel pouted. But then she turned to Alphonse with pleading eyes. "Could you tell him how good I was at fending off those bad guys?"
The 14-year-old stood awkwardly. "Um..."
But Edward interrupted them. "Rahzel, I know you're good at combat."
She smiled.
"But you're not part of this military, and therefore not obligated to go into danger with Al and I. You're going to have to stay here, whether you like it or not."
She scowled.
"And you better not interfere." He added. But she already had an evil eye on him - he was quite sure the air had gotten just as cold then.
"We're going," Alzeid determined as he stood up, "and Rahzel's coming with us. As much of a blockhead she can be sometimes, she pulls through when we're in a big pinch."
Rahzel's face lit up with pride at the compliment, but knew that Alzeid truly just wanted to get revenge for what happened to Alicia... not that she could blame him.
1st Lieutenant Hawkeye returned into the room, the other officers following behind her. "Colonel, I was given orders to allow those three to accompany Edward and Alphonse on their assignment," she informed.
"What? Whose orders were these?" Mustang demanded in fury.
"Brigadier-General Dragomir's," Lt. Havok answered. "It was her last orders before she was taken away."
Sgt. Fuery nodded in agreement.
Mustang's face was a perfect example of someone who's been truly annoyed. He took a good look at Rahzel, who refused to look at the Colonel out of spite, and did a face palm. "Fine, fine. If she said so, then who am I to argue?"
Edward wanted to protest, not liking the situation anymore than the Colonel did. As much as he didn't want to go on a mission, he didn't want to have someone getting in the way. But then someone tapped on his shoulder. It was Baroqueheat, who had a serious face on. "She's a good fighter. You won't regret having her on your side."
He frowned, recalling their train battle. She had good combat skills, but that was it. The State Alchemist had another stare-down with the magic-user. "If you get hurt, it's none of my business, you got that?"
She stuck out her tongue. "You should worry about yourself, little boy."
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A SPECK OF DUST?" Edward growled, hardly restrained by Alphonse and Havok.
While he was calmed down, Lt. Hawkeye stood in the corner with Mustang. "I'm not liking this." She said softly.
"Those three are liable to get themselves killed." Mustang nodded. "I don't care what Dragomir says - even if that Alzeid or Baroqueheat won't get hurt, that girl will. Combat skills won't make up for a broken arm or neck. Back-up may be necessary."
"An escort? Who?"
"I'll need you all in my office, so none of you would do. The others will protest...so who?" He thought for a minute, and a wicked grin slowly crept across his face. "If the Brigadier-General is going to pull rank on me, I'll make sure their mission is going to be very comfortable." He had a sparkly twinkle next to his eye.
Hawkeye blinked. "I'm not liking that tone, and I'm sure they won't like it either."
Mustang watched Edward and Rahzel making a mess out of his office. "Oh, they better, because he'll like them."
xXx
He, a seven-foot muscular hulk from head to toe with sparkly twinkles all over him, indeed liked the group of horrified teenagers.
"Edward Elric! I have heard of you!" Alex Armstrong roared good-heartedly, almost crushing his automail hand in a single handshake. Edward dangled his slightly bend hand in disbelief. "As a sign of good friendship and trust, I shall honour Colonel Mustang's favour to look after you!"
Edward got to the side for a moment. "Who the hell is he?" He hissed.
"He's a State Alchemist, if you're wondering, and a very strong fighter." Mustang grinned, standing very far away from the posing Major. "Besides, he's the only one willing to go and escort you to the lab where the Brigadier-General was hauled out half-dead. You should consider yourself lucky."
Alzeid got to the side too. "We don't need him!" He growled. He had heard of Armstrong's 'particular' kind nature. "We're fine by ourselves!"
Mustang had the evil eye on him. "Well, perhaps if you'd kindly tell me why you have to go to the lab, perhaps I'll get someone else."
They were on deadlock for five minutes.
"Oh hello!" Rahzel was wide-eyed, observing his muscles that rippled very clearly under his blue uniform. "Who are you?"
The man puffed appreciatively. "I am Alex Louis Armstrong, known as the 'Strong Arm Alchemist'!"
I can see that, she thought nervously. Those arms of his were twice the size of her head. "You must have worked out a lot then..."
Sgt. Fuery, Havok, and Breda stepped in right beside her. "Don't encourage him!" They hissed quickly, but it was too late.
"Oh ho!" Armstrong bellowed proudly, and flexed his muscles. Immediately, his shirt ripped to shreds in a matter of seconds, spreading all over the floor. "The Armstrong family have always prided themselves in gaining fantastic muscles for centuries! Behold!"
While the four of them were forcibly dazzled by the pink stars radiated from his muscly body, Alphonse and Baroqueheat stood at the side. "He's...very proud, isn't he?"
"So I've heard." Alphonse nodded.
"This is your first time too?"
"Oh yes."
As Armstrong was showing off, Alicia's last words rang through Alzeid's head. She had given him a warning... friendly advice that may prove lifesaving.
Use... magic... barrier... she had told him, sense... chimeras... that... way...
"We're not able to provide anymore backup other than Major Armstrong due to how dangerous the mission will be," Mustang explained, glancing specifically at Rahzel, Alzeid and Baroqueheat. "Under normal circumstances, I would never allow you three to accompany Edward on his mission. However, due to orders from Brigadier-General Dragomir, it seems an exception can be made."
"How is the young general, anyway?" Armstrong asked in concern. "Was she not a capable fighter of her own?"
"No idea whether she's alright or not," Baroqueheat responded. "She was badly injured when she stumbled in. She'll probably be alright though, knowing how strong she is. She's a capable fighter, but from what we heard from her, her convoy was taken by complete surprise."
"Brother, I guess we should be grateful that the Colonel assigned Major Armstrong to assist us." Alphonse whispered towards Edward. The blonde Alchemist simply scowled, already annoyed that Rahzel had to come along.
"We'll have to be more careful then," the major replied with a nod. "Well, shall we depart?"
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