"T-Turning Glass…" Ed found himself struggling to say – his breathing slowed to the point where he felt dizzy. But even if it felt as if time itself was moving slowly – it was just his body that had been altered instead!
The man stood in the darkness, firelight obscuring his eyes as it reflected from the heavy lenses. As Edward forced himself to his feet, Geiger raised a hand.
Move,move,move…damn it!
Standing as still as stone, Ed could only watch in disbelief as the other man drew the long knife strapped to his thigh - taking his time. And there wasn't a doubt in Edwards mind that this new enemy knew full well how immobilized his opponent would be.
"Funny." The man spoke dryly. "How life seems to slow in ones final minutes."
"Y.."
The youth cursed his weakness. How could he let it come to this? He couldn't even speak, let alone fight! He was taken out by this psycho so easily!
His mind flashed to his brother – Geigers next victim, if it wasn't Mustang!
C'mon…move! Please! Just an inch! COME ON!
Despite his desperate pleas Geiger approached, the knife seeming to dance in the slowly flickering light - the whole scene of stalking death seeming surreal and dreamlike.
Then something lanced from the dark desert – striking the knife and throwing it with force into the packed desert earth. In the same instant Geiger jumped back, Edward now able to see the brown of his eyes as they furrowed in anger.
"Meddling woman!"
A split second later a blinding flash turned the whole world light, scorching whiteness into Edwards golden eyes.
AAH! I can't even blink to keep it out!
Then the light vanished and in its place came an impossibly loud crack, the sound of which caused all noise in Edwards ears to suddenly dim, the sounds as strange as if muted through a radio turned down way too far - the only sound coming through clearly an annoyingly high pitched whine. The man dodged as something raced past him to impact the hard ground and exploded into a yet another brilliant flash of light and roaring crack.
Managing to move his eyes just enough, Al caught sight of the long thin object jammed into the desert earth. It was a spike of some kind – like a long thin metal dart. For a moment he thought he imagined a flicker of electricity.
The next shot struck - just glancing Geiger in the shoulder as he turned and instantly exploding into a shower of light. With a pained cry the man fell to the ground but the moment the light faded he was up and further back. From across the desert a searchlight turned, pulsing through the wasteland.
Standing, Geiger turned for just a second to glare at his missed prey before the world around him shimmered.
Ed dropped back to earth, feeling as if the air was being squeezed out of him. He had a horrible image of himself being flattened paper thin by this invisible force!
Then it subsided and allowed much needed blood to rush back to his head and clear his vision.
Geiger was gone.
After a short moment of disbelief Edward jumped clumsily to his feet - his legs still weak from the strange distortion they'd just been through - and wobbled frantically toward the motionless body of Colonel Mustang.
When he reached the man he could see the slow rise and fall of his chest indicating that yes, life still pulsed in his veins, and with that the boy let out the anxious breath he had been holding.
It wasn't long before the soldiers that remained had reinforcements to lend a helping hand. Edward watched helplessly as the wounded - Colonel included - were taken away in the fastest cars possible to the city on the horizon.
"Brother?"
Edward's eyes never left the emergency vehicles receding into the distance.
"I couldn't do anything...not a thing."
"You mean that weird sensation?" Al wondered aloud. "What was that? I've never felt anything like it!"
"I don't know." Ed replied, fist clenched as he turned to look at the sky.
"All I know is that even when I wanted to move the most I couldn't. All I could do was sit and wait for death...I don't think...heh...I know there wasn't a single thing I could do. So where do we even start in trying to fight a guy like that?"
For a while Alphonse stood in silence by his brother, at a bit of a loss as to what would happen now. After a moment he shifted, the metal clanking softly. "In any case, we can't fight until Colonel Mustang is treated."
"You know..." Ed began, "We've been through a lot of battles. I always worry about others who can use alchemy, or guys with guns or something like that. I've always focused on actual physical combat...but I think I keep forgetting how fragile we humans really are. I mean, if you asked me what the top threat to a 'human weapon' would be I wouldn't exactly put car crash at the top of my list. Would you?"
Alphonse shook his head. "No..."
From the direction of the newly arrived aid a young medic approached and informed the brothers that a car was waiting for them. Without another word between them the two quietly took their ride to the city, enduring the ride in silence and with a watchful eye on the ominous night.
"You could have made your entrance a bit less dramatic and I wouldn't have minded."
Mustang gave a slight laugh. "I feel it's important to make an impression."
The General gave him a thoroughly disapproving look. "Yeah, that was an impression all right - flooding up my infirmary on day one. It's a good thing you've got me around Mustang."
"I'm forever grateful General." The colonel smirked. "To show you my gratitude...how about a date?"
The woman rolled her eyes. "We both know there's only one woman for you. That's why-
"COLONEL!" A familiarly reproving voice interjected as the door flew open. Lt. Hawkeye seemed to miss the Generals mild irritation at once again being interrupted by a subordinate officer - and this one wasn't even her own!
"Well...she ruined her own entrance as well." Shrike commented wryly, a twitch developing over her eye. With a chuckle the General turned away from the 'couple' ( even though they'd deny it if she said it out loud) "I guess now that your Lieutenant is here I can rest easy. Heal yourself up - Colonel."
"Ma'am!" Both responded and as the General closed the door she could hear the concerned chastising tones of Lt. Hawkeye following her out smiled at the thought of the flirtatious Colonel finally being brought to heel himself.
"You're not mad are you?"
Riza stared at him, face unreadable. "Do I look mad?"
Roy considered his position - mainly the position of being laid up in a hospital with no way to defend himself against a possibly irate Lt. who despite having a calm facial expression had nothing less than flames of anger flickering in her eyes.
"You...look beautiful as always."
The Lt. sighed and looked away, trying to hide her slight appreciation of his flattery. If he was at least willing to be his 'normal' self the injuries couldn't be as bad as she had feared.
"I have enough paperwork as it is. Please don't make me sign out Colonel requisition forms." She pleaded, the barest hint of sarcasm in her voice.
"Uh...of course?" The Colonel agreed; dark eyes a little wide. He wasn't sure there even were forms for that...he wouldn't really know. More importantly, if there were forms like that they couldn't be filed while he was still alive, right?
"If you're doing just fine, I'll be helping Colonel Merion with the investigation until you're well enough to be useful again."
That stung...Roy sighed. "Of course, Lt." With a smile he added. "I'll make it as quick as I can."
For the first time, Riza returned his smile. "Good. I'm tired of doing your paperwork."
Authors Note:
Short chapter is short...sorry. I figured I'd update at least a little bit while I was at it though. ^.^