Ultimate Alchemist

Chapter 7: Nice Work If You Can Get It- Part 2

Disclaimer: I do not own anything by Marvel or Hiromu Arakawa, except Nox.

AN: See, I can update quickly... sometimes. This is the second part of the Roxxon story arc. Hope you guys like it.

A reader has asked me to create a list of characters' ages and what not. The list is now on my profile page if you want to take a look. I'm going to update it as new characters are introduced. Might help if you get confused. Also, if you want any more information, just let me know and I'll add it.

Whoa... there was a major increase in people favoriting this story after I published the last chapter. All I can say is thank you so much!

Anonymous Reviews:

reaper24- I was mortified to discover that I had accidentally skipped over your review. I am sincerely sorry. I feel terrible. Hopefully you can find this reply if you are still reading. And thanks for reading and reviewing!

Agent137- Same goes for you. I'm very sorry for missing your review. The anonymous reviews are a little hard to keep track of. When you mean write a Greed story, do you mean a Marvel story with Greed? If so, that would have to be way into the future because this story is going to be fairly lengthy. Maybe I can stick something with Greed in. We'll see. Thanks for your input!

HellNyte- Thank you. Hopefully you will continue to like the story.

Draco13- Yeah, I would totally read a Nova Ed story. And it would give my lonely, old FMA/Ultimate Marvel story company. It's all alone! Anyway, thanks for continuing to read and review. It means a lot.

Now, onwards to the punches and shrimp!


Edward Elric, now notoriously known as the Alchemist by all of New York City, sat on top of a building, observing the towering skyscraper across from the roof he sat on the edge of. The tower's walls had the gaudy letters Roxxon Industries posted on them for the whole world to see. Ed flipped open the pocket-watch he had transmuted. It was a cheap reproduction of the one he once had. Ten 'O Clock. It was almost time to go kick some scientist ass.

Ed sat back, waiting. He could hear a television set somewhere below him, blaring the local news out into the street. "According to a petty criminal in prison, the identity of New York's Spider-Man has been revealed," Ed listened, smirking."The convict, a man named Herman Schultz, alleges that Spider-Man visited him in prison. Schultz claims that Spider-Man is a blonde teenaged boy with a foreign accent named Sig Curtis."

The young alchemist burst out laughing. Peter owed him big time for helping him cover his secret identity. Apparently Sig Curtis was Spider-Man. The image that popped up in Edward's head made him laugh even harder. His master's mountain of a husband in red and blue tights. Ridiculous.

"In other news, police are still searching for the delinquent, now called the Alchemist, who temporarily decommissioned half the New York City Police Department during a bank robbery. It is unconfirmed whether or not this man was in league with the two arrested suspects in the heist."

Ed growled in frustration. What incompetent asses. Deciding it was time to act, he clapped his hands and slipped from the edge of the rooftop. He landed with only a muffled thud on the concrete below. He was getting more accustomed to using alchemy to manipulate the air around him. That first jump had left his real leg in major pain. His ankle and knee had swollen immensely, and people at school had noticed his limp.

Ed looked to either side of the alley he had jumped into, finding the coast was clear. He waved up at the security camera above the door, wondering if some lazy security guard was looking down at him from a television screen. Edward turned to the door he had been observing for almost an hour. It seemed to be a service entrance of sorts. He tried the handle only to find it locked. Ed clapped his hands quietly and touched the handle. The object disassembled easily and clanked to the concrete ground. He couldn't help but smile at the simplicity of breaking into such a high-tech organization.

The alchemist stuck his head cautiously into the building, half-expecting a squad of security personnel to be waiting for him on the other side. He found no one in the darkened hallway. He entered the building and headed through the hallway, passing various maintenance closets and vacant offices. The hall eventually opened into an atrium with a sleek metal desk adjacent from the front doors. Edward looked around, noticing the directory behind what he assumed was the receptionist's desk. The first floors were all offices, followed by the laboratories. He nodded in determination. That was where he was headed first.

The sound of boots echoing off the marble floor and walls sent Ed ducking behind the receptionist's desk. "I just don't get it Mike. I'm soo hungry all the time now," spoke a deep voice down one of the first floor's hallways.

"It's the chemical reaction going on in your system," a man, whom Ed assumed was Mike, responded. "Didn't you listen to a thing those eggheads told us when starting out here?"

"No..."

The young alchemist mentally groaned. Of course a company like Roxxon Corporation would make their security guards into super-soldiers. Fucking of course.

Edward listened silently for the two security guards to pass, his breath held in anxiety. His thoughts repeated the same plea over and over. 'Please don't let them have super-senses. Please don't let them have super-senses.'

The hooded boy waited and slipped behind the two burly men as silently as his metal limbs would allow him to. He found the door to the stairwell and rushed inside. He figured it wouldn't be that smart to take the elevator. He cautiously began his way up the countless flights of stairs, cursing his luck at having been shot in the leg not that many weeks before. He finally reached the level of the laboratories and noticed a large sign hanging across from the elevator that read Roxxon Laboratories Super-Soldier Department. Edward smiled. He had found one of his targets.

He hid a darkened office as another security guard passed by him. Ed wondered what they had given the men. It obviously hadn't made them better at their jobs. He continued in a crouching position, searching for where they might hold their "lab rats."

The alchemist almost laughed aloud when he found one of the laboratories' lights was on. He glanced around him and then peeked through the lab's window. He smirked. He had found the holding area and three rather puny looking men in lab coats. He felt like a cat that had just found its prey.

He slipped into the room silently and observed the three scientists for a second. "I can't believe we did it," one of them exclaimed in a nasally voice. "We actually made a dragon. Can you believe it?"

"Would you calm down Farkas? This thing can't even breath fire. All it could do is fly around and crush you. This experiment is far from complete."

"It's still-"

Farkas never got to finish his statement because of a metal fist that hit him squarely in the side of his head. He fell to the ground with a heavy thud.

Ed turned to the other man who had spoken before he could react to what occurring. The alchemist grabbed the man's coat and pulled his face down onto his metal knee. He also hit the white tiled floor, blood streaming from his most likely broken nose.

The scientist that had remained silent was making a run for the lab's double doors. Edward clapped and knelt beside the two unconscious men, touching the tiles lightly. The remaining scientist tumbled over a newly formed spike in the floor, cowering away as the alchemist strode towards him. "What do you want?" The man whimpered. "Money? Information? I'll give you whatever you want!"

Edward picked the man up by his coat and brought his face close to his own. "Call for security and I fucking beat your face in. Understand?"

The scientist nodded feebly, tears and snot running down his face.

"Good," the alchemist replied. "Now, I really just want to know two things. One, how do I get all these prisoners out of these cells. And two, where can I find a computer that contains records of all of Roxxon Corporation's activities?"

"I-" the scientist began shakily, making Ed wonder if he was going to be able to tell him anything. "You need a card to get open the holding cells."

"You mean like this card," Edward asked while plucking a security access card from the man's lapel, smiling.

"Y-y-yes."

"And the records?"

"You're only going to be able to find all those records on Mr. Roxxon's computer. On the Executive Floor."

"Of course." The alchemist dragged the frightened scientist towards the patient table the three coworkers had been studying only a few minutes before. "Thanks. You know, you've been really helpful. Too bad you couldn't have been as nice to these other human beings."

"Wai-"

Ed slammed his face brutally against the side of the metal table, sending the man to ground with his friends. He could feel his anger rising and the nausea coming on. He had expected it of course, but nothing could have prepared him to experiencing this kind of situation again. Edward tried in vain to fight back the memories of Nina that came into his mind.

He shook his head and studied the poor creature that was strapped to a huge metallic table. Its body had to of been around ten feet long and was covered in black scales that appeared to be able to withstand any sort of abuse. Its wings were folded and constrained tightly to its body. Ed found it hard to comprehend that the "dragon" had once been human.

The dragon shifted its head as much as the metal straps would allow it, its piercing red eyes trained on the much smaller alchemist. "It would... be nice... if you... released me," its guttural voice made Edward involuntarily jump in surprise. It sounded as if it was having to get accustomed to its own throat.

"You're not going to eat me if I let you go, are you," he asked in caution.

"No... not today."

Ed couldn't tell if the dragon was joking or not but decided take his chances in the end. He clapped his hands and sent the metal straps peeling from the dragon's body.

"Thank... you... that is... much better," the dragon spoke while stretching out its wings.

The alchemist strode towards the holding cells, flipping the security card anxiously through his fingers.

"Where... are you... going," the dragon asked.

"I'm releasing these other prisoners."

"No..."

Ed turned to the creature, his face scrunched in confusion. "Why? I let you go. They deserve the same."

"No... their minds... have been... dis...torted... by the...experiments. They..are not... human...anymore."

The young man looked into the clear window of each cell door, witnessing the state the prisoners had been forced into through experimentation and torture. A man glowing green unnaturally. A woman with stone spikes protruding from body. Animalistic creatures. Edward knew he could not release them into the world. It would do more harm than good. He clinched his fists tightly, drawing blood on his left palm. It was all he could do to keep himself from murdering the three unconscious scientists on the floor.

Edward looked at the physically altered man in concern. "Do you know who you are?"

The dragon halted and stared at the boy. "I... do not... remember... but... I am... not... like them...yet."

The alchemist looked over at the desk in front of the table that had restrained the dragon, noticing a thick folder underneath a toppled over coffee mug. "Shit!"

He picked up the papers, attempting to sling off the brown liquid. Not even alchemy could salvage the already smeared ink. He just wasn't able to repair the words he had not known. "It says your name was M-something. It's smeared. Your last name was Nox," Edward glanced up at the dragon, who nodded in understanding.

"I am... Nox...then."

Ed nodded solemnly and continued reading the file aloud. "You were charged and convicted for assault..." he paused. "and were supposed to have been released from prison three months ago..."

The man Ed now knew as Nox froze suddenly, dangerously. The alchemist knew what was coming.

A earthshaking roar rolled throughout the mostly vacant halls of the Roxxon Corporation building. Edward covered his ears in pain. He could feel sticky, warm liquid beginning to flow from his burst eardrums down his face. "Nox!" He tried to shout over the man's pained roars. "Nox! Stop! I have a plan! I need you to calm down!"

He knew it was already too late. "You! Freeze," someone shouted behind him. "Dragon... freeze..."

The alchemist spun around quickly. "No! Get back," he attempted to warn the chemically altered security personnel. He could now see their slitted eyes, fanged canines, and overly muscular build.

Nox pushed past Edward gently and threw the security guards back with his tail. "I WILL KILL YOU ALL!"

"Nox! Stop it!" The alchemist tried to command the tortured man.


Nox ignored the boy's pleas, his anger and grief twisting his heart. He could not remember his name, the loved ones he once and maybe still had somewhere. They were going to pay. They had to pay.

The dragon grabbed one of the security freaks by their ankle with his now massive teeth, slamming the man into the steel elevator door. He was about to grab another guard when the floor and walls suddenly collapsed around him in an almost strangling embrace.

"I know you're enraged," he could hear the muffled voice of the young hooded figure who had set him free, "but I need you to calm down. Those prisoners back there need you to stop."

"Why...should...I?"

"Because I'm going to make sure that a company like this never starts up again, and I can't do that if you destroy this one." Edward motioned around him.

"Very...well. I...will...stop."

"Good."

Nox heard a sharp clap, and the floor and walls receded to their original positions. The mutilated man was amazed that boy trusted him so easily. He did not want to betray that trust. "Thank...you..." he turned to the alchemist curiously. "I... do not... know... your...name."

"Just call me Ed."

"Thank...you...Ed."

"Don't thank me for doing what's right," was the boy's curt reply.

Nox would have smiled if he had known how in his new form. "I will... be taking... my leave...if... that is...okay...Ed."

The hooded alchemist nodded. "Could you meet me at St. Patrick's Cathedral in two days?"

"What...is...this...Cathedral?"

"Um, it's tall and spiry in Midtown Manhattan. Can't miss it."

"I will... be...there."

"Alright. See you then Nox."

"Fare...well."

The newly turned dragon burst through the skyscraper's windows, the glass bouncing easily off his black scales. His wings flapped clumsily in the wind. He assumed it would become easier just like riding a bicycle did in some blank past of his.


Donald Roxxon was not happy about having to stay late. He was the owner of a world renowned corporation, for God's sake. He should have someone else doing the stupid paperwork. But no, Mr. Roxxon's signature was needed for so and so project that he had no clue about. Mr. Roxxon's account information was needed to fund some stupid weapons program. He hated his job. He hated owning his father's business.

He sighed as he signed another form, loosening his tie. Even his regular security guards, Collins and Johns, wouldn't ever talk to him.

A frightening roar shook the building around the middle aged man, knocking books that Donald never read off shelves and pictures from the walls. Donald cowered beneath his desk, shaking uncontrollably. "Mr. Roxxon," he could hear Collins (or was it Johns?) call, "are you alright?"

Donald stood up slowly, cautiously. He felt a warmth on his legs and froze in embarrassment. Oh God. He had wet himself. His father would never have let him live it down. "Y-y-yes. I am fine. I'm sure it was just some experiment the scientists are staying late to work on. You two go stand guard in the hallway." He knew his voice was quaking, but the two idiot freak guards left him to sulking in his office anyway.

He sat back at his desk and sighed. He didn't have any clothes to change into. He picked up his pen, fiddled with it for a minute, and started back on the paperwork he had been avoiding for months. Donald lifted his head when he heard a quiet shuffling from outside his door. There was a strained and muffled shout followed by to thuds, and then nothing. Donald stood cautiously. "Collins? Johns? Is everything okay?"

Donald's wooden office door opened slowly, with a slight creak. "Oh, everything's not fine Mr. Roxxon."

Donald gasped and stepped backwards, falling over his desk chair. The hooded man that was all over the news for attacking the police was standing right in front of him. He tried to wipe away the sweat that was beginning to block his vision. The hooded man stepped forward and Donald crawled backwards until he hit the thick glass of his windowed walls. "W-What do you want from me?"

The black coated man paused in front of the businessman and knelt. He pulled his hood back dramatically, revealing a handsome, youthful face with blood caking his cheeks and frighteningly fierce golden eyes. "I don't want anything from you Mr. Roxxon, but I think all those prisoners in their holding cells below do."

Donald began to cry helplessly. He didn't understand why people were always attacking his company. He had no idea what this man (no, kid!) was talking about. It was not his fault, nothing was. "I don't understand..."

The blonde boy frowned and leaned over the older man, dripping blood on the man's fancy suit. "You really don't have a clue what's going on in your own company, do you?"

"I-no. No! The board tells me what to do! I just sign the papers! That's all! Ah-"

A metal fist slammed into Donald's face. The world spun around him, until the golden-eyed boy shook him back to reality. "You're a damn worthless bastard!" he exclaimed. "You sign papers to torture people and you don't even know it!"

Another fist shot Donald's head backwards against the glass. "You own this company but never ran it, and you're gonna hang for your apathy."

The hand that had hit Donald twice grabbed his chin and forced him to look into the younger man's face. "Look at me Mr. Roxxon," the boy growled. "Look at me. I want you to remember the face that is going to destroy you and your company."

Donald whimpered, blood seeping from his mouth. "Iss na ma' compny... Iss ma' fahtherss."

"That's no excuse," was the cold reply Donald heard before slipping into blissful unconsciousness.


Edward Elric slammed the front door behind him. He threw the bag that held his costume to the side and slid to the floor. His ears were still ringing. He pressed his forehead against his knees and covered his head with his arms. Images of Nina and Alexander and that bastard Shou Tucker kept appearing in his mind, tearing at his heart all over again. He knew he was going to throw up, but at least he had gotten all the information from Roxxon Corporation that he needed.

"Hey Ed!" he could hear Peter calling from the kitchen. "Hey Ed, MJ., Gwen, and I are going to get some pizza. Wanna-"

The slightly taller boy froze as soon as he saw the alchemist. "Peter whats going on?" M.J. asked as she came into the room. "Oh my God..."

"Ed?" Peter tried getting his friend's attention. "What happened?"

Edward lifted his blood stained face, his eyes weary. "Do you know any good lawyers?"


Chapter Notes: So, that's the second part of this story arc. Hope you all enjoyed it. The idea for Nox actually came from playing too much Skyrim.

Please leave a review and tell me what you think. I will happily reply and answer any questions you might have.

Also, remember that I have some information about the Ultimate Marvel Universe on my profile. Let me know if you want me to add anything.

Next Chapter: Nice Work If You Can Get It- Part 3- Conclusion

Thanks so much for reading!

Gufetto