Ch 7
In reality, he only had himself to blame for the current situation. He should have known, should have remembered to never trust authority, but he didn't want to leave. The Central felt like home, after nearly all of his conscious life spent there, and he wanted to stay so he stifled the instinct that told him to join Yuu and fight their bloody way out of the lab building. He knew they would have made it, because they were fast, strong and nearly immortal. They would steal Mustang's car and drive it away, abandon it and go somewhere else. By this time they would have been out of reach for the military, but no. Alma Karma, the ever naive optimist, decided to trust Roy Mustang's reputation.
Look where it got them, he thought bitterly, watching Fullmetal Alchemist talk on the phone with his younger brother. The day was almost over and Alma has had more than enough of boredom for the week and knowing he needed to follow the teenager the following day as well was nearly as bad as knowing that he would soon be deposited back in the cell where Yuu was kept. Oh, they did not call it a cell and it sure was comfortable, with a replaced bed and a small bathroom, but it was a cell nevertheless. And it was his fault that Yuu was kept there.
'Better tell me how are things in Resembool,' Edward said to the phone. It was clear that he wished to be with his brother, who was recovering from four years of being a walking armour, whatever that meant. Mustang's team was closely connected to the Elric brothers and they sometimes commented on the situation, but never clearly enough for Alma to understand what had happened. The only thing he knew was that it ended with a happy ending and that Mustang had been important in helping them out. Bitterly, Alma wished that Mustang's helpfulness hadn't run out.
'It seems like Allen has some really good ideas Al, you should listen to him,' Edward replied after a moment of listening. Alma sighed and tried to find something to think of, ideally something that will not lead to him being angry at himself or bitter, because that was also tiring. Watching Fullmetal Alchemist work was surprisingly dull and, surrounded by books he wouldn't understand, Alma had nothing better to do than to think.
For a good while, the Lavi person occupied his thoughts. Yuu has told him about a Lavi, who was an annoying, redhead Exorcist with an eyepatch on his right eye. The name wasn't all that common and, even if the Lavi they met had brown hair, Alma knew it wasn't all that hard to dye hair. And Lavi from earlier did have an eyepatch on his right eye. It made him wonder whether all Exorcists came to Amestris when they died in the other world.
Then again, it didn't matter. Lavi never knew Alma or that he even existed, which meant that he wouldn't recognize him. Alma, on the other hand, was closely supervised now and could not try to find or meet the other, risking another Exorcist to be arrested. He couldn't even tell Yuu that he met somebody he might know, because he wasn't sure whether they were being observed. Or rather, he knew they were. Maybe not all the time, but he had no way of knowing when and anyway, what would it mean for Yuu to know that somebody else is out there and unable to help them? Because Lavi was just a human and there was no way a human would get through all the guards that stood between Yuu and the exit of the building.
'Yeah, I'll stay a while more. Tell Winry I'm sorry,' Edward said in the phone, before saying good bye and hanging up with a heavy sigh. Alma pursed his lips. In other circumstances, he would probably feel bad for Edward, being forced to stay apart from those he cared about, but as things were, he felt entitled to drown in self-pity. Edward turned to him with a grim expression. 'One more stop before we call it a day,' he said, making Alma wince. It was the part of the day he despised the most because it reminded him of his stupidity, but there was no choice. Quietly, he followed the alchemist to Mustang's office.
He ignored the glances he got from the officers he worked with mere five days earlier. People outside Mustang's office really didn't know anything and Alma found it extremely difficult to pretend it was so, but those closest to the general were obviously informed. It has been fun, to work there, and they were good men who now thought badly of him, but he regretted nothing. Except for having trusted Mustang, of course. He could still clearly see the resigned, haunted look in Yuu's eyes when Yuu told him to do as Mustang said and pretend nothing happened while Yuu was kept locked up as leverage and, although Mustang said nothing of that, a potential lab rat. The very possibility chilled Alma to the bone and he knew that it was one of the reasons why Yuu wasn't able to rest properly and regain his strength.
It was a statement of the distrust Mustang's team had towards him when Hawkeye entered Mustang's office with Alma and Edward, her hand on her gun, ready to draw. It was tempting to test her resolve. Mugen, Yuu's katana, was resting on the small table in the office. He could grab it and pave his bloody way to the cell, only Mustang surely had a way to alert the guards there before Alma got there, assuming that Hawkeye didn't shot to kill. She probably would, if her reputation was anything to go by and that one was easier to trust than Mustang's.
'You're late, Fullmetal,' said Mustang instead of a greeting. Alma could swear he heard Edward's teeth grit together, but the blond said nothing. 'Does it mean you made any progress?' Mustang asked. Edward literally shook in barely contained anger, although Alma wasn't sure what its cause was. It couldn't be just the smug tone of the general, who must have known no progress has been made. Already that was pretty irritating, but Alma had a feeling he didn't know the whole story, which wouldn't be all that surprising. After all, despite Edward's stubborn assurances that they were not enemies he was no longer their ally. He was a traitor and Mustang didn't take lightly to traitors.
'You know very well that you sent me on a wild goose chase,' the alchemist said through gritted teeth. Alma frowned. 'I need at least something as a starting point, or else I have for years of reading and I refuse to spend years on that. I have other things to do,' he added, his tone betraying that he meant his words. Mustang frowned as well.
'Don't forget that you answer to my orders Fullmetal,' he said. 'You might be small enough to be overlooked by other generals, but I-'
'Who are you calling so small that he can hide behind a ballpoint pen's tip?' Edward exclaimed, making Alma literally jump in surprise. Did the kid do it every time somebody called him short? What kind of frustration and complexes did he hide behind that brilliant mind of his? Mustang's smug expression seemed to say that indeed, it was a safe bet to rile Fullmetal up like that and Alma wondered why he did it. It seemed awfully inefficient, not to mention rude.
'Grow up, Fullmetal. And remember that you are not the only one losing time over the possible threat that could undo everything we have worked on so hard for years. I could just as well be in a bar now, chatting up some beautiful women and I would much rather do that than wait here for your report,' the general said, sounding nearly like a pouting child. Alma blinked at the sudden change of attitude, but it was gone before he could fully register it. 'As for your search, try ten years ago in Central. There was an alchemist living in the eastern district, known for his rather questionable research. His name was Derryl Darwis,' he suggested. It took Alma a moment to realize why the name sounded familiar.
'Was?' Edward asked doubtfully.
'You bastard,' Alma growled. Derryl Darwis was a friend of his foster father, who had died a year ago, roughly. 'My foster parents have nothing to do with this. They are just a kind couple who took in a completely messed up kid, they don't deserve to be investigated by your stupid military,' he half said, half shouted. Mustang seemed unperturbed and Alma was unpleasantly reminded of his own protests against Yuu being held locked up while Alma followed the Fullmetal Alchemist on his quest. He had failed back then as well.
'That is what you said,' Mustang agreed. 'Maybe you even believe it and let's say that I believe you, even though you managed to lie to me already. But what if it's just something they told you? Isn't it a convenient coincidence that the Healing Alchemist found your "brother" more or less at the same time as Derryl Darwis died? Seeing Yuu Kanda in action I wouldn't put it past him to kill one man and escape,' he suggested. Alma recoiled, as though physically slapped. He didn't like at all what Mustang was suggesting.
'What of my memories from before? Do you think I could have invented the Black Order and their fight against demons?' he asked as the thought occurred to him. 'Do you think I would want to? You cannot think that I would invent the synchro-testing just for the sake of it or-' he stopped, catching himself right on time. They didn't really tell Mustang that he had slaughtered the whole personnel of the Sixth Lab, nor did they tell him what exactly Innocence was and how it looked like. He couldn't betray that he had a deadly weapon on him permanently, even if he hadn't tried to use it since that horrible massacre.
'Have you ever seen a demon?' Mustang asked back with perfect calm, seemingly ignoring the awkward end of Alma's rant. Alma blinked. He has never seen a demon. He believed in them, because if there were no demons than the whole of his and Yuu's suffering was for nothing. They had to exist and Yuu told him they did, they had killed him. Yet Mustang looked like he won. 'What if this whole story was invented by somebody?' he asked. It was a horrifying thought.
'Why?' Alma asked back weakly. Mustang shrugged and asked Alma what he knew about Derryl Darwis. He shook his head. 'I knew that he was an alchemist. He was my foster father's friend and he visited regularly,' he paused. 'He made toys for me. And anyway, like you said, he died a year ago, but you're wrong. It was a heart attack, so Yuu had nothing to do with it, no matter what you say,' he added firmly, glad that he remembered the small fact.
'Have you seen the body?' Mustang asked again, his tone firm. Alma shook his head, a horrible doubt blooming in his head. He denied it fiercely. Never did he put any doubts in his memories, rather cherishing the short time he had spent with Yuu, his light in the darkness. He never hoped to see Yuu again, knowing that it meant Yuu would have died in the other world and he wanted Yuu to live long and happy. He heard Yuu tell him about his life also and it wasn't as happy as Alma would have wished for, but it was a good life, with friends. Surely Mustang didn't think that all those memories were fabricated as well. The idea made Alma sick.
'You are not suggesting that some alchemist could not only create evolving homunculi but also plant memories in their heads, are you?' Edward said slowly. 'You are out of your mind, general bastard and I'm not going to play part in this cheap drama you're creating. Once there was somebody who tried to convince Al that he had been invented, but it's bullshit. I checked afterwards. Besides you know that-'
'Fullmetal,' Mustang said harshly. Edward recoiled as though slapped. 'Tomorrow you will investigate the house of Derryl Darwis. As far as I understood it is empty. Officer Karma will not accompany you anymore, to not create unhealthy rumours in the neighbourhood. You will report to me with your findings and we will see how to proceed,' he ordered. 'Hawkeye, please escort officer Karma to his cell, while I discuss some things Fullmetal seems to have forgotten,' he added.
Alma didn't try to protest, mulling over the ideas of reality and memories Mustang had. He went in front of Hawkeye, who refused to have him behind her back, without any hesitation or emotions. The idea that his life might have been a lie left him completely empty of energy or will and he couldn't even find it in himself to worry that they might separate him and Yuu.
They didn't. He heard the guard tell Yuu to stand back, then the door was opened and Alma was ushered in, the door slamming loudly behind him the very second that he was through. It would have been funny how afraid they were of the two of them if Alma had any strength to laugh. As it was, he only looked at the long-haired man in front of him, remembering the boy who had woken up in a birthing pit ten years ago. Did that really happen? Yuu wouldn't lie to him, would he?
'What happened?' Yuu asked when Alma didn't speak or smile as he usually would.
'What if everything is a lie?' Alma asked back quietly. Yuu frowned, obviously confused by the question, so Alma elaborated: 'What if the Sixth Lab was just a lie and there are no demons and no Innocence? What if we are those homunculi things, created by some crazy alchemist?' he asked, eyes filling with unwanted tears as speaking the words out loud made it seem more probable. It seemed much more logical than them coming from a different world where they were to fight some improbable war. Yuu, however, looked angry, a bit like he did in the beginning, when Alma tried to talk with him, to make friends. If that was what really had happened.
'Is that what they told you?' Yuu asked quietly, his tone cold and carefully controlled. Alma winced and admitted that Mustang suggested the possibility. Yuu scowled darkly at his words. 'It's easy to disprove, but if I'm right then we're leaving. I've had just about enough of this place and I didn't find you after all those years to lose you again. I'd rather die,' he stated firmly. 'Invoke your Innocence,' he ordered. Alma looked at him shocked.
'No, if they're watching-' he started.
'They will not live to tell the tale,' Yuu cut him firmly. Alma could see that he was serious also. He seemed to believe completely in their memories, but he didn't know the power of the alchemists. Alma did. He could hardly find it in himself to think that implanting memories was not possible, but really, what did he have to lose? He asked how to invoke the Innocence, but Yuu told him that he knew and to focus.
So focus Alma did. He followed the soft voice of Yuu, telling him to close his eyes and breathe in slowly. Then to breathe out and calm down. He listened to Yuu describe his Innocence exactly as Alma remembered it and he wanted to see it again. He wanted his memories to be true, they had to be true and if they were then his Innocence- Pain tore a surprised shout out of his mouth and when he opened his eyes, curved blades were growing out of his right arm and there was no blood. He looked at Yuu, who smiled at him ever so slightly.
He smiled back. That was Innocence alright. His Innocence, with which he had massacred the Sixth Lab and, although he didn't fully regret it, he knew they didn't fully deserve it either. It was his Innocence, with which he would now massacre the Amestrian military, should they stand on his way. The door would be no barrier and neither would be the guards, he knew without even testing it.
'I need to get Mugen back,' Yuu said calmly. Alma nodded.
'It's in Mustang's office,' he said, making Yuu wince slightly. It would be messy, he knew. Maybe he would even have to kill the people with whom he had worked. The thought made him sad, but there was no alternative anymore. They had followed his plan and it failed them, so they would now follow Yuu's plan and see where they would get. And once they were out of the building they would find Lavi. Alma smiled. 'Let's escape together to somewhere they cannot find us,' he said, echoing the words from the past. It couldn't be a lie.
'Lead the way,' Yuu replied with a nod. The door gave way with one slash of the impressive blades and the guards stood no chance. They fell to the ground dead before they had the time to fully turn around to face them. Alma shuddered at his own actions, but Yuu pulled him along, saying they had no time to waste. The faster they moved the fewer men Alma would have to kill before they got Mugen and got out and the faster Yuu could get the rest he needed.
Suddenly the building shook with an explosion that sounded like it happened near them. They barely kept their footing. The lights flickered as they exchanged weary looks, worry creeping into Yuu's expression. The second explosion was even closer and send them crashing to the floor as walls and ceiling at the far end of the corridor caved in. Something, a grotesque face of what must have been a giant, looked into the corridor from the side. In the flickering light it gleamed faint red. It emanated a malevolent kind of energy that Alma has never felt and wished never to feel again.
'We have to run, Alma,' Yuu said very quietly. When Alma looked at him he saw pure terror on Yuu's face. 'We need to be faster than it and I need to get Mugen if we're supposed to stand a chance,' Yuu continued. The creature smiled, showing too many teeth. 'It's the demon that killed me.'
