CHAPTER 6:
REVELATIONS
Lust decided to keep an eye on Hughes. She couldn't help but shake the feeling that the man's insight would lead him down dangerous roads. He seemed to value her presence, though. In fact, she noted that he barely looked at her figure, whereas to many men, she was rather distracting. She guessed it was his loyalty to his wife and daughter that prevented him from being distracted by her figure. She found herself thinking that highly admirable.
Was that what love was, when shorn away of lust? A loyalty to the bitter end between people? There were many kinds of love, Lust knew, if only because she could observe it from the outside. The love between lovers, the love between child and parent, or between siblings, the love between friends, and so on. She had seen so-called love break down many times, but she could not deny love's existence. And it seemed that Hughes' love for his family reaffirmed for Lust what love truly was. She may never experience it for herself, but she could at least see how it truly existed.
"There's something about this that's been bothering me," Hughes said as he examined a map of Amestris in the library that evening, running a hand through his hair. "The riots in Liore, the Ishvalan Civil War, though they should really call it the Ishvalan War of Extermination," he said with disgust, "and what Edward described in the Fifth Laboratory. Something's been nagging at me."
"You've a keen mind, Lieutenant Colonel," Lust observed honestly. "But the Fuhrer did order that you cease this line of inquiry." And it would be a particularly lethal line of inquiry if he wasn't careful.
"I'll hand over the findings to you to hand to him," Hughes said. "But something's not right, and I need to…" His eyes widened in revelation, and then Lust knew that she had to think quickly. Because she was almost certain that he had figured it out.
"Oh, my God," Hughes breathed, his eyes wide behind his glasses. He began tapping key points on the map of Amestris, before running a hand through his hair. "This is monstrous, horrific! McDougal wasn't just talking crap when he was going on about the shape of this country(1)!"
"What is it?" Lust asked, knowing full very well what he meant.
"Amestris…" he breathed. "With the exception of one point(2), there are historical riots and wars that correspond to that transmutation circle that…" His eyes flickered up, and narrowed. "You knew." It was statement and accusation, all in two syllables. He could see it in her eyes.
"Yes. And if you value your life, and those of your wife and child, you will be quiet." Lust looked down at the map. "Lucky you didn't mark it. One more thing to deal with, otherwise."
"But…how can I keep quiet about…?"
"Hughes. Come with me, and I will explain it." Because if she played her cards right, she had the latest recruit to her own private conspiracy against Father…
It was on the roof that Lust felt safe explaining it. "I told a lie earlier today. While it is true that I work with Bradley, I am not an undercover operative within Saligia. I have been part of it for years. Centuries, even."
"Centuries?" Hughes asked. "But you're…"
"Yes, I look good for my age, don't I?" Her wry smirk was quickly replaced by a more solemn look. "You noticed the conflicts formed a Human Transmutation Circle. Over centuries, too. This was no accident."
With that, she told him everything, watching as he quietly absorbed the information with mounting horror. Eventually, he asked, "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I need allies. I intend to topple Father's plans from within, but I need people to help, people well-placed both within and without the State Military. You are far from my first recruit: Dr Marcoh was. And, well, I think I've managed to persuade Scar of all people. Yes, he is a violent fanatic, but once he learned of who truly triggered the war that wiped out his people, he is reconsidering his priorities. The head was an alchemy construct I made with his blood to stop the military from pursuing him. In time, I will bring the Elrics, Mustang, and Armstrong to my cause."
Hughes' eyes narrowed beneath his glasses. "And why should I believe you? You've admitted you're one of these Homunculi…that Bradley and his son are too…what do you want?"
Lust shook her head. "What do I want? I don't know for certain. All I do know is that should Father succeed, I won't ever get to find out. And between the doubt of an uncertain future, and the certainty of perpetual servitude at best, well, I would choose doubt."
Hughes looked at her for a moment, before laughing softly. "Doubt. That's pretty damned human of you, Lust. Okay, I'll trust you for now. And I'll keep quiet about this. I mean, who'd believe me anyway?"
"You believed me," Lust said.
"Only because it makes sense with what I've seen." The glasses-wearing officer suddenly pursed his lips in thought. "Actually, now that I come to think about it, there may just be a way to counteract Father's control over alchemy."
Lust looked at him sharply. This was certainly news to her. "What is that?"
"There were reports that what McDougal used wasn't actually alchemy, but Xingese Alkahestry. It's a not-dissimilar art, but draws upon a different form of energy. It might be worth looking into."
"Hmm. I may just do that. Thank you for your silence," Lust said. It was certainly very useful information. Especially if Alkahestry could bypass Father's control over Amestrian alchemy.
Hughes chuckled bitterly. "Lust, if you really want to stop this, then I'm more than willing to do this. Ishval left a sour taste in all our mouths. Plus, there are few things I won't do to keep my wife and daughter safe."
Some days later, Lust was ordered by Bradley to accompany him to South Headquarters. Given that the 'secret' seemed to be out that she was Bradley's agent, Lust could move more openly. She would be escorting Bradley along with that oaf Armstrong. Then again, loud and narcissistic he may be, but he was also entertaining at least.
Bradley had another reason in mind for heading that way, other than a surprise inspection. After doing some investigation of the Elrics, he heard rumours that their teacher, a woman who lived in Dublith (which was actually half-way along the railway line, but he needed, officially, to head to Southern Headquarters in South City first), may also be capable of alchemy without a transmutation circle. So, in other words, this teacher was yet another potential Human Sacrifice for use during the Promised Day.
Lust mentally marked this teacher down as someone who may need to be recruited into her conspiracy. She needed to begin recruiting people in earnest now as it began to approach. She had, in her corner, Marcoh, Scar, and Hughes. The Elrics, along with Mustang and his team, were on the to-get list as well.
Unfortunately, a ridiculous number of higher-ups in the State Military were in on Father's scheme, although they had been fooled into believing that they would be granted immortality.
Mentally, she drew up a list of people who might be able to help against Father. Leaving aside the Elrics, along with Mustang and his subordinates, there was Greed. He'd need little persuasion to go up against Father, but he didn't know as many of the details of Father's plans. What about Envy? She would have to think about it, as her brother had a thirst for chaos that surpassed even her own bloodlust, even at its height. She would need to sell it to him in the right way.
A name came to her when she considered the Ishvalan Civil War. A loose cannon of a State Alchemist called Solf J Kimblee. The Crimson Lotus Alchemist, whose specialty was creating explosions with his alchemy. The problem was, figuring out the right incentive to bring Kimblee to her side. He wasn't just a mad bomber: the man was both highly intelligent and a philosopher who subscribed to his own form of amorality. Of course, every man had a price. It just necessarily wasn't in coin or in appeals to morality.
She got into a discussion with Armstrong, who was quite a pleasant conversationalist when he was calm (he was still pleasant when excited, but he had a tendency to be loud and shirtless, and while his muscles were admirable, there was such a thing as too much of a good thing). The man's morality certainly made him a decent candidate. She remembered that he had a major breakdown during the Ishvalan War, having found his orders to kill the Ishvalan civilians to be too much, and was thus sent out of the field in disgrace. Nonetheless, this was a man who was loyal to his country, and whose main problem was the conflict between morality and loyalty.
Wrath seemed to consider Armstrong a useful soldier, but too hamstrung by morality. On a few occasions, he had remarked that Armstrong's older sister, Major General Olivier Mira Armstrong, was a better example of how a soldier should be. She was another potential recruit for Lust, if only because she commanded one of the largest garrisons in Amestris. More importantly, Briggs was also the last area not to have a major crest of blood formed.
At one of the stations en route, reports came in that the Elrics had just caused some havoc in Rush Valley, due to a thief stealing Edward's State Alchemist watch. They had retrieved the watch and repaired the damage, but apparently Winry Rockbell was staying there to learn under a more experienced automail mechanic. And Lust was willing to bet her Philosopher's Stone that Wrath was going to use Winry as leverage should the Elric brothers work against them. So she may need to find a way of keeping Winry safe too.
Before long, they arrived at Southern Headquarters, and soon upon arriving, they found, to their surprise, Edward Elric, doing his annual assessment. Wrath, of course, acted as if it was one whole big coincidence, and managed to wheedle the existence of Edward's teacher out of him (for appearances' sake), all while signing off on Edward's assessment paperwork. Soon after Edward left, they followed on the same train to Dublith.
Edward was surprised to see that they had followed him, and they soon made their way to the butcher's shop where Edward's teacher worked. While Bradley and Armstrong tried to ask about Izumi (the latter getting into a muscle-flexing contest with the burly Sig Curtis), Lust looked to Edward. "Where's your brother, anyway?" she asked.
"I dunno. Maybe he and Teacher have gone somewhere." He frowned. "I seem to be running into you a lot lately, Solaris."
"There's nothing going on at Saligia for the moment, so Bradley basically had me on as his bodyguard for the moment, along with Armstrong. As far as Saligia is concerned, I'm their agent in Bradley's camp." She folded her arm under her bust as she leaned against a wall, noticing that Edward blushed and looked away at that. She snickered a little, before saying, "Being a spy is hard work. You play a role for so long, you forget who you really are sometimes." She looked at her hands. "Sometimes, I don't know what is truly me, and what is truly the mask. Even as a State Alchemist, you've been very independent, and outspoken against killing. I don't have that luxury."
"Don't you have any friends? Family?"
Lust chuckled bitterly. "I don't have the luxury of friends. And my family is a dysfunctional bunch. You're lucky to have as strong a bond of brotherhood as you do with your brother, or a friendship with that Rockbell girl. The family member I am nearest to, well, he's rather simple, bless him. I think I have some other relations, but they don't know that I'm related, and I don't want to tell them, in case they react badly."
Edward scoffed. "Well, if I ever met my father again, I'd sock him one."
Lust laughed at the thought of Van Hohenheim being knocked out by an irate Edward Elric. However, such cheery thoughts were banished when an older, but very attractive woman, her dark hair framing a stern face, came up. "Edward, your brother, he's been kidnapped. He's being held at the Devil's Nest, and they want you to come…" She stopped, and stared at Lust. "You…you have the same tattoo as that dark-haired guy…"
Lust's eyes widened, and so too did the single exposed eye of Wrath. However, she said, "I'm Solaris, with the Fuhrer's personal secret agents. You saw someone with the same tattoo?"
She nodded. "Yes, called himself Greed. Listen, I'm their teacher, and…"
"Izumi Curtis? Well, the Fuhrer wants to have a talk with you, but if Alphonse is in danger, I'll go and help."
"I can do this alone!" Edward snapped.
Lust turned to Wrath, and said, "Give me an hour to deal with them. Then, bring the cavalry, sir!"
Wrath nodded. "You have an hour. Bring Greed to me alive, and protect the Elrics. Use your discretion for the rest." By which he meant, kill everyone else allied with Greed.
"I'm coming with you, like it or not," Lust said to Edward as they ran off. "I know Greed. He's dangerous."
"Yeah, you told me. He can convert the carbon within his body into a sort of body armour, can't he?"
Lust nodded. "The Ultimate Shield. What you saw me use against Slicer was the Ultimate Spear, where I coat my fingers in diamond, and extend them into lances. Of course, it's called Ultimate Shield, but in truth, it has a weakness."
"I actually thought about it. Carbon has a lot of different forms…including graphite."
Lust chuckled softly. "Nice. Get close enough to convert the Ultimate Shield into graphite…pencil lead. One of the softest materials there is. Keep in mind, Edward, that this may not be a negotiation. You're one of our top alchemists, and even if your brother isn't a State Alchemist, if he dies, Saligia will have my hide. Greed needs to be captured alive. The others, though…"
"I'm not going to kill for you, or for Bradley. I'll subdue them if I have to, but you do your own dirty work."
"Fine. I'm used to it…"
Of course, once they reached the Devil's Nest, a rather disreputable bar, and were quickly led into a backroom where Greed and his minions were waiting, things went wrong very quickly.
The first thing was that Lust realised that most of Greed's minions were Chimeras, of the sort the State Military created by fusing animals with humans. That's why she capitalised the name. And by the looks of it, they were very loyal to Greed.
The second was that Greed, once he got over his surprise of Lust being there, got a nasty little grin on his face. "Well, well, well," Greed purred. "What a nice little family reunion this is. Long time, no see, big sis."
"I don't know what you're talking about, Greed," Lust said. And then, Alphonse, who was sitting in a corner, said something that meant the whole situation had gone to shit.
"Brother, this man, he's a Homunculus! And he said Solaris, well, Lust, that she was a Homunculus too! And his sister!"
Edward turned to stare at Solaris, his golden eyes wide with both horror and betrayal. Lust decided to take charge with another counter-revelation. One-upmanship, in order to regain the advantage.
"You know, Greed, this is a family reunion. But you've made a mistake in thinking we're the only members here. I mean, their father is Van Hohenheim, after all."
"So what about it?" Edward demanded angrily, even as Greed's expression showed the bloom of revelation.
"Van Hohenheim is our uncle. For want of a better term, Edward Elric," Lust said, though she turned her gaze to Greed, and got more than a little satisfaction from his eyes widening in utter surprise, "we are cousins. I mean, I did tell you I had family that might react badly to knowing this."
Greed, for once at a loss for words, gaped at her, his eyes flickering between Edward and herself in shock. Edward himself gaped, and had Alphonse's face been capable of any expression, she was sure that he would be too. But even as she took some pleasure in silencing them, she knew now that she would have to work harder than ever to make sure that she could salvage something from this situation.
Otherwise, she had just fucked up badly…
CHAPTER 6 ANNOTATIONS:
Lust manages to gain at least one new ally in Hughes, but will her appearance at the confrontation with Greed cause trouble for her? Hmm, who knows?
This was a hard chapter to write for a couple of reasons. One, I needed to figure out what to do with Hughes (and how to spare him). Thankfully, that turned out rather simple in the end. Two, once I decided part of this chapter needed to involve Greed at Dublith, I needed to figure out how it would come about. And hopefully, I can figure out a way to get the Elrics and Lust out of it with their hides intact. I also intend to make sure Martel (at the very least) survives the raid on the Devil's Nest.
Anyway, review-answering time! MrGreen37: I know this (about Envy's line), but I took liberties with the dialogue, basically mixing and mashing stuff from the manga and Brotherhood. I did take the dialogue from the first chapter verbatim from the first episode, and I've been cherry-picking lines ever since, but I'm not being slavish to the dialogue from either source. The story is closer to the manga, but I've been taking scenes from Brotherhood here and there.
Guest of 111: Are the other fanfics really that bad? Then again, most of the Fullmetal Alchemist fics I've read are crossovers with Harry Potter. Hell, I've even started writing one recently, Truth and Consequences. It's a lot more humorous than Saligia (in the third chapter, I have Luna Lovegood and Lust snogging, believe it or not), but I'd like to think it's a half-decent fic. The fourth chapter to that story will be released at the same time as this one. Anyway, thanks for the praise, and I'm glad that you think so highly of it.
1. In some translations of the dialogue (but sadly, not the English dub of Brotherhood), McDougal yells at the Elrics that they need to understand 'the shape of the country', a foreshadowing of the Nationwide Transmutation Circle. I've chosen to reinstate it here.
2. Briggs, in other words, though I dunno whether there are any other hotspots yet to be filled.
