WARNING:a bit of violence and some swearing.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to the Fullmetal Alchemist universe/manga/anime, except for this insane plot, so please don't sue!
CHAPTER SEVEN:
After all live went on, and he had to keep the appearances of an obedient dog of the military until the very end.
As he fumbled with the keys to the Files Storage room, all that the young assistant could think of was the warm food waiting for him at home in the oven. He just needed to put the files he was carrying on the table and he was out of there for the day. He opened the door, entered the room and blindly searched around expecting to find the light switch, mumbling about stupid idiots that placed them where nobody could find them. What he didn't expect to find, after turning on the light, was a glaring adolescent girl with golden hair and eyes. And a lightning fast punch that broke his nose and stole his breath. Pain exploded in his brain as he took a step behind when a pair of steel arms circled his neck, one palm positioned over his mouth to stop the incoming scream. He struggled in the chokehold, but as less and less oxygen reached his brain his moves became sluggish until they stopped altogether. Maes hold on for another few seconds, then laid the body gently on the floor, the motion in stark contrast with his earlier actions.
"Is he alive?"
"He's unconscious. We were lucky this time; a guard might have raised the alarm. But I don't remember being so powerful" Maes said looking at his arms. His attention then switched to the young man laying on the floor. "We are almost the same size. If I take his coat maybe I can pose as an assistant, at least for a few minutes"
"Just in case, but be quick. Our time is running out"
Maes quickly set to work, his moves brisk and efficient. He was nearly finished when one of the sleeves caught on strange looking bracelet.
"Ed, what do you think this is?" he asked lifting the item so that the alchemist could have a better look. Edward studied it for a moment his brows furrowed in concentration before answering.
"Apart for being a bracelet, I'm not really sure. But it's definitely alchemy made." he tried to take for a better look, but fast retreated his hand when on contact, a small blue spark left his finger and entered the bracelet that faintly glowed for a moment. "Whoa. It's still active by the look of it. Take with you, it may be useful."
As they turned to leave, using the door this time, something crinkled under Ed's feet. He looked down and found himself walking on the fallen files the assistant was carrying prior to their assault. He neatly stepped on them when a large, familiar signature caught his attention. He stared numbly at it, not really comprehending what he was seeing, before anger mingled with disbelief started to grow inside of him. That…BASTARD! He picked it up for a closer look, hoping to be wrong, but up close it only confirmed his suspicions. He scanned the rest of them, picking up several papers and stuffing them under his coat next to the files he already stole, the feeling of being betrayed growing with each of them, its bitter taste filing his mouth.
"Ed come on" Maes urgent whisper reminded him of their precarious situation. Ed dry swallowed trying to bring his swirling feelings under control and nodded before picking up the pace. He had some serious thinking to do, but now was not the time. Getting out was his first priority.
Their trek to the elevators went undisturbed this time and they stood tensed, feeling like sitting ducks before the "Ding" signaled their ride was there. They sat in silence, the closed cabin a safe place for now, when Maes let out a sigh
"We've been strangely fortunate so far." He remarked with a thoughtful expression.
Ed nodded distractedly, his mind going round and round on the subject of the papers hidden beneath his clothes. Ed concentrate! You'll get your answers once you get out. He shook his head, as to physically dispel his undisciplined thoughts.
"Edward?"
"I'm fine. Don't jinx us Maes, we still don't know who is on the top floor"
"Right."
The ding the elevator made reaching the final floor reverberated in his body like an electric shock and Ed waited with nervous anticipation for the doors to open, his limbs tensed for a fight. Seeing the empty corridor was strangely…disappointing and he took a moment to consciously relax a little before following Maes who was already walking in the hall with silent strides. Ed was getting a bad feeling about the situation, when they crossed the third corridor without sensing any approaching guards.
What kind of high security facility is this? It seems just too easy to be true, something he never trusted, and it was starting to grate on his nerves. Ed received his answer when they came in front of the exit. Everything: the walls, the ceiling, the floor and the door itself were covered with faintly glowing arrays. Of the nasty kind, like the ones that kept him prisoner in his first cell. And to make things worse the door was made of what seem to be thick steel. There was no way to open it without resulting to alchemy, but that would also mean blowing them into pieces, not the escape he was looking for. Ed wanted to hit something.
"This is bad, isn't it?" Maes stated the obvious.
"Yes, it is. See this array here?" Ed pointed to the middle of the floor where a beautiful design on interceding circles was glowing brighter that the others. "They are already active, receiving power from a central source in a continuous loop of energy. Everything that steps on them will be quickly transformed into the most basic elements. Quite clever actually" There was reluctant admiration in his voice.
"I see. What can you do about them? And quickly. I expect to hear the sirens any moment now. We've been gone for more than half an hour" Ed shot him a dirty look. Why did he have to do all the hard work? He was only the alchemist. Right.
"I need some kind of key to disable them. I can't believe that nobody from this facility never goes outside, although I'm not sure about the doctors."
"A key?"
"Yes, a combination of symbols"
"You mean like this one" Maes brought up the bracelet from his pocket.
"Exactly like that one" Ed grinned and after a moment of hesitation took the bracelet from Maes outstretched hand, the contact making him jump a little from the shock when his alchemy reacted with the symbols on it. It started to glow now, and Ed wondered if it was supposed to do that, before steeling himself and quickly stepping on the array. He released a breath when nothing happened and cautiously made another step when a sudden pain gripped his body. With a muffled cry he fell to his knees when a second bout of pain made him lose his balance and place his palms on the floor to support his upper body. This isn't good was his last coherent thought when the array surrounding him shone with a blinding light.
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This is getting annoying 1st Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye watched with a grim expression when the last visitor for the morning, the fifth woman today bearing a gift of some sort, entered the private room where the Roy Mustang was recuperating from the shot that grazed his right arm. Riza knew that no more work could be done for at least an hour until the visitor left, so she gathered the files she brought inside and left the room without a word ignoring the Colonel amused smirk. She closed the door gently, refusing to let her frustration show inside the hospital and conveniently ignored the "That lucky bastard" that Jean Havoc muttered under his breath.
Inside the room Roy Mustang smiled warmly at the red head that was watching him with barely suppressed mirth shinning in her eyes.
"Lovely Sarah, your presence brightens the day. Why don't you leave that man of yours and let me show you the world?"
"Roy Mustang cut the crap" She eyed him with a smile. "You must be feeling better if you're already speaking like this."
"I guarantee you that a mere bullet wound would never stop me to appreciate your beauty." He gave her another of those smiles that were the talk of Central female population, but his gaze turned serious when he eyed the large chocolate box she was carrying.
"Is that all?"
"All that I could gather. It was very hush, hush. Good thing I made copies before they came and took all away. I'm sorry about Maes. I know he was your friend." Roy nodded his head, but his attention was already on the files that came out from the chocolate box, his eyes quickly scanning them.
"Personnel files? What would Maes want from them? Are you sure there was nothing else?"
"I'm sure Roy. These are the last files Major Hughes worked with in the last days before his death. It puzzles me too because there is nothing there. At least nothing to guarantee the kind of reaction Colonel Maybourne had, when he saw them on the Major's desk I swear he went completely white."
"Oh?"
"By his orders they were also collected first thing in the morning before anybody heard the terrible news. I know because Annie, his secretary was complaining in the Mess hall about how he put her to retrieve them at 7 o'clock in the morning before anybody came in the office. Thank God for women who don't know when to shut up."
"Colonel Maybourne?"
"Yes. Rather bland fellow. He is assigned to General Hakuro if I'm not mistaken. Rather nasty personality from what I'm told by the girls."
"I see. Anything else interesting that I should know about?"
"That's it Sugar. I'll announce you if I found anything. The usual way." She got up from the edge of the bed. "And do take care. The girls would be very disappointed if something where to happen to our favorite Colonel."
"You sure you don't want to run away with me?" the smile was back into his eyes. The woman gave him a smile and a wink before leaving the room.
Colonel Maybourne. Roy had a name and a start from where to begin to dig for information.
AN: Whew, barely made it in time with this chapter! "big grin" I blame it on my muse, she went AWOL from me after writing only 1 paragraph and I was starting to panic before she returned, reluctantly I must say, this afternoon. Of course catching a cold didn't help things either. Soo, what do you think?
