Condemned
Chapter 9: Retaliation
March 20, 2006
By CCD

A/N: Just for the record I give full credit of the sais concept to Nike Femme. She is an excellent author for those who like Ed-Roy.


First Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye opened here eyes and immediately closed them. Her head was killing her and her whole body ached. She moaned silently and her eyes snapped open at the sound of movement beside her.

"You're awake," Second Lieutenant Jean Havoc said in relief.

"Oh thank goodness," came another voice belonging to Master Sergeant Cain Fury

She could also see Second Lieutenant Hymens Breda and Warrant Officer Vato Falman sitting beside Fury.

"What happened?" she asked.

"You don't remember," Havoc asked a little shocked.

It then came flooding back to her.


Flashback

The battle had been intense so far and she was watching Colonel Mustang's back. He had been shot in the side from a previous battle and although it was almost healed, she felt like it was stupid for him to be on the battlefield. He had ordered her to keep quiet and reported that he was fit to fight. She had agreed and she followed him.

"Sir, we're surrounded. We need to retreat right now," Lt. Hawkeye said as her superior snapped again.

"It'll be fine Lieutenant. Just a bit longer…"

"Sir…"

Before she could get anything else out she was hit from behind and passed out.


She sat up abruptly. Questions were swimming throughout her mind.

"What happened? How long have I been out? Where's the Colonel?"

"You've been out for about a week. We were overwhelmed and many of us retreated. When we returned to get a casualty report we found that you were still alive. We brought you back here to get you medical attention," Havoc said.

"What about the Colonel?"

The three men were silent. The Lieutenant pulled a gun out of Lt. Havoc's holster.

"Talk!"

"WE DON'T KNOW" The four men screamed.

"Then tell me what you do know."

"We didn't find him anywhere on the battlefield and we don't think he's dead," Falman said.

"Then he's MIA; a possible POW then."

The men nodded. They sat in silence once more letting the fact that their superior officer was missing. Soon the tent flap opened and General Hakuro appeared causing them all to snap to attention.

"Lt. Hawkeye, I'm glad that you're back on your feet and at your form."

"Thank you General Hakuro, sir."

"We've received reports recently that they have moved some of our prisoners to an encampment on the outskirts of Dublith. I want all of you to get some rest. We're going on a mission tomorrow to try to recover them. I believe that Colonel Mustang is being held there alive."

"With all do respect sir, but how do we know that Colonel Mustang is there let alone alive sir," Fury asked.

"This," he said holding up a photograph.

Lt. Hawkeye took it gently from the General. It was the picture of the Colonel facing down two American soldiers and…

"Edward…"

"Oh yes, we noticed that too. The records said he was killed ten years ago. We want to confirm that it's him. If it is him, we believe that he might have joined the enemy get revenge on the military. If we can get him back, then we might be able to have him join our side once again."

"We understand sir."

Colonel Mustang's crew saluted as he left. They turned to each other and then looked at the picture. They had to get them both back no matter what.

The next morning they were ordered to prepare to move out. They would attack the camp at nightfall.

"All right troops, you know your orders. You should arrive to the designated spot just before nightfall. Good luck with your mission. Now move out," General Hakuro said as he motioned for them to move.

They began to move out. Though they knew they were doing the right thing, they still had so many questions.

"Do you think that we'll find the Colonel?" Breda asked.

"Sure we will it'll be a piece of cake. We'll just go in, blow up the prison wall. Get the boss and get out," Havoc said smiling.

"And look for Ed, don't forget about that," Fury said quickly.

"We should be prepared for anything. Let's go," Lt. Hawkeye said taking lead of the group in Mustang's absence by following the other troops on a mission that they didn't know the outcome of.


It seemed like every day Roy grew more and more impressed Ed. The young, hotheaded teenager that he knew had grown in his short time before and after the experiment. A smirk crossed his face as he watched the young alchemist spar with Major Lesner.

As a bit of a hobby, Major Lesner had learned how to fight with sais and collecting them. When Ed had seen his collection he had shown an interest in learning and so Major Lesner decided to teach him. The elder Major figured that it would be good for Ed to learn how to use another weapon since he refused to learn how to use a rifle claiming that his alchemy was all he needed to defend himself. It seemed however that the student had far surpassed the master in ability, however.

"All right Ed. That's enough for today. You know you're gonna kill me one of these days if you keep that up. You nearly got me today."

"Sorry, just got a bit carried away, Major," Ed said as he started to hand back the sais to the Major.

"Keep them Ed. You've earned them. Besides I have plenty of other pairs so that one won't be missed quite so much," Lesner said as he threw Ed a specially made belt with sheaths hanging from it.

"Thanks Major," Ed replied as he put the weapons away and gathered his uniform jacket and a metal gauntlet like band.

"Why do you wear that thing, Ed?" Major Lesner.

"They didn't call me the Fullmetal Alchemist for nothing Major. I would transmute a dagger onto my arm and fight with it. It's handy when you get used to it," he said as he approached Mustang.

"So that's why you wear that thing," Mustang said, "At least you're preparing to fight. I would hat to see you fall because you couldn't protect yourself."

"Shut up old man."

At that Major Truesdale came running up to them. He took a moment to catch his breath before speaking to them.

"I just came from the Colonel's tent. She wants to see all of us right away. I think we've received orders to move out."

The four men looked at each other before taking off at a brisk pace towards the Colonel's tent. Upon entering they found her sitting at her desk with paperwork in hand. She looked up at them and gave them a sad smile.

"Ah, you're here. Sit gentlemen, we have some things to discuss."

The men sat in various places, all of them staring intently at the General. They waited for her to speak.

"The General has told me that we've received news from the front. The Amestris military attacked one of the stationary camps and it fell to ruins. They've decided that they want us placed on the front lines so that we can do something to end this war quickly so we'll be moving out in three days. Major Lesner, Major Truesdale, I want you to go check our supply inventory and report it back to me so I can give it to the General and Colonel Ramiz."

The two men saluted and left leaving the other three alone. The Colonel was concerned for their state of mind seeing as they would soon be facing fellow comrades.

"I'm sorry…" she got out before she was cut off.

"Don't be," Ed said softly.

"What?" she asked.

"Edward means that you shouldn't worry about us. We know that it was bound to happen sometime. We've made our choice Colonel and we're sticking by our decision."

"So, the two of you are really determined to do this then."

"Yes ma'am," a double reply came.

"Then so be it. I'll expect you to follow orders no matter how much you may not want to. If this is the path you've chosen then I will hold you to that."

Night fell and many of the American soldiers retired to their tents. The Amestrian soldiers watched from their perch as the lights dimmed in the camp. They knew that it was time to move out and carry out the duty that they were meant to do.

Kara, Ed, and Roy woke to the sounds of an explosion and gunfire. They dressed quickly grabbed various weapons and ran out into the panic. Tents burned and soldiers from both militaries were starting to litter the ground. Smoke rose from the makeshift prison and they knew that those being kept there were joining the fight.

"Not good," Kara muttered as Major Truesdale and Major Lesner ran up.

"Colonel, they blew up the gate and prison wall." Major Lesner said quickly.

"How many?"

"Around two or three hundred…at least half of them alchemists," Major Truesdale said.

The Colonel muttered a couple of curses before taking a deep breath and letting it out in a low hiss. There was no way that this division could stand up to so many alchemists. She had no choice.

"Major Truesdale, Major Lesner head to the supply tent and help fortify it. That's going to be one of their key targets."

"Yes ma'am, but what about you?" Major Truesdale asked watching them run another direction.

"We're joining the battle," the Colonel said before turning to the other two soldiers, "Lieutenant Colonel Mustang, Major Elric I want you to mow down the enemy. No prisoners and no survivors, do you understand me? We have no choice of survival if we do."

"Yes ma'am,"


Lt. Colonel Mustang was used to the feeling of artificial cold. It came from the dread of killing other men and women on the battlefield. He had lost sight of Ed and the Colonel nearly a half hour ago and was torching soldiers left and right with his alchemy, as he snapped again, a bullet wized by his head so fast that it nearly grazed him in the shoulder.

"Stop right there or I'll shoot. I'd hate to do that."

He froze. She wouldn't be here. She just couldn't be here. He slowly turned to face her with his hand out stretched in snapping position.

"Colonel," Lt. Hawkeye said with her gun still held up.

"Lieutenant," he said firmly not letting his feelings of dismay show on his face or backing down from her outstretched gun.

She took a moment to study the man. He looked weary but in good health. His clothing showed that he had been dragged out of bed, and it was obvious that he was no longer on Amestris's side.

"Sir what?" she asked trying to articulate her confusion as she took a sideways step as if to circle him.

He followed her movement, his eyes not wavering from her face. They were silent for a minute. Just two harden soldiers in the midst of a battle, a battle that found them on opposite sides of the war.

"Get out of here, Hawkeye."

"What did you say?"

"My allegiance is no longer to the dogs of Amestris."

"No Colonel,"

"I swore to my new commanding officer that I would do anything necessary. I have orders to mow down all in my path, no survivors and no prisoners. I won't hesitate, Lieutenant. I don't expect any of you to understand; just go or I will snap. I'll also snap if you fire that gun."

"But sir…" she said before she faltered as his hand tightened.

"Now Lieutenant!"

She knew that it was an order and that there was no way one of her bullets would combat his flames. She fell to her knees as tears began to fall down her dirt-covered cheeks.

"I'm sorry Lieutenant, but the next time we meet each other on the battlefield we will be enemies. I expect you to treat me as an enemy as I will do the same for you. Pass that along to Havoc, Fury, Breda, and Falman," he said as he began to walk away.

"Sir, please…answer me one thing," she said in a hoarse voice.

He stopped but didn't say anything. She took that as he was listening. She had to know the truth.

"Is…is Edward alive? Are the pictures that we have accurate?"

The Lt. Colonel was a bit startled but he assumed that Amestris had at least found a way to spy on them in some shape or form. Of course they would know about the lab break too, making it all the more important to spy on them.

"Yes, but don't expect to find an old friend in him either. He decided to follow me on this course Lieutenant. You and the others should give him the same courtesy that you'll be giving me."

And with that he walked away leaving the Lieutenant amongst the flames to go off to another part of the battlefield. She couldn't bring herself to move, as it hurt too much, not even when there was a call to retreat. Lieutenant Havoc and Lieutenant Breda carried her to safety upon finding her. Amestris had lost the battle because the United States had two new fighters on their side, former State Alchemists.