Chapter 9

1908-Ishval-Amestrian Military Encampment

"I don't even know what I'm doing here..."

Isaac McDougal, the Ice Alchemist* sat down on a box of supplies, with the Amestrian Military coat of arms printed on the side. He adjusted his position, and gestured at a soldier to get him some water. The soldier nonchalantly threw a canteen at him. Isaac caught it, and began to swill the water around before taking a sip. He immediately spat it out. "Ugh, too warm" he said. He began to scratch away at the side of the metal canteen with a rock he picked up off the ground.

"My specialty is ice, and we're in the desert. You seeing the gap in the military logic here? We're in the desert folks. As in no H2O! No water, No alchemy."

"Cool down, freezer" said Roy Mustang, as he took off his beige coat and laid it on the ground. "So how was another day in the 7th circle of hell, guys?"

Mustang sat down amongst several other state alchemists. Isaac McDougal sat across from him, still scraping at his canteen. Solf J. Kimblee was lying down on the sand in what shade he could find, looking bored, whilst the Armstrong brothers, Alex and James were sat together, having an arm wrestling match.

"It was pretty rough out there today, Sparks" said James, as he held his brothers muscular arm firmly in place. Did you hear about old man Giolo?

"The Silver Alchemist?" Mustang replied. "No I didn't, what happened to him?"

"Lost his leg" Isaac McDougal responded, as he bashed the side of his canteen with his fist, and the transmutation circle he'd scrawled onto it activated, instantly freezing the water inside, and tearing apart the canteen in his hand as small pillars of ice shot out from it. "Damn," he said under his breath, "Overdid it."

Mustang winced as he heard what happened. "Poor guy...this war's taking its toll on all of us. Was anyone there when it happened?"

Alex Louis Armstrong answered "The Red Lotus Alchemist was."

"Oh, you should have heard the noise that he made when that Ishvalan ambushed him!"

Everybody looked at Kimblee, now sitting upright, as he continued "The sound of an old man screeching in excruciating pain as every ligament in his leg was torn, and the muscles let go of the bone. The bestial fury on that Ishvalan as he did the deed! Oh God, the look of petrified shock on the old mans face, screaming when his lungs no longer could,as if Death had appeared right in front of him! It was a symphony of carnage! That sound will haunt my dreams for a long time" Kimblee chuckled, with a look on his face that conveyed to those around him the level of sexual pleasure he derived from seeing others suffer.

"Shut your mouth Red!" James Silvio Armstrong yelled as he pushed his brothers arm over, winning the arm wrestling match, and causing Alex to almost fall off his chair.

"Not everyone shares your sick obsession with war!" He couldn't stand working with Kimblee. Killing was hard enough, without knowing that this guy got his kicks from it.

"The human body is beautiful. To see something like that get destroyed in wars like this...I can't stand it"

"Whoa there, Death God Alchemist! Nobody's forcing you to stay here" Kimblee replied with a smug expression. "Though...if you DO try and make a run for it, I can't promise I'll be as silent as I was with your brother..."

"I'm not leaving Red. I've got a job to do, and I'm gonna do it."

A soldier came running over to the amassed alchemists and saluted them. "I have a message for Lt. Colonel Armstrong, the Death God Alchemist?" James Silvio Armstrong raised his hand "Yessir, what's to be done!" he replied, seemingly forgetting about Kimblee's earlier remarks.

"I've been told to inform you that we have acquired 20 new sources. By order of General Gran, they are to be processed ASAP. You are free to take your 10%, but one you have processed the remaining, let the general know"

"Understood soldier. Dismissed" Both Armstrong and the soldier saluted each other, and the messenger left the group.

James bent down and picked up both of his beautifully crafted katanas, and took one in each hand. He held them in reverse, so the blades ran up the back of his arms.

"I'd better get going boys! As I said, I've got a job to do!" James said with a huge smile. Of all the military, James was known for his tonal shifts, his juxtaposition even rivalling Maes Hughes.

"Understood sir, no problem, they won't know..."

"Make sure they don't. What you are doing is admirable, but if it gets out, you might be in trouble."

"I just don't like seeing good sources go to waste..."

"Excellent attitude. How do you plan to use your 10%"

"Well if it were any of your business, which it isn't, I think I'll touch up my blades. The edge is going dull, it could use more diamond."

"Keep up the good work, Death God. We're glad for all you can give us..."