(AC: Battle Scherzo – FMA:B OST 2)
Al was still pinned in the earth while his former armored body stood over him, speaking with Edward's voice and even identifying itself as Ed. The Quake Alchemist, Horatio Sherman was confused by the turn of events as he watched his chimeras getting slaughtered by the regrouped Amestrian and Ishvalan combined forces. Scar had been restored to full strength and slammed his hand into the ground near Al, weakening the earth around Al's trapped hands and feet, freeing him and allowing the armor to pull him up onto his feet.
"Two Fullmetal Alchemists?" Sherman snarled to himself in frustration. He was on the losing end of the battle and quickly pulled a dog whistle from his pocket and blew into it, causing a huge bat-like chimera with the talons of a hawk to fly in and grab him by the arms, carrying him off.
"WE'LL MEET AGAIN FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST! MARK MY WORDS THE RED KINDOM WILL RISE!" Sherman yelled as the soldiers turned their attention towards him, firing at him but to no avail as he and the remaining chimeras fled into the deserts of Ishval. (End AC)
"Colonel! Permission to pursue!" one of the soldiers asked Miles.
"Denied. Focus on the injured and wounded. Get them to the hospital immediately. I want a sweep of the city, I don't want any chimeras left alive." Miles ordered as the soldier saluted.
"Sir, yes sir!" the soldier replied before running off with several other soldiers. Meanwhile Al turned towards the towering suit of armor.
"Brother…is that really you in there?" Al asked, still stunned by the sight of the armor. The armor looked down at him.
"Yeah Al, it's me. What do ya think? Pretty cool huh?" Ed replied, flexing his right arm. Al looked at the armor with a pained expression.
"But…Ed…after all we went through, you do this?" Al asked.
"Huh?" Ed replied as Al blinked up at him in horrid disbelief.
"You gave up your body to be put in that armor?! Why would you do that?! How did you do that?! You can't even use alchemy anymore!" Al exclaimed, on the verge of tears.
"No-no-no! You've got it all wrong Al! Look!" Ed exclaimed as he reached for the armor's helmet, removing it to reveal Ed's smiling face inside.
"Look, see? I'm still flesh and blood! It's alright!" Ed exclaimed as Al arched a confused eyebrow.
"Wha-…but how? How do you fit in there?" Al asked. Ed arched his own confused eyebrow now.
"What do you mean? I could always fit in here. I just never did because you were in here too and it would feel weird." Ed replied but Al shook his head.
"No that's not what I meant." Al replied.
"What did you mean then?" Ed asked, confused. (AC: Pastorale Rondo – FMA:B OST 2)
"He's asking how you fit in there because you're not tall enough to wear it." Scar interpreted plainly, causing Ed's face to contort into a snarl as he slowly turned to glare at Al.
"Was that what you're implying Al? That I'm not tall enough to fit in this suit?!" Ed asked softly yet tersely through his clinched teeth. Al immediately sweat dropped.
"N-No! That's not what I was implying at all!" Al said quickly with an innocent grin. In truth, that was exactly what he was implying. Ed put a hand on Al's head while leaning over to look him in the eyes and making a fist with his other hand.
"Good because you do realize that I'm wearing a two ton suit of armor that can turn your bones into marbles!" Ed threatened softly as Al started sweating buckets.
"Alright boys, that's enough!" a familiar voice yelled before both Ed and Al were clubbed in the head by a wrench. (End AC) Both brothers were now lying on the ground on their chests, looking up to see Winry standing over them with her wrench in one hand and her toolbox in the other. The brothers climbed to their feet as Winry sighed in exasperation.
"Good grief, I leave you two alone for a few minutes and you're already getting into a fight. It's just like when we were kids. Ed you better not have messed up my armor!" Winry threatened as Ed rolled his eyes.
"It's working fine." Ed muttered as Al scratched his head.
"Wait. Your armor?" Al asked as Winry started unhooking the chest plate from the rest of the armor.
"Well you did say I could do whatever I wanted with it, right?" Winry asked as she removed the chest plate, revealing a metal frame full of machinery built around Ed's body. Wires and cables were running from the sleeves of Ed's shirt into the arms while additional wires ran from the sides of his right leg and his left thigh to the armor legs. Ed was held up by the waist so his head was through the hole in the neck by a harness attached to the neckline of the armor. Al blinked in amazement at the sight of the workings within the armor.
"What is all this?" Al asked.
"Believe it or not, this is automail." Winry said as she examined the machinery for a moment before reattaching the chest plate.
"Automail? But…Ed still has his limbs." Al said.
"That's because it's a very early form of Automail. I studied the blueprints for an early automail armored suit in Rush Valley and decided to build one in my spare time. Never thought I'd actually need it. Your armor just happened to be the perfect size to fit onto it to protect the workings." Winry explained as Al looked at the armor plating, taking note of a few minor impurities in the armor's plating as a result of an amateur transmutation.
"Last I saw this armor it was in pieces and you two are wearing parts of it on your hands. How did you fix the armor?" Al asked as Winry put her hands on her hips with a proud smirk on her face.
"I had plenty of spare metal parts lying around and we had someone who could perform some basic alchemy." Winry said as Al arched an eyebrow.
"Who?" Al asked before he heard a voice from nearby yell…
"ALPHONSE!"
Al suddenly found himself tackled to the ground by a young Xingese girl.
"May! It's you!" Al said as May threw her arms around his neck.
"Thought you'd seen the last of me in Xing, didn't you?" May asked as Al laughed.
"Not at all. I just never expected to see you here is all." Al said as May climbed off of him, Xiao-Mei leaping onto Al's head, causing Al to laugh.
"Well hello to you too Xiao-Mei." Al greeted to the tiny panda.
"So what do you think of the repair work I did on your old armor Alphonse?" May asked, knocking on Ed's plated stomach.
"It's really good but you missed some of the finer details. A little more practice and you'll get the hang of it." Al said as May blushed.
"Thanks." She replied.
"So how did you guys find me?" Al asked as he climbed onto his feet.
"Mustang." Ed groaned.
"We got a call yesterday from Captain Hawkeye who told us that you'd be traveling to Ishval and thought we might want to join you." Winry explained as Ed noticed something sticking out of Al's pocket.
"What she didn't tell us was that you've been granted a State Alchemist's certification." Ed said with a grin, pointing to Al's watch chain. Al grinned innocently.
"So, what's your title?" Winry asked, eager to hear. Al blushed, glancing away before mumbling his answer.
"Huh?" Ed, Winry, and May asked, putting their hands to their ears.
"He actually took your title, Edward. He's the new Fullmetal Alchemist." Maria said as she and Denny approached, Lan Fan close behind. Ed was startled.
"WHAT?! You took my title from me Al?!" Ed asked as Al recoiled in alarm.
"You said I could use it!" He yelped.
"I was joking!" Ed argued.
"What's your problem?! I chose the title to honor you, brother!" Al argued.
"Stop it, both of you!" Winry ordered, jumping between the two brothers, shaking her wrench at them for emphasis. May Chang watched the spectacle with a sad expression. She hated seeing the brothers fight.
"Princess Chang." Lan Fan said as she stepped up next to May.
"Hmm?" May replied, looking to the ninja.
"Those creatures…aren't they the same ones we encountered two years ago?" Lan Fan asked, looking at a growing pile of chimera corpses as military personnel collected them and threw them onto the pile for burning.
"I could sense rancid chi about them as we got closer to Ishval. It was like their very souls were in pain from the process of their creation." May replied.
"Without a doubt, those chimeras are from the same place." Scar commented as he sat down in the sand, flexing his hand.
"Do you think this Red Kingdom bunch is the one making them?" Lan Fan asked.
"I suppose so." May replied.
"Hey, what are you guys talking about over here?" Ed asked as he, Al, and Winry approached.
"We think those monsters were created in the same place as the ones found beneath Central two years ago." May said as Ed and Al looked at one another.
"The Red Kingdom might have alchemists working for them that worked with Father and the Homunculi to create the chimeras." Al commented.
"This isn't the conversation to be having outside in earshot of the general public." Colonel Miles said as he approached them.
"You're right about that, Colonel." Al said as Miles motioned towards the base.
"I'll prepare accommodations for all of you in the barracks." Miles said.
"Much appreciated Colonel but that's not necessary. We can stay in a hotel." Winry said but Miles gave her a glare.
"Normally I would, but I'm under orders from General Armstrong to accommodate you on the base." Miles replied.
"How uncharacteristically nice of her." Ed said, suspicious of the General's motives.
"The General has her reasons. I'd advise you not to question them." Miles said as they headed towards the base, Al pausing when he realized one of them wasn't with them.
"Are you coming Scar?" Al asked but received a glare from the Ishvalan.
"Why would I join you?" Scar asked plainly.
"Because…well…I thought you might be interested in exchanging notes on the recent events." Al said as Scar stood up.
"Thank you, Elric. But your journey will likely take you beyond Ishval and I have sworn to never again leave my homeland. I appreciate your willingness to include me, but I do not belong amongst you and your people. My place is amongst my people." Scar replied, putting his sunglasses back on and walking away as Al watched for a moment then turned to leave.
…
In the Ishval base, Ed, Al, Winry, Lan Fan, May, Maria, Denny, and Miles stood in a barracks that had been setup especially for them. It was a standard barracks with two rows of four beds each. Miles wouldn't be staying with them though.
"So care to explain why you took my title, Al?" Ed asked as he sat down on the edge of one of the beds, the bed groaning beneath his weight but only slightly. Al sat down across from him, hesitant to answer.
"Well…remember that attack on the house?" Al asked as Ed nodded.
"Yeah. They think you're me, don't they?" Ed asked.
"They attacked me and Lan Fan in Central just the day before yesterday." Al replied.
"I see. Well, I did say you could use the title. I guess I'm just angry you snuck off without telling us, without even so much as a note to say goodbye." Ed said as Al nodded.
"Yeah, I probably should've at least done that." Al said but Ed gave a dismissive wave.
"It's in the past, Al. Don't worry about it. We brothers have to stick together right?" Ed asked with a smile as Al nodded, extending a hand.
"Yeah, we do." He said with a smile of his own as Ed grasped his hand. Al looked at the armored hand curiously.
"How do you control that thing anyway?" Al asked as Ed sweat dropped.
"Very painfully." Ed grumbled with a smile as Winry started removing the back plate on the armor.
"It uses the same fundamentals as Ed's leg and his old automail arm. It's powered by the nerve impulses in Ed's arms and legs." Winry explained, removing the back plate and beginning to make some adjustments with a socket wrench as Al scratched his head.
"But how does that work? Ed still has his limbs." Al commented.
"Tell me about it." Ed whimpered slightly.
"To put it simply, the armor taps into his nerve endings through a series of needles and leads running between the nerves and the motors. It's how the first automail worked. From what I understand, the first automail was like this, operating as mechanized battle armor but the pilots just couldn't handle the pain from the suits and they were discontinued. Eventually they evolved into the automail we know and love today." Winry explained with a smile.
"Does it hurt, brother?" Al asked as Ed flexed his arm slightly.
"At first yeah. It's like when my automail reconnected the nerves but the pain subsides quickly. I'm used to it." Ed replied as Miles approached, clearing his throat.
"Alphonse, was Dr. Marcoh any help in your mission?" Miles asked as Al nodded.
"He was, actually. I got some information on Dr. Garand and there's something Dr. Marcoh mentioned that I need to investigate. I need to go to Dublith." Al said. They then heard a rattling sound and saw Ed was shaking in relative fear.
"Oh we're going to see teacher huh?" Ed asked shakily.
"Be strong brother! It'll be okay!" Al said, just as shakily. The concept of visiting Izumi Curtis still made them quake in fear.
"Wish we could come with you but our orders were to get you to Ishval then remain on loan to the Colonel for a while." Maria said as Denny nodded sadly.
"It's alright. Thanks for helping out this far." Al said as Lan Fan cleared her throat.
"Edward, can I have a word with you in private?" Lan Fan asked as Ed looked at her curiously.
"With me? Yeah I guess, but why?" Ed asked.
"I've a message the Emperor wanted me to convey to you and you alone. He was very specific about it." Lan Fan replied as Ed shrugged, Winry replacing the back panel on the armor.
"Okay." Ed replied as he stood up, following Lan Fan out into the courtyard while the others discussed their travel plans. The courtyard was largely empty as most of the soldiers were still sweeping the city for signs of any straggler chimeras.
"So what's the message from Ling? Does it have to do why there are assassins after me and Al?" Ed asked as Lan Fan turned halfway towards him, her expression seemed saddened by the message she had to deliver.
"Actually, it's more of a confession. Truth is, there aren't any assassins after you and Alphonse. I'm afraid that part was a ruse." Lan Fan said, alarming Ed slightly. (AC: The Fullmetal Alchemist~Legato~ - FMA:B OST 2)
"What?" Ed asked, as Lan Fan looked towards the barracks.
"The Emperor wouldn't have sent me if you were the targets. In truth he wouldn't have sent anyone except maybe a messenger to warn you of the situation. The assassin in Central that attacked Alphonse was an attack staged to reinforce the assumption that he was being targeted. The assassin that attacked him there is a member of the Emperor's elite guard on a separate assignment in Central. He's an ally of ours, carrying out a false attack to remove all doubt." Lan Fan said as Ed realized something.
"So there are assassins but Al and I are not the targets." Ed said as Lan Fan nodded.
"No." she replied, not looking at him.
"Then who is the target?" Ed asked. Lan Fan took a deep breath and slowly exhaled before answering.
"Princess Chang is the target." She replied as Ed blinked in surprise.
"May?" Ed asked.
"You have to understand, the minute Ling became Emperor, he became untouchable. No matter how much someone may not like him or approve of his leadership, he is still the Emperor and to harm or assassinate him would be to make enemies with every clan in Xing. Even if someone disliked him, if the Emperor was assassinated, the clans would unite to destroy the person responsible in order to avenge his death. If a clan was responsible, that clan would be eradicated by the rest." Lan Fan explained.
"How does that explain why May is the one being targeted?" Ed asked.
"Because until the Emperor has any children of his own, he must choose a successor amongst his half-siblings." Lan Fan explained as Ed deduced where this was heading.
"And he chose May. Let me guess, she doesn't know she's next in line for the throne, does she?" Ed asked as Lan Fan shook her head.
"Two years ago when we were making the trek back to Xing through the desert, the young lord and Princess Chang bonded and grew close. He elevated the Chang clan to a new standing in Xing upon being named Emperor and quietly named her as his successor should he die without children, or steward should he die before his firstborn comes of age to inherit the throne. Now one of the other clans seeks to eliminate her. We don't know who or why but we uncovered evidence of the plot against her life and the Emperor concocted the plan to send her here to Amestris under the guise of protecting the two of you from the same assassins. He believed that you and Alphonse would be able to protect her." Lan Fan explained as Ed grimaced, looking back towards the barracks for a moment.
"Then answer me this. Does Al know this too?" Ed asked but Lan Fan shook her head.
"I was going to tell him when we met up in Central but…on the trek here through the desert, May seemed excited about seeing Alphonse again. I could tell by her mannerisms that it was more than just a passing friendship. May taught him to use Alkahestry and he taught her to use Alchemy. The bond between them is…" Lan Fan said as Ed deduced what she was implying.
"I understand but that wasn't your call to make. May and Al both deserve to know the truth. She needs to know especially." Ed said as Lan Fan nodded.
"That's why I'm telling you, Edward. I can't be the one to tell her. The Emperor forbade me from telling her." She replied as Ed ran a hand over his face.
"Aww man, I walked right into this one didn't I?" he grumbled.
"There's another reason you need to be the one. I have a second mission to undertake here in Amestris." Lan Fan said, earning Ed's attention again. (AC: T.B.C. – FMA:B OST 2)
"Mission?" Ed asked curiously as Lan Fan turned completely towards him.
"I can't discuss it in too much detail but when we uncovered the plot against the Princess's life, we uncovered evidence of a separate plot, one that threatens the future of Amestris." Lan Fan explained as Ed's eyes widened in alarm.
"Amestris?" he asked.
"We're not sure what the goal is but we know that it's an international conspiracy with conspirators in both Amestris and Xing. Given recent events, I believe it's possible that it's tied to this Red Kingdom group." Lan Fan explained as Ed scowled.
"Does the military know about this?" Ed asked.
"I informed General Mustang in Central after Alphonse was attacked by Red Kingdom chimeras. The military is aware of the situation." Lan Fan said as Ed gave a nod.
"Alright. Anything else?" Ed asked as Lan Fan nodded and approached him, motioning for him to come closer.
"There is one more thing…" Lan Fan said before whispering something into Ed's ear, something that made his eyes widen in shock.
"She what?" Ed asked in soft spoken alarm. Lan Fan motioned to be quiet.
"Word cannot get out about this. I don't need to tell you why." Lan Fan said as Ed nodded understandingly.
"No, you don't." Ed replied.
"Now I must take my leave. Remember what I've told you Edward Elric. Protect Princess Chang with your life." Lan Fan said as Ed nodded.
"Yeah, but where are you going?" Ed asked but received no response as Lan Fan pulled her mask onto her head and raised her hood before running off, disappearing into the shadows. (End AC)
…
"I wonder what they're talking about out there." Winry commented as she sat on one of the beds, glancing out the door.
"Probably something the Emperor wanted Edward to know." May replied as Al examined a map of Amestris on a table in the center of the room. Winry then climbed off the bed and approached the table.
"So when do we leave for Dublith?" Winry asked as Al looked at her curiously.
"We?" Al asked, surprised.
"Yeah. You, me, Ed, and May." Winry said as Al blinked.
"Oh I honestly didn't think you were going to join us Winry. I thought you were just joining Ed as far as Ishval." Al said but Winry looked him in the eyes.
"And risk Ed's automail failing? No way! I spent two years building that armor! I'm not going to let it get messed up! Besides you're going to Dublith which means if you go by train you'll have to go through Rush Valley…that and you're the one with the huge research budget." Winry said with big sparkly eyes as Al sweat dropped.
"I'll make sure to get four tickets then." Al replied, defeated by the Automail mechanic who started squealing softly with glee before kissing him on the cheek.
"Thank you Al!" Winry said, alarming Al by the kiss.
"No problem, Winry." Al chuckled nervously, hoping Ed wasn't watching. That's when they heard a loud metal clang at the doorway. They turned to see Ed gripping the sides of his helmet just outside the door. He had bashed his head on the top of the doorframe.
"Al, how did you manage in this thing for four years?" Ed asked as he leaned over slightly to fit through the door.
"It's not like I had a choice." Al replied as Ed grimaced inside the helmet.
"Yeah, sorry. I didn't mean-." "No it's okay, brother. I guess part of its just weird to see you in there." Al said as Ed grinned and struck a pose.
"Hate to say it but I make this look good." Ed said as Al snickered.
"Yep. Next thing you know, people will be calling me short." Al joked as Ed's eye twitched.
"I'll ignore that one. But you know, if you're going to be impersonating me, you might as well look the part." Ed said as he reached under the bed and pulled out his suitcase, opening it up and pulling out his trademark red coat, handing it to Al.
"Ed…your coat…I can't accept this." Al said as Ed rolled his eyes.
"You think it'll fit on me in this thing? Go on, try it." Ed said as Al pulled on the coat. As he did, he suddenly noticed Winry, May, Maria, and Denny looking at him in stunned silence.
"What's wrong? Does it not look okay?" Al asked.
"No it's not that, Al…it's just, for a minute there, I thought you were Ed. If it wasn't for the fact that I knew Ed was inside that armor, I could've sworn it was like it was two years ago." Winry said as the brothers looked at one another.
"Well in a sense, our positions are reversed. Ed's wearing the armor and I'm the State Alchemist." Al replied.
"Yep so that means you're calling the shots now, Al." Ed said as Miles cleared his throat.
"I'll be taking my leave." Miles said before heading for the door.
"Come on, boys, let's get some rest. We've got a long day ahead of us and we'll need to be up early if we're going to catch the train for Rush Valley. Come on, Ed. I'll help you get out of there." Winry said but Ed backed away from her.
"No way. It's too much of a hassle to get in and out of this thing. I'd rather sleep in it." Ed said, startling Winry.
"Are…are you sure? It's gotta be painful in there with all of those leads running to your nerve endings." Winry said but Ed gave a dismissive wave.
"It's more of a pain to remove them and put them back in." Ed argued as Winry sighed heavily.
"Fine but try not to toss and turn a lot. If you break or dislodge something, then I'll have no choice but to open you up." Winry said as Ed climbed into bed, the bed groaning beneath his weight. The rest of them were climbing into their own beds as well.
"Don't worry, Winry. You're the best automail mechanic in the country. I'm sure it won't break that easily." Ed replied as Maria, having removed her uniform jacket, leaving her in only a tank top and her uniform trousers walked over to the light switch.
"Lights out everyone!" Maria called before the lights in the barracks went out.
Elsewhere…
(AC: Beneath the City – FMA:B OST1)
The Quake Alchemist sat nursing his wounds in a darkened chamber. The chamber was lit only by a single beam of light from overhead, illuminating a makeshift operating table where a man in full surgical garb performed some kind of operation on a humanoid shape on the table. The patient was shrouded in surgical cloth so its identity was unknown. The twin girls sat nearby, sitting back to back, watching the figure operate on the patient.
"Back already, Sherman?" the figure asked as Horatio grimaced in pain.
"There were two Fullmetal Alchemists. One could perform alchemy without a transmutation circle, the other wore a suit of armor. He was incredibly strong. They caught me by surprise." Horatio lisped, his cheeks swollen from his injury.
"Armor? Did it introduce itself as Alphonse Elric?" the figure asked, continuing to operate.
"No sir. It introduced itself as Edward Elric." Sherman explained.
"So the older brother has learned of a way to try and protect the younger. This means the brothers are together now. Perfect. This will make our plan to bend the brothers to our side even more effective." The figure said as the woman alchemist emerged from the shadows, a pair of chimeras dragging a large sack behind them.
"We found the item you asked for. Sadly it's little more than dried bones. The flesh has long since rotted away." The woman said as the figure held its hand out, expecting to be handed something.
"The skull, please." The figure said as the woman reached into the sack and pulled out what appeared to be the skull of a dog but it seemed deformed somehow. Part of it seemed warped and partially distorted with features that didn't seem correct for a dog. The figure examined the skull in its hand for a moment (AC: Warning – FMA OST 2).
"This will do." The figure said as it turned towards the girls and nodded. The twin girls smiled darkly as they got up from where they sat and approached the operating table, one of them picking up the patient which was small enough to fit easily in her arms, while the other rolled the operating table away. The woman proceeded to dump the contents of the bag onto the ground, leaving a pile of bones behind. Horatio watched with confusion as the girl with the patient quietly placed the patient on the ground next to the bone pile. The figure had put the skull atop the bone pile even.
"What are you doing? Is the patient even alive?" he asked finally.
"Watch carefully, Horatio. You are about to witness the Immortal Alchemist perform his art." The woman alchemist said as she and the twin girls escorted him a fair distance away from the center of the room. The shaft of light overhead then expanded to reveal that the floor where the patient and the bones had been placed was the center of a transmutation circle. The figure then walked to the center of the circle, digging into its pocket and pulling out the Philosopher's Stone, gazing at it in the light in silence. Horatio recognized it immediately.
"A Philosopher's Stone…they do exist!" he gasped softly. He watched as the figure placed the stone into a glass tube with a needle on the end, the stone almost instantly turning into a liquid. The figure attached the tube to the handle of a syringe before kneeling down and stabbing the syringe deep into the patient's chest, injecting the stone into it before removing the needle. The figure then threw the needle away and walked to the edge of the circle. The figure then knelt down at the circle and put its hands to the edge, causing the circle to glow with red alchemical energy. Horatio's eyes widened in fear as he saw a massive grey eye open up in the middle of the circle, beneath the ingredients at the center. He then saw a red light start to shine from the patient's chest, the eye suddenly closing as the glow around the circle intensified. (End AC) When the light finally faded, they saw nothing but smoke. All was silent as the figure rose to its feet above the layer of smoke. There was nothing but silence for a while until they heard it, a sudden gasp before a bloodcurdling scream pierced the silence. (AC: Transient Life – FMA OST 2) The Lady Alchemist and both girls smiled proudly at the sound. The scream gradually dissolved into the sound of a young child crying and sobbing in pain. As the smoke cleared, Horatio saw something moving around on the ground. He quickly made out the form of the figure on the ground and his eyes widened in shock.
"Is that…Is that what I think it is?" Horatio asked but was ignored.
"Morser." The figure said as the woman alchemist looked towards it, "Take it to our agents in the south. Girls, go with her. Be sure to introduce yourselves properly. Tell her that the Immortal Alchemist has sent a present for the Elric brothers."
The twins and Morser smiled darkly amidst the cries from the figure in the center of the circle. (End AC)
Meanwhile in Miles's office, Miles stood behind his desk, phone in hand.
"Yes ma'am, Fullmetal is planning on heading to Dublith with a layover stop in Rush Valley tomorrow morning." Miles reported.
"Good. Anything else?" General Armstrong asked.
"Yes ma'am. We were attacked by the Red Kingdom recently. They were after Fullmetal and one of the attackers was an Alchemist. Former State Alchemist Horatio Sherman, the Quake Alchemist. He escaped." Miles reported.
"Interesting. Is Fullmetal traveling by train?" Armstrong asked.
"That is his intent, ma'am." Miles said. There was a pregnant pause before Armstrong spoke.
"Good. Make sure you inform our contacts of his travel itinerary." Armstrong ordered.
"Yes ma'-…" Miles said before he heard the click on the other end.
…
In Central, Armstrong had just slammed the receiver down, a contemplative expression on her face. She took note of the time on the clock on her desk and rose to her feet, grabbing her uniform coat and hat. As she exited her office into the hall, she saw Mustang approaching from the other end.
"General Armstrong." Mustang greeted, saluting. Armstrong didn't even look at him.
"Mustang." She replied, the two officers coming to a stop, standing parallel to each other.
"How's the Northern Wall of Briggs this evening?" Mustang asked.
"Some requisitions forms meant for you got sent to my office by mistake. I had them sent to your office." Armstrong said as Roy arched a curious eyebrow.
"Requisitions forms you say? Thanks for the tip. By the way, I'm not sure if you've heard yet, but one of the sentries posted at the ruins of Laboratory Five has gone missing and it would appear Lab Four had a break in that same night. I've sent your brother to investigate." Roy said as Armstrong continued to glare straight ahead.
"One AWOL guard doesn't interest me. But…in the interest of cooperation you might be interested to know that Fullmetal has completed his business in the Ishval region and is on his way to Rush Valley." Armstrong said as Roy smiled.
"Good, that means they're on to something." Roy said.
"Mustang." Armstrong said, looking his way.
"General?" Mustang replied.
"Walk with me." Armstrong ordered as Roy arched a curious eyebrow but complied, walking along behind her.
"Quite unlike you to make a request like this." Mustang commented.
"Gloves off, Mustang." She snapped, Roy complying and removing his gloves.
"You realize that I can still perform alchemy without them." Roy said.
"I'm aware. The ability to perform a transmutation without a transmutation circle. It is a trait shared by those who have performed a human transmutation and lived. Have you ever contemplated performing a human transmutation willingly before, Mustang?" Armstrong asked as Roy scowled.
"Twice…two years ago." Roy said as they exited into the courtyard.
"Your adjutant, Captain Hawkeye?" Armstrong asked.
"Why are you interested?" Roy asked.
"Answer the question Mustang." Armstrong said bluntly.
"Yeah. Captain Hawkeye and the late Brigadier General Maes Hughes." Roy replied as they approached the stairs leading down towards the south gate.
"Then you know the ingredients needed to transmute a human body." Armstrong said as Roy glared at her.
"Yes." He said, unsure of where she was going with her questioning.
"Recite them for me." Armstrong ordered. Roy decided to humor her and cleared his throat.
"Water, 35 liters, Carbon, 20 kilograms, Ammonia, 4 liters, Lime, 1.5 kilograms, Phosphorous, 800 grams, Salt, 250 grams, Saltpeter, 100 grams, Sulfur, 80 grams, Fluorine, 7.5 grams, Iron, 5 grams, Silicon, 3 grams, and trace amounts of 15 other elements." Roy reported as they reached the bottom of the stairs where Armstrong's car was waiting for them.
"Good. Then you're not completely worthless after all." She said as her driver approached to open the door, limping as he walked.
"Care to explain why I just recited those?" Roy asked but received no response as Armstrong got into the car, the tinted windows hiding her inside. Roy watched as her driver closed the door for her.
"Something wrong, Lieutenant?" Roy asked the soldier.
"Knee surgery sir. Just released today." The Lieutenant replied as he got into the car. Roy watched as he started the car, the car driving off down the street. Roy started to turn and walk back into Central when he suddenly heard an explosion down the street. (AC: Fifth Laboratory – FMA:B OST 1) Roy spun towards the source of the blast and saw the General's car at the corner of the intersection near Central HQ, now nothing more than a burning hulk of twisted metal.
"GENERAL ARMSTRONG!" Roy exclaimed as he ran towards the car, clapping his hands together before thrusting them forward towards the car, using his mastery of flame alchemy to extinguish the flames. He quickly rushed towards the smoldering wreckage but as he got closer, it became clear that his efforts had been in vain. Seated in the car were two smoldering human husks. Roy grimaced in anger before he noticed something flutter down in front of him, something that made his blood run hot: a Red Kingdom bandana, partially burned by the flames. At that point it was now all too clear as to what had just transpired…
The Red Kingdom had assassinated General Armstrong.
End Chapter 9
