CM: Hey y'all. Just so you know, school is starting up for us so we might not post chapters up as fast as we usually do. But no worries, once we start a story, we finish it. So enjoy. :)
Chapter Ten: A Crack in the Ice
"I already told you, I didn't do anything," Elly insisted as she sat in an uncomfortable chair while shouts and pandemonium could be heard all throughout the prison.
"Then where is Lieutenant Hughes?" the general demanded.
"I told you, I don't know!" Elly said, starting to get angry. "Look, the longer you keep me here, the more of those prisoners are going to escape."
"Is that a threat?" Carus demanded.
"Why would I threaten you?" Elly asked in frustration. "I'm already in trouble for something I didn't do so why would I make it worse?"
"I'm not sure what goes on in that Ishbalen head of yours," Carus replied coldly.
"Look something happened back there to Kat I'm sure of it," Elly said trying to divert his attention from her. "We got separated because of some explosion and she fell to the floor below. You saw her ice under that rubble…we can't just leave her alone out there."
"My men are already searching for her, and until she is found, I am not letting you out of my sight," the general said stiffly.
"You don't have to," Elly told him urgently. "Just let me go look for her…you can stick to me like glue if you have to, I don't care; we just have to find her soon."
"Sir! Many of the class S and A prisoners are escaping, and the prison is being destroyed," a lower officer said in a panic.
"Then quit your whining and get it under control soldier. I don't want a single living person leaving this prison, is that understood?"
"Sir!" The soldier saluted before rushing off again.
"Why haven't you guys called for backup?" Elly asked the general skeptically.
"We haven't been able to get a hold of Central command," the general said rounding on her. "Of course you would know about that, wouldn't you? You sabotage our communication system and then you break your friends out of their cells."
"WHAT!? I was with Kat the entire time before the cells broke down," Elly said vehemently.
Suddenly a large shockwave shook them from the lower floor. The general's eyes narrowed. "HE must be out." Then he glared at Elly. "Come with me. If you even try to escape, I will not hesitate to kill you where you stand."
"Fine," Elly replied darkly before following the general's lead, all the while hoping Kat was alright.
Kat stood panting a little as she watched Kimbley straighten.
"Using the sweat on your skin to create a separate surface for me to create my bomb," Kimbley said almost sounding impressed. "Quite clever. It looks like you've come a long way for a squirt."
"And you still don't pull any punches," Kat replied with a smile, wiping some dirt off of her face. In her mind she was mulling over how he really seemed intent on killing her, or he was simply messing with her. It was hard to tell and Kat didn't what to test her chances right now. One thing was for sure, he had changed since she had last seen him, in more ways than one.
"You know, with all your words about not doing anything wrong and being a good girl I'd have thought that being with people who enjoy causing others pain would just make you sick. After all…it was the military that put me in here in the first place," Kimbley said coolly.
"I won't deny it, there are days that I look around me and want to vomit from the self serving officers who care about nothing more than there rank," Kat told him calmly. "But not everyone in the military is like that. You were once one of the better people in it, or so I believed."
"I was a foolish person back when you knew me," Kimbley smirked. "Only during the war did I realize that those who have power should use it to get what they desire from others." He looked down at her and grinned, "And you're just like me in that respect."
"I am nothing like that," Kat stated her eyes narrowing slightly.
"Of course not," Kimbley said. "That's why you used your power to talk that loud-mouthed girl into becoming your partner. Am I right?"
"That's…" Kat began but faltered. "It was that or she might have ended up here with all of you."
"Is that what you told her?" Kimbley asked. "Is that how you tricked her into becoming your partner? Or I suppose the more accurate term would be your servant."
Kat opened her mouth to retort, but the more she thought about it, the more she realized… saying things to justify her actions only made it sound as if she were making up pitiful excuses. The fact remained… in the bigger view of things, Elly had been coerced into becoming Kat's partner. It didn't matter whether Kat had intended it or not. She had forced Elly to spend her days in a place she hated and with people she despised ever more. The realization of this caused a tiny crack in the mask that she had been wearing all this time.
"There are worse things than forcing someone to serve you against their will," Kimbley continued. "I mean there are plenty of people to gather others around them to use as shields when times get tough. Oh, that's right…doesn't she end up in the hospital every time your missions end while you're free to do as you please?"
Kat clenched her teeth. His words were like a wedge, trying to pry into her psyche and rattle her. More over... how did he know about all of this? "I won't allow you to undermine the friendship that Elly and I share."
"Are you sure she feels the same way?" Kimbley asked in a mocking voice.
Before Kat could answer, suddenly there was a rumbling noise coming from the wall next to them. "Get down!" she shouted and tackled Kimbley before throwing up a dome of ice over the two of them. A split second after she had done so, the wall they had been standing next to exploded out and the room was suddenly flooded with sand. Kat could hear the ice cracking as sand flooded into the room cutting up everything in its path. After a few minutes, the sand settled. "So… this must be the one responsible for the jail break," Kat muttered, allowing the ice dome to fall apart as she got up from the floor.
"You know that bleeding heart of yours will one day be the death of you," Kimbley expressed as he too go to his feet. "This is interesting though…I haven't seen this guy in ages." He turned to face a short man in his 30's or 40's who had long blonde hair and was so thin you'd think he never ate.
"Heh, so you were in here, Kimbley," the man chuckled. "Looks like my bad luck."
"Yes well…your life was going to end one way or another," Kimbley replied before lunging at the man.
The man simply smiled before using his alchemy to shoot hardened sand akin to blades at Kimbley. Kat countered this by raising an ice wall where the projectiles embedded themselves. Kimbly had counted on her doing just that and ran around the wall before picking up a piece of debris, charging it, and throwing it at the guy.
Before it could make impact…it too collided with an ice wall. "You can't kill him," Kat explained. "We need him alive so Elly doesn't get in trouble for this."
"Being in the army means you will have to take someone's life eventually," Kimbley told her. "If we leave him alive he'll be a lot more trouble than if we kill him now."
"Do you honestly believe you can defeat me after all the times you've lost?" the guy asked. "Well I'm not completely sure who this Elly is…but if she'll take the fall for this then I can't allow you to walk away in one piece." He slammed his hands against the walls on either side of him. "In mere seconds I'll turn this entire place into a giant sand pile…killing all who are caught in it. And to think the only one who'll be blamed for it is that girl."
That did it. "I won't let her take the fall for anything," Kat thought to herself. Suddenly the symbols on her bracelets began to glow and with the water she gave the sand on the floor the consistency of mud before using the water once more to draw an elaborate symbol on the floor. In a huge flash, the entire room became cased in ice and the temperature dropped below zero. "You're on my territory now," Kat told the man as her breath came out in a cloud of steam.
"Only as far as your ice stretches miss," the man replied with a smile. "Once you run into an area where there is no water…you're completely helpless."
After he spoke there was the sound of foot steps running toward them and moments later Elly and Carus appeared in a doorway behind Kat and Kimbley. "Kat are you okay?" Elly called out rushing forward.
"Looks like your 'partner' has arrived," Kimbley chuckled. "Oh well…it was fun while it lasted."
"Is that…" Carus started staring at where the blonde stood poised to strike. "Well I never thought he'd actually lived through that. The Desert Alchemist still roams this world after all."
"That's right," he said with a laugh. "And I'm here to seek vengeance on all who oppose me." And with that, he turned the wall of ice into sand before leaping through the hole and disappearing.
Kat was about to go after him, but Carus stopped her. "Leave it, Ice Cold. I'd rather you not get into a one on one confrontation with him. I imagine he'll withdraw for now." He turned to Kimbley. "And as for you…"
"I surrender," Kimbley said raising his hands in the air. "I was simply no match for the magnificent Ice Cold alchemist."
Kat stared at him, her face impassive but her mind in bewilderment.
"Hey Kat you okay?" Elly asked coming to stand in between her and Kimbley without really giving the guy a good look. "You just disappeared back there. And who was that guy? Was he the one that started this whole thing?"
"It would seem so," Kat replied softly.
"Hmm…well if that sand is the only thing he's got going for him, then taking him on will be a piece of cake," Elly declared with a smirk. "Besides fighting someone with the same element as me sounds like a real challenge."
"I'm sure," Kat said not really hearing her.
As some soldiers led Kimbley away in handcuffs, while passing by Kat he said in a low voice, "I look forward to our next encounter."
Kat's hand clenched into a fist at her side but she remained silent. "Good work, Ice Cold," the General Carus congratulated her.
"Sir, there was much collateral damage and the perpetrator escaped. I have done nothing to be thanked for."
"Of course you do," Carus corrected. "You helped keep many of the prisoners from escaping and you single-handedly apprehended Zolf Kimbley."
"Kimbley?" Elly asked feeling her blood boil just at the sound of his name. "You mean the Crimson Alchemist?"
"That is correct," the general said darkly. "A most dangerous criminal. Having him running around loose is the last thing we need. At any rate, Ice Cold, I need you to report back to Central and tell them what has happened and to send support groups to help with the damage."
"Yes, sir," Kat said obligingly.
"Also, I would appreciate it if you kept all that you've seen under your hat for the time being," he added to her.
"Is that really wise, general?" Kat asked him.
"Are you questioning my judgment?" General Carus asked suspiciously.
"No sir," Kat answered. "I merely think that….the military should be alert considering that dangerous criminals might have managed to escape."
"Trust me Lieutenant, the only 'dangerous' one here was Kimbley and he has been quickly apprehended," Carus assured her. "The others are all just petty criminals that will be easy to apprehend."
"Understood sir," Kat replied respectfully.
"Then I guess we'll be going sir," Elly continued. "We'll be sure to alert Central to the Desert Alchemists attack."
"Lieutenant, you should really teach that….partner of yours better respect," the General said not even acknowledging Elly's comment. "You are dismissed."
"Thank you, sir," Kat said with a salute before leading the way out.
"General Carus, the men discovered something while checking all the cells," a soldier announced as he ran up to the General. He handed over a small folded paper that had a date written on it.
Carus looked at the date before opening the paper to find that it was a picture of a family…an Ishbalen family. "Hmm…soldier try to identify the people in this picture," he ordered handing it back. The soldier saluted before running off. "Heh, looks like I might have a chance to put you away after all."
Kat and Elly left the prison in silence as they were both deep in their own personal thoughts. Once they got outside they immediately headed for Central, Kat driving of course, not wanting to run into any escaped prisoners.
After they got about half way, Elly decided to break the silence that settle between them. "Um…Kat…how many of those guys do you think managed to break free?"
"I'd rather not think about it," Kat replied shortly, keeping her eyes on the road.
"Okay…so…what do you think is that General's problem?" Elly asked changing the subject a bit. "I mean he asked us to keep quiet about what happened over there. It almost sounds like he's trying to hide something big."
"I'm afraid General Carus hasn't been the same since the death of General Haegen," Kat explained. "The two of them were like brothers. As far as keeping this a secret… I doubt he is without good reason."
"General Haegen…that was your General wasn't he," Elly asked trying to keep from falling into silence again.
"Yes he was," Kat replied.
"So…that means you and General Carus are kind of close too, right?" Elly asked again.
"I suppose you could say that," Kat replied evenly. "Which is why I will choose to honor his request and look the other way… for now."
"Alright," Elly agreed. "I won't say anything either." They drove on in silence for a few more minutes until a question that was picking at her brain finally came out. "Kat…did you know Kimbley?"
Kat was silent for a long time, and for a while Elly wondered if she was going to get an answer. "We were acquainted," Kat said finally.
"Can I ask how…or will I get hurt if I keep asking?" Elly asked curiosity making her blow caution to the wind.
"Oh, look, we're back," Kat said merrily as she pulled into the parking garage with a neck jarring turn and she came to a screeching halt into one of the parking spaces. She calmly unbuckled and stepped out of the car. "I'm going to report. So would you mind it terribly if I dropped you off at my brother's office while I give the Colonel a call?"
Elly shook her head saying that she didn't mind. "Jeeze I was just asking," Elly thought as Kat led the way. "It's like everyone's against me today."
Once they had made it to the top of the ridiculously long set of stairs at the entrance of Central, they made their way to the front door when two figures emerged, both of whom the two females recognized immediately. "Well, well, if it isn't the Elric brothers," Kat said with a smile. "Need I even ask what you're doing here?"
"Well I just ….hey wait a minute…you're that lady who works for the Colonel," Ed exclaimed pointing.
"Brother, it's not very polite to point," Al told him.
"Yeah…and you're the midget who declared he was going to be a state alchemist," Elly chuckled. "So how's it going squirt?"
"I am not a midget!" Ed shouted. "And I'll have you know that I'm going to pass with flying colors."
"That's wonderful, Edward. Allow me to give wish you a little luck." And she bent down and gave him a small peck on the cheek. "I don't have any doubts you'll do well."
"You may want to be careful Kat, you might make the Colonel jealous," Elly laughed as Ed jumped back in surprise and he hurriedly rubbed his cheek with the back of his hand trying to hide how red his face was becoming.
"Would you care to repeat that remark, Elly?" A stern voice said as Roy Mustang himself walked out the front doors. "You're still here, Edward? I would have thought you would be off studying for the upcoming exams, but instead you decide to flirt with one of my subordinates."
"I wasn't flirting," Ed shouted.
"Actually we just ran into them on our way out and thought we'd say hi," Al clarified.
"It's nice seeing these two up and about," Elly told him. "If nothing else it's nice to see that they're able to bring out Kat's nice side…which we don't see very often."
"I was merely expression my best wishes to the DLF," Kat said straightening.
"DLF?" Ed and Al asked together.
"Dear little friend," Kat elaborated.
Ed looked about ready to blow while Al was chuckling nervously. "Have you filed that report yet, Ice Cold?" Roy interrupted. "I take it the fact you both are still alive means that things went adequately at the very least."
"Would an oral report suffice for now, sir?" Kat asked politely. "And I can have one written by no later than tomorrow morning."
"I want it finished by tonight," Roy ordered. "Until then I would like a full verbal report. You three…Hughes is expecting you at his place for the night. He's inside at the moment, so if you go to his office he'll be more than happy to take you all home."
"Don't worry, my brother would love the company," Kat assured them all when the three began to protest their misgivings. "I'll be seeing you later then." Elly gave Kat one last doubtful glance before heading inside with a grumbling Edward and a nervous Alphonse in tow. "And our twisted little family keeps on growing."
"Just as long as he doesn't shove the picture of his daughter under my nose again I should be fine," Elly thought as she followed a soldier that Roy assigned to show them the way to Hughes office.
"So what happened during your trip to the prison?" Roy asked once he and Kat made it to a private office area.
"Well, we went to the prison and it seems that everything is being kept up quite well," Kat elucidated keeping the feeling of unease from her voice. She didn't like keeping something like this from the Colonel, but it couldn't be helped. General Carus had demanded her silence. "There was a small mishap concerning Elly's background but we were able to get it cleared up."
"Are you going to elaborate on what exactly went wrong?" Roy asked scrutinizing her.
"Well it was just that General Carus has a thing against Ishbalens and she nearly got arrested for nothing," Kat explained.
"Well, that sort of thing is unavoidable," Roy stated knowingly. "Not everyone can be so open minded. So then there were no mishaps whatsoever?"
"No… just one big epiphany," Kat replied in an undertone.
"What was that?" Roy asked having not heard it.
"Oh, nothing at all," Kat said bouncing back. "Anyway, I'll have that report to you by tonight as you ordered."
"Very good," Roy stated…though a piece of him wondered what it was she wasn't telling him. "Now you'd better get going…I'm sure your brother will be happier if you made it home at a decent hour."
"Thank you, sir. I take it you're going to be around Central for a while to keep an eye on the Elric brothers while Edward takes his alchemy exam," she guessed.
"That's correct," Roy affirmed. "While that's going on, you're free to visit with your family until the exams are over. I suggest you use your free time wisely. It might be the last you receive for a long time."
"Of course, sir," Kat said with a salute. On her way out she stopped at the door and muttered. "Please, don't ever change, Colonel." Then she was gone.
Roy glanced up, having barely caught her words and wondered, "Where did that come from all of the sudden?" He decided not to think too much on it and continued on his own work.
Kat was on her way down the stairs of Central with every intention of heading over to her brother's place when a handful of soldiers came running up them at full speed. "What's the hurry, soldier?" Kat asked him bringing him to an immediate halt. "Ah… Lt. Hughes, nice to see you again. Well there was an incident on the west side of Central that we need to report as soon as possible," one of the meeker looking ones spoke. "There was a really shady looking character we suspected to be the cause of it, but he was fast and got away from us before we could ask any questions."
"What did they look like?" Kat questioned.
"Well, pretty strong looking, dark skin, and he had this gruesome scar on his face shaped like an X," he answered after some thought.
Kat's lips turned into a thin line. "And where did you say this was?"
"A little ways down on Tandem road, I believe," he recalled.
Kat nodded. "Thank you, soldier. While you're reporting, let them know that I plan to find this suspicious character."
"Is that really necessary Lt. Hughes?" another asked. "There's no real proof that he…"
"Trust me gentlemen," Kat said with a cool smile as she walked past them. "I know what I'm doing."
They all shivered as if a wintry chill had suddenly descended upon them and none decided to raise anymore objections. They saluted Kat and wished her luck before hurrying to report to their commanding officer.
"Looks like I might be late for dinner," Kat thought as she made her way to the place of discovery.
CM: Will Kat be able to avenge her fallen General? Or will this encounter end in tragedy? Stay tuned!