10. Human sacrifice.
T: Semi cliff-hanger for this chapter, would apologise but this one was deliberate!! Warnings remain the same and I own nothing you see here other than the plot bunny.
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"No!"
"'niichan, what is the matter?" The suit within which his brother's soul currently resides manages, somehow, to convey the concern that is in his brother's voice, a mystery that almost distracts him from what he has just discovered.
"It's taken me a month but I've finally translated Dr. Marho's notes…"
"And?"
"It seems that the main ingredient for the Philosophers stone is a living human being and that it would need numerous sacrifices to create even one stone."
"You said that Dr. Marho was performing this research while he was a state alchemist, which would mean…"
"Which would mean that the military is a part of this."
"I've not known the colonel or his men for long but I know that they would not condone something like this…there has to be something else, niichan, something that we're missing."
"We need a fresh eye."
"I agree, but who can we talk to? The colonel is still on medial leave, lieutenant Hawkeye made it clear that she wanted as little involvement in this matter as possible and lieutenant Hughes is busy coping with the increased workload that the colonel's absence has left him with."
"I'm afraid there is only one option…"
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Major Armstrong had listened to their story with his usual enthused zeal and, by the time they reach the conclusion of the tail, the elder man is weeping silently.
"I'm honoured that your first thought was to approach me with this crisis."
"How could we not think of a man of your baring, major?" He enquires, a false smile plastered onto his lips. He sidesteps the threat of a hug from the man and, the empty smile still on his lips, he enquires,
"Did you bring the maps I asked for?"
"Of course." The Major unfurls the map onto the table and, eager to move things forward, he steps closer.
"There are three state run research labs, right?" He enquires
"That's right. Dr. Marho was associated with laboratory no. 3." Armstrong responded.
"I visited that lab a few weeks after I got my licence; it seemed like an ordinary enough laboratory." Glancing at the map he spots a point of interest, "What about this building here?"
"That's the 5th laboratory but it was closed down years ago." Armstrong responded.
"That's our place."
"How have you come to that conclusion?" The major enquired.
"There's a prison next door. What better way to get live human beings than to use those intended for execution?"
"It seems even more likely that the government is involved." Al remarks.
"It's best not to leap to conclusions, boys, especially when there is a risk in doing as such."
"We can't gather more information without risking something." He remarks.
"You are going to do this with or without my permission, aren't you?" The major enquires.
"Yes."
"Then allow me to perform an investigation in order that the authorities focus their attention onto me."
"You've more to risk than me, major."
"I'll simply be asking a few simple questions, Edward, they can hardly arrest me for that."
"Thank you, major."
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"There's a guard on the front gate."
"Hn, they're not doing a good job of hiding the shady nature of this place, are they?" He enquires.
"Suspicious or no we still need to find a way of getting by him, 'niichan."
"We could make our own door."
"We'd get caught out by the light of the transmutation."
"True enough I suppose. Do you wanna give me a leg up then?"
Once he's safely balanced on the wall he unfurls the barbed wire into a makeshift rope and waits for his brother to join him.
The front entrance is barred and, having no want to risk exposure now that they've come so far, he looks for another way inside.
Eventually he worms his way into the building using the air vents and, though he feels a little guilty for leaving Al behind, he is also glad for the chance to be alone with his thoughts.
The space inside the building is lit, not enough to draw attention or hint at constant use, but enough to make it clear that the area is anything but 'abandoned'.
Following the lights he ends out, eventually, in a room that has clearly been used for transmutation, the staining on the floor as the only tell of the main ingredient of those 'experiments'.
"It seems we have an intruder." Out of the darkness strolls a large gentleman dressed, from head to foot, in armour.
"I take it that you're guarding this place and that you're going to kill me?"
"Correct."
"You'll have to catch me first." He remarks as he strikes his palms together.
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T: The only major niggle here is the lack of bodyguards for the boys; this is because, by the time they get back to Central, Scar is already assumed dead. Please review and the next chapter will be up Sunday at the latest.