Chaos reigned in the conductor's booth. Edward had forced his way into the cramped room and was trying to convince the older man to maintain their current speed.
Unfortunately he wasn't cooperating.
"Sir please! You're not supposed to be-"
"-in here?! I don't care!" Ed shoved him roughly out of the way. Not caring if his behavior was irrational. "I've gotta get to that break!" All he saw was bright messy copper hair and distant burgundy eyes in a defined oval face, fueling his drive. She's not getting away! He couldn't explain the magnetic pull drawing him towards her and why he wanted...no needed to know her. All he knew was if he failed to catch her now, she'd slip through his fingers and vanish beyond his reach.
I can't let that happen! He gritted his teeth intensity surging with every breath. If he could restore Al's body against all odds he could do this too. But the longer the chase dragged on it became obvious she had places to go and wasn't going to put her life on hold for the desperate ex-Fullmetal Alchemist and former Hero of the People running after her like some pathetic puppy dog.
She kept moving forward. His life's creed in everything he did both at home and at work. Ed loved independent women anyway so he relished the challenge. It'd make their first meeting that much more awesome and he planned on savoring every second of it.
But I hafta CATCH her first.
He was rudely jarred from his thoughts when the conductor made a desperate grab for the controls but Ed served up a powerful elbow jab to his solar plexus. He collapsed to the metal plated floor, coughing and choking, eyes watering from the sudden blow.
Ed grunted turning all his attention to the tracks ahead. I just wanna get within a mile of this gap. That's all.
Right.
Easier said than done.
Edward shot a quick glance at the half-conscious conductor then at the thick oak door connecting the tender to the rest of the train. He walked over and grabbed a fistful of the balding man's white shirt.
"Get up you."
"Hngggh wha' hap'ned? M-my chest-"
"Forget that. I need you to do me a favor." He waited a few seconds till he was sure the other was at least slightly alert. Click-clack, click-clack, clickety-clack, the tracks are cracked. "Go fetch my bag. It's brown with a bronze clasp. I left it under my seat. Third car from the front. Got that? Um, what is your name anyway...?"
"Hollister," the man wheezed, clutching his chest with a trembling hand. Nut brown eyes strayed to the brake handle.
"Well Hollister, get steppin'. We're running out of track."
As soon as the man was gone, Ed braced his arm against the steel frame wincing a bit as he felt his ribs. Save your strength. The real heavy lifting's straight ahead. Can't afford another setback.
He knew what he was doing was a reckless and-to a certain exent-selfish act. Al would never have allowed him to put an entire train and its precious human cargo at risk. But his little brother's calming presence wasn't there to restrain the darker side of his personality. He'd taken great pains to conceal this from the rest of his family and friends but he couldn't hide from himself. No matter how hard he tried, it lurked just beneath the layers of civility he'd grown up with. This was the mercilessness that nearly beat Shou Tucker to death in his private lab.
When Al crossed himself over to restore his right arm.
When he fought Father in a blind rage.
When he thought Mustang burned Maria Ross to death.
When Hohenheim returned home to Resembool and he found him standing before his wife's grave, 10 years too late to make any difference. Trisha was long dead, and it'd been all that bastard's fault. If only he hadn't left Ed was sure his mother would still be alive and maybe him and Al would've had a couple more siblings to play with instead of relying on Winry all the time-
Stop. His fingers hovered over the main brakes. Squeezing his eyes shut against the memories threatening to weaken his resolve. He knew the truth now behind Hohenheim's absence-some of it anyway-but it still didn't make it any easier to accept. The man had left a gaping void and drove his two desolate children to commit the unforgivable, even though the warning signs were clearly slapping them in the face.
Dunno what ta tell ya man. You break the law, you pay the penalty. Justice is blind.
He grunted at that still small voice. Once again Truth's blank form flashed before his eyes. I am God, the World, the Universe. All and One and You.
If that was the case, then Truth was no more than a cosmic judge and jury. It didn't care about your feelings, or your rights, or how terribly it hurt you. Truth was Truth, no matter what name it went by. It existed to maintain the natural order of things. It was convicting. And any human reckless (stupid, desperate, foolish) enough to trespass on holy ground was instantly punished for their foolish pride.
Ed squeezed his eyes shut against the onslaught of unwanted thoughts that insisted dragging him to a...very uncomfortable place.
Never mind all that. He'd never really put much stock into religion, not after all the things him and his brother had suffered. I'm gonna meet another alchemist! A badass female one to boot. Other than his Teacher, he'd never seen another woman dominate the field and and the anticipation was killing him.
Focus.
Breathe.
Unbidden, his teacher's favorite saying cut through the fog clouding his mind. The world follows a flow as well as people's lives, everything circulates, death is part of that flow. You must accept the flow.
Accept the flow.
Accept the flow.
Accept it.
Accept...
He pressed the heel of his palm into his forehead. Accept what? Defeat? Someone's death? No. He'd find this woman, satisfy his curiousity, then head home for this stupid party. Fake his way through, like he'd done most of his life. Especially after his failed attempt at playing God and wearing a leash for five years as punishment for his sin.
Everything would be fine. He was just having an increasingly difficult time convincing everyone else-including himself-that this was true.
Which it wasn't.
What am I doing wrong? Every time I go on the road she gets really upset at me. Ed glanced at his wedding ring, as if he could divine answers from its cool, solid surface. It's not like I'm cheating on her. And when Mustang summons me to Central to make the occasional PR appearance it's not like I've got much say in the matter.
Despite the papers trumpeting the idea of democracy and eagerly anticipating the election of the next Furher-things weren't going so well away from the cameras and reporters. After Father's regime had been toppled the country was fragmented. Some favored a strong leader like Bradley while others were clamoring for voting rights. The whole thing was a political hot mess. One Ed didn't really care to get involved in. He'd had his fill of politics and corruption to last three lifetimes. All he wanted to do now was to be left in peace-
"Sir? Sir!"
He jerked back to reality. Hollister stood framed in the doorway. At his feet lay Ed's brown bag.
"I got what you wanted. Now can I please," he said, shooting a desperate pleading look at the brake lever,"-slow this train down?"
Ed shrugged and crossed to pick up his belongings. He was really pushing the envelope this time. Last thing he needed to deal with was a major derailment.
Hollister lunged for the controls and threw the handle downward, sweat staining his shirt.
Ed left him to it. Bag in hand he slid out the door, making his way to stand on the narrow strip of metal that separated the stairs from the coupling.
Expand.
Contract.
In.
Out.
It was strangely hypnotic, like metallic lungs breathing. He leaned over the rail, shading his eyes from the late afternoon sun, automail leg creaking.
"I know you're there," he whispered, reaching to grasp a metal pole anchored into the rail. "I'm comin'." Then he wrinkled his nose. Mixed in with the scents of iron, wood and water was the sharp rawness of shattered earth. Huh, that's weird.No sooner had the thought passed through his mind the terrain began to show signs of an earthquake.
Jagged cracks flashed by. Giant ones.
And in the brief glimpses he got from them, they were fresh.
Does this area get hit with quakes a lot? I wonder-
He was interrupted by Hollister blaring commands over the intercom.
"ALL HANDS TO THE MANUAL BRAKES ON THE DOUBLE!"
Ed watched as the engineer-he didn't bother getting his name-scramble to the metal wheel less than two feet from his position and hurriedly crank it clockwise. Friction sparks flew as the bottom wheels locked against the smooth rail. Other men in coveralls and work shirts skillfully jump from car to car applying the extra stopping power.
And he quickly saw the reason.
Less than 200 kilometers from the train's nose was a side track. And a third of a mile beyond that was the gap.
Ed leaned forward squinting. Then he gasped.
Tiny forms were climbing up a sheer cliff face. He was too far away to make out any more but..I swore I saw steps. Or ledges.
Oh my God. Gold eyes widened in realization.
SHE'S GONNA BE THERE!
Spinning he shoved his way into the control room. Hollister yelped when he saw the steely-eyed young man's broad frame fill up the open door's empty space, thinking he was going to commandeer the train yet again. Ed held up his hand reassuring the man he wasn't going for the controls.
"Relax. Ya got any rope? Spare hooks?"
"Yes but-"
"Where?"
Hollister pulled a rumpled kerchief out of his coat pocket and wiped his neck.
"That's...it's...they're for emergencies only-"
Ed's death glare cut him off. "And I've got one now."
Unnerved by the tall man's penetrating gaze Hollister pointed to a small compartment near the floor. "Utility box. Take anything you want!"
Ed smirked.
"Anything!"
"Thank you," he said voice a low purr.
...
Screw all of this. Xena noted the position of the decending sun. Confident no fatalities were imminent, she turned her back on the people she'd just rescued, facing the road leading to Mandrett. It was child's play to shut out their noise. I did my part. Now I need to get outta here and grab a drink. And a room. In that order. Lucky for her sleek cylindrical shapes began materializing, throwing dust clouds behind their sturdy rubber wheels.
Man seriously, it's about TIME they showed! Thought I'd need a walker for a second. Now I can get me some wheels.
One of the leading cars was a dark grey open-top model. Real sporty looking.
She smiled.
That'll do.
...
Ed climbed on to the rail a coiled length of rope and a set of hooks over one shoulder, his bag tucked under the other arm. Hollister couldn't believe his eyes. Is this kid suicidal?!
"You lost your MIND son?!"
He snorted. Oh if you only knew pops. "Do you REALLY want an answer to that?"
Hollister felt a chill glide down his back and turned away, suddenly finding the brake lever and control panel very interesting.
"Never mind-OH!"
Ed nearly became a human pancake, windmilling his arms to keep from pitching off the side.
"WHAT?!"
Then he saw it.
The side track loomed. He felt the wheels shift as Hollister began preparing to guide the train into its safety. Time to bail. Clutching his bag to his chest, Ed backed up until he felt sure he could get a good running start.
Hollister glanced through the half open door just in time to see the tall blonde lower himself into a runner's crouch.
"What're you doing?! No! NO!"
Ed blurred into motion.
I'm going.
And jumped.
Hard-packed earth and knife-edged rocks rushed eagerly to greet him. A huge boulder thrust its unforgiving nose in his face but thanks to his martial arts training Ed twisted to avoid impact, left leg absorbing the force as he pushed off its surface.
He hit the dirt, executing a perfet roll to regain his feet. Without stopping he started to run, a rare smile splitting his face.
Whoever this woman was, she was giving him a run for his money.
And he was loving every second of it.
A/N: He's close people. And cliffhangers are love.
See you in the next chapter!