AN: The other day I went to the cinema to see "Sweeney Todd". Let's just say that the term "meat pie" has a whole new meaning. :D
THANK YOU to everyone who reviewed the last chapter. It had the best response so far from you. Even if the general consensus is that Roy Mustang doesn't read his paperwork before he signs it. "grin". I'm glad though that nobody considered him evil.
Beta: UraharaFangirl90 and cuylerjade. Thank you both very much. I proudly claim all remaining mistakes.
WARNING: Mention of disturbing imagery and situation. That sums it all.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything related to the Fullmetal Alchemist universe/manga/anime, except for this insane plot, so please don't sue!
CHAPTER TEN
That didn't seem possible; his mind refused to believe it, yet clear as day Roy Mustang's signature was on some of the files they retrieved from the research facility.
His hands clutching the thin report and barely containing his anger, General Hakuro spoke in clipped tones to the clearly shaken subordinate:
"There are a lot of unknown facts in this report. I want answers and I want them now. Is that understood Lieutenant? Dismissed." his sharp words making the other man flinch at every sentence.
He waited for the soldier to close the door before supporting his face with his hands, his posture rather slumped. But his mind was filled with plans, calculations, causes and effects as he pondered the situation.
It was a disaster. The main lab was destroyed, the current experiments and most of the researchers either killed, in a coma or severely injured. But the most devastating blow was the lost of the research files. The main laboratory with his intricate web of ancient arrays, which nobody had truly understood, had been their most secure location; so all the research conducted in the other laboratories had been archived in there. All that was left was a handful of ash and some scattered files that had miraculously escaped the fire. Far too little to be sufficient.
If his calculations were correct, the incident put them behind a couple of months from the original plan. And with the danger of discovery increasing exponentially with every passing day, it was simply unacceptable. They would have to act soon.
And nobody knew who was responsible for the fiasco. All the evidence pointed to the two figures that the guards spotted running before the largest of the explosions. From the physical feats described by witnesses at least one of them was a chimera that had simply ignored the summons of the guards, which shouldn't have been impossible. Recalling the other rather impossible incident that held his attention a couple of weeks before, his eyes narrowed in suspicion and his stomach twisted with dread. They had a traitor in their midst, that was the only possible explanation. The only problem was that with all the dead ends, identifying it had become almost impossible. They also had no idea how much information had been leaked out before the explosion.
The situation seemed to slip from his hands, and he hated the feeling. In order to salvage anything, he would have to contact his associates. A change of plans was in order. But first he had some pests to deal with.
With a clear course of action in his mind, he dialed the telephone number with more force than necessary. It was the only outward sign of anger as his face turned impassible once more and his voice held an official tone:
"Colonel Maybourne release the trackers. The targets have to be eliminated at all costs."
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""'
"That IDIOT!" Gripping hard enough to rip the files to pieces, Maes said while pacing the room, his eyes never leaving the information he was reading.
Ok…That was not the reaction I was expecting. Edward was getting dizzy trying to follow his every move. He closed his eyes to regain his bearing before focusing back on the other man. Maes had stopped moving and now had a rather defeated air to him, even if his eyes said that he wouldn't be persuaded without a fight. He sat down on the mattress next to the alchemist and elaborated his point further:
"I've known that man all my life. He's my best friend. We grew up together. He may be a lazy manipulative bastard sometimes - well, most of the time – but I know he wouldn't do this. Not to me." The last sentence was said so softly that Ed barely caught it.
"People change". They wake up one morning, go out to buy milk, and never return, leaving behind their wife and children. Something in his expression must have shown that particular thought for Maes to look at him with…pity. Ed didn't like it. Not one bit. He repeated the statement.
"People change."
"Yes they do" Maes acknowledged that argument. "But at least give him the chance to explain. It's not that we can count on many others for support."
"And let him tell us that he doesn't read his paperwork, or something equally ridiculous? He's not that stupid."
Maes stood up, his back on Edward as he spoke.
"Please, Edward. Trust me on this. At least we should speak with him. Once."
"Fine. But if he's guilty I won't forgive him." Edward voice had a hard tone that Maes had never heard before, at least not from him. The young alchemist had changed, in more ways than first apparent. Apprehension ran down his spine when he remembered the large explosion that helped them escape. The old Edward would have never been so cold. But then again he had changed too. And he'd only been in that dreadful place for a week. Somewhat it felt longer, a lifetime longer.
These thoughts are only distracting me from what needs to be done. With that in mind he went to the window, preparing to jump.
"I'm going to look for phone. I won't be long. Try to get some rest."
Maes jumped, not once looking back. Had he done it, Maes would have seen Edward watching with a curious expression in his eyes. Something akin to…hope.
Landing smoothly on the flat tiles, Maes scented the air. When nothing seemed out of place, he took off with feather light footsteps to a nearby fire escape. He could have jumped down, but he had a feeling that the passerby will have something to say about that. After all, he well knew how fast news traveled in Central.
Oh, the irony of placing a highly illegal research laboratory on the outskirts of the capital. It was either insanity or genius, and it had worked for many years before they made the mistake of kidnapping the force of nature that was Edward Elric.
The feeling of being watched snapped him back to attention. Somebody was out there looking at him and on the mostly deserted street, he was a sitting duck. Trying to look as casual as possible he relaxed his slightly hunched shoulders and lengthened his strides. The crowd was a welcome sight, so he did his best to blend in. He stopped in front of a tea shop as if admiring the cakes put on display, but his keen eyes were searching the reflection for any pursuers.
There, on the corner. Pretending to read a newspaper, the obviously military man was looking anything but casual. Maes softly chuckled and entered the shop, the telephone on the bar his target. He never saw the second pair of eyes that watched him intently from the roof of a nearby building.
Taking some change that came with the coat from his morning explorations, Maes denied an offered menu from pretty waitress and with a steady hand dialed a number he knew by heart. The telephone rang twice before it was picked up.
"Yes?" the lazy voice was exactly who he was expecting and Maes let out a relieved breath that he didn't realized he was holding.
"Hey Roy."
"Who's is it?" Roy voice changed, getting colder.
"It's me. Maes"
Silence greeted his answer and Maes frowned, not familiar with this reaction. He tried again.
"Roy?"
"I don't know who you are I won't tolerate your disrespect to a dead man."
DEAD?!? What do you mean I'm dead?
"No, I…" he never had the chance to explain as Roy continued with a tone cold enough to freeze boiling water.
"This cruel joke ends now. Do it again and I'll be sure to find you and burn you slowly within every inch of your body. Good day" A slam and the conversation was over, leaving Maes slightly stunned.
That hadn't gone as planned. In fact it was the exact opposite. He had to try again but this time he would bring out the big guns. Steeling his resolve he dialed again. Five rings this time, before a very pissed off "Yes?" was heard.
"Remember November the first." It was all that Maes said. Once again silence descended on the other side of the telephone.
AN: I guess the summary will stay the same. Expect the next chapter by Sunday. It's already planned in my mind. Now a question for my readers: Can you guess what animal is Maes combined with?