A/N: I'm back to working on TWAS now! I hope you liked the two one-shots I published. So, on with the story! Thank you for all the support! I'm really grateful to you all for taking the time to hit those buttons and type those reviews!
Examination Room 3B
Gardner General Hospital
1650 Hours
1 week later
"Before we start, let's get one thing straight. This isn't a prosecution. Nothing you say will be used against you. Make yourself comfortable. Say anything you feel like."
"So why am I here?"
"This was the only place we could secure on such a short notice. Don't worry, this won't take too long. Now let's begin." The investigator shuffled his papers and placed one in front of himself. "Some establishing questions. Where were you and what were you doing when you were captured?"
Roy thought for a second. "I was heading to investigations. I opened the door and got smacked in the face by a rifle. They ripped off my ignition gloves and drugged me." The investigator wrote down the response and nodded.
"Okay. Describe the place they took you to." His eyes became haunted as he remembered his captivity.
"I woke up in… I guess just a concrete room. That was it. No other features, except for a few mountings on the walls. Riza… I mean the lieutenant and I were restrained to those." Roy paused and thought for a moment. "After a little questioning they took us down and threw us in a cell. Only one bed and a sink. They threw in a few bandages too." The investigator noted this as well.
"Alright. The Elrics were in the… structure with you as well, weren't they?" Roy nodded.
"Yes, but they were held in another part of the building and not questioned very much." He paused. "Why is this investigation being held, anyways?"
"We're attempting to trace the Drachmans who captured you back to their home base. If we can officially implicate Drachma, well…" The investigator shrugged. "That's above my pay grade. Let's continue." He pulled another paper out. "This one's interesting. How did you and lieutenant Hawkeye manage to break free? From the Elrics' initial reports, it seems like you two freed them."
On the outside Roy appeared impassive, if deep in thought. On the inside he was panicking. His brain was divided into two factions: one ordering him to be a good soldier and reveal Riza's abilities, the other one shouting at him to protect Riza and not spill. After a long and intense campaign lasting all of several seconds, one faction used superior tactics, heavy artillery, and sheer numbers to beat the other side into submission.
"I'm not entirely sure. It happened really fast. I think Riza managed to grab a gun and shoot the ones dragging us out of the room. After that it was just run and gun." The inspector set the pen down.
"One last question. Do you know what happened to lieutenant Hawkeye?" Roy looked down at his hands.
"… I wish I knew. I wish I knew."
"… Thank you for your time, colonel."
Central City
Central Headquarters
1000 Hours
The sergeant sitting at the front desk of the Central Headquarters yawned and flipped the page of his newspaper. Nothing was happening. There was never any excitement around here. Oh sure, there had been some excitement back when Flame had disappeared, but that was so far above his pay grade as to be in space. Now, there was nothing to do but read the newspaper and nod at the people who came in.
The front doors opened and two sets of footsteps came in. The sergeant didn't look up, just held out his hand for the ID badges. "Welcome. ID please." He grunted out the minimum regulation greeting.
"Here you go sergeant." He took the IDs without looking, did a quick check, then handed them back.
"Thank you for your cooperation." The sergeant glanced up as he handed the badges back, looked back at his newspaper, then whipped his head back up in surprise. "Wait a second… are you really…?"
Roy nodded. "Thank you, sergeant." His escort, a young Internal Security corporal, whispered urgently in his ear.
"Colonel, I apologize but we need to get moving." He looked down at the corporal for a second then nodded in affirmative.
"Very well. Let's go." The two walked off, leaving a gaping sergeant behind. This day had been coming for a while. Even though Roy was still on crutches and had regular treatment and therapy, duty called. There was important work to be done in order to save the country. Without it the military would collapse. Yes.
It was time to put his signature on meaningless documents. God. Dammit. "Doesn't getting almost killed excuse me from paperwork?" Silence was as good as a response. "The brass really don't care, do they?" Roy murmured to himself. Then again, the military high council didn't seem to care much about what happened to anybody below the rank of brigadier general.
The office door loomed large in his vision. How long had it been since he had set foot in here? A month? Felt like more. "Show time."
There was only silence in the office as pens scratched on paper. It wasn't the depressed, heavy silence that had occupied the room for the month or so, but it was still tense. Team Mustang still didn't know where Riza was and Mustang wouldn't be all systems go for a weeks or even months to come. Thus when the door opened they were all caught by surprise. "What the… boss! What are you doing here?! You're supposed to be resting!"
Roy tiredly waved off their concerns. "I'm functional. It's good to see you all again." He mustered a tired smirk. "Did you blow anything up while I was gone?" The IS corporal left, closing the door behind him.
Havoc shot back "No sir, we were saving that for you once you got back. Besides, you're in no condition to be blowing stuff up. Hell, I bet you can't even snap."
"Believe me, if I had my way I'd be in a hospital bed getting washed by the nurses but the brass decided to be dicks and cut my stay short. From now on I'm working again." He glanced at the shift timers. "Any reason why you didn't mark the lieutenant and I as absent?"
Fuery was the one who answered the question. "You weren't really gone. You just weren't here at that time." He smiled. "We didn't need to set it to absent."
He couldn't help it. The earnestness in Fuery's voice made Roy laugh, a small, short, chuckle. "Thanks Fuery. Thank you all of you. It's nice to know you didn't give up on me."
Falman pulled a face. "About giving up on people. Rumour says they're already planning Hawkeye's funeral. Two or three weeks until it happens."
"They've given up on her already? Doesn't she deserve a little more time?"
"Honestly, I think it's for the best. It's time to move on. It's what she would want. Come on. We have work to do."
Amestrian Military Cemetery
Central City
1700 Hours
Two weeks had gone by. Riza's official status was confirmed as "missing in action, presumed dead".
"Attention!" In front of the empty coffin, seven soldiers snapped to crisp attention, white gloves contrasting with blue dress uniforms. First lieutenant Riza Hawkeye was being buried with full honors in lieu of an actual body. Team Mustang stood at the front of the mourning soldiers, at attention. Beside them were the Elrics, hands clasped in front and heads bowed. Behind them stood several ranks of soldiers, all former comrades of Ishval or people who had known lieutenant Hawkeye in life.
"… and though she is lost to us, she lives on through us, and through our deeds, and through our memories."
"Present, arms!" In unison, Seven rifles snapped up from the ground into the air.
"Her selfless sacrifice has enabled us, and ennobled us, to carry on. She will not be forgotten." The chaplain finished the regulation funerary rights and stepped back, nodding to the sergeant.
"Right shoulder, arms!" All the soldiers in the rifle squad were sharpshooters, a tribute to the best sniper Amestris had ever known.
Unknown Location
Unknown Time
"Welcome back. We have a hot meal and a drink waiting for you. Do you have the package?"
"Yes. I'm afraid it's all we were able to salvage, sir."
"That's alright. Better than nothing."
"This had better be worth it. We wasted two and a half medical kits on this shit."
"Trust me, lieutenant, this will be worth the lives of your men. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten."
"Take aim!" The rifles were brought up and aimed into the sky. Roy braced himself for the gunshots. Havoc noticed and quietly patted his shoulder.
"Don't worry. We're here for you. We'll get through this."
"Fire!"
"Well, where is it?"
"It's in the back. I'll need some help getting it out, it's not easy to move."
"I'll send some men out. Get some food, you've earned it."
"Thank you, sir."
Roy stood still, staring straight ahead, not looking at anything in particular. If he could be said to be focused on something, it would have been that empty coffin. In a way, it would have been better if there had been a body. That way he could have had some closure. He prepared not to flinch at the second volley.
"Fire!"
"Goddamn, why is this thing so heavy?"
"Remember what's inside it, dipshit?"
"Oh yeah. How are they keeping it quiet, anyways?"
"You'd be amazed what a few weeks of one-eighth rations combined with a few drugs can do for a person. I should know."
"… Do I want to know why?"
"No."
"Fire!" The last volley was shot, the rifles were lowered, the soldiers stood at attention. The coffin was slowly lowered into the grave. The burial detail stepped forward and began to shovel dirt in. Team Mustang saluted the grave the entire time.
"Honor guard, form up!" The soldiers turned and arrayed themselves in a half circle facing the grave, rifles at their shoulders. A bugler played Taps.
"Let's go. It's time to head back." Roy held his hand up.
"Just… 5 minutes. I just need 5 minutes." A light breeze blew through the cemetery scattering leaves and small pebbles. He held his cap in front of his chest with one hand, then took out a pistol with the other. Roy stared at it for a good long time.
Unable to bear the silence any longer, he spoke to the grave. "This pistol saved my life, you know. You created it. I never got to properly thanked you. I suppose I never will now. Still, you would want me to move on, not to dwell on it. Probably good advice. You never let me down. So, here's to us, and what could have been. One last hurrah." He held the pistol up.
"Yes, just put the package on the loading dock. Careful! It's fragile goods."
"You don't say." The soldiers placed the crate down with great care.
"Get the facility ready for the package. I want class five restraints on the package from the moment she wakes up. At least three guards on her at all times. From what you've told me, we ought to take no chances."
"If you really want my advice, sir, you'll execute the bitch and save us all the trouble. She probably doesn't know anything anyway."
Roy walked away from the gravestone. He climbed into the official car along with the rest of his team. The seat embraced him as he sat down, inviting him just to sink into it and forget his troubles. He sighed and tugged off his ignition gloves. Resting his elbows on his knees, he nodded to the driver.
As the car moved off, the breeze stopped. A single leaf came to rest on the pistol sitting against the headstone. The freshly dug earth lay still. Nothing disturbed the silence. As far as the world was concerned, Riza Hawkeye was dead.
"Alright people, get ready. The gas is wearing off. Don't let her do anything."
"Don't need to tell me twice."
"Where are we moving her again?"
"Just follow me. Okay, here we go."
Central Headquarters
Central City
1900 Hours
Riza's desk sat empty in the office. Looking at it tore a fresh wound in Roy. "How long do you think it'll be until they replace her?" He glared at Breda. The target of his glare shrugged. "Just saying. Remember when Collins bought it?"
Falman pulled a face. "How could we forget? We found enough pieces to fill a shoebox, if the blood hadn't soaked through first."
Breda nodded. "Yeah, that was one assignment I'm glad I wasn't on. The replacement came pretty damn fast, don't you think? We reported for duty the week after that and there was some greenie sitting at his desk."
Fuery ended the trip down memory lane. "Let's not talk about this right now." A meaningful nod towards Mustang.
He stood up from the desk. "The lieutenant wouldn't want us to hang onto her. She would want us to move on." A long sigh, a heavy silence. "Let's get to work." As he walked to his desk, he set Riza's shift timer to "absent".
"Good night, Riza. Good work. See you in the morning."
The package slowly stirred and yawned. She blinked open one eye, shaking away the fog of a drug induced sleep.
"She's awake. You do the honors, lieutenant." A rough backhand woke her up instantly and a gasp escaped her before she could bite it back. Her eyes focused on the scene in front of her. They widened with fear.
No! No! I escaped from that! We made it out! Why am I here?! Why?!
A grin. "Good morning, lieutenant Hawkeye. I'm so glad you could be here today. We have much to discuss."
A/N: Annnd finish! Thank you for reading my one shots and the previous chapter! I hope you didn't wait too long for this chapter. I honestly think it's pretty shitty.
Yeah.
Ugh. Anyways, help me make this better. Fave, follow, and mash that review button!