"Miss Winry is here too? I wasn't planning on her coming as well." This would make things all the more difficult for the General.
Chapter Fourteen-Escape
"The Fullmetal alchemist," Keeton scoffed while rubbing his chin, "You? Somehow I doubt that. And besides from what I heard he can't even perform alchemy anymore. So why should I even care if you are really him?" Edward could feel his temper rising in his throat but held it in as best he could. A sly grin formed on his mouth as he thought up a witty come back.
"Well with alchemist like you running around, using it for your own profit, I think I'd rather just be normal." There was a huff from behind and Mustang held his head.
"Gee thanks Ed, appreciate you lumping me in with him." Edward glanced back and shrugged. When he turned back to the three standing between him and the exit, he noticed Keeton's two men had their guns drawn now. The blond slumped his shoulders and let out a sigh.
"Really? This is how we're doing this? With guns? How cliche."
"As enjoyable as this has been gentlemen, I can't have you reporting back to Central about what you found. I'm sure you understand my reasoning."
"Wouldn't want us ruining your plans or anything." The General stared in shock as the Major continued to egg them on. He couldn't for the life of him understand why he kept the tough act up. "We just know too much so you can't let us leave, right?"
"Exactly, wow you're really taking this bett..." The soul of Ed's boot made contact with Keeton's face, knocking him off his feet. Swinging around, he brought his leg up and kicked to his left, sending one gun to the ground. Marcus grabbed his hand, trying to figure out why there was so much momentum behind the attack. The Major had moved quicker then he or his colleague had anticipated. Without warning, a shot was fired, grazing Ed's left shoulder. The deafening sound didn't stop him though. Bringing his attention behind him, he swung his arm around, nailing the other guy in the face. Realizing Mustang was still standing there in shock, he grit his teeth and hollered back to him.
"What are you just standing there for, let's get the hell out of here!" Marcus tried to grab Ed from behind and Roy moved quickly, snapping his fingers. The sound bounced off the walls, sending flames around the confined area. The Major elbowed the taller man in the face before ducking away from the General's attack. "You idiot, don't you know this stuff is toxic! You don't just go shooting flames off!"
"Just move! And don't call your superior officer an idiot!" The two of them started up the stairs towards the exit. Just as Roy reached the top, another eardrum piercing gun shot sounded. He paused in his escape as an intense pain ripped through his left side. It forced him to drop to his knees. Glancing back down, he saw the Steel Mason Alchemist still aiming at him. He had to get out of sight. Stumbling back up he made it several feet before going down again. Edward had already made it back to the office, unaware of the General's absence. He could hear Keeton's heavy footsteps coming up the stairs at a leisurely pace.
"Yah know I wanted to make this quick and painless. Now I'm gonna have all this evidence to clean up." Roy glanced up at the other alchemist to see the man's expression had no feeling in it whatsoever. "I don't know if you are aware of this Flame alchemist but there are those of us still in the military that aren't particularly pleased with how things are going. And let's face it, the current Furer already has his favorites. We all know what's going to happen when he steps down and that means my side hobbies really won't go unnoticed. So we're just going to have to keep that from happening, won't we?" Mustang squinted through the pain while he held onto his side.
"That's what this was all about? So what? Do you think you're a runner up if you get rid of me?" The large man grinned in response which was all the answer needed. Mustang noticed Keeton's two men rush up the stairs in a hurry, quickly going to retrieve Edward."You know it's a shame that you brought the Major along, he shouldn't have to die because of you. But then you always did manage to put people lives at risk if they got too close to you."
Roy raised his hand, trying to focus on torching the man before him. Unfortunately Keeton was faster as he stretched his fingers out at his side, sending an unnatural glow through the silver rings decorating his hand. A metal spike shot up from the ground nearby, slicing through the Flame alchemist's hand and the transmutation circle on the back of his glove. He let out a yelp and fell backwards. As he tried to scoot back to get away, the Colonel kicked him in the chest, causing the arm he was leaning back on to give. Keeton's heavy boot came down on his rib cage and he leaned all his weight forward until he heard a satisfying crack. The General groaned loudly through his teeth. "You really are determined to make this more difficult then it needs to be. As creative as I usually am, I'm afraid I'm in a bit of a hurry now that you've decided to be difficult." Keeton raised the gun,aiming it at Roy's head and cocked it loudly. "Goodbye General." Before he had a chance to fire there was the sound of his men yelling and something large came crashing through the rear wall. The military car came to a screeching hault and Ed got out.
"What part of 'let's get the hell out of here' didn't you understand?" The blond was tossing something up and down in his hand. The Steel Mason alchemist got a better look and realized it was a grenade.
"Where did you get that?"
"Please, it's not like you're very good at hiding things. When you label a box in your office, it makes the guess work so much easier." Keeton brought the gun up, now aiming at Ed. He ducked back into the car and hit the gas. The vehicle flew forward, forcing the man with the gun to jump out of the way. Edward got out again and motioned to the General to get into the passenger side. Roy forced himself up and made it into the car. A scream of anger came from the front of the car as Keeton stood back up.
"You little bastard! How dare you interfere!" An intense fire sparked in the former alchemist's amber eyes at the older man's remark. Without a second thought, he pulled the pin on the grenade still in his hand and tossed it lazily towards the hidden storage room in the corner. The hand held object bounced down the stairs before skidding across the floor. The explosion shook the ground and ripped a hole in the earth, demolishing most of what remained of the warehouse. The Steel Mason alchemist stared in shock as his precious materials were destroyed. Before Ed could think of anything poetic and sarcastic, there was the sound of another engine starting up. Quickly he got into the driver's seat and took off down the street just as the other vehicle pulled onto the road after them. Roy sat up in his seat some.
"Do you even know how to drive?"
"What's to know?"
"That's reassuring." The Flame alchemist inspected his glove. He might be able to still use it.
"Hey, who just saved your ass, a thank you would be appreciated right about now."
"Fine, whatever. Just don't get us killed."