25:The Fighting Power

"Belphoebe!" Christin called as she jogged down the hallway to the circular room she had first been given her Godchild scepter. "What's going on?"

"Monsters are attacking the temple. We need to assemble anyone who can fight and evacuate those who can't," the blond woman replied. "Do you have your scepter?"

"Yeah, but it's still broken," she grumbled.

"You have to try to make it work," she insisted.

"Don't be stupid!" Edward's voice barked. "I might be a little loopy but I can still fight!" he snapped as he staggered into the room.

"Christin, talk some sense into him!" Santi whined, stomping her foot angrily.

"Because of your condition, I should tell you to leave while you can, but because of your skill and past experiences I'm going to allow you to stay. Don't make me regret it," she sighed, scratching her head.

"Who do you think you're talking to? I've gotta break these in," Edward grinned, tapping his new arm.

"Now would be a good time to start the breaking-in process," Belphoebe commented. "We've got company."

"Ugh, these are even worse than the ones we fought back in Sonora," Tobias groaned, grimacing at a monster.

"Okay, um… Saito said there were weapons in this thing. How do I… whoa!" Edward exclaimed as his right arm suddenly transformed from an arm into a high-tech gun-like thing. "I could have fun with this," he chuckled.

"Now is not the time to act like a child, Edward!" Christin snapped. She snapped her fingers and a white barrier appeared, creating a temporary barrier against the monsters. She grabbed her scepter and shook it, trying to get it to activate.

"We have to go, now!" Belphoebe commanded, ushering them out of the room while the barrier still held. "I told you, you need to have a strong desire to protect in order to activate it."

"I do, it's still not working!" the singer panted as they ran down the hallway. "Some powers! They don't even work!"

"Then it must be because of that…" the chieftain mused.

"Don't be ridiculous…" the brunette muttered, shaking her head.

"Duck!" Edward barked, skidding to a stop in front of the small group. He aimed his cybernetics at a monster lurching towards them at a frightening speed and wished for it to fire or shoot or whatever it was supposed to do. An orb of white light tinted blue and gold shot out from it, plunging right through the monster's belly. The beast convulsed and exploded, sending chunks of metal and flesh everywhere. Warm blood the color of dirty oil splattered on the ground, staining the people's clothing and sending a dank stench into the air.

"Ew…" Christin grimaced, carefully pulling chunks of flesh out of her hair. "Come on, work already!" she hissed, shaking her scepter again.

"Alphonse…" Winry's voice said shakily. He turned around to see her pointing at a horde of Unforgiven.

"Great…" he grumbled. As if things weren't bad enough. First half of Rush Valley got destroyed by that strange earthquake yesterday, and then he got a call saying that the same thing happened in Central the day before, and now this.

"We're gonna need a lot more slayers…" Marcus said dryly, instinctively touching his gun. It was specially made to shoot doses of euphorium at the Unforgiven.

"You should get out of here," Katie said firmly.

"What?" Ai asked. Surely the Grand Creatrix didn't intend to…

"I can handle them myself. I can distribute euphorium in the air, but you'll all need to get out of range," the black-haired mechanic replied. "Don't worry about me; I'm immune to the drug's effects."

"We better go," Alphonse nodded, ushering everyone away.

"Where will we go?" Aislinn inquired.

"I'm not sure," he replied. "Somewhere we'll be safe, I suppose."

"And that would be where? There are Unforgiven in nearly every city!" Ai retorted.

"Now is not the time for an attitude, Ai," he snapped. She bit her lip and stopped talking.

Aislinn pulled out the hourglass Tobias gave her before they left. Absurdly calm amidst the tumult forming, she turned it over and watched the sand begin to fall. Around her the scenery began to change, the colors and shapes blurring and blending together. In a flash of purple light, everything returned to normal.

"What was that?" she muttered, looking at the sand. It had stopped falling, like time had frozen it in place.

"Mommy," a small voice chirped. She looked down to see a child no older than four gazing up at her with large grey eyes. She wore a hooded dress with floppy rabbit ears on the hood, and had long hair the same color as Alphonse's. "I can help."

"'Mommy'?" Aislinn repeated. Who was this child, and where were her parents? And why did she look like Alphonse?

"Katal-kyrie, I'm here," she said, turning to Katie.

"Mirian," she acknowledged the child. "I was wondering when you'd show up."

"You know I could only come when the hourglass was activated," she said plainly. "Shall we get started?"

"Yes, let's," the mechanic replied. "You best be on your way. We'll join you when it's taken care of."

"No…" Alphonse said suddenly, a sweet chiming sound resonating inside him. "I can't leave yet." He pulled out his scepter, which was glowing shades of blue and green.

"It's glowing…" Christin stated. Everyone turned to stare at her. Her scepter was glowing steadily, throwing a green and blue light on the immediate area. "Come on… synchronize…"

"What are you talking about?" Santi asked.

"Synchronize…" she repeated, placing both hands on the scepter. It grew to its full size in an instant, creating a small bubble of gold light.

"Synchronize…" Alphonse murmured, closing his eyes. His body acted on its own, jabbing the full-length scepter into the ground. Gold light shot out from the place the staff met the ground and wrapped around him. A moment later he stood ready for battle, garbed in green and blue armor with pale green circuit board on various parts. He grabbed his scepter and aimed it at the Unforgiven.

"Daddy!" Mirian exclaimed. "You did it!"

"Everyone stand back," he ordered. "Marcus, give me some of your euphorium."

"Right," he replied, tossing a couple doses to him.

He cracked the containers open and poured the liquid drug onto the top of his scepter, completely dousing the bronze eagle at the top. He lifted it high above his head and swung it around in a neat circle. The drug changed from a liquid to a gas and shot towards the Unforgiven. He put up a dome-shaped barrier around everyone as the drug dispersed in the air.

"He activated it… his Godchild form…" Katie breathed. A smile tugged at her lips. "Well done."

"Quickly, go to the Army Ward!" Belphoebe ordered when the golden light died away. "Santi, show her the way, now!"

"What happened to me?" Christin asked, glancing down at herself as Santi dragged her down an empty hallway. She wore a strange blue and green outfit and her hair had grown and changed color. A random mirror showed her the full effect: long hair streaked blue and green, light green circuit board on parts of her armor, and a strange visor.

"You activated your Godchild form," Santi explained, turning sharply and skidding across the floor slightly.

"But I thought I couldn't activate it unless the corresponding Godchild… Al?" she gasped.

"You called?" his voice asked, crackling a bit with static.

"Did you transform?" she asked into her communicator.

"Yes. What about you?"

"I did…" she mumbled. "What's going on over there?"

"Well, the earth's been split open pretty badly in Central and half of Rush Valley is missing because the same thing happened here, the Unforgiven are assembling themselves and we don't know why, and some little girl who looks like me just showed up out of nowhere," he listed.

"Sounds like fun," she rolled her eyes. "Look, we're under attack right now, so I gotta go. I'll contact you when I can."

"Here we are," Santi panted.

"What is this place?" Christin asked. Dozens of machines were built into the walls, covered in vines and other plants to show how often they had been used. The metal was rusted and decaying, and some of the internal structures could be seen on some machines. Row upon row of the machines, which vaguely resembled some sort of soldier, lined the walls, going up towards the ceiling and spanning the entire length of the walls. Intricate carvings on the floor headed to the center of the room. Santi brushed away dead leaves and dirt, revealing a rather large hole in the very center of the carved design.

"The Army Ward. It's where the mechanical soldiers used during the fourth world war were stored and preserved. After they were shut down, it has been impossible to re-activate them… until now," she explained.

"Let me guess… I have to start them up," the Godchild sighed, folding her arms.

"If you don't mind," Santi replied grimly. "This port… it somewhat resembles the end of your scepter. Try jabbing it in there."

"Right…" Christin sighed, walking over to the center of the room and poising her scepter over it.

"Ah," Edward breathed sharply.

"Dad?" Tobias asked.

"I can feel it…" the elder blond mumbled, moving his left hand over his heart. "I can feel the heartbeat of a thousand souls inside me."

"I think you've been spending a little too much time around Mom's comic books," Tobias commented wryly.

"One thousand souls… one thousand times the power… one thousand enemies… one shot…" Edward babbled, aiming his cybernetics at the growing number of Techno-Cretins gathering around them. Countless reptilian beasts encircled the three people, growling and snarling hungrily while acidic drool burnt holes in the floor as it dripped from their open maws. He lifted his cybernetic arm above his head as it changed form once again. A deep cracking sound resonated in the hallway as a sonic wave burst from the machine. Tobias and Belphoebe ducked low to the ground as the pale blue attack spread over the area, obliterating any beasts it touched. Blue lightning shot across the expanse, crawling across the floor and creeping up the wall. Walls shot up from the ground and a doorway appeared. The three dashed inside before more monsters could come.

"That was amazing, Dad!" Tobias grinned.

"Lady Elric made sure that your replacements would aid your alchemic talent," Belphoebe commented.

"Agh!" Christin's voice cried from somewhere in the temple. "Santi!"

"No…" Tobias sped up his running a bit and pulled ahead quickly. The three emerged in a large room built from humanoid machines. Christin stood in the middle, clutching her scepter in fear. Santi was lying on the floor, blood flowing steadily from a vicious bite mark on her left shoulder. A canine-esque beast stood over her, blood dripping from its fangs and a steady growl rumbling in its throat. Edward clapped and touched the ground, sharp spikes shooting up from the ground and piercing the beast's belly. It fell to the floor dead.

"There's too many…" Christin mumbled, glancing up at her family. "We can't win right now…"

"What happened? I thought you…" Belphoebe started.

"It didn't last…" she replied, shaking her head. Her scepter fell to the floor, clattering loudly against the cold stones.

"It feels good to be back to normal," Alphonse said, stretching his arms above his head.

"But you were so cool when you were all transformed like that!" Ai gushed.

"Daddy, Daddy!" Mirian exclaimed, reaching for the man. "Daddy, I missed you!"

"I missed you too," he said, picking up the child and setting her on his lap. "Even though I have no idea who you are."

"I'm your daughter, silly," Mirian giggled. "I came from the future to help you because if I don't the future won't come."

"That makes no sense," he sighed.

"The future only comes to pass because she came back here to ensure its passage," Katie explained.

"Again, doesn't make sense," he huffed.

"It will, in due course. Right now, I suggest you head east. The east seems to be free of turmoil for the time being, as far as you can," the mechanic explained.

"Risembool?" Winry suggested.

"No, that's too obvious," Katie dismissed. "And too close. Risembool might be hit next."

"I know where we can go," Alphonse stated.

"Agh, crap!" Christin spat. She fell to the ground and clutched her leg where a Techno-Cretin bit it. She kicked it and it backed away, snarling. A quick shot from Edward killed it.

"You okay?" he asked, ripping part of her dress off and tying it around the wound.

"I've been better," she replied, grinding her teeth against the pain as he tightened the temporary bandage. "How about you?"

"Still dizzy, but I can make it," he chuckled dryly, standing up. He faltered and dropped to his knees.

More monsters crowded around them, forming a small pocket of air. A constant echo of growls and grumblings filled the air. Tobias was half crouching over a barely conscious Santi. Belphoebe knelt down next to Edward and Christin.

"We need to get you out of here," she muttered softly. "There's a ventilation shaft at the far end of the room. It comes out at the base of the gardens. Liluye will be waiting there to take you all to safety."

"What about you?" Christin asked, supporting Edward as the dizziness slowly faded.

"I'll hold them off as long as I can. Head east," the chieftain ordered. She brought her hands around in a circle and clapped, light pink lightning forming from the friction. "Go now!" she barked as pink flames filled the room. Christin dragged Edward towards the end of the room, grabbing Tobias's wrist in the process.

"No, Santi will die!" he protested.

"It'll be alright!" Belphoebe called over the roar of the flames. "I'll take care of her and meet up with you when I can!"

"There it is!" Christin cried happily. "Tobias, go open that grate!'

"Right," he nodded, forcing himself to run ahead. He pried the grate open and dragged it halfway off, revealing the long shaft below. "Mom, behind you!" he pointed at a large monster resembling a lion.

"Shoot!" she spat. Before she could think she kicked the grate away and shoved Tobias and Edward down it.

The last thing Edward saw before blacking out was her being knocked sideways as the lion cretin viciously chomped on her shoulder, its claws digging into her arm and leaving long red cuts down the entire appendage. A drop or two of warm blood landed on his face as he fell towards the bottom.

"Christin!" he cried for all he was worth. The metal of the shaft was cold and hard against his head.

Tobias awoke some time later, shivering from the cold. He pushed his hair out of his face, dried blood falling from the golden locks in small flakes and chunks. His father lay next to him, his blond hair strewn across his face and matted to his skin. Dried blood covered most of his face and glistened in the slivers of moonlight. He shifted his weight gingerly; his abdomen was throbbing in pain. He pressed a hand to his ribs, feeling for broken bones. Everything felt normal, so he'd probably have some bruises within a few days. He crawled over to the other person in the shaft, checking him for broken bones too. He came out okay, though he had some nasty cuts on his head and chest. Tobias tore at his already ripped shirt and wrapped it as best as he could across his father's forehead. He lacked the energy to properly heal the wounds, so the impromptu tourniquet would have to suffice.

"Okay, come on," he grunted, proceeding to turn his father around and drag him towards the exit. He kicked the grate open and it fell to the muddy ground, splashing him with the brown muck.

He hooted softly and a few moments later Liluye appeared. She cooed gently and flapped her wings once.

"He's alive, don't worry," he chuckled dryly as he dragged Edward to the massive owl. Liluye got down as low as she could and Tobias did his best to lift Edward onto her back. He clambered on after wards and set his father somewhat on his lap. "Fly east," he commanded.

Liluye cooed once and stretched her wings, getting ready for takeoff. Before he could blink she had left the ground far behind and was soaring among the remaining clouds from that day's rainstorm. Slowly, almost hesitantly, he turned his head and watched the temple shrink as he was flown farther and farther away. Why did it feel like he was forgetting something? Belphoebe would be taking care of the Techno-Cretins and Santi, that he was sure of. His father was lying across his lap and making his legs fall asleep, so he knew that person wasn't missing. Soshi would have gotten out, the cockroach. He had seen him get so badly beaten so many times he wondered if he was indestructible.

So who was he forgetting? His father was safe… his extended family was still back in the old world… his friends were in good care… where was his mother?

"Mother…?" he asked aloud. Did he have one? He must've had one; how else would he have come into existence? He tried very hard to remember. He tried to recall her face; nothing came to mind. Her voice; nothing.

He could remember nothing about the woman who had brought him into this world. That notion alone made one lone tear roll down his cheek, taking with it blood and dirt.

A/N: okay, this wraps up the first arc of INDC. Next is 'The Half-Forgotten Dream'. R&R please!