Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
They have removed Martel's body and they are grouped now in a tight circle about him.
"She's an impressive cross-bread." Havoc remarks, his tone making the words less callous than they might, otherwise, have seemed.
"She is one of Dr. Marho's creations." Major Armstrong remarks.
"You've known about this for a long time haven't you, major? I can't help but wonder what else you're keeping from us." Havoc's words set a murmur in the group and, unsettled by this, he informs them,
"The major had not involvement in this matter, I have done this all off of my own back." He allows the others time to process this information before informing them, "I have learned something very important, something that I can not discuss with you but that is pressing me to ask that you remain as a united front." The group look to one another and then the colonel says,
"It seems to me that Hughes had a hand in the major's behaviour…you'd think he'd try to enjoy his honorary dismissal wouldn't you?"
"Why was the Lieutenant dismissed?" He enquires.
"Central had become a dangerous place and I had no want to see him hurt simply because he thought I needed looking after. Hughes refused to leave the matter alone and so I called in a few favours." The colonel smiles and, tapping him gently on the head, he says, "I am sure that everyone has jobs that they need to get back to," before he steps free the circle.
The others drift away but a little after that and he is left alone with the vivid replay of Martel's final truths.
"They are going to turn Liore into another Ishibal."
"What are you saying?"
"That man, the Fuhrer, he is a Homunculus."
……………………………………………………………………………………..
From the window of the small bedroom that had, for all intense purposes, become his prison cell, he has the perfect view of the meeting that Scar has called.
The other is telling the people of how the military will try to justify an attack on Liore and of the plan that he has created to save the city.
He watches as the other takes up Rose's hand and then transmutes a simple stone into a finely crafted statue.
"It must have been hard for you to prop up a mute as a spiritual leader." He remarks.
"Rose gave us the courage to fight for what we believed in and to stand on our own two feet." One of his guards remarks.
"If that's true then you wouldn't need her to lead you." He counters.
"We all need some form of guidance in our lives, Edward, such is humanities true weakness." Lyra remarks as she comes to stand next to him.
A familiar scent catches his nose a moment later and, curious despite himself, he enquires,
"Are you wearing perfume?"
"I am, for I have not yet had time to bathe."
"You'll forgive the enquiry, it's just that that smell makes me think of how very ill my father is." She gives no response to this but rather enquires,
"What do you plan to do next?"
"I have to stop, Scar."
"I shall admit that there is a clear flaw to his plan."
"How surprising, I'd believed you were with him all the way."
"I admire his want to protect the city but that is all."
"I see." He processes this information a moment and then he enquires, "Will you do me a favour, Lyra?"
…………………………………………………………………………………..
Stepping into the colonel's office he is greeted with the familiar circle of individuals and, hesitating on the threshold of the doorway, he enquires,
"What is going on?"
"Come and sit down, Al." The colonel remarks as he gestures to the empty seat at his left.
Once he is seated the colonel produces a letter from his back pocket and says,
"I received this letter this morning."
"Is it from 'niichan?"
"That is correct. Edward has written to assure us of his safety and to inform us of the current situation in Liore. It seems that Scar has turned the city into a transmutation circle and that, should we cross into the circle, it will be activated."
"Scar intends to use your lives to create a philosopher's stone." Everyone in the circle is shocked by this revelation and, concern clear in her every word, the colonel enquires,
"Did you two not step away from the pursuit of the stone?"
"We had, indeed, given up that desire and then we learned that the main ingredient was human lives, learned also that, in some manner, tousan was tied into the mystery surrounding the stone."
"It seems I have little choice." The colonel remarks before saying, "Alphonse, I am sending you to meet Edward in Liore and the rest of us shall bide our time. The villagers will eventually surrender and we shall arrest Scar then."
"Thank you, colonel." He remarks.
The other smiles softly and then says, "Would you return this to Edward," as he passes a silver pocket watch towards him.
"Of course I shall, sir."
………………………………………………………………………………….
Scar steps into the room, an excitement clear in both his posture and his eyes.
"They have begun pre-emptive attacks in the hopes of dividing our forces and making us weaker. I shall give them the impression that we have taken the bate while the rest of you make for the escape tunnels as planned."
Scar talks, briefly, to some of the followers and then he comes to stand before him,
"I am trusting you to guard them and to see them safe from this place, Edward Elric." The other remarks as he releases the cuffs that have, until that moment, restrained his wrists.
"I shall do what I can." He remarks as he gains his feet.
Lyra catches him a moment later and says,
"I thought that you would put up more of a resistance than that."
"My letter will have insured that no more soldiers cross into Liore and, without a suitable volume of ingredients, Scar will be unable to create a stone."
"Yet without a stone Liore will fall to military rule just as Ishibal before it."
"If that proves the case then you can direct your hatred towards me, for I can do nothing other than continue to straddle the fence."
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
T: Next chapter Sunday, until then why not review?