Ahem...um...so...long story short I started a new job. I've had literally no life to myself for the past 18 months. Government job, what can I say. I'm not promising any chapters, but I will continue this story. It means quite a bit to me that I eventually finish this and now that I suddenly have some free time I'm going to post a couple chapters.
Camp Rodger Young
April 30, 1905
0800 Hours
Around 300 men and women stood in the morning dew in a large formation. Six blocks of roughly fifty in front of a raised platform. The troops were ordered by company and were all in dress uniform. Their company insignia were hanging from a flag carried by one of the troopers in the first rank. They were standing at attention as a colonel none of them knew addressed them. It was so quiet that his voice carried to all of them without him having to raise it at all.
"Ladies and gentlemen, it is my duty to inform you that as of this moment, the basic combat training portion of your service to the Amestrian State Military is complete. As of this moment you are part of a select group. Congratulations, you've earned this...feel free to seem a little excited, troopers. Let me know how you really feel!"
Edward let out a loud woop as Riza grinned at him. Andrea Barrett wolf whistled and Roy Mustang howled like a dog. The drill instructors didn't intervene as the newly minted soldiers celebrated. The colonel looked around and then raised his voice to cut through the noise.
"Eyes front!"
All noise ceased immediately as the training took over and Edward resumed staring at the back of Maes Hughes' head.
"Company commanders, take control of your units."
Captain Jackson saluted the colonel and then performed a perfect about face towards his company.
"Sergeant Major Parris, front and center!"
"Here, sir!" Sergeant Major Parris barked from the rear of the formation. She trotted around the side of the formation and presented herself to Jackson. Words were exchanged and then Parris took a box from another NCO standing nearby. She walked back to Jackson's post and together they moved to the first soldier in the formation. Jackson whispered something to the man, handed him something, and shook his hand. With a right face he moved to the next soldier and repeated the procedure as Parris spoke to the first soldier. They slowly made their way through the formation until they came to Edward and Riza's rank.
They reached Riza first.
"Congratulations, Private Hawkeye." Jackson smiled as he put a set of crossed rifles in Hawkeye's hand. Hawkeye smiled back.
"Thank you, sir."
Edward's heart was pounding in his ears as Jackson moved in front of him. It was so loud that he didn't even hear what Parris said to Hawkeye. Edward put his hand out and Jackson slid the crossed rifles into Edward's hand. He shook Edward's other hand with a knowing smile and said,
"Congratulations, Private Elric."
Edward nodded and then calmed himself as he realized he'd earned the insignia in his hand.
"Thank you, sir."
Jackson nodded and with a right face and a single step, he moved on. Edward's eyes remained locked in the forward position as Sergeant Major Parris stepped in front of him. The Sergeant Major didn't have a smile on her face. Ed swallowed, just like he always did when the Sergeant Major was staring him down. She put her hand out and Edward met her halfway. She still didn't smile, but there was a glint in her eye when she said,
"Welcome to the club, Elric. Don't fuck it up."
"Do my best, Sergeant Major."
"In that case you better let me have those crossed rifles back right now."
"Gonna have to fight me for them, Sergeant Major."
There was the smallest twitch of Elena Parris' lips as she nodded to Edward and moved down the line. Ed let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. He didn't know when the opinions of Parris and Jackson began to mean so much to him, but at that moment their approval of him as a soldier made him feel like he could walk on water.
Eventually, Jackson and Parris reached the last soldier. Parris resumed her position at the rear of the formation and Jackson moved back to the front. They were the last company to finish handing out the crossed rifles. The colonel up front looked around one more time to assure everyone was done before starting.
"One more time from me, troopers. Congratulations."
His next words were the deep bellow of a command.
"Battalion!"
Jackson and the other company commanders followed with,
"Company!"
The platoon leaders shouted
"Platoon!"
The colonel up front finished.
"Dismissed!"
A great cheer went up as hundreds of garrison caps flew into the air and the companies came apart as the soldiers finally let out their excitement. Riza hugged Ed and cheered as the unit collapsed. Riza looked at Ed and held out her crossed rifles.
"I'll pin you, if you'll pin me." Riza smiled.
Ed swiped the pin and stuck it through Hawkeye's lapel as she did the same for him. The gold pins glinted as the sun came down to rest of the troopers. Edward grinned at Riza as she eyed him up and down. She smiled as she looked him in the eyes with a warm smile.
"Looks good on you, soldier."
Camp Rodger Young
April 30, 1905
1400 Hours
Edward and Riza walked back into their barracks to find manila folders on their racks. The other soldiers found the same and began opening them up. Orders to report to their new postings. Edward raised his eyebrows as he saw he was posted to an infantry unit on the outskirts of Central City. The Sixty-Sixth Infantry Regiment. At least he wasn't going to the East.
Last he knew military units in the East were now conducting combat patrols in East City itself. Edward shook his head. His gut told him that the lid was about to blow off of that barrel of fireworks. He idly wondered if the Eastern Headquarters would be able to handle it by themselves. He looked up at Riza who was sitting on her rack quietly. She was excited. Edward could tell.
"Where you going?"
She turned the paper around.
"I've been ordered to report to a base just outside Central. I got picked for some kind of special unit the Army is putting together. They want sharpshooters and Captain Jackson forwarded my range scores." The Expert marksmanship badge on Riza's chest jingled as she stood to put a couple things in her travel bag. Edward smiled and turned his orders around for her to read.
"I'm going to Central to, but I'm not going to any snobby special unit. I'm just a dog face."
Riza smiled.
"At least we'll be close. We're on the same base, look." She pointed to their orders and sure enough, they were both ordered to report to the Central City Military Complex, but their sector orders differed. She was going to Camp Hathcock and he was going to Camp Murphy. Mustang walked over with his olive drab duffle bag over his shoulder. He was wearing the same dark blue fatigues as the rest of the recruits and was ready to leave the base.
"Where are you guys posted?"
Riza looked up from where she was lacing up her boots.
"We're both at CMCC. Different sectors, but CMCC."
Roy nodded as Edward shut his locker after clearing out his meager possessions. The possessions they had arrived with had been seized on day one, but were now returned.
Roy held up his own manila envelope.
"I'm headed for Central to. Officer Candidate School."
Riza smiled as Ed smirked smarmily.
"My oh my, soon you will be an honest to goodness officer. To good to associate with the lower soldiery. High class you will be, oh yes."
Roy turned up his nose.
"Yes, quite. Common enlisted men smell of sweat and hard work."
Roy and Ed laughed together as Hughes walked over with his bag over his shoulder. Riza finished tying her boot laces and came to stand next to Ed. Hughes looked to Roy.
"Ready, buddy? OCS is waiting."
Riza and Ed exchanged a look. Riza held up a hand and pointed to Maes.
"That guy is going to be an officer?"
Maes nodded proudly. Ed crossed himself as Riza raised an eyebrow. The two blondes saluted Maes. Ed's face was serious.
"Allow me to say that I am sure you will make a fantastic officer."
Riza spoke.
"You will lead like no other."
Maes was beaming and Roy held his hands over his ears as he knew what was coming next couldn't be good. The blondes spoke simultaneously,
"But I will desert should I ever be ordered to follow you into battle."
Edward and Riza dropped their salutes and went back to packing their duffel bags.
"What?!"
Maes was aghast. Several recruits turned to look at him from the outburst.
Roy patted him on the shoulder.
"I'm sure you'll make a great officer Maes. These two are just jealous."
Riza snorted as Ed turned a joking smile to Hughes. The man wearing glasses smiled back.
"Desertion? I suppose I'll just have to have you both shot then!"
Riza slung her bag over her shoulder.
"I can outrun you Hughes. Always have. Uphill and down."
Hughes groaned.
"Don't remind me of Riviere. If I never see a single rock again, it'll be to soon."
Edward picked up his bag and the quartet headed for the door. Within minutes they were in front of a canvas covered truck similar to the one they had arrived to Rodger Young on. They were several dozen of them around. They would take the fresh troops to the nearest train station where they would board trains for their new postings. The soldiers climbed aboard and several minutes later the roar of several dozen large engines turning over shook the ground. Ed and Riza were both seated at the rear of the truck. They looked out the back as a jeep blaring a siren led the way out of the gates. One at a time the trucks lurched forward and before long Ed and Riza were passing the gates. They watched as their home for the last months slowly got smaller as the truck bounced down the road towards the nearest town. Ed looked to Riza as Camp Rodger Young disappeared over the horizon. Riza smiled jokingly.
"Can't say that I'm gonna miss it."
Alright, basic training done. From here the story will split. Riza and Edward will be going to the same physical location, but with their assignment to completely different units in purpose, personality, and priority, the two of them might as well be on opposite ends of the moon.