"Nice of you to come, we haven't seen people here for four years." Said a voice that echoed throughout the laboratory.
"You don't look so welcoming with your sword!" Edward snipped.
"I was trusted with guarding these grounds. My name is Slicer. I was a mass murderer, executed two years ago. They sealed my soul to this suit of armor so I could work here forever." Slicer sighed.
"So you were a murderer? How am I supposed to sympathize with that!" Edward chuckled.
"Don't think ill of me, child." Slicer came closer to him.
"And don't you think ill of me for being the child who defeated you, how about a little blade on blade." Edward used his alchemy to form his auto mail arm into a sword.
"Why you!" Edward lunged at him with his arm sword and sliced his head off.
"So, your soul is bonded to this armor huh." Ed laughed. "I thought you looked hollow."
"I'm surprised that you realized it so quickly, well done." Slicer mused.
"It was pretty easy actually, my brother is just like you." Edward said.
"Fascinating, I was put to work down here for my crimes, and now I work here for eternity, for I am indeed immortal." Slicer explained. Edward laughed. "What's so funny?" Slicer asked.
"You're not immortal, you've got a blood seal, it's alchemy, someone took the iron of that blood and sealed your soul to it. If someone were to smudge it or cut through it, you'd be a dead man!" Edward laughed, Slicer was now amused.
"Finally, someone with a brain! This should be a good fight." The suit of armor clanked as he laughed.
"You got one more chance to tell me what you know about the philosopher's stone before I use your weakness on you." Edward smirked, holding Slicers head.
"Why are you not fighting me anymore? You still haven't destroyed my blood seal." Slicer asked.
"Because, I want answers, now tell me. What do you know about the stone?" Edward asked.
"I can't do that." Slicer laughed.
"Oh really, listen Slicer, you don't get to call the shots, now you tell me where it is or I'm breaking your seal." Edward grinned. Suddenly the other half of Slicer's body whacked Ed into the wall.
"Damn it!"
"What a cute little monkey!" He laughed.
"Hey shut up!" Edward shrieked.
"Give up, You can't rely on your companion now! Mine should've already finished him." Slicer said.
"How strong is your companion?" Edward asked.
"He's strong but he's not as strong as me though." He explained, Edward laughed again.
"Well then I don't need to worry. No matter how much I've spared against my brother Al, I still haven't beaten him!" Edward sighed and got up to fight again. "Wait a minute you have two blood seals." Edward shrieked.
"Haven't you ever heard of sharing? Just because I have one body doesn't mean I have to have one soul." Slicer laughed.
"So, I've been fighting two people? That's just rich!" Edward growled.
"How dare you hurt my little brother. Just for that I'm gonna slice your legs so you're even closer to the ground!" Said the brother of Slicer.
"A short joke huh? You're gonna pay for that!" Edward clapped his hands together.
"I'm not giving you time to use your alchemy! This is for my brother." Slicers brother yelled.
"And this is for mine!" Edward lunged using his alchemy and deconstructed his suit of armor.
"You can pat yourself on the back alchemist, you fought well." Slicer laughed. "Now destroy us!"
"No, I'm not killing anyone, that's not what I do." Edward said.
"Heh, you treat us like we're human, what a joke, how can you possibly consider us to be human?" He asked.
"Because, if I didn't then that would mean I don't believe my own brother is human either, just because you may not have the body you once had as a human, doesn't mean you aren't." Edward said warmly. "I want the stone because I want to see my brother happy again." He explained.
"How sweet." Slicer grinned. "Brotherly love." Edward picked up his head by the hair.
"Now you're gonna tell me all you know about this place!" Edward smiled.
"This place is where prisoners like me go to be executed." Slicer explained.
"So is anyone else down here?" Edward asked.
"Yes, we all are. What, did you think the military would kill us permanently? No, we are very much alive, just not with our bodies. Of course this wasn't all, Chimeras are also created down here." Slicer explained further, Edward shuddered, remembering Nina and the dog Alexander.
"They create chimeras down here?" Edward asked.
"Yes they do. And to be honest, it's worse than death. Chimeras are in constant pain, I'd personally rather take death any day." Slicer chuckled. "Oh look, here comes one now." A man with a monkey body emerged. Edward was shocked by what he just saw.
"Shou Tucker? I thought you were executed!" Edward yelled, tears of anger overcame him. "You killed Nina and Alexander! This isn't possible, this isn't fair!" Edward yelled. "You mean to tell me, they didn't kill this guy? They said they did, I don't understand."
"Shhh, you'll wake Nina!" Shou whispered shrilly. Edward was nearly consumed by rage. "She is very sensitive."
"You know what, I'm glad you're not dead." Edward smiled. "Because now, I can finally get the revenge that I've been wanting for a while!" He laughed. A large spear went through Slicer's blood seal. Edward dropped him and turned to see Solaris grinning at him.
"Well well, troublesome boy, how'd you find out about this place?" Solaris asked, a man with long hair came out of the shadows and stabbed the other blood seal.
"Quit your pathetic blubbering you idiot! You could've hurt one of our most important sacrifices, what've we done then, HUH!" Edward stood there next to the wall in fear and astonishment. Practically clinging to it.
"You're the lady I met from Liore! How did you do that! Why? And who's this guy you're with." Edward shrieked as Solaris pointed at her chest.
"Recognize this?" She pointed at the OuroBoros tattoo.
"Wait, that's the sign of a Homunculus! But that's just an old alchemy legend! People cannot create people through human transmutation." Edward yelled.
"Yes, like you'd know first hand, fullmetal alchemist?" Solaris sneered, Edwards eyes widened, how did she know about their attempt at transmutation?
"What're you doing here?" Edward asked, sharpening his arm sword.
"I'm here because I wanted to come and say hello, your charisma from last time intrigued me, and it made me want to know more. You're always on my mind. I'm crazy about you." She mused, Edward blinked.
"Uh, okay. This is awkward. How do I respond, uh. First of all, I'm fifteen, and you look like you're twenty one, how old are you?" Edward asked.
"Technically I've lived for very long, I am over a thousand centuries old." Edward felt like all logic just got thrown out the window.
"Who really are you two?" Edward shrieked. "What sacrifices are you planning?" The lady laughed at his question.
"Looks like the pipsqueak is rearing to go! I think I made it angry!" The long haired man sneered.
"Don't call me pipsqueak! You're lucky I'm exhausted, otherwise I'd rip you to shreds!" Edward yelled, kicking him in the face with his foot.
"No violence someone might get hurt, you know. I'm really more of a pacifist."
"Tell me, who are you people!"
"Well then, if you insist. I am Lust and this is Envy." Edward laughed.
"It all makes sense now, you're a perv! Hah!" Lust chuckled at his comment. Edward tried to clap his hands together but his auto mail wouldn't move.
"Technical difficulties?" Lust asked.
"Lucky me!" Envy ran up to Edward and jabbed his knee into his stomach.
"Remember that we allowed you to live, we can't let him poking around this place too much, that would be bad for us." Lust laughed.
"Why didn't you just kill me, that way even if I found out something, I'd be dead and wouldn't be able to tell the tale?. Sounds foolish to me!" Edward shrieked.
"Because Father specifically told us not to, not until he wishes." Envy mused.
"Who are you!" Edward pointed at Envy, he smirked at his ignorance.
"It depends, I can be whoever you want, what do you say I should become Pipsqueak? A taller version of you?" Edward's Face changed from confusion to utter shock when Envy actually turned into a taller version of him. "The look of surprise on your face is hilarious!" envy laughed. "It's rich!"
"What are you?" Edward shrieked. "You're even speaking to me in my voice, that's just wrong!"
"I'm You, can't you see, it's only natural that I have your voice." Envy sneered. "But I can also be your brother." Edward watched Envy turn into the familiar suit of armor that Al's soul contained. "What's wrong? Pipsqueak? Afraid of hurting your brother?"
"Shut up!" Edward yelled. Lust lunged in front of him and kissed him full on the mouth. He pulled away from her with disgust. "Get away from me! I was gonna throttle him." Edward yelled, Envy transformed into his normal form and laughed. Lust glanced at Edward with passionate craving in her eyes.
"Usually boys like you are easy to seduce, let's just say, I like a challenge. Some toy that's hard to get." She gave an evil smirk.
"Sorry, but I'm not someone who likes to be manipulated." He said. "You're gonna have to try a little harder than that. Just because you're pretty doesn't mean that I'm gonna fall for your spell!" Edward shrieked.
"Sure you aren't." She giggled. "Now Shou, come with me, and bring the boy." Lust commanded. Edward climbed up the stairs with Lust barely in front of him. He felt like something was off about this. Edward followed close behind them and Lust placed Shou in the middle of a transmutation circle. But it wasn't the same as the one he and Al did a long time ago, it was more complicated.
"What are you doing to him?" Edward asked.
"We're trying to make a philosopher's stone, it's almost finished. We just need a sacrifice." Lust replied.
"What?" Edward shrieked loudly. Lust laughed.
"Didn't you know, well, it doesn't matter. We just need you to open up the gate and use your alchemy on this transmutation circle." Lust smirked.
"What gate? Why do I feel like you're not telling me something?" Edward asked. "Tell me, what are the ingredients for a philosopher's stone?" Lust laughed at Ed's ignorance and didn't answer. There was fire glinting in Edwards eyes now. The Fire from Lusts torch started spreading, it engulfed Edwards lungs and he passed out.
"Hey there, I got a little present for you." Lust said, carrying Ed on her shoulder. Envy following close behind.
"His life's not in danger but he has lost a lot of blood. So you might wanna get him to a hospital as soon as you can." Envy said in a jaded tone.
"Who are you two!" Maria Ross asked but they were now long gone, how did they disappear so quickly.
Another very fun chapter to write. Ed will encrypt Doctor Marcovs notes in the next chapter. Prepare yourselves. I had a lot of fun writing about the Homunculi and I think it shows. I can't help it. I love writing them. I'll see you guys soon bye.