To Thine Own Self Be True
Chapter 13 - Blood Is Thicker Than Water
At the Bar, Hughes and Mustang get some drinks and slouch other the counter talking.
"So, Hughes why are you all here in Eastern?"
"Well, Brass convinced the Fuhrer to run to Eastern HQ. Already five alchemists and many related personnel have been killed by a man they are calling the alchemist killer."
"Alchemist killer...?"
Mustang takes a sip.
"They call him Scar. It's not a code name. People say a man with a scar on his face they have seen fleeing the murder scenes."
Hughes paused and takes a sip. Mustang takes another sip.
"What makes it worse is he's killed nine state alchemists, five in Central, only four being alchemist and then four more in the country. Then should you throw in all the guards and aids, the numbers are rising to the dozens. They know it's the same man because his killing style is unique. He explodes their brains..."
Hughes takes another sip and mustang ponders this.
"So they all come running to Eastern. Probably bringing the killer with them."
Mustang says.
"Everyone is afraid they will be next. So they used the excuse of the Fuhrer coming to Eastern as a reason to hide behind him. Then, there is the talk about your reputation so now they all hide behind you, the Flame..."
"Excuse me..."
A bar maid walks up to Hughes and Mustang.
"You have a call."
She hands Hughes the phone and walks away. Mustang stairs down at his glass.
"Yes... Okay... I understand... Yes... Thank you... bye."
Hughes hangs up and stands.
"Another murder. A guard nearby was killed the same way as the others."
Mustang nods and the two leave the bar. Walking down the street, Armstrong approaches. Hughes whispers something to Armstrong and he takes off running.
"What did you say?"
Mustang asks as he watches Armstrong run.
"The Elrics..."
"Who are my jurisdiction..."
"Yes... but the Elrics are with Marco. And Scar is after Marco."
Mustang turns to face Hughes.
"We need to go!"
And with that the two start running back to Eastern HQ. Armstrong continues running until he slows down at an alleyway. He slowly walks down the alley and then stops. He gently places a hand on the wall and then winds back and busts down the wall with his hand. Inside is a tunnel with Ed, Al and Scar. Scar is wearing black pants and a yellow jacket over a white tee shirt. His clothes are ragged and torn. His hair is white and he is wearing sunglasses. One arm had many alchemy circles and designs drawn on it. The scar on his face is white and shaped like an "x" over his eyes. Alphonse is injured and is missing an part of his right side. Edward is missing his automail arm. And Scar, Al and Ed jump back as Armstrong enters. He is bear chested and has on metal spiked gloves, his fingers are open. Alphonse gets defensive.
"Are you hear for Marco?"
But Armstrong walks right by him. He walks up to Ed and puts a hand on his shoulder.
"Lieutenant Colonel Hughes sent me."
Armstrong smiled and then turned to face Scar.
"I am the Strong Arm Alchemist!"
"Good, such luck I get to kill many state alchemists in one day."
"Don't be so happy. Your facing the Armstrong Family's traditional alchemy."
Armstrong then picks up a brick from the floor and throws it into the air. As the brick falls, Armstrong hits it with his fist and it turns into arrows. These arrows aim at Scar who dodges them. Armstrong then slams his fit on the ground and spikes shoot out of the ground. Scar destroys one spike as Ed, Al and Marco escape into another tunnel. Scar charges at Armstrong and he dodges, slamming into a wall. He throws another few brick 'arrows' at Scar. As Scar dodges an arrow, Armstrong throws his fits at him, missing by only inches. But he did knock off the sunglasses. Armstrong freezes. Scar had dark skin and bright red eyes.
"You're an...-"
But before Armstrong could say anything, Scar attempts to explode Armstrong's head, disintegrating the wall behind him. Armstrong moves to the side just in time. Then, as the smoke clears, Scar is gone. Armstrong falls to the ground in pain. A few minutes later, military transport trucks pull up to the scene. Personnel jump out and begin to move about the rubble of what was once a tunnel. Mustang stand atop the rubble and watches. Next to him is Havoc. Breda is moving some cement slams from the large hole while Fuery is in the background watching, holding a shovel.
"I've found him!"
Breda calls out as Mustang and Havoc turn to investigate. Mustang's hands are in his pockets as he walks over to Breda. There laying in a heap of rubble with many injuries is Armstrong, shirtless like always. Armstrong grumbles and attempts to stand, but is in too much pain.
"Armstrong, what happened?"
Mustang asks.
"Hey-o."
Hughes walks up to the hole in the street and begins to walk into the hole.
"Nice of you to join us Hughes."
Mustang says as he watches Hughes approach.
"Where is Basque Gran?"
Havoc looks up to Hughes and asks.
"If he is still alive after what happened to him in the past, then the great Iron Blood Alchemist will return to life after being turned into a hamburger."
Hughes smiled and Mustang walked over to him. Hughes looses all expression and the reflection in his glasses disappears.
"He's dead Roy. Scar killed him."
Next to them is Armstrong.
"I'm sorry Lieutenant Colonel, I failed the mission. Scar...the Alchemist killer, he is an Ishballian. I saw the red eyes and dark skin."
Armstrong says.
"And Ishballian? That would give good reason to kill state alchemists."
Mustang said.
Out of the hole on the flat street, Hawkeye came walking up. She was stopped by a military guard.
"Sorry, you need clearance."
"I'm here to see Colonel Mustang."
"You need clearance first."
Hawkeye sighed and pulled her gun out.
" 'This' is my clearance."
And with that said, she walked right by the guards, placing her gun back in it's holster.
"Hey wait...-"
The guards ran after Hawkeye. Hawkeye proceeded over to the large hole in the ground and slid down the rubble. Her feet planted firmly on the ground, sliding on the loose rocks and such. Half way down, she landed on steady ground.
"Colonel Mustang sir!"
She saluted. Mustang looked over and saw her. Above her, stood two guards with their guns drawn. Mustang sprinted over to Hawkeye.
"Sorry, sir. We tried to stop her because she didn't have clearance, but she...-"
The guards at the top of the whole said looking down.
"Get back to your posts. She always has clearance, she's with me."
The guards gulped and ran back to their posts.
"What is it Lieutenant?"
The salute ended and she leaned in close so he could hear her. Some loud noises just started.
"We have information on the Alchemist Killer, here in Eastern, sir."
Mustang's eyes widened.
"Where?"
"On the other side of town, sir. Personnel have already headed over. They say he's cornered."
"Let's go. Havoc, Fuery, Breda! Let's move!"
And Mustang started up the rubble, Hawkeye right behind him. Fuery, Breda and Havoc closing in quick. They ran down the streets, going in the direction Hawkeye explained. Apon arrival, rain started to pour down. Sure enough, Scar was cornered against a crumbling building. Military personnel all surrounded the area, guns drawn. Scar slams his hand to the ground and attempts to create and escape. Mustang and Hawkeye work through the crowd of personnel and once in the front, Mustang can see Scar.
BANG!
Mustang shoots his black pistol into the air. Scar looks up and sees Mustang and Hawkeye. Mustang's black jacket was draped over his shoulders. Scar yells something over to Mustang then charges, ready to fight. Mustang tosses his gun over to Hawkeye who catches it in her left hand.
"Sir..."
"I'm got this one Hawkeye."
"But sir..."
Mustang steps forward and pulls his glove on tighter. The rain above is still pouring down hard.
"Stupid arrogant men..."
Hawkeye took a step forward and does a neat little kick swing. Her right legs bends down as her left legs extends out and swings under Mustang, sending him crashing into the ground. Once he is on the ground she pulls out her silver gun and begins to fire at Scar with both.
"Lieutenant I said not to interfere! This is no way to get a promotion!"
Mustang yells up at her. Hawkeye then clicks the two clips from the guns. Her gun is empty, so she takes the clip from his gun and places it inside her's, tossing his gun back at him.
"Sir, your useless in the rain. Wet gloves can't make a spark."
Mustang's jaw drops as he turns white from shock, eye practically popping from his head..
"She has a point you know."
Havoc says while attempting to lit his cigarette. Scar then begins to climbs the wall of the crumbling building.
"Fire!"
Hawkeye yells as the military personnel all begin firing at the escaping Scar. Mustang remains sitting on the ground, in a puddle, staring and watching as Hawkeye and the others fire at Scar. He's gone.
"This way men."
Mustang jumps out of the puddle and begins running, Hawkeye at his heels. The military personnel all run down a few side streets until they see a bright red flash in the distance.
"What was that?"
Hawkeye asks to... herself. Just then, Scar comes running, holding his arm in pain. Mustang raises his arm and all personnel aim their weapons. They are all using riffles, except Hawkeye who holds her pistol. Scar sees this attack and destroys the ground escaping. The ground is torn apart and Mustang, Hawkeye and Havoc are thrown into the hole, very similar to the one Armstrong was found in.
"No one is to follow him. This is a direct order."
Mustang calls out as the riffles are lowered. He starts to stand, lending Hawkeye a hand.
"I wasn't planning on it anyway."
Havoc smiled, cigarette in mouth and finally lighted. Hawkeye looks over at Havoc from the corner of her eye with a look of... 'You did not just say that'. Just then, Hughes walks up behind Mustang and asks if the fight is over. He stumbles down into the hole smiling. He then stands on a solid piece of concrete and adjusts his glasses.
"If you were here the hole time, why didn't you help?"
Mustang asked, looking over at Hughes.
"Hey, Don't normal people like me involved in your talent show of weirdo freaks."
He smiled.
"Your normal...?"
Hawkeye mumbles under her breath. Mustang turns his head to the side and smiles at her comment with a slight chuckle.
A/N - Well? I'm mostly following plot lines here. It shall get more creative, I promise. Just keep waiting patently like you have been doing.
Please review. Constructive criticism accepted. No FLAMES (Thats Roy's job only). Please look in my profile oo0AnimeChild0oo for all my other stories. And again, thanks for reading.
"Write a wise saying and your name will live forever"
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