Chapter 7: Priority Edward (Part 2)
Juliet and Edward exit the hospital together. Alphonse watches them leave from Edward's former hospital room. It had taken some time for Edward to warm to Juliet. A silent agreement had been made between Alphonse and Edward. When Edward perceived Alphonse faltering, he had flippantly said, "Another time."
Alphonse is grateful for that. Though he jokingly thought that Edward would have tried to beat the information out of him. He'd seen Edward fight only once. It was more defenses than attacking, but Edward had shown he could carry his own weight.
Walking down the halls, Alphonse tries to find his way to the other experiments - he pauses. He shouldn't call them that title. It would be a comfort for them not to hear it, and it would also be true. The same went for 'test subjects'. What could they be called: victims of the 2nd lab? The name sounds ludicrous before he finishes the thought in mind. They were 'those kids'. It's a general name, nothing to connect to. 2nd lab kids? It seems to identify better in Alphonse psyche.
Though that wasn't a matter. Passing a newspaper stand in the morning he had seen these kids were front-page news. Alphonse didn't have the time then to read the article. Apparently from Mustang it was mostly about the prepared statements and information given out - all of them a cover-up. An organization exporting kids to other country as slaves and workers, all respective parents have been contacted, and "we are all very glad to bring these kids back home safe and sound". That was Mustang's summed up version.
Alphonse visits every room with the 2nd lab kids. A few of them were awake, like Edward confused, and unlike Edward they weren't angry. He found it easier to explain to them about the 2nd lab and them. All the things he couldn't explain to Edward.
Edward needs a friend outside of life in the 2nd lab. He had recognized long ago that Edward didn't connect with the others - it was odd. Mostly, Alphonse could admit he wants Edward as a friend.
Alphonse walks out of the room and towards the reception desk, which each floor had. "Hello, as it been processed that Edward's has left with his guardian."
"Edward?" The receptionist questions. Her nose was a tinge red, a sign of her cold.
Realizing the name wouldn't be enough he adds, "he's from the 2nd lab incident." Alphonse watches as the receptionist searches threw papers.
"Sorry" she says still searching, "I'm not sure where the last girl placed it. I just started my shift." Finding a paper in the middle of all the chaos she nods with a smile, the receptionist checks her chart. "Yes, it's been noted that Mr. Edward has been discharged."
"Alright, thank you." Alphonse says starting to walk to the stairs. "I hope you get well soon."
Throwing her tissue into the over-flowing garbage can she thanks Alphonse.
Walking away something nags at Alphonse brain. He picks at it walking down 6 flights of stairs. Why was an over-flowing garbage can in need of so much attention?
The check-in room fills up with people around noon: injuries from training or accidents at the office. As Alphonse opens the door and the clamor of injuries and complaints reaches his ears. Considering recruitment season for the military ended just last week, there were more injuries expected. The hospital usually stocks up on supplies for these days.
It seems to be the usual disarray of recruits. Yet the man at the front desk is who caught Alphonse attention. It was the custodian he had met in the morning. So why didn't he empty the garbage at the reception desk? The receptionist he had talked to couldn't have filled up the entire can if she just started her shift.
As the male at the front desk looks away for a folder, the custodian bends over the front and opens the file. Alphonse recognized the file, even from his distance he can make out the "secured" at the top left-hand corner. No one watches him besides Alphonse; everyone else was too preoccupied. The custodian is quickly scanning the file before closing the folder, and resuming is original position. Alphonse is notice by the custodian. The man watches him for merely a second before bolting toward the hospitals main entrance.
Alphonse follows suit.
Both of them are out the doors in a blur. 'He's fast.' The faux custodian is pumping his arms, legs out stretched taking him at his faster and farther from Alphonse. He had his determination and it was enough. The excursions on his muscles are already felt in his legs. Yet both weren't preparing for a military car to back out. The custodian crashes into the back of the car, Alphonse crashes into him. Both of them tumble to the pavement. Alphonse lands a punch onto the custodian face and there's a yell of pain. A surge of power grabs Alphonse shoulders and pushes him roughly towards the ground. His head bounces off the pavement, Alphonse is sure of it. The throb proceeds as the custodian takes off again without a pursuer.
A bystander (the driver of the vehicle) asks, "are you okay?" The uncertainty made him stall to ask.
"Contact communication's for me." Alphonse says, rubbing the back of his head and checking for bleeding.
"What?" The man stutters, surprise by the request.
"Contact Division 3 for me." The request is said more forcefully; it's more of an order than a request. "Tell them to place all 2nd lab children under protection."
x x x
All the houses were closely the same Edward notes. Juliet had opted to walk through the residential area so Edward could get use to the surroundings. There were mentioning of "hope you'll get comfortable" and "use to things". Edward almost laughed. Everyone he's met since waking up seems more nervous of him. They didn't know what to do with him - so it seems. Juliet's getting more and more courageous, the more she spent with Edward. Didn't mean much to Edward. He'll wait for Alphonse to explain everything.
"The military's residential compound is attached to the military base, if you're wondering. Truthfully, this is a normal residential neighborhood. Yet since most military personnel live within the vicinity, we've unofficially call it the military's residential compound. There's even a school. You'll be attending school there."
Edward eyes Juliet from his peripheral vision. 'School? It's been five years since he last attended school. What was the last thing I was learning before twelve?' If anything was a joke, this might have been it.
Juliet, he realizes, seems to be waiting for a response. His silence must unnerve her. Edward could see the stiff way she walks - stoic and commanding. "What do you do in the military?"
"I beg your pardon?" The question is not expected. Edward stays silent, knowing Juliet heard perfectly fine. He never liked repeating himself when he's sure he been loud and clear. "I'm in communications - decoding messages specifically."
"Decoding messages?"
"Yes. During times of war, messages are sent in codes. So if the message were in enemy hands, they wouldn't understand the message."
"Are we at war?" Edwards says alertly.
"No." Juliet says frankly.
"Then why are you needed? If there's no war, there's none of these coded messages."
Juliet looks at Edward in wonder. Surprised that it's the first time someone asks that question. "Well, we still have our uses out of war-time."
"Like what?" Edward could see the shoulder relax a notch down.
The feelings of being grilled for answers made Juliet want to laugh - though intimidating. Edward seems to thirst for knowledge Juliet could see. 'He's more inquisitive about my war-time efforts than my boyfriend.' Juliet could understand her boyfriend's reluctance though. War is still a touchy subject amongst most people.
"Murder investigations when the government takes interests, threatening notes against our leaders in power or anyone of high power in the military…we're mostly trying to create new codes."
Again silence as Juliet waits for a response. A screech of tires distracts Juliet from Edward. A black military vehicle stops beside them. The stiff Juliet is back amongst the serious soldiers. "What's the problem?" Juliet and the driver walk to stand on the opposite side of the car, farther away from a potential prying Edward.
The other, who was in the passenger seat, turns his attention to Edward. "If you can please get in the car?" The man's offers his hand.
Edward stares at the hand. They were asking? He expects a push and shove, but…they were asking?
"Edward." Juliet's voice snaps Edward from his reverie.
"What, what?" His second 'what' louder than the first that was mumbled.
"Let's get into the car." A smile tugs at Juliet's feature. Instantly Edward can recognize the need to keep it there. It's a fake smile.
He hesitates at the smile.
"Edward?" Now the voice is strung with worry.
'It's fake, it's fake, it's fake.' (You and all the others were abandoned.) 'It's fake, it's fake.' (They know Edward, and they don't care.) 'It's not real.' (Do you want to be out there? …Imagine where they'll bring you next.) 'They're taking me to experiment. I don't want to go.' (Just wait and one day you can truly see the world.)
'Davis! Alphonse!'
"Are you alright?" The guard asks grabbing Edward's arm: the boy in a trance.
Edward pulls away quickly yelling. He didn't hear that distant boom and crackle in the air. Eyes only on the hands. Relief floods him when the hand slips from his arm. With a keen fascination he watches the hand fall away and hits the ground.
It hit the ground. Edward's eyes release its attention on the hand, and now onto the guard. The man is lying on the ground, unmoving. Edward could see the distinct hole at the side of his head. Rather large, red, and matter hanging out. 'He's dead.'
His eyes widen, and Edward's mind propels full tilt into reality. There's the shot of guns. Edward presses himself to the wall, more than he already did. Juliet and the other guard are behind the vehicle, firing rounds at a rooftop of a house. He could see the flare of gunfire from the rooftop.
He could suddenly feel his legs and ran away from the scene. Leaving Julia and the guard to fight back and the dead body on the ground. As he turns the corner, Edward is still running.
(…and one day you'll truly see the world…)
Next up, part 3.