Chapter Eleven
Author's Note: Ok, I know you want to find out what's happening with Edward and that "shady" guy, but I had to develop this part of the story before I could get to that. It's short and I promise to have the next chappy up in no time… I just like to tease … I also just found out how to use the line break things… genius.
Breda scratched the back of his head, which was sopping with sweat. Only three more hours to go and I am outta here. He patted his stomach and began to think about the roast beef sandwich he had a date with after his shift. Breda's dreams came to a sudden halt as he walked right into a metal wall, or better known as Alphonse.
"Aw, sorry there Al, I wasn't…" Breda stared up at the motionless armor in front of him. "Al…?"
"Shh." Lieutenant Hawkeye said as she glanced down a dark alley. "We've found our next target." she signaled Major Armstrong to follow her as she steadied her grip on her weapon and entered the alleys mouth. There was a long warning hiss that slithered from the depths of blackness. "Ok. Havoc, Furey, Breda, I want you all to stay out here and be prepare to fire. If we do not take care of it back here than it's only other exit is this way. There may well be more than one of them… Let's move."
Hawkeye swung her flashlight from left to right. Armstrong followed suit and then Al. About ten feet in, the beam of her light reflected the alert eyes of a few Chimeras. "I've spotted at least three." She whispered. Once the creatures were in clear sight, Hawkeye aimed, but a Chimera furthest from view began to talk.
"We have orders…" it said in a harsh almost inaudible voice. "We have orders to take the boy."
Hawkeye paused, startled by the inhuman creatures ability to speak. Even though it's articulation was garbled, the message was clear. "What boy?" she said, keeping the cylinder of her gun aimed.
"The one who has a body of armor. We are needing him…" the Chimera spoke.
Alphonse took a step back. "But how do you know about me?"
The two silent Chimeras growled. Hawkeye had heard enough and shot towards the one in her sight. The creature yelped, but leaped ahead, ignoring the direct hit. Major Armstrong stepped ahead and, wearing his spiked knuckled gloves, plowed a fist into the ground. Blue streaks of energy rose appeared as synthetic stalagmites emerged from the
concrete. Two of the Chimeras were struck directly in the abdomen, leaving the last. The speaking Chimera dodged a succession of bullets from Hawkeye and leapt over Armstrong's head. While in the air they caught a glimpse of their target. It was a large feline combined with some sort of bird. Along it's sides it had wings; they were too small for actual flight, but it gave the creature an extended mobility advantage. It also had the curved beak of a bird of prey. The beast tackled Alphonse to the ground, using it's mouth
and fore paws, which were talons, to drag him to the alley opening. During this, Hawkeye had reloaded and Armstrong was about to punch the brick wall when he was attacked from the side. A half dozen more Chimeras sprang from the darkness, distracting them from the other and Al.
The gun fire and blue glow of the Major's alchemy prepared the others at the mouth of the alley for engagement. They all stood with their pistols cocked and aimed. In the background, more fighting could be heard, but closer to them they noticed an irregular scrape of metal.
"Let go of me!" the familiar voice of Alphonse yelled. A moment later, a large figure was hurled from the opening of the alleyway into the street, nearly knocking Furey over. Al came into view as the enormous Chimera stood up and stared at it's four opponents. Before anyone could fire, the creature opened it's beak and produced a screech at such a high frequency that it's pursuers doubled over in agony. Even Al fell to his knees. The Chimera took this opportunity to grab Alphonse again and hauled him towards the middle
of the street. The creature had no problem lugging the large suit of armor. Echoes from the shriek began to fade as Havoc was the first to recover. He shook his head and helped Breda and Furey up. Hawkeye exited the alley followed by Armstrong, they were both badly bruised.
"Where- where is Alphonse?" she asked, eyes widening.
"He was here just a second ago, before that thing shrieked" Furey said as he picked up his glassed.
"Alphonse!… Alphonse!" Hawkeye called. She grabbed a flashlight which was dropped on the ground and searched around the street. The others did the same. Nearly five minutes had passed and not a sign. Havoc was about to give up when he tripped over something.
"Hey, who placed a…" he began when he spotted something. "Lieutenant come here, quick!"
Hawkeye approached Havoc, who was kneeled on the ground. The other officers came as well. Hawkeye flashed her light on Havoc and then to what he was pointing at. There in the middle of the street was a manhole, left ajar.