Chapter Fifteen
Author's Note: I'm sorry about the delay, I've been working like a duck lately… Yay! We finally find out what's happened to Al! … Not! Ha haa! Rated mature for the "D" word. Sorry I try not to curse, but Edward is very stubborn.
"Where is he!" a steel hand gripped the Colonels collar, pulling him down to eye level.
Mustang new Fullmetal never had much regard for military etiquette, but he would not let his subordinate, even more so a kid, treat him with disrespect. He grabbed Ed's arm, yanked it from him and continued to stoop to meet his eyes. "I will not accept belittlement from a under ranking officer like yourself, Edward. In the military there are strict steps that must be taken in order to accomplish anything. And if--
"Well, when it comes down to my own brother's safety, I don't give a damn about the military." Edward spat. "So why the hell didn't you tell me he was gone! What happened!"
Mustang stood up and sighed. "The other night when we fought in the park Alphonse was kidnapped by a Chimera and taken underground--
"What! Kidnapped! And you didn't tell me!… I-I can't believe you!" Edward turned and began to run toward the street when a firm hand grabbed his shoulder, spun him around and another punched him squarely in the jaw. Ed stumbled backward and fell to a sitting position. "What, do you want to fight me too…" He complained, but once his eyes met Colonel Mustang's, his voice gave away.
"Edward, do you realize what you are getting yourself into?… We were attacked by over three dozen Chimeras at the same time almost a dozen ambushed my patrol party. Since then fifty sightings have been reported during the daylight hours and I've lost count of how many we caught and killed… If these creatures can take down your brother, then how easy do you think it will be for them to handle you?… You're not invincible Edward…" Mustang knelt down and stretched out a gloved hand. "And you're not alone…"
Ed took his hand and stood up. He sighed and rubbed his face. "You didn't have to hit me though…"
Mustang smiled and looked down at his youngest and most prized alchemist. "I am certain your brother is safe. He's most likely being held as collateral…"
"But why Al?… They had me captive, why not use me?…" Edward said as he dusted himself off. "What if--
"Colonel!" Hawkeye came running toward the two. "Oh… I see you've found Fullmetal… We've just received a report of a mass of Chimeras assembling on Orient Avenue, in the southern District…"
"Ok, gather the men… that's where we'll start." Mustang slid his flashlight into his belt.
"And sir, that's where we lost Alphonse…" Edward's ears perked up.
First Lieutenant Hawkeye retreated to rounded up the other officers. Once together they headed South, towards the river…
From over three blocks away, the group could hear the snarls and hisses of the creatures. Edward sensed them miles back, their repulsive stench stretched across the city and the damp air only magnified the scent. They had taken two military vehicles to the scene.
Now traveling on foot, Ed was the first to spot a large Chimera standing in the middle of the street. As the approached within firing range it withdrew and ran further into the darkness. Next, a collection of about five or six were huddled together near a tree. Once they came in about ten yards they ran away too.
"It's obvious that they want us to follow… Havoc, Breda, Hughes cover my left Hawkeye, Furey, Falman on the right. Me and Fullmetal will continue up the middle until we have reached our objective… or theirs in this matter." the Colonel swept his flashlight side to side as they marched forward, all the while meeting dozens of retreating Chimeras.
Finally, after several minutes of cautious walking they reached an open manhole. The lid was placed aside and, even among the humid night, a thick mist crawled forth from it's mouth.
Edward glanced around the group and sniffed the air. "We are alone up here… they've all gone down."
"I will go in first." Mustang said guiding his light into depths. He knelt down, but a hand held him back.
"Let me… I can sense what you cannot." Edward said. "I will call if the coast is clear." Mustang nodded.
Ed stuck his head in. Immediately, his pupils expanded collecting as much light as possible and reflected it on the images his eyes received. Along with his nose and ears he found the tunnel to be completely empty. Ignoring the ladder he jumped in and landed neatly on all fours. After another moment of inspection, he called to the others.
"There is a draft coming from the East. It carries the scent of the Chimeras and also a burning fire." Edward explained once everyone had climbed down into the sewer.
"Well, I've just lost my appetite." Furey said as they continued along the littered pathway.
"If I get another shirt stained, Gracia's going to kill me." Hughes complained. Nearly half an hour had gone by without one sign of a Chimera or at least anything detectable by a humans ability. With the acute sense of smell that Ed had he could literally see foot prints and tracks in his mind. After another fifty yards or so the dim glow of a fire lit the dank tunnel. Within minutes they approached a large arched entryway.
The room they entered was enormous. It was lined with decaying cement blocks and mold. In two of the eight corners, rusted old septic tanks sat, unused and rotted. The metallic lining of one of the vats was eaten through by biochemical substances and had split, spilling forth some of it's contents. Set in the remaining corners and in the center were steel trashcans, flames dancing around at their rims.
"It's nice to see you again… Edward." A hoarse eerie voice filled the silent room and greeted it's guests.
Ed looked up and gasped as he laid eyes on the keeper of this foul and wicked dungeon. It stood well over six feet, most of it was covered in a brown fur. The torso and lower body were that of a bear and maybe of a few other creatures, but the top… The shoulders were wrapped with the two arms of a full grown Caucasian male and on the neck… twisted painfully upside down sat the head of none other than the Sewing Life Alchemist, Shou Tucker…