Chapter Sixteen

Author's Note: I'm sure most of ya'll knew it would be Shou Tucker behind the Chimeras and that's good I wanted it to be pretty obvious… We finally get to see Al again. For real this time. Oooh!...

Riza's stomach lurched as her eyesight adjusted to the dim light, revealing the twisted creature that stood in front of the damp room. All the while she brought her pistol forward and aimed at the former State Alchemist, the former… human.

"I'd advise you to put weapon down." Shou said in a polite, but eerie tone. "You see my children, behind you, are refraining from tearing into your flesh, because I have commanded them. Now, if you were to shoot me, well, lets just say there wouldn't be an iota of matter left to determine whether you had actually died here or not." He stopped and tilted his head as if waiting, his thin glasses gleamed in the fire light.

Roy and the others glanced behind them to hear the gnashing of teeth, growls, and whimpers of an innumerable count of creatures pacing impatiently in the tunnel. The Colonel glanced back at Shou and then to Hawkeye. He nodded at her and she unquestioningly laid her gun on the wet cement. The rest followed her.

Edward had been still and silent the whole time, he never took his eyes off of the deformed Shou. Hate and enmity coursed through every vein of Ed and even seemed to seep through his very pores.

Shou had noticed the intensity radiating from the small alchemist. "It seems that you have gotten used to your new body. Like it?"

Edward's mind was clouded with all the pain, sorrow and regret brought on by this being, that he could barely bring himself to speak. Not until he pictured his most recent loss, his brother, Alphonse, was he finally able to verbalize his loath. "Where is he!… Where is my brother!" Edward shouted his body trembling with anger.

"…Remember a few years ago when you stayed at my place studying for you exam? Those were very good times weren't they?…" Shou said as if he hadn't heard a thing from Ed. "Yes, I enjoyed your company very much Edward, you were a very persistent boy... I could recall numerous times when you would ask me questions about alchemy. Things no ordinary child should even dream of comprehending… Yes… very good times indeed… And --

"Quit toying with my patience you bastard! Now where is my brother!" Edward repeated.

Shou paused and jerked his head so that the gleam in his glasses vanished, showing the eyes of a demented soul. "I can also remember the very first night of your arrival, when you had told the story about the death of your mother and the absence of your father… Well, since I refined and made your body anew, would you consider me to be your replacement father?"

Edward couldn't take anymore this garbage and charged at Shou. He transmuted his right arm into his faithful blade and leapt at his prey for a fatal blow, but something large suddenly placed itself between Ed and Tucker. Unable to stop himself in mid air, Edward crashed into this object. The sound of his body hitting this "wall" rang throughout the large room. Rubbing his head, Ed looked up at the obstacle in front of him and gasped. There standing above him was the bronze armor which encased the soul of Alphonse Elric.

"Al!… Al, your alright!" Edward jumped to his feet and went to grab his brother's hand when he swatted by Al's large arm. Ed went flying back into Havoc, who tried to break his fall, but they fell together. Falman lifted Fullmetal off of the second lieutenant, Edward shook his hands off of him and glanced over at his brother with a look of great confusion.

"What was that for Al!" Ed yelled rubbing his head. Alphonse stood still, as if he had never moved in the first place.

"Yes… they were… excellent times…" Shou came from behind the protection of Alphonse. "You know it's not proper to attack your father, Edward…"

"You shut up! I have no father!" Ed stood and began to walk towards the motionless form of his brother.

"But he seems to think differently…" Shou said grinning at the expression Edward now bared.

"What?… What is he talking about Alphonse?"

There came no answer.

"You see Edward ever since you and your brother came to my house those few years ago, I had been fascinated by the situation you had put your brother in… He need not food, drink, sleep and felt no pain… After the little incident that placed me first on death row, I had been offered to a second chance to continue my research. Of course this path came with a few alterations" Shou looked down at the large paws he carried. "I always looked at the bright side of things… And after it seemed, I was not needed , I escaped with a few of my projects and resumed experimenting. I'd say I've gotten pretty good" He nodded at Edward and smiled. " except for a few visible flaws, none the less , Chimeras became second on my list of priorities… And transmuting souls jumped to the top, once I had found success… That's where your brother comes in…"

"What have you done to him!" Edward's hands flexed, revealing obsidian claws shimmering in the light. His entire body tensed as he continued forward.

"Well, I went shopping for suitable bodies for my final expirement, but nothing could replace my crave for your brother's own "body", if I may call it that, so to get him-and you to comply with me… I transmuted the souls of man's loyal and obedient dog to your brother's armor…"

Edward stopped dead in his tracks. "Y-you what?"

"About twelve to be exact, your brother was pretty resistant, but… well you see…"

In a flash Alphonse was on Edward, he kicked him down and place his metal shoe on the teen's chest.

Shou approached. The clink of Tucker's claws on the cement was the only sound heard in the room. Once he was above Edward, he kneeled down whispered something into his ear. Whatever it was, it had made Ed's eyes widen with fear.

"No…"