Chapter Seventeen

Author's Note: I reread the previous chap and found quite a bit of typos, sorry 'bout that. Anyway, in this chapter we finally get to see what Shou's underlying plan is… Which if you've seen the show you can basically guess… but I've tried to add a twist to it so blah.

Edward's body was trembling once again. From his position on the ground he looked from Shou to the seemingly empty gaze he received from Al.

"No…" Edward said, grabbing the ankle of Alphonse. He pushed with all his might, causing the armor to lose its center balance and he stepped off of Edward. The alchemist stood up and wiped the sweat from his brow. "No, I cannot do that for you…"

Shou didn't appear to be concerned with Edward's statement. "Well, Edward your friends will suffer for you decision."

No later than the words escaped Tucker's mouth a mass of Chimeras surged in through the large arched opening. Hawkeye and the others dove for there weapons as Mustang char-broiled a few that were headed for Furey. The enormous room filled with the chorus of gunshots and roars.

Edward began towards his comrades when he was struck from the side. Arcing his back, Ed rolled to reduce injury and turned to face his attacker. Alphonse wasted no time and swung his left leg barely missing the target as Ed slid to the right, receiving a minor scratch from the pointed boot.

"Al! Listen to me! I know you can hear me, just fight back!" Edward shouted as he parried another strike.

"Of course he can hear you, but there is nothing he or you can do." Shou smiled from the sidelines.

Ed quickly glanced at the Colonel. Flames burst from horde of Chimeras as if they were naturally combustible. Maes, in between gunshots, pitched his pocketknives with unrivaled aim; while Hawkeye, Havoc and the others displayed their valor as well. Yet these Chimeras seemed to be more perceptive and quick, blitzing when someone tries to reload their gun or going for the less stable, like Furey and Breda.

Edward did a back flip to avoid a rolling kick from Alphonse. Clapping his hands together he slapped the ground, transmuting a cement dragon head. The stone jaws closed around Al and held him in place several feet above ground.

"Al! Please listen to me! You are stronger than--" Edward began to cough and his eyes stung. He turned back towards Mustang. Piles of burning carcasses filled the room with a rancid smoke, congesting the air. Squinting, Edward found the nearest wall and transmuted a duct. His keen ears had picked up on the heavy downpour up above and a thick stream of water gushed through the pipe.

As if reading Fullmetal's mind, Roy stuck out a gloved hand and performed alchemy on the water. He separated the hydrogen and oxygen atoms, which being lighter than the dense air and pushed the carbon monoxide back out through the conduit. Mustang had to be very cautious because the excess hydrogen and oxygen could intensify the flames. The Colonel's subordinates had riskily ceased fire while the room cleared. Having to rely on sight, hindered them and it became horribly defined as some screamed out in pain.

Edward flinched as the echo of the yelp sounded throughout the sewer. Once the smoke had finally cleared, he could see Falman lying on the ground, a large puddle of blood seeping from his abdomen. The other officers circled around him and fought off a wave of ruthless Chimeras. This gave Edward a chance to help them. Bringing his hands together he slapped the ground. Fusing the iron of the surrounding pools of blood with the basic elements of cement, Ed summoned four rows of sturdy rods from the ground. The poles struck out in every which way, impaling every creature within five feet; then the rods grew, bent and connected over his comrades heads, encasing them in a solid cage.

Chimeras rammed it and others tried to reach them with extended claws, but the bars would not give.

"Fullmetal! Let us out! You can't fight them on your own!" Colonel Mustang commanded.

Edward gave a nod. "I don't want your blood on--" but a swift and direct punch knocked Edward to the hard ground. At this point all the commotion from the Chimeras had stopped, as if this was their queue.

While Edward tittered on the edge consciousness, a large shadowed figure approached him. It was the pseudo-body of his brother Alphonse Elric.

Staring up at his only family, Edward called to his brother. "Al…"

The armor loomed over the small form in front of him.

"Al…" Ed whispered and stretched out his hand. Alphonse hesitated, his black gloved hand slowly reached down.

"Al… I love--" In a quick sudden motion a bronzed- booted foot came crushing down on the chest of Edward. The room was beyond the silence of death and a loud muffled crack was heard. Every eye stared at the body of the young alchemist.

"…you…" Escaped Edward's mouth as his arm collapsed by his side. A single tear trickled down his face…

Click… click… click. The ungainly abnormal strides of Shou Tucker filled in the silence. "Now Edward if you would have done what I had told you in the beginning, none of this would have had to happen… And you know" Shou turned toward the caged officers. "That I can kill them so easily… and him." He tapped the shoulder of Al.

Edward's eyes widened. He coughed up some blood and began to speak. "Al-alright… I'll do it…"

"Hmm. I knew you would" Shou smiled.

Alphonse removed his foot and backed away. Edward placed each hand at his side and slowly lifted himself up. He bit his lip as his could feel two or three broken ribs grinding against each other and the cave in of his sternum(chest plate). Grabbing a bar of the cage he pulled his body into a standing position, breathing in short agonizing breaths. A blood soaked glove grasped his wrist, Edward looked up to see the worried face of Mustang.

"What are you planning?…" Roy asked.

Edward gave him a weak smile and turned around. The alchemist closed his eyes and wavered a bit, he was loosing too much blood internally. With all his focus and strength, Edward brought his hands together one more time…

Unlike any other transmutation, shafts of white light erupted from the point where he had connected his hands. After several minutes the intensity of the light died away and the sight snatched the breath from everyone.

Standing amazingly tall in the limited room was an ebony black gate. The Gate. Carved along it's arched frame were the forms of human bodies, all reaching for some unattainable goal. On the doors itself, etched into the stone with incredible perscision was an eye, seeing all and nothing. For a moment it appeared that it would stand there motionless for eternity, but unhurriedly the doors began to open from the inside. Compare to the blinding light at it's arrival the innards were darker than any words could dream of describing. Once the door was a few feet open dozens of tiny black hands jutted forth from the mouth of the entrance. They stretched down and picked up the limp body of Edward Elric, slowly taking him in.

Mustang tried to grab his subordinate, but he was out of reach. "Edward…Edward!" his voice seemed distant.