More and more people in Central City were growing with more concern about t about the military's ability to handle a potential epidemic. Newspapers highlighting people who have seen other's "mutate," "transform," into something they can only imagine from movies. However, no one paid any mind to it as it was just seen as "fictitious speculation" by the military to override any concerns from the general public.
In the meantime, other cities have been trying to get their own manpower to help with the ill. Dublith was lively in making strides in helping with food provisions and soup kitchens. Although, one particular shop was always liveliest.
"Hey honey, could you grab that for me?" a woman with a crisp voice asked, her long black braids gently sashayed in the breeze.
A strong, tan, muscled man carried in fifty pounds of meat and gave his wife his winning grin. "Sure Izumi. Hey Mason, you're slacking, get to it!"
"Sure sir. I've got a phone call from a customer who's asking for over 100 cases."
Izumi almost let the knife drop out of her hand. "What?! Are you serious?! Sig, you better get to it, customers are hungry, and we can't leave them like that."
Like clockwork, Mason, Izumi, and Sig went to town on butchering, carving, cutting the meat into perfectly sized portions. For the past few months, all three have been trying to come to copes with the state of the country. Once in a while, Sig would tune into the radio but the news of people getting sick was just heartbreaking. All he and his wife could think, what would they do if their child was still there? Like mother instinct, Izumi wanted to make sure at least the people in her town could be taken care of.
She never had faith in the military, and these events did not change that at all; why place the faith of a country in someone's hand while she could do it with her own? These were the questions that constantly rushed through her mind, but she had a job to care of. Children needed food and water; nothing would get in her way.
However, a few hours in, Izumi ran out of her necessary spices. "Hey Hun, would you be able to make a quick run to the grocery store?"
Loud grunts escaped from the kitchen; the muscled man somehow managed to pull a muscle in his back. Sig couldn't really hide the pain subtly. "AGH! MY BACK! I think I must've slept funny last night, and it hurts like a son of a bitch. You're gonna have to get it and while you're at, get some acetaminophen if you can."
A few kisses and chuckles did relieve him a little; the love between both of them was pretty undeniable. "I shouldn't be long, but if I am for any reason, I'll give you a call from JJ's. Actually, I'll get some hot cocoa for you on my way back. I've been having a hankering for chocolate and they say chocolate has some healing properties."
Izumi wasn't one for going out in her own town in a grandiose style, but she hasn't treated herself in a long while. The lack of sleep and eating was starting to catch up on her.
The streets of Dublith had its own kind of character. While some people were to use to hiding secrets, especially in the underground scene, it was the whole community that would make sure those secrets wouldn't escape. They weren't exactly big fans of the military, but with its current situation, a couple of people obliged to let the military make its necessary deliveries.
Izumi was particularly fond of the north end of her city, bustling with life and businesses getting their customers. Aromas and scents filled the air, people genuinely happy with their neighbors and outside guests.
Except, one particular "guest" caught Izumi's attention, something about how the person was dressed just didn't sit well in her stomach. The person's garbs consisted of a cheaply made white shirt with a couple of blood and other bodily stains, and distressed pants. Her blonde hair was matted, the dark circles underneath her eyes were extremely prominent. She looked like she was in some sort of fight but had enough money to buy herself a coffee and left.
"One large black coffee please."
The barista looked so confused with the patron as she wandered away sipping at the coffee, but Izumi raised her hand in reassurance. "I'm gonna talk to her to make sure she's okay."
Floods of people filled up the streets to the brim, the young woman tried to keep up with the stranger. There was something about her gaze Izumi took note of, as if she's lost the will to live. Izumi was familiar with that feeling, the feeling of losing life in her own two hands. If she were my kid, I wouldn't let her walk around like this.
She swiftly strolled across, keeping a close eye on the clearly battered woman. No one else seemed to notice her odd appearance; Dublith was quite used to unique individuals around. Suddenly, as both of them were nearing closer to an alleyway, the blonde woman started to collapse but Izumi quickly managed to transmute a pillar of cement for support.
"Hey, are you okay miss?" Izumi's tone was full of concern, a little bit of sorrow in her eyes.
Thankfully, the coffee wasn't spilled, but it was clear that the woman was rattled and needed some help.
"I need a place to sleep. I've been running so much that I can't even remember what day it is." The stranger's voice was breathless, all life zapped away from her.
"Here, come on back to my place and I can offer you a bed to lay on. Then we need to take you to a hospital to have someone look at you."
The stranger's eyes pulsated in horror. "No, I'm not going back to any hospital. I'm not gonna let a monster poke and prod me for their pleasure. No way." She tightly grabbed her cup and looked for any possible escape.
Within instinct Izumi quickly closed up the alleyway. "Look, if you don't want to go to a hospital, that's fine. However, you need to at least rest. Sleep can help indefinitely and I'm not your enemy. People around call me their mom and I wouldn't let a gal like you, for how young you are, walk around in tattered clothes. Please, I'm offering you a bed and shower."
A couple of awkward seconds passed, but after a few deep breaths she obliged. "Sure, I'll take you up on your offer. If you want to know my name's Carrie, what's yours?" "Izumi Curtis." She spoke plainly, offering her hand out.
There was a slight bit of hesitation Carrie's face, but she eventually shook Izumi's hand. "My name's actually Carrie White."
/
Back over in Central City, Edward, Alphonse, and Winry were unsure where they would go next. King made it clear that the three would be going nowhere, they had necessary information as witnesses with the people who went up in flames. The military and police were doing everything they can to calm the citizens down. So many people had questions about the safety and health of the city, even a town hall meeting was arranged. The residents asked questions but were silenced by the military to "keep the peace" and "assure everything's okay and under control." Even as the Furher, King made sure his guests would be treated well and got them a hotel room for a few days.
However, King had a couple of questions that needed answers so he brought them back to his personal quarters at the military base. Edward and the other two were right in his office. Symbols of the military were brandished and a few of his swords were on display. Winry twiddled with her hair and Alphonse tightly clenched his fists.
"Listen, I don't want you three to feel intimated at all. I brought you three here away from the chaos so we can have a conversation. FullMetal, I understand you were up north with Dr. Marcoh and you two have done some research into some of the most recent deaths." He spoke plainly, his uncovered eye staring straight at the young alchemist.
"That is correct, sir. Marcoh and I were on a discovery as to why, but we're still unsure of the why."
"Why's that Edward?"
Edward paused for a moment; did he want to tell the Furher about a possible conspiracy theory?
"Because Edward, I have a reason as to why people are dying?"
Winry was aghast and Alphonse remained silent.
Edward broke the silence. "Sir, I thought it was a little strange to have Raven send us a message while you could've just called us. Then, the whole thing with Basque Grand. I'm sorry, but that guy was being an asshat and I can't let anything going on while something major is. Right now, I just need Marcoh to get here and then both of us can possibly pinpoint a cure. People are scared and it looks like the military is losing its grip." His smile was a bit smug, he wanted King to get angry. What Edward said was true, asides the military providing provisions, how could they get a medical team out there? That's what the hospitals were meant to do, but none of the doctors went out there in the field.
"While you have your soldiers here, as both a state alchemist and doctor, I've witnessed the horror that is happening to people. I want to stop people burning up." Edward added, he had that gaze when he met King the first time.
King remained silent too, his gaze locked on the young alchemist. Getting talked to by a kid like this. I've never dealt with anything like that, not even Selim would do that to his own father. Well, I have to see what else Edward knows, it might just help us a little bit more.
"Edward, it's not often a Furher like myself gets talked to by a kid and State Alchemist. I have to applaud you for your boldness, your words never quivered. That determination and fire in your eyes, this is why men like you are few in between. I wish I could send soldiers and doctor out to help the people who need it, but my own people are lost and confused. And-" King paused for another second, looking out the window seeing people try to carry on their day, "-I begin to wonder who will survive in the end, but twiddling our thumbs gets us nowhere."
All of a sudden, the radio in his office started going off its haywire. "Outbreak. South of Central City…" Then it started to break up, electrical whirring and it was so bad Winry tried to cover her ears.
"It's… Somewhere in Dublith… Unsure if it's a man or woman…"
/
The two made their way back to Izumi's abode, picking up the hot cocoa she promised for Sig and the spices she needed for her special mix. Even though it was a quiet walk, Carrie felt at ease. She didn't have to run anymore, for the moment.
Just the sights of Dublith to Carrie were the most amazing thing, seeing people helping out one another or a young gentleman helping an older lady crossing the road. Her eyes beamed with a joy and glee. Something about her innocence was so charming and youthful for the old woman Izumi.
Izumi wanted to be everyone's mother, to help preserve the children's youth and innocence to make sure they can live to the next day and beyond. Everyone was just so thankful for her contributions, but for Carrie she slowly grew thankful.
Sig was still in agony from the muscle he pulled earlier, but Mason was a huge hand. As soon as both ladies entered the house, he was a bit perplexed by Carrie's presence with how her garbs looked all tattered and the severe stress lines on her face.
"Mason, please get her some fresh clothes and start up the shower. This is Carrie White. I offered her a bed and a shower for now. No questions asked, period. Do you understand me?" She spoke with command, her eyes filled with stern.
"Yes ma'am."
With quick haste, the young, muscled jock set up the preparations. Izumi showed Carrie a place to sit, and then she turn to Sig's needs and finished their work for the day.
Carrie gingerly walked around the living room, photos and other ornaments decorated it. She fixated on a particular photo of Izumi and Sig in their wedding attire caught their eye. Something about marriage was soothing, as if it was calling out to her.
"Carrie, you alright?" Izumi questioned, tending to her loving husband.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. Just carefully observing the lovely living room you have here. The photo of you and your husband at your wedding caught my eye."
While Izumi could play off a poker face, a red blush slowly formed across her face. "Awe, thank you. That was a pretty wonderful day, everything went off without a hitch." Her fingers delicately twirled her braids, the moment when she and her husband said "I do" was just something so magical.
Carrie carried on into the bathroom, everything laid out for her. A fresh change of clothes and even a few homemade bath bombs helped soothe her.
A good hour of silence went on by, Izumi and Sig were able to finish their work for the day, Mason had time to play with his younger siblings, and Carrie was able to feel some kind of peace. However, Izumi couldn't help but think there was something Carrie wasn't being forthcoming about.
Cleaned up, glistening blonde hair grazed the bedroom; her newly pressed clothing matched her newfound smile. "I can't say thank you enough. I do apologize for my behavior beforehand, when I don't get enough sleep or get super stressed out, I wasn't thinking straight." Her voice was filled with confidence, blue eyes dazzling with a glee.
"I'm glad you're feeling better, but I'm gonna need to know why and what you brought here. I hope I'm not insensitive by asking if there's ever been a history of mental illnesses."
"No, you're not insensitive at all." She replied calmly, "I've always been sick as a child. My immune system would constantly be compromised and because I couldn't exactly live a 'normal' life it would then be manifested by episodes of anxiety and depression. My parents had to work all the time, just to have some kind of meal on the table. I understood why, but even then, my depression would take it the other way. It didn't help a lot of the time that the kids at my school would poke fun at me and bully me."
"That's just horrible. Kids at such a young age can learn awful habits, but it seems like you had the support from your parents." The alchemical woman gently placed her hand on Carrie's shoulder for reassurance. "If you need me for anything, just let me or my husband know." However, in the back of Izumi's mind, she just knew something wasn't right. Why was a young woman suffering so much emotional and mental trauma to cause such physical outlashes?
A tiny smile was seen on Carrie's face. "Thank you, I think I'll go sit outside in your lovely garden area."
With grace, the blonde woman exited. Roses and dandelions decorated the garden, the air was crisp, and skies were blue. She finally felt peaceful and a sense of belonging. Mom, dad, I'm so sorry. I know I mustn't have been the easiest child but know that I will always have both in your hearts. Her parents passed away when she was admitted to one of the psychiatric wards. They didn't want to lock her away, but to guarantee she could get the medical attention she needed.
Fingers twiddled with a couple of dandelions and even blew at a few of them, watching the seeds dance across the air. Each of those seeds represented her freedom, her escaping her medical problems. If it weren't for mom and dad, I wouldn't be here. She found herself lost in deep thoughts, but something wanted her to journal those thoughts.
Why is it that often nature reminds me of home? Could it be that my parents were very much fond of doing stuff outdoors, even though my body wanted to keep me indoors? Why does my body have to be like a coffin? Any time I take a step, take a breath, it has to fight back. Illnesses can take their own shape and form, but somehow even their own shapes constrict me on a day to day basis. I wonder when I could ever be "normal" again. Is it a foolish dream?
Izumi noticed Carrie and even Sig had a concerned look on his face. "Hey love, is she gonna be okay? We ought to take her to a hospital, we're not doctors. If I was her father…" Sig was cut off with a menacing glare by his wife.
"Honey," Sig insisted, " his girl just came from a hospital or 'hospital,' and did you not see how tattered she was? If we can offer her some kind of stability before throwing her back 'there' that would make me feel a lot better. I know you mean well, but she's an adult and there's only so much that we can do. Plus, I found this in the bathroom."
In Sig's hand was an empty pill bottle, worry and concern were on his face.
However, the word hospital echoed like dynamite set off in a cave to Carrie's ears. She didn't want to go back there, never. A place of eternal nightmares for her, images of doctor after doctor, needle after needle filled her mind. Horrors of diagnosis after diagnosis, no could understand the pain she went through on a daily basis. However, one doctor understood her plight. His distinct appearance, a golden tooth he brandished, he smiled widely with a needle filled with a cure and bottles of pills as well to boot.
"NO! I NEVER WANNA GO BACK THERE AGAIN!" she shrieked, every fiber in her wanting to run away again.
Trampling over flowers, she bolted for the gated fence but just as she tried to open the door, within animal instinct, she kicked it off its hinges. A sense of fire was burning on her face, her vision starting to go blurry, foggy.
"Sig, I'm going after her, looks like she's having some kind of panic attack and," with a slight hesitation in her voice, "call the hospital; we can't look after her; you're right. We're not doctors."
With no hesitation, Izumi threw her jacket on and slipped in a small pocketknife. "Carrie, please stop running. We aren't going to force you against your will, but you need help."
Cars ripped through the streets of Dublith, sirens went off every couple of seconds. People chatted and giggled, just more sounds that sent Carrie into a complete state of paranoia. "LEAVE ME ALONE!"
A few strangers took notice of her behavior and tried to offer some kind of friendly gesture, however Carrie knocked one of them down while still trying to run.
A young man in his twenties was so confused. "What's the rush?"
Izumi was hot on her trail, never losing sight of her. "Carrie, please stop; you're causing a scene, you'll get in more trouble."
All of a sudden, a semi-truck blasted through an alleyway and just as the driver laid on the horn, Carrie stuck out her hands causing it to stop entirely. Metal crunched loudly and the driver was thrusted forward into his seat. Fumes started to emit from the engine and the airbag finally deployed. Since he was so sandwiched tightly between the seat and wheel, there wasn't any give on the seatbelt.
His fists pounded at the glass. "SOMEONE HELP ME PLEASE!"
A loud ping echoed down the alley, blue streaks of light casted the shadows. Two large hand-shaped slabs of concrete managed to create an opening for the driver. The alchemist quickly got him out of there, but Carrie stood there in front of the vile, hands out, a glazed look on her eyes.
She was heavily transfixed by looking at her hands; she still felt the metal grate pressing hardly against her skin almost like another needle being plunged into her body. More mental images flashed of needles and the contents dripping out of those needles flooded her consciousness. "I never want to go back there again! I'm not a pin cushion! Mom, dad, where are you?!" Heavy tears formed in the corners of her eyes.
Izumi tried to comfort Carrie from a safe distance. "Carrie, I need you to calm down and listen to me."
In a fit of rage, her eyes were almost red, she screamed. "Who the hell do you think you are? My mother? I never asked you to be my parent. In fact, I never asked for your kindness. You expect me to be so kind in return when I never wanted it in the first place? Are you trying to make me forgive you that you couldn't have a child, but yet you carry on a fake smile?" She sneered, her hand was firmly against the concrete wall but the more and more anger she grew, more of it crumbled underneath.
Izumi was at a loss, it almost seemed nothing could break Carrie out of her trance. But Izumi tried again, "Carrie, I know what you're saying is not who you really are. I take everyone in not expecting anything in return; all I want in return is to see someone smiling. You're not smiling, you're filled with vile and resentment for what has happened in your life. We may not be dealt with the best cards in your life, but at least your parents were able to help you out for the most."
Carrie dug her nails into her face. "Then why did my parents leave me? I can't seem to remember why."
Cautiously, Izumi creeped over for a lead pipe just in case she needed to transmute it into a larger blade; something more than a pocketknife could do. "I'm not your mother, but if your parents felt that something else was going on, then it was for your benefit."
Without skipping a beat, Carrie threw her right hand forward; some metal-like substances came out of her palm, the fragments nearly grazed across Izumi's cheeks. Her breathing changed; a slight growl could be heard. "I don't care who you are, no one's gonna get in the way of my freedom. I don't want to be trapped in hospital walls."
More and more people started to come closer to the scene. A child looked absolutely frightened. "Mommy, is this something I can catch?"
Izumi quickly turned her head to the small boy, but Carrie lurched for the boy. Bearing her newly formed claws, she tried to swipe at him, but with barely a couple seconds to spare Izumi transmuted a pipe and chopped the nails right off.
"You bitch. Stop getting in my way." Carrie uttered, her gaze was full of ire, her sense of humanity slowly dwindling.
"I won't stop until you will." Izumi poised herself for a frontal strike, her wrist slightly bent and her other hand ready for a palm strike.
Dull blue eyes finally turned fiery red; a small ember grew into a massive blaze. Carrie's entire body wretched with pain, her screams loud enough to shatter windows. The other citizens desperately covered their ears, but somehow Izumi managed to stay focused.
What felt like a couple seconds was an eternity for the pained woman, long locks of innocent, blonde hair dropped onto the concrete. Her once beautiful face, ravaged by anger and red veins becoming more prominent. She tightly gripped her arm, ripping off flesh to show her new, true self. A monster filled with revenge for those who've done her wrong in the past and Izumi would be her first target.
"I'm going to rip you to shreds and the rest of humanity will walk over you. A woman like you has no place in this world; your kindness is a weakness more than you would want to acknowledge."
With one long stride, Carrie stuck her leg out for a high kick. The weight propelling her faster than a human would try to do a normal kick.
"I don't think so." Izumi retorted with, grabbing her by the ankle and throwing her balance off completely. It almost felt like how Edward and Alphonse trained with her years ago, she could almost read Carrie's moves. "I'm not sure why you are acting like this, but rest assured I don't let monsters run Dublith nor the people I truly care about."
Swiftly, Carrie retracted her leg back and followed it up with a right hook. Her bare, white arms swinging at the strength that matched Sig.
"Man Carrie, if you could fight like this in real life, I bet you could toe to toe with some of my previous students."
"I DON'T WANT YOUR PITY YOU STUPID WOMAN! JUST DIE!"
The two women kept on throwing blows at each other, one after the other never meeting their targets. Izumi was more concerned with keeping distance and not causing any harm.
Suddenly, police sirens rang on by and a few military soldiers gathered at the scene. Guns were drawn, it was so silent a dropped pin could be heard. "Freeze! Put your hands up and be cooperative with us."
All of the soldiers in blue were armed to the teeth. A few were even placed with sniper rifles. Carrie's insanity and power kept on growing, she wanted more than anything to tear them into ground meat. "Do you really think a couple of guns will take down the greatest monster ever created? You don't stand a chance."
This power was unlike anything Izumi has witnessed, even beyond when she tried to transmute her dead baby. Even when I opened the gate of Truth, it held a fraction than what she has in her body.
One particularly large soldier stepped forward, his dark complexion and scowl set himself apart from the other run of the mill soldiers. "For once, I don't have to worry about some runt trying to get under my skin. Time for a real battle, girl." Basque Grand stood there with an unruly scowl, the transmutation circles on his gauntlets glowed brightly. "BRING IT!" as he lurched forward, his size causing the ground beneath to break and his booming yell filling all of the alleys in Dublith.
A couple of hisses and a few attempts to claw the man alive came too short, she was losing focus rather too quickly. Her glossed eyes try to center in on his gauntlets, the source of the Brigadier's power. "What would happen if I blasted everything off your arms?" With her left arm extended, a powerful beam of red light escaped; cascades of lightning piercing the sky, turning it blood red.
Although, a very strong effort was attempted, it completely missed its mark.
Izumi was still saddened to see Carrie in complete distraught. "Carrie, listen to me. Whatever is taking control of you, your panic, your fear, take control of it."
"Stay out of this woman. This is a military matter now. We don't want any civilians to be harmed in the process." With the snap of his fingers, a few soldiers surrounded her.
"Sir, you're making a grave error." She cracked her knuckles, a grin formed, "I'm not no ordinary citizen, I'm an alchemist and I take responsibility for what she's done. I'm the one who took her in, but now I have to make it right."
A quick, low-sweeping kick took out numerous soldiers as she ran full force. Basque didn't want to be upstaged again by someone younger than him.
"Oh really? Do I have to declare you enemy of the state in order to get things done right?" His burly arm came hammering down, but with enough momentum she was able to completely jump over him.
"Carrie, I'm so sorry, this must be done." Transmutation circles formed along the ground and a newly formed spear was made.
Steel collided against Carrie's carbon body, it snapped in half like a twig. "Huh, your body has a hardened outer shell, let's see what happens if I create a weak point."
Another blue lightning wrapped around the end of the pole, the end of it turning lava hot. At first, Carrie didn't flinch at all from the heat, but over time the white-hot rod slowly started to pierce her body. "You goddamn bitch!" With her other arm, a quick elbow jab forced Izumi back, however, part of the pipe stayed in place.
"Carrie, I'm so sorry." Izumi tried so hard to keep her tears back as she went in for one final transmutation to incinerate Carrie's being.
However, the woman didn't thrash at all and Basque was confused.
Red irises turned back into dull, blue eyes and she knew that her life couldn't continue on like this. What would her parents think of her as a monster, wanting to hurt kids within first sight? I know I may have been angry, but, life is more meaningful than being angry or sad. In our weak times, we try to reach for things that aren't meant to be and Izumi showed me a life is filled with happiness and wonder.
"Izumi, I can't begin to thank you enough. You put a smile on my face."
Amidst Basque's confusion, he wanted to take another lunge, but the Izumi stopped him in his tracks. "I don't think so Brigadier."
Against all odds, Carrie stood there proudly, smiling as her body turned into ash inch by inch and a red solid item was momentarily on the ground before it vanished too.
Basque didn't want to admit what he witnessed but felt obliged to compliment the woman's feats. "Although you technically interfered with the military, your quick actions as an alchemist did help prevent things from turning bad to worse. I need you to come with me so that the Furher can know of your actions."
The military, something Izumi was so disgusted by, especially how they treated their own alchemists. They were treated as nothing but weapons, striking fear into the hearts of countless, weak people.
"Miss, I am going to need you to come down with me to Central City. The only reason why I was down here in Dublith was to check in on a soldier, but glad I was here to deal with the threat. Furher Bradley will want to hear about your experiences and my men will try to insure tranquility here."
Izumi scoffed, she wanted to speak the real truth, but she didn't want to embarrass Basque any further. "That's fine by me, if the Furher wants to talk to a woman like me I'd be flattered." Her tone was a bit sarcastic, a small smile could be seen. "Let me just give my husband a call to just let him know I'll be coming home late."
One of the other soldiers handed her a radio phone.
"Hey honey, just to let you know I'll be coming home a bit late tonight. I know you really wanted to cook up some barbeque, but that'll have to be saved for another time."
/
The city of Asbec still remained quiet and peaceful despite the chaos and tragedy happening south of it. Dr. Marcoh still feverishly worked on his experiments making sure his theories would be sound before presenting them to most esteemed, political leader of his country. If Bradley really cared about the state of the country, why isn't he out there putting his life on the line? I'm one to talk as I've been a coward in my past, but that's going to change. I just have to wonder what on earth is happening to people.
Just as Tim was about to put another piece of research in his suitcase, someone was pounding heavily at his door.
"What is it? The door's unlocked."
"Dr. Marcoh, my name's General Armstrong and your men need my help. People in Central are going up in flames and looks like they're struggling to contain it. How I would love to make the men in Central look like fools and have my Briggs men show them how to take control. What can I do for you doctor?" Her dulcet tone and presence were able to bring some kind of peace.
Going up in flames? Is this why we are constantly being given ashes of their remains? I thought maybe it was that they could only provide those limited remains to us.
The old man was confused and couldn't fathom people burning up in his mind. "What do you mean burning up?"
However, as those thoughts came to be a few of the vials started to have a reaction and rattled horrendously. The black dust within them tried to form a structure, but when that structure was nearly complete it was as if an invisible match set them alight. "OH GOSH! Make sure nothing gets burned."
Olivier moved carefully, almost elegantly, and snuffed out the flames with her boot. "This is what I'm exactly talking about, things seem normal for them, but then it's as if a transformation takes place and then they go up in flames. People are rumoring if it's some airborne disease or if it's been created by a foreign nation. I don't think it's either of them, it almost seems too specific for what this person is intending."
For a moment Marcoh was gobsmacked, was what he has been fighting for this entire time in front of his face and his own hands? He would've never thought in his years, even the Ishvalan Civil War, that something like this would ever happen. Oh gosh, I just hope Edward is able to keep up with what's going on. I almost wish I went down with him, but looks like I'll have to hurry it up.
"General Armstrong, I would like you to accompany me on our way down to Amestris. I'm very concerned if someone would try to come after me, considering that I'm a high target because of what I've been looking into."
The female General had a grin on her face. "Miles," Olivier interjected with a deadpan tone, a small smirk on her face. "I need you to stay here and lead Briggs. I have always trusted your instincts, make sure my men stay in line. Understood? Plus, it's been a bit since I've seen my younger brother Alex, I wonder how that oaf is doing in Central."
"Yes sir!" the man behind her boldly responded.
Olivier always had a knack for wanting to show off, whether it would be for her younger brother or just how strong she is combat. The General was ready to show her true strength against the monsters.