"Beyond a large amount of blood and bodies, I don't think we have found any similarities in the attacks," Havoc commented.
They had just arrived at the third attack site, having already combed through two previous ones.
"Did you think he was going to leave behind a note detailing his entire plan?" Hughes asked with a snort.
Mustang smiled.
Hughes acted like love-sick idiot sometimes, but there was keen intelligence behind those green eyes. Even now Hughes was scanning the site and noting every gory detail.
"We have found similarities. All of the sites so far have transmutation marks scattered around them. This proves that Kimblee was the one responsible for the attacks," Mustang said.
"Big shocker there," Havoc muttered.
"War can be one big fog. It is important to confirm details. If one of these massacres was not Kimblee's then it could prevent us from seeing the pattern in all of them," Hawkeye said.
Havoc continued to grumble, but he joined Hughes and Hawkeye in picking over the scene.
The bodies had long since been taken away and put in simple wooden boxes to be shipped back to grieving loved ones, but a fair amount of blood still remained.
Mustang stared at it.
So many dead -both Ishvalans and Amestrians.
He clenched his hands into fists.
The sight was an all too tangible reminder of why Mustang had to catch Kimblee. Not just to stop the insane former state alchemist from taking anymore lives, but so that he could gain the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and be one step closer to his goal of becoming Furher. He refused to let blood, blood, and more blood be the future of Amestris. When he was Furher, he would end the pointless cycle of blood and violence.
Mustang was about to join his subordinates in checking the site when the loud boom of an explosion rent the air. A mushroom of smoke rose above the roofs of the building.
Hawkeye straightened and put a hand on one of the pistols holstered at her waist. "Sir, that is not too far away."
Mustang nodded then began giving orders, "Lieutenant Hawkeye, you are with me. Lieutenant Havoc go with Major Hughes. The two of you will circle to the left of the explosion while Hawkeye and I head to the right. If you hear a loud snap, get behind something non-flammable and stay there."
"Non-flammable?" Havoc repeated.
But Mustang didn't hear him. He had already started running towards the explosion, pulling on his white gloves with their flame transmutation circles as he did so. Hawkeye followed close behind him with her guns drawn.
Mustang slid to a stop. Smoke was billowing between two building up ahead.
Mustang hid behind the nearest one with Hawkeye, waiting for it to clear so they could get a clear shot at their target.
When the smoke finally cleared, the scene it revealed was horrific.
Kimblee stood in the middle of a blackened and scorched crater. Piled up around the rim of the crater were the bodies. Charred blue Amestrian uniforms covered most of the bodies with the others too charred by the blast to make out if they were wearing the uniform. Three full squads worth of victims lay dead, but there had to be more. Someone had to have been the source the charcoal lumps lying inside the crater and the body parts scattered around the rubble.
Mustang felt sick at the sight, but he turned to Hawkeye and held up three fingers.
Three...two...one
Mustang snapped his fingers and sent a lance of fire streaking towards Kimblee.
Kimblee's head snapped up at the sound of the snap and he rolled out of the way, barely missing a bullet from Hawkeye's pistol as he did so.
He came up with a wild grin on his face, "It seems the Amestrian Military has finally decided to start taking me seriously. They have let one of their precious dogs loose. Been a long time, Major Flame. I am guessing from the bullet that came too close to hitting me that you brought the Hawk with you too."
Mustang stepped out from behind cover to face Kimblee.
"Why not make this is easier on all of us and come quietly," Mustang said.
Kimblee shook his head, "I am not finished yet. Besides, I have never been one to take the easy path."
He casually turned sideways and two bullets shot into the wall of one of the building beside Mustang. They had to be from Hughes and Havoc.
"How about the path that lets you live?" Mustang asked.
Kimblee laughed. "You have been ordered to take me alive. You won't burn me to death, flame."
Mustang held up one hand, "True, but we will see how quickly you move when your whole body is one big third degree burn."
Mustang snapped his fingers and a wall of flame swept towards Kimblee.
When it disappeared, Mustang found himselflooking at hastily transmuted, stone wall.
