Chapter 15

Cheating the Devil

"Are you sure, brother?" Alphonse asked, leaning over his brother's shoulder and looking down at the rows of numbers scrawled out in the title page.

Edward side glanced him adjusting his glasses. His eyes glinted. "Yes, he's a pompous ass, but a smart one," the young man explained. He studied the chart, and flipped through the pages. "Jack made a reference to Doyle's Sherlock Holmes; he knows I've read them and Doyle is of a particular interest in our work." He stopped at a page and tapped it. "Well, this of course proves he's been spying on us all along; but in any case, in one of the stories I've read Holmes solves a cipher -- a puzzle, similar to this one. Lets see, the first number is page" He flipped to the chart, muttering to himself "42, yes, here it is, page 42, the second number is paragraph so that would make it, second paragraph, and the last number is word, word number 12." He looked at Al. "9:OO pm. A time…"

A time; it could have meant anything. Jack did have a sense of humor, but it wasn't cruel… Alphonse felt a lump in his throat and tried to still the heavy beating of his heart. He was excited. So excited it didn't bother him Jack had been spying. If it was to help them, Alphonse reflected, it was a good thing, and he was sure Jack was out for their best interest. "Then it's true. The book is a clue. Houdini was an escape artist. Jack's going to help us escape…" Alphonse felt a flicker of hope. His fingers dug into Edward's heavy dark muted green sweater and squeezed the soft wool. "Brother. Than the other books are clues too."

Without a thought, Alphonse dashed across the room and seized his two books from his bed. Flipping open the Time Machine, he studied the title page and the autograph there. "This date is off, I'm sure Jack was trying to give us a date here. January 7, 1924, a little less than two weeks!" He plopped the book in front of Edward's nose. "I knew he wasn't like the others!"

Edward looked at him with disapproval wrinkling his brow. "I seem to recall you said that about Siren." Absorbed, he returned to his book, and quietly jotted down each word from Jack's puzzle. "From what I can see here, your date might be right. What book is that?"

Alphonse pointed to the title. "The Time Machine. Of course the future date fits with the theme of the book too."

"Of course, that's obvious." Edward offered Alphonse a big cheerful grin, and despite his pallor and thin features, he looked like the brother Alphonse remembered.

Edward quickly went from page to page, recording words and constructing the coded sentence. After a few moments, Edward pulled away. "9:00, passage, Al knows where, dress warm, pack light and bring serum." He looked at Alphonse questioningly. "Passage?"

"Yes, he caught me poking around that suit of armor in the hall. I found a switch; behind it is the way out," Alphonse replied. "I found it the day Kaiser had me beaten, so I hadn't gotten around to telling you about it. I'm sorry brother."

Nodding, light glinted off the glass of Edward's spectacles and he turned to face the boy. "You have been busy. You told me about the passages. I'm impressed Al."

Al felt his cheeks warm. It was nice to hear Edward compliment him. They had been so tense lately. "Than you trust me?"

"I've always trusted you. I know you are capable and are trying to take charge of the situation, I told you earlier I was proud of you, Al, and I mean it. I am."

It must have been difficult for Edward to admit it, Alphonse thought fondly. He watched his brother drop his pencil and closed the book. "As for Jack, it can't be this easy. He's up to something. I know he is and we're not prepared. I'm sure Envy's involved; without Alchemy, we can't fight him."

It would have been nice if Edward would just drop his dislike for Harkness. Alphonse glared at his brother, weary of his inability to Jack the benefit of the doubt. "Jack can't be working with Envy." Alphonse said firmly. He couldn't believe that, Jack wasn't the sort of man to even trust someone like Envy. He was practical and would see Envy was insane. "I don't think he's a blind and stupid fool, Brother, and he would have to be to be willing to work with Envy in some plot to kill you."

Exasperated, Alphonse looked to the stack of empty plates on the coffee table. Edward's last two meals had been the food Jack had brought. The young man seemed better than the other day, not as weak, even after taking the tonic. Was it coincidence? Or perhaps Edward's theory about Envy was true. "Jack's not working with Envy. He might have his own agenda, like Noa said, but Envy isn't a part of it. He wants you alive." Alphonse looked across the room. Einstein was sitting on the dresser next the bed, watching them. Noa was still in her room, they hadn't heard from her all morning, but then again, they celebrated well past midnight and she retired, drained. "You're doing better, Brother."

"You mean my health?" Edward thought about it, looking at his hands. "I'm not as achy today," He replied thoughtfully. "But cancer doesn't go away overnight. Our calculations said I only had about three to six weeks at best and I've been on Arsenic for what? Three weeks? It works swiftly, but I don't think it'll put me in remission that fast." He lifted a hand brushing hair from his eyes. Alphonse recognized the white striations in his fingernails. They started when he began taking the arsenic.

"But if you were being poisoned, and the poisoning stopped, the thing that was accelerating the disease is gone, then you'd start to recover a little more and the medicine might start to make a difference."

Edward shrugged. "Too soon. Can't tell for sure. So, you think its Envy too?"

"Like you said, it's possible." Alphonse replied, trying to think of it. It was strange, when he thought of the dark hair homunculus he felt cold. His ribs ached and he rubbed his side absently. "I think since Jack's goose came from the outside, it's not laced with poison. I'll ask him to bring you food from the outside, ok?"

"If that will make you feel better." Edward replied rolling his eyes dramatically. He opened to a clean page in his notebook. "I'm going to compile a list of places we need to investigate and equipment we'll need to bring. Ok?"

A knock at the door made Alphonse's heart jump. As far as he knew, Jack had the morning off and the other guards left them alone. It could only be one person, Kaiser. Alphonse wasn't sure if he was ready to face the man, he hadn't seen him since his beating. "Brother?"

Edward calmly placed their Christmas books in his desk drawer and came to a careful stand. "Come in."

Kaiser opened the door and entered followed by the two on-shift security guards. He stopped only a few feet from Edward, sharp dark gaze scanning the room.

Alphonse held his breath; concerned Kaiser would become angry at their mess. The room was in disarray. The bed was unmade, and books and papers were stacked near the couch and on the coffee table in the parlor. Clothes hung sloppily over furniture and on the floor near the bathroom. Dirty plates and glasses were scattered throughout the room on dressers, shelves and end tables. The lounge chair that normally sat in front of the fireplace still sat in the parlor, as was Jack's Christmas tree.

Since they had been ill, they had little time to be tidy.

"It is good to see you both up and about." Kaiser announced. "And busy at work I see. Feeling better, Edward?"

Edward shoved his hands in the pockets of his slacks and shifted. "As well as expected."

"Good, good." Kaiser smiled. He shifted his attention to Al, his mock concern almost reminding Al of Roy. "And Alphonse? Are you faring well?"

Alphonse cast a glance to his broken arm. How could the man order such cruel things one moment and suddenly sound concerned the next? Didn't he realize how hypocritical he sounded? Alphonse found himself really wishing Kaiser was Roy, or perhaps that Roy could be there to teach Kaiser a lesson in manners. "Achy."

Placing his hands behind his back, Kaiser walked up to the boy and circled him. "My people will remedy that this afternoon." He explained. "From what I hear, one can have inspiration with the use of Opium. It is a pity the League of Nations is attempting to regulate its use. Nonetheless, I've come here for several reasons." Clicking his heels, he turned to face Edward.

Edward gritted his teeth, annoyance crossing his face. "Reasons? What hoops do you want me to jump through now, Herr Kaiser? Have I not jumped through enough?"

Twitching, Alphonse placed a hand on his brother's arm. He admired his brother's will, and did not want to quell it. Another beating for Alphonse would only make Edward feel more guilt. Edward floundered in guilt on a day-to-day basis; he needed no more, for it would eventually drown him. "Brother."

Kaiser chuckled. "I will take that as you knowing your place, Edward. I find it humorous you can still find the will to be sarcastic. But I digress. I have decided after your brother's beating that I should reward you for your work. Yes it was difficult for you to share your notes, but I understand how possessive scientists are, especially ones like you. So, I feel it is time to build your reputation in the scientific world, and educate your brother for I suspect he will be as accomplished of an Alchemist are you are."

Beat the horse, and give it a carrot when it behaves. Alphonse winced. Kaiser was attempting to condition them. "Brother is educating me." Alphonse replied softly. "I need no tutors."

That smile sent chills down his spine. The two guards moved to either side of Edward as Kaiser touched Alphonse's cheek and traced a finger to his lips. "You put up quite the fight the other day, Alphonse." His hand lashed out, slapping him across the face. At the same time, the guards grabbed Edward's arms and pulled them behind his back. "Apparently you know little of manners, boy. You may not address me unless spoken to. When I was a boy, I was beaten until I understood this. In a week, I have arranged for you to go to a boarding school. It is a private institution run by allies of mine. They will keep you in line and show you how to be a proper obedient young man."

"This wasn't a part of our deal!" Edward shouted, straining against the arms holding him. "Al stays here, with me!"

Kaiser swiftly turned on Edward, fist slamming into his cheek. "We made no such arrangement, Herr Elric!" He grabbed the young man's face, fingers sinking into the bruising flesh. "Do I have to remind you how I own you and your brother?"

"You don't need to." Alphonse announced. It took every ounce of Al's control to keep him from lashing out. Instead he stood frozen, mind racing. Why, why was Kaiser sending him away? Didn't he know Ed would never do as he wanted if they weren't together? The boy stared at his brother as he wrenched his face from Kaiser's hold, anger and defeat reflecting in his gaze.

"I am speaking to your brother, boy." Kaiser signaled his guards who jerked Edward back, so his arms were twisted behind him. His tiny frame, even though dwarfed by the thugs holding him, struggled in an attempt to be free. "Well Edward?"

Stubborn, Edward grit his teeth and looked away. The bruise forming on his face was dark and covered his cheek, making his flesh look even paler than before. The strain of their captivity was killing Edward, and now it seemed, the Kaiser didn't care, as long as he had an Alchemist at his beck and call.

"It's all right brother." Alphonse said stiffly wishing Edward would stop pushing their luck. If they could just lay low for a few days, they could perhaps talk Jack into helping them escape sooner. But he couldn't bet on Jack, not now. He had to rely on his own abilities.

In the back of his mind, the array in the lab seemed to call.

He could get power to save Edward. But Edward would never forgive him if he sold his soul…

"Damn it, Al, it's not all right. I have to take care of you, we've fought too long to be together…" Edward sagged, head bowed.

Tears filled Alphonse's eyes. "I know." He turned to the Kaiser, suddenly understanding. Edward was dying and the Kaiser was ensuring his investment. "You are turning the tables, aren't you Kaiser." Alphonse whispered. "You don't want Edward, you want an alchemist. Edward's worth something to you only because he is alive. When he dies, you have to make sure I'm under your control. Is that it? Is that why you're drugging me, and sending me away. I'm not just a hostage to control brother, but I'm valuable now?"

Kaiser brought his hands together. "You are a bright boy, more rational than Edward as well. Yes, Edward has his uses, but his time is short. I am a man who plans ahead, you see."

"I have no intention of dying." Edward snapped looking through long blond bangs. Weariness washed over his face, making him look warn and useless. "Give me a chance."

"A chance, Edward? I've given you many chances, and I think this move will make you more obedient. Won't it?" Kaiser side glanced Alphonse, who shivered. "Both of you need to learn manners. Especially if either of you intend on having any sort of a reputation here."

"Reputation?" Edward spat, his voice rasped with weakness and rage. "You don't give a damn about my reputation, you don't even plan on letting us go, do you?"

"Doctor Schilling was impressed with your treatment, but he claims it might give you a few more months at best. You'll never complete my work in time. You're dying. This changes, everything." Kaiser informed.

"You'll make sure he lives," Alphonse said evenly weighting his words carefully. It was time for him to make deals, to make sure his brother was kept alive. Even if he planned on escaping soon, Kaiser had to think he was playing the game. "Keep his medicine coming? I'll do nothing if Brother dies, Kaiser."

"I expected nothing more from you young Elric." Kaiser gestured to his guards who released Edward. The young man's legs shook, and sank to his knees. "I have invested a great deal in this project. Too much to let just Edward Elric die."

Grabbing the desk, Edward pulled himself up. "And what of Noa?"

Kaiser put his hands on his hips gaze scanning Edward up and down. "As I mentioned, I am trying to ensure your reputation outside of these walls, Edward Elric. The woman is only a part of that plan." He gestured to the chair in front of the desk. "Please have your brother sit down, Alphonse, before he embarrasses himself and collapses."

Gently, Alphonse wrapped an arm about his brother, and helped him into his chair. It was difficult with his broken arm, but Edward was not interesting in fighting. "Plan?" Edward said, anger flickering in his voice. "What plan?"

Kaiser strolled around the room, half in thought as he spoke. "It's a shame she's a Roma. That will give you very little social standing. But, she will have to do, since you seem to insist on keeping her around." Kaiser rubbed his chin. He stepped on a lump on the floor, and paused looking down at one of Edward's white shirts. Lifting a brow, Kaiser studied the clutter. "A mind like yours and her power must not be wasted, Edward, and society will accept her only because you are eccentric and stubborn."

"What are you getting at?" Edward's brow furrowed with confusion. The boy felt his brother's body attempting to rise. Alphonse squeezed his shoulder in an attempt to stay him. The ploy seemed to work, when Edward stilled, hands grabbing at the fabric of his loose khaki slacks.

"You will marry her immediately." Kaiser announced. His voice picked up, a quiver of glee piercing his words. "I have already made the arrangements for tomorrow afternoon!"

Alphonse blinked, unable to comprehend the Kaiser's words. Well, it was something he didn't expect. Kaiser was not a romantic, and the marriage had to be a part of a scheme of his. The boy looked down, noticing his bother's body was tense and his eyes wide.

"Marry?" Edward sputtered, shock and frustration resonating in his voice. "Marry? How dare you order me to."

Kaiser sighed, and sympathy crossed his features. "Yes, I understand marrying that whore is distressing, but I believe it is for the best. You have lived with her too long to just dismiss her as a mistress." He kicked at the clothing on the floor. "Hum, I can see why you are so upset, she is a lousy housekeeper, but nonetheless, her psychic ability can't be ignored and I believe any offspring you produce will be very special indeed."

Tightening his jaw, Alphonse felt his stomach churn. He wanted to object, well aware Edward insisted on Noa not cleaning up after them. Yet, in the end he knew objection was useless on his part. Kaiser was no different than any German of his time; they distrusted the Roma with a passion, their hatred for them only rivaled to their hatred for the Jews. There was nothing Noa could ever do to please him, save carry children for his nefarious plans.

Did he feel that way about Edward and himself? He suspected the man did earlier, but occasionally he thought the man respected their intelligence.

"Offspring?" Edward stammered. He looked up at Alphonse, outraged, waiting for the boy to respond.

Kaiser beat him to it. "You are dying, Edward. I can not permit you passing on without progeny." Kaiser looked at them with regret and sighed. "Now, you will do as I wish. The wedding is set and you will consummate the marriage immediately, but I assume that will not be difficult for you, since that is why you wanted the woman here in the first place."

"For, for sex?" Edward's cheeks flushed. "Our relationship has nothing to do with sex! We're friends!"

Alphonse shook his head, unable to look at Kaiser anymore. The man was evil, pure and simple. His plans were obvious, and frightening to the boy. They were nothing but toys for him. If Alphonse was right, Kaiser wanted Edward and Noa to produce a child before Edward died and Kaiser would take it. In time, when Alphonse was properly educated and broken, he would be expected to take his brother's place, producing progeny with Elric genius, and Noa's psychic powers. How could Kaiser go wrong? He would expect Alphonse to teach Alchemy to them and harness the power…

A master race that would be worthy of the Thule Society's ideals. Of course, they would have to over look the dark skin, but that was a simple trifle for a race of psychically powerful geniuses capable of controlling Alchemy for Kaiser.

Somewhere inside of him, the terror returned. It was seething and irrational. But why? Alphonse felt the squirming of things beneath his flesh, as if he were back…

Back in the gate.

Was the Kaiser just following its plans?

Could they escape it?

The boy swallowed, and became aware Kaiser was speaking to his brother again. "You will of course show off your new bride at the party I am throwing on New Years'."

"Bride?" Edward was still trying to accept he was engaged. Or perhaps he was so angry he couldn't speak. Alphonse wasn't sure.

"Yes, Bride, Edward. You are handling this surprisingly well."

Alphonse felt his brother's body jerk as he attempted to stand, fists formed. Instinctively the boy gently held him down. "Brother, Please!"

"Noa's and my lives are not for you to dictate!" Edward exploded. "Who do you think you are? Bastard! I have too many things to do than to worry about wasting it on a wedding and your genetic experiment!"

"Edward, it isn't worth it." Alphonse pleaded. "Please, he will just have you drugged or worse! Please, it's not as bad as it could be!" The boy hoped Edward realized none of this really mattered: especially if they escaped.

Unfazed, Kaiser made his way to the door, but paused long enough to place a velvet box on the dresser. "I can always have them increase your medication, Edward. It may help you relax on your wedding day! So I would listen to your brother! I've arranged for Noa's belongings to be brought into this room, Alphonse will be moving into hers until he leaves next week! That is, unless you share the whore with him, like you did with Herr Heidrich!"

Before Alphonse could stop him, Edward seized a paperweight from the desk and tossed it. It hit the door as it close behind the Kaiser and his thugs. It clattered with a loud thud and bounced off the hard wood to the floor, leaving an ugly dent in the stained wood.

Worried Kaiser would return, Alphonse froze, catching his breath for what seemed like endless moments. Silence followed.

Einstein mewed from his perch on the dresser, and nudged the velvet box with his nose. He wrapped his little paws around it and drew the box close to his mouth, where he bit it and gnawed at its silky fabric.

Apparently Kaiser was more amused than annoyed by Edward's behavior. Alphonse exhaled, looking down at his older brother. "Next time you need to think before you let your temper run away from you, Brother. You are getting more cranky than usual."

Edward opened his gloved automail hand and formed a fist with it. "It was what he'd expect, Al. He thinks I'm breaking." Turning, Edward removed his notebook from the desk. It was an act, or at least part of it. Edward and he had similar plans. "We will have to leave sooner than we've planned, Al. When you see Jack today, let him know, I want to depart on the 31st. By then we would have had enough time to manufacture enough of Schilling's serum and packed things."

"And Noa?" Alphonse asked worried about how his brother really felt about his forced wedding with the woman.

Edward shrugged. "I'll tell her. She's a free spirit. As far as I'm concerned, whatever Kaiser does here is not binding to either of us. Even if we're legally married, it's against both our wills, and there is always divorce." The anger flashed in Edward's gaze and Alphonse felt a shiver sweep his spine. A dark something looked back from his brother that reminded him of the things touched by the gate. "That bloody bastard thinks he can play with us, Al? Well, he has it coming to him, I promise you this, he'll be sorry he ever heard the name Elric when I'm done with him, mark my words. If it takes the last breath in this body, I'm bringing him down!"

With a sigh, Alphonse pulled his sling arm close. Edward meant every word, and was planning something very dark. Did Kaiser finally drive the elder boy to the decision of toying with the powers Ed himself had forbidden Alphonse to play with?

The Gateway.

As an incomplete Philosopher's stone Edward might just be able to access the power. But Alphonse would never allow it. In the end it would destroy his brother. No, it was time for Al to fight for them. He would just have to do it sooner than he'd planned.

&&&&

Noa

It was a little after lunch when Noa entered the Elric brother's room. Alphonse was on the couch, Einstein on his lap, as he cranked the handle of Jack's phonograph, and activated the turntable. The little machine played the high pitched Jazz tunes she heard in the blues bars in Munich. It was deep soul full music, not the peppy ragtime Jack played the night before.

The boy only glanced up briefly to greet her, his deep golden eyes lost in another place. She could tell by the way they were dilated, he had been given his does of opium and wasn't able to focus on anything but what was going on in his own young mind.

Noa heaved a breath as she crossed the room. Carefully, she began to pick up some of the clothes off the floor, aware that the lump curled up under the covers of the bed was Edward, and that he appeared to be sound asleep. But her gut knew better.

He was thinking, as he always was. Lost in thoughts of anger and regret, Edward Elric's mind never rested. For most people, men like Edward Elric were difficult to understand. On the outside he was irritable, and arrogant. He was driven, his work and determination to achieve his goals all-consuming. It was frustrating, and many would not bother with such an individual. But she knew his defensive nature hid his inner vulnerabilities, vulnerabilities she saw every time she looked at him and felt his heart.

Yet how did she know a man so intimately and not want his heart? She heaved a breath, and shook her head. Because Edward Elric, made his own cage, a cage she could not allow herself to fall into because he wanted her to be free. He was special, and like dear AlfonsHeidrich, she loved his very being wishing he would someday, free himself from his own burdens and learn to understand the liberty of his own heart.

Once finished, she made her way to the hamper near the bathroom and dropped the dirty garments into it. She could feel him watching her.

"They have servants to do that, Noa." He said softly. Large golden eyes looked back at her. Weary, he sat up, blankets sliding down to his lap. Thin strands of hair drifted to his pillow, leaving a trail of golden silk behind him. Edward rubbed his neck behind his ear, features deathly pale, yet there was more color in his cheeks. "Please, you are not our house keeper."

"And you are in no condition to look after yourselves, Edward." She said, gathering the plates. She paused before Alphonse as the boy stared blankly at the turning record, and picked up the wine glasses and bottle littering the coffee table. She felt a rush of disgust than guilt. Kaiser had robed the boy of his very mind and it was her fault. She touched the boy on the shoulder. "Good afternoon, Alphonse, I see Einstein is watching over you. He is a good friend."

"Humm?" Alphonse looked down, his mind dreaming of many things, mostly colors, and swirling pictures. He was lost, and trying to focus on the music.

Noa startled, pulling her hand away. She had not expected that, her mind had become very strong since the Thule Society opened the portal to Shambola. It frightened her. Not only could she sense their emotions, sometimes, she could sense their thoughts. She forced an affectionate smile. Alphonse projected his emotions often unintentionally, and Edward was a very loud thinker. So she often stayed distant from them, afraid she would read them.

"Noa." Edward's voice turned her back to the bed, where she walked to the young man's side. "There is something I have to tell you." He was troubled and filled with anger. It was an emotion she did not need to read to know with Edward Elric.

Before he asked, she sat down on the chair beside the bed and put the stack of dishes on the dresser next to the bed. "What is it, Edward?"

Edward tightened his hands into fists. "Kaiser has ordered us to Marry."

He was confused, and unable to understand his own emotions, because they were mixed. There was anger, and disgust, yet she felt something…. She forced her mind to pull from the flood of emotional colors bathing the young man, not daring to tread where even Edward Elric did not. "Marry?"

It was only then she realized the magnitude of his words. "We are to Marry?"

"Tomorrow, and to have children." Edward explained matter of fact. He reached out, automail hands closing about her fingers. "But I will never hold you to this, Noa. Marriage is for love, I have no interest in imprisoning you in a relationship that is forced by a asshole with a god complex!"

She stared fingers tentatively touching the cold rubbery plastic covering Edward's false hand. Marry, Edward, certainly there were worse fates, and neither of them had a homeland to bind them too. Yet he was pained, pained because he thought she would suffer as his wife and lover. He wanted her to be who she was. In a society where her people were shunned, and her very sex was owned in marriage, he knew it was a brand of slavery, a gypsy spirit like hers could never endure.

All she could do was nod, lips trembling. "I have nothing but respect for you, Edward Elric. He will never own us, regardless of what he makes us do. I understand your anger, it is unfair…"

"To both of us!" Edward said sharply. "It is unfair to you, Noa. He is making a mockery of our friendship!"

If marriage is done right, it was a friendship between lovers. She looked deep into his eyes, choosing to keep silent. Their souls were connected in a marriage of understanding. As far as she was concerned, she would follow Edward Elric to the ends of the earth because of that friendship. "Edward, it won't destroy me." She said softly. "I know you will hold no chains on me. Do not worry." Her fingers tenderly touched his lips. "You are working yourself up. I suggest you rest."

His mouth opened to object, than a weak smile split his lips. "Yeah, right, I need to have energy to pop that fucker in the fucking kisser when this is all over with." Edward sagged back against his pillow and let her pull his blankets around his shoulders. "You know Noa, both Al and I got a message from Jack. He's going to help us get out of here."

"You sound doubtful." She said. She suspected as much after Christmas. Still the news made her feel a rush of excitement. "Why Edward?"

He shrugged. "It's the timing. Al is going to speak with him tonight about it. Kaiser wants to send Al to boarding school next Monday. Jack plans his rescue in two weeks. It might be too soon notice…And I still don't trust the guy."

She trusted Jack Harkness to do exactly what he wanted to do, for his own reasons, but she couldn't help but like the man. "You shouldn't, Edward. But I think we should leave Jack in the tender care of Alphonse. Alphonse has a gift with people." She offered a slight smile. "Taming lions like yourself, and Jack is no different."

Yawning, Edward stretched. He pushed hair from his eyes, and looked in Alphonse's direction. "Talking about cats, Damn it, what the hell are we going to do with Einstein… It would break Al's heart to leave him behind…"

For the first time he sounded hopeful as if Edward Elric was letting go. Noa brushed her hand though his hair. "I think Einstein can take care of himself, Edward. You worry far too much. Now, take your nap, clear your mind of your worries, we will discuss this further later on."

"And Al?" He asked, eyes fluttering as they struggled to stay open.

She passed her fingers over his lids, closing them. "I will make sure he doesn't hurt himself." She whispered in his ear. "It is the least I can do."

He was sound asleep before she finished.

&&&&

"So let me get this straight." Jack began, voice edging on disbelief. "Ed and Noa are getting married tomorrow, and you want to do some midnight research before you're dragged off to boarding school?"

Alphonse looked to his feet, feeling a little uneasy. They stood in front of the lab after he had talked Jack into bringing him there secretly while Edward slept. "Please, Jack humor me." He said. He looked up, trying to make his eyes as large as possible for sympathy.

Jack tilted the brim of his battered fedora and looked down at the boy. "Damn it, kid, things are getting worse for you guys aren't they? I thought after Christmas we'd find a way to get this all behind you."

Al looked up and down the aisle, aware two security guards were stationed at Edward's and Noa's doors. None of them were in sight, and since Jack was in charge, they didn't dare leave their posts to follow them. "We have to do it before I'm sent away, Jack." Al whispered. "December 31, after we retire from Kaiser's party. Same time, all of that."

Jack nodded. He shoved his hands in his pockets of his leather jacket. "Kind of short notice isn't? I'm going to be forced to rearrange things with my contacts. Getting out of here is going to be tough, Al."

The boy unlocked the door to the lab, feeling fright fill him as he slowly nudged the door open. "I think I can arrange something."

"Alchemy?"

"You've been spying, you'll have to tell me how." Alphonse brushed his bangs from his face. He hoped he didn't show his fear, or Jack might try and stop him. "But yes, Edward and I have one option right now, and it's too dangerous for him to attempt. He's dying because of Alchemy, Jack. But I will explain it later."

The man lifted a finger, mouth opening when Al stepped into the room and closed the door. Blackness cloaked him within its eerie womb. Alphonse placed his lamp on Edward's desk and turned up the gaslight on the wall.

The room brightened, casting shadows across the floor and the array etched on the boards. They wavered in the dim light, forms trembling across the array like hungry wraiths searching for pure souls to consume. The boy watched, worry etched across his young features.

His gut knotted. Something internal stirred. Instinct screamed, as he tried to will it away.

A splash of crimson echoed in his mind. The boy slowly turned, looking around the room searching. He back stepped, staring at the walls as they started to ooze with glowing red liquid. What did it mean? He shivered, the squirming wriggled under his skin. Unconsciously he looked at his arms. His sleeves were rolled up at the elbow, exposing his arms to the dead air of the musty lab. He saw nothing there: only bare flesh.

Yet he felt like he was being suffocated and tingles prickled the hairs up on his arms.

It, it was calling.

Did he dare answer it? The cost was too great.

Edward was dying, and they needed to escape. He didn't have a choice. He could gain power, its power with the array, if he just gave something…

Alphonse swallowed. He had been so involved with his thoughts; he didn't realize he now stood in the center of his array.

The walls around him were dripping with blood, his blood.

He needed a knife, but had none. Impulsively he darted out of the circle and crossed over to Edward's work-bench. There were test tubes and beakers sitting on the shelves behind it. Frantically, he grabbed at one of he test tubes and broke it against the counter.

He carried it to the center of the circle and held it out. The sharp edges of glass glinted in the light of the gas lamps.

Now what? None of this seemed like science. He had no theories; he had no calculations or method to act on. It was magic, pure and simple, and he couldn't explain it. His gut guided his hand as it pressed the broken glass tube against the palm of his broken arm.

There was a flash of discomfort, Alphonse caught his breath, drops of scarlet spilled from the wound and splashed against the markings on the floor.

It flared deep red and tingles swept up his legs and into his young body.

Loose fingers let the tube drop and shatter golden shards on the floor.

He could see it: the truth, as infinity raged endlessly across his mind. Yes, he understood how it worked now. Alchemy was difficult for him before, he had to use arrays to access the power. Yet like Edward and his father before him, all he needed to do was press his hands together and form Orobouros.

With a broken limb, it was awkward, and pain lanced fire up the injured arm. This pain was nothing compared to the day he and Edward had tried to resurrect their mother and the gate took him. It brought tears to his eyes.

The array glowed brightly, ruby light bathing the room, and transformed the white light of the lamps into blood flames.

The boy dropped to the ground, hands cutting into the light pattern and pressing into the design. He felt a charge explode against his fingers and up his arms. It was agony, however he held in his cry. The light rippled up his arms disintegrating his clothing and cast, leaving only patterns of swirling lights over his flesh. An array, he recognized as identical to that of the philosopher's stone, covered his nude form.

Panicked, Alphonse tired to pull away, but he was frozen and unable to escape. Helpless, he could only sit as anguish detonated in each of his cells and flooded him with dizzying ecstasy.

Looking down, Alphonse watched the floorboards below him melt away into black night. Storm force wind gusted though the room, blowing the pages of the open books scattered on Edward's desk. Lightning flashed as crimson energy flared from the circle. The room around him dissolved, leaving only him and the array.

The darkness in his soul yawned open around him and faint dark shapes wriggled at the edges of the crimson glow.

Terror filled him. He could no longer see his own body, just the flowing curves and lines of the blood red designs making his shape. He knew this place, and it hungered for him.

Out of the array snaking shapes whipped toward him. Their long tendril heads drove deep into the flesh. Alphonse stifled a scream, and frantically struggled to free his body from the invisible force holding him to the array.

The effort was fruitless and the boy could only watch as it wormed its way into him

It… The Gate and its black nature had won. IT was unnatural, alien and evil. He could feel it as it poisoned his body and ate away at his innocence. He felt his soul weaken, aware that the thing was nothing like any creature of force in the real or Alchemical world. Its very touch was acid to his humanity. He felt tainted, and the very thought made him ill. He couldn't run and hide, and there was no Edward to pull his soul free. He couldn't escape. Not this time.

The gateway had him.

It mocked him as it malevolence coursed though his blood. Gloating, it opened the floodways to the gate and let the truth yawn out and pulverize his conscious with the very fabric of infinite reality. It was a confusing garbled jibber. His young mind was incapable of comprehending. Only the simplest of concepts seemed to penetrate his fragile human brain.

The Gate was many things, a golden doorway to another place, a trove of knowledge, and the afterlife. It was both God and the devil, because the thing around it played judge to all those passing though its doors. Yet there was something more.

The truth that lay beyond the gate wasn't just a door into creation, and was more horrifying. The fear and revulsion returned, but this time Alphonse Elric forced himself to peer into the void surrounding him.

If he could just understand the truth, he could save Edward, and despite his terror, Edward was the only thing that mattered to him. For Edward, he'd try to take control of the beast raping his soul.

The squirming writhing were all around, a seething space of twisted evil. But yet, he could see the faint golden outline of the gate and it had opened to him.

Suddenly, his infant's mind understood what had frightened him so. He knew why the world of Alchemy existed. Why he was there and most of all, how it all came into being. Calculations, pure and complex arrays of mathematical perfection laced the both matter and energy together in a union of existence. It was the very focus of Alchemical energy. It was the computations harnessed by the Alchemical arrays that guided the atoms to form to their will's direction.

It, the thing that lay beyond the gate, had used this to create their world. And their world and everything that came from it were equations generated by the thing that feed off the gateway.

He, Alphonse Elric, wasn't real.

He was an equation, a thinking, feeling, equation with a created soul. And he was there because it had planned it.

The boy blanched; feebly he tried to close the door on the tide of numbers flooding his mind. It was overwhelming, for he was holding back an ocean of knowledge: information that would make the strongest mind from the real world snap.

It wouldn't stop; the truth unreeled before him, showing him worlds and civilizations his child's mind could barely imagine. And at the same time, a part of him, the part connected to the gateway itself recognized. Panic lumped in his throat. He never wanted to realize how small they really were.

Edward had once claimed they were children with the power of Gods.

In truth, they were NOTHING. Grief filled him, and he found himself wanting to surrender. How bad was it? If he wasn't real did it really matter? Only real living souls made a difference in the world, not ones constructed of mathematical equations.

Suddenly the flow of information began to subside and the things worming in him began to multiply. They grew out of darkness, single eyed abominations that wrapped about his form burring him in their seething mass.

It was meant to be, he was never meant to be anything but a part of it. But what was it? The boy's weakening mind shifted its attention, aware his very limbs were starting to vanish into black nothings.

Through the truth he saw, that thing guarding the gate was wicked, and very crafty. It got its strength from the gateway, and guided all those who touched its power. Like now, it looked at him as a small pawn to toy with and perhaps to help it with its greater plans. Plans that he himself could not glean from it save that it was entertained by their torment and wanted to break all those who touched it.

As a philosopher's stone, his being was a tempered shell to be used by whatever forces that powered it. Only a matter of will against the force in question determined whether that stone would be a slave or its master. And his will wasn't enough. Alphonse Elric was never a leader. He was always a follower.

There was something different and unexpected about Edward. He had will enough to bargain and mold the powers around him to his own liking. So it had to play his game.

Alphonse felt his consciousness fading. He didn't care about the darkness closing about his heart. Peace began to settle as tendrils scaled up his body and covered his face. Tentative fingers oozed out of the tendrils, and probed his lips gently. They entered his mouth, and their mass slowly cut off his air.

All he needed to do was let go and let Einstein's laws of physics take over. IF he didn't fight, he too would fade into mindless bliss, no longer able to feel, or question what he was anymore. It would be peace, eternal peace until the ultimate end where his energy was used in someone else Alchemical equation on Amestris or to be used against his brother.

Einstein…

The boy's mind suddenly began to race. One had to have a soul to be converted into Alchemical energy. It had tricked him!

Fury filled Alphonse, that thing had twisted the truth. He strained, will forcing itself to fight the peace whisking away his form. He was REAL. Yes, indeed even if he was merely an equation, something made him real. How could he doubt it? Hadn't he doubted his validity before? Hadn't Edward proven to him his soul was real? Didn't that mean anything?

Edward was dying, and no matter what they were, Alphonse was sure they had souls and some how, they were just as real as the rest of the world. And so was Amestris! He had to fight!

"I am Alphonse Elric!" He shouted at it. "And I am a human being, not your toy!" The words burst from his lips, and the red lines adorning his form flashed brightly. Suddenly he saw the dark outline of his body and the things inside of him thrash sickeningly beneath his skin. They were burning. It took every once of strength he had to keep his thoughts from the agony and fight the sickening nausea washing over him.

The moment felt eternal before blackness gave way to scorched brick walls and blood glow of Edward's lab.

The circle was branded deep in the floor reveling crystallized stone underneath charcoal wood boards.

Alphonse gasped. He was still on his knees, flesh marbled with glowing crimson etchings. Disbelieving, he looked around. The room looked like a bomb hit it. The tables, machines and glassware were smashed against the walls, and burning books and paper were scattered about in shreds. The floor was covered with ash and melted stone. And the array glowed bright red. It was difficult to breathe, and he scarcely recalled where he was or why he was there. Only fragments of his experience remained. The only thing circling though his mind was that he failed and was powerless to save Edward. Trembling and pained, Alphonse heaved a sob, tears filling his eyes.

"Alphonse." It was his father's voice. Weakly, the boy lifted his head, feeling the weight of his battered body drag down his feeble movements. The shakes had not subsided, and it was difficult to remain upright. "Alphonse, I have little time before it realizes I am here." The voice continued. "You have come a long way for Edward; I am very proud of you."

"Father?" His voice was horse, and speaking felt like rubbing sandpaper down his throat. "Your soul was sacrificed to open the gate; that's what Edward said."

"A soul as old and as powerful as mine can not be completely extinguished, Alphonse; and for those who came from the world of Alchemy, it is even more difficult. We are bound to the Gate."

Gold shimmered in the air and coalesced into a tall amorphous form. Blinking though the tears and dust Alphonse rubbed his eyes. It must have been a dream, he didn't see the gate manifest there, and it was not possible for him to hear his father's voice. However: somehow, this translucent being spoke with his words.

Alphonse swallowed, trying to quell his nerves. The room around him faded into night, and he saw the golden doors opened behind the form. It was blinding, yet cold and unyielding, unlike the figure extending a hand to him.

Alphonse rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand, and sniffled. "How can you be proud of me? I failed."

The hand touched his head, sending tingles though his scalp. It was comforting and warm. It had to be father, who else could it be? Alphonse uneasily stood, aware that his legs wobbled and refused to support him but his stubbornness won out and he managed to stand, just long enough.

"Did you fail, Alphonse? I suppose we've all failed. I certainly have; with your mother, and Edward. I see failure as a learning experience, and I believe you have learned a great deal."

Those translucent hands slipped to his shoulders and Alphonse felt them drawing him in for an embrace. The thought of resisting occurred to him, but he was too spent to fight. Instead he let himself be enfolded in the glittering light. Sobbing he pressed his face into the form's chest. It wasn't solid, but he could feel some resistance like wading through a heavy river current. He felt gentle arms circle him, and sensed familiar warmth of his father's presence. He couldn't speak, but tranquility cradled him, the trembling stopped.

A tender touch lifted his face. "I would much rather you as a Philosopher's stone use what's left of me, than it. I started all of this by leaving your mother in the first place and should end it. Would you trust me, Alphonse?"

Alphonse heaved in a mournful cry and tears rolled off his chin. "I don't need your soul, father. I just don't want Edward to die."

Loving eyes softened in the red glow of the array adorning Alphonse's body. Hohenheim of the Light weakly smiled.

"Don't lose hope, Alphonse. Together, we will make that right, won't we? Send Edward and yourself home, and remember, I will always love you both." He straightened, and stepped away, hands coming together in a single clap. Before Alphonse's gaze, a blast of light detonate from the gate, and blanked them in its glittering warmth. Hohenheim's face twitched into a triumphant grin looking very much like Edward then splintered into a sea of dazzling stars.

The boy screamed, hands reaching out, frantic and praying there was a way to gather the shards and return his father's soul to its original form. Energy flared around him and he felt a surge as his own crimson glow bleed brighter. The boy's heart thudded frantically against his chest as fear and confusion filled him. It was unfair, there had to be another way, he never wanted to use souls, not ever again.

"Father… Noooo!" His grieved cries echoed off the dead black void surrounding him.

The light sparkled down like snow flakes on a winter night. It faded into his exposed flesh leaving tingles in its wake. Alphonse felt a fiery explosion burn through his body.

Then cold darkness seized him as he fell into blackness.