Chapter 3: Central City, Part 1
-Clark's perspective-
We boarded the train by the skin of our teeth. Once we had made it, we decided to play a game of cards like I had promised Espen. It was his turn.
"Two 7's..." I highly doubted that.
"Bullshit! I have all the 7's!" I called Espen's bluff.
"Dammit, give me the cards. Why do we even play this stupid game with just two people? Its not even enjoyable cause you may have all of the 7's or I may have all of the 5's, we can't have a successful game without some trouble!"
I tried to defend it, "You're just mad cause I'm winning, what else are we gonna play? Dublith Hold 'em? We've almost reached the station anyways, why don't we just read or rest or something." It seemed like a good alternative, better than going at each other's throats over a game of cards.
"Screw that. What about..." Espen gathered the scattered cards off of the table between our face-to-face seats. "A magic trick!"
"Like you said..." Espen looked at me with confusion. "Screw that."
"Alright, dick." Espen didn't really appreciate that, but he'd be alright. I always wondered why Espen always carried a pack of cards around with him anyways. I guess because of his moments of impatience and boredom, which were frequent.
I heard a commotion towards the other end of the train cart and noticed a man had dropped a clock that was in his luggage. He focused his eyes onto the floor and became enraged. "How am I going to repair this, it's been shattered into a thousand pieces!" The man was obviously frustrated, which explains his exaggeration and tone. I reached into the main pockets of my cargo pants so that I could retrieve something. I reached past my Alchemic arm bands and pulled out a black stone the size of my palm with rough edges on it. I walked over to the man who was having trouble with his broken clock. He saw me approach him as I glanced towards him. "Sir..." I said, nodded my head slowly.
I crouched over and collected the fragments of this broken clock and placed them on a pile, followed by drawing a basic transmutation circle with the rock I had around the junk pile and placing my hands on the circle once it was completed. I began my transmutation and a blue spark shined throughout the entire train car.
-Unknown perspective-
Recently it has been tedious in the office of the Fürher. It used to be some paperwork here and there, but now it's even more chaotic than ever before. With the border wars against Drachma and Aerugo still hindering us, troops are still being deployed regularly every few months. Even now, after Roy has worked so hard to change Amestris, we're still repenting for the sins of our corrupt founding fathers. 15 years have passed since the Promised Day, yet I'm reminded of it every waking moment.
"Brigadier General Hawkeye, has parliament responded to my last request?" I snapped out of my day dream and returned to reality. A member of the military with my rank does not have the luxury of resting and doing pointless things such as daydreaming. Raising my right arm upward at an angle while extending my fingers straight forward, I brought my hand towards my brow to salute my leader, Fürher Roy Mustang.
"I'm afraid not sir. It appears parliament has been busy as well, what with these wars and recent events."
"That is unfortunate. Have Colonel Breda send a message to Emperor Yao of Xing regarding my recent request about sharing warfare tactics."
"Will do sir...but before I go, East City Command sent a message about the two State Alchemists being temporarily transferred here to aid us in our investigation of the recent 'event' pertaining to the Anti-Establishment Movement. They boarded a train earlier this week."
The Fürher looked at me with those cold black eyes of his that could pierce you with one glance, but I could see through his emotionless guise and saw that he was puzzled. "I had nearly forgotten requesting spare state alchemists. Who are these State Alchemists?"
Having an idea that he'd ask beforehand, I had already retrieved the folder from the archives. "It says here that the Alchemists that have been temporarily transferred are one Clark Gregor, also known as the Forge Alchemist, as well as one Espen Bishop, titled the Edged Alchemist." I waited for a response from the Fürher who I'm sure was interested in these new State Alchemists. Mustang smirked, "Is that all it says General?" "Well, they have only been State Alchemists for 6 months, haven been given certification after impressing the judges during Exams. They were both 17 years of age upon participating in the exams but have now grown to be 18 years of age. They are young, but they are rumored to be some of the best State Alchemists from East City. They both lived out their childhood together in the mining town of Youswell, borderline of the desert." I noticed something I had said had grasped Roy's attention.
"Some of the best State Alchemists from East City, ay? They used to say things such as that about me when I became a State Alchemist myself. It's rare that I find people that I can relate with, even in a large place such as Central City. I look forward to meeting these State Alchemists."
"I'm sure you will Sir, especially Bishop." Dropping his laid back guise, Mustang's eyes portrayed curiosity.
"And why is that?"
"You'll just have to wait and see, sir. You'll be glad you did." I saluted him once more then left his office.
-Espen's perspective-
Everyone who has never been familiar with Alchemy tend to view it as an almost magical phenomenon, even though it is simply advanced science. This was apparent when Clark repaired the passenger's clock and had received 'praise', almost as if he was a prophet. "Thank you State Alchemist, this clock was one of the only possessions I had gotten from my father before he passed away." The passenger who was in crisis praised. It is smart of Clark to carry coal from our hometown around for drawing transmutation symbols, but it must have ruined his pants' pockets, which is probably a pain in the ass.
It was close to an hour after all the commotion that we had finally made it to Central. Central City, the city at the center of the greatest Alchemical power in the world, Amestris. Clark and I came from a small town to the east of Central. Needless to say, sights such as Central City were not common to Clark and I during our childhood. After the train had arrived and the majority of passengers had exited, Clark and I were among the final few to leave the train cart. I walked off the train with my belongings and suddenly lost my way of thinking as Clark started a conversation to break the awkward silence.
"It's been almost six months since we came here to take the exams. Where should we head to first?"
"I'm not sure, but Central Command would be a good start." I said, hoping to find some sort of compromise.
"Ummm...nah. Usually, you'd be right, but the Fürher's office can wait for a while. Let's go grab some grub." "Alright, whatever."
—
Outskirts of Central City,
The Night Before
-?-
I waited on the curb, looking right and left before walking quickly across the street. I reached the sidewalk before coming to a stop, peering at the estate I needed to go to. She told me this is where the scientist would be, and I needed to find him. My chest feels like it is tightening, I cannot wait any longer, I must do as she said. I knocked on the door to the estate, which appeared large enough to house three separate families. I heard steps approaching, before the door opened.
"Can I help you with something?" The man offered.
"Yes you can, I NEED this!" I said, reaching into my coat pocket and pulling out the revolver she had handed me. I aimed it at the man's chest.
"Wait, wait! What do you need? Wha-"
Were the only words that escaped his lips before I emptied the six shooter into his chest...
[End]