Chapter 3
Info on this chapter
Warnings! People who don't like mentions of obsessive disorders, STOP, and think about turning back! I'm not kidding; I will take this fic down if too many people complain.
Rated for Ed's language, Hawkeye and verbal fighting.
Pairings
PARENTAL Hughes/ Ed and Al
PARENTAL/BROTHERLY Roy/ Ed and Al
Not much in this chapter hopefully some character development and insight to the Elric brothers' past after the Promised Day, it's more for you SG1 fans that don't really know what's going on... If you haven't seen FMA, watch or read the manga or anime, it really is a good story and one of the best Anime of all time.
Please tell me if any of the characters are too OOC, I have tried my best... but it can be tricky...
And yes I know this chapter is one day early, I'm just not sure if I would have the time to finish it and post it up tomorrow. It might have a few more spelling mistakes or grammar mistakes, if so please tell me.
Enjoy...
Chapter 3
Edward walked down the old marble steps of Central Military HQ with his younger brother, Al at his side. Ed's golden eyes gazed at the setting sun that was slowly sinking behind the far off horizon. It was beautiful; a mixture of reds, white, gold, azure and saffron. If there was one thing in this world Ed would never get sick of looking at it would be the sunset... and a really interesting Alchemy book... and maybe food...
His stomach gave a loud rumbling complaint at the thought of food. Major General Useless was right, he hadn't eaten since breakfast. Ed really should get something for him and Al to eat... But he wanted to go to the Library first. He and Al need the information on Human Transmutation and Chimeras. Al had come up with the theory of transmuting the souls of the Chimeras out of the transmuted victim. It wasn't that he trusted his little- younger brother, but it felt like there was still something missing. Soul transmutation was a risky and complicated form of Alchemy. It was not only the human or animal Souls you had to transmute but transmuting human Chimeras. A make-up of both human and animal soul, body and mind combined together in one being... Many things could go wrong to the Alchemist transmuting and the chimera, if not done correctly.
This is what Ed and Al were trying to avoid, something going wrong. Ed was worried enough when he had seen Al transmute a small portion of his own soul into another object. The first time Al did it, was a total accident, nothing more than a one-in-a-million chance. But it had worked. There were no visible side effects, except for extreme exhaustion after and during the transmutation, nothing two day's worth of sleep didn't fix. Of course Ed had almost blown a hole in the hospital roof. The only thing stopping the powerful young Alchemist was the guys from HQ and a very powerful sedative.
Slowly after more and more practice, Al was able to split his soul into inanimate objects and control them. The control was brief, but the Soul-Split Transmutations have been very helpful in tight situations. Even if the elder Elric wasn't thrilled with his younger brother using the strange Alchemic technique, Ed soon found that Al was just as stubborn as he was.
Splitting the Chimeras was based on Al's ability to transmute his soul in to other objects. Of course it will not be a temporary, the transmutation will be permanent. That's what worried Ed. Any sort of transmutation for human souls requires a massive amount of energy. Then there was the Equivalent Exchange: when Al split his soul into other objects, he was either out cold or very weak for short or long periods of time.
That time varied on the intervals Al held the Soul-Spilt Transmutation and the mass of the object. Any idiot could work out that Al's energy was the short term effect of the transmutation, but the long term was tricky. If there was a long term effect... it could be anything from cancer to a shortened life span... it might even do something to Ed. The brothers shared a physic or telepathic link from the time they had tried to transmute their mother back to life. The extent to this link was unknown.
That's why Al's body survived in the Gate for so long; it was living off the small amount of nutrients from Ed. There was no way to tell if the link was still active and in the past year there had been no sort of indication that it was. But Ed had a sinking feeling that Truth, being the son of a bitch it is, might not have cut them loose from its grasp just yet. Ed shuddered at the thought of seeing the Gate and that Truth thing again. 'The Gate' was a space between dimensions; it controlled the flow of Alchemy and life. It also held a vast amount of information that was forcefully downloaded into the Alchemists' brain, casing the link between the Alchemist and the Gate to strengthen.
Ed and Al had seen it when they were ten and eleven years old, that's why they didn't need a transmutation circle to use Alchemy. Mustang and Izumi, Ed and Al's teacher had also seen the portal that had labelled the four Alchemists as 'Human Sacrifices' by the Homunculi. The Gate could be summoned with Human Transmutation. The known ways of summoning the Gate and the Truth: transmuting a large amount of humans for the Philosopher's stone, trying to bring someone back from the dead or transmuting yourself.
The questions; was it still controlling the strings this time or is there something else? And are the Elric brothers the only ones involved? After all, they weren't the only Alchemists connected to the Gate, Mustang and Izumi were too.
"Brother..." Al said softly, causing Ed to snap out of his thoughts.
Ed stopped walking, stopping just outside of HQ's massive metal Gate, Al stopped beside him. Ed looked at his younger brother with a pair of soft, questioning golden eyes.
"What is it?" Ed asked.
"What do you want for dinner?" Al asked enthusiastically, almost bouncing on the spot.
For Al it didn't matter what food it was, as long as it was eatable. He had been like that ever since he got his body back from the Gate. Of course it came to no surprise; any sort of involvement with his younger brother's senses touch, taste and smell will never be taken for granted in his life again.
"Well... I really want to get to the library before it closes, think you could hold dinner off for another twenty minutes or so? I want to get some books to check out your theory." Ed said, looking at his silver State pocket watch.
Al gave a small, fake pout. Ed knew it was a fake; Al liked going to the Library just as much as he did, and would gladly give up twenty minutes or so getting books then dinner. Al was also good at debating and getting what he wants... people usually found that out the hard way.
"Fine, but we are going to Hughes' for dinner, alright?" Al said it was more of a death threat then an agreement.
Ed laughed, "Ok, but General Hammond might be there. I know he scares you."
It wasn't hard to figure out; Al had never been completely comfortable around strangers. Military especially, they were hard to read with the emotionless façade. Al didn't hate them; he just found it unnerving to be around seemingly emotionless people he hadn't known for a long time. Could be something to do when his soul was trapped in that old armour… That's why Al was uncomfortable around Genera Hammond, but at ease around Mustang and the team at work. The guys from headquarters occasionally let the brothers see through their emotional mask from time to time. Plus, Ed and Al had known them for a long time, and they trusted the guys.
They had been through so much together, Mustang had helped Ed with the Alchemy exam, and he and his team was there to turn to when the Homunculi got too big for the Elric's alone to handle. The brothers knew Mustang his own agenda, to find and destroy the Homunculi after they were uncovered by the Elrics. But after Hughes got shot and Havoc's spinal injury from Lust it was too late. Mustang, his team and the Elric brothers were ensnared in a deadly trap where not one of them could escape from.
"He does not!" Al retorted then stopped. "Mustang might be there too, brother. You know how Hughes can be; he'll throw a party and invite as many people as possible." Al teased.
Ed stopped laughing; it was either Library or risk spending more time than needed with his superior officer. It wasn't always like this, Ed just because annoyed because he and Mustang didn't get to end the fight from before. Usually the Major General would drag the brothers away from the State Library or HQ to either to buy dinner at some random cafe or Mustang would drive the brothers to his or Hughes' house. Al knew his brother did really appreciate these random acts of kindness, but would never admit it to Mustang himself.
Ever since the Major General found out that nether of the brothers knew how to cook a basic meal, he or Hughes dragged them over at least once every three days, if not more. This of course had taken its toll on Ed's temper. Al knew his brother was just covering up his childish helplessness feelings with false anger and annoyance. Ed always did this covered up his true emotions with other, mostly hostile emotions and actions; it irritated Al and Mustang to no end. Everyone could see through the Alchemist act. They had told Ed many times that he was just a kid and it was ok to let adults help them from time to time.
Luckily for the well being of everyone in HQ and the brothers, and after numerous 'talks', constant nagging from Gracia, Maes, Ross, Al and Mustang, plus a loaded gun pointed at his head from Hawkeye. Ed slowly accepted the undeniable or avoidable fact that he would get dragged over either Mustang's or Hughes' house at least twice a week either by the hosts themselves, Ross, Hawkeye, Havoc or Al.
Unfortunately this didn't make Ed any less hostile towards the Major General or vice-versa. Fortunately for the welfare and safety of others, the Major General had been dealing with the Fullmetal Alchemist before he was a teen. Mustang had no trouble handling the crazy, young Alchemist when Ed was in one of his many 'moods'.
Al watched as his brother's face turn into a scowl; he could actually see the gears ticking way in Ed's brain, trying to find a way out of this predicament.
"FINE! But if he turns into a bastard I'm leaving! Unless Hughes agrees we can use his house as a battle ground." Ed snarled as he stomped off down the street.
Al just laughed as he followed his brother down the darking streets of Central, yelling at Ed that he was going the wrong way. Even though Ed was an Alchemic Genius, his older brother really had no sense of direction. It was something that Mustang usually teased the Fullmetal Alchemist about to no end.
-=-=-=-=-= Chapter Break up -=-=-=-=-=-=
A forty-five minute trip and over a dozen books from the State Library later, Al pressed the Hughes' household doorbell. In the short time after sunset, the night had grown cold. Even with his thick red jacket on, Ed was shivering slightly in Central's cold night air.
Not a minute later the door opened, letting through a sudden gust of warm air and light. Hughes caught sight and smiled warmly at the shivering brothers.
"Hey! We were wondering if you were going to show up." Hughes said as he stepped aside to let the brothers through into the warm hall.
"We went to the State Library; we needed some information on Human, Chimera and Soul Alchemy."Ed said.
Ed and Al placed their books on the ground before taking off their red coats and hanging them on the coat rack. It was much warmer inside than outside and there was no need for the long, thick coats. Ed sniffed the air and his stomach grumbled at the small of food.
"What are you boys working on this time?" Hughes asked interested, he smiled when Ed's stomach rumbled at his wife's cooking.
Maes Hughes, being in the investigations department in the Military, could get a hold of all sorts of information. Sometimes he would dig it up and show the Elric brothers a cold case or information that had a connection to whatever the brothers were investigating. Depending on what Hughes found could lead the brothers out of Central, usually on a mission or to gathering information out of town. There had been many cases where the two said Alchemists had practically lived in the Library for weeks at a time, trying to crack a code or find out more about the topic. Of course this sometimes leads to something very dangerous, the Homunculi and crazed Alchemists such as Shou Tucker or Scar being a fine example of dangerous Alchemists.
Hughes and Mustang were the two who gave the brothers leads or the missions connected to a cold case or people who could linked to the brother's Alchemy topic. It was Mustang and Hughes who blamed themselves when either of the brothers had ended up in the hospital or dragged themselves into the office bleeding fresh blood on the clean carpets. Neither Ed nor Al ever accused Hughes or Mustang of the cause of their wounds, always saying: 'You weren't the one who hurt my brother, we chose to go on that mission and we knew the risks.'
"We're looking into Al's soul-spilt transmutations-" Ed said as he picked up his stack of Alchemy books.
"And my theory of reverse chimera transmutations." Al finished smiling brightly at Hughes.
"It will be interesting to know the outcome... Keep me posted; I'll see what I can find in the old archives. There might be something that the Homunculi kept hidden." Hughes said, making a face.
The very thought of the Homunculi now makes everyone who is in earshot shudder at the very mention of the 'immortal' creatures. Even now Sciezska, Hughes, Ed, Al, Armstrong, Scar, Mustang and his team uncovers new information, evidence on the Homunculi or their plans for the 'Human Sacrifices' and the Gate.
"We will." Al responded cheerily.
"Big brothers!" a young cheery voice sounded from the living room.
Hughes daughter Elysia came bouncing into the hallway, with a black and white dog running alongside her. Ed unfortunately didn't see the small black and white dog know all over base as Black Hayate. The said dog jumped and crashed into the eldest Elric's upper torso, sending the young Alchemist falling to the hard wooden floor boards with a screeching yell.
"GET OFF ME!" Ed shouted at the little dog that had the great Fullmetal Alchemist pinned to the floor.
"Silly little big brother! Black Hayate just wants to play!" Elysia giggled as she latched on to Al's hand and arm.
Ever since Al had his human body back, Hughes' daughter had taken a liking to him. It wasn't that she didn't like the elder, but Al was more calm and quite than his older brother and had the patient nature to play the silly, childish games with Elysia.
"IM NOT LITTLE IM THE OLDER BROTHER! AND I DO NOT WANT TO PLAY!" Ed shouted.
Edward struggled as he ranted, Hayate barked at him as if to tell the young Alchemist off.
"Brother, you don't need to yell," Al scolded.
"Well Fullmetal, you are still shorter than your younger brother, don't go blaming a five year old for mistaking you as the little brother," A smug voice of the Major General said.
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SMALL YOU WOULD MISTAKE HIM FOR A LITTLE KID?" Ed yelled.
Mustang laughed and clutched his stomach, Elysia giggled and Hughes gallantly tried to hide his snigger. Al just sighed and muttered something about immature adults to Elysia who giggled, before she pulled the youngest Elric down the hallway and disappeared into the living room.
Wait, if Hawkeye's dog was here... then that means.
"Black Hayate, come." A strict voice commanded.
Black Hayate gave a bark before Ed felt the dog's weight leave his chest. Everyone had stopped laughing at Ed's misfortune; they all knew the voice and the tone.
Riza Hawkeye stood in the doorway, arms crossed in front of her chest. General Hammond was right behind her looking at the scene with a mix of confusion, amusement and a small hint of recollection.
"I was wondering what all the ruckus was about," Riza said, her brown eyes narrowing slightly. "May I remind you sirs, that this is not the Office or the Parade Grounds. If either you or Fullmetal starts a fight in or out of this house, the Hughes' and I will NOT be pleased."
Riza didn't even have to raise her voice. But the effect was instant; Roy and Ed paled before nodding quickly, as if it established their promise to behave. Satisfied, Hawkeye gave the two Alchemists a warning glare before walking back through the doorway to the Lounge. After minute of silence, Ed spoke up.
"Hawkeye, Winry and teacher are three people who I would never ever mess with or piss off. Funny... they're all female and somehow manage turn seemingly harmless objects into dangerous weapons." Ed said as he stood up from the ground.
"Fullmetal, after years of experience... I have come to a valid conclusion about those three." Mustang stated coughing lightly into his hand. It was a habit he did when he was nervous, usually after Hawkeye had scolded or pointed her gun at the pyromaniac's head.
Ed and Hughes leaned in close; General Hammond looked at the Flame Alchemist, curious to Roy's conclusion about the person he had met recently and two people he hadn't even heard of. They had to be scary, if they frightened the Fullmetal and Flame Alchemists.
"They and all other females are insane." The Flame Alchemist said as if he was revealing the greatest secret of all time. (A/N)
General Hammond couldn't help but smile and let out a small but amused chuckle. The Flame Alchemist reminded him of Jack O'Neill back at the SGC. Those two had never met, but it will be interesting when they did.
"They're insane?" Ed parroted, raising a golden eye brow.
The Flame Alchemist nodded, confirming his statement. Ed thought carefully before answering.
"I guess that makes sense. It is a valid hypothesis...I mean, what other explanation can there be?" Ed murmured.
"My wife's not insane! Here, look at how beautiful she is!" Hughes said ecstatically, pulling out numerous pictures of his wife and kid.
"Hughes, you pull out those pictures and I swear to the Gate, I will torch them!" Mustang growled.
Bang, bang, bang!
Three rounds fired narrowly missing the Flame Alchemist's head.
"Don't you even think about it sir! There will be no Alchemy in this house," the calm voice of Riza Hawkeye yelled out from the Lounge room doorway.
"General Hammond, you want to look at these pictures, right?" Hughes asked, taking a step towards the American.
"No thank you Brigadier General..." Hammond said nervously, taking a step back.
"Aww, come on... here look at this; Elysia is riding her red tricycle in this one. You can keep it I have three other copies." Hughes said joyfully, pressing a photo of Elysia in to General Hammond's hand.
"HEY, HE DOESN'T NEED A CRAZY BRIGADIER GENERAL WITH SOME SORT OF OBSESSIVE NEED TO SHOW EVERYONE PICTURES OF HIS WIFE AND KID ANNOYING HIM!" Ed yelled. (A/N)
"You're not talking about me are you Ed? Here, let me how you a picture of Elysia, you and Al are in this one too!" Hughes said holding a picture up to Ed's nose.
"Hughes, you have three seconds to get that picture away from my face before I clap my hands... one... two... thre-" the young Alchemist said, raising his mismatched hands to clap.
"Hawkeye, Ed's about to use Alchemy!" Mustang yelled.
The response was immediate.
Bang, bang, bang, bang!
"What have I told you Colonel?" Hawkeye growled.
"Riza, please stop shooting at my walls." Gracia's calm but stern voice echoed from the Kitchen.
"Brother, don't you even think about starting a fight!" Al scolded from the living room.
"You should listen to your brother more often, Fullmetal." Mustang said smugly.
"Why you BAS-" Ed snarled.
Bang, bang, bang!
Another three bullets narrowly missed the Elrics head.
"There will be no foul language either, I'm I clear Colonel?" Hawkeye asked sweetly, reloading her gun.
"Y-yes ma'am." Ed stuttered.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Chapter Break up-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
-=-=-=-=-=-=short time skip-=-=-=-=
The rest of the night continued on and so did the almost fights between Ed and Mustang, if it wasn't for Hawkeye and Al another brawl would have broken out between the two Alchemists. Eventually, sometime after dinner, they began to calm down making a silent truce after the numerous bullets had been fired at their heads. Elysia was put to bed by Maes and Gracia sometime after dinner. The adults and the two teens were at the Kitchen table or the Living room, talking in a soft murmur.
Ed, Al and Mustang were discussing the possible repercussions of Al's Soul-Spilt and theory of Chimera transmutations. The books from the Library and papers were scattered around on the floor and piled in a messy arrangement on the wooden coffee table in the centre of the room. Hughes and General Hammond sat on nearby chairs, occasionally making comments or asking questions that the Alchemists left out or could be relevant to the topic. Most of the questions from General Hammond however, were about the basics of Alchemy. Those questions usually sent Ed or Al on a full out explanation that the General had trouble keeping up with.
Hawkeye and Gracia were sitting on the kitchen table, a cup of hot coffee in their hands. Riza's guns resting on the hard wood, now clean from maintenance. Black Hayate was sitting by her side, almost like a sentry. Hawkeye watched the three Alchemists, evaluating if another fight was going to start out, while talking to Gracia quietly.
"So there could be a repercussion to the Soul-Splits?" Mustang questioned.
Ed nodded. "There's no way to tell if there is a long term effect. On top of that... the Chimera Alchemy that we're looking into has never been done before. It's going to be a while until we sort this out and start on the practical Alchemy. Think you might be able to help?"
"Of course, but Are you sure it's safe for you two?" Mustang asked.
"No... A lot could go wrong in any sort Human Transmutation." Al said shaking his head.
The Flame Alchemist was about to speak or give the brothers a lecture on messing around with dangerous alchemy, when General Hammond suddenly jumped in.
"I thought that Human Transmutation was illegal." General Hammond said, breaking the Alchemists out of their conversation.
"It is, in fact that law was put in place shortly after Fuhrer Bradley came into power."Mustang said, looking at the General with his single eye sternly. "Do you know the reason it became a law?"
Hammond shook his head, seemingly unaffected by Mustang's stern tone and haunted eye. Even if the Major General could make the most hardened soldiers shudder, Hammond was not about to let his weakness show.
"It's because they didn't want Alchemists making their own personal army." Mustang said softly.
"What? I thought you said that Human Transmutation was impossible." Hammond said, recalling the previous conversation.
"Bringing people back from the dead is impossible, technically transmuting a chimera with a person is Human Transmutation, so is transmuting yourself... but these things had a power of numerous Stones inside of them." Ed said, not looking from the papers.
"What things?" General Hammond asked.
"We called them the Immortal Army, they were basically lesser Homunculi, but were stronger and much harder to take down than humans." Al said softly.
"They had the basic human shape, but acted more like Zombies." Mustang said, his voice was quiet as if was remembering something he didn't not want to recall.
The Elrics, Hughes and Hawkeye knew what it was, the thing Mustang never wanted to remember. The Gate, the Immortal Army eventually lead Mustang and Hawkeye down to the underground where Fuhrer Bradley, the failed Fuhrers and Pride waited. The failed Fuhrers almost killed Hawkeye, cutting a deep, fatal wound on her neck. Though the Flame Alchemist put up a courageous fight, he was eventually pinned down by his hands by Wrath's swords on a Human Transmutation circle. Then getting sucked into the Gate after the very doctor, who turned the Fuhrer in to a Homunculus, activated the circle under Pride's orders.
"H-how did you defeat them?" Hammond asked, stuttering slightly at the word zombie.
"The legs, you destroy the legs and they're done for." Ed answered not looking up. The alchemists were seemingly lost in memories.
"My bullets didn't affect them, even a shot to the head. Alchemy and sword combat is the best way to take them down." Hawkeye said putting bullet rounds in her pistols.
"Then there were the Homunculi themselves." Al said, his voice quivering slightly.
It was silent for a while; Ed had gone back to taking notes and reading the text books. He was seemingly oblivious to the uncomfortable atmosphere in the room.
After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence, Hammond decided to break the quiet ambiance.
"How would you feel about joining the SGC?" the General asked Ed and Al, he was curious.
It would be the first time in history that the US made a treaty with Amestris on an Alchemist exchange. For the Amestrians, it was a good question. These Alchemists were strange; they didn't have the normal thinking pattern of normal soldiers. They over analysed things, and this made the conclusion of the subject very different from regular people.
"Permission to speak freely sir?" Ed asked Mustang and General Hammond quietly.
Mustang smiled. "Now you're asking my permission, Fullmetal? Since when did that happen? You do realise that were off duty?"
"You realise that we were meant to be off duty on the Promised Day?" Ed rebuked back, effectively shutting the Major General up.
"Permission granted, Fullmetal." Mustang murmured, defeated.
Ed and Al had been asking each other how they felt about it for a while now, and to be honest neither of the brothers knew what to think. Ever since they found out about the Stargate and the SGC's existence, it had been one big rollercoaster of emotions. They were excited about something so big that they along with Mustang's team would be a part of. The brothers were sad because they would have to leave their home country and the small family back in Risembool behind them.
And finally... they were scared. The brothers were afraid at the possibility of more Homunculi, more danger and more people getting hurt or killed. Not that Ed would ever show that fear, he usually covers it with anger or annoyance, this time it was different. It was time to let it out. Ed wasn't about to suck up the General Hammond and pretend he was excited about transferring to the SGC. He talked with Al and they were going to do things their own way.
"We don't know what to think..." Ed answered quietly, not looking up.
Al nodded, not daring to say anything, and kept his golden eyes glued to the papers on the table. Mustang had his eye glued to the floor too; he had seen too much death already, if they weren't accepted, that was alright with him it was never really his choice. It was up to the Elrics, they had a while to talk it over. It was now time to act.
General Hammond looked at the two teens with narrowed, evaluating eyes. Hughes glanced at the young Alchemists. It wasn't very often they saw a show of emotions other than hostility or the happy-go-lucky act from both the brothers. Each time Hughes, Hawkeye or Mustang had asked either of the brothers about this, they only got a sad, carefree smile. That was just the way the brothers tried to keep the burden off another's shoulders. However, the act only made the adults more concerned and irritated.
"Don't get me wrong we're really interested in the SGC, the Stargate and all..." Ed blurted out, but then stopped and his voice softened. "But... a lot of people died or hurt because of everything that happened. We know this sound selfish... But we're afraid at might happen again, if that happens again. Not everyone came back alive that day. Some people came back home in a box, we didn't get to save everyone. I know we're the only few people in to world with this information about the Homunculi, the Stone, Human Transmutation and the Gate but... sometimes I wish we weren't.
"But we weren't, then another person would have taken my, Al's or Mustang's place and that may have turned out for the worse..." Ed said quickly, before stopping for a minute, regathering his thoughts. "It's dangerous, we know that. We knew the risks after we decoded Marco's notes on the Stone and after I saw the Xerxes Ruins. But getting into something so deep and dangerous again so soon..."Ed stopped.
He didn't have to continue. Neither did Al or Mustang have to say anything, they felt the same way. For the first time in a long time, Ed an Al, it felt as if they were about to get scolded at.
General Hammond looked at Mustang and the two brothers.
"You know what Colonel, I think you, and your brother, your commanding Officer and your team are the people I have been looking for. I officially invite you to transfer to the SGC." Hammond said with a small smile.
Ed and Al looked up and stared at the General with questioning golden eyes.
"The SGC needs people like you. That fear is not selfish; it's just a part of being human and a good person. You fear for others lives more than your own and that's all I need to hear." Hammond said. "Major General, Brigadier General, Colonel, Major, you people along with the others in the team will be inquired to transfer over to the SGC, along with any others you fell would be a good choice. The choice to join is yours alone."
Mustang stood up and smiled at a memory. "Either to stay put or move forward."
"Couldn't have said it better myself, Major General." Hammond said.
"Fullmetal...?" Mustang looked at the Fullmetal Alchemist.
"We all know you would be useless without us, Mustang." Ed teased, looking up at the Major General, glints of mirth and hope shone in his intelligent golden eyes.
"Funny, I could say the same about you. You are useless without me or your brother." Mustang said smugly. "Who else is going to save your butts when you're in danger?"
"At least I'm not useless in the rain." Ed growled.
"At least I don't have to worry about my arm or leg falling off." The Flame Alchemist rebuked back.
"Guys, Elysia is asleep." Al scolded, stopping the two alchemists' verbal war.
"Look at this! It a photo of Elysia, isn't she just the cutest?"Hughes jumped in.
General Hammond looked at the alchemists and the crazy Brigadier General; he knew he made the right choice. These Amestrians might be crazy, but at least their hearts are in the right place. Things were going to get interesting at the SGC.
-=-=-=-=- Chapter Break up-=-=-=
A few hours later, the brothers had fallen asleep in the soft sofa. Ed's head was tipped back resting on the wall behind the sofa. A thick book he was reading before he fell asleep covered his closed eyes. The young Alchemist was snoring lightly, his chest rising and falling with each breath, signalling the teen was sleeping soundly. His legs were limply resting on the carpeted floor, sprawled out in what looked like a somewhat comfortable position under the coffee table. Al was curled up, his head resting on Ed's metal shoulder and his feet tucked up to his small chest as if he was trying to keep in warmth.
Hughes smiled at this and placed the brother's thick red coats over the sleeping figures before removing the heavy Alchemic text book off the eldest Elric's head and eyes. Hughes marked the page the book was open at and placed it down on the coffee table.
"It never ceases to amaze me where those two can fall asleep. We were in the middle of a conversation and they just drop dead asleep." Mustang sighed, looking at the brothers with slight irritation.
"Well, Ed always says that you send him to during the briefings." Hughes teased.
Mustang glared and growled at his friend.
"I know how Fullmetal got in to the military you told me before, but how did Soul?" Hammond asked.
Mustang and Hughes looked at Hammond before looking at each other and smiling softly.
"We found out the hard way that Al can be just as stubborn as Ed." Hughes said, looking at the young Alchemist fondly. Mustang nodded, agreeing to Hughes' statement.
"So, what happened?" Hammond asked, determined not to let the topic slide.
Mustang closed his cobalt eye before recounting the report.
"About three months after the Promised Day, Fullmetal was sent on a mission alone to investigate an Alchemist whom was apparently transmuting Chimeras that had been terrorising a town in the countries southern area. What we didn't know, this Alchemist was devoted fully to the Homunculi. Not long after, we got a report from a nearby town hospital that Fullmetal had been badly hurt, and was put into a medically induced coma because of fatal injuries and a large amount of blood loss. Needless to say, Ed was lucky to be alive.
"Al was in Central at the time, and found out about Fullmetal. He approached me later that day and asked to become a State Alchemist. The town had been evacuated and civilians were not allowed anywhere near the perimeter, but State Alchemists were let in without question. I said 'No' telling him that would be the last thing Fullmetal would want. Being an Elric, he then went to the Fuhrer and asked him personally. My team and I didn't know this at the time; we thought that Al had gone home.
"The Fuhrer however agreed he gave Al a State pocket watch and the title of 'Soul Alchemist'. Fortunately the Fuhrer placed Soul under Ed's command when Fullmetal woke up. Till then, Al was to be under my command. The Fuhrer said that Al didn't need to take the exam or any sort of test, he had seen what the Alchemist was capable of on the Promised Day." Mustang said, looking at the Elric brothers with a stern navy eye.
There was a hint of guilt swimming in the Major General's eye; Hammond and Hughes had no trouble seeing this.
"Al walked straight up to that town and tore it apart. The Alchemist who transmuted the chimeras was helpless. Who knew Al had that much of a temper? That was the first time we had seen him so mad." Hughes sighed.
"Needless to say when Edward woke up three weeks later, he wasn't happy to find out Al had joined the military while he was comatose. But... if there's one thing most people know about the Elric brothers, it's that Al always wins the fights." Hawkeye said, coming over from the kitchen table and standing behind the Major General.
"Sir, I think it's time that we pack up. It's getting late and we have a lot to sort out tomorrow." Hawkeye said quietly.
Mustang nodded, in a silent agreement. Then looked at the Elric brothers and debated whether to wake up Ed or Al first. Hughes saw this and jumped in.
"Don't worry those two can stay here for the night. I'm sure they could use a good night's sleep." Hughes said pointing at the Elrics.
"Right, thanks Hughes. We'll drop you off at the hotel, General." Mustang said.
They walked softly down the hallway before stopping at the front door.
"No problem. Gate forbid you and Ed starting a fight in a car."Hughes said unlocking and opening the wooden door.
Mustang gave a low growl, before Hawkeye pulled the Flame Alchemist by his ear out to the car, Hammond following closely behind.
"See you tomorrow General!"Hughes said, waving his hand.
"Hughes, I want the Elrics in my office by ten o'clock tomorrow." Mustang said loud enough for Hughes to hear from the car.
"Is that AM or PM, Roy?"Hughes teased.
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK?" Mustang shouted.
Click.
The sound of Hawkeye loading her gun sounded and the Flame Alchemist shuddered slightly.
"Please get in the car, sir. I don't want the Elric brothers to wake up."Hawkeye said as she put her gun back in its holster and opened the door to the car.
Mustang obliged very quickly, almost jumping into the back seat before pulling the set belt over his torso and placing it in with a small click. General Hammond followed suit, eyeing the trigger-happy Lieutenant Colonel nervously.
The last they saw before Hawkeye pulled out the driveway was Hughes turning back inside to wake up the Elric brothers.
Tomorrow would be interesting indeed.
Chapter End...
Phew, made it! This chapter properly does need a bit more work, but I haven't got the time right now. I haven't even begun to write the next chapter, and I have numerous assignments due during the week. And wow over 6000 words.
Sometimes the chapters might be a bit late or early, but you will live.
Ok some points on this chapter...
Point number one. Mustang, Hughes and Hawkeye are the only ones who know about Ed and Al's telepathic link. Hughes was the one to half work it out after Al was restored, soon after he told Mustang and Hawkeye, who confronted the brothers. It was only then that Ed spoke to mustang about it, and ended up working a few things out.
Point number two. Hammond asked the brothers about how they felt about the SGC as more of a test than anything else. If there's one this the SGC didn't need, it would be people who just cared about themselves. Ed saying that and Al and mustang having the same emotions, just finalised their spot into the SGC.
Point number three. The thing about the crazed alchemist was totally made up; it does not have anything to do with the story other than a trap for Ed and an excuse for Al to become a State Alchemist. More will be explained why the Fuhrer let Al do this in... later chapters.
These points may or may not be significant to the story; it depends on how long this fic goes for and how deep I want the plot.
(A/N)
I do NOT mean anything bad or mean to females or people with OCD, it's just Ed's rant. And FYI I am female and a few of my close friends (and death the kid) are obsessive compulsive. Please don't flame me about that, I really didn't mean it in a bad way. If you really want me to, I can take it or this fic down.
Toka Koka I write, you review...