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Chapter 17

Pain and Alchemy

Major Elric and Al investigate the damage done yesterday. The detail that went into every transmutation was impressive and gruesome. The interrogation room where they found Havoc was a complete disaster. They walk across the door that used to be on its hinges but now it looks like a pool of melted iron on the floor. Al kneels down to study the remains of it while Ed walks over to where Havoc was pinned up to the wall. Hammers and crowbars lay all around the floor in the drying blood from their friend.

"Al, who do you think would be capable of doing this?"

"I don't know brother. The soldiers said it was just a couple kids."

"Yeah, but what kids would go through all this trouble to free a man like him?"

"Maybe he forced some kids who knew alchemy to work for him."

"I don't think so. The way they killed those men and what they did to Havoc, shows they have no regard for human life or alchemy."

A soldier walks into the room and motions for the Elrics to follow him. They leave the room and are escorted outside the building to a car waiting for them. Colonel Armstrong is standing alongside the black car and the engine is already running. Ed opens the door to the front passenger side of the car and Al opens the door to the back. The two get in and wait for Armstrong to enter the vehicle. A couple of soldiers go to Armstrong and they discuss things that the brothers cannot hear. After a few minutes the Colonel gets in and starts driving away from the building.

"What did you two discover in there?"

"Whoever they are, they are very good at what they do."

"Al, what are your thoughts?"

"Sorry Colonel, I don't know what I can share with you."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Sorry Sir, I didn't mean I couldn't tell you anything. I don't know how they did it so easily and were able to escape."

"First Mustang and Riza getting taken out of action so easily. Now we got a murdering maniac loose in Central with a pile of bodies behind him. Colonel Armstrong, who is next?"

"I don't know boys. This man seems to be one step ahead of everything we do. Lets hope that Havoc can remember what happened."

They arrive at Central Hospital where the chaos from yesterdays attacks still is evident there. Thirty-two men and women were admitted there yesterday with doctors scrambling to get all patients into surgery and treated. Lt. Havoc was one of the first operated on and was in recovery. The halls are filled with soldiers and nurses. The soldiers are standing guard through doorways and specific rooms. The nurses and traveling back and forth between rooms keeping a close eye on all the victims of the attack.

They make it to the room where Havoc was recovering. A soldier comes up to the three men before they go in.

"Colonel Armstrong, Major Elric, we have received several reports of two people getting off the train in Central two days ago. So far we have no details on their names or where they came from."

"Check the boarding schedule from Rush Valley. That is where Bosely came from and I think they might have come from there."

"Yes Colonel, about Lt Havoc. We need to get a statement from him about the events that took place."

"We will handle the questioning for him. Inform the General at Rush Valley Hospital that Lt Havoc is recovering and we began to get his statement."

The soldier salutes them and the three men enter Havocs room. A nurse is attending to his bandages to where his left arm and shoulder use to be. A deep bruise is across his throat where Bosely had a hold of him. He gripped him so hard that you can see the lines of his fingers. Al sits on the left side of him with Armstrong and Ed standing near the foot of the bed. Armstrong asks the nurse to leave so they can talk to their friend.

"Lt. Havoc, can you hear me?"

"Loud and clear Colonel. The bastard let me keep my ears, I guess I should be thankful for that."

"I'm sorry this happened. I should have been with you instead of with the General."

"Gee Sir that makes me feel pretty important to hear you say that."

"Can you remember any details of what happened in there?"

"Every second of it. I wish I couldn't though. The pain of having your arm blown off was something I could have gone without remembering."

The door opens to the room and Lt. Colonel Thomas enters. He holds a clipboard and paper in his hand. He closes the door behind him and sits down beside Al. He turns the pages to fresh sheet of paper and waits for anything that Havoc might say.

"I don't know how you survived such an attack. This man doesn't like to leave people alive who spoke to him. I want you to tell me everything."

"They came fast Sir. One minute I am trying to get him to talk and the next the alarms are ringing and gunfire is getting louder outside the room. A yellow light shined all over the door and in a few seconds it was on the floor. I was taken back at the sight of a young woman standing there. It was such a stupid thing for me to do, and I should have fired. Before I could get my senses to work, she placed her hand on the floor and it tore apart the floor in front of me and sent me flying into the wall."

"Did she say anything to you before she attacked?" asked Thomas.

"No, it was like she just had no emotion toward me. She was very cold and quick with what she did. She walked over to Bosely and freed him with alchemy, destroying the chains we had on him. She walked over to me and placed her hands on my shoulder."

"Did she draw any transmutation circles during this time?"

"Again, no she didn't. On her hands looked like a tattoo of one. It didn't look like the only one I had seen before from Scar. It was just a simple transmutation circle going across the top of her hand."

"Brother that must be how she moved about so quickly."

"I know Al, we should assume that she has done stuff like this before."

"After that, Bosely grabbed my throat and was talking to me. Right before my arm went flying, I saw a young boy enter the room. He looked to be so young to be in the middle of everything. Then Bosely told him to leave the room. He said he didn't need to see what was going to happen."

"Well that sure doesn't sound like him. A man like that never had any compassion for anyone aside from himself."

"I guess being a father can turn the most blood thirsty monster into a softy from time to time."

This bit of news grabbed everyone's attention in the room. Thomas just stopped writing as soon as this was spoke. Armstrong just looks shocked as Ed and Al look more confused. Armstrong grabs his bag and removes files he has on Bosely.

"According to our records, Bosely has no children to speak of."

"That's what I read as well. I was shocked to think that somehow he had children let alone would use them to help him."

"Can you tell me anything about his kids?"

"Well Thomas, the young woman was about average height, very skinny with long blonde hair. The boy was only a little shorter then her with a dirty blonde hair color. Both were wearing very nice clothes and you could tell they were related."

"This does match the description we have been getting from eye witnesses at the train station."

"Oh, I almost forgot. Before I passed out I think I heard their names as well. The girl was named Trisha and I believe the boy was named Al."

Thomas stands up and storms out of the room. Ed and Al try to chase him down and finally do so right outside the hospital. He tries so to get into his car with the two brothers holding him back.

"Hey now old man, what do you think you're doing?"

"Ed, Al, let go of me this instant."

"Uncle Thomas, why are you leaving now?"

"Please tell Mustang I need to take a short leave of absence from this mission."

"Why the hell would we do that? You know how important this is to us. We need to get Al his body back and stop them from bringing back Bradley."

"God Damnit Ed, do you realize who those kids were?"

"Who cares, as long as they are Bosely's that is all we need."

"No, Ed, that is not all we need. I need to travel back north and visit my old home. Those are the names of my children that are supposed to be dead."

Ed and Al let go of their uncle on hearing him say that. He gets into his car and drives off without even looking back at his nephews. The two go back into the hospital and fill Armstrong and Havoc in on why he left. The Colonel grabs the phone next to Havoc and calls Mustang.

Back in Rush Valley General Mustang is on the phone taking notes on everything that Armstrong is telling him. He cleared out one of the hospital rooms and turned it into a temporary command center. Warrant Officer Falman is beside him reading everything that he is writing. After the phone call is over, he hands orders to Falman and gets up to leave. He walks down the hall and enters the room where his wife is still at. So far he has yet to speak to her and at times like this he misses her comfort.

"Well dear, I think we might have more problems then we can handle. Havoc was nearly killed and one of my best men has left. Thomas wont return until he discovers whatever he can up north. Ed and Al are in Central with Armstrong heading up the investigation on Bosely. Im stuck here with you in the hospital and the man who is responsible for most of it is now loose again. We know so little about how much of an enemy we have and people are still vanishing. A terrible war was thrown into our laps and we have no idea on how to fight it. I hope you can hear me and know that no matter what I won't be leaving your side."

He grabs her hand and kisses her very lightly on the cheek. He leans over her stomach and kisses it as well. Throughout the chaos that has happened he still can't get over the fact that he will be a father. He hears Fury asking for him outside the hall and turns to go find him. Standing in the doorway looking out he sees all his men working in the room he made his new post. They are making phone calls and passing out orders to all the lower soldiers. Fury walks up to him and hands him a telegram that just came in. He steps out of the room and starts to head toward his command center before a faint voice stops him in his tracks. He turns his head to see a very tired woman staring right into his.

"Roy, what happened to me. Why did I feel you kissing my stomach?"