A/N: Hey, everyone. Thanks for taking the time to read Night Eyes! :D I just wanted to say that this long chapter is a thank-you for and dedicated to Rokuchuchu, who is the only person who regularly reviews. XD
Chapter 11-
"I don't understand how they can use humans to make those dreadful things! I mean, they're human in shape, but that's about it!" Mustang scowled, swinging his legs over the side of the infirmary bed and standing up in anger. He instantly regretted the action- white hot lances of pain shot up his right side, and he cringed.
"Sir, lie back down," Hawkeye ordered, pulling her gun out of its leather holster. "Now." At first, she didn't think he'd heard- he had locked eyes with Edward, both trying to get the other to look away first. Mustang figured that if Fullmetal looked away, then he was probably lying- nothing could turn a human into a creature like the ones he'd seen. Ed, on the other hand, held his ground, refusing to back down from the military officer. Why would he lie about something like that anyway?
After a long, tense moment, Mustang sat down again- his side was really causing him pain. Fortunately, the movement dispelled the tense atmosphere. Ed smirked slightly, to Mustang's annoyance. A nearby mahogany clock chimed 1 o'clock into the brief silence.
"The Homunculi have this set of machines. I have no idea where they came from- our scouts say they just appeared from out of nowhere, years ago." Edward tilted his head, causing the officers to wonder what he was thinking about.
"Machines? What do they do?" Hawkeye encouraged him to continue.
"I only have a general idea of it, since that's really not my area." Edward told her. "But there are two machines- you hook a mortal up to the first one, and pour a whole ton of ingredients into the second, and then you wait for this 'blue electricity' to surround the second machine."
Blue electricity- that's alchemy! Thought Mustang. "Then what?"
Ed frowned at him. "When the second machine is opened, a body will have formed, like the ones you described to me. Don't ask me how because I don't know. They're made according to a pre-designed template, or something like that. Weapons and powers and stuff can be combined with the body if you put it in with the ingredients. But, the bodies are limp and vacant. There's no-one inside."
"So then, how do the Homunculi get their soldiers to move?" Hawkeye wondered out loud.
"That's where the human comes in," Edward said, watching the two humans in front of him carefully as he spoke his next sentence. "The first machine transfers the mind and soul of the human into the body formed in the second machine. I'm told it takes days." Not to mention it's unbearably painful…
Neither of the officers spoke for a moment- the teen could see rage smouldering in their eyes, but the Colonel and his lieutenant were too professional to allow their feelings to show in their tone of voice or expression. During the venture into the tunnels and this conversation afterwards, Edward began to feel an inkling of respect for them both- that was why he was telling them all of this. He knew most humans would shrink from the topic they were discussing, simply because they would not like what they found. The Amestrian Military, for instance, had done just that, allowing the Homunculi to cause destruction and horror unrestrainedly just because they didn't want to know about the problem. Why did mortals ignore the all the wars, murders and lies that were going on right in front of them without doing anything about it? Edward didn't think he'd ever figure it out.
Mustang and Hawkeye were both thinking about the scene down in the right-hand tunnel, with the cages filled with 'finished' creatures, and the abnormal machines along the steel wall that had humans in them- all of whom were screaming desperately in agony. Hawkeye could still remember the screams in perfect clarity, and she momentarily wondered if the Colonel could too. At least now both of them knew what was going on down there.
Eventually, Mustang spoke. "They're forcing people into those monstrous bodies...?"
Edward tried to keep his distance, but couldn't help adding, "If it's any consolation to you, the humans don't know what's happened. The mind receptors in the soldiers really aren't big enough for a human brain. They can move, follow orders, register pain and everything, but they don't really think." Hawkeye couldn't tell if that made the situation better or worse.
"So then…" she swallowed, "the mind and soul of the person are moved, and the human body left over…"
"Dies," Edward glanced at the older woman. "The human body needs a mind to control the brain. No brain signals means no organs work, including the heart and lungs. However, obviously one can live without a soul." He sounded halfway between amused and sarcastic on his last comment.
"Wait, people have lost their minds and lived before! They just don't really register anything much," Mustang realised.
Fullmetal shook his head. "Common misconception- they still possess some part of their mind, even if it's only the tiniest sliver of thought. Mortals can live on that."
"And after all of that torture," Mustang said slowly, "the bodies are dumped in cages…" Like the one Breda was in. He went through that! Mustang clenched his fists, rage blinding his thoughts. How could he allow any one of his subordinates to meet with a fate like that one? He should have been faster- he should have saved him somehow. But it was too late. Mustang's eyes narrowed dangerously. The Homunculi were going to pay hell for this!
Abruptly, something occurred to Edward. "Dumped in cages...? I mean, yes they are, but you would only know that if you'd seen it! And- how'd you know what the soldiers looked like? Where did you see them?"
"We saw them down the right hand tunnel, remember? Oh, wait, you didn't come up the right-hand one, and you missed the report… that's right. Well, you basically know anyway, Edward. The Homunculi are massing an army for an attack," Hawkeye informed him.
Ed's eyes suddenly flashed a menacing red. "They're attacking us again? When? Did you hear anything they said?"
"Yes… something about how the soldiers are almost ready, and how you guys won't stand a chance… oh, and they said they were attacking 'on the date they discussed, at midday'," Hawkeye explained.
One moment Ed was sitting across from her, on top of the rail at the end of Al's infirmary bed. In the next he appeared right in front of her, giving her a particularly intense look.
"Anything else?" he said slowly, in a low voice. A slight feeling of fear suddenly washed over Hawkeye as she noticed the deadly look in his crimson eyes, the abrupt quiet, low voice that was without any emotion.
"N-no," she stammered, shocked by the abrupt change in the teen. Edward began to move past her at a speed to fast for the human eye to see, and that same fear swept over her again, only a thousand times worse. She felt sure that she was going to die, and her eyes widened. Her body wouldn't move! But she didn't really have the time to panic- Ed swept past Hawkeye, and the feeling of certain death vanished. She didn't have to turn to know he'd left. The feeling seemed familiar to her… after a moment, she realised the teen had done that once before when he'd left the office. Why would he…? Unless it wasn't on purpose. Hawkeye sighed, attempting to relax more. They had a long way to go to get Edward back to normal.
The crimson-eyed vampire ran at his top speed over rooftops, streetlights, telephone poles- anything he could find. Speed was his greatest advantage, despite Alphonse telling him he'd relied on strength in the past. He didn't remember that. He didn't remember having heavy metal limbs that could withstand nearly everything but weighed him down considerably. He just knew that he was the fastest vampire to join the clan in over 100 years. And right now, he was extremely glad of that fact.
Edward knew he was stalling, thinking about other things instead of doing what he knew he would have to do. It's just that he hated the idea of using this aspect of his vampirism. He sighed, but no sound reached his ears- he was running too fast for that. This would be the very first test of the effectiveness of his telepathy.
:Hughes!: he sent, wondering if it would actually reach the older vampire. To Ed's astonishment, he answered almost immediately.
:Ed?: Hughes answered, sounding slightly surprised, but using the same jovial tone as always. :Hey, just look at you! Finally using telepathy, hey? You must've gotten a really good photo of Elysia or Gracia, and you wanted to let me know immediately! I completely understand your profound joy, Ed!:
Ed scowled, closing his eyes in annoyance. He didn't need his sight to get to the Clan anyway.
:Hughes, focus!: he almost yelled, forgetting that he didn't need to raise his 'voice' when using mind-to-mind communication. They could both hear one another as clearly as if they were in the same room. To emphasise his point, Ed sent a general feeling of urgency to Hughes.
:What's wrong?: he replied hurriedly. Ed realised that Hughes thought he was hurt.
:Nothing like that.: Ed frowned. Why did everyone have to always worry about him? He could take care of himself! He didn't need anyone else's help! :The Homunculi plan to attack again!:
Edward sensed Hughes' shock. :Are you sure? In that last battle a couple of days ago, we beat them pretty badly. The Clan's pretty sure they aren't going to attack for another couple of months! They need the time to replenish their source of soldiers!: Hughes' tone was completely serious now.
:I never actually saw it with my own eyes, but Mustang, Hawkeye and Havoc discovered another factory.: Ed replied, referring to the enormous room where the monstrous soldiers were created.
:What?: Hughes actually sounded a bit annoyed. :I thought the scouts trashed them all beyond repair! You mean they've been making soldiers all this time?:
:Yeah. They probably thought that if they faked a defeat, then we'd assume they wouldn't attack for a while in order to replenish their numbers, like you mentioned. Then they'd catch us unaware.: Ed would reach the entrance to the Clan in a matter of minutes if he continued the pace he was travelling at. Normally, the trip took him a good twenty minutes. Tonight, he was nearly there in just under five minutes.
:Worst thing is, it nearly worked. Do you know when they plan to try and kill us all?: Ed heard a sudden bout of Hughes' humour under that sentence.
:I don't know the date- it's sometime soon- but the time is at midday.: the teen replied. Suddenly he realised his eyes were still shut, and he opened them out of pure habit.
:Of course it's at midday. Right when we're at our weakest. I've already notified the other Seniors- Justin will tell the Elders. Thanks for letting us know so quickly.: Hughes was talking about the hierarchy of the Clan- there are normal vampires, who chose which job they would like to take on. If they chose to try for a leadership position, they would take the Trial, and if they passed they were elected to Senior. If they underwent Trial again two times and passed, they would be elected Elder. It took an extremely long time to accomplish such a goal, so despite their eternal lifespan there were precious few Seniors, and even fewer Elders. But Edward hadn't been interested in leadership anyway.
While Edward's thoughts had once again wondered off, Hughes had actually been doing something productive.
:Ed, the Elders think the attack won't happen for another couple of days- I'm not sure why. A scout group will be dispatched tomorrow night to sabotage the new factory, and the Seniors want you in it.:
:What? I'm not a scout, I'm a defender! What the fuck, man?: Ed yelled at him.
Hughes winced at having Ed shout directly into his mind. :Hey, it wasn't my decision! The others figured it would be best to have you there because, unlike every other sane person, you constantly go to the surface!: Ed suddenly felt Hughes hesitate.
:What now?: he sighed irritably.
:Well… they also want to speak to the humans who discovered it.: Hughes said reluctantly. :Tomorrow night, after the scout, they want you to bring Mustang, Hawkeye and Havoc into the Clan.: