Al and Armstrong exited Central Command, entering the courtyard outside of it. Al immediately took a deep breath and exhaled with relief before reaching down and examining his new State Alchemist's watch with pride.
"Alphonse?" Armstrong asked, concerned for the youth as Al turned to look towards the courtyard itself. In his mind he recalled in vivid detail, the fight that would see the defeat of Father. He remembered watching from the ground, his armor body battered and broken to the point he couldn't move from his spot, watching as Ed's automail arm was shattered and impaled through the left shoulder from behind by a chunk of debris, rendering him immobile and defenseless. Al shivered at the memory as he pocketed the watch.
"I'm alright. I was…I was just remembering the last time I was here two years ago." Al said as Armstrong understood his meaning and placed a comforting hand on Al's shoulder.
"I remember." He said.
"Thinking back, those were the last few moments I had inside my armor body. Now…now I have my body back, and it was the end of Ed's and my long journey." Al said, a smile forming on his face, before looking at Armstrong with the same smile.
"You boys certainly had a tough time of it. I'm glad that you both came out of it victorious." Armstrong said as Al nodded.
"Thank you Lieutenant Colonel. Now I suppose I better be on my way to Ishval. General Mustang said you had made security arrangements for me?" Al asked as Armstrong gave a nod. (AC: Stepping Along – FMA:B OST 2)
"Yes. I've assigned two of my most trusted subordinates with protecting you. They will get you as far as Ishval. Ah, here they are now!" Armstrong said, motioning towards the barracks as two familiar officers approached the towering Lieutenant Colonel.
"Second Lieutenant Maria Ross and Sergeant Denny Bloch reporting as ordered, Lieutenant Colonel Armstrong, sir!" Maria Ross reported as she and Denny Bloch stopped and saluted.
"Lieutenant Ross! Sergeant Bloch!" Alphonse exclaimed with a smile, earning a startled look from the two. Ross however narrowed her eyes with a probing look as if trying to figure out who he was.
"That voice. Are you-…" she said as Al grinned happily.
"It's me. Alphonse. Alphonse Elric." Al replied as their eyes lit up in surprise but quickly formed excited expressions.
"Alphonse!" Maria gasped as Denny grinned excitedly.
"Hey you've got your body back!" Denny said as Al innocently put a hand behind his head.
"I've had it back for about two years." Al replied before Maria, who couldn't contain her emotions anymore, leapt forward and threw her arms around him.
"I knew you would do it, Alphonse! I just knew you would do it! I'm so happy for you!" She said, Denny joining in the hug.
"Yes! It is was a glorious day when our Alphonse returned to his true body! Such a happy ending to such a tragic tale!" Armstrong declared tearfully as he picked all three of them up in a massive hug while inexplicably shirtless.
"Colonel!" the three yelped before Armstrong put them down. (End AC). Bloch and Ross both immediately stood at attention again.
"(Ahem) Sorry about that Alphonse, I couldn't contain myself." Maria said as Denny nodded sheepishly in agreement.
"It's okay. Really." Al blushed before Armstrong cleared his throat.
"You should probably get a move on, Alphonse. Your train to Ishval leaves in an hour." Armstrong said, wearing his shirt again, as Al nodded understandingly.
"Right. Thank you Colonel. I better go pack." Al said, turning towards the barracks only to come face to face with Lan Fan holding up his suitcase.
"Already done, Alphonse." Lan Fan said, handing off the suitcase to Al. Denny and Maria were both startled by the sudden arrival of the Xingese ninja.
"Where did she come from?!" they both asked.
"Oh, sorry. I forgot to mention. Lan Fan is-…" "Here to protect you from Xingese assassins. We know. The Lieutenant Colonel informed us of her presence this morning." Maria explained.
"She just surprised us by how easily she snuck up on us. That's all." Denny added.
"Come on, let's get going. We need to catch that train to Ishval!" Al said as they started walking towards the East Gate. None of them were aware that they were being watched by Brigadier General Roy Mustang from the windows of his office. He thoughts were interrupted as Captain Hawkeye cleared her throat.
"The men are assembled, sir." Hawkeye said as Roy turned around towards inside of his office. Before him stood, in descending order of rank, his group of trusted subordinates: Captain Riza Hawkeye, Captain Vato Falman, First Lieutenant Jean Havoc, First Lieutenant Heymans Breda, Second Lieutenant Rebecca Catalina, Sergeant Cain Fuery, and Corporal Sheska, all standing at attention. Sitting next on the floor next to Hawkeye was Black Hayate, Riza's faithful canine and the unofficial unit mascot with the honorary rank of Second Lieutenant. Catalina and Sheska had been added to the unit following Roy's promotion to Brigadier General, Mustang specifically adding them for their unique skillsets. Catalina was a talented marksman like Hawkeye while Sheska's eidetic memory made her invaluable. (AC: Laws of Alchemy~Instrumental~ - FMA:B OST 3)
"Alright, let's get started. As you are well aware, over the course of the past sixty four days there have been no less than seventeen separate bombings within and around Central City, all perpetrated by the same group: The Red Kingdom. In addition, there have been at least nine recorded incidents of chimeras and renegade alchemists attacking farms and villages in the rural areas of the country, capturing people and animals and taking them to places unknown. However, yesterday evening at around seven forty six PM, the Red Kingdom broke with their usual pattern. They sent five chimeras to attack and capture Alphonse Elric, the younger brother of former State Alchemist, Edward Elric, the former Fullmetal Alchemist. We managed to capture one chimera for interrogation, however he has not been forthcoming with information. While we wait for him to break, we have new information we can act upon. Two days ago, the home of Pinako Rockbell, the grandmother of Winry Rockbell, a known associate of Edward and Alphonse Elric, was besieged by Red Kingdom Chimeras and an alchemist in league with them. Their objective appears to have been twofold: the capture of Edward Elric and the capture of another former State Alchemist, Dr. Victor Garand, the Living Hand Alchemist. According to Alphonse, they failed both objectives, and given the evidence, it appears that they have mistaken Alphonse to be his brother and are pursuing him for an unknown purpose. Dr. Garand however is reported to have fled the Rockbell home and his location is unknown. What the Red Kingdom wants with Dr. Garand is unknown, and according to my sources, Dr. Garand claims to have worked in Laboratory Five, creating Philosopher's Stones for the Homunculi. This makes him a person of interest. However, Dr. Garand is not our current mission as I have already tasked Alphonse Elric, now a State Alchemist bearing his brother's title of Fullmetal, to uncover any evidence regarding Dr. Garand and what the Red Kingdom want's with him. I want each of you to keep this information in mind as we go about our business. Captain Falman, Lieutenant Breda, I want you to speak to the survivors of the most recent bombing, the one on the train. Specifically speak to the conductor and two soldiers from the car the Elrics were on. Lieutenant Catalina, Lieutenant Havoc, you're to speak to the train station attendants, find out what they know. See if they saw anyone suspicious or anything out of the ordinary. Sergeant Fuery, contact Central Police and get the names of the victims of the train bombing. Remember to be vigilant and keep an eye out for anything that seems out of the ordinary. That is all." Roy said as the soldiers saluted, Roy returning the salute before everyone but Riza and Sheska departed. (End AC) Black Hayate merely sat scratching behind his ears.
"Um…General Mustang sir? What exactly is my assignment?" Sheska asked as Mustang smiled towards her.
"In a minute, Corporal. I haven't forgotten about you or the Captain here. Hawkeye, I need you to follow the instructions on this note to the letter." Roy said as he reached into his uniform pocket and proceeded to hand Riza a folded paper. Riza opened the paper, read it silently, then saluted.
"Right away sir." Riza replied, heading for the door, Black Hayate following after her, leaving Roy and Sheska alone.
"Now then Corporal, I need some specific information from you." Roy said as he turned towards the window to his office, his hands behind his back.
"More information sir? I brought you the information we had on Dr. Garand as ordered." Sheska replied.
"Yes but there was something in that information that intrigues me, a name that kept appearing in his records. That name, coupled with the information I received from a contact of mine regarding the Red Kingdom's attack in Resembool, could be a potential lead." Roy replied as Sheska saluted.
"I'll do my best sir. What do you need information on?" Sheska asked as Roy turned to look at her from over his shoulder.
"What can you tell me about a former State Alchemist named Dr. Elizabeth Morser, codenamed the Fire Bloom Alchemist?"
…
Al, Denny, Maria, and Lan Fan were approaching the train station, Lan Fan following along from the shadows in case of a surprise attack.
"So, Alphonse, I heard there was an attack at your home in Resembool. Is Edward alright?" Maria asked, Alphonse nodding with a reassuring smile.
"A few scratches and bumps but he's fine. He's engaged to our friend Winry now." Al explained as Maria beamed with joy.
"He is? How wonderful." She replied as Denny chuckled.
"Heh! I once asked him if she was his girlfriend and he denied it. Looks like I was right all along." Denny said as Alphonse grinned in amusement.
"So what about you, Alphonse? Any special women in your life?" Maria asked as Al thought for a moment.
"Most of the women in my life are special. My mother, Winry, Granny Pinako, teacher, Mrs. Hughes, Gracia Hughes, Lan Fan, even you Sergeant." Al replied as Maria smiled in appreciation.
"Thank you Alphonse, but I meant more along the lines of a girlfriend." Maria said but Al shook his head and reached into his vest pocket, pulling out a small book.
"No but that's one thing I want to get marked off my list." Al replied.
"List? You mean like a bucket list?" Denny asked.
"Sort of. I made this list while I was in my armor body. It was a list of things I wanted to do when I finally got my real body back. Since I got my body back two years ago, I've been marking things off the list but there are still one or two things left. I know it's silly but one of them is to find a girlfriend." Al commented sheepishly.
"I don't think it's silly at all, Alphonse. I think it's a respectable goal." Maria said as they approached an intersection near the train station.
"Thank you, Lieutenant." Alphonse said as they waited for the street to clear for them to cross. As they waited a State Military car, a General's car adorned with two small Amestris flags drove up and stopped in front of them. The three watched with blank expressions as the back passenger side window was rolled down, revealing the perpetually scowling Major General Olivier Mira Armstrong inside.
"Inside, Fullmetal. Now." General Armstrong ordered with a low voice as Alphonse gulped and quickly complied, climbing in to sit on the seats facing Armstrong. The General then glared at the two soldiers.
"Wait here until we return." Armstrong ordered the two who saluted in response as Armstrong rolled her window back up and ordered her driver to drive on. Alphonse was confused by the Major General's actions as she began glaring at Alphonse, her legs crossed and a hand on the hilt of her sword.
"Explain yourself, Alphonse Elric. Explain to me the real reason." Armstrong ordered as Alphonse arched a confused eyebrow.
"Explain what?" he replied, honestly not knowing what she as referring to.
"What threat are you protecting your brother from?" Armstrong asked, Alphonse falling silent with a stunned look on his face. (AC: Mount Briggs~Overture~ - FMA:B OST 2)
"I'm not protecting him from-." "I disagree. You chose to go by the title of Fullmetal for a reason. The Red Kingdom is targeting the runt, aren't they?" Armstrong stated as Al froze. He had been found out.
"Y-Yes…he is." Al replied.
"You say that with such assurance. What makes you so confident that the Red Kingdom is targeting Fullmetal?" Armstrong asked as Al fidgeted slightly. He was about to answer when Armstrong grabbed him by the collar and pulled him close to her face as she snarled at him.
"Stop fidgeting and act like a man!" she yelled as Al turned white as a sheet before being released.
"There was a lady alchemist amongst the Red Kingdom and she thought I was Ed, calling me Fullmetal and said that I couldn't keep a secret forever!" Al explained, sitting at attention.
"What secret?" Armstrong asked.
"I don't know. She never said." Al replied as Armstrong crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him with her usual angry scowl.
"You're a fool for coming here alone, Elric. Your strategy for protecting your brother is nothing more than a delaying action. The Red Kingdom will inevitably find out that you're not the original Fullmetal Alchemist and will go after your brother. What will you do then? As I recall, your brother gave up his power to use alchemy to bring you back. You also haven't considered the report that General Mustang gave us regarding the presence of Xingese Assassins hunting both you and Edward. It doesn't matter to them which of you is the Fullmetal Alchemist as they want you both dead." Armstrong asked as Al looked horrified by the realization.
"I…I hadn't thought of that." Al said, trying to think of a solution to protect Edward.
"Clearly. You were so eager to become a State Alchemist and assume the guise of your brother that in your haste you've left him completely exposed. So now, once your enemies realize their mistake, they will go after him at the first opportunity." Armstrong said as a determined expression appeared on Al's face.
"General Armstrong, I'd like for you to send some men to protect my brother!" Al said before suddenly getting backhanded by Armstrong, cutting his left cheek slightly. Al put his hand to his cheek in stunned alarm, looking at Armstrong whose glare had intensified.
"Two years and you've already forgotten the first rule of Briggs! Only the strongest survive! If Edward is strong then he will adapt to his new situation and I don't need to mention what will happen if he is not. However we both know how strong Edward is. After all, you were both taught by one of the greatest alchemists alive today! I suggest you think long and hard about that before condemning your brother to death so quickly." Armstrong said as Al realized her meaning. Ed was still capable of defending himself as both he and Al had been taught to defend themselves back when they were being trained in alchemy. Al gave Armstrong a determined glare and gave a nod.
"I understand General. Ed doesn't need me to protect him." Al said as Armstrong finally gave him one of her determined smiles. (End AC)
"Now that we've reached an understanding. Driver!" Armstrong bellowed. The driver immediately sped up for a few moments before slowing down to a stop at the same corner where she had picked him up. Armstrong immediately opened the door, allowing Al to exit the car. Armstrong said nothing before slamming the door shut, the car driving off immediately. Al, Maria, and Denny watched the car disappear down the street.
"Is she gone?" Denny asked, timidly.
"Mmm-hmm." Maria replied absently before looking to Al with concern.
"Alphonse, what happened? Why did the General…abduct you for a minute like that?" Maria asked as Al wiped his cheek with a handkerchief.
"She just wanted to give me a few words of encouragement. That's all." Al replied.
"Encouragement? From the Ice Queen?" Denny asked in disbelief.
"Encouragement in her own way at least. Come on, we'll miss our train if we don't hurry." Al said as they approached the train station, Lan Fan continuing to follow via the shadows and rooftops.
…
(AC: T.B.C. – FMA:B OST 2)
An hour later back at Central Command, Roy was checking his own State Alchemist's watch, a look of consternation on his face as Hawkeye ran into the room.
"General! Captain Falman is on the line for you! He says it's urgent!" Hawkeye said as Roy pocketed his watch and immediately picked up the receiver on his phone.
"Report!" Roy ordered.
"General, the conductor from the train bombing…he's dead sir." Falman reported as Roy narrowed his eyes.
"Died from his injuries?" Roy asked.
"No sir. His injuries weren't life threatening. Someone slipped cyanide into his I.V. drip. It was murder, sir." Falman reported as Roy blinked in surprise for a moment then smirked.
"Let me guess. The two military escorts were murdered too?" Roy asked, his smirk causing Hawkeye to look at him with concern.
"Yes sir. One was suffocated. The other had his neck snapped." Falman reported as Roy's smirk tightened.
"Thank you for the report, Captain. I want you and Breda to report to the train station and assist Catalina and Havoc in questioning the station attendants." Roy ordered.
"Sir there's one more thing. One of the nurses attending to the conductor reported that, before he died, he kept mumbling something. Sir, he was mumbling only a single word, but it wasn't a word. It was a name!" Falman said as Roy scowled.
"Out with it, Captain. Whose name did he mention?" Roy asked. When he heard Falman's answer, his eyes widened.
"It can't be…are you certain, Captain?" Roy asked.
"Positive sir. At first, I thought he was just rambling but on a hunch I called up a friend of mine in personnel and I was right! The conductor was a medical discharge from the war in Ishval, and he was stationed under his command. He'd be familiar with his methods. But I don't understand how it's possible. Reports say that he was killed two years ago by the Homunculi." Falman reported as Roy's smirk returned.
"He was an alchemist, Falman. What one alchemist can invent, another can rediscover. We're probably looking for someone who's learned his techniques or at least a variant there of. Good work, Captain. You have your orders." Roy said.
"Yes sir." Falman replied before Roy hung up on him. Roy's scowl turned back into a smirk as he put his hands behind his back.
"General?" Hawkeye asked as Roy sat down at his desk and opened one of the drawers, pulling out the chess set he had received from Grumman after being reassigned to Central two years ago.
"Our terrorists have gotten sloppy lately. They managed to silence someone who saw too much. Remember the conductor and two soldiers from the train bombing three days ago? It would seem they saw the bomb just before it exploded and they were killed for it." Roy said as he started setting the chess board on his desk.
"Investigations has been looking for the remains of the previous bombs without success. How could the conductor have seen it before the blast? How did the bomb get on the train in the first place?" Hawkeye asked as Roy looked her way.
"Simple. It bought a ticket and walked on." Roy said as Riza's eyes widened in realization.
"Sir…are you implying…" Riza said as Roy continued to set the chess board.
"The Red Kingdom is turning people into living bombs. According to Falman's findings, the conductor was rambling before he was murdered. He was a veteran of the Ishval War of Extermination and served directly under the command of a certain State Alchemist who was infamous for making human bombs." Roy explained as Riza scowled, following his train of thought.
"Solf J. Kimblee, the Crimson Alchemist." Riza said as Roy finished setting the board.
"Seeing a passenger on the train suddenly explode must have triggered a memory of his time serving under Kimblee, causing him to start repeatedly muttering his name. The evidence fits. No bomb components found at the sites of the blasts, only human remains." Roy said before looking at her.
"Did you deliver the message I gave you, Captain?" Roy asked as Riza gave a nod.
"Yes sir. He said, message received, and thank you for the tip." Riza said.
"Did you tell him about Alphonse?" Roy asked but Riza shook her head.
"I followed your instructions to the letter. He knows only what I was permitted to tell him." Riza replied.
"Excellent work Captain." Roy said as he looked at the board.
"Thank you sir." Riza replied.
"Both sides have made the first moves of the game. I've made my move, so now it's their turn." Roy said as he looked at the chess board with a calculating smile, his fingers interlocked together in front of him. (End AC)
…
Meanwhile, across town, a lone guard shivered as he patrolled the debris filled lot that was once home to the infamous Laboratory Five. The debris from the lab's destruction still remained, piles of rubble and twisted metal scattered the ground. The guard hated this patrol, partially because his bunkmate kept trying to scare him with spooky stories of what allegedly happened within the evil place. The weather didn't help in the matter either. If the wind blew hard enough, it would whistle through the cracks in the debris, creating a sound that sounded like the pained wails of the dead. (AC: Beneath the City – FMA:B OST 1)
As the guard continued his patrol he heard a new sound: the sound of a young girl giggling from nearby. He instinctively raised his rifle, searching around for the source of the laughter.
"Who's there?!" he called. No answer. He lowered his rifle with an exasperated sigh before continuing his patrol. He suddenly heard the giggling again and raised his rifle and flashlight.
"Show yourself! This is a restricted area! No civilian personnel are allowed here without proper documentation!" the man exclaimed before he saw something move amongst the debris on the other end of the lot. The guard quickly turned and ran towards the spot, as he approached he saw a brief blue light appear but as he reached the spot, what he saw made him pause in stunned disbelief. There was a stairwell leading down into what appeared to be a bunker beneath the laboratory ruins, but was positive that the stairwell hadn't been there before in all the times he had patrolled the area prior to that moment. The guard cautiously walked down the stairs, discovering that they led down into a dark hallway. As he ventured further, the hallway emptied out into a simple square room. He then heard a muffled groan from nearby and turned his flashlight to see something he never would've expected. Sitting bunched together near the center of the room were nearly eighty people, all of them civilians, bound and gagged with their hands tied behind their backs and their legs tied together at the ankles.
"What the-…where did you all come from? How did you get like this?!" the man asked as he dropped his gun and flashlight, quickly reaching for his pocket knife to cut the ties on them. As he did he felt a sudden but intense pain in his stomach, causing him to cry out in pain. He looked down at his stomach and what he saw made his eyes widen in shock and horror. There was what appeared to be a human hand run through his stomach from behind.
"And that makes eighty." A girl's voice said from behind as the hand was pulled out from his back, covered in blood. The man fell forward onto his side, in intense pain but conscious. He looked to see a young girl, no more than sixteen years of age, in a black sundress with a black jacket around her. Her hair was long and black, swept to the right side of her head, covering her right shoulder. She had a pair of heeled knee length boots on her feet as well.
"Will this be enough?" Another girl asked as she emerged from the shadows. This girl was identical to the first with only one exception: her hair was swept to the left side instead of the right.
"It'll suffice." An older woman's voice said as the woman alchemist from Resembool emerged from behind.
"I don't see the point in all of this. Are we not enough for you, mother?" one of the girls asked as the alchemist woman removed her gardening gloves.
"My needs are satisfied, my dears. My wants on the other hand…" the woman said before kneeling down before the group of captives. The wounded guard watched her in pained confusion for a moment before noticing a series of strange markings on the ground around and below him and the other prisoners. The woman proceeded to place her hands near the edge of the circle which started to glow with a red light. If one were standing outside the laboratory or passing by the site at that very moment, they would hear a chorus of pained screams of agony coupled with a red light coming from within the bunker. The light and the screams quickly faded away to nothingness. Inside the bunker, the woman smiled darkly as she walked into the center of the circle, the people within it: dead. She reached the center of the transmutation circle and knelt down, picking something up in her hand.
"It's been a while since I last saw one of these, let alone make one. Still as beautiful as ever…the Philosopher's Stone." The woman said as she raised a small red stone into the air, admiring it in the light.
"A veritable kingdom in the shape of a red stone." A voice said from the entryway, causing the two girls to spin towards the entryway. The woman alchemist merely smiled as she turned to see Dr. Garand standing in the entryway, a pair of growling chimeras flanking him on either side. The girls and the woman smiled towards him.
"Well-well, Victor. I wondered where you'd run off to. To what do we owe this surprise?" the woman asked as she held the newly made Philosopher's Stone between her index and middle fingers like one would a cigarette.
"You know why." Garand said, grimacing.
"Good boy, darling. Well come on, out with it." the woman said as Garand scowled.
"You think I know it? I don't. Fullmetal has the secret." Garand asked, earning a scowl from the woman.
"We're running out of time, Victor. If the Immortal Alchemist is to be successful, we will need Fullmetal's secret. I sent chimeras to retrieve him here in Central but the military intervened and saved him." the woman said as Victor sighed heavily in frustration.
"That wasn't Fullmetal. That was the brother." Garand replied, as the woman scowled.
"The brother? You mean that runt was Fullmetal?!" she asked as Garand nodded silently.
"Looks like big brother is alone and defenseless." One of the girls said to the other.
"Sounds like we should introduce ourselves." The other replied.
"Not yet girls. Better they not know about the two of you until the brother is out of the way first. Besides, one of the chimeras spotted the brother boarding a military express train bound for Ishval." The woman said as the girls turned to scowl at her.
"That's awfully close. Don't-." "-you think it would be wise to-." "-stop him before he gets there?" the girls asked.
"No need. The Quake Alchemist will deal with the brother. We might need him for the Immortal Alchemist." The woman said before looking at Garand.
"Well that's enough from you. Go on, Victor darling. You know where to go next." The woman said as Garand nodded quietly and departed. The woman smiled as she watched him depart before looking at the Philosopher's Stone in her hand.
"The Red Kingdom rises." She muttered to herself as she examined the stone in the light once again.
End Chapter 7
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