That Was Alchemy, Sir Chapter 4, a fullmetal alchemist fanfic

A/N: Well, I'm glad to see some people did like the last chapter. Have an Alphonse. ^

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Here's the next chapter for you guys!

I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist in any way, shape or form. All I own is this and the original characters within it.

Central City

0850 Hours

As Edward Elric slumped to the ground, Corporal Vikentiy Anatolievich shut the crate containing the disassembled armor that was Alphonse. He took a step back and let go a breath he didn't know he was holding. This entire operation had been a snafu from the very start. They had been forced to drug the soldier in the investigations department into unconsciousness. That had been anticipated, but what had not been foreseen was the amount needed. Fully three quarters of the team's supplies had gone into that man and he had not gone down. Even in his drugged state, that monster of a sergeant knocked a Drachman operative into the wall so hard there was still a dent. The major had improvised with chloroform in the supply cabinet. Everything had been working. Then that bitch had stumbled on them…

Now, thanks to that woman (What was her name? Hawkeye or something?), four of his friends, including the major and the captain, lay dead on the ground. Due to the shrimp now laying on the ground, another two were incapacitated. It was going to be impossible to move all their prisoners out of the area in a timely manner. The interrogation location would have to be one of the safehouses in the surrounding areas. Sighing, he hefted his gun and prepared to move out.

Unknown

Pain.

That was the first thing her mind registered as it took stock of her body's situation. It was the pain that came from falling out of bed in the morning, the pain of falling down the stairs. It was a dull ache that spread throughout her entire body. Not too bad per se, but very annoying. She could deal with it if nothing else happened. Slowly, she pried open her eyelids.

The first thing her eyes saw was Colonel Mustang, knocked out and tied up across from her in a large room. As her eyes wandered, she also saw a Drachman soldier leaning against the wall, keen eyes watching both of them. As her eyes moved over him, he noticed her.

"Ah, you're awake. Good. Now we can begin." He walked over to Mustang and shook him hard. When Mustang failed to wake up, he drew his hand back and slapped him in the face. Hard.

"Arrrghh!" Mustang jerked awake, shouting in pain and surprise. He glared at the Drachman soldier, grimacing through the pain. The soldier turned away and shouted something in Drachman. A moment later, another soldier came down into the room along with one more guard.

"I am glad to see you are awake. I hope you weren't roughed up too much."

Mustang growled. "Piss off, you son of a bitch. You aren't getting anything from me!"

The soldier sighed. "I had hoped to do this the easy way. All you have to do is answer a few simple questions for me. It doesn't even have to hurt."

"Fuck you!"

"Who are you people? Where are we?" Hawkeye figured that as long as she was stuck there, she might as well get some information from her captors. Besides, it would take their attention away from the colonel.

"You are not the one asking the questions. We will be the ones getting the answers today. But since I am not a barbarian, I will let you know my identity. I am senior lieutenant Arseniy Romanovich. And I will be your interrogator. Now, let's start with something easy. How many troops are stationed in Central, colonel?"

"Mustang, Roy, Amestrian State Military, 880-443-223RM."

Romanovich sighed. "Please don't do this colonel. I don't enjoy violence. I will ask again. How many troops are stationed in Central?"

"Mustang, Roy, Amestrian State Military, 880-443-223RM."

"Please reconsider your answer. I have limited patience and I find violence distasteful."

"Mustang, Roy, Amestrian State Military, 880-443-223RM. That's all you're going to get out of me, bastard!"

Romanovich grimaced. "Very well. Private?" The soldier standing next to him nodded and walked up to Mustang. He rolled up his sleeves and punched Mustang in the stomach.

"Gah!" Mustang gasped in shock, gritting his teeth against the pain.

"Colonel!"

"Don't tell them anything, Hawkeye! I'll be okay!"

Romanovich smirked. A tiny, humorless smile. "I admire your determination colonel. However useless it may be. You are only prolonging your suffering, you know. Just answer our questions."

"Mustang, Roy, Amestrian State Military, 880-443-223RM!"

Hawkeye squeezed her eyes shut and looked away as more punches landed on the colonel. The thing she couldn't block out was the sound. The sound of Mustang grunting in pain, fists striking all over his body, and the Drachman - he had to be Drachman - interrogator getting more frustrated every second brought back bad memories of her childhood.

Foolish child! This is not the transmutation I asked for!

Why have you not finished your chores?

Get back here! I'm going to teach you a lesson!

With memories of her father and her childhood flowing through her mind's eye, Hawkeye almost missed the colonel's pained cry. But notice it she did.

"Colonel!" Her eyes flew open and took in the colonel's injuries. He had a black eye, bloody nose, and was in pain from what was likely to be bruising over his entire body. His one good eye stared venomously at his tormentor and interrogator. Romanovich was glaring back at him.

"What do you not understand about your situation? You can make this all end if you just answer my questions!"

"Fuck… off… bastard!"

Romanovich growled with anger and frustration. "Very well. If you insist on being stubborn, we will have to turn to other methods. I assure you, if you thought what you just went through was unpleasant, what happens next will be an eye-opening experience. Now, will you give me the answers or not?"

Mustang stayed silent, letting a death glare speak for him. The subject of the death glare closed his eyes and shook his head once, then motioned to his companions. They nodded once, turned on their heels and left the room.

Unknown

"Ugghhh… Winry, did you have to hit me so hard?"

"I don't know who this 'Winry' is, but a blow to the head is the least of your problems."

"Huh?!" Edward started awake, looking about him wildly. He was in a small cell with a cot bolted to the ground with his hands tied behind his back. They were separated to prevent him from using alchemy. That was the least of his problems, however. There was something missing. Something very important. "Where the hell is Alphonse?! What the hell did you do to him?!" He pressed his face to the bars of his cell, staring daggers at the guard.

"Whoa, easy. I'm not going to hurt you." The guard put his hands up and backed away.

"That's not what I'm asking! Where is my brother?!"

"You're brother? Oh, you mean that suit of armor. Don't worry. We disassembled him, but he's fine. Wouldn't shut up on the way here. We had to stuff the crates full of blankets to get him to be quiet." The guard had now backed up to a comfortable distance and unslung a submachine gun. He held it loosely but conspicuously, sending Edward a clear message. Still, he refused to back down.

"You don't scare me! I need to see my brother!"

"Sorry, no can do. Now, do I need to calm you down myself, or are you going to coöperate?" As he said this, the guard casually flicked the safety off and moved his finger over the trigger. Edward had seen Hawkeye use her guns enough to know when the person using them was a professional. Every action this man took spoke of a quiet, unassuming soldier who was capable of blowing your head off at fifty yards. He was also, slowly but surely, losing his patience.

"... Fine. If it will get me to my brother sooner, I'll calm down. Who are you, anyways?"

"Pardon me. I am Corporal Vikentiy Anatolievich. I will be your guard during your stay." That form of that name, if not the name itself, sounded familiar to Edward. Where had he heard something like that before?

"You're Drachman? What do you want with me?"

"That is something you will be finding out shortly. For now, though, make yourself comfortable." Anatolievich had moved back in front of the cell and was sitting in a small chair. His watchful eyes contradicted his relaxed posture. He was clearly taking no chances with the Fullmetal Alchemist.

For some time after that, the two just stared at each other. Edward tried to figure out the man in front of him, find something he could use. So far, all he could tell was that the soldier was extremely good at guarding his true thoughts. For the Drachman's part, he simply looked at Edward with a cool, level gaze, as if he had already figured everything out and was just waiting for Edward to make a move. He figured it was a bluff, but it still unnerved him. He wondered if Mustang or his team would notice or be concerned about his being gone.

Central City

1300 Hours

"What do you mean they're missing?!"

The brigadier general slammed his hand down on his desk. "They were supposed to report for a briefing earlier! Where are they?" Lieutenant Havoc and tried not to swallow his cigarette to find his voice.

"T-t-there has been no sign of them, but there are indications that a-a struggle took place in the investigations department. In particular, investigators have found several bullet holes in the walls and signs that heavy objects struck the walls at high speeds."

"Sounds like there was a significant fight there. Lieutenant, I'm am placing you and your co-workers under command of colonel Herschel. You will assist him in his investigation in any way he requires. That is all lieutenant." When a stunned Havoc didn't move, the general frowned. "You have your orders, lieutenant. Carry them out." This snapped Havoc back to reality.

"Yes, sir!" He snapped to attention, a perfect salute, then marched out the door. He walked back down the hallway in a daze. He couldn't believe it. The colonel, Fullmetal, Alphonse, and Hawkeye kidnapped? It seemed improbable that such a capable group could be taken all at once. He knew that the colonel, being a State Alchemist and a high-ranking officer, would have plenty of valuable information hidden in his brain. Hawkeye was his bodyguard and where one went the other followed, so it made sense that she would be gone. But Fullmetal and his brother? Despite Fullmetal being a State Alchemist, he rarely associated with the military. Havoc doubted he would have much info in him. And Alphonse didn't know anything about military operations. So why were they kidnapped? It didn't make any sense for the usual terrorists or rebels to take those two.

Havoc opened the door to the office. As he stepped in, all eyes turned to him. "So, what did the general say?" Breda asked. His normally relaxed and disinterested face was tight and worried.

Havoc gave a short answer.

"We're helping the investigation. Get ready to move." He walked over to his desk and pulled out a shotgun and ammunition. As he loaded the weapon, Fuery piped up with a question.

"Do you think their going to be okay?" Havoc was an experienced soldier, but questions like that always hit him in the gut. Fuery's relative innocence only added to the pain of the question. He took a while to respond, not meeting anyone's eyes.

"I'm sure they will Fuery. I'm sure they will." Suddenly, the cigarette didn't seem so comforting anymore.

A/N: Sheeeet. I could not squeeze any more words into this. The chapter just refused to take anymore. I still broke 2k though, so I'm happy with that. I hope this chapter met your expectations. If not, I would really appreciate some constructive criticism so I can make it better. And as always, review, fav, and follow!