A/N: And another chapter. This one is also a shorter on, so yesterday's and today's will count as a single update ;) Thanks again for the support. I'll try to keep the cliff hangers to a minimum from now on XD
Disclaimer: I do not own FMA. OCs are mine.
"I'm sorry about the interruption, Major Elric" Tara Raveneye apologized after the prisoner had been healed and moved to a detaining cell. "Perhaps we can continue another day, if you have any further questions."
"Lieutenant-General," Ed interjected solemnly, "You've also tried human transmutation, haven't you?"
The Lieutenant-General's gaze sharpened and her lips tightened slightly. "I think the interrogation will have to wait" she stated firmly. "I will inform the guards. Take a seat."
Edward waited impatiently while the Lieutenant-General called all the necessary authorities. Finally, she placed the phone in the receiver and sit down opposite Ed.
"To answer your earlier question: yes, I have attempted human transmutation in the past."
Edward released the breath he had not realized he had been holding. "Who?" he asked quietly.
Lieutenant-General Raveneye closed her eyes as the painful memories resurfaced. "My brother" she answered dully. "I was so young. It's no more than a nightmare now."
"I'm sorry" Ed replied, feeling terrible for bringing it up.
"But, that's not everything you wanted ask, is it?" Raveneye's eyelids opened and the brilliant orange depths stared at him fiercely.
"Why didn't the homunculi target you as a sacrifice?"
The Lieutenant-General chuckled dryly. "I figured as much" she replied with amusement. "The truth is that the Father fellow did not know and the homunculus that did thought me dead."
"The Father did not know?" That surprised Edward, for he thought that the homunculi had watched potential sacrifices closely to the point of stalking.
"I had never advertised my ability in the military since I knew it would bring me unwanted attention. I always did alchemy the long way." Raveneye smiled slightly. "Living in isolation has made me a bit rusty."
"But, one homunculus found out, right?" Ed persisted.
"The one you called Envy suspected, but never did have concrete evidence. He tailed me for some time, disguised as one of my subordinates. I found out later that Envy had killed the man so he could observe me for as long as he needed" Raveneye explained.
"How did you know about the homunculi?"
"Let's just say that I had noticed that the military's actions were suspicious. When I dug a little, I found out a lot more about the country than I had ever hoped." The Lieutenant-General sighed. "However, I ended up sticking my nose in too far and they found out. I staged my own death so I could escape a public execution."
"You planned the explosion?"
The Lieutenant-General shook her head. "No, that explosion was completely unexpected. Half of my team was annihilated. I lost both my legs in the blast." She pulled up a pant leg and Edward could see the metallic shine of automail. "I knew that if I returned, I would be blamed for the outcome in some way. So I cut off the remains of my legs and escaped."
"You didn't tell anyone?" Edward was shocked by the officer's determination.
"At first, no. I could not risk it. I would be placing anyone I contacted in danger. After a while, when I was sure that no one would suspect anything, I got in touch with some of my extended family – just to let them know I was alright."
"Wow…" Ed did not know what to say.
"Does that satisfy your curiosity, Major Elric?"
With a start, Edward realized he had been staring, "Oh, uh, yes! Thank you, Lieutenant-General!"
Head full of the information he had just received, Ed rushed out of the office, not noticing the blue-uniformed individual just outside the doorway. Brigadier-General Mustang watched as Ed ran down the hall to where Sergeant Cobbler was waiting.
"Was that really a good idea?"
Lieutenant-General Raveneye did not even look up when Mustang walked into her office. "It was only fair. I knew his circumstances; he did not know mine. Perhaps it will help him in his search."
Mustang snorted, unimpressed.
"Anyways, for trust to be given, it must first be earned" Raveneye continued, ignoring the sound effects Mustang was producing.
"Fair enough." Mustang lounged against the wall, clearly doubting the Lieutenant-General's judgement.
"Don't you have work to do, Mustang?" Raveneye looked up from her tea, irritation in her voice.
"Yes, he does." Lieutenant Hawkeye appeared beside Mustang, silent as a ghost.
"Ah, I just remember I have a dinner date tonight!" Mustang stated hurriedly. "I'd better get ready. If you ladies would excuse me…"
And so Roy Mustang, a Brigadier-General of the Amestris military, made his strategic retreat under the disapproving glares of the two female officers.
Weeks passed and Edward was beginning to get a bit frustrated. With Cobbler's aid, he continued to investigate both Captain's Broadstone's and his own case. He had returned to the pub several times, but nothing had happened except for a few close run-ins with Ryan. The body of the wanted cab driver was found in an abandoned alley, already decomposed and rotting. The coroner ruled the cause of death as suicide, having found the man clutching the sheath of the knife pushed into his throat. Ed felt that the man's desiccated skull was laughing at him, taunting him with the lost truth.
"I can't find anything!" he growled, slamming his hands onto the paper-covered floor.
Cobbler glanced over at him from her perch on his bed. "You lost something?" she asked lazily, dropping a file onto the finished pile.
"No matter how much I scout or research, I can't find anything about either case" Ed ranted on, either ignoring or not hearing Cobbler's sarcastic remark. "I've looked up everything on or mentioning the homunculi and their cults, but none of the gangs match any of the profiles."
"Have you even stopped to consider that they may have nothing to do with the homunculi?"
Ed turned around and glared at Cobbler. He opened his mouth, to give some scathing remark no doubt, but then paused. For a minute or two, he mulled over what Cobbler had said. It was true. He had been too caught up trying to find a link to the homunculi that he had not considered the obvious: there was no connection between the two groups. Ed grunted, feeling a bit foolish.
"Umm… you… you were…" he muttered, desperately avoiding Cobbler's eyes.
"I was right, no?"
Ed's eyebrow twitched at his friend's teasing tone. "Anyway," he continued, this time pointedly ignoring the knowing smirks shot his way, "I have to go to the library."
"It's past closing hours, kid. This can wait until tomorrow. Go to sleep, rest your mind and start fresh in the morning." Cobbler got up with a stretch and walked over to where Ed was sitting on the floor, offering him a hand up. "I'm sure even geniuses need their beauty sleep."
Grudgingly, Edward nodded in agreement and let the woman help him up.
"I'll be next door if you need me" Cobbler stated as she collected all the paper from the bed to deposit them on the floor. She gave Ed a friendly pat on the back and then left the room.
Edward flopped down on the bed, kicking off his boots into an empty corner of the room. Cobbler was right – he was exhausted. A little rest would help clear the sleep from his mind. Slowly, Ed stripped down to his undershirt and boxers, loosening his silky hair from its tight pony tail. Then, he turned off the lights and crawled under his sheets. He was fast asleep before his head even hit the pillows.
It was dark, which was why it took Edward some time to realize he was dreaming. But, upon further inspection, Ed saw that the darkness was moving, shifting and coiling around itself as if it had a mind of its own. He looked around in confusion. Where was he? If it was dark, why could he see?
"It seems you are getting used to your environment."
The voice seemed to emanate from all around, the low tone reverberating in Ed's bones.
"Shut up, old man."
Edward whipped around in surprise. Standing slightly behind him was a girl. Maybe a couple of years younger than him. She was covered in a thick layer of blood and barely healed wounds, looking absolutely exhausted. But, as she raised her head, Ed saw that her eyes burned with determination behind her battered glasses.
"I was giving you a compliment." The omniscient voice sounded vaguely amused.
"Thank you. Much appreciated. Now, let's get this over with" the girl replied shortly, lifting her arms. Clutched between her hands was a long, battered broadsword that was clearly too heavy and large for her. Her entire body shook with the effort of lifting the ancient blade.
The voice chuckled. "As you wish."
In a sudden, sharp movement, the darkness gathered and struck at the girl. She parried with unexpected speed, the broadsword clashing against darkness and throwing up sparks. As the two weapons separated, the girl staggered back, her legs barely holding her up. The darkness, sensing her weakness, leapt towards her, forming hundreds of tiny blades. The girl's eyes widened as she struggled to once again lift her sword. Edward shouted out an unheard warning as the dark mass loomed intimidatingly. The girl, with the sudden strength of the desperate, swung her sword out wildly, succeeding to lob off the main body of the attacking darkness. Having used the last of her energy, she slumped forward using the sword as a crutch. Neither no she noticed the single tendril of darkness that leapt forward from the damaged main force. In a deadly, swift strike, the tendril ripped across the girl's throat. Edward watched in horror as the girl fell back, her eyes slowly losing their fire, her blood flowing out in a grotesque red arc in front of her. The darkness surged forward again; targeting the girl's dying form. Ed could not take any more. He jumped in front of the tidal wave of darkness, intending to shield the girl from whatever it meant to do to her. The darkness simply swept through and past him, the girl its only concern. Ed turned slowly, dreading what he would see. However, the actual scene was very different from what he had imagined. The darkness had caught the girl's body before it had landed, cradling it tenderly.
"This makes the hundredth death" the all-present voice sighed. "But she is definitely improving."
As Ed felt the tinges of consciousness returning, he saw the girl open her eyes and raise her head. The horrendous slash across her neck was closing – stitching itself back together until only a thick ropy scar remained. Then, with a rising sensation, Ed surfaced from his sleep.
A/N: The next chapter is a bit lengthy and full, so it will take a bit of time to finish. Until then, thanks for reading :)