The Truth Within the Truth: A Fullmetal Alchemist RP

[Redryhno]

"everyone's fine,minor injuries mostly, you're really the only one that got hurt too badly.You're actions probably saved most of us. Definitely, you saved your fellow Soldiers. We've been recommending you for a commendation, if not a full-on pay bump."

He turned to the Corporal's parents,"I'm sorry sir, miss, but can I ask you to leave now? Military business, civilians shouldn't be hearing this, nothing to worry about, but it's best if you don't know, and don't ask."

His parents protested for a moment before realizing the small, powerful Alchemist in front of them would not move on the issue. They respectfully left, Kallu followed them out and locked the door behind them, he then moved to the window and closed the blinds.

"Now Corporal, or Sergeant, whatever the higher-ups decide, don't worry,"He noticed the slightly frightened look on Victor's face, "Anyways, what you fought was a homunculi, something we, as Alchemists, have determined to be impossible. Legend states that a Philosopher's Stone is capable of amazing feats, this may be one of them. I'm not sure, they may just be highly advanced chimeras, it's theoretically possible that way. But the Fuhrer has forbade us looking into the matter of the homunculi and anything relating to them. But while researching in the library, I came across this.Just hear me out, kid."

He pulled the paper out of his pocket, and showed it to the man in the bed.

"All I can make out about this is that it concerns Philosopher's Stones, and that it's either extremely important to be hidden there, or it was a simple misplacement. Considering the code it's in, I'm inclined to believe the former. A Dr. Marcoh is the man responsible for this paper to be in existence. The problem is, I cannot remember where I have heard of him, and his records are non-existant. I trust you to not bring this to the attention of the Fuhrer or his underlings. Amestris is in enough danger as it is, without the threat of these things in the shadows. I'm asking if you will help me try to solve this puzzle."

 

[CJ1145]

"Whoa, whoa, hold it dere tough guy." The leader of the suited men said, holding his hands in front of him, palms-down. "No need to get all threatenin'. Me an' my associates were in the middluva deal, but I guess dese fella weren't lookin' t' play fair. Those fellas? They AIN'T our friends, an' if I may be frank I'm glad they're dead. So you got no reason t' kill us, right? Mr. Alchemist?"

[hr]

Victor looked at the notes, visibly not able to make heads or tails of it, but after he handed it back to Kallu he thought on it for a moment. "Um... I'm not 100% sure, but I think I've heard the name Marcoh before. Only hearsay, he's one of the doctors working for the military; I think he might be an alchemist too."

He shrugged, a sight that looked extremely arm with only one arm. "That's only what I heard from all the way in Ishval, though. But if, er, those notes are part of a bigger, um, thing, then I bet it'd be at the military's library in Central, right?"

 

[CrazyBlaze]

James looked at the stack of books Mira Banagher had brought him. They had sat by his bedside for the past four days, unopened. One part of James had wanted to read the books, to find out what those creatures were but another part, his solider part, said no and he listened to that part. Orders were orders and nothing could change that fact. James was a solider through and through. If he was told to do something by his superiors, he did no question asked.

James turned his attention to a second pile books, scattered all over his bed. He had asked Mira to get everything she could about the military from the library three days ago. He may have been forbidden from researching the homunculus but the Fuhrer hadn't said anything about researching the military's past. Despite researching everything he could in the past three days he had discovered nothing. No hints to a conspiracy, no one who could be implicated. Just a lot of conflicts and expansion of the military.

Despite his lack of findings, James wasn't giving up. The amount of conflicts Amestris has engaged in was staggering and astonishing. It just seemed unnatural to James. He had been taught they were fighting for peace but their history sure didn't show it. There was something there and someday he was going to find it.

James slid out of bed with no difficulty at all. His ribs had only been cracked slightly despite how hard he was hit. He figured his bones were stronger than what he had thought. He was moving with very little pain. He had a little trouble breathing but the doctors had assured him that a couple of days he would be fine, at least his ribs would be. His arm would be another story.

Lust spike had gone clean through. Thankfully that meant it was easy for his body to heal. It had missed most of his nerves, leaving clean cuts that felt like they were already healing. Some bone had been pierced but that been pushed out the back of his arm from Lust's attack. Apparently the Calcium Phosphate was healing the outside already and the marrow was already replacing itself according to the doctors. He still had to keep his arm wrapped in bandages but the doctors had said that within two weeks his arm should be fully healed.

As James finished getting dressed with one hand he heard a knock at the door.

"So ya had to go and get your gun broken didn't you," a short man stood at the door, half the height of James, carrying a large metal case.. He had automail arms that nearly touched the ground and automail below his knees. "Ya lucky I've been experimenting with different designs. If I didn't keep around those circles for the first ones I would have had to start from scratch."

The short man made his way to James' bed and tossed his case up into the bed. Grabbing two small cranks on both his legs, the short man cranked himself taller until he was half a foot higher than before. Opening the case he pulled out a pistol just like James' old one. James took the pistol and held it up inspecting it.

"Its feels exactly the same as my old one Issac. Same weight, sights are the same. Perfect"

"Of course it does you twit. That's what you asked for. Now I have two more for ya," Issac said as he pulled out a rifle. "Its a slow firing rifle but its got range. A hundred feet its good for. Gives you lots of space to pick out your targets. The scope also allows for greater accuracy. The second gun is a bit of an adaptation of your first. Its a pistol but it carries a detachable scope. Nice for situations where the rifle is to big and you still need accuracy Also useful as a backup or a duel wield guns. They all use the same magazine you were using before, so you can switch on the fly."

James picked up the rifle, being careful with his right arm.

"Good weight. Scope may need adjusting but the rest is good. Thanks," he put the rifle down and picked up the second pistol. "The scope missed up the weight a little bit but I can adjust. Thanks. Here is the payment," James tossed Issac a bag full of money.

"Bah. I'm not done yet. These are your new gloves," Issac handed James a box. James opened it and there were two gloves with metal bumps but no circles. James looked quizzically at Issac.

"Don't get your panties all in a knot. I just made a few changes to those gloves," Issac pulled out two more boxes, "These are where the circles are. Just press the gloves against the box and the pieces attach. Press again and they go back onto the box. I have four more allowing you to make three different circles. Just have someone sew them into the inside of your jacket or something. Quick and easy access," Issac gave four more boxes to James. "And last but not least I have something else for you. I hear your carry only five cartridges. Don't know why but that seems stupid to me so I had this made," Issac pulled out a long belt, with many pouches. "Its a belt with twenty pouches for your ammo. Lots to store for you to use. I recommend you make good use of it."

James took the belt and replaced it with his current one. He placed all the weapons back in the case.

"Thanks Issac. Much appreciation that you came here."

"Yeah, yeah. Ya would never have gotten these without me so be grateful. Now I'm off to Rush Valley. I have too much work there to be gone for long," Issac pressed a button on both his legs and they returned to their original height. Issac turned to the door and was walking out before he stopped.

"It was good to see ya again James. I'll let the wife know your doing fine. She nearly freaked when she heard you were in the hospital. Your Mama too. If you get the chance you should come to visit," Issac left the room.

"Goodbye Issac," James said. He threw all the books he had in the room into a bag, which he had gotten from one of the Nurses and swung it over his back. He picked up the gun case with his left arm and left the hospital.

 

[JdaS]

"Yeesh. This is the down side to these here 'Wolverines'. They might be high end but they take forever to fix..." Anton complained as he sat at the bar, armless, taking a sip of his morning tea through a straw.

"It's your own fault for breaking it, you degenerate fox-faced dumbass. You got Demitri holed up there for 4 days straight." Jeanne berated Anton while contemplating whether or not she should dropkick him in the face. Putting on a devastated face, she continued. "He hasn't even had time for... his marital duties!"

"Oi, oi! I don't need to know whatever the hell you do when others ain't watching! Damn deviant. Where's the Watch by the way?" Anton asked, looking for Amon who had followed him to the inn and stayed there for the last 4 days.

"Sleeping like a baby. For now. Why'd you bring him here? If he finds out and rats us out, I'm going to cut you into tiny little pieces and feed you to the dogs, you jackass." Jeanne said, brandishing a kitchen knife in front of the Lieutenant's face.

"Relax, he thinks I'm military too. The most he can have is suspicions." Anton said in a hushed tone of voice.

"Why did you even get involved with the Fuhrer? You're getting in way over your he..." Jeanne stopped as she heard Amon come down the stairs into the bar.

"Ah, morning there, sir! Have good night's sleep? Yesterday's training must've really taken a toll on ya. Care for a hearty breakfast?"

Anton greeted The Spice Alchemist as he got on a stool by waving his armless torso from side to side. Truly a weird sight. He had asked Anton to improve his reaction time and the Lieutenant had complied. For the last 3 days he had been pushing Amon to his limits.

 

[sage42]

Tasha was on her way towards Victors room, a smile on her face. She was happy to hear the Corporal had pulled through okay. She kept her hands in her pocket's, more out of habit than to actually keep them warm. She needn't worry about cold until near sub-zero temperatures anyway. She rounded the corner to Victors room and held up a hand in greeting as her smile grew into a grin. "Heya Corporal. Glad to see your feelin better." She said before noticing Kallu. ""Oh? Hello to you too Stone, didn't see you there for a sec." She noticed the papers in Victors hands. "Am I interrupting something?"

 

[Pappytech]

Music and laughter wafted through the streets, cheers of delight and boisterous roars pulsing through Isaac's ears as he traversed the now familiar streets of East City. The festival was in full swing; booths and stands had been set up everywhere in the main square, merchants shouting out their best prices to date and street performers clamoring for some attention and coin. The scent of roasting meet and seasoned vegetables enveloped Isaac as he walked through a section dedicated to food and treats, a small smile crossing his face as he watched the scenery around him.

There was no denying that war was brutal, that fighting was hell. On the front lines, it could be so easy to lose yourself in the chaos and bloodshed, slipping further and further into that hellish pit of despair and death. Still... coming back here, and watching as the citizens of Amestris went about their daily lives, laughing, loving, living, somehow made it all worth it. This was why he fought, so that these people could celebrate their freedom.

It's why I'm about to do this. Isaac's smile slowly faded, as he left the town square, forcing his way through the crowd rushing the opposite direction. He had little time for celebrations or indulgences; he was not dressed in full military regalia for the fun of it. Today was the day he finally completed his assignment, the day he finally spoke with the prisoner again.

The girl had sustained heavy injuries during her capture; it had been touch and go for those first few hours, the doctors barely able to keep her stable and breathing. However, Amestris' medical expertise was some of the best in the world; the girl had pulled through in the end, and had spent the last few days in recovery, safely secured in her hospital room. According to the phone call Isaac had received earlier that day, she was finally ready to be questioned.

The alchemist's footsteps grew heavier and heavier as he approached the hospital, his face a mixture of determination, revulsion, and fear. This was not something he was looking forward to; nevertheless, orders were orders. He would follow through, no matter what his task.

In an attempt to calm himself down, Isaac reached into his coat pocket as he walked, fingers probing past his pocket-watch and gloves, seeking and finding the quintet of over-sized rings jangling together. Even without looking, he was able to slip a few of them onto his fingers, the bulky circlets stopping as they reached his second knuckle. Running his thumb over the surface of the rings, Isaac felt the tiny transmutation circles he had painstakingly inscribed onto their surfaces, the product of a late night research binge. Alcohol may or may not have been involved.

Sighing, Isaac walked through the doors of the medical complex, approaching the nurse's station with a few quick steps. Clearing his throat, he nodded to the young lady working the desk, his voice crisp and clear, "Major Isaac Berelan, here to speak to the patient."

Here's hoping things don't go to hell right off the bat.

 

[JokerboyJordan]

Roland stood outside. He could hear the sounds of the crowd that had gathered to take part in the celebrations. He himself was contemplating seeing the parade, no use to stay here by himself all day, that's what drives people insane.

He promised himself that after he hit these last targets, he would join in with the festivities.

A target stood in front of him. It was a rough resemblance to the human body, using the bodies of pigs. It was the closest thing to a human that Roland could practice on, save for stealing bodies from the mortuary. But he his followed his better judgement.

The first target stood at 30 feet away, there was no wind and the dry air offered easy static for him to use. In his hand he placed a rifle round, he had been perfecting this technique for a while, though only recently had he been testing it practically. He took his time and took a deep breath, before gathering the necessary charge. His new rubber under suit was working to his specifications, it allowed him to handle much higher voltages without the possibility of it backfiring.

Roland remembered the look on the tailor's face when he asked him to make him a rubber suit. The tailor looked at him like he was some kind of fetishist, though his pocket watch and uniformed swiftly dismissed the look and silenced any possible questions. The money helped too. He also instructed them to fit his boots with metal plating, whilst also carving a transmutation circle into it's sole.

Roland's hand glowed with the charge, and then he passed the current into the round. He stopped just so it was enough to ignite the propellant, causing the bullet to fly from his hand, straight into the chest of his Frankenstein-like target. It had pierced right through the carcass's heart, leaving a trail of bloodied matter.

Hmph, not bad, though considering I was aiming for the head...

He placed several rounds in his outstretched palm. Once again, he guided the current through his arm and hand, into the casing of the bullet, only this time he fired them all in quick succession. The target in front of him was riddled with holes from the gunfire.

That's more like it

He walked over to where the next target was, this one was closer, about 10 feet. He had made it a full-scale imitation, complete with limbs.
Roland reached over to a small table, upon it lay a variety of different rounds, as well as including a new edition to his arsenal...

It had taken him several days to investigate the ideal composite to be able to carry a charge, whilst being strong enough to cut through thin materiel, and yet loose enough to disengage from a target.
Another several days was spent trying to find someone in East city who was still proficient with the art of making a whip, yet alone making one for military use.
It took time and money, lots of money, but eventually he was convinced to make the whip for Roland, though he warned against improper use, it would take time to master.

Roland took the whip from the table, and moved it with force and speed. The loud crack as it broke the sound barrier would take some getting use to, though it was a plus in it's intimidation factor.

He took aim at the target's left arm, twirling the whip above his head, he brought it down swiftly, the end unravelled and caught the target in the middle of the forearm. Roland flicked it back, and took aim again, this time at the target's face. The same process, and the same noise as metal hit meat and bone.

He went to inspect his handiwork up close. There was a deep gash in the arm, almost going to the bone, on a live target the wound would cause immense bleeding.
The slash to the face had carved at the pig's dead eyeballs, the same attack would blind the most stubborn man.


Content with his practice for the day, Roland left the field, taking his new whip tightly coiled at his side, along with several rounds in a pouch on his belt. He went of to join the townsfolk in their celebrations.


Time to have some fun

 

[TheIronRuler]

"Not really", Leo said nonchalantly. He slowly walked towards his discarded gloves and put them on. "Tell me what kind of deal it was first".

 

[CJ1145]

Victor looked at Tasha with a grimace denoting shock and maybe a bit of terror mixed in for good measure. His eyes then drifted down to the papers, and he quickly handed them back to Stone, putting on an overcompensating grin to balance the suspicion. "Oh, this?! Nah, don't worry about it! Kallu was just, er, showing me some of his research notes!" There was one good thing about Victor's stutter. It made it nearly impossible to figure out when he was lying.

"The truth is," Victor said to continue the bluff. "I kinda always wanted to be an alchemist; but I could never really get the hang of it. But I still like to learn what I can." He rubbed the back of his head with his sole hand, trying and failing to look nonchalant. After a few seconds of this he spoke up again. "So, uh, if you're here then I guess somebody sent my message for me?"

[hr]

The secretary at the desk pointed Isaac to a room on the third floor. A short trip up the elevator brought him where he was going; his first peek inside the room didn't really tell him much, so he went ahead and walked in. The girl from before was lying in the bed. There was an ice pack on the back of her head; he figured she must have smacked it against the wall from that impact that hit her. Only her head and shoulders were visible above the blanket that covered her. She was looking out the window for the moment, so he got an unbiased look at her demeanor. She looked peaceful, if a bit worried. The slightest hint of a frown tugged at her lips. That frown grew a dozen times stronger when she turned to see him there. "You..." was all she said.

[hr]

"Well, lemme put it dis way." the suited man said, grinning as he stooped down to pick up the silver revolver of the vested men's leader. "Wit' all tha new toys dey brought us, we don't need th' deal anymore. But lemme as YOU a question, mistah. What's an alchemist doin' in dis parta town? An' why'd ya jump in like dat? If you'd decided t' run or sometin', we'd'a all been dead."

 

[Redryhno]

Kallu calmly folded the notes and secured them in his vest pocket, taking care to not allow Tash to see them. He wasn't sure of her loyalties just yet, but he felt he could trust Victor.

"What the kid said, figured it would give him something to think about while he sat in bed. But, since you're here, I pass the entertainment torch to you." He smiled for a split second before returning to his neutral expression.

He went and told the Corporal's parents they could come back in, and sat in one of the chairs near the door.

 

[TheIronRuler]

The gravity of Leo's actions began to sink in. Without even flinching he killed a dozen men. He did not ask for their allegiance nor was he ordered to, he just killed them. They were going to shoot me... I had to, I had". Leo couldn't hear the men that pursued him behind him. "I was running from a mob... turns out this woman I slept with had her father promise her to someone else and now he-", Leo's explanation was interrupted by the shouts of the men that pursued him. They entered the linen factory and barged into the meeting place. "You!", one of them cried out. Before they would try to lynch Leo, they saw the bodies littering the other end of the hall.

 

[CJ1145]

A hand clasped on Leo's shoulder. It was the leader of the men wearing hats. "Tell ya what, pal. You did me an' my boys a solid, now we do you one, 'kay?" He pointed at the mob, and his men picked up all the various armaments littering the ground, and a few out of the crates they were supposed to be trading for. In a few seconds over a dozen weapons were trained on the mob.

"'Ey, dis fella's now officially under th' protection udda Indigos, gottit? So scram, before my boy's trigger fingers get itchy!"

The mob may have been angry, but they weren't stupid. The scared civilians scattered, getting out by any exit they could. In a few moments the entire factory was empty. "Now how's THAT fer power, eh? You must be new here, because anybody worth their salt knows about my little, er, troupe here. Even yer fancy alchemy can't clear a room as fast as our name."

He gestured to the group around him. "We own dis city, no madda what the military tells ya. Say, y'know, if we really wanted t' consolidate our power, y'know what we need? A fella like YOU, stranger. So whaddaya say? Wanna roll wit' my boys?"

[hr]

Roland found a veritable festival to select his entertainment from. Foods of all sorts were being sold by stands out in the streets, and people were so thick on the cobblestone that no cars could even hope of moving around. Balloons flew in the air, just out of reach of depressed children. Games of all sorts were open, and rumors spread of various music acts and contests to take place later in the day.

 

[nuba km]

After ken found out that victor was fine he left the hospital and walked back to his flat. Ken was more alert then usual always looking over his shoulder as he tried to stay aware of all of his surroundings. If there were two of those humonculi creature what says there aren't more of them, also if lust was another humonculi that means that there is someone further up the later then it. On his way home he picked up a pair of gloves at a shop, he had something he wanted to try out.

When ken arrived at his flat he looked up and down the corridor to check no one was following him, he locked the door behind him and got himself a glass of water. Ken entered his secret room and picked up the note book that he placed there about 5 days ago, he flipped through the note book and made some alterations to his previous notes using his new knowledge, once done he placed the notes in front of him as he slowly and carefully started painting alchemy circles on the tip of the fingers of the gloves. He tried out his new alchemy circles of his glass of water and they seemed to work. Ken left and sealed his secret room.

He decided that he had do much stress on his shoulders and that he should take the short amount of time he has to enjoy himself, so he put his new gloves into the pocket on his chest and decided to go and enjoy the festival. Leaving his flat he walked around the streets watching the performers and the fresh air, though he couldn't shake the feeling that he should continue his work.

 

[TheIronRuler]

Standing in the middle of the room, rummaging through two crates were two men that were a part of that gang. They both held strange rifles in their hands. A long, wide tube that no bullet can fill lead to a cylinder of five spaces for such strange bullets, ending with a strap to lean on your shoulder. Leo had never seen those things before.

"I agree to help, but I want one of these cool things for me after I help you", Leo said and pointed at the rifles. This is something new altogether... Enemy technology, perhaps? I have to investigate

 

[Averant]

Amon yawned widely in response as clomped onto the main floor. Stumbling across the room with his eyes mostly closed, he bumped his way through chairs and tables to haul himself onto a stool and drop his head onto the bar, grumbling indiscriminately. Amon wasn't a morning person.

"Coffee, please," came the muffled response.

 

[Fragrance of Mtn Dew]

Marlin had scarcely slept the past few days. Besides the occasional meal and shower, he did little else than work on his circles. And in all that time he had little to show for it. He had also taken to running and getting more exercise lately. Since it seemed being called to combat would be a regular thing now, he would need to be more physically fit. Marlin had finally dozed off for a nap one morning when he was awakened by a knock on the door. Groggily, he rose from his desk and made his way to the door to find a messenger from the military there. "Major Frederic, sir! I have a message for you. Corporal Victor Kendrall has awakened after his surgery and is currently recovering." The man said with a salute.

Marlin smiled slightly at this news. ".... I see.... Thank you for telling me..." Now that his attention was drawn back to the outside world, Marlin could hear a strange commotion outside. "... What's going on out there...?" He asked the messenger.

"Today is the anniversary of the founding of East City, Sir! There's a festival going on outside and quite the lively one at that. Anyway, I've got more messages to deliver so I'd better get going." The soldier said before saluting again and leaving.

Marlin walked over to the window and watched over the festivities for a bit. I suppose peace like this is worth fighting for. If my work can make moments like these possible, than weaponizing my circle isn't such a bad thing after all... But how? I've made no progress... Marlin frowned and turned back to his desk, flipping through his notes some more. The simplest way would be to put the circle on my own body, but then I'd have to absorb the water into myself and risk over hydration...

Eventually, he sighed and walked towards the door. He needed some fresh air to clear his head and the festival would be a good way to do that. He stepped out into the streets and took a deep breath, ready to take in the sights and enjoy a much needed break from his research.

 

[Pappytech]

"You."

"Me." Isaac's reply was short, simple, and to the point. He was not here to be friendly or kind; there was no room for kindness or mercy here.

Stepping into the room, Isaac walked over to a small chair in the corner, picking it up and dragging it over to the girl's bed. His face was kept expressionless, betraying nothing of his intentions as he made the short trip.

Letting the chair fall back to the ground, the alchemist slid his backpack from his shoulders, allowing it to thud down next to the chair. Reaching into one of its many pockets, Isaac pulled out some of the equipment he had brought along for today: A pad of paper and a pen.

Sitting down on the chair, Isaac set the pad onto his knees, situating it in such a way that the girl could not see its surface. Without a word, he brought up his pen, and began scribbling away, writing arbitrary words and phrases. There was nothing of meaning written there, but that was not the point: A simple fact of the human condition was that they were always so curious about things they did not know.

There was no need to say anything yet; she would speak first.

 

[JokerboyJordan]

Roland meandered through the crowd, taking in the sights and smells of the festival. It was great distraction from all his recent woes about the military and the homunculi. He wondered if, one day, he could lead a simple life such as the people here. It was a fleeting thought, quickly cast away. The simple notion was laughable to him, nobody could make an honest man out of him. He had always been a lone wolf after all, and it had been successful so far, why change now? Roland cast his thoughts back to his team; all these new people around him. He knew them, he worked and fought with them. In turn they relied, and even possibly trusted him. Would he die for them?

No... It's not over yet

He wasn't through living his life how he wanted just yet.


"Hey, mister!"

Roland looked around for the source of the voice, he couldn't pinpoint it.

"Hey!"

He looked down to find a little boy. His face was mottled with dirt, and he was dressed in ill-fitting, patch worn clothes. He was surely a beggar, or an orphan. Perhaps both.

The boy tugged at the pocket watch that was tucked into Roland's coat pocket, the boy pulled it out and began looking at it with fascination. Roland pushed the boys head with palm and quickly tucked it back inside his pocket.

"Wow... Hey Mister, are you a real State Alchemist?"

What is this kid's game? If he was a pickpocket he would've taken the watch without me noticing...

"What do you want?" Roland said in a faux, gruff voice, trying to be as intimidating the child as possible.

The boy simply smiled up at him.

"So are you? Like, a real state alchemist? What's it like? What do you do? What's your nickname? Are you rich? Can I get a hot-dog?"

Roland was taken back by the boy's barrage of questions immediately after he made it clear he was annoyed.

Sigh...

"Yes I am, a real one, it's very boring, I follow orders, Lightning Alchemist, no it's all the military's money, and yes you can if you shut up and leave me alone"

Roland walked swiftly onward, the boy followed him, tripping over his own feet in a hassle to keep up. Roland found a nearby food stand where the line was mostly short, after a brief wait he payed for the hot-dog, and stuffed it into the boy's hand.

"There you go, enjoy you little urchin"

Roland then proceeded to walk off, whilst taking a bite of a burger he had gotten.

 

[JdaS]

Coffee, please.

Jeanne contemplated wheather she felt like doing the dog any favors. She complied in the end, however and in a matter of minutes, a steaming cup of coffee was in front of Spice.

"Black, no sugar." Jeanne said. Apparently this was not the first coffee she had made for Amon.

"I'm pleased to see you're still keeping up. My training is not exactly a light workout, and most State Alchemists I've... met, we're out of shape losers who relied too much on their lil' magic tricks."

Anton paused as he remembered a contract a few years back. Jack Tollins, State Alchemist in South City.

Heh... He died as slowly as he moved.

"Although, you don't get into a merry lil' group like ours with just good looks now, do you?" Anton mused, while Amon was busy with his cup o' joe.

Then the door opened. It was Abel.

"I'm back! Oh hey, Master! Hey Mr. Foern! We gonna train again today?" Abel asked as he bowed to Anton like a student of a martial arts dojo would to his master.

"Yup. As soon as Demitri re-attaches my arms. I guess you could say that our last lesson is going to be a bit more... hands-on than usual. Heheh." Anton chuckled at his own lame pun and turned towards Amon. "I hope you have it in you for one more session, Major."


At that moment Demitri came out of the basement.

"Hey, Anton. Your damn arms are ready. Come on down so I can re-attach the damn things, will ya?." He said in his usual uncouth manner.

"Roger that! Sorry Major. Going to have to ask you to stay out this time. Mechanic/Client confidentiality, you know?" Anton said, smiling as always.

Anton followed into the basement. Awkwardy took his tank top off and sat on a stool in front of his mechanic, revealing a large snake tattoo that dominated his entire back. A memento from his younger, gangland days.
Demitri attached the arms and proceeded to connect the nerves.

"Okay, you ready?" Demitri didn't wait for an answer. He connected one and then the other, in quick succession. Anton's response was minimal. Strange considering the process was famous for being quite painful. "You really are a bloody freak, Anton. Although, I guess that a guy who willingly gets his arms removed for this shit has to be a lil' messed up in the head already, huh?"

Anton didn't answer. The day he asked for his arms to be surgically removed and replaced with automail was a long time ago.

"In any case, I made some modifications like you asked. The claws are no longer pure diamond. They're a mixture of Duraluminum, Titanium, and fiber glass. Should keep those alchmist sons o' bitches from breaking them again. Downside is, they don't cut through everything like butter like the old ones did. I also re-enforced the problem areas from your last fight. Your arms should be able to take more hits now."

Anton flexed his arms and turned his hand into a fist. "Very nice, Demitri. You've outdone yourself. You'll find that the cash has been deposited to your safe already." Anton said with a slightly more sinister smile,

"Yeah, whatever. Just try not to screw them up again. Got more to do than fix your shit." Demitri grunted in response.

Anton got his tank top back on and returned upstairs. Flexing his arms he said to Amon who seemed much more alert:

"Well then Major, shall we get started with the last lesson?"

 

[Jedoro]

Elias walked through the graveyard, still in his civilian garb that he'd worn while fleeing the homunculi. He'd expected someone to protest an enlisted man's lack of uniform while on duty, but perhaps his assignment to a team of state alchemists gave him the necessary clearance to dress more casual.

Unlike a traditional civilian outfit, underneath his coat he carried a pump-action shotgun, grenade launcher, handgun, and ammunition for each on a custom combat harness. Long range wouldn't be an issue with alchemists around, and the grenades would at least slow the homunculi when they ran into them again. Given Lust's speech, he felt that this was a reasonable course of action.

Following the directions that he'd found in the military's records, he stopped when he reached a grave with "SGT ERICA BLAKE" at the top. Grass hadn't had time to start growing, which left the naked, brown dirt to sit over her resting place. He sighed as he ran his gloved, metal fingers through his hair, wondering where he should start.

"Hi... Eri," he began, wondering how people didn't feel awkward doing this. "I, uh, I'm sorry I missed your funeral. I just couldn't... I couldn't look your folks in the eye, not yet. And, I couldn't tell them how, how I'm alive and you're not. How none of you are." He looked over at the undisturbed patch of grass to the right, where no coffin had been buried. "That should be me. Six feet under, a corpse, right beside you. Where I belong." He broke his gaze long enough to look around and make sure no one was within earshot, then looked back at the dirt mound.

"I, I remember when you first got to the platoon, back before the war, with that red hair out of reg, and those blue eyes full of innocence. You had no idea what you were getting into, signing on to the infantry. None of you did. None of us did. But you caught on quick. A few in each unit always do, but I never thought you'd be one of them. Maybe that's what I... what brought us together." Elias could feel some tears forming, but a head tilted upward along with rapid blinking kept them at bay.

"We saw each other at our worst. When that idiot shot the kid, started the war, I pulled you back from that line when you took one in the gut. When I jumped out of that rigged building, lost my legs along with half your squad, you dragged me to the medics. When you... had that gun to your head, I took it, and the fractured ribs as you hit me, begged to get it back. When I tried throwing that grenade back, you had a tourniquet on the stump before we were outside. When that sniper hit your neck..." he closed his eyes and knelt down, "I held you in my arms." His full-length shotgun was jammed between the ground and his ribs, but he didn't care.