Change Of Plans
Ed stepped out of the train, followed closely behind by Beregond and Al. Colonel Mustang was nowhere to be seen, but the three companions expected that. It was only natural for the Colonel to go to the Führer and report for duty. So, as soon as Beregond got Faenel out of the compartment she was cooped up in, they all started wandering the place.
The one who was certainly impressed was the Gondorian. His gaze kept drifting to the tanks and machine guns, and he swallowed before he could help it.
“Are you okay?” Al asked, noticing Beregond’s unease.
Beregond patted Faenel’s neck, considering Al’s question carefully.
“I’m not sure,” he answered eventually, his tone soft. “I remember the time when you first welcomed me into your home and showed me all those wondrous machines that made your life so very simple. But now I also see machines that can annihilate everything in sight.” He faced the suit of armour, a sad expression on his features. “This is no war. It’s an extermination.”
Al nodded, seeing the Gondorian’s point. “Yeah.”
Just then, another voice rang through the air.
“Sergeant! Sergeant Beregond!”
Beregond turned to the direction of the voice, certainly not expecting anyone to recognize him among all the soldiers that surrounded him.
His eyes widened when the man realized who was approaching him.
“Major Moser!” he exclaimed, saluting at once.
Ed and Al stopped in their tracks and regarded the other major in mild surprise.
“Do you know each other?” Ed asked, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.
Beregond nodded and motioned his hand toward the newcomer. “Boys, this is Major Conrad Moser, the Rock Alchemist. We met while you were in Central. He also helped me when Fawcette was about to place some unfounded accusations against my person.”
Major waved his hand dismissively. “I hardly did anything. You should thank Colonel Mustang, not me.” He turned to Ed and Al with a friendly smile on his lips. “I’m glad to make your acquaintance, Fullmetal Alchemist. I’ve heard a lot about you and your exploits over the years. Impressive for someone of your age.”
Ed grinned, clearly happy that someone would know him by reputation alone. “I’ve heard about you as well, Major,” he replied graciously. “Your research on alchemy-enhancing stones has been quite interesting.”
Moser smiled in a cordial manner. “It’s not much, but it provides a steady paycheck,” he said. He looked at all three companions, noticing the bags they were holding. “Did you just arrive?”
“Indeed,” Beregond said. “How long have you been here?”
“Three days,” Moser said. “I can show you around the place if you want.”
“Well, I’d certainly like to know from where I can get my watch back,” Ed said at that moment. “They took it for some modifications and they haven’t returned it yet.”
“Yes, all the alchemists complained about that,” Moser said. He sighed exasperatedly. “I wish I knew what kind of modifications they are, considering that they never came to me for such a thing. I’m usually in charge of such things.”
Ed’s look of impatience must have been a sign that Moser was digressing, for the Rock Alchemist coughed in an embarrassed manner.
“Sorry about that. I tend to ramble on,” he said. “As I was saying, you can go to that building straight ahead, and ask for the officer in charge. You can’t miss it.”
“Thanks,” Ed said with a small nod before turning to his brother. “Coming, Al?”
“Sure,” Al said and faced the Gondorian. “See you later, Beregond?”
“Of course, Al,” Beregond answered, smiling a bit. “I have to put Faenel to a stable, anyway.”
“Great,” Moser said. “And if you want, you can find me at the bar afterwards and bring you up to date with the latest news.”
“I might just take you up on the offer,” Beregond replied, his smile broadening. He waved his hand goodbye and walked away, Faenel still by his side; whereas Ed and Al went ahead to attend to their own business.
However, as they walked toward the building, Al could see that something troubled Ed.
“Brother? What’s wrong?”
Ed put his hands in his pockets and kicked an invisible stone.
“Al? You trust me, right?”
Al cocked his head and regarded Ed in a curious manner. “Of course I do. Why?”
The teen alchemist sighed. “Because I’m going to do something that will make me hate myself by tomorrow.”
Al’s eyes widened at that. “What are you planning to do?”
Ed said nothing. He just walked up to the desk and asked the officer for his watch.
Beregond looked at the crowd that had accumulated at the small make-shift canteen. It didn’t take him long to locate Moser and, surprisingly enough, Havoc was at the same table as well, conversing with the major.
“Hey,” Moser said, beckoning Beregond to sit down. “You’ve actually made it.”
“It took me a while till I found a good spot to place Faenel in,” Beregond explained. He smiled in Havoc’s direction. “But it seems you already have company.”
“The major was more than kind enough to give me news from East City,” Havoc said. “It looks like things became boring ever since our gang moved to Central.”
Moser laughed. “I’m only saying what my boss said, nothing more.”
“Your boss?” Beregond asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Oh, that’s right. I’ll have to tell my news from the beginning,” Moser said. “I’m working for Lieutenant General Grumman now.”
Beregond sat up. He remembered Riza mentioning the name before, and he also remembered that Grumman was Colonel Mustang’s mentor.
He smiled inwardly as he realized that the Colonel was rallying even more allies around him.
“So is the Lieutenant General here, too?” he asked.
“No. He’s still in East City, keeping an eye on things there,” Moser answered with a small smile. “Both outside and inside the military.”
Beregond looked at the major curiously. If he didn’t know better, Moser sounded as though…
Moser nodded and leaned closer.
“I didn’t know much at first, mind you. I just realized something was strange when they didn’t use my own research on alchemy-enhancing stones, and yet somehow managed to come up with some stones of their own. Then I’ve heard about Dr. Marcoh’s research, and that one seemed to be more than just suspicious, considering that the Crystal Alchemist was more specialized in the Philosopher’s Stone. And, when I started working under Lieutenant General Grumman, I’ve started discovering more and more interesting things.”
“Let me guess…” Beregond said. “Havoc filled you into the rest.” It certainly explained the second lieutenant’s presence there.
“That sounds about right,” Havoc said, a big grin tugged on his features. However, his mirth died down and he looked at Beregond quite seriously. “Are you ready for tonight?”
Beregond stiffed at that. “You know about that?”
“I know enough,” Havoc said. “I’ll drive you close to Liore.”
“I see,” Beregond said. “I’m glad it’s going to be you.”
And yet, he couldn’t bring himself to be really happy. That was something that didn’t escape Havoc’s attention.
“What’s the matter? Don’t tell me you’re getting cold feet?” He asked, regarding the Gondorian closely.
“Nothing like that,” Beregond replied. He sighed and rested his back against his seat once more. “Edward suspects something.”
Havoc sighed and shook his head. “I’d be more surprised if he didn’t suspect anything,” he said.
“Perhaps,” Beregond said. “But that’s not the problem.”
“Then what is?” Moser asked curiously.
“Knowing Edward, he will demand explanations sooner or later,” the Gondorian answered.
“So?” Havoc said, letting out a puff of smoke from his lips. “You can tell him Mustang handed you a mission, but you aren’t allowed to say what kind of mission.”
Beregond winced. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
The coolness of the night replaced the unrelenting heat of day. The military camp was quiet now, for most of the soldiers retired to their tents in order to catch a few hours of sleep. Fires lit in various places of the camp so that the soldiers that were still up and about could enjoy the coziness of the flames. So, none of the soldiers seemed to notice the tall figure that walked under the cover of darkness.
Beregond checked his surroundings once more, holding tightly the small bundle in his arms. He had to see to a mission, after all, and in that bundle was the Liorite outfit he would use to enter the city. Once he made sure that none of the guards saw him, he walked up to the jeep that was parked a few meters away, far enough from any prying Amestrian eyes.
It didn’t take Beregond long to locate the jeep in the darkness. Used to seeing in darkness after many long night patrols back in his days as a Captain of Emyn Arnen, detecting the metal sheen of the automobile was mere child’s play. And it was even easier to see next to the jeep the tiny speck of a red light, surely the end of a burning cigarette.
“You’d better put out that light, Havoc. I can see it a mile from here,” Beregond declared.
“Don’t worry about it, we’re too far away,” Havoc said. Nevertheless, Beregond saw the speck of light falling on the ground and getting extinguished underneath the sole of a boot. Moments later, Beregond spotted the lieutenant himself, resting his back against the trunk of the jeep.
“Did you have any problems?” the Gondorian asked, standing now in front of Havoc.
“None whatsoever,” Havoc answered, the last remnants of smoke dispersing from around him. “How about you?”
Beregond shook his head.
“But there’s still something troubling you,” Havoc said, regarding Beregond closely; he had obviously noticed his friend’s unquiet. “Did the boys give you any hard time before you left?”
“That’s just it. I haven’t seen them since this morning,” Beregond said. He looked at his surroundings again. “I suppose they wanted to be on their own for a while.”
“That’s right, we wanted to be on our own… so we could spy on you.”
Beregond and Havoc turned in the direction of the voice, shocked to see that it was indeed Edward.
“Chief? What are you doing here?” Havoc asked incredulously.
“Funny, I was just about to ask you the very same thing,” Ed said, his amber-coloured gaze practically piercing the two men through. “So… care to answer?”
Beregond sighed, a wan smile tugging on his lips. “I knew it was only a matter of time before you figured things out, but I didn’t expect it so soon. What gave me away?”
Ed shook his head. “You’re too honest, Beregond. I realized you were hiding something from the moment you stepped out of Mustang’s office. When you asked about Liore back on the train, I made the connection.”
“I see,” Beregond said quietly. He turned to Havoc. “Can you wait five minutes?”
“Go ahead,” Havoc said. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Beregond nodded his thanks and then beckoned Ed to walk with him, cringing inwardly to see the boy’s expression revealing nothing. Ed simply looked ahead, keeping his hands in his pockets.
Beregond pointed at a small cluster of rocks nearby. “This looks like a good enough spot,” he said. He sat on one of the rocks and waited patiently for Ed to do the same thing.
Ed sat cross-legged on the rock across Beregond, locking his gaze on the man. “Well?”
Beregond heaved another rueful sigh. “Edward, I’m sorry. You have every right to be angry, but, please, you have to understand. I had strict orders from Colonel Mustang not to tell you anything.”
“I still don’t see why he should send you to Liore,” Ed said.
“He wanted to protect you.”
“I can take care of myself!” Ed exclaimed indignantly. “I have taken care of myself and Al since our mother died!”
“You misunderstand me,” Beregond said. “He wants to protect you from other than physical injuries.”
Ed clenched his jaw. “I’m still not some dumb kid to be pampered. I’m not afraid!”
“If you go, you will be.”
“And you won’t?” Ed snapped.
“I’ve been in that state of fear before,” the Gondorian replied. He rubbed his forehead in a weary manner and stood up. “Edward, I realize that you fight to make things right. But, after all this time, I think you should finally make this our fight.” He started heading back to Havoc, but he stopped right at Ed’s side and placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “I’m on your side, Edward. I always have been and I always will be. You know that.”
Ed bowed his head, averting his gaze. “I know.”
Beregond smiled in relief. “Good.”
But the Gondorian barely took a couple of steps forward when he heard Ed stand up and say:
“That’s why I can’t let you do this.”
Beregond turned around in numbing confusion, but it was too late. Ed clapped his hands and placed them on the ground. Before Beregond had the chance to react, a giant fist of sand emerged and hit Beregond squarely on the chest. The Gondorian was thrown a good couple of feet away and ended up head-first on a rock. He didn’t even shout in pain at the impact. He simply fell on the ground, slipping into unconsciousness with a small moan.
Ed quickly rushed at the prone form to examine Beregond’s head. There was a large cut at the back of the man’s head, and it was bleeding.
The boy didn’t waste any time. He tore his red overcoat and made some make-shift bandages out of it.
“I’m sorry,” Ed whispered as he still tended the wound. “I didn’t want this.”
He looked at the Gondorian’s features, relieved to see that there was a healthy colour clinging on his cheeks. Beregond would be fine, even though it was a certainty he would have a splitting headache when he came around once more. The least Ed could do was make sure Beregond lay comfortably on the ground before rushing to the jeep with Beregond’s bundle in his arms.
Just as he expected, Havoc was also knocked out, a similar set of bandages wrapped around his head.
“Al?” Ed said softly, looking around for any sign of the suit of armour.
“Right here, Brother,” Al said, appearing out of the shadows. He wrung his hands nervously, an expression of guilt clearly visible in his red eyes. “Did we have to do that?” he asked, nodding in the lieutenant’s direction.
“It’s not that we had any choice,” Ed said. “If Dante is in Liore like we suspect, Beregond would walk right into her trap.”
“What about us, Brother? Dante is after us too,” Al pointed out.
“We know what she looks like. That makes us better prepared,” Ed replied. “Now hurry up, we have to go to Liore before we’re discovered.”
“But how are we to do that, Ed? We can’t just go on foot!”
“Who said anything about going on foot?” the teen alchemist said indignantly. “We have our means of transportation right here.”
Al didn’t understand what kind of transportation Ed was talking about, until he realized his brother was approaching the jeep. If the suit of armour could pale, he would do just that right there and then.
“What?! Are you serious?!” he exclaimed in shock. “You don’t even know how to drive!”
“Oh, relax, Al,” Ed said, waving his head dismissively. “How difficult can it be?”
Ed found that out as soon as both brothers settled in the jeep and he started the engine. The automobile made a leaping motion when a clumsy metal foot let go of the clutch too soon, and then it zigzagged forward as the teen alchemist grasped the steering-wheel.
“Brother, maybe we should--” Al started lamely.
“No, I’ve got it,” Ed said, switching gears at random. “The pedals are just a bit too far away for me.”
“Don’t you mean you’re too short to reach them?” Al noted wryly.
“NO, I DON’T!” Ed’s roar filled the quiet night air.
The jeep simply moved forward in hiccoughs and swerves, resembling a sort of drunken animal.
Beregond tried to lift his head, a motion that he regretted immediately. His temple was currently throbbing painfully and his ears were ringing with white noise. He couldn’t understand at first why he should feel that bad, but his memories soon caught up with him.
“Amman, Edward?” (Why, Edward?) he mused softly, as though the teen alchemist was there to answer him. But Beregond knew all too well that it wasn’t so and he couldn’t afford to wonder why and how. He had to get up.
He pushed himself back on his feet, wincing inwardly as a wave of nausea washed through him. Nevertheless, he gritted his teeth and moved forward, until he came across Havoc’s unconscious form. He knelt down at the lieutenant’s side.
“Havoc,” he said. When Beregond didn’t get an answer, he shook his friend by the shoulder. “Havoc!”
Finally, Havoc stirred. “Aw, mom… five more minutes…”
“Wake up!”
Havoc instantly sat up at that command, his eyes wide in surprise.
“Wha--? Ow!” He groaned and grasped his head with both hands. “What the hell happened?” he asked, looking at Beregond and hoping the Gondorian would explain matters to him.
“Edward and Alphonse happened,” Beregond answered wryly. “They had some objections as to our mission.”
Havoc swore under his breath. “We have to tell the Colonel.”
“You do that,” Beregond said, standing up once more. “I’ll go after them.” He hardly turned on his heel, however, when the world around him span.
“Whoa, hold on there!” Havoc said, scrambling back on his feet in order to catch the Gondorian. “You’re not going anywhere before a doctor checks your head.”
“But Edward and Alphonse…” Beregond started.
“Ed and Al have taken the jeep,” Havoc replied. “You would never be able to catch them on foot even if you weren’t hurt.”
Beregond hated to admit it, but Havoc was right. So, he followed his friend towards the camp, albeit reluctantly, while one thought crossed his mind.
You’d better stay out of trouble, Edward.
Ed ran his hand through his dark wig discreetly, making sure that it was in place, and then pulled the sleeves of his Liorite shirt down so that it covered his metal arm. He sat quietly on a chair of a small canteen, avoiding any eye-contact with any of the people that were near him. Though no one had seen through his disguise just yet, he didn’t wish to take any chances either. That was why he had asked Al to stay out of sight at the city’s borders. It had been more than a year since Ed had come to Liore, but people would certainly recognize a giant suit of armour nonetheless.
“I see. You were driven away from the city because of that priest, huh?” the owner of the canteen said, addressing Ed. “Well, Father Cornello was a villain if you ask me. He promised us wealth and immortality through his so-called miracles, and now look what it got us into. Everybody’s living in fear and the soldiers are killing us in sight.”
Ed nodded, although he wasn’t really paying attention to what the man was telling him. After all, he could see the results of Father Cornello’s exposure for himself as he looked at his surroundings. Filth and scattered debris replaced the tall, white buildings, whereas the strong, healthy citizens were practically emaciated.
Ed couldn’t help but feel guilty at the sight. He was sure he had done the right thing by revealing Father Cornello’s lies. Now, however, he wondered if he should have left things just the way they were. Now the Liorites had to pay the consequences of one overly ambitious man’s actions.
“By the way…” the man at the canteen said, regarding Ed closely. “Do I know you from somewhere?”
Ed winced. “Um… no, I don’t think so,” he answered quickly, hoping that his voice sounded steady.
The man raised an eyebrow, probably contemplating whether he should take Ed’s word for that or not. Just then, however, a voice sounded in the air.
“It’s the Holy Mother!”
The man gasped, almost dropping the glass he was cleaning. “Hey, kid, you’re in luck!” he said. “You will get to see Her!”
“Her?” Ed asked before he could help it.
“The Holy Mother,” the man answered. “She was chosen so that we could fight against Cornello and all his loyal servants, for She was one of the first to see through their deceit. I tell you, if there’s anyone who knows how to guide us at this time, it’s Her.”
Ed turned around so that the man wouldn’t hear him snort softly. It looked like the Liorites hadn’t changed at all this past year, wishing to turn to anyone who presented themselves as God’s messenger instead of standing on their two feet and move forward.
The sound of chanting reached Ed’s ears and the teen alchemist lifted his gaze to see a procession of women, clad in white robes. Ed watched the bystanders bow and knit their hands together in religious respect and clenched his jaw. That sort of display left him quite miffed, but he knew better than showing such a thing. So, he let the wig cover his eyes so no one would notice his frowning expression.
It was just as well, for no one noticed the look of shock that crossed his features when he saw just who was the one leading the procession, carrying a baby in her arms. For there was no mistake the long brown hair and the dark pink bangs.
“Rose…”
Though Beregond and Havoc knew that the news of Ed entering Liore was meant for Roy’s ears only, their bandaged injuries gave them away at once. And so, Roy and the rest of the unit could do nothing when the news of a State Alchemist missing spread like wildfire and the soldiers started talking agitatedly amongst themselves. Others said that the Liorites kidnapped the teen alchemist for ransom, others said that they grabbed him to use him as hostage, and others that they meant to execute him in retaliation.
Just when the stories became so exaggerated and frightening that the soldiers reached to a state of panic, the Führer appeared with his secretary at his side. Bradley stood proudly on a small pedestal so that everyone could hear him, his good eye almost piercing every soldier that was around and thus silencing them.
“Gentlemen,” he said, his voice loud and clear, “It seems that the Liorites have proved themselves to be far more ruthless and cold-blooded than they would have us believe. While we’ve been trying to bring order and peace in this region once more, they had the nerve to abduct a soldier, a mere child, from under our very noses. They ungratefully mocked our authority, and they’ve also shown how little respect they have for the life of another person.” He crossed his hands behind his back, making himself look taller if that were possible. “I was hoping we would solve this matter peacefully, but now they have left us with no choice. Gentlemen, you’d better be prepared; we leave at dawn. We’ll find those weeds of discord and dispose the world of them once and for all.”
As cheers and shouts of affirmation echoed through the camp, Breda found the opportunity to lean close to Roy and whisper: “So it begins.”
Roy nodded his agreement, his hands clenching into fists.
“Damn it, Ed…” he said under his breath, “you have no idea what you’ve done.”
The rest of the unit winced at those words. They cared about Ed, there was no question about it. But now the boy’s lack of faith in the judgement of others resulted in a big mistake. Havoc turned to Beregond, wanting to see how the Gondorian was holding after this unwelcome turn of events.
His eyes widened in shock when he saw that Beregond was gone.
Oh no. Havoc understood what that meant and he didn’t like it one bit.
“Colonel… I think we have another problem.”
Sure enough, at the other side of the camp and before any of the other soldiers could stop him, the Gondorian climbed on Faenel and rode off at top speed to the direction of Liore. The cloak that he grabbed and placed on his shoulders to cover his military attire bristled wildly in the wind.
TBC…
Subtitles
- Brother's Debt
- Fullmetal Body, Fullmetal Heart
- A Quiet Day
- In The Night
- Two Men's Faces
- Transfer
- Making Plans
- Shadows Of The Past
- Underworld
- The Price Of Immortality
- Departure
- The Key
- Enemy Revealed
- A Step Back
- A Step Closer To The Truth
- A Race
- Rush Valley
- Responsibility
- Izumi
- Time To Stand Still
- Wild Child
- Encounter
- Riddles In The Dark
- In Search For Answers
- A Teacher's Mistakes
- Complications
- Visits
- The Nature Of A Homunculus
- Dante Of The Deep Forest
- Kidnapped
- Fight At The Devil's Nest
- Innocence Lost
- Blood Spilt
- Recovering
- Bearers Of Ill News
- The Flame Alchemist
- True Colours
- Markings On The Ground
- The Mission
- Heading To Liore
- Change Of Plans
- The Scar
- Holy Mother
- A Mother's Face
- Final Moments