Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Homunculi gone wrong? ❯ Prologue ( Chapter 1 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Prologue

King Bradley looked at the stack of papers on his desk wondering if he could sneak out again to avoid it. Unfortunately Juliet walked in making sure he stayed put.

“Don’t think about it sir. We need those signed today, and I’m not doing it.” She said calmly.

“That and we need to figure out what we’re going to do about Yashiro’s little project. He’s destroyed five so far. But this is the latest we’ve gotten from him.” She handed over a file. “This was almost leaked to the Intelligence branch. I figured you wouldn’t want Hughes giving it over to Flame until we knew what we were going to do.” She said calmly.

“He managed to pull it off?” Bradley glanced over the papers carefully. “Jordan’s sending information to us late. This is six months old.”

“I have a feeling that he wanted to play with it first. There’s a picture enclosed sir, and you know how he and Jan are when they are given free reign over situations...” She glanced at the door, relaxing when it was just Wrath entering. The boy sat in a chair watching the two of them.

“He should still have enough of the materials around. Send Fullmetal to get the project. It might help put it at ease.”

“Sir, you sure you want to send him? We could get Lust to go do it.”

“No, we want her to feel like she’s safe here. Lust would be a little too over eager to just drop her off here.” He looked at the photo that had come with the file. A small young woman was kneeling holding a small girl in her arms. The younger girl looked like she had been beaten.

“Guess the boss went a little over board here. The older one’s Ritsuko, the brat’s who we got to keep her in line. Figured you wouldn’t want her too banged up.” Was written on the back of the photo in a woman‘s handwriting.

“Tell him directly, we don’t want him to take Flame or his little party out.” Bradley looked at Juliet. “Though send someone to shadow him. If Jordan gets in the way kill him. I thought that he would have some self control. Have Jan brought in. I have a feeling she’s mostly at fault for this. You know how she likes to play with people.”

“Yes sir.” Juliet turned to Wrath then shook her head. She wasn’t going to send him out just yet.


Elsewhere
Six months ago


Eric Yashiro looked at the figure lying in the center of the transmutation circle. She was dressed in a simple white dress, her long dark hair laid out around her. The man next to him stayed quiet dressed in the robes of a priest.

“If she’s like the others...”

“She won’t be. I did everything right. Just like when I created you Rem. She’s not going to turn like the others did. She can’t turn.” Eric said as he walked into the circle. He saw two marks on her wrists, both looked like the Oruboros that Rem himself had hidden on his inner thigh. “Two marks?”

“How...”

Rem walked over to him, stopping just outside the ring. The girl’s eyes fluttered open, soft blue eyes looked first at Eric, then at Rem.

“Sir, you should stay back.” Rem said drawing a knife just in case.

The girl saw the blade and moved placing herself between Eric and Rem. “Don’t harm him.” She begged softly.

Rem blinked stepping back.

“It’s okay, he was just trying to protect me.” Eric smiled placing his hands on her shoulders. “It’s okay, you’re not in danger here.”

She turned to him and nodded lowering her head a little.

“I guess we found out what controls her.” Rem said smiling as he slid the knife away. “Lady, do you know your name?”

“I know what I am called, but I wish another name..” She looked at Rem. Blue eyes met silver.

“Ritsuko,” Eric said pulling her close. Father Rem, you will be able to forge the documents right?”

“Of course.” He nodded. “They’ll think she’s from out of the country, but it should be safe enough to deal with the documents. Dr Yashiro, is there something wrong?”

“The military will be coming for my ‘project’ soon. I want you to take her out of here. I will let them take the research, but I want her to have a chance to live like you have.”

“I understand sir. I’ll do my best to keep her safe.”

“No, I wish to stay. Please, if I don’t bad things will happen to you. I can feel it.” She turned looking at the older man. “Don’t send me away, please.”

Rem grabbed her arm. “If we don’t leave they’ll do bad things to you. Many of the children in the village nearby have disappeared lately. When we have found them they have been killed after being tortured. You’re the size of a child.”

She bit her lip. “I... I understand.”



Outside eight men and one woman leaned against the fence. The woman smiled faintly.

“Boss, you sure that that was a transmutation he just did? Because we’ve seen five other lights like that, and nothing’s happened.”

“He knows we’re here. I think you left enough clues to that Jan.” The oldest of the men said as he chewed on a grass stalk. “Besides, he knows that if he doesn’t hand over everything, we’ll do the same to everyone else in the village. He knows that we would too.”

“Then should we get going boss?” She gave a small grin as a few locks of blond hair fell into gray eyes.

Jordan nodded letting her start for the house. The others left to go back to the house they were using as a base camp.



Rem heard the door explode inwards and pulled Ritsuko back against the wall covering her mouth. She leaned against him.

“Ritsu, if we get separated do all that you can to stay alive, I’ll get you out okay?” He whispered. /There’s no way she can fight. She wasn’t made to. And I don’t think that Eric would like her fighting. Better I get my hands bloody than to let her be tarnished./ He thought pulling her down the hall. She followed keeping quiet as a large beast ran past them.

/What in the.../ She watched it a moment and bit her lip not wanting to ask what was going on. /Better not to know.../ She thought hearing Eric scream out in pain. “Let go.”

“No, I can’t let you get caught, they’ll torture you if I do.”

Ritsuko struggled to break free and found she couldn’t. Rem got her out of the lab, running right into a wall of spikes.

“Rem!” She screamed as a woman walked up to her. The woman smiled.

“So this is Eric’s new pet. I always knew he had a soft spot for children.”

“Who are you?” She asked backing up against the wall where Rem hung. The spikes faded back to the wall dropping the preacher to the ground with a sickening thud. She knelt by him. “Rem... Rem please...”

Jan stepped back as the girl started glowing a faint blue at first. /It is a girl, Homunculi can’t use Alchemy.../ She thought preparing to defend herself against the girl if needed.

The glow started to shift from Ritsuko to Rem, his wounds starting to mend. Jan watched as the girl’s eyes closed and she fell forward seeming to black out.

/What in the world... Seems we have a real toy on our hands. Jordan’s going to love this./ She walked over to the girl and picked her up, flinging her over her shoulder.

“Got the prize Boss, you deal with his watch dog?”

“And Eric himself.” Jordan looked at the girls as Jan walked into the main room.

“You’re going to love this.”

“I bet I will.” Cold eyes washed over the smaller woman’s frame. “How’d he know I like ‘em small?”