ISERLOHNN

Once again Mustang handed the gold disk over to Edward who proceeded to pass it along to his brother. Alphonse examined it carefully. He recalled seeing something similar to it in a text he had been studying on communication Alchemy. Since they had phones and a reliable postal network there was no real need for people to correspond via Alchemy. The research in this area died off when technology rendered it virtually obsolete. However, since it was related to scrying, some of the elements involved in it were still in use to a small degree. And Alphonse knew what he was looking at because his latest project with Edward had involved the creation of Scrying Arrays.

“There are elements in this disk that are on our Scrying Array,” Alphonse said as he passed the Disk to Tenshi, who studied it intently. “That is some very old Alchemy.”

“I know. Wait until you see what happens when it gets charged up,” Edward said. “Its amazing. Makes you wonder why people stopped using communication arrays. I’ve seen a lot but never anything like this.”

“It’s beautiful,” Tenshi commented as he passed the disk to Dr. Ferguson. “I never knew Alchemy could be used to send messages.”

“A lot of people don’t know that,” Mustang told him. “It’s a lost art and much of the books on that subject have also gone by the wayside. I think the library at Iserlohnn might be one of the few places left that actually has information on communication Alchemy.”

“I’d like to see that library,” Edward said thoughtfully. “They might have some information on the Philosopher’s Stone. Another way to create it. A way that doesn’t involve….using people as sacrifices.”

Dr. Seris Ferguson examined the disk for a long moment before returning it to the Colonel. She knew a little about Alchemy. She had studied the art in secret and could create and work a basic transmutation circle. However, because her family had disapproved of Alchemy and feared those who practiced it, Seris was forbidden to study it. So she never had any formal training and what she learned was completely self-taught. She found she could use Alchemy to augment what she did using her own conventional medical knowledge. Some of what she did was borderline human transmutation, which she knew was forbidden. However, if her actions resulted in lives being saved she didn’t care if the power she used was a forbidden one. To preserve life at all costs was part of the oath she took when she became a doctor and that oath above all governed her life. It was because she would never take a life that, even though she wore the uniform of a State Surgeon, she carried no weapon. She preferred diplomacy to force and, so far, her skills in that area had served her well.

“How does that disk work exactly?” Doctor Ferguson asked the Colonel.

“I’ll show you,” Mustang said and he placed the disk on the small table before the sofa.

The group gathered around and, when everyone was in position to see and hear, the Colonel charged the circle. The image of the young woman of Iserlohnn appeared and once again she gave forth her plea for help in that calm collected tone. Everyone saw the fear in her eyes as she spoke and the more obvious terror when it seemed she had been discovered while creating the message.

When the image winked out Alphonse asked, “You are sending us to help her, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I am. The four of you will be going to Iserlohnn on the next train,” the Colonel told them. “Fullmetal, you’ll be the lead on this one.”

Edward nodded tightly. Doctor Ferguson looked surprised. She turned to Mustang asking, “Colonel, are you sure about this?”

Mustang met her gaze stating, “Edward has been in the field for four years. He’s more than capable of leading this mission Doctor.”

Before she could make any objections, Mustang continued, “The budget for missions like this has been cut so you’ll have to be frugal. However, the exchange rate is good right now. The woolong is stronger than the cenns so you should be able to do all right on what you will be getting.”

“And if all else fails I can pick up a few extra woolongs if I can get into a floating game of Hold ‘Em,” Edward remarked.

“Fleecing the locals is NOT a part of your job description, Edward,” the Colonel told him. “You’ll make do on what I give you. NO gambling, understood?”

Edward shrugged. “Whatever.”

Tenshi’s wide innocent eyes turned to Mustang as he asked, “What happened to the money the Furher’s office sent for travel expenses? Sezeka said he was very generous. Did it all go to pay for that party I saw you at the other night?”

“Party?” Edward accused. “What party?”

“There were a lot of pretty girls there,” Tenshi said and then aside to Edward added, “And I am sure the Colonel did not go home alone!”

“He never does,” Edward added low and aside back to Tenshi.

Mustang glared at Tenshi. “That was a State function,” he said icily ending all talk on that subject. “You will manage on what you are given, Mister Hikaru.”

“We can be frugal Colonel,” Tenshi assured him. “Besides we are not going there to live it up. We have a mission!”

Mustang smiled like a hungry wolf at the pretty Alchemist. That was one package he would not mind unwrapping. Edward was fun but Tenshi was definitely uncharted territory. And he would love the chance to go exploring…!

The Colonel dragged his thoughts back to the task at hand and said, “Exactly. And you don’t have a lot of time to prepare for this one. Your train leaves in two hours so I suggest you get packing. Iserlohnn is a day’s travel by train, which means you’ll be getting there early tomorrow morning.”

“Great,” muttered Edward. “My ass is getting sore just THINKING about sitting on a train that long!”

Tenshi giggled and whispered in Edward ear, “Good thing it isn’t sore already, if you know what I mean!”

Edward rolled his eyes and made no comment. Alphonse approached the two boys saying, “Two hours isn’t much time, Ed. We have a lot to do to get ready!”

“I know,” Edward agreed. “We’ll have to split up if we’re going to make that train. Al, can you go back to the dorms and get my travel case and gather the notes I had on the scrying circles I left on the bed? I’m going to put together some portable reference materials we can use on the fly if needed. I’ve got a good chunk of it already sitting half done in my office. I’m going to finish up what I can and do the rest while we’re en route.”

“Okay, but do you think we’ll need all that?”

“Better too much than too little, Al,” Edward told him. “This is KIMBLEY we’re up against. Who knows what traps he has waiting for us.”

“I’ll meet you at the train station then,” Alphonse told him.

Edward nodded in agreement and then focused his gaze on Tenshi. The Lightning Alchemist looked nervous. He had heard the stories about Kimbley. He looked up at Edward expectantly and asked, “What do you want me to do?”

Edward put a hand on his shoulder saying, “Just get what you’ll need for the trip. You can help me work on putting together a quick guide to scrying circles while we’re on the train. It’ll help us pass the time.”

“Okay Edo-Sempai,” Tenshi said smiling slightly.

Edward grinned. “Well, you wanted a field assignment. Now you got your wish.”

Tenshi was excited about the chance to prove himself in the field but he was also a little nervous about it too. He wanted to do a good job so Edward would be proud of him and the Colonel would give him more assignments. “Sempai, do you want me to help you here first?” Tenshi asked.

“Thanks, but no. I can manage. Just get what you need and if there is anything from your studies you need help with bring it along. I’ll work with you, okay?”

Tenshi smiled and nodded. Edward had been his mentor since he came to Central two months ago and in that time the little Alchemist had proven to be as gifted as he was adorable. He had a lot of raw talent but his training had been cut short by the sudden death of his Sensei, a man who had developed a way to merge alchemy with Auto-mail. His Sensei had been able to forge replacement eyes and ears for people who had lost them through accident or war. Tenshi had not only received his Auto-mail limbs from this man but his eyes were also a creation of his former Master. No one looking into those bright lilac eyes would realize they were as metallic as the boy’s limbs. Tenshi had just barely learned how to master his control of the weather when thieves killed his Sensei. With no place to go and no one to turn to for help, he made his way to Central doing whatever he needed to in order to survive. The last thing his Sensei had told him before his untimely death was that Tenshi’s only hope of ever finding his missing brother would be to become a State Alchemist and use the access he would get to vast military database to track him down. It was for this reason and this reason alone Tenshi came to Central, befriended Edward Elric and became his student, and worked hard and long to learn enough to pass examination to become a State Alchemist.

Passing the exam was only the beginning, now the real work began. Tenshi knew he would have to do well on this field assignment to justify everyone’s faith in him. He knew Edward was pleased with his progress. Tenshi had fond memories of the first time he ever got a ringing endorsement from Edward Elric. It had been when Tenshi nearly sent him on a one-way trip to the East office via a twister Edward had gotten sucked into during one of their practice bouts. He thought he had killed Edward, since when the twister dropped him he wasn’t moving, but when Tenshi got to him he saw Edward was not only alive but also happy and laughing!

“Edo-Sempai, are you all right?” Tenshi asked flustered and not sure what to do for Edward, who was lying flat on his back seemingly unable to move.

Edward forced himself to sit up. Everything hurt but it was a good hurt. He reached out and clasped Tenshi’s shoulder saying, “You are ready to take the State test. And you proved to me I was the right person to be your Sempai.”

“I did?”

“Yes!” Edward stated grinning that wild eyed shit-eating grin of his. “You kicked my ass, Kohai! There is no better compliment a student can give his teacher than that!”

Tenshi glomped Edward making his Sempai groan in pain but he couldn’t help himself. He had made his Sempai proud and that was the greatest feeling in the world.

Even though he had passed his exam, Tenshi stayed on as Edward’s Kohai. Fullmetal was as tough on him as the old man had been but unlike the old man Edward had a way of making learning Alchemy enjoyable. Studying with Edward had been hard work – he had had a lot to master in order to be ready for the rigors of the State Alchemist Exam – but it had also been fun. Edward had been the first person in along time to be kind to Tenshi and be a friend who didn’t expect anything other than friendship in return. After his Master died, Tenshi had suffered through a series of false friendships with people who used him for his Alchemy, his looks or both. Now that he had found what true friendship was he wasn’t about to do anything to ruin it.

As Tenshi was leaving to do as his Sempai requested, Edward said, “After you gather your things, hook up with Al. You can go together to meet me at the train.”

Tenshi nodded his understanding and quickly left the office.

Edward approached the Colonel and asked, “Do you have our tickets and travel vouchers?”

Mustang nodded and handed the documents over to Edward saying, “Be careful, Ed. Kimbley could have that whole city rigged to go if somebody sneezes in a way he doesn’t like.”

“I know,” Edward replied taking the folder from the Colonel. “I’ve faced him before. I know what he’s capable of. I’ll be careful.”

Mustang nodded and Edward gave a quick bow and departed leaving the Colonel alone with Dr. Ferguson. She was about to speak when Mustang put up his hand stopping her short.

“Your objections to having a sixteen year old in charge of this mission have been noted,” Mustang told her. “But I want you to understand something. When it comes to Edward Elric, age is irrelevant. But I think that is just something you’ll have to see for yourself.”

“But he IS just a boy!”

“Edward Elric stopped being “just a boy” the day he got this,” Mustang said holding up the State Alchemist pocket watch. When the Doctor made no reply, Mustang added, “You have less than two hours to meet your train. I suggest you gather what you think you’ll need and get to the station on time.”

Series Ferguson didn’t know what to think. If the Colonel had this much faith in Edward, then he must be something special. Mustang wasn’t known for being complimentary to anyone that didn’t earn it. Sighing heavily, she decided she would follow the Colonel’s suggestion and see for herself what sort of man Edward Elric was
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More to come...stay tuned!