MISSION: The End of Father

[Murazar Dauthi]

{OOC: I'm just going to put the thread in his abode for now since thats where we're going to end up, for now the briggs team is still in the helicopter and approaching central within minutes}

Murazar was shaking with excitement, his body quivered he could barely contain a grin on his face. Despite that, his whole body was covered in various kinds of armor. He even had a steel plated face shield that only let his eyes see through. It fit well as an attachment to his helmet, the color scheme of his steel mixed with kevlar was a camo mean't specifically for urban warfare. The sniper rifle in his hand was a fifty-calibur anti-material rifle that was modified illegally off of the military's hardware. Half the stuff he was wearing and carrying was more illegal than beating up homeless people for a living for a mob lord.

He tipped the mask upward so he could see somewhat better and adjusted his gloves. The maniacal grin on his face and his shivering body seemed to suggest he was feeling better, however he really wasn't any better than when he just woke up the half day or so before. He checked the sights of his sniper rifle and pulled the bolt back just to make sure it wasnt loaded. After all it still didn't have a clip in it, you'd have to be a complete idiot to carry a loaded weapon in a helicopter before it was going to land. Too many damn accidents with other mercenaries or soldiers who forgot common sense. Guess i'm still paranoid about more than just life, helicopter safety protocol goes for it too.

He let the bolt slam back into the reciever making a load crack sound that reverberated for a moment or two in the helicopter. Despite each one of them wearing earmuff looking things that were communications recievers and senders. Before they left he made sure that everyone got a small ear reciever/sender that was going to be used once they exited the helicopter and regrouped with dai's team which was in two other helicopters that acted as their 'escort'. He spoke over the radio transmitters frequency to the team, " Want to go over the plan Reila? Or is everyone ready as they'll ever be?" He personally was just waiting for the damn flying bird to land and open the doors, he just wanted to flip the mask down, turn his HUD and IFF systems on his mask which would help him fight, and load his sniper rifle and head out. His personal forty-five calibur pistols were slung around his ribs in holsters, they weren't loaded either but at least he had pistols.

[Reila Tsukino]

Reila was so busy staring out the window that she barely heard Mura's voice over the receiver. He was obviously excited. She didn't blame him. But to hear the plan again amused her. She moved her speaker closer to her dry lips. "I believe everyone is sick of hearing my voice," She laughed, followed by various others who found what she said amusing. She was sweating even though it was freezing inside the helicopter. Her nerves were protesting. Reila glanced over to Dai who sat beside her, but quickly looked away and back out the window at the scenery she found so breath taking. "You all know what to do. And we will succeed. Father is one being and regardless of how powerful he is, he still can die. Briggs is one of the strongest forces in the world, we've weathered the coldest blizzards and the harshest battles. This time, we'll make sure he can't come back." She declared in a powerful voice and it boomed over the headsets they all wore. Cheers erupted through the system and the lieutenant general smiled to herself.

She was wearing a chain mail skirt that probably weighed more than she did with white skintight shorts underneath. Up top, she adorned a long-sleeved, white dress shirt under a tight-fitting metal corset. Her hair was pulled up in a high ponytail with an elaborate head plate tied around her forehead. It seemed Reila was fitting the role Mura gave her of kensei. She looked more ready for battle than ever before.

[Dai]

Unlike the rest of the team, Dai had his headphones switched to one channel, and one channel only. The Captain of his 56-strong Alchemical Elite. He didn't care about all this talking, he'd heard the messages before. Right now, he was simply watching out the window, watching the countryside go beneath them. He closed his eyes, and sighed, before turning back to Reila, whom he'd noticed turn away from his gaze quickly and suddenly. He smiled softly, and then made a note to check all of his gears - a note which he went through with on the spot.

His usual trenchcoat covered his body - falling heavily over his features. Beneath it, he wore interestingly thin clothing, considering that they were about to enter somewhat of a firefight... But that said, he was confident in his own abilities - confident enough to know that his own Alchemy would protect him for attacks pretty damn well. He hoped. Ah well, no turning back now.

His left hand went into one of the pockets in his trenchcoat, and began to slide their way around the little red stone that sat within. He sighed again - he really didn't want to have to bring it, but it was probably the best idea, and in Briggs' best interest. His hand moved out again, and up to his earpiece. Time to make himself known.

"Alright boys, we're gonna be going in fast and hard. We want Father dead BEFORE the Central forces get back, alright? Not after... Because then we're fucked. Up the ass. Without lube. Alright? Good." As usual, the unanimous shout of 'Oorah!' filled his ears. He laughed to himself, and looked out the window again, watching the ground move by, changing from the snowy plains of the North, and beginning to change to more grassy area. They'd be at Central City very soon.

And he was glad Reila hadn't heard what he'd said to his men... He hoped.

[Guest]

His teeth grit furiously as heavy footsteps echoed down the small, unstable staircase. His eyes a dark, steely blue as he roughly slashed open the door to the abandoned tunnel with his precious katana blade and kicked the rest out of the way in his fury. He didn't want to risk it anymore. It was one thing when he knew Tsune was safe from Father's affairs and he was off brooding in the north, but his hidden fury crossed his patience line when he met the male again. Not to mention the boy blurted out his name without any remorse, so if word had gotten to father, Tsune was in big trouble.

As far as he was concerned, Father was going to die before that ever happened.

Switching his eye-patch over to hide his human eye, the man grew a very deep scowl as he opened said eye and easily fended off the attacks of the man's chimera, slicing them up with his blade as he walked. He ignored the immense detail his eye picked up as he kept all senses sharp and quieted his footsteps.

'He's going to die this time, not just lie dormant in the fucking ground! I don't care if he kills me in the progress, as long as he comes too!' The man thought darkly as he finally stopped at the end of the chimera tunnel and looked back to see all of the remaining chimera now as fresh corpses. He switched the patch back over so he didn't register all of the gory details before he flipped the black hood off of his head and scowled even deeper, if possible.

"I can't wait to feel the life of that bastard slip through my fingers alone, it'd give me a little satisfaction after 4 years or trouble."

[Guest]

A slight growl escaped the lips of the homunculus known as Wrath, who was sitting in the heli across from the one who had originally identified him - Xanthus. He moved in his seat a little, and looked out of the window. Amazingly, he wasn't wearing his usual white suit - no, he was wearing a battle-suit reminiscent of the one that the Wrath of 100 years ago had worn. It was necessary, especially considering what they were about to do. He sighed, and adjusted the daisho sword pair that hung off of his hips to a good drawing angle, and moved his eyepatch ever so slightly. He had a bad feeling about this.

I don't know what it is... But I get the idea that somebody's gonna crash this party. No, it's just me, right? He looked out over the landscape, and then turned back to Xanthus, speaking into the mic.

"So, why'd ya do it? How come you're betraying the man you've called your leader for so long? Is there anything to it other than revenge? I may be known as Wrath the Furious, but I still know when to show sympathy..." He smiled, and leaned back. Father was his kill, his problem and his curse.

I can't wait to feel the life of that bastard slip through my fingers alone, it'd give me a little satisfaction after all this trouble...

{OOC - just putting 'Davi and Meno in the same boat. xDD}

[Xan]

Xanthus Icarus had spent quite a bit of the helicopter ride in a state of semi-meditation, concentrating upon the task at hand, mulling over if he had made the right choice involving Briggs...no, he had definitely made the right choice. Of all the people he would have wanted to fight alongside at this crucial moment in history, Briggs was at the top of the list.

He was dressed in the uniform of a State Alchemist, ironic given his current situation. It was colored black, and had the shiny new Col. insignia upon it, also a reminder of just how funny fate tended to be around the Alchemist.

When the new Wrath asked his question, Xanthus sighed heavily, as though under the weight of a tremendous burden. Why was he betraying Father? It was quite a question to ask. After all, Father had given Xanthus virtually all that he had ever wanted: Power, money, influence...however, he had failed to provide that which Xanthus had most desperately sought for so long a time.

I am going to aid in this battle because Justice demands it. And when this battle is over, I'm going to disappear for a while...These people...this small alliance of ours...they fight for their country, you fight for your own purposes...but me? I have no banner to follow, I have no goal, I have no purpose. After this battle, I'm going to find that purpose, even if I must die in the attempt. Hmm...now that I think about it, I take back my first few words. I don't fight strictly because of Justice. I fight because this war...gives me purpose. Now, prepare yourself Wrath the Furious, he who wields the Ultimate Eye. I imagine that Father will not be pleased when he discovers you're treachery.

[Murazar Dauthi]

Murazar was feeling his body, his energy and self slowly. Ever so slowly slipping away, he flipped the steel mask back on after reilas speech and activated a self-diagnostic system that checked all his faculties. It registered several bodily functions being disturbed. His brain being one of them, He turned his transmitting comm. off so when he spoke no one, but him would hear. He had to do it for voice command functions. "Problem Assessment." A small voice spoke to him from the vocal receptors on his mask. " Simple assessment, a coma was broken out of prior to now. Now it is returning, no possible ways to halt it. It must be done and gotten out of."

He spoke again, this time his voice more on edge. " Slow it down as much as possible, starting now. " He paused a moment before asking, almost hesistating." Estimated time frame until I return to my coma." The voice replied with the usual subservient tone, it sounded like a womans voice. " Estimated time frame before addition of slow down, Two-six-zero minutes at the current pace. Time frame now, is eight-four-zero minutes at the current pace. Warning, The more stress your body is place with. The faster the time frame becomes." He nodded to himself silently, he was now morbid. He had, if he just sat around half a day. More likely if he paced himself he could pass out back into his coma.

It was time to effect a change into his life, something different. He needed away from briggs, he needed something new once he woke and could begin his life again. He needed a different battlefield, new allies and enemies. Etcetera. He looked around for a moment before establishing a private communication link with xanthus. He spoke into his comm, his voice calm, quiet, and icy. The ice in his tone wasn't directed at xanthus, but at himself. " I have an offer to make you, but first I need to let you know something. Dont tell anyone, but I checked a self-diagnostic. I'm going to fall back into my coma today, most likely during or after the battle with father. I want you to pick me up after I wake from it. I want to journey with you once I wake and send you the message. Is that a good enough deal, Xanthus?"

He kept the depression out of his voice, and his face was completely masked so any facial expression were completely unreadable. He didn't even look over to xanthus, this sort of deal would piss Reila off, it definitely would piss Houka off. He didn't know about anyone else, but he needed to leave. He was becoming far too close to them. He had to push away, stay away. He couldn't accept being friends with people who had far too much of a chance of dying and him being the cause of it. Xanthus was going to leave, and when he woke from his next nap. If xanthus would let him, he could journey with him. He needed to become stronger, find life in himself, and whether he knew it or not. He needed to forgive himself, it was something he couldn't do.

He heard the helicopter warrant officer say something about them preparing to land, he readied his clips to insert in the weapons and planned out his normal manuevers to take off the seat belt, the helicopters comm, insert ammunition, and burst out of the helicopter. Considering he was the first person at the end he'd be one of the first people out and at the guard. He prepared for the movement as the helicopter landed and he, within seconds. Removed all the uneccessary things and and armed up, he was outside the helicopter and crouched. His rifle wasn't aimed anywhere, but his eyes searched. He was prepared for anything, ambushs could happen. Whether from father guessing what was going to happen, or from insurgents. It had happened before and would happen again.

[Guest]

Navy eyes narrowed as he stopped just outside the hideout's entrance. He unconsciously clutched the necklace around his neck for reassurance that he would make it out with his memories -despite his 100/1 doubts of that- before he roughly kicked open the door and entered, long-since giving up on 'stealth' as he had a mission to for-fill.

However, he still stiffened in panic when he heard that voice, despite his claims of just being cold.

"Menotis, my son, is that you?" He heard the voice say as the man's hand suddenly gripped Mugen's handle tightly, waiting for the man to continue. Of course he was bloody peeved, the jerk replaced him after less then half a year!! Who wouldn't be peeved? He quickly switched over his patch to release his 'good' eye as he spoke again, "I can feel Wrath within me, so don't be so quiet Menotis."

Suddenly a thought hit him and he smirked, quickly withdrawing his mugen and pointing it at the back of the man's head with a very sadistic grin, "Che, looks like you are getting senile after all, old bat." "You--?!"

The grin widened more if possible as the open eye glared with fury. "Yes, pops, me, back from the grave to haunt your ass!"

///0.o Davs' has taken on some of Jayden's speaking it seems.....///

[Guest]

As soon as the helicopter touched down, Meno was off like a shot, and ran straight towards where he knew that Father's lair was. He didn't need to be given any orders... Father was his prey.

The low-light levels were... disorienting... at best, but Menoitos knew where to go. As much as he hated to admit it... He could sense the old bastard somewhere in the building. He sprinted, not tiring, not losing his own sense of direction, before coming across a strange scene. Someone... was staring at Father too? Who was... It hit his heart with a rage. That was the previous Wrath, wasn't it?

He felt too familiar to be true. Too much like Menoitos. That was it. He had to take that obstacle down before he could face Father.

"You!"

"Menoitos? My child? You've returned... to face punishment..."

But he couldn't hear any of those words... He only had eyes and ears for the other "man" that stood before him. He reached out with his arm, and sent a back-handed punch towards his face, before stepping back and drawing both of his blades, left eye narrowed in fierce anger, right eye at the ready.

"And who... would you happen to be?"

[Reila Tsukino]

Reila blushed and looked away, busying herself with watching the glorious patches of green fly by below. That would hurt... She cringed inwardly. Even with lube. Now...Dai speaking vulgar language like that? Impossible! Since when?! "Ne Dai...? Are you okay?" She inquired lightly, flitting her soft eyes back and forth from the glass to his face. Something was wrong. Not just with him, but with everyone. Was it nerves? She knew one thing and one thing only: she wouldn't let it get to her. No way. Suddenly her eyes widened ever so slightly and she bit hard into her lip, almost drawing blood. It seemed things were only getting more complicated, but she wouldn't say a word about it, not a word.

The helicopter landed and Reila was off of it in a split second. She wasn't stealthy about it at all, instead, she raised her tachi the sky with an evil smirk, turning to her troops as they flooded from their transports. "Stick with the plan." She motioned for Dai's troop to go ahead of her and then she took off after them, running through the secret side door she had found out about through Spade. The heavy metal thing swung open with a sneering creak. ...It led to total darkness. The men whipped out their florescent flashlights and trudged inside, their pace only decreasing slightly. After them, the gatling guns were rolled in along with masses of ammunition and extra weaponry.

Once they reached the sewer system, a putrid aroma wafted through the enclosed space. Reila wanted to throw up, but swallowed it instead. What on earth happened here...? There were a bunch of dead chimerae lining the walls... and blood. There was blood everywhere. She felt her head reel and she lost her balance, falling into the dank wall. Shit. She clutched the slippery rocks, and pulled herself back upright. As the flickering light of flashlights blew by with her men, she realized with bewilderment how alike this scene was to her version of hell. The golden-eyed girl wheeled away from the round sewer wall and collided straight into Dai who had been behind her. His unique scent overcame her senses and his long, red hair covered the blood that had invaded her vision. She panted and shut her eyes, unintentionally burying her face into his chest. That was until she realized what exactly she was doing. She let go of him immediately. "Ah! I'm sorry...the blood--it's just-- ...nothing," She blurted out in her first language. Reila stared into his eyes for a brief moment and then turned and ran.

Blood blurred past her along with bits of flesh, claws, eyes, and whatever else the dead chimera had once possessed. She reached The Door and stopped. Her Briggs forces assembled in formation around her, prepared for anything. "Mura, the door if you will?"

[Xan]

Xanthus Icarus tapped on his arms, where hidden underneath the sleeves of his uniform were two mechanisms attached to his wrist. While he had been present at Briggs, no one had bothered to question why he had not just sent a message to tell Reila about Father. Why take the risk of being shot, captured, interrogated, or killed by either side? Xanthus closed his eyes and the reason popped into his imagination. He saw his own body, covered with various alchemical markings from head to toe, a cestus on each hand, and above those, on his wrists were the wrist mechanisms that were used in his new alchemical techniques. He had returned to Briggs to get the equipment that he had left, as well as finish marking his body with the transmutation circles of his art, which could only be done using a particular book that he had left in his room in Briggs.

The Ishvalan smiled to himself before he heard Mura say to him that he was going to fall back into his coma. Before Xanthus could respond to that, he made an offer than Xanthus could not refuse. The assassin wanted to join the Ishvalan the next time that he headed out.

Sure Mura, that sounds like a plan. The Ishvalan spoke into the comm device on his ear, and used the private connection that Mura had just established.

Soon after, the helicopter touched down, and everyone began to run out. The Ishvalan marveled at the fact that no one showed any fear or hesitation, even in the face of such grim odds. Jumping off of the chopper, Xanthus followed Reila into the sewer, managing (though barely) not to gag at the horrible smell. Reila's reaction to the stench and blood hadn't escaped the notice of Xan, nor had the fact that she hanged on to Daigoro for dear life...even when the feeling seemed to pass.

The Infinity Alchemist shrugged and continued forward, until he reached the Door. He briefly heard Reila call for Mura, then rolled his eyes. As if Mura would be needed for this? Then he changed his mind. Let Mura handle the door...Xanthus needed to be prepared for whatever laid beyond it. Briefly touching a nearby wall, Xanthus caused a spear to rise out of the ground, then focused his transmutation into a different skill. Two human sized statues rose up and saluted. The looked like Xanthus, only they were made of stone and were wielding enormous blades that were longer than they were. He touched the ground again and left his left hand there to use a continuous stream of transmutations that brought the statues into position behind Reila and slightly to the right, with space between them. Xanthus then took his place behind Reila and to the right, with the two statues on either side of him.

[Dai]

As the helos neared the ground, Dai readied himself for a quick disembarking. He sighed to himself, remembering the worried look that Reila had given him - had she heard his chat with his soldiers? He was slightly embarassed by it, he spoke differently to his soldiers that to other people...

With a small grimace, he touched ground, and watched as his team unloaded out of the other helo. He smiled to himself, and motioned for them to follow on...

We need to be in top fighting condition... Menoitos dived out of the heli like man possessed, and sprinted down into the tunnel. Guess that he knew where to go... But Briggs would be cleaning up his mess. He sighed, checked his hair, and walked into the tunnels, following the figure of the General.

Suddenly, a bunch of blonde hair hit him, and he staggered back a foot or so, realising that it was Reila that was in his arms,. He smiled softly, and put her right again with a small whisper of "Hey, hey, I'm here. You don't need to worry, remember?"

As they continued on, the sound of shouts resounded through the tunnel, and once they'd reached the door, Dai was about ready to burst from the waiting.

[Guest]

With ease the blow from the -obviously- second homunculus' fist was blocked with a simple move taught to him in early childhood, before he manuevered his old skills and backflipped a good ten feet, avoiding the other blows in the meantime as he scowled and drew his blade.

"Let me guess, paps, this is my replacement?" Endavi shouted out with a scowl at the man who seemed to be boredly watching the fight, no trace of emotion on him at all, "Loser... Well for your information, old man, the names Endavi and I'm to finish off this asshole in order to keep a certain someone safe!"

"That stupid human boy will do you no good, my son." The man barked out as Endavi's anger flamed as his blade was at the man's neck ready to slice it, as threatening Tsune was threatening him. He hated to be threatened. "'Stupid human boy'? Not all humans are stupid you asshole! I'd do anything to protect Tsune, period, and the only way to do that is to kill you!!" He shouted out in a rage as he raised his precious Mugen high, before bringing it down at a speed only a homunculus cross a martial artist could possess.

He just wanted the bastard gone, it was for Tsune's sake.

[Murazar Dauthi]

He sighed in relief when xanthus agreed to his deal, it settled everything for later. Another reason for him running off was because reila had the gaul to offer to make him legendary! The gaul of that woman! I will make myself a Living Legend! No one makes me what I am, my essence! Only I have that choice!! His adreneline was already bursting into his blood stream and muscle tissue. His mood stayed erratic, jumpy, angry, and extremely excited.

He rolled his eyes when reila freaked out just because of some blood, to prove that he at least didn't care. Or to prove he was even less human at heart than them, he just waded through it without any care in the world. As if he just didn't care if something killed him right then and there, or that his armors' lower regions were getting covered in splattered clotted blood. He picked one up and switched his vision from the mask to night vision. It enhanced the rooms colors and filtered it out to be more greenish, which made it look weird but at the same time easily seen.

He picked one up and barked out a quiet laugh over the open comm system of their team before dropping it back to the ground and crushing its skull with his steel plated boots. He pulled his foot back out the gray matter and continued to move as the point man for the team. Once they reached a door he stopped and shouldered his sniper rifle before attaching a bayonet to it making it look like a spear. He grinned from behind the mask. Now it was time to kill the fuhrer, time to kill father...

Reila quickly asked him to open the door, he frowned for a moment and walking up to it he knocked on it quietly for a moment before saying. " No damn problem." He snapped his fire hands fingers several times, directing small, concise, and yet powerful explosions on all the outside joints. Which were only two very large joints, the other two were on the other side. He then motioned for everyone to stand clear of him before clapping his hands and holding them apart from himself.

A shield of air appeared first, then fire. He was nearly impossible to see before he grinned and simply walked through the door, it melted almost instantly to the fire's touch. He snapped his fingers twice more and the other door hinges exploded right off. The door seemed to fall straight inward, it looked for a moment as if to hit murazar but instead it he simply melted it before it could touch the air part of the shield. He grinned wildly from behind to the mask as he unslung his sniper rifle.



{OOC: Aki and Tenjou, i'd like one of you or both of you to use my character for this battle since i'll be gone. Just have him pass out at the aftermath and he should be fine.}

[Reila Tsukino]

Reila waltzed through the door as if it led into her bedroom. In fact, she took the pleasure of stripping as well. She peeled off her heavy coat and tossed it aside like it was a trash bag on garbage day. Then continued on into the darkness of the large hall as blind as ever, but fearless. After about thirty seconds, her men crept behind her and circled into a large formation situated around the throne in which the silent shadow sat. Reila smirked viciously and whipped her tachi around her, striking it against the cobble stone floor in the process. Sparks flew up and then suddenly all her men around her switched on their flashlights. That was the signal. The entire room was then illuminated and the black retreated into the corners. Reila placed a hand on her hip and stood tall in defiance. So that was what Father looked like... He looked so old... and yet his body didn't have the slightest appearance of age. It creeped her out a little bit. Only a little. Maybe it was a lot...possibly. The long-haired girl shuddered and took a deep breath.

"Do you have any idea what it's like to die?" She asked innocently, approaching the figure with extreme caution. She guessed Mura was right beside her and Xan and Dai just a bit further back. "Me neither. But we can guess, ne? I'm sure you've witnessed pain. ...Or maybe you have gotten rid of that as well?" Her soft voice vanished and dripped with venom now, sounding as if it were drawn out from the bowels of hell. She flipped her sword out and pointed it straight at him. "We will show you."

"Hahaha!" The black shape cackled from his throne. It rose and waddled into the florescent light, raising his arms in the air. All at once, overhead lights beamed down upon all of them. "Let me get a look at you." Accessing beady eyes devoured them and a smirk curled onto emotionless lips. "Welcome to my abode, little girl. I appreciate your offer of death, but I am not in the mood just yet. Come back another day." And with that, he snapped his fingers, eliminating the use of alchemy. "Let's see your attempt."

Reila looked pissed.



[Sorry. I'm done procrastinating and drowning myself with text books. It's time to actually get things started now. Did you all adapt to your hectic school schedules yet? I'm sure once we do, we'll all have more time to invest in our masterpiece here. It fades out when there's too much of it so just make sure you keep coming back, ne? =3]

[Guest]

He has something to protect as well... Menoitos stepped back slightly, still ready with his blades, but now slightly confused. His eyes narrowed, and he spoke, clearly and succinctly.

"I don't know how you feel - but I can see why you fight." He swung one of the blades - the uchigatana over his right shoulder, and spat at the ground.

Will he want to continue fighting? Feh, screw him.

"Fuck this. Father's my prey, not your's. I don't know what he did to you, but he fucked up my chances of a real life!" Menotios shouted, and ran straight for Endavi again, fire burning in the uncovered eye - the flames of desperation.

[Dai]

Daigoro followed Reila into the room, him and his boys standing well back, in case things happened. And they did.

It kinda went like this. Reila confronted Father. Father laughed and clicked his fingers. Dai suddenly felt all strength leave him. His mouth opened slightly. They had no Alchemy. His eyes narrowed, he knew his men would be feeling the same thing he had felt, and he shouted out in anger. They were useless now - or were they? He grinned knowingly. He hadn't made his rank for nothing... Raising his arm in the air, he shouted his command.

"Soldiers! Switch triggers!" They shouted unanimously, and unclipped the Alchemic triggers on their rifles, and pulled a set out of their pockets - clipping them back onto the rifles. These ones worked under the same principles as the Alchemic triggers, except they were modified so that they used batteries.

Nobody should be able to get their hands on my tech... He sighed, and swung his arm down.

"Take aim, FIRE!" His men had, by now, wormed their way in amongst Reila's soldiers, and began firing their fully-automatic rifles on Father. The fact that they were practically plastic rail guns mean that they rarely jammed and ran silent. They fired upon the man, never relenting.

"What? I knew about your men, Ito! How can they be firing on me?" The man shouted out in pain as hundreds and hundreds of bullets began to pierce his flesh, and he realised that it was only about half of the Briggs force. "No!"

Dai grinned, and took his place next to the General.

[Xan]

Xanthus Icarus stepped into the room slowly, as though he were a king stepping into the hallowed halls of his own throne room. His stone guardians followed behind, making no sound except for the thud of their feet hitting the ground as they walked. Just as he crossed the threshold of the door, spotlights activated, revealing everyone present in the room. As was expected from the Ice Queen of Briggs, Reila began to converse with the ageless Homunculus; overwhelmingly confident in her victory even in the face of terrible odds. Though Xanthus admired her for this and desired to listen to the words spoken, he knew that he had other matters to attend to. His guardians thudded to a point just behind the Briggs' soldiers and stopped, but no one paid them any heed. If they had, they might have noticed that their creator had vanished from his position between them. In fact, the Infinity Alchemist had slipped away no sooner than the lights had activated above, using the distraction to silently walk away from the forces of Briggs and the throne of Father...to another throne not overly far away. There he saw a shadowy figure sitting in the throne as though it had been made for him. With a dark smile that even the old Homunculus could have appreciated, Xanthus approached the throne and exchanged a few pleasantries with its occupant.

Returning from the throne to take his place at the rear of the Briggs' forces, Xan stood between his statues again. As expected, no one had even noticed his absence, having been too focused on the performance that Father and Reila were giving them. Xan looked at Father with an emotionless face, but the man did not seem to see him. He had just finished conversing with Reila, and he seemed to think that he had the upper hand. The arrogance of the homunculus was almost pitiable. After he had apparently finished speaking with her, he snapped his fingers. Xanthus had read enough history to know what that snap meant, and he watched as the other alchemists around him temporarily looked as though they had been robbed of something priceless, which in a sense, they had. However, the Ishvallan only smiled. Father had fallen for his plan...the poor, arrogant, foolish bastard.

Xan walked forward as the homunculus started to get peppered by gunfire from Dai's men. His philosopher's stone was working overtime to keep him alive, and at that moment, he was probably quite weak. Xanthus stopped in front of Father and reclined on the weapon he had created earlier. The Homunculus saw him finally, and his eyes widened a little bit in shock as his body was being attacked.

"You?!" He managed to choke out.

Icarus smiled calmly, yet there was a sense of hostility in his smile, and he projected killing intent towards the object of his present malice. Yes, me. Me. Me. Me. Remember me Father? Your oh so trusted Famine? Well, I'm sorry to inform you, but I have arranged for your life to end. And end it shall, right here and right now. See you on the other side my Fuhrer. Or not.

After those words, the Ishvalan simply watched as Dai's men impaled Father's body with what appeared to be hundreds of bullets whilst his body tried to heal itself every five seconds, only to be torn apart again. However, the Ishvallan doubted that the battle would end so swiftly, and he kept on his guard.

[Guest]

Auregese eyes narrowed at his predecessor, before hey swiftly blocked the attack and turned his attention on the attack against the old man's true form, making him hiss with hatred. Hatred for Father, hatred for homunculi and his hatred for humans. The thought brought a certain memory back...

"And what makes alchemists so bad ne?" Tsune asked with a smile as Endavi blushed slightly and slurped up some more of his ramen. When he finished his bite, he elaborated. "It's not alchemists, it's humans... always so troublesome and greedy..."

Tsune pouted cutely at that, well, in Endavi's opinion anyway. "Aw, and what about me?" He asked jokingly as Davi blushed and reluctantly patted him on the head while look away. "Y- You're an exception I guess."

Snapping himself away from the memory of their last day together before his 'death', Endavi bundled his fists together and, while dodging a second blow from the second Wrath, he grit his teeth as he raced towards father, a thought running through his head that quoted something in a book he once read in the depths of Central library (Courtesy of Tsune).

"...Father attack Greed then plunge his hand into him, absorbing the homunculus and leaving only Ling behind..."

'Greed is found in everyone, even homunculi!' He internally shouted as he dove inbetween father and the bullets, suddenly reflecting them with lightning speed as he felt the old man approach from behind. When he felt a hand lightly on his shoulder, he fought the urge to slit his throat then and there. He had a plan to rid himself of Wrath and Father once and for all. Even if it meant sacrificing his memories.

"That's a good boy Wrath, you make me proud." He said in a dark tone that make Endavi want to choke, so to calm himself he simply stated, "Wrath'll do you much better if you took him back, Father."

He heard the man hum in agreement as Endavi glimpsed at the alchemic circle on his arm. It was only a basic circle, but from a nice six months of research since dying, he learnt enough to know, combined with what he did know already, how to shock Father's philosopher's stone. The first and last time he'd use alchemy, he supposed.

[Guest]

As the soldiers fired upon Father, a small glint of silver flashed from a nearby hiding place. A low whistle exhaled into the air, and Hild Schwartz simply watched the action from afar, waiting for her chance. She'd found out his secret already, and had made sure that Spade had taken every man to fend off Aerugo, so that Briggs could get in and attack the bastard with ease. She smiled softly, and leaned back against the wall.

Where's Aurel? Was the thought that was running through her head at that time, and she looked around her person, for the brother that she had assumed was still standing next to her.

"Aurel... Aurel?" The girl whispered, as she timidly walked through the flashing darkness, and towards a place where she'd heard some noises. She held her trident tightly, and peered through a window, seeing the two men standing there in some form of a stand-off. She blinked, her one remaining eye staring innocently at the fray. She then turned and saw the man standing/sitting next to her and her hands covered her mouth in shock.

"F-Fuhrer?" Her voice was barely a whisper. What was he doing here? And who was being decimated with bullets behind her? Was... was one of them a fake?

[Aurelius Schwartz]

This was a meeting, but not just a simple meeting; it was the last encounter the Fuhrer, or should he say Father, would ever have. They sat across the large expanse of the lair facing each other in darkness as Father always liked it. Although Aurelius held no position of power, his sister did. However, they both knew Hild had only gained her place thanks to her brother's sly backing. Brother. Like this, they sat in silence, absorbing the words that had been previously exchanged. Meanwhile, as his back sunk into the Fuhrer's chair, Aurel was very aware that an assembled crew of assassins from Fort Briggs were coming to bang on the door for Father's death...just as he had planned.

The door burst open to the resounding of inhuman feet, falling away as if made from straw. Perfect. Aurel caught the outline of Father's head turning to see who had broken in. This moment--this very moment would be his last. The figure simply crossed his legs, a cocky, look simmering into powerful, golden eyes. In that caress of surprise, darkness piled upon the darkness, a trident unfolding from Aurel's hands, thrusting towards Father in an arc of endearment. No sound occurred, but the shrouding of a hole so vast...it was capable of breaking time itself. I saved you, his mind whispered, knowing all the while that there was only one man left alive who knew of this deed, sought after to ensure alchemy still remained--to control the balance of The World and of the very definition of a homunculus. Stretched out before Father now was nothing seen nor heard, but the deed ripped from him everything that he had ever counted on. Slithering from his consciousness was a power so heavy, Aurel's nails dug into the throne's armrest until they bled. His teeth clenched as raw power was sapped from his own transcended body and shot deviously into the void.

When next he spoke, Father was already a shell, a consciousness who was unaware that the trident beside him had left Aurelius' hands--ignorant that his own definition had been sent to a time where there would be eight sins instead of seven. That was yet to be enacted, but faith was vested in Xanthus Icarus. "Menoitis, my son, is that you?" It was all Aurel could do to keep his laughter from leaving his throat, confident that the right amount of energy had sent Father's powers two years and some months into the future: April 2012. An exchange began between two Wraths and an illusion of the mortal body of their maker. He listened vaguely, focused intensely on the door. There wasn't much time. His own soul--being--consciousness was ripping from his body, darkness festering at his fingertips as the door to that time remained open. But sure enough, bombs threw another door inward, blasting through all locks. A sword glazed the rocky wall, lighting up a burst of sparks that then tunneled an array of flashlights from all her men. That figure there was Reila Tsukino, a woman that Hild had told him about. Aurel felt a coy smirk, knowing his Ishvallan was among them as the rumble of stone bodies came to a stop. The man stole away, coming up alongside where Aurel just barely hung on, red and blue eyes narrowed in pain.

"You must become Pride. April 20th" he managed out in wisps of voice as he faded, "2012. We'll meet again there. " Xan vanished as quick as he came, returning once more to his place among the throngs of Briggs Brigade. On his last threads of consciousness, Aurel let himself slip away, hearing Hild's voice for the last time yet hardly caring. He knew full well that her dreams would be answered.

"F-Fuhrer?" He was mistaken for Father in his last moments, consciousness flushed down into the void of his own creation in time for the bursting on of the overheard lights. No longer himself, he was someone else entirely, holding only recollect of the master plan and the desire to obtain those essential to it.

# # #

Aurel cackled from his place on the throne. He rose to his feet, multicolored eyes catching the light from the fluorescence above. He brushed himself off, and switched off the alchemy used to display a false illusion of Father a few inches away from where he sat. At first, he wondered why his nails were bloodied, but found the touch of stinging to be a means of clarity. Smirking viciously to himself, he rose to his feet and strut nearer to the two Wraths now without the false Father that spoke back with pre-recordings he had asked Hild to make.

"How sad. You can't even tell the difference between what is real and what is made up." His words dripped from his lips, resonating an arrogance that was always backed up. "It's too late now." Aurel flipped out a device from his coat pocket and slammed a finger down on the singular button. Suddenly the entire room shook, and large metal bars slammed down from ceiling to floor. "You're trapped."

Aurelius tossed the useless plastic away and it skidded across the stone into the corner. Brushing long raven hair from his face, he approached his younger sister with ease. "Now, watch as your wish is granted." He smirked and sat back down on the throne, laughing evilly to himself. His plan seemed to be going smoothly as always. All that had to happen now was that Briggs finish off the old man. Then everything else would sort itself out perfectly with Hild as Fuhrer. It was only a matter of time... "Oh, by all means...continue fighting please."

[Reila Tsukino]

Reila didn't really know what to feel. As she watched the old man writhe from the bullets, she started to bite her lip. Somehow it just didn't feel right. There was something wrong. This was too easy. Vaguely, she heard Dai order his men. Briefly, she saw Mura loading bullets into their enemy. Where was Xan? She turned her head to look, but just as she did, something connected into her side and she flew to the ground. Black ebbed at the sides of her vision, cutting out vital images. Staggering back to her feet, she glanced around wildly, strawberry blond hair flying out in desperation. That was when she saw a huge wall of rock shaped like a hand. "Right, go for the leader," She spat under her breath, touching her side. But when she did, her equilibrium flipped upside down from the pain. Shitshitshitshit! Her nervous golden eyes glanced around at everyone, hoping that no one noticed the damage that was done. It didn't seem like anyone was watching her; they were too focused on the rampaging old man who was shooting out rock hands like rabbits in spring. Disgusted, she turned away, brushing her fingertips lightly over her right side, freezing it in its entirety. Ice would hold it long enough right? She ventured to wonder how many ribs were broken exactly, but shrugged off the thought. There were more important things right now. She had to finish this.

The room was shaking...and the various hands weren't doing it. Her eyes wandered to the area shrouded in darkness and she blinked confusedly when a gate-like thing fell to the ground. What was the purpose of that? It didn't matter. She could feel it now...Father's alchemy canceler was weakening with each bullet! Reila began swinging her tachi with such speed that the blade itself seemed to disappear. She took a deep breath and whistled a clear pitch until enough air moved into the vortex she was creating. Instantly, a tornado of extreme fortitude formed in the room, whipping up the rock hands and destroying them. Next, she placed her finger tips over her sword and froze it completely. Slicing through the wind, she froze the water within the tornado. Tiny, sharp, ice crystals pelted through the thundering tornado, slicing anything in its path. Exhausted, Reila stood back and watched as it tore through the ground towards Father. He didn't look happy. "Shine."

"GOD DAMMIT!" He howled, thrusting his hands into the air, but it was too late. The tornado overtook him, tearing through his body. But he did not die! He was reborn again and yet again, but the tornado kept eating at him. Soon, he was barely regenerating in time before his flesh was torn from him again.

Reila was watching Xan. "Finish him!" She called after him, a deep fire shining through her bright eyes.

[Remember they're going to think he's dead, but he's not going to be]

[Xan]

Xanthus looked at the man on the throne with one eyebrow raised. Aurelius sure knew how to make an entrance didn't he? And what's more, he had apparently come and set a trap in the throne room! The Ishvalan made a mental note to talk to Aurelius about exactly how entertaining the prospect of trapping people in a throne room was, but something else caught his attention right before he could finish.

The Infinity Alchemist watched in horror as Reila went down, running to her just in time for him to see her form a twister underground and fell it with ice spikes. Although he was impressed, Xanthus shook his head. There was a possibility of internal bleeding and she wanted to fight?!

Xanthus threw a kunai on the ground next to Reila and pressed his hand to it. Four others rose from the ground, while a relatively deep ring appeared around the Lt. General. Xanthus winked at Reila as he poured the necessary energy into the circle. He then rose without looking at her again; instead he looked towards Father...and his eyes were dark with fury. Wordlessly, he lifted his left hand, then plunged it towards the ground. For one second, nothing happened...then stone hands appeared from the walls and crushed Father between them. However, Xanthus was hardly finished with the homunculus. Keeping his hands pressed to the ground, he caused spikes appear on the ceiling, then caused a hand to erupt from the ground that went THROUGH the first two hands and impaled Father on the spikes protruding from the ceiling. Then, as a last touch, Xanthus opened a hole in the floor made from the materials used to create the hands and spikes, and made the spikes launch into the hole, taking Father with them. Of course, this caused a huge pile of rocks to cascade into the hole, sealing the bastard inside. The Ishvalan rose and inspected his work, deeming it to be satisfactory...for now.

"No one touches Reila without suffering the wrath of Famine. Rest in peace Father...or rather, rest in dismay Homunculus.

[Reila Tsukino]

Reila was more than surprised when she saw Xan throw a kunai at her. Was he--?! It hit the ground at her feet. She heaved a sigh of relief and mentally smacked herself. Idiot. Xan wasn't going to betray her again. Instead, he was using alkahestry to help her. Stupid. Smiling slightly, Reila's eyes shifted to Father and she let her tachi slide out of her fingertips. Before she realized it, she was on her knees, clutching her sides and breathing heavily. Damn stone hands. They should all just-- Apparently Xan was giving Father a taste of his own medicine. "Hahah--!!" Damn it hurt to laugh. She fell over sideways, trying to hold the laughter back. So now Father was impaled and buried alive? Did that mean he was dead? She smirked secretly to herself, and crawled from Xan's healing circle to inspect the hole in the cold floor. There were more important things than herself right now. She would sit quietly in the circle later. Her men had all ceased fire in the fray of her tornado, and now stood around the hole with her, their weapons pointed. Mura stood somewhat back as if waiting for Father to burst from it. But Reila was doubtful. Who could survive that?

[Dai]

Father was clambering out of the ground, digging himself out already. What the Hell was he? His eyes narrowed, and Daigoro stood back, preparing for the worst. Yet he also felt his strength return - which meant Alchemy was back on, and back in business.

And he was the first to feel it. A strange... pull. Dai grimaced, and turned to speak to the General.

"Reila..." His feet began to slide along the earth, and towards the desiccated body of Father. He bean to grunt, and turned around, trying to drag himself out of the grip of the energy. What was it...? He checked over his body, seeing the red glow. His eyes opened in shock, and he suddenly knew it. Father was dragging him in. His eyes went down, he knew that he was done. But he was gonna take that sonuvabitch with him. He raised his right arm, and then his left.

Starting slowly, he began to click his fingers a number of times, building up static electricity. He grinned, and put the gloved hand onto his right automail arm. He sneered quietly, and spat. This was gonna fucking hurt... He was moving faster and faster, and suddenly found himself right next to Father. It was time... He brought his arm back, and shoved it into the bastard's face. His eyes narrowed, and his left arm raised into the sky.

"Fuck. You." He clicked his left hand once more, activating the explosive Alchemy in his right arm. With a grimace, he watched the arm explode, from the shoulder down to his hand. As it reached his hand, he suddenly flew back, seperated from the Homunculus. He slid across the ground, and looked up at the 'man', who was now screaming out in extreme pain.

His vision was half-blurred, but he was sure that he'd seen Father stumble back. He reached out, trying to use his right arm - before realising that his arm was now gone. Looking down at the empty limb with a depressed look, he looked back up again.


"Re-Reila... Please... Finish him for me..." He had to stay awake, he wasn't going to fall unconscious. Both for his sake, and for the sake of the woman he loved.

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