MISSION: The South

Daigoro first realised that there was something wrong when Reila let herself down from his arms. He blinked, before turning around and, to put it lightly, started glooming. He hadn't noticed them?! Then again, how could he have? With a sigh, he recognised the man that stood between them and Xan. It was the one who was asking directions before... And then Daigoro blinked in realisation. Of course! How could he have not noticed it? They both had ulterior motives... But what was the hooded man's? His eyes narrowed, and he picked up a strangely placed steel pipe off of the ground. He had a weapon. But would he need to use it?

"I... don't know. I think we should trust him. Xan, I mean." Daigoro spoke, not understanding the words that even he himself spoke. "If he didn't want us to take him in... We'd all be dead right about now. And besides," He looked down at his blood-stained hands, "I think there's been enough fighting now. We came to the South to restore it, and we ended up destroying it. I believe that... well," He shot a look towards Reila. "We may even have a way of restoring South City to something reminiscent of it, at least faster, if anything. And then, once that's over, we can get people onto doing the complete job." He laughed softly.

"I don't care about RIOTE. If Xan wants to give up on them, then we shall hunt the remainder down and hang them for treason." He wasn't entirely sure of the speech he was giving, but he'd already started, so what reason was there to stop? But, looking at everyone's expressions, he decided that... it might be the best idea to stop now. He looked down, and simply said one word.

"Skatá." His eyes narrowed, and he looked back up at everyone else, expecting a negative reply.

Reila watched with shock as fire sprung through the air at the red-eyed alchemist known as Xanthus. She momentarily turned from her line of attack to stare at the scene unfolding in front of her. Was this right...? No, that wasn't how she really wanted it. Without realizing it, she dropped her sword, her hands flying half way to her mouth. No, this was no time to be surprised. This was her fault; she had given the suggestion out of anger, blinded by her feelings of betrayal. Now... she had to overcome it. The air around her suddenly grew cold. As she exhaled, her breath flowed out like vanquished clouds. Ice formed in small crystals of collected water molecules and collided with the fire that feasted on the air. They turned back into water almost simultaneously from the heat, but froze again and again until only water vapor rose from where the flames once were. Only a few rain drops cascaded to the dry pavement below and vanish beneath the earth.

A large wall grew before the departed flame, but Reila hadn't noticed that another burst of heat had thrust against it. As it exploded, she shielded her face and took a few steps back, squinting through the smoke and rubble. Why were they doing this...? Reila's eyes jerked to the side when she realized Xan wasn't where she thought he was. Suddenly the man was at Houka's side, his hand mere inches from her abdomen. God dammit. Reila didn't hesitate this time, she lunged at Houka and carefully pushed her away from that hand she knew could bring death swiftly. Fierce golden eyes beheld her previous second in command with warnings of all kinds. As she listened to Xan's words, she bent down cautiously and grabbed her sword that was painted with dried blood. No one else was dying today. She would not allow it.

While Ilona approached, she directed her attention back to the hooded man. She placed her movable arm on her hip in adherence. "First of all what did you ever do to help me?" She asked angrily, "And second, saying that this is the exact moment you'd strike indicates that you aren't on my side." She paced around closer to him, assessing his reaction and preparing for the worst. "Third, I am always prepared. Who do you think I am?!" She turned from him with a glare and directed it back at Xan where cannons were being erected by both sides. She sighed, feeling even more light-headed. How much longer were they going to act like children?

Once the cannons turned to powder, Reila stepped in between everyone with a scowl on her face. She listened to Dai's speech considerately while blood flowed down her arm like small rivers and pooled at her feet. The smell was making her sick, but she stood firm, steeling herself against how dizzy she was becoming. In a dark voice, the brigadier general gave her final decision. "No, we can't trust him." She closed her eyes and sighed, recomposing herself and meeting the white-haired man's eyes directly. "Not completely. I will personally see to it that you are not shot at, stabbed, or injured in any way on your way to the old police station. For now, it's serving as a temporary holding place until everything is sorted out." Reila raised a hand to her head and shut her eyes from the pain that was finally seeping into her. When she felt consciousness leaving her, she forced them open, trying to renew her clarity. Then she said in a soft voice, filled with a sorrowful emotion, "...maybe I can even get you transferred to Briggs..."

Reila turned from Xan, her attention now on Ilona. "Harbinger, would you please escort him to the free cell in the police station? Never take your eyes off him for a moment. Houka, show them the way ...and take him with you." She motioned at the hooded man she didn't trust. "It wouldn't hurt to question him...severely. And Dai," She turned to him with a sweet smile, trying to gauge how he felt, "could you..." She was about to say protect Xan from bullets when suddenly her vision went black and she felt her world begin to fade into nothingness. She grasped at it, desperately trying to finish her sentence. She collapsed, attempting to breathe, but it hitched. Still, before everything was lost to her, Reila pushed out her final command in a weakening voice. "Dai...the stone..." And then she lost consciousness.

Daigoro's eyes narrowed as everything went on. What the hell - this was getting to be completely horrible. Friend fighting friend. He just wanted to shout out in complete rage. Everything was going bad, nothing would be fixed by this violence. He really wanted to stop everything. Right now. But there was no metal in the area... Which meant he was useless. He went down onto one knee, and grimaced. Hearing everything going on, he stood back up, trying to find some sort of solution to this problem. But his current mental state was changing everything.

Zaska was still on his mind - every little detail of the kill. He couldn't get it out of his head. WHY? Why did it have to be like that? He hit the ground, pounding it with his fist. But then, Reila spoke to him.

/"Dai...the stone..."/ Daigoro blinked at the comment in Aerugese. He blinked, and the girl began to fall. He reacted, unusually fast for someone in his condition. But he didnt have a choice - he had to help her. She fell into him arms, and lay there limply. His eyes went down, and he held her carefully. He hoped the stone was safe, not wanting to try and check. He just had to get Reila out and to someone who could help her. He hooked another arm below her legs, and stood up straight, the Brig Gen in his arms. It was good that Reila was light, he was too weak to do much else than this. He sighed, and looked at everyone that was there.

"Detain him. He needs to be questioned. Just... don't break him." Daigoro knew that he wasn't in much of a place for giving orders, but he was pretty sure that everyone here was tired and ready to go home. He then turned to his fellow Ishvallan.

"Xan... please. Just let them take you in. We don't need any more fighting, and I'm sure they'll be gentle. You shouldn't have hidden this from us, it was a stupid mistake. Just be happy that it's over." He sighed, and turned away.

"We have a temporary cell made up, in case of emergencies like this. Bring him there, prepared for a debrief. Understood?" He nodded, without waiting for a reply, and began to walk off, speaking to the woman in his arms.

"Just hold in there, Reila. It'll be alright." Before he and the Brigadier General walked off into the distance.

{DAI and REILA exit thread}

Spoiler:

Scion stared at Reila. Was she that good? Or was her intuition that superb? Perhaps she could not forgive him because of that emotional display he had seen earlier. Whatever the reason, he wasn't troubled anymore - the events were progressing well, and Scion even tried to immitate a smile on his face... it came out as a forced smile and was more freaky than friendly.
The next moment Ilona cuffed Xanthus and lead him towards the old police station. Scion put on his mask and hood, and followed them. He saw that Xan did not experience fear or stress - he was absolutely calm and seemed like he was in control. Perhaps Scion's own intuition was good enough, that he could recognize an able man when he saw him.

"Tee-hee, nii-san - they don't trust you. What are you going to do with them?"

"You say that as if I was capable of destroying the whole camp myself. No, it seems that my time here is limited." - And the fact that Ilona would remain there with Xanthus was a bit dissapointing. He saw Ilona as a capable persona as well, but she already showed where her loyalties lie. Too bad...

Scion moved through the camp, and to the police station that was luckily beyond the camp. Not too far away, but not too close. He tapped Lilith's hilt and seemed to be in deep thought. The events here could play out better, if it was not for Reila... that Head of Fort Briggs was a real pain. She was not to be underestimated, but Scion was sure - in the end the Stone would be his, one way or the other. Unless Fort Briggs was prepared to make war with Amsteris itself.

The though made his face twist with a horrendous grin, praise the gods no one could see him trying to remember how to make such a face. Perhaps he did have emotions.... but they were twisted beyond recognition.

Houka was unsure what to do when Xan got hold of her, but was glad the man let go of her. His power was renowned unlike her own. She knew how closed she had come to death. She also knew the man could not be trusted and juding by how Scion acted he could also not be trusted or at least not until he proved he could. Then the order to escort them both came.

At the order of Reila Houka nodded and lead the way to the temporary holding cells. Once Xan was imprisoned in one of the cells she looked at Scion. Was she supposed to arrest him as well? She shrugged. She guessed so as she had been ordered to question him. "By order of the Brigadier General you are to be held for questioning Scion." she stated calmly her sword drawn. "I expect you will be out shortly. Please wait in the holding cell. If you don't go in of your own free will I will use force" She looked at Ilona. "If either of them make a move disable, but do not kill them."

Xanthus Icarus looked up at Reila in surprise. It had not been her words; Xan hadn’t been paying attention to a word that she said. But it was the way that she had said that last words that had been directed at him. She had sounded almost sorrowful. Now why did she sound like that? Before Xan could even ask, the Brigadier General fainted, making his expression go from surprise to shock. His body flinched, and he knew that the movement would have turned into a very fast run to check Reila’s vital signs and make sure that she was okay if he hadn’t stopped it. Instead, he composed himself, bringing back his nonchalant, in control face. Dai caught the Brigadier General in mid fall, an impressive feat for someone in his shoes at the moment.

Then, a few seconds later, Dai gave orders to detain but not break Xan. This made the Ishvallan chuckle. As if anyone here had the power to do that. Xan’s chuckle was about to become a laugh when Dai spoke again, this time in Ishvallan. The words that he spoke caused Xan to stop laughing and just look at Dai with an emotionless expression. Before he could even make a comment to say back to Dai, the other Ishvallan had already walked away with Reila in his arms…

Xanthus apparently was not just going to get to walk himself to the holding cells. Ilona had tackled him from behind and handcuffed him, but he actually didn’t care all that much. He had let her do both things. Honestly, there was one split second where he debated on putting his hand on her while she was in mid tackle, resulting in her sudden demise, but he decided against it. His expression remained the same even as he was tackled and Ilona threatened him. Neutral, calm and nonchalant. As far as he was concerned, he still had complete control of the situation, even with handcuffs on a gun on his head.

He had up until this point forgotten all about the man because of the fast pace of things, but now he saw that the man had been arrested and was now being held captive by Houka. Xan made a quick mental note about the exact specifics of who was in this military camp. The list was not in the military’s favor. ‘Hmm…’ The Ishvallan briefly wondered whether or not the hooded stranger who had also been arrested understood Ishvallan.

At some point in the next few minutes Xan had been placed in a holding cell to await some misguided form of justice. Xan laughed to himself. Not because he was in a cell, nor because he thought that the military’s sense of justice was funny, but because the idiots who had put him here had only bound his hands with handcuffs, which weren’t that hard to break out of. Placing one hand on a wall behind him and to the left of his back, Xan made a foot long spike that broke through the chain of the handcuffs unbinding his hands. He then proceeded to destroy the handcuffs on his wrists with his alchemy. Xan briefly debated on whether or not to break out of the cell, but then he remembered that it was his idea to even be in one in the first place. Sitting down on the bed in the cell, Xan waited for some kind of sign that Scion had arrived in the police station. The Ishvallan wanted a word with the hooded man.

Scion was led into the cellroom where Xanthus had alredy awaited. The door behind him closed, leaving Ilona and Houka outside. From this angle it was hard to see, but Scion noticed the handcuffs on his "roomate's" hands had vanished. All was coming together nicely. Scion sat on a bed opposed to his new aquaintance and looked at him. He saw as Daigoro spoke to this man in Ishvallan and could see that he understood it by his reaction before. He studied his face for a few seconds and then quietly spoke, so that only Xan could hear him...

Ishvallan: "It seems we are comrades in this... unfortunate situation. And I must apologise for my actions on the battlefiled - I was simply protecting the Head General and her officer. Alas they threw me here for it..." - Scion took off his mask, but left the hood on, so that Ilona, who was perhaps watching could not see his face, as the bed's head was facing the cell door, - "And as I understand you were an Officer at Fort Briggs as well? My.. condolaces."

Scion watched Xanthus, and waited for his answer. If he could persuade this man.... he would gain a powerfull ally.

Xanthus had to resist a chuckle when he saw that Ilona and Houka had had the nerve to put the hooded man in the same cell as him. Apparently, those two were either underestimating him, or just getting sloppy. In either case, Scion and Xan were in the same cell, and apparently the hooded man was trying to talk to him.

The Ishvallan noticed that Scion was not speaking in Amestrian, and was not really surprised. Of course an agent of the Fuhrer would have had to learn multiple languages, otherwise his usefulness would be diminished in foreign countries. At any rate, Xan replied to Scion in the same language.

Ishvallan: How ironic. I too wanted to protect the Brigadier General and the man carrying her, and she orders me set on fire and thrown in here, although I supposed that I asked to be put in here afterwards anyway. I thought that you were following them for a different reason. Oh well. And as for us being comrades…it looks like you’re right about that. I assume that you’ve noticed that my hands are unbound? I would just break out of here, but I wanted to have a word with you first. Firstly, I’d like to know exactly who you are and what you are doing here. You claimed to be an actual agent of the Fuhrer and used that to reveal my ruse, but why would the Fuhrer send an agent to South City after sending in military forces?

Xan himself was speaking very quietly, even though he was speaking in Ishvallan, which neither Ilona nor Houka should have been able to understand. There was no use taking chances. Only Scion would be able to hear him until he decided otherwise.

Scion nodded slightly at Xanthu's words about being comrades. It seems all did work out well. As the man described his situation Scion did come to a conclusion that this man was judged wrongly. The others did not take into account that perhaps Xanthus had taken a role of a double agent, or simply put there to infiltrate RIOTE. And even if not - with RIOTE destroyed, he had no reason to be with them, and could join the Amestrian Military.

Scion laid his back against the wall and crossed his arms on his chest, as if there was no conversation at all. But he did it simply unconciously - he had such a habbit.
His cellmate was not only capable, but smart as well. He felt that Scion had something to say it seemed, and here they were...
Scion heard the man voice his questions and slightly raised a corner of his lips, intentionally of course, then spoke:

Ishvallan: "I, my friend, am an agent of the Fuhrer himself. A special agent, unlike all the Military forces here - and I am on a secret mission. Alas I cannot tell you the details... yet. As for my name..." - Scion made an intentionall pause, - "Scion Grey, a master swordsman - at your service. You know.... it is actually a pure coincidence, but the Fuhrer requested me to find a Master Alchemist - powerfull enough to join the ranks of his Special Forces. And from where I am standing, I can see you have been betrayed by your comrades, RIOTE is no more... you have nowhere to go, unless you are willing to be an outcast. What I offer here is not purely out of generocity, but..." - a pause again, - "The Fuhrer can give you all you need... money, influence, power. All you have to do is say - yes."

Scion grew silent. All that was left was Xanthu's decision.

Yochi left Ilona in charge and called in the interrogation teams. Interrogation really wasn't her forte. "Get any information you can from them about the events of today and what their true purpose here is." she ordered them then stopped for a moment. "Be careful with them, especially Xanthus, and put them both in the anti-alchemy shackles. We want them alive, but you may use whatever methods you need to get the information." She wanted to talk to Dai about something. She needed to be taught how to lead and what to do in certain situations. Generally, she followed her instincts, but she was a scout and a brawler not a commander. Her instincts generally said: beat the hell out of them and ask questions later. IF she was to be left in charge she would need to be taught how to respond to certain situations.

"I hate being in charge." she grumbled as she headed off to find Daigoro and Reila. If anyone could teach her how to lead it would be those two.

(EXIT)

Somehow Tsune had escaped the grasps of the wild mercenary chasing after him as if he were a antelope. He didn't want to know what would happen when she got her hands on him. Really, he didn't want to hurt her again. It seemed like...her past was so rough seeing as she never gave up trying to kill him. But seriously! If she only opened her eyes she would see that he was obviously not the one who killed her family! Come on!! Tsune sighed and ran a hand through his long silver hair when suddenly a faint sound resonated through his head set. He held it closer to his ear and listened. It seemed the audio system he had set up in the old police station was coming in handy. But who was that other guy Xan was talking to? It frustrated him to no end. Xan, who had once been like a friend, actually betrayed the head of Fort Briggs? It seemed so crazy. At least now RIOTE was diminished... It was one less thing to worry about. The young Alchemist struggled to understand their words, but concluded that it had to be in a different language entirely. He was thankful that he had a recording chip installed in his radio. His head jerked up when he heard the sound of gunfire and then...he sighed ...loudly. It was her again. He moved from his hiding spot and darted off, dodging bullets.

Layus stood there watching the carnage take place. He didn't really do much as the battle ensued, trying to remain silently hidden in the background until unsuspecting soldiers came near him, which he would grab and eat. He lost track of the people he was tracking and decided it would be easier just to eat whoever was in arms reach. But boy did he see some interesting things, apparently the guy with the red hair just exploded right in front of him. Well whatever, at least he had something to eat.

As he munched on one of the soldiers, he couldn't help but notice two people taking two others away. He decided to follow them since they seemed interesting. It led him to some sort of building where the two men, one cloaked and one that looked like an Ishvalan, were ushered inside. He decided to wait outside the building biding his time. All of them looked tasty, but he dared not do anything yet.

Jay finally stopped her gun fire when her minigun ran out of ammo. She then, however, charged at him once more with her katana held out. She found him and swung down hard above the crown of his head, then afterwards, made a sweep for his legs. She wouldn't quit, would she? Oh yeah, and then she unveiled his latest little piece of equipment- A staff with a small cannon on the end. But, said cannon was a miniature particle accelerator and would fire a 500 RAD laser, powerful enough to kill anyone in one shot. She held it out to his chest and prepared to fire...

Ilona yawned and she knew Xan would escape, he wasn't that stupid but she did nothing about it. Nope. In fact, she wasn't going to do anything about it. There will be another time when we can get at him but Ilona was tired and moody and wanted to go home as quickly as possible.
"What a drag.."She said whilst walking outside with a box of cigerettes in hand and light one, blowing the smoke into the stale rotten air. So many thoughts came to mind that transpired these events and she did not care nor did she actually thought about them. Other things in her mind occupied her and the South City incident wasn't one of them. It was just another days job...
Ilona decided to walk further, to avoid the incoming noises and explosions. Now I have to think of an excuse...

[EXIT]

Crraaapp! Tsune ducked under the katana as quickly and precisely as he could. Still, he refused to retaliate against her. When she made a move to trip him, he stumbled, regaining his footing in time to notice a staff pointed at him. He blinked at it in confusion for a moment before he realized that anything this girl held was indeed dangerous. He clapped his hands together with lightning speed and hit the ground with his metal hand, erecting a huge wall of rock in front of him. He dashed to the side and started running once more. Tsune had to get away from her somehow. He hid behind a building, seeing Ilona again briefly before he sprinted inside one of their supplies room. There, he grabbed an Amestris military hat and flipped his hair over to hide beneath it. Casually, he walked out with his hands in his pockets. Now that he was in disguise...he shouldn't be discovered.

[EXIT]

Bwvuuuuu ... BANG! A bright flash of blue flashed as the wall exploded, a wide circle blasted through it. She then ran after Tsune, trying to find him, but, to no avail. She'd lost her target. So, angrily, she headed towards the holding cell building thing, hoping to find Ilona there. Unfortunately, she wasn't there but the person IN said cell was, as well as some guy she didn't know. "Hey, I know you! From that time in the Xerxian Ruins! What'd you do to end up here?" She walked over to stand next to Scion. She turned to him and looked him over. "Hey." He looked sort of military, so she assumed he was an officer of sorts. There were plenty. She also assumed that he was in charge of the prisoner.

Xanthus Icarus leaned against the wall in the holding cell. He was thinking about what Scion had said and about the offer that he had made. The Fuhrer had a secret Spec Ops group? Naturally, Xan had figured as much, but he never thought that he would be invited to join it. And under these circumstances, it just seemed highly ironic. However, there was no doubt that if Xan had bothered to create a list of pros and cons about such an organization, the pros to joining it would have heavily outweighed the cons.

The Ishvallans’ red eyes betrayed nothing that was going on in his mind. For perhaps thirty seconds Xan sat there and had a mental debate. Be an outcast? Hardly. Xan had seen Reila’s attempt to save him from Houka’s flame, and he knew that there was probably still a chance that he would be accepted at Briggs. However, truth be told, he knew that there was more power to be had, more money to be earned, and more influence to be had working for Central than Briggs. ‘Hmm…choices like these amuse me to no end.’

Xan heard Houka summon the interrogation team, and he also heard them approaching rapidly. Apparently it was to be an interrogation of most likely painful proportions. Xan smiled; his decision would have ultimately been reached without the interruption of the interrogation team, but their presence sped things up a bit. The Ishvallan was not about to stay here and get treated like a criminal. Interrogations? If Reila wanted to know something, she could ask him herself!

But before the interrogation team could arrive, Xan heard the footsteps of another person coming from the other direction. And to his surprise, the girl from the Xerxian Ruins popped into his cell. He barely had time to ask what she was doing here when the interrogation team arrived. Xan rolled his eyes, pulled Jay closer to him to make sure that she didn’t get hurt by his alchemy, and then started his escape plan. With a grin, he reached out and touched the wall closest to him, which caused the entrance to the cell to become closed off, leaving him, Scion, and Jay in an enclosed box.

Reaching out his right hand, Xan caused the entire southern wall of the building to crumble and fall toward the south, resulting in the building having an exposed side facing the south. The Alchemist was not finished by far however. He knew that if the soldiers saw him and Scion leaving, they’d try to stop them, and they were probably on their way to stop them right now; the wall falling had created quite a loud crash. Putting his left hand on the ground, Xan pulled off what was probably the one of the most impressive feats of alchemy the soldiers had ever seen. Four walls started to grow around the police station, rising to fifty feet high in five seconds. The walls were so close to the station that without actually leaving the cell, Xan reached out and touched the wall outside with his right hand. A door was created that led to open air, and to Xan’s new future.

By all means, you first Scion Grey. We can take the vehicle that I arrived in. No doubt it’s still where I left it. And as for joining your Special Forces unit…I accept your invitation. I am Xanthus Icarus, the Infinity Alchemist, and from now on, apparently a teammate of yours. Just two questions. Does this unit have a name? And what role will I be playing? Of course, I don’t expect you to answer these questions with this woman right here, but I want those answers as soon as you can tell me. Speaking of said woman…are you coming, or should we leave you here?

When Xan did his alchemy, Jay was slightly surprised. She didn't know that he was an alchemist, but now she did. Hehe, but anyways, She moved instinctively closer in, towards Xan. As he spoke, she listened carefully, wanting to know what he was talking about. "Hey, you can discuss whatever it is you feel like. My job involves confidentiality, so it doesn't matter what it is. Especially since I will be going with you guys." She smiled lightly and waited for a response from them. She really hoped she could get something out of this, and as this was a jailbreak, she might even get paid as a closed-mouth witness. Hehe, she would really enjoy that.

Layus watched as four pillars erupted around the building. "Wow....", he said out loud stupidly. Was this really the work of an alchemist? What an amazing ability to create something so massive out of the earth. He saw a door emerge from one of the walls and ran over to stand next to it. Heh...as soon as that person came out he would attack. One last meal would be enough for now, he thought as he spit the finger bones of his last victim out. Bleach too chewy, it's a shame that all he could grab were guys to eat. He preferred girls, their muscles were softer to chew anyway.

He stood there as the door finished forming, any second now his prey would be walking through it. He'd give him a second to enjoy the fresh air before tearing their limbs to pieces for his snack. As the door opened, he knew his chance was there. He pounced, like a leopard intent on killing it's meal, with his jaws wide open and his hands reaching for the person who was there. All he needed was just one hand on him in order to snap his body like a twig.

Scion waited silently for the man's reply, and it was then when he heard Houka Yochi leave... followed by Ilona-san. He heard her voice in the distance "What a drag.." and the footsteps grew silent. Scion did not show it, but he was actually surprised. They were left all alone? With no surveilance?! It was so luducrous that Scion didn't know what to do.
Then the interrogation squad arrived, ah but not all sense was going into the fires of hell. Then again - it was a little insulting that Fort Briggs deemed Scion and Xan so little a threat.
The next moment a young girl walked into the cell, Scion didn't really understand how, but not that it mattered.

Xan started to preform Alchemy. Not just Alchemy - but truly an awesome feat of Alchemy... it made Scion grip the hilt of his sword "Lilith" tightly, he was a bit nervous - this man was truly powerfull. Of course Scion was sure he was faster, but he didn't know what to excpect from this guy.... but then Scion smiled a little - he made the right choice in choosing the last one.
As Xanthus Icarus finished speaking, Scion looked over at the girl then looked at Xan.

"It seems this girl is now a participant in the jailbreak, she's in the same boat as us, no?" - Scion walked towards the door carved space and stopped there to continue speaking - "We are the Amestri's best - we are the Four Horsemen. We have codenames, you can call me Death... and as of now my friend.." - Scion treid to smile, - "You shall be known as Famine."

Scion wanted to continue after a short pause, after he turned to the exit to check the surroundings, and perhaps find the vehicle Xan mentioned, but suddenly a shadow jumped towards him. Scion had no time to study it, whatever it was, he simply crounched and made a quick dash forward, below the pouncing opponent, unsheathing Lilith(which he still held tightly) with one quick movement and slashing Layu's stomach all the way from the neck to his lower abdomen. The alcemically infused sword would have no problem cutting through the homunculus's flesh should it hit. Scion sttod up in his full height, facing to the door and whatever pounced at him...

"Whoever you are... it was the last mistake you'll ever make."

As Scion talked to Xan, Jay simply stood there, waiting. At some points, she listened closely and as he finished speaking, interjected, almost innocently. "Four horsemen? What are you two talking about? Not that you have to tell me or anything, just wondering." Ah, the cute and innocent game. Nearly always followed up by the armed threats game. But, she hoped this time, they would be nice and explain it. Then, as they walked out the door, she saw something pounce onto Scion. In seconds, she noticed it was humanoid. And it looked hungry... Although Scion slashed it, hopefully killing it, Jay wouldn't be left open if he regenerated, as Jay knew some things could. No, in seconds, she had her laser staff in hand, aiming the cannon tip at Layus. She then cautiosly walked closer for a better view of him. He had blue hair, which was styled a bit oddly, and he didn't actually look too bright. Maybe he was even pretty dumb. But, then again, his little pouncing trap was almost pretty clever, so she let it act as proof that he may not be some dim-witted monster thingy. As she considered these thoughts, she wondered again why she had chosen to follow them... Besides, her search for quick cash, that it...

The Ishvallan listened as Scion Grey told him that the elite unit’s name was The Four Horsemen, and that he was now to be known as Famine. Coincidently, Xan had read the Bible, and his favorite book was Revelations, so when Scion Grey said that his codename was Death, and now Xan’s was Famine, the Ishvallan couldn’t help but quote a quick verse.

’When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come and see." I looked, and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, "A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!”’ A fitting codename for me, if I do say so myself.

What Xan meant by his last sentence, he did not say. Even if he had meant to explain, suddenly a large creature jumped at Scion. With impressive reflexes, the swordsman aimed a slash at his would be ambusher. The Ishvallan almost smiled. Perhaps this would be a fun team to be on after all. During this time, Xan hadn’t been paying attention to Jay, but now that he looked at her, she seemed to be aiming some kind of staff weapon at the ambushers head. Deciding that he had best be prepared for anything, Xan prepared his muscles to dash forward at the ambusher at a great speed. Placing his right hand on the ambushers’ body would be the only thing that would be necessary to end the battle before it even began.

As Layus struck the hooded man coming out of the door, he realized that it had been a mistake. He pulled his stomach in and jumped backwards to avoid the full force of the blade the man had drew but it still left a deep cut from his neck to his stomach. With a howl of fury and a face full of blood, he grabbed the man's sword, intent on snapping it in two and pulled it from his abdomen with a squelching sound. He threw the sword and the man away from him and backed away from the group keeping his distance in case one of them decided to strike again.

As his wound on his body started bleeding rapidly, red sparks came out from no where dancing around his injury. The deep gash in his body immediately started to heal at a rapid rate like it was being stitched up by an invisible force. Layus stuck out his tongue at the two men, "Heh, you guys can't kill me that easily."

Jay stepped forward as he regenerated. "A homunculus, eh? If only Darky were here... Meh." Then she, instead of blowing his head away, simply aimed three or four blows to his head with the staff before sharply pulling it back and thrusting it towards his chest. Then, a whirr was heard and a large beam of light exploded from the tip of the cannon end. It flew towards Layus, who was at most, a few feet away. Then, she flipped backwards landing a few feet behind her previous position. Then she pulled her katana as well, it's Xerxian Jadestone blade glinting forest green in the light. The beautiful blade then slipped upwards, and slashed diagonally downward, aiming to slice Layus in half.