Shou Tucker
Legacy Name: Shou Tucker

What the hell was that?! thought Shou.

Someone had clearly screamed, and just around the corner, from the sound of it. He hastily left his lab and headed toward the front of the house. When he got there, he saw a small child under Alexander, his rather large dog. There was also someone in a giant suit of armor and a man he recognized as Colonel Roy Mustang.
"Alexander! Stop that!" he yelled. "Please come in," he bashfully added to the guests.

He led the group in, noticing that the one he mistook for a small child was merely a short preteen.

"Please pardon the mess. Ever since my wife left me, the place has been like this."

As he was leading them into a room toward the back of the hall, a small girl entered the room.

"Wow, we have lots of guests, Daddy!" she exclaimed

"Yes we do, Nina. Why don't you go out and play with Alexander while we talk?"

"Now, what can I do for you and your friends here, Colonel Mustang?" Shou asked.

"This is Edward Elric, the Full Metal Alchemist," Colonel Mustang said as he pointed to the short blond kid. "And this is his little brother, Alphonse," he added, pointing to the man in the suit of armor. "As you and I know, you are the Sewing-Life Alchemist and the lead researcher in biological transmutations. These two are very eager to learn more about that field of alchemy. Would you mind lending them your research notes?"

"Not at all!" said Shou. "However, if you want to know what I've done, then I expect the same in return. That's equal exchange, right? I'd like to know why you're so interested in biological transmutation."

"Fair enough," shrugged Edward, as he removed his jacket, showing Shou his automail arm.

My God ... he has an automail arm? But he's only a child, Shou thought in horror.

"Al and I wanted nothing more but to see our mother smile again. So we decided we would try to bring her back. But we failed. In the end, I lost my leg and Al lost his whole body. I traded my arm to transmute Al's soul to that suit of armor," Edward stated bitterly.

"That must have been painful. I'm sorry, both of you."

"Tucker, please keep in mind that officially, Ed lost his arm in the East Area Civil War. I'm asking you not to mention this to anyone," added Colonel Mustang.

"Of course, of course. Besides, having these two boys arrested would be nothing but a waste of talent," Shou answered. "Now, I'm not sure how useful my research will be, but you're welcome to help yourself. First, why don't I show you my lab?" he added as he led them to the next room.

The room was filled with cages, and each cage had a bizarre creature in it. Those monstrosities were called chimeras -- transmutations that combined living things.

"I'm told that I'm the leading researcher on chimeras and the like, but I honestly don't think I know much more than the next alchemist," Shou said with embarrassment. "Ah, here it is. My file room," he added as he reached the door in the back.

Once he opened it, he noticed Edward's jaw drop.

"This is amazing! Look at all these books! C'mon, Al, let's get going!" Ed exclaimed, running to the nearest bookshelf and grabbing a book. He was immediately glued to it.

"Those boys sure are focused, huh?" Shou said to Colonel Mustang.

"Yes, I suppose they are quite motivated," he answered. "I have to get back to work. I trust you two will stay out of trouble. I'll send someone to pick you up in the evening," Mustang added as he left the room.

"I'll be in my lab if you two need me," Shou said. He took a glance back. Nothing had changed; those two were still intently reading.

His eyes landed on Edward.

That boy sure is focused. Then again, he would have to be to become a state alchemist at such a young age. He truly is a genius.

Shou resumed his own studies in his lab.

Inspection is in two days and I've gotten nowhere. Everything is at stake and I have nothing to show for it!

Shou remained in his lab for several hours, still unable to come up with something new to report to the military. He was still in his block when he heard the Elric brothers leaving. He went to the front to see them off, but they had already gone. He spotted Nina still waving goodbye to them from the front door.

"Did you like them, Nina?"

"Yes! They're my big brothers!" she answered so innocently. "Did your inspiration come?"

Shou had told Nina that he was trying his hardest to think of what to do for his inspection and how important it was. But he didn't tell her just how much was riding on it. If he were to fail his inspection, everything would be taken away. The house they lived in and the food they ate were all funded by his research grant from the military. They'd be homeless and starving if he failed.

"No, unfortunately not, Nina," he answered dismally.

"Don't worry, Daddy! You're gonna pass; you always study lots!" she said cheerfully.

He couldn't help but smile at her innocence.

What am I going to do? I've already sacrificed too much to get this far; that can't be in vain.

Alexander came up to him, sensing something was troubling him. Both he and Nina were looking up at him, doing their best to cheer him up.

I ... I have no choice."Nina, do you want to help Daddy?"

"Of course I do!" Nina answered with much enthusiasm.

"This will only hurt for a minute," he said, tears beginning to overcome him.

Shou did the unthinkable, the forbidden. He knew that the military expected nothing except chimera-related research. He got his state alchemist license two years ago because he was the first person to create a talking chimera. He couldn't renew his license if he were to present them any old chimera like the ones in his lab. No, he had to create that monstrosity once again.

He transmuted his little girl and Alexander into one being.

I'm sorry, Nina. I'm sorry. But no matter what I do, you will end up in pain. I had no choice, he thought, tears rolling down his cheeks.

The new Nina-and-Alexander creation looked up at him, tears were flowing from its eyes, too.
It looked more like Alexander, though the hair and voice belonged to Nina.

"Da-dee,” it said.

It kept repeating only that, over and over, throughout the night. And Shou just sat there, staring at what had become of his daughter.

My little girl, what have I done?
Shou and his chimera sat together all night.

Eventually morning came and so did the Elric Brothers.

Shou heard a knock at his door, but he didn't move to answer it.

"Hello? Mr. Tucker? It's us; we came back," shouted Alphonse.

Shou could hear them coming closer to the lab.

"Oh boys, it's you! Come, see my latest chimera! Just in time for inspection, too," he said, trying his best to fake cheerfulness. "It talks, too. Show them. This is Edward, can you say 'Edward'?" he added, directing the order at the chimera.
"Ed-word," it said.

"Wow, that's amazing, Mr. Tucker!" exclaimed Alphonse.

"Bruh-thur," it added slowly. "Ed-word ... bruh-thur."

Edward's face instantly changed from amazed to grave.

"Mr. Tucker ... how long ago did you get your state alchemist license?" Edward asked.

"Two years ago," Shou answered.

"And when did your wife leave you?" Edward asked again.

"Two years ago. Why?"

"Tell me, where did Nina and Alexander go?" Edward asked, through gritted teeth.

"Damn, I hate deductive kids like you."

A second after Shou said that, Edward had punched him hard with his automail hand.

"You bastard! How could you?! What, using your wife two years ago wasn't enough? Now you had to use your own daughter and dog?! You're nothing but a monster!"

"How am I a monster," Shou retorted, coolly. "Isn't that what scientists do? After all, that's how scientific advances happen -- human experimentation."

"Like hell you can make this right! Look at what you did to your daughter! How dare you toy with human lives!" Edward shouted.

"HA HA HA! Fullmetal Alchemist, look at yourself; look at your brother! How are we any different?" Shou said, quickly losing whatever sanity he had managed to cling onto during the night’s events.

Edward unleashed all of his fury onto Shou. He kept beating him, showing no signs of stopping.

"You're wrong, damn it! I'm nothing like you!" Edward shouted between blows.

Alphonse grabbed Edward's arm as it was about to hit Shou again.

"Brother, if you keep this up, you'll kill him," he said as he led Edward out of the room.

"You boys are too naïve … You can't possibly hope to get anything done without dirtying your own hands," Shou gasped.

Alphonse stopped in his tracks.

"Mr. Tucker, if you don't stop talking, I'll shut you up myself," he said slowly.

He then walked over to the chimera.

"Nina, I'm sorry. Ed and I don't know enough to restore you and Alexander ... I'm sorry."

It laid its head down on Alphonse's knee. "Bruh-thur," it said, looking back up at him.

Edward left the room, leaving Alphonse in there with Shou and the chimera. After a little while, he returned, but he wasn't alone. He called the military to report Shou and explain the situation with Nina. The military rushed over and Shou was immediately arrested.

They took Shou and the chimera to some government facility. They were holding the two of them in a locked and guarded room until it would be time for Shou's trial.

"Hey, you're not supposed to be up -- AHHHH!" screamed the guard from outside.

The door opened, and in came a man Shou didn't recognize. He had dark skin and a scar shaped like an "x" over his eyes.

"Shou Tucker, you have gone against God's will. For that, you will die," exclaimed the man.

He quickly made his way to Shou and grabbed his head. After an instant, blood spurted out of Shou's ears.

Shou laid there, dead, as the man walked over toward Shou’s chimera.
"I will return you to God, poor creature," he told it softly. He gently placed his hand on its head. A moment later, it fell to the floor.

"May you find peace in your next life."

Credit:
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[x] [x] from Waukster Online
[x] from Rabbit Poets
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