Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Fire

[taisky16]

"All right now," Pride said in a loud tone, drawing all attention to himself. "Sloth, would you be so kind as to arrange military car #A39 with Lnt. Gustov to drive, please? He won't ask questions, and he's a fast driver. Tell them it's special orders from the Fuhrer President."

He turned back to the scene, taking it all in with his one eye. This was simply delicious. All the people he needed to talk to had practically come to his doorstep at one time. And everybody was busy downstairs, so they were unlikely to bother them. Perfect.

"While the car arrives, I have a few questions to ask," he said, seating himself behind his polished wood desk, curtained window to his back. "First is what happened to Gluttony? Lust won't stop asking me. I told her Dante knew, so she's likely to be paying you a visit, my friend. Second, if you found this girl, it also means you found Greed. Why is he not here with us? And third, where is Envy? He's normally always around when you don't need him."

Pride waited a few moments, letting all his questions soak in. The odds of this chance happening again were slim to none, so he was taking this opportunity with the upmost...pride. He chuckled at the thought.

[dante]

Sloth nodded and walked over to her desk. Taking the receiver in her hand, she held it to her ear and dialed for Lieutenant Gustov, waiting patiently for a response.

"Just behave yourself and you'll have nothing to worry about," Dante told the boy apathetically, leaning back in the sofa and closing her eyes. Her head was starting to spin and her side was aching again, making her even more anxious to get out of her rotting body.

After arranging a ride for Dante and the others, Sloth hung up the phone and looked over to the Fuhrer. "Greed convinced our dear Gluttony to join him some time ago. Master was pursuing both of them earlier today, but they managed to escape her due to the appearance of Hohenheim of Light. And as for Envy, Master tells me he was about to attack Hohenheim in the opera house when she last left him."

[silverviper2134]

God, this was boring as hell. Martel yawned slightly, stretching her arms slightly. However, she wasn't really paying attention to how far they stretched. So, she didn't notice she was using her ability until a pain shot through her body, causing her to gasp and clutch her stomach tightly.

[taisky16]

"Okay, thank you for the information," Pride said, palcing his fingers together and resting his elbows on his polished desktop. "So both are incapacitated to some extent, thank you for the updates. That is the only questions I have at this current time. I suppose I'll just have to deal with Greed personally. Give his location and I will see to the matter."

A car honked from the outside and Pride went to the window. He gave a salute and a series of hand gestures, then closed the curtains to shroud the room in semi-darkness once more.

"Sloth, please accompany our dear master to her desired place of residence. Wrath, I would prefer you to come with me, but seeing as you are so attached to SLoth, you may go with her if you plese. I will keep Martel under careful observation until you all return safely. We will discuss a plan of action once you return. Understood?"

Pride was used to giving orders by now, having ran the military for so long.

[silverviper2134]

Once the pain in her stomach settled, Martel glared at Pride. "You stay away from him" she hissed when he talked about seeing Greed. She wasn't sure exactly what he wanted, but if he worked for Dante, it couldn't be good. And she definitely wasn't going to let her lover be taken from her by the bitch. She was already certain she would loose her children if she hadn't already.

[fanboi]

Wrath simply stayed behind Martel, "Madame, are you gonna kill Greed?" he asked in a low tone. He had liked Greed soemwaht. At least the shark-mouthed man had never picked on him and was a hell of a lot more amusing than most of the Humunculi.

[silverviper2134]

Martel looked at the child Homunculus in surprise. He almost sounded....concerned about what he was saying. Which was very odd, seeing as he seemed very willing to beat the shit outta Greed earlier. "Well, if she even tries, she'll regret it" she muttered to Wrath.

[dante]

Dante closed her eyes and leaned back against the cushions, trying her hardest to ignore the pain that was spreading through her body. The numbness in her side disappeared a few minutes ago, and she could practically feel the decay working on her wound. Her condition was getting worse, her life was slowly ebbing away.

"How could I be so foolish to wait this long? I should have transferred years ago," she chided herself under her breath.

Sloth listened as her superior dictated her orders, then bowed respectfully. "Yes, sir," she monotoned.

She turned and walked over to where Dante was sitting, and frowned when she noticed how still her master was. Fearing that the old woman was unconscious, she approached her and tapped her on the shoulder. "Master, our transportation has arrived..."

"I'm aware," Dante informed her stiffly, slowly rising from the couch. Even when standing on the edge of death, she still maintained her powerful demeanor.

Looking to her masterpiece, she offered him a faint smile. "I cannot thank you enough for your assistance, Pride. If it weren't for you, this day would have been my last."

Pausing, she cast a glance at Martel. "And I trust that you will keep our guest as comfortable as possible. We cannot afford for her to have a miscarriage."

[silverviper2134]

Martel's eyes followed the woman tentively. She was certain the only reason she was still alive was because Dante wanted her babies. That meant that if she'd already miscarried or when she gave birth, she'd be killed then. After all, it's easiest to take out your opponent when they're in a state of weakness. Besides, she knew she wouldn't be comfortable at all if she was their prisoner. "You want me to be comfortable? Then let me go home already" she said before she could stop herself.

[taisky16]

"Not at all, my dear," Pride responded, helping Dante to her feet. This close he could see how bad the wound really was. Dante must be in quite a bit of pain.

"Sloth, please escort our Master downstairs to Lnt. Gustov. I shall expect news of how things went no less then 24 hours from this precise minute, understand? Thank you for your cooperation."

As Sloth took hold of Dante, Pride turned his attention to Wrath and Martel.

"I'm afraid we need you for a bit longer," he said with a sinister sneer. "And Wrath? You still have not answered me. Will you stay here or go with the others? I'm nore then capable of dealing with the girl myself, but I'd prefer you to stay in case I have to leave."

[silverviper2134]

Martel glared at Pride. Out of all the Homunculi she had personally met, he was the worst of the lot. The only comfort she could take in being stuck with him was that he couldn't harm her- according to Dante's words anyway. But, it didn't look like he listened to her much anyway.

"Go to hell, Bradley" she told him angrily. She knew the anger wasn't just for today, but also for the fourteen or so years prior, when she and her comrades were tortured and configured into what they were today.

[dante]

"Wrath shall accompany me to my mansion. Knowing the luck I've been having recently, it would be wise for me to have some additional protection," Dante informed him, glancing at the young homunculus.

Sloth nodded in understanding and took her master by the hand. "This way, Master," she addressed her respectfully, leading her out the door.

[silverviper2134]

Wrath nodded and followed his master and his "mother" out of the office.

Once the other people were gone, Martel glared at Pride. After a moment's silence, she finally spoke. "So what are you planning on doing to me while your master's gone?"

[taisky16]

"I plan on doing nothing to you, my dear," Pride said reassuringly, though with a slight hint of malice. "I am not aware of dear Dante's plans, but I am her best creation, so I am sure if I wait long enough I will get all the information I need. And I've lived long enough to aquire the necessary patience."

Pride turned to face Martel. He had had his back to her while she spoke.

"Now, if you wish to see your dear family again," he threatened, drawing ever closer, but at a slow pace. "You will be kind enough to tell me the current location of Greed. He needs to be dealt with. Oh, don't worry, I'm not going to hurt him. Right now I only wish to converse with him. Oh, and one more item of importance..."

Here he turned to look at her.

"How have you been since the experiments?"

[silverviper2134]

"Do you really think I'm going to betray Greed and my friends that easily?" Martel questioned Pride is disbelief. He really couldn't be that smart if he actually thought that. But when he asked her how she'd been since the experiments she scowled. "My life's been a living hell, what the fuck did you expect?"

[taisky16]

Pride guffawed at Martel's expression. The way her face contorted in agony was like music to his menacing ears. He truely was a piece of work.

"Either you tell me where he is," Pride said sinisterly, wihdrawing a sword and pointing the sharp end at her increasingly round stomach, "Or a miscarriage will be the least of your worries. I can extract the child and have my State Alchemists use their talents to help it grow without it needing your womb. I'm only leting you backtalk me because my Master has been so generous as to put me in her full confidence."

Pride didn't really have any intentions of killing Martel's unborn child, but he had to say something to get her to give away Gree'd location.

"Oh, has life really been so bad? I though it would help when I ordered the experiments to take place...oh?" He saw deeply into Martel's eyes. "You didn't know? Yes, it was I who ordered you to go under experimentation. You turned out so well, perhaps I should continue?"

[silverviper2134]

"I don't even know where he is now. He may be at our base, he may not. I really don't know" Martel said honestly. She was fairly certain he was at the Devil's Nest, but he could very well be elsewhere. When Pride threatened her babies, she covered her stomach. "And what would you tell the bastards if they asked where the baby came from?"

She hissed at him when he spoke of the experiments. "Of course I knew you ordered the experiments, you bastard! And if you even try to do this to anyone else, I swear you will regret it".

[taisky16]

"I don't think you're in any position to be making threats, my dear," Pride answered, snickering. He withdrew his blade and placed it back in it's sheath on his back. "I have so much power, nobody can touch me!"

He turned around and went to face the window, peering through the white curtains and the cream blinds. Central City shone through them, and he growled in disgust. So many people out there whom he could easily squeeze what he needed out of to advance his goals. But he couldn't do it. He was forbidden from doing so. He prided himself on his vast accomplishements, but in the end, did it really amount to anything at all?

"You would be wise to tell me the locale of your base," Pride said, turning back to Martel. "I would hate to be the cause of any...unpleasentries." His voice held not a note nor sylobol that he would regret any decision he made thus far. "I am untouchable. Please, let us end this pointless bickering and get down to you telling me what I need to know."

[silverviper2134]

"Your master already said where the base was. If you weren't paying attention, it's not my problem" she told him bitterly. She hoped he really hadn't been listening when Dante talked about why she wouldn't be taking Martel to Dublith. That way she wouldn't have to worry about Greed at all.

[Greed]

Greed, was outside the door that led to, Pride and Martel. He could "feel" both of them, on the other side. For a moment, he found it odd. That they met up with little resistance along the way. He was only able to fathom, that the majority of the soldiers were other wise on missions else where.
He placed the palm of his hand, opposite to the one with his seal. Near the door.

"'Eh.."

He muttered under his breathe. He was not about to take the sneaky way in, as well as; Dante and company would have assumed that the only way Greed would even attempt this was at being sneaky doing it. So, he would use his usual approach. As to not give them any le-way for a trap. He stood back, and kicked open the door, with either leg. The door slammed open. An echo leaving the room, as it met the wall, then forsaking its hinges. Falling to the floor. Greed, then made his way into the room. As though, he was care-free. His old-style grin, was on his face. And he was looking at Pride, through his blacken shades. His stare from behind them, was relentless. And could be "felt", even without having to see the actual look. He took a few steps further into the room. The steps he took was a mimicry of his old, care-free self. Even so, while he did this. He was still cautious with every step. Finally, from what seems like ages to, Greed. Being very few seconds in reality. Greed, was fully in the area. Around the point of a few steps of the side of, Martel.

"Well, well. Yo', Pride. Ain't it nice t' see such a 'old friend', 'eh?"

Greed said, in what could be mistaken for a loathing sarcasm.
As well as, he put emencely deep sarcasm and emphasis on 'old friend.' As though, it could be taken one of many ways. Depending on the person's stand point. The smirk on Greed's face, grew slightly.

"Irony, at its climax, 'eh?"

He remarked, with a sarcastic edge, as well as a almost serious tone of voice.