Chapter 8: The Path of Hope Alt Title
Today’s chapter begins with panels of Mustang & Crew giving various excuses, ranging from Paperwork (Hughes), Inability to leave post (Mustang), Keeping an eye on the Colonal (Hawkeye, also noting that Mustang is a slacker), and “I don’t want to get head asploded by Scar if he shows up” (Havoc, Falman, Breeda and Furey). We then see Ed wondering how he got stuck......With Major Armstong, smushing him against the side of the train they are in, due to his size.
We have a flashback back to the military headquarters where we get a panel of Armstrong with a face of PURE MANLY SADNESS, with the rest of the room having a collected look of embarrassment and apathy. Armstrong gives Edward a crushing hug as he proceeds to give his (MANLY) heartfelt sadness at the story of the Elrics. Ed’s reaction is “Stay the hell away from me!”. Ed curses the Colonel for telling Armstrong the whole story, as Mustang responds “You don’t say ‘NO’ when you’re being grilled for answers by that obnoxious muscle man on steriods...” *. But Mustang has a point, for nobody refuses Major Alex Armstrong.
NOBODY. *
So after wiping off his tears with a handkerchief *. Armstrong then declares that he will act as the Elric’s bodyguards until Ed’s arm is repaired. Ed refuses, saying that he doesn’t need a bodyguard, but Hawkeye explains that since Scar is still on the loose, Ed will need a bodyguard who can properly protect him, not to mention that he can’t haul Al around with only one arm. Ed asks if anybody else can escort him, to which everyones gives the same excuses from the beginning of the chapter. Armstrong says that it is settled, as he places his hand on Ed’s head, who is yelling that he didn’t agree to this. Armstrong responds by saying that “Little boys should listen to their elders”. Of course, Ed states that he is not a kid and asks Al for some assistance....But Al is in pure joy with stars in his eyes as he states that it’s the first time somebody has treated him as a kid *
Mustang (With a look of pure evil bliss of course) finally gives Ed an ultimatum that if he does not go with Armstong, he will get Court Marshaled for insubordination. So they set off....As we see Al put in a crate. Armstrong is explaining that it’s much cheaper to have him declared as cargo *. And so we return to the beginning, with Ed and Armstrong about to depart. Suddenly, Hughes comes by the train window, coming in to see them off, and bearing a message from Mustang, said message being “The Additional Paperwork’s a pain in the rear so you are not to die while under my jurisdiction. Are we clear?” * Ed gives a message back: “Yeah! I copy that! And I sure as hell won’t die before you do, Damn Colonel Mouse-Skank!”. * Awww....They really do care about each other...
Hughes manages to laugh it off as “Kids complaining about the world”. He salutes them off (Ed quietly apologising for having to use his right hand) as the train departs. Armstrong asks about Ed’s Automail Mechanic, saying that this is the first time he has heard of one. * Ed responds that she is more like a mix between a surgeon, a prosthesis maker and an Automail engineer. He goes one by saying how she is a childhood friend and her skills aren’t half bad and whatnot. Armstrong then asks about the Elric’s hometown of Risembool. Ed says that it’s a quaint town with little to see there, as during the Eastern Civil War, it was kinda wrecked. He laments that if the military were actually doing their job, the place may have been something. Armstrong is a bit miffed about that, but Ed says that it’s a free country. He talks some more about how he and Al find Risembool home, before asking where Al is. Armstrong says that he has made suitable arrangements. And by “suitable arrangements”, he means “The Livestock Car” *. Armstrong explains that he thought Al might get lonely, and Ed takes this as well as you would expect. Their arguments manage to get the attention of everybody else on the train....Including Lust, reading a newspaper * and wearing a fur coat. Oh dear.
As the train pulls into a stop, Armstrong is entertaining himself with a book, until a passerbye catches his attention, who is an old man with graying hair *. Armstrong calls out to him, while naming him as “Dr Tim Marcoh”. Dr Marcoh, upon hearing and seeing Armstrong, gains a look of pure horror on his face and then runs off. When Ed asks who he was, Armstrong responds by saying that he was one of Grand Central’s leading alchemic researchers, in their field of medical alchemy. THIS, of course gets Ed’s attention as he prepares to get off the train. And brings Al along with him (Who as Ed states reeks of sheep). Lust manages to smirk to herself out of sight...
At the town, Ed asks one of the townsfolk about where Marcoh went, but Armstrong shows him a ‘’Nigh perfect drawing of Marcoh’’. Which, as he explains to Ed is “THE ARTISTIC TALENT OF THE ARMSTRONG FAMILY PASSED DOWN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION” *. The people then recognize him as “Dr Marlowe” (Yeah. Real subtle pseudonym Marcoh). The townsfolk explain that the town could not benefit itself for medical services before Marcoh came to help them, and he never gives up on a patient. Some bearded farmer * says that when he healed what looked like an amputee job for him, and some women say that there is always a bright flash of light when he does his work.
The Elrics and Armstrong realize this is alchemy immediantely and pretty much guess that he took on a false name. But then start wondering why he took off. Armstrong says that on the day he took off, he also took some “Classified Documents” with him as well. they arrive at Marcoh’s house (With Al in tow, still in his box being carried effortlessly by Armstrong), who immediately greets them with a gunshot that Ed narrowly dodges *. Maroch is in a panicked frenzy, saying that he “Does not want to go back to that place” and Armstrong is unable to calm him down. Until he does so by THROWING AL AT HIM, BOX AND ALL. I love this moment, because as I said, Grievous Harm with a Body is always fun and hilarious for me.
After Marcoh presumably recovers from the several broken bones he must have suffered, he explains that it was his sheer guilt from his Alchemy being used in Ishbal that he ran away and moved to the town. When Armstrong asks what he was researching, Marcoh responds “The Philospher’s Stone”, and than he ran off with the documents, AND one of the stones. He proceeds to take out....A jar of red liquid. Which, judging from Ed and Al’s chibi reactions, is not quite what they were expecting...Marcoh then pours it out onto the table, and much to the collective shock, turns into a solid form (So would this technically be a Solidus state?). Marcoh lists off the names that were given to the Philosopher’s Stone *)]] and states that just as the stone can take many forms (Ed even touches the stone, making it wobble) it can also take many names. However, he also says that the stone he has now was made for research, and is a flawed copy that is inferior to the real thing, as it will eventually reach it’s limit. However, they managed to make their way onto the Ishbalian battlefield and caused mass devistation. Ed has a flashback to remind him of what Cornello must have had, before saying to himself that while it is not completed yet, it will only need a little more research before completion, before asking Marcoh to see the research papers.
Marcoh asks why Ed would want to do that, and asks Armstrong who Ed is, to which he replies “A State Alchemist”. Marcoh is horrified by this, that a child would become a State Alchemist, lamenting Ed signing away his life for “Privileges and Funding”. He explains that after Ishbal, many State Alchemists abandoned their titles due to the sheer guilt they suffered. *. Ed tells Marcoh that he knows full well that it’s stupid, but that he has something to accomplish and being s State Alchemist is the price he has to pay.
One Exposition later, Marcoh understands why their are going down their road, and is amazed that Soul Transmutation is possible, and says that Ed might just be able to perfect the stone. But regardless says no. When Ed angrily asks why, Marcoh just asks them to leave, saying that he won’t let them use it for something as trivial as restroing their bodies (Then why did you say that stuff about being able to perfect the stone....? Plus you are REALLY not helping your case). Ed asks him to reconsider but Marcoh states that it’s for their own good, saying that his working is akin to the devil, to understand it is to gaze into hell itself. Ed just reponds “‘Gaze’ upon hell?! HELL *, I WAS THERE!!”
Marcoh gives a horrified look before turning away, saying that his decision still stands and asks them to leave. As Marcoh sees them heading off through the window, his mind flashes to Ed’s spiel. At the station, Armstrong asks if he is having second thoughts, saying that even if he did not get the files, he could have just wrestled the stone from him (Err...Aren’t you supposed to be against that type of thing? You don’t want Ed to become Qui Gon Gin. Ed says that he really wanted to do that, but decided not to, as it would deprive the townsfolk of their source of healing. He just says that he will find another way. Ed asks Armstrong if he is going to report Marcoh to Grand Central, but he says that he has “Met a fine Doctor named Marlowe today”. To which Ed smiles at. As Ed laments being back to square one, Dr Marcoh suddenly comes onto the platform. He gives them an envelope of where he hid the files and says to seek them out if they will not regret knowing the truth They will. Finally he says “If anybody can find out the Truth within the Truth, I have faith that that person would be you”. He quickly turns away saying he said too much and departs, wishing Ed luck in finding his body. So I guess Ed will have to [[Persona4: REACH OUT TO THE TRUTH]] OF MY LIFE.
Ahem...
Marcoh heads back to his house and closes the door behind him....Only for Lust to have been sitting in the shadows the whole time, greeting him.
Music for scene
Music
Marcoh recoils in horror against the wall after Lust sates how she never through following Ed around would lead her to him. Lust says that she is not here to drag him back, as his former assistants are doing fine without him. Marcoh is horrified that they are still making Philosopher’s Stones, but Lust simply states that they we the ones who gave him the formula in the first place, and that him steeling the files was no hinderance to them whatsoever, even if they were exposed to the public. However, she states that Ed getting his hands on the to be a problem, and asks him where the files are (Well, okay, she says that she through he must have fled Central with the files but the intent is all the same). Marcoh says some stuff about how his paranoia was true, as he reaches for his gun, but Lust stabs him through the shoulder T-1000 style and says to him while twisting her claw “Call to John” * “Naughty Naughty!” *Squirms from the squickiness of the line*
Lust interrogates Marcoh some more while twisting her claw further, until Marcoh proudly says that Ed will find out the truth and will expose all of their dirty deeds. Lust says “Do you think I would ever let that happen?”. But then Marcoh laughs and mocks her some more...As we see that Marcoh has been using his blood to draw Lust’s name on the Death Note A Trasmutation Circle, which he activates, saying “IM’ SENDING YOU STRAIGHT BACK TO HELL!”. As he impales Lust with a massive Rock Spike.
Dr Tim Marcoh CMOA count: 1 Current: Managing to impale Lust while speared by her, during her monologue no less!
Well, she wasn’t around for long. Marcoh states that she got careless...But he cuts off near the end when he sees that Lust is still talking, and slices the Rock Spike off, saying that he was “So Cruel” as her wound regenerates. Huh. This kinda reinforces both the Wolverine and T-1000 thing. She says that Marcoh is a candidate for “Sacrafice” just like Ed is. Marcoh is still amazed by Lust’s regeneration, when that moment, a Diabolus ex Machina girl named Kiri comes in with flowers for Marcoh...As two of Lust’s Claws hit the sides next to her head. She threatens to decapitate Kiri unless Marcoh spills the beans...To which Marcoh has no choice but to comply.
On board the train, Ed sees the note in the letter, which says “National Central Library, First Branch”. Armstrong calls it “A tree hidden in a forest” as he says that there is a staggering number of books in the library, as the Elrics are hopeful for finding the documents. At Marcoh’s home, Lust remarks how he managed to cleverly hide them in the Library. Marcoh asks them who they are, and what they mean by “Sacrafice”. But Lust waves it off and says that he can live. But if he runs or tries anything funny, they will wipe the Town off the map. Oh come on. Do they really think that that would be possible? *. We end on Lust saying that she will beat Edward to the files, thus ending Volume 2.
NEXT TIME: Volume 2 in Analysis
