Chapter one: Authority

Edward poked his head around the door. "You wanted to see me, Colonel?"

"Yes, Fullmetal. Sit down."

Oh, no. This is big if he wants me to sit down. Edward thought. He sat down without question.

"King Bradley is beginning to wonder if Alphonse is a good partner for you. I mean, he's not even part of the military." Roy began.

"Ohh no, you are not taking away my little brother!" Edward said firmly.

"I never said that, Fullmetal. Let me finish." Roy sighed and laced his fingers together. "You see, Alphonse can stay with you, but because he is not military, he cannot help you with military issues. Which is why King Bradley assigned you a partner."

"A partner?"

"Yeah." Roy picked up some papers on his desk, his eyes scanning them. "She became a state alchemist a year or two after you…"

"She?"

"Yeah. Her name is somewhere on here…"

"Is she hot?"

A sweat drop dripped down Roy's head. "I don't know, I've never seen her. Typical, of a teenage boy… Anyway, She became a state alchemist when she was fourteen, and she is about your age now. We thought that you two could help each other out."

"You didn't tell her about the human transmutation incident, did you?" Edward asked.

"No. That's a secret, and I am a man of my word." Roy replied.

"So she won't be helping on research on the Philosopher's stone?"

"Just military issues."

"Does she have any special skills besides alchemy?" Edward asked. Roy passed him the papers. "See for yourself, Fullmetal."

Edward scanned the random paragraphs. "It says here… That she was a thief for the early years of her life?"

"Yeah. I think she's really fast and good at jumping… I think, I dunno."

"And it says here, in weaponry skills, that her aim is almost as good as Hawkeye's?"

"Yup. I guess so."

"What was her alchemist name?"

Edward glanced at the top of the page, where it had her description.

Name: Tommy, Coniniaue

Age: 16 years, eight months

Eye color: Blue

Hair color: Red

Alchemist info

S/he has been a state alchemist for: 2 years, eight months

Special skills: Excellent aim, fleet of foot, powerful alchemy

Specializes in: Guns, fighting alchemy

Alchemist name: Bloodless Alchemist

"'Bloodless Alchemist?'" Edward repeated. "I know King Bradley has a good sense of humor, but 'Bloodless Alchemist?" Makes her sound like a cold hearted monster."

"Well, she's not exactly the nicest person you'll ever meet, Edward." Roy sighed. "She's waiting outside, on the front steps."