/AN

I have suddenly been deprived of creative brain cells. I'm reading my state's Drivers Handbook and it's killing me, so I apologize in advance if the next few chapters aren't as good as normal.

DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING!

AN/

Edward had a hard time getting to the Hughes' house. The streets were swarming with metallic bugs, and more seemed to be showing themselves. Edward finally did manage to reach the house and knocked on the door, slicing through a nearby bug with his automail-turned-blade.

Edward turned just in time to avoid the punch that swiped through the air, right where his head was a moment previously. He landed in a clear space, feeling another jolt of pain from the automail joints in his body. This time, though, it was stronger, and seemed to be getting even more so.

He turned his attention to the doorway. Gracia Hughes stood there with Alphonse Elric pulling back his hand from the punch. Neither of them looked right. Gracia had cyberkinetics attached all over her body, and Alphonse's armor had changed. Both of them resembled the bugs that were surrounding Edward now.

"Brother," Alphonse said. "Why don't you join us?"

"Al! You're not talking straight!" Edward replied. He realized something and shouted, "Where's Elicia?"

"Big brother!" Elicia's voice came from one of the second windows. Edward looked up and felt a jolt of relief. She looked totally normal, but the bugs noticed her as well and were making their way up the walls to where she stood.

She screamed as a bug closed in on her. Edward ran forward, clapping his hands together, and slammed them against the wall. The bugs fell off in the force of the walls changing. Edward started to climb and knocked down a bug that managed to hang on through the alchemical process. He reached the window ahead of the bugs.

"Elicia, grab hold," Edward said, pulling her onto his back piggyback style. Edward turned, saying, "Keep a tight hold on me, now" and descended, fighting back the bugs while trying to be mindful of Elicia.

The shack was like Edward last remembered it. Half blown in, with the bricks scattered along the landscape. The only difference was that Mother Nature had managed to get a hold on it. There were different kinds of plants starting to grow all over the building now.

Edward managed not to collapse as the strongest jolt of pain shot through him. Exhausted, he set down Elicia. "Go on and play. The others should be here soon."

Elicia nodded, and went inside. Edward smiled, calling after her, "And be careful! We don't want you getting hurt."

He felt another jolt, along with the tingle of skin around the joints to his automail. Edward sat down and pulled off his jacket to reveal his automail underneath.

At least, it was his automail. Now, it didn't look like it did before. He pulled up his leg and realized that they looked the same. The bugs had changed his automail into something more malevolent and dark. There was another jolt of pain and, without thinking, Edward disengaged his automail parts from his flesh and bone body.

The pain died immediately. Worried that his limbs might try something else, Edward tossed them as far away as he could, before groaning. "Well, this is just great! Now I don't have an arm and leg and I don't know if Winry's managing."

"Brother?" Elicia had walked back over. "Are you ok?"

Edward smiled. "Of course, why wouldn't I be?"

"You looked like you were in pain," Elicia said. She sat down next to him and looked out over the distance.

Elicia must've seen something, because she did her best to hide behind Edward, who was now propped against one of the shack's remaining walls. "What is it, Elicia?" he asked.

Elicia pointed towards three shadows walking their way. Edward feared the worst, and started to make a transmutation circle in the dirt if he needed it.

The three figures came into view, and Edward was shocked to find that it was a fox, falcon, and toad staring back at him.

"Are you Edward Elric?" the fox asked after the awkward pause.

"Who wants to know?" Edward retorted.

The fox answered, "I'm Fox McCloud, leader of Star Fox. We were sent here on a distress signal and just from the looks of the city, it's a good thing we got it when we did."

Edward stared at him quizzically, but finally said, "Yea, I'm Edward. This is Elicia Hughes." He motioned to her, who was still trying to hide behind him.

Before they could get any further on the introductions, though, the toad asked, "What happened to your limbs?"

Edward looked at where his automail now lay. The limbs haven't moved themselves, but the sooner Edward got new ones, the better.

The trio walked over, not disguising their amazement at the limbs. Edward sighed, waiting for them to finish. "How did they attach to your body?" the toad asked, walking over.

"That reminds me," Edward said. He looked at Elicia and asked, "Could you look at my shoulder and tell me what the inside part of the metal looks like?"

Elicia nodded and walked over to where his automail would've joined with his skin. "I don't see anything in here except for a circle."

"Ok, now do the same thing for my leg," Edward instructed. If whatever those bugs did manage to latch onto his ports, well, there wasn't much chance of him staying with them much longer unless they knew how to tie up wounds.

"Same thing," Elicia said after a moment. "Brother, are you all right?"

"Thankfully, yes," Edward answered, glad to know he got rid of the automail fast enough.

After the toad repeated the question, Edward asked, "Who are you?"

"Slippy Toad."

"Ok, what about the bird?"

"Falco Lombardi," Slippy replied.

Edward nodded. He said, "My automail attaches to my nerves." He indicated the port as Fox and Falco walked up, saying, "I don't understand it. I don't even bother trying too."

"Well, could you save the nerd talk for later then?" a voice from above them asked. They looked up to see a transvestite with green hair spiking out every-which-way and black clothes that barely covered his body. This wasn't what scared them, though. It was the fact that he had been infected.

Fox pulled out his gun and pointed it at Envy.

"Whoa! Whoa! Don't shoot!" Envy shouted. Red lightning danced across his body where the metal parts were. "I'm not one of them!"

The trio looked skeptical. "You sure made an awful convincing Aparoid," Fox stated.

"I had to be. Wouldn't of survived this long if I hadn't," Envy replied.

Edward shouted, "What do you want? Can't you see we don't want to be your pity party?"

"Is that any way to treat a potential ally, pipsqueak?" Envy asked.

"WHO YOU CALLING SO SMALL AND HELPLESS HE CAN'T TAKE DOWN THOSE IDIOTIC BUGS!" Edward retorted.

"Aparoids," Fox, Falco, and Envy stated.

"What?" Edward asked.

Envy said, "They're called Aparoids." In explanation to Star Fox's questioning looks, he explained, "I've had to pretend to be one of them for a while now. I've learned what they're called."

"Ok, well, is what they're called really important right now?" Edward asked.

Elicia shrieked and pointed away from the shack. Approaching them were what appeared to be an army of Aparoids.

Fox pointed his gun at them, Falco and Slippy pulling their own guns out. Fox asked Edward, "You think you can protect us from behind?"

"Yea," Edward replied, finishing the transmutation circle.

Envy said from above them, "There's no use." They looked at him to see him looking in the other direction. They looked and saw another army of Aparoids coming at them.

"Brother. Why don't you join us?" Alphonse's voice echoed across the expanse. Everyone's muscles tightened as they turned towards the source of the voice.

"Elicia, Edward, why don't you join us?" Gracia Hughes asked from what beside Alphonse. They were followed by yet another army of Aparoids.

"Mommy!" Elicia cried.

Edward grabbed her. "No, Elicia. She's not the same woman."

Fox stated, "It was the metal. That gave away our position." He motioned to Edward's abandoned automail.

"There's too many!" Slippy called out.

Fox nodded. "ROB! Do you think you can get us aboard the Great Fox?"

Something must've replied, because Fox nodded and said, "Get us out of here!"

Their surrounding changed instantly, Edward still holding onto Elicia.

/AN

Every single time I imagined the ending of this in my head, I couldn't help thinking 'Beam us up, Scotty.' I don't even watch whatever show it comes out of. Lol

R&R Please!

AN/