Roy Mustang slammed the receiver down, a vein in his forehead pulsating visibly in his irritation.
"Easy on the phone, sir," Riza Hawkeye reprimanded coolly. "It hasn't done anything to you."
But Mustang wasn't listening to her. "That insufferable Hughes," he grumbled, his gloved fists clenched in frustration. "The nerve…"
"The Lieutenant Colonel is only trying to do what's best in the midst of a serious situation, Colonel Mustang, sir," the fair-haired woman replied.
"If he's so determined to do what's best," Roy growled, "Then why did he just call to tell me that his daughter had learned a new word!"
"Really?" Riza asked casually, a hint of interest poking through. "What did she learn how to say?"
"'Pyroymaniac'" the Colonel quoted through gritted teeth.
Riza Hawkeye's eyes widened, but she remained dutifully in the "at ease" position, cleverly holding her tongue.
"Clearly it was Maes's idea of a lame joke. Anyway," Roy began anew, lifting a stack of papers off his desk and wagging them at the blonde purposefully, "This is only half the files we sent for. The rest are somewhere in the Central Library. I want them found."
"Yes, sir. I'll have them sent for right away."
Roy clapped a hand to his face, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Something's up over there. It's like they've forgotten the Eastern Headquarters even exists. They've stopped providing us with updated information as well. If Hughes would just tell me something useful once in a while…"
"Perhaps he's been withholding information to protect you, sir," Riza suggested.
"If that's the case," he said gravely, "Then we have a bigger problem on our hands then I thought."
The two of them reflected in silence. Suddenly Roy Mustang snapped his fingers as if struck with an idea.
"I've got it!" he exclaimed, while Riza jumped backward in alarm.
"S-sir! Please don't do that so carelessly with your gloves on!" she choked out, her nerve failing her.
"Right, sorry," Mustang apologized with a slight grin, "Don't want your face torched off, do you?"
"No, I certainly don't, sir," she said, annoyed that he found his own negligence amusing.
"Lieutenant, in the meantime, I've thought of something for us to look into." He clasped his hands together and rested his elbows on his desk.
"Sir?"
"The incident over in Africa."
"Africa, sir?" Riza inquired, her voice rising incredulously. She looked exasperated. "What could possibly be over there, sir?"
"The Gibraltar military base," he said cunningly, knowing full well she hadn't the faintest clue of that which he spoke.
"The military has a base there?" she asked, her curiosity aroused.
"Not our military," Roy answered her, watching as her confusion became evident. "If you think our military is the only one worth paying attention to out there, you need to realign your thoughts."
Riza didn't respond, so the Colonel went on in a low voice.
"It's none of our business, really, but there's something happening. Word travels fast, even to remote countries like this one. There've been rumors, Hawkeye. Rumors of huge machines that can be piloted into space. There are heavy conflicts in that part of the world right now, and even neutral territories like Helioplolis have been targeted."
"Heliopolis – you mean part of the Orb Union?" Riza frowned. "I don't know much about what's been going on, other than the fact that a war is taking place. I don't understand how you know all this, Colonel, sir. Isn't it considered treason to —"
"Lieutenant, listen to me. This could have more of a connection to us than anyone thought possible. Years ago, we confiscated top secret reports from Dr. Marcoh involving the experimental creation of a Philosopher's Stone in that region."
Riza gasped and looked Roy in his dark eyes. "The two Elric boys."
"Yes. We may as well look into it while we have the time," He paused.
"But is it safe to tell the Elric Brothers, sir?"
"Who said anything about telling them, Lieutenant Hawkeye?" Mustang asked slyly, one eyebrow raised. "I have no intention of putting them in any danger. What Ed wants to run headfirst into is his business, but when he gets himself killed it won't be at my hands. Until then, I can look into it for him in my free time."
"But why would you do that, sir? I thought you said the stone was…"
"I've become quite fond of both those boys," Roy confessed. "Though I would never say that to them directly. I have faith in them. If there's a way to find a legitimate imitation of the true Philosopher's Stone, I want to give them that opportunity. I believe they will find a way to use it to help not only themselves, but the greater good as well. They've worked hard."
"Sir," Riza murmured, a strong appreciation for her commanding officer reflected in her tone.
"Hawkeye," he spoke without warning, "Have you ever heard the term 'Coordinator'?"
"A myth, sir," she replied at once, her mind still on his earlier suggestion.
"No it isn't," he denied, very softly, so soft in fact that the Lieutenant barely heard him. He looked her in the eye. "Enhanced humans. Humans more intelligent and powerful than any human being of a natural birth," he explained in a hushed voice. "They're capable of designing weapons more powerful than anything we alchemists could compare with."
"How is that relevant, sir?" Hawkeye questioned him, still unwilling to believe his words.
"I don't know, Lieutenant," he said. "I don't know yet, and that's what worries me."
