Chapter 4

"Risembool?" My face grew steadily redder as I spat over the counter at the unsuspecting messenger. "I've only just got here!"

The man in uniform, formal compared to my current jeans and black shirt, handed over a crisp, white sheet of paper that contained the details of my newest assignment. The form was titled 'Escort to the Fullmetal Alchemist' and underneath it had an asterisk with the following 'To be certified by Colonal Mustang and passed by the Fuhrer King Bradley'

Just my luck, rained on by the higher ups themselves.

For the first time the man spoke through the bullet proof glass and not for the first time I got steadily annoyed. "Your place, lieutenant is under the likes of the Colonel. If you remember. It is important that you listen and execute orders accurately,"

That wouldn't be the only thing I would be executing accurately.

"Fine," I barked and proceeded back to my headquarters to get dressed.

I walked across the corridor to a lift that eventually took me down to another, similar passageway with row upon row of doors. My own door was at the back of the hall and as soon as I opened the door I kicked of my trainers in random directions. A quick glance from the corner of my eye brought me to the little table on the right of my doorway. On it was a folded note on stiff paper that looked like a small card.

I opened it up to read;

"Brother was happy about your visit, I look forward to your accompaniment to Risembool"

Alphonse Elric

I smiled to myself as I imagined Al bowing toward me, I'll bet Fullmetal doesn't know anything about this. The thought comforted me as a showered and changed into my uniform before I entered my bedroom and began to pack.

A knock sounded at my front door and I went to investigate, I undid the latch and opened the door to see a soldier standing formally with a telegram in his hand. I took it quickly and the man in uniform quickly walked away and I shut the door behind him. The telegram was an A4 piece of paper with a short sentence written in small letters.

It read 'Train to leave at earlier time of 11:00 AM'

A fleeting look brought me to curse at the current time of 10:50. Crud.

I quickly shoved the contents of my drawers into the bursting bag and ran to the front desk. The key in my hand was, not so gracefully, dropped onto the counter and I rushed out the door.

Damn. I wasn't gonna make it, until...

A sleek, black car screeched onto the patch of road in front of me and the door swung open.

"Lieutenant, get in!" A blonde women shouted, it was Riza. I would have hidden my pleasure at seeing her, but my heart skipped a beat and I grinned at her stupidly. Her look said otherwise and I hurriedly chucked my bag onto the seat then joined her in the front.

I kinda had the urge to say something witty like 'mush' or 'onward' but she revved the car and I could do nothing but shut my mouth and try and keep my head from becoming connecting with the headrest.

It took a whole 7 minutes to get to the station and I barely glanced in her direction as I thanked her and flashed another smile before barely jumping onto the train and sitting next to a sleeping Fullmetal and a reading Alphonse.

"Morning Lieutenant," smiled Al and I exhaled loudly.

"Yeah, morning, what are you doing in Risembool?"

"Oh, I'm sorry you didn't know," He sounded truly apologetic.

"No, it's okay, really," I smiled at him

"We are going to see our friend Winry, it has been a while and Ed broke his arm. Again," There was a sheepish smile in his voice. "Well, thanks for coming,"