WOOH! I feel so proud being able to update so much of this in a day!

Beady eyes followed Aaron as he walked through one of the cities in Creta. Amestris had given back a good chunk of land, land taken far before to any of their births, but the two countries still weren't on great terms.

A chill traveled up Aaron's spine. Was there something behind him? He whipped around to see nothing but his escorts. Aaron sighed in relief.

"Something wrong, sir?" A greasy haired first lieutenant asked.

"No, I suppose its all the tension in the air, it has me paranoid."

"Well it shouldn't be too far now," The other, a brunette second lieutenant informed Aaron.

"I appreciate this, really," The polite Elric said.

"Think nothing of it."

"Yeah, anything for the son of Fullmetal."

Aaron blushed slightly. It was because he was the son of someone famous? What if he'd been anyone else?

Finally, Aaron and his men reached the campsite where, not only his father, but also a number of other soldiers were stationed. "Over here, sir."

Aaron nodded and ducked inside the tent that his first lieutenant was beckoning him to.

Immediately, his father was looking him up and down. "I knew it wouldn't be long before you decided to show up," Said he.

"This was an opportunity I simply could not ignore, Brigadier General Elric."

Edward winced. He'd expected to hear Aaron's usual "father." Instead, he was stung by Aaron being so painfully formal. "You know hafta call me 'brigadier general,' ya' know."

"Yes, I'm aware of that, sir."

Painfully formal. Painfully polite. Painfully…

Edward sighed. He grabbed a stack of papers from his trunk and handed them to Aaron. "Here, this is everything we've got on the case so far."

Aaron nodded, reaching for the papers.

Edward yanked the papers back. "Wait. Once we find your sister and bring her home safe, will you leave the military?"

"That, sir, is my own personal matter; it's none of your concern." Aaron said flatly.

"This is a life I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. Everyone hates us, I just don't want you to be miserable."

"Then why do you stay?" Aaron asked, now curious.

"For me, well, it's the only life I know." The man handed his son the stack of papers. "You're grown now, so choose for yourself; just make the right choice."

Aaron nodded, reading over the papers. Then his stomach turned.

"Army of possibly brainwashed chimera?" He read aloud.

"Some as old as their late twenties, some as young as six and seven," Edward said with a nod. "But, most of them are in their later teens."

"Amongst them is my sister, correct?"

"It's possible."

"Then where do we begin?"

"Here, in the desert, the outskirts of the hearth of the country. This is apparently where most of the chimera have been spotted, by the common folk."

Aaron rolled up his sleeves. "Then let us begin."