"So, Ed, how long does it take to get to Resembool?" inquired Gaige.

"About 2 days, why?"

"Mostly just curiosity. But it's good that it will take so long."

"Why do you say that?"

"Well, with everything being so hectic, I barely got a chance to talk to Axton. And I would like to get to know you better as well."

"Oh, I see how it is. You want to chat up your boyfriend before your poor charge. I see how it is."

"Axton isn't my.. I mean! He's not my boyfriend! It's strictly platonic!"

"Right."

"Oh what do you know?"

"Hmm, young love is so beautiful, wouldn't you agree Edward?!"

Armstrong had stripped off his shirt and flexed his muscles as he said this.

"Did he have to strip to say that?" Asked Gaige.

"No. He didn't."

Armstrong replaced his shirt and sat back down. Gaige, Armstong, Ed, and Axton were sitting in a four person section of benches, two on either side facing each other. Ed and Armstrong had the window seats. Axton returned from getting food for the group.

Axton bit into a sandwich that he had gotten from the food cart.

"Man, this isn't that good, but it's still a lot better than anything on Pandora."

"I know right? It's making me nostalgic for food that wasn't shot the day before." Added Gaige as she bit into a stale cookie.

"Is food really that hard to come by on your world?" asked Armstrong.

"It's not so bad in Sanctuary, but out in the wastes its whatever you can hunt. And the local wildlife is… gamey at best." Replied Axton.

"And stomach turning at worst!" added Gaige, her expression recoiling at the memory of a meal best forgotten.

"If Pandora is so terrible, why live there? I know you said you were a fugitive Gaige, but what's your story Axton?" asked Ed.

"Got kicked out of the military. A border world like Pandora is the only place the Dahl Corporation wouldn't follow me."

"But you were kicked out?" added Ed, confused.

"Kid, the only way you leave the Dahl military is in a body bag or a wheelchair. The only difference is when."

"Sounds brutal. Why join a group like that?"

"See the galaxy, fight dangerous monsters and people, get paid, and a bunch of other crap the recruiter told me. Heh, that was over 10 years ago now."

"I see." Ed didn't know what to make of that.

"So, Major Armstong, did you serve in that Ishval war the Colonel was talking about?"

"Yes. Those are not happy memories."

"Was it as bad as he say it was? A full on genocide?"

"Indeed it was."

"Damn. My unit did shady things, but never a full on genocide. Though there were rumors about some of the other units."

"It seems both our militaries are capable of great atrocities."

"Tell me about it. War is hell, and all that, right?"

"Mmm. That's why after Ishval I resolved not to kill unless absolutely necessary."

"That's pretty noble of you. Though I sadly don't have the same luxury. Bullets are kinda fatal no matter how good a shot you are. People tend to bleed out even if you try not to kill em."

Armstong looked uncomfortable with where the conversation was going. He changed the subject.

"So, how did a lovely young lady such as you come to this world? I have heard the short version but I'd like to hear the full tale."

"It's… not something that I like to talk about. Axton, would you mind doing the honors?"

"I don't mind."

Axton related the events that had lead them to this point, briefly going over the story of Handsome Jack's takeover of Pandora. When he got to the digistream, however, he saw Gaige's eyes recoil in horror.

"So, we were going though the digistream, blackness closing in on us, when out of no-where, we see this huge stone gate, with a tree inscription on it. It opens up, and this giant sideways eye appears, and sends these damn tentacle hands after us. Weirdest thing I ever saw. So we…"

Ed, who had only been half listening till this point as he had heard this before, suddenly snapped alert.

"We get dragged into this gate, and the strangest thing happens. I start seeing all these army buddies I haven't seen for years. Battles that had to have been 6,7 years ago. Me meeting my Ex-wife. Then I see Gaige, Sal, Maya, and Zer0. Before I know it, it feels like the entire universe is pouring into my skull. Felt like my head was going to explode."

"You… you saw it?!"

"Saw what, Ed?"

"You saw the Gate of Truth?!"

"Is that what it's called?"

"That's not possible. You guys aren't alchemists! Wha… what happened next?"

"Well, just as I thought my brain was going to burst, it stopped. But I checked six and saw Sal's light get taken apart by those hands."

"…I see."

"What's wrong Ed?" asked Gaige.

"I have good news and bad news."

"Ok, spill it!" urged Axton.

"The good news is that Salvador's not dead."

"Wha..? That's great news!" cheered Gaige.

"Don't get too excited. The bad news is… Truth has him."

"…Truth?"


Salvador got up off the floor. His head really hurt, and all he could see was whiteness.

"Urgh. Did I drink too much Rakk Ale with Senor Mordecai again?"

No, he could remember everything clearly, like the fast travel about to be blown up.

"Where am I…?"

"What a good question!"

A white silhouette figure appeared in front of him. It had a black smokey outline and no features on its face. Suddenly the Rakk Ale theory seemed more likely.

"Who.. Are you?"

"Oh, I'm so glad you asked!" The white figure looked ecstatic to hear Sal say that. Just what the heck was going on…?

"I am called by many names. I'm the world. I'm the universe. I'm God. I am Truth. I am all. I am one. And I am also… You."

"You're.. Me? You're not me! I'm me! I'm Salvador!"

"Oh dear, It appears my new toll is a bit dense. Oh well, nothing I can do about that now."

"So, uh, what am I doing here?"

"A good question. See, you both do and don't belong here. On the one hand, you and your friends shouldn't have been able to come to this world. So you don't belong here. But, in order to get to this world, you have to travel though the gate. So you do belong here in that sense."

"Uhhh. What?"

"*sigh* It's worse than I feared."

"Look, I just want to go home. Can I go now?"

"I'm afraid I can't let you do that. See, you are the toll. That, and it gets boring here. I only have that kid to play with, and he's no fun without his soul."

Sal turned to his right to see a naked kid, looking rather weak.

"I don't suppose you guys have anything to eat around here?"

The kid glared at him harshly.

"I guess that was a stupid question. So…. Now what?"

"How about a nice game of Rummy?" asked the white figure.


"What do you mean, Truth has him?" asked Axton.

"When Alchemists commit a taboo, it opens the Gate of Truth. You gain incredible amounts of knowledge, but the cost is a part of your body is taken away. Al lost his entire body, and I lost my left leg when we tried to bring our mom back to life. The entity that guards that gate is sometimes called Truth. I don't know why you guys saw the gate, you're not alchemists. But I have no doubt that Truth took your friend as a toll for what you guys saw in the Gate."

Ed looked solemn and contemplative.

"So… how do we get him out?" Asked Gaige.

"That's what I and Al have been asking for the past three years. If we figure out how to get Al's body back, we can get your friend back as well.

"So there's hope, just a slim one?" Asked Axton.

"Yeah, and you just have to keep moving forward, just keep trying."

Axton and Gaige looked to each other and nodded.

"If you won't give up, neither will we." Said Gaige.

Ed stiffened up, a fire in his eyes.

"Then, I want to make a pact with you guys. You watch mine and Al's backs. In return, when we figure out how to get Al's body back, we'll get Sal back as well!"

"Hell, that sounds like a deal I can abide by. Can you abide that Gaige?" asked Axton.

"Damn sure I can! So just keep moving forward Ed, because we have your back covered!" Beamed Gaige.

She stuck her remaining arm out, and Axton put his hand on top of hers. Ed joined in with his last arm.

"Then the bond is struck. Don't chicken out on me half way now!" Grinned Ed.

"Please, when have the Vault Hunters ever run from anything, right Ax?"

"You bet your ass we see things through." Axton had a cocky smile on his face.

*sniff* "The beginning of a new friendship is always so beautiful!" Armstong his shirt off, and was crying fountains.

"…That guy had to ruin it, huh?" said Axton, Face palming.

"Oh, and one more thing. Gaige, apologies don't come easy for me.. But I… I want to say I'm sorry for asking like a jerk. I should have been more supportive of you, but I just wanted you gone."

"Don't worry about it. Anyone would be hard to approach after what you went through."

"Thanks."

They talked about this and that for awhile, then Gaige started filling in Axton on all the details of her adventures so far. It was getting to be late in the evening and Ed had nodded off.

"You're joking. They try to rape you, as soon as you get here?"

"I know right! At least let me get my composure back first!"

"I'm assuming our mutual good friend Deathtrap taught them some etiquette."

Gaige smiled. "You know it."

She told him about the events at the warehouse and its aftermath. Axton frowned, but was still happy.

"That was pretty badass. How were those soldiers?"

"Psh. Weaksauce. No shields, totally pathetic guns, barley even a grenade in the bunch."

"I kinda figured that from the guns I saw at HQ. But the colonel was right about one thing, charging off like that in unknown territory was dumb."

"I.. I know that now. I was just so upset…"

"Hey, I'm not here to judge you. That's in the past now. Though I do have one question."

"What's that, Ax?"

"Why didn't you use the local radio stations to boost your Echo's range?"

Gaige looked like she had been blindsided by an 18 wheeler.

"…I'm such an idiot! Why didn't I think of that?!"

"Hey, don't beat yourself up too much, you were in rough shape."

"Does that mean you were broadcasting?"

"Yup! Every two hours that I was awake, AM 104.36 was Radio Axton!"

"I'm such a dumbass!"

"Hey, don't worry about it. I'm the one with the survival training, not you."

"Speaking of, where were you before you showed up?"

"I was running a search grid, looking for any signs of you guys or your Echo signal. I was doing that when I heard you fighting Scar."

"I see. Let me guess. Your survival training had you, uh, "living off the land?""

"Don't say it in such an accusing tone! I did what I had to. If that meant a merchant lost an apple or two, so be it!"

"Hey, I'm just teasing. I'm just really glad you're safe, Ax."

"Same here, Gaige."

Both of them smiled at each other.

"We best get some shuteye, got to guard Ed tomorrow, right?" said Gaige.

They looked over at the sleeping Alchemist with a small smile.

"He's only 15, but he seems so much older."

"Yeah. Goodnight, Ax."

"Goodnight, sweetcheeks."

"Hey!"

"Sorry, couldn't resist."

Gaige awoke the next morning to find the stewardesses serving breakfast. She gladly devoured powdered eggs and toast as if it were a meal at a 5 star restaurant, and washed it down with acrid coffee. Axton and the major took sausage and bagels with a side of oranges. Al was still asleep, so Gaige saved him a donut and an apple. After breakfast service, Gaige felt the train slowing down.

"Major, why are we stopping?"

"This isn't an express line; there are stops to several villages along the route."

"I see."

Al had woken up and was munching on the apple Gaige had saved for him. As they pulled into the station, Armstrong saw a familiar face out the window.

"Dr. Marcoh! That is you, isn't it?! It's me, Alex Louis Armstrong from Central!"

turned around, and stared at the train where the voice had come from, then ran off in a panic.

"Friend of yours, Major?" asked Ed.

"He's from Central, a talented state alchemist. He was researching into possible medical applications of alchemy. But after the Ishvalan Civil War, he went missing, just disappeared."

"Let's go, Major. A guy like this could know some useful things about bio alchemy."

"Hey, Ed, Wait for us!" called Gaige.

They disembarked the train, and Armstrong retrieved Al from storage. They went to searching the town for Marcoh.

"Excuse me, have you seen this man?"Asked Armstrong to a Townsperson, holding up a sketch.

"That looks like Dr. Morroh to me."

"Wow major, you can really draw." Added Axton.

"The art of portraiture has been passed down the Armstrong family line for generations!"

"This Morroh guy, what's he to you guys?" Asked Gaige.

"He's our town's doctor. He came here after all our doctors were drafted in the war. He lives up on the hill over there if you want to meet him!" The man pointed out a house.

"Thanks, you've been a big help!" said Ed, and ran up to the house.

"Yo, Ed, Wait up!" called Gaige

A short run later, the four of them arrived at the house and climbed the steps. Ed pulled on the door.

"Um, hello?"

A gun appeared in the doorway and Ed barley dodged the shot in time.

Gaige and Axton reflexively drew their weapons.

"Wait, don't shoot!" Cried the Major.

"All right, who are you guys, and what do you want?! Have you come to take me back?" Marcoh kept waiving the revolver between the girl and the man with the guns aimed at him.

"Please, Doctor, calm down!" pleaded the Major.

"I don't want to go back, anything but that!" Marcoh's hands were shaking on the gun.

"Nothing like that, please listen!"

"Then you're here to silence me then! That's what those two are for then, huh?" Marcoh waived his gun at Gaige and Axton.

"I'll ask you one more time, please calm down!" Armstong threw the crate containing Al at Marcoh. Axton quickly seized his weapon that had been flung from his hand.

After a few minutes, they managed to calm him down and sat at a table together.

"So, you changed your name, and decided to live way out here in the countryside. If the rumors are true, you took top secret documents with you when you left. What possessed you to do it?" asked Armstrong.

"I couldn't handle it anymore. Order or no order, to have to dirty my hands researching that "Thing" was too much."

"The philosopher's stone."

All the alchemists in the room gasped.

"Philoso…What?" asked Axton.

"The Philosopher's stone. Alchemy is a powerful art, but it is not all powerful. But with the stone, it is said you can ignore those limits. We were searching for it in order to get our bodies back. " Explained Ed.

"The top secret materials I took were my research notes, and the stone itself."

"You have the stone?! It's here?!" exclaimed Ed.

Marcoh took out a vial from his jacket pocket, and poured the red contents out on the table. It gelled into a ball.

"How is that the stone?" Asked Ed.

"Just as the stone has many names, it has many forms. This is an incomplete product, however."

"It's just like the stone the false priest had in Liore. Even though it was a fake, it still amplified his powers immensely. If incomplete stones that powerful can be produced, who's to say a finished product can't be made? Doctor, I need to see your research notes!"

"Major, who exactly is this kid? And the girl and the soldier?"

"He's a state alchemist, and those two are his bodyguards."

"Him? But he's a child! And what kind of child needs bodyguards!? After the war, many state alchemists turned in their certifications' because they refused to be human weapons anymore. But now a child?"

"You think I don't know what I've signed up for? I know what I'm doing! If this is a mistake, then it's a mistake I have to make! There is no other way!"

After a brief explanation they continued talking.

"I see. So you've committed the taboo. Amazing, the ability to transmute a specific person's soul like this. Perhaps someone as talented as you could produce a complete philosopher's stone..."

"So...?"

"But I can't show you my research notes."

"Why not? Not even if it's to get our bodies back?"

"And to recover our friend!" pleaded Gaige.

"You must not seek after the stone! It's the Devil's research! If you seek the stone you will go through hell!"

"I've already been through hell!"Shouted Ed.

"Please. Please just leave."

The five of them walked back to the train station downtrodden.

"Are you sure it's ok to leave like this, Ed? We need that intel, right? I could beat it out of him if you want me to." Asked Axton.

"No. I don't want to get our bodies back at the cost of others."

"And Sal?"

"Don't worry, we'll find a way. I promise."

Axton shrugged. "You're the alchemist."

They made their way back to the train, and waited for it to arrive. Just as they were about to board, a voice stopped them.

"Wait!"

"Dr. Marcoh?" asked Ed.

"This is where my materials are. If you're sure you won't regret learning the truth, start looking here. Look closely, maybe you'll find the truth hidden within the truth. But, I've said too much already."

Marcoh handed Ed a note, then walked away.

"Well that was weird. Wonder why he changed his mind?" asked Gaige.

"Dunno, but glad he did." Said Axton.

They boarded the train, and resumed the trip to Resembool. Al was with them in the passenger compartment on the floor this time.

"So brother, what does the note say?"

"National Central Library, 1st Branch."

"I get it. Like hiding a tree in the forest. Finding one book in that giant library will be quite a challenge indeed." said Armstrong.

"Finally another clue about the stone."

Suddenly, the entire train lurched to the side.


"What was that!?"

Dr. Marcoh returned home to find a strange woman waiting for him.

"I've been looking for you, Marcoh."


The train had been shunted to a different line at high speed.

"Something's wrong here guys! This isn't the line to Resembool!" Cried Ed.

"What? What's going on then?!" Asked Gaige.

"I don't know, but it's probably not good!"

The train was rapidly approaching a valley ringed by grassy hills. As they entered the valley, an explosion thundered through the valley, causing a rockslide onto the tracks. The conductor was forced to slam on the brakes to avoid a derailment.

The passengers in the cars screamed, and were flung forward. Another explosion rung out, and a second rockslide occurred behind the train.

"Is everyone all right?!" called Armstrong.

"Oww, I think Al landed on me" called Gaige

"I'm really sorry Gaige! I can't move right now! Are you ok?"

"Yeah, but could you get someone to get you off of me!?"

Axton obliged, and lifted Al to the side.

"Thanks. You ok?"

"Fine. How about you Ed?"

"Oh, I'm just peachy. What happened?"

"In my professional opinion, this is an ambush. Or more specific, a train jacking."

"That's just great. We can't get a moment's peace around here, huh? So, now what?"

"Gaige, stay with Ed. Armstrong, would you mind checking the cars?"

Armstrong nodded.

"And what are you gonna do Axton?"Asked Gaige.

"I'm going to go greet the welcoming committee we're sure to have."

With that, he opened the window and jumped out.

"Ax, Wait!"

"Let him go. He's right; you and the Elrics should stay here. You're the only one who can protect them right now. You're armed, correct?" said Armstrong.

Gaige drew Riza's pistol and showed the Major.

"Then it is your sworn duty to guard them, right?"

Gaige snapped to attention.

"Yes, Sir!"

"Good. I'll be back shortly. Everyone! May I have your attention please! I am a State Alchemist with the military! Please make your way outside the train! There is an emergency, and you need to evacuate!" Armstrong shouted this to the crowd.

The civilians panicked and fled the train car. After the last of them had left, Armstrong went through the door to the next car, and sealed the door behind him with alchemy.

"So, that's it, huh? I'm useless to help." Moped Ed.

"I'm not exactly brimming with confidence myself. Unlike you, I've never been without an arm for more than a few minutes. And I don't have deathtrap, and my only gun is this peashooter I had to borrow from the Lieutenant." Gaige tried to force herself to smile.

"But! I'm not going to fail you again! I will protect you and your brother!"

"That's the spirit, Gaige!" encouraged Al.

"Thanks. I know you will." Smiled Ed.


Axton rushed up the nearest hill to get a grasp on the situation. He saw soldiers in blue uniforms like Armstrong's swarming the train. He zoomed in on one with his rifle, and saw a red arm band, and saw the same on the other soldiers.

"The rebels Gaige was talking about?"

They were rapidly approaching the train in droves. If he didn't do something, they would overwhelm the train, and there would be no telling how many civilian casualties there would be.

"Wake up, babes. It's time to go to work again!"

Axton deployed his turrets, one on the far hill, and one near himself. The turrets started ripping up the unarmored soldiers, and Axton took aim at the nearest unengaged Hostile and opened fire.

Armstrong went though the cars, repeating his warning and trying to get as many people clear as possible. As he cleared one, a stone fist came flying through the window, and knocked him out the other side.

"That was some punch. Who are you?"

"Ey, they call me the Rocky Alchemist. I'm known for my left cross!"

A 6 foot, black haired main stood before Armstrong. He had a pair of stone gloves over his hands, likely created with alchemy. He took a swing ant Armstrong, who dodged it easily.

"Not bad, you're fast for your size!"

"So, you want a duel then? You shall have a demonstration of the technique that has been passed down the Armstrong lien for generations then!"

He removed his shirt, flexed his muscles, and prepared a fighting stance.


Gaige, Al, and Ed were stuck waiting in the train car, with nothing to do. Gaige couldn't go fight, as she had to guard the Elrics. The Elrics were in no shape for a fight either.

"So, what do we do, Gaige? Just wait it out?" Asked Ed.

"As much as I hate doing that, that's the best plan. If I still had my arm I could do more… I guess we both could, huh?"

"Yeah. They couldn't have waited a day, huh? Then we would have had our limbs back!"

"Heh, I know right?"

Gaige was sitting facing the rear door, with Ed in the seat across from her. She suddenly saw movement through the window of the door. A man. He opened the door, and Gaige saw the distinctive red armband. A rifle pointed through the door.

"EDWARD, GET DOWN!"

Ed was shocked, but did what he was told and dove for the floor. The rebel stared to aim for Ed, when Gaige opened fire. Her aim was true, and five red spots appeared in the man's chest. He collapsed backwards, dead.

Gaige kept her weapon pointed on him, making sure he was really dead with another round to the head. She holstered her pistol in her SDU, and took the gun away from the man, like Axton had trained her to.

"Is…is he dead?" Asked Ed.

"Yes. You probably hate me now, huh?" Gaige hung her head, and her bangs covered her eyes.

"No. You saved my life. If you hadn't acted I would have been dead. Thank you."

"Sure. Let's get going. This place isn't safe anymore."

"What about Al though? We can't carry him."

"He'll be fine as long as he doesn't move. The soldiers will just think him a suit of armor."

"What are you saying?! I can't abandon Al!"

"Brother, its ok. Gaige is right. I'll be fine; you need to get to safety."

"..All right, if you say so Al. Let's go Gaige!"

"Right. Check the body; he might have a pistol you can use."

"…I'm not big on guns."

"This is life or death, Ed! Look, if you want, I'll do the shooting but you still need a way to defend yourself!"

"…Fine."

Ed searched the body, and sure enough, found a pistol. He put it in his waistband. Ed and Gaige headed for the door.

"Stay safe, Al. No moving!" called Gaige.

"It's not like I can leave this box!" cried Al.


Axton was making short work of the rebels outside. He had attracted their attention, and most of them were swarming him now. It was kind of hard to ignore a man that was slaughtering most of your comrades with ease.

The rebels poured fire from their rifles at Axton, but The Sham absorbed all the rounds without taking any damage to the shield.

"Come on, you'll have to do better than that! Gaige was right, you guys are weak sauce!"

Axton felt a new volley of fire hit the shield from behind. At least 20 men had taken positions on the ridge behind him, and were giving everything they had to try to kill them.

"That's not good enough!"

Axton charged up the hill, and closed to within 50 meters. He gave each man a burst from his Dahl Minigun.

"You get a bullet; you get a bullet, EVERYBODY GETS A BULLET!"

The ridgeline crumbled, and there were no survivors. Axton had taken care of most of the rebels on his side of the hill, but there were still some on the other side, so he redeployed his turrets over there. Axton climbed the hill, and saw a man with binoculars observing the battle with a scowl on the next hill over.

"So, that's their CO huh?"


Armstrong had been trading blows with the enemy Alchemist. He wasn't that good, in his opinion. But he was just buying time for people to escape, and so he did not finish him, as his battle drew more soldiers to his position where he could take care of them.

Suddenly, he saw a flash in the corner of his eye. Before he could look at it, however, Rocky threw another punch at him that he had to dodge.

"Come on; just go down so I can go home to Adrian!"

Armstrong was about to reply when Rocky exploded. The flash of light he had seen was Axton's turret, and it had fired a rocket barrage at Rocky, destroying him completely. His blood covered Armstrong, causing him to flashback to some rather nasty memories of Ishval.


Gaige was firing more rounds into another rebel. He too dropped dead.

"Where can we hide on this train Ed?"

"The livestock cars should be safe!"

"How much further?"

"Three more cars!"

Another soldier had found his way onto the train. Gaige dropped him quickly, but the slide of her gun propped open. She was out of ammo. She hit the release, dropped the mag, and soon discovered a problem.

"Shit!"

"What is it, Gaige?"

"I can't reload one handed!"

Just as she said that, she saw another solider outside boarding the train.

"GUN. NOW!"

Ed quickly passed her the weapon he had looted, and passed it to Gaige. She got a grip on it and fired just as the man raised his weapon.

"That was too close. Tell you what. I shoot; you reload for me, ok?"

"Deal."

They moved on to the next train car, and walked into a trap. The soldiers in the car had heard the shots, and prepared an ambush. There were five of them, and they opened fire on Gaige. Some of the rounds missed, others hit her shield. She knew she couldn't take too much of this though.

"Find cover!"

She ducked behind a bench, and Ed followed her. Gaige blindly fired around the corner to force the rebels to take cover. A close enough round caught one of them in the leg.

"You got that gun reloaded yet!?"

"Almost! This isn't easy one handed!"

"Hurry up! I'm almost empty!"

Gaige peeked out from behind cover, and nailed one of the rebels in the head. It was still 4 to one though, and she was empty again.

"Got it yet!?"

"Yeah!"

"Reload this gun then!"

Gaige took the freshly loaded pistol, and fired a couple more blind rounds. The man who was wounded in the leg caught another bouncing round in the chest, and was out of the fight.

"I don't have any more magazines!"

"Reach into my SDU, and just think "Ammo!""

Ed did as she commanded, and to his surprise, a magazine digistructed in his hand. He started reloading again. More rounds from the rebel's rifles tore into their cover. It wouldn't protect them forever, Gaige knew. She had to end this. She stood, and aimed the last five rounds at two of the men. She hit one in the head, and the other in the chest, before the sound of her shield breaking forced her to retreat from the last soldier.

Ed passed the freshly loaded gun to Gaige, and she emptied the entire magazine blind into the ceiling. One of the bouncing rounds found its mark, and killed the last rebel.

Gaige swapped guns again, checked her firing lane, and yelled "Clear!"

"Is it over then?"

"No. but I don't see anyone else right now. Let's get to the livestock car!"

"Right!"


Axton had made his way over to the next hill without the enemy CO seeing him. He was too distraught at the failure of his attack to be watching his flank. Axton greeted him with a right hook.

"Hey there. I'm guessing you're in charge of this little party."

"Who…! You're the guy that slaughtered all my men! How! I saw them shoot you!"

"Vladof Sham shield. When you absolutely, positively have to absorb every round fired at you, go Vladof! Accept no substitutes!"

"Why did you interfere? You're not Amestrian military, not in that uniform!"

"You attacked the train me and my friends were on. I just repaid the favor. Now, why did you attack this train?"

"There was supposed to be a local dignitary on board. We were going to kidnap him and ransom him off."

"Ransom? That's so lame! I was hoping you would tell me there was gold or weapons aboard."

"So.. What now? Are you going to kill me too?"

"Considered it. But I have a feeling the Military would reward me for the capture of an enemy CO, Right?"

The CO's face went pale.

"By the look on your face, I'm guessing I'm right." Axton smiled devilishly.

Half an hour later, Armstrong found Gaige and Ed hiding in the livestock car.

"Thank goodness you two are safe! I feared the worst when I saw you weren't with Alphonse." said Armstrong.

"Gaige saved my life. If she hadn't jumped to action I'd be dead." admitted Edward.

"Just doing my job, Ed."

Axton walked up with an unknown man.

"Who's that, Ax?" Asked Gaige.

"MFIC."

"The what?" asked Ed.

"The Mother-Fucker In Charge!" Smiled Gaige.

"In any event, help should be arriving shortly. I set up a signal." Armstrong said.

"What signal?" asked Ed.

Armstrong pointed at the hilltop closest to the main rail line. On top of it was an enormous bust of the Major, flexing his muscles.

"Well, that's one way to get people's attention…"said Axton.

"Major, you're too much, you know that?" added Gaige.

In another hour, MP's had arrived and taken control of the scene. Armstrong, Axton, and Edward gave their reports to the MP's and were cleared. Axton handed over his prisoner, and was informed there was a large bounty on the man. He merely needed to pick it up at a military office.

"So, now how do we get to Resembool?" Asked Al.

"Another train will arrive in the morning to pick up the civilians." Answered Armstrong.

"What!? Tomorrow? We can't wait that long, we have to get to central and investigate the philosopher's stone!" cried Ed.

"I said the civilians. We're military. I commandeered a truck from one of the MP's. We should make Resembool by this afternoon."

"You're the best, Major!"

"Well, I try."

In another two hours, they had reached Ed and Al's hometown.

"Granny, Is that who I think it is?" Asked Winry.

"I do believe it is. But it appears he has friends."

The five of them walked up the path to the house from the street.

"Oh dear, what have you boys done this time?"

"Sorry, a lot has happened. Can you fix us up?"

This is Major Alex Louis Armstrong, Gaige, and Axton."

"I'm Pinaco Rockbell."

She shook hands with the three of them. Gaige had to set down the box with her arm in it to do so.

"A pleasure to meet you, Miss." Said Axton.

"Likewise."

A wrench went flying towards Ed's head.

"Hey, I thought I told you to call before heading back for maintenance!"

"WINRY, ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME?"

"Welcome back!" Laughed Winry.

"Wow, You're girlfriend has some on arm on her." Teased Axton.

"SHE IS NOT MY GIRLFRIEND!"

"So, what's with the entourage Ed?" asked Winry.

"Were his body-"

Ed punched Gaige in the ribs to get her to shut up.

"They're just friends! We were hoping you could also fit Gaige here with an arm."

"Ed, you know as well as I do that the surgery and rehab takes years." Said Granny.

"Um, I had a prosthetic before, but I'm not sure if it's compatible."

Gaige kneeled down and rolled up her empty sleeve to show granny.

"Hmm. Never seen work like this before. But it looks like it should be compatible with a few modifications. Come on in, all of you."

They all went into the house, and explained the situation.

"Sorry about the arm Winry. It's a little smashed up."

"A little? I'm going to have to rebuild it from scratch!" Winry smacked Ed upside the head.

"And let me guess. It was Gaige, right? Your arm smashed up too?"

"Yeah."

"But I've never seen automail like this before… Who made it?"

"I did."

"Wha..? Then why do you need my help?"

"Because I don't have the parts I need to make a new one. Even if I did, I'm not sure if i could find someone who knows how to reforge it... It's what you would call a onetime thing."

"I see. Ed, I'm guessing you want this rush ordered so you can get to Central, huh?"

"Yeah. How soon can you have it done, a week?"

"Give us some credit ed. Three days." Said granny.

"Wait, you want me to pull thee all-nighters in a row? TWICE?! ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL ME?!" fumed Winry.

"Calm down dear. I'll handle the girl's arm." Said Granny.

"Um. I have a special request, if I may?"Asked Gaige.

"Yes, dear, what is it?"

"Can you put this in my arm, and connect it so that when I move my arm up, it sends an electric signal to it?" Gaige took the Project DT/W CLWZ module out of her pocket and gave it to granny.

"Hmm. That's an odd request, but I should be able to manage it."

"Thanks. It would mean a lot."

"Well, I can see it's getting crowded in here, so I'll go find us a campsite." Said Axton.

"Nonsense. Any friends of Ed's are welcome here. You're staying."

"Yes Ma'am."

"Hey, Ax." Said Gaige.

"Yeah?"

"Everything's going to be ok, isn't it?"

"Yeah. It is."