Myself, Fullmetal, Alphonse and Winry all gathered in the front room of the small house, it was time for answers. Winry was servicing Fullmetal's arm and Alphonse was sitting in a polite and upright position, not reflecting my own slouched and thoughtful pose.

"How long will it take to fix my own arm?" I needed to be ready to go now.

She stopped working for a second but didn't look at me, "Two days,"

"Okay," It was a start.

Fullmetal shuffles himself into a position where he could see me.

"Where are you from, Lieutenant?"

"Briggs,"

"What was your alchemist name?"

"I am the Building Block Alchemist,"

"Why?"

"I can harvest most objects for their basic materials with little effort and I build structures,"

"You lost your arm?" He motioned toward the in proportionate metal on my side.

"Yeah, a bear," Better to answer his questions and get it over with.

He the stopped asking his questions and stared at me, not looked past me, but actually stated intently into my eyes.

"Why red?"

"Hmm?"

"Your eyes. They're a strange colour,"

"Yeah, I was born like it, nothing weird or interesting behind it,"

"Oh," He seemed genuinely surprised, but not convinced of my reasoning.

He turned his head away once more and Winry furiously tightened a bolt that attached his lower an upper arm.

"Done," She smiled and wiped her forehead with her arm.

"Great," Smiled Ed back. He got up and stretched all the parts before giving Al a look and nodding toward outside. They were close, I hadn't seen anything like it before. They spared no time and ran outside and began to fight each other, it looked playful but intense. I followed each of the boys' movements.

"I can start your arm now then Lieutenant," She looked as if she was trying to please me.

"Oh, good, we should be spending lots more time together then." I grinned at her and offered my hand, she took it and yanked on a lever until the arm broke free.

My smile soon turned to a grimace, "Ow,"

"Sorry, I thought you were ready,"

"As ready as I ever would be, don't worry," I smiled weakly and she blushed. She fed the arm through the small part of material that was my sleeve and put the automail onto a table and got up. She blushed and bowed at me.

"Could you take off your shirt please?"

"Oh, sure," She practically ran away from me as I slipped the material off of me and chucked it to one side. I had my guns in their holster around my torso and I took one out to check the barrel and bullets. I lost track of time taking it apart and I heard someone gasp behind me. I turned my head and saw Winry, she was holding many components of the arm she needed.

"Is everything all right?"

"Oh, yeah, it's just, your back..."

I looked back at my gun and began putting the parts together again.

"Yeah, I've had my fair share of violence," I holstered by gun and turned round to hide the scars that covered my back. "I have found that torture is not as glamorous as in the movies,"

"I'm sorry," She was tearing up, I don't do well with crying.

"Uh, don't worry, Winry, I did it for the country, got some great postcards,"

Somehow my weak humour worked and her face lifted slightly.

"You love your job?"

"I guess, I love respect because of who I am, I like recognition, and power,"

"Power?"

"I can run this country properly, I know I can, the fuhrer is the only one standing in my way. Not for long though," She sat down and placed the parts on the table with the ready assembled arm and I say next to her.

"I would like to come with you," Winry was timid in her demand.

"Are you sure?" I knew she was sure anyway, she wanted to look out for the Elric's. Nothing I could say would stop that.

"Yes," She breathed and got to work on my arm.

"Okay," I sat back and got comfortable, I wonder what Central Command would say about this. We'll see.