Thanks to everyone who reads. I do not own FMA or claim too.

Just allow me to continue telling you this story.

Chapter 9

Vital Report

It is late in the afternoon. Everyone is leaving work and heading home or to the bar. The sun is extremely hot this time of year. Drinks are being passed around left and right. On these hot days a drink is what really hits the spot. Everyone in the bar is laughing and having a good time. To the back is a table with three men seated. Empty glasses are all over the table. Two of the men are babbling back and forth like a couple of kids. The third stays silent and enjoys the talk.

"Boys this is great. Sitting here drinking with my best friend. Hey, I hope you don't mind I brought this new guy."

"Well of course not. If he is a friend of yours, then hell, let him get smashed like the rest of us."

"Hey isn't this place great? You have no worries, all the beer to drink, and plenty of money just rolling in from work."

"I know. I couldn't afford to get drunk like this if work wasn't paying so well."

The third man takes a drink laughing to himself.

"What's so funny pal?"

"I don't know, call it ignorance if you will. I certainly am enjoying everything you guys are. All these damn people going missing has me a bit worried."

"Hey you're with us. Stay beside us and you'll be fine."

"Oh great. I need a couple of guys to protect my manhood."

"It's our pleasure. A supporter such as yourself deserves to be around fellow fine gentlemen like us."

"I wouldn't need to if the damn military wasn't such a joke. Back when I served, we were soldiers who would die to protect people. Now with those damn politicians calling the shots and cowards like Mustang running the military, you can't even walk around any more."

"See I told you. He was a friend."

"Yeah, this guy is all right."

"Don't worry my dear friend. Soon the military will be strong again. We need people like you to be around. When the time comes, our leader will be back to take control."

"It doesn't matter who your leader will be. Without someone like Bradley to be our backbone, we are just lost."

"Like I said friend, don't worry. Our leader wont let you down."

"Well then, please keep talking. I promise you that you have my undivided attention." Says Lt Colonel Thomas.

Ed and Al are working every day in Rush Valley. They have captured five wanted men and are working on the sixth. Every one of them has been silent. After the fight between each one of them, no one even spoke a word to the brothers. Each time they brought them back to their command center Mustang would transport them back to Central. They often wondered what kind of treatment the General would give them. Just how badly was he being to get any information out of them?

"Brother, we aren't getting anywhere with these guys."

"I know. We've wasted too much time here. I hope this next guy will at least tell us something. It says here he is former military. He caused some great commotion and was let go after the military was taken over by the council. That is one thing all these guys have in common. All of them seem to have a problem with the current military."

"I'm sure the General has come to that conclusion already."

Back in Central, Mustang is sitting at home. He walks into his office and sits down at his desk. Laying across the desk is more paperwork about everything going on. A long day has finally ended and their fifth man from Rush Valley was a waste. He grabs some whiskey from a drawer and pours a large glass. Drinking lightly from it, he reads over the days' work. Riza walks into the room. Standing beside him she places a hand on the Generals shoulder.

"You need to get some sleep."

"Those boys haven't stopped yet. As long as they keep going, so will I."

"I am sure Ed sleeps. Just come to bed, I'm tired of sleeping alone every night waiting for you."

"I guess I must be getting bad to be lectured by a lower officer."

"I have lectured you for a long time and I keep hoping that some day it will sink in."

Roy finishes his drink and gets up. Riza heads for the door and the phone rings. Mustang rushes over to answer it but is stopped. She picks up the phone and gives a long sigh. This was a transfer call from Lior. Telling the General she leaves the room and sits down in the livingroom. Roy grabs the phone and sits back down at his desk.

"Sir, Lt Colonel Thomas reporting in."

"You better have a good reason for taking so long to call me Edward."

"Sorry Roy, I know I should have. You have no idea what is going on."

"It better be a damn good story."

Thomas starts telling Roy everything he has learned. Grabbing paperwork from his desk, Mustang makes notes of all of it. This does help a lot. He knew he was a hated man, but this amount of resistance was a bit unexpected. Men that far away being Bradley supporters? How did that factor into the missing people?

"Well, that is the report Roy. I am sorry it took so long to get back to you. I had no idea it would take this long to gain trust from these guys."

"It's alright. Where are they now?"

"Well after I met their little group, they suddenly lost the urge to walk around. I loaded them onto a truck heading to Central. I am sure you will have some leverage for you questions."

"Yes, this will be interesting. I always enjoy meeting members of my fan club."

"Alright enough of this business. Tell me, how is Ed and Al doing? I would be surprised if they are still investigating in Central."

"And this is why I wish you contacted me sooner."

"Don't tell me those two are giving you problems Mustang?"

"No, Thomas, they are not. I haven't seen those two boys for four months now. They are capturing criminals we believe may be involved."

"Just stop right there Roy. Tell me everything that has happened."

Mustang pours himself another glass of whiskey. Only this time leaving the bottle next to him. Slowly he goes over everything. From the brothers investigating, to Al being abducted. He also explains that Ed is now a Major in the military. Thomas is listening intensely to Mustang. While on the phone he is grabbing all his things and throwing them into bags. He has to stop and sit down when Roy tells him about Al being in a suit of Armor. He knew Al used to be in armor before. He forces himself back up still listening to Mustang. He felt his blood boil at the thought of all this happening when he was away. Finished packing he stops Roy from talking.

"Tell me Roy, where did you send my nephews?"

After the phone conversation he slams the phone down and walks to his truck. Throwing the bags in the back he gets in and starts driving to the nearest train station. Those boys don't have to do this alone. He knew that he could provide some level of help. Seeing how serious the men were here, he could only imagine that their luck would run out soon if they kept this up. Arriving at the train station he books the first train toward Rush Valley. He sits down and patiently waits for the train to come.

"I will not let any more family die while I do nothing."