Chapter Ten: A New Assignment

"You six are a magnet for trouble. Especially Rebecca, Lizzey, and Ed," Roy said, when he arrived. He had just been given a full account of what happened by you and Ed.

"Who was that guy Colonel?" you asked.

"He was Colin Brineman, a renowned crook, murderer, who happens to hold military secrets we must extract from him. Lt. Colonel Levy and Second Lt. Johnson were assigned with finding him in the East. We never thought he'd show up here in Central."

"Well we have to find him!" you said.

"We've already sent out teams to track him down," Roy said.

"What kind of secrets does he know, Mustang?" Ed asked.

"That's why they're secrets, Ed. You aren't supposed to know them," Al said.

"Now I have to write up another report about this," Roy sighed. "It seems that everytime you bop along, Liz, I have to write a report."

"What's wrong with that?" Al asked.

"He has to actually work," Ed said.

"Shut up, shorty," Roy said.

"Arg! Don't call me short!" Ed yelled as he lunged toward Roy. You grabbed him to hold him back. You ended up tackling him to the ground to keep him from attempting to kill Roy. "Lemme at him!"

"If you get at Roy, Rebecca's gonna kill you! And Al will give another long obnoxious speech!" you said.

Al glared at you.

"You're right," Ed said. He stopped struggling and you both got off the ground. He jumped up and attacked Roy.

"Eddy! Stop hurting Daddy!" Hillary cried.

You shake your head as Ed falls, slightly singed.

Four Months Later

"Yeah, he came in for a minute and told me," Roy muttered into the phone. He then slammed it down on the hook. "I thought I'd never see the day."

"Jean engaged? I met Lynnea once, she seemed like a girl with common sense," Maes commented.

"Well it is the first girlfriend he's kept for more than two weeks…" you said. You are sitting on a chair in Roy's office in front of Roy, who is sitting at his desk. Maes was looking out the window.

"I wonder how Rebecca's doing. Is it a boy or a girl?" Maes asked.

"Girl," Roy answered, shuffling papers.

"What is her name gonna be?" you asked.

"I don't know. A few days ago it was Diane but you know how pregnant women are, always changing their minds…"

"I'm going to tell Becca you said that!" You reached for the phone on his desk but Roy stopped you.

"On your own time," he growled. You laugh as Roy goes back to shuffling papers, occasionally stopping to read one. "Oh yes. There is an assignment for you. With three months of combat training, I think you can handle one. Brineman is still on the loose, and has been seen with homunculi not far from here. Full Metal will be going with you, along with Lt. Colonel Levy with a few squads of troops. And no mistakes this time, okay?"

"Ha ha," you said as you took the manila folder and examined the contents. "Haven't seen Ed in a while, wonder how he is," you added to yourself.

"Car leaves at 2:30, tomorrow afternoon. You'll meet the others there," Roy said.

"Okay, see you and tell Becca hi for me!" you call over shoulder as you walked out of the room.

The Next Day

2:30 PM to be exact…

"Jeep ride!" Edward yelled. Then he and Al started cracking really bad jeep jokes and laughing hysterically.

"Not to bright, eh?' you mumbled to Kristin, who was walking with you.

"Yeah, but they're hot. It makes up for it," she replied. You nod in agreement.

"Hello, my fair ladies! Where to art our company goes?" Daniel asked.

"Huh?" you and Kristin simultaneously ask.

"Nevermind…" Daniel walked off to his troops. You grin evilly to Kristin as you get an idea.

"Oh, you're so bad?" Kristin questioned.

You sneak behind Ed and whisper, "Boo," in his ear.

He jumped and screamed, "Who the devil!" He turned around mid sentence and then exclaimed, "Liz!" while giving you a big hug.

"Miss me that bad?" you asked, hugging him back.

"No!" he said, stepping away.

"Oh fine!"

"Come on! You two are the last ones!" you heard Al call out. Everyone was crammed into two jeeps.

There were only two spots left in the second jeep. Everyone else was on the first one, so it was just you and Ed and a bunch of soldiers you didn't know. The only one you recognized was Havoc, but he was sitting on the other side.

As the jeep started moving, you got really uncomfortable.

"Ed!" you said. "Move your arm! You're elbowing me in the side!"

"Sorry," he said. He lifted his arm and stuck it around your shoulders. "Better?"

"Almost. Don't cross your legs." He scoffed but did as you said.

"Anything else you'd like to improve about my posture?" he asked, getting irritated.

"No."

"Have you seen Becca recently?" Ed asked.

"No. I tried calling her yesterday but Roy stopped me. Have you?" you replied. Ed shook his head. "I don't know if I should be worried or mad because—" the jeep hit a bump in the road, sending you flying in the air. You landed on Ed you tried to get off, but the jeep hit another bump.

"I hate bumps," you said, after a few more bumps. You finally got back in your seat to hear Ed muttering.

"Dang, you got hard elbows…" he muttered. You elbowed him in the side just for good measure. "Oww…"

Finally after about forty-five minutes, the jeep lurches to a stop in front of a house; a very old house.