They were to meet up with their contact in two days, the unit in three. The only place left for them to explore and memorize was the trade district, a maze of stalls and shops in the heart of central Drachma. They decided to leave this area until last since it was the biggest and most crowded place in probably the whole of Drachma. Casually walking around the streets, finding the best places to run and hide, not very elegant of the two highest ranking officers in the Amestrian military but it was necessary what with all their eat and runs. They walked through the busy crowds of a chilly afternoon taking mental notes of high profile shops, historic buildings, streets, turns and alley ways. They even stopped to examine the produce, Aerugonian, Cretish, but unsurprisingly, nothing Amestrian. All trade routes were immediately shut down when Drachma first attacked the northern border. If anything was even remotely Amestrian it would have been smuggled in and even then kept hidden away from law-abiding eyes on the black market. They did spot Xingese, but was clearly a fake on closer inspection. Well at least their fabricated story would have technically made more sense, especially by how much a fake item is worth. There were times the two men would spot a small group of soldiers doing their rounds. Luckily the two men were wearing hats so their identity wouldn't be as obvious, but they still hid their face, turning their backs to the unsuspecting patrol men as they walked past. Even if they weren't the guards that had chased them from the first day they arrived they weren't going to take any chances.
The two Amestrians took a break, standing under an arch to the side, watching as the crowds walked past when someone caught Roy's attention. He stretched his neck to try and get a better view, almost walking back into the crowds when Ed grabbed his arm.
"What is it?"
"I think I've just seen someone.." His eyes darted through the sea of people to find the face once more.
"Really? Well I have too, it's something called a bustling market. Seriously James you need to be a bit more specific."
Roy ignored the younger man's sarcasm.
"Is it one of our unit?" Ed tried to get something out of him.
"No.." Before he could say any more his eyes locked onto said person. He pointing to someone in the crowd
"That's one of our missing Intelligence officers."
Ed's eyes and head darted from side to side in attempt to spot one of the missing Amestris soldiers until Mustang's fingertips grasped lightly around his chin, turning him in the correct direction.
"The one in the dark green shirt, black pants." Ed's eyes caught on and began following.
"I don't recognise him. He's not one from the list."
"You shouldn't, he's been missing for three years. I guess it's good to see that he's alive."
"What do you want to do?" Ed's teal orbs locked onto Roy, who hadn't taken his sights off the man. "We don't know if he's one of the rogue officers."
"We can't lose him. We need to talk to him, but he may of broken contact because he was close to being found out. We trail him from a safe distance, see what he does and try to speak to him on his own."
Mustang took the lead with Ed close beside him. Their assignment was to capture two known live traitors and investigate the two suspected dead ones. But Roy wasn't going to let this opportunity slip. Amestris needed 'all hands on deck' against the dangers filling into Amestris from Drachma. There was a very good reason why the country itself had over forty undercover officers in Drachma alone working to keep Amestris safe. Three suspected rouge soldiers and a citizen was a problem, they didn't need any more. They followed the man through the side streets before he turned, proceeding into the poorer district. The two Amestrians were relieved in a way that after days of nothing but law breaking just to survive they were finally able to follow up on a lead, even if it wasn't part of their original assignment. The clothes they were wearing that day were tatty enough that they didn't stick out, but instead blended in perfectly.
The man suddenly started running, did he spot them? No, they were still unnoticed. Ed and Roy immediately took off after him, the younger of the two men sprinting into the lead to catch up. He had gone beyond caring if they got seen now, it's not like anyone would recognise them, only the very squad he was part of would have an idea. Snaking through the alleys and warehouses Ed lunged and caught the man, both falling onto the floor before a short scuffle breaks out, forcing Ed to drag him down a dead end into a small abandoned hut. The metal roofing and panels were all heavily rusted as corrosion took it's heavy hold. Holes in the roof let whatever dim light shine to the ground in beams. Sheltered in the shadows he slammed the man hard into the wall, his ex automail arm pressed fiercely against the man's throat, leaving him just enough room to breathe with a small beam of light penetrating the darkness, focusing on the petrified man's face. Pale skin, short chestnut hair, hazel eyes. He didn't look that much older than Roy.
"Calm down! We just want to talk!" Ed tried to calm the man's need to escape.
"I told yer, I got nothin'!" He tried to push Ed away with no avail as he continued to struggle.
"Relax Derek."
Fullmetal noticed the panic in the man's eyes as soon as the name, which clearly was his real identity, was called out by the man behind him.
"Y-you got the wrong guy! I'm Harrison! Harrison Byfield!" He shrieked as his attempt to get free of Ed's grasp was easily nullified, but now he was incredibly desperate to get away.
"First Lieutenant Derek Hachmar, Central Intelligence Officer under the guidance of Colonel Grett Reid, at ease we are not your enemy."
Ed kept a close eye on the man's features, noticing not only the panic, but now fear, the fear of being discovered who he really was.
"You got the wrong guy!"
Ed turned his head towards the General as he walked through the threshold into a beam of light to let himself be known, taking off his hat, not that he was that easily recognisable with that blonde hair.. The younger man had to admit that his superior looked menacing, like one of the Amestris interrogators as he stepped into the light. Someone you don't want to mess with - mind you that was the Flame Alchemist through and through, you got on his bad side you pay the consequences, yet he was the most kindest and loyal man when you got to know him, always looking out for his unit. Ed lost count the amount of times he assisted the then Fullmetal Alchemist through his search for the Philosopher's stone and even up to the moment now their team work had become the strongest combination in Amestris.
Ed turned back to Derek, clearly still unable to recognise the man one rank under Führer, even though the General had now ruffled his hair back to the style it originally was. He searched the man's pockets, something he should have done in the first place. Wallet, pencil, cigarettes, paper, flip knife and.. Ed smirked holding the thin case between his finger and thumb before throwing it to Roy.
The General caught it with ease as the light glistened off the metal box, flipping the top of the casing open and quickly slid his thumb over the wheel causing a flame to burst from the sparks.
Holding the lighter out at arm's length "Do I really need to do any more?"
Derek's eyes widened, now with shock "Mustang?"
Another thought crossed Ed's mind Why didn't he tell him his name in the first place? Then he suddenly remembered Roy likes to make a show of himself, once again he wants to inflate his already massive ego.
"Sorry for the intrusion First Lieutenant" Snapping the lighter shut.
"What are you doing here?"
"Intelligence, just like you were until we lost contact over three years ago...Edward" Roy quickly swiped his left hand telling Ed to let him go and back away.
The older Elric took his place next to his commanding officer taking his time to look through the belongings he confiscated.
"Edward.. Elric?...I thought you left the military.."
Ed didn't even raise his head as he began to search through the wallet "Change of plans. My presence was required a little longer." Not that the man didn't need to know the real reason why he stayed. That was only his and Roy's business.
"You going to tell me the story Derek?" The superior officer folded his arms.
"I infiltrated the group I was assigned to investigate, I had been sending messages back to central for a couple of months when I noticed that they sent someone to follow me and they've been doing it ever since.."
Throughout that not so very detailed statement Roy noticed that he never took his eyes off Ed or, more importantly, what he was doing. Something in that wallet was making him nervous.
The temporary brunette pulled out a substantial amount of paper money, it was straight away something to be suspicious of, before taking a good look at the fake identification from when his mission was assigned. It was then his index finger of his right hand glided across a small bump just on the inside crease. On a leather wallet that was odd, especially when the stitching was a lot more rougher then what it should have been. Taking out the flip knife he carefully cut into the fabric from one end to another revealing another compartment containing some very small photographs. Roy made the mistake of quickly glancing down at his subordinate just as Derek smirked.
Ed's arm suddenly raised over his General's head, blocking a rather feeble attempt at someone trying striking him with a wooden bat.
His teal orbs looked into Mustangs "Seriously Roy? I can't believe you didn't even attempt to block that.."
Roy smirked with both men still keeping eye contact as Ed kicked their attacker in the stomach sending him back out through the door frame where he once came.
"Having a bodyguard does have it's perks." Mustang finally replied before looking back just in time to see Derek breaking through a panel to the side, making his escape.
Ed quickly bolted out the door, striking down the previous attacker once more, Mustang only a few feet behind as they chased their target through the busy crowds. Men, women and even children were pushed out the way as the man desperately tried to get away.
Leaping over obstacles Ed was closing in on the target and lept to tackle him once again when he suddenly turned at the last moment leaving Fullmetal to crash in to two people, who were going about their everyday lives. A couple who were busy admiring the little knick knacks and trinkets on one of the market stalls where now in a heap with Ed on top. Before he could get to his own feet Roy grabbed his coat and pulled the younger man from the pile of bodies and back to his feet to resume chasing. The Flame called out an apology to the two others still dazed on the floor before the male called out for them to stop, no doubt to either give Ed a verbal bashing or start a fight of his own, to protect his dignity and the revenge for his lady. But the two Amestrians weren't going to stop for anybody and began to close the gap to the fleeing man. Their knowledge soon prevailed as they knew he was leading himself to a dead-end. Turning the corner once again the two men noticed Derek had stopped running and instead was looking at them with a large smirk plastered all over his face.
"You going to tell us what the real story is Derek?" Roy bellowed before he was grabbed from behind and pushed hard into the stone wall just to the side of him, his face connected hard with the brick work. He could feel the skin ripping followed by a sharp stinging sensation on his left cheek as the grit entered the wound. His eyes made contact with Ed's who received the exact same treatment, both men pinned by force. A hand on each of their heads, another keeping their arms tight behind their backs, whilst full body weight was used to properly keep them in place, only inches apart in a way that they wouldn't be able to see who else was involved.
"Well well well.." Derek's voice came out exhausted. The two Amestris soldiers' eyes were still connected hoping the other would think of a good plan to escape.
"If I hand you two to the Drachman army I will be paid handsomely. General Roy Mustang, the Flame Alchemist and Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist. Two high-ranking Amestrian soldiers, deep in Drachma territory on intelligence gathering. Enough to start an all out war between the two countries."
"Why have you betrayed Amestris?" Ed called out, Roy could easily see the anger in his eyes.
"Betrayed? Fullmetal I'm doing Amestris a favour. Such a country that is run by power-hungry men that it's destroying a once beautiful country! Amestris is dying and I'm helping to put it right!"
Roy sighed "Says the man who joined the 'power hungry' cause. Correct me wrong First Lieutenant, but if I recall correctly you've been under the guidance of Colonel Reid for a large number of years, helping us defend the borders from the Drachman army. The very country you are attempting to assist now."
"That's true, but my intentions was to gather enough information on the Amestris military."
"And that took you what? Ten years? Forgive me for not being sympathetic. But at your rank you wouldn't have exactly got a great deal of confidential information, on fact you probably got none."
Derek gritted his teeth "I don't need you alive to claim my reward Mustang, you'll be just as good dead." The pressure placed on Roy's head increased greatly.
"As would you for your treachery." A female voice bellowed from street they once came. Roy and Ed didn't even need to see who it was that was coming to their aid, instead they just smirked at each other.
The two men holding Roy and Ed let their grip loosen for a mere second, but it was enough for the Amestrians to push back and break free from their grasp. Ed immediately headed straight to Derek as Roy, Riza and Kain tried to detain the two assailants. The traitor began to run, but didn't get far with his path blocked by the river that ran through town. He wasn't going to go down without a fight as the two men began throwing punches and kicks, Ed taking the upper hand.
Derek's movements were beginning to slow. The traitor knew it was only a matter of time before he is at the mercy of the highly respected military officers. One of his cronies had been detained. The female and the smaller male were taking care of the other. General Roy Mustang was headed his way, he knew his time had run out. He'd rather die then be interrogated by the enemy, but he wasn't going to go quietly. His face my be bruised and bloody and his body tiring, but he mustered enough strength to grab Edwards coat and pulled him, along with himself, into the raging waters below.