On about their twelfth day in the rickety shack, Roy noticed that the food supplies they had carried with them were begging to run low. They needed to leave. They couldn't hide forever. Somehow it just didn't feel right. Each day he was feeling stronger, and as more health and energy returned to him. Of course he would always carry scars on his chest to remind him, but he was starting to almost be over the gunshot wounds. The ill effects of the poison had long since worn off. He himself still didn't know how he had survived everything.
"Lieutenant Hawkeye, our supplies are running low. We need a plan." Roy spoke his thoughts aloud to his subordinates as he took a seat at the one table in the house (they had propped up two legs with bricks). They all gathered in mismatched chairs as Breada started to deal out a hand of poker. Normally, Riza would not have joined in, but this was all they had to pass the time. Thank goodness Breada had brought that deck of cards.
"Just what is your idea, Sir. I know you have one, or you wouldn't have asked."
"Well, first off, I was wanting to know if there was anyone else that you all thought trustworthy, someone who would be on our side, and never reveal any information to the rest of the military or the homunculi, someone true to their word." Roy looked at his hand of cards. It was an all right deal. With a good poker face, and some luck, he could make it win.
Fury lowered his cards and placed a peanut on the table. "I'll raise you one." They had taken to using peanuts as their betting chips.
"What about Chezka? She can remember just about anything she's ever read in her entire life, and she worked for Hughes."
Roy coughed.
"Yes, Sir," Riza spoke as she raised the bet, "I do believe her trustworthy, even if she is very curious.
Armstrong glanced at Roy. "Would you like me to contact her, Sir?"
"Yes, thank you."
"I fold," Falman sighed. His food was too precious to gamble away.
"What about the Elric brothers?"
"No, Fury. They're already fighting their own battles against the homunculi; they don't need the military on their backs too. Besides, I don't know where they are at the moment. I have no way to get in touch with him.
Breada too folded.
"Sir, what about Maria Ross, and that guy who follows her around all the time?" Falman asked tentatively.
"He has a name you know," Riza muttered.
"Yes, erm... Sargent Denny Brosh." Armstrong helped out.
Thankful that at least one person remembered the Sargent's name, Roy nodded his agreement.
Fury looked to his right and saw that he was out of peanuts. "I fold," he moaned. Now he was completely out of betting chips with no way to get any back.
"Would you like me to contact them as well?" Armstrong asked.
"Yes. Contact anyone you think might be remotely useful."
"You still haven't told us your plan, Sir," Riza pointed out. "And I fold."
Armstrong and Mustang glared daggers at each other. The pot was between them, winner take all.
"Well," Roy began while Armstrong raised the bet even higher, "I believe we should make the first offensive move, personally. That way we can choose the place, the time, and have several key advantages. Waiting around here in hiding is cowardice. It will only take us by surprise if they find us and attack us here." Roy placed three peanuts on the pile before continuing. "We should take the time to set up some sort of back up defense though. And who knows, one factor could change anything. No plan should be set in stone. However, if we do make an offensive move, and for some reason, I should be taken down, Armstrong and Hawkeye will be in command. The rest of you will do what they order."
Armstrong hung his head. " I fold."
Roy smirked to his opponent before laying down his hand. His top cards were a pair of twos.
Armstrong's eyes widened along with every one else's.
"I lost to a man with twos?" Breada cried. "How did I not notice?"
Riza smiled. "It's called the poker face, a bluff."
"Yes," Roy agreed. "And you will all need to learn it and learn to fool everyone for our plan to succeed.
"And just what is the goal for this plan, Sir?" Falman asked.
"I don't know, but if the military's against us, I'm just satisfied with getting them to leave us alone. I'd have to be a fool to take on the entire military."
"Just why is the military against all of us anyway. What did I ever do to them, or rather what did you do to them."
"Col. Mustang did no such –" Riza started to take the defensive.
"It's fine, Hawkeye. There are two reasons I believe. I believe that Hughes knew too much about the homunculi. He knew of their connection and influence in the military. Now I too know of this. As my subordinates, this too puts you in danger."
"Well," Fury probed. "If we're already in danger, then just what is it that you found out. Are the homunculi and the military interrelated?"
"Juliet Douglas."
"The fürhür's secretary?" Riza breathed, unable to believe.
"The very same, and perhaps others."
Breada made the sign of the cross, "Gottinhimmel,"
If only Roy knew that there was another homunculi agent... If only he knew who that man was...
((/ A.N.: I hope I got my German spelled correctly. If not, then there is just one t. I never can remember... sighs I am missing Lust right now. Of all of the homunculi, I had to kill my favourite... Guess I'll just do without...\))