It was late in the evening in Central, and Riza was returning home from a late grocery run. She held the bag of groceries in one hand and Black Hayate's leash in the other.

She was only a few blocks away from her home when Black Hayate abruptly turned around and began to growl.

Riza looked at him in surprise. "Black Hayate? What's gotten into you boy?"

A sadistic laugh echoed from a nearby alleyway, and a large cloaked figure stepped out.

"It's dangerous to be walking the streets alone at this hour. You never know when you might meet the terrible serial killer feared by all."

He pulled back his hood, revealing a skeletal mask, a knife clutched in his hand.

"Barry the Chopper!"

Riza abruptly brought out her gun and began to shoot.

Barry flinched and winced as the bullets hit him.

"No fair, why'd you have to pull a gun?"

He stood up. "All right, that's it lady, now I'm going to hear you scream!"

He lifted up his helmet, revealing there to be nothing inside.

Riza looked momentarily shocked before firing her gun again, causing the helmet to fall to the ground.

Barry was confused by her non reaction. "Hey, how come you're not paralyzed with fear?"

Riza kept her gun focused on him. "You actually remind me of someone else I know."

Barry sighed. "Let me guess, Alphonse something or other."

Riza's eyes widened. "You've met Alphonse before?"

Barry chuckled. "So the guy's a friend of yours, is he?"

He put his helmet back on. "I'm going to tell you something sweetheart, you are one strong woman!"

A short while later, Hawkeye had captured Barry and taken him to an abandoned warehouse. She informed Mustang, and they along with Falman interrogated the serial killer.

Mustang looked grimly at the notes he'd taken. "The philosopher's stone."

Falman frowned. "I can't believe the fifth lab was being used to make something like that."

Riza folded her arms. "It gets worse, there's a chance that military senior staff was involved as well."

Mustang looked back at Barry. "Plus, there were those other two, Lust and Envy. Are they the ones who made you into what you are now?"

Barry shook his head. "Nah, it was the researchers who did that. Ripped my soul right out of my body and slapped it into this suit of armor you see here."

Falman looked thoughtful. "We can track down these so called researchers. If we find them, maybe we can find out who ordered them to carry out the experiments."

Barry snorted. "Fat chance of that. I overheard Lust saying that they were used to create another philosopher's stone. None of them were left alive."

Mustang's eyes narrowed. "Silenced, then used as ingredients. How efficiently planned."

Riza glanced at Mustang. "Do you think this means they have what they need, or do you think they'll try to make additional stones?"

Barry shrugged. "I don't know. As far as I know, there wasn't any more research or major activities going on at the fifth lab, not after they shut it down three years ago. Not really sure why they had me and 48 guarding the place."

Mustang looked carefully at Barry. "I have one more question for you. A little over a month ago, a military officer was killed in a telephone booth in Central."

His face darkened. "Were you the one who did it?"

Riza and Falman gasped, and turned toward Barry.

Barry tilted his head. "Phone booth? Doesn't sound familiar. Was he all chopped up?"

Mustang closed his eyes. "Never mind."

The next morning, Ed, Al, and Winry arrived at Central station.

Ed stretched his arms. "Man I'm beat."

Al chuckled. "Being spied on for hours will do that."

Winry looked surprised. "Mr. Fu and Lan Fan were keeping an eye on him?"

They glanced behind them, and saw Fu and Lan Fan perched on top of the train.

Fu looked around. "Hey, where's the young lord?"

Al looked around as well. "He's not here."

Winry shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe he ran off again."

Fu sighed. "Good grief, I can't take my eyes off him for a second."

Fu and Lan Fan left to track down Ling, while Ed, Al, and Winry headed into the heart of Central.

A few blocks away, Ling stood on top of a building, his gaze focused on Central command.

He frowned. Something about this country doesn't feel right.

After the interrogation, Mustang had ordered Falman to rent an apartment in a less populated part of town, where he would keep an eye on Barry. Barry had gone along, as he wasn't eager for the higher ups to find out where he was.

Late in the day, Jean knocked on the door of Falman's apartment. "It's me. I'm just checking in."

Falman opened the door, and looked relieved to see a familiar face.

Jean smiled. "You're doing well."

He handed Falman a basket of goods. "Here, it's from the Colonel."

Barry looked up from the chess board. "Hey, it's the smoking guy."

Jean waved. "How's it going, you won a single game yet?"

"Not even close. But this game is boring anyway. Hey, since it's night now I can go and cut someone up, right?"

Jean frowned. "Of course not."

"You gotta give me something. At least bring that Hawkeye lady for a visit."

Jean sighed. "I'll let her know that you're interested."

Falman stepped forward. "He's not the only one who's bored. How much longer am I stuck here keeping watch on this guy anyway? What does the Colonel say?"

Jean shrugged. "The Colonel apologizes for having to give you such a dangerous assignment. He also says don't worry about your other duties. Your absence is being treated as sick leave. But if anyone, especially military personnel outside of our unit sees you, he'll have you court marshaled before you can blink. That is all."

Falman hung his head dejectedly. "Ugh. I don't suppose you have news of a happier sort to report."

"Actually, I do."

Falman looked up eagerly. "What is it?"

Jean grinned. "Falman, I found myself a new girlfriend! She's been really sweet, helping me adjust to the move here and everything. And man is she hot!"

"Hey, do you think this new girl would be fun to cut up? Come on, what do you say?"

Falman looked at the ground wearily. "Please, just get out of here."

Shortly after Jean left, they went back to their game of chess.

After a pause, Falman looked up.

"So, what would happen if they caught you?"

Barry shrugged. "They'd probably kill me, and I'd rather avoid that, seeing how I'm practically immortal with this body."

Ling poked his head through the window. "Did you say immortal?"

Falman flinched. "Gah! Who are you?"

Ling came into the room and perched on the couch. "I'm Ling Yao. Nice to meet you."

Falman got to his feet. "Listen, you need to get out of here. You're going to…"

Ling held up a hand. "Don't worry, I can keep a secret. Besides, I'm an illegal alien, so I want to avoid attention from the government too."

He turned to Barry. "Now tell me, what's your secret?"

Barry held a hand up to his chin. "Hmm. Well, I just might tell you if you bring me something I can chop up."

Falman gripped his head in resignation.

Ed looked around. "Okay, I guess we should stop by the military offices first."

Al nodded. "Right."

Winry looked toward the residential area. "In that case, I guess I'll head straight to the Hughes's house and let them know I'm in town."

She smiled. "I can't wait to see Miss Gracia and cute little Elicia."

Ed shrugged. "Sounds good. We shouldn't be all that far behind you."

Winry waved goodbye. "Kay. See you later."

After Winry was gone, Al turned towards Ed. "I wonder if Lieutenant Colonel Hughes has put together any more information about the philosopher's stone or the fifth lab since we left."

Ed frowned. "The Fuhrer was pretty clear with his orders regarding that. I think it's best if we give Hughes the information we found out first."

"You mean what we learned from Greed."

Ed nodded. "Yeah."

He looked up. "I'm pretty sure Hughes said he was in the Court Marshall office. This way."

Sheska timidly opened the door to storage room three, and found Colonel Mustang asleep inside, various books and papers scattered around him.

"Um, excuse me. Colonel? Colonel Mustang?"

Mustang eyes slowly opened. "Sheska? How long was I asleep?"

"About ten minutes I think?"

Mustang looked at his watch. "Council meeting's about to start."

He stood up and began to walk away.

Sheska looked at him anxiously. "Uh, Colonel, perhaps this is none of my business, but maybe you should try to get a little more rest."

Mustang nodded absently. "Mm-hmm. I'll be back."

Sheska watched him walk away, not exactly pleased with his answer.

"Was that Colonel Mustang that just left?"

Sheska jumped. "Captain Focker sir! Good morning! Nice day, isn't it?"

Focker nodded. "Good morning to you, Sheska. What was he doing here?"

Sheska stammered. "Well, you see…"

Focker glanced inside the room. "The storeroom door is open."

Sheska winced and looked at the ground. "I'm sorry, I opened it sir."

Focker chuckled. "I'll bet the Colonel twisted your arm, didn't he? Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

Sheska looked relieved. "I really appreciate that sir."

Focker looked thoughtful. "Although, I do wonder what the Colonel was looking into. Do you know?"

Sheska's face became serious. "I'm not certain of all the details. He did ask for materials having to do with the fifth laboratory. And also, he was looking into the Hughes case."

Her expression became sad. "You know, it's thanks to Hughes that I got my job here."

Focker nodded. "Ah, yes. I remember. Well I've got tons of work to do. Carry on Sheska."

Sheska nodded. "Yes sir."

Focker walked away, looking lost in thought.

In the men's room, Mustang was washing his face, trying to look presentable for the meeting. When he was almost done he noticed Armstrong in the stall behind him.

Armstrong stood up straight. "Hello sir."

Mustang looked uncertainly at him. "Hey."

Armstrong stepped up to the sink to wash his hands.

He looked critically at Mustang. "Colonel, you look like you've lost some weight."

Mustang looked down. "Maybe."

Just as Armstrong was about to leave, Mustang spoke up.

"The fifth laboratory and the philosopher's stone. The stone's key ingredient is live humans."

Armstrong looked back at Mustang in surprise.

Mustang smiled slightly. "Hughes always did enjoy helping other people. This time he stuck his nose into the Elric brothers' investigation."

He frowned. "And he found out something he would have been better off not knowing."

Armstrong shook his head. "You've got it all figured out, don't you?"

Mustang looked back at the mirror. "I'm almost there."

Armstrong's expression became serious. "Be careful sir. You never know who might be listening in on you."

In another part of the building, Ed and Al walked inside and were surprised to see a familiar face.

"Lieutenant Hawkeye?"

Riza looked up in surprise. "Hey guys, it's been a while."

Ed tilted his head. "If you're here, then that means so is…"

Mustang came into view. He nodded at Riza.

"Thanks for waiting."

Ed sighed. "Yep, the Colonel."

Mustang looked at his subordinate. "Well hello Fullmetal."

Ed scowled. "Hey Mustang, what are you doing here in Central?"

"Didn't you hear? I was transferred to this branch a few weeks ago."

"Great." Ed said sarcastically.

Mustang looked up at Al. "And you guys? What brings you here?"

"We're just doing a little information gathering. And we were thinking of paying Lieutenant Colonel Hughes a visit later today. Where is he anyway?"

Riza and Mustang froze, and they didn't speak for a moment.

Eventually, Mustang said. "I'm afraid he's not here."

Ed looked surprised. "Oh."

Mustang turned around. "If you'll excuse us. Fullmetal. Watch yourself. Don't do anything crazy."

Ed seemed confused by this, but didn't question Mustang.

"Okay."

Once they were out of earshot, Riza looked at Mustang critically.

"Now you've decided to treat them like children? They're going to find out sooner or later."

Mustang closed his eyes. "I know. But, I couldn't bring myself to be the one who broke the news."

Ed looked disappointed. "Well, that's too bad. I was hoping we could talk to Hughes today."

Al looked out the window. "Maybe we can see him when we meet up with Winry at the Hughes's house."

Ed brightened up at this suggestion. "Yeah, let's go."

They turned around and head back the way they had come, and almost ran into another familiar face.

Al stepped back. "Lieutenant Ross."

Maria smiled. "Hello. I haven't seen you two here in a while. You're in a hurry, what's the rush?"

Ed replied. "We were just about to head to the Hughes's house."

Her eye became downcast. "Oh. So you've heard."

Al tilted his head. "Heard what?"

Her eyes widened. "Wait, you don't know?"

Ed began to looked worried. "Know what? What's wrong?"

Maria looked horrified as she realized that she was going to have to tell them the dreadful news.

"Lieutenant Colonel Hughes is dead."

Ed and Al were stunned into silence for a moment, before Ed began lobbying her with questions.

"What? No! Not the Lieutenant Colonel! Why him? What happened?"

Maria looked at him sadly. "I'm afraid he was murdered shortly after you left for the South. And unfortunately, we still haven't found the person responsible."

Ed's eyes widened, and he abruptly took off running.

His mind began to race as he ran through the streets, barely aware of where he was going.

He thought back to Envy's threat, and his heart sank.

Those homunculi said this would happen if we kept looking into the philosopher's stone. It's all my fault. I'm the one who pulled him into this! It's all my fault!

Al eventually caught up to Ed, and the two of them made their way to the Hughes house.

Al looked uncertain. "Brother…what do we do?"

Ed looked down at the ground. "We tell it like it is."

Al bowed his head. "We said we were going to get our bodies back. But if people are going to die because of us, then I don't want mine back."

Ed seemed shocked by this statement, but said nothing.

They knocked on the door, and a moment later it was answered by Gracia.

She looked at them with a smile, but her face was tinged with sadness.

"Winry's already here."

They walked into the living room. Elicia was in her room for her nap, while Winry was sitting on the couch, looking quite miserable.

Ed lowered his eyes. "Um, miss Gracia, there's something I need to talk to you about."

She looked surprised. "About Maes?"

Ed nodded. "That's right."

He looked at Winry. "You too Winry."

She seemed surprised, but also pleased that he was confiding in her.

A short while later Ed and Al had explained the nature of what had happened, though they kept the more dangerous details to themselves.

Gracia looked at the ground. "So Maes learned something that someone didn't want him to know. His death was a message. A warning to you from whoever did it to back off from all this."

Ed nodded miserably. "Yeah. We basically dragged him into it. I'm sorry."

Gracia shook her head. "That would be just like him, dying while trying to help somebody else. My husband, he always was a busybody and a meddler, and it got him into trouble a lot."

Her expression softened. "But you know, I don't think he ever had regrets. Not any. Not even in his dying moments Edward."

Ed looked surprised. "But we…"

She looked at him sternly. "Don't tell me you're going to give up. You can't let what happened defeat you. If you do, then that means my husband died in vain. You boys have to keep moving forward any way you can."

After a moment, Ed nodded.

Ed, Al, and Winry left a few minutes later, but just as they were about to leave, they heard Elicia's voice.

"Mommy? Mommy please don't cry."

They could also faintly hear Gracia's sobs. They walked away, their hearts heavy.

Underneath Central, a very different conversation was taking place.

Lust tilted her head. "So the nosey Colonel Mustang is snooping around the Hughes matter. Do you think he discovered anything?"

Captain Focker nodded, before abruptly transforming back into Envy. "It's a definite possibility. So what now?"

Lust sighed. "We moved him to Central so we'd be able to keep a closer eye on him. Why can't he be a good boy and behave himself? I'd hate to lose an important sacrifice candidate."

Envy shrugged. "Since we've got Dr. Marcoh, hopefully we won't need him. But still, it would be nice to have a backup candidate if something goes wrong with Marcoh's transmutation. Have you learned anything from your new boyfriend?"

Lust shook her head. "Nothing. He's a nice man, and under other circumstances I might have genuinely enjoyed his company. But he's been very tight-lipped about anything relating to his work or the Colonel, and so he's been virtually useless as a source of information."

Envy grinned slyly. "If I didn't know any better, I'd say it almost sounds as though you were fond of him."

Lust scowled. "Just because I don't hate humans as much as you doesn't mean my loyalty is wavering."

Envy raised his hands placatingly. "Sorry. I can't help but wonder though."

His face became serious. "You remember our conversation from before, when we were talking about what we would do after the Promise Day? On that day, Father will be powerful enough to grant us any wish. But what was it that you wanted?"

Lust glanced off to the side. "I told you. I want to become human, nothing more."

Envy's eyes narrowed. "You didn't answer me before. Why? Why do you want to become a human?"

Lust looked at her fingers as she gathered her thoughts.

"Despite their inferiority, there is a certain charming simplicity to the lives they live, and their short life spans allow them to believe in ideals that we know are illusions. I'll be honest, I envy them a little for that."

Envy smirked. "I thought that was my department."

Lust closed her eyes. "In any case, the idea of living forever on this world…it frightens me."

Envy raised an eyebrow. "So you want to be human so you can grow old and die, is that it?"

Lust shrugged. "In a sense, I suppose yes."

Envy shook his head. "I'll never understand you Lust. But it doesn't matter to me, so long as you don't make the same mistake as Greed."

Lust frowned. "Don't worry. I have no intention of betraying Father."

She stood up. "I'm off to gather some more intelligence."

Envy glanced off to the corner of the room, where Gluttony was gnawing on a bone. All at once an idea came to him.

Envy glanced back at Lust. "What you said before, about how much nicer it would be if the Colonel would behave himself?"

"Yes?"

"I did leave some breadcrumbs in case someone did look more closely into Hughes's death. How would you feel about another play?"

Lust looked curious. "You have something in mind?"

Envy grinned. "Well, we've got a nosey mutt. Perhaps all he needs is a nice bone to chew on."

The next day, Lieutenant Ross found her lunch interrupted when three people stepped up next to her table. Juliet Douglas was in the middle, with an officer flanking her on both sides.

"Second Lieutenant Maria Ross? I'm Juliet Douglas, and I'm currently working alongside the Provost Marshall's office."

Maria stood up. "Do you need me for something?"

Douglas nodded. "I'm afraid you'll have to come with us. Your gun please."

Maria complied, but began to look suspicious. "May I ask what this is about?"

Douglas put away the gun. "You have been named as the primary suspect in the Brigadier General Hughes murder case. Please come along."

Maria's eyes widened in shock. "That's absurd!"

"You can tell your side later. Let's go, Lieutenant."

Maria looked shocked, outraged, and fearful, but reluctantly followed them.

It wasn't long before the news spread, and Hawkeye was sharing the details with Mustang only a few hours later.

"Second Lieutenant Maria Ross, pleading not guilty on all charges."

Mustang looked critically at the file. "Gather whatever information you can about her. Go now, quickly, but secretly."

Riza nodded, and left the office.

Late in the day, Jean went to a local restaurant to meet up with his new girlfriend.

He grinned when he saw her. "You been waiting long Solaris?"

Lust looked up with a smile. "Oh no. I just got here. It's so good to see you Jean. Why don't you sit down and tell me all about your day?"

Author's Note: So pretty similar to Brotherhood, but with a few alternate touches here and there.

I changed what Ling does because I felt that him constantly collapsing with hunger is inconsistent with the warrior prince willing to do anything for his people. I always thought his collapsing in Rush Valley was just his way of testing Ed, but doing the same thing in Central and getting himself arrested was a pretty stupid move, and I find it hard to reconcile it with what he does later on. So he will be involved in aiding Lieutenant Ross, but in a slightly different way, where he doesn't get arrested like an idiot and ends up helping by accident.

As for Lust, I tried to add a little more depth to her character. I really liked her growth and character development in the 2003 show, and I found her to be much less interesting in Brotherhood, where she's pretty much just an evil henchmen. But I really couldn't think of a way to reconcile her backstory from the 2003 show into the world of Brotherhood, at least not without it being really forced. So her backstory and character will be most similar to Brotherhood, but I thought adding a little more depth to her instead of just having her being completely evil would be a nice touch.

Next time, Mustang makes roasted pork. Kind of.