Ed's eyes darted left to right as he watched his superior pacing across the room, stopping once again to take out his pocket watch - which was probably only two minutes since he last checked it, before he continued fast pacing once more. Ed had never seen this side of Roy, the nervousness, the uncertainty, a man with such a powerful control on others, now practically in their shoes. Of course the ex alchemist was nervous as well, who wouldn't? Two of the most high ranked Generals in the Amestrian military were going to head to a location, unknown whether they are going to meet ally or foe. In any opposing country having the names Roy Mustang and Edward Elric will make sure your requirements are listened to and most likely met.
But the younger man kept a level head, he was the bodyguard of the next Fuhrer of Amestris, he couldn't afford to worry when his job was to protect his General, his love. If he failed, one or both of them would end up dead, something the natural blonde didn't dare think of. Roy meant everything to him.

Finally standing from his bed he stretched out any stiffness present before walking over to Roy. The older man stopped pacing to look at him, his teal eyes looking straight into Ed's blue. The temporary brunette kept a straight face as the slowly removed each of Roy's digits that had clasped tightly over the metal casing of the pocket watch. Ed never thought he'd miss the distinctive insignia of the Amestrian state military as much as he did now, those homely touches that made them feel much safer, now many miles away in a different country.

The General watched as each finger was removed from the object he didn't even realise he was holding so tightly, his brain didn't even register to just loosen the hold and give the item to the man who was silently asking for it.

Clicking open the watch Ed looked at the time before looking to his superior officer. "We'd best head out." Clicking the instrument shut again without even looking before placing the item gently into Mustang's trouser pocket.

Roy nodded "I'll take the northern route past Hawkeye and Havoc, you take southern by Fuery and Breda. We meet before Falman, if all goes well we take the route back past Falman, who will inform the others." Reciting the agreed plan.

Seeing Ed's eyebrows furrow, in what was no doubt confusion, the General smirked. He knew what Ed was thinking, Hawkeye did the same thing the first time she saw her commander like this. The pacing wasn't an act of nervousness, it was the desire to get started. Being kept under 'house arrest' until wounds were healed was torture. Yes there were times that he coped, but only because Ed was there as well. After all, the desk job he was unintentionally stuck to, due to all the paper work, meant he wasn't actually in the field or out of office very often. Of course the eldest Elric wouldn't have known this being absent from military duties for 6 months. Doing as much as he had done since they prepared their journey here combined with all the work they were doing it was a relief that he was doing something he actually wanted to do and not forced to sign page after page of paperwork. Yes this was one of the most dangerous missions he had been on in years, but he wouldn't trade it to sit at that desk.

"After you then.." Roy stretched his arm out towards the door that lead to the stairwell seeing as it was the blonde's turn to be in a trance.

It took Ed a couple of seconds to understand Roy's situation, before turning round and opening the door for himself and the general as they made their way to the outside down the decaying concrete steps of the stairwell.

It had been three days since Roy regained conciousness and despite of requests to rest further he was having none of it.

All pros and cons listed for each supposed action. Ignoring Matlock's request, tailing Matlock, storming the target house, no suggestion was left unsaid. But the curiosity of Matlock's reasoning for letting the General go free was just too great to ignore. He wasn't undercover, otherwise Roy would have known before he even made the trip out there. Henry was on a very small list of undercover investigators still reporting back from Central Drachma, and he was the only one that reported every week on the dot. Look how that turned out. You can't even trust the ones who were doing their job.

The two men split up a few blocks away from the targeted building, now both going in opposite directions to meet with their comrades.

xXx

Ed had the easier of the two routes, but was more at risk of being spotted, as he walked down a bustling street. The street itself wasn't of any importance, it was just the road that connected the residential districts to the mayhem that was the trade district. Luckily for Ed since there was a bitter chill due to the open space most of the people had their heads covered in every attempt to keep warm, giving the younger ex alchemist an easy job of blending in with the crowd.
He spotted Fuery in the distance, which meant that his turning was coming up, but before he could proceed any further he was dragged into a small alcove. Now he knew this was going to happen, but Breda, being the tank that he is, used a bit too much strength as he was pushed against the wall with his coat crushed in the man's grasp.

"Well, well, so very glad to see ye 'gain. Thanks fer droppin' by. So..where's my cash?"

Ed glanced to his side to see there was a small audience, but when Breda turned and glared at them they quickly turned head and carried upon their business.

"I owe you nothing." Ed harshly responded.

Breda smiled menacingly and leaned closer to the natural blonde "I haven't seen those other two you associate with either, seems like you're all avoiding me. Not very nice when I 'ave a business to run. So when you do see 'em, tell 'em I'll be waiting." He released Ed from his grasp, pushing him out back into the street in the process. So much for blending in as he pulled his hood over his face and continued on his way.

After this mission Ed didn't want to have to see another alleyway again, as he made his way to his and Roy's meeting point. What good came out of these anyway? All they did in Amestris was just link one area to another, a street to another street one building to another. But here they decided to make them stupidly long with twists and turns all over the place, a good labyrinth, make people lose all sense of direction. Sure they were a good tool to lose pursuers...to a degree, remembering the time when him and Roy were fleeing, but they were nothing but irritating.

Roy had his route memorised like he used the same paths everyday. Turn left at the end of the alley, right onto the cobbled road, take another right, then left, which lead to the river. But as soon as the sound of the torrent crept into his ears it brought back the harrowing images of Ed practically lifeless and clinging onto that ladder for dear life. It was the image that gave Roy a right good kicking to actually admit to Ed, and himself, that every moment is precious and waiting was a task that he simply couldn't achieve, well it took him a punch to the face before saying it out loud to the one person that it truly mattered to.
The bridge was in sight. Jean and Riza would be somewhere close by, leaving in the early hours of the morning along with the rest of the squad, to take their positions and take note of any suspicious activity. Roy walked along the river's edge, this area had railings, unlike further down stream. Looking through the gaps between the bars he could see the fierce current bashing against any obstacle in its way, still the same as that day, the thunderous roar being produced as it tumbled down a makeshift waterfall. To Roy rivers were calm, relaxing and majestic creation of nature not like this brutal, cold, loud and harsh water rush which nearly took the life of one of Amestris' finest.

Turning his eyes from the water he set his sights on Brunettes Hawkeye and Havoc, leaning against a wall in between two raised flower beds, or what were supposed to be flowerbeds. You couldn't exactly tell if there were any flowers in the planter, what with all the rubbish that had been thrown into them. The Flame walked past them and took a seat on a nearby bench with a clear view of his subordinates. Havoc was leaning against the wall, hands on Riza's hips as the woman stood directly in front of him, her finger tips stroking along the slicked, dark hair, with the touch of affection which made their ploy more realistic. The area they were currently in was a beauty spot for lovers, strangely enough it didn't exactly look anything beautiful at all. The railing that followed the river had dangerously sharp spikes on the top, flowerbeds were just a mess of trash and soil, the noise was...someone clearly getting 'serviced' somewhere nearby. He did his utmost best blocking the disturbing moans of pleasure that were penetrating his ears by looking back at the members of his unit, Havoc's eyes meeting his as he gently kisses Hawkeye's neck before whispering something in her ear. As soon as he pulled back their lips were on each other's in a matter of milliseconds, lingering in an act of passion before Havoc pulled away and made his way over to his commanding officer.

Credit due to those two, they pulled that façade off well..a little too well? Maybe he was reading a little too much into something so innocent as 'playing a character'. He shouldn't be one questioning anyway, since him and Ed would be much more of a farce and talking point. He looked away as they broke apart before Havoc swaggered over to him, sitting immediatly next to and putting his arm around his superior in an over-friendly embrace.

"Couldn't help a guy out could ya?" Roy glanced to the younger man before resuming looking at a certain brick on the building across the bridge. "I'm outta cash and my lady over there, she has standards to be met. I tell ya she's always needing attention. You're the first person to come by here..well apart from the two behind there, but they've been there a while, didn't want to disturb them." Eyes directing to the building beside them.

That was what Roy needed to hear. He was the first person to come by here, his way was clear.

"What I'm trying to say is you got any on you? Or chuck us a bit of cash? A ladies needs must be met y'know, surely a man like you knows that...right?"

The Flame was ever so grateful that Havoc never acted like this around him or he might just have been in the firing line of ignition cloth and a snap of his fingers. He turned his head to the grinning man and glared at him, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a paper bank note before hastily shoving it in that smirking goatee face before getting up and storming off down the route required to his next check point.

Walking down the stupidly narrow alleyway he saw Ed leaning against the wall with one foot supporting him with his hands in his pockets. He turned his head to see the General making his way to him, pushing himself off the brickwork with his raised leg he turned to face his superior.

All it needed was a shake of the head from either man before they resumed to their destination.

Turning the final corner they had the house in view, but also Falman. The man drew the short straw, wrapped in blankets and laying on the floor playing the act of a homeless man. According to Havoc and Breda he'd be the best candidate for that job anyway with his scruffy beard and tied back hair, which was now loose. It made Falman look so much older than what he really was.

"Any change sirs?" He shivered out as he wrapped himself tightly in the fabrics surrounding him.

Roy bent down seemingly to hear the man's tragic story.

"Two men, just as you described."

Didn't both checkpoints say no one had been through? Unless one or both of them had messed up, that meant the men were already here and waiting before his unit even took their positions. These two men should have been going about their daily business at both target houses early in the morning, which is why he sent his unit out in the early hours to get in their positions. He wanted to ask Falman more, but anything else would seem too suspicious if anyone was watching or evening listening in.

"Be careful."

Roy nodded to his barely audible words before standing back to his feet, looking down the pathway to their meeting point. Matlock and the other man were in there, waiting for them. He turned to Ed, receiving a nod of approval from the youngest in his squad, he was ready, Roy was ready, now was the time to put one foot in front of the other and make their way to the meeting point.

As Roy positioned himself at the front door Ed looked to the surroundings. His eyes darted to every visible window, not that there weren't many, looking for any signs of being watched. For a house this well kept it was in a very strange place. It was still in the poor district yet there was no sign of repairs, it was pristine with no tile out of place, brickwork patiently cemented together with an expert finish. The temporary brunette looked back down the street where Falman was occupying, not even able to see the man due to the sheer distance they walked. He turned back to Roy, who was awaiting his approval that all was well, of course he couldn't guarantee that, but the area was clear as far as he knew. At this moment in time he wasn't Roy's lover, but the man's personal and only bodyguard. Nodding to his superior he kept a look out as the older man knocked on the door three times boldly.

There was a long pause before the sound of a key turning in the lock alerted both Amestrians before the wooden door began slowly opening. Ed switched his position from behind to in front of the Flame, protecting the next in line of Amestrian Fuhrer ship. His mind suddenly turned to Matlock, boy did Ed want to throw punches. Make the man bleed for what he had done to Roy. Breaking a few bones would help too. But he did promise his love he wouldn't do anything unless it was absolutely necessary and if his or both their lives were in danger.

The face of the person he was very much wanting to maul looked around the gap and looked straight to Ed. "Well...we meet again".

Ed looked to the face that he'd grown to know oh so well. He could feel his fingers twitching. This was the man that beat, tied and cut his beloved. This was the man that nearly killed Mustang, regardless if it was a test of loyalty or not. His muscles tensed, his hand curling into a fist, but he would not retaliate. As much as he wanted some sort of revenge for what happened to the man behind him. He promised Roy, he promised to remain professional.

"And what do I owe you for this unexpected visi-" He opened the door further revealing his entire self as he lent to the side to see Roy. "Ah just as I thought. I thought you were the other man back at the house, but I wasn't completely certain." Giving off a friendly smile just before his face was struck.

Ed lunged at him the punch making Matlock stumble back, he didn't give the older man any time to recover before lunging once more, punching the man again, sending him stumbling against the wall.

Well that promise lasted long.

He landed a couple of more strikes to his torso before forcing the older man's arms up behind his back. It was proving difficult to keep him there when there were two people trying to fight him off.
One arm wrapped him diagonally over his shoulder whilst another tightly around his waist, whilst a completely different pair tried to loosen his grip on the Drachman. Someone was yelling at him, but it wasn't registering. He continued to place more pressure to the limb in his hand. It was working as Matlock gave out a pained cry the closer and closer his arm was to breaking. He could end his misery instantly, but he wanted it to linger like how he did with Roy.

"Ed stop it!" Roy's words finally got through to him as he released his grip and was dragged away back outside the house. The older man's gripped remained when he whispered quietly in his subordinates ear "Starting a fight isn't going to help the situation." He looked back to see Falman had moved closer, looking cautiously, but remaining where he was. If anything were to happen right now they did have back up.

"But what he did to you." Gritting his teeth with eyes still fixated on a recovering Matlock.

"I know how you feel right now, believe me, but we are here for answers, not to start another brawl."

Matlock stood straight and rubbed his jaw, moving it from side to side before waving his arm to get feeling back to the limb. "Okay, I deserved that, so I'll let that slide. Doing what I did to a general is rather unforgivable, but I had my reasons. Those reasons are why you are here right now and not dead in a river." Slumping to one of the seat at the dining table just out of view of the two Amestrians.

The mention of the river made Roy tighten his grip on Ed for a brief second before slowly releasing his subordinate as the Elric calmed down somewhat. He slowly approached the door once more and looked in "I want him to do a thorough sweep of the building." Still a reasonable request even though Ed had practically stormed the building with the general in tow.

"If we had weapons don't you think we would have used them by now when he attacked him!?" Guy angrily shouted at them and was on the way of approaching the two Amestrians when Matlock grabbed his wrist to stop him doing anything stupid.

"It's fine, let them do what they want." Matlock accepted Roy's request without question and much to his friends dismay.

Ed took the lead, walking in like it was his own place. The floorboards creaked with every step as he proceeded further in. To the his left was the kitchen, a small area with every cupboard wide open, obviously a way of saying that no one and nothing was hidden inside, to his right was Frazen Matlock sitting calmly at the small dining table. He couldn't help but have a feeling that they were expecting them on this very day.

"Hands where I can see them and both of you back up against the wall." Fullmetal demanded, his eyes still raged, but his body had calmed down to a degree.

Both men obliged and stood next to each other with their hands up in the air whilst Ed patted them down and checked every pocket.

"We have nothing on us!" The card trickster pleaded as his being was searched

"It's fine Guy, standard military procedure with someone as high up as him, both of them in all honesty." Matlock stayed completely still as Ed turned his attentions to him. The temporary brunette used more force on the man then what he did with Guy.

"Don't you dare move." Fullmetal commanded as he did a full sweep of the kitchen and dining area. Patting his hand under the counters, cupboards, chairs and table for any hidden blades or guns. "Clear in here." He called out to his superior officer.

Roy took one last look at all the visible windows, just like Ed did only a minute ago. His sight finishing back on the alley where Falman was. When that door is shut behind him his intelligence officer would be even closer.

Ed kept his eye on the two men stationary against the wall as the General walked in and quietly shut the door.

"Carry on." Roy gave the order to his subordinate, who began to search the rest of the house whilst he kept watch over the two Drachmans. Matlock's eyes stayed staring straight ahead, his back straight to attention, legs firmly together, unlike his counterpart. Every little noise he heard from the other rooms his head would turn either to Matlock or Mustang himself.

"Is this really necessary?" Guy began to protest as he heard some sort of metallic clattering in the next room. "I've told you there is nothing here!"

"Guy." Just his own name and the man grew quiet again, but the signs of irritation were clear on his face for all to see.

A few more minutes and Ed returned dusting off his coat and re adjusting his gloves "All clear."

"Take a seat gentleman." Mustang graciously pointed to the table with his whole arm, following suit and taking the opposite side. Ed stood close beside his commanding officer looking every part as the bodyguard.

Matlock returned to his seat once more, slouching with his head resting in his hand. "I apologise for Guy's outburst, he's not experienced military searches before, well Amestrian anyway. So we both know why you are here, you want answers. Mainly consisting of even though I'm working for a rebel fraction, plotting to destroy the very country you are from, I know who you both are and yet you are still alive.
Well it's clearly obvious I'm not your run of the mill Drachman. Where do I begin..." He now switched his stance, seating properly in his chair with his fingers intertwined on the table "Frazen Matlock is dead. I killed him and took on his identity."

What shocked Roy and Ed wasn't that fact this now unknown man had just admitted this crime, it was the fact that his whole demeanour and voice had completely changed, like a flick of a switch. A rather average voice had turned calmer, slightly deeper, but not by much. Drachman accent long but disappeared, replaced by another.

"You're Amestrian?" Mustang kept a calm exterior, but inside he could have raged.

"I like to believe I still am. Name's Naython Guilford originally Western Command State Military, under the orders of Colonel Richard Knile.

So not only was he Amestrian, but he's military and undercover? The name of either the man in front of him or his so called commanding officer where known to the Flame Alchemist. If he was undercover then surely he should have known before they even set foot out of Amestris. As much as this could be good news to him and his unit the betrayal of Henry was still perfectly fresh in his mind. He wasn't going to let his guard down so easily this time and Ed wouldn't anyway.

"Rank?"

"Last time I checked it was Major, but that was a long long time ago. But it's the only rank I have knowingly accomplished."

"You only accomplished?" There was only one explanation to one person can be a major without going through the lower ranks "You're a state alchemist!?"

"Was. Was a state alchemist. Haven't left Drachma in seventeen years so no doubt my title was removed and I've probably made it to the list of the dead."

"Care to explain how you ended up in this situation?"

"Joined the elite state alchemists at the tender age of fourteen, the youngest there was. Put straight into the medical corps under the title of The Lifeblood Alchemist, I could repair nerves, veins, bones, you name it. Could even attach a severed limb like nothing ever happened. I was a highly valuable asset to the military for nine years, then came along the Ishvalen civil war. Instead of going to the front lines like I should have I was ordered to Drachma, to 'keep a look out for unrest', to make sure they weren't planning a surprise attack. I never understood it and neither did any of the others who were ordered to Aerugo and Creta. Hearing of how many died during those seven long years I could have saved so many, yet I couldn't leave my post no matter how many times I protested. I remember hearing my superior met an unfortunate end on the battlefield because he was pushed to the front lines for trying to help me return."

The Lifeblood Alchemist was a name either Generals had ever come across. Someone with that amount of skill and knowledge should not have just been thrown to the side when he was most needed. Mind you this was no ordinary war so it was no surprise that he was taken away and left to rot.

"I thought my hell would be over when there was the announcement of Bradley's death reached here. The man deserved it for what he done. But I've got myself in a situation where I cannot just walk away, not that the boarder would let me pass anyway."

"Can you tell us more about Henry and this group you're associated with?"

Guilford nodded "I did enrol in Drachman military, that part was true, but as a message decoder. I was the only one since the others met...unfortunate accidents." Looking over to Guy. "I anonymously sent messages back to the Briggs fort regarding Drachman moves and heavy altering any Amestrian messages that could prove fatal. There I remained for a few more years I had to leave quickly, my cover was going to be blown, they didn't pin point me, but they got word that messages were being relayed so I made sure I was discharged dishonourably, had my way with the commanding officer's wife in his own office. A couple of years later I had two men knocking at my door, they somehow knew of my Amestrian roots and asked me if I'd join their resistance movement against the very country I came from. Of course I agreed. Henry joined a year after me, but he had been in Drachma much longer than that. They seemed to be scouting the corrupt undercover Amestrians. If they refused they were murdered, which is probably why you had the unfortunate luck of having Henry as your contact. Originally it was just bashing and pointless kidnapping, now it's suddenly turned into something very serious."

"The collapse of Central command."

"That was just an experiment."

Ed could feel the rage once again brewing inside him again and no doubt Roy was feeling the same way. "That was a demolition! You don't destroy the central command of the Amestris Military as an experiment! We were in that building when it fell!"

"I'm the one that got Richard Prassen to tone down the explosives, it would have been so much worse and no one in that building died!" As the two men stared at each other it was clear that neither were going to be on friendly terms throughout their working time together.

"So what do you mean by something serious if that was...an experiment" Roy quickly needed the conversation to move on before Ed thought to lunge at him once more and Falman comes bursting in from all the noise they were creating.

"You've seen the weapons arsenal that is growing by the hour, after all it was you two who left that house the other day. They are going into Amestris with highly powerful explosives as well as guns and destroying the country from the inside."

"They'll never get past any boarder control without one of the five command centres being notified."

"But that's the thing, I don't know how it's going to be executed, but they are incredibly confident."

"Let us speak to Prassen"

Guilford shook his head "Him and Scott James have been killed, both were working for me. I'm sorry, I did all I could to protect them. But Berry was having none of it. He wanted fatalities and explosions, instead he got a controlled demolition."

"Berry?"

"Nicolas Berry, the guy in charge of this whole thing, you could say the founder of this group. Barely makes an appearance unless it's important."

Ed remembered back to the time in the park, the first time he saw Guilford as Matlock. A Nicholas had appeared to tell the group that Harrison Byfield had been killed, could that have been the same man as was being mentioned now?

Naython continued "He's got a good knowledge of Amestrian military so I'm guessing he's been around the block. I've only seen him about three times I've been here. There are three people that pass down his orders, a big built guy and twins. I say twins I think it's just a lie and is one person, never see them together.
Gavin Hawke is average sized, but built like a tank and Drachman. Used to be the leader of an old faction whose cause was to blackmail, torture and even assault their targets. Ferren Dewry and Trex Dewry. I've never two of the same together so suspect just one person, I know for sure this person is Amestrian."

"Nicholas Berry. The founder and leader is blind in one eye from an unfortunate accident with a cigarette butt and a knife. Afraid to also say their names are aliases. I've never been able to find out who they really are."

So these were the men Roy and his unit should have been pursuing all this time. The three plotting to destroy the very country he was helping rebuild from the dark times under the rule of a Homunculus. It was all coming together now, closer to completing the mission, closer to clearing a threat to Amestris, closer to going home.

"And Henry?"

"Henry...I honestly don't know what he was playing at. He only told me about you two, if he told anyone else Amestris would have been the last of their problems. He'd been acting like that for the past year, I couldn't tell which side he was on. Maybe he wasn't on either side and it was some kind of game to him. There were a couple of undercover guys, just like you two, Henry was the contact. Three weeks later they were dead, Henry sold them out. Another small group of four, Henry provided them with names and they carried out their mission and killed their target, who was one of the higher ups. Others that I know of on both sides have just disappeared I can't even prove it but I knew he was behind it. If I hadn't have gotten to him you two and any others that came with you would have been taken out by this group or the military."

Targets were set in stone, three men to capture and take back to be put on trial. It was all falling together nicely, but now was the tricky part - how to capture them in the first place. Berry was going to be a problem unless they storm whichever building he is in. With Guilford's help the other two may be an easier catch. Then once they've been captured how were they going to make their escape?

"I'm afraid that's not the end of it." Guildford interrupts Roy's train of thought.

"What do you mean?"

There is one more. None of us have seen him, but he's there. Nicholas is not top dog, so to speak."

Mustang suddenly got a really bad feeling "Where?"

"...In the military ranks, back in Amestris."

Firstly, I am so sorry it's taken me over a month to get this new chapter out. Writer's block being the main culprit and real life the other.
Good news is that I'm close to finishing the next chapter, fingers crossed I can finish it soon!