Greed didn't hesitate when he saw Kimbley blow up the Drachman General and everyone else that got in the way. He didn't see any need for the woman anymore and figured she'd just get caught up and killed during Kimbley's rampage. So he let her go and ran back to the bunker. His one regret was not being able to trust the real owner of his body to use alchemy to seal the doors shut to keep Kimbley out if he survived. But no matter; he would just get rid of Kimbley and Envy with the homunculi army. They would be under his control and do whatever he said... he hoped. He wasn't exactly sure how to control them but he'd figure out something.

He rushed into the underground room where the stones were made and was met by armed Drachman guards who all turned to him for an explanation. He berated himself. The bunker was wired for communication with the outside. Kimbley's explosion was a little too obvious. The armed guards did not halt the work of the alchemists but they were normally never in the room while the stones were made. It didn't bother Greed too much. Whatever they had been told was probably vague. The outside troops would have seen the explosions and may not have seen who had caused it.

"Don't let anyone else enter," he instructed. "The Elr..." then he paused and thought of a better idea. "Kimbley has gone crazy. He's killed General Dragomir and a whole squad. He'll probably come back here to take control of the army."

The Drachmans repositioned themselves around the room to cover the door he had just entered. He made his way past a couple of them. On the other side of the chamber was a door that led to the holding area and the tanks. He went through, shutting the door behind him.

He stood for a minute to admire the sight before him. Row upon row of created flesh, hanging upside down, naked and lifeless, ready for a stone to animate, to do as he wanted... He smiled thinking of what he could conquer... what would soon belong to him...

Xing. It would be a surprise move. Nobody would guess. The Amestrians would be too preoccupied with guarding their borders, thinking he and Kimbley would go after the Elrics. He could give a damn about the brothers. It was the Xing Emperor he would destroy by taking his beloved country from him.

To his left were five large cylindrical glass tanks filled with red water. Small red globules floated around bouncing off one another in two of them. The tanks glowed red, the light reflecting off the bodies of the army. Hoses were connected to each of the tanks from the bottom that then fed into smaller hoses and tubes that would inject the stones power into the blind homunculi that lined the ceiling. They needed no eyes. Their only purpose was to destroy whatever tried to stop them. They were the perfect killing machines and Greed grew giddy with the thought they would be his in a moment.

He went to the large tanks filled with the stones. It wasn't enough to activate them all but it was enough for him to gain control of at least a hundred. He reached out to turn a nozzle that would flood the tubes with the life source needed for his army.

No!

Greed laughed. 'Go ahead. Try to stop me.'

He felt some resistance but it was weak. He laughed, mockingly at his unwilling passenger. He reached out for the nozzle again but stopped suddenly when he heard the click of a gun.

"Now, Russell," an old but firm voice said. "Don't be so impatient."

Greed turned and found Grumman stepping out from behind the tanks pointing a gun at him. The old man had been useful but he was no longer needed in Greed's opinion. He concentrated and covered his body with the rock hard shield and raised his hand to strike.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Grumman warned holding up a red stone in his other hand. "I'm no alchemist but with this that won't matter. I can use the stone to subdue you."

Greed backed down but he didn't drop his shield.

"Now what do you think you were going to do, Greed," Grumman said sensing his partner had no control over his body anymore. "Take the army and then what? Go to Xing." Greed just glared though it was hard to tell with the shield that always froze his facial features into place. "It'd be a waste," Grumman continued sensing he was right by the homunculi's silence. "They have alchemist there too and I'm sure they can figure out how to destroy you and the army."

"Your plan isn't any better," Greed countered angrily. "You want to invade Amestris where there are just as many talented alchemists."

"True but this was my idea in the first place. Mustang has been playing without an opponent for too long. His time is up. You're not the only one who has plans of their own. Besides, it's in Amestris where the Xing Emperor is located."

"And?"

"And," Grumman continued smoothly. "It is the Xing Emperor who is the true leader of Xing... at least by appearances."

Greed understood what he was getting at. "Me, share a body with that traitor again, I don't think so."

"With enough of these stones you should be able to overwhelm him and crush his soul so he's no longer a worry."

"No wonder this loser hates you," Greed said half joking and half in admiration, "you think you know it all..." then he stopped. There was a pulling from deep inside, like someone scrambling up a rope that tugged at his consciousness, as if threatening to pull him down underwater. Grumman distracting him was enough for Russell to try and regain control. "No, I won't let you..."

Grumman stepped back and watched, fascinated as Greed began another struggle of wills with an un-cooperating body. "Well, it looks like Russell's not ready to give up after all..."

Then Greed's shield dropped and Russell came lunging after Grumman. "Give me the stone," Russell gasped. He didn't have full control but it was enough. Or so he thought as he went head first into one of the tubes. Grumman side stepped him easily. He was an old man; his reflexes slowed through the years, but out maneuvering someone without full control of their body was easy.

"If this is Russell I'm talking to you need to stop Greed," Grumman said hovering close. "We're not ready to move the army out."

Russell managed to pick himself up, stunned by the impact. It was hard to move and think at the same time. It took too much concentration to maintain what control he did have over Greed. "I don't care about the damn army," he rasped. "I just want that stone to bring Fletcher back."

"Don't start that now," Grumman said giving him a disgusted look. "You're in too deep to try and redeem yourself."

"I hate you," Russell growled, his face twisted with hate and fear that he'd lose control of his body. "If it wasn't for you I never would have..."

"Yes, go ahead and blame me," Grumman challenged. "Blame everyone but yourself. I can't help it if you are weak, so easily manipulated."

Russell roared and went for Grumman again but fell to the ground shaking. He tried to crawl closer, clawing at the ground. Then he stopped, his body shuddered and he stood up slowly. He was eerily quiet as he stared at Grumman calmly.

"You get him too riled up," Greed said walking towards Grumman. "It would probably be best to take you out of the picture now."

Grumman raised the gun and fired but Greed's shield went up. The bullet ricocheted off him and hit Grumman in the chest. The old man blinked once behind his thick glasses and fell to the floor lifeless.

"My, my," Kimbley said strolling over to him casually, splattered with blood as he slowing clapped his hands, the sound of which echoed through the chamber as he admired the show before him. "That was quite dramatic. When is your next performance? I like to be punctual so I won't miss anything."

"What are you doing here?" Greed grumbled.

"To keep you from taking my army."

Greed glared at him then slowly let his shield drop and began to chuckle softly. He didn't want to fight Kimbley or Envy. Too much trouble and the fight would likely destroy the lifeless homunculi in the process. "Don't turn your back on my Kimbley or Envy, whoever I'm talking to now... because I will destroy you and take what I want."

"You can go ahead and try," Kimbley said as he transformed into a familiar form Greed hadn't seen in a long time. Envy's sense of fashion had always troubled him. "But whatever it is you want to do with the army can wait. First we get those Elrics out of the way. Those two and Mustang are the ones who can stop us."

"Fine," Greed agreed reluctantly with a defeated shrug. "I guess can wait a little longer. Maybe I will take the old man's advice," he said as he nudged Grumman's lifeless body with his toe. "The Xing Emperor is with them. His body was more fun than this one. At least he has a backbone."

"Why not use one of the bodies here?" Envy asked flipping a long lock of hair back over his shoulder.

"Whoever designed those things had no sense of aesthetics. They're disgusting looking. They don't even have eyes."

Envy laughed and walked up to nearest one and placed his hand gently on its head. "I think they're beautiful. They will finally see the light of day. If only Father were around to see it."

"I'm glad he's not around, always bossing us around." Greed said petulantly. "Why do you think I left?"

"You know," Envy said turning away from the soulless homunculi, "he is still here. We are a part of him."

"Ugh, don't remind me," Greed said disgustedly, then looked at Envy curiously. "Hey, why are you taking over now?"

"Kimbley was getting too carried away. He was ready to blow you away after you had him shot up in there," Envy said with a jerk of his thumb towards the other room. "But he would have destroyed the army."

"Ha, that's the reason I didn't try to fight you."

"It doesn't matter," Envy said walking over to the nozzle that Greed was about to turn earlier. He looked down at it thoughtfully then back at the army.

"What are you thinking?" Greed asked eagerly hoping Envy was ready to change his mind.

"That your impatience is contagious," Envy said slowly. Then a smile spread slowly across his face. "Maybe we should take them for a test drive." There was a mad glint in his eye making him look even more deranged with the red glow from the tanks in front of him. He reached out and turned the nozzle. "Everyone else has been having all the fun. Now it's my turn."