The car ride was a bit of a squeeze, to say the least. The mining town was not too far, though, so it was bearable to have Al's armor poking into Iris's side for just a short period of time. She did, however, dash out of the car before it could even come to a stop when she saw that they were now in Baschool.

Once everyone was out of their cars, Miles directed a search party for the Ishvalan man on the run.

"This is where Scar was last seen. An old ghost town like this is the perfect place to hide." He divides the teams up evenly, with the two guards that Kimblee brought being assigned to the Elric brothers. Iris is instructed to follow them, but her first priority is to protect Winry. She made a mental note to teach Winry some simple combat at least the next time they had a chance.

The two girls stayed a few paces behind them, not even noticing when the two guards mysteriously disappeared. The Elrics led them into one of many of the abandoned buildings. They climbed up a few flights of stairs until they reached the rooftop. Looking out onto the town they reached a consensus that it would take forever to search the whole town like this.

"If only Scar came to us instead," Ed groaned in frustration.

Iris huffed in agreement, but quickly turned around when she felt a presence.

'Qi,' she reminded herself. That is if Lan Fan was right about her. She almost calls out for it to show itself, but she doesn't get the chance. Mei Chang reveals herself as she emerges from the staircase below. She locks onto the familiar suit of armor and her eyes light up.

"Alphonse!" Her high pitched voice is surely heard throughout the town as she squeals with excitement.

"Mei? Thank the stars, we've been looking for you!"

Somehow, they can see hearts in her eyes. "For me?"

"We wanted to learn about alkahestry, and we know you can help us!" he went on. The girl pays no mind, though, and is rambling about the younger Elric brother in adoration. She is, however, interrupted by a knock coming from the boy's armor.

"Can I come out yet?" Winry's voice sounds tinny through the metal. She unlatches his chest piece and gracefully tumbles out.

"Sucks to be in there, huh?" Iris asks her, recalling her time in the suit. Before Mei could burst into a fit, another figure stepped out of the darkness. His face was frightening - almost too marred to be recognized. It took a minute for them all to realize it was Dr. Marcoh.

He was a terrible sight, to say the least.

The two brothers were shocked and went to him immediately, asking questions and worrying about him. Iris felt sorrow for the old man but was preoccupied with her senses picking up yet another aura. She approached the corner with caution, and when she didn't recognize the man cowering below her, she grabbed him by the shirt collar. He squirmed in her grip, grasping at the hand that held him captive.

"We've got another one!" she yelled over her shoulder, then presented the man to them.

"Let me go, girly!" the unattractive man yelled.

"Oh, please just let Yoki go," Dr. Marcoh deadpanned.

"Your friend?"

He scratched his head. "Erm..."

That didn't necessarily convince Iris, but she took another glance at Yoki and decided he wasn't a threat. After she let go she could hear him mumble about his crumpled shirt.

"Well isn't this just a perfect little pow-wow. Now, all we need is Scar." Iris said with no humor in her voice. Her torso ached as if her own body remembered the ugly memory. Would she ever feel any different?

Ed frowned. He didn't like to think of ever being that helpless again. Before he could console her though, Al suggested they all sit down. They made a small circle in the center of the room.

"Like we said, Mei, we really need your expertise."

"Ever since we started the journey of getting our bodies back, we've come to realize alchemy is so multifaceted, but it may not be the solution to our problem. We figured that Xingese alkahestry could be of use. That's why we've been searching for you." Ed explains, and Iris adds on.

"I myself have been trying to understand something strange I've been experiencing my whole life. I was given a hint that alkahestry and Xing culture itself could be what I've been searching for. I can't exactly go searching for answers there, not with the delicate state the country is in right now. So I need you. I want to speak with you about anything you could possibly know. In private, too." She added the last part quietly, not meeting anyone's eyes.

"Tall orders, huh?" Al tried for humor.

"I can't say much for you, Iris," Marcoh started, "But, for you boys, I will tell you that you're not the first ones to think of all this." He pulls out a leather notebook from his inside jacket pocket. "These research notes is knowledgeable in both alchemy and alkahestry, possibly even more. The author just so happens to be Scar's brother. We just need Scar to help decipher the notes - they're all written in Ishvalan."

Iris deflated a bit. Yes, she understood that the fate of the world or whatever was truly important, but her identity crisis made her feel powerless to do anything. Patience was not a strong suit of hers. She didn't have much time to pout, though, for a loud boom came from a nearby building. They stood up to get a better view.

"That's the building Scar said he was headed towards!" Marcoh exclaimed.

"The military probably just found him," Iris concluded.

"Let's go help him out!" Mei bounded out the building without hesitation.

"Why should we help him?" Ed growled.

"Brother, we know what Scar is like, but we need Mei and the Ishvalan notes. So play nice."

"He's right," Iris calls, then puts on her hood and dashes outside. The boys follow.

They eventually end up on the roof of a random building. Whatever had exploded destroyed the surrounding buildings, so it was just their luck to find Scar fighting some ugly-looking chimeras at the edge of the storied building.

"Who the hell are these goons?" Ed griped. One was a slimy color with mucus and saliva dripping out of his very large mouth. The other was grey with quills like a porcupine. They seemed to be winning against the Ishvalan.

"Dunno, but they're trying to kill our interpreter so we better move!" Iris yells, which gets the attention of the three combatants. The alchemists dodge all of their attacks just in time and spread out.

"I don't have time for you brats right now!" Scar roars, looking towards Iris. She catches his eye as she's dodging quills. He looks for too long, letting his guard down. The other chimera captured him in slime. It leaves him in an immobile heap on the floor.

"We're trying to help you, asshole!" Iris screams.

"Keep these guys away from Scar!" Al yells, going on the offensive.

Iris reaches for her push knives but grabs nothing. "Damn Ice Queen," she mutters, then decides to try and help Scar instead of the fight. She figured the spare pocket knife she packed wouldn't be much help.

"Sit tight, okay?"

"Why are you helping me?"

She squatted down to his eye level. "Think of it as a formality, bud. You're gonna give us some answers. You owe me a favor especially."

He simply grunted and looked away. Iris got back up and started collecting snow. She piled it on him. He went to protest but she wouldn't have it.

"I'm not trying to make you into a snowman, so chill. The snow will melt over you and make you more slippery so you can get out. It'll also mix into the slime, making the stickiness weaker."

Scar was squirming out of the goo in no time, and the chimeras were defeated by the two brothers just as quick.

"Good one," Iris congratulated, giving them high fives. She turned around just as Scar was trying to get away.

"Where do you think you're going?!" Ed bursts out.

"If you get in my way you'll die!"

The alchemist runs over and goes for a punch, but Scar catches his automail fist. He tries to deform the steel, except it's not steel. His new automail can't be broken down by the same components. This catches the man by surprise and Ed takes the opportunity to sweep his leg from under him. He falls back, but he reaches for a pillar next to him. It crumbles instantly, and Al has to swoop in to move his friend and his brother out of the way. Scar goes to destroy another pillar, but a voice calls out in terror, but also in bravery.

"Please! Don't hurt my friends!"