1Chapter 2: The Omega

"Armstrong, you're not telling me the whole story." Ed shouted from the back seat of the coach. Armstrong remained silent and kept a stony face on the road, pale blue eyes narrowed to slits. "Tell me what's going on with Al!"

Silence. Edward's eyes flashed white fury. Standing on his seat, he gripped the flaps of Armstrong's jacket and thrust him forward, until they were eye to eye.

"Tell me what's wrong with Al." he breathed, voice barely audible. "Tell me now."

"All I can honestly say, Edward, is that it's not what you want to hear." Armstrong said softly. Ed let a sickened gasp escape his throat, his hands loosened on the flaps of his jacket and fell to his sides.

"Fine. Don't tell me what's up with the only family I almost destroyed." Ed muttered.

"Edward," he began.

"No, Major. Surely you know how it feels." he turned away, voice curt and low. The ride went on in silence; furious quiet radiated from Ed's every nerve, while shock seemed evident upon Major Armstrong.

In about three hours time, (still sitting in this unending silence), the coach arrived at Central. Armstrong rose and exited slowly, while Ed flung himself over the side of the vehicle. Not even throwing a brief salute to the guards at the entrance of Central's State Alchemist Head Quarters, he raced inside. The receptionist, who's face shone all-too-familiarly, was Scieszka.

"Edward!" she sang out brightly, extending an arm. "Welcome back to--"

"Hey, Scieszka, gotta get to Mustang, nice ta see ya." Ed said in a rush, blowing by as though being chased by a chimera. Papers flew through the air off the unorganized desk and fell in a rhythm around the disgruntled Scieszka.

"Nice to see you too." she muttered angrily.

Ed careened around corners, trying to avoid running people into walls. Diving narrowly out of the way of Lieutenant Bloch, and curving sharply around Lieutenant Ross, Ed managed to get to Roy's office. Forgetting his place, he threw the door open.

"Where's Al! Is he--" He demanded, and stopped short. The room was empty. Feeling a surge of anger rush through his skin, he tried to remain calm.

"We're doing the best we can."

Ed whirled around to see Colonel Roy Mustang, leaning against the doorframe, the condescending smirk he knew too well playing at his lips. Ed narrowed his eyes.

"Well, is he okay?" he asked softly.

"What you did took a lot out of him, Fullmetal. Yes, you got his body back like you planned, and he payed the price for your foolish actions." he said, voice hard, the lines on his face forming a distinct glare. Ed dropped his gaze to the ground, nodding guiltily.

"All I wanted to do was..."

"I know." he interrupted abruptly. Ed sighed quietly as Roy's face softened. "I know all you wanted was to help Al. But you messed up, Fullmetal; I know it, you know it, and he doesn't." Ed looked up, perplexed.

"What do you mean..?" he breathed. Roy's ebony colored eyes locked onto his own, the dead truth glued to his features.

"He doesn't remember anything."

"Define anything."

"What happened. What you did. How he got injured." Roy said slowly. Ed waited expectantly for more. "And he doesn't remember me, any of the staff..." Ed's heart shattered in his chest; his eyes screamed for what wasn't, couldn't be true.

"You don't mean..."

"Fullmetal," Roy began, voice hard.

"You're lying to me." Ed growled, anger taking over what he knew was the truth. "Let me see Al. Al will remember me. He's my brother, Colonel. My brother!"

"Edward, I know!" Roy snapped back, for once forgetting the 'Fullmetal'. "And we've been getting memories of you through to him, slowly. That's not the only reason I called you down here."

"So you have more news?" Ed said sarcastically. "First you tell me my brother doesn't know who I am, and it gets worse?"

"Yes." Ed looked down moodily at the Colonel's curt and blunt response.

"Well, go on already."

"It's very difficult to keep Al stable." Roy continued. "He's had frequent relapses since his injury." Ed nodded somberly.

"Do you know what this means?" Roy asked.

"That Al's hurt and it's my fault."

"Yes. Since Al isn't a suit anymore, he can bleed, and he can break." Ed looked up, horror radiating in his eyes.

"How bad is it?"

"Broken wrists, full arm, ankles, and internal bleeding. A few cracked ribs, most likely." Roy replied. "It's bad, Ed. Very bad."

Ed fell into the chair that faced the Colonel's desk., numb with shock. The purpose of what he had done was to help Al, but it looked as though he had killed him. Ed's face dropped into his hands, a wave of emotion washing over him.

"I killed him.." he whispered. "I killed my own brother."

SMACK!

"Suck it up, Fullmetal, no you didn't." Roy glared. "You've made bigger mistakes before." Ed couldn't help but glare at that; he leaped from his seat.

"You said it yourself, Colonel, I messed up! It's BAD, remember?" Ed shouted back. "I can't cure his wounds or his soul with Alchemy!"

"As we are both aware." Roy replied. "But there is something you can do." Ed stopped short.

"Th.. there is?" Roy nodded gravely.

"But it's dangerous, Fullmetal. And it involves the Omega." Ed's eyes widened; the Omega? Colonel couldn't be serious.

"The Omega? How could that help Al?" Roy smiled thinly.

"Sit down and find out."