Chapter 2- Static

"What the hell are you playing at, Fullmetal?" Roy demanded, trying to keep the incredulous bite of his tone. A low, unmistakable chuckle slid through the line, dripping through his ears and setting every last atom within him afire with aggravation.

"It's just what I said, chief." The sickeningly taunting voice twisted slowly. "I know what you're doing and there are people who are dying to stop you." A brief flash of Hughes's face shot through his mind; charcoal eyes widened as a shiver snaked down his spine.

"The duty of an officer that outranks you," he began, but was cut off sharply.

"'Is none of your concern', eh, Colonel? Stop skipping like a broken record." Roy was silenced, his nerves shattering with frustration. "I know who wants to stop you and I know how they plan to do it. I'm even willing to ante it up without a thing in return. How's that sound?"

That didn't sound like something that Fullmetal would do. Sure, there was your occasional insult, the regular stepping out of line, but to randomly call in and throw accusations, true or not, in his face? Offer him a way out, no strings attached, about research he could never have known about? He had been away on a follow-up report in Aquroya with Alphonse; there was no way he could have heard about this data. At this, an idea struck him.

"Where are you calling from?" he asked, his voice regaining its regular tenor, the bite fading slowly to appear nonchalant.

"I'm on my way back from Aquroya." He answered without a hitch. "You should know that; if was your assignment that landed me in this water world." Roy's brow furrowed; he felt control slipping away once again. As he attempted to conjure up a suitable reply, Edward's voice slid into a quiet tenor.

"Look," the sudden, almost sympathy in the voice on the line surprised him. His attention was recaptured. "There are people out there who want to do to you what was done to Hughes." Another shiver sent tremors through his skin,

"Nothing new there." He risked in replying, his voice sounding careless. A half-hearted laugh was his reply.

"If you want to die, then I'll hang up now. If not, then listen to me." The perplexing seriousness in his tone forced trust in the Colonel. Edward or not, he would have to take a gamble now.

"Start talking." He thought he heard a slight sigh, whether one of relief, satisfaction or otherwise, he knew not. However, the simple reply that was stated threw him off guard.

"No."

"You just told me…"

"Are you really so dense?" came the sarcastic reply. "Your line could have been tapped. How many people come into your office on a daily basis? How many have their own key? How many are just smart enough to think outside the vat of idiocy within in the mind of a military dog for long enough to tap a phone, huh?" Roy seethed, hating with every passing second of silence that the kid was right.

"Yeah, okay." He replied, the answer indefinite in his annoyance. He could almost feel Edward smirk.

"Come to Lior."

"Lior?" Roy repeated, dubious. He knew when he said it that his tone was unsure. "They're in the middle of a civil war. If I just head out there, they'll think that the military from Central is intervene--"

"Other factions of the military have already arrived and attempted to 'shut down' the operation of a petty civil war. In other words, it's already been blown completely out of proportion." He replied, instantly. "If one more soldier drops in, no one's going to bat an eye." Yet again, he was right. Roy scowled for a moment, and then reflected upon what he had said.

"What do you say, sir?"

His thoughts drifted about the prospect. Head to Lior. He could tell Riza that he had been sent for a monetary inspection to see how the city was holding up with the civil war still going on. He would head out, squeeze all of the information he could muster out of the Fullmetal pipsqueak. Sure, it seemed easy. But the civil war in Lior sounded far too much like Ishbal.

The thought of Ishbal shot through his head, but with expertise he shoved it out, pushing it to the far corners of his mind and leaving it in the dark, not daring to venture there. After years of building up the fortress to guard his thoughts, it would not so easily be broken down. He jerked back to reality and replied:

"I can be there in two days." Edward sounded satisfied.

"As can I. Then it's set." A faint 'click; and the connection was severed. Roy held the phone to his ear for a moment more, listening to the distant sound of the thick, grainy static reverberating about his mind. All that separated him from the answers he sought for so vainly was this wire, this thin strand of cord, and static. Cold, empty static.

"Has the plan been put into effect?" a question broke the silence that hung about the shrouded sky, clouds slowly passing overhead as though trying to reach the sun, yet doomed to fade away before dawn. A slim silhouette leaned against the wall, the iciness of the stone not even prickling her smooth, pale skin. Shadowy lips, taut against a slender face turned so very slightly into the thinnest of grins, not robbed of beauty but still wicked with sin.

"It has." Another smile; words ceased in the hollow darkness. The beating of wings fluttered from afar, yet otherwise, there was silence. He who stood opposite her turned to look out over the latent city.

The gleaming eyes of Central were drawn to an exhausted, dilapidated close; the flickering golden sparks that had lit the thin windows had long since fallen to darkness. The city looked so helpless when it was asleep, he reflected. How simple it would be to do it now. No one would know; no one could ever attempt to explain. It would rest in a drawer, collecting dust, as another forgotten case file without a name.

He smiled thinly and shook his head once, as if in disagreement with his thoughts. Soon enough, the plan would be carried out. But here, in the darkness of night, that plan would wait. He turned and glanced over at her; she was waiting, expectancy plain on the moonlit face. His golden eyes closed, light casting over the glass that framed his face; a jagged grin split across thin lips.

"Then load your gun." She nodded, bringing her right hand slowly to rest at her forehead, a few faultless strands of hair curling over her fingers.

"Yes, sir."

AN- Hey guys: lack of reply due to grounding for getting a B on my report card. Explanation later. Winrythealchemist- hi, thanks for your wonderful reviews. The civil war in Lior has begun, Greed is dead, and Hughes has been dead for about 3 months. More soon, guys. ;

R