Chapter 2

August 20-21, 1917

General Roy Mustang nearly spat out his coffee when Lieutenant Colonel Riza Hawkeye told him the news.

"She's alive after all these years? What have they told her?" He asked, trying to set his coffee down without spilling it.

"Well sir, they haven't told her much," Riza replied, "and she's on her way to Central now, escorted by two officers."

He frowned. "Poor girl, she has to be very confused. Have her brought to my office whenever she arrives."

"That is not possible sir." Roy raised an eyebrow at her, motioning for her to continue. "Since it is a bit suspicious, she is being taken to the interrogation unit… at least, the nicer part of it."

Roy stood up and grabbed his coat, "Why do they need to interrogate a seventeen-year-old girl? I'm going to change that."

Riza stepped in front of the door before he could leave. "Sir, she's been missing for eleven years and presumed dead or kidnapped. Who knows what she has been told or who held her captive."

"What condition was she found in?" He asked, leaning against the front of his desk.

"'Found' isn't the appropriate term here," she replied. "She was crossing into Amestris just like any other traveler and was found in good health."

"That doesn't make sense though," Roy said, pushing off his desk and walking towards the window. The sun was starting to set, indicating the end of the workday. However, Roy often found himself and his trusty subordinate working later shifts ever since he was promoted to general. He didn't care about this random girl, but after all of his hard work, he didn't need travelers or citizens being afraid of the military.

"That's all the information we know sir. She should be in Central by nine tonight, and her questioning starts at eight tomorrow morning."

Roy shook his head, "You'd think they would tell a general more information, considering I'm in charge of these kinds of issues," he signed. "Guess I've still got a long way to go."

A young girl sat in a small metal room with three chairs, a steel table, and a camera in the corner. Her blonde hair was braided into a bun, green eyes covered by her bangs. Behind her stood an officer, who seemed to have the job of bodyguarding her. She didn't understand why they had taken away her belongings and put her in a small car with two officers. At least they let her keep her black jacket and black gloves. She was just trying to enter the country like everyone else, so what was the problem?

"Hello miss, can I see your passport?" An older woman, around forty, asked, reaching out her hand. Nami handed the lady her passport, which also stated her Amestrian citizenship. "Thank you, one moment."

Nami tapped her foot silently, her heart beating fast. She had no idea if this passport was valid, or what her citizenship really meant. Her parents had abandoned her, so maybe they found a way to keep her out of the country after all these years?

When the lady looked over her passport, she frowned and glanced at the bottom of it where the citizenship was stated. After a few moments of typing the information into the computer, her eyes widened and she called two border patrol officers over, pointing at the screen.

One of the officers turned towards her. "Miss Nami Clark, please come with us."

Nami's eyes widened and she took a step back. "E-Excuse me? What's this about?"

"Please come with us," the officer stated again. "There is no need to be worried. You are not in any danger."

Stuttering, she was guided into a smaller room, her bag taken from her.

"Hey, give that back!" She tried to grab her bag back but was restrained by an officer. "Can someone tell me what is going on!?"

A tall, brown-haired man walked into the room and closed the door before turning to examine her. He was dressed in the standard blue military uniform. "Miss Nami Clark, yes?"

Nami didn't go by that last name, but she knew it was on her passport. At this point, her best option was to play along if she wanted her belongings back. She had heard how ruthless the military could be here, and she wasn't taking any chances. Starting a fight was not on her plans for the day. "Yes sir."

His face remained stoic as he sat down in one of the chairs across from her. "Do you know why you're here?"

"No sir."

"Well Miss Clark, your passport shows you to be someone who we deemed missing a long time ago, along with your parents. While I cannot tell you more yet, I will tell you that you will be sent to Central and questioned by the authorities there."

"Why do I need to be questioned?" Nami asked, eyes narrowing. "What do you mean I'm missing?" Shit are they on to me?

"This is not the proper place to answer those questions. Please know that you will not be harmed as you are a citizen, presuming you do not resist or try to escape." The man stood up. "You'll be escorted in a car with two officers to Central, and the commanding officer there will take control of this case."

After being shoved into a car and transported here (to what she thought was some interrogation building), she spent the night in a room with only a bed and a small desk. The food was crappy, but she figured that it was what most people in here were given, if not better. Since nobody would answer her questions, she chose to go to sleep until the next morning. In the end, she had tossed and turned all night, unable to calm her anxious mind. Had they looked through her bag? She didn't have any weapons, just books and clothes. She'd just have to wait and see...

And now, here she was in this dim metal room. She didn't understand what they meant by her and her parents being "missing" but maybe she would have those answers soon if she cooperated.

After five minutes, the door opened and in walked a tall, black-haired man (general was his rank, maybe?), a blonde-haired woman with auburn eyes in a military uniform, and an older-looking man with gray hair. Nami eyes widened when she recognized the first man to be Roy Mustang.

Why is he here? What are the chances that I would run into Mustang already? What would Jason have done? Shit what do I do? Okay be calm Nami, be calm. You need to get out of this room and these three are standing in the way of that.

"Hello Miss Clark," Mustang said, sitting down in the chair across from her and the other man followed suit. The woman stayed near the door with her eyes trained on Nami, just like a hawk. "I am General Roy Mustang, this is Lieutenant Colonel Hawkeye and Captain Falman, and we will be conducting your questioning." When she didn't respond, he continued. "We are not here to cause you harm, but to clear some confusion. Do you know why you're here?"

Nami shook her head, unable to form words.

"Well, first can you tell me where you have been these past years? As far as you can remember."

How much could she give away? What exactly did they know about her? Was this a trick? She took a deep breath and as calmly as she could, answered the question.

"I've been in Aerugo since I was a child."

She saw that Falman was writing down everything that she said, which meant this entire conversation would be recorded. The camera in the corner didn't help either.

"Do you know where your parents are?" Mustang asked. He kept a serious face and she didn't know whether to be concerned or unsettled.

"They left me when I was very young," she replied.

Mustang raised an eyebrow. "Left you?"

Nami nodded. "Yes, they abandoned me when I was a little girl."

She watched Mustang exchange an indecipherable look with Falman and wondered if she had said the right thing.

"Miss Clark," he began slowly. "Your parents were killed when you were a little girl. They were found deceased about eleven years ago. You were not found with them and presumed dead, or kidnapped."

Nami froze, staring at the pair in front of her. Murdered? Murdered? Jason said her parents had left her, because she was different from the rest of the military children. They abandoned her because of her talents. They weren't killed. Jason wouldn't lie to her. Never.

"Miss Clark?" She vaguely heard Mustang call. "Miss Clark, are you alright? Officer Brantley, please get her some water."

The other officer left the room, while Nami remained frozen to her seat. What could she say now? How does a person respond to those statements?

"Miss Clark, who told you that your parents had abandoned you?" Mustang pressed after a few minutes of silence. "The men that kidnapped you?"

Nami narrowed her eyes at the Flame Alchemist. "I was not kidnapped," she snapped, regaining her voice. "If it weren't for him, I would be dead."

Mustang looked taken aback, surprised at the harsh answer. He whispered something to Falman before turning back to her.

"Miss Clark, your parents were officers in the military and believed to have been assassinated in another country. We never caught the criminal or understood the motive as we have no negative relations with Aerugo. Could you tell me more about this 'him' you speak of?"

Nami put her hands above the table and crossed her fingers. "He was my caretaker, and he is dead."

The officer from before, the same one guarding her, returned with a glass of water and set it on the table.

"Could you describe your caretaker to us?" Mustang asked. "Were you held captive by this man?"

"He took care of me, treated me like his own daughter, and gave me an education." That was all she offered. They, or rather Roy Mustang, didn't deserve to know anything about Jason.

"Did he have dark skin? Red eyes?" He pressed.

"Yes."

"What kind of education did you receive? And do not lie to us. Was it religious or alchemy-based? An apprenticeship, perhaps?"

Nami thought about the scars covering her hands, hidden behind her black gloves, unsure how to answer. There were many kinds of alchemy out there, but she couldn't reveal the one she had learned - Aerugo's secrets depended on her.

"Alchemy-based," she answered. It wasn't as if they wouldn't find out in the future. "Physical and chemical alchemy."

She noticed that the blonde woman tensed a bit, and moved her hand closer to the gun perched on her side. Riza Hawkeye, Jason had told her. Mustang's right-hand woman and a deadly sharpshooter.

"Did you know about alchemy before you met this man?" Mustang asked. She had a feeling this was in her file, at least something her parents must have mentioned if they were actually military personnel.

"My parents told me I had a knack for it as a kid," Nami said. "It was a subject that interested me greatly."

Mustang leaned his head forward, elbows on the table. "Why did you come back to Amestris?"

Nami had been waiting for this question and knew the answer would determine her fate. She could never tell the real truth, but she had been prepared for this question if anyone ever asked. Jason had given her a list of goals to complete until she could finish the mission entrusted to her.

"My caretaker passed away and I didn't know where to go. All I knew was that my citizenship is to Amestris, so it seems logical to come here."

"And what do you plan to do now that you're here?"

Nami shifted in her seat, crossing her legs and slowly taking a sip of water. If she acted normal, they would hopefully believe her and let her go.

"I enjoy studying alchemy. I've heard of something called the State Alchemist exam, but I don't know much about it. I briefly remember my parents saying I would do well to follow their lead and join the military."

Mustang's face had returned back to its emotionless facade, but again he narrowed his eyes. Turning to Falman, he whispered something before looking back at Nami.

"Our last question is, based on what you have told us regarding your education and living situation, why do you have an automail leg?"

Nami paused, unsure how to answer.

"It's a memory that I've repressed and would rather not discuss," she lied. "A car accident." Yes, she had repressed it, but the memory was still fresh. Mustang stared at her for another minute before nodding.

"Thank you for your time Miss Clark, please excuse us for a moment," he said. Mustang and Falman stood up before exiting the room with the woman in tow. Did she say the correct things? She wasn't looking to cause a bunch of trouble, at least for the moment. She had to take her mission one step at a time.

After what seemed like a long time, the door opened and the three people from before entered the room.

"Miss Clark," Mustang began. "We do not believe that you are here on suspicious motives, therefore we will not hold you. Although your parents have been deceased for a while now, because you were assumed kidnapped, their assets have been recovered yet frozen. We can restore these assets to you after you answer a few personal questions, and allow you to settle here in the country. However, due to security reasons, we forbid you from traveling outside the country without the supervision of an officer. A member of my team will also be keeping an eye on you for the next few weeks, due to the circumstances surrounding your disappearance in case anyone comes looking for you. Your belongings will be returned to you shortly. I would also consider looking into an automail mechanic here. Winry Rockbell has been helping the military for a while. Thank you for your time."

Nami watched as the same three left the room before she could reply. The officer from before spoke up.

"Miss Clark, would you please follow me?"

Nami followed the man, trying to sort through everything that happened. She had repressed the information about her parents during the conversation, not entirely believing it to be true. Maybe those people wanted her to trust them? They said the killer was never caught, so do they hope to catch him now?

But from what she had been told, Roy Mustang was someone who could never be trusted.

Author's note

actors_heroes: Hello! I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. You may recognize the name of my OC from Long Winding Road - we have entirely rewritten her and there is no connection anymore. Soon you guys will be learning a whole lot about Aerugo and what they've been up to all these years.

Disclaimer: We do not own FMA. All OCs in this chapter belong to actors_heroes.