Hi guys! I have been waiting so long to upload this! I miss you guys! :'(

In all seriousness, my summer's been pretty uneventful. This gives me plenty of time to update and less time for you to wait! I hope you guys have a great summer, Let me know if you guys want me to combine episodes 11 and 12 into one big chapter, i'm having problems deciding.

Anyways, on with Chapter 7!

DISCLAIMER: FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST IS NOT MINE, BUT THE FANFICTION IS.

Chapter 7: Secrets Set In Stone

"AHHHHH! DOCTOR MARCOH'S RESEARCH! IT'S ALL GONE!" Edward shouted as the group stood in front of National Central Library, First Branch. The group had made it to the library, but the only problem was-

"How the hell does one of Central's most restricted libraries get burned down?!" Iris yelled. "Have they ever heard of guards or did the military suddenly get stupider while this building burned?"

"Calm down, I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation why there were no guards protecting the premises" Armstrong insisted.

Iris picked up a book and threw it at Alphonse. Before it hit the armor, the book crumbled into a pile of ash.

"There's nothing here but ashes, everything's gone." Edward said as he attempted to pick up a burned book as it crumbled in his hands.

"Yup, we're screwed. When something burns it goes through a chemical change so we can't change the books back into their original form." Iris sighed. "At least I know what to send my sister, though."

"Major Armstrong" a woman with brown hair, blue eyes, and a mole under her left eye yelled.

"Oh Second Lieutenant Ross and Sargent Brosh, to what do we owe this pleasure?" Armstrong said looking at the woman and her companion who had blond hair and green eyes.

"You have been ordered to report back to Command, sir."

"We'll be taking supervision over Iris Kamillia, Edward Elric and his brother effective immediately." Brosh said.

"Hm. Very well" Armstrong said. "They're yours"

"What is this?! Just when I think I'm home free, they saddle me with more body guards?! This is getting old!" Edward complained.

Iris hit Edward over the head, saying "Edward! Stop acting spoiled! You just got your arm fixed, we don't need another trip to Resembool!"

"Sorry about my brother…" Alphonse apologized to the soldiers.

You and me both, Al Iris thought as the group headed towards the car.

"All might not be lost" Ross told the trio as the car drove down the road.

"I would agree if the books could be repaired, but that's possible, now is it?" Iris snapped.

"Iris!" Alphonse said "I'm sorry. Both my brother and Iris are disappointed about the library being burned down. What were you suggesting Lieutenant?"

"There was a woman who was well acquainted with the materials in the First Branch. Unfortunately, she wasn't working there anymore."

"Boy that's helps a lot" Iris and Edward said at the same time. Brosh continued staring at Al's armor.

"Something wrong?" Alphonse asked when he noticed the staring.

"Oh, it's nothing. Although, if you don't mind me asking, why are you wearing a suit of armor?"

Ed and Al looked at each other nervously and said "It's a hobby" at the same time.

"A hobby?! What kind of freaking hobby is that, Lieutenant?" Brosh whispered, despite the fact that Iris was sitting next to him and she could hear every word.

"Who are these kids, anyway?" Ross replied. Iris tapped on Brosh's head, gaining his attention.

"The blond is the Fullmetal alchemist and I'm the Silver alchemist. May I see your gun?" Iris asked.

"Uh… Sure." Brosh said as he handed his gun to Iris and she began disassembling it in her lap.

"So… uh what do you say, Al? Lovely view, isn't it?" Edward said trying to draw attention.

"Oh yeah, yeah it's gorgeous!"

"You two are quite the actors. Someone give them an award!" Iris said as she began reassembling the gun, which was now in pieces.

"MY GUN!" Brosh whined.

"Don't worry, I can fix it. I'm not stupid" Iris snapped.

"What the hell happened in there?! Mass tree murder?!" Iris yelled when Edward opened the door to an apartment they were looking for. "Do we have to sign a waiver just to go in?!"

The apartment was filled, top to bottom, with books, leaving little room for actually getting in the apartment.

"There's got to be a million of them!" Edward said as Brosh stepped into the apartment, squeezing through the little space that wasn't taken over by books.

"Is there really someone living in this place?" Brosh complained.

"Ms. Sheska, are you here? Ms. Sheska?" Ross called out.

"Is someone there? Please help me!" A voice called out.

Iris screamed, scaring everyone in the room into thinking something happened.

"What the hell was that for Iris?!" Edward yelled.

"NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO BE LECTURING ME! THERE'S A FREAKING PERSON UNDER THOSE DAMN BOOKS!" Iris screamed as Alphonse looked over and saw a hand sticking out of a pile of books.

"Iris is right, brother! There's somebody under there!"

Everyone began to grab books and dig the girl out from under her literature prison of books. Under the books, a mousy girl with brown hair and glasses was found.

"Thank you! I'm sorry! I got myself trapped under a mountain of books! I thought I was going to suffocate under there!"

"You, sure as hell, better be sorry! That's not funny scaring people like that!" Iris yelled, trying to calm down from the heart attack the mousy girl had given her.

"I'm sorry. I never meant to scare anyone" the girl apologized, bowing her head.

"So, uh, are you Sheska?" Edward asked.

"Yes."

"And you worked at the library?"

Sheska acted as if Edward punched her when he said that sentence. Then her face lit up like when Winry's when you showed her automail.

"Oh, the library! Even the word itself is so beautiful! I've loved books my entire life! Ever since I first learned how to read as a girl! That job was heaven!" Sheska slumped down as she continued. "But I forgot I was supposed to be working and all I ever did was read, so they fired me! If I don't find another job, I'll never be able to move my poor elderly mother into a better hospital! But I'm hopeless! The only thing I can do is read! I'll never find another job as long as I live! I'm useless! Good for nothing! More pathetic than pond scum!"

"Excuse me, I'm sorry to interrupt but we are here for a reason!" Iris said as she tapped on Sheska's shoulder.

"Yes?"

"Do you remember seeing any research that belonged to someone named Tim Marcoh?" Edward asked.

"Let's see, Tim Marcoh… Where do I know that name…Oh! Yes of course! I remember now!"

"Really?" Edward and Iris said.

"Oh yes! I'm absolutely positive! There were some hand-written notes stuffed into a book case where they didn't belong!"

"The notes really there after all!" Edward said. "Which means that they burned up with everything else in the library!"

"Did you want to read them? Is that why you're asking?" Sheska asked.

"Yup. Unfortunately, we were too late." Iris said as she helped Edward onto his feet.

"Sorry to bother you" Alphonse said.

"I remember everything that was in them. Would that help at all?"

The trio froze before looking at Sheska in pure shock and surprise.

"It's just how I am! I am able remember the content of any book I've ever read. It would take a while, but I could write them out for you" Sheska offered. The trio began cheering.

"Photographic memory…?" Iris mumbled, surprised.

"Thank you book worm! You're my hero!" Edward said as Al cheered and danced.

"Um… You're welcome?" Sheska responded.

"Sheska, I know you're busy with writing out the book, but could you recommend and find three books for me? I want to send them to my sister, if it's not too much trouble." Iris smiled.

"Of course. When you come pick up the notes I'll have three books that I'm sure your sister would love!" Sheska smiled as the group walked out of the house while thanking Sheska once more.

Five Days Later

"Here you are! Complete copies of all of Tim Marcoh's notes. Sorry, I know five days is a long time to wait, but there was quite a lot to write down!" Sheska said as she approached Iris holding three books. "Here's the book recommendations you asked for. I have more copies so I have no trouble parting with these three."

"Thanks. What books are these?" Iris asked.

"The Secret Garden, the Long Roll, and Sky Island. I'm sure your sister will love them!"

"Thank you Sheska!"

Alphonse and Edward were still awing over the complete notes.

"Unbelievable! There are some amazing people in this world!" Alphonse praised.

"These are really doctor Marcoh's research notes?" Edward asked.

"They are! Come and take a look at them!" Sheska said proudly.

"That's a lot notes to be in one book case…" Iris said surprised.

"Written by Tim Marcoh! One thousand easy recipes!" Sheska cheered.

"HUH?!" Everyone in the room said.

"6 cups of rice, one carrot, two onions, salt… Oh great! Does this mean we came all this way for a cookbook?" Ross complained.

"Miss, what part of this made you think it was an important document?" Brosh asked Sheska.

"Is it not what you're looking for? All I did was copy down what I remember." Sheska said.

"Wonderful. So this was just a wild goose chase?" Brosh complained.

Iris grabbed a copy and began reading one of the recipes, making her realize two thing: She was hungry, and the notes were in code.

"Ed, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Iris asked and Ed nodded.

"Sheska, are you absolutely sure this is a flawless reproduction of the notes?" Edward asked.

"Oh yes! I'm one hundred percent certain!"

"Then let's get moving, shall we?" Iris suggested as she toppled some of the notes onto her book stack. "The library is a good place to go!"

"They should have related materials there!" Alphonse said as he grabbed stacks of the notes as well.

"I almost forgot Sheska's fee!" Edward said as he stopped in his tracks.

"Me too! Do you have a piece of paper?" Iris asked as Edward took out his notebook and tore out a sheet for Iris to write on. Iris took off her pocket watch and a pencil as she wrote down an amount and gave it to Sheska with her watch.

"Lieutenant, here. This is my registration number and the pocket watch for ID. Withdraw that amount from my annual research grants and make sure Sheska gets it." Edward said taking his leave.

"Same goes for me. Good luck Sheska!" Iris yelled. While in the hallway, Iris believed she heard Sheska scream.

"THIS MUCH FOR THREE BOOKS?! DID SHE ADD TOO MANY ZEROS?!"

This made a smile appear on Iris' face.

At Central Library

Iris sat at the table wrapping the trio of books given to her in purple paper as Brosh talked to the boys.

"I don't understand. These are cookbooks! What could they possibly have to do with alchemy?" Brosh said. Iris finished wrapping the books and put them off to the side as she grabbed one stack of the notes.

"Alchemy is a powerful art. It can be incredibly dangerous if misused. In order to prevent that, alchemic research is always encrypted." Edward explained.

"What you see is a bunch of recipes, but an alchemist with enough experience could see how these 'recipes' are actually notes. It would take either a highly skilled alchemist or the alchemist that wrote the notes in order to decipher them." Iris finished.

"If they're so heavily encrypted, then how are you going to be able to decipher them?" Brosh asked.

"It isn't going to be easy. We'll have to use all our alchemical knowledge." Edward said.

"We also have to, in a way, think like the person who wrote them, in this case Marcoh, in order to fully understand what they were trying say, or we'll miss a huge chunk of information!" Iris said.

"Wow, ma'am. That sounds really complicated." Brosh said.

"It's nothing we can't handle." Iris smiled.

"Al! There's a section here on green tea!" Edward said as Iris rose to look for some books.

"Green tea? Are you thinking what I am?" Alphonse said putting his books on the table.

"It might a reference to the green lion in metallurgic alchemy. Do we have copies of Flamel's Codex or Lamb Springs concerning the Philosopher's stone?"

"Of course!" Alphonse replied.

"I got some copies right here!" Iris said as she came running with books piled over her head in her arms.

"Thanks. Hey take a look at this here" Edward said pointing to the paper. "In here too! You see?"

"You're right!" Alphonse told his brother.

"Look, here's another one!" Iris shouted pointing to the paper as well. "Now we can really get started!"

"Let's do this!" Edward shouted as the trio began scribbling and hunting for books.

Some Time Later

"Why does this encryption have to be so damn hard to figure out?" Edward sighed. Iris felt like her brain was broken.

"Brother, maybe we should ask Dr. Marcoh about this directly" Alphonse sighed.

"NO WAY!" Iris and Edward said at the same time.

"That'll be admitting defeat!" Edward said.

"So this is a contest now?"

"I say no since Dr. Marcoh already risked his life giving up this information. I don't want to put his life in jeopardy, alright Al?" Iris explained.

"Right" Al agreed.

"Excuse me" a soft voice asked. The trio looked up only to find Sheska standing at the door.

"Thanks to the money you and Iris gave me, I was able to move my mother to a better hospital" Sheska said. "I really appreciate it"

"I'm glad I could help" Iris told the bowing girl.

""It's no big deal, really" Edward said modestly.

"Have you had any luck deciphering it so far?"

""PLEASE, don't ask" Iris said as the trio put their heads down.

"Have you found another job yet?" Alphonse asked. Sheska looked disappointed.

"Anyway, you three made me feel better. It was nice to know even a pathetic mess like me can help out sometimes!" Sheska said smiling "So thanks for that as well!"

"You're not a pathetic mess!" Alphonse protested. "I think that the kind of dedication you show toward reading is a talent all on its own! And besides that, your memory is incredible! You should have more faith in yourself!"

"Thank you, Al!"

"YO!" A new voice said.

"Lieutenant Colonel Hughes!" Edward said surprised.

"Major Armstrong told me you two were here!" Hughes said as he walked towards the table. "What gives, Ed? I told you and Iris to give me a shout next time you made it to Central!"

"We're sorry, Hughes! We got a little side tracked!" Iris explained.

"It's just as well, I've been busy too! Cases piling up, investigations going slow, you know how it works. We've had a lot of cases to deal with lately and we're still working to get the Tucker-chimera situation settled" Hughes looked over at the trio. "Sorry, I guess that brings up some unpleasant memories, huh? Anyway, as if things weren't bad enough for us already, the first branch had to burn down in the middle of all this."

"That's been a problem huh?" Edward said.

"They probably stored case files there." Iris suggested.

"You got it. Trying to work without them hasn't been a picnic, let me tell you" Hughes said as the trio went wide eyed. "Uh, what?"

"Hey Lieutenant Colonel! I think I got exactly the person you guys are looking for!" Edward said.

"Well I have read the military's criminal case records and I do remember them all" Sheska said nervously.

"That's all I needed to hear lady! You're hired! My office pays well so don't worry!" Hughes said with his normal grin.

"Uh, you're saying that you want me?! Thanks so much!" She turned towards the trio "I'll have faith just like you told me too! Thank you! Thank you!"

"Come on now! Right to work!"

"Very sneaky, Edward. Very sneaky." Iris said. Edward smiled.

"She won't be thanking us for long!" Edward laughed. "How did you put it Al? Dedication is a talent all on its own? Very smooth, little brother. Very smooth"

"Well, it's something I always think whenever I see a certain someone I know!" Al replied. Edward threw his pen and caught it.

"We better keep working if you want to keep that catch phrase though!" Iris said as she ran to a shelf and grabbed two more books.

"Iris is right. We've got this!" Edward said as the trio returned to deciphering the notes.

10 Days Later

"TO HELL WITH IT!" Edward yelled as he threw a packet of notes. Alphonse and Edward were sitting on the floor surrounded by notes. Iris was looking horrified at the packet of notes she had dropped.

"What did you guys do to this place?" Brosh asked.

"Don't get angry because you can't crack it! Throwing things won't help." Ross scolded.

"That's the problem, we did crack it." Iris told them.

"We cracked the code and decrypted the notes" Alphonse continued.

"Really you did? But that's a good thing, isn't it?" Brosh said.

"THERE'S NOTHING GOOD ABOUT THIS, DAMMIT!" Edward yelled punching the floor.

"It's far from good… This is the work of the devil himself…" Iris said with horror in her voice.

"It should have been destroyed…Dr. Marcoh was right, it's evil." Edward admitted.

"What's so evil about it?" Brosh asked.

"You'll regret asking that once you know the answer" Iris told him.

"The main ingredient for a Philosopher's Stone… is human life" Edward said. "In order to manufacture even a single stone you have to make multiple human sacrifices"

"I'm gonna be sick…" Iris admitted as she stood up looking at Edward.

"How could the military authorize research into something so horrible?!" Brosh exclaimed.

"I can't believe it! How awful!" Ross said horrified.

"Do us a favor, don't speak to anyone about this." Edward told the pair.

"But sir-" Brosh protested

"Please, just pretend we never found anything" Iris asked them. "We're begging you"

Back at the Hotel

The trio all stared at the ceiling, still thinking about their discovery. Iris had gotten very sick and even had to take medicine in an effort to keep her lunch down. Edward and Alphonse hadn't spoken since their discovery. Iris had come to try to cheer up the boys, but when it was obvious that she wasn't helping she eventually joined them in their melancholy.

"Brother, you and Iris should really get something to eat." Alphonse suggested.

"Al, I really don't need to concentrate on keep dinner down as well." Iris snapped. "Edward, you can't starve yourself, go eat"

"No thanks…" Edward replied softly.

"Edward, starving yourself won't do anything to change what we found." Iris said sickly as Edward turned his head back towards the ceiling, ignoring her advice.

"You know, it's like we try so hard to grasp the truth, but it slips away. But now that we have caught it, it turns out the truth is too dangerous to hold." Edward said.

"Is this god's sick way of torturing us? Is he punishing us for committing the taboo?" Iris asked no one in particular.

"I don't know, Iris…But it sure seems that way" Edward responded.

"Will it be like this…? All our lives?"

"I don't know." Edward covered his eyes with his automail "Ya know Al, there's something I've been wanting to tell you for a while… I guess I've been too afraid to say it."

"What?" Al said.

" I-" Edward was interrupted by a harsh banging on the door that made Iris jump.

"ELRIC BROTHERS! MS. KAMILLIA! I KNOW YOU'RE IN THERE! OPEN UP! THIS IS THE MAJOR!"

"I think we can tell" Iris said as she stood up slowly.

"What do we do?" Al asked.

"We ignore him, that's what" Edward suggested. Before Iris could protest, the door handle came off and Armstrong busted into the room, pink sparkles and all.

"I KNOW WHAT IT SAID YOU THREE" The trio screamed and began glaring at the two crying officers behind Armstrong.

"HOW TRAGIC! TO THINK THE LEGEND OF THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE IS SUCH A TERRIBLE SECRET!" Armstrong wept.

"You two don't know how to shut your damn mouths do you?!" Iris yelled at the officers.

"We're really sorry!" Ross pleaded.

"It's hard to stay quiet when someone like him asks you!" Brosh said crying his eyes out.

"Imagine the military being behind something like that! Often the truth is harder than bargained for!" Armstrong said giving Edward an Idea.

"The truth!" Edward said.

"What is it brother?"

"Do you remember what Dr. Marcoh said at the station?"

"He said 'look closely, maybe you'll find the truth hidden within the truth'…" Iris explained.

"I didn't have a clue what he was talking about then but now… it's the same as with alchemical notes."

"So you're saying we missed something? Like we only uncovered the surface?" Iris asked.

"Exactly. There's still more to find, there has to be!"

"What if he was talking about the military? What if there's something in the city that we haven't uncovered yet?" Iris suggested. "Armstrong do you have a map of Central?"

"Currently there are 4 operational alchemy laboratories in Central that have connections to the government." Armstrong said as he rolled out a map. "We can narrow it down even further. Marcoh worked in the third laboratory, we should start with that one. It's the most suspect."

"That would be too easy! There's something we're not considering… Edward have you already checked out the laboratories?" Iris questioned.

"Yeah, me and Al already checked all the laboratories, but none were doing any remarkable research" Edward caught sight of a building with a red "X" over it. "Here! What's this building used for?"

"It was designed for the fifth laboratory, but it isn't currently in use. The building isn't structurally sound so it's classified off-limits"

"That should be our main target. A laboratory stops work because they no longer do research. The question is, what were they researching?" Iris stated.

"It's there" Edward said.

"How can you be so sure?" Brosh asked.

"There's a prison next door"

"I'm gonna be sick…" Iris said as Ross handed her the medicine she purchased earlier, just in case.

"Okay, so?" Brosh said.

"What's the main ingredient for a Philosopher's Stone?" Edward said.

"You said it needed live humans-" Brosh said before realizing what he was saying.

"You had to explain it… It's a sick but perfect plan. It couldn't have been cleaner, and metaphorically speaking that is." Iris explained.

"They would officially be marked down as executed." Edward finished.

"They were using prisoners to make a Philosopher's Stone." Ross said as she was looking just ask sick as Iris.

"Don't look at me like that! I don't like talking about this anymore than you!" Edward said holding up his hands.

"You weren't the one throwing up earlier were you?" Iris said glaring at Edward.

"Sorry, didn't really think about it like that" Edward apologized to his glaring friend.

"Prisons from other jurisdictions could be used too. I wonder if the government is involved" Al said. Brosh was now being to look ill.

"Why do I have the feeling we're getting involved in something really dangerous here?" Ross said.

"That's why we told you to pretend like you never heard anything!" Alphonse scolded.

"Al's right! You expected different from us? We're like blood hounds; we stick out noses where they don't belong. The difference is that we have a goal!" Iris smiled.

"This has the potential of becoming a political nightmare before long. I'll look into what we've talked about tonight" Armstrong said as he rolled up the map and turned towards Ross and Brosh. "In the meantime officers, speak of this to no one!"

"Sir!" Ross and Brosh said at the same time.

"Yeah because that worked miracles last time" Iris smiled.

"And you three, behave yourselves." Armstrong ordered.

"What do you mean?" Iris said innocently.

"I KNOW YOU THREE. YOU WERE THINKING ABOUT SNEAKING INTO THID BUILDING AND TAKING A LOOK AROUND WEREN'T YOU?! ADMIT IT!"

Edward and Alphonse were shaking while Iris sat there smiling.

"WE WEREN'T! WE WEREN'T! WE PROMISE!" The brothers yelled at the same time.

"Don't worry Major! You can trust Ross and Brosh. Not to mention you have me!" Iris said.

Later That Evening

"Wait up!" Iris whispered as the trio ran down the street.

"Hm. A guard posted at an unused building. Interesting" Edward said as Iris looked behind them.

"That is suspicious." Alphonse agreed.

"How stupid do they think we are?" Iris whispered.

"How do we get in?" Alphonse asked, staring at the tall wall.

"Why can't we make an entrance?" Iris asked.

"They would notice the light from the alchemic reaction"

"In that case" Edward went on Al's shoulders and threw him up the wall.

"Lower the wire. I have gloves so I won't be harmed!" Iris whispered to Edward as he lowered the wires and Iris climbed up using her gloved hands with Al not far behind. Iris jumped down from the wall with Alphonse following as the trio dashed across the yard.

"You would think an abandoned building would be easier to break into" Iris mentioned as she looked as the door covered with electrical fencing.

Edward jumped on Al's shoulders as Al walked over to a vent on the outside of the building. Al lifted Edward into the vent.

"Al, you'll have to wait out here." Edward said.

"You sure you'll be fine?" Alphonse worried.

"Whether I'm fine or not isn't the issue. You're too big to get through here!" Edward stated.

"It's not like I asked to get this big!" Al whined.

"He won't be alone, Al. I'm going to!" Iris said. Alphonse lifted Iris up to the vent as she climbed in after Edward.

"Thanks Iris" Alphonse said as Iris disappeared with Edward in the vent.

"Wow it's really tight in here!" Iris complained as the pair kept crawling.

"You're right. I couldn't get through here if I was regular sized! Lucky, I've got a small body" Edward, realizing what he said, began to whine. "OH NO! I'VE JUST GOT MYSELF A TINY LITTLE PIPSQUEAK!"

"Don't worry Ed! I won't tell anyone. You're still taller than me!" Iris said attempting to cheer him up.

"Thanks. There's that to look forward to" Edward said sarcastically. Edward kicked a vent and the pair jumped out of the vent and into a dark hallway with lights close to the ground that were on.

"There are lights on. Not currently in use, who are they trying to fool? This is it alright!" Edward said.

"They must think we're stupid if they try to the 'currently not in use' crap on us after this!" Iris snapped. The pair continued walking, unaware of the secrets the fifth laboratory had in store for them.

CLIFF HANGER! I know, everyone hates cliffhangers but the next chapter will be out soon, I promise! You can see the Update Schedule yourself on my profile. Until next time!

Jackie C.A.