A/N: I'm BACK! What else is new!? Well, I created a playlist for this story. You can find it on my tumblr: Iron Rose Alchemist.

Question: Does anyone else think "Amsterdam" by Imagine Dragons was literally written about FMA?

In other news, this chapter is short. Barely over 1,200! These things are usually 2,500+.

Thanks to nobody for suggesting any names.

Chapter Song: Dreams by Imagine Dragons (I really like Imagine Dragons.)

Enjoy!


Lori ran through the third laboratory. A group of two soldiers spotted her and started chasing her.

"Those damn kids," she muttered under her breath. Both soldiers fired their guns. One of the bullets grazed her left arm, and Lori yelped in pain. The other missed. Lori made it to the doors and found a blockade around the outside of the lab. But there was no time to stop. She ran around the side of the building to the back parking lot where her car was. She slid into the driver's seat and headed straight for the blockade.

"Either they move or they don't," she said to herself.

Once the soldiers saw the headlights of her car coming at them they scattered like leaves in the wind. Lori's car ran straight through the pathetic wooden fence they had around the entrance.


"BERNARD!" Lori screamed. She flew through the house towards the bathroom where they kept the first aid supplies. She threw open the cabinet and pulled out the gauze. As She was wrapping up the bullet wound, Bernard rushed in.

"Lori? What's wrong?" he asked. He gasped when he saw she was shot. "What happened?"

"That's not important right now," Lori insisted. "Get the suitcases. We're running."

"Running? Why?" Bernard asked hurriedly.

"I'll tell you once we're out of here. Right now we need to get moving," she commanded.

Bernard gave a sigh of resignation, as he turned and left the room. He went to the master bedroom, opened the closet, grabbed the pre-packed suitcases, and rushed downstairs. Lori met him at the bottom, her arm already fully wrapped up.

"Let's go," she said. Using her good arm she opened up the back door and walked to Bernard's car. Bernard popped the trunk and dropped the suitcases inside. He slammed the trunk shut and slid into the driver's seat. He started the car, pulled out of the long driveway and onto the dark empty country road.

Two hours later, Colonel Rackem and her squad arrived at the Alter's house, but, of course, they were already too late.


Three days later, Rackem and Jaroue were summoned to Fuhrer Mustang's office.

"Sir," she said as they saluted.

"At ease," Mustang replied. "Please, sit." As the two sat, Mustang continued. "I'm sure you both have heard of the incident at Central's Third State Laboratory."

"I led the raid, sir," said Rackem.

"Good. Then you are aware of the details of the case?" Mustang questioned.

"Yes," Jaroue answered. "Dr. Lori Alter was performing illegal experiments, without authorization from the State Laboratory Board. It appears-"

"Wrong details," Mustang interrupted.

"What do you mean, sir?" Rackem asked.

"Lori Alter fled the scene. I need her detained and brought to court."

"You want us to find her," Jaroue stated as if it was a question.

"Correct. As you are already familiar with the case and the parties involved, I would like you to take point on her arrest."

"Yes sir," Rackem and Jaroue said in unison.

"You are dismissed," Mustang commanded.


Ana and Jack had obviously had to move once the Alter's had fled Central. They were now staying Arabelle apartment complex. Once they arrived, Ana locked herself in her new room and had refused to come out.

"Ana, come on!" Naomi said from outside the door. "It's been three days. When was the last time you ate?"

As usual, there was no response.

Ana sat with her back against the locked door. Her knees drawn to her chest, face buried in her arms. She want to cry but she was all out of tears. She knew she could not do anything about Ian or even help Rackem catch Lori, much less Ian's killer.

That was the hardest thing for Ana to come to grips with. A mother KILLING her own child. Not only that but going to extremes to make sure he was dead. Lori had covered her tracks well enough to not be found out by the military, yet a random woman had gone to such lengths to kill this child.

Ana could not make heads or tails of it.

Naomi started banging on the door again. "Ana. Ana! If you don't open this door right now, I'm going to get a key from the manager and possibly call your parents."

At this, Ana's head shot up. If Naomi called her parents, then the jig would be up. Naomi would know and everything would be over for Ana.

"Fine. I'm calling the manager," Naomi said from the other side of the door.

Naomi started to walk away, but stopped when she heard a door swing open and a small voice call her name. She turned to see Ana, silhouetted by the dark room behind her. Ana looked terrible. Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy. And was that yellow in her hair?

But that did not matter at this point in time, Ana fell to her knees, and the rest of her would have hit the floor if Naomi had not caught her. Naomi carried Ana back into the room and laid her down on the bed. The girl had obviously not slept in a while.

But that did not matter either. As long as Ana Edwards was not dead, Naomi would do her duty. She owed the younger girl at least that much.


Reyna sat in a nearly empty bar. It was just her, the bartender, and two other patrons in the White Cat Pub. She was sitting on a barstool celebrating her hollow victory against Lori Alter, with a few shots. She heard the door to the pub creak open, but she was too lost in her own world to care. She only looked up when the newcomer approached the bar and sat down next to her. Reyna was surprised to see it was a woman.

"Hello, Mrs. Kiev,"said the woman after ordering a drink. Reyna did not respond But she gave the woman her attention. "My name is Danielle Ascott. I'm here to offer you a proposition."

"And what would that be?" Reyna asked suspiciously.

"My employer has taken notice of your goals and wants to-"

"I have accomplished my goals," said Reyna tersely. She did not like what this woman was insinuating. Reyna stood and started to walk out of the bar.

The woman called out, "But don't you want to make Alter suffer?"

Reyna stopped, fury lighting up her eyes. She marched furiously back to the bar, slamming her hands down on the wood. "I've done that. I've destroyed her greatest project and ruined her career. What else do I have to do?"

"Of course, Mrs.-"

"It's Reyna."

"Alright then, Reyna. But don't you want to make her feel the pain you felt when she tore your family apart?"

"Are you telling me I should kill her husband?"

"Exactly." Ascott smiled to herself. Emotional people are so easy to manipulate, she thought. "My employer can supply all the funds and resources to take them down."

"Fine. You have a deal."

"Good. I will take my leave then," Ascott paused, then she handed Reyna a business card. "This is my address, just incase you need to contact me." Ascott stood up and walked out.

Reyna stayed and thought about what her next move was going to be. She stood and walked out into the chilled night air. Reyna took a deep breath, the rage relighting in her eyes as she steeled her heart.

It was time to hunt down those Alters.