Chapter Five-Under Attack

The quiet evening was ruined when the ground started to tremble. The vibrations from below Central started as a low hum, one that you could only hear if you listened carefully. General Mustang was replying to something Hawkeye had pointed out when she first noticed it. Above their heads, the lights started to dim. Riza glanced up at the sudden flicker and then back at the table as she watched her fork vibrate right off the table. Roy paused to notice the lights as they dimmed even lower then before, almost to the point of going out. The low hum became worst and before anyone knew it, the ground moved with such force it felt as though the entire building was going to come crashing down around them.

"What's going on?" Riza glanced around as everyone started to panic. Roy was more concerned with getting out of the building then what was causing the tremor. He moved quickly as he guided her to the exit. When he turned to go back inside, she grabbed his arm. "Where are you going?"

"I've gotta help everyone else out. Wait for me." He hurried back in before she could say anything else. Turning towards the city, she could see that this was not an isolated event and that it was happening all over. As more people poured out behind her, she told them to head towards the middle of the street. As the ground shook even more violently, she grabbed onto a lamp post nearby to help keep her footing. The sidewalk cracked and she jumped back as several pieces were lifted up and then fell into the deep nothingness below. She found herself glancing back at the exit to the restaurant for Roy. He hadn't made it out yet and she was starting to wonder what was taking him so long. Just as she considered going back in for him, she could make out his silhouette coming towards her.

"Is everyone else out," she inquired as he made it over to her. Mustang leaned on his knees, taking in several deep breaths.

"I'm pretty sure that was everyone. It was hard to see in there." Before he could even catch his breath, there was a loud crash several feet away and smoke filled the streets, spreading like a wave. He let out a groan before straightening up and removing his gloves from his pocket. "Get these people away from the city as quickly as possible. I'll see what I can do about controlling some of this destruction."

"Just be careful, okay." He turned to see the worried look in her deep brown eyes. Giving her an over confident smile, he let out a quiet laugh.

"So much for the date, huh?" She nudged his shoulder.

"It wasn't a date, remember." He just shook his head and moved down the street towards the chaos. On the way, he caught sight of a familiar companion. Although he wasn't really sure what he could do to help, he wasn't really surprised to see him in the midst of all this. "And just when I was starting to enjoy the quiet life," he hollered over to the man also in uniform. Well, mostly in uniform. The large tower of a man had already removed his shirt and was well prepared for whatever came his way. He glanced down at the other General and immediately turned to embrace him.

"General Mustang, it really has been too long. The Furer just called me into town for an update from the South. It's so nice to see you." With what little dignity he had left being hugged by another man in public, Roy pushed away from Armstrong despite the vice grip he had on him.

"Can you contain yourself for five minutes!" He readjusted his jacket and turned his head to crack his neck. "Now any idea what's going on here?"

"Well as much as I hate to even admit to it, it seems like an attack from below."

"Uh huh. But other then that, we don't have a clue do we?" Alex shook his head. "I guess there's only one way to find out." The two of them nodded in agreement and headed in the direction of the explosion.

oOoOo

Ed woke up to the sounds of two things the next morning; Pinako calling for him and the sound of Winry being sick. Getting out of bed, he pushed the door open to the bathroom, to check on her.

"Winry, everything okay?" She wiped her mouth and straightened up.

"I just haven't been feeling very well these past couple of days. Guess I'm getting sick." She put her robe on and led the way downstairs. Pinako stood at the bottom of the stairs, pipe in hand.

"What's going on," Ed scratched his head and stifled a yawn.

"I just heard it on the radio. Centrals' been attacked."

"By who?" Ed's question was cut off when the phone rang loudly nearby. Pinako pushed herself off the wall to answer it.

"Yeah, he's here. Hang on." The old lady's grimace confirmed who was on the other line.

oOoOo

He already sounded annoyed when he answered the phone. The tone to his voice brought a smile to General Mustang's face as he leaned back in his chair some.

"I haven't even said anything yet and you're already ticked off at me. Some things don't change, do they?"

"Considering you're calling me for help to clean up your mess, apparently not. So why are you bothering me?" Any hint of a laughter that was in the Flame Alchemist's voice was now gone.

"Something happened here last night that I thought you'd want to know about."

"Yeah, I heard Central was attacked. Who is it this time," he tried to sound uninterested, as though he was bored already, "I thought you guys were going out of your way to kiss ass or whatever."

"It's not so much a who as it is a what."

"Huh?" By this point, Edward couldn't help but want to know more. Even though he technically lost his title in the military and wasn't even an alchemist anymore, that didn't stop him from continually pursuing the truth. Roy knew he was the right person to call. Once Edward was curious about something, he wouldn't rest till he knew more. And even though he knew that this was Mustang's way of dangling a carrot in his face, he couldn't resist.

"So you are interested. I figured as much." And there it was. That smug attitude of Roy's that Ed couldn't stand. He wished he just didn't care but it was too late. "I think it would be better if you came here for us to talk. Can't be too careful these days."

"You want me to come there? What an inconvenience." Despite how exasperated he sounded, there was still that quality to his tone that said otherwise.

"I'll see you later then."

"I never said I was coming."

"Please, who are you kidding. I'll have a car waiting for you at the station."

"Whatever, I never said I was coming." With that said, Roy hung up the phone, still smiling to himself. Riza couldn't help but wonder what was said on the other end of the line. Of course she also knew Ed pretty well. Roy had given him just enough information to bother him.

"So do you think he'll come?"

"Oh I don't doubt it."