Chapter 2! (yay) Sorry this took so long, year twelve is hectic. Plus i am incredibly lazy.

I've been trying to think up a better way to describe the little alien thing on Edward, but the best i can come up with is that it looks like a cross between a few earth animals. Which is probably what it was anyway, thus showing the limits of my imagination.

The best actual alien image i can come up with are little grey, long-limbed guys, thank you Steven Spielberg.

Chapter Two: Re-Opened Wounds

Edward... Edward... Ed...

My son...

No matter how much he tried, Hohenheim couldn't get over the shock. Right in front of him, in an alien craft, was his first-born son, missing for four years after being pulled away from him in a freak accident... Thought, even by him, to be dead. But he wasn't dead. He was right in front of him. Alive.

And bleeding.

Hohenheim knew, all around him, people were shouting things. Things to do with the creature attached to his son's shoulder. Things to do with his son. The small creature was clinging to an unconscious, bleeding Edward as if for dear life. It had it's leathery wings spread wide, each tip pressing against the walls of the craft. It had a body shaped most like a cat, except it's legs were bent to suit the limbs of a monkey. It looked like it was digging it's long claws into his shoulder.. Thank god it was Edward's metal one... But it's face was the most threatening. It had large, solid black eyes, like a spider's. It's facial structure looked almost adorable, until it opened it's mouth, which stretched until it was perfectly round. From there, very long, very sharp teeth seemed to reach out, sort of like in those alien movies where the creatures mouths were filled with small, needle-like teeth, except there was only one row, and the teeth were really long, and really sharp. It almost looked like it was moving each tooth independently, wiggling them at Hohenheim's men menacingly. And it's cry... It sounded like a cat cross a chimpanzee, it seemed to screech and hiss at the same time.

" Hohenheim! " He heard someone shouting. " Ah, don't get closer, Breda! Hohenheim! "

It was Hughes. Hohenheim wanted to look away, but he couldn't. He couldn't tear his eyes off the sight. Behind him, Mustang was muttering something. Suddenly the voice of Alphonse echoed out of the camera.

" No, don't turn it off! " Alphonse cried.

" Sorry, Alphonse, we'll fill you in later. " Mustang replied. There was another protest from Al, but it was cut off, no doubt when Mustang switched the camera off.

" Surround the ship! " Hughes was yelling. " We've got to get the creature out of there! "

Suddenly a guard that had rushed in lurched forward, grabbing Edward's limp arm. Instantly the creature dived, reaching the guard in a matter of moments. It swiped at him with it's claws, leaving bright red tracks across the back of his hand. The guard freaked, flinging himself backwards, like he had just been infected with something deadly. The creature quickly climbed back inside, now sitting on Edward's stomach, being careful, it appeared, not to step on the wound. Almost like...

Like it was trying not to hurt Edward... And it had attacked when the guard touched his son, even though the guard had not actually put his hand near the creature..

It was protecting Edward. That could be the only conclusion.

" Get everybody back! " Hohenheim shouted, finally looking away from Edward to stare at the men. " Move away, you're scaring it! "

" Are you out of your mind, Hohenheim!.? " Mustang snapped. He stomped forward to stand directly in front of Hohenheim. " We must get it away from Edward! "

" How are you so sure that even is Edward? " Falman asked from somewhere behind Mustang. " It could be an alien that can shape shift. " Fuery suddenly popped up beside Mustang, nodding vigorously.

" He's right, Sir! " The scientist stated. " It wouldn't even have to alter it's DNA to manage it, it might have the ability to control how light is refracted off it to give the illusion that it is something else. "

" Then explain why it would pick Edward's image! " Hohenheim snapped. Fuery flinched, startled and nervous.

" We don't know how far Edward had traveled four years ago, anything could have found him! " Mustang argued, unfazed.

" Then we'll worry about that later! " Hohenheim replied, trying to calm himself. " For now, we will assume it is Edward until he is safe. "

" With all due respect, Brigadier General, " Mustang growled, " I think your judgement is clouded by the image of your son! "

" And when, may I ask, has that ever happened? " Hohenheim asked. Mustang opened his mouth, as if to reply, but after a moment he closed it again, not uttering a word. It was to be expected. Four years ago, when they had all watched Edward drift away, Hohenheim was stricken, but not delirious enough to think he could catch up. " So, Mustang, will you follow my orders? "

" Yes, Sir. " Mustang nodded, defeated. He turned around, facing the crew. " Fall back, men! " He ordered. " Move away from the ship, retreat as far as you can! " Immediately all the guards moved away, stepping back as far as Hohenheim and Mustang. None stood in front, but they all kept a solid line, ready to attack on the word. Mustang looked back over at Hohenheim. " What now, Sir? " He asked. Hohenheim looked back over at the black ship, with the hissing creature inside, as well as his bleeding son.

" The alien is threatened and afraid, that's why it's acting this way. " He stated. Slowly, he began to walk forward. Mustang slapped a hand onto his shoulder, but Hohenheim forced it off, not hesitating for a moment. When he reached the ship, he slowly knelt down until he was crouching. Now, in between hissing, the creature was making a strange, bird-trill sound. It's wings were folding slightly. It was calming down.

Hohenheim could tell it was not much smarter than the average animal. It was acting like any other cornered, frightened creature on Amestris. And the only way to deal with that was to be calm yourself. If it was defending Edward, then it understood emotional attachment, which meant it must understand kindness. Language barriers cannot mask a kind tone.

" Heey, there.. " Hohenheim cooed. He raised a hand slowly, reaching out a little with a flat palm, like one would do with a nervous dog. The creature hissed louder, but did nothing else. " I wonder what your name is.. " Hohenheim continued. He couldn't tell if it was having any effect, this thing's eyes were blank and emotionless. Slowly, he reached in further, keeping his hand low. " Don't be afraid, I'm harmless.. " He cooed softly. " There, there... "

" What is he doing?.! " He heard Mustang huff from further back.

" He's babying it, Sir. " Hawkeye replied in her usual, cold tone.

Hohenheim ignored them, continuing to mumble soothingly to the creature, while slowly drawing his hand closer to it. It slowly rocked side to side as it stepped backwards, away from his hand, like it was nervous. Suddenly it screeched, and in a swift movement, it swiped at him, leaving red scratches on his hand just like on the guard. Hohenheim flinched, trying not to cry out in surprise. Behind him, everyone seemed to gasp in alarm, someone calling his name fearfully. But Hohenheim ignored the sudden pain, keeping a kind expression on his face.

" Are you helping Edward? " He asked softly. The creatures small, cat ears flicked slightly, like it recognized the name. " I won't hurt Edward.. " He uttered. He was now almost leaning over his son's body. He was desperately resisting the urge to grab Edward, to inspect the wound, to stop the bleeding.. But that would frighten the alien, and it would attack him.. But he couldn't just let Edward bleed...

Hohenheim slowly moved his hand away from the creature, towards his son's face. He pressed his fingers against Edward's neck, checking for a pulse. There was a hiss of dislike from the alien, but it did not attack. Edward's skin was warm.. And yes, there was a pulse, though very faint. Edward was alive. Hohenheim felt an incredible wave of relief wash over his body.

" Oh, Ed... " Hohenheim mumbled to himself, trying to hold back an almost overwhelming grief. " What have you been up to..? " He moved his hand down to Edward's chest. He could feel a heart beat, and Edward's chest slowly rose and fell in sync with his breathing. Hohenheim then moved to the wound. It was just under his rib cage, and was bleeding freely, like it wasfresh. Had Edward recently been in a fight...? Had this creature turned on him..?

Hohenheim couldn't tell how deep the wound was, but it looked like Edward had already lost a lot of blood. If he took any longer... there might not be enough left..

Hohenheim decided he'll risk the alien's attack. Carefully, he wrapped his arms around Edward, one under his head, the other under his knees, preparing to lift the boy out. The alien didn't seem to like this.

Instantly, as if Hohenheim had tripped a wire, it screeched loudly, flaring it's wings and leaping forward, but it didn't go for his face like he had expected. Instead it leaped onto his back. Hohenheim was pinned. He had his arms under Edward, and was unable to do anything. Out of the corner of his eye as he tried to turn around, he could see it's mouth stretch open, it's incredibly long teeth reaching out. It pulled it's head back, aiming it's teeth at his spine.

I guess that was what they were for.

Suddenly..

" Shoot it! " Mustang cried out. But no bullets were fired, except one. The creature screeched in pain, a bullet going through a wing. Mustang dived forward, grabbing the creature by the waist. He lifted it up, slamming it against the wall. He wrapped his free hand around it's teeth, stopping it from biting him. But that left it's 'paws' free. It clawed at Mustang's hands and arms, tearing his flesh, but Mustang didn't let go.

" Hurry up! " He shouted, glancing back at Hohenheim. " Get the boy out before I drop it! " Hohenheim nodded. Hastily he lifted Edward up, pulling him from the ship, rushing towards the quarantine door. Everyone else had already filed out, all of them staring at him as he dashed through the door. The second Hohenheim stepped out, everybody began reaching towards him, pulling him away from the door, trying to pull Edward out of his arms. Some called out to Mustang, while some shouted for paramedics. Those closest to him kept yelling for him to put Edward down, telling him to move back..

Hohenheim ignored them.

Hastily, he stepped away from the door, slightly to the side. There, he knelt down until he sat on his knees, resting Edward's body on his lap, holding him tightly. He pushed back anybody who tried to pull his son from his arms. The only thing his staff could do was try and stop the flow of blood, two people- he didn't know who- were pressing their hands against his stomach with a folded cloth, a shirt, probably. To his left, he could hear Hawkeye shouting to Mustang. He could hear an angry cry from the alien, and then pounding footsteps drawing closer. Suddenly, Mustang burst through the open doorway. A split second later, the door came down, sealing the quarantine room shut, the screeches of the creature silenced.

" Everybody move back! " Mustang immediately began shouting orders. " Give Hohenheim space! Where's the damn paramedics!.? Falman, give me your bloody shirt, I'm bleeding here! Everyone move back! "

The whole time, Hohenheim just stared at Edward. He only listened to his son's raspy breathing, only felt the slow heartbeat, which seemed to have gotten weaker.

" Here come the paramedics, sir. " Hawkeye stated calmly.

" Make room! " Mustang bellowed again. " Everyone clear the hallway, move away from Hohenheim, except you two! " He added. Everybody seemed to be moving out of the way, Hohenheim could no longer see anybody in the corners of his eyes. A second later, Mustang knelt beside him, checking Edward's pulse himself.

" Sir, " He began, " The stretcher's here, we've got to get him to the medical ward. "

" Excellent. " Hohenheim replied after a moment. Refusing to allow Mustang to help, Hohenheim stood up again, carrying Edward to the stretcher not far in front of him, four paramedics standing at attention, waiting. The second Hohenheim put his son on the stretcher, they were all over him, checking his pulse, checking his wound, and all the while wheeling Edward away, leaving Hohenheim behind to stand with Mustang. Not long after, they turned a corner, out of sight.

" What do we do now, Brigadier General? " Mustang asked after a few moments. Hohenheim didn't answer right away, staring at the now empty hallway.

" Well, " He spoke finally, " I think this is a job well done. " He turned around, grinning at Mustang. " If you're not going to bleed to death any time soon, I think we should go settle the men's nerves and get that camera turned back on. "

" Yes, Sir. " Mustang smirked, saluting him.

" ... Al...?

" Al... Are... are you hungry? " His mother asked after a moment. Alphonse ignored her.

" Alphonse, please answer me. " She was using his full name now. She only did that when she was mad at him. She must be getting frustrated...

It has been an hour.

" I'm fine, Mother. " He replied eventually. Alphonse sat on the stage, his back against the side of the podium. He had his knees pulled up to his chest, held there by his arms, his chin resting on them. His mother knelt beside him, a concerned and sad expression on her face. He could imagine how she was feeling- hell, he probably felt the same way. They both had seen the same thing, and drawn the same conclusion.

Edward was alive.

Alphonse couldn't believe the sight, shocked to the point of falling over backwards when they discovered Edward inside that space craft. His brother, who was supposed to have been dead, was back, delivered to them by aliens. It'd make a pretty good science-fiction novel. Except in science-fiction novels, there was always something wrong with the person that came back.

Earlier the announcer guy, the one Trisha didn't like, had suggested that it might not really be Edward. He said it might be fake imagery, like a hologram, or even just an alien in disguise. Trisha threw her purse at him. He left after that, swearing under his breath. Luckily the audience had left beforehand, so nobody but the staff saw it.

Trisha had ended the ball once she regained her composure. Luckily everyone was understanding enough, and left. At least, they acted understanding, it was a group of upper-class snobs. They'll probably be complaining about it for months.

Ah well. It's not important. Nothing was important, now. Absolutely nothing, except Edward. Edward might be alive- was alive, and might be coming back... back home...

With Alphonse...

Why did he feel bad?

" Alphonse! " A man called from across the room. Alphonse ignored him. Instead, his mother, still beside him, rose to her feet, shouting back an acknowledgement. The man shouted something to her, but Alphonse paid no attention. Nothing he was saying had any relevance, Alphonse had decided what he was going to do. He was going to sit here and wait for his father to turn the camera back on. He was going to wait, and nothing was going to move him from this spot! Not even his mother...

" Oh, Al! " She cried out, suddenly. There was such a sudden change in tone it startled him, forcing Alphonse to look up in shock. She knelt back down beside him, grinning broadly. " We have word from your father, Al! " She exclaimed. " Mister Hughes contacted the base south of the State. He says your father want's to turn the camera back on, but just for our eyes. " She clapped her hands together in excitement. " Since everyone has already been cleared out, I gave the 'go ahead', so it should be turned back on in a matter of minutes! "

" That's great! " He replied, smiling happily back at her. " We better make sure everything is set up on our side, and that the machine is still working. "

" Ok, Sweetheart, " His mother replied, " I'll check on that right now. " Just before she stood up, her hand shot out, pressing her palm against his cheek. The joy had vanished, now left once again with concern and sadness. And, once again, it was sadness for him.. " Al.. " She muttered, speaking only for his ears. " Please... Just please remember... the situation might not be how we imagine it... " With that, she stood up, hurrying hastily away.

The situation might not be how we imagine it...

In other words, Edward might not be alive, like they think.

Alphonse felt a stab of bitterness in his heart. He had almost stood up in happiness moments ago, but now he curled himself back up against the podium, resting his head on his knees. His mother was right.. Edward might not really be alive... He might have really been back, but died from the gaping wound in his side... It might not have been him at all...

The fact that his father is contacting him so quickly must suggest there is no real emergency going on. Which could set the situation with few outcomes. One, would be that it wasn't Edward, and they had killed the aliens quickly, since they'd be too busy fighting them to contact Alphonse if there was a problem. Or that it actually was Edward, and they'd gotten him medical treatment, and his father was calling to tell them the news. Or..

Or it was Edward, and Hohenheim was calling to tell them he didn't survive...

Alphonse shook his head, trying to rid his mind of the thought. Edward wouldn't die so easily. He told himself. Edward lived through losing two external limbs which exposed two major arteries. He wouldn't be felled by a puncture to the stomach.

He wouldn't...

He couldn't!

" Al! " A voice next to him shouted. Alphonse jerked in surprise, suppressing the urge to yelp. He found himself staring wide-eyed at his mother, who had returned to her place next to him. She eyed him with concern.

" Al, are you ok..? " Trisha asked.

" Yes, Mother! " He huffed, suddenly feeling a pang of frustration at the interruption. Trisha almost flinched, a flicker of grief in her eyes. This made Alphonse feel even worse. But she gave him no time to apologize.

" Are you ready, Dear..? " She asked hastily. Alphonse could only nod, rising to his feet with a sigh. A feeling of dread was rising up in his chest. Dread for what he will see... For what might have happened...

" We're picking up a signal! " The man at the control panel shouted. Seconds later, the face of his father blinked onto the huge TV screen. Alphonse instantly noted that he wasn't grinning, nor suppressing a grin. He had a very serious expression on his face..

It was worrying.

" Al, Trish, can you both hear me? " He spoke after a moment.

" Everything's working, Honey. " Trisha replied, leaning rather close to the microphone.

" Excellent. " Hohenheim muttered. Nothing like his usual enthusiastic self..

" Father, " Alphonse spoke up, " What.. What happened? " Hohenheim's frown deepened, as if her was choosing his reply carefully.

" Well.. " He began after a moment. " I don't want to get your hopes up... but as far as we know, it is Edward. "

Alphonse gasped. He desperately tried to suppress a grin. His mother let out a strangled sob.

as far as we know... Then they weren't certain.

" As far as you know? " Alphonse repeated. He had tried to sound serious, but there was an obvious tone of excitement in his voice that he failed to hide. This made Hohenheim frown more.

" Well, Al, " He began, " We have him in the medical bay that we've doubled as a quarantine. They've patched up the injury, and he hasn't woken up yet.. Ah, " Hohenheim suddenly sighed. " I still have to go see him, myself. I wanted to fill you both in before I went over.. I know I haven't said much, but it's really all I know, at the moment. "

" We can go see him now, then. " Alphonse replied impatiently.

" Al.. " Hohenheim started.

" I want to see Brother. " Alphonse quickly protested. He knew he sounded irritable, but at the moment he didn't care.

" Al, " Hohenheim repeated, " I think it's better that I check up on him first.. Alone. "

" But, Father- " Alphonse argued.

" I know how you feel, Al. " Hohenheim interrupted. " I'm resisting the urge to charge over there myself. But you have to be patient, and keep every possibility open, or things might lead to a disaster. "

" And what do you mean by 'disaster'? " Alphonse asked, scowling.

" Alphonse.. " His mother murmured in a warning tone. It only annoyed him more. Why should he step back and be a good, patient boy while his brother was in intensive care over three hundred thousand kilometers away?.!

" Al, you know perfectly well the situation we have here. " His father replied, oddly calm. " Please, I just ask to check up on Edward before you all see him. I don't know just how long he's been like this. He might not know where he is when he wakes up, and knowing your brother, he's going to smash alot of stuff before we calm him. "

" It doesn't worry me. " Alphonse said flatly.

" Alphonse, I'm not giving you an option. " Hohenheim replied, still sounding calm, yet his voice had a finalizing tone that said 'no more argument'. " I am going to go see Edward alone, and then later I will bring you and your mother. "

Alphonse felt a strong desire to argue further, but he knew it would get him no where now. He could only see Edward with the help of his father. Making him angry would not improve the situation..

" Father.. " Alphonse sighed, defeated. " Please don't take too long... " Hohenheim smiled in reply.

" I'll talk to you both soon. " He replied. Seconds later his face disappeared, leaving a black screen behind. Simple as that.

Alphonse didn't feel any better.

Darkness...

A stabbing pain...

And a really irritating beeping noise.

Slowly, Edward's consciousness returned, bringing to him an intense pain in his stomach, as well as a horrific headache.

He opened his eyes a crack, but could only see white. Extremely blurry white.. A constant beeping, like an Amestris hospital heart monitor, rang in his ears, made incredibly loud by the headache.

He could taste blood. He couldn't move. He could barely breathe..

What the hell happened..?

Oops, another cliffe, it looks like. (sigh) Ah well.

Until next chapter!