Author's Note: This fic has been heavily revised since I first posted it, so watch out for that. It's my first fanfic, all mistakes are mine, and all characters from FMA are sadly not. If you want to beta a newb, I'm looking for help turning my mess into something workable. :)

Rated M for creepy alchemists and the F word.

Chapter 2: In which Ed has a hard time adjusting to prison life, and Roy does Prison Break the wrong way.

Katrin Colman was driving slowly through the crowded streets of West City. It was a Friday night and the streets were bustling. Much of West was still built with narrow alleyways and streets, remnants of the times before Automobiles. Councilor Bertram was in the seat behind her, scribbling on a spare sheet of paper and frowning to himself.

"Can I ask you something?" Katrin probed, hating the way her voice wavered.

Bertram replied curtly, "You just did." Huffing, Katrin tried to give him an offended glare through the mirror but he did not bother to look up from his paper. Since when had he been so cold?

She tried again. "If I may ask, Sir, what are you doing with Major Schmidt?" That caught his attention and he finally deigned to look up at her. Something passed over his face, inscrutable. She had never had trouble reading him before. In fact, she prided herself on being the only person who could always read Bertram. What happened?

"You're worried about me," he observed.

"I always worry about you. That man…that man is a monster," she replied with a much force as she dared.

"I know what Major Schmidt is," responded Bertram, "He is an arrogant creature who believes himself to be two steps ahead of those around him. He thinks he is a God among men, and it leads him to underestimate us mere mortals. In short, I can handle him."

Katrin was not so sure about that. That alchemist was seriously creepy, but she decided to let it pass. Instead, she pressed Bertram, "I never doubted that, Sir. What I more meant was what exactly do you want from him?"

"Oh that," Bertram said with a grimace, "I suppose you wouldn't know much about him. He spent most of his time conducting research before he went to prison. The solitary type." That did not exactly surprise Katrin. Who would want to be around that maniac?

Bertram continued, "Do you know why he was sent to prison?"

"No Sir," she answered honestly.

"Illegal experiments on human subjects for one," he said in a low voice. "In his heyday he was known as the Binding Alchemist, and he walked the narrow edge of Human Transmutation." Katrin shivered at that, remembering how the alchemist had grinned when speaking of the Truth. "His specialty," Bertram continued, "was separating the three aspects of a living being, and binding them to different vessels."

"I don't understand, Sir,"

"Yes, it is extremely complicated. Alchemists, like you heard him say last week, believe in the power of the number three. They believe they can divide a human being into three parts, body mind and soul. Major Schmidt could break apart that connection, putting a soul in in a different body for example."

"That's awful," Katrin whispered.

"Yes well," Bertram said, his own face scrunched up in disgust, "He was only supposed to experiment on creatures without complex souls, animals. Adding a human soul in the equation adds an exponential need for energy, energy he was accused of stealing from prisoners with life sentences in the very place he is now locked up."

Katrin gasped at hearing that, thinking of all the rumors she had heard about West City prison. They were true. "Then forgive me for asking sir, but what the hell could you want with someone like that?"

"Alchemy is a science that corrupts. Alchemists are dangerous creatures that need to be controlled to prevent atrocities like the Major Schmidt and the Promised Day incident from ever happening again." His fists clenched, and he said forcefully, "Think about it, Katrin. Alchemists almost killed every single person in the Country in the span of a few minutes. They plotted it for years with no one the wiser. Every single human being! Fifty million people. And it only failed, if Schmidt is to be believed, because Edward Elric backed out at the last second."

He finally relaxed back in his seat, smiling at Katrin through the rearview mirror, as she pulled into the Prison complex, waving to the gate guards.

He spoke again, calmer, "It isn't as simple, as killing them all for treason or registering them all to keep track of them. The state alchemists have too much power. They've convinced the nation and the Brass that we need them to defend the country, and in a way they're right. What we need is a solution that controls alchemist's actions without taking away their abilities. I've been researching for three years now, which is more difficult than it sounds-,"

"They write their notes in code," she interrupted, giving him a look to remind him that she had indeed been watching him pour his heart into this research for the last three years.

"Yes," he said with a swallow, "And I broke the code on the Binding Alchemist's research. In the years before the Promised Day incident, he became interested in what he called the Gate of Truth, how that applied to his method of binding, and how it affected a person's alchemy. He was especially interested in the Fullmetal's technique of circleless alchemy, and he was commissioned to research ways to control alchemists, to have command of when and how they could perform transmutations. Bradley himself authorized Schmidt and he specifically mentioned the Flame and Fullmetal. "

Katrin had parked long ago and they were sitting in the car without exiting. Now, Bertram suddenly made to stand up, popping the door handle with a clank. He turned back, putting his head through the open door and said, "Bradley had something remarkable planned! Imagine that you could bind an alchemist to someone else, forcing their alchemy to go through this other person before they were able to use it. This wouldn't be necessary with your everyday crack alchemist, but think of someone like the Flame Alchemist, Someone who could leave a town in ashes in minutes. That kind of power shouldn't be left up to one person's mental stability. Think of how many people we would be protecting if we actually accomplished that. It would be foolproof, more than a law; it would be bound to their very ability. That is what I'm doing with the Binding Alchemist." He then slammed the door with a kind of finality. Katrin sighed and with apprehension climbed out of the car and made to follow her boss.

They walked into the prison, past cell block A-1, down a narrow set of stone stairs into a damp hallway. The guard was explaining, "This part of the prison used to be a storage facility, but over the years they built it out and added these chambers, totally underground-," He was babbling and giving her doe eyed looks. Even his strides were a bit shaky. She wondered how many women needed escorting around the prison. Must be his lucky day. He opened one door to reveal Major Schmidt. Katrin could not help but gasp. The prisoner was sitting calmly at a wooden table, eating was looked like roast chicken. He was still bound, but the chains were much looser, and he had the kempt look of someone who had recently washed.

Schmidt made an exaggerated motion, finishing his swallow and waving his fork. "Why, it's the good Councilor and his dutiful Secretary. How quaint." He grinned widely and she could see bits of food in his teeth. She had forgotten how terribly piercing his voice was.

Bertram was brisk. "Get up Schmidt," he said, "We have work to do. It's time for you to earn you cell promotion." At that, Schmidt gave a mock little bow and held his hands out to have his chains released from the table. Bertram then turned to Katrin directing her gaze pointedly to Schmidt.

She groaned inwardly and watched as Bertram purposely walked much further ahead of them, visibly out of earshot from Katrin and Schmidt. She turned to face the prisoner only to find her had been leering at her back with that horrible toothy smile.

"Katrin," he started silkily.

"It's Miss Colman to you," she shot back allowing the faintest hint of vulnerability to enter her voice. Here we go. The alchemist shifted his stance and smirked.

"You should consider yourself lucky," he said in that same suave condescending tone, "You are about to witness the application of one of the greatest feats of alchemy ever seen." Is that supposed to impress me? God he is full of himself, though maybe I can use that. He won't like having his intellect challenged.

Tell me something, Major Schmidt," she said, "If you already succeeded in your method, why do you need to see Edward Elric again? Shouldn't you be able to replicate the results of your own experiment?"

He looked surprised, as if he was revising his opinion about her. That's right asshole, I'm more than an empty note taker.

He still managed to hold that mocking tone when he answered though, "Because, Miss Colman, I was not the one that damaged Mister Elric. We have yet to discover a method that takes away someone's alchemy without killing them. That in itself is a feat. Plus, we are refining the technique. It's no good to take alchemy away if you cannot give it back. Then poor Mr. Bertram would have no one to protect him from Drachma. It's quite simple."

"Well, simple for me anyway," he added smugly and started walking faster to catch up to Bertram.

They finally reached a cell at the furthest end of the dank underground hallway. She noticed that the door was wooden, just like in the alchemy wing.

"Well here is your Fullmetal," Bertram said, gesturing to the back of the cell. The former alchemist was tied up in a similar way to Schmidt when the first met him. But he's not actually an alchemist anymore, right?

There were yellow bandages around his head and right leg and she could see several cuts and scrapes they hadn't bothered binding up. He hung limp, breathing shallowly.

"Damaged him during the retrieval process, did we?" remarked Schmidt.

"He blew up a sewer line," was all Bertram said.

Schmidt narrowed his eyes, taking in the Fullmetal. Katrin did the same. Being locked away and strapped to the floor made him seem somehow lesser, smaller in stature than even his reputation suggested. Then again, this was the child who singlehandedly wreaked havoc across the East, upending institutions left and right. Katrin nevertheless felt a wave of pity for him. He looked so young.

"We aren't going to hurt him, right?" As soon as it came out of her mouth, she felt horrified. How weak and womanly could you sound? However, neither of the men seemed to notice her blunder, though the Binding Alchemist did answer the question.

"Of course not," Schmidt said cheerily, "This is the great Edward Elric, the insurmountable Fullmetal Alchemist. No. We're going to be great friends."

She might have imagined it, but Katrin was sure she saw Fullmetal's lips curl in distaste. But that is almost impossible. He's slumped, out cold. Unless he's faking it.

Before she could voice her suspicion, the Binding Alchemist walked up to Edward and leaned over him as if he were going to shake him awake.

In that moment, Edward leaped up, powerful even with a bum leg. Katrin got a flash of his wild, growling face just before it clamped onto Schmidt's collar, narrowly missing his neck. He shook his head like a dog, while the Binding alchemist screamed shrilly. There was the sound of cloth ripping and he thundered back to the floor, hissing. He spit out the chunk of shirt and growled ferociously, "We'll be friends over my dead body, you bastard!"

Edward was breathing heavily in and out through his nose, and he turned his head aside and spat, before clamping his eyes hatefully again on the other alchemist. Schmidt was pale, and Katrin wondered if he felt embarrassed that they had heard him scream so shrilly.

Well that was something else. Here she had been thinking of the Fullmetal as a child, and he turned out to be almost more animal than Schmidt. Well good, they can have each other. She wanted to mock Schmidt, but that would be like admitting that she needed to, admitting that he bothered her. She wouldn't give in to that.

"Let me out," Ed finally snarled.

"No." This answer came from Bertram who stepped himself between the two prisoners.

"Do you know who I am?" Elric demanded, struggling, "I work for the military and you can't just lock me up! Whose orders were these?" He paused. "And who the hell are you supposed to be?" He gestured with his nose at Bertram and threatened, "Mustang is gonna have a field day when he finds out. Your ass is going to be bacon when this is over."

Bertram interjected, "You have some nerve." Katrin was surprised to hear the level of malice in his cold voice. "But now it's my turn to ask the questions. For example, were you or were you not integral to the success of the Promised Day Plot?"

Ed's face went blank for an instant, and he said incredulously, "That's what this is about? It wasn't like a I had much of freaking choice in the matter, and I'm the one who stopped that freak. But no, just lock me up like some goddamn criminal." He contemplated and added, "Hey, I want a lawyer or something. Don't I get a lawyer?" he continued to pull at the chains as if he didn't realize that the effort was futile.

He's so childish. Bertram seemed to think the same thing because he looked at Ed thoughtfully, almost mercifully, and said, "Yes, I can almost believe that you were pressured or manipulated into it. After all Mustang is a dangerously persuasive person." Ed glowered and tried to interrupt but Bertram spoke over him, "But you gave up the right to be a child when you joined the military. Now you can contribute to the welfare of the entire nation. All you need to do is cooperate." He turned to Schmidt, who had been silently laughing in the corner, apparently recovered from his shock. Seeing Bertram's gaze, he straightened up and walked forward.

"Right, Sir," he said, but the echo of the chuckle lingering in his voice made it seem mocking.

They spent several hours in Edward's cell. Schmidt tried to convince Bertram to undo his chains so he could draw an alchemy circle. Bertram wisely refused, and drew it himself. They then spent the next hour attempting to force Edward to touch the circle. He fought like a wild animal, putting up more struggle than seemed possible for being chained up like that. It was difficult because Bertram decided he didn't want guards present, but to get Edward to touch the circle he had to loosen the binds. Even without alchemy, the Fullmetal was deadly, and they would all leave sporting multiple bruises. When Ed finally touched the circle nothing happened, not a spark or a flash of light. Schmidt was the only who found this particularly thought provoking, as he sat back and contemplated for several minutes.

After they left the cell, Bertram leaned against the hallway wall and rubbed the sweat from his eyes, the only sign he had given thus far, of how much interrogating Edward Elric had tired him.

"How the hell does Mustang control that brat," he asked tiredly.

"You know," answered Schmidt, "I heard that the Fullmetal would do anything for his brother. And I mean anything." He smirked as if he deserved a prize.

"That was a rhetorical question," retorted Bertram, but they could all see the cogs going in his brain.

()()()()

Four days later, Roy was standing in a payphone intent on calling his Lieutenant. As he waited on a dial tone, the nippy air whispered across his loose coat, committed to finding every way possible way to send chills though his shirt.

"Lieutenant," he spoke with a crisp voice. "Meet me outside West Prison."

"What did you get from Drake?" Her voice was equally all business, sharp and clear.

"There's been interesting movement inside and out. A shipment of anti-alchemy manacles, ordered personally by the Councilor, plus he has been putting an awful lot of time in the basement, according to the staff sergeant who's a friend. He's suspicious."

He could almost hear the Lieutenant biting her lip. "If your staff sergeant is Wilson, he's suspicious of everyone, but you're right. It doesn't add up."

"Plus," continued Roy, "Wilson thinks there is something going on with the newer staff. He doesn't trust them. The alchemy manacles are one thing, but there's all kinds of stuff moving in and out of the prison. So really, I think it adds up a bit too well. Meet me there in an hour." He snorted but it lacked real mirth.

"I don't think that's a good idea Sir. We should get back-up. It's too easy. Bertram did almost nothing to cover his tracks. We only know it's him because he picked up Ed with his own agents." Roy could hear his Lieutenant shifting around on the other end.

"You know we can't," he answered, "If this turns out to be a wild goose chase, and he's taking the time to check on prisoner mistreatment or some crap, we'll never be able to explain a heavy move out."

"Still," she insisted, "I don't like it. It's not like in Central or East where everyone sees you and Ed as a hero. The military doesn't have the same power here, and Councilor Bertram has nearly everyone in his pocket."

"Which is why we can't make any overt moves, Lieutenant."

Her breathing was heavy and unsure, but her voice never lost that clarity. "Give me an hour, Sir."

"Got it," he replied.

"Wait," she hesitated and said, "Please Roy, be careful."

As he hung up the phone, he whispered to himself, 'I always am.'

()()()()

(Two hours later)

"Okay, our objective is to make it to the basement, see just what the hell Bertram has been doing down there, find Fullmetal, and rescue him, all without being recognized as military." Roy commanded with his best leader voice. Of course, since it was just him and Hawkeye it was a bit wasted, but still, it was helpful to get in the mood.

"Right Sir," Hawkeye replied, with just a touch of smirk that said she thought the blustering was unnecessary. Well, she could laugh all she wanted; he knew she liked his leader voice.

They were standing at the northernmost corner of the prison wall. According to Hawkeye's best calculation, this corner had been built out when the basement was expanded, and therefore the easiest access for what they were attempting. It was dusk, not quite pitch black, so that hopefully any light from alchemy would be less noticeable. She had staked out the guard rounds earlier, and they had a seven minute window before a guard would be within sight distance.

Roy nodded at Hawkeye, and she loosened a bundled black blanket she had been holding and draped it over herself and the Brigadier General, swathing them in darkness.

Roy closed his eyes, focusing on his breath and hands. The Elrics could do this in the blink of an eye, but this kind of alchemy had never been his thing. He stiffened and brought his hands together. As soon as they completed a circle he felt the energy come to life, crackling with red light. He deepened his focus, picturing the array he wanted, one he had looked up earlier today, and gently feed the energy down the imagined lines, picturing every last particle of the wall break apart like wet paper.

He deepened the transmutation, seeing the foundation the cellar area below and breaking through that too. Finally, it ended and Hawkeye clicked on her flashlight. They had a tunnel that opened into the ceiling of what looked like a small storage room. Perfect.

"Good work, Sir," she whispered. She turned around to position the blanket over the hole. It would not hold up to any scrutiny, but they were hoping the growing darkness would cover their tracks. They dropped into the storage room, setting off a cloud of dust.

Coughing, Roy held up a hand and peered down the corridor. Motioning for Hawkeye, he crept slowly into the hallway, glad for the dim lighting. That's one thing I'll change when I'm Fuhrer. The security in this place was abysmal. The corridor they were in was lined with various doors, all with storage labels. They opened each one just to be sure. Some were so tiny they could barely be called rooms, and other led into more hallways even longer than the one they were standing in. In several, they found boxes of strange powder.

He was realizing quickly that this place was a lot larger and more complex than they had imagined. Just as he was about to motion to Hawkeye again, the door in front of them creaked.

Roy automatically froze with panic as the door groaned and swung out, almost catching him in the face. At the last second, his mind came to a decision. They were never going to find anything in this place without help, even if it was unwitting. He pushed Hawkeye into a corridor behind them, just as a guard walked out of the door in front, smelling of smoke, whistling to himself. He turned around, caught Roy's eye, a cigarette dropped out of his mouth, and his face took on a dumbfounded expression.

The time it took him to collect himself was hilarious, but eventually he scrambled for his weapon and pointed it at Roy. "St-stop right there!"

Roy sighed and inwardly rolled his eyes. "You got me," he said as he raised his hands.

()()()()

Katrin, Bertram, and Schmidt were once again in Elric's cell when the Guard burst in. Huffing and puffing, he ground to a halt in front of Bertram and saluted.

"I told you to wait outside," started Bertram with a thunderous voice, but he stopped when the guard leaned in to whisper in his ear. "What?!" Bertram narrowed his eyes and pursed his lips, thinking hard. He seemed to come to a decision, and barked to Schmidt and Katrin, "Wait here," and followed the guard with quick strides into the hall.

Katrin watched him leave, feeling quite perplexed. Bertram had done nothing but think, talk, and live his plan to use Edward Elric and Major Schmidt for the last week. It would have to be something hugely important to convince him to leave in the middle of an interrogation.

"I wonder what it was?" she murmured softly.

"It's obvious." Turning around, she saw that Edward Elric had lifted his face and was looking at her with burning eyes.

Schmidt just laughed. "Enlighten us then, Fullmetal." Ed's death glare was more habit than force. This week had worn him as much as him interrogators.

"Something important enough for him to abandon his little fantasy world in here? It'd have to be huge," Edward said, reminding her of her previous train of thought. "If I had to guess, it's been what eight days since I've been locked up? Three to miss my check in, one and half for Mustang to get his shit together, one and a half to travel here. Add two for him to screw around in West." He grinned maliciously. "Lady you have the military on your ass. Bout time too."

Schmidt started wordlessly clapping, causing Ed to furiously strain against the wall, when Katrin interrupted them both. "You're wrong. Bertram is doing great things. He's going to revolutionize the military and stop the corruption of Alchemists." She looked at him, then, taking in his ragged appearance. "He told me—told me they probably made you help with the Promised Day. Don't you see? We could stop all that." Her voice fell off as she noticed the way Ed was looking at her.

There was no more malice in his expression. She was met instead with sharp, intelligent eyes, focused on her with such intensity that she felt he could see every atom of her existence, every ounce of her being. They stood that way for several seconds, though it felt like an eternity, and she let out a breath of relief when he finally lowered his gaze.

"I'm sorry," He said, stunning her, "I truly am. But it would never work. Not with alchemy." Schmidt tensed and Katrin suddenly realized that she was alone in the cell with the two prisoners. They are both bound she reminded herself, comfortingly. "Schmidt's been leading you on," stated Ed as Schmidt snarled at him.

"You ingrate-," Schmidt glowered moving closer to Ed threateningly.

"Halt," Katrin commanded him. "I want to hear what he has to say." She faced Schmidt challengingly. For an instant, he looked like he would disobey. There was murder in his eyes, but he took a step back, only saying in an oily voice, "He'll say anything to get out of his cell, miss."

"As would you," she retorted. She turned to the Fullmetal, "Continue."

"Even if his theory is correct, it would take too much energy to perform on one person, let alone al the state alchemists." His eyes hardened and she wondered how she could have ever mistaken him for childish. "They would have to murder people, lady, lots of people. Either your boss man is a lot dumber than he looks, or he knows, and is planning murder on the off chance it will help him control alchemists."

Schmidt's face was closed off, expressionless. She turned to face him, "Is this true, Major?" He did not speak, instead seeming to contemplate something. His eyes flashed, and he smiled, showing her all of his teeth.

"Well, I guess the game is up." He squared his shoulders and cocked his head toward her. Edward was struggling again, shouting something but she did not hear him, she was being held captive by Schmidt's eyes.

"As to answer your question, I think it is a bit of both. Bertram didn't truly understand my notes, and he chose to ignore what he did of the gruesome aspects. After all, stopping the evil alchemists requires some sacrifice, right Katrin." He was moving slowly toward her and despite herself she was backing up.

"It's Miss Colman," she squeaked.

"Right," he drawled. "Right." He rubbed his arm, and for the first time she notice a dark spot staining his gray uniform on his forearm. He followed her gaze and his grin widened.

"As to Edward's assumption," he continued, "Only partially right I'm afraid. Roy Mustang has in fact been in West City for the past two days. He did indeed break in through the north corner wall about forty minutes ago, but no. There will be no rescue here today."

Katrin's brain felt like mush. An inner voice was screaming at her to move, do something, but she was frozen, watching the scene unfold as if it was a film and she was just a viewer.

"Look at her Edward, so confused, like a rabbit."

"Leave her alone!"

Schmidt was standing right in front of her now, his putrid breath in her face. She had backed up against the wall with nowhere else to go. This is it. I'm going to die. Their eyes were locked together, as the alchemist slowly reached over her shoulder, his fingers trailing her arm. Suddenly there was a loud click, and her arm was bound in a manacle similar to Edwards. Schmidt leaned back, his eyes never leaving hers. "Thank you Katrin." She whimpered.

"Wilson!" An older man with peppered hair and several stars on his uniform walked through the door. "Keep Bertram busy and bring me Roy Mustang," he ordered. Seeing Wilson's gaze linger on Katrin, he added, "Don't worry about the girl, I've got it covered but treat Mustang with care. He won't make any moves as long as he thinks he has more to gain by complying. Make sure he still thinks that until it's too late." Wilson was still looking at Katrin and she had a small burst of hope that somehow he would save her; that he would betray Schmidt right now.

The man turned away and said, "Got it," and walked out the door.

()()()()