Disclaimer in previous chapters. Please see Author's Notes at the end.

NOTE: This is a direct continuation of last chapter. Because I broke my promise.

- x -

Franklin tried not to show any interest in the proceedings, but it was the only thing going on, and in truth he wasn't quite sure what was going on.

Full Metal had been stripped to his shorts, the automail gleaming in the lanternlight illuminating their tent. Once the general's alchemist, Nidler, had undone the manacles, Edward had predictably tried to fight back. Unsuccessfully, though Franklin was pretty sure both Nidler and his assistant would be unconscious till morning. The attempt had earned Elric a crack on the head that had almost hurt to hear, and now he was barely conscious himself, securely bound once again via a rope around his waist to the pole, this time with each wrist tied separately to the spine of the tent.

This time they'd chosen to bind him with braided wire rather than rope, probably to keep the automail in check, and there was no way he could bring his hands together. His feet were free to kick around for the moment, but outside of a few quiet groans Franklin wasn't really sure Edward was awake at all, let alone aware that he had feet.

A rather short, dark-skinned man Franklin had gathered was named Luis stood in front of Full Metal, feet shoulderwidth apart, arms crossed and laying high on his chest. He had stripped off his uniform jacket immediately, and now stood in the cooling tent in a short-sleeved cotton shirt. He never took his eyes off Full Metal, and he rarely blinked.

Franklin watched the man closely, looking over him for arrays, anything he could use. Sitting around was getting them nowhere, and he wasn't so inexperienced that he didn't know what was going to happen. Damn Full Metal. He'd turned the equation over and over in his head, but he still didn't see the problem. Velocity equals distance traveled divided by time. It had nothing to do with the speed of light unless you felt like putting it into the equation, and even then -

Franklin closed his eyes, wishing for a piece of paper, a pen, anything. Just double-check the math, then he could get out of here, transmute what was left of the army, and -

And it would have to be enough. Doubtlessly if Full Metal had spent that much time in his library, the piece of Craege Irving he'd found had been detected. Not that adding it to the Incomplete Stone had been useful at all, but if he had more time-

"Good evening." Luis' voice was throaty and deep. "I will begin with your automail."

Sorn blinked, focusing again, and found that Edward's head had twitched up, so it wasn't lying so heavily on his chest. He shook it clumsily, like a puppy recovering from a tumble down the porch stairs, and Luis stepped forward, fingers nimbly opening the port panel and flicking some inner switch-

And nothing happened. The automail arm did not come off in his hand.

Elric picked his head up most of the way, quite dazedly, and fixed his arm with a look. It was hard to tell if he was surprised or trying to gloat.

Luis was not fazed. "It is quite customized, but not of quality," he noted, in his low, almost soothing voice. "Why is that, alchemist?"

Elric didn't answer, other than to blink sluggishly and squint at the light, and Luis inspected the automail further. He found another panel, opening it and releasing another switch.

Half the arm clattered to the floor. Only it wasn't automail. It was more like a gauntlet. And like any other gauntlet, it had been protecting a forearm and elbow.

A human, intact one. Edward's right arm was pale and looked a little underdeveloped when compared with the left, stretched above his head, but it was doubtlessly an arm. If not for the wire bindings, the metal glove over his hand and wrist probably would have come free as well.

Luis cocked his head to the side, and Franklin suddenly smiled. He was just as surprised as anyone else, but it made sense. Obviously Full Metal had gotten it back at some point. Maybe in the other world, maybe not. But he'd hidden it in the automail so no one knew he'd actually committed the crime of human transmutation twice. And it certainly added a new level of confusion to the situation.

"So much for that," he muttered, almost under his breath. But he'd been right; Luis was very observant, and he heard. The man's head swiveled towards him.

"This man is not the Full Metal Alchemist," he concluded, and Franklin dropped his eyes.

". . . what gave it 'way?" Edward slurred.

Luis turned on his heels and faced the tent flap, clearly agitated. Then he turned again, inspecting the leg closely. Edward let his head drop again so he could follow the other man's movements.

"It's not real either," he admitted, the slur slightly diminished. "Sorry 'bout that."

Luis straightened angrily, glared at Edward hard for a moment or two, then stormed out of the tent without another word. There was a furiously hushed conversation outside the tent, then silence. It stretched on long enough for Elric to get his bearings and test his restraints. The time he had spent dangling from them as dead weight had forced the wire into his wrist, and he hissed as a thin trickle of blood ran down his left forearm. His right wrist was still protected by the armor, and Ed grabbed the wire with his protected fingers, twisting.

Of course, it was just a metal glove. It wouldn't give him any additional strength, and after a moment he gave it up. Then he turned, and looked directly at him.

"You okay?"

Franklin gave him a flat look. Hadn't he heard them say they weren't going to touch him? "I can't escape, if that's what you mean."

Elric's expression cooled. "Close enough," he muttered, glancing back at his hands before down at his feet consideringly. He put his weight on his real leg, kicking the tent pole hard with his 'automail,' but then the tent flap crackled and admitted two enlisted, both of them with rifles trained on his chest. Edward gave them a smirk, but he stopped what he was doing, and shortly Luis re-entered, along with the commander. Reinken, he thought the man's name was.

Reinken eyed Edward up and down, and he received a surprisingly neutral expression in return. "Sorry to disappoint. The name's Russell Tringum."

Luis was making quick work of the rest of the armor, and Reinken frowned deeply. "The Winding Tree Alchemist," he muttered. "Why the deception?"

Elric shrugged eloquently. "I do what I'm told. We all learned pretty quickly not to piss off the Flame Alchemist."

Edward was being just a little too forthcoming, and Franklin knew that Reinken was on to him. "And why tell me this now?"

"Why not? We told you before. Mustang knows you're here. By now he knows we were captured, and last I checked, holding citizens of another country against their will was an act of war."

Franklin watched the commander chew it over, and then Reinken glanced at him. He tried to make him expression as bored as possible. It was thin and Elric had to know that. It probably wouldn't result in their being let go. All it did was devalue his own life.

The tent flap crackled again, admitting none other than General Enora herself. She eyed Edward, who did not appear abashed in the slightest despite his lack of dress, and then she reached out gracefully for a piece of the armor. She turned it over in her hands, running her fingers over the interior.

"This is well crafted."

Edward was watching her very closely. "Thank you. I worked a long time on it."

"So long that you've worn the joints," she noted, holding the shin guard up to one of the lanterns. "Have Nidler – no, that's right. Lanan can tell me what this is composed of." She handed it to the commander, who immediately fled the tent, and then approached Edward again.

"Luis is disappointed. Automail is an excellent tool for making one talk."

Oddly, Elric was silent, and then he turned his face away from her. Franklin was surprised to see a brief smile cross the general's face.

"There is one other feature of the Full Metal Alchemist that is legendary," she told him quietly. "His eyes. Tell me, how did you dye them? Perhaps a tattoo?"

Of course. Edward Elric had almost yellow eyes. Alphonse had the very lightest brown, but they weren't quite the same unusual color. He should have known better.

"So Amestris does have a Philosopher's Stone," she continued thoughtfully. "It makes sense that they would allow you, of all people, to use it. Or perhaps you made it, Full Metal?" She took a step closer, so that her lips were almost touching his forehead. "Is that where you disappeared to all those years?"

Franklin was surprised when Elric didn't move. He remained as still as a stone, his stretched ribs barely moving with breath. The general didn't back off until the tent flap crackled again, and despite being caught she didn't seem embarrassed. She pulled away slowly, watching him without blinking.

"You make this difficult on yourself, alchemist."

He finally looked up, as serious as Franklin had ever seen him. "You would march on a country with a Philosopher's Stone?"

"Are you offering an alternative?" Her voice was almost a purr.

He regarded her. "You'll be destroyed."

The general turned to Luis. "Continue. If he reveals anything noteworthy, tell me. I need him able to stand in the morning." Then she turned and ducked back under the tent flap.

Franklin watched the dark-skinned man look Edward over again. "I am disappointed," he admitted. "But I have an idea. Would you like to know what it is?"

Elric's lips quirked. "You're going to let me go?"

Luis laughed. "No! Much more exciting than that. I think you will be impressed."

Luis retook his position of crossed arms and braced feet while two enlisted half-carried, half-dragged a large, somewhat flimsy black tub filled with water into the tent. It sloshed quite a bit as they finally deposited it just in front of Edward, and he eyed it as the liquid dribbled down the sides of the tub. Nothing unusual happened as it contacted the ground. Just water.

One of the guards took out a length of rope, and Edward struck out. He was so fast, even though he'd been watching Franklin wasn't sure he'd really seen it. He caught the first guard squarely with his right foot, but the second punched him in the stomach, and as exposed as he was, it winded him enough that the rope could be wound around his legs. It was dropped to his ankles and tied, and then his feet were placed in the tub of water.

With the rope binding his waist securely to the pole behind him, he was unable to maneuver his legs over the high lip of the tub, and even if he could, the wire prevented him from hanging by his wrists. The soldiers centered the tub under him, then left briefly, returning after a moment with three small burlap sacks. These they deposited on the floor, and Luis stepped forward, picking up the largest.

While the guards left, he ripped open the bag, spilling a white powder into the tub. It flowed easily, and dissolved quickly. Edward was watching, but didn't appear to be in any pain. His struggles had cut his left wrist a little more deeply, and the blood was slowly making its way down his upper arm toward his shoulder.

Luis picked up the second bag, which made odd metallic scraping noises. This, too, he upended into the tub, and Franklin watched clumps of copper splash into the water. Edward took a deep breath, but he said nothing, and Luis smiled at him.

"Ah, but I forget, you are a teacher, no? You know your table of elements?"

The man reached down for the third bag, which sounded like it contained small pieces of gravel. "I have wanted to test this for some time," Luis admitted, watching Edward's face closely. "I think it will be almost as satisfying as the automail would have been."

Then he reached into the bag, withdrew a handful of small, grey fragments, and scattered them in the tub like one would toss crumbs out for pigeons.

Franklin couldn't see the surface of the tub, but Elric's body started to tremble slightly, and at some point he'd locked his jaw. After a moment he exhaled, quite shakily, and Franklin noticed what looked like a spark flash dimly where the braided wire met the long pole holding up the length of the tent.

Luis gave Edward a concerned look as another strangled breath left him. "Oh! Of course."

Then the dark-skinned man disappeared out of the tent flap.

Edward continued to tremble, and his breathing continued to sound difficult, but he didn't say a word, and after a few minutes Luis returned with a bucket. He upended it over Edward's wrists and head, thoroughly soaking him, and Full Metal slung the water from his bangs and face.

"How was that?"

Elric finally opened his jaw with apparent difficulty. "Was I . . . supposed to notice . . . something?"

Luis did not seem to appreciate this critique of his actions at all, and Franklin looked hard at the granules he fished out of the bag. Copper, water, something white that dissolved easily, and something that looked like a dull silver-

He watched it fall into the water, looking for a surface reaction, and this time Edward's entire body jerked. His jaw was clenched shut again, so hard his neck and cheeks were trembling with the effort, and his eyes were wide. Again, breathing seemed difficult, and his exhales were sharp and arrhythmic.

Zinc and salt. It was electrical current that was locking his muscles like that. He was soaking wet, which helped him conduct the electrical current generated by the chemical reaction up the braided metal restraints to the tent, and from there -

Well, obviously someone had tied it to ground. This was essentially electrocution as a means of extracting information. Adding the zinc by hand meant Luis could control the current and length of each dose, but of course generating a stronger current meant lengthening the time current would be produced by the reaction

Luis watched him with a practiced eye, and Franklin was surprised to see that Edward looked like he was trying to speak.

"My . . . m-mechanic's grrandmo. . .ther . . . has done w- . . . worse . . ."

Blood was running freely down both his arms now, and his hands had wrapped themselves around the wire. Probably locked that way, like the rest of him Hopefully it would support his weight before any of those cuts became too deep-

More zinc was added, and Luis finally got what he was looking for. A choked cry came from deep in Full Metal's throat, and Luis smiled in sincere pleasure.

"You handle pain well, alchemist."

An odd sort of half-shout, half-growl was his only response, and he waited patiently for quite a while, until Elric's breathing had evened out somewhat. He was walking a fine line, causing intense enough current to pain Edward without causing him to seize or die. Whether Full Metal was good with pain or not, if this kept up too long he'd probably have a heart attack.

Luis watched his patient carefully, and when Edward had composed himself enough to swallow, the dark-skinned man reached out and touched his bared chest with a finger. He was able to leave it there without flinching away, and he pursed his lips.

"Whelp, do you intend to let me continue?"

It took Franklin a moment to realize that the man was addressing him. "What do you want to know?" Clearly they'd left him here to watch Full Metal tortured, thinking it would move him to give them information, but there was none to give. He couldn't explain why the men he'd had ordered to West City were not there. Obviously Edward, thus Roy Mustang, knew those orders were bogus, but if Drachma had decided to move, it made more sense to sacrifice West and hold the north than to save West and let Drachma invade.

"I want to know how to replicate the feeling of automail reconnection," Luis murmured, almost in Full Metal's ear. "And here is a man who can tell me how much accuracy I have achieved."

" . . . I can't help you with that." Elric's tolerance for pain was renown, but then again, he was suppose to be a genius, too. And clearly that had been exaggerated. And it was unlikely, even if what was being done to him did feel like automail reconnection, that Edward would tell him. Or that, having achieved a similar sensation, Luis would stop.

It occurred to him, quite suddenly, that Luis didn't want intel. He actually wanted to cause Full Metal pain. "Be silent, little councilor," Luis advised, and then he took another fistful of zinc from the bag.

"If . . . you were shooting for automail . . . adjustment . . ." Edward trailed into a strained laugh. "You're . . . not going to get even close with . . . this."

Luis narrowed his eyes slightly. "The current is the same your nerves use to communicate with the body," he informed them both. "It is as close as anything I have found."

He let the fistful of zinc trickle through his fingers, and Franklin watched Full Metal's body tense once more. This time, however, Luis didn't stop with a single handful. A second was added, not slowly as the others had been, but thrown as one lump into the coated tub. Given the amount of copper and salt in the tub, minus diffusion since the salt solution wouldn't remain polarized forever-

And why was Full Metal egging him on? Trying to make the point that being stubborn for the sake of stubbornness was pointless?

Full Metal screamed, the sound short and harsh through his clenched teeth. Franklin dropped his eyes, looking at the floor of the tent, but it did nothing to block out the sound, and he heard another dull splatter of zinc hit the water. Eight seconds into the accelerated chemical reaction, Edward was able to inhale again, and the sound that came out of him was more like a wail than anything else. He didn't have control of his lungs or his diaphragm, if Luis was looking for the best way to make someone scream this wasn't it. This sound, too, was short-lived, and Franklin found himself looking back up, to see if Elric's stubbornness had caused Luis to create a fatal amount of current.

But the splashing was only Full Metal's legs in the water, his body writhing so violently that it appeared he was actually thrashing in a fruitless attempt at escape. Franklin suddenly wondered if maybe he was. Electric shock could render someone unconscious, if he was close he might not be aware enough to realize all he was doing was damaging his wrists further-

Blood was staining the water on his body, making dull stripes down his chest and sides, and Luis was watching him closely.

"Be quiet, whelp," he murmured, when Sorn opened his mouth. Edward stopped shaking abruptly, a strangled gasp sucking air into his chest, and Franklin spoke anyway.

"I had second thoughts. The general was right. Elric tracked me down alone and we fought."

Luis ignored him, intent on Full Metal, and he hurled another generous handful of zinc into the tub.

- x -

"The train will proceed to Jannai, where it will be used to evacuate the townspeople. If there is insufficient room, some of the force will remain in Jannai until conveyance can be provided. They'll be sticking to their own rations and practicing quarantine procedures in the interim to lessen their risk."

Prime Minister Roy Mustang stared contemplatively at the small party of blue surrounding him. If it was a combat situation, he would have set off three explosions and made a leap for the window to his right. Unfortunately, it was a meeting situation, and he didn't have that luxury.

"Does anyone want to revise that plan?"

His medical officer gestured. "Depending on the pathogen, we can streamline those processes to minimize their risks."

He gave a single nod, and the officer left the table immediately. His logistics officer was going over the inventory manifest that Sheska had been able to provide, and he was making pleased noises. "We accidentally set this up pretty well. They have sufficient supplies to get them through the night, and we can leave those supplies in Jannai until we get a better idea of what we're dealing with."

Mustang inclined his head again. "Anyone else?"

Headshakes all around. Mustang stood, signaling the end of the meeting, and he sensed Riza right behind him. "This information stays in this room, gentlemen."

Then he was out the door, proceeding not toward the hall but the connecting conference room, which was why he was stunned to find himself walking into his own office.

He'd actually used every conference room. Every single one had been full, and he had visited each one.

Roy rolled his head on his shoulders, noting with a small trace of amusement that just because all the conference rooms had been emptied didn't mean he had escaped meeting hell. Sergeant Sheska was standing by his desk at attention, a hefty pile of folders under her arm, and he waved her into parade rest casually.

"You can put those down, sergeant."

Her head bobbed. "Yes, sir, only there's no room your desk, sir, and I do hate to put these on the floor since they're the original records and quite frankly they're not cared for well enough even in records management-" She trailed off and quickly took a breath. "Sorry for babbling, sir."

He surveyed his desk, buried beneath reports, and surmised that her statement was, in fact, accurate. At least as far as his desk was concerned. "Can I help you, sergeant?"

"Actually, I was waiting for the colonel, sir," she said, even more apologetically, and turned to Hawkeye. Riza left his side to collect the folders, apparently unsurprised by what she found there.

"Marriage license states Lily's Blane's maiden name is Starweld."

Sheska offered her a second folder. "Her family tree doesn't cross any military personnel's. All of her relatives that lived in Jannai died during the plague there, and her guardians were Verona and Jonothan Bisker." A third folder was produced. "They have no ties to current State personnel either."

Mustang circled his desk before determining there was no good place to sit and still see what the women were up to, so he gave up and looked for a good corner to lean on. There wasn't one of those, either.

"Blane . . . the alchemist Alphonse detained?"

Hawkeye was deep into the report. "Yessir. Alphonse made mention that his wife was a special case, an insurance policy. He thinks it may relate to Blane's partner." She paused. "Sheska, this report states her guardians were from a town called Arturu-"

"Yes ma'am, it's the same town." Sheska's face fell and tone quieted, but she continued. "After the plague was declared gone, the town was renamed for superstitious reasons."

Ah, yes, the sergeant's fondness for superstition. He remained quiet, mulling things over in his mind as Hawkeye checked the reports. Of course, if the town had been renamed, then some of the records should have been pulled for the second name - "I assume you've already cross-referenced personnel listings from both Arturu and Jannai?"

She nodded. "Yessir. There are several State personnel from Jannai listing it as Arturu, but they have no connection to any Starwelds or Biskers." She felt into a troubled silence, and Hawkeye's gaze flicked to her for a moment.

"What is it, sergeant?"

"Nothing, ma'am. I was . . . just thinking about Fletcher Tringum."

Mustang raised an eyebrow. As far as he knew, the Tringums had nothing to do with Jannai. Nash had moved them to Central when they were boys, and they'd gone to Mugwar's from there. "Why is that?"

She shook her head quickly. "I . . . it was the last thing I told Fletcher, sir." Her lips pressed together for a second. "That I thought it was stupid to rename a town, as if a virus wouldn't find it again if the sign was different."

Sheska had reported Fletcher's library trip and had already answered questions about his demeanor prior to his trip to the HQ hospital. It wasn't new information, necessarily, but Riza's eyes had stopped moving on the page, and that usually mean t something. "Arturu . . ." She lowered the report, staring at a swirl in the carpeting. "I remember seeing that name go by."

Sheska nodded again. "Yes ma'am. We have four enlisted, an officer, a base doctor, a State Alchemist, and the Speaker's steward all on record as being born in Arturu."

Mustang contemplated the list. The Speaker's steward, that was news. He was akin to a State-apportioned butler, and would have access to certain State secrets that few other personnel would. An ideal place to put a partner or informant, but that wasn't what had really caught his attention.

"A base doctor?"

"Patterson," Hawkeye murmured. "Wasn't it Timothy Patterson?"

"Yes ma'am." Sheska gave her a slightly surprised smile. "You're getting much better."

Sheska had told Fletcher that Arturu and Jannai were the same town, and then he'd gone to the hospital and asked for Patterson. Who happened to be from the same town as Franklin Sorn.

"Sergeant, why wasn't that correlation made before now-"

Her smile vanished at his tone. "It was, sir. I determined that Timothy Patterson's time in Arturu didn't coincide with much of Franklin Sorn's. His parents were also killed in the plague, and he was raised by a Roslin Miter before he attended medical school here in Central. He was admitted at quite an early age, but the professor who admitted him, a Dr. Ackernath, has no ties to Jannai. The Miters had no recorded interaction with the Sorns, Blanes, Starwelds, or Biskers."

Mustang rolled it over for a moment before concluding that Sheska had done her homework. Still, it was odd the doctor hadn't mentioned it, considering he knew damn well they were looking for Sorn, and it might well have something to do with the death of Fletcher Tringum. In fact, Fletcher might have made the same conclusion, assuming he knew Patterson had been born in Arturu, and may have gone to the hospital not because he was feeling poorly, but to follow up with the doctor.

And, if Alphonse was correct, met an unfortunate end when he found Franklin Sorn in the Records room rather than Dr. Patterson.

"Colonel-"

"Your weekly checkup is in twenty minutes," she replied.

Mustang schooled away a sudden, wry grin. She'd always been good at predicting him, but now it almost seemed like she was a mind reader. "Have the sentries call up when he enters the building." Generally speaking, Patterson treated him in his office, as the Prime Minister was often too busy with government affairs to stop by the hospital every week for his physical evaluation. All the alchemists that had been exposed to the Irving amplifier followed that routine, so Parliament had been reassured it was merely the young doctor's paranoia, and didn't necessarily mean the Prime Minister was in ill health. And they were certainly well aware that his alchemy was in fine form after last week.

But his office was rather full of all manner of staff, and he wasn't sure he wanted to share any information Patterson could give him with Hakuro. With any luck Fullmetal had already taken care of the problem of Sorn, but there was always the chance of complications, complications he couldn't forsee.

The colonel started away immediately, handing him the reports in her hand, and Roy couldn't hide the quirk of his lips, flipping open the top folder and looking over the information himself. Lily and Avram Blane's marriage license stared up at him, looking as official as he supposed they all did. He'd been present to sign Maes and Gracia's, being the best man, but he hadn't really studied it in great detail. And even if it was forged, that didn't really tell him anything he didn't already know.

"Did Lily Blane tell our personnel anything useful?"

The sergeant blinked behind her glasses. "If you mean pertaining to what relationship she might have to someone in the State military or Parliament, no sir. She was difficult to calm and the medic on the train gave her a mild sedative."

He just nodded, contemplating the Jannai situation a moment more before regretfully returning the sergeant's folders to her. He was pleased with Alphonse's find, getting a firm hand on Russell Tringum was a comfort, but there were unfortunately far bigger problems to consider, and he couldn't afford to dwell too long on a single issue.

"Any sign of retaliation from Drachma?"

The sergeant juggled her pile of folders, withdrawing one from near the bottom of the stack. "Briggs has not sent any reports to the contrary. A normal patrol passed them about four hours ago, but there's been no other sign of aggression." Tolya would probably wait until Creta or Aerugo had well and truly declared war before he moved, if he planned to. The diplomats he had left were still technically 'guests,' but he was fairly sure Tolya knew that was more for their protection than as bargaining chips. Until Creta moved, all of this was no more than a calculated risk.

"And the western border?"

She shook her head. "No reports, sir. We haven't heard from Major Elric, either."

There was motion at his door, and Mustang glanced up to see Hawkeye attempting to catch his eye. He gave the sergeant a quick nod. "Thank you, Sheska. If the general should happen by, please detain him."

The diminutive woman offered up a brave smile. "Yes sir!"

He contemplated her a moment as he crossed his office, bypassing two major generals in a heated argument on his sofa, and almost breathed a sigh of relief as he stepped into the outer office. Who knew the Prime Minister couldn't kick people out of his own office during wartime?

"Dr. Patterson has arrived early, sir. I thought it might be best to catch him in the halls."

He inclined his head, signaling to Master Sergeant Brosh that he wished him to follow them. They might need someone to run a message back to Sheska, and Hakuro was also insisting that he not move with less than two soldiers accompanying him at all times.

"Is everything in order, colonel?"

Riza watched him out of the corner of her eye. "Yessir. Though you should be aware your seamstress rejected the bouquet."

Cranky old witch. Perhaps women really did reach an age where his charm no longer had any effect. "Can you recommend a more matronly gift, colonel?"

They turned the corner and were saluted through by Goodman, passing into the main hall. Roy's eye slid to the empty table where the jade dragon had once resided. When everything was said and done, he'd probably need to head up a diplomatic mission to Xing, to reassure the emperor that all was well and to have it repaired.

"I'm afraid not, sir. I've never offended my mother."

He snorted. "Your mother is offended by the fact that you carry a gun." Her mother seemed offended by the fact that other people breathed.

"Actually, my father objected to my career choice, not my mother."

Roy raised an eyebrow. "You father was a decorated military officer."

They started down the long stairway. "The fact remains that I have no experience with jilted women over the age of forty, sir."

Mustang opened his mouth, pithy retort at hand, but decided to let it go. "Colonel, when was the last time-"

"H-Homunculus!"

The words died in his throat at the panicked shout, and Hawkeye flew down the last set of stairs, gun drawn. The call had come from the hall on the right, and he was already pulling on a glove as the voice registered.

Dr. Patterson.

Brosh had responded more to Riza's alarm than the call, drawing his sidearm as well, and Mustang pinned him with a look as he bounded down the last few stairs. "Alert the detail to a possible intruder." Of course, Brosh had been in the team that had gone to Laboratory Five, he might well know what they could be facing. Either way, the blonde gave a single nod and took off immediately, and Mustang hit the last landing, turning the corner.

Timothy Patterson had just finished collapsing to the ground, his black bag spilling on the floor, and he was making no attempt to pick himself up. Standing over him, a brown wig clutched tightly in his right hand, was Fletcher Tringum.

Hawkeye had him in her sights, and he froze, staring at them with an expression of complete surprise. The wig slipped from his fingers, finding its way to the floor, and then he opened his mouth.

And he also started to bring his hands together.

"Wait-"

Mustang coldly snapped his fingers.

- x -

"Define unresponsive."

Luis prodded the body at his feet, but Elric didn't react. The Cretian dipped his hands into the tub, flicking droplets of salt water onto Full Metal's face, but he didn't even blink. And it wasn't just salt water, it contained zinc oxide as well. It had to burn.

"His vitals are still strong." The officer - Franklin was guessing medically oriented by the design of his uniform alone - remained in a crouch beside him. "I would call this shock. No pun intended," he added. "Catatonia."

Reinken rounded on Luis, and the shorter, dark-skinned man didn't look even slightly intimidated.

"The general gave you specific instructions that he be mobile by dawn-"

"When he stopped responding to the treatment I ended the session," Luis repeated. "I did not expect anyone who had borne automail to be so terrified of pain."

The commander scrubbed a quick hand over his face. "Can you wake him, Ike?"

The medical officer had stabbed Elric with a syringe, but from his angle it looked empty. It also looked like the man had inserted it to the bone. "I can give him stimulants," he started doubtfully, "but to be honest I'd rather wait a few hours. His heart had quite a strain, and while he won't need it much longer I think the general would prefer him alive at dawn, even if he's unable to walk."

Reinken cursed, giving Full Metal a kick. He got the same reaction the others had. None. It had been extremely weird to see his body react to the electricity with no conscious response, it had taken Luis a long time to realize that Edward hadn't just gotten better with the pain.

He'd retreated from it. Franklin recalled hearing a rumor that there had been something wrong with Full Metal's automail when he'd returned through the Gate, and that he'd had surgery. Perhaps the pain truly had been too close to automail for him to handle.

Either way, he certainly didn't seem to be suffering now. And given how stupidly he'd been pushing Luis, Franklin was beginning to wonder if maybe he'd done it on purpose. Purposely made the pain so bad that it overwhelmed him. Not that there was any information Full Metal could have given them, even if he had broken-

"Is there any chance he's faking it?"

Luis shook his head, once. "No."

Oddly, Reinken seemed to take it as gospel. "Ike?"

The medical officer shook his head, standing as well. "Best advice, leave him alone and comfortable until daybreak. He might snap out of it on his own, try to take advantage. Otherwise we'll hit him with a stimulant and see if that doesn't wind him up."

The commander frowned, but he nodded, and Ike motioned at the tent flap. Shortly a blanket was passed to him, and he covered Elric's bared legs and torso. "You'll want to put him back in restraints. Nidler woke up about twenty minutes ago but he's still woozy. Better have Lanan do it."

Sorn watched them until Reinken turned his way, and then he studied the armrests of his chair intently. He could still hear the approaching footsteps, though, and when there was no way to easily pretend the commander wasn't standing in front of him he gave in, and looked up.

Reinken leaned down until they were face to face.

"Are you ready to tell us the truth now, whelp?"

Sorn regarded him coolly. "You're planning to execute him tomorrow, aren't you?" He didn't bother to wait for an answer. "Would you spare him if I told you why we were there?"

He got a frighteningly understanding smile. "No."

Sorn shrugged. "Then no, I don't."

Eventually Reinken got tired of staring at him, and returned to Luis and Ike. As they were leaving, he thought he heard something about 'ruined as well,' and then he and Full Metal were alone. The professor's chest was barely rising and falling, and even after another alchemist came in and transmuted effective bindings for his hands and feet, Edward never even blinked.

Sorn took a deep breath, stretching as best he could in the chair, and then sighed as two new guards stepped into the tent to keep an eye on them. Dawn was a good six hours away.

And as embarrassing as it was, he needed to pee.

- x -

Author's Notes: Sorry, this is late for two reasons. One, I wasn't sure of the electrocution theory I used. Two, I got a call from a good friend who needed a favor, then took narcotics for a migraine and went catatonic like Ed there. :hides from everyone: Only I bet my morning was more pleasant than his is going to be . . . I did a drive-thru for typos, and found several, meaning there are several more. Please let me know if you spot any!

And thanks for putting me more at ease regarding my plot device there. ; )