Elysia was hungry and tired. But it was impossible for her to sleep while the truck bounced along the dirt road and she didn't bother to ask for anything to eat. The quicker they were out of Drachma and the further they got away from Kimbley and Russell the better. And the sooner she got to Edward the better too.
It was noon when they ran into a squad of Briggs soldiers after they ditched the truck at the side of the road. By then Elysia felt like she was sleep walking. The men materialized out of thin air surrounding them. Even seeing them before her Elysia barely acknowledged their presence. She knew they were Amestrian soldiers and didn't feel the need to be on the alert for trouble.
"Brigadier General Havoc," a soldier said as he saluted, his face hidden by a black cloth, his eyes the only thing visible beneath a dark green hat. It was much to warm for the gear he and the other soldiers were wearing but they were more concerned about blending into the environment then dressing for the weather.
Havoc returned the salute.
"We have been ordered to act as an escort for the rest of the journey. I'm sorry we couldn't meet up with you sooner but the Fuhrer didn't think it wise for anyone else to cross the border."
"That's fine, Captain," Havoc said noting the small insignia patch on the man's jacket collar.
"The Fuhrer is here?" Al asked surprised. Before they had left for Briggs, Mustang made no indication he would follow.
"Yes," the Captain explained. "He's been conducting the operation and he's waiting at the tunnel entrance on the other side of the valley."
"I wonder why he came," Al said thoughtfully.
"Probably out of guilt," Lin said knowing all too well what that felt like.
"We'll find out for sure when we see him," Havoc said. "Lead the way, Captain."
The Captain saluted again. He gave a couple of quick orders to his men who took their positions in a circle around the returning rescuers and rescued, then melted back into the forest.
"They're almost as good as Xing warriors," Lin nodded in admiration.
"They should be," Havoc said hardly pleased by the compliment. "Who do you think trained them?"
Lin smiled but it faded quickly. It was clear that Havoc wasn't enjoying his company at the moment. "Jean," he said. "I hope you and Edward will forgive Mustang and I one day for our mistake."
"Why are you worried about me?"
"You and Ed are like brothers. You've always been there to watch his back. I'm not blind that this affected you as well, to see your brother go through something traumatic like this."
"Perhaps you should be apologizing to his real brother," Havoc said feeling uncomfortable as he glanced back at Al.
"I will but you deserve an apology as well. I know you were nearly killed by a homunculus..."
"Mustang destroyed that thing," Havoc said stiffly not wanting to relive that painful day. "And I lived."
"I know you'd like to forget and I'm sure this hasn't helped any," Lin went on reading Havoc's thoughts. "And for that I'm sorry. I don't know what else to do but see this through to the end. But I hope you understand that Mustang and I never intended to hurt anyone by keeping Greed and Envy alive."
"Well, I guess we'll just have to see what happens. Ed and I might forgive the two of you if there's a chance to. That is if we're not overrun by this homunculi army."
"And I intend to see that doesn't happen," Lin promised earnestly.
Havoc looked at the Xing Emperor and knew he was sincere. But he still resented Lin... and Mustang for the trouble they had caused. Keeping Greed and Envy alive was only half of their problem but it was a problem that could have been avoided.
They continued on foot with no breaks. Elysia and Richard looked like they were ready to collapse by the time they made it back to the tunnel entrance which is what they did when they stopped. Mustang was there waiting as the Captain said. He looked extremely relieved everyone was back and in one piece.
Elysia had dropped next to a boulder and leaned back against it, closing her eyes and catching her breath. She heard someone sit next to her and knew it was Richard. Throughout the rest of their journey back to Amestris he had stayed close. She was the only one he was familiar with.
"Elysia!"
She opened her eyes and saw Mustang kneel in front of her. "Hey, Uncle Roy," she said with a tired smile.
He seemed to take comfort from her smile and the old term of endearment he hadn't heard from her in years. "You don't know how glad I am to see you. If anything happened to you I think your father would haunt me for the rest of my life."
"Me too," Elysia said. "But only for the chance to spend time with him."
She had meant it as a joke but it didn't come out that way. It sounded bitter and resentful. She didn't know why. Mustang took note of her tone. He drew back a bit, a pained looked on his face. But he was good at hiding his emotions and he composed himself quickly. Elysia felt bad. He was sincerely happy she was alright but she was also tired. It was hard to keep her attitude reined in after such a long, terrifying ordeal.
"Well," Mustang said fully composed and getting back to business. "Ed's been asking constantly about you two."
"When can we see him?" Elysia said perking up a bit just as anxious to see Edward again.
"Soon," Mustang promised. "The two of you have been through a lot. Take it easy for a bit and we'll take you to him." Then he turned to Richard with a warm smile and held his hand out. "It's nice to finally meet you, Richard. I'm Roy..."
"I think he knows who you are." Elysia joked rolling her eyes.
"Just because I'm Fuhrer doesn't mean I should assume everyone knows who I am," he said testily.
"Fuhrer, I'm sorry to interrupt," Havoc said coming over. "But we need to talk."
"Alright," Mustang said standing up and stepping to the side to have a whispered conversation with Havoc, Lin and Al.
Elysia watched them. It was an intense conversation and Mustang's relief vanished leaving him looking horrified.
"I shouldn't be surprised," Elysia overheard him say. "I suspected as much…" Then his voice dropped lower and she couldn't hear anything else. She turned to look at Richard to find him watching the group of men as well with a quizzical look on his face.
When the meeting was over Mustang walked back over to them. He smiled at them reassuringly but Elysia could tell he was hiding something.
"What's wrong?" She asked suspiciously.
"Just wondering what to do with the homunculi."
Elysia hated it when people tried to hide things from her. He was worried about more than just two homunculi who were still on the loose.
"Really?" She said voicing her disbelief.
"Come on," he said ignoring her doubt. "I'll take you to Ed now."
Elysia got up quickly momentarily distracted with the prospect of seeing Edward. But she wouldn't forget Mustang's guarded behavior.
Edward hated being left alone in his dark prison. Mustang had gone ahead with the company long ago and Miles was left behind with a couple of Briggs soldiers. The Brigadier General made several inquiries to Edward's comfort. His only request was for cigarettes.
He couldn't eat. His stomach was tied up in knots and smoking provided him with something to do with his hands. The familiar smell of tobacco and the feel of the stimulant running in and out of his lungs gave some comfort but not nearly enough to ease his nerves as he continued to pace.
He couldn't believe how his life had been turned upside down in an instant. Everything had been so right, so perfect. Now it was a big mess with the possibility of a greater threat than the Drachmans themselves. If his and Mustang's suspicions were correct they would soon be facing a much stronger and inhuman force.
He thought he was done with it all; that he didn't have to worry about fighting anymore. He shook his head wondering how the Amestris military missed it all. It wasn't possible they had been blind to these activities. They had left Drachma to themselves but they still kept tabs on them. Nothing in the intelligence reports through the years gave off warning bells that something was up. But he remembered Grumman. The old man knew everything as he clung to Mustang's coat tails living his dream through the Fuhrer.
Edward's hand balled into a tight fist. He realized Grumman must have recruited Russell and they had been working together for years. Both of them would know the ins and outs of the Amestrian military and how to work under the radar. They were prepared and Edward wasn't. He didn't like to be blindsided.
It was going to be bad. He could feel it in the air and it penetrated through his skin, seeping down deep into his bone marrow where it settled and began to stagnate. His feet began to drag from worry of not knowing what was happening to his family and friends in Drachma as the minutes passed into hours. It was like a heavy weight pressing against his heart.
"Have you heard anything yet, Miles?" He asked for the hundredth time.
"No, sir," Miles answered sounding tired.
Edward sighed, frustrated and anxious. He leaned against the wall and slid to the ground thinking he'd get some rest. But his ears perked up and he stood up quickly when he heard someone running through the tunnel and stop. There was a brief exchange between whoever it was and Miles, then the sound of feet running again. Edward looked through his small opening and found Miles' red eyes beaming back at him.
"They're back, Ed."
"Everyone?" He asked anxiously, feeling his heart leap.
"Yes," the half Ishbalan smiled. "They'll be here soon."
Edward felt his legs shake and nearly give out from under him. He forced himself to remain standing and pressed his forehead against the dirt wall for support. But he couldn't stop the tears of relief. It wouldn't be long now.