this is long. just letting you all know

~*~Edward~*~

I open my eyes and look around at where I am. When I try to move my arms and legs, I find that I am tied on a flat table thing. I look down and also realize that I am completely naked. I growl, not pleased that that bastard proceeded to take my clothes off without my permission. He has tied the ropes very tight so I can't even wriggle my arms out to transmute anything. They are hurting my real appendages but I know I can't do much of anything. I look around the room and can see that it is the same lab that we had fount Mustang and his crew in some months back. I can't believe it's been that long since we first found them here…

"I apologize for the ropes but I had to take extreme precautions."

I look around for a moment and see Tucker in the doorway toward my feet. I give him a glare and he tsks.

"Now now, Edward, don't give me such a disgusted look. You brought this all upon yourself, you know."

"How is that possible you freak?!"

Tucker walks closer to me and look at me over the table.

"Well, you see, like I've said before, I was terribly pissed off when my chimaera was killed by that Ishvalan. Ever since then I have been wanting to make another one; but after I made that little subordinate of the Colonel into one, I realized that I am far beyond this child's play. I should be able to do more than just use animals to achieve great goals. Which is where your Colonel comes into play… Isn't his experiment exquisite?"

"You impregnated him with some secret thing you sick bastard!"

"Uh tut, tut, Edward, no need to be so forward." He says, suddenly bringing out a needle from his jacket pocket. I gulp and he smiles a vicious smile. "Very good. I'm glad that I am getting the point across."

"What use was it to do that to the Colonel? Why didn't you use Hawkeye?"

"Please, what a blasé thing to say. Women get pregnant every day, it's nothing new to society. But to use a man… well, it's perfectly heinous and easier to document and record any changes that happen. Women have specific symptoms already but a man? What a new approach!"

I hated to be conversing with a madman but I just have to know what is in Mustang.

"Tucker, is that a chimaera or a human inside of the Colonel?"

Tucker taps the syringe to his chin for a moment and then turns to me with a wicked grin.

"I don't remember."

I feel the blood leave my face as Tucker cackles and walks over to his work station. There are various beakers and bottles filled with strange liquids of all colors over there. I wish I knew what exactly they were…

"So what was the point of impregnating Roy? What does that accomplish for you?"

"Victory, for one, and second, it is very special. It's advanced alchemy mixed with bio-alchemy and DNA. I made sure to inject lots of dexterity and strength enhancers into it." Well that makes sense for the bruises… "And its intellect should be amazing."

"But why a man?"

"Like I said, women come with their own process for babies. Men have room in their stomach cavities to harbor the experiment but allow for untainted study." He turns around, squirting liquid out of a needle. "I think I may try my hand with you."

He starts coming toward me and I try to scoot away from him. I know I can't get away and my eyes never leave as he comes toward me with the syringe.

~*~Alphonse~*~

The Colonel pulls up to where we found them the first time and the car lurches to a halt. Mustang puts his hand on the dashboard and groans, holding his stomach. I watch him for a moment to make sure he's alright but he shakes his head and sits up. I can see the determination in his eyes as he opens the door beside him and slides out of the car. I open my door as well and meet him in front of the car as he looks at the outside of the shack. The Colonel chuckles.

"Is that where you found us all?"

"Yes…"

"It was so much bigger on the inside."

"Tucker used this as a front. There is actually a hidden passageway that is hidden by a transmuted wall in there. We have to look for the marks when we get in… Colonel?"

"I'm fine, Al."

"I really don't think you should be trying to-"

"Save it. Come on…"

I sigh but walk after the Colonel as we approach the shack. We open the door and look around, the items from last time being in the same place they were. They never moved so I know we're in the right place. Mustang leans on a table and I can tell there is pain in his eyes. This was not a good idea to bring him here, especially while he's on the brink of delivering whatever is within him. I understand that he wants to help Ed but I'm capable of helping Brother myself without dying or really being effected by what Tucker could do.

"Alphonse, do you see it?" I turn to the Colonel as he looks around. "Any transmutation marks? You would know Tucker better than me but I don't think he'd be stupid enough to use the same passageway as before."

"Mm. I don't either… Colonel, if we run into any trouble you can leave the fighting to me."

Mustang turns to me with a smirk and a raised eyebrow.

"Are you really telling me, the Hero of Ishval, not to fight in a battle that comes forth?"

"I'm telling you, the plainly impregnated colonel, that it would be in your best interest to leave most of the fighting to me." I snap. "I just want to keep you safe."

"I promise that I'll be fine, Alphonse. But I think I found the wall. These are transmutation marks, yes?"

I go to where he is pointing and see the rectangular marks of transmutation and smile.

"Yes! That's it!"

"I'll blast through it-"

"No! If we do that he'll hear us for sure. If he has Ed he will definitely use whatever he has against him if he hears us. I know he's waiting for us…"

"Fine then…"

I draw a transmutation circle on the wall and make it so that it blends in with the walls and turn to the Colonel. He nods and we down the corridor.

~*~Tucker~*~

I watch as Edward lies numb on the table after I gave him the tranquilizer. He looks so innocent lying there but I know that he is nothing but. A true user of the taboo, a true alchemist who defied the laws of our profession so that he could bring back his mother… As petty as that is, it's incredible to know that he would risk his life and life of his brother for one stupid woman.

If I wanted to bring someone back from the dead, it would not be a stupid woman… I would use the knowledge of human transmutation to do so many things; like I have learned with Roy Mustang. I have to say that out of his little group of people, he was the most fun at using. Such a proud man brought down by someone like me.

The sound of an animal cues me to let me know that, as expected, someone has intruded into my domain. I sigh and leave Edward on the table. I have debated on taking his automail off but I like knowing that he knows he has his metal parts but is helpless to do anything. I feel a sense of power knowing he can't do anything… but alas, there are intruders I must deal with.

"I'll be back, Edward, please don't go anywhere…"

I walk down the hallway to where there are cages in the walls and press the buttons. The chimaeras come out and I point in the opposite direction.

"Dispose of the intruders."

They all leave and I go back to my lab.

~*~Roy~*~

This was probably not the best of ideas that I've had before but I have to save Edward. I can't let what's happened to me happen to him too. He's only a teenager, he can't have this happen.

"Uh, Colonel…" Alphonse says, stopping in front of me. "I think we're coming up to trouble."

I look around Alphonse's armor body and see the silhouettes of what looks like chimaeras. I move Al out of the way as he protests and I lift up my hand.

"I have this." I say with a grin, finally getting a chance to actually snap my fingers.

~*~Maes~*~

I glare at Riza, Jean, and Falman as they try not to look at my face. No one knows how livid I am about what has happened here.

"I was at the office when the hospital calls me in a panic that Colonel Mustang has gone missing from his room. I tell them they must be mistaken but they mention he is the impregnated man and I know that they must not be joking with me. YOU LOST YOUR FUCKING SUPERIOR!" I scream.

Jean visibly flinches at my outburst as Riza stays stoic and Falman just begins to cry. Fuery is on the couch singing 'bad subordinates, bad subordinates' to himself and I almost want to make it a sing-along considering the indecency of the people I have here.

"I don't know what's wrong with you people or why you think Roy is the only one who should be loyal to you all but the only person who seems to even care about him would be Fuery. He has comforted Roy in many of these trials outside of the shack but not one of you has even tried. I know why as well: you were all afraid of him. Well guess what now? He's lost and probably in a lot of pain and a lot of danger."

"Permission to speak, sir." Riza says, saluting.

"What?"

"I have a feeling I know where he is. The Colonel would not have left the hospital if not for something major. It most likely had to do with the Elric brothers…"

I sigh and knead the bridge of my nose, wanting for the first time in my life to slap Riza Hawkeye across the face.

"Even if that were so, if you were all watching him, he would not be there while in his condition but one of us in his stead. Now, now he's out there and will probably die. If he does, know that it was because no one cared to make sure he was alright. Now, Hawkeye is probably correct in that something happened to the Elrics. Get all the information you can on their whereabouts and report back to me immediately. Come on people!"

Everyone scatters and I run my fingers through my hair. Where can they be? How could this have happened?

~*~Edward~*~

I am paralyzed from moving as I watch and hear Tucker in the room around me. He hums and sings like he is making a cake rather than making a crazy concoction to inject into my body. I can hear chimaeras and alchemical crackling in the background. At one point there is a loud blast close to where we are and I flick my eyes toward the entrance to the room. I can see Roy there, holding his stomach and breathing heavy, his other hand in the air where he has been setting things aflame.

"We meet again, Shou Tucker." He says with a glare. "What have you done to Edward?"

"Unfortunately," he says with a disappointed push of his glasses. "Nothing as of yet."

I can hear Al doing something behind Roy and the sound of something crushing against the wall. He stands over Roy in the doorway and gasps at seeing me.

"Brother!"

I suddenly feel a needle in my neck and Tucker's face gets very close.

"Don't step any closer, Colonel. If you do, I will plunge this liquid into his body. I have no idea what it will do, for it's a combination of many different things. Would you want to risk that?"

Mustang puts his hand down but leans on the doorjamb with a visible look of pain on his face as his other hand tightens around his stomach. Tucker suddenly cackles and pulls the needle out of my neck.

"This is wonderful! I might just get to see the birth of my creation! Oh, this is grand!"

"What the hell did you do to me?!" Roy yells, another wave of pain overtaking him.

"Like I told Edward here, I don't really know what I've done to you but it's been harboring and festering in there for a long time. I've been experimenting on you since I captured you, you know that right? You had been gone for eight months, plenty of time for me to think up something truly amazing. Only in the last few months did I decide exactly what to do with you…"

"Why did it grow so quickly?"

"The amount of abilities I gave it. It makes it superhuman, so to speak. Just think of it, Mr. Mustang! You will be the father of the first alchemically grown superhuman! How's that for assessment?"

I don't know whether it is supposed to happen or not, but I begin to get feeling back into my toes and fingertips, meaning I can get feeling in my shoulder and thigh for the automail ones. I can't move as of yet but if Tucker is going to do something to me, he needs to hurry and do it.

I hear Roy sigh and a gun fire off.

"Colonel!" Al shouts and I try hard to turn around but the paralysis hasn't fully left me yet.

"Sorry… He just really pissed me off when he called me 'mister'." I hear him cry out. "Don't worry. If we get out of here in time I'll be alright. Go untie Fullmetal."

"Right."

I hear Al walk over and begin untying my binds. He looks at me and I know he is smiling behind his red glowing eyes as he sits me up. Mustang hands Alphonse my clothes and he begins to put them on for me.

"I have a feeling there will be more chimaera where those came from. The military will get Tucker's body when they get here because if I know Hughes, he wouldn't have missed that I escaped from the hospital."

"Did you have to shot him in the face, Colonel?" Al asks as he gets my socks on and my boots.

"If I had burned him to death his stench would have been in my nose. He annoyed me."

"But what if he had done something to Ed?"

The sound of an explosive goes off very far away and Roy and Al turn toward it.

"He had the place rigged to explode. We have to get out of here. Al, grab those files and stuff them in your armor. Those are important for both Fullmetal and I. If there is one thing I know for sure is that Tucker was an excellent documentarian."

Al and Mustang switch places as Al stuffs the files and papers into his armor, seeming to fill it from his legs to his torso to his arms, anywhere he could stuff them. I turn my eyes to Mustang and slightly move my face. When I do, Mustang looks down and smiles.

"That must not have been as strong as it seemed. Are you alright? Did he do anything?"

I try to explain but I can't get anything out.

"Got them."

"Good. Let's go before the whole place explodes on it."

"I told you guys that I was fine now." I say after ten minutes.

The feeling in my body has returned and I know I can go on my own but they won't let me. Besides, Mustang looks like he's about to drop all his own.

"Are you sure, Ed?" Alphonse asks.

"I promise."

We stop walking and Al puts me down and I wobble for two seconds. I brush off my jacket and pants and stretch a little to make sure I have the ability to walk like I say. Sure enough, I'm in good shape. I turn to say something when a huge bear looking chimaera jumps out of nowhere and sends Roy to the ground. I automatically send a piece of the wall through the bear's head and run over to Roy.

"Mustang, are you alright?"

"Yeah… fine… Let's just go."

I nod and we keep going forward.

When I look back when we get closer to the entrance, I don't see Roy. I stop and Al looks down at me.

"What is it?"

"Where's Mustang?"

Al looks behind us and gasps. We run back down the hallway where we find him slumped to the ground, coughing and looking in terrible pain.

"Colonel!"

He turns and smiles a little. "I tried to call but I kept coughing…"

I look at him and see that he's been coughing blood for a while. He has it running down his chin into his white military shirt, blood stains on his jacket, blood stains on the gloves where he had been wiping the blood away…

"You dumbass. Come on, Al will carry you."

I go to get up but Mustang grabs my arm and pulls me back down.

"Fullmetal, I won't make it."

"Don't joke-"

"Edward." I look at him. "I won't make it."

"Don't say things like that, Colonel." Al says, the sound of sadness in his voice.

I don't want to listen to this talk. I can't lose someone else.

~*~Roy~*~

The thing is shifting to leave my body but there is no way for it to get out. It had kicked me in the spine some time ago and I know my ribs are broken, one at least puncturing a lung. It is kicking so hard now as if I am just an obstacle, not a living vessel. I have to get this thing out of me. Now.

"Edward, I need you to get it out."

"No. No, I'm not doing that."

"You have to."

"Stop it! Mustang, I can't cut you open!"

"I'm dying no matter what, dammit! I'd rather know it was because you did it to save its life."

"What if it's a chimaera? Huh? What about that?"

"If it's a baby, let me see it. If it's a creature, don't let me… Please, Edward, it will burst through my stomach itself if you don't give it an outlet."

An explosion sounds too close to us and I turn to look. Fire is starting to come up the hallways and I turn back to Edward quickly.

"Fullmetal, as your superior officer, I order you to remove this thing."

"Shut up, asshole. You know I never viewed you as a superior…"

I go to say something when the creature kicks hard and I feel my broken rib shove itself deeper into my lung. I gag and blood flies out of my mouth. I'm beyond saving.

"Edward… Edward, please. It has to be you."

"I can't! I can't!" he yells, tears coming into his golden eyes.

I look at the fires again and finally grab his hand, setting it on my stomach and looking him straight in the eye.

"Fullmetal, it has to be you. Please…" I reach up and touch his face, smiling through the pain. "You have always been like a son to me. You have always made me so proud… Please… I trust you…"

He stares at me with wide eyes but he gulps and I hear him turning his metal arm into the blade. I feel the sharp metal slice my stomach open and kind of feel Ed rummaging around in there for a moment. Then I hear cries… they sound human… I want to see…

~*~Edward~*~

The explosions are getting closer and the fire is coming up the hallway. I have to make a decision now.

"I trust you."

When he says that, I know that this is probably the end. But I hope for something better… I transmute my automail into my blade and breathe in, slicing open his stomach just enough for me to get in there and feel for a baby type thing. I finally find it and start pulling. Once it's out I look at it and am so thrilled to find that it's human. It's a little baby boy.

"Mustang, it's a boy… a human boy…" I look at him slumped against the wall and narrow my eyes.

"Colonel… Colonel… Colonel, hey. It's human… Mustang? Roy!" I yell, hitting him in the chest.

An explosion blasts right beside us and the baby begins to cry hard. I take off my jacket and wrap him tightly, holding him to me.

"Al, get the Colonel."

He nods as we get up and head toward the exit.

lots of things to eat from this. for the record, i'm sure roy wouldn't usually shot people in the face but having labor pains is no laughing matter and i'm sure he wasn't caring :3 but anyhow, is he alive? did he pass out? hmm... we'll have to see for the next chappy. and to answer the question, the thing is a BABY HUMAN BOY! yay! but what does it look like? hmmm... teehee