"Mirosuji is in his hut when he hears the boom of the explosion. "…Damn you… woman," he says, still half asleep. "Miro!" Someone outside the hut is calling for him. "I'm here!" Mirosuji yells back. The one the voice belongs to enters Mirosuji's hut. It's Seron. "Miro! You've got to get the hell out of here! They're coming for you," Seron says out of breath. "I know. This is a trap set up by that woman, but still. Please, Seron... watch yourself and take good care of Keira."

"I will. Of course I will always take good care of her. But you too, buddy. Take good care of yourself," Seron says, while he looks down on Mirosuji, who is packing his few belongings together to put them in his bag. "I will," he answers, stands up and takes his back from the ground. "May the gods be with you, Mirosuji," Seron says when his friend walks past him. Mirosuji lays his hand on Serons shoulder, puts his glasses on with the other and says: "You too my friend."

The hand is removed from Serons shoulder when Mirosuji runs out of the hut and into an abandoned alley. Seron stays behind, not really knowing what to do. The person he trusted the most, who understood him, was gone. He had to find his little sister now. Seron gets his body to move out of the hut. Slowly at first, but this pace quickens quickly when he sees the ravage the fire has already made. "Keira! Keira, where are you?" Seron screams through the quiet alley's and streets. "Big brother!" a familiar voice suddenly screams. The voice is full of terror and panic. Seron turns around and sees his little sister jumping up into his arms. She is crying uncontrollably. "Keira!"

Seron is extremely relieved that she's safe. He holds her tight to his chest, making sure not to let go. "We've got to get out of here, Keira. Promise me you'll hold on tight to big brother, okay?" Seron says, while he puts Keira in a more practical position so he can run with her in his arms. "They want Miro-chan," the little girl cries.

"I know, Keira," Seron only answers, "but he'll be fine. He can manage himself. He promised me that he would be safe. But now we better get out of here ourselves, before we get caught up in the fire."

"Where's Scar-sama?" Keira asks, her voice sounding a bit more relaxed but still afraid. "He must be in the temple-hut. We're going there first!" Seron says and he runs away with Keira still in his arms, in search for the priest. He hadn't thought of the old priest for a second, because of the commotion of the fire and around Mirosuji. He felt a bit guilty about it by now. The father had taken him, his sister and his mother in when his father died thanks to a state alchemist. For this sole reason, Seron hates state alchemists more than anything in the world.

Scar stands in front of the temple-hut, the place where the Ishbalian pray and he sighs. "Those militaries will never learn," he says, looking at the fire before him. He recognized the snap of Mustangs gloves and immediately knew that this fire wasn't one that had started because of an accident.

"Scar-sama!" A familiar voice rips Scar away from his thoughts when he sees Seron, with the terrified Keira in his arms, run towards him. "Seron, Keira," Scar says, relieved to see the two children all right and unhurt from the fire. "We've got to get out of here, father. Before we're caught up in this fire," Seron says, his voice sounding terrified and in a hurry. Scar nods.

"Yes. You're right. Let's go," he answers and he runs away after Seron, who still holds Keira in his arms. They run through the quiet streets. Huts around them are on fire and some collapse. There's a lot of smoke, which makes it hard to breathe properly. They reach the edge of the village after a short run. Seron begins to run faster when he sees it. However, when they're out of it, they're both forced to stop, because armed soldiers are waiting for them. "Damn, soldiers," Seron whispers. All the soldiers, heavily armed, take out a gun and aim them at the fleeing Ishbalians. "What the hell is this all about? Let us through!" Seron screams. One soldier steps forward, he doesn't wear a gun and his hands are behind his back, and he says: "You are hereby under arrest!"

"Under arrest? Why? We did nothing wrong!" Seron screams, his blood boiling from anger. Other soldiers walk forwards and grab Seron, Scar and take Keira from Seron. "On charge of conspiracy with a traitor," the leading soldier says. Seron looks surprised. "Let me go, you military scum! Conspiracy with a traitor? What are you talking about? Who?" Seron screams. He's really angry this time. "Big brother, please. Calm down," Keira whispers, hoping to calm her brother down, with no success. Seron keeps on struggling against the soldiers who're holding him down. "Mirosuji Khasem," the leader answers. Seron sinks on his knees, all his willpower is gone. "Miro?"

"The Ishbalian Alchemist, Mirosuji Khasem has been declared a traitor against the Führer and his country," the leader explains. "What… Miro a… a state alchemist?" Seron says with a defeated look on his face. His entire world is collapsing, the one he worshiped the most, after father Scar, was a state alchemist. One of the things he despises the most. Scar frowns while thinking. He knows how Seron is and what his actions will be. Seron straightens his back, his head is clear and he looks healthy and resolute out of his eyes. "Mirosuji is a state alchemist huh? … Humpf… he has gone to the south," he says.

"Don't make rash conclusions, my boy," Scar says, shocked by Seron's betrayal, even thought he had expected it. The boy is like that, but still…

"Good. Men, take them into custody and tell the Commander that our target has gone southwards," the leader orders and his men begin dragging the three to the waiting truck. "Hey wait! We told you all we know. Let us go," Seron screams. "Not yet," the leader answers calmly. "What?"

"The Commander has some questions for you all," the leader answers. "Are we free to go after that?" Seron asks, calmer this time. "… We'll see about that," the leader answers after a while and then walks away. The soldiers continue to drag Scar, Keira and Seron to the truck.

"Why did you have to burn down the village, Laquisha?" Miro asks. Laquisha is looking at the fire, her back towards him. There are no soldiers around the two of them; they're all alone, just like Laquisha has planed. "So you have fled again, Mirosuji. I see," she only says, not looking away from the fire before her when she speaks. "You really hate me, don't you?" Miro asks. Laquisha turns around and looks Miro into the eyes. "I despise all traitors, you're no exception," she answers haughtily. "Ah-haa. Well… what if I weren't the traitor, but your pathetic army?" Miro asks, his voice sounding serious. "What!" Laquisha screams, angry because Miro had insulted the army, her pride and joy. But she regains her cool again and says, with a sarcastic voice: "A traitor and a liar, huh? Luckily for you, I know how to deal with those in one strike." She takes out her gun and aims it at Miro. "Or should I say one blow?"

But the spot where Miro stood is empty; he's suddenly next to her. "Just consider what I just said, Commander Laquisha," he says. "Huh! What the…? How did you!"

Laquisha feels a sharp cut on her cheek. "Don't underestimate me, rookie," a low mean voice says. "Kyaaa!"

Mirosuji vanishes and leaves Laquisha behind, bleeding from the wound in her cheek. "Damn you Mirosuji! I will get you! EVEN IF I HAVE TO FOLLOW YOU TO THE DEEPEST FIREPITS OF HELL!" Laquisha screams, she's furious. "GOOD LUCK, ROOKIE!" Miro answers yelling. "DAMN YOU TRAITOR!" Laquisha yells, but he's already too far away to hear her. She can hear his laugh dying away softly in the far distance. "Commander!"

A soldier with the stripes of a corporal runs to Laquisha. Laquisha sits on the ground and is holding one hand over the bleeding wound on her right cheek. "You're wounded!" the corporal says shocked when he looks at Laquisha from up front. Laquisha stands up and straightens her back. "It's nothing, corporal Mustang. Just a flesh wound," she answers. "…He got away again," Kain says. "Yes, but this time… this time he has gone too damn far," Laquisha says, her fist is trembling from restrained anger. "Why is that?" Kain asks.

Laquisha doesn't answer. The kid asked a good question, was it because Miro had insulted the army or because her pride was hurt because he was able to wound her so easily? It was something Laquisha had to think about, but first things first. "I'm going to the medical truck, you make sure that this fire is stopped and that these people get proper food and a proper roof above their heads. After that, I have an appointment with your dad," Laquisha says and walks to the medical truck. Corporal mustang salutes and says: "Yes, M' Am!"

"Damn you, Khasem. Damn you all the way to hell."
"Oowh commander, you look pretty messed up," a man at the medical truck says when he sees Laquisha coming. Laquisha recognizes the guy immediately. It's an old friend of hers, Arch Douglas and the head physician of Laquisha's squad. He's a skilled doctor and a good friend, who doesn't hide the fact that the opposite sex holds no interest to him.

"Thanks, Arch," Laquisha says sarcastic, where after she goes o with a serious tone in her voice, "can you fix it?" "Of course I can!" Arch says, being his happily gay self, just like always. He doesn't seem to notice what is going on around him at all. "Good, do so," Laquisha says and she sits down in the chair in the back of the truck so Arch can take a look at her wound.

"Oowh… but I'm afraid that it'll leave you with a scar on your pretty face," Arch says after a short while, after he has examined the wound. "Yeah well, that's the risk of being a soldier," Laquisha answers nonchalant. "I suppose," Arch says. He works on and Laquisha seems to be thinking about something. She suddenly slaps her head on her forehead and says: "Ah man! That guy is sure to love this!" The sound of her voice isn't happy, so Arch knows she isn't talking about her boyfriend, not that she has one. Mirosuji was the first real friend she had, then Arch and later some other people around Central, but she never was very social, so having a boyfriend is out of the question in Arches eyes. "Who?" he asks instead.

"Mustang," Laquisha answers. "Oh… well, he is kind of sadistic, sometimes," Arch says, understanding what Laquisha must have meant. "No, not the rookie. I mean his old man at Central headquarters."

"Oh him."

"Yeah, that guy hates my guts."

"He does? Why?"

"I don't really know. The guy just doesn't like me. Probably because I'm a woman in a rank that almost matches his own."

"He's just jealous. He still wants to become Führer, but he shouldn't complain."

"At his age? That idiot."

"He's next in line though."

"Yeah well, our current Führer is young. He will last for a while," Laquisha says. "I don't want to wear a mini skirt," she then murmurs, thinking about the stories she heard from Lieutenant Colonel Mustang-Hawkeye about Mustang's plans for when he become's Führer. Arch has stopped working on her wound and is smiling a strange smile. Laquisha arches an eyebrow and then understands what is going on. "I know what you're thinking Arch and stop it right now! Geez, how did you ever become a proper doctor?"

"Uhmm… I studied?" Arch answers on a sarcastic tone and he goes on with his work. "There you go commander … only the iodine. This is gonna sting though," he says after a few moments and he puts some iodine around the wound.

"Autshj! Watch what you do with that thing!" Laquisha says when Arch accidently puts some iodine in the wound. "Haha. Common, you had worse right?" Arch says laughing while he keeps on cleaning the wound. "It still stings. And you did it on purpose," Laquisha says.

"Did what on purpose?" Arch asks confused, as if he doesn't understand what Laquisha means. "The stinging thing, of course," she answers. "Sure hunny," Arch answers in his 'normal' gay demeanor. "Grumpf." Arch puts the bandage over the wound after he stitched it. Laquisha didn't know that he had stitched it because he had used some strong anesthetics to anaesthetize the wound. "There you go, Commander. All done," Arch says when he's done.

"Thanks Arch, you're the best," Laquisha says and she stands up. "No problem, dear."

Laquisha jumps out of the truck and into the open air. "I'll take you to the pub later on. My treat!" she screams to Arch while she walks away. "Whoop!" the man cheers.

"Commander!" someone yells. Laquisha sighs. "Oh what now!" she says, annoyed and she turns around to the approaching Corporal. "Yes, Corporal Mustang, what can I do for you?" she asks. "… … … …eehmm… … it's… there's phone for you, madam," Kain says, stammering terribly. "Who is it?" Laquisha asks, while she walks back to the truck with Kain. "… … Dad," Kain answers.

Laquisha's entire expression and attitude change into some kind of depressing state. "Oh great," she says. A soldier is waiting for the two of them to come back, with the phone in his hand. Laquisha takes the phone over and tells the soldier to leave. "Yes? … Lieutenant General Rundall here," she says into the phone. "Hello sweetie," the voice on the other end of the line says with a honey-sweet voice. Laquisha feels a cold chill go over her entire spine. "Don't call me that, sir. Corporal Mustang is here with me too," she says, having blushes of embarrassment on her cheeks. She really hated this guy. Mustang, on the other end of the line, laughs.

"What can I do for you?" Laquisha answers immediately, hoping to change the subject. "Aah. The kid knows," Roy says, still grinning and on a conspiratorial tone. "Knows what?"

"So, I heard about your cozy afternoon," Roy says, his voice still sounding sarcastic but also serious. "Cozy, sir?" Laquisha asks, pretending she doesn't understand. 'Shit. How did this old geezer found out?'

"You burned down an Ishbalian village just to get you guy? And then he still managed to escape? Not really smart huh?" Roy says. "Who told you that lie, sir?" Laquisha asks, pretending to be angry because of a false accusation. "My son," Roy answers on a happy tone. "Aha…"

Laquisha lays her hand on the bottom part of the phone and turns around to Kain. "Corporal Mustang. Go check on the troops, I'll handle this. And I want to see you in my office later on, okay?" she says, her voice strict. "I'm sorry… he made me," Kain says and he walks away like a beaten puppy. 'I can understand that with such a guy for a father. I'm just gonna use some strong language that's not meant to be heard by you.'

Laquisha takes her hand off the phone and places it against her ear again. "Okay assh… sir. Yes he got away, but he managed to wound me. He tricked me and wounded me," Laquisha says formally. She knows her place, so she can't scold the First General, her dad, a Second General, would be furious. "Wounded?" Roy asks surprised. "Yes, by our guy and… Arch, quite listening over my shoulders!" Laquisha screams angry when she notices that Arch is listening behind her. "I'm going, I'm going," he says and he walks away with a big smile on his face. "Thanks Arch," Laquisha says and she turns back to her phone call, "sorry for that sir."

"I'm still waiting for your angry rant. Well, Lieutenant General Rundall?" Roy says, patiently but also sarcastic. "Well, sir… uhm... You see."

'Damn he has me cornered. Think Laquisha, think!'

"Sir, my orders were to get the Ishbalian traitor by all means necessary. I got the liberty to use any method I think is necessary, from the Führer himself. This was my choice. The people think it was an accident. I covered everything up, so the military won't get into any kind of trouble," Laquisha suddenly says, fast and resolute. "Good."

"I'll be coming to your office for a full rapport later, sir," Laquisha says and then want to end the conversation by hanging up but Mustang stops her. "Good, and Laquisha?"

'I hate it when he calls me that!'

"Yes sir?" Laquisha says with an innocent voice. "Don't let the Ishbalian escape again," Roy says, with a low and serious voice. Laquisha knows that he now means business. "Whatever you want, Roy," Laquisha answers, emphasizing the last word, and she puts the phone down before Roy can answer.

"Ehmm… Ma'am?" a cautious voice says behind Laquisha. Laquisha turns around. "Yes? What's wrong, corporal Mustang?" Laquisha asks, surprised to see the corporal back already. "Why did you take those Ishbalians into custody?" the corporal asks.

"Because they know more about our guy then they want to tell us. I want to know what they know," Laquisha answers. Kain nods. "Okay, but… Madam? Do you know who the priest is?"

Laquisha shakes her head, surprised about the question. "No. Why?"

"Well, Dad will recognize him," Kain answers. "Your dad huh?" Laquisha says and an evil plain is boiling up in her mind. A wicked smile appears on her face and then she says: "Corporal Kain, I don't have the time to question the prisoners now, because of an appointment with First General Mustang. I will question the prisoners first thing next morning. Bring them to Central Headquarters' prison and give them proper food."

Kain salutes and says: "Yes, ma'am!" where after he jogs off. Laquisha walks to the waiting jeep, with an evil smile on her face. 'I've got you this time, old man.'

She jumps in the jeep on the passenger's side, sits down and orders: "Bring me to Central Headquarters and quick."

"Yes, Madam," the driving officer says. He starts the motor and drives off.