Hello! The absolute torture of finals is over so I have time to write again! Here's the next chapter to this tale. I hope you all are enjoying it so far!

I still do not own Fullmetal Alchemist. It's quite unfortunate for me.

The Colonel remained as still as a statue against the wall, unable to look away from Corinthian's gaze. Even though he wasn't touching her, he could almost feel the tension in his First Lieutenant.

How on earth did the Jones brothers find out the military was involved? He didn't need to be back at the warehouse in Freyvale to know the rest of his team was wondering the same thing. His men would never do something so reckless on a mission like this. A mission with the lives of so many innocent people at stake.

He didn't know how the Jones brothers figured out they had infiltrated the Sanct. He'd figure that out later. He racked his brain as he tried to formulate some sort of plan that could get everyone out of this situation relatively unscathed.

When Corinthian took a step back and aimed the rifle at his chest, he knew the chances of that were slim.

"Which one of you is the state alchemist?" he growled, annoyed with the lack of an answer.

The thought of reaching for his gloves briefly crossed Roy's mind, but he also knew that he would probably get shot before his hand even made it into his pocket.

"Brother, you need to calm down," Jeremiah tried to reason.

Corinthian whirled around to face his brothers.

"No! How can you possibly expect me to calm down? The Darkness has invaded our haven!" He whipped around to face the suspects yet again. "Those of you that were sent in by the military, would you be willing to reveal the state alchemist to us?"

Everyone still remained silent except for the young boy that was clinging to his mother.

Roy tried to think rationally. Maybe if he gave himself up, he could try to convince them that Riza didn't know who he really was. Her cover could remain intact. However, Corinthian seemed to be under the impression that there were multiple military officers within the Sanct. That along with the fact that he seemed to be staring the two of them down the most made the odds of him believing Hawkeye wasn't in the military highly unlikely.

Riza's hand twitched, just itching to reach for one of her firearms. She had to control this impulse. Even if she were to take out Corinthian, she wouldn't be able to take the other two brothers or their multitude of guards present in the room with them. That aside, the other cult members present could get caught in the crossfire if things got violent. She would not be the cause of that, but she had to protect the Colonel and her comrades.

"It seems as if no one is willing to speak up," Corinthian said with a strange calmness as he gestured to the guards.

Each person against the wall now had a gun trained on them. There was a whimper from the mother who was clinging to her son for dear life.

"Now is anyone willing to talk?" Corinthian continued. "Or am I going to have to just kill each and every one of you to rid the Sanct of the Darkness?"

"Corinthian, please be reasonable!" Jeremiah pleaded, but his brother didn't even acknowledge him.

Corinthian made eye contact with Roy yet again, his mouth quirking a fraction to form a cold smirk.

The Colonel nearly sighed in defeat. There was no indication that the Disciples of the Moon were violent from what he read in the reports, but he now realized that the brothers were willing to do anything to protect their little delusion, even if it meant killing their followers.

Well, Corinthian was. Jeremiah didn't seem to be quite so rash. Absalom silently stood by, making no move to side with either of his brothers.

The Amestrian military was supposed to protect the people. Corinthian seemed to know that and was using that to his advantage. He knew the undercover military officers wouldn't stand by and let innocent people get hurt.

Although, the thought crossed his mind that it could just be a bluff.

The gunshot that rang out through the tense silence determined otherwise.

A young man that was standing on the far end of the wall cried out in pain. He clutched his right shoulder and slid down the wall. All of the women in the room screamed with the exception of Riza. While she did not scream, Roy could see the slightest betrayal of fear in her eyes, but he knew it wasn't fear for herself.

Havoc could practically feel the anger radiating off of Ed. The kid unconsciously moved toward the man that was shot to try to help him, but the Second Lieutenant's hand on his shoulder stopped him.

"That was a warning. The next shot will be fatal. Now, one last chance, which one of you is the state alchemist?" Corinthian demanded.

The Colonel took a deep breath. Corinthian wasn't making hollow threats. He didn't have time to come up with a plan. He had only one option.

"It's me."

Roy's eyes widened and his blood ran cold through his veins. It might as well have turned to ice. Corinthian's eyes mirrored the Colonel's as they turned to the youth standing next to Havoc.

"Edward?" Absalom questioned, his brow furrowing.

"He's too young," Jeremiah muttered.

The three brothers exchanged confused looks with one another, none of them really knowing what to think. Absalom suddenly perked up. His previously impassive eyes were now alight with a newfound coldness and understanding.

"Take your shoes off," he commanded.

After a brief moment of hesitation, Ed did as he was told, revealing a flesh and automail foot.

Absalom moved to Corinthian's side and whispered something in his ear. The same understanding in Absalom's eyes were now present in his brother's.

"Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist," Corinthian observed, "The youngest state alchemist in Amestrian history. The one that doesn't even need to draw a circle to destroy what the Moon has already created."

He dropped his gun and moved in closer to the teen. Ed quickly glanced around. The Colonel figured he was trying to determine a way out of this, much like he had been just moments ago. Given the guns that were not only pointed at him, but also all the others in the room, Ed knew there wasn't going to be a way out without someone getting hurt or potentially killed, even with alchemy.

Corinthian grabbed Ed by his neck and slammed him against the wall. He raised the young alchemist up until his feet couldn't touch the ground. Out of reflex, Ed's hands clawed at the one around his throat.

"Get your hands off him!" Havoc yelled as he tried to yank Corinthian away from Ed.

The Second Lieutenant didn't care if he got hurt. He needed to stop this psychopath from strangling the kid.

The guards sprang into action without even needing to be asked. Two grabbed Havoc and pulled him off Corinthian.

"Search them," Jeremiah demanded as he gestured to the Colonel and First Lieutenant.

Both military officers found themselves spun around and shoved against the wall.

"This one has a gun," the guard searching Riza commented.

Roy felt a pair of hands on his ankles to start the search, already landing on the gun he had strapped to his right leg.

"So does this one," he heard just behind him.

The search continued. It didn't take the guards long to find the microphones hidden on them, or the other gun that the First Lieutenant had hidden on her. The guard searching the Colonel paused when he felt something in the front left pocket of Roy's slacks. He pulled out the pair of gloves concealed within it. He immediately noticed the strange markings on it, cocking his head to the side as if to figure out what it was.

The Colonel nearly sighed in frustration. Could this situation get any worse?

"What did you find?" Absalom asked, noticing the guard's hesitation.

The guard handed over Roy's ignition gloves. The Colonel saw Riza's eyes widen as well as Ed's. Although in Ed's case, that could have been from the lack of air.

"What is it, brother?" Jeremiah asked.

Absalom gulped and dropped the gloves. He took a few shaky steps back.

"Those gloves have a transmutation circle on them."

Roy could feel everyone's eyes turn to him. He tried to think. They already knew Ed was the undercover state alchemist. Revealing that there was another one within the Sanct might make the brothers angry enough to get them both killed, but he couldn't let Ed just take the fall for it.

He had to think of something.

Unfortunately, Ed seemed to be a step ahead of him.

"They're…mine…." Ed choked out.

Corinthian dropped the young alchemist. The kid collapsed on the ground as he gasped for air.

"That's how…I can transmute…without…drawing…a circle…." He rasped out in between gulps of precious air. Once he fully caught his breath, he continued. "I didn't think I would need them because I didn't think you all were behind the murders. I've determined otherwise, so I ordered him to bring them to me in case I needed them."

Ed really hoped the Jones brothers didn't know enough about him to know that was a lie. No one aside from another alchemist could even begin to understand how his alchemy worked. Hopefully they would believe it.

The gaze in Corinthian's eyes grew even colder. He delivered a harsh kick to Ed's stomach, causing the kid to hit the wall behind him. He briefly turned around to face his loyal followers.

"Search his and Jean's beds. They must have some sort of microphones hidden somewhere in them." He turned his attention back to Ed once some of the guards left to carry out his orders. "How dare you bring the Darkness into our sanctuary!"

Any sign that Corinthian had calmed down was gone. He grabbed Ed by his ponytail and dragged him away from the military officers and innocent cult members. Before Ed even had a chance to get to his feet, Corinthian struck him across the face.

"You've ruined the purity of our haven!" he roared as he delivered an onslaught of kicks to Ed's chest, stomach, and back. "You dare to accuse us of murder? You dare to bring your alchemy into the Sanct?"

"Stop!" Hawkeye pleaded as she railed against the arms that had her pinned to the wall.

She couldn't stand to see Corinthian hurt Ed like this, but her plea fell on deaf ears. Her struggles were no match for the strong guard that held her in place. The Colonel couldn't stand to see this either. He succeeded in getting away from the wall, but another guard latched on to him to keep him still.

Each kick sent Ed closer and closer to the wall just to Mustang's right. Roy mentally begged Ed to use alchemy or do something to protect himself, but the kid just couldn't. Corinthian didn't give him the chance to even try.

Even if he could, he knew Ed wouldn't endanger the others stuck in this madness with him.

"You are part of the Darkness! You will pay for your sins against the Moon!" Ed's attacker growled.

Glancing up at the lone window in the room, Corinthian picked Ed up by the front of his shirt and threw him into it. The sound of shattering glass and a sickening thud resounded throughout the room, followed by a grunt of pain.

Ed had fallen on his side on the broken glass. He tried to get up, but wound up collapsing before he could make it to his knees. The reason why was easily explained by the blood pooling around his head.

This was absolute torture for the Colonel. His young subordinate was just mere feet away, but he couldn't run to his aid. The room returned to the tense silence that filled it just minutes previously with the exception of Ed and Corinthian's ragged breathing.

Much to the horror of the three military officers, Corinthian moved back toward his previously discarded rifle. Each one of their struggles intensified.

"The Darkness has sent you to deceive us," he commented as he bent down to pick up the gun, "You have failed. It's up to us to make sure you pay for your sins against the Moon. It's up to us to make sure you don't lead anyone else astray."

Corinthian walked back into position. He raised his rifle at the beaten teen.

Ed tried to clear his head, but the room kept spinning. He barely made out a blurry figure standing several feet in front of him. Was that Corinthian? He couldn't tell.

"No!" he heard someone yell.

The young alchemist suddenly found someone shielding him from Corinthian and unintentionally pressing him into the wall. He let out a pained groan at the sudden impact.

The armed brother's eyebrows rose when his gun was no longer aimed at the kid, but now at Roy.

The Colonel risked a quick glance behind him, making sure not a glimpse of the kid was visible. His chest rose and fell rapidly as he tried to catch his breath. By some miracle he was able to take out the guards restraining him…a miracle known as an adrenaline rush caused by the sight of someone about to shoot his youngest subordinate.

"How can you possibly justify this?" he demanded. "He's just a kid!"

He could have sworn he heard Ed weakly growl at being called a kid, but he didn't know for sure. His eyes never left Corinthian's. The man shook his head in disbelief.

"He has you completely fooled. He has deceived you to the point that you would be willing to risk your…Absalom!"

Corinthian was interrupted when his brother collapsed to the floor and burst into a fit of convulsions.

"Brother!" Jeremiah called as he skidded to his knees at his brother's side.

"Is it another vision?" Corinthian questioned without moving, keeping his aim on his targets.

Havoc and Hawkeye exchanged curious glances with each other before looking back to the Colonel. None of them had any idea of what was going on. Even the guards tensed, but their faces were full of awe and intrigue as opposed to confusion.

A minute had passed before Absalom stopped convulsing. His chest rose and fell rapidly. After it looked like he had recovered, Jeremiah helped him to his feet.

"Absalom?" Corinthian questioned, now unsure of what to do.

After a few more deep breaths, Absalom finally spoke.

"We can't kill the alchemist. Not yet." He looked around at his followers, both the armed guards and the newest members of the congregation. "Remember my brothers and sisters, everyone comes to the Sanct for a reason." He gestured to each military officer. "Our guests are no exception. They have been deceived by the Darkness until now. They may have lied to us, but their actions are not their fault. They didn't know they were victims of the evil deception from which we have separated ourselves. If they hadn't come here, they wouldn't have had the chance to learn and understand the truth! You must understand that this is a blessing!

"Even Edward, yes even the alchemist, is here for a reason. The Moon has revealed to me his wishes. He has revealed to me the purpose of the Darkness coming into our haven. Brothers and sisters, we should not be fearful! We will soon be one with the Moon!"

Audible gasps came from the members of the congregation.

"What the hell?" Roy muttered under his breath.

If Riza and Jean's facial expressions were anything to go by, they were thinking the exact same thing.

"Play along," a hoarse voice whispered behind him, going unheard by the others occupying the room.

"What?" the Colonel hissed as he looked behind him at his youngest subordinate.

He couldn't possibly have heard Ed correctly. His eyes met Ed's glassy and unfocused ones for a moment. How the kid was in any way coherent, Roy didn't have the slightest clue. Before Ed could say anything else, Roy found himself hauled up from the ground and dragged away from the teen.

"No! Let me go! Stay away from him!" the Colonel yelled as more guards moved in on Ed.

Two got ahold of the kid's arms and yanked him to his feet. Given the beating he suffered through moments before, he wasn't able to stand and wound up sagging in their hold. Absalom approached the beaten alchemist and yanked on his hair to force his head up.

"Your soul has been tainted by the Darkness, but it can be purified. Once you have atoned for your sins, the Moon will be appeased. The Moon will provide us with a way to finally reach it. You are the key to the heavenly afterlife the Moon promised us."

With that, he motioned for the guards holding Ed to follow him.

"Where are you taking him?" Havoc asked.

His question was left unanswered. Corinthian dropped his rifle and walked over to the man that had been shot. Each of the military officers felt a brief pang of guilt. They had completely forgotten about the injured civilian.

To be fair though, they did just have to witness their youngest comrade get beaten to a pulp and nearly killed.

Corinthian knelt down by the young man's side and stroked his face in a comforting manner.

"Brother, you have done us a great service."

"I h-have?" the young man stuttered.

"You helped us reveal the Darkness," Corinthian said while nodding, "The Moon will look upon you with favor."

Tears streamed down the man's face. He was clutching his shoulder and still obviously in pain, but a smile graced his face.

"T-thank you, B-Brother C-C-Corinthian!"

Corinthian and one of the guards helped the man to his feet. They slowly left the room.

The Colonel couldn't help but be disturbed. The man should have been angry and should leave the Sanct the first chance he got. The guards weren't even sure if he was guilty, but they shot him anyway. For reasons Roy would never understand, the young man thought that his injury was justified. He even seemed grateful.

"Let them go," Jeremiah ordered, interrupting the Colonel's thoughts.

Each military officer was released, much to their surprise.

"I'm sorry, but you all are going to have to follow me," Jeremiah continued, "I'm afraid my brothers and I are going to have some questions for you. Now that you are away from Edward's influence, you all will be able to answer honestly." He gave them a comforting smile. "Don't worry. None of you will be punished for disturbing the Sanct. You were being deceived by the Darkness. The Moon will have mercy on you."

With that, he motioned for the three to follow him. The First and Second Lieutenants looked to their commanding officer. Roy was hesitant, but Ed's last words to him echoed within his mind.

"Play along."

The Colonel nodded, and they all followed Jeremiah.

*break*

"I lost the Colonel!" Fuery said, panicked.

Breda assumed Hawkeye's microphone had been destroyed since silence now filled his headphones. Given Fuery's outburst, the same could be said about the Colonel's. The Second Lieutenant whipped around to face the rest of the military personnel hiding in the warehouse.

"Who the hell let it slip that the military was involved?" he roared in pure anger.

None of the other officers were willing to take responsibility. Breda bashed his fist against the table.

"Dammit!" he swore.

"Should we go in?" Falman asked.

While the Warrant Officer was as stoic as ever, concern could be seen in his eyes. He had been listening in with Breda since the second Corinthian was demanding to know who the state alchemist was. After a moment of hesitation, the Second Lieutenant shook his head.

"The Colonel ordered us to stay here unless he gave us the signal," he said grimly.

"What should we do?" Fuery asked. "From the sounds of it, the Disciples of the Moon have their own militia. Do we even have enough men to invade the Sanct if he gave the order?"

Breda sighed in frustration. His commanding officer and comrades shouldn't even be in this situation. The stupidity of another military officer nearly got them killed. The only thing he could find any sort of comfort in was the fact that the Jones brothers weren't going to kill them, at least for now.

Who knows what they were going to do with Ed.

That definitely worried him. The answer to Fuery's question also worried him because they apparently weren't prepared. All the reports said was that a few cult members guarded the gate. A small army wasn't exactly expected.

There was only one thing he could think of doing.

"We have to call General Grumman."

Well, there it is! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! For those of you that might be wondering how Absalom knew who Ed was, that will be answered later on. Since finals are over, I plan on updating this story again around Christmas.

It feels so good to be on break! I'm writing some stuff in honor of Christmas, so be on the lookout for that! I now have more time to work on this story, a fanfic request that I've been meaning to get to, as well as another story I've been wanting to write for a while now! School breaks are the perfect time to catch up on some fanfiction!

Anyways, until next chapter!