Beta:TaintedLetter

(óヮò)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

Later that night...

"Reversing a human transmutation into a chimaera?" Selim repeated back, his eyebrows raised in surprise.

The two sat in his bed later that night. They didn't sleep together often, but there were some nights that Elizabeth felt nervous to sleep on her own so she would crawl into his bed. For the most part Selim allowed this, only teasing her on occasion.

"Yeah," Elizabeth sighed. "It sounds like a really interesting problem, but... I don't know if I'll be able to solve it in time. I've never combined living things aside from plants and various parts of other creatures. To make an actual chimaera, though...? And to reverse it? It's an area I have no experience in."

"So? You didn't start off with experience in plants," Selim pointed out.

"Plants don't have nervous systems," Elizabeth retorted before she sighed again. "It would be nice if I had access to research about it... I'm sure I'll be able to get some of Tucker's notes, but he's only one person. When it comes to something as big as this, it'd be ideal to see multiple researcher's notes."

"Hmm..."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to rant," Elizabeth apologized. "Do you want me to finish reading the T&I article tonight?"

"No," Selim said, his tone oddly thoughtful. "Get some rest, Ellie. I'll... see what I can do."

Elizabeth didn't see how he would be able to help her with the current problem, but she was grateful he was thinking about it. She smiled adoringly up at him, and said, "Thank you, Selim. Sweet dreams."

"Sweet dreams, Ellie."

(óヮò)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

When Elizabeth woke up that morning she was surprised to find Selim out of the bed already. It was still very early in the morning, the sun had not even risen. She had to get up early to catch the first train out to Eastern City with Papa.

Selim was never the type to willingly get out of bed before the sun.

But lo and behold he sat on a stack of boxes in his room, giving Elizabeth a smirk. "Morning, Ellie."

"Morning, Selim," Elizabeth said, sitting up slowly and rubbing her eyes. "What's going on?"

"I told Father what you were doing," Selim said, hopping off the boxes, "and he said he was interested in what you could find out. Reversing never mattered, but if it can be done without the use of... help... that would be fascinating to see."

"Huh?" Elizabeth pushed back the covers, getting up out of bed. "Papa? What?"

Selim stepped over to her and put a finger over her lips. He smiled with dark sweetness. "Shh. Repeat this to no one, and let no one find out about what's in these boxes. They'll be kept in my room for safeguarding, and cannot be allowed to leave."

Elizabeth nodded mutely, still not certain what was going on, but accepting it regardless.

"The military has created chimaeras before," Selim said, smirking at Elizabeth's widening eyes. "But we've never tried reversing them. These are their notes on successful chimaera transmutation."

Elizabeth had a lot of questions with that information, but she held her tongue because they ultimately didn't matter.

Selim would tell her what she needed to know, and she trusted him unconditionally.

Even if he did betray her, then so be it.

She owed her life to him.

She would have died in that despicable mansion without him, and so she believed that every day she lived thereafter was a gift to her by Selim.

Every day was a blessing, and she would never be so arrogant as to presume she was entitled to them.

If Selim were to one day take back his gift, Elizabeth would accept such without complaint.

She was supposed to have died long ago, so living now was merely an unexpected bonus.

She would remain humble about that.

"Thank you," Elizabeth whispered with genuine gratitude.

Selim waved his hand dismissively. "Go. Stay with Wrath at all times."

"I will," Elizabeth promised him. "Will you be watching?"

"No. I'll keep my shadows in Central to see if I can catch this moron serial killer."

"Okay... Selim?"

"What?"

"Please be safe... "

He clicked his tongue. "Ellie, you should know by now..."

"I know you're strong," she said. "But I love you, so I'll always worry about you."

His lips twitched up in a brief smile. "I know."

(óヮò)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

The train ride out to East City was pleasant enough. Elizabeth worked on expense reports while Papa reviewed some intelligence reports about the warfront. When he came across a different report he skimmed it once before tossing it over to Elizabeth.

"What do you think of this?" he inquired.

Elizabeth picked up the surprisingly light report. Papa had to have already come to his own conclusion and was testing Elizabeth now. Likely due to boredom.

A quick glance showed a well organized summarization. The reason it was so much thinner than the other reports was because at first it looked like nothing of significance had occurred.

'Fort Briggs?' Elizabeth read from the top. The one who had written the report was General Armstrong.

'What pretty handwriting,' Elizabeth thought, admiring the pristine writing. 'Wait, Armstrong? Like Major Armstrong? He always has such pretty handwriting, too. I wonder if it runs in the family.'

Major Armstrong was a polite man Elizabeth had run into a few times. He had an energetic personality, but could be surprisingly gentle and kind. There was a brief time where he was tasked with guarding Elizabeth's greenhouse when some maniacs tried to break in and kidnap Elizabeth a few years ago.

Obviously Selim ate them all, but since it was too big of a commotion to hide Papa had officially assigned Major Armstrong to guard Elizabeth for a short while.

The gentle major adored her greenhouse, and more often than not Elizabeth could see him sketch some beautiful renditions of her flowers.

Aside from that one incident, Elizabeth rarely saw the man. They worked in two separate sections, and thusly she could not claim he was a good friend like Maes or the Elric brothers.

'General Armstrong must be a kind soul like his brother,' Elizabeth thought, tracing the gorgeous writing.

"It's certainly duller than the other reports," Elizabeth finally answered Papa. "Nothing appears as exaggerated. It mentions one incident but does so with such casualty you can't help but think Armstrong has complete control over Briggs. He definitely comes across as confident."

"She is," Papa answered her, and Elizabeth mentally corrected herself that General Armstrong was a woman, not a man.

'Very rare. I think she's the only woman general currently operating, then,' Elizabeth thought. It wasn't that the military was against women officers, so much as in order to obtain the valued rank of general you either had to be exceptionally brilliant or know how to network. A lot of—well, nearly all, actually—the current generals all knew each other well. Given that Elizabeth wasn't as familiar with the name General Armstrong she could only guess that General Armstrong had obtained her rank through skill and not networking.

Which was doubly impressive.

"What an impressive woman," Elizabeth voice aloud. "Do you like her, Papa?"

"She is a good soldier," he answered which meant that he tolerated her better than most. "Do you know why I have brought her up?"

"No, Papa."

"Things are developing well so far," Papa said, looking out the train window. "Another plan might be made in the north, and thought has been given to send you."

"Send me?"

"You have developed some impressive weapons, Elizabeth," Papa went on. "Armstrong is always looking to test such things against our enemies."

Elizabeth tilted her head curiously. "What are you wanting to test further? I've tested everything with Selim."

"Something new. I want you to create something special," Papa said, a humorless smile on his face.

Elizabeth sat up straighter. "What would you like?"

He told her.

And she agreed.

(óヮò)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

They arrived at East Central a little before noon. The skies were overcast, promising rain but not yet delivering. The führer and his daughter stepped off the train and were greeted by their escorts. Little conversation was exchanged before they were off. They took a car to Eastern Command, and were promptly guided to where the chimaera was kept at.

It was guarded by a single soldier who stood outside the room.

"Um... where are the Elric brothers?" Elizabeth asked the soldier. "I thought they would be here to... introduce us."

"The Elric brothers left shortly before you arrived here to retrieve Tucker's research notes," the soldier said. "They should be back shortly."

"Oh... okay," Elizabeth said. She debated for a few seconds on waiting for them, but then shook her head and decided to see Nina for herself. She stepped into the small room, and immediately spotted the chimaera.

'Her skeletal structure is neither that of a dog, nor human,' Elizabeth immediately noticed, a small frown tugging her lips down. She quietly approached the—Nina. Upon reaching her, she offered her a friendly smile. "Hello."

Nina raised her head. "Hel... lo."

"I'm Elizabeth," Elizabeth introduced herself. "I'm a friend of Edward and Alphonse Elric."

"Ed... ward... Al... phonse."

'Impaired thought. What does her brain look like? Is it more canine, or human?'

"May I touch you?" Elizabeth asked her. "I promise I won't hurt you."

"Where's... Daddy?"

Elizabeth froze at the question, turning back to Papa who mutely shook his head. "Um... not here. Why do you ask?"

"Daddy's... always tired... works too... hard," Nina slowly answered, lifting her head up to look at Elizabeth with vacant eyes. Tears spilled over her. "Worried... Daddy needs... me."

Elizabeth was confused.

'Wasn't it her father who turned her into this? Why is she even thinking about him?' Elizabeth thought. 'I was relieved when Grandfather was killed. I certainly don't care if he needs me or whatever. Oh, gosh... What was the term? When abuse victims defend their abusers, what's that called again?'

Elizabeth couldn't remember, but she was a hundred percent certain Nina had it.

'I don't even want to begin to guess the psychological damage inflicted on this poor girl and dog,' Elizabeth thought. 'If I—I mean—When I've fixed her up, I'll let Mumma set up her up with counseling. That's supposed to do some good, right?'

Elizabeth used her handkerchief to wipe away Nina's tears. She tried to be gentle and comforting, wanting to avoid further scarring the girl. "Nina... I'm a doctor. I'm here to help you. Do you understand?"

"Help... me?"

"Yes... Nina, do you know what has happened to you?"

Nina fell silent for several minutes. "I... helped... Daddy?"

'Helped him to prison,' Elizabeth couldn't help but think.

"Nina... you've been turned into a chimaera," Elizabeth said, not unkindly. "I'm going to turn you back into a human, though."

"Chim... aer... a. Not... human?" Nina started to cry more, and Elizabeth kept wiping away at her tears. "I'm... not... human?"

"It's okay," Elizabeth said. "You will be again."

"I... will?"

"Yes," Elizabeth said quietly. "You will. I'm going to help you get some sleep and when you wake up, we'll be in my greenhouse. You'll be staying there for a while, but I'm sure you'll love it. There's lots of flowers, trees, and you can play with my rats."

"Play?"

"Yes, play."

Nina's tail wagged briefly. "Play... thank... you..."

Elizabeth carefully pulled out Sleepy the sedative, and injected it into Nina. The poor thing sagged forward after a few seconds before closing her eyes and falling asleep.

"Interesting," Papa commented.

"Disturbed more like," Elizabeth muttered. "Sadistic. Cruel."

"Mn. Not unlike some of your own experiments," he teased.

"How rude! My patients are usually dead when I get to them."

"Key word being usually."

Before Elizabeth could retort the soldier that stood guard outside entered the room. He saluted once before saying, "Sir!"

"Go ahead," Papa said, inclining his head.

"We've received news of the Elric brothers. They've been attacked."

(óヮò)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

"That guy... we really didn't have a chance against him," Edward finished explaining. He sat on a hospital bed, a good deal of bandages covering him. His automail arm had been destroyed in the battle, and his automail leg wasn't in good shape, either.

To make matters worse, poor Alphonse was almost entirely annihliated. The younger brother had bits of his armor collected and he was wrapped up in a white sheet to prevent further injury inside the hollow armor.

He was currently resting in a crate in the corner of the room, listening to Edward retell what happened to Elizabeth and the führer.

The serial killer from Central that was targeting State Alchemists had traveled to East City. There, he had murdered Shou Tucker before stumbling across the Elric brothers when they were on their way to collect Tucker's research on Nina.

The evil man had then attacked the boys and very nearly killed them if Mustang and his crew hadn't shown up on time.

Listening to Edward recount this harrowing tale made Elizabeth's heart ache. Anger and fear dominated her emotions, and more than once she had to catch herself from scowling furiously.

Edward and Alphonse were innocent children, and Elizabeth's friends.

Whoever did this to him... better pray not to be found my Elizabeth.

She had poisons created. Things that could man a man squirm for hours, begging for death. Some so painful if they didn't die from shock their brain would still be irreparably damaged.

Elizabeth did not have a lust for cruelty under normal circumstances, but...

These weren't normal circumstances, weren't they?

THe child soldier chewed on the inside of her cheek as she hoped to be the one to catch this damn fool.

'What if he attacks Selim?'

Oh, if looks could kill. The instant spike of burning rage from that thought almost blinded trembled as she listened to Edward, her wrath so terrible that even Papa reached out a hand on her shoulder to steady her.

To remind her to behave.

When Edward finished his story, Elizabeth placed a shaky hand over his. "I promise we will catch him."

Edward gave her a lopsided smile that eased some of her anger. "I know. Anyway, Al and I are going to head out to get my automail fixed up by our mechanic. Not sure when we'll be back... Will you be okay to take care of Nina?"

Elizabeth thought it was sweet that Edward's first thought was Nina. SHe offered him a reassuring smile, squashing down her bubbling anger. "Yes. Don't worry about Nina, okay?"

"Thanks, Lizzie," Alphonse said.

"Friends don't need to thank friends," she said.

They chatted for a few more minutes before Elizabeth said goodbye. Edward and Alphonse wanted to head out as soon as possible, after all. When she and Papa left the room, she quietly turned him and said, "He's mine."

Papa inclined his head. "Then take him."

She absolutely would.

And when she got this vile man, she promised that he'd be begging for death by the end of it.

(óヮò)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

After returning home Elizabeth set Nina up in a corner of the greenhouse. She created a makeshift bed, brought in some toys, and set up a radio for her to listen to.

The first thing she was going to do would be to read through all of the research notes. She brought in one box at a time, and sat beside Nina on Nina's new bed. The chimaera was more interested in exploring the greenhouse than anything else, but eventually she did get tired enough that she laid down in her bed beside Elizabeth.

Elizabeth turned on the radio for Nina to listen to, and her new patient fell asleep almost instantly. Elizabeth carefully read through the notes, and she highlighted every issue they mentioned reconstructing the nervous system since that would be the trickiest part by far.

It didn't take long for Elizabeth to realize that Nina's transformation wasn't even complete, and that Tucker had stopped halfway through.

A complete transformation makes for nearly no noticeable traits of animal parts in the subject. This makes them ideal for undercover missions, and blending in with the populace...

Elizabeth chewed on her bottom lip. 'Maybe I should focus on completing the transformation, then? Would it be easier to undo it at the half stage, or full stage?'

She wouldn't make a decision until she finished reading through everything, but it was a thought to consider.

Elizabeth flipped through the pages and grimaced upon seeing more paragraphs blacked out. She had found out that some of the research notes referenced some kind of confidential power source, but everything relating to that power source was marked over.

They clearly didn't want Elizabeth to find out about that source, and Elizabeth wasn't so disobedient to snoop for it.

Besides... it was only a power source. Power could be replaced, as long as Elizabeth had the gist of what was done, she felt confident in reconstructing it without the same power source.

'There's always a way. It's just a matter of finding it.'

(óヮò)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

A week later Elizabeth received a phone call from Edward and Alphonse. They had finally made it to Edward's automail mechanic and would be staying there another three days before heading back out.

"How's Nina?" Edward asked her over the phone. "Do you... do you think you can help her?"

"I think it's doable," Elizabeth answered after a moment of thought. "It might take some time, but... yes, I think I can do it."

She could hear the brothers sigh with relief on the other end of the phone. "That's... that's great, thank you, Elizabeth."

Elizabeth blushed under the fervent gratitude. "Oh... really, it's nothing. I was looking for something to do, anyway. Besides, Nina is good company. She's helping me tend to the plants."

"Really? She's happy, then?"

"Happy as can be," Elizabeth answered, thinking back on the brief tail wags. "Her thought is impaired due to the way Tucker reconstructed her brain, so she's... not always there, you know? But she likes listening to the radio, and she really loves eating my cookies, and smelling the flowers."

Elizabeth thought that made Edward and Alphonse smile, even if she couldn't see their faces. "I see... Thank you, Lizzie."

"I told you, Edward, there's no need to thank me."

"Right. Well, I'll let you get back to work. We'll come see you when we're back in Central."

"Looking forward to it," Elizabeth said with a grin.

(óヮò)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

Guess who finished writing out The Maes Hughes Scene.

Answer: Favorite moment is when Pride kicks ass. Least favorite is Maes' death.

Question: You are being hunted by someone in the FMA-verse! Who is hunting you, and who will save you?

Reviews are love!

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