Take a stand - clap your hands
And just do the best you can
A worthwhile fighting style
You and me can go on as one
Attention! Don't ya go alone
Your luck, it's got limits

**********

Numb. That was one word to describe her overall being. She didn't mean numb in terms of not feeling wounds (in fact she was sure her ankle was sprained), but rather in terms of emotional damage. She'd spent years adjusting herself to Amestris and forcing herself into not saving this person or never straight-up murdering one of the homunculi out of frustration only for Truth to tell her that as long as she did it in a funny way she could do whatever.

What the absolute hell was all that for?

Aiden's numbness turned to inner rage at the entity. He could have, at the very least, told her that from the beginning. Of course, her struggles with keeping the timeline intact may have amused him at some point. Obviously it wasn't like that anymore.

The first thing she saw when she opened her eyes was chaos - absolute chaos. Edward was chasing Ling, Scar was attacking Envy, and a little girl she assumed was Mei Chang was avoiding Gluttony. Aiden herself was lying off to the side of the fighting, grimacing as she came back to herself.

She slowly sat up and rubbed her forehead in an attempt to stave off her approaching migraine. When she brushed along the wound above her eyebrow she grimaced and pulled her hand away. That wound was still sore along with her left temple where she landed wrong on the rock in Gluttony's belly.

Suddenly Mei Chang and Shao Mei were sent careening across the rocky ground and Gluttony advanced on them. A look of alarm crossed her face and Aiden tried to stand and run, but her right ankle buckled under the sudden weight. She cursed and stood again, reaching into the band of her pants to pull out the gun that'd been stored there when she changed her outfit. There wasn't any way she was going places quickly.

Aiden fired off a few rounds in Gluttony and hid behind a rock before he saw her. With no wind, it would be hard to distinguish her smell over everyone else's when there was a fight going on. At the same time, it would be easy if he could pinpoint who was who and go from there, but she doubted he was that smart. Luckily for them, Alphonse appeared and kicked Gluttony away from the girl which diverted his attention from both girls.

Alphonse picked up the injured girl and ran out of the room, Scar just after him. Envy and Gluttony chased after those three, leaving Edward to fight Ling (who was clearly Greed), and Father and Aiden to watch the fight. With no other options, she grimaced and put the gun back in her jeans. Then she limped out from behind the rock, doing her best to keep little weight on her ankle.

Father turned to her as he completely ignored Edward and Greed. "And who are you?"

She held her head high but didn't dare appear entitled like a few arsonists she knew. There was no other choice than appearing as useful and obedient as an Amestrian soldier should be. "Lieutenant Colonel Aiden Wilson," she replied steadily.

He nodded. "I see. You're that foreigner Wrath allowed into the military in exchange for saving his wife."

"I suppose I am." She glanced at the fighting teens and then back at Father. "I also know there's a problem with me knowing about you. So will I be discarded?"

Her heart pounded in her chest at the question but she was ready for whatever answer he gave. If he decided to kill her she'd do her best to get out and reshuffle her plans to best suit her and the timeline's needs. On the chance that she was allowed to live she'd continue on as she already had been. Either way, Aiden was going to meet both options head-on with her teeth bared.

Father hummed and gave her a once-over. "If you don't cause any problems I don't see why you should be. But I'll leave the final decision up to Wrath, he is your commanding officer after all."

Aiden nodded and limped off to the side, a sense of relief releasing throughout her body. Then she tensed again; she had to face Bradley. A screech came from Edward and she looked up in time to watch as Ling grabbed his hand and pressed. She wanted to help but it'd be better for all of them if she stayed off to the side and silent.

"Hey pops!" Greed called. "I caught him for you!"

Father walked forward and nodded. "Upstairs. I want him taken directly to Wrath."

Envy's large, green form thumped past her carrying Gluttony and forcing Alphonse to march in front of him. Al glanced over at her and she nodded at him in both greeting and reassurance. She saw his posture relax slightly and look toward his brother.

"Man," Envy said as he glanced around, "you guys really made a mess of things, didn't you? If you had simply behaved yourselves then we would've let you go a long time ago."

Greed let go of Edward who sluggishly walked toward his sibling. "Brother," Al spoke.

Ed turned to look back at Greed. The homunculus paid him no mind. "He's in there, I know it," he said determinedly. "Ling's alive."

At that, the homunculus gritted his teeth and scoffed. Envy led them away from Father and through an underground system until they reached an elevator. Aiden mildly wondered how they explained to the engineers what the tunnels were. Emergency exits or tunnels leading to bunkers for Amestrian citizens if the country was somehow taken over?

"Hey, where are you taking us?" Edward questioned.

"Just get in," the homunculus grouched.

The trio followed him and stepped into the elevator. There was plenty of room for the four of them, which was weird considering that one of them was a seven-foot-tall suit of armor. They watched as Envy turned into a soldier. No one said anything.

When the elevator stopped and the doors opened they stepped out. As the view out the window in front of them became familiar, Ed and Al gasped and Aiden had the decency to look surprised.

"This looks like..." Ed began.

The brothers rushed toward the window to get a better look. Aiden stayed where she was in favor of not moving her injured foot. She already knew where they were.

"It's Central Command," Al finished. "We were right below it."

"Hey, you guys are plastered with filth," Envy announced. "You need a shower before anything else."

They were once more led around until they reached the bathrooms. Aiden was left alone in the women's bathroom while Ed and Al went into the men's room, Envy having announced that he was getting them a spare change of clothes.

The hot water was welcome to her sore muscles and aching wounds. When all the blood was washed off and she was sure her hair wasn't matted, she wrapped a towel around herself and called out to Envy to tell him to toss the clothing in. Blue and black clothing were tossed in followed by a pair of boots. She quickly put them on, not really caring that the homunculus knew her size. The only trouble she had was with her boot when she tried fitting it over her sprained, possibly fractured, ankle.

Then she grabbed her satchel, walked out and stood by Envy's side while they waited for the boys to get done. The boys' voices started getting louder and Envy marched up to the door and barged in.

"Hey what's the hold-up?" he yelled. "You take longer than women! Get a move on!"

She watched from a distance as she heard Edward and Envy scream in unison. There were only so many things they could be screaming about and Aiden was able to deduce what it was when Envy came screeching to a halt at her side.

"Why me?" he muttered.

She raised an eyebrow. "Not that I should care, but are you okay Envy?" He glared at her and didn't answer.

When the boys had finally exited the bathroom, Envy led them to the Fuhrer's location. Aiden limped alongside the boys and silently stared at the ground. Her whole life depended on what King Bradley, Wrath, would say. One word and she was dead. She needed to be careful. Whisperings from Edward distracted her from her thoughts and she listened in.

"Jeez Al, did you really have to bring her along with us?" Ed whispered.

"What else was I supposed to do? She's hurt pretty bad."

Aiden leaned over quickly, "If we live through this then bring her to Nox." She straightened herself just as Envy turned around.

"Hey! Wrath'll take over babysitting you now. Right this way."

"Wrath?" Ed repeated.

Envy opened the double doors and stood off to the side allowing them entrance. Sitting at a table in the middle of the room, was the Fuhrer of the nation and a familiar looking Colonel. Bradley sipped at his tea while Roy frowned at them, his arms folded across his chest. He was obviously not a happy camper.

"Colonel?" Ed questioned, surprised to see his superior. The trio walked forward, Aiden electing to stand behind Roy rather than next to him. She leaned on the back of the chair to keep weight off her foot. "What's going on?"

The man glanced away from the boys, "Where should I begin? Fuery's been shipped South, Falman's been sent up North, and Breda's been reassigned to the West. Lieutenant Hawkeye is now a personal assistant to the Fuhrer."

Aiden's eyes narrowed at the table in front of them. His team was scattered to the four corners and had Jean not retired, chances are he would've been sent East or forcefully retired. It wasn't hard to tell he was angry about it and they all knew there was nothing any of them could say or do to reverse what'd been done. So she leaned forward ever so slightly and touched the back of his neck with her wrist.

He froze for a moment but she could see some underlying tension release. He didn't relax all the way and she knew he wouldn't, given the situation they were in and who they were with.

"Go ahead and take a seat," Fuhrer King Bradley insisted.

There were only two chairs open and Aiden wasn't moving. Edward and Alphonse took up the seats and the four humans waited for Bradley to speak. She glanced back at the door Envy'd closed to give them privacy. They were all alone with a homunculus, four against one and she knew who'd win since the other three didn't know his full range of capabilities. The Fuhrer passed out cups of tea to the brothers, though she assumed it was more of a formality than a gesture of kindness.

A cough came from Al that was much too weak and feminine. Not to mention he shouldn't have to cough in the first place. Alphonse immediately began coughing to cover for the noise Aiden knew came from Mei and Edward spoke up.

"Eh, Fuhrer," he began. Then he changed his mind. "So what was that in the hospital that day, when you came to visit me? You really had us going, didn't you?"

"I don't recall lying," the homunculus replied evenly. "I instructed you to suspect everyone. And not to meddle any further. The only thing that you need to know is that you're important to us, and there's no need for you to dig any deeper. Accept the importance of your role and keep your heads down. You do that, and no harm will come to you."

In other words, be silent, obey, and live. It was just like that book Aiden read in high school, 1984 by Orwell, wasn't it? The government has control of your life and you were to obey every command while they watched you 24/7.

"Well that's great for us," Ed snapped back. "But what happens to all the people who aren't lucky enough to be considered 'sacrifices'?"

"There's nothing you need to know that I haven't already told you. Is that clear Fullmetal Alchemist?"

There was nothing more the man was going to say and further questions would irritate him. Edward should've stopped while he was ahead.

The teen scoffed lightly. "You chose that as my title." Then he laughed and held up his pocket watch. For her point of view, Aiden could see blood crusted over the top. "I only joined the military because I thought it might help us get our bodies back. But now... Now I know what the State Alchemist program really is. You're using it as a way to recruit your sacrifices. Well, I'm not gonna let you use me to accomplish your sick goals!" Edward tossed the watch across the table, the watch stopping in front of the Fuhrer. "I resign my title as a State Alchemist!"

She sighed softly and shook her head. The teen wasn't backing down and he was only making things worse. Edward wasn't going to like what Bradley was going to say.

Bradley glared down at the watch. "The symbol of the dog, fittingly covered in blood."

"You're plans are gonna fail. I swear on my own grave that I'm gonna stop you." They watched as Edward narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth. "I'll warn the other State Alchemists! I'll tell them -"

"What was that lovely young girl's name again?" Wrath asked, gently tapping at his temple to remember. Aiden looked away as Edward gasped. He should've done what he was told. "Ah yes, it's Winry Rockbell, your automail engineer. And you grew up with her in Resembool as well if I'm not mistaken. She's practically a family member isn't she? I've heard that she's made quite a name for herself with her customers in Rush Valley. Such a sweet and trusting girl."

Edward shot up and slammed his automail hand on the table. He glared over the table at Bradley. "You stay away from her!"

His reaction to Bradley's threats was only fueling him. She and Roy both knew it and while they wanted to calm the boy, they also knew their place at the moment. Silent, out of the way, and forever vigilant.

"Just leave her out of this!"

The Fuhrer tapped on the watch. "Well that's up to you." He slid the pocket watch across the table and said, "If you'd rather not take it, then I will simply have to cut her down." Edward's hand shook as he took up the watch in a tight grip, almost wanting to shatter the thing, and put it in his pocket. "How thoughtful."

"Uh, sir," Alphonse spoke. Aiden detected a slight tremble to his voice and if she heard it then so did Wrath. "You don't have to worry about us. But I have to ask; if we're going to continue to serve under your watch, will you please allow us to keep searching for a way to get our original bodies back? Please, sir."

Bradley sipped at his tea before setting it back on the plate. "I don't see why not. As long as you don't interfere with our plans."

Aiden hurriedly retracted her hand and resumed her original casual guarded stance before he turned to them. If Bradley ever caught sight of her caring for Roy, she knew she'd be another pawn to use against him in the coming war. Not that she wasn't already.

"And what do you plan to do Colonel? You wouldn't do something so pretty as to quit the military?"

"Good question," Roy replied thoughtfully. "I'm on a short leash here, and I still find that preferable to giving up. And I still have my ambitions, your plans don't change that." He held up his own pocket watch. "So I'll hang onto this," he answered. "And I'll retain my rank too."

"That's fine with me." Bradley then turned his gaze to the only female in the room. "And you?"

Don't suck up to him, it'll get me killed. I shouldn't try to prove myself immediately either, he already knows what I can do. Just keep calm and state your request. Let him remember how useful I am.

"Your Father left it up to you," she admitted. "But if I may, I would like to request that I stay in my current position as Head of Internal Investigations."

"I'll allow it," Bradley nodded. "As long as you know that their restrictions apply to you as well."

She nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Disregard the reassignment order that has been delivered to your office."

"Yes, sir."

"And where is your State Alchemist, Wilson?"

If she had to guess, back wherever she came from. But Katy did love to travel so there was also a good chance she was off gallivanting across the multiverse. "Miss Erwin has yet to check in with me and I have reason to believe she's gone missing. I've been looking into it."

He hummed and sipped once more at his tea. "Fullmetal, your recertification was due a week ago. I hope you have something ready."

At the abrupt change in topic, Al looked up. "His recertification allows him to stay a State Alchemist another year, right?"

"That's correct."

Edward looked like he'd swallowed a lemon if the look he gave was any indication. "I'll figure something out."

"Sir, if I may," Aiden began. At Bradley's nod she continued. "It's unlikely that Fullmetal can come up with something on such short notice, even if he had time to prepare beforehand. Colonel Mustang's report is due in a few weeks as well so I suggest a mock battle between the two of them."

The oldest brother threw her a scathing glare she easily ignored. There was no other choice. He could either suck it up, accept her help, and battle the Colonel, or write a report on his research that hasn't gone anywhere in years.

"You want your alchemists in peak condition so I see no problem in letting you gauge their abilities. The mock battle would take care of both of their recertifications for this year."

"If you can find a location, then they can fight."

"With your permission, they can use the parade grounds. Any damage will be confined there." She glanced at the weather outside. A storm was coming. "It will have to happen after the rain of course."

"Very well. We have nothing more to discuss."

The three military officers, save Aiden, and suit of armor stood to exit the room. Aiden limped alongside them and paused when Roy did.

"I would like to ask you one question, sir," he said lowly.

"Would you now? Go ahead."

"Are you the one that murdered General Hughes?"

Edward and Alphonse snapped around in shock and stared at the two. On one leg Aiden carefully kept her balance when she twisted around to spare them a look. She'd grown used to the question, but it still hurt her knowing she was lying to him.

"No. That was not me."

"Then who did?"

"Colonel. I agreed to one question," Bradley warned.

Roy faced forward. "We'll be leaving now."

They started forward once more when they were stopped by Bradley. "Uh, just one moment Alphonse," he said.

The Fuhrer moved with surprising quickness, unsheathing his sword and stabbing Alphonse through his side. The other people let out gasps of surprise. Aiden's heart leapt into her throat as she stood still and kept her posture the same, though she wanted to stride over and separate the armored teen (and by association little girl and panda) from the danger he posed. Bradley was still for a moment before he pulled the sword back, inspecting it with a close eye.

"Uh, is that all?"

"That's all. You are now dismissed." He sheathed his sword.

They finally exited the room and Roy closed the doors. Aiden was silent before slumping and resting against the wall behind her, a hand over her heart. The brothers were no better off.

"Ah! That was too close!" Alphonse squeaked.

Aiden nodded frantically, "I think I almost had a heart attack!"

Roy gave them a weird look and she waved her hand, she'd explain later. Not when Bradley was separated only by a few inches of mahogany.

Ed turned around as if remembering something. "Oh hey, Colonel."

"Huh?"

"Help us out. Have you got any change?"

"You want my money now?" He reached into his pocket and handed him what was there. The boy swiped it from his hand, not seeing the hurt look on the man's face. Aiden almost found the look adorable.

"Just give it! Jeez." Edward counted what was there. "Is that all you got? Really?"

"It's apparently more than what you've got!" he snapped back.

Aiden awkwardly stepped forward. "Why don't you stop at the bank?"

"No time! See you later!" The boys took off running down the hall.

"Wha - hey!" he tried.

"Sorry Colonel," Alphonse apologized over his shoulder. "We'll explain everything later!"

"What the hell's with them?" he asked. Aiden shrugged and went to reply when he took off in the opposite direction. "The Lieutenant!"

"Son of a..." she groaned and chased after him in an awkward sprint. Her ankle throbbed at every step and she silently cursed whatever had injured her foot in the first place. Though Aiden wasn't sure what that was.

The pair exited Central Command, Aiden having almost tripped at least four times (once almost on the stairs), and rounded the corner to Roy's car. She huffed a breath as they slowed to meet the very tall Major Armstrong standing there. Roy groaned and leaned against the wall.

"Is there something troubling you Colonel?" Armstrong questioned. "You look slightly discomposed."

Aiden wheezed in her spot before promptly lying on the ground and propping her foot up on the wall. The pain in her foot was only worsening her headache. Keeping her foot elevated was a good start to healing, even just for a moment.

"Well, just how do you expect me to appear? I was hoping my Lieutenant would be standing there, not a mustachioed, muscle man."

"Colonel?" asked the familiar of one Riza Hawkeye.

Aiden turned her attention to Armstrong, completely ignoring her other two friends, and waved from the ground. "Hey there."

"Hello Miss Wilson," he greeted. He took in her heavy breathing, flushed face, and raised foot. "Are you alright?"

"Oh yeah. Peachy," she put a thumbs up. "Just never run with an injured foot. It's not exactly a walk in the park." She smiled weakly.

"Yes, I suppose it wouldn't be."

"Major Armstrong happened to be passing by," Riza was saying. "He was kind enough to watch my post for me. Thanks for everything Major. I appreciate it."

"No trouble at all," he dismissed.

Roy looked back to Riza. "So you didn't run off."

"Someone once told me never to give up no matter what."

He laughed. "Just don't tell me you'd wished you'd run when you'd had the chance. Alright?"

"It's too late for regrets."

Aiden groaned from the ground. "I know I'm interrupting, and we're all glad you made a choice with no regrets Riza, but someone needs to take me to the fucking hospital."

Armstrong stepped forward and helped her to her feet and they all got in the car. On the way to the hospital, they caught the Major up on the recent happenings. He didn't take the news of their Fuhrer being a homunculus well but she admired his resolve to continue on despite his past with the military.

The Major had surprised her when he admitted to suspecting her as one of the homunculi. She'd grinned and told him to think nothing of it. And that she knew the entire time that she was a suspect. Not that Aiden noticed, but the three people surrounding her tensed and shared a look of worry. She knew and she never said a thing. She waited for them to draw their own conclusions, even if they were wrong, and never corrected them. Some friends they were.

Aiden gave them a wink and they continued on to the hospital. There she was diagnosed with a moderate low ankle sprain and a cut above her eyebrow. She was given ice to reduce the swelling of her ankle and a bandage for her eye. Then she was sent away with an ankle brace to wear for a week and advice to not strain herself. Riza drove her home.

The moment she was in the door she collapsed on the couch and fell asleep, unmoving and uncaring of the world around her. When a pounding at her door woke her up she groaned and shuffled slowly to the door.

"Hey there," Aiden yawned widely, stretching and balancing on one foot.

"Sorry, did I wake you?"

She turned around and waved him in. "No, it's alright." She narrowed her eyes at the clock on the farthest wall, cursing how her contacts had fallen out. "If you hadn't, I'd have probably missed dinner."

Roy frowned at her squinting. He looked around the apartment, grabbed the black frames sitting on the counter, and handed them to her, hearing a thanks over her yawn. "That's actually what I'm here about."

She tilted her head and nodded for him to continue.

"The team is gathering for one last night out before they're gone. Care to join us?"

"Sure. Let me grab my coat and change out of this uniform."

It took him a moment to realize that she was indeed still wearing her work clothes. Aiden walked to her room, leaving him for a moment. Roy's thoughts went back to what happened earlier that day with Fuhrer King Bradley.

He'd been internally raging at the homunculus that once had him fooled, and still most of the country. The Fuhrer had taken his team away and scattered them across the country, his second in command now a secretary under threat. Relief washed through him when an officer reported that they couldn't find Aiden only for it to be replaced by silent panic when Bradley wasn't particularly concerned. At first, he thought it was luck that they couldn't find and deliver her orders of reassignment, but as the clock slowly ticked and Bradley's expression didn't change, he grew worried.

It wasn't until the brothers came in that he felt his worry ebb away when he caught sight of her in the doorway. She was favoring a foot as she limped her way behind him and placed her cool hand against him; something he found reassuring. He'd been worried she'd ended up like Hughes. Feeling her against him proved she wasn't an illusion and she wasn't gone.

There was no time to focus on her when Bradley spoke to them. They were all too busy listening to his threats to Fullmetal's childhood friend and mechanic. When Bradley turned his eye to Aiden, Roy was glad she was able to keep calm and not be overcome by her usual need to lighten moods with her humor. It's not that he thought little of her, quite the opposite, he just knew that sometimes even she couldn't control her own defense mechanism.

Aiden was able to keep her position and stay in Central, the other option being... Roy shook his head and cleared his mind of the thought. They were all under threat of death being in the military in the first place, the only difference now was that the threat was closer to home. Literally and figuratively.

The sound of a door opening drew his attention and he watched as Aiden stepped out in a pair of jeans and a dark t-shirt. She'd pulled her hair into a small ponytail, hairs too short for the style framing her face. The glasses were still perched on her nose and the woman walked around the apartment barefoot.

Finally finding her shoes that somehow ended up in the bathroom, Aiden turned around to find Roy staring at her. She grinned and winked, "All done."

He scoffed and rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "You sure about that? Women take forever."

"I'll have you know that Edward takes longer than me. Imagine what reputation that gives you men."

"Fullmetal is still a teenager, does he really count?"

"Yes."

The two shared a laugh as they left her apartment, ready for a last night out with their friends.

**********

Aiden if Envy hadn't checked on the boys: So Ed takes really long showers.

Envy: ....

Aiden: Are we sure he's not a girl? I mean he has the features and hair for it. All he needs is a binder.

Envy: ........ *woman and equations meme*

Fun fact: this story now has more words than the first Harry Potter book.