It's been almost eight months since I heard anything from that stupid colonel. From what Falman had told me when I went in to turn in my report eight months ago, the Fuhrer sent Colonel Bastard and his crew off on a mission somewhere in the east. When Nina died by the hands of Scar, the military got to him before he could kill Shou Tucker and so Tucker escaped and ran far away. At first I heard that the military was going to just nudge its nose into the situation enough to keep a look out for suspicious activity. But after a year of hearing nothing on him, the military stopped looking. From what Falman told me, it seems like he just spiked back up on their radar again since Bradley decided to send Mustang to check it out.

Not that I miss that bastard anyway. Who likes to have someone breathing down their neck all the time? Besides, it's been nice not having the deal with his cocky attitude and having to give him reports of what me and Al are doing. It's really none of his damned business what we do, as long as it helps to get our bodies back...

"Brother, if the colonel isn't here then why are we back in Central?" Al asks beside me, his metal body clanking loudly in the hallway.

"I dunno, Al. Probably some stupid conflict in need of fixing that Colonel Bastard should be doing but since he's gone, it's passing down to me. Man, I hate the military stuff of the military..." I say, putting my hands over my head as we walk to the Fuhrer's office.

Al laughs at me a little and we stop at Bradley's door. I knock on it tentatively and I hear a 'come in' from inside. I open the door and the Fuhrer looks up at me from doing paperwork and gives a small smile from under his mustache. His one eye looks us both up and down as we sit in front of him in the two chairs that are in front of his desk.

"You called for us, sir?" I ask.

"Yes, I have. We have heard no word from Colonel Mustang and his men ever since he left for the east. We sent some men to investigate and they brought back someone from his regimen. We think that something might have gone awry but the man won't talk. Afraid for his life and seems to not want to cooperate."

"What does that have to do with us?" I ask.

"We think that seeing a familiar face will allow him to reveal what has happened to Mustang and his men and where we can find them."

"Who was it?" Al asks.

"I believe the name was Lieutenant Breda."

Al and I look at each other and I can feel the worry that surrounds Al's body, his eyes glowing from the helmet of the armor. Breda not talking is almost like Havoc not smoking; it was uncommon.

"I'm sending you both to the East to see if you can talk with him. They didn't want to move him in case he talked. I am sending Falman with you."

"Why do you need us? Why can't you send Hughes or something?"

"Brother!" Al turns to the Fuhrer. "Sorry, sir, Brother didn't drink his milk and so it sometimes makes him cranky."

Bradley only looks at me with that beady eye of his and weaves his fingers together.

"All is well. Lieutenant Colonel Hughes is actually working on a case for me and is very busy. I thought about sending him, since he is very familiar with Mustang's men but I need him here more. He is also investigating some uproars in the East so that leaves you two. Now, you will leave tomorrow morning for the East. Dismissed."

We nod and get up, leaving headquarters.

As we walk, I put my hand under my chin in thought. Just the fact that Breda is not talking is a little suspicious. Breda isn't a busybody but he sure wouldn't keep his mouth shut if his colonel was in danger or Havoc. Him and Havoc are pretty good friends and if nothing else, he'd tell about him...

"Brother?" Al says and I look up at him. "You're worried too, aren't you?"

"It's what he said about Breda... I dunno, it seems a little weird. I wish it was Hughes that was going since he's a lot better at this sort of stuff than me."

"You'd probably kill him because he didn't say anything." Al says with a small laugh on his hollow voice.

I smirk because he knows me so well. I knock on his arm with my knuckle and then stretch a little.

"Well, we'll have a horrible train ride tomorrow, with Falman of all people. I'm going to need some sleep. Let's go back to the inn..."

"Mm."

The train ride wasn't as bad as my normal ones since we got some strings pulled from Bradley. We got some pretty good seats that actually didn't numb your ass from the long journey and made our way to the East. The scenery changed drastically from city to rolling green hills to desolation. The uprisings still haven't been settled fully and with the whole ordeal with Lior, I was surprised that the Fuhrer would send some of his best into the midst of it but if that sick bastard Tucker was out here then maybe higher military personnel was what was needed. Especially since Mustang could fry him if need be.

The train pulls up at the station and we get out, following Falman to a car that is waiting outside for us. We all get in, Al's armor making the back cramped, and we drive our way to the makeshift hospital that has been set up.

"In the files it says that Breda was injured in only two places and that was on his ankles and wrists, where it looks like he might have been bound tightly. There was rubbed flesh where he must have been trying to escape from his binds. When he was found, he was walking in a daze in one direction and it took a couple of men to get him to get a grip on himself. He finally passed out and has only woken recently."

"When did they find him?" I ask.

"About a week ago. They thought that when he woke up he would tell them where everyone else was and why there was no report but he won't even look at the men. They say he looks in the distance, as if he is in a trance."

I look down, sad to hear that a brilliant guy like Breda was now being reduced to nothing but a blank shell. As much of a ham as he was, the guy was pretty smart. The car pulls up to the tent that is acting as a hospital for now and we all get out.

"Be careful with him. They say he's really skittish." Falman says, opening the flap to the tent. "I will stand guard out here."

I nod and Al walks in with me.

Breda is sitting in a bed, his face staring off into space and his usually cropped orange hair long over his face. The normally portly officer looks skinnier, a lot of his bulk gone and leaving only skin to hang on his haggard body. The doctor is working on something in the corner and looks up at me briefly.

"You the Elrics?" he mumbles.

"Yes. Um... How is he?"

"Vitals are good, just nothing on upstairs." He says, pointing his pen to his own head to show. "We've tried to get him to say something but it's like he's deaf to everyone. Someone suggested sending someone who knows him and I'm guessing that's you and your friend?"

"Well, Hughes would have come but he was really busy..." I say, scratching the back of my neck. "Has he eaten anything? He looks... hungry..."

The doctor looks back up at us and then adjusts his glasses.

"He eats every day, taking in the food like it was normal but the only thing he does do on his own is throw it up later in the evening. It's like he can't stand the taste or something. We haven't figured it out... If you guys can get him to say something then that would be very helpful."

I nod and look at Al. He nods too and we walk over to Breda.

"Hey, Breda... It's us, Ed and Al." I say, not used to displaying bedside manner. "They said you wouldn't talk to anyone so.."

Breda just stares out into space and I sigh, not wanting to push it.

"Ed..." a soft voice says.

I look over and see that Breda's eyes have focused it seems.

"Ed... Al..." he says in almost a whisper.

The doctor gets up quickly and blinks rapidly.

"Amazing! It's like you guys flipped a switch or something."

"All I said was hi..."

"Ed... Al..." Breda repeats.

His eyes look like they are trying to focus on something and he turns his head slightly to me. He blinks slowly and then turns to Al. Al laughs nervously and waves at him.

"Hello, Lieutenant Breda! Long time no see!"

"Al... Ed..." he says, this time looking at us when he says the names.

"That's right! That's us!" Al says, getting happy prematurely as usual.

"Breda, are you there? Can you hear us?" I ask. "Do you know where the others are?"

"Al... Ed... Oth-ers?" he says, looking confused.

"Yes, the colonel and the others." Al says softly.

"Oth-ers... Colo-nel..."

"Agh! He's just repeating what we say!" I yell, grabbing my hair. "We'll never get anything out of him."

"Colonel... Mustang..." I look at him and then at Al. "Colonel Mustang... Hawk-eye... Hav-oc... Fuuuury..." We look at him waiting and he finally turns his head all the way to me. "Gone..."

"Gone? Are they dead?" I ask, a sudden fear and pain ripping through me.

"No. Just gone..."

"What do you mean, Lieutenant?" Al asks.

"Gone..."

"Where are they? Can you tell us where to find them? Or did they leave the place they were? BREDA! You have to help us out here!" I yell, shaking the man.

"Brother!" Al grabs my arms and puts them at my sides. "He won't be able to think at all if you keep shaking him."

"Well if he would speak normally then I wouldn't have to shake him..." I growl to him.

"Tucker." We stop arguing and turn to Breda.

"What was that?"

"Shou Tucker."

I feel the anger in my body blaze at the name and grab Breda by the shoulders again, looking him straight in the eyes.

"Breda, what do you know about Shou Tucker? You have to tell me."

Breda looks vacant for a moment and I fear that I have lost him when the looks me dead in the eyes and I see hatred as deep as my own there.

"He changed them."