I sat on my hospital bed, reading a book I was given to pass time for the billionth time that I could practically recite it in my sleep. I was out of intensive care but was given strict orders that I couldn't leave for another few days. Just as I turned the page, unamused, the door to my room slammed open. I drop the book, startled, as the Colonel Mustang and Lieutenant Hawkeye strolled into my room. "W-What's going on?" I trembled, surprised at the sudden outburst.

"The Colonel has received some heavy news," Lieutenant Hawkeye filled me in as she bowed respectfully. "I apologize for the sudden intrusion."

"N-No worries. If you mind me asking, what's the news?" I asked.

"Havoc is retiring," Colonel trembled.

"WHAT?!" I screeched. "But why?"

"When that damn homunculus stabbed him in the back, it damaged the base of his spinal cord, paralyzing him permanently. It's irreversible wth any kind of alchemy, unless we have a Philosopher's Stone."

"T-That's so horrible! Send him my regards."

"Will do. Anyways, I'm here for a reason. I'm assigning you a mission."

"Um...in case you haven't noticed I'm in the middle of recovery right now."

"I know, I know. But I'm just telling you now. I'm assigning you a long-term mission which will require you to leave my unit. Since you are doing that, I will need to fill out a form requesting that you still can stay in Central headquarters with me."

"Stop beating around the bush and tell me."

"Fine then. I'm assigning you to be the protector of Fullmetal. You are to escort him and follow him at all times. His life should come before yours in a life-or-death situation."

"Okay then..."

Colonel and Lieutenant Hawkeye stared at me intensely as I processed the information given to me. Once I realized what he had said, I was angry. "OH I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE COLONEL!!!" I screamed as he and Lieutenant Hawkeye chuckled at how dense I was to realizing this.

While they were laughing and I was fuming, the door opened again and Major Armstrong entered, ducking underneath the door frame. "Colonel, Clockwork, I am glad to see you both are here, safe," he stated.

"Major, what's up?" Colonel asked.

"Big news. Bad news," he informed, pulling out two pieces of paper from his coat and giving them to us. "Issued out by the Führer himself, in fact," he added.

Colonel and I took the pieces of paper and opened them, reading the contents inside. Our eyes widened in shock. The letters read:

This is a citywide announcement from the Provost Marshal's office.It appears that Scar has once again surfaced in Central. Three are dead, all of them State Alchemists, as well as several others wounded. According to eyewitness reports, he is distinguished as being an Ishvalan, having a large cross-shaped scar on his forehead, as well as a tattoo over his entire right arm.

We were shocked at the news, and I was panicking. With Scar on the loose as well as Edward and Alphonse being here, it won't be long until he tracks them and kills them himself this time. It was inevitable. Ignoring the fact that I was still in recovery, I threw the blankets off me and ran to my causal clothes that were sitting on the chair. It wasn't my military uniform, but it will do. "Clockwork, what are you doing?!" Colonel shouted.

"What does it look like?" I snapped, slipping on my shoes. I will have to find a spot and change later.

"You can't possibly be serious!" Lieutenant Hawkeye gasped. "You are in no condition to fight, let alone move so quickly and violently!"

"They need me!" I yelled back, pushing the Major aside. "Cover for me, please!"

I didn't wait for their response as I took off out of the hospital.

*~*~*~*~*~

Blood pounding in my ears, adrenaline fueling my body, I bolted through the streets of Central, searching for the Elric brothers. I ignored the screaming pain from my side and the fact that my stitches were going to tear after this as I swept each streets for the brothers. A huge explosion nearby caught my eye as I made my way over to it.

Immediately, I spotted Scar, Edward, and Alphonse fighting. Edward kept on transmuting pillars and sending them after Scar while Alphonse whipped up walls to protect them from oncoming attacks. Scar literally tore these defenses apart with just his hands.

Seeing that neither of the parties noticed my appearance, I devised my plan. I jumped out suddenly and clapped my hands, placing them on the ground as sparks traveled underneath Scar's feet. A clock appeared and, hearing the loud ticks, looked down to investigate the matter and saw that there was a clock underneath him. At the very last second he jumped so he wasn't brought down under with the ground but he still got caught up in the explosion and was momentarily distracted with the dust. His jacket caught in the slates of concert that jutted out of the pavement, tearing it off his shoulder and revealing his arm with complex tattoos on it.

Edward took full advantage of the distraction and climbed a metal pipe. Scar emerged from the explosion and clawed the pipe he was climbing on, causing it to fall. Edward yelled as he clung on for dear life and braced himself for a very hard impact. "Ed, I got you!" I yelled, arms out, prepared to catch Edward.

Alphonse thought ahead and transmuted a giant hand for me as I rose up to where Edward was falling. I caught him and spun my body a little to remain balanced as I held him bridal style on my arms. "Eve!" Edward gasped, shocked at my appearance.

"Surprise surprise!" I grinned.

"I thought you weren't supposed to be out of the hospital for another few days."

"Military issued out a warning on paper. Plus, I'm your bodyguard again."

"Really? That's great!"

Suddenly, the giant hand holding us up crumbled as Scar dismantled it with his alchemy. We screamed as we fell, ground giving away as Alphonse thought quickly and transmitted a slide with the broken pieces of rock falling. We slid down on it and appeared right back at Alphonse's side. It was a three versus one now.

Alphonse spoke up. "Scar, why are you so prejudiced against State Alchemists, saying that they've gone against God, when you use alchemy too?" He demanded.

"I thought I told you why in East City," he replied roughly. "Where there are creators, like you, there must also be destroyers."

"You're just...you're just using the name of God to justify your killing! You also killed Tucker and Nina, claiming to be an agent of God, didn't you?"

"Oh, so you saw that Chimera too, did you? The art created that tragic creature, is it the same alchemy that you idolize? It was your hand that put your brother into that irredeemable body. It was vanity in the art of creating something that brought about that Chimera, was it not?"

"Even so, why did you have to kill her?" Edward yelled. "Why did you take her life?"

"You knew, didn't you, that the Chimera could never be returned to normal?" Scar reminded. "That as it was, it would have been treated like a laboratory specimen, and not have been treated as human for the rest of its life?"

"It's true that we alchemists have made mistakes. But, even so, it doesn't mean we can accept what you're doing! Do you remember an Amestrisian doctor named Rockbell? Even after the order to exterminate uprising Ishval came out, they continued to help the Ishvalans."

Suddenly, Winry appeared out of nowhere. I gasped. Where did she come from? Why was she in Central? Alphonse saw here and hesitated. "Wait, Brother!" He cried.

"Don't you remember the doctor couple that saved you, and that you killed?" Edward finished, ignoring Alphonse.

"Ed!!!" I screeched.

Edward, now finished with his rant, faced us. But, he also saw Winry, who had a shell-shocked look on her face. Edward made the oh crap look, knowing that he screwed up big time. "What are you talking about...?" She trailed, trying to accept the news.

"Winry..." I hesitated.

"This is the man who killed Mom and Dad?" She continued slowly, as if the emotions were starting to build up inside her. "You're kidding. They were killed by someone they helped?" Winry dropped to her knees, staring straight at Scar who was giving her a cold look. "Why...?" She cracked. "What did my mom and dad ever do? They never did anything that they deserved to be killed for, did they?" She grabbed her head and pulled her hair, sobbing from shock. "Give them back!" She cried. "Give me back my mom and dad!"

There was handgun nearby and Winry's hand, trembling slowly hovered over it. "Don't do this..." Edward warned nervously.

"Winry, don't!" Alphonse begged.

Their pleads fell deaf as Winry grabbed hold of the gun and pointed it at Scar, sobbing even more. In her grief-stricken eyes, you could see terror and vengeance within them as well. "You are the doctor's daughter?" Scar asked. Tears ran down her face some more as she shook, still keeping a steady aim at Scar. "You have a right to shoot me," he stated. "Shoot me."

"Don't shoot, Winry!" Edward cried out as a warning. "Put the gun down!"

"You shouldn't be holding that thing, Winry!" Alphonse added.

"Shoot me!" Scar insisted. "But, if you shoot, on that moment, I will consider you my enemy!"

"Scar why you--" Alphonse started.

"Are you going to kill me? That will do as well!" He shouted. "Unless one of us dies, this chain of hatred will continue. But, don't you ever forget that it was you Amestrisians who pulled the trigger first and started the civil war!"

"No! Don't shoot him!" Edward begged Winry to not give in to Scar's taunts.

But, Winry refused the listen as her finger pried the trigger. I knew she was going to shoot. "WINRY, DON'T!" I cried, tackling her as she pulled the trigger, the gunshot going off, the sound ringing in my ear as the bullet barely whizzed past my ear. The tinnitus from the gunshot buzzed in my ear as I had a death grip on Winry as she squirmed underneath me. "Eve! What are you doing?" She screamed. "Let me go! Let me go! LET ME GO!"

"If you can't shoot, then leave!" Scar shouted, raising his hand in the air. "You are in my way!"

As he brought his hand down, I closed my eyes and squeezed Winry, bracing for impact, but I heard a "DON'T!" From Edward. Immediately after, when I opened my eyes I saw Edward between us and Scar. Scar froze, hand just hovering over Edward's face as his eyes widened.

Suddenly, Alphonse roundhouse kicked Scar and he jumped away, creating a hole in the wall with an explosion and fleeing. "Brother! You idiot!" Alphonse scolded. "You're going to get yourself, Winry, and Eve killed! Hurry up and get Winry to safety!"

Alphonse followed Scar but I held my hand up firmly. "I got this," I assured. "Go. Alphonse needs you. Don't leave him like last time."

Edward hesitated, but when he saw how serious I was he turned and went after Alphonse. I faced Winry, who was sobbing and still held the gun in her hands. "Winry...put the gun down now," I told her.

"Why....why couldn't I shoot him?" She sniffled, hand going limp. "He killed my mom and dad. He was going to hurt you, Ed, and Al. And even so...why couldn't I shoot him?!"

"Because Winry, you are not meant for killing," I explained to her. "These hands are the same hands that gave Ed the automail he needed to get his life back together. Believe me, I know how you feel. I just lost a dear friend to me and there's nothing I want than to find whoever killed him and make them pay for what they did. Vengeance or not, these hands shouldn't be stained with the blood of others. Your hands give life to others. It might feel good right now if you shot him, but what about later on? You killed a person, and although it was for the greater good, it's still murder. You just stained your hands with blood of a person you didn't have to kill Winry. You may not feel it now but the guilt of it will carry on and you will regret us forever."

Winry dropped the gun and threw her arms around me, sobbing harshly, back shaking as tears dropped down from her face. I hugged her back gently as I stroked her. "It's okay..." I whispered. "You're going to be okay. Everything will be alright."