Video

[fullmetalbrat]

[The video feed cuts in on a blond teenager squinting dubiously at the camera. His eyes widen a moment later when he notices the video display on the screen.] —Is it working?

Uh—hey. Can people really see this? If there is anyone watching, I'm looking for a guy in a huge suit of armor. Goes by the name Alphonse. [He leans closer to the camera, pointing emphatically.] If you see him, tell him his big brother's looking for him!

Now that I've got that out of the way, I got some more questions for all of you. Someone told me that when people leave this world they forget everything about it, but they might remember if they come back. Is that really true? Is there anyone who's left and come back that I could talk to?

I want to know more about this registration scheme they've got here too. I heard plenty about what you get for it, but what's the catch?

And, [he starts, pausing to glance at something laying just below the camera's field of view], what's a "pop star"?

Comments

[darwinatrix]

As far as I could see.

Not quite, as long as you're operating solo. I run an organization, so they give us a budget. It's not bad.

[fullmetalbrat]

Oh yeah? [He guesses he shouldn't be surprised.] Like Briggs or something else?

[darwinatrix]

Hardly.

It's called RISE. It's an anti-rogue-imPort paramilitary organization. Not Briggs, but it'll do.

The weather here. It's similar to Central. [In other words, don't trust the government.]

[fullmetalbrat]

Yeah, I was starting to notice that. Feels a lot like home.

Rogue imPorts, huh . . . Is that a regular problem?

[darwinatrix]

[...she hopes he didn't think she was talking about the weather literally.] Common enough to warrant a task force that deals with it.

[fullmetalbrat]

[Eh, it's like a 50/50 chances either way.]

Hm . . . I'd love to hear more about it some time—and the people you've gone up against with it.

[darwinatrix]

I'll tell you after you join back up.

[fullmetalbrat]

I joined before?

[darwinatrix]

Nobody here will tell you differently.

[fullmetalbrat]

[Ugh, what the hell was this other him doing? Old him?? Who the hell even knows.]

Well, I don't remember it now, so I'm not going to join just because you and a bunch of people I don't remember meeting tell me I did before.

[darwinatrix]

Surprisingly wise and level-headed coming from you.

I would've thought you'd be all in favor of 'fighting bad guys.'

[fullmetalbrat]

I end up doing that no matter who I'm with. There's no end to them.

[darwinatrix]

Yes, but with RISE you'd actually have legal support for it.

I'm not an idiot, Fullmetal. Your alchemy is a valuable tool.

[fullmetalbrat]

I'm not either. If you want to use me, then I want to know more about the people under you first.

[darwinatrix]

We're a small organization. Maybe a dozen or so operatives.

We've been effective in neutralizing threats. Read news articles.

[fullmetalbrat]

. . . Okay. I will.

[darwinatrix]

Good.

Anything else? That doesn't require my time being used to tell you things you could easily look up yourself?

[fullmetalbrat]

No, nothing else. I'll let you know if anything else comes up.

[darwinatrix]

Noted.

Consider registering, Fullmetal. It's less of a hassle, and you get less of an eye on you.

[fullmetalbrat]

. . . I'll think about it, but I'm not exactly eager to sign on with another shady military.

[darwinatrix]

I'm 'shady,' now? I suppose I should be hurt.

[fullmetalbrat]

I meant the Americans. I know better than to insult you.

[darwinatrix]

Well you'd be working for me, not them. It's simple.

[fullmetalbrat]

Yeah, and when I became a state alchemist I thought I'd get to stick to just doing research too. I've got to think about this, okay?

[darwinatrix]

Fine. Don't take too long. I intend to put you to work.