Narrator: On their journey to Resembool, Ed and Al encountered former State Alchemist Dr. Tim Marcoh, who admitted to possession of an incomplete Philosopher's Stone. Moved by Ed's determination, Marcoh gave the brothers the location of his hidden research materials. After Ed's automail had been repaired, he and Al immediately left for the first branch of the National Central Library, where they hope to find Dr. Marcoh's research into the secrets of the Philosopher's Stone.



Edward: Ahhhh! Dr. Marcoh's research! It's all gone!



Lust: In the end, burning the entire place down was easier.

Gluttony: Oh, is that what you were doing in Central?

Lust: Yes. The Fullmetal boy found out about Marcoh's research. Something had to be done about it.
.......
Lust: With that issue taken care of, I though I'd come to see how things are progressing in East City. Is he here? Gluttony?

Gluttony: I smell him. I can smell him. The scar-faced Ishvalan. He's close. I can taste his stink, like blood. I still get to eat him, right?

Lust: Oh yes, down to the last strand of hair.
.......

.......
Riza: Scar hasn't been sighted. Not once since that incident with the Elric brothers.

Jean: Maybe he's not even in East City anymore.

Roy: I hope you're wrong about that.

Jean: Huh?

Roy: This case is obviously gotten to be too much for Central to handle. If I can close it quickly enough, I'll be golden. Heh. I got a ladder to climb, and this is how it's done. I need every mark in my favor that I can get. At least until I've assumed the office of Führer that is.

Riza: You may not want to display your ambition quite so nakedly, sir.

Roy: Yeah. I'll be sure to remember that in the future.

Soldier: Reporting in, sir! We've just received word of an explosion occurring on the Marl River.

Roy: What?
.........
Soldier 1: Was it a gas explosion?

Soldier 2: With everything else that's been going on around here, who knows.
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Riza: There's no mistaking it. This was definitely Scar's jacket.

Roy: Have you found the body?

Jean: Not yet. But we're still searching.

Riza: Either way, he can't be in good shape after losing this much blood.

Roy: Yeah. But we do this by the book. We need to find hard proof that he's dead. Alright, Lieutenant Havok?

Jean: Yes, sir?

Roy: You and your men will work day and night to clear out this debris. I want his body found. Don't take so much as a coffee break until that's done. Do you understand?

Jean: Come on, Colonel. Can't you cut us some slack? At this rate, you're gonna work us all to death.

Roy: Shut up. I don't get to relax until I've seen his body and that means you don't get to either.

Jean: I guess we'll get to work then.
.......
Lust: Looks like he got away.

Gluttony: I didn't get my snack.

Lust: Yes, I know. Maybe next time. Though, I think we can safely assume that Scar will be out of the game for a while. I suppose I'll be heading back to Central again. I need to report to Father about everything that's happened here.
........
Ed: There's nothing here but ashes. Everything's gone.

Maria Ross: Major Armstrong!

Alex: Ah. Second-lieutenant Ross and Sergeant Brosh. To what do we own this pleasure?

Maria: You've been ordered to report back to the Command Center, sir.

Denny Brosh: We'll be taking over the supervision of Edward Elric and his brother, effective immediately.

Alex: Very well. They are yours.

Edward: What is this? Just when I think I'm home free they saddle me with more bodyguards? This is getting old!
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Maria: All might not be lost. There's a woman who is well acquainted with the materials in the first branch. Unfortunately, she wasn't working there anymore.

Edward: That sounds incredibly helpful.
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Alphonse: Something wrong?

Denny: Oh, it's nothing. Although if you don't mind me asking, why are you wearing a suit of armor?

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Edward and Alphonse at the same time: It's a hobby!
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Denny: Hobby? What kind of freaky hobby is that, lieutenant?

Maria: Who are these boys anyway?
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Edward: So, what do you say, Al? It's a lovely view, isn't it?

Alphonse: Oh, yeah, yeah, it's gorgeous.
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Edward: Oh wow. There's got to be a million of them.

Denny: Aww. Is there really someone living in this place?

Maria: Ms. Sheska! Are you here? Ms. Sheska?

Faint voice: Is someone there? ... Please, help me...

Alphonse: Uhm?

Edward: Hmm?

Alphonse: Brother? There's somebody under there!
......
Woman: Thank you! I'm so sorry I've got myself trapped under a whole mountain of books. I though I was going to suffocate under there. Thank you so much.

Edward: So, uh, are you Sheska?

Sheska: Yes?

Edward: And you worked at the library?

Sheska: Ah, the library. The word itself is so beautiful! I've loved book my whole entire life, ever since I first learnt to read as a girl. The job was heaven.

Edward and Alphonse: Uhh...

Sheska: But I forgot that I was supposed to be working and all I ever did was read, so they fired me. If I don't find another job I'll never be able to move my poor elderly mother into a better hospital, But I'm hopeless! The only thing I can do well is read. I'll never find another job as long as I live. I'm useless, good for nothing! More pathetic than pond scum!

Edward: Eh... Excuse me? There was one thing we wanted to ask you?

Sheska: Yes?

Edward: Do you remember seeing any research belonging to someone named Tim Marcoh?

Sheska: Let's see. Tim Marcoh. Where do I know that name? Oh. Yes, of course! I remember now?

Edward: Really?

Sheska: Oh, yes. I'm absolutely positive. There were some hand-written notes stuffed into a book case they didn't belong.
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Edward: The notes really were there after all... which means it burnt up along with every thing else in the library...

Sheska: Do you want to read them? Is that why you're asking?

Edward: Yeah. But it's too late now. They're nothing but ashes.

Alphonse: Sorry to bother you.

Sheska: I remember everything that was in them. Would that help at all?
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Ed and Alphonse: HUH?
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Sheska: It's just how I am. I'm able to remember the content of any book I've ever read. It'll take a while but I can write them out for you.
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Edward: Thank you, bookworm! You're my hero.

Sheska: You're... welcome?
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Sheska: Here you are. Complete copies of all Tim Marcoh's notes.
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Sheska: Sorry, I know five days is a long time to wait. But there was quite a lot to write down.

Alphonse: Unbelivable! There are some amazing people in this world.

Edward: These are really Dr. Marcoh's research notes?

Sheska: They sure are! Come and take a look at them. Written by Tim Marcoh: One thousand easy recipe.
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Maria: Six cups of rice, one carrot, two onions, salt... Oh great. Does this mean we come all this way for a cook book?

Denny: Miss, which part of this made you think it was an important document?

Sheska: Is it not what you're looking for? All I did was copy down what I remembered.

Denny: Wonderful. So this was just a wild goose chase?

Edward: Sheska? Are you absolutely sure this is a flawless reproduction of the notes?

Sheska: Oh yes. I'm one hundred percent certain.

Edward: Then thank you very much. You're incredible. Alright! let's get these back to the library.

Alphonse: Um. They should have the latest materials there.

Edward: Uh-huh. Oh. I almost forgot Sheska's fee. Lieutenant? Here. This is my registration number and the pocket watch for ID. Withdraw that amount from my annual research grants and make sure Sheska gets it, okay?

Maria: Right. I'll be on that right away, sir. I assume that I can just take this note down to the State Alchemist Office?

Edward: That should work. Well, Sheska, you're a lifesaver. Bye!
.........
Maria: Hmm. From his research grants, huh?
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Sheska: Did he miss a decimal point somewhere? Wow! How does a boy like that have this kind of money to throw around?

........

Denny: I don't understand. These are cookbooks. What could they possibly have to do with alchemy?

Edward: Alchemy is a powerful art. I can be incredibly dangerous if misused. In order to prevent that, alchemic research is always encrypted. These are designed to look like recipes to the average person. But they are actually advance alchemical notes. Only the alchemist who originally wrote them can understand.

Denny: If they are so heavily encrypted, then how are you going to be able to decipher them?

Edward: It's not going to be easy. We'll have to use all our alchemical knowledge.

Denny: Wow, sir. That sounds really complicated.

Edward: Al! There's a section in here on green tea.

Alphonse: Green tea? Are you thinking what I am?

Edward: Uh-huh. It might be a reference to the green lion of metallurgic alchemy. Do we have a copy available of Flamel's codex or Lambspring's concerning the Philosopher Stone?

Alphonse: Of course!

Edward: Alright! Take a look at this here. And here too, you see?

Alphonse: Yeah, you're right. And maybe here, too!

Edward: Great! We got a place to start. Let's do this!
.........
Edward: Why does this encryption have to be so damn hard to figure out...

Alphonse: Brother? Maybe we should ask doctor Marcoh about this directly.

Edward: No way. That would be admitting defeat.

Alphonse: So this is a contest now?

Sheska: Excuse me?

Edward: Sheska...
.......
Sheska: Thanks to the money you gave me, Edward, I was able to move my mother to a better hospital. I really appreciate it.

Edward: Nah. It was no big deal, really.

Sheska: Have you had any luck deciphering it so far?
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Alphonse: Have you found another job yet?
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Sheska: Anyway, you two made me feel better. It was nice to know that even a pathetic mess like me can help out sometimes. So thanks for that as well.

Alphonse: You're not a pathetic mess. I think that the kind of dedication you've shown to reading is a talent all on its own. And besides that your memory is incredible. You should have more faith in yourself.

Sheska: Thank you, Al!
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Maes: Yo!

Edward: Lieutenant Colonel Hughes!

Maes: Major Armstrong told me you two were here. What gives, Ed? I told you to give me a shout the next time you made it to Central.

Edward: Oh, uh... Some thing urgent came up. Sorry.

Maes: It's just as well, I've been busy too.
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Denny: They talk to Colonel Hughes like he's an old friend...

Maria: Just how high up are these boys?
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Maes: We have a lot of cases to deal with lately. And we're still working on getting the Tucker-Chimera situation settled. Sorry. I guess that brings up some unpleasant memory, huh. Anyway, as if things weren't bad enough for us already, the First Branch had to burn down in the middle of all of this.

Edward: That's been a problem, huh?

Maes: A big one. All our case records were stored in the stacks of that location and try to work without them hasn't been a picnic, let me tell you. Uh,... what?
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Edward: Hey Lieutenant Colonel, I think I've got exactly the person you guys are looking for.

Sheska: Well, I have read the military's case records and I do remember them all...

Maes: That's all I needed to hear, lady. You're hired! My office pays well so don't worry.

Sheska: Oh, uh... You're saying you want me... Thanks so much! I'll have faith just like you told me to. Thank you! Thank you!

Maes: Come on now, right to work!
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Edward: She may not be thanking us for long. Hehe. Ha. How do you put it again Al? "I think dedication is a talent all on its own"? Very smooth, little brother, very smooth.

Alphonse: Well, it's something I always think whenever I see a certain someone I know.

Edward: Well, in that case, a certain someone should hurry and get back to work or you're gonna have to come up with a new motivational phrase.
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Denny: ..I'm awake..

Maria: The library is closing.

Denny: They've been at it for 10 days now. I'm impressed that they're still going after all this time.
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Edward: To hell with it!
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Denny: What did you guys do to this place?

Maria: Don't get angry because you can't crack it. Throwing things won't help.

Alphonse: We did crack it.

Denny and Maria: Huh?

Alphonse: We cracked the code and decrypted the note.

Denny: Really? You did? But that's a good thing isn't it?

Edward: There's nothing good about it, damn it! This is the Devil's research. It should have been destroyed. Doctor Marcoh was right. It's evil.

Denny: What's so evil about it?

Edward: The main ingredient for a philosopher stone is human life.
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Edward: In order to manufacture even a single stone you'll have to make multiple human sacrifices.

Denny: How could the military authorize research into something so horrible?

Maria: I can't believe it. How awful!

Edward: Do us a favor. Don't speak to anyone about this.

Denny: But, sir...

Edward: Please. Just pretend you never heard any of it.
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Alex: What's this now? The Elric brothers are holding up in their room again tonight?

Maria: Yes. They haven't been eating either.

Alex: Hmm. The fatigue must be catching up to them. They seem to have devoted all their energy to these notes.

Maria: They worked so hard to decipher those notes only to find out that.

Denny: It disturbs me too just thinking about it. I bet I'd act the same way.

Alex: What was that?

Denny and Maria: No, it was nothing, sir?

Alex: Your behaviour is most suspicious!
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Alphonse: Brother, you should really get something to eat.

Edward: No, thanks. ... Pretty awful, huh?

Alphonse: Hmm.

Edward: You know Al, it's like, we try so hard to grasp the truth but it always slips away. Now that we've finally caught it, it turns out the truth is too dangerous to hold. I'm starting to think this is God's special way of torturing people who have committed taboos. I wonder, if it's will be like this all our lives. You know Al, there's something I've been wanting to tell you for a while. But I guess I've been too afraid to say it.

Alphonse: What?

Edward: I...
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Alex: Elric brothers, I know you're in there, open it up, this is the Major.

Alphonse: What do we do?

Edward: We ignore him, that's what!
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Alex: I know what it said Edward Elric.
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Alex: How tragic! To think that the legend of the Philosopher Stone was built upon such a terrible secret!

Maria: We're really sorry.

Denny: It's hard to stay quiet when someone like him ask you.

Alex: Imagine the military being behind something like that! Often the truth is more cruel than we bargain for!

Edward: The truth?

Alphonse: What is it, brother?

Edward: Do you remember what Doctor Marcoh said at the station?
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Doctor Marcoh: ...look closely, maybe you'll find the truth hidden within the truth.
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Edward: I didn't have a clue what he was talking about then, but now. It's the same with alchemical notes. What you can see on the surface is only a portion of the truth. There's still more to find here. There has to be.
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Alex: Currently there are four operational laboratory in Central that has connection to the government. We can narrow down even further. Marcoh worked in the third laboratory. We should start with that one, it's the most suspected.

Edward: Hmm. Al and I have been to all the laboratories in the city. None were doing any remarkable research. Here! What's this building used for?

Maria: It was designed for the fifth laboratory, but it isn't currently in use. The building isn't structurally sound so it's been classified off-limit.

Edward: It's there.

Denny: Huh? How can you be so sure that's it?

Edward: There's a prison right next door.

Denny: Okay? So?

Edward: What was the main ingredient for a philosopher stone?

Denny: You said it needed live humans... Ugh.

Edward: There'll be plenty of condemned criminals in the prison. Officially, they would be recorded as executed.

Maria: They're using the prisoners to make the stone.

Edward: Don't look at me like that, I don't like talking about this anymore than you.

Alphonse: Prisons from other jurisdiction could be used too. I wonder if the government is involved.

Maria: Why do I get the feeling that we're getting involved in something really dangerous here?

Alphonse: That's why we told you to pretend like you never heard anything!

Alex: This has a potential of becoming a political nightmare before long. I'll look into what we've talked about tonight. In the mean time, officers, speak of this to no one.

Denny and Maria: Sir!

Alex: And you, Elric brothers, behave yourself!
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Alex: I know you two boys, you were thinking about sneaking into this building and taking a look around, weren't you? Admit it!

The Elrics: We won't, we won't, we promise!
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Edward: Yeah, sure we won't.
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Edward: Hmm, a guard posted at an unused building. Interesting.

Alphonse: That is suspicious. How do we get in?

Edward: We could make our own entrance.

Alphonse: They'll notice the light from the transmutic reaction.

Edward: Well, in that case...
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Alphonse: And... UP!
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Edward: They are not taking any chances, are they?
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Edward: Al, you need to wait here.

Alphonse: You're fine on your own?

Edward: Whether I'm fine on my own or not isn't the issue. You're too big to get through here.

Alphonse: It's not like I ask to get this big.
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???: 66...

66: What is it, 48?

48: It looks as if we've got guesses.

66:Some daredevil idiots came to visit, did they?
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Edward: Damn, it's even tighter in here than I thought. I couldn't get through this far if I was regular-sized. Lucky I've got a small body...
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Edward: OH NO! I'VE JUST CALLED MYSELF A TINY LITTLE PIPSQUEAK!
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Edward: There're lights on. "Not currently in use". Who are they trying to fool. This is it, alright.
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Alphonse: Ed's taking a long time.
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