**Nicole P.O.V**

        I almost couldn't believe my ears when I was told I was being shipped out East the same day I lost my family and almost died. But that's the way of the military dog; you need to be able to sit, bark, and roll over when you're told without question or emotion... Not to mention the fact that the Führer himself came to the hospital to give me these orders shows me just how dire the situation is.         
        He did start out saying that he was there to check on me and assess my condition before even giving me the assignment.
        "If you were still bedridden, I wouldn't give you these orders, but you're needed to help with the riots in Liore if you're up for it. I don't do this often, but I also understand needing to take time to mourn your family members, so I am leaving the decision to go up to you." He had told me as he handed a folder containing the details of exactly what's happening in Liore, "I must also add that you will be posted in a dangerous area that could turn into a warzone at a moment's notice, and I can't give you a time frame either, so we don't know how long you'll be there. Could be weeks, could be a year." Fuhrer Bradley added.
        I read through the folder and gave him a firm nod. Not like I have anything left to lose.
        "I will accept this assignment, knowing the potential risks involved. But I do have a small request, if I may, sir."
        "Very well, let's hear it."
        "As much as I do not want to be in that house alone, I would like a day or two to properly mourn my family. If I could have that extra little bit of time, I'll be on the next train out of here." I asked.
        The Führer smiled at me and nodded. "That sounds doable. Your father's and sisters' ashes will be returned to you by tomorrow; feel free to mourn how you would like, then report to HQ."
        I gave him a look. "Ashes?"
        "Yes, since we didn't know if you were going to survive or not, we took it upon ourselves to have them cremated. Since Mr. Tucker was meant to have his title stripped, he wouldn't have gotten a military burial, not that he deserves it for what he did. As for your sister, I would think it would be better to have her ashes and remember her for the happy little girl she was, rather than have her be buried as the thing she was turned into. Wouldn't you agree?"
        I wanted to be angry, but he had a point... I might be upset that I won't see my sisters physically one last time, but they just did what they needed to do. I chewed the inside of my lip and nodded in agreement.
        "Now, since you're going to be in Central for a little longer, I will have someone to escort you and keep you safe since the alchemist killer is still on the loose. He's one of my personal bodyguards, and he has my ultimate trust, so you will be in good hands until you go to Liore." Führer Bradley stood and tapped the end of his sword on the ground, signaling for one of the guards standing outside the door to come in.
        He saluted Bradley and then made his way over to me. I straightened myself up a bit as the soldier placed a medium-sized messenger on my lap; then he took a few steps back and stood in a parade rest position. I flipped open the bag to find a few new uniforms and my pocket watch placed on top of them.
        "Since your last one was soaked in blood, I took it upon myself to go ahead and get you a few extras before you're sent out. I'll send a car to come and get you here in an hour; be ready, and we'll see you at headquarters in a few days. Stay safe out there, Major Tucker."
        I bowed my head in appreciation and watched the Führer and the soldier leave.
        Once they were gone, I retrieved my watch from the bag and began tracing the emblem, getting lost in my thoughts. I joined the military in hopes of getting my sister to safety, fearing that my dad would do to us what he did to my mother.
        I tried multiple times to get custody of my sister; I went through all kinds of different services to try and make me her legal full-time guardian, but nothing could be done. My father was deemed a "perfect parent" who "provided her with everything she needed and more". I was "way too young" to even be considered her guardian, even if they found reasons to remove her from my father's custody. So, I chose to work my ass off as much as I could, thinking I would be able to try to get custody of her again when I turned 18...
        Now, I have nothing but my work. Sure, I've established a name for myself and built strong bonds in and out of the military, but at what cost? Limited time with my sister, whom I swore to protect. I gave up spending so much time with her, playing with her, showing just how much she was loved...
        I wasn't even there when she was transmuted. She was alone; she must've been so scared... I wonder if she cried for me, begging for me to come help her, to come and save her. But I chose work over her yet again...
        I realized that I was already dressed and ready to leave when I heard a knock on my door. Thinking it was my escort, I quickly threw the bag over my shoulders just as the door opened.
        "Yo!" Hughes called out as he walked in, pulling in a familiar-looking boy with a blond braid.

~~~***~~~***~~~

(Next Day)

        I opened the front door; Major Armstrong stood in front of me holding a rectangular box. His expression was dull and damper, which was a complete 180 from how he was normally. He held the box out to me; when I reached out to take it, I could feel Armstrong's hands shaking slightly. I bowed my head a little as a thank you and then stepped to the side, welcoming him into the house.
        "Would you like some tea? I know you're probably busy, but I must say it's good to see a kind and familiar face."
        Out of the corner of my eye, the bodyguard Bradley had assigned to me came into the room holding a tray with a teapot and cups. He quickly set the tray down and saluted as Armstrong came inside, and he returned the gesture.
        "I'm surprised to see they had you come and deliver this to me," I said as I poured the tea for the three of us.
        "It was the least I could do. When I heard that you were back home, alive and well. I do wish it were under better circumstances." He said, taking a sip.
        I gave him a soft smile. "I do too, but now I get to thank you in person for helping me. You and Hughes both..."
        "I also heard that you won't be staying very long? You know you get a bereavement period, right?" He asked.
        I nodded and rested my hand on top of the box. "I have today and tomorrow to grieve, but people still need me."
        He nodded as he wiped a tear from his face. "You truly are a noble one. I was devastated, thinking we had lost two beautiful, innocent souls that night. It was like a light in a sliver of darkness when Hughes said you were alive."
        He stood up after that and thanked the guard and me for the tea, and went to leave. I walked him to the door and pulled it open for him. He paused for a second before wrapping his arms around me in a tight embrace. While it surprised me, I accepted it even though it felt like he was going to crush me to death.
        "I'm sorry for your losses, Nicole, I truly am... I wish you safe travels; please come and see me once you're back in Central. And... if you ever need anything, don't you dare hesitate to come and ask."
        "You have my word, sir. Thank you for your kind words." I gasped as he let me go.
        He patted the top of my head and then walked out the door. I watched and waved as his car rolled away. I closed the door behind me and wiped the tears from my eyes, going and opening the box that contained my father's and sister's remains. The size difference in the urns was sickening...
        When I got home yesterday, I immediately started to clean up the place. Being able to move around and organize years' worth of stuff that was just left to collect dust felt almost freeing... I even had time to put together memorial altars for Nina and my father.
        It felt almost nice to get something done without worrying about getting a phone call and having to leave at a moment's notice. Hell, I was able to sit and have a full, uninterrupted dinner. Sure, it was with a stranger who was only there to keep an eye on me, but it was still nice nonetheless.
        I brought myself back to reality as I took both urns out of the box and went to place them in their rightful spots. My father was placed in his lab, where he spent most of his time. Luckily enough for me, all of the animals and specimen jars were gone, so I didn't have to hear or see his sick experiments. I had cleared an area on his work table and placed a family photo behind his urn and lit some incense for him, even though he absolutely did not deserve it. I then went and grabbed Nina to bring her to her altar. I cradled her urn in my arms as I went upstairs to her room.
        Walking inside, the air instantly felt heavier. Her bed was left unmade; the impression Alexander had left was unmistakable. The book I was reading to her was still on the table, left open and untouched, just waiting for me to read it to her again. Every toy, every book, every little thing that brought her so much joy made my heart ache. The room that once housed so much love and laughter will now lie silent forever.
        I made my way to the space I had prepared for her. I had surrounded the altar with her favorite stuffed animals, all the pictures I could find of us, some of her drawings, and her favorite books; I even found one of Alexander's old collars and placed it by her urn. Once I was satisfied with how her memorial looked, I lit some incense for her, too. I sat and watched them burn away as I looked at all of the things I put around her, reflecting, remembering better days, until the incense extinguished itself.
        I continued to sit there for a couple of minutes when a knock suddenly startled me. I clutched my heart as I turned to see the guard standing just outside the door with a plate of food.
        "You really didn't have to do all this; thank you so much! I can see why Fuhrer Bradley spoke so highly of you." I smiled.
        The guard smiled back, "He knows I'm the right man for the job! And I couldn't just let you starve; it's the least I could do after hearing what happened."
        He looked around Nina's room, his eyes finally falling on her altar.
        "How old was she? If I may ask."
        "She had just turned four," I said sadly.
        "That's awful... And for things to end the way they did... I'm so sorry." He said as he gently placed a hand on my shoulder.
        "Thank you, but I really don't want to think about it. It's too painful..." I tightened my grip on my plate as I shrugged his hand off of me.
        "I read the report and some of the pictures, seeing all that blood and hearing how that alchemist killer murders his victims... You're so lucky to be the only survivor!" He continued.