A/N: Hello again! Ok, hopefully this chapter goes over well. But here's the scoop—I have two author accounts. At the time I made the second I had some things I wanted to post but I wasn't sure about them. But now that I don't care, I feel like 'coming out' so to speak. As it is, some of you guys read and review two of my stories, one on each account. So here's the deal—if you guys can figure out who my other account is, you'll get a sneak peek/clue to my other story. At the bottom are the details and a set of clues. To those who try and figure it out, good luck. And to those who don't know or don't care, hopefully you'll still enjoy this update!

Chapter 3

Several hours later found Edward still unconscious down in the infirmary and SG-1 sitting with General Hammond in the briefing room.

"Now that you're all cleared and our guest is situated, care to explain?" asked Hammond.

"Like we said sir, we were trying to escape when the gate activated, did its thing, spat Edward our and closed back up. Then the jaffa brought us all back to Ba'al," said Jack.

"What did he want?"

"Same ol', same ol'… 'I am god—lead me to your rebel base.' You know, the usual… though I must admit, it was almost worth being tortured for an hour…"

"And why is that Colonel?"

Jack's face split into a smile and Hammond noticed the rest of SG-1 (including Teal'c) couldn't help but grin a little as well.

"Let's just say we've learned not to insult Edward's height," said Jack.

Hammond scrunched his brows in confusion and turned to Carter, who had laughed a little at Jack's comment, for clarification.

"What he means sir, is Edward landed a perfect spin kick to Ba'al's head—"

"Landing him right on his ass," finished Jack with a wicked grin.

"He then proceeded to use many of the expletives Colonel O'Neill seems fond of to curse the jaffa," said Teal'c.

"And when Ba'al asked for his name, I believe his words were, 'Go fuck yourself, you freaky-voiced son-of-a-bitch,'" quoted Daniel.

Hammond just sat for a moment, taking it in. Then he visualized the small boy he had met earlier doing all of this.

He couldn't help it. He burst into a full fit of laughter. SG-1 looked suitably shocked. It was the first time they had seen the General react so blatantly.

Finally the General's laughter died down and he wiped a couple tears from the corner fo his eyes.

"Remind me to thank that boy for the best laugh I've had in a while," said the General, shuffling through some papers, with a small smile still on his face. "Is there anything else I should know about the mission or the boy?"

"Edward Elric earned the respect of several of Ba'al's jaffa, despite his attack on the gou'ald," said Teal'c.

Hammond's eyebrows shot up. "Really? How did he manage that?"

"As we understand it, Edward didn't cry out once during Ba'al's 'ministrations'," said Daniel.

"You don't say. That's quite a feat…"

"But nothing like what he did to help us escape, sir," said Carter.

"What do you mean Major?"

"He… I really don't know what it was, sir. The first time he engraved a symbol of some sort into the metal cuffs binding his hands. Then when he touched the symbol it released a blue light and destructed the manacles. When he was free he used the same skill to create a hole in the walls, only instead of drawing a symbol he clapped his hands like this," said Carter, demonstrating.

"And you have no idea what this skill was?"

"None, sir. All I know is that it seemed to cause an unstable reaction with the metal of the ship resulting in an explosion. And as far as I can tell it wasn't a form of technology. It was almost like…" here she bit her lip.

"Almost like what, Major?"

"Magic, sir," said Carter.

Somewhere down in the infirmary, Edward twitched.

"And what of the ruins you mentioned earlier. Did you manage to gather any information before you were attacked? Perhaps why Ba'al was interested in them?"

"I didn't get much time to investigate the hieroglyphs thoroughly, and most of what I did find was things we've already gathered. Mostly about he 'God's from the Skies,' likely a reference to the gou'ald. However, there was one passage I managed to translate vaguely before I tripped the alarm that caught my attention. It claimed to know of a world with a power greater than that of the 'sky gods' which could be used to drive them away."

"Did it mention what this power was or where the world was located?" asked Hammond.

"It didn't name the power directly, but called it 'the force' or some variation of that." Off to the side Jack snickered. Daniel sent him a glare while the others attempted to squash the signs of their own amusement. Daniel continued, "Unfortunately it didn't give a description of the power itself. And as for the world—that's where it got complicated. It gave no gate address, only described it as the Fool's Path. Apparently it was considered a suicide mission to search it out. The world itself was described as a land of 'peace, prosperity, beauty and power.' Whoever gained use of the power was assured victory…"

It was then that Dr. Frazier burst into the conference with a disturbed look on her face. (1)

"Sir, there's something you need to see."

"Is it about our guest?"

"Yes sir, if you'd follow me…" she hurried out of the room, Hammond and SG-1 following quickly behind her.

-------------------------------------------------------

"What?!"

"You heard me Colonel, this boy has naquadah in his bloodstream. Large amounts of it, even by gou'ald standards."

"You mean he's…" said Daniel.

"That's just it," Janet said, "He isn't a host. And there are no indicators showing he ever was. No scar tissue or anything. Granted, I can't give him a CAT scan due to his metal prosthetics, which in and of themselves are remarkable, but all the other tests come back negative. To be honest, by the way it looks, he may have been born to it. And judging from the amounts I found, I'd say it also points to the possibility that he comes from a world 'loaded' with the mineral."

"But he is human," said O'Neill, trying to confirm.

"Yes, Colonel," said Janet with a patient nod.

"But if he has naquadah, when why didn't I or Ba'al sense it?" asked Carter.

"He also appears to have chemicals found in the symbiote masking drug, again natural to his body. So it's possible that they effectively masked it from you both."

"However he has several physical and genetic anomalies that I've never seen before, along with the naquadah in his system. He is usually strong. Despite his size I'd say he could give a jaffa or gou'ald a run for their money. Then there's his iris color, which still floors me as gold is not a natural human eye color. And of course there are his mechanical limbs…"

"How do those work by the way? Were you able to find out?" asked Carter, ever the scientist.

"That's probably the most astounding and disturbing part. Wherever this boy is from, their prosthetics are far more advanced than Earth. From what I could gather the wires of the arm are hardwired directly into the boy's nervous system."

"But that…" Carter's eyes widened as she took in the implications of such a surgery. "That's why he has such high pain tolerance…" The others were lost.

"Umm… care to explain?"

"What she means is that it hurts like a bitch to have done. Which is one reason why few people bother to go through with it," said a voice from the bed.

The group turned to see striking gold eyes watching them.

"You know, it's rude to talk about a person behind their back," Ed said.

"Ahh… but we aren't behind your back. We're beside your bed," said Jack with a grin.

Edward rolled his eyes, "Great, another Havoc…"

"Come again?"

"Nothing," sighed Edward as he sat up in his hospital bed, swinging his legs over the side.

"Mr. Elric--," Dr. Frazier started forward, but Edward just waved her off.

"Yeah, yeah, I know hospital procedures like the back of my hand. I'll be a good boy. I just need to use the restroom."

"It's on that side of the room," said Jack, pointing in the direction of the men's room.

"Thanks," said Edward as he waved without turning around.

"Well, other than the anomalies, does the boy check out?" asked Hammond.

"Yes, he should be fine, if a bit tired for a few days. As long as he doesn't strain himself, after a week or two he should be back to normal energy levels," said Dr. Frazier.

"Are you willing to give him clearance to leave the infirmary?"

"He should be sure to go to sleep early tonight to rest but I see no problem with him leaving."

"Very well. Dr. Jackson, I want you to settle the boy into a set of guest rooms and see to it he's comfortable. I'll expect all of you in the briefing room at 1000 hours tomorrow morning. Dismissed," said Hammond. Carter and O'Neill snapped a salute which he returned before walking out of the infirmary.

"Well Danny-boy, have fun baby-sitting," said Jack, clapping a hand on Daniel's shoulder. "I in the mean time have Tivo calling my name."

"I believe I shall take time to Kel'nor'eim," said Teal'c with a nod before walking away.

"I'm going to cross reference any information concerning nerve surgery and attachments. I want to see just how far behind we are on that," said Carter with the 'scientist' gleam in her eyes before she too left.

"I have reports to file concerning my genetic findings, so I'll leave him to you," said Janet before heading into her office.

Just then Daniel heard the door to the bathroom open and out walked Edward, blinking in surprise at the lack of people in the once crowded room.

"Heh, look like it's just you and me kid."

---------------------------------

"This will be where you're staying, at least for tonight," said Daniel, flipping on the light switch.

Ed took a look around the room. 'Well, it's better than the military dorms back home.'

"Hopefully it's satisfactory," said Daniel as he watched Edward inspect the room.

"It's better than what I have back home, so yeah it's fine, thanks."

"No problem, Edward."

"Ed. Call me Ed."

"Alright, then call me Daniel," he said sticking his hand out to take Ed's. Ed smiled and shook it.

"So, would you like a tour of the base or would you rather skip directly to dinner?"

At the mention of dinner Ed's stomach gave an audible growl, demanding attention. Ed grinned sheepishly while Daniel laughed outright.

"Alright, off to the cafeteria then…"

"Daniel, is there any chance I could eat in my room?" asked Ed hesitantly. His experience with military cafeterias was that no matter the time, day or night, they were always occupied. And to be honest, he didn't feel up to dealing with other people yet. He was still reeling under everything that had already happened.

Daniel guessed as much and nodded. "Sure, that can be arranged. Interested in having some company?"

Ed shrugged his assent and Daniel went to call up the day's 'special'—Chicken Surprise.

"Chicken Surprise?" asked Ed doubtfully.

"Yeah, the surprise is just how much is really chicken. Take that for what you will. You know, I've noticed you're very well spoken when you're not yelling profanities."

Ed smirked, "Yeah, well you aren't quite as much of a nerd as you look on first sight."

"Ouch, touché. Though I think Jack would disagree with you."

"Besides, I read a lot of books, so it comes with the territory. Jack was the old guy that was with you in that bastard's place, right?"

"Yes, except I don't think he'd appreciate the 'old guy' description," said Daniel.

"Just telling it how I see it," said Edward just as there was a knock on the door.

"That would be the food," said Daniel getting the door. Sure enough it was and soon they were seated in a couple lounge chairs staring questionably at the food before them.

"Umm… why don't you try it first Edward? You were so hungry earlier…"

"Hell no! You're used to this food, you try it first!"

"No really! I insist! Guests first—"

"'Guest first' my ass! You just want to know if it's edible!"

"And you don't?"

"Fine," grumbled Edward, picking up his fork. 'Hell, if I can take on death by impalement I can take cafeteria food…'

Ed took a bite, Daniel watching closely for his reaction.

First there was none, then is face took on a green tint. Soon he was spitting everything back up onto the trays.

"Blugh! That shit had milk in it!" he screamed, scrubbing his tongue with the sleeve of the shirt they had lent him. "What are they trying to do?! Poison me?!"

"Why? Are you allergic to it?" asked Daniel, concerned.

"No, but I might as well be! That cow piss is the most disgusting shit in the world!"

Daniel turned a little green too at Edward's description. Suddenly he found his already slim appetite for the chicken-like substance vaporized.

"Is there nothing else to eat here?" asked Ed desperately, punctuated by another loud growl from his stomach region.

"Nothing on base, but maybe we could get the general to send a private to pick something up. Any preferences?"

"As long as it doesn't taste like milk I don't care."

0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0

An hour later found Daniel and Ed once again seated, but this time around a thin cardboard box.

"What did you call this again? A pisa?"

"It's a pizza. And before you say anything, yes it has cheese on it, but give it the benefit of the doubt."

"I guess…" said Ed doubtfully, but he grabbed up a piece. His stomach gave a loud demanding growl at the pleasant smell. Slowly he took a bite…

Daniel watched in trepidation. If this didn't work…

Ed chewed and paused. His eyes widened…

Daniel prepared himself to duck and cover away from a fountain of spewed food—

"This stuff is delicious! What all is in it?!"

Daniel breathed a sigh of relief. He'd liked it.

"This particular kind has hand-tossed dough, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, mushrooms, green peppers, olives and various herbs and spices."

"I'm going to have to learn how to make this…" muttered Edward as he inspected the pizza with a scientific eye. "And you know, you almost sounded like I do when I quote the composition of the human body. I take it you've contemplated the makings of such a pizza before?"

"Yeah, I guess you could say that, " said Daniel, all the while wondering why Edward would be quoting compositions… "So Ed, how old are you anyway?"

"Sixteen, seventeen in a few months. Why?"

"Really? You don't look—err—" Daniel left off as the dark look he remembered from Ba'al's ship started to com back. "I mean, you—err—sound older. The way you talk I mean—"

The dark look lifted a bit, but Ed's eyes remained narrowed in suspicion. "Yeah, well, like I said—I read a lot," he said as he turned back to his pizza.

"What do you like to read? I might be able to find you something while you're here."

"Mostly I read research documents and books on scientific theory. Other times I'm forced to look through myths and legends."

"School assignments?" asked Daniel.

"Hell no!" said Ed with an affronted look. "I haven't been in school since before I was nine!"

"Really? Was that as far as it went, or…?"

"Nah, school continues until you're about 14 or 15, then you either go into an apprenticeship and the like or you join the military. My brother and I dropped out first to help take care of our mom because she was ill. And after she died we decided not to go back and continued our… private studies."

"Oh, I'm sorry about your mom," Daniel said quietly. "My parents both died when I was that old too. At the same time in fact. They were… crushed by an exhibit they were helping set up at a museum."

"Damn…" said Ed.

"At least you still had your father, right?" asked Daniel.

Ed snorted, "Yeah right, that bastard ditched us when I was two…"

"Did you ever see him again?"

Ed paused mid bite and he pursed his lips. One of Daniel's eyebrows quirked up a notch.

"Yeah, years later. Just recently in fact…"

"How did that go?"

Ed paused again and for a little longer this time. Daniel watched Ed's face and movements, looking for anything that could give the kid away. Everyone had something that did, whether it was a twitch, a subconscious gesture, or…

Daniel looked directly at narrowed golden orbs.

'Aha… so it's the eyes…'

He was startled at the emotion he saw in the boy's unfocused gaze. Emotion that ran the gamut from pissed, to hurt, to… sympathy?

"It was… strange," said Ed finally, unaware of just how closely he was being watched. "And neither time was under the best of circumstances…"

"How so?"

"It's difficult to explain… and if I'm going to have to go into that explanation I'd prefer to do it only once for everone."

"Does it involve that stuff you did with the light and the gate you mentioned?" asked Daniel.

Ed nodded mutely.

Daniel sighed, 'Dammit, and I was getting answers too…'

But right then Edward yawned and rubbed his eyes, tiredly. Checking his watch Daniel was surprised at how quickly time had passed. It was already later than the time Dr. Frasier had 'recommended' that Ed go to bed.

'Well, that settles that,' though Daniel, stretching as he stood. "I think maybe we should call it a night. Janet would rip me a new one if she thought I was putting one of her patients 'in distress.'"

Ed gave a tired smile as he stood as well. Though he wouldn't say it he was rather glad that Daniel was leaving. Not only was he really tired, but he also had a lot to sort through. First and foremost was what he was going to tell these people in the meeting tomorrow morning. Second, he needed to start trying to figure out what went wrong in the Gate.

But as Daniel left and Edward settle in, he hadn't made it much farther than the thought, 'Wonder what Al would say…' before his eyelids were slowly drawn closed and he fell into a deep sleep.

A/N: Ok! The details! If you can figure out my other pen name on here, you will have my pen name for my account at DeviantArt. On that account are two images that serve as illustrations and, if you are able to figure them out, clues to another story some of you are reading. Here are the clues to the other story and account:

The story is a crossover.

The story is Roy/Ed (sorry to you guys that offends, but if it's any consolation I don't intend to do that with this story unless enough people want it).

I accidentally made the first line of summary of both these stories almost identical.

A-Ed (Love ya Roy!)

So, can any of you follow the clues to a bigger clue? Will all of you scalp me for being such an idiot? Hope you enjoyed the chapter!