Jack slumped."...your right"

Before long the group was at central HQ, facing General Tira Elric at her desk. "It's good that you could all come," She said. "I've already been briefed on all the damage, as well as told the condition of Yukina and Kalin."

Yusie nodded.'Good .... so what did yiou need to see us for?",he asked . hopeing everything was okay.

"To make sure you lot are here legally." Tira said. "As of right now, you guys are considered to be here illegally, which doesn't help matters with the fact that you all look Xingese."

"Xingese?" Crow asked.

"Xing's a country to the east of Amestris." Tira replied. She opened a drawer in her desk and pulled out a world map, which she spread out on her desk, anchoring it with her mug of coffee, desk light, paperweight, and gun. She pointed to the center of the map. "This is Amestris." She moved to the left. "This huge country here is Xing, on the other side of the desert in between." Next she pointed to the top of the map. "Here is Drachma, which is on...less than friendly terms with Amestris at the moment. The red dot is Briggs, which keeps the border defended. Down here," she pointed to a country to the south, "is Creta, and Aerugo is right next to it to our southwest. Neither, especially Aerugo, are particularly fond of Amestris either. Creta likes to remain on the semi-neutral side, but even I know they're not fond of us. Xing is the same way; they act neutral to us, but there are some in the upper echelons who would love to go to war with them."

"I take it you're not one of them." Crow said.

Tira nodded. "Which makes it all the more important for you all to be here legally. If some of my superiors found out you were here...well, it would be just the excuse they needed." She replied. "There's a very good chance you could all be incarcerated on suspicion of spying."

Yusei sighed."then how do we make our stay here...legal?",he asked. The last thing he needed was to be locked up. And he sure as hell didnt want the rest of his friends to be locked up.

Tira pulled out a document for them all to sign. "I will take responsibility for you all while you are here." She replied. "If anything goes wrong, if you're accused of being spies--which I believe none of you are, as you're not Xingese--I'll not only be able to vouch for you, but also be the one alerted if anything goes wrong." She pulled out a pen as well. "And since I'm in the higher levels of the military...Let's just say I have more than a bit of influence over the military. The state alchemists in particular."

Yusei smiled."great , well have to get Kalin to sighn once hes awake",he said sighing the paper and looked to her."what about Yukina? is she legal too?", He knew that Yukina had basicly grew up her,but she wasn't from here either.

Tira nodded. "I made sure of that." She said. "Technically she's registered as being part of the Rockbell's family, even though she insisted on living on her own."

Yusei laughed some."thats Yukina for you"

"Just one question," Crow said. "Where are we going to stay?"

"I'm handling that issure." Edward replied. "Tira and I are splitting the rooms you guys are staying in. Half of you are rooming with me and Al, and the other half will have a room to yourselves."

Yusei looked to Ed."thats nice"

Jack smirked."me and Crow are already set",he said grinnnng.

Crow finished writing his name on the document. "I take it the girls are staying in another room?" He asked

Tira nodded. "And I saw this in the paper this morning. With what happened today, I didn't get a chance to show you." She said, pushing the paper towards them. The front page picture had an image of a familiar Signer dragon....

"That's Black Rose Dragon!" Kyle said suddenly.

Yusei quickly looked at the papaer, grinning."it is!"

"Look at the headline." Tira said grimly.

"'Woman destroys city block, 5 sent to the hospital'" Crow read. "Don't tell me...."

"That doesn't sound good in my book." Kyle said.

Yusei looked to here."where is this?",he asked worried.

"East City." Tira replied.

Crow looked uneasily at Yusei. He's probably going to head off right away...but he just got that leg, too, and isn't used to it yet.

Yusei nodde."thanks",he said and headed for the door.

"Also," Tira called as the group started leaving, "you might want to keep those decks of yours on you at all times."

Yusei turned toi her.'were dulest, of course we keep then on us",he called back with a gin.

Tira nodded. "Good." She replied. "Something's afoot here...and I hate to admit that you lot may be the only ones to combat it properly." And here I thought the Homunculi were bad enough....

Yusie nodded."dont wory were here when you need us",he said and continued down the hall.

Tira nodded as the group left. Here's hoping we won't need their help as much as I think we will. She thought.

Yusei sighed as they walked down the hall.

"Something wrong?" Kyle asked.

" just when i think we catch a break moe trouble shows its ugley head"