Alex eyed the dotted scenery above him, caught between the idea of cloud gazing and sun gazing. What's the difference you ask? Well one you would watch picturesque cotton balls of white drift lazily by the sky while the other had the chance of melting your eyes off and forcing your eyelids to peel back. For Alex, he preferred to sungaze, Why? Because fuck it, he can.
Plus, it helped filter out the loss of Wall Maria a year ago and his subsequent lockdown and stalkers following him every which way thanks to his new abilities. Yeah, when he came back from his rampage across Shigansina town to kill a whopping 67 Titans (HAH The Drill Sergeant can kiss my arse!) and returned with both his hands transformed into blades with blood dripping from head to toe, the soldiers weren't actually keen to see him.
The only thing that stopped them from killing him were his teammates from the Scouting Legion and even then they were a bit hesitant in being anywhere within a 10 metre distance around him. Then the Military Police came down and those freaky Wall Priests began ganging up on him, the 'Abomination', the whole day was dedicated to a lot of sneers and open disgust.
Then, the Tribunal Came. No, Alex snarled, there was too much bullshit for that to be a tribunal.
Flashback
"That Beast is obviously a Titan wearing human skin! For all we know they have had this ability for years and have been implanting these hideous sleeper agents!" Alex pulled a disgusted face at the portly merchant that had shouted those words, his spit flying out of his mouth and face red with whatever stupidity he went and choked on this morning.
"He is an abomination who dared sully the sanctity of these walls! These walls gifted to us by God himself. Don't you see, there is no other option beyond killing this monstrosity!" And there's the psychotic priest man. Really, he could never fathom that religion. Sure God was probably worth worshipping but a Wall? Now that just didn't make much sense to Alex.
"I demand order in the court!" The Judge, Darius Zackly and also the only one remotely susceptible to deal with this matter, silenced the chatter with one swing of his hammer. The Commander of all three military branches turned to Alex with a steely gaze that unnerved him. Sure he had the memories of Alex Mercer and James Heller, memories of standing against both Elizabeth Greene and the Steely Eyes of Colonel Rooks but that was just what they were. Memories of men long dead and Alex was just a green recruit on his first trip outside the walls. He wasn't used to this type of stress.
"Alex Carlborne of The Survey Corps, Member of the recent Scouting Legion sent out of Wall Maria in search of places for humanity to expand, it has come to the attention of this court that you possess...unique abilities unheard of from a human. Many of the Garrison have bear witness to your destructive display outside the walls and your subsequent slaughter of roughly 70 Titans using two bladed weapons that were attached to your arms, is this true?"
Alex closed his eyes, shifting uncomfortably at the chains that bound him in place. "Yes it is true Sir" The Recruit replied, the response was immediate. Many of the civilians and some soldiers cried out how it was a trick, how he merely killed those Titans to help prolong his death before he turned against humanity. Darius brought his hammer back down.
Meanwhile Alex was in disgust, eyes shadowed by the memories of both Mercer and Heller being in the middle of Humanity's scorn, being belittled and hated for doing what they could when they could. Even if they didn't particularly care for what happened to human life outside of their targets, there was no doubt that their presence help assisted in the destruction of the Virus. Humanity ,it seemed, changed little from those warring years.
"Alex Carlborne, this Tribunal is held today to decide upon the best course of action we, the inhabitants of humanities last fortress, should take in the case of you. Representing the trial against you are members of the Military Police while those siding with you are the Survey Corps and the Garrison Corps." Immediately two aptly dressed men strode forward from where they were standing to his right, The Survey Corps Commander Keith Shadis stepping up with The Garrison Commander Dot Pixis. Alex turned to the two Commanders and noticed how Pixis gave him a tight smile before returning eyes to the Judge but Keith, that was where Alex's hopes lifted. The man had haunted and dark eyes but there was a light in them that said 'I will not let another member of my Legion die!' that put Alex at ease.
On the left side The Military Police Commander Nile Dok took a quick step forward and managed to look presentable as a soldier even though Alex and many of the people in the Court knew these men were far from soldiers. "According to the Military Police investigation we have discovered an array of things that greatly disturbs the peace Humanity is working to sustain in the aftermath of the Wall Maria breach!" He began, "It has been reported that Alex Carlborne had been separated from his parent unit on a fateful encounter with a Titan before mysteriously appearing to assist in destroying the Titans, surely the coincidence isn't concerning. Furthermore it has been seen that as Alex Carlborne engaged the enemy and slaughtered most of the Titans inside Shigansina Town he was incapable of stopping all of them, which brings up the credibility of the claim if that is true or if he is merely hiding the fact he did not want Shigansina retaken, there is also his mental stability to be taken account as he repeatedly cut and ripped the Titans in gruesome ways, granted it is to be expected of monsters but not that of humans"
Alex grimaced slightly, he may have lost himself in both Mercers and Hellers apparent thirst for blood and violence amidst killing the Titans but it wasn't as bad as what those two would have done!
"It is clear that Alex is a threat to the humans in this wall and should be eliminated as soon as possible" Nile Dok took a step back and watched as many of the civilians yelled their agreements. Which again led Darius to silence them all.
"Now we shall hear the Commander of the Survey Corps" Keith Shadis nodded respectfully and stepped forward with the gait of a man on a mission and that mission for the first time in a long time would be to ensure the safety of one of his own. "Members of the Court, I beseech you that you would sit and think over the possible advantages that this would provide. Outside in the battle Alex showed great lethality against the Titans using his powers to save several Garrison Soldiers and Civilians alike," Keith heard murmuring break out behind him and he hoped it was about something good, "In light of this Alex Carlborne has sworn the solemn pledge to defend and serve both Humanity and the King to the best of his abilities and he stayed true by eliminating the Titans within the walls to achieve close to about "HOW DARE YOU!" Keith bit the inside of his lip and noticed Dot suddenly stiffen and pointedly glare at him from the corner of his eye. 'Shit, wrong thing to say'
"How dare you so much as associate our God to this monster! To believe God would bring such a monster into the walls is unthinkable! The sanctity of this gift our God have given will not be compromised by this creature's presence or by your audacious claims! He is a monstrosity that needs to be killed! A tool for us to dissect and study to understand exactly what these Titans are and to ensure the survivability of mankind. Our God made us the rightful people to walk this Earth not thi-" "ENOUGH!" the Court grew silent at the sudden shout. Shocked and fearful eyes turning to a seething Alex glaring hatefully at the floor. Memories encased him, memories of humanity turning away the person who saved them from extinction, memories of humanity taking the daughter of a man away from him and memories of humanity turning against each other with no thought of the consequences. The Humanity that burned away Mercers faith in it and nearly destroyed Hellers only hope.
Can't they see?! Are they always blind! Why can't they see I'm trying to help them! "All of you shut up!" He yelled, shocking Keith, "I did not come here, running and screaming, watching as comrade after comrade fell to the Titans for this!" Alex felt his hands morphed but he paid them no heed as he took a menacing step forward, fear instantly crawling up the spines of those present. "I swore a solemn oath to forever stand with humanity! To serve it and the King! But above all else I swore to kill every Titans to ever walk the face of this Earth!" Members of the Military Police sprang into action and fired two bullets into Alex's head but to the shock and horror of those present there he shook of the blows without even budging. "I swore that oath with my Classmates, the very same Classmates that lie bloodied and beaten on the ground! I fought out there, miles from my home and loved ones to find a place for us humans in that outside world!" Darius stared, dumbstruck as this recruit was suddenly only a few scant metres from him, prefect lunging distance, "I don't know how or why but I was given these powers and I had decided then and there" Swallowing the deepest breath he had ever had his next action caught everyone by surprise. He formed a perfect salute and stared at Darius with unflinching eyes, steeled with the memories of Mercer and Heller with the Blacklight Virus giving his Ocean eyes an inhuman-like glow, "So I do not care what you think!" His voice changed, twisted into a form of speech like Alex Mercer, "I did not lose friends to those monsters to be judged by the people I was protecting!" It switched to Heller. "The Blood that was spilled uselessly ( There was silence in the court, no one moved, no one breathed and then the civilians who had stayed idle throughout the discussion stood up and one by one they filed out of the court, when all save one had left the court, Keith numbly realised that it was Moses mother. She looked at Alex not with a look of disgust or hatred nor in compassion or sympathy. It was blank and dead but held the slightest bit of hope, hope pointed at Alex that this boy in front of her would ensure her child did not die in vain. "Go, we will not stop you..." She looked towards Darius Zackly who remained seated in his spot, a tiny bit of sweat rolling down his forehead as he watched the Survey Corps Cadet still in salute and staring at him. The Old lady sniffed the air and turned around, "It's not like
She walked out of the room.
Alex could literally feel both Mercer and Heller snorting to that.
End incredibly draining flashback...now...and now
Alex jumped out of his reminisce of his past. It was always hard to get out of his memories when he was in them. Sometimes he didn't want out or the Virus didn't at least. Looking to the sky he saw the sun a little bit farther from where he left off. "Shit!" He cursed, he missed an entire 55 minutes daydreaming!
"There you are, I'd have thought you'd try to at least remain hidden after losing us" Alex leaned his head back to see Petra Ral there, dressed in her usual Military Fatigues and Green Cloak. Alex could feel Heller snort in his mind, a residual effect at having another mans memories in your head, and listened as the older military man painted out the flaws in the designs, the most notably is its apparent attractiveness when presented upon a female soldier. Which Alex was not afraid to miss.
"Sorry, Petra I'll be more careful next time. Forgive me for having you watch over me" Something in Alex's face soured, even if he had been lifted from lockdown and allowed to roam free a member of the Recon Corps had to be with him at all time and Petra got the short end of the stick.
Petra smiled at him, more warmly than to other branches of the Military as he was a member of the Scouting Legion that had sacrificed much for the times back then. She was short and caring as far as Alex was concerned and she also had a soft spot for him. Alex guessed it was due to the peoples views on him.
The General public were fine with having a person with Alex's capabilities part of their ranks but the more fanatical of them all, mainly The Priests and The Military Police were more than just disgruntled at having Alex a member of their squad. Alex wasn't ashamed to admit that he consumed one or two Police Officers who had gotten on his nerves (Somewhere Private Of course) and though he regretted it at first, a minute or two in their memories and he took it all back. Now he was happily storing their biomass into his body in hopes he could recreate the abilities used by both Heller and Mercer.
As it stood he could use the short blade used by Alex at his younger years and Hellers Claws with practical ease, though his version was still unrefined and needed more biomass to be completed, and he was just a couple more pounds of biomass short in making the Hammerfist. Then, in taking with both the Former Survey Corps Commander and current one, the delved in the idea of forming and unit of Evolved. There were many intricacies involved with that one as Alex didn't have the level of control with the Virus as much as Elizabeth or Alex nor was he attached to the Hive Mind to give him some pointers. Hopefully he'd be able to get that sorted out next year when the next batch of Recruits come along. The Virus was thinking the same thing.
"It's okay Alex, Oluo bit his tongue again and is getting it patched up, he nearly cut it clean off this time, ah, and Hanji has currently started on another Titan fantasy HQ isn't really a place I want to be right now" The Prototype grinned at her, the action causing his body to ripple with tentacles. Like his counterparts all of Alex's clothes were made from the Blacklight, though they remained the same as any other uniform without variation there was a new mark on his Wing of Freedom. Smack dab in the middle was a quarantine sign burned in red. Fitting for the walking Biohazard.
Petra noticed his excitement and raised an eyebrow, "Alex?" The males grinned stretched impossibly wide and Petra was reminded that sometimes, he could really be scary. "Lets do a race, first person to reach the walls has to sit through one of Hanjis speeches" Petra looked shock before an expression of utter confidence took shape "You're on, those tentacles won't help you here" Without waiting for a signal she launched her 3D Gear and disappeared over the buildings.
Alex smiled as his biomass writhed onto the 3D Gear on his sides. Those very same gears he rarely ever used beside to grapple onto running prey. "Oh believe me little girl, I don't need those tentacles" With a sudden cry he heaved over the buildings and landed across the busy streets, running through the crowds with speeds and agility only seen in dreams before latching onto the wall with his biomass and cutting through the people.
It was here, where Alex was scaling the walls and using every bit of his powers to his advantage that he realised, he was at home here. Even if he would always be labeled the freak this was what he would fight for.
Looking down at the people yelling obscenities at him, watching Petra look back at him over her shoulder with a smile and remembering the faces of his friends who were not with him knew what he was fighting if he wasn't human if so many had was fighting in the memory of those who died and were going to die in this bloody war.
Because he was more than a monster.
He was a monster with a goal and a thirst for blood.
A/N I had planned on the chapter before being a oneshot because well, I always wondered why nobody crossover the game with this anime! I mean they fit like to pieces of a pie. If you discarded Prototype 2 you would get a perfect Protagonist who suffered the loss of Dana and was mindless to the death of humankind and probably only have eyes on the death of Titans for entertainment marketing huge entertainment value with the interaction between him and Eren whom he would probably see as a weaker species.
If you go with Heller, you've got a father lost without his wife or daughter and has nowhere to go. He could adopt the cadets as family in his eyes or he could even take over Erwin because fuck it I never liked him.
People might ask me why I never acted upon these ideas,well i have neat trick at destroying all well thought out idea and making them unappealing to other authors so I'm not doing anything with that, really I destroyed my The Elven Bloodline and am currently working too hard on destroying the storyline of A Spartan to Be WHICH I ABSOLUTELY REFUSED.
SO AUTHORS, I BESEECH YOU! WRITE!
PEWPEWPEWPEWPEWPEWPBOWCHIKABOWWOWPEWPEWPEWP
Anyone see the brief cameos in there?
