Attack on Titan: Twin Crimson Rose
Hundreds to thousands of men, women and children lined the streets of Trost after the Colossal Titan's attack on Shiganshina, it had displaced the entire population of Wall Maria in as little as two days but many did not make it.
"Look at these poor souls" Quinn said as she and Morgan trotted through the city of Trost on horse back "I want to help them".
"There's nothing we can do to help them, Quinn. You should be glad that we can afford to stay here, many of these people will be sleeping rough tonight" Morgan explained.
"But isn't there anything we can do?" Quinn whined.
"No, if we were to help them then we would get swarmed by those trying to take advantage of our generosity, we keep our heads down. No one is looking out for us therefore we shall not look out for anyone else, understand?" Morgan said sternly. In the event of a titan attack, the Baron put Morgan in charge of his daughter and to become her guardian for he would have to go to the capital to help deal with the problem politically.
A beggar reached out and attempted to snatch something from the horses saddle, probably a money pouch and Morgan turned his head slightly to catch him in the act, a swift metal clad kick to the face sent the man down with a bloodied nose and Morgan scowled at him.
"See, this is a cruel world, Quinn, you win through being the strongest and only the strongest" Morgan said and flicked the reigns to move through the crowd quicker.
Quinn did not approve but she knew he was right, she watched helplessly as the Military Police handed out rationed food to the poor and starving, one of the officers hauled the thief away into the back alley. Knowing the corrupt organization well, Morgan figured the man would be beaten and what money he had stolen before being thrown out of the city for titan food.
In a few days, the life they knew had been destroyed. Morgan and Quinn were more fortunate than most for they were fairly rich, at least the Baron was and the Baron paid Morgan well and he had many months of pay saved up and kept securely on his belt.
"Do you know where your father will be?" Morgan asked.
"Stohess probably but I'm not sure because of the titan attack, he may be looking for me" Quinn replied.
"Then we travel to Stohess first" Morgan looked up, it was getting dark. "Alright, we'll find an inn and stay the night".
[#]
It was 10PM and very dark outside. Morgan had paid the inn keeper extra to allow him to use the stables that was built next to the inn as a metal works in order to service his armor so he was busy tinkering. Quinn was sitting on the bench outside the inn humming to herself as it was still a bit too early to sleep. The night air was warm and muggy in the middle of summer and Quinn liked the atmosphere around her despite the days events, it was one part of solitude she could get no matter where in the world she was.
"Hey little lady, what's ya name?" A gruff voice called out and multiple footsteps followed scuffing feet.
Quinn looked up to see a gang of rough men who must have been living in the slums of Shiganshina when it fell. They had had a hard day so she knew why they were here.
"Please leave" Quinn said sternly but her voice faltered slightly and they picked it up.
"We're jus' here to talk don' worry" the leader said and sat down next to her, Quinn shuffled away to the right.
"Please leave" Quinn repeated and looked straight ahead. The man placed his grubby hand on her leg and it left a mark on her white dress.
Quinn began to panic and she desperately looked for a way out. She jumped up suddenly to run for the inn door but the man grabbed her by the arm and she let out a scream.
"C'mon lady I just wanna..."
The man's nose exploded in blood and he howled in pain then his friends turned around to see Morgan standing by the entrance of the stables. His right gauntlet was still on along with his right pauldron, gas canister pack and boots, he had been in the process of taking his armor off. His sallet helm clattered away after being thrown, now stained with filthy blood from where it had struck. The force of the helm striking him had stunned the man and he spluttered like a beast.
"Oi, what the 'ell?" One of the men bellowed like an animal. They advanced on Morgan like a pack of wolves. Quinn shook free and ran inside the inn.
The first man ran at Morgan with his fists raised but was easily downed by a swift back hand from a gauntlet as he sidestepped to the left to avoid him.
The second man charged but Morgan planted his metal boot in his face and held him steady then activated his gas pack, the gas travelled from the canisters to the boot and out of the escape nozzle which blinded the man and he fell back in agony as the freezing gas clawed at his eyes. The blast of gas spun Morgan around on one foot like a ballerina which set him up for a perfect round house kick to the throat of the third man who dared to fight. Needless to say, he fell as well.
"Well, that's one way to use my jump system" Morgan said with a hint of surprise then advanced on the groups leader.
[#]
Twenty minutes later and Morgan and Quinn were back to sitting on the bench outside the inn, they watched the military police escort the ruffians away.
"T-thanks by the way" Quinn said quietly.
"It's alright, it's my job after all" Morgan smiled back, he was cleaning the blood off of his sallet helmet.
"I didn't realize you were that good" Quinn said as she nibbled on some bread.
"I was in the military for four years remember, and I'm a lieutenant" Morgan replied.
Quinn acknowledged the statement "So what happens when we find my father?"
"I may leave being a security officer and re-join the Wall Garrison, now that the titans have returned we all must fight, one way or another" Morgan informed her.
"I'll be sad if you go".
"So will I".
"Really sad".
Morgan turned to Quinn and looked her in the eyes "Then come with me".
[#]
The next day, Morgan and Quinn were back on their horse and travelling to Stohess to find the Baron. After that he would find one of the Captain's of the Survey Corps, Hange Zoe and inform her about the Crimson Steam Titan. After his mission was complete he would then return to the Wall Garrison.
It took two days to get from Trost to Stohess and it was a long and boring ride. Morgan had no choice but to wear his armor the entire route because there was nowhere to store it and he knew he would need it in the future. The front gates parted for them and they entered a rich and bountiful city unaffected by the events outside their walls, refugees did not make it this far for the gates were bared to them due to the threat of overcrowding. Such was the caste system, a world run by wealth.
"This city is so rich!" Quinn beamed "Why didn't father decide to live here?"
"Probably because he preferred a life in the countryside" Morgan suggested.
They trotted along the main road towards the fort at the center of the city, it was the most likely place to find the Baron.
Another twenty minutes later and they clopped into the fort's courtyard then hailed the guards.
"Lieutenant Morgan St Clare of the Wall Garrison" Morgan said to the guards and saluted. They returned the salute and checked his ID.
"Tell me, is Baron Mason here?" Quinn asked as Morgan demounted his horse.
"Indeed ma'am, he's in a meeting with the head of the Military Police of Stohess" One guard answered "I would wait until they have finished before trying to speak with him".
"I'm his daughter" Quinn said and folded her arms in a kind of stroppy mood. Morgan gave her his hand to help her off of Bellerophon so she dropped the act quickly.
"Right, this way milady".
[#]
The guard opened the door to the meeting room within the fort and all the officers and politicians present turned their heads to see Morgan clunk in in his suit of armor, closely followed by Quinn.
"Quinn!" Baron Mason gasped from the head of the table and got up suddenly to greet his daughter "I was so worried that you didn't make it in time" He took her in his arms and hugged her tight.
"It's ok daddy, I'm safe" Quinn said and hugged him back. They let go and the baron turned to Morgan and took his hand in thanks.
"I knew I could count on you, Morgan" The Baron said and patted him on the shoulder.
"Just doing my job, sir" Morgan replied and removed his helmet.
[#]
"Morgan, father says that I'm to stay with him in Stohess for now, will I ever see you again?" Quinn said as Morgan prepared his horse to leave.
"Of course, I'll be back at some point or another, don't worry. Besides I think the world inside the walls is stabilizing now after the attack" Morgan said and comforted her.
Quinn sighed and looked up at the sky "You've only been here three days and you're leaving already?"
"I'm going to rejoin the Wall garrison but first I need to report that aberrant titan to someone I know in the survey corps" Morgan explained.
"But you will come back, soon?" Quinn pressed.
"I promise" Morgan said and took the stirrups of his horse then mounted it and left the city of Stohess behind him.
[#]
One week later, Survey Corps HQ.
"Captain Levi, there's someone at the gates" A survey corps member informed him as Levi was cleaning his room.
"So, let him in" Levi replied as coldly as ever without turning to face the woman.
"Yes sir" She replied and scurried off to the main gates of the castle.
Morgan St Clare trotted through the front gates of the Survey Corps base and was met by a squad of soldiers on patrol. He showed them his badge and they led him in.
Hange Zoe was in her office when Morgan knocked "Come in" Zoe trilled.
"Afternoon, captain" Morgan said and removed his helmet.
Zoe turned on her chair to face him "Do I know you, Mr knight?"
"Yes, we met back when I was in the Wall Garrison, my name is Lieutenant Morgan St Clare" Morgan said "And I'm not a knight I'm a security guard".
"Morgan... Morgan, oh yeah I remember you now" Zoe beamed "Why do you wear armor, it's a bit dated isn't it?"
"Where I'm from, 3DMG isn't very effective, I'll show you how it works after we discuss what I'm here for" Morgan said and entered the room.
"Have a seat" Zoe said and gestured to her table "How old are you?"
"17"
"That's surprising, I thought you'd be older by now" Zoe said and put her chin on her hands as she leaned against the table "So, what do you want to tell me?"
"Well, when the Colossal Titan attacked Shiganshina and let the titans invade, I came across an aberrant much like the Armored Titan and it attacked the estate that I guard" Morgan began, Zoe listened intently as her hobby was to study and learn about the titans.
"It was muscular, at least its arms were for it was almost completely covered by a swirling red cloud of boiling blood steam" Zoe looked taken aback by the horrific detail.
"It propelled itself on this cloud of steam by blasting it out at super high pressures so I assume it has no legs, but what I found the most disturbing is that in order to fuel its cloud, it must consume more people than an average titan, it then boils them inside its stomach cavity and the resultant steam is ejected from its body to create the cloud that envelopes it" Morgan explained "It's also really hot".
Zoe readjusted her glasses "Can you draw me a picture of it? What about stats?"
"Sure" Morgan replied as Zoe handed him a pencil and paper.
After he was finished drawing and noting down the statistics of the new titan, Zoe read it over then placed it in her notebook.
"I wish I could capture it" Zoe sighed.
"I would advise against it, that heat it gives off would cause the steel of a sword to warp" Morgan suggested.
"You've heard of the other aberrants then?" Morgan asked.
"The Colossal and Armored titans? Who hasn't?" Zoe remarked "Even I doubt I can catch the big one".
Morgan nodded as he knew it would be an impossible task.
Zoe snapped her book shut "Thank you for coming to tell me this, you called it the Crimson Steam Titan? This will be invaluable in case we ever encounter it".
"Just doing my job" Morgan smiled and stood up "I'll show you the armor now if you want, it has a few functions of the 3DMG like gas canisters, triggers and gas nozzles".
"Interesting" Zoe said as she looked the armor up and down "So it allows you to jump higher and free run when you're not on your horse?"
"Quite astute, I'm surprised you knew I required a horse to fight titans" Morgan replied with interest.
"It lacks maneuverability and the speed that 3DMG provides, higher jumps won't cut it" Zoe said "But I see that it makes you more effective on flat, open ground where 3DMG would be rendered useless, also I predict that it makes you harder to eat by anything smaller than a 10m class".
"Correct, damn you are good" Morgan chuckled "You summed it up perfectly, even to the class size".
"Well, it's my specialty" Zoe replied and looked Morgan in the eyes with her wild stare. Morgan blushed slightly and looked away, it was normally the girls who blushed he thought.
"What about your weapon?" Zoe asked.
"I use an explosive capped hammer to blast the limbs off a titan before striking the nape when it has fallen" Morgan explained.
"Perfect!" Zoe said with excitement "I assume you replace each blasting cap after every strike?"
"Indeed, the Baron that gave it to me was quite imaginative, if overly paranoid of titans" Morgan said.
"There's no other realistic way of fighting a titan without 3DMG, I like your set up" Zoe nodded in approval "But I'll stick to my 3DMG".
"A good idea, I for one have grown accustomed to this, in fact I prefer my armor now" Morgan said and put his sallet helm back on.
"Ooh it even has a plume" Zoe exclaimed.
Morgan got up and prepared to leave.
"Wait, Morgan, in two weeks Commander Erwin Smith is planning a reconnaissance mission outside Wall Rose to see what's left of Wall Maria and I want to capture a titan at the same time, can you help me?" Zoe asked, almost begged, for she needed a like minded person to assist her.
"Well, I was planning on returning to the Wall Garrison tomorrow but, well, I suppose serving in the Survey Corps for a while could be fun" Morgan said.
"YAHOOO!" Hange Zoe spun around and flung her arms in the air.