AN I decided to twist the setting of the Corps to make it more hostile towards women. Rachel is the first female to ever be permitted into the Survey Corps (Sorry, Hanji will come in later!)and is only there by Commander Erwin's order. Her integration is the focus of this chapter. (I promise, things will pick up and apologies this took so long!)

"How the hell are you going to escape those damn titans at that pace? Move it!" The 37 year old captain did his best to intimidate the newbie as she ran around the narrow, dusty road. Even he had mixed emotions; although, they were for a completely different reason. She was a formidable soldier, and one he certainly hoped he could trust. But for her to be able to survive without any assistance in the wilderness where the Corps had lost countless people, she was cursed rather than praised.

Her head stayed in the clouds even though her feet remained grounded. She was more interested in the migration patterns of the birds than conversations with her new comrades. Not only was she skilled and held immense knowledge about the world outside the walls, but she worked harder than anyone else. An anomaly indeed, but she had greater potential than any—the potential to change the very foundation of the Corps, and the success of humanity in its struggle for control over the titans.

They didn't know that, though. Not then.

She passed the other soldiers as they fell or stopped to vomit or catch their breath and kept running even after she had met the 10 kilometer requirement. Erwin became increasingly happy with his decision to integrate her with the cadets despite the discomfort of her comrades.

The days were hard. Every time she turned around, Rachel received a crooked glance or a back-handed compliment, or a flat-out insult.

"When it comes time for the expeditions, be sure your girly emotions don't slow us down." One of the cadets would mumble when he passed her.

"We don't have time for this bitch's mood swings, Commander!" One of the squad captains complained during the interrogation she endured before she was allowed to begin her preliminary training, which was hardly a challenge for the young soldier. "We should have just killed her back there in the forest!"

Commander Erwin would defend her, but only in private. He would pull the cadets aside and remind them that his decision supersedes and they needed to keep their mouths shut and stop being so ignorant. But he wouldn't say those things in front of her. It wasn't his responsibility to make her feel comfortable, but to make her an asset. She would have to fight her own battles and earn everyone's respect.

In addition to being an outcast for her gender and skill set, she also carried the position of a new cadet. This meant she was burdened with most of the cleaning and grunt work, which most of the other cadets were happy to see. Occasionally, out of pity, Captain Levi would assist her.

"Thank you, again, Heichou." Dark brown, shoulder-length hair fell in front of her face as hung her head meekly. She was on her hands and knees scrubbing the grout of the foyer while her captain was mopping a few feet away, trying hard not to get the cleaning solution too close to his neatly pressed khakis.

"Don't mention it." He'd mumble under his breath. Unlike his typical fashion, he would never hold it over her head by saying she owed him one. He didn't feel he had the right, not after what he had done all those years ago.

Despite their history, Levi was one of the few people Rachel could talk to. Maybe it was because of their history they were so familiar. After all, they were the only two people in the Survey Corps who were raised in the underground.

The Commander was on her side as well, but that goes without saying. He took a lot of heat from the Imperial Government for letting some random woman living alone outside the wall into his custody. On rare occasions, when Rachel was stargazing or bird watching, the Commander would confront her.

"How does it compare?"

"I'm sorry, Commander?"

"To out there, I mean." His head nodded towards the vast expanse of uninhabited land in front of them from their position on the guard towers of Headquarters.

"Oh, I see… Well, they're very different, sir." She bowed her head politely. Her respect for him made it easy to lower her head. "I'm not quite adjusted yet."

"Well, it doesn't appear that way. You should be proud of your work… Even some of the men are beginning to look up to you."

"Is that so?" She raised an eyebrow, but her gaze stayed on the long blades of vibrant, untrimmed grass, swaying as one wave in the early summer wind, making her heart yearn to be back in nature's arms.

"Levi informed me of where you're from." He received a sideways glance of piqued interest. "One would have to surmise it is your pasts that make you both remarkable soldiers…" Rachel 's response was a blank, submissive stare. "He told me about your relationship with the Revival as well…"

"Oh?" She seemed genuinely surprised now. "So you no longer trust me?"

"You're assuming I had trust in you from the beginning?" He looked down at her inquisitorially.

"You're very right, my apologies… Well, I can assure you, Commander; I am not a spy. I left that life behind when I came out here." Her focus returned to the place she knew as home.

"I am aware, Rachel... You have earned Levi's trust, which is more than I can say for most people here."

"Thank you, Commander."