Heroes of the Survey Corps: Alex Emmerson

(A Prelude Season for Attack on Titan)

Episode 1: The Two Future Commanders

Alex Emmerson and Keith Shadis were friends.

Even more, they were best friends.

Since they were seven, they used to climb to the second highest tower at the cathedral in the Trost District; and they would talk there and fantasize about all the adventures that they would have when they became adults. They looked down at their town and at the people, and somehow, it felt—from that high altitude at the cathedral—like all their dreams would come true.

At first glance, they looked like two normal kids from Trost, like all the others. They lived inside the human frontier created by Wall Rose and had average lives like everybody else. But a deeper look at them revealed that they were more adventurous than most and their dreams were more ambitious as well. They had dreams for their future that would take them beyond the walls and into the dangerous uncharted territories that were inhabited by the terrible titans. Even though they had never seen a titan in person, they were not afraid of the obvious dangers, because their minds were more driven by adventure and by the imminent discovery of the unknown…

Four years after Alex and Keith met, and four years after they began to have those ideas about leaving Trost and going beyond the walls, an unexpected event was about to change their lives; and they were just one day away from it…

That day, during the afternoon, Alex was by himself at the highest location in the cathedral's tower. He was sitting on the open space, close to the large bell, playing his harmonica and looking down at the town of Trost and its people—as usual—when Keith arrived.

They were eleven years old now, so they were starting to look a little less like kids, and more like young teenagers. Keith was tall, slender, and happy-go-lucky. Alex was short, smart, and quite bold; despite his young age, he had the eyes, the thoughts, and the look of those people that can and will make things happen. Few kids at that age would dare to sit where Alex was sitting, as if it was something normal, and no other kid was thinking what he was thinking about the walls and the future.

Keith looked far more upbeat than usual that day, as if he had just received the best news in a very long time. He also looked tired and had heavy breathing, as if he came running two full miles, all the way from his grandfather's house to the cathedral's tower. It seemed as if he was about to deliver something awesome to Alex. He looked very happy.

"Did your dad tell you yet?! My grandfather told me that you two are also going to Town Angelia tomorrow. It's a big secret, but, you know, we are going to see them at last! We are going to see the heroes of the Survey Corps! The guys that go beyond the walls and kill titans, the guys that do what no one else here is doing, the heroes that are going into the uncharted lands! We will meet them tomorrow in person!"

Alex smiled and his eyes looked as if a victory had just been won. He stood up and looked at Keith.

"It was about time. Now, we are going to meet them and we will also know the new town that they are making for the Order of the Angelial Knights and for the members of the Survey Corps. It feels very possible now..."

Alex jumped down, he placed his harmonica in his pocket, grabbed a sword-like stick, and jumped back onto the open space. He pointed the stick at the Sun, beyond the walls, and raised his voice:

"Commander Alex Emmerson and Commander Keith Shadis, the two leaders of the Survey Corps, march forward and make the greatest discovery in the history of mankind, in the middle of the evil land of the titans! Then, we return victorious and have a grand party thrown on our honor, here at Trost! And we, the heroes, make this town a better place and open new paths for everyone! And last, but not least, Keith finally proposes to Carla and they get married! And I will probably do the same for some other lucky lady!"

Alex looked invigorated and sure of his act, like a professional actor.

Keith loved the ideas, but the truth is that he wasn't as optimistic as Alex.

"Well, that sounds great, but the Survey Corps only has one commander Alex. Perhaps, one of us can be commander and the other one can be captain! And… I am not sure about whether Carla will say yes. Not to mention that we are still eleven!"

Alex wasn't satisfied with that.

"Oh no, if we prove our bravery it's possible to make a little change and have two worthy commanders, and it's possible to make Carla fall on your lap as well. Come on Keith, think about it, wouldn't it be great to be those two brave commanders? All our dreams would come true!"

"Of course it would be great! But we have to meet these people first Alex! Don't get ahead of yourself buddy."

One couldn't help but wonder if Alex's drive came from boldness or from solid confidence in his ideas. Perhaps, it was both.

"Leave all that to me Keith. I will meet Commander John Christopher tomorrow and I will make sure that you and I cause a great impression on him and the soldiers. The commander will go like: 'yes, that's it! Alex and Keith are the ones we need for future captains at this town of justice!'"

Keith began to laugh uncontrollably, but Alex only smiled. Deep down, Alex knew that what he was doing wasn't just an act of boldness. It was his true dream and he really planned to do it. When he didn't laugh at it, as Keith did, it was clear that it was his ideal, and he truly believed in it.

Little did he know that it was going to come true…

Both Keith and him would be Commanders of the Survey Corps in the future…

For Keith it took much longer, but for Alex Emmerson, everything began the day when he went to Angelia, the fairly new and unknown town that was led by the leader of the Angelial Knights, John Christopher, who was also the 8th Commander of the Survey Corps…

Both, Alex and Keith, knew that "Angelia" had to be a remarkable new town if it was full of members of a new religious order that was centered on justice for the people. In addition, many of those people were also members of the Survey Corps.

In many ways, it was "the town of heroes" that they had imagined when they talked about joining those groups…

They could have never guessed what they were going to witness there, that fateful day…

NEXT- Episode 2: Prelude to the Attack