Chapter 8 Unforeseen consequences
The battle was over. And everyone was trying to digest their rage and fear. "I'm glad you're alive." "Thank you. I...thought you died there at that crash." "Me too...It seems I'm a human titan...at least that's my conclusion." "Human titan?" "Yeah...a titan in human form." He hardened his arms to show her. "See?" "How..?" -How can he do that? He isn't even a titan shifter, and not least, how can he do the same as me?- Annie thought. "I don't know. It just happened." "..I'll be going to my new quarters by the military police." "Yeah, um...May I...follow you?" "Dzahlus..." "I know Annie, but there's just one thing I need to say." "...Alright." They started walking back to the improvised quarters to grab her things. "So about that what I wanted to say." He started searching in his pocket and grabbed a chain and pulled it out. "Here, I want to give those to you." "What is that?" "My dogtags, it has my name birthdate, division and nickname on it. And a small thing carved into by myself" "I know what a dogtag is, but since when do they distribute these? I never saw someone having one, neither do I." "I asked my friend to make one for me. But the carved symbol and the words under it are by me." She looked at the second dogtag. It was a upper torso of a woman with the same hair as Annie holding a crystallized rose that was shattered on the right side with the words, 'Broken Rose', carved under it. "Broken Rose. Do you mean me?" "Maybe.." "Did you really take your time on carving that?" "...Yeah. It's a bit...cheesy to gift you something like that I know..." Dzahlus felt embarrassed and looked to the ground. Annie looked at the dogtags in her hand again and then decided to put them on. She held the dogtags in the hand again to look at them the last time before she put it under her hoodie. Dzahlus looked up and saw her wearing it. He smiled and they finally arrived at the quarters. "So...I can help you pack things if you want." Annie thought for a bit until she agreed. After packing Annie told Dzahlus it's about time to leave. "Yeah. So Annie, good luck in surviving." "Don't die a useless death in the survey corps Dzahlus." "I won't. I didn't plan to die there." "Here, I have something for you too." She gave him one of her white hoodies, but this one had a zipper. "This one I used to train with before I joined the military. It would always keep me warm under any circumstances. I think it will do for you too." Dzahlus was surprised and filled with joy from her present. "Oh, thank you. ...It'll keep me warm for sure." He smiled at her. Annie didn't change her expression but blushed a bit and looked down. "Dzahlus 'Birdy' Eberle, You are under arrest for endangering humanity." "What?!" Dzahlus exclaimed "Huh?" Annie was confused. "Come with me, your fate will depend on your statements." The MP grabbed him but Dzahlus shook him off. "Alright, lay off. I'll come quitly." He put on the pullover Annie gave him and went with them. "Goodbye Annie..." "Bye..."
"I'll kill you..." Eren said with a manic smile on his face. "E-Eren?" Armin was shocked. -Damn they heard that.- Dzahlus thought. Eren slowly looked up and realised where he was. "HUH?!" Soldiers were surrounding them and a cannon was aiming at them. "Eren!" Mikasa said with a worried look. "Eren, can you move?" Armin asked. "Are you yourself again? Tell them everything you know! I-I'm sure they'll understand!" "Armin?" Eren was utterly confused. "Did you hear that? He said he wants to kill us!" "Yeah, I heard that too. He wants to devour us all!" "What are you saying?..Why are their swords raised against us? Those are weapons for killing titans! Why are they staring at me like that...? Wha'ts going on?!" Eren couldn't grasp the situation. "Cadets Jaeger, Ackermann, Arlert and Eberle! Your present behaviour is high treason!" -Treason my ass, you talking to me like an enemy is treason.- Dzahlus was angry. "What do you say in your defense? If you try anything deceitfull or attempt to make a move, the artillery will open fire at you immediatley! I ask of you : What are you? A human or titan!?" "What's with that question? It's like they're all...staring at a monster! Is that what they think I am?" "Yes of course they think we are monsters dumbass! Better question is why as enemies too?" Eren looked at Dzahlus who was looking at him with anger. "I don't understand the question!" Eren responded. "You're feigning ignorance?! Damn monster! Stop playing dumb! Or else I'll blow you to bits at an instant! We won't give you time to show your true face again!" "My true face?!" "Everybody saw it! You emerged from the carcass of a titan! Mankind has allowed creatures like you infilftrate wall Rose! Even though you're cadets sworn to the king himself, it's appropiate to pre-emptively eliminate this risk! I'm not wrong! The Armored Titan that broke through wall Maria could appear at any moment! Mankind is once again at the brink of extinction! Do you get it? We can't afford to waste troops and time on you!" -God will this jackass shut up, he's so full of fear he can't even think straight.- "I'll blow you to pieces with the artillery!" Their assistant talked something he couldn't hear and then a guard exclaimed. "Let's kill them now while i'ts easy! He's still in human form!" Mikasa stepped forward. "My specialty is slicing flesh." She has a deadeye look on her. "If I need to, I'm prepared to show it. Anyone interested in testing it, step forward." "Mikasa shut up, you're making it worse!" Dzahlus whispered to her. "I'd also rather kill those shitheads and block that gaping hole but this makes it only longer!" He made sure nobody heard that last sentence. A high rank soldier was now talking with him. He couldn't make out what he said. "Mikasa, Armin, Dzahlus! What the hell is going on?!" Eren demanded. "Mikasa you can't fight your own people!
Where would we go?!" Armin said. "I don't care who my opponent is. I won't anyone kill Eren." "We need to talk to them! No one knows what's going on! Their fears are controlling them!" Dzahlus noticed that Eren was struggling with the situation, he tried to buy some time. "Hey, I didn't emerge from a titan. What am I doing here?" "All of the survivors said that you singlehandedly took out two titans without any gear, nonetheless, leaping from buildings! They say you are a human titan! A perfect disguise!" "Oh, come on. I don't see any sentient titans around do you?" "We can't be sure! Maybe your were just hiding!?" Dzahlus shook his head it was useless. "I ask you again! What are you?" He demanded. -Why is everything depending on this guy, he's completely frozen.- "I'M HUMAN!" Eren screamed. Everyone was waiting for a reaction. -This can't be this easy...- Dzahlus thought. "I see. Don't think badly of me." He said calmly as he raised his hand for the command to fire. -Damnit, when I harden I'll just shatter, when not I'll splatter, I can only dodge, but then I'll face about 20 soldiers...- "We've got no choice. No man can prove he is not a devil..." "Eren! Armin! We're going up!" Mikasa shouted. "Hey, fuck you too!" Dzahlus exclaimed. "W-Wait!" Eren said. -Ultimative concentration.- Dzahlus thought. -Dodging cannons...really?- The arm of the captain lowered and a loud noise was heard. Suddenly a thunder struck. And alot of smoke was surrounding them. -Did I just dodge that?!- Dzahlus thought. -Holy...- He looked up and saw a gigantic skeleton with it's arm raised against a cannon. -Oh thank god. Now I'll use the time for a plan. Quick.-
