Chapter 9 Words of resolution. A new leader is crowned.

As the plan to liberate the Trost HQ was put into motion. The execution soldiers were chatting as they moved to position. "Not to be a downer but I have to ask the obvious question. Can we really do this?" Connie said. "Relax these guys are only 3 or 4 metres tall. Their weak spots are not that far above eye level." Reiner advised. "The spot is still one metre high and ten centimetres across" Jean said. "From the back of the head to the nape of the neck." Sasha peeped. "Yeah and if push comes to shove you can always spear one of these up their ass. That's the other weak spot." Reiner smirked showing off his blades. "Are you serious? That's news to me." Connie said. "Did I miss a day of training or something?" Sasha wondered out loud. "Aw come on, I can't believe you nimrods are actually falling for it, gosh its a miracle you stonebrainers made it this far. And Reiner please, you don't wanna get labeled as the guy who died with an ass joke in case things go south." Eric said sarcastically lifting everyones dull moods.

Meanwhile the lift loaded with armed soldiers descended. They looked around and saw the situation hasn't changed yet. "Okay assholes. Over here!" Eric yelled from above to get the titans attention. Though it wasn't necessary, he did that to break the frosty feeling of fear in the weaker soldiers and to indicate the ambush team is in place. The titans begin to approach almost instantaniously. Startling a soldier." Relax. Don't lose your cool till they all come withing firing range." Marco calmed their disposition.

"Steady". "Steady"

"Open fire!" He screamed. Thousands of shots were instantly fired. Shouts were broken out and the soldiers above quickly made their move. They ran and jumped down.-Slash- Six napes were perfectly cut down. The same could not be said for the last two. They only took a minor scrape. Panic broke out. "Sasha and Connie missed." Bertold yelled.

Connie was shaking on the ground while Sasha completely caved. She tried to run crying and screaming. Luckily the titan tripped and fell giving Mikasa the perfect opening to take it down.

Connie was trembling on the floor but behind the titan came a tapping sound. Tap tap tap tap tap tap tap. (Sound of inhumanly fast running). Eric dashed across the room and jumping much higher than the human capacity reached the titans nape and slashed it in his unique high speed style. And dragged Connie by the back of his collar out of the way of the falling titan. "Thanks man. I owe you again." Connie said gratefully. While Sasha was crying in Mikasa's hands shouting words of gratitude. "Talk about superhuman." Reiner told Eric. "Don't mention it." Eric said scratching his head grinning." But Eric. What's with you dragging people off by the neck? You've been doing that since five years." Armin asked from the lift. "Sorry guess its become a habit since pulling Eren out of crazy situations." His face darkened after saying that.

"Okay, they're all dead. Start loading up supplies!" Jean announced. "Alright" "yeah" "we're gonna live. We're actually gonna live." And other happy words came from the previously lost soldiers. "See people all you need is a little guidance, hope, and skill." Eric said once again cheering up. Then a thought crossed his mind. "Speaking of guidance. Who is in charge here? What happened to him? Why the hell was this place in such a mess in the first place? Where are all the garrision regiment troops?" He began to question them. One of the boys loading up gas that began to respect him and chose to answer. "Captain Kitz Woorman was in charge of this base." He said.

"That redneck coward. Where is he? He dead?" Eric continued while filling the gas tanks. "No. . . He. . He ran away. Leaving us behind" the soldier replied. "He left just before the rain began. Said that he has to 'direct the reinforcements' but it was definately an excuse. It just never came. He took the support squad and pulled out. And then. . . "

"And then everything fell apart. That two bit cowardly bastard." Eric said spitefully realising what happened. "Damn him. Okay people don't take this the wrong way but I want to be responsible for everything so far and beyond. Please if anyone asks tell them I'm responsible for anything, just trust me. From now on call me captain." His expression became stiff. Everyone was confused but the supply corps cadets were too tired to think and was grateful to his actions so decided to agree with him. "Yes Captain" they said respectfully. "Thank you" he said. Then turning towards his own team he 'somewhat' lead here. It didn't take much convincing them either. They immediately gave a salute and said "yes captain." All but the members of the top 10 and Armin were sure of his actions. "Hey care to explain why that was necessary?" Jean stepped up. "Or you just wanna hog all the glory in saving them."

"Heh. Something like that but no. The real reason it is a preparation for a future plan. Don't worry about it, you won't have any trouble with this. I promise." Eric said. "Fine. Let's just get out of here. I wanna go back to the inner gate." Jean replied turning away with a sigh. "OK, everybody done. Let's go back." Eric commanded raising his sword. "Yes sir!" Everyone shouted. "Say what happened to our crazy berserker best friend?" Eric smiled as he said that to himself.

Back outside. After seeing to that all the cadets have left. Eric saw Mikasa and Armin standing on the roof of a building next to HQ overlooking the street in front of it. 'What are they watching?' He got up to the roof and saw what they were seeing so intently. He got greeted with the sight of rogue titan being turned into a wholemeal lunch right before their eyes. "Cannibalism. Now that's something you don't see everyday." Eric said just as astonished as the others. "Guys, there is something about this thing that seems so human." Eric said again. "Your right, and this may feel crazy but there is something . . . Like he was part of the key in freeing humanity. Like he could actually break the cycle. Turn the tide like you said just long enough for the first ray of true hope." Mikasa spoke. Reiner then walked in saying"You guys have a point there is too much we could learn from him. He's too valuable to just let die. I think we should prioritise warding off the scavengers off him captain."

"Are you crazy? We have. . ." Jean began to rant when another titan tried to join the feast. The rogue suddenly went loose and charged losing its arms in the process. It resorted to using its teeth and tear all their napes apart in bloody and brutal fashion that rivals Eric's previous rampage. "Holy crap. You were saying." Jean said. When it suddenly turned to the observer group. Eric and Mikasa tensed and pulled out their blades while everyone else took a step back. It screamed and tried to step foreward but apparently ran out of energy and fell face first onto the ground. "What the hell was that? Can we just leave please?" Jean tried to say more but Eric stopped him. "Look at the nape." This diverted everyones attention to the nape where all the steam seemed to be comming from. The flesh began to dissipate around the cooking body and a smaller person began to be seen. Eric charged in there. 'I know that shirt. Could that really be'. He saw the flesh around the body still infused to the titan's. The blood vessels there decomposed and spilled dirty hot blood all over the person. Eric stood looking down at the steaming sizzling gooy pit. But he pushed allbother thoughts out of his mind abd crouched on one knee. Then dropping a blade he reached into the pool. Slowly he dipped his fingers into the liquid. It was scalding hot. Like jelly in boiling hot water. He sank deeper till he found what he wanted. But the moment he touched the head. A vicious shot of electricity went up his spine. With a solid grunt he suppressed his pain and gripped the tuft of brown hair. Mikasa made her way to the burning head of the titan to have a close and personal look. Tightening his hand he pulled. Tearing the person out. This revealed his face which was . . . . . Eren. He convulsed and coughed out blood from his mouth and out his nose. Mikasa didn't waste a single moment in grabbing him after seeing his face. And literally burst out into tears. Eric looked at Armin and gave him a hard look and then a confused one. "Armin I thought you said Eren was dead. Why the hell is he comming back from the nape of the titan that just helped us?" Eric asked very softly."I don't know. I just don't know." Armin said quietly looking at the figure of his unconcious but very much alive friend. "Let's just go. We'll deal with this inside the walls." Eric said again. "Alright."

They brought Eren with them. Nobody asked a single question. All of them too stunned to even say anything. Also how Mikasa tearfully grabbed onto him. They simply took him back to the wall and dragged and carried him all the way back to the gate. They were greeted by a full platoon of garrision troops. Three soldiers stepped up and took Jean, Annie,Bertold, and Bertold giving them a solid gag order. Then the others tried to convince. Eric, Mikasa and Armin to leave but were met with icy stares and a simple "no"

But then things suddenly got hostile. They forced the group to the river edge. Surrounding them with water, fifty foot walls and a platoon of fully armed soldiers. Additionally two riflemen for support. In the midst of them all stood the man with the permanently frightened expression. Captain Kitz Woorman. Eren opened his eyes, Eric watched unsure of whether he is aware of his position. His facial expression changed to an evil smirk and he said "you're all gonna die." 'Yup, he officially lost his mind. Hell of a thing to say in a situation like this' Eric wondered. "Catch that he said were all gonna die" "no doubt about it. Son of a bitch wants to eat us, just you watch". 'Oh boy here goes the drama' Eric thought.

(Eric's view)

"Cadets Eren Yeager, Mikasa Ackerman, Armin Arlert and cadet senior Eric Langford. The three of you have jointly committed and act of high treason. Whether or not you get a swift execution depends entirely on you. Any attempt to move from your position or anything I deem the least bit suspicious will be met with cannon fire. Do not test me." He yelled sounding more scared than angry. Okay, now he lost his mind. "Now answer carefully. Eren Yeager what exactly are you, human or titan?" He continued. "Hey, he just woke up how . . ." Mikasa protested but got silenced. "SILENCE, no one is allowed to speak now except Yeager. Now answer the question." This guy is a nut job. Something has to be done or else. "Eren, can you hear me Eren?" I said. "Ye. . Yeah. I can." He replied. "Okay so you can think. So just think carefully and answer his question. Human or titan." I said only loud enough for my friends to hear. "No, talk I said! Talk Yeager" the captain yelled. "I'm sorry sir. I don't understand!" Eren replied. Crap he's still shaky. "Answer me damn you. Evasion will get you nowhere. Don't try to stall for time. You don't stand a chance." He began shaking and making strong hand gestures. "You'll be blown to bits before you assume your true form" okay my list of labels for him now has delusional too. "True form? What are you talking about?" Eren quickly asked. "Oh please. Scores of us saw it happen. You emerged from the fallen body of a titan in full view of your comrades. A creature of unknown origin, uncertain ability and alligence has infiltrated wall rose and that creature is you. Every second I waste mauling over your supposed innocence puts us in jeoperdy and assault by the armoured titan. Hell you might be a tactical diversion precisely for that purpose. I can't let such a situation stand. And I am well within my rights to eliminate you. You are a potencial threat. Humanity's fate hangs in the balance I cannot waste anymore time and manpower on you. You hear me my conscience will not falter to watch you die." His voice was thinning and he was waving his hands around. He must really be desperate. "Sir this is our chance. We will expend far less artillery if he is in human form." A soldier said.

This struck a nerve. One team treats me like a hero while another treats me like I'm a rock. I simply stepped foreward and drew my worst pair of blades. Showing exactly how much it has been used. "Hello people. Just so you know I wouldn't be so sure about that. But if anyone feels froggy I can show you my own technique to peel flesh from the bone. Along with that I wouldn't mind snapping a few of your traitorious necks like twigs either. Oh and if I remember correctly my kill record stands with 43 solo kills. Care to add human numbers to that." I said giving my brightest smile and talking in my best melting honey voice along with swinging my sword to create razorwinds that I learned secretly my self the tiny shards falling off the blade didn't help them either. This clearly sent chills down everyones spines. A lower captain Ian appeared to advice the coward. "Sir, just so you know. This boy in the cloak has a brutal training record and he has skills to hold off the entire middle guard singlehandedly. He is the sole reason there are so many survivors. Even the cadets who made it back say he saved them all. Losing him could possibly be equivalent. . . to a catastrophe. And if I may go on the girl. She has been given elite status fresh out of training. Its safe to say they are our best fighters in this battlefield."

His knees weakened even more. "Eric, Mikasa you guys please. Force isn't the only thing that goes. They are just scared" Armin said. "They're scared to the point reason doesn't work" Mikasa said. At that moment Eren began contemplating about his situation rationally again. Finally. "One last time. Are you human or titan?" He reverted back to the old question. Losing all confidence he built with that shout out. How weak can you get?

"I'M HUMAN!" Eren shouted out. And that was it. The man lost it. He didn't say a word. He began to lift his hand. The idea of being blasted by cannons was definately not a great way to die. The fear of their fear juiced our perception of time. Everything seemed to move I slow motion. Behind me Mikasa grabbed Eren and Armin and tried to run. Suddenly Eren came to life. He then dragged both of them to my position and a blast was heard. The cannon was fired! The full image of the cannon ball's flaming for was being burned to my mind. The smell of gunpowder and the heat off the ball. The sound of it cutting through the air. Everything, my zoned out senses were picking up. I tried to react by moving away but Eren grabbed my leg and pinned me down. What the hell is he DOING?! He then shocked everybody by biting his own hand hard enough to splatter blood.

This created massive bursts of lightning and a flare of yellow. The very moment following that we got hit with a horrible gale of scalding hot steam. All I could see was huge bone like structures forming before. Another explosion happened. Then things went quiet.

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Next time someone warn me before a bomb explodes in my face. I got up rubbing my head. Which was still shaky from the shockwaves. There was steam everywhere and an awkward structure seemed to surround us. I could see Armin and Mikasa still on their knees. "Hey you guys. . okay?" I asked the obvious question. Then the steam around us began to clear and we realised our position. WE were inside the ribcage of the fucking carcass of a half baked titan . . .that out newly ressurected friend turned into. "Its alive" "dear god" and more paniced words came out. "Captain Woorman what do we do?" The female soldier said behind him. "Let's see what it does. MAINTAIN YOUR DISTANCE. IT CAN STILL STRIKE AT ANYTIME" he barked again. Things are falling apart. I have to deal with Eren right NOW. "I heard the sound of cannon fire. Then a tremendous crash and a blast of heat. Apparently we are in the innard of a giant skeletal . ." Armin began to stammaring before he was interrupted. "Eren did this for us Armin. That's all we need to understand for now." Mikasa said. I approached them when suddenly Eren ran in. What? Isn't he supposed to be inside it or can he create temporary titan flesh off his own? "Eric, Mikasa, Armin you guys alright?" He asked. I can't take it anymore. I have to know. Before he said anything else I rushed in and held a blade to his neck. "Whoa" Eren said. "Eric what are you doing?" Armin asked. "Have you lost your mind?" Mikasa said trying to stand up but found another blade at her neck.

"Please. Mikasa just don't interfere. Please." I said genuinely regretting this but I have to know. "Okay, they are completely disoriented by the explosion. They won't charge in recklessly their best option is to wait till the steam clears. And the cannon team are definately stunned with the view. So that and the reload time. We have at least a few minutes." I said calmly. "Now listen to me Eren. I won't treat you like they do. You've been my best friend since childhood. So I'll trust your answer. Now tell me honestly that you have absolutely nothing to do with the titans. I won't ask how you got this 'power' or how you survived but just tell me are you of aren't you a threat to us?" I talked fast. "Why are you asking that Eric? Eren is. . ." Mikasa continued to protest. "Please just tell me Eren. As my friend and on the promise of three years ago." I pressed on.

His head lowered. But then rose upwards and he said. "No, I'm not. I'm not even sure how I got this but I'm sure I don't mean any harm to you guys. You're my best friend too. I swear." Now I'm sure. I lowered my blades from both their necks. "Okay thank you. Sorry about that but I had to know what you thought on the edge of death." I said finally relieved from the inner debate on choosing which side was right. "I'm sorry too for scaring you guys. I don't know how I did it but something I remembered my dad say just brought it out by reflex." He said looking at the healed skin on the hand he bit down on. Then he pulled out the key he had around his neck. "Father. The cellar. Guys the night he disappeared five years ago. He gave me some weird injection. And kept telling me to find the cellar. The cellar of our house back in shiganshina." His words were digging up a fury of memories of the journal my dad left behind. "Injection. What the hell do you mean?" I asked. "I don't know. It was some red liquid, he said that would make me forget that moment for the time being. Ever since that night he was gone." He replied. Red liquid, doctor. No way did the doctor dad met was Yeager? Would I have turned into a titan if dad didn't . . ? My thoughts were halted when Armin spoke up. "Hey guys we need to focus on them now. We don't have time for history discussions."

"Yeah, after this I think we blew all chance of convincing them." Eren said looking at the corpse of the titan he created. "I know what I have to do. I'll transform again and then go over the wall to shiganshina. The answers were hidden in the cellar of my own house all this time. Damn you father. How many scouts died because you hid this information?" Eren began venting out his anger. "Hey stop. Don't do that. Keep it as a last resort. I still have an idea." I said hoping it would work. I just need a little luck. "Alright the plan is . . . You guys do absolutely nothing." I hesitated at the first moment and finished rapidly. "WHAT?!" They all replied. "Hehe. Just relax. I'm going to give this guy a tongue lashing hell never forget. Just trust me. I think the ultimate best case scenerio is we are able to use your ability strategically under military guidance. So as unrealistically it sounds I'll convince them. I'll protect you guys with my life. Just wish me luck." That's all I said with a smile before heading to face destiny. "Eric" Armin said with a very sad face.

I walked with as much oomph as I could without looking stupid. "That's close enough. Halt! So is that your true form monster? " He began again. "Eren is not a threat to humanity. We are fully ready to cooperate and share any information regarding his ability with garrison command." I said raising my hands to prove my point. "Oh please. Your pleas fall on deaf ears. He revealed his true form and because of that he cannot leave here alive. But if you insist that he is no enemy of ours show me proof, otherwise we'll blast him back to whatever nightmare he. . ."

"SHUT UP!" I shouted cutting him off. "You asked for proof. Proof is that he transformed for the sole purpose of protecting us. Look he only partially transformed so that no harm may come to you." I begin to lower my hands. " Proof is that you said scores of you saw what he did. Which means you saw he only attacked the titans. You saw him being eaten by the other titans. They clearly stated that they see him just like every single one of us. As food. Proof is that he was the one that held back the titans outside Trost HQ. Thus allowing me to rescue the 'abandoned' cadets of the middle guard. All of them. Proof is that his power belongs to us. And we have a full chance of truely turning the tide for the first time in A HUNDRED YEARS. The first real hope of a real victory over the titans is proof of his value. This is a cold hard fact no matter how you see it." I finished hardly. This reached the soldiers like an iron fist. They can feel the aura of power eminating. They begin to lower their guns and blades. C'mon just a little bit more. Break you son of a cowardly bitch.

He seemed to lower his head to agree but bounced back. "Prepare to attack. Don't be taken in by his cunning lies. . ." He lost his mind. "Shut Up!" I shouted again, many others raised their blades and guns. "Its you who is lying. Lying to yourself. Lying to each other. Refusing to see reality. We are just a bunch of 15 year old kids and we realised one of us can suddenly turn into a titan with his humane mind intact." I stepped foreward drawing my blades. "Come on, point your blades at me. Point your guns at me. Show them the kind of traitor you are. You yell at me. What about your deeds. You abandoned HQ leaving your completely raw subordinates, cadets to fend for themselves. They said you must direct reinforcements but you never came. Remember the briefing. You said desertion is punishable by execution. So you should also face the consequences." I pointed my blade at him in his blame. He was falling apart. All gazes that were on me shifted to him. This was turning to my favour. He fell to his knees. I looked to the left and saw a blessing sight. Fucking awesome.

"No, did no such thing. Kill him! Execute him! Die! Fire the cannons!" He began screaming with his thinned out voice. The soldiers were shocked. Unable to decide what to do. "Stop this" the entire group turned to their right to see the full force of the cadets there. Some stepped up. "Captain Langford saved us" "he was there when Woorman abandoned us to save his own hide." "Yeah he lead the team. And that titan held off the others till Eric hatched the plan to liberate HQ." Many shouts yelled on him. The whole situation was escalating into a riot before all was halted by the words of a lone man. Supreme commander of the entire southern garrison Dot Pixis. "Enough. Everyone calm down. You really must do something about that nervous dispositon captain Woorman." The bald man said grinning. Everyone(hundreds of soldiers) were saluting him except for Woorman and Eric's group. "And you young boy. That was certainly a feat of acknoledgement. Not only did you save your people. You have earned the respect and trust of your cadet commrads. Senior cadet Langford was it. Please bring your friends. We need to discuss something."

"Huh?" Was all I could say. Before lowering my blades.

TBC...

And the chapters keep getting longer. Hope I can keep this up.

Next time. Leaders talk. The hero of Trost.