With only two working Jaegers left and the frequency of Kaiju attacks rising, humanity received a grim reminder. They were the prey and the Kaiju were the hunters. But when a mining team finds a tomb containing a preserved body of eons past, humanity will have to turn to their last hope-the original Jaeger 'pilot'.
NOTES: here it is, chapter 9! Gosh this was longer than last chapter...again, lots of things going on so if you've been reading from the beginning and still are, thank you for not abandoning me!
I DO NOT OWN SHINGEKI NO KYOJIN/ATTACK ON TITAN OR PACIFIC RIM
'C'mon, c'mon, c'monc'mon'cmon, heal faster damn it...!'
As he walked Eren watched his hand where that crazy asshole had bitten him. Steam lazily reached into the air and dissipated before his eyes as the wound ever so slowly healed itself.
'Damn, that was close...'
The blood and bruises he had sustained had already healed, luckily for him.
Eren turned a corner and was surprised to find himself already standing outside of his room.
In all honesty Eren was glad he hadn't wandered far, though he was rather disappointed that during his little adventure other than the Marshall's office and that asshole that took a bite out of his bloody hand he had only come across countless iron corridors lined with countless iron doors; no mind-blowing technology in sight.
He didn't even see a window anywhere.
Eren stiffened when he heard voices, so taking a quick glance around he dashed into his room and swiftly shut the door. His hand still tingled as it restored itself, looking as if he had been burnt there rather than bitten.
As he heard footsteps approaching he pulled his sleeve up and over his wound, hoping to conceal the steam.
"I'm back!" he heard the familiar scientist's voice call as he opened the door and stepped in. "Cmon, I wanna take you up to my lab so we can get you properly caught up with what's going on!" He held open the door for him with another one of his stupid grins, which Eren returned, excitement bubbling up inside him once more. Finally, he would be able to learn more of the world he had missed. He stepped out the door once again and followed the man out.
"Sir. It's the same type."
"You don't think I can see that?"
"What shall we do sir?"
There was a few moments of silence, not even a whisper or breath to be heard.
"Bring 'em in. I want the gizmos around their legs too. The ones from our first were damaged by your little extraction." The scorn in his tone was apparent and clear.
"Yes sir. It won't happen again sir."
"You're damn well right it won't, now hurry up."
"Of course sir."
Hannibal tapped the 'end call' icon on the screen of his phone and placed it on his desk beside his laptop, the screen showing an image that cast an electric blue glow over him. He leaned back in his leather arm chair and crossed his arms over his chest and turned his head slightly to glance at the busted pieces of metal that were sitting forgotten on a table under a lamp, revealing that there were several spiralling grooves in certain parts, evident that if the pieces were put together correctly it would have revealed a large hole in it created by a drill.
Eren's Maneuver Gear lay in pieces surrounded by wrenches, spanners and oily rags, damaged beyond return.
It was dark. I was disorientated but I somehow knew where I had to go.
After my eyes had adjusted to the light I could make out many things-the sharp edges of rocks, the smooth outline of stones, and the low, jagged ceiling that hung over my head like the axe of a guillotine.
As if I wasn't expecting anything similar upon awakening anyway. I almost laughed at my luck.
I shakily stepped from my chamber, reaching out from something to grab a hold of to help me walk. I clumsily stumbled to the side, instinctively raising my arms to protect myself from harm but I twisted and not only slipped off the wall of the cave but fell right on my behind. I cursed. No good, my body needed extra training...great. Not only was I already feeling groggy but now this? Ugh.
Frustrated with this turn of events I managed to pull myself up from the ground and, using the rocky wall to guide me, I managed to practically drag myself along, my senses were dull. Damn it all.
After what felt like hours of staggering along like a newborn baby a ray of light assaulted my eyes. Almost falling back from the surprise I quickly raised my hand to block it, squeezing my eyes shut. I slowly opened my eyes and let out a sigh. A set of stairs and an exit.
'Thank the lord...or whoever is up there.'
Finding the strength in my legs returning and the corridor extremely cramped I clambered up the steps, and seriously considered barging through the door but I stopped and held myself. Why was I being so rash? I shut my eyes and sighed, tuning in to my surroundings. The whistling of wind. A bird's call. Trees rustling in the breeze outside.
After a few minutes in wait without any sounds of footsteps or human life on the other side of the door I pushed it open, a load creaking accompanying the sound of my own footsteps as I stepped out and surveyed my surroundings. I saw rays of multicoloured light shooting down from a large stained glass window, the image depicting four beautiful angelic women. I was in a church. I shut the old door behind me and navigated around the maze of wooden pews, running my hand along them and catching dust on them. Apparently this place hadn't been used in a long while. It felt as though all of time had stopped...had I really been asleep? There was one way to find out. I found my way to the center aisle and made for the large double oak doors and placed both of my small hands on each.
This was it...
I took in a deep breath and forced the doors open, a gust of wind blowing my golden hair from my face. I let my arms fall to my sides at the sight of the town that surrounded the church, the people and the metal beasts that roamed the paths. It was all so new yet it felt so familiar, and the reality hit me so hard I collapsed to my knees.
I allowed myself to be caught up in the beauty of it all, after all, one day much like the great Walls before them this place would be reduced to rubble and dust. I didn't notice a pair of tears falling from my azure eyes and rolling down my cheeks to land on the horn of the jade unicorn that was emblazoned on my chest. Like it or not, I had a mission to fulfill. I just hoped I didn't come across anyone from back then again...
'Forget being like Hanji, this guy is Hanji'
Had been the first thought Eren had upon entering Geizsler's office, stopping himself from having an outburst of surprise when he saw oversized intestines trailing about the floor and a pinkish lump suspended behind yellow-looking glass. "Oh don't worry, you'll find out soon enough" the man had assured him.
Eren sat perched on a stool, nibbling at the corner of a sandwich. He stayed silent as he watched Geiszler sifting through papers, every now and then muttering a 'I'm sure I had it here' or 'I don't remember having this much'.
Eren glanced about, trying to ignore the giant strange glass tube when his eyes fell on a large old book that sat next to him on a table. He chewed on the piece in his mouth. He leaned forward slightly and his eyes widened when he saw and old symbol that he thought he'd never see again on the cover. Heart racing, he forced down the piece, almost choking himself in the process before leaping off his seat in excitement and surprise.
"H-hey! What's this?! Why does this book have the Scouting Legion emblem on it?!"
"Say what?"
Geiszler had been crouching, hunched over some open metal drawers. He stood up and pushed his glasses back on the bridge of his nose before walking over to inspect what Eren was talking about.
"This." He said, pointing at the book, "What is it?"
Geiszler stared at it as if he were dumbfounded by a few seconds before smacking himself in the head with the palm of his hand.
"Of course! How could I be so stupid!" he cursed himself before grabbing the book and waving it in the boy's face. "This is what I was looking for! Here, here come here..."
He ushered Eren over to the one table in the room that wasn't covered in clutter or guts (but was surrounded by it-Eren guessed they had been thrown off at an earlier time) and placed the book gently on it. Eren was right behind him, not taking his eyes off the emblem once.
"This symbol. It was on your jacket too, right?"
He nodded.
"The Wings of Freedom." He said proudly, a wistful smile forming on his tanned face. He reached out and gently stroked the book cover. His heart was pounding in his chest, his answers possibly literally at his fingertips. "May I?" he asked Geiszler, who nodded.
"I insist!"
Eren thanked him. He inhaled deeply before carefully opening the cover. He had to re-read the title and author name a few times before he let out a heavy, quivering breath.
'Advancing Giants, by Erwin Smith'
