Chapter 9: No Time To Lose

Sorry that chapters haven't been getting out as fast as they used to, now that I have gone back to school and have my GCSE's at the end of the year, I have to get lots of work and revision done to achieve high grades, but more chapters will be coming so keep tuned and thanks for reading.

Our squad had been joined up with another with only two members after the rest were killed by Titans, the front guard had mostly been killed by Titans and more of us were dying everyday. We were beginning to lose hope and some of us started going insane and letting them selves die. People were beginning to panic and chaos had struck the district. No matter what the soldiers did, the chaos continued growing and growing. It wouldn't subside no matter how many soldiers the commanders sent in to keep the peace. My squad was sent to prevent the titans from reaching the north gate and breaking through, just like 5 years ago. We got prepared and Angel gave us the strategy to take them on.

"Okay so if we take them out in groups, then we should be able to push them back and probably use Alexis to breach the hole, it's just an idea." She said calmly.

"And a good one at that." Kai said smiling.

"How will I breach the hole Angel?" Alexis asked.

"Has anyone seen the boulder near the north-east side of Wall Rose?" Angel asked.

"Yeah, it's god damn huge." I said.

"You can say that again." Drake said chuckling.

"Well, if Alexis goes to her titan form, she should have the strength to lift the boulder and carry it to the hole and plug the breach." Angel explained.

"Yeah, I like it, this could actually work." The rest of us said proudly.

"Um... She... She's... A Titan...?" One of the new squad members panicked.

"Don't worry kid, she ain't no harm. Unless she's upset or angry. Then be afraid." Drake said laughing. "I'm just messing with ya', she's actually a nice girl."

"Yea, I ain't going to hurt you, I care about the squad, whether old members or new." Alexis said smiling.

"So kid, what's your's and his name?" Kai asked politely.

"Uh.. I.. I'm T-T-Tom and he's J-Jake." Tom said sadly and scaredly.

I walked over to them and sat with them.

"My name is Kaidenn. Kaidenn Raiku. I'm the squad leader and I know you're both upset. I know the feeling, it makes you feel like there's nothing left. But there is, we have a chance to win, we can make humanity win, we are the hope that humanity has, and we need all of us to do this, together, so don't feel alone, we have your backs no matter what. Because when you join this squad, you're family to us." I told them both with a smile on my face and they both simultaniously hugged me in apprecation and heartfelt gratitude.

"Thank you!" They both said and I hugged them back.

"Don't mention it, we have to trust each other and help each other through even the toughest of times." I said.

They got up and got prepared.

"We're ready." They said.

"Good, time to give those bastards a peice of vengence." Drake said.

As we walked out our squad dorm, Angel pulled me back.

"Yes Angel?" I asked.

"That was really kind of you to do, you made them feel like they had a family to turn to when they had lost theirs in the battlefeild, you're a true hero to them Kaidenn, you know that right." She said.

"It was nothing, I care about my squad, you know that more than anyone." I said. "We should get going, commanders not going to like us being late for this."

"Lets go." Angel replied.

We met up with the rest of the squad and stood waiting for Commander Hawkson to give the orders to engage. He stood on top of the wall and shouted so his voice could be heard.

"Alright everyone, listen up! I want Squads 1 to 30 to take the middle of Trost. Eliminate any Titans that are in your eyesight. Squads 31 to 70 will be on front guard and the rest of the squads will be on rear guard. That is an order! Understood?!" He shouted.

"SIR YES SIR!" Everyone shouted saluting proudly.

"Then GO!" He shouted.

And at that mark, we all manouvuered up the wall and got to our positions and followed our orders, exept for our group, we had our strategy and we were sticking to it.

"Alexis, you ready?" Kai asked.

"Not really, but a plan is a plan." She said.

"You can do it." Kai said.

"And if I can't?" She replied.

"You will do, Titan shifters are strong." Angel said.

"You ready?" Drake asked.

"I guess so." Alexis said.

"We believe in you, and we will take out any titans that will prevent you from plugging the hole." I said.

"Alright then, lets do it." She said and we backed away from her so she can turn titan.

She turned titan and lifted the boulder onto her neck and shoulders.

"Guys, defend Alexis at all costs!" I ordered.

"Got it." They repiled.

We started to kill titans left and right, front and back so that Alexis would have a clear path to go through as soldiers around us watched in shock and confusion. We knew they were watching us, but we focused on clearing the path. We had a plan and we knew it would work and it did. I told my squad to focus and don't let anything distract them.

"Keep at it everyone, we are half-way there." I told them.

"We got it." Angel replied.

"We got 4 on the left and 3 on the right." Drake and Kai said.

"You know what to do, For Trost!" I yelled and many other squads heard me.

"FOR TROST!" Many soldiers yelled back and started helping clearing out the Titans that were around Alexis. We had somehow got soldiers to help us and we were succeeding, Humanity was going to win. We continued killing Titans left and right, front and behind. We were not letting any of them remain. However, not every story is perfect, we were losing soldiers to titans throughout this mission. We would not let their sacrifices be in vain. Not now. Not ever. We fought and fought, we pushed and pushed until Alexis got in front of the north gate and plugged the hole. We had done it. We had finally done it. We had secured victory for Humanity. Humanity had won. We were making the fight turn tides and we were pushing ahead for once.

"We did it... We actually did it..." I said with my eyes tearing up.

"I know Kaidenn... We have avenged all those who died today. Soldiers, your sacrifices were not in vain, your souls can rest peacefully now." Angel said.

"I never thought I'd see the day..." Drake said.

"Where's Kai and Jake?" Tom asked.

"They're right behi-..." I stopped.

"Where are they?" Angel asked.

"I don't know?" Drake said.

"Stay here and get Alexis out, I'm going to look for them." I said.

"We will." They responded.

I used my 3DMG to make my way across building and it didn't take me long to find them but I wasn't expecting what I saw. Kai was giving CPR to Jake who was missing an arm and a leg.

"What the fuck happened to Jake?" I asked worriedly.

"Abnormal, it just bit his arm and leg off, I couldn't do anything..." Kai said and continued giving CPR.

I kneeled beside Jake and held his remaining hand and prayed for him to be alive.

"Kaidenn... He's gone... I'm so sorry... I tried the best I could..." Kai said tearing up.

"It's alright Kai, he served nobally and he gave his life for us, he can rest peacefully knowing we completed the mission. His death, his sacrifice was not in vain. Good-bye Jake." I said as I lifted him up onto my shoulder and carried him to the rest of the group.

"JAKE! NOO! PLEASE NOO! WHY! WHY JAKE! WHY~!" Tom cried his heart out, tears flowing like waterfalls as he fell to his knees.

"Kai, what happened?" Drake and Angel asked.

"Abnormal jumped him and bit his arm and leg off. I tried CPR and stopping the blood but there was nothing I could do. I couldn't save him." Kai said with a depressed look on his face.

"You tried to save him, you put his life before your own, that deserves a medal of bravery in my eyes." I said.

"Jake... I'm so sorry... I wish I could have been with you to save you... I have failed you my friend..." Tom said crying.

"No Tom, you haven't, you made him a great soldier, you two were the closest of people I know, and you forever will be." I said handing him Jake's 3DMG. "I'm sure he would have wanted you to have this."

"T-Thanks Kaidenn." Tom said still crying.

I picked up Jake and carried him back to Head-Quarters at the medical bay so he could be buried.

"Sure, I guess we can bury him. We are sorry for your loss. We know he would have wanted to see you again." The Nurse said kindly.

"Thank you Jenny." I said.

"No problem Kaidenn." She said.

We watched as we saw him get buried and all I could think about was how he looked. His soft blonde short hair and his jasmine green eyes and he was only 14, which shocked me. After he was buried, his family was informed and Tom went to speak to them.

"I failed." I said.

"What do you mean Kaidenn?" Drake asked.

"I said I wouldn't let any of my squad die, and Jake died, I failed to keep my squad alive." I said but I was stopped by Tom getting beaten up by what looked like Jake's brother so I helped Tom by punching Jake's brother and sending him to the ground.

"WHO THE FUCK DO YOU THINK YOU ARE PUNK?!" He said.

"Listen. Say anything and I'll make your eyes bleed next time. I don't know what is going on, but violence solves nothing, so just back off him." I said.

"It's his fault that Jake is dead." He said.

"How is it. He didn't kill him. A Titan did. So he didn't do a thing, so lay off him." I said.

"How do you know Wise-guy?!" He said furiously.

"Because I was Jake's fucking Squad Leader, Mister Jump-to-conclusions. So don't say anything, cause I was fortunate enough to not witness his death. But Kai was, and He's in my squad too. He tried to save his life but Jake just didn't have the strength to hold on. He didn't die in vain and he will be missed. So don't blame others, just remember him as a Soldier who fought for your safety." I said.

"Hey, I'm um.. I'm sorry. I over reacted and I was wrong to do so. I guess it's because he was family. It hurts so much to lose a loved one." He said tearing up.

"I know, I have lost loved ones too. But remember the great memories of them and it should wash away in due time." I said.

"Thank you." He said as he apologised to Tom, helping him up and hugging him before going to his family.

"Thank you Kaidenn." Tom said.

"Don't mention it, people just lose all emotions when bad things happen." I said.

"I guess your right." Tom said.

"We've all had a long day. We should all rest. I'm guessing we'll have a victory celebration, a buffet, a speech and all that jass tomorrow." I said.

As we went back to our Squad dorm, we settled down, chatted for about an hour or so and then we went to sleep. We had secured victory for Humanity, but the thought crossed my mind, how long would it last..?