I do not own Shingeki no Kyojin
A/N: Just about five more chapters, then this thing will be brought to a close, I've been dying to finish this thing. Also, issues have come up, my writing updates will be sporadic.
Deliverance is on hiatus and, if I hold it out any longer, it will be discontinued- I have lost the drive to finish it.
"Over there, 500 yards, dock at the boathouse starboard," Ymir heard Petra's voice via intercom.
Ymir slowed the boat to a slow cruise so as to drift into the scene quietly. She observed the three up on deck through the windows, each of them were alive and well, quiet and stoic as usual. Peace and quiet, she somehow favored that before a mission, next to it was the hype she felt of putting bullets through the heads of easy targets. She pulled several levers and steered clear of any rocks nearby.
She saw Reiner hop off, indicating that the boat had reached a tie-down without difficulty.
Ymir put out her cigarette and undid the safety belts on her seat. She loaded her guns, unloaded them to count the bullets, and then reloaded them, satisfied that she was armed. Petra emerged from the hold, her hands busy with her own firearm- a Desert Eagle.
"This boathouse is part of the Reiss property, up the path and you'll see a big manor."
"Alright, once in, then what?"
"The fastest entrance to the laboratory's main room is in the study, or Doctor Hanji's study, but as security measures permit, we can't enter through that. It's automatically closed off after said researchers have been evacuated. We'll have to go through the front entrance."
Ymir nodded curtly and drew out a new one, she lit it anew and steeled herself.
"It's in the boathouse, it's easier to ship supplies through it," Petra finished. "I can get us in there."
"Sounds easy enough," Ymir agreed with her,"you guide me to get what I need."
Petra snorted and sighed,"What other choice do I have?"
"I could just kill you here, drag your corpse to the system, slap your hand here and there, your eyeball up there, and be on my merry way if you so wish," she suggested with a laugh under her breath; the sight of it was amusing, she ended up cracking a smile.
"After what you see for those experiments, you'd understand why I'd be willing actually."
Ymir shook her head and readied herself to get up, but then a feint buzzing came from the radio. She tilted her head, confused at such a sudden calling, but then Sasha's voice blared out of random,"Dancing Titan! Dancing Titan! Ymir, pick up!"
There was urgency in the calling, Ymir flung herself to the mic and ripped it out of it's stand, she nearly shouted,"What is it, Braus!?"
"...bzzt...Krista- tshhhhhhhh, not awake, barely breathing- ksssssssh!"
"Oh no," Petra murmured as the grip on the mic slackened.
"Whatever ya do- tsssssssh, hurry- fuck up!"
"Sasha!" Petra called out, she yanked it out of Ymir's hand. "It's Petra, get Krista to..."
Wait, was it already happening? But...she had twelve hours left. Just twelve hours, her heart was already failing. Even as Petra relayed instructions on how to care for Krista, it didn't sit well with her. The steel she set for herself started melting, it grew weak, just like her knees as she leaned against the wall.
Her knuckles grew white as she gripped the grips of her guns, her hands shaking.
"Yeah, keep her that way until we get here. Ral out."
She placed the mic down and found Ymir sulking- she approached her but was met with a barrel.
With the amount of times she had been threatened and shot at, she had grown accustomed to Ymir threatening her- she merely pushed the barrel away with the butt of her Eagle and slapped a free hand against Ymir's shoulder to snap her out of her trance.
She attempted to give her comfort in numbers. "This is only the early stage before total failure- we get in, get the drug, leave, and head back. She'll have at least eight hours, it'll take us an hour to get in and out of the labs and then four to to get to Trost. In total, we can shave off three hours at best. Does that help?"
"You said...there were experiments running about below us," Ymir started lowly.
"Fifteen minutes added. Not bad- huh- hey!" She shook her gently to force her to look directly at her. "If you want to save that girl, you need to keep yourself together- going on a rampage down there without thinking will get all of us killed."
Ymir slowly nodded, the numbers sounded sensible enough.
She stepped up the ladder and out of the hatch to see Reiner and Bertolt readying their guns. Upon making herself known, they glanced at her. Reiner reported,"Annie went off to scope the area-" A gunshot. "-she just got the party started."
"Your arm though, you can shoot with the shottie, right?" Ymir asked of him, eying the bandage.
"Oh, having concerns for me?"
She laughed dryly.
"A shot of morphine is helping him," Bertolt said,"I packed a couple just in case since you wanted his hand in this."
"Good job," Ymir praised him, she turned to Petra,"you told them about what's going on in there?"
"Ymir, we're not too happy about the whole Mikasa thing but with Annie by us, we should hold up much better here," Reiner relayed confidently, he pumped his gun once and stepped off the boat, following him was Bertolt. "Head-shot, go for the head."
"Go for the head," Petra confirmed. The shooting continued as they made their way to the boathouse, there, Annie emerged from the bushes while unloading a shell from her rifle. "You seemed to have a field day."
Reiner smiled. "Nothing fazes her, tell us to kill and we'll do it, all for cash of course. Animal, man, the undead, name it."
"Spoken like true war dogs," Ymir snorted as Petra went ahead of them into the wooden boathouse.
It was half the size of Jean's warehouse, and unlike his it wasn't lined with guns and engines. Come to think of it, it was utterly empty and free of anything that indicated boats were stored here save for several cranes and lifts decorated the ceiling. Ymir leaned against a water heater and watched as the short woman opened what looked like a power box and proceeded to push a scale of buttons.
A ray of light shinned upon her face- the eye scanner. Her hand pressed against a blue pad- the print scanner.
The approving ding resounded throughout the boathouse and the back wall started sinking into the ground to reveal a spacious boxed room to which rows of light lined the top corners. It was large enough for two of Sasha's trucks to park in, no doubt shipments were brought here. Petra gestured them to enter.
"Fighters first," she graciously told them.
They each entered and Petra followed, the wall closed in front of them while a secondary metal door slid closed.
"Level Three," Petra voiced out.
'Level Three' a cool, robotic voice responded.
"Voice commands, nice," Ymir commented with a low whistle,"rich bastards."
"Auruo used to try to see if he could get the System to repeat back swear words- after that, he needed me to help him go through security," Petra laughed, then she let out a longing sigh. "...out of this deal, I don't know who truly benefited from playing double. In the end, I live, and that matters."
Ymir nudged her shoulder. "Didn't a certain little bitch tell me not to lose my cool?"
"Not bad in reminiscing, the past makes you who you are after all."
Ymir rolled her eyes.
The bright numbers at the top of the door flashed 'Level One', only five minutes had passed that they went through the first floor underground.
"Why's this place so far?" Reiner inquired as he slid down against the wall to sit.
"Keeping away from the public and enemy sights is the best course," Petra explained,"the deeper we go, the more important the weapons are."
Ymir creased her brow, realizing something else. "If it's so deep, why are there freaks running about on the surface in Mitras and Hermiha?"
"Who says that this is the only research facility?"
"Jesus, to have to build them throughout the country. Are they all underground?"
"Not all of them."
Ymir rubbed the sweat away from her forehead. "Stupid idea, really, spreading out these freaks throughout the place."
Petra stretched her arms and let out a moan as the air escaped her lips. "Actually...there was a plan for this, well, the whole part where they were let loose was a last resort. As you know, Commander Smith was quite sore about being discharged. Doctor Hanji was one of his leading officers, naturally, given her extensive research, Reiss Company had to keep her as best they could- myself and Levi were chosen to relay information to Smith whenever something interesting comes up."
Bertolt inputted,"Interesting, as in biological weapons."
"Exactly. Operation Deliverance, this whole thing, was started two decades ago by Doctor Grisha Yaeger but was revived half a decade ago by Doctor Hanji. Once she started the program in full swing, Smith decided to take advantage of it should the time ever come-"
"Like being discharged," Ymir concluded.
Petra nodded. "You're smarter than you look." Ymir scowled. "Anyway, that who disbandment two years ago was the last straw. He commissioned Armin Arlert to hack into the System and release the experiments in two cities. Naturally, rules followed the disorder, Krista was to be disposed of shortly thereafter; without the cure and with specimens running amok, the government was also short on the manpower to regain control.
"Without any options left, the Prime Minster would be forced to run negotiations and return Smith to his previous position and eliminate the experiments."
"All of this is to get back power..."
"We lost Shiganshina years ago, it's stupid to rely on poorly built specimens to finish the job. Smith knew this best, he'd rather die than see this country fall into enemy hands- even if he had to bring it to the brink of self-destruction, it would be worth it."
Numbers and letters flashed 'Level Three', the elevator groaned to a stop and they all remained on standby.
"Is Krista needed at the end of it all?" Ymir inquired.
"As far as I know and how many options there are left for the girl, you're free to take her; the Scouts won't be needing her," Petra reassured her.
A smile cracked into Ymir's face, she could leave this place with the prize and actually enjoy it. She stood at the head next to Petra as Bertolt and Reiner covered their flanks, Annie stood in the back as their sharpshooter. This formation was a first as she often went into fights on her own, but now as they entered a nest of animals, they were the prey for once, they had to stand on guard for this one.
"The main office to where Hanji usually stores her medication is half a mile from our position, it's just straight down the hall."
"Any reason you should stay alive?" Ymir asked her.
"You'll need me to open the door, idiot," Petra uttered.
The metal doors slid open, what was inside made all of them nearly lose their stomachs. Lining the walls and floors were trails of blood and strands of innards, the windows into the labs were splashed in red as well. The gore continued on, endless, the lights above brightly lit the hallway, leaving the crimson floors sparkling, shining almost. Ymir gagged, she couldn't hold it down at the sight of it.
This was way too much.
"Fuck this..."
She nearly held it in until she found a corpse standing just a foot away from her. It was a blond woman whose hand was holding a card key; the key itself was shoved in a slot by the elevator doors. Her stomach was torn open and ravaged, her stomach exposed for all of them to see. The putrid stench reached her nose, something about this blond...it reminded her of Krista-
That done it.
"Hurk! Urrrrh!" She belched out as she went to lean her arm against the door, she let her own stomach loose upon the floor. "Gaaaaaah!"
"Get yourself together!" Annie shouted as a hand went to pat Ymir's back.
She had seen her fair share of riddled bodies, hell, she even played cleaner once for a dismembered body but this one set her off.
"Ymir, c'mon!" Reiner barked.
She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and shook away the other that was on her back. She blocked out the body and started to focus on the road ahead of her, she had to focus. Just focus.
"Sorry 'bout that," she snarled as she slowly recollected herself.
Her hands shook as she aimed straight ahead. She stepped over the corpse and started walking, it was all she knew how to do.
Ahead of them stood a figure, Ymir made to call out to him but Petra's hush silenced her.
Immediately, Annie let out a shot, the figure fell to the floor, dead in a lump. They advanced upon it to find it to be a naked, middle-aged man whose build was average. Nothing special save for the bloodied mouth and fingertips.
"Runner," Petra stated at a quick glance.
Reiner shuddered and they went on. Another figure appeared, nothing special about it either except that Ymir took it down with a single bullet.
"This doesn't seem that bad," Ymir finally said as she kicked the body away with her boot.
"Maybe something's keeping the rest back," Bertolt surmised.
"I'd rather have that."
"Just keep going," Petra coaxed them.
They ended up at an intersection to where on the left a very large man with bulging arms leered down at them. To the right, a woman who was in a crouching stance was readying to spring up. Immediately, Bertolt and Reiner took them down, their backs pressing against one another.
"Tank and Fighter," Petra said,"nice job."
"They don't seem that aggressive," Annie said,"the ones outside were."
"Too much stimulation then, I don't care, as long as we can kill them I'm fine with that," Ymir sighed.
She glanced back. Three figures were running at them, limbs flying erratically as they advanced quickly. She stared for a moment, then realized that they were Runners, each of them sprinting mad for their prey.
"Get down!" Ymir yelled to Annie and Reiner.
The two of them dropped to their knees as Ymir let out a barrage of bullets, only shooting down one. The other two were making a clear beeline for the ones on the ground. One got to Reiner, who immediately kicked off at the instant and fired a well-placed shot to the head. Annie, however, ended up on her back with the Runner grappling at her shoulders; jaws snapping like a dog.
Her rifle was knocked out of her hands, she was using her wrists to keep the freak at bay.
"Y-Ymir!" She gasped out, kicking at the floor.
Ymir reacted as quickly as she could, aiming directly for the head.
"Wasn't that how Krista done it?" Ymir asked aloud as she fired a round.
The Runner slumped to the side, head bleeding and staining Annie's sweater. The girl scrambled to her feet with the help of Bertolt's hand, she was shaken but otherwise unharmed.
"You good?"
"Fucking perfect," Annie huffed as she went to reach for her rifle.
"Next time, how about we all shoot?" Bertolt suggested. "Your aim isn't as good as it was before."
"My aim is fine," Ymir snapped.
"Dropping out does that to you," Reiner noted.
"None of you could shoot one at Mikasa, Krista managed to do so...and the girl tried to shoot me point blank but she fucking missed me!"
"Maybe she purposely missed-?"
"Enough with the chiding, we have a hundred more of these things running about, I'd like to keep going," Petra hissed as she had been the one to play look-out. She fired and gestured for them to follow.
Ymir rolled her eyes, telling Annie,"Consider this pay for getting me Petra," and continued on. The formation remained the same as it was earlier. Every round she let out, the closer she felt the end of this was, she was getting relieved at every corner they passed; the fear and disgust of the muddled environment didn't startle her at all now. Her guns grew hot in her hands, even the skin under the glove felt their warmth.
There wasn't any thrill in this mission, not one bit, she had a purpose other than money.
"That door there," Petra said when they finally reached the end of the hallway. "That's Hanji's office."
Ymir leaned against the wall and reloaded her guns, Bertolt and Reiner took the time as well to do the same.
"Beautiful," Ymir said, she looked up.
The sound of feet shuffling caught her ears and her eyes, she looked down the hallway to see at least more than two dozen walking specimens approaching them. Some big, some small, some unclothed, others clothed; they each had one common goal, to feed. Ymir backed up one step and trained her eyes on them, saying,"Petra." No response. "Petra, hurry up in opening the door."
Numerous disapproving beeps echoed through their ears, the lights that were meant to flash green gave out an unpleasant red, one that told them something was wrong.
"Petra!"
"I-It won't let me access it, it's saying my hands aren't valid- this is all wrong!"
"We're backed in a corner and we got a lot of things coming at us, we don't have the bullets, make something work!" Reiner yelled to her, now knowing the impending danger that was creeping towards them.
"Goddamn it!" Petra cursed.
Ymir started letting out the last of what she had left.
So did Annie, and Reiner.
But Bertolt only let out an empty click.
"Shit!"
Ymir had a last resort, she aimed her gun at Bertolt.
"Buy us time or die here and now, you'll still buy us time," Ymir demanded.
"You can't be serious!" Bertolt cried.
"Do as she says!" Petra urged him.
Annie took to aiming her rifle at Ymir. "We went this far and we're going to leave, we're not going on with your crazy shit anymore. We're taking her back."
Her barrel went the other way, to Petra. The woman was about to protest but Annie ruthlessly fired a round without a second thought. Ymir wanted to stop her, she truly did, but she was too late as she watched Petra slam back against the control panel with blood spurting onto its screen. She fell to the floor but Annie strode over to her to grab her by her hair and drag her along the way.
Bertolt stooped low and grabbed the pistol Petra once used. He checked it and approved of it, then followed Annie, his taller form bumped shoulders with Ymir and shoved by, uncaring for her. Reiner was the last to turn his back, but with him, Ymir reached for his shoulder.
"You're just-"
"Stay," Annie ordered over her shoulder as Reiner began to fight off the crowd.
They disappeared in a haze of smoke and blood, the lights flashed before her eyes as the deafening fires clouded her mind.
They just...left her.
"Fuck," Ymir whispered,"fuck, fuck, fuck!"
As they went on she yelled at them,"Fuck you! Fuck all of you!"
She whirled around to face the control panel.
"Fuck you too! Here I am, three miles down in the fucking earth and I can't get in to save someone I actually give a damn for! Fuck!"
She brought a leg up to kick at the bloodstained panel and shattered the glass.
'Bzzzt!'
"Shut the fuck up!"
A warm voice spoke from the intercom, it sounded delirious,'Bzzzzzt, you out there?'
Ymir paused and stared at the screen dumbly. "...I'm talking to a fucking wall and I got biological weapons behind me, that's it, I've fucking lost my mind. Annie's right..."
'Whoever you are, the reason why the System denied Petra Ral's identification was because the System's been override by its own security system. All members, including myself, are barred from entering or exiting this particular room- ah, see the fellow on the right of the panel?'
Ymir looked in that direction to see a dead security guard. Middle-aged and blond, he had a name-tag named 'Moblit'. "Uh-huh Mob-lee?"
'Moblit, thank you. Above him is a ventilation shaft, go in it and use it to enter this room. I'll be waiting in here.'
Ymir stared at it. Blinked, once, twice, and then headed over to it. Using whatever strength she had let, she hauled herself up and inside it. She could hear the bloodcurdling screams and the last shot to be fired. The finale, she felt it in her bones, that sound was hitting her too close to home.
She told herself before; this was pure, unadulterated insanity.
Under her breath, she asked herself,"Where the fuck am I?"