Chapter 20: Stohess Part 1: Best laid plans...

"What?" asks Eren. "How? How do you know?"

Armin sighs. "It was all very obvious when you put all the facts on the table. The Female Titan had to be a member of the 104th Cadet Corps, since she was familiar with both me and Eren. She appears to have known me well enough to choose to spare my life, and she was able to cast aspersions on Eren's personal judgment as if from experience."

"What do you mean cast aspersions?" asks Eren in confusion.

"Matthias here has revealed a unique ability," explains the Commander. "During the Recon Mission he was able to hear the thoughts of both the Female Titan and you when you assumed titan form."

"Is, is that true?" asks Eren.

"Yes, it's true," I admit. "The Female Titan recalled that you always allowed your emotions to get the better of you, and she used both your name and Armin's. She also knew Armin well enough to guess that he was trying to distract her during our first engagement."

"But, but that doesn't prove that it was her," says Eren. "It could be anyone."

"There's more," says Armin. "I'm more or less certain that Annie was the one who killed the test subjects. Everyone checked out during the inspection, but the gear that Annie presented, well it wasn't hers. I always used to help Marco clean his gear, so I know where all the various dents and scrapes ought to be. Also, doesn't it seem strange that Marco didn't have his gear on him when he was found? I recognised the gear that Annie presented as Marco's, so she must have been the one who did it."

"Listen to yourselves," says Eren. "You're talking about Annie. She's our friend not a monster!"

"Eren," says Mikasa, "no matter how you look at it someone we consider a friend is a monster. Annie even shares a physical resemblance with the Female Titan, that's more evidence isn't it?"

"What kind of evidence is that? We don't have anything concrete to base this accusation off do we?"

"Think about the Female Titan's close combat skills," I say. "Who else in 104th was that skilled in hand to hand fighting? There were only a handful of gifted close combatants in the Corps. Annie is the only one who doesn't have an alibi."

Eren slumps down into his seat. He still looks like he doesn't want to believe it, but he can't think of any way to deny it either. I'm finding this hard to accept as well. It all makes sense though; I can't think of anyone else who fits the evidence so well. Now that I think about it, even the Female Titan's voice was a little similar to Annie's, just as the Berserker Titan's was similar to Eren's.

"As you all know the Scouts are being recalled to the Capitol," continues Erwin. "At around midday tomorrow we'll be passing through the city of Stohess. The target is currently stationed there so we intend to take that opportunity to trap her. The plan is to lure her into a series of underground tunnels that exist below the city streets. Once there she should be contained should she assume titan form.

"If she transforms before then, it will be up to you to contain her Eren."

"Umm sir," I begin nervously, "with all due respect, is we sure that's the best plan? I mean, last time Annie had no difficulty defeating Eren in combat. Eren's a skilled enough fighter but he's just not in the same league as her."

The Commander gives me an approving look-much to my relief. "There is more to the plan than simply relying on Eren's ability to take her out. While we hope not to have to face her above ground, we know that the Female Titan is vulnerable to the special target capture weapons. This far inside the Walls she will be unable to summon other titans to cannibalise her. Several of these weapons will be set up once the Female Titan appears and Eren's goal will be to lure her to that point."

"Thank you sir."

"Even with multiple back up options this plan still carries a great element of risk. For one thing we don't know what reaction to expect from the MPs. It's possible that they'll prove to be more of a hindrance than a help. Levi also suffered a broken leg during his combat with the Female Titan, so we won't be able to rely on his assistance." I glance at Mikasa who stares blankly at the table. The Captain grunts in frustration at the reminder of his current predicament.

"Matthias," continues the Commander turning to me. "According to Armin's report you were also able to hear the thoughts of one of the other traitors within our ranks a month ago. This implies that you may be able to hear the thoughts of a titan shifter even when they are in human form."

"Well, yes but, I can't hear Eren's thoughts now. I'm afraid I don't understand how my ability works. I don't even know how I have it."

"We're actually building a theory on that. When we learned of your ability we examined the census records from the village of Rieskrippe where you spent most of your childhood. As surprising as it may sound, your name does not appear on any census until nine years ago. Both your parents are recorded as living in the village for the past ten years. Your mother was also recorded as being sterile. Furthermore your medical records claim that due to an accident your memories only stretch back to nine years ago, around the time when you first appeared on records."

My mouth falls open in shock. "Sir, what exactly are you saying?"

"At the current time we're not sure. Your mother is currently living in the village of Granarber correct?"

"Yes sir."

"When the situation allows I think it best if you take some leave and go see her."

"Yes sir, thank you sir."

"Now, back to the matter at hand. We'll be keeping you close by the operation for as long as possible. If you detect are able to detect any thoughts from the target that imply she is aware of the current plan you are to notify us immediately.

The Commander looks very sternly at the four of us. "Now, I need to be certain I can count on all four of you to do your duty to Humanity. I am well aware that Leonhart was a friend of yours. However, if any of you feel that you will not be able to face her in combat I need to be informed now."

Silence. 'Could I fight her? Well, I suppose it doesn't really matter all that much since I can't effectively use ODM Gear. But am I prepared to betray her like this?' My mind flashes back to the Female Titan crushing the two Scouts when she first appeared. I found out afterwards that those were Luke Siss and Captain Dita Ness. The Captain had been the one in charge of teaching us Rookies all about the long range Scouting formation as well as bringing us up to speed on other Scout tactics. He was a very cheer man with a kind heart.

During the month we spent in training I also became at least partly acquainted with two of the Levi squad: Oulo Bozado and Petra Ral. Oulo seemed to enjoy lording his experience over the rookies, but in truth his false sense of arrogance was usually more of a source of comedy than respect. Still, he displayed some wisdom on a few occasions and he was a highly experienced soldier. Petra took a very deliberate interest in how the new recruits were fairing. She'd often check up on us to make sure that we were fitting in properly. Apparently she was always like that with new members. People said that it was because she would never get the chance to mother children of her own, since the only person she'd be content to have them by was the Captain, and he was most certainly not interested.

Looking at Levi now across the table I can't say that they were right about that last part. Still, that doesn't change matters. Almost two dozen other Scouts fell to the Female Titan during the mission. She killed them, Annie killed them. That's enough for me. "Yes sir," I reply adamantly. "You can count on me."

The next day as we pass through Stohess part of the Regiment breaks away from the main convoy slips into the streets. We wait inside the houses of people we can trust not to give us away and make our way towards where Eren, Armin and Mikasa are meant to be heading. If all's gone well, Annie should be with them. I'm straining to hear her thoughts but everything's quiet.

Every now and again Captain Hange gives me an inquisitive look to ask if I've heard anything, and each time I shake my head. The 'crazy titan lady' hasn't actually proved to be as manic as I thought she would be from first impressions. Really, I'd say suffers from personality shifts more than anything else. One moment she's acting like a small child about to unwrap a birthday present, the next she's dead a serious officer intent on completing her mission. It unnerves me a little bit, especially the intense curiosity she shows for my mental ability, but I'm starting to get used to it. Not that I think a person could ever get fully used to it.

Since we knew that he was in the clear as an insider, and because he's the closest in height and build to Eren, Jean is playing a decoy. He's wearing a dark wig and is ensconced in a carriage which is proceeding along the main road. Manoeuvre Gear has been secretly distributed to several squads who are ready to hand it out to others as they need. It seems like every contingency has been accounted for, yet I still don't feel at ease.

I've been outfitted with 3D Gear as well, even though using it in combat is impractical for me. Apparently due to my thought hearing ability I'm now something of an asset myself; they don't want to risk me being stranded in place where the Female Titan might kill me. I guess that should be gratifying.

I continue to strain my mind in an effort to hear something, anything, but there's only silence. This far away from the regular titans I can't even hear the whispering I could before. The four of them should be getting close to the underground passage by now. There's been no alarm raised so I guess things are working thus far. We're only a single block away from where they must be right now, so I should be close enough to hear something if my powers start to work again.

I lean against a table, panting. It's a lot harder to move around with only one leg. We've only been moving at just above a walking pace, and yet I feel as if I've just run a marathon. I close my eyes and listen closely, hoping to pick up something.

"Ugh, they shouldn't even have the word Military in their name," says a voice in disgust. "What a joke." I look up irritably to see who disturbed me, but no one in the room appears to have been speaking. In excitement I concentrate again, trying to pick up the voice.

"All right, here we are," thinks Eren. "All we have to do now is get her down these steps, and then we can interrogate her. I can't believe we're doing this!"

"Captain Hange!" I call out excitedly. "I can hear Eren!"

The Captain instantly bolts over to me, getting right up into my face. "Really?" she asks, her eyes sparkling. "What's he saying? Or rather thinking?"

"Uh, not much," I say taking a step backwards to lean against the wall. "They've almost got her into the tunnels. I can't pick up any thoughts from Annie though."

"Hmm," ponders Hange, "I suppose it could just be a result of your powers being so all over the place. I wonder though..."

"What? Is she serious?" wonders Eren in exasperation.

I frown. 'What does that mean? Is who serious about what?'

"Does she really have phobia of enclosed spaces, or is she onto us?"

"Uh oh."

"What?" asks the Captain.

"I think Annie's claiming to have a fear of enclosed spaces. She may be trying to find an excuse not to go underground."

Hange frowns, her face now very serious. "All right, we'll move to the roof. Squad 6 let's move! That includes you too psychic boy."

"Yes sir," I sigh, pushing myself onto my one foot and grabbing my crutch from where it's leaning against the wall. We all climb up the stairs onto the top floor, then swing out the window and onto the roof as quietly as we can.

"Dam it! Come on, please just come down here!" Eren thinks in desperation.

"I think we're going to be switching to the backup option," I warn as we lie flat below the line of the roof.

"This isn't happening, this can't be happening."

Suddenly there's the loud blast of an acoustic round. Armin's fired the emergency signal! "Okay people let's move it!" orders the Captain. "Switch to Omni-Directional-Mobility Gear and follow me!" We all fly off of the roof top, heading towards the passageway.

Then, as we land on the roof on the opposite side of the street, a massive blast of yellow light explodes out of the street just ahead of us. I watch in amazement as gigantic bones materialise out of thin air, before being wrapped in thick strands of muscle and connected together by a network of ligaments and tendons. Skin forms rapidly over some of the body and hair sprouts out of the freshly flesh coated skull. The nape closes over the figure of Annie Leonhart and the Female Titan stands, steam rising from her body in the middle of the street.