Ch. 25

2 months later…

It was pouring rain outside, and Petra was already regretting not working from home that day.

The streets were sloshed and muddy, soiling her normally clean boots, and the rain water itself was enough the drown anyone who steped out in it for too long. Only a couple platoons of marching Garrison squads were braving this weather to guard Wall Rose, and that alone wasn't a choice they got to make for themselves. No civilians in Trost was caught dead in the storm, so Petra had walked to the Garrison headquarter compound alone.

Now she was sitting quietly in her office pouring herself over file after file with a mug of coffee to her right and a roaring fire in the fireplace to her left. Her desk was littered with paperwork that was stacked literally up to her eyeballs, so Petra had taken to the surprisingly comfortable rug on her office floor. Leaning up against her couch for back support (she would have been sitting there, but she probably would have fallen asleep) she read countless personal assessment over the next, growing even more dejected as she did so.

It had been two months since she'd returned from her failure of a mission to Klorva, and since then had been handed standing orders by Pixis not to go out into the field. She'd been through an infinite amount of unwanted interviews with several of the officials from Sina as well as the Military Police, but they never asked about the deaths of her squad like Pixis had when he'd questioned her first. All they wanted to know about was the upcoming trial of Henry Gossamer.

Petra hated being questioned by the Miltary Police. Unlike the officials from Sina who were so dense they couldn't see straight, they were the ones who demanded the impossible out of her. Petra got the feeling that they were intimidated by her (having never stepped outside the walls in their lives, they must have been shocked to hear about Titans and death and the shiny white battle scar across her jawline) and were trying to make up for it. She didn't make it easy for them.

If this is what Jewel was aspiring to be, perhaps it's for the best she didn't. She would have hated all of them.

Jewel's memory hurt the worst, perhaps because she was still alive while the other boys were dead. Petra had gone to see her in the beginning, while she was still recovering from her leg being amputated, but she couldn't any longer. The sight of Jewel cheerfully hobbling around on a crutch swinging her stump leg was a gruesome reminder of Petra's failure to protect the people she loved. Her visits to see her former subordinate had grown increasingly shorter, and eventually stopped altogether. She still wrote her, though; she still cared.

This is what Levi must have dealt with when I died, Petra mused as she stared blankly into the fire, her paperwork forgotten. This is what guilt feels like.

She hadn't seen Levi Ackerman since the train back to Trost two months ago. He and his team had delivered the initial message to Anka and Pixis when they'd gotten back to Trost a day earlier than she had. Petra had ben thankful that Levi had covered for her and told Pixis where she was and why, though she found out later that the commander had sent her a telegram up to her village ordering her to stay there longer. She'd never received it, or else she probably would have. It was the following week that Petra was called back up to her village to say her final goodbyes. Her father died a day after her arrival.

Petra had been prepared for Mr. Ral's death, however. He'd been wasting away for months, and Anka had helped her through it. She was at peace with that, though she still hurt deep down. It was with great relief that she finally sold the house in her old village. Keeping it meant nothing to her, because she had no other reason to stay, and would most likely never come back. With the money she'd gotten from the sell she'd brought herself a small apartment right here in Trost, not five blocks away from the Garrison compound. With an apartment of her own so close by she didn't have to sleep on-base anymore, and she liked that.

With her person being barred from the field, Petra now found herself a captain without a team and a purpose. Pixis had her doing busy-work for now, assessing personnel files and analyzing them for 'oddities that would compromise a squadron in the heat of battle', but Petra had heard on good authority for Gustav that this wouldn't last. There was talk of disbanding the Military Police altogether, and Petra's expertise in investigation and interrogation would be needed. She would have a new job soon enough, even if it was only her doing it.

Petra returned back to her files and finished reading before placing the last stack on her desk with the rest of the read ones. I'll have them returned to the library-

"Captain Ral?"

The woman looked up to see a Garrison foot-soldier standing at her door. She blinked, adjusting to his presence, and nodded. "Yes. May I help you?"

The soldier held out an envelope for her to take. Petra accepting it and tore it open. "What's this?"

"It's Henry Gossamer," the soldier replied tensely, openly shuddering. "His trial has been postponed indefinitely."

Petra's eyes widened, and she didn't even bother reading the notice. "What? Why?"

"He's dead, ma'am. Hung himself in his jail cell this afternoon."

Petra sank back wearily, all of the life suddenly sucked out of her. Nervously she lifted her head and looked up at the soldier. "Did he leave a note?"

"Yes ma'am, in his cell, but that's now a crime scene. Commander Pixis sent me to summon you there right away."

Petra didn't need a pass to enter the cell block; her uniform was enough. She ducked past the yellow tape and appeared next to Anka, who was overseeing the collection of evidence a safe distance away from the body of Henry Gossamer. If it wasn't such a serious matter Petra would have found it comical- for the second in command of the entire Stationary Guard, Anka certainly did not do well with blood. It was a wonder she'd killed as many Titans as she had, or lasted in the Garrison long enough to be promoted to Pixis' personal guard and strategist.

"I got Pixis' message," Petra said, nudging her friend slightly. "What happened here?"

Anka remained stone-faced. "He was found hanging in his cell by a strip of fabric. From his old uniform no doubt, judging by the long tear in his left pant leg." She motioned to the coroner leaning over the body. "Gossamer was promptly removed from the noose, with the prison guard attempting resuscitation, but he was long dead. Coroner placed his death around 6 pm."

The young woman was visibly frustrated. "Pixis' orders were to have a guard in this room at all times. Gossamer wasn't eating; he was on suicide watch. Sina, this is going to make for a messy investigation! Now the Military Police are going to be crawling up my-"

"Anka, such language!" Gustav exclaimed, walking through the door to the cell block. He glanced over at the body, shrugged like it was normal, and faced the two women. "Have you seen Pixis? He was supposed to meet us here."

"He hasn't showed yet?" Anka asked, surprised. "I thought he was with you."

"Nope," Gustav replied, shaking his head. "He mentioned he forgot something in the library at headquarters and went back for it, ordered me to go ahead. I took the long route here to pick up Gossamer's file, I thought he'd be here by now…" He looked around anxiously. "Petra, did you see him by chance? You came here straight from your office, didn't you?"

Petra shook her head. "Passed right by his office. I didn't know to look for him, or I would have checked for you. Sorry."

Gustav waved her off. "It's not your fault, he's probably just late." He looked over at Anka again, who was still visibly agitated. "This isn't like him," she muttered, almost to herself. "Pixis would never go anywhere unaccompanied…"

"Unless it was commander business," Petra added hopefully. "He doesn't take you two everywhere, does he?"

Anka looked at her incredulously. "He's one of only three commanders in Humanity's entire Military! He doesn't get a choice in the matter anymore. There are enough assassination attempts on his life with us present as it is, but without…" She let her voice trail off before shaking her head and walking over to speak to the coroner.

Petra glanced at Gustav in confusion. "What's wrong with her?"

Gustav shrugged. "Anka has been Pixis' second in command a long time, longer than most strategists last in that position. They both view each other like family, ever since Anka convinced him to try and go sober. She puts up with him more than I do, I don't know how she stays sane…" He paused. "If something happened to Pixis, I don't know what she'd do with herself."

"She'd become the commander of the Stationary Guard, no questions asked."

"Of course she would, everyone knows she's ready for it," Gustav agreed. "She's brilliant, strong, a natural leader- she'd fill Pixis' shoes nicely. I just don't want to think about what she'd have to go through if Pixis' leaving office had anything to do with something other than his retirement."

Petra nodded in agreement. Anka was a good soldier, a capable commander, but the Garrison would be thrust into inner turmoil if something were to happen to Pixis. She shook such thoughts from her mind as another soldier walked into the cell block. "Petra Ral?"

She looked up and raised her hand. "That's me. Can I help you?"

The soldier was wearing a Survey Corps emblem. "Captain Levi Ackerman's here, wants to see you right away."

Petra frowned and looked over at Gustav, who looked just as surprised as she was. "Do you know anything about this?" she asked. Gustav shrugged. "You brought Gossamer in together, it's only likely he was alerted to his death as well." He nudged her towards the door. "Go see him, I'm sure he'll want to hear it from you. I'll take care of things here with Anka."

He fumbled for something in his pocket and handed it to her. "Oh, before I forget! This was addressed to you and Ackerman specifically. It was evidence in Gossamer's cell."

Petra raised an eyebrow as she surveyed the note. "This isn't marked with an evidence notice-"

"The Militray Police don't need to know about this one" was all Gustav said, and then he marched off. Petra bit her lip, tucked the note into her jacket and nodded towards the soldier. "Where is he?"

"Outside ma'am."

Sure enough, Levi was standing outside of the cell block. He was tactfully leaning underneath an awning, out of the nasty storm swirling above both of their heads, and enjoying a cigarette whose smoke puffed out of the corner of his lips and wisped away into the evening air. He saw Petra before she saw him an waved her over, offering it to her as she ducked underneath the awning next to him. She declined with a wave of her hand, and he shrugged.

"Captain Ral."

"Captain Ackerman."

The tension was thick. They hadn't spoken in two months, neither bothering to check up on the other or like. If they had been teenagers the situation would have later been described as 'awkward', but the two were professionals. They could handle it as such.

"What went on in there?" Levi asked nonchalantly, putting out the cigarette and casting it onto the ground. He smashed it into the muck with the heel of his boot, and the remains disappeared underneath another wave of mud.

Petra frowned and folded her arms across her chest as she leaned up against the wall of the cell block building. "Gossamer's dead. Suicide, they're ruling it, and they're probably right. He even tore the noose materials out of his own uniform."

"Served him right. He was scum."

"Scum with a good defense. Word has it he was thinking about recanting his confession to us and calling the circumstances we got it from 'under duress'. All the other evidence we had on him was here-say. He could have very easily walked."

Levi scowled. "Damn. Little smug piece of crap really was smarter than we gave him credit for."

"Maybe not. If he was convinced he could get off why did he kill himself?"

"Beats me. Did he leave a note?"

"Right here." Petra passed the letter Gustav had handed her off to Levi. "It's addressed to the two of us."

Levi frowned suspiciously and tore the envelope open. "Does the Military Police know we have this? Why isn't it in evidence?"

"Gustav says they don't need to know," Petra told him. "I happen to agree. The Police would have a field day if they knew Gossamer was writing to us. Why would he? No criminal in his right mind pens a suicide note to the people who threw him behind bars."

Levi pulled the contents of the letter out of the envelope and held it out at arm's length to read aloud. "Maybe Gossamer wasn't in his right mind. Here, read this;"

"Captains Ackerman and Ral,

I understand that I might be the last person you want to hear from, but I hope you'll give me some time. Sina knows I don't have much left.

My lawyer advised me not to contact you until after the trial is over, but I won't make it that long. I'm writing this of my own free will in hopes you have the courage to do what I could not.

I confessed to you, Captain Ackerman, that I alone instructed Corporal Indigo Reeves and his cohorts to organize the officer's strike in Trost all those weeks ago. This is partially a lie. I did instruct Reeves to do as he did during the Titan breach, but I was not acting alone. Almost a year ago I was approached by a man from the Military Police who ordered me to enact the plans I did. I kept his identity and existence a secret from the corporals in Trost, so they know nothing of him- I hope for their sakes as well as mine that they never do.

In part I hoped that this plan would succeed- soldiers would die in Trost, Reeves and his cohorts would be convicted for it, the Special Operations Squads would investigate the sightings in Klorva and I would be promoted back to the Rear Guard and free Reeves in exchange for his and the others' silence. (I know I told you earlier had had no intentions of pardoning Reeves and his men; this was an error.) However, now that I sit in this cell awaiting my trial tomorrow I realize that I can participate in this charade no longer. The same man who has been pulling the strings on this entire operations has visited me this very hour, threatening to end my own life himself if I am released. My death by the hands of either the courts (who will surely seek the death penalty for my crimes) or this man's will be the same, except in the matter of my death in the hands of the courts will be prolonged.

Therefore, I have accepted that my fate is to die regardless of the choice I now make. It is with great relief that I make this final decision by myself, to be my own executioner and confess to you my sins in hopes that you will bring the monster I once served to justice.

I alone know his identity. He is called 'Kenny Ackerman', and though I suspect this is not his real name it has been told to me on good authority that you, Captain Ackerman, will know him by this name too. Whether the two of you are related I know not, only that you share no common ground. You are just, I know, and I am convinced that you are one of the only ones who will be able to apprehend him.

To Captain Ral; I feel I must apologize for the loss of your team. I realize you were once very close, and having by no means known that my bid for glory would end in their deaths I can only express to you my sincerest regrets. It is my choices that have resulted in tragedy far before the likes of which I could have never anticipated. My only solace in these final hours is that I will meet my death the way I see fit.

Regards,

Henry Gossamer,

Former Rear Guard, Second Battalion

Levi couldn't bring himself to look up from the piece of paper, and it took Petra a moment to pry it from his stiff hands. "Did I read this right?" she asked, squinting to read the print again. "Did he just admit to acting on the orders of Kenny Ackerman? I mean, the Kenny Ackerman? As in, the urban legend serial killer?" She stared at Levi with wide, disbelieving eyes. "Do you know him?"

The captain nodded numbly, his expression darkening. "Unfortunately, and he's no urban legend. He's as real of a mass murderer as you can get around these parts. I had the utmost displeasure of meeting in the past, which is something I've been hoping to avoid." He scowled again. "Tch. I guess all good things come to an end."

Petra's mind was reeling. "Kenny Ackerman, AKA 'Kenny the Ripper'. He was rumored to have stalked the Underground of the Capitol in Wall Sina decades ago, had a massive cult following. How the hell does someone like that end up masquerading as a member of the Military Police?"

Levi snorted. "There's no 'masquerading' about it, Petra. He joined up around the year 845, became a member of the 1st Brigade after Rod Reiss took a liking to him and his methods."

"Methods?!" Petra snapped shrilly. "He's credited with killing over 100 Military Police officers, the queen's own mother, all by slitting their throats! What kind of monster is that controllable to stay dormant all these years?"

Levi looked out at the darkening sky and rain falling down from it. "A monster that never stopped hunting." He turned to Petra, his face almost recognizable with hatred.

"Why kill just for fun when the government can pay you to do it?"

Yea, new chappie! Now, question answering time;

Cecld16- uh, no, I'm not reading the manga yet, mainly because I have no money to buy them. I'm keeping up with plotlines for now, but fanfiction is taking up most of my time so I'm slightly behind (*insert blushing in embarrassment here*). To answer your other question, this timeline is taking place five years in the future from where the Female Titan Arch took place. I'm not really following the arches after that one just because of the requirements for plot development in my own story. However, I am still taking the other arches into account). Thank you for being such a loyal reviewer!

Heartlessthief- oh ye of little faith! Of course I know what I'm doing…. Maybe….. Love your reviews to pieces, they really make my day!

Milkshake Money- yeah, in one of my unpublished Harry Potter fics I killed off the entire Weasley family. I had tea with Satan then too. Glad to see that you still love Petra despite everything!

AN to all- if you've noticed by that I've not placed Historia Reiss into this story, please note that it's not because I don't love her story line but that I don't have time to develop everyone and still keep my own story on track. Brief sidetrack: may or may not come up, but in this time line Historia is still queen in Sina. Just keep that in mind.

AN #2- what happened in this totally awesome chapter of the manga and why do I have to read it?! Tell me, someone, now!

Thanks.

R&R!