Chapter 23: Infiltration.
Both shifters looked at Nikolai on his seat incredulosly before making the only posible statement.
_WHAT?!
_I'm not sure how it's possible -he said shaking his head- It's weak but consistent, which means it could only be discovered by someone at relativelly close range, not beyond the atmosphere. Somehow, a ship already in this planet is still active! But how, and since how long?
_Do you think it is a ship from when... we arrived? -Pieck asked wide eyed- Can it be?
_Perhaps. -Niko answered with a slight shrug- Depending on the signal's strength, its power source and the type of ship, it can last from a few weeks or months to... centuries. So it may be from that time, whenever it was.
_Can't you find out with your comm-puter? -Ymir inquired- Can it tell you the date the ship started sending the signal?
_Not until we find it, provided i can use it. If it's too old or different i might not be able to, although before that we must meet with the rest.
_But what if someone finds the thing? -the Dancing Titan shifter asked with worry, but he dismissed her.
_I doubt anyone knows of it. And if they do, approaching may be even more dangerous than leaving them alone because it could force them to use it if they know how to. Until i've told Smith, Ackerman and Hange i don't want you to tell anyone else, got it? Not even Braun or Hoover... it's not like it will help in any case.
_So whom do we meet with first? -Pieck asked.
Nikolai eyed her briefly as they moved over the green plains of the island, remaining silent as he considered his options.
_Smith. -he finally said- Not only do i have to tell him and the rest of our little trip outside: i must inform him of the Huntress's availability, the other ship's signal and most importantly i must know if anyone else has found out or been told of your as well as Reiner and Bert's condition of shifters.
_Why would they tell them? -Ymir asked frowning.
_The Corps suffered a big strike on their last expedition and most people don't support them anymore. I bet the government is making use of that distrust to keep Smith in check while trying to find out what we know from you and the exterior, as well as maybe kidnapping Eren or...
_Or?
Niko shook his head and said no more, pretending to be focusing on guiding the ship; however his mind was suddenly in turmoil from what he almost said.
Or Historia, since she is of royal blood.
Why was he so absolutely sure about that? How come that thought reached his mind so suddenly, without warning? He knew Historia's true name yes, but he never asked her who her father was. Yet his brain insisted on the idea and despite having no proof, he believed it to be so. But how did he know? And why did he discover that now? In that moment, a soft blue glow appeared on the borders of his sight; he blinked and it was gone. With a huff, he shook his head and forced himself to focus on the task ahead: rendezvous with the Corps higher ups and debrief.
He chose to fly at a slower pace when they reached Wall Maria, explaining them he preferred to arrive to the middle ring as it got dark, since they'd probably need to blend in the crowd to find out what happened while they were gone. In total, they left for less than three days; he told Reiner he'd be out for a week to have enough time to settle any problems and devise plans before they met again. Nikolai activated the ship's camouflage and it silently disappeared from the darkening sky as they neared Wall Rose; he flew right towards HQ in hopes of finding Smith there.
As they approached the abandoned castle he noticed there were groups of people moving around, more than usual at such hours; not only that, he spotted several wagons and charts on the entrance while others were alrady inside, near the barracks Zeke destroyed and the warehouses. He pressed a few options on his screen and focused on a particular group, zooming in on them: his lips twisted into a gesture of despise and turned the ship to move towards the nearby forest.
_Nikolai, where are we going? -Ymir asked when she saw they were getting further away from the building.
_Members of the MP have arrived not long ago. -he told the surprised shifters- They must be searching for Eren i guess. Let's hope Erwin was smart and hid him before it happened.
_What do we do now? -Pieck's voice had a clear note of tension- If we have to fight them...
_No, i want to avoid conflict for now. -Niko answered- I'll infiltrate and contact Commander Smith or someone i can rely the info and try to work out from there.
As he spoke he pressed buttons and the ship landed about five kilometers from HQ, in a small clearing of the dense forest; the girls looked at each other as he kept working on his screen, mumbling to himself, and followed him when he climbed out and walked towards the mid-section of the ship where a small hatch had open and a row of metallic looking shelves lowered, sporting devices they ogled at in confusion and curiosity. Nikolai took a rectangular case of about a meter long for half a meter wide and opened it, beginning to undress quickly.
_What are you doing? -the freckled shifter asked prying her eyes off the artifacts.
_I need to change into this. -he replied as he stood completely nude except for his special bracer and grabbed something from the container.
It looked like a dark gray sheet of seemingly silkish material; it had no particular features other than an unearthly luster, as if it was made of mercury. He grazed the surface, whispering a word, and it turned pitch black in all of its extension.
_What the hell is that? -Ymir asked in utter disbelief- Nikolai, what are you planning?
His only answer was a brief glance at them and a smirk; for a moment both girls thought he went mad. But all of a sudden, the apparently harmless sheet moved on its own and threw itself around the man, covering every inch of his body and sticking to his skin; the shifters jumped backwards while he stood still, only moving after it settled on him. The material turned gray once more and a black thick line appeared where his eyes would be; Nikolai raised his hands, checking on them while flexing his fingers and humming approvingly.
_Good. -he said looking around- It shows no flaws. Good.
Pieck was the first one to approach, enthranced by the act and walking very slowly while Ymir hid behind the shelves.
_What is that? -she mumbled without even realizing it.
_A battle suit designed for elite infiltration forces. -he explained- Each is designed to be used by a particular person only, and grants them enhanced detection, analysis and aiming skills, muffles sounds and even provides camouflage to great degree.
Niko suddenly disappeared from sight; the Four Legged, once she got over the initial surprise, could discern a slight distortion on the background where he stood. The living mirage moved and she saw fascinated how he materialized near Ymir who stepped back as he looked on the shelves and traded his usual long blades for some more conventional if also different shaped knives.
_What are you gonna do? -she asked after recovering, still wary of him.
_My plan is to go and enter HQ undetected, speak with Smith or someone else and return. -he explained as he put the knives on his waist and forearms, where the suit simply moved to cover them.
_And why the knives?
_Because the plan might not go according to plan. -he intoned with a flat voice.
He looked at his forearm and the suit moved to reveal the bracer, where he pressed a few buttons to make the shelves go back inside.
_I suggest you wait in the ship until i return. I don't expect anyone from the MP to come, but i'll leave it cloaked nonetheless.
_How did you get this thing? -Pieck said admiring him.
_I stole it. -he replied quickly- It was hard, and was even harder to find someone who could undo its programming and adjust it to work for me. Even then, it paid off awesomely. Now get in, the faster i get this done the better.
Survey Corps HQ, Night.
Four members of the MP entered the castle's cellar, where the Legion's Commander Erwin Smith sat on a bed: the blonde staring at them from inside the cell as they apprached and opened the door.
_Out, Smith. -said the oldest one, clicking his tongue in impatience- We need to talk.
_If so you could have come alone, right? -the towering man replied softly as he walked out.
The other stared at him for some moments before punching the taller one on his jaw; Erwin stumbled back but regained balance almost instantly, his blue eyes looking at him without fear.
_You know what we want, Commander. -the man said impatiently, running a hand on his dark brown hair- We want answers.
_I have many. -the blonde answered- But most begin with "fuck you". I must be getting it from Levi...
The kick on his stomach made him bend gasping for air, and another on the side threw him on the floor. Smith coughed as the men chuckled around him, cracking their knuckles in anticipation; he said nothing when two held him by the armpits and the leader took turns with the other one to hit him on his chest, his gut and face. He didn't waver as they threw blow after blow.
_Speak, old man! -the one in charge barked- Where is Jaeger? Where is he hiding?
Smith spat blood on the floor at his feet, and the other grabbed him by the collar and sunk his knee on his gut making the older man gasp loudly as air left his lungs, yet in the same movement threw his head back and headbutted the MP member right on his nose. The man cursed, feeling the blood drip, and punched him on the face.
_As you wish, you piece of shit! -he snarled and looked at his men- Let's give him a pummeling he won't forget!
Erwin felt the lower left said of his face beginning to go numb amidst the pain and his muscles on his chest ached whenever he breathed; one of his eyes was starting to swell, yet he eyed them without any sign of his resolve weakening. Then the younger one, a light red haired with short hair, kicked him right on the genitals and his legs gave in as he let out a faint pained whimper. The two holding him let got and he fell on all fours before one pushed him on the side to roll him on his back and began kicking, stopping when their boss told them they needed him alive.
_I gotta admit, you didn't make much noise and i like that. -he said with mocking tone- I love to break haughty guys like you, but i'm afraid i don't have much time so we'll bring a recruit here.
At this, Erwin opened his good eye and fixed it on him. Even when on the ground beaten and bleeding, his stare showed such fury the soldier actually felt surprised.
_Oh, i see i touched a nerve there, didn't i? So you can feed them to the titans, but if we want to entertain ourselves it's too much huh? -he said and laughed- In that case, we'll being one of the rookies... a girl if possible. We'll have lots of fun until you talk. What do you say?
The tall commander slowly rolled on his elbows, rising slowly and with a few pained noises; one of the men was about to kick him down when his boss made a signal for him to let the other stand.
_Do you... -he said clutching the right side of his chest with a hand- do you have no respect for the innocents? Do you have no dignity?
_What, you're chastising us now? -the man replied and laughed- Did we hit you so hard you forgot where you are?
_Of course we have dignity! -another said- We're the respected MP, the elite forces protecting the people inside the walls from terrorists like you!
_No one is going to ask how we get the information. -a third pointed smugly- If one or two brats get hurt to give the higher ups what they want, do you think they'll care?
_What happens here from now on is your fault Smith. -said their chief- How many of your precious rookies can you see being tortured until you break, hm?
Erwin stood still, his non-swollen eye showing a mix of defiance and disgust; then he closed it and bowed his head down with a sigh.
_As you wish. -he said- Kill them all.
The men stared at him in surprise until they heard a soft hit on the ground and their eyes conveyed on one of them, who fell on his knees with his throat slit open amd gushing blood. They turned their backs on the blonde, looking around in confusion when suddenly another let out a strangled cry and backed against the cell bars, watching in horrified disbelief how his belly was sliced on all its width; when he tried to keep his own bowels from slipping out a hole opened under his jaw and an unseen object pierced all the way through it and his skull. He fell limp as one of the two remaining turned to run towards the exit when he fell down hard, too hard to assume he tripped on something; he squirmed trying to get up, then his neck twisted and broke without any perceived intervention from another being.
The only one left, their boss, stumbled backwards and fell on his ass; the room was now silent, and he gazed around terrified until his eyes locked on Smith, who watched the scene gravely but without sign of fear.
_E-E-Erwin! -he whined in terror- Wh-what was that? What just... did you do this?
The other didn't say a word, instead fixing his eye on the scared wreck of a man with a cold look.
_No. -he said with an indifferent tone- But i know who did it.
_Who? -the MP officer asked desperately- If he's your friend please tell him to spare me! I beg you Smith, i'll do what you want!
_That's not really my decision. -he said with a small shrug- It's up to him what happens now.
The man on the floor was about to answer when an invisible force pushed him on his back and pinned him down. He felt a weight on his chest and something slender, like fingers, pressing on his face and mouth, keeping his screams muffled as he began to squirm and thrash. Then the pressure increased.
Erwin looked without blinking as the man's desperate cries turned into frantic whailing and started kicking and pushing with his hands on some invisible foe; he could see his face showing the marks signaling where Nikolai's fingers where as his hands worked harder. A crackle was heard and the MP officer gurgled under his grapple, breathing intensely like a cornered animal, an eye open wide and the other closed under the invisible hand. The muffled screaming became more and more inhumane as the seconds passed and more small cracking noises could be heard. Smith kept looking even as the bone on his cheek broke, then the lower side of his socket cracked and his eye popped out. The man clawed at what held him in vain, legs kicking in all directions as the bone splintered under the assailant's grip, until a sudden grunt came from the unseen attacker and his skull suddenly caved in, pouring its contents on the floor and the other's hands.
The man in the grey suit appeared gradually, his chest going up and down as he turned to watch as Smith, who mirrored his stare. The suit opened on the head revealing Niko's head, and the blonde glanced briefly at the body.
_Was that really necessary? -he asked flatly.
Ten minutes earlier.
The door opened and Erwin looked up from his place on the bed yet nobody came in, the gate closing softly. He wondered what could they be planning when Nikolai's appeared suddenly from thin air in front of him, covered from head to toe in his suit.
_Commander, i apologize for coming uninvited. -he said while Smith stared in shock- But it seems i'm not the only unwanted guest, am i?
_Nikolai? -the man whispered in awe, uncapable of even standing from the surprise- What is that thing? When did you arrive?
_About an hour ago. -he said in a low tone, nearing the cell- Has anyone informed you of what i was doing?
_Before leaving, Hange told me you sent Braun and Hoover to a safe place and left with both Pieck and Ymir. -he answered- Mike told me of Mr. Perelli's aid, and i hope they'll remain well hidden. As for your trip... did you find it? Your ship?
_Unharmed and working, which is why i returned so fast. -he assured with a smile- We used it to reach the marleyans on the coast. I eliminated them without damaging the boat they came in, it will be useful once we can claim it.
_The coast? -Erwin mumbled with interest- So there's an ocean out there. And good thinking about their naval ship. Anyways, about Ymir...
_Yes, she's a shifter. -he confessed and Smith nodded gravely.
_How long did you know?
_Since i met her, i hid it for her sake until now. -he cleared before continuing- However, there's something way more urgent. There's another ship on the island. Like mine.
_What?
_I caught its signal on the way back. -he said hastily- I have no idea of where it's located other than within the walls, but the Huntress tracking system points even further inside, probably near or within Wall Sina... it must be old, very old . Your records tell this is year eight fourty something since the walls were built, but nothing of the history before.
_This is an island? -Smith shook his head- No, forget that. What will you do now?
_If we want a chance of taking the government down, we have to act quickly and aim for the capital and the royal family. -he explained- With the shifters and my ship on our side there's no way we can lose... however, there is the issue of the common people and how they'll react once we make our intentions clear and reveal the truth of the outside world. Not to mention any resistance we'll have to face. Did you tell Levi and his people to take care of Eren?
_Yes, they're in a safe house about twenty kilometers from here. You must go with them now.
_What about you and the rest?
_We'll manage. Now leave, before someone...
Niko lifted a hand, asking for silence and looking at the door. His siut covered his face and he stepped back, vanishing from sight, and Erwin awaited expectantly. A few moments later, steps reached his ears, and the basement's door opened.
Back to the present.
_Kind of cathartic, i have to admit. -Nikolai said lazily, shaking his hands to clean some blood and brain tissue.
He checked the corpse's pockets, took the cell's key and freed Smith. The blonde looked at the dead men briefly before sighing and nodding.
_I guess there's no option now but to fight. -the blonde said- Let's hope your skills and mine are enough.
_I arrived to HQ one hour ago, Commander. I used the time to recognize the terrain, there are thirty seven members of the MP in total not counting these, seventeen guarding the prisoners, ten sleeping and ten moving somewhere inside the castle.
_How do we proceed? -Smith asked and Nikolai shook his head.
_You take any weapons they have and stay here. -before Smith could protest he raised a hand- I'm better off doing this alone, i can't guide and remain concealed at the same time.
The legionnaire considered the matter a few seconds before nodding and beginning to search the bodies, giving a last glance at the young man as he vanished and the door opened silently. Erwin didn't bother moving the bodies, instead sitting on a corner with a knife ready in case someone decided to check on him and waited.
He stood there over half an hour, wondering what was Nikolai planning when the door moved and Erwin tensed until he saw the white haired soldier enter calmly. The younger eyed him with a little smile.
_The way's clear, the building is under our control. The ones outside set a small camp to watch the warehouse and don't come near the castle for now.
_The MP officers... -Smith asked cautiously- did you kill them?
_Oh no! I neutralized them quickly and left them tied and gagged. -he answered waving a hand lazily- It's not hard to deal with people as hopeless as them, specially if you're invisible. The ones near the warehouse would normally be an issue but...
_But?
Nikolai's smirk grew wider and he touched his forearm, where the suit moved to reveal his bracer.
_I don't want to ruin the surprise Commander, so i'll just say... i hope you like fireworks.
End of Chapter.