p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"The plan was certain as times seemed to be grim. A lot has happened within the last few weeks, more so than what Lana was used to. It was a lot of information for her to contain. Alannah Ackerman was an ancestor to the royal Weismann bloodline. The very bloodline that gave her unique abilities that were different from other titan shifters. Her long lost brother Cecil lived in the shadows away from her and watched her from the side as a Crovus Clan. He among others participated in hunts of their own people. Eventually they were discovered and retaliated against the Clan with the help of Keith and the soldiers of Paradis. Revolution had taken place on Rhea as titans were deemed as equals once more./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Cecil sought after what was taken away from their family. He wanted the throne and he wanted Lana to join him. However, Lana refused. She gave him valid reasons and he respected her decisions. Once everything was over, he and Clyde would return to Rhea and reclaim what was lost. It was not going to be an easy one but it was worth the try./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Lana sat as part of an audience waiting for a show to start. She didn't feel like herself. She didn't sleep well the night before after suffering various nightmares. They were all different but they all ended the same way. She stood in a pool of blood as those she cared about surrounded her. They were dead on the cold ground./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"The night before Lana's departure to Paradis she was instructed to be examined and thoroughly looked over. She was brought to a facility where recent developments had gone underway. As she was guided through the compound she was able to witness large airships undergoing maintenance. She only recognized them from various books she had read, she never got to see them in person until today. As she stared in amazement the soldiers escorting her pulled her to continue./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"She was wondering what was going on and what she was getting herself into. She was left out of so much in the past four years. It was unbelievable the changes that had occurred. She felt like she was left in the dark, the unknown. Everything she was seeing and hearing was new sounds to her. It was like a different world from what it was before./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Lana was brought into the examination waiting room. It was clear that she wasn't the only one to go through with the procedure as several others were patiently waiting their turn./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Due to your condition we were able to bring in your doctor to participate in your examination," one of the soldiers stated./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""So that's what you call it, a condition?" she scoffed. "Any data in regards to titans is valuable to Tulp."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""That it is Ackerman," came the snarky tone of Anna Tulp. "Father was unable to attend but I am able to take his place."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""And Xander?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Oh, I thought you would have heard by now. Xander is a medical officer of the Military Police Brigade, he will be the one conducting the examination. He was studying under my father and I until he was certified."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Out of the corner of her eye Lana could see two women sitting in the corner. One of them had short brown hair that was cut asymmetrically while the other wore her hair short and tussled. Both were wearing Garrison uniforms as they each leaned back in their chairs. They looked worn out and exhausted, barely keeping their eyes style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanTo Lana they were almost unrecognizable but without a doubt she knew that the two were Nico and Nisha. Never before had Lana seen them with two separate distinguished looks./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Nico wore the asymmetrical cut with a small scar on her left brow. She turned to see Lana and gave a questioning look. It was almost as if she were dreaming or if she were in reality. Lana approached the two as Nico slapped Nisha's thigh to grab her attention. It was at that moment that it had become apparent that Nico recognized Lana./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""What are you doing here? I thought you were retired," Nico asked calmly and quietly, something very unusual for her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Nisha sprung up straight and gave a small smile./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""With everything going on, they pulled me out of retirement and are putting me back in action."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""What about your kids?" Nisha asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""They'll be fine, they're in good hands. So you two are finally soldiers," Lana stated poking Nico's shoulder./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Yeah, we have been for a while," Nico replied quietly again./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Lana wanted to try and perk the girls up by keeping her voice and tone peppy and cheerful, "So what made you decide on the Garrison? I thought you were going to join the Survey Corps."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""We weren't exactly made to be in the front lines. We were better at being defence, and yet the front lines were brought to us anyways."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""What do you mean?" Lana inquired./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Nisha looked away and held onto her stomach. Lana turned to Nico who had a dead look in her eyes. It had become evident to her that they had seen more than they wanted to. Chances were, the two of them were brought to the shoreline as defence to fight any Marley soldiers who tried to land on Paradis./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Lana paid no mind to the two girls and decided that it was best to leave them be. She sat by herself in the waiting room as she waited for her name to be called. Xander and Anna were graciously standing in the doorway eager to start the procedure./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Lana was brought into the examination room where she followed directions. She was poked, pulled, and even blinded with lights. The examination was very thorough. Samples were taken and set aside. When Lana asked why they were focusing on so much detail on her the only response was "You never know". To Lana, it sounded like they were taking all of this information down in the off chance that she would not return./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Lana there was something weird in one of your examinations that I wanted to bring up," Anna questioned./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Ok, sure what is it?" Lana inquired./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""I was reviewing some of the paperwork the other day and something was weird so to speak. During an examination you reported hearing a baby crying."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""That was right after Isabel was born. Isaac said it was some sort of separation issue, a psychological explanation. Basically a fancier way of saying I was hearing things."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""That may be true, but in a later examination you ran to the door claiming you heard Captain Aberdeen's voice, and again in a different exam where you thought you had heard Captain Ackerman's voice."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""I guess I was just thinking about them. I don't understand what you're getting at."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""It may be possible that this is some other hidden ability that you have. But call it a hunch for now."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"As she put her clothes back on, Anna and Xander sat before her as Darius entered the room. It had been some time since the two of them had shared a conversation with one another. With him was a small envelope which he presented to her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"He explained to her that as she was brought overseas, she was to deliver an envelope to each soldier of Paradis. The instructions were precise and clear./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"Upon declaration of Commander Hange Zoe of the Survey Corps. Soldier, Eren is to be placed under immediate arrest. Upon the retrieval and detainment of Mr. Yeager, he is to be brought forth and held for his actions. A soldier must not act upon their own accord unless their actions are deemed as good for the people. /em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"The Survey Corps will act in the retrieval of Eren Yeager and will require support. As noted in the following orders please comply with the Survey Corps and follow any directions brought upon by its Commander./em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"Furthermore, any titan shifter involved must be placed under a safe guard unless directed otherwise. If a pure blooded titan shifter is to unfortunately meet their end their body must be retrieved and brought back to Paradis to avoid further advancements of titan serum research for the enemy. If any sample were to be gathered by said enemy, they are to be brought back along with the body. /em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Lana opened her eyes after having completely losing herself in her thoughts. She was sitting next to a foreign ambassador who was attending the show and had not left yet. Samuel was down a few seats away. She turned to him as the two happened to make eye contact with one another. He gave her a small smile and turned back to the stage where the performance had already started. She turned behind her to see Keith with Emilee farther back in the crowd. They were dressed in large trench coats to hide the vertical maneuvering gear that they were wearing./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"The plan was clear. When Eren attacks Lana was instructed to transform and protect any foreign ambassador that she could. Samuel would escort them when as soon as possible alongside Gregory. Once they were escorted away from the scene, Lana was to regroup with a small squad like the others./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Cecil and Clyde were instructed to protect Eleonore and her children at the pickup point. Keith, Emilee, and Oscar made up one squad while Lana, Lucas, and Mia made up the other. The two squads were to run along the sides and act as defence. The more soldiers they could handle along the flanks, the less the Survey Corps would have to deal with. The Survey Corps themselves had individuals split up to take care of main defences and follow through with separate plans. In the end the main goal was for everyone to make it home./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Lana's focus wasn't on the performance, she was waiting for the moment to happen. The moment where they would all spring into action. She didn't even make out any words that the man was saying, she was enthralled with the tension./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"In a quick blink of an eye, a bright light appeared in a building behind the stage. It was an explosion and it was big. Without hesitation Lana sprung up into action. She enlarged herself within a gust of wind as large bone plates covered her body. Rubble had begun hitting her the second she had turned and swung herself to protect the ambassadors. Had she waited a split second many around her would have died. With her hands protecting the back of her head she could hear the yells of a familiar creature./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"She turned to see the Attack Titan behind her and already on the move. Not a moment sooner another flash of light became visible. A titan she had never seen before had started taking shape not far from her. She looked down to see that Samuel had gotten almost all of the ambassadors from under her. The second that he and Gregory had made for the pickup point she began to revert back to her normal size in order to regroup with her squad. Once the steam had cleared she looked up to see a large faceless titan attacking Eren. Everything was happening very quickly./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"She turned to make her way toward her squad and looked up towards the sound she recognized. It was the sound of the vertical maneuvering device cords being retracted. The Survey Corps had made it to the scene already and they were wearing a uniform much different than what she was used to. It reminded her of the Anti-Personnel squad./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"One soldier swooped down much lower than the others. They landed on the ground before Lana and turned to face her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Get going soldier!" Levi screamed at her before continuing./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Lana was wide eyed at the sight of her husband and quickly responded to his yell. She was quick on her feet once more and sprinted to meet with her squad. As she ran, she began to disrobe the uniform she was wearing revealing the same skin tight black suit that the other Survey Corps soldiers were wearing with their new vertical maneuvering gear./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"All she wanted was to be able to spend time with Levi and their family. The brief moment gave her some sort of hope. They were in this battle together. They were determined to win. They were striving to get through this and come out alive./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"As she left the scene she could hear loud bangs and gunfire. She paid no mind to the scene being played out behind her and continued on her way to meet with Lucas and the others. As she pushed passed citizens that were still fleeing the scene, she finally caught up to the others./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""What took you so long?" Lucas yelled./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""My bad, I got a little distracted I guess," she replied as they began to run a corner./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"As they were running something seemed off. It was too easy for them to make their way to the point. They had yet come across a single Marley soldier. It was concerning enough to where she questioned the safety of Keith and the others. As Lana was soaring through the air something else seemed to be bugging her. It was almost a high pitched sound and it was clouding her thoughts. She stopped and landed on the ground which drew the attention of the others./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""What are you doing? We need to keep moving!" Mia yelled./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""We're almost to the point let's go," Lucas added./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Something isn't right," Lana said clenching her hand to her head trying to dim the sound/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"The high pitched sound began to rematerialize into something else. It was turning into a scream and not just any scream. What she was hearing was Keith's scream. The scream sent chills up her spine./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""KEITH," she yelled./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"She quickly turned around and began to run in the direction that she was being drawn to. She fired her triggers and began to make her way towards Keith's route./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""DO NOT BREAK FORMATION!" Lucas yelled. After no response from her he called out again, "LANA! WE NEED TO STAY TOGETHER! LAAAANNNNAAAA."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"No matter how many times Lucas called out to her she could not hear him over the screams. As she ran, two Marley soldiers had discovered them and began an attack. The faint yells could be heard from Lucas calling Lana back, but she was driven to find Keith./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Lana kept running in the direction that the sounds were coming from. She wasn't sure where she was going exactly, she was only following the sounds that were in her head. In order to speed herself up she decided to enhance her physical build to push herself off of buildings. She grew slightly larger as the muscles in her body began to grow bigger and stronger. Her face hallowed out slightly as her titan build began to take shape in her human size. She still looked like a normal human, only bigger and slightly deformed as steam rose from her body maintaining her current state./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"She paid no attention to anything that was going on around her, she was solely focused on the sounds in her head. She kept moving through the city until the yelling and screaming stopped. In that moment, she stopped dead in her tracks to try and figure out where Keith was. There was nothing before her as she scanned the area in a sheer panic. The sounds around her began to fill her ears once more as she could hear the commotion that was still taking place with Eren./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"As she listened she heard a gun being shot. It wasn't just any gun, it was a flare gun. Red smoke filled the air not far from where she was. In the event that something went horribly wrong, they were each given one flare gun with a single red flare. She quickly ran towards that direction and turned the corner. What was past the corner was something she never once believed she would ever see./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Further down the street was Keith surrounded by many soldiers. Bone was protruding from his body as he was face to face with a Marleyean soldier. Lana was frozen in her tracks at the sight causing her to lose her form. He was covered in blood, his blood. Wounds were all over his body as small amounts of steam rose from them. They were too many injuries at that point for Keith to fully heal. He didn't have much longer to live./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"The soldier had Keith's own blade shoved through his chest. Keith was holding onto the blade that had stabbed him as he slowly looked over to meet Lana's gaze. Tears had formed and were running down Keith's face./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Slowly Keith opened his mouth and said, "I love you." Although no sound came from his mouth, the words rang through Lana's head clear as day./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"In that moment, it was almost as if time was moving slowly around her. She watched as the soldier ripped the sword from Keith's body. He came crashing down to the ground. The bones that were sticking out were already brittle and had shattered on impact. All life had been pulled from his body upon his last breath./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Lana watched her world shatter before her. She had watched people die before her eyes, even those who she was close to. However, nothing compared to the moment she was in right now. Her heart was broken and she felt a range of emotions inside. A gut wrenching feeling came over her as she tried to keep her stomach contents inside her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Marley soldiers had approached Keith's body and begun doing something to him. It was clear that they had not taken notice to her just yet. Their sole focus was on Keith./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Don't touch him," Lana whispered to herself clenching onto the stomach while fighting back the tears that were streaming down her face. "Don't touch him," she repeated louder wiping the sweat from her face. "Please stop," she cried wiping the tears as she was trying to pull herself together. "LEAVE HIM ALONE!" she screamed at them fully throwing her actions into her emotions sending a large shock wave in the process./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Kill her!" one of the soldiers yelled realizing that she was there. "Quickly find the other one."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"She screamed as she had begun a full charge at them. The soldiers that were there had begun firing their guns at her. However, Lana had already begun a transformation process increasing her speed and strength once more. She met with the first soldier closest to her and slammed their head backwards into the ground hard enough to split their skull open./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Not her too," she could hear one of the soldiers say./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Lana was completely emotionless at this point. She didn't care what was going on. She had the complete intent to kill and leave no survivors. She had tripled in size at this point and covered herself in an armored plating./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Her kills were ruthless and that of an aggressive titan. Bodies were crushed to the ground and up against buildings destroying everything that was around her. Soldiers were torn apart causing a rain of blood below. Using her powerful jaws she ripped apart anyone who attacked her. Soldiers had appeared on rooftops and started firing at her. The bullets ricochet off of her bone plates and protected her. A couple of stray bullet made their way to the muscles that were exposed, but she wasn't fazed by it at all. She tore a chunk of a building off and threw it hard at the soldiers that were on the top. Any that remained met their fate quickly. Lana was using her titan powers to their full extent and limitations. She was drawing her powers from her emotions without realizing how much she was damaging her own body./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Once every single Marleyean soldier had been take care of Lana had reverted back to her normal self with almost no energy left within her. She collapsed down to her knees before Keith's dead body. At this point she wasn't able to cry she only sat before him motionless./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"In the corner of her eye she was able to make out movement that was in an alleyway./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Luca, had pulled himself up against the wall. He was holding onto very injured shoulder as a heavy trickle of blood came from his head. In his hand was a flare gun that he had fired off bringing Lana to their location./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Lana calmly reached and grabbed a gun that was nearby. She got up from the ground and stumbled a little from over exerting herself. There was blood and dirt on her prompting her to try and brush some of it off, but it was no use. Once she realized it she pointed the gun and aimed at Luca./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""You know, there is nothing stopping me from killing you right her and now," she called out to him./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Are…are you serious! You must be crazy!" he yelled as he started to panic./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""If you were alive this entire time, you could have done something and Keith would still be alive."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""I did what I could. There wasn't much else I could do."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""He died because of you."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""I get it," Luca began to relax a little. He gave out a small chuckle in disbelief. "You're just trying to pinpoint an excuse on someone to make yourself feel better."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Lana gave him a questioning looked and firmly held onto the trigger./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Oh come on, don't give me that look. You very well know what I'm talking about." He paused still in disbelief that the conversation was even happening to begin with. "You're trying to tell me that right now in your head you aren't thinking. You're not thinking, what if I was a few second faster? Why could I have not known sooner, because it's obvious that something was going through your mind before I set off that flare? There is no way that you would have gotten here as fast as you did if you had started running from your squad the moment the flare was visible. So tell me, what the FUCK IS GOING ON IN YOUR HEAD!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"The words pierced through to her causing her to fire the gun just missing him. She dropped the gun after the shot but her arm remained outstretched as the emotion was coming back. She knew he was right. She thought about what could have happened if she followed her instincts sooner. If a few seconds would have made any sort of difference in the circumstance. Would Keith still be alive if she was just a little bit faster?/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Luca was relieved at the realization that his words had gotten through to her. Lana was hunched over once more trying to contain her cries. He walked over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""We have orders we need to follow," he said prompting her to look up at him with tearful red eyes./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"He walked away and walked over to a soldier that was dead on the ground. The only part of them that remained was their lower portion. Luca reached down into a bag that was strapped to their side and pulled out a small box./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Lana had stopped crying and approached him, "What is that?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Well in your moment of rage, I watched this guy extract something from Keith's body. Something tells me they were planning on keeping this for something." He cracked it open to reveal a syringe filled with fluid. "What are the odds of this being spinal fluid?" he questioned./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Probably high. We'll take it with us along with Keith's body."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""We're not leaving without Emilee. If we take Keith we are taking Emilee too," Luca proclaimed making his way towards a body that was a little farther away from them./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Emilee? You mean that soldier who was always around Keith?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""She was in front of Keith in the air when she was shot down. The bullet hit her straight in the head." Oscar struggled to pick her body up with his injury, but he valiantly hoisted her over his shoulder. "Emilee may have been a stuck up bitch but she would have done the same for any of us if she were in our shoes. This woman cared more for her squad than anyone else."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Let's just keep moving. The others are waiting," Lana replied quietly./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"She bent down and picked Keith up from the ground. She held onto him close as the two began to run further towards the meeting point. They were lucky enough to not meet any other soldiers along the way./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"They eventually found themselves with the others. Eleanora was already with Cecil and Clyde on their way back to Rhea with Samuel. Lucas stood at the foot of an airship waving them down./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU!" Lucas shouted as she got closer./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Lana refused to say a word to him and only meet his gaze. It was then that he realized what or rather who she was carrying. She and Luca gently placed the bodies of Keith and Emilee on the floor./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Everyone was heartbroken. Lana remained knelt on the ground by Keith's side holding onto his cold face. Lucas slammed down to the ground hard trying to comprehend what was before him. Before anything could start, a voice rung out./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""You have time to mourn when we are home. We need to focus on getting everyone else and bring them home before we lose any more lives."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Lana looked up to see Hange walk pass them. They didn't even look down at the bodies, they didn't even acknowledge Lana fully. Hange kept their head straight and forward. They were extremely focused and wanted nothing more but to have everyone return safely./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Let's move and get our soldiers," they screamed behind them. "Lana!" Hange called out. "Are you able to fight?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""I am fine. I have minimal injuries," Lana lied, trying to fight back her tears once more as the pain that had gone unnoticed was beginning to surface./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""That's not what I asked. Are you able to fight?" Hange sternly gazed at her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Lana pulled herself together and was able to suppress her emotions and pain enough. "Yes Commander."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Good. If things were to go horribly wrong…more so than it already has…I want you to jump in and do whatever it takes to bring Eren and the others home."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Understood," Lana replied./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"At that moment in time, Lana was very well put together. The most she had been put together after any traumatizing incident. Her heart was broken, but that wasn't going to stop her from maintaining her focus. She was in a war and this is what happens when you are at war. Deep down inside, Lana knew that at some point during any of this she was going to lose someone she loved. She was prepared for the moment that someone she cared deeply about had lost their life in battle. Even at this point she was prepared to lose her own life, something she had never prepared herself for before. She was going to continuing fighting no matter what. Hange was right, the time for mourning was not now. Once they had set foot in Paradis they will be able to mourn the loss of those who had sacrificed themselves for the future that they were fighting for./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Cecil sought after what was taken away from their family. He wanted the throne and he wanted Lana to join him. However, Lana refused. She gave him valid reasons and he respected her decisions. Once everything was over, he and Clyde would return to Rhea and reclaim what was lost. It was not going to be an easy one but it was worth the try./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Lana sat as part of an audience waiting for a show to start. She didn't feel like herself. She didn't sleep well the night before after suffering various nightmares. They were all different but they all ended the same way. She stood in a pool of blood as those she cared about surrounded her. They were dead on the cold ground./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"The night before Lana's departure to Paradis she was instructed to be examined and thoroughly looked over. She was brought to a facility where recent developments had gone underway. As she was guided through the compound she was able to witness large airships undergoing maintenance. She only recognized them from various books she had read, she never got to see them in person until today. As she stared in amazement the soldiers escorting her pulled her to continue./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"She was wondering what was going on and what she was getting herself into. She was left out of so much in the past four years. It was unbelievable the changes that had occurred. She felt like she was left in the dark, the unknown. Everything she was seeing and hearing was new sounds to her. It was like a different world from what it was before./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Lana was brought into the examination waiting room. It was clear that she wasn't the only one to go through with the procedure as several others were patiently waiting their turn./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Due to your condition we were able to bring in your doctor to participate in your examination," one of the soldiers stated./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""So that's what you call it, a condition?" she scoffed. "Any data in regards to titans is valuable to Tulp."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""That it is Ackerman," came the snarky tone of Anna Tulp. "Father was unable to attend but I am able to take his place."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""And Xander?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Oh, I thought you would have heard by now. Xander is a medical officer of the Military Police Brigade, he will be the one conducting the examination. He was studying under my father and I until he was certified."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Out of the corner of her eye Lana could see two women sitting in the corner. One of them had short brown hair that was cut asymmetrically while the other wore her hair short and tussled. Both were wearing Garrison uniforms as they each leaned back in their chairs. They looked worn out and exhausted, barely keeping their eyes style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanTo Lana they were almost unrecognizable but without a doubt she knew that the two were Nico and Nisha. Never before had Lana seen them with two separate distinguished looks./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Nico wore the asymmetrical cut with a small scar on her left brow. She turned to see Lana and gave a questioning look. It was almost as if she were dreaming or if she were in reality. Lana approached the two as Nico slapped Nisha's thigh to grab her attention. It was at that moment that it had become apparent that Nico recognized Lana./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""What are you doing here? I thought you were retired," Nico asked calmly and quietly, something very unusual for her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Nisha sprung up straight and gave a small smile./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""With everything going on, they pulled me out of retirement and are putting me back in action."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""What about your kids?" Nisha asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""They'll be fine, they're in good hands. So you two are finally soldiers," Lana stated poking Nico's shoulder./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Yeah, we have been for a while," Nico replied quietly again./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Lana wanted to try and perk the girls up by keeping her voice and tone peppy and cheerful, "So what made you decide on the Garrison? I thought you were going to join the Survey Corps."span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""We weren't exactly made to be in the front lines. We were better at being defence, and yet the front lines were brought to us anyways."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""What do you mean?" Lana inquired./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Nisha looked away and held onto her stomach. Lana turned to Nico who had a dead look in her eyes. It had become evident to her that they had seen more than they wanted to. Chances were, the two of them were brought to the shoreline as defence to fight any Marley soldiers who tried to land on Paradis./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Lana paid no mind to the two girls and decided that it was best to leave them be. She sat by herself in the waiting room as she waited for her name to be called. Xander and Anna were graciously standing in the doorway eager to start the procedure./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Lana was brought into the examination room where she followed directions. She was poked, pulled, and even blinded with lights. The examination was very thorough. Samples were taken and set aside. When Lana asked why they were focusing on so much detail on her the only response was "You never know". To Lana, it sounded like they were taking all of this information down in the off chance that she would not return./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Lana there was something weird in one of your examinations that I wanted to bring up," Anna questioned./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Ok, sure what is it?" Lana inquired./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""I was reviewing some of the paperwork the other day and something was weird so to speak. During an examination you reported hearing a baby crying."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""That was right after Isabel was born. Isaac said it was some sort of separation issue, a psychological explanation. Basically a fancier way of saying I was hearing things."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""That may be true, but in a later examination you ran to the door claiming you heard Captain Aberdeen's voice, and again in a different exam where you thought you had heard Captain Ackerman's voice."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""I guess I was just thinking about them. I don't understand what you're getting at."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""It may be possible that this is some other hidden ability that you have. But call it a hunch for now."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"As she put her clothes back on, Anna and Xander sat before her as Darius entered the room. It had been some time since the two of them had shared a conversation with one another. With him was a small envelope which he presented to her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"He explained to her that as she was brought overseas, she was to deliver an envelope to each soldier of Paradis. The instructions were precise and clear./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"Upon declaration of Commander Hange Zoe of the Survey Corps. Soldier, Eren is to be placed under immediate arrest. Upon the retrieval and detainment of Mr. Yeager, he is to be brought forth and held for his actions. A soldier must not act upon their own accord unless their actions are deemed as good for the people. /em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"The Survey Corps will act in the retrieval of Eren Yeager and will require support. As noted in the following orders please comply with the Survey Corps and follow any directions brought upon by its Commander./em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"em style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"Furthermore, any titan shifter involved must be placed under a safe guard unless directed otherwise. If a pure blooded titan shifter is to unfortunately meet their end their body must be retrieved and brought back to Paradis to avoid further advancements of titan serum research for the enemy. If any sample were to be gathered by said enemy, they are to be brought back along with the body. /em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Lana opened her eyes after having completely losing herself in her thoughts. She was sitting next to a foreign ambassador who was attending the show and had not left yet. Samuel was down a few seats away. She turned to him as the two happened to make eye contact with one another. He gave her a small smile and turned back to the stage where the performance had already started. She turned behind her to see Keith with Emilee farther back in the crowd. They were dressed in large trench coats to hide the vertical maneuvering gear that they were wearing./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"The plan was clear. When Eren attacks Lana was instructed to transform and protect any foreign ambassador that she could. Samuel would escort them when as soon as possible alongside Gregory. Once they were escorted away from the scene, Lana was to regroup with a small squad like the others./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Cecil and Clyde were instructed to protect Eleonore and her children at the pickup point. Keith, Emilee, and Oscar made up one squad while Lana, Lucas, and Mia made up the other. The two squads were to run along the sides and act as defence. The more soldiers they could handle along the flanks, the less the Survey Corps would have to deal with. The Survey Corps themselves had individuals split up to take care of main defences and follow through with separate plans. In the end the main goal was for everyone to make it home./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Lana's focus wasn't on the performance, she was waiting for the moment to happen. The moment where they would all spring into action. She didn't even make out any words that the man was saying, she was enthralled with the tension./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"In a quick blink of an eye, a bright light appeared in a building behind the stage. It was an explosion and it was big. Without hesitation Lana sprung up into action. She enlarged herself within a gust of wind as large bone plates covered her body. Rubble had begun hitting her the second she had turned and swung herself to protect the ambassadors. Had she waited a split second many around her would have died. With her hands protecting the back of her head she could hear the yells of a familiar creature./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"She turned to see the Attack Titan behind her and already on the move. Not a moment sooner another flash of light became visible. A titan she had never seen before had started taking shape not far from her. She looked down to see that Samuel had gotten almost all of the ambassadors from under her. The second that he and Gregory had made for the pickup point she began to revert back to her normal size in order to regroup with her squad. Once the steam had cleared she looked up to see a large faceless titan attacking Eren. Everything was happening very quickly./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"She turned to make her way toward her squad and looked up towards the sound she recognized. It was the sound of the vertical maneuvering device cords being retracted. The Survey Corps had made it to the scene already and they were wearing a uniform much different than what she was used to. It reminded her of the Anti-Personnel squad./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"One soldier swooped down much lower than the others. They landed on the ground before Lana and turned to face her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Get going soldier!" Levi screamed at her before continuing./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Lana was wide eyed at the sight of her husband and quickly responded to his yell. She was quick on her feet once more and sprinted to meet with her squad. As she ran, she began to disrobe the uniform she was wearing revealing the same skin tight black suit that the other Survey Corps soldiers were wearing with their new vertical maneuvering gear./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"All she wanted was to be able to spend time with Levi and their family. The brief moment gave her some sort of hope. They were in this battle together. They were determined to win. They were striving to get through this and come out alive./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"As she left the scene she could hear loud bangs and gunfire. She paid no mind to the scene being played out behind her and continued on her way to meet with Lucas and the others. As she pushed passed citizens that were still fleeing the scene, she finally caught up to the others./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""What took you so long?" Lucas yelled./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""My bad, I got a little distracted I guess," she replied as they began to run a corner./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"As they were running something seemed off. It was too easy for them to make their way to the point. They had yet come across a single Marley soldier. It was concerning enough to where she questioned the safety of Keith and the others. As Lana was soaring through the air something else seemed to be bugging her. It was almost a high pitched sound and it was clouding her thoughts. She stopped and landed on the ground which drew the attention of the others./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""What are you doing? We need to keep moving!" Mia yelled./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""We're almost to the point let's go," Lucas added./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Something isn't right," Lana said clenching her hand to her head trying to dim the sound/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"The high pitched sound began to rematerialize into something else. It was turning into a scream and not just any scream. What she was hearing was Keith's scream. The scream sent chills up her spine./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""KEITH," she yelled./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"She quickly turned around and began to run in the direction that she was being drawn to. She fired her triggers and began to make her way towards Keith's route./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""DO NOT BREAK FORMATION!" Lucas yelled. After no response from her he called out again, "LANA! WE NEED TO STAY TOGETHER! LAAAANNNNAAAA."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"No matter how many times Lucas called out to her she could not hear him over the screams. As she ran, two Marley soldiers had discovered them and began an attack. The faint yells could be heard from Lucas calling Lana back, but she was driven to find Keith./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Lana kept running in the direction that the sounds were coming from. She wasn't sure where she was going exactly, she was only following the sounds that were in her head. In order to speed herself up she decided to enhance her physical build to push herself off of buildings. She grew slightly larger as the muscles in her body began to grow bigger and stronger. Her face hallowed out slightly as her titan build began to take shape in her human size. She still looked like a normal human, only bigger and slightly deformed as steam rose from her body maintaining her current state./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"She paid no attention to anything that was going on around her, she was solely focused on the sounds in her head. She kept moving through the city until the yelling and screaming stopped. In that moment, she stopped dead in her tracks to try and figure out where Keith was. There was nothing before her as she scanned the area in a sheer panic. The sounds around her began to fill her ears once more as she could hear the commotion that was still taking place with Eren./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"As she listened she heard a gun being shot. It wasn't just any gun, it was a flare gun. Red smoke filled the air not far from where she was. In the event that something went horribly wrong, they were each given one flare gun with a single red flare. She quickly ran towards that direction and turned the corner. What was past the corner was something she never once believed she would ever see./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Further down the street was Keith surrounded by many soldiers. Bone was protruding from his body as he was face to face with a Marleyean soldier. Lana was frozen in her tracks at the sight causing her to lose her form. He was covered in blood, his blood. Wounds were all over his body as small amounts of steam rose from them. They were too many injuries at that point for Keith to fully heal. He didn't have much longer to live./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"The soldier had Keith's own blade shoved through his chest. Keith was holding onto the blade that had stabbed him as he slowly looked over to meet Lana's gaze. Tears had formed and were running down Keith's face./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Slowly Keith opened his mouth and said, "I love you." Although no sound came from his mouth, the words rang through Lana's head clear as day./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"In that moment, it was almost as if time was moving slowly around her. She watched as the soldier ripped the sword from Keith's body. He came crashing down to the ground. The bones that were sticking out were already brittle and had shattered on impact. All life had been pulled from his body upon his last breath./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Lana watched her world shatter before her. She had watched people die before her eyes, even those who she was close to. However, nothing compared to the moment she was in right now. Her heart was broken and she felt a range of emotions inside. A gut wrenching feeling came over her as she tried to keep her stomach contents inside her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Marley soldiers had approached Keith's body and begun doing something to him. It was clear that they had not taken notice to her just yet. Their sole focus was on Keith./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Don't touch him," Lana whispered to herself clenching onto the stomach while fighting back the tears that were streaming down her face. "Don't touch him," she repeated louder wiping the sweat from her face. "Please stop," she cried wiping the tears as she was trying to pull herself together. "LEAVE HIM ALONE!" she screamed at them fully throwing her actions into her emotions sending a large shock wave in the process./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Kill her!" one of the soldiers yelled realizing that she was there. "Quickly find the other one."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"She screamed as she had begun a full charge at them. The soldiers that were there had begun firing their guns at her. However, Lana had already begun a transformation process increasing her speed and strength once more. She met with the first soldier closest to her and slammed their head backwards into the ground hard enough to split their skull open./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Not her too," she could hear one of the soldiers say./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Lana was completely emotionless at this point. She didn't care what was going on. She had the complete intent to kill and leave no survivors. She had tripled in size at this point and covered herself in an armored plating./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Her kills were ruthless and that of an aggressive titan. Bodies were crushed to the ground and up against buildings destroying everything that was around her. Soldiers were torn apart causing a rain of blood below. Using her powerful jaws she ripped apart anyone who attacked her. Soldiers had appeared on rooftops and started firing at her. The bullets ricochet off of her bone plates and protected her. A couple of stray bullet made their way to the muscles that were exposed, but she wasn't fazed by it at all. She tore a chunk of a building off and threw it hard at the soldiers that were on the top. Any that remained met their fate quickly. Lana was using her titan powers to their full extent and limitations. She was drawing her powers from her emotions without realizing how much she was damaging her own body./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Once every single Marleyean soldier had been take care of Lana had reverted back to her normal self with almost no energy left within her. She collapsed down to her knees before Keith's dead body. At this point she wasn't able to cry she only sat before him motionless./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"In the corner of her eye she was able to make out movement that was in an alleyway./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Luca, had pulled himself up against the wall. He was holding onto very injured shoulder as a heavy trickle of blood came from his head. In his hand was a flare gun that he had fired off bringing Lana to their location./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Lana calmly reached and grabbed a gun that was nearby. She got up from the ground and stumbled a little from over exerting herself. There was blood and dirt on her prompting her to try and brush some of it off, but it was no use. Once she realized it she pointed the gun and aimed at Luca./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""You know, there is nothing stopping me from killing you right her and now," she called out to him./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Are…are you serious! You must be crazy!" he yelled as he started to panic./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""If you were alive this entire time, you could have done something and Keith would still be alive."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""I did what I could. There wasn't much else I could do."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""He died because of you."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""I get it," Luca began to relax a little. He gave out a small chuckle in disbelief. "You're just trying to pinpoint an excuse on someone to make yourself feel better."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Lana gave him a questioning looked and firmly held onto the trigger./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Oh come on, don't give me that look. You very well know what I'm talking about." He paused still in disbelief that the conversation was even happening to begin with. "You're trying to tell me that right now in your head you aren't thinking. You're not thinking, what if I was a few second faster? Why could I have not known sooner, because it's obvious that something was going through your mind before I set off that flare? There is no way that you would have gotten here as fast as you did if you had started running from your squad the moment the flare was visible. So tell me, what the FUCK IS GOING ON IN YOUR HEAD!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"The words pierced through to her causing her to fire the gun just missing him. She dropped the gun after the shot but her arm remained outstretched as the emotion was coming back. She knew he was right. She thought about what could have happened if she followed her instincts sooner. If a few seconds would have made any sort of difference in the circumstance. Would Keith still be alive if she was just a little bit faster?/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Luca was relieved at the realization that his words had gotten through to her. Lana was hunched over once more trying to contain her cries. He walked over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""We have orders we need to follow," he said prompting her to look up at him with tearful red eyes./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"He walked away and walked over to a soldier that was dead on the ground. The only part of them that remained was their lower portion. Luca reached down into a bag that was strapped to their side and pulled out a small box./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Lana had stopped crying and approached him, "What is that?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Well in your moment of rage, I watched this guy extract something from Keith's body. Something tells me they were planning on keeping this for something." He cracked it open to reveal a syringe filled with fluid. "What are the odds of this being spinal fluid?" he questioned./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Probably high. We'll take it with us along with Keith's body."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""We're not leaving without Emilee. If we take Keith we are taking Emilee too," Luca proclaimed making his way towards a body that was a little farther away from them./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Emilee? You mean that soldier who was always around Keith?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""She was in front of Keith in the air when she was shot down. The bullet hit her straight in the head." Oscar struggled to pick her body up with his injury, but he valiantly hoisted her over his shoulder. "Emilee may have been a stuck up bitch but she would have done the same for any of us if she were in our shoes. This woman cared more for her squad than anyone else."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Let's just keep moving. The others are waiting," Lana replied quietly./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"She bent down and picked Keith up from the ground. She held onto him close as the two began to run further towards the meeting point. They were lucky enough to not meet any other soldiers along the way./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"They eventually found themselves with the others. Eleanora was already with Cecil and Clyde on their way back to Rhea with Samuel. Lucas stood at the foot of an airship waving them down./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""WHERE THE HELL WERE YOU!" Lucas shouted as she got closer./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Lana refused to say a word to him and only meet his gaze. It was then that he realized what or rather who she was carrying. She and Luca gently placed the bodies of Keith and Emilee on the floor./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Everyone was heartbroken. Lana remained knelt on the ground by Keith's side holding onto his cold face. Lucas slammed down to the ground hard trying to comprehend what was before him. Before anything could start, a voice rung out./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""You have time to mourn when we are home. We need to focus on getting everyone else and bring them home before we lose any more lives."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Lana looked up to see Hange walk pass them. They didn't even look down at the bodies, they didn't even acknowledge Lana fully. Hange kept their head straight and forward. They were extremely focused and wanted nothing more but to have everyone return safely./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Let's move and get our soldiers," they screamed behind them. "Lana!" Hange called out. "Are you able to fight?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""I am fine. I have minimal injuries," Lana lied, trying to fight back her tears once more as the pain that had gone unnoticed was beginning to surface./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""That's not what I asked. Are you able to fight?" Hange sternly gazed at her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"Lana pulled herself together and was able to suppress her emotions and pain enough. "Yes Commander."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Good. If things were to go horribly wrong…more so than it already has…I want you to jump in and do whatever it takes to bring Eren and the others home."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;""Understood," Lana replied./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt; tab-stops: center 252.0pt;"At that moment in time, Lana was very well put together. The most she had been put together after any traumatizing incident. Her heart was broken, but that wasn't going to stop her from maintaining her focus. She was in a war and this is what happens when you are at war. Deep down inside, Lana knew that at some point during any of this she was going to lose someone she loved. She was prepared for the moment that someone she cared deeply about had lost their life in battle. Even at this point she was prepared to lose her own life, something she had never prepared herself for before. She was going to continuing fighting no matter what. Hange was right, the time for mourning was not now. Once they had set foot in Paradis they will be able to mourn the loss of those who had sacrificed themselves for the future that they were fighting for./p
