Chapter 7: Fate of the Saviors
Hours before the sealing of the Breach
The Scouts advanced towards a position away from Godzilla where they were not in range of any Titans within the area. Erwin took note of how Godzilla was trying to prevent Abnormal Titans from fleeing to a certain direction. Most of the Scouts were relieved that they did not have to encounter any Titans during their expedition despite being humanity's best soldiers. Hange, however, was amazed to see Godzilla and the Abnormals displaying intelligence. She notices how Godzilla sets his eyes on the more dangerous variant of the Titans rather than the normal ones and how the Abnormals are managing to avoid the direct attacks from the Kaiju. It was such an exciting thing for her to watch, yet she was nearly left behind by her group a few times. Levi was particularly annoyed as Erwin appointed him to look over Hange for the remainder of the expedition and had to restrain her from grappling over to Godzilla and the group of Titans gathered around him.
As the Scouts moved past Godzilla and the Titans, they set their sights in the distance where Wall Maria was seen. Before they kept on going, Erwin decided to create a contingency plan in the event that they somehow got trapped outside of Wall Maria by the Titans. He received assistance from Mike Zacharias, who had an enhanced sense of smell and was mankind's second strongest soldier after Levi, and they both came up with a plan that determined how they would proceed with entering the Shiganshina District. However, their planning was soon disrupted when Godzilla began making his move. Everyone watched as Godzilla headed north towards Wall Rose in a hurried manner, causing confusion among them.
"What the hell is that Lizard doing ?" Levi wondered, "If it's heading to the Wall, we better make our way back."
"You're right, Levi," Erwin agreed, "The Garrison might need our assistance on dealing with whatever's going to happen."
Erwin rode his horse towards the front of the Regiment and ordered, "ALL TROOPS ! RETREAT BACK TO THE WALL ! GATHER ALL OF OUR SUPPLIES AND MOVE OUT IMMEDIATELY !"
Everyone quickly packed all of the items onto the carts and followed Erwin's lead. With Godzilla's massive size, he moved faster than all of the Scouts and already reached the Wall in mere minutes. The Scouts stopped at nothing and rode tirelessly towards the Wall. However, they still had to keep their distance as the normal Titans were slowly following Godzilla's trail, forcing the Scouts to take a slightly longer path around the herd. Some time had passed and the Scouts managed to reach the Wall, but remained in an isolated area and watched as Godzilla was just sitting down in front of it. It was apparent that the gate was blown away and that a wide breach was presented in its place. No one knew whether Godzilla himself made that breach, or if it was the Colossal Titan from five years ago. Nevertheless, they were curious about what Godzilla would do next and set up a small camp while they waited.
Erwin, sitting on his horse, kept a careful eye on Godzilla while Levi walked up to him. He was curious about his Commander's plan of action now that they've reached the Wall, but turned to notice something strange coming from the herd of Titans at Godzilla's feet. They both saw some of the Titans losing interest and moving away from the Kaiju, causing them to believe that they could head towards the Scouts soon.
"That definitely doesn't look good, Erwin," Levi pointed out, "We need to get moving again."
Erwin turned to him, "You're thinking of retreating to the Karanes District, right ? That may be our best solution, but it'll take us a while to reach there and there's no telling whether the situation will get worse once we do."
"What else can we do ? Keep spying on that thing until the Titans overrun us ?"
"No. I was actually thinking of something else. We could send someone over the Wall and have them deliver a message from us that states our current position and status. However, we need someone with enough speed to quickly accomplish this task before the Titans start noticing our location."
"There's no one else capable of doing that other than me. I'll get to the Garrison faster than anyone else."
"I appreciate this, Levi, but without you, the Scouts will be at risk of the Titan horde. I can send someone else."
"My group can look after the Scouts, Erwin. There's no need for you to worry. I'll let them know about what's going on before making my way," Levi stated as he walked over to the small camp.
As Erwin continued watching for signs of movement from Godzilla, the Scouts discussed their thoughts on the Kaiju. While some had believed that Godzilla benefited humanity by luring the Titans away from them, others were skeptical about whether there were more like him in the world. The Special Operations Squad, consisting of Eld Gin, Oruo Bozard, Petra Rall, and Gunther Schultz, were more concerned about the fact that they had no contact from inside the Wall.
"Hm...I wonder if everyone is alright in there," Petra said, "The Garrison should have seen us down here already."
Gunther remarked, "Maybe the sight of that creature scared them away. It's quite understandable, though."
"So what ?" Oruo smirked, "That damn thing looks pretty ugly to me. I mean it's like seeing the face of a lizard, but bigger. I don't know why anyone would be so scared."
Eld joined in, "Scared ? I remember you and Petra on your first expedition. You both seemed frightened enough to have pissed you pants."
"W-what ?! We did no such thing !" Petra protested.
"Yeah ! What the hell do you think you're talking about, Eld ?!" Oruo agreed.
Eld chuckled at both of them and said, "Relax, you two. I was just joking around."
While the three of them were talking, Gunther noticed Levi approaching them and said to him, "Tired of waiting, Captain ? I guess you do need a break. Why don't you sit with us ?"
"Sure, why not ?" Levi said as he wipes dirt off the top of a crate and sits down with the rest of his squad, "So...I don't suppose you four are talking about that monster like everyone else."
"We were actually just wondering about what's going on inside Trost right now. I'm not sure why we haven't heard anything yet," Gunther told him.
Petra added, "They could possibly need our help in there. We took our time to abandon our expedition, so we should at least try and find out what happened."
"Erwin did suggest an idea to me. It's an easy mission, but I'm going to be doing it on my own."
"Hmm ? So what's the job, Captain ?" Oruo asked.
"I'm going to scale the Wall, see what's the situation over there, and deliver a message to the Garrison without any interference. However, I need you four to keep a sharp eye for Titans coming near here until I return."
"Understood, Captain," Eld said to him, "We'll make sure none of them get the chance to reach the Scouts."
Levi got up from the crate and prepared his gear while Eld, Petra, Oruo, and Gunther began doing perimeter checks. Some of the wandering Titans came too close to the camp, but Levi's squad sneakily took them out while not drawing too much attention. Levi starts climbing Wall Rose and quickly makes his way to the top, causing some of the Scouts to be amazed. As he slowly falls in the air and into the city, Levi notices a few areas completely destroyed and a large boulder in the middle.
"Damn. What a huge fucking mess this place is," Levi remarked.
He dives straight into Trost and hooks onto one of the buildings as he nearly reaches the ground. Levi expels medium bursts of gas and grapples through the streets as if he was flying. He was already halfway through the city within a minute and was approaching the rear gate until he noticed the Garrison soldiers on top. Levi lands on a rooftop and looks at the massive gathering of soldiers, wondering what they were looking at. Suddenly, a lightning bolt manifested from the sky and struck something on top of the large boulder. A roar was heard near that area and prompted Levi to check it out.
Meanwhile, Hange wrote down notes on Godzilla's physical appearance and found it interesting that he possesses gills like a fish. Even the dorsal plates on his back peaked her interests because she never heard of any species of lizards that inherited any spikes on their backs. If anything, Godzilla's existence rivaled her attraction towards the Titans. Just as Hange was finishing up her notes, Godzilla began getting up and looked over the Wall. This sudden action had startled the Scouts and caused them to stare at Godzilla with confusing expressions. Afterwards, Godzilla lets out a deafening roar that forces everyone to cover their ears until he is done. Just as they were expecting Godzilla to do something else, Levi arrives and approaches Erwin.
"Hmm ? I didn't expect you to return so soon. Did something happen over there ?" Erwin asked.
"Something definitely did happen, but I wouldn't recommend letting Four-Eyes know about it."
"Let me know about what, Levi ?!" Hange said as she moved close to him.
"Tsk. I don't know why I bother. Anyway, it appears that the whole city's evacuated, but there seems to be only one Abnormal Titan still in it."
"One Abnormal Titan...alone in the city ? Ooooh, my ! What a perfect opportunity to catch it off guard and capture it ! Hey, Moblit ! Get our stuff and follow me over the Wall ! We don't have time to waste !" Hange shouted as she began running to grab her 3DMG until Levi grabbed her by the hood of her cloak.
"There's more. Apparently, that Titan is carrying some kind of rock towards the breach and the Garrison is just spectating the whole thing at the back of the city."
"That's probably what Godzilla was reacting to," Erwin speculated, "I wonder if he's going to do something with that Titan."
"Let's find out then !" Hange said to them both, "I'm sure it's better than sitting around on our butts !"
"Be patient about this, Hange. I have a feeling that we should just allow Godzilla to do whatever he needs to do."
"What if he does something he's not supposed to ?" Levi asked.
"Then we'll interfere and stop him however we can."
They all watched as Godzilla used his tail to sweep the Titans away from the breach. After a while, Godzilla leans past the breach and picks up the boulder that Levi saw earlier, placing it in the middle of the wide gap of the Wall. Godzilla proceeds to dig up handfuls of dirt and places them beside the boulder, surprising the Scouts and causing Hange to breathe heavily in excitement. She removes her cloak, escapes Levi's grasp, and runs to her 3DMG, quickly equipping it and grappling away to Godzilla's position. Levi became slightly agitated and ran after her with his squad and Hange's squad following his lead.
Godzilla finished up molding the dirt into a more solidified state that was high enough to prevent the rest of the Abnormals from jumping over. He looks over the Wall again to see smoke from Eren's body and figures that he has exhausted his powers for the time being. Just then, he senses the presence of humans outside of the Wall and looks to see several of them approaching him. Wondering why they were getting near him, Godzilla lowers his head down to the top of the Wall and tries to get a closer look. One of the humans stopped in front of him and started screaming, causing the others to grab hold of her and drag her away.
"LOOK ! HE DEFINITELY NOTICES US ! HEY THERE, BIG GUY !" Godzilla heard from the one who wore glasses.
"SQUAD LEADER ! IT'S A BIT DANGEROUS TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS !"
"A bit ?! More like pretty fuckin stupid to me ! Try and restrain yourself next time, Four-Eyes, or else I'll cut your damn legs off !"
Godzilla was actually quite confused about what had transpired in front of him. Nevertheless, he lets the humans do their business while he reaches down and picks up Eren's Titan body. Eren had trouble getting out of the nape and Godzilla placed him down in front of the humans, hoping that they could try to get him out. The human wearing glasses screams loud again and escapes the clutches of her comrades in order to run towards the evaporating body. Godzilla senses two more humans heading his way and turns his head to find them grappling from within the city. Seeing as he can't do anything else, Godzilla watches the humans to pass the time and awaits his next task.
"OOOOOHH MY GOODNESS ! IS THIS THE TITAN YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, LEVI ?! THERE'S A HUMAN COMING OUT OF IT !" Hange shouted as she ran to Eren's body.
"Squad Leader ! That thing's too hot ! You shouldn't get too close !" Moblit said to her as she stopped and placed her hands on her head in concern.
"WWAAAAHHH ! MOBLIT ! WE GOTTA TAKE THE HUMAN OUT ! WE DON'T KNOW IF HE'S GOING TO EVAPORATE AS WELL !"
Just as Hange tries to reach out to Eren, Mikasa lands on top of the body and draws her swords while Armin lands right beside Eren and pulls him out of the nape.
"Hey ! What do you two think you're doing ?!" Hange said as she drew her swords as well, "This Titan needs to be studied on immediately before it's gone for good ! You're interfering with official Survey Corps business !"
"What're you on about ?! That's our friend and he was working with the Garrison until you all showed up !"
Levi enters the conversation, "What the hell's going on ? Who are you two ?"
"Hey, Mikasa. It's Captain Levi," Armin whispered.
"I know, but I'm still not going to let them take him."
"Hey ! You two deaf or something ?!" Levi asked as he grew impatient, "Did you hear what I said ?!"
Mikasa and Armin hesitated to respond until Rico and Ian arrived in time to calm the tension. Mikasa slowly puts away her swords while Armin carries Eren on his shoulders. Hange also places her swords away as Levi walks up to both Rico and Ian.
"You two mind explaining what's going on ?" Levi asked.
Ian answered, "We'll debrief everything once we get everyone inside, Captain Levi. I think it's best that all branches of the Military should be present within the inner Walls as of right now."
"Very well, then. I'll let Commander Erwin know that we are needed to return."
Ian nodded as Levi grabs Hange and pulls her away. Mikasa tends to Eren and checks his health before she and Armin take him to the rear gate with Ian and Rico following them. Levi, Hange, and their squads return to the small camp and give Erwin the news.
"So we're needed back anyway. I see. There seems to be one issue we must solve first," Erwin said as he looked at the partially fixed breach where Godzilla was still present.
"I don't know why we still can't take the Karanes District route," Levi argued, "There's no reason for us to try getting close to that thing."
"I simply want to test something, Levi. You don't have to join Hange and I if you don't want to."
"Hange ? What do you need her for ?" Levi asked until he came to a slow realization that caused him to facepalm himself.
"Yeah, what do you need me for ?" Hange asked with a confused look.
Godzilla saw the human camp from his spot and wondered how long they had been there. He was content to know that they were not in any harm, but he still tried to ensure that the Titans stayed away. He also sees Erwin, Hange, and Levi approaching him at the top of the Wall, prompting him to lower his head again to see what they wanted this time. Hange was the only one that stepped forward while Erwin and Levi stayed behind her.
"Ahem ! I'M NOT QUITE SURE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND ME, MR. GODZILLA, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT IT'S SUCH A HUGE PLEASURE TO MEET YOU !" Hange yelled at the top of her lungs.
Levi sighed and turned to Erwin, "Why is it you pick her of all people to speak with this thing ? I didn't think she had the capability to be even more annoying than usual."
"I picked her because she's the only one capable enough to do this sort of thing. Also, I happen to consider her to be quite possibly the loudest of our troops."
Levi scoffed at Erwin's answer and continued watching Hange speak with Godzilla.
"AS YOU CAN SEE, WE'RE A LITTLE STUCK OUTSIDE OF THE WALL SINCE YOU'VE BLOCKED THE CLOSEST ENTRANCE ! WOULD YOU MIND IF WE BORROW A BIT OF YOUR TIME AND ASK FOR YOUR HELP TO CARRY OUR SUPPLIES OVER ?!"
Godzilla appreciated Hange's loud voice as he could hear her perfectly clearly and looked towards the Scouts' camp. Through his perspective, some of the supplies and the carriages were too small for him to pick up individually. Instead, Godzilla dug his whole hand underneath half of the camp, startling nearly everyone in it, and brought it over the Wall, accidentally dropping pieces of dirt all over Erwin, Levi, and Hange. The soldiers rode their horses and the carriages through the streets once they landed on solid ground. Godzilla repeated the process with the other half of the camp and watched the Scouts ride away towards the rear gate of Trost. With nothing else to do, Godzilla decides to return to the ocean until Eren fully recovers and is able to contact him again.
As the Scouts reach the rear gate, the Garrison opens the doors and allows them to pass. As they rode through crowds of refugees eagerly waiting to return back home to Trost, the Scouts unpacked at the nearest Military station. Erwin goes and meets with Dot Pixis to discuss the current situation while Levi and Mike supervise the unloading. In the meantime, Moblit was trying to calm Hange down when she became excited, but she started grabbing him.
"This is definitely one of my best days yet !" Hange told Moblit as she was shaking him back and forth while blushing, "I can't believe a creature like him can respond to human speech so easily ! Hey, I wonder how he even knows the human language anyway, or better yet, who exactly taught him to know such things ? !"
"Please, Squad Leader, you're making me a bit dizzy !"
"Haha ! Sorry about that, Moblit," Hange said as she lets him go, "I've never been excited about something other than Titans before. It's such a cool experience !"
"Obviously, someone like you would be so excited about something like that," Levi said as he approaches Hange and Moblit, "But haven't you considered the possibility that the creature knows more than he should ?"
Moblit asked him, "What do you mean by that, Captain ? Isn't it a good thing to discover a creature of that magnitude to display such a response towards humans ?"
"Not the way you two look at it. If that beast can show intelligence, then how much knowledge does it possess and how will he utilize it in a way that could potentially harm us all ?"
"Oh, Levi ! You're such a downer !" Hange said as she shrugged off his question and smiled, "Godzilla would have no need to use his intelligence. His massive size is already enough for him to take down all of humanity."
"Your point is, exactly ?"
"All I'm saying is that if he could, Godzilla would have wiped out humanity years ago with little effort. With our interaction from earlier, it's a clear sign that he supports humanity to the fullest and has no intention of eliminating us."
"And if you're wrong ?"
"Then we all die a horrible death ! Simple as that, but it sure gets your blood pumping, right ? It's so thrilling not knowing what to expect next and who knows ? It just might work out for us all."
Levi sighed and hesitated his words, "Knowing you, I have no doubt about your crazy theories, but just try and make sure you don't do anything stupid when we learn more about Godzilla. Otherwise, I'll have to deal with your ass again."
Levi leaves Hange and Moblit alone and heads towards his squad. Hange shrugs again and continues unpacking her items while Moblit expresses concern about Levi's words.
"Um...Squad Leader ? We've always researched the Titans, but never something like this. I'm beginning to wonder if the Captain might be correct on his assessment about Godzilla."
Hange turns to him and says, "Moblit. I understand everyone's concerns, even yours and Levi's. However, I cannot deny that humanity can't move forward without taking risks like these. That's what we do in the Survey Corps after all. It's our job to risk our lives to bring back knowledge of the outside world and bring what we can back to the people."
Hange sits on a crate and continues, "For years, the Titans are the only beings out there that prey on us and Godzilla came along, giving us all a chance to survive. Don't you find it interesting that our enemies are humanoid and look almost like us, yet Godzilla is a lizard monster and decided to help us anyway ? This whole world of ours has many mysteries lost in the past and I, for one, can't wait to rediscover them. Starting with Godzilla."
"I've never expected you to say something in that manner before. Why is that ?"
"Maybe it's because I never really shared my personal thoughts with anyone like this. Though, I'm certainly glad that I could express it to a friend like you."
"You really consider me a friend ?" Moblit said with a bit of enthusiasm.
Hange gets up, putting her arms around his shoulders and happily says, "Of course ! Now, help me unload the rest of this stuff. We got lots of things to do and we're wasting precious time !"
"Ah, er….S-s-sure," Moblit stuttered as he knew that Hange was going to drag him into another stressful situation again.
As they both worked on their own business, Levi goes over the unloading process with his squad and assigns them various positions. Petra and Oruo dealt with inventory checks while Eld and Gunther helped other soldiers with carrying crates off the wagons. Mike, with several other soldiers, tended to the horses and led them into nearby stables. With two hours, the Survey Corps completed their duties with great efficiency and decided to rest for the remainder of the day. Levi, Hange, and Mike all went together to meet up with Erwin, hoping to find out what the current situation was.
At the gate leading to Trost, Erwin waits for Dot Pixis as he finishes receiving news from several soldiers. Dot Pixis then proceeds to debrief Erwin of everything that had transpired ever since the Survey Corps' departure outside of Wall Rose. Erwin learns about the Colossal Titan's return, the surprising reveal of Eren's Titan ability, and the unexpected help from Godzilla.
"Now that you've been caught up on everything, Erwin. You can see how confusing these times are. A Titan and a monstrous giant working together to save humanity. Isn't that something ?"
"It truly is. Though, I wonder if it's possible for us to see Eren Jaeger and interrogate him for ourselves. I have a feeling that a lot of people are going to resent him just for being a Titan."
"I understand your concern, but after his actions today, there's a possible chance for them to think differently about the boy."
"And what of Godzilla ? What does the Military plan to do with him ?"
"Actually, I received word that he's headed south a few hours ago, so they can't really do anything to him at the moment. He's probably at Shiganshina by now for all we know."
"Hm ? Is there any reason behind his action ?"
"Not that I'm aware of, but the good thing is that the Titans are scattered trying to follow him and now they're gone for the time being. However, if Eren Jaeger were to use his powers again, he could continue talking with Godzilla and we could learn more from him."
"They can communicate with each other ? How is that possible ?"
"Oh, right. You know how I said earlier that they worked together ? Apparently, the boy has the ability to speak with Godzilla through his mind. As if they share some sort of connection with each other."
Erwin became intrigued at the words Pixis said about Eren's ability and thought to himself at the many possibilities it could be utilized. It could lead to the end of the Titan threat and allow the path towards the outside world to be opened for everyone. Erwin and Pixis heard footsteps approaching them and turned to see Levi, Mike, and Hange. Erwin and Pixis part ways as the day reaches its end and the Survey Corps Commander walks away with his three companions.
"So what's the deal right now ?" Levi asked Erwin, "Is it something we should be concerned about ?"
"Not at all, Levi. In fact, things are looking bright for our future. However, we need to get a hold of Eren Jaeger."
"Who ?"
"He's the human that could turn into a Titan earlier today. If we can somehow get custody of him, then we can learn more about the Titans and especially whatever knowledge Godzilla possesses."
Hange joins in, "Wait ! Are you saying this Eren Jaeger guy knows everything about the Titans ?!"
"Not exactly, Hange. We don't know for sure whether this individual has complete knowledge about the Titans, but I do know that he can speak with Godzilla through his mind."
"Through his mind ?! We definitely have to see this guy right away !" Hange shouted.
"Geez. Keep it down, will you ?" Levi complained.
Mike turns to Erwin and asks him, "How exactly do you plan on meeting this person, Commander ? Didn't the Military Police take him away and place him in jail ?"
"I'll speak with their leader about that. For now, we just need to try and see him for ourselves."
"Understood, sir. Though, I believe we should also try seeing relatives of his just in case. They should have more insight on him."
"There's no guarantee that they'll talk to us about Eren, Mike, but we'll take a chance. Tomorrow morning, Levi and I will seek him out and find out what he knows."
"Hey, can I go with you guys too ?" Hange asked.
Erwin and Levi remained silent and walked away, with Mike following their lead. Hange became annoyed and started walking with them.
The next day comes by and the Survey Corps are given new instructions since they had returned from their expedition early. They assisted the Garrison and the Training Corps with rebuilding the destroyed areas of Trost, mainly the homes of the citizens, and spent the whole day fixing them. Erwin and Levi went to see Eren in his cell, but were informed by the Military Police that he was currently in a coma and would not wake up for a few days, causing them to return later on.
As another day passed, the Survey Corps and the Garrison resumed the reconstruction of Trost and managed to finish fixing nearly half of the damages by the end of the day, allowing some of the citizens to return back home. However, Hange gathers several soldiers to help her capture two wandering Titans at the edge of the Wall and successfully catches them in traps, much to the soldiers' dismay as some of them were nearly eaten. Hange proceeds to name both of the Titans that she captured, Sonny and Bean, and starts experimenting on them. Erwin and Levi go to meet Eren once again, but they see Carla and Serizawa in front of his cell with an MP Officer.
"Coma ?! How long will he be like this ?!" Carla shouted at the officer.
"We're not quite sure, Ma'am. A doctor informed us a few days ago that your son is exhausted and needs a long rest. I can assure you that he'll wake up any time now."
"There's nothing we can do except wait, Carla. We'll come back again tomorrow," Serizawa told her.
Carla glared at the officer and said, "Fine, but you people better not bother with him in any way. He doesn't deserve to be in jail after the help he's given to you all."
Serizawa quickly pushed Carla away before the tension became stressful for her. Erwin and Levi stepped aside for them to pass and decided to follow them after seeing that Eren was still asleep. As Serizawa helped Carla return home, Erwin and Levi stood across the street and planned on what questions to ask them. Once they prepared their words, they both approached the door and knocked, causing Serizawa to open it.
"Mr. Jaeger ?" Erwin asked assumingly.
"I believe you're mistaken, Sir. I'm just the caretaker for Carla Jaeger. Daisuke Serizawa. May I ask who you two are ?"
"I am Commander Erwin Smith of the Survey Corps and this is one of my leading Captains, Levi Ackerman. We are here on behalf of our regiment to speak with Mrs. Jaeger about her son concerning the position he is currently in. That is, if she would allow for us to take a moment of her time and speak with her."
"Hmm….Excuse me for a moment, gentlemen," Serizawa said as he closes the door and walks into Carla's room where she is resting in bed.
"Who's at the door, Serizawa ?" Carla asked him.
"Two soldiers. They're both from the Survey Corps."
"...Survey….Corps ? What do they want with me ?"
"They wish to speak with you about your son. I wasn't really sure whether you'd want to…"
"Let them in. I want to know what it is they want," Carla said with a stern voice.
Serizawa nodded and allowed Erwin and Levi to enter the house. All three of them entered her room with Levi leaning on a wall, Serizawa standing by her left side, and Erwin sitting on a chair by her right.
"Before we proceed, Mrs. Jaeger, I would like to thank you for letting us converse with you about your son, Eren."
"Who exactly are you ?" Carla asked with suspicion towards him.
"My name is Erwin Smith, Mrs. Jaeger."
"Huh ?" Carla widened her eyes as she slowly began to recognize him, "Y-you were Keith's second-in-command ?"
"Keith Shadis ? You know the former Commander ?" Levi asked her.
"He is a long time friend of mine, and he certainly spoke highly of you, Mr. Smith."
Erwin was a bit surprised at Carla's comment and listened as she continued, "I have to admit that I am a bit hesitant on speaking with anyone from the Military about my son, but considering that Keith puts a lot of trust in you….I will hear you out."
"Then I want to begin by letting you know that until we manage to talk to your son, I will be asking you questions about the things in your life."
"Is that really all you would like to know ? Nothing else ?"
Erwin nodded, "Yes. If anything, I believe that knowing a bit about your past might give us some insight on how your son possessed the power to turn into a Titan."
Carla was confused by Erwin's reasoning, but believing that she wouldn't provide any useful information, she answered his questions anyway. However, Erwin had secretly known who Carla was in the first place and was surprised that her son ended up being a person of importance. This leads him to conclude that Grisha has something to do with Eren's sudden transformation into a Titan. From what Keith had told him in the past, Grisha seemed quite suspicious considering that he had first appeared from outside of the Walls. Though, Erwin was determined to find out what suspicious events occurred in Grisha's married life with Carla.
After a couple of minutes of asking Carla questions that happened in her life, Erwin was a bit disappointed to learn absolutely nothing. All the answers that Carla had provided were nothing more than the description of a normal marriage life and nothing had seemed out of the ordinary. Still, Erwin kept a calm posture, maintained a serious face, and asked Carla about the day Grisha had suddenly disappeared. However, Carla was unable to answer the question as she was nearly unconscious during that time and had no clue on where he went. Seeing as there was nothing else to ask of her, Erwin believed that it was time for him and Levi to leave.
"That's….about everything we have to ask of you, Mrs. Jaeger," Erwin said reluctantly, "Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions."
"Wait. I believe that there's one more thing that I would like to discuss with you," Carla said before Erwin got up from his seat, "About that night when my husband was gone, he gave something to my son. I didn't expect him to give something so meaningless, but...I think it's a lot more valuable than I imagined."
She pulls out the key, shows it to Erwin and continues, "This key leads to my husband's basement back in our home in Shiganshina. My son had it that night, but I took it from him because I wanted to keep it as a memoir of my husband. However, after everything that had happened to my son, I suspect that Grisha had something to do with my son being a Titan."
"Have you ever gone down there ?"
"No. It was his private office and I assumed that he kept medical supplies, or documents of his patients, down there. Though, he did say that he was going to show Eren the room one day."
"Interesting. Is your son aware that you had the key in your possession ?"
Carla shook her head, "No. I was surprised that he never mentioned it or anything. He had it wrapped around his neck and was asleep at that time, but I figured he would have noticed it missing."
"Unless Grisha placed it on him while he was asleep. I think that you might be the one to decide whether Eren is ready to receive it."
"What do you mean ?"
"If your husband intended to show your son the basement one day, I would like to think that it would be the day your son learns of his powers. Until that day came, you would hold onto that key for safekeeping and give it to your son when he is ready. Whatever is in that basement, it must be valuable enough that Grisha would only want your son to see what's inside."
"What could be so important in that basement ? What if there's nothing of interest there ?"
"That's something we'll have to find out. Hopefully, your son can lead the way once he wakes up."
Carla puts the key away and says to him, "You know, Mr. Smith. I'm putting quite a lot of trust in you, mostly because Keith believes that you're a person who puts others before yourself. Eren had always wanted to join your Regiment and I wanted to be sure that no harm will come his way no matter what. If he manages to join you in your expeditions, please keep a careful eye over him."
"I understand. Your son is very valuable to humanity as of right now, and I'll do everything in my power to protect him at all costs."
"I hope so. I don't want to lose him like Grisha."
Erwin nods his head as he gets up from the chair and leaves the house with Levi. Serizawa gathered his tools and began constructing prototype prosthetics for Carla after completing her measurements.
He looked to see Carla staring at the ceiling and proceeded to ask her, "Did Erwin ask something that bothered you ?"
"I'm just worried for Eren, Serizawa. I don't know what will happen to him and no one will tell me anything. Not even the Military Police."
"Do you think we should try asking Mikasa and Armin ? They should be helping out with the reconstruction."
"I don't wish to bother them while they're working."
"I'm sure that they'll take some time to see you. If anything, you deserve to know what will happen to Eren."
"Fine, we'll look for them tomorrow. I need to rest for a bit," Carla said as she slowly closes her eyes while Serizawa continues working.
As Erwin and Levi returned to the Military station where the Scouts resided for the time being, they both saw Hange and Mike waiting for them near the entrance. They noticed that Mike was holding a letter of sorts and were curious on who sent it.
"Did anything happen while we were away ?" Erwin asked.
"An MP Officer came by earlier and delivered this letter to us. It's specifically for you, so we waited for your return," Mike stated as he handed Erwin the letter.
As he read the letter, Levi, Hange, and Mike watched as Erwin slowly widened his eyes. Their Commander folded the letter and took a deep breath as he turned towards them.
"It appears that there will be a trial that will determine the fate of Eren Jaeger and Godzilla. The Military Police seem to want to get their hands on both of them just like us."
"What ?! That can't be happening !" Hange snapped, "They're just gonna kill them ! Those bastards !"
"Calm down, Hange," Levi told her, "There's definitely a reason for this."
Mike added, "It's understandable that people are skeptical about Godzilla and a Titan working alongside humanity. The higher-up just wants to make sure who should be entrusted with supervising them both."
"Then we're the obvious choice ! We need Godzilla and Eren Jaeger outside of the Walls to help us !"
"You just want to experiment on them," Levi argued.
Hange hesitated, "Eh….you got me there."
Levi turns towards Erwin, "So how are we planning to get the General on our side ?"
"We have a few days to work out this issue, but we must prioritize on getting whatever information we can from Eren Jaeger. In the event that he does not provide anything of use, then we shall continue on with information gained from the Garrison. Hopefully, Eren Jaeger has not displayed any violent tendencies towards anyone, so our main goal at the trial would be presenting to the court of his usefulness as a Titan while supporting the idea that we can somehow control him if he ever goes on a rampage."
"I know how we can convince everyone that we can control the guy. If anything, I wouldn't mind getting my hands dirty just this once."
"Do what you feel would be necessary, Levi. When the day the trial commences, it's absolutely vital that we must get Eren on our side. Without him, humanity will have lost its hope for the future."
"And what about Godzilla ? Surely, there must be something we can do for him as well," Hange asked with concern.
"I'm not quite certain on what the Military Police plans to do with Godzilla, but if anything, we can explain to the court on what we already know. That Godzilla can be communicated through Eren's Titan ability."
"You really think they'll believe that ?" Levi asked doubtfully.
"From what Dot Pixis had told me, Eren and Godzilla are connected through some sort of link that allows them to speak with each other through their minds. We can't record any physical proof of this action, so we'll have to improvise a justification for our case."
"Let's just hope it works. We'll need to work a bit more on it tomorrow before the trial."
"Agreed. We'll need our energy for the days to come," Erwin said as he goes into the station with the others following his lead.
As the sun rose on another early morning, the soldiers from the Garrison, the Survey Corps, and the Training Corps, along with volunteers from the refugees, returned to work on reconstructing the damages done to the Trost district. Mikasa, Armin, and the rest of 104th graduates were assigned to the area near the gate where soldiers witnessed Godzilla using a glowing breath attack and equipped masks to prevent the inhalation of the ash particles floating in the air. With most of the area reduced to dust, the 104th graduates were ordered to clean the burn marks on the ground and ashes from where the buildings once remained. Mikasa, Reiner, Bertholdt, Annie, Mylius, and Nac carried buckets of water over to Jean, Connie, Sasha, and Marco, who were scrubbing the black stained floor. Armin, Ymir, Krista, and Mina were sweeping the scattered ashes into various piles.
"This is fucking bullshit !" Jean complained to the others, "Why do we have to be the ones to clean this part of the city !"
"Just be glad we're not fighting Titans," Connie argued, "I'd rather do this rather than face those things again."
"It's really not that bad, Jean," Marco reassured his friend, "At least we're helping the people of Trost feel more comfortable knowing that we're here to help them."
"Yeah, whatever," Jean said as he frustratingly scrubs the floor.
As Nac begins to struggle carrying a bucket of water, Connie accidentally bumps into him and causes Nac to drop the bucket on Sasha's boots.
"HEY ! Watch where you're going !" She yells as she proceeds to remove one of her boots while standing on one leg, "Aw, man ! My feet are going to be soggy wet."
"Sorry ! My bad, Sasha," Nac apologizes as he picks the bucket back up.
"Ha ! Finally, something to brighten the mood. It was just starting to get boring around here," Jean stated until he becomes distracted enough to push himself into Reiner, who then drops two buckets of water.
One bucket hits the floor, but the other lands on an ash pile that Krista had just swept up and starts spreading the wet ash all over the area.
"Shit ! Sorry for the mess, Krista," Reiner said as he picks the buckets up, "You should probably stand back before you get dirty."
"Oh ! It's okay, Reiner," Krista reassured, "I can just-"
Ymir interrupts her, "Hey, Reiner ! What the hell do you think you're doing ?! Messing up Krista's pile after she worked hard on it ?!"
"Me ?! It was Jean's fault ! He's the one that pushed me !"
"No ! Don't fight with each other !" Krista says to them both, "We can just clean the mess up !"
"Geez. This isn't going to end well," Connie said as he watches Reiner and Ymir argue with each other.
Ignoring the shouts coming from Reiner and Ymir, Armin approaches Mina and asks, "Hey, how's Thomas doing so far ? Do you think he'll be back anytime soon ?"
"He's actually doing fine. He's recovering very well from the cut on his torso, but it's nothing too serious. I think what happened that day just exaggerated his pain since he was panicking."
"Yeah, Thomas sort of scared me when he said his ribs were broken. I'm glad he's doing okay, though."
"I went to see him a couple of times and he seems really eager to come back. Though, I think it'll be a while."
They then turned towards Mikasa's direction where they saw her pouring small amounts of water in an area far from the others. She proceeded to kneel on both knees and scrub the floor with a small brush. Armin sighed as he witnessed his friend in a gloomy state and Mina felt bad for both of them.
"You know, I think that Eren shouldn't be in trial either. What they told us this morning really surprised me," Mina said to Armin.
"Mikasa really took it hard considering that she can't do anything to stop it. All we can do is wait and hope that they spare him."
Armin and Mina continued watching Mikasa for a brief moment before returning to work. A Garrison soldier arrives nearly two hours later and announces to everyone that break has commenced. Mikasa, Armin, and the others headed to their designated break area where they cleaned themselves up. While most of them enjoyed their break, Mikasa and Armin were the only ones who kept thinking about Eren's fate. They both felt like they did their part in protecting Eren as much as possible, but it didn't seem like it was enough. Eren was out of their reach now and their only hope was the Survey Corps winning the trial. Just as the break was near its end, another Garrison soldier approaches Mikasa and Armin, letting them know that they have visitors. They both leave the area to see Carla and Serizawa behind a Military checkpoint.
"Mom !" Mikasa shouted as she and Armin ran to her adoptive mother, "I'm so glad to see you again !"
"I'm happy to see you too," Carla said with a weak smile, causing Mikasa and Armin to worry.
"Shouldn't you be back home, Mrs. Jaeger ? Is it alright for you to be here ?" Armin asked her.
"She just wishes to ask you both about Eren," Serizawa answered.
Carla added, "I really didn't want to bother the both of you anyway, but if you know anything about what's going to happen to him, then I would-"
"He's going to be held on trial," Mikasa said with no hesitation, "We were told this morning that the Military Police will be working to take Eren into their custody, but the Survey Corps will be the ones defending his case."
"M-mikasa ! I don't think we're allowed to spread this information until it was made public," Armin told her.
"She needs to know, Armin. I don't care what they say," Mikasa argued as she turns back to Carla, "Mom, I don't know whether you'll be able to participate in the trial with the Survey Corps, but I know that Eren needs you. I know that you'll be the one to save him from execution."
Carla paused before saying, "I'm not so sure that I can, Mikasa. Even as his mother, I have a feeling the Military wouldn't care much about my relation to him. They'll just see me as the one who gave birth to a Titan and call me things like a witch."
Mikasa and Armin thought back to when Kitz had harassed Carla and noticed that it had taken a toll on her. Serizawa also thought the same thing, but he knew that it was something else that bothered her. From what he remembered, Carla was talking about how Grisha might be connected to Eren's ability and he wondered whether she would be okay about giving away her husband's secret for the sake of her son's safety. It seemed like a risky move since it might put Carla in a bad position within the Walls, but she could care less about it since Eren was the most important person to her as of right now. The Garrison soldier returned and ordered Mikasa and Armin to return to work. Mikasa and Armin parted ways with Carla and Serizawa, but the entire mood was filled with distress as they all were anxious for the upcoming trial.
In a dark forest, Eren walks alongside Grisha as they both make their way up a hill. They traveled quite a distance to the point where Eren was unable to see beyond the darkness. He notices how Grisha was anxious and was constantly looking around them.
"Hey, Dad ? Are you okay ?" Eren asked him.
"I wish I was, Eren, but….I just hope that you, Mikasa, and your mother will be."
Eren was confused about what his father said, but it seemed like there was trouble coming to his family. Whatever it was, Eren felt slightly afraid and was concerned for his father's well-being. They both then stopped as they heard the sound of bushes moving in the distance. Grisha placed his hand in front of Eren, preparing to defend him from what was lurking in the darkness. Right in front of them, Grisha and Eren witness a man emerging from behind a tree and walking towards them.
"D-d-dad ? Who is this guy ?" Eren said as he got closer to Grisha.
However, Grisha was unfazed by the man's presence and proceeded to look at his son. He pats the top of Eren's head and starts to fill his eyes with tears.
"Eren, whatever happens….Look after your Mom and Mikasa," Grisha said as the man stops and stares at Eren.
Eren blinks his eyes and notices that he is in a completely different location. It was apparent that he was experiencing a past memory, but Eren could barely recall when it had happened. After checking his surroundings, he turns to see metal bars in front of him and a group of people standing behind the bars. He came to a slow realization that the place he woke up in was a jail cell and the people in front of him were Carla, Serizawa, Erwin, and Levi.
"H-he's awake !" Carla pointed out while tearing up, "He's finally awake !"
"Mom ? What's going on ?" Eren asked as he got up from the cell bed and approached the bars.
She reaches out and holds his hands, "You're under Military Police custody. I don't know why they've locked you up, but these people here will get you out."
Eren turned his attention towards Erwin and Levi, recognizing who they were, and continued, "You're Commander Erwin ? And Captain Levi ? Why are you two here ?"
Erwin answered, "As your mother said, we're here to support you on your case at an upcoming trial that will determine your fate."
"Basically, we're trying to save your ass from the Military Police," Levi included.
"But...what did I do to be put in here ? I don't remember doing anything wrong. All I did was help seal the breach with Godzilla," Eren stated.
"I know. However, the issue isn't about that mission. It's about deciding what to do with you now that the people of the Walls know your identity. "
"Well, what's going to happen to me during the trial ?"
"Darius Zackly, the general of the three Military branches, will resolve your case by deciding to hand you over to us, or the Military Police. However, we are given the chance to speak with you in hopes that you would provide any information that you believe would help us in our efforts to support your case," Erwin stated.
Carla turns to Erwin and says to him, "If it isn't too much trouble, Commander, would you be able to get me a seat in the court ?"
"Of course. I'll have you join our side as a witness and you'll also have a say in the case. It's vital that the court should see your side of the story and some insight on your husband's possible involvement."
"Dad ? Wait, what does Dad have to do with this ?" Eren questioned Carla.
She and Erwin look at each other for a brief moment until Carla sighs and pulls out the basement key, displaying it in front of Eren.
"I found this on you the night your father left us. I have a feeling that your father might be the reason you can turn into a Titan, but I want to know if you can recall anything from it."
Eren looked at the key for a minute and said to her, "I don't remember anything about that key during that night. All I remember was being with you at the hospital."
Levi said sarcastically, "Well, that certainly helps us a lot."
"It's fine if you can't recall anything else, Eren. We just want to make sure that you at least have the right intentions," Erwin told him.
"Right intentions ? What do you mean by that ?" Carla said with an upset tone.
Erwin looked at her and then back at Eren, "Whatever reason you're using your powers is beyond my knowledge, but I would like for you to tell all of us right now. What is it that you want to do in life ?"
Eren thought for a bit to gather his thoughts, but Levi impatiently said, "Hurry up and answer already. It's not that damn difficult."
Eren sighed and answered Erwin's question, "I want to join the Survey Corps, but...I still want my mother to be a part of my life. Even if I have to kill all of the Titans just to ensure her safety, I'd risk my life so that she can live the rest of hers in peace."
Eren's answer warmed his mother's heart while Serizawa and Erwin were impressed at his response and knew that he had a good heart. Levi, however, was surprised by his devotion to Carla and thought back to his own mother, Kuchel Ackerman. His memory was a bit hazy, but he remembered how much she had cared for him in his youth. Her death had tore him apart and he had waited nearly weeks for nothing until someone who knew his mother came by and raised him. Levi wondered if he would be able to care for his own mother if she managed to live through her sickness until now.
Respecting Eren's desire to love and protect his mother, Levi whispers to Erwin, "The kid's alright. Although his intentions are somewhat pure, I'll look after him if he joins our group and if I need to….I'll kill him on the spot so his mother wouldn't have to worry about him going on a rampage."
Erwin, Levi, and Serizawa watch Carla trying to hug Eren with the bars between them until it was time for them to leave. Despite having little information from Eren, Erwin and Levi believed that they had enough to support their case.
The day of the trial has taken place and the Survey Corps took their position within the courtroom where the trial was held. Carla sat beside Mikasa, Armin, Ian, Rico, and Serizawa while Erwin and Levi stood to their left. On the other side of the courtroom stood the Military Police, along with their Commander Nile Dok and a member of the Church of the Walls, Minister Nick. Eren was escorted by Hange and Mike towards the middle of the courtroom where he was chained to a pole.
As the General of all three Military branches entered the room, he began to speak, "Let's begin this trial, shall we ? Eren Jaeger. I understand that you're a soldier within the Walls and you've devoted yourself to protecting the people of the Walls. Is my assessment correct ?"
"Yes, sir."
"Your life falls upon me and it is now my responsibility to decide your fate for the sake of humanity. Do you concur with the fact that you may be sentenced to life or death by my hands ?"
"I do."
"Very well, then. Due to the spread of your identity throughout the Walls and causing distress among the citizens, I must determine whether your life should be in the custody of the Scout Regiment, or the Military Police. Let's start with the case from the Military Police."
The Military Police Commander steps forward and says, "I am Commander Nile Dok and I hereby present our proposal. We would like to perform dissection experiments on Eren Jaeger and proceed with execution after we have studied him thoroughly. Although he has supported the Garrison with the latest Titan attack, his presence within the Walls will only create suspicion against the Monarchy."
"And now, the Scout Regiment."
"I am the Commander of the Survey Corps, Erwin Smith, and I propose that Eren Jaeger enlists with our regiment and uses his Titan powers to restore the breach from Wall Maria."
"Is that your whole proposition ?"
"Yes, Sir. With his and Godzilla's assistance, we can retake Wall Maria and eliminate the Titan threat along the way."
"Godzilla ? You mean that creature that dwarfs the Titans ? How does he relate to Eren Jaeger ?"
Minister Nick interrupts the conversation, "It obviously doesn't ! That blasted monster is just an animal that's interfering with the safety of the Walls !"
"Who do you think pays for the damages it caused ?" A merchant cried out, "That monster has destroyed more of the city than the Titans did. If anything, it's only more trouble having it around."
A member of the Scouts argued back, "He's only trying to do the right thing, stupid dog ! With him and a Titan on our side, we can defeat the Titans once and for all !"
Darius slams down his gavel a few times to calm the tension and continues, "We're getting out of hand. I specifically stated that we are working on the case of Eren Jaeger, but we'll discuss the state of Godzilla whenever possible. Now, Eren, I would like to ask you about your ability. Do you have difficulty controlling it ?"
Eren hesitated and answered, "I do, but I can still serve as a soldier to humanity. I am beginning to learn the extent of my power and I believe that I can control it as long as I receive assistance."
"From Godzilla, right ?" Darius said as he pulled up a piece of paper, "This report from the Battle of Trost states that you had hesitance prior to lifting the boulder, but the roar from Godzilla had allowed you to continue the mission. It seems to me that this Godzilla may be the key to controlling your power, but how ?"
"With my Titan ability, I am able to speak with Godzilla through my mind. He and I are able to communicate with each other to some degree."
"Interesting. Although I'm quite curious to know what it is you two converse about, I would have to let that wait until you've been proven innocent. Speaking of which, I would like to let the witnesses start speaking for your defense."
Darius turns to Carla, Mikasa, and Armin, "Any one of you may begin when ready."
Mikasa and Armin allowed Carla to speak first and she said to Darius, "Your honor. As the mother of Eren Jaeger, I must hold myself responsible for his actions. Though, I must argue that my son has done nothing but provide usefulness towards humanity."
Minister Nick interrupts again, "Usefulness ?! He bought fear among the innocent and worst of all, you birthed him within the very sanctity of the Walls ! How is it possible for a parasite like you to have evaded the eyes of God and infect the gift he has bestowed upon us ?!"
Carla was uncomfortable when hearing his words, but continued, "I was born and raised within these very Walls, just like my son. Never in my life would I have expected for his path to lead here, only to be insulted and discriminated against by his own people !"
"His people ?! How dare you compare us to the likes of him, Witch !"
Carla was upset, but she had to stay strong for Eren. However, she looked to see Eren becoming angrier by the minute. Worried that Eren might cause an outburst and ruin his chance at redemption, Carla decides to reveal Grisha's involvement with Eren's power.
"Your honor….I must admit that I might know the truth behind my son's power. Though, I cannot be fully certain about it."
"Proceed anyway, Mrs. Jaeger."
"I….I...I believe that my husband, Grisha Jaeger, might be the one responsible for giving my son his power."
Carla's words had shocked the entire room, except for Serizawa, Erwin, and Levi, who already learned about it from her. Most people gasped while others widened their eyes, but Darius was even more curious. Eren, on the other hand, was unsure of what to think about what his mother said and wasn't sure if she was telling the truth, or lying to protect him.
"Can you clarify your statement ?" Darius continued.
"A few days after Shiganshina fell, my husband took Eren away for a while and never returned. However, Eren was unable to recall events during that night and I've had suspicions that my husband had done something to his memory in order to erase his tracks."
"So you knew this whole time and you've never bothered to share this information with anyone !" Nile shouted at her.
"Hold on !" Minister Nick said, "There's a possibility that she's lying and putting the blame on her missing husband ! How do we know that you didn't do anything to him in order to hide your true intentions ?!"
"That's enough, Minister Nick," Darius ordered as he turned back to Carla, "Mrs. Jaeger, I must let you know that if you are unable to provide concrete evidence instead of suspicions against your husband, I will have to conclude your say in this case."
"I….I…...I…"
"That's enough, Witch ! You've had your chance ! You just can't admit that you've proven to be a terrible excuse of a mother !" Minister Nick shouted, "You're only delaying the inevitability that your son is a threat to the Walls and-"
"JUST SHUT THE HELL UP !" Eren screamed at the top of his lungs, startling Carla, Minister Nick, and most of the court, "I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF YOU RUNNING YOUR DAMN MOUTH AT MY MOM ! I WON'T LET YOU OR ANYONE INSULT THE PEOPLE I CARE ABOUT !"
Carla was scared that Eren was ruining the trial and she tried to come up with something to calm him down. She doesn't much about how court cases operated, but Carla decided to do something that she felt was not appropriate for this particular setting.
"YOU'RE ALL IDIOTS IF YOU'RE WILLING TO THROW AWAY THE ONLY CHANCE WE'LL HAVE AT DEFEATING THE TITANS. SO JUST SHUT UP AN-"
A hand slapped across Eren's face and he turned to see Carla and Serizawa in front of him. This action had surprised everyone, especially Levi since he was going to beat him up in order to save his life. Carla proceeded to hold his face in her hands and hugged him tightly.
Once she lets go, Carla starts tearing up and says to him, "Eren, I'm happy that you're defending me, but I should be the one to defend you this one time."
Darius leans forward and listens in on Carla's words as she continues, "No matter who you get sent to, this could be the last time we'll see each other for a while. I love you so much, but you must understand that I can't be there for you anymore once this trial is over. Don't just try to make a peaceful life for me, but make one for yourself as well."
Carla then turns to Darius, "Your honor. I don't believe my words prove much value towards this case, but I highly suggest that you turn him over to the Survey Corps."
"And why should I ? What if your son cannot be controlled ?"
"I believe I can answer that, Sir," Erwin argued, "We can control Eren Jaeger by placing him under the command of Captain Levi. With his skills, Captain Levi will effectively eliminate Eren Jaeger if he crosses the line."
Carla widened her eyes at the word, "eliminate," and knew that Eren will die regardless of which group he goes to.
Darius thinks about Erwin's contingency plan and says to Carla, "Mrs. Jaeger, do you agree to this proposition from Erwin Smith ?"
Carla looked at Eren and hesitated until she replied, "I regret to say this, but….I do. If it means that Eren will be handed over to the Survey Corps."
Mikasa and Armin were horrified at Carla's response, but Eren understood. Though it hurt him to hear his own mother being okay with his death, Eren understood that it was for the greater good.
Darius gathered his words and decided on a conclusion, "Mrs. Jaeger, I will hand the custody of your son over to the Survey Corps."
Carla, Eren, Mikasa, Armin, and everyone in the Survey Corps were relieved to hear that they had won the case, but there was more that Darius had to add.
"However….I must inform you that if I were to complete this action, then I will also hand you over to the Military Police."
The Survey Corps were tense while Erwin looked shocked and spoke up, "Sir, may I ask why the Military Police should hold custody of Carla Jaeger when this trial is about her son ?"
"It is because of her relation to Eren Jaeger that she must be placed under supervision and interrogated for what she knows. Because civilians are forbidden to cross the Wall, Carla Jaeger cannot go with you and your Regiment, which is why she will be sent to the Military Police. During the time of your next expedition, Carla Jaeger will be detailing all the knowledge she possesses to the Government until your return."
As Erwin was going to speak, Mikasa quickly responded, "Sir ! What if she provides no useful information ? Will you let her go ?"
"Unfortunately, I will not. If she fails to confess anything, then I will be placing her within the Inner Walls where the Military Police will monitor her activity until suspicion has been cleared. Better yet, if the Survey Corps manages to return from a successful expedition using Eren's powers, then I shall release her right away. However, should Eren and the Survey Corps fail the expedition, both Carla and Eren will remain in the hands of the Military Police."
Mikasa tried to argue, "There's no reason for this, Sir ! I-"
Armin holds her back, "Mikasa ! Just stop ! You'll make things worse !"
"If I may continue. Carla Jaeger, I must apologize for this, but you must understand that this is for your own good as well as for your son. There may be frightened people in the Walls that may want to use you as leverage against your son and I cannot leave you in that position. If you agree to being under the jurisdiction of the Military Police, then I shall ensure your safety as well as closing your son's case and sending him over to the Survey Corps. What's your final say on this matter ?"
Carla had no other choice except to agree with the condition. She wanted Eren to be safe in the hands of Erwin and the Scouts, but in order to save his life, she would have to sacrifice her own. Knowing that a part of her life will be watched over by the Government, Carla feared being alone and wanted someone familiar by her side.
"I accept this arrangement," Carla answered, "Although, I would like to know if my caretaker, Daisuke Serizawa, is able to come along with me to the Inner Walls."
Darius turns to Serizawa and asks, "Mr. Serizawa. As the official caretaker of Carla Jaeger, I must ask whether you would like to continue caring for her within the Inner Walls. If you wish to remain her caretaker, you must know that your activities will be monitored as well."
Serizawa was hesitant to take the offer, especially since he needed to avoid the Government for the sake of his group. However, he looks at Carla and sees that she wants him to be by her side in an unfamiliar place. Despite gaining her trust only to get closer to Grisha, Serizawa began seeing Carla as a friend and grew to care for her just like Miki and the others. At that moment, Serizawa knew exactly what he needed to do, even if he had to risk his group's secrecy.
Serizawa answered to Darius, "I also accept this arrangement, your Honor. It is my initial duty to look after her and I shall continue to do so for her sake."
"Then that concludes Eren Jaeger's case. He will be sent to the Survey Corps while his mother will be sent to the Military Police, along with her caretaker. The conditions of this case will also be recorded and put into effect immediately."
"And what of Godzilla, Sir ?" Erwin asked.
"Hmm….Godzilla is a unique creature beyond anything we have ever encountered, but we cannot overlook the fact that he has caused significant collateral damage. However, there's something that I would like for you, Eren, to ask of Godzilla when you get the chance to speak with him again."
"O-of course, Sir."
Darius leaned forward with a serious face and said, "Ask Godzilla this. If he truly is an ally of humanity, then how come he has not eliminated all of the Titans by now ?"
The crowd whispered to each other as they realized that Darius' question made sense. If Godzilla could easily take out the Titans on his own, then there was no reason for him to hold back if he was aware that they were humanity's sworn enemy. It was a mystery that only Eren could solve and something that Darius believes is the sole reason why Godzilla could not be a potential ally.
Eren sighed and told him, "I'll be sure to notify him of your message."
"And one more thing. Tell Godzilla that if he is unwilling to answer, then he must leave humanity alone. There's no point in him helping us if we don't know the reasons for his actions."
Darius slams his gavel and continues, "This trial has come to an end. All branches of the Military must return to your duties and proceed as usual."
Eren was released from his chains and was escorted out of the building by the Scouts while Carla and Serizawa were escorted by Military Police officers. Mikasa and Armin returned with the rest of the graduates as they continued their work on fixing the Trost district.
Later that night at the Jaeger household, Serizawa was packing all of his belongings as well as Carla's things. With the help of a few soldiers, they were able to clear the whole house within an hour. Ozaki was standing on a rooftop nearby and witnessed the scene in front of him, wondering what was happening. After the soldiers placed everything on a carriage to be transported into Wall Sina, Carla sadly looked at her house and remembered how Grisha bought it for her and the children. Although it was a nice gift, Carla cannot help but think about how she will never experience being with her family again. At least, for a while. A soldier pushed Carla towards the carriage and helped her on while they waited for Serizawa, who stood alone inside the house. Seeing that everyone was outside, Serizawa activated his communicator and contacted Ozaki.
The Mutant soldier accepted the call and started the talk, "I'm guessing whatever's going on right now is probably not good news."
"You're right about that and I would like you to let the others know that I may be out of contact for a while."
"Look, Doc. I don't know what kind of situation you got yourself into, but the higher-ups won't be happy that you're straying from the mission."
"Carla Jaeger can't be alone in the hands of the Government. We won't know what they'll do to her."
"I get that she's important to us, but we need to remain in contact with you at all times. There's no other way for us to talk to you once they start following you around."
"I know, but it's the only way I can look after her until we find Grisha."
"Speaking of which, you got any clues yet ?"
"Yes, I manage to learn from Carla that Grisha had a secret basement-"
One of the soldiers opened the door and startled Serizawa, causing him to quickly put the communicator away. Ozaki saw that the transmission had ended and looked to see Serizawa making his way out of the house with the soldier. The Mutant fled the scene into the darkness of the night while the carriage holding Carla and Serizawa began making its way towards the Trost district's rear gate.
Carla looked at the key to the basement while Serizawa deactivated his communicator so that it wouldn't function for the time being. He watches as Carla holds the key in both hands and lowers her head. She begins crying and breathing heavily, but Serizawa decides to let her have her moment because he believed that Carla needed to let her emotions out before calming down. The slight rocking of the carriage that began when they left the house has stopped, causing confusion among the two companions. They both hear voices outside of the carriage and Serizawa opens the curtains to see the Survey Corps. Carla wipes her tears while Serizawa exits the carriage to see what the issue was.
Erwin approaches them while on horseback and asks Serizawa, "Does Carla Jaeger have a moment to talk ?"
"I do," Carla said as she pushes herself off of her seat and moves herself to the steps of the carriage with Serizawa's help, "What do you need ?"
Erwin jumps off his horse and says to her, "I would like to thank you for your help on our case, despite the unorthodox method you used. However, I also want to apologize for having you put into Military Police custody. I know you did it for Eren, but I had hoped for a much different outcome than this."
"Maybe things could have gone different if I wasn't there. I felt like my involvement in the case was never meant to be."
"And yet, you managed to save your son. If you hadn't calmed his outburst from earlier, who knows what may have happened."
"I appreciate that you're trying to make me feel better, Erwin, but we must get going. I don't want to upset the officers."
"Before you leave, you should at least say goodbye to your son."
Carla looked behind Erwin to see Eren wearing the Scout Regiment uniform. He quickly runs over and stops in front of her while she shows a face full of joy.
"Hey, Mom," Eren greeted her.
"Eren, I'm so sorry for slapping you. I was afraid you would have ruined your case if you lashed out."
"Yeah. I kind of deserved that. I thought I could convince everyone if I told them what was on my mind, but I'm glad you knocked some sense into me. It really saved my life."
Carla looks at Levi as he starts walking up next to Erwin and asks Eren, "That Captain Levi. He's not really going to kill you, is he ?"
"He definitely will," Eren said casually while Carla felt her heart skip a beat, "But as long as I don't attack anyone in my Titan form, I'll be alright. They have a professional who knows how to deal with Titans, so it shouldn't be a problem."
"I know their job is dangerous, but the people themselves are a bit….threatening."
"Which is what makes them capable of fighting the Titans head on. They'll defend me with the best of their abilities."
The coachman at the front of the carriage shouted towards the two, "Hurry up ! We need to get Wall Sina before my boss gets pissed."
Carla sighed and hugged Eren tightly before saying, "I never expected you to be destined for greatness, Eren, because I always believed you were special just by being born into this world and being my son. I'm proud of the person you're bound to be in the future."
"I won't forget that promise either, Mom. I will come back for you and I will bring you back home," Eren said confidently as Carla removes the basement key from around her neck and wrapped it around Eren's neck.
He looks at the key for a quick moment before turning to Serizawa, "Thank you for dedicating your time to looking after my mom, Mr. Serizawa. I really appreciate your hard work."
"Don't mention it, Eren," Serizawa said as he helped Carla return to her seat, "She's a good friend to me and I'll take care of her like family."
The coachman moves the carriage forward while the wagon behind it follows along. Eren and the Survey Corps watched the two vehicles leave through the gate and Carla put half of her body out of the window. Eren briefly follows the vehicles and stops in the middle of the gate where he waves at his mother. Carla wipes her eyes and waves back as her hair flows with the wind.
"FAREWELL, EREN ! I'LL SEE YOU AGAIN SOON !"
"GOODBYE, MOM ! I'LL DO MY BEST !"
They both want to say "I love you" to each other, but it would only make their departure more emotional. Eren watches as the carriage taking his mother away disappears in the distance until it was eventually lost in the darkness. The Survey Corps allowed Eren to have a minute to himself before leaving the Trost district as well. Levi and his Squad stayed behind until Eren was ready to move forward. Eren stared at the key to his father's basement and wondered about his father's purpose, putting it away in his shirt and leaving with Levi and his Squad. Eren and the Survey Corps made their way to an abandoned base within Wall Rose, preparing for the future ahead.
Wow. What a long chapter. I didn't think I'd make it this far, but I certainly took my time with it. On the other hand, for those who have seen Godzilla vs Kong, that movie was freakin epic ! Just to summarize my review: Best fight scenes, decent world-building of the Hollow Earth, Wasted potential of a certain character that I was actually looking forward since he is related to an important character. For those of you who wish for me to include the Hollow Earth in this Fanfic, I may be debating on adding that aspect of the Monsterverse because I felt like there should have been more. I hope this chapter is okay, but I'll clarify anything you find confusing until I post the next one. Goodbye.