Shards of the past
Mikasa's Cabin - Night
Sasha is quietly crying in her bed, not being able to sleep. She is 5 years old. Mikasa enters her room to check on her.
Mikasa notices she is crying: What's wrong my love?
Sasha whimpering: Nothing…
Mikasa caresses her head: Tell me dear. Did Ymir tease you?
Sasha: No… she was… talking about… her dad.
Mikasa feels saddened.
Sasha: She was telling me she spent the weekend helping her dad with the horses… she was so happy talking about it… sniff.
Mikasa sit in the bed, picks Sasha up and places her in her lap.
Mikasa: Remember when I told you that your dad is always around us?
Sasha unsure: Yes...
Mikasa: It was not just a story... it's true.
Sasha surprised: Huh?! Really?!
Mikasa: Yes... after you dad died... me and your uncle Armin... used to be visited by birds...
Sasha puzzled: Birds?
Mikasa: Yes... they acted really strange around us... they seemed to behave like they knew us... and do things... only your father knew...
Sasha is unsure about the story.
Mikasa: But you know what made me completely sure it was him?
Sasha: What?
Mikasa: Well... when you were a baby... I went to visit him with you... I told him that he should stay with you all the time from then on... since then... your uncle and I haven't been visited by any birds anymore.
Sasha feels strange: Oh...!
Mikasa places her hand on Sasha's chest: Your father is with you dear... all the time.
Sasha feels better.
Mikasa: Sasha… do you know what I used to do when your father couldn't sleep?
Sasha curious: No, what did you do?
Mikasa: I would sing him a lullaby that my mom used to sing to me when I was little…
Sasha's eyes glisten: OH! And did it work?!
Mikasa smiles: Yes… he pretended he didn't like it heh… but he would always fall asleep after a few minutes…
Sasha tries to imagine the scene.
Mikasa: Want me to sing it to you?
Sasha happily: YES!
Mikasa embraces her and places her head on her chest: Ok… close your eyes… and just listen to my voice.
Mikasa in a very soft voice, starts to hum the lullaby and sing:
Far, far away, my home waits for me…
The trees blossom… peaches drop in time…
The sun bathes the field…
My home waits for me…
Sasha is falling asleep. She has never felt as peaceful and as warm… and never felt like that again…
18 years old Sasha is sitting in the sand watching the scene. She is quietly crying.
Sasha: Why are you showing me this? I miss my mom already…
She is talking to the boy in her dreams. He is standing next to Sasha.
He places his hand on her shoulder shocking Sasha, this was the first time he has touched her. She notices a tear on his cheek.
Levi's Home
Sasha wakes up covered in sweat and tears in her eyes.
Sasha: Dammit… why do I keep having these dreams…
Levi approaches her: You ok? Your were grumbling in your sleep.
Sasha: Yeah I'm fine… I just have these weird dreams from time to time…
Levi concerned: Hmm… well snap out of it, we are having our meeting with Reiner after breakfast.
Sasha: Yeah… she slaps herself.. RIGHT! LET'S EAT!
Levi: You have to prepare it yourself. I'm not your servant.
Sasha annoyed: WHAT?!
An hour later
Falco was feeding Pierre while Gabi was fast asleep with a hangover. Reiner, Levi and Sasha were in the kitchen discussing the situation at hand.
Reiner: So you think there is a Helos cell in Marino?
Levi: Yes. It's the fastest growing town in Marley and is filled with old time Marleyans.
Reiner: Don't you think you are being a little prejudiced?
Levi annoyed: We have not gone there in 2 years. If I were prejudiced, that's where I would have gone first.
Sasha: We found many documents in the recent survey that point to that place.
Reiner: I don't see how something like that could happen in there. I helped that community to grow.. they are the kindest people, very much affected from the violence of the Rumbling… it's the last thing in their minds to think about hurting others… they are just trying to get things back to normal…
Levi: We'll I don't know about any of that, just that we have evidence pointing over there.
Reiner: Sigh… what do you want me to do.
Levi: You are like a saint to those people. Just make yourself seen. That would make it easier to see any hidden or suspicious activity. Sasha and me will spread out to scout the town. We are lucky it's a small place.
Reiner: You won't hurt anybody right?
Levi: No, we just survey the place. It's the military's task to intervene if we find something.
Reiner is concerned.
Sasha: Don't worry! Leo is in charge of the team! In two years they only had two kills! And that's because they had a bomb throwing gun.
Reiner: Leo… you mean Leopold? Armin's son? He is in the military?
Levi: He is nothing like Armin, you'll understand when you see him.
Reiner: I guess he is more Annie than Armin then…
Sasha: On the outside yes! But he is quite smart and shy, he is funny hehe
Reiner: You seem to know him quite a bit… are you two going out?
Sasha blushing: Well… it's kinda complicated…
Reiner excited: DO YOU NEED TIPS?!
Sasha gets a bit scared: Huh?!
Reiner: I don't know if your mom told you this.. BUT I WAS THE ALPHA MALE WHEN WE WERE CADETS.
Sasha is shocked to see such a radical change in Reiner: Uhh…
Reiner: I even had Krista… I mean Historia, eating at the palm of my hand haha. Ah… the good days…
Sasha: I'm pretty sure that's not true…
Reiner insulted: WHAT?! Why do you say that?!
Sasha scared: B…because of Ymir?
Reiner pissed: Ymir… I can hear her horrible laugh just now… always touching Krista…
Levi interrupting: Hey. Stop it.
Levi is menacingly staring at Reiner.
Reiner snaps out of it: Sorry heh I get carried away…
Levi: Anyway, Leo and his team are already there standing by. I hope you are right about what you said about the town. Get ready, we'll be going there in an hour.
Reiner: All right. Thank you for breakfast Sasha. It was delicious. Excuse me.
Sasha is still in shock about what happened.
Sasha: Uncle…
Levi: What?
Sasha: You were right…
Levi: Yes, he is even crazier now. Your cooking is horrible.
Marino
Reiner's visit caused a commotion as predicted by Levi. Almost everyone went outside to greet him. Meanwhile Levi and Sasha were waiting in strategic spots to survey for any possible suspicious activity.
Levi in the radio: Hey blockhead, you see anything?
Sasha: Negative Lone Wolf. Just some women trying to rape Reiner. Over.
After a few hours, Sasha and Levi stopped their search for the day and went to meet Reiner.
Reiner: I told you weren't going to find anything.
Levi: We are not done. It's rare we find something the first day. You need to keep playing your part.
Reiner: Well I'm not slacking off here. These people still need some help.
Sasha: Yeah.. I'm sure that's why you want to stick around… definitely it's not because those women… RIGHT?
Reiner: I can't help it if they have such good taste…
Levi: I heard that every town you visited, just so happens to have some blonde haired children being born some months after you left…
Reiner nervously: Well that must be a coincidence; there are many blonde haired men in the world…
Levi: Not in Tongo, Aydiari or Hizuru.
Sasha start to move away: Yeah… I'm gonna go…
Reiner: HEY! Don't listen to the captain's nonsense!
Sasha: Hehe I was actually going to go for a bit... to stretch the legs after sitting for so long you know?
Levi: Don't do anything stupid.
Sasha: Butt off uncle. She runs away.
Reiner: Well you certainly mellowed out Captain.
Levi: Shut up pig.
Outskirts of Marino
Leo was waiting for Sasha in a campfire. They had been meeting like that for some months by then to talk and spend time together.
Sasha excited: LEO!
Leo always got nervous when he saw Sasha, but managed to control his anxiety due to growing close with each other.
Leo: H..hey Sasha!
Sasha runs towards him and give him a strong hug, which he nervously answered back.
Sasha and Leo were merrily eating and chatting for a while.
Sasha: Have you visited you parents Leo? They miss you, Cris is driving your mom crazy because you are not there to straighten her out!
Leo: I miss them too. I've been quite busy… I hope I can go home for a few days after this mission.
Sasha looks towards the city… there is a festival put together in Reiner's honor. Many families are spending time together happily. She starts to feel sad.
Leo notices this: What's wrong?
Sasha: Nothing… I have been feeling a bit emotional these days…
Leo: How come? …. OH SORRY!... I shouldn't snoop in your affairs…
Sasha smiles and places her hand on top of his: It's fine… I was going to tell you.
Leo blushes.
Sasha: I just have been thinking about my family… and how I really just have my mom… I never met my father… heh… he is isn't even my real father… but nobody talks to me about it… my mom gets really anxious every time I bring the subject… so I stopped asking her a while ago… but it's still like a spine stuck on my throat…
Leo: Well… you have Mr Levi…
Sasha: HAH! Yeah but he hates it…
Leo: I don't think that's true… it's just how he is.
Sasha: Yeah I guess so… still… it makes me so jealous to see other families together… you and your parents… Ymir and her parents…
Leo doesn't know what to say.
Sasha: Don't get me wrong… I love my mom so much. But I feel sad about her too… spending so much time alone… I really wish thing were different… that we didn't had to be so alone…
Leo: We are your family too Sasha. Me, my parents, Cris… They always said that… My dad truly thinks of you and your mom as his family… my mom too. She loves you very much.
Sasha feeling insecure: Maybe I forced them too… I was an uninvited guest in your house…
Leo: Don't say that! You coming to our home was the best thing to happen to me!... TO US.
Sasha blushes: Heh… thanks Leo. She kisses him on the cheek.
Paradis Coast Military Station
Iro Aganyu had secretly arrived at Paradis for a brief meeting. The Yeagerist faction of the military had arranged for the Coast Station to serve as the meeting site, allowing Aganyu to depart quickly before raising any alarms.
Iro: So you are our enabler here huh? I'm quite surprised. But I understand how you managed to slip through the Queen's gaze.
Rico: I'll do whatever it takes for my ideals to bear fruit.
Iro: That's precisely why I'm here… He gives Rico a letter.
Rico: A letter?
Iro: Yes. I need you to deliver this to Yelena.
Rico: Yelena?! She is part of this operation?
Yelena: Yes she is. From the start, 18 years ago.
Rico: Is that my entire task?!
Iro: Yes… for now. I'll take of everything else in regards of the companies.
Rico stands up: You are underestimating my resolve! You and Ackerman!
Iro stands up and puts his hand on her shoulder; Calm down… Kaspar is very much aware of your efforts. You'll be compensated… when the time comes. Just a few months from now… everything will change…
Rico: You sound concerned…
Iro: Well… truth be told I'm a little anxious… tomorrow will be the turning point… we will know if Kaspar is actually correct… our lives depend on it at this point…