Traitors Arc Part I: A Good Person
"Faster! Hit it harder!" His father drilled him the place he learned was Moregio. Right now, they were practicing hand-to-hand with his new body hardening. He ripped through the dummies, only for his father to snap and them to automatically repair themselves.
"Alright. Enough." Alto breathed,
One and a Half Days after the expedition, Stohess District, Wall Sina
He woke up without any fatigue from the training. 'That's right...it's all technically a dream.' He sighed,
"Oh you're up?" Marco came out of a side room,
"Jeez. You couldn't bother to wake me up?"
"Tried. You wouldn't budge."
Alto met Boris, Hitch, and a few others all assembled for the morning briefing.
"Hey boys~." Hitch waved,
"Save it Hitch." Alto and Marlowe replied automatically.
She pouted, "You two are absolutely no fun." She looked up, "Oh hey Annie! Sorry I didn't wake you, but you look so scary when you sleep."
She rolled her eyes, but said nothing and lined up with the rest. A few moments later, their officer, Dennis Aiblinger, came holding a stack of papers, but all he looked like he wanted to do was crawl back in bed.
The group saluted, but he waved them down, "Right. Right. Anyway I got real work today, not the normal crap. Apparently we need to help guard them as they pass through town today. HQ has already provided a security detail, but we're just being asked to assist until the convoy is clear. ODM usage is authorized yada yada you get the gist."
"Sir! A question!" Marlowe stepped forward,
"What is it?" He said irritably.
"What are we protecting the convoy from? I mean, we've been at peace for one hundred years. I've never heard of anyone trying to defy the government. I mean, there are petty criminals and gangs but an actual organization is unheard of."
"Well aren't you a stickler! Here! Why don't you run the operation!" He pushed the papers into Marlowe's chest, "Everything you need to know is within these papers. We officers are very busy, why don't you earn your paycheck for once! And don't screw it up either!" He opened the door leading to a backroom, "Alright, whose turn was it again?" He said from behind the door before fully closing it.
Though he didn't show it, Alto was extremely peeved. Just when his grandfather had spent some twenty-five plus years reforming the Military Police, all of his work had gone to crap in only six?!
"Damn! This stinks!" Marlowe groaned,
"No shit." Alto said with anger creeping into his voice,
"Yeah, the slacking in this unit is even more than I imagined." Hitch added, "Although that's why I joined." She admitted.
"Bastards! Every last one of them! They're just irresponsible self-absorbed assholes!" Marlowe proclaimed,
"So what does that make you Marlowe?" Boris deadpanned, "You chose to join the MPs. That means you're no better than the rest of us."
Marlowe recoiled, "That's where you're wrong Boris. I'm nothing like the rest of you degenerates! I'm going to reform the Military Police from the inside out. All it needs is a little discipline. The former commander knew this! That's why the MPs were so successful for a time!"
Alto perked up at the mention of his grandfather,
"Wish I could've met this kid when I was alive." Dante approved, "He's got the spirit to be the next Commander."
Hitch clapped, "Wow Marlowe! You go get 'em! I never pegged you for the crusader type."
"That's really great! How are you going to fix it though?" Marco asked.
"By working my way up to the top and installing a new system and once I'm in charge. One in which all that are dishonest pay for their transgressions!"
Hitch couldn't take it, and collapsed to the floor, laughing. "W-Wow! That is really something! And I thought you were a buzzkill before!"
"Quite the lofty ideal. Good luck with that."
"Even if you did manage to get yourself made Commander, you don't have the connections the old Commander did." Alto shrugged
"What?"
"Think about it, the old Commander was noble-born and bred. He could act with tact and discretion, that's why he was so successful. No offense, but you'll find yourself with a knife through your back within the first six months."
"Seriously? Even you?"
"He's not saying it's a dumb ideal." Annie interjected, "He's just saying you need to carry some pragmatism into it. Don't get me wrong either, I know sincerity when I see it. You're not the first I've met who thought they could take on the world and change it." Marco and Alto both looked down, they both know who she meant. "Takes a lot of steel to go against the flow. Of course, it could be just that you're a bunch of idealistic fools."
Marlowe scoffed, "Enough chit chat, Let's go!"
South of Wall Sina
"How much longer do you think they'll keep us here?" Historia asked,
"Who knows?" Mina shrugged,
"You know, my village happens to be just a bit South of here." Connie said offhandedly,
"Really?" Sasha said, bored. "The town where I'm from is quite close by too."
"Maybe I'll just sneak out after dark." Connie said,
"Well my people said not to come back till I'm normal so there's that." Sasha yawned,
"Folks where I'm from always said I was too puny to be a soldier." He smirked, "Someone's going to be choking on their own words."
"Well if you really want to go, I'll help you." Reiner said to them,
Ambros leaned against a post as he looked over the rolling landscape.
"Hey." Evangelica sighed, sitting down next to him, she pulled out a flask of water and drank from it, her unbraided long white hair cascading down.
"Hey." Ambros replied, "Why aren't you with Levi?" He said in his usual quiet monotone
"I dunno, Levi said we were all to remain here for some reason. Not like I could help it, probably has something to do with the titan shifters." She sighed, "Hey Ambros. Sing."
"W-What?" Ambros was confused and slightly flustered by the request.
"I'm bored. So sing."
He looked down, sighed, and began to sing.
1. He rode through the streets of the city
Down from his hill on high
O' er the winds and the steps and the cobble
He rode to woman's sigh
For she was his secret treasure
She was his shame and his bliss
And a chain and a keep are nothing
Compared to a woman's kiss
1- For hands of gold are always cold
But a woman's hands are warm
For hands of gold are always cold
But a woman's hands are warm
Evangelica scoffed, "Sounds like something you'd sing in a brothel."
Ambros hmphed, "You want me to finish or not?"
"Okay okay I'm sorry. Keep singing." Evangelica raised her hands up in mock surrender, but she was still smiling.
And there he stood with sword in hand
The last of Darry's ten
And red the grass beneath his feet
And red his banners bright
And red the glow of setting sun
That bathed him in its light
Come on, come on the great lord called
My sword is hungry still
And with a cry of savage rage
They swarmed across the rill
And with a cry of savage rage
They swarmed across the rill
He rode through the streets of the city
Down from his hill on high
O' er the winds and the steps and the cobble
He rode to woman's sigh
For she was his secret treasure
She was his shame and his bliss
And a chain and a keep are nothing
Compared to a woman's kiss
1- For hands of gold are always cold
But a woman's hands are warm
For hands of gold are always cold
But a woman's hands are warm (2x)
1x
Evangelica exhaled loudly, "Wow. You sing...beautifully."
"You think so?" Ambros said quietly, he looked away, but the corner of his mouth was turned up in a smile.
"Really." She nodded,
Ambros was about to respond when something pricked at the back of his neck, and a feeling he knew all too well arose deep in his stomach, 'No way...It can't be!'
Nanaba swung down on ODM Gear, "Ambros! Evangelica! We're sorteing now!"
"What?! Against who?!" Evangelica asked incredulously.
"Titans. Coming in from the South."
Stohess District
"Alright! The escort wagons will pass through the external gate in 45 minutes, once we arrive we'll take up our positions!"
"Yeah yeah." Hitch yawned before ramming smack dab into Marlowe's back. "Watch it moron!" Hitch peered to the front to see why Marlowe had stopped, "Hm? What's going on? Isn't that our gear?"
"Shipment to the interior?" Marco wondered
"A bit strange for the transport to be conducted by the merchant's guild…what are they up to?" Marlowe noted,
Looking closer, Alto saw one of the merchants hand a white pouch of some kind to one of the MP officers. The MP opened it and pulled out a coin before tying the drawstring around his waist.
"Those bastards! They're illegally selling government property!" Marlowe said to them, he surged forth towards them.
"H-Hey! This isn't our assignment!"
"Then what is?" Marco asked with obvious disgust before walking forward to join Marlowe.
"Well, Crusader Man is the real deal! This is going to be something for sure!"
Alto watched quietly, ready to step in if things got ugly.
"Hey! Halt that barge!" Marco said, stepping on board and began removing the lid off one of the boxes.
"Hey kid! What's the big idea?!" A merchant stepped in front of him
"Yeah! What the hell?" One of the MP Officers stepped on board, "What do you think you're doing Private?"
"S-Sale of Government property is illegal! You can't do that!" Marlowe broke in, his voice clearly shaking.
"Oh? Is that so?"
"T-those supplies are the property of the hard-working citizens of the crown who paid for them with their taxes-" Marlowe began, with Marco nodding in agreement.
The first officer laughed, "Can you believe these kids?! Two privates blackmailing their superior officers. That takes some brass balls!" He pulled out a pair of coins and placed them in their breast pockets "Spend it on a girl or something, that'll help you unwind!" He turned and began to walk away. The merchant waved and the barge began to move again.
Marlowe got angry now, "What you did was against the law-" He was cut short by the officer slamming the butt of his rifle into Marlowe's stomach.
Marco grabbed the rifle, only to be uppercut by the other officer and thrown against the railing.
"Idealistic punk-" He raised his foot for a kick, but a firm grip on his shoulder gave him pause,
"Enough." Alto said to him,
"Another one of your friends?!" The officer swung his rifle at Alto's head, but he didn't even dodge, he simply grabbed the rifle mid-swing.
"In the name of the King, I'm detaining this barge, as well as placing all aboard under arrest for illegal sale and distribution of Government property!" He said quietly,
"Big words for a small punk!" The officer pulled his rifle out of Alto's hands, but before he could aim it Alto socked him straight in the face before grabbing him and kneeing him in the balls. His comrade aimed his rifle and fired too late as Alto ducked out of the way and drop kicked his arm, completely shattering it.
"Marco. Marlowe. Arrest these two. The rest of you can quit being lazy assholes and make yourselves useful by placing the rest of these suspects under arrest! We'll get another Squad to pick up."
"Like hell!" The first officer grabbed his rifle and aimed, only to be kicked in the head by Annie, who knocked him out.
"Seriously? You had to get involved with their little crusade?" Hitch groaned as she dragged the bleeding and bruised officers of the ship.
"Y-You'll regret this!" The merchant blubbered, "I'm highly influential within the Guild-" He squealed as Alto leveled a rifle into his left eye.
"I highly advise shutting the fuck up." He said with barely concealed anger. The merchant nodded, and let himself be detained by two MPs.
"Gee thanks. Now we'll have to fill out paperwork about all this." Boris groaned,
Alto didn't bother responding "Let's wait for the next Squad, then we move out." Alto ordered.
Scout Barracks, Wall Rose
"Everyone! I hear footsteps!" Sasha yelled suddenly
"Get real Sasha." Reiner rolled his eyes, "That'd mean Wall Rose has fallen."
"But it's true! I hear them!"
Ambros landed on the window and opened it,
"Ambros? What's wrong?"
"We got company. Multiple Titans. Approximately 500 meters south. No time to suit up in ODM Gear. Take your Gear and evacuate all nearby homes and settlements. Understood?" He didn't wait for a reply before jumping down.
"From...the South?" Connie's eyes widened in terror.
"Has the wall been breached?!" Reiner hissed to Bertholdt.
"Move it! Lunch is on hold for now!" Nanaba shouted as the 104th stormed out of the barracks. She landed on the roof of the barracks
"Damn...we never even got to figure out what the hell Titans were. And now...the day has come. Humanity...has lost."
"Like hell." Miche snarled, "You only lose when you quit. If you don't quit, you don't lose."
The entirety of the 104th Cadet Corps rode out of the barracks,
"Listen up! The second we hit the woods we'll split up into four different teams. Recruits and soldiers alike! When I give the signal we'll scatter in different directions simultaneously! Get the word out to civilians but do not engage the enemy! Am I clear?!" Miche ordered, "Which of you are most familiar with the area?!"
"My hometown is Northeast of here," Ambros said quietly,
"Me sir!" Sasha raised her hand, "My hometown is just north of here! I know this region like the back of my hand! Connie as well! Right? Tell them Connie!"
"My village...it's just South of here...where the Titans came from." Connie gulped, "I'll take you to nearby villages, but after that...please let me visit mine!"
Miche remained silent for a moment, "Alright." He said at last, "You'll guide the Southern team."
He nodded.
Stohess District, Wall Sheena
The carriages finally pulled into Stohess. Annie and the rest of the MPs lined either side of the road, frozen in salute before moving down to follow the carriage.
"Alto!" A woman buried in a newspaper "Quick, look like you're slacking off, but make sure you face right."
Alto complied quickly, yawning and leaning against a wall, "Kassandra, what's wrong?"
"We have a problem."
"What is it?"
"Two days ago, during the 57th Expedition, the Military Police raided my office."
Alto swore, "Damn, they're tightening the net, did they take anything?"
"Nothing incriminating or of value. I burned your note."
"Good. How's our little project coming along?"
"Fine. So far I've managed to assemble approximately three-hundred people who say they'll fight against the Royal Government. But we're undersupplied, out of three hundred people, we only have guns and ODM for about one hundred."
"Tch!" Alto bit his thumb, "I'll try to smuggle some to you later. For now just act normal,"
"Are you even worried that they may be on to us?"
"No, it's scare tactics. If they were really on to you they would've taken more drastic measures."
"Alright." Kassandra folded the newspaper "What about our friend? We can't have him squealing to you-know-who."
"I'll deal with him." Alto nods, "Just give me an hour."
Alto doubled back around, through an alley-way. He knew the tail was a man dressed in a grey trench coat with brown hair. Likely a hire,
'Shouldn't have taken this job pal.' He says as he locks on to a man looking around nervously before heading down a road, Alto ducks in a side street that should lead straight in front of him.
He presses his back against a wall as he waits for the man to pass by, 'Just a bit closer…' He thinks as the man briskly walks towards him, unaware of the impending danger until it was too late. Pulling out a knife, Alto swiftly jabs him three times in the ribs and stomach before dragging his limp and dying body into the alley and tossing it in a dumpster.
"Sorry." Alto whispers coldly before quickly running out, with no passerby any the wiser.
"Annie!" A voice calls her from a side-alleyway. She pauses briefly before turning around and heading down the alley, where Armin stood waiting for her.
"Hey, I guess you, Alto, and Marco are all MPs now."
Wall Rose
"Shit! The Titans have reached the woods!" Ambros shouted,
"You know what to do! Scatter!" Miche ordered, and they all broke off in different directions.
The Titans came to a sudden halt as this happened, one of them seemingly sniffed the air before turning towards the horse group Miche was in.
Without warning, all the titans broke into a sudden run towards them, one of them executing a massive jump forward before beginning to run.
"What the-! They all just started sprinting towards us!" Mina shouted
Miche yanked on his horse's reins and charged straight at the Titans. "Gelgar! Take charge of the Southern team!"
"U-Understood…"
Miche lept off his horse and shot his wire through a Titans neck before going in for the final blow...
He springboarded off a Titan right as a 15 meter came and swiped at him, Miche landed on it's head before sliding down and cutting out it's nape.
He exhaled as he looked around the area, 'Four left,' He sheathed his swords, 'Doesn't matter, it's time to go, unless I want to wait for nightfall.' He turned to his left, where a giant 17-meter aberrant titan with shaggy brown fur and long lanky limbs simply staggered around aimlessly.
'Still….that abnormal...it worries me.'
Stohess District
"Why are you dressed like that?" Annie asked Armin,
"Makeshift disguise. I have ODM Gear hidden under this coat." He lifted it, "See?"
"What's going on here?" Annie asks as Armin pulls back his hood.
"Annie, would you assist me in helping Eren escape?"
"Escape where? The Royal Government will hunt you down eventually."
"We don't need to hide him forever. Just for enough time to compile evidence against him. And we will find it."
"So? The Scout Regiment will still be tried for treason."
"It will be reported as a rebellion by a small portion of the Scouts. That'll buy us time, time we'll use to find ammunition to counter the other factions."
"Enough ammunition? Is there something so convenient lying around?"
Armin looked down, and Annie began to turn away. "I see, I won't tell anyone, but I can't help you either."
"Please! Eren will be killed!" This gave Annie pause, and a window for Armin to continue, "Clueless people who only care about their own skin, can never change anything and will only set humanity down a fruitless path of destruction! I know I can't convince you...but even so...I need to make this wager!"
"Armin...Do I really look like such a good person to you?"
"I don't really like that term. After all, what is a good person? To me, it seems like you're just labelling someone who is good for you. Good. Evil. The world isn't so black and white it can fit into such simple categories." He pauses, "But if you don't help me...then in my eyes, you'll definitely be a bad person."
Annie simply looked at Armin for a moment before sighing and removing her rifle. "Fine." She says at last, "I'm in."
Armin breathed a sigh of relief, but if he had looked closer, he would've noticed Annie sliding on a ring.
Wall Rose
Miche whistles for his horse, and almost immediately it comes running. 'Good. You're back, I won't need to hold out for nightfall-'
In one swift movement, the 17-meter abnormal snatched the horse from the ground.
'What the-!? It targeted the horse?!' Miche looked on in horror as the horse neighed in panic as it tried to kick it's way out of the Titan's grasp.
The Titan looked towards Miche with cold, almost bored yellow eyes and raised it's arm before hurling the horse towards him.
Miche barely managed to roll out of the way to avoid being bodied by the horse. Only to fall off the roof and down into the eagerly waiting arms of a 4-meter Titan. Miche struggled, only for it to bite down on his leg painfully.
Then the Abnormal spoke, "Wait."