Hi everyone! This is a new project I've been working on for some time and I finally decided to publish it. This is one of my more complex pieces of writing, there's a lot of elements to it that I haven't even scratched the surface of but I finally got the courage to post it! There's a few things you should know before reading. This story does NOT follow the events in AoT, therefore, this plot is completely my own, I'm just borrowing the characters. Second, this story is my interpretation of the actual characters from AoT. Most things will be similar, other things will not. Please do not criticize. If you have any questions, would like to provide feedback or would like to run your own ideas by me as this story progresses, feel free to do so! I enjoy feedback and constructive criticism. Anyway, that's enough of my rambling. Please enjoy!
Disclaimer: All characters in this story belong to Hajime Isayama. The only thing that is mine is the plot.
Chapter 1:Prologue
Lone footsteps echoed down the dimly lit parking garage as a man dressed in a long, dusty black coat made his way down the length of the garage. An unlit cigarette hung from the corner of his mouth as he dug out the matchbox from his coat pocket and set the smoke alight. Inhaling the sweet nicotine into his lungs, the man welcomed it with a warm embrace before letting it exhale through his nostrils like hot breath in frigid winter air. Flicking ash onto the concrete as he walked, the man's eyes caught hold of the one thing he'd been waiting for.
Towards the far corner of the garage sat a black, 1929 Bentley that would have been invisible if not for the light nearby that cast a reflection off the vehicle's paint. The man began walking in long strides to the car, smoking as he went. Approaching the car's side, the man took one last drag of his smoke before dropping it onto the ground and stubbing it out with his boot. Blowing the smoke out of his mouth and nostrils, he opened the passenger side door and slipped inside the car, shutting the door after him.
"Agent Levi." The man greeted. "I wasn't sure you were actually coming." The man seated in the driver's seat said.
"You said this was important, so here I am." The dark-haired man stated bluntly and unamused.
The blonde-haired man sighed before reaching onto the dashboard and grabbing a manila folder. Turning the folder right-side up, he passed it over to the man next to him, keeping his gaze locked out the front windshield of the car. "This folder contains the details of your new assignment."
Taking the folder from the man's hand, the passenger flipped it open and scanned over it's contents. Pictures, newspaper clippings, and reports contained in the folder detailed different incidents surrounding one of Shiganshina's research labs. It was one of the most governmentally funded laboratories in all of Shiganshina that specialized in genetic research and charitable causes for different debilitating diseases. What was present in the file didn't make any sense. Eyebrows furrowed in evident confusion as the man tried to work out in his mind what kind of mission he had been tasked with.
"What the hell kind of task is this Miche?" The passenger asked bitterly.
Miche shrugged, glancing out the driver side window. "I don't know much. This file was passed onto my desk straight from the Director and he told me to give this directly to you and no one else. All I do know is that whatever is going on at that lab, it's some really fucked up shit."
"And let me guess, I'm going to be the one thrown into the middle of it?" The man asked.
Miche glanced towards the other man, meeting his cold stare. "You'll be going undercover as our operative. We already have a pair of eyes on the inside but we need more if we're ever going to figure out what exactly is going on. Word is that the lab is working with Willy Tybur and Karl Fritz,"
"Aren't those the politicians that lost the election to the Reiss family a couple years back?" Levi asked.
Miche nodded. "They started providing the majority of the funding for the lab once they lost the election. Governor Reiss tried to shut them down after the train derailment last year, but even he can't touch them. That's why we need you in there. You need to get to the bottom of what's going on. The Director believes that if we can expose them at their source, that Sina Laboratories will be permanently closed down and Fritz and Tybur will hang."
"I see." Levi replied as his gray eyes once again scanned over the file. "How can you be so certain that whatever's going on at the lab is illegal?"
"I'm not."
A scoff passed from Levi's lips. "That's awfully reassuring." He stated sarcastically. "I don't like this one bit. We're walking in blind,"
"I'm not too fond of the idea either, but the Director insists. We don't have a choice here, Levi." Miche said as he returned his gaze forward.
The shorter man sighed. "Anything for a paycheck, right?" He remained silent for a few moments before he opened his mouth again. "Is everything arranged?"
"Yes. Nanaba arranged everything. Everything you'll need is at your flat. I suggest looking it all over when you get home," Miche explained.
"Understood." Glancing out the window, he popped the door open and stepped back out into the light of the parking garage. "I should get going. I've already been here longer than I should have,"
Levi shut the door to the Bentley, upturning the collar of his coat to keep himself warm, shoving the file underneath the thick wool before placing his gloved hands in the pockets of his long coat. He had begun the trek back the way he came but was stopped short when the passenger window to the Bentley rolled down and Miche beckoned him over. "Levi."
Turning his gaze to the open window, he patiently waited for his comrade to speak. Miche leaned over, holding out a small, rectangular business card. "On this card is the address where you'll make contact and inform either the Director or I of everything you discover at the lab. We'll be expecting to hear from you every week."
Levi nodded, plucking the card from the blonde's fingers and slipping it into his vest pocket. "Give Erwin my regards."
A faint smile spread across Miche's face. "Will do. Take care of yourself Levi,"
The raven-haired merely nodded before turning on his heel and continuing in the direction he originally entered the parking garage from. He cracked his neck and took a deep breath. He would definitely need another smoke before the morning.