Niko 12. Seriously, this has come further than expected.
Episode 12: The expedition.
The vast space between wall Maria and wall Rose, once land of humans, was now a new death zone for the Survey Corps; all the more depressing knowing that they weren't advancing in the fight against the titans but simply struggling to recover what was once theirs. Yet they continued to stand and challenge all odds; to face the threat the mindless creatures posed, fighting to their last breath in every expedition. And today, their goal was more important than ever with the addition of Eren Jaeger's mysterious titan power; for the first time some of the recruits, new ones and some veterans alike, felt that they had finally found a purpose other than a slow and agonic struggle against the beasts.
Nikolai wasn't among those people. His mind as focused on protecting Eren's ass first and on the titan chasing them second.
Well, chasing Eren at least.
The young man glanced backwards with keen interest, eyes fixed on the gigantic creature running after the group. It -she, the white haired soldier corrected himself- appeared suddenly a short while after Levi's squad -with both Eren and Nikolai as recently added members- entered the forest following the slaughter of the right wing of the formation. Levi told everyone to prepare when suddenly a female-looking titan appeared out of nowhere and began racing in a straight line towards them. Nikolai couldn't help being... Nikolai.
_Look at those huge tits!
_Nikolai!
_Don't worry Petra, your tits are still better.
_NIKOLAI!
He laughed at the offended tone of the woman, feeling the wind against his face as they spurred their steeds deeper into the dense forest.
_Those are some big trees.
_Big ass trees. -Levi agreed- Excellent place for 3DMG use. Everyone, stay ready for combat just in case. Eren, don't fall behind.
In that moment a group of scouts attacked the titan from all directions. Not slowing down the creature slammed against a tree, transforming an unfortunate soldier in a red stain; her hand grabbed another mid-flight and crushed her like a grape. The third soldier tried to surround her, only to have his wire snatched and body smashed against the ground. The last two tried to attack from opposite sides. The first one hooked on her left leg, the second on her right shoulder. The titan made a sole, fluid spin without stopping the run and sent the scouts flying; one crashed against a tree, the sound of broken bones reaching the squad ahead; the other landed in front of her and was stomped in her race.
_Captain! -Eren shouted in horror and anger- She is getting close! What do we do?!
_Captain Levi, your orders! -Oluo's voice trembled slightly, and Niko couldn't decide if it was fear, rage, or most likely both- Let's take that bitch down, she's taken too many of us down!
_All ready Captain! -Eld shouted- At your command!
Jaeger was at the expectative, knowing this was the elite squad, the most famous and successful titan-killing veterans in the Survey Corps. But Levi just kept riding, ignoring the calls of his subordinates and their pleas to fight.
_Listen everyone! -he said calmly; despite not rising his voice, it cut through the noise of the horses and the titan's closing steps- This squad's mission is not fighting that thing. It's protecting him. No matter the cost. No matter the circumstances. Eren is our priority. His safety is our priority. Understood?
The group fell silent, not daring to challenge his authority. Levi glanced at them, then at the now closer titan.
_Nikolai! -he barked. Said scout looked at him. Unlike the rest, he seemed almost relaxed in his place at the back of the group, not taking part in the argument, as if he wasn't part of the expedition in the first place.
_Yeah?
_The titan is closing in. Can you give us some time? Or will you need help?
The rest couldn't help a confused look towards them. Why was Levi asking the newest recruit to handle the titan by himself? Even when his record was astonishing, that thing had killed a whole squad in seconds; what chance could he have? To their surprise, he smiled and nodded.
_No problem. I'll see what i can do.
Readying his blades he stood on his horse and turned to face her, the one that killed so many in her wake. He jumped to her right and hooked to a tree, launching himself towards it; he planted his feet firmly and somersaulted as her hand landed where he hit the tree's surface a second before. Shooting the hooks again he pierced her left leg and spinned, slicing behind the knees and cutting the tendons. The female titan limped forward and fell on all fours.
Taking his time, he used his gear to reach higher as he circled around her. When he swung past her again he saw her hand covered her nape. She was really thinking.
_Clever girl -he muttered as his circling motion ended with him standing on the tree's side facing the road. Levi's squad was now further ahead, so they could...
Without warning the titan leapt not forward, but upwards, right in his direction. Nikolai barely had time to jump and avoid her hand, landing on her right shoulder, jumping to her nape as her left hand swatted at him.
She's open to attack. She had one chance to get me...
His thoughts were cut by the sound of metal against a hard surface the flesh now covered in some kind of... crystal. Knowing it would likely be impossible to penetrate, he focused on dodging her hand once more before jumping down and swinging toward the trees. When he looked back, she was again rushing towards the others.
She wants me dead, she knows i'm a threat. But not big enough to cut the chase.
Knowing this, Niko lunged forward, racing the giantess as fast as possible, his better maneuverability giving him some advantage. His horse was now running far from the group, to their right amidst the trees. If he wanted to get on it, he had to cross the road. Smiling fiercely, he readied his blades and emerged a few meters in front of her, quickly throwing his blades towards her face. She lifted an arm and both swords stabbed in her flesh; when she put the arm down, he was nowhere to be seen but the sound of his gear told her he had crossed the road and planned to come from her right side, about thirty meters forward.
Eren looked anxiously for his squadmate, fearing that the titan would kill him next time he attacked. The sounds of the grappling hooks shooting and reeling neared from amidst a thick lot of trees. Suddenly, a green blur flew towards the titan's face... and was quickly crushed by her hand. Eren felt his heart stop.
_NIKOLAI!
_Eren! -Petra shouted at him- Don't look back, we must...!
She went silent; her eyes had to be deceiving her. Nikolai lunged forward from behind a tree, stepping on the still extended arm. He rushed towards the giantess's elbow and in a single, powerful jump, he covered the distance to her face; the once cold stare of the creature replaced by a surprised look before the blades sunk into her eyes. Jumping back and whistling, Niko swung until he reached his horse that had come close to the squad and softly landed on its back, not bothering to look at the titan standing still.
_I expect that to give us some time now.
_N-Nikolai! How... i thought she... I saw you... -Jaeger couldn't articulate a coherent phrase.
_That was my cloak, dumbass. -Niko replied tiredly. Only then the boy noticed he didn't have it- I took it off, made a ball and tossed it a couple seconds before lunging. I expected her to fall for it. And damn i'm grateful she did.
_But how did you know she would?
_I didn't. But she seems to... -he doubted- recognize me as a threat. I thought she'd tak the first chance i gave her to kill me quickly. My cloak incited that instincitve response; my sudden apparition would stagger her momentarily.
His friend looked at him curiously. Niko looked... unfocused.
_Are you okay? You look...
_I'm fine. -he cut him, brushing the sweat from his eyes- I'm fine. Now shut up, here she comes. We're almost there.
_Where? Do you know were... we...
Eren's voice died when they passed the next bunch of trees flanking the road... and spotted the special cannons from the Corps. He didn't need to ask what they were for: a few moments later, the Female Titan had turned into a gian pincushion.
_Switch to 3DMG and keep moving; stay with Eren out of sight and take care of my horse. -Levi instructed the squad before turning to the grey eyed man- Nikolai, come with me. Refill and replace your blades.
Some minutes later, Nikolai stood by Erwin's side, looking as Levi and Mike tried to cut the titan's hands. As he suspected, the crystal was unbreakable; however, his mind still lingered to that single question that had decided his place in the Corps.
Nikolai stood behind some members of the Legion, watching Hange whine and cry over her dead titans. Suddenly, he felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to meet Smith's emotionless gaze.
_What do you see? Who do you think is the enemy?
The grey eyed soldier blinked and looked momentarily at the steaming bones, then at Eren a few meters in front of him. His mouth twitched in a bitter smile.
_They were never outside... were they?
That same afternoon, he was summoned at Erwin's office; there he was met by the Commander, Levi, Hange and a small handful of senior members of the Corps. The tall man in charge of the Scouting Legion stood from his chair and walked until he stood only a few centimetres from Niko, a stern look in his face.
_If you decide to stay, know that you are meant to keep this as an absolute secret. No one can hear a word from what we discuss here. You'll be required to obey without doubts or complaints; if you're told to die, you'll do so. Otherwise, turn around and don't come back.
He didn't move. Instead, he looked at the tall man in the eye.
_If you tell me to die Erwin, i will. But fuck me if don't make them go through hell to take me down.
The Commander smiled at his declaration.
_Fine then. Take a seat.
Niko's thoughts were cut by the titan's roar; not a shout of anger, or a scream of pain: it was a sound of raw power that shook everyone, like a...
_A calling... -the young soldier muttered. In a moment, he had his blades out- Everyone, prepare for combat! They'll be here any moment!
Not long after his warning, the ground began to tremble as titan after titan poured from beyond the trees covering their sight, but instead of trying to catch the Survey members, they ran directly to the Female Titan ignoring any and all attempts to distract them. Nikolai suddenly realized she was trying to escape when the mindless creatures began biting on her flesh, steam obscuring his sight. Hearing Erwin's order to retreat, he stood on a high branch, looking for any sign of movement until his eye caught sight of a flare going up to the sky near the zone where the rest of Levi's Squad was watching after Eren. He also saw Ackerman going after one of the supply charts.
But if Levi's going to reload then who...
A moment later he was speeding his way towards the flare ignoring all calls from the rest of the Corps. His instinct told him there would be trouble for Eren and his companions; and he had learnt to trust his gut long ago.
Ahead in the forest the sounds of battle filled the air. Eld, Oruo and Petra fought against the reappeared Female Titan after whoever was in there ambushed them as a member of the Legion and murdered Gunter; the following flash revealing the monstrosity chasing after them. But despite losing one of their group the trio showed why they were the elite squad, a fast counterattack led by Eld taking both of her eyes and forcing the creature to lay back against a tree, then attacking the muscles in her arms to force her to uncover her neck for Eld to attack.
And the hell broke loose. Without warning the titan threw a bite towards Eld; the man couldn't even process what happened when she torn his body in two and spit the upper half in the ground. Petra let out a scream of terror when she fixed her only eye on her.
How? -she thought in shock, fear numbing her capacity to think- How could she heal so quickly? How could she focus on one eye?
_PETRA! -Oruo's howl cut clearly in the air- YOU MUST REGAIN CONTROL! PETRA DO IT NOW!
Then the titan leapt, covering the distance between her and the terrified woman. Eren saw the gigantic foot reaching for her squadmate, unable to do anything to help, unable to look away. He heard two sounds, the crushing of the titan's sole against the tree... and the clashing of bodies when Nikolai swung at full speed against Ral, crashing and pushing her out of the way. His relief and surprise lasted only a moment until Oruo attacked; only for his blades to break against her hardened nape and have a brutal air kick launch him away.
Nikolai managed to land and roll swiftly, standing on his feet in a blink. He didn't need to see Petra to know how bad she felt; the noise in the collision told him he had probably broken a bone or two in her left arm, and her whimper told him she was barely conscious from the landing. He didn't want to check his own gear, but he believed it could still work. He turned instead, looking at the one guilty of so many deaths with a sad look in his eyes. How could i be so blind... how could i be so slow.
Eren felt rage taking control of his whole being. Rage and guilt: it was his fault, because of his weakness. He was to blame, because of his wish to believe in his friends' strength and now they were dead, or in mortal danger. Oruo, Eld, Gunter, everyone in the support squads who fought to give them time. They died because of him. They died because it... she killed them like they were bugs. And now he was going to kill her. His eyes barely saw Niko standing in front of her, lips moving. He couldn't make a word of it between his anger and the tears welling up in his eyes. All he could see, as he bit his hand, was one thing.
SHE HAS TO DIE!
End of chapter.
Mother of cliffhangers, this one was hard to write. I almost let Petra die... but then a said meh, screw it.