Chapter 28
Out in the vast forest within Wall Rose, the newly appointed Levi Squad consisting of Jean, Sasha, Eren, Mikasa, Connie, Christa and Armin once he was healed. Tension was high amongst them, the revelation of Reiner and Bertholdt and Gabriel's condition had worn on them. Most hostility however was directed towards Jean who could detect the feelings of disdain towards him. He sighed as he went up to Sasha again and tried to reason.
"Sasha, you need to understand-" He tried to say.
"I'll never forgive you for this, Jean." She said without looking at him.
"He was my friend too, you think it was easy for me?" Jean asked.
"Then why would you do it?!" She yelled, turning to him. "Why would you do that if he was your friend!"
"BECAUSE!" Jean yelled, catching everyone's attention. "We've already lost Reiner, Bertholdt, Ymir and Gabriel, I couldn't lose another friend. He was going to kill you Sasha, between the two of you I had to make a choice, I chose you. You may not understand it or see it now because you love him but I had to act! What would any of you have done in my situation?"
"I wouldn't have left anyone for dead." Eren angrily replied.
"Don't you start asshole!" Jean angrily said, getting in Eren's face. "How many people died to save your ass time and again? The whole reason we were even out there was to rescue you!"
"Don't you put this on Eren!" Mikasa growled. "We had to! Reiner and Bertholdt transformed out of nowhere!"
"You weren't even there Jean!" Connie yelled.
"Guys can we please stop-" Christa said meekly not liking the tone of everyone's voice.
"Oh so somehow with Reiner and Bertholdt betraying us and being responsible for the death of thousands IM the asshole in this situation huh?" Jean retorted. "None of you went after Sasha after she followed Gabriel, hell none of you even went after Gabriel at all! How's that for leaving someone behind Eren?"
"I was tied up! I couldn't have done anything!" Eren yelled back.
"ENOUGH!" The entire group went silent as Levi walked in. "What's done is done, there is no need to bicker over this anymore."
"But Captain!-" Eren tried to say.
"What did I say, brat?" Levi interrupted. "The fact remains that Jean made a choice, as did all of us. There is no right or wrong, you just have to live with the consequences."
"Yes sir." The group said in unison.
"Sir?" Connie asked. "Is there an update on him at all?"
"Hmmm." Levi said. He knew they wouldn't react well to this but they were his new squad after all, plus they deserved to know. "As of now Heimer is fine, he's still in surgery. Commander Erwin has effective immediately released him from the Survey Corps. He will be sent to an isolated location in Wall Sina for therapy and rehab but he will never be allowed in public again."
"So what? He's just a prisoner now?" Eren asked. "After all the good he's done?
"Commander Erwin took into account his accomplishments and record, along with Gabriel's condition which he has no control over. Do not insult the Commander, it is only because of him that Heimer was not sentenced to death." Levi explained. Higher ups in the military called for Gabriel's execution but Erwin was able to strike a deal. In exchange for letting him live, he had to be imprisoned. "The fact is, Heimer is now a threat and liability. We cannot keep someone that powerful if they are assaulting their own. You of all people should understand that Eren." Eren sighed, remembering he too had nearly been executed due to losing control of his Titan.
"Sir." Christa asked. "Is Armin okay?" Levi looked down at her and nodded. He felt a sense of joy of finally not having to look up at everyone he met due to his height.
"Ask him yourself." Levi said as Armin walked in with a bandage over his nose.
"Armin!" Everyone cheered to see him back up and walking.
"Careful guys." Armin chuckled. "My head still hurts a little."
"I'm so glad you're okay!" Mikasa said, embracing him.
"Me too, frankly I'm shocked I'm still alive." Armin said. "He pulled that punch."
"What?" Eren asked.
"When he hit me, I saw it in his eyes, a brief moment of hesitation. He didn't hit me as hard as he could." Armin explained. "Think about it, he's strong enough to overpower a small Titan, there's no way a human could take a punch like that and survive."
"He is still in there." Mikasa said. "I saw his eyes flinch when he heard my voice.
"When I said I loved him, I saw his body contort, like he was fighting back against himself." Sasha said.
"We can save him, I know it." Eren said. "Whatever's happening to him, we can stop it."
Xxx
"Alright beginning removal of the blade now." The surgeon said as he prepared to remove the sword from Gabriel's abdomen. He was laid across a table with a divot in the middle due to the sword sticking out his back. Other surgeons had thoroughly cleaned the wound with alcohol to kill any bacteria and to prevent infection. They had stitched up his shoulder and cleaned up other minor injuries. The surgeons clasped the blade in their hands carefully and smoothly pulled it out, once the blade was out, blood began to spill from the wound as other surgeons went to work stitching together the tissues. Two feet of bowel were removed due to the damage the blade had caused. After forty minutes, Gabriel was fully stitched up and the surgery was finished.
"That was a tough one." One of them said washing their gloves of blood. "Can't believe he survived all that blood loss.
"Doctor…" One of them called. "You better take a look at this." They all went over and were in shock at what the saw.
Many wounds had already started to scab over and slightest amount of steam was seen rising from the wounds. Outside the hospital, two large figures entered the hospital in civilian clothing.
"Not sure they will just let us in." Annalise said.
"Then we will force our way in." Heinrich said. "After what was done to him, all that messing with his mind, he deserves better."
"What if he doesn't even remember?" Annalise said.
"He will, after doing some rather, up close questioning. I learned of a built-in fail safe to revert him. Simple words said in a certain order will restore his original memories." Heinrich explained. Annalise chuckled at the up close questioning remark. Whatever Poor soul he questioned would have been better off never being born.
"Excuse me." Heinrich looked down to see a young raven haired woman brush past him. He then looked to see a group of people with her including the famous Captain Levi. Heinrich scowled, Levi prevented a massive threat should he interfere, he was the only man in the walls that could go toe to toe with him and Annliese. He also recognized Eren Yeager as well who was another target. As the group went past them, Heinrich turned to his comrade.
"They must be here to see him." Heinrich said.
"What makes you so sure?" Annalise inquired.
"Did you not see Levi? Gabriel was on Levi's squad. There's no other person he would possibly come here for." Heinrich explained.
"And what about those other runts." Annalise said.
"Must be his friends, our other targets." Heinrich said. This sent a wave of anger over her body.
"He is ours, not theirs!" She gritted.
"Have some gratitude. They took care of him all these years, the least we can do is show them some respect." Heinrich explained. While he was Gabriel's older brother, Annalise had been infatuated with Gabriel for some time and was extremely jealous and possessive over him.
"Really? Show gratitude? Odd considering they are on our hit list." Anna said. They had received orders from the highest echelons of the MPs to capture Gabriel along with Eren Yeager and Christa Lenz. The others were to be killed.
"Still, Levi presents an issue." Anna said. "We could easily take those other ones but Levi is too powerful."
"It's simple, once we restore Gabriel, there will be three of us, even Levi can't take on three of us. Follow my lead." Heinrich said as he approached the group.
"We are here to see Gabriel Heimer." Eren said to the receptionist.
"Heimer? Let's see here." The receptionist said as she flipped through a pile of papers. "Ah here he is, looks like his surgery finished four hours ago. He's in stable condition and expected to make a full recovery."
"Great! What room is he in?" Eren asked.
"I'm sorry but his file says no visitors." The receptionist said. "Apparently he is under investigation, unless you are military I'm afraid I can-"
"Is this enough?" Levi said, stepping forward.
"Oh my Captain Levi um." She said flustered, Levi was known all across the Walls and with it, his military command and skill.
"Yes, if you are here there shouldn't be an issue. Room 27." She said as the group made their way to Gabriel's room. Heinrich and Annalise followed close behind saying they were with Levi and she didn't question. They were all nervous about seeing him again, would he remember them? Would he attack them? It was nerve wracking to say the least as they approached the door.
"This is it." Eren said, opening the door to show a restrained Gabriel sitting on a hospital bed. His wounds now healed and scabbed over. The group slowly walked in and stared at him.
"Is he awake?" Connie asked.
"I think so, his eyes are open." Christa replied. Gabriel looked up and growled. This wasn't good as he immediately locked eyes with Jean who gulped.
"You…" Gabriel growled. "When I get out of here I swear you'll beg for death before the end!"
"Dammit!" Eren said. He was hoping, so hoping Gabriel would have returned but it was for naught.
"Excuse me." They all turned to see Heinrich and Annalise enter the room. "I believe we can help with his current condition."
"Who are you?" Levi ordered feeling even shorter next to these behemoths.
"From high Command." Heinrich said, handing Levi an official seal of the Kings inner cabinet. "We were sent here to help Gabriel."
"You must be the therapists the Commander mentioned." Connie said.
"That's right." Annalise lied. Armin felt something was off, Gabriel was sent somewhere isolated before therapists came to him.
"Can you really fix him!" Sasha pleaded. "I… love him and seeing him like this is just awful." Annalise clenched her fists upon hearing this. This little brat thought she could have Gabriel? Heinrich picked up on this and put his arm between the two of them.
"Yes, I will get to work now." Heinrich said, walking over to a thrashing Gabriel. "My brother, what have they done to you?" He whispered as he prepared the override.
"Fritz. Karl. Founder. Sina, Rose, Maria. Eldia. Reiss." He recited as Gabriel began flinching. "Ymir. Path. Nine." He continued as Gabriel began violently shaking.
"Stop it! You're hurting him!" Mikasa yelled as she went forward but was stopped by Annalise.
"Let him finish." Anna ordered.
"Coordinate. Paradis. Tybur. Zeus!" Heinrich finished as Gabriel seemed to enter into a seizure-like state. He yelled as suddenly, Memories came rushing back.
"AHHHHH!" Gabriel yelled as he relaxed again hyperventilating.
"Gabriel?" Heinrich asked. Gabriel looked up to him and was in shock.
"Brother?" Gabriel said to everyone's shock. Brother? What was going on here?
"It's me." Heinrich said undoing Gabriel's restraints. "We've come to rescue you."
"We?" He turned to see Annalise in the corner. "Anna? You're so tall now? What! Where am I! What happened?" Gabriel asked, looking around confused.
"Gabriel?" Sasha asked, moving forward. He looked at the brunette girl coming towards him.
"Who is she? Who are They?" Gabriel asked, pointing to his old friends.
"They?" Heinrich said, giving a nod to Annalise. "Are your enemy."
"What?" Levi asked, preparing to fight. He never got the chance as Anna grabbed Connie and pointed a gun to his temple.
"Uh uh uh." Anna teased. Anyone here makes a move and I'll kill him. Connie struggled to get out but this woman was way too strong. "Oh now what's the matter? Don't you like being pressed up against a woman as beautiful as me?"
"Now Gabriel, come we need to bring in Yeager and Lenz." Heinrich said as Gabriel got out of his bed.
"Hang on Heinrich, you still haven't told me what's going on!" Gabriel said. "Why are these people my enemies? Why are you so tall? What the hell is happening??"
"Gabriel, you've been in a coma for the last six years." Heinrich said. "The king wiped your memories."
"What!!" Everyone thought.
"You want to take Eren and Christa?" Levi asked. "Under whose authority?"
"That captain, does not concern you. As of now, every member of the scout regiment is to be placed under arrest and put to death!" Heinrich proclaimed. "Still though, I am a believer in granting last wishes" "plus, I owe you all after taking care of my brother all these years." He thought to himself as he pulled out his own pistols and gave one to Gabriel. The room then flooded with MPs armed with muskets to surround them.
"16 years ago, a secret project was commissioned. With the failure of the Scouts to claim territory or put a dent in the titans numbers. Some in the higher ups decided a new strategy was needed. One hundred children were abducted at birth and were subjected to illegal experimentation. Fusing us with Titans and injecting us with drugs to create super soldiers. Half of us died from the experiments alone, after that we had super strength, speed, endurance, and faster regeneration due to the titans blood within us. It morphed us, made us bigger, stronger, and tougher. For the next decade we learned the art of war, perfecting martial arts, and training with ODM gear." He explained. Everyone looked in shock, the answer to Gabriel's strength and skill finally answered. "Of course word got out of what was going on to the King who did not take kindly to these experiments. He ordered immediate termination of all involved but wasn't ready for our resistance. Nearly a years worth of fighting at the cost of two thousand soldiers and 47 of our brethren. Annalise and I were the only survivors and fled, or at least we thought we were."
"Why was Gabriel different then? Why wasn't he captured?" Armin asked.
"The king in a move of pity or fear, I don't know what, altered his memories with the power of the founder. The king altered his memories of a fake family with an abusive father to get someone to adopt him out of pity. He made his memory that of a five year old to prevent him from hurting anyone. That blubbering idiot was nothing more than a false alter ego, his true self is what you see now." Heinrich explained. "Not Gabriel Heimer, Gabriel 009."
"Founder? King altering memories? What is all this?" Armin thought.
"N-no." Sasha cried. "That's not true!"
"Why? Cause you love him?" Anna said, stepping over to her. She had released Connie upon the MPs entering the room and providing armed security. "You really think he would want an ugly weak thing like you? When he could have someone as beautiful as me?"
"No! He was kind! And sweet! And cared about everyone! That can't be faked!" Sasha tearfully replied. "That was who he really is!"
"Really? Let me ask, did he ever get mad? Like really mad? Uncontrollable rage? That was his true self trying to break out." Heinrich said.
"Gabriel! Don't listen to them!" Eren yelled. "You're our brother! We grew up and trained together!"
"Heinrich is my brother." Gabriel said. "I don't even know who you are."
"With that, take Yeager and Lenz, kill the rest." Heinrich said as the MPs aimed their muskets at the group. Heinrich walked up to the group and leaned in.
"This isn't personal, you truly have my thanks for taking care of him all these years. I'll order them to make it quick." Heinrich whispered not wanting Gabriel to hear lest he learn of the lie he was told.
"No! No you son of a bitch!" Eren yelled, putting his hand in his mouth. "I'll transform! I swear I will!"
"You ain't gonna do shit brat." Anna said. "Yeah we know all about your little Titan power but if you transform, yes you will kill us but what about your little brat friends?" Eren growled through his hand. He was hoping this could scare them off but she was right, he couldn't afford to transform here and kill his friends.
"Just do it Eren." Levi ordered. "They are gonna kill us anyway, whatever they are taking you for can't be good for humanity!"
"I-" Eren thought as he was struck in the head by a rifle from Heinrich. Eren quickly let his head slump over.
"Now that he's out. Take him and Lenz." Heinrich ordered as two MPs grabbed Christa and dragged her out. She tried to fight them off but her feeble frame was no match against them. The MPs cocked their weapons as the rest who stood defiant. They prepared themselves for death.
"Wait!" Gabriel yelled.
"What is it?" Heinrich asked.
"I know you said they were my enemies but…. I just don't remember ever fighting them" Gabriel said, confused.
"Brother you were in a coma the last six years, your memory needs time to recollect itself." Heinrich said.
"Still I just-" A loud boom was heard as the room shook followed by screaming. Everyone looked around to see Eren's Titan tearing the roof off the hospital room. The MPs tried to shoot him but their bullets were powerless against his Titan.
"What the hell is that?" Gabriel yelled. How was there a Titan in the interior?
"Dammit! Didn't she knock him out?" Heinrich yelled. Unknown to him, Eren was still conscious after the hit but decided to let them take him outside so he could transform safely.
"Get on him now!" Levi yelled as one by one they climbed onto Eren's hand.
"Oh no you don't!" Heinrich yelled, grabbing Armin by the leg. Armin yelled as Heinrich's powerful grip was about to pull him off when Heinrich was met with a kick from Levi which was strong enough to kick him off. Once everyone was loaded on Eren began running, leaving Gabriel and Heinrich in the room with the remaining MPs.
"Brother!" Gabriel ran up to Heinrich to check on him.
"Fuckin hell Levi." Heinrich coughed. That kick had hurt. "Gabe, we have a lot to catch you up on."
"You sure do! What the hell was a Titan doing here? And why?" He paused. "Why do I see them and remember being, happy?"
"You'll get your answers in time." Heinrich said as Gabriel helped him to his feet. "We need to link up with Anna and get some ODM gear, we need to catch up to them!" Gabriel clutched just head, what was going on? It seemed like they knew him but his brother said otherwise. Who was he?
Xxx
Few points.
For some reason, anytime I upload a new chapter it gets rid of any bolded or italic words so that's why the internal thoughts aren't italicized.
As for why Gabriel is a not a rage monster after the winter soldier treatment. It's because whenever he got mad it was the suppressed anger and memories of pain that was suppressed by his pure and good nature. Now that's he's stabilzed, he can control it better.
I'll be honest I have to watch the uprising arc again, it's been a while since I've seen i wasn't too crazy about it so I don't remember much. If this chapter seemed rushed that's why.