Trost HQ - Year 849
Everything was just as she'd last seen it. Most of the homes still sported the bland stucco tiled roofs, the dull white clapboard siding. The only interesting focal point was the Garrison supply station rearing its medieval head above the rest of the town, its castle-like exterior a testament to a bygone era.
It felt weird coming back. Somewhere down in the tangle of houses was her childhood home, not a few blocks stroll from the river. A place she wanted to avoid at all costs because it would be too overwhelming for them to handle her sudden return. Especially her mom.
She couldn't help but wonder at the irony of the station's construction as she sat with her back to the wall clutching a folded slip of paper in her hand. Castles reminded her of princes and princesses and knights. Of happily-ever afters. Of fairy-tale endings where everyone went home happy.
Except the world she lived in was more of a never-ending nightmare. Which was why she constantly scoffed at naive dreamers like Petra Ral who dared to hope for a life past the job, past the unrelenting violence and cruelty. Until the titans were gone, there was no such thing as happily ever after.
Sighing she unfolded the note and read the brisk pen strokes.
-Dear she-wolf,
I hope yer not using the time we're spending here to avoid any personal issues. Seriously. Whatever's bothering you, face it. I don't know what the hell went down, but I can tell this place holds bad memories. Look your demons in the eye as best you can. But if it gets too much, ya know where to find me.
Yours,
Levi, Captain of the Special Operations Squad. 20th of the holy March. 849
Sierra stuffed the terse note back into her pants pocket and rose, unable to stem amused chuckles spilling out of her mouth. Instead of speaking face to face, she and Levi agreed to do the bulk of their talking via letters such as these. Arriving at the door to her temporary officers quarters she sat down at the teak desk, pulled out a piece of paper. But she resisted the urge to write back right then.
There was no point. This place was the beginning of her journey into hell that culminated with her arrival at the Underground and brutally indoctrinated to the art of painted faces, abused bodies and swallowed tears of a sex slave.
Several days later the squadron departed on the 56th Scouting Expedition. She had taken her outlier's position on the outer fringe of the right flank. To her, it felt the more humans ventured outside the Walls to explore and reclaim the land, it wasn't long before the word got out and titan sightings grew more frequent. Which was fine and dandy to Sierra-more giant men to kill and stain her blades with their blood-but it also meant the monsters were learning. A fact that didn't go unnoticed by the commanders and senior members.
It was during one overnight camp out in the middle of the plains that she bothered to write Levi back. Under the warm glow of an oil lamp she smoothed out the wrinkled paper. Taking a felt-tip pen she began scratching out a response.
-Dear Levi-bastard,
I had to take a few days cause I found your sad attempt at advice hilarious. Never took ya to be the counseling type. 'Face my demons?' 'Come find me if they get too much?' Hah! Take yer own advice. Work through yer own issues first before ya tell someone else how to handle theirs.
Love,
Sierra the Titan Ripper. 24th of the holy March. 849
She collared a passing recruit to deliver her letter to Levi then made ready for bed. Hardly an hour passed before she heard the nervous voice of the young man she sent to the command tent earlier that she had a reply from the Captain himself. After accepting the plain tan envelope she shooed the newbie away.
'Wow.' Sierra thought as she slit the top open with her knife. 'That was fast. Usually it takes him time to answer these things.' Pulling out the single sheet she read the message which was terser than before.
-Dear Sierra,
I see words don't work on ya. Tch, this is what I get for following womanly advice. My bad. I won't do it again.
Levi. 24th of the holy March. 849
A few days later back at the Castle after an intense ODM training session and a much-needed shower Sierra sat down to respond to his latest missive, smirking as she did so.
-Dear Levi,
Assuming the phrase 'womanly advice' is code for 'Petra made me do this'...I can safely say it. Ya got it bad. Congratulations on being officially pussy-whipped.
S. Wolf. March the 28th. 849
The next morning after a sparring session with Hange, she found a slip of folded paper sitting on her desk.
-Sierra,
Shut up.
Levi. 29 Mar. 849
She sniggered at the backhanded admission before folding it back up and sticking in her desk drawer. Enjoying the fact she totally called it.
Stohess - present day, the royal palace
At the exact moment Sierra and Frei were rushing to Erwin's impromptu emergency meeting another runner was dispatched by the king to summon his most trusted policeman in the region. With sudden chaos erupting in the Interior's crown jewel-thanks to that damned Scouting Legion-the agitated king demanded answers and out of his handpicked royal guard, he entrusted the most critical, dangerous matters with only one other man besides Nile Dok to handle it.
The runner-a tall, lithe woman with olive-green eyes, long, chestnut hair in a braid that fell to her mid-back and fair skin in her mid twenties-stopped before a carved cherry wood door in the luxurious officer's wing that was the exclusive home to senior personnel and the royal guard itself. She took a moment to adjust her uniform before raising her hand to knock.
"Come in."
She swallowed back the butterflies that erupted in her stomach at the rich baritone voice who'd issued the invitation and pushed the door open, slowly so he wouldn't see the effect his voice had on her body.
Get a grip Giselle, she sternly commanded her jellied brain. He's married with children. And younger than you so stop acting like a stupid schoolgirl already! But still, that didn't stop a girl from dreaming.
Sergeant Jarell Wolf looked up from the documents he was signing. At six-foot-three he was an imposing specimen whose commitment to physical fitness showed under his blue-button up shirt and tan jacket. A testament to a lifetime of martial arts and ODM use, the latter was restricted by law unless given special permission by the king. But the royal guard was a different story.
In addition to requiring its members to be in peak physical and mental condition and graduating in the top ten-which Jarell placed third of his class-they had more freedom with their ODM gear and thus were better prepared to defend against a threat to His Majesty's life and the lives of important political figures.
But that wasn't the real reason the twenty-two year old man had joined the Police. He was only there because he'd promised his parents he would do whatever it took to locate his missing sister and if possible, bring her home. Dead or alive.
And what better way to get inside information than get close to the king and his advisors.
He sat up as the young female approached his heavy antique desk sweating bullets.
"It's alright," he smiled, trying to reassure her. "I won't bite ya, sweetheart."
She nodded, a faint blush coloring her cheeks before saluting.
"Runner Giselle Zimmerman reporting in, sir. His Majesty the King requests an audience with you in his chamber as soon as possible."
No sooner had the last words left her mouth than the tall man rose immediately. Pulling out a fine-toothed comb from his jacket pocket Jarell quickly ran it several times through his burnt sienna hair cut to military regulations. Giselle watched as he smoothed out any wrinkles in his jacket bearing the Sina royal crest on a blue satin arm band encircling his right sleeve, the insignia of the royal guard.
After dabbing on some aftershave that smelled of citrus and woods, he stepped around his desk, slate grey eyes all business.
"Lead on Ms. Zimmerman."
"Please call me Giselle, Sergeant," she said as she lead the way to the king's personal quarters, their boots clicking on the marble flooring as they passed ornately carved pillars and rich tapestries hanging on the walls. "No need to stand on ceremony."
"Well," he hummed keeping his gaze straight ahead. "If that's what the lady wants...then so be it. But let me be very clear. Since I'm a married man, our relationship is strictly professional in nature. Anyone who's worked with me knows I have a zero-tolerance policy for unsolicited sexual favors from female personnel and as such, is a fireable offense. Do I make myself clear?"
Giselle swallowed at his calm, yet steel-laced tone as he laid down the parameters, her romantic fantasies popped faster than a hot-air balloon. Slightly annoyed at his old-fashioned values which tended to rub a lot of his more corrupted peers the wrong way. Yet her desire to remain in Wolf's good graces prompted her to respond accordingly.
"Crystal, sir."
Jarell grunted as they passed the great double doors leading into the throne room itself. This woman was no different than the young enlisted girls who grew starry-eyed and swooned at the sight of a handsome face in uniform. He was mentally preparing his mind when they rounded the corner and made their final approach to the King's chamber guarded by four scowling MPs.
"Name," the burliest of the four demanded as the other three barred the way into their King's chamber with their rifles.
The tall man looked the guard straight in the eye, voice loud and clear as he identified himself.
"Sergeant Jarell Wolf. Royal Guard."
His female companion fisted her hand over her heart.
"R-Runner Giselle Zimmerman. Tell His Majesty I've brought the guest of honor, sir."
The big guard motioned for Wolf to approach the door, signaling his companions to lower their weapons. "Noted. You're dismissed Runner Zimmerman."
She made a move to protest but Jarell held up a warning hand. "Best do as he says sweetheart. You've carried out your duty."
Giselle bobbed her head in acknowledgement, disappointed she wouldn't be allowed the privilege of being in the King's presence.
"Good night, Sergeant. Best of luck."
He returned the gesture then watched as she trudged down the hall before the dimness obscured her from his sight.
The burly guard-who went by the name Raynor-raised a meaty fist and knocked three times. After a pregnant pause, the Ruler of the Walls and all of Humanity cleared his throat.
"Yes?"
"Sergeant Jarell Wolf is here Majesty. As you requested Runner Zimmerman to safely escort over."
Jarell bristled slightly at the man's patronizing tone. Hating the insinuation he couldn't make it to his boss' room without someone holding his hand the entire time. But the King was already summoning him inside.
"Send him in at once Raynor. There's much to discuss and the hour grows late."
Raynor nodded and the guards took hold of the golden rings and pulled outward.
Without hesitation Jarell stepped through several paces-his boots making no noise on the rich, luxurious carpet of His Majesty's room-then stopped and threw a crisp salute. The doors closed behind the young man with a heavy thud, securing his audience with the King.
"Jarell Wolf at your service, sire."
A single oil lamp perched on an expensive cherry-wood desk with gold handles and intricate carvings was the room's only illumination. The aging King sat on a matching cherry-wood chair shaped like a miniature throne wearing a plush red and purple robe with a velvet pewter rope tie, a padded cushion providing him with the ultimate comfort. His custom-made four poster bed took up a quarter of the massive bedroom with a private bath and shower-all marble and gold and silver-off to the side.
The king noticed his young charge standing stiffly at attention and motioned with his hand that he should take the seat opposite the large fireplace not two feet from where he sat.
"At ease, my boy. Sit, sit." Jarell obeyed at once. He could never get used to the fact most of the populace languished in extreme poverty while those living in Sina seemed to hoard quite a bit of the wealth and resources. But this wasn't about leveling the playing field, as much as he wanted it to be. It was all business about the latest mess incurred by the Scouting Legion. "How goes the search for your sister?"
Jarell caught his breath-a dull ache spreading across his chest-but quickly recovered. It was just polite rhetoric at this point. The King had long since lost interest in his futile search but still found the courtesy to ask every once in a while.
"I...investigated a claim in the Underground two weeks ago, but it turned out to be a false sighting." He sighed, feeling bone-tired from almost ten years of false hope. "Another dead end."
"I'm very sorry, my boy." Yeah. Sure ya are old man. That's why you've cut my funding to spend it on yourself and your cronies. "But after ten years don't you think she would've been found?"
"I promised my parents I'd keep looking, sire. Dead or alive, I want to bring her home."
"Well from the looks of things," the old man mused. "I'd say she's long dead. It's a vicious world out there Jarell. Especially downstairs. You've tasted the fringes but never plunged into the filth. Your principles forbid you to indulge in those kind of actions, do they not?"
Jarell straightened. A low flame seemed to burn in the young man's slate eyes that seemed to pierce through any lie or deception.
"With all due respect Your Majesty, I've learned no one comes away unscathed from the world's cruelty and injustice. Principled or not everyone suffers. It's how they respond to the trial that matters."
The old man ran a long, bony finger across his lips, a hawkish gleam in his eye.
"Well said Wolf. That kind of answer is precisely why I place you in charge of the most sensitive missions and State matters. And while we're on the subject, I want to know if you've heard about the raid conducted by that infernal Survey Corps yesterday afternoon and have read the damage/casualty reports."
Jarell crossed an ankle over his knee, deep in thought. "To be honest, sir I only received a copy of those documents less than twenty minutes ago. I was in the middle of reading them when you summoned me."
"What do you make of this whole mess? Does Commander Erwin truly think he can waltz into the Interior and destroy our house without impunity? Utterly ridiculous."
The young man took a deep breath and softly exhaled. A baby grandfather clock softly ticked away in the corner like an annoying insect. When he opened his eyes they were zoned out into his special place.
"No sir. I think Commander Erwin had his reasons to not inform the Military Police or the Royal Guard of his plans regarding the true nature of this raid. Which leads me to believe he acted on his own, with help from a few trusted insiders who possessed full knowledge of his intentions here."
The King sat motionless an aged statue to a vanished era. Then he steepled his fingers together.
"Here is my decision. As of now, Erwin is holding a hasty conference in the Mayor's public meeting room. Weave your way into their councils. Get every scrap of information they have regarding this debacle, including their strategies, how they plan to deal with the titan threat and the recent phenomenon known as titan shifters. Once you've gathered sufficient intelligence, submit a thorough report. Spare no details."
Evening shades hid the monarch's face from Jarell's sight. Only his shrewd darkish eyes reflected light from the dying oil wick. "The last thing I need to deal with is a potential uprising against the Crown. Make no mistake. This will probably be Erwin's next move. That needs to be nipped in the bud before it can blossom. Please keep that in mind as you investigate. My resources and authority are at your full disposal for this task. Use them as you see fit. Do you have any questions?"
"No sire," Jarell said as he hastily rose to leave, already making provisions in his head. "None at all."
TBC...
Silent reader: Yay! You're back! *gives you a big titan bear hug* :) I'm glad you're enjoying the story and actually TELLING me what you like, lol. Detailed reviews like yours make my day and I enjoy reading them immensely.
Yeah this is a good spot to deviate from canon a bit. I'll return to the source material but for now I wanna have some fun. :P
P.S. What nationality are you? Just curious.
