A/N: Hey guys! *waves* I'm back. Life is starting to get busier with summer coming fast. With that said, there may be another delay in chapters due to me going on vacation at the end of May through June 4th. We'll have to play it by ear and see how it goes.

Also, to the anon who left a HUGE block of text regarding how you don't like how I'm portraying Mikasa Ackerman so far in the story I'm only gonna say this one time. No one-and I mean absolutely NO ONE-has the right to dictate how I portray any of the canon characters and their interactions with each other and my OCs. If you or anyone else for that matter don't like how I'm handling the plot or the characters or their development then do me a solid and don't read. I'm not twisting your arm. Besides, there's gonna be plenty of time for future interactions between Sierra and Mikasa and they're not going to be pleasant all the time because 1. They're alpha females, and 2. Mikasa is EXTREMELY PROTECTIVE of Eren. Like an unhealthy level of OBSESSED 'I am willing to let everyone else except Armin die' kind of protective. So. That's going to play a huge factor in her 'friendliness' from now on. And in spite of how useful she becomes later in the manga she really doesn't change very much. What I'm trying to say-and this is my PERSONAL OPINION-is this: she's got a stale, one-dimensional personality, not to mention is very rude and disrespectful to others-esp to Levi in particular-just cause he beat Eren in court to save his life. Also, she was willing to let her team mates die just so she could keep Eren by her side. So yeah. How I portray my OCs in relation to the canon cast is completely at my discretion and no one else's. Period.

Anyway, sry about that folks. Didn't mean to go on a rant, but this is the kind of stuff that pisses a lot of authors off, including me. Like if you're gonna be petty, feel free to write your own story. No one's stopping you.

Enjoy and don't forget to review. Big hugs go to the 138 faves, 209 likes and 73 reviews. You guys rock!

Also, the 'Clash of the Titans' Arc starts here so MAJOR SPOILERS covering Season 2 and the manga will be a thing from this point forward. YOU HAVE BEEN DULY WARNED, SO DO NOT SCREAM AT ME IN THE COMMENTS FOR SPOILING THE PLOT. This is your last chance to turn back. If spoilers don't bother you, then read on.

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Wall Sina – Scouting Legion temporary mess hall – **12 hours ago**

Connie Springer let out a huge yawn, hazel eyes glazed over with boredom. It taxed the energetic young man to sit still for lengthy periods of time, and it looked like his best friend Sasha Blouse was in the same boat.

Man, how long's Captain Mike gonna hold us here? We weren't in cahoots with Annie. But of course that was what this was probably about. The brass was trying to flush out any more moles within the ranks but to Connie it was a massive pain in the ass and time-consuming.Unable to take the silence in the spacious mess hall him and his fellow Scouts were being detained he decided to break it by the best method he knew: talking.

"Yanno," he drawled, cheek propped on his hand staring out the window at the blue cloud-laced sky. "My village just happens to be a little more south from where we are now."

Sasha hummed, mimicking her friend's pose. "Hmm. Where I'm from's pretty close too."

Connie sighed. "Why can't I go see my people? Maybe I'll just sneak out after dark."

Uh yeah. Let's see how well that works for ya shrimp. And as for why ya can't go see your people is maybe just maybe we're under investigation. Fool. Reiner snorted internally at the smaller man's complaining, engrossed in the game of chess he was playing with Bertolt. Damn Annie for getting herself caught! I knew she was too weak to handle this mission. Got too attached to the subjects.

Unaware of the mental diatribe taking place right next to her, Sasha picked up where Connie left off.

"My people told me not to come back home until I'm normal, so…there's that."

"Well, folks where I grew up told me I was too puny to be a soldier. No question I had the brains for it. Was top ten of my class actually. Someone's gonna be eating their words. That's a promise."

He was cut off by Reiner's rough voice.

"Connie," he said. "I'll help you if you really wanna go." Just so I can build a good cover story. Hopefully Bertl will play along until we can plan our next move.

"Yeah? Why would you?"

Why? Because my fellow warrior was foolish enough to get captured. Not that it matters. She's been subdued. This could spell trouble for us later. But he dared not speak this aloud.

"Doesn't this feel a bit strange? We're on standby in our plainclothes." Which we're screwed if a situation arises. "They won't even let us wear our uniforms or train." He rose and walked over to look down at a pair of Scouts in full uniform and ODM gear chatting amicably away with each other. "And to make things even more suspicious, our superiors are armed to the teeth. We're inside the wall. Not the front lines. So who exactly are we fighting?"

He was met with another pregnant sigh from Connie. "I dunno man, maybe they're just worried about bears."

Hah! Bears? Inside the damn wall? Exactly how did this retard make the top ten again?

Sasha couldn't bother summoning the energy to refute how dumb her friend's statement was. "Sure," she mumbled half-paying attention. "Bears."

Reiner scoffed as he resumed his seat. "All you need for bears are guns." Seriously. Idiots. Both of them.

Bertolt remained silent throughout the entire exchange staring at the chessboard. A good thing since he was terrible at keeping secrets.

Unable to remain upright any longer Sasha laid her head down on the wooden table, eyes dull and mouth agape. Suddenly she bolted up startling some of the others from their conversations.

"Uh…guys I think I'm hearing footsteps."

Bertolt and Connie turned to face her.

"What?" the short teen asked.

"Knock it off Sasha." Reiner chided. "So what, you're trying to tell us titans are here? Come on, that would only be possible if Wall Rose had fallen."

….

At the exact moment the hulking blonde said this, Captain Mike Zacharias snapped to attention on the turret of the barracks, sniffing the wind. Sure enough, the musty smell of titan reached his sensitive nose.

"What is it Mike?" Nanaba, one of the Squad Leaders asked. This is bad. If he's freaking out like this that can only mean-

"Tomas! Ride out of here!" Mike ordered his aide, a tall man with a thick head of dark hair wearing a green shirt and Scout uniform jacket. "Take three couriers! Notify the districts." The odds of there being any titans hiding within the 104th Cadet Corp are low. He stood there continuing to stare southward, unable to tear his greyish blue orbs from the distant advance of a group of titans. "We've got multiple titans inbound from the south." Lovely. And I made the cadets remove their uniforms and gear for this blasted investigation.

"Wall Rose has been compromised!"

"Look I'm not pulling your leg!" Sasha exclaimed both arms raised to emphasize this was no joking matter. "I can hear something-!"

Her rant was cut short with the sudden arrival of Nanaba landing in the window and opening it

"Is everyone here?"

Krista Lenz rose to address her Squad Leader, fear dancing in her sea green eyes, making her voice emerge small and weak.

"What is it Nanaba?"

The tall woman wasted no time laying out their dilemma.

"We've got company. Approximately five hundred meters to the south and closing. Titans. Heading this way."

Upon seeing the kids' shock she quickly relayed orders as calmly as she could manage. The surrounding districts needed to be warned.

"There's no time to suit up with your ODM gear. I want everyone on a horse STAT. Evacuate every home and settlement in the area. Get to it!"

"The south," Connie breathed, horror and dread swirling in the pit of his stomach. "But…that's-" where my village is. My people. No. Please…please. No.

Reiner gritted his teeth and turned to Bertolt.

"Do we know if the wall's really been breached?" Because if it is…we're both in trouble.

There was no more time to think. They needed to move.

"Ride!" Nanaba ordered as her colleagues rode past her in a clatter of hoofs and dust. "I'm sorry but lunch is gonna have to wait." Firing a spurt of gas, she jumped off the windowsill to where Mike stood in a single, graceful swing.

"Mike…"

"Nine of them. In that swarm, up ahead."

She stared at the approaching threat, fighting back panic. You are an elite member of the Survey Corps. Remain calm. Breathe Nanaba. You're no good to anyone a hysterical mess. "They must've broken through Wall Rose." She knelt on the tiled roof, chin clasped in one hand. Briefly wishing she had more armed personnel at their disposal. With the 104th inconvenienced without their weapons or vertical gear, the elites were going to have their hands full escorting the kids to the surrounding villages.

"Damn it!" She hissed. "We never even got the chance to figure out what in God's name these things are." And where the hell are Hange, Levi and Sierra when you need them?! Oh that's right. One of them's got a broken ankle and the other two are way, WAY out of position to be useful. Just our rotten luck.

"Now…it's too late. Humanity is lost. This is the end."

Mike straightened his back, unwilling to entertain such fatalistic thoughts.

"No. Like hell it is. We're not done." Eren would go into a rage if he heard us right now. He wouldn't give up.

"Not yet," he continued walking toward the roof's lip. "A person only loses when they give in. Remember that. As long as we keep putting up a fight we haven't been beaten."

There was no more time for delay. The pair quickly swung down to where their horses waited patiently then took off with the 104th Corps as they thundered out onto the grassy tree-dotted plain. Out in the open, without their ODM gear and paring blades, the cadets felt very much exposed and vulnerable. Mike led the charge as he barked orders to the large group.

"The second the titans reach the woods, I want you to split into four separate teams! Recruits and soldiers alike in each unit! When I give the signal, we'll scatter in different directions simultaneously! Get the word out to civilians! Do not engage the enemy!" Turning his head Mike directed the next question directly to the kids in his wake. "Which one of you is most familiar with this area?"

He was a bit surprised when Sasha Blouse raised her hand.

"Uh me! Sir, my hometown's just to the north of here! I know this region like the back of my hand. Connie too." Her gaze fell on her friend's shaven head. "Go on! Tell him!"

He didn't answer her at first, prompting Sasha to ask him what was wrong.

"My village…my village is to the south." Heart in his throat, a tendril of dread slid down Connie's spine. "That's where the titans are coming from." Oh God. Please. Let me be wrong. "I can lead you to nearby settlements. But afterwards…let me go home. Please!" He hated begging but the need to return to Ragako took top priority.

"Very well," Mike said, granting his permission without hesitation. "Guide the southern team, then go to your village."

"Yes, sir!"

Reiner rode up next to him, a resolute cast to his chiseled face. "I'll come with you."

"What?! No, you're crazy! They'll be everywhere!" While he never doubted Reiner's freakish strength for a second, the big man didn't have his gear. None of the cadets and recruits did. And they were heading straight to the source of the mysterious titan outbreak. Connie didn't want him or any of his friends to die. But given the bind they were in the possibility of casualties was high.

But the muscular blond seemed unphased by the prospect of danger. "Think I care? I was gonna help ya get home anyway." That and I can head off any strange activity should that be the case. He turned to Bertolt. "What about you? Ya comin'?"

The tall man hesitated a beat before replying.

"Of course. Wouldn't miss it for the world."

Nanaba interrupted the teen's exchange with a short speech on this being humanity's darkest hour. "Look sharp! If ever we needed to give it our all that time is now! Don't lose heart-!"

"They've breached the woods!" A male voice yelled. "The enemy's on top of us!" Nanaba chanced a peek back. Sure enough, the small horde Mike sniffed out in the distance minutes earlier was almost right on top of the outbuildings they'd just vacated.

Damn. We need to separate now!

As if he read her thoughts, Mike gave the signal.

"Scatter! Now! Ride for everything you're worth!"

The riding party split off into four groups designated per the Captain's previous order. Too many people clustered together was a disaster. The less targets the titans had the greater chance someone would survive and report back to Erwin, Hange, Levi and Sierra.

Suddenly the cluster of titans stopped dead at the fringe of the woods. No sooner had a few seconds passed before the creatures started to spaz out. Next instant they were sprinting towards the humans closing the gap fast.

Mike cursed the sudden change. "No! They're coming at us full tilt!" This is bad, this is bad, this is bad they're all abnormals, gotta do something!

"Huh?!" Connie said, goggling at the speeding giants.

Someone else cursed loudly. Wide-eyed and out of options, Mike came to a snap decision.

"Gelgar!" He shouted peeling his horse off from the main pack. "Take charge of the southern team!"

"Sir?" The pompadour haired elite blinked at his superior's suicidal charge. "Uh…understood."

"Tell me he's not using himself as bait!" A female elite demanded, dark hair in short pigtails blowing back with the wind.

"Stay where you are! We can't spare anymore soldiers!" Even as he said this, Gelgar felt a sick pit open in his gut. I've got a bad feeling about this. "Give him some credit. That man's skills are second to Captain Levi. He'll make it back alive. Count on it!"

The southern team pressed forward, encouraged they would see their superior soon.

Mike, meanwhile, had jumped off his horse expertly weaving his large frame through the trees, feet skimming the ground as if he were on an icy pond. He quickly fired his hook at the back of the first titan's shoulder and launched himself through the air. Yelling his battle cries as his paring blades cut through the titan's nape.

One down. Eight more to go.

TBC…