Chapter 54: The Departure
Erwin was no stranger to hospital rooms. Many expeditions usually led to him ending up in one, but this was a different matter entirely. All of the energy he once had was drained away, leaving a pale, amputated man in its place. The loss of his arm, while necessary, crippled his strength for good. He was the commander of the Scout Regiment and yet, ordinary tasks were daunting just to think about. Dressing himself, eating, riding a horse, activities that he would have to relearn in such a short time all because of a mistake.
He cursed himself for his shortsightedness. The Titan was right there, and he was too focused on retrieving Eren to prevent his doom. The only reason Erwin managed to get home was luck, nothing more. He remembered how he once called luck the word of the foolish. A fool he became thanks to this grievous incident.
The door swung open, interrupting his musings, as Commander Dot Pixis strode inside. "Enjoy your rest, Commander?" the old man asked in a good-natured tone, closing the door behind him.
"They told me I was unconscious for six days," Erwin said, his voice understandably hoarse. "How much has happened? The doctors wouldn't tell me anything."
"Probably because the fools don't want to upset you and aggravate your injuries," his fellow commander inferred as he took a seat in a chair near the bed.
Erwin raised his eyebrows at him. "And they still decided to let you in?"
He chuckled. "A kindly old man who wishes to visit his friend? Of course. After all, I have your best interests at heart."
"I see." Erwin had a feeling a lot of flirting and flattery was involved.
Pixis brought out his flask and held it out to him. "I hear it's good for numbing the pain."
"No, thank you. I need to stay sober."
He shrugged, taking a swig himself. "You don't know what you're missing, Erwin. With all the crap you and your men go through, one would think you take some time to calm the demons living in your head."
Erwin shook his head. "No amount of drinks would ever calm them down. I bring death to those who follow me."
"And yet, you still move forward without a moment's hesitation," Pixis pointed out seriously as he leaned forward. "I can still see it in your eyes, that fiery determination. I doubt losing all your limbs would do anything to slow you down, which makes me wonder what keeps you going. A love of country? A lust for freedom? After all these years, I have never been able to pin down your motivations. You make grand speeches, but I've always wondered what lurks behind those words."
Erwin met his stare with his own. "You didn't come here for a psychological evaluation. There's something more important going on."
Seeing that he wasn't going to get an answer, Pixis moved on. "The popularity of the Scout Regiment has been in a serious, sharp decline. You managed to buy yourself some time with recruiting the Female Titan, but losing three traitors, two of which have the ability to break down our Walls? Well, a resignation would be getting off easy where you're concerned."
"They're coming for us, aren't they?" Erwin summed up.
"Whispers here and there seem to believe that," Pixis responded, "but they are just rumors. And here I am, letting you in on the latest gossip like an old woman at a bingo party."
"Be careful, Pixis," he warned quietly. "If they found out you've been helping me-."
"I have never helped you," Pixis interrupted. "I simply state the obvious and go from there."
There was a soft knock at the door before it opened, revealing a petite, young nurse. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but there's a small group of people from the Scout regiment requesting to see you, Commander Erwin."
Pixis chuckled as he stood up. "Then I shall take my leave, my dear. Have a good day, Commander."
Erwin simply nodded at the departing commander while he mulled over his words. He knew this day was a long time coming ever since he was given the reins to lead the Scout Regiment. High casualties with little to show for them, gambling the fates of innocent civilians to ensure the capture of a Titan Shifter? To have held out this long was impressive in it of itself, but any sane person would have stripped him of his rank and dissolved the Scout Regiment a long time ago. The question of why they haven't still eluded him.
The hospital room got more crowded as the small group of Scouts walked inside. Hanji, Mike, Nanaba, Gelgar, and Levi all surrounded him, the latter of which taking a seat in the chair Pixis occupied.
"Nice beard, sir," Gelgar began, attempting to break the ice.
Instinctively, Erwin brushed his face to feel the unkempt hair. "I've never thought so. There are so many who can pull off facial hair, and I am not one of them."
Mike couldn't help but smirk as he drummed his goatee briefly. "I'll accept the complement, Commander."
Levi rolled his eyes at this stupid conversation. "There's a lot that you need to know, Erwin."
"Tell me everything," Erwin ordered, his eyes fixed on the captain.
Levi, with a few interjections from Hanji, proceeded to tell him everything that transpired concerning Annie, and the revelations that came from her memories. Even Erwin looked a little green when he was told how transferring powers between the Shifters worked. Then, the subject of the limited lifespan came up.
"So, Annie has only six years live and Eren only has eight," Erwin realized solemnly. "An incredible power that comes at the highest prices."
"At least we know how to keep the power in our grasp," Hanji replied, trying to look on the bright side. "When the time comes, that is. Not now."
"Has Eren been told about this?" Erwin asked.
Mike shook his head. "We thought it best to keep the… damaging aspects of his powers between us. As much as I hate to admit it, telling him now will only increase his psychological issues."
"I think we've all had enough of that bullshit for a while," Levi added dryly, thinking of a certain mental case back at Headquarters.
"We're gonna have to tell him at some point," Nanaba stated. "He finds this out on his own and figures out we didn't tell him, he won't trust us."
"I agree with all of you," Erwin said. "Eren will be told, but not yet. Not until we seal the hole in Shiganshina. For now, he needs to focus on his training with Annie. The more he seizes full control of his Titan form, the better." He glanced over at Hanji. "How is our state of affairs with the civilian populace and the government?"
"It's what you'd expect: they all hate us," she answered. "The inter-regiment mission only bought us some time. Sure, a few Garrison soldiers and even a couple of MPs want to enlist, but they are just specks in the grand scheme of things."
"Evacuating Wall Rose made the civilians restless and concerned," Gelgar pointed out. "People think Titans will invade their homes any second, especially when word got out there was no breach. They're scared, and they're more likely to run to the government for help. After all, they are providing the rations they need."
Levi scoffed. "They'll just try to pin the whole thing on us somehow. 'Titans in the Walls. Wait, wasn't the job of the Scout Regiment supposed to be keeping them out?'"
"I have a feeling that's exactly what will happen," Erwin said, Pixis's words echoing in his mind. "We've reached a boiling point, and now we have to act before it's too late." He gazed at his subordinates. "Our top priorities are the ensure the survival of the Scout Regiment and to keep Eren, Annie, Historia, and Dillon safe. Our Headquarters isn't safe anymore. We have to move everyone out as soon as possible. Nanaba, Gelgar, as of this moment, you two are now Section Commanders."
Gelgar practically recoiled at the sudden promotion. "S-Section Commanders? Sir, are you serious?"
"It's… it's an honor, Commander," Nanaba said, eyes wide with shock.
"You two displayed great leadership capabilities during the crisis within Wall Rose," Erwin explained. "You both will be working together to take half of the Scout Regiment away from the Military Police's eyes. Mike, you will take the other half and do the same."
"I can get us to the Utopia District," Mike assured. "It's cold, miserable, perfect place for us to hide from the MPs."
"We can camp out in the forests nearby," Nanaba stated. "In case we're needed, we can be nearby."
Erwin nodded in agreement. "Very well. All of you see to Dillon to get mind links established. That way, we are all able to be in communication at a moment's notice."
Gelgar chuckled. "Talking to someone miles away without writing letters. Still blows my mind."
Erwin ignored him as he moved onto important matters. "Levi, I want you to incorporate all of the 104th cadets into your squad. I need them ready to fight at a moment's notice."
"We're not just talking about Titans." The way the captain spoke, it wasn't a question.
"No, we aren't," Erwin confirmed seriously. "Hanji, you and your squad will stay with Levi. Keep updating me on progress made with the Shifters and the Psion."
"Of course, sir," Hanji replied cheerfully. "We're learning something new every day."
"Good." Erwin's body felt weak, but his determination was stronger than ever. "We're reaching a dark point once again. I trust you all to make the right choices when the time comes. Be careful, all of you."
Saluting, the soldiers filed out of the hospital room one by one with Hanji closing the door once they all left.
The commander of the Scouts sagged back into his bed, feeling worn out from just talking. It would take awhile for his full strength to return. At least, he hoped it would come back. In this world, nothing was certain.
For the next three days, the Scouts got to work on their Headquarters. There was a lot to pack and a whole lot more to clean. Levi didn't want a single trace of evidence that the Military Police could use against them. Granted, with the resident Shifters' transformations, there would always be a smoke signal for them to follow. It was an unfortunate setback, but a necessary one if the Scouts wanted to keep surviving.
Food and water was going to be far tighter than ever before. With the government withdrawing their complete support of the Scout Regiment, what little resources they were receiving were no more. The situation forced the commanding officers to create a new rule: anyone who took more than the share they were given would be locked in solitary confinement for the entire day. Naturally, the 104th worked overtime to ensure Sasha wouldn't steal any food.
On the third day, the Scouts split off. Mike took his group towards the Utopia District while Nanaba and Gelgar led their soldiers towards Castle Utgard. All that remained were Levi and Hanji's respective squads. The 104th cadets were merged with Levi's squad to ensure they would be proper soldiers. It wasn't that he didn't believe in Hanji's leadership capabilities (she was Section Commander for a reason), but putting two Shifters in the same squad as hers was like buying an alcoholic the best booze in the world. It was best to hold back the temptations. And considering the camaraderie and care the 104th had towards each other, keeping them together would aide with and cooperation… even if Annie was among their ranks.
The group managed to secure a cabin they could stay in temporarily. The owner was a former Scout that had to retire due to the loss of his legs, but he was still on good terms with the regiment, especially since Levi was responsible for the fact he kept the rest of his body. At the most, the group would stay two days, though it was more likely they would move out in one. The cadets kept trading off between loading up the supplies from the wagons and cleaning the house to satisfy their clean freak of a captain. His original squad and Hanji's squad were currently scouting the perimeter to make sure the location was safe.
"I'm serious, Sasha," Jean warned as he brought in bags of rations from outside. "If Captain Levi even thinks you're swiping food, he'll chop you into bite-sized pieces."
"I would never dream of it," Sasha assured before adding a soft. "Maybe."
"Did you guys even wipe the mud off your shoes before you came in?" Eren demanded.
Jean gave an exasperated look as he put down the bags on a barrel. "You kidding me? This stuff weighs a ton, and you're more concerned about a little mud."
"A little mud? Don't be an idiot," Eren pleaded. "That's not gonna fly with Captain Levi. He'll skin you alive and use it to clean up the mess you made."
"Or worse, he'll make me clean the floors," Dillon added, shaking his head. "Again."
"You're lucky I made your bed in time," Eren said.
"Would you just shut up already?" Jean shot back in frustration. "You're not my mother!"
"We're back," a deadpan voice announced.
Coming in the front door were Mikasa, Annie, and Historia. All of them carried freshly-chopped firewood, but Mikasa was the one with the ax in the other hand. Just to be on the safe side, Dillon gave Annie a quick once-over. No wounds or tears in her clothing to be seen. Briefly, he locked eyes with Historia, but the girl noticed quickly and looked away. Clearly, their last encounter still affected her.
Armin was beside himself with worry. "That Titan broke your ribs and you're chopping firewood? You should be resting!"
"I chopped up the wood, Armin," Annie corrected. "If Mikasa tried something that strenuous, she'd have a timeout in my jaw."
The Asian threw her a dark look. "I could've handled it, and you know it."
"Really?" The Shifter flicked her ribs, causing Mikasa to double over in pain. "How about now?"
"I'm still the one with the ax, Annie," Mikasa growled dangerously as she lugged her share of the wood towards the back. "I know how to use it."
Eren sighed with annoyance. "Stubborn as always. I caught her doing sit-ups recently."
Jean glared at him. "So, you're not just a mother hen. You're a pervert!"
"What the hell are you talking about!?" Eren shouted furiously.
As the two boys continued their daily ritual of arguing loudly, Sasha let out a tired sigh. "Feels like we're back in the Cadet Corps, doesn't it?"
Armin nodded in agreement. "With our antics, makes us wonder why Levi incorporated us into his squad."
"Because we're all talented I assume," Sasha replied, her hand inside the bag around her shoulder.
Armin frowned, his faith in his comrades dwindling. "Sasha, what did you just shove in your bag?"
"It's something that's definitely not bread."
"Come one, come all, to the traveling circus act that is the 104th," Dillon snarked as he facepalmed. "We're screwed."
"Put it back, Sasha," Connie said with annoyance.
"You really think Levi was kidding about punishing you?" Jean asked, flabbergasted.
Armin took the lead and just yanked the bread out of the bag. "Conserve, Sasha. Conserve."
"Okay, okay," Sasha protested. "Quit ganging up on me. I get it."
Eren groaned. "Can we just focus on getting this place cleaned up? We're wasting enough time as it is."
"Alright, what the hell are you idiots doing now?" a familiar voice questioned.
The chattering slowly came to a halt as their illustrious captain came into the house. He stopped at the table they were putting their supplies on and brushed his hand underneath it. When he brought it back, there was a thin layer of dust on it.
"I know damn well you all had enough time," Levi stated.
Now it was Eren's turn to facepalm while everyone was at a loss for words. Dillon tried to slowly fade behind his peers, though.
Levi pulled out his handkerchief, wiping off the filth. "Forget it. We'll discuss your utter failure at a later date. Sit down and shut up."
All the cadets quickly sat in the chairs around the table practically touching elbows with each other, leaving the captain to stand.
"With our dwindling resources, we're running out of time," Levi began. "What matters right now is if we can seal the Wall in Shiganshina. Leonhart, you will be testing with Hanji to figure it out when she gets back. It all comes down to you."
"Yes, sir," the blonde Shifter replied.
"Captain, I want to try developing that technique, too," Eren added. "If Annie can't pull it off, I should at least be able to back her up."
Levi glanced at Annie. "You're the expert, Is it possible?"
"Possible, but unlikely with the time we have left," Annie admitted. "Hardening skin is a technique learned at the beginning of our time as Titans. It takes months, even years, to master it, and even then, it's limited."
"So, what does that make you?" Jean wondered. "A prodigy?"
"Lucky," she answered coolly.
"I'm not gonna let that stop me," Eren swore, clenching his fist. "I'll learn how to harden my skin."
"Cool it, Eren," Levi ordered. "With determination like that, you're bound to set this house on fire. You want your chance? You'll get it. Besides, we need to know if your time with Leonhart has been wasted or not. We also have another situation to address: combat with the enemy. It's clear the Shifters have different techniques than other Titans. Leonhart is going to train the lot of you how to find them."
"You can't be serious," Connie protested. "You expect us to trust that she won't turn us into bloodstains?"
"I expect that you follow orders and not bitch about it, Springer," Levi replied before staring at the entire squad. "You all have issues? Save it for the assholes that you're going to kill."
"When do we start?" It was the first time Historia spoke the entire day, and she sounded so quiet and withdrawn.
This time, Dillon took the lead. "I've been ordered to do solo training with the Female Titan tomorrow. Once that's done, the rest of you guys will follow suit."
"I expect you to have a clear head when it's over, Amsdale," Levi warned. "I don't care what it takes. This is your chance to be someone worth depending on. Don't screw it up."
"Yes, sir," he responded.
"Whatever it takes," Annie added.
Dillon did not like the sound of that. He was definitely in for it tomorrow.
The door slammed open suddenly as Hanji strode inside, a big grin etched on her face. "Good news, everyone: the coast is clear. Let's get started, shall we?"
Once the soldiers' hearts calmed down from the loud entrance, Levi spoke first. "You heard her, Leonhart. Get to it."
"Permission to accompany her, sir?" Dillon requested.
The captain eyed him sternly. "Granted, provided you keep it in your pants this time."
Dillon's face flushed deeply, Sasha's soft chuckle in the background not helping matters. "O-Of course, sir. Won't happen again."
Hanji clapped her favorite assistant on the shoulder. "Come on, Moblit! Time to make history happen."
"I can hardly wait, Section Commander," Moblit grumbled.
Quickly, the four rode their horses as fast as they could away from their temporary headquarters. The further away, the less likely their enemies can pinpoint their location from Annie's transformation. They got about ten miles before Hanji signaled them to halt.
"That's far enough, people," she said, leaping off her steed. "Get to shifting, Annie. The fate of humanity rests on your shoulders."
"Thanks for the reminder," Annie deadpanned once she was on the ground. She walked a good distance away before slashing open her hand.
Moblit and Dillon shielded their eyes though Hanji just watched with excitement. The possibility of becoming blind was irrelevant to watching a Shifter's transformation.
The Female Titan flexed her fingers a couple of times before staring down at the trio. "I'm ready."
"You know what to do," Hanji replied. "Get hard."
The two men slowly stared at the Section Commander with wide eyes and dropped jaws.
"What?" she asked, feigning innocence.
"You've been wanting to say that for a long time, haven't you?" Moblit accused.
"Maybe," Hanji answered with an immature giggle.
Dillon found his hand meeting his face with the force of a slap. Times like these made him wonder how the woman got to be a Section Commander.
Being the mature one of the bunch, Annie concentrated on crystallizing her skin. She began with her midsection and spread the process out. Starting at the top or the bottom would take too long. This kind of technique required the right amount of speed and concentration to pull it off. Covering her pelvis and abdomen was easy enough, but to keep going was getting more difficult. Her Titan and the human form within clenched their teeth tighter, the hardening slowing down a bit.
"Come on, Annie. You can do this," Dillon said, trying to cheer her on.
Despite Annie wanting to respond, she couldn't allow her focus to be lax for even a second. The body itself was heating up, causing her to sweat inside. While she wasn't burning up like her steam attack against the Psions, it was still irritable. Her legs and feet were now crystallized. All that remained was her neck and head. She allowed the hardening to travel up the front of her neck but not the back. She didn't want to be sealed inside her Titan. So far, it worked, and her head quickly joined the ranks.
However, it continued to spread towards her nape at a faster rate. It was if the Titan itself wanted to get this over with. Panic filled Annie as she attempted to pull herself out before it was too late. She felt her body yanked out from the nape in the nick of time, and fell into the arms of her boyfriend… who promptly collapsed to the ground due to the speed of her fall and her weight. He went from hero to cushion in the blink of an eye.
"You okay, Annie?" Dillon asked, wincing in pain.
"You could've… slowed my fall with your powers," Annie responded, panting from exertion. Along with the burn marks on her face, she was also bleeding, though the steam was slowly taking care of that.
"You're welcome," he snarked.
Hanji didn't pay them any attention as she gazed at the fruits of Annie's labor. The Female Titan form was still completely encased in crystal as if she was a statue. The sunlight glittered off it, enhancing the beauty that Annie created. "Yes!" she whooped, shooting her fist in the air. "The experiment was a complete success. Now, all we have to do is see if you can spread out the crystal to completely seal the Wall. Moblit!"
"Already on it, Hanji," Moblit said, quickly jotting down the notes. For once, he, too, shared his superior's excitement. Sealing the Wall was almost a complete certainty.
Once the Shifter's weight was on him, Dillon sat up with a groan. He made a mental note to try using his powers more frequently so they would become second nature. It would save him some injuries in the long run. Before he could fully stand, a cracking noise caught his attention. He froze, gazing at the Female Titan. His eyes widened when he saw large cracks jotting throughout the Titan. "It's gonna collapse!" he shouted, scrambling to get himself and Annie away.
Even Hanji was smart enough to recognize danger as she and Moblit fled just as the Titan broke apart. Large pieces hit the ground with a rumble, kicking up grass, dust, and dirt. The head came off and shattered into millions of pieces, allowing the dissolving process to be easier. Their efforts to seal the Wall literally went up in smoke before them, though the crystal absorbed most of the steam.
The only word to describe the situation was easily spoken by Annie: "Shit."
AN: You didn't think I was gonna make it that easy, did you? And yes, the immature joke was necessary… just once.
So, we have finally entered the Uprising Arc after a long time. This arc might be a bit tricky, especially if I'm gonna use both the manga and anime, but hopefully, what comes out is enjoyable. I am going to take a few liberties, which I will explain when the time comes.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, I look forward to your reviews, and I'll see you all in the next one.
