Thanks to all who read and reviewed! I love you! Time for some familiar set pieces to show up...

Chapter Three
The 99th Trainees Squad – Part 2

Nelek Sokolof considered himself a simple man. He wasn't under the illusion that he would be great, and had no plans on changing that outlook. He'd served in the Garrison for twenty years with no particular distinction other than that he never caused any incidents, so when he had been offered a role in the training corps, he had been surprised.

Most were offered the role right out of training, cadets who had shown an aptitude for the courses, but more so a gift for connecting with others. Those who weren't usually came from the Survey Corps, as they were the only ones who actively used the training they'd received. He'd been rusty with the ODM gear himself when he first joined and wondered more than once if the whole thing wasn't a joke.

He hadn't even known why he'd agreed at the time; he had thought that perhaps he was scared of a life outside the military. He'd never gotten married and had no interest in having a family, and he had no particular skillset to apply to a civilian life. The military was all he had known since he was thirteen.

But as time went on, Nelek realized that while he was not anyone special, he enjoyed watching those who were. Every new trainee squad had someone in the ranks, a young soul with a spark that convinced him they were bound to change something, and he found briefly basking in their glow gave him a sort of hope.

His musing over his morning tea was cut off when the door to the dining building crashed open, and none other than Klara Lange stepped out, dragging Kurtis Dall behind her. She thrust him forward by the collar with relative ease, beaming as he struggled to keep his balance.

"Attention 99th Trainees Squad!" she shouted, capturing the gazes of those who hadn't made their way to breakfast yet. It was their one rest day of the week, so most opted to skip the meal for extra sleep. "Kurtis is officially taller than me! Congratulations to the new tallest cadet!"

To prove it, she stood by him, and the boy had indeed overtaken her in height.

"Klara, this isn't a big deal," Kurtis said, attempting to back away from the spotlight.

"Ha! I have been waiting for this day for two years! This is amazing!"

"Lange," Nelek said, standing up from his seat outside the command building. He watched the two of them as they snapped into a salute. "Five laps for disturbing the peace."

"With pleasure, sir!" she called back, smile never fading.

"And five more for enjoying it too much."

"Yes, sir!"

Nelek shook his head, watching her jog off. At first, he'd wondered if his inclination toward her was a bias due to her grandfather, but he quickly discovered that Klara did not need him to prove she had worth. He was hesitant to even call what she had a spark. It was a fire that raged out of control and consumed everyone who came near her until they glowed as well. If the others had been bound to bring about change, he was curious as to what laid in store for Klara Lange.

He blinked, realizing that Kurtis was still standing before him at attention.

"Dall, five laps too. For growing so damn tall."

The cadet bolted from sight.

He sighed, drinking his tea.

Perhaps it was a pathetic life, watching others pass him by, but he was content with it. That was more than others could say.

Year 845
Within Wall Rose

The following cadet evaluations were submitted by Trainer Nelek Sokolof:

Jonas Hagen

Proficient in all fields, with a drive to continually improve. One of the finest soldiers I have trained with no disciplinary issues. He is, however, of a solitary nature, and I cannot currently recommend him for leadership positions.

Luka Bauer

Adequate skills with the ODM gear, but he lacks the ability to think independently, choosing to defer to others. Otherwise, an intelligent young man who works well in team settings, and often times boosts the morale of those around him.

Hanna Tifft

Despite many physical setbacks, Tifft has proven herself a capable soldier. She has a prowess in ODM maneuvers and a keen eye. Her marksmanship scores are unbeaten, and she holds several new records.

Dieter Karlson

The most improved of the cadets, Karlson has committed to the role, achieving high marks in his studies and maneuvers. He must be commended for continuing the training after the accident that nearly resulted in his death.

Klara Lange

One of the most gifted soldiers I have ever trained on ODM gear, Lange continually shows no hesitation in maneuvers and strives to invent new techniques that fit her style. Lange has proven she is willing to risk life and limb without hesitation. A capable leader, although it must be noted that she is more likely to take a task on herself rather than delegate it to her squad. Her need to ensure the safety of her fellow soldiers interferes with her ability to perform these tasks efficiently.

"Has she missed a shot yet?"

Klara watched Luka take up his binoculars again to look downrange. They were approaching the end of their training, and were usually left to their own devices on certain courses, getting their last chances at practice before joining the military branch of their choosing. That particular day was the shooting range, and how Klara hated it. She loathed having to use a rifle, and only barely passed her marksmanship test.

Instead, she had taken to resting on Luka, her head nestled in the small of his back, watching the birds fly overhead every time a round popped off. They'd both almost fallen asleep at one point, until a hot casing had hit Luka's hand and they went tumbling into the sand around their firing station.

"Nope. I think she's starting to hit ours now."

Klara glanced down, looking at Hanna and Jonas at the station to their right. Both were lying in the prone position, frowning in concentration. Hanna was focused on the sights of her rifle, while Jonas had yet to move his eyes from the binoculars.

"Oi, Hanna, who are you pretending to shoot?" Klara asked. "It's not Dieter, is it?"

"Protecting his virtue as well as his life, Klara?" Hanna replied, firing another round.

She frowned. "You're rude today."

Her friend turned from the sights and gave her a wink.

"I actually like to picture the look on Jonas's face when he finds out I've beaten him again," Hanna said, firing one last shot before dismantling her rifle. Jonas tossed his binoculars and frowned deeper. "See, that one right there. Our little champion really is human."

Hanna tried to poke at his frown, but Jonas slapped her hand away.

"How the two of you can enjoy this is beyond me," Klara said, glancing back at the sky again. Clouds were coming in. She could smell the rain in the air.

"Hey, I enjoy it too," Luka complained. She didn't need to look at him to know he was pouting.

She reached out with her hand, tussling his hair. "Can you really enjoy something you're that bad at?"

Luka rolled out from under her in reply, smacking Klara's head on the ground.

"Fine. I deserved that."

Hanna shrugged. "Not all of us can be titan-killing machines. This is what I'm good at."

Klara sat up, shaking the sand from her hair. "I don't mean it like that. It's just…it feels wrong training on these. You can't kill a titan with a rifle."

Jonas looked over at her, unimpressed. "Are you really so naïve still? The military functions on several levels. Protecting people, property, and the peace from those within who would take advantage of us. They're a necessity."

"I know that…it's just…" Klara sighed, bringing her knees up and wrapping her arms around them. She glanced at the sky again as another bird flew overhead. "There's so many horrible things outside the walls. The idea that we still fight with one another while the titans are out there, it feels wrong to me. I suppose I am naïve, but I joined to save people, not kill them."

She grabbed her rifle and held it up. "The idea of ever having to use this goes against everything I believe in."

How she despised that rifle. The weight in her hands, how the wood felt between her fingers, the sound of a round popping off, the kick deep in her shoulder that bruised her skin. It all felt wrong, and every time she had to fire it, her stomach twisted and turned.

Luka's hand reached out, lowering the rifle. "Well, it's a good thing you're joining the Scouts then. You'll have no need for rifles there."

Klara smiled in thanks.

The group relaxed again, settling in to watch Jonas take another turn at the range. Klara and Luka sat with their backs against one another, discussing what they would do when they got home, while Hanna continued to tease Jonas.

"Lange, show me your rifle."

Klara bolted upright as Nelek suddenly appeared before them. He wasn't alone. There were two other cadets behind him, though they weren't from her class. One was fairly tall with long, blonde hair and the other was short, with ginger curls and a suspicious look in his eye.

"Yes, sir!" she shouted, checking her rifle before handing it over.

Nelek raised an eyebrow. "Have you fired your rifle at all today, Lange?"

"Sir, if I lie about it, may I go back to the barracks and run laps?" she asked. The ginger snickered.

Her commander rolled his eyes. "Might be I make you stay out here all night."

Klara sighed, deflating, while Hanna unapologetically broke down into hysterics.

He handed the rifle back. "I have more important things to worry about right now, however. Some of our new trainees have arrived early, so you graduating cadets have a mentoring opportunity. This is Eld Gin and Toli Ochoa. They'll be with you for the remainder of the afternoon. If you manage not to get them killed between now and this evening, Jonas, I want you to arrange bunks for them."

Jonas saluted as Nelek departed, leaving the four of them to stare down at the new cadets with equal parts curiosity and annoyance.

Klara ran a hand down her face. "I don't know why the commander thought we were the ones suited for this."

The blonde cadet, Eld, tilted his head. "I thought you and Jonas were the top two cadets?"

"Does that man look like babysitter material?" she asked, gesturing to Jonas, who scowled. "Hey, you wanna shoot my rifle?"

Luka grabbed her weapon away before she had the opportunity to give it to a far too enthusiastic Toli.

"Why'd you two join up?" Hanna asked, looking them over. They may have been new cadets, but they both looked older than her.

"I want to do my part to help humanity," Eld said with a nod. He looked so proud of his statement, Klara thought he was going to salute.

"Oh no, another Klara," Luka joked, wrapping an arm around her. He hadn't managed to grow taller than her, a fact Hanna regularly pointed out. Klara elbowed his side, but he hung on through the laughter.

"And what about you?" she asked Toli.

The redhead could only shrug, his curls bouncing from the movement. "I guess it was technically my choice, though it wasn't much of one."

All four senior cadets looked at one another before turning back to Toli.

He shrugged again. "Did some things. Got caught. It was either join the Scouts or go to prison."

Klara blinked. Hanna coughed. Luka actually laughed at it. But Jonas had gone absolutely still and was glaring at Toli as if he could will him to combust on the spot.

"I didn't know that was allowed," Luka said, scratching his head.

"It shouldn't be," Jonas spat, walking forward. The most emotion Klara had ever seen from the cadet was when he swore after hurting himself in sparring practice, but at that moment, there was a rage in his eyes. His fists were tightly clenched, and she thought he might lash out at Toli. Hanna clearly thought the same, stepping closer to him. "Allowing scum like you into our ranks is what has tarnished the military's reputation. Why should you have a choice? Why should you have the same treatment as those who have done no wrong?"

Toli looked amused. "Sounds like someone's scared the criminal will be better than him."

Luka had let her go, ready to jump in if Jonas did anything along with her and Hanna, but their friend did not move closer to Toli. He relaxed, all traces of his anger gone, that indifferent look back in his gaze. He shrugged off the comment and walked back to his firing position.

Klara sighed in relief, sitting back down in the sand.

"You said you had to join the Scouts," she heard Luka say above her. "Not the military, the Scouts."

"The Survey Corps is the only branch I'm allowed to join," Toli replied, glancing at Jonas with a smirk. "The Military Police don't want me, and the Garrison has enough criminals in their ranks as it is."

"That just sounds like a death sentence," Hanna said quietly.

"Not if I don't die."

That was the first time any of them had heard Jonas laugh.

Prior to their graduation, the cadets were given two weeks leave in order to visit their homes, since they would be traveling directly from the ceremony to their new stations. Despite Klara's concern, Hanna had decided to visit her family. She missed her younger siblings, and wanted to show that she had made something of herself. Jonas and Dieter returned to Wall Sina, interacting amicably for the first time since the beginning of training. Luka, however, had decided to tag along with Klara, citing a desire to see the top of Wall Maria.

"Let me get this straight: you're choosing a chance to see titans over your family," Klara said as they entered the interior gate at Shiganshina. Traffic bustled around them: workers hauling farmed goods, cattle being driven in for the butcher, gossiping women giggling as they went to the market, all watched over by a half-dozen bored Garrison soldiers. They eyed the two cadets as they passed by, but said nothing.

Luka put his arms behind his head. "Well, when you say it like that, it sounds terrible."

"And how am I supposed to say it so it doesn't?"

"Give me a minute. I'll think of something."

Klara smirked, staring him down until he cracked.

"Look, I'm avoiding going home, okay? Stop looking at me like that!" Luka shouted, flailing his arms at her while she laughed in victory. "When I finally wrote to them, they weren't exactly happy I'd joined up. I'd rather not tell them in person that I'm joining the Scouts."

She froze in place. "You're what?"

Luka looked at her like she'd grown another head. "Did you really think I wouldn't after everything we've been through together?"

"I…" she looked down at her feet, unable to hold his earnest gaze. "It's dangerous, Luka. I don't want you to be hurt."

I don't want you to die.

"It's a good thing you'll be there to save me then," he replied, grinning widely when she looked up at him again. Her face felt warm.

They continued in silence after that, wandering through the markets. Klara did not want to call it awkward, but she wished she had something to say. Three years they had trained together and they always had something to talk about, and now, she had nothing. Her mind had gone utterly blank. Occasionally, she would glance at Luka and wonder if he was the same way.

Her confused thoughts were interrupted when she caught sight of a familiar face. Well, familiar head of hair, as the face was currently buried in a book.

"MATTEO!" Klara screamed, halting everyone around them. Conversations died on the spot and faces turned in her direction, not that she cared. As far as she was concerned, there was only one person in the area.

Her friend barely lifted his head before she slammed into him, wrapping her arms around his scrawny form and lifting him easily off the ground. His book fell from his grasp, bouncing off her shoulder as his arms flailed, attempting to grab hold of something and only finding her hair.

"Klara! You're back! Why didn't…why didn't you…could you put me down?" he stammered, struggling in her grasp.

"No," she replied, holding tighter. She managed to look at Luka, who was standing quietly with a curious expression on his face. All around him were snickering witnesses and older individuals with a certain disdain for youth in their eyes. "Luka, this is Matteo. He's been my good friend since childhood."

"Nice to meet you," Matteo said, extending his hand as he gave up on being free. Klara watched Luka stare at it a moment before taking it.

"Likewise."

"Klara, can you please put me down?"

"Nope," she said gleefully, turning about and walking forward with Matteo. The crowd watched them, conversation slowly picking up again in their wake.

"But my book!"

"Luka can grab it."

Her friend did grab it, trailing the odd duo as they wound through the city. There were many strange looks and even more laughter, but the closer she got to home, the more faces turned upward with recognition, happy smiles not surprised in the least by her actions. Their strange girl had returned.

"I take it she's always been this way?" Luka asked behind her.

"Less strong, but just about right. Eccentricity is the norm for her."

"You're one to talk," Klara countered, readjusting her grip. "I watched him stop a man from being arrested by boring the Military Police with the fundamentals of mushroom cultivation once. It was simultaneously the most fascinating and tiresome thing I'd ever witnessed."

"That was one of my prouder moments," Matteo admitted.

"I never wanted to eat a mushroom again."

"You had mushrooms for dinner the next night."

"It wasn't by choice."

"You cooked the meal!"

Luka began to laugh behind them. "Matteo, you should have signed up with her! The two of you would have driven Jonas insane within the first day, not to mention the commander."

The city bells began to ring, a sweet melody that brought grim tidings. Klara lowered Matteo immediately, a frown on her face.

"How long have they been gone?" she asked.

"They only left yesterday," Matteo replied, grabbing his book from Luka. "There was rain…"

The three of them made their way down to the gates, joining the gathering crowd. The same words she had heard uttered all those years were present now: how the Survey Corps was a waste of money, how they hadn't been gone very long and yet lost so many, how they were utterly useless. And as had been the case then, it made her blood boil and her heart ache. Imagine giving everything you had to make the world a better place, losing your comrades in the process, only to come back to scorn and insult.

For three blocks, the line of wounded stretched, between horses, carriages, and men and women on foot who had either lost their mounts or could no longer remain on them. The wounds ranged from bleeding cuts to completely missing limbs. There were scarcely any soldiers who had made it out in one piece, but they all bore the same pain in their eyes: the belief that the words hurled at them were actually true.

"You want to join this?" Luka breathed behind her.

"I want to prevent it."

She spotted a familiar blonde head riding near the front, the same look of shame etched across his face. Erwin Smith's blue eyes had dulled a little more since she saw him last.

But at least he's alive.

He did not notice her, and she did not bother drawing his attention. All they would want is to be left alone now, and that was something Klara could grant them at least.

"My own incompetence killed our men, and we still don't even know what they are!"

The sound of Keith's frantic voice caught Klara's attention, and she turned to look further down the line, where he stood with a woman who held nothing more than a bandaged arm. He was on his hands and knees before her, crying and sputtering, a man completely broken.

"Keith…"

She began to move through the crowd toward him, heart breaking for a man she had known for so long. For years, he had burdened himself with the troubles of the Survey Corps, but Klara had always believed he could keep going, even with the signs all there. Childhood heroes were infallible after all, but she was no longer a child.

One of his soldiers managed to help him off the ground, slowly guiding him away. Klara walked right up to them, uninterested in decorum, she only wanted to see him.

When his eyes met hers, she was taken aback by how hollow they had become.

"Klara," he said, the recognition unable to spark anything in his gaze. He placed his hands on her shoulders, just like that day in the forest. "Don't join the Survey Corps, whatever you do. Stay within the Walls, Klara. Stay safe."

He passed her by then, continuing on without another word. Klara found herself rooted to the spot, his words echoing in her mind. She watched as wounded Scouts passed to her left and right with their dull eyes and pained tears and broken bodies; she watched them look at her, and their gazes spoke the same words to her.

I just want to save you, she wanted to say. I just want to keep you safe.

It was a selfish, prideful dream, thinking she could make a difference, but it was the only one she had.

She remained when they had gone, lost in the memory of their faces. It was only when she felt a hand take hers that the trance was broken.

"Klara, you're crying," Luka said.

The sun was setting as she let Luka guide her through the streets, Matteo showing him the way to her home. Her mind was swimming, and she found herself unable to breach the surface.

How could she have ever been so excited to join? It was an insult.

When they stopped in front of her door, Luka turned to her. "If you're going to be like this for every wounded soldier, maybe you should listen to him."

Klara blinked, looking up at Luka. His eyes had grown dark, serious, reminding her of that day on the track. He was not that way often, but Luka had a good grasp on the world, and was not afraid to put someone in their place if he had to.

"You can't save everyone, Klara. People are going to get hurt and die, and that is not your fault. They made the choice knowing the consequences. Don't take away from their sacrifice by making it about your burden."

He was right, of course; he always was.

She almost smiled. "I think you'll make a great Scout, Luka."

Matteo awkwardly cleared his throat, getting their attention before knocking on the door. Her grandfather opened it an instant later, looking no older than when she'd left him. Even the stubble was still dark.

"Klara!" he shouted, eyes warm and happy. However, the look immediately disappeared when he spotted Luka standing next to her, and then when his gaze took in their very much intwined hands. "And who is this?"

Realizing the danger, Klara immediately relinquished her grasp and stood in front of Luka, arms going out on either side, a human shield against the terrifying wrath of an overprotective grandfather.

"This is Luka Bauer!" she said, a little too loudly. "He's from my training squad! We're joining the Scouts together!"

"And why is he here?"

"Because I asked him to come!" she spat out before Luka could open his mouth and say something he'd regret, but her grandfather definitely would not.

There was a tense moment of silence before her grandfather sighed, shrinking before her, an old man once more.

"Matteo, would you like to stay for dinner with us?" he asked her friend, who'd watched the entire encounter from behind the safety of his book.

"I would love to, sir," Matteo replied, squeaking slightly.

Her grandfather reached inside his pocket, taking out a small piece of paper. "Could you do me a favor then and grab these ingredients? I'll pay you back when you return."

"Of course!"

"And take…Luka with you. I'd like a moment alone with my granddaughter."

Luka looked ready to object, but Klara pleaded with him. "Go now and I can talk him out of killing you in your sleep."

Still looking uncertain, Luka finally nodded, walking away with Matteo back toward the marketplace. She watched them leave, fully aware that her grandfather was watching her, and ran toward them nonetheless.

"Luka, wait!" she called. Just as he turned around, she kissed him on the cheek, grinning at the stunned look on his face. "Thank you."

When she turned back to the house, cheeks burning, her smile only grew wider as she heard him shout for joy behind her.

"You did that to spite me," her grandfather said as she walked past him into the house.

"Not everything is about you, old man," she retorted, entering the kitchen and pulling open drawers. "Now, where are all the knives? I can't have you cutting him up in the middle of the night."

"You think you can just waltz in here after three years and boss me around again, girl?"

Klara turned around, crossing her arms. "Absolutely. This place is a dump. I couldn't leave you alone for three hours, much less three years. What were you thinking, letting me join up?"

They glared at one another in silence before breaking down into laughter and embracing one another. She clung to her grandfather tightly, the scent of cigar smoke wafting around her once again. For years, she'd complained about how it was such a terrible smell, and now it was as sweet as rain.

"I'm so happy to see you again, Klara. To talk to you," her grandfather said, touching his hand to her face. "Your handwriting is awful. I couldn't make out half of what you were trying to tell me."

"Opa!" she cried, lightly hitting him as he chuckled.

"I heard you graduated second in your class. I couldn't be prouder of you."

She blushed. "It was nothing. Well, it was something, but that part never mattered to me. I almost walked up to the commander one day and asked that he keep me out of the top ten. I didn't want to cost anyone their spot in the Military Police."

"And why didn't you?"

"He'd already made me run twenty laps that morning. I didn't really want to add to it."

Her grandfather laughed, clapping her on the shoulder. "You've always been a troublemaker, Klara. I must admit, I'm curious what the Military Police would do with you."

"The whole organization would collapse within a month."

"That's not a terrible idea."

"Opa…"

"I know. I know," he said, leading her into the dining room. "Now, enough about you. Tell me about that boy and if I should be-"

Klara caught the briefest flash of light before it happened: an explosion so loud that it rocked the foundations of the house, knocking them both off the ground in an instant. Plates fell from the cabinets in the kitchen, shattering, and a bureau tipped over, the drawers spilling their contents across the floor.

"Are you okay?" Klara asked, sighing in relief as her grandfather nodded. "What was that?"

There were no mines near Shiganshina. The only thing that could create a large explosion would have been gunpowder or gas reserves from either the Garrison base or Military Police outpost, but surely neither of them had that much in stock.

After helping her grandfather to his feet, Klara rushed up the stairs, past her room and onto the balcony.

"Mila!" she called out to the woman in the street, their neighbor from the house on the right. "Mila, what happened?"

The older woman said nothing, her eyes locked on the horizon.

Klara followed her gaze and gasped.

Smoke billowed in the distance, larger than any housefire she'd seen. It rose high into the air, partially blocking the setting sun from the other side of the wall.

The balcony creaked as her grandfather stood beside her.

"What could be on fire out there?" she asked. "Did the Scouts leave something outside the wall?"

"That's not smoke, Klara," he replied, his voice a whisper. "That's steam. From a titan."

She turned to him, feeling her face drain as she took in the terrified look on her grandfather's gaze. In all her life, she had never seen him look so afraid, and it nearly made her sick.

There was something on the wall, she realized. At first, she had thought it was the light playing tricks on her, but something was resting on it, grasping it.

It was a hand.

And then, a head rose, able to gaze over the fifty-meter wall with ease. It was a titan, skinless and muscled, staring at them.

"How?" was all she could say.

It moved again, slow for its size, until she heard another explosion, and pieces of debris began to fly up from where the gate was. High they soared, above the height of the wall, crashing into the city below.

"Get down!" Klara shouted as a chunk of the wall flew toward the house. She tackled her grandfather into her room before the debris roared overhead, bringing down pieces of the roof and walls on top of them.

And as the ringing died down in her ears, Klara heard the screams.