Aftermath
Sasha's mind is blank. She recognizes the voice around her… but she cannot hear them… it's all just noise… the words Kaspar said to her kept coming back… a curse had been placed on her… doubt.
I can't take this… I can't live with this… I have to bury it… there is no way… but then… why it feels so true? My mom… she cannot speak about it… no stop… STOP.
Armin's Home
Half an hour had passed since Sasha was found in the 4th prison with Kaspar. She had been missing for hours after the attack on Marino after Levi left her in charge of the military.
Armin was sitting in the living room brooding and deep in despair. He was accompanied by Levi, who was also deep in thought. Falco and Pieck were consoling Gabi in the kitchen, who was devastated by Reiner's death.
Marco was tending Leo's injuries with Munir. Meanwhile, Annie was tending Sasha in the bathroom, helping her to bathe and clean. Christine kept watch by the door.
Annie was carefully washing Sasha's hair, lovingly caressing her head.
Sasha was even more confused by this.
Sasha: Aunt… you are not scared?
Annie: How can I be scared of you silly… I'm one of the few people… who understand what it's like.
Sasha is deep in thought: Why are you with me… and not with Leo?
Annie: He is fine… it's just a scratch… you on the other hand… were a mess on all fronts…
Sasha ashamed: Sorry…
Annie: There is nothing to be sorry about… besides… we cannot give you to your mom looking like this.
Sasha remembered Kaspar's words and sunk into despair again.
Sasha: What's going to happen now?
Annie concerned: I don't know… right now… let's just get you cleaned up.
The Living Room
Armin is trying to clear his thoughts. He is filled with anxiety and cannot think clearly, knowing he has no time to waste makes things worse for him.
Armin: Captain… you should leave… I already contacted Mikasa and told her what happened…
Levi: I'm waiting for her…
Armin: She is going to kill you.
Levi deep in thought: Did you knew? About her?
Armin: Yes… but not that she could transform… I assumed she couldn't because she is an Ackerman…
Armin was mad… he foolishly trusted himself without giving a chance for doubt… he acted on the basis that he had complete knowledge…
Levi: You and Mikasa… have betrayed us… it was all for nothing…
Armin baffled: What? What are you talking about?
Levi: The mission… we failed… we all failed… all of it… what was it for?
Armin: How can you say that captain!? You think Sasha is some mindless titan? An enemy?
Levi: Was Eren an enemy?
Armin is outraged, yet he understood his point: It's… different.
Levi: It's not. We don't know what she will do now that she realized what she is…
Armin remembered Sasha's birth and his decision: It won't be the same…
Pieck approached Armin and Levi.
Pieck: Armin… what do we do now?
Armin is flustered: We need to hide… you know what's coming right Pieck?
Pieck saddened: Yes… I guess I should go to Paradis… what about you Armin?
Armin: I don't want to take Christine to Paradis… it's not safe either… I'm thinking going to Tongo… ask Onyakopon for protection and to hide us… it's remote enough for us to be able to hide…
Falco and Gabi enter the room.
Falco: What you think will happen Mister Armin?
Armin: The collapse of the government… this was very well planned, including tactical loses… like Aganyu leaving the ministry
Falco: WHAT?! But... why?! I don't understand…
Pieck: Reiner's death… it was no collateral casualty… he was the target…
Gabi shocked: WHAT?!
Armin saddened: Ackerman essentially wants to remake the world… and the best way to do it is by imploding the previous system from within… Reiner… he was the most beloved figure of Marley… and he was killed by the group that the government vowed to stop…
Pieck: It's quite an accomplishment to be honest… it must have taken years to plan and execute…
Armin: We thought Aganyu resignation was an achievement… it was the defining factor for the plan to succeed… he will represent a promise of change and security… as after he left everything went to hell…
Gabi crying: Are you saying… he was killed… to serve as a tool for some assholes?!
Armin ashamed: Yes… I'm sorry.
Everyone stays silent for a moment, the only sound was Gabi's whimpering.
Levi: You sure were played like a fiddle…
Pieck: You are not off the hook either you know?
Levi is puzzled.
Pieck: It's clear Ackerman's main objective was to contact Sasha… who made it sure he got to do that hmm?
Levi is shocked.
Armin: He knew how you would react… he had everything prepared… we all failed… failed her…
Levi looks down.
Falco: Why was so important for him to talk to her?
Armin: We don't know what he said to her… she is not talking about it…
Pieck: You think it's a good idea for her to return to Paradis?
Armin: At the very least, it will put some distance between Ackerman and her… for now. In the end it all comes down to her…
Falco: Then there should be no problem! It's Sasha after all!
Armin kept quiet… he knew it wasn't that clear… he guessed that Ackerman had attacked her mind in her weakest point… her origins and her family…
Armin and Pieck quietly looked at each other.
Pieck: We should warn Historia…
Gabi: What you think will happen there?
Armin worried: The same thing as here… I think we are too late to stop it… but keeping the Survey Corps hidden will probably help to avoid any losses… and keep hope going… we still don't know what exactly they are planning… but we should assume there is no way to stop it…
Everyone is concerned and uneasy.
Pieck: I'm going to relay the message and prepare to go.
Armin: Me too… the news about Reiner will start to dissipate in a few hours… Falco, Gabi you should stay and secure your home… you shouldn't be a target so just wait for things to calm down…
Gabi: What about you Mister Levi?
Armin: You should go to Paradis captain… it wou…
Levi: I'm staying here.
Armin is shocked: But… you would be a target! It's too dangerous…
Levi: I'm not scared of a bunch of assholes… besides…
Levi looks at Gabi and Falco
Levi: Someone needs to keep an eye on these kids.
Falco and Gabi swell up.
Meanwhile – Leo's room
Munir is stitching up Leo's shoulder while Marco prepares the bandages.
Leo grunting: I'm a disgrace… how can I look Sasha in the now? It's… my fault… that Reiner…
Marco: Stop that… we were all drunk… including Reiner… it's the enemy's fault and nobody else.
Munir: In any case… who was the enemy? I think that is the real question…
Marco: You do realize by staying with us you will essentially become a rebel right?
Munir shocked? WHAT?! Since when?!
Leo: Since now… if you want to know the truth… there is no turning back…
Marco: yeah… our mission was not ordinary… you can even call it rebellious… even more so now right Leo?
Leo: Yes… it's safe to say we lost…
Munir concerned: Well… as I told you before… I only really can relate to you guys… so it's fine by me!
Marco: That's good… we really needed a medic on our side…
The living Room
Gabi: Falco come on… we need to talk to my family… about Reiner… it's best they hear it from us…
Falco: Yeah… please excuse us. I hope you inform us when you depart Mister Armin… we want to know how to find you…
Armin: Don't worry you'll be informed… if anyone can save us if we are in a pinch is the captain…
Levi: I'm going home… don't get me involved in anything else again…
As Levi opened the door a figure was already standing there.
Mikasa, looking insane with anger, grab Levi and threw him inside, destroying a wall.
Everyone inside is shocked.
Annie and Sasha came out of the bathroom scared at the commotion.
Annie: Shit… I figured this would happen.
Christine glistening: Aunt Mikasa is so awesome…
Sasha feels too many things at one looking at her mother.
Mikasa: BASTARD! HOW DARE YOU BEING IN THE SAME PLACE AS MY DAUGHTER!
Armin terrified: Mikasa stop this! We should fight with each other! I understand how you feel but…
Mikasa: SHUT UP ARMIN! THIS IS YOUR FAULT TOO!
Armin is shocked but cannot say anything.
Levi grunts as he stands up from the rubble: I made a mistake… but what about you? HAVEN'T YOU DOOMED US ALL?! HOW COULD YOU!? YOU ARE WEAK!
Mikasa: I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANYTHING OF WEAKNESS FROM YOU DAMNED MIDGET! I SHOULD HAVE KILLED YOU LONG AGO. I SHOULD HAVE NEVER LISTENED TO YOU!
Levi: YOU HAVE WASTED THE SACRIFICES OF EVERYONE! INCLUDING EREN!
Mikasa: DON'T YOU DARE TALK ABOUT HIM YOU BASTARD! ARE YOU GOING TO TELL ME TO KILL MY DAUGHTER TOO?!
Sasha is scared and shocked to hear her mother… but the last thing she said… felt like the last thread inside her snapped.
Annie ran downstairs and got between them.
Annie: STOP THIS NOW! This won't solve anything. Captain just go and Mikasa come and help me with Sasha…
Mikasa calms down a bit and start to walk upstairs: If anyone… has let down our comrades… it's been you captain… you are stuck… fear has made you a puppet…
Levi is deep in thought and leaves the house.
