Armin thought he could never live up to Erwin as a strategist, but Hange knew that clever and cunning look, had seen it in both of their eyes. While the main plan was to bring Eren home, and buy Paradis some time by taking out the Marleyan military as suggested by the Yeager brothers, another agenda was being played out by the heads of the Scouts.

Hange had worked hard for many sleepless nights to get it just right, and right on time, she had been able to arm her best soldiers each with one small vial, and one sharp needle.

If the opportunity were to present itself, Hange would not be found lacking.

As Eren stood, crushing the Warhammer in the teeth of the Jaws, this opportunity arose. Covert talks of what to do, of not letting Eren gain more power, while losing more trust, placed Connie, and Sasha in such a position where a decision had to be made.

"No!" Connie's hand reached out, grabbing Sasha by the wrist, stopping the needle a small breath away from her skin. "I'll do it! I can't let you do this."

Her smile was warm, as it was sad. "We don't have time to argue, Connie. And I can't let you do it either."

"Sasha, please." His eyes threatened tears, his mind raced with thoughts of a shortened life, of being in the crosshairs of power. He was afraid, for what the future would bring.

"Connie, run."

Sasha slammed the needle into her arm, and plunged the fluid into her body.

On instinct, his ODM gear sprung to life, pulling Connie away from the flash of Sasha transforming into a Titan.

The square was an explosion of sound. The Jaws slammed shut at the same moment Sasha leaped to attack Eren. Connie watched in an awe struck fear as her mouth opened wide, lunging for Eren's throat, while the blood of the Warhammer rained down into her gaping jaws.

The transformation was sudden and blinding, a simple Titan turning into a larger and more defined version of Sasha. Her skin glittered with the hardening ability she now commanded, and her jaw snapping shut just passed Eren's ear. His eyes watched her warily, the Jaw Titan now limp in his grasp.

In an instant, the air exploded once again as the Armored Titan arose. Eren quickly directed his attention away from Sasha, and turned to face Reiner in combat. The rush and the crash of blows, Reiner tumbled away, but not empty handed. The Jaw was now free from the clasp of the devils. Eren released his hold on his Titan, as Reiner looked up from the ground, his jaw missing, and his armor cracked.

The sound of the airship was above them, and the time for retreating was upon the Scouts. Their mission was a success, and Mikasa pulled Eren up to the ship, as Connie pulled Sasha from the nape of her new form, the steam burning his eyes, stinging the tears that streamed down his face.

"Sasha, please be okay. Sasha, you have to come back to me." His voice was thick, and his arm wrapped around her tightly as he brought them up to the ship.

Her body was too warm, and her head hung limp as he carried her to the open door, hands helping from within. He didn't want to let go, but needed both hands to bring himself inside, too.

"...So hungry," she mumbled, limbs sprawled out across the floor.

Relief dawned across his face. She would be okay. "We can eat back at home," he smiled.

She pulled herself upright, and they returned to the door to help the other Scouts board. One after another, until a familiar rough hand, and a rough face to go with it, finally the knot in Connie's stomach eased. These two were more important to him than anything anymore.

He threw his arms around both of them, leaning his head onto Sasha's shoulder and said "I'm just glad we survived again. It's not very fair to the others, but you guys are special to me."

They each leaned into him, Sasha placing her hand on his arm, until Jean broke the moment, "That hurts, idiot. Don't hug us wearing hard-ass gear."

"Excuse me, Jean?! You're the idiot for always fussing over your tiny-ass beard!"

"Huh?"

Sasha piped in, "That's right! Why grow a beard if you can't eat it?"

"Huh?!"

"Say, are we eating soon?"

"Not until we reach the island," Jean replied.

"What a useless leader you are," Sasha complained.

The cheering and the revelry continued from Floch and his followers, not even interrupted by a small thunk that only Sasha heard.

It was like time stopped for Jean, his eyes widening as a small girl rolled into the airship, a rifle aimed into the crowd of Scouts. The crack of the round firing jolted his ears, and the bullet found its mark in Sasha.

The thud of her body hitting the ground, and the sound of the rifle being reloaded sprang Jean back into movement, his gun drawn in his hand before he could process the appearance of another child. The bullets flew and ricocheted, the Scouts moving in to beat down these new attackers.

"Sasha! Hey," Connie shouted. "Hang in there! Hey!"

Jean and Connie knelt beside her, fear gripping them.

"You're so… damn loud…" she groaned. Steam began to rise from her abdomen. "Are we eating soon?"

"Bandages, now! We've gotta stop the bleeding," Jean barked.

"Meat…" she sighed, hungry and weary to the bone.

Jean ripped open the first aid kit, frantic and shaking. "Connie," he cried. "Help me wrap her."

Connie could only watch as the steam grew stronger. "Connie," Jean prompted again.

"Look."

Jean's eyes turned to her wound, not able to comprehend what he was seeing. The bleeding had stopped, the hole in his friend shrinking in front of him as steam continued to rise from her body. "What..? I don't…" He looked to Connie, bewildered.

"She did it, Jean. She stole the Warhammer," Connie whispered.

"Jean, they climbed aboard using Lobov's ODM gear," Floch reported. "I'll toss 'em outside. All right?"

Jean threw his hands against the wall. "If we toss kids out of an airship, will the killing ever end?"

The airship continued towards Paradis as truths were unveiled and emotions were wrought. Their mission was a success, but all the miscalculations were still to be uncovered.

Commander Hange sat at her desk, pleased at herself, at the work her Scouts had done. Another of the nine fighting for the freedom and lives of Paradis. It was enough to send electricity down her spine.

Hope had stayed alive for her, limping along at times, but now it walked into her office, strong and sure, and named Sasha Blouse.

"Commander," she saluted.