Chapter 11: Into the Night
"Today, we are presented with the peculiar case of a one Mr Eren Yeager. The individual in question has been witnessed showing the ability to physically transform into and take shape of a fifteen metre-class titan with exceptional combat abilities. There is very limited knowledge as to how this individual gained such an ability. The debate in today's trial is to establish who shall gain ownership of the individual and the future dealings with them."
The courtroom was in complete silence as the proceedings were carried out during the trial. Eren remained entirely calm as different members from various organisations took turns to speak and voice their own opinions, including Commander Erwin. Eren made sure to have eye contact with each speaker appealing to them on a human level rather than that of an animal, he'd been told that was his only hope.
The trial seemed to go on forever with arguments flying between each party, each opposing the proposed method of how to deal with Eren, most members seemed to disagree with Commander Erwin and the majority seemed to think Eren deserved either immediate execution or a life dedicated to dissection. Premier Zachary, however, remained composed throughout listening fairly to each argument.
"So, Mr Yeager, how do you, yourself, feel the proceedings should be carried out?"
Eren was thrown entirely off guard. He hadn't expected to be addressed directly at all, for all he could understand, everyone had disowned his humanity entirely.
"Premier Zachary, sir, I feel you should believe in me, the titans have always been my sworn enemy after witnessing the fall of Shiganshina and the death of my own mother. Their sheer presence angers me to the core, and I will not stop until they are all defeated, and we can finally live in peace. These newfound abilities of mine are controllable and I intend to use them in the fight against the titans and further humanities' chance of survival. So, you should all put your strength in me!"
In an instant, a force harder than he had ever experienced knocked two of Eren's teeth out, practically shattering his jaw. The abrupt attack had thrown him completely off guard. Before he could register what was happening another harsh blow plummeted into his stomach winding him instantly.
"Stupid kid."
Blow after blow was sent thrashing into the boy as he lay, panting in desperation, on the courtroom floor, with the alarmed eyes of everyone watching him.
"He doesn't know discipline but he sure as hell will."
The voice was familiar to Eren, but he was on the brink of passing out and couldn't quite register who it was that had beaten him so badly.
"HOW DARE YOU!"
Another voice erupted from the audience. It was female.
"That is quite enough thank you."
Premier Zachary's voice boomed throughout the hall bringing everyone to an instant state of silence. Eren couldn't focus on what he was saying exactly but he had a feeling now was the time he would learn his fate.
"I have made my decision."
Instantly, Eren's heart began pounding in his chest, the adrenaline running through his veins had numbed the pain of his body somewhat as his vision began to blur. The only two things he could make out were his bloody teeth on the polished stone floor.
"After careful consideration I have decided it is within the best interest of humanity if Mr Yeager be presented to the custody of…!"
Before Eren could catch the name of the group he would be sent to the entire room went black.
"Well fuck, what are we going to do now?"
"Easy Levi, we'll think of a way somehow."
"Realistically there is nothing we can do without causing a civil war!"
"Calm down, there are always options."
"How are you so fucking calm all the time? The situation is even more fucked than it was to begin with!"
Levi and Erwin were pacing, frantically, in the small study within the courthouse. A sudden knock at the door interrupted their debate.
"Come in."
Hesitantly, Hanji appeared at the door, her face a mixture of worry and fear.
"Someone wanted to see you, they insisted."
Hanji took a few steps forward into the room allowing the second person behind her to enter. Levi's eyes became ablaze as he made out who it was.
Erwin's eyebrows shot up as he too realised who had entered the small room.
"Cadet Ackerman, what can we do for you?"
{Levi's POV}
What in the fuck was she doing here? It was a stupid question it was obvious why she was here. Her brother was currently being taken away by the goddam MP's for a life of dissection. Her eyes look even more dead, I didn't think that was physically possible.
"Eren. Where are they taking him?"
The tone of her voice was dead and cutthroat as per usual but the look in her eyes was menacing.
"I'm afraid I don't know. I can understand your concern, but we are going to do everything we can to get him back to the Scouts."
"It's not good enough."
Oh fuck. She's really going there, questioning Erwin right out the bat and even insulting his methods. How can the world be so fucked up wherever that stupid Yeager kid is concerned?
"Excuse me?"
Brilliant now Erwin is using his pissy voice. This is such a mess.
"I apologise for the lack of respect sir, however, Eren needs to come back to us, tonight. Otherwise it'll be too late."
What was she planning? She hasn't even looked at me, her eyes are fixed on Erwin's, she really isn't going to let this one go. Great. I can't really blame her for ignoring me; she did just witness me kick the living crap out of her brother.
"I'm afraid that isn't going to happen. We have to think carefully on how we approach this. It may take a while to gain the appropriate legal permission to regain him as a member."
"I see, thank you anyway Commander, sorry for the interruption."
What was the sudden acceptance and all that fake politeness crap? Something is definitely up. She's up to something and I don't like it. I get why she's worried but surely even she must know going after her brother at a time like this is madness. But in a way so is risking your life for him every damn day, the girl is totally fucked in the head. But again so was I. How are we so damn similar?
"I'm sorry Ackerman, I know how hard this must be for you, we will keep you updated with our plans."
{Narrator's POV}
Mikasa nodded, rather too politely, at all of the senior officers before heading swiftly back out of the room. Levi had tried to make eye contact with her, as a method of warning any ideas out of her head, but she had totally ignored him.
Briskly she strode down the stone corridor, back to where her fellow cadets were waiting and miserably contemplating the loss of Eren, however Mikasa had other things on her mind. Primarily, how she was going to rescue him tonight, without question, whether it cost her, her life or not didn't matter, as long as he was safe and where he belonged. That was her life's mission and she'd be damned if she didn't make sure it happened.
It was the early hours of the morning. The Scouts had returned to the castle earlier that evening and despite the sorrows of the new recruits and the senior officers, everyone was in rather high spirits, the mission outside the walls had been a success as far as they were concerned with minimal loss of life.
The barracks were quiet. No lights were on in any of the dormitories confirming that everyone was asleep, or at least not alert enough to notice anything.
Carefully, the wooden door to Mikasa and Sasha's room was opened, and the two girls stealthily moved towards the front entrance of the castle. Every few metres they would stop and listen for any movements that could threaten their position. Within a few minutes they were out, undetected, and breathing in the welcome night air. Luckily, the night sky itself was rather dark, as deep navy-blue clouds hung above them, obscuring the moon from view.
"Pst, Mikasa, Sasha, over here."
Mikasa's head snapped immediately to the sound in question. Once again, her and Sasha moved swiftly over to a nearby set of bushes, only to find, Jean, Armin and Connie crouched awkwardly behind them.
"What are you doing here? We said to meet by the gate?"
"Yeah, why are you hiding behind these bushes like a bunch of morons!?"
Sasha laughed silently as Jean and Connie glared at her in return.
"We thought it would be better to assemble sooner rather than later. Ymir and Krista won't be joining us. Krista thought it would be best if Ymir was kept in the dark about all this."
"She's probably right."
Armin and Mikasa exchanged approving glances.
"Let's head off, you go a separate way to us and by the walls be silent. We cannot under any circumstances be caught."
Mikasa gave them each warning looks, before leading Sasha off towards the front gate of the castle.
After a few pain endearing moments, the boys appeared in view, much to Mikasa's relief, she had been convinced they'd been seen already; they weren't the wisest bunch.
"Okay, I've managed to secure some horses for us, I was on stable duty earlier and moved a few over to these trees, they should still be there."
Mikasa commanded the others to follow her into the forest either side of the main track that led to the castle's entrance. The intensity of the darkness had aided them greatly in getting this far.
"They're here thank fuck!"
Jean let out a huge sigh of relief as he spied the horses standing idly by the set of trees.
"I left their tack by this tree. So, we'll have to saddle them up quickly before moving out."
"Aye, aye Captain!"
"You know Mikasa you really are a mini Captain Levi, it's amazing!"
"Don't ever compare me to that monster."
The cutthroat words stabbed both Jean and Connie directly, wiping their goofy smiles from their faces and leaving them looking downwards awkwardly as they saddled their horses.
"Mikasa, it'll be okay, we'll get him back. I'm sure what Captain Levi did was for a good reason. Commander Erwin would never have allowed such a public beating just for the sake of it."
Armin, soothingly, placed a hand upon Mikasa's shoulder, it eased her slightly, the warmth of his familiar touch. Briefly, it reconnected her to her childhood, she wished desperately the three of them could return to those times before the titans broke through the wall and Eren himself transformed.
"Thanks Armin. I won't rest until he's back. But I will never, ever, forgive with that bastard did."
Armin gasped at the murderous look within her eyes. He knew better than to question her further and left her to her thoughts.
After a few short minutes, the cadets were mounted aboard their horses and moving swiftly out, deeper into the forest, galloping wildly into the night.
They'd been riding for around an hour when Mikasa commanded them to stop and dismount.
"Is this the place?"
Jean crouched beside Mikasa as she scouted out the area. They had arrived at a break within the forest, nearer to the main city of Trost, but still on the outskirts, remaining undetected. Mikasa had been into town earlier and bribed a few locals on the movements of the MP's. After spending a hefty portion of her savings and wasting a few hours, she'd managed to learn that the MP's were planning on moving Eren to a new facility, in the Stohess district.
"Yes. A wagon, containing Eren and several MP's are due to move along that dirt track soon."
The cadets took the opportunity to scope out the area for themselves. They were situated at the forest edge, at the top of a small cliff face that overlooked the nightline of Trost. At the base of the cliff was a dirt road leading away from the city and into the countryside. It wasn't the main route to Stohess from Trost, however, Mikasa had been made aware that the MP's were being extra careful with transporting Eren. Apparently, some powerful figures in the underground city had caught wind of his abilities and wanted him for themselves, as well as thugs on the surface.
"Let's run over the plan once more now that you've visualised the scene."
Mikasa gathered the other cadets around her as she relayed the details of their mission.
"Sasha, you and Connie are to fly down and set up a position ahead of where the cart will be. Ready to ambush from the front. The goal is to take out the wheels to eliminate their method of transport."
"You got it!"
"We can handle that no problem!"
"Good, Jean you and I will fly down onto the cart directly once Connie or Sasha gives the signal that the wheels are down. We'll have to be quick and effective as they'll be alerted to our presence by then. The aim is to knock out any guards and take Eren. Whatever you do get Eren, that is the only goal from this."
"I won't let you down Mikasa, I'll get him back for us."
"Armin, you stay up here and watch from above to see what back-up they have waiting or to see if any unwelcome visitors make an appearance."
"No problem."
"Okay, now we just wait. Keep your eyes open."
Connie and Sasha flew over to their positions using their ODM gear. They settled by a gathering of large rocks and trees just off of the track. Connie was situated within the tree whilst Sasha was crouched behind a rock.
Jean remained perched at the top of a tree on the cliff face, keeping lookout.
"Mikasa, this is a very well thought out plan. I'm amazed you got so much information in such a short space of time."
"It's for Eren. I can't let him be taken. I won't."
"I know how you feel, I really do. But a part of me is worried that you're more than happy with not returning yourself tonight, if it comes down to it."
"Armin, my life isn't important. We must protect Eren at all costs."
"Mikasa-!"
"I see it! A carriage coming slowly along the road. It's them I can see their unicorn flag!"
Before Armin could continue, both his and Mikasa's head snapped over to face Jean.
"Okay! Jean make the signal at Connie and Sasha!"
"On it!"
Mikasa felt a surge of adrenaline rush through her as she eyed the carriage for herself, it was crawling along, slowly, quietly, but with every dip and bump of the wheels only aggravated her further. Inside her brother was being held prisoner, against his will, like an animal, ready for dissection. This was her time, her time to prove herself and complete the sole mission she was alive for.
"Connie has given the signal! The wheels are down! Let's go!"
And without a further thought she flew off at breakneck speed, into the dark, dark night.