Chapter 3:Fragments
Several days had passed since Callie was brought to Harmony; through living in the infirmary, going through basic rehabilitation such as strengthening her arm and fingers while measuring the length for a prosthetic leg and arm just to get her by. Alden had came to visit her like he promised, once at noon for lunch and again during the evening to play chess or teach her to play cards with a few grunts and another pilot.
She wasn't sure if to refer to herself as a prisoner of war or a militia member; it felt like she was part of them now yet felt isolated at the same time. The nightmares weren't common though the doctor did mention once the amnesia started to wear off things may get pretty bad. Callie was prepared or so she thought as it had been a week by now with her getting more stable condition wise and finally fitted to her basic prosthetic being taken from an unfinished simulacrum frame. The doctor and Alden would assist her in standing up and slowly taking small, baby steps twords the door and then out into the hangar.
A few grunts cheered and whistled at Callie who simply laughed and was smiling. Alden also had a big grin on his face as he let go of her and stepped backwards allowing her to freely walk forward showing quick progress before Alden turned her around and sent her back to the infirmary. She was happy and informed she would need to repeat the walking excersie at least twice a day for another week before He'll allow the captain to even remotely speak to her; apparently the doctor's word was superior to even his commanding officers.
"Wow! You've made more progress then poor Glover when he got crushed by a titan..he's a simulacrum now just so you know."
Alden exclaimed sitting down in a chair next to Callie's infirmary bed with two water bottles, tossing one to the girl before chugging his like he had traveled across an entire desert. Callie only sipped at hers but reliquished its freshness that was superior to the filtered tap IMC water.
"I am a medic ya know,of course I'd understand how much I can handle before needing to rest..these prosthetics are a lot nicer then the ones the IMC uses. Well only a week left before we find out if I get thrown into the civilian world or offered to join the Militia."
Callie asked as she laid on the bed lifting her only good leg which had healed enough thanks to the advanced medical procedures and medicines of the doctor who was actually a former IMC doctor; Explains why he had access to such high end stuff.
"A good few grunts and a few pilots had put a good word in detailing your heroic betrayal from the IMC when you saved me. Im sure Briggs will allow you to join; we need all the hands we can get. Plus engineers have the easy gravy job of working up and close with the titans, Granted they won't rip you limb from limb."
Alden chuckled as Callie punched him in the arm making a sour face at the thought of a titan ripping her apart. Glancing down at her prosthetics, she begun wondering If that was what happened; grand betrayal-titan ripping her limb from limb-saving him. The fog that had lingered at the back of her mind was starting to slowly clear as she recalled Alden's face more clearly. He was the pilot she saved! She remembered the two pilots who tortured her,one shot by Alden; the other broke her and left her to die. She felt tears well up as more and more of the memories were flooding back now,the fog finally lifting. The rain,the thunder and lightning crashing, the bodies missing limbs stacked and thrown about upon others, men and women crawling and yelling for mercy as their entrails laid behind them. The bombs and gun fire singing all around,the countless titans brawling and ripping each other apart.
Her hands found themselves clutching her head,screaming , sobbing, and shaking as Alden scooted back holding both hands up. Shocked and lost for words,the doctor quietly escorted him out explaining that his little talk seemed to have brought back the memories. For several minutes behind the closed door,Callie was sobbing and screaming,mentally trying to running away from it all. Why? Why did she survive? Why didn't she die like the rest of her crew? Was this Spyglasses's doing? Did he want her to suffer a fate she couldn't control. These questions bombarded her and only made things worse with her sobbing growing to the point she sounded like she was choking on her tears and struggling to breathe; prompting the doctor to finally intervene with a syringe, forcing her to finally calm down and slowly fall asleep.
Alden would poke his head in hearing that everything had quieted down and gazed at the sleeping,red faced Callie and the doctor sighing while writing on the clipboard.
"She's gonna be fine right doc?"
"She'll be fine, I knocked her out so she'll sleep it off. Give her a day or two to somewhat come to terms with her...new life."
The two would end their conversation there with Alden giving a curt nod and closing the door ,returning to the bay where the titans were kept. Sitting on the top of his tone titan with its faded gray paint job, he would mutter himself about the war and the failure to uphold his duty. His titan would chime in with its female voice as the little eye on the top rotated to face its pilot blinking blue.
"No need to feel down pilot. Protocol's was followed even after my destruction. There is next time"
Alden grumbled at his tone's monotone and simple professional rebuttal for his muttering. Why was he given one of the older AI models that only cared about protocols and the simple kill, protect, uphold mission mindset. Well he couldn't complain, he could have it worse with not being a pilot. Laying down on his back and arms behind his head,he felt himself doze off remembering the fun,happy times back home with his older sister running through the green,grass hills of their family farm and picking wildflowers. It was a such a simpler time, a time everyone wish they could go back to.