"Now that we have finished our break I would like to question Section Commander Hange." The man said. Commander Hange was sitting on the stand. Clarissa was once again standing in the center of the room with handcuffs on.
"To start off, you spent two full weeks questioning Clarissa for having a suspicious history. What was the main point that was putting up red flags that lead to the questioning?" He asked. Clarissa watched curious of what she was going to say. Clarissa knew the base of why, but not completely.
"Yes, Commander Erwin was looking through the files of the new recruits. Clarissa's stood out because in the file said she was born in wall Sina and adopted by a family in Shiganshina. When he looked deeper into it there was no paperwork showing it." Commander Hange said. Clarissa knew this, it was simple to understand that,
"She was enlisted under 'Clarissa Everdeen', correct?" Commander Hange nodded. "At what point did you learn about her last name being Ackerman?" Clarissa took in a deep breath and looked down at the ground.
"It was during the last week, her and I were in the kitchen. I asked her about her last name, and she just told me." Commander Hange said.
"Was there anything suspicious about that?" The man asked crossing his arms. Commander Hange shook her head.
"Not really, when I first started talking with her I knew she had large memory problems and she had no recollection of her past. Within the first twenty minutes of speaking with her she told me that she was gaining some of her memories back. When she told me her last name was Ackerman, I took it as her just getting her memory back." Commander Hange said. Clarissa nodded to herself. Of course Commander Hange was right.
"What are the things she told you about her past?" He asked. Commander Hange took a moment to think. She probably had it fresh in her mind, she was just stalling.
"That she had memories of two little girls. One day I heard screams coming from her room, I went to her room and she distraught. She was crying and yelling about having to help someone. Then she told me one of the girls were laying at the bottom of a set of stairs extremely injured. I assume it was either Alina or Alessandra. During that, she also mentioned a Mrs. Lilith. She had no idea who she was." Commander Hange said. Clarissa looked over at Alina. Alina was staring right at her, her eyes widened.
"Was she genuinely stunned?" He asked.
"Of course, to her there was a girl from her past that was severely injured. She had no idea if they lived, or died. Anyone would be pained to see that without any context." Commander Hange said. The man nodded.
"What is your overall impression of Clarissa, during those two weeks?" He asked. Commander Hange took time answering that. Clarissa had no idea what she would say. Clarissa had changed a large amount from those two weeks to now. Her impression of Clarissa then might have changed.
"The first two weeks I met her, she was a model soldier. Following every order, doing more than she was expected. Quiet, non-personal, rarely ever spoke." Commander Hange said. Clarissa nodded, all of it was true.
"Was?" He asked. Commander Hange nodded.
"Yes, a little before the expedition and after it she was more sociable, more joyful. She still follows every order. Every single order, no matter the situation." Commander Hange said with a smile. Clarissa couldn't help but smile.
"In your mind, what happened?" He asked. Commander Hange shrugged.
"I have no idea, but it was a good change." Commander Hange said. The man nodded took some time to think.
"When do you think she got her memories back? Because she has all of them now." The man said. Clarissa watched, it was all she could do. Does Commander Hange know when she got her past back?
"I don't know, I think it was sometime around when she passed out. After it more of her personality started coming out, very subtly." Commander Hange said. She looked over at Clarissa. Clarissa nodded confirming her thoughts. Commander Hange smiled with satisfaction.
"Would she be able to kill a child?" The man asked. Commander Hange's eyes widened, and half of the crowd gasped. Everyone that knew Clarissa.
"Before she got her past back, or after?" Commander Hange asked. Clarissa watched with her eyes widened.
"After, that would be like she was in the past after all." The man asked. Commander Hange nodded.
"Absolutely no way she would even make a child cry. When we were at Trost the day the wall was broken through I asked her to buy me a notebook because I forgot mine. On her way she ran into a child. She had a conversation with her, even though it was in her way of completing an order." Commander Hange said. Clarissa's jaw opened slightly.
"You were watching me?" Clarissa blurted out. Commander Hange shrugged.
"I wanted my notebook." Commander Hange said sheepishly.
"This is my last question." The man said. Commander Hange looked back over at him. "Do you think Clarissa killed Alessandra?"
"No, not in one million years." Commander Hange said. Clarissa looked down at her feet in silence. There was nothing to do, either she was going to be charged with murder she didn't do. Or walk away from it with every Survey Corps higher up knowing more about Clarissa than they needed to. Clarissa thought that the only reason Mikasa, Eren, and Armin were there was to embarrass her.
Commander Hange got off of the stands. The man stood back up in front of Clarissa. Clarissa was ready for many more questions to be asked, but instead he stayed quiet. The judge spoke instead.
"I have enough evidence to declare Clarissa Daren Ackerman not guilty." He said. Clarissa smiled and nodded. A guard walked up to Clarissa and unlocked her handcuffs. Then she took the handcuffs and walked up to where Mrs. Lilith was standing.
"Lilith Everdeen, you are under arrest for suggested child neglect." She said, Mrs. Lilith staggered back a step. She looked around.
"No, no! This isn't right! None of this! Clarissa killed Alessandra, she was jealous!" Mrs. Lilith yelled holding her hands close to her body so the Military Police couldn't get to them. No one spoke, but instead more Military Police walked up to her and put handcuffs on her.
Clarissa looked over to the judge for an answer. He just looked at Mrs. Lilith as they hauled her out of the courtroom. Alina walked up to Clarissa. Clarissa pulled her into a hug. "I am sorry, I filed the report on Mrs. Lilith. I hope you don't mind." Alina whispered letting go.
"I am thankful for it. Now I am just wondering where you are going to stay." Clarissa said with a smile. Armin, Eren, and Mikasa walked up to Clarissa as the whole jury began to leave the room.
"Everdeen, your sister can stay at the base until she finds a place to stay." Commander Erwin said walking up to the small group. Armin, Eren, Mikasa, and Clarissa all saluted to him. Alina shuffled self consciously.
"Really?" Alina asked. Commander Erwin nodded. "Thank you sir!"
"No problem, you will have to do your part in cleaning, of course." Commander Erwin said. Alina nodded.
"I wouldn't expect anything different!" Alina said smiling. Clarissa put her arm around Alina's shoulder and pulled her close.
"We will be leaving in ten minutes." Commander Erwin said before he walked off to talk with Commander Hange.
"I get to stay with you!" Alina said then she hugged Clarissa. Clarissa nodded as she held Alina close. After everything, Alina is just happy to be with Clarissa. She isn't even in the slightest worried about the mother that just got hauled away. Clarissa still had no idea what happened within those six years. A lot can happen in six years. A lot.
They went back to the base, Clarissa and Alina both rode in the carriage while the rest of the soldiers rode on horses. When they got to the base it was a day off. So Clarissa changed into her casual clothes. A floor length white skirt, a maroon dress shirt and black combat boots.
Alina was still in her white jeans and white shirt. She was promised a trip to Urmich, one of the districts outside of wall Sina, by Nanaba, one of the higher ups. They would go out right after lunch. Apparently Clarissa's trial was set for eight in the morning. Leaving half an hour until lunch.
As soon as Clarissa changed she walked to Commander Hange's office. She knocked on the door. "Come in!" Commander Hange called from the other side of the door. Clarissa entered the room and Commander Hange looked up from her book. "Clarissa! What can I do for you?"
"I would like to apologize for taking up your time this morning." Clarissa said closing the door as she furthered into the room. Commander Hange smiled.
"If you are sorry enough, then help me find a book! I can't seem to find it." Commander Hange said. Clarissa nodded.
"What book?" Clarissa asked walking up to her desk.
"It is a book on the current noble families, and clans. I think it is in the library, because it is newer!" Commander Hange said with a smile. Clarissa nodded.
"Okay, I will go get it." Clarissa said. She turned around and left the room.
"Thank you!" Commander Hange called from her desk as Clarissa closed the door behind her. Clarissa walked down the hall to the library. Yes, today was a day off, and yes Clarissa had time to do whatever she wanted to. But she would rather work, Alina is spending some time with Eren and Mikasa. Armin is doing whatever he does, Clarissa's only goal is to keep herself busy, and that involves helping out Commander Hange.
Clarissa walked into the library and was greeted by six people looking over at her. She walked over to the wall of history book, and the section that had the books on all the noble families. The eyes of all the six people were on her. Clarissa couldn't be upset, they did just see her get arrested for murder a day ago. Anyone would get weird looks. Some of them were whispering to each other. It wasn't that hard to hear what they were saying.
"She was arrested for murder, why is she back already? Should we run?" One of them said.
"She acted so calm when she was arrested, did she actually murder that girl then? She was prepared." Another one of them said. Clarissa took a deep breath then she grabbed onto a book on the powerful clans of the current time. The door to the library opened and Armin came walking in. He walked right up to Clarissa.
"I ran into Commander Erwin, he told me to give you this." Armin said holding out her switchblade. Clarissa took with a smile.
"Thank you," Clarissa said then she looked back at the wall of books.
"What are you looking for?" Armin asked. Clarissa grabbed another book of rarest clans of the current time.
"Commander Hange asked for books on noble families and clans of the current time." Clarissa said putting the switchblade away in her right boot.
"It is a day off, why don't you take it?" Armin asked. Clarissa shrugged and grabbed a book of of the noble families.
"This day started off with me in a courtroom. I don't think that means I got a day off, I am fine." Clarissa said.
"Maybe she should've stayed in court." Someone behind Clarissa said. Clarissa turned around to look at the group of six people.
"Who said that?" Clarissa asked looking over the people. No one answered, obviously, but they all looked up at her. "Don't talk unless you know what actually happened. I was convicted by my mother, at the end of it she was arrested. You can guess what happened during that trial, but no matter what you guess it won't be right." Clarissa took a deep breath. "If you are scared of me then you should rethink your career choice." Clarissa said then she walked out of the library. Armin followed quickly after her.
"Where are you going?" Armin asked as he followed Clarissa. Clarissa was power walking down the hallway. Almost running.
"To bring Commander Hange her books." Clarissa said turning around the corner. She slowed down once she was in the hallway that Commander Hange's office was in. Commander Erwin was outside of her office. He looked over at Clarissa once he heard footsteps.
"Isn't it your day off?" Commander Erwin asked as Clarissa and Armin approached. Armin saluted, but Clarissa didn't because her hands were full with books.
"Yes sir, but I prefer to help around if I have nothing else to do." Clarissa said with a smile. Commander Erwin nodded and walked into Commander Hange's office. Clarissa followed. Commander Hange stood up from her desk and was only looking at Clarissa and the books in her hand.
"My books, thank you!" Commander Hange said. Clarissa walked up to Commander Hange and set the small stack of books in her hand. Then Clarissa saluted once her hands were free. Commander Hange looked over the books then she looked up at Clarissa satisfied with what books she has in her hand.
"Now go do something for yourself, I have to talk with Erwin." Commander Hange said turning around and placing the books on her already book covered desk. Clarissa turned around and walked out of the room. Armin was waiting for her in the hallway. Behind her Commander Erwin closed the door.
"What are we going to do now?" Armin asked. Clarissa looked up and down the hallway then she landed on one direction.
"To find my sister, wherever she is." Clarissa said walking down the hallway. Armin followed beside her.
"Where do you think he is?" Armin asked. Clarissa shrugged and looked over at him.
"Where would Mikasa and Eren be? Alina wanted to spend time with them." Clarissa said. Armin nodded.
"They are probably in the mess hall or on the training field." Armin said. Clarissa nodded and started walking to the mess hall. Clarissa walked into the mess hall and there were many people sitting around at tables playing cards, or just talking. In the back of the mess hall Eren, Mikasa and Alina were sitting talking to each other. Clarissa walked back to the table and sat down beside Alina. Mikasa and Eren were sitting across from them.
"What were you doing?" Alina asked. Armin sat down beside Eren.
"Helping out Commander Hange, she needed some books and I was free. What have you guys been doing" Clarissa asked. Eren and Mikasa looked between each other then they looked at Alina. Clarissa's eyebrows scrunched together. "Alina?"
"We were talking about what I was going to do once I got to shop." Alina said with a smile. Clarissa nodded. She did not believe her one bit.
"Yeah, okay. We are in charge of getting the dishes ready, correct?" Clarissa asked standing. Eren and Mikasa nodded.