Chapter 18: The Uprising Part 8: Rescue

"What's going on?" demands Riess.

"How the hell should I know?" snaps Forrae. "Hey, hey you useless human get over here!" There's the sound of running feet on the white stone floor. "What the hell's going on?"

"We're under attack!" says a woman's voice. "They pushed some kind of bomb down the stairs and the whole room's filling with smoke."

"Who? Who's attacking us?"

"It looks like the soldiers from the Survey Corps, but the El-Ekar are with them as well!"

"Dam that stupid bitch and her rebels! I told you we should have killed them Riess!"

"Once the power is restored they will not be able to hinder us!" protests Rod Riess.

"Well in case you hadn't noticed, your sweet daughter isn't keen on that."

"Just get up there and stop them dam it!"

"How? There's not enough room in here to transform; I'd just end up knocking out the supports and cause the roof to collapse."

"You've been trained as a soldier six times throughout your life! Surely you're capable of fighting without your titan body?"

"Ugh, I can't believe I'm sworn to protect you fat pig!" Forrae runs off towards the far end of the chamber where I can hear the sounds of gunfire and the occasional cry of an injured combatant. Rod Riess turns back to his daughter. "Historia, there's no time left! You need to change and you need to do it now!"

"Why should I?" demands Historia. "Humanity can never get anywhere if we maintain this balance. We'll be trapped inside of these walls for the rest of our pathetic existence. It might be easier but it won't ever lead to anything! Most people are content to spend their entire lives without knowing anymore than what's offered to them. I admit I used to be one of those people, but I've seen that there are things worth knowing, places worth seeing, things worth having! We can never achieve that without taking the harder path; without making the sacrifice necessary. Yes people have died, and yes people will die, but in the end it will be for the greater good of Humanity. That is something I can't be dissuaded from."

Historia raises her arm as if to throw the needle and its contents to the floor. "No!" cries Riess, leaping forwards and grabbing her by the arm. "This must be done!" he shouts passionately. "There is no other way to ensure our safety!"

"Get off of me!" screams Historia, kicking her father's legs out from under him. She tries once again to dispose of the serum, but Riess grabs at her and pulls her down to the floor, causing the syringe to roll loose.

I'm pulling frantically at my restraints, but all I'm able to do is cut into my own wrists and ankles. I glance over at Eren. To my surprise he's just hanging limply from his bindings. 'Eren! Eren can you hear me?'

"Yeah, I can hear you." Even in my mind his voice sounds drained and despondent.

'Eren, you have to try and get free. Your restraints are as secure as mine are.'

"Why? What's the point? Mankind doesn't need me, I shouldn't even be here."

'Look I know this is going to sound ridiculous but I knew your father better than you might think. I don't know why but I'm certain he'd never try to steal the Coordinate power just for his own ends. More than that I knew my own father as well. He might have had his faults yes, but he wouldn't be party to something like that if it weren't absolutely necessary. We need to trust that they knew what they were doing!'

Eren doesn't reply. Angrily I tug at my restraints further, without success.

Historia is scrabbling on the ground, trying to stop her father from getting at the serum. While she's had proper combat training and would probably be a good deal fitter than him, she's a lot smaller. Using that to his advantage Riess throws her off and leaps forwards, grabbing the syringe. He turns to face his daughter with a look of disappointment but determination. "I'm sorry you weren't willing to do this on your own Historia, I really am."

"Go to hell!" she screams back from her place on the floor. Riess rushes her and attempts to hold her down. Planting both feet against his stomach Historia shoves him off with her legs. He rushes at her again, trying to shove the needle into her arm. She smashes her elbow down onto the back of his neck and kicks him in the groin. Rod Riess grunts and slips down to the floor, keeping a hold of her arm. Before Historia can pull away, her jams the needle into her exposed forearm and injects her. "No!" Historia screams as a brilliant yellow blast emanates from her, sending her father backwards into a roll.

The titan condenses into the air. Various strands of skin, muscle and bone rip into existence. The nape closes over Historia's still struggling form as the last stages of transformation are completed. The new titan crouches on the floor of the cave, long blonde hair hanging down over its face. Its body trembles and several faint yaps escape from between its jaws. Then it throws back its head and rearing up to its full height of thirteen metres screams.

The screech is almost exactly like the Female Titan's, except that I'm hearing this one up close. The immense wave of noise makes me want to desperately clamp my hands over my ears, except I can't move them. Rod Riess looks up at the new titan with a look of relief and delight on his eyes. "Yes!" he cries jubilantly. "At last the balance shall be restored!"

Historia's titan does resemble her somewhat, in that it has hair just like hers and the eyes are the same colour. Even the shape of its head is somewhat reminiscent of her. It's also heavily athletic like all of the shifted titans have been so far. I suppose a weak titan isn't much use to anybody. The titan sniffs the air and turns to look at Eren's chained down form. I suddenly realise what the cut on his forehead is for; the new titan can smell the blood.

Historia clearly has no control over the creature as it strides towards Eren. He looks up at it with a resigned look, as if he's already accepted his fate. The titan reaches down and grabbing Eren pulls him up from the ground, ripping his chains up from the stone they're anchored to. The titan snaps both chains off and holds Eren in front of it. 'Historia stop! Don't do it!' The titan opens its jaws and moves Eren forwards.

The titan clamps down its jaws over Eren's middle. Blood spurts into the air as it bites through his waist and severs his legs. Eren screams in pain as the titan swallows his lower body, blood trickly down its chin. The titan opens its mouth wide and prepares to drop Eren down into its gapping maw.

There's a whirring noise and a pronounced zip as a figure flies into my field of vision. Dressed in a purple hooded cloak and using ODM Gear, the figure slices neatly through the titan's fingers. Eren's half body falls backwards towards the floor, only to be caught by the new figure and lowered carefully to the ground. As the figure turns to look in my direction I recognise the girl from the undercity, Amanda Quinn.

The titan snarls and reaches down again for Eren, only to withdraw its hand with a hiss and a rush of steam. Out of the smoke gathering at the far end of the room come flying three figures, two of them green cloaked Scouts and the third dressed in a black full length hooded tunic. The lead Scout rushes in and neatly cuts the titan's Achilles tendons, causing it to fall forwards onto the floor. Amanda dives out of the way, dragging Eren with her. Steam is billowing from Eren's torn middle, but blood still oozes out onto the floor.

The second Scout rushes over to me while the figure in black hurries over to Amanda's side. I recognise Captain Hange as she reaches me and bends over to locks on my feet. "Sorry we're late," she says, "I don't suppose you mind filling us in on the part we missed?"

"It's quite a lot to fill you in on," I say, sitting up and rubbing my ankles. "For now all you need to know is that that titan is Historia and that she has no control over herself. She's going to be focused on eating Eren and we can't let her do it."

"What?" Hange looks at the titan in surprise. "Jeez, I knew that everyone had their bad side but she has the second worst one I've ever seen!"

"Second worst?"

"Don't ask." Hange rushes back towards the titan waving her arms. "Hey Levi, don't kill it! That's Historia!"

The First Scout (apparently Captain Levi) pulls up short and slides neatly across the floor. "What? How's that possible?" he snaps.

"No idea, but Matthias says that's what's going on so for now we focus on containing her all right?"

"Okay. If you want to explain how we do that I'm open to suggestions."

"For now just keep cutting her tendons. It'll probably hurt but I'm afraid we'll just have to hope she doesn't have us executed once we get her on the throne."

"Wait," I say, looking at Hange in surprise, "you know she's the heir to the throne?"

"According to our stylish friend in purple over there she is," says Hange, pointing in Amanda's direction. "And I'd say her information is pretty good; she's the one who told us how to get here."

"But, how?" I ask. My head is whirling with confused thoughts and my ankles and wrists feel like they're on fire.

"We can swap explanations later, for now let's focus on trying to get our favourite future monarch back into human form. Do you think you can communicate with her using your abilities?"

I shrug. "No idea, she didn't make any response before but I can try." I draw in a deep breath and concentrate on Historia as hard as I can. 'Historia, Historia can you hear me?' The titan grunts slightly at that, letting out a snarl. I can hear a faint whisper, but nothing else. 'Historia, I know you're there and I know you can hear me. Concentrate on me and think in my direction as hard as you can.'

The whispering grows louder and more coherent. Eventually I hear a voice inside my mind, very faint and far away. "I can hear you," it says. "I can't do anything though. This thing won't let me move myself!"

'I need you to stay calm. Try to focus on something that you can use as an anchor point. Some sort of thought or image or memory that's important to you. Try to pull yourself through with that.'

"Pull myself through? Matthias you're not making any sense!"

'Yeah, this kind of thing doesn't make any sense I know. Just try and focus on something and use that to in turn focus on who you are. You have to assert your will over that of the titan.'

The titan grunts and splutters, its limbs kicking wildly as it tries to move. Levi quickly cuts through its spinal cord, immobilising it from the shoulders down. "I, I can't do it!" gasps Historia. Her voice sound panicky and I'm afraid that she may be about to lose even the ability to communicate with me.

'You can! You already have in fact. You're able to talk to me, which means that you're conscious. That means you can fight this thing all right?'

"But I can't! My mind feels like it's being stood on and I can't think clearly! Matthias, I'm losing!" The titan roars and kicks with its legs, cracking one of the pillars that hold up the ceiling.

"We can't let her move around in here!" shouts Hange. "If she carries on like this the whole roof will cave in!"

"Matthias, I can't do this I..." Historia's voice trails off into the faint whisperings of an ordinary titan.

"Dam it! I lost her," I say turning to face Hange.

"There's nothing else you can do?" she asks.

"Well, I do have one more idea. I think if I transform it may amplify my powers."

"All right then give it a shot. Just try not to knock down any more pillars. If you do it's likely the entire ceiling will down on us."

"Got it." I sink my teeth into my hand and the familiar rush of transforming circuits through me. I shake myself internally as the thin veil of steam drifts out of my vision. I bend over next to the struggling titan and grab its head with both hands. I forcibly turn its face towards me and stare into its eyes. What I do next I do completely on instinct. I feel a searing pain building up on my forehead, as if I were being burned. Then there's a flash and red beam of light crosses between me and Historia's titan. I can see it reflected in the titan's eyes, so bright that I can't bear to look up at it. 'Well, at least we know what the black disk is for,' I think to myself as a white light washes over me.

As it clears I find myself standing in an empty black space. Then, an image appears far off in the distance. It begins to grow steadily larger as it rushes towards me. The image grows larger and large until it reaches full size and is right in front of me. Historia is on her knees with both of her hands pressed against her head. Looming over her is the titan from the cave. It's smaller than before at only five or so metres tall, but it still dwarfs either of us.

The titan looks up at me with a leering grin, saliva and blood running down its chin. I hear a growl from behind me, and turn to see my titan standing tall at six metres. Strangely, I don't feel the usual sort of disgust at its presence, rather a strange kind of comfort in the knowledge that it's there. It's my titan and it's on my side.

I stare into the eyes of Historia's titan, feeling hatred welling up inside of me. "Let her go," I tell it in the most commanding voice I can manage. The titan shakes its head slowly. "Let her go or I will make you."

"We, not, yours," grunts the titan. "Can't, make, us, do, anything."

"Maybe I can't, but he can," I say, pointing a thumb over my shoulder at my giant companion.

My titan growls deeply, as if in anticipation. "Yes, we could," it agrees. "He, Giant's Blood. He, has, authority."

"Mine, Giant's Blood, as well," says the other. "She, give me, authority, for, myself."

"I, stronger," points out my titan. "Much older. I, break, you."

"No," says Historia's titan with a shake of the head.

"Yes."

"No!"

"YES!"

"Take her!" I cry. With a howl my titan leaps forwards and tackles Historia's titan to the ground. I dash forwards and pull Historia away from the two struggling figures. "Historia, Historia wake up! Listen to my voice, follow it! I need you to come back to me right now!" She doesn't move. Her eyes are closed and she feels frighteningly cold. "Historia please," I say, hugging her close to my chest. "You have to come back!"

My titan has its enemy pinned to the ground. The younger roars defiantly up at its opponent's face. With a savage snarl my titan lunges forwards and sinks its teeth into its enemy's throat. Historia's titan jerks several times, and then lies still. My titan looks up at me with blood staining its teeth. Almost like a small child realising he has food on his face he hastily wipes his jaws clean. "I won," it says simply.

I nod. "I suppose you did. Why won't she wake up?"

The titan shrugs. "Lost."

I sigh. "Does that mean she's dead?"

The titan shakes its head. "No, dead. Lost."

"How do I find her then?"

"Don't, know. She, Giant's Blood. Very special."

"Yes," I say, stroking her forehead. "Yes she is." I lean forwards and kiss her on the forehead. "Historia, please find me. I don't want to be alone again. I love you."

The world vanishes again in a rush of white light and I'm still holding onto the titan's head. However, steam has begun to rise from its flesh and I can see a small shape jutting out from its nape. Gently I lower the corpse to the ground and snap out of my own titan body. Sliding carefully down the tall back, I hurry around to the front. I pause on the way and look up at the huge face. "Thanks big guy," I say, patting its knee.

I scramble up the side of Historia's titan until I reach the nape. Historia is leaning out of the sticky mess at the back of the neck. I wrap my arms around her and with some difficultly I rip her free. I carefully carry her down to the ground and away from the steaming heap. I put my fingers under her chin and check for a pulse, my own racing. I heave a sigh of relief as I feel a steady thump under my fingers.

"Historia?" I ask, gently brushing at the hair around her face.

She lets out a faint moan, and her eyes flicker open. "Matthias? I'm not sure I like being a titan shifter very much."

"Yeah, first time's pretty rough isn't it?"

"Uhuh," she mumbles groggily. "I didn't liked her very much," she says, pointing over my shoulder to the black smoking body. "She was a real bitch."

I laugh quietly at that. "A Queen shouldn't swear now should she?"

"And a prince isn't supposed to beat up a girl," she counters with a smile.

I shrug. "Like you said, she was a real bitch."

Hange runs over to us, breaking the atmosphere of the moment. "Historia, uh, I mean sir, or now wait, your majesty!" she says, fumbling over the correct form of address.

"Historia's fine Captain," says Historia, pushing herself up into a sitting position.

"You're all right then? Nothing broken or anything like that?"

"I don't think so. I feel a little dizzy, and pretty tired. Apart from that I'm okay."

Hange's next words are cut off by a cry from across the room. "No! You fools you've destroyed everything!" shouts Rod Riess. He looks like a man in despair, tears streaming down his cheeks.

Levi walks over to him. "You, sir, have a lot to answer for from what I can tell," he says with a scowl. "I'm going to enjoy ensuring that you answer for all of it."

"Ignorant fool!" spits Riess. "You filthy descendant of an eastern rat!"

"I beg your pardon?" Levi levels his blade against Riess's neck. "Would you care to repeat that?"

Riess grinds his teeth, staring at the Captain with fuming hatred. The smoke is clearing and I can see groups of MPs wearing Anti-Personal Manoeuvre Gear being backed into corners by a combined force of Scouts and various men and women in civilian clothes. "We have your leader in custody!" calls out Hange cheerfully. "There's no more point fighting so might as well surrender!"

The MPs exchange glances nervously, but then lay down their weapons and unbuckle their gear. They're herded into groups with their hands up. Captain Hange turns to me with a broad smile, "by midday tomorrow the entire Kingdom is going to know about this. We've arranged a contact with one of the major news printing companies and they'll be more than happy to write this one up all over the place."

"I'd say that the Coup is nearly over," says Levi, walking up one of his swords rested casually on one shoulder. "All that remains is to put forwards Historia's rightful claim to the throne and the current government will have no choice but to back down."

Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Rod Riess fiddling with something. I turn my head to look properly. I only just have enough time to call out a warning as I see him slam one of the needles into his arm. There's a truly colossal flash of light, and as it fades somewhat, I can see a spine exploding into existence. Each vertebra is at least two metres wide.