Man: GRAB HER! HOLD HER DOWN!
A man grabs Brianne while she's asleep and tosses her to the floor face down. Brianne is dazed and baffled at what's going on from the sudden blitz attack. The man handcuffs Brianne's hands behind her back, and he lifts her off her feet. Brianne sees 4 Military Police in her room, and her mouth drops when she recognizes the man who screamed in her ear. It's the same soldier who killed her mother 4 years ago in her home, the same man who stabbed her mother and left her to bleed out to death as Brianne watched hiding under the bed. The same squad members that came into her home that unfortunate night are also there to escort Brianne out. Brianne can't believe she's being confronted by the same people she planned revenge on for the past 4 years, the same people she vowed to teach a lesson to not ever mess with the Turgard family.
Brianne: What's going on?!
Man: Brianne Ackerman, you are under arrest for being an accomplice to multiple murders and harboring a dangerous fugitive. You are hereby sentenced to remain under the incarceration of the Military Police until your trial.
The man pushes Brianne out of her room, and all the trainees and trainers on the Military training ground stare as Brianne is walked off like a legit criminal. Brianne is completely embarrassed at what's going on and how she's being treated, and she understands that it has to do something with Kenny. Brianne curses herself for being so stupid using Kenny's last name as her own, and she knows that she was too impulsive and reactive to stop and think things through. She notices the man who allowed her to join the Military last night standing there taller than most of the trainees, and she knows that this man must've called the MP once he recognized her last name. Niles and Erwin stare at the scene, and Erwin watches Brianne being escorted by the 4 MP soldiers away from the training ground.
Niles: I've never seen her around before. Must be a new trainee.
Erwin doesn't respond, recognizing the girl who beat him last night. Erwin glances at Dot Pixus, and he knows that Pixus must've called in the MP to capture this girl.
Niles: Wonder what she did to piss off the MP like that.
Erwin's curiosity gets the better of him, and he walks away from Niles towards Dot Pixus who watches Brianne being taken away.
Erwin: Sir...who is that girl?
Pixus: (keeps his eyes on Brianne) Not here, Number One, and not now.
Erwin: Why not, sir?
Pixus: (looks at Erwin) Because things are all too sensitive at the moment. Come, let us begin the day.
Brianne is escorted into a carriage, and she looks out the carriage windows as the people try to get a glimpse inside while standing aside on the street. Brianne doesn't say a word, afraid that it'll just cause anger and some kind of backlash. The carriage stops at the MP facility within the Capital, and she's taken to the underground MP prison for the incredibly dangerous criminals and domestic terrorists. Brianne is afraid at what's happening as she walks by the cells, each cell occupied with a criminal/terrorist. They all holler at Brianne, whistling and cat-calling that there's a girl in the facility.
Brianne: Where are you taking me?
Soldier: Shut up...
Levi, Farlan, and Isabel roam around the streets just chilling around when they hear a commotion on the street. They know the MP are on their way to pass by with a detained criminal, and everyone on the street moves aside so the carriage can stroll through to the MP prison.
Farlan: (excited and clasps hands together) Yes! Starting the day with some drama. Wonder who got caught this time.
Isabel: I bet it was Johnny.
Farlan: Seriously? You think the MP would give a rat's ass about a petty thief? Besides, they would never take Johnny to the facility in a carriage. It's only reserved for the craziest criminals. I bet it's Monty.
Isabel: No way! They could never catch Monty. He's almost as good at hiding than Kenny.
Levi, Farlan, and Isabel follow the carriage to the MP facility, and they're shocked to see Brianne being taken into the building. They're silent and frozen for a few seconds before looking at one another with the same shocked expression.
Isabel: That was...Bri...wasn't it?
Farlan: She must've used her real last name or yours, Levi. Yours and Kenny's.
Isabel: No way. You think she'd be that stupid to do that?
Levi: C'mon, let's go check it out.
Levi, Farlan, and Isabel approach the MP building, and they scale the building to the rooftop with ease. They make their way into the building from there, and they hide behind a wall to listen to the soldiers talking amongst themselves in the hallway.
Soldier 1: You really think a little girl like that has anything to do with Kenny the Ripper?
Soldier 2: Hey, they got the same last name. The other Ackerman's didn't know anything about him, so she's our last hope to catching that bastard.
Soldier 1: I don't know. I don't think a little girl like that would know anything about a serial killer.
Soldier 3: Looks are always deceiving, man.
Soldier 1: Yeah, I guess so.
Soldier 3: I heard this time it'll be different than what happened to the other Ackerman's.
Soldier 2: What do you mean?
Soldier 3: The King is fed up with the anarchy and chaos the Ripper is spreading, and he's going to send a message with this one.
Soldier 1: What?
Soldier 3: Don't you get it? It doesn't matter if this kid is found innocent. She's gonna face the death sentence no matter what.
Soldier 1: (gasps) But she's just a kid!
Soldier 3: The King doesn't care. He's fed up with getting zero results, so he's gonna send a message with her.
Soldier 2: Geez, that's brutal.
Soldier 1: Seriously.
Levi motions to leave the building, and the 3 sneak back up to the rooftop. The 3 immediately run away from the building to a secure location to talk.
Farlan: (frantic) Holy shit! They're gonna kill Bri!
Isabel: We can't let them execute her. Levi, we gotta do something.
Levi: (nods) Yeah. Come on. We need to tell Kenny.
Levi, Farlan, and Isabel run off to their abandoned shack, and they see Kenny taking an afternoon nap on his ripped up sofa.
Levi: Kenny, wake up! (shoves Kenny awake) Wake up!
Kenny: (grouchy) Goddamn it, kid! Didn't I tell you to never wake me up when I'm napping? I had a long night.
Levi: (in one breath) The MP's gonna execute the kid because she gave our last name when she enlisted in the Military yesterday.
Kenny looks at Levi to soak up the information for a moment, and then he chuckles.
Kenny: (closes eyes) Real funny, little nephew-
Isabel: It's not a joke, Kenny. It's for real. The MP took Bri to their facility just now, and we heard them talking about how The King is gonna execute her to send a message to the people about you.
Kenny: (smirks) Aw, he always has to steer the conversation back to me. I'm so flattered.
Farlan: It's not a joke, Kenny. You gotta help us free her, man.
Kenny doesn't answer.
Levi: (getting angry that Kenny is so nonchalant) The kid needs our help. They're gonna kill her.
Kenny: She's a smart girl. She'll figure a way out of it.
Levi: (fuming) What the hell are you saying?! She's been captured by the goddamn Military Police! This shit wouldn't have happened if you had just listened to me! I told you not to go out that night, man! You promised!
Kenny: (annoyed) Shut the hell up, kid. You're intruding on my nap time.
Levi shoves Kenny so hard that he falls off the sofa and onto the ground hard.
Levi: What the hell is your problem, Kenny?!
Kenny quickly jumps onto his feet and raises his fist to punch the living crap out of Levi, but he restrains himself having to remember that Levi is his one and only nephew.
Levi: (blows up) This is all your goddamn fault, man! You drove the kid away into the lions' den, and now you're saying she'll figure a way out of it?!
Kenny: (annoyed and raises his voice) I'm telling you, Levi, Brianne is a smart kid. She'll find a way out of it.
Levi: Fuck this! You're just wasting my goddamn time!
Levi turns his back to Kenny to get out of the building, planning to do something, anything to help free Brianne.
Kenny: Whoa whoa, hold on there, Levi.
Levi looks back to glare at Kenny, frustrated that he won't do anything to save Brianne.
Kenny: You don't understand what you're asking me to do.
Levi: I'm asking you to save the kid.
Kenny: Don't you get what price I'll have to pay to do what you're asking of me?
Levi is quiet. Kenny can see how much saving Brianne means to his little nephew.
Kenny: (sighs) Just answer me this. Who would you rather see free? The kid...or me?
Levi: What?
Kenny: Just answer me that. Would you rather have Brianne be free or me?
Levi is quiet and looks down at the ground.
Kenny: No answer? Then I won't help-
Levi: (quickly) The kid. I'd rather see her free.
Kenny: (slightly hurt) Why?
Levi: Cus you know how to take care of yourself. Even in the shittiest of situations, you know how to handle yourself. But Brianne...she's just a kid. Yeah, she's a smart girl. I know she is. But she's young, and she's inexperienced. She's never been to jail, she's never stood before a trial that's going to sentence her to death, she's never had to deal with any of that kind of shit. But you're experienced. You'd know what to do, what to say, how to handle yourself. Don't you think she's scared right now, sitting in that underground jail cell all by herself with those other criminals? Don't you think she's sitting there trying to figure out what to do but can't because she's terrified? It doesn't matter how much training you get and how much you learn, it's how you apply it to experience. She's got none, and you've got plenty.
Kenny: (smirks and shakes his head sadly) Good reasoning, kid.
Levi: So...you'll help her?...
Brianne, with her hands still handcuffed behind her back, is taken into the court room. It's a very small court room, and there before her at the judge's table sits the generalissimo, Darius Zackly. He is the supreme commander of the entire Military branch. Brianne is brought forth to the podium in front of him, and he stares down at her to examine the little girl before him. He's surprised at how young this little girl is and is in doubt that she has anything to do with Kenny the Ripper. The MP soldier that killed her mother is there as the prosecutor, and the room is filled with MP soldiers who stare down Brianne. They all already think she's guilty of association with The Ripper.
MP soldier: Your Honor, the Military Police believe that this girl before you has personal ties to Kenny Ackerman aka Kenny the Ripper. She shared her last name with Commander Dot Pixus when she arrived at the Military Training Camp last night. Commander Pixus immediately contacted our Commander, and that is when we've ordered the arrest for Brianne Ackerman.
Zackly: (looks at Brianne) Is this true, little girl? Do you have ties to Kenny Ackerman, the Ripper?
Brianne doesn't answer. She stares around the courtroom, looking like a deer in headlights. She's frightened at what's happening, but she knows she needs to gather herself to protect and stand up for herself.
Zackly: (demanding) Little girl, answer my question. Do you have ties to Kenny Ackerman, the Ripper?
Brianne: (looks up at Zackly) I can't deny that I don't, Your Honor.
Everyone in the room gasps loudly and whispers among themselves, and Zackly bangs his gravel for order. The court shushes immediately.
Zackly: I'll take that as a confession. I find you, Brianne Ackerman, guilty of aiding in multiple murders and harboring a fugitive. I hereby order you the death sentence.
Brianne's mouth drops after hearing those words. She can't believe she has been handed the death sentence for associating with Kenny. She can't grasp the idea that she's going to die today at the hands of the government just like her parents, and she's completely paralyzed.
Zackly: Because the death sentence is usually handed to citizens 16-years or older, the government will be quite gratuitous on how your sentence will be carried out. We will give you the option to choose how you shall proceed with your death sentence.
MP soldier: (argues) Your Honor-
Zackly puts his hand up, and the soldier shuts his mouth. Zackly has made up his mind to show the little girl a bit of mercy because of his compassion for the child. He knows that the girl standing before him isn't a terrible girl by the look of horror on her face after being handed the death sentence.
Zackly: By combat, hanging, burning, or being thrown out the Wall? It is your choice, little girl, and choose wisely.
Brianne is too shocked to respond trying to understand what's going on. Everything is happening so fast, and she can't grasp the reality that she's going to die in a matter of hours at the hands of the very government that killed off her mother and father.
Zackly: If you do not respond, you shall be handed the usual penalty of-
Brianne: (quickly) Combat. Combat, Your Honor.
Zackly looks at Brianne, puzzled that such a little girl would choose to die by combat.
Zackly: Very well. (bangs gravel) Brianne Ackerman, you are hereby given the death sentence by combat. (to the MP soldiers) Take her away to the stadium.
The MP soldiers immediately take Brianne out of the room, and the people outside the courtroom boo her. They shout nasty curse words at Brianne, terrible things to her for having an association with Kenny the Ripper. They even throw food and other things at Brianne as if she is a petty criminal. But Brianne doesn't hear or care about any of this. All she can think about is her imminent death. She had to choose combat because she knows she could at least fight for her life, but her father's words from his will ring in her ears as she's taken to the stadium.
Brianne...Commit yourself to the improvement of the Capital, its institutionals, and its citizens. Please, remain strong. You are young, and you are destined for great things. Make the most of your opportunities so that you may give back to those who have given to you, to change the lives of millions of people...
The MP soldiers take Brianne to the stadium where the criminals are sentenced to death by combat. One trial by combat has just finished, and there are fresh pools and trails of blood all over the sandy and dusty ground.
Do not lead a destructive lifestyle, do not be obsessed with anger or revenge. Invest in the Capital; treat the people like family; watch over them and use your strength and courage to safeguard the people against forces out of their control. My deepest regret is that I will not see you grow into the great woman you will one day become.
Brianne is thrown into the stadium, and the crowds gather quickly. Brianne is on all fours, and she looks down upon the bloodied sand. She could only imagine what kind of fight had happened in the stadium just minutes before her arrival. The crowd boos Brianne loudly, and she slowly stands on her feet to look at everyone. She stands there in the arena alone, looking around at all the people who are there to watch her be killed in a gruesome battle. All the people are rooting against her.
And finally, my precious daughter, I ask that you will never allow the Capital in the hands of fate. You have lived through dark times, and surely there are more to come. But it is the good and great people who stand up for the weak when others will turn and run. In death I will love you forever. Your Father, Thomas Turgard.
As Brianne looks around, she notices that a grown man walks onto the stadium floor where he is equipped with a spear and armor. The people cheer the man on to kill Brianne. An MP throws down a shabby sword to Brianne's feet so that she can put up a fight per the rules of death by combat...
Farlan: Holy shit, they're starting the sentence!
Levi, Farlan, and Isabel run as fast as they can to the stadium, hearing the roar of the crowds. They push and shove their way to the front of the crowd, and Levi sees Brianne there in the arena. He doesn't believe what he's seeing. She's sitting on the floor with her knees up to her chest, the sword beside her but an arm's reach away. She looks frightened yet apathetic as if she's accepted her unfortunate fate. A tall, grown man stands before her with his spear in his hand.
Man: Get up, little girl.
Brianne doesn't reply or do what he says. She doesn't move a single muscle, sitting absolutely still.
Man: I said get up!
Brianne remains at that same position, and the man shoves her on the shoulder with his foot like she is truly insignificant. There's a dusty footprint on her shoulder.
Man: You'd think Kenny the Ripper would've taught you how to stand up for yourself. But a coward can only learn so much.
Brianne looks up at the man.
Man: (condescending) Ooh hoo, I touched a nerve, didn't I? What's your relation with The Ripper? Father? Uncle? (scoffs) Wonder why he's not here to stick up for you. Cowards you all are. The whole lot of you are pathetic. Bet your father is disappointed that he brought up a cowardly criminal like you.
Brianne: (threatens in a calm voice) Don't speak about my father.
Man: (bellows a laugh) Where's your father now, Little Ripper? In his home hiding in the shadows, waiting for the night to return? He should be underground with the maggots and worms where he belongs! He should go to h-
Without a moment's hesitation, Brianne grabs the man's spear away from his grasp and she stabs the man right in the stomach. The man groans in pain, and Brianne gets onto her feet glaring into the man's eyes with such powerful and fierce anger. She twists the spear around, and she takes it out and stabs the man again in his heart watching him die quickly the way her mother died when she was stabbed in the heart. The crowd cheers as if actually rooting for Brianne because of how great her first kill was. Before Brianne can accept the fact that she just killed a person, 3 large soldiers immediately come into the arena equipped with weapons and armors too.
Brianne picks up the shabby sword with her eyes locked on the 3 soldiers, ready to fight for her life till the very end. She throws the sword like a javelin, and it makes a bulls-eye penetration through one of the soldier's head, instantly killing him. The soldier falls on his back, and the other two soldiers come after Brianne. She easily dodges the second man's sword attack, and she strips the third man of his shield. With the shield, she bashes the second man down to the ground and she drives the shield down as hard as she can to cleanly decapitate the man's head from his neck. The neck rolls away, and blood pours out from the man's headless body like a river. The crowd goes even wilder at Brianne's glamorous second kill, and Levi can't believe the gruesome fight Brianne is putting up. Brianne then grabs the nicer sword from the decapitated man, and she uses his shield to fight against the last man standing. The third man is quick yet cowardly, and he manages to slash at Brianne's back/right shoulder. Brianne winces in pain, but feels a big rush of adrenaline. She doesn't let go of her sword, and she's determined to stay alive for as long as she can, to go out in a blaze of glory. It's the only thing she can do for her father after disobeying his will to not be consumed by anger and revenge.
The man uses his shield to shove Brianne back, but she stands her ground firmly. She shoves the man's arm to the outer side with her shield, and she cuts the man's arm off with her sword. The man falls to his knees in pain bleeding out like a water fountain, and she stabs the sword through the man's wide open mouth. The crowd is mixed with cheering and booing at the bloody battle, seeing the sword protruding out through the back of the man's head through his open mouth. Brianne kicks the man on his back, and she looks around at the crowd. She doesn't notice Levi, Farlan, and Isabel there watching everything at the front row.
As Brianne tries to catch her breath, 4 more equipped soldiers come to fight. With the shield, Brianne tosses aside a man as she goes under him. She makes the soldier land on the spear from her first kill, making it penetrate through his neck and plop on top of the first dead soldier. Brianne pays no attention to that soldier, gasping for air as he struggles to get up so that he can get the spear out of his neck, but the man dies a few seconds later. She then quickly stabs the next man in the stomach by staying low. However, the remaining 2 men surround Brianne quickly and slash at her back and arms. Brianne is caught off guard at how much it hurts, and she makes her first small yet crucial mistake with her footwork. One of the soldiers manage to slash at Brianne's face, making a deep gash at her right eye that goes from her eyebrow to her cheek.
Brianne falls to the ground in pain and bleeding tremendously from her body and face. The blood covers her right vision, and she uses her sword to cut off one of the man's leg as he runs to her to kill her off. The man falls to the ground on his face from the momentum, and she stabs him through the back continuing to stay on the ground. With the last man remaining, she rolls forward in a somersault to dodge his attack, and she pushes him down to the ground so that he lands on his back. She then stabs the sword through his stomach, killing the last man. She looks around and sees 8 dead men around her, and she's never seen so much blood before. The crowd continues screaming now chanting for Brianne to continue kicking ass, and Brianne tries to stand on her feet but is too weak and exhausted. She falls back onto her knees, and she tries to gain her balance by leaning against the hilt of a sword stabbed into the ground.
The crowd becomes silent when they see the final opponent, a giant bulky man standing about 7 feet tall with a large spiked mace in his hand. The man walks up to Brianne, and he kicks the sword away making Brianne fall to her hands. She crawls to get the sword weakly, and the man kicks her from behind to make her fall on her stomach. Brianne is on her stomach, unable to move anymore due to extreme exhaustion and pain. She tries to reach out for the sword, but it's too far from her reach. The man spits on Brianne's back, and he grabs her by the back of the neck to kill her with his mace. Levi can't restrain himself anymore, unable to wait for the MP to stop this madness after what Kenny offered in exchange for Brianne's freedom. Levi jumps into the arena and grabs the nearest sword by him. The crowd gasps when they see this, and Levi takes his stance.
Levi: (threatening) Step away from the girl!
The giant looks at Levi, and he smiles like he's been given candy. Levi takes his stance with his sword, and the crowd watches silently as Levi fights to protect Brianne. The giant has brawns on his side, but Levi has brains. Levi manages to get in a few slashes into the giant's skin, but the giant gives hard blows to Levi hurting him a lot. Levi is hurt badly from the mace's spikes, and the man is bleeding from Levi's multiple slashes. The man crashes his mace down against Levi's sword that's held up to protect himself from the hard blow. Levi comes crashing down on his bottom from the giant's enormous strength, and the man brings down his mace again to finish Levi off. Levi sees this attack beforehand, so he quickly rolls forward and chops the man's right leg off.
The giant screams in pain as he comes crashing to his knees. The entire crowd goes wild with joy, chanting ACKERMAN loudly at the top of their lungs, fist-pumping the air. Levi grabs the mace away from the giant's grasp like a boss, and he brings down the grip into the giant's shoulder. The giant hollers, and Levi keeps digging the mace deeper and deeper into the giant's shoulder until he can't push the mace in any deeper because of the bones. He then shoves the giant forward so that he falls on his face dead. The crowd chants much louder ACKERMAN as they watch Levi toss his sword aside and wobble towards Brianne. He goes on his knees and he lifts Brianne's head up so that she can look at him. Levi looks at Brianne's messed up right eye, and Brianne is too weak to do anything else but breathe and look back at Levi. Brianne faints in his arms, and Levi carries Brianne on his back. He then walks away from the stadium with the people cheering loudly for him and Brianne. It seems as if they've completely forgotten that Brianne was found guilty of associating with the notorious Kenny the Ripper, and all the crowd cares about is the awesome and jaw-dropping performance Levi and Brianne gave during the death battle. This forces the MP soldiers to stand back and let the two go unless they want to be ripped apart by the crowd for interfering in their excitement.