Chapter 4: Doubts of Leadership

Slow footsteps with a sullen face; this was how Liette's body was reacting to Norma's death. It was as if the burden of living was beating itself on her shoulders. Dragging herself towards the entrance to the tent, she caught eye of two people standing about two meters apart and about 8 meters away from her. One Liette didn't recognize because he was mostly concealed by the dark night, but the other she all too well recognized; it was Roger.

But something was strange, Roger was holding his hands up, and the other man was holding a musket up towards him. He was going to shoot.

Liette was about to screech out to Roger, but realizing that it would only cause harm to herself, she cupped her mouth out of silent agony, crying as she knew what was going to happen next.

Even though Liette couldn't hear the conversation, she only caught voice of the last portion, "Goodbye Roger!" Followed by the sound of a loud gunshot, and the thud of a body.

The silver haired twelve year old couldn't scream, she just couldn't. Why? Why was this happening to her and her family? It was a question that she would ask herself constantly for years to come. She couldn't understand what was going on then, and neither would she understand it ever. Staring at Roger's lifeless body, she turned away as she felt a lump in her sweater. Feeling for it, it was Roger's pipe. She began to tear up even more. "I have to tell everyone…" she said to herself, wiping the tears from her eyes that seemed to never stop flowing. Turning around to go out a different area, she snuck out through the back of the practice tent.

Liette was unconsciously crying as she walked hastily to see if anyone else was awake. She had to tell someone she just had to. As she turned the corner, she hid behind a few crates, peering around at the main plaza to see if the coast was clear. Before she took step out into the open, she heard another gunshot followed by a scream.

"Filla!" Liette exclaimed as she darted in the direction of the girl's tents. Filla was a good friend of Liette's and was her training partner. Even though Filla was about five years older than her, they got along very well. Liette considered her an older sister. Again, she stalked through the back of the tents, trying her best not to be seen. She heard another scream come from the same area, and hastened her pace.

She made it to the tent, but couldn't find any entrance other than the front. There was a small hole that she could see through, and looking in, Liette nearly vomited. Blood, blood was smeared everywhere. There were multiple bodies strewn about covered with blood, their corpses morbidly being raped.

Turning away, Liette covered her mouth. She was so sick that she was on the verge of vomiting. The scene burned itself into Liette's mind, she could never forget it now no matter how hard she would try. The more and more she tried to convince herself that this was a dream, the more it occurred to her that it was indeed reality.

"L-Let go!" The voice of a girl screamed with terror. "I said let go!"

"Shut up!" The voice of a man replied, followed by a grunting sound, and the sound of choking.

It was Filla's voice. Liette's eyes shot up as she listened on the terrifying scene.

"Kaaa!" Filla tried to gasp for breath, but the hands around her only wrapped tighter the more she struggled, "St-op…. ple..ase….le…go…..please…..Liette…." her raspy voice said before she became silent.

Liette couldn't hold it in anymore, leaning forward, she hurled. The burning sensation that ravaged her throat scarred itself into her mind, one that will haunt her forever. This repeated over about 3 times before she had felt everything leave her stomach.

"Hey! What was that?"

Widening her eyes out of fear, Liette began sprinting away from the fairgrounds hearing nothing but the sound of gunshots and the screams of her family. She didn't know how far she had run, but she just kept running, running until her legs could not run anymore. Only then did she stop to look behind herself.

Flames, flames began erupting, engulfing the tents, spreading everywhere. Even though she had escaped safely, Liette couldn't help but feel dead inside as she watched her home, her family, her life, burn right before her.

"Roger….. Norma….. Filla….. Everyone….Why…?"

Crying, Liette did nothing but cry as she continued to search for a shelter of some sort, but unfortunately, the moon was out, and there was no light. She heard the sound of running water, and desperately searched for the river. The river would lead her to a town. Wandering around, blind by the darkness of night, blind by the sorrow of her heart, blind by the tears of her eyes, Liette pressed onward until the sound of running water got louder and louder. The air was cool, and the scent was fresh.

Not seeing where she had laid foot, as she didn't know that the there was a cliff over hanging the stream "Ahhhhh!" Liette screamed as her foot stepped on air, sliding off the ground and into the dark abyss below.

Year Late 845 – Central Trost District

"Nrrgg….?" Liette murmured as she slowly opened her eyes to the blue sky and midday sun. The sound of church bells had woken her up. She had fallen asleep on the rooftop of the HQ. It was a nice day, so she figured that it would be nice to sleep in the sun for a change. The breeze was gentle and the sun was warming, the only thing was missing was a good smoke, which Liette had forgotten and left back at the barracks.

Pulling herself up on the slanted rooftop, Liette flexed her shoulders and yawned, "Just a dream…."

"Liette!" A voice called out as a teenage boy landed after retracting the iron wire of his 3DMG.

"Oi Peter, what did I tell you about using your 3DMG outside of combat? Are you so lazy that you can't even walk?" Liette slightly scolded as she got up.

"S-Sorry! But I think the 3DMG requires more effort no?" Peter replied nervously as he saluted, planting his right fist on his heart.

Liette slightly smiled at the smart comeback, "I guess it's true when they say lazy people have to work harder." Closing her eyes, breathing in the breezy air, "So what were you going to say?"

"Commander Urdin was yelling at me, I had to hurry and find you" Peter replied under his breath at the first statement. "Urdin wanted me to tell you that they're giving rations out, so they need someone to supervise."

Sighing silently to herself, "Didn't he have anyone better for the job?" She asked.

Peter leaned on one foot, "Don't ask me, I'm just the messenger"

"Well whatever. I'll be there in a bit, let me just drop by the barracks to grab something" Liette said as she walked closer to the edge of the roof.

"Alrighty then, I'll be getting back soon or else Urdin will yell at me again" Peter said before he sped forward by the iron wire of his 3DMG.

"Don't cry…- Hey!" Liette called out, a bit annoyed watching Peter use his 3DMG, "I told you not to use it or else you'll damage the buildings! People will get pissed at us and I'm the one who has to deal with it!" Sighing as she watched Peter bounce off into the distance, she herself dropped from the roof.

Landing swiftly on her feet, Liette briskly walked her way down the path, towards the refugee district on the eastern part of Trost.

Trost District: Shiganshina Refugee District

Standing upon the rooftops, overlooking the plaza where they were giving out rations to the refugees, Liette stood there with crossed arms. It was a somewhat boring task, something Liette didn't really clamor too much to. But she couldn't help but feel sorry for them. The foot shortage has affected everyone in the Trost District, even the higher ups like herself.

"Hey… do you know who that person is?" One of the officers on duty asked his coworker next to him.

"Her?" He pointed upward at Liette.

"Yea. It's the Silver Haired Striker" The first one replied, "I hear she's has good as Lance Corporal Rivaille himself"

"My ass!" His coworker whispered in reply, "To think a girls as good as the Lance Corporal!"

"I'm serious! I heard she single handedly took on the defense at Shiganshina!"

"That's a load of crap!"

"Okay, maybe I was exaggerating a bit, but she's one of the tops of the elite. That I'm sure of"

"You sure? I really don't believe-"

The first officer hastily elbowed his coworker in her side, "Shhh-! She's looking over here" He said in quivering anxiety.

Glaring at the two officers who were doing nothing but standing there, Liette took a step forward and jumped down from the roof onto the ground. Dusting herself off as she began to walk towards the two gossiping workers, they stood still, as if they weren't talking about anything.

Crap! Crap! Crap!

"Hey…" Liette said approaching them in a somewhat casual manner.

"Yes ma'am!" They both saluted.

"Uhm, do any of you have an extra cigarette?"

Both were quite surprised by her request, watching Liette with eyes of sullen shock. "Y-yea, I have one." The coworker replied as he took one out from his tin container.

"Thank you very much" Liette replied, lighting a match.

What is this? The first officer mouthed to his friend as they both glanced at each other from the corner of their eyes.

"You two should be patrolling the area. Get to it"

"Y-yes ma'am" They both replied beginning to start their patrol.

"Oh, and try to loosen up a bit. I'm not a monster, I'm a soldier like all of you guys" Liette chuckled, climbing on a crate, jumping up onto a support beam, and stepping her way back up to the rooftop position that she claimed earlier.

ooo

"They still struggle for their survival…" Liette silently thought to herself with her eyes closed, listening in on the arguments and fights that were breaking out over the rations.

"Eren! Mikasa!"

"That voice…" Opening her eyes, she looked downward at three children. One was holding three loaves of bread, giving them to the other two. "Those three again…"

"Look! I made it!" Armin said, handing the loaves to Eren and Mikasa. "Grandpa got these for us kids!"

"Thank you" Mikasa politely replied.

Liette smiled, "What kindness. A weak frail old man sacrificing himself to get food for children. The weak fight so that his fellow weak may survive"

"Cshhh" One of the Stationary Guard nearby scoffed as he turned and walked away from the three kids.

"What's the matter with him?" Eren asked.

"That's the way it goes" Armin replied, "There's probably not enough food for everyone, this is probably an entire days' worth. There are just too many refugees. There's always been a food shortage, and you know how people always look down on those who live on the outskirts"

There were fights and struggles breaking out among the refugees as Liette eyed some of the guards and nodded her head to signal to them to break it up.

Amidst watching fights break up and form again, she took a look at the two cocky guards that scoffed at the trio from before.

"Why do we have to give our food to outsiders?" The one who scoffed asked his accomplice. "I mean, the titans broke through the wall anyway. They should have eaten more of them."

Those words deeply upset Liette, but they upset someone more than herself as the dark haired boy of the trio she took interest to walked forward.

"Eren!"

Out of anger and frustration, Eren kicked the guard in the shin.

"Ack! What the hell are you doing you brat!?" The guard angrily replied punching the kid in the face as his accomplice kicked him down.

"You don't know what you're talking about!" Eren replied on the ground, "You've never seen it happen with your own eyes! How the titans eat people…"

Those words lingered in Liette's mind, "How the titans eat people…" Biting down on her cigarette, Liette jumped down from her nest, and stomped towards the two guards.

"Shut up!" The guard was about to further assault Eren, but Liette came and intervened.

"Oi…. Have you ever been outside the Wall Rose?" Liette asked as she grabbed the man by the collar, bringing his face closer to hers. She was staring at him with unamused eyes, different from her usual relaxed state.

He shook his head.

"Have you ever seen a titan eat a person?"

"N-no…"

"Then, consider this. Since the Wall Maria has fallen, you are considered the outsiders now. Don't come crying to the inner wall when the titans break this one" The Silver Haired Striker warned before letting him go.

The guard looked at her, rather perplexed, and looked back at Eren on the ground.

"Eren!" Armin cried out as he tried to help him up, "I-I'm sorry! He's just ticked off because he's hungry. That's why he's acting like a brat."

A crowd had begun to gather at the ruckus that had stirred. The guard looked at Liette, who was waiting for him to make a move, and then at the whispering voices of the crowd itself.

"Wh-whatever, you would've been dead without us" He said before turning away, "You kids should be more grateful"

"Y-yes!"

"Damn…" Eren said with a hint of scorn in his breath, "I would rather die than leech off people like him."

"You should listen to adults more" Liette said, approaching the kids, "Sacrifices are made so that you can survive. As a result, everyone suffers for your sake"

"I-it's you…" Armin said nervously, recognizing Liette instantly.

"I'm afraid I haven't made a proper introduction. My name's Liette. Now, if you are so kind as to please leave the courtyard, you're causing a disturbance." Even though Liette was generally nice to everyone, she had to conform to the rules.

A few days later, the refugees were all sent to cultivate land and secure food. But that couldn't prevent the food shortage.

In the following year of 846, the Central Government launched a campaign to retake the wall Maria using the refugees….

Year 846 – Trost District: Scouting Legion HQ

Liette had not known why her presence was requested at the HQ, but she had to hasten her pace nonetheless. The message said that it was extremely important that she show up.

It was important enough that Rivaille himself went to fetch her at the request of Irvin Smith.

"Care to tell me what this is all about?" Liette asked as she walked behind Rivaille down the hall of the upper floor of the HQ.

"You'll find out soon enough" Rivaille replied, stopping in front of Irvin's office. Sliding his hand over the knob, he opened the door and entered, with Liette following behind him. "Commander Irvin, I have brought Liette."

"Commander Irvin sir!" Liette saluted at the utmost respect for her commander as Rivaille did the same.

Irvin put his quill down as he looked up. "Liette, well met. Have a seat."

Doing so promptly, Liette sat down as Rivaille stood up next to her.

"What did you call me down here for sir?" Liette questioned.

"As you can tell, the food shortage here in Trost is getting worse and worse." Irvin began speaking in his usual stoic manner, "They've tried to cultivate food, but with no avail." Standing up as he turned to glare out of his window, "I gained word today from the central government that they plan to use the refugees as an army to recapture the Wall Maria."

"B-but that's slaughter!" Liette objected, getting up from her seat. "They're just common people, they have no knowledge of combating titans!"

"I know how you feel Liette, but these are orders from the government. If I do not follow them, then I will be branded for treason." Irvin said turning back around to her, "They have requested that you be in charge as squad leader for the campaign"

"M-Me…?" She slumped back into her chair, shaking her head, "N-no…. no…. not me. Anyone but me. C-Commander sir, y-you've seen me as a leader before… You know what happened…"

"They need someone who has much experience in fighting the titans. The only two people I can think of who have the most experience is you and Rivaille, and they specially requested you. I'm sorry to put you in a position like this Liette, I know what happened in the past was painful, but orders are orders." Irvin solemnly apologized.

Rivaille spoke up, "If she won't take the position, I will"

"No! D-don't Rivaille…." Liette objected also as she her heart sank into sorrow at the difficult choice she had to make right now, "I-I don't want you to handle the burden of their lives."

"Liette…" Rivaille muttered as he stayed quiet, accepting her decision to conform to orders. That's what he always respected about Liette; that she has a strong sense of loyalty and trust, almost to the brink of being easily misled. He often cautioned her to not be so trusting on their expeditions in the former days of the Scouting Legion.

"I'll do it, I'll lead them" Liette said sitting up straight in her chair.

"Then it is settled" Irvin said sitting back down at his desk, "I'll give word back to the government. They'll begin mobilizing troops from the Scouting Legion and the Stationary Guard, alongside the refugees to combat the titans."

"It is an honor, Commander Irvin" Liette said rather gloomily, standing up, and saluting before Irvin gave her dismissal.

After Liette had left, Rivaille took a seat after pouring himself a cup of tea. "This all seems a bit fishy to me" he said after taking a sip. "If they wanted someone to command some of those troops, why didn't they request someone else?"

"They have their reasons Rivaille." Irvin replied as he continued to write on the parchment, "But I am as suspicious as you. I heard that the Syndicate groups have taken control of many powerful seats of the Central Government."

"Then what does it mean?" Rivaille asked with his expression, still unchanged as he leaned his cheek on his hand, resting on the arm of the chair. "Putting someone in that high of a position in a campaign like that. It's a suicide mission."

Irvin put his quill down again, "What if that was the point?"

Rivaille widened his eyes as he straightened up, "Then someone wants her dead. That's why they requested for her…."

"Precisely" Irvin replied, folding the parchment he was writing on.

"Why don't you say something then?"

Irvin silently shook his head, "I tried to negotiate with them, but they insisted on Liette. I can't just question their orders, or else it'll make me look suspicious"

Rivaille slumped back in his seat with his legged crossed, "Then what do you propose we do?"

"We'll stay quiet and pray that Liette makes it out alive" The Commander replied, "In time, I will conduct my own investigation. Which reminds me…" he added looking towards Rivaille cleverly. "You used to participate in underground crime correct?"

Rivaille tilted his head before replying dully, "What does that have to do with anything?" he asked.

"This investigation might require your assistance later on." Irvin replied, looking at his own reflection in the window, "Anyone who tries to interfere with the Scouting Legion by placing one of its finest members in unnecessary danger will be punished. I swear it."

A/N: A little bit more sluggish than the rest of my chapters. It was a bit hard to incorporate Liette into the parts with Eren and the rest, but hopefully I did alright. Most of Eren, Mikasa's and Armin's lines I do not claim ownership to, all rights go to their respective owners.

Anyway, I hope this chapter was good. More and more pieces of Liette's past are being presented to us as we continue with the story as, to keep Liette interesting.

Otherwise, thanks for reading and don't forget to drop off a review. Until next time!