Adam had been, in his opinion, remarkably accommodating with what was evidently the local authorities. He let himself be taken away, he helpfully offered a hand in picking up his dropped HMG which was denied, he hurriedly warned them against fiddling with the safety. Three men were straining to carry the damn thing, he would have been more than capable of stashing it on his back, but noooooo. The little midget with resting bitch face commanded him to get into position to be hoisted up the Walls. Walls, with a capital W.

He'd almost laughed at the efforts to keep him hidden…

"Okay, we're going to put this cover over you and guide you to the other end of the Walls, alright?" A slim woman with brown hair and a green cape told him as she held a large cloth in her hand. Behind her, the blonde, Armin, was put on a stretcher and being taken away. "We have a cart waiting on the bottom, where you'll be taken to secure location. And by your request and explanation, placed near Cadet Armin Arlet."

"Is this necessary? People have already seen me." Adam asked as he stood atop the Walls over the now sealed breach. He'd been taken up about an hour ago, courtesy of the lift they evidently used to carry up the cannons and horses and "asked" to stay there while the Titans were routed, cannon fire in the distance beginning in full on the largest cluster.

The woman briefly flinched (Adam would have smirked, he did enjoy people's reactions to his voice), but kept her composure. Impressive really, she was talking to Adam as if he was just some common civilian. "Be that as it may, your appearance might… startle some people… Okay, a lot of people. We'd like to keep the panic to a minimum, if possible. At least until we can properly introduce you to the public."

Adam sighed, but he didn't argue in the interests of hurrying things along. "Fine, fine. Let's get this over with."

The woman smiled, and with assistance from her fellow soldiers, the cloth was thrown over him. It was large enough it almost completely hide him, leaving only his feet exposed.

"Okay, now, take three step-" She began.

"No need, I can see." Adam supplied, and began his walk forward, stepping over the rises in the Walls and avoiding the tracks easily thanks to his optics piercing through the cloth.

"Eh? But that's… hey, wait up, please!" Jogging to catch up, the woman panted. "Be careful, it's too dangerous for you to-"

"It really isn't." Adam insisted. "Relax, I'll get to the other side."

It didn't seem to convince her entirely, but seeing as he hadn't tripped or veered off course she couldn't really complain. Whispering to her companions, she said "Anyone else finding this guy more freaky than the literal man eating monsters we fight daily? Look at his face, it's… wrong. Why expose the top of his head like that?"

"Oh my darling Petra, how naive of you." A rather snooty voice spoke up, in what reminded Adam of someone doing a parody of a stuck up royal. "Can't you see that's not his head, but merely more armour painted different? Clearly to throw the enemy off and intimidate them."

"… Get real Oluo, who would do something like that? Are people supposed to be scared of a bald head?"

"Well, I've certainly seen you looking horrified at what's under Dita's bandanna."

"That's not- I'm just shocked a horse would do that!"

"Oh no fears my dear, I'll protect yGAH!"

Adam paused at that, and turned to see one of his escorts, Oluo, apparently, had blood dripping from his mouth, as the man sputtered in pain. '…What just happened?'

Evidently nothing worth being concerned over as the woman, Petra, was more interested in Adam clearly looking at Oluo. "Huh. You really can see under there."

After that he'd been brought down and loaded up onto a reinforced cart, then taken away to cell underground. Adam had politely but firmly requested being placed near Armin, saying it was necessary he be there for when the kid woke up.

If he woke up. Adam wasn't ruling out a messy explosion was still in the works, in which case he wanted to retrieve KIPO and Specter as fast as possible and be ready to either explain himself or book it and think of a new plan.

But the day had passed and no sudden blood splatter staining everything in a five foot radius occurred, so Adam begrudgingly accepted he wasn't going to get out of this so easily. Staring at what would be his possible handler (not if Adam had anything to say about it!) through the iron bars separating them, he turned to the five guards present in the room, who all immediately raised their muskets and took aim at him.

'Muskets. Fucking muskets. Jesus, I could probably take over this entire area with the ammo I have left. Hell, I might just do that by killing the Titans, they'll probably worship me as a god by the end of the week.'

Turning back to Armin, Adam decided he needed to have a proper chat with the kid. If they were working on a 16th century level of technology, Adam had his work cut out for him. Just getting the runt to understand cybernetics would be a chore, how was he going to dumb down KIPO or himself in a way Armin would comprehend?

'…Maybe I should just say it's magic…'

Running a quick scan, Adam determined Armin's vitals were stable, and that KIPO had finished… well, upgrading the boy. A cursory look showed what Adam suspected had been done.

The Specter swarm had provided cybernetic upgrades. Armin Arlet was now a cyborg.

Most of it under the skin and not blatantly obvious far as Adam could tell, so chances are the locals wouldn't be burning the blonde at the stake, if 16th century paranoia was a thing here. Jury was still out for Adam, though if it came to that he could just wait out the fire, step from the ashes and proclaim himself almighty.

'The god angle is looking better all the time…'

Deciding he needed input for his next course of action, Adam turned to his "jailers."

"I need to speak to the kid."

A couple of them flinched at Adam speaking for the first time since he was locked up here, but thankfully none of them opened fired and made Adam's life harder. He did not need to explain how someone died from a ricochet.

A guard who was conveniently closest to the exit decided to be the man of the hour and spoke up. "Well, it looks like he's out of it. So… good luck with that?"

"Yeah, I can change that real quick. But I need to be in there with him." Adam pointed to the cell right next to him, at Armin who was just out of reach through the iron bars.

The guard shook his head. "That's not happening, so tough luck buddie." He smugly replied, rather pleased with himself at having all the power here.

He kept smiling as Adam, without breaking eye contact, reached up to the bars between him and Armin.

He stopped smiling when Adam snapped one of the bars as easily one would break a pencil.

And another.

And another!

"Wha- stop that!" The guard panicked, as the plunk plunk plunk of Adam's work rang out through the room. The other guard's could only stare in shock, as Adam was making his own entrance.

Just as Adam was about to reach for another, the guard dropped his rifle and reached for the keys on his companions waist. "Okay okay! I'll let you see him! Just stop already!"

Adam did stop, and if he could still smile, he would be insufferably smug. "Oh thank you, you're most kind."

The guard grumbled angrily and swore some very choice curses under his breath as he found the right key and opened Adam's cell. Every guard took a wide step back as the eight foot tall giant stepped out, the broken cell bars clutched in his hands, making sure to duck under the over hang, then followed the now slightly nervous guard who opened Armin's cell. Adam stepped in, and the guard slammed the door shut behind him. He paused as he brought the keys up to lock him in, before throwing his hands in the air and finishing the job. "Might at least slow him down for a second…" He muttered.

Adam ignored them in favour of the cell's resident, and his partner within.

'KIPO, are you there?' Adam rang, which almost immediately got a response.

'Loud and clear Adam! My conversion was a complete success!' KIPO happily replied, practically bouncing with giddiness. 'Say hello to the newest member of our team, Armin Arlert!'

'Kind of hard to do when he's unconscious.' Adam remarked. 'Though that's hardly the worst outcome. KIPO, what the hell were you thinking?'

'That we needed to follow the bare minimum of protocol but also a reliable contact to better comprehend our situation.' KIPO immediately replied. 'Adam, I assure you, this is an ideal situation for us! This young man can easily be molded to Arasaka standards, while simultaneously being a liaison to the locals. And he seemed comprehensive enough when dealing with you, I suspect we will have an easier time explaining ourselves.'

'Is that the impression you got? Seemed to me the kid was as clueless as the rest of them.'

'Then you are hardly being fair. From what we gathered, the people here have never seen anything more advanced than a pulley system or a cannon. But he followed you as best he could, and supplied what information he had available.' KIPO lightly chastised. 'Adam, please, do give the boy a chance. I am positive he can become a welcome asset to us, and an investment for the future of Arasaka when they come here. At the very least, he can inform us to how his society functions here. What exactly this place is. Provide answers to our questions.'

'Answers that may be easier to find than we think. For all we know, it's just an elaborate renaissance set piece with deluded locals and bioweapons set loose upon it, and actual civilization is a short drive away.' Adam tried to argue. 'Could be we're putting way too much effort into this and I could just head in any direction until I reach fast food joint overlooking the place, crammed with sickos watching all this.'

'You know that's not true. What we have seen, the answers we've received… We have encountered a complete unknown here, and are utterly in the dark.' KIPO countered. 'If it was that easy to contact civilization, we would have done so already. Whoever built this place, they managed to do so without Arasaka's knowledge, and in such a way it's completely off the grid. Such effort tells me we must prepare for the long term here.'

Adam crossed his arms, and contemplated. He really wasn't over the fact some complete stranger, a twerp who looked like he could be taken down by a sneeze, had just been given the promotion of a lifetime. And that technically, he'd have control over Adam's actions.

Technically. There was always room for… negotiations in the working relationship.

But, (and Adam begrudgingly admitted KIPO was correct on this front) they did need intel. And that intel would come a lot faster if they had a direct link to the locals. Though no matter how hard he tried, Adam couldn't fathom why KIPO had latched on so quick to her current choice.

'I'm still not seeing it. Of all the people there, why pick this goober? Did you really figure him for the smartest one of the lot? Or that his age would really make him easy to be "molded," as you put it? Surely you could have held off a bit, waited to see a broader selection.'

'Perhaps.' KIPO admitted. 'I could have forestalled Directive DR 11037 by an hour, if the promise of a larger sample size in candidates was available. But looking at the current selection and my ultimate choice, it all came down to previously established data that cemented my decision.'

'Previously established data? What data?' Adam questioned.

'Based on your prior handlers, you have gone through an assortment of individuals who either quit, were terminated, or attempted to betray Arasaka in some way. None have lasted more than three months. None except for one Stuart Foregrave.'

'….Oh no.' Adam internally begged. 'No no no!'

'To date, Stuart was your handler for a number of years. You completed over 200 missions under his care, and have over 12,956 conversations on record with him.' KIPO continued.

'Yeah, and over half of those were telling him to fuck off!' Adam interrupted. 'KIPO, seriously? Stuart?! You got me a fucking Stuart!?'

'…Yes? Is something wrong with that?' KIPO asked, puzzled. 'I looked at the data. You worked quite well with Mr. Foregrave, I deemed someone of similar character would be ideal as a temporary handler. And Armin Arlert here seemed to be of such character, based on his interaction with you. Have I made an error?'

'… No, no you didn't, not really…' Adam ground out, his logic managing to overcome his anger. Realistically, he shouldn't be getting upset like this. It was just a flimsy comparison, it was temporary, and to be perfectly honest, Stuart hadn't been the worst handler, in fact he'd been overqualified. But just thinking about him had Adam wanting to hit something, out of reflex if nothing else.

Adam was sorely tempted to take the bars he had clutched in his mitts and impale them into the nearest offending object, whether that be Stuart 2.0 or the ground, he wasn't sure. The guards could only watch as Adam broke them in half, then in half again, completely ignorant to the internal discussion he was having. The noise of the bars breaking and cluttering to the ground did nothing to disturb Armin's rest.

Adam struggled to wind himself back down, as he sorted through his thoughts. 'Okay… okay. This is nothing, you were just informed your acquired asset bares a passing resemblance to your long forgotten brother-in-law, and that's fine. Even if it was Stuart, which he is not, it wouldn't change the objectives here. Just focus on getting information here, and forming a plan from that.'

Adam took what passed for a deep breath for him, a quick brain dance lasting less than a second but enacting a sense of calm, and turned his focus back to the cell's occupant.

'…Once we resume contact with Arasaka, then the Directive become null and void? I get a proper qualified handler, and you… leave the runt?' Adam asked.

'Yes. Thanks to my modifications, I am confident I can extract Specter safely without endangering Mr. Arlert's life." KIPO replied. 'Though the modifications themselves will be trickier to remove, Armin may perhaps wish to keep them in. And as they are officially Arasaka cybernetics, he would have to pay them off…'

'I'm sure he's going be positively thrilled at his new life time position.' Adam smirked, finding a bright light in all this mess.

'It's fine!' KIPO hurried to reassure herself. 'We just have to list all the benefits of being an employee! He's certain to find the work quite rewarding and-'

Adam cut her off before she could launch into the full company sales pitch, he'd heard the commercials enough times. Silence reigned, as Adam waited for Armin to wake up. And then got promptly sick of waiting, especially upon seeing the kid's vitals were completely healthy.

"… Oh for fuck's sake, would you wake him up already KIPO! We have a lot of work to do." Adam barked, aloud, which startled the guards yet again.

'Right away Adam!' KIPO acknowledged, and set to work returning Armin to consciousness. Adam waited as the kid slowly woke up, promptly shrieked like a little girl, then fell out of bed, right at Adam's feet.

'This is going to be a chore, isn't it?' Adam internally sighed.

Armin swallowed his saliva, as he stared in the face of death. A haunting towering figure with bone white standing pronounced against a black metallic shine, and red eyes, glowing red eyes. Combined with the darkness of the cell, the light of the torches outside not helping any, the experience was comparable to looking up at a Titan. Size meant nothing, both were equally inhuman to Armin right now.

'Are you okay? I assume such a fall would be insignificant to your frame but I realize I may be in error. Please inform me so I may adjust my expectations.' A sweet distinctly feminine voice rang out, and for a brief moment Armin had considered the giant had spoken, which had Armin flinch back in shock!

But no, this voice wasn't from the giant, it was in his head.

…..

'Oh great, I'm insane.'

'… Your silence has exceeded my estimate of your response time. Are your audio receptors damaged? I was certain I built your implants correctly…'

Armin flinched again as the voice spoke, bringing a hand up to his head, shaking it, as if that would clear out the mental intruder, when a new but familiar voice called out.

"He doesn't get that you're talking to him inside his head KIPO. Cordial implants and transmissions are alien to him."

'Oh right! I didn't account for a first time user!' The feminine voice said again, answering the giant.

"Wait." Armin spoke up. "You… you can hear that?" He looked up, cautiously, slowly getting to his feet.

"Yes, and no, you're not insane. That's a real voice speaking to you, inside your head." The giant sighed. "Fuck, this is going to take a while. KIPO, any chance you could, I dunno, make yourself visible to him? Maybe he'd react better to a visual aid?"

'Ah, that just might work! And yes, I certainly can, thanks to his new ocular implants! A simple patch to present myself…'

Armin blinked, as suddenly, off to his left, a flurry of… pink symbols danced around in the air, before fluttering and shimmering to form… a girl? From head to toe, she materialized, with spikey pink hair, eyes, and skin, sitting on his bed with her hands in her lap and a beaming smile aimed at him.

"…And viola! Greetings once again Armin Arlert! I am KIPO! I hope this makes things easier in our communications and working relationship!"

Armin jumped back and once again fell on the ground in surprise, backing up as far as he could against the cell walls and holding up his hands defensively.

He took a half second to notice his sleeves were missing from the elbows down. He also noticed that suddenly the voice was ringing in his ears and not inside his head.

"Yo-you-y-y-" He stammered, struggling to form a cohesive thought. "Wh-ho-whe-WHAT THE HELL?!"

"KIPO's" smile disappeared as she appeared confused, then turned to the giant, who responded. "He probably thinks you're a spirit or a god or something. Which on that subject, I did have an idea about how we move forward in presenting ourselves."

"Oh. Well, first things first, we should calm Armin down. His heart rate is really spiking right now." KIPO approached Armin, and seemed to peer at him with wonder. "So strange, experiencing a heart beat. Not like your frame at all Adam, this new data is most illuminating!"

Adam… so the giant here had a name. And he could see the… the ghost too.

KIPO bent down in front of him, and smiled. "Armin Arlert. I now realize this may be… a tad overwhelming for you. But you have nothing to fear! Adam and I are friends!"

Armin struggled to form a cohesive sentence as he tried to get his breathing under control. 'Calm… be calm! You discovered your best friend can become a Titan, are a pink friendly ghost and an armoured giant really so bizarre?!… Yes, yes it is, but still…'

"Are… are you… what are you?" Armin tried.

KIPO was about to answer, then paused. "That's… hmm, that might be a touch difficult to explain, how to start…"

"Could save a lot of time and tell him you're a genie or something." Adam interjected. "We really could play the magic card."

"Magic? There's no such thing as magic." Armin responded, almost on instinct.

Adam actually chortled at that, a disturbing sound but the amusement was clear. "Really? So you don't think those "Titans" out there are magic?"

"N- no." Armin said, still sitting on the ground but slowly becoming at ease, talking always helped him. "We don't know where the Titans come from, but there has to be a rational explanation. Some reason and origin, there have been many theories, but I never bought into the ones saying they were mystical in nature."

"… Is that right?" Adam commented. "So what about KIPO? You don't think she's magic?"

Armin turned to look at the pinkette, who waved now that she had Armin's attention again. "… I really don't know what she is. But… I don't want to believe she's magic. She seems… I can't explain it. Too real, for that?"

"Awww, thank you!" KIPO perked up. "Not that I'm an expert on how magic works, from the fiction I collected it varies, I could not tell you if a ghost would be more "real" than I am. But you are correct, I'm not magic, I am a product of science."

"Science…" Armin stared at KIPO, really stared, trying to make sense of what she said. "That's… I'm sorry, I'm trying to understand. I understand science, but how could science make… you?"

"Well we can start small." KIPO assured. "I have several manuals here you can read over, and with time-'

"KIPO, let me try." Adam interrupted. He moved to the other side of the bed, putting it between him and Armin. A few moments passed as he seemed to be thinking, before he spoke again. "…Your people, you fight the Titans with those wires and swords, correct?"

Armin nodded. "Yes, our ODM gear. It's our best tool against them, cannons are too inaccurate."

"Was it always like that? This ODM gear, and cannons?"

Armin frowned, but answered, to see where Adam was going with his questions. "…No. No, in the earliest days of our recorded history, we used guns and muskets. It's believed before that, mankind fought the Titans with swords and spears. We believe that's why we lost the world and had to retreat behind the Walls. Overtime, we invented the ODM gear, which allowed us to venture outside again."

"Right, someone had to build those weapons. Someone had to learn how to build a better weapon than the sword. Then teach others, who taught their children, who eventually made the ODM gear. That would have taken many lifetimes, correct?"

"…Yes, that's logical." Armin confirmed. It was simple basic logic, but hearing this man explain it, somehow, Armin was starting to feel… calm. Less lost somehow.

"And could you imagine, before the Walls, you had progressed in other ways? Like… like your buildings. Could you imagine before the Walls, you didn't have buildings of stone? Designed like they are?"

Armin's eyes lit up. "Oh yes! I had a book about that!" He then realized that there were five Military Police guards standing outside, who would probably be looking for any excuse to deem him a heretic, and softened his tone. "I read about people who lived in log cabins or huts. Some simply in caves."

"Because like with your ODM gear, they wouldn't know how to build something better." Adam was now using his hands to gesture, seemingly pleased at how this conversations was going. "They wouldn't know how to make the clothes you wear now, or the homes you live in, or the weapons you use."

"…That seems reasonable." Armin nodded, standing up now.

"Now Armin, I want you to imagine, if you found yourself meeting one of those people who lived in a cave, before the Walls. With their spears and what passes for clothing. You arrive in your ODM gear and your uniform there, and let's say you have a rifle as well."

Armin took a moment to picture it. Standing before someone from the past, who would have never seen someone dressed like Armin, armed like Armin… "…I suppose they'd be… amazed at how I can fly."

"Oh yeah, I certainly was." Adam confirmed.

"…And they probably wouldn't understand how I was able to kill something with a rifle."

"A stick that kills with thunder. They wouldn't know you have to reload, they'd think you were a god."

"And if they saw me kill a Titan easier than their whole village could… I suppose they'd be frightened of me."

"They wouldn't be able to understand. What's so common and ordinary to you, to them? It's magic." Adam said.

"… Just like a pink girl appearing from mid air is ordinary to you, but like magic to me." Armin said, looking at KIPO again, who didn't seem bothered at all at being ignored. Armin approached her, and held out a hand. She looked down, and smiled, reaching forward and grasping it. "…Your science let you achieve something like this?"

"Oh yeah." Adam answered. "Where I come from… where we come from, such things are ordinary. But it wasn't always. We used to live in huts and use swords and spears, then we lived like you do, in buildings like yours and using muskets and cannons. Then we built better buildings and weapons, until we were able to make things like me and KIPO."

"Amazing…" Armin replied. "To think something like this could be achieved…," Armin inhaled through his nose, as he apologized. "I'm sorry miss KIPO. I was… forgive my rudeness towards you earlier."

"That is quite alright Armin. I realize I misjudged how to approach you, and was perhaps a bit overeager. I hope the two of us can form a working partnership together."

"Um, sure? I'd be happy to help you, but I'm not sure how?" Armin rubbed the back of his neck.

"Understandable, a lot has happened in a short amount of time. Would you like a seat? We can try to answer any questions you have, then bring you up to speed on anything you are unaware of."

"Yes, please." Armin nodded as he sat down on the prison bed. "I suppose I would like to confirm, you two are really from beyond the Walls?"

"Indeed we are!" KIPO responded. "What fascinating architecture, I've never seen anything like it! How did your people build them?"

"That's… not really clear. As far as our history books go, a hundred years, the Walls have always been there, to protect us from the Titans."

"Just a hundred years…" Adam murmured. "You said you believed Titan's ruled the Earth?"

"That's right." Armin nodded. "Which is why meeting the two of you… just the fact you came from the outside, it's amazing! Humanity really still exits outside?!"

"Oh yeah, loads of humans. And I've got even more amazing news." Adam answered. "Titans don't rule the Earth."

The sound of a musket hitting the ground reminded the three in the cell they had an audience. All heads turned to see their guards staring in various states of disbelief and panic. The guard who'd dropped his firearm was scrambling to pick it up.

"Huh. Maybe we should start with the tutorial of your cybernetics. I think silent comms would go a long way." Adam spoke.

"Cybernetics?…" Armin questioned, once again back to being confused. So many strange words and revelations, even calmed down as he was, his mind was spinning.

But… but he was going to do everything he could to understand.

Adam had to admit, Armin wasn't as hopeless as he thought the kid would be. Oh, he certainly was operating on a level of understanding children back home would be mocking him for, but Armin made every attempt to keep up with KIPO's explanations. And failing that, look to Adam for guidance. It helped Adam had watched quite a few vids, plenty of examples of advanced aliens visiting humans, or time travel. It served as an excellent roadmap for simplifying things so Armin could understand.

"Wait, so you…" Armin pointed at Adam. "You're the Falling Star?!"

"Is that what they were calling me?"

Armin nodded. "I saw you, streaking through the sky! But you say you are from this world?!"

"Yes. I know it's hard to believe, but man has discovered the ability to fly Armin. What Adam was asking about earlier, planes? He meant airplanes, great machines with wings that can fly, and carry people with them inside to far away destinations." KIPO answered, holding up a hand to have a bit of her code form a classic passenger jet. "Eventually, man was able to reach the stars, even land on and colonize the moon!"

Armin stared as the code reshaped to a shuttle, the wonder never leaving his face, nor the guards who couldn't hide their observations. "Incredible… mankind has made it to the moon…" Armin looked up at Adam. "That armour must be a marvel, even for your people! I can't even imagine falling from such a great height and surviving! Walls, I can't even imagine the height!"

"I am one of a kind, it's true." Adam humbly stated. "But amazingly, I landed here, in this completely off the grid land with people and monsters I've never seen before, what are the odd's? KIPO don't answer that."

"And you say you've never encountered the Titans? I'm sorry, I'm trying to understand how that's possible…"

"You and me both, kid. I've travelled a lot but I never encountered your Walls that have supposedly been here for a century. And Titans are really noticeable, I would have at least heard of them. On this subject, we're equally in the dark."

"… Well, be that as it may, you really helped us out." Armin smiled. "Thank you Adam Smasher. I have a feeling that maybe, we could find an answer to the Titans together?"

Adam shrugged, and let KIPO resume talking. As she moved on from explaining that she was a program and what a program was (Armin had managed to follow well enough, a not person made by a human who might as well be a person) to how cars worked (horseless chariots, easy enough), Adam thought back to a simple memory that had come to him earlier…

"C'mon Uncle Adam, stop stalling and turn on the TV already!" A rather bouncy and excitable Lucy hopped up and down off Adam's reinforced couch.

"Coming, coming." Adam called out as he brought in a host of snacks on a tray for her. Ever since his sister had managed to convince her daughter Uncle Adam wasn't a horrible people eating monster (not exactly) and that he was really kind of cool ("Kind of?" Adam remarked), the little bundle of energy had found herself visiting every weekend.

"I don't get why you like this show so much. It's had some good moments but there are honestly better series." Adam remarked as he brought up the streaming service. "Seriously, this is from when I was a kid. How are you enjoying it? Isn't there a better space adventure out that's more recent?"

"Nuh uh! This shows great! Mom introduced it to me! I love their chief of security, he's so cool! I think you're a lot like him." Lucy said as she made for the cheesy puffs.

"Oh, how sweet. I'm flattered." Adam remarked, while tastefully biting back how he noticed the chief of security had been beaten down a lot throughout the show. "Anyway, what season did we leave off of? Three?"

"Mmmmph!" Lucy shook her head as she made to swallow a fistful of puffs. "Ah! We're now starting four! Season three ended on…"

"Right right, the captain getting captured. That was a good moment, I'll admit." Adam replied.

"Mom says that's because you thought him getting cyberized was a good thing." Lucy gave Adam a dirty look, her face scrunched up and her lips pursed.

"What? Noooooooo, I would never!" Adam tried to salvage his nieces opinion of him. Dang it, he'd meant that as a joke Annie! Attempting to change the subject, Adam said "Well, what was your favourite moment from the show?"

Lucy immediately lit up, and without hesitation, "The one where the captain is thought to be a god! I thought it was really nice how he explained to the people he was just like them."

"Cept for the part where he has lasers and a spaceship and could conquer their planet." Adam remarked.

"But he wouldn't do that! You know that! He's a good captain, and really smart! He explained it to the nice woman in a way she could understand, that was really cool!" Lucy was in her feet on Adam's couch now and trying to look Adam right in his optics.

Adam looked at her, then chuckled. "Yeah. Yeah, it was cool. You're right, he wouldn't do that. And I really hope they rescue him here."

Lucy grinned. "Because he's so cool and smart?"

Adam gently pushed her in the shoulder with his index finger, which caused her fall down on her butt and laugh. "Yeah, because of that."

"Wait… there's something inside of me?" Armin spoke up which snapped Adam out of his trip down memory lane. The kid was touching his chest with both hands, feeling around. 'Ah, we've finally arrived at cybernetics.' Adam thought. 'Bit of a sidetrack there.'

"Lot's of things, technically. I made sure to give you the full package!" KIPO provided. "It's all perfectly safe and routine, baring a few upgrades I thought would be prudent… Ah, I realize you might be worried if the "baring" was referring to the safe part. I meant the routine."

"…Was all this really necessary?…" Armin was calm, amazingly, but he did not look happy.

"Evidently, yes. If it helps, you won't even remember half the time you've been upgraded. Like your eyes, you haven't noticed anything off about them." Adam supplied.

"What?" Armin made to touch his face, then moved to the mirror hanging over the sink in his cell. He peered at it, looking for any signs of a change in his appearance, and his baby blues.

'Good thing KIPO didn't seem to borg him so much it would be obviously noticeable. This is hard enough as it is.'

"What exactly did you do to my eyes? I can't see anything wrong with them." Armin asked, any fear he may have started to feel replaced with confusion.

"I replaced them with cybernetic optics, completely indistinguishable from your originals." KIPO delivered with all the tact of a sledgehammer. "A standard upgrade, it allows you to see me."

"See you?" Armin squinted.

"Oh yeah, they," Adam gestured to their audience, now down to four as one of them had run off to call for their superiors advice, "can't see KIPO. A third of this conversation they've just seen us talking to nothing. Which now that I think about it, this is a perfect time to see one of your other upgrades. KIPO, I'm going to assume he's in charge of Specter now?"

"Armin Arlert may ask of me to deploy it as he sees fit. A simple request and I will endeavour to carry it out to the best of my and Specter's abilities." KIPO confirmed.

"Lovely. Then, how about we give the kid a show?" Adam made as he retrieved the broken cell bars he'd discarded in a corner and laid them out on the bed. "Armin, how would you like to see the world?"

Armin's eyes lit up (not literally but they certainly would be doing that when he learnt how to do calls) and Adam was reminded of a child who gotten exactly what they wanted for Christmas.

"Are you saying…" Armin turned to KIPO, then touched his right temple. "You could show me the world with these eyes?"

'Ah, tried and true strategy of showing the benefits of cybernetics one didn't ask for, and they immediately get over the "invasive procedure." Works like a charm.' Adam thought. What he said was, "Well yes, but I figure we could be a little more public. KIPO, think you could make a projector orb? Mark 11 if you can, but I'll settle for anything that can give us basic visuals."

"Oh, a Mark 11 is within my abilities. Armin, if you could, please hold out your hand?" KIPO gently asked.

Armin made to do so, confused, while Adam took to look at their guards, who all collectively flinched at the sudden attention. "Do NOT shoot at us for what's about to happen. It's not going to come near you nor is it going to hurt you. But if you erase the last three hours of work I've done by killing the runt I will come out there."

Some knees were knocking at that, so Adam made to position himself between them and Armin, just in case.

Armin held out his hand, palm flat, and waited. Hardly a second passed before a familiar swarm of shimmering grey started to exit his hands and move over the pile on the bed.

"What- how is this possible?" Armin asked, looking to Adam then his hand, keeping it aimed away from him but trying to catch a glimpse. "It… it doesn't hurt, in fact it kind of tickles, but how?"

"Allow me to explain Armin. As I had Specter enter your body to upgrade you, I used Specter itself to create the cybernetics. Reinforcing your bones, detoxification filter, applying a cordial implant, and of course, your eyes. But I still had plenty of nanites left over. So, I simply stored them inside your body."

"Think of nanites as metal bugs so tiny you couldn't see them without a magnifying glass on top of a magnifying glass." Adam provided. KIPO made to object to such a crude analogy when Armin spoke up.

"…Like cells in our bodies?" Armin tried.

"…Yes, actually. Good comparison." Adam approved. "Only these cells are really special, they can create almost anything if given the right materials, hell they could practically make something from nothing given enough time. That's how they fiddled around with your insides to make some changes. And then they stored themselves inside of you."

Armin grimaced at that. "I'm not sure I like the idea of hoisting a bug colony inside of me."

"Tough, it's either that or have them flying in the air behind you like the world's biggest insect cloud." Adam was not sympathetic, it didn't even hurt, what was he complaining about?

KIPO did have slightly more sympathy. "I assure you Armin, they are so small your body won't even realize they're there. And they exit rather seamlessly through your pores like sweat, you don't have to worry about any damage to your body. It also allows you to feel me." KIPO offered, taking Armin's free hand and rubbing gentle circles along the back of his hand. "By tying my movements to the nanites under your skin, I'm able to simulate touch, in addition to other sensations, such as your hearing to simulate a conversation outside your comms. I could even simulate food flavours and allow you to enjoy them!"

Armin's face betrayed how much that intrigued him. If he thought that was cool, he hadn't seen anything yet. Specter had finished it's work, and retreated back into Armin's body, leaving an intact bed devoid of metal but hoisting a black and red sphere no larger than a baseball.

"Perfect. KIPO, let's show our audience a sight they won'-" Adam began, before a door slamming open and a sudden entourage of guards arrived.

"Cadet Armin Arlert. Adam Smasher. You are to be taken before a tribunal hall and stand trial. Please do not resist and allow us to properly restrain you. We will use force if you refuse." A grey haired man stated, making a point to stand before the cell door with a pair of manacles. He took one look at the missing bars connected to the cell Adam had formerly occupied, but didn't comment.

"…Well, I guess we'll have a grander audience." Adam stated, as he picked up the orb. "Let's go kid, I'm curious as to how this will go down."

Not since the fall of Wall Maria had the citizens of Wall Sina been so enamoured with the news. The papers were selling like hot cakes as word of a Titan under humanities control became impossible to ignore. It was far too unbelievable for the most isolated of the Wall's people to take at face value, in fact some were dismissing it as wild rumours that were covering up the true story. That Wall Rose had in fact fallen and a swarm of refugees was in bound.

But for most, they couldn't help but want to believe. That a terrible new weapon had been made, that could fight back against the Titans. If only because it meant the hell beating on Wall Rose's doorsteps would be less likely to reach them in Sina.

But there was also another rumour, one that hadn't quite made it's way to the paper yet, but was being passed around word of mouth, from the soldiers to the common people.

"Did you hear? The Scout's have actually made a new weapon in conjecture with the Garrisons!" A finely dressed noblewoman remarked to her husband.

"The Garrisons?" The man paused in the street to give his wife his full attention. "You mean the supposed Titan on humanities side?"

"Yes! I heard the Garrison were the ones responsible for that miracle, while the Scout's made one from technology recovered from the outside! It makes sense, the Scout's are the farthest from the King and the least favoured, they would be free to make a secret weapon with forbidden technology." The woman exclaimed, feeling a little faint headed from the excitement of all these developments.

"Certainly would be impressive, but how did you hear of this my dear?"

"Oh dear little Frederick our stable boy, his brother is an MP assigned to be a guard right this moment. But don't tell anyone else dear, this is a secret!" The noble held hip a finger to her lips.

Naturally she then repeated the same story to a dozen other nobles, who demanded answers through loose lipped servants delivering messages to the King and the Commanders, who spread that news around in whatever dining establishments they retreated to at the end of their shifts, while the husband passed it on to his very good friend in the printing press…

Suffice to say, both Eren and Adam's mere rumoured existence was causing waves, and that was within Wall Sina. Wall Rose had caught word of Trost's reclamation and its supposed saviours much sooner, and with much more enthusiasm. They would take whatever they could get, even a Titan or a walking armoured heathen.

Such labels certainly didn't improve Eren's and Adam's existence in the eyes of the Military Police any, that was certain. As it was, the military within the Interior had already made up it's mind on their fates.

As for the military outside the Interior…

"So glad you could meet me out here, Erwin. I feel like we haven't shared a drink in ages." Commander Pixis said with a smile, standing atop the Wall over the gate leading into Wall Rose from the Trost district. He'd always liked the view from up here, even as a young soldier, it had a beauty and serene calmness that always helped put things in perspective for him. The fact he could stand here still and look down at Trost without seeing Titans rummaging around a dead district, Pixis had made a note to gift Eren a drink when the lad developed the taste for it.

"I don't believe we've ever shared a drink. I'm not one for alcohol and you politely but firmly refuse the tea I have available." Commander Erwin stated matter of factly.

"Apologies for that. Traumatic childhood incident regarding my mother. Good woman but the first and only tea she gave me was so horrid it scarred me for life." Pixis sighed, still smiling. "First impressions are important."

"Indeed. And on the subject of first impressions, I assume Eren and Adam made quite the memorable ones?"

"That they certainly did. A boy who can become a Titan, and an armoured man who wields strange weapons that supposedly came from the outside. Both capable of tearing Titans apart with their bare hands, if the rumours are true, and both having been taken to Wall Sina for holding." Pixis summed up. "You are aware of the Military Police's plan for them?"

"Yes, I received word yesterday. For Eren, his fate is to be taken into custody, and no doubt eventually executed." Erwin answered, betraying none of the minute frustrations eating away at him. "As for Adam, judged for his "heretical" nature, and treated accordingly. There's a deliberation to be held to discuss the matters."

"Yes, I'm afraid it's all in the hands of Premier Zachary." Pixis supplied. "He'll determine Eren Jeager's and Adam Smasher's futures, whether that be in service to mankind or the hangman's noose."

Erwin considered the Premier, Dhalis Zachary. Erwin had only met the man on two occasions, and both times he had appeared fair and intelligent. Zachary had no time for nonsense but would listen to all the facts, and reach a logical conclusion most of the time. It made sense, seeing as the man was in charge of all three military branches. One needed to be both a strategist and an impartial leader to hold that position.

'If he hears the facts and Eren's resolve, then the odds are good for the boy. However, when it comes to Adam…'

"May I ask you something Commander?" Erwin spoke. "What do you think about the two?"

"… I think Eren has a good heart and is absolutely committed to humanity. I for one am praying he will not be seen as detrimental to mankind, and be allowed to join the Scouts." Pixis answered. "I haven't met with this Adam Smasher, only got a passing glimpse as he was taken away. His armour is certainly impressive, unlike anything I've ever seen. But more impressively, if he really is from the outside… I suppose he's everything you ever wanted, isn't he?"

'A possible clue to the outside world? Answers I've looked for my entire life? The answers that got my father killed, that I've sacrificed so many for? Yes Pixis, he just might be, and I just have to keep him alive long enough to confirm it.'

"As you say, if he really is from the outside." Erwin nodded, betraying none of his internal thoughts. "We're not ruling out he's lying or mistaken, not yet. According to your men's reports, he seemed rather confused, even lacking basic knowledge about the Titans."

"Yes, the testimonies they gave were… unusual. Almost more so than the ones they gave about Eren. Even so, the mere fact he could be from the outside has people talking. Whatever military might he may offer, pales in comparison to the information he could have." Pixis pulled out his flask. "The outside world and its knowledge isn't necessarily heresy as deemed by the King, otherwise the Scout's wouldn't exist. But to have someone from the outside, right here and now, after a hundred years of nothing but Titans… I don't think anyone thought this day would come."

"And now that it possibly has, people are talking about killing him, to preserve the sanctity of the Walls." Erwin frowned. "Our best chance for gaining knowledge of the outside world, and possibly reclaiming our territory. And the only threat to that chance is human fear."

Pixis took a good swig before speaking again. "Fear which is tying my hands sadly. There is talk within my ranks from those who fear Eren's abilities, with this Adam and what he could represent a close second. I'm afraid the best support I can offer is not calling for their deaths."

"That's fine. If it's just the Military Police, then I'm certain I can convince Zachary of Eren's value."

"And Adam and the knowledge he possibly contains?"

"That I'm a little more worried about, the MP's have denied me access to him. I have no way of knowing his motivations or what he'll say. His testimony will be where I make an assessment, and my own appeal to the Premier."

"Playing it by ear, eh?" Pixis stashed his flask. "Pretty risky."

"I'm a Scout. Playing it by ear is what we do."

At that, Pixis laughed.

In a barracks in Stohess, Cadets that had yet to pick a Regiment found themselves eating well for the first time in forever, better than they had in their entire lives!

"Oh man! Is this?!… Is this actual powdered sugar?!" Connie exclaimed, holding his serving of pancakes and strawberries with syrup on the side.

"And whipped cream. Fuck, the Interior people are just living the good life." Ymir sighed as she took her first bite, the hmmmmm of contentment overtaking her. "Ah god, if only I could acquire enough to fill up a tub… I would drop my sweet Krista in it and lick off every inch of her body…"

"You know, one of the highlights of making it into the top ten and a bright future in the Interior? You weren't gonna be there!" Connie shuddered.

"Homophobe." Ymir snickered.

"Horn dog." Connie snipped back.

"Uh, yeah? Which means you're agreeing with me." Ymir smugly replied.

"…God dammit!" Connie cursed in defeat as Ymir laughed openly. "…So your serious, about going with the Scout Regiment?"

"Hmm mmm." Ymir confirmed. "Krista's going and so am I. And you? Made up your mind?"

"Yeah…" Connie sighed, his fist clenching around his fork so hard he actually thought he'd crumble it into scrap, before stabbing a forkful full of cake and shoving it into his mouth.

"That a boy Connie!" Sasha exclaimed as she sat down, a pancake hanging outside of her mouth. "Show the food who's boss! Take no prisoners!" She then made to practically inhale her food with a speed and force that had both Ymir and Connie wide eyed.

"Uh, Sasha? Does the concept of actually tasting the food ever occur to you? Maybe savour it a little, experience the flavour?" Ymir tentatively asked.

"GHFHB MHMHVN BGCBUT GDVBNMU UYHHFR HFS DLSSHHHHHHHH!" Sasha replied back, her mouth packed to the brim with pancake and all the trimmings that accompanied it, to the point her cheeks ballooned out.

"… What?"

With a powerful gulp that sent the whole mess down her throat, Sasha continued. "I don't like to repeat myself Ymir."

"…I really am gonna miss you Potato Girl." Ymir chortled, while Sasha paused in her licking her plate clean to be mortified at the nickname.

Meanwhile, Mikasa flexed her arm, recently freed from its sling.

"Any pain?" Jean asked, sitting across from her with his own plate while Mikasa's remained untouched.

"None. It's healed completely, thanks for helping me get it off." Mikasa replied, smiling at her comrade.

"No problem. Glad you're alright, sounds like a hell of a fight." Jean poured the syrup over his pancakes. "I'm guessing they took you straight out of the hospital bed without any questions?"

"Well they did ask if I was there for Eren's transformation, and they asked that I give testimony regarding him and Adam Smasher. But yes, they already had me pegged as a witness." Mikasa confirmed. "And you? Did they ask you questions before asking you to come here for the trial?"

"Yep." Jean nodded. "Had Garrison going up and down asking us to recap the battle. When I mentioned a Titan smacked into the Wall right under us, well, that seemed to lock me in."

It had been weird, for so many Cadets to be shipped off to the Interior to testify in the trial, but not everyone. Pretty much every soldier there had seen Eren in his Titan form, but it didn't seem like the Garrison was asking for confirmation about him… Was this Adam Smasher really such a big deal?

"Won't complain, get to have a taste of the Interior's cooking at least once, but I still haven't been able to talk to my mom. Just managed to write her a letter saying I'm alive." Jean finished, helping himself to a strawberry.

"At least she knows." Mikasa smiled. "I'm sure you'll get to see here before the selection happens."

"Thanks Mikasa." Jean smiled. "And back at you, I'm sure Eren and Armin are gonna be okay. Pixis saw Eren as important, the other Commander's will too. And Armin's got nothing to fear, it's all the big metal bastard's fault. Who I bet is a real skinny guy under all that!"

Mikasa actually laughed at that. "Thanks Jean. I think maybe today won't be a bad one."

It wasn't long after that before the door to the mess hall burst open, and multiple names rang out from the mouth of a bearded solider. "Marco Bodt, Reiner Braun, Connie Springer, Sasha Braus, Bertolt Hoover, Ymir, Annie Leonhart, Jean Kirstein, Mikasa Ackerman, Derrick…" The list went on for some time, but every soldier assembled gathered up and followed the man out the door.

'Kid, don't react, just keep walking. And try not to let anyone get a good look at your eyes.'

Armin briefly stiffened as a familiar voice was ringing inside of his head once again, but he continued to walk, his hands in manacles behind him, jacket removed, and armed guards escorting him. Just in front, KIPO drifted ahead, making to hang onto a soldier in front and let him carry her, while looking back at Armin with a reassuring smile. Somewhere in the back, Adam had been walking with them, but at some point had halted at the guard's request, his distinct footsteps disappearing after a couple of turns down the halls.

'Ah! We weren't able to go over private comms. I suppose a test run under pressure could be interesting, though ill advised.' KIPO chimed in, her voice coming from Armin's head once again. 'Armin, this is part of your cybernetics. Silent communication. If you focus and think the words to us, we'll be able to hear them. Try thinking Hello over and over until we pick it up, and I'll tell you."

Armin frowned, but focused. He repeated the instructed greeting, over and over again in his mind.

'…ello? Hello? Hello?'

'Ah, perfect! That was it!' KIPO applauded while still floating backwards, the removal of her hand from her ride not impeding her in the slightest.

Adam's voice also cut in. 'So now that we have a private line, tell me, what exactly are we looking at? What are my crimes?'

Armin focused on keeping his pace steady and his thoughts clear. 'If I had to guess, you'll be asked to prove your intentions here are not a detriment to the Walls. An outsider like you, with technology far more advanced than the King permits… we might be in a bit of trouble.'

'Then the King permits? What, do you mean he'd be threatened by me?' Adam inquired. 'I mean, he should if he plans on declaring war on me, but I thought I made it clear I was only killing Titans. Y'know, the other uglier meatbags?'

Armin frowned at the meatbag comment, but focused and relayed what he could. 'The King has forbidden certain advancements in our society, as well as any knowledge from before the Walls, deeming it heresy. Even if you're a clear benefit to us, you might not be allowed to exist here.'

'By not exist, would that involve exile or execution?"

Armin grimaced. 'I'm honestly not sure. Most cases it's… it's an immediate detaining and disappearance by the Military Police. It's seen as treason against the King, and a betrayal of mankind.'

'Ugh, again with the talking of mankind as if you're the last ones on the planet.' Adam groaned. 'Well that explains me, but what about you? Do they think you're my co-conspirator or something?'

Armin internally shrugged, wondering briefly if that would transmit. 'Don't know, I didn't even know a trial was going to happen. I was unconscious, remember?'

'Right. Well they didn't tell me anything other than to wait, so this is a surprise to me too. Honestly thought I'd be brought before your leaders, welcomed with open arms. Little disappointed, to be honest.' Adam replied. 'I am trying to understand this limit on innovating. What purpose does that serve? Is it to stop people from overthrowing the King?'

'Possibly. But some think… some think it's to deliberately keep us inside of the Walls.'

'Oooooooooooh ho ho hoooo, is that so?' Adam sounded very intrigued.

'Please don't repeat that!' Armin hurried to say. 'It's only a theory! Just… keep in mind people will be looking at you with suspicion. We can convince them of your value to mankind in such a way not even the King could make a move with causing an uproar!'

'….Alright. Diplomacy first. This is your home, you take the lead. But if they try anything, I warn you, I will defend myself. Possibly make my way to wherever this King is and take over, you just have to point me in the right direction.' Adam replied. 'Honestly might be the better option, let you people enter the 21st century.'

'21st century?' Armin thought. What he mentally spoke was, 'Let's just… try not to cause a war inside the Walls. I promise, we can do this without violence!'

'Ah, see? That's just making it harder for me… Ah, I promise, I'll be on my best behaviour.' Adam chuckled as he cut out.

'Adam?… Adam?' Armin tried.

'He's hung up, the communication with him is closed.' KIPO said. 'When this is done, I'll teach you how to call him and hang up yourself. For now, why don't I end this chat now, okay?'

Armin gave the briefest of nods, and soon silence reigned supreme in his head again. By reflex, Armin exhaled. 'That was… that was something else. Is every hour of every day going to be discovering things like this?'

Armin had to admit, the thought excited him! He just hoped he'd live past today to experience it.

As he was brought before a pair of double doors, one of the guards turned to him, a woman who'd been watching in from outside his cell. "Hey, for what it's worth, I don't think you're a traitor or anything. They'll see, it's all on the big guy."

Armin blinked, then smiled. "Thanks. I'll uh, I'll try to do my best in there."

The woman smiled, then moved to open the doors. As Armin suspected, he was in a courthouse, the court room laid before him.

What he hadn't planned on was so many familiar faces to be inside, all staring straight ahead at the people opposite the room. And in the centre of the room…

"Armin! You're okay!" Eren cried out as he rotated as much as possible to see his friend. Only to get a musket aimed right at him for his troubles.

"Shut up you Titan devil! You will speak when spoken to!"

That promptly shut Eren up, but he still tried to look at Armin. Armin tried to offer a reassuring smile as the guards next to Eren lifted the pole that had trapped his friend manacles, forcing him to his knees.

"You, Jaeger. Rotate to face the left. Arlert, you'll be facing the right."

Armin nodded as Eren shifted, and with both their manacles in place (Armin's on top) and their bodies positioned back to back, the pole was returned, trapping them.

"Hey Armin, are you okay?" Eren whispered. "The Scout's told me you'd be on trial too, but they were vague on the details why."

"It's news to me too buddy." Armin whispered back, looking on a crowd of Military Police, businessmen, church leaders, and ordinary people. Most looked at him with confusion, they clearly didn't know why Armin was here too. One woman though… She was looking at Armin with a piercing gaze, like she was dissecting him with her eyes alone. It was something Armin had experienced sometimes with Annie, though not quite so morbid. 'Actually, she kind of looks like Annie, could she be related? Sister, mother perhaps?'

Armin minutely shook his head, and turned back to Eren. "I literally only found out ten minutes ago. But I'm fine, really. How about you?"

"A little nervous, everyone's looking at me like I'm a Titan."

"Uh…"

"Yeah I know, but I was thinking me being human right now would help at least a little." Eren groaned. "…Oh yeah, and my arm grew back, did ya see?"

"I noticed. Did that happen while you were human?" Armin asked, amazed.

"Happened while I was asleep. Woke up and I was still missing my hand, but it came back just as this crazy Section Commander brought me-"

The sudden sound of a door opening promptly ended their conversation, as a somewhat stocky individual approached the judge's bench. He removed his coat before placing it atop the bench, then rolled up his sleeves as he sat down. To be honest, he gave off the energy of a man who'd rather be anywhere else today, as if this was a tedious procedure.

"Alright, shall we begin?" The man picked up a document off the bench and adjusted his glasses. "Your names are Eren Jaeger and Armin Arlert. And as soldiers you have sworn to give up your lives when called to, for the good of the people. Is that correct?"

"Yes." Eren confirmed, suddenly feeling quite small right now.

"Y-yes." Armin likewise stated.

"As enlisted soldiers during a time of war military doctrine demands your tribunals be held as court materials. As commander of our armed forces these matters are left to my discretion." Armin straightened somewhat, as the man he now knew to be Premier Dhalis Zachary, looked at them both. "Thus I will decide whether you are guilty of crimes against mankind. Whether you live, or die."

'I knew it.' Armin swallowed down his fear. 'No, it'll be fine. Eren and I… we will be fine.'

"Any objections?" The Premier asked, not that he was expecting any pushback.

"No sir." Eren responded, the barest hint of trepidation in his voice.

"N-no sir." Armin had a bit more fear in his voice, but he responded all the same.

Dhalis nodded. "Your astuteness is appreciated." He then turned to a man in the stands that Armin was facing, a Commander, judging by his uniform. "Now, I was told there was a third individual who would be joining us, not just as someone on trial but evidence to be used against Mr. Arlert. Was I misinformed Commander Dawk?"

"Not at all sir. The third individual refuses to remove his armour, so we held him back to forcibly take it off. I believe he will be with us short-"

The sound of door opening rang out, as a nervous soldier ran past Eren and Armin to approach the Commander of the MP's. Whatever he whispered caused Commander Dawk's eyes to widen, before he cleared his throat. "Um, forgive me Premiere Zachary, but it appears… the armour is proving quite sturdy, and we are unable to remove it. It may take longer than anticipated…"

"Bring him in." Dhalis cut in.

"Sir?!" A chorus of nervous muttering began.

"I was called in to weigh on what may be the most important trial of our people's history. A trial so important it was seen fit to judge three individuals at the same time." Dhalis's voice never wavered, as he maintained eye contact. "Delays like this serve no purpose other than to inconvenience everyone present. This individual, he complied earlier with all that was asked of him? Was wearing this armour you're so concerned about in a cell?"

"I… yes, but I've been told he caused damage to escape!"

"Escape? I thought you had him in custody still? Did you recapture him?"

"…He went into another cell. Armin Arlert's cell."

The silence that followed was only interrupted by Dhalis Zachary rubbing his eyes. "I think it's safe to say we can trust the man to behave himself."

"But sir!"

"Bring him in Commander Dawk. Let us get this tribunal underway." And that was the end of it. Dawk grimaced, then turned to the soldier who'd run in. With a nod from Dawk, the man ran out.

The sound of retreating footsteps slowly died out… before a new sound was heard, growing louder and louder. Many heads turned, including Eren's, to the double doors leading into the courtroom. Armin knew that sound, it was rather distinct. Adam's footsteps.

The doors opened, and many gasped, as Adam Smasher was lead inside, his hands chained together as two guards on either side escorted him. His imposing eight foot tall frame, coupled with his strange armour, and his glowing red eyes, were as unsettling as ever, even to those who had seen him before. From many, they looked at him with shock. Some, with wonder. Other's cold analysis. For Mikasa, utter hatred.

Adam looked over the crowd, many faces all directed at him.

"You all look like cuts of fuckable meat. Are you?"

The resulting bang of Armin's head hitting the pole almost immediately broke the collective shock that had struck everyone.

'WHY?!' The blonde screamed in his head, as Adam laughed in his.

So yes, Adam was paraphrasing a sci-fi show he watched with his niece to help explain things to Armin. Props to whoever can guess which one! Think I made it super obvious but you never know.

I hope this chapter wasn't too boring? I like to think Adam and Armin learning off each other and interacting carries some level of entertainment, but then again I confined the majority of this chapter to a prison cell.

Now that I've got half of the explaining stuff things out do the way, now we can move on to the actual trial. Now I suppose the powers that be within the Walls would possibly want to host two separate trials for two equally shocking developments, but the Premiere is a busy man and the MP's are so certain at least one proclamation of GUILTY will ring out, so why wait?

And yes, the Garrison needed more witnesses for Adam than Eren because crazy as Eren is, he's pretty straight forward, boy who turns into a Titan, they know Titans. What they don't know is a metal man who can throw Titans in the air, leap two story buildings in a single bound without ODM gear, cause explosions through atypical means, and in some cases moves faster than humanly possible. They need first hand confirmation on that one.

And I wanted to get the trial down in one sitting, but I figured I made you all wait long enough, plus I REALLY wanted to end on Adam's iconic line. Let him share the first time impression he did for all of us with the cast of AoT.