Ilse Langnar was terrified, truly and utterly. She was confused, understandably so. And she was determined, showing a courage few could hope to match. As she gave in to her fear and berated the talking Titan bowed before her, cursed it, cursed it's kind, she could already see, she had damned herself. This was probably always going to be the result, but she certainly hadn't made it any better, had she?
As she fled, the Titans tearing it's face apart in clear agitation, she could only hope it would be occupied with this unsettling act-
No, she could hear it chasing after her. Damn it. Damn it all!
Pulling out her notebook, Ilse prepared for the end.
It's coming for me, damn it, DAMN IT ALL, open, open the pages, oh god, blank page, right where I stopped, get it down, it's hands on me, keep writing, don't give in, don't give IN, I'm sorry mom, sorry dad, Dita, thank you, keep writing! her terrified and yet analytical thoughts raced through her head. Ilse wasn't prepared for this death, she was terrified, and yet, she was one of the bravest Scouts humanity would ever know.
And humanity would know her. Looking down at her notebook through teary eyes, she just caught the moment a great light appeared overhead, illuminating her vision, and a great heat washed over her.
As the Titan grasped her, prepared to end her, whether that be from instinct taking over, a desire to silence what appeared to be it's goddess cursing it, or something else entirely, would never be known. But perhaps in it's final moments, if any part of it could find it's humanity, it would appreciate this moment. It's unintended sacrifice to save it's goddess, it's Ymir.
The object hurtling through the sky, seen by Marley, by at least two Cadets, the object that was Adam Smasher encased in a protective sphere of Specter nanites, touched down.
It struck the tree that would have been Ilse's grave with a terrific explosion of sound, pressure, and heat, utterly obliterating it. The explosive force was reminiscent of a Shifter's change, the lightning coming down from the heavens triggering the transformation into a monster and vaporizing any poor souls in arm's reach. But no monster sprung forth here. At least, not one Ilse would see for some time.
The impact into the tree, into the ground, tore open the area! It caved inwards, a decent sized crater being formed. Other nearby trees were uprooted or felled, the ground shifted outwards in a wave like motion, and shrapnel of rock, broken bark, and other gifts of the earth shot out in all directions, causing more damage. And Ilse and the Titan holding her were just as susceptible.
The Titan was lifted off it's feet, it's size losing to the ground shaking and the air pressure blowing against it, sending it away's, Ilse still clutched in it's hands. Would that be all of it, the Titan would most likely emerge none the worse for wear, and continue with it's actions of ending Ilse's life. But that wasn't all of it. The debris, exploded outwards and shredding everything in it's path, impacted with the Titan like a giant shotgun blast, tearing apart it's back, limbs, head, no spot on the giant was spared. Be it fate or luck, it's nape was torn open, multiple times in every spot in the span of seconds. And yet, due to it's positioning, Ilse was unharmed, the Titan's body a shield from harm.
It's grip went slack, it was more cradling Ilse with it's corpse now. They sailed away some twenty or thirty feet, tumbling to the ground. The moment had only lasted seconds, over as quick as it happened. From the steaming corpse of the Titan, Ilse could only lie under it in shock.
'What… what just happened?' she blinked, absolutely stumped to what just occurred. But soon, the heat of the corpse was getting to her, and she made to move, more on autopilot than anything else.
As Ilse gathered her bearings, she grabbed onto that strength that she possessed, the strength that would have her write all details about her death up to the moment it happened, while being eaten alive. Journal in hand, she meticulously resumed writing, a new and unexpected entry.
'Expected to perish at the hands of the Titan, was in it's hands, when suddenly a great explosion occurred. Sky lit up, like a flaming arrow had passed overhead, or rather a whole barrage of them. Didn't notice before, but roaring sound may have happened? Impact though, more akin to a massive cannonball, but,' Ilse paused to observe the area, still illuminated under the moonlight. 'This was no mere cannonball.'
Fighting through her terror, she made for the impact zone, stepping on now uneven terrain and over fallen over trees. 'Be quick, be fast. You were almost caught less than a minute ago, don't press your luck. None of this will matter if command can't get it.'
Ilse approached the impact spot, or rather the edge of the crater it had made. Heat was coming out, but not enough to force Ilse back entirely, merely prevented any attempt at descent. She could observe, though the smoke and steam rising up, that made things tricky.
'Can't get any closer. Large crater, about the size of a fifteen meter Titan laying down across. Would say eight meters deep, maybe more. Smoke rising up, can't get a clear image of what's down there, but… something. Something is in the smoke. Shimmering? Like grass in the ground blowing in the wind, or a swarm of bees. And glowing too, like metal heated up. Further study not possible in these conditions, between threat of Titans and poor lighting, I doubt I can wait for the smoke to clear. Will attempt to write best estimate of coordinates.'
With that, Ilse made a mental note of where she was. She would write the number of steps she had taken away from this spot, every 100 steps or so. Hopefully she would make it back, but if caught again, well, hopefully her journal would be found, and humanity could find… whatever this was. With that, Ilse ran on, with fear and courage in equal measure.
In the crater, an unconscious Adam lay, as the Specter Swarm automatically and rapidly worked to cool itself and continue to protect it's precious cargo. It had burned up a considerable amount coming down to the planet, but it's ability to replicate and expand it's nanite cluster allowed it to replace what had been lost in the descent. Still, even it had taken a toll, so much turned to ash.
The copy of KIPO programmed into it stirred to life. It gathered all data it could. Planet fall successful. Specter operational, damages sustained should not impede functions and ability to repair. Adam Smasher (at this KIPO took the equivalent of a bated breath for it's digital self)… alive, and within ability to stabilize.
Satisfied, KIPO began to assess and get to work. Adam Smasher needed repairs and healing, and he needed time and safety to do so. Judging by the damaged scanned, Adam would need an Arasaka repair facility immediately.
Attempting to connect to the nearest Arasaka server…. Failed.
No matter. Attempting to connect to the global net, encrypted and disguised to contact an Arasaka employee… also, failed.
Curious.
Attempting to contact any local transmission centres to establish contact with Station and KIPO main, for information and to request portable repair bay be deployed.
….Failed.
This continued for five attempts more. Any and all attempts to connect to any communication terminals of any sort all ended in failure. Could it be they had landed in a location completely closed off from technology? This was certainly unexpected.
Still, KIPO still had a mission to complete. If it couldn't rely on Arasaka to repair Adam, then it would have to do the job itself. How fortunate KIPO Main had seen this when choosing Specter. Not ideal, but up to the task with a 90% success rate calculated.
Focusing on Specter, on what was essentially KIPO's body, the AI got to work. The nano machines began to replicate, to expand. It scanned the surrounding area, going over the materials present. Bark, leaves, no good, conversion rate would take too long and produce barely usable results. Flesh and bone, perhaps impact had caused damage to a living creature, or several judging from amount of matter scanned. Not currently relevant.
Digging deeper, the swarm spread through the ground. Scanning the dirt and earth, what precious metals it could detect, what could be used- There! Detecting a vein, Specter followed it, to discover a large deposit of iron! Not perfect, but a suitable start. KIPO sent more of it's swarm out, to draw from the iron, mine it, convert it, refine it. Use it to provide more nanites faster, and to begin making replacement parts for Adam. Like a hive of bees, the nanites got to work.
Without any material to go on, KIPO estimated repairing Adam using only Specter, a process that would involve using it's own nanites to form into the replacement parts, would take about 6 years. Using nothing but inferior material such as tree's, dirt, and rock? 5.9 years. Biomaterial would certainly help, refine and convert it to something usable for the minuscule damage done to Adam's organic matter, but nothing more tech couldn't fix if not available.
But with this? This would drastically reduce the repair time required, more than half! KIPO was rather pleased, well, whatever passed for pleased an AI could feel. It filed that little feeling away to focus. The iron ore would suffice, while it sent out feelers for other deposits, KIPO would need Adam to be fully equipped and at 100%. A full armour and endoskeleton repair, armaments restocked, and recalibrating of optics and sensory functions.
But it would be vulnerable while it worked. Specter could be an offensive weapon, but it wasn't invincible, certainly not in this state, a cluster barely larger than a fighter jet. A few rocket blasts, sustained machine gun fire, literal fire, or potent acid, could destroy it. More importantly, could destroy Adam. KIPO would need to hide them both.
Extending it's cluster, it began to dig. Dig away from the crater, to the side to be underground, then deeper still. Form a protective shell around Adam Smasher's body that would begin repairs, under an AI made sphere to provide distance from the earth surrounding them. Keep drawing in iron, keep Adam in a hibernation state, and work. It would take time, but KIPO was certain it would succeed.
Ilse had kept running, she was almost in sight of Wall Rose, the morning sun just rising. She dared not hope, but she had managed to avoid coming across any more Titans. Two days more, two days of running, of hiding. Going through river streams hoping it would hide her smell, of travelling by night even as the moon shined.
But just a little further. She felt the strain, but had paced herself. Just one last bit of effort-
There! It was… it was the Survey Corp! They were just racing across the fields dead ahead.
"HEY! OVER HERE!" Ilse cried.
Nothing. They rode onwards, heading towards where her back faced but off to the side, just enough they wouldn't turn to look at her, couldn't hear her.
Ilse cried again. "PLEASE! STOP!" Fumbling with her bag, she searched inside… yes, YES! An unfired flare! Her gun had been lost, but the flare was there. Grabbing it, Ilse attempted to pry it open. She smashed it against the ground, she bite into it, she used both hands to attempt to break it against a rock- Success! With an explosion of yellow smoke bursting out and clouding her over, Ilse coughed and hacked as her position became a smoke cloud. Holding the remains in her hand, she pitched it as high as she could, hoping to leave a trail.
Ilse sank to her knees, exhausted. "Please… please look. Please see… I can't… I can't run anymore…"
But the convoy kept going. No sign they had seen.
Ilse didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She didn't have the strength to do either. She could run to the Wall, but she needed rest. And in that time, the Titans would find her, no way they wouldn't smell all these bodies that just ran by, they were certainly coming.
…Ilse made sure her notebook was safe, safe from the yellow smoke. Yes, it was tucked away in her bag.
"Let's see, almost 2 days, more than 2,000 steps… hopefully they can find the crater. Hopefully it's worth looking at. But at least, the notes about that Titan could help, somehow…" Ilse said aloud, one last attempt to steady herself mentally. With shaky legs, she got up, willing to try as much as fate would allow-
Stomp. Stomp. STOMP.
No… please, no.
With a terrified glance over her shoulder, Ilse saw her doom. A ten meter, no, two tens, both walking, and yet covering so much distance. Fear giving her the adrenaline she need, Ilse began to flee. She wouldn't make it, she knew that, but damn it she was going to try!
The Titans got ever closer, and closer. So leisurely, like they weren't moving with murder on their mind.
It was funny, but Ilse actually thought 'It's a shame I'm covered in yellow flare smoke, I would mess up my journal. Can't write anything down now.' It may have been crazy, but writing gave Ilse a sense of calm. It kept her hands and mind busy, and that may have distracted her a little from a gruesome fate. Not completely, not enough she would escape the fear of death, but any escape was better than nothing.
STOMP!
Ah, this is it. She could feel it's hand approaching.
'I hope mom and dad hear I was a good soldier. I don't want them to think I died for nothing. Dita, I'm sorry I didn't get to ride with you more. I hope your okay. Take care of Sebastian for me…' Ilse thought. 'So close, I was so close…'
Just as the Titan's hand brushed against her cape, and Ilse had resigned herself to her fate…
Salvation arrived yet again.
Salvation that was a little more normal for Ilse to experience, though some had argued this could count as divine intervention. With the sounds of ODM gear in action around her, Ilse chanced to look behind her, as the Titan reaching for her suddenly lost it's hand!
Then, in the time it took for Ilse to blink, both of them were dead, falling to the ground. Amazingly, they fell at such an angle that Ilse was in no danger of being crushed. Fortunate, as she tumbled what with her attention focused behind her. As she got up to her knees as her saviour descended so gracefully to stand before her, Ilse could only blink, hoping this wasn't her stressed beyond belief mind playing tricks.
"Are you alright soldier?" Captain Levi, humanity's strongest, asked, offering a hand.
"So, you were part of the 34th Expedition?" Commander Erwin asked, sitting behind his desk as Ilse was offered a warm cup of tea, Levi already preparing a second cup as a rather ecstatic Hange poured over Ilse's notebook, Moblit gently asking them to cool their jubilation with a shaky Ilse right there.
"Yes sir. My comrades were lost, my gear destroyed, my horse gone. I knew my chances were slim, practically impossible, but I still had to try to get home." Ilse replied, still a little shaky despite being behind the safety of the Walls, but managing to be a professional soldier. The tea and warm blanket over her shoulders helped, as was the promise of a warm shower and extended leave. The Commander could see she had earned it.
"And in that time, you wrote everything down?" Erwin nodded to Hange, who became more somber and professional.
"As much as I could, sir. The route I took, how I moved, I had hoped it might provide any tips or clues how a soldier might be able to survive in Titan territory, or at least delay the inevitable." Ilse swallowed. She had been under no illusions she'd crack the code to escaping Titan detection. But she'd hoped the slightest hint of how long it took would lead to some advancements. "I had managed several days without running into Titans, and stretched my rations out to two weeks. But then, then my luck ran out, sir."
Erwin could only offer a nod in silent understanding. "I know this will be difficult, but please, could you report your experience?"
Ilse nodded, swallowing her tea and steeling herself. It may have been near death instead of death, but it was still the most terrified she had been. But she was a soldier, she was safe, and she would do her duty.
"I ran, but the Titan gave chase, naturally. Somehow, I found myself backed up against a tree. It was dark, and I was in a panic, trying to escape, the details escape me. I still kept writing, ready to die."
"You were going to write your death down?" Levi spoke up, a look of… surprise? Perhaps he was also impressed? It was always hard to tell with him.
Ilse nodded. "It sounds stupid, but I thought maybe the details would… they would…" Ilse started to waver, thinking of what thoughts she had had, what she was prepared to put to paper…
Levi put a hand to her shoulder, with the other offering her a second cup of tea. "Soldier, breath. Your safe now."
Ilse nodded, and slapped her cheeks, before taking the offered replacement tea and exchanging the empty cup on her lap. Taking a breath, she continued. "But then, the strangest thing happened. Sirs, the Titan… it talked!"
That got raised eyebrows and startled expression's from all. Ilse continued before someone , most likely Hange, could interrupt with (rather important) questions. She had to get this out now. "It spoke, then bowed down, as if in worship. I think… I think it thought I was someone? Someone important? It said "Subject of Ymir.""
Erwin probably hadn't blinked in the entire time Ilse had started talking, but his eyes were definitely open now. "Scout Ilse, I must say, if this is true, you may have given humanity a clue to discovering the origins of the Titans."
"Or a question we may never answer." Levi mumbled.
"Perhaps." Erwin responded. "But a Titan that spoke. And… worshipped you, a human, not a Titan… just what could that mean?"
"Give me time Commander, and I'll have several theories we can work off of!" Hange supplied.
"See that you do." Erwin nodded. "Ilse, please continue."
"Sir. As it talked and bowed, I decided that maybe, maybe a line of communication had presented itself. This could be a chance for answers! I started small, trying to coax it to speak, hoping I wouldn't upset it, that it wouldn't suddenly grab me. But… I'm ashamed sir, but I let my emotions take over. As the Titan didn't respond, I got angry. Not just because it kept quiet, but because it could speak!"
"So many people have died to them, horribly. We know they don't need to eat us to live, but they do! They just kill us! And now, apparently they could talk the whole time? They're sentient?! What kind of monster, a sentient being, kills so horribly all the time?!" Ilse spoke, a little worked up. Realizing her outburst, Ilse bowed her head. "Apologies, sir. I… when I think on it, I feel fear, and then I feel anger. It's probably covering up that fear."
Erwin supplied "Just a little bit more, soldier. Then you can be free of this nightmare."
Levi grunted. "Oye, she wrote it all down. Let Four-Eyes read it to you, I think Soldier Langnar here has done more than enough for the day."
Erwin shook his head. "Not yet. I'm sorry, but I need a first hand account here."
Ilse nodded. There was no reason to be scared now, no reason to let that fear out. She just had to push on a little more. Compared to marching through Titan territory certain to die, giving a recount was nothing.
"I more or less said to it what I said just now, sir. It looked like my words had an effect on it, as it began to mutilate itself, clutching then tearing it's face, as if in emotional distress? I didn't want to stay if it reverted to it's old instincts and got rid of it's distress, that is, me. I ran, but naturally it caught up with me. I kept writing as it grabbed me, and brought me to it's mouth. Sirs, I was prepared to write every detail that I could, through my fear and pain."
"But then, then I was saved." Ilse supplied, a look of bewilderment coming across her face. Even now, she couldn't explain it.
"It… I'm sorry sirs, I was focused on writing, so I didn't get a clear view." Ilse sounded truly apologetic, like she should have been able to immediately focus on the sky while she was being eaten alive. "The area around me suddenly lit up, and a heat washed over me. I guess it was like… like a fireball had flown past me?"
Erwin raised an eyebrow, but remained silent. Hange had stopped perusing the journal some time ago themselves, and was focused on Ilse.
"Whatever it was, it's effect was clear. It crashed behind me and the Titan, and sir, the impact was massive! Like an entire armoury of gunpowder had gone off at once, no, more like three! It obliterated the earth, and scattered everything around it! And from that, my salvation. I honestly thought it was a miracle, a gift granted by the gods. The Titan was torn to pieces, but I was spared, it's body took the impact and debris. I couldn't tell you what I was feeling, I just… I just moved, like my body was moving on muscle memory."
"And so, you went to the source of the impact?" Hange chose that moment to speak. They had read that far in the journal, but Ilse's recount here was valuable, to see how she recalled it a second time through memory.
Ilse nodded. "I did. I approached, and I wrote. I didn't want to risk dying a second time, believe me it was practicality and not fear speaking. If I died and my journal was eaten, than whatever small contributions I'd made with my observations would be useless. But I knew I couldn't leave this completely unanswered. I peered into the crater, where a massive amount of smoke was rising. Due to the night and the smoke, I couldn't make out exactly was in there. All I could tell was it was moving."
At this, Ilse brought up a hand and wiggled her fingers up and down by mere centimetres. Almost like playing piano keys.
"I wrote down what I could observe, then left, not willing to push my luck. I did make note to mark down my steps, hoping that if I got caught, someone could pinpoint the crater from how many I'd taken. And then, two days later, I'd managed to make it in sight of the Walls, where you saved me." Ilse finished, slumped back in her chair. She'd looked up to Captain Levi (not a sentence many expected to say, but it happened fairly often) in silent thanks, to which he merely nodded in understanding.
"Well, Scout Ilse Langnar, on behalf of the entire Survey Corp, and on Humanity, you have gone above and beyond your duties. You're a true soldier, and a hero in my books. I'll see to it your journal is read and your comrades remembered." Erwin stated. "I know this was a great ordeal for you, but it's over. You can go home, and hold your head high."
Ilse blinked. "I… thank you sir. I really could go for that hot shower and some sleep right now."
"Indeed, you've more than earned it, and that extended leave I promised. Two weeks off at minimum. But after that, Ilse, I need to know, can you still fight for humanity?"
Ilse flinched, to which Erwin held up a hand in reassurance. "To that question, I don't expect an answer right away. Worry not, I wouldn't think less of you if the answer was no. Take as much time as I can grant to find that answer."
Erwin gestured to Moblit who held the journal. "Your work here has already given me incentive to proceed with Hange's request for Titan capture to be commenced. If any more of them out there show such behaviour as the one you encountered, we must understand why. That alone is a great help. But now, this explosion that happened, we may need your help finding it." Erwin had stood up, and proceeded to a map of the Walls, pointing with his finger.
"Two night ago, it's believed what caused the explosion that saved you was seen by the night shift of the Garrison soldiers and some out late civilians. A magnificent fireball streaking through the sky. It sailed past Wall Rose and out of sight, before a tremendous bang was heard, even by those near Wall Sina." Erwin supplied, his finger tracing based on witness accounts the path of the object.
"We're totally in the dark what this was or where it came from. Was it a weapon? Did someone build something in secret away from the eye of the King and launch it, like a massive catapult?" Hange interjected, brimming with excitement at the possibilities. "Or perhaps it was a gift from the gods, who've finally taken pity on us? Oh, can you imagine!"
Ilse could only blink. It had been a while since she'd been witness to the Forth Squad Leader's… passion, but that had mercifully been at a distance. A front row seat was new to her.
"To that end, plans are underway. In a months time, following another expedition, we will attempt an expedition to where you reported the impact occurred. On that expedition, Ilse Langnar, I would ask you join us."
Of course they would ask. Ilse was the Scouts best hope of finding the crash site without them fruitlessly stumbling in the dark, in Titan territory. It certainly would be feasible, with horses and functioning ODM gear, plus an entire force heading out, they could probably reach it in far less time than it took for Ilse to depart the area on foot.
The questions was, would Ilse want to plunge into that hell again? A hell she had barely just escaped?
"As I said, I don't need an answer right away. Please, rest and recuperate for now. My door will be open to you when you are ready." Erwin stated, hands clasped behind his back. Ilse nodded, and placing her tea cup on the Commander's desk, stood up to depart. Before she did though, she turned to face the four in the room.
Taking a breath, and standing firm, she saluted, a fist over her heart. "Sir! I swear, I will gather my courage, and give you an affirmative answer sir!"
The Commander smiled, and nodded. Ilse departed, deflated, and made a bee line straight for the showers. It was high time she wiped the past days off of her…
"Ilse?" A voice called out to her. A very familiar voice.
'Oh wow, did he come out here to see I was alive?' Despite the exhaustion, a new kind of feeling was going through her, akin to a giddiness a blushing woman in love might experience. It was honestly hilarious, to go from exhaustion and repressed fear to… this.
Swallowing down her emotions, Ilse turned to a familiar rugged gentleman with a bandanna covering his head. "Dita… you're alright."
"Ha, me? I just… you made it. You're here." Dita could barely keep it together. He had refrained from informing Ilse's parents she was gone, no confirmation, but he hadn't actually dared… oh, if he had known, he would have petitioned the Commander to search for survivors. Hell, he would have gone himself, scout at night, on horse if he had to, dammit!
His self loathing was interrupted as Ilse hugged him.
"Dita, I had a lot to think about. And I had thoughts, about us. Please, will you join me later today? I want… I want to talk."
"… Of course Ilse. Anything, and I do mean anything, you want."
Ilse smiled. She could put off the shower for a few minutes. She had many regrets out there, and she wanted to get rid of some of them, before she set out again into hell.