The ground trembled. Hitch was sitting on a sloped rooftop, her head leaning into her hand. She looked up with a curious expression. "Eh? What was that?"

"To your feet! All of you!"

It took Hitch a moment to identify who had spoken. She didn't recognize the voice which brought her comrades scrambling to attention as it struck a cord of urgency in their hearts. Green eyes widened when it became clear the speaker was the figure looking out over the rooftops with a determined expression as he unsheathed the swords at his hip. When he turned to look at her over his shoulder, Hitch felt the good-natured comrade who'd come to Marlo's aid and laughed despite himself over a sack of coins going in the river had been replaced with a different person entirely.

Marco Bodt was terrifying.

"Hitch!"

Hitch took a step back in apprehension.

"Find the nearest officer!" Marco barked. "Inform them of a Titan attack, and return to us with our orders!"

"A …" Hitch's voice wavered. She didn't want to believe it. This was the inner wall. There was never …

"Hitch!"

"Alright!" Hitch said. "Alright, already! I just … are you sure?!"

"Positive," Marco said.

Hitch shot Marco a final glance paired with a grimace before her ODM gear flung her away.

. . .

Marco's attention drifted away from Hitch's retreat to look out over the streets of Stohess. A giant dust cloud was visible in the distance along with glimpses of something large lumbering between the red-tiled rooftops.

"The rest of us are going to move in to see if we can offer support," Marco said. "Everyone, keep a safe distance from the Titan until we have a better idea of the situation. If this is–"

If this is Eren, Marco thought, gritting his teeth. There will be more to this situation. Otherwise …

"I'll use my Titan form," Reiner had said. He had turned to look over his shoulder, sharp eyes growing wide in alarm behind drifting pieces of hot ash falling like snow.

It can't be … Marco thought. He squeezed his eyes closed in an attempt to push away the thought. No! Reiner saved my life. He wouldn't–

"Did you say we're going over there?!"

Marco snapped out of his daze. He looked up to regard the members of his squad. They were watching him as if he'd suggested drawing their swords and plunging them into their own hearts.

"I did," Marco said. He shoved away the anxiety tumbling in the back of his brain. He needed to be present. There could be no mistakes; not if he wanted to save others and keep himself alive as well. He lifted his sword into the air and steadied his tone.

"We're the Military Police – the ones tasked with defending the people! I made a promise to ensure everyone's loved ones would be safe within the walls, and I intend to keep it. How could we call ourselves soldiers if the Scout Regiment puts their lives on the line all the time to fight Titans and we can't do the same? It's time to defend our home – let's go!"

Marco activated his ODM gear, sailing over the neighboring buildings. There was no sound of the hiss of gas tanks from behind him. His heart sank.

'Clunk!'

A grappling hook lodged into the clocktower on his right. Marco looked over his shoulder. Six people were behind him … every member of the two squads in their unit aside from Hitch. His expression brightened and he brought his eyes forward.

Shouts began to amplify as Marco approached the dust cloud. Most of them must have been orders being relayed since it seemed the streets near the commotion were devoid of civilians. Scout Regiment soldiers made up the difference by zipping in and out of sight around towers and overhangs.

What's going on? There are so many of them here … was this attack expected? We weren't told about anything like this. Our squads‒

Marco studied his surroundings, taking in the symbols along the jackets of the soldiers swinging between the buildings.

I don't see any other members of the Military Police. The squads led by Boris and Marlo were south of us, so hopefully everyone is alright … Of course they are ‒ Annie is with them. She'll keep them safe.

"Armin! Over here!"

Jean?! Marco thought, his head whipping about to find the source of the familiar voice.

Marco landed beside a group of Scout soldiers atop a series of tall buildings lining a curved street. From around the corner flew two figures, trails of vapor in their wake which was immediately dispersed by the Titan on their heels. Marco's jaw hung open. This Titan was clearly abnormal; it had feminine features, its appearance showing every muscle of its body like the skin had been torn away. It ran with its hands balled in fists, elbows out to the side as if form was less of a concern than the targets up ahead. It ran like–

What?

Marco had been going on morning runs for the past few months alongside someone who moved just like that. It was uncanny.

Why does it remind me of–?

The two figures sailing down the street flew past. Marco locked eyes with Jean, his friend looking back at him in surprise before Marco's eyes snapped back to the Titan. It was nearly on top of them, Marco readying his ODM gear to sail away when he felt the vibrations of an explosion beneath his feet.

Jean and Armin's trajectory took sharp turns as they banked to the left and right. A second later the air was filled with a swarm of grape rounds flying toward the Titan, a handful missing their target and causing overhangs to explode in clouds of red brick.

The Titan crossed its arms to block the shower of cannon fire. A crystalline substance grew over its forearms, the small cannon balls bouncing off the material without any effect.

"Now!" a voice shouted.

The windows of the building across the street exploded in a shower of glass and a barrage of wires shot toward the Titan, sinking into its flesh as the hooks on their tips caught hold. Marco didn't see the second shot, but he felt the vibration as another wave of wires exploded out from the tower to his right. The Titan flailed as if struggling for balance; the wires keeping its arms pinned to its chest kept it from catching itself as it stumbled into the roof across the street.

"Second round; fire!"

Marco rushed to the edge of the building to look at the street below. Half a dozen cannons had been wheeled out, two in the lead were attached by a cord coming out of their barrels that stretched across the width of the street between them. The two lead cannons lurched back with a thundering boom as they fired in unison.

The cannonballs whizzed past on either side of the Titan. They'd been aimed low enough to fly beneath the hooked wires, the cord between them catching the Titan's ankle. Their momentum urged them to curve as the cord grew taught and they wrapped themselves around the Titan's calves as they continued to orbit; the force brought the Titan's legs together and it fell onto its back in a crash which nearly knocked Marco prone.

Marco shielded his eyes from the dust cloud billowing up from below. He lowered his arm in time to watch a cluster of soldiers across the street toss a long object from the roof. It uncoiled, the net falling over the Titan's torso amid the sound of metal spikes clattering against the brickwork.

"Marco!"

Jean landed on the opposite end of the roof and jogged forward.

"Jean!" Marco said, relieved to see him unharmed. "What's happening? That Titan … and everyone here being so prepared to take it down …"

"It's part of a plan of the Commander's," Jean said. It came as a surprise that there was a hint of melancholy to Jean's stern expression. "He had a pretty good idea who the Titan was, so we laid a trap. I heard your sister had something to do with the construction of the weapons."

Marco studied Jean in apprehension.

Even Celine knew about this?

Movement in the corner of his eye brought Marco's attention to a figure leaping from the nearby tower using their ODM gear. The figure landed in the street, drawing a sword from their hip as they approached the pinned Titan.

"Are they planning on killing it?" Marco asked.

"If they have to," Jean said. He crossed his arms, his lips pulling back in a snarl. "That dirty traitor. I can't believe she fooled us all this time. I won't shed a tear if they slice Annie up into pieces."

"What?"

Jean's eyes moved back to Marco. The anger ebbed away. "Right, you don't know. You two were squadmates … It must hurt like hell to have someone close stab you in the back."

Marco's head turned as if it took immense effort. The color drained from his face when he looked down at the Titan … when he looked down at Annie. Because it was Annie. The Titan looked like Annie, moved like Annie. But …

Annie had regarded Marco over her shoulder all those weeks ago, the light reflecting from Sina's fountain bouncing across her features.

'You should do what feels right to you. You'll be a lot happier if the path you take moving forward is one you chose for yourself.'

"Annie!"

"Oi!" Jean said, holding out his hand as Marco ran to the edge of the roof and leapt away. "Marco!"

Marco broke into a run the second he retracted his gear and his boots hit the ground. The Scout soldier he'd seen in the street before was crouched beside the Female Titan, brandishing a sword in its face.

"... and with your arms pinned to your chest like that, there's no protecting your nape this time around," the soldier said, their voice dripping with a jovial nature. The sword they had in hand shifted closer to the Titan's unblinking eye. "Looks like we're finally going to have our chance to slice you up and study what's beneath. I'm starting to get excited just thinking about it!"

"Annie!"

The figure before the Female Titan spun about. Marco recognized Hange, the Section Commander's face scrunching in confusion as she regarded Marco.

A hand wrapped around Marco's arm. He jolted to a stop, fighting the Scout soldier gripping his elbow.

"What the hell are you doing?!" the Scout soldier barked. He gasped as Marco slid out of his grip by removing his jacket.

Marco dashed forward.

More hands reached out. This time they were successful in stopping Marco in his tracks as both his arms were held at bay.

"Annie!"

Marco stared into an unblinking blue eye. It reminded him of the lake in the park; so clear it reflected Hange's figure as the pupil dilated.

"Annie!" Marco said. "Annie, are you hurt?!"

The Titan's iris wavered.

"Marco!"

Jean landed behind Marco in a wave of steam. He was stopped from getting close by the group of Scout soldiers flanking Marco with their hands on the hilts of their swords.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Jean said. "Annie is a traitor! She's the reason so many people died on the last expedition! I watched her murder plenty of them myself! She lied to all of us!"

"We don't know that!" Marco said. Desperation bubbled up in his gut. "Everyone thought Eren was a traitor, too, before things got cleared up! They almost killed him for nothing. There's no reason it can't be the same with Annie! We need to give her a chance to explain herself!"

"Jean's right, Marco."

Armin stepped forward from behind Jean. Unlike the hardened expressions of his peers, he appeared to share Marco's level of grief.

"Annie isn't on our side," Armin said. He looked at the Female Titan before dipping his head. "I know it's hard to believe, but everything she did up until now was a ploy to fool us so she could get to Eren. She never lost sight of that goal; not during the expedition where she nearly succeeded, and not now where she pretended to have concern for keeping Eren safe. She … she hesitated once when it came to killing me, but she didn't hold back just now when it came to getting Eren. She would've killed Jean and I if she had the chance … Annie was never one of us."

The tension left Marco's arms. He slumped forward, a tear spattering on the tan brick beneath his feet.

Hange caught the eye of the officer assisting in holding Marco back. She gestured with her chin, her subordinate getting the hint and nudging her neighbors until they released Marco. He dropped to his knees, head bowed.

"It can be a shock," Hange said, pity in her voice. "Discovering someone close to you doesn't have your best interests at heart will always hurt. I can't imagine the suffering from betrayal you must be feeling now. All I can say is that I'll do my job and make sure she can't hurt anyone again."

Marco's shoulders grew stiff. He lifted his head. He was staring ahead, but didn't register Hange's presence.

"It's going to be alright!" Marco yelled, causing Hange to flinch. Marco's voice broke, tears running over his cheeks as he kept his eyes locked with the Titan's.

"I know you're scared, Annie! But it's alright; I'll make sure it's alright. I promise."

No one moved as Marco wept in the street. Most onlookers pursed their lips in disgust at the display. One of the few people regarding Marco with pity broke the silence as their footsteps echoed over the steep walls. Jean knelt to Marco's level and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Come on, Marco," he said. "We should–"

The street erupted in a cloud of steam. Soldiers cried out in surprise, ODM gear activating as most of those at ground level retreated to the rooftops. Hange, Marco, Jean, and Armin were the only ones who remained. They stared in disbelief as the body of the Titan began to melt away like candle wax.

Movement atop the mound clouded in mist revealed a figure pulling itself from the deteriorating flesh. It stood, having no issue fitting between the large links of the spiked net. The figure came forward with a squelching sound akin to someone walking through mud. Their boots soon found the cobblestone, mist curling away at their back as they stepped into full view.

Annie held Marco's gaze, the pink stripes now lining her cheeks warping as her expression twisted in pain.

"Annie," Marco said, the name hardly more than a whisper.

Annie fell like a puppet who's string had been cut. She crumbled to the street, not moving a muscle as she appeared to lose consciousness.

Her slumber wasn't left undisturbed for long.

"Take her!" Hange said.

Dozens of soldiers landed around Annie to the sound of thudding boots and billowing cloaks. She was immediately scooped up, restraints wrapping around her limbs and a gag put between her teeth. The silver ring on her finger was removed and flung away.

"Inform Commander Erwin the operation was a success," Hange said.

A soldier removed a flair gun from their belt. They put a hand to their ear while raising the other above their head. A green flair shot up into the sky, Hange frowning at it for a moment before lowering her head. It wasn't until Annie's form disappeared behind a sea of green cloaks did Marco register her gaze boring into him.

"Take him to the medical wing," Hange said, catching Jean's eye. She looked back at Marco. A nature Marco didn't recognize clouded her features, as if her vision had suddenly gone blurry and she couldn't quite make him out. "Come and see me when you've gotten ahold of yourself. I have a feeling you'll be needed."

I'm going to kill her.

Eren's screams echoed about the empty street as blood flowed from the support beam skewering his arm. Annie's attack after she'd transformed had left him half buried under a pile of debris, unable to move. He could do no more than watch as Armin and Jean went chasing after Annie's Titan in her attempt to flee capture. He hated Annie for causing him so much pain … he hated himself for being unable to fight. Unwilling to fight. He couldn't transform into a Titan himself because he was holding back. He was holding onto a piece of something he couldn't throw away; the piece of his humanity Armin said he needed to sacrifice in order to move forward.

That's right; I'm a monster. A monster who can throw away everything to feed my desires. I'm a monster … just like Annie.

Eren lifted himself from the rubble, his voice growing hoarse as he cried out against the wooden beam in his shoulder.

I'm going to kill her.

There's no time to think about what's right.

I'm going to kill her.

The faces of the Special Operations Squad flashed before his eyes; Ouro. Eld. Petra. Gunther. All of them dead, one-by-one. All of them dead because of his inability to save them.

The world is disgusting and cruel. Nothing is fair. I've watched so many people I care about die … people who never deserved what happened to them.

I'M GOING TO KILL HER.

Once I have my hands around her throat, I'm going to squeeze until—

"Eren!"

ODM gear hissed as a number of boots touched down around the rubble. The soldier at the front of the group dashed forward, gripping Eren's uninjured shoulder. Armin looked into Eren's eyes; the expression on his face caused Eren's thoughts to screech to a stop.

"Eren," Armin said again, his voice soft. A gentle smile matched the relief in his gaze. "Someone who can't sacrifice anything can never change anything.I truly believed that. However … I didn't think about how there's a certain power in holding on to things, too. Maybe some things we need to keep no matter what."

Armin stood, aiding the soldiers getting in position to pull Eren free of the rubble. The gleam in his eye countered any notion of bitterness in his next remark:

"Eren, I was wrong."