Chapter 13 :I Can Hear His Heartbeat
"Yes ,yes,yes,yes,yes."
Gohan had been too overjoyed to notice the gaping mouths of his fellow cadets who were still watching in shock,none of them could comprehend what had happened.
"Finally,nailed it!"
The beam that had been helping him to fly with an inmense speed had eventually died out ,but the momentum was still enough to send him to the HQ . With the help of his tail,he pivoted to the HQ,facing it . It was when all his joy disappeared in realization.
"No,no,no,no,no."
He was going too fast ,as the people at windows were bigger and bigger in his vision .Being in midair,he was unable to slow himself down . He came to realize that having the extra weight which were the 3DM gear could have been a good idea . He wiggled in an attempt to slowdown to no avail .It was when he was inches from the window that the cadets has got the senses together and panickly darted aside,most of them successfully avoided Gohan,except for one. He bumped on her and the two of them crashed onto the shelves.
"Crap Baskets!"
Gohan shook his head,which had been killing him ever since he had performed the Kamehameha. As good as he remembered ,he had hit someone when he got to find the said person,only to find his comrade staring at him . It was not very long before he realize that he had been touching something soft below .The Z Fighter glance down and found Annie lying beneath him ,her face reddened with anger since apparently Gohan had been groping her breast,unintentionally.
Gohan immediately leaped backward and appologized
"I'm sorry ,I'm sorry,I'm sorry"
"Okay, what the fuck was that?" Asked the 'violated young lady' as she standing up. Her question of his odd techniques changed from 'hell' to 'fuck'.
"Yeah,what the fuck was that?" Asked the other cadets.
"I didn't really see you down there" Explain Gohan and then bowed and appologized once more "I don't want you to think of me as a pervert or anything"
"Okay,kid,are you an idiot or something?!" The blondy face now redder than ever "I meant before that!"
"Hey,I'm not my father . I was going so fast that I couldn't control my own speed,so I hit you"
"No,fucktard,I meant Way Before That!" Every cadet yelled at him in anger. "The Beam thing."
Gohan just wanted slap himself in the face for being such an idiot. Of course nobody would care about some accidental collision when are something extraordinary has been seen ,especially something that they had not seen before.
"Oh,you meant the Kamehameha?"
"A kame what?"
"Ka-me-ha-me-ha,It's a ki- wait a minute ,please."He showed his index finger ,indicate for the other to wait and sprinted to a corner ,shoving aside a cadet .He leaned down to that corner and vomited . He glanced at his green spew with a puzzled face since he hadn't eaten anything green thís break fast. "Oh Dende,I really put all my energy into that one. It's a ki-blast, you cupped your hands together,focus your ki there while you chant the words 'Ka-me-ha-me-ha' . That one back there was a Reverse version .I aimed it to the ground so it could propell me up here"
It was just like Gohan's ki class all over again with the exception of nobody bother practice,most likely due to the obvious reasons . However , the thrill of it was certainly much greater than before. Because unlike the Solar Flare,this Ki-blast thing seemed to be way more practical despite being difficult to perform . Regret could be seen on some cadets faces for quitting his classes . For the ones who didn't skip Gohan's classes ,however,they started to be angry with him.
"Why didn't you do it in the first place?" Questioned Miskasa,who grabbed him by the shoulders "At the Titans ,I mean,many of us could still be alive if you did!"
"I...I've tried it before but it never works." Gohan anwsered while scratching his head,saying the truth . But , deep down the saiyan knew Miskasa was right,he should have considered trying it in the begining . "I didn't even know if it would work or not back there,my chance of success was desperately low . Not to mention I tried too hard that I puked"
"You should have taught us that" This was Annie,interogating her mentor .She crossed her arms as she stared directly at him.
"I would have,but when I saw how many of you have quit ,I got turned down."
"Well,guess no one would skip your classes ever again" Commented an impressed Jean
Gohan and his potential pupils then hear a roar coming out from the street ,everyone shifted their attention to the breach where the Rouge Titan was still combating its kind.
"What the devil is that noise?"
Gohan rushed to the said breach and found the anwser for his own question . A 15 Meter was doing nothing but slauthering other Titans .But it was not the thing that made him felt odd, he reached out his ki-sensing but he could not felt the Titan's Ki or the other's titan ,it freaked him out more when he notice that he couldn't sense the cadet's ki either . He reassured himself that was just temporally because he had pulled all of his ernegy into his ki blast,he decided to let it regenerate.
"Oh,Yeah,right"Connie pointed at the rouge titan "Guys,that thing does not have any interest eating us . That abnormal only care about killing other Titans .If we play our cards right ,we can all get outta here alive."
"Putting faith in an abnormal" Jean said in suspicion "That's more delusional that all the wildest dreams."
"It's not a dream" Jean looked at Miskasa with confusion "I don't care if it's an abnormal or whatever. Let it rampage here for as long as possible"
"Well,to be fair, you guys use the help of a monkey." Said the monkey while he was rubbing his hands together,his tail wiggled to his words "Won't kill anyone using the help of a titan."
The cadets started to laugh ,with the exception of Jean,Miskasa and Armin ,the last two however took the joke as a sign of his approval and they needed just that.
"I never thought of you as a joker,Gohan"Said his sister-figure who faked a smile.
"Neither did I" Gohan walked back inside while his tail still slowly wiggle around . The cadets moved aside as he walked to them "And somebody please lend me an ODM Gears,I think I've dropped mine on the streets"
And the recruits laughed again.
The chains cracking noise spread throught the rather old and quiet building as the lift ascended . The cadets were sitting nearby it ,resting and had already conducted a plan that would help them reclaim the supply depot . Among those people who were resting was Gohan Son who felt a finger tapped on his shoulder.
"You don't have to answer this if you don't want to" He turned around to see a male cadet asking him,if he remembered it correctly,this boy was one of the two people who tried to save Tom and also the one who lended him his 3D Maneuver Gears "What exactly had happened to Tom and Hiana?"
'Hiana,so that was her name.' How could he tells him the truth?That his misjudgement got Hiana killed,that he let his cowardice overcame him and left Tom to death? That Hiana life had been taken so quickly that she was unable to say her final word,that Tom didn't get the same luxury that she had? That their death was on him? He felt tears started to pour out from his eyes and his breathes were no longer normal . Gohan's reaction had given out a sign for the wondering cadet to back away and leave. The half-saiyan would only focus on his own emotional breakdown if it wasn't for Jean.
"Found them" He and some other carried 4 boxes into the room "They're the MP's,but they're covered in dust"
A gun clicked when Jean decided to examine was not very confident about the effectiveness of the muskets toward titans .
"Will three bullets be enough?Do these weapons even work against titans in the first place?"
Armin,who had been look at the map of the building ,glanced at him in response.
"It's better than nothing" He explained "There are still eight 3 meter class titans in the supply room . With this firepower,blinding them all at once is not impossible"
"You sure it's only eight?" The blond startled and look at the direction of the voice,Gohan was standing right next to him.
"Of course" A cadet from the supply squad answerred his question "Those thing got us running faster than we know we could"
The monkey boy tried his very best to sense the ki of titans downstair,just to be sure,but then he noticed that his energy has not been fully recovered yet . He ended his paranoia and chose to trust Armin.
"As I was sayin' ." The world's second strongest bookworm let out a sigh in relief "First we use the lift to lower a large number of people into the center of the room . When the titans be in range ,they will fire directly into their faces all at once,blinding them . The next step..."
Connie raised his hand ,which interupted Armin. The bald recruit hestitated for a while,until many others eyed him made him decided to speak.
"Uhm,uhm,why..why don't we just let Gohan Solar Flare the shit out them?" He looked to found some approval expressed in many faces "That'd save us a lot of troubles."
"We've already been throught this" Connie recoiled after hearing Gohan voice,the monkey boy still not bothered to wear another jacket . He crossed his arms while he answer "I'm still too weak to pull off such a trick,my energy haven't recovered completely. If I try anything like it right now,I'd vomit again."
"Ok,now please,let me finish before giving any opinion" Armin raised his voice a bit as his face showed some frustration. Some of his comrade tried to stand and said something,but sit right back down ,keeping their opinion to themselves "The next step …. The next step will be decisive, eight other people hiding near the ceiling will swoop down to attack their weakspot while they're blind. In other word,we'll be glambing everything on this single attack"
"The whole point is for eigth people to all eight titans simultaneously" He continued,his eyes met with the eyes of the said eight people: Miskasa,Sasha,Bertholdt,Jean,Reiner,Annie,Connie and Gohan. "The eight people should be the most physically capable ones . You 'll have the burden of everyone lives on your shoulders ...I'm sorry"
"No problem" Reasured Reiner.
"Whoever fails,all of us will die." Agreed Annie "The risk is the same"
"But I'm a my plan is really the best option?"
"We have no other choice" Said Marco ,continueing the reasuring "There's no time left to think .This idea is our best option."
"Don't worry .Be confident" Miskasa soft voice lightened his spirit "You're gifted with giving out the best solution. It saved my life before and Eren life as well"
"Huh,when?" He recoiled
The conversation ceased to an end when the sound of the lift's trap door hit the ground echoed throught the room. Making them to carry out the plan . The Eight started to walked down the stairs while Armin and the others positioned themselves in the lift with all the guns loaded . With the hurrying progress ,it could be seen that everyone was too eager to complete the tasks . If they succeed,they would be able evacuate to Wall Rose.
The Super Eight walked down the stairs with mixed feeling weighting their shoulders . Only one of them had killed a Titan with out a 3DM Gear,and that was just lucky lucky shot . They had their chances to reconsider their decision,but they ignored it,instead ,they found themselves carrying on their path.
"But can we really kill the Titans without our 3D Maneuver Gears?" Asked a worried Connie.
"Of course we can"Answered Reiner "We're only up against 3 to 4 meter class .It's not that hard to target their weakspot."
"Who give two shit about how big those fuckers are?" Jean added,his voice filled with confidence "It's always that spot at the nape of the necks."
"Length:100centimeter .Width :10centimeter" Said Sasha,informing her comrades .
"Or you just need to stick the pointy end up their arseholes" Bluffed the big blond as raised up his sword "That's their other weakspot"
Miskasa and Gohan were not paying much attention to their comrades's hubris as they both took point together . After what happened to Eren,they didn't really have the time to converse . As the matter of fact ,they didn't talk to each other very frequent for Miskasa being a silent type and Gohan timidness . Unable to stand the silence with each other,Miskasa decided to open her mouth.
"Don't ever do that again." Her words statled the legendary super saiyan,making him answer her with another question.
"Don't do what?"
"Putting your own life at risks." She explained,he face still showed no emotion as usual "Eren got himself killed because of it. I can't afford to let it take you as well,Gohan."
"Can't make any promises . I've been like this when I was a toddler . One of the good traits I inherited from my father."
"Which killed him" She replied . Remembering his back story.
"Saving my life" Gohan didn't foget a thing,including the grip and the manacing smile of that Titan "And it also saved Mrs Jeager . If I ever be in that situation again,I'm still promted to do it ."
The chains echoed across the supply room as the elevator situated itself in the center. The gunmen shakingly aimed their rifle at their targets,which turned at their direction right that instance. The Titans's stares immediately froze the majority of the musketeers . Those panicked troops then were barely put to place by Marco. The freckled boy aimed his rifle directly at a Titan,its iron sight was only below that titan's pupil . The rest of the others recruit did the same thing,pointing the barrels at their designated targets eyes.
The top 8 crossed their blades while they hid on the ceiling waiting for the incoming gunshot. They narrowed themselves on the support beams,slightly struggled to balance ,except for the one who has tail that supported him by tucking straight out across the ceiling beam where he stood. Up there ,they could see how close the titan were while those carnivorous giants coming in range.
"Fire"
Marco gave his order . Without any sign of hestitation, the cadets squeezed the triggers . The volley hit the big targets ,making them to hold their faces. The cadets were unabled to admire their success for the gunsmoke had blocked their vision,their seeing then temporary as good as the Titans.
Didn't wait for the gunshot, after hearing Marco's "Fire",Gohan went ahead of his fellow ambushers and leaped down onto a titan's nape, turning himself into a blur. The Z Fighter swung the blades across the monster neck and pivoted in midair to felt the boiling blood and steam sprayed on his back, dirtying it . He made his land on the ground ,crouching,he got up after letting his tail return to its usual place,his waist . The boy froze when he stood up as he saw Vegeta and Frieza standing in front of him.
Only one second later than Gohan,the other seven people came out of their hiding and leaped to the Titans,in their defense,Gohan was the one that went early. They sliced their targets napes ,killing most of them ,with the exception of Connie and Sasha 's. The duo fell flat on their backs instead of landing safely on the ground like their peers. Steams was pouring out of the 2 titans wounds as they healed . The creatures turned around, dead eyed their attempted slayers,shreeked them as they was moving to them.
"Pardon me ...for suddenly... cutting you … from behind" Sasha appologized to her failed victim while she was backing away from it.
"Oh ,shiiit!" Cursed Connie as he turned around and ran
"It's Sasha and Connie"
"Quick!Somebody! Help them!"
Before the Titan can fall down and grab a tearful Sasha,she jumped aside .Unfortunately for her,her predator did not give up,it reached out its hand toward her ,only to be killed when Miskasa nimbly ascended with her blades raised,slicing its nape. As for Connie, he found himself be cornered by his Titan . And then when all hope was lost,Annie leaped forward and attacked it,saving his life. The two titan fell onto the ground with steam flew out of their neck ,sending up a small cloud of dusts .
"Miskasa" Sasha reached out for Miskasa who was climbing down from the titan's body,the potato girl held her jacket " You've saved my life. I am enernally greatful."
"Are you hurt anywhere."
"No,all thanks to you."
"Then get up on your feet"
"Sorry" Said Connie ,appologising to his savior "I should have done it better."
"Nevermind"
"My,my." She could hear Reiner speaking behind her. "That was too close to comfort ,Annie. I'm glad you weren't injured"
She ignored him and walked away and she saw Gohan. The Monkey Boy was standing motionless,his back faced toward the lift ,it was seemed to be that he was looking at something in the void. She quickened her pace,going to his direction .
"Hey ,Gohan . Are you okay? " She received no responses, the other started to notice . Knowing something was up,the cadets exited the lift and readied themselves. The female soldier decided to place her hand on his shoulders and turned him around . "Monkey Boy!"
The teenager startled and screamed,suprising his comrades who had never seen him scared like this before. He came back to his sense quite quickly,he turned back to the things he was watching ,but The Prince of all Saiyan and The Intergalactic Tyrant were not there anymore. The boy then came out with an assumption that he had been hallucinating .
"Oh , i'm sorry you guys . I thought I saw something."
"Like what ? A ghost ?"
"Hope not" He anwsered, and he gave out a question when he saw Sasha terrified "What did I miss.?"
The recruits told Gohan everything while they were all refueling . Their spirits were all lightened up when the gas from the silos was being transferred to their canisters . No more titan presents inside the HQ ,thanking to the Rogue Titan . Knowing no more threats would appear, the cadet's pace were undisrupted.
"I surrendered to a Titan..." The potato girls sobbed in corner ,banging her head "How can I look everyone in the eye now?!"
"I'll kick your ass later" Connie came besides her "Now get your shit together."
"She got that concept wrong,you know?" Gohan commented to Armin and Miskasa on Sasha behavior,he had finished pumping gas to his empty canister,he then reached to his second and pumped it "People surrender when they see a chance of mercy being shown . Saying a person would surrender to a Titan is as asanine as saying a deer would surrender to a leopard"
"What would you call it" Asked Armin.
"A denfensive mechanism" His friend's eye brow raised just after he heard the odd answer "Animals tend to fend themselves off against their natural predators in many methods . Skunks spray unpleasant smell when threatened, lizards loose their own tails if they get grabbed,some herbnivores have horns to fight their hunters...but most of them flee or stand still,Sasha somehow managed to do both . But not very effective."
Miskasa and Armin's jaws was so wide like they wanted to drop onto the ground . The two of them was to focus on Gohan skills in combat that forgot his knowledges ,though irrelevant to the circumstance .
"And Eren and I thought of you as the nerd." Miskasa said to Armin.
When Gohan inserted the 2 anisters into his 3D Maneuver Gears was also the time when the recruits were ready to head to Wall Rose. Most of them immediate burst out the gas,and flew straight out of of the HQ to safety. As for the Saiyan,he stopped instantly the moment he walked out of the building . He felt an enormous energy on right side,through the complex,this must have been the Rogue Titan's . He shot two cable into the roof, gas bursted as he restracted them, sending him to the roof. The shingles scattered when he slided on them, he then had a clearer vision of the Titans.
The Rouge Titan had stopped fighting,it got itself pinned down to a building by the regular Titans that was munching on its flesh . The creature was still grumbling in pain or annoyance .Its ki was dropping ,but still considerably more powerful than the others. But it was not the enormous power that got the young Saiyan's attetion,but the rather smaller ki amidst it . The power level was low enough for a human,not just that,this ki was very familiar,too familiar.
'No,it cannot be him . He's dead. How ?How durable is he?'
"Gohan,Miskasa, we've gotta hurry" Rushed Armin, Gohan didn't realize how long Miskasa was standing next to him
"That Titan" Miskasa indicated to the adnormal ,Armin followed and recoiled to see what they've seen.
"They eating it" The blond notice how the thing failed to regenerate "It can't heal itself?"
"I thought uncovering the truth about that Titan might be the key to free ourselves from the desperate situation."
"I agree." The trio turned to voice to find out that Reiner, Annie,Bertholdt and Jean had also standing on the roof with them. "If those thing just rip it to shred like that,then we won't have learned a single thing! Getting rid of the titans devouring it should be our priority,at least that'd keep it alive"
"Are you crazy ,Reiner?" Protested Jean "We can finally escape this death trap!"
"But what if that titan could become an ally" Said Annie,supporting Reiner opinion "Don't you think it'd be a more powerfull weapon than any cannon."
"We have a living cannon right over here." Jean indicated both his hands towards Gohan,and then he turned to him "Gohan,please,I beg of you,knock some senses to these idiots."
"It's not about having it as an ally!" The Living Cannon asnwered. He look down to his blades and handles, he let out a sigh "It's all about protecting my family !"
He shot out his hooks to the opposite building,white gas burst pouring out as he hovered to his destination . Suddenly,the Rouge Titan jerked itself up,sent its devourers midair.
"Oh ,Crap Baskets!" A titan that had been sent flying were about to crush Gohan if he did not nimbly fliped backward . He sliced its nape off in a blitz,then pivoted around its neck and landed on a roof. He set his eyes to the Rouge Titans direction to see a blond 15 meter being bitten in the neck by it,right in the nape . It swung the motionless body of that titan down to where the nearby 3 meters titans were standing . A fat 15 meter Titan tried to sneak attack it,only to be sent to a building when the armless Rouge Titan made another swing.
With its works beeing finished,it released the blond titan and gave out a final roar before falling down to the ground. Steams pouring out of its body while it wasdisintergrating . Diregarding the heat,Gohan,shot another pair of cable to swing himself down near the Titan's nape.
'If I was like the other normal people,I'd be surprised.' Thought Gohan as he saw a person rose from the nape ,it was Eren,unconsious. 'Well,to be fair,your ki did surprise me back there, but it's still better knowing something before hand.'
Someone shoved him aside and held Eren in her arms .Miskasa tucked her head down his chest and when she heard his heartbeat, tears started to leaked out of her sockets . She held Eren tighter and sobbed like she was just a kid.
'Oh ,on second thought,knowing it was you really have ruined the moment' The Monkey Boy smiled in relief ,but felt barely a thing seeing the reunion,he blamed his ability.'Little brother.'