Chapter 15:Idols
Two soldiers aimed their rifles at Gohan and pulled the triggers. But because they were shaking,like the rest of their comrades,they missed their shot. This resulted to Gohan quickened pace that made him only inches away from the platform where Woerman was standing.
Still frozen due to seeing his seven comrades being brutalised with ease,Kitz Woerman was unawared of the hand that grabbed him by his jacket and pull him down to ground. He did not feel the impact thanked to the adrenaline racing through his body. But he wouldn't have been able to feel anything at all if it had not for the other three cadets who restrained Gohan before he could stomped the poor captain face in.
"Stop it,Gohan. You were supposed to be the most composed." Said Armin
"Yeah, we've never seen you THIS angry before." This was Eren
"We've never seen you ANGRY before." Added Mikasa
"I am not angry. I'm just a little bit..." Gohan angrily replied to his friend while he dragging them toward Woerman "... absolutely livid!"
The captain shakingly crawled back up the steps while he could not keep his eyes out of Gohan ,who was then, had let his primal rage overwhelmed him.
"I did not kill 40 Titans singlehandedly and save people left and right ." Gohan yelled to the Garrisons "Just be blown up by you flowery asses!"
He tailed Woerman to the stairs ,Mikasa,Eren and Armin found out that they were the one who been dragging despite the fact that they were trying to hold him back. Gohan's pace seemed to be unchanged ,disregarding the extra weights. Some soldiers tried to block him but,quickly scattered when they saw Gohan's glare.
"Don't do this. They're just scared that's all." Armin pled to him.
"Scared ? Oh ,they should be." He grinned, and he said to all the Garrison " Captain Kitz Woerman, the other sacks of shit, that asinine cannon crew on the wall! You've been charged with cowardice and attempted murder of a Saiyan Prince. The penalty is DEATH,what the quantity of the people who's going to meet their ancestors depends on whether or not you hand over your coward captain. Do Not Test Me! Anyone who tries anything stupid will suffer permanent injuries,like your shit-eating friends over here. "
The already frozen Garrison soldiers now petrified hearing what Gohan had said,not just because it was awfully familiar but it was menacing. Just like his previous deal, his threat had created a fracture among the soldiers unity,but mentally this time since they were still unable to speak or move.
Sounds of retracting cables and bursting gas got Gohan attention. He look to his left to see Annie,Reiner,Bertholdt and Jean were rushing to him. They slided to his front and grabbed him,supporting Mikasa,Eren and Armin as they tried to push him back.
"Okay ,you're making it worse." Said Reiner .
"This is not the way you change my view!" Said Annie.
"Wait, what ?" Bertholdt asked Annie while restraining Gohan.
"Hello there Angry Gohan,nice to meet you. And goodbye. See you again never." This was Jean.
It had been proven that the four extra restrainers did not make much of a different when Gohan only slowed down his pace for a little bit. Seeing Gohan being restrained by seven cadets,Woerman finally stood up and wiped the dust out of him. He came back to his sense and started to raised his voice.
"You've shown your true color,monster ! Do not forget that we still have the initiative. If you do such thing again...I'll order the cannon" He spoke while trying to regain calmness.
The commander recoiled backward when he heard Gohan laughing .
"I should have added 'Stupidity' when I was pressing the charges." Gohan replied to him "Look around you ,walnut-brain,you and your men are with us. You're all in the blast radius!"
He indicated around him,he was right ,Woerman and most of his fellow Garrison were too close to Gohan and the gang. If the canon decided to open fire ,it would kill Gohan and the gang ,with the collateral damage ,them. This was what Gohan had been trying to do. He got himself and his friend as close as possible to his attempted murders ,so their fire support can not shoot them due to fear of friendly fire. This tactic was called 'hugging the belt'.
"Tables have turned,ladies and gentlemen." Gohan continued,his voice changed with a bit of smug in his tone. "Your fates relly all on me. Or Woerman here. Either I batter you all to puddles of blood or just him." He dragged friends as he walked toward Woerman,who shakingly walked backward in response. "Or...he decide to be a man or an idiot ,depends on how you view it, ORDER THE DAMN CANNON!And takes the easy way out. But,keep this in mind, if the cannon didn't kill me,the titans would be the last thing you should worry about."
The now knew what the idiom 'between a rock and a hard place' truly meant. Some surbodinate officers were conflicted with saving their lives or staying loyal to their captain. For the regular soldiers ,however,they were not conflicted at all. Most cursed their commander for putting them in this situation deep in their heart, only a few was bold enough to speak it out loud.
"Sacrifice The Captain." Woerman suddenly became pale when he heard a soldier beside him spoke.
"I like you." Said Gohan.
"Why should we be dragged down with him?" Added another one.
"What're you doing ?" This were Rico and Ian. "Can't you see he's trying to divide us? You're talking treason."
"And he succeeded."
"Cadet Annie Leonhardt,Reiner Braun, Bertholdt Hoover,Jean Kirstein,Eren Jaeger,Mikasa Ackerman and Armin Alert." The named people startled when they heard their names . "Release Cadet Son immediately. We accept his terms."
The captain and the cadets petrified when a soldier said those words. Gohan's friends hesitantly released him and got him off the lease. Kitz shrieked and tried to pull up his hand in an effort to order the cannon but was stopped by his comrade.
Gohan slowly strided toward his target while Kitz just fell back in response.
"Don't do some you might regret Gohan!" One of his friends tried to stop him.
Gohan grabbed Woerman by his right shoulder ,making the soldier nearly collapsed.
"I regret many things,but not this." He replied and then he turned to the Garrisons "I have to say I respect your decision,pretty brave if you want my personal opinion. But to be fair, I would have said the same if you had chosen to protect your captain." He maliciously glare at Kitz "I'm gonna take this slow,and enjoy every second of it. You all have to watch, I'll know if you look away."
The monkey boy raised his fist,he was about to throw it to Woerman's Kami-knows-what when he got disturbed by a familiar female voice.
"Gohan!STOP!"
"I'm kinda in middle of something ,Mrs .Jeag..."He stop what he were doing after realised whose that voice was. He released his grip from Woerman ,who collapsed instantly.
"M-Mom?! Wh-what're you doing here?"Eren asked his mother ,who wheeled her wheelchair forward as she answered.
"I was evacuated here you know." Then turned to Gohan "What'd happened,Gohan? You're acting like a bully"
"It's not bullying if you do it to a bully" Gohan scratched his head.
"It doesn't work that way."
"Pretty sure it is."
Carla was about to make a reply to Gohan but she was interrupted when a pair of hand patted on her wheelchair. She did not need to turn back to know who it was when she saw the soldiers forced themselves in a salutation ,except for Gohan ,thought he hesitately saluted to commander Pixis eventually.
"Can't you feel the fire in him?" He spoke while resting his arms on Carla's wheelchair. "He took down seven soldiers with ease and did not bother another seven people holding him back." Then he let out a sigh when he look at Woerman "No Gohan for The Garrison Regiment,I guess."
"Sir, I'm sorry for my earlier behavior. " Said Gohan while he was saluting,then he glanced at his blond genius "But,Sir,Armin has an idea."
"How do you..." Asked Armin before he was interupted.
"You're not the only smart guy in the team,you know?!" Gohan tapped his finger to his temple.
"Said the primate who almost got his friends killed." Protested Annie.
"Hey, I was stalling the troops and get myself and you guys to be as close as possible to them so that the cannon can't open fire." He explained "Something tells me that Commander Pixis would inspect the front in person. So I decided to be dominant until he arrives,ending the dispute."
Gohan heard many gasps after he explained himself. This information somehow waved away the Garrison fear. Rico walked by him and started to question "So you didn't want to kill our Captain?"
"Oh no, I did want to kill him, in the scenerio that the Commander didn't get here in time." Everyone kept their distance from him when he answered "But I'm gonna let it slide for now. I'll kick his ass later. Now,please,Armin has a plan. "
Armin look around to see everyone eyed him.
"Okay, Let's see, we can use Eren to our strategic advantage. If we utilize his 'Titan power',we'll be able to recapture the district. He can carry the large boulder to seal the destroyed gate in his Titan form." Everyone widened their eyes when they heard him answered "This is the most possible idea to get out of this deadlock."
"You're insane!There's no fucking way that would work." a soldier yelled out.
"To be honest. I'm as clueless as everyone here." Eren pled to Pixs ,who leant down to listen to him "So,regardless of whether I can do it or not, I can't answer half heartedly."
"You can do it,and you will ." Eren was more than shock to heard that came from his mother. "You're the most stubborn person that I've ever known. It was a mistake that I'd made when I disagreed with your dreams ,Eren. I don't know what happen to you nor I care what you are, except for the fact you're my son,Eren Jeager,the one who always stay on with his decision."
The boy gasped before he decided to determine himself.
"I'll do it. I'm not sure if I can do it or not ,but I will do it."
"I see." Pixis gave a half-smile "Woerman, go take charge of the reinforcement." He continued "I'll asign my men to cover you."
"Sir ,no need for anyone else to protect Eren." Said Gohan " You only need just one."
Mikasa,Armin,Eren and Gohan's eyes followed Dot Pixis while he walked past them on top of the wall. He look down to observe the small horde of Titans.
"Guess I won't find one after all." Spoke the drunken commander. "I would mind being devoured,if it's by a beautiful,sexy female Titan."
'Look like someone's been eating Garlic Jr Fruit' Thought Gohan.
"Why did you refer yourself as a 'Saiyan Prince' ? What does that mean?" Mikasa caught Gohan by surprise with this question.
That's weird,that sound like what Vegeta would have said,not him. He did not really remembered what he had been saying to the garrison when he was in his rage mode. But ,to think about, it was not a very unreasonable thing to say. Considering he was the Ox King's grandson,making him a prince,and he happened to be a Saiyan,well,half-Saiyan. Unfortunately,Gohan was going too far with his made up stories to tell her the truth,so he decided to reply with a more afternative-universe-logical answer.
"I-I was angry. I say stuffs when I'm angry."
"Cooled off yet?"
"Not really!"
"So Gohan,you kinda surprised us with what you've said." The Quartet heard Dot Pixis saying "Are you sure you wanted to be on your own protecting Eren while he sealing the breach?"
"No,Sir,no he's not."Mikasa replied "What he meant when he said 'Just one' were me and him. We'll cover Eren together."
"Actually,I did mean it." said Gohan,whom Mikasa deadpanned and stared at "For me to provide Eren with covers is to kill the titans around him. But,I can not allow myself watching other people die. In other words,I can't kill titans and save people at the same time." He continued,staring at his hands "All you need are Eren and I ,no third party."
Commander Pixis tapped his finger onto his head as he scanned Gohan. He took out a flask and took a sip before deciding his next word.
"Gohan,joining the army means that you have to be coordinate well with others. Fail to do so could deduce that you've undone your training." He moved close to the boy "Not to mention, the troops would feel insulted when they heard what you have said,the seasoned veterans in particular. Being one of them , I don't like the idea of being underestimated by a cadet."
"Sir,it wouldn't be an insult if it were true . Let me tell you about what'd happened to the Vanguard." The boy slowly lifted his head ,remembering his fallen comrade of Captain Aton's unit . "The Titan tore us down one by one ,until there was only Captain Michael Anton and I left standing." His friends couldn't keep their eyes out him while retelling his story "Not for long ,though,I'm still remember the captain last words when he gave me all the fallen's last letters. It was all on me to repel the Titans's onslaught ,I've killed dozens and dozens of them. I didn't think about stopping even when they were just keep coming. It was the reinforcement that ordered me to retreat. Following that order is one the many thing that I've regretted doing,because if I had stayed and kept fighting ,the people would have had more time to run,my comrades wouldn't have suffered so many loses."
"And you would've died. We are cogs in a machine ,Gohan." The commander replied when he saw tears was about to pour out of the cadet eyes "If we go our way, they whole thing breaks down. None of us want that."
"You were just following orders." Gohan felt a pat from Eren "It's our duty to risk our own life to protect the people's . We are all highly trained soldiers,we have disciplines. I do not regret my youth,so you shouldn't do so to mine. Have faith in us."
"Fine,I'll do as you wish." Sighed Gohan.
"Retake Trost? They can't be serious" The troops had been lined up at the gate,nothing escaped their mouths but the whisper of how their CO plan was a terrible one. They were in disarray.
"We'll just throw our live away if we go back!"
"We got no way to block the godsdamned hole."
Daz was among them ,he returned to his state of panic. He covered his head and shouted out so loud everyone could hear him.
"NO! I'm not going back. We're going to die if we do,all of us."
"Stop being such a pussy." A Garrison senior heard this and came to him,he drew his sword "How dare you flout discipline and forsake mankind?! Do you know that I can execute you right this instant?!"
"It's not something that I'd complain. Being beheaded sounds a hundred times better than being fed to those thing." He also drew his blade. Marco walked by and tried to shake him out of it to no avail "FUCK OFF! Let me be! I don't want to go back there."
The man panic spread like wildfire,they muttered to each other that the person was right and wondered who would lose their cool next. Some of the soldier tried to calm them down by informing them that they still had Gohan but it barely worked for some,the others came to a conclusion that in the end Gohan could not protect everyone.
Some already panicked soldier got freaked out when they tried to arrange a scene so the panic could spread faster, they had started to desert.
"Get out of here and go where?" Jean asked a Garrison soldier when he heard him trying to desert.
"I'll get my daughter" The soldier replied "Sooner or later,those Titans will break through this wall."
"I have my faith in Gohan." Said Jean "I've seen what that bastard can do. It's kinda weird that I'm saying this,but I think this can work. "
Gohan thought he heard something beneath the wall,he turned his head to Wall Rose ,trying to listen closer but he was interrupted by Pixis.
"They say that before the Titans took control of the lands." He walked along side with Gohan and Eren on top of the Wall "men were killing each other over their differences. And then there was a new enemy rose up,a common threat that forced both side to cease their conflict and unite against it. Have you heard of it?"
"No" Answered Eren. "Such fairy tale sounds awfully optimistic."
"Never heard of it,but it remind me of a story my mother used to tell me,or my father ,maybe both." Answered Gohan, he attempted to tell his story by his own way "It called Dragon Balls."
"Dragon Balls?"Asked both Pixis and Eren.
"There were Seven artifact,crystallines spheres,which has stars in them,ranging from one to seven. They were scattered around the world,waiting to be found." Pixis and Eren stared at him while he continued "If someone found all of them,and gathered them together,there'd be a Dragon appear and grant him a wish. It could be any wish :fortune,love,fame,position,reviving the dead,kill his enemy,everything;but only one wish."
"That story seems more than impossible to be true." Commented Eren,though he was impress.
"Ha,ha,ha ! Your opinion is as twisted as mine."Laughed Pixis when he heard Eren comment,then he tapped on Gohan "Scattered around the world you say? Does that cover the world outside this Wall? Such a shame,only one wish."
"I can't help but to extract the moral of your story,Sir." Gohan told his commander. "Although we're all still fighting among ourselves,if we don't put away our differences and stick together ,we'll all be perished ."
"You can put it that way."
The commander and the two cadets were still walking on the wall when they finally met a group of soldier,the CO of which could not help but notice the individuals that coming to them.
"Eren?Gohan?" Said Hannes when he saw them "I'm glad that you're both ok,especially you monkey boy,I've heard about what'd happened to the vanguards."
One of the boys signaled him to focus on his mission ,the stubborn one. The Garrison had no other choices but to remain silent as them walked by. He assured himself that Mikasa and Armin should be unharmed as well, according to Eren and Gohan's demeanor . But this one thing keep bugging his mind,that why did the commander go with them.
The bald commander pulled out a silver flask from his jacket and took a sip of alcohol. He gave the flask to Eren ,asking him if he would like to take part. The young cadet accepted the offer and decided to take a sip,which he immediately spitted out.
Gohan yanked the flask out of Eren hand and took a sip,after not tasting anything too eccentric,he took another one. He returned the flask to his commander while murmuring that he had taste an exotic fruit that was worse that the commander's booze.
"Oh,I almost forgot." Pixis extended his arm to Gohan after he'd put his drink back in his jacket "You did mention last letters of the Vanguards,would you mind if I wanted to see them?"
"Of course not, sir. I still have them in my jacke-" The kid dumbfounded when realised that he did not have his jacket,he had threw it away when he got to the supply depot.
Acknowledging this,the commander did not flinch ,instead he was more sympathized for Gohan recklessness.
"Don't think to much about it,Son. If we-" The commander quickly rephrased when he looked at Gohan "WHEN we retake Trost,there will be a detachment that will recover the letters."
Commander Pixis,Cadet Jaeger ,and Cadet Son were standing by the edge of the Wall when they finally acknowledged of the disarrayed soldier below. Dot took a deep breath before spouting out orders and and giving speeches.
"Attention! I shall brief you about the operation for retaking Trost! The primary objective of this operation is to seal the hole on the wall."This gave the soldiers in confusion as they wondered how could it be done ,that was when he continued "How we block it? Well, may I introduce him. Cadet Eren Jaeger,he's the result of the army's top secret Titan transformation projects! He can summon a Titan body and control it at will. He will transform into a Titan,pick up that giant boulder near the front gate,and seal the hole." He indicated to Eren,then to Gohan "And that's when he arrives,Gohan Son, who i'm very confident that would outbest Captain Levi,he will be leading you when you protect Eren Jaeger while he's carrying the boulder!"
In response ,some troops became more disbelief and demoralised,both Recruits and Garrison. Despite their superiors orders and threats,they had started to desert. And surprisingly Gohan thought they were making the right decisions. The Garrison Regiment and the Cadet Corps were all inexperienced in fighting Titans, they would get slaughtered if Pixis find a way to rally them. Sure, Gohan might be able to save some of them, but it would be just that, some. Gohan was just one man, or rather Saiyan, who currently having his power level signifficantly diminished. Even the Z Fighters could have saved the towns that Cell had attacked. If Gohan had ways to save these people from pending doom, getting them away from the battlefield would be the best option.
"Sir,may I?" Gohan asked Pixis who nod in approvement,the monkey boy stood at the edged and raised his voice "EVERYONE! I know that everyone of you has family that you wish to see again,if you choose to leave,you will not be punished! So please,FUCK. OFF!" He startled everyone "I don't appreciate being the carrier of the team! I don't need liabilities that may hinder my ability to complete the objective! There's no need for some imperfections to ruin a relatively perfect plan! If I let you cowards go out there and fight by my side,you'll hesitate and get yourselves,me and Eren and your loved ones killed! So no thank you! I'm good! My gods,even Oolong has more courage than you imperfect louts ,and he is my dad's pet pig!" Gohan could only hope the people below couldn't see his hand covering his mouth after he finished his speech else they would see through his bluff, because he was trying his best not to vomit at his own words.
"Dudes! Who killed Gohan and replaced him with the world's meanest guy?" Asked Ymir.
"Okay,now I've met angry Gohan and mean Gohan" Jean murmurd "What's next? Creepy Gohan?"
To the deserters,they then hesitated,either because of feeling insulted or that Gohan had mentioned the word 'loved ones'. They thought this over,and then decided to return to their position to prove that Gohan was wrong and to prevent their loved from facing the fear they had had.
'Oh Kami ,of course they'd think it as a encouragement!' Facepalmed Gohan. He wasn't trying to use reverse psychology on them or to shame them in to going with the mission. He sighed, they were soldiers afterall. Like him. If he wanted them out of the mission, he should have just said so "To HFIL with it! Anyone who wishes to come with me! Take up your arms and fight! Cause we are cornered beasts,the only thing we can do now is to resist and bite!"
Gohan Son stood at attention along with Ian Dietrich,Rico Brzenska and Mitabi Jarnach as commander Dot Pixis spoke to them.
"You have but one objective . Cover Eren Jaeger and neutralise any threat that may appear during the operation. This is the most dangerous and difficult mission of this entire operation. The fate of all mankind rests on your shoulders."
" Permission to ask,Commander ?" Said Rico, whom Pixis permitted "Will that human weapon actually work?"
"It doesn't really matter. We'll do whatever it takes to repel the Titans. Like Gohan has said,we are nothing but a cornered animal,that animal has nowhere to flee, its only option is to resist and bite,and bite hard,as hard as it can,no matters would it work or not."
"But,how can we do it?"
"We're going to hit those Titans very very hard ." Gohan patted on her shoulder as he answered "Pure Brute Force."
The soldiers paused for a second as the report of the decoy operation was ready.
"Ian Dietrich! Rico Brzenska! Mitabi Jarnach! Gohan Son!" Their commander spoke to them "You're the elite of the elites. The fate of humanity is in your hands"
"Yes,sir" They saluted him.
"Ian,you take command of the unit." Ordered Pixis "I'll leave all decision of the operation to you."
The officer hesitated for a moment but after a few words from his comrades and Pixis ,he complied. The troops dismissed and broke they ranks. Gohan and Ian walked to Eren ,Mikasa and Armin.
"Ackerman,join the elite team protecting Jaeger." Ian said to Mikasa. The girl express relieve on her face . "We need all help we can get. We're moving out. Commence operation."
"Let's wipe them out together!" Eren said to Gohan as them all launched the mission .
The elite team ran at full speed on top of the wall to where the boulder supposed to be. It was not long when they arrived,Rico shot up a green flare to the sky. The cadets descended from the Wall. They soared above the building until they saw the boulder. Eren bit himself by the thumb ,and thunder cracked and bolt of lightning flashed as The Rogue Titan emerged. Eren's ki was so large that Gohan had to step back a bit when he landed with Mikasa on top of a building.
Eren turned his head to Mikasa, his ki rose and Gohan knew what was about to happen.
"Mikasa!Dodge!" He tackled her only a second before Eren landed a fist on where she were supposed to stand.
The number one and the number two of the 104th fell on to the ground with Gohan back absorbed all the impact. He shook his pain out out him then offered a hand which Mikasa accepted ,pulling her back to her feet. The rest of the elite squad slowly landed on the ground with them.
"What the hell happen?" Asked Mitabi,pointing at Eren. "Something tells me that this would happen from the start."
Rico load a red smoke round in her flare gun,and fired,signaling that the mission had failed.
Mikasa shot up a hook near Eren,but before she could retract it ,a small light ball hit Eren in the face,knocking him down. She twisted her head to see Gohan's back facing them,smoke coming out of his right hand.
"What was that?!" She screamed at him and then threw a punch which he blocked.
"Mikasa,you stay with Eren in case he come out." he release her before he ordered,and then looked up to the petrified elites "You three retreat back to the wall,tell Pixis to cease the decoy objective,I'll take it from here."
"W-what?" His comrades stuttered at the same time.
"Don't make me ask twice"
He drew out his blades and curled himself into a horse stance as he focused all his ki in his body,using his anger and frustration . Wind whirled around him and stones levitated as the ground shaked,making the elite team to gone pale in an instant. He let out a scream when he released his ki out of his body,a blue aura set aflame around his body and a meter deep hole sunk beneath him. Gohan glided away and started his hunt for Titans,leaving his comrades in shock.