Chapter 17 : Paralysis
"Tnod thgif mih,esuf ot evas enoyreve!"
Gohan did not know how long had he passed out,and he certainly did not know why did he wake up at the Jaeger old house. The house was somehow rather burnt up ,all windows were broken or melted, the walls were the most damaged, so damaged the outside view could be clearly seen.
"Ew nac eb tcefrep!"
He was laying on a bench that opposite the dining table and the kitchen sink,he was covered in white sheet. Demonic voices and footstep went around the room,he tried to turn around to see but he could not move,not a single muscle.
"Ew lliw tsaef no eht sesproc fo ruo siemene dna tcetorp siht dlrow rehtegot!"
Aparently,he was having a sleep paralysis,first time for everything. 'Oh,Crap bask...'
"...sket!" Gohan heard a familiar voice when a familiar figure slamed a food tray on the burned up dining table "This people don't have any mEAT in stoRAGE, do they?For a person who eats for eleven,you'll start crapping bricks if you keep on eating bread like this."
If Gohan could be any paralyzed, he did, the boy could have gasped if he could as he saw his father sitting by the tabl,still wearing his orange ki.
'D...da...d...Dad?' he metally spoke.
"Oh,Hi SOn." Goku waved at him,the super saiyan dragged a chair as he walked to him, his voice was somewhat disorted. "before yoU make anY QUEstion, well yes, You IS dreaMing."
'ARE'
"I'd like to AsK you a QUESTion: This ISn't the FIRST time you have a dream abOUT the Jeagers's hoUSE ,is it?" Goku sat on the chair,chewing a loaf of bread,something was telling Gohan that this was not his father.
Yes,Gohan did remember,this was not the first time that he dreamed about the Jaeger.
"WhAt wAS it aBout?Please,son,tell me about it."
It was in 'that day',Mrs Jaeger's legs were crushed under the bouder that the Collosus Titan had kicked,it was like what had happened but,he wasn't there. Hannes tried to face the monster that had been closing in but he let his fear conquered him, he grabbed Eren and ran while Mikasa followed them. Gohan,Mikasa and Eren watched hopelessly as the titan lifted Carla up,twisted her body and devoured her,Gohan was not there. He had this dream on the first day he spent in the wood.
"That not the only death,that you've SEEN ,the death of the people that are still ALIVE!" Said Goku,still feeding himself with bread. "YOU dreamt other's ,right?"
On the night that he joint the military,he had a nightmare about Ilse's death. The Titan was putting her head into in mouth ,she was still writing even though she was about to die,and the Titan decapitated her. Once,again,he was not there.
He had not taken these dreams of his very serious ,we had only taken them as bad dreams
"Want to know WHY?" It was rude of Goku for speaking when his mouth was full,crumps dropped onto the already dirtied floor "'Cos those people were NOT SUPPOSED to live. Well, in your DefFEnSE,YOU WERE NOT supposed to be HERE to saved of US supposed to be here. BuT hE brOUght you here,creating a new universe!There'll be consequences!" Chuckled Goku "Boom!Butterfly Effect!"
'What?'
'Butterfly EFFECT,Gohan!Now,how many have you saved AT TROST CITY?Oh...a load of them?! LET'S WA CT H THEM D IE!"
'No ,no,no,dad,please,no.'
"Uoy nac evas meht esuaceb fo em!"
Levi was the last thing Eren saw before he passed out,when he woke up,the scout was the first person he saw. Standing beside the captain,who was holding some kind of sack,was the Scout Regiment commder,Erwin Smith. This froze Eren for this was the very first time that he met the Commander in person.
"I...I ….Where am I?" The kid stuttered when he realised that he was in a cell and restrained by chains.
"Well,isn't obvious?Let's call it done. You're now in the custody of the Military Police."Answered Erwin.
"Both you and your roommate!" Levi walked forward and kicked the bars,ringing them, "Hey,you freak, wake up! It's feeding time!"And he threw the bag inside,statling the boy who shared Eren cell.
The bag landed on Gohan who was lying in the next bed ,only half a meter from Eren,also chained.
"Oh,KAMI!" The boy scream,before sniffing the bag and opening it, and repeated putting bread in his mouth and swiffly swallowed them. "You kinda saved me there!"
"Yeah ,no shit! You haven't eaten any since lunch time. You're not yourself when you're hungry "It took Eren by supprise to see his best friend sharing his cell. "He's gonna need more than that!"
"No,is saving me from sleep paralysis!It's a lot more terrifying than facing the Titans!" everyone dead-panned at him "Oh Hello there commander Erwin,it's always good to see a familiar face" He switch his pupils to Levi "And...you must be the famous Lance Corporal Levi!"
"It's Captain!" Spat the 'lance corporal'. "Where the fuck did you get that from?'
"I'm prety sure that I was informed otherwise!"
"Never mind that!" His CO interupted both him and Gohan before any immenent argument might occurred. The Scout Commander showed a key to them "Let's discuss something else more important."
"That my key!" Eren leaned forward.
"Yes ,I'll give it back later. The basement of your house-Dr. Jaeger's house in Shinganshina,holds the secret of the Titans. Am I correct?"
"Pardon?" Gohan rolled his eyes and amost choked on bread after hearing Erwin "I'm sorry,sir. I'm rather occupied over here,what did you just said?"
"He said the truth,Gohan,or atleast I suppose he was." Said Eren "If remember correctly,my father also said that."
Gohan face darken before young Saiyan turned his head in the corner where he was apparently regretting something.
"Oh ,you suffer memory loss and your pop is nowhere to be found,how convenient for you?" Antagonised Levi.
"Levi, we already concluded that the boy has no reason to lie." Replied Erwin. "Though,to be fair,there are little information that we've aquired,so I believe that we inquire your intentions."
"My intentions?" Asked Eren.
"OUR intentions." The boy's cellmate quickly corrected him. "You wish to get to Eren's house by retaking Shinganshina District ,down South,aren't you?Where you can gain access to the basement? The only question is how you going to seal the breaches,maybe it was not a very good idea to make gates that are big enough for a Titan to get through?!"
"That why we need him ,and probably you too,Gohan. We need your strength! What a irony,when the fate of mankind depends on two non-human." The commander shared his thought,his eyes and his hair reflecting the light of the touch "The Collosal Titan,The Amoured Titan,they're probably just like you."
"Although the monkey would be more fitted in The Freak Show gang" Erwin glared Levi.
"So ,I'll have to ask you two again. What are your intentions?"
Eren then recalled to the day when The Titans had breached wall Maria,when people had got masscacred ,when his mother had got cripple and when he had though that they had lost Gohan. His intentions was still the same like that day.
"I'll..." Then young adult glance at his teacher "No. We shall wipe the titan out of the earth's surface!We want to join the Survey Corps and kill as many as we can,sir!"
"Wait, Is it Survey Corps or Scout Regiment?" Gohan raised his hand with the other scratvhing his head.
"Don't think too much about it!It'll be better!"Levi raised his eyebrows before walking toward the cell "Erwin,put me take charge of these lot." The he gabbed the bars,cranking them "Tell that to the brass. Oh,don't get me wrong. It's not that I trust them. If they betray us or anything like that,I'll put them down without any second thought."
"Thanks for the vote confident,Lance Corporal!" Sighed Gohan,not forgetting to troll Levi. "Anyway,I'm already in and we gonna take that as an 'Yes' for Eren's application."
"It's settled then!" Erwin was please,though not showing it. "The only problem left standing is you and Jaeger are going to stand on trials for Eren's ability and you hospitalizing seven Garrisons,though many people will say your names when they pray. "
"They can afford hospital?"
"Good news?"Carla did not remember how she got back to her house in Trost,but when Hannes informed her that her son and Gohan had been taken by Military Police,how she got back home was the least of her concern..
"Well,on what I've heard, none of the sides have any intention to take Gohan's life. The boy's already deadset for the Recon Corps,but the MP want him for themselves,probably due to his performance in training and combat,not to mention the possibilty that he is hightborn ." Answered Hannes as he was pouring alcohol in a tin cup "Hmm,you're gonna need this more than I do." He gave the cup to Carla "Eren's story is the bad news ,though. If the Scouts win him,he'll live. If the MP have their hands on him,he's a dead man."
The cup cracked the room when a dumbfounded Carla dropped it. Her entire was motionless as if her legs were not the only things that had been disabled. Her son,her only son was now in the mercy of luck alone. She did not know what had happened to her husband,but chances were that she had lost him,and now,her son was going to follow him to.
"Y-You have any other informations? That we can turn the tide for Eren?"
"Well,let's see...Oh yeah,Gohan and Eren will be put in the same trial,despite the Police insist to have them tried separately. I think Gohan can talk it out for his friend." The garrison captain scratched his chin "And,oh ,Lady Winters was invited to attend the trial as an observer,but she refused."
"Another good news!"Carla responsed in relief.
"Yeah,nobody likes that blue-haired bitch !Not even the MP!"
"I meant the former!"
The hinches cracked as a MP entered the house,the soldier walked toward Hannes and Carla's wheelchair before addressing the order.
"Carla Jaeger? You've been called to serve witness for this afternoon trial."
Eren observed the Military Police guard standing before his cell. Something was off with the guard , well,it was rifle that he slung on his shoulder. The firearm was kinda strange,its muzzle was rather small compared to other musket. Its front post sight was a bit bigger. And it has a bar that appeared to be some kind of bolt on the right hand side on the weapon. This must be the newly invented weapon made by the Military's number one supplier: Lady Winters;who was considered to be the most powerful woman on earth.
"Sir,can I use the restroom ?"Asked Eren.
"You already went." The soldier answered coldly
"Can I have some water?"
"Hey!Know your fucking place,monster!"The second guard snap at him
"Can he have something to eat?" The boy asked again
"I've already told you to..."
"I'm not asking for me!" Eren motioned his head to Gohan,who just opened his eyes
"Please bring me some meat,or atleast vegetables." Said Gohan,slighly scaring the guards "Because I swear to Dende,if you people keep bringing me bread,I'll literally leak bricks!"
"Uhm,there are some eggs down in the kitchen." The first guard replied to him,before tapping his friend's shoulder "Peter, can you stay here while I make the little lord an omelette?"
Peter nodded before stepping aside ,the guard started to walk away but then suddenly stopped as he saw someone walking to him. Gohan sensed her too,he quickly warned Eren,keeping his voice down.
"Incoming."
"What?" Before Eren could heed Gohan's warning,he jumped as a woman with glasses and pony tail came out of nowhere and clutched her hands on the bars.
"You guys must be Eren and Gohan." Her smile felt like sunshine "You guys okay? Feeling well?"
"Guaren's hungry!" Said Gohan.
"Sorry to hear that. You're gonna have to wait 'til dinner. But on bright side,you're leaving the cell." Before the two boy face could get any brighter,she took out two pairs of handcuffs "You'll have to wear these ,though."
"Kackekorb!" They sighed
"I'm Hange Zoe,a Squad Leader in Survey Corps."The woman introduced herself as they was going to the court room,along with the two Military Police,Mike and Ilse. Which the male of the two later decide to anoy Eren by sniffing at him.
"He did that to me too."Said Gohan,introducing the two "Eren, meet Mike Zacharius,another Squad Leader. Mike,meet Eren Jaeger,Cadet,Titan Shifter." And then motion to Ilse "And this is Ilse Langnar,the another Squad Leader ,but this one I'd saved in wall Maria couple of years ago."
" Never have she shut up about it!" Said Mike
"How did you get yourself in this kind trouble?"Ilse asked Gohan,ignoring Mike
The boy stayed quiet for a while for dramatic effect before asnwering her.
"Oh,Ilse,you can assume that I don't like the smell of gunpowder when it comes from flowers."
"Sorry,too much chit-chat." Said Hange as they arrived at a door "Well,no worries. In fact,going clueless is better."
The two MP tried to grab Eren to push him inside but then stopped by Gohan's glare before he lead Eren inside himself.
"Challenge Accepted." He cracked his neck.
The two boy walked in the court room where they near a pole.
"Kneel,please!"Ordered a Military Policeman
"Do we neccesary have to kneel or we can sit?"Asked Gohan.
"Whatever!I don't care!"
The two sat down near pole as the policeman attached their handcuffs to it. They then leaned their backs on the pole,not very uncomfortable .
Gohan analyzed his surrounding so he could get the upperhand. The Garrison,The Recon Corps,and Military Police. There were other people as well: Armin and Mikasa,they were here to be witnesses for sure , wait...Mrs Jaeger?What were they going to ask her? Shinganshina? That far back?
They both boy looked up to see an old man who rolled up his sleeves and sat down,by the man apearence ,Gohan assume this was the commander-in-cheif Darius Zackly.
"Let us begin!"He look at the two "Gohan Son,odd name,and Eren Jaeger,correct?You two are soldier who offer their life to humanity and the king. Is that accurate?"
"Yes,sir" Answered Gohan and Eren.
"You see ,Son,Jaeger. Your case is out of bounds for all common law,so the two of you can consider this as a special court martial,with the final decision being left entirely to me. We shall also decide whether you live or die." He look in a paper "Any objection?"
Eren lowered his head as he replied "No,sir."
"This is heavy!" Gohan looked around to see everyone eyeing him "But,I've carried heavier." he shrugged.
"I'm glad that you two are cooperative. I'll be blunt. Hiding you from the public was impossible,esspecially when everyone now knows that Gohan was the boy who found in Titan Country. So unless we declare your existences in some manner,we may be face with threats other than the Titans. Through this trial,we will decide which force that will be take charge of you,both of you,Military Police Brigade or The Scout Regiment." The old commander-in-chief turn to the MP commander. "Let's begin with the Military Police."
The commander of the MP stepped out "Your honor,I,Nile Dok,commander of The Military Police Brigade ,propose: After conducting a thorough examination on Eren Jaeger's body,we shall dispose of him in a prompt manner."
"You savages!" Said Gohan,making all eyes turned on him again "Sorry. Continue."
"It cannot be denied that the boy's Titan Power allowed us to retake Trost ." Continued Nile,somewhat anoyed "However,his existence is also a source of discord that can incite rebellion. Therefore he shall provide us with much information as possible,he'll be martyred for the sake of mankind."
The Nile Dowk turned to Gohan "Cadet Gohan Son ,on the other hand,is a different story. He has commited a terrible crime when he permantly injured seven Garrison soldiers and attempted to murder a Garrison Captain,which could resolve to a death penalty. However,his performance in Trost had saved uncountable lives ,so we suggest that he should be assigned to The Brigade and be put under surveilance of The Brigade itself."
"Wait,where's the killing part?" Gohan asked when the MP finished "You're not going to kill me?" Nile was suspiciously quiet "OK,you guys are not as bad as the people say you are."
Nile smiled and the room started to rumbling due to discussion and ranting .
"Well,despite the fact that you are trying to kill Eren,atleast you guys have the courtesy to put him on trial before actually doing it ,UNLIKE SOMEBODY!" He indicated to the Garrisons then he turn back to Nile "But,no,I'm kinda promised to commander Erwin Smith that I would like to join the Regiment,so you can use that note as tissue."
"You pathetic freak,you and that brat have undermined our saccred walls by tresspassing them." Shouted a Walls Priest,poiting finger at him.
"Your Walls are pathetic!" Everyone was frozen when they heard this from Gohan "First Maria,if it was sacred at all,none of us would have to bother going here today. What'd happened in Trost proved that Rose is vulnerable as well,what will fall down next to Rose?" He pointed to the ground "Wall Sina,where our number would be thinned down and our land be lost. How to prevent that? Let me train your troops,all branches,and when we are done,the Titans will have to build their own Walls."
It was a supprise to everyone that for the first time Pastor Nick became so speechless. Like a chain reaction the whole courtroom was overwhelmed with awkward silence ,until Erwin decide to break the silent.
"That is also what The Survey Corps intend to do,we shall allow Gohan to train as many members as possible as an official member of our faction. The same goes with Eren,with his Titan Power and Gohan's faculty, recapturing Wall Maria will be nothing too difficult."
"It sound like a very good idea . But where do you plan to execute such operation?" Said Zackly,before turning to Pixis "Pixis,the gate at Trost District has been seal,has it not?"
"Yes ,I doubt it'll ever be opened again." The Garrison Commander answered.
"We've decided to go through The Karanese district in the east ínstead." Replied commander Erwin. "From there we'll head to Shinganshina District."
"Hey,why don't we just seal the all the gates in the district."Spoke one of the merchants "The only part the Collosal Titan can destroy are the gates."
"How about NOT building gates that are big enough for the Titans to get throught?" The whole court house were dumbfounded when they heard Gohan statememt "Never thought about this,have you? I mean,those gates are unnecessarilyhumongous! Kind of a engineering flaw there considering we build the Walls to protect ourselves from Titans."
"Order! Order!" Zackly tapped his table "You will speak when asked." The he asked him "Gohan,your home is here,right? In Wall Sina?"
"Yes,sir" He answered.
"You spent your time with the Jaegers in Shinganshina,no?"
"Yes,sir."
"So you were there on 'That Day',Am I correct?"
"Yes,sir."
"There is not much to confirm your background story," Darius Zackly took out another document "but according to Captain Hannes report that you'd lifted a boulder and saved Carla Jaeger. Then you'd got grabbed by and assumed dead ."
"That's true,sir."
"Carla Jaegers,can you stand as witness."He called out for Mrs Jaeger.
"You can say so,commander." She replied
"Can you tell what happened when titans attacked Shinganshina?"
"Sir,I was in my house doing the chores when a boulder crashed into the house. I was crushed under the roof and the said rock." She rembering all the detail "My children,Mikasa and Eren came and tried to free me,but to no avail. It was Gohan came that he was able to do the thing none on earth can do,he lifted the roof,barely enough for Hannes to drag me out." She started to sob "It's when that Titan,the titan that was suppose for me,grabbed him as we fled. After that we thought he was dead."
"Interesting story!" The commander slightly smile before changing the subject "May I ask you if you know anything about Eren's Titan Power."
"I've lying on bed most of the time after the incident. But there was a day when his father took him to the woods and my son came back."
"You believe your husband has something to do with this?"
"I'm not believe,I'm certain!"
"Very well,thank you Mrs Carla Jaeger for your cooperation." Then he turned to Eren "Cadet Jaegaer,can you contribute your best for mankind?"
"Yes,sir."Replied Eren.
"Hmm,according to Squad Leader Rico's report,in your Titan form ,you've attacked Mikasa Ackerman,if it wasn't for Cadet Son,she would have been killed" The man read the paper out loud.
"Oh"Gohan dead-panned before lowering his voice as he speak to Eren "Guess someone will have to beat you to save you!"
Eren shocked as he turned to look at Mikasa who glared at Rico,he did not remember anything at all when he had lost control.
"Mikasa Ackerman."Darius called for her "Is it true that Eren attacked you in his Titan form?"
The woman hesitated as she was conflicted with her decision,no,she was not going to sell Eren out.
"Lying won't help Eren or humanity." adviced Rico.
'On the contrary,lying benefits me a lot.' Thought Gohan as he eavedropped Rico and Mikasa thanked to his enhanced hearing 'Unless Levi go out and beat the living feces out of Eren,he's f'ed.'
"Yes ,it is." Mikasa heeded Rico's advice,making people to point and accuse Eren.
"He's just like 'em."
"Fucking monster."
"He has also saved me twice,in his Titan form. Before I fall prey to the Titans, he save me in the nick of time." Mikasa continued "And he save me,Gohan and Armin from cannon fire."
"Objection! Her testimony bases on nothing but bias."Said Nile "Mikasa Ackerman lost her parent at a young age and was taken in by the Jaeger. With our furthe investigation,we have uncovered some shocking events that took place during that time. Both Eren Jaeger and Mikasa Ackerman had stabbed to death three human-trafficker who had killed her parent and kidnapped her..."
"Neat!" Said Gohan with a deeper voice,everyone just stared at him "Oh,please,they were doing the society a favor killing those low lives. They were exterminating pest,not that they commited genocide on an intergalactic scale." Gohan then stared back at Nile,who recoiled back "I don't understand why you bring this up. Jealous that they did your job better than you?" He then turned to Darius "Sir,I believe that the information given by commander Nile Dowk is irrellevant. I request that you veto his statement."
"But they commited murder in the age of nine" Said Nile.
"Big deal! I killed Cell with my bare hand when I was eleven."Gohan statement kinda back fired when people started pointing and accusing.
"Screw taking him in the MP,just kill him."
"They're just titans infiltrating our midst."
"We should kill her too to be sure,what if she's also a Titan?"
"His mother ,too. Can't be too carefull."
"Wait! I can be a monster ,but they have nothing to do with it!" Screamed Eren,cursing himself for dragging his family into this mess.
"Oh ,don't mind them,Eren! They're no one but a bunch of short sighted monkeys!"Gohan reasured his friend.
Everyone,incuding Eren stared at him with 'WTF' faces.
"Don't look at me like that. I know what I say. I see my own kind when I saw one." Gohan looked at the people who were looking at him. "In the end, if we just keep running,then we will have nowhere left to run. So listen to me,drill it to your thick albino Namekian skull, if you are too cowardly to fight, then acknowlege this:There is a fourth wall that protect the mankind from the Titan,and its name is GOHAN. I was chosen by Heaven,so you better start saying my name when you pray."
Two MP lost their temper,and without their commander permittion,they jolted the bolts of their rifles and aimed at Gohan and Eren.
"Stand down ,god damn it!" Ordered Nile.
"Oh,bolt action rifles,never thought that you have those." Said Gohan,before being interupted when Levi kicked Eren in the face .
And Levi continued to beat Eren repeatedlly while the poor boy was still in restrains.
"Oh,can somebody please pick up that phone...because I fucking called it!" Commented Gohan before pointing at Armin who was pulling Mikasa back "Armin,try your best to calm her down!" And then Levi came to him after finishing with Eren "Oh,crap baske..."
Thugh! Levi devilered a left hook to Gohan's face and then he repeat the same thing he had done to Eren.
"Is this neccesary?" Every word Gohan said resolved in hit that he took "Oh my god! Can you stop?!" Although Gohan could take it very easy,Levi hits were not something that could make Gohan feel anything,but it was very... "It is more anoying than it's hurt!" Levi attacks didn't physically effect his victim at all,which only provoked the captain to land more hits "You're taking this personal,aren't you?"
"Levi! Stand down!"Yelled Nile Dowk,to which the captain stop.
"Huh?"
"You are putting the lives of all the people here doing that to him." Nile pointed at Eren and the to Gohan "And we need him!"nd sl
" Oh,if that the case he would transform and go on a rampage,evevryone in this room was already dead." He pulled Eren up by the hair,and then tap on Gohan's "And I know why you want this monkey."Then he asked Gohan "How the hell did you not get any damage?"
"Martial Art" he answered.
"No more jokes,I fought people that learnt martial art before and they bled ,so HOW?"
"Hardcore Martial Art?"Answered Gohan,again. But when Levi glared at him ,he rephrased "OK,it's Ki. The energy that flows in your body. It takes hard work to control."
"That also exlains how you set yourself aflame in a blue fire and slauthered dozens of Titan?" Asked dozens of Titan?" Asked Zackly.
"Yes,my power-up,almost killed me activating it. Don't know why."Gohan recalled his headache and vommit.
"Sir,I have a proposal" Erwin raised his hand "We shall put both Gohan and Eren in captain Levi's responsibility and be taken out on an expedition. Gohan will start his teaching to everyone in his squad then to the whole Regiment and we will start testing Eren's Titan power."
"Can you hanle Gohan and Eren,Levi?" Asked Zackly.
"I'm certain that I can kill the short brat." He answered,before looking at Gohan "But this one can be the fight that I've been longed for."
"I have made my decision."Said Darius Zackly,making his final verdict "Gohan Son and Eren Jaeger shall join the Survey Corps . Your abilites have proven to be usefull to mankind. You two will start your training in the Corps by tomorrow,go meet yout new comrades." He slammed the malet "Court adjurned."
Levi breathed in relief crouching down to Gohan and Eren.
"Wellcome to the Wings of Free..."
"...za." Interupted Gohan.
"What?"Asked Eren.
"What?" Asked Levi.
"What?"Asked Gohan.
Next Chapter:Special Operation Squad.