Year 854
- 4 years after Wall Maria was reclaimed -
The sound of boots walking on wooden floorboards filled the air. My steele gray eyes stared ahead as I walked through the Stohess Military Headquarters. I wore the standard issue of military boots, dark pants, and a white button up shirt. I had the long green trench coat on with the Wings of Freedom located on the breast pocket, both shoulders, and a larger one stitched onto the back. My emerald pendant bolo tie shined around my neck. My blonde locks were pulled up into a higher and tighter looking bun.
"Hey Viv," I stopped and turned to see Jean. He wore the same uniform as me. His hair was now longer and had grown a goatee.
"You get called by the Captain too?" He questioned as he stopped in front of me.
I nodded, "Yeah, I wasn't given too much detail by the messenger. Who knows what we'll be walking into. If he called you too then he might have called on the entire squad." I stated in a matter of fact way.
"That means it's gotta be something serious right?" Jean questioned.
"It's possible. It's not everyday Captain Levi calls on the entire Levi Squad at once nowadays." Jean and I turned to continue walking.
"Hey Vivien!" We both stopped and looked over our shoulders. I let out a groan of annoyance as I saw Samuel in his Scout uniform running up to us. He was among several Garrison soldiers that swapped to the Scouts after the Titans were wiped out. We began exploring the other world beyond the walls. One exploration took us to Marley a couple years back. There were more soldiers in the Scout Regiment than it had ever seen.
Jean gave a chuckle and clapped a hand on my shoulder, "Well lookie here, here comes loverboy." I glared at Jean's smirking face.
"You're an ass." I muttered. Samuel stopped in front of us. He had grown a lot since our cadet days. He looked more like a man than a scrawny teenage boy now.
"Oh, hey Jean." Samuel greeted Jean as well. Jean raised a brow and held his head up high.
"Hey, we might have been in the same cadet corp, but you're in uniform standing in a military HQ. You can't just casually approach two Commanding Officers of the Scout Regiment like that. Where's your salute, soldier?" Jean partially teased Samuel.
Samuel looked taken back before immediately saluting to both of us, "Apologies, sir! I meant no disrespect! I simply wished to speak to Commanding Officer Vivien plainly, sir!" Jean's smirk grew bigger and I rolled my eyes.
"Alright, you had your fun Jean. I'll meet you in the command room in a minute." I told Jean and simultaneously put my hand up for Samuel to stand down. Samuel relaxed his salute in response.
"I'll let Captain Levi know you got held up last minute." Jean informed me. He waved to Samuel before walking ahead.
I turned my attention back to Samuel, "Sorry about Jean. He has to have his fun when it comes to ordering around others from the 104th southern division. What did you need, Samuel?" I questioned him.
Samuel's cheeks flushed red, "Oh um, I was wondering if you had thought about what I asked the other day? I know you're being called in by Captain Levi now. So you might be gone for the next couple of days. I wanted to get an answer before you left. Have you thought about it all? About going out on a date with me?" Samuel asked. His dark eyes held hope in them and eagerness.
I furrowed my brows, closed my eyes and sighed at the same time. I opened them back up and stared at Samuel.
"Look, Samuel. I'm flattered, I really am but I'm not looking for a relationship at this time. I know you have your heart set considering the amount of times you've asked me out on dates these past couple of years. You're a great guy, Samuel, but you're wasting your time chasing after me. There's plenty of women out there that'd be lucky enough to be with you. I'm sorry, but I have to go now." Samuel's eyes downcasted on the floorboards beneath us.
I turned back around and continued my way to the command room, "You're still not over him…are you?" I froze mid step hearing Samuel's quiet voice.
"It's been four years since that traitor left. After everything that he's put you through, you still choose to hold onto him? He's not even here. We all know the reports. He's been at war this entire time, fighting for Marley like he always has." My hands clenched into fists. Samuel was annoying me at first but now he's starting to piss me off. I closed my eyes as I let my anger go into the corner of my mind.
"You need to face reality, Vivien. I'm right here while he's not! I wouldn't hurt you like he has. Reiner-"
"That's enough." I cut off Samuel mid sentence. My tone was firm and strict. I looked over my shoulder for him to see the warning look I was giving him.
"One more word out of you and I'll have you posted on guard duty for a month. Remember your place, soldier. You don't get to mouth off at your Commanding Officer like that. You do it again and I'll have your ass for insubordination. Am I understood?" I warned him.
"Crystal, ma'am." Samuel responded and hung his head.
"Good. Now get back to your post. That's an order." I ordered and continued back to the command room. This time Samuel didn't say anything when I left.
I walked through the door of the command room. "About time." Captain Levi's voice sounded.
I closed the door behind me as I saw Armin, Jean, Mikasa, Sasha, and Connie were already in their seats. Levi and Hange were in their respective seats at the end of the table.
"Sorry, Captain. I got held up at the last minute." I apologized and took my seat in between Jean and Mikasa.
"Yeah, Jean told us. Samuel asking you out again?" Connie asked with a smirk on his face.
Connie had grown a lot in the past four years. He finally hit his growth spurt a few years ago. Armin as well in that regard. Both of them were now taller than Captain Levi, much to his annoyance. Both of them use to be at the same height or a little shorter than our Captain.
"I turned him down…again. I'm hoping he'll listen this time but I doubt it. He normally bounces back within a week or so." I stated as I crossed my arms and leaned back.
"He sure is persistent. You have to give them that." Armin stated the obvious.
"You know," I turned my head to Hange who spoke. She had her hands clasped together a glint in her goggles, "I could take care of this problem if you let me." Hange iterated.
"Your version of handling him isn't something we'd like to know, three-eyes." Levi retorted back to her.
"Oh come on! I'm just having a bit of fun here!" Hange suddenly went cheerful and gave a wide grin.
"Anyway, Vivien's lack of a love life aside." My jaw dropped as I stared at Hange horrified. I heard stifled snorts and laughs from my squadmates.
Smack!
Hange slammed a letter on the table and pushed it in front of her. We collected our composure as Hange grew a serious look on her face.
"We received this letter earlier today. It arrived at our established base on Marley then was brought here. The letter states that the Marleyan Mid-Eastern War that's been going on for four years now has finally ended. One month from today, there's to be a festival in celebration of the victory. All of Marley's top official military personnel will be in attendance. This includes the Titan Warriors. Rumor is the Tybur Family will be hosting the festival. Meaning, the Warhammer Titan will more than likely also be there. Our hands are being forced right now. We didn't want to engage Marley in war for a while longer but we no longer have that luxury." Hange informed us.
"Commander, how are we sure we can trust what this letter says? Who's the informant?" Armin questioned. Hange and Levi exchanged glances.
"It's Eren." Levi answered. Eyes around the table all widened. We hadn't heard or seen from him in two whole years. My eyes glanced at Mikasa who was currently staring at the table in shock.
"Eren…" Armin repeated quietly.
"Apparently, that day he disappeared from us. He went undercover and enlisted in the Marleyan military. He fought in the front lines and is currently pretending to be a wounded soldier in Liberio. He only reached out to us to let us know about his plan." Hange further iterated.
"What plan?" I asked.
"The plan for Eren to devour the Warhammer Titan and gain its powers. Eren's left us no choice. He stated that we help him otherwise. He'll go through the plan by himself." We exchanged glances as the table went silent.
"That said, the brat didn't exactly give us ample time to get ready. We have exactly one month before we're to head out to Liberio. Onyankopon is already working on how we'll get there. He assured us that what he's planning will be ready in a month." Levi assured us.
"In the meantime, we need to discuss getting in direct contact with Eren. The day before the invasion plan is to commence, one of you will be sent out to establish a point of contact with Eren. Relay our plan to him and send word back immediately to us with any new information." Hange explained.
Mikasa went to stand up, "Sit down." Mikasa froze at Levi's harsh tone. She gave a glare but sat back down.
"Hange and I have already discussed who will be going undercover to meet up with Eren. Mikasa, you are the last person we want meeting up with Eren on your own. You can't keep your head on straight when it comes to him and since he's been gone for two years. We have no idea how you'll react. Vivien." I stood up straight and looked at Levi.
"You're the one being sent to Liberio in advance. Make contact with Eren, get any more information you can out of him and send word back to us." Levi instructed.
"Yes, sir." I responded.
"Hold on, Eren mentioned that the Titan Warriors will be there. If Viv is the one to go then there's a chance Reiner could be there and spot her." Connie argued.
"To be fair, you can make that argument about any of us. We all fought side by side with Reiner years ago. He knows all of our faces." Jean argued back.
"In that case, Viv will have to wear a disguise when she's to head to Liberio. She could wear a wig to disguise her hair and we do have access to Marleyan military uniforms that she can wear. No one would look at her twice while in a military uniform." Armin informed us of his plan.
Levi looked from Armin then back to me, "One problem with that plan. The way it is right now, your hair is too long to pull off a wig." Levi retorted.
"Then I guess I'll have to cut it. It's just hair. It'll grow back." I replied immediately.
Levi gave a nod, "Alright. Sounds like we have part of the plan figured out. We'll discuss more at a later time with Onyankopon and Yelena. We'll need their input." He stated.
"Right."
One Month Later...
I stared at the mirror in the common area of the ship. It was weird seeing how short my hair was now. Although, I do kind of like it. It's easier to manage for one. I heard the air horn blare overhead signaling it had docked at the harbor.
"A pixie style cut suits you." I turned my head to see a tall woman with blonde hair cut into a bob with straight bangs. Her dark eyes held a hint of mischief in them. She was wearing the standard Marleyan military uniform. Her helmet held under her arm.
I was wearing a slightly different version of the Marleyan military uniform. Same uniform underneath but a white trench coat over it. Underneath it concealed the new modified ODM Gear.
"Thanks, Yelena. I take it we're ready to disembark?" I questioned her.
I grabbed the brown wig that sat on the coffee table. I fit the wig onto my head and adjusted it until it looked more natural. It's weird how just by wearing a brown wig with long hair made me look like mom now.
"We are, but you need one more thing for your disguise to work." I looked back at Yelena. My eyes immediately focused on the white Eldian armband that she held in her hand.
"Do I seriously need to wear that thing?" I asked coldly. Those armbands disgusted me. Ever since I found out about those things, I hated the concept.
"Considering the festival is tomorrow and you're traveling through the internment zone to find Eren, yes. A Marleyan wouldn't be caught dead walking around the internment zone without cause. You shouldn't be given too much trouble considering you're in military uniform with the band. Just find Eren, report back to me and I'll see that Commander Hange gets that report." Yelena instructed. She reiterated her point by further reaching her hand out to me for the armband.
I begrudgingly took the armband and moved it up my left arm. I gestured to it with my right hand, "Does it look right?" I questioned her.
Yelena nodded, "It is, now remember. You can't take it off while you're outside. Eldians are only permitted to take it off while they're at home. So keep it on until tomorrow night. Then you can get rid of it." Yelena advised.
"Yeah, got it. I'll come back once I find out where Eren is. His undercover name is Mr. Kruger right?" I clarified.
"That's the one. Remember your own undercover name, Miss Grimason." Yelena reminded me. I said nothing more and walked out the door to the main deck of the ship.
I stopped and looked at the hustling streets of the Eldian Internment Zone of Liberio. Decorations were already getting set up for the festival tomorrow evening. We were making our move tomorrow and hopefully our man in the inside has given enough false information to the Marleyans. They won't see the attack coming.
I walked around the Internment Zone for about an hour. Eren was faking to be a wounded soldier. I had checked multiple different clinics and hospitals. I had just left another clinic with no luck again. There was no patient going by "Mr. Kruger" at any of them.
"Damnit Eren, you could have least specified what hospital you were in." I muttered to myself.
"Excuse me, miss?" I stopped and turned around to see a kid. He couldn't have been older than twelve years old. He had messy blonde hair and hazel eyes. My eyes immediately noticed the nice clothes he was wearing and a yellow Eldian armband. A Warrior Candidate. He's training to become one of the next Titan Warriors.
"Yeah? What is it?" I asked him.
"Um, I'm sorry. I don't mean to pry in your business but did I hear you right in the clinic you just left? Are you looking for Mr. Kruger?" The boy asked me. I furrowed my brows in confusion. How did this kid know Eren's alias? Eren, what have you been up to that involves a Warrior Candidate kid?
"I am, yes." I answered the kid.
The kid suddenly grew a big grin on his face, "Really? Are you part of his family? He's been having me send letters for the past month to his family. I was hoping that they got them." This kid is the one Eren had sent all those letters through?
Now I get why you involved him, Eren. Mail is probably checked in the Internment Zone but not outside of it. A Warrior Candidate has the freedom of coming and leaving the zone without much notice. Still though, manipulating a kid? The hell are you thinking, Eren?
I didn't show my outward disdain but instead showed a grateful smile, "Yeah, I'm part of his family. My sister and I were basically adopted by his parents when we were kids. I'm assuming that you know where he is? He wasn't specific on what hospital he was in." I lied to him.
The kid nodded, "Yeah, I was actually on my way to visit him. You can come with me if you want. I'm Falco Grice by the way. It's nice to meet you." Falco said and held out his hand.
I took Falco's hand and shook his hand, "Likewise. You can call me Miss Grimason." I informed him. I dropped the handshake and Falco began to lead me in a direction.
"Mr. Kruger didn't mention he had another family member that's part of the military." Falco made conversation as we walked.
"He's never been the sharing type. He didn't use to be like that though. That's more a recent change in the past few years." I commented.
"He says that the Marleyan Mid-Eastern War didn't affect him mentally but I don't think he's telling the full truth. But I'm sure he'll cheer up when he sees you, Miss Grimason." Falco stated. I couldn't help but give a small smile seeing the happy grin on this kid's face. Poor kid doesn't realize that he's being used. He probably thinks he's really friends with this "Mr. Kruger".
"Oh, here we are." We stopped in front of a large hospital. I read the words "Liberio Mental Hospital" on the sign on the brick pillar. The mental hospital for the Suicidal Maniac, that's pretty fitting. Jean would have gotten a kick out of this.
"He's normally sitting on the bench at this time. We normally sit down and talk for a bit." Falco walked me into the grounds. The moment I turned the corner. My eyes immediately picked out Eren sitting on a bench. His hair was longer, he looked like he lost weight, he had a bandage around his left eye and his left leg was missing. He held a crutch in his hand and wore part of the military uniform.
"Mr. Kruger! Look who came to visit you! It's Miss Grimason!" Falco yelled as he ran up to him.
I stopped right behind Falco as Eren lifted his head up. His one empty green eye stared into my hard steele gray ones.
"Hey. It's been a while. You look like shit." I stated bluntly. Falco looked surprised by the way I spoke to Eren.
"You haven't changed a bit. Besides the hair that is. Trying something new?" He questioned me.
"You could say that." I answered. A moment of tension filled the air from us.
"Falco, do you mind if you gave us some privacy? I'd like to talk to Miss Grimason alone." Eren asked of Falco.
"Oh yeah. Sure thing, oh, I was going to ask. Mr. Kruger, were you going to partake in the festival tomorrow? It's in the Internment Zone so you wouldn't have to go far. I'm sure the doctor would be okay with you being out for one night." Falco asked Eren.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world." My eyes glanced at Eren. Interesting choice of words there.
Falco smiled, "That's great! Miss Grimason, you should join too." Falco asked me next.
I gave a fake closed eyed smile, "Sounds like fun. Thanks for the tip." I told him.
"Okay, I'll try to find you guys there. Bye!" Eren and I waved our hands goodbye until Flaco was out of sight.
"The hell are you doing to that kid, Eren? Tricking him once is one thing but full on manipulation? You crossed a line." I asked coldly. My steele gray eyes narrowed on his form.
"I didn't have much of a choice. It was the only way for the Scouts to get my messages. I didn't expect for them to send you here. Was it the Captain's idea?" He asked me.
"Yeah," I admitted before sighing, "You have any idea just how pissed off he was that day? When you just suddenly disappeared two years ago during that recon mission? Don't be surprised when he kicks your skull in the next time he sees you. He won't hold back considering how fast you heal. Speaking off, that's some new control on your powers you got there." I referenced his missing eye and leg.
Eren placed his hand on the stump of his left leg, "Yeah. So why are you here, Vivien?" Eren asked again.
"Captain wants me to give a report before the Scouts are sent out for tomorrow. We were supposed to have more time before we engaged Marley. You've forced our hands with this plan of yours. We'll help you out like we always do, but don't expect us to be happy about it. Anything you want me to spread back to the Captain with my report? This is your only chance." I clarified.
"Yeah there is. When I engage the Warhammer, I need you, Mikasa and Captain Levi ready to take care of the Jaw, Cart, and Beast Titans. The original plan to subdue the Titan Warriors is still on but it wouldn't hold them for long. When they show up, I need the Ackermans to launch their own counter attack. Keep them off of me while I fight the Warhammer. Zeke will do his part, he'll still fight to give the facade of being on their side. He'll throw rocks but not enough to actually kill any of us." I narrowed my eyes on Eren. He left out a Titan.
"What about the Armored?" I questioned him.
"Knew you would have caught onto that. Don't worry about Reiner. I have a plan in mind for him. Speaking of…" Eren trailed off. He looked me in the eyes.
"Do you still love him?" Eren didn't flinch as I gripped the collar of his shirt. I pulled him up to me as my furious gray orbs pierced his dull green one.
"You have no right to ask me that." I growled at him.
"Your reaction just answered my question for me. Good to know." My upper lip twitched as I let go of Eren's collar.
"I'll be in the crowds tomorrow before the main event starts. I'll be waiting on the rooftops once it does. We'll engage when you give us the signal." I said my final words to Eren before leaving. Even after all these years, he really knew how to get under my skin still.
I made my way back to the harbor but I had to cut through the heart of the Internment Zone to do so. I kept my head down as I walked through the streets. The sun was beginning to set and people should have been coming home from their jobs by now. I was about to pass a corner when I heard it.
"Hey Falco, hurry it up. We don't want to be late to the Tybur Estate." My body froze and my eyes went wide hearing that voice. I hadn't heard that voice in four years.
"Right, sorry Mr. Braun!" Reiner…it's you. I could feel my heart begin to pound in my chest.
I very slowly and carefully peeked my head around the corner. My brows raised as I stared at Reiner's back. He was walking with Falco and other kids with yellow Eldian bands. He looked taller, as if he needed more height, but he also looked…skinnier. Reiner turned his head to talk to one of the kids. I could see his cheeks sunken in from here. He has lost weight and grown a goatee. He was at war for four years and had just gotten back but still. That was a month ago, he should have put on back the weight he lost since then.
"What happened to you, Reiner?" I muttered under my breath.