Raid

Ghost's POV

"You're going to do well." I said

"I hope I live up to your expectations." said Emma

"Don't live trying to achieve the things I achieved. Only focus on yourself and nothing else." I replied

"Our only expectation is for you to do well." said Emily

Emma looked a bit hesitant but nodded.

"You'll do well, no worries." said Rina

"I hope I do." sighed Emma

"All aboard!" yelled the drill sergeant

"I'm going to get going." said Emma

She gave the three of us a hug before getting on the bus.

Annie's POV

"Brooks, you'll be with Joshua. Stop shaking." I said

"Sorry, it's nerve racking. How did Ashley go through this for two months?" questioned Brooks

"Don't worry, it's not that hard." I replied

"You didn't go through training though." said Brooks

"Yes I did, for three years." I replied

"Oh right." sighed Brooks

"Remember, just because you're with your friends doesn't mean you should be lenient with them." I said

"Oh know, I remember everything that you taught me." replied Brooks

"Get going then." I said

"I'll see you in two weeks then." said Brooks

He looked at me then suddenly hugged me.

"Sorry if our relationship somewhat became distant." he said

"Why are you suddenly saying that?" I asked

"I just feel like after dad's death, I didn't want to accept the fact that dad would be like that." said Brooks, "Part of me, blamed you."

"I can't say that you're wrong." I replied

Brooks stayed silent then left with the others.

"Are you okay?" asked Mikasa

"I'm fine." I replied, "I can't say anything about that."

"You need to stop blaming yourself." said Mikasa

"Maybe." I replied

"Where are you going?" asked Mikasa

"To Eren." I replied

Mikasa looked at me and just nodded.

"I'll see you later then." said Mikasa

I nodded and walked towards the cemetery, I put my hood over my head and avoided the large crowds. I got to the cemetery but I stopped in my tracks when I saw someone else sitting in front of Eren's tombstone.

"Armin?" I called out

Armin turned around and slowly got up.

"Annie..." whispered Armin

"What are you doing?" I asked

"Visiting a friend and my wife." replied Armin, "Is that okay with you?"

I didn't know what to say, every time I looked at him I remember Bertholdt. He even slightly showed feelings towards me and Ymir.

"Yea, I'm fine with that." I said

He sat back down in front of him so I sat next to him and we just sat there in silence.

"I'm sorry about your wife, she loved you a lot." I said

"It's, okay. She's in a better place." replied Armin

Silence for another 5 minutes.

"I heard that you visit the grave almost everyday." said Armin

I just nodded in response.

"Remember that day?" asked Armin, "The day Eren and I fought?"

That day was clear in my memories, every detail, every word that came out of our mouths, everything.

"Yea." I replied

"I think, Eren's right." said Armin

I didn't want to respond to that so I just hugged my legs and looked down.

"I think things would have been worse if, if Sentinel didn't find us." said Armin

"Armin shut up, I don't want to hear it." I said

"Sorry." he replied

He looked at his watch and took a deep breath.

"I need to get back to work." he said

He grabbed his military cap and got up.

"Bye Annie."

"Bye." I replied

Armin left me alone looking at Eren's tombstone.

'Watch over Ashley and Brooks for me.'

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 day later

Ashley's POV

"Come on." I called out

"Everyone move in a single file line please." said Milo

We were helping the civilians enter the refugee camp since most of their homes were either bombed or taken over.

"The Taliban sure don't know when to rest." said Damion

"Neither do we." I replied

"No it's just you." said Damion

I slightly smiled and looked at Damion.

"You're just like Uncle Jean." I said

"And you're just like..."

Damion trails off realizing what he was about to say.

"I know, I'm not really like my mom nor my dad." I said, "Brooks' more like my mom."

"Ashley I didn't mean to-"

"Don't worry about it, I'm not mad at you or anything." I said while walking off

I was helping the civilians find their stations until a bunch of humvees entered the refugee camp and Marine Raiders started to come out, one of them was Keegan. He waved and we all waved back but once I lowered my hand I heard a distant boom. I stopped what I was doing and I heard the air whistle.

"INCOMING!" I yelled

Mortar rounds began to fall on us and the refugees began freaking out and running around.

"Everyone get down, stop moving around!" I yelled

But no one could hear me over the screams and mortar rounds. I was trying to help the civilians but then I saw Damion run up to me and tackle me to the ground just in time before a mortar round hit me.

"Thanks." I groaned as he landed on top of me

"Ow..." grumbled Damion

"Damion! Ashley!"

I looked up to see Keegan and he handed me my gun.

"The Taliban's trying to overrun us!" he yelled

"Thomas! Milo! Kyle!" I called out

"Everyone to the front gate!" yelled a Scout

We all ran towards the front gate, the mortar rounds hitting random spots shaking the ground making me run and nearly fun.

"Move move move!" yelled a lieutenant

I got to the front gate and we went outside where it was a whole warzone. The Talibans were now charging at us almost like how a zombie horde would charge. There were at least 80 Talibans shooting at us while running so I quickly took cover behind the sandbags and began firing back. I looked up and saw a soldier on a 50 cal machine gun get shot in the shoulder first before getting shot multiple times in the body, he stumbled back towards me before getting shot in the head and falling back right next to me.

'Oh fuck...'

"Get a medic here!" yelled Thomas

"Everyone fall back! Air support is coming in!" yelled a someone with the radio but he got shot in the head

"Fall back!" I yelled

We began to fall back while shooting, my squad and Keegan were able to get inside.

"Hey Rookie get-"

Sergeant Elkhart get shot in the neck and falls into Keegans arms.

"Sergeant!" gasped Keegan

Keegan drags Sergeant Elkhart inside the camp and tries to save him.

"Keegan..." I called out

"He's gone." said Keegan

He gets up and backs up with the rest of us then we see a bomber drop multiple bombs outside the gates.

"The Taliban is retreating!" yelled a soldier from a watchtower

"Secure the perimeter!" yelled another soldier

My squad and Keegan stayed behind.

"Keegan where's your squad?" I asked

"Dead, Sergeant Elkhart and I were the last ones." he replied without looking at me, "Fucking Taliban."

"Milo, Thomas, Kyle, Damion go check the refugees." I said

Milo, Thomas and Kyle left without question but Damion seemed confused.

"Wait me too?" he questioned

"I said your name didn't I?" I asked

"I mean yea you did but you never-"

"Then go, follow a direct order." I cut him off

Damion's facial expression looked like he was just betrayed but he slowly nodded and walked off.

"Keegan, I know it's hard but calm down. You know the Taliban, they force innocent children-"

"Fuck em kids, they still shot our comrades didn't they?" Keegan cuts me off from talking

'He sounds, just like my dad.'

"People who know that their actions are wrong but still act upon it are still committing the same sin." he said

"Keegan you're thinking it the wrong way." I said

"Maybe I am, but I don't think like my dad." he replied

"You're just like my dad." I commented

"And I wish to be more like him." replied Keegan

My eyes widened in surprise.

"Are you saying..." I whispered

"No I'm not saying I'm going to destroy humanity." he said

I sighed in relief, really hoping Keegan wasn't like that.

"I believe humans can change." he said

One day later

Annie's POV

I was heading over to the cemetery but then there was a woman standing there.

"Uhh excuse me?" I asked

She turned around and my eyes widened when I saw that it was Emily standing there.

"Annie..." she whispered

I ran up to her and hugged her and started crying for some reason.

"Annie why are you crying?" asked Emily

"Sorry I just wanted to speak to someone." I replied

After hugging for about 2 minutes I let her go and wiped my tears.

"I'm sorry for coming here uninvited." she said

"No no it's fine I'm glad you came." I replied, "But where's Ajax?"

Emily turned and pointed to Ajax and this girl I hardly recognized.

"Is that, Rina?" I asked

Emily nodded and when Ajax made eye contact with me he waved and I immediately waved back.

"It's been long Annie." said Ajax

"Nice to see you again Aunt Annie." said Rina while smiling

"It's good to see all of you." I replied

"How are things holding up?" asked Ajax

"It's not good." I replied, "But I didn't ask what brings you here?"

Ajax then pointed at something and when I turned my eyes widened even more.

"Mr President?" I gasped

"Hey stop it you don't have to call me that." laughed Malvik

Colt was behind him and Tessa was also here.

"Malvik came here to meet the queen so we decided to come along to visit." said Emily

"Oh, I wasn't aware of a meeting." I said

That's when I looked at Ajax and he was looking at Eren's tomb.

"What did you tell Keegan four years ago?" I heard him whisper

I tilted my head in confusion.

"Keegan has been acting like Eren a lot ever since he came back home four years ago." said Emily, "That's why he asked Captain Gabi to look after Keegan since Ashley is also under her command."

"I see." I replied

40 minutes later

Annie's POV

"Annie?" questioned Levi

"Captain Levi." I greeted

"What are you doing in the palace?" asked Levi

"I uhh came along with Mr President." I replied

Levi is an old man but still looks the same and can still move like a teenage athlete.

"Tsk, you've been quiet these four years and now you want to show up?" questioned Levi

I didn't know how to respond to that so I just stayed quiet.

"Annie?"

I turned and saw Armin, Jean and Connie. Jean and Connie are in the military and they're both Armin's second in command, Jean Section Commander and Connie Executive Commander.

"Oh, Annie? What brings you here?" asked Connie

"Well I uhh, Ajax is here." I replied

"Ajax? Oh that's good I have reports about Keegan." said Armin

"Oi give it a minute they're almost done with their meeting." said Levi

"Captain Levi when are you going to retire?" asked Jean

"And what am I going to do when I retire?" asked Levi

"Just relax the government still pays you." said Jean

"Tsk." scoffed Levi

That's when the doors opened and a lot of commanders began pouring out of the room.

"You can enter." said Levi

I walked inside and it was the meeting room.

"Sir." saluted Armin, Connie and Jean

"Stop it, no need for that." replied Malvik

"Oh Ajax I got reports on Keegan." said Armin

Armin hands him a file so Ajax takes it and starts flipping through the papers and sighs.

"Was he punished?" asked Ajax

"Punished?" questioned Emily

"No." replied Armin

"What happened?" asked Emily

"He shot a kid." replied Ajax

Emily's eyes widened and I covered my mouth in shock.

"Through a wall, he didn't know it was a kid." said Ajax

Emily slightly sighed in relief.

"There's more, isn't there?" asked Tessa, "Your face says there's more."

Ajax sighed and closed the file.

"He shot him again and said 'Fuck em kids' to his sergeant." said Ajax

Emily looked down at the ground in sadness.

"Is Ashley okay?" I asked Armin

"She's doing good but she was captured by the BHCP once but was let go." replied Armin

"The BHCP huh." commented Malvik

"And a refugee camp was ambushed, 7 Scouts, 22 Marine Raiders, 8 refugees KIA. Keegan's squad was wiped out during the first 2 minutes of the assault." said Armin, "Things are going terribly there."

I was worried about Ashley, she nearly could have died.

'Take care of Ashley Eren.'

Emily looks at Ajax and pats his shoulder.

"It's not your fault." said Emily

"Yea I know but I just can't help but remember that day." said Ajax, "The day I shot those kids."

"You shot kids?" I asked

"A lot of kids." sighed Ajax

"Those kills weren't your fault." said Malvik, "Forget about it."

Ajax looks at him.

"Remember that kid? That one kid." asked Ajax

Malvik sighed and nodded.

"Yea... yea I remember." he replied

23 years ago

Ghost's POV

"Drop it kid." called out Aid

I aimed my gun at the kid, no older than 12 years old holding a gun. He was wearing a Russian military uniform which was too big on him.

"I am a proud Russian soldier!" he yelled in Russian

He starts cocking his gun but he didn't know how to really use it. I could tell that the mag wasn't properly in the gun but the kid wouldn't drop it.

"Hey kid we don't want to shoot." said Aid in Russian

"Proud Russians never surrender!" yelled the kid

He looks at the mag and realizes what was wrong with it.

"Hold your fire." said Aid

I had my finger on the trigger and I aimed straight for his head.

"We proud Russians will do conquer the world and become the world's leader!" yelled the kid

He puts the mag in correctly and he cocks it.

"We proud Russians will kill every American!" yelled the kid

He points the gun at Aid so I pulled the trigger, the bullet going straight through the kid's head. The kid wobbled back a bit before shooting his gun randomly and falling down.

"What the fuck man!" yelled Aid

I stayed silent and lowered my gun.

"I was going to shoot his gun!" yelled Aid

I slowly approached the kid who was lying on the ground, dead, his blood creating a puddle. His eyes were open so I kneeled down and closed it.

"Sorry." I whispered

I looked at Aid.

"You weren't fast enough." I replied

Last Chapter Next Chapter