Sitting around a conference table was the remaining soldiers of the Eldian resistance, all of them had come back to rest up. Without Jake Peralta, they wondered what their next plan was. Many had believed that the once immature cop had perished to the forces of the Arlert Foundation. Others believed differently, they knew Peralta a while and felt that he was smarter than that. 

"We've lost the forces from the Tybur's. William is dead, as is Claire. No one remains to take the head of their family, those who do are nothing more than brats. We need to establish a foothold in New York, if not, I fear for the state of our resistance. We will not be winning with the scraps that we have left."

Passionately spoke were the words of Zeke Peralta, the once chief of movement within the Gonzalez Foundation. Since the fall of the head of the Sinaloan underworld, Zeke would guess that Armin had to scramble with his people. He had to make sure that no one stepped out of line or that they tried to usurp, even if he was the War-Chief. 

The former chief of movement knew the foundational game well enough to know that no one stayed king of the mountain because of an heirdom. It was like saying that a King would never have to be ruthless in his life, one had to install a sense of calm and fear into his soldiers. Lest they would try to take his position, it was going to be a busy couple of months for all of the forces involved with this war. 

"The forces of the Tybur's have never been a necessity. We have one thing up our sleeve, the Asian clans around the cities have been growing discontent. They wish to be given access to the table, having been denied from their share at the foundation."

Erwin leaned forward with a steely gaze. He did not wish to work with Zeke but he was the head of the Peralta forces, still, something deep within him whispered that Jacob was alive, just somewhere. 

"If I may, why would we need the support of more Asians? They've never shown an interest in being helpful before, why now? The game we are playing now is one of politics. We would have to maneuver with this deal carefully."

Jean allowed his voice to be heard, Eren sat next to him as the younger freedom fighter had sat there, quiet. The thoughts on his wife were clear to everybody. 

"Fair enough, the Asians have never been interested before. Now they are, they would have us believe that we need them. They intend to gain some kind of deal, possibly trying to start a kinship with Mikasa and Levi Ackerman. It would be a perfect chance to gain some support within the faction."

Once again, Erwin was showing the good and bad, never wanting to mislead his troops. It was what made him one of the more desirable leaders. 

"You wish to greet them, Erwin? Have you spoken with the Wardens?"

Zeke now brought up a rather interesting topic, the issue of the Wardens. Without a body, they had not believed that Peralta had perished as they had all thought or rather a chosen few had thought. 

"I believe that I wish to give them time to mourn their leader, Jacob Peralta was your brother. Should you not be mourning as well, as to the reason why I have not approached them, I thought you were a representative of their interests."

Bowing his head with a bitter chuckle, one that recognized that his brother was the elder of them and since confirmation had not been given. Zeke knew not to get ahead of himself, the wardens would recognize his brother as their leader until they wished to recognize another. 

"I am no Rep of theirs, they have their people for that. Considering that we are leaving them out of a rather crucial dealing, I believe you should speak with them Erwin, get their thoughts and come back to us. Give us the full vote and then we can move forward with the Asians." 

Erwin nodded, leaning back into his seat, he did wonder where the leader of the Wardens was. He did not wish to believe him dead but he had to think, would Jake truly survive such an ordeal? A bomb like that...he had to have been dead, right? He was last seen in the hall and no one had seen him leave...he sighed to himself not wanting to think on it longer than he had too. 

"That will be all everyone, please go about and do your duty. I shall call you back if there is anything else that needs to be discussed."

They all nodded, leaving their seats as Erwin continued to think about the Wardens and just how he was to approach them now.

"Are we really supposed to trust him, Erwin?"

Captain Levi knew that his leader was many things but working with a former member of the tyrant Foundation was not something he thought possible for his commander.

Now he was sat opposite Erwin and spoke of the possible moles within Armin's camp. It was all possible, how easy it would have been. Levi himself was more bothered with the loss of Jake Peralta, the man was a visionary and had plans for the future. When he truly put his mind to something, he would have been a great man to follow into a real battle. 

"We trust him, he's the heir to the Warden resistance. He's the one that we look to now, with his resources, little they may be. They will help in the closing moments of the war, Armin will prepare for minor skirmishes and until we have something concrete, we follow the resistance...for now."

Levi let out a groan of annoyance, Zeke Peralta had ordered the deaths of Karen, Darlene, and Lynn. They had not been good people but this was hardly going to be a stable relationship, people in the Eldian resistance wanted the Peralta to pay for his sins. 

"There are others who could lead just as well as he could, Jacob Peralta left no heirs to his group. They had plans, yes. Who other than Jacob could perform them!? We needed him, Erwin, now all we have is his brother, who may very be a mole in our camp! I'll not have my people slaughtered because of his intel."

Erwin turned away, his chair facing the window as he gazed down at Pioneer Square, this was where the heart of their power was. While the Foundation's main power was in New York, they had next to none here and the success of Zeke's supposed betrayal would be uncovered before he could even give it a single thought. 

"Levi, just how much did you care for Peralta? One would think that it borders on a brotherly relationship, it moves me. What would you have me do then? Remove Zeke from the negotiations? You cannot doubt him that much, he knows the movements and how the warrior's act. He has trained with them for years and knows what they will do in battle. He's our man to the inside, this is who we must turn too for now!"

Levi could see it, clear as day, it shone down on him like the sun itself. He was scared, Erwin was scared for what was going to happen. He had depended on Peralta and now without him, he knew not where to take his people. He did not know where to lead them now, that shook the Ackerman to his core...

"You're scared. Now more than ever before, you do not wish to believe that he has perished in the bombing, then allow us to send units out there. We could have him back in our custody and give our troops some much-needed confidence in leadership."

Erwin did not wish to allow his best soldier to convince him like this. He knew that he was cornered, he could not trust Zeke as he was an unknown and could possibly be working with the foundation once more. Erwin was sure that the situation with the Asians was a plan of Zeke's, maybe he wanted them to hold off because the Asians had sensed they were weak, wanting to gain something valuable in the process. 

"Gather your troops then Levi and search for him, call me when you get details but I'm warning you right now. You are carrying the hopes of every soldier out there! You better come back with some good news, dismissed!"

A change was often seen as a good thing for some people, well people like him, they had to adapt. It was what made him the Chief of Movement for the Foundation. He had been trusted with training the youngest of warriors, turning them into men overnight. How did he achieve such a high-standing position within its military?

Zeke had made himself a prized figure within the Foundation, he was the son of Fiona Reiss and Roger Peralta. He was an asset for his keen tactical mind and knowing when to strike at the heart of his enemies. He knew that Erwin Smith and his own brother were the only two people that could match him in such an event, it was why he had always carefully maneuvered around them. It was clear to his superiors that he had avoided outright combat with the two. 

Now he found himself in the camp of the very two people that would have eaten him for breakfast. His brother was missing and that made him a bit more comfortable, while the two had talked, Jake had made it clear to him that consequences would have been paid for what he had done to his mother. He could only fear what Jake would have done. 

"Mr. Peralta, we have Porco Galliard here to see you."

Zeke was surprised, he did wonder why his former warrior had now wished to visit him. He was a disgraced member of the warrior unit and now just a waste of supplies, as well as manpower for the Eldians. It was clear that his former charge was worried about what he needed to do next. He could not exactly join the Eldians, he was not trusted, though the Wardens were not exactly out of the question. 

"Allow him inside Smithers. Please wait by the door, I doubt that we will need anything during this meeting."

The man nodded, flashing Zeke a small smile as he opened the door, allowing Galliard in, who looked a bit down in the dumps. Something that Zeke tried to not notice but it was clear, he was not well with this at all. He was not ready for the life that awaited him in the sweet tender care of these Eldians. 

"Porco, how have you been? I see that they've haven't mistreated you in the least. You seem lost, hopefully, you haven't come here for guidance."

Porco scoffed, he had believed that Zeke was one of the good guys. The one that would continue the fight against the Eldian terrorist devils, now he had joined them. He wanted to free his people from the tyranny that waited for them underneath Armin, the once former War-Chief had now become a paragon the people of the Foundation. 

"No Ch- Zeke, I have come here to talk. I've wanted to get some things off of my chest, I wanted to know why you did this. Did you not see a future for us underneath Hector? He promised us Seattle, our home. The one we were forced out of by THAT family! We could have had it all, only you stopped that. You betrayed the cause, for what?"

Zeke removed himself from the chair that he had been sitting on and walked over to a cabinet that contained some rather fine wine. He poured himself a glass, turning his head to see if Porco wanted some but came to the conclusion that he did not need it. 

"I have many reasons for my unfaithfulness to the cause, one of them being was that we would die. We had no uses to the Foundation besides our superior knowledge of the battle, why do you think that Armin Arlert ended up as War-Chief? We were Eldians, former members of a society that wished to rule the world, just like the foundation.."

Taking a sip of his wine, he allowed Porco to think on that for a moment before continuing with his story. 

"We were foul beasts that deserved to die and be branded as such! We were the lowest of the low and suddenly, our overseers became the ones that were hated. People rebelled and gave birth to the Eldian Movement. They were small, insignificant and they grew, they used us. Former members of said people to fight against them!" 

Zeke spoke with passion in his voice, it was clear that this was a rather sore subject for him. He had not been allowed to speak freely on it for a good while, now he was letting loose years of torment and anger, the number of times that he had saved the foundation, only for it to be passed off as luck. It had stung him, deep. 

"So Porco, you tell me. Why would you wish to follow a cause that wants to use you like a horse and then insult you in the next minute? Why would I wish to lose the sight of what my people fought for? Answer me that, you wish to know, then answer that in your own way and you will come to see what I have."

Porco sat there, looking at Zeke with his own wide eyes. He did not wish to see the bad side of this, the people of the foundation had used them. They were nothing but animals to them. Pieck, Reiner, and Bertolt had been wielded like weapons. They had all been at one point, Bertolt and his moments of working with explosives had been highly coveted among the highest officials in the foundation. 

There was Reiner with his strength, while he had not been the best of the warriors, he showed his courage and loyalty to their masters. He was a good soldier, a leader like Zeke? He could never hope to compare, Reiner followed orders, he was not someone that was that good with rallying the troops. It was usually left to Zeke or Magath, considering one of them was dead and the other was a part of the Eldians. It would leave the military with quite the shoes to fill. 

"Why now!? Why after all this Zeke? Why did you not just kill us? Would that not have been a kinder way to save us this suffering? You had us all believe that you cared for us. This seems different, you had this plan from the beginning, we wished for a figure to lead us. We saw you as a paragon of leadership! You were the one that we as Warriors asked for."

Zeke could feel the sting of his words. He would not pretend that the words did him no harm, he felt them. Zeke knew that he had stepped into the warrior's lives and gave them meaning. They had all called out for a leader and it seemed that the Lady Ymir had answered in such fashion, they sent one of their own devils. It was odd. 

"Trust me, Porco, do you believe that I would want that? Do you believe I would wish your death? I wonder if you knew me at all or if the taint of our true reputation has become second nature to you."

Porco blushed and became as red as a tomato. He already knew that he was questioning Zeke but he needed answers. Zeke had given them everything, a leader, a brother, a father. He was the one they had chosen, not one that had been thrust upon them by their masters. Which is he to believe? Would he have to get used to this? His mind being split with what was right and what he wanted? The thing was, he did not even know what right was anymore. 

"The taint? I believe that it has something to do with this. Is it really right? Are we even doing the right thing here? How do you trust completely in a man that you've never met!? You killed his mother, under orders, I understand but what makes you think that he'll forgive you or any of us? Annie has yet to be seen by her own husband, now we are here. We're warriors Zeke, we've always been warriors!"

Zeke nodded to the last part of what Porco had said, they had been warriors. Who would not be a warrior and survive what they had been through? Their people had been warriors from the beginning, now it just remained for his fellow warriors to see it. The Eldians over here were no different, they just went about it differently. 

"Hm, maybe you're right. We have always been warriors, you're correct. Annie has yet to see her husband because of those currently in control. I think that may change but for now, we must keep ourselves out of that business. I want you to see that these people, they are our new people. They are the ones that we have to help survive. Warriors protect their family, friends, and loved ones. These people are our new family, will you help me, Porco?"

He leaned down, his eyes narrowing on the sight before him. He could see the mixture of emotions that was playing out on her features, he saw that this was a bit different. He was trusting his Chief of Movement, not the people that he was being forced to associate with. 

"I'll trust YOU. No one further, you will always have my loyalty, Zeke. I'll protect my family, no matter the cost."

"Eren, it's a pleasure to see that your out and about. We were all getting worried, we understand that she's your lady. We know that you have a duty to protect your wife, which is why we'll be allowing you time to speak with her."

Eren stood opposite Erwin as they both talked about his wife. He was allowing him visitation, something that made him on edge. While he could figure her for leaving, he doubted that others could. She had killed many of the Eldian Resistance, she was not trusted and people wanted to mount her head on a spike. She was not the most well-liked and this is where stuff got complicated for Erwin, Eren could tell.

He wanted to gain an inside eye on how the foundational leadership/military worked under Hector Gonzalez. Many believed that his newest heir would follow in his footsteps, only they had not heard a single thing, now it was up to Annie to inform them of such a thing. He could not allow her to be tortured or kept in prison if this was how she could survive, then he would gladly take that leap for and with her!

"Is there something you wish to tell me? Like why am I being allowed such visitation? This would be allowed to people who have just lost someone special, now it's being offered to me. I think that this is a bit odd, my wife would not tell me anything. I know that's why you wish to allow me visitation. I can't abuse the trust that she gave me like that!"

Erwin nodded and he could understand. This was the only reason why he was giving Eren visitation, he would be the one that she trusted most. Zeke was out of the question, she would have tossed him out on his ass and Porco was....a non-issue as those two might have some common ground to talk on but he had jumped on with Zeke. 

"There is that reason, I will lie to you. She has spent months under the best at the foundation, she's learned how they work and how they would move under threat. They will be under threat soon enough, this is not the last strike that either of us will do against one another. I need to know what she learned and I need to know if it is vital to our survival. So I am afraid Eren, you will have to abuse that trust she gave you. For the betterment of OUR people."

Eren gulped, he had never seen the commander like this. Maybe once when they had been heading to the Marley but they all knew the truth. It was to end the foundation, they had done that by taking out some of the keener military minds and knocking down a figure in Hector. They had the high ground right now but they had still not found Jake Peralta.

Squad Levi had left weeks ago, finding nothing but they had got a lead in Las Vegas of all places, it seems the immature cop had gone back home for some reason and now he had something that belonged there. Eren hoped that Levi would find something, anything, otherwise, it would have been for nothing and their hopes would have been truly crushed. 

"You're telling me that the betterment of my people is on my shoulders? We are in Seattle, in what way would they be able to touch us? The corrupt officials are out of their pockets, we've placed fairer men and now we know when they might hit. You have to trust in our people commander but I will do as you ask."

Erwin nodded, already thankful for such dedication on the part of the Yeager. While he had been a bit rough around the edges when they first signed up as nothing but recruits, he quickly became something of a true member and asset to the team.

 His determination and never back down nature was one of the many things that people admired the young man. 

He inspired many people, even without knowing it and Erwin often found himself listening with rapt attention. The man could be a leader in the future!

"Annie no matter what, no matter if the entire world is against you. I will always be there for you, I will always protect you!"

Annie Yeager had never those words until her late father had whispered them to her when she left to join the Eldian Resistance. It was not something that she would ever forget. She had broken his trust, she had left him to believe that she had joined the just cause. Now, look at her, imprisoned by the very people that were supposed to be her allies. It was something that she found rather ironic. 

Annie sat down as she gazed out the window. It was not exactly like the stereotypical jail cell. It was more like House Arrest. something that was rather enjoyable. This was something that she appreciated, She was giving meals and questioned a bit regularly but she gave them certain things, not everything about the foundation would be given by her. She knew they had Zeke in their custody. assisting them. 

"Traitor to the cause, is that how you've survived Chief? You picked your battles and made sure that you were spotted at the right time. You became our figure in the night, you were the inspiration that us warriors needed for the road ahead and for that I have nothing but respect for you."

Annie's thoughts were clear on the situation, while she loathed the very man that had betrayed their cause. She could not exactly fault him, he did what he had to do. He became the very image of a hero, something that none of them in the warrior unit had forgotten easily. He was the beast, their leader, their brother, and their father in times of need. 

"Who is leading you now Pieck and Reiner? I hope that you have a good head on your shoulders, Bertolt will need you, the boy has always needed a guiding hand and with you guys, I know he'll have it in bunches, he'll have the support he needs."

Bertolt Hoover, the very man that led the assault on the Waterfront District of Seattle. He was someone that no one would expect, except he was exceptionally gifted with his skills as a Explosives expert. He was gifted among the warriors and thus a necessity, he was recognized for it and led his own squad of men into the fray. 

Annie knew that Bertolt was disgusted with himself. He did not wish to become a tool of war but they all were, in the eyes of the Foundation. They were to be used and discarded like the common whore if they died but if they survived, they would be celebrated like they were royalty. 

"Annie, remember what we promised one another? We promised that we would visit Asian countries. The world that we have yet to see, why can't we do that? Because of war, why don't we run away?"

She gasped, why did she have to remember that now? Marcel, her precious Marcel! Now he has been taken from them, he was their leader. The one they trusted along with Zeke, he had been their own best friend. Now he had been one of the casualties of this war. She wondered how many of her friends that she would have to see buried in the coming weeks. 

"Yeager, you have a visitor."

Annie turned her head, looking at the man that she least wanted to see. Her very own husband, the man that she had married for love and nothing more. She wondered if this was all another plot on the part of Erwin, she had to give him props. He was persistent in finding out everything he could. 

"Eren, I could say that I didn't expect you but that would be a lie. What is it you need, dearest husband of mine? Did you need conjugal visits?"

Eren did not rise to the bait of what she had been saying, She had always been like this before when she was cornered or rather defeated. She would act distant, cold, mostly towards him.

"No, I do not need, nor do I want such visits. I've come to talk. It regards you and your precious people back home in New York, as well as a former friend of mine. Would you be willing to help me, dearest wife of mine?"

Annie's interest had been peaked, while she did not know much about the former War-Chief of the foundation. She heard of him, he was one of the former Eldians. He had been picked up because he was a legacy and his mind for tactics, knowledge and all around behavior. 

She had grown a bit wary of Armin Arlert, considering his position, he had made the call for many of the moves regarding the war effort. She often wondered why he targeted the resistance in England and not here in the states.

"Hm, count yourself lucky that I invite you to sit on my bed again. Let's talk."

"What do you want to hear Eren?"

Husband and Wife sat next to one another, neither had said a word after she asked what he wanted to hear. They both knew that could lead to two different paths, the one that Eren needed to take for the sake of his mission. Then the other one, the path that led to him question Annie's intentions and reasoning behind abandoning him with their son. A question that he needed to ask for the past two years. 

"I want to hear the truth behind Armin's rise, he was my best friend. He soon became the War-Chief, what's up with that? I know that he was a legacy but it seems to be deeper than just that."

Annie moved back a little, leaning back as she gazed up at the ceiling. She thought of the best way to tell her husband these matters, something that would leave him shaken. Was he ready to hear the truth of Armin Arlert? She had guessed so because she had to tell him the truth, there was no bending it. She had to tell him the truth and nothing but that. 

"Your friend was the War-Chief because of his training, just as we had. We, as members of the Eldians Organization. We've been brought up with superior training. That is why we have camps everywhere, we train the next generation to take our place. Armin received this and knew that he could use it for his own gain. Armin could change the entire way war was fought if he chose correctly."

Eren already knew that while some Eldians chose to take Numeracy or English, others chose the sword, the way of battle and learned that they had a much better style for it. They had shifted the entire world and some wanted to take over, their lust for battle and power went to new heights, it led to the repression of the Eldian Organization. 

Now these other organizations, some were people that had been taken over by the Eldians. Like the African American gangs, they had been beaten down and taken down a peg, being offered jobs under the Eldians. 

While that was something they did not appreciate, some did not like being at the bottom and fought a rebellion against them. It led to the foundation of the Foundation, a group funded by numerous leaders. They were prepared to strike and remove them from the core of their true power.

"I understand, Armin has always been smart. His Mother had never stopped praising him that much, it was one of the things that he found annoying. Still, she did not wish for him to be hanging out with me. It was rather odd, she looked at me like I was a disease, we were at the same youth club."

Annie looked at her husband, finding him lost in his own thoughts and placed her hand on his. He did not flinch, he found it comforting and Annie allowed a ghost of a smile to twitch at her lips. 

"Armin rose because of his family, he became invaluable to them. He was one of the biggest helps to the cause, then he used his own skill. He was a tactical mind, you know that more than me. He wasn't like you or Reiner or Bertolt even, he was a man made for the war table. He had everything planned because he knew the way he wanted it to go, he controlled the battlefield."

Eren knew that Annie was right, Armin was scary like that. He was a true beast on the battlefield regarding tactics, even Zeke and Erwin would have a hard time matching him. It mattered who would lead them, none of them had the skill that Zeke or Erwin had. 

"So what does that mean for us? Who in the new foundation hierarchy could lead their troops? It has to someone that we overlooked, they still seem to be preparing as our spies say."

Annie's eyebrow had risen, she remembered a name. One name that was far better than Zeke, the former commander of the foundation cohort. The man that had defeated Zeke on the battlefield once in a spar, he had been on a mission for the Foundation...now he was missing but what if he had returned?

Joshua Graham - Commander of the foundational warriors...
 

Sitting around a conference table was the remaining Eldian Resistance members, a meeting had been called by Eren Yeager of all people. Now, it was clear that everyone wondered what the meeting would be regarding. Still, they had to wait for the arrival of Eren and his wife. 

"Erwin, we've gathered some intel with the Asians. They wish to meet soon, something regarding a plot that might be crucial to removing the Foundation, once and for all."

Everyone looked to the lead researcher, Hange Zoe. 

She was once the leader of the Squad Mariah division, now she was the liaison of the Eldians and Asians. She had known that Erwin wanted to come to an agreement with the Asians. He needs them but they would also need him, still, Zeke Peralta wished to keep them occupied without having the third party involved. 

"Thank you Hange, talk to me about it after the meeting. I wish to know what it is that they may have, this war is not going to be done without a swift blow that leaves them crippled, we need to make sure that we have the higher ground."

Zeke looked between the two of them, he found it clear that they wished to have a better understanding of what the Asians were offering. Only if Eren came back with some good intel, then he doubted that they would need the Asians. Zeke knew how to deal a swift blow, he just needed to know who led the warriors currently or if they had any info on who might be next up to wield the position. 

"Sir Erwin, might I protest here?"

It was not him that even spoke out, it was his protege, the man that he would have had led the Warriors after Colt, he wondered where the young boy was now. Had he died? Zeke began to wonder how many had died due to the bomb placed by the War-Chief. 

Porco Galliard was not that keen on working with the Asians, while he had been a warrior. One that had fought many of the wars that the foundation had walked into, it reminded him of what he had sacrificed back home. His mother and father were likely to be killed, while the others would still have their own famillies to get back too. 

Now, besides that, he remembered what it was like. Working with those Asians proved to be one of the worst deals that Gonzalez had ever made. It soon led to the Coastal War, the foundation had fought with ships against the Asian clans and it led to the involvement of the government. 

"You may if it's to do with the Asians and them trying to use us. We are not going to be approaching them at all, I just wish to schedule talks."

Erwin hoped that he had gotten his point across, still, he could see the disappointment that marred the boyish features of Porco. He wondered what problems they had with the clan of Asians, they seemed trustworthy enough. 

"Long ago Erwin, there was an Asian clan. They were known as the Himiru, warriors, and businessmen. They had once allied with us as the story goes, promising us intel on our rivals in Mexico, England, Scotland, and Ireland. We believed them, we wanted it all and we were determined to get it. The Asians had gained wealth, territory, and weaponry upgrades. They had become powerful allying with Gonzalez."

Erwin nodded as Porco took a sip of his water, clearly having more to say as Eren and his wife seemed to be taking their sweet time getting here. 

"We gave them what they wanted more than anything, they could push out their own enemies in the Colombians and Jewish gangs. It was surprisingly effective, we were the cause of the power that the Asians wield so much today. This was years ago mind you but still, they were cunning and are always ready to use it again. The only reason why they've backed off for so long was because of Hector, he made sure that they feared him!"

Erwin never knew that with Porco Galliard on their side, they could learn more about the man that is known as Hector Gonzalez. He wanted the boy to continue, seeing if he had any more info that would prove useful to them and their investigation. 

"Now that he is gone, it leaves them without someone to fear. They know not to keep to their territory, they are traitors of the highest caliber. They never believe that we could truly see their moves but with myself and Zeke, as well as Annie. We can inform you of their possible motives."

Erwin nodded and looked at his closest advisor: Hange. Without Levi here, he knew that trusting Porco and Zeke would have to be done. Still, could they be trusted enough to help them with the war effort?

'Wherever you are Jake Peralta, you leave us handicapped. Your brother is not you, he does not have the skill, nor the charisma to pull off such a move. I have my faith but that was long gone once you were blown up."

Zeke turned his head and looked at Hange Zoe, he could see that she was conversing with Erwin. They did not trust him, nor did they believe that he was honorable like his brother. Did they know that for the sake of war they would need to trust him?

He did not wish to be the reason that they failed as a collective. Many Eldian organizations of the past had failed once an outsider had tried to help them, believing them to be a mole, even if captured by the enemy themselves. Zeke needed to show them that he was on their side, without Annie here to support his claim, he knew that it was going to be a long road. 

'Annie is more trusted than I. She could convince them, the Asians are greedy and they would backstab these people the first sign of the war not going their way."

Zeke bowed his head, waiting for the warrior Annie. The one person that would be their saving grace...

Eren and Annie had walked the long corridors of the Eldian Organization bunker. This was the beginning of their own journey, this was before the politics of the world had ruined it for all of them. They had become enemies, Eren never wanted for his son to become something entirely different. He was a member of the Eldian organization. 

"Do you remember when we all sat down there? All of our friends, Reiner, Bertolt, Mikasa, Sasha, Jean, and Connie. We were so different back then, we had hoped for a better world where we did not know the dangers of the world. We had gotten that, only for a short while though. It had become different within those next couple of months, heh."

Annie remembered it all too well, she knew that Eren would stop here. This was where they had all met before training, it would become known as the retreat. She had missed her friends dearly, even Mikasa. The one girlfriend, not counting Sasha, that she could relate too. 

Mikasa had the strength and understood what it meant for her to be one of the best in their entire organization. It was never enough for them to be combatants against one another. It had often led to bickering and sometimes the occasional fistfight that ended in a draw on most occasions

"Of course I do, before Reiner and I, along with Bertolt decided to go kamikaze. We destroyed a lot, in the name of our famillies. Still, I had yet to realize that I already had a family here, we were told about you guys back home. We never knew that we had this type of connection with you, we only realized that we were the descendants of our famillies after. We did not know that we were legacies."

Eren could see that she truly regretted what she had done, still, if she had apologized, it would not make anything better. They had lost a lot of good people that day, people who looked up to Annie and her friends. Now those people wished her death, the mother of his child. He did not know what he could but he knew that he had to do his best.

Eren leaned against the railing and found himself staring into Annie's crystal-like eyes. He could see that she wanted to say a lot, it just depends on how she said it. This was not something that he could just allow her to be given, she needed to re-earn his trust. She could not simply just walk back into his life after two years but he could still treat her with kindness.

"You know, people here still want to give you a chance. They just don't know if this is Eldian Annie or Warrior Annie because one of those is the sister, mother, and friend that they have always loved. The other is the cold monster that broke their peace and brought them into a war. I also need to know that you are willing to rebuild what we had."

Eren laid it out all for her to digest. She needed to make a choice, she either wanted to be a part of this mighty collective once. She would have to see that Armin was not going to lead her to anything besides her own death, Armin was nothing more than a puppet. Eren still believed that but something told him that his friend had something, even with what Annie told him. He knew to fear his friend, he knew what he could do with those willing warriors at his beck and call. 

Annie herself was having an internal struggle. She would know the difficulty of being what she was, she was a legacy, someone that people looked at in awe. Like Erwin, Levi, and Hange. All their parents had been a member of the Eldian movement, they had become members of the greatest movement to ever grace this world. They had plans but were disrupted by those who were ambitious enough to see that they could take the Eldians down. 

"Eren, you want me to promise you that? My friends are back there! I have people back there that want me to listen to my mind, the one that has been filled with thoughts of betrayal, love, and outright chaos!  You don't think I want to hold my son? Do you think I had a choice!? I was nothing more than a foot soldier in this game."

Eren finally saw it, he saw her eyes, the way she shifted in front of his eyes. It was a battle of wills, between the Warrior and Soldier. Judging by the way she was pacing, it seemed like this had happened more than once, she had fought with herself for the sake of the duty they swore to uphold.

"How many times has this happened Annie? How many times have you found yourself questioning your very motives?"

Annie turned back, facing her husband with her hair in all kinds of mess, it was clear that she was stress. A single grey hair had stuck out and Eren pulled her into a hug. What she had done all those years ago, it made her sick to her stomach. Only there was the part of her that wanted that. The part of the warrior, the one part that needed to release her frustrations on the innocent Eldians...

"So many times and so much. How am I to fight against these urges!? Do you know what I am Eren? I'm a warrior...one that was supposed to fulfill her duty to the bitter end."

Eren grasped her tightly, his hug never stopping as he kept her in the embrace. He was not letting go, whispering sweet words as he could feel the ease on her. She was finally coming into what she needed to do. Annie needed to calm down, he knew how she could do that but first, they needed to attend to the meeting they had called. 

"Annie, if you ever get choked up in there because trust me, they will be questioning you like no other. Just look at me and think of what comes next, we will get through this and I promise you...NO! I swear to you that we will save your friends. No one is being left behind, you have my word as an Eldian.."

Annie did not know what to say, she simply stayed in the warm embrace. She could hear the words echoing throughout her head, maybe this was just it.  The one person she could count on, not her father or Zeke but Eren Yeager, her husband, and father of her child. He would protect her...where others could not.

"Annie are you sure of this? That man has not been seen for years, he was associated with Caeser once upon a time. I had never seen him in the foundation. If I did, then he must have changed in his time." 

Annie stood at the front of the conference table, she saw all their eyes, they questioned her and wanted her dead. It was clear, the situation of all those years had not changed what they thought about her or the fact that she had come forward of her own volition. They did not trust her, something deep within, something primal wanted to tear away at them. She knew that this was the warrior, the taint, corruption! 

"I am sure, the former Legate of Caeser is now the War-Chief of Movement. I have no doubt that Joshua Graham has resurfaced, he is a man that even you should fear Erwin. He once faced the might of the Italian mob in a war, they say that he won without effort. He had gone in with a determination to win and he came out as the one true leader of the new world."

Zeke nodded, remembering that tale. His mother had told him, the tale of the Chief-Commander, Joshua Graham. A man that people learned to fear through his name or his deeds. He had often taken some of the man's tactics during battles with the Eldian forces, he found that they worked well enough but he was not of the same mind that Graham possessed and fell short. 

"How would we know that it's him? You would have to be in contact with a warrior, Pieck I presume?"

Zeke tilted his head to the side if Annie was surprised at him guessing so well, she did not allow it to show. Good, he did not need her gaping like a fish out of water. He watched as she soon changed the narrative. Her whole body had shifted, showing that she was in a position to lead talks now...

Soon though, he had gotten a different answer entirely, one that had him doubting his former student. 

"Actually no, Pieck and I are not on speaking terms Zeke, this is but an assumption on my part. One that I dare say is correct, Armin Arlert wants the best for his people, who else is better than Joshua Graham? I say that you should under no circumstances engage him in direct combat. He is a man trained by the worst of the worse, he learned from killers, commanders, and soldiers. He learned from them, he molded himself to fit all three of the styles that he had been taught."

Erwin sat at the opposite end of the table, with this information, it would be difficult to asses how different the warriors would be in battle. He could not sacrifice soldiers for this cause, he had to consider the lives would be vital in the process necessary. Every one counted now, he sighed, looking over at Annie with a raised eyebrow. He saw how she held his gaze, the very woman that had betrayed them, now stood before them, offering them the assistance needed for now. 

"So, you are guessing Leonhart?"

The use of her maiden name made her raise an eyebrow, nothing else was needed to give her shock at the tone that the commander used to address her, it was different. It had gained the attention of everyone in the room, something that had her own husband gripping the chair that he sat down in. 

"I'm making a guess, Armin does not just want supremacy. He wants perfection, that means having the greatest commander ever since Urie Reiss. He's lived on both sides, just like Armin. This is not the battle you think it is, one is political and the other is an all-out battle on the streets. This is not going to be slow and steady, it's going to hard hitting and fast! Are you ready for that? For Joshua Graham?"

Erwin looked around the table, people waited for his answer. He knew that her words already had an effect on his members, he bowed his head. Just as he was about to answer, the telephone wrong and he answered with a hesitant: "Yes?"

Soon, Erwin dropped the phone in shock, looking at Zeke with a faint smirk... 

"He's alive...Jake Peralta is alive!"