Juliet Diekman is the daughter of a well-respected Marleyan scientist who works alongside the military.
In a new proposal, he is asked to go on an expedition to Paradis for research purposes before planning their big attack. He agrees, only if his b...
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THE FLYING BOAT GLIDES above the clouds, the vast expanse of orange stretching endlessly beneath them. Sunlight streams through the windows, casting a warm glow inside, yet it does little to lift the heavy atmosphere that blankets the cabin. Silence reigns among the Scouts, the weight of their grief pressing down on them like a physical force.
Reiner stands by the window, his gaze fixed on the horizon, the landscape below blurred by their speed. Beside him, Juliet sits quietly, her expression reflective and solemn, the echoes of their loss still resonating within her.
The other Scouts sit in muted sorrow, their minds likely filled with thoughts of Hange, their now-fallen comrade.
In the cockpit, Armin is hunched over the controls, a furrow of concentration on his brow. His eyes dart over the instruments, and a sense of unease washes over him as he notices the fuel tank is already half empty. The reality of their situation sinks in, and he glances toward Onyankopon, who is focused on navigating the flying boat through the sky.
"We're half empty?" Armin calls out, his voice carrying a hint of urgency.
Onyankopon turns slightly, "Yeah. Ran out of time before they could fill it."
"Do you have enough fuel to reach Fort Salta?" Armin asks, his heart racing as he contemplates the implications.
"I'll find a way to make it happen," Onyakopon says, determined to get them to their destination, "Hange died to get this thing flying with humanity's last hope onboard. So, we're gonna get to that base, whatever it takes. I swear it."
Armin straightens up from his hunched position, a newfound determination settling in his chest. He takes a deep breath, feeling the weight of responsibility press down on him. Turning to Onyankopon, he sees the intensity in the pilot's eyes, a silent plea for reassurance.
"In return, you all have to stop the Rumbling," Onyankopon implores, his gaze locked firmly on the air ahead of him, as if searching for hope amid the clouds, "Please promise me that."
Armin nods, his voice steady despite the turmoil swirling within. "Yeah, we will. Thank you," he replies, gratitude tinged with resolve. With that promise lingering in the air, he turns and heads back toward the group, his heart racing as he prepares to face his friends again.
As Armin steps back into the cabin, the weight of their shared grief hangs in the air. One by one, his comrades look up, their expressions shifting from sorrow to focus as they absorb his presence.
Armin stands before them, his heart pounding in his chest, aware of the responsibility now resting on his shoulders. "Okay, let's lay out the plan," he begins, his voice steady despite the unrest within.
Eventually, Armin kneels in the center of the group, surrounded by his fellow soldiers who sit close to him in a loose circle. There's a new focus in their eyes as they settle in, watching Armin carefully. With a piece of chalk they'd found on the flying boat, he starts sketching on the metal floor, his movements thorough. As he listens intently to Pieck's descriptions of the Founding Titan's body, his hand traces her words with careful strokes, piecing together the twisted image of their powerful enemy.
