章節 669: Interrogations

"Come on beast, get moving!" a Military Police soldier shoves Mikasa in the back as they march her down a walkway leading to a large hall which was supposedly holding her trial.

She thought it was both odd and humourous that these men acted so brave while also simultaneously thinking she could turn into an unkillable wolf monster at the drop of a hat... If she were in their position she'd be staying clear of her. Regardless, it wasn't as though she thought these men were all that smart, even without her new 'gifted' powers she could probably still beat them, chained up or not.

She's soon brought into a massive hall already filled to the brim with people, large stands filled with the three Military Corps and raised dais in the middle. At the end was an even higher platform where the judge would probably sit.

She looks around and spots Eren, Armin, and many more of those that she'd trained with in the past in the stand, her two closest friends were watching on with clear anxiety on their expressions, only making her more worried about how the trial would proceed. Her treatment in the last few days had already made it obvious that it wouldn't be fair, nor based on facts. As far as she was concerned this was a false trial fueled by misplaced anger and fearmongering.

Mikasa's forced to her knees atop the raised dais, a soldier jamming a metal pipe into the ground to secure her arms, which might actually be able to hold her in her wolf-form if the metal is strong enough...

They then force her and everyone else to wait there for twenty minutes before an older man with white hair and a full beard shuffles over and sits in the judge's seat, tapping his papers into conformity and adjusting his glasses. "Court is now in session." he states aloud before focussing his eyes on her, "You are Mikasa Ackerman, correct?"

"Correct."

"You are a soldier sworn to sacrifice your life for the public good, correct?"

"Yes." she clearly answers despite the loopholes that would allow others to manipulate such a statement to their own ends.

"Unfortunately for you, our efforts in concealing your identity have failed, forcing this to become a public trial. The transcription of today's session and the results will be publicized... Your fate will be decided today, one of the three Military Corps will be given custody of you, and they will do with you what they please." the man turns to one section of the stand, "Military Police, your proposal." he says and sits down to listen.

"Yes! I Nile Hawk present our proposal!... After a thorough examination of Mikasa Ackerman's body, we have determined that further study is necessary to discover the origins of her abilities! During our investigation, we found a number of unnatural abilities exhibited by the defendant. Enhanced regenerative capabilities not unlike the titans that haunt us! A stronger and more resilient body! Nails that approach the hardness of steel! And even evidence of a strange mutative virus in the defendant's saliva!

When exposed to animals, the virus displays no effects... But when used on human cells? The virus rapidly takes them over! Our scientists believe that exposing a live human to this virus would spread whatever the defendant has!" Nile Hawk loudly proclaims, sending the hall into muttered discussions.

He clears his throat to bring their attention back to him, "Our wish to utilise this strange virus to enhance our soldiers was quickly dismissed however! Once we discovered that the defendant cannot control their abilities! Indeed, it is this reason that we have decided that Mikasa Ackerman should be eliminated as soon as possible!" he exclaims, almost causing Eren to jump from his seat and start charging the man, only stopped by Armin and Connie who hold him down.

"The risk of the Defendant going berserk once more and infecting everyone she encounters is an existential threat to humanity! Perhaps even more so than the titans! The giants that walk outside our walls are apparent and obvious threats! But who among us can distinguish between the Defendant and a regular human being!? To not know if your neighbour is secretly a human-devouring creature!? To sleep at night knowing your son or daughter could be infected by them!? The Military Police think that Mikasa Ackerman should be executed and her body burned at the earliest possible moment!"

...

Mikasa pales at the speech, finding it compelling even to her ears. The fact was, he wasn't wrong, if she couldn't control her new powers and went berserk again, she might very well infect everyone around her... And while Saeko had said she would be able to control it, she'd not felt any indication of that.

The people around her seemed to agree too with how loud their respective discussions were, she could even see some of her fellow trainees turning from her gaze...

The judge takes a while to consider their proposal, then proceeds to nod to himself and turn towards where the Garrison Corps was sitting. "Garrison, your proposal."

A man stands, "I, Henreich Reeds stand-" he pauses hearing someone whisper something to him, "-The Garrison Corps retracts our proposal in lieu of the Military Police's argument. We back their decision wholely!"

...

"T-THAT'S NOT RIGHT! HOW CAN YOU-" Eren starts shouting but Armin pulls him back and covers his mouth, ending the interruption but not without drawing many glares...

"Hmm. Interesting. Survey Corps, your proposal."

...

A man with blonde hair and a firm expression stands, "I Erwin Smith, Commander of the Survey Corps give our proposal..." he starts, pausing to take a look at everyone present, Mikasa especially, he locks eyes with her but doesn't give anything away, not a single facial tick.