Reality.
The real reality of the entire universe laid out before them like a fine and scrumptious food on a sparkling golden platter. But all that glitters....is not gold.
Death
Countless and endless death of people, both adult and children, men and women, boys and girls, new borns and unborn.
And they couldn't stop it. They couldn't do anything to stop it.
It was unexpected, just like the other worlds that they had happened to view through the screens of their universal technology. Some mocked, some berated, some believed , some prayed and hoped but many cursed their gods for the unforseen calamity that had washed over the world like a harsh and cold stormy wind biting at the skin of a human being.
Nothing truly ever goes as planned in this universe. The long lived has only realized that there is nothing but bloodshed, cries, pain, suffering and futility. The final realization dawns on them that there is no such thing as a perfect world; then hope is lost. Wherever there is a concept of perfection there would always be the vanquished demons lurking in the shadows and the depths of the bottomless pits.
The day Astridye finally realized this, it was too late. Half the world was lost and the armies had been obliterated. The annihilators gave no mercy to their kind. Strong bones crunched with huge giant teeth like biscuit for lunch, buildings toppled to the ground like a children's brick house.
The bombs were futile, the armory emptied unto the enemies only to come up with one thing.
Total Destruction.
Armor, missles, big gun, varieties of armed guns, cannonballs, rockets, lazer beams, plasma beams and many more advanced technology was useless to the mutated titans that stormed their city with an unstoppable hunger that drove them to madness and genocide.
All hope was lost. People hardly survived or made it out of phase one attack.There was no escaping their fate. So they ran.
Ran as fast as they could away from the collosal beings that was their enemies. The sky was red, during the night, the echoing screams of those who couldn't escape still rung in the ears of the survivors as they recuperated at a hidden safe house for unstoppable disasters. Unstoppable disasters like this one.
Trauma!
The people were shaken with trauma and no amount of pep-talks or assurance given to the people by the higher ups could quell the terror and fear the people of the world experienced.
There was no escaping the death. They were everywhere.
East, West, North, South! The people were all being crushed and eaten and burned to crisp while alive. No single invigorating experience was brought upon them to release them from the hell unleashed upon their world or generation. They wanted safely and closure but in return only got prolonged lies from their leaders.
That was it. There was no hope.
"Is this how we really end?" Doctor Starya's voice wobbled as she stared out of the window from the highest and safest tower in the entire continent. Her pristine lab coat being wrinkled by her hands as she squeezed it in terror. Outside was a hue of red, orange black, yellow. A destruction made by bombs, tanks, aircrafts, submarines, missles. Even the unwarranted nuclear bomb. Yet the sacrifice was for nothing, the people they had to kill to reduce the rate at which the titans were coming was completely and absolutely useless.
They still emerged from the earth, bigger and stronger than before. There was no stopping them, even prayers wasn't of use now. All that left was to try to survive for a little while before finally and completely going extinct.
"This is the end of all life on Astridye. Everything we have worked so hard to accomplish and perfect gone in just two days and two nights." She continued, watching the horror happening below with haunted eyes.
"Just two nights?" Lieutenant Kane asked as she joined Doctor Starya by the sealed and tinted glass window. Her hands behind her back, and her uniform neatly pressed and set well on her body. She let out an exhausted sigh." It feels like years."
"This is a disaster," Doctor Starya whimpered biting her nails." I only thought world domination was a fiction in story books. I had no idea that our time would come, despite all our hard work to prevent calamities."
" Things fall apart, my mother once told me." Lieutenant Kane spoke, placing her palm to the back of the Doctor beside her." My mother once told me also that you can't exactly control the balance of life, even with the greatest technology of all time in the entire universe. There will always be loopholes. I used to have a bitter distaste for her concept, thought that it was sick and mocked it. Just like we mocked other words for falling and not having complete perfection while in truth we are just as flawed in every aspect as they are, of maybe even more."
" That was our mistake." The voice of their leader boomed as he stepped into the huge room. All officers and personnels quickly stood in a straight line to the side, bowing as their great leader Kang, walked by them. His coat was white and pristine, ironed and neatly worn with while button up silk shirt, white pressed pants, and boots. His elder chain hung around his neck and rings adorned his fingers. His white hair was tied up in a ponytail with a golden band, piercings covering his ears.
"We underestimated the wrath of the universe, and we know never to do that again." He continued, standing before the people to address them." Today will be marked in history as we begin Operation Recoil. This project is not a complete assurance of our survival, we don't know if this will work. We only can hope on the faith of Kovacs 9.9, and on the faith of the people who agrees to lend us a helping hand. All we have to do now is....well pray."
" Doctors to your positions." Dr Starya ordered when Master Kang gave the signal. All the scientists and Doctors rushed to the small pod at the center or the room just in front of a dimensional portal and began running a last minute diagnostic in it.
"Kovacs 9.9 is here!" Someone announced, gently pulling someone towards the ship.
Kang turned towards the person smiling at them and ruffling their hair. The person smiled back, a light blush adorning their cheeks." How are you 9.9" Kang asked.
"I don't know," 9.9 answered." Worried I guess. But I'm ready, I mean I have to be."
"I'm sorry we have to send you, 9.9. Currently you ar–"
"Big daddy it's okay! It's fine, really." 9.9 cut him off shaking their head." I would have done it anyway, even if you never asked. It is the faith of the world that depends on me, I might not survive but if this can give us a flicker of a chance to save our home. I will do it a thousand times."
"God, I wish you never took this part of me?" Master Kang laughed, holding back the years forming in his eyes." Come back to us. You here me?"
"Have I ever not?" 9.9 grinned widely as they were engulfed into the large arms of Master Kang.
9.9 entered the ship as ordered and fastened the belt. After personally running the inner ship diagnostics they took a deep breath and relaxed." Snowflake, are you there?"
"Right beside you, kitty." Snowflake, 9.9cat familiar appeared beside them, smiling up at her owner.
"Starting engine in one" 9.9 announced when the hatched had closed.
"Two." Dr Starya said.
"Three...." Master Kang whispered as the ships engines burst to life and the ship was propelling towards and through the portal." Please come back to us."
Passing through the portal was an unpleasant even for both Snowflake and Kovacs 9.9. The warbing sounds filled their head as their bodies disfigured with the dimension wraps. The world to them was a blur of a colorful hue as they moved forward.
Popping out of the dimensional travel road was a relief, as their ship crashed into the ground. 9.9 blinked slowly and looked out the window. There it was.
In a field of titan footprint left by the great rumbling of Eren Jaeger. They were here, they had finally reached. 9.9 quickly got out of the ship to get a better look of the world. It was plain in contrast to Astridye, but it was the only hope.
And so the missions begun, to finding the people who took down Eren Jaeger