Megatron snuck back into the Marley compound in his holoform. He climbed up the wall and through an open window before moving down the hall to sneak back into his room. The one down side about the holoform was that it couldn't be reactivated in a place that he cannot visually see. So he would have to activate the holoform outside the compound and then go back to his room.
Megatron picked the lock to his room and opened it before slumping down to the floor. By the Pits, he hated this.
Megatron then grabbed the bandage he left abandoned before deactivating the holoform last night and tied it once again. He hated having to do this, but if it kept the illusion that he was human, so be it.
The titan finished tying it before laying down on the floor. He turned his attention to the bed and growled. Those things were just too soft; it felt so uncomfortable. He looked up at the ceiling before closing his eyes in thought. He had the day off, but he couldn't use it to give weekly updates to Paradis. At least not at the moment, so…what should he even do in this situation.
Megatron reached under the bed and pulled out his bag. He stuck his hand in there and pulled out some cash. He remembered seeing a bookstore in Liberio. He could go there and buy some in order to learn more about Marley.
Megatron groaned in irritation as he sat up. He was going to need an escort. The titan grabbed the staff and stood up, making sure to continue pretending to be injured.
----------------
"H-he did what?" Falco stuttered in shock.
"He managed to hold his own against the mutated titan," Porco repeated, "Barely, according to the dirt from some of the Commanders I overheard. They made me and Colt along with a few others clean up the mess."
"That's so cool!" Gabi exclaimed with excitement.
"I've never heard of someone holding their own against a titan," Zofia admitted.
"We have to ask him about it!" Gabi exclaimed, "Where is he?!"
Falco noticed Matthew walking out of the compound with a staff in hand and Reiner and Pieck by his side.
"Leaving?" Falco questioned as they all saw the three leave the compound.
-------------
Megatron grumbled to himself as Reiner and Pieck accompanied him to the bookshop. This was completely ridiculous. He had to be accompanied because Magath didn't trust him. And it looked like it would be this way for a while.
"Cheer up, Matthew," Pieck smiled as he noticed his irritation, "At the very least you have days off."
"This is not a day off!" Megatron exclaimed, "This isn't even a fucking escort! The two of you are making sure I don't 'escape'!"
"I'm sorry that we have to do this," Reiner apologized.
Megatron took a deep breath and sighed. "Whatever. I just want to go to the bookshop and back to the compound I call my prison."
Megatron noticed the glares directed at the trio, but he realized they were more focused on Reiner and Pieck. "I also could've asked Marleyan soldiers to take me."
"It's just a quick walk," Pieck reassured.
Megatron noticed someone behind him grabbing an empty bottle and getting ready to throw it at an unfocused Reiner. He continued on without suspicion as the person threw it. Megatron casually caught the bottle before it hit Reiner. He then tossed it back in the direction of the human, hearing it hit the ground and someone yelling.
"What was that?" Pieck asked as she and Reiner looked back.
Megatron looked back and saw two men looking at him in shock. "Beats me."
Pieck and Reiner continued walking while Megatron gave a sadistic smile, showing his fangs. Megatron felt satisfaction as the two men ran off before he continued walking. The titan then looked down at Reiner who just seemed out of it.
He knew that Reiner was on the island before he arrived. The problem was that when he infiltrated the walls, he ended up getting attached to the enemy, and now Megatron was certain Reiner didn't believe Marleyan ideology anymore. Meanwhile, Pieck had no connection to the island. She had no break from the hate and discrimination like Reiner did. She may seem cheery, but the girl was more attentive to her surrounding than Reiner was.
"We're here," Pieck informed as the three arrived at the bookshop, "We'll be waiting outside for you. The storeowner probably won't let us in. Just make sure not to sneak out in back or we'll have to hunt you down."
"Fair," Megatron responded as he counted the cash he had, "Is there anything you two want in particular?"
Pieck and Reiner were shocked by the question.
"Y-you want to get us a book?" Reiner asked in disbelief.
"I don't think our superior-,"
"I'm the one buying it," Megatron interrupted Pieck, "If anything, I can hold onto it until we head back to base and give it to you when you head back to the internment zone."
"But-,"
"There must be something you want," Megatron tempted. Get the simple things first. Find out their interests, gain their trust.
"Well…I would like the most recent fantasy novel," Pieck admitted, "Or just…any really."
"And you?" Megatron turned to Reiner.
"I…uh…," Reiner trailed off.
"I'm not going to stand out here all day," Megatron said.
"A cookbook?" Reiner asked.
"Weird one, but fine," Megatron shrugged before walking into the store. Megatron noted that the place was rather small, even by human standards. Of course, nothing could compare to the grandeur of the Iacon Hall of Records.
Megatron looked back at the money in his bag. There was enough for five books. Three for himself, two for Reiner and Pieck.
"Where's the most recent fantasy novel?" Megatron asked the clerk.
The clerk pointed to his left to a shelf of books labeled novels. Megatron walked over and grabbed the most recent one before finding a cookbook and grabbing it.
Megatron browsed through the non-fiction section and grumbled. This place was so disorganized. He managed to find two books on Marley's law and history. He flipped through each book to see the information. It looked like it was enough to understand the basics.
Megatron then scanned the shelves once more, looking for one more book he could read for the time being. Megatron stopped and noticed one book that shouldn't have caught his eye but did.
'Discoveries of the Ocean'
Megatron scoffed at the idea. The ocean was a dark and cold abyss. A desolate pit if he ever saw one.
"But seeing the ocean would mean so much to me," Armin declared with a smile, "A vast place of water that takes up most of the planet. Full of salt the merchants can't even touch it. You can't get something like that inside the wall, and talking about the outside is considered taboo for us. But if I get to see it at least once with Eren and Mikasa, that would mean everything to me."
Megatron took one last look at the book before grabbing it off the shelf. There had to be more than just salt water.
-------------------
Pieck was humming to herself while Reiner kept his gaze to the ground. They patiently waited for Matthew to finish shopping. They knew they had to ensure Matthew wouldn't escape, but from what they examined on the outside of the building, the windows were small and high up. The only way for Matthew to escape was through the front door.
"Reiner," Pieck began, "Are you still worried about Bertholdt?"
"Of course I am," Reiner answered, "He and Annie are hurt because of me."
"Annie does appear to be fine," Pieck noted, "Whatever is inside of her isn't killing her. Not like what's within Bertholdt."
"If I wasn't such an idiot, none of this would've even happened," Reiner proclaimed, "All four of us would be back. Marcel wouldn't be dead because of me."
"Marcel is dead because of the flying titan," Pieck proclaimed, "Not because of you."
Reiner wanted to retort. He wanted to say that wasn't the case, but Matthew exited out of the store before he could say anything else.
"I'll give the books to you two later," Matthew told them.
"Y-you really bought them?" Reiner stuttered in surprise.
Matthew pulled out his bag and showed Reiner the cookbook. "Let's keep this between us so that idiot Magath doesn't find out."
Pieck and Reiner stared at Matthew in surprise before following him back to the base.
-----------------------
Paradis
Hanji stared at the liquefied energon in awe and excitement.
"I would advise you not to touch it," Optimus informed as he began tampering with some other tools to get them to work.
"It's in a glass container!" Hanji exclaimed.
Optimus gave her a disapproving look, causing the Commander to groan in defeat.
"Fine," Hanji drawled out before noticing the device Optimus was trying to repair, "What's that for?"
"If I can get it to work, it would allow us to track energon more efficiently," Optimus explained, "We need energon now more than ever. If we can find enough energon deposits without leaving the island, we can use it to power your weapons."
"But didn't you find that cave of energon without it?" Hanji recalled.
"It was a rather short frequency," Optimus admitted, "This will allow more accuracy and farther distance."
"Well, we didn't take much out of that cave you showed me when you first got here," Hanji recalled, "We can go back there. We could also ask the merchant's kid where his dad found that other energon. Oh! Is there a chance you can use that to find another Cybertronian ship? Maybe one with better technology?"
"That would only work if the ship has emitted an emergency frequency of its own," Optimus explained, "Without it, it would be much harder to locate. It would also depend if there was more on the island, but I highly doubt that."
"Do you…think that Marley might find Cybertronian technology?" Hanji asked, "They have a piece of Megatron; they might be able to find it and determine that it's not from this world."
"They do not have complete knowledge of Cybertron," Optimus reminded, "They assume Megatron arrived on this world through his alt mode, but they are unsure about other Cybertronian modes of transportation."
"So at the moment, we're in the clear," Hanji assumed, "Hopefully we can reach Marley's equivalent of military might before they perfect the mutated titans."
"Let us hope," Optimus agreed.
-----------
"When exactly will you give the books to us?" Pieck asked as they arrived back at the compound.
"Is there a way you can take it back without raising suspicion?" Megatron asked, "I'm not sure if that's considered illegal or not."
The moment Megatron stepped into the compound, he was met with the faces of Gabi, Zofia, and Falco. Gabi was the one who was super eager to see him, while Zofia and Falco looked like they were dragged to see him.
"Did you really take down a titan by yourself?!" Gabi asked with excitement.
Megatron was startled by the girl's automatic question. "What?"
"Word travelled fast about what you did yesterday," Pieck explained.
Megatron rubbed his temple in irritation. "I didn't really take it down. Jaeger did the killing blow, so go talk to him about it."
"But you still fought it off!" Gabi exclaimed, "How did you do it?!"
"I'm interested in knowing that answer too," Zofia admitted.
"No, I'm going back to my room," Megatron told them.
"But you're supposed to train us," Gabi retorted.
"Today is my day off and I'm trying to rest my leg," Megatron shot back as he pointed to his leg, "So back off."
"But-!"
"I said no," Megatron pressed, not wanting to deal with this situation.
"Please?" Gabi pleaded, "Can you still teach us?"
"Gabi, that's enough," Reiner told her.
"Reiner-,"
"Hey, you bastard!" someone shouted.
"Oh God damn it," Megatron groaned.
The Eldians turned to see three men walking towards them. Falco quickly hid behind Pieck, recognizing the three men as the one who were picking on him and his brother. The one Megatron saved him from.
"We've got a bone to pick with you!" the first man shouted, "Defending Eldian devils and breaking my hand! Come and face us!"
"Sir, that is not necessary,"
"Shut up, devil!" the second one shouted, "We don't care if you're an honorary Marleyan!Your just a devil, and will always be one! So stay out of this!"
"There must be a better way to settle this," Pieck reasoned.
"Stay out of our way!" the third one ordered.
Megatron began laughing in anger, earning the attention of everyone there. Megatron turned to reveal his gritted teeth and frustrated eyes.
"I just want one day to myself," Megatron began, "One. One where I can relax, rest, read a stupid book! Instead it's 'Matthew, do this'. 'Matthew, do that'. 'You're just a commoner.' 'Oh please, train us.'"
Megatron took off his bag and shoved into Reiner's chest. "You want to fight? Fine. You want a lesson? Fine. First note: intimidation."
Megatron rolled up his sleeves to reveal all the scars on his arms. He had the holoform material, so he could take off the jacket or it would disappear once it stopped touching him.
"Most of my scars are from illegal death matches," Megatron hissed at the three, "Where I fought animals twice my size and others with much more skill."
The kids and Reiner looked horrified at the scars while Pieck looked on in sympathy. The third man immediately took steps back away from Megatron. Megatron noticed the other two unnerved, but still standing.
"Intimidation usually scares off the weakest opponents," Megatron continued, "However if your opponent is stupid enough to still be here-,"
"Hey!" the first one shouted.
"Oh did I touch a nerve?" Megatron questioned, "I mean I thought you were already somebody's bitch, but if that's not the case-!"
The second one threw a punch at Megatron and hit him in the face, but Megatron was barely phased by the attack.
"Which leads to the second and third note," Megatron continued, "The second: angering your opponent. Your opponent feels inferior, and it might be extremely present. It might not work for every opponent, but if so, use it. Angry opponents are careless opponents. Careless opponents are dead ones."
The second one quickly backed off, rubbing his hand in the process from the pain. The first and final one trembled in fear as Megatron loomed over him.
"Third note: letting your enemy know your strength," Megatron finished, "How little or how small all depends on you. If you show your strength too early, your opponent will know how to counteract it. However, if you know you can beat your opponent, showing off some of your strength and skill will scare them off, or get the message across that you should not be messed with. A side note: if cheap tactics lead to victory, use it."
"But why?" Gabi questioned.
Megatron stepped on the last man's ankle, breaking it. He screamed in pain as he fell to the ground.
"Virtue means nothing in war," Megatron answered, "Your opponent doesn't care about fighting fair. They just want to live."
Megatron turned his attention back to the three. "So, do you want to live?"
Megatron was satisfied when the three ran off. Megatron took his bag from Reiner and stormed off into his room.
--------------------
Calvi walked down the steps of the Marleyan research center before opening two large doors. He looked on to see scientists trying their best to analyze and possibly break down the part of the flying titan Annie Leonhart managed to retrieve. He noticed many frustrated scientists, complaining and struggling to try and break it apart for better analysis.
"Sir!" the head scientist saluted, "I wasn't expecting you for another week."
"Report," Calvi ordered.
"This thing is…practically unbreakable!" the head scientist exclaimed in anger, "We've tried everything to break it down and it barely manages a dent! The team is going mad from the lack of progress!"
One of the scientists began beating the thorn with a hammer before collapsing on the ground in frustration and sadness.
"I see," Calvi said, feeling sympathy for the scientists.
"While it would be great to get more of this for technological advancements, none of our weapons works," the head scientist explained.
"If we could break this down, this would prove to be great armor," Calvi proclaimed.
"Another issue is that there's not enough!" the head scientist reminded, "This thorn is the only piece of these titans we have! The only other piece of this metal that exists on this world, is in the hands of those island devils!"
"I doubt the devils would get very far with this," Calvi proclaimed.
"They might," the head scientist admitted.
"Care to repeat that?" Calvi demanded in anger.
"The devils have the intelligent titans," the head scientist reminded, "Whatever those devils are telling them, they're willing to help them succeed. These titans are the ones that know the ability of this metal. The titans have the knowledge and we don't. Despite having this, we don't know where to look for more."
"If we had these titans, then they might know where to look," Calvi surmised.
"Even then, reports stated that the metal titan doesn't know how it arrived on our world," the head scientist recalled, "And the flying titan came here on its own without a ship. At least that's what the assumption is."
"Perhaps we should use Annie Leonhart," Calvi suggested, "She was the one who got this in the first place."
The head scientist seemed hesitant at the thought. "We can try. Hopefully she'll be cooperative."
"She must. If she isn't, she will lose her life," Calvi declared, "Bring Annie Leonhart here. I will bring Commander Magath. He will be more persuasive to Annie then me."
-----------------------
Falco looked at the door to Matthew's room. He never really got the chance to explain himself to Matthew, but after what happened with those three men, he might have to. The last thing he wants is for him and his family to be sent to Paradis, or the front lines as titans.
Falco took a deep breath before knocking on the door. When he heard nothing, he knocked on the door again. Falco grew worried when he heard footsteps and Matthew opening the door with an irritated look.
"I told you to leave me a-," Matthew stopped when he noticed Falco in front of him. He raised an eyebrow in confusion as Falco's hands were shaking.
"You're usually the least of my worries," Matthew remarked as he crossed his arms, "If this is a ploy by your friend to get me to talk about what happened, I'm shutting the door."
"I…," Falco trailed off, "My brother didn't do anything wrong!"
"What?" Matthew raised an eyebrow.
"What happened that day, when you saved us!" Falco continued, "It was my fault! Not Colt's! I ran into someone by accident! Please don't put him in jail or hurt him or-!"
"I have been here for two months!" Matthew exclaimed, "Why the hell are you bringing this up now?!"
"I-I didn't know that you were Marley military," Falco stuttered.
Matthew rubbed the side of his head in irritation. "I'm not part of Marley Military. I'm a prisoner, just like you."
"W-what?" Falco stuttered.
"I decided to help you, turns out it was breaking the law," Matthew explained, "Your commander gave me an ultimatum: train you or be thrown in jail."
"But…you're still here because of me," Falco proclaimed, "Because I was stupid."
Matthew sighed before sitting down on the ground so that he was at height level with Falco. "Falco, right?"
Falco was surprised by the man addressing him by name, but nodded his head regardless.
"That whole thing was my choice," Matthew proclaimed, "If I knew I'd end up losing my freedom, maybe I would've reconsidered. But here I am."
"But…I'm an Eldian," Falco reminded, "I don't have the same rights as you do."
"Honestly, don't care," Matthew declared, "When you've lived a life like mine, you don't care for that crap. You care for your brother. There's nothing wrong with that."
"…thank you for helping us out that day," Falco said, "If there's anything you need me to do-,"
"Let me read," Matthew interrupted as he stood up, "And tell your friends if they come and bother me today that I will not be kind to them tomorrow."
"Yes, sir," Falco saluted as he ran off.
Megatron shut the door before returning the floor and lying down. Megatron reached for the book on Marleyan law, but his eyes drifted to the book about the ocean. Megatron picked up the ocean book and flipped it to the first page.
-------------------------
Magath walked behind Commander Calvi to the room with the titan's thorn. Seeing that thing always made him sick to his stomach. It reminded him of how powerless they were. It reminded him of how the flying titan mocked Marleyan might like it had a right. It…
Magath looked behind him to see Annie forcefully pulled and shoved into the room by two other scientists. She looked disheveled and dead inside. Her hair wasn't in a bun and her clothes looked worn for wear. The arm that was cut off prior to the new serum still had blue veins. Her eyes were still that bright blue, but despite this, she looked so tired and sad.
"Annie Leonhart," Calvi began as he walked up to her, "The scientists require your assistance. They have been unable to break a piece of the flying titan you took six months ago. We need you to use your power in order to dissect this."
Annie didn't respond right away. She looked down at her butchered arm and grimaced.
"I can't, sir," Annie told him.
"That is an excuse," Calvi hissed, "And we do not accept excuses from Eldians. You have given your life to fight for this country. Have you not?"
"Yes-,"
"Then you will use your power to destroy this thorn," Calvi ordered.
"I do not know how," Annie reasoned.
"Then figure it out," Calvi ordered.
"I-,"
"Soldier, what happened that led to you cutting off the flying titan's thorn?" Magath asked.
"I…I was fighting him," Annie began, "He…he beat me."
"What else?" Magath pressed.
The Commanders noticed Annie balling her fists in anger, but her eyes showed fear and panic.
"He…he…," Annie tried to force out.
"He did what?" Calvi demanded.
"He threatened my father," Annie forced out, feeling bile in her throat, "He knows about my father. He knows about Liberio. He said he would tell him that he killed me before ending his own life."
"What did you feel during that time?" Magath asked.
"Fear, desperation, anger," Annie listed, "I was terrified."
"He will come here because of you," Calvi swore.
"Sir," Magath warned.
"He will kill us all because of your arrogance," Calvi continued, "You pathetic devil. You've doomed us all."
Annie felt crystals forming at her feet and on her fists. Her anger and fear continued to boil over as her Commander continued to berate her. Her father was going to die because of her. Everyone was going to die because of her. It was her fault.
Crystals surrounded her hands and she screamed. This was all the flying titan's fault! She rushed and raised her hand before sinking them into the thorn. She tore through it in anger, leaving five claw marks behind. Small pieces of the metal fell to the floor, and Calvi picked one of them up and examined it.
"Make sure to analyze this," Calvi ordered as he passed it to the head scientist.
"Yes, sir," he responded as he took the piece.
Annie collapsed on the floor and the crystal broke off her body. Some of the scientists came to collect it, and Annie remained unresponsive.
"Leonhart," Calvi began.
"…Bertholdt…," Annie spoke, "May I see Bertholdt? Please? I'm worried about him."
Magath looked conflicted, but Calvi was uninterested.
"No you cannot," Calvi answered.
"Please-,"
"Hoover is in no condition to have visitors," Calvi cut off before turning to two scientists, "Take her back to her cell. If you need her assistance again, then bring her back here."
Magath could only watch as Annie was dragged from the thorn and to her cell.
"Why can't she see Bertholdt?" Magath asked.
Calvi grimaced. "I'll show you."
---------------------
Later
"Commander Calvi, I would strongly advise against this," the head scientist pleaded.
"Magath is responsible for the Eldian recruits," Calvi reminded, "He must find out sooner or later."
The three walked towards a mirror and the scientist grimaced. He placed his hand on the switch before turning to Magath.
"I hope you can stomach this," the head scientist said before flipping the switch to turn on the lights.
Magath watched in horror as he say Bertholdt. His arm was charred a dark purple. It looked like it was falling apart of the seams. Dark purple veins were spreading throughout his face. Part of his hair was falling out. He could see Bertholdt groaning in pain as his eyes flickered from brown to purple. Bertholdt looked like he was slowly dying.
"The power of the titans last for thirteen years," Magath began, "Why does it look like he's at his last? Why does he look so much worse?"
"Whatever is in the Flying Titan," the head scientist explained, "This 'dark energon' has been slowly killing him. Administering the energon from Annie Leonhart is no longer enough. It used to be able to slow it down until the initial injury, but now it only slows down the inevitable. The dark energon has clearly been more aggressive."
"Is it going to kill him?" Magath asked.
"Judging by current evidence, most likely," the head scientist answered, "But that's not all."
The head scientists guided the two to the main lab. The head scientists then put on large, thick, hazard gloves before he pulled out two pertri dishes from an ice box. He placed it next to the microscope on the table. He then took one of them and removed the lid before placing it under the microscope.
"This is the sample we got from Annie Leonhart," the head scientist said, "Take a look, and tell me what you see."
Magath looked through the lens and saw Annie's sample. The blue seemed to coexist with the red blood cells. It worked together. The red blood cells did nothing to attack the blue cells. The blue cells did nothing to attack the red blood cells, but it shone in a way that overtook the red.
"It's working together," Magath noted.
"At least that's what we've surmised," the head scientist proclaimed, "The energon doesn't have any intention on harming the host. But Bertholdt's sample tells a different story."
Magath watched the scientist replace the petri dish before examining it through the lens. Magath gasped at what he saw. The purple cells were unstable, amorphous, chaotic. It targeted and consumed the red blood cells until nothing was left.
"It's destructive," Magath spoke.
"We have no control over this dark energon," the head scientist declared, "And it is very clear that this substance is harmful to titan shifters. Imagine what it could do to humans. We have no means of control it. Commander Calvi, I would advise a complete halt on the experimentation of dark energon until we can control the regular one."
"Under normal circumstances, I would disagree," Calvi began, "But the last thing that I want is for Marley to fall because of our hubris. Hold off until you get solid, successful results of the regular energon."
"Yes sir," the head scientist saluted.
"Sir," Magath began, "Will Bertholdt remain alive?"
"For the time being," Calvi answered, "If this dark energon progresses further in Bertholdt Hoover, I will consider choosing his next successor."
-------------------
Zeke was in his office when he noticed something go under the door. Zeke stood up and walked over to the door and picked up a sheet of paper he saw. He opened it to see Yelena's handwriting.
Bertholdt Hoover may be fed to another successor. Persuade Commander Calvi to doing so. Accelerate the process.