In Between The Ends

Chapter Twenty Five

"You can't be serious." Connie said, deadpan. He was the first of their dumbfounded troop to speak up as the rest of them were staring at Armin and Arya with their mouths open, unsure that they had heard them properly.

It was early afternoon the next day, not 15 hours before they were meant to leave, and the two of them had finally explained the roll Arya would be taking on now that the groundwork had been laid.

"I know it's a little crazy," Arya responded, an anxious half-smile on her face. "but it's the best option we have as far as gaining intel on Historia's location. Besides, Jean did say it was time to cash it in, and he was right."

Jean shifted uncomfortably in his chair and rubbed the back of his neck. "I guess I did, but this is insane. You'll be killed on sight before they even know who you are!"

Oz was stroking his beard thoughtfully. Over time he had come to understand Arya's kindness and courage, yet this particular avenue of dedication has his mind buzzing.

Armin was even less happy with this course of action than they were, but he unfortunately still agreed with Arya. "As with every aspect of this endeavor there is definitely a great deal of risk, but if Arya is able to infiltrate back into the Jaegerist body we would have a significantly higher chance of locating the queen before our presence on the island becomes known; not to mention having a double agent on the inside would drastically improve our chances of an actual rescue."

Gabi was shaking her head back and forth in silent horror as Quinn raised her hand. "Are we even sure that the Jaegerist's would accept Arya, sir? It's going to be difficult to convince them that she's been held here against her will all this time."

Arya nodded respectively. "It's going to be a hard sell, certainly, but I think with the right factors I'll be able to pull it off well enough to be brought in front of the council, especially given my relationship to General Loren." She looked down as she said this with a sour expression. "If he catches wind that I've returned, he will summon me."

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Pieck had risen from her chair and placed a hand on Arya's shoulder, her face full of worry. "You've already done so much for us to risk yourself in this way." Looking back at Pieck kindly, Arya nodded again.

"I have been hiding from my past for too long. If who I used to be gives us a better chance at this, I will use it to the fullest extent." She looked to Armin. "Mikasa will tail me from a distance the moment I land back on the island. Once I am certain of Historia and her family's location, she we relay this information back to you once you've arrived at the muster point. After that," she said, patting a flustered Connie's hand gently, "They only difference on your end will be that you'll have one more person to rescue."

The group looked among one another with panicked faces. Whether they were ready or not, the time had come at last to put their plans into motion.

After a pause the conversation turned back to tactics, and Levi let out a perturbed sigh from his perch above Armin's open balcony door. With his brows furrowed and mouth set in a hard line, he walked quietly down the length of the roof and jumped down in front of his own living quarters, vanishing into the dark room behind him.

The sun had barely crept over the horizon as the 12 members of Armin's company urged their horses from under eaves and into the winding forest path that would take them North through the mountains and onwards. This route would be longer, but keeping out of prying eyes would be key to their success; since the Cardend incident they couldn't be sure of anyone's intentions anymore, nor could they be absolutely sure that the Jaegerists hadn't been involved somehow.