Year 840: 5 Years Before the Fall of Wall Maria

"The Military Police are here!" someone shouted from the front.

Shit, Levi thought to himself as he grabbed the revolver in his right hand drawer. He could already hear the muffled sounds of fighting and gunfire in the front room. He stood up just as the door to his personal room opened, revealing two uniform clad men of the Military Police. He fired two quick shots at each of them, hitting them both in the legs. He tried to fire a third round to further incapacitate them, but heard only the hopeless click of the gun. He dropped it on the ground and grabbed the pair of twin swords leaning against his bookcase. Levi left the two soldiers wailing on the ground in pain as he spun around and climbed out the window.

He was now in a narrow alleyway filled with garbage. Slowly, he crept forward and peered around the corner. It was clear. He quickly ran down the alley towards the street.

Why the fuck are the Military Police after us? He asked himself. They were in the business of selling bootlegged alcohol, and the officers of the Military Police were their biggest customers. If they shut us down, how do they expect to get their booze?

When Levi was halfway towards the street, two soldiers blocked the exit of the alley.

"Hey!" one shouted out. "In the name of the Military Police, halt!"

Levi took a left turn into another alley. This side of the capital, the half that was filled with slums, brothels and the excrement of the filthy nobility, was primarily composed of winding streets and alleys. Levi knew the territory well, and though he hated to admit it, he was smaller and thus faster than the brawny soldiers. However, the soldiers were equipped with guns and Three-Dimensional Maneuver gear. This would not end well.

Behind him, he could hear the footsteps and the labored breathing of the two soldiers. Levi turned another left corner and immediately ducked into a doorway. As the two soldiers turned the same corner, he leaped out and attacked with the swords. He managed to inflict a deep wound on the right arm of the first, and while the second was still recovering from shock, he gave him a matching wound as well. Next he slashed the thighs of both of them. They were now disabled from both shooting their guns and chasing him further. Levi continued down the labyrinth of alleys until he reached what he'd been running towards: an old abandoned warehouse. He kicked open the door and let himself in.

Inside it was dark and he could smell long years of festering filth. Scuffling noises that told of rats moving away from the new intruder could be heard. Wrinkling his nose, Levi willed himself to move forward into the dirty building. He then moved towards the window and tried to look out through the grime-encrusted panes. He realized what a fatal mistake this was when a large flying projectile burst through the window, sending shards of glass exploding into the room. The projectile turned out to be a female soldier, one that landed onto Levi, sending them both skidding across the floor. Stunned and breathless, Levi tried to raise the sword to defend himself, but the soldier's knees were pinning down his shoulders.

"Caught you," she said triumphantly.

Levi saw a flash of metal and felt a sharp edge pressed dangerously close to his throat.

"Try anything else and I slit your throat." The soldier threatened.

This was the end.

3 Hours Later

Levi found himself shackled in a cell underneath the court room in the Military Police HQ. His body ached fiercely, for even after he'd been caught, he'd refused to give up. As a result, bruises covered most of his body and he was fairly certain that a rib was cracked. As he laid on the bed, the same question from before haunted him persistently. Why had the Military Police turned on him now? His mind could only draw a blank. Slowly, he lost consciousness.

6 Hours Later

After waiting patiently in the Military Police headquarters, Irvin Smith finally spotted Dot Pixis, Commander of the Military Police, walking swiftly towards him.

"Irvin, it's nice to see you again. How's the new position as Commander of the Recon Corps treating you?"

"It's been smooth sailing so far, although I haven't led a mission yet. That will be the true telling sign." Commander Pixis began to walk down a corridor. Irvin followed him.

"So we'll see. You know, you're lucky you're in the capital at the moment. Very fortunate timing."

"Oh? So does that mean you'll finally explain why you insisted that I come down to the Military Police Headquarters so early in the morning?"

"I have a proposition for you," Pixis informed him.

Irvin cocked an eyebrow. "A proposition? Regarding what?"

The pair began to walk down a flight of stairs.

"Not what, but who. The Military Police has recently arrested a very interesting prisoner, one who I think you'd be particularly keen to visit. If my assumptions are correct, then he could be of great assistance to the Recon Corps."

"Why was he arrested?"

"He was the leader and organizer of a large crime syndicate involved in the trading and selling of bootlegged alcohol. However, that's not the reason I think he'd be of interest to you. During his escape, he critically wounded six of my men-two with a gun, two with swords, and the last two with kicks that nearly shattered their jaws. Even after we captured him he still put up one hell of a fight. He's fast, a quick thinker, and most notably, he's adept with wielding dual swords."

"And you also were thinking that the Recon Corps is in horrible need of men."

"Yes, that too."

The stairs ended and both men were now in the basement of the Military Police Headquarters.

"Do you think he'll even accept an offer to join the Recon Corps?" Irvin asked as they began to walk past empty cells. "We're not exactly known for our popularity or low mortality rate."

"I think he will, once he knows his other option."

"Which is?"

"Life in prison."

After a few more seconds of walking, the two men stopped in front of Levi's cell where he still laying on the bed with his hands bound behind him with shackles. Irvin finally got his first look at the prisoner in question.

Irvin made a series of quick observations. First, he noticed just how small the prisoner was. When he imagined the leader of a crime syndicate, naturally he pictured someone large and muscular. This man, however, looked more like a boy with his slim physique and feet that didn't even reach the end of the bed. Second, Irvin noticed the bruises that colored his face. He remembered Pixis telling him of how he kept fighting even after defeat. Third, he noticed his expression, or rather lack of one. His countenance was impossible to read, but if pushed to describe it, Irvin would say it was one of scorn and boredom.

"What's your name?" Irvin asked.

"Don't you know that it's good manners to introduce yourself before asking for someone's name?" The man spat back out at him as he remained on the bed.

Irvin hesitated, but complied. "My name is Irvin Smith, Commander of the Reconnaissance Corps."

"Oh, the Recon Corps, huh? I thought I was in the custody of the Military Police."

"That is what I'm here to discuss. Now, your name?"

"Levi,"

"Do you have a last name?"

"Does it matter?"

Irvin ignored this remark. "Levi, from what I've gathered, I believe that you could make a great asset to the hope of humanity-"

"Are you trying to recruit me?" Levi interrupted with a laugh that was quickly broken off with a quiet hiss of pain. Yes, the rib was definitely cracked. "Please, spare me."

"So you'd rather go to prison?"

"I'd rather not become a Titan's next meal."

"Proper and persistent training can help to prevent that. Furthermore, from what I've heard, you already have sharp reflexes and a quick wit."

Levi paused to think.

"How long in prison?"

"Life."

Silence settled down once again as Levi weighed the options.

"You are alone," Irvin told him. "And at this rate, you will go to prison alone and die alone like an animal."

"Or I can die in the mouth of a Titan?"

"Or you can die defending humanity. You can either die in a cage within a cage, or you can experience freedom outside these walls."

Levi paused to consider this reply. Freedom was a concept that he had heard much about, but had never met directly, much like a long deceased ancestor. For as long as he could recall he had always been bound- either by his parents will, his status as an orphan, or his life of crime.

And if he passed up this opportunity, then his entire life could be defined by this lack of freedom.

He finally realized that it was an obvious decision.

"I suppose I'll accept." Levi answered after a moment's more silence.

"Excellent, I'm sure you'll make a skilled addition to my division. However, the decision won't be made official until after your trial tomorrow. If you truly want to join the Recon Corps, then I will require your full cooperation with all questions tomorrow. You will need to answer fully and truthfully."

"Fine."

"I will see you tomorrow at the trial," Irvin told him as he began to walk away with Pixis at his side.

"Wait," Levi called out. "Before you go, I want to know why I was arrested."

"You were involved with the selling and distribution of illegal alcohol," Pixis replied.

"Obviously," he sneered, "but that never stopped the swine you call soldiers from guzzling it down anyway. I want to know what changed."

Pixis paused before answering. "We received a tip from inside the syndicate. It wasn't something we could ignore."

"I see."

So I was betrayed, Levi thought to himself. One of my men wanted to get rid of me, and they knew the Military Police couldn't ignore a direct leak without losing face with the public. As the footsteps dissipated, Levi mulled this fact over. He supposed that the news should have come with a feeling of of hurt, or at least disappointment, but he felt nothing but disgust. To be hurt you must first have someone capable of hurting you, but for Levi, the faces and names of his men just slid past one another dully. He half-heartedly attempted to guess at who betrayed him, but in the end it didn't matter. It didn't matter who it was, for they were all the same to him.

24 Hours Later

The next morning Levi was more stiff and sore than ever. Sitting up in the bed resulted in sharp pain in his chest and reminded him of the injury to his rib.

Guards led Levi from his cell to the court room. Upon entering, Levi was not surprised to see that the courtroom was only half full. This was only a routine criminal trial, after all. The guards led him to the middle of the room, where he would be forced to kneel for the duration of the trial. With the sound of the bar being slid into the floor, he knew that he was locked in place. Immediately his knees began to ache and he hoped that this would go quickly. He looked around the room to see who would be questioning him today.

To his left he found the jury of his so-called "peers". Theoretically, the jury was meant to be made up of a cross-section of citizens from the capital, representing all different sorts of ages, genders, races, and socio-economic statuses from across the spectrum. In reality, however, considering that few people could afford to take time off to go to court, this was just a club of twelve wealthy white males with little better to do than send men away to imprisonment and/or death. But even from his vague knowledge of law, Levi knew that the jury was just a prop. The judge was the one with the real power to overturn the verdict if he saw fit.

To his right were the stands where the onlookers of the courtroom stood. In the first row stood an unrecognizable man with distasteful features and skin that was thoroughly creased with sharp lines. This man was more than likely the voice for the Military Police. Next to him stood Irvin Smith, looking composed and professional. Irvin gave the prisoner a quick glance, but Levi found no sort of emotion or message behind his stoney blue eyes.

Levi turned to face the front as a door slammed open and the judge entered. He was short, possibly just barely taller than Levi, and had a moderately long thinning gray beard that just barely failed to conceal his square features.

"All stand at attention for proceeding judge Cyril Barius," the bailiff called out. All conversation stopped as everyone turned to face the front of the courtroom. Irvin Smith, the nameless man next to him, and a dozen others went so far as to give the military salute. Levi resisted the urge to spit on the ground.

"All rest," the judge commanded. "On July 22nd the court of the year 840 has gathered here today to bring charges of theft, incitement, conspiracy to commit crime, and extortion, against Levi..." the judge paused. "Do you have a surname?"

"Obviously not," Levi replied disdainfully.

The judge continued. "In addition, the defendant is also charged with four counts of assault against soldiers of the Military Police. We will begin by hearing the argument of the Military Police as represented by Corporal Hilary Douglas."

"Thank you, your honor," The unfamiliar man addressed the judge before focusing his attention on Levi. "I will make my argument by asking the defendant a series of questions. First, the court would like to hear explanations of how you operated business,"

"Could you be more specific?" Levi asked, barely masking his disdain.

"How did you acquire the illegal alcohol that you were involved with selling?"

Levi briefly hesitated before catching Irvin's eye. He then decided that he truly had nothing to hide, considering that there was no way in hell he'd try to protect the very same men that had betrayed him. Although he resented it, he decided to take Irvin's advice and answer cooperatively.

"It depends," Levi stated dryly. "There were a number of ways we could acquire it. The easiest way, by far, was to purchase it from another group that had already fermented and distilled the drink. However, sometimes when demand was high, we would be forced to go to further measures. On occasions like these, we would approach farmers outside Wall Sina. As you know, all farmers are required by law to send a certain percentage of their harvests to market in order to properly feed the populace. We found that many farmers, however, could be persuaded to trick the state inspectors and withhold extra grain to be fermented into spirits if provided with appropriate compensation. We would purchase the stores of grain and then ferment it ourselves before selling it to our customers."

"And what types of people made up your clientele?"

Levi smirked darkly. "All types. Bars purchased our product because it was cheaper and easier to find than the limited state-produced liquor, brothels purchased it to encourage business, and in some cases even clinics purchased the high-concentration goods when pain killers were scarce. But the most significant demographic that made up the foundation of our client base were the soldiers and officers of the Military Police, corporal," Levi sneered.

Corporal Douglas narrowed his eyes and viewed Levi with a clear sign of distaste. "Let's move on to the events of the night of July 20th. What were you doing when the Military Police arrived for your arrest?"

"I was in my private room counting the profits from that evening."

"And how were you alerted that the Military Police had arrived?"

"One of my men shouted it from the front room. Obviously he wasn't the snitch you had sitting in your lap."

"How did you react to the warning?"

"I retrieved the revolver I kept in my desk drawer. Two soldiers entered my room, so I shot at them both. My shots in their targets and both men were wounded in the leg."

"Where did you go next?"

"The revolver was out of rounds, so I grabbed a pair of swords before climbing out the window to the back alley. I began to run, but two more soldiers spotted me and began pursuing me. I managed to outwit them and wound them before continuing. I kept running until I reached an abandoned warehouse further down a series of alleys."

"How did you know about this warehouse?"

"It's where we fermented the grain we purchased from farmers."

Corporal Douglas smirked before asking his last question, "And what happened after you entered the warehouse?"

Damn him, Levi thought. He's only trying to show off his "competent" squad to the court to counter the point I made earlier about the Military Police soldiers being drunks.

"I went to the window to see if anyone was still pursuing me. Just as I reached the window, a soldier crashed through it by use of her Three-Dimensional Maneuver Gear. I tried to fight her off, but she had me pinned and was pressing a blade to my throat. Her squad members arrived through the window after her, and I was subsequently handcuffed and taken to the Military Police HQ."

"Ah, yes, the female soldier you are referring to is Squad Leader Maria Weiss. Your honor, if I may, I'd like question Squad Leader Weiss regarding the defendant's further actions."

"Are there any objections?"

"None, your honor," Irvin replied.

Levi gave him a strange look. What about the relevancy of calling this witness? He'd already testified to everything he was being charged for.

Maria Weiss stood up in the front row of the stands to his left. She had black hair pulled tightly back in a bun and reminded Levi of a crow. A slow, dirty, inept crow.

"Squad Leader, please describe the defendant's actions and behavior following his arrest."

"Even after handcuffing his hands behind his back, the defendant continued to struggle and resist arrest. I must admit that due to his small stature and physique, my squad and I initially underestimated his strength."

Levi glowered at her fiercely.

"This was a mistake. Even with his hands bound, the defendant began aiming kicks at my men and I. Some of his kicks landed, resulting in two of my men receiving broken jaws. But, after using increased force, we eventually were able to subdue the defendant, bind his feet together, and carry him off to HQ."

"After binding his legs together did the defendant become docile?

"No, sir. He continued to yell obscenities and threats at me and my men and he even attempted to bite us."

"That is all, Squad Leader."

Maria Weiss sat down. Corporal Douglas turned to the judge.

"Your honor, after hearing this testimony, it is clear that the defendant is a violent, harmful, and possibly deranged threat to society. He has engaged in crimes that not only robbed the marketplace of food while innocent civilians were starving, but also contributed to the corruption of society as a whole. Such behavior warrants a lifetime sentence in prison."

"You certainly didn't leave any gaps in your argument, corporal," Judge Barius replied. "It is to be considered. Next, the court will hear from the Reconnaissance Corps as represented by Commander Irvin Smith."

"Yes, your honor." He turned towards Levi. "Unlike the corporal, I only have a few questions. First, I'd like you to list some of officers of the Military Police that regularly purchased liquor from you."

The courtroom became silently electrified with tensity.

Levi smirked, "There were several. Off the top of my head, some of the regular customers were Lieutenant MacDouglas, Corporal Arthur, Corporal Ring, Squad Leader Fritz, and countless others that I'd be able to list if I had access to our ledgers. Furthermore, many of the general soldiers also were frequent buyers. One of Squad Leader Weiss's men who assisted in arresting me falls in that group, and I made sure to remind him of it as he took me back to HQ."

The various members of the Military Police scattered among the room looked furious. Levi wondered if Irvin had walked into certain death by asking that question.

The Commander ignored the reaction to his question and continued. "Second, You are clearly more than capable of causing devastating damage considering that you managed to wound 6 soldiers. However, none of them received any fatal injuries. Was this a conscious decision?"

Levi was surprised that the man had been able to catch onto such a seemingly insignificant detail. "Yes."

"Explain this decision."

He thought for a moment before answering. "I knew that I was trapped and had little chance of escape. I was up against trained soldiers with guns and Three-Dimensional Maneuver Gear. I suppose I wanted to make sure that I couldn't be held responsible for murder if I was arrested. I'm not an idiot, after all, and I'm certainly not deranged." He shot a glare towards Squad Leader Weiss and Corporal Douglas.

"One further question. Do you regret your criminal behavior?"

Once again, Levi was thrown for a curve. Where did these questions come from?

"I am neither content with nor regretful of my crimes. They were merely a means to survive," he explained slowly.

Irvin Smith turned back to the judge. "You honor, the only logical option here is to recruit the defendant to the Recon Corps."

The courtroom was silent.

"How do you figure that?" The judge asked, clearly intrigued.

"First, let it be acknowledged that the defendant is highly skilled in the ways of hand to hand combat and sword fighting. He managed to take down two trained soldiers by targeting specific areas of their bodies with a specific goal in his mind: to maim, not to kill. While the defendant's skills could be made lethal with proper training, he is not a naturally violent character. Nor do I believe that he is unsound in mind, contrary to what Corporal Douglas claims.

"Second, I would like to remind Corporal Douglas that the defendant is in possession of potentially scandalous and damaging information with regards to the reputation of the Military Police.

"Third, the taxpayers will be paying for his food and board no matter which outcome the court decides. In my opinion, the defendant should at least be working for his keep.

"When combining all of this information with the fact that the Recon Corps is in dire need of men due to the high fatality rate, I believe it is clear that the defendant belongs in the Recon Corps. I will supervise his training to ensure that he properly atones for his previous crimes by contributing to the fight for humanity."

Judge Barius continued to peer down at Commander Irvin as silence fell upon the court. After a moment or two, he then turned to the jury. "I believe you have all the information you need. Go and return once you have made your decision."

Both the jury and the judge left the courtroom, and as soon as they were gone, the room exploded in a wave of low mutters. Members of the Military Police shot both Commander Irvin and Levi dirty looks.

From his position in the back of the court, Commander Pixis muttered to himself, "Very smart, Irvin, very smart indeed."

The jury came back in a matter of minutes.

The judge followed.

"What is your verdict," Judge Barius called upon the jury.

"We the jury have found that the defendant, Levi, shall be recruited into the Recon Corps under the supervision of Commander Irvin Smith. He shall remain in the Recon Corps until the Titans have been exterminated, or death, whichever comes first. If the defendant violates this sentence, then he shall be put to death."

From his position on the floor, Levi looked up at his new Commander.

Congratulations, he thought to himself. You've landed me a death sentence.

A/N: Thank you for reading! I plan on continuing this story to follow Levi through his training, first missions, and promotion to the rank of corporal. Oh, and meeting Hanji and the rest of the Recon Corps. What happens after that I haven't quite considered yet. If you decide to leave a review, please tell me how I did with keeping everyone in character. I haven't written fanfiction in 3 and a half years, and keeping in character is definitely the biggest challenge compared to writing normal fiction. Once again, thanks for reading!