Dr. Helfen gestured with his hand for the commander and captain to enter his quarters. He closed the door behind him with a soft click.

'Now, how may I assist you two gentlemen this afternoon? ' the aging surgeon inquired, making his way to the main desk which was placed in the center of the room. He sat behind it and gestured to the two chairs before him.

Dr. Helfen 's thoughts wandered to the young mind in the other room. He had noticed her annoyed expression a moment earlier. Clearly some kind of confrontation had occurred before he interrupted. He wondered what words had been exchanged and he desperately hoped that her tongue hadn 't gotten herself into trouble. Again.

He would have to speak with his colleague at a later time. The priority now were these two Survey Corps members and what they could possibly want with him or the practice. Dr. Helfen cleared his throat. 'Before you gentlemen begin, I would like to know your names. '

'My apologies. I should have formally introduced ourselves earlier, ' the taller, blonde man said as he took a seat. 'I am Erwin Smith, 13th Commander of the Scouting Legion. And this is Captain Levi. '

Levi took the seat beside the commander, leaning back and crossing his legs. His narrowed gaze never wavered from the surgeon.

Dr. Helfen 's pulse sped up. What could this be about? What could two high ranking members of the military possibly want with him? He swallowed. Could this somehow be about Dr. Jaeger? Have his past sins come to claim him? All those hushed arguments and late nights. He knew he shouldn 't have involved himself with that man! And now with the news that has arrived from Trost 'about that Titan 'it was all now coming to bite him in the ass!

Dr. Helfen arranged a friendly smile on his face. 'My! I have heard many tales about you two from my patients! ' he replied, his tone pleasant. 'A pleasure to be certain to finally be able to place faces to names! What can I do for you two? '

'I shall get straight to the point, Doctor, ' Erwin said, folding his hands around his knee. 'I am in need of a competent traveling physician for the Survey Corps. And I need someone who can keep up with the squadrons themselves. Your reputation is of note in this area and per the request of Section Commander Hange Zo ', I was hoping that I would be able to recruit yourself. ' His smile wavered. 'However, I was not expecting you to be so ' '

'Old? ' the surgeon replied with a laugh. 'I 'm afraid I 'm past the days where I would be able to fly around with your soldiers. '

Erwin politely returned a smile. 'Changes can always be made, however. I can compromise and place you at an established base close by our location, ' he said. 'Going out with us would be the most ideal, but I understand the limitations of age. It 's your skill and expertise I want. '

Dr. Helfen regarded the two men before him through his bifocals, considering the offer. 'While I am honored you thought to extend such an offer to me, I 'm afraid you are many years too late. Had you approached me when I was looking for work, I would have eagerly taken station at one of your bases. But I have my practice here now to consider. And I have no intention of leaving it behind. '

Captain Levi spoke for the first time. 'It would get you away from this stink, ' he said, commenting on the slight foul aroma that wafted from a nearby table. Dr. Helfen glanced towards the source of the smell - the bacterial experiments he and his colleague currently had in progress.

'I hardly notice it anymore, ' he said. He tapped the side of his long nose. 'Benefit of old age. The other doctor is the one who has to suffer! ' The surgeon chuckled.

Levi stood and walked to the only window in the room. He snapped it open. 'Tch. Do you two really sleep in this room? '

'I 've only two rooms to work with, Captain, ' the surgeon replied. 'We manage with what we have. '

Commander Erwin sighed. 'If we may return to the topic at hand. Is there nothing I can do to convince you to join us? '

'I 'm afraid not, ' the good surgeon replied, leaning forward on his desk and resting his chin on his folded hands. 'I am comfortable with my life here. While you and your scouts do honorable work, I 'm afraid I do not have the constitution to face the horrors you witness with every expedition. I shall continue to doctor your soldiers who arrive at my practice, but I will only do so at this location. Besides, I can 't very well continue to heal people should I get eaten by a Titan, now can I? '

'I suppose not, ' Commander Erwin said with a tight smile. He paused a moment, thinking something over.

Levi glanced over at them from the window. 'The doctor in the other room. How much experience does she have? ' he asked.

'She has graduated from the university in Mitras. However, while she has an impressive education from the great minds there, she has learned most of what she knows from myself personally, ' Dr. Helfen said with pride, sitting up just a little taller. 'Quick to learn. She will take my place when I am inevitably gone. There is no one else I would rather have as my successor. '

Erwin and Levi exchanged a look with each other.

'Has she witnessed the wounded that have returned from scouting missions? ' the commander promptly asked. 'Has she seen those who have managed to survive the Fall of Wall Maria and now Trost? '

'More than that, she has aided me with most of them! ' the surgeon replied with enthusiasm and pride. 'Why, just two days ago, a Garrison soldier had arrived in critical condition from Trost. The poor young thing, her leg had been crushed most horribly, and it needed to be removed promptly if we were to save her life. My colleague successfully performed the surgery herself, without hesitation and without mistake. While she may have less practical experience than me, I have full confidence that with more years working by my side, she 'll be even better than I! '

Levi removed himself from his spot by the window and began to stroll around the room. He passed by one of the simple beds that had been pushed against the wall, neatly made. A clothing trunk sat at its feet in lieu of a proper wardrobe.

'You are in debt, are you not, Doctor? ' he asked, pausing by the second, smaller desk in the room. He picked up at random the little trinkets that had been placed there. He examined them half-heartedly before putting them back where they were. He straightened the papers that lay scattered there.

The surgeon awkwardly adjusted in his seat. 'I have been very good about paying it over the years. Never have I missed a collection. '

'It must be expensive owning a surgery in such a location, inside Wall Sina. How close are you to paying it off? ' Levi asked, brushing a finger over the surface of the desk, seemingly satisfied when it came back clean. He suddenly stilled and looked towards the door, as if hearing something.

'Close enough. I 'well ' I may have been set back a few years as I used most of the money I had saved up paying for my colleague 's education. But it is something I do not regret. It was a worthy investment that will pay us - our patients - back tenfold. '

'Is that so? ' Levi replied, returning to the seat beside the commander.

The surgeon looked between the two men in front of him. 'Now listen here. I will not sell her to the Survey Corps as if she is some commodity- '

'With all due respect, Dr. Helfen, she is, ' Erwin replied promptly. 'Competent physicians are in shortage these days. '

'Do you truly believe that one physician in your ranks is going to make a difference in the ghastly number of casualties of your scouts, Commander Erwin? ' the surgeon rebutted calmly, keeping his temper in check.

'We only need them to make a difference in a select few of our more high-priority members, ' said Erwin. 'And should she manage to save additional lives in the process, then all the better. '

'And which scouts would those be? ' the surgeon asked, suspicion rising.

'Confidential, ' Levi promptly replied. 'Information only for the physician that accepts. '

The surgeon reached in front of him for the small brain teaser toy that always sat on his desk. He began to fiddle with it.

'News travels quickly in sick rooms. Is this to do with that abnormal Titan? The boy that can transform into one? ' The surgeon frowned at his moving hands. He had heard rumors that it was currently locked up underneath the courthouse. It had to be Dr. Jaeger 's son 'all those late nights filled with arguments '

'We would fairly compensate you and your practice, ' said Commander Erwin, avoiding the question. 'I understand we would be taking away additional income from you by removing one of your colleagues. Therefore, I will make certain that your debt is completely wiped clean as compensation. In return, we will have full command of your prot 'g '. '

Dr. Helfen continued to fiddle with the toy, his long fingers swiftly moving the different parts around. 'How long would she be with your Scouting Legion? '

'For as long as we need her, ' said Erwin. 'You mentioned that she was an investment. I shall agree with that statement. I will be making a similar investment in her, but for a different reason. Not just for the patients of your practice, but bigger than that. Should she perform her job well, then she could play an integral part in our fight against the Titans. '

'And if she gets eaten by a Titan on day one? '

'A risk we already make with every recruitment, ' Erwin replied smoothly. 'If it provides you with any reassurance, she will be overseen by the Special Operations Squad, the best in the Survey Corps. She will also be in frequent collaboration with a few of our Section Commanders, in particular one Hange Zo '. And I will want her trained in defensive combat. With all that in mind, she will be in one of the safest positions in the entire Scouting Legion. '

The surgeon couldn 't help but snort at that statement. 'Relatively, of course. ' He glanced over at Captain Levi. 'You will take care of her? '

Levi 's lips pressed tightly together. He did not speak. He did not make any promises to the surgeon.

The surgeon nodded in understanding and returned his attention back to his toy. The commander and captain waited patiently in silence. They would not move until they got an answer.

He placed the solved puzzle on his desk. 'Alright. I will agree, but only because it will benefit more people in the end. And she will return here, should she be willing, after the job is done? '

Erwin nodded. 'If she performs her task without fail, then yes, she will be dispatched upon my order and will be free to choose any path she wishes. But only after she performs her duty for the Survey Corps with satisfaction, for however long that may take. '

The surgeon nodded again, then stood from his seat. The commander and captain followed suit. 'She will not like this, be forewarned. She will not like that this decision has been made for her. '

'Her response and her actions from here on out are hers to make, ' said Levi, arms crossed. 'She will learn for herself that she still has autonomy in the Scouting Legion, but it will need to be employed cautiously. It is with that freedom of decision, she could do great things. Perhaps even make better decisions than her superiors. But it 's that same freedom that will force her to learn to take orders in certain circumstances. '

'I think she will do fine under your command, Captain Levi, ' the surgeon replied with a reluctant smile. He sighed heavily and glanced towards the door connecting to the surgery. 'Well, I suppose I should break the news. '

Dr. Helfen made his way to the door with Erwin and Levi behind him. He took a deep breath and his shoulders slumped. What was he doing? How could he do this to her?

He opened the door.