Introduction - The Fall
It was a fine, crisp night on the ocean, as a large and crowded cruise liner wandered slowly with no apparent destination. In the sky, the moon was full and bright, with the stars randomly dotted in the darkness of space, shining beautifully so that all the world could behold their splendour. The only noise was that of the ocean, and the many conversations both above and below the decks of The Pelican; the United Empires' pride and joy of the seas.
On the ship, the wine was flowing, and friendly chatter filled the air. Among those who were talking was a wheelchair-bound woman, accompanied by a mysterious masked individual.
"So, tell me, Zero, how long has it been now?" The woman asks, softly.
Her faceless companion, Zero, chuckles lightly. "You know how long it has been, Nunnally. Why are you asking me something which you already know the answer to?"
"Because," She smiles, "I want to be sure you haven't forgotten."
"How could I…" Zero starts, his sentence becoming quieter until he stopped. "Do you think it was worth it?" He questions as he looks around the giant ballroom they were situated in.
Nunnally follows his gaze and, upon seeing all the happy (And also drunk) faces, she knows her answer. "Of course. There was sadness and sacrifice, but you must ask yourself: How many lives have been spared?" Zero turned to her again, intent to hear her words. "In just these ten years, hundreds upon hundreds of lives have been saved from war and poverty. The world is finally at peace. Even if my brother's pla-"
"Nunnally!" Zero interrupted with an ushered voice. "Not here."
Nunnally turns to Zero, annoyance in her eyes. "Then when? When will everyone finally know the truth? When will I be able to mention my own brother's name without others scowling?" Zero goes to grasp her shoulder, but Nunnally shakes him off. "No! NO! I am tired of this! Tired of all the lies and deceit! It was worth it, yes, and I don't care about speaking of him in front of or with others, but you, his conspirator, won't even talk to me about him! It's impossible! It's just…!" Nunnally realizes that all of the partygoers in the room had gone silent, fixing their attention on her. She looks to Zero, but gets only a shrug. For her, that was the last straw. "I need some air." She declares before making her way through the large crowds, towards the exit.
Zero raises his hands apologetically. "Forgive me, ladies and gentlemen. It would seem the Empress is rather upset. Please, return to having a pleasant time." And, just like that, the buzz entered the room again, with everyone returning to whatever it was they were doing.
Going after Nunnally, Zero is stopped by a polite Schneizel, who bows politely.
"Master Zero? It would seem security is having trouble with some of the engineers down below. What action would you recommend?" Schneizel informed him.
"Are they being violent?"
Schneizel shakes his head. "No. Just rowdy."
"Then give them some cold drinks. Maybe that will help them cool down." Zero orders.
"At once, Master Zero." Schneizel bows once more before taking his leave, giving Zero time to find Nunnally.
Searching all of the interior rooms and areas, Zero deduces that Nunnally must be at one other place: The starboard deck. And, as expected, she was, indeed, there; gazing out to the stars.
"Nunnally?" He calls, almost whispering. She turns to see who it is, but then quickly shoots her head back around. "Nunnally please…Let's not fight."
"Then let's not talk." She hisses, instantly.
"Come on," He moans, "this isn't like you."
"And this isn't like you!" She counters, finally turning to the man who is now leaning on the railing next to her. "Ever since you became Zero, you've just…just…"
Zero tilts his head. "Just what?"
"Become engrossed by it. Almost as if you're obsessed with that darn mask! A part of me thinks you've become power hungry-!"
"That is not it!" He stops her, shouting angrily. "I'm not-I'm not him."
Nunnally stares once again towards the stars. "You daren't even speak his name. Why is that? Anger? Hatred? Or is it shame?" This seems to touch a nerve, as Zero instantly tenses up. "That's it, isn't it? You're ashamed of not having more faith in your friend. In Lelouch."
"Please, Nunnally," Zero starts quietly, "Don't speak that name…"
"Why not? Do you hate him?" She questions.
"No."
"Resent him?"
A long pause. "No."
Nunnally raises a cynical eyebrow. "Then what is it?"
"I…don't know."
There's an awkward silence, before Nunnally mutters, "The other part of me feels that, in your own way, the reason you never take off that mask is because you miss him; it's your own way of remembering him."
"I…I guess it is." Zero responds.
Nunnally's face lightens up slightly. "Suzaku…can we…talk about it some time? About him?"
Zero, or Suzaku, nods. "Certainly. But not now, okay? We have a party to oversee."
Nunnally nods happily. "Alright. Will you accompany me back in?" Suzaku performs an overly-exaggerated bow, making Nunnally laugh. "And when this is done, we can go away for a week. Just you and me, in secrecy, where you can show your face."
"I'd like that, Nunnally." Suzaku smiles behind his dark mask.
Suddenly, gunshots are heard, and an alarmed Nunnally gasps, "Suzaku!"
"Wait here, Nunnally!" He tells her as he heads back into the ship. As he navigates the enclosed hallways and corridors, jumping down the last few steps of each staircase, Suzaku hears more and more gunshots, with petrified screams seemingly emitting from the very walls.
As he goes to make a final turn around a corner, something fast and blunt hits him in the face, rendering him unconscious.
When he starts to come to, Suzaku feels himself being dragged along the floor by his arms. As his vision starts to clear, he realizes that the gunshots have stopped, and the cries for help had turned into distant sobs and whimpering. He's able to make out two men pulling him along by his arms, with his legs hanging loosely behind him, following like a tail. Then, he recognizes where he is: The deck leading to the bridge. As he's pulled along the wooden floor, he sees a tall and muscular man standing atop the bridge's roof.
"Guests!" The man calls, his voice somewhat amplified. "Ladies and gentlemen…today is a very special day. For today is the day in which you, the people, will learn the true identity of your saviour: Zero!" Gasps can be heard resonating from the crowd. "I know…I know it's hard to believe. But I assure you that I speak no lies, for, as you can see, Zero…is right here!" He gestures towards Suzaku, who was now being lifted to the man's level. One of the men dragging him also climbs atop the bridge, and grasps a barely conscious Suzaku around the neck. "Now, as you all are aware, this is the man responsible for the death of The Demon King - Lelouch vi Britannia - the very being that oppressed you! Zero was also the arch nemesis of Lelouch's personal guard; the Knight of Zero. Who was that, you ask? Why, that man's name was Suzaku Kururugi. The very same Suzaku Kururugi who murdered his own father in cold blood in order to avoid his home country, Japan, from going to war with the once great and glorious Empire of Britannia! The treacherous Kururugi died at the hands of one of the resistance, whose name escapes me."
"No…you can't-!" Suzaku tried to speak, but was hit, viciously, over the head by the man behind him. It was then that he felt his arms and legs being tied as he was placed in a kneeling position, so that he was in full view of the hostages on the starboard deck below. He searched for Nunnally, but couldn't find her anywhere.
"But what if I told you that this peace, this purity, was nothing but a lie? A hoax orchestrated by a very intellectual individual? Would you believe me? Of course not, of course not." The man stops for a second, halting from his pacing of going backwards and forwards, and raises his hand. "Though, I do have proof. For, the man beside me, is neither the true Zero or a hero in any form. Instead, he is a traitor; a reject. Hated by his own people. He is an outcast. He is…" Then, the man approaches Suzaku. It is here that Suzaku sees that, just like him, this man also wears a mask, only that it is strange, as if it is providing oxygen or has some other use. Then, rather roughly at that, the man removes Zero's mask, and finishes, "…SUZAKU KURURUGI!"
Everyone seems to let out a great cry, and the man proceeds to toss the mask of Zero overboard.
"Now, I will give you, Zero, a chance to show yourself! If not, then I will kill The Empress of Britannia! And I can assure you, it will be slow and painful! You have twenty days!"
"You bastard! I'll kill you! I swear I will tear out your heart and-!" It's then that Suzaku is gagged and picked up, with weights being attached to his legs. He then sees a man holding a camera below. 'This…was all just an act to him? That monster!'
"This…is just the beginning." The man concludes, pulling out a firearm and shooting Suzaku in the stomach before the men throw him over the side of the boat. Machine guns are heard firing, their light setting the night ablaze. And Nunnally…Nunnally is nowhere to be found…
AUTHOR:
Obviously, this isn't the greatest introduction to a fanfic ever, but I hope it gets the job done! This is just the introduction, with many chapters to come, so expect twists and turns that stick to typical Code Geass tradition! I decided to write this story because, for me, Code Geass needs one final act before it's true curtain call! Many more characters will be appearing soon, so keep an eye out for an update!
PLEASE REVIEW!