Authors Note: This fic started off as a premise of a Code Geass role-playing board I posted a lot on. The board is currently defunct and most of the members have moved on, but one of the questions which kept popping up was: What happens after R2?
It was a harder question than I anticipated. Lelouch does an excellent job wrapping things up at the end of R2. The list of canon characters that have the potential to undo the peace that Lelouch's final gambit brings is rather short, as most of them have either been killed of Geassed.
That said, no peace lasts forever. It's foolish to believe that no problems will emerge. While I don't want to completely rip off Gundam Wing there's a particular line I find particularly applicable: "History is much like an endless waltz. The three beats of war, peace, and revolution continue on forever."
Warnings: There WILL be a lot of OC's. There will also be swearing, smoking, consumption of alcohol and other drugs and character death. There will also be assumed spoilers for the entire series. After all, it's a continuation. I haven't decided on any pairings yet, but I'm willing to listen to fans…to a degree.
Finally, a big thank you to those who kept me writing on the board:
Suzaku aka Albion
Redshirt
Swartz aka Crimson Lightning
Jasper aka Leon
All the others who I have missed.
Enjoy the ride, and I'll try to update soon.
Sitting with the Empress
By Doug Roth
In the years since her ascension to the throne, Empress Nunnally vi Brittania of the Holy Brittanian Empire has transformed the nation, leaving as indelible a stamp as that of her predecessors, her father Charles zi Brittania and her brother Lelouch vi Brittania. Among many of the changes is decreasing the boundary between noble and common man, yet until now it has been exceedingly difficult to obtain an interview. However, in this exclusive interview the Empress has agreed to meet with me and speak on all topics.
I am led into the reconstructed Aries Palace, an almost perfect replica of the former where the Empress was raised as a child. The setting is far more informal than the Imperial Palace, where all other Royal announcements have been made. There is no pomp and circumstance, and there is very announcement as I am led into a greeting room. The Empress is already there, seated in a high chair with her Protector. The familiar mask covers his face and he makes no indication of my arrival other than a slight inclination of his head.
Empress Nunnally vi Brittania: Please sit Mister Roth. Unfortunately, we do not have as much time as I had intended for us today and I would like very much to answer as many of your questions.
DR: Thank you. It is an honor to meet with you Empress. I am very grateful for any time you are able to give me. *pause* Empress Nunnally, in the past four years you have had more lasting change on the cultural and social structure since *pause*, well your predecessor.
ENvB: You mean Lelouch? There's no need to tense. Saying his name won't upset me, not any more than hearing that his grave had been defaced.
DR: That has always been a matter of curiosity from the general public. In spite of everything he had done, to you in particular, you have been surprisingly gracious.
ENvB: *tersely* You are very blunt today Mr. Roth. *Softly* He was still my brother in spite of the things that he did. While I do not condone his actions, they show exactly why we have needed such drastic changes. Lelouch was an inevitability with the mentality of my father. "The strong live and the weak die", he was very fond of that philosophy. Nowhere was it more evident than the day he exiled my brother and I. My brother was a monster, but he was one that we created.
DR: And that your reason for the sudden increase in freedoms of expression, and the movement to create a representative forum reminiscent of the one enacted by the U.F.N.?
ENvB: There was much rebuilding that needed to be done after the chaos and destruction of the World War. We needed to have as many people take part as possible.
DR: Was it disheartening to open up so many channels of communication with the people and hear so many objecting voices and plans from both sides of the debate? Do you have anything that you would like to say to them?
ENvB: A have a great many things that I wish to tell them, but whether they will choose to hear it is another question entirely. But I wish to remind them that I am the Empress. But if will be willing to supply my reasons if they are any help.
DR: I do believe that they would your Majesty. Older politicians and advisors have objected to your withdrawal from territories that provided the increasingly rare Sakuradite and your attempts to create a Parliament.
EnVB: I do not believe that we should hold onto countries which we do not have the military presence to hold. All sides are still recovering, and I have no wish for this current peace to end in our homeland being conquered because we overextended ourselves. And as I said before, we need to create a world with a different mentality than my predecessors.
DR: Many young people have objected to your reinstation of the aristocracy and your decision to not join the U.F.N. May hear your reasons for that?
ENvB: Let me make myself clear: I have not chosen to ignore the U.F.N.. Rather, the delay has come because of deep seated issues about trust. The last time Brittania attempted to join it led to all out war. I have entered negotiations with Chairwoman Sumeragi and am confident that we can come to an accord. Our release of captured Areas has done much to bolster our credibility. In response to your other question: our aristocracy and our military have been intertwined since the days of Elizabeth III. After the massive damage done after the battle of Damocles, our military was critically weak. As our rebuilding efforts continued, it became apparent that we needed as much help as possible. Lord Guilford and Margrave Gottwald have been particularly helpful regard.
DR: You mentioned the battle of Damocles. I was actually hoping to clear up a few issues on that.
*doors opens*
Schneizel El Brittania: Empress Nunnally, I am afraid that we will need to interrupt your interview. Our timetable with Chairwoman Sumeragi has been moved up.
ENvB: I am very sorry Mister Roth, but I need to be going. Your escorts will be able to show you out.
Neo-Pendragon Times 2/11/2022 a.t.b.
Adam Kronos was sitting in the cockpit of his Akatsuki looking out over the ruin. He couldn't really remember why he was here, in this out of the way location. Weren't there other far better uses of resources than dragging them out here?
"Remember the bodies." The voice of his Commander boomed, ringing in his ears. Kronos could never remember exactly why it was so important, but his commander ordered him, so it must have been necessary to free people from the tyranny of Brittania.
He was suddenly inside the complex. Things were going extremely well, without a sight of enemy resistance. Sure there were people with machine guns, but he was in a Knightmare. What could they possibly do to stop them? With a long steam of fire they were blown away, his mission successful.
"The bodies." The voice of his commander, his hero, reminded him. "Don't forget the bodies." It was a silly question. After all, he had just reminded him.
The cockpit hatch slid back as he stepped out. Except it wasn't the ruin anymore, and instead of an Akatsuki he was in a Gloucester. Adam could feel the breath catch in his throat as he looked at the people and the buildings. He knew where this was. Entirely too well.
This was Saitama.
"Why?" He was on the ground now, looking at the man's face contorted with pain. "Why would you do this?
As Adam watched the man's eyes close he could hear other voices begin to call out.
"I knew that we couldn't trust you."
"Filthy pig."
"I thought you were different."
The voices grew in number, each whisper compounding. Adam put her hands over his ears, but to no avail as the whispers turned to shouts.
"Blood always shows!"
"Murderer!"
"I thought you would save us."
Adam gripped his head in agony as the noise became impossibly loud. "No." He whispered. "I never meant to-" He shuddered as the sounds grew louder. "NO!"
Adam jerked out of bed, wakened by the rapping on his door. He sat, taking heavy breaths and peering at the monitor playing by his bed. The rapping came again, along with a nervous voice. "Commander Kronos, you are needed on the bridge." Kronos reached over to his nightstand, pulling the mask and putting it over his face. It was a simple contraption, the dark lenses covering the eyeholes and starkly contrasting white curved oval.
Kronos pulled a long black coat from his nightstand, pulling it on quickly. His fingers reached for a button on the wall and the door slid open.
"Thank you for your work disciple. Please tell the captain that I will be on the bridge in a few moments." Kronos placed a reassuring hand on the man's shoulder.
"Sir?" The man looked at him with a confused expression, and then an excited one. "Yes sir, I'll tell him right away."
The door closed behind him as Kronos gathered his things. He took one last forlorn look at the screen in his room, a brilliant red Knightmare flying in a series of complex maneuvers. Kronos reached for his mask, pulling it partly away from his face.
"You are an incredible foe Kozuki. It would be a pity to fight you…but you can be incredibly useful either way." Kroner's blue eye shimmered with a crimson hue as a bird-like sigil spread across his iris.
Jeremiah Gottwald sat in the cockpit of his Vincent, the aged machine still capable of providing a punch with the remaining mass produced Vincent Wards lacked. At the moment was flying alongside the Avalon II, fully armed and prepared for just about anything. He had been doing so since they'd left, periodically returning to the ship to recharge his energy filler, and then launching again, as he had only a few minutes ago. If he looked out to his right, he could see, on the underside of the ship, the bridge and a little ways behind it, the access to the part of the ship that was reserved for Lady Nunnally.
Looking back in front of him, he thought about the last time he had been here, almost exactly five years ago to the day. The time he had, for the world's sake, set aside his duty to protect the son of Marianne. He had sworn that very night he would do all in his considerable power to ensure that such a thing NEVER happened again.
His radio crackled, the familiar electronic voice of Zero, Protector of the Empress, emanating. "Our approach appears to be clear Lord Gottwald. Please redock with the Avalon as we make our landing."
"Roger that." The former attendant to the Emperor replied tersely, directing the Vincent into the hanger bay. It bothered him slightly that the Lady Nunnally preferred the protection of Kururugi over himself. It was entirely understandable considering their history, as well as the former Knight of Zero's impressive abilities. But Purist pride was quite difficult to fully expunge, even out of loyalty for his Lady Marianne.
Gottwald took one last look at her Highness' special waiting room, absently wondering what was transpiring there. It was no business of his, but he was always encouraged by Nunnally to fly in patrol. It was most curious.
Suzaku finished adjusted the Zero costume and Lelouch's mask as he stepped out of Nunnally's chamber and onto the lift. The time spent alone with Nunnally was one of the few moments when he could once again be Suzaku Kururugi and not Zero. Only Kallen, Nunnally and Jeremiah knew of his identity for sure, though perhaps some of the higher ranked members of the Black Knights had made an educated guess.
As the door of the elevator opened, he was greeted by Schneizel's blissful face, his eyes ringed with red as an aftereffect of Lelouch's Geass. "Hello Master Zero. I am ready to brief Nunnally for our meeting today like you asked."
Behind his mask, Suzaku frowned. He still hadn't forgotten was Schneizel was capable of. The man had a raw intellect that matched Lelouch and a seeming lack of empathy. Suzaku had learned that Lelouch had tortured himself over the decisions that he had made and would be willing to give up anything to make things right. He had worked for Schneizel personally and knew a side to the man that few would.
Suzaku nodded to the man, swallowing his discontent as they switched places, Schneizel entering the elevator while he left. "Excellent work Schneizel. I am counting on you."
There was time still until they would land, so Suzaku wandered around the deck of the Avalon II. People held their breath as he walked by, not speaking until he was a safe distance away.
They're still scared of me.
Zero might have been a hero of justice who saved the people from Lelouch, the Demon King, but these were Brittanians through and through. Zero had waged war on them and had won, as minor a final victory as it was. It was mystifying to them why the person who had waged war on them now protected their empress. It was a somewhat disconcerting thought.
Eventually he made his way to the hanger bay, eyes flickering to the machines covered with heavy tarps and ropes. These would be the symbols of the new Brittania: the old refurbished for the new, learning from the lessons of the past. And yet…
"Do you wish to try one of them out Lord Zero?" Suzaku tensed for a moment as Jeremiah appeared behind him. The man could be surprisingly light on his feet in spite of the extra metal he carried around with him. Jeremiah gave the Suzaku a bemused expression. "Perhaps get the rust off? After all, you haven't piloted one since…"
The elder man let the words hang for a moment, sharing a private joke. Suzaku hadn't piloted a Knightmare since the final battle with Kallen, and his "resurrection" of Zero. Part of it was the fact that they simply didn't have the materials to build something of the level of the Albion. And the other part…
"That is not necessary Margrave Gottwald. I am sure that they will be placed into the hands of better pilots."
The two men stood together in silence, the clatter mechanics busily at work filling in any awkwardness.
"So…we return to Japan once more. How do you feel about that?"
Suzaku didn't have an answer.
Kallen ran out of her house, quickly finger combing her hair as she hurried into her car. "I'm late, I'm late, damn it I'm late!" The last few years had been awfully good to her. Her mother had been released from prison and left clean. She had been able to live freely and openly as Kallen Kozuki, and see the United States of Japan do some incredible things.
She actually was a college student now, much to her chagrin. While she had jumped at the chance to reenlist after the war, Ougi had finally put his foot down. As fun as it would have been to fight with the Prime Minister, Ougi knew all of her soft spots. Nouta had wanted her to go to school and she would, for now. She had been flooded with job offers, her practical experience and transparent membership in the origins of the Black Knights making her highly visible. She still had no idea what she was going to do when she graduated, but she had a sneaking suspicion that she would never be quite as happy as the bodyguard for That Man.
He was always That Man.
Still, this would be the first time in five years that she would be able to meet with all of her friends once again: Nunnally, Jeremiah, Ougi, Tamaki, Villeta, Toudo, Milly….and Suzaku.
Tokyo was now just as majestic as it had been before the invasion. Even more so now that there was Brittanian technology and comfort, given to all instead of just one group. A number of Brittanians had chosen to return to their homeland but many, including the Ashford family, had elected to become citizens. While there had been a few scuffles at first, the word of Zero was enough to prevent Japanese from lashing out against those who had conquered them.
Kallen pulled her car up to the security gate at the ceremony site, the site where the SAZ massacre had occurred. She flashed her ID to the guards, who hastily let her through. As she got through she could see a few Akatsuki rolled out, with a pair of Akatsuki Jikisan parked in the middle. It had been a long time since she had been any of them.
"What are you thinking Kozuki-kun?" Kallen realized that she had been gawking and turned to see the stern face of Kyoshiro Todou.
"I was just…remembering."
"You miss it too, don't you?" Todou's lips twisted upward slightly in a ghost of a smile.
Kallen paused before smiling and letting out a relieved sigh. "I guess I do. I miss feeling the acceleration, the rush…believing in someone…him."
If Todou had any thoughts about her lingering attachment to Lelouch, he didn't say it. He had never fully trusted Zero, even when he followed him and supported the masked messiah. It made continuing the Black Knights after his departure easier, but Kallen had always been closer to the man. "I have been lucky to have someone to assist me to these more peaceful times."
Kallen relaxed, her posture loosening as they moved to a topic she was more comfortable with. "So how is Chiba doing? I never would have pegged her for a housewife."
A barest hint of a smile twitched at the corners of Todou's stern face. "She's hardly passive. We help each other find…other outlets to shuttling our aggression."
Kallen gave the general a confused look for a moment.
"What do you mean by tha-"
Kallen stopped cold as his meaning finally struck her, leaving her flushing. Old people weren't supposed to talk about sex!
[Tokyo Watchtower]
The technician on duty stretched his arms and leaned back in his chair. It was the end of his shift and so far there had been no sign of anything. He blearily looked at the radar screen, the light hurting his eyes as the Brittanian contacts approached.
"Shift change Taro-kun."
Taro looked back at the doorway at his replacement and dragged himself out of the seat. "Everything is clear Yamada. No air contacts other than the Brits in the same numbers we were told about. The Black Knights got in yesterday."
The younger man beamed at him. "Got it." He turned his head to the side slightly. "Taro, what is that flicker on the sonar board?"
Taro looked back at the screen. "Oh that. The sonar probes are acting up. They've been giving a weird signal all damn day. It's probably some school of fish or some kind of reaction to the Float Systems that have been coming in. If there was a problem one of the arriving ships would have noticed it. I called it in and they said that they would have the problem fixed by Tuesday."
Taro gave a large yawn. "I'm going to go crash. See you tomorrow Yamada."
[Stealth Submarine Scylla, Edo Bay]
Adam lined his small crew up in the hanger of the ship, taking to the makeshift podium. The usual clamor on the deck was now dead silent as the final preparations had ended. The crew stood in silent alertness as he stood quietly for a moment.
"There are no words to explain the depth of devotion and the wonder of seeing the beginning of our plan. I look over at this crew and I see an amazing sight. Japanese, Chinese, Brittanian, people of every shape and size and color. All of us are united on one thing."
"One small thing. It is very small, and very fragile but it is the only thing in this Earth worth having."
The masked man spread his arms wide. "What we all have, what we have all seen, is the truth. We have seen through all of the lies, all of the fear mongering and manipulations."
Adam stepped down from the podium, putting a gloved hand on the closest man's shoulder. "I see those who have been betrayed and forgotten by their own governments, those who have lost the ones they love to false dreams concocted in an attempt to appease the masses, those who had everything and now…nothing."
The small group now ringed around Adam silently, a few of them nodding. "Today marks the beginning of our great transition. We shall use the weapons of lies and fear, the tools used against us, to break free and eliminate this false peace to create a true one! No more will we be shackled and forced down. No more will we be ruled by an oppressive world government." Adam's slow tone began to speed up, his normally low voice rising to a fever pitch.
"Now, battle stations everyone! Let's give them a declaration of war that they will not soon forget! Concordia Discors!" With the last phrase Adam pumped his fist in the air, shouting the words as they echoed in the hanger.
"Concordia Discors!" The crew shouted back, the Oracle's battle cry ringing from their throats concluded by a round of cheers, shouts and jeers in a multitude of tongues as members reverted to their own battlecries.
The group of pilots who had been designated for this mission hurried to the missile launch room as per his orders, ready for their unorthodox arrival. Adam returned to the bridge, his boots making a 'clang' as he strolled along the metal walkways.
"Captain, take us to broadcasting depth and hold there. I need to confer with another of the Anointed."
The Captain, an older man with the bearing of a military man gave Adam a look with was half fear and half annoyance. "Yes Commander Kronos. I remember my orders."
Adam said nothing but retreated back into the hallway. He didn't have enough time to deal with any insolence.
He picked up his phone, a glossy model which you couldn't find in any store. It was unique in that it could only call eleven other phones in the world, but could do so from practically anywhere due to the satellite relay. At this moment, it was only one of those eleven who he would have to call. Adam had his doubts about this Anointed's belief in the Oracle's vision, but each of them had come for their own reasons. He couldn't begrudge the man that…even if he loathed this particular reason.
The phone picked up on the second ring and the Anointed One on the line began to speak.
"Are your men in position IX?" Adam asked, using the numeric designation in place of a name. The idea was to prevent names from being revealed carelessly, even though the people who designed these phones promised him that they couldn't be tapped. Most of the others didn't care, but Adam could remember more than one "secure" line proving less than trustworthy. He hurried down the missile launch room. This was the crucial part, and without the information from IX they would all die...or worse, fail.
"I could ask you the same question, Mr. Masked Man. But, yes. The ground forces are in position and are ready for our assignment. Aren't you glad I managed to find out about that last little detail?"
Adam rolled his eyes, knowing that the man couldn't notice. "The Oracle thanks you for your hard work. And don't worry, things are going as planned. The Scylla is to divert its course and head to the rendezvous point. Call me when the ceremony begins and we'll make our strike."
"You're just forgetting one thing. I want your word!"
Adam sighed, tired of reassuring his counterpart over and over. Adam had been forced to make this promise over and over again. His orders from the Elders had been enough to taking what he thought was the obvious course of action. But the organization's plan was far more complicated than he could imagine at times.
Promise me you won't hurt him!" The tone was insistent, and Adam knew that the man on the line was not going to let it go.
"We'll do our be-"
"Promise that you won't kill his Highness, Prince Schneizel! Promise me like you would promise to protect your Oracle!"
Adam paused, hesitation obvious. If Schneizel were to be blown up into many small pieces or suffer some other intensely traumatic death he wouldn't lose a wink of sleep. However…
"I promise…now don't call me until we're a go."
Adam disconnected the line, not giving the man a chance to respond. He had real work to do now.
The normally quiet missile room was now bustling with activity. The rest of the pilots had already squeezed into their Gloucesters and a constrictive launching shell. The design was simple enough, immobilizing the machines and encasing them in a watertight shell. The Knightmares would be unable to fight while encased, but they could be virtually to scanners invisible until they broke free.
The mechanics shouted back and forth on the deck, the mix of languages resulting in an odd patois, words taken from the slang of various tongues. The crew would spend a month at a time under the water with no way to contact the outside world.
A mechanic tossed him the ignition key. "Oi Commanda. Your machine is ready, but are you sure ya only wanna launch six?"
Behind his mask Adam frowned. He had wondered about the battle plan himself, but his orders had been oddly clear. He could only launch a single wave, which meant five Gloucesters accompanying him.
"The Chimera will be enough to handle what they throw at us. They don't even have anything more advanced than mass produced seventh generation models. They've forgotten what a truly monstrous machine can do."
Kronos looked at the ignition key and then at the monstrosity in front of him. Any attempt at maintaining some aesthetic value was long gone now. Long welding scars traced the length of the machine, a few haphazard red plates still remaining from the original armor. The right arm was a mess where a completely different arm had been attached, completely replaced the shiny metal which had been the last sight of many a pilot.
"We'll show them what fear is."