Part 2: Twisted Laws make a Utopia?
"Hello Miss, would you please search Earl… I mean Lloyd Asplund for me?" Lelouch requested to a worker at the Central Bureau of Intelligence. "Certainly," replied the desk worker, "I am sorry, but Lloyd Asplund was euthanized two years ago."
"What! For what reason," Lelouch asked in shock.
"Silly you, everybody in the world get euthanized when they reach the age limit. This even goes the empress herself," the desk worker replied with a smile on her face. "This can't be! That would mean the age limit is sixty and Nunnally has fourteen years ahead of her!" Lelouch computed from this clue.
"Who implemented this?" Lelouch questioned.
"Why but of course the Empress herself at a UFN summit thirty years back. I never met a person as ignorant as you," said the desk worker.
"Sorry for the bother," Lelouch said and ran out of the building. "Glad to help…" Lelouch ran back into the CBI building and requested for the whereabouts of Nina Einstein. "Would you please search Nina Einstein address for me?" he asked while gasping for air. Despite his physical condition as a 'material spirit,' it was no different from his past life. "157-1917 Hastings Street," the desk worker responded. "Thanks," Lelouch said as he coughed. He walked out of the Bureau, choking on air.
Lelouch took public transport to Nina's apartment in the metropolis. He rang the doorbell when he got to her unit. The familiar voice from his old friend back at Ashford academy erupted from behind the door, "Who is it?" Out comes a middle aged woman answering the door. It was Nina. Nina looked at Lelouch with a petrified stare, but a feeling of comfort sprinkled on her heart as moments passed. She recollected herself and asked, "Who may I be talking to?" Despite her aging, Lelouch still remembers that soft voice that hides behind her strong-willed and curious personality from thirty two years ago. "I am Lelouch vi Britannia, you might remember me as Lelouch Lamperouge or simply Lelouch. Do not fret, Miss Einstein, I am not here to harm you," Lelouch responded honestly. She leaned back for a moment and said, "Come in, let me get you some tea."
The older Nina walked out with a cup of tea in her hands and served it to Lelouch, who was sitting on a couch. Lelouch took a whiff at the cup of tea, still paranoid on whether her grudge against him persists for what he had done to princess Euphemia. He then remembered he was granted immortality as a messenger of god and took a sip.
"Miss Einstein, you have a wonderful home," Lelouch remarked with nothing good to say.
"You should call me Nina Asplund," she responded, "Lloyd and I married thirty years ago when working on an alternative source of energy that does not require the usage of Sakuradite. But the experiment was cancelled by authorities because it had a potentially violent effect."
"I am sorry to hear that," Lelouch said, "I know your husband is gone because of the new laws, but I have always liked that man and his science myself. I regret never talking to him." Nina paused for a moment and stared at Lelouch with tears of joy, and said, "I am very grateful to have finally found another person who still has tastes for science other than my husband and me."
"And how are Milly and Rivel?" Lelouch changed the subject. "Oh! Milly married an actor and Rivel decided to be a driving instructor as well as a sports reporter," she said as she wiped off her tears. "That boy can drive anywhere and do wonders on a vehicle," Lelouch joked with a faint laugh. Sitting with Nina reminded him of the good old days at Ashford academy. Lelouch looked down at his lap and began to weep as he remembered losing Shirley and Rolo in his arms. Lelouch wiped off his tears and asked Nina, "I want to know more about the laws my sister created."
"Sorry, I do not know too much about them. You should ask a government worker for details," she replied.
"Nice talking to you Nina, may god bless you," Lelouch said as he gave a snapping salute. Nina gave her goodbyes and closed the door. She turned around with her back against the shut door, looking up at the ceiling and said, "I guess god does exist, seeing Lelouch for the first time in decades. I just hope my dear Lloyd is up there somewhere."
Lelouch searched for a copy of Britannia's laws at the CBI once again. "Certainly," said a desk worker, "Nobody ever asks for a copy of the laws, you might be the first."
"Sorry to bother you once again," Lelouch asserted.
"No problem, this job was very boring until you came along, a pleasure to help," the desk worker replied with a cheerful smile. For some reason, that smile reminded him of Milly's.
Lelouch left the CBI after saying his thanks and walked down the streets of Pendragon Central. "How odd? This city hasn't changed for over thirty years but the windows and walls look pretty clean and new. I guess the spirit of renovation is still persistent, though its purpose in this case is to preserve the old," he noted.
Lelouch stopped at a random hotel within his proximity. It turned out to be one of the most expensive hotels in the country, five star and luxurious like that of a royal palace, hence its name "Empress Palace." Without any money with him, Lelouch had to think of a creative way to bargain a room for free. He used his Geass and said, "I Lelouch vi Britannia command you to let me stay at this hotel for as long as I wish free of charge!" His eyes activated as the front desk workers of the hotel eyes sparkled red around their iris. The workers hand him a card-key labelling 217 and he heads for his room. With one hand clutching the key and the other a copy of Britannia's laws, he opened the door to his assigned room, closed it and sat on a chair. He shoved the card-key in his pockets and began to read the transcript.
Laws and Amendments of the Holy Britannian Empire
One, Thou shall not kill another Britannian
Two, Thou shall not steal from another Britannian
Three, Marriages are to remain monogamous
Four, every couple is restricted to a maximum of two children
Five, the limit to one's lifespan is sixty years maximum to raise the standard of living in Britannia and efficiency of our glorious economy
Six, A person will halve their maximum lifespan if they commit a crime.
Lelouch skimmed down the list of mundane laws until he reached the bottom.
One hundred fifty, when you see a girl with long, lime-green hair who identifies herself as C-Two, report to the authorities immediately.
Lelouch thought silently: My immortal witch is the sole enemy of this nation? What did she do to deserve this? Could it be something to do with her ability to spread Geass? If so, how many more contracts did she give? I have failed to end her life as she desired. I have failed as her accomplice! I must find her! The citizens do not care about the latter laws anyways, so she must be safe in hiding. Can she sense me even though I am not technically alive? I still have the power of Geass with me from our overdue contract. Is Geass what she senses? Lelouch contemplated on this issue for one entire night. Besides, as a "material spirit" sent from heaven, he did not require sustenance and rest.
