Ehh, Yeah. I got this up early. Oh well. It's fine. Get ready for some crack chapters before the main event.
From all around the world, Humanity had not ceased in celebration. Parades and festivals kept going as no human could recognize words and letters on the banners and ribbons being thrown about were evaporating. Changing into different words and sentences. The 'Anniversary of the Demon' became 'When the world was brought to peace'. Within the very minds of all humans and the dictionary books of the world's languages, 'Lelouch' was removed.
It was no longer a word.
On the rooftop of Ashford academy, Jeremiah Gottwald stumbled, knocking over a folding chair. The rest of the party goers, as small a group as they were, looked on in concern. He grasped the railings of the school for dear life as his cybernetic eye spazzed out of his control while Anya and Gino attempted to help him up. Sparks of electricity jumped onto the two knights, shocking them back from touching the man.
"~My my~" The frisky voice of Dr. Lloyd Asplund came out as he sauntered towards the kneeling cyborg. Everyone had stepped back to allow the man closer; however, as he was within arms reach, the electricity discharged from within Jeremiah's body increased in power. The jolly demeanor from before instantly switched into the man that was only previously seen back when Nina Einstein brought out her prototype FLEIJA. The scientist spoke out in an eerie tone, "Does this have anything to do with my memories changing?"
Most if not everyone there had immediately raised their hands to their head. They had tried to recall what the former Earl had meant. Memories? What did he mean? All of their faculties were in order and shape. They were finally celebrating after an entire year of bringing the world to peace.
"So you can remember Lloyd?" The head of Jeremiah was brought up, struggling through the spasms that had come from his cybernetics. He wasn't the only man turning mad; Two separate memories of separate turns of events smashed upon his mind. Jeremiah grew enraged as he saw the image of his lord slowly turn to ash. He was Jeremiah Gottwald, Knight of Lelouch Vi Britannia and his loyal storm!
Before Lloyd could reach out for the knight, his assistant, Cecile held him back with an arm, interrupting the bizarre conversation, "What do you mean? Lloyd, we haven't lost any memories. The wars' ended, Prince Schneizel has been defeated and every nation joined the United Federation."
"Then why do I remember a certain king of-" The man's response was cut short by the feeling of a piercing needle reaching inwards to his brain. He quickly shoved the assistant, marching briskly closer to the knight. Words struggled out of his mouth, "If… If my theory is correct, and it usually is dear Cecile; The world is changing in real time as we know it. I for one don't want to see my dear Lancelot decommissioned by the UFN board of planetary security."
The people were confused. Lancelot? Decommissioned? Lloyd was talking nonsense! Lancelot was the weapon Suzaku Kururugi used to slay Schneizel atop of Damocles. Cecile had invented it… didn't she?
"What are you going on about, Earl of Pudding?"
The Earl smirked at his rival scientist as he laid his hand on Jeremiah's shoulder. He tightened his grip in pain as the electricity grew to cover his own body. "I'm saying 'take care', and for Cecile? Make sure to enjoy the fame coming your way."
Said assistant could not bring another word out her lips as energy swirled around the two by the railing. No person could even think about getting closer without being shocked to death. Nunnally Vi Britannia, 100th empress to the Britannian Imperial Throne looked onwards in melancholy. Whatever fool's endeavor these two madmen were doing should not take the others. However, before she could command them, the voices of the world had overwritten everyone there. They slowly forgotten the two men existed. In a flash of light they came to; Lloyd Asplund and Jeremiah Gottwald were nowhere to be found, not even ashes remained.
They returned to their party, unperturbed.
When Lelouch reawakened, he felt much lighter than he originally believed he was. Sounds and sight hit him with the full brunt a FLEIJA. Disoriented, he looked around, realizing he was floating in space. Everything was blurry, like water being constantly rippled by multiple rocks in a pond. Despite not feeling any sort of pain, he focused his eyes when he came across a pair of blurred forms.
He recognized them.
"Your Majesty, Jeremiah Gottwald is here with Earl Asplund." The voice of his knight came out from the form, readjusting itself to show the image of the knight. He looked much like before he became a cyborg. The electronic eye was gone and arm which used to hold a blade was replaced with flesh. Lloyd was beside him, but unlike the knight that was kneeling, the man watched everything around him with a childish awe. The scientist flexed his arms and tested to see if he was physical.
This lead to a fascinating discovery. Lelouch himself inspected himself and to his surprise, he was simply floating in space, a white-blue glow layered his form like a second skin and the other two humans had the same. He narrowed his eyes whilst commanded his knight to stand up, "Why are the two of you here?"
"Ahhh~ Is it not the 'why' but the 'what' we have become that is interesting to you, Your majesty?" A gleeful chuckle reverberated from Asplund as he floated around to his emperor's side. Jeremiah had done the same to the other, eyes with a watchful gaze out into the unknown.
"That can be answered later, Dr. Asplund. No doubt you already have an idea. My lord, during a celebration for the annual anniversary of your death, humans from all around the world had their memories being rewritten. Among those were your friends and family." Informed Jeremiah. He seemed unshaken by these new experiences. He continued as he focused on his lord and stowaway, "I felt that something dire had happened to you, even after death; and so I fought against the effects of the Geass."
"And thus you gave away your humanity in the process." Lelouch retorted, eyes moving to the still excited Earl. "What about you Lloyd?
The Scientist smirked and asked mockingly, imitating the voice of what was Zero long ago, "Do you abandon science to preserve your heart, or abandon your heart and sacrifice yourself to science? This was a question I had posed to little Nina not long ago. What would your answer be, Your majesty?"
"Both"
Lelouch's answer was responded with a solemn look from the Earl. He, himself saw that answer a mile away. "Sadly I'm not the great man that you are. So for now, I have chosen Science, but there are standards I put up. In the end, it can all be traced to that."
"Curiosity? Very well. I have no complaint for another passenger aboard by exile. Lloyd, do you have an explanation as to what we are?"
Even when in space, where sound could not be heard, Lloyd clapped slowly. Both Lelouch and his knight could feel and hear the reverberating effects and sounds of clapping. The scientist enthusiastically hollered, "A ha~ Congratulations Your Majesty. We or rather you have done something no human has ever done before. WE ARE BEYOND HUMAN COMPREHENSION!"
"Specifics Lloyd, if you please." Lelouch could feel a migraine coming along. Both annoyance and thankfulness entered his mindscape. Annoyed at the scientist's antics, much like Rakshata, but thankful he didn't have to be entirely alone to lead into quite possible madness. He added quickly, "I am no longer your Emperor. My name shall suffice."
He and Jeremiah watched the Earl raise a hand and from what they could see, was a sliver of energy swirling, contorting outwards into a small ribbon. The Earl continued to play with it before they noticed small pieces of space rock float around his hand. Jeremiah gaped at the phenomenon.
"This is just a working theory but, I believe we've transformed into beings made of pure energy. What type of energy, I haven't the foggiest idea, however; Notice that I can now pull acts of telekinesis and well, you know we can see, breathe and hear in space."
The knight without preamble, tried to touch the rocks with a hand. It felt smooth to the touch, cold and so surreal. The teenager himself put a finger to his chin and asked, "Does this mean we are a second C's World?"
"That I'm not sure, not unless I can document this and study it. However I believe we have become something similar to C's World, yes."
Seemingly out of nowhere, Lelouch began to chuckle until it looked like he cried. He wiped the imaginary tears as he replied, "Quite the gamble. So I am to travel the vastness of space for all eternity? That's not so bad."
"Sire, Jeremiah Gottwald will fulfill my oath even post death. If you will have me." Said knight immediately kneeled before his liege. They might no longer be lord and servant anymore, but he was ever the dutiful knight.
Lloyd habitually fixed his glasses with a goofy smile. He wanted to get in on this as well. What wonders he might find being like this? He threw away his humanity after all. "Oho~ I would like to join as well. It's always been interesting following you around."
They would figure out the true extents of their abilities in the future, for now. It was best they moved on. As the leader voted by both Knight and Scientist, he picked a direction and the three started to move.
Chapter 2: 1,630
Next Update: 5 Hours from now.