Code Geass: Knight of Revolution Second Advent
Well, the 'Second Season' has begun.
So many character contributions, so many choices . . .
Hm . . . Decisions, decisions . . .
Chapter 1: A New Dawn
The skies were clear and cool across the newly risen Japanese capital. Tokyo had risen to the center of the government. Though Japan's rebirth was still in its infancy, the morale of the nation was astronomically high. Never before had the world seen such general support of a country that had finally found its freedom again. Crowds cheered as Kaguya left the recent public appearance waving and smiling before she walked back inside the capital building. Toudoh and Ohgi walked on either side of her as they entered a small lounge. The moment the door closed, she huffed, pouted, then glared at the man sitting in the chair far across the table with a coffee in one hand and a newspaper in the other.
"Ooh! Zero! You were supposed to appear with me for that address. Just how is the Empress of Japan an Empress without her consort?"
Setting down his coffee mug and the paper, Lelouch looked at her tired.
"When are you going to give this up Kaguya? I'm engaged to Kallen. We told you this several months ago."
The young leader of Japan sighed and walked to the table, picking a seat, she plopped down in it. When the charismatic leader had unveiled his engagement to Kallen, she'd been surprisingly happy at the development. Her unexpected response made Lelouch wonder.
"It's alright, I don't mind if I have to play second fiddle. Great heroes of the world have a natural urge to keep one and play with others."
Kallen had turned redder than her hair and Lelouch actually fainted. Nunally blushed at the notion, as did Euphemia. Cornelia had shaken her head in amazement at the girl's liberal views of love and the concept of monogamy. Morgen, who was standing behind her liege and caught him when he had fainted, couldn't visualize how anyone could do it. A woman with several men, or vice versa, blaming it on the culture and how their parents raised them, she shrugged it off. She figured that Zero would have another issue to deal with domestically. Guistizia had remained ambient about the whole issue. When he had asked Lelouch why he avoided the possibility of having a harem, Lelouch had glared back at him.
"I cannot, will not, be like that man! My troubles started with the whole dissent over Mother being of common birth. Our family fights among themselves like rabid wolves. I will not have that! I will have no part of that! Even if they all got along, rivalry and choosing favorites is not beneficial to the future."
He nodded, understanding his logic. It made sense in many ways. Perhaps it really was better, if only for finances, stress levels, and family bonding.
Now the issue was to be the strengthening of the Black Knights.
"What did the new administration say about the National Defense Budget?"
Kaguya spun in place with her hands on her slim waist as she talked.
"They said that there shouldn't be any problems now that the majority of the country is almost finished with repairs and reorganizing the citizen rosters. The proposal for the Ikaruga several months ago stunned them until the argument was made by Cornelia concerning the Avalon and Britannia's other aerial fleet ships."
Everyone nodded. It had been a large undertaking, but the Ikaruga was complete and ready for deployment at anytime. The fear and lessons learned from the Avalon during Narita, and the islands they'd lost Hal at were ones that they did not desire to have repeated. Lelouch tapped his pen on the table a few times as he thought over the situation.
"Have the western patrols found anything out of place or unusual while watching China?"
"No Zero, they haven't. The eastern patrols haven't seen activity in their sections either."
"Hmph, very well. Keep me posted, I'm retiring for the day."
Guistizia smiled.
"Heading back to Ashford?"
Waving blindly as he left the room, Morgen and Guistizia shook there heads. Heading to his private quarters to change. He walked in to find C.C. munching on a pizza order. How she ate pizza and never seemed to change was beyond his understanding. Maybe it was an immortal condition.
"Going back to Ashford Academy for the day?"
"Yes, I can't afford to miss too many classes. Some appearances have to be maintained you know?" Lelouch began changing behind a screen. Hanging the cloak on an elaborate fold out hangar along with the rest of Zero's ensemble, he finished changing into the uniform of Ashford. Glancing at his watch, he walked past C.C. and out of the room with his school bag and down to the gymnasium they'd constructed as an add on.
Walking through the sliding glass double doors he could see Toudoh in the distance sparing with Kallen in swordplay. The secretary at the desk waved at him and let him through. The young, handsome fiance of Zero's ace Knightmare Pilot was always welcome. Over the first few weeks, the Order of the Black Knights had established an organization wide cover for Lelouch without his mask. He was still Lelouch Lamperouge, the top informant for Zero and a brilliant mind on his own. There were times when others around the area began to refer to his unmasked identity as the Specter of Zero. Lelouch liked it, and didn't say anything to refute that line of thinking.
Kallen had also gone through an extensive cover up, remaining as the red haired Autumn, a Knight of Zero and the Black Knight's top Knightmare Devicer. If she acted sickly, she was Kallen Stadtfeld, Lelouch Lamperouge's wife to be and to be treated with care for her health. This allowed them to return to Ashford to maintain their cover. Whenever Zero needed him, Lelouch would leave the campus, taking Kallen with him as a precaution to her health.
At first she'd protested it, going as far as locking everyone out of her room. After the first month however, she rather liked the pampering he went out of his way to do for her. It was their joke. Lelouch would cater to her while not on official business, but as Zero, Autumn was a staunch advocate who did what she could to help him in everyway.
The clash of blades was being closely monitored by Senba and Chiba along with several people surrounding the two dueling Black Knights. Silently walking up beside the two Holy Swords, he nodded and motioned them to keep quiet, he wanted to watch for a bit. The two individuals nodded and turned their attention back to the duel.
Morgen had offered Kallen tips and training off the field of Knightmare combat. Kallen had accepted and her morning routine had changed radically. The mornings for her often began at four with training regiments often changing by the day. Thursday's were sword training with Toudoh. She'd learned this the fastest, given her completely melee oriented Guren's combat style. The Kusanagi flashed and collided with Toudoh's sword, ringing loudly.
"Getting better. You're a lot swifter and more decisive than you were a few weeks ago."
He pushed her blade away and swung from his left to right. Kallen responded by letting the blade collide with hers before instantly leveling her sword as she spun to her right. The sword slid along the length of the Kusanagi, the slight parry had thrown in off balance. Following through on her spin, she lashed out left to right in her own attack a hair after Toudoh reoriented himself and slashed down on her. The two swords stopped a few inches short of their marks at the same time. His blade rested over her sword arm's shoulder and hers hovered just shy of his side at the end of the ribcage. Seperating and sheathing their swords, they bowed to each other as the audience applauded. It was rare to see swordsmanship these days.
Turning, she saw Lelouch clapping to her performance. Walking over to him with a smile, he handed her a towel to wipe the sweat from her face and neck. Toudoh followed her over and nodded to him before taking a towel of his own from Chiba.
"That was good Autumn."
"Thanks Chiba-san. I've been working on it a lot lately."
Looking at Lelouch, she figured it was about time to leave for school. When the country had reorganized, Ashford had been allowed to remain unchanged as a sign of good will toward Cornelia and Euphemia. The Britannian School and its student populous had been grateful not to be bothered directly, but the changes were slow and gradual. Many students were now paranoid that they'd be oppressed in the nation. At Kaguya's insistence to uphold a moral high ground, only extremists pestered the Britannian students and families. They were quelled by Japanese Police assisted by the Black Knights, becoming defenders of the country and peace of both Japanese and Britannian or any other ethnic backgrounds.
Probably the best deal out of the whole reorganization and revelation of Cornelia and Euphemia, was that Lelouch and Nunally could spend time together with their siblings in private meetings without arousing much suspicion, though they didn't call each other that when others were around. The advisor of Zero was closely associated with everyone involved. That made it natural to meet in private.
"Lelouch, give me a minute, I'll be back."
She headed off to the women's locker room. Around the corner, Sayoko appeared pushing Nunally. The crowd gradually dispersed, leaving to perform their morning workouts or procedures.
"Brother? Is Kallen getting ready? We'll be late for school and you've got make up classes today."
Lelouch groaned, that was the only part about the cover that he didn't like. Despite his duties on call for the Japanese government, his absentees were still counted. That meant make up classes.
"I know Nunally. She'll be out in a moment. Thanks Toudoh, she's really been grateful for your help."
The man smirked and nodded. This would benefit her in the future, and it was better for her to be properly trained, not just naturally gifted. This would hopefully give her a much needed edge when needed.
A few minutes later Kallen came out of the locker room with her school uniform on. Walking up to her and offering his arm, she took it and smiled at Toudoh before bowing.
"Thank you for this morning Toudoh."
He nodded as they all left the building. Toudoh and Chiba watched them go. He was amazed by the dual life the two lived. He saw the necessity, but couldn't imagine the stress.
In Britannia, Suzaku stared out the window of the lounge he was eating breakfast in. English muffins, with fried eggs, a few strips of bacon and a glass of juice. It was good, though he did miss a traditional Japanese breakfast every now and then. Holding the badge of his status as the Knight of Seven, he wasn't sure about thing anymore than a year earlier. The news that Japan was now a free country under the control of his cousin Sumeragi Kaguya had shocked him. Had Zero been right? Had that been the only way for Japan to regain its independence? They had defeated Britannia, which means blood had been shed on both sides.
The real phsycological blow had come with the revelation of Cornelia and Euphemia supporting the masked hero of Japan. Schneizel had smirked and remained silent, saying that it was possible for Zero to have something hidden up his sleeve to assure their compliance. The disappearance of Dorothea shortly after the funeral of her comrade and friend Halbdunkel had a different impact on him.
"What was the point?"
"The point of what Suzaku?"
The Knight of Seven started, not remembering that he wasn't the only one in the lounge with him. Gino looked at him curiously from his place at the lounge's bar. He ate a similar breakfast, but had jam with his muffin instead of butter.
"Oh, sorry Gino, just, it's nothing."
"It sure didn't sound like nothing. Come one man, we're buds aren't we?"
The tall blond Knight of Three was younger than Lelouch and him, yet showed surreal control over a Knightmare. After having spent more time learning how to stay airborne using slash harkens than actually fighting, a request was made by Schneizel for the Percival to be transformable into a fighter. Gino was ecstatic about it, having long admired the late Knight of Two and his fighter pilot abilities that had put many Knightmare devicers to shame. He had a collection of combat reels of a few of the pilot's sorties during the late days of the NZC (New Zealand Conflicts).
"It's a personal matter Gino, I appreciate it though. Maybe some other time."
Gino turned on his stool and waved his fork at the slightly older Rounds.
"Hey, sometimes it's better to share your feelings, it gets a weight off your shoulders. Nonette's pretty sociable despite her appearance. You should talk to her."
The sound of a camera going off, made them both look toward its source. A small pink camera phone lowered to reveal Anya with her face neutral as always.
"Moment recorded." She bowed and walked over to the table where her own meal was sitting. Taking a picture of the food before eating it, Gino smirked. She was so odd. He found it interesting though. There was no telling how much dirt she had on people and they didn't even realize it. Heck, she probably didn't realize it either. Granted, Anya wasn't the best Knightmare pilot, but her skill for her age instantly made her a candidate for Rounds.
Her election created quite the stir in the upper circles. Many were positive about it though, stating that she'd only improve with the passing of time. The odds of her becoming even stronger were quite high. If only her social skills were as good, she'd be a heartbreaker when she started to mature.
"Morning Anya, recording things as usual heh?"
"Mm."
Back across the world the Geass Collective, the SOLDIER members were running about in search of a spy that had snuck into the area. The Serpent of Akasha had given orders to subjugate the intruder, not kill him. Reports had said that the perpatrator had been injuried multiple times by various weapons but just when each person thought they had found the end of the blood trails, they suddenly vanished.
Over an hour of the weaker Third Tier SOLDIER operatives had failed, Kain and Rena had been deployed with the Second Tier. Surely the single person wasn't that talented.
"Search over here, I know I managed the graze the bastard."
Rushed footsteps approached the position only to find a dead end alley way. They looked up the walls and in the dumpsters but found nothing. The group cursed as their commincators crackled.
"This is Kain, have you confirmed the intruder?"
"No sir, we think he jumped the wall behind the east sector alley, we'd pursue, but the medical ward is just over that wall, we need permission."
"Understood, hold one."
"Negate that Kain, Kyrios and I are heading over there with the First Tier group as we speak, cordon off the area."
"Yes, Serpent of Akasha. Damn it, if only he'd let us use Geass this guy would've been found long ago."
"I heard that Second Tier. Do you want to question my policies?"
"N-no sir, I'm sorry sir."
"Don't do it again."
The man swallowed, as did the rest of the men and women with him. The last time someone had mouthed off and threatened his authority, the man had disposed of his tongue. Now the poor guy had to speak using a voice machine he had to hold to his throat when he wanted to speak. The fact that the Serpent hadn't even moved from his position to do so had frightened them all. He had control over the air and wind, including the air in your lungs. It wasn't hard for him to force the air pressure to a sharpness like a blade.
"Understood sir."
Entering the medical grounds, Hal stopped short.
"I want four people to accompany me. Kyrios, take the rest of the First Tiers and block off this area. No one leave or enters until I clear it."
"Yes sir."
Walking into the building the secretary started. Over the past year, his appearance and reputation had solidified itself into the whole complex. He was gentle most of the time, and very patient, but didn't tolerate delinquency and disrespect. The children were the exception, but older teenagers and the adults were subject to the rules. Most of the time a verbal warning from a First Tier sent as an envoy was more than enough. Other times, though rare, Kyrios, Kain, or Rena were sent to administer the warning. Only one occasion had seen Hal report in person. The Geass user was questioning V.V. appointment of him as a leader and said that his Geass was superior. The ensuing fight ended quickly with a flurry of bloody wind. Witnesses said that there hadn't been a corpse to clean up afterward.
"Uh, Serpent of Akasha, what brings you and your men here?"
"I'd like to speak with all of the staff workers immediately in the main ward. There's an intruder in the Collective. Is this the only entrance?"
"No sir, there are two others."
"Thank you, two of you go cover those exits, the two of you remain here."
There were silent salutes before they complied with their orders. The secretary made the announcment over the loudspeakers and workers began to immediately fill into the main ward. He waited a moment, not wanting to cause anymore panic than was necessary.
"Miss, may I get a staff roster from you before I go to speak with them? You may wait here."
She nodded and printed out the roster. It compiled four columns of names with no pictures of people's mug shots. Nodding as he glanced it over, he entered the room. The people stood in paranoid silence. No one knew whether or not this was a good day or a bad one for V.V.'s right hand.
"There has been an intruder in our midst and reports told me the person came into the medical wards."
Mumbling and worried looks traveled across people's faces.
"I assume that this person might have taken the identity as a staff member, so I'll simply go down the roster. Please acknowledge your presence. If the person is not here and you know them, please vouch for them so no mistakes are made. Now, first . . ."
About ten minutes later, the names were almost finished when he reached the final two. They were both absent. Looking around the crowd, one person raised their hand.
"Sir, they're both relatively new to the force. They might have gotten lost, it is a large facility."
No sooner had the doctor spoken then two women burst through the door.
"I'm sorry, I found Selece in the restroom not feeling well."
The mass of people waited for the man's response. He looked them both over and specifically looked at the ill woman.
"Is she alright?"
"Yes, just dizzy."
"You're Brenda Strauss and Selece Arkaid?"
They both nodded, and Brenda swallowed. She eyed him nervously, she didn't know if he'd be mad for being so late. To everyone's relief, he folded up the roster and nodded.
"Very well, everyone is accounted for dismissed. Thank you for your cooperation."
As the people filed out, the man approached the two women who came in tardy.
"Let me help you, she doesn't look well. It does no good for the healers to be ill while working."
"Th-thank you."
He stopped one of the workers who was filing out and handed Selece over to her. Taking Brenda by the shoulder, he waited until the last of them began to file out. Brenda tensed, she guessed he was mad with her after all. Once everyone had left but them, he shoved her against the wall.
"Enough, I want your real name."
She froze and swallowed. Bringing her hands up to grab his arm that pinned her neck to the wall, Hal's eyes widened in surprise as two long needles shot into either side of his arm. Letting go, his eyes spiraled as his Geass instinctively went into overdrive. The woman barely made it a couple of steps when she winced as blood shot from her arm in the exact place she'd pierced Hal's. Flexing his hand a few times, his eyes returned to their stagnant position.
The woman gripped her arm and turned on him. She couldn't believe he wasn't harmed, instead she had been. He was equally surprised to see her bleeding stop and her wounds heal perfectly right before his eyes. The unmistakable sign of Geass shined in both her eyes. Had throwing her against the wall knocked out a pair of colored contacts? Looking down to his feet he saw a single light purple contact. Moving his foot, he saw the other.
"What kind of Geass user are you?" Her words were quiet, knowing that arousing suspicion or attention could be more than she could afford to handle.
"A double Geass user. What is your name? Don't try anything funny, and I'll do what I can to help you."
She hesitated. The look in his eyes told her than he was being honest, after so many years she had learned at least that much. Those same eyes floated down to her wrists, where her wristbands concealed a pair of foot long extendable hypodermic needles. She never thought she'd feel their sting. Rubbing her arm, the pain ebbed away, but the memory was quite fresh in her mind.
"You swear? I may not look like it, but I'm your senior."
"I swear, and what are you talking about, my senior?"
Straightening to her full height - which was still shorter than him - she looked at him full of determination.
"My name is Charlotte Moreau." her accent came on strong as she dropped the charades. Hal took note of the heavy French accent. "My Geass is Absolute Preservation."
Offering his hand, he introduced himself as a complete gentleman to her surprise.
"Halbdunkel Schlange, now the Serpent of Akasha, formerly known to the world as Britannia's Knight of Two. A pleasure to meet you."
She gasped as she took his hand in a firm shake. The reports she'd heard were that the man was dead. This was a definite surprise. Perhaps she'd just found the right man to help her.
"The pleasure is all mine."
Tadaah! Chapter One complete!
A very hearty congratulations to my first character pick: Charlotte Moreau contributed by Timeless Echolocation!
I've gotten over fifteen different character contributions within the first THREE hours of the final chapter of KoR Season One. And more keep coming in. There's quite a few really good characters, but alas, only two more will make the cut! Could it be you? Stay tuned to find out!