Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters, places or inventions from Code Geass. (I forgot to do this when I first put it up. Oops)
A Change in Policies
Chapter 3
"I will make this happen on my own! To that end, you will be my Pilate, Euphemia li Britannia!"
"I have relinquished that name!" Euphemia yelled. "Or at least, I will have after the opening ceremony."
Lelouch looked dumbstruck. "Why would you do that?" he asked.
Euphie smiled sweetly. "I took away your dreams by making you participate in this. It's only fair that I do the same right?"
"An even trade," said Lelouch, thoughtfully. "But what are you giving up that rival's my goal?"
"Well," she started. "Cornelia said I wouldn't be able to achieve it unless I became empress, but I wanted to use my power as a princess to help eradicate the racism through Britannia. I thought that if the Specially Administrated Zone of Japan was successful, I might be able to implement it into other Areas. It would make a world where we could all be friends, despite where we came from."
A kinder world thought Lelouch. Just the same as Nunnally wanted. What I was working towards.
Lelouch laughed. He could get what he wanted whether he went along with this or not. In his original plan, Zero would be seen as a hero that the Japanese would follow. But then he would have to work on the rest of Britannia to make sure Nunnally was truly safe, which would mean leaving her alone while he went overseas. Using Euphemia's plan, they could work on making Japan a peaceful place and possibly expanding the SAZ. When it came to the other Areas and the homeland itself, Euphie would be the one to negotiate things, while he would remain with Nunnally in Japan. Lelouch didn't want to give up Zero, but in the end he'd get what he wanted either way.
"You are an idiot, but a worthy opponent" he said to her. "I accept your offer on one condition. You retain your title of Third Princess on Britannia. If I help you, I'm sure we can make a kinder world."
Euphemia beamed. "You'll help me? Oh, this will be wonderful! With you and Suzaku working with me, I know we can do it! There is one thing I would like to know though."
Lelouch gave her a look indicating she could continue. "Did you really think I'd shoot you if you asked?"
He laughed and turned away. Such a princess should not have to look a monster in the eyes as it reveals its horrors. "If I really want to make an order, no one can disobey. Shoot me, fire Suzaku, even kill all the Japanese. I could tell you to do anything and you'd have no choice in the matter."
"Really? How can do you do that?" she asked inquisitively.
Lelouch turned around to face her again. "I look you in the eyes and will it to happen as I say it."
She gave him a funny look. "Is it just your left eye?"
He frowned. "Yes, it is. How–"
"And does your eye turn red when you use it?"
"Yes, but–"
Euphemia now mirrored his expression. "Then you're trying to use it on me now?"
"What? No! I just agreed to help you didn't I? Why would…" Lelouch faded off as he remembered the pain from earlier. He quickly covered his eye with his hand and moved to collect his mask.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
Lelouch didn't reply. He didn't trust himself. If what he thought was happening was true, then he wouldn't speak until his face was completely obstructed from view. Once his mask was in place, he turned to face his sister once again.
"It appears I no longer have control of my ability. Until I am able to talk to my benefactor, I will wear this to prevent an accident."
"Responsible as ever," she replied. "There is something else I'd like to ask of you though."
"Which is?"
"I was wondering if, as Zero, you would be willing to accept the position as chief of police within the SAZ."
Lelouch was once again left virtually speechless from Euphemia's proclamation.
"Of course, I've already selected a quite few members from the local military, both Britannians and Honorary Britannians to be part of your force. I interviewed them all myself to make sure that they understood the purpose of the Zone and that they would not allow discrimination against anyone who lives or works there. I was hoping that you would be able to encourage some of the Black Knights to join. Though they would need to have the same principles as those I've selected from the military." Lelouch wasn't sure how she could say so much in one breath. He decided she must have extra lung capacity. "Oh! Once you've selected some from the Black Knights I could interview them to double check and you could interview those I've chosen to make sure you can work with them."
Once he was sure she was finished, he began speaking as Zero. "I would be honoured to be appointed chief of police." He switched back to Lelouch. "But I don't think that would be in our favour in getting you in to a high enough position to implement this across Britannia."
"I think it'll be ok. It was Schneizel and Nunnally that gave me the idea actually."
He balked slightly. Schneizel and his little sister had given her an idea?
"Schneizel said that the Zone will make terrorists into the bad guys in everyone's eyes. But that still doesn't mean they'll stop. The reason the fight is to get their country back, right? And if they don't have some degree of control, they'll just keep fighting," Euphie explained. "That's where what Nunnally said comes in. She said 'Who better to keep you happy than the one you love and who loves you back'. The Black Knights love the Japanese and the Japanese love them. If I put Zero in charge, then the Japanese have someone they know and trust as their authority. The other terrorist groups will have nothing to complain about then, as their people will have some power. The Britannians living there will feel safe as well, not only because there are Britannians in the police but because you are the leader of the knights who fight for the weak."
Lelouch had to admit, he was impressed. Theoretically, the plan was sound. All it needed was for him to do his job properly. Euphemia must have had a great deal of trust in him for this to work. Suzaku surely wouldn't have approved of this.
"Have you informed your knight of this plan yet?"
Euphie paused. "Well, no, but I thought that if I had him help you a little he would be ok with it."
Lelouch sighed. "Call him."
"What?"
"Call him, get him to come in here and explain it to him. Get him to bring the other person that was in the Gawain if he can."
Suzaku Kururugi's phone was vibrating in his pocket. The sweet melody, which indicated his princess was calling him, could have been heard by those on the stadium stage if it was silent. And yet neither he nor the three guards with him stirred from their places on the ground.
"Strange" said Euphie, hanging up on the answering machine for the third time. "He's not answering."
"Let's head back to the stage," Lelouch suggested. "We've kept the public waiting, and we can check in with him on the way."
While he didn't voice it, Lelouch was slightly worried. They'd left Suzaku out there with C.C. in the Gawain. While they weren't friends as Zero and Euphemia's Knight, they were friends as Lelouch and Suzaku. After what he saw C.C. do to him at Narita, and when he was at the ruins at Kamine Island, the idea of leaving him alone with the witch was not a pleasant one. He hoped she hadn't done anything to him.
His hopes were dashed when the stepped outside the G-1. Suzaku was unconscious on the ground, as well as the three other guards that were there. C.C. was nowhere to be seen.
Euphemia was distraught.
"Suzaku!" she cried, running over to where he lay. She knelt down beside him and shook his shoulders, trying to wake him up. Belatedly, she checked for a pulse and found it, pumping rapidly under her fingers. At least he was still alive.
"He won't wake up," Lelouch told her as he checked the others. "Not for a while."
Euphie looked at him through teary eyes. "How do you know?"
"Because my witch of a benefactor doesn't particularly like him," he replied, while standing up. "We should move them under cover and continue to the stage. It won't really matter that Suzaku isn't there with you."
"Will they be alright outside on their own?"
"There should be nothing to worry about, but we can move them into the G-1 if you'd prefer. It might give you some time to recompose yourself as well."
Euphemia nodded and wiped her eyes. "Yes, let's do that."
After they had left the people just inside the entrance to the mobile command unit (with a guard of their own), she and Lelouch began their walk to the stadium.
They reached the stadium entrance and paused.
"After you, your highness," he said with a bow.
Euphie raised her chin and formed the perfect princess posture she had been taught, then proceeded to walk, Zero following half a step behind to her right.
She presented her practiced speech almost perfectly. She spoke about how happy she was that all the people had decided to help her help their country. She spoke about how glad she was to see all the people put aside their differences to come together in the Zone. And she spoke about her plans for the Zone, how she hoped that it would provide an example for the rest of the country. Which led to how she hoped to maintain the peace and equality that the Zone would provide.
"Anyone who wishes to for a job in the Specially Administrated Zone's Police Force may do so, regardless of heritage and previous training. The Chief of Police of the SAZ and I will personally look through the resume of every person who applies for this Force. We will personally conduct the interviews and then select those that we believe can uphold the principles of the Zone, and help benefit it. I chose the applicant for the Chief of Police myself, and am happy to announce that he has accepted my offer. May I present to you the first Chief of Police of the Specially Administrated Zone, Zero!"
While there were a few gasps and whispers from the nobles on the stage, the crowd's cheer drowned out any chance of someone opposing her idea. She stepped away from the microphone and gestured to Zero to step forward and make a short speech.
He rose from his seat next to Darlton, walked up to the stand and waited for the crowd to quiet. Once they did, he began.
"To the people of the Specially Administrated Zone, I am honoured to have been chosen as your Chief of Police. Within this Zone, we are all equal. There will be no difference between Britannians and Japanese. We all start on equal footing. However, as we grow, there will be people to try to exert power over those they think are below them, those they think aren't as good or those they think do not deserve what we will provide. It is this that the SAZ Police for and I will work to prevent, and I ask all of you to consider whether you would like to help Princess Euphemia and myself in this endeavour. It will be hard. It will be stressful. It may be dangerous. Acceptance is not guarantees upon application. Remember that you all have skills, and they will all be useful in this zone." Zero paused and the crowd applauded. He then looked out beyond the stadium to where he knew most of the Black Knights were in waiting.
"To my ever loyal Black Knights," he began again. The crowd quickly silenced. "Do not mistake this for an order. You are free to choose what you wish. I know many of you hold grudges against Britannia, and for that I do not blame you. But do not join me in this venture if you cannot put aside your anger. Prejudice in the Zone will not be tolerated, against Britannians or Japanese. I do hope that you can put aside your hatred for the Britannia that invaded your country, and help the evolving Britannia and Princess Euphemia recreate the peaceful place Japan once was. Your skills and motivation would be invaluable to the cause."
Zero stepped away from the microphone and bowed his head to the Princess. She nodded and stepped back in front of the microphone as he retook his seat.
"And with that," she said brightly "I pronounce the Specially Administrated Zone of Japan, open!"
A/N: As it turns out, I pretty much have Mondays off, so I used today to write instead of unpack like I was supposed to :)
Hope most of you are happy with the what I'm doing with Euphie. I must say I hated what happened to her. Only watched the full episode twice (once dubbed, once subbed). Every other time I skip the scene. And there will be no more copying from the anime! It's now all (hopefully) completely original. I might at some point take something from somewhere, but it's unlikely to follow it the same way the past chapters have done.
For anyone who doesn't know, Pilate is the guy from the bible that was made to oversee Jesus' trial. He did some things and said some stuff and that's about all I can remember. I'm not exactly a religious person and can't remember for the life of me what I was taught in school, so I apologise if I've offended anyone.
I might have another chapter out next Sunday or Monday, depending on my uni work. Don't count on it though.
Thanks for reading :D
