CENTRAL AFRICA
A tribal boy, Nakku, ran across the endless fields of golden wheat. Grains and dust were kicked off into the wind after every brush. Stalks were crunched under weight of his heel at every step. Sweat shot out like bullets from his brow. Hot air was forced into his lungs as he wheezed every breath out after every step. Not far behind him, running like the devil in the wind, was a full-grown lion with bared claws and glowing red eyes.
The tribe's tradition for a coming of age ceremony requires the youth to hunt down a beast, namely a lion, using only spears. In his pride, the young Nakku ran ahead of the group to hunt down the beast himself and ended up facing the colossal beast alone. In his arrogance he did not take into account the consequences of his actions.
Nakku did not expect the beast to take notice of him. And in panic, never did he expect his spear to miss. Never did he feel a cold chill crawl up his spine and send him running away. Never did he expect that his foolishness would cost him his life as the beast gave chase. Nakku had never run so fast his entire life and what a short life it will be once the lion sinks its claws on him.
A loose patch of dirt betrayed his step and sent Nakku into tumbling down the ground. Nakku panted heavily and crawled in fours to vainly trying to get away but the lion was already right on top of him. All the strength in his body disappeared, as he lay stunned in the dirt in front of a raging beast.
The lion had its eyes glaring down at the young tribesman. The vulgar stench emanated from behind its pearly white fangs. Its stomach rumbled a storm as it prepared for its well-deserved meal from this sweating, exhausted, fear stricken black child. But before it could sink its teeth at its well-deserved meal, something in the horizon caught its attention.
Powerful winds blew hard coming from the East. Grains of wheat and rough clots of dirt were stirred by a storm. Large flocks of birds panicked and fled, their ear-piercing cries and fury of wings polluted the skies until it slowly died away. By the wind had ceased, Nakku saw that the lion had vanished without a trace. The skies were completely empty. Not a single cloud was seen on sight.
But what truly caught his attention was the light emanating in the horizon. It was a shifting purple orb that was as shined brighter than a star. Nakku pondered whether it was a gift from heaven since it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. He wondered if it was a sign from his gods. He wondered if perhaps it was all a vision for what was to come and what was to be interpreted. But whatever it meant, Nakku took it as a sign for a new path.
With all that said and done, Nakku quietly stood from the rough patched dirt and went home as a wiser man. While he was making his way home, the faint sound of rumbling was coming from the sky. Looking above him, Nakku saw the largest birds he has ever seen in great numbers flying towards the horizon.
XXXXXXXXXX
BEIJING, CHINA
The first thing that Xin saw when he awoke was the foggy image of a familiar face.
"Nice to have you back with us, Xin." Cho said cheerfully.
"What's so nice about it?" Xin groaned. A flash of pain crumpled on the side of his stomach.
"You are still alive, yes?" Cho patted the lad on the back. "You took a real beating but the shrapnel didn't hit anything important."
"I can still fight?" Xin asked. He moved his arms about to test it.
He reached out to grab his rifle on his bedside table. Cho however took it before Xin could get his hands on it.
"Yes but no, Xin." Cho said gravely. "You are too young to waste yourself away that soon. But if you'd like, we have alcohol to get you started. At least that won't kill you for another decade as compared to the other ones here. Now look around and tell me that I am wrong. That you are not a fortunate one."
Xin looked around and saw that the man's words proved true. He was indeed one of the lucky ones. The others with him were dirty, bleeding, wounded with missing limbs, unconscious, dead and dying. They were no closer from waking up again to simply getting up from their beds.
They were not even in the comforts of a proper hospital, let alone on a proper bed. Instead, they were in a murky and dim lit basement with little to no windows. The beds the patients were on were just dirty mattresses or ripped blankets and there were not enough for everyone. Groups of people were even bunched up together on one futon.
"Now I want you to stay here and rest for the time being. That or until someone needs the bed more than you." Cho continued. His grave tone turned calmer and subtler. "There are enough boys out there fighting for us, child. They would still do well with one less. Now rest. We'll might need your strength soon enough. For what might come later."
"We may not need it!" Liu gleefully called from the staircase. "The Britannian swine are on the retreat. HQ is asking for more men. We are winning, comrades! Victory is near!"
"Let's go then! Death to Britannia!" The soldiers cheered. The sound of heavy boots came thundering above their heads.
"I've got to go too." Cho hurriedly said. "I'll look into you later."
Mr. Cho, the self-acclaimed medic of these parts was not even a licensed doctor, but the neighborhood vet. The doctors of the city were too occupied, unavailable, or executed for associating themselves to rebels. Mr. Cho managed to scrounge up a makeshift clinic for the wounded. Civilians and rebel fighters alike.
"Knock them dead." Xin said. "And good luck…uncle."
"Yeah." Cho smiled back. "My sister will kill me if anything were to happen to you, child."
Xin watched the soldiers with envy as they left the basement and into battle. He didn't like being left alone with the sick and wounded while the others were fighting the Britannians without him. Never had he felt so useless his entire life. This was supposed to be his moment, his chance if glory.
The thought did little to break the young man's spirit. Xin may not be able to fight in the final battle, but he will not forgive himself if he was going to miss it. The sounds of gunfire were heard from the distance. Thunderous explosions from outside were shaking the dust from the ceiling. It was a sight that he will not ignore.
Rolling out from his bed, Xin crawled towards the small window on top of the wall. He looked through the small opening and witnessed the fierce battle at hand. The night sky was brimming with activity. Projectiles were falling like stars, fighters were buzzing the heavens like insects and explosions lit the dark like a New Year. It was a beautiful sight for the young lad.
Xin's awe immediately turned to horror when something caused the sky to turn purple in bright light that consumed everything in its path. With a flash, everything around Xin turned black. A powerful wind followed and threw him across the room. The last thing he heard was the sound of the ceiling falling above their heads and the piercing sounds of people screaming.
"Uncle…" Xin mumbled in the dark before falling unconscious.
XXXXXXXXXX
NEW YORK CITY, THE HOMELANDS
Atop a tall spire overlooking the city, a tall, beautiful young woman stood alone in front of a clear glass paned window. A glass of clear red wine was held between her fingers as she watched the vivid scenes unfurling outside with a bored expression. She watched indifferently as her entire city fell into chaos right before her eyes.
Blazing fires lit the night skies in macabre red added with projectiles that fell like stars. People crawled out from the ruin, running in panic down in the labyrinth of streets. Pillars of smoke blanketed the alleyways and corners as though hell itself found its way in the city. But none of it could compare to the noise. It was fortunate that she was so high up in her spire but even then it still find its way from way up there.
Lady Elizabeth Carstein was dressed up elaborately well for the occasion. She wore an elaborate crimson dress that matched her fiery red hair. Lavish jewelry and pendants of black were embroidered on her to complete the outfit.
As a woman of higher class and of higher birth, she ought to dress up nicely for all occasions. That includes occasions such as this. Even if she was to witness the fall of their great Empire, the young Lady Carstein must always be in her best.
That is, as what her father had said. She had always considered her father close to the line of old fashioned. Him and the rest of her family. All they cared for was holding on to dying traditions. Even as the city burns to the ground and eat each other for scraps, he and the rest of the family and friends were having a party out of it.
She could still hear them across in the other room. Plates were being shattered. Piercing laughter emanating in the halls. Enjoying themselves in an orgy of wine and debauchery. In their stupor, they even forget that their entire world was burning asunder.
Some were crying. Most of them were cursing. Cursing about their unfulfilled lives, a woman or a man they have never called to love. Cursing at what the young Emperor Lelouch had done to them. Namely, dissolving the aristocracy, ruining all of their goals, ambitions, all that they had worked for their entire life, as well as destroying a legacy of titles, names and lineages a 100 years in the making.
The loudmouthed festivities continued on until a series of thunderous blasts ceased the merrymaking to a sudden halt. The lights in the halls turn off one after the other and the only sound heard amidst the silence was the faint noise of explosions from outside.
"I guess the party's over." Elizabeth drank down the rest of her wine and dropped it in the floor before walking back to the dining room with the rest.
There were no servants to open the doors for her this time but she had no trouble doing it for herself. Not for this moment. There were no family members or friends to welcome her in festivity. There was only dead silence in their wake.
Discharged pistols were still had smoke coming out from their barrels. Corpses of her family were scattered around her. Lying on the table, leaning from their seats, curled up on the floor; all were dead. Each had a bullet on the head and their brains scattered on the walls and blood flowed on the floor behind them.
Men, women, and children, all were dead at her feet. She was the only living person left in the room. She was the only living person left in the entire building. Lady Elizabeth Carstein was the last living Carstein. The last of her kind.
"You have always taught us to end the party with a bang, father." Elizabeth said to the corpse. "But I think that this is taking the step a little bit too far. People have always called you a great man. You were a visionary who benefitted the lives of many and ruled this great city."
"But whose lives have you benefitted?" Elizabeth seated herself at the table in front of the corpse. "And how did you rule this city? How did you rule this family?"
The corpse obviously said nothing in reply. The last of its breath had left it quite a while ago and just as they say, dead men tell no tales. Elizabeth laughed out loud.
"Ha! Even as you lie dead and rotting, you still haven't changed." Elizabeth said. "You're still the indifferent father who raised us. Carmilla and Vlad may have fallen for your bullshit but it wont for me."
Elizabeth looked at the two people across her on the table. A young woman had blood trickling down her lips. Next to her was a young man with a crater in his head.
"I know that you never liked me, father. That was something that was plainly obvious." Elizabeth said. "You didn't like me because you could never control me. Not like these two. What a waste of a young life. Even if they were stupid ones."
Elizabeth took the gun in front of her father's corpse. She took out the magazine and checked for its bullets before reloading it back to the gun.
"You could have done so more than this, father." Elizabeth held the gun lazily in front of her father. "There were other solutions to this problem we are having right now. There is always another way. Instead, you chose this way. The coward's way out. Now alas I understand just what kind of person you are. You are and will always have been a coward. And you were afraid of what I am to become in the future."
"I have to hand it though for the Emperor." Elizabeth spun the gun with her hand. "He may be a bastard but he's a bastard who got me what I always wanted. With all this, it opens a door to opportunity and a chance for me to make some big changes for this family. It also got you out of the way."
Elizabeth stood up and walked courteously to the door.
"This is the best present you've ever gotten for me, daddy." Elizabeth said to the corpse. "This is the best birthday you've ever given me with an acceptable gift, even if you will remember it or not. Now watch me make a name for myself in this new world."
The Lady Carstein entered the elevator chambers and made her way down the spire. If it were another day, the view would have shown her the colorful bright lights of the evening. Instead, she was given the same view as she had seen on from atop her home but now the smell of smoke and carnage were more prominent. She felt a pang of sadness to watch her city so up close
While her elevator continued its descent, something caught her eye in the horizon. A bright comet appears to have materialized from the clouds and was quickly bearing down towards the city. It only took a second for Elizabeth to shockingly realize what that was.
"THEY WOULDN'T!" Elizabeth exclaimed in disbelief. She quickly pressed the emergency break of the elevator and jumped out of it the moment the doors had opened.
Thankfully she managed to make it to the lower floors of the spire but she did not stop there. She ran as fast as she could to the basement doors and kept running down the flight of stairs without stopping.
It wasn't long before Elizabeth heard an earsplitting explosion. The thunderous roars as buildings collapsed and shook the earth. She could see the walls crack up and pieces of rubble rained down atop of her head. The ceiling above her collapsed and fell onto the stairwell, right on top of her. A sharp sting of pain erupted on her side before everything caved in around her and everything turned black.
Elizabeth never knew how long she was trapped under the rubble. Nor did she ever figure out how she managed to survive being impaled by a metal spike below her stomach. The only thing she knew and was glad for was that she was found not long after.
"Thermal's picked someone up down here!" One of the workers exclaimed and carefully moved passed the rubble. "My god, milady Carstein."
The man quickly turned to the others. "Get me a medical capsule. Quickly. Now!"
"Don't worry, milady." He said to her. His dirty hands held hers. "You'll be alright now. You'll be safe."
XXXXXXXXXX
GAZA, PALESTINE
"No. This is just a nightmare. I will wake up now." Omar wept. He banged his head on the railings of the boat. "Wake me up. Wake me up! PLEASE! I…will not believe that this is happening."
"No." Hama muttered as he cried. "How could they…"
Though tears also trickled down his cheeks, Rami alone stood tall and silently on top of the rocking boat as he looked onto the shore that was miles away.
Only a moment ago the city was at war. Worse than a battles that the city had faced in decades. A second was all it took for a bright ball of light to silence all the noise, only to leave nothing behind in its wake. Only darkness. He watched his entire city, his home, disappear right before his very eyes. And all it took was a moment.
"It is my fault." Omar cried. "All this is my fault."
"You saved us, Omar." Hama tried comforting his lethargic friend. "We-we would have been killed if not for you. "
"I-we should never have left." Omar cried. "I should have stayed! With my family. With Ester. Now they are dead."
"Rami." Hama pleaded. "Help me with him please."
Rami did not stir. His eyes still gazed at the empty plane that was what was all that was left of Gaza. He furiously clenched his fists and fumed under his breath.
"Omar, please. I share your pain." Hama said. "But please, control your self."
"Allah, forgive me. Woe we, the useless cowards." Omar cried. "We could have waited. We abandoned everyone."
"They did not want to join us anyway." Hama loudly retorted. "All they cared about was praying to their deaf god. All this is of their own volition. They have reaped what they have sowed."
"Shut up!" Omar shouted. "Faith or no, how can you be so inhumane? How can you be so goddamn heartless?"
Hama punched Omar in the face and sent him tumbling down the deck. Hama followed by pinning him by the railings and pointing a gun at his head.
"Being heartless is what had gotten us this far, or have you forgotten?" Hama threatened. "I killed people to get this far and we've done a lot of terrible shit just so we could get on this boat. We made our choice and they made theirs now own up to it. I lost people I care about too so don't—"
Hama was cut off when Omar spat in his face. Hama fumed and struck his friend to the ground. He then cocked the gun at a ready and prepared to pull the trigger only for Rami to intervene. He grabbed the gun from his Hama and kicked him to the side.
"Nice for you to finally join us, Rami." Hama said. "You done birdwatching?"
"You done acting like a bitch?" Rami coldly retorted. He then turned his gaze back to the ruined city. "Take it as a sign my friends. We are alive now against all odds. Call it luck, but I call it destiny."
"Like we are meant to do something?" Omar asked. "Like we are chosen for something?"
"Yes." Rami confidently replied. "I believe that we still have a part to play with what is still to come."
"And here I thought Omar was the zealot in the gang." Hama snidely remarked. "You're nuts. The both of you."
Before anyone could make any retort or argument, something struck the boat from below sent it's passengers tumbling to the floor as the boat tossed and turned. A large shadow materialized in the water beneath them and sent torrents of bubbles flowing to the surface.
Rami, Omar and Amid found themselves, and their boat, atop a large submarine outfitted with cannons and visible missile pods. The ground from where they stand on rumbled and shook was no doubt from the ship's heavy engines that can make the colossal machine move. Steam vented out from the gaps and covered their surroundings in a gust of hot mist.
By the time the steam had dissipated, the 3 men found themselves surrounded by a group of black clad men in masks armed with guns. They watched the refugees suspiciously and ordered them at gunpoint to enter submarine with them.
"Need I say more, Hama?" Rami said. "Fate has called a little louder now. To what fate, I do not know but believe me, I am glad to have you guys to take this path with me."
XXXXXXXXXX
BERLIN, GERMANY
Amidst the ruin of their majestic capital, fireworks filled the skies and guns were shot in merriment as the citizens of Berlin celebrated their liberation against their most hated enemy, the Britannians. They occupied every street, every house and every rooftop. The flag of the German Union were fluttering on every street corner.
As merry as the moment was for the German people, the same however could not be said for the defeated Britannians. They were pushed around, beaten and humiliated by the German citizens as they were gathered like cattle. Others received a worse fate. The rebels executed nobles, their children and the defeated soldiers, and had their bodies hung by the windows and poles of the streets for all to see.
The mass of crowds followed the battle scarred Knightmares and gathered towards the city's largest and most famous squares, the Augustusplatz.There, tens of thousands of people were gathered in festivity and waved their flags about.
Knightmares launched flares in the air in their makeshift parade. Citizens and children rode with the soldiers on top of their tanks. They formed up into ranks in front of the ruined university building where thousands more were waiting for them, citizens and rebels fighters alike.
"HAIL TO THE HERO!"
"HEIL! HEIL!"
"TO THE INVINCIBLE KOMMANDANT!"
"SIEG HEIL! SIEG HEIL!"
The one leading the entire procession enamored the masses. A battle scarred Panzer-Wespe command Knightmare with a missing arm but was anything else but disabled. They praised it as their hero who brought the battle to a swift end through great leadership and sacrifice. The hero they believed will lead them to their destiny and a brighter future.
It's funny that any action, no matter how terrible, could be easily justified by giving it a proper name.
"Citizens of Berlin! Sons and daughters of Germany!" The pilot of the Knightmare spoke. " After incalculable deaths, sacrifices, and countess martyrs, such is the cost of victory! But it was all not in vain for now we can call ourselves, free!"
The masses cheered a deafening roar. The Knightmare raised its maimed hand after a while and the crowd slowly submitted to silence.
"Britannia! Long they have repressed us from the glory that we deserve. Denied us from the greatness that we have built in our great nation. Regressed us all into slaves to their bidding. Grunts for their own false crusades. Fodder for their grinders. But no more! We now fight for ourselves! We fight for Germany… and Germany alone!"
The citizens panicked when the Kommandant commanded the Knightmare to fire at the blue flag of the EU and shot it to pieces. The other Knightmares did the same along with the other soldiers who burned their own flags and waved it about in the air. The citizens were stunned at their Kommandant's actions.
"The EU had failed us. Held us back. Betrayed us. Sold us off to our enemies, the Britannians. They have always held us back from greatness. But no more! Germany shall stand as Germany alone. Now is the time to strike! Now is the time for a new age! A new age for Germany and the beginning of a new REICH!"
The Knightmare opened its cockpit and revealed its pilot as a young woman with short messy blonde hair. Her face was filthy and stained from black oil, and was bleeding from a busted lip but it did not hide the beauty that was her white skin and the fire that burned in her fiery green eyes.
"Now I beseech you. Citizens of this newly re-christened Germany?" The woman asked the masses. "What say you, now? Will you join me in this great crusade?"
The masses needn't be convinced anymore. They all knew the risks and they all knew what they wanted. The entire city was at an uproar as the hundreds of thousands of people in Berlin cheered. They raised their hands as one and in salute for their newfound leader.
"HEIL! HEIL! UNSER FUHRER!"
"KRIEG! KRIEG! FUHREN UNS IN DEN KRIEG!"
"FUHRER, KOMMANDANT HELGA BRONTE!"
"BRONTE! BRONTE! BRONTE!"
"SIEG FUR GERMANY! HEIL BRONTE!"
Beyond the noisy crowds, a group of important looking people stood inside the confines of the ruined university. As happy as they were of the victory, they did not share the same festive mood as the people outside. They remained composed and stuck with their own devices.
"Was this all according to plan?" Gregor asked his colleagues. "Or did she act on her own will again?"
"Yes and no, herr Gregor." Lord Jorhann replied. "It was a considered plan, seeing as the UFN is now defunct and the EU is nothing more than a shadow of its former self. What we didn't expect was our frau Bronte to set the plan in motion so soon."
"I agree." Lady Von Strauss said. She turned to Lord Jorhann. "She has put us in a weak position. We have no army, alienating our allies, and no resources to fund even a single battle. We must put a stop to this before it gets out of hand."
"Do you not hear the clamour outside?" Lord Jorhann pointed at the window. "It is out of our hands and there is no turning back now. These people are the only allies we have now and they will not think twice to hang us with the rest of the Britannians outside if we are to take away the opportunities given to them now."
"We still have one ally we could turn to." Erwin Rothstein said. "He would be of great help in turning the tide in our favor."
"No." Lord Jorhann quickly replied. "We cannot put our lot with them. With him. He is a dangerous man. Unpredictable. Immoral. Ruthless. An opportunist who would sacrifice everything to meet his own ends."
"Be it as it may." Rothstein countered. "He has proven himself a great leader. Experienced and has a sizable army who has won on countless fronts against the Britannians. All without revealing his existence to the enemy. "
"Including us. He is a man surrounded in myth and legends. An enigma." Gregor answered back. "I am with Lord Jorhan on this one, we know too little of this Omega, a man who hides himself behind a mask. The people deserve a hero with a face, a capable leader who would win us many battles. We have Oberstleutnant Bronte."
"A leader?" Lady Von Strauss said. "More like a puppet. Still, your words prove true. Omega and his ilk might prove useful but it will spell us our end once the smoke clears. We shall win this war on our own. The masses love a good underdog."
"And we shall." Lord Jorhann called for a servant and had him bring them glasses of champagne. He then passed the glass to each of his colleagues. "Underdogs we may be but not for soon. Estates shall be reclaimed, weapons will be acquired, allies will be won over, and victory will be ours."
"To Germany." Lord Jorhann raised his glass in salute.
The others raised their glasses up as well and replied.
"To Germa—"
They were all cut short when the windows unexpectedly shattered and blew them all to the floor. A bright light soon followed and surrounded them to near blindness. They saw their hands lose color and feeling before losing it to ash completely. Complete silence and utter darkness followed afterwards. The entire city of Berlin and all its citizens followed suite into the void. The city was left to cinder. An empty crater with not a pillar left standing.
XXXXXXXXXX
TOKYO SETTLEMENT, JAPAN
The large screen in the War Room showed the F.L.E.I.J.A. Warheads detonating one after another, covering the map like a pox and was slowly spreading to the other capital cities. The noblemen and some of the officers watched in satisfaction as their enemies were wiped off the face of the earth without sacrificing that many men.
The other screens showed the once chaotic scenes of butchery and anarchy turn into utter perpetual silence. It all showed either utterly black or scenes of complete emptiness with not a living being or creature left in sight. Just utter destruction and ruin after a single moment. Such was the devastating power of the F.L.E.I.J.A.
Reports were coming in from the remaining bases near the bombsites. Britannian casualties were moderate and acceptable since communications were hard to break through and due to the hastiness of the order. It was a small price to pay however since the statistics say that the rebels lost ten times that number, a full-scale massacre.
Everyone in the chamber applauded as victory after victory was achieved on many fronts. Everyone cheered and were made merry as Britannia alone reigned supreme from the ashes, everyone except the young Emperor. He simply looked at his handiwork with cold and indifferent eyes.
From the very first city that was struck by the F.L.E.I.J.A. up until the very last, Lelouch remained stoic. Unmoved as millions died after a simple press of a button. With each devastated city, Lelouch felt his heart grow heavier and heavier. He was already having a hard time keeping himself on his feet and was close to crying. Thank god that no one had noticed since they were too drunk at the glory at hand.
"Congratulations, my Emperor." Highlord Montgomery gave a hand out for Lelouch. "Victory is yours."
Lelouch ignored the gesture and turned to the men operating the F.L.E.I.J.A. coordinates,
"What's the status of the Damocles? How many F.L.E.I.J.A.s do we have left?"
"The Damocles is in stable condition, my Emperor." One of the workers replied. "But we have exhausted all of our warheads We have none left."
"That is unfortunate." Lelouch said. "It will take months to restock it with more warheads."
"It matters little now, your Highness." Lord Ashford said. "No one would dare stand against us now. Fear of getting annihilated like these rebels will keep them all under their beds. It is also better to have the Damocles as a figurehead than for someone to use it against us."
Major Lawrence and the some of the officers kept quiet and stuck to their own machinations.
"My work here is done then." Lelouch said. He returned the Damocles Key back in its box, as held by his devoted Lord Gottwald. Turning from the others, he made his way out of the chambers. "Taking back the rest of the empire would now be easier for you, gentlemen. Now if you'll excuse me, I have other matters to attend to."
"Of course, Your Highness." Highlord Montgomery said.
Lelouch barely walked ten steps away when all the screens of the room suddenly turned to loud static. From the screens on the walls to the screens on the worker's computers, all suddenly turned to static. Everyone in the chamber was at an uproar as they tried getting things operational again but to no avail. Even Lelouch was dumbfounded by this sudden turn of events and turned his gaze to the sea of static screens.
The static soon ceased and flickered itself to life. In its place was a crimson banner with a black omega symbol under a winged triangle with a diamond in the middle. In front of it was a most peculiar and intimidating person who stood high with dignity. He had piercing red eyes that looked as though they were staring each and every person in the room. They could feel a cold chill crawl up their spines.
When he spoke, everyone turned their ears and fell silent to listen to his every word as it was as foreboding and menacing as he materialized from the shadows.
"They call me, Omega."