(A/N: Before you read this chapter, I would like to say this entire story takes place during the Akito the Exiled series, so you will see very similarities in the story. With that said, please enjoy the show!)
Chapter 4: Arrival
A few hours later, St. Petersburg, Russia.
A few hours after The Advisor's hallucination, The Imperial Train arrived in St. Petersburg, Russia, better known as Euro-Britannia.
Suzaku stepped out, looking around the train station. St. Petersburg seemed lifeless, almost dead, so to speak. He wondered if this was the cause of Britannia forces moving to Europia territory, or if this was the cause of something worse. Perhaps the warning message? Or another attack? Only time would tell….
"Hello, Sir Kururugi." Suzaku looked forward to see an older man, wearing dark blue noble clothes and a small hat, held out his hand to Suzaku. "You must be very tired from your travels. I am here to greet you on behalf of his highness, Duke Velaines." The man announced. "I am Michael Augustus."
"I am Suzaku Kururugi, Britannia Knight of Round." Suzaku responded, firmly shaking the man's hand. "I apologize for our slight delay from Britannia, Sir Augustus. We had to load the Lancelot Albion into the cargo of the train."
"It is of no trouble, Sir Kururugi." Micheal said, a light smile on his face before looking towards the train behind Suzaku. "The Imperial Families private Train? As well as a Knight of the Round? I must say, this gentleman with you must be highly regarded by His Majesty."
"Yes, indeed." Suzaku answered, a hind of almost regret in his voice. "I would like to say sir, whatever he may say is only for the benefit for the future of our world."
"He? Who, Sir Kururugi?" Micheal asked, a hint of worry and confusion in his voice.
Before Suzaku could respond, a voice spoke up with conceit and arrogance, with a hint of annoyance in his voice. "Oh? This is all the welcome I get?" The voice said, as the male walked down the train stairs. "I'm not impressed."
The male was very young, appearing almost 16 or 17 years old. He wore a black noble coat with a large collar that covered the back of his head, with golden adornments and a Knight of Round black shirt, like that of Suzaku's. He wore black pants with small gold diamonds at his knees, with a black belt that slacking off to the side. At his ankles were small golden diamonds as well, which were above his black boots. He also wore a black cape with the Knight Of Round bird symbol on its back, with a maroon inner color.
As he walked slowly, a smirk formed on his face. "Nevertheless, when I return, and I will return, the streets of St. Petersburg will be lined with the masses chanting my name and cheering my victory." As he spoke, Suzaku stepped to the side glaring harshly at the man in black as he walked.
Like Suzaku, Micheal was taken aback with both annoyance and new found anger towards the man. He'd dared to not only question those who'd came to take him to Duke Velaines, but also questioned the greeters who were sent to guide him to Caesar's Palace.
"From this point on, and by order of His Majesty, Charles Zi Britannia, all Eastern front operational planning will hereby be conducted by myself." The man said, his black hair almost glowing like his amethyst colored eye. On his left eye was an eyepatch with dark grey designs, and a purple amethyst crystal hanging on the bottom of it. "Military Advisor, Julius Kingsley!"
"Very well then." Sir Micheal responded, breathing out a breath of air before turning back to the other man behind him. "The here is James Levyle (Liveiele), he will be escorting you to Cesar's palace."
The man walked more into the light revealing himself to be, like Julius and Suzaku, very young 16 to be precise. He wore dark white clothes and had dark brown hair, with sky blue eyes, and a pocket watch in his hand.
"It's an honor to know I will be guiding both a Knight of Round and military Advisor to our countries most prized achievement, my lord," James said, bowing down before standing straight once more. "I shall be your guide through Russia for the time being."
"Excellent." Julius said, before pointing to Suzaku. "It would seem luck has it for you, Suzaku. You now had a new friend."
Suzaku glared at Julius for a moment, before giving James a friendlier smile. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Sir Levyle." Suzaku said, bowing his head slightly.
James nodded, giving a small bow to Suzaku. "It's an honor to meet an honorary Japanese, as well as a Britannian Knight of Round, Sir Kururugi." James said, causing Suzaku to give him an astonished look.
"You know I am Japanese?" Suzaku asked, somewhat worried about this man.
"I had a friend of mine who lived in Britannia not too long ago, by the name of Rikoto Ranhail." James responded. "He told me about how there was a young man named Suzaku Kururugi, who wanted to change the world."
"Ranhail? What a….. Peculiar name." Suzaku thought aloud, before both turned to the coughing of Julius, who glared at the two.
"If you two are done speaking of the past, I would like to leave now." Julius growled, looking back to the train as a servant brought Suzaku a silver briefcase, almost like a luggage. Before Suzaku could grab it though, James picked it up for him.
"Please, allow me. If there's one thing I've been taught, it's to treat visitors with the highest respect." James said, before motioning towards a car behind the train station entrance gate. "This way please."
Meanwhile In Paris, France.
Above the once glistening city of Paris, standing taller than all buildings, stood the Eiffel Tower. At the tip of the tower, looking down to the city was Rikoto Ranhail, his hood down and his mask dispersed. Looking around the now burning city, Rikoto felt a ping of sadness in his mind. He felt he was responsible for not being able to help or calm the people of Paris.
But now there nothing to do. Paris was in ruins, with cars and buildings burning, and people screaming and in worse cases dying.
As he looked down, he turned to his side to see a large white carrier hovering next to the tower, with the Overwatch symbol drawn on its side. "There they are, finally." Rikoto muttered, jumping down from his position. As he walked towards the ship, a ramp opened up, revealing Winston and 76 waiting inside. "It's about time!"
Rikoto quickly jumped onto the ramp, before entering the ship. "You didn't tell me that Paris was in shambles, Ranhail." 76 snapped, pointing outside. "What the hell is going on out there?!"
Rikoto sighed. "Ever since Kingsley released the attack video, the whole city has gone to hell." Rikoto explained, moving back to the window. "That's not the worst of it, we've got reports of several Knightmare's rushing through St. Petersburg, Russia. And several thousand city generators being excavated and taken God knows where."
"Jesus Christ." Winston whispered, his face full of shock and horror as he stared out the window. "It's a massacre."
"So, what have you got to tell us, Lumen Sage?" 76 asked, his visor glowing brightly in the night. As much as he wanted to find out where to find Kingsley, he wanted to know what was happening in the front lines right now.
"Well, from what we've found out most of our European forces have moved back into our ground, and the Britannian's have shifted their Knightmare's to the front lines." Rikoto said, walking to the table next to him. "So far, my special ops commander had informed me that Julius Kingsley and Knight of Round, Suzaku Kururugi, have arrived in St. Petersburg, Russia."
"Special Ops?" A voice, tracer's, came from the control seat in front of the seat. "And just who is he, Luv?"
"He's a very close friend of mine, ever since I was close to 8." Rikoto explained, receiving an 'aww' from Tracer. Rikoto glared at her, before continuing. "He went to military training and slowly rose to Special Ops commander."
"Sounds trustworthy. Can we be sure we can trust him?" Winston asked, fixing his glasses as he moved next to the two.
"Yes, I'm sure." Rikoto quickly said, with no hesitation. "I wouldn't be working with him if I didn't."
"So, here's what I've found." Winston pressed a button, and a description of Julius Kingsley came up in front of them. "Julius Lamperouge Kingsley was born on March 2, 2002. As a young scholar, he graduated in military classes, and was positioned as a Viceroy for Britannia. In 2015, Julius earned the title of Military Advisor, and the next two years later, was given full operation planning for the Europia takeover."
"What's odd though is the fact he looks very…. Familiar." Winston continued, pulling up another image next to Kingsley. The person on the image bared a very striking resemblance to Kingsley, with black hair and amethyst colored eyes. "This is Lelouch Lamperouge, brother or Nunnally Lamperouge, both who live at Ashford Academy in Britannia."
"But that's…. how?" Rikoto couldn't even describe the shock he had in him. The only thing Lelouch needed was an eyepatch and then he was Julius, but if that was the case then….. Was it possible?
"Is it possible Lelouch is Julius?"
"I doubt it." Winston then pulled up another image, of a young blonde girl her eyes closed. "This is Nunnally Lamperouge, Lelouch's younger sister. Her current state is that she's crippled, and can no longer use her eyes due to a post dramatic result."
"Bloody hell." Tracer whispered, her usual cheerful tone now gone, replaced with a more serious one. "Do we know where Lelouch is, Winston?"
"We do know he was taken to the Britannia Royal Palace, and that's where it gets weirder." Winston made the images vanish, replacing them with a voice transmission. "We managed to snag a piece of radio from the inner cameras in the throne room. I think you should hear."
"The former seventeenth heir to the Imperial Throne, Lelouch vi Britannia. It's been a long time, hasn't it, my errant son?" A voice, the Emperor's voice, spoke out towards a person.
"HOW DARE YOU-!" A person, with a 17 year old voice by the sound of it, screamed back at him before grunting.
As they listen more, Winston skipped to close to the end. "Listen to this next part, it's probably the most disturbing part." Winston hit play.
"I shall erase all your memories, of Zero, Geass, of Nunnally, all of it." The Emperor said, a hint of gratitude in his voice.
"No! NO! YOU'RE DOING IT ALL OVER AGAIN!" Lelouch's voice screamed out in fear and pain as they heard what sounded like struggling. "YOU'RE TAKING IT ALL AWAY FROM ME! FIRST MY MOTHER, AND NOW NUNALLY?!"
"Charles Zi Britannia implants in you, false memories of a false life!" Charles announced. "I command you-!"
"STOP IT!" Lelouch's last plea for mercy was cut off as Charles shouted out, "FORGET!"
When that word left Charles mouth, Lelouch screamed at the top of his lungs in fear before going silent. When the transmission ended, Rikoto stumbled back in shock and fear. Tracer had tears running down her cheeks and her hands covering her mouth in fear. Even 76, who rarely showed his emotions, lowered his head down in sadness.
"W-Why? That… monster…" Rikoto could barely speak after what he heard. To know that the Emperor had just ruthlessly stolen someone's memories, their identity. It was… horrible, grotesque, disgusting. "W-What else did you find?"
"Well….. I found his heart rat had reached speeds of 150 beats per minute during his last scream. That's a very powerful heart, which usually is when a person would die." Winston explained. "Listen, if Julius if Lelouch, then the plan would be to rescue him? Right?"
"Yes! Yes, it would be!" Tracer immediately answered, not able to keep herself quiet anymore. She couldn't believe such a person would do such a horrible thing, especially to his own son from what she heard. Seventeenth prince to the throne, that's what that… monster said. "We have to rescue him! For all we know he could be killed after his work is done!"
"Even if we were to rescue him, we'd have to turn him in to the ERU." Rikoto retorted, standing back up. "We couldn't keep him even if we wanted to."
"Then we should at least help this person find his memories!" Tracer protested. "For god sakes Luv, did you not see his sister?! She's crippled, and for all we know could get killed by someone!"
"I Know! I know!" Rikoto snapped, trying to keep his posture and composure. He sat down on the floor. "But…. How do you find a person's memories if they've been erased? It's not possible…"
"Well… We have to figure out a way." Tracer said, walking towards Rikoto. "We have to…"
"Caesar's Palace." Rikoto whispered, looking up towards the table. "That's where he's staying."
"Caesar's Palace? In Russia?" 76 asked, before walking to the table. Activating a map he, enhanced it to St. Petersburg, Russia where the Palace of Caesar was located. The Palace was huge, with red and gold brick designs and jewelry colored ornaments on the walls and sides of it. "How long until we could get there? Or at least until we can get someone close by there?"
"Not long actually, my Special Ops man is already there quote-on-quote "guiding" Julius to Caesar's palace with Suzaku Kururugi, Julius's personal Knight of Round." Rikoto explained, pushing himself up walking toward 76 and Winston. "I'll have him keep a close eye on Julius, and I'll have my men engage the front lines with me commanding myself. But in order to do that I have to know, will you help me in this fight?"
"Yes, we will." 76 answered, before motioning to Tracer. "Tracer go with you to prep for the assault. Please tell me, you do have something with the firepower of their Knightmare's, correct?"
"Yes, I do." From the far distance, a loud boom was heard, as a powerful missile like vehicle raced towards them. As it slowed down it revealed itself to be a very large machine, with the height of a Knightmare.
In fact, it looked like one, only it had a more humanoid body design. It had completely white color design, with light navy blue colorings on its shoulders and knee armor, and golden blade like armor on its design as well.
It had a very large shield on its left arm, and a long sniper rifle right weapon in its left hand. It had two large energy beam like cannons on its back, and a helmet that had an obtuse shaped helm above its green eyes.
"This is my Knightmare mark 5, Gundam Delta Kai!" Rikoto announced, as the Delta Kai slowly hovered behind him. "This beauty is the completion of seven of the world's most powerful minds put together, in order to create a machine so powerful that is could battle the Britannia Lancelot and win."
"Bloody hell, Luv." Tracer mouth was agape at how much weaponry was placed onto it. "You put and Reinhart to shame."
"I try not to." Rikoto smiled, before opening the hatch door. Delta Kai moved forward, extending its shield out for Rikoto to stand on. Rikoto jumped onto the moving the shield, fixing his footing as to not fall off. Rikoto moved from the shield to the shoulder, then finally to the back where he could enter the Delta Kai.
Rikoto entered the Delta Kai's cockpit, which was a control station like the usual Knightmare controls. The eyes of Delta Kai flashed yellow, indicating Rikoto was now in control. "Alright, I can take you to Watchpoint Reviver, the command center at the front of the Britannia border line." Rikoto said, his sniper rifle spiraling on his forearm so it was now facing backwards.
"Climb on." Delta Kai's right hand opened up, waiting for Tracer. Tracer blinked onto Delta Kai's hand, clutching the Delta Kai's fingers as she did so. "Don't worry, I won't let you fall, Tracer."
"P-Please don't, I-I've been on flights but never one with no w-windows or d-doors." Tracer stuttered, looking down at the thousand feet drop if she fell. Then again though, she could just recall quickly as possible, or blink as she grew closer to the ground. "L-Let's just h-hurry, please?"
"Ha, alright we'll go." Delta Kai slowly turned its head back to Winston and 76 as its body turned away. "I'll call you when we arrive at Reviver."
"Right." 76 nodded, before turning to Winston, who was moving to the pilot seat. "Winston, take us back to Gibraltar."
"Roger!" Winston turned the carrier away from Delta Kai, before it rocketed back in the opposite direction.
"So, ready to go?" Rikoto asked, to which Tracer responded, "Ready as I'll ever be!"
"Good to know! Because I forgot to mention the journey to Reviver is 10 hours." Rikoto explained, readying the main engines.
"10 HOURS?! Bloody hell, mate!" Tracer exclaimed, shocked at how long it would take. "Great…"
"Well, that's for a normal plane. But for Delta Kai, the flight is 5 hours due to the diamonary-class engine cells on it." Rikoto responded, flipping a switch. Suddenly, the Delta Kai's body shifted and changed, its arms and weapons moving to different locations.
The shield launched forward, as the shoulder blades shifted, pointed back as its legs and the engines on its ankles altered. The shield was now pointing forward like the bow of a ship, and the larger plasma cannons aiming forward. The legs and feet shifted, now in the design of engine like nacelles.
"Delta Kai, Jumpship mode!" tracer watched in shock as the hands moved next to the control seat where Rikoto was. The hands shifted now covering tracer from the outside.
"Bloody hell, Luv! You're some miracle worker, you know that?" Tracer asked, watching in astonishment as how the Gundam had altered into a ship.
"Trust me, I know." Rikoto smiled, before shifting the controls. "Now, to Watchpoint Reviver!"
Rikoto gunned the controls, and suddenly the Delta Kai rocketed forward, faster than all aircraft before it. Tracer cried out in shock and surprise as the Delta Kai raced across Paris, towards the borderline of Britannia.
