Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters, settings, technologies, etc, etc. Doesn't stop me dreaming though.
A Change in Policies
Chapter 4
Charles zi Britannia stood on the edge of existence. His platform was the border between the dead and the living, the whole and the individual, God and humanity. Here, he could talk to those whose time had expired in the world of the living, even when his own time had not. He enjoyed being in this place. Enjoyed talking to the dead and seeing his creation slowly take shape.
Men in dark hooded robes soon stepped on to the platform, bowing their heads to the emperor. He did not turn around to greet them.
"Master V.V. awaits your arrival, my Lord," one said.
Charles sighed and turned as the hooded men straightened. Together, they descended the stairs and returned to a world filled with war and lies.
"You called, brother?" Charles said as he entered the room.
V.V. was examining one of the many paintings on the walls. It showed a quaint little house, barely more than a cottage, surrounded by high grass and wild flowers, with a few trees dotting the borderline.
"I did indeed," he replied, his brother joining him. "I am curious about your plans for Euphemia."
"I plan to do nothing."
The child-like man raised his eyebrows and turned his head to look up at the emperor.
"Nothing?" he queried. "One of your children is going directly against the foundations on which Britannia is built, and you plan to do nothing?"
Charles looked straight ahead as he responded. "You and I have learned that people do not stand equal with each other. Individuals constantly seek to make themselves better than others. Even without action on my behalf, Euphemia's idea of a peaceful world will fall."
"And what if it does not?" V.V. replied in a sharp tone. "She herself is scarcely useful for anything besides attracting public sympathy, but the one named Zero borders on tactical and strategical genius. He may be able to use her to his advantage, and against us."
At that, the emperor tilted his head slightly, and angled his eyes to look at his sibling. "You have that little faith, brother?" he asked, before continuing without waiting for a reply. "It matters not whether Euphemia's plan succeeds or fails in the end. But I see no reason to forgo a chance to determine where my children stand. If it goes too far, then we have the chance to fix multiple problems in one go."
"I see," said V.V. He turned around and began to walk out of the room. "I suppose I'll trust you with this Charles. After all, they are your children."
Charles waited until his brother had left the room completely before chuckling to himself. Marianne's conversations with C.C. allowed them both to keep an eye on Lelouch. It would be interesting to see what the boy would do from now on.
Kururugi Suzaku woke on a stretcher about to be loaded into an ambulance. While he didn't remember falling unconscious, he did remember that Princess Euphemia had been with Zero. Which is why when he finally escaped the circle of medics insisting he lie back down, he was horrified. Standing in front of the Gawain, with its tow rope lowered, was Zero and the princess, with no one protecting her. Darlton stood about ten metres away conversing with some dignitary, but with his back turned to them he was in no position to help Euphie should Zero pull something. Suzaku was had just started to run over to her when he was stopped dead. Princess Euphemia was giving Zero a hug. They embraced and she gave a bright, happy smile, before watching him step back onto the tow rope and be lifted to the cockpit of the Knightmare. Zero made a head movement in his direction, and Euphemia looked over. She beamed at him and went to lift her skirts to run, but Suzaku jogged over to meet her before she got too far. He took up position between Euphie and the Gawain, eyes not leaving Zero until he was well on his way back to where ever he came from. Only then did he turn to face his princess.
"Princess, you should not leave yourself alone with such a dangerous person," he said, looking around. "Particularly not when there are people available."
Euphie bought a hand to her mouth and giggled a little. Suzaku frowned. She took her personal safety far too lightly for his liking.
"It's ok, Suzaku," she said. "He is an ally now, and someone we can work with and trust. You were unconscious for it, but the opening ceremony has finished. Come on, I'll tell you what you missed."
Euphemia turned and began to walk to the G1. He took up his position to her right, half a step behind.
"I need to talk to you before the others return," Lelouch said to C.C., as she landed the Gawain at the Black Knights base.
He estimated he had at least half an hour before Kallen and Tohdoh arrived, maybe a ten minutes longer if they kept pace with those in the Burais. They walked in silence to his personal quarters and even there, he didn't take off the helmet of Zero. C.C. made herself comfortable on his bed while Lelouch remained standing.
"You know that no one comes in here without knocking first. It's safe to take the helmet off."
"While I am with the black knights, I am always Zero. But this mask protects them as well as myself now," he said, turning away as he removed it and placed it on the desk. "I knew this power was dangerous when I made that contract with you, but what am I supposed to do now!"
He slammed his fist into the desk as he turned back around. His left eye was red, the geass sigil prominent. C.C. made an expression close to pity, before reforming her façade.
"So it was that," she said.
"You'd better have a solution for this, witch," Lelouch said darkly. "It serves no problem here, but once I'm home, then what? And at school?"
"You could always just wear sunglasses," she suggested.
"Don't be stupid!" he yelled back. "I can't go around wearing sunglasses all the time, and something like Mao's visor would just be worse." He dropped into his chair and rested his chin on his fist. "I need something inconspicuous and easy to remove, so that I can use it if I need to."
"Try building a screen into your eye," C.C. teased. "That might work."
Surprisingly enough, it didn't get the rise out of him she expected. Instead, the comment seemed to enhance his thinking.
"If I could create a special lens to cover my eye, it should block my geass." He seemed to be talking more to himself that to C.C. This point was only proven when he turned back around to his desk and began making plans on a piece of paper. "I'll give Rakshata the requirements, and she can work out the specifics…"
C.C. simply watched as Lelouch continued to write down specifics for the contact. She only disturbed him when she heard the sound of landspinners and knighmares powering down.
"It seems the others have finally arrived," she said, looking over the top of cheese-kun.
He put his pen down, folded the paper and placed in his coat.
"Time to face the music," he said with a smirk, replacing his mask as they walked out the door.
"I don't trust him," Suzaku said firmly. "And I don't think you should either. This is the man that killed Clovis. This is the man that was trying to beat Britannia into submission. You yourself said that he told you he hated the Royal Family!"
"But he's on our side now!" Euphemia exclaimed. "I don't like what he did to Clovis, but he promised answer any questions I have of him personally."
"He's still a criminal and a murderer! Why would you place someone like that in such a sensitive position? You should have him step down, or at least put myself or someone trustworthy in a position that he has to answer to before going through with anything."
Euphie bristled. "You don't trust my judgement, Suzaku?" She said with a commanding air. Suzaku fumbled for an answer, so she continued. "We both agreed that anything being put through needed the approval of the other. It is a mutually beneficial relationship. Having someone above the Chief of Police means putting a single person directly in charge. That would make it only too easy for people to take advantage of that person and therefore take advantage of the Zone. By having two people , it makes the Zone that much safer against such things. If I am manipulated by someone, he is there to make sure they don't succeed, and vice versa. Only with us trusting each other and working together will the Specially Administrated Zone work."
Suzaku was set in his opinion though. "I still think it would have been wiser to approach the Vicereine or even the Prime Minister about this decision before you asked Zero and presented it to the public."
"And Cornelia would have done everything in her power to make sure that he wasn't the one to get the position," she retorted.
"Why do you think that is! She don't trust him, and he's certainly not worthy of the amount of power you're giving him. He could easily take control of the Zone. He's cunning, and could have you wrapped around his finger without you ever realising."
It hurt Euphemia to hear the person she loved make her sound like a child. "You have so little faith in my abilities, Suzaku," she said quietly, looking at the ground.
Suzaku looked shocked when he realised what he'd said.
"I'm sorry, Euphie," he apologised. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean it like that, I just–"
"You know, the only reason we found you out there is because he asked for you to be present," she said, her voice still small, her face still downwards. "He didn't think it was a good idea for me to go through with this without telling you. He wanted to bring you inside so we could explain it to you properly, in a way that you would understand. He wants the exact same thing I do Suzaku. He just didn't have to power to go about it the same way."
Suzaku had no response. How could he? He didn't trust that Zero hadn't been lying to her, but Euphemia determinedly believed that he had been telling the truth.
"Why do you trust him?" That was all he could come up with.
Euphie looked up and stared straight in to his eyes. "Why does it matter? He is a genius, Suzaku, and he's going to use his abilities to help us change Britannia from within. That's what you wanted, isn't it?"
Lelouch was flooded with questions the moment he walked into the meeting room.
"Zero, why did you agree?"
"Did she contact you beforehand?"
"Was there a behind the scenes deal, Zero?"
"Zero, did you threaten her?"
"Zero?"
"Zero"
"Zero!"
"Enough!" he roared. After five attempts to quiet them, the silence that followed was almost heavenly.
"The Specially Administrated Zone was truly Princess Euphemia's idea. It was not proposed to her by any of her siblings or Royal Family, nor anyone of nobility. Therefore, we can trust that the SAZ is good for all people involved. I was not informed by anyone of the princess's decision to appoint me Chief of Police before I entered the G1 mobile base. Euphemia, it seems, kept her choice on the matter strictly to herself. Not even her Knight of Honour was informed. I will admit that it was not in my plans to join the SAZ. I believed it to be little more than an attempt by Britannia to win us over. My plan changed, however, when Euphemia revealed to me her goal of the Specially Administrated Zone." Zero paused, and looked out to the faces of the Black Knights. "Her goal is very similar to ours. Her goal is to expand the Specially Administrated Zone across the whole of Japan. While Britannia we would still be under Britannian rule by name, in all other matters this means a free Japan!"
Most of the Black Knight roared with excitement, and cheered with delight. They would gain a free Japan without losing so many comrades. They could once again be proud of their nation, and not be shunned for it. They could start to rebuild their lives.
Zero waited for the cheering to subside slightly before leaving for the planning room. C.C. was in the crowd, seeking out those he wished a private audience with.
Kallen, Tohdoh, Ohgi and Rakshata were all seated at a table. Their eyes were trained on Zero, who sat at the head.
"I have called you here because I have special requests of each of you. Keep in mind that these are requests, not orders, and so you do not need to proceed with them if you truly do not wish to."
Everyone looked apprehensive. If it was something they might not want to do, they most likely didn't want to hear it in the first place.
"Tohdoh, I'll start with you," Zero said as he looked at the man in question. "I would like you to take up the position of head instructor at the police academy that will train officers for the SAZ. While your knowledge in war is great, I believe that your knowledge in martial arts and teamwork will be greatly beneficial."
Tohdoh looked slightly surprised. He was certainly not expecting something like this. "Will I be the only head instructor or will there be others?" he asked.
"There is only one head, however you will have a team of people working under you that Euphemia and I will have personally selected. These will included Britannians, Honorary Britannians and Japanese," Zero answered. "Euphemia has said you that are most welcome to sit in on the interviews and have input into those who make the cut. You will be the one working with them, after all."
Tohdoh nodded. "I would be honoured to help you keep the peace."
Zero's focus now shifted to the other man at the table.
"Oghi," he started. "This is something Princess Euphemia specifically asked of me, and that I'm hoping you will choose to accept."
Ohgi looked at Zero, his face determined. If it was anything to do with the police force, he would have to decline. He just wasn't suited to fighting, no matter how much he tried.
"As there is well over 200, 000 people who had applied for the Zone, a school is being built inside the SAZ. Euphemia asked if there were any from the Black Knights who would be capable of running it. She wanted it to be one of my most trusted people. Someone I could trust to teach this new generation about fairness and equality. Someone who would not discriminate against a child simply because of the colour of their skin, their parents' occupations or their physical abilities. You not only fit these requirements, but exceed them. You used to be a teacher, didn't you?"
Ohgi's face was blank with shock. He never dreamed he'd be able to become a teacher again. And the praises from Zero were more than he deserved. With this, he and Chigusa would be able to live a perfectly happy life. Ohgi snapped out of his daydreaming when he realised the whole table was staring at him.
"Oh, uh, yes, I did. And I'd love to take the position, Zero. Thank you."
Although they couldn't see it under the mask, Lelouch smiled. To place Ohgi in the school was something he was actually pleased about. He wasn't lying when he said Ohgi was one of his most trusted people, but war and tactics simply didn't suit him. He was a people person, and placing him anywhere else was a waste of his talents.
"Kallen," Zero said, refocussing on the young redhead. She straightened up in her seat.
"The job I have for you isn't in the SAZ. It's probably not something you'll particularly like either. What I would like you to do, is to placate the nobles on the outside."
Kallen frowned. She hated dealing with the nobility, but she would wait and see what Zero's explanation was before deciding. After all, she was the captain of his guard, so it had to be something important.
"While all the Britannians inside the Zone will be perfectly willing to cooperate, and to an extent those outside as well, it goes against everything the nobles stand for. It will be your job to sway them to Euphemia's side. If you accept, I will introduce you to Euphemia. While she can be girly and naïve, I think you'll find her pleasant enough. The Stadtfeld name is fairly well known, and once it is well linked with Royalty, you can use your influence on the other nobles."
Kallen's frown deepened. The social games the nobility played was one of the reasons she hated them. But, she reasoned, she really was the only one who could do it. And she would. If only because it was Zero who asked her.
"I accept," she said.
"Your assistance is very much appreciated, Kallen. Thank you."
To her horror she could feel herself blushing.
"I'll need you to report to me on your progress at least once a week. Euphemia will be made aware of your actions, but she tends to overlook things like this. Otherwise I would like you to continue attending school as usual."
They all focussed back on Zero. He stood up and walked around to Rakshata, handing her a folded piece of paper.
"Your instructions are written there, along with the requirements," he said to her.
She took the paper and placed it inside her coat.
"I thank you all for your cooperation in these matters. Ohgi, Tohdoh, whether you speak to others about your appointments is at your discretion. Kallen, yours needs to remain secret. You are dismissed."
A/N: So that took me absolutely ages to write. It generally only takes me around three hours to type up a chapter. This one took me the better half of a day and I'm still not happy with it.
Thank you to all the people who left me reviews :) Worker72, nada, MS-16 Z Jager, Could be more Original (when I first read it I thought that was your review!), NoNameAvailable Bis, Alastor Pariah, Lord Ban and Trife! A special thanks to Trife for pointing out my typos and grammatical errors.
I also realised that not only do I have people reading this for whom (I presume) English is a second language, but also people in from countries I've never heard of! (Sorry to the person from Domincan Revar, I'll try find your country, I promise). This makes me super excited :)
Sorry to say I probably won't have an update next week, but I'll still try. Thanks for reading!
