Stage 7: The Witch's Contract
Leoclides' Office, Ascension Base:
Lazzard and Leoclides stood in the dimly lit office. "These results are incredible, he was able to access the connection simply by proximity to a gate. It seems sending them to secure the temple was indeed a fruitful idea" said Lazzard as he reviewed the data recovered from the mission.
Leoclides continued by saying: "Those rebels had no idea the of what was buried beneath them. But regarding the subject's display, I believe we have found sufficient proof that the key to replicating the power does present itself in the genes. How else could it be explained that the kid was able to connect without a code present? Lazzard, inform his majesty that we will proceed with phase 2. Your team will be subjected to the code, and we will show those simpletons at the directorate that geass, like any other ability can be replicated and controlled to determine the outcome; and that there is no mysticism about it".
Lazzard grinned and with serenity in his eyes and seriousness in his voice said: "Yes, after years of research, we are now closer than ever. And to think this was all because of that witch. God only knows, if she hadn't betrayed the emperor the way she did we would never had gotten as far as we did". Leoclides lowered his head, his face still unseen, and said: "Yes… But we have her now, and she serves a better purpose in a pod than she ever did at the emperor's side".
Rai's room, Ascension Base:
Rai laid alone in his room contemplating the events of the mission. He could still see the images that flashed through his head, he knew he'd never seen or done something like that before. Yet Angeal assured him that it was all the adrenaline, the heat of the moment. But Rai knew differently, he felt like those images meant something else. Although, he didn't mention them to anyone else.
"I wonder what they will do to me?" Rai asked himself out loud as he began musing about the augmentations. At that moment, the door to his room opened. "Hey handsome, what are you doing here all alone?" asked Ursula as she came into the room. Rai, without losing his demeanor, said: "Oh hi, Ursula, I'm just sitting here thinking about things". Ursula giggled and said: "No wonder it smells like bacon in here".
Rai remained deep in his thoughts. Ursula, worried by his lack of reaction, laid next to Rai and held his hand: "What's the matter? That one usually gets at least a little chuckle from you". He looked at Ursula's eyes and said: "I'm just really, I don't know, I think the best term would be 'concerned' for the next part of the program, among other things. Don't mind me, I'm probably just being cowardly". Ursula interrupted Rai by saying: "Nonsense, you are not being cowardly, you are just nervous. It happens to the best of us. I'm sure you'll do fine". Ursula stood up, pulling Rai up with her. She snapped her fingers and said: "You know what; I know what will cheer you up. Come on let's go".
Ursula almost dragged Rai out of his room and across the base. "Where are we going?" asked Rai. But Ursula playfully answered: "It's a surprise, but I'm pretty sure you are gonna like it". Rai was confused but kept on trotting: "That seems rather vague". To which Ursula responded: "That was the general idea".
"We are here, let's go" said Ursula with enthusiasm in her voice. As Rai looked around he saw he was in the research and development area: "I've been here before" said Rai. "Yes, but you have never entered the lab" said Ursula as she wiggled her finger in front of Rai's face. Rai smiled as he always wanted to go inside the lab, but was not allowed for lack of clearance. "There's the smile I was looking for, I knew you would love this. Boys and their toys" said Ursula as she taunted Rai.
She led Rai through the research area and towards the back area. "Here we go, this is what I really wanted to show you, the Arthurs" said Ursula as she presented the two unusual knightmare frames. They resemble Gloucesters in shape, but their armor was slicker and was painted with a dark blue and grey scheme. The only addition noted was the strange plates located in the knightmare's forearms.
Ursula walked over to a console and began inputting commands. Rai was still gawking at the knightmares: "Wow, they look cool. These are the new models?" Ursula was still typing away at the console: "These are just prototypes. Trying to run a viable energy shield, I think it's called the blaze luminous. So far all it does is glow and consume a lot of energy. Come on, let's get on."
Rai was stunned by Ursula and replied: "Wait, what? Get on? Won't we get in trouble?" Ursula just grinned and answered: "I won't tell if you don't." Then she opened the cockpit on the Arthur and motioned for Rai to follow her up the stairs to mount the unit.
Rai was a little hesitant, but it didn't stop him from following Ursula. When they were both ready to enter the Arthur, Rai asked: "How are we supposed to both get on?" Ursula shook her head in amusement and began pinching Rai's cheek: "You can be really dense sometimes, you know that? It's simple, you sit on the pilot seat and I sit on your lap."
Rai began blushing slightly, but he couldn't have sat down faster than he did. Ursula sat side-saddle on Rai's lap and wrapped her arms around Rai's neck. "Oh my, Mr. Creswell, is that a gun in your pocket?" teased Ursula as the sit began sliding into the cockpit. Rai couldn't help but smirk and he answered: "Maybe I'm just happy to see you, Ms. Oppenheimer?" They both shared a loving gaze and began kissing as the door on the cockpit closed.
Augmentation Lab, Ascension Base
The day had finally arrived for the team to receive their augmentations. The whole team was gathered, even Ursula was present to provide support during the procedures. Although, nobody in the team knew about the procedures and the room didn't provide any answers either. It was a simple room with four pods and each pod was connected to a main control console. They were designed for the subject to lay flat and be sealed inside.
Lazzard pressed a few buttons on the console, this triggered the pods to open: "Gentleman, if you would, please each take a pod and we will begin with the augmentation procedure." Angeal wasn't too comfortable with the idea of the unknown pods: "I'm pretty sure those aren't full body massagers, what exactly are we supposed to do here?"
"Yeah, Doc, you know we are down for everything; but we didn't exactly get an instruction manual" said Reaper as he looked the pods up and down. Lazzard walked over and placed his hand on one of the pods and said: "That is simply because there isn't much for you to do here; you just have to sit back, strap in and try to not throw up due to disorientation. I will do the rest."
The answer satisfied the team and they all went to their pods. They laid down, but there was something off. "Hey Zane, are you ok? Usually by this point in the day you would've made several snide comments and multiple derogatory remarks, usually at my expense, but today you haven't said a word" asked Rai as he showed concern for his teammate. Zane just waved off Rai and said: "Yes I am quite alright, just thinking of some family matters that is all".
Lazzard then pressed the buttons to close the pods. As the doors closed, Angeal confidently said: "See you on the other side". Then the doors snapped closed, Rai was in total darkness and silence. "Gentlemen, remember to relax; what you will experience will be extremely disorienting just keep calm and you'll get through it 'no worst for ware'. Beginning countdown: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…." Lazzard's words cut through the silence. As the countdown reached zero, Rai's anxiety grew.
Suddenly, Rai felt a surge through his body. He saw lights, color, and images like the ones he had seen before. Only that this time the images were of groups of people, all marked with a bird like sigil on their foreheads, standing in a temple. The temple stood over-looking a gigantic sphere of moving cogs and gears. Rai laid frozen in his own mind, incapable of processing what he was seeing.
Through the tumultuous flashes cut a voice, the voice of a woman: "It's you, you came back, Rai Creswell" Rai's mind was racing a million miles an hour, as he tried to process everything happening around him: "Who are you? How do you know my name?"
The voice replied: "I have known you longer than anyone else. I know who you are. I know what are the ties that bind you.".
The flashes seemed to slow down, Rai calmed his mind to think. Then he retorted: "Bind me? Can you tell me what these flashes are? Why do they feel so familiar?" The voice began taking the shape of a woman, but her features were completely obscured: "I need your help."
Rai started addressing the figure in front of him: "What do you need?" The figure reached out to Rai, but wasn't able to touch him: "I am trapped here. Kept as a tool for the experiments of these men. I will grant you the power to find me, to free me, to acquire the knowledge you so desperately seek. Accept this contract and you accept its conditions, while living in the world of humans, you will live unlike any other. A different providence, a different time, a different life. The power of the king will condemn you to a life of solitude. Are you prepared for this?
Rai felt somewhat conflicted, but he knew that he needed to do what's right and if he could gain answers to his questions then he would: "No one should be forced to be an unwilling tool for someone else's goals. I will help you. I, Rai Creswell, accept the terms of your contract. But what should I call you?" The figure took a step back, as the sigil of a bird burned brightly on her forehead: "You may call me C.C."
Black Mountain, Australia 1896 a.t.b.
It was a hot day in the plains overlooking a gigantic mount of black granite boulders, the infamous Black Mountains as it is known by the locals. There were a group of men talking to a group of aborigines, the group that was talking was composed by two Australian men, who looked like stockmen. One was the translator named Oliver, he wore a duster, he had a mustache and looked to be in his thirties. The other was a gunman named Lachlan; he was dress like a common cowboy. He carried a revolver and a large knife.
In addition to the Australian, there was a British man in his late twenties by the name of Percy Fawcett; he was an English adventurer brought along by Umbra. Percy had a beard and wore a small duster with a cowboy hat. The fourth man was Umbra and he was referred to as 'Boss' by the others. His brown hair was covered by a cowboy hat and wore a shirt with rolled up sleeves that revealed a bird like mark on his left forearm.
Oliver was speaking with the priest of the aborigines; inquiring about finding a location inside the mountain. A location that had a symbol like the one on Umbra's forearm. As Oliver mentioned the marking Umbra moved his arm so the priest could see it. Meanwhile, Percy took notes and Lachlan looked annoyed by the conversation.
After several minutes of talking, the priest told the group that the place that had the symbol was deep inside the mountain and that it was dangerous for them to go, because there were spirits there that made people disappear. Lachlan utterly annoyed by the comment said: "Listen Oliver tell this useless Dero that he can take his advice and…." Umbra interrupted by saying: "Lach, if I care for your opinion, I'll give it to you. Is that clear? Oliver please tell the priest to continue."
The priest continued by telling the group that the journey inside the caverns was full of perils, because of the labyrinthian interior and the supernatural spirits that consumed those who disturbed the area. Percy neared Umbra and whispered: "Sounds similar to the descriptions of the one we found under the village in France."
Umbra nodded and thanked the priest for his time. Then he told him that they would venture forth anyway. The priest gave them a blessing and sent them off to the entrance. The men mounted horses and ventured to the caverns. When they arrived, Oliver nervously said: "Boss, after all the priest said are you still willing to go in there?"
Umbra confidently smiled, to which Oliver said: "You must be touched, mate. Then what are we waiting for?" The group lit torches and entered the caverns, they walked for hours through a labyrinth of rock. Yet, Umbra seemed to know where he was going. As the time passed Lachlan grew more impatient and yelled to Umbra: "You must be a very patient Bugger, I'm getting tired of this awful cave, innit right Oliver."
Oliver looked at Umbra and shook his head in disapproval of the comment. Then Umbra replied: "I'm extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end, Mr. Lachlan". The group continued going deeper and deeper until they found a wall. The wall had the same symbol as the Umbra's forearm. When Percy saw it, he smiled and said: "This is it, Boss. We found another gate".
Lachlan, who stood behind the group, realized that this 'gate' was the end of his journey; so he started to draw his knife to kill everybody else. He made a swing at Umbra's head. But Umbra reacted by grabbing Lachlan's hand, twisting his wrist backwards and stabbing Lachlan in the throat with his own knife.
Everything happened so quickly, the other two were left astonished by Umbra's actions. To which Oliver exclaimed: "What are you doing!? You didn't have to kill him, Mate!" Umbra turned to him and said: "Lachlan was a traitorous rat, he was double dealing for some bandits. He just pushed his luck by trying to kill us, and now I made him pay". Percy asked: "Are you sure?"
Umbra nodded, this made Oliver calm down as he knew that Umbra had not lied to him since they met. Umbra slowly approached the wall, then looked at Percy and said: "Percy, thank you for helping me find this; and as I promised I will finance your trip to find that lost city you heard about in South America. Mr. Oliver, don't think I forgot about you; you will be rewarded handsomely for your services".
Both Percy and Oliver nodded in appreciation. Percy then said: "She will be happy when you return, Boss". Umbra smiled and said: "Yes. She will". Then he turned towards the wall, he placed his left hand on it; and both the symbol in his hand and the one on the wall began to shine with a light so bright that it engulfed the entire cavern.
Infirmary, Ascension Base
Rai was sleeping soundly on a gurney, no one else was at the infirmary. "Are you planning on waking up any time soon?" asked C.C. in an annoyed tone. Rai was startled and jumped of the gurney and onto the floor. "I'm up! I'm up! Wait, who said that?" Rai started looking around, but found no one.
"Are you done making a fool of yourself? Asked C.C.. Rai looked up, realizing that C.C. was talking directly into his head: "C.C., is that you? How in the world are you in my head?" There was a small paused and C.C. replied: "It's one of the 'side effects' of our contract. I can communicate directly to your mind".
"That's cool and weird" said Rai as he mused at the possibilities. "What's cool and weird?" asked Ursula as she entered the infirmary. Rai quickly looked around trying to find a good explanation: "Uh… well, the fact that I can roll off the bed and not get injured. Isn't it pretty neat?" Rai could hear a sigh from C.C.: "Smooth…"
"You have a very low bar for 'neat'. How was your nap?" teased Ursula as she looked at Rai stand up. Then it sunk in, the last thing Rai did was get on the augmentation pod and now he was at the infirmary: "Wait a minute, how did I get to the infirmary? Where are the guys? Are they okay? How long was I out?"
Rai started talking a mile a minute and looking around trying to get his bearings. Ursula couldn't help but giggle a little at Rai's frantic movements. She walked towards him and grabbed his hands, this made Rai relax and start focusing on her. "Calm down, everyone's fine. After the procedure, you were all unconscious; we brought you to the infirmary until you woke up. You just happened to be the last one to wake up. You're kinda cute when you get all fidgety".
Ursula and Rai shared a loving gaze, then they shared a kiss. Suddenly the door opened, prompting Ursula to push Rai away to straighten herself. It was Lazzard who, by a struck of luck, missed the passionate exchange between the two. "Oh, Rai you are awake?" while he was talking he noticed the two seemed dumbfounded and he asked: "Is everything alright?"
"Ye-yes, Doctor. I was just helping Rai after he fell from the gurney" said Ursula as she finished composing herself. Rai nodded rapidly: "Yeah, yeah! I rolled off when I was sleeping. Heck of a way to wake up, doc."
Lazzard gave a small chuckle: "Is that so? I'm glad you didn't get hurt then. As it were, Rai, how are you feeling after the procedure? Have you felt any changes?" Rai placed his hand on his chin and started thinking, only to be interrupted by C.C.: "Don't even think about it" Rai didn't react to C.C. and told Lazzard: "I got nothing, doc".
Lazzard was disheartened: "Really? Nothing? Not a single change?" Rai simply shrugged: "You mean like puberty? Because I don't want to go through that again." Ursula couldn't help but chuckle. Lazzard started tapping his chin, he was thinking of how the results panned out: "Not a single positive result. Well, nothing can be done I guess. Variables will have to be adjusted for the next trial. Please inform me right away if you experience any changes. I'll let you get back to your team".
Then Lazzard walked outside of the infirmary, but before the door fully closed he poked his head in and said: "Oh, and if you really want to be inconspicuous, you might want to avoid lipstick. It does tend to get passed from surface to surface, after all. Have a nice day, you two." Both Rai and Ursula turned as pale as snow, then blushed uncontrollably.
Rai covered his mouth with both hands, realizing that Lazzard was talking about the lipstick smeared on his lips from kissing. Ursula hung her head in embarrassment and covered the upper part of her face, she couldn't believe Lazzard discovered her relationship. "I did not just hear him say that" teased C.C..
Rai frantically wiped the smeared lipstick: "Well at least he didn't tell us to stop". Ursula raised an eyebrow realizing Rai was right and contently shrugged: "I'm so glad I didn't get you in trouble. You know, with you being a prince and all, I thought Lazzard would have been beside himself. Anyway, that unbelievable case of embarrassment aside, you should get back to your team. I'll talk to you later".
Ursula hugged Rai and walked out of the infirmary. As soon as she left, C.C. started talking: "I know I should be angry at you for wasting time, but that was very amusing." Rai just rolled his eyes: "Glad I could amuse you. Now can you tell me how I'm supposed to find you?"
"Later, we will talk tonight. You need to get back to your team or you will arise suspicion" said C.C. "What about the thing about the power you gave me? C.C.? C.C.!?" asked Rai but he got no response. He was extremely annoyed by C.C.'s decision to just stay quiet, but he knew she was right about being suspicious. Then Rai walked nonchalantly out of the infirmary.
Rai jauntily made his way to the bar by the training area. When he got there, he saw Angeal and Reaper playing cards and drinking; but Zane wasn't there. He got himself a bottled water and sat in the same table Angeal and Reaper were sitting. Angeal and Reaper were playing poker and thus had their poker faces on.
"You took your sweet time sleeping. How are you feeling, kid?" asked Angeal in a monotone voice, without taking his eyes from his cards. "Feeling any special tingles?" teased Reaper as he leaned on his chair. Rai shook his head and said: "Nope, not one bit. You guys?"
Reaper was the first to reply: "Nope. Not a single success, the doc must be going crazy over this." Angeal gave a slight nod: "Yes, he'll figure something out. He always does. Wanna play, kid?" Rai tapped the table in response: "Sure, deal me in. Hey, where's Zane?"
Reaper answered as he handed Rai his cards: "He was being all mopey, so he decided to go for a stroll or for a bath or whatever the hell he does to get away from us." Angeal interrupted: "Enough chit chat, let's play. I need to redeem myself from my last defeat. I will take you down, Reaper. Read them and weep, straight flush."
Rai sighed: "Well I can't beat that, all I got is a four of a kind. How about you, Reaper?" Angeal and Rai turned their heads to Reaper at the same time. "Damn. How am I supposed to beat those cards? Oh, wait! Maybe with this!" Reaper smugly placed his cards on the table, revealing a royal flush.
Angeal and Rai were in disbelief, Reaper remained undefeated. Angeal just groaned in defeat: "How the hell do you do it, you silver haired bastard? I've been trying to take you down for over fifteen years, hell, I even roped the kid into this as back up." Reaper just enjoyed the defeat: "I'm just that damn good, Ange'. Want another humiliating defeat?"
"Are you going to take that, Angeal?" teased Rai, while he poked Angeal. "Hell no, I'm not going to take it. Shuffle those cards." The trio shared a laugh and continued happily playing cards.
Rai's Quarters
Rai was taking a hot shower, trying to relax. As the water ran down his body, he began touching his scars from where he was shot. "Do they hurt?" asked C.C., her voice startled Rai; who almost fell. Rai started looking around as if he expected to see C.C.: "You scared me, C.C.. To answer your question, no they don't hurt. Waitaminute! Are you watching me take a shower?"
"Believe me, I get no pleasure out of it. But right now you are my 'eyes', as it were. Therefore, I see what you see" responded an annoyed C.C.. "Well, it's still creepy. Anyway, are you finally going to tell me about the power you gave me?" asked Rai as he turned off the shower and started drying himself.
"It's the power of the king, some call it geass. As far as what it does? You have to figure it out, as manifest differently depending on the individual" explained C.C. as Rai got dressed in a t-shirt and sweats. "Alright, how do I use it or turn it on?" started musing Rai.
"I find myself completely disinterested in the matter. But since our agreement hinges in you acquiring control of your geass, I suggest you go to the mirror and I will try to assist you with the subsequent tasks" instructed C.C.. Rai rolled his eyes and approached: "You are very rude, especially for someone who needs me to rescue her. Okay, what now?"
Exelica Garden's Manor, Pendragon
A brisk night covered the Imperial City, as the noise of crickets fill the air. Nonette walked towards the upper balcony overlooking the lake. She wore a silk, light-blue nightgown that flowed over her skin like water. Nonette leaned on the railings as she stared at the star-filled sky. "I hope you aren't doing anything stupid, Rai. Yet why is it that I can't shake this feeling that something bad is going to happen. If you are hurt because I am not there to protect you, I would…" Nonette finished her thought aloud: "I will never forgive myself."
Nonette's musing was interrupted by the familiar voice of Cornelia: "Forgive yourself for what, Nonette?" Nonette turned around to see Cornelia standing there without her gallant cape or her sword: "Cornelia, your highness, what are you doing here?"
"Nonette, I believe I asked first" asked Cornelia as she approached Nonette. "Well, I… I don't know what to say, Cornelia. I worry about him. I cannot take my mind of the fact that he might be in danger. I finally understand why you act the way you do with Euphie."
Cornelia nodded in understanding and in her usual serious demeanor said: "He is the reason I am here, there is something that has been gnawing at me about this entire situation. You spent more time with him that anybody else here, doesn't this seem so 'convenient'. I dislike unknowns and he is a very big unknown. The way he is just accepted without question, I have never seen the emperor treat a matter in the way his-majesty has treated this one. Not to mention the secrecy… Yet this farm boy has managed to pass through the hierarchy with such ease."
Nonette chuckled: "You have to admit that he has a charm to him. That's a huge help." Cornelia leaned backwards against the railing and nodded her head: "He is charismatic. Euphie seems to trust him; I do not know what to make of it. Also, I noticed that you avoided the subject altogether."
Nonette turned around and leaned forward on the railing: "You noticed that. I do think is weird; but his majesty hasn't told me anything and, from what I can tell, Rai is as confused by this as you are." Cornelia glared at the night sky, pondering on Nonette's answer: "That may be the case, if so, then something else is going on here. And 'Rai' really? You are getting overly familiar with him."
Both women stared directly at each other's eyes, sharing a tension filled gaze. Only to be ended by Nonette sticking her tongue out to Cornelia and both women started laughing. "Well somebody has to treat the poor kid like family, since none of his actual family seems to want to do it, except for Euphie."
Leoclides' Office
The shadowy figure of Leoclides sat in the darkness of his office his hand on a communicator: "I expect no deviations from the original plan. I care very little for outside interference." Lecoclides paused while the individual on the other end of the line talked then he answered: "If they won't cooperate they must be disposed of. I will leave the details to you. I expect nothing other than success, is that clear son?" A devilish smile could be seen through the shadows on Leoclides' face as he hung up. "It's just a matter of time…"
Rai's Quarters
Rai was standing in front of a mirror, looking at his face with extreme focus: "Come on C.C. I have been standing in front of the mirror concentrating for three hours. This isn't working, C.C…. C.C.? You left, didn't you?" There was a small moment of silence, before C.C. replied: "I left after I lost interest in your progress".
"Really, and when was that?" Rai then just sighed in defeat. "Approximately two hours and forty-five minutes ago." Rai took an extremely deep breath and retorted: "Then unless you have a functioning way on how to activate this geass, I'm going to bed."
"I have a way, but it won't be easy on you" Then C.C. began flashing horrific images in Rai's head. Destruction, death, desolation. The twisted images ate at Rai's very core. He saw through the eyes of a victim of the Spanish inquisition as they set them ablaze; feeling the flames lick at his skin. He saw as jackbooted tugs lined up people, who pleaded for mercy, then promptly opened fire on them. He felt the piercing pain as hunger claimed a small village under a burning sun.
The harrowing flashes did not stop. Rai witnessed, though the eyes of a living victim, as they were dropped among corpses unto a mass grave. The horrendous nature of the flashes did not stop there. They kept coming, all among them had one thing in common, every single one was powerless to stop their demise at the hand of unrelenting forces. The realization formed as the final flash crept unto Rai's mind.
It was an all too familiar experience, the bullet that pierced his chest; but at the same time, it was more. This time around, the pain lingered; it did not fade. The moment seemed to last an eternity.
"This isn't how I want to die. Powerless. Alone. At the hands of some unyielding force. I don't want to be weak. Like those people were, like I am now." Rai's thoughts were lucid, even among this haze of pain.
C.C.'s voice cut through the miasma, her words emphatic, powerful: "Then you know what you must do?"
"Yes. I will use the power of the king. This geass, to change my fate. To change the world in which I live." Suddenly, Rai was no longer in pain, he was no longer entranced in a memory. He stood above himself, his old self. With strength and determination in his eyes, but there was something else. In his right eye, a red shimmer encompassed a bird sigil; the same bird sigil that he saw on C.C.'s forehead.
Then the him that laid on the ground dying turned to smoke and vanished, along with the rest of the memory, leaving Rai standing again in front of the mirror. His entire semblance had changed, now a somber demeanor exuded from the youth. He slowly raised his head; a somewhat malevolent grin slowly rose along with him. His right eye flaring with geass.
