Welcome back! I'm very excited about these next few chapters and this chapter should show you why!
But first, a few questions answered.
Paimon is curious about Lelouch getting superior knightmare frames. To that... yes and no. I admit there will be new knightmare frames, but nothing so special that it makes the fights one sided. What makes or breaks a frame when the fighting starts is the skill of the pilot and the tactician that directs them. A lousy pilot in the Lancelot will lose to an expert in a Sutherland, and vice-versa. A big problem I had with R2 was that the biggest factor in the outcome of a battle suddenly switched from R1's focus on strategy and tactics to which knightmare had the higher power level. "What's that? You got an army and the elite Knights of the Round on your side? LOL NOPE LANCELOT ALBION ONE SHOT!"
Dp11 wants to know if Lelia will be involved in the story. To that, I'm honestly not certain yet. If she does get a part in the story, she probably won't be introduced until season two, and that will be after Akito the Exiled is finished. The story's still going, so we'll need to see where that plot leads before we can see if it's characters are compatible with my plans for the post-Black Rebellion future.
Chapter Seven: Divergence
At Ashford Academy Lelouch was enjoying some well deserved rest after successfully pulling of his Saitama operation. Currently he kneeling next to Nunnally, applying whiskers to her cheeks with a paintbrush. A part of being a member of the student council meant that one had to assist in the planning of the different events and parties they threw. Even with the cat festival a still a ways away, the student council was already at work planning for the day. Decorations were being made, food was being ordered, and costumes were being picked out.
Speaking of which...
"M-m-madame President! You really don't expect me to wear that, do you?!" Shirley said, flustered as Milly advanced on her with a skimpy catgirl costume in her arms. Being her usual daring self Milly herself had decided to dress up in the skimpy black catgirl outfit she wore last time.
"What wrong with it?" the blonde president asked coyly as she cornered Shirley against the far wall. The "outfit" consisted of cat ears and tail and a fur bikini. "Come on, don't tell me you're scared of showing some skin..."
"No!" Shirley denied, then blushed when she realized how that sounded. "...But that's way too much."
"I bet you'll like it." Milly pressed. "But be that way if you like, you have until we get back from Lake Kawaguchi to decide if you like it or not."
Lelouch grimaced. He knew that Lake Kawaguchi was a deathtrap. To make some sort of twisted statement, Kusakabe, one of the more radical members of the JLF would break off from the rest of the group take the convention center hostage. The attack would get many innocents killed and would set in motion Nina's obsession with Euphy, but it would also allow the Black Knights to establish themselves as champions of justice. The trip was only a few days away, he was going to have to pull some strings, get the trip rescheduled or 'convince' Milly to abandon the idea altogether. He'd ask C.C. for advice, but the immortal girl had seemingly disappeared from campus. He could only imagine what she was up to now.
But for now, he'd enjoy the brief respite from his troubles being with his friends allowed him. And he had to admit, he was enjoying the mental image of Milly in her costume forcibly getting Shirley into that catgirl getup...He hummed thoughtfully and blushed as he imagined that playing out.
Nunnally yelped as Lelouch absentmindedly brought the brush across her nose while he was distracted. "Big Brother..." she pouted.
"Nunnally! I'm sorry!" he apologized profusely while jerking his hand away, flicking himself in the face with the dripping brush in the process.
Everyone laughed, even Nina and Kallen. Lelouch laughed himself as he got a rag to wipe off his and Nunnally's faces.
"Don't laugh just yet mister!"Milly said to Lelouch with a gleam in her eyes. "...Cause' you're trying out a costume next!"
"...Eh?" Lelouch muttered.
The moment between friends was cut short however, as the cheesy sitcom that had been playing on the television cut out and was replaced by a breaking news bulletin. There had been another terrorist attack. Someone had actually climbed up onto one of the settlement's railways and placed either a mine or a pressure sensitive charge on the tracks. When a military cargo train passed over it...
"...The resulting explosion damaged the railway and several buildings below were struck by burning debris." The newscaster reported while footage of one of the fire's played. "Although the police have yet to release an official statement, there has been no word of survivors. Blame is being placed on eleven construction crews who scale the railways to conduct repairs. This is the fourth incident of terrorist activity since Viceroy's Cornelia's return from Saitama. The Viceroy will address the bombing along with concerns over Zero's activities at a press conference tomorrow night."
Lelouch frowned and turned off the television to focus on his thoughts. The situation was escalating far faster than he expected.
Since her return from Saitama Cornelia predictably had done her utmost to suppress the news of her personal defeat to was a total media blackout on any information on Saitama and the failed purge. Officially, it was as if the battle had never happened. But while the media had been successfully suppressed, Cornelia was unable to keep the people of Saitama themselves from talking.
News of Cornelia's defeat spread like wildfire through the ghettos, the downtrodden all too eager to spread word of how their own knocked the Britannians down a peg. And once word reached the Honorary Britannians, all of the settlement was talking about was how the Goddess of Victory, the leader of the empires armies... lost to a group of guerrilla fighters hiding in the ruins. It was a PR nightmare on an unprecedented level with the Britannians who should be supporting her, that the Viceroy would try to conceal something like this, and that she actually let a terrorist victory happen. If tensions were high between Britannians and the Japanese before, Cornelia had just kicked the hornets nest.
But more problems for Cornelia also meant more problems for Zero. Not until the culmination of the Black Rebellion had the Black Knights possessed enough power and influence to challenge her directly. He wasn't sure how she'd react to the pressure of active terrorists in addition to open defiance of her authority in the settlement and ghettos. Until now he'd still had a general idea of where events were headed. He'd known Cornelia would be selected to replace Clovis, and knew she'd set a trap in Saitama for Zero, and it was reasonable to assume Kusakabe would still make a move. But since winning Saitama, events were now diverging in ways he couldn't predict. It was safe to say that any specific knowledge he had about the original future was now worthless.
Lelouch looked around the room at the expressions of those around him. Suzaku looked sadly at the blank television screen, lost in his own musings. Kallen watched as well, her expression unreadable. She must be torn, Lelouch realized, between her identity as a freedom fighter and the friends she's made here.
"That's another one..." Milly said softly in a rare moment of seriousness. The fact Milly was taking this seriously showed how even the Britannians were taking the terrorism issue seriously.
"...This is because of Zero." Suzaku said after a moment. "Look at what he's done. Things were starting to get better, then he came along and now the relations between the elevens and Britannians are falling through again."
'There has to be a way to break through to him.' Lelouch thought. He didn't know if he was trying to delude himself, or if he'd really come believe it to be true, but he needed to get Suzaku to see the system for what it was, a sham. The only way this country or its people could truly live again was independently of the Empire, not as just some subservient lower class.
His musings were interrupted when Lelouch got a call on his "special" phone. It was a phone he'd gotten specifically so the Black Knights could contact him. It was only supposed to be used for emergencies.
"There's something I need to do, excuse me." with that he left he room, leaving his ace to fend for herself against the sudden attention of the whole student council.
Once Lelouch was sure he was out of earshot of anyone, he rounded a corner and picked up the phone, placing the wet cloth he'd gotten earlier over the speaker to muffle his voice. "Yes?" he said. "What?! From Kyoto?... Are you sure? Tonight? ...I'll be there, have a car ready when I arrive."
He grit his teeth as he hung up the phone. It looked like he'd need to make an excuse to head to the ghetto again tonight. He hated leaving everyone on short notice like this, but this was important. Something like this had never happened before, and had the potential to change everything about the rebellion.
The JLF wanted to see him.
On the other side of the settlement in the Viceroy's Palace, a disgraced man awaited his judgement.
Jeremiah Gottwald waited silently outside Viceroy Cornelia's office, waiting for when he would be called to appear before her. The summons had come rather abruptly. He'd been going over Barltey's paper trail with Villetta when the call came in that Viceroy wanted to see him immediately. As soon as he hung up the phone he was out the door, with his most (and possibly only) loyal remaining subordinate behind him. After his disgrace, he had never truly expected to stand here again. The relief of being proven wrong was mixed with worry at the thought of just what the Viceroy now had planned for him.
The Viceroy calling upon someone meant one of two things: An assignment, or an impending public arrest and humiliation in front of the area administration. While he had done everything in his power to cooperate with the Viceroy and distance himself from that Orange conspiracy, he knew his allegiances were probably still unclear to her. He supposed it was fortunate the Viceroy had stationed him where he'd been able to quickly act to repel Zero's surprise attack. The assignment had been meant as an insult instead became his chance at redemption, allowing him to directly demonstrate his loyalty to the Viceroy by fighting Zero himself to defend her. But even then, did that didn't make his loyalty clear-cut to her. To her, he could appear to have had countless ulterior motives for risking himself, and they didn't have to be associated with Zero to be bad ones.
The Viceroy was well within her power to still arrest him for even the slightest suspicion. He knew that from experience, recalling a time when Clovis had once ordered a wealthy businessman executed for an accidental faux pas at one of his more lavish parties. Perhaps she still didn't trust him and wanted to eliminate the unknown factors in her conflict with Zero? Jeremiah was snapped out of his somber train of thought by Villetta placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Hey, relax. We don't even know what the princess wants with us." she said, trying to get him to loosen up. She'd known him long enough to tell when something worried him.
Jeremiah scoffed. "If our recent luck is any indication, it can't be anything good."
Villetta sighed dejectedly, taking her hand away.
"You didn't have to come Villetta." If this was his end, it wasn't fair for her to go down too for her association with him. "The Purists are finished, if she's going to take Kewell's betrayal out out on us I'll take responsibility and you could still walk away before-"
He was cut off as Villetta put a finger to his lips with a little smile. "I might have more to lose here, but let me take care of myself, My Lord."
Jeremiah smirked despite himself. If it was anyone else, Jeremiah wouldn't have allowed sass, but Villetta and had known each other for years. He allowed it because she was not only his subordinate, she was his friend. Perhaps the only real one he had left in Area Eleven.
It was unusual to see a noble in any sort of meaningful relationship with a commoner. Because of their place in the running of the state, nobles looking to join the military tended to be automatically placed in higher ranks. Because of that gap between the commoners and nobles, in the nobility tended to get automatically placed in higher ranks and look down on the common men serving below was suspected Lady Marianne had been targeted specifically because of her commoner birth, a theory that Jeremiah agreed with.
He supposed the unique bond they'd forged developed over the way they'd both risen in rank together. He, a noble who had lost everything after the Aries Villa, and she a commoner who had fought her way up the command chain for every bit of power and influence she posessed. Both of them had started with nothing, but were here now because of their joint efforts.
If only he could guarantee they'd both make it out of this.
Jeremiah frowned again. "Villetta, I still think-"
The words died in his mouth as the door opened and Lord Guliford stepped outside.
"Jeremiah, the Princess will see you now." he said and motioned for him to enter, his eyes narrowed in obvious distaste. Ever since he'd arrived Lord Guilford seemed to view him with the most open distrust.
Jeremiah ignored the slight of not being referred to by his noble title and entered the office without another word, leaving his worried subordinate alone in the hall. General Darlton watched him carefully beside the viceroy's desk at the other end of the room, her authoritative gaze betraying no emotion. He glanced back at the doorway as Guilford shut it behind himself, noticing the two barrel-chested guards watching him intently on either side of the exit. Was that a regular security precaution now, or did she really distrust him that much?
The princess was seated at her desk, going through a stack of files. It looked a little odd, to see the Goddess of Victory busying herself with paperwork, but as he knew from his own brief tenure as Acting Consul keeping an area of the empire was no easy feat even without terrorism to worry about. As he drew closer to the desk, he recognized several of the folders the Princess had on her desk. It was the report that he'd comprised on the Area's terror cells, alongside the file of his own service record.
"Gottwald, I'm glad you could make it." Cornelia said as she signed off on another form.
"...Thank you, Your Highness." he said with a bow.
"I'd rather avoid wasting any time and get to what I need from you, but it is important I get this out of the way." she set down the pen and looked him straight in the eye. "...It appears I owe you an apology.
'...what.'
Jeremiah blinked. He'd expected insults, an outright demand for him to come clean about his plans, but not this.
"I am not so arrogant to not admit when I have been proven wrong." She said as she rose from her desk, holding one of the stacks of papers in her hands. "Ever since I arrived at this area, it's been one blunder after another with the administration. Every noble, nearly every member of my brother's administration has proven inept at handling this situation."
She sighed. "Everyone, except you." She picked up the report he'd compiled on the terrorists. "Despite being shamed and demoted, every action you've taken has still been done with intention of catching Zero. And if you were working with him, you wouldn't have defended the G-1 in Shinjuku." she continued. "You had the perfect opportunity to betray me, but instead proved your loyalty, attacking him directly."
Jeremiah's eyes widened. Could this really mean... he was being forgiven? A second chance?
She smiled at him. "You've conducted yourself in the manner I'd expected of one of my men. And so, I apologize for your treatment until now."
Jeremiah smiled. "I am a humble servant of the crown, your highness. What is the task you have for me?"
"My problem is, of course, Zero's men in the government." she scowled. "You were right Gottwald, someone is leaking information to Zero. Of course, Saitama was a result of these traitors assisting him."
In the corner, Dalton grimaced as he rubbed his neck.
"What would you have me do, your highness?" Jeremiah asked.
She picked up a folder and handed it to him.
"I've handpicked a task force to investigate the area's corruption, but so far it hasn't produced any results." she explained. "I'm certain I've allowed them the resources they need, but it's becoming clear that the members of the local administration are incompetent, and my own men are too unfamiliar with the settlement's political climate to recognize what behavior would constitute suspicious among the nobility. I find myself in need of someone who knows the political climate of this area, who has experience dealing with the sycophants my brother surrounded himself with, and has shown prior leadership ability. Interested?"
The answer was obvious. "I would be honored to join Princess."
"Good. I'll have the files and member information sent to you. You'll start immediately, get to it." Cornelia sat back down and re-immersed herself in the paperwork.
Remembering Villetta and his few remaining loyal subordinates, Jeremiah decided to take a risk. "Princess, if I may be so bold," The Viceroy looked back at him. Here goes nothing. "...there are others I know of whose experience would make them useful members of this force. No doubt we'll be able to function better if there are other capable members on board whose loyalty I can vouch for."
Cornelia hummed thoughtfully. Guilford looked ready to object to Jeremiah making requests of the princess, but blinked and said nothing.
It was extremely risky for someone in Jeremiah's position to ask something of the Princess. She had every right to refuse or have him punished for what could be interpreted as disrespect. But Jeremiah wouldn't be able to continue in good conscience if didn't try something to help his fellow disgraced Purists.
"...Send me their files. If I see nothing wrong, I'll consider it." she said finally.
Jeremiah breathed a sigh of relief, he supposed that was the best he could hope for.
"I want these traitors dealt with, Gottwald. Continue to serve me well, and perhaps I can find further use for you."
Jeremiah stood up straight and saluted. "Yes, your Highness!"
Without another word he was waved out of the viceroy's office and the Viceroy returned to her paperwork.
Once he'd started walking, he could no longer contain a feral grin from spreading across his face. This what he'd needed. A second chance, the authority and resources to go after the men who'd taken everything from him. Then once the collaborators were taken care of, he'd finally get his chance at Zero himself, the chance to end the man once and for all.
Villetta blinked when she caught sight of the look on her face. "...My Lord?" she asked confusedly, taken off guard by how his current attitude contrasted to the somber one he'd had when he went in.
Jeremiah chuckled as plans for the future formed in his mind. "Gather the others. We have work to do."
'The Purist Faction is back...'
Elsewhere in the Viceroy's Palace, Euphemia Li Britannia giggled quietly as she listened to the exasperated calls of her security team from inside a broom closet.
"Princess? Princess where are you?! Please don't run off again!" a woman with short brown hair called out as she searched in vain for her charge.
Ever since her sister returned from Saitama, the security assigned to her had become practically omnipresent. Always silently following her, only speaking to her when it became necessary to remind her of what her sister had forbidden her from doing. As soon as she got back, her sister had cancelled all her trips around the Area and doubled security. The Museum, Clovisland, even Lake Kawaguchi. Postponed, rescheduled, cancelled. After she heard the accounts of what happened she couldn't blame her sister for wanting her safe from Zero, but that didn't make her house arrest in all but name any more easy.
Euphie had protested, but Cornelia just smiled and ruffled her hair like she always did. "It looks like I cut your vacation short. I'm sorry Euphie." she'd said.
Evading her own security team had become something of a game to her since then, practically the only way she could have a moment to herself, not to mention entertain herself in the quiet palace. Once the calls of the security team faded away, she exited the closet and decided to pay Cornelia a quick visit. Maybe her sister would actually give her the news about the outside world, and it would at least do something to alleviate the boredom of being cooped up in here all the time. But as she began walking, the amusement her escape had given her quickly evaporated.
It was so quiet here. The only sounds to be heard were the trying of keyboards in the bureaucrats' offices and the sounds of servants making preparations for the arrival of the reinforcements from the homeland. Clovis' messages home had made this place sound so vibrant and exciting when he was Viceroy, filled with recounts of his favorite parties and fundraisers. As she walked towards her sister's office, she tried to imagine what this place was like then. The distant music, the laughter of the guests (Clovis among them), and the servants rushing about to cater to the guests whims.
But now there was no laughter, no music, just the agonizing silence and the cold realization Clovis would never party again. Even the servants never mentioned Clovis when she managed to get one to stay so she had someone to talk to. It wasn't fair, for someone as vibrant and gentle as her brother to seemingly vanish from the memory of everyone around her. To Euphie it was another somber reminder of the world she and her sister inhabited, where failures and what Father defined as "weakness" were things to be forgotten as quickly as possible.
She'd imagined many times would happen if something were to happen to Cornelia, if her sister fell in the battles she seemed to crave. Would it be the same? Would the Goddess of Victory's legacy too be just a funeral full of fake tears and condolences, before her position was quickly filled, never to be spoken of again? How long would it be before Euphie herself acted that way, how long before every departed family member was replaceable in her eyes?
She sighed. Maybe this was the reason why sister never involved her in matters of the court. Politics were depressing. Ever since she began working on this area, all she had time for were work and sleeping, then leaving for a few days to mop up a terror cell. Euphy wondered if that was intentional on her sister's part, arranging her schedule as to spend as little time as possible in the building that had been the home of their brother not so long ago.
She soon found herself in the hallway outside her sister's office. She watched silently as Lord Gottwald and one of his subordinates left. She faintly recalled having met him once back at the Aries Villa. The reminder of those happier days only depressed her further. Once he'd left Euphie let herself in.
Cornelia was siting at her desk. Her head shot up with an angry look on her face, looking ready to berate the person who interrupted her work. But once she saw it was Euphy the expression fell from her face.
"Euphie? What is it?" in that gentle tone she reserved only for her little sister.
"I wanted to see how you're doing. Do you have a minute?"
"Of course I do. Guards, leave us." Cornelia said, tossing the supplies requisition form aside. She always had time for her sister.
"Did Lord Gottwald agree to the job you had for him?" Euphie asked.
"Of course. He's served me well so far, it was only natural he'd accept a opportunity to get back in favor. He'll get the job done, don't you agree Guilford?"
"Princess, I think-" Guilford said, then blinked. "...Gottwald is loyal to the Royal Family. I have faith he'll be able to complete this task." He answered.
Cornelia nodded and left it at that, trusting the judgement of her knight. Placing men she could trust in positions of authority was the first step in organizing this area. Once she'd loosened the worthless nobles' hold over the area enough with her own men she could begin removing and replacing them entirely. Once that was accomplished and the whole administration was committed to the task of catching Zero, he wouldn't stand a chance.
"Have you seen the private garden yet? I've been too busy to see it for myself." Cornelia asked, changing the subject away from military matters. She never like involving Euphie in such dirty business.
Euphie had visited it. Ten times now. "It's lovely." she said with a small smile. "Maybe if you have some time, we could go visit it together?"
"I'd love that, but not today." Cornelia declined sadly with a hint of anger in her voice. "I have to get ready for the arrival of our 'reinforcements' right now."
Euphie frowned. She knew her sister was taking Father's demands pretty hard. Zero's victory had attracted the attention of The Emperor, who was displeased to hear that the leader of his army had lost so easily. She didn't know what words were exchanged between them, but to keep her position Cornelia had to 'agree' to let The Emperor send his own men to monitor the situation. Even Euphie could see what an insult that was, implying that Cornelia couldn't handle the situation on her own.
"Euphie..." Cornelia continued, pulling her sister into a hug. "I know this is boring, but please bear with it a little bit longer...When Zero's taken care of, this area will be yours." she admitted.
Euphy's eyes widened in surprise. Did her sister really trust her with the responsibility of running a whole area? She imagined all the things she could do with control over Area Eleven."
"Once the eleven's have been pacified, you'll be able to go wherever you want, do whatever you want." Cornelia continued. "I'm sorry you've been dragged into this fight, but please, bear with it a while longer."
Euphie returned the hug. "Of course, sister."
After a few moments, they ended the embrace. "I guess the paperwork can wait a while longer. Let's get ready for the welcoming reception." Cornelia said, leading the way to their chambers.
She hated state affairs, but there were some situations where it was unavoidable to put on a mask and socialize with people you know want to ruin you.
And the arrival of a Knight of the Round was one such situation.
Lelouch sat in silence as the Pizza Hut truck he was in drove towards the meeting place with the JLF. The rest of the Black Knights' leadership sat with him, pondering what was to come. Kallen and the other original Black Knights talked excitedly among themselves about the JLF, Izumi and his lieutenants talked on the other side of the car. But Lelouch's thoughts focused on the student council. If the situation was any different he wouldn't leave the Ashford so close to Lake Kawaguci. But this was something new, something he'd never dealt with before. He was going to be directly dealing with the JLF. The news came as a shock to everyone, that they'd caught the attention of the JLF so quickly.
After leaving Saitama the Black Knights sent copies of the government data taken from the G-1 to Kyoto. Shortly afterwards Kyoto passed on the news that the JLF wanted to set up a meeting. According to Kyoto, someone high up in the JLF had apparently been impressed by Saitama and wanted to work closer with Zero.
As to be expected, everyone was excited by the news. As the largest and best equipped resistance movement in Japan, everyone knew about and respected the JLF. Not only were they Kyoto's favorite resistance group, they were the best equipped and their highest ranking members were all former members of Japan's military. But entering into an alliance with them could be tricky. The JLF's leaders and resources combined with his own could make him unstoppable. But like he told Kallen earlier, getting involved with the JLF put his own authority at risk. How eager would the Black Knights be to place their trust in a legend like Todoh, or defer to the authority of a tactician like General Katase? The legend of Zero would be forgotten before it even began.
No matter what, he couldn't let them make him into some sort of adviser. The JLF couldn't be allowed to turn him into a figurehead for reclaiming a country long-dead. Zero has to be the face of the new Japan, of the Black Knight's message of equality to all the world. And he couldn't just reject the offer without good reason, his men wouldn't abide by a decision like that. It would be like a Britannian general slapping Cornelia in the face. This would prove difficult, but he was confident he could pull it off. If need be he'd geass them into an alliance on his terms, but that of course was a last resort.
The car pulled to a stop outside the address for the meeting place, an old parking garage. They all existed and began walking to the building, Kallen beside Zero with Oghi and Izumi flanked them. Their respective lieutenants surrounded them, ready to act in case things went sour.
There was a man standing in front of the entrance waiting for them. He was a young man, probably only a year or two older than Lelouch. Lelouch stepped forward to speak with him.
He smiled. "Welcome, Zero. We've been waiting for you."
"Thank you." Lelouch said politely as he sized the man up. The watchman was trying to look professional, but he was doing a poor job hiding his excitement at meeting Zero. But then the man's face went slack as he looked at something behind Zero. For a second there was a look of utter confusion on his face before an expression of utter hate covered his features and he pulled out a pistol and aimed it...
...At Kallen.
In that split second, Lelouch pushed Kallen behind him and placed himself in front of the guard.
"What do you think you're doing?!" Ohgi demanded of the guard, standing beside Zero to protect Kallen.
"What's a Britannian doing here?!" the man demanded in reply. Kallen looked scandalized and on the verge of a retory, but Zero sent her a glance over her shoulder to be quiet.
"She's one of us. You don't intend to end an alliance before it begins by killing one of my subordinates, do you?"
Zero's interruption made the man falter, but he raised the pistol again. "She don't look Japanese!"
"Miss Kozuki has been a valuable part of out organization. Without her skills, the Saitama operation wouldn't have possible."
That got the guard's attention, and he lowered the pistol slightly. "Yeah, but-"
"I suggest you just let this go." Lelouch said curtly, activating his geass.
"...Yeah, sure." the guard said in a dazed voice and put his weapon away. "...The leader's waiting for you inside."
'The Leader?' Lelouch wondered as he and the rest of the Black Knight's leadership entered the darkness of the garage.
"...The hell was that?" Ohgi asked once he was sure they were out of earshot.
"To be fair, Kallen does look like... uhm..." Tamaki began, but trailed off under the withering glares Ohgi and Zero sent him.
But the damage was done. Kallen grit her teeth and clenched her fists. Ohgi placed a hand on her shoulder as they walked. Lelouch wished there was something he could say or do for her, but he was forced to accept that all he could do was keep walking. He just didn't know her well enough yet personally in this timeline to console her, and this was hardly the place to do it.
"Never expected the JLF to be so trigger happy." Tamaki noted after a moment, trying to diffuse the tension.
"...You don't think this is a trap, do you?" Izumi asked, eyes darting around nervously. He always seemed to be the most pessimistic of the group.
"Be on guard. Be ready if anything goes wrong." Lelouch urged them as they moved forward, more cautiously than before.
After a few moments of walking they spotted a group of men dressed in the uniforms of the JLF standing around a military van in the back of the garage. They stood in the shadows, making their features indistinguishable from a distance. They noticed their approach, and began walking forward to meet them.
But Lelouch was still thinking about what the lookout had said as they approached. He'd said their leader was waiting for them up ahead. The JLF took direction from General Katase, whom in the last timeline had never dealt with Zero until there was no other option. Even Todoh didn't want to get involved with the Black Knights at first. Surely the victory at Saitama hadn't impressed them that much. So who was the leading-
He stopped in his tracks as the apparent leader stepped out of the shadows, making his features clear to all. He was tall, bearded and carried a katana on his hip.
'Oh no...' Lelouch thought. 'Not him... Not now...'
"Greetings, Zero." The leader said as he bowed. "I am Lieutenant Colonel Kusakabe. I have a proposition I think you'll find interesting..."
AN: Thanks to everyone for reading so far I hope you've all enjoyed the story up till now, because as of right now, you can say goodbye to canon! That's right, MoT is sailing right into uncharted waters! The changes have all been building up to this moment, it's going to be a wild ride!
Next time, a meeting with the "JLF", and a few new/old enemies reveal themselves! Who will it be? Tune in next time!