Chapter 7 the royal liar

It was a dark day in area 11. The student council stood silent as a man was buried. This man was Shirley's farther. He had died in the landslide that zero had started and now was being laid to rest. However as his coffin was buried, Shirley mother cried out. "Please don't make him experience being buried again". She fell to her knees weeping for her dead husband with her daughter trying to comfort her.

The student council stood in silence paying their respects. However one person was missing from the group and this person was Rai. He was still in the Britannian HQ being trained as a royal guard. He tried to get the time off to go to the funeral; however he wasn't allowed by order given by Cornelia herself.

Guilford however seem to understand Rai's need and so he and Rai took five minutes out of training to pray for Shirley's father. "May his soul rest in peace" said Guilford standing up from his praying position, Rai rose too looking at his teacher. "Thank you my lord for letting me use this time to pray for Shirley's dad" Rai said bowing before Guilford.

"Of course I can understand you wanting to pray for him, I'm sorry you didn't get to go to the funeral, but" But Rai understood. "My job as a royal guard comes first" Rai said proudly. Guilford smiled looking at Rai. Ever since they started to train together the two seem to have got along like fire and wood. "Very well now that we have prayed for a life, let us train to prevent this happening to someone we love" Guilford said looking at his student. "Yes my lord" Rai answered back and the two began training again.

It had taken three day to arrange Shirley's farther funeral and through all these days Rai and Guilford had trained. Rai had undergone strict training making his stronger and wiser. This showed in his reports that Cornelia received daily. "He seems to be processing well" said Cornelia looking at today report. "Yes viceroy, he's shown a real determination to grow and become stronger" reported Guilford to her.

Cornelia gave a grin as she put the report down. "Guilford you sound more like the boy's farther, then his teacher" she said. Guilford coughed trying to hide his feelings. "Your highness my only interest in Officer Rai is to train him to be the best guard he can be, nothing else." explained Guilford. Cornelia just grinned as she turned away from him in her chair.

"For today's mission Guilford, I want warrant officer Kururugi and officer Rai to fill in with my personal gunner units" she said looking out the window. "I shall make sure that is done your highness" Guilford said bowing. "If I want to have you guard Euphi officer Rai, you must first have a good eye" she thought as Guilford made his way.

Back at the university Suzuki had just received news of his next mission from Lloyd. "Congratulation Officer Kururugi, I just got orders from Cornelia's personal gunner unit to have you participle in the next mission" he said with a smile. Suzaku didn't show any reaction but Lloyd hadn't finished speaking to him. "Think they've finally recognized your skill or are they going to use you like bait again" mocked Lloyd. Suzaku was shocked at what Lloyd said but Cecile soon put Lloyd in his place. "Lloyd" she said walking up to the two. Lloyd looked at her as she gave a small smile. "Would you like me to teach you how to socialize properly?" she asked looking at him. "No, I'll think I pass" said Lloyd knowing how Cecile usually was at teaching him stuff.

"Besides I hear officer Rai will be there too" said Cecile giving Suzaku a cup of tea. "Oh well it's nice to know somebody there" said Suzaku happily taking a sip of the tea. However since their last meeting Rai had changed. Now dressed in the dark red royal guard uniform he stood in front of Dalton waiting for Suzaku in a Port Yokosuka storage warehouse.

"Officer Rai, I heard from Guilford you are doing well. Are you enjoying being a royal guard?" Dalton asked him. Rai was not sure how to answer. If he was truthful, he was tired and his body ached and he hated being mocked by the other royal guards.

"It's an honour my lord" answered Rai. Dalton laughed at his answer, knowing full well the training one had to go through to be a royal guard. "Ha. Ha, officer Rai you're beginning to sound like lord Guilford" Dalton laughed. Rai couldn't believe it what he said, no matter where he went he was always like someone. "If you say so lord Dalton" replied Rai as finally Suzaku arrived.

The two pilots were given the mission brief by Dalton. "The target is Katase Tatewaki, the remaining head of the Japanese liberation front" began Dalton. Rai had heard about this man, he was originally a general of the Japanese army before japan was taken over by Britannian. Seeking to gain japan its independence back the remains of the Japanese's army formed the Japanese liberation front to fight back.

"He will be using a supply ship to try and escape overseas" continued Dalton noticing Rai day dreaming. "Officer Rai" he said snapping Rai back. "I'm sorry sir" Rai said remembering where he was. "Try to focus officer Rai" Order Dalton. He then continued explaining the mission. "The aqua knights will be used during this mission to apprehend him. You both will provide cover for them from the shore as the aqua knights intercept Kataste's ship, as well as the elimination of any refugees trying to escape understood?" he asked them both. "Yes my lord" answered Rai, but Suzaku seemed to hesitate to answer. "Elimination, sir?" questioned Suzaku to Dalton, Rai could see that Suzaku did not want to kill people who did not have a fair chance at fighting back.

Dalton nodded. "We mustn't let anyone live, apart from the target" answered Dalton. Suzaku gasped at his answer. Was he really killing all these people just to capture one person? "Show your devotion to Britannia Officer Kururugi, this is a chance to be promoted like your fellow officer" finished Dalton leaving the boys to ready themselves for the mission. Rai looked at his friend as he stood there shaking. "Suzaku..." thought Rai as he placed his right hand on his friend shoulder.

"We're going to fight a very unfair fight, how is that justice?" said Suzaku clenching the Lancelot's key. "It not, but that's our job" said Rai walking forward. Suzaku looked at Rai shocked. "If you want to reach your dream Suzaku, you have to do things you disagree with" said Rai looking back at his friend with his deep blue eyes. Suzaku couldn't believe it, was this really the same quiet Rai he had befriend all those weeks ago? "Officer Rai, officer Kururugi" shouted a Britannian soldier running into the warehouse. "The operation is about to begin, please report to you unit" he said saluting. Suzaku and Rai nodded and made their way to their Knightmare frames.

It was drawing evening over port Yokosuka and like clockwork the events played out. Cornelia ordered her aqua knight to launch. Next her gunner unit was place near the ports exit ready to fire. And finally the Japanese liberation ship came out. As the aqua knight attacked the ship, the gunners on shore shot down anybody on the deck of the ship. Well everyone expect Suzuki. "This isn't a battle..." he thought watching the Japanese officers getting shot off the boat like coconuts being shot off their stand at a fair. Rai on the other hand was shooting as many men as he could.

"Forgive me" he said as he fired the clubs varies gun at the officers on the ship. However like the battle on shatter mountain there was yet another player in this war game. As some of Britannian Knightmare frames boarded the ship, he made his move. "Move out!" ordered the new player as he pressed the charger. Rai could only watch as the ship exploded into nothing. The strong winds created by the power of the blast caused some gunner Knightmare frames to fly off into crates in the port. The Club and Lancelot's seemed to be the only ones to be able to guard against the strong winds.

Within minutes the wind blew over and the gunners were able to stand again. "Suzaku are you alright?" asked Rai over the radio. But there was no response. Suzaku just sat in his Lancelot thinking about what happened. "Did you really blow yourself up, General Katase?" he said as news of another attack came from over the radio. Zero and some of the black-knights had arrived on a small carrier boat. "They've got Brui and that strange Knightmare, there knocking the Knightmare's …." the radio went dead. "Ah" Rai realising what zero was doing. "Their pushing the Britannian Knightmare's into the sea, before they have a chance to attack" thought Rai readying the club.

"Suzaku" called Rai over the radio trying to contact his friend again. "I know, we have to save Cornelia and stop zero!" was the reply. With that the two Knightmare frames raced to the rescue.

Back were the battle was taking place, the red Guren Knightmare was taking down any who dare stand in its path following zero in his own Brui. Cornelia had just got into her own knightmare, when zero rammed his into it. The two Knightmare's crashed through the wall of the warehouse she had hidden in. "You think you can beat me in a Knightmare battle" she roared freeing her Knightmare from zero's. Her Knightmare drew its machine gun, but before she could use it the Guren knocked it out of her hands using its slash harken's. "That new model" growled Cornelia as zero's Brui readied its own machine gun. "Crush the hatch and drag her out" Zero ordered.

It seemed the end of Cornelia when suddenly. "Zero!" screamed Suzaku as his Lancelot kicked zero's Brui straight in the head. Riding it like a skateboard the Lancelot jumped off before the Brui crashed into a metal crate. But it wasn't finished after zero' Brui got up the Lancelot launched a fury of punches and kicks at it. The Guren tried to aid, but was stopped by the club who knocked it with a kick.

"Viceroy, I have you lance on the back of my Knightmare please take it" radioed Rai to Cornelia. Cornelia was surprised the club could carry her lance, but without hesitation her she took it. "Good work officer Rai, now go and help Dalton and Guilford" Cornelia ordered. "But your highness" argued Rai. But Cornelia wouldn't listen she dashed forward attacking the Guren with her lance. Rai was about to help when a group of Brui's ambushed him. "Garr get out my way!" shouted Rai as he slashed through them.

However not matter how many Rai fought more seem to keep coming. Zero Brui disappeared of scanner and the Lancelot found itself locked in combat with the guren that had escaped Cornelia's Knightmare attack. As the battle went on, fires broke out causing oil tanks at the dock to alight. The thick smoke made by the fires made fighting difficult and keeping the unit's together tough. Seeing they had no way of winning the Britannian army and the black knights retreated resulting in the battle being a draw.

"I almost had that red Knightmare" said Suzaku to Rai as they stood watching the units regroup at the docks. "Never mind, what was important is we protected the viceroy and the remaining men we had" said Rai as Guilford and Dalton finally emerged from the smoke. "Good job officers, the viceroy sends her congratulation to you both for your ace piloting skills" said Dalton. "Yes, however" interrupted Guilford. " With the current smoke situation, it will take a few hours to clear and the viceroy feels it's best if you both go to the local hospital, then return to your academy" said Guilford. The boys understood. "Yes my lord" they both said bowing.

With their new orders the boys were taken to the local hospital by the special core unit van. The journey was loud with the two boys chatting about what had happened to them and Rai training as a royal guard. "So how is it being a royal guard?" asked Suzaku to Rai sitting next to him. "If I'm truthful, it's rather a pain" Rai said joking. But Suzaku though he was being serous. "Oh I'm sorry to hear that" he said sadly. But Rai punched his friend on the arm with a smile. "I was joking Suzaku" Rai said happily. The two laughed as finally they arrived at the hospital.

Lloyd and Cecile checked the two in and then they all sat down in the waiting room. As they waited Rai and Suzaku noticed a child holding his arm and crying into his mother chest and all around them people were moaning in pain. "Look like he's got broke his arm" said Lloyd noticing where the two were looking.

"Officer Suzaku please" said the nurse coming to the waiting room. But Suzaku refused to go. "I'm fine, please let this boy go first" begged Suzaku to the nurse. "I'm sorry, but you must be dealt with first" she said. It then hit Suzaku, the reason he was being seen first was because the child and the mother were elevens. "I refuse treatment, please just help the child" said Suzaku trying to change the nurse mind, But she couldn't. It was that much of a show even the on duty doctors and staff came out to see what was going on. "Please sir, there is no need to make such a fuss" begged the nurse to Suzuki, but he wouldn't calm down. He wasn't going to be first just because he was an honorary Britannian.

Suddenly an alarm went off outside. "That's the special core van" said Cecile hearing the alarm. "Oh no, quick to the van" cried Lloyd with that they both left with Suzuki in hot pursuit. "Well I guess officer Rai you can go next" said the nurse. Rai stood up and look at her with a grin. "Oh no for you see, just for tonight all eleven patients will be seen first" he said as a red bird shape appeared in his right eye.

Of a moment everything went quiet until. "Of course all eleven patients please report to a doctor" ordered the nurse. With that the waiting room emptied and Rai sat down again. "Dam child knocked my van with a ball" moaned Lloyd coming down the hall. "It was an accident Lloyd, no harm done" said Cecile calming him. "I'm just glad everything was safe" said Suzaku as they arrived back.

It was then they all saw Rai, just sitting there alone in his chair. "My, my I swear this was full when we were last here" said Lloyd looking at Rai. "Rai what happened?" asked Cecile looking shocked. Rai looked at them all with a smile. "I just had a talk with the doctors and nurses and what do you know? "He said shrugging his shoulders. "Being part of the Britannian army doesn't get you in first" he said going back to relaxing in his chair. Lloyd and Cecile just sighed as they sat down again. But Suzaku had to know.

"How did you get them to help all the Japanese patients?" he asked sitting next to Rai. Rai just looked at his friend with a small smile and said. "I just have a gift for changing people's minds".