Code Geass: The Demon and the Monster

Guess Who's Back? ...Again

My standard form of writing applies.

" " - Spoken

' ' - Thought

( ) - Commentary. I'm a smartass. You should know what goes here. My smartass commentary. Usually funny, always interesting.

Italics- Usually things of importence. Flashbacks and certain things are in italics to seperate them from the rest of the story.

Bold!- Things like this are things that just stand out. Usually pretty badass, or just really scary.

Underlined words are oddball parts; These are for voice modulators, such as Zero's mask.

~~Badadumdunbum~~

#7 Second Victory

~~Badadumdunbum~~

"Jesus H Christ, and I thought he was joking..." Inoue muttered with a shake of her blue-haired head, irritatedly zipping up a duffel bag filled to the brim with plastic explosives.(Semtex; a cheaper alternative to C4, acquisitions-wise, anyway. It's essentially the same stuff, all said and done. Still explodes real nice)

"Keep those bricks away from the blasting caps. I don't feel like peeling my ass off the ceiling, tonight." I said, loading up the submachinegun I'd gotten from Tamaki earlier. Not sure what the hell kind of weapon it is, but it's a real oddball design. It works well enough, though; three-prong sights, folding wire stock and forty-round magazine.

She gave me a look. "It's not like we haven't done this before, you know. I've managed not to blow myself up until now, thanks."

Raising an eyebrow, even though she couldn't see it, I then said, "Until now. Anytime you're dealing with explosives, it's better to be overly-cautious than not enough. It only takes a single moment of carelessness to get yourself and everyone around you killed." I turned back to face the others, deciding to lighten the mood just a little. "Alright, pop quiz. If you all see me running, what are you going to do?"

Chuckling lightheartedly, Tamaki and Kallen both said, "Try to keep up!"

"Very good, it's just like we practiced. Only difference is that this time, we actually get to blow shit up. And who doesn't love that, Oorah?"

As one, all six of them replied, "Oorah."

"Alrighty, then. Inoue, bring up that map of the hotel. We'll go over this once more and make doubly sure we've removed any and all possible fuck-ups from our side of the equation while we've got the chance." She did so, pulling up the 3D rendering on the van's computer monitor.

Oh, sorry. We're bumping along in a hijacked TV camera crew's van, heading straight for the hotel. Ohgi is driving, and Zero is on the roof, ready to fuck with Cornelius. Whoops, erm, Cornelia. Heheh, I dunno why I keep thinking of my cat's name.

'Man, this is annoying. Well at least he's thorough, means he won't get us all killed. Definitely ex-military.' The blue-haired woman thought, clicking through the menus. 'Wonder why he's helping us, though. He isn't Japanese, not by a long shot. He's too big, too brawny. Him and Zero both, neither of them are Japanese. What've they got planned in the long run? And why does Kallen of all people trust them?'

It took mere moments for her to bring up the map, showing our planned route through the hotel. I pointed out our entry and exit points, walking them through my estimates as we went. "Alright, we'll be bypassing the well-guarded stairways. One squad will ascend the east-side elevator shaft, and another through the west. Remember, our goal here is to save the hostages, so no shots until everything is in place. They aren't expecting us to sucker-punch them, but maintain radio silence until the end of the second phase when all charges are set. Stealth and deniability are king, so no names and no prisoners. If you shoot someone, you shoot to kill. A-box shots only when we go weapons-free, keep firing till they stop moving. Single-fire only, no auto. And I want you all to keep this in mind; we're running on a timer, but that does not give you an excuse to rush your work and screw up. If you gotta slow down, do so. Our window can stretch a little, so doing your job right takes precendence over doing it quickly. Any objections?"

Our fiery, redheaded ace spoke up. "Why single-fire? Over-penetration isn't going to be a problem with these things, so I don't think we'll need to worry about hitting the hostages."

I responded with a shake of my head. "That's not my reasoning, Shortpants. In recent times, a lot of proven combat techniques have been lost to history. I see a lot of you young idiots running around on full-retard, spraying lead all over the place. We don't have time to run through a full training regime just yet, but basically, you've got two options. Putting a lot of bullets in a general direction, or putting single, accurate shots on target. Two in the chest is worth a lot more than fifty over someone's head. So I want all of you to aim before pulling the trigger. In CQB, you'll be doing a lot of point shooting, but that's fine until we start dealing with well-trained and well-equipped soldiers. These JLF guys are muppets, not even wearing body armor, so just point and shoot. Double-tap to center mass, repeat if they're still breathing."

Before she could speak, Tamaki snickered to himself. "Heheheh, Shortpants, huh? That fits you to a T, Kallen."

She gave him an irritated look before coming back to reply to my explanation. "I get what you're saying, but none of us have had any formal training compared to the JLF. Should we be trying out new things on a real mission? And... Shortpants?"

"You're anxious, aren't you? Don't worry, that's a good thing, means you're human. Nervous means you'll pay attention to what you're doing and look carefully at what's going on. Just don't get tunnel vision, look around yourselves every now and again to maintain situational awareness. Believe it or not, firing on single forces you to focus on your target, to watch and make sure they go down. And yes, Shortpants. You wanted the booty shorts, you reap the rewards. That will be your code name, so get used to it."

Several of the others were already chuckling, a few patting the irritated pilot's shoulder and congratulating her. "Don't get comfortable, I'll be giving each of you a suitable code name soon enough. Take pride in it; if I'm picking on you, it's because you're worth my time. I've had more humiliating nicknames than any of you could count, and every one of them has a story behind it. After a few months, you'll be able to look back and laugh at yourself for getting so worked up, and at what got you the name." Suddenly, the van came to a stop, and Zero could be heard from above. "Okay people, it's show time. Weapons hot, safeties on. We are GO for the second phase in three mikes."

~~Badadumdunbum~~

This wire goes here, that one goes there, aaand...

*Snk!* The switch clicked as I flipped it, a small LED light glowing in the darkness, followed by the hum of electricity signalling the device's activation. "I'm done with my side. Inoue?" I glanced in her direction, seeing her hop back down from where she'd placed a charge inside of an air duct along the ceiling.

"Last one," She replied, slinging the duffel over her shoulder, a slightly smaller Semtex charge in hand. "Think the others are almost finished on their end by now?"

Thinking that over, I glanced at my watch. Roughly eight minutes have passed since we began the second phase. "Probably. Tamaki!" The Japanese rebel in question was jogging over to us from the other end of the maintainence corridor. This area was lined with pipes and wiring, leading to the boiler,(For the hot tubs, you see) generator,(Power outages just won't do for these elegant parties. Those million-dollar chandeliers don't look as good in the dark) furnace and various elevator shafts, not to mention the stairwells. It sat quite nicely in the first-level basement, barely even guarded, allowing us to place explosives along the base of the hotel; we set these off and the whole thing will start to collapse, giving us a neat smokescreen, too.

Heheheh, putting that engineering degree to good use, alright.

Anyway. "I've got my end covered. You two ready to go?"

"Almost," The blue-haired woman answered, holding up the plastic explosive. "One last block for breaching the room where they've got the hostages."

"Let's get moving." I pulled up my radio as we moved to the end of the maintenance accessway, getting ready to set off the third phase as I closed the heavy steel door behind us. "Shortpants, how's it coming?"

"Two minutes left, then we'll stack on the objective floor, point G-fifty-four."

Hm. That's roughly on the other end of the hall, maybe forty feet to our left when we come out. "Understood. We'll stagger on point E-fifty-seven."

And I cut the connection, jogging up the concrete steps, submachinegun at the ready, checking each landing before advancing higher. "Check your targets before engaging, you two. We'll come out staggered from Kallen's group, but I want to make sure we idiot-proof ourselves before we go loud."

"Yeah, yeah, we get it. The guys we're supposed to shoot will all be wearing the same uniform, give it a rest." Inoue irritatedly replied, probably rolling her eyes like a spoiled teenager.

Tamaki was shaking his head with a contemplative frown just behind me. "Man, this just doesn't feel right, getting ready to fight the JLF. Doesn't sit right with me."

"By using civilians as human shields, these soldiers are no better than the Britannians who oppress and subjugate them. In this case, nationality means nothing; no one can tell whose blood has been spilled once it begins to pool. You should always remember, especially as Black Knights, that we as individuals are defined by our actions, not the color of our skin, or the country of our birth."

Neither of them had anything to say to that, and so remained silent as we climbed the rest of the way up the hotel. I hate stairs, by the way. That's what elevators are for.

Six, seven, eight, nine fucking flights. Double-flights actually, but whatever.(Doubly annoying) Nine stories up and we were at the door that would grant us access to the floor where the hostages were being held. After checking that this wasn't a fire door and wouldn't set off any alarms, I tested the handle. Locked, of course. I'd have to get creative.

But first, I pulled up my radio once more. "Shortpants, we are in position. How long?"

"Forty seconds... Hah, huuh, man this is a lotta stairs," Came her reply, the redhead sounding out of breath for some reason. How she ever made it as a pilot when running up only nine flights tuckers her out, I'll never know.

Regardless. Tamaki chuckled when he heard what she said, shaking his head with a smirk.

Maybe a minute later, Kallen's voice came back through the radio. "Okay, we're good. We'll begin the third phase on your go."

I nodded to myself, satisfied that the real challenge was about to start. "Alright, get ready to breach on my mark. Flashbangs ready." Tamaki moved up, taking his position on the other side of the door with the grenade in hand, Inoue getting behind him with her weapon ready.

"Ready."

"Begin phase three in five. Four. Three. Two. One, MARK!"

And with that, I thought, 'Time to give this thing a test drive,' Before giving my newly-acquired mental muscle a tug, feeling my vision shift ever-so-slightly around the edges, a crimson tinge setting in.

I feel...

Fucking awesome!

Heart racing, the blood pounding in my ears, I jammed the muzzle of my gun against the door's lock and pulled the trigger three times before raising my boot, ready to kick this thing off.

~~Badadumdunbum~~

[Cue Music: The Mod Goes Wild, by Clutch]

Oh, now that's my jam! Hahah, good choice, Author.

Don't mention it.

Right. Let's rock on, then.

The door didn't just fly open, oh no, it flew clean off its hinges and straight through and across the room, squashing one very unfortunate JLF soldier against the far-side wall. Oh, and I do mean 'squash,' as in, he turned into nothing more than a stain, the heavy door pressed into a four-inch deep impression in the marble wall.

Oh. OH! So that's my geass.

'Strength of a Thousand...' I thought, stepping inside with my submachinegun raised, very quickly scanning the hallway. There were four gaping soldiers standing not ten feet away, stricken with fear and awe in equal proportions.

"Hello, gents. Would you be so kind as to die for me, please?" And with that snarky comment rolling off my tongue, garbled almost beyond recognition by the modulator in my mask, I pulled the trigger once, twice, nine times. One in his head, two the body for you, and a three-shot burst for each of the rest.

They all fell to the floor without protest, dead before the blood hit the- The fucking cashmere carpet! What the bloody fucking HELL?! Who has enough money to waste on cashmere for a damned carpet?

Shaking that irritating revelation from my mind, I began advancing as I called, "Move up, and keep it tight. They know we're coming."

I could hear gunfire in the distance, probably from Kallen's group on the other end of the floor. Hm.

Tamaki and Inoue finally caught up with me, oddly silent for some reason. Ah, whatever. That can wait for when we aren't up to our balls in hostiles. Hm? I hcan hear footsteps ahead of us, moving quickly. Time to fuck with 'em. "The Britannians are attacking!" I shouted, motioning my squad to hang back as we came up to a bend in the hall.

"What?! Where are they?!" Someone replied, a distintly Japanese voice that I didn't recognize as one of the others in our group. Heheh, sucker.

As the poor JLF bastard rounded the corner, I grabbed him 'round the neck with my off-hand and lifted him into the air with ease, stepping around the corner as I slung him like a ragdoll into his six buddies with the force of a cannon.

They were all bowled over like bowling pins,(Kinda redundant, that) easy targets to hose down with the remainder of my weapon's magazine. Kicking that out with its replacement, I reloaded and racked the bolt, already stepping over the now-motionless corpses.

'Ten metres to our objective,' I thought, moving up to the next bend in the hall. It was a T-intersection, and I could see gunfire coming from both my left and right. I moved up on the right side, glancing left to see Kallen taking cover in a doorway, Gloves-guy and Sugiyama doing the same two doors further down.

Hm. Need something to distract them. I glanced back to my squad, waving them up to me. "Flashbang, now." Tamaki handed me one, taking a step back next to Inoue. I edged up closer to the corner, looking straight at Kallen. She caught my gaze, nodding as soon as she saw the handheld explosive I was holding up. Pulling the pin, I then shouted, "EYES AND EARS!"

Then I tossed it around the corner, pulling back further.

Thankfully, Lelouch planned ahead when he got this replacement mask for me, as it includes hearing protection rated for explosives and constant exposure to gunfire. Man, that's sweet. Heh, but anyway.

Around I went, switching hands with my weapon as I got on target and pulled the trigger again and again.

Several minutes later, with Zero/Lelouch

As the building shuddered and quaked from the impact of the Lancelot's attacks, Kallen's voice alerted him through his radio, sounding rather pleased with herself. "Zero, the hostages are secure and we are in position. Awaiting your order to begin the fourth phase."

Lelouch smiled behind his mask. "It seems we are out of time, Princess Euphemia. Come, it is time for us to leave this place." And as he raised the detonator for the explosive, he couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of the look on Suzaku's face when this happened.

*Click!*

. . .

Shit. That wasn't supposed to happen.

*Click! Click!*

"Oh, come on!" He exclaimed, thoroughly irritated.

At that exact moment, R2's voice came over the radio, sounding all too mirthfull. "Heheheh, c'mon Zero. Can't you even shoot off properly? Ah, don't worry, I'll do it. Hang onto your teeth, people."

And just like that, the entire world seemed to shake when he pressed that switch.

~~Badadumdunbum~~

Now, I bet you're all probably wondering where Ohgi and what'shisface(Tall, brawny guy with the glasses) have been this whole time. Well, they were setting up the boat and securing our escape route.

And- Oh, right. My geass? Well, I should've known one of you would'v epicked up on that. Yeah, C2 hooked me up awhile back, I just didn't really get a chance to test it out. Or mention it. Or even think about it, really. Kinda odd. Anyway, it's apparently called Absolute Strength, or Strength of a Thousand, something along those lines.

Isn't really all that much, it only affects me, as far as I've found. What it does is makes me super-humanly strong. As in, able to lift cars above my damn head. How does it do that? Well, it essentially says Fuck you! To the body's limitations on muscular output. Normally, people only use around 20% of their strength; with adrenaline kicks in, that increases to somewhere around 80-90%.

With this ability... I can push my body beyond that limit. It increases pain tolerance, I think, 'cuz I didn't feel any kind of discomfort until I consciously turned it off. When I did that, well, it hurt like fuck. Like someone poured molten lead into my limbs, agh, fucking burns. Probably sprained a few muscles today. Eh, worth it.

Plus it was exhausting. Like, shooting-five-loads-in-a-row exhausting.

But the really big thing that this does for me is that it makes my body fast enough and strong enough to keep up with my reaction times and thought processes. You'll see what I mean later on, heheh.

Regardless, I don't feel like telling you all about the fancy speech Zero gave on that boat, so you can suck it. That can wait for next time.

~~Badadumdunbum~~

There's a shout-out to a Scott Westerfeld book in here, if you can spot it. Then ones for Code Geass Abridged, Medal of Honor, Tropic Thunder, Halo Reach, CODE MENT, Two Steps From Hell,

~~Badadumdunbum~~

"We are Anonymous. We are legion. We do not forgive. We do not forget. Expect us." -Anonymous.

~~Badadumdunbum~~