Pendragon.
"We are facing the greatest crisis in the past decade!"
"Not surprising since it is you Lord Brackwood are one of those least affected by it, one might say it's to convenient for it to not be rehearsed!"
"That's a very fine accusation lord Bracken, considering that your business have been targeted the least of us all, mine included!"
Clovis stopped the recording of the past meeting there and then, turning back to Schneizell he massaged his temples as he felt a headache coming on.
"It's been like this for weeks now, strategic attacks that have affected one company, but left its rival intact, half of the nobles in Area 11 are at the other's throats."
Mount Fuji, Six families of Kyoto.
"Strategic strike and thefts, new companies springing over the past few months to fill in the gaps that come from the economic war being waged currently, it's also spreading towards the mainland. Whoever is behind this is growing and no one seems to be able to stop him." Kirihara said to his other 6 heads of Kyoto.
Narita Mountain Base.
"There have been black market purchases of specific equipment that can be modified to create industrial scale ordnance both for civilian and military use, along with massive defection from the lesser groups of resistance and a rumor amongst the various cells that a new one is rising. Based on their lack of military strikes against the Empire this group seems to be taking their time until they are all properly trained that' my assumption based on the current intel we have." Todoh reported to Katase as the JLA key officers where holding a meeting.
Kusakabe stood up then and there and opened his mouth to contribute to the conversation.
"However….."
Japan, Area 11 command centre.
"The new power broker in town doesn't appear to be a friend of ours, he hasn't made any moves that are against our government and the kind of things he's doing isn't out of the ordinary for nobles and their power squabbles. But the scale and efficiency with which he is doing it, is at an unprecedented level of efficiency and speed, and he doesn't appear to be backing down."
Jeremiah told his key subordinates, he was currently serving as temporary head of the government in Area 11 until the new viceroy could be sworn in.
"Because of that I suggest….."
Narita.
"We must take this course of action immediately, at the rate whatever is behind this is growing he will be the dominant power in Japan in no time flat. We must act now!" Kusakabe said and a very high number of those present agreed.
"Wait a minute! We must not be hasty in this!" Todoh countered.
Kyoto.
"This conflict is leading to the unification of the various factions within Japan and the mainland, pretty soon the lines there are now will become fewer and fewer until only two are left, then one will emerge dominant and then we are confronted with a united Britannian organization, up until now we have faced a divided nobility, but if they unite in the aftermath of this it could mean the doom of us all." Kaguya Summeragi spoke up to the other 5 heads of Kyoto.
"Therefore I would recommend that our course of action be."
China.
"We must immediately offer sponsorships and economic aid in order to forge future ties of alliance with this new driving force, if it is allowed to grow then it can become a third power to upset the eventual other 2 super groups in Japan and perhaps even the mainland with the way the conflict is spreading there and now."
Li Xingke said to his underlings.
"But my lord…."
Pendragon.
"Sponsor Lelouch against us, forgive me brother, for though I am not up to your level, I am high enough to know that sponsoring our foes is not the best way to defeat them."
"Clovis, the bigger threat of the moment is not Lelouch, but the idea of a unite super corporation of the nobles, we rule the Empire because there is no single house or group strong enough to oppose us, but if this changes than we lose our powerbase, that's why we must sponsor Lelouch, besides you know from past experience that what happens here and now…"
Narita.
"The day after we might need his strength and he ours, we must make every effort to make this new broker our ally and avoid meaningless conflict."
"Words of wisdom Todoh, but let me ask you this, what if this what he wants, what if this is his plan all along for us to intentionally sponsor him and make him stronger, what will he do then, when he no longer needs us? Are we to beg for mercy from him? Are we to bow our heads and serve some stranger we have never met?" Kusakabe countered.
"That I do not know, but what I do know is…."
B.B.C –Area 11.
"I have to be there, I have to be next to whoever is doing all this. From besides him I can properly witness the dawning of a new age, who are you my mysterious and very dangerous hot scoop?" Diethard said as he looked at the dartboard that he had filled with clues.
It read 'New Kid in Town', it showed the gas incident in Shinjuku, a newspaper of the 'Black Weekend' which followed Shinjuku where the stock market went insane, then there was papers detailing thefts from major factories, articles that told of info leaks that uncovered huge financial scandals in the Empire, the fast growth of several dozen of companies that where all under the Umbrella ownership of something called 'Black Corporation'
"Who are you mister Johnny come lately?"
Toky0-Ohgi's apartment.
"Who is he anyway?" I mean the guy just comes out of nowhere and does all of this? I'm glad to be on his side, but I got to ask where does he come from and where is he leading us?" Tamaki said to the gathered group.
"And that Lelouch guy just plain creeps me out, I mean it's like he's not even human? What's the deal with him?"
At that Kallen stood up.
"I'll find out what's the truth about him."
Lancelot research facility.
"Oh what a fine mess this." Lloyd said as he scribed away at the equations for the theory of the Gefjun disturber generators and fine tuned the schematics to the Gawain prototype. Or at least he'd been trying to for the past several weeks now.
"We'll, we will eventually get an answer to all of this.
Pendragon.
Schneizell.
"Then we must take appropriate action for this and try to contact Lelouch."
Kyoto.
Kirihara.
"I'll make the appropriate preparations, but for now we should wait and see how this develops."
Narita.
Todoh.
"We must move cautiously and wisely when dealing with him."
Chinna.
Xingke Li.
"I have a feeling that what he's done up to this point is just been preparation, he's gonna make his next big move soon."
Area 11.
Jeremiah.
"When he does that we will also be prepared to act, but we will chose the lesser of two evils when it come to him."
B.B.C.
Diethard.
"Cause God knows just what he's up to right now."
Ashford Academy
Lelouch was red in the face from anger and pain. Every fiber in his body was on fire, his lungs felt like they were filled with hot lead, his eyesight became blurry as his eyelids closed and his faced contracted in pure rage and despair as he faced his most daunting foe yet and continued to push on, nor because he wanted to, but because he must, because there was no going back from this.
"It's not considered a full pull up until you are actually up Mr Lamperouge, half way doesn't count."
Lelouch pulled with all his strength and did it!
"That's one, nine more to go."
He cursed himself and continued, not because he wanted, but because must, because there was no going back from this.
The teacher was guarding the exit.
Ch 7-Belly of the Beast.
"Damn P.E…..when I win I will make it an optional class! Yes, extra motivation to overthrow the Empire." Lelouch muttered as he struggled to regain his breath, while making his way towards the courtyard to get some fresh air.
He found a bench and sat down on it. It seemed like he could finally get a moments respite.
"Hey, can I talk to you for a moment?" a gentle voice was heard from his right, he turned his head and saw that it was Kallen, only this version of her had her shoulder's and frame fallen down, her breathing was labored and rapid and her eyes and complexion was rather pail.
"Please don't tell me I am hallucinating from the effort." Lelouch mentally thought to himself as he gestured to Kallen to have a seat while he closed his eyes from fatigue.
He then felt a sharp blade being pressed between his 5th and sixth right rib, he opened his eyes and looked at the woman's face, who was not very close to his, her expression and personality now back to how he remember them being.
"Here and now your gonna talk and tell me everything I want to know." Her eyes screamed murder and vengeance.
"So I am not hallucinating. I'm just held at knife point by a terrorist! Thank you God for small mercies!" Lelouch smile in relief and looked back with pure joy and elation at Kallen's face.
This surprised her and made her mind go blank for half a second from shock. That was all Lelouch's needed.
"How did you smuggle a knife in school?"
"It's hidden in my wallet." She replied and concentrated on his face.
That's when he moved his free right hand and placed it over her shoulders, palm to the back of her head as he triggered something.
"And what you are feeling is a sleeve sliding hidden gun that I just activated in my right hand and I am pressing the gun barrel on the base of your cranium, it's a small caliber and I am not much of a soldier or that good of a shot, but at this distance I'm a regular Simo Haya, and that's coming from the man's very own mouth, I actually met him once." Lelouch said and Kallen once more felt that fear, that terror that she had experience when she saw 100 knightmare be reduced to kneel and their pilots to trembling messes before him, using nothing but his words and his presence.
"I'll stab you before you can shoot, and then deflect your arm, I'm faster than you, you said so yourself." Kallen countered keeping her voice fierce and strong, even if her knife hand trembled a little.
Lelouch noticed that and his respect for the red headed woman grew a little.
"To do that you need to go through my uniform jacket, the shirt and the sleeveless undershirt beneath. That's a lot of cloth, too much so that you'd have to retract the knife a few inches to get enough momentum for penetration. Btu if you move your hand, then I move my finger."
Lelouch then leaned in till they where eye to eye, their foreheads touching.
"And you may be fast, but I don't think you are faster than a speeding bullet." Lelouch said and then placed his free left hand on her neck and moved his mouth to her ear.
There and then Shirley was walking in the first floor hallway and as she did so she looked at a passing open window and saw what looked like Lelouch and Kallen kissing and then she what seemed to be him moving to give her love bites on the neck.
"No way!" she said in shock as she dodged away from the window and what she just witnessed.
"Why are you caring a gun in your sleeve." Kallen said, stalling for time, it was the only thing she could do in this situation.
"You think I'd be without a hidden weapon? Even if I wasn't working with rebels, this is Japan, a country filled with war, chaos, corrupt nobles and trigger happy knightmare, you'd have to be crazy to walk on the street and not be packing. But enough about me, let's talk about you, you said something about me answering questions?" Lelouch said, his mouth near her neck.
Kallen could feel his breath on her neck, traveling down her spine, it sent chills of terror down it. She felt her whole body shake and much to her shock she felt her face become warm for some strange reason.
"Y-yes. You just came out of nowhere and you are tearing everything apart, who are you guys? Does your master Zero work for the J.L.A? Are you a Britannian agents? The E.U? China? You are to powerful and resourceful to be operating on your own! Answer me!" Kallen said, bringing strength back into her soul as she moved her free left hand and grabbed Lelouch's head, pulling hard on his hair, if she was going to die, she would die with steel in her eyes and iron in her heart, a true warriors death.
Lelouch gave a pained chuckle at this, he knew he would have to give them some form of the truth, it was why he avoided presenting himself as Zero. This way all the focus would be on the masked man and he was out of the target sight.
"You're gonna have to ask him that yourself." Lelouch said and leaned forward until mouth was now glue to her ear as he whispered to her.
"What?"
"I don't know, I can honestly say that I do not have the 'definite' answer as to who is under that mask. "
"So…then why do you follow him?" Kallen asked feeling a slight emotion of kinship with Lelouch. Who smiled a devilish smile as the poison he was pouring in her ear was starting to work it's effect.
"All I know is that Zero is a means to my goal. And that is vengeance against the Empire." He whispered to her, continuing to manipulate her and make her more trusting and loyal to himself.
"Vengeance? You mentioned that on the train, just what did the Empire do to you?"
"Put down the knife and I'll show you."
"You still have a gun to my head."
Lelouch withdrew his right hand and retracted the pistol.
"Your move Kallen."
The red head hesitated for a moment before slowly withdrawing her blade, which she discovered had sliced his clothes and was not tangled in the cloth.
"What the?"She wiggled to get it out and a yelp of pain escaped Lelouch as the knife cut him superficially.
"Sorry!" Kallen exclaimed, she meant to stab him in the lungs, not lightly graze his skin! She felt horrible now!
"It's fine, just a scratch, though I can't be seen like this by others or the staff, we don't want people asking questions now. Stay glued to me until we can reach the dorms, I have a spare uniform there." Lelouch said and they both got up, bodies pressed together, Lelouch's hand still over her shoulder, Kallen leaning on him to hide the cut and the blood.
From the outside and the view of one girl peaking from the first story window it looked like just another couple on a stroll.
After they moved towards the dorm Rivalz, Milly bumped into him.
"Hey buddy! How've ya, WHAT THE!" Rivalz said in shock, and pointed at them.
"Ho, ho, ho! Looks like Shirley has some competition now, Milly said with a Cheshire cat smirk and lady's laugh."
"W-what! We're not dating or anything!"Kallen said, now red in the face.
"She's a new potential recruit for the student council, she needs extra curriculum activities and this one is less demanding, so I thought to introduce her to you all. This is Kallen."
"A pleasure to meet you Miss Kallen." A soft and gentle voice was heard from behind them.
Kallen turned around and saw that it was small blind girl in a wheelchair being pushed forward by a Japanese maid.
"Kallen, this is Nunnally, my sister. "
"Once more it's a pleasure to meet you Miss Kallen."
"L-likewise." The Japanese rebel replied and looked at the little girl in shock, she remembered Lelouch talking how Japan wasn't the only one place that suffered under Britannia, looking at Nunnally Kallen saw that her legs where to developed for her to have been born disabled and that there where slight burn scars across her eyes. Kallen turned back to Lelouch and looked into his eyes.
There and then she had her answer as to what this boy wanted, why he became what he was now. She recognized that look from whenever she gazed in the mirror.
"Are you joining the student council miss Kallen?"
"Yeah." Kallen looked back at Nunnally and smiled." I wasn't sure before but now, now it think that I can work with your brother." She turned her head back towards him and looked him in the eye.
"We have a lot in common and now I know that whatever he does, he does it with the best of intentions." She added and Lelouch gave a nod of the head at that.
"We'll be back in a few minutes, there's a little something we have to take care of and then we will discuss the details." Lelouch told them and turned himself and Kallen back towards the dorms. Leaving behind a snickering Rivalz and Milly.
"I thought you said my knife couldn't cut your clothes without momentum." Kallen whispered to him.
"So did I." Lelouch bent down and whispered back in her ear causing the girl to giggle.
Back at the group that they just left Nunnally frown in disapproval.
First having miss C.C in his bed every night and now Miss Kallen too!
Her brother was a beast!
Lelouch's phone vibrated just as he finished treating his cut and replacing a uniform.
"Moshi-moshi." Kallen heard him say as she waited for him outside the dorm supply closet to change clothes.
"Understood! Kallen get in here now!"
She obeyed and entered the closed with him.
"Clothes off now!"
"WHAT!" she exclaimed beet red before he tossed a bundle of civilian clothes at her.
"Just got an emergency call from Ohgi, we need to meet up and point 3, we can't be seen in school clothes." Lelouch said and quickly started to change from his uniform.
Kallen breathed a sigh of relief before following suite.
"What happened?"
"Cave 21 is being attacked."
"So Clovis has found us then."
"It's not Clovis attacking Kallen."
"What? Then who?" She asked
"Don't know yet, but I do know that it's not Clovis."Lelouch turned towards her and showed her the picture that Ohgi sent him on the phone of the attackers.
"Cause Clovis's forces don't carry the flag of Japan on their tanks."
