The Black Knight
Disclaimer: Zero: I Lelouch vi Britannia command you...support the official release!
Euphemia: Why are you always talking in italics?
Zero: What do you mean?
To answer the one question, Nunnally would be around twenty six, or give or take a year depending on the dates. I looked up mutliple things on wikipedia to try to see if the bodily trauma would have affected her, but I couldn't find anything. She's smaller because of atrophy I suppose, since she is both blind and parapalegic, and probably wouldn't be able to go through rehab because of the complicated pair of symptoms. So she's just small because she hasn't been able to work out basically. And If pressed, I would say only Odysseus is even close to forty, but yeah, at least I think Odysseus, Guinevere, and Schneizel are in their thirties.
Turn 09 Rolo
A Reporter stood on one of the press dirigibles that often flew Pendragon's skies. This one had the new casino resort in it's view screen as the reporter spoke into the camera.
"The new Queen's Gambit is the largest Casino and Hotel in Britannia or her Colonies, Standing almost a quarter mile tall, the building has been claimed by some to not up to Britannia's safety standards due to its height. It uses a large version of the still-experimental float system to keep it stable even in the high winds from the mountains. But all eyes are on the gaming tables for its grand opening, and the guest count is already well into the thousands!"
0.0.0
Milly and Lelouch were riding in the hyper-rail train, relaxing in one of the train's many compartments. Milly's red cocktail dress showed off her long legs, encased in knee-high white boots. Lelouch was feigning sleep, his eyes closed, his cheek on his fist, propping his head up on his elbow.
"Isn't this fun?" Milly asked, sipping a drink. Lelouch smirked.
"I wouldn't say fun. I would say amusing," Lelouch said. "And don't drink too many of those," he said, nodding at her drink. "You get drunk around these sharks and you may find yourself short a few cars."
"Then why did you come?" Milly asked, leaning in with a grin. Lelouch opened an eye, his smirk turning evil.
"To eat all the small fry," Lelouch replied.
"Should we have let Kallen come?" Milly asked, sitting back. She took another sip of her drink as Lelouch answered, closing his eyes.
"She's already in your debt, let's not compound that debt. And she's still busy learning to use the Guren. It'll keep her out of trouble." Lelouch said, dropping his smirk. He thought of Kallen and was reminded of his Geass command. It ate away at him internally. But even if he suffered, Kallen could live on without the complications of his mistakes.
"Because we're going into trouble?" Milly asked. Lelouch was snapped from his train of thought by Milly's comment. He smirked with a predatory grin, arching one eyebrow.
"I am trouble."
0.0.0
The boy was gasping trying to keep running. A squad of tactical police were following. The boy rounded the corner and saw that it was a dead end. Spinning, he saw the Britannian soldiers coming around the corner. His eyes began to light up red.
The Britannians looked around at the empty dead end. They looked around, then ran back the way they came, grumbling in frustration.
0.0.0
Euphemia and Cornelia entered one of the casino floors and were immediately assaulted by the sounds of the gaming machines. Beeping and chinking sounds came from each machine. Euphemia looked around, stepping forward in her white cocktail dress. Cornelia followed in her black and purple dress, the slits in the sides revealing her black lace stockings. Guilford and Suzaku followed in their uniforms, Guilford's a crimson and gold, Suzaku's gold and white.
"Should we try the card tables?" Euphemia asked her sister. Cornelia sighed at her sister's enthusiasm. "Come on, sis, if we're expected to come to all the grand openings, we may as well enjoy ourselves." Cornelia smiled as she admitted Euphemia had a point.
0.0.0
Lelouch stepped out onto the chess floor. A thousand boards, with two chairs and small beverage tables surrounded a large opening in the floor that looked over the primary gaming floor. The glass railing gave an unparalleled view. Lelouch noted it almost created a feeling of the chess-players being superior to the people trying their luck at the tables.
Lelouch found an empty table in the corner and sat down on the black side chair, setting a large stack of bills on the side of the chess board, and he settled in for a wait. As a large dark-skinned man walked over, Lelouch noted his identity. Charles King. He was a master at chess. And he was a snake of a player.
"You're a bit small to be on this floor, my young friend," King said, daring to suggest Lelouch wasn't a valid chess-player.
"Charles King. Ranked ninth in the world. Why don't you sit down and speak with your pieces rather than your mouth?" Lelouch said, looking at the board as he did. King sniggered as he sat down.
"It would be easier to merely give me the money, I think," King said, leaning back, cracking his large gold ring laden fingers.
"White moves first. A hundred crowns a piece, 500 for the king?" Lelouch asked, counting out the stack of bills he'd placed on the table. A crowd had begun to gather.
"Why not 50 crowns per piece, with a thousand for the king?" The chess hustler offered. Lelouch merely looked at the large man facing him across the board, and sat back, crossing his legs, and nodded his head. King leaned forward and moved a pawn forward. Lelouch looked at the pawn for a second, and leaned forward and moved one of his own.
0.0.0
Euphemia and Cornelia sat in the center of one of the many half-circle black jack tables. Euphemia peeked at her cards as Cornelia did, and smiled. She pushed a medium stack of chips forward into the pot. Cornelia bent her cards and tapped the table for another card. The next two asked for another card. Euphemia just smiled wider as the bet was sent back to her. She pushed another medium stack of chips forward. Cornelia added an equal amount of chips. The two tossed in their cards, annoyed. Euphemia added the rest of her chips to the pot, then eyed Cornelia. Her older sister sighed and threw in her cards.
Euphemia grinned wider and flipped her card to reveal a 5 and a 7. Cornelia sighed as the chips were pushed to her younger sister's pile. She began to pile them neatly when Milly sat down, setting down a pile of large chips, including two stacks of the larger card-sized chips. Euphemia propped her chin on the back of her hands, smiling mischievously. Milly smiled even wider as the cards were dealt.
0.0.0
Charles King looked at the board in worry as Lelouch took the fifth piece in a row. Lelouch leaned back and folded his hands in front of his face, his eyes boring into Charles King's beady little onyx orbs. King gestured for a waiter from the bar against the north wall. The waiter stood at his elbow to take his order.
"I would like a pint of Guinness," Charles said in his deep voice. "Can I get you anything, mister...?"
"Lamperouge," Lelouch said, his face a mask. "A vodka martini, shaken over ice. No vermouth." The waiter walked off with King's and Lelouch's order as the former moved another piece. Lelouch glanced at the board, then back to King, who was visibly sweating. Lelouch had begun the battle. Now it was time to escalate. Lelouch leaned forward and moved his black king forward. The crowd gasped softly and began chatting.
"You stymie my offense and then provide a target?" King asked, wondering aloud Lelouch's motivation for such a move.
"A king plus fifteen other pieces is 1750 Crowns," Lelouch told the older chess-player. "If you surrendered now I would accept 1250 for the king and the five pieces I've taken so far." Charles sat back, offended. "I am merely offering terms, King," Lelouch said, opening his hands in a peaceful gesture. In actuality it would be the end of Charles King's chess career. And they both knew it.
"Your arithmetic is impressive, but not your manners, boy," King said, angrily. He reached down and moved his rook, going on the offensive again. The waiter returned with their drinks, and Lelouch accepted his martini gratefully, taking a small sip. Then he leaned forward, moving his queen.
0.0.0
Milly and Euphemia were at a war of cards. Their chips had increased together. Their smiles hid dangerous minds that were calculating exactly what they needed to do to get the other to fold their hands. Milly and Euphemia both looked at their other hands, Cornelia peeking at her own in between them.
"All in," Euphemia said, shoving her entire pile into the pot. The two other men playing immediately threw in their cards and walked off, tired of losing. Cornelia pushed her own chips in. Milly responded with her own all in.
"Alright ladies, show," the dealer said. Euphemia, Cornelia, and Milly flipped their cards at the same time. "Black jack. Princess Cornelia wins the pot." Euphemia and Milly both stared, agape, as Cornelia smiled and began to push her now massive pile of chips into a carrying bag provided by Guilford.
"Maybe next time," Cornelia offered as she walked away, leaving Euphemia and Milly staring at each other.
0.0.0
"Your king and ten pieces taken versus five of mine taken," Lelouch counted. "You owe me fifteen-hundred crowns as I owe you 250." Charles King could only stare at the board, then suddenly he grinned and looked at Lelouch.
"Of course...you cheated," He accused, standing. "Trying to get me to pay the amount you asked for if I surrendered. How criminal." Lelouch's eyes narrowed, his eyes still interlaced in front of his mouth and chin.
"You can pay me and save your career. Or you can risk your reputation by continuing to accuse me." Lelouch stood, setting his hands to his sides. King gritted his teeth, angrily. And then he reached into his coat and counted his bill to Lelouch, then set it down angrily and stalked away, cursing. Lelouch calmly collected the bills and set them on the stack. He sat down and finished his martini. He doubted another opponent would risk facing him after that little spectacle. Offering that huge pile of cash had scared away the small fry, and his defeat of a master had scared away any serious competition.
"How did you cheat?" asked one of the players that had been watching. "You must have, right?"
"No, against scum like that, I have no need to cheat," Lelouch said, pocketing the stack of crown bills, leaving a few hundred for the drink. Milly was stalking towards him, her face determined.
"I need a thousand more. See if that Princess Euphemia beats me this time!" Milly said. Lelouch sighed. He pulled a small stack of crown bills.
0.0.0
The small boy watched as Lelouch handed his friend a stack of bills. Suddenly he angled his head forward, his eyes turning red with v symbols in them.
0.0.0
Lelouch paused, his eye narrowing. He'd held ten hundred-crown bills in his hand. The stack he handed to Milly only contained eight. His mind formed five possible explanations. As Milly walked away, Lelouch carefully adjusted the bills inside his coat pockets and buttoned his coat. He carefully examined the carpet underneath their feet. It was still new, it hadn't been trampled enough to hide the most recent tracks.
Lelouch began to follow the small footsteps, eyes narrowed.
0.0.0
The boy hungrily drank the soda he'd bought at the downstairs bar. As he finished it, a large hand gripped his shoulder, and he cried out, turning. He looked up to see Lelouch staring down at him with a stern expression.
"Handy little talent you have there. I knew a friend who had the same talent," Lelouch said, his eyes turning red with his Geass. The boy leaned back, trying to rip away Lelouch's arm. "Since you've already stolen two hundred crowns from me, you may as well at least tell me your name." the boy gave up fighting.
"They told me my name is Rolo," the small boy said.
"My friend was named Rolo. He could freeze people too, but he couldn't affect time or space. And he was a lot older than you when he was killed." Lelouch noticed a pair of Britannian Knight-police enter the casino. Lelouch looked Rolo up and down and saw the outfit he was wearing. He still had one of the Geass Institute tracking systems on him. Lelouch sighed, looking away. The boy looked and saw the same two men, and began to try to run away, stopped only by Lelouch's hand.
"Let me go," the boy whimpered. Lelouch considered it, but the boy would either get caught or killed. He growled as he realized his only course of action.
"Stay here until I come back," Lelouch ordered with his Geass. The boy sat there, blank-faced. Lelouch began to make his way to the knight police, carefully weaving though the crowd. "Excuse me sir," he said behind the first officer's back. When he turned, Lelouch's eyes were blazing with his Geass. "What you're looking for is on a different floor." The knight thanked him, and walked past Lelouch towards the elevator, speaking into his radio. Lelouch watched the other one head for the elevators, and he went to find Milly. She was at the blackjack table, playing one on one with Euphemia.
"Lelouch!" they said in united surprise.
"I need your help," he told Milly, irritated. The two both stood, abandoning the game. He led the two women to the bar where he'd left Rolo. The boy's eyes returned to normal and he saw them watching him. "We're here to help you," Lelouch said, but it was too late. Rolo's eyes had turned and he'd disappeared again.
"How'd he do that?" Euphemia asked, as Milly looked around. Lelouch sighed, trying to catch the tracks in the carpet again, but down here it was too trampled.
"I knew a boy named Rolo over five years ago. His Geass could freeze people, but not objects." Lelouch stood up taller, looking over people's heads. He saw Rolo leaving the main room, sneaking onto the stairs. Lelouch took off running, Euphemia and Milly following as fast as they could walk in their heels, surprised.
"Rolo, stop!" Lelouch shouted as he entered the stairs. Lelouch looked down to see the smaller boy running down the stairs. Lelouch began to chase him down the stairs. As fast as he was, he wasn't faster than Rolo's Geass. He needed to think of a way to stop him from running. The original Rolo's Geass had a short time limit. As Rolo reached the bottom and opened the door, Lelouch jumped over the railing, to skip on flight of stairs, and rolled, trying to grab Rolo as he flew through the door. Lelouch followed and was stopped by Rolo slowly backing away from something. Lelouch looked up to see eight tactical police watching the door. He quickly grabbed Rolo and spun, blocking the small boy from view.
"Rolo," Lelouch said, drawing the boy's attention. "I'm going to help you. But you need to trust me. Don't use your Geass anymore. You'll kill yourself."
"What's geass?" Rolo asked. Lelouch's eyes widened at the question. Could a person use a Geass without knowing about what it was? Lelouch had gotten his from C, who'd explained it to him. Rolo's came from another. But the original Rolo had still known what it was. Another mystery.
"Your ability to freeze people. Head back up the stairs. The two ladies are friends of mine," Lelouch said, herding the small Rolo back into the stair well. As he closed the door, Lelouch saw Milly and Euphemia catching up. "The knight-police are guarding the entrance, and I think they're looking for Rolo here." Milly knelt down, smiling.
"Hi Rolo! I'm Milly!" Milly offered her white-gloved hand, and Rolo looked at it in confusion. Lelouch shook Milly's hand, showing the boy, whom then repeated the action. He looked up at Lelouch.
"Can I use my power now?" he asked Lelouch. Lelouch shook his head, his mouth grim.
"No, not yet. Wait until I say," Lelouch ordered. He looked up at Euphemia. "Any chance you can escort him out without them knowing?" Euphemia shook her head, concerned. Lelouch pulled out his cell phone. "Well, what can't you solve with a hostage situation?"
"I could freeze them," Rolo said.
"Every time you use that ability, your heart stops," Lelouch explained to him. "And you've just used it three times in the last hour. A fourth time could kill you."
"Geass stops hearts?" Euphemia asked, suddenly concerned, grabbing Lelouch's shoulder.
"Just his," Lelouch said. "Mine requires direct line of sight to even influence someone, and direct eye contact and my voice to give them an order." Euphemia gave an exhale of relief, moving her hand from his shoulder to cover her heart.
"What does that word mean, Geass?" Rolo asked in his childish voice.
"No one explained it to you?" Lelouch asked. When Rolo shook his head, he continued. "Geass is the power you have. Each one is different. Yours freezes people. Mine lets me tell people to do what I want. But don't use it right now." Lelouch opened his cell phone and began to dial.
0.0.0
Kallen answered her cell phone, interrupting Xingke's lesson on Knightmare Frames.
"Lelouch?"
'We need Zero and the Black Knights. We have a special boy that needs to escape the Knight-police,' Lelouch's voice said over the phone. 'Who's there with you?' Xingke gestured for Kallen to give him the phone. Kallen handed it over.
"Zero," Xingke said, ready to obey.
0.0.0
"Okay," Lelouch said seriously. "They'll be here in an hour, but we need someplace to hide Rolo. A room would be best."
"Cornelia and I have vouchers from the hotel management," Euphemia offered. "But I don't know how to get us there without Cornelia. And by now Suzaku and Cornelia are looking for me."
"Do you have your phone that I gave you?" Lelouch asked. When Euphemia nodded, Lelouch told them to head upstairs. Lelouch picked up Rolo as they climbed the stairs. "Get the location of the room and head that way. Tell Cornelia you need to lie down or something. Text me the room number and I'll knock three times, then two, then three."
"Three, two, three," Euphemia repeated. "Got it." Euphemia headed up the stairs quickly, outpacing Milly, Lelouch, and Rolo.
"I'm going to die?" Rolo asked, his voice cracking with fear. "Is that why they told me I was a failed product?" Lelouch froze.
"You won't die if I can help it, Rolo," He said reassuringly in a whisper. "And you're no failure." Rolo looked at Lelouch, sniffing. At Lelouch's serious expression, he managed to smile. Lelouch gave him a smirk in response.
0.0.0
Xingke was supervising the loading of the helicoper. Suddenly Ohgi was walking over beside a boxy red Glasglow. Xingke stared at the unit in surprise. The Glasglow wasn't even as advanced as the old Sutherlands that they Britannian military were phasing out.
"This is the Glasglow Sniper Type," Ohgi announced. "It's mounted almost three-hundred feet of extra cable on its slash harkens, with emergency rocket boosters and parachutes in case of a fall." The Glasglow's backpack unfolded to reveal a pair of large sniper rifles attached to its backpack. Its face armor was simplified to a simple clear visor over it's single factsphere sensor. "I figured you could use it to secure the roof against incoming aircraft. I've fitted it with a single baton on the left arm and an assault rifle, just in case."
"It's actually not a bad idea," Xingke admitted. He turned back toward the helicopter as it was loaded. He sensed someone behind him and saw C holding a black case in her hand.
"For Zero," she said, and offered him the case. Xingke took it and opened it partway. He saw that it was Zero's outfit, helmet and all. He closed the case and nodded to C, who walked off wordlessly.
"I only need three men with rifles and pistols," Xingke called out, asking for volunteers. "Kallen!" Kallen jogged over, wearing her new black knight uniform. Xingke noted that it appeared to be no more than the jacket with a short skirt and black stockings. "you'll pilot the Glasglow. Keep any helicopters from getting too close. Let's move out."
0.0.0
Jeremiah Gottwald entered the lobby of the Queen's Gambit casino, followed closely by Villeta Nu. A lieutenant named Dalton walked up, bowing to Gottwald.
"We were tracking an asylum escapee, a young boy," Dalton explained. "We have guards at the entrance, and officers searching every floor." Jeremiah looked back Villeta, who merely shared his look, before returning his gaze to the lieutenant.
"What asylum, Lieutenant Dalton?" Jeremiah asked, warily.
"The information was not made available to me, Knight-Commander," Dalton replied, confused. Jeremiah frowned in irritation at the Lieutenant.
0.0.0
Lelouch, Rolo, and Milly walked over to the room Euphemia had obtained. Lelouch knocked, thrice, then paused, twice, then paused, then three times again, careful to get the number correct. Euphemia unlocked the door, allowing them in. Lelouch scanned the room quickly. It wasn't as grand a room as he had expected, merely a single bed, a television, a desk and two chairs. He held Rolo's hand as he guided the boy to the bed. Rolo climbed on it and sat down, looking bored. Lelouch walked over to the window, peeking out at the sky line.
"When they get here," he said, not looking away from the window, "I'll go up and meet them. You two stay here with him." Suddenly there was a knock at the door.
"Euphemia?" came Cornelia's voice through the door. Lelouch looked at the door in alarm. If Cornelia saw him, his cover may be blown. He looked in the closet, Cornelia knocking again against the door. It was his best shot. He stepped inside, Rolo quickly following him. Lelouch scowled and closed the closet door, hiding as Euphemia opened the door. Cornelia entered the room and saw Milly.
"Why'd you bring her to your room?" Cornelia asked, suspicious. Lelouch slowed his breathing during the silence that followed.
"We got along so well that we decided to have some private girl time!" Euphemia said in explanation, mocking excitement. Lelouch rolled his eyes. She still couldn't lie that well.
"Mind if I join you?" Cornelia asked. Lelouch cursed in his mind. He wouldn't be able to get to the roof with Cornelia in the same room.
"Actually, we were just about to go buy some drinks and come back," Milly said. Come on, Lelouch urged in his mind. Get her out of the room.
"How about we just go down to the restaurant and get something to eat with our drinks?" Cornelia suggested cheerfully.
"Perfect!" Euphemia said, in unison with Lelouch's thoughts. He glanced down at Rolo, who was watching him. He heard the three women leave and close the door. Lelouch waited five minutes, then cracked the door, peeking out. Satisfied the room was empty, he looked out the window to see the helicopter arriving. He knelt down to Rolo.
"As soon as I'm gone, lock the door, and don't open it unless it's me. If it opens without you opening it, hide in the closet again unless Euphemia or Milly tell you," Lelouch ordered. Rolo nodded, then watched as Lelouch left. He headed for the elevator, watching the three ladies head downstairs, then headed for the stairs.
As he climbed, he began to think of how to deploy his threat. He calculated what the Knight-Police would do if he were to declare this, declare that. By the time he stepped out onto the roof, the Glasglow was already firing warning shots with its sniper cannons, and the few men Xingke had brought were arranging the few guards that had been on the roof into one area near the door. Xingke handed Lelouch a familiar-looking case. Lelouch nodded as he took it, then stepped into the helicopter, undoing the top button of his shirt as he did.
0.0.0
Jeremiah was leading the search in the third floor when all of the screens in the halls changed to black. Jeremiah recognized what was happening just as the visored helmet flickered onto the screens.
"Patrons of the Queen's Gambit! Your greed has cost the prejudiced more than their money. So I give you a gift. Among you stand ten people who control the detonators to destroy the building's float system. If the Knight-Police do not prevent you from leaving, they will detonate. If one of you tries to leave, they will detonate."
"Bloody hell, not again," Jeremiah said. He looked at Dalton. "Start tracing the signal."
"But sir, the hostages," Dalton tried to interrupt, concerned.
"Sod hostage situation, This is just a diversion!" Jeremiah said, remembering the last incident.
"To prove my resolve and threat, I present a demonstration." Suddenly there was a loud explosion from above, and the building briefly seemed to wag. "The building can hold itself up with three float systems. Can it do it with two? Stay away from the top ten floors.' The screen went black. Jeremiah cursed and walked up to one of the custom screens. They were able to make a two-way call over the system. He activated the call function, calling the entire hotel.
"Zero! This the Knight-Commander Gottwald! I will personally conduct the negotiations at a place of your choosing!" Jeremiah declared into the small camera atop the screen.
"Jeremiah Gottwald. I believe you were present at the last bomb scare I made. Did you enjoy my little gift?" Zero replied over the system.
"I have no time for games," Jeremiah growled, angrily.
"Zero!" Cornelia's voice roared over the system. "This is Cornelia-"
"Cornelia li Britannia. Second princess of the Imperial Family." Zero finished. "This is most entertaining. Let me guess, you are going to demand me surrender? I think not. Gottwald. I will meet you on the roof. Come alone."
0.0.0
Gottwald stepped onto the roof, and immediately saw Zero standing before an old, red Glasglow sniper. Gottwald eyed the ancient Knightmare Frame, and walked up to Zero.
"So. We meet at last," Gottwald said, unimpressed.
"Indeed. C told me you were wondering who I am," Zero replied, playfully. Gottwald winced at the mention of the witch's chosen identity.
"Stop me if I'm wrong. You were placed into that Institute. You gained that power, Geass. And then somehow you escaped," Gottwald saw Zero continued to stand, unmoved at Gottwald's deductions. "But before that, you were a member of the Imperial Royal Family. The son of Charles zi Britannia, and Marianne vi Britannia, the Flash. Which would make you Lelouch vi Britannia." Zero merely stared back at Gottwald.
"And what if I am who you say I am?" Zero asked, confidently. "Would anyone believe that story?' Jeremiah frowned at Zero's point. "And it makes no difference either way. You don't know where I am. You can't stop me. And you'll never see me coming." Jeremiah suddenly drew his pistol, aiming at Zero. The Glasglow raised an assault rifle. Zero stopped the Glasglow with an out-stretched arm. "Interesting. If I am who you think I am, can you shoot me, after failing to protect the Lady Marianne?" Jeremiah gritted his teeth in anger.
0.0.0
Rolo heard many footsteps in the halls, then a knock on the door.
"Lelouch said we're to help you get back to him," came a strange voice through the door. Rolo ignored them. He had to wait for Lelouch.
0.0.0
Jeremiah lowered his pistol, angry at himself. Weakness! Here was the terrorist, but he was unable to kill him.
"I was wondering," Zero said, curious, running a hand up to his helmet's chin. "How did you discover that the third prince escaped, as you claim?"
"They claimed he was dead, but they never recovered the body. They buried a picture in the imperial memorial," Jeremiah said, holstering his pistol. Zero's hand dropped, and pulled a pistol of his own. Jeremiah stood straighter, nervously. When Zero didn't shoot, Jeremiah looked at the black figure in confusion. "Are you going to kill me?" Zero lowered the gun, then reached for his helmet. The back panel slid back up, and he pulled it forward and down, revealing black hair, then purple eyes.
"How did you feel, when Lelouch vi Britannia was sent away just as you were?" the hidden face asked, without the voice filter. The voice reminded Jeremiah of when he was younger.
"I felt...guilt. The Flash's death was my greatest shame, and the fates of her children my greatest guilt," Jeremiah admitted, defeated. The helmet was suddenly lowered, revealing Zero's true face. Jeremiah's widened in shock. "Lelouch?" he struggled to find the words. "I suspected, but never really thought it was really you!"
"And now that you know who I am, and the power I have, what will you do with that information?" Lelouch asked, threateningly. Jeremiah merely stared, dumbstruck. Lelouch suddenly glanced away, putting a finger to his ear. "I have to help a friend who escaped the institute himself. If you tell anyone, Gottwald, you will be killed, after you are forced to tell me who you told, and then I will kill them. And their families. And friends. And it will be all on your hands, Gottwald." Gottwald absorbed this as Lelouch donned his helmet again, stalking past the Knight-Commander as he continued to be in shock.
0.0.0
"Rolo? It's Lelouch," came Lelouch's voice through the door. Rolo ran over and unlocked, revealing the large, caped and helmeted figure standing in the door. He raised the helmet, revealing Lelouch's grinning face underneath. He then replaced the helmet, and offered Rolo his gloved hand. Rolo took it.
"Freeze, Zero!" came Cornelia's voice, and Lelouch spun to see Cornelia aiming a pistol his way, Euphemia behind her. Zero saw Euphemia shake her head slightly. Then Rolo's eyes lit up with his Geass. Cornelia froze, her eyes turning red, and Zero picked up Rolo and he and Xingke ran around the corner to the elevator. Lelouch heard the pistol fire, hitting the wall of the hallway. The managed to enter the elevator, the doors closing. Xingke punched the button for the roof.
"Lelouch?" Rolo said, weakly. "My chest and arm hurts." Zero held him closer.
"Just hold on, Rolo," he ordered the small boy in his arms. "We need to get him to a doctor."
As they stepped onto the roof, Jeremiah watched them get on the helicopter, the Glasglow plugging it's chest-mounted slash harkens into two mounts underneath the helicopter. Zero set down the boy and walked up to Jeremiah.
"What will you do, Jeremiah?" Zero asked. Jeremiah just stared at Lelouch, his eyes narrowed.
"I don't know yet," Jeremiah admitted. "But I'll keep your secret until I figure it out," he told the masked figure. Zero nodded in acceptance, and seemed to accept Jeremiah's non-decision. He stepped onto the helicopter as it began to take off, flying rapidly into the distance as the back hatch closed.
0.0.0
Lelouch knelt by Rolo, strapping him into the helicopter. Lelouch checked his pulse, and gave a sigh of relief as he felt the steady rhythm. He removed his helmet and sat down across from the young Geass user. But Rolo wasn't out of the woods. He was in the same predicament as Lelouch himself had been. And he was barely 8 years old.
"You're Zero," Rolo said, in surprise. Lelouch smiled and nodded. Rolo smiled back.
0.0.0
Jeremiah Gottwald was walking around the lobby of the casino. It had been a few hours before the explosives team had declared there was no bomb. It wasn't as if the Queen's Gambit would be visited anytime soon. The repairs would take long enough that they would almost be forgotten in the interim. Jeremiah wondered if that was Zero's plan all along.
Lelouch, Jeremiah thought, correcting himself. Why the hell had Lelouch turned against Britannia? Why had he been placed in the institute? Jeremiah had witnessed these events, but somehow couldn't remember the reasons behind them. His attention was drawn by someone speaking Lelouch's name, and Jeremiah walked in that direction. The officer was questioning a blonde about Lelouch Lamperouge.
"Lelouch Lamperouge wasn't in the building," Jeremiah declared. "You list is off, private." The officer nodded and walked off. The blonde gave him a small smile as she was allowed to leave the casino. "I couldn't protect the Lady Marianne," Jeremiah said to himself, quietly. "Perhaps I can make up for it with Lelouch."
0.0.0
Euphemia was leaving the building with Suzaku. Her knight had been caught up by the panic below at Zero's threat. Euphemia had rejoined the knight later. As they left, Euphemia turned toward her knight, suddenly curious.
"Suzaku, do you have any dreams?" Euphemia asked. Suzaku stopped, surprised by the sudden question.
"I want to be the Knight of One. Then I'd be able to achieve governorship of Ja- of Area Eleven," he said, standing taller with his delcaration.
"You want to rule over your homeland?" She asked, confused.
"No, I want to restore it to some of it's former glory," Suzaku said, smiling to himself. Euphemia smiled and started walking again.
"I could appoint you as my choice for the position of Knight of Six," she informed him. She stopped when she witnessed four of the Knights of the Rounds, led by the Knight of One, Bismark Walden.
"My Lady Euphemia. We've been sent to retrieve you and your sister," Bismark said, a hand on his hip. Cornelia joined Euphemia's side, followed by Guilford.
"The eleven wants to be Knight of One?" asked the blonde at Bismark's side. Euphemia identified him as the Knight of Ten, Lucario Bradley. Also known as the Vampire of Britannia. Bradley just laughed, and Euphie glanced over her shoulder to see Suzaku lowering his head. Euphemia started to walk up to the Knight of Ten to silence him, when Cornelia's arm stopped her.
"He'd kill you in your sleep," Cornelia whispered in Euphie's ear. Euphemia frowned angrily and glared at the Knight of Ten.
"Bradley, silence yourself. Aspirations make you strong," Bismark said. Lucario looked at the Knight of One in barely-controlled fear and nodded. Suzaku saw the exchange.
Is the knight of one so terrifying, that he instills fear in even the other knights of the rounds? Suzaku thought to himself. Bismark spoke again, voice brimming with authority.
"The Emperor is deciding who will be the new Prime Minister. He wants all of his children present at the morning breakfast where he will announce his decision."
