Code Geass: Knight of Revolution Second Advent
CG isn't mine. Timeless Echolocation submitted Charlotte Moreau and Elemental Balance submitted Cyrill Madron.
The New Year is here and so is the next chapter of CG: KoR 2nd Advent! I'm sorry for the wait. Enjoy!
Chapter 10: Cardinal Sins
Sitting in the transport plane, Halbdunkel mentally swore. Why was V.V. sending them to support the Avalon? Nothing about the move, much less the plan involved with this move made any since. The two subordinates with him in the plane sat far away from him. Hal's Geass of Zypher swirled the air around him, visibly showing his displeasure and frustration. The attendant stayed away from the man with strange powers. She'd been informed about the passengers being top-secret operatives trusted by His Imperial Majesty, but they were all so peculiar.
The three individuals who accompanied the wind-controlling commander only called him Serpent or Akasha, whatever that was. The gray haired man wore a white mask that matched his white and gold uniform. His hooded cloak was solid black with no embellishments. The man was polite enough, but obviously dangerous from how his own subordinates were edgy around him.
Despite that, she had to talk to him. They were close to their destination. Nervously approaching him, her skirts kicked up slightly at the wind. Trying her best to keep her hair from blowing all over her face she flinched when the winds suddenly eased and stopped completely. Swallowing she cleared her throat to speak.
"Sir, we'll be arriving shortly."
"My thanks and apologies for making you uneasy. Carry on."
Nodding once, she scurried away. Glancing out the window, Hal saw the Avalon as they circled around it. They were in a holding pattern around the vessel.
'This is not my day.'
Bringing the Sturm Falken to a land on top of the Ikaruga, the pilot hopped out of the fighter to see Rakshata twirling her pipe. The Indian woman smirked and nodded her direction.
"Well, how does my child perform?"
Removing the helmet, crimson hair flowed from the equipment and the pilot smiled broadly with a simple thumb up as the reply.
Down below, Kallen was finishing loading a new energy filler as she watched Zero and the others exit the truck and walk on board their flagship. Sure, they still had the Umi-no-Hime, but she was a water bound craft. Glancing over at Tohdo, the Holy Swords were talking about the next phase of the plan. Now with Tianzi in their protection, and Alex in captivity, they had control over the situation between Britannia and China. As much as she wanted to join them in the ship, she also knew Cornelia and Euphemia well enough now to feel safe about Suzaku around Lelouch. Sighing, she thumbed the pommel of her personal sword, Kusanagi, that Hal had given her when she'd joined their privy ranks. If only Hal was still with them, the plans wouldn't have had to have been changed so dramatically.
"We know you're out their somewhere Hal. Come back if you can, it's driving Morgen crazy."
Inside the bridge, Ohgi turned to greet Zero and the others as they entered. The rest of the crew in the room turned from their stations and bowed in the traditional Japanese style, surprising Suzaku and the two kids. Zero simply nodded and they returned to their duties.
"Good to see almost everyone's back."
Zero tilted his head at Ohgi's wording.
"Almost? Where's Spring?"
The sub-commander picked up a clipboard with several papers and a few photographs held in place. Looking at them a moment, the man seemed to shake his head in disbelief before walked toward them.
"She did some snooping around during the aftermath of the hijacking we pulled off at the wedding and found something she said was vital to the future operations."
Handing off the clipboard, Zero made a strangled gasp and clenched the clipboard with both hands as he looked at the notes accompanying the pictures. Cornelia and Euphie were immediately by his side and swallowed at the sight. The rest of the bridge had gone silent at Zero losing his composure. After working with the man for the past year, they knew he wasn't infallible, but he was very composed and calculating. For him to break his commander's image in front of them just from some information was disturbing at best.
"Zero? Is this that bad?"
"It's Winter in front of the leader of the Geass Collective. We may have to make our preemptive strike sooner than expected. So that's V.V."
The higher ups within the Black Knights and Kaguya had been told the truth of Geass and the information they had on the Collective in case any opposing Geass wielders suddenly showed up during a battle. Ohgi had found it hard to believe, especially with C.C.'s immortality and why she was such an important figure even though she hadn't been a Black Knight. Beside Zero, Cornelia couldn't believe the recon that Morgen had gained, much less the appearance of V.V.
"He looks barely older than Alexsander!"
Plucking the clipboard from Zero's hands, C.C. glanced over the photos and nodded her own confirmation of the other immortal. Handing it over to Cornelia, she smirked and walked over to the lounging couch conveniently placed in the bridge and took a seat before propping her feet up.
"Oh, yes, that's definitely him, the little brat. Still looks as smug as he always has."
Tossing the papers to Ogi, Zero walked to the throne designed chair and took his seat. Euphie and her sister watched him with a bit of concern as he crossed a leg over his knee and propped his head on his first in a position that resembled the Thinking Man. Everyone had seen that pose before; his mind was racing with plans and scenarios. It never ceased to amaze them with how fast he could speed through so many possibilities.
"Zero? We should be concerntrating on the here and now. V.V. can wait a bit longer."
Leaning back in the chair, the leader of the Black Knights nodded.
"True enough Cornelia. Ohgi, how fast can we have the Ikaruga and the rest begin to move out?"
"Five minutes."
As he gave the okay the doors to the bridge swished open again and Suzaku gaped at the new occupant.
"Nunally?"
The blind girl perked as her eyebrows rose in surprise. Behind her, Sayoko discreetly fingered a kunai from her sleeve. Lelouch had left her specific orders regarding Suzaku and his behavior. Even if the childhood friend attacked Lelouch, she was to give Nunally her undivided protection first and foremost. Eyeing Zero, she noted an almost imperceptive nod from the masked brother of her ward.
"Suzaku?"
The girl's face took a momentarily surprised appearance before contorting into a frown. Nunally gripped the ends of the armrests in her delicate hands and glanced in the direction she knew her brother was in. Lelouch knew he'd have to explain a few things later, as he hadn't quite told her the extent of the plan had included taking Suzaku from Schneizel. She turned to face their childhood friend with a sad expression that held an underlying anger. Suzaku swallowed and flinched. He'd never seen Nunally like this.
""Nunally, what are you doing here?"
"Not another word Suzaku, please, just don't talk. I can't trust your word anymore. Sayoko, I suddenly feel very tired."
Sayoko simply nodded her understanding and wheeled Nunally out off the bridge. Zero sighed heavily before setting his attention on the view outside at the skies. The doors opened again to admit a cross Guistizia and an infuriated Morgen. Walking straight up to Suzaku without preamble or even acknowledging anyone else in the room, Guistizia backhanded the younger man. The resounding crack made several of the Black Knights wince. Cornelia smirked as her sister sighed. Behind his mask Lelouch raised a brow in interest.
"Oww! What was that . . ."
Kururugi never finished as Guistizia backed away and Morgen dashed in, punching him as hard as she could in the gut. The blow doubled him over, knocking the wind out of him as he crumpled to the floor.
"Nunally asked that I give you that message Kururugi Suzaku."
Guistizia turned to face Zero. Morgen looked at her nails and then blew off her knuckled like she'd just shot him with her firearms.
"Mine was for the heck of it. You've been a real jerk Kururugi. You had it coming."
Zero chuckled inwardly; leave it to his knights to be the extensions of his own mind and body. The two former Rounds stood at attention in front of Lelouch without their masks and saluted in firm Britannian style. Struggling to his feet, Suzaku was having a hard time understanding what just happened. Zero stood from his seat and spoke.
"Thank you Morgendammerung Falsetto and Guistizia Martin. I've wanted to do that for a while now."
Suzaku flinched at the names. He'd talked enough with Monica, Dorothea, and Waldstein to know the two other Rounds who abandon their positions more than eight years ago. Both of them turned to face him with somber expressions.
"Why? Why are you with Zero?! You're fighting your own nation!"
"Silence fool."
Guiztizia expected that pitifully poor choice of words from the naïve Knight.
"You're no different, no, you're worse than we are. We know what it is we are fighting for. It pains us, but we will not sit idly by when we have the ability to do something about or nation. Unlike you, who fights his own countrymen for naught. Your Highness, we've nothing else to say to this whelp . . . with your permission."
"Remain here for now Guistizia. Morgen, take a rest, you've just returned. Thank you for the intelligence."
Morgen left the bridge with a quiet nod.
"Highness? Who are you?"
Zero stood and reached for his mask.
"All those times we spoke, all the conversations we've had and you never realized my voice. Suzaku, you really are . . ." The mask was pulled away and Suzaku went slack jawed. " . . . an idiot aren't you?"
On the Avalon Prince Schneizel was being accommodated by Anya and Gino, in addition to Lt. General Madron and the Knight of Eleven. Kanon had been left to handle the bridge despite his protests. The two attendants, Kyrios and Rena stood just behind their commander. Charlotte had been given special orders to keep to the shadows of the Collective and keep an eye on events.
Lt. Gen. Madron came as a surprise to Halbdunkel. His two sons had served under them during the NZC and both had lost their lives in the war. Peter and Robin volunteered to remain behind to ensure the unit's survival during a fierce shootout that had downed Morgen, giving her the scar that remained on her back. He'd personally received an earful from Dorothea for breaking ranks to save the red haired sniper. Their fighting had lasted for more than forty minutes before guerilla forces had overrun them and killed them by hacking them to death with kuhkris. The revenge killing he had laid down in response had earned him his Maelstrom title.
"You are?"
"By order of His Imperial Majesty and at the urging of your uncle Prince Schneizel, We are to assist you in your battles against the Black Knights. We are the Secret Order of Light Deployment Intervention and Eradication Radicals, SOLDIER."
The group looked back and forth at each other behind Schneizel. Gino stepped forward and cocked an eyebrow.
"Why didn't they send us more troops? There's only three of you."
"One of us would have been more than enough, but due to my station as Supreme Commander over SOLDIER, my direct subordinates are always with me."
Schneizel smirked.
"So you are the head of the organization?"
Halbdunkel nodded. Motioning for everyone to follow him, Schneizel continued deeper into the Avalon. Madron couldn't help but notice the gate at which the Serpent of Akasha walked, the commanding and crisp footfalls reminded him of old Special Forces training. Had His Imperial Majesty been creating this SOLDIER from special individuals out of the BSF?
"You haven't given us your name."
"My apologies Cyrill Madron. You may call me the Serpent of Akasha."
The group save for Schneizel flinched. None of them had introduced themselves. Granted, Gino's name wasn't surprising given his title as a Rounds, but Cyrill was a relatively unheard of general despite his rank due to his specified field of operations.
"Don't be so surprised. I was Special Forces alongside your sons Peter and Robin. Good men. A shame to lose them in the NZC. How's his son David?"
Madron felt a pit in his stomach and a chill ran up his spine. Only a few people had really talked to Peter and knew he was a married man with a son. Madron only met one of those individuals but know he was dead.
'Can it be?'
"He's fine. Right now he's finishing his days at the Knightmare Piloting Academy."
"I see. Come and see me later, I'd like to speak more on the matter."
"That's enough banter for the moment. Anya, you and the Knight of Eleven escort the Serpent of Akasha and his attendants to their quarters would you?"
Anya acknowledged, as did the Knight of Eleven.
Being escorted to the room, the two Rounds members turned to see the three individuals settling in.
"Serpent of Akasha. He sure did pick a fancy name for you Halbdunkel Schlange."
The three froze and turned with weapons drawn. Geass sigils shined in each of their eyes. The prime directive of the Collective rushed to the forefront of their minds.
Those who discover your identity are to be handled immediately.
Anya's eyes glistened with the red-rimmed trace of Geass. The three raced to think of what kind of Geass the girl was under, and then they looked at the Knight of Eleven who didn't appear the least bit phased by the whole situation. He too wore a mask and a long sword at his side, yet he didn't reach for it.
"Hmph, she talks and you all go defensive. Calm yourselves, we're not enemies here."
"Remove your mask Knight of Rounds, or we'll cut you down where you stand."
Rena motioned with the glaive in her hands. She knew the rules of this mission. Do not engage unless engaged, and hold back your Geass unless given no other choice. If Kyrios and her Commander could do it, she'd follow as well, but against other Geass, all the bets were off for her.
"I'm hurt Knight of Two, all those years of service and you don't recognize me?"
Anya spun around with a fancy cursty at the end of it that was completely off base with the young girl. Halbdunkel lowered his blade and removed his mask to reveal a look of utter astonishment. He shook his head slowly in disbelief as he remembered the past.
"No, no it can't be. All these years, all the sacrifices . . . in vain?! It's not you . . . it's not you!!"
Gripping the sword in his hand, he lunged at the woman and swung with all the force he could muster.
"Stop."
The sword stopped a hair from Anya's face and Hal glanced at the Knight of Eleven out of the corner of his eye. His body wouldn't obey his commands. Kyrios and Rena couldn't seem to move either. He'd only seen something similar to this once before and the implications of the Round's ability were chilling. Anya looked over at the Knight and smiled.
"Thank you Cardinal. You can take of the mask now."
"Yes Mother."
Inside, Hal swore.
'Mother?! Who is?"
The mask fell away and Hal immediately chilled to the bone. Before him, stood a Lelouch with Geass in both eyes.
Halbdunkel is about to learn the truth behind Marianne. How will he react? Who is Cardinal, what's his power? How will Suzaku react to Lelouch?
Read on dear reader, read on!