It didn't take long for C2 with the Black Knight's help to find and capture Nina. The girl wasn't co-operating well, and Rivals had already been dismissed. When Lelouch saw the girl he felt a strong wave of rage wash over him at the sight of the Xenophobic girl.
It was her fault that all of this happened. So she was going to make it better.
Nina, upon seeing Lelouch, cried for his help. She was trembling he realised, she must still be scared of the Japanese.
"Lelou- Your Highness! Please, help me?" She called, and through the corner of his eye, Lelouch could see Jeremiah frown. Lelouch decided that he would need to deal with Nina swiftly if he wished to avoid a scene. Jeremiah had just seen one of his charges die today, and Lelouch could tell that his knight was more protective than usual.
Lelouch ignored Nina's wailing and turned to the Black Knights that had assisted in her capture. "Thank you for your assistance, my knight and I will transfer her to the lab." Nina's cries stopped.
The foot soldiers bowed in respect and turned away as Jeremiah grabbed Nina's arm and pulled her back to Lelouch's flagship. C2 followed behind them, she had long taken off her wig to prevent the Black Knights from suspecting anything, as she walked onto the flagship he took her hair out of her ponytail.
Nina followed Lelouch silently for a while, giving him the occasional glance, it was obvious that she wanted to ask him a question, but was unsure if she would be punished for asking it.
"What is it, Nina?" Lelouch said, giving her permission.
"Your Highness, you ordered my capture?" Nina asked. Lelouch glanced over at her.
"You took part in the creation of the weapon that destroyed Pendragon, I ordered your apprehension to ask that you create a counter-measure." He answered in a neutral tone.
"But I-" Nina began to protest and Lelouch stopped in his path, Jeremiah also stopping and holding Nina in position. Lelouch knew that he'd be capable of convincing Nina to help him without the use of geass, but he was all out of patience and with Jeremiah here there really was no point.
Lelouch turned to face Nina "I order you work on a Fleija counter-measure to the best of your ability."
Nina stopped in her protests and nodded, "Yes, your Majesty."
"Good, now this will be your lab." Lelouch gestured to the room at the end of the hall. It wasn't properly equipped, after all, Lelouch hadn't exactly prepared for Schneizel to destroy all of Pendragon, but the Black Knights had donated some basic equipment.
Nina nodded and walked over into the room numbly.
Lelouch frowned at that thought. Because he was expecting that he'd be able to take Nina back to Pendragon, he hadn't brought any other scientists with him, which was going to be a problem. Nina was an expert of the theory of the science, but when it came to the actual physical creation, Nina's skills didn't match up.
Jeremiah's head turned suddenly and a moment later Lelouch heard the sound of heavy footsteps running. He turned around to see Gino running up to them, the brightest smile on his face.
"Your Highness! There's a communication's link open on the bridge! You'll like this," Gino shouted as he ran up to Lelouch.
Lelouch stared at the screen absolutely flabbergasted. This was unbelievable, there was no way that this seemed possible, but Jeremiah confirmed that Lelouch's eyes were not deceiving him.
Elouise was covered with bruises on her left side and was apologising to him on screen, "I'm really am sorry your Majesty, I know you told me not to leave Pendragon, but this lady told me that you knew her," Elouise gestured to Sayoko who was standing behind her.
Sayoko stepped forward to give a better explanation, "When I escaped from Prince Schneizel's imprisonment, I went to Pendragon to warn you of the Fleija, however instead I encountered Princess Elouise who told me that you were not in the city. Seeing that she was so young, I chose to flee the city with her while I could."
Lelouch nodded numbly, taking another glance at the bruises on Elouise's face, "Why is she hurt?" He asked.
Sayoko looked down glumly, "There was less time than I had thought, our ship was partially caught in the Fleija and we crashed. Our communications went down and we were unable to inform you of our survival, Elouise only managed to bring them back online half an hour ago."
Lelouch nodded and turned to Jeremiah, "Contact the Black Knights, have them send a rescue team to their coordinates immediately." Jeremiah bowed and moved to one of the monitors to make the call.
"I don't understand," Elouise sniffed, "this can't be real, it's too horrible. How could Schneizel do this?"
Lelouch opened his mouth, but couldn't find an answer. Although he knew the logic behind Schneizel's actions, he didn't have an explanation that he could tell a child, to Elouise. He looked down and closed his eyes, mouth trembling and fighting back tears.
"Elouise, you have no idea how grateful I am that you're alive."
"Your majesty?" Elouise asked in innocent confusion.
Lelouch looked back up, forcing a smile, "Hey, would you be willing to help us out? I have the creator of the Fleija working on solutions on stopping the Fliejas, she's only good at the theoretical side, so do you think you can build what she comes up with?"
Elouise blinked, before smiling brightly, "Of course!"
It was a difficult decision, and Lelouch even had a difficult time convincing Jeremiah that it was a good idea, but he had decided to transfer everyone over to the Black Knight's Ikaruga. Truthfully, he had hoped that he would never have to step foot on that ship again after he was betrayed on it, but the had no choice. Their flagship wasn't battle ready, and neither did their 'lab' have the necessary equipment to make anything capable of helping them.
Xingke greeted Lelouch as he was making the transfer. Jeremiah as always was standing behind Lelouch on his right side, but what had drawn Xingke's attention was Elouise who was shyly hiding behind Lelouch on his left.
"I thought that-" Xingke started to speak before Lelouch quickly interrupted to stop him from finishing his sentence. He didn't want to have to see Elouise cry again.
"Sayoko managed to save Elouise just before."
Xingke nodded, before turning to greet the girl who was sneaking another peek at him, "Welcome to the Ikaruga, Princess Elouise, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Elouise flinched slightly at the direct attention but hesitantly stepped out from behind Lelouch and curtseyed, "Pleasure to meet you too, Lord Xingke."
Lelouch chuckled lightly, "Elouise, General Xingke is a general, not a lord."
Elouise gasped and squeaked an apology, Xingke's eyes had softened at the scene and turned back to Lelouch, "I'm assuming you want her in protective custody, do not worry, I will have her accompanying the empress and Lady Kaguya."
Lelouch shook his head, "No, she will be assisting Nina in the building of the Fleija Eliminator that she is working on," Lelouch stopped for a moment to look Xingke in the eye, "I would appreciate though if you had someone watch over her… I don't want to risk losing her again if the ship gets infiltrated."
Xingke nodded in understanding ad Lelouch felt a light tug on his sleeve. He looked down to see Elouise shyly avoiding eye contact.
"Yes, Elouise?" He lightly prompted her to speak.
Elouise blushed, "Miss Nina said that her research won't go into the development stage at least until tomorrow."
Lelouch and Xingke shared a knowing look, "Then I will have you placed with the empress until you are needed," Xingke offered his hand to Elouise, who after looking to Lelouch for permission, took it. "I'll take you to her now." Xingke nodded his head in respect to Lelouch and turned to guide Elouise to his empress.
Elouise turned to wave goodbye to Lelouch before looking up at Xingke, "Um… how old is the empress?"
"You two are adorable," Kallen said suddenly, almost making Lelouch jump, he hadn't even known she was there. Kallen chuckled, before her eyes softened, "How are you holding up."
Lelouch looked straight ahead, "Schneizel's going to pay." He turned back to Kallen, "You ready to see them again?" He asked, referring to the Black Knights.
Kallen nodded, "As ready as I will ever be."