"Brand, is it ready?" Mara was once again in the basement hoping for good news.
He sighed, "It's done and ready…"
"Wonderful! Let's get this started!"
"I just don't know if it will work," he look up at Mara. She couldn't tell what he was thinking, his goggles were too tinted, "No one has ever done something like this before, and to play with a human life like this is just…"
Mara crossed her arms, "Brand, if this works, do you realize what you have done for your kingdom?"
He looked at her skeptically, "What?"
"You will have taken away the one barrier between men and woman! No longer will women have to be out of work for months depending on a man! Don't you see Brand! There won't be birth defects or diseases that kill children! All of the newborns in our new world will be strong!"
He nodded. He would be reducing birth defects, he would be able to use his geass for something that wasn't destruction, and that was enough for him, "We have to operate then,"
Victor was listening carefully, his back against the wall. He wanted to know what it was that Mara was doing. He sighed, why on earth did he come here? Because of him…the voice convinced him to come here. He would discover why he was so conflicted, why part of him didn't believe in his life. He thought about Marie, he hoped she wouldn't worry about him, but she would be at work while he was here, so she might never know. What are they talking about?
Some type of project I guess.
"V?!" Brand yelled for him. He cursed under his breath. He did want Mara to see him. What if she recognizes me?
"Yes sir?" he turned the corner and kept his head low, his eyes sneaking glances at Mara.
"Mara, this is V. He is my best worker here right now," Brand smiled at him.
"V?" she laughed and Victor felt his heart swoon at the sound of her laugh, "He can't be that special if you don't know his name," she looked at him, "What's your name?"
Victor felt a lump in his throat. He pulled his hat down further desperately hoping that she wouldn't see him. He didn't understand why, but he knew that if she saw his eyes, she would know, "I- um…I- I am…"
"Brand you've been calling him V for so long he's forgotten his own name," he laughed nervously with the rest of them.
"Well, the reason I called you here is because I want you to take the Empress to her Knightmare. I'll be there in a minute after I finish a few things up,"
Victor nodded, "Follow me, your highness," he felt his heart beat faster and faster with every step he took. He feared that she might recognize his voice, she feared that she might not know it was him at all. He was terrified. His face felt wet, his breathing seemed strained.
"Wait a second," she stopped walking behind him and held her hand under chin staring at him, "Have I met you before?"
His heart stopped, he would be caught. She would realize that he survived the attack and kill him right here. His life would be over. It would all be over, "W-"
She clapped a fist in her hand, "You were in the competition for Viceroy! Second place right?"
He felt a deep breath rush in to him, "Oh, um yes that was me…" he rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
She smiled, "I never forget a face!" she walked past him heading for the Knightmare wing of the basement.
He let out the deep breath in his lungs. He was saved. Why are you so nervous huh? Are you starting to remember who she is?
She is the monster that stole my birthright from me. I fear her.
The Knightmare Wing
"Here it is Mara!" Brand had met up with them at the unveiling, "The first of its kind, the Glasglow!"
"Wonderful! And I'll be able to pilot this?" she ran her hand over the metal machine.
"Correct!"
"Empress!"
Mara turned her head and was surprised to see Davis, "Yes?"
"The meeting with the EU has changed. It is now an international conference. All of the leader of the nations will be involved. You received a formal invitation as the leader of what they are calling Britannia," he grinned at her.
She raised her eye brows, "Britannia?"
Brand looked at her curiously, "What's Britannia?"
She smiled at Brand and Victor, "That's my name, Mara Britannia,"
That Night: Victor's Apartment
Victor was laying on the couch, Marie would be home soon, Mara Britannia. The leader of the white lions. The Empress of Britannia.
The woman you've know you're entire life.
I don't know what you're talking about. She is just someone that stole my kingdom from me.
You can't even see your own feelings.
"Victor?" James poked his head in from the doorway, "Where were you today?"
I forgot about James!
Don't trust him!
What are you even saying? That's my brother!
If you are going to get rid of me, you have to listen to me. Do not tell him anything!
"Sorry, I was out at the beach all day feeding the birds," he gave a feeble smile to him.
"Oh,"
"How was class?"
As James told him about his day, he couldn't' help but feel nervous. There was a type of fear coming over him. Why was part of his so scared of his brother? Of this angel little brother?
There was an image that flashed over him, it was at the ball of the rebellion. James was passing out the champagne, his face twisted as he watched their mother drink the champagne. He saw that the servant had white, braided hair. That seemed familiar. He felt like he knew someone, even distantly, who wore their hair like- Tens! She is on Mara's council. All of the pieces started to unfold in his mind. That night, he was supposed to be killed by poison, yet his mother died. And James knew.
I told you he was trouble.
Victor stared down at his brother who smiled back at him. He felt a very real fear suck the heat from his body. He felt frozen looking at James' angelic face. How could he?
The White Lions Command Center
Mara was in her office, the paper work for being and Empress was no joke. She sighed, Victor. She knew it was him the moment she saw him. Her heart felt like it would explode, the geass she had once used activated once again at the sight of her love. She kept quiet though. He was here for some reason, she knew it was revenge. She couldn't imagine that he still held any ounce of emotions for her after what she did. She ruined his life, she tried to end his life.
She let her head fall on the cold desk, her hand rest on top of her stomach. There was a life growing in there. As strong as she was, she couldn't help but feel an attachment to the child inside of her. It was her child. It was Davis' child. She was nervous about having her child be the guinea pig for Brand's new device, but she was a leader now. She wanted her people to have faith in her as a leader that would protect them. She had to show strength in times of weakness. She needed to be selfless.
"Mara?" there was a knock at her door.
"It's open,"
Ulrich opened the door and closed it behind him, "C.C. doesn't seem to remember anything,"
She rolled her eyes, "What? Don't be silly of course she-"
"She doesn't speak like C.C.. She speaks like a regular citizen,"
Mara sighed and rubbed her temples, "How could that be possible?"
He rubbed his head, "I don't know, but she doesn't seem to be a threat,"
She sighed, "Alright," she looked at the papers on her desk. She was studying the leaders of the several nations, "Ulrich, I need your help,"
He grinned, Mara was needing him, not Daivs, "Anything,"
"Where is Tens from?" she shuffled through her papers.
"What do you mean?"
"She wasn't born here obviously. She comes from the east right?"
He thought back to when he busted everyone out of prison. He had asked her his name and she responded with something he didn't understand. He ended up calling her Tens because that was how old she looked, "I'm not sure exactly where. Why?"
"At this conference I fear that we are going to be overthrown, all of the leaders there have strong alliances to the EU. China is the exception to that. They are staunchly neutral along with Japan. If Tens could somehow infiltrate and get us another ally…where is she now?"
"She said something about following Winston somewhere," he shrugged his shoulder.
"Winston?"
The Main Town
Tens didn't want to believe it, but it seemed that Winston was up to something. She was suspicious of him since the rebellion. He did something to the old King, she had heard part of what he said. She saw him use his geass. Before, Winston told them that his geass was something he couldn't use as the destructive force would be too great and that even he couldn't control it. But that wasn't true. His geass wasn't something destructive, it was something manipulative.
Ever since she had been keeping an eye on him. She didn't like sneaking around and spying on him. But she was too curious and too cautious. She didn't want Winston to somehow compromise the work that Mara had done.
Tens was nervous this time. This was the first time that she was following him outside of the command center. She took Brand's goggles with her; if she were caught by him, she didn't want to risk whatever his geass might hold.
Tens activated her geass to hide through the shadows. She was all about stealth and speed. She spotted Winston in an ally way. She kept her distance and put on the goggles as she listened and waited. After a while a lady with short black hair walked into the ally. With her superior hearing given to her by the geass, she could hear their conversation.
"There is something wrong with him," the girl's voice was hesitant.
"What do you mean? Does he remember?" Winston's voice seemed to be less worn and old sounding than usual.
"I don't know. He isn't at the apartment all day anymore. When he leaves he is gone for almost the whole day. He isn't telling me anything anymore. I'm worried,"
"I suppose it is time for another meeting with him. I had hoped he would remain obedient,"
Who are they talking about? Suddenly another figure showed up in the ally way. Tens recognized him immediately. It was the boy from the ball, the one that struck fear inside of her.
"He is trying to remember,"
"It seems that way,"
Tens swallowed, she no longer wanted to listen in, she wanted to run. That boy scared her more than she ever wanted to admit. Suddenly James turned his head and stared at her. Their eyes making contact. How?! Without hesitating Tens used her geass and ran through the shadows as fast as she could to get back to the Command Center. Winny, what is happening? Why are you will that evil child?
The Command Center
Tens made her way to Mara's office. She knew that if she waited for Winston, she might never be able to tell her. She knocked hard on the door.
"Come in,"
Tens pushed open the door, "Mara I-" she turned and saw Ulrich was also here. Can I trust him?
"Oh Tens what great timing. Where is it exactly that you are from?"
Tens looked at Ulrich again, I need to tell Mara when she alone. I'm sorry Ulli but, I can't trust you yet, "I'm from China originally,"
Mara grinned, "I have a special mission for you Tens. How would you like to take over the Chinese Federation before the Conference?"
Tens looked shocked, "How do I do that? I don't have a geass suited for that kind of work,"
"I'll go with you of course,"
Midnight
Mara walked down the empty hallway to the elevator. Tonight she would allow Brand to operate on her, she was nervous, but she was resolute in her decision.
"Mara?"
She turned around to see Davis walking toward her, "What are you doing up so late?"
He looked away and took a breath before looking straight at her, "I'm coming with you. I know you don't want me there, and I know you are too strong to say you need me but…I'm coming with you,"
She held her tongue. Davis was here, just as nervous as she was. She didn't want to, but she realized that Davis needed this. She reached her hand out and held his. Mara looked at him and gave him a weak smile before continuing to walk, with him just behind her.
The Basement
"I see the happy couple has come together!" Brand grinned as he snapped his gloves on.
Davis sighed, "We aren't a couple. Mara is an Empress, it's only natural that she has children with the strongest in Britannia,"
Mara rolled her eyes, "It's weird to hear my country be named the last name I hate," she pulled off her clothes and put on the paper gown Brand held out to her before hoping up on the table, "You sure you know what you are doing Brand?"
He wheeled over a table that had a small glass box on it, "This is going to be the womb!" he grinned wildly, "It is filled with a synthetic amniotic fluid, the glass is heated to simulate a body temperature. If you look here," he pointed to a plastic tube outside of the 'womb', "I have attached DNA receptors to this tube here so that once the umbilical chord begins to form, it will latch on to this tube. Then it will be given the nutrients it needs through this system here," he grinned at his invention.
"And you think the lump of cells inside me will stay alive through the transition?" Mara seemed much calmer that Davis.
"Of course! I know exactly what I'm doing. The only problem is," he looked away, "I can't give you any drugs to ease the pain or put you under,"
Mara's eyes short daggers in to him, "What?! You mean you're going to cut me open and reach inside of me and I just have to lay here and take it?!"
He scratched his neck nervously, "If I give you any drugs, it could compromise the stability of the still forming child. I know this is unpleasant, but this is the only way,"
Mara took several deep breaths, "Fine, but you had better figure out a better way to do this,"
After a few moments of preparation, Brand was ready. Davis grabbed on to Mara's hand and sighed.
"Davis, here wrap this over her mouth," Brand handed her a white towel, "If she screams we at least need to muffle it"
Davis looked at Mara nervously, "Brand is right Davis, go ahead,"
He tied the towel over her mouth and she bit in to it a few times before nodding at the two of them.
"Here we go," without hesitating, Brand plunged the scalpel into Mara's uterus.
She bit down in the towel, tears already forming in the corners of her eyes. She squeezed on to Davis' hand threatening to break it. Davis looked nervously from the blood oozing from the incision to Mara who was taking deep heavy breaths and biting hard in to the towel. He smiled at her, "You're doing great Mara, you don't need to worry, I'm right here," she bared down on his hand harder.
"Ok, I'm going to open up you now-"
Mara suddenly screamed as silently as she could. She could feel Brand's hands push her flesh aside. She was breathing and tried to stay calm, but the pain was so fiery and burning. She couldn't take it. She feared the pain would push her off the table. She managed to open her eyes to see Davis encouraging her. Without thinking she pulled the contact from her eye and used her geass on him. She would apologize later, but for now, she needed him to help her. She gave him the pain she was feeling.
While it eased her pain and helped her stay calm and focus on breathing, Davis fell to the ground curled into a ball. He could feel the incision on his lower stomach. It was burning and it was hot. He didn't understand what was happening, but it didn't matter. It was too much for him. It didn't matter how the pain got there, it was there. It was too much.
His world went black.
"Davis? Davis?" he was being shaken awake.
As he opened his eyes he saw Brand looking down at him, "Y-yes?"
Brand sighed, "It's over,"
Davis looked over to see that Mara was asleep on the table, the artificial womb was pulsing like a heartbeat. The once clear fluid was now red, a dark mesh in the middle, "Why is it pulsing?" he looked at the device with wonder.
"It's simulating the mother's heartbeat," Brand was cleaning up all of the blood.
Davis turned his attention to Mara. She was stitched up and cleaned. Brand must have given her medication after the baby was out because she was smiling in her sleep. He looked down and saw a tube in her arm that was connected to a bag of blood. It must have been tough Mara, but you did it, he brushed a piece of her hair out of her face. He then remembered the pain that he had been in, "Brand?"
"Yes?"
"Why did I pass out?"
Brand sighed and turned to him, "Mara used her geass on you. She gave you the emotion she was feeling of pain that was all. You helped her out greatly,"
At first, Davis didn't know how he felt being manipulated by a geass, but he was helping Mara. He had taken part of her burden for her. That was enough for him. He had helped her.
A few Days Later
Victor hadn't seen Mara in a while. He was told that she was busy preparing for the conference, but two of the Knightmare's were missing; well not missing, Brand knew where they were. Victor didn't know where they were.
He noted another suspicious activity, every few hours Brand would leave from what he was working on (unusual for him to leave his work) and go to the back of the basement for a half hour before returning. He also made sure that all of the helpers knew that the back corner was off limits until he told them otherwise. If he was back there, we were not to come get him, not even in an emergency.
The whole thing was so secretive that Victor needed to know. He was patient thought. He was waiting for the ideal moment to discover the secret.
It was finally time. Brand left for a short moment to find Ulrich, this was his chance. He moved as fast and as normal as he could. He got to the back part of the lab and slipped into the room. He didn't understand what he was looking at. There was some kind of pulsing aquarium connected to screens filled with information he couldn't understand. What is this? What is going on? What is that tank?
You need to get out of here. You can't afford to get caught here!
Taking his own advice he quickly snuck out of the room and went back to work on the assembly line for building the Knightmare's. His mind was heavy. He had gone into that room for answers, yet here he was with only more questions. There seemed to be so much going on that he didn't understand. How could he hope to understand anything without an explanation from Mara?
He sighed as he realized that his small time here was about to end. Brand was going to leave for the EU conference and he would lose the chance to learn about this place. It was over. He would leave here without learning anything.
Go to Mara, she will accept you.
She tried to kill me.
Would you rather go back to a life with a brother you fear and a woman you don't remember?
I need answers. I need to talk to Marie. She'll tell me everything. Marie wouldn't lie to me.
No! What are you thinking?! She is the problem, the enemy! You can't go asking the enemy for information! Are you crazy?!
I've listened to you enough. It's time to trust my own thoughts. I will go to Marie, I love her.
You fool!