Here he comes, here comes the plot twist! Watch him screw with your minds!
Kogarashi: Kukuku...kind of catchy!
R.R: If a bit redundant.
Kyugan: Assholes the lot of you.
R.R: And speaking of assholes...
Lelouch: NOT THE BANANA!
Kyugan: Eesh...I am both envious and grateful that I'm not in his shoes right now.
R.R: Don't you mean sheets?
Kyugan: Just roll the bloody camera.
Chapter Nine: The Knights for Justice.
"T-this is all my fault…" Nina sobbed, the introverted, bespectacled girl holding onto Milly for dear life as she tried to force back her tears, her face buried in the older girl's breasts "If I hadn't said anything…if I'd never come…"
"Don't talk like that." The Ashford heir urged, shaking the overly shy girl gently, hugging her close to her chest, heedless of the tears staining her new clothing "None of us knew this was going to happen."
"B-but…!" Nina exclaimed, the introverted young girl's eyes filled with tears as she gazed up at the class president desperately, as if begging for this nightmare to end "B-because of me…Princess Euphemia…!"
"She'd have been discovered eventually." Shirley assured the girl, though even she was feeling a little uncomfortable with the current situation "I mean SOMEONE was sure to notice her. And she's the sub-Viceroy of Area 11, they wouldn't harm such a valuable hostage."
"Don't be so certain." A gruff voice countered, the trio flinching as they looked up to find one of the guards standing over them, looking smug "Lt. Colonel Kusakabe isn't the forgiving type, and he despises Britannia more than anyone." He smirked "I wouldn't be surprised if he roughed her up a bit, just to drive the nail home."
"You beast!" Nina railed, whipping round to glare desperately at the offending guard, only to flinch as the man aimed his rifle at her threateningly, Milly and Shirley covering her with their own bodies without a second thought.
"Watch your tongue, bitch." The man warned, his tone mocking "Though maybe we should thank you, you've given us such a valuable hostage after all." His smirk grew decidedly sinister as he cocked his rifle "In fact…with a Princess of the Empire as ransom…what do we need riffraff like YOU for?"
The hostages gasped, looking around in alarm to find that several other members of the guard had similar expressions on their faces, the group screaming in panic as the rifles came to bear on them, Shirley's eyes snapping closed in desperation.
'Lulu-!'
The doors burst open, the guards whipping round, only to be gunned down, their rifles falling from nerveless fingers as figures in black jackets and visored hats swept into the room.
'Those aren't military uniforms…' Milly wondered, looking on in wonder as their rescuers crouched, checking the crowd for injured, some of them finishing off the guards that survived the original salvo 'And those voices…Elevens?'
"All the hostages secured." One of the rescuers noted, nodding to a female with spiky red hair beneath her cap, who nodded, before dashing off down the hall "Alright, all of you, follow us to the exits."
"Who…who are you?" Shirley asked, the confused orangette flinching slightly as the obvious eleven turned his visored gaze towards her, though it was without hostility "You aren't military…who are you with?"
"We're with Zero." The visor-sporting man replied, shocked gasps filling the chamber as the hostages reacted to the vigilante's name, wondering what on earth he wanted "He sent us in to get you people out."
"Zero?" Shirley repeated, the confusion on her face shared by several other hostages, who were talking amongst themselves in disbelief, though some of them seemed hopefull "But…why would…?"
"No time for talk." The man interrupted, his tone strict and to the letter as he gestured towards the door, where two black-clad members were sweeping the hallway "We have to get you out NOW."
"W-WAIT!" a desperate voice called out, the group turning to find Nina leaning against Milly, the bespectacled girl looking frantic, torn between her fear of elevens and her concern for a certain, pink haired royal "Princess Euphemia-!"
"Zero said he'd handle her personally." The man stated, his tone reassuring, though several members of the crowd still gasped in shock, and concern, only for him to gesture towards the hallway "Now come on!"
The hostages did so, though internally, they prayed for Euphemia's safety, many of them fearing that Zero was about to add another Royal to his list of murders.
To say Euphemia was shocked would have been the understatement of the millennium. The pink haired princess, and Sub-Viceroy to Japan, or Area 11 if you shared the Emperor's view of the nation, could do little more than gape down at the form of her brother's killer, as he knelt before her in a sign of servitude.
But then could you blame the young woman for her confusion? She had gone from willing captive and bargaining tool to having the man that publicly admitted to murdering Clovis kneeling before her, declaring his loyalty to her ideals of bringing peace and equality to all those wronged by her father's ambitions.
It certainly cast a very different picture than the one she'd been presented by both the military and Cornelia. Prior to coming to Japan, Euphemia had cast Zero as a revolutionary that would resort to any means, even murder, to achieve his goals.
Now here, standing before her, his masked visage bowed in servitude, she realized that she knew next to nothing about this man, save that he seemed to consider himself the enemy of Britannia.
'Then there's his words…' she wondered, recalling how FAMILIAR the man had seemed with her, how he hinted that he knew her, or had met with her in the past 'Could he be someone I know…a member of the court?'
That, and it was clear that Zero wasn't much taller than she was, Euphemia noting with a slight giggle that he might actually be shorter, as the helmet and cape probably gave him a few extra inches.
A series of knocks came form the door, Euphemia whirling round just in time to find a woman in a black uniform standing in the doorway, her spiky red hair tamed by the visored cap she wore.
"Zero, all the hostages have been accounted for." The woman reported, pulling herself up straight as she caught sight of Euphemia, the princess shivering slightly at the animosity she sensed in the redhead's hidden stare "What should we do next?"
"Order a withdraw." Zero announced, rising to his feet with a smooth, fluid motion, stepping in front of the startled Euphemia, as if to shield her from the redhead's piercing gaze "Have the hostages evacuated as I instructed, extraction method Alpha."
"Got it." the redhead nodded, before turning her head to regard the confused Euphemia, who thought she detected a hint of suspicion and…jealousy, in the smaller woman's stare "What about her?"
Zero turned, Euphemia blinking as the vigilante extended a gloved hand towards her, as a lord might ask for a lady's hand during a dance, the other hand tucked under his mantle. "Come, Euphemia." The masked man offered, his tone both soothing and inviting as he gestured towards the open doorway "Your transportation has been arranged."
Euphemia blinked looking at the offered hand in surprise, for some reason a fleeting image of the first ball she'd attended rising to the fore of her mind, where she'd met with her step-brother Lelouch for the first time.
The younger boy had asked to dance with her, taking her away from the sheltering eyes of Cornelia to twirl her around the hall, the two of them laughing like the children they were, heedless of anyone else.
'No…it couldn't be…' Euphemia wondered, even as she placed her hand into his, allowing the masked vigilante to lead her out of the room and down the hall 'Could he be…?'
Cornelia pursed her lips, one gloved finger tapping against her arm as she gazed across the water at the distant form of the seized convention center.
It had been about half an hour since Zero and his cronies went in, and yet the terrorists hadn't carried out their threat to toss another hostage off the roof. There were still sentries up there, evident from the diligence in sniping anyone that came to close, but they seemed to be just as confused as anyone else.
'Just what are you doing in there…Zero?' the Witch of Britannia wondered, recalling their conversation from the Saitima Ghetto with a scowl 'He's made his disdain for the empire, or rather the way father runs it, quite clear already…' she narrowed her eyes at the screen 'Don't tell me…he plans to use Euphemia against father?' she shook her head, dismissing that idea off the bat 'No, he's stated his disgust for such actions…' she growled softly 'Dammit…what is he thinking?!'
"Milady." Dalton muttered, the bespectacled Knight's words only reaching Cornelia's ear, so as to avoid eavesdropping "Are you certain we should entrust the safety of Princess Euphemia to Zero?"
"Of course not." Cornelia muttered, internally berating herself for her brief moment of hesitancy before answering, before snapping fully into full strategic mode, making a mental list of all the worst possible outcomes "Kusakabe's probably got him discussing terms of an alliance with the Japanese Liberation Front."
A grim prospect indeed. Zero was formidable enough on his own thus far, backed up with nothing but common rebels and resistance cells. But the JLF consisted of the former Japanese military, veteran soldiers that refused to surrender, despite the war being officially over.
'On top of that, they have Todoh with them.' the Viceroy muttered darkly, referring to the infamous 'Miracle Worker' who had handed the Britannian forces their sole defeat in the history of their conquests 'If those two joined against us…'
"Should we begin making preparations of our own?" Guilford asked, only to receive a grim nod from the Viceroy, bowing as he took his leave to inform the relevant persons, leaving Cornelia to her thoughts.
"We've got the green light!" Lloyd cheered, the androgynous scientist giving a thumbs-up to the confused, antsy Suzaku, who'd been fidgeting in his seat ever since the first hostage had been executed "Seems Viceroy Cornelia's getting impatient," he added, tone suggestive "so she wants Lancelot to go in and take out the Linear cannon."
"Finally." Suzaku muttered, the recently promoted warrant officer pulling out his jumpsuit, tugging the memory-material on as her settled into the cockpit of the experimental Frame "We finally get so see some-!"
"Lloyd! Suzaku-kun!" Cecile cried out, the Lancelot's assistant technician rushing up to the mech with a frantic expression on her face, her blue hair in disarray as she raced towards them at top speed.
"My-my Cecile…" Lloyd teased, pushing his spectacles higher on his nose, a sly smile on his face as the normally reserved woman came to a stop before him, bent over double from exhaustion "Are you that eager to launch as well?"
"Just now…on the news…" Cecile panted, the blue haired woman trying to talk between desperate gasps for air, her hands resting on her knees as she gazed up at them "Zero's…saved the hostages!"
"He WHAT?!" Lloyd whined, the lord of pudding's eyes widening in surprise as they snapped towards the news broadcast, gaping in shock as the reporter relayed the news, before slumping, looking distraught as Suzaku, gaped at the woman in shock "And we were all set to launch too-!"
'Zero…' Suzaku wondered, ignoring Lloyd's childish whining, and Cecile telling the man off for his twisted way of thinking, in favor of activating the Lancelot's optics, zooming in on the water around the convention center, where several lifeboats were visible, filled to the brim with passengers.
'He did it again…' the teen noted, a disapproving scowl marring his features as he caught sight of the vigilante standing on the prow of a speedboat in the middle of the life-rafts 'Using the wrong methods, he STILL managed to save everyone…'
Tearing his eyes away from glaring at the victorious vigilante's masked visage, the recently promoted Warrant Officer's eyes widened as he caught sight of a familiar head of pink hair standing alongside the vigilante, holding onto Zero's arm for support as the deck rocked beneath her feet.
"EUPHEMIA?!"
"My dear Britannian's, have no fear." Zero called out, his voice transmitting all across Japan, people pausing in the streets to gaze up at him in alarm, only to blink in confusion as the camera switched to a cut of several life rafts "All of the hostages have been released safe and sound, thanks to the combined efforts of myself, and Princess Euphemia Li Britannia."
The public gaped, looking on in awe as the pink haired princess and sub-viceroy appeared next to the vigilante, looking as surprised as any of them, but most certainly unharmed.
Which raised more than a few eyebrows, and not just amongst the Britannians. Had Zero not declared himself an enemy of Britannia? Had he not publicly admitted to killing the former Viceroy, Prince Clovis? Why then, was he not only standing next to one of the royal family, but praising her?
"In an act of devotion, her highness put her own life at risk to negotiate with the Lt. Colonel Kusakabe, who took his own life in repentance for his transgressions." Zero continued, spreading a hand to the side to gesture to the startled princess "I, Zero, witnessed this act of bravery, and so offered the aid of myself, and my men, to return your loved ones to you unharmed."
Now lights blazed to life behind the duo, the public's eyes widening as several figures in black uniforms, their faces hidden behind the low visors of the black hats they wore, standing at attention, two figures, one on either side of Zero and Euphie, bowing lightly towards the camera.
"People!" Zero called out, his tone reaching out to not only the Britannians, but those Japanese citizens fortunate enough to witness the broadcast "Fear us! Or Rally behind us as you see fit." He thrust a hand out to the side "We…are the Black Knights!"
Euphemia blinked, noting the irony of the terrorists referring to themselves by the exalted title of 'Knights', which was associated with Britannia in almost every way. Only those of great skill could earn the title, even Nobility couldn't make up for a lack of ability, and most of those who attained it had done so whilst furthering Britannia's control across the globe.
"We of the Black Knights stand beside all those without weapons to wield." Zero continued, "Regardless of whether they be Japanese," he emphasized the TRUE name for effect "OR Britannians."
Several of the rescued hostages gaped at the man, wondering what on earth he was talking about. Why would Britannian's need help from Terrorists?
As if sensing their confusion, Zero swept his arm towards them "The Japan Liberation Front cowardly took innocent Britannian civilians hostage, and then mercilessly executed them!" he exclaimed, the disdain in his tone apparent "It was a wanton and meaningless act, therefore they have been punished." He clenched his hand over his heart "Just as former Viceroy Clovis was punished, for ordering the deaths of countless unarmed Japanese citizens."
Euphemia flinched at that, though the revelation that her brother had innocent bystanders executed came as a surprise to her as well. Had her brother actually ordered such a thing?
"We cannot stand by and allow such acts of cruelty to be carried out." Zero continued, his tone solemn and determined "I will not refute battle on a fair and level field, but neither will I abide a one-sided massacre of the weak by the strong!" The camera zoomed in on his helmet "The only ones that should kill, are those who are prepared to BE killed!"
Across the bridge, Cornelia's eyes narrowed at the way the vigilante was using the crowd to his advantage, though internally, she both applauded his tactics, and agreed with his words.
She'd met more than a few nobles that cowered in their seats whilst directing countless shoulders on the battlefield. All of her opponents on the battlefield had faced her head on, and so knew the penalties of failure, Cornelia could respect even her enemies for challenging their deaths head on.
Nothing disgusted her more than cowardly braggarts that took all the glory without getting their hands dirty. Sadly enough, her father seemed determined to marry her off to men that were of that self same caliber.
'Why is it all the GOOD men have to be enemies?' she muttered, her scowl softening slightly as she glanced out over the water at the masked form of Zero, a contemplative expression replacing it after a few seconds.
"Wherever oppressors abuse their power by attacking those who are powerless, we SHALL appear again!" Zero warned the world at large, his voice carrying the deadly promise to the masses "No matter how mighty, how formidable our foe may be!"
He swept one arm out from under his cape "Those of you with power, FEAR us!" he swept the other out, his cape billowing out like wings "Those of you without it, rally behind us! We, the Black Knights, shall be the ones that stand in judgment of this world!"
'He certainly knows how to work a crowd…' Euphemia noted, watching on as the civilians gaped at them in stunned awe, as if struck dumb by the masked man's words 'Now, even those that would denounce him as a terrorist can't help but acknowledge him.'
"Zero." One of the newly appointed Black Knights whispered, startling Euphemia, who had almost forgotten they were there, turning to find the assembled men and women frowning at her in suspicion "What'll we do with…?"
"Princess Euphemia is not to be harmed." Zero intoned, his hand coming up to shield Euphemia's face from their sight, his tone commanding "I gave my word to Cornelia that I would return her, unharmed."
"But…" the redhead from before began, looking about in concern, her anxiety apparent as she took in the assembled troops that even now were mounting a rescue party "Cornelia'd never let us just walk away…"
"She won't have to." Zero assured his subordinate, pressing a button on a remote control, lowering one of the yacht's personal lifeboats towards the water "Your transportation awaits, Euphemia."
The Sub-Viceroy blinked, looking at the hand Zero offered her, before tentatively placing her hand in it, allowing him to lead her down to the small boat.
'He seems so…gentle.' She noted, looking at her rescuer as he commanded the Knights to make preparations for their escape via the waterways 'So focused, so commanding…but at the same time, I get the feeling that he wasn't lying before.'
"I regret that we couldn't have more time together, Euphemia." Zero offered, his tone sad, filled with honest regret, as he stroked her cheek in passing "I pray our next encounter will be more…fulfilling."
Euphemia blushed, her words catching in her throat, the question she longed to ask the man dieing away as her craft touched the water. She stood up, moving to the prow to gaze after the boat as it sped away, leaving her bobbing on the water, along with the other hostages.
"Zero…" she wondered, even as several police rescue boats moved in from the shore, surrounding the hostages even as helicopters and sutherlands took off after the fleeing yacht, their sirens tearing into the night "Could you really be…?"
"A toast." Zero proclaimed, the masked revolutionary holding up a glass of sparkling champagne as he lounged on the sofa in the Black Knights trailer "To a successful mission, and the Black Knights debut."
"KAMPAI!" Tamaki cheered, the rebels mimicking him as they tapped glasses, chatting animatedly amongst themselves as they did so.
The Knights had led the police on a merry chase, before ditching the stolen yacht, which ironically belonged to the convention center in the first place, and escaping into the sewers, where the transport was waiting to speed them away. Zero had then surprised them all by breaking out a bottle of champagne, proposing a toast to their first successful mission.
Many of them were amazed at the level of faith the man had in them if he prepared such a surprise in advance. Others, most notably Tamaki, Ohgi and Kallen, simply marveled at how far the man thought ahead.
"But do not let your guard down." Zero warned them, his serious tone cutting through their revelry "After all, this is but the first of many trials to come." He clenched his fist "But we shall face them head on, TOGETHER!"
Kallen smiled, leaning against the wall on the upper level as the cheers erupted around her, twirling her champagne around in its glass as the revelry picked up again.
'We've come so far…' she mused, recalling how, prior to now, every day had been a battle for survival, a battle they'd been losing badly 'We'd have probably been wiped out in Shinjuku…' he eyes lowered as she recalled the first time she'd heard Zero's voice 'if it weren't for him…'
"Not drinking, Kallen?" a familiar voice asked, the redhead looking up in surprise to find Zero himself standing next to her, his own glass untouched "I thought I'd come up for some privacy…is there something wrong?"
"Just…reminiscing." The redhead admitted, flushing slightly at the revolutionary's proximity, before looking away to hide her embarassment "I mean…all of this…we couldn't have done this without you."
"I merely guided you here." Zero countered, reaching out and holding the redhead's chin, forcing her to look up at him "Everything we have achieved, has been the result of everyone's struggles."
"Zero…" Kallen flushed, her face lighting up like her hair at the closeness of the man's mask, reaching up with her free hand to touch it, only for Zero's own hand to cover hers, halting her in her tracks.
"Not yet…" the Vigilante muttered, his tone almost regretful "One day, soon, I will reveal myself to you all…" he held up his glass "But for today…let us join our comrades."
Kallen blinked, before nodding, knocking glasses with the vigilante, looking on as he walked down the steps to the party below, a smile on her face.
"Welcome home, Master Lelouch." Sayoko greeted, Nunnally's caretaker, and secret inheritor to a ninja style, smiling at the elder Lamperouge as the door shut behind him "Did you complete all your errands?"
"Yeah, though traffic was held up because of the hostage situation." Lelouch informed her, which technically wasn't a lie, as Cornelia had literally stopped the city in her desperation to rescue her beloved sibling "Is everyone alright?"
"Zero rescued them." Sayoko informed him, the maid looking torn between relief, confusion, and pride as she said it, her handsl held clasped before her apron "Master Rivalz called in a few moments ago looking for you."
"I'll get back to him later." Lelouch sighed, knowing he was in for an earful come the morrow, when Shirley and the others returned. No dout he'd have to put up with Rivalz's overglorifying of the situation again as well "Did you save some dinner for me?"
"Of course. OH!" the maid exclaimed, a look of surprise on her face, as if she suddenly recalled something important that had slipped her mind "And you have a visitor, he's with Miss Nunnally in the dining room."
"A Visitor?" Lelouch wondered, quirking an eyebrow in confusion, walking towards the room where he and Nunnally usually ate "At this hour?"
Not only that, but he had no recollection of anyone, other than Milly and the Dean, EVER visiting them after hours. All the other Student council members were in their dorms at this time of night, only the Ashfords came, and Milly usually slipped him a note during council session, either from herself, or her Grandfather when either planned to stop by.
"Wow!" Nunnally exclaimed, the blind girl's face a mask of unreserved delight as she smiled down at her plate, which Lelouch noted, with surprise and growing premonition, was covered in Orange slices "These are delicious!"
"But of course." A cultured, shockingly familiar voice replied, Lelouch freezing in the doorway as his visitor leant forward to wipe juice from his sister's cheek with a gilded napkin "I brought only the finest with me."
The man turned in his seat, Lelouch's eyes widening in disbelief as the smiling face of none other than Jeremiah Gottwald came into view, the nobleman wearing a pair of tinted sunglasses that obscurred his eyes from view.
"Would you care to try one?" the former margrave asked, holding up a freshly peeled Orange for Lelouch to see "They truly are delicious…my Lord."
dun-Dun-DUNNN!
R.R: Okay...now there's a mind f-ck!
Kyugan: i do my best.
Kogarashi: Kukuku! Master's friend is in for a shock!
Kyugan true that.
Omake Time!
Omake: The Black Knight
Euphemia grimaced, her hand going to her chest as she stared down the barrels of the guns that Kusakabe's guards were levelling at her. The was sitting, calm as could be with his hands resting on the pommel of his katana, his bearded face solemn, though his eyes danced with victory.
"Now then..." the bearded militant noted, looking the princess in the eye as he spoke "Are you QUITE certain that the emperor won't bend to our demands when one of his own beloved children are at stake?"
"My father and sister share the same ideals when it comes to terrorism." Euphemia replied, her voice free of fear and uncertainty, causing several of the guards to narrow their eyes in anger, as they felt like she was looking down on them "He's more likely to wait for you to kill me, to give him a reason to send in the troops."
"Is that so?" Kusakabe muttered, his features darkening as he glowered at the pinkette, his tempe slowly getting the better of him "Well that may be true for your father..." he drew his katana, aiming it at the girl's throat "But I have a sneaking suspicion that your loving sister has other thoughts on the matter."
Euphemia flinched, a drop of blood trailing from her neck where the tip of the sword had pricked her, matching Kusakabe's stare defiantly, only to blink, as movement out the corner of her eyes drew her attention to the window.
"What are you-?" Kusakabe wondered, only to blink, his eyes widening as he espied a winged shadow flying towards the window, as if it were rappeling towards it from the roof, a semi-automatic held in it's hands "BATTLE STATIONS-!"
Machine gun fire sprayed into the room, the guards, ironically caught off guard themselves, falling in a hail of bullets, though Euphemia noted that most of their wounds seemed unfatal.
Kusakabe, ducking under the hail, was knocked onto his back as the caped assailant crashed through the ruined window, his boot connecting with the bearded man's chin, knocking him to the floor as the cape settled over them like a shroud, his eyes widening at the smoking barrell of the firearm aimed at his face.
"Surrender..." the assailant warned, Kusakabe and Euphemia blining as they recognised it as Zero, the self-same revolutionary that had publicly admitted to murdering the latter's elder brother, Crown Prince Clovis "And release the hostages."
"Why are you doing this?!" Kusakabe demanded, even as the groans of his men filled the air, "You're an enemy of the state! Your poster's on every wanted board in the nation! You're just like us!"
Zero leaned in, his helmet's visor like a hawks as Kusakabe stared into it's reflective black surface, the wieght of the revolutionary's hidden, piercing gaze, pinning the man to the floor.
"I'm nothing like you." the revolutionary hissed, even as a slot appeared in his helemet, and Kusakabe's world went red.