Chapter 11 the liar's change
It had been twelve hours after the rescue of Tohdoh. Viceroy Cornelia had called together her advisers and royal guards. As the advisers took their seat in the meeting room, Rai stood in the middle between Guilford and Dalton guarding the door. "Gentlemen, the current situation has forced me to hold this meeting to talk about current events" said Cornelia standing up. As she talked Rai mind began to wonder to yesterday evening, after he received the called from the viceroy. He remembered going to talk to her in her office and bowing before her.
"Officer Rai I guess you have heard about the sub viceroy's decision" she said looking at him with her deep purple eyes. "I did" answered Rai. Cornelia looked at him from head to toe. Ever since she hired him Rai seem to changed, his manner and confidence shot up making him seem complete different from the quiet boy he was. "As you know officer, I believe the sub viceroy has made a mistake and as a result I have taken step to have you become part of her royal guard" she said leaning back in her chair. "I understand may I thank your highness for the pleasure" said Rai bowing again. "However as a result officer Rai, I have to let you go from my royal guard unit" she said standing up.
"I see" said Rai bowing again. "You've served me well officer Rai, however you skill is needed elsewhere, I hope you will understand" she said offering her hand. Rai couldn't believe it, all this because her sister choose Suzaku? "Of course your highness, it has been an honour serving you" Rai said as they both shook hands.
"Now I stand here guarding her sister" thought Rai as he looked over at princess Euphemia. A small built girl with long pink hair and small blue eyes. She was the next heir to the throne after her sister, however she seemed too weak and the advisers were not sure she was ready or ever will be able to lead the nation.
However Rai snapped out his thoughts as he was called over by princess Euphemia. He walked over to her and bent down for her to whisper into his ear. "Um... Officer Rai I was wondering if you could ask the viceroy if I may be excused for the knighting ceremony?" she whispered to him. Rai nodded and rose up looking at the table with the advisers and Viceroy Cornelia sitting around.
They were discussing the escape of Tohdoh when he coughed catching there attention. "Forgive me for the interruption, but the princess and myself must leave for the knighting ceremony that is with your consent Viceroy" he asked bowing. Cornelia nodded with a stern look and with that the two left for the ceremony. All the while in a hidden submarine, the black knights had begun to assemble into ranks. With the four swords joining their cause it seemed to be growing every day. However there was one concern brought up by Diethard Ried, Head of information, espionage, and public relations for the Black Knights. A graduate of the Imperial Britannia Central University's Faculty of Law and former producer and member of the press staff at Hi-TV, a Britannian television station.
Following the appearance of Zero and the announcement of his goals, Diethard joined the Black Knights, wishing to witness and document Zero's campaign to overthrow Britannia and rule the world. This concern he had was of course about Rai and Suzaku. But moving back to the knighting ceremony there were whispers among the crowds of noble guests. "I don't care if he is an honorary Britannian, an eleven being knighted" one whispered. "And broadcasting it live" whispered another guest. "How did he ever win her favour I wonder?" whispered another guest. "Well even a princess has needs" joked another guest as some sniggered. It then fell quiet for the ceremony. On televisions everywhere even in Ashford academy the teachers and student watched. But for one person it was all an event he'd rather pass. Standing with the other special core staff Rai watched as his friend was knighted.
"So whose pay roll is he on now?" asked one of the workers. Cecile looked at him with a weak smile. "Lloyd is working on that with him" she said. "You don't mean" the worker replied a shocked. "Well, I've never met him personally" She replied all most trying to avoid the subject. But Rai wasn't too shocked, after all if the person they were talking about was the person he thought, he was sure Suzaku would get a good pay.
It was a few hours later when Rai and Suzaku returned to Ashford academy. As they arrived they were brought into the student council house where a huge party was waiting to congratulate the newly knighted Suzaku. "To Kururugi a proud council member and new knight!" cheered Rivalz as he poured Suzaku an orange drink. "Now let's party!" he cheered holding his glass up high. There was cheering and shouting as the celebrations began. The poor student council members were put up to be the waiters and waitresses for the event. Shirley was running around serving pizza to everyone, with Milly and Rai helping each other with cleaning of tables. "Well I heard Suzaku wasn't the only one to get promoted" she said with a smile as she handed Rai an empty cup.
Rai just blushed. "It's not that bigger deal, I'm just helping Suzaku" Rai said hiding his shyness. Milly laughed at him, as he looked at her. "You know you're very different from the first time, I met you Rai" she said returning to work. Rai guessed she was right; he had been through a whole lot of training as a royal guard. Along with this, his memories were now beginning to come back reminding him of his past self.
It was then a familiar shout could be heard shouting "Major Kururugi!" It was Lloyd he had come to see Suzaku about a mission with Nina. Seeing him Milly wonder over to him surprised to see her future husband. "Oh Lloyd is something the matter?" she said to him. "Oh you two know each other then?" said a shocked Nina. Lloyd smiled "Yes, we to be married" he said not really seeming to care about it. The whole party came to a standstill.
"Isn't that right honey bunch" Lloyd said playing along. "Yes" said Milly very quietly. Everyone was in shock, but poor Rivalz took it the worst. But he wasn't the only one. In the corner of the party Rai was grasping his cup hard. He couldn't believe it. Milly and Lloyd were going to be married. But he had little time to get upset as Lloyd announced that Rai and Suzaku had to go with princess Euphemia to meet an important somebody arriving by boat. However they weren't the only ones listening.
Three hours later the special core unit members had boarded their ship and were on their way to Shikina Island. A tropical island, with golden sands, lush green forests and the bright blue sea surrounding it. "Why Shikina island? Surely the Tokyo settlement would have been safer?" asked Suzaku to Lloyd and Cecile as they stood on deck. "I want to know why we're here too" said Cecile looking out at the blue sea. "Miss Cecile you don't know?" said a shocked Suzaku. "Ditto" chipped in Lloyd. They all had no clue why they were meeting the noble at the island. Rai however was not with them; he was below deck standing guard at princess Euphemia cabin door. His mind was still focused on what happened at the party.
But the Britannia's were not the only one going to the island, for Zero in his new submarine was heading toward the island too with one goal in mind. "Our objective is the capture of the Lancelot and officer Kururugi" he ordered to his team leaders.
It seemed only a few minutes later they arrived on the island. Princess Euphemia was given a warm welcome from the base officers from the island base. She was offered a room at the main base, but declined as she wanted to wait for the ship of her guest. Rai stood back watching as Suzaku took his place beside the princess. "They seem happy, but with the current mind set of Britannian. I'm sure that party we attended had some bias people" he thought. Suddenly loud explosions could be heard.
It was the black knights; they had attacked the islands base and were making short work of any resistance they met. With the base under attack Cecile thought best to withdraw the princess to the settlement on the island. However the lead officer said they shouldn't move as the enemy was using some sort of radar jamming device. With this Suzaku was ordered by princess Euphemia to aid the attacked base. However the lead officer augured that he was an eleven and could turn on them. The lead officer suggest Rai go, But Euphemia would not listen. She ordered Suzaku into battle and order Rai to be on standby. With that Suzaku readied himself to go while Rai stepped back into the boat.
His phone had rung and he stepped on the boat to answer it. "Officer Rai" he said answering. "I have heard tales about you officer" came the reply. Rai looked at the caller id, but it was withheld. "If you're wondering who this is it's..."
"Zero!" shouted Suzaku as he gave chase in the Lancelot. The two Knightmare's sped past the other Knightmare's until they both jumped into a sand pit. "Is he using himself as bait? Wondered Suzaku but he didn't want to think about it, he just attacked and fell right into zero's trap. The pit had devices all around the pit which activated causing both Knightmare's to stop. To make matters worse the pit was then surrounded by Black knights Knightmare frames trapping the Lancelot and Suzaku in the pit with zero. "Kururugi, we need to talk" said zero appearing from his Knightmare's cockpit. "Or if you don't feel like it, we could just gun you down" he threatened. Suzaku saw no choice and decided to talk to zero.
Back on the ship princess Euphemia was panicking after hearing the news of the not functioning Lancelot. "Just call officer Kururugi back" she ordered to the special core staff, but they couldn't. Rai again stood watching from the side-lines. That phone had made a decision for him, he knew he couldn't change. He was ordered to not aid Suzaku, if the battle turned sour he was only to recover the Lancelot. "Officer Rai you have to help him" said a panicked Euphi, but he shook his head and soon more bad news was to come. Someone very high up in the royal family had ordered an air strike on the island, the same someone who gave Rai his order.
Hearing she couldn't counter ordered the attack, princess Euphemia took a spare unarmed knightmare frame and headed towards Suzaku's last location. "Officer Rai you have to stop the princess" ordered Cecile, but again Rai shook his head. "I too am under a par level one order" he said sadly. Cecile couldn't believe it. "My orders are to stay put until the air strike is complete, I'm sorry" he said turning away. Cecile was stunned; could he really have ordered this and risked killing his own sister?
The answer was yes. The black knights soon found themselves under attack from a huge floating ship. With a nodded from its commander, one of the ship's cargo holes opened to reveal two shining red lights. "No it can't be!" shouted a stun Tohdoh looking at them, but they had little time to think before the pit and the area around it was fired upon by the red lights. Hundreds of red energy laser shots rained down on the pit. The man who ordered this onslaught was none other than, Schneizel El Britannia.