I don't own Code Geass.
Stage 09: Fight in the Final Frontier...So long Shadow
All around the world everyone saw a giant sphere, only a little bit smaller than the moon, eclipse the sun. No one knew what it was or what it was for but they all felt the same ominous feeling. They were waiting to see what would happen.
What does this mean? What is that? Are we going to die? I don't want to die. Someone save us. What did we do wrong? Do we deserve this? Why do we deserve this? Someone give us a chance. These thoughts ran through the minds of humanity when they saw the great sphere fall toward the Earth. All they could do is wish for hope.
******
Earlier
Aboard the AURA, transporter room
Zero, Suzaku, Noa, and Lance arrived in the transporter room. "Where are we?" asked Suzaku looking around the dark room.
Noa stepped off the transporter followed closely by Lance. Suzaku and Zero followed them out a door into a room with a large window. Outside of it Suzaku could see the sun come up over the horizon of the planet. The sight made him gap.
"We're in space," breathed Suzaku, "The Final Frontier."
"Specifically," said Noa matter-of-factly, "Space Research Colony AURA. The place where it all began." Noa bowed his head mourning the people that were once here and Lance did the same. Lelouch just gave a moment of silence while Suzaku just stared at the two.
"Space Colony AURA?" asked Suzaku, he wasn't filled out on the whole history, "I never heard of it."
"It was a project secretly started by few Britannians over 60 years ago. Not even the Emperor knew of it's presence," said Noa lifting his head, "It was meant to help mankind strive to peace but it was terminated, everyone was killed, by order of the Emperor. It was a massacre."
"But why if it was nonviolent?" asked Suzaku. This time Zero answered.
"Because the people who helped fund this place wanted weapons of mass destruction as well. And when the Emperor learned of it he became afraid of it's power and ordered it to be 'decommissioned' as they boldly put it. In the name of humanity was their justification." Suzaku was disgusted at that. "This is the true birthplace of Knightmares, isn't it Noa?"
"Yes," he answered, "Generation Zero I guess you could call it. There were only two created Skeith, the Terror of Death and Angelo, the Dark Angel. We don't know were the other is though...
"Me and Lance will stay here. This is your fight so you two go ahead."
"Very well," said Zero gripping the sheathed sword in his left hand, "Let's go Suzaku." He left out another door followed by Suzaku.
"Why aren't we going?" asked Lance as Zero and Suzaku left.
"They don't need us," answered Noa simply as he continued looking out the window, "Besides I don't want this feeling of nostalgia to go just yet."
Suzaku didn't like having to work with Zero but he had no real choice in the matter. He'd save Euphie no matter what, even if it meant working with Zero.
The pair came to a two way intersection in the hallway. There was a sign that detailed where the paths lead. One was to the Guardian's barracks, the other lead to the Observation deck.
'Shadow will be waiting there,' thought Lelouch. Zero turned to Suzaku. "Sir Kururugi you go to the barracks I'm sure that's where they'd keep Kallen and Euphemia." Zero started walking in the other direction.
"Where are you going?" called Suzaku.
Zero didn't bother to look back as he answered, "I can't keep Shadow waiting. I'll trust you to save your princess and my ace." With that the two departed their separate ways.
'You never seemed like the physical type,' thought Suzaku as he walked to the barracks weight room.
********
Simulation chamber
Kallen and Alice were lying down on the steel floor breathing heavily, trying to gather oxygen. Their duel ended in a tie.
"Have you talked to Shadow about that video?" asked Kallen when she finally caught her breath.
"No," Alice said with regret hinted in her voice.
"Why haven't you?"
"Well, why haven't you changed your clothes yet? You've worn that same terrorist outfit ever since you got here."
"Don't dodge the question," Kallen commanded, "Now why haven't you."
Alice closed her eyes and pondered on the question. When she collected her thoughts she opened her eyes and answered sadly, "Maybe because it's not my place to ask him."
"Not your place? What do you mean?"
"I don't know. Besides it's too late now. Zero should be here by now." That made Kallen get up with a start.
"Zero's here?" she asked, her hope restored.
"If what Shadow predicted is right, then Zero should be meeting up with Shadow as we speak," Alice replied. Kallen stood up holding the sword still in her hand and started toward the exit. Alice got up and stood in Kallen's way, her own dual short swords in both hands.
"Out of my way," threatened Kallen, raising the point of her sword at Alice.
"You can't interfere with their fight," said Alice unfazed by the weapon.
"And why not?" questioned Kallen.
"Because it's not your fight. It's theirs alone and if you interfere you'll harm Zero's pride," explained Alice, "I know your his bodyguard but this is one fight you can't get involved with." She stopped when she saw Kallen let the words sink in. She then sheathed her swords behind her waist on a cross belt.
Kallen lowered her sword and grudgingly said, "Alright then, but I still want to be there," then she asked something that Alice didn't expect. "What is your relationship with Shadow anyway?" she asked staring into Alice's blue eyes with her own.
"W-What?" Alice stuttered, taken aback.
"I mean you follow him even though you know whatever he's doing is wrong. You hardly know him yet sometimes I see you looking at him. Do you have feelings for him?"
Alice's face blushed almost matching Kallen's red hair. When she collected her thoughts she took a breath and answered. "I don't really have an answer to that." With that they left to their destination with Alice leading the way. "Maybe later I can give you an answer."
**********
Observation deck
Shadow stood, arms crossed, on the far end of a large circular room with a big hole in the center. He was facing the one large window of the room with his eyes closed. He was waiting for Zero, for Lelouch.
Shadow opened his eyes when he heard the automated door on the opposite side of the room open. "Your late," said Shadow with out turning around.
"Sorry about that," said Zero/Lelouch in his casual voice as he walked over to stand beside Shadow, "I needed time to get ready." He stood beside Shadow and gazed at the Earth.
"It's strange that you didn't come here with a real tactical plan. We may draw in a chess game but your not going to win clashing swords with me."
Lelouch ignored what Shadow just said and removed his mask, holding it in his free right hand. "It's beautiful from up here," he commented still gazing at the planet.
"Hmph. Yes, it is," said Shadow, "but only from up here. The scars of humanity's wars have made it ugly. The scars have reached up here though. They took away my home and the one that I cared most about."
After awhile Lelouch said in his baritone Zero voice, "I couldn't agree more for I'd do the same thing if I were in your position. And it is humanity's fault for it but I can't allow you to do whatever it is your planning." He put back on his Zero mask then took a few steps away and drew his sword, holding it only with his right hand.
"Tch. You won't win," stated Shadow as he turned to face his adversary, dropping his arms to his sides, "I know have the white stone. So why don't you make it easy and just give it to me." He held his right hand out as he conjured a gold colored arming sword. He lowered his arm like Zero so both swords were pointed down.
"That would be boring," said Zero throwing off his cape, "And besides I wouldn't be a knight for justice if I just gave up now would I?" He gazed into Shadow's red eyes through his mask's mirrored lens.
"No, you wouldn't. Shall we begin?"
"Before we begin let me ask one last question: What is your true name?"
"I don't know," said Shadow sadly, "I abandoned it a long time ago...Now if that's all-" He didn't bother to finish the sentence, he just dashed toward Zero and slashed his sword diagonally up.
Zero parried the attack and blocked the follow up attack. Zero never let his defense break until Shadow started to alternate, switching from spear to sword and vice versa every few seconds. Zero started dodging the attacks waiting for the best moment to counter.
The moment finally came when Zero sidestepped Shadow's stab with his sword making him lose his balance and stumble. Zero then swung his sword at Shadow's head. Shadow barely dodged the attack by jumping back but Zero was able to nick off a little of Shadow's silvery-white hair.
Shadow blew a low whistle. "I'm guessing you got an Advent that increases your speed, right?" Zero nodded and showed the glowing blue mark over his left hand. "A Serbian Cross behind the Geass. Heh. King of Kings, Ruling Over Kings. It suits you, too bad that's a temporary mark."
"Yes, Noa wouldn't give me a permanent one," said Zero.
"Okay now round 2." This time Shadow activated his own red Advent mark and conjured his black and gold scythe. Zero steeled himself for the next onslaught.
*******
Meanwhile at the weight room
Suzaku arrived in the weight room to see Euphemia with an older muscular Japanese teen with long brown hair and brown eyes and an armband that looked like Kallen's headband. The funny thing was that Suzaku didn't feel any tenseness in the room, he felt...relaxed. He could even see that Euphie wasn't even afraid despite the situation. They just stared at the green eyed Japanese in the white pilot suit.
"Yo," said the teen, waving at Suzaku, "You must be Suzaku! We've been waitn' for ya."
"Hey Suzaku," greeted Euphie. Suzaku blinked confused.
"Uh, Euphie," said Suzaku, "What's going on? Aren't you supposed to be in, ya know, danger?"
"Oh, it's okay," comforted Euphie, "Shinji here isn't really guarding me he's more like watching me. He's really nice once you get to know him."
"So, your not in danger?"
"Nope," answered Shinji, "You see we, as in my comrades and I, were just supposed to split ya up from Zero. In other words, you took the bait."
Suzaku just scoffed. "I don't care what happens to Zero. My only concern is Princess Euphemia and your arrest for associating with her kidnapping."
"Wow. Your boyfriend is a real killjoy," Euphemia blushed at the comment but giggled.
"Yeah, sometimes he can be a real downer."
"Euphie," pouted Suzaku, which only made the other two laugh. He sighed and said to Shinji as seriously as he could, "Are you going to come quietly?"
Shinji only grinned. "I'll tell you what. If you can beat me in a fight I'll go quietly."
"What?"
"You see I haven't really had anyone to fight hand-to-hand in while and you seem pretty strong."
"Shinji don't do that to Suzaku he's my knight after all."
"Whose side are you on Euphie?" asked Suzaku discouraged.
"Suzaku, it not that I'm against you," she answered, "Lets just say Shinji is a real expert in hand-to-hand."
"Don't worry Euphie," comforted Shinji as he peered at Suzaku, "I won't hurt him much. First one to fall on the ground loses."
With whatever pride he had as a man Suzaku accepted the challenge. "Fine, I'll accept," sighed Suzaku, "But where is Kallen?"
"Don't worry she's safe," Shinji answered, putting on his serious face and raising his fists up in front of him, "We'll look for her after this." Suzaku readied himself. Euphemia stepped back and cheered for both of them, not really wanting to take sides.
The initial attack was started by Suzaku with his trademark spin kick. Shinji blocked but was pushed back by the powerful kick. Suzaku followed up with two roundhouse kicks. Shinji dodged the first kick by stepping back then ducked and avoided the second kick. Shinji countered with two quick punches then a powerful uppercut. Suzaku blocked the first two but the uppercut connected to his chin and made him do a backflip. Suzaku recovered before he could land flat on his back then he took several steps back.
Shinji decided to end it since he could tell Suzaku was holding back. Before Suzaku could prepare for the next attack Shinji did his own spinning move. First he gained momentum by charging Suzaku then he drew back his left arm then slid the rest of the way with a quick spin. With the momentum of the run and the spin behind it Shinji's punch connected with Suzaku's chest. The punch sent Suzaku flying and made him slam the wall behind him. Suzaku fell to the ground on his face breathing heavily with pain from his fractured ribs.
Author's Note: Shinji had a Falcon Punch moment.
Euphemia ran over to Suzaku with some bandages and started wrapping him in the bandages. "You shouldn't have held back nor underestimate me," said Shinji solemnly, "Although I'm kind of surprised that you're still conscious. When you're done getting patched up lets go find your other friend."
********
Shadow and Zero were fighting around the huge hole in the center of the room with Zero on the offensive. Shadow was twirling the scythe around his body as he blocked Zero's attacks. Zero eventually gave up and backed away allowing Shadow to start his own onslaught.
Shadow took advantage of the scythe's reach and attacked from a farther distance. That is, until he got in close. He started swing his large scythe in a way that flicked away Zero when ever he blocked. This continued to the point that they were at a total stalemate, blades connecting back and forth like a dance.
They broke off and readied themselves for the next strike. Lelouch decided to unveil his Slipstream and concentrated. Shadow felt a breeze blow on his skin, 'A breeze? In here?' he thought. Shadow then noticed the blue glow from Lelouch's eyes through the Zero mask.
He moved so fast in a short distance that to a normal human, it seemed he disappeared. Luckily for Shadow he wasn't normal. Shadow was able to keep track of Zero's movements even if Zero was still a blur.
Zero reappeared behind, above Shadow, took the handle of his sword, and swung down hard. Shadow reacted and brought up the length of the scythe's staff to block. Zero then pushed off and jump back to a safe distance. Zero flinched from the sting on his bones, Shadow noticed this.
"Nice trick," complimented Shadow as he withdrew his scythe, "But how many times can you do that I wonder?" He reached for the sword behind his waist and drew it in his right hand, holding it backwards in his hand. He warped to Zero's side and picked his pocket taking the white stone. "Follow me," he said as he jumped down the hole. Zero followed after him without a second thought.
Down the hole they fell. When they got closer to the ground they both stuck their swords in the wall of the hole to slow their decent. Some of the sparks they created from the action burned holes in their clothes.
Finally they hit the bottom, which led to a long road like room. There were no walls, just a large glass window surrounding the steel road.
"This is a straight shot to the engine room," explained Shadow, "Now catch me if you can." With that he began running down the long strip of road with Zero on his tail.
They ran side by side, both of them trying to cut the other. Eventually Shadow did his warps which Zero countered with his high-speed, Slipstream. They clashed blades as they vanished and reappeared beside each other, neither one giving ground.
Eventually Zero started to slow down. Even with his new prowess, Lelouch still had limited endurance. Shadow decided to end it when they got close to the door of the engine room. Taking his sword in both hands he warped to Zero. Zero did the same with his Slipstream.
There swords collided one last time in mid-air. The result, both swords broke and Shadow kicked Zero away, knocking him to the ground.
Shadow ran the rest of the distance, discarding his sword, and entered the engine room. Zero brought himself back up and followed Shadow inside. He saw Shadow standing near a large generator.
Shadow placed the white stone inside a slot in the generator. He then went to a terminal and pressed a few commands. After that was done he turned and looked at Zero with his glowing blood-red eyes. There was a sad grin on his face as Zero felt the colony rumble.
"What's happening?!" demanded Zero. Shadow just continued to grin as he answered.
"The colony is falling and there's nothing anyone can do about it," Shadow's statement left Zero in shock. "Now every one on Earth will up in despair as the AURA falls."
*******
Like Shadow said everyone looked up in despair while on every TV, cellphone, or computer screen had a timer and a message with Shadow's voice speaking it repeatedly: THE TIME HAS COME FOR YOU TO ANSWER YOUR SINS. DESPAIR IN YOUR FINAL HOUR! 1:00:00
*******
30 minutes till crash
Everyone, except Shadow and Alice, were in the bridge looking down at the approaching Earth. They were all trying to come up with a plan to stop the falling colony. Unfortunately no one could think of a way now that the colony was too close to the atmosphere.
"Isn't there anything we can do?" asked Kallen.
"No," said Zero to his ace.
"So the great Zero has run out of miracles," joked Suzaku in a sad tone. He felt his hope slip away with each moment like everyone else. The only exception were Lance and Noa who were discussing something with Eddie.
"I suppose so," said Zero.
"Then what can we do?" asked Euphemia.
Shinji growled and punched his fist into his hand in frustration. "There's nothing we can do..."
"We wait," Noa said drawing attention from everyone in the room. Everyone looked at him skeptically. "Trust me, there is still one person who can save us." Everyone thought about what he meant but Zero knew what he meant immediately and started to leave.
"Zero, where are you going?" Kallen asked.
"Nowhere you need to follow," he answered as he exited the door.
********
Meanwhile back at the engine room, Shadow gazed at the glowing generator with his arms crossed. Alice was there pleading him to help.
"Why should I?" Shadow asked refusing to face her.
"Because they don't deserve this," Alice retorted, her eyes were beginning to swell, "Please Shadow save them!"
"They don't deserve to be saved. They only deserve their destruction!" he yelled back.
"But this isn't what she'd...what Sarah would want," Alice finally got Shadow to face her with his glaring red eyes facing her crying eyes.
Shadow replied with a harsh voice. "How do you know if she wouldn't want this?"
"Because no one would truly wish the world to be destroyed," she answered softly as she slowly approached him. Shadow tried to back away from her but she eventually embraced him in a hug. She put her head on his chest as she continued, "I know there are people who don't deserve to be saved, but there are people down there that are willing to do good. Please Shadow, I'm begging you please protect those people. Just give them a chance for a gentler tomorrow."
Shadow began to see the memory that haunted him as he remembered his promise. Please promise me...Protect the people, give them a gentler tomorrow.
Alice felt him return her embrace with his own. They stayed like that in silence until Shadow broke the embrace. Then he wiped away the tears in Alice's blue-green eyes as he let a single tear fall from his own. "Thank you, Alice," he said. He turned to the generator and pulled out the stones, putting them in his pocket.
"What are you doing?" Alice asked.
He turned to the direction of the elevator that led to the Skeith's hanger as he said, "Keeping the promise I made to Sarah and to you." With that he ran off, leaving her behind.
Alice walked back to the bridge where everyone else waited. 'Please come back Shadow,' she wished.
*******
10 minutes later
"What are you doing?" Lelouch asked as Shadow got into the cockpit of Skeith.
"Making a miracle," was all he said. He placed the stones into the Skeith and let the energy flow into it. He then took off his gold ring bracelets and dropped them on the floor of the hanger, Lelouch took the rings for himself.
Lelouch then left as the hanger door began to open. The last thing he heard from there was the sound of the Skeith's jet wings as the Knightmare took off.
"Sayonara, Shadow, the Dark Knight," Lelouch whispered to himself solemnly as he put back on his mask and walked back to the bridge. He wished that he still had his Advent mark, without it he felt useless.
********
When Zero stepped back into the bridge he saw every one watching something out the window. When he joined them he saw the Skeith enveloped in shining golden light trying to push back the massive space colony. The jets made it look as if the Skeith had angelic wings as it put the colony to a halt. Zero heard everyone cheering on Shadow through Noa's comlink.
It seemed as if the effort was in vain though, the colony began to slow push him back. All hope seemed lost until...
******
Inside the Skeith's cockpit Shadow gritted his teeth as he forced the Skeith over 400% max output thanks to the stones. His Advent mark started to spread runic marks over his body as what he was about to do took the last of his strength. He teleported the entire colony back a safe distance. With what he had left exhausted Shadow began to slip into unconsciousness.
"This is what you wanted right? Then I've fulfilled my promise to you...Sarah." With that he let the encroaching darkness take over him, letting him sleep. The Skeith then plummeted through the atmosphere to the planet below.
You will not die, not yet. We're not done yet. But you deserve this rest, so for now...Somnus Adam.
*******
Zero, Alice, Kallen, Suzaku, Eddie, and Shinji found themselves on top of a grassy hill that overlooked Tokyo, Euphie was asleep on the grass. 'What happened?' was the question that everyone thought about while the answer they all came up with was 'Shadow.'
"Where is Shadow?" Alice asked. No one answered but Zero stepped to her and handed her one of Shadow's gold ring bracelets. "I see," she held back from crying but allowed a tear to drop onto the rings when she blinked.
"Don't think he's gone," told the disembodied voice of Noa, "By tomorrow everyone except you six will forget about the events that involved Shadow." Everyone gawked at this, wondering why, so the voice answered, "For a true miracle to happen there must be a great sacrifice. In this case only you six will bear the memory of what Shadow has done. The people are not ready for the AURA. So I ask all of you to never to speak of this. That is all I have to say."
No one said anything, not that they didn't want to protest, but they looked up at the starry night sky. Alice was the only one to notice a shooting star as she thought, 'Shadow...Just don't take too long coming back.' After awhile everyone departed in their own groups, Alice with Shinji and Eddie, Zero with Kallen, and Suzaku carried a sleeping Euphemia back to base.
********
Noa was saddened that in order for her to erase the memories Shadow left on the world, that he not only gave up his immortality but also he had to carry the sin of knowing what will happen. He had seen visions of the massacre in the soon to be created Special Administrative Zone of Japan and the Zero Requiem.
He could not say anything about these events and he could not do anything to stop them from proceeding, but he could find a way to save Lelouch. For Noa he still needed to be alive. In the mean time he'll have Lance pick up Alice and her friends. He'll have them brought here, brought to Ark.
********
The next day Zero was sitting at his desk, flipping the gold ring as if it were a coin, while CC just ate her pizza. Lelouch asked her about Shadow but she just asked who Shadow was, so realizing that not even CC could remember he dismissed the subject. He held the ring up to the light and just stared at it.
A knock at the door broke his gaze. "Zero it's me, Kallen," said the voice on the other side, "I need to talk to you in private." Lelouch knew what she wanted and asked CC to leave.
"Why should I?" she asked annoyance in her bored tone.
"Just do as I ask, please," he said as he returned his gaze back to the bracelet in his hand. CC finally complied and left with Kallen going inside. "You need to speak with me?"
"Y-yes," she answered, "About yesterday...Do you think we will see Shadow again?"
"I don't know," Zero answered, still staring at the ring in his hand. Kallen noticed the ring.
"What's that?"
"It belonged to Shadow," Zero looked at it for a few more moments before tossing it to Kallen. She caught it and stared at it with the same pondering gaze that Zero had. She looked up at Zero, her eyes questioning.
"Why-?"
"That bracelet belonged to someone so willing to protect this world that he gave himself to the Grim Reaper, which I'm sure you found out, is extremely difficult," he was referring to her time piloting Skeith, "I want you to keep it to remind yourself of the courage Shadow had to defend the people of this planet. For he was not a hero, he was an ever-watching guardian...Shadow."
Kallen smiled as she looked back at the golden ring. "I'll take care of it Zero," she stated proudly and with that she left putting the bracelet over her wrist.
Lelouch smiled as he watched her go. Then he looked up at the ceiling with one thought as he said to himself, "I wonder if we will see you again, Shadow."
*******
Somewhere on a mountain in the EU
"Achoo!" Shadow sneezed. "Hmm. I wonder if someone if someone important is talking about me...I wonder when Noa will be here? When do you think he'll be here Skeith?" he asked his Knightmare which now was missing all of it's limbs. "Don't know either huh? Oh well he'll be here when he gets here. After all, we're just getting started."
There is the last chapter of this story. Hope you enjoyed it. Review.