Paste y

Chapter Eleven: Bloodbeard's Week Day Two-Monsters and Miracles

Lelouch walked east and didn't stop. He looked frantically for Kallen. For any sign of her and every second his worry grew. The sun was up but the clouds could have given some protection to Bloodbeard and the Infected, and with the Knightmares they stole they could cause even more damage in the daytime. Enough damage had been done already. Ash and gloom were everywhere in the city. Citizens dead, dying, or ill were all at Lelouch's feet. This was an absolute nightmare. In one of his plans, in none of his dream, he could never have anticipated this.
The people who were still alive were begging for help and even though Lelouch heard them he ignored them completely. He wanted Kallen to be alive and uninjured. Her, Nunnally, and all the people he considered family. If they were gone, then what did he have to fight for and who? Why should he care about the world if the world has nothing to give him in return for his acts?
"Why are you ignoring these people Lelouch?" said M.M who appeared in front of Lelouch.
"I need to find Kallen," said Lelouch as he walked past M.M.
"This one woman means more to you than these many suffering?" said M.M as he appeared before Lelouch again.
"I'm only fighting for Kallen and me to be happy together," said Lelouch as he walked past M.M again.
"This is what I was worried about Lelouch. You are so involved in her that you are ignoring your responsibilities," said M.M.
Lelouch scoffed.
"Responsibilities? What responsibilities?" said Lelouch.
"The responsibilities that were thrust upon you when you were given your power in the first place," said M.M. "When C.C gave you Geass."
"C.C gave me Geass for her contract and for my purposes," said Lelouch.
"And are your purposes so great that they cause you to hang the world for these purposes?" asked M.M.
Lelouch continued on without answering.
"You realize how selfish you are being?" asked M.M as he once again appeared in Lelouch's way.
"Selfish?" said Lelouch. "I'm being selfish. I gave my life for the world."
"And now the world needs you again and you are throwing them aside to look for…"
"For the only people in this world I care about," said Lelouch.
"A true king cares about all of his subjects," said M.M. "The sooner you understand that the sooner you will be allowed your full power."
Lelouch looked at M.M with a suspicious look in his eye.
"What you have done so far is nothing compared to the power you may achieve if you only broaden your care," said M.M. "The whole world needs you and you only have five days to save it."

The city seemed all the more dead and deserted the further on Lelouch went. He shouted for Kallen numerous times and was met with only his echo.
"Kallen," he shouted for the umpteenth time.
He received no response and walked on feeling totally and absolutely alone. He held his head down and felt tears of hopelessness fall just as the rain fell down. He continued walking, no longer bothering with Kallen's name. As Lelouch walked down the street with his head down the rain continued to pour. Water soaked Lelouch's entire body and from his point of vision it looked as if he were walking in a shallow lake. In the grey water he thought he could see the faces of the dead from last night. All with twisted visions of horror, sadness, and death. Were they in heaven now? Were they in hell? Or where they in some grey purgatory waiting for a divine savior to bless them? In his hallucination Lelouch saw all their eyes staring at him as if he were supposed to be their great savior. Lelouch shed tears for them. There was nothing he could do for the dead as the damned now walked the earth and the living were inching ever closer to the end.
Lelouch heard the sounds of looting, crying, and the greedy laughter of the lecherous and naturally corrupt. The people who were still alive and were ungrateful for that life and were now making life worse for everyone else. They were only proving Bloodbeard's savage world right and prove to Lelouch that this world was not worth fighting for.

His eyes were glued to the grey faces in the water as he continued walking along. They were all colorless and depressed. All without a glimmer of any other color until Lelouch spotted a bit of gold in the water. He also noticed a bit of green and as he stooped down he tripped and fell face first into the water. He dug and dug into the water thinking he saw something until he gave up and just buried his face in the water. He gave up, for the first time in his life, he just gave up. His dream was broken, his symbol was no more, and for all he knew everyone he loved in the world was dead.
Just as he was about to let go of his breath and let the water fill his lungs, Lelouch felt a toe rub up against his head. Lelouch looked up and saw something impossible. He saw amber eyes staring at him; he saw a cascade of green hair fall from her shoulders.
"C.C?" he said.
His vision cleared and he saw that it was not the immortal witch but a little girl who reminded him of C.C.
"Who are you?" he asked in some awe.
The little girl wouldn't respond, she just hugged her plush toy tighter.
"Are you lost?" he asked.
She nodded a yes. Lelouch stood up and collected the girl in his arms and looked her in the eyes.
"Can you retrace your steps?" he asked.
She pointed south and Lelouch stood confused as to what to do next. Why should he help this little girl just because she bore a resemblance to his lost friend when he could be looking for his beloved and all the other people important to him?
He then heard sounds of men and the girl clutched onto Lelouch in fear. In the way the city was there was no possibly way that she would be safe in the open streets without him. He looked down the girl's path and down at the path where he would have eventually have met Kallen.
"Forgive me," said Lelouch.
He walked south with the girl in his arms.

Lelouch and his traveling companion eventually came to the entrance of a tunnel.
"We are not going down there," said Lelouch.
The girl continued pointing in the direction of the dark tunnel.
"Aren't you afraid of the dark?" he asked her.
She shook her head no.
"Maybe we can go around," Lelouch suggested.
The girl beat on his chest for making such a suggestion. Lelouch sighed and continued onward, but he kept his senses heightened in case he met with the Infected. He nervously walked onward with the girl still in his arms. In the darkness that was so black where he could see no light at the end of the tunnel Lelouch only heard the beating of his heart. Without Caledflwch what chance had he against Infected? He continued onward but with quickened pace. He just needed to get the girl somewhere safe.

Lelouch believed he and the girl had walked at least three miles before making it to the end. However the light of the end of the tunnel was not sunlight as the rain hid the sun. The light came from bonfires that were once cars. The tenders of the flames were not Infected but they were scary enough to frighten the girl and put Lelouch on high alert. The men who were walking up to them did not give of a feeling of warmth and kindness.
"I'm just trying to get this girl somewhere safe," said Lelouch.
"That pretty little thing?" said a large bearded man who Lelouch deduced was the leader.
He flashed his yellow teeth and Lelouch tensed his muscles.
"She'll be plenty safe here," he said. "Isn't that right boys?"
"Yeah," a skinny tattooed man said. "She's like little green apple. I like green apples. I like them a lot."
"Bet she likes me better," laughed a fat man.
The girl cried and held onto Lelouch for dear life. Lelouch scowled in anger. These men were not like the Infected, they were like Bloodbeard, greedy and lecherous. They were threatening this girl who came to Lelouch and allowed him to help her. They were going to do things to her that Lelouch had seem and had been scarred by for years. He couldn't let them do those things to her. He heard footsteps from someone behind him. He heard the swift movement of a blunt object moving through the air. Lelouch spun and kicked with his left foot and kicked a crowbar out of the hands of another gang member. Lelouch caught it and spun aground to smack another two members who were trying to charge at him. Lelouch flipped the crowbar around and knocked a switchblade out of the tattooed man's hands when he charged and impaled him. The fat man tried to reach for the girl but Lelouch brought the bar onto his skull and beat into it his skull. Lelouch then turned and threw the crowbar at the leader, who dodged and pulled out a gun. Lelouch turned again and let his armor and flesh act as a shield for the little girl. He waited and squinted in pain as each bullet tore into his body. He turned quickly and let the rest of the bullets strike into him as he charged at the leader. He ran up quickly and grabbed the man by the gun and crushed it in his bare hands. He then punched the large man so hard Lelouch heard a loud snap from his neck. Lelouch grabbed the back of his head and did to him what he did to Ferdinand just to be sure. Lelouch dropped the man's body and inhaled deeply, trying to calm himself and let the adrenaline run its course. As soon as he was finished he picked up the little girl again and walked out into the open air. The rain had stopped but the clouds still hid the sun, meaning that even in this early morning the Infected and their master could be anywhere. The thought of Bloodbeard wandering the streets in broad daylight made Lelouch afraid for Kallen and his friends. But right now he needed to save this little girl.

Lelouch felt like his legs were ready to give way. Hours of endless walking had passed and the little girl gave no sign of telling when they were at her home. Any other people he walked by he tried to ask them about the girl. But everyone he met treated him with fear and hatred. They threw rocks at him and the child, spat on them, and cursed them. One man fired his shotgun at them but once again Lelouch took the shot and destroyed the man's gun. Lelouch continued on with the girl, growing increasingly frustrated and gloomy. Hours were passing and he still had no idea where Kallen was. Why was this confounded girl tormenting him with this damnable walk?
With every step he felt his frustration grow and grow with the girl. She was unimportant and meaningless to him. So what if she bore some resemblance to his departed friend C.C? He let loose his arms and she fell onto the ground. She looked up to him in fear and sadness while Lelouch looked down with a look of rage and frustration. He turned the other way, leaving her lying on the ground.
"I'm coming Kallen," Lelouch whispered.
The girl began crying loudly but Lelouch didn't stop to look back. He merely continued walking onward without giving head to the girl. Her constant wailing was actually giving him a headache but he didn't care. Then all of a sudden, the crying stopped. It was sudden, too sudden to have stopped naturally. Lelouch nervously looked back and saw a deformed creature grabbing her by the throat. Lelouch could tell it was an Infected; however it looked more like a rodent than an insect. It's hideous half human-half rat face widened showing razor sharp teeth and a long tongue that licked at the girl it was now choking. Lelouch's memories of the horrible indignity that C.C suffered at the hands of the creature's master. Lelouch turned, trying to ignore the horrible sight, the girl meant nothing to him, she was a stranger, and everyone in the city who he didn't personally love meant nothing to him. He covered his ears to try and block out the sounds of the monster but the sounds only became louder as more rat-like Infected came out of the sewers and filled the streets, attacking other people on the street. The screams of the people and the screeches of the monsters were too loud for Lelouch to block out. Tears flowed from his eyes which were wide with shock and terror. He tried to ignore any sense of morality that was telling him to help people but his rational mind realized that he was the only one not under attack. The only one who would stand near the now trembling Lelouch was the great wizard.
"Why so troubled Lelouch, these people are not close to your heart," said M.M "They're surely doomed unless someone with great power was willing to aid them. But alas there is no one. No sentinel of justice to ride out and guard them. No one, they are all helpless. Every one of these citizens who someone with such great virtue would gladly fight for. Someone like…Kallen Kozuki or perhaps Suzaku Kururugi, the White Knight of Zero. People you love very much who would fight valiantly to protect the lives of the people. People you are insulting with your selfishness."
Lelouch sunk lower in despair.
"Damn you boy," shouted M.M. "You sit here whimpering in the dust while others are fighting the wars, moving the stones, and slaying the dragons. You once said, 'how can a King expect his army to follow him if he is not willing to take the lead?' if I'm not wrong. If you can fight for a world where one person can happily live in then you can do it for all but only if you are truly willing to. Keep the people you love close to you but do not insult them by guarding only them when it is their purpose to guard the world, merely keep their dreams alive and make them come true. Fight for a world where your sister can live happily in, a world where you and Kallen can marry happily, and where your children can grow up without fear of hatred and death."
Lelouch was listening to M.M's words with care.
"But what of these other people?" said M.M. "What about them? Don't they deserve the same peace that you wish to give to your loved ones?"
Lelouch was silent. He slowly rose and his eyes were now filled with determination. He turned his back to M.M and ran to the Infected who held the girl. Borrowing a move from Suzaku he leapt into the air and did a spin-kick that landed on the monster's face. The girl was freed and the other Infected turned to see Lelouch. Lelouch stared down to the beast he knocked down and stomped its head so hard it crushed the beast's skull. The Infected then proceeded to leave the civilians alone and Lelouch stood proudly ready to face the beasts. He felt a tugging on his pants and looked down to the girl.
"It's not safe here," he said gently.
She pointed down the street and Lelouch looked and his eyes widened at what he saw. Caledflwch was buried deep within the cement. Lelouch then saw what street he was on. It was the very street in which he completed Zero Requiem. Lelouch picked up the girl and ran out to the sword with the Infected running straight after them. Lelouch reached the sword and faced the Infected with the girl hiding behind him. He gripped the handle and pulled…with no result.
"What?" shouted Lelouch as the Infected drew near.
He tugged and tugged again.
'Lelouch,' a voice in Lelouch's head said.
It wasn't M.M's voice but someone else's.
'Are you willing to make a contract?' said the voice.
"A contract?" said Lelouch.
'The power you have known has not truly been yours since you have not made the full contract. You've merely been renting the power up until now where you must take up this contract,' said the voice.
"Very well," said Lelouch.
'In return for the power of the God-King, do you swear to guard the lives of the innocent?' asked the voice.
"I swear," said Lelouch.
'To uphold peace, justice, and a finer world for all mankind?' asked the voice.
"I swear," said Lelouch.
'To become an example of righteousness, a beacon of hope, and a symbol of all that is good and not in any way become the Demon you once were? To use your own face and to use truth, honesty, and chivalry in all things? To use your power not for petty jealousy or horrible vengeance? To sacrifice your life and happiness if need be and to suffer whatever heartache such a terrible duty brings? Do you swear?' said the voice.
Lelouch's eyes closed, his muscles tensed, and the Infected grew close. He ponders the terms of the contract and looks deep inside himself. Doubt eats at him like a tiger chomping its prey. He thinks of all that has lead him to this crucial moment. His time with his siblings when he was young, his mother's death, his exile, his friendship with Suzaku and later with others, his love with Kallen, his loss of an army, his triumph over his father, his rise as Emperor, his fall, his suffering at the hands of Bloodbeard, and the last words of C.C.
"My love," she said. "Be strong."
My love, she said. Be strong, she said. Be strong for what? That was a question that he had often thought about in the dark when he took blades to his body in moments of weakness.
He understood, now, in this dire moment with is enemies barely arm's length away from him, he understood. She understood as well. She understood him. She understood how he would be in this world. He would have been broken and afraid, barely able to hold on thanks to what power he had. And now that he must take that power in full he understood. With her last ounce of strength she told her beloved to be strong. To be strong for the world, for himself, and for her.
"I SWEAR," he yelled.
The Infected leapt.
The sword rose.
The thunder fell.

Bloodbeard hummed a delightful tune as he tightened Kallen's ropes. She groaned in pain and anger. He looked at her stricken face and smiled. He brought his own face close to hers and Kallen refused to show fear. Bloodbeard chuckled his awful chuckle and then licked her along her face.
"Get your disgusting tongue off of me," Kallen yelled.
Bloodbeard laughed and signaled for lights, camera, and…
"Action," he said.
Light shined on the platforms of which were two crosses of the naked Kallen and an equally naked Nunnally. The only article of clothing either the two women had on had been kept to mock them. Bloodbeard kept Kallen's headband on while Nunnally still retained her hat.
Bloodbeard turned and whistled at both of them. He then looked below the platform where his Infected stood to await his command as they handled the cameras.
"Citizens of the world," he yelled, "I am Amadeus Bloodbeard, the Mad Titan and…your savior."
The Infected roared up in applause at their master's words while Kallen and Nunnally cringed from the cold and the presence of the monster.
"I have here, once again in my power, Empress Nunnally VI Britannia, the most powerful woman in the world," Bloodbeard continued. "She has lied to her subjects by hiding the truth that Zero was a fraud, a mere thug for a foolish villain who first invented Zero to spread anarchy and chaos. Under her we have seen nothing but increased oppression. The rich grow fat while the poor starve and she laughs at their plight. She has abused her position as the empress of such a glorious nation under God. To strip Britannia of her freedom but she is not the only one guilty of this evil. The entire United Federation of Nations is a cesspool of lies and corruption. They say they negotiate peace, but what they want is to rule the world. I have ordered them to disband as a service to the people who I now ask to rebel against their oppressors. To drag their rich and wealthy out of their nice beds by the hair. To stomp on the throats of their rulers. To make them feel the same fear and depression that they inflicted on you. I am encouraging you to seek your freedom. Take it, it's yours."
Bloodbeard's dramatic and eloquent words invoked high applause from the Infected.
"Don't listen to him," cried Nunnally.
Bloodbeard turned to gaze at her over his shoulder and the cameras zoomed in on the naked empress. The Infected laughed at her state of undress but Nunnally did not look ashamed of her nudity. Her fearlessness earned a smile on Kallen's face at least.
"Bloodbeard does not care for the downtrodden or for freedom," said Nunnally. "He only cares about anarchy and destruction. It's true I did know the identity of Zero, but the plans of my brother Lelouch were for peace. To make himself a villain for the world to unite against. He ruined his name for the sake of all of humanity and now a true villain stand before you saying that he is your savior when he isn't. His demands for the UFN to disassemble will only lead to global nuclear warfare. I know that at this point it would be easier to give into his ways of anarchy but if we do that we would only aid in our destruction. So if this is to be the last moment of my life, if I am to die here naked before a madman, then I give this last request as the 100th empress of the Holy Britannian Empire…my people…"
She let slide only one tear.
"Have faith," she finished.
Bloodbeard fully turned and his look of anger was easily recognized but Nunnally held a straight face, determined to face whatever end with nobility and dignity. Bloodbeard walked up to Nunnally's cross and cocked his head up and licked her toes.
"You're delicious," he whispered before going to face his hordes again.
"A beautiful speech whore-queen," said Bloodbeard. "But my message still stands and I promise you that not only will this be the last day of your life, it will be my crowning victory. I shall now let it be known that for her transgressions against the people I will punish her now for the entire world to see. Witness…your liberation."
Bloodbeard turned to Nunnally's cross but glanced at Kallen.
"You're not out of the woods," said Bloodbeard. "Once I'm done with her you're next."
He punched at the wooden structure with the force of wreaking ball. Nunnally fell forward but Bloodbeard caught her, catching a feel of her breast while he did. With his teeth he undid her ropes and threw her naked form on the floor.
"The most powerful woman in the world, a defenseless cripple," mocked Bloodbeard.
He stood pondering for a moment on what to do next.
"My beloved Infected what should I do first? Rape her and then kill her or kill her now and then rape her corpse," he laughed.
The monsters began shouting a garbled word in their deformed language. It was a word that was easy enough to make out though.
"Rape," they yelled. "Rape, rape, rape, rape…"
"Then rape it is," Bloodbeard roared.
The Infected yelled in applause.
Kallen cried in horror.
Nunnally tried to remain strong.
Bloodbeard began to fidget with his pants as he eyed Nunnally's rear end.
The thunder fell.

The force of the thunder was so great it knocked Bloodbeard off the platform. Nunnally almost fell too had not a hand grasped her ankle just in time. She was set down gently and stared into a magnificent purple glow absolutely fixated on the being before her. Kallen was perhaps even more enchanted.
"Lelouch?" she whispered as a tear of joy and relief fell from her eyes.
It was Lelouch, his armor and cape restored, Caledflwch held high in his hand, and a glimmering golden grown stat on his brow, while his face bore a purple thunderbolt tattoo ran over his right cheek.
There was a magnificent glow all around him and sparks of electricity seemed to flicker on and off around him. He walked to Kallen with a soft smile on his lips and she returned the smile. He cut her ropes with his sword and she fell into his arms. He placed Kallen next to Nunnally and removed his cape, wrapping them both in its warmth.
The platform began to rumble and shake as a large hairy creature leapt to face Lelouch. Lelouch got between the two women and held Caledflwch ready. The beast, which wore some of Bloodbeard's clothing, looked to be a ten foot tall cross between a wolf, an ape, and a man.
"Impossible," the beast growled.
"Nothing is impossible," said Lelouch.
The beast roared in anger and charged at Lelouch. Lelouch charged back with his sword held high. The lightning from the storm above seemed to become attracted to the sword as bolts fell from the heavens and merged with the blade. When the two opponents were about to collide Lelouch slashed up with the sword and the lighting let loose with a furious blast. An explosion so powerful it shook the platform, the ground below it, and the entire city. Kallen held Nunnally close both praying that Lelouch was alright.
The smoke began to clear and the hairy beast fell with blood flowing from a gash in its right eye and burns covering its body. When it fell it became Bloodbeard yet again, wounded but alive, but also in pain. It was the first time he felt pain in years. He clutched himself in agony and looked up as Lelouch leapt down with the sword pointed downward and the lightning once again following the blade. This would be a finishing blow if not for a flash of red.
Lelouch was knocked aside by the Guren. He bounced along the way until finally coming to a halt. The sword was knocked out of his hands and the Knightmare Frame was fast encroaching. Lelouch briefly remembered when Kallen once tried to kill him with her Guren in that battle for Damocles. The whole damn event flashed before Lelouch eyes for a moment but only for a moment before clarity struck again. He held out his hand and a visible form of purple static made a bridge between him and the handle.
"The handle towards my hand," Lelouch joked, quoting Macbeth.
The sword flew into Lelouch's hand as did more purple lightning just as the Guren was about to let loose its radiation wave. The massive collision of power caused a humongous explosion. The platform was shaken so bad it began to tip over with Kallen and Nunnally on it. As the two fell they were caught by none other than Suzaku Kururugi. When they landed a large portion of the platform still fell but Suzaku caught it with both hands while Kallen and Nunnally ducked beneath him.
Even with his Geass activated Suzaku was having trouble with the heavy weight of the platform. He was about to buckle down when he felt it lighten a bit. He looked over to his side and gave a loud laugh of victory when he saw Lelouch at his side. Between the two of them they were able to throw the platform aside.
"Lelouch? My god," said Suzaku when he realized what Lelouch looked like.
Lelouch had not a scratch on him and when Suzaku looked at where he and the Guren had done battle he saw that the only thing left of the only Knightmare that could match his Lancelot was now in smoking ruins. Suzaku then gulped because he was the person Lelouch entrusted with Nunnally and if Lelouch could destroy such a powerful machine as the Guren, he shuttered to what Lelouch would do to him. Lelouch began to move but not to attack. He moved passed Suzaku and knelt down to Kallen and Nunnally who both put their arms around him. Suzaku sighed in relief but was then pulled into the hug by Lelouch. The four of them held together for what seemed like ages until Nunnally whispered an idea into Suzaku's ear. Suzaku smiled and pulled himself and Nunnally out of the hug while he pushed Lelouch and she pushed Kallen together in an embrace that caused the two to accidentally kiss. The shock of the sensation surprised the both of them but the king and queen relented into the kiss none the less. Suzaku and Nunnally watched on with delight while a third watched in shock.
In the distance Gino Weinberg was watching the woman he loved kissing another man. Activating his Geass of Absolute Speed he rushed in an angry huff. His presence and frustration went unnoticed by the four. But not unnoticed to a small Infected whose master had been taken to safety. A master who could see everything his monster saw.

The Infected set their master down on Nunnally's throne in the ruined headquarters. Without Euphemia acting as his slave he was left to nurse his own wounds, something he's never had to do before.
"I broke him," Bloodbeard moaned as he pressed a piece of (human) meat onto his injured eye. "I broke him."
He then got the message from an Infected at his now ruined platform. He saw everything that was there to see and laughed.
"I can work with that," he laughed heartily before his burns hurt him. "Ouch."