Code Geass: The Black Prince
Hello! Yeah, I know. It's been a real long time. But I have returned, and with a vengeance! Here's this long ass chapter as an apology. And a promise to not do that again...maybe.
BlackTyrantValvatorez: here ya go. I took your suggestion after finding a practical way to incorporate it. should be interesting in the future.
Chapter twelve: recurring memories
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Lelouch looked out through the window of the Britannian royal palace of area eleven. He tugged at the high collar that had began to suffocate him as he took a deep breath. He had justified his actions with Shirley long ago. This was for the best. She would no longer pursue him, and she would be safe. He had asked Anya to keep an eye out for her at the moment. He wasn't sure when Mao would be coming back, but if he did, Lelouch was certain he would try to use her to get to him somehow. He was a complete enigma. Lelouch knew nothing of the silver haired man that had neared destroyed everything singlehandedly.
"C.C." He called out.
The witch raised her head from the bed she was lying on behind him.
"Who is he?" Lelouch asked.
"Mao." She began. "I gave him Geass a long time ago Lelouch."
Lelouch frowned as he turned back around to face her. "Then what? What happened to him, is that what happens when one cannot fulfill your contract?" Lelouch demanded, raising his voice.
C.C. remained calm however. "Not at all. Mao was obsessed with me. Although I suppose his Geass was to blame. He had the ability to read minds, but he can no longer 'turn it off.' No matter what he does, he hears the thoughts of every one around him. I was the only exception to that."
"Because of the code." Lelouch realized.
"Yes." C.C. confirmed. "For the same reason your Geass cannot work on me either. Those who bear a code are immune to Geass."
"I see." Lelouch said.
So Mao genuinely might be insane then. That is an unpredictable opponent. One Lelouch had no desire to contend with for long.
"So you just abandoned him then." Lelouch stated.
C.C. rose her head, annoyed at the accusation. "It was better for him that way. The only thing I regret was not ending our ties more permanently." She replied.
Lelouch snorted. "So then what if I become a nuisance to you? What if I become too dangerous, what would do then? Kill me?"
C.C. sighed. "No, I don't think so. Besides, I have no intention nor the motivation to walk out at the moment. There is no reason for me to believe you cannot do as I ask...yet." She added the last word with hesitation. Although he did not know what it was she desired, there was a side to him C.C. saw that might leave him unable to ultimately end her life as she so desired.
"So then, you are to be trusted? You know full well I cannot let you walk around deeply with what you know." Lelouch said in a serious tone.
"Put it this way." C.C. answered. "If I stay with you, I get all the pizza I could possibly desire."
Lelouch rolled his eyes. "Fair enough."
He took his phone out of his pocket and dialed a number, after a second Matt answered. "Matthew, I need you to get in contact with the OSI. Track down a Chinese man called Mao. He had silver hair and an odd visor he wears. He may be trying to hide, so tell them to look in out of the way places."
"Okay." Matthew answered. "What's up with the guy?" He asked.
"I believe he in an informant of Zero's." Lelouch lied. "I almost captured him myself, however he has more than one trick up his sleeve. If he is discovered, I want to know immediately."
"Sure thing." Matthew replied.
Lelouch hung up and sighed. This was quite frustrating, turning to such aid.
"That's not going to help you know." C.C. pitched in. Lelouch turned to her as she continued. "Mao can read minds have you forgotten? He will know if someone is looking for him long before they even come close."
"Possibly, but the OSI has surveillance systems all along the settlements. I'm sure he can't find those." An idea suddenly popped into his head an he turned his head a bit in thought, C.C. saw this. "What?" She asked.
"Oh, I just had a thought. But it won't matter if we can't find him." Lelouch answered.
"Don't worry about him." C.C. said, hugging her cheese-kun. "Mao won't do anything too drastic."
"Perhaps. But either way, he knows vital information to my plan. Mao could easily topple everything. If he provides substantial evidence, nobody will believe him upfront, my reputation protects me that far; but the nobles will begin to keep a sharp eye on me. Once the idea is given concrete ground, they will begin to see other connections. My mobility will drop drastically, and in a worst case scenario, I might actually be implicated as Zero."
"I told you, don't worry. Mao doesn't really care about you. He's after me, you just happen to be in the way." C.C. repeated.
Lelouch sighed. "If you say so. But either way, he will remain a problem to me."
"The way you play, Mao can beat you at every which field. Going head on against will be foolish. I seriously just suggest you let it be for now." She insisted, hugging her plushie ever so tighter.
"My aforementioned plan easily skips around any advantage Mao will have over me. His brain is no match for mine in the end." Lelouch matched her.
C.C. snorted. "So boastful are we? Of your planning to confuse him in a crowd it won't work, he may be out of control but he can still pick you out of a congregation of over two hundred people. Besides he would see that coming a mile away."
Lelouch smirked at her. "Come now, you honestly think I would think of something so juvenile? No, I have a much better way to take advantage of his weakness." Lelouch turned back toward the window, his mind turning to deep thought. "Yes, everyone has an Achilles heel. It's just a matter of protecting what matters most to you...and the exploitation of others most precious desires."
Lelouch began to sink into his mind when his phone suddenly began to buzz. He frowned when he saw that Anya was trying to get ahold of him. He flipped open the phone and hit a button. "Yes?"
"Lelouch." Anya's voice came from the other end. "You should come down to the throne room. There's something for you to see. Jeremiah tried to tell you? But he figured not to disturb you so he asked me...but I think you should come too."
Lelouch sighed. "What is it?" He asked.
"I really think you should come see for yourself. Trust me." Anya insisted.
Lelouch reluctantly gave in and told her he would be down momentarily. He left C.C. alone in the room and headed down to the throne room alone.
The sight that greeted him was truly something he needed to see for himself. He smiled a bit, under his weary expression.
"Well, to what do I owe the pleasure?" He asked calmly to the two who were waiting for him. Anya found her way to his side as he stood in front of them.
"Viceroy, it is an honor sir." The young man with messy black hair gave just the response Lelouch expected him to. Lelouch took his hand in a firm grasp. "Quinn Adams. It's been a while."
He turned to the other, a girl with slate blue hair about a foot longer than her shoulders, and an attitude that remained the same as he remembered. "Lucille Damon." He greeted. "Well Lelouch, not bad becoming the viceroy. Had me going with your speech I have to say." She smirked, looking at the prince and recalling the kid she used to know. "You're a lot different than I remember." She said.
"So where have you two been this whole time?" Lelouch asked, curious.
"We ended up in the same unit during the fighting for area eighteen. And once Cornellia took the place over we as around before deciding to move on. We felt that we should come to area eleven and filed for transfer last week." Quinn explained.
"You see we..." Lucille began. "Want to join your personal guard detail."
Lelouch was taken aback by the request. Such a position was pretty permanent. It was practically like a personal knight's position. You were stuck there until yours or you lord's death. Or another equally drastic situation.
"Are-are you sure?" Lelouch asked.
"Yeah, quite. You've proven to be a n exceptional leader in the past. And I wouldn't mind ganging up with you in the long run." Lucile admitted. "Besides, I wouldn't mind getting in on some of the action going on around here."
Lelouch raised an eyebrow. "Than what after I've captured Zero?" Not that he intended to or anything.
"Eh, not like I need to think that far ahead."
She shrugged. Point is, we want to help you and that's that so you going to accept us or what?"
Lelouch shook his head, smiling. "I would be glad to have you." He told them.
Quinn gave him a rigid salute. "Thank you sir. I won't let you down." Lucile pointed to him with her thumb . "What he said." She replied.
Matthew smiled as he approached the group. "That's good to hear. I could use the help around here. I get stick with all the mundane jobs. Now I get some lackeys of my own!" Lucile groaned. "I have to work under him?"
Lelouch shrugged. "He's been here longer." Anya agreed smiling a little. "It's true." She knew Lucile didn't like taking orders from most people, so it was rather amusing.
"Come on with me and I'll show you two to your rooms." Matthew herded the two away, leaving Lelouch and Anya alone in the wide throne room. Lelouch gave a faint smile. "That's something nice to see in this ever surmounting pile of bad news."
"I'm glad they came. Sure brings back some memories. I was having a hard time recalling events that happened in the old Black Knights." Anya mentioned. "I was almost afraid I would forget them. I hate forgetting things like that."
Lelouch nodded. He knew Anya had a hard time remembering things. He couldn't for the life of him find out why. It wasn't a medical thing, they knew that much. She just spaced out at times. She did seem to be getting better. That was always good to know.
"There are some things I wish I could forget though." Anya recalled, remembering one particular event.
"Yes. I as well."
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So this will be your room." Matthew stated, showing a room for Lucile. "And Quinn gets the one down the hall next to mine."
"So this is just a place for all the knights or something?" Lucille asked.
"Sort of. It's meant for the personal guard of the Viceroy, or a royal guest. Whichever. Anya's room is also further down the hall. But we four are the only ones." Matthew explained.
"Lelouch doesn't have any other guards?" Lucille frowned.
"Eh, he's a paranoid person. Makes sense though, what with Clovis and Cornelia. He's the third Viceroy to take control here in two months." Matthew replied. "But I honestly think its just him."
"How is he?" Lucille asked. "You've been around him a while lately right?"
"Not really actually. He's always off on an important something or another. Sometimes he even goes to school for a while."
"He still goes to school?" Quinn asked.
"Yeah. Mostly just to let steam off. I go there with him sometimes in place of Anya. He usually just falls asleep or reads.
He's under a lot of pressure, I swear that guy gets work done for three. That's why I'm glad you two can help him out."
Lucille nodded. "So that's how it's been Huh? No wonder though. Lelouch has always been a machine."
The group chuckled a bit.
"But you know, there's something different about him." Matthew said. "When you look at him his appearance seems so calm and stoic. But every once in a while, there's something in his eyes. You'll see it eventually. If I were to describe it I would say...rage."
They all suddenly became quiet.
"He may not look like it, but he had a deep hatred in him. He does well on hiding it, but I know him well enough to see it. I just hope he doesn't snap one day." Matthew said.
"I'm sure he took it very personally, what happened that day." Quinn mentioned. "It must have been really hard."
Lucille nodded. "Yeah, and after the mission before, it just made things all the more worse in the end."
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Two years ago, 2015 ATB.
and his Black Knights had found themselves in a rather boring place in Africa. The newly dubbed area 15 was once called Egypt. Britannia had just seized it from the MEF. Marking what would be the beginning of the complete annihilation of the Middle Eastern Federation. However, Lelouch could not see why the empire would desire such a useless wasteland. The only good thing about this place was a river and some pyramids. It held no tactical advantage except to slightly increase their borders. He would have taken Israel if he was going to go for somewhere in the Middle East. It would have at least given them more places to attack from. This dessert was kind of restricted to just one way. And it was a bitch to cross though on land. Unless you could cross through water, that narrow strip of land across the Sinai peninsula wasn't going to support a ground assault into an entire continent. At this point in time, the conventional aerial knightmare carriers were not developed for another year or so, and crossing the ocean in ships was begging to lose your precious knightmares to the sea. Marine frames like the Portman were in heavy use around now.
While Lelouch was still deep in thought, his other Black Knight members were chatting away in there barracks stationed in the south block of the new settlement.
"Man, what are we even doing here? This place is dead!" Andrew complained, earning a nod from a few of his companions.
"We have to keep this place under control in case some resistance tries to throw off the newly constructed settlement before it becomes stable. That or the MEF might try to take its country back." James replied, informing them all of the reason they were here.
"Still though, who would even want this place anyway?" Boris asked.
"The Nile river is actually quite a decent way to support life out here. The country had remained independent for thousands of years." Quinn mentioned.
"Until now." Lucille added.
"That doesn't really matter, we have a mission here and that is to defend the colony from anyone who would attempt to disrupt it." Anya told them. "Right Lelouch?"
The group turned to their leader, who was absentmindedly looking out the window.
"He spaced off." Matthew stated, sitting in front of him.
Lelouch blinked a few times, them turned to them. "What was that?" He asked Anya.
"Oh nothing." She told him.
"She was just saying how we were here to defend the colony and all." Quinn explained.
"Right." Lelouch nodded. "Not only that but I want all of you to be in top performance this time around. Not one mistake. I was recently told that In a months time my evaluation will be coming up."
James frowned. "Evaluation?"
"Yes. The emperor himself will check my progress on a mission of his design, and if he deems me to be acceptable, I will be given an official officer rank among the Britannian military as well as be given full command over a battalion. As a royal prince, I will be allowed free reign to do as I please with my men. So long as it benefits the empire, I am free to go and do as I please. You will all be given senior ranks among that unit."
The group seemed to take that last part pretty well. "Now wouldn't that be something." Andrew said, speaking for the group as a whole.
"That being said, the evaluation won't happen if we mess up anywhere here or in the future. I don't need to remind you that another incident like the New Zealand fiasco last month in unacceptable."
The young teens all nodded in unison, with some shuddering at the memory.
A voice on the loudspeaker suddenly came on, alerting the group. "Attention, please report to the deployment hangar immediately. Thank you." With that the teens were left to quickly scramble together to head to the mentioned location.
"So what do you think we're doing?" Lucille asked, particularly to Lelouch.
"Most likely being deployed." He replied. "I'm assuming something must have come up, pretty obvious."
"Yeah...like what?"
Lelouch sighed. "Either Eygptian resistance forces or an MEF assualt squadron was spotted headed from the east. Again, pretty obvious."
Lucille huffed. "Maybe for you." She folded her arms.
"Yeah, that's pretty obvious." James commented.
"Whatever!" She stormed off ahead of the rest of them before realizing she didn't know where to go. She stopped in the hall and waited impatiently for the group to catch up and head on to the hangar.
As it turned out, an assault carrier belonging to the Chinese Federation had been located heading up the Red Sea. This surprised Lelouch. He had to admit though, the idea of invading a newly budding colony was actually pretty smart. Since Britannia had already done the dirty work of destroying the Egyptian forces, the Chinese didn't have much work required for a free country.
"Seriously? The Chinese Federation really thinks they can hop in on the spoils huh?" James said. Lelouch figured he was the only other one to actually get just what advantages the Chinese had on coming at the time they did. Most of the others might see why, but not the entire story, only the obvious.
As the group entered the makeshift hangar, they were met by the ever present Jeremiah, who began to brief the teens on the details.
"The Chinese have supposedly landed eight miles out of our position an estimated five minutes ago. Our current defenses were unable to stop them from landing or meeting them at shore. Thus, we will be sending you to go and stop them. Delay the advance of the assault long enough for our forces in Libya to arrive and eliminate the hostiles. We have confirmed that two carriers carrying approximately sixty CF designed Gun-Ru knightmare frames. The frames are heavy and bulky, the exact opposite of your Ayleshams. Make the most of that."
As Lelouch and the others climbed into the knightmares, another voice was ward through the comms system. "Your frames have been outfitted with uneven terrain land skis, rather than traditional spinners. They will allow full mobility out in the desert, however they will be ruined if they cross regular terrain. If that ever becomes necessary, do not use them."
"Understood." Lelouch responded.
As the hangar doors opened, the bright desert sun shine through. The group shot out at top speed toward their target.
"The carriers the Chinese Federation have are specially designed to support and defend an assault. They perform much like a G-1 command center, so be prepared for a well defended opposition."
"Confirmed!" Came the simultaneous reply.
The group of customized Ayleshams raced to their target at top speed, prepared to barrel over anything they came across.
Meanwhile at the Chinese landing zone, colonel Chang Sao Lang of the Chinese Federation had been blessed in his good fortune. When the Britannian empire began to invade Egypt, the Chinese watched the battle like a hawk, waiting for the perfect time to sweep in an seize the area. They had prepared a force specifically set aside for the invasion of the new colony. Lang knew that Libyan reinforcements could arrive in approximately two hours, but by then, the settlement would be under his control.
The first mistake the Britannians made was allowing him to land here. The moment his carriers hit the shore the effectiveness of his assault increased tenfold. The Amphibious Assault Carrier, or AAC, acted like a mobile base, and was fully capable of proceeding on land. It was the pinnacle of aquatic invasion forces. It could house and protect nearly fifty Gun-Ru frames, as well as two platoons of foot soldiers and their supplies. And he had two of them sitting on Britannia's doorstep.
"Sir, we've detected Britannian knightmares heading toward us from the west." Lang heard his officer tell him.
"They appear to be outfitted to traverse deserts and are headed at 60mph sir. Estimated arrival in two minutes."
Lang grinned. Looks like he would have some fun after all. "How many?" He asked
"Nine total." Came the answer.
"Only nine?" He scoffed. "We outnumber them ten to one!" He laughed, thinking of the poor saps who were sent out here to most likely check what hit their shores.
"Send out an advance team to meet them!" His orders were followed and ten Gun-Rus were deployed and met the Knightmares head on a mile from the shoreline.
Lang's grin slowly slipped by when he saw his ten IFF signals disappear in mere seconds. "What the..." Glasgows were no match for Gun-Rus in adverse conditions like this; specially outfitted or not.
"Sir, the advance team reported the opposition are not using any known knightmare frame. It's a completely different model."
Indeed, the Aylesham was a far superior frame to anything they had to offer. At this point, Lelouch was confident any member of his team could take down an Alexander singlehandedly. They certainly had the experience.
"Deploy all forces! Do not allow those knightmares to reach the carriers!" Lang was not going to take any chances. Knightmares could prove to be quite destructive give the opportunity.
He watched his eighty Gun-Rus spill out of the carriers like a wave as the swarmed toward the Britannians. "They don't stand a chance!"
Lelouch and his team were heading for a straight collision with the swarm of Gun-Ru knightmares dead ahead of them, and Lelouch was prepared to meet them.
"Assume Delta formation!" He ordered. The Black Knights followed suit, their momentum propelling them forward. "Attack pattern three!" The group formed into the shape of a spearhead created by the formation seconds before they slammed into the front lines. Despite being surrounded and outnumbered, the superior Aylesham was a hard target for their bulky opposition to hit. Lelouch's team stated closely together as they pushed their way through the invasion force.
Lelouch grappled a Gun-Rub with his clawed hand, and with a great momentum forced it into a collision with the frame behind it before swinging himself into a low kick the toppled a third. One on one they stood no chance, but the Gun-Ru's had significant numbers advantage. One lucky hit would send one of them toppling over. At that rate, their support and defend would collapse. So Lelouch began to incorporate tactical maneuvers.
"Lucille, James." He called to his best pilots. "Forward march!"
Such a simple command was easily understood. At this point in time, the team had gotten used to Lelouch and his tactics. They had even begun to carry out orders before they were given. And in this case, the two teens surged forward with fierce animosity. Their sudden aggressive tactic caught the Chinese off guard, and the two of them pushed forward a good distance before the Gun-Rus began to slow them down.
Colonel Lang saw what occurred, as not wasting a second, ordered his forces to surround the solitary frames. Once the Chinese surrounded the two, James and Lucille were forced on the defensive.
Lelouch began to chuckle as he saw the Gun-Ru frames coagulate around the two. He sent them directly at the right, primary carrier. And the knightmares all gathered to the right to finish off the two he sent c leaving the left field open. He and the rest of his team swerved to the left an pushed their way through the thinned forces toward the second carrier.
Lang's face grew red as he saw the Britannians sweeping through his left flank. He ordered more pilots to the side but by the time they could move to intercept, the black knightmares had practically gotten right in front of the carrier. He watched as one of the frames readied a shoulder mounted missile, and protected by its allies, successfully launched it toward the carrier. It careened into the open bay of the carrier and exploded deep in the hull. Flames spewed from the front as the AAC collapsed on itself.
Lang stared at the billowing smoke and frantically ordered a retreat. "Protect the AAC at all costs!" Without their command center, the Gun-Rus were useless.
Lelouch's chuckle became full on laughter as he saw the invasion force pull back their attack. The moment they weren't being pinned down, Janes and Lucille lashed out at the knightmares surrounding them. In seconds they created a huge hole in the main body of their forces.
Lelouch and his group pressed down from the left side, meeting with Lucille and James as they cut down the remaining Gun-Rus as the they attempted to regroup in front of the carrier.
Colonel Lang watched in horror as the Ayleshams entered the carrier and began to wreak havoc below. His entire invasion force was destroyed by nine knightmares. He grit his teeth in frustration. "I refuse to be defeated in such a manner!"
Lang marched out of the bridge and toward the rear hangar. He passed by panicked officers and soldiers, he ignored them as he came to one of the knightmares that had not been deployed.
Lang had just activated the Gun-Ru when a black knightmare with red detailing burst through the hangar doors. Lang charged the Aylesham intending to run it down. Even without land spinners, the nimble frame sidestepped behind him, delivering a heavy swing to the back of his Gun-Ru.
Lang however, was quick to retaliate. He whipped around arm extended in an attempt to clothesline his foe, but the Aylesham made a quick lunge toward him, it planted its hand on the front of the Gun-Ru, and plowed it straight into the wall. Lang was pinned by the Knightmare as its claws began to pierce the metal framing.
"Who-who are you?!" He demanded, voice quivering.
"I am Lelouch Vi Britannia. Eleventh prince of the holy Britannian empire. And you are trespassing."
Before Lelouch could crush the Gun-Ru, Lang ejected from the frame. His pod broke through the carrier's hull, and sailed out into the sea. It would later be recovered by the few lifeboats that escaped. Sao Lang would live to tell of his humiliating defeat at the hands of Britannia. And with him carried a name. A name that spread throughout the Chinese Federation, and to the EU as well. A name that struck fear in the heart of Britannia's enemies. The name of the Black Prince.
At that time, Lelouch believed he could accomplish anything. But you can only go so high before you hit the sun.
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Lelouch let out a tired breath as he climbed the steps of Ashford. He had been up far too late last night. He was slightly relieved he could tone it down a bit. Perhaps work on some nice budgeting. Unfortunately, he was met by Milly before he even got inside, that was not relaxing in the slightest.
"Where have you been?" She demanded, marching right up to the Vice President. "It's been almost a week since you last came to school!"
Thats right. That all happened a week ago.
"Jeez. I know you're busy and all, but you have responsibilities here too you know." Milly huffed.
"Yeah, I do know." Lelouch replied.
Just then, Shirley made he way over to them looming for Milly. "Hey prez I was wondering if-" she stopped as she noticed Lelouch standing there. "Hey, I don't think we've met." She told him.
"Really? You and I are in the same class." Lelouch responded to her.
She frowned. "Are you sure? I don't remember." She shrugged. "Anyway, nevermind prez, I think I remember."
They watched Shirley head off into the building before Milly spoke again. "What was that about?" She asked.
"We had a fight a while ago." He told her,
"So she's pretending not to know you?"
"Yeah." Lelouch said, hiding his deep sadness. "Do you think you could play along? Just until she's done?" Lelouch asked.
"Yeah, I guess so. Will it take a while?" Milly replied.
"Yes. It could be a while."
Once Lelouch was inside and heading to his class, Lucille, who had been there the whole time, spoke up. "So it seems your pretty popular huh? What, got in a fight with a girl?" She said mockingly.
"I'm not in the mood." Came Lelouch's reply. His tone shut her up.
Lelouch sat down in his seat and Lucille took up a post behind him. She watched the class with a bored look, but a hint of curiosity. She was thrown into the cycle of guarding him at school with Anya Matt and Quinn, so she would start to come often.
Rivalz scooted his way up to Lelouch, and got close enough so no one else could hear. "Your new body guards pretty cool looking Lelouch." He commented.
"Rivalz, for your own safety, stay away." Lelouch warned him.
"Aw. Come on." Rivalz slinked away and left Lelouch to himself until class started.
Things were moving normally up until the teacher made another announcement. "Class, we have another new student today, her name is Kaguya Sumeragi."
Lelouch's jaw dropped. You have got to be kidding.
The girl introduced herself to the class, completely oblivious to the reactions of the other students.
There's no way she's even old enough to be in this class. How the hell did she get in here? What in the hell is she even doing here?!
Lelouch listened to the whispers often other students, most their remarks things he wouldn't repeat. He sighed, at least he could shut them up. Lelouch stood up, and the entire class went quiet. He calmly walked forward, all eyes were following him as he came face to face with Kaguya.
"Welcome to Ashford." Lelouch said. Like sheep, the rest of the class followed his lead. But before Lelouch slipped away, he leaned into the girls ear. "I will see you on the roof after school. Understand?"
Kaguya nodded her head in a cheerful way, before Lelouch went to sit back down.
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Lelouch took his time heading to the roof of the school. And once he finally did, he found Kaguya sitting alone looking around.
"I'll just be a moment." Lelouch told Lucille. She nodded, them went back to the door to the roof.
Lelouch approached Kaguya with a serious look on his face. "What are you doing here Kaguya?" He demanded rather than asked.
She turned to him, and smiled. "Oh, hi Lelouch. I guess you weren't told, Kyoto had a meeting, I'm assuming you know that the group isn't going to be around for long, so they all wanted to find a way to appeal to Zero, so he would save them."
Lelouch raised an eyebrow. Were they that desperate?
"Anyway, I came here to try to get some sort of information out of you, or something that. It was kirihara's idea to send me, since I could go to your school and all." Kaguya told him.
Lelouch frowned. "And why are you telling me this?"
"So I can help you! I mean, you should know that Kyoto is trying to spy on you. I mean, I guess it wouldn't matter since your Zero and all but-" she was cut off by Lelouch who was alarmed at what she said.
"Wait, what did you just say?" He asked In a dark tone.
"Oh, Kirihara told me. He thought it would be easier for me to help you that way."
Lelouch shut his eyes tightly, trying not to scream. So that's how it is. The old man wants to save his own skin huh? Thought he could offer me Kaguya as an asset? I already told him he would be safe. Why is he trying to butt in?
"I see." Lelouch let out a thick sigh. "If that's the case, perhaps you could be of some use. You can act as a middle man and direct orders to the Black Knights while I am absent." After giving it a thought, he decided it wouldn't be all that bad. Kaguya had a bigger head then she let on. He knew that from the first time he met her back seven years ago. He could give her an opportunity to prove herself.
"It goes without saying that you will not repeat anything to anyone. Remain silent and do only as I tell you to."
Kaguya gave a mock salute. "Sure thing Lulu!"
Lelouch closed his eyes. He didn't need another person calling him that. It didn't make it any better that the other happened to be Shirley.
He shook his head as he turned to leave. He decided to later get a number to contact her. At least she could be another line of communication for him. One less place he would have to be in at once.
"What was that about?" Lucille asked as she caught up with Lelouch.
"The Sumeragi house is one of the six belonging to Kyoto." Lelouch started. Lucille nodded. "Right."
"Kaguya was sent here by Kyoto to spy on me, but she was intercepted by Kirihara, who also leads Kyoto. I have good relations with Kirihara from when I spent time in Japan. Through him, I will clear out the other houses of Kyoto in return for his, and apparently Kaguya's, amnesty upon Kyoto's inevitable fall." Lelouch explained.
"Huh, I see." Lucille said. "Kyoto backs multiple resistance groups, including the Black Knights. When it goes up in flames, it will just be a game of hungry hippos to grab what you can."
Lelouch tilted his head. "I guess so. That's an...interesting analogy."
Lelouch heard quick steps coming from behind him, and he turned to see that Suzaku was chasing after him. Lelouch slowed to a stop and allowed Suzaku to approach him. "Hey, Suzaku. What's the matter?" Lelouch asked.
"Oh, I just wanted to talk to you." Suzaku told him. Lelouch could tell that it wasn't just idle conversation. Something was seriously bothering him. He glanced at Lucille who was standing behind him. "Would you mind letting us talk a bit?"
Lucille frowned. "You know it's kind of hard to guard you if you keep shooing me off like that."
"There's no need to worry about Suzaku here. Besides, I can take care of myself." Lelouch insisted.
"Whatever." Lucille said, then walked off to give the two privacy. Once she was further down the hall, Lelouch turned back to Suzaku. "So what's up?"
Suzaku looked down, silent for a moment. "I just wanted to apologize to you. All I've done is fail this whole time. And it cost you dearly. I let Cornelia be captured, and Euphy could have been hurt when she ran off that time. I-"
Lelouch cut him off. "Suzaku, there's no need to apologize. I heard what happened to the Lancelot. And we found the technician responsible. It won't happen again."
Suzaku looked visibly better, like a weight was lifted. Lelouch continued. "And don't worry about Euphy. She has a mind of her own, it's a little hard to keep her safe, but she'll be fine. Though, I am worried, that something might happen. Zero just may try to target her." Although Lelouch didn't want to use Euphy, that didn't mean other Black Knights may see it that way. Deithard, although a brilliant man, attempted to have Suzaku killed against his will.
"Actually..." An idea sprouted in Lelouch's head. The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. "Suzaku. Would you become Euphiemia's knight?"
Suzaku froze. "W-what?"
"I trust you to protect her with your very being. And I know and I can count on you to keep her safe. You would be a great help Suzaku. Euphy speaks fondly of you. I'm site she would be happy to agree."
"But, I'm an eleven! I can't be someone's personal knight!" Suzaku protested.
"There's no reason not. I can insure it happens. I'll find some way to allow you a chance to prove yourself to the nobles. They will have no choice when I declare you her knight."
"But..." Suzaku tried.
"Please. I know it would make her happy."
Suzaku stopped at that. He nodded. "Okay. I will do whatever you need. I would gladly accept."
Lelouch smiled. "Good. I will discuss it with Euphy later. Don't worry, it'll work out. I'm sure of it."
"Alright. I will serve her until my dying breath."
I'm sure you will Suzaku.
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Lelouch entered though the doors dressed in the attire of Zero. He was greeted by the single guard stationed down in this hall.
"I would like you to disable the cameras while I speak with her." Zero told the guard. He gave a nod in understanding as Zero entered the cell.
It's inmate sat still on a couch, she stares at him as he sat down in front of her, the doors closed and Lelouch waited till he saw the light on the cameras turn off. He reached for his mask and removed it.
"In the time since the battle of Narita, there have been no major military engagements. Britannia has nearly dissolved Kyoto, who is assumed to support the Black Knights, Darlton and the Glaston Knights were removed from service upon their failure of Narita. I have been appointed Viceroy of area eleven, and Euphiemia had become the sub-viceroy. Suzaku Kururugi is to soon be appointed her knight. Rest assured, I have every intention of protecting Euphy. I will not hurt her. I trust Suzaku more then any of those faceless names." Lelouch finished his report and Cornellia just stared at him.
"Why are you doing this?" She asked in a whisper.
"I believe you should know what's going on. I would hate to leave you out of the loop." Lelouch replied.
Cornellia shook her head. "No. You know what I mean Lelouch."
Lelouch looked down closing his eyes. "Yes. I do." He looked up at Cornellia. "This world is stagnate. It is cruel and uncaring, and it refuses to change."
"Lelouch, you have more then a claim to the throne, you very well could surpass I or even Schneizel. You have no reason to do this!"
Lelouch shook his head. "You do not understand. The throne of Britannia means nothing. There is no way to change what lies my father had ingrained into the heart of Britannia. A world where the strong devour the weak. Our father believes that those who cannot defend themselves are worth nothing! Such a world is one that I refuse to accept!" Lelouch stood up, his pent up rage was beginning to show. "Such a world is one that people like Nunnally and Euphy cannot survive in. By protecting them we already go against the very nature of our father's world. You love her do you not? In his world she would be cast aside! To father she is weak! He doesn't care about her, or any of us! And he certainly didn't care about my mother."
Lelouch turned away from Cornellia, hi back facing her. "I will protect them. I will destroy our father's world and in its place, a world where the strong protect the weak. It will be a place where no one calls themselves superior over another, where Britannia sweeps across the world, ripping others of their very freedom as human beings. A world where Nunnally can be happy."
Cornellia stood as well, she had a few things to say. "Nunnally would never have wanted this, and neither would Euphy. Such a path you are taking is not the answer!"
"And what of you?! Would you continue conquering the world to please the emperor? What good would that do? And it certainly isn't any different." Lelouch retorted, now facing Cornellia directly.
"Perhaps. Just know, if you continue, you might find yourself forgetting what Nunnally even looks like."
"Nunnally has not seen my face in seven years. I do not need to remember her face to know I love her." Lelouch turned again, and began making his way to the door.
"Just watch me Cornellia. In my right hand, I will command Britannia. In my left I'll direct the Black knights. I will take this world...and reforge it."
He replaced his mask as the door opened for him. "And whether it is you, Clovis, or even Schneizel, I will remove anything that stands in my way."
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