Code IVANO: Omni Rising
Disclaimer:
I don't own the rights to anything related to the anime: Code Geass
The rights to it belong to…other people…
I do (for what it is worth) own myself…maybe…
Chapter 12: Action!
-August 22nd, 2018 (Monday)-
-Africa, Fasa City Black Knights Base-
"Scar was killed."
The Empress closed her eyes and quietly repeated the sentence. A sense of failure washed over her as she wondered how the event played out. "Was Ridley responsible?"
Cornelia shook her head. The transmission screen flickered as she answered: "Ridley showed up to kill him… but decided against it and offered Scar to me in exchange for leaving him alone."
Samantha let out an annoyed scoff. Zero took a step forward.
"Then another assassin got to him?"
Cornelia folded her arms and let out a sigh. "One of his concubines shot him and fled. From the information the other concubines provided… you could say that she was a wolf hiding amongst sheep."
"Waiting to take a bite out of the shepherd."
Cornelia gave Samantha a nod and small smile to show appreciation for her completing the metaphor. "The other concubines described her relationship with Scar as one-way: she talked and Scar listened. Scar never called her by a formal name and she never gave him one, but the girls took to calling her 'Spice' due to how she always bossed Scar around. The concubines said that she showed up about two months ago but only started to stick around Scar's mansion about two weeks ago."
"Do any of the concubines know what she was doing there?"
Cornelia shrugged her shoulders as she set her eyes on Zero. "They said that she would always tell Scar to do things. We did learn something interesting: Spice was the one who told Scar to start the riot that occurred not too long ago."
The Empress opened her eyes. "So it is safe to assume that she is connected to these Grand Knights Scar preached about."
Cornelia nodded.
"This is fortunate. Have you managed to find any trace of this 'Spice' person?"
Cornelia folded her arms and the look on her face signaled that bad news was all she was about to reveal.
"So far… No… the woman is practically a ghost… She…" Her words trailed off as a quiet voice from behind her called her name. Cornelia turned to look at the Cell Leader of Fasa City.
"Colonel? What is it?"
"Um… Lord Zuma wishes to speak with you and the Empress…"
Cornelia cocked an eyebrow at this and a frown crinkled her features. "Why?"
"He said that he has information concerning Spice and the people she and Scar worked for." Cornelia let out a quiet scoff and her eyes narrowed ever so slightly upon the Colonel. The younger woman looked away from her superior. Her gaze was beginning to weigh too heavily upon her conscience.
"…Hold on…"
Cornelia let out a quiet sigh before turning back to the screen behind her.
"Zuma of Fasa City would like to speak with you, Your Majesty. He has informed the Cell Leader that he has some information concerning Scar and his assassin. What would you like me to do?"
The Empress cocked an eyebrow at this. "Lord Zuma? I would very much like to hear what he wishes to say." Cornelia gave the young Empress a swift nod before ordering that Zuma be let in. She stared at a door from over her shoulder, waiting for the father of Ridley to waltz in, but-
"How long has it been since I last saw you, Miss Cornelia?"
The aforementioned woman, stifling the surprise she felt so that none registered upon her face, returned her attention to the communication screen in front of her. It had been split in two: on the right stood Nunnally and her two most trusted subordinates, whilst Zuma sat in a recliner to the left, his back hunched as he rested is chin on his hands, supported by his golden tipped cane. His blood red eyes bored into her amethyst ones and, for a brief moment, the scent of rain and dirt brushed against her nose as the day of Ridley's capture temporarily took her thoughts hostage.
He straightened himself and lightly gripped the arms of his recliner, his eyes never leaving the purple-haired woman. "Close to seven years, correct?" Knowing the woman would not answer him, he casually and immediately shifted his attention to Empress Nunnally. He gave her a slight bow. "I apologize. Good afternoon, Your Majesty."
"Good morning, Lord Zuma. Commander Cornelia has informed me that you have information that might interest me. Is this true?"
"If part of your interest includes information pertaining to that foolish boy Ridley wished to kill, then yes." Zuma let out a quiet sigh before continuing, "That woman who killed Scar, as you no doubt have learned, might as well be a ghost. You won't find any records of her; neither will you find any acknowledgers of her existence outside of Scar's band of vagabonds and those who frequently associate with him. Ever since that council of stiff-necked fools decided to put him in power, I have kept an eye on Scar and the unsavory characters he does business with…"
His image shrunk and sat neatly in the corner of his part of the screen whilst a larger image appeared. The picture had been taken on an airfield (something easily ascertained by glancing at the plane sitting prominently in its background) and approximately twenty people were in it.
Only three were important.
A dark skinned man gently held the hand of a fair skinned woman -apparently kissing it- whilst the woman leaned against a man dressed in a white suit and wearing gold-lensed sunglasses. His short brown hair was slicked back and a smug grin was on his face.
Cornelia narrowed her eyes and leaned forward a bit so that she may get a better look at a familiar woman in the picture.
"…She looks like… Guinevere?"
There was no mistaking it.
Gray-purplish hair… Tattoo on her left breast…
"It would appear so." Nunnally let out a disheartened sigh.
"Scar met with the man and woman you see in this picture about two weeks ago. You already know the woman. The man is someone I assume your Knight of One knows about."
"Jason Winnfield: a small time party boy with a big time ego." Samantha folded her arms as her eyes narrowed on the image. "I was always tasked with dragging his hide to the station back when I was a cop… What a joke… He would be in jail right now if his parents were not filthy rich."
"You ran into him often?"
Samantha glanced at Zero. "Yes. He always causes a disturbance whenever he throws his parties and anime conventions." The Knight of One shook her head. "He's obsessed with Japanese cartoons… he even goes by the handle 'Wind Scar' whenever he pretends to be a big boy."
"Wind Scar?" Zero chuckled.
The Empress –desiring a point to all of this and not understanding the reference- spoke up. "Lord Zuma. What does this have to do with the woman who killed Scar?"
"Scar and Winnfield have been doing business with each other during the past two months. That woman -Spice- appears at the former mansion of Scar every time Winnfield comes to visit. She also disappears around the same time Winnfield leaves."
"When does he-"
"You are too late. He left two hours after that woman killed Scar."
Cornelia -stifling the irritation she felt- narrowed her eyes on the elderly man. "Perfect."
Zuma scoffed before his lips curled into something akin to a smirk. "I must admit… I have never seen a reason to keep a close eye on Winnfield. I have no idea what he and Scar met about or where that woman is. She may or may not even have a relationship with the Britannians you have identified… however… With Scar dead… those Britannians are your only leads to finding his killer…"
"I understand. Thank you."
Zuma gave the Empress a nod and looked to his side.
"Lord Zuma."
The elderly man raised his hand. "Stop." He returned his gaze to the young Empress. "Your Majesty?"
"We have met before… You have been very helpful in placing the Black Knights into Fasa City as a legitimate force… all of this despite the previous actions of my father and brother."
"I am well aware of what I have done for you." There was no bitterness. He held no grudge against the girl or the empire she led.
"Yet… you never mentioned Ridley…" Her eyes narrowed. "Commander li Britannia and Commander Auron both confirm the fact that you are the father of Ridley. Even if this is untrue… they have both provided me with evidence that you are deeply connected to our previous prisoner of war… Why did you not mention him?"
She had a feeling what his answer would be. Zuma reminded her of her father. He would have regarded Ridley as useless following his defeat at the hands of Cornelia. The answer to the question did not interest her.
She merely asked it so that she may test her ability to read people.
Zuma, his usually stern face brightening with mild amusement, was unfazed by the suspicious glares Cornelia and Samantha (presumably Zero as well) were giving him. "Why should I have mentioned him? You mistake me for a father." The amusement left and he folded his arms across his chest. "Ridley had chosen to wage his little war with Britannia against my wishes. This was after he…" His words trailed off and his features saddened ever so slightly.
"…Ridley made his choice… I saw no reason to plead with your father to return that foolish son of mine to me…"
"You would let your son go to his death?"
Zuma closed his eyes and raised one of his hands to pinch the bridge of his nose. It seemed as though the topic was striking a sympathetic cord within the man… but the Empress could not help viewing the ever increasing gap of silence as… odd… Zuma did not appear to be the type of man to let such a young girl bring out such an 'embarrassing' feeling as sadness in him…
He lowered his hand and opened his eyes after about ten seconds.
"Ridley made his choice. He needed to…" Zuma let out a quiet chuckle as he realized the irony of what he was about to say. "…live with the consequences of his actions… Besides…"
The Empress cocked an eyebrow. Zuma had brightened.
"…I had faith that that brat of mine would one day make good on his promise to kill me…"
The Empress felt a chill run up her spine… Another child wishing to dispose of his father… perhaps Ridley too wished to make the world a better place for someone he loved dearly…
"I assume that is all."
"…Yes…" Her response had come out slowly, her mind still taken hostage by thoughts of her brother and the similarities he shares with Ridley. "I thank you for your time."
He gave her a nod. "End transmission."
With that, he was gone and his half of the screen turned blue before being consumed by the Empress's half. The young Empress let out a sigh before setting her eyes on Cornelia. "I would like you to continue to gather information for the next three days. You may leave Fasa City after that unless you see reason to stay there longer."
"I understand… what about Ridley?"
"Leave him alone." The Empress glanced at Samantha, effectively stifling the comment the older woman was about to utter. "I am aware of his past actions… but I find it rather strange that no one was killed during his escape… I would like to give him a break until he starts to cause significant trouble."
"Understood." Cornelia sounded disappointed. "Is that all?"
"Yes. You are dismissed."
Cornelia bowed before saluting. "Your Majesty."
-August 22nd, 2018 (Tuesday)-
-Britannia, the Imperial Palace-
The young Empress let out a quiet yawn once the communication screen turned blue. "I wish our time zones were not hours apart. It would make communication less tiresome." Zero chuckled at this and went to grip the back handles of her wheelchair.
"Let me escort you to your room."
She nodded and contently sat in her chair as it moved without her input. As Zero pulled her back so that he may have more room to turn her around, Nunnally noticed that Samantha was staring solemnly at the floor. After signaling her subordinate to cease his movements, Nunnally called out to the older woman.
"Commander Auron. Is there something wrong?"
"Yes!" The older woman shrunk back when she realized how upset she sounded. "…I apologize… I just… Ridley…"
"…He has brought you great distress… He has hurt someone dear to you…"
Samantha looked away, regaining her composure, and folded her arms. "He is a dangerous man… a monster…My mother… I saw him kill my father when I was …" Her arms unfolded and secured themselves by her sides.
"That man is not human. We need to kill him."
Nunnally could not help but agree… There was something supernatural about Ridley… something beyond even Geass…
"Commander Auron… I must ask you to bear with me…" The Empress paused. She needed to choose her words carefully.
Samantha could remain loyal… or their relationship could be strained beyond repair…
"...You are sure that Ridley killed your father?"
"I saw it with my own eyes… He killed my father in cold blood while I was visiting a house he had rented in Africa… It was during the middle half -I think- of the Reaver War… I saw him turn into some… some sort demon! We need to kill him! What if-"
Her breathing became shaky and she gently grasped her neck. Zero moved to help the woman, but a low growl and glare from her made him reconsider. She closed her eyes and gripped her neck a bit tighter. Her lips moved… yet no sound left…
A second or so later, her breathing stabilized and she righted herself.
"I apologize for… that… but I stand by what I said. Ridley needs to die. He will go on to hurt people should he be allowed to roam free."
"I understand. However, we have missed our chance to kill him with impunity. He is now among people who view him as a war hero. Those people will not be pleased if we try to assassinate or recapture him."
"I see… yes…"
Her compliance was increasing. Her loyalty to the crown was returning in full force.
"Ridley will not escape punishment for the evil he has done… but do you not wish for him to be punished in a more honorable -and humiliating- way than assassination?"
Samantha simply nodded her head. She then laughed and brushed back a strand of her hair. Nunnally smiled at her, glad that the woman was now in a better mood. "I'll be here all week."
Samantha's laughter died down to a chuckle. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty. It's just that you remind me of my adopted son. He's always talking sense into."
"I am glad that you have some like that so close to you."
"Yeah… although it kinda feels like he's so far away…"
-Britannia, the Imperial Palace (C2's Room)-
The immortal woman let out a sigh as she watched TV from the comfort of her bed. The story was about some archaeological find in Japan. An old Knightmare Frame had been found in some ancient ruins. It was odd. The Knightmare Frame looked brand new (despite all of the dirt marring its features).
"I wonder if Charles had been…" A familiar presence prompted her to let out another sigh. "You should knock… I value my privacy…"
C2 looked to her right. Standing there was a familiar man. He says something.
"As I said… I value my privacy… pleasantries aside… What do you want?"
A small smile formed on her lips as he relayed some amusing information to her.
"Really? When might I meet this boy? Shall I curse him as I have done to so many?"
Her smile died when realized what she had said. The man spoke again. C2 brightened.
"Good. Will he be able to stop whatever it is you said is coming?"
C2 frowned at the answer she received.
"How unfortunate. Will there be a way to fix all of this? Or is Britannia destined to remain in pieces? I assume the military will turn against Nunnally."
C2 sighed after the man finished speaking.
"Is there any hope? Is there a way we can stop these forces from gaining ground?"
A smile played on her lips after she received a satisfying answer.
"Do tell."
Her smile lessened and a frown appeared. "A demon from her past?"
A chuckle filled the room as the man turned to leave. Her eyes widened not two seconds after she had asked her question.
She knew who the man was talking about… but he was gone by then…
"How could he… Lelouch…"
-August 22nd, 2018 (Tuesday)-
-Japan, Kallen Kozuki's Home-
Her mother had decided to move out and purchase a home… just for the two of them…
It was a modest house… nothing extraordinary about it… but it was their house.
Kallen smiled as she stared at her reflection.
She was dressed for school, though she had decided to try something different. For the past few weeks, she had been wearing her hair in the spikes she usually wore as a Black Knight. It was a good look, and she had decided that it was time to stop hiding behind her sickly façade.
The key to the Guren was hung around her neck. She gently gripped it before exiting her room.
Her mother was waiting for her in the kitchen. She had prepared a modest breakfast for the two of them. After finishing her portion and kissing her mother goodbye, Kallen headed off to school.
Things were different.
There was tension… but there was a sense of peace…
-Japan, Ashford Academy-
"Kaaaaaalllllllleeeeeeennnn!"
The Guren pilot turned to her left and smiled as a familiar girl approached her. Dressed in the same uniform as Kallen, this girl had long light purple hair and reddish-brown eyes.
"Meeya. Good morning."
"You too. Hey! Did you hear?"
Kallen tilted her head to the side. Meeya continued upon seeing this. "About the new teacher? The one that they hired to teach Japanese?"
"Yeah?"
Where was this going?
"Well, I heard he's a total babe!"
It all makes sense now. Kallen let out an amused scoff before waving her right hand and leaving. Meeya pouted at this and followed Kallen. "You should stay away from older guys… especially teachers…"
"Yeah… I guess… but… but I am a young and independent woman! I deserve a good-looking and successful guy… One who will take care of me… ya know?"
Kallen laughed at Meeya's dramatic proclamation, earning her a playfully punch in the shoulder. The girls' laughter died down upon seeing a young man, one of their classmates.
Golden shoulder length hair… fair white skin… emerald colored eyes… timid looks.
"Tyler?"
The boy turned to face his classmates, somewhat startled by Meeya's voice. He gently gripped his left arm, his eyes shifting to the ground. "Hey guys." His voice was quiet.
The girls exchanged glances before approaching him. He flinched when Kallen reached out to him. "Hey. How are you holding up?" He nodded and gently pulled himself away from her grip.
"Good… I still have nightmares… but I… better… I guess."
"Good." Kallen nodded and tried to smile. "If you need anyone to talk to…"
"Yeah. We're here for you, Tyler." Meeya chimed in, placing a hand on Kallen's shoulder.
He simply nodded before walking away. The mood had darkened.
That sense of peace was waning.
-iIi-
The last class of the day: Japanese.
Kallen laughed as Meeya took a seat at the desk next to her. The girl was excited to see if what she heard was true. "Oh! I bet he is smoking hot!"
Other students poured into the room, taking their seats before the final bell rang. Seconds passed and the bell finally rang. The teacher had yet to show up. The students talked amongst themselves.
"Hmph!" Meeya turned to Kallen. "I wonder where he could be." Her eyes wandered the room.
It was barren… devoid of personal artifacts…
Her ears perked up upon hearing the familiar sound of an opening door.
A man entered the room.
He looked young -perhaps in his late twenties- and his fair skin appeared to glow beneath the sunlight. He wore a black haori with golden linings over what Kallen believed to be the upper portion of a sleeveless (since his arms were completely exposed) yukata of the same colors. He wore black slacks -held up by a black belt with a golden lion buckle- and boots with golden leg-guards. Upon his hands were black and fingerless gloves with golden hand-guards. Hooked to his belt –unnoticed due to how he stood- was a katana lying comfortably in a black sheath.
"Hello… class…"
Such a deep and powerful voice…
He glanced at the students, brushing back his raven colored hair. The action allowed everyone a clearer view of his heart-shaped face, subtly stern looks, and hazel colored eyes. The sight of the latter nearly caused Meeya and a few other girls to squeal.
"I apologize for being late. I was preoccupied."
He unhooked his katana and placed it on his desk. He then turned to the whiteboard behind him, revealing the golden stylized wings on the back of his haori. "My name is Genesis."
"Like the band?" A student quietly quipped, earning some grins and giggles from their classmates. Genesis casually glanced at the offending student. The giggles died and the student fell silent. They glanced away and squirmed beneath the weight of his attention.
Genesis cocked an eyebrow at this before sighing and offering a smile.
"Yes… like the band…" He returned his attention to the board and wrote his name.
Meeya looked at Kallen and mouthed the words 'total babe'. The young Black Knight merely shook her head and chuckled. She frowned and watched the man intently as he continued to write something in kanji. It was a sentence.
"Nemroad? He was the… first to be…" She closed her eyes as though such an act would allow her better access to her private lessons on kanji. "A strong man? Ugh." Her memory failed her and the rest of the sentence remained a mystery.
The only part she clearly understood was its end (Genesis 10:8-9).
"Is he Japanese -natural born- or some Britannian who just did a lot of studying?"
He stopped writing, recapping the marker he had used and setting back upon its silver perch, before turning to face the class again. "Yes?"
He looked at Meeya, her hand having been raised for some time now. She blushed, feeling her heart flutter as Genesis set eyes upon her. "Um… so… Since you're teaching us Japanese, does that mean we should call you Genesis-sensei?"
"Oh boy…" Kallen sighed.
The older man smiled warmly at her, causing her blush to intensify, before chuckling. "I suppose you should. I am glad you are at least somewhat familiar with honorifics." He went on to briefly explain the complexity of the Japanese, such as the different levels of respect and words specific to those levels.
"We will learn about all of this in due time. We will start off slow. Though some of you will be graduating at the end of the school year, I hope you will find time to continue your studies of the Japanese language."
With that, he turned to the board and circled one of the kanji.
"Mighty"
-August 22nd, 2018 (Tuesday)-
-Phone Chat-
Three rings. Someone answers.
"Hello?"
The noises of traffic and chatting people can be heard in the background.
"Hey. I just got back from my trip."
"How did everything go?"
"Everything went fine. Me and big brother got into a fight with some people."
"I see. Are you okay? Did your brother get hurt?"
"Yeah, I'm fine… but my brother was hurt because of me…"
"I see. I'm sure you did your best, so don't blame yourself.
"I know… but it was my fault he ended up getting hurt…"
"He'll be fine. In fact, he visited me not too long ago. He's looking very healthy."
"Was he mad at me? I was scared to talk to him on the flight back home."
"He was mildly upset, but he admitted to being foolishly impulsive and blamed himself in the end."
"At least everything's turning out well."
"Yes. Well, I'll call you later... Maybe around 5 plus 5… Bye."
"Alright, bye."
-Author Notes-
Guinevere su Britannia
Jason Winnfield
Meeya I. Hillmick
Tyler Isaac Supreme
Britannia AM (Texas) – Africa PM (Egypt) (7 hour Difference)
Britannia AM (Texas) – Africa PM (Egypt) (14 hour Difference)