Might as well post this now... and hopefully, I didn't miss any errors. End up typing up different parts of this chapter at diff order so some parts may not flow proper.
Chapter 10.501: Carpe Noctem
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"Kallen!" Kaguya cried out as she greeted the red-haired girl once she got out of Gareth's cockpit.
"Kaguya-san..." Kallen called out in return.
Kaguya held her hands before smiling widely. "I knew it! You're still alive!" she exclaimed at Kallen before looking up towards the Gareth that Kallen piloted earlier. Her face fell as it didn't look as if anyone else would be coming out from the Knightmare.
"Zero-sama... wasn't with you?" she asked as Kallen shook her head.
"No, he's not. But he's alive." Kallen added, to Kaguya's relief.
"Thank goodness!" said Kaguya again before pausing. "You have no idea what's been going on just now. The battlefield ended up so confusing—"
"About that, Kaguya..." Kaguya stared at Kallen in confusion. "It's too long to explain at the moment, but I need you and everyone else to trust me and Zero right now. I can't stay long," said Kallen as they turned around to see Toudou approaching them, alongside Jeremiah Gottwald.
xxx
Lelouch paced around in front of the desk as he counted the minutes. So far, aside from one stray Knight of Round, the rest of the ground troops and others from the Rounds has accepted his orders without question. And while he hasn't heard from the small squad that accompanied him from Pendragon after their deployment, he trusted that Jeremiah could keep them in line.
He sighed.
So far so good. But with the return of the troops, that would also mean that Avalon would also be returning back. In which another confrontation with Schneizel would be inevitable.
Lelouch thought about the last time he saw Schneizel. He wondered if this time, he could actually ally himself with his older brother. But then he thought about how Schneizel decided on putting up the ultimatum which led to the earlier battle; that could have costed his, Nunnally and numerous others' innocent lives in the process. That odd explosion earlier, in which it looked like some kind of a nuclear blast; where even its aftershocks—its collapse field would have caused even more damage to anything that the field touched. It didn't look as if Schneizel was beneath taking drastic measures that would involve the death of many innocents.
Would that be his fault? Did the shock of seeing Euphie change drastically to have caused a massacre—that was unlike her—made his older brother losing his empathy and no longer caring about his own set of morality anymore?
No, Lelouch shook his head. That's like saying his own sins for taking so many lives in the process of pursuing his personal goals could be blamed on someone else. Just because he himself has suffered enough trauma to make him choose to become a demon. No, regardless of everything... the consequences of one's actions would still be attributed to one's choice. No matter what kind of past one experienced that may influence the choices they made throughout their lives, it wouldn't absolve any of the sins they committed.
No doubt that a prototype of that bomb has been mounted on the Lancelot—Suzaku was probably the only one who could've set that off. If he thought such action was necessary, given his Geass order. Yet it didn't look as if the weapon was already perfected or tuned. But the fact that Schneizel actually allowed such weapon to be produced, meaning that it would still be too soon for him to fully trust Schneizel to become an ally.
As much as Lelouch was an unpredictable variable to any plans that Schneizel would have had in store, the opposite could also be considered to be true. And compared to him, Schneizel would have been an even more terrible opponent to face. Such opponent was not someone that he should carelessly let loose among his ranks.
He could hear sounds of hurried footsteps against the tiled floors coming towards his direction. That should be them...
xxx
"Lelouch!" Cornelia exclaimed as Schneizel sighed.
"As I thought, it WAS you. Though I did not expect that you'd be so daring as to openly take over the command of this place and act as the Viceroy yourself!"
Lelouch chuckled, before turning around from his desk... almost with a swagger. He grinned as he smiled towards his older siblings; Schneizel and Cornelia.
"Heh! And I thought the first thing you would say to me would be of how 'happy' you were to see me alive." Lelouch shrugged, before circling the desk to sit on the Viceroy's chair. "Well... to answer your earlier inquiry, isn't that a given fact? If I'm confident enough to be able to take over the Viceroy's role from Nunnally, don't you think I wouldn't exercise my rights to give orders as one?"
Schneizel raised a brow at him.
Lelouch turned his chair around—oh, he really loved these swivel chairs. They always add to the dramatics—as he gave Schneizel a patronizing look. "I'm surprised that you didn't question it at all on the fact that I'm the one who gave the order for the military to retreat. Rather than having Nunnally do it for me."
"Should I?" Schneizel asked. "Considering you had that power of yours, it wouldn't be too hard for you to get everyone under your command."
Lelouch snorted at him. "I'm flattered that you'd think so highly of my Geass ability... even if your assumption fell too short from the truth. Perhaps it was a grace that the one who received this power was me, instead of you. Who knows what disaster if you're the one left unchecked with this power..."
Lelouch took a small case that was placed on the side of his desk before dropping it onto the desk. He started unlocking the case before turning it around so that both of his older siblings could see it. He sighed. "I wished that I don't have to take this out... but I might as well show this to you—"
He opened the case widely to reveal to them a royal sceptre placed inside it. Lelouch set the case aside before taking out the sceptre in his hand and twirled it around in front of him. He gave a brief glance towards Nunnally, silently hoping for her forgiveness as he ignored her presence again for a bit more. Lelouch glanced back towards his elder siblings.
"Even if I said nothing about this, the two of you should be able to understand what this means, right? So if I say that I'm taking over this place as the new Viceroy—or at least a temporary one for now—none of you would have any right to object."
Schneizel frowned at the royal sceptre as Lelouch let out an amused smile.
"Are you doubting the fact that this sceptre was a real one? But sorry to disappoint you but this sceptre is quite legit." Lelouch gave Schneizel a challenging look. "I'm sure you can figure out yourself as to who gave me this sceptre. Since obviously that someone knew that you wouldn't listen to me if I didn't have this."
Schneizel let out a cry of disbelief. "Nonsense! That man no longer has any interest in the matters of this world. I'm sure that you acquired the sceptre as well as the Emperor's flagship by some use of trickery. In the same way that you managed to have the two Knights of the Rounds to help you."
Lelouch sighed again. "Again I'm baffled as to your assumption that my abilities would just be limited to the use of my Geass. Is it that hard to consider that perhaps I have succeeded in achieving something that you yourself cannot do?"
Schneizel snorted. "And that would be?"
Lelouch shrugged. But then he stood up, using the desk as his support before walking out towards the other side of the desk and leaning against it. "Convincing our father to start caring again about the matters of the state. To be fair, even I was surprised that my words could actually reach him. After everything he did to me, I never thought that he still cared about me. Or Nunnally, in any case."
He glanced again towards Schneizel as his brother remained sceptical. Lelouch turned his glance towards Nunnally before sighing. "Honestly, the way that man showed his affections to his favoured children was unbelievable."
Lelouch smiled weakly before sighing.
"Still, don't you think that this arrangement would be the most appropriate? For Japan that was renamed Area 11, wouldn't the eleventh prince be the most suitable person to take care of her?"
xxx
Something must've happened. To think that not just the Knight of Six, Anya... but even the Knight of One would side with the Black Knights! And the recall order, he didn't think that Lord Schneizel would call them back just when the possibility of victory for their side was about to come close! For the past few months, he worked tirelessly to quell down the rebelling forces and managed to apprehend a lot of the Orders' as well as other minor terrorist groups key members that continued fighting against Britannia and put them into custody. So it wouldn't make sense if they were to backtrack now when the end was...
Also, that Anya... he was aware that she's quite fast, but he didn't expect that her Mordred was able to divert his FLEIJA from its target and sent it to the sky at the last second. But because of that, the collateral damage from the resulting explosion was far minimal than he could have imagined. That aside, what did that Jeremiah do to him earlier? When that Knightmare of his rammed into him after his FLEIJA bomb was released, he couldn't help feeling a strange tingling in his eyes. And afterwards, he realized his battle reactions was a lot duller than before and taking on Anya and Mordred (not to mention Toudou-sensei) proved to be a lot trickier.
And interesting enough, he wasn't pursued when he retreated from battle to return to the palace. Would that mean that they were aware of something he didn't?
When he returned to the Viceroy's Palace, he could see that the Avalon has already returned. And he could catch a glimpse of the now repaired Imperial Courtyard where Lelouch and Kallen were last seen before they disappeared. Those disappearances... still bothered him until now. While again the situation was similar to what happened prior with Lelouch, there were no signs of either of them returning to battle after that incident. So whether the two of them were dead or alive, nothing was confirmed of their fates. And having that kind of uncertainty... made him a bit wary.
He rushed towards the Viceroy's office since that should be where the one who gave the retreat order would be. So many questions that clouded his mind right now, and as the one who could answer those questions...
"—wouldn't the eleventh prince be the most suitable person to take charge of her?"
That wariness that he kept feeling earlier... proved to be correct as he arrived at the Viceroy's office. He wasted no time in making his presence known.
xxx
"Lelouch!"
He couldn't believe his eyes and ears. When he approached the office, he thought that he was imagining it that he heard Lelouch's voice. But when he stepped in, true enough, it was definitely Lelouch sitting at the Viceroy's desk. Lady Cornelia and Lord Schneizel were already inside... as well as Nunnally. But what vexed him more, was why they did nothing to haul Lelouch's ass out of the room?
"Heh!" Lelouch let out a loud groan. "Here comes another annoyance..."
Suzaku glared towards the person. What the hell?
Lelouch glanced towards him idly before looking away, seemingly uninterested in his presence. He turned his attention towards Schneizel before speaking again. "Then, if you're done already brother... shouldn't you dismiss yourself from my presence already? I don't think the prime minister would have any more business in this area, now that I'm here to take care of things."
Schneizel let out a dissatisfied grunt before walking out of the room. But before Schneizel could leave, Lelouch spoke again.
"Wait."
Lelouch turned back towards the Viceroy's desk before turning on the intercoms. A man answered the call as Lelouch announced himself. "Send someone here to escort the Prime Minister out and put him into custody until further notice. Also, find Kanon Maldini and do the same to that man."
"Are you worried, Lelouch?"
Lelouch turned around to face his brother as he shook his head. "No. But I also wouldn't want you to interfere with the things that I'm intending to do. Don't think for once that I'd drop my guards on you."
Schneizel let out a grunt before two security officers walked in and led the man out of the room. As those men left the office, Suzaku walked closer towards Lelouch to get his attention.
"What're you planning, Lelouch? "
Lelouch turned his attention towards him. "It's none of your business," he said before looking away again. Suzaku frowned. For some reason, the way Lelouch was ignoring him was bugging him a lot. How could he, after disappearing for quite some time? And acting so high and mighty now after he returned. Without thinking, Suzaku grabbed Lelouch's neck in a choke-hold with one hand... not letting him walk away. Unable to release himself from his grip, Lelouch could only do much to get himself free.
"Kururugi!" cried Cornelia as he paid her no mind. Why did they allow Lelouch to remain here for too long anyway?
"Unhand me, you brute!" gasped Lelouch as Suzaku kept his hold on Lelouch's neck firmly. Only when Suzaku felt a sharp pain on his leg did he released the former prince. He fell onto the carpeted floor as Suzaku turned to look at his leg. To his surprise, he could see a few spots of red as he realized that the part of his leg that Lelouch kicked had started to bleed. Suzaku frowned before turning his glance towards Lelouch.
How the hell did Lelou—
Suzaki blinked in disbelief, he couldn't understand what he was seeing. Somehow like him, Lelouch also ended up falling to the floor yet Lelouch looked as if he was in more pain than him. Suzaku frowned as Cornelia rushed over Lelouch and tried to help her brother up. He let out a low growl before preparing to jump on Lelouch. But he stopped himself as Nunnally let out another cry to stop him.
"Please, Suzaku! Don't hurt my brother!"
He was about to object, but then as he turned to look again towards Lelouch and Cornelia as he suddenly noticed that one of Lelouch's legs seemed to move a bit too stiffly. It was then he noticed the metal frame that was attached to one of Lelouch's legs.
xxx
Suddenly Cornelia rushed over to help him up without saying anything. Which was odd considering that the last time he saw her, his sister didn't look like she wanted to have anything to do with him anymore. But his leg had hurt so much for him to care about something like that so he just let her be.
Lelouch doubled over again to the floor as his leg gave out another jolt of pain the moment he was moved.
"...does it hurt too much?" he could hear his sister say, "I'll call for a doctor—"
"No!" he cried out before grasping on Cornelia's arm. "Just get the painkillers... inside the case. Side pocket—!"
Cornelia immediately left his side as he hoped she understood what he tried to say. Sure enough, after a minute... Cornelia came back bringing a glass of water alongside two pills in her palm. He right away downed the pills as the pain on his leg started to become numb. He snorted in distaste.
"Please don't do anything rash!"
Lelouch sighed. Kallen probably gonna get mad at him later. But it's not as if he could do anything else to get Suzaku to release him.
He turned to his side to see Cornelia and Nunnally looking very concerned towards him. Not to mention, his eyelids had started to become heavy. Lelouch shook his head to shake the feeling as Cornelia helped him up to his feet. He immediately grabbed his crutch the moment he could reach it.
"You looked pale, perhaps you should take it easy..."
Lelouch shook his head, despite the fact he knew that what Cornelia said to him was right. He was in no state to go walking around now. But, the situation was still far from being completely stabilized and he needed to—His ears caught the sound of approaching footsteps as he turned around to see Anya walking in.
"Mo—Anya! I wasn't expecting you to come here. So, why—"
Anya spared a brief glance towards Suzaku before shrugging. "It was a saving grace that I was around, don't you think? If I haven't diverted that bomb elsewhere, it could have caused far worse devastation to the settlement areas. Including this palace."
Lelouch nodded before reminded of something else. "Oh, and earlier you mentioned that Bismarck was here—"
"Oh yes, your father insisted that I summon him back from the Chinese Federation to help—" she paused, before looking at Lelouch's face worriedly, "—that aside, Lelou... are you all right?"
Lelouch was about to answer her before they were interrupted by the man himself, who has just arrived. Sir Bismarck Waldstein kneeled immediately before introducing himself to Lelouch.
"My lord, I... Bismarck Waldstein is here to pay respect to you. I beg your forgiveness over my tardiness as I have to deal with a problematic knight earlier,"
"I understand, Sir Waldstein—" Lelouch started to say. But whatever else he had wanted to say afterwards ended up unsaid, as Lelouch found himself losing consciousness.
A/N: Regarding Lelouch's appearance in this chapter, just think about Julius Kingsley's outfit. Cos yes... there's no way I'd neglect using that.
That aside, I do seem to have a habit of making Lulu collapse/passed out a whole lot of times in this series, right? Well, I try not to overuse that trope lol but he'll at least have two more episodes on that. But I assure you, I won't keep making him collapse without valid reasons anymore. Hahaha. (Who told him to be so fragile most of the time anyway?)