Code Geass: Knight of Revolution
It ain't mine. Boohoo.
Chapter 20: Clearing the Air
Lelouch sat in his private room aboard their mobile hideout. Well, more like lying on his bed with Kallen holding a bag of ice on his face, unconscious to the world. The mask of Zero lay quietly on his desk, where Cornelia was checking up on the reports of the Narita fiasco as some Britannian Newscasters were portraying it. Euphie sat next to Lelouch, running a hand through his black locks of hair. Darlton stood at the just behind Cornelia, also watching the news reports.
"Y'know Lelouch, you really are inept at physical activity."
Lelouch groaned as he shifted his position slightly in the bed. He was lying on top of the covers, with the violet and gold overcoat on its hanger in the closet. A simple white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up was a lot cooler. Tilting his head slightly to look at his ace pilot, he smirked.
"How long was I out?"
"C'mon, Tamaki couldn't have hit you that hard."
The disavowed prince chuckled and then winced as the ice shifted against his swelling face. He had a good idea that one of the punches had left a black eye.
"You're right Kallen, Tamaki punches like he talks, full of hot air. Ougi and the rest of them are another story altogether. You haven't answered my question either."
Down below, the group sat silently fuming, more like Tamaki was fuming. The others sat around the low table with cups of tea and serious faces. Summer sat at the 'J' shaped couch with a glass of whiskey. Nunally sat just in front of him and to the right in her wheelchair with a glass of fruit juice. She could feel the tension in the room. Part of her knew that some of them were taking glances at her, but she understood and smiled gently.
"Geez, how does she know when we look at her?" Tamaki whispered rather loudly. Summer shook his head in exasperation when Nunally looked at him and giggled lightly. There was little doubt around the room that she'd heard him.
"Maybe because you're too obvious?"
"What was that?"
Inoue straightened and held up a pointer finger as if she was giving a class a lecture.
"She's blind Tamaki, that means her other senses are naturally a lot sharper than ours are. To her you must be broadcasting on every channel possible. She can probably guess what each of us are doing by the sounds we make."
Yoshida spoke up.
"That aside, we should have been more suspicious after the Kawaguchi incident. She was one of the hostages along with Euphemia."
The group nodded. The doors above opened at the group looked up as Lelouch made his way down the stairs with the bag of melting ice pressed to his face. Kallen followed on his heels, sending a concerned look their way. They could tell she didn't blame them, and something inside Ougi was saying that she'd done the same thing when he told her his identity. The fact that he'd shown up at Kallen's Mother's hospital room to check up on her with his three other assistant told him that his words earlier were real. Still, being deceived, even when this situation was understandable, wasn't pleasant.
When Kallen had defended him at least verbally after the initial shock, he knew there was a lot more to this than what was at face value. After knocking the man out, they'd demanded that Kallen explain herself. The news of the hospital visit softened the blow of Zero's identity a bit. Zero . . . no . . . Lelouch's words weren't hollow; otherwise, he wouldn't have bothered checking on her. It told him a lot of Lelouch's character despite his actions.
The teenager sat down on the couch, prompting Summer to rise and let him take his seat before sitting himself. The action made them wonder exactly who Lelouch's masked cohorts really were if he himself was the abandoned prince of Britannia.
"Finally awake? We still have questions for you."
"Awake? Yes. Though you didn't ask questions earlier, just threw fists at me. I don't blame you though. I would've done the same in your positions."
"Yes, but your punches wouldn't have done anything your Highness." Lelouch flinched at glared at Summer, who wore a small smirk. The group chuckled at the jibe, even Nunally laughed at bit. Lelouch sighed, resigned to the truth.
"Regardless, what do you want to know?"
"Did you really kill Clovis?" Kento's question came as a bit of a surprise to the group, but Lelouch could understand the reason for it.
"I did. It was an act of passion and impulse that I'm not terribly fond of now. At the time I merely wanted to lash out against anyone who shared His blood. Clovis was engaged in the very act of massacre, and I saw it as my responsibility to stop him. He was doing the very things Father would have done, which is unacceptable. Now that I look back on it though, he likely panicked and just spouted off the first thing to come to mind. He was content as a painter, and his paintings are all over the world. The mantle of leadership was never meant for him."
The cluster of former resistance members looked at each other and nodded, content with that answer. Yoshida spoke up next.
"Why'd you bother rescuing Suzaku? I mean, we all know now that he's betrayed everything we're fighting for, but what's he to you?"
Nunally gasped in concern before pouting. Her reaction to Suzaku's name got their attention before Lelouch even opened his mouth. His hands clenched into fists in frustration.
"When Nunally and I were sent here eight years ago as political tools, the Kururugi Shrine became our asylum. Genbu Kururugi treated us kindly, and with respect. We were grateful for his generosity. We met Suzaku the first day we arrived, though it was more like he confronted us."
Removing the ice from his face, he revealed a growing black eye.
"He spouted off a ton of anti-Britannian nonsense and then proceeded to beat the crap out of me like a punching bag in front of Nunally. He kept going up until Nunally cried out from her wheelchair."
Nunally nodded remembering that day. She'd never quite forgiven Suzaku for that even after they became friends. She always remembered how Lelouch hadn't done anything to fight back.
"Suzaku acted like I wasn't even there as he beat on brother. It wasn't until after I pleaded for him to stop that he noticed me. Then he suddenly realized that I was crippled and ran off, sounding pretty ashamed of himself."
"Heh, he's always been that way, impulsive, ill-informed, and naïve. He has good intentions, but never thinks things through or the consequences of his actions. When we became friends a few days later after his father reprimanded him and explained what was really going on with us, I realized it was just a part of him. It wasn't easy to accept at times, but I did."
"Did you know he joined the Britannian Army?"
"Unfortunately during the invasion, we became separated when we were filtered through the refugee systems. We fell out of contact, though the suicide of his father affected him deeply. He never would go into detail about his feelings though. I didn't discover his Honorary Britannian status in the military until the Shinjuku Massacre. I was outraged at him."
Minami began to see a picture forming.
"That's when you helped us isn't it?"
Lelouch nodded sincerely. The others adopted thoughtful expressions as they began to digest what they'd been given. Inoue looked back at the Britannian youth with genuine curiosity.
"So what about now?"
"What about now?"
"Suzaku's actions now, what are your opinions?"
Lelouch folded his arms across his chest, ignoring the throbbing pain in the right half of his face.
"He's an idiot. With this, not only has he forsaken the teachings of those who raised him, but he's also a puppet of one of the only other people in Britannia I've ever lost in chess to other than Father, Schneizel."
"What does chess have to do with this?"
"It is called the Game of Kings. Tactics and strategy replay themselves thousands of times over the course of a single game. The playing fields start out even, and then advantages are gained or lost dependant on who can keep as many of his men alive throughout the fight to conquer his opponent's king."
She went out on a limb as she voiced her next question.
"Do you consider us pieces on your board?" The room grew still. Lelouch removed a device from his pocket and clicked one of the buttons on it. Another screen opened and a larger than standard board appeared with white and black pieces scattered about.
"In the beginning yes. I was alone; the three most trusted of my men hadn't appeared to me at the time of Shinjuku. A question before I continue any further, what is the strongest piece in the game?"
The group thought about his question for a bit. Tamaki grinned.
"That's simple, it's the Queen."
"Wrong, the queen has the highest face value, but you only have one to begin with. Amateurs rely on it too often, and thus, get destroyed against veterans."
Tamaki crossed his arms peeved. With that piece gone from the answers, Yoshida and Minami looked at him with interest. It was obvious he didn't think like other players.
"The Knight then. It can move past it's allies and strike without threatening itself unless against another knight."
"A better answer, but still no. It's utility is great, I won't deny that, but on the tiers of power, the knight is still limited. In spite of its abilities it lacks the mobility of the queen, rook, or bishop."
Ougi spoke up next, wanting to see where the man was going with this.
"The Bishop then. It has the ability to traverse the board. Since it moves diagonally, most people don't take it into account and get broad sided."
"Understandable, though experts disagree. The Bishop is a strategic piece meant for long-term plans, not tactical moves. The rook isn't it either, it's too direct, and though that directness is feared for the same reason the queen is."
"Then the King? I mean, it's understandable since if the King falls it means defeat or victory if it's your opponent."
Lelouch shook his head and the group stared at the numerous arrayed little pieces around the board.
"No way . . . the Pawn?! You're joking right?"
"No, I'm not. True, it's a pathetic piece at face value, moving only forward into the enemy lines. However, face value means nothing when they can't progress further. The pawn can grow, becoming any piece other than the king. It isn't the starting value, it's the potential power that wins wars."
"So if that's the way you see it, then what are we?"
"You started as pawns to me. Rough, unpolished, untested. You are the core elite in this organization. I am the King; my ability is limited only by your power to help me. Every move I take puts me at risk, and I will not send you to places I would not tread upon myself. However, the nurturing has paid off and our forces grow daily. As we continue to succeed in your goals of a free Japan, you will have evolved from Pawns to positions of leadership and power. Some of you will become Knights, others will become Bishops and Rooks."
"What is Kallen? She's known your identity the longest."
"She's a Queen."
Kallen blushed a bit. The others smirked at her embarrassment. Tamaki pointed at her.
"Why isn't she a pawn?"
"She is a queen because of her ability in a Knightmare Frame. Her job is to strike wherever I need to, and protect all of you whenever you fall into trouble until we grow strong enough to face Britannia on a level playing field. Not only that, she has the greatest potential outside of operations due to her half Britannian status."
Kallen looked disgusted as the others frowned a bit. Knowing where these emotions were coming from Lelouch smiled slightly.
"It doesn't matter if you don't care for it. But the flexibility it offers her is enormous. Think of it as another weapon to use against the very people who gave it to you."
Kallen stared at him, not having thought about it that way before. True, she didn't like her stepmother at all, but her father had been a decent man. The Stadtfeld House was a decently upstanding noble family in the country and as such, was entitled to a few privileges here and there. Lelouch had a point - it could come in handy.
"The job of the other pieces is to threaten the opponent and protect the pawns until they've gained new power and then overwhelm the opponent. That is the real goal of experts, not to take the King immediately, but to annihilate his opponent's ability to raise more powerful troops to rally to him. Can you understand this?"
The group looked to Summer.
"What are you?"
"I am as I always have been, a Knight. I am to be used wisely both tactically and strategically."
He reached up and removed his mask to reveal a man of his mid-twenties. Holding his hand out as if presenting a prize, Lelouch smiled.
"Summer swore his fealty to the Emperor, but also to my Mother. When Father came down on my Mother's relationship with him and my questioning why we hadn't been protected, he left him to serve us. This is Guistizia Martin, formerly the Knight of Eight."
The group shot up from their seats and took a few steps away from the man. Guistizia's eyebrows rose in amused surprise. Tamaki searched his person, but found himself empty handed.
"Really now? Searching for these?"
He stepped aside to reveal a small cluster of personal side arms that each of the group had on them. Each of them immediately searched themselves to find their weapons missing.
"How in the world?"
"Guistizia is a spook master. He specializes in undercover ops and cloak and dagger missions. Be glad he's on your side."
Ougi turned to Zero and gave him a hard look.
"What about the other two?"
He nodded at his implication. Dialing a frequency on his screen control, a hailing beacon shot from the HQ to the Umi-Hime Leviathan class submersible carrier. The screen switched from the chessboard to the interior of a hangar. The group could recognize the plane standing vertical with its nose in the air. A message typed itself out on the screen.
Yes, Zero?
Everyone looked at the screen in utter confusion. Lelouch cleared his throat.
"Uh, is Winter there? Who is this?"
Brother is outside at the moment, hold one minute please.
"Uh brother? Who are you?"
I am the Combat Intelligent Control System of the XF-JAM-01 Peregrine, Amelia Schlange. One moment please.
"An intelligent AI? I'm at a loss here. Guistizia, do you know anything about this?"
Everyone looked to the man who shrugged. On the screen the sound of doors opening was swiftly followed by sunlight entering the room from above. A man jumped down from the opening and looked toward the fighter.
"Amelia, you called me? Something new for the systems?"
Look at the screen.
The man turned to see Lelouch, Kallen, and the others. Immediately taking notice that the two men were mask less, he sighed. Walking to the screen he bowed in the style of the Japanese. The action took the room by surprise and Lelouch noticed that the man wasn't carrying his trademark weapon, but a Japanese katana.
"Your Highness. I didn't think you'd tell them who you were so soon. I apologize, but Morgen is busy with the final designs for her new equipment. It's not a Knightmare if that's what you're thinking. The Guren Nishiki is more than an edge with the Peregrine to back it up."
"That's fine, but what's with the AI?"
Mixed feelings flooded his features. It was part sad, conflicted, and resigned. Finally, putting on a small, tired grin, he turned and waved his hand at the fighter.
"Don't you remember her Lelouch? Rock Queen Elena Houston a.k.a. Amelia Schlange, my elder sister?"
Nunally spoke up in surprise. Her voice was small and concerned for his personal feelings.
"Amelia? But I heard that she, well,"
"Apparently science doesn't know the meaning of being humane. Our creator of the Guren and Peregrine implanted my sister's preserved brain personality and memories into the fighter as digital data via cybernetic implantation. The fighter is my sister."
A pleasure to serve you, your Highness Lelouch, Lady Nunally.
Everyone swallowed hard at the news. No one had even heard of that kind of procedure. A few of the members had seriously freaked out expressions.
"That's just creepy. How can you be okay with that?"
"I'm not. What's done is done. The way I see it, disabling the program would be the same as Amelia dying all over again, but by my hands. It's funny actually, she's saved my bacon more times in the past month than I'd care to imagine."
Lelouch sighed and waved a hand in presentation.
"That aside, everyone, this is Winter. Spring apparently is busy, but she is Morgen Falsetto, the Knight of Four. He is Halbdenkul Schlange, renounced Knight of Two."
The Japanese in the room looked at him for a long time. He looked so young. Guistizia looked like he was in his thirties at least.
"It's been a pleasure so far to work with you."
Same here. In the background, the fighter's wings moved up and down, scaring some of the technicians working on the aircraft. Halbdenkul shook his head with a grin crossing his face.
"Amelia, don't scare the techs like that."
Can't help it . . .
"Are all the Rounds like this?" Ougi watched the screen in shock. Kento's question was answered from above as Cornelia came down the stairs with her sister and Darlton in tow.
"No, but then again these three have always been in a class of their own. Good to see you again Halbdenkul."
"Good afternoon Cornelia, Euphemia. Well, since everyone's trying to clear the air, any questions?"
Minami stood and looked at Hal.
"Why are you following him?" He pointed to Lelouch.
"A father abandons his son and daughter and defames his own late wife. His daughter is crippled physically and psychologically and is in intensive care yet he does nothing. Would you still serve a man like that?"
No one commented on that. Kento stepped forward with the next question.
"What do you think of the Japanese?"
Halbdenkul smiled openly.
"In comparison to Britannia? Japan is economically stable now due to the occupation. However, the pride and culture has been lost. Both of our nations are prideful, but Japan just doesn't have the manpower to throw off the yoke on their own."
"We can't just ask other nations to help us!"
"Of course you can't. For anyone to answer that call would mean war with a nation that owns a third of the world. However, when help comes from anti-imperialist revolutionists from within Japan itself, Britannia can't drag other nations into the war. A house divided against itself cannot stand, according to the Scriptures. While I'm not necessarily a believer, I do believe that to be true."
The cluster of renegades looked toward Lelouch and Nunally. The door opened above them and Cornelia and Euphemia quietly walked down the staircase. Seeing the cordial looks exchanged by the sisters and their half brother, followed by Nunally smiling and laughing when Euphie ruffled her hair a bit, sparked something inside the group.
"You want to start a civil war, don't you?"
"Hm, not quite the words I would put it in, but yes, that's close enough. Our homeland is sick and crying for help, but there is nothing we can do from within. Charles's plan for Britannia is a cancer, and nothing inside the body can fight it off. From the outside though, we can remove the tumor that's killing our home."
"Is that why you think Suzaku won't succeed?"
"We don't think. We know. I was the Knight of Two! I could not say anything to influence Charles. What chance do you think a naive Honorary Britannian has at getting through? I have a theory that Suzaku wants the Knight of One position in order to choose Japan as his territory to govern, but that will end with nothing more than a puppet government. The people won't like him, for submitting to Britannia like a dog. At best he'll be able to enforce leniencies toward Elevens, but nothing will change. My ancestors were German, I wanted the best for my other home away from Britannia, but ruling as a puppet to another country isn't freedom."
"I get it. You're saying that the Emperor wouldn't allow Kururugi to pick Area 11?"
Lelouch laughed at Inoue's insight.
"That's correct Inoue. Our Father rules with an iron rod. Our society is a vicious cycle of political mazes and power struggles greater than any other country in the world. The common people have no voice. Where is freedom? What is Justice? Britannia has neither of these."
"After experiencing the Emperor's ruthlessness as his own family, some of us learned to appreciate just being with each other. Our ties are stronger than our Father's policies."
Everyone looked at Cornelia, who sat beside Lelouch. The teacup in her hands made them look around. When had she gotten a drink? The answer came when Guistizia came into the room with a teapot from the small kitchenette.
"That's strange coming from you. We've heard of your exploits in the EU."
"Yes, I'd suppose you would have."
"How do we know such a zealous destroyer would cooperate without question?
The woman sighed, seeing their point. Lelouch came to her rescue.
"She admired my Mother and served as captain of her personal guard. My Mother's death was a personal strike on her. Though I can also say that the throne never really interested Cornelia."
The intricacies of Lelouch and Nunally's past seemed to grow more and more confusing rather than clearer to see. Cornelia discreetly bit her lip, keeping a key suspicion surrounding her murder to herself. Part of her told her that the three Rounds also probably suspected the same detail, but if they had told Lelouch, she was pretty sure that he would have asked her about it.
"So all of you are fighting because of your Mother's death?"
The confirmation circled around the room and the former resistance members looked at each other.
"Your mother must have been quite a person."
"Boy, that's an understatement."
The Britannia siblings laughed at the memories. Their attitudes when they talked about the late Empress were the exact opposite of the way they talked about the Emperor.
'His mother must have been something else to have earned such a place in their hearts. They're all fighting in her memory and for their country like we're fighting for Japan.'
"Lelouch."
The cluster of Britannians stopped in their reminiscing and looked at Ougi.
"I didn't know what kind of person your mother was, but the way you talk about her. The way all of you remember her, she must have been a remarkable woman. Are you really going to follow this through?"
"Would I bother starting something that will affect the world if I wasn't serious?"
Kallen expected him to answer with something witty or sarcastic. Lelouch's serious, leveled look told them that this would be no joking affair.
"I know this won't be easy, I know that lives will be lost on both sides. Freedom isn't free. Nothing worthwhile is ever free."
The group looked to each other. His words told them this wasn't a whim. Lelouch knew what he wasn getting himself into and was ready to shoulder the responsibility and consequences.
"That's fine, we'll trust you Lelouch. Or is it Zero?"
"Zero would be wiser."
"Okay Zero. A question though, what's the deal with Gottwald and those troops we took?"
Lelouch smiled as he turned everyone's attention to the screen once again. The display split in half, showing Hal on one side and the plans on the other.
Lying on top of the vehicle, C.C. stared at the bottom of the bridge they were underneath. Shooting up from her reclined state, she glanced about wildly before frowning.
"I felt a chill. Something doesn't feel right."
Deep within the heart of China, a child with long blonde hair laughed lightly as he talked with one of his subordinates. A small smirk formed on his youthful face.
"Well, I hope you're able to deliver. If you succeed, I shall let you do as you wish. I won't interfere with her, or your desires, how ever strange they may be."
The man he spoke to laughed and clapped his hands giddily. The young boy found the act disturbing as it had no apparent foundation to be called for.
"Hahaha! Wonderful! That's positively wonderful V.V.! You're only the second person who doesn't drive me nuts! I'll make sure that little brat can't do anything. Then C.C. will be all mine once again."
V.V. nodded and ended the transmission before waving two individuals forward. Both of them bowed to him.
"I want the two of you to keep an eye on him. If he fails to hold his end of the bargain, dispose of him. Do not mess with Marianne's children or any of Charles' children. Keep this quiet. Especially you, Knight of Eleven. Mao may be an idiot, but his determination may yet pull through."
Geass glowed in both of their eyes.
"Yes, my lord."
When both of them vanished from view the young immortal steepled his fingers with a calm expression on his face.
"Soon, very soon I shall be rid of that woman and her legacy. Let's see how you fare when others possess Geass as you do boy."
He laughed richly, the attendants outside his throne room shivered and hurried away. Though it sounded like an amused child, the sinister air surrounding him was anything but childish.
How will Mao carry out his plan against Lelouch?
Who is the Knight of Eleven?
What are the Geass users against and for Lelouch going to do when forces collide?
Just what does V.V. have in store for our revolutionaries?
Who knows, I do! See ya in the next chapter!
Jane!