Code Geass: Lelouch of the Rebellion R2
Turn Twenty
Japanese Wilderness
The Emperor was headed for Area Eleven, but he never showed up in the Tokyo Settlement. Lelouch thinks, pondering where his treacherous father could be as he moves the Shinkirö through the water, Rolo as comfortable as he can be after using his Geass so much. The assassin from the Geass Order sleeping soundly, the young man looking much more peaceful than when he is awake. Which means he had another objective.
Considering the path that the Britannian Emperor could have taken, the former Britannian Prince knows that there's only two places his father could possibly be located.
Shikine Island or the ruins on Kamine Island.
After a few quiet moments of deliberation, Lelouch deduces that the latter of the two choices seems much more likely.
Kanime Island
Still aboard his intimidating aircraft, Charles has four of the few remaining members of the Geass Order in front of him; two on both his left and ride sides.
"According to the materials left behind by Director V.V. and our brethren," The man on his immediate right says as he holds a small tablet in front of the Britannian Emperor, the device showing detailed information about the island below. The most eye-catching fact is the information that dictates how strong Kamine Island's ties are to the power of Geass. "this location is optimal."
"It will synchronize with the ancient ruins throughout the world!" The man next to the first adds.
"With this action, we can make the Sword of Akasha manageable once again!" The man on Charles' immediate left proclaims.
Charles smirks with a chuckle, clearly pleased by such information. "I never imagined I would use such an ancient device. It's quite astounding!"
Tokyo Settlement
As chaos continues to rip through the ranks of the Black Knights, a different kind of discord tears through Anya's mind, the young girl still within her Mordred Knightmare Frame. The pink-haired girl puts her hands to her head as pain reverberates inside it. A screech of agony even escapes Anya's lips before the one within her mind claims full dominion.
"So, you're ready to begin, then." Anya says to no one in particular, the utterance more of a statement than a question. Using Anya's body as a conduit, Marianne's attention is momentarily diverted by the crackle of static within the Mordred as she makes her way towards the Ikaruga, having remained hovering outside after she tried and failed to destroy Zero's Knightmare Frame.
"What's the Shinkirö's location?!" Diethard demands, his voice echoing through a majority of the communication devices in the ears of the Black Knight soldiers as it fills the air of the Ikaruga.
"Sir, we don't know yet." A male Black Knight soldier answers.
"At this rate, they could be anywhere. It'll be difficult to find anything at this time" A female Black Knight soldier adds, referring to the fact that dusk will soon fall upon the land.
Diethard sighs in frustration before continuing. "We have the Britannians assisting us now. As soon as you find it, alert all forces and destroy it!"
"Yes, sir!" The two Black Knights he was talking to say.
While everyone else is concerned with tracking down their former leader and a supposedly vile monster, there is one amongst them who feels apprehension trickle down her spine as she hides on one of the Ikaruga's balconies.
"Lelouch is in danger." C.C. murmurs, wondering how exactly she'll help him as her right hand is at her chin and her golden eyes downcast.
Such thoughts are put to an unceremonious end however as the impressive visage of the Mordred fills her vision as the Knightmare Frame comes in to land in front of her. Her passenger soon removing herself from her machine as she walks over to C.C..
"It's been ages since we were face to face like this!" Anya remarks as she runs to stand in front of the immortal witch. "It's me!"
The lime-haired girl takes a frightened step back. She turns so her back is to the pink-haired girl, as if that would ward off any advances.
"C.C., don't tell that you've actually…" Anya starts, coming closer to the other girl as she raises her hands as if to touch her.
"I'm so sorry!" C.C. exclaims, tears brimming in her eyes as her most pressing thought is that the other girl was raising her hands to strike her. Before she can move to swipe the other girl's hands away or scurry off to safety, a simple grazing of Anya's right hand is all it takes for the puzzle pieces in mind to fall into place, her eyes beginning to dry.
Footsteps begin to fill the air, a green sky overhead as C.C. and Anya pass each other. The former being in a roomy black outfit reminiscent of a cloak as a picture of a mollusk fossil and a field of sunflowers are on her left and Anya's right.
After putting several feet between them, Anya glances out of her peripheral vision before turning around.
"What are you doing?" Anya asks, an amused smile flitting across her face. Her pink eyes on the real C.C. sitting in a chair, gazing off into space with her chin supported by her left hand as the one Anya had passed earlier was but a mere illusion. "Closing yourself up in here again like this." When she doesn't respond, Anya's eyebrows furrow together. "C.C.? C.C.!"
With a distracted hum, looks up to regard the pink-haired girl. "Who are you?"
"It's me." Anya says as her illusion fades away. "See?"
"It's you." C.C. says, standing up as the girl across from revealed herself to be Empress Marianne. "So you've chased me all the way in here now. Are you that worried about Lelouch, Marianne?"
"Oh, c'mon." Marianne says with a smile and sounding as if she's suppressing laughter. "Do you really think I'm such an ideal mother that that's all I think about?'
"Then why did you come here for me?' C.C. asks, an unnerving picture of a smiling V.V. behind her.
"Because so much has changed." Marianne answers. "I need to know if you're still on my side."
"Huh?"
"C.C., why did you seal off your own Code just when you had what you wanted?" The mother of Lelouch and Nunnally says by way of elaboration. "Charles was ready to grant your greatest wish: the wish to die. But you stopped him."
"Even I don't know why I did it." C.C. admits with an uncertain chuckle and a faint smile. "Actually, I'm a little shocked that I did."
Marianne turns away from the immortal witch as she puts her right hand to her mouth, chuckling at such a response. She turns back before continuing as her laughter subsides. "Then you have to find the answer in the real world." When C.C. makes a noise akin to a puzzled hum in the back of her throat, Marianne continues. "I've made up my mind and that's all there is to it."
"How typical of you." C.C. remarks, a smile finding its way upon her countenance.
"Why is that?"
"The one who always comes in and messes around with my life." C.C. states as their surroundings fade away from a marble hall to their place on the Ikaruga.
"Because I appreciate what you did." Marianne says as her features change to those of Anya. "At least as far as giving me my Geass Power."
"And you never fulfilled your contract."
"If that's what you think, will you come with me now?"
"Yes." C.C. says before her features harden with indecision. "Oh, but wait a minute." A smile soon falls upon her features. "There's something I can't leave behind."
Anya regards her friend with curiosity in her eyes, wondering what could be so important.
"Was there any chance to tell Anya to stay?" Cornelia asks, the aircraft that carried Schneizel and Kanon to the Ikaruga behind her as Villetta stands in front of her, the two of them within one of the aircraft's larger docking bays made for small air vessels. "We'll need someone here to take custody of Zero."
When Villeta doesn't respond, Cornelia opts to ask a different question.
"So, what do you plan to do Villetta? Stay with the Black Knights?" When the other woman still doesn't respond, the Witch of Britannia continues. "Neither my brother nor myself plan to punish you. After all, now that things have moved forward to the next level, I'd say we have no authority to act against you."
"Well, I…" Villetta starts before trailing off, obviously unsure of where to go forward in her life.
Cornelia sighs, a faint smile on her face before she turns to board the aircraft. "I'm probably the last person to say this, but noble rank isn't everything."
Villetta takes a step forward, her right arm raised before she lowers it, watching as the purple-haired princess disappears aboard the aircraft.
"There's no choice!" Diethard proclaims, slamming his hands on the wooden peninsula in front of him as he stands within the same room that he stood in before the diplomatic mission commenced. He stares down at the slight grooves in the surface in front of him whilst he leans over it.
Behind him is Ohgi as Tohdoh and Chiba stand across from them at the end of the wooden surface as Rakshata reclines on the nearby bed. The Black Knight's mechanical savant supports herself with her right hand as her left holds her precious pipe.
"We have to announce that Zero was killed in battle." The newsman says with a decisive air.
"Even though we haven't found Lelouch yet?" Ohgi asks.
"You want people to believe he's dead?" Tohdoh adds.
"Pardon me." Rakshata says, speaking up. "I understand that Zero has betrayed us and all of that, but do you plan on telling everyone about Geass?"
"We can't." Diethard answers as he stands up, his posture erect. "They'd say we're crazy. We'd lose all credibility. There's no way."
"Maybe. Maybe not." Rakshata says, a characteristic, enigmatic smile on her face. "The populace is a strange, fickle bunch."
"Anyway, what if the real Zero appears later?" Tohdoh inquires.
"How exactly would he prove that he is the real Zero?" Diethard replies easily to a gasp from Ohgi. "In the end, the masked hero was merely a symbol. He can't reestablish himself without us."
The chuckle from Rakshata directed at such a comment goes unnoticed.
"At any rate," Chiba interjects, glancing at the Indian engineer. "What did you learn about the F.L.E.I.J.A. warhead?"
At the mention of the possibly destructive weapon, Rakshata grins. "It certainly is a weapon of immense catastrophic properties. All of you should be incredibly grateful that it wasn't activated."
Kanime Island
"Preparations are complete, Your Majesty." The man who had shown Charles the tablet about Kamine Island says as he stands to his left, his other three brethren having gone off to assure that The Ragnarök Connection will commence seamlessly.
"Very well." Charles says as an image of the world appears on the main screen of his aircraft, the map at the front of the room. On it, several birdlike markings resembling that of Geass appear in locations around the world. "Let us begin."
No sooner are the words spoken do each of the markings extend a crimson line outward, all of them heading to converge at Kanime Island.
"All Relic Systems are now synchronized." The man next to him says.
"With this shall end the world of the existing God." Charles says with a confident smirk. "Destruction and creation, Ragnarök has finally begun."
An image of Monica shortly appears superimposed over the previous image of the world map.
"Your Majesty, Prince Schneizel sent a report on the conflicting-"
"Did I not tell you to leave these mundane affairs to him?"
"Mundane affairs?" Monica repeats with a tinge of incredulity before Charles ceases the broadcast of her message, the image of the Knight of Twelve disappearing.
Has the truth finally begun to dawn on you Schneizel? If so, it's too late. This game called war is already obsolete.
Tokyo Settlement
"This is KT Television." Milly says, the papers dictating the news broadcast sitting on the rounded podium in front of her as an image of the dark Tokyo skyline is at her back. "In light of the battle between Britannia and the Black Knights, we bring you this emergency news alert. A short while ago, we received official word that Prince Schneizel has signed a ceasefire with the Black Knights." Before continuing, she gulps past a lump in her throat, hoping that those watching her will decide it's either nerves or won't notice at all. "In addition," she resumes, hoping her voice doesn't waver. "according to an official announcement, Zero, leader and CEO of the Black Knights, was killed in the final battle." She takes a calming breath, the action manages to keep any and all tears away. "Zero was wounded in the fight for the Tokyo Settlement and subsequently received medical treatment aboard the flagship Ikaruga, but he succumbed to his injuries before daybreak this morning."
As the broadcast cuts out for the moment - the cameraman giving her two thumbs-up - Milly turns her gaze up at her studio's roof, wondering if her friend and former crush is indeed dead.
She supposes she'll learn soon enough when next she and Rivalz meet.
Kagoshima Settlement Coast
As the battalion led by Li Xingke move inland from the ocean, the fighting having stopped altogether hours ago, they too bear witness to the news bulletin. While a majority of the soldiers manage such news as best they can, Kaguya has her hands clenched into fists on her lap as a few tears manage to escape from her eyes. Tianzi, the young empress sitting next to her, regards her friend with concern in her crimson eyes.
United States of Japan - Provisional Capital
Horai Island
Various cries of despair radiate from within the capital city as some of the inhabitants mourn the loss of the masked man as the Ikaruga makes her way there, having little reason to linger in the aftermath of their victory over the Britannian forces within the Tokyo Settlement as a battalion of Black Knight soldiers stayed behind to make certain that their supremacy over their foes would not be questioned. It would seem though that the Avalon is also close behind, most likely following to make sure that any and all agreements betwixt the two forces will not fall through the cracks.
In the meantime, Ohgi, Kallen, Tamaki, Inoue, Sugiyama, and Minami are in one of the flagship's many rooms as an image of Rivalz appears superimposed on one wall.
"Is it true Kallen?" Rivalz asks. While he may have directed the call to the curly-haired male in the room and was the first to answer the call, when his grey eyes fell upon the redhead, impulse made him turn to her. "Is Zero really dead?"
After all, she was the one he knew best.
Before the Guren S.E.I.T.E.N. Eight Elements' pilot can respond, Ohgi interrupts the two.
"Yeah, I'm afraid it's just as the media's reporting."
The verification of the news causes Rivalz to visibly deflate. He looks more steadily at the curly brunet. "Can I at least see him for myself?"
"Sorry." Ohgi says, his tone clipped. "But we're busy right now Rivalz. It'll have to wait till later."
And with that, he ends the transmission, the blue-haired male's face vanishing from view.
"Are you serious about this?" Kallen asks, walking up to her friend as it's apparent that she is one of the few, if any, people within the Black Knights that have misgivings about betraying their leader.
"The Black Knights don't need Zero anymore!" Ohgi states, turning to look at the photographs of their fallen comrades. Yoshida's frame on the dresser being the most prominently displayed.
"We've only gotten this far because of him." Kallen says before looking to her left. "To just throw him away like he's disposable…"
"He's the one who treated us like we were disposable." Ohgi states severely, lowering his right hand after murmuring a silent prayer for their fallen comrades. "He fooled us from the very beginning!" He continues, turning around to face his companions as he sweeps his right arm in front of him. "With that despicable Geass-"
Before Ohgi can continue, a loud smack resounds through the air whilst surprise twist itself across the faces of everyone in the room. Everyone except for the redhead that slapped Ohgi across his face.
"Kallen?" Ohgi murmurs, dumbfounded by the physical blow that - to his perspective - came out of nowhere.
"You're so full of crap Ohgi!" Kallen shouts vehemently, tears beginning to show in her eyes as her entire body trembles with the strength of her emotions, her anger, her sadness. "If it wasn't for Zero, you and so many of our friends would be dead!"
"Oh really?!" Ohgi snarls, his gaze darkening. "If it wasn't for him, we never would have been captured by Britannia in the first place!"
"If Zero hadn't shown up when he did, we would all be dead in a gutter in Shinjuku or rotting away in a Britannian prison!"
"It doesn't matter now." Ohgi states coldly. "We don't need him any-"
Kallen slaps him across the face once more, tears freely falling from her eyes now. "What happened to you Ohgi?" she cries, silently pondering to herself how and when it all went wrong. "You used to be the most reasonable one among us, but now-" she breaks off, though from rage or despair it's hard to determine. "Now I wish you had died instead of Naoto!"
She pushes the palms of her hands into her eyes, ignoring the gasps from Sugiyama, Minami, and even Ohgi himself. With a final glare in Ohgi's direction, she runs in the direction of the door to the room, stopping only to offer a few words to the curly-haired male.
Naoto would never have acted like this!
And with that, the redhead is gone, leaving her compatriots in silence, shocked to their cores.
"Someone should go after her." Inoue suggests, her eyes softening with concern as Minami's features turn thoughtful.
"I'll do it."
The other four Black Knights in the room turn to regard the brunet, each of them thoroughly dumbfounded by the statement as he stands up from his perch on the bed in the room. Without a passing glance, he smooths down his outfit with an eerie kind of graveness about him as Tamaki walks to exit the room and chases after one of the Black Knight ace pilots.
All the while Ohgi, Sugiyama, Inoue, and Minami are unsure of events that had just transpired.
"C'mon, c'mon." Rivalz frantically paces in front of his Pendragon Knightmare Frame, his phone to his left ear as he's tried for the third time to contact the leader of the Black Knights and his best friend. Each previous time when nothing but silence greeted him, the azure-haired man felt his hopefulness weaken along with his resolve as he cannot help the morbid thought running through his mind. "Pick up already, will ya?"
What if Lelouch really did die during the battle?
Having been predominantly concerned with rescuing Nunnally from the government bureau, he remained completely unaware of a majority of what transpired during the battle and the aftermath of it. One would think he knows that the masked man is still alive since he supposedly went to alert him that Nunnally was secure in the obsidian-haired male's quarters when he went to visit Milly, but he couldn't find him no matter how hard he tried.
And the reason being he died in action. A traitorous voice speaks at the back of Rivalz mind before a familiar voice comes over the end of the phone. And causes him to grin almost impossibly wide.
"Rivalz, what is it?" Lelouch asks while Rivalz looks around to make sure none of his Black Knight allies are watching him before turning back to his phone.
"Lelouch!" Rivalz crowes in good cheer. "You have no idea how much of a gigasmic relief it is hearing your voice!"
"Oh?" Comes the bemused reply. "And why is that?"
Rivalz' eyes turn downcast as he speaks, trying to ignore the possible venom tainting the other's voice. "I take it you haven't heard the news? They're saying that you died in battle." He stifles a sniffle only to laugh it off. "I was really worried about you y'know?"
"I see." Lelouch says, his present tone giving nothing of his feelings away as something clicks in the azure-haired male's head.
"By the way, where's Rolo?" Rivalz asks, scratching the back of his head as he looks around to make sure he's still alone. "Is he with you?"
For a moment, there's nothing but silence on the other end before Lelouch replies. "At the moment, he's currently resting, but I'll tell him you left a message."
"Okay, thanks." Rivalz says.
"By the way Rivalz, how's Nunnally and Euphemia?"
"Nunnally and Euphemia?" Rivalz repeats, the question of the younger vi Britannia sibling and the li Britannia sibling taking him aback, lowering the hand that was scratching his head. "Last I heard, they were being guarded by Jeremiah."
"Good." Lelouch says, sounding relieved before his tone turns somber. "However, with the betrayal of the Black Knights and my own absence, they won't remain there for long. If I know my family as well as I think, Schneizel and Cornelia will undoubtedly try to steal them away along with Suzaku and the Lancelot Conquista."
"Okay." Rivalz says with a nod of his head. "So, what do you want me to do?" He asks, his own features turning somber, not missing a beat.
A chuckle comes from the other male before he responds: "Assist Jeremiah as best you can with circumventing Schneizel and Cornelia's endeavors."
"You got it Lelouch!" Rivalz exclaims with a salute, seemingly oblivious to the fact that the violet-eyed mastermind cannot see it.
"Listen, Rivalz." Lelouch starts, his voice clear, his tone stern. "Act with caution. Given your friendship and loyalty to me, the other Black Knights might decide to turn on you as well. Perhaps even kill you. Keep a low profile until I return to rectify this problem. The poison that has infected the Black Knights shall be cured in due time."
"So, I'll see you again soon?" Rivalz asks, his voice tinged with hopefulness.
Despite the seriousness previously displayed by his best friend, Lelouch chuckles. "Indeed. You shall see me again soon. However, there is an important matter I must deal with first. Only then can the world begin to move forward."
"Okay boss man!" Rivalz exclaims, smiling as he gives another salute. "Good luck!"
Lelouch ends the call then. Smiling to himself, Rivalz soon composes himself as a pair of nondescript Black Knight soldiers walk past him.
At the same time Rivalz begins to keep a low profile within the ranks of the Black Knights after his chat with Lelouch, the aforementioned strategist puts his phone away, glancing out of the corner of his eye at the pilot of the Vincent Knightmare Frame. Continuing through the underwater zone on their way to Kamine Island, (the destination being the one the obsidian-haired male decided on) he cannot help contemplating his relationship with his false little brother and his own feelings for the younger male.
On one hand, he proved instrumental in several of his plans to topple the unsavory Britannian Empire and the despicable Geass Order as well as rescuing Nunnally and - to a lesser extent - Euphemia. He also showed his undying loyalty by saving him when everyone was out for his blood and his head on a silver platter.
On the other hand though, he was also pivotal in schemes to keep him under wraps and as far away from his alter ego of Zero as physically possible and separating himself from his darling sister. And that wasn't even considering the fact that Lelouch wanted Rolo dead from the beginning, but kept missing his chance to kill him nor the fact that - had it not been for timely intervention from the outside world - Shirley would have died at his hands.
Lelouch sighs, ruminating on just what he should do with the orange-haired woman's would-be killer when the male in question begins to stir.
"Big Brother?" Rolo mutters groggily, forcing one eye open as his eye roves around their surroundings. "Where are we?" He blinks, seeming to notice something different with his false big brother. "Is there something wrong?"
Lelouch smirks, thinking back to the conversation he just had. "Not at all." he admits. "I was merely talking to Rivalz. He says hello, by the way."
"Ah, I see." Rolo says, nodding his head as he appears to have recovered (for the most part) from his overexertion of his Geass Power. Nonetheless, he smiles at the information.
"In any case," Lelouch says as his lips flatten into a thin line. "We're currently on our way to Kanime Island; just on the outskirts I believe."
Rolo nods his head once more before looking out the cockpit of the Shinkirö. "Okay."
And with that, the two lapse into a sort of comfortable silence as Lelouch focuses on his mission.
I have to kill him! Even at the risk of my own life, he must die! Lelouch thinks, using his rage against his father and the empire he loathes as a sort of guiding light. A light that only shines brighter at the thought of his dearest sisters. I'm gambling that I can kill an immortal who never ages and who's immune to the power of Geass.
Rapping against her door with his right hand, Tamaki leans against the doorframe as he seeks an audience with his fellow comrade. Only to nearly have his head bitten off.
"Go away Ohgi!"
"Actually, it's me Kallen." The brunet says.
Silence seems to reverberate on the other side of the door, Tamaki soon hearing the sounds of some slight shuffling before the door is opened somewhat. He's greeted by the sight of a simmering Kallen as her eyes are rimmed with scarlet, only accentuating her venomous glare.
"What do you want Tamaki?" The redhead hisses, her contempt almost a tangible entity.
Tamaki scratches the back of his neck, legitimately lost. Truthfully, he didn't think he'd be able to coerce Kallen to converse with him, much less open the door. If there's one thing he's good at though (besides thoroughly fanboying over a man he perceives as his best friend) it's improvisation.
After all, he wasn't made the Interior Custodian Minister of the Black Knights on some whimsical fancy!
"I was thinking we could talk about how you reacted back there." Tamaki answers.
The reply seems to only further incense one of the ace pilots of the Black Knights. Narrowing her eyes, she begins to close the door. "I don't need to explain anything to you!"
And with that, she slams the door shut.
Or, at least, she would've had Tamaki not shoved one of his feet in the open space between the door and its frame.
"C'mon Kallen." Tamaki persists, leaning against the doorframe as he hopes he has a gentle, pleading tone to his voice. "I really think we should talk; you don't usually snap at Ohgi like that."
"He deserved it." Kallen mutters darkly, saying nothing more as she turns and walks away. Considering how she didn't try to slam the door in his face anymore, Tamaki takes it as an unspoken invitation to discuss the woman's actions. Walking over the threshold of the redhead's room quickly in case she changes her mind, Tamaki shortly closes the door behind him as it shuts with an almost inaudible click.
Looking to the other occupant of the room, the brunet finds Kallen sitting on her bed, a distant look in her eyes. He can tell though that the woman is like a sleeping cobra; seemingly peaceful and harmless, but once awake, you'll soon be nursing a snake bite at best and dying of serpent poison at worst.
Considering the hostile aura radiating off the redhead, Tamaki decides it's a better idea to stand. Leaning against a wall, Tamaki crosses his arm. Silence soon descends betwixt the two before it's broken.
"Honestly, I'm not sure what I was thinking." Kallen mumbles, shifting her eyes away from the brunet.
Tamaki worries his bottom lip, unsure of how to proceed. He's never seen the redhead look so, well, subdued. Usually she's a spitfire soldier of the Black Knights who wouldn't hesitate to give you a good punch to the jaw.
(Or, if you're rather unfortunate, a merciless blast of Radiation Wave Energy.)
To see her look so hesitant is a strange sight indeed.
"I think I know why you snapped at Ohgi." Tamaki says, subconsciously lifting a hand to his own face, imaging the pain the blows must've inflicted.
Kallen jerks her head in his direction, her confused gaze changing to one of confrontational intrigue. "Oh?" She says softly, raising an eyebrow. "And what would that be?"
"I think it's the same reason I was a wreck." Tamaki says before leveling his eyes on his compatriot. "Zero and his Geass."
And like a switch, Kallen's gaze turns blazing. Before she could possibly utter a venomous retort, she takes a deep breath. "I think you might be right about that." she admits ruefully, smiling.
Tamaki raises his eyebrows, surprised at how easily Kallen agrees to such a possibility. Testing the atmosphere, he chances a glance around the room, noting how some of the tension seems to ebb out of his friend. Smiling at the progress, Tamaki takes an apprehensive step forward. When the redhead doesn't snap at him, he continues walking forward until he stands next to Kallen before sitting next to her on her bed.
"He was our leader." Tamaki adds, lifting a hand to put on his friend's shoulder before thinking better of it and lowering it. "I think we're all a bit shook up." He clenches his fist, the next words tasting like bile. "The guy just used us like puppets with his Geass!"
"Do you honestly believe that Tamaki?" Kallen asks, her eyes boring into his as she raises an eyebrow.
For a moment, Tamaki has to do a double take. For a split second, it seemed that he was talking with Zero's cold mistress instead of his volatile comrade. Shaking his head, he sighs. "I don't know what to think."
"Me either." Kallen says, sighing as well before plopping her head on Tamaki's shoulder.
Silence revisits the room, the two sitting like that for several minutes before the brunet speaks. "It didn't help that you were trapped by those Britannian scumbags." Tamaki remarks, smiling smugly at the fact that - even if Zero did betray the Black Knights - they managed to thoroughly trounce the Britannians at the Tokyo Settlement. He turns unusually thoughtful as he continues on his train of thought. Now that he thinks about it, they haven't given over the vicereine, the Britannian princess, Suzaku, or the Lancelot Conquista. Given the woman's temperament though, the last part is easier said than done.
She isn't the type to just willingly hand over advanced machinery, especially if she finds it to be beautifully crafted.
"Yeah." Kallen says tersely, lifting her head from Tamaki's shoulder. "You're probably right." she chuckles, thinking that she would only such words under duress. She turns to look at Tamaki. "I was locked up for a while."
"But now you're free and it's all thanks to us!" Tamaki exclaims, punching his fist into his hand with an arrogant grin.
Kallen laughs again. "Yeah." She quickly turns somber though, turning away before looking at the ground. "Listen, I'm not ready to face Ohgi and the others right now." She looks away to glance at Tamaki. "Tell them that I need some time to think and I'll be ready to hunt down the Shinkiro with the rest of you."
Tamaki nods his head. "Okay Kallen." He smiles at her. "Take all the time you need."
And with that, he makes to exit the room. He stops halfway to turn back to Kallen.
"I'm sure we don't have the full story though." Tamaki says with a grin. "Zero, Lelouch, or whoever he is wouldn't just use his Geass to make everyone around him follow his orders."
Little do either of them know though, that somewhere on the outskirts of Kamine Island, Lelouch is in the midst of doing just that.
With the downtime that ensued in the aftermath of such a rigorous battle, Gino, Lloyd, and Cécile are in one of the Avalon's recreational areas as they await Schneizel, Kanon, and Cornelia. Currently, Lloyd is playing darts, his aim subpar as Gino and Cécile are engaged in a bit of pool. It's mostly a one-sided match however, as the engineer is thrashing the Knight of Three.
"Damn." Gino curses, both dispirited and amazed by the woman's skills as she rather handily dispatches the rest of the billiards on the table: one going into three of the four holes as another smacks into another ball and sends them both tumbling into the underside of the table. "She's good."
"Thank you Sir Weinberg." Cécile says, smiling brightly as the two set aside their pool cues for the moment. She clasps her hands in front of her. "Before I became a full-fledged engineer, I spent my free time between studies learning how to play from Kanon."
"Wait," Gino says, wide-eyed as his gaze is riveted on the indigo-haired woman. "Kanon taught you how to play like that?"
Before the conversation could further encroach upon the topic of Kanon's skills at billiards, the door to the room opens as the man himself comes in, closely following Schneizel and Cornelia.
"Your Highness!" Gino exclaims, falling to his knees as he kneels before the two members of royalty.
"It's all right." Schneizel says with an affable smile as the three newcomers stand at the front of the pool table as the three other occupants stand at the other end. "You can relax."
Wordlessly, Gino rises to his feet.
"Princess Cornelia!" Lloyd exclaims, his darts forgotten. "It's been far too long, Your Highness!"
"Right." Cornelia says before looking around the room for a few moments before focusing on the two engineers and the Knight of the Round. "Where is Lord Guilford?"
At the familiar name, Cécile jolts upright with a gasp as she averts her eyes from the three newcomers. "Well…"
"Cornelia," Schneizel starts as he glances at her out of his peripheral vision. "I'm afraid Lord Guilford was one of-"
"He went missing during the battle." Kanon interjects as politely as he could. Being the more sensitive of the two, he seeks to spare the purple-haired woman's feelings for the moment. That and he doesn't want to enrage the princess by informing her of how her knight was fighting on the side of the Black Knights, a feat only possible through the power of Geass given the man's intense loyalty to Cornelia and all of Britannia. "It was his heroism that shone the most during the battle."
"Guilford?" Cornelia murmurs, her eyes widening at the thought of her knight vanishing.
"We may not know if he's alive or dead, but he did a great deal." Schneizel continues smoothly, playing along with his aide-de-camp for the moment. "You should be proud of him. He served you well as your knight."
"That's a lie!" Gino snaps as Lloyd as Cécile remain quiet. When he notices the darkening gaze of the prince, he coughs before continuing with a much more civil tone. "With all due respect Your Highness, Lord Guilford was fighting on the side of the Black Knights."
"He what?!" Cornelia roars, her own gaze darkening as she clenches her hands into fists, no doubt feeling immense hatred for her brother. First he commanded sweet, innocent Euphie to incite a massacre and now he's bended the will of her own knight to his own devices.
"I can take you to his holding cell Your Highness." Gino says, his gaze solely on Cornelia as he offers a bow. "When I detained him and his Knightmare, he seemed determined to kill me before he calmed down, wondering why I was throwing him into a cell."
Cornelia nods her head, her indigo eyes stormy. "Very well Sir Weinberg." She says curtly before turning to face the door. "At your leave."
And with no further words, the two exit the room as they head for the Spearhead of the Empire's current resting quarters.
"Now that my sister and the Knight of Three have left," Schneizel begins, a smirk playing across his visage. "I believe it's time to discuss Britannia's future."
As those foreboding words sink into the two scientists, Kanon gesturing for them to relocate to an area more suited for pleasant conversation, Lloyd and Cécile cannot help wondering what will soon transpire.
And my unease grows worse and worse. Lloyd thinks dryly, his smile just the same.
"Now then, Your Majesty, as previously arranged, I'll conduct negotiations with Prime Minister Schneizel in Tokyo." Kaguya says formally as the aircraft she's aboard draws ever closer to Area Eleven.
"But Kaguya," Tianzi starts, her crimson eyes full of concern as she looks at her friend. "After all, Zero was your husband."
"Losing Master Zero is a terrible blow, it's true." Kaguya admits. "But we can't dwell on that. As our nations are in danger, we must turn his death to our best advantage." She pauses, her words unsettling her friend as much as herself. Her hands in her lap, she clenches them so tightly the knuckles begin turning white.
When she speaks, it's obvious that she's holding back tears at the thought of never seeing Master Zero again. "And honestly, I know I called myself his wife, but he and I were just-" she breaks off, her emotions beginning to reach a fevered pitch. "That is, in the end, we were married, but-" she breaks off once more, three tears slipping out of her eyes. "In heart only."
"Kaguya." Jiang Lihua murmurs softly, the white-haired, youthful empress wishing she could do something to console her friend.
Staring unseeingly at the floor of his prison cell, Suzaku wonders absently how long he's been incarcerated before the sound of the door to his room opening fills the air along with an alarm and the voice who he thinks belongs to Diethard. However, when he looks up, he finds himself face to face with Jeremiah.
"I did not think we would be seeing each other again so soon Sir Kururugi." Jeremiah admits with a rueful smile, seemingly unfazed by the horizontal cut between his eyes upon the bridge of his nose. As blood runs down his face, the crimson viscous fluid errs to the left side of his face. "But certain events seem to require it."
"What are you doing here?" Suzaku asks, genuine curiosity at seeing the cyborg flashing across his features.
"I arrived here at my lord's behest." Jeremiah answers as he extends the sword attached to his left arm.
And faster than the brunet can react the turquoise-haired man raises his sword and effortlessly severs the bindings holding Suzaku in place.
"Why did you break-" Suzaku starts, still sitting on his bench as he tries to get the feeling back in his hands and feet before the other man interrupts him.
"For whatever reason that I cannot quite fathom at the moment," Jeremiah begins as he pulls his sword back into its rightful place. "Lord Lelouch wishes for me to break your shackles." He turns around, walking back to the front of the room as he looks out the door. Most likely he's searching for hostile units that would be sent into action by the still blaring alarm. "He said he wants to extend unto you a second chance of sorts; a way to prove where your true loyalties lie."
Suzaku narrows his eyes, not quite able to believe what he's hearing. Lelouch of all people asking for his help after he made it blatantly clear that he could never trust the other man ever again. Either things must be desperate, or the obsidian-haired man has lost control of his faculties.
"And what makes him think that I'd be willing to help him?" Suzaku inquires, his voice steeped in cold. His eyes remain fixed on the other man as he stands up, testing his legs and being pleasantly surprised to find that he isn't collapsing to his knees. "In fact, what's stopping me from knocking you out and escaping?"
At the question, Jeremiah simply chuckles as he turns around to face the Knight of Seven. "My lord thought you may hesitate, even outright refuse the offer which is why," he pauses, his left eye flaring to life as the device embedded in it activates. "As a gesture of good faith, he's ordered me to release you from your prison."
Before Suzaku can even open his mouth to ask for clarification, or even so much as blink, he immediately starts to feel something moving around his mind. However, instead of the violent surging of power that commanded him to live, he can feel a kind of soothing presence reworking his synapses as it neutralizes the Geass.
And when Jeremiah's Geass Cancellation device finishes, the Lancelot Conquista's pilot takes the first fresh breath he's had in months.
"What say you Sir Suzaku Kururugi?" Jeremiah asks, a smile flitting across his countenance. He extends his right hand. "Will you join my lord or return to your position within the Britannian Military as the Knight of Seven?"
The aforementioned man eyes the other man warily, suspicion marking every inch of his features. For all he knows, this could somehow be an elaborate trap designed for his eventual downfall. A deceitful machination created for the express purpose of instilling him with a sort of hope before cruelly taking it away.
However, considering the current state of affairs and the fact that his beloved is currently held hostage by his foes…
Wait…
"Where's Euphie?"
The turquoise-haired man seems to be momentarily blindsided by the question before smiling easily. "Due to my lord's ability to anticipate the moves of his enemies, I took it upon myself to defend Lady Nunnally and Lady Euphemia from encroaching Britannian and Black Knight forces before Sir Cardemonde arrived to help them escape." He finishes by indicating the injury between his eyes; the color diluting somewhat as it begins to dry.
Suzaku digests this information carefully, trepidation taking root in his heart. It isn't that he doesn't have faith in the blue-haired man, it's simply the fact that, for all intents and purposes, Rivalz is no soldier.
"Are you positive that Rivalz will be able to protect them?" Suzaku asks as he gives Jeremiah his most even stare.
Jeremiah simply smiles. "It is my belief that my lord would not have allowed me to leave their side unless he knew someone else capable enough for the task."
The brunet sighs, reluctantly accepting the fact that the lives of his precious Euphemia and the kind-hearted Nunnally rest in the hands of someone with little to no military training. But if Lelouch trusts him with the lives of his sisters, he supposes that's good enough for him. And besides, should they become captured, it isn't like Cornelia would allow anyone to harm a hair on her younger sister's head. Or live to tell the tale.
With another sigh, Suzaku hangs his head in resignation before turning his gaze up to meet Jeremiah's, pausing briefly to consider where to proceed. He could either waste away in a prison cell until the Britannian Military asks for his release from the Black Knights, or he could endeavor down this supposed path of a second chance and help his former friend with whatever task he would ask of him.
As he ruminates his options, he cannot help thinking that they both seem rather unappealing at this juncture in time.
Taking a deep breath, Suzaku's gaze turns to steel before he reaches out to take Jeremiah's hand, his choice made.
"Splendid!" Jeremiah decrees and if Suzaku didn't know any better, he would've thought that the turquoise-haired man smiled just a little broader. "Now, what say you and I reclaim your Knightmare Frame? I believe that after Miss Chawla rebuilt it, she gave it the name Lancelot Albion."
Kamine Island
Taking a deep breath, Lelouch cannot help but enjoy the nighttime air as he puts his left contact lens back into its proper place. Standing on the outskirts of Kamine Island, he stands alone on the beach, Rolo having left him momentarily to hide the Shinkirö away somewhere within the security of the forest's dark shadows. A gentle breeze coming in from the water, it ruffles his hair, Lelouch soon staring up at the Britannian aircrafts overhead. He vaguely recognizes his father's airship along with several subordinate vessels. If he focuses, he can also make out the shape of the Great Britannia in the dim moonlight glow. He smirks, thinking that soon the aircrafts will be consumed within the explosions of heated battle.
Idly, the former Britannian Prince wonders how Jeremiah and Rivalz are progressing on their tasks before a masculine voice cuts through his thoughts.
"I've hidden the Shinkirö as you requested big brother." Rolo says, emerging from the shadows of the forest as he pants weakly for a moment. The previously employed assassin is busy recovering from using his Geass, however briefly, to help the obsidian-haired man in his endeavors that he wished to undertake before confronting his father. The brunet smiles softly. "Even if someone is specifically searching for it, it should take them some time to discover it."
"Excellent." Lelouch remarks, turning around to face his pseudo-sibling as he returns the smile. His features harden as he turns his gaze further inland. His violet eyes burn with the tumult of his emotions as he anticipates his confrontation with his father.
His final confrontation.
With a deep breath, Gino has his left hand on the doorknob of the prison cell containing the Spearhead of the Empire, pausing from opening it to glance at the purple-haired woman behind him.
"Are you sure that you want to see him right now, Your Highness?" The blond asks. While he's positive that whatever drove the brunet to fight for the enemy instead of his homeland has left him for the moment, he's unsure of what may occur when the imprisoned soldier and the Witch of Britannia meet.
Cornelia's response is a discontented sigh, moving one of her purple strands of hair back into place as she gives the blond an even stare. "Honestly Sir Weinberg, your worries are unfounded."
"Maybe." Gino says, uncertainty taking root in his heart as he tightens his grip on the doorknob. Truthfully, he has no idea what may transpire between the princess and her knight, but it never hurts to be cautious and engage in some slight rumination.
After all, better safe than sorry, right?
Without further delay, Gino opens the door. Allowing the battle-hardened woman to go first, the blond glances around the sparse room. Given the security measures embedded into the door, the need for handcuffs proved gratuitous. Aside from a small, surprising comfy-looking cot attached to one wall and the toilet on the other side, there isn't much else to see except for the brunet sitting in the cot as he stares up at the ceiling of his current quarters.
Upon closing the door behind him, Gino moves to stand next to Cornelia, a tense kind of silence befalling the room as it appears that Guilford has not yet noticed his two visitors. It would seem such a state is unfavorable to the lone woman as, with a furrowing of her eyebrows, Cornelia clears her throat before addressing her knight.
"Guilford."
At first unmoving, Guilford jerks into action, sitting up in his cot as he turns a wide-eyed stare to the purple-haired princess. His light blue eyes are unreadable; the news of his recent actions on the battlefield causing him great distress.
"Princess Cornelia!" He exclaims, sounding shocked.
Her gaze hardening, Cornelia glances at Gino out of her peripheral vision. "Sir Weinberg, leave us."
Startled by such an order, Gino glances between the two soldiers. He opens his mouth to question such a command, but closes it upon seeing the steely glint in the Witch of Britannia's eyes.
"Okay." He says brusquely, moving his right hand to scratch the back of his neck as he turns to leave. He stops at the threshold, glancing briefly at the two combatants locked in a staring contest before leaving, unsure of what exactly he should do now.
After some light contemplation, Gino figures there's only one thing he can do at the moment: search for Anya. From the information he has, the pink-haired girl disappeared not long after the order to destroy the Shinkirö was given.
"My lady, what are you doing here?" Guilford asks without preamble.
Cornelia's eyes soften almost imperceptible as she answers. "I desire to hear your thoughts on the matter of how you fought for the Black Knights instead of Britannia."
At that, Guilford clenches his hands into fists. With a faint tremble, Guilford meets the princess' level stare. "I'm not sure. One moment I was defending the Tokyo Settlement, the next I was fighting against my own comrades on the side of the Black Knights."
Suppressing a sneer, the purple-haired woman feels her hatred of her brother and the power of Geass increase to a fever pitch. Taking a deep breath so as to not explode in front of her knight, she pauses to gather her thoughts.
"You needn't worry about me questioning where your true loyalties lie." Cornelia starts. "I believe that whatever was causing your lapse of allegiance won't be a problem any further."
Through the process of rationalization, Cornelia knows that she won't have to worry about her knight fighting for the enemy. If Lelouch honestly wanted to keep the Spearhead of the Empire on the side of his despicable Black Knights, he could have easily captured him along with Suzaku. As much as Cornelia bears disdain for Lelouch and his nefarious ability, she cannot help but be grateful for the fact that her cherished knight isn't in the clutches of their enemies.
Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Cornelia resumes speaking. "At any rate, I believe it's time for your release so that we may hunt down the Shinkirö together."
"The Shinkirö?" Guilford repeats, looking befuddled by such a strange mission.
"I'll explain later." Cornelia says tersely as she turns around to face the door, a smile ghosting across her features at the sound of the cot rustling.
"By your command Princess Cornelia."
Standing outside the moderately-sized cave entrance leading into the main underground ruins of Kamine Island, the opening illuminated by several spotlights, Charles stares impassively at the entryway as the Knight of One does a cursory sweep of the immediate area for any hostile elements.
"The immediate area is secure Your Majesty." Bismarck states with a bow after emerging from deep within the surrounding forest.
However, before the man can respond, the sound of an explosion rips through the air. Originating from atop the nearby plateau, smoke billows up into the air as the area seems illuminated by a raging bonfire.
With a hum of disinterest as another explosion reverberates throughout the area, the flames becoming dark purple in the pale moonlight, Charles fixes the Knight of One with his stare. "Bismarck," He starts without so much as waiting for the source of the explosions to reveal itself. "I leave this mundane matter to you."
And with that, he starts walking toward the cave entrance, quickly disappearing from view within its dark embrace.
Meanwhile, Lelouch, having utilized the assistance of his pseudo-brother and those he commands with his Geass, walks in front of the billowing smoke and flame as a look of severity takes root on his face.
"My name is Lelouch vi Britannia!" The obsidian-haired man intones into the night, his contact lens gone as his Geass stands on full display as his only destination in mind is to find passage into the world where his father resides and defeat him. "I am the eldest son of Empress Marianne, the prince who was abandoned by his empire!" He pauses momentarily as ten Knightmare Frames manned by ten individual soldiers he manipulated with his Geass stop on either side of him, five to each. The ten Vincent Knightmare Frames kneel as they cross their lances in the air. "If anyone wishes to stop me, let them try!" he challenges, walking beneath the crossed lances as Rolo follows closely behind.
"Incredible." is the only thing Suzaku can say as he takes note of the Lancelot Albion's improved capabilities. It is almost impossible for him to recognize the Knightmare Frame as the same machine that was nearly decimated by the Guren S.E.I.T.E.N. Eight Elements. Offhandedly, Suzaku wonders what kind of machine could be built if the brightest engineering minds of the Black Knights and Britannia worked together. Such a thought is most assuredly ridiculous as, from what he can tell anyway, Rakshata and Lloyd couldn't be in the same room together without going for each other's throats. He's unsure how Cécile would fit into the mix, but she'd mostly likely follow Lloyd wherever he went over Rakshata.
With a slight shake of his head, he keeps his gaze straight ahead as Kamine Island comes into view. From what he can tell, it would appear that a violent aerial battle is taking shape as one of the Great Britannia's turrets fires at Knightmare Frames as Britannian Knightmares attacked each other.
He grinds his teeth, wondering if he's made the correct decision as he beholds what is undoubtedly a display of the power of Geass. Idly, Suzaku figures that to those of whom uninformed of Lelouch's Geass it would look like civil infighting.
The sound of static filling the air in the main room of the Ikaruga, the sound of Hong Gu's voice follows it.
"Ohgi, this is Hong Gu. Requesting landing clearance. We brought Her Majesty and Lady Kaguya with us."
"Right." Ohgi responds. To an observant onlooker, it would sound as if the curly-haired male is wracked with restlessness and no small amount of distress. Most likely, he's reeling from Kallen's brutal slaps and caustic words. "I'll contact Schneizel's staff as well."
I thought Ohgi had finally changed a bit. Diethard muses, head supported by his right hand as he sits in one of the main rooms chairs. But no, definitely miscast. His true nature is to be defensive.
With a wandering eye, as it falls on Villetta, the newsman cannot help narrowing his eyes at the Britannian soldier, a part of him wondering if she is somehow to blame for Ohgi's drastic change in character.
He shakes his head, discarding such thoughts for the moment as he ponders the location of the Shinkirö and his traitorous pilot.
"A damned rebellion?!" Bismarck exclaims with a hint of incredulity, the phone connected to the console in front of the cave the Britannian Emperor had gone down to his right ear as he converses with the Britannian Soldier on the other end as the other man informs the Knight of One of the current events to the best of his ability.
"Yes, My Lord." The man says, sounding frazzled. "Where's the emperor?"
"His Majesty is in the safest possible place." Bismarck replies, glancing up at the Great Britannia and the hail of gunfire surrounding it as Britannian Knightmare Frames fight among themselves. "For now we-"
He breaks off suddenly as the gunfire between the Britannian Forces escalates, some of the projectiles hitting the cliffs that lead into the small valley, some of the ground breaking loose. Tumbling to the ground, the rocks create a crater where it lands.
"Who is in command aboard the Great Britannia now?" Bismarck demands, changing topics as he shields his face from the dust that was shaken loose..
"Lady Monica Kruszewski, the honorable Knight of Twelve." The soldier replies.
"Very well." Bismarck says, his voice gruff. "In that case, I'm taking the Galahad!"
And with that, he disconnects the call, sets the phone down, and runs off to join the battle.
"You still can't contact the Modred?" Kanon asks the Britannian Soldier next to him as he sits next to Schneizel in the meeting room they were in previously as he, the Britannian Prince, Cornelia, and Gilbert sit across from Diethard, Ohgi, Kaguya, Jiang, and Xingke. Of those gathered, the Spearhead of the Empire seems the most uncomfortable despite his efforts of concealing his unease.
"No, My Lord." The soldier says, scratching at the back of his neck. "Although, I think she's headed for Kamine Island." His features turn thoughtful for a moment before he continues. "I believe the Tristan is already commencing his search for her."
"I see." Schneizel says, effortlessly including himself into the conversation. "That means she must have just received the intelligence and is on her way to His Majesty." he pauses, his features becoming unreadable as he considers this new information before abruptly standing up. "My apologies Lady Kaguya. The meeting will have to be postponed. We need to go to Kamine Island at once."
"I see." Kaguya says as she too stands up without missing a beat. "Then we should go with you as well." Although her features are impassive, the way her hands tighten into fists at her sides give an indication of her true feelings. "There's only one person I can think of who would be attacking the Britannian Emperor in this situation." she pauses, her hands relaxing. "I believe you all know who that is."
"I agree Lady Kaguya." Xingke says, giving a significant glance at Ohgi. After all, the news had to get such seemingly misleading information from somewhere. And while nothing is confirmed, the mind wanders all the same. "A man of incomporable intellect and cunning."
"That changes things." Kaguya says with an air of finality. "We have a few points to verify before we go on. We can continue this meeting once this matter has been settled."
As Suzaku is almost directly above the outskirts of Kamine Island - ever mindful of his distance to the Britannian Forces fighting amongst themselves - it would seem that he isn't far enough away from such hostile entities as he is quickly surrounded by four Britannian Knightmare Frames, their exterior sleek and shining in the moonlight.
And judging by the way they're brandishing their weapons at him, the Honorary Britannian finds it all too likely that he's facing down those of whom under the sway of Geass.
Okay Lancelot Albion. Suzaku thinks as he gives the controls inside his newly-rebuilt Knightmare Frame a cursory glance. Time to see what you can do.
Without further delay, the two forces leap into battle. However, it ends up being an almost shockingly quick match as Suzaku effortlessly decimates his four enemies. With two well-placed Slash Harkens that strike with merciless accuracy, he manages to destroy two of his foes before slashing through the other two with his Maser Vibration Sword. The four Vincent Knightmare Frames erupt into four explosions before Suzaku is once again left alone, wide-eyed at how easily he defeated them.
It's like it's on another level! Suzaku muses. Comparable to the Guren and the Galahad!
Before the brunet can further appreciate the feat of mechanical engineering, his eyes fall to the forest below, his eyes narrowing as he notices something moving in the shadows.
Or someone.
Descending quickly before landing, Suzaku jumps out of his Knightmare Frame before chasing after what he saw.
Bismarck hums thoughtfully as he views the unfolding carnage before him. His blue eye narrows as he watches the Great Britannia, the grand aircraft surrounded on all sides by Britannian forces. The Knight of One is unsure of where to proceed as he hovers in the air, secure in his Galahad Knightmare Frame.
"Our own forces are turning on us." Bismarck remarks gravely, the Galahad's sword already drawn. "I can't tell friend from foe and I can't just destroy them all."
Before he can further ruminate on his actions however, he is nearly hit by a barrage of Hadron Energy. The blast soaring harmlessly through the air, hitting nothing, the Knight of One knows it could only come from one source: the Mordred. Dodging the attack, he commands his Knightmare Frame to strike her with his Excalibur. Anya's Knightmare Frame blocks the attack before the two Knights of the Round turn to face each other.
"Anya, surely you aren't part of this too?!"
"So, the Knight of One is behind this traitorous coup d'état?!" Anya accuses, her tone almost uncharacteristically venomous.
"What's that?" Bismarck says, narrowing his eye at such a slight to his honor as the Knight of One.
Forming the Stark Hadron Cannon in front of her, Anya aims directly for her comrade. Firing the blast, the Galahad ascends to evades it before descending to strike at his compatriot with his Excalibur.
"Don't jump to conclusions!"
"How can I trust you?" Anya retorts as she unleashes a patchwork of Hadron Energy at him before descending somewhat as she turns her back to him. That would prove to be an ill-advised move on the part of the pink-haired girl as the Galahad's Excalibur Maser Vibration Sword manages to damage the Mordred's Integrated Float System.
"The enemy is from Shikine Island!" Bismarck states as the Mordred begins to lose altitude. "Monica can testify to it!"
While Anya hangs on to every word, with her eyes on the ground, she can make out the figure of Lelouch. A ghost of a soft smile flitting across her face, she soon raises an eyebrow in curiosity as she spots a brunet following close behind. Aside from who she's already seen, she can also make out the outline of Suzaku hiding within the shadows of the forest.
"I understand now." Anya states absently. "Forgive me Lord Bismarck."
"All I ask of you is your recognition." Bismarck says. "How damaged is your Knightmare?"
"My air combat mobility is dropping," Anya answers as her Mordred draws ever closer to the ground. "But perhaps I can intercept rebel forces on the ground."
"Understood." Bismarck says. "I'll defend the royal flagship."
As the two Knights of the Round go their separate ways, C.C. speaks.
"You're quite the actress, aren't you?" C.C. comments, an amused smile on her face. She hugs her faithful stuffed animal, the creature snug in her arms.
"We don't have time to explain things to Bismarck right now." Anya reasons. "Since I questioned his loyalty, he didn't question mine."
"Putting him on the defensive." C.C. says, glancing between the pink-haired girl and the Galahad as the Knight of One heads towards the direction of the Great Britannia. "That's just the sort of flash I'd expect from Marianne the Flash. And it's just perfect for Lelouch's mother."
"So what comes next?" Anya asks, the question abrupt as the lime-haired girl turns to her with bemusement in her eyes.
"Hm?"
"Well, we have to save him, don't we?" Anya elaborates.
For her part, C.C. remains silent as the Mordred lands.
The gears of Time and Space grinding together forever onward, two immense pillars created from the souls of humanity stretch high into the heavens.
A smirk of self-assurance on his face, Charles stands atop the Sword of Akasha.
"God, hear me now!" The white-haired man begins, his palm open, Charles' right hand is raised as the bird-like marking flares to life. "The time has come to settle this!"
"You're wrong." Lelouch says. Standing behind the older man, Charles he lowers his hand at the exclamation as the twin pillars in front of him begin to interweave and combine. Charles remains impassive as his progeny continues. "You lift your voice to call upon God, but it's not God you need to settle things with, Charles zi Britannia."
At that, Charles turns around to face his child as the obsidian-haired man appears.
"It's me, your son!"
"And how will you challenge me?" Charles asks, completely unfazed by the appearance of his son. "Neither gun nor sword will have any effect on me. Nor will the power of your Geass. Nothing you can do can kill me."
"But I don't need to kill you." Lelouch retorts. "By coming to this parallel realm, you've already ensured my victory."
No sooner are the words spoken do explosive devices that Lelouch and Rolo left attached to the entrances on Kamine Island leading to the Sword of Akasha detonate. Leaving naught but rubble as a reminder of the ferocity of the explosives, the entrances are but a memory.
The area turns pitch black save for the illumination provided by two vicious strikes of dark azure lightning, the blazing sun soon gracing the Sword of Akasha with its brilliance once more.
"You've sealed the exit?!"
A smirk of confidence and self-satisfaction decorates Lelouch's features before he speaks. "Yes. You, I, and the power of Geass are now sealed in this space together. And if you can no longer interfere with the real word, then all your plans will be meaningless in the end. You may as well be dead!"
"Lelouch!" Charles barks. "You insolent child!"
"The system which you created has become a prison which now holds your own soul captive." Lelouch says. "Now begins the start of your repentance, Charles zi Britannia! Now, you shall suffer for all eternity!"
Originally Added: October 19th, 2018