Chapter 25: Clouds on the horizon.
Pendragon, 9:45 pm
They were still gathered around Petrified Lelouch, when they were joined by a group of people, captained by Jeremiah: there were Loyd, Cecile, Nina, a little girl with black hair, some servants and seven women.
"Who are you?" Asked them CC.
"My name is Yaeko Minegasaki, and they are Yuriko Takagi, Alvida, Yurishia Farandole, Tamara Ylianttila, Irina Jelavic and Chris Vineyard." A woman with purple short hair, eyes of the same and lipstick on her lips, who wore a short black skirt who came to the groin, a jacket of the same color, a white shirt and black shoes.
"You are the harem of Lelouch, right?"
"Yes ... One for each day of the week, if he wanted to and if it was not with others." Yurishia replied, a woman with long blond hair, blue eyes and lipstick on her lips.
"Now you are free from the geass, you will not have to bend to his wishes anymore."
"What is geass?"
"The power of Lelouch, which I gave him, that of absolute obedience. Thanks to it he enslaved the world population. "
"That's why we could not disobey his orders!" Exclaimed Yuriko, a woman with long purple hair, eyes of the same color, lipstick on her lips and wearing a bright red dress that emphasized her forms.
"Exact. Jeremiah freed you through his geass canceller. "
"Who are you?" Tony asked, pointing to the girl with raven hair.
The latter was about to reply, but a female voice preceded her:
"Pepperoni! It is you?"
The boy turned and when he saw who he spoke there was a stone:
"Duce! What are you doing here? "Tony asked her.
"Duce ... Oh, Duce!"
Pepperoni jumped into the arms of the newcomer.
"You ... Do you know her?"
"She is Pepperoni, an my old friend. I have not seen her since I left Europe to join you. "
"All right, but now you explain to me what are you doing here at Pendragon? I told you to stay in Tokyo! "
"I followed you in secret. At Narita airport I told the counter that I had to travel with some friends, and that I was late. They replied that you were already on board. I positioned a few places further back. Once I got to my destination, I followed you from a distance. "She explained.
"I thought you were dead in that incident ..." Peperoni stated, between sobs.
"I came out unscathed, but I lost both my parents. Tony took me with him and took me to Japan. "Duce explained.
"Is he your friend?"
"Let's say yes," she said, blushing.
"Now no more talk. What's the next part of the plan? "Cornelia Asked.
To answer it was CC:
"The priority is to free as many people as possible from the influence of geass. But it will take time. In the meantime, we must keep the news of the coup d'etat secret. "
"How do we go on?"
"Jeremiah, go to the TV station and persuade Milly to announce that the emperor is ill, or in a coma. I leave the details to you. And remember to use the Geass Canceler on everyone you meet. "
"Yes." The man walked away.
"You help me get Lelouch somewhere."
"And where?" Faye asked her.
The green passed a hand on her face.
"In some areas of the building. Taking it out of here is too risky. Sayoko, do you have any ideas? "
The waitress thought about it, then said:
"A place would be ..."
"Which?"
"Follow me."
Sayoko led the group (some of which carried Lelouch) to the garage of the building, where they found, in addition to the emperor's personal car, a large metal cage.
"What is it?" Asked Esdeath.
"A cage." The maid / kunoichi replied.
"I see it's a cage, but what's the use?"
"Lelouch wanted to shut us up Cornelia, to have her paraded through the streets of the capital and subject her to public ridicule, before executing her."
"What a thoughtful brother ..." the woman commented.
"I have not considered him my brother any more for ten years ... Not after he used the geass on my sister Euphemia, causing her to kill the Japanese, and then kill her in cold blood." Cornelia intervened, cold.
"The princess of the massacre?"
Cornelia turned to Esdeath, glaring at her.
"Are you deaf? It's the fault of Lelouch's geass! "
"The blood of hundreds, thousands of unarmed civilians still stains her hands, geass or not geass."
"What did you say, bitch?" The purple asked, drawing her sword.
Esdeath, not at all intimidated, in turn turned her foil. The two women glared at each other, ready to stab each other. At that point intervened Evergreen, who got in the way.
"Time out! The duellists depose their swords! We're not here to slaughter each other!" She said.
"Not yet." Cornelia replied.
"I repeat, away the swords! Or I'll make sure you keep them forever! "
Immediately seized the message, first Esdeath then Cornelia sheathed the white weapons.
"And now we'll close Lelouch there."
Immediately Edward and Tony took the statue by the arms and moved it into the cage.
"Eh, if it weighs ..." the second said.
"True. Come on, let's go out now. "
Once outside, the door was closed behind, which was locked by Cecile, who owned the keys.
"Okay, Lelouch is our prisoner, but who will now take the lead?" Yuriko asked, doubtful.
"I, of course." Marianne said.
"One moment! You have bourgeois origins, I am the daughter of the emperor, ergo the throne is up to me! "Cornelia said.
"You betrayed your father, when you did not oppose the Schneizel coup, and you renounced the imperial title. You're out, my dear! "
"I thought I was clear ... I do not want to replace an autocrat with another! The people must govern! The monarchy must be abolished and replaced by a federal republic founded on democratic principles! "Leila interjected.
"Ruled by me!" Esdeath suddenly exclaimed.
" By you? "The blonde asked.
"For years I have considered you dead ... And then I come to know that you were alive, hidden somewhere where Leouch took control of the world. You should have taken the leadership of Euro Universe and guided us against the enemy, but you did not do it ... You are a coward! "
"Watch out, Esdeath ... If you're smart, your death will not be as quick and painless as that of Smilas!"
As she said this, Marianne shoved her.
"But fuck you blonde, you and democracy! Britannia has not become the dominant power thanks to democracy, but to the strength of its army and to the stability ensured by the imperial government! Democracy is an invitation to chaos. "
"You're a bitch!"
Leila lunged at her, punching her stomach and face. After the initial surprise, the shining lightning seized her by the arms, pushed her back and started to counterattack but Cornelia grabbed her by the hair, pulling hard.
"Leave me!" She shouted.
"I will be the empress of the world, is that clear? It's the right reward for all that I've had to endure in these years ... The death of Clovis, Euphemia, Villetta and Guilford, a life as a fugitive, always hunted! "The violet said.
At that point Esdeath stepped forward, slapping Cornelia.
"I will be the one to lead the world, in the post-Lelouch transition!"
Cornelia let go of Marianne, then drew her sword back and pointed it at Esdeath's throat, which found Leila's gun pointed to her temple.
"I will never allow you to establish a military dictatorship! Humanity must be free! "
"Freedom is a fairy tale for stupid people!" Said Cornelia.
Then the former leader of the W-0 unit turned against her.
"You never have to say it again!"
"Now calm down, please! It makes no sense to slaughter each other! "Edward exclaimed, trying in vain to calm the spirits.
Leila, Marianne, Cornelia, Esdeath ... They have different ideas on how to manage the world now that Lelouch has been dethroned. I fear this will lead to a bloody struggle of power, which will destabilize the planet.
She thought CC, anguished.
She turned to Lelouch, still petrified, locked in the cage.
Perhaps I would have done better to leave him on the throne ... But now it's late for second thoughts.
She told himself.
Meanwhile, the female quartet continued to argue.
Moon
Ellie was walking quietly near the abandoned military base. Giant spaceships lay around her. At one point she looked up at the sky, where planet Earth stood out, and smiled malevolently.
Even though the old Rathúnas empire has fallen, I can always create a new one on Earth. It will take me a few years, the time to rebuild the Motu outpost and send drones to gather information about the Terrans. It will not take long…. I do not miss the robotic labor, nor the means.
She thought, satisfied.
May the universe hear my warning! The kingdom of Gerel will rise again soon!
END?