The Kings Cometh 24: Empire of Justice
Zero, once again wearing his mask retrieved from Anya, stepped into the palace guest room set aside for him by Lelouch, and sighed. He set a hand to the back of his head and pulled the helm from his face, letting tangled and greasy red hair fall into his eyes. He sighed again and blew a breath up at the unwashed locks to clear his vision. The last time he'd stayed in this room was about a year ago, during the first Britannian Alliance Day. It was hard to accept the world had already fallen back into war since then, but with Geass being the driving force behind the conflict no one who knew the truth could say they were honestly surprised.
Funny, no matter how awful it was humanity was about to begin World War, (what was it now, IV?), there were still some good things to come from it. For instance, Patrick Stadtfeld and Shina Kozuki were reunited. Before the Geass Council got started that evening Naoto had told Kallen the news, but neither sibling really had any thoughts on the matter. It was such a foreign concept to them, their parents actually getting back together. Thinking about it now as he quietly took off his cape and costume, throwing the garments lazily to the floor, Naoto was quite certain everything would work out. His and Kallen's stepmother was still in the USJ, now occupied by the Chinese Federation, so she wasn't going to get between his parents any time soon.
Kozuki-Stadtfeld. Naoto had insisted on using both names so long as Shina and Patrick were split. He supposed now, after 10 years, he could finally drop that first part again. Not only that, he was going to take a break from being Zero. For the first time in so incredibly long, he was going to just be himself, the way he used to be, just plain old Naoto Stadtfeld.
At the moment Naoto didn't feel like taking a shower. Since the Dropsite Massacre he hadn't been sleeping well, and had been up for a few days besides, since the morning before Japan was conquered again and he'd fled to Britannia. At that very moment all he wanted was to sleep.
In a corner of the guest room by a queen-sized bed, already made, were two suitcases, brought in from the Tsugumi by royal servants at some point after the Black Knights landed in Pendragon, and Naoto walked over to look through them. Inside those simple bags were treasures, some of the only possessions Naoto still owned in the world, rescued from Horai before its demise. There was a spare Zero costume, a combat knife, a pistol, a grenade, and Naoto's first manga, bought for him by his father years upon years ago before Britannia's invasion and the subsequent shrinking (though thankfully not annihilation) of the industry. There was a set of casual clothes, a picture in a wood frame of him and Kallen and Shina standing in front of Mt. Fuji, and also the polished, bejeweled purple sword of Zero. At least, that last one was SUPPOSED to be there.
"The hell...?" Naoto muttered to himself as he dug through his suitcases, initially to grab some pajamas, but now in search of his prized weapon. "Well, where did it go? It should be right there! I had it in my hand-" he held up his hand, "-then I put it in the bag...-" he motioned to his bag, "Sonnuvabitch, did I leave it in the Vindicta?"
Naoto stood up and flopped over on his back against the cool blankets of his temporary bed. He groaned.
"Well, whatever."
At this hour even the loss of his sword, his badge of office as Zero, seemed inconsequential compared to his need for sleep. He groaned again and stood up to get ready for another hard night's rest.
NNNNNNNNN
A few hours after the UFN declared war upon Britannia, afternoon finally arrived in China, and above the Forbidden City the Shen-Hu flew imperiously. Inside his knightmare, Xingke cursed to himself.
The destruction in Tokyo was severe, especially considering the USJ had given up almost immediately without putting up a fight. There was no reason to smash buildings or detain civilians, and witnessing these crimes, which were purported to be on the orders of Empress Tianzi herself, Xingke couldn't help but grow suspicious. The Empress he knew would never command such horrors. Never. Tianzi was a kind and just girl, not at all like the person demanding atrocities because Japan "sheltered Zero, an enemy of the state."
So he left. Xingke flew by himself back from Tokyo to Beijing hoping to see his beloved queen and find out what had caused her attitude to so suddenly and drastically change.
Landing his knightmare on a grassy patch right before the main buiding of Tianzi's palace, Xingke opened his cockpit to jump down and walk directly to the giant double doors. He wore his usual flight suit, his long, flowing hair tied back, and his antique sword was at his belt. There were still patches of burnt earth and rubble littered around the Forbidden City from when the Black Knights attacked, (whether it was actually them or not, Xingke was no longer so certain), and workers and servants scuttled about outside, slowly restoring the area to its former glory. Xingke ignored them, and ignored the two guards at the palace entrance asking for identification as well.
Just inside, Xingke was met with the blank gaze of his empress. She stood completely alone and completely still before the doors, as if at attention and waiting for something, or someone.
"Your Majesty," Xingke greeted anxiously in Chinese, "are you alright?"
No response. Xingke took a step closer. Tianzi stared lifelessly forward. He experimentally stepped to the side but her eyes did not follow his move. Instead they stayed fixed at the doors, unblinking. Xingke gritted his teeth as he felt his heart speed up, bringing a sharp pain to his chest and the familiar need to cough. He placed his hands gently against his young queen's shoulders, draped in her royal vestments, and spoke with the utmost worry in his tone.
"What's going on with you? Please answer me. I'm begging you!"
She replied, monotonous and unfeeling.
"Miss Shizue will be back soon. She suggested I wait for her. I appreciate her advice. I will wait."
"What? Your Majesty, please, you're not making sense!"
From behind Tianzi came a throaty cackle and Xingke looked up to see R.R. grinning down upon him, a sword at his belt, a hand resting upon its pommel. Originally this man said his name was Romochka and he'd defected from the Black Knights when they went rogue. Seeing what he'd done during the Chinese Federation invasion of Tokyo, and seeing him now in the Empress' palace, Xingke was fairly certain those were both lies.
"You!" Xingke growled in the common language of English, standing tall and grabbing for his own sword's handle. "What did you do to the Empress!?"
R.R. shook his head patronizingly.
"Xingke, I thought you were a pretty good soldier - as good as mortals like you can get."
"Excuse me?" Xingke narrowed his eyes and tightened his grip on his weapon.
"Back in Tokyo I saw you desert, so I followed you. And what do you know, you came here!"
Xingke circled away from Tianzi but never let his eyes drift from his opponent. R.R. in turn began to circle as well, his feet stepping gracefully one after the other, his legs never crossing and never taking a step back.
"I'll ask again," Xingke muttered dangerous and low, "what did you do to the Empress?"
R.R. threw his head back, though without letting his eyes lose Xingke's, and gave a boisterous laugh.
"A good soldier doesn't think for himself, so clearly I was mistaken about you."
"Wrong answer."
Xingke unsheathed his blade and lunged. R.R. drew his own sword and snarled, a feral grin on his lips.
"Still, there are ways to fix that!"
Their weapons smashed into each other, Xingke's edge against R.R.'s flat, the shrill ring of steel on steel echoing within the palace walls. Then, just as quickly as he had struck, Xingke fell back, raising his blade to guard as R.R. retaliated, deftly swinging his longsword with practiced ease, snorting with cruel laughter all the while.
"I've never had the pleasure of cutting down an Oriental before!"
Their blades sang as they pounded against each other, deflected each other, each man trying gain the upper hand against the other. Xingke was faster, quickly regaining control of the battle and putting his opponent on the constant defensive, but R.R. was stronger, and each time he parried and countered, Xingke struggled to keep his weapon in position for the next strike.
He felt an urge to cough.
'This isn't good,' he thought to himself as he hopped to the side, trying to get around R.R.'s defense. 'I can't keep my breathing slow enough. At this rate I'll choke to death on my own blood instead of losing. Her Majesty is in danger here too. I better hurry.'
Without meaning to, Xingke took his eyes away from his enemy to glance at his empress, still standing by the doors, entirely unconcerned with the duel raging not five meters away. With his focus divided, Xingke missed his opportunity to take off the Russian's head, instead having his blade parried and only managing to land a small cut into R.R.'s shoulder.
R.R. growled in pain or irratation and gave ground, flourishing his weapon and moving into a more aggressive stance, as if daring Xingke to attack again. Xingke was no fool though and would not be tricked. He feinted a thrust and R.R. took the bait, hefting his weapon to knock the other away and split Xingke in two in the process. The flower petal design of Xingke's guard caught against R.R.'s less elaborate crossguard, and, with both their blades suddenly locked in place, Xingke delivered a snap kick to the Russian's jaw, eliciting a cringeworthy crack of breaking bone and sending him tumbling to the floor, blood spewing from his mouth.
Xingke allowed himself a moment to regain his breath, fighting back urges to cough and trying his best not to let his enemy see his weakness. Not that R.R. would have noticed anyway, for he held his eyes shut and groaned incoherently on the floor, one hand still clenching his sword's grip and the other trying to hold his jaw together as blood continued to dribble between his fingers. Xingke hovered over his wounded adversary and pointed his sword menacingly.
"If you can still speak after that, 'Romochka' then I suggest you tell me what you did to the Empress. Do that and I might spare your life."
R.R. gurgled a reply between his fingers, then, horrifyingly, like the invicible monsters of humanity's darkest mythologies, he shoved his jaw back into place, causing another crunch of bones shifting into their proper arrangement. He took away his hand and opened his mouth experimentally, having no issues with it at all.
Xingke couldn't believe his eyes and surrendered to a fleeting moment of fear, taking a step back and letting his sword arm tremble, causing the blade to waver.
R.R. slowly rose to his feet in silence, blood still dripping from his mouth like a vampire and bleeding into his clothes. He wasn't laughing anymore, his expression now turned to the blackest of rages.
"You're stronger than you look," he muttered, the words coming slow and guttural. "You damn Asians have a weird style of fighting. You dance around like a brothel girl!"
Xingke couldn't help himself. At the sight of R.R., bloodied but somehow unharmed, he took another step back.
"You shouldn't be standing after that kick. You should hardly even be able to speak!"
R.R. then made a noise, something beyond human understanding; a predatory growl, animalistic and filled with hate.
"Surprise."
With that, the Russian roared and threw himself at Xingke, heaving his sword without any finesse. Xingke leapt back from his mad enemy's attack and whipped his hidden chain-dagger, the deadly efficient weapon piercing R.R.'s right arm. Xingke surged forward and pulled on the chain of his projectile, ripping it from R.R.'s arm and in doing, dragging him out of his guarded stance, leaving him completely exposed.
He plunged his sword through R.R.'s chest, the immaculate silver blade rupturing out his back, drenching him even further in his own blood.
Rather than falling limp or doing anything else Xingke had come to expect from those in their final moments, R.R. stared him straight in the eyes and gave a bloodsmeared, toothy grin.
"Gotcha."
Not a second passed before Xingke suddenly felt incredibly wrong. Images flashed through his mind, distressing, terrifying thoughts.
There were clouds of skulls.
Jupiter.
There were people, more zombie than human, shambling forward as one on a backdrop of pure white.
Jupiter.
There was an army of men with axes, swords and bardiches. A younger version of R.R. was among them.
Jupiter.
With a short scream of fright Xingke pulled his sword from R.R.'s chest, stepping back wide-eyed. He was shaken, but, through sheer willpower, refocused himself and pointed his sword once again at R.R., covered in red and standing loosely, as if his heart hadn't just been punctured.
Xingke shook his head in disbelief.
"What are you!?"
"A good soldier does what he's told. I suppose we can't let you off your leash anymore, can we?"
There was a girl, with steel blue hair and dressed in clothes fit for a Chinese Empress, leaning against the inside of the doors, watching Xingke and R.R.'s exchange. When did she get there? How had Xingke missed her?
"Miss Shizue," murmured Tianzi, partially coming out of her trance, "welcome home."
Xingke turned to face this "Shizue" person, pointing his sword at her fearfully. The last thing he saw was a shine of red in her left eye before his mind fell numb.
LLLLLLLLLLLL
Before morning had even come in Britannia, an incredibly controversial video was released to the public. Somehow, someone had snuck into the Imperial Palace's Great Hall (despite the "no reporters allowed" policy) and filmed Zero's request for aid. That on its own caused a stir, for the more ceremonial workings of the government were not usually so transparent, but what truly divided the people was Clovis interrupting to call Zero's character into question.
Almost instantly, those in Britannia who were still unsure of the new Zero made up their minds and joined the already large base of people who were of the opinion that he was a menace. The topic was hot on every forum, and every news station had their own thoughts to add. The general consensus was the new Zero had purposely attacked the Chinese Federation, just as the previous damning video evidence suggested, and Emperor Lelouch was too idealistic and kind of heart to refuse helping him when his actions backfired spectacularly.
To Milly, this unexpected new development was only another incongruous clue to help her in uncovering Lelouch's conspiracies. The more she thought about things, the less she was able to take anything at face value. For example, as she was heading off to work before the sun had yet to rise, her phone rang and none other than her husband Lloyd was on the other line, explaining that he and Rivalz had been discharged from the hospital in Mexico City and would arrive in Pendragon shortly. It was joyous news, to be sure, but the Ashford woman couldn't help but wonder how they'd healed so quickly.
"Ask yourself: 'Who was the first Zero?'"
That's what Diethard told her the previous night. If that was the key to understanding everything as he suggested, could that mean all the little discrepancies and seemingly unrelated but unexplained events were intertwined? Could, say, Lloyd and Rivalz overcoming their injuries have something to do with Lelouch's recent travels? Was the first Zero conducting research behind the scenes that contributed to their recovery?
Stepping inside her news station for another hard day's work, Milly wondered.
"Who was Zero?"
Nobody knew the answer to that question. Well, Diethard seemed to know since he made a point to have Milly investigate that line of thought, and he'd only mentioned it after meeting with Lelouch, so her childhood friend-turned-king probably knew too. That was no small wonder though since he and Zero were so alike. It only made sense the masked man would confide in Lelouch his true identity, aside from just a few small differences they might as well have been the same person.
Huh. Well, that was a strange thought. Lelouch being Zero? Impossible. They'd been together in the same place on multiple occasions. But then again, anyone could wear a mask, and Lelouch had been spouting much of the same rhetoric as Zero since before he went into puberty. Could it be that...?
No, Milly decided. Lelouch couldn't have been Zero because Lelouch was still alive and Zero was crushed under the debris of the former Imperial Palace. The only way they could've been one in the same was if Lelouch had found a cure for death. But, once again, the video of Lelouch in Mexico came to Milly's mind, of him walking away from a car crash covered in blood but somehow without a scratch. And Zero's body had never been found so...
While she considered, Milly had put away her purse and had a last cup of coffee in the breakroom before stepping in front of the cameras to deliver the morning's news, moving through her daily routine on autopilot. As techs around the studio counted down and put her through LIVE to the public, one last tip from Diethard came to her mind. Inwardly, she smirked.
'Try believing the unbelievable once and a while.'
LLLLLLLLLLLL
Upon finally going to bed after breaking the bad news of war to the "Geass Council," a name thought up by Euphemia that somehow stuck, Lelouch was troubled by nightmares.
In his dreams he saw fields of corpses, killed by his pursuit of power. Among the fallen were his cherished friends, Kallen and Suzaku, Nunnally and Euphy, too many to count. He looked down upon the scene from somewhere above, chatters and murmurs of disappointment in him ringing in his ears. He'd failed. After all his work, and even after starting over with the gift of a second chance he called "C," nothing had changed. The world was as steeped in blood as it ever was and this time it was his fault. Then, when he felt his sorrow could grow no deeper, all faded to black, replaced with a mirror. He looked into it, but all that stared back was Jupiter.
Morning eventually came though, as it always would to abolish the shadows of past regrets, and Lelouch was joined by C.C. (who refused any offer of having her own quarters in the palace, instead taking up residence in Lelouch's suite), and Kallen, adding another vacation day away from classes, (with the war against Charles, she never had finished high school), for breakfast.
"So," C.C. wondered aloud, stretching out on her belly on one of the deep purple couches scattered around Lelouch's sitting room, "when are you going to tell everybody about the war?"
Lelouch didn't answer at first. He stood in the kitchen area of his private rooms, frying pan in hand with scrambled eggs sizzling upon its surface and tapping some unknown spice into the mix with the other. It was quite a sight to say the least, the Emperor of Britannia, bleary-eyed and cooking breakfast for a duo of bright-haired women.
"Tonight," he said, tossing the glass container of spice to the side to grab for a fork and dancing it through the cooking food. "The military is already on the move, but I'll release the information publicly tonight."
Sitting in Lelouch's favourite chair turned to face C.C., Kallen leaned back to yawn but moved too swiftly, banging her head back against the seat harder than she intended. For her trouble she received only an amused grin from C.C. and a headache.
"What-are-you-going-to-tell-everyone?-It's-not-like-you-can-tell-the-truth."
Despite the speed with which she spoke, her words almost running together but seeming perfectly distinct to her Geass-enhanced sense of time, Lelouch hummed in response.
"Of course I can tell the truth." As he spoke, the Black King coaxed the eggs out of his pan and into a dish filled with tomatoes and peppers and other herbs. "It only matters which truth I decide to tell."
C.C. rolled onto her back and smirked at her fellow immortal.
"It's certainly a common tactic used throughout history. Just be careful not to rile the people up too much. If you play the nationalism card Britannia will go right back to how it was under Charles."
His task complete, Lelouch carried the steaming breakfast dish now topped with bacon into the sitting room and set it upon his brass endtable. He would have preferred everyone eat at the dining table, deeper into his suite, but knowing C.C., she was just going to grab a plateful and go sit elsewhere anyway, so he didn't bother.
"I've already considered that," he mentioned, returning to the kitchen to acquire forks and plates, and a bowl for Kallen since she was having a hard time functioning due to her Awakened Geass. "No matter what happens, I won't let Britannia fall back into old habits."
There was no conversation as Lelouch spooned generous helpings of food onto C.C. and Kallen's plate and bowl and sat down beside C.C. on the couch to have some as well. In C.C.'s case perhaps there was nothing to say. For Kallen it took actual effort to slow herself down, unbearably slow, so she didn't accidentally fling each forkful of her breakfast across the room trying to get it to her mouth. Lelouch fell into contemplation.
At last though, he ended the silence.
"Right now it's Britannia against the UFN, the entire rest of the world. But the true enemy is maybe only a single person, a Code-Bearer and at least one Contracted Geass user. As for that Geass user, I believe we may have some clues as to what power they hold:
"When the UFN representatives called last night, they mentioned Zero, but only Zero, not Naoto. The current members of the UFN know the current Zero's true identity, so they should have demanded I turn Naoto over, but they didn't. They didn't behave naturally either, so it seems obvious the Geass cast on them controls their actions completely, unlike my power which allows a degree of autonomy.
"Not only that, we can gather that whoever is controlling them can't read their thoughts or learn their secrets, otherwise, once again, they would have demanded I arrest Naoto, not Zero."
At this, Kallen stopped eating to stare at Lelouch, her left eye burning accusingly while her right wondered curiously.
"That's-good-then,-right?"
"Yes, that's very good. It means we don't have to worry about our enemies singling out Naoto." Lelouch leaned forward conspiringly, letting the faintest of hopeful smiles onto his face. "And if our dear Cassandra did her job, nobody else but those who know of Geass will recall the current Zero's identity either."
C.C. glanced at Lelouch at the mention of her true name and swallowed a mouthful of tomato.
"You don't have to worry, I closed everyone's memories off with Code before you even woke up. I don't understand why everyone's such an early riser around here."
"Are you sure you got everyone?"
"I'm not an amateur, Lelouch."
There was another moment of only clinking forks as the trio ate before Kallen coughed and her eyes began to water. Without realizing it, she'd begun to speed up again, letting her body move at what she perceived to be a natural pace, but in reality was so fast she was shovelling food into her mouth and now was choking. She gulped hard and gave an unladylike thump of her fist against her chest, finally downing what had gotten caught in her throat, then gasped deeply for air.
"Uh," C.C. began, not excessively concerned, "are you okay?"
Lelouch was already up and about to dash over to Kallen when the redhead held a hand out to stop him, nodding her head.
"Yeah,-I'm-fine,-just-gimme-a-minute!"
Lelouch sat back down but kept his eyes focused on his true love suffering from an uncontrolled Geass. The atmosphere in the Black King's quarters became sullen in hardly a moment, and C.C., beginning to feel uncomfortable, posed a thought she'd kept to herself for almost four years.
"Lelouch, I know everything that happened to you during your past life - before 'C.'"
Lelouch held his gaze on Kallen for another moment, reluctant to look away in case some tragedy befell her the moment he let down his guard, but eventually turned to respond to the greenette.
"Yes, you do. You read my memories after I had Clovis release you from Code R. Why mention it now though?"
C.C. had already finished her meal and set her empty plate and fork down upon the carpet. She let herself fall onto her back against the couch, narrowing her eyes as she let a tone of seriousness creep into her voice.
"Once upon a time you wrote the UFN Charter with the declaration that all member states would abandon their native militaries in favour of a unified army, yet in this second life you merely wrote that all militaries must provide a portion of their forces to the Black Knights, and fall into Zero's command structure in the event of a crisis. You've done a lot of things differently from your first life. Why?"
"'Why?'" Lelouch scoffed. "I always learn from my mistakes."
"Wasn't it a mistake to let every nation keep their own army? That's why they're able to take up arms against you now."
"To the contrary. This is exactly why I changed the way I wrote the Charter in the first place."
C.C. cocked an eyebrow at Lelouch's reply.
"A safeguard?"
Lelouch's mouth parted into a dark grin, the kind he only wore when things were going all according to plan.
"In my first life the Black Knights betrayed me, taking with them all the insurmountable advantages I gave them in the first place. I took that low point to heart. This time I created weaknesses inherent both to the UFN and the Black Knights that I could negate if they followed me, but could be exploited if they betrayed me again."
Kallen had finally regained her breath and entered the conversation, speaking unevenly, trying and mostly failing to match pace with her fellows.
"By allowing the UFN-states to-have standing-armies of-their-own, you capped the maximum size-of-the Black-Knights!"
Lelouch nodded, pleased with her observation.
"Yet their forces would always outnumber any single nation's, thereby maintaining the balance of power."
"You forgot one part though," C.C. quipped. "The truth is you're the one keeping the balance of power. Isn't that right, L.L.?"
Lelouch chuckled back.
"'If you want something done right...' Funny though, I always expected the UFN to turn on 'Lelouch,' not 'Zero.' Now that they no longer have the Black Knights to pool their troops into, taking them apart should be even easier."
The young king's expression soured and he added unhappily to his previous thought.
"But the presence of Geass still worries me..."
"As it should," C.C. noted casually. "With Geass, perfect coordination between disparate countries and militaries can be artificially achieved. It's a troubling factor indeed."
Kallen blinked at C.C.'s words.
"We-can-still-take-them,-right?" Her words had begun to run together again.
C.C. shrugged and Lelouch lowered his head.
"We have no other choice but to win, but there's more to worry about than just that. We have to consider what'll become of those who were geassed."
C.C. picked up Lelouch's line of reasoning.
"Even if a Geass doesn't directly cause damage, there are sometimes side effects. Just look at what became of Anya, or how Shirley reacted before 'C' after she realized how many times she'd been brainwashed. If our enemies use their Geass powers without restraint, who knows how much damage they'll do by the time we finally deal with them. Their victims' minds will probably be mush."
Kallen hadn't thought of that, but now that it was being brought up, it made total sense. Geass wasn't harmless, even if the effects were limited. But the more a person was subjected to it though, the more likely those effects would become readily pronounced.
"Withered minds..." Lelouch muttered idly. "An army of men whose minds are withered from Geass: Withermen."
Kallen interrupted.
"So,-if-we're-up-against-victims of Geass,-how-do-we-help-them?"
Lelouch shook his head.
"In battle there's no way to know who's being controlled, and even if we did, we don't have a Geass Canceller to free them."
"Then-we'll-just-have-go-through-them-whether-they're-geassed-or-not."
Agreeing with the redhead, C.C. gave her own answer.
"Ruthlessness is the mercy of the wise. The faster we win the war, the fewer 'Withermen'-" C.C. smirked to Lelouch as she used his new term, -"we'll have to worry about, not to mention the death toll will be lower. Besides, for those affected by Geass, a quick death may be the only release they'll be able to find."
There was a heavy silence in the Emperor's chambers, the heaviest one yet, as the two immortals and one Awakened Geass user realized the severity of C.C.'s statement. What she suggested was brutal and barbaric, but ultimately sound. At last Lelouch responded.
"We're in agreement then. If we purposely limit ourselves we'll only prolong the conflict and let more innocents die in a pointless war. When we fight, we have to fight to win. When we attack, we can offer our enemies no quarter. A sweeping, merciless victory is the only mercy we can afford to give."
LLLLLLLLLLLL
Unlike most mornings in the Imperial Palace's dining hall, this day it was not crowded. There was a conspicuous absence of members of the Royal Family, as well as knights and other military personnel, including Zero and most the Black Knights, and of course the Emperor was not present either, though that was common.
Sitting at a table, eating with Shirley and her mother beneath the great chamber's gold lights mixed with morning sun through the windows, Gino couldn't help but feel less than jovial. He was being quite obvious about it too, catching Shirley's attention.
"Sir Weinberg," she wondered, concern in her tone, "are you okay?"
"Ah!" Gino shook his head, as if to get out all the negativity in his brain. "Of course! I'm just fine! And there's no need to be formal with me, of all people. Please, call me Gino."
"That's a lot like what Miss Anya said."
"Oh yeah, did you get to talk much with her before...?" He dropped off before he could mention the escape from Japan.
Shirley didn't let the mood fall, replying cheerfully.
"I did! She's really different from how she's portrayed by the media. She's a little strange, but really quite charming."
"Haha," Gino laughed to himself, thinking of his pink-haired friend. "Anya always was an oddball. But then again, it's almost a requirement to be little crazy to be a Knight of the Round."
"Are you two close?"
Gino put a hand to his chin to consider.
"Not really. She never used to make friends, so I tried to be there for her. Then she started opening up and I went off with the Black Knights, so we haven't stayed in contact. It looks like she's doing pretty good now though."
Shirley nodded at Gino's words and looked to her mother. Anna was not involving herself in her daugher's conversation, instead checking her phone meticulously, apparently reading texts from her husband.
It was only a day ago that Shirley and Anya had met, but it felt like so much longer. Thinking back, she recalled the very disjointed discussion they'd had about crushes, and the subsequent request for Zero to be her boyfriend. Of course, that was their business, not Shirley's or anyone else's, and she would never be so rude as to openly speak of the subject behind Anya's back, but Shirley couldn't help but be curious and protective of her new friend.
"So, Gino, you're the first Knight of Zero, right? You must be around Zero all the time."
Gino shrugged.
"The Knight of Zero is supposed to be Zero's best fighter and commander of Zero Squad. I was usually off doing my own thing while he did his, so the most we've seen of each other's actually been since the Black Knights started getting into fights again."
"What do you know about Zero?"
To this Gino raised an eyebrow. During the Geass Council the previous night Lelouch had declared no one was to know Zero's true identity but those who knew of Geass. To that end, he and C.C. were going to "close" people's memories, whatever that meant. Shirley didn't know about Geass, so she wasn't among those who were allowed to know.
"What about you?" the knight probed, using a bright voice and smile to mask his intentions. "What do you know about him? Any idea who he is under that helmet?"
"I don't know what to think about him, whoever he is." Shirley sat back and fell into a deep concentration, trying to recall something, but not seeming to have any luck. "You know, I feel like I should know Zero's true identity, but for some reason I just can't remember."
"Oh really?" Gino peered at Shirley curiously. So that's what Lelouch meant. Huge portions of Shirley's memory hadn't been ripped out of her, but rather she'd only been forced to forget a select few details. With all the scary talk of Geass, Gino had been slightly worried about what would happen to those Lelouch decided knew too much.
"Come to think of it," Shirley noted, no longer worrying about her lapse of memory, "where is Zero?"
In the past, before joining the Black Knights, Gino might've spoken without care, but losing faith in his king, then losing a war, then joining his former enemies had forced him to grow up, if only a little bit. As such, he chose his next words carefully.
"Zero doesn't take off his mask in public, so coming to eat in the dining hall wouldn't work out so well for him. I think, uh... We won't be seeing much of Zero for a while."
"Huh? Why's that?"
Gino hesitated before responding, changing the subject.
"I'm leaving the Black Knights and rejoining the Knights of the Round Table."
Shirley blinked in surprise but said nothing. Gino continued more solemnly than he would have wanted.
"It's been really great meeting you, Lady Fenette, but after today I don't think we'll be able to see each for a while."
"Sir, I mean... Gino, what's going on?"
Around the room conversation stopped and heads turned as the Knight of One entered the dining hall, Suzaku Kururugi, in full white uniform and white cape over his shoulders, a patch of black over his left eye.
Gino stood up from his seat, leaving his meal half-finished.
"I can't say. Just... You'll find out soon. Just promise to stay safe."
With that, he walked away, approaching the other Knight, and with him, leaving the hall completely.
LLLLLLLLLLLL
Hours had passed since breakfast, and now Lelouch sat in full regal attire in his office in his tower, overlooking all his palace and dominion below. Upon his desk was his laptop, again in the middle of an online meeting, but this time covering a subject far more uplifting. Gilles Vavier, Albert Sunder and Reginald Falk, along with a strangely familiar grey cat, sat awkwardly huddled together so they were all seen by their camera.
During I.I.'s takeover of the UFN headquarters, though they had no knowledge of the immortal or what had truly happened there that day, the three diplomats had escaped to Australia, from where they were now contacting Lelouch. The three old men were absolutely flustered as they ranted to the Britannian Emperor, frequently interrupting each other and using harsh slurs against each other at every opportunity. Slowly they made progress telling their story though, of how the other UFN representatives had lost their minds and how Chinese Federation soldiers had attacked them when they had somehow avoided being put under the same spell as their former friends.
"I've already contacted President Renaud," Gilles huffed, his moustache seeming to squirm on his blustering face. "He knows the true story now, and as the French Minister of Foreign Diplomacy and a personal friend, he trusts my word above that of our mad cohorts! The Chinese Federation attempted to assassinate a French diplomat and the UFN is trying to cover the whole thing up! We will not let this insult stand! La France and her allies will stand with Britannia!"
Reginald Falk cut in, squawking angrily over the Frenchman.
"You got lucky, chap! Four of my people didn't make it out of there alive! It's an act of war and Australia won't just take it this time! We're with Britannia!"
Albert Sunder, holding the grey cat in his arms (staring with yellow eyes into the screen, straight at Lelouch happily), cut in next, more annoyed than furious like his companions.
"Well, it's not like Britain and Ireland get a choice anymore since we're back under your rule. Still, for what it's worth, all the islands in the British Isles and our allies overseas will fight for the Crown."
Lelouch marvelled at this news. Even if it was for different reasons, and while not even knowing the supernatural truths behind the recent events, the entire French and English-speaking worlds were coming together against a common foe in the UFN. Much forgotten in international politics, the African Protectorates of the EU were loyal to specific European countries over the supernation as a whole, France and England (which colonized the continent separately from its former Britannian masters) in particular.
The board was reset. The sides were completely even. France and Britannian Britain and Ireland stood against Spain to the south and the rest of Europe to the east, Africa's loyalties were split down the middle, and Australia and the Britannian Americas stood in opposition to a united Asian power.
There was a knock at Lelouch's door and the Emperor cut his meeting short, thanking the elder politicians for their support.
"Come in," he commanded, shutting his laptop.
The door opened and Cornelia strode in carrying a bundle of folders under her arm. She was dressed as formally as could be, in a dark purple uniform adorned with gold thread and gleaming gold buttons underneath a cape of immaculate white, violet and gold. Upon the fabric of her left breast was a broach of shining silver encrusted with ruby, the winged sword emblem of the Britannian Imperial Army.
"I'm going to get straight to the point," she said sharply, offering her reports to Lelouch who began flipping through their contents immediately. "We'll be ready to deploy all continental forces by midnight tonight."
"We have good news: France and Australia have come over to our side." Lelouch didn't even look up from his reading material as he spoke. "We'll maintain the Far East three-theatre-plan, but rather than pushing west into India, I want you to take your forces north through Malaysia to rendezvous with me and Schneizel in China."
Cornelia let a cruel grin play at her lips.
"Understood. I recommend we redirect our invasion force bound for France into Africa. I've taken the liberty of promoting Andreas Darlton to Grand Marshal and assigning him to the Western Front; if the Frenchies can hold out, he can relieve them from the south."
"Pick two divisions to stay on course and reinforce them. They're going to take a beating. I'll send two Knights of the Round to support the defense."
"Speaking of which, my recommendations for promotion to Knights of the Round are in the 'Commanders' folder."
Lelouch put down the paper he was reading and set it aside to pull another folder from the pile on his desk. He opened the cover and scanned the contents of the first page. There were pictures and descriptions of ten men and women from Cornelia's Royal Guard there, and in barely a moment of checking through their outstanding careers, Lelouch looked up at his sister, reading off the words before him.
"Baron Schutenkin Gordiengo the Third: Before being chosen to serve with your Royal Guard he was a captain in the 8th Division KMF Dragoon Cavalry in the former Area 2.
"Zectole Vignal Jr.: Previously a warrant officer in the Area 11 Colonial Army, 1st Mechanized Infantry Regiment.
"Roland Grenier: A former leftenant in the Area 6 Colonial Army, 2nd KMF Squad.
"You certainly don't settle for less, Cornelia. The three I just mentioned will be Knights of the Round. I have an important meeting with ASEEC this afternoon and I want them to be present."
Cornelia nodded, proud of her beloved soldiers and the honour to be placed upon them.
"They won't fail you."
"Your word to me is worth more than gold. I'm sure they'll perform their duties admirably."
Lelouch set aside the "Commanders" folder, taking up another marked "Infantry Reformation." His purple eyes focused on the writing, the black type against a background of drab white. He flipped the first paper over. Then another. Then, on the third paper, he stopped to look up at Cornelia again, a good-humoured smile on his face.
"'... Infantry kevlar undersuit... previously recoloured from grey to a dull shade of white... body armour recoloured from grey to a desaturated red...' Well, Cornelia, I didn't expect you to have a taste for the nostalgic. All they're missing now is tricornes."
Cornelia grinned at her liege's approval.
"I knew you'd appreciate Form VI. I never did like the grey uniforms our men were forced to wear. It stifled their morale."
"So this is what you do with your power over the army? Enforce your sense of fashion?"
Though she knew it was a joke, Cornelia focused to hold down a blush of embarrassment. Lelouch simply let out a genuine laugh.
"This is good, Cornelia! Very good. And the 'Gendarme Project'...?"
In less than an instant Cornelia regained her composure, leaning down to pull a special folder, black and latched shut, from the pile.
"Here," she said, opening the folder for her brother. At the top of each page was a red stamp reading TOP SECRET. "This first page is the ASEEC Logistics and Experimental Production branch report. We have enough equipment to field an entire division."
While Lelouch flipped through the pages of the report Cornelia continued.
"Recruitment on the other hand is still poor at best. There's only a 20% graduation rate, 30% during a good month. I know the physical requirements aren't beyond human capability too, because I went through all the tests myself to make sure."
Deciding he'd seen enough, the Black King shut the folder and set it aside. He leaned back in his chair.
"So altogether we have, at best, four battalions of Gendarmes. Adding together engineers, combat vehicles, artillery and dedicated knightmare support, we have ourselves a functioning brigade."
He paused to think.
"It'll have to do for now. Assign them to the Reclamation."
"Throwing them against the worst of it?" Cornelia half-teased.
Lelouch smirked back, answering confidently.
"Under my command, I doubt a single one will fall to the enemy guns."
Cornelia nodded, but then let her hard professionalism falter as she decided to ask a question that had been pressing her for some time.
"Lelouch," she began quietly, almost gently, not like a general addressing her king, but a sister speaking to her brother, "I want to know about Geass."
The Emperor leaned forward, setting his elbows against his desk and resting his face against steepled fingers.
"Have a seat, Sister." He said the words blandly, without anger, fear, or disappointment. Cornelia obeyed, pulling a chair from its spot out of the way against a wall. "I sense you are concerned?"
Cornelia didn't answer at first.
"You and the others all have a power," she replied finally, outlining her thoughts. "This power can twist anyone without them even realizing it. You say that's why we're going to war, because someone else with Geass used it to control the UFN. If that's the case, how can I be sure you haven't used it on me, or the others? How can I trust you all knowing what you can do? How can I trust my own sister Euphy when she can force me to feel whatever she wants whenever she wants?"
It started simply, but quickly became an impassioned plea from the depths of Cornelia's soul, and whether he cared to admit it or not, it hurt Lelouch that she felt so negatively about it. Of course, knowing Cornelia as he did, he'd never expected any less.
"I have a rule," he began, shutting his eyes and hoping she would believe him. "I refuse to use my power on those close to me, even if it's for the sake of expediency. All those I've granted Geass have accepted the same rule as part of their Contract. We cannot allow ourselves to use Geass on each other, or else we risk dividing ourselves with distrust. I don't want that. That isn't why I accepted the throne and it's not why I've been helping the world rebuild since we defeated Father."
Cornelia peered suspiciously at Lelouch, pondering over his words.
"If I had nothing to fear, why were you so reluctant to tell me about it?"
"I must admit, it was I who was filled with distrust. I didn't believe you could handle the truth. I was sure you would fear my power and... I thought it would be easier for everyone if you didn't know."
"Brother..." Cornelia kept her eyes focused on Lelouch, her brows knitting together as she was swept with emotion. He regretted not trusting her. She could tell. "It's alright. I believe you."
Though he tried to stay firm and controlled, when Lelouch opened his eyes, tears were threatening at their corners. This, in itself, was not a particularly sad moment for him. But thinking back to before 'C' and remembering all the regret he had because of what happened in that past life was enough to make him lose his cool.
"Cornelia, I..." He took a short breath and regained his composure, setting his mask of calm back into place. "You know now, so there's no reason to keep you in the dark any longer. If you want, I can grant you a Geass as well."
Lelouch removed his right glove, revealing the bright slashes of red on his palm. He held it out to his sister. She hesitated, for only a moment, then removed her own glove to slowly reach her bare hand over, touching her pointer finger to her brother's.
LLLLLLLLLLLL
When he'd completed his business in his office, Lelouch headed straight for the secret underground ASEEC labs. Along the way he was joined by others, Kallen, C.C., Rolo, Jeremiah, Suzaku, and Naoto, now free from the duties of Zero.
It took them some time to traverse the long, empty halls leading through ASEEC's upper floors and almost as long in the lift, taking them slowly down, but eventually the metal elevator doors opened, letting the group into the main observatory overlooking the facility's expansive hangar. Below were dozens of ASEEC engineers, working as fast as possible to put the finishing touches on even more knightmares.
With Lelouch in the lead, the group stepped out of the observatory and down a flight of steel grate stairs, looking upon ASEEC's projects in varying degrees of awe. At the bottom, waiting to greet the Emperor and his friends, was none other than the Director of ASEEC himself, Lloyd Asplund, flanked by his assistant Cécile Croomy and his "intern" Rivalz Cardemonde.
"Welcome, one and all!" Lloyd stuck out his arms and pirouetted as he addressed them. "My first day back and I'm told we're going to war again? I should have stayed in the hospital!"
He laughed, seemingly unconcerned, but the looks on Cécile and Rivalz's faces more than made up for his carefree attitude. Their expressions were an unreadable mix of anxiety and sadness.
Rivalz smiled hesitantly to Lelouch and Kallen, unsure if his more blue-blooded friends from Ashford wanted him to kneel. They smiled back, reassuring him that all was well.
"Well, I don't care," the boy joked. "Anything's better than laying in a hospital bed all day!"
"That's-right!" Kallen snapped her fingers more rapidly than was natural, taking Rivalz aback. And was her left eye glowing? "While-I-was-in-Europe-Lelouch-told-me-you-got-hurt.-It's-good-to-see-you're-okay,-Rivalz."
"Um, Kallen?" he questioned back weakly. "Are you okay?"
"OH...! Yeeeeeesssss, I'mmmmmm fiiiiiiinnnnnneee."
"Okay..." Rivalz was not convinced.
There was a whir from above, the sound of the observatory elevator coming down again and ejecting three men of various statures. As they came down the stairs, same as the first group before them, Lelouch recognized them as members of Cornelia's Royal Guard, his new Knights of the Round.
"You found your way here, then?" The Black King addressed them once they were on the floor.
The first man, Baron Schutenkin Gordiengo the Third, was large and as brawny as his overly convoluted name. The second man, Zectole Vignal Jr., was much smaller with a light in his eye that spoke volumes to his good spirit. The last man, Roland Grenier, was average of appearance in every way. As one, they knelt before Lelouch.
"Yes, Your Highness." Schutenkin murmured the words reverantly, far too respectful for Lelouch's taste. It was rather creepy even. "Lady Cornelia directed us here so that we might meet you for this most critical occasion."
Lelouch, as unflappable as ever, didn't even flinch at the bizarreness of this character before him.
"Good. As of now, you are the Knights of Two, Ten and Eleven respectively."
There was an awkward silence as the three Knights, still kneeling, waited, perhaps for further instruction or perhaps because they expected to have a sword tapped against each shoulder. When neither came, they looked up questioningly. Lelouch waved a hand to them gracefully, indicating for them to rise.
"Yes, my word is all it takes to make it so, and no, there will not be a formal knighting ceremony."
The Knights rose to their feet but blinked in surprise as their king answered their questions before they even asked. Again though, before they could say anything, Lloyd clapped his hands to redirect everyone's attention.
"Yes, yes, that's enough catching up, now. Come, COME! I have surprises for you all! New knightmares! NEW FOR EVERYONE!"
The mad scientist laughed again and held his arms out wide, as if to show off his collection. Lelouch addressed Schutenkin, Naoto, Rolo, C.C., Zectole and Roland, every one of them an offical Knight of the Round.
"As Director Asplund says, the ASEEC team here has built several custom knightmares, and as Knights of the Round, each of you have been assigned one. You will be introduced to your new frame then proceed with Suzaku to the Round Table Quarters where he will turn you into proper Knights. We have much still to do, and mass deployment is at o' hundred hours sharp, no exceptions, so there's no time to waste."
The new Knights and Suzaku pounded their fists against their hearts and uttered their assent, though it was a disorderly response. Cornelia's men gave the traditional "Yes, My Lord!" while Rolo, Naoto and Cassandra (to her chagrin she had to start using her true name again) gave a less robotic "Yes, Your Majesty!" and Suzaku gave a more general "Yes, sir!"
Lelouch felt like putting his palm to his face.
"The Knights of the Round are soldiers who report directly to the Emperor," he explained, as if the listeners were but children. "That makes me your immediate military commander, so 'yes, sir' is preferable. Just... Do whatever Suzaku does. Understood?"
"Yes, sir!"
Lloyd watched all this with barely contained impatience, and once it was his turn to speak again he burst out with a joyful declaration.
"MEET THE Z-MXX SERIES!"
Cécile cleared her throat to speak over her excited director who quickly fell into mad ramblings like a child talking about their favourite toy.
"The Z-MXX are a series of custom knightmares based off the Lancelot design. Not having to start fresh for each one made it a lot easier to build so many in only a year."
The Director and Vice-Director of ASEEC led their group away from the edge of the hangar and deep into the forest of brightly painted metal behemoths, explaining and pointing to important details along the way.
"The Z-MXX are numbered up to three times," Cécile continued. "The first number is the model, hence the 'M.' The second number indicates which production cycle it was a part of. So, if anyone were to get shot down and have another Z-MXX built for them-" she glanced at Naoto who looked away sheepishly "-the number would go up. The third number is a label for mass-production versions."
"Yes, yes!" Lloyd interrupted happily. "A whole army inspired by my masterpiece! Here's yours, Miss Cassandra: The Z-M02-01 'Ector'!"
C.C. and Lloyd stopped in front of an ornately built frame while the others continued on.
"Ah, here we go," Rivalz pointed to another KMF, smaller than most. "This one's yours, Sir Lamperouge: The Z-M03-01 'Kay'."
Rolo and Rivalz split off from the group.
As they walked, Cécile would point a Knight to their new frame and they would go to it, each meeting with a team of engineers waiting for them. Schutenkin was humbled to be granted the Z-M09-01 'Caradoc'. Roland was astounded by the Z-M08-01 'Morien'. Zectole grinned in delight at seeing the Z-M07-01, the newly designated Percival. Jeremiah was greeted by his dedicated team and shown to his now fully-armed Z-M04-01 'Bors'. Kallen and Naoto were taken aside by Rakshata, who apparently had been present in the hangar the whole time, too busy with her work to conduct pleasantries like a normal person, and were shown the FIR-19 Guren SEITEN and the Z-M05-01 'Lamorak'. Suzaku went by himself to check up on the Lancelot Albion, so used to the labyrinth of frames that he needed no direction.
At last Cécile and Lelouch were alone together standing before the sleek, black Z-M01-01 'Arthur', built in secret upon Lelouch's ascension to the throne of Britannia.
"Is the final component installed?" Lelouch asked calmly.
Cécile gave a begrudging nod, keeping her gaze fixed squarely on the floor.
"It just requires a test to make sure it works."
Lelouch narrowed his eyes, looking up to meet his personal KMF's own purple lenses.
"Let's get started then."
"But...!" Cécile tried to protest, but relented as Lelouch cast her a single firm glance. "Yes, My Lord."
LLLLLLLLLLLL
Back with Rakshata, neither of the Stadtfeld siblings could believe their eyes; Kallen because she'd been away Code-hunting in Europe since before the Guren SEITEN was completed, and Naoto because of how perfectly the Lamorak suited him.
"So,-those-are-energy-wings," Kallen noted. The SEITEN was more beautiful to her than it had ever seemed when she saw it in Lelouch's memories. But then again, those memories were tinted through a filter of fear and desperation upon Lelouch coming face to face with the warmachine in his first life.
Naoto grinned as he examined the left arm of the Lamorak.
"Is that...?"
"That's right," Rakshata replied merrily. "It's a Radiant Wave Bombardment Surger! I let the Earl of Pudding use my design as a favour."
"THIS!" Kallen and Naoto started and somehow, despite her Geass, managed to finish their words in unison, "IS! INCREDIBLE!"
"I'm glad you like them. You're going to be getting a lot of use out them soon..."
LLLLLLLLLLLL
While everyone was being shown their new knightmares, Lloyd concluded his demonstration of the Ector to C.C. and slunk his way over to Cécile, staring anxiously up at the Arthur with Lelouch inside. He sighed in contentment.
"They're wonderful, aren't they?"
Cécile hummed lightly in agreement, diverting only the minimum attention from the Arthur. Its purple eye lenses sparked to life and Lloyd sighed again.
"I see Rakshata brought Faust down to be operated on before I arrived this morning. He got quite banged up, didn't he?"
"Mmhm."
"I'm sure that Tamaki guy will love the new Purgation Cannon."
"Probably."
"Exterminatus Pattern! We're geniuses, aren't we, Cécile, dear?"
"We sure are."
"Yep. We sure are..." Lloyd sighed again, his mind suddenly seeming to wander.
Cécile noticed his change in behaviour instantly and cast him a glance.
"Is something wrong, Lloyd?"
The silver-haired scientist shrugged.
"I don't know. I feel like..." He paused to think before resuming. "I usually enjoy working on knightmares, and boy, was I excited to see the fruits our labours being shown off. Finally! I mean, the big, stompy boots! The right shooty guns! They're such a thrill to be around! But now that we've finished our biggest project ever, I feel... I feel kind of empty."
The Arthur moved an arm, clenching and unclenching its hand into a fist before its faceplate. Cécile ignored it to gawk at her old friend.
"Are you okay?"
Another sigh, and then...
"Rivalz got fixed up last night. I got to watch the surgeons. Did you know? After they put him under they bonded his bones back together with a special steel compound. And after they finished cutting him open they doused him in this orange fluid that sealed his flesh back together, not leaving so much as a scar! It's absolutely wondrous! They refused to explain how it works, but little do they realize I snatched a couple vials of the stuff!"
As quick as he lost his enthusiasm Lloyd regained it again. He grinned devilishly and ran his fingers against his ribs, feeling the circuits bonded onto them as he spoke, giggling to himself between sentences. Cécile was now quite convinced her boss had gone off the deep end. Oh dear. What was she going to tell Milly? "Sorry, Mrs. Ashford, your husband has finally lost it"?
"Lloyd, I think you should sit down."
"I wonder if I can get Clovis to set up another surgery for me to watch..."
There was a groan, loud enough to catch everyone's attention, causing them to turn their heads. From the cockpit of the Arthur, Lelouch crawled out, blood dripping from his arms and neck. Descending the frame slowly, he groaned in pain again, quieter this time.
"... Excellent work, Miss Croomy. The final component is a success."
Cécile rushed to the Emperor's side, helping him to the floor and holding him steady as he struggled to stay standing. Lloyd blinked in dull surprise.
"The final... You put in the final component!? That's madness! It'll explode your brain!"
Lelouch scowled at the bespectacled man, no longer in the mood to control his emotions.
"I'm aware."
The others of Lelouch's group ran up to check on him, each with varying degrees of concern, Jeremiah the most and C.C. the least.
"I'm fine," the Black King muttered, raising a hand to wave Cécile away. "I'm fine. I'm fine."
Cécile cautiously let her sovereign go and he managed to stand without her help. He stretched and, sure enough, after a few seconds was completely fine, as if nothing had happened at all, though he was still covered in blood.
"Eh-hem," came a clearing of the throat from some unknown person.
Lelouch and all those with him turned their heads to check who else had arrived, and were met with Dorothea Ernst, Nonette Enneagram, and Monica Kruszewski, the Knights of Four, Nine, and Twelve. They paled at the sight of Lelouch, momentarily forgetting why they were there.
"Whoa, jeezus, are you okay?" Nonette took a few steps forward to check the Emperor for wounds. He let her push aside his cravat and roll up his sleeves, but each time she found nothing.
"I'm quite fine." Nonette stepped back and Lelouch stared the women Knights down. "You three should be with Cornelia getting ready for this evening."
"Of course, Your Highness," Monica replied, letting her gaze settle on a certain someone. "We just thought it would be a good idea to ask you a question or two real quick."
Lelouch removed his cravat and used it to wipe off some of the red dripping from his skin. He raised a brow.
"In particular," Dorothea spoke next, "we wanted to ask what qualifications this 'Rolo' noname has that you'd put him on the same level as the finest soldiers in the Empire."
Nonette was still not sure Lelouch was well, but she continued where her fellows left off.
"We already know Naoto and Cassandra are warriors because they used to be Black Knight elites. But we're still a little unclear who Rolo actually is or where he comes from. He doesn't seem to have any records of even existing before the beginning of last year."
Rolo's face fell at that hurtful truth and Monica glared at him.
"Strange, no?"
Covered in blood and surrounded by people and knightmares more than a kilometer beneath the ground, and now dealing with this, Lelouch was certain he'd had quite enough for one day and simply decided to leave.
"Sort it out yourselves," he called as he walked back to the observatory elevator. "Rolo, just don't kill them."
The three senior Knights blinked as the Emperor left them, then glanced back to their subject of interest. Rolo had gotten over the initial shock and shame of being called out, and had stepped away from the rest of Lelouch's team. Rather than softness and cheeriness, now he wore an eerily cold look on his face.
"As His Majesty commands. My qualifications are as follows:
"I'm a career assassin, proficient in the use of most firearms and trained for hand-to-hand combat. My body and muscles are rather small compared to the average male though, so I'd put my strength on par with a female of equal experience. If you'd like, I'll prove myself to you physically, then we can move on to skill with a knightmare."
LLLLLLLLLLLL
There was a convention center in Pendragon, Britannia, gargantuan in size and able to hold almost 20 000 people at any given time. In years past, Emperor Charles had given numerous speeches in the main auditorium of this center, extolling the virtues of inequality and denouncing the Empire's enemies, and in a past life even making a mockery of a Royal Prince's State Funeral. Night had come in Pendragon and throngs of citizens flocked to this center to witness a speech, an Imperial Address to the Empire, given by their new king, Lelouch vi Britannia.
Official addresses to the state were free to attend, but were also heavily regulated. Two policemen stood on each side of every door in the whole building, and royal guards in uniform and plainclothes patrolled everywhere. The most important people in the Empire would be present this night, so few were surprised or bothered by the heavy, but largely helpful and amiable security.
As time went on, the main auditorium quickly filled with people filing in to take a seat. Before the event had even formally begun, already assembled on the grand stage before the audience, were twelve men and women in white uniform, bright capes hanging from their shoulders and a sword at their belts. Though the people may not have recognized everyone on the stage, it was clear who they were as a group. The Knights of the Round Table.
From audience left to right, standing at attention in a semicircle around a podium at center stage, was Suzaku, the Knight of One in a cape of white with a black patch covering his left eye. Then Schutenkin Gordiengo, the Knight of Two in a cape of grey. Then Gino Weinberg in dark green, Dorothea Ernst in light blue, Naoto Stadtfeld in blood red, Anya Alstreim in pink, Rolo Lamperouge in blue, Cassandra Catrine in dark purple, Nonette Enneagram in light violet, Zectole Vignal in bright orange, Roland Grenier in dark yellow, and Monica Kruszewski in lime green.
One of the unknown Knights on the stage, the one in the blue cape, seemed to be holding back a smug grin while the well-known Knight of Twelve appeared to be wincing, as if she'd taken a tumble and received a few bruises before coming to the current event.
The lights dimmed in the auditorium and the last stragglers hurried to get in and get settled. From offstage to either side came four new figures, walking in front of the Knights of the Round to settle to either side and slightly behind the center podium, facing out toward the crowds of observing civilians. To audience left was the Secretary of State for Defense, Cornelia li Britannia, a sheathed sword at her belt, obscured by the grand cape she wore over her shoulders. Farther right was the Knight of Orange, Jeremiah Gottwald, in full uniform and metallic orange cape, and a claymore in his hands. He turned the great blade about its hilt and rested it point-down against the stage floor before him, the top of the pommel coming to just above his breast. To the other side was Andreas Darlton in a uniform mimicking Cornelia's, a sheathed sword also protruding from under a cape. Last, standing farther in by Jeremiah, was none other Schneizel 'the Disgraced' el Britannia, dressed regally for the occasion and wearing a contented, almost excited, smile on his face. He was the only one who did not openly carry a ceremonial weapon.
There was an announcement from speakers on the walls of the room and the audience was informed that the Britannian national anthem, "Hail Britannia," would play. The audience stood as a recording of the patriotic (some might say "overly violent" was a better way to describe it) song began, strings pounding out the four heavy opening chords, then many of them, but not all, began to sing.
Truth and hope in our Motherland
And death to every foe!
Our soldiers shall not pause to rest;
We vow our loyalty.
Old traditions: They will abide.
Arise, young heroes!
Our past inspires noble deeds:
All Hail Britannia!
As the final chord of the song ended there was another announcement to stay standing for the entrance of the Emperor, Lelouch vi Britannia, 99th ruler of the Holy Britannian Empire. A spotlight shone down upon the podium and the assembled Knights of the Round drew their swords to hold them before their chests two-handed, blades pointed up, obscuring their faces. Lelouch walked out from behind the curtain toward center stage. He was dressed in an even more regal suit of black, purple and gold lace than usual, but unlike the others onstage he wore no cape.
Finally ready to begin the formal Address, Lelouch waved a hand to the audience and they again took their seats.
The Black King stood silent for a moment, his face an impossible mix of hard and soft, angry and sad, firm but fair. Then at last he spoke:
"People of Britannia! Subjects of this great empire! My countrymen, my friends, my family! I come not before you this evening to speak of good fortune. I did not arrange this Address and come here to understate our nation - our world's state of affairs! The truth is that up until last night, our empire stood upon the edge of a precipice. The Black Knights, a revolutionary army I served with for the sake of a better world, was coming under fire, the United Federation of Nations was becoming divided and the Chinese Federation was mobilizing, culminating in the invasion of their peaceful neighbour to the east, the United States of Japan. Amidst these mounting crises, our empire stood on the precipice of global war.
"The truth is that last night Britannia was removed from the UFN. The unilateral actions taken by the Chinese Federation in invading Japan, in occupying them without consulting the UFN first, for even resorting to violence in the first place, was unacceptable! I spoke personally to leading members of the UFN and demanded they reprimand the Federation for their crimes. The actions they took in ravaging Japan were their own, no one else's, yet still they clung to the UFN name, tainting the reputation of every other state in the organization! It was not my decision to attack Japan, it was not the will of Britannia that the island nation come to any more harm, yet Britannia still shared a spot with China under the all-encompassing roof of the United Federation of Nations!
"I demanded they be punished, for the Charter of the UFN is clear! The law of the world under the UFN is that aggression is criminal, and so long as a nation is not facing an immediate and evident threat, all military matters on the international scale are to be properly discussed and planned to stay within the confines of the law. The Chinese Federation was in no danger when they attacked Japan, yet for their crimes Britannia is being punished in their stead! I was told the invasion of Japan was just, that even our Britannian diplomats at the UFN had agreed, disregarding the facts of the law!
"People of Britannia, for my efforts to see justice done the United Federation of Nations has declared war upon us, for the crime of speaking out against their corruption!
"We are not alone in our struggle though. Australia, a former colony of our brethren in Albion, has pledged their support to us, to see the Chinese Federation receive retribution for their villainy and the reformation of the UFN so never again can they choose whether or not to meter out the justice we so demand! France too, the leading country of the European Union, our eternal foe and rival since time immemorial, has seen the validity of our cause and has joined us against those states of the UFN too foolish or arrogant or weak of will to rebel against the global leaders who even now would see us destroyed before admitting their own wrongdoing.
"We have on our side created a grand coalition, a union of bitter enemies against an even more bitter opponent. For the first time in history the entire English and French speaking worlds are in full agreement! For the first time in history we are more than just allies of convenience, but allies in solidarity against injustice! We are the Anglo-Franco Alliance!
"People of Britannia! Now is our time! Now is the hour! Britannia shall march to war, shall fight its way and return to Japan again, not as conquerors, but this time as liberators! We will fight our way into China, into Europe, as far as we must go to end this conflict once and for always! We will march out as more than just Britannians: We will march as heralds of a new age; as bringers of the banner of justice! We will march: March to ruin, march to redemption, march forward into the future and the rising of the sun!"
There was dead silence from the audience as Lelouch paused, panting and sweating in his heavy clothes and under the warm lights shining down upon him. He hesitated, then took a deep breath and threw his fist high into the air and shouted:
"ALL HAIL BRITANNIA!"
To his left and right Lelouch's Knight of Orange and his top generals raised their own fists high and repeated the phrase:
"All hail Britannia!"
Behind them, the Knights of the Round Table, blades still held before their faces, repeated the phrase:
"All hail Britannia!"
The audience rose to their feet and threw their fists into the air, chanting:
"All hail Britannia!"
"All hail Lelouch!"
"HAIL! HAIL! HAIL!"
LLLLLLLLLLLL
