Chapter Twenty-Seven: Legacy of Cain.
Lelouch woke early, still thinking about the possibility before him. If it really was his brother under that iron mask, his twin brother, and V.V wasn't simply trying to trick him, then what could he do?
How could he go on fighting Dumas?
"I'd give you a cup of coffee but there really isn't any," said Suzaku, joining Lelouch.
The two stood on the roof of the old apartment building they hid in the day before. It was risky being out in the open but Lelouch felt the need to go out and see the city of his birth at the morning.
"You're still thinking about Dumas aren't you?" asked Suzaku.
"I am," said Lelouch.
"V.V. didn't give you a straight answer," said Suzaku. "It still might not be your brother under that mask."
"I have to know Suzaku," said Lelouch.
"If it is will you tell your mother?" asked Suzaku.
"Could I really lie to her?" asked Lelouch. "No...my father said there were times in which secrets would have to be held by the king. That I must hold certain knowledge from those who would follow me if only for the good of peace. But with family, there shouldn't be any lies. He also told me trying to keep anything from my mother was futile. She's too clever, he'd say."
"So you are okay with telling her the son she thought had died at birth has been raised by the man who murdered her husband to become a psychopath?" asked Suzaku.
"I'd say it better than that," said Lelouch. "But no I'm not okay with it. But it will be better if I tell her than if I hid it from her and she found out that I lied to her. She deserves to know that all her children are alive. No matter how monstrous some of us have become."
The remains of Chimera and its hunting party were recovered. The drones had been badly damaged by the explosion. Chimera was damaged as well but still relatively functioning.
"We...cannot be destroyed," Naoto wheezed as the form his head was attached to was placed into a tank.
"Indeed, you cannot," said Lovecrest. "Now rest my creation. You will hunt again soon."
The Chimera shut down and a nanite solution filled the large tank.
"He is tenacious I will give him that," said V.V, entering the lab with Bludbierd at his side.
"They," said Bludbierd. "There's more than one in there."
"Your majesty, allow my to apologize for my creation's failure," said Lovecrest, giving a bow to his Emperor.
"Think nothing of it Lovecrest," said V.V. "Chimera is just an animal, I expected him to fall to Lelouch. The fate of all animals is to give way to the power of man. Just as man is to give way to the power of God. Or rather...as man must give way...to me."
"So now you're going to pull back the curtain," said Bludbierd. "Allow the boy to show his face so soon in the game."
"Lelouch already began to put the pieces together," said V.V. "Given how he's been able to execute his operations right in my own city shows the proof of that. Of course he was always so clever. A lot like his father in many ways."
"Sentimentality Vincent?" asked Bludbierd.
"I am allowed a moment of sentiment Bludbierd," said V.V. "I can acknowledge my nephew's cleverness and give at least a bit of respect. And after all...he is a piece of my brother still living. That does mean something."
"Yet you wish him dead," said Bludbierd, a smirk crossing his face.
"Only because he's a threat," said V.V. "Nunnally...not so much though our intelligence says she may actually be the counter to you."
"Which interests me to no end," said Bludbierd. "But what about the boy? Is it really so safe having him reveal the truth to Lelouch? It could turn him."
"Regardless, the desired effect is met," said V.V. "Marianne gets hurt no matter what happens."
Word had come via Orpheus that the mission was a success and at least half of the rescue party, along with the Glinda Knights and several members of the Knights Underground, were en route to Japan.
He made sure to stress only half of the original party was coming.
"What the hell does Lelouch need to stay in Britannia for?" asked Kallen, upon hearing the news.
"I don't know," said Marianne. "However I'm sure there is a very good reason."
The two Empresses stood at the highest walls of the palace, looking over Japan. The business of ruling a nation was still so new to Kallen but Marianne was always there to help her.
"Remember my dear, Lelouch hasn't been home since being forced out by V.V," said Marianne. "It cannot be easy for him to just leave. Especially after learning that he is the rightful heir of the Empire."
"But...he..."
"He will come home my sweet," said Marianne. "He's got more than enough reason to."
"Thank you...mother," said Kallen, blushing slightly.
Marianne giggled and closed her eyes with a warm smile on her face.
"Um...mother...could you please take your hand off my butt?" asked Kallen, her embarrassed gaze fixed on the city.
Marianne opened her eyes and raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"I'm not touching you Kallen," said Marianne. "I thought you were touching me."
The two Empresses looked behind them and saw Sokkia Sherpa with a hand on both their bottoms.
"Oh Miss Sherpa how are you?" asked Marianne pleasantly, not minding being touched in such a way.
"Just fine your majesty," said Sokkia bowing before Marianne, as well as Kallen.
Kallen wanted to scream out and beat the woman who would dare touch her in such a way but decided it was best not to do so in front of her future mother-in-law.
"Anyway, I came to inform you that Oldrin is coming back from Europe with a freshly trained batch of recruits," said Sokkia. "She's hoping to form a new sect of the Fleet with your blessing."
"Of course," said Marianne. "Once Marrybell and Orpheus come back we can settle all the details. And while I don't mind please do keep your hands off of Kallen. She's to be the mother of my grandchildren and as such is reserved for my son."
"As you wish my Empress," said Sokkia. "I meant nothing by it my ladies. But who could resist touching two royals at the same time? Especially when they are so beautiful."
"Of course," said Marianne, giggling in amusement.
Kallen could only groan in discomfort.
"Besides, I've got my eye on someone specific," said Sokkia. "A shy little number I am going to completely dominate once I get a nice firm grip on her."
'Why is there always so much sexual tension whenever I'm alone with Marianne and other women?' Kallen thought.
"Though I should warn that such a dress as her majesty is wearing does tempt me greatly," said Sokkia, eyeing Kallen's cleavage.
"Once again, she's reserved," said Marianne, getting in between Kallen and Sokkia. "Now I believe you have stalking to do. Unless you wish to test your lust against a more seasoned opponent."
Sokkia giggled and gave a low bow, though when she rose up she made sure to get a good, deep glance at Marianne's breasts. She turned back to leave to which Kallen breathed a sigh of relief.
"Oh thank god she's gone," said Kallen.
"There there sweetie," said Marianne, patting her on the back. "If she troubles you again just let me know. If she truly wishes to know the pleasures of a woman I'll indoctrinate her into the concubines."
"Seriously?" asked Kallen.
"She seems like a natural," said Marianne.
"You mean you..."
"Myself or someone else if I'm not busy," said Marianne.
"But...what about you and Bismark?" asked Kallen.
"My dear I am a trained concubine of the Geass Order," said Marianne. "Trained to use the carnal arts on friend and foe, man and women, and Bismark knows this. If it makes you feel better I have made him my chosen man. As such no other male shall take up my bed."
"And what about C.C.?" asked Kallen. "I thought she had some claim to you?"
"In a way she does," said Marianne. "Though she's been quite busy with that giant pizza of late. Thank god so much of it was able to be saved."
"She's not going to want a piece of me is she?" asked Kallen.
"Oh no, fret not my dear the only one who will have you will be my son," said Marianne, placing a hand on Kallen's stomach. "After all I need this filled up with my grandchildren. I'm going to make sure you swell up nicely and when you pop all my beautiful grandchildren will come into this world ready for me to smother them with all my love."
"I...I think Lelouch and I will be able to handle that department on our own," said Kallen, sheepishly, turning red once again.
"I'm not going to leave anything to chance my sweet," said Marianne.
Kallen moaned once more and her future mother-in-law laughed in delight.
Lelouch sniffled before taking a tissue from Suzaku.
"Someone's talking about you," said Suzaku.
"I have a feeling I know who it is," said Lelouch, feeling the red headband that was hidden behind his black bangs.
"So you know we haven't discussed this yet but the position of best man..."
"You're just assuming I'm going to ask you?" asked Lelouch.
"Me or Rivalz to be honest," said Suzaku.
"I'm already going to be a groom myself, I don't need to be a best man," said Rivalz, walking up to join the other two. "You guys should really learn to switch off your communicators."
"Perhaps," said Lelouch. "But...of course Suzaku I was hoping you'd serve as best man. I'm thinking Nunnally might become the maid of honor."
"Hard to find anyone who'd argue," said Suzaku. "But...what about Kallen's father?"
"What about him?" asked Lelouch. "If he didn't care enough about his daughter or the woman who bore her he can rot in hell as far as I'm convinced. Besides if someone is going to fill the spot of 'Father of the Bride' it very well might be General Dalton."
"How did...Milly," said Suzaku, realizing how Lelouch could have known of such gossip.
"Pretty much," said Lelouch.
"You know I was speaking to Lady Ernst not too long ago and among her people that went with the Glinda Knights and the other three, were General Dalton's boys," said Rivalz. "I actually spoke with them, nice guys."
"Think they'll join up with the Sapphire Crusaders?" asked Suzaku.
"I think it's a safe bet," said Rivalz. "And if Dalton and Ms. Kozuki do get together you'll have some new brother-in-laws."
"Can't be worse than the one I have already," said Lelouch. "I just wish I knew how Naoto was brought back and made into that...thing."
"Same with Bradley and Clovis," said Rivalz. "I know his brain was part of the Dagon and I wrecked that thing to pieces. I bet he'd be pissed if he saw me. But...wait a minute, before Akito and I joined you guys I downloaded data from Lovecrest's computer in the lab beneath the arena. Two files still pretty heavily encrypted but their titles struck out to me. Project Canceller and the other called Lazarus Labs."
"I'm guessing the answer to how Naoto and the other two that made that Chimera thing have to do with the latter," said Suzaku. "I'm also guessing that's something Lovecrest is a part of."
"Kind of on the nose," said Lelouch.
"Fitting though," said Rivalz. "I should know."
"Nothing on Dumas?" asked Lelouch.
"That was all I could get," said Rivalz. "And I'm still trying to get through the encryption. But..."
Rivalz suddenly went silent, instantly worrying the other two.
"Rivalz?" asked Suzaku.
"Are you alright?" asked Lelouch.
"I'm fine," said Rivalz. "I'm just...picking up a signal."
"Signal?" asked Lelouch. "From where?"
Rivalz looked down before looking back to Lelouch.
"You're not going to like it," said Rivalz.
The Knightmares being developed for the Sapphire Crusaders in Euro Britannia had been moved to Japan along with the ship. Development of the new and improved Valiant were just about finished.
"It's beautiful," said Hisako.
She and Maria had taken it upon themselves to deliver lunch to the hard working operatives of the Sapphire Crusader sect. It was there Maria got a good look at the improved machine that saved her and Alice on the day of the Dagon's attack.
"The Valiant Dragonslayer as it's called now," said Cornelia. "Made with parts from the very beast its master slew."
"I could never forget that horrible beast," said Maria. "To think Rivalz faced it all but alone."
"Yeah, we've asked him to never do that again," said Dalton, Hisako by his side.
"Or at least use the Knightmare so he has some more protection," said Guilford.
The blue Knightmare towered over others, given its unique transformation capabilities. The wings reverse engineered from the Dagon could collapse and fold back into the Knightmare's back at the sides of the cockpit. Maria could already imagine how it would look, soaring like a great blue Pegasus when it was in is quadrupedal mode or flying like an angel in its bipedal mode.
"I wish he had taken this with him on his mission," said Maria. "It would just make me feel better to know he's got a means to protect himself."
"I'm sure he's fine," said Cornelia. "That boy's got a talent or survival. He might be dinged up, in fact I'm counting on it, but no worse for wear. Our Prince of Virtue won't go down so easily. A talent he's going to regret when I discipline him for going along with such a foolhardy mission in the first place. Forgive me for intruding upon your right as his adoptive mother but if anything I've a little more history with the boy. Honestly he's become almost a younger brother to me. And Euphemia can attest to how serious I take the role of elder sister"
"It's quite alright," said Maria. "In truth I still do not feel I am worthy of being called his mother. I haven't truly earned the title and the wounds are still so fresh from his true mother's death. A death I fear my...Shin had a hand in."
"You're not trying to replace the poor woman, and Rivalz knows that," said Hisako, going to her friend's side. "I'm sure in time you will find he can call you mother and both of you will accept that title."
Maria hugged Hisako closely, acknowledging the wisdom only another mother could hold. As Cornelia watched this she suddenly felt a desire rise up inside her. She had no true relationship with her birth mother. Lady Marianne being more of a mother to her than anything else. She recalled the endless nights she would pray that could be true that Marianne could be her mother. She held so much love in her eyes when she would look to her children, and Cornelia wanted to have all that love as well. Even more, she wanted to have that same look in her own eyes at some point.
'Mother,' thought Cornelia. 'I...want to be a mother.'
Aries Villa, once Lelouch's home, where he and Nunnally were born. Where Julius was born and supposedly had died.
It was all rubble now and it broke Lelouch's heart. Adding to the pain was the sight of Dumas sitting at the rubble.
"I'm surprised you came alone," said Dumas. "Or is this another hologram like the one you sent his majesty."
"This is really me," said Lelouch. "This was my home, I will come to see it myself. I'm surprised you're alone. Did V.V. decide I wasn't worth the effort of a trap or is he tried of me killing his minions?"
"The Emperor thought it best if I met you alone," said Dumas.
"Then...can we end the mystery?" asked Lelouch.
"Would the truth really satisfy you?" asked Dumas.
"If you're just a trick then you die it's simple as that," said Lelouch.
"And if I'm not?" asked Dumas.
"Just get on with it," yelled Lelouch.
Dumas rose to his feet and his hands went to the back of his iron mask. He hit several switches and the back opened up. He pulled off the rest of the mask and threw it to the ground.
Raising his head, Lelouch's eyes widened and his heart froze. He looked into a mirror image of his face, save for the decorative eye-patch covering his left eye.
"Hello...brother," the dark haired young man said in a low voice.
"This...this can still be a trick" said Lelouch, regaining his composure. "A clone of me made in V.V's labs as a means to manipulate my mother's emotions."
"A clone of you to take the place of the dead twin she lost years ago instead of it just being I am the twin?" said the unmasked man. "That's needlessly complicated and convoluted. It's much easier to say who I really am. And I am...Julius Vi Britannia."
Lelouch clenched his grip on his sword and pointed it to his...brother. Lelouch tried forcing all of his will into his original Geass but nothing came of it. He had to know if this was the truth. If this was indeed Julius, his long dead twin brother.
"So...you know your own name?" asked Lelouch.
"I do," said Julius. "Our...uncle ensured I had the best education. I know I was stolen from our mother as a newborn. I know that our uncle Vincent murdered our...father. He has hidden nothing from me."
"If he told you the truth then why are you dressed as my enemy?" asked Lelouch.
"Because...I am your enemy," said Julius. "Or rather...I don't feel anything for you. My...emotions are broken."
"Broken?" asked Lelouch.
"I don't feel...anything," said Julius. "I don't feel anything as I should. I don't feel anything for the cruel treatment of others that our uncle enforces. I don't feel compassion for those who are on my side. I don't even feel any emotion in regards to Uncle Vincent. Do you want to know the only thing I've ever felt? The only time I ever truly felt warmth in my heart?"
"What?" asked Lelouch.
"Uncle made sure I knew where I came from," said Julius. "When he heard about how my...emotions were he experimented. He showed me an image of my...our mother. I got to see her smile and I felt...warm. I felt...at peace."
"If that's the case then why didn't you ever try to get into contact with her?" asked Lelouch. "She has spent years mourning your supposed death. Being in pain over the child she thought she lost, the brother I had been denied for years."
"Your own response to my existence is the answer to that question," said Julius. "You decried me as a trick by uncle Vincent. Our mother would do the same and I would be rejected. Rejected by the only thing that ever gave me peace. The image of her gentle smile would be shattered in my mind and I would lose whatever humanity I was born with. As such I wish to ensure she can never reject me. Uncle has allowed me permission to keep mother. I will freeze her and her smile so that she can never move to reject me. It'll be like having that picture all the time. I will always have her smile and I will always be at peace."
"That's insane," said Lelouch. "Julius...mother won't reject you she wouldn't reject any of us."
"That is easy for you to say Lelouch," said Julius. "You were born whole while I was born broken. I was so weak when we came into this world. If it weren't for uncle I would have indeed died not long after my birth. Whereas you were born healthy and strong and accepted by our father."
"They thought you were dead," said Lelouch. "Father would have accepted you too. The superstition be damned."
"Yes, the superstition of twin princes," said Julius. "But don't forget Lelouch, our father and uncle were twins. And look what befell Britannia as a result. Look at what it has become now, what the world has become now. Perhaps there is truth to the superstition. And look at us, twin princes and just like father and uncle we are enemies."
"We don't have to be," said Lelouch. "This is V.V. sick idea of a joke. We don't have to do this. If you don't have true loyalty to V.V. then..."
"Because I don't truly feel anything for him," said Julius. "He merely promised for me to keep mother so that she wouldn't stand against him as he fulfills his own ambitions."
"What about Nunnally?" asked Lelouch.
"Carine has petitioned our uncle to take ownership of Nunnally," said Julius. "Just as I shall have ownership of mother."
"And me?" asked Lelouch, his anger showing through.
"Do you truly need to ask Lelouch?" asked Julius. "You are the only thing that stands in my way. You have to be removed."
"So...is this really how it will be?" asked Lelouch. "We kill each other just as father and V.V? Brother killing brother and for what?"
"It has been this way since Cain slew Able," said Julius.
"Then I suppose I must become my brother's keeper," said Lelouch, raising his sword.
Julius threw off his cape and drew froth a whip and short sword. He struck out with his whip, the razor sharp tails at the end would have cut deep into Lelouch's face, had they not gone through his face entirely. The image of Lelouch vanished, leaving only a little blue bug on the ground, which Julius crushed immediately.
"Just as expected...brother," said Julius, with neither anger nor joy in his voice.
A tear came down Lelouch's face, which he quickly wiped away from his eyes. Rivalz and Suzaku looked at Lelouch sadly but said nothing, knowing he wouldn't want to wast time right now. There was work to be done.
"Well...we can expect that they expected it to be a hologram after the stunt I pulled with V.V. earlier," said Lelouch. "They're going to begin a counterattack soon enough. Are we ready?"
"It took me all night but thankfully I don't really need sleep," said Rivalz. "Not to mention making all those drones took me a while. But I sent them out through the various checkpoints on the edges of the city. Along with a lot of the various cells of Knights Underground throughout the city we managed to secure them. Vehicles and resources collected and ready. Just waiting your word...your majesty."
"I can't tell if you're being respectful or sarcastic," said Lelouch.
"Either way your ego is quite erect by now I'm sure," said Suzaku.
"Screw off both of you," said Lelouch.
"Is that an Imperial order?" asked Rivalz.
Lelouch walked down to the street where a final truck had been parked. All others already departed with the rising of the sun hours ago. While he and Suzaku slept, Rivalz and his little bugs had worked throughout the night as he had said. Lelouch planned one final act of defiance in Pendragon before he would take his leave after learning the truth. First he had to do something incredible, almost biblical. He had to instigate an exodus of Pendragon, before he smote it as the God of the Old Testament did so.
The evening before, after the defeat of the hunting party, a small group of Knights Underground operatives had taken a nearby Eden Elite airfield. From there a considerable number of civilians and rebels would be airlifted out of Britannia and make their way to Japan. Then Lelouch would be forced to tell his mother about Julius. He didn't know what to expect from Julius, assuming that it truly was Julius and not some truly elaborate trick played by V.V. to torment him and his family.
All he could tell was that his supposed twin brother was mad.
'Is this going to be the curse of my family? If Kallen and I have children...if we have twins...will one be mad?' thought Lelouch. 'This has to end. My descendants will not butcher one another. The legacy of Cain ends in my family.'
Julius knelt down before his uncle who laughed when he heard that indeed Lelouch had sent another decoy.
"He's starting an exodus," said Julius. "That's the only reasonable action for him to take. He's already weakened the city's structure when he manipulated the gas lines of the city in dealing with Chimera. Assuming he gains control of the anti-earthquake measurements built into the city Pendragon will be utterly useless."
"Clever boy," said V.V. "Both of you, clever boys. Not unlike myself and Charles when we were young. Anyway, the city doesn't matter, it never did. I personally despised Pendragon, too many bad memories. But if Lelouch wishes the Imperial Capital to fall...then as a loving uncle I shall...aid in his endeavor. It's time to give a proper test to my little project."
Nunnally had come up to help her future sister-in-law in dealing with the paperwork that came with restoring the nation of Japan. Between the two of them the work for the day had been finished and Kallen slumped onto her throne in exhaustion.
"God I never want to have to do that again," said Kallen. "I'd rather face the hordes of hell than go through any more paperwork."
Nunnally giggled at her future sister's words.
"I'm sorry Kallen but this is what happens when you run a country," said Nunnally.
"I never even wanted to run the country," said Kallen. "I only did so because I had to."
"And it'll only get bigger when you marry Lelouch and rule Britannia with him," said Nunnally.
Kallen sighed, thinking about Lelouch.
"Do you think he's alright?" asked Kallen.
"I'm sure he's fine," said Nunnally. "He's not alone at least. I'm sure big brother will be home before we know it."
Nunnally walked over to her future sister-in-law and took her by the hand which bore her engagement ring.
"You and I both have a strong connection to Lelouch," said Nunnally. "No matter what happens our connection with him will let us know if something is wrong with him."
Kallen smiled lightly and took Nunnally's hands. Both future sisters giving a silent prayer for Lelouch to come home safe and sound to them. But as they preyed they suddenly felt a great and terrible sensation run through their minds and bodies, the symbols of Geass glowing brightly in their eyes.
The exodus had been well underway, Lelouch and his two friends being the most important stragglers in the city.
"I'm not picking up anything," said Rivalz. "No Knightmares, no tanks, nothing is entering the city."
"V.V couldn't possibly not know about the exodus," said Suzaku. "He should at least have an idea of what's going on."
Lelouch looked over the empty street he and the other stood on. Something was wrong, there should have been some official response to the exodus or because of how Lelouch had sent a hologram to face his twin.
'Something is wrong,' thought Lelouch.
His thoughts were proven right when he noticed a great red glow coming from the palace. Lelouch felt a strange sensation running through his mind, as did Suzaku, and Rivalz. From his right eye Lelouch felt a great deal of pain.
"What...what's going on?" he cried.
"Lelouch," a voice...Lelouch thought he'd never hear again said. "Lelouch...do not be afraid."
"F...father?" asked Lelouch.
As he said that word a great flash of red covered the entire city.
V.V. fell to his knees, the experiment taking its toll on him given his connection to Geass. That and there was something else. There was another force at play manipulating the Thought Elevator.
"It couldn't be," he hissed.
V.V. raised his head and saw his nephew Julius lying on the ground clutching his covered eye.
"Fear not my boy," said V.V. "Despite a slight...hiccup...this should be a success. We should find Pendragon quite empty by now. Lelouch and his friends now...away. This gives us ample time to strike back at our foes."
V.V rose and helped his nephew to his feet.
"All we need is a bit of makeup my boy," said V.V. "And you'll be quite presentable when you meet your mother."
Author's Note: Slightly shorter chapter than before but I hope it entertains none the less. So yes, Dumas is indeed Lelouch's long lost twin brother Julius. And their conflict is just beginning. Fear not for Lelouch and the others, they're just...elsewhere but shall return very soon.
Until then we'll get to see more of Julius in the following chapter. A closer look inside his mind as he...reunites with his family.
Next Turn: Family Reunion.