Chapter 38
Power does not corrupt. It is fear that corrupts. Those without power are corrupted by the fear of those who have it. Those who have it are corrupted by the fear of losing it.
The Eastern Herald, front page, Monday Issue, Area 11 2017 ATB E-Day T-Minus 87 Days
The Reaper defeated!
The valiant knights of Area 11s military under the command of Viceroy Cornelia have struck a crippling blow against the insurgency in Area 11.
Two nights ago the cowardly leadership of the JLF attempted to escape from Area 11 by airplane. In an act of inspired strategy Viceroy Cornelia launched an attack in order to lure the terrorist Zero into intervening.
The Leadership of the JLF were destroyed attempting to escape. In addition the forces of the black knights were ambushed in their attempts to rescue general Katase.
While much information remains classified under military law we can confirm that the deployment of new advanced knightmare prototypes against the enemy whose oversized knightmares proved ineffective against the supremacy of Brittanian technology.
While Zero escaped recovered materials and video evidence reveal that the amoral mercenary Shinigami also know as 'the Reaper' has been killed. Official statements from Viceroy Cornelia point out how this is only the first step on the path to the inevitable crushing of the black knights and all who would oppose our benevolent and prosperous rule of area 11. All Hail Brittania!
The Devil and the Witch
Monorail, Kanto region, Area 11
Lelouch finished the call and hung up. "That's should deal with everything I can remember thinking about while at Narita. A brief respite at the least." He sighed then turned his attention to C.C "The first question are you truly my enemy or my ally?"
"Why has that come up?"
"Mao's geass lets him read other peoples thoughts. He can know what I am thinking and planning correct?" And just maybe you've been talking to him.
"Yes the way Geass manifests is different for each person. If Mao wants to he can read thoughts up to 500 meters away. And he can read clear down to the subconscious if he wants to. For someone like you who fights with his head he's the worst possible enemy."
"500 meters. Well it doesn't surprise me I knew there must be others who had the power of Geass. Clovis research notes clearly hinted at other manifestations of this power through history." He looked out the window at the cityscape rushing past. "Did you make a contract with him?"
"11 years ago"
"So he's my predecessor." Lelouch chuckled. "Any particular reason my illustrious forebear also wants to kill me?"
"Mao is after me. He may be your enemy but he's not out to kill you."
"Not right away. I could sense it his voice he's the kind who likes you to die slow. Still he could have revealed my identity or any other amount of information. Could have exposed me to the police and the army. Instead he went for Shirley."
"Hmm."
"Knowing I'm Zero is one thing but how would he prove it at least to the point that anyone would take him seriously? No it'd be easier to simply out me as Lelouch Vi Brittania to the royal family then expose me. Or reveal my identity to the conclave and see happens then."
"You're already doing it."
"What?"
"In analysing the situation you're coming up with ways for him to defeat you."
"Yes. Yes I am. Are there limits on his power?"
C.C looked downcast the mini red hat she had pinned to her spring green hair sliding to the left.
"His Geass is powerful. He can use it as many times as he wants and it doesn't require eye contact."
"Can he take memories without limit?"
"Memories?"
"I mean can he know everything I know or does it have to be what I'm thinking about?"
"No it has to be current thoughts he can access memories if he really needs to but he has to concentrate and even then he needs to know what he's looking for. It would probably be easier to use verbal suggestions to trick you into thinking about what he wants to know." She lowered her eyes for a moment and then spoke again. "Your Brother's Geass works that way though. He can literally eat people's minds."
Lelouch pressed on the matter. "So there is a limit on how much information he can … process at once. Anything else?"
"If you push me on it I'd say his power is also his weakness. He can't turn it off, in a crowd he hears the thoughts of everyone around him in a constant maelstrom whether he wants to or not.
The Madman
Sir Giles Public library Tokyo Settlement Area 11
In a crowded library Mao gripped a banister as he moved along the shelves
Are those really brittanian students? My grades aren't going up and it costs money.
Yeah I've got to get that car the red paint job is great.
Oh yes as soon as we get back I am going to I wish my family was nobility They should be ashamed Everyone will call me the comet. Nice uniform
Racing down the road with the top down would be so cool. I never thought I'd be wasting my time. I'll get the money somehow when I get my next bonus. Should I tell my wife but I can't quit my job.
Mao's face was gripped in terrible pain as the voices slammed through his mind without limit or restraint. He cursed as his hand ran over the place where the documents THE THIEF had been thinking of had been, They were gone gone. His features twisted in misery and he turned up the volume on his earphones
"I understand Mao, don't worry Mao. You can do it Mao. Oh Mao don't worry I'm not going to die. Mao how silly of you."
"C.C I can't live without you wait for me I'm coming to see you now."
Monorail, Outer Settlement, Area 11
Lelouch steepled his fingers in front of him. "So limits on how much he can handle and he can't turn it off. I can work with that. Since you are immune to Geass he can't read your mind correct?"
"Yes."
"You know from the way he talked about you your relationship sounded somewhat less professional than our own."
"No comment." Damn she is good. Without Luthur's equipment I have no way of reading her and even then it's chancy.
"I've taken some steps to stymie him. But he knows enough to hurt me already. Of course if he reveals it any motivation to hold back for fear of exposing myself vanishes also. He's been in my head he knows how I think. He knows my habits. He knows my vulnerabilities. He knows how I normally react. So I must do something completely out of character. And something else." He looked at C.C speculatively. "There is one form of attack that would in fact be dependent on him reading my mind."
"Oh really?"
"To be clear. Do you believe that he can fulfil the contract you made?"
"No he can't do it. He will never do it."
"Do you believe that I represent a chance to fulfil the contract?"
"So far that is still possible."
"Then understand me clearly C.C. I will kill him he is too great a danger. Mao must die and I will use every method however cruel to bring that about and you are going to help me do it. Otherwise our contract is void and we're done."
C.C looked out the window for a minute in silence. "You don't want to use your Geass on him?"
"What to make him my slave or to make him sane? You can't have both and he's a danger to me either way."
"Then yes I will. Whatever is necessary to ensure you can fulfil our contract."
"Good. We get off the train here."
They left the monorail and then boarded a transit elevator down into the lower areas of the Brittanian settlement. As they walked down a street lit only by flickering lamps Lelouch turned a corner twice until they were standing in a cul de sac.
"Oh by the way I should apologise for what's about to happen."
"Huh?"
There was a faint scuffling sound and then bags were pulled over both their heads.
The Madman
Outer Tokyo settlement, Lower City, Area 11
Mao walked into a small antique store.
"I'm here to pick up the antique dinner set with the ebony finishings and the silver inlay."
The balding man who was polishing a small glass bowl blinked for a moment then recovered."I see. May I have your purchase number."
"00109"
The man nodded his acceptance and tapped a small button on the underside of his desk. The sign at the front stated closed. Then he led mao downstairs.
Mao followed the man down into a lower store room. Then into a second one hidden below it. He started clapping his hands gleefully as panelling was removed to reveal an arsenal of weaponry and military equipment. Along with reels of a thin blue cord. "Take whatever you need sir."
Mao opened up a crate to pull out a silenced pistol and carefully chambered the rounds. Testing the weight. The old man tilted his head as a call came in on his secure line. The transmitter hidden in his fake hearing aid. "yes sir wha…" Blamm. Mao instantly shot the man in the head.
He knelt down beside the man pulled out the com bead and stomped on it.
The Lady
The House of nine shadows, Tokyo Settlement, Lower city, Area 11.
Lelouch was walked down a narrow hallway. The faint wisps of perfume entered the bag his trained ear detected faint gasps and sighs.
The bag was removed and Lelouch opened his eyes to find himself standing in a darkened room with intricate wooden panelling on all sides. A slight breath of air was all the sign of his captors prescence as they stepped out of the room. The silence was broken by the faint clack of a bamboo water clock.
Kaguya was relaxing on a soft lounge wearing a kimono embroidered with images of storm clouds and demons. Her hair was unbound and her feet were bare. She gently filled a pair of cups with tea from a white pot.
"This is the first time to my knowledge that you have been acting as my guest. Tea?"
Lelouch sat himself down on a chair opposite Kaguya who sipped at her tea and then casually leaned back in her couch. Lelouch drank the tea and then set down the cup. He inclined his head respectfully. "Thank you for your hospitality."
"So formal Lelouch. Well I do appreciate good manners. Even if I don't believe in letting others use it to control me."
"Problem?"
"Oh certain members of the houses subtly reminding me of how a well brought up representative of an old Japanese family should behave. Personally I believe that it's less about proper etiquette and more a convenient way to get me to be silent." Her eyes were speculative. "Something is bothering Kirihara. It involves me in some way but I can't quite figure out what's his motivation for it at the moment."
"Kirihara lecturing you on ladylike behaviour. Would my current location have anything to do with that?"
"Ah Lelouch. When you come to a place like this people will assume you want secrecy for only one reason."
"As for Kirihara." She paused."Not directly one of the others did so on his behalf. But it was the way he did it that told me Kirihara was behind it." Kaguya raised one immaculate eyebrow at Lelouch. "Now as pleasant as it is to discuss the ever intricate political manuevering that is my job I believe there are other matters?"
"Certain events have come to pass that force me to behave uncharacteristically."
"Really?" Kaguya lay in such a manner that made Lelouch grateful she had her robe belted so tightly. She noticed and rolled her shoulder ever slightly so that.. Focus.
"I'm going to be completely honest with you. I'm going to tell you something without any double meanings or obfuscation. I will reveal to you secrets I have kept from the conclave itself and then surrender all my access codes frequencies and temporary command of the black knights into your keeping. You must then use these to change the access into something I do not know."
Kaguya's teasing voice vanished and she looked shocked and isappointed. "Just like that?"
"Yes."
"How inconsiderate. One that's completely unlike you. Two that makes it too easy where's the fun in outwitting your deception if you just tell me everything? Three command? I know that Luthur is currently incapacitated but you have other lieutenants."
"Because it's the only way. Because my foe knows all my weaknesses and thus my Lieutenants. But he cannot know your weaknesses or your secrets. Because I do not know all your secrets including wherever we are now. Because I need the help of someone whose thinking I do not completely understand. Because I have to tell you about Geass."
For the next twenty minutes there was the continuous chiming of the water clock as Kaguya listened, and Lelouch spoke.
Eventually he finished and Kaguya asked "So she really isn't simply your mistress."
"No."
"You've just given so much of your power to me. So that Mao cannot use it against you."
"Yes. I have also sent a message to the conclave regarding your assumption of my authority. Temporarily. In the event that I die you might find holding onto the position a bit tricky. "
"Just like that? I mean I could theoretically replace you with a double assuming of course that there weren't many people who knew your face and you hadn't taken precautions. I know you Lelouch You are giving me your power. More you are giving me so much knowledge the kind of power that you cannot ever take back. You are leaving yourself vulnerable to me. This should frighten you Lelouch. I know that it would frighten me."
Lelouch wanted to retreat again behind his impassive face but he knew that following his old patterns in this case would be disastrous. He needed the help of a person he still could not completely figure out.
"Yes it does frighten me. But power is a tool. It only has meaning if it is put to a purpose. Power alone is a pretty bauble it is meaningless without control.
Kaguya I fear being powerless. I fear having no control of my fate. I fear this man who can turn my power upon me. Yes even though I would trust you with my life I fear giving even you this power over me. Giving anyone such power over me.
Yet I will not be controlled by the fear of losing that power. If I am so afraid of losing my power that it prevents me from winning… Then my power is worse than useless to me for I have not mastered myself."
The water clock struck three times as Kaguya sat there serene and expressionless. Then she spoke.
"Only by embracing death can you live." Kaguya's voice was so soft and tears came to her eyes that she brushed away.
"Why, why are you crying?"
"Oh Lelouch my beautiful idiot. Because you reveal wisdom utterly lost on those old men I am surrounded by and yet you can't figure out why that makes me cry."
"You take away my control Kaguya. I am no innocent. What little still clung to me I lost in the seven years we were apart but yet you still manage to undo me. To distract me. That should have told me who you were even without the mask. And if I can't completely figure you out he won't have a clue even if he reads my mind."
"Flatterer. Not too worried about him revealing you now?"
"Who would believe him? So far he hasn't revealed enough for him to be credible. Besides if he wanted a more plausible way to derail me he could just out me as Lelouch vi brittania and see how that affected things. But there's a bigger reason. He's a sadist. He doesn't want the fun to end yet."
"He is obsessed. We the both of us understand obsession. Only he is clearly insane."
"Yes we are both mask wearing leaders of hidden organisations with plans for world domination. No lack of sanity here."
Kaguya rolled her emerald eyes and continued on.
"And he can see into your mind but mad or not he is still a man. I know already how you can turn his power against him. So do you. I could see you looking at her in the video recording. You already know how to use her against him."
Lelouchs jaw clenched slightly "Yes."
"You're not even going to feign ignorance at to what I'm hinting at?"
"I think we're past that point."
"Then say it how will you attack him. How will you turn his power against him."
He spoke softly his words hidden by the water clock.
She smiled. "An excellent plan. Ruthless, highly effective and a lot of fun. Exactly what I would have suggested." She tilted her head to the side
"It's difficult with me isn't it? Anyone else you'd be completely dispassionate about it just business. With me even though you know how I think in this regard... You hesitate." And she laughed. "And the fact I can see right through you without any mind powers at all. It utterly confounds you. It always has."
"Yes. It's what I'm counting on. And I don't understand why it doesn't frighten me."
"Oh Lelouch I do. As your future wife how could I not know you?" Lelouch gave her a long suffering look. "I believe that you will figure it out later, if we survive this. Then you will act." Kaguya smiled then. A smile of anticipation. Then she shook her head to clear out whatever pleasant image she was entertaining.
"Now onto practicalities before this unalloyed honesty loses its novelty. How do you give me the access codes?"
Lelouch reached into mouth. There was a brief grunt of pain and then a click. He pulled out a small black rectangle the size of a match head.
Kaguya rolled her eyes. "You kept it all in your head."
"You have that reading device I gave you."
"Of course."
She pulled out a small tablet the size of her hand. He placed the tiny black datacube into a receptacle and the screen lit up. Information scrolling down it. "Of course I doubt that this holds all your secrets but still an awful lot of them." Her eyes widened in interest at some of the data revealed. "Now send in your witch she and I have a lot to talk about. It's best if you don't hear it."
"Really."
"Yes Lelouch you have decided to use her as a weapon. Now I know you so would I be correct in assuming you have taken steps so that this form of attack would not impede your own control."
"Yes I have. I spent some time accumulating practice."
"A man like you of course. So until you met me you weren't having any problems?"
"No."
"Yes well I doubt you've been using it in an offensive role and I know a bit more about this kind of tactic than you so its best that she and I get to know each other better. If she's to help in your plan and mine."
"Which of course you won't tell me about."
"Yes that's the point and it's really more fun that way regardless."
His hand seemed to grip it harder as she went to pull it away. Then she leaned in and whispered in his ear. "Admit it you don't completely trust me either."
"No I don't."
She made a contented sound.
The Devil and the Witch
Ashford academy, Tokyo Settlement, Area 11 2017 A.T.B E Day T-Minus 86 Days
Lelouch drank a glass of red wine as he sat in his private room with C.C. Who had changed back into her opened straightjacket.
Sayoko was still present and had activated the security grid using new pass codes that she changed every hour. Cameras watched from every angle one being kept on Nunnally at all times.
"I can't even give her an edited version of how Luthur's doing. She knows something's wrong and I can't tell her because now I don't even know." He filled his glass again drank it and put it down.
"I ordered the black knights to look for him before I gave control over to Kaguya. I'm keeping in contact with one cell here in the settlement but that's all. There are also other agents inside the settlement itself."
"They won't catch him even if you warned them."
"No but since he knows how I would act I can guess what he'll do next. One advantage of having so large an organisation is that even I can't remember where everyone and everything is. Without access to my own files the damage he can create is limited. Mao can still expose me but he won't be able to draw upon my own resources too easily."
"That plan you and Kaguya concocted is cruel. I'm honestly surprised that both of you thought of it."
"Then it pleases me that I can still fool you. Besides what could I do to Mao that's worse than what you've already done to him?" His eyes narrowed. "Tell me if I keep using my Geass will I wind up like him? Or was that a consequence of him not fulfilling the contract?"
"With each use the power of your Geass will increase. Those who can't control their power will be consumed by it."
"And knowing that you still make these contracts with me and Luthur. How old was Mao when you contracted with him. Did you tell him even less than you did us?"
C.C looked away.
Lelouch looked down at her and spoke very softly. "You should have killed him yourself rather than simply abandon him. Now he will suffer more before the end. And I will gouge out my own eyes and replace them with machines before I let this power master me."
C.C stood up and turned away "We need to split up if we're to do this properly I will stay in the north east tower. Near the gardening club."
The Knight
ASEEC compound, Tokyo Settlement, Area 11
"A medical check?" Suzaku was stepping out of the lancelot as Llloyd worked at a computer
As he got past it Suzaku could see a vid screen of two of Lloyds assitants running wires into the detatched power armour arm recovered from the harbour. The video was set to silent as the second asistants was flailing around in panic while testing the reaction of the arm its metal hand had clamped onto his face. The man fell over scattering tools in total silence as someone began frantically pulling electrical cables from the recovered technology. Lloyd spoke into a microphone. "Listen be careful with that will you don't damage the finger tendons when you pull it off his face.
Ceclile put down her clipborad as she spoke. "Yes its compulsorary for all knightmare pilots. We'll pick you up later after school."
"Right Oh miss Cecile is there any way I could meet with princess Euphemia."
"Forget it you need to be a knight of honour at least to get an audience with her." Then Lloyd turned his attention back to the screen. "Could we get a replay of the sequence that made it grab his face it might be useful. What problem? He's still alive get him to tell you.
Cecile politely coughed. "Can't an earl do something?"
Lloyd blinked in surprise "Me?"
"Yes you."
Suzaku face froze an instant before he blurted in surprise. "Lloyd you're an Earl?"
"Oh I'm so embarrassed." The earl ruffled his periwinkle hair.
Cecile laughed. "Lloyd Asplund Earl of Pudding is a prodigal aristocrat he can't differentiate between work and play."
The now outed Earl of Pudding turned his attention back to the screen. "Now gentlemen will you please retrieve that arm already It looks like it's trying to drag itself across the floor"
Suzaku just stood there stunned.
The Devil
Ashford academy, Tokyo Settlement, Area 11
In the shadows of the club house balcony Lelouch spoke with Milly
"Just for a few days if you can keep the club house off limits.
"Has someone found out you're a prince?"
"I'm not sure. Only the ashford family knows I am alive but it's possible someone is seeking to blackmail me. I need to be certain though."
"Ashford huh."
"Problem?"
"Lelouch they've set me up with another suitor. I don't think I can get out of this one what should I do?"
Lelouch made a wry grin. "Well all I have for you is fake your own death and go hide in another country. If you're not prepared to walk away from it all then you have to face them about it one way or the other."
"Miss President."
Milly turned to see Shirley running across the grass to her. Then she realised lelouch had vanished. As Shirley caught up with her Milly muttered under her breath "Practice what you preach I see."
The Witch
C.C was angry as she stood in the alley way. She was dressed in brown clothing with a beret and a pair of thick boots. One of which was held against the throat of a Brittanian labourer as she pinned him to the wall
"I won't ask again have you seen a thin white haired Asian man?"
"The only Asians in the settlement are day laborers. Why not ask the cops?"
"I don't like cops."
"Then the black knights they're plugged into the black market and the settlement."
"I've already tried that."
C.C had been busy dealing with the mess left at one of the safehouses lelouch had told her of. It had been cleared out and although all evidence was gone her intuition was screaming at her that it had been Mao. All Lelouch had done was look at a list of material stolen sent to him by Kaguya and raised one infuriating eyebrow.
Black knights mobile trailer, off Tokyo North highway, Area 11
"No Zero we haven't found him. Should we tap the Kyoto network?"
"That won't be necessary. Keep it to the Kanto block. Remember your cell has to operate independently for this one."
"yes sir and as an update Kallen isn't back from the mission you sent her on."
"I see. Thank you." Lelouch leaned back in his chair. I deliberately had them operate independently so I would still have some means at my disposal. But kallen gone? Kaguya what are you up to?
Ashford Academy, Tokyo settlement, Area 11 E-Day T-Minus 85 Days
Lelouch walked up the stairs. Mao's range means he can't get too close to the grounds now that I am watching for him. Still it's like trying to check a person with only one piece.
C.C walked down the stairs towards Lelouch. "Still no luck finding him?"
"No. wait." Lelouch looked down at his phone. "Hello?"
"It's me Lulu." Mao's voice made shirley's nickname for him sound obscene. "I'm certain C.C is there so put her on I want to talk to her alone."
C.C took the phone and listened. Then she spoke back "yes… Yes I understand Mao… I will tell him… three hours." Then she hung up.
Lelouch nodded. "So is it time for me to walk into his trap?"
"He just wants me."
"And he knows I won't make it that easy for him. Three hours that should be enough time."
"Yes well we'd best get ready." C.C actually managed a slight smile.
"I won't disappoint."
Government citadel, Tokyo settlement, Area 11
Viletta was wearing combat armour as she sat in a darkened room with Princess Cornelia, Darlton and Jeremiah. "If this is a trap then it's better that I spring it."
Darlton frowned "Nevertheless the information M has provided has all been authentic and if the most recent data he sent straight to you is any indication it will let us strike a crippling blow against Zero's operations."
Cornelia turned her attention to the former Margrave. "Jeremiah how did the data even get there?"
"We're still looking into how that is possible my lady the information was sent using General Guildford's own individual clearance. Whoever this M is he's proved his ability at obtaining classified information by breaching our own security to give it to us. If he was an agent of Zero why would he feed us data in such a way as to make us pay closer attention to our own security?"
"Which makes the idea that anyone so good would leave such a trail to lead us to him highly dubious."
"He did request I don't tell anyone. Although how anyone knew about my capture in Shinjuku is beyond me."
"This talk about a young man responsible for your incapacitation"
"Viceroy my recollection was hazy that's why I never entered it into the report. I put it down to concussion. But that more than anything convinces me of its veracity. If it was only in my head how could anyone else know of it?"
Ashford Academy club house. Tokyo settlement, Area 11
C.C turned around and walked down the stairs. She turned at smiled back at lelouch after activating her phone. "Be grateful Lelouch this is where you and I say goodbye."
"So you're going to him?"
"Don't act like that we were not friends simply co conspirators."
"You know too much about me I cannot let you leave." His eye burned red. "C.C remain here with me."
"I'm immune remember. Don't worry you keep your Geass mao will never bother you again. You've won Lelouch."
As they were gone Lelouch left the building later as he entered his own chambers he spoke to the empty air. "You made sure the old codes were running long enough?"
"Yes I detected the tap using the software Luthur left behind. He should have seen the whole thing."
"Good. Remain here and ensure Nunnaly is safe."
Medical office, Godfrey military barracks, Area 11
A young bespectacled army doctor looked at her clipboard then turned her attention back to Suzaku.
The test results are good although it looks like the results pertaining to discipline and life are a bit too high. A young man your age should learn to relax more.
"Is that a problem?"
"It may be that you are comparing yourself to your father." Suzakus's face barely shifted and the doctor continued on.
"It's common in the children of famous people. Genbu Kururugi the former Prime Minister was I understand a great man."
Suzaku's right eye twitched slightly.
The Samurai
Genbu Memorial shrine, Kanshen Ghetto. Area 11
"What an ironic meeting place." Tohdoh was wearing a trenchcoat that swawed in the light breeze.
Chiba sneered. "The memorial for Genbu Kururugi the man who told us to fight to the end then betrayed us all by killing himself and surrendering."
From a distant window Brittanian military units watched.
"Fugitive Tohdoh identified. All units prepare to apprehend. Yes my Lord."
The Fan
Diethard stood in a small house in the outer Ghettoes along with three assitants was on the phone while discussing tactics with Zero.
"So you approve."
"Yes your organisational ability has been proven. The reorganisation of the new cells shall proceed according to your plan. Don't worry you have passed your audition so to speak."
Kaguya placed down the phone and deactivated her voice modulator. Diethard it was tempting to consider you a spy after that mess at the docks. Still you're proving quite useful. His suggestion for reorganising the surface resistance cells was inspired. Then she checked another upcoming message. My contacts should be meeting with Tohdoh soon. He'll be pleased to know Katase is alive.
The Madman
Clovis land Amusement park, Middle tier, outer ring Tokyo Settlement, Area 11
C.C walked into an empty area of the Clovis amusement park. The place was empty but she could see near the corners of the buildings large black boxes. She knew what they were from a tour of one of Lelouch's weapons stores. Mao had been very busy indeed.
Lights filled up every inch of Clovis land. Ferris wheels began to spin. Merry go rounds rotated. Man sized automated plush cats on wheels began pre programmed routes around the park.
There riding on a merry go round horse was Mao his face covered by a purely reflective mask and the metal grill of an old knights helmet. He was also wearing combat armour while his white hair trailed behind him.
"Your knight in shining armour has come to set you free." The voice was unmistakable.
"What are you about Mao?
"C.C your mind is so quite. It's the only one I can't read. Your friend Lelouch he has such lovely toys."
"I told you once we were done with each other Mao why."
Mao cut her off. "C.C I love you just as I know you love me. We cannot be parted we can never be parted."
"I should have done this long ago." C.C drew a pistol, fired and missed. Mao was pulled his own pistol and shot her in the stomach. She knelt forwards in pain.
"You see you didn't kill me. I knew you loved me."
"I was only using you from the start."
"Lies are very very wicked. Wicked lies." Then he shot her again and again to cause her pain kneecapping her and shooting her in the arms. Maos face switched back to perfect serentity as he went to fetch items from a box.
"I've built a house for us in Australia a very special white clean house far away from anybody. But we'll need to take an airplane to get to Australia." Then he gave a small childlike frown of disappointment. "The problem is you're a little too big to get on a plane so that's why." He pulled out a chain saw. "I'm going to make you all compact with this."
"Is this your revenge? You punishing me?"
"Oh no I'm not. I'm really really not. I'm not not NOT NOT NOT AT ALLLLL. This is me expressing my gratitude to you." Mao's movements seemed a bit jerky as he pulled on the cord and activated the weapon.
"I think not Mao." On the screen behind Mao the mask of zero appeared.
"Ah lulu why bother with your mask when I can see below your skin?"
"You won't be reading my mind Mao your range is 500 meters and I'm standing well beyond that."
"Oh no! What are you going to do use your machines, your little pet monsters. I don't think so Lulu I rummaged through your toy store before you left none of them will get near me."
There was an ominous whirring coming from the black boxes.
"I need no machines I have already destroyed all the evidence you stole to use against me."
"What are you talking about?"
"Using only a single laptop and photoshopping I have inundated the network with a million false and individual messages about my identity all using your unique signifier. Thanks for using my own systems enough to allow me to back hack you. You can cry my name to the heavens Mao but it will be lost in the chorus."
"I don't care I'm leaving and I'm taking C.C
"She never told you her name."
"What?"
"C.C isn't really her name. But I know what it is because C.C is mine."
"No she was mine long before she was yours she's mine you hear." Maos face twisted in anger even as lelouch continued talking.
"Every part of her. All the parts of her that you have never touched. All the parts of her that you have never tasted."
"You're lying you're lying." Mao slashed away at the screen with his chainsaw.
"Then look into my mind Mao and see the truth."
Mao stoped for a second as he suddenly sensed Lelouch's mind and what Lelouch was thinking about was.
His hands gently massaged her slim back with oils. His weight resting on her naked buttocks. His fingers tracing a path along her pale spine, kneading the flesh above the ridges and shoulderblades. Before he leaned down and kissed the back of her neck. She hissed with pleasure and rolled pulling him down to kiss her lips.
"No No she wouldn't she WOULD NOT."
He knelt between her legs and traced his tongue around her sex. He breathed in her thick musky scent using his thumb to flick at a sensitive spot just inside as C.C arched her back pushing against his mouth.
"LIAR LIAR SHE WOULD NEVER DO THAT."
One of the cats rolled along behind mao and stopped.
Then he was within her, her legs raised arms wrapped around him. Drawing in the fragrance of her hair, tasting the sweat on her cheeks, the faint gasps as she moved beneath him arms crushing him as her mouth broke away from his. He leaned back slightly as her wet inner muscles writhed and contracted. Seeing her below him seeing her emerald hair spread across the pillow the red symbol on her forehead gleaming as she moaned "Lelouch I love you, I love you." Before she screamed.
"ARghhehgegehhe." Mao's voice descended into the maddened keening of a tortured animal … "Kill kill him KILL HIM NOW." Mao lifted his rifle and began firing madly. "Where are you where are you?"
"I'm here."
A strained gurgling came from Mao's mask as a dagger was stabbed through the gap between armour and helm. Severing the spine and plunging into the mouth like a second steel tongue. Parylysed Mao fell to the floor. Looking up to see a figure in light armour his face hidden by a hood and a chemical injector collar. The automated cat figure had been opened from the inside. But Lelouch's violet eyes gleamed in the light.
"I simply predicted what you would do, what would say. Just as I am predicting what you're thinking now."
Mao lay on the ground in silence.
"You were too dependent on your power. You thought I would be that limited."
Maos head rocked slightly as the remaining muscles his brain commanded moved his neck.
"You can't read my thoughts when I am unconscious. A drop of torpor made me slumber without dreams. With the antitoxin set to inject at the sound of my voice."
The movements were slower now. The victim asphyxiating as the lungs failed to function.
"Yes that's right you mattered so little to her that she lay with me just to help me kill you."
Then Lelouch pulled out a pistol and emptied his rounds into Mao's twitching body two in the heart and two in the head the glass plate cracked and blood oozed out onto the platform behind the man.
Then Mao's voice came out of the broken helm.
"We're not done yet thief. We're not done. Make you suffer make you suffer."
Lelouch pulled off the mask and saw a thin man with tape over his mouth and a small wire torc around his neck. Blood and brains leaking from his broken skull. Lelouch pulled at the collar and around the man's neck was an unmistakable black sheen. He pulled out a knife at cut at the armour revealing the man was wearing a nerve suit but with some utterly, utterly wrong modifications. Crude wiring was run through the interface and it seemed into the man's skin. "Oh you sick little….."
Mao's voice echoed from the helms microphone. "It was your idea. THIEF. It seems some people are on their way. He HAHAH EH TAKE FROM ME I TAKE FROM YOU."
"On their way?"
Then there was a faint beeping and Lelouch flung himself away as a perfectly timed explosion severed the corpses head.
Lelouch blinked away the spots in his eyes. He hauled himself to his feet and rushed to pick up C.C's wounded body.
"Don't try to move terrorist. You are under arrest for suspicion of involvment with the black knights and for murder. " While Lelouch had been stunned a dozen Sutherlands had taken position around him and climbing out from the top was Viletta nu. He shielded C.C with his body even as the hood covered his face. He spoke loud enough for his enemies to hear.
"Viletta Nu I have been having a really bad day and my patience has reached a terminal low."
Then the lights all turned off as an armoured round blew the factsphere off one of the knightmares. "What the?"
A booming voice echoed from the parks loud speakers "Wrong man Brittanians"
The lights reactivated illuminating a fake castle tower at the far end of the park. Everyone's attention turned to see Zero in his power armour standing atop the distant tower. His cloak billowed behind him in a strong gale and an enormous long barrelled weapon held in both hands braced as he fired again. The anti armour rifle shooting out the leg of another knightmare.
"It's Zero."
Then Mao's voice rang out. "Yes, yes you will all die all of you die die die die DIEEEEE."
Lelouch dropped a smoke bomb and as he ran with C.C in his arms he heard the clicking sound of Jaxen automated gun platforms.
The black boxes opened to reveal long barrelled weapons on swivel mounts that began opening fire on every moving thing in sight.
The sound of gunfire tore the air as the knightmares dealt with Mao's activated defences.
A van pulled up in front of Lelouch and he leapt inside even as it sped towards the tower. In thirty seconds Zero leapt into the van from the sidewalk even as the sound of explosions shook the air.
They had just left the amusement park perimeter when there was a massive crunching sound from the roof. A panel opened up and a heavily concussed Viletta Nu was dropped into the back of the Van. Followed by Kallen in her gleaming red power armour.
C.C was buckled to the wall of the van as it lurched again while. 'Zero' spoke. "Driver increase speed. Kallen is Viletta Nu alive?"
"Yes Zero."
"Excellent we will have no trouble subjecting her to interrogation. I'm sorry you learned in these circumstances but meet Lelouch one of my intelligence agents and I understand your school mate. Tell me operative Lelouch did you kill the infiltrator?"
Kaguya this is beyond a joke I'll get you for this. "No Lord Zero. He was using a reverse wired nerve suit to employ another man as a puppet. However he said he will target my family in retaliation."
Kallen sounded shocked. "They can do that?"
"Actually no. However you can use them as a sort of obscene torture device. Basically the poor bastard wearing it had to follow Mao's commands or he could have used it to ignite his pain receptors without causing any muscle spasms."
Zero's cold voice echoed through the van. "Driver take route 32. Operative Lelouch I must deal with Miss Nu and know what the infiltrator told her. I cannot approach near him or risk a security breach." Zero's voice was softer now. "Do you understand?"
"Yes my Lord." Lelouch swallowed his pride.
C.C looked at Lelouch and then back towards Zero. "You're devils the both of you."
Authors note
DERAIN: DO YOU FEAR HIM NOW?
Yes now that is a cruel and ruthless plan. If you're fighting a mind reader put something in your mind that will utterly screw with their head. And distract them from what you are really up to. Engaging in close quarters combat while he is frothing at the mouth.
A lot of my fanfic involves looking at the nature of the characters giving them a different set of options and wondering what would they do then?
Kallen: What's with Lelouch just giving up his power like that to Kaguya even temporarily?
Derain: Completely in character or what do you call the ending of season 2 Lelouch's goal was not to rule the world but to bend it to his will. He gave it all up his power and his life in order to accomplish his goal. That's not the same thing as liking it but he did what he knew was necessary.
Milly: Damn a lot of people in the betting pool are going to be unhappy.
C.C: Still not the worst thing I've ever done. In fact that was surprisingly good.
Derain: At what point did I state that This version of Lelouch was a virgin? Besides in the Canon he drove Mao wacky with just the suggestion that he had got it on with C.C. What would happen if he actually did it? And using it as a cunning plan would probably occur to him before any other reason.
He's never had a relationship in canon or here. It was never possible for him to ever have an honest normal social relationship with anyone.
That's not the same thing as not having sex. What did anyone miss the foreshadowing in the body of the story where I suggested he wasn't quite as naïve as his public persona implied? Like for example conversations with Milly. Or maybe hallucinatory memory flashes. On a mountain?
One of the things about his relationship with Kaguya that gives him such a blindspot is his inability to think dispassionately around her. She throws him off balance. Because she is just as intelligent as him and can often see right through him. Which if he stopped to really analyse his own feelings is what makes her so damned attractive to him. On the other hand C.C seems as utterly dispassionate as he but is almost completely unreadable.
Some of Lelouch and Kaguya's greatest sexual tension is when those two are trying to outmanuever, out scheme and outdo each other. Lelouch is in love with Kaguya and is the only person who does not know.
Also there is the character of Kaguya herself. I wanted to understand why she was that way to establish how she would be if she was the same age as Lelouch. Canon Kaguya has some very interesting (even shocking for her age) ideas on sexuality. Although here's a fun observation hey Lelouch in the canon every time she talked about being your bride or the others being your harem you didn't pay attention.
Lelouch: Yes
Derain: In other words everytime she said that you and the audience stopped taking her seriously.
Lelouch: Yes ….. wait a minute.
Derain: And the penny drops. Kaguya is the way she is part deliberate attempt to manipulate her enemies, part personal philosophy, part individual sexuality and part deliberate calculation. To her sex is a pleasure and a weapon. Both in the act and in the way perceptions of the act can be used to influence behaviour and others preconceptions. She's been waging a subtle power struggle with Kirihara within the houses of Kyoto while trying to win the support of old men as she puts it. And she's been doing it for seven years while she grew into maturity. She will never let anyone dictate to her on sex or anything else ever. And I pity the wretched fool who tries. Keeping in mind that anyone who thinks she is foolish or distracted by selfish desires doesn't understand that she can probably scheme and connive even while indulging herself. And then kill you.
Lelouch has never personally used sex as a weapon until now. Before he was only concerned with not letting it cloud his judgement. So they both came up with the idea but Kaguya is the one who was able to help it work really effectively.
In what universe would any relationship involving an 18 year old Kaguya be 'normal'. Hah. Together they truly are a pair of devils.
If you don't fear both of them yet you will by the time Lelouch is done with Mao. Things are going to go to … Hell.