Good god, I was dreading this… I just remembered something horrible...
Stage 1 - The Day a New Demon was Born
Under the gaze of the stars, night instead of day beckons in the waking world, revealing the vacated roads of the new Britannian Capital in this cold atmosphere that chills one's shoulders. And out there, walking through a empty hall of a fortified structure, the shadowed silhouette of a towering man silently stalks forward in the corridor, with the silver of his clothes reflecting under the moonlight, briefly revealing his short blond hair hidden in the dark.
Schneizel has adopted quite the routine since days past, keeping a low profile by hiding in plain sight, merely shuffling his schedule into a extremely busy ordeal to follow orders and accomplishing his tasks as a smoke screen where he could abuse in small slips. Ever since the world came into the control of the U.F.N, he had far too few pieces in hand to create an attainable rise back to power. The opulent aristocracy of Britannia was ruined, most countries have reformed their military, and those few who had any real strength to wash over the power vacuum left by Lelouch's demise are currently being dealt by might of the Black Knights.
Indeed, against such conundrum on having to deal with Zero's own personal existence and his own compelled actions under geass, the renegade prince has his liberty rather limited to act, even more so now that his consciousness had been partially freed in their eyes.
Given the imminent threat of the King's Court, he has been frozen off from his U.F.N seat for the time being, with his diplomatic duties currailed and restrained only to managing the remains of Britannia right under the graces of his militant sister Cornelia. Clearly after Damocles, practically everyone is keeping their eyes on him, ever vigilant and cautious as he does his own things, having Zero and the Regent alternating roles in both watching over him and guarding a young Nunnally whenever the masked vigilante was off to do his own thing.
Now, such reaction was expected from them, so desperately trying to avert a disaster. It's so obvious and predictable, but still a effective nuisance to deal with. In fact, from the few times he actually managed to get a little of Nunnally's personal attention to himself, it's clear to him now that his own charisma will never be able to convince the little girl into a position of leverage ever again. She had her fair share of lies through her whole life to be enough guarded around him, which cuts his options even more...
"(I suppose this is what you've felt Lelouch… Constraints surrounding you from every side.)" Schneizel reflected, impassive to his circumstances.
However, not all pieces are off the table yet. Not everyone enjoyed this new age of peace that was brought to the masses. Quite, just where he was heading at right now, lurking hidden amidst this very discreet private domain belonging to an alias, a small remnant cadre of nobles gather in secret to congregate and plot much like the old days, sharing their own dreams and ambitions of the lost past, all in the hopes of recovering that aristocratic supremacy much valued by late reign of Emperor Charles.
And quite so, they had to endure much to attain that miracle of a wish, specially with how little have accomplished so far...
Right now, this extremely short minority is only loosely organized, held together with nothing but promises, charisma and sworn favors rather than actual results as of yet. If it wasn't for their craven nature of immediately joining Lelouch upon his so Imperialistic call to service, one could say these nobles wouldn't not be alive nowadays. In fact, they would rather be left as geassed slaves much like the many others that survived.
Nevertheless, Schneizel had a offer for them, one they just can't refuse. Though he was treated as madman to the world in whole, the nobles in here still recognize his resolve in full, viewing his crimes back in the Damocles as nothing but an act worthy of a proper Britannian royalty, a display of true strength and authority, fit for the title of an Emperor. If there is any chance for them to go back to those wonderful days of supremacy is through him, through his genius prodigal goals.
Alas, in Schneizel's eyes though these very nobles are nothing but a means to an end, mere resources to be used and discarded as he sees fit. With his little brother Lelouch out of the way, gone in his wasteful display of flaunting theatrics for a illusory moment of peace, few are those left who can possibly challenge him directly when his plan unveils.
Thus, here we are, in a visit long awaited...
"You have come, my prince."
"...?"
A familiar voice greeted the renegade gallant just as he arrived in the dark halls of some quarter. It belonged to a rather effeminate looking individual, a tall, blue eyed man with a long rose-golden hair that was tied up, his very form clad in a humble subservient line of noble clothing, very fancy and militaristic to look at but welcoming in notion, meant to stand at the sidelines or serve as backup instead of presenting assertiveness.
"Hmph… Indeed. You have fared well, Kanon." Schneizel addresses forth, glad to see none but his very own right hand, Kanon Maldini, alive and well.
"Hardly. Managing grand schemes outside public eyes is a hard affair. These old noblemen carry many doubts and demands."
This former Earl served him well even after all these months of struggle. Thanks to his kind act of getting Cornelia her treatments for the bullet wounds at Damocles, Kanon handled himself just fine after the defeat at Mt. Fuji, publicly renouncing his allegations and effectively creating this image of distancing himself from the renegade prince in self preservation.
It was a last ditch effort planned by Schneizel in the case of his eventual death, as well as a means to leave such valuable friend to go on and live without him. After all, the gallant prince, even as a devil to some, does still care in a way. As a result, this action served better than Schneizel himself expected it. Both Lelouch's and Cornelia's mercy to Kanon, not even bothering to put a hole in his head gave the renegade a most value piece in return, helping him further in his resurgence as Kanon's loyalty still remained preserved.
"...Well, that is normal considering the circumstances. I figured that keeping masks in these strict times tries much of their patience. They will have to fall in line however. It will be long before we're able to act accordingly." Acknowledged the prince, moving on to the current plans, "Now, does the contract in the exterior holds?"
"So far they have agreed on principles but negotiations are slow. The emissaries from Zilkhstan have yet to give us a response to our last conditions. There's no clear insurance of their support. They seem reluctant to come into an conclusion all of sudden which is strange considering their declining economic interests." Kanon affirms.
This leaves Schneizel pensive on the word, his mind already thinking ahead on what's coming, "Reluctant huh? No… On the contrary actually." He argues, "Given their fame as invincible warriors, It's possible that they managed to see through what've sent them and now they're preparing accordingly."
"Oh. I see, but can we really trust them, my lord?"
"Trust them? Of course not, they are ambitious degenerates with a love for war. No, they are just pieces to be used like everyone else, crude but efficient, not to be as easily underestimated." Judged the prince, smirking in response, "We should wait and see their next move."
Kanon, not fully grasping what his liege is plotting, concends silently. He knows well the kind of mastermind prince Schneizel is… Although it was strange that for him to freely hand over Britannia's current and future military schedules as free intel to these untrusted foreigners, one could guess that his plan is centered around weakening our country defenses for a possible coup by proxy. However, if that's the case, them why did the Zilkhstanians reject the contract? Isn't this a cut-clear business for the so called warriors in a time of peace? Is it a matter of honor? Hmm...
"Now, let us convene with the nobles and calm down their nerves, shall we?"
"Of course, my prince."
Nevertheless of it, Schneizel remains unworried. Whatever the foreigners' move is, the scope of his liege's plot is unfolding ever so steadily. Princess Cornelia and her peers are busy with their witch hunt on the past, so no one will miss the slightly shuffling of material resources that is now being scurried away under the carpet to build up the prince's Royal Liberation Army, as it was being called…
Food supplies; ration projections; sustainable food ration planning in long term; unsustainable food ration planning with appended lists of estimated casualties; estimated civilian casualties from the initial invasion plans; estimated soldiers numbers in our hand; regiments; their officers; the planned hierarchy; recruitment and training regimens; their individual citations; their reasons to join; their shames; their "moments of glory" and so on; current numbers of knightmares available; current models; current systems; current weapon supplies; ammunition; specialists; key devices; transports; militia; these and whatever else there is to be discussed for general army logistics was to called and considered under the prince's whims…
And this is merely the overview... There's also the coup plans; Britannia's coastal defenses; military bases; estimated enemy numbers; their strength; their data; the means to defeat them; local geography; battle plans; estimated enemy reactions; contingencies; subterfuge; counter-intelligence; secret plots; current noble factions; their allegiances; their interests; their petitions; their arguments; their resources; their current power compared to ours; contact plans; trade arrangements; conspiracies; complaints; the accounts; the dividends…
*sigh*
Truly, Schneizel planned for and directed everything.
There was no venue that he missed and he made sure that his acomplicances follow every step of his word out in these discreet times. Of course it is known that few, if not none, could possibly recall everything of this grand investment in one go which is why each key noble in hand would be actually tasked with a singular current objective to avoid future complications. As one can imagine, practically none of them could possible match the prince's monstrous intelect at work. This easily insured their dependency on the man alone, leaving Schneilzel's existence as a grim yet possibly glorious image as what is to come.
Even more, the man even planned for the King's Court itself, being quite thankful to have such occurrence even happening in first place, for otherwise he would never be free from Lelouch's influence completely. With a distinct schedule out of the world's time zones, Schneizel could easily act effectively in the short week of his newfound freedom, working on his plans all while indulging in whatever secrets his fallen brother had gone through in the past.
The prince is avoiding thinking of it, but it can't be denied that even he shared some manner of curiosity in regards to Lelouch's past lore. Rather, there is something peculiar about it that draws his interest in those court sessions, bland as they might feel. Maybe it's poor boy's suffering in his tale; maybe it's his sheer perspective of ambition; or maybe it's just how things seem to conveniently fit to show how his fall was just fated. Indeed, the secrets are out there and Schneizel was keen to learn about them.
After all, not even he wanted to miss out what he can learn from just gazing at the past, specially to prevent a repeat in the future...
However, as the interest of the living lies in the past, at least one among the dead was otherwise sick of it.
Lelouch stared at his overbearing younger self who indulged in both desperation and hope out from the Thought Elevator only to feel that contempt rising from his stomach. Was he wrong to be so devoted to his dream? So willing to seek up his cause? Is it a crime for him to dare challenge his fate, impossible as it was to manage it? No! It cannot possibly be! The world back then filled him with dread! Só full of malice and injustice, and all that he had wanted was a chance, a chance to turn it for the better! For him and for Nunnally!
Yes, his heart was in the right place, it had to be. These feelings that surged in, they were his drive… His fuel… His motivation… His... desires...
"Such conviction… Such fear..." The Tormentor judged the Dead Emperor as his eyes darted, his mind going wild as if some epiphany struck him, "I suppose there is no denial of it." She affirmed.
"He… Hehehehe… HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Lelouch then smiled, a smile that turned into a chuckle, morphing seconds later into a full blow laughter, all centered around some undistingable form of madness that overcame him. Snickering hatred clotted his eyes, dripping with poison as his glare met the unfeeling eyes of the judge, "Heh! Why… Why I, of all people, have to dwell on such excuses?"
"Hm?"
"You are manipulating me. Playing with my emotions like a fiddle, inciting them out of my grasp." He accused the being, "I can feel it even now, the tugging… It should have been obvious since the first hour and yet... I let it slide. Hmph, is suppose THIS is to be my punishment, isn't it? This constant… breakdown, of my very being. Your judgement is to crush me. To crush my very soul by toying with my heart, with my way of thinking..."
"Is that what you wish to believe?" She retorts, her reaction remaining nonchalant to his open dismay.
"Shut up! Just… shut up. I had enough of this. Enough of these games... Put an end to this farce. You already know the truth." He implicated, eyes feeling heavy and tired, distraught yet angry, wanting to do nothing but to surrender while at same time too proud to mellow and beg about it.
"Hmph… Ufufufufu…" Such response amused the judge, going as far as to incite her a frightening mock of chuckle, something unheard of until now. And coming from a being that so far remained condescending and heartless in her omniscience, even the so called Demon Emperor shivered at her creepy visage of her modest smile, "Why yes… You are correct, Accursed One. We do know the truth... Just as we know every thought of every mind, every ploy of the soul, every consequence of every act you've conceived. No secrets exist for the likes of us."
"..." At that, Lelouch gulped, the edge of nervous sweat crawling down his face even as his glare remained.
"However, that does not mean that they know of it…" She continued, revealing something confusing, "The truth, while it's known for the both of us here, it's not truly known to all existence, not fully recalled to rest beyond. There are those out there who bear the right to know your very actions. Those who wish you to follow this trial, regardless of its futility."
"(What…?)" Baffled, the fallen prince recoiled at her words for a second, delving into quick speculations, "But who would… Who else…?"
Those who bear the right to know… That echoed strong on him. Who could they be? The Living? The Dead? Well, It would make sense if they both were the ones wishing for the truth. But then what does that says about the faces I'd saw? This thing is the Collective Human Unconsciousness, right? She showed to him herself, the faces of his acquaintances, his family. She even told him about them being part of herself… And yet even then, it can't be living of the present day if they're dead, otherwise this court lies in the future somehow, one where the answers are missing.
…
A timeless endeavor then? A proof of this place being well… "out of time"?
"(Well, my account of time has been warped in this place so maybe…)" Lelouch was fully drawn into silence, his face gone thoughtful there, uncaring of the anger just felt earlier. He had his theories from what the Judge just revealed to him. And for some reason, he felt unable to dismiss the notion of the Jury's identity, nor ignore its importance, "(Who? Who could they be? It's can't be living, it can't be the dead, it can't be even the god before me… not when all of them already knows the truth in full... So who or what in the world is watching this court… Who is the Jury?)" The very question plagued him.
"It will all be revealed soon, just after the passing of your judgment." The woman ominously added, just when the thought came to him. She still had that smile, inviting at glance yet appalling in aura, with eyes that betrayed the impossible concept of empathy to him.
"..." It this is all too incomprehensible for the Fallen Emperor to follow.
"Now, let us not distract ourselves too much. The Jury awaits…"
And at her words, Lelouch couldn't help but to glance around his surroundings, to stare at the empty white void of the horizon in the search of some answers right before a scenery began to form, drawing his eyes towards the next materialized thought of a memory…
"The moment of you ambition now takes form, your time to rise had finally fell into your hands. The Power of the King beckons thee..."
A blink. That's all it takes to bring them here, a blink of eyes. Not a lumbering process of drowsiness, not a biological phenomenon of getting knocked out. No, it's just a hybridised method in between both, a flip, connected to the supernatural that just automatically drawns their consciousness right into this place, here in this Nightly Court, without any relatable sigh or measurable signal to be studied...
"(...and practically impossible to undo...)" Schneizel figures this, impassive in his personal discovery.
He also had his fair share of experiments when exploring the technicalities of this mental dimension they're drawn in, trying to figure out ways to exploit it further to his favor. However, as it turns out, it didn't bear much fruit other than to proving what his fellows peers from the U.F.N had researched. In fact, just earlier from now, back in the waking world, the gallant prince went on his way to avoid getting sleep as much as he could, forcing himself in any possible way to remain awake as to test the limits of the Court's mental abduction.
Medicaments, immediate distractions, physical stresses, assisted surveillance… With these and many more methods, Schneizel managed to resist for about 5 days straight, barely managing to squeeze one more day in just before a blackout of a microsleep snatched his consciousness away so suddenly into this one mythical place.
And again, there was no warning whatsoever...
"(Hmph… Oh well, at least I've found some manner of progress.)" He judged content, taking his place among the crowd, "(Through this I've finally managed to settle the contract wit-… hm?)"
But then, something disturbed him on this thoughts there...
The plans he worked through, he plots he had laid, the contracts, the actions, the very memories itself of the past waking days… It started to get fuzzy in his head, fading from a view right out of reach, as if they have been just burned away, turned into mist much like any other dream one might have.
"W-what?" This made Schneizel freeze on his spot there, holding his head as a short spike of a headache flared out, making him struggle on feet. His ever firm grip on memory was failing him, distorting his vision and balance in a shocking sunder, "(Ugh… This is...)"
And to makes things worse for his side, this backlash didn't quite go unnoticed. The sharp eyes of the last Holy Sword among the Japanese was quick to notice the gallant prince's broken demeanor. Chiba frowned at his sudden pained expression, already wary of the Britannian vile remarks and insults, "Oi! What you up…to?" She accursed straight, her tone assuming the worst from upfront before slowing down when realizing the man's actual pain.
"Tch!" Schneizel clicked his tongue, mustering all strength to recover his impassive posture as to face her straight, "Hm? What is it?" He played, faking all but the twitching eyes among the expressions.
"You..."
But at this point it was a little too late, "What's wrong, Chiba?" Todoh came along and observed the strange exchange between his subordinate/wife and the honorless cur of a Britannian prince. And as his voice called up to her loudly, the rest of the crowd all looked up of them, at Schneizel's trembling state and pondered.
"He… He looks wounded, or maybe sick." Chiba reported, wary and confused.
"Hmph, you assume wrongly of me. I'm only… angry, at something I've uncovered." States the prince explaining himself. His lie, masked in the ever printed smug on his face did wonders, "As you can imagine, this is such of a issue that I'm having a rather uncharacteristic headache dealing with it."
"Is that so..." Todoh not quite sure on what to judge, guard raised.
This created a little bout of silence, that was only broken by the cheerful interest of certain teenager...
"Huh, now that I think of it, we haven't quite tested physical wounds extensively, have we?" Kaguya inquires, drawing everyone attention, "What happens if we say… whack someone in head really hard in this dream?" Her question sounded rather silly to hear, but the message underneath her playful eyes couldn't be denied.
"(You mean torture...) Heh. I'm not sure of this, but I believe it won't lead us anywhere." Xingke responded, arms crossed.
"Why so?"
"Because my own physical sickness hasn't troubled me whatsoever since this dream had begun." He affirms, recalling his inert illness, "Plus, evidence from our previous experiments have proved a non-relation between our minds and our bodies through the brain. So, It is pointless to even try."
"Oh… I see." Kaguya couldn't help but to feel disappointed for a second, moments before another thought crossed her mind, springing up a rather ominous smile that chills the spine among the rest of the crowd upon seeing it.
"Isn't that good, though? At least you don't have feel any pain anymore, Xingke!" Tianzi flares, innocently unaware of the room's mood surrounding her. If anything, this little discussion actually served to provoke whispers on the subject, something that serve quite well for someone...
"(Well, leave it to them to ignore and change the topic on fry.)" Schneizel certainly didn't bother to complain about it, "(But of course that wouldn't fool everyone...) Is there any problem, sister?" He inquired forth, readily fixing himself up just as he turned to face his sister staring at him.
"That depends, brother." While Chiba and the remaining Japanese/Chinese crowd distanced themselves away, Cornelia didn't miss a single word of them interacting with the former traitor, "Since when has any kind of issue has left you, the abohent genius among father's progeny, so visibly distraught?" She interrogated with tone laced in poison, "You have kept yourself quite busy fixing our country, building that public image of yours to the masses and yet I fail to see just what would remotely bother someone like you..."
"Fufu~ I'm not infallible, Cornelia. Surely you know of that." Her confrontation, while very blunt on the spot, was nothing that Schneizel hasn't dealt with before. His only mistake here was that he has drawn too much attention...
"That may be so, but I'm not in luxury to lower my guard around the likes of you." She continued, casting this condescending glare as intimidate him straight, right before leaning forth to his face, "If you even dare to betray or harm any of our allies, I'll kill you myself."
"I'll keep that in mind as I usually do..." And with that singular threat, they faced away from each other, leaving the prince to recover in silence from his now loss of memories. He now had only a faint impression of what his actions in the waking were. Truth to be said, while this was quite the inconvenience, so long his notes remained untouched, there was nothing for him to worry about. Kanon should be able to take care of everything.
Until then...
"So comes the day..." The Hosting Judge came forth, her form appearing before the crowd with arms open to all, painting not only the stage itself but now the whole Court itself into a scenery of a garden, a natural sunflower garden encrusted on top of a mountain, "The day where it all began. The day when the feared time of conquer was forced upon him, when the Accursed One stumbled upon his deadliest power at hand to finally begin wrapping the world into his path of revolution..."
The words being said there along with the change of introductions since past sessions drawn both wonder and fear from the Jury as they now recognize where they are, right back to the that same mountain that signaled the Invasion of Japan by the Holy Empire of Britannia…
it lasts for but a blink of the eyes, the world shifting to briefly paint the surroundings with the greenery, the forests, the insects and the city… all observed under the gold eye of the mysterious green witch as she watches the two children, Lelouch and Suzaku, climbing that cliff to witness their shining sun plummet under a fleet of bomber wings.
"Indeed, this is the day that you all will witness..."
Stage 1 - The Day a New Demon was Born
...And it starts with flames, the crackling flames of fallen soldiers burning in a pyre of logs that was tended and saluted by a fellow japanese comrade...
At that sunset, the face of Suzaku in his younger days is shown there, clad in his worn out casual clothes full of dirty and cuts. He sat right beside his bag on top of building debris, looking down with sorrow as the day weights on to him from all his experiences and all the destruction that surrounded him. This was a moment when he, at his youngest age, stood at his foremost darkest time, matured to a point where he could not more shed any sad tears as a child.
"I...I swear…" Adding too his shock though, a familiar voice speaks, prompting his attention to his very friend standing there, one bearing a face framed with a glare that bore true hatred in his eyes, "I swear, Suzaku. One day, I'll obliterate Britannia!" He cried out, tears threatening to fall after witnessing all the destruction around them...
Little Lelouch had made his proclamation, an oath of vengeance, for him, for himself and for the world to hear it. Both Young Suzaku and the Court's Jury could feel the youngster's conviction, wondering how heavy he would follow in his promise, lamenting how his words were fate, for so strong were they that it molded reality into blinding light, painting the very future as it led all eyes years ahead, right back at the horizon of Tokyo Settlement, at the city under the domain of Britannian leadership as it once was.
It all seemed to happen so quickly. The panels of the futurist-looking metropolis gleamed under the Jury's feet just as a helicopter zoomed over their heads, flaring it's inner comms for all to hear.
"This is Alpha-3! Target is traveling from Delta-12 toward Delta-14 at a speed of 80 kph!"
"Understood, CCP to all mobile units. Declaring a Code 3 from floors 3 to 5, move in to capture target!"
All of a sudden the scene that followed was of chase. The compact helicopter that has the royal markings of the britannian state police pursued and reported the movements of a single vehicle, a truck, speeding over a highway road. Whatever situation this seemed to translate to, none among the watching crowd had the means to recognize or remember it outright, speciality now while they remain so disoriented on spot without a ground to put their feet on.
So involving was this particular session that no longer there was a stage to the show the truth as how it was in past sessions. Rather, they were all pulled right into the action itself, bringing their bodily presence on the past reality as shimmering ghosts in flowing amidst the scenery.
Before they knew it, they were all brought into some enclosed room among the city's buildings, a luxurious bar given the looks of it, filled with several men in suits surrounding two players in a table of chess. Quite, once seen in past session, this sight was familiar to the Jury but this time the players were different, a relaxed gentleman of noble stature going against a cowering peasant elder. They faced each other in this common mind game, vaguely listening to the news that is now being reported in the television...
"-here's the video footage of yesterday's terrorist bombings in Osaka. The local secretary reported 59 casualties in this incident: 8 Britannians, and 51 others in a-"
However soon enough, the clock alarm of the turn timer flared loudly, signaling someone's dismay. The TV screen was shutdown and one among the clearly recognizable bodyguards held the control in his hands.
"You're out of time. From here on you'll have to make your moves in every 20 seconds from now on." Affirmed the man in the suit to the players.
"Very well, I can handle that." The relaxed gentleman seemed unfazed by this, even taking his time polishing his nails with smug face at the increasing nervousness of the elder in butler clothing. Truly, the game standing before both was looking rather one sided from the noble's side, with the latter shaking under his boots as to what he could possibly do to save himself from this mess.
But lo and behold that was when, just in the nick of time, the front doors came into open, giving room for two more souls to come inside the room much to the curiosity of the gentleman and the relief of the butler.
"Hm? Did your substitute finally arrive?"
"Oh thank goodness you're arrived!" The introduction was brief in the elder's sudden rise. The old man was so eager to get up from his couch that he almost stumbled in his words, laughing and caring for two newcomers to take his place.
"Hm, what have we here, schoolboys?" Addressed the smug gentleman to what he saw, two teenagers who indeed look to be students, clear by the style of their black clothing. None can judge him for being a little surprised at this sight, if not disappointed.
"Hmph. Well look at this, a nobleman..." Yet rebuking in the same tone, the visage of Lelouch strode confidently at the table, with a blue haired Rivalz leaning right from behind.
"Ah~ I envy you kids today. You have so much time on your hands, so much time for regrets…" The noble stated in a mix of mockery and taunt. He truly did not sound impressed, "Oh well, and you are?"
"Lelouch Lamperouge." Yet, faced with the chaffle, the hidden prince just proudly declares his name loudly and blandly, as if to engrain it on the nobleman's brain with his inexpressive face as he usually does. And considering the below average game laying over the table, it won't take a while for that to happen.
"Wow... Can you even win this one?" Question his blue friend, making such great job in alarming things in prepup.
"Rivalz, when do we must leave in order to make our next class?"
"Ah… 20 minutes if we speed up."
"Hn, then be sure to drive us safely on the way back. This will be over in 9 minutes." Making his quick judgements, Lelouch then takes his seat on the couch and assess his domain.
The noble, seeing this over endearing confidence from what can only be just an young man, a mere teenager at best, it quickly left him annoyed, "9 minutes? You only have 20 seconds per move." He warned the kid, impatiently kicking the butt of his nail tool into the table in intimidation.
Lelouch however, still not showing any outwardly reaction, just picked his black king piece between his hand and judged, "It is enough."
"Hm? The king?" Blinking, the gentleman saw the expressed ploy there, reflected for a second and then quickly fell into laughter as the student graced him with a smile. This boy might have just handing him the victory, something that was undeniably amusing for the both of them.
Too bad that the same couldn't be said for the bystanding Jury, for just now they got hand of the reality around them, ceasing the motion of the session at their will. Indeed, they were not at all so mirthful to enjoy the actual history when it was shown this abruptly. The change of view was too brunt and too sudden to follow…
"Damn… That was loopy." Gino first complained. "Didn't expect to be thrown into a spin in here."
"You tell me about it." Rivalz agreed, nauseated. Glancing around, both of them along with the crowd went on to see and experiment with what can only be described as some form of virtual/artificial/lucid reality around them. Their surroundings were indeed replaced, the stage itself it's former ruins were practically gone, replaced by this fullblow illusion that is now replicating the memory of the past as a form of environment, "It is a nice view though, very real…" Affirmed the blue player himself, stepping up to the table, "So that's when all the bad stuff began? Since way back then?"
"Since back when, Rivalz? Are you talking about now or when Lulu was kid?" Milly confronted him, both confused and intrigued to what she sees. Truly, the upcoming session was leaving her excited.
"Stage 1." Nina spoke, answering in his place, "She said there… This is day. The introduction says everything."
And gulping together, they look around and stare at others reactions, trying to gleam on more clues, something the japanese were quite eager to give as they stared at the TV screen and reminisced.
"The bombings in Osaka…" Kallen first spoke, standing beside her old companions among the Shinjuku Freedom Fighters, "Ohgi, this is-"
"Yeah… Our assault at that britannian secret facility." Completed the now Prime Minister, frowning at the past memory, "And to think following Naoto's vision would have led to all of this."
They recalled the scene, the actions there, as well as the sacrifice wrought by Kallen's brother to lead them there, at this one hidden place that forged their future. Quite, one can only wonder how this one event settled them down to where today's judgement came to be...
"Hold on, what was that about again?" Tamaki inquired, only to face every condemning stare from his friends, "W-what!? I don't remember straightly!"
Sugiyama and Yoshitaka were quickly straightforward to knock his head, "Seriously Tamaki..." , "You're an idiot."
But the question was already asked, and many others were left wondering, with Cornelia being the foremost curious on the context, "Hmph! The Day a New Demon was Born… It's only obvious it is related to this, among other things..." She commented, gesturing to the gambling environment shortly before facing Ohgi, "Do explain yourself."
Facing the pressure, the Prime Minister had to oblige, even taking a breath beforehand, "...Back when we were but a small resistance group, we managed to uncover the location of some military facility after our usual supply raidings. Our first leader, Kouzuki Naoto, discovered that you Britannians were building chemical weapons in Osaka for the use in the war and considered doing something about it. Unfortunately, all the work he put pursuing that secret knowledge eventually cost his life… at the hands of Clovis's own royal guard."
And with a moment of silence followed by aspiration, Ohgi continued, "Our group were left quite lost after this, but we couldn't let Naoto's life go in vain. We spent half a year lurking around that building to break in and steal something of worth. This was quite the state secret, so we figured out that if we managed to make this go public somehow, we would have striked a wound in the Viceroy's popularity. This was meant to be our victory, as well as the vengeance to our fallen comrades… So, after long planning, we actually did it."
Then, with one final glance at the TV screen, this filled in what everyone speculated.
"That's how you met Zero next, right?" Kaguya spoke, half affirming, half inquiring, leading all eyes to face the silent masked vigilante among them, who in turn didn't whisper a word.
"More like, he met us actually..." Ohgi answered, nodding.
Whispers followed forth, with more questions shrouding minds as they all wished to know how. And as a result, the illusion moved forward, seeking to fulfill the curiosity of its audience as it was intended...
Thus, they are once more brought into the view of the truck, the very same one speeding out in haste to flee it's pursuers. And inside of it, two individuals clothed in green-grayish laboratory overcoats drive the vehicle onwards with frowns branding their faces.
"Damn it! We finally manage steal this thing and that damn Tamaki can't even follow Naoto's plan!" Yells the first, cursing as looks out the see the chasing helicopter. His partner however, who bears a fairly feminine visage, remains silent.
Yet before the Jury could discern their obvious identities, the attention returns back to Lelouch's game, with the passage of time so distorted that it only revealed the nobleman's nail brush echoing in the ground, his eye twitching face gasping at the prospect of overwhelming defeat.
"Oh I love playing against the nobility! They always pay out of pride!" Rivalz boasted with a grim, smiling as he and Lelouch made their way out, "Also, you made a new record of 8 minutes and 32 seconds!"
Nonchalant to it though, the prince appear to only take the victory for granted, "My opponent didn't have much time. He's nobleman after all, soft, fat and tepid just like the rest. They're nothing but privileged parasites."
"Well, in that case, why don't you challenge one of the Elevens? They're nothing like us Britannians." Proposed Rivalz next, imagining wonders only to flail at the disturbance growing outside among the city's crowd...
From what both of them could see, a giant television screen embedded across the street flared the breaking news, casting horror among the local britannians due to the terror caused by the Elevens. And right before one of them could comment on it, the royal insignia of crown flash out in a interruption, with the report's voice ready to assert a change.
"We apologize for the delay. Now His Royal Highness Prince Clovis, third prince of Britannia, will address the nation."
Lelouch had but a moment to scowl before the face of his so 'beloved' brother appeared out as a glamorous being, radiant in form and elegance in front of his country flag. Clovis presented himself as someone of vigorous stature, with a pristine white cape hanging over his royal purple attire. His face branded seriousness at the incident ongoing at hand, vaguely resembling some form of imperial discipline known to a leader bound to address his people.
"Fellow citizens of Britannia, including of course the many Elevens who choose to serve our glorious empire... Hear me! Do you not see my pain? My heart is torn in two from this torment! Part of me is sad while the other is filled with rage! However, as ruler of Area 11, I will not tolerate terrorism of any kind, for this battle is one for justice, a virtuous battle to protect the well-being of one and all! Now, my subjects, let us offer a prayer for those who have fallen in line of duty."
His voice was cast for the world to hear, glorious to the patriots and disgusting to the oppressed. His gestures were full of emotion and life at sight, thoughtful in tone and significant in valor. It truly carried out the wish to those that actually believed it.
"A moment of silence please..."
Alas, unknown to him, not everyone shared the same the sentiment to the prince...
"Well, aren't you gonna join in?"
"Aren't you?"
Rivalz, amidst the mourning crowd, went on to turn up his motorbike instead of playing along. In meantime, he figured his partner would join the rest in the chant but that doesn't seem to be the case, "Heh… It's sort of embarrassing."
Rather, much like him, Lelouch too was keen to leave the area in a haste, but for his own hidden reason, "That's true. Besides, our tears won't bring the dead back to life." Affirmed the prince, printing the parking receipt.
"Dang... That's dark, buddy."
"That's how it is, It's all about self satisfaction…" And looking back at the crowd, at the face of his acting brother, Lelouch just seemed to accept the fact for what it is, "No matter how much we try it, the world won't change..."
But Indeed, there was truth in his words even though none but the Jury could see it. Beyond the television screen that was shown to the public, taken up right into the Viceroy's own palace, the very living form of Clovis is revealed stepping out from the cameras, with his aids removing his cape in comfort just as he returns to address the giant galla crowd standing before him...
"You were magnificent, Your Highness! One would never guess that you were attending a party while doing that." One noble lady commented in praise of the royal's act.
"I wouldn't be fit to rule over Area 11 if I weren't able to change me demeanor in a instant." Expressed the third prince so jovial and confident, "It is my duty after all. Since the media wants a charismatic prince, I give them one."
His words were such that it raised nervous mirth among his company, who merely gave him platitudes, smiling and waiving in favor of his rule… Which shows how much of a mask those among royalty bear, a pathetic sham built on self preservation to perverse a stale reign of decadence...
"(How quaint...)" And leaning on that thought, a tall blonde man in ponytail kept himself discreet against the wall around the corner, merely observing the prince whilst reading a written document on the newest crisis in Osaka. He adorned a dark blue suit that complemented his carmine turtleneck, creating a clear image of a businessman, sharp and focused to bring the acts straight to the point.
The appearance of this one individual drawn quite the attention to those who once knew him close...
"Diethard!" Ohgi shouted as many among the Black Knights gasped along, recognizing their former comrade from the war. Indeed, now that they could see him clearly in the frozen illusion, the once-Head of Information Division stood revealed, right from his humble beginnings as a mere member of the press in service of Britannia in a time long forgotten.
"Well, if it isn't this sneaky fucker." Tamaki mocked, leaning to the man's face in a contemptuous inspection, "Looking all bossy and shit… So, what happened to him again?" He inquired next, his question echoing back to the crowd, with those involved trying to remember the man's deeds...
"As I recall, he sought retirement from the Black Knights after the outcome of Zero's… Betrayal." Todoh answers, eyes closing at the sting such mention seemed to bring from a certain redhead, "He must have lost his resolve in our cause after being left manipulated at Lelouch's hand and wanted to be out of the fight. After this, he never was seen again."
"Huh…That is strange though." Kaguya sprout, looking vacantly thoughtful from hearing that little bit, "Distraught or not, he did consider himself to be one Zero's most loyal servants. If that's the case, he should have been invited to learn the truth like the rest of us, right?"
"Not unless he perished beforehand..." Xingke followed ahead, timely addressing his subordinates, "Was there any record of his presence in the battle of Mt. Fuji?"
Xiaglin and Chiba then looked upon one another and both expressed only uncertainty, "No, sir… None that I remember." Answers the former.
"We would have to check it on the logs-"
"No need." Yet, before the latter would finish her suggestion, a regal voice interrupted, "No need. He was there, both at the Damocles and way before that..." Cornelia, having figured out what this stride was about, stepped forth, glancing at the visage Diethard in memory, "This man approached my brother Schneizel some time after our meeting over Tokyo's ruins. It seems he was more keen to defect you and join our side in secret after the deed. Although, either was it for vengeance or otherwise I wouldn't know."
Whispers murmured silently across Clovis's ignored illosury hall, reflecting the growing curiosity that is now affecting the Jury, specially from those in-the-know of the incidents…
"So the Brit defected us! Hmph! Why that doesn't sound so surprising?" Tamaki boasted, arms wide in disregard to the sour mood now spreading around him. None could spell a word in response for many shared the same feeling...
"What then? What happened? Did he die?" Ohgi questioned the Britannian Regent, if only to break the discomfort surrounding him.
"..." But Cornelia, recalling what became of her, didn't know the answer on spot, nor did she wished to reveal her fate at hands of her brother after their discussion. Instead, she led the Prime Minister's eyes with glance directly to Schneizel, who in response just sighed, miffed at having to address both of them with such trivialities.
"Please, you already know the answer. Let's not bother with the obvious and focus on what lays here, if you will..." He retorted with annoyance in his tone.
That quickly served to end the chatter there, leaving the wanting questions down in shallow speculations at the glance of the fallen mediaman frozen before them. It would take a few seconds of conformity before such wonders were put to rest, allowing everyone attention to be drawn back to the past at hand...
Swiftly, the motion moved on, with Diethard's eyes being swiftly drawn to an intruding bulk of a man now marching harshly as to meet with the third prince...
"A soldier?" The blonde pondered, curious.
"Y-your highness!" Stepping out of hand, this capped individual seemed to flinch nervously at Clovis's annoyed reprimand. He was a soldier outright, possibly of high rank, dressed so opulently as to denote respect and intimidation, "I beg your pardon, Your Highness, but…"
Considering the few things that could possibly disturb a high standing Britannian prince in his party, specially one was bland as this one, Diethard didn't expect much. In fact, he felt bored, "Another trifling issue? Urgh, I wish they'd just-"
"You fool!"
However, in a rather uncharacteristic shout from the Prince, something even more worrying seemed to be going on. The soldier provoked a nasty reaction, sweating bullets as he bent himself in to whisper on the prince's ear amidst the entire eyeing party...
"...The police were informed that it's medical equipment, that's all. If we mobilize the army then-"
"Deploy the Royal Guard! The Knightmares as well!"
Truly, such alarm, coming from the mouth of Clovis himself, left no margin of error to be allowed. Whatever it is that ticked him off, it was strong enough to make the whole palace to shake in flares, warping the session's illusion into forward haste, warnings and flashes spreading everywhere in sight. Indeed, this was serious.
"Alert 1! Alert 1! 4th, 7th, and 8th rapid reaction companies, as well as the 31st air assault team, scramble immediately! Special Division 9, stand by for deployment!"
The jury had but seconds to glance at the now revealed inner barracks where soldiers, planes and knightmare frames are about to mobilise into action. And to in the surprise of some, the glimpse of two unique individuals gaped eyes as they settle down in their cockpit and turn on their purple clad knightmare frames...
From there, the scene of the highway was swiftly returned into sight, right upon views of Rivalz and Lelouch as they drive off leasirily together, blissfully unaware of what was approaching them.
"Say, that first move you made… Why'd you start with the king?" The blue gambler leisurely asks.
Now that he could think on the road, time clearly went on to bring in the two from that day Lelouch rescued him. Since then, they both had been going into many other games and although he lost his doubts about Lelouch's playing skills, this one prominent move with the king has always left Rivalz puzzled… If not just to flaunt or even taunt his opponents, why take this one risk every single time?
"If the king doesn't lead, how can he expect his subordinates to follow?" Lelouch ominously answered, barely taking his eyes from his book.
"What's with that?"
"With what?"
"Do you fantasize about running a major corporation?" Rivalz insisted, trying to grasp how his weird but awesome friend is like. Given his permanent cold prince persona in and out if school, Lelouch always seemed to this impression of hiding something.
"No way. Ambitions like that will ruin your health-"
Whatever that is about though, Rivalz didn't have the time to question it, specially when a loud horn of a speeding truck neared upon them, making his blood run cold, "W-what the hell!?" Startled, he quickly sped up, desperately trying to get out of the way as to avoid a collusion.
"You idiot! Watch where you're going!"
However, it was all for naught though. The truck was going too fast. The weight and momentum alone would certify a crash if left alone so the driver had no choice but turn the wheel in the only way he could, by turning into the one blocked road that was still midway under construction...
"No! That's a-"
As one would expect, a tight corner on such heavy vehicle easily caused the driver to lose control, causing the truck to storm right through both cones and fences before hurling itself into a wall, leaving a large cloud of sand and dirt in a nasty impact. Indeed, this scene was quite the wreckage to see.
And accordingly nervous, Rivalz stares at the accident with worry, "Uh… Was that our fault?"
"I don't think so..." Lelouch disagreed, even though all the damage looks worrying.
Clearly, the crash itself was so flashy that even the police caught wind of it, already having an helicopter overseeing the area at distance, "Control, the target has crashed at the abandoned V.O. building construction site." Of course, the two students knew nothing of what they were about to be involved with, so they didn't bother to leave...
"Understood. Pull back now, the military will take over from here. General Bartley's command." That said, gasps followed soon on the radio comms and only the Jury could witness the growing escalation of the situation, the illusion doing all the work to set and connect the pieces among those involved. In fact, now being fully identified, that very soldier Diethard had saw earlier was framed into view, with his worries weighing down even further on the shoulders.
"(We recover it at any cost!)" Thought the General, desperate, "(That thing… If it escapes...)"
One doesn't need to finish the sentence to guess the outcome...
However, no matter how interesting it was to lay low and just keep watching the session move forward, some couldn't just resist reacting subtle enough to not freeze the illusion on what they saw. There were too many tibbits there (important ones of course) that it ticked some among them.
"Wha- That was YOU!?" Kallen shouts out loud, fully re-living back that moment on the truck. She bellowed over the her blue haired friend, frown and distress warping her face.
Rivalz recoiled on spot, "Ah- Erm… Y-yeah, I think so..." He reacted awkwardly, which only served to infuriate the redhead, "S-sorry, but what I could do!? You were the one speeding over us!"
"Good god Rivalz! Because of this, Nagata, the army, the whole guetto… That one crash almost ruined everything!" And watching their friend talk in such wrath, it didn't take alot to figure what she meant. The dates of the event's were clear now.
"Hmm, ouch... I feel for you Kallen, I really do. It's kinda sad how bad things turned out to be back then." Milly confronted, trying to disarm the brooding yet tense mood, "Buuut, at least we can appreciate your partner's attitude on the wheels. He chose to crash over an construction site rather than collide with not-so-innocents souls like this goofball here and Lulu~" She affirms, grabbing a hold of Rivalz's shoulder in a lock, "If anything, what he did was rather honorable as a person, even though we're just Britannians..."
"That's...That's not the point..." Kallen stared at the two of them, so unsure on how to react to Milly's uncalled optimism that she just settled for silence, shaking her head down with scowl. In a way, she had to accept the futility of it all. Deep down that was no point on blaming him in this matter. This fight, this mistake… It brought an frustration that she didn't know how to deal with, specially with no one to blame.
Such thought, though mature and slightly unhealthy, was not shared with the rest of the old Freedom Fighters, specially the hotheaded one heading her way…
"Oi!" Tamaki, having seen what happened in the session and heard what Kallen had yelled about, he felt compelled to step up and confront the youngsters for the first time. He looked upon the blue haired brit and just let his anger vent out in torrent upon the poor kit, "So it's you who've done it with Nagata eh!?" He accused, going as far as lift Rivalz off from the collars.
"Wow buddy, no need for that." Gino tried to intervene but...
"Fuck off!" He was pushed back by a swinging arm, almost being hit by friend's very own body. The japanese man was quite mad.
Seeing this mess, Ohgi and the others snapped out of stupor and reacted, "Tamaki, don't-"
"Shut up! I'm not going to let this slide, not when I know who threw their wench in all of this mess!" Shouted the angry redhead, about to beat a frightened Rivalz to a punch, "You little fucker, you just had to be there, right!? You and that bloody demon murderer!"
"W-what!? I don'- Agh!"
"You killed him! Do you hear me, you killed Nagata! It was all going so well, with a few mistakes here and there, but still, you-"
"Tamaki, stop!" Neither Kallen or the other adults reacted swiftly enough to prevent this from getting physical. Of course, they ran up to him, intending to stop this while they could, but only one managed to grasp the winding punch by the wrist just in time before smashed poor Rivalz's face.
"Enough."
Under the guise of Zero, Suzaku had instantly vacated himself from his position behind Nunnally's back to reach his friend's side, carrying enough strength to wrestle Tamaki to a halt, not only freeing the gasping gambler but also immobilizing his offender down to his knees.
"Argh!" It all happened so quick that everyone could only blink when it occurred, "Z-Zero..." And grunting in pain, Tamaki could barely look up to his black mask from where he stood.
"Tamaki... You really should started reflecting on your own mistakes for once." Suzaku commented with a condescending tone, "I won't blame you for feeling angry for what happened, but don't go thinking I'll allow you to mellow in sorrow and shift your blame unto others regardless of any reason. I won't repeat myself on this. Let the past lie down where it belongs: In the past. Let it be nothing but a lesson for the future. If you cannot do that, then I'm afraid I'll have to punish you myself unto you do..."
Tamaki had to listen to this lecture, with the masked vigilante whispering on his ear before he was finally released from the crushing grip. This left him wincing as he picked himself up to hold the dislocated shoulder. Quite, Zero was a lot stronger than it appeared… There was no use trying to salvage whatever pride he had even if he wanted. That much was clear to him…
The japanese man glanced over the Zero's reflecting mask with ire and then at the disapproving glances of his "companions" before surrendering down, "Tch! Fine, whatever!" Turning over to leave on his own, "Fucking ass prick..." He cursed in whispers, giving attention to none.
After this, tensions disappeared, leaving nothing but the odd murmurings...
Though illogical of an act from his part, it seems even Tamaki felt some manner of guilt souring his mood given what his actions or mistakes resulted into back in the bloody revolution… Why did he do this? Was it because of Nagata's suspected death over an accident? Was it for his fumbles in plan that he looked for someone else to blame? Or is it the anxiety of not knowing what to trust given all the insanity of the dream and truth show to him?
Whatever it is the real question (or answer) here, the Jury didn't feel willing to judge him directly for it. Zero's words and posture assured them of what might happen if they did. And while both Rivalz and Kallen continued to look down in a mix of shame and apprehension now, the rest just wished for the illusion to proceed, and for the session to continue unveiling.
At this point they just want to know what it will reveal at all.
To be Continued…
Author Notes: Okay I got to confess a rant on this. Doing this chapter overwhelmed me… I mean holy fuck, now that I watch bits and pieces of the actual episode itself I started to notice the show's horrible choice of pace as it reveals the scenes and places dialogues. There's so much shit going on at same time that everything starts stops making sense when you wrap it up on paper.
In fact, if you guys notice it, I purposely removed Shirley's initial appearance, alongside the short with Milly at the school because I couldn't figure heads or tails on just what to do with the scene! After all, does it means!? It's not an introduction, not an event connected to past scenes… no, it's basically a cameo of sorts along with a offhand comment on Lelouch and the way the characters view him.
And the dialogue… god I don't know if it's me, if it's a limitation on trying to translate a media to another (Episode to Novel), or a problem with this part of the episode itself because I just couldn't find a use for or create a proper pace past this. Take Rivalz chat on the road for example. That question of the king piece comes god awfully out of nowhere and Lelouch responds in such a way that hell, I will not lie, it took me weeks to just cross the scene entirely. You guys are only receiving so fast in updates because this was a year ago (with me writing now being a revision, a gamma reading and a painful PTSD).
So yeah, in my honest opinion as the author of the fic, this is my worst chapter so far. I just can't stand it. If it wasn't for a friend suggesting that just fix what I could and release it with this note, I wouldn't get over it. Hell, I STILL didn't get over it, because there's nothing on it, nothing at all. And the fucking writer block this wrought prevented me of thinking something more… presentable.
Let this be a warning then, if you notice certain things missing or standing out of order when reading the next chapters, know that it's me trying create a written pace for my "Pseudo-Novelization". If anything, don't judge this too harshly. Or at least, not without good reason. The best stays for last, so I plead patience while I try to write what's really awesome. You guys got two more chapters before catching up so brace yourselves...