Chapter Fifty-Three: Kallen's Inferno.
Thinking back to the past few years Kallen could only recall her blind fury at all of Britannia. How her mother had been forced to suffer indignity after indignity even before her false incarceration. How her brother had seemingly been killed by Britannian forces. She had hated everything about Britannia. Even though she herself was part Britannian.
She was just angry, and nothing else if she was honest with herself. She couldn't see a future beyond her rage. Beyond the ambiguous notion of 'getting Japan' back for the Japanese. Even if what she stole that day had been poison gas and not an immortal witch, Kallen doubted that nothing that she had done that day would have amounted to anything if not for that little fact. She would have died a meaningless death against people who were just trying to survive their own way in V.V's hellish world.
A worthless death in a rundown ghetto leaving her mother in a mental hospital and her brother rising as a lunatic cult leader. Thinking back, Kallen was so glad that it wasn't poison gas in that container. If it hadn't been C.C., then she would never have met Lelouch. She would never have tasted victory or entertained the notion of hope. Hope that she could have a family again after her mother and brother were so torn from her. She could now see the world beyond her anger, beyond the battlefield. She could see a world where she and Lelouch were together. It didn't matter to her if she and he were in Britannia or Japan, she no longer cared about which nation she resided in or considered herself a part of. She only wanted to live a life with the man she loved and to give him a family to rebuild what they had both truly lost. Marianne had been right, nations and empires rise and fall but true love was rarer and far more precious.
'Lelouch, I will survive this and come back to you,' thought Kallen. 'Please...be careful my love.'
Standing at the helm of the Valhalla the Red Queen of the Atlas Fleet looked over the oncoming carnage. Walking up on the slopes of Mt. Fuji was a colossal monstrosity wreathed in flame. It was in the image of a great horned beast with a massive sword ready pierce the side of the sacred mountain, and dig into the reserves of Sakuradite. Data on this horror, the Surt detailed that the monstrous machine would have to be inside the mountain for the most damage to be done.
"Shit that thing is big," said Sugiyama.
"And it's heat is off the charts," said Inoue. "Getting close to it is going to be difficult on its own. Anything we fire at it that isn't an energy blast will most likely melt before it even makes impact."
"The Guren Firebird can take the heat," said Kallen. "And it's small enough that it can get in close and once I get to the core of that thing I'll be sure to destroy it."
"According to our projections even if we take that thing down the damage done to Japan will be severe," said Yoshida.
"It's nothing we can't recover from," said Kallen.
As the ship drew closer to the lumbering horror, Kallen couldn't help but chuckle a bit.
"It's funny isn't it?" said Kallen. "We're pretty much all that's left of the old Kozuki Group. Even Ohgi and Tamaki have moved on."
"In a way we still are," said Inoue. "Oh but no, you're no longer a Kozuki."
"No longer a Statfeld either," said Kallen. "If I'm correct I'm a Vi Britannia, though it really doesn't matter. I'm the wife of Zero now, everything else before was just to prepare me for that role."
"Yeah, back then we were just a bunch of jerks trying to stick it to Britannia barely able to even steal a bike," said Sugiyama. "Now we're in the deciding battle for Japan's freedom."
"Not Japan's Freedom, Humanity's right to exist," said Kallen. "Japan is just a small part of that. I probably shouldn't be saying that as Empress. If I still am Empress, it doesn't really matter to me anymore. All I want...is to win this battle and live a peaceful life with the man I love. It must sound so selfish. But in the end I think everyone has that fundamental selfishness when they go to war. To end the fighting and go home with their loved ones."
"That's pretty much it," said Inoue. "And if it means anything...you're still Empress to us."
"Then I should do my duty," said Kallen as she put on her mask. "Black Knights of the Atlas Fleet. I, Amaterasu the Red Queen, Empress of Japan, command you...begin the assault."
In the core of the Surt a lone Knightmare Frame was at the ready. Its pilot waited with waning patience. But when the monitors revealed the image of a familiar crimson Knightmare the pilot gave a smirk. This was the only object left before the mission could be complete and she, Jean Rowe, would be allowed to return to the side of her beloved Shin. All she had to do was kill Zero's beloved Kallen Kozuki.
Aboard the Nirvana the member of the White Samurai had partaken in moments of prayer before the crucial battle. Kyoshiro Tohdoh in particular took moments to purify his sword, a weapon handed down his line for generations, before joining the others on the bridge. He saw his former student Suzaku stand tall and proud in his armor of Du Lac, the White Wolf. He held no small amount of pride in his heart of how Suzaku had finally found himself. One would almost indicate it was reminiscent of a father's pride in his son.
"When we deploy I'll be alongside the Empress," said Suzaku. "If nothing else interferes she and I will be heading for the Surt directly as to gain the attention of whoever or whatever is controlling it. Whether or not there's a person there or if it's just a big drone between Kallen and myself we should be able to distract it. In the meantime we have something Lloyd's been tinkering with in his spare time that should be able to help cripple that thing. Once that's done and the Surt's been stopped in its tracks Kallen and I should be able to get in close and make our way to the core of the Ancient. Once there the Empress plant the device Nina assembled and bring the whole thing down."
"Take out a giant's leg and blow him up from the inside," said Urabe. "Pretty straight forward."
"Don't get cocky," said Tohdoh. "Even if he's gone mad V.V. is too clever to leave one of his most powerful weapons without proper guard."
"It doesn't matter," said Suzaku. "We will not allow ourselves to be defeated here. This hell is not the Japan we've fought and bled for all these years to establish. This burning hell is not the world we want to make. This is the world the Demon V.V. wants to make a reality all to suit his sick delusions. It's a world I despise and a world our Supreme Leader has ordered to vanish. By the absolute loyalty of the codes of Bushido we are bound to obey the wishes of our ruler."
"I guess Lelouch is our ruler," said Senba. "Married to the Empress and even then, who knows how it'll all play out legally and politically speaking."
"We'll settle that once we've returned this demon to Hell," said Tohdoh. "On your order...Du Lac."
"The order," said Suzaku, putting on his helmet and assuming the role of Du Lac, the White Wolf, "is given."
The Guren Firebird and the Roland led the charge as the Knightmares of the Black Knight and White Samurai sects of the Atlas Fleet flew out to the Surt. It must have appeared as if the great machines were angels descending from Heaven to strike down a blazing devil escaped from hell. But just as with many of the other Ancients a fleet of drones flew from the larger machine. On the back of the Guren Firebird was a device built like a great injector needle meant to be stuck into the core of the Surt.
"Get out of my way," Amaterasu, the Red Queen yelled out as she tore through a drone that attempted to keep her from the great horror she sought to destroy.
The air conditioning of her control center kept her cool she still found herself sweating through her own hot fury. The righteous fury to undo the evil of the man who so hated and tormented her beloved. Whose evil had harmed everyone she had come to love and cherish in some form or another.
Now was her greatest opportunity to achieve vengeance against V.V. To destroy the monster sent to destroy the place of her birth. With the Roland close by her side, Amaterasu flew down towards the Surt. The improved shielding on both their machines, particularly hers, were enough to withstand the incredible heat. Recalling the information on the other Ancients, she was sure that there was a core to the great machine that once they struck, the horrible device would be completely destroyed in a glorious explosion. With all the skill and fury of both the Black Knight and White Samurai sects behind her, the Red Queen was sure that this battle would be over quickly and she could return to await her beloved. Or rather to enter into C's World herself so she could face V.V. alongside Lelouch to ensure he would return to her, or that she could die with him if that was what fate planned.
'All I have to do is get rid of this devil and I can get back to him,' she thought diving faster and faster towards her target.
But from the core of the Surt, a speedy Knightmare wreathed in blue flame shot out and immediately clashed with Kallen's machine. She recognized it instantly. The false Guren piloted by the woman who captured her in Europe.
"Jean Rowe," Kallen yelled.
From within the Lilith, Jean Rowe smirked. In her eyes shone her own Geass. The power of the rival, Absolute Envy. Allowing her to take on the ability of the one whom she held so much contempt for. Only the resulting power was but an imitation of the original. Though her flames burned blue, hotter than Kallen's, Jean still felt there was an inadequacy within her power that only enraged her more.
"I've been waiting for this ever since you and that bastard master of yours invaded my home and stole my family from me," yelled Kallen.
"And I've been waiting to snuff out that flame of yours ever since it burned away the Order of Michael," said Jean.
Kallen pulled out her machine's knife while Jean did the same with her device's own blade. The two machines, mirror images of one another, clashed in the sky bellowing out orange and blue flames into the night air.
Jean's blade allowed her greater reach but with all the upgrades and enhancements Kallen's machine had the greater strength, speed, and maneuverability. As this went on Du Lac, the White Wolf looked on at the ready.
"Amaterasu, can you handle her on your own?" he asked.
"I demand to be left alone with her," hissed Amaterasu. "Destroy the Surt, this one is mine."
Looking down at the clash between the two warrior women, Du Lac decided it was best to trust his Empress to settle her own score while he carried out her orders.
'I'll be sure to finish this quickly and get back to Kallen to make sure she doesn't let her recklessness get the better of her,' thought Suzaku beneath his mask as he flew down to the fire demon.
While not yet strong enough to join in the field, Euphemia was determined to be of use to her husband and sister-in-law in this campaign. She took command of the bridge of the Nirvana to help coordinate the actions of the Knightmares that were in the field. She kept an eye on the signal number of her beloved, her heart racing as he flew towards the massive and terrifying Surt.
'Please be careful my love,' she thought.
The former princess then brought herself back to attention and took control of the various cannons of the white ship and with pinpoint accuracy she aimed for the various drones that were about to overwhelm certain squads. She got a few that were about to interrupt Kallen's battle with Jean Rowe.
'If Jean Rowe is here than does that mean Shin Hyuga Shaing is as well?' thought Euphie. 'And if he's not then why isn't she with him? Did V.V. anticipate how Lelouch would divide our forces and plan accordingly to go along with his vindictive nature?'
"So where is your master Shin?" asked the Red Queen. "I'd love to have him feel my flames as well."
"Lord Hyuga has his own orders from the Emperor," said Jean. "And I shall rejoin him as soon as I have finished with you."
"And just what is it the two of you are fighting for at this point?" asked Amaterasu as their weapons clashed again. "V.V. is going to destroy the entire world. And he sure as hell doesn't care if either you or Shin survive in the end. So what do you get out of this?"
"Such a pointless question. Do you not recall out last conversation? I don't care about the world, the people, or even for the desires of the Emperor," said Jean. "All I want...is to see Lord Hyuga's will carried out and to ensure his own happiness."
As they drew back their bladed weapons the two, in near perfect symmetry, tried to attack with their Wave Surger weapons. The clash was evenly met and the combined power, added by the heat generated by their Geass abilities, eventually resulted both of their respective arms being blown off. The two were sent spiraling for a moment before being able to regain their equilibrium.
"So...in the end all you care about...all you want in the world...is to be of use to the man you love and to see his happiness through," said Kallen, smirking slightly beneath her mask, thinking about the last time they had such a conversation. "That everything else...your country, your comrades, and even the oaths you swore as a knight are left as meaningless when compared to your love. In that regard I suppose...you and I are a lot alike. We'd both do anything, even the most sacrilegious of acts just so we can be with the men we love. The love we have being all the justice we need in the world."
"So in our case...love is justice," said Jean. "Yes...I do love Lord Hyuga. And if going along with the end of the world as V.V. has ordained it goes along with the wishes of Lord Hyuga then I will help bring this world to an end. In the name of my love."
"And in the name of my love for Zero, I will see his wishes through and save this world," said Amaterasu.
Reduced back to fighting with their melee weapons, the two women clashed once again.
'Love is justice eh?' thought Kallen as she brought her Guren's knife in contact with the Lilith's sword. 'As cruel and selfish as that must sound I guess that's true in the end. I don't care what others say about my actions, so long as I can stay with you Lelouch I will go along with whatever path you choose to follow. If you want to rule the world as Emperor then I shall tame the world for us to rule over together. If you want to leave it all behind I'll break my knives and renounce all combat to have a peaceful existence with you. If you're destined to go to hell then I'll go down and burn right with you.'
Even in his air conditioned cockpit Suzaku could feel the heat of the Surt. It got so bad he had to take off his helmet to try and cool down. But of course the most troublesome issue wasn't even the heat radiating off the great and terrible machine. It was the fact that the towering horror could actively attack him with its massive sword.
"Shit," he cursed as he just narrowly dodged a strike from the great flaming blade.
Despite its great size the Surt possessed remarkable speed. The only saving grace that Suzaku could notice was how the Surt didn't seem to have an active intelligence guiding it. If anything it appeared the be nothing more than a drone that was following its programming. It might have been big, fast, and hot but it was still a machine following programming. Suzaku was a human being whose instincts were absolute. His Geass active in both eyes Suzaku guided his Knightmare along a flight path that worked almost in tandem with the giant sword. It was following the Roland as if it were trying to swat at a mosquito. As Suzaku led along the sword, Tohdoh took the initiative along with his Four Holy Swords. Carrying a weapon fashioned after the Canterbury cannon seen in the European battle against the Order of Michael, the four Knightmares stationed the canon on a relatively stable ground and readied their aim.
"Are we sure that this will have any real impact on that thing?" asked Urabe.
"Lloyd's been tinkering with this in his spare time," said Chiba. "Put a madman like him in contact with a weapon like this and I'm pretty sure even a Fire Demon might be made to tumble."
"Only one way to know for sure," said Senba. "On your order sir."
Tohdoh kept an eye out on Suzaku's movements. He also kept note of how the Surt moved. As soon as he was sure Suzaku had lured the blade far enough away he gave the signal and the cannon fired. It's powerful blast struck true at the leg of the demonic machine. As it stumbled Suzaku seized his chance and flew inside the great flaming giant.
"Ha, we did it," said Urabe.
"Not yet," said Tohdoh. "The Empress's machine is meant to withstand high temperatures but Du Lac's is questionable in that regard. He's essentially flying into a furnace, easily the most dangerous part of this mission."
"At least the damn thing isn't moving any more," said Chiba. "That should make things easier for him at least."
"To all forces the drones are beginning to converge upon the Surt," said the voice of Euphemia over the radio.
"They're going to repair the Surt," said Tohdoh. "Everyone form a perimeter around the Surt. We need to allow Du Lac the time to get to the core."
"What about the Empress?" asked Chiba.
"Let her deal with the enemy commander," said Tohdoh. "Our priority is to keep the remainder of the drones away from repairing the Surt."
The fight between the two women raged on though they were both down an arm. Their passions matching the fury of the flames that grew to encompass their Knightmares, pushing the heat resistant materials to the limit for both of them.
"If you know about what V.V. wants then you know there's no future for you and Shin," said Kallen. "All V.V. wants to do is wipe everything that lives off of the face of the earth."
"That doesn't matter to me," said Jean. "All I want is to be of use to Lord Hyuga."
"Just to be of use to him?" asked Kallen. "Does he even look at you the same way you do as him? Does he love you the way you love him?"
"Shut up!" yelled Jean.
Her anger taking over her Jean made a mad lunge at Kallen's Guren. More in control, Kallen was thus able to maneuver and quickly brought her knife down on Jean's sword, knocking it from her Knightmare's hand. She was then about to jam the knife into the Lilith's torso when the machine grabbed onto hers and the two began to fall to earth.
"Burn Kozuki," yelled Jean as she forced her machine to drive the pair to the ground.
"I don't know what's worse, the heat or Lelouch's command in my head," said Suzaku as he made his way to the core of the Surt.
As he flew down he couldn't help but notice how several parts of his Knightmare were beginning to melt due to the extreme heat. The command Lelouch had, 'unintentionally', given to him as well as all the others, to survive, was pushing Suzaku to fly out before he got roasted like a Christmas goose. But with Kallen distracted by her rivalry with Jean Rowe it left him to finish off this great monster. Finish it off and at least bring one part of this horror to an end.
"Slow and steady, Suzaku," said the White Wolf. "Slow and steady, don't let the heat get to you. You need to survive this. For the Fleet, for Lelouch, and...for Euphie."
Steadily the white clad soldier carried on, his machine melting more and more as he went deeper into the hellish center of the great demonic machine.
Thanks to her own flying abilities and the upgrades provided by the Brain Trust, Kallen had been able to boost her flight system to ease the blow when both Knightmares fell to the ground. The heat generated by the two flaming robots had pushed the heat resistant metals to their limits. Beyond their limits in fact as both were practically fused together by the time they struck the ground.
The emergency ejection still worked though. And once it opened Kallen leaped out in full regalia as Amaterasu, the Red Queen. Holding her twin knives at the ready. From the fallen Lilith, Jean too emerged in a suit which protected her from the blue flames that covered her suit, her own sword drawn.
The two women leaped off their smoldering heaps and clashed blades. They drew back and clashed again. With her free knife Kallen attempted to slash at Jean's stomach but Jean had quickly drew a dagger to block her enemy's blade. As the two women held their blades locked they also began to feel odd. Kallen's view began to get slightly blurry, the same for Jean.
'Damn, I've overused my Geass. The heat's getting to me,' thought Kallen.
With no choice left to her she released her power and her flames died down. Jean however kept her flames burning brightly.
"Fool," she shouted.
Kallen dodged as her nemesis attempted to focus her blue flames on her. Taking in fresh oxygen Kallen leaped back and began to let rationality take over. If she remained on the defensive she could let Jean burn herself out in her fury.
'It's not what I usually do but it's the best way I can end this and get back to Lelouch,' she thought.
Jean lunged out again at Kallen, but the Red Queen kept to her plan. She dodged the attacks from the enemy knight, with speed befitting the title of her mentor Marianne the Flash. Indeed, the teaching of the former Empress had helped Kallen greatly. She had grace so go along with her strength. Her fury now tempered by Marianne's teachings. That while her anger could be a great fuel it needed to be controlled. And the best way to control her fury, as Marianne had taught her, was to focus on a happiness beyond the battles she fought. And in Kallen's mind she saw herself and Lelouch, together with a beautiful baby allowed to grow up in a world devoid of the horrors that V.V. had developed to terrorize the innocent.
As the melting Roland continued on the frame of the Surt was trembling.
'The fighting must still be going on. Probably the drones,' thought Suzaku, drinking carefully from his water rations as he went onward into the hell of metal.
He had actually come to the last drop of water when he finally came to his goal. The liquid Sakuradite core that powered the Surt. Unfortunately it was here where the heat was greatest. The limbs of the Roland were melting off and all systems were beginning to shut down.
"Damn, I can't use the Roland anymore," said Suzaku. "Guess there's only one option left to me."
He once more placed on the mask of Du Lac and drew out his double bladed sword. Another unique property of the weapon was how it also had design elements of Rivalz's own sword Banshee Joy. A powerful vibrating force came from the blades and allowed Suzaku to cut through the remaining metal of the cockpit of his machine. He then looked over to the injection device, meant to neutralize the core. And using both the enhanced strength provided by his suit, as well as the limited telekinetic properties of his Geass, Suzaku lifted the device and utilized his own personalized flight system to continue the trek. The heat already beginning to eat away at his suit.
The clash between the White Samurai and Black Knight sects against the hordes of flaming drones was continuing on. With the new control system Tohdoh couldn't help but feel like he was a member of the samurai of old battling on the field with naught but sword in hand. The nanite technology in the suit helping to keep his body from succumbing to fatigue as he drove the Knightmare's sword into the various drones that attempted to overwhelm him.
He was also thankful that the Euphemia's aim with the various cannons supplied on the Nirvana. The fire coming from the Valhalla was less consistent though. But no matter what they combined forces of the two sects had managed to establish a line in the sand so to speak. And with everything they had the combined forces of the Atlas Fleet were holding that line against the hordes of drones attempting to reach and repair their parent unit.
So far they seemed to be ignoring the downed Guren and the Empress as well as the enemy commander.
"Euphemia, can you get eyes on the Empress?" asked Tohdoh.
"The Guren is down but I'm still getting life signs from Kallen's suit," said Euphemia. "She's still active and so far the other drones aren't focused on her and the enemy commander. All their focus does appear to be on you."
"From where you stand does it look like we can have someone support the Empress?" asked Tohdoh.
"All Knightmare Frame forces are currently with you in keeping those drones from the Surt," said Euphemia. "But I'll see what we can do about supporting Kallen."
"Very well, we'll just have to focus on giving Du Lac the time to get to the core and destroy this thing," said Tohdoh. "In the meantime do what you can to help the Empress."
From her position aboard the white ship Euphemia thought about what she had to do.
"Professor Lloyd," said Euphie over the intercom. "Is there anything else we have that can fly in to offer support."
"Well, I do have this little thing but it's not fully armed," said the laid back voice of the Knightmare engineer.
"It'll have to do," said Euphie. "I'll be down momentarily. Be sure to get it ready for me."
Kallen felt the weight of her exertion start to catch up with her as both she and Jean actually began to draw blood on each other. Cuts along their respective arms, legs, and torsos, with blood slowly seeping out. Jean had at least doused her own flames. Though the heat of the battlefield was also taking its toll on both women.
"All those nasty cuts," Jean jabbed. "I wonder if your beloved Zero will still find you beautiful."
"At least I know that Lelouch loves me," said Kallen. "Does Shin love you?"
"Shut up," yelled Jean, lunging out with her rapier.
Kallen drew her left knife but Jean's sword had struck into her forearm. The pain caused Kallen to drop her knife. Jean took the opportunity and drew back her blade, delivering a kick to Kallen's stomach, forcing her to the ground. Though somewhat dizzy from the heat, as well as her own injuries, Kallen still had her senses about her. Thus when Jean drew up her sword to try and impale Kallen, she flicked a hidden switch on her dagger and flung out her arm, using the whip function of the weapon. With almost lightning speed, the red hot razor tip of the knife struck out at Jean's sword hand. It dug into her wrist and Kallen retracted her weapon. The sudden and powerful motion effectively split Jean's hand from her wrist, forcing both hand and sword to fall to the ground as she screamed in pain.
"I'm not going to die here by your hand Jean Rowe," yelled Kallen. "I have to survive this. I need to live...a life with Lelouch. That's what I want...more than anything in this world. To live a happy life with the man I love in a world we can build a family together without fear of demons like V.V. That's what I'm fighting for. It's not enough to fight for the happiness of those we love. We also have to fight for what kind of life we want to share with the ones we love. What do you want to share with Shin? What can you share with Shin if V.V. is allowed to win?"
"Shut up, shut up, shut up," Jean cried as she pulled out her handgun with her good hand.
Before Kallen could try and get her own gun, her injured arm hindering her, an arrow as if from on high struck Jean's gun, knocking it out of her hand. Looking up Kallen saw a pink colored machine floating down to the two women. Atop the machine stood Euphemia, Kallen's sister-in-law, wearing her own pilot suit, her long pink hair tied up, and holding a compound bow in hand.
"Step away from her now," Euphemia commanded as she notched another arrow.
Jean looked as if she was about to activate her Geass to attack Euphie. Kallen too the advantage of Jean's distraction. In an instant she leaped up from the ground, her dagger in hand, and drove it into Jean's stomach, forcing the both of them to the ground.
Suzaku finally came up to the core of the Surt, staggering slightly from the heat. His armor exposed in certain areas but his will remained solid. He hoisted up the device over his head and pushing his body, mind, and soul beyond their limits he hurdled the device into the core, striking true.
As the Sakuradite was becoming neutralized from the striking end, from the opposite end a great burst of liquid nitrogen came forth. With all his speed left Suzaku managed to duck behind the remains of his Knightmare before the liquid nitrogen could fully cover him as the blast began to reach out throughout the systems of the Surt, rapidly cooling the hot metal.
"Fire Demon...slain," said Suzaku before losing consciousness.
On the outside the fires had died down and the Surt was now truly motionless. The blast of liquid nitrogen appearing visible through various ports and cracks in the armor. With its systems no longer operational the signal to the drones was no more, leaving the remaining forces essentially dead.
"Nagisa, coordinate with the others to assess damages and casualties," said Tohdoh. "I'm going after Kururugi."
"Yes sir," said Chiba.
Tohdoh leaped into the now frozen corpse of the Surt. Using the systems of his Knightmare Tohdoh followed the traces on his suit, which also gave out Suzaku's vital readings. They were faint, no doubt from the strain of the immense hot and then the cold. He wouldn't last too long without help and he was no doubt exhausted.
"Hold on Suzaku," said Tohdoh. "I'm not losing you again."
One of the great regrets Tohdoh had over the years was how he had lost track of Suzaku after the invasion. When he had found out that Suzaku had joined the Britannian military he could not help but believe that his negligence in protecting the boy had led to him being swayed by the enemy. Thankfully this was not the case as he had come to learn. But Tohdoh couldn't help but think that in certain cases Suzaku would have been easily swayed to plant his flag firmly in Britannia. He had friends who were Britannian, he had a lover who was Britannian, in truth everything Tohdoh believed was worth fighting for Suzaku had found in Britannia.
'So long as a man has those whom he loves and needs to protect, the side that seems the best suited to protect them must seem incredibly just no matter what,' thought Tohdoh as he came to reach the remains of the Roland where Suzaku slumbered lightly.
Kallen had cauterized the wounds on herself and Jean and placed her enemy in a position where she could receive some comfort.
"You've...won...Kozuki," said Jean, gasping for air. "Now...you can see Zero again."
"Yes, I can," said Kallen.
Though she had achieved her victory against her rival, Kallen felt no joy from it. Perhaps because she could see how alike she was with Jean. Thus she knew that there was a blow dealt to her much greater than any physical wound could inflict.
"Jeanne," said Jean. "That's my name, he called me by it...once."
"Shin?" asked Kallen.
"In...Euro Britannia...women as knights are looked down upon by many," said Jean.
"But Shin didn't see it that way," said Kallen. "He saw you as someone of value. He recognized your strength and made you his most trusted subordinate. His hand and fist and sword. But more importantly than that he first showed you such a kindness that no matter what evil he'd commit that's all you could see in him."
"You understand then," said Jeanne.
"More than I want to admit," said Kallen. "But yes, you love Shin in the same manner that I love Lelouch."
"Then you know...how terrible this is for me," said Jeanne, tears forming in her eyes. "I'm dying...without seeing him...one last time."
"You didn't see him before you were deployed?" asked Kallen.
"We were forbidden to," said Jeanne. "By...order of the Emperor. He placed me here because he knew you'd come to Japan and knew of our rivalry."
"And no doubt ordered Shin to resolve issues with his brother," said Kallen. "So he denied you the right to be with Shin. So you fought so passionately to regain that right and be with the man you loved, even if the world came to an end. I hate to admit this...but I do understand that. I understand it so much."
"Then...at least one of us is free," said Jeanne, coughing up some blood.
Kallen looked down at the woman she had hated for over a year and wept, knowing full well the true pain she was facing.
"Jeanne...I'll take you to him," said Kallen.
Euphie, who had been observing from a slight distance, perked up slightly at this. Jeanne too seemed to regain some life.
"I know we're enemies," said Kallen. "But you and I...we understand each other. We know how far we're willing to go for the ones we love. To be with them even if it means the end of all things and even if we have to go to hell with them. We both want to stand by our lovers and to fall with them so we can't be separated. I truly hate you for how you humiliated me and used me as a means to hurt Lelouch. But...I don't hate you enough to leave you to suffer the pain of not seeing the man you love one last time. I'll take you to him. I'll keep you alive so you can see Shin. Or...if it's the case, I can at least have you be there when he dies if my comrades haven't already killed him yet. Either way, I'll make sure you two are together in the end. You have my word as the Empress of Japan, the wife of Zero, and as a woman who understands you."
Jeanne smiled slightly and nodded.
As the forces of the Black Knights and White Samurai returned to their ships, leaving the corpse of the Surt where it stood. As the ships flew off, the concussive beams of the satellite ring began to fall, striking fault areas and aggravating the Earth.
"He's already starting with them," said Euphie.
"Hopefully Rivalz's already up in the air to deal with them," said Kallen. "We can't do much else at this stage."
"I suppose," said Euphie.
Both women stood at the bridge of the Valhalla. Jeanne had been secured in the ships medical bay hooked up to life-support. Kallen's own injuries had been tended to and Suzaku was being treated aboard the Nirvana.
"It's a kind thing you're doing," said Euphie. "Taking Jeanne to Shin. You could have just left her there."
"I know," said Kallen. "But...like I said, I understand her. It's so strange, I hate her and yet I acknowledge that she and I are the same."
"I don't think so," said Euphie. "Not entirely."
"What do you mean?" asked Kallen.
"There is a crucial difference between you and Jeanne," said Euphie. "While her love for Shin may be equal to how you love Lelouch, you would never allow Lelouch to descend to such dark a path as Shin has gone."
"Are you so sure about that?" asked Kallen.
"I'd like to believe so," said Euphie. "You fell in love with Lelouch because you saw his kindness and his justice. Just as much as you'd fight to keep him alive you'd also fight to make sure he doesn't lose himself. To make sure he doesn't become a demon whom others would want to slay."
Kallen thought back to her earlier conversation with Lelouch in their marriage bed.
"I think it's important that we all fight not just for the people we love," said Euphie. "But to fight to ensure that they always remain the people we fell in love with. We should of course stand by our respective husbands. But I think it would be difficult if we believed that they no longer held the qualities of the men we married. Otherwise we'll have lost them forever."
Kallen thought about her sister-in-law's words and understood them.
'Lelouch...wait for me just a little longer,' thought Kallen. 'When this war is over, I will work to a world where we can have a family in peace. And even if we can't have peace, I'll work to ensure that no matter what you never lose the justice that made me fall in love with you. No matter how dark it gets, I will always light your way.'
Author's Note: Well I hope that was satisfying. I wanted to lessen the wait on this chapter but I hope you all still find it of fine quality. I really wanted this to resolve some issues Kallen's had for some time and come to a new understanding about her relationship with Lelouch. What she's supposed to be for him and how their relationship mirrored that of Jean and Shin. And for those who might be wondering what Euphie was piloting for that last bit is a prototype of the Siegfried. Sorry if Suzaku's bits weren't too compelling but really all I needed from him were physical bits. He's gotten most of his character arc done by now and this was meant to be more Kallen's chapter. He's alright, but Lloyd's going to be mad that he broke another Knightmare
As for Shin we'll be seeing what happened to him next turn.
Next Turn: Ghosts, Unicorns, and Fallen Angels.