Code Geass belongs to Sunrise. Jojo's Bizarre Adventure belongs to Hirohiko Araki.
Chapter 62: Deal With the Devil
===Gino===
There were many iconic elements within the Arthurian Cycle. Excalibur, Camelot, the Lady in the Lake and so, so many others. The one that always drew Gino's attention was the Round Table. The famous seating place for Arthur's Knights where they would have their feasts and share their stories. A place to catch up with dear friends and unwind.
The popular conception of the Round Table was a massive circular wooden surface, but that was not entirely accurate when considering real world history. At the time such a table would normally be a long rectangular sort where servants could easily move food and drink as needs must around these very important people. This would be much more awkward with a solid hunk of circular oak taking up space: As such, the middle of the table was actually hollow, with a small gap so that servants could enter into the middle and continue with their duties.
What made the round table special was that there was no end to it, no place more obviously important than any other. The people sitting at it were therefore considered equals. An idea that sounded like the most anti-Britannian idea he'd ever heard. It always struck Gino as odd. Nobody else seemed to notice, or care that the most important soldiers in the Empire - the personal bodyguards of Charles zi Britannia - adopted a name that implied equality among any group of people.
In the modern era there was still a round table. The difference was that it adopted the more incorrect public perception of what such a thing would look like. It was a rare thing these days for all seven of them to be around it, usually they were off in Europe fighting some fight or dealing with some matter that the Emperor himself deemed important enough to send the best of the best to deal with.
At the back of the room was the Knight of One. Bismarck Waldstein. The only Knight of the Round with authority that exceeded the rest of them. A stoic man with his left eye sewn shut. The best fighter and pilot in the Britannian military and it wasn't even close. Still, Gino wished he'd crack a more sincere smile on occasion, the guy took his job a touch too seriously.
To the left of him was Dorothea Ernst, the Knight of Four. Gino hadn't worked with her as much as the others yet, but she gave him the impression of a real modern day chivalric knight sort. Big on heroism, short on patience for hypocrites and pointless cruelty. Which made it a wonder she hadn't got into a fight with the Knight of Ten yet.
Speaking of, he was to the other side of Bismarck. Luciano Bradley, as previously stated was the Knight of Ten. The Vampire of Britannia. A fitting nickname all things considered: It sounded like they were about to fight a real live one! This psycho really earned his nickname. Not that he'd ever say it aloud but Gino didn't much like his vicious streak. He always went a touch too far. It didn't help that the guy was a complete fanboy of Chancellor Brando. Look at the Chancellor as a young man, then compare him to modern day Luciano. The resemblance couldn't be a coincidence.
Next to Dorothea was Anya Alstreim, the only other Knight that was as young as Gino. The two of them hung out a bunch even though they were like oil and water. Anya noticed Gino looking at her and snapped a picture. She was always doing that for some reason. She was a real detached sort. Stuff tended to bore her really easily, but Gino was working on it. Someday he'd break her out of that shell and help her enjoy life a bit more.
Next to Luciano was Nonette Enneagram, the Knight of Nine. A carefree spirit who was always frank and cheerful. Charisma and likability radiated off her, and the room always seemed a bit brighter when she was standing in it. Out of all the Rounds she was the one that Gino found the easiest to talk with, but she was always keeping herself busy.
Then there was the Knight of Twelve, Monica Krushevsky next to Nonette. To put it simply, she was a true believer. Fiercely loyal to the Emperor even above the rest of them - save Bismarck as he'd known the Emperor for far, far longer. Monica was a little bit older than Gino and Anya, but that was about all he really knew about her.
And of course finally there was Gino Weinberg in between Nonette and Anya. The lovable Knight of Three. Some call him brash. Others call him cocky. Others say he's popular with the ladies. But the way Gino would describe himself was... Potential. Oh yes, he kept on hearing other people saying that word: Potential. He heard it when he picked up an interest in Knightmares. He heard it when he entered the military. He heard it when he was nominated for the Rounds. And he still heard it today while sitting among modern day legends of the Empire. Was it any wonder he came off as cocky?
"A brand new world power has been formed, and our oldest enemy has been taken under new management," Bismarck said. "We've already lost our foothold into Italy, and they're already starting to push us back from Northern Africa and the Middle East. So? I would like to hear your thoughts on these matters before I offer advice to his Majesty."
"Hmph, what a freeform method to run a debrief," Luciano shrugged. Here we go. "It almost reminds me of the Second Prince's plan to break apart Europe. Remind me, how did that turn out again?"
"You say that as if he could have possibly prepared for JOJO's interference," Monica protested. "The possibility that childish legend could be real...? It still chills my blood."
"Then you should be perfectly safe," Luciano said. "Take it from the Vampire of Britannia, our sort prefer our blood nice and hot. Though I must say it is just like those craven Europeans deciding to follow the bogeyman given flesh. I can hardly wait to teach it to them, how valuable their lives truly are!"
This was why Luciano didn't really have any friends in the - Actually, never mind the Rounds. It was hard for Gino to imagine he had friends full-stop. The only reason he was still on the Rounds was because he was that good of a pilot. Not to mention his command of his personal guard, the Valkyries. Even if he wasn't a bloodthirsty lunatic, he'd be a devastating presence on the battlefield from those women alone.
Dorothea spoke up, eyeing Bradley in the same way she usually did: Naked contempt. "In other words, you're eager to get back to the battlefield so you can 'accidentally' kill more civilians?"
"Kill a man outside the army and you're a criminal. Kill him in the heat of battle and you become a hero," Bradley said. "Is it my fault that's the world we live in?"
"Another argument between Bradley and Ernst..." Anya sighed, absently snapping a picture of the two of them. "How boring. It'd be more interesting if they finally duelled. It would be interesting to see which of them was better."
Fortunately for all involved, Dorothea had enough sense not to give the Knight of Ten the excuse. Just like Gino had enough sense to not let Bradley think that over for any length of time in case he decided to up and challenge her instead.
"So would someone fill me in on how we got kicked out of Italy?" Gino asked. "Anya and I worked hard to make that beachhead at Calabria. Are you telling us we wasted our time?"
"Perhaps one of JOJO's Paladins...?" Nonette offered.
Monica shook her head. "I didn't see any of them," she said. "It was their Knightmares."
That didn't fit. "The Alexander model? We captured one of those already." Yes, definitely. Gino had brought one down fairly intact and handed it over for analysis. In fact... "Isn't your new Knightmare based on that model?"
"Yes, but that's not what I mean," Monica said. "I don't mean the Knightmares themselves were the issue. It's more like the pilots... They went completely insane for a while. It was as if someone flipped a switch and we were being attacked by a rabid wolf."
"And that let them beat you back?" Luciano tsked. "Pathetic. When confronted with a rabid animal you put it down. Easiest thing in the world."
"Do you know why zombies are so strong as they are?" Anya countered. "It's because they can't feel pain, so they can push their muscles further than a human will. They don't care if they tear something because it doesn't hurt. It's the same thing here."
Huh...? That was unusually talkative for Anya. "You got an interest in the supernatural, Anya?" Gino asked.
"No. Why do you ask?" she answered. Too late to cover it up now! He'd already noticed.
"Well anyway..." Gino coughed, already planning on ways to use this new information. "So the pilots started acting weird all at once?"
"I'm afraid Monica rather undersold what happened," Dorothea said. "One minute everything was normal. Then, their infantry suddenly withdrew. We thought they were preparing to retreat - until all of their Knightmare frames began a vicious co-ordinated counterattack."
"Their Panzer-Hummels, their Alexanders..." Monica said. "You're probably thinking I'll say they started acting like a pack of wolves. I'd say it was more like they were acting as the same wolf. One mind, many bodies."
"It was as though they were all intimately aware of what their fellows were up to," Dorothea picked it up. "A level of coordination I've only seen from the Valkyrie, and every bit as vicious. Then they started appearing in places that didn't make any sense at all."
"We thought it was an enemy Stand at work, but our factspheres couldn't pick up anything at all like a Stand," Monica said. "There was no rhyme or reason to it. We had no choice but to retreat so we could figure out how it was being done."
So this was the difference that JOJO made? He hadn't even appeared at the battlefield and they'd already made this much of a difference. Gino closed his eyes. He could still hear his mother warning him about this freak. Warning him to behave himself. Make sure he presented himself well in front of the other noble families. Or else one night JOJO might creep into his room, thirsty for blood. Don't misunderstand him. He had never really been scared of JOJO. Never thought that he was real. Even now he wasn't feeling fear... But he was feeling apprehension. Like a pressure was being exerted on them by a foe they hadn't even met yet.
"In this case we are definitely going to need a new battle plan," Gino observed. "I'd rather not waste time, resources and people fighting over the same patches of land. Especially when they're bound to reinforce those recaptured areas."
"Perhaps if we move West," Monica suggested. "Move through the west of Africa, then up towards Spain. That should be less defended..."
"Interesting idea!" Nonette clapped. "But we are still spread a little thin. If we try to push through there, they might decide to push forwards. Our supply lines could be cut off before we know it and then we'd lose the westward attack force.."
"Not that it will matter if certain people turn tail and run because their enemies get a little bloodthirsty," Bradley chuckled. "Really now, retreating at their opening hand? I'm never letting you get over that little miss chivalry."
"There's nothing heroic in letting your own get slaughtered without reason!" Dorothea protested.
"Maybe, but their deaths could have provided useful data," Bradley countered. "That way less of our subordinates would be at risk. That is what you're concerned with, right?"
"Hey, is this really the time for this argument?" Gino protested. The last thing they needed was these two arguing in the war room! Nothing useful would come of it and they had a lot more important stuff to worry about. Besides, Bradley was only needling her to get this reaction in the first place.
"Personally I'm more concerned with the United Federation of Nations anyway," Nonette interrupted, deftly changing the subject. Thank you! "All JOJO has done was inject a little lifeblood into a pre-existing world power. Meanwhile, the UFN has grown from a small vigilante group in a far flung Area into a force to be reckoned with inside of a year."
"You think they'll continue to grow stronger at the same rate?" Anya asked.
"That would most likely happen if they peel off European nations or start attacking Areas," Monica said. "In which case, I can see where you're coming from. Either way it would legitimise them as a major force."
"Glad to see you agree with my reasoning." Nonette warmly smiled. "The other problem is if they share out supernatural powers with nations that join up. Then we'd be in a real quagmire."
"Oh, I didn't say I agreed with you," Monica replied. "I only meant that I understand your reasoning. I think we should focus on Europe. They are our oldest standing adversaries, and backing away now is unthinkable." Gino nodded in total agreement. Abandon Europe to take on some half-baked superpower? Get real! Pick one battle at a time and fight it through to the end, what was the point of giving up on a war half way through?
"On the other hand, it's possible the two of them might form an alliance," Dorothea observed. "On top of that, failing to give support to Areas close to UFN territory is inviting trouble."
Luciano leaned back in his seat and chuckled. What now? "If you want my opinion - And I caught that grimace Dorothea, so I know that you don't - We really should focus on those upstart Elevens and remind them why they're the only ones left in the world who still call themselves Japanese. If that means killing a lot of them... Oh well! More fun for us."
How rare. Dorothea Ernst and Luciano Bradley in agreement about a subject, even if for totally different reasons.
"There is another matter that you're not aware of," Bismarck interrupted, and at the sound of his voice the conversation seemed to immediately die. All attention drew upon the Knight of One with irresistible force. "A successful conflict of any kind is won by information, be it war or games of chance or diplomacy. To this end Britannia has been establishing a network of spies throughout Europe for quite some time."
Well, that much was pretty obvious. Of course they had. Find any nation that didn't do exactly that. Why even bring it up at all?
"Our entire spy network within Europe has been thoroughly dismantled," Bismarck announced. "Every spy, every agent, every informant, every source of information we have has either disappeared or clammed up."
There was silence in the room for a moment as the other six took the time to digest it. Even Bradley and Nonette were completely without words. Out of all of them the first one to speak up was normally the most taciturn.
"How?" Anya asked. A simple question. In this question a weighty one.
"We don't know," Bismarck admitted. "But it does seem as though JOJO has rooted out our spy network with extraordinary efficiency."
"... Well this changes everything!" Gino threw his hands up in the air. "Man, you go for years thinking some guy's existence is a tall tale and then this happens? This JOJO guy, who the heck is he anyway?"
"He is the enemy of Britannia, Knight of Three. If not the enemy of humanity itself."
The Knights of the Round were on their knees in a flash. And why shouldn't they be? The voice that had spoken up was none other than the man from whom the authority of the Rounds came in the first place. Kind of a big deal, maybe you'd heard of him? He was only the 98th Emperor of the Holy Britannian Empire, Charles zi Britannia.
"Your timing is exemplary your Majesty," Bismarck said. "We were discussing recent events, so I may offer informed advice on our next move."
"Our next move?" his Majesty asked. "It must be an audacious one. We cannot afford the momentum to swing in the direction of populism, lest the future potential of all mankind be squandered. JOJO has outplayed us and we must lift our stakes to meet what he has put down."
"Of course, your Majesty!" Monica enthusiastically said. "Forgive me for saying, but it sounds as though you have already made up your mind on what we shall do next."
Gino's thoughts exactly. Bismarck had called this meeting so they could debate policy before making any official suggestions, but the Emperor seemed to be thinking ahead of them already. Unless... Bismarck called them here for some other reason using that as a pretense? It wasn't like his Majesty to take such direct interest.
"Hmph! Down to business as always, Knight of Twelve. Very well then! It has become clear that drastic steps must be taken to retain our natural advantages in the face of the unnatural forces at work. To that end, there is someone I wish for you to meet."
He stepped to the side and revealed... a child? Something about him kind of reminded Gino of his Majesty. A secret Prince even they didn't know about? Whoever he was the sight of him made even Bismarck gasp. He must know who this is, right?
"Knights of the Round," the kid said. His smile reminded Gino of Bradley when signing an execution order. "It is time for us to take an action that JOJO will never see coming. We'll go through this one at a time with each of you."
"Both the Knight of One and the Knight of Six are exempt," the Emperor decreed. Wait. Anya? Why was Anya... "They already possess power beyond normal mortals. As for the rest of you, accept his terms and then you will as well."
"If I grant you power, would you kill him?" the kid asked.
Gino grinned. "If he's an enemy of Britannia, then he's as good as toast."
"I advise against underestimating him," Charles warned. "Jonathan Joestar is a strong opponent in more senses than one. It will take more than skill and guile to defeat him."
The kid picked it up from there. "On that basis I propose a deal. In exchange for power, you will destroy all enemies of Britannia. Accept this contract and you accept its conditions: While living in the world of humans, you will live unlike any other..."
Whatever else Gino was expecting of this meeting, this massively surpassed it. He'd suspected the intelligence agencies were working on supernatural abilities so they could effectively fight Stands, but for it to take this form...? Had Bismarck already volunteered for it?
And then Gino's attention fell upon Anya. Staring sullenly at the ground, holding her kneeling position of respect out of automatic habit over anything else. Did she know about this as well? Why didn't she say anything? Gino felt his gut tying into a knot. This was a big deal, wasn't it? The Emperor was ordering them to take on powers that broke all rules of common sense for the sake of the Empire!
"So?" the kid asked, extending his hand out towards them. "Which of you will be the first to accept my terms? Which of you would like a taste of the Power of Kings?"
====Ohgi====
It was only the third time they'd gathered together like this. The first, the momentous day that the treaty was ratified. The second, a behind the scenes discussion of what they all knew about the supernatural. As for this one...
"Nervous?" Kaguya whispered to him. Ohgi nodded, careful not to say a word. "You don't have to be here. If you're scared about your ability –"
He tapped the laptop monitor in front of himself, gesturing to something he'd typed out in advance; "I want to see this through." Kaguya nodded in understanding, though it was clearly pained. Honestly now. If it wouldn't look suspicious he'd probably go about wearing a gag to keep himself from talking.
They were all gathered in the Great Vermillion Hall within the city, a place that used to be used by the High Eunuchs to arrange discussions with representatives from all the regions affiliated with the Chinese Federation. Remade into a chamber where real good could be done. Real leadership. For the people. For the sake of freedom and security of the many, not the few. In the middle of the room were four monitors lined up to make an upright square, each of which had a camera on top of it. They flickered to life and then -
"Greetings to the United Federation of Nations!" said the de facto ruler of Europe. JOJO! "It is an honour that you would take the time to speak with me today."
It felt like a lifetime ago. Finding JOJO in his home, standing in the darkness with his back turned. Tamaki safe after Ohgi thought he was dead. JOJO disappearing. He cut a very different figure in the shadows than he did in the light, but Ohgi could still feel the overwhelming pressure from him. If anything being able to see him clearly made him more scary, not less.
Behind him was a crowd of people, some of whom Ohgi vaguely recognised as rulers of nations within Europe. Of them the only ones that Ohgi remembered the names of were the three consuls, Zeppeli, Stroheim, and Pucci.
"What's the point of having them there?" Xingke asked. "Don't you have full authority?"
"They're more than welcome to object to anything I say," JOJO replied.
Ohgi clenched his fists in frustration. Yes, he didn't doubt they were all paying close attention. Welcome to object to anything JOJO said? That was another matter entirely.
Kaguya continued the conversation from their end. "Then let's begin immediately: Jonathan Joestar. You have proposed a direct alliance between Europia United and the United Federation of Nations."
"As Britannia is the enemy of both groups this seems a natural move to make," JOJO said. A vampire using the word 'natural' as a selling point for an alliance. That sort of thing set Ohgi's teeth on edge. "As two democratic superpowers, we must stand together against Imperial aggression. I am sure we all believe in this much at least: Britannia's ideology is a direct contrast and threat to ours!"
"There were some concerns that you would try to use an alliance to seize political control," Xingke observed. "Forgive me for being blunt, but I feel these fears should be addressed."
"An understandable concern for such a young superpower. To fight so hard to gain your freedom, only to cast it aside so easily... Yes, that whisper of paranoia must seem quite tempting. On the other hand does Britannia's military might not frighten you all the more?"
This time Kaguya was the one to tap her monitor; "Charismatic. Controlling the flow of the conversation. Humble, but also confident."
"Their technological advancements have been rather speedy. Alarmingly so."
"Which is why we should pool our resources. Share technology and intelligence. If we work together we can ensure that the people of the world are ruled by justice and fairness, not power and fear. An ideal fit in the fight against tyranny."
Then why didn't you offer to help out in the open all the way back then? Why the subterfuge? Why the deceit? What's your game JOJO? What is this all in aid of, really?
"There is one other issue," Kaguya stood up. "During your introduction to the world, one of your Paladins said something strange. They seemed to claim that the Black Knights and the United Federation of Nations was being influenced by the Empire in some way."
"Indeed they did. It would be my pleasure to root out that influence - though I shall only be in a position to do so once our alliance begins."
"If it's Lelouch that you mean then he has already been well contained," Kaguya said.
"Lelouch?" JOJO asked. The vampire shook his head, smiling as though he could hardly believe what he was hearing. "No, I don't mean Lelouch. He is more his own worst enemy than he is yours. I mean... Something else entirely."
"I suppose it's not safe for you to say more yet?" Xingke asked.
"To my regret, yes."
Only at this point did Zero speak up, choosing her moment for maximum dramatic effect. "In which case... I regret to inform you that we have already voted on our decision to ally with Europia United. The answer is 'no'."
That had been quite deliberate on their part. Kaguya would probe for information, Xingke would act confrontational and Zero would be the one to tell him their decision. Ohgi watched the monitor carefully. This was the moment of truth. What would their reaction be?
Stroheim was the first of them to have an obvious reaction. "How dare you!" he yelled into the camera. "You dare to waste our –" He was interrupted by his fellow consul, Enrico Pucci, putting a finger to his lips.
"So this is the direction that gravity has decided to lead you," Pucci calmly said. Too calmly. It was eerie how in control of himself he was. "Despite your prior decision you wanted the opportunity to speak to us so you could have our measure."
"Kind of makes me wonder how we measured up," Gyro said, punctuating it with a hearty laugh.
"As a gentleman, it is my duty to warn someone when I see them making a critical mistake," JOJO politely said. Surprisingly, Ohgi almost believed the emotion in his voice. He had no anger, no frustration, not even surprise. "While I am sure you have your reasons, think of how this will seem to your regular members. The civilians who do not share in your wealth of information and experience. They were watching the election night as surely as you were. They will have heard us warn that you are being manipulated by Britannia, and then they will see you refuse an alliance with a natural ally."
"They will see us refusing to barter with a vampire!" Zero announced, dismissively raising her hand into the air and slowly forming that hand into a fist. "One who consumes the blood of the living for sustenance! One who has the power to enslave the will of others! They will see you as no ally to democracy. You are but a beast in the guise of a man."
"We have experience in this area," Xingke said. "Those who become undead tend to react in the same way. Their innermost evil comes to the surface."
"Resulting in an overwhelming urge to control others," Kaguya continued through grit teeth. That's right. Xingke's first words applied to both of them, didn't they? Plenty of experience from both of them in how twisted the undead could become. The evil they were capable of, the suffering they enjoyed inflicting on others and the myriad new and terrible ways they could inflict it.
"Forgive me for saying so, but that almost sounds like racism. Stereotypes hardly befit a judgment call from a supposed free society."
Finally, Ohgi couldn't help himself. The words escaped his mouth before he knew what he was doing: "We know what you did! We know you used Geass to take control of Europe!"
Angry sounding murmurs began to fill up the room. The unmistakable sound of human chatter, with a heated cadence. Ohgi could feel himself getting hotter under the collar as well, for now it felt as though JOJO was paying him all of his attention, and if he didn't know any better - No, that might make him more upset. How dare he. How dare this - this vampire tyrant pretending to be a hero acting for the cause of justice look at him with pity!
It took a little while for the furor to calm down from feeling Ohgi's shared frustration. All the while, JOJO didn't say anything. He simply stared out at them, that same gleam of pity in his eyes. Then, when things were quiet enough that he might be heard, the vampire resumed speaking.
"I would suggest you take care with information about Geass," JOJO advised. "One of the first and hardest lessons of entering the political world is to learn that 'there are some things the public is better off not knowing about'. For their own sake. For their own peace of mind. It seems to be contrary to living within a free society, and yet... People are emotional beings regardless of how rational they think they are."
"Do you have a point with this?" Xingke demanded.
"Admit to the existence of Geass, and the very idea of democracy falls apart at the seams," JOJO said. "No, not just democracy. The idea of government itself can no longer have any foundation upon which to stand. How can the people trust in any leadership, when their will could be so easily subverted? By foreign agents, by internal interested parties."
This was a point they had already discussed at length earlier on, prior to the meeting. Ohgi hadn't understood it at all, and so Kaguya had to explain the matter to him properly. It all came down to one simple question:
"People still trust governments after Stands and the undead were revealed. Why not Geass?"
"Because shortly after Stands were discovered, militaries around the world sought means to combat them," Kaguya had explained. "By now they all have factpheres that can easily detect Stands, which makes them much less of a threat. On the other hand, detecting a Geass is currently beyond anyone's ability.."
Or to put it another way: How can you trust a government when it might have been undetectably influenced by either foreign agents or internal power struggles? Maybe they'd been brainwashed to act in a particular way, and there would be no evidence to counteract it. On the other hand Stands and the undead - when they went to do something significant they tended to be big loud and obvious. Learning that Geass existed on top of them would breed paranoia. Every action a leader took would be called into question. Everything. No matter how mundane or ordinary would cause suspicion to bubble up and up and up until eventually... Revolution against a government that may have been acting rationally in service to its people and may not have even been affected by Geass or the supernatural in the slightest.
And knowing all of that, how could any leader hope to lead effectively?
"We have no intention of revealing the existence of Geass to the general public," Kaguya conceded. "At least, not at present."
"Then we are most grateful to see something of benefit come from this conversation," JOJO bowed his head slightly. "Perhaps in time you will come to see reason after all."
"JOJO!" Zero pointed dramatically to the monitor. "Your attempt to undermine our confidence will have the opposite effect of what you intend! It is clear that any alliance between us would be absolutely impossible!"
"Every bit as impossible as attacking us in Europe without going through Britannia first," JOJO said. "This is the reality you exist in: If you formally ally with us you gain access to our knowledge and power. On the other hand, if you attack Britannia then you have informally allied with us by weakening our enemy, but lose everything we have to offer. While you allowed for this conversation to catch my measure, I think that I have captured yours as well. Where Emperor Charles zi Britannia clings to the past, you are all too caught up thinking about the immediate present. Europe alone strives for the future and the continuation of the march of time."
"The future you seek - How many must be enslaved before you will see it come to pass?"
Rather than answer Zero's question, JOJO closed his eyes as though trying to block out the answer. "Thank you, Zero! We shall talk again sooner than you think."
The monitor flickers off, and the general conversation lifted up among them. Though it is indistinct it doesn't take much to hear the emotion of the room: Concern. Pressure. Ohgi could hear his heart pounding in his chest, yet he couldn't tear his eyes away from that black monitor. His imagination and memory filled it in for him. JOJO. Standing in his room in the dead of night. A tall and massive man with an unforgettable presence. JOJO, an enigma. A potential secret ally, a wildcard who seemed as all-knowing as he was powerful.
Suddenly Zero stepped in front of the monitor, snapping Ohgi back to the here and now.
"Our enemy this time is an audacious one," Zero announced. "He seeks to manipulate our quest for justice and freedom towards his own twisted ends."
"Speaking from a purely tactical position, we only have Britannia to worry about," Xingke said. "Any attempt by the Europia army to reach our borders will be seen well in advance."
"Perhaps in the old way of war Xingke, but this is a new world!" Zero warned. "The supernatural exists. It is my belief that JOJO will attempt to manipulate that same kind of thinking to provoke us into action that helps him, and him alone."
"In a three-way battle royale, the best tactic is to make your other two enemies fight each other, and then pick off the winner," Xingke admitted. "They would weaken each other, allowing you to finish each other off."
"Then should we stay out of this fight entirely?" Kaguya asked. "Build up our own resources and tackle the winner?"
"No, that option would be much worse!" Zero said. "For while we waited to act innocent people in Europe would suffer and toil. JOJO will consolidate his position and the Empire shall grow ever more bold from victory. Evil triumphs when good people do nothing."
"Even if doing nothing would allow evil to fight itself?"
Ohgi hadn't meant to say that aloud. It had quietly slipped out, and all of a sudden he was the centre of attention. He started to panic: What had he been feeling when he said that? Confusion? Frustration? Sadness? He clammed up right away, not daring to say another word. He shouldn't have come here. He should have stayed in his room. What if a slip like that caused a disaster?! What if it was about to? Could he live with himself? Was there anything he could do to keep that from happening?
Was this the same way JOJO felt about his own vampiric power? Was that the source of that pitying look from before...?
"Entering into a war and declaring both sides our enemy will make things too unpredictable," Xingke warned. "It might be better to stay out of it for now..."
"It is entirely possible that JOJO wants us to take that kind of drastic action, as we'd wind up having to fight Britannia more than Europe anyway," Kaguya observed. "The geography of the battlezone by itself makes that clear."
By now Ohgi had realised what his projected emotion was; Fear. He had projected fear into their hearts mid-discussion. He could see it in their faces. Even in Zero's case, where her face was hidden by a mask, her body language was much less confident than usual.
He left the room as though it had suddenly caught fire. It wasn't safe. He couldn't handle this. Anyone that heard his voice would get a spike in whatever emotions he was feeling at the time, so long as he hadn't inflicted it on others within the last twenty four hours. Well, he assumed that last part was still true, he hadn't the guts to test it.
Even so, what difference did it make? A slip of the tongue? Mutter something under his breath while deep in thought? Carelessly respond to someone calling out for him? It didn't matter, he could so easily see situations where he might carelessly speak out in public and then -
Alone in his room Ohgi locked the door and leaned back against it. "This is fine," he said to himself. "I can still be helpful. I just... have to control it a little better. That's all I need to do. If I can control it, then it's all going to be fine."
====Suzaku====
How much trouble could one little arrow cause? It was hard to believe. An ancient artefact of unknown origin suddenly setting off a series of events that culminated in... Whatever state you could call it. On that day Suzaku learned, a little before the rest of humanity, that there were such things as supernatural powers. He had already known that there were people out there who would abuse any form of power they were given, but he had believed that to mean political power or wealth. Not the ability to bend the laws of reality against your knee.
He wouldn't lie. He had been tempted now and then. To ask Lelouch to use it on him. To grant him the power to fight back against evil. But Suzaku knew what lay in that direction. Escalation. Justification. Those who use supernatural powers to their own benefit, time and time again, they've succumbed to the urge to use them selfishly with no concern or regard over the effects their actions have on others.
Or else they have succumbed to the manipulations of others to the same end. Like Lelouch. Like Kallen. Like Shirley. Like... Nunnally.
That last one had been especially surprising. Even as kids he could tell Lelouch was furious at his own nation, so it didn't shock him nearly as much to see what he was willing to do with his Stand. This power allowed him to vent his power in ways he probably felt were more productive than sitting and stewing. But Nunnally? She was the gentle one out of the three of them. The idea that she would succumb to this temptation as well, abuse the power she had been granted was such an outright contradiction in character that he caught himself hoping that there was a flesh bud in her brain. Because if she was doing this of her own volition then there was something fundamentally wrong with the world.
Or should that be something else fundamentally wrong with the world?
"Suzaku... Do you know who JOJO is?" Euphemia asked. He'd noticed her standing there, the doorway behind him, a good five minutes ago. It felt as though it would be rude to point that out to her if she didn't want to start the conversation. In fact, her tone of voice made it seem as though she'd been seeking a way to start talking with him about it.
"He's Joseph's father," Suzaku said. The resemblance was too uncanny.
"Grandfather, I'd say is more likely," Euphemia said. She walked into the room and sat down next to him, resting her head on his shoulder. "Joestar... To think that I never made the connection. Then again, I never did enjoy those scary stories..."
Scary stories. Right. This entire series of events felt like a giant scary story unfolding around him. Just like a classic scary story. You start with things going normally, then something otherworldly interferes and things go off the rails, often with the people you like acting weirdly. Getting possessed, doing things they normally wouldn't. All set in motion because of a crummy arrow.
"Suzaku, I don't like this feeling," Euphemia said. "Nunnally is in the thrall of a bogeyman from our youth. He's making her do awful, terrible things halfway around the globe. It feels as though there must be something we can do."
"There isn't," Suzaku plainly answered."It's outside of our authority. Prince Schneizel's instructions were very clear: We're to maintain order within Area Eleven while he worries about Europe." Which should be the end of it, and yet he felt the tug at his soul to ignore those orders. Go to Europe, track down Nunnally, break her free of whatever hold it was.
"I suppose that also answers Sir Gottwald's requests to send in a task force to rescue Lelouch," Euphemia mused.
"He's asked again?" Suzaku asked. Not that Suzaku didn't understand how the man felt, but still. "Trying anything like that right now would only start a war with the United Federation of Nations, and it would interfere with their justice system."
"You really think they'll give Lelouch a fair trial?"
"No," Suzaku admitted. "It won't be fair at all. It'll be completely biased... In Lelouch's favour. I don't think he's in any danger." A memory came up to him, a chess term that Lelouch had once mentioned: "Zugzwang... the compulsion to move."
"You think it would be better if we didn't do anything?"
For a man of action like Suzaku Kururugi, 'doing nothing' was the most challenging thing of all. But Euphemia had picked up on his point perfectly: there was nothing they could do. They were too far away from the European front to help there, and Area Eleven still needed their full attention. Any attack on the United Federation of Nations would mean Britannia would be open to a war on two fronts.
Meaning that he was completely powerless to do anything at all about Lelouch and Nunnally! No, wait. That thinking was completely selfish: Euphemia as well. While she was sitting here worried about Suzaku, she must also be burying her deep concern for those two as well. That look of gentle concern was a mask of bravery. This level of compassion, kindness and empathy - it was the perfect cocktail to make a saint.
"If that is the case, then it would be better to focus our attention on matters we can address," Euphemia said. "We must continue Lelouch's vision. We must reform Area Eleven to ensure equal treatment."
"Yes, your highness!" Suzaku said, rising to his feet and holding his head high. "Most of the troublesome elements among the Elevens have already left with the Black Knights. But there are still some who will be discontent with how things have turned out."
"Not to mention those among the nobility who may think it's safe to act out again," Euphemia said. "Both of them may need to be reminded that the rule of law is still in charge within Britannia."
Right! That was certainly something he could live with. The system would work. If it was broken, they'd fix it. People make mistakes. People can be corrupt or violent. Systems didn't care. Systems got on with what they were doing. Whatever else the United Federation of Nations thought they were doing, that was something they'd have to learn sooner or later: They would have to rely on a system to enact its justice and to enact its fairness.
This was something he could do. He could show them by example. He could work to reform Area Eleven from the inside and show them what worked. Sir Gottwald, Lady Nu. The two had hated the mere thought of an Honorary like him in the ranks to the extent they had once considered framing him for regicide as a vehicle to remove the Honorary system. Now? They were his and Euphemia's strongest allies in reforming Area Eleven. Their own experiences of late had changed them both, profoundly. The system had taken their broken ideals and fixed them.
Suzaku's phone rang. "Excuse me," he said to the Princess. She nodded, giving her permission for him to take the call. He recognised the number right away, of course. Not entirely the person he wanted to talk to right now. "Agent Rolo," he curtly said.
"Sir Kururugi," Rolo said. "I've been asked to inform you that we shall be expecting further guests at Ashford Academy in the near future. Some names I'm sure you will recognise."
Huh? What sort of news was this supposed to be? He'd been asked to inform... Meaning his bosses at Internal Security?
"Gino Weinberg and Anya Alstreim shall be joining us as students, as of next week."
"Kn-Knights of the Round are attending Ashford Academy?!" Suzaku yelled. Euphemia gasped in surprise after he said that! "Since when?"
"I have not heard anything about this!" Euphemia said. "Why was it not sent through the proper channels? I should have been the first to know!"
"To answer the Princess, it seems as though they decided this by themselves," Rolo said. "It's not an official order, they requested a transfer for reasons unknown. The school received the paperwork ten minutes ago."
Ah. So the school administration had asked him, not his bosses? That was actually a bit of a relief! But still! Dropping this bombshell on him from out of the blue? What was he trying to do to Suzaku's stress levels?!
"Firstly, thank you for the heads up. Secondly, we're going to rake them over the coals for this! They shouldn't be doing this through anything but proper channels! Why would they even want to attend Ashford Academy of all places?!"
"From the information I have about the Knights of the Round, this was almost certainly the Knight of Three's idea. He probably wanted to see the infamous Ashford Academy, home of numerous incidents."
"He'll cause more incidents just from being there!"
Ah! As if he didn't have enough to worry about as it was. At the very least Euphemia seemed to share his concern. "If Knights of the Round are coming to Area Eleven, instead of fighting in Europe... It must mean that they're expecting some kind of trouble in the near future. Perhaps they expect the United Federation of Nations to attack us while we're distracted with Europe? Or maybe they're here to investigate the method by which JOJO attacked?"
That was a possibility. In which case he'd be thankful for their help. If they were coming then so would their personal teams, as well as their Knightmares. Any additional support would be welcome, but even so - Having the Knights of the Round suddenly showing up out of the blue was never a good omen.
"There is one other matter," Rolo said. "Rivalz is growing extremely concerned about Miss Milly's kidnapping. While I don't expect any additional comments to come from it, I do have a question that may be worth pondering."
Milly's kidnapping? Right. This was something Suzaku could take much more seriously. Nunnally, Sayoko, Nina and Milly. All four of them had disappeared that day, and now he was certain of it beyond a doubt: Somehow, JOJO had managed to get his team in, dropped a Knightmare on their heads and then cleared out with all of them in tow.
"Why did they take Milly?" Rolo asked. "I can see why they would want Nunnally and Nina. One is a Princess, the other is a researcher. But Milly Ashford? Her most interesting trait is her charisma. The Ashford family have not received any kind of ransom to my knowledge. Why bother taking her when an extra victim would be that much harder to transport?"
You know something...? That kind of made sense. Why would they take Milly like that? "Maybe she saw something she wasn't meant to?" Suzaku suggested. "In that case –"
"They would have killed her," Rolo interrupted. "If they were professionals, and she had seen something she was not meant to, that is what they would have done. If it was something to the extent they had to take her, they would have killed her and left her corpse for us to find later on. Since she's not there, they must have taken her alive." There was a pause there. Suzaku didn't know what to say to that. "I don't know what that means, but it has been on my mind for a little while now. Maybe it will help in the investigation? Oh, but please... Tell Rivalz the second you find out something. He's going crazy with guilt over this. We'll talk again soon."
That left Suzaku's mind awhirl. He wasn't the sort that could easily get into a criminal's headspace easily, but now that it had been pointed out to him it made a certain level of sense. Why take more than they needed? Containing and transporting Nunnally and Nina would be difficult enough by itself, and special care would have to be taken that they didn't do anything to escape. If they took Sayoko and Milly as well - then it would be all the harder!
"Suzaku Kururugi," Euphemia suddenly said, interrupting his thoughts with her imperious tone. "I hereby order you to relax."
"Your highness?"
"You're the sort of person who pushes themselves until they can't go any more," Euphemia continued. "For the time being, I shall take the advice of Sir Gottwald on how to ensure security is appropriate for visiting Knights of the Round."
"But your highness, I could hardly relax while there is so much work to be done!"
"Very well then," Euphemia calmly, imperiously said. "Then there is one issue you may resolve for me. On the corner of Grail Avenue and Guinevere Place, there is an establishment in desperate need of your assistance. It is... a day spa, for which I happen to have a free day coupon. You will visit it, and ensure that it is safe for me to be a patron at a later date."
It occured to Suzaku at this time that every member of the Royal Family could probably be called 'formidable' in some way. Even the gentle and kind Euphemia. Still, behind that Royal smile he could detect an unmistakable air of innocent mischief that made his heart beat faster in his chest.
"At once, your highness!"
====Nina====
There had always been something almost magical about the Royal family. They lived in an entirely different world than she did. A world without fear, a world without frustration. The glamorous Guinevere and the powerful Cornelia especially stood out, they were examples of how diversely powerful that family was, the product of the greatest breeding program in history. If Nina had any doubts about how great it was then Euphemia surely swept them aside as soon as her existence was formally announced to the world.
The Imperial Royal family of the Holy Britannian Empire were elevated above the rest of humanity, and there were times when she was little where Nina would dream that she was living in that world too. Princess Nina Einstein. It sounded wonderful.
For the time being she was sitting on the softest and most comfortable couch she could ever remember sitting on. On a little table off to the side, there was a little bowl full of exquisite caviar, and that might be the least expensive food she'd had to eat in the last few days.
Behind her, a bookcase full of recent scientific workings across countless fields. Rocket science, energy production, genetics research - all published within the last month. There were even some that had been fully peer reviewed only yesterday by Europe's top scientists.
There was a wardrobe full of all manner of clothes. Made from the finest materials and tailor made to suit her frame. How had they put it? "To highlight her attractive features," as if she had any worth talking about.
Her bed was carved from paradise itself, the sheets changed every day and washed with something that left them smelling so good that she couldn't help but fall asleep almost as soon as her head hit that soft, soft pillow.
By now you surely get the idea, but Nina could go on for quite some time. All she had to do was snap her fingers and make the request. They'd give her anything she asked for - save for anything with glass in it, of course. Her comfort was their joy, and her joy was their ecstacy. She was being pampered. Like a Princess. Like she'd always kind of wanted. But there was a catch to this pampering. A severe catch that she had to obey above all other things:
'Do not leave. Ever.'
Of course, she had set about trying to escape right away. A few innocent chemical items, carefully mixed in specific ratios should have provided her with a strong enough acid to burn through the door - but then all of a sudden she'd found herself in an even more secure room with no memory of how she got there. After that, thoughts of escape simply evaporated into the ether.
Nina stared at the clock on the wall watching the seconds tick by. Ten seconds now. She was wearing something a little peculiar today. Nine seconds. She'd specifically requested it yesterday. Eight seconds. She wasn't the kind of girl to normally care about clothing. Seven seconds. Today she'd make an exception. Six seconds. It was a particular combo item, you see. Picked out for maximum effect. Five seconds.
She was wearing a white shirt - four seconds - underneath a light yellow blouse. Three seconds. Replete with a green tie. Two seconds. Top that off with a rather shorter-than-she-ever-liked black skirt. One second. What do you get when you mix it all together?
The door to her silk cage slid open, and a warm, smiling woman strode inside.
"Hi, hi Nina! How are you feeling –"
The woman stopped on seeing what Nina was wearing. A replica of the Ashford academy girls uniform. Nina rose to her feet with her jaw set in grim determination. Right on time, as always. A stickler for punctuality.
"Hello Madame President," Nina said, forcing herself to smile for effect. "It's so good to see you again."
Whatever surprise Milly Ashford had experienced at seeing Nina dressed up like this, it was buried so quickly she could hardly believe it.
"Well, well! Look at you! Give us a spin!" Milly said, stepping forward and beckoning Nina to do just that. "Gosh, that's almost nostalgic now. All you're missing are those cute pigtails –"
"And my glasses," Nina finished for her. "It's funny. You're almost talking as if we're friends."
"Now, now! There's no call to be in such a dour mood," Milly beamed at her. Guh. That smile. It was one of the sort that lit up a room. At school, that pretty smile and forceful attitude had made her lots of friends. Everyone loved Milly Ashford. She was pretty, she was confident, she was likable, she was funny. She was poking Nina's lips and trying to make her smile. "Go on! Smile for me. S-M-I-L-E!"
"St-stop that!" Nina batted Milly's hand away. It would be nice if she could smile, but... "What do you want from me? My research? If you think I'll let them have it, no matter what I won't give it to them!"
"Nina. You're one of the smartest people I know," Milly said. "You're brilliant. It was always so obvious. You were like a walking calculator, you always noticed little design flaws in props we used when setting up events and suggested cheap, easy ways to fix them. But that sort of thing wasn't why I wanted you in my student council. Do you know what that reason was?"
That was easy. "You... You needed a token plain girl to make the rest of you look good!"
To her great surprise Milly moved in to hug her from behind. No, perhaps the most surprising part of the hug was that Milly didn't give off this feeling like she was setting up for one of her pervy jokes. Another piece of emotional manipulation? This seemed confirmed in Nina's mind on hearing what she said next:
"Because I saw potential being held back by a lack of self confidence. Because I wanted to break through that shell and show you the beautiful butterfly waiting to spread its wings."
"Hard to spread your wings when you're trapped in a cage."
"Nina... this is for your own good. Please believe me. I wouldn't have a hand in this if it wasn't in your best interest."
"And who are you to decide what's in my best interests?" Nina yelled, twisting and pushing the other girl away. This sickening fake friendly attitude was like nails on a chalkboard. "If you're supposed to be my friend then why are you keeping me locked up like this? Why are you betraying Britannia?"
"You wouldn't believe it. Even if we showed you hard evidence. Last time..." Milly trailed off, and she shuddered in horror, then resumed with her serious face doing a disturbingly good performance of showing concern that seemed as though it was aimed towards Nina. "I'll take the burden of knowing for the both of us. Taking that kind of burden is what friends do. So! I found some fun games we can try out if you want."
"I refuse," Nina said. She wasn't really a 'games' person anyway. "Please leave. You're upsetting me. And don't come visiting anymore either unless you're going to give me an answer."
There was something a little satisfying in seeing her face fall like that. Faced with this kind of advantage, Nina couldn't help but go on the attack.
"Why?" she hissed, venomous as she could manage. As a scientist it was bothering her not knowing the answer to such a simple question. "What did they offer you in exchange for this? Are they thr-threatening you? Did they bribe you with power? B-brainwash you? You're dragging the Ashford family name through the mud, this will ruin your reputation! For what? For my research on - On –"
"On what?" Milly quietly asked. Nina blinked. Her research... On... Something to do with energy? It was strange. Distant. Like looking at a piece of carpet where a heavy box had been lying, she could see the indentation but couldn't quite grasp what was supposed to be there. Why? Why couldn't she remember?
Milly stepped forward again and pulled Nina into another hug. As if this was supposed to magically make everything better. As if it was supposed to ask the dozens of questions bouncing around her head. "It's okay. Forget all about F.L.E.I.J.A." Forget what? What was F.L.E.I.J.A.? "Let us worry about that. You just... stay in here away from it all. Like I said. I'll shoulder the burden of worry for both of us. Trust me, this is for the best."
"J-Just tell me why," Nina begged. "Why should I believe anything you say? Give me one good reason!"
Milly slowly pulled out of the hug while Nina collapsed onto the couch, clutching at her head.
"I can't give you one," Milly said, offering a more fake smile than usual before turning off to walk away towards the door. Then, when she spoke up again, her voice was cracked, struggling to hold onto the facade of the ever cheerful student council president and letting it slip through her fingers. "Not when there are over thirty five million to choose from."
What did that mean? No, don't get distracted. Why couldn't she remember her own research? It was like there was a hole in her memory right where it should be! As if - As if it had already been taken away!
Nina looked up at Milly's retreating back, shaking in disbelief and fury. M-Milly would never - would she? Nina had always suspected that the cheery bubbly personality was put on but to this extent? She wanted to yell. She wanted to scream some more, but the words wouldn't form. She was half blind with anger, and the furious tears in her eyes meant she'd probably have to change her contacts soon.
But in her silent stewing fury Nina did hear Milly say three words under her breath as she left the room. Three words that meant nothing to her, but apparently everything to Milly. Three cryptic words around which the entire world seemed to turn.
"For the Requiem."
====Lelouch====
There's something to be said for a prison cell as a tool to focus the mind. Though Lelouch was living rather comfortably as a 'political prisoner', the overall effect of being exposed to the limited stimulus of the room he was in had given him plenty of an opportunity to meditate. Not in the traditional sense, mark you. The lotus position made his legs grumble quite loudly and besides which emptying his mind was absolutely out of the question.
What Lelouch meant by meditating was something quite different. Not getting rid of his thoughts or putting away earthly desires or any of that mystical new-age nonsense. To him, it meant organising his mind. Putting all that clutter to good use, ensuring that he was using his brain and his mind in the most efficient ways that he could. It would help him realise helpful conclusions much, much faster so he could set about doing what needed doing.
The first conclusion had hit him rather quickly, it must be said. When all was said and done with all the evidence analysed and all the possibilities given percentage chances of likelihood there was only one outcome that was remotely possible within his current predicament.
Namely: Lelouch was bloody livid.
"You've met JOJO before, haven't you?" Lelouch asked his lawyer, C.C. What a peculiar situation to be in. He didn't trust her. She had her own hidden motives, and yet... And yet to push forward he had absolutely no choice but to put his trust in her. To his great surprise this came easier than he was expecting.
"We did meet once or twice," C.C. answered. She was sitting primly outside of his cell. What's this? No riddles? No fobbing off the answers? "He was the most exceptional naturally gifted Ripple master I've ever met. What took others decades to accomplish he managed in a week."
A vampire with all the knowledge of a Ripple master...? As formidable an enemy as the stories he'd heard. Something to keep in mind for later. As for the present he had noticed something in her tone that merited immediate attention.
"It must have stung when he became a vampire," Lelouch observed. C.C. frowned. Not the hardest deduction in the world, she didn't make much of a secret about her feelings towards the undead. "A deep betrayal, especially from someone with such high potential."
"I've been betrayed before."
"Hence the tough exterior to cover the softer inside," Lelouch said. "You're more sentimental than you like to let on. Less jaded than you pretend. It's an armour to keep you safe from the only kind of damage you can't heal from: Psychological trauma."
"Ah? So now you're an armchair psychiatrist?" C.C. asked. "No, I see now: You were trying to use JOJO to dig into my own past. You're the sort of person to throw a fit if a jigsaw puzzle is missing a piece." Strange. There was almost... affection in that tone of voice. Not the usual snark from her at all. "Lelouch, there are some mysteries where the only answer is 'there is not an answer'. The sooner that you accept this, the happier you will be."
In other words, stick to JOJO and quit mining for details about C.C.
"What does he want with Nunnally?" he asked.
"I don't know."
A cocktail of frustration. Feeling it from many directions all at once. That was the impression he had from her just now. Well, he could certainly sympathise with that much at least.
"What I do know is that you've probably already thought up an escape plan," C.C. said. "You're not the sort of person to sit idly by while your sister is in danger. Of course, I'll be coming with you."
"Escape plan?" Lelouch asked. "Oh yes, of course. First escape this cell. Then escape the most secure city within China. Then trek across the single largest nation in the world while being pursued by their entire military force, cross the border into Euro-Britannia and then into Europe. I have constructed a dozen ways this could be done." She quirked an eyebrow at his blatant sarcasm, so he put the cherry on top. "It would be easy, take no time at all."
"I take it you have a better idea?"
Of course he did. "Make use of the resources available to me," Lelouch said. "Why should I waste time and energy fleeing across a nation when I could use a newly formed world power to act as my investigation arm?"
"Of course," C.C. said. "Your mind must be a terrible place to live. I suppose this is why we have a guest trying to eavesdrop on us?"
Kallen made a sound like a choking kitten, though to her credit she entered the prison area with her head held high. "We just talked with JOJO," she said. While Kallen would have stayed out of the conversation, she was bound to be permitted access. Her role within the Black Knights was too high for her to be excluded. "It's strange, but he didn't feel genuine.
"I saw his broadcast," C.C. added. "It almost feels like he's putting on a performance when he barely understands the role. He's hitting the right notes, but it sounds a little bit too forced."
Could there be something in that? A dissonance between his tone and actions, that might be a valuable clue for his long term plans. Trying and failing to convey himself in a certain light, while actually being something else? Or it might be that they're reading into something that isn't there. Worth filing for later. Need more information.
"Tell me about the meeting," Lelouch said. While he had a lot more specific questions, he felt it best to keep it general for now. Kallen's answer would reflect whatever she felt was most important, and he could then build from there.
She couldn't maintain eye contact with him, which was not an encouraging start.
"The UFN leadership wants to focus on Britannia first," Kallen said. "The fact is, the Empire is a more immediate threat –"
Lelouch pounded the bars of the cage, making even C.C. jump. "Not acceptable!" he yelled. "Every moment my sister is being manipulated by that vampire, the risk she'll be caught in the crossfire grows and grows! Are you trying to get her killed?!"
'But there is a sense to what they're thinking,' a small part of Lelouch chimed up. 'At present we have almost no borders at all with Europia United but several with Britannian Areas.'
That part of his mind was ruthlessly shouted down. Who cared about things like that? The one and only thing that mattered to him right now was his sister. Setting her free from JOJO's insidious control to keep her from having to do these terrible things. Get her out of a potential warzone, to a place of safety where he could have her guarded twenty four hours a day by people he trusted. This was his goal, everything else in his way was an obstacle to be overcome!
"It's not as if we're completely ignoring him," Kallen said. "We might not be chess prodigies, but we're not idiots either."
"That remains to be seen," C.C. coughed, earning her a sharp look from Kallen. "So you intend to put your primary focus on Britannia, while still paying attention to Europe's moves?"
"Absolutely!" Kallen said. "Lelouch, I promise you. We'll do whatever we can to get your sister out of there. Zero and I, we've already talked Lady Kaguya into setting up a task force to investigate. With a little time we'll be able to get permission for your input on how it should be run."
Still not good enough. "If you're sending a task force into Europe, I want to be on it."
Kallen's determination wavered at Lelouch's proclamation. "W-wait, that's a little too much to ask for!"
"Oh?" he quirked an eyebrow. "I thought you would do whatever you could to get Nunnally out of there! Or was that just talk to buy my cooperation?"
"You don't trust me?" Kallen asked. "Hey, we're trying everything we can to find your sister!"
He'd let his anger get the better of him. Time to dial it back. "Of course I trust you," Lelouch said. "You know how I am by now. Would I be so blunt if I didn't trust you? Kallen, I would place my life within your hands any day. That is why I'm making this difficult request. Your fiery determination will see it through to the very end, no matter what."
Kallen grew a little red-faced for some reason. "I'll have a word with Xingke later on... But you owe me big! Got it?"
"It's not easy winning something already in the possession of another," C.C. warned. Back to being cryptic? Fine. He didn't care how hard it would be, he would get his sister back from that vampire! Though that did lead nicely into his next point, so he could at least be a little thankful for the segue.
"Part of our problem is his objective," Lelouch said. "That is, we do not know what game he's playing."
"World domination?" Kallen suggested.
"Revenge against Britannia?" C.C. offered, her tone quite a bit sharper than usual. "Maybe even revenge against him."
"Him?" Kallen asked. "Who do you mean?"
"Chancellor Dio Brando," C.C. said. From the way that Kallen's face fell, it was obvious that she'd heard of him. Then again... Her father's side of the family was nobility. It would have been strange if they hadn't heard about him. "JOJO's adopted brother."
"A-adopted brother?" Kallen stepped back in shock. "Wait a minute, I'd heard that he got his foot on the social ladder when he was adopted into a noble family, but this -?"
"JOJO claimed that Dio framed him for the poisoning of his father, George Joestar," C.C. said. "I sensed no deceit in his words. It makes sense that he might try to enact his revenge by seizing control over a world power."
"I see," Lelouch said. "That explains a few gaps in the Chancellor's stories - But this seems unlikely. This plan must have taken years to establish. How could he be certain that the chancellor would still be alive after all this time? There are two dozen other possible motives he could have for making this move, especially when a powerful vampire would have other vectors. We need more information, and we're going to need it quickly."
"Quickly?" Kallen asked. Yes, quickly. Because every second they delayed the greater the probability that Nunnally would be drawn into a battlefield somewhere in the middle of Europe. A battlefield in which the enemy was being commanded by Schneizel. "Why quickly?"
"His attempt to ally with the United Federation of Nations," Lelouch said, slickly and convincingly. "He would only do that for two reasons: Eliminate this fledgling power before it can bring its full might to bear against him, or because you have something he wants. Until we know which it is, everything we've been working to build here is in mortal danger."
As if it was a cue from the heavens themselves, that was when the alarm broke out, followed quickly by the unmistakable sound of a far off explosion. To the... East, if his sense of hearing and direction were still working properly. Lelouch grabbed hold of a magazine and angled it underneath the light in his cell, allowing himself to see outside -
His back straightened and his face drew hard and determined. He had considered a move like this within his calculations, but it seemed so remote as to be unlikely. Then there were the other questions and implications of how they'd done this to consider, but that could wait. "Kallen, get moving! They'll probably need you out there."
He needn't have bothered. By the time he'd said that, the door out of the prison had already slammed shut. Lelouch returned his attention to the night's sky outside the city. A sense of dread overtook him. What did this mean? Why here? Why now? And from within this cell, what could he hope to do about it?
====Zero====
Was it bad that she was watching him like this? From a distance, in this security room, under the pretense of ensuring he made no attempt to escape. He was in pain. He was hurting. His imprisonment was injuring him in ways she could only imagine. And yet...
There had been divided opinions about allowing her to view this security footage. Ohgi had wanted the fairest possible trial. Diethard wanted everything scrutinized with a fine tooth comb for propaganda purposes. Tohdoh, with the perspective of a soldier, wanted to treat him as a 'prisoner of war'.
Which led to her compromise: She would watch him. From behind her mask, she would watch to ensure he didn't try to escape. Didn't enact any plan that would lead to direct harm. Didn't use his lawyer to smuggle secret messages out to Britannia.
Lawyer. She could readily believe that C.C. had the time to go to law school and sit the bar exam.
"Lelouch is a dangerous and cunning individual," she had said when announcing her decision. "There is every chance he might attempt an escape if he is not watched with vigilant care."
Vigilant loving care.
"I shall not be participating in the case," she had continued. "Therefore, anything that I witness shall remain in strict confidence, save matters of extreme urgency such as conspiracy to escape or to incite harm upon others."
"You won't be a witness in the trial?" Kallen had asked, no doubt expecting her to leap to his defense.
"A witness wearing a mask cannot be trusted by any just court. For this reason, I must hold my tongue. To ensure that justice prevails."
He was pacing the cell like a caged animal. It hurt to watch him like this, but it would hurt more if she stopped watching. She knew full well how deeply Lelouch cared for his sister. Nunnally was as much his world as he had become hers. Seeing her join JOJO, seeing her use that power to enact something so twisted as ensuring a vampire took total control over a world power... The depths of his confusion and sorrow must be impossibly deep. He wanted answers and she wanted nothing more than to give them to him.
But how? How could they do anything about it? Between their territory and Europe were a whole host of Britannian Areas. Euro-Britannia, Area 18 - they'd have to get through either of them before getting to Europe, which meant inviting wholesale war against both of them.
There was only one answer anyone could think of, and she'd pressed hard on figuring one out. Kaguya, Tohdoh, Diethard, Xingke, they all came back with the same answer: A small strike team. Discreetly sent into Europe via other channels. To investigate. To find out the truth. It was all that she could think of, the only suggestion that made sense. The only way to soothe his pain...
You could always let him go.
In this state of mind? Look at him! JOJO was right about one thing; Like this he was his own worst enemy. He'd as surely hurt himself as find out what happened to his sister. Better to keep him here. Keep him safe. Keep him close by. Where she could watch him. Where she could talk to him. Where she could convince him, bit by bit, to feel the way about her that she felt about him.
Suddenly an alarm rang out throughout the entire city, making Schizoid Man dropped the pen and stencil it had been using to doodle Lelouch's handsome features. Almost jumping out of her seat, Zero pressed a button that opened an internal channel between her room and the main security room for the whole city.
"Report!" she commanded.
"What the hell..." the answering guard grunted, not really looking at her right away. "Zero, we have incoming!"
Incoming? So one of their enemies had already decided to make their move. "Which security post?" Zero asked. "Which direction should we expect the attack, and how long until they arrive?"
"Right now!"
An explosion rocked the city. It wasn't anywhere near them, but it's worth remembering that explosions are loud so the volume carried without difficulty. Zero fled out at her top speed, Schizoid Man trailing in the air behind her. Her mind was already awhirl with the impossibility of it, but the sounds of battle beginning up above them was unmistakable.
She was outside before she knew it, looking up at the night sky out towards the east of the city. There were seven flight enabled enemy Knightmares, which was completely impossible. They were in the Forbidden Vermillion City in the heart of China! Even Shinkiro - equipped with stealth equipment that could bypass radar - hadn't been able to sneak up on this place completely undetected! There were warning posts ten miles out, all around the city. Watching the ground, watching the sky, there were even underground sensors in case someone tried to be especially clever about their approach.
Yet there they were. Hanging in the air like a series of bad aroma. Worse yet, when Schizoid Man peered through a pair of binoculars to take a closer look she recognised those Knightmares right away. Five of them were Gloucesters, but as for the other two? One of them had four arms, each wielding an axe while the other had an oversized factsphere embedded in its chest and an ominous looking lance gripped firmly in its left hand.
"You could only be –" Zero began, but was cut off by that person's voice filling the air, projected loudly by her Knightmare's loudspeakers.
"To the craven cowards of the United Federation of Nations, I give this message before we resume our attack! Your lack of respect for your betters has been noted. You will surrender Lelouch vi Britannia, and you will do so immediately!"
The lead Knightmare lifted its spear into the air and a high pitched noise fell upon the city, shattering glass. As if they needed to put in further effort to get their attention!
"After all this time, you reappear now? !" Zero seethed, lifting her fist to the air. "To commit to a suicide mission?!"
No... no, that didn't sit right in the pit of her stomach. This enemy was not the kind of woman who would take such a heavily risky action without some kind of battle plan. Even though these Knightmares were heavily outnumbered Zero felt an intense pressure emanating from all of them. Was it tied to how they had got here in the first place? Were they more than they appeared? Whatever the case may be, she knew one thing for certain!
They couldn't have Lelouch! No matter what!
Out around the city a team of Gun Ru came out, and were immediately met with a flurry of slash harkens, among them Pellinore's electrified axe heads. Coordinated and deadly, she'd expect nothing less from this enemy.
"You've had your warning. Get out of my way, I'm coming through!" Cornelia yelled. "My Knights! Crush them!"
[To Be Continued |\|]