A.N. Okay, here's the thing,
1. I'm sorry this took so long to update, I have been suffering a big case of writer's block with this story for a long time, I now know where I want to go with this story.
2. I had planned to update this about two months ago but some very personal things blind sided me before I could finish this chapter and post it.
3. I am in my last semester of college and am researching and writing a thesis so this is another reason why it has taken so long to update. I am unsure of the full extent how this will affect future updates. One way or the other I don't intend for this story to go so long without updates again.
Chapter 20
Tokyo Docks
Cornelia fumed as she watched the ship being unloaded, crates were stacked across the yar waiting for the workers to move them to awaiting trucks. Guards and Knightmares were positioned everywhere their guns tracking even the slightest movement. Security was the word of the day here, though it was more than likely that they wouldn't keep the arrival of the ships a secret. They could at least try to keep the exact contents of the shipment a secret. Guilford and a newly released Andreas Darlton along with an entourage of officers and guards stood around the princess joining her in her waiting.
Cornelia continued fuming as she waited for her brother's envois to meet her, her blood boiled at the thought of her family sending her reinforcements and new weapons without her asking. In truth it wasn't the "gifts" of these items, it was the fact that they were obviously sent under the pretense that she was incapable of handling Zero and his Black Knights. The real deep cutting knife was the fact that she was starting to believe that she was in fact incapable of this. Which was truly why her protests about this were so little and superficial at best.
Eventually the lithe form of Kanon Maldini appeared before the princess, the man smiled in a sickeningly warm way that made Cornelia's skin crawl. He bowed at the waist, "greetings from my lord Princess Cornelia."
The purple haired royal waved away the greetings, "yes, yes, what has my brother deigned to send to me?"
Kannon nodded his head still smiling, "of course Lady Cornelia. Please come with me inside the warehouse."
The group went inside the nearby warehouse where some of the crates had been opened for workers to check the contents. Kanon waved the workers away before approaching the boxes and motioning to the contents. "These new rifles are capable of firing more powerful shots as their powerpacks are more efficient. These weapons should hopefully allow for half the shots to take down the normal Black Knight rather than the usual combat rifles your soldiers are armed with."
"How many are here?" asked Darlton
"A few thousand sadly," Kanon replied. "However, modifying the current rifles to fire more powerfully shouldn't be difficult for you."
Cornelia scowled at the barely disguised insult that the aid of her brother had quite obviously thrown at her competence as an Area Leader. Kanon then moved to a larger crate this one was opened to reveal a very large knightmare weapon. Gesturing to it Kannon explained, "this is a larger version of the infantry rifle. It is titled the VARIS and can fire a single metal slug at a speed and power that could tear a small building apart when put to its highest setting. I have no doubt this will give Zero a run for his money. As well we have also brought with us a large quantity of standard ammunition and resources, also the replacement soldiers will likewise be arriving shortly."
The mood of the small group was souring at Kannon's seeming refusal to use appropriate titles when he was talking to them. However, they held back any retorts they had for him as the source of these reinforcements would likely have them pulled away. So, it was the game of subtle insults funneled through the envoy that was Kanon Maldini played out on the docks as the weapons were shipped to the bases in Tokyo.
Black Knight Base
"That concludes the list of weapons that were shipped here, or at least this is what I could get ahold of," Villetta explained to the gathered individuals in the room. Her image was projected on a floating screen while her actual person was sitting in her office in the Viceroy's palace. "Also I got the name of the unit that is being sent to reinforce Cornelia along with her standard replacement troops. Its name is The Hydra Lance."
Ohgi felt at times uncomfortable in these meetings he had commanded his old resistance cell sure but that had not come with any official rank title. Now he commanded the logistics department of the Black Knights in Japan and was thrust into the world of command. But at this precise moment the instincts inherit in the nature of command kicked in and Ohgi leaned forward, "what information do we have on them."
Villetta looked at him and responded, "we know very little about his unit."
"Explain please," Jeremiah intoned calmly.
The Valkyrie nodded, "ultimately the only real information known about this unit a few combat reports filed on their high-profile engagements. These show them as the standard Britannian military unit, knightmares, armored vehicles, flight elements, infantry, the works nothing out of the ordinary. Successful in the field, excellent fighting withdrawal, holding actions, their battles don't really stand out in the backdrop of the rest of the military nothing that really warrants it being a "named" unit. Their true purpose is as mysterious as their name, no one in the military that I have access to knows exactly how or why this unit was created. All there is to go on are a number of rumors surrounding them."
"Could we hear some of these rumors," asked Yasaka who was likewise present on a screen.
"Yes mam," replied Villetta. "One of them is that the unit was formed by the Emperor under the joint leadership of Schneizel and First Prince Odysseus as they seem to follow their commands and they tend to be the ones guarding Schneizel's R&D facilities. Another is that the unit was formed by a coalition of nobles with the blessing of the emperor and backed financially by the OSI, which itself links back to Schneizel who has wormed his way into the agency. Another point I should make is that Schneizel has sent is personal aid to deliver the weapons I listed and liaison with the Lance and Cornelia. Its pretty obvious to everyone here that this unit is going to be under her command on paper only, and that they are likely here to maintain the Sakuridite output."
Zero had been sitting silently throughout the exchange, "any magical signatures on the delivered weapons?"
"None I or my troops could detect, if there were any they were cloaked or scrubbed," Villetta said.
"Have your people double check and try and have them try and look into this unit when they arrive," Zero ordered.
"Yes sir," Villetta nodded. "I feel I should also report that there is another rumor in the military. That is the Hydra's Lance is only the "public face," of the high nobles' special units, that there are other units that are clandestinely formed and dispersed amongst the rest of the military and only consolidate for special missions."
"Interesting," hummed Zero.
Cornelia's Office the next day
Cornelia slammed her hands down on her desk, even Guilford and Darlton jumped slightly, Cornelia's fierce gaze swept over them, "we need a victory!"
She turned to a map of Japan that hung on rolling billboard, "it doesn't need to be against the Black Knights. The troops are losing moral and the homeland is losing faith in us and my command! All the while the citizens here in Area 11 are starting to panic and work output is dropping while the numbers work output as plummeted even further! If we don't find a way to press our rule then the entirety of Area 11 will fall into chaos and anarchy that we will have fight yet another war of conquest for this God forsaken land!"
"And we'll be out of jobs by then," Darlton half-heartedly tried to joke.
The intended levity did not seem to pierce the wall of Cornelia's fury, as the princess rounded on the general and sent a piercing glare into the man's very soul. The general bowed his head, "apologies mi lady, I meant no disrespect."
Before Cornelia could start on an anger fueled verbal berating the calming voice of Euphemia interjected from the office door, "please sister. The general meant no harm by his remark, and you need to calm down before you say something you'll regret."
Hands clenched into fists Cornelia growled as she averted her gaze from her sister's, Euphemia stepped fully into the office and approached her anger sibling. Forgoing the titles of Viceroy and Princess Euhphemia addressed Cornelia, "please dear sister I think you need to take a break before you run yourself into the grave. You've been pushing yourself none stop for days and have been angry ever since the other night when Schneizel's envoy arrived."
"Have you met him!?" Cornelia growled back. "The man is a snake and takes pleasure in insulting my command here! It seems that he was sent with the express purpose of sending me into a rage so I would do something while being punished by his ever-present smugness! It's like having Schneizel looking over my shoulder!"
Turning back again Cornelia said again, "we need a victory. And we need it NOW!"
Darlton then stood up and spoke, "well my lady, ever since the Black Knights appearance the JLF have been very inactive. Their raids and activities have stymied, our intelligence has said that their recruitment attempts are continually met with failure as their potential recruits' flock to Zero's banner."
"Get to the point Darlton," growled Cornelia.
"What I'm saying, my lady, is that the JLF is week right now," replied the general. "We've narrowed down the location of their main base and we can deploy our current forces in a manner that will surely overwhelm their limited numbers."
Guilford took the moment to add, "and with the new weapons we've been issued this will be a grand testing ground. It will give us a chance to get used to them."
Cornelia's clenched hands loosened, and her shoulders lost some of their tension, and she even managed a smile, "what would I do without all of you."
Sighing she looked at Euphemia, "why don't we go have some tea dear sister."
Looking to her officers she ordered, "gather the materials and begin planning the deployment, I expect a preliminary plan in front of me in two hours."
Both Darlton and Guilford stood, "Yes My Lady!"
Zero's Office
"Just how stupid are you exactly," Zero mumbled between his folded hands.
Across from him the two sword wielding women looked between both of them, Xenovia did her best to hold back her anger. Losing her temper in front of a leader of a faction, even was as "small" as Zero's wouldn't likely end well. Of course, getting angry at any dragon for any reason was dangerous anyway.
"We know our duty," replied Xenovia keeping her tone even. "If that is stupid, I doubt being a genius is necessary."
"Noble for certain," Zero intoned. "Your mission is to retake stolen Excalibur fragments from a powerful Fallen, on the surface it is something I can understand. But sending just two people with more Excaliburs doesn't strike me as a good profile for such a mission. It screams more like an assassination mission. Especially considering you two are not even the most powerful Exorcists out there, so excuse me if I find your mission profile hard to swallow."
Xenovia bristled more at that, "we are both excellent fighters, out Excaliburs augment our power greatly."
"And I'm sure your Durandal does much the same," Zero said, "which I suspect is the reason you were chosen for this mission."
The two exorcists' eyes widened, but Zero held up his hand, "before you ask, I can sense the blade Ms. Xenovia please don't try and mislead me."
The pair settled a bit but continued to maintain the wariness they had taken on when they arrived. It wasn't too much of a stretch to say the pair were surprised at the grandeur and complexity of Zero's Shinjuku Base. Something that hadn't been there for long but had grown in human record time to something so large it could only magic and misdirection that kept the Britannians and other unwanted people from finding the base. As such the number of armed soldiers in the area had made the pair of exorcists a little nervous.
Zero looked between the two, "your masters have given me the barest details of your mission in order to allow you passage through Japan. I'm going to allow that and even go so far as to help you locate your quarry."
"Really!?" Irena said excitedly. "That'd be a great help!"
Zero smiled, "well the Fallen has trespassed in my territory without my permission and has likely brought other with him. Mind you though I have other things to deal with as well other than Koiabiel I will work to find him and aid you in fighting him. I suspect that is the reason your masters only sent the pair of you. Anyway, I won't detain you here I will resupply you and let you go about your investigation. We shall keep in touch and share what we find with one another."
"Of course, Lord Zero," Irena smiled, reaching across Zero's desk to shake his hand. "We're grateful for your help!"
Xenovia clenched her eyes shut at Irena's behavior and near immediate trust with a stranger she had only just met. Especially a leader of a different faction who likely had his own agenda and may even seek the swords himself. She then stood and bowed, "yes thank you Lord Zero, we shall be on our way."
"Ahhh really," whined Irena. "I saw a really nice market on the way in I was hoping we could stop there before we left. There was this painting I saw that looked really…"
Before she could continue Xenovia took ahold of Irena shirt collar and proceeded to drag her out of the room. All the while Zero smiled, amused at the pair's interactions and clashing personalities.
Britannian Government District
Suzaku's life had been marginally better since he had met Princess Euphemia and saved Interim-Viceroy Nu. He had been promoted in rank to a Warrant Officer and given an assignment in the government district. It was common knowledge that many of the soldiers and officers of the military could speak Japanese out of necessity, but most chose not to learn a word of the written language. When on the job Suzaku spent his days filling through the reports the Knight Police submitted for military scrutiny and the logs of military patrols that were sent outside of the settlements and had returned with items needing translation. As well as economic reports from those Elevens who still held great wealth in Area 11. He would then file these for the viceroy and sub-viceroy's review along with the military brass of Area 11. It was a surprisingly high posting when really looked at but then he wasn't really surprised as he knew that Princess Euphemia had likely insisted on his appointment; or maybe it was Lady Nu, either way he didn't care.
However, most days were a bore as the amount of translation he did was in point quite boring after a few hours. An upside, however, was that Princess Euphemia would usually come to see him often asking his help in either translating or to ask questions on Japanese culture. To say he enjoyed the pinkette's visits were an understate, he felt his heart flutter whenever she entered the room. It was thanks to her that he had been promoted and had been given a job that he could use as a steppingstone. The princess told him that his help was giving her the ability to understand Area 11 better than she had even hoped. That his work had also helped her sister in governing, Euphemia even went so far as to say that he had, more or less, become the pair's royal translator whenever Villetta wasn't available. This had filled him with a new sense of pride and hope that maybe soon he would rise in rank again.
Currently Suzaku sat cross legged in his secluded room, he had spent a lot of his down time in this position, and much more time in the training areas when they were not being used by others. Inside of his mind Suzaku pushed his thoughts into straight rivers and felt through his own body for the flows of energy that empowered him. With as much skill as he could muster, he manipulated and tested these flows and pushed himself into a greater degree of strength.
Albion had sung his praises for some time as he worked his body to a level of great power, when no one could see he practiced his balance breaker form and even experimented with the knightmare simulators. But at the same time Suzaku had felt his temper and patience tested by the disembodied dragon he shared a corporeal form with. Albion's words kept touching words, Suzaku felt that the dragon had looked into his memories and was deliberately trying to sway his actions. To be fair the dragon had not taken over his body or forced him to do anything ultimately leaving his free will intact. But, Suzaku hated that the dragon kept bringing up the subjects he wished to ignore in favor of his own training towards his goals.
As such Suzaku quickly remembered his old lessons from when he was a child, he used them to quiet his mind and to tune out Albion's voice when the dragon truly began to annoy him. Which was on an ever-increasing interval as more and more news reports were given on the exploits of Zero and his Black Knight's against the crime and injustice in Area 11. Albion would not be silent about how Zero acted and what the dragon embodied and how he had grown up looking up to Zero. The white dragon would recount tales from ancient days about Zero and how the dragon fought for justice. In short it made Suzaku's blood boil.
It also did not help that Suzaku also knew of the more hushed parts of those same news reports. How the Britannian authorities could not touch any of these criminals or capture any of the Black Knights since Cornelia's administration took over. Suzaku felt himself wishing that Lady Villetta had remained as the viceroy, she at least had done something against crime. But this to irked him that someone of relative low rank could outdo what trained knights and royalty could not.
Once more he pushed Albion's consciousness back down into his Gear and drown out his annoying comments until the dragon went to sleep. As the White Dragon's voice vanished a knocking on the door started Suzaku back to reality. Quickly standing he opened the door to his quarters, standing before him was a man he had only recently but never actually met.
Kanon Maldini smiled warmly, "good evening Warrant Officer Kururugi. May I come in?"
Suzaku's surprise vanished in an instant and he snapped to attention, "of course my lord."
Stepping out of the way he let the Britannian into his quarters, as the man passed him Suzaku felt a twinge run through his core. After closing the door Suzaku turned again to the officer who was looking about Suzaku's quarters. Staying quiet till the officer would decide to speak Suzaku watched as Maldini inspected everything from where he stood. Kanon then turned to Suzaku still wearing his smile, "sparse quarters Warrant Officer. By choice?"
"Yes sir," replied Suzaku. "Less clutter, the less possibility of distraction."
"Distraction? What could you possibly be doing that you wish to avoid distraction?" Kanon queried.
"Training my lord," Suzaku answered. "Both mental and physical. I wish to perform my duty to the best I can and that requires the sharpest reactions and distraction from training will dull those reactions."
Kanon smirked, "a noble answer Warrant Officer, almost knightly."
Suzaku felt his heart jump at the "almost" hint that Maldini had thrown at him, a flicker of hope sparked within him. "Thank you, sir. I do my duty to the best of my ability and beyond."
Kanon nodded at this, "tell me Warrant Officer, what is your goal here?"
"Sir?"
"Hehe, the son of the last Prime Minister of Japan joins the very forces of the absolute monarchy that destroyed his democratic nation. You have as close to a perfect record as a number can get and you have proven great loyalty in saving Princess Euphemia and Villetta Nu. There is no record of you doing anything that looks like you are spying for a terrorist cell, so tell Warrant Officer. What's your goal here?"
Suzaku felt his heart seize again the spark of hope in his heart began to waver, clasping his fists behind his back he hardened himself to his duty to answer. "May I speak freely sir?"
"Granted," Kanon allowed.
"My goal sir," replied Suzaku, lacing his every word he said with conviction. "I intend to aspire to the governorship of Area 11, to fight injustice and make life for those people under me safe and better than they are currently."
Kanon's smile grew into a large grin, "a grand goal indeed Warrant Officer. But I'm sure you must realize that the way the empire is structured it is near impossible for you to attain such a position as a number yourself. At least not in your limited lifetime, in all likelihood by the time you begin to reach your goal you will die one way or the other."
Not taking this attack against Suzaku countered, "then I will die striving for it."
"So, you would rather die than stop on your course."
"I believe I've made that clear, sir," Suzaku snapped.
He realized his mistake too late, but before he could utter any form of apology Kanon cut him off with a laugh, "so you did."
Maldini kept his smile as he looked directly into Suzaku's eyes, "I do not discount your goal to rise to great power my dear Suzaku. In fact, I greatly admire and respect it, and to think that such a person wields the Divine Dividing as well."
If Suzaku's heart had not been trying to beat its way out of his chest Suzaku would have thought it had stopped working all together. Despite himself Suzaku felt a strange fear course through him as though one of his old caretakers or his father had found out about him misbehaving or doing something he shouldn't have. Suzaku looked at Kanon who stared back, and his smile took on a new light, it held a warmth that was prompt up by something else below it but Suzaku himself could not tell what.
Maldini then spoke again, "yes Suzaku I know about your little lizard companion. Do not be concerned, you are not in any danger at the moment, I'm not here to kill you Warrant Officer. My master has other ideas."
"Your master?" Suzaku muttered the question the strange fear within him still course through his veins.
"Yes, my master," grinned Kanon. "Like you he too seeks a noble goal, one where the divides of this mortal empire are cast aside, and all nations are brought together in peace. To show his commitment he has even thrown aside his mortal name for another. He has taken the name Falnak to show his rise to a far greater power than even his station could grant him."
Suzaku gulped, "why are you telling me this? What do you want with me?"
Kanon gave a small giggle, "to put it bluntly, my master's enemy and yours are one and the same. Zero."
The fear that echoed inside Suzaku briefly subsided to be replaced by anger at the mention of the rebel leader. Kanon seemed to have noticed this and nodded, "yes the great dragon stands in the way of my master's goal of bringing this world to a permanent peace. I have been sent here for the purpose of striking a blow against Zero, a great tangible blow, one devoid of any battles in the shadows of the world. But in the open where the world can see and Zero can feel the loss."
Through the strange whirling emotions in his body Suzaku connected the dots, "you want me to fight him for you."
This time Kanon laughed, "no my dear boy, together. I can sense your great power and I know the abilities and potential the Divine Dividing can grant you, but you are certainly nowhere near powerful enough to challenge Zero."
Once more anger surged to the front of Suzaku's mind, "I have fought him before."
Once more Kanon nodded, "indeed but did you walk away in victory? No, you did not, you failed. But I have been granted the right to offer you the power to challenge him. Together we can strike a blow against Zero in this war, one great enough so that when my master has finished gathering his strength, he may strike Zero down forever!"
Suzaku felt his heart beet speed up as Kanon spoke, the man in front of him then approached, "but of course Warrant Officer you do not need to make the choice to join me and my master right away. It would be improper to force you to make such a great decision immediately after learning that such a choice even existed. But I cannot leave here without showing you what could be if you chose to join, so I shall give you a gift."
Kanon reached out and placed a hand on Suzaku's shoulder, before he could question Suzaku gasped as a great surge of power coursed through him. He felt pure energy course through every vein, nerve and cell, he felt his very soul be charged with the power. Suzaku stumbled out of Kanon's grasp as his legs gave way under his own weight. Suzaku looked up at the man, "what have you done?"
"I have given you power," Kanon smiled. "As I said it is a gift to you for listening to my proposal, no strings attached to it whatever your choice may be."
Maldini moved to the door to let himself out, "contact me when you have decided Warrant Officer, I do look forward to hearing your choice."
As the door closed Suzaku sat down and closed his eyes and cast his mind inside himself to gage what this gift had done to him. He felt amazement at feeling the increase in power that coursed through, it was as if the dam to his power had been opened slightly to allow a greater current to flow. He even felt his ability to keep Albion silent was stronger, regardless of what had been said he found this to be greatly pleasant. But as he searched and explored his newly given power Kanon's words echoed inside his mind.
A.N. What is Kanon's goal with trying to deal with Suzaku? What does Falnak have planned? (Falnak is a reference to Falnor who led the rebel dragons against Zero.) What will Cornelia encounter when she goes to fight the JLF? How will Kokabiel affect what is going to happen? You'll have to come back next time to find out. Till next time.
