Chapter 27: Big changes.
He was immersed in his thoughts when he heard someone enter the tent. Instinctively he swallowed, fearing that they would decide to execute him. Instead the newcomer freed him from the chains and took off the bandage. Surprised, he looked up and saw Rakshata.
"You are free, Zero. Now we know you didn't kill Kallen."
"Finally…"
The blonde woman picked up the mask and handed it to him.
"This is yours. You'd better wear it, at least in public."
"But now you already know who I am."
"We, but not the rest of the order. You better not know you're a former British prince, at least for now. "
"Quite right…"
"And what about me?" CC asked.
"You will obviously be executed. You killed one of ours."
"Logical…"
"Now follow me, Zero. The others are waiting for you."
Rakshata led him to another tent, where Todoh, Dietard, Ohgi and Tamaki were waiting for him.
"Zero ... Or would you rather be called Lelouch?" The man of miracles asked.
"In private you can also call me Lelouch." The boy replied, exposing himself.
Noticing that Tamaki was looking at him bewildered, he asked him:
"Why are you looking at me like this?"
"How old are you?"
"17."
"You are younger than me ..."
"The brain counts, not age."
"And Tamaki is totally without it!" Rakshata intervened.
"Funny…"
"I see you have decided to stay by my side."
"Now we know that you are innocent, and that the geass' is just a fandonia. Of course, it makes me strange to take orders from a British ... "
"We have already discussed it. The order of black knights admits anyone who is useful to the cause ... Be it Japanese, Chinese, British, European or Australian."
"True…"
"How are the works going?"
"Very good."
"What about Cornelia's research?"
"Still in progress."
"You have to find it as soon as possible."
"You care a lot about your sister ..."
"I need her."
"For what?"
"Now that Kallen is dead, we are deprived of our best pilot. We need a replacement."
"And that replacement would be Cornelia?"
"Yup."
"But she's still on the run, and we don't even know if she will accept." Tamaki intervened.
"If you and Kento hadn't had the bright idea of raping her now she would still be here!"
"Zero, that woman has her hands soaked in blood!"
"But she's an expert fighter, useful against aliens."
"Speaking of Britannia, Emperor Charles is about to give a worldwide speech." Dietard intervened.
"Surely he will talk about the alien invasion ... Come on, I'm curious to know what he will say."
Pendragon, 4.15 pm
The members of the imperial family were gathered in the living room and eagerly awaited the speech of the emperor, as well as their father. On the screen there was an inscription superimposed on a blue background that said:
SPEECH WITH UNIFIED NETWORKS IN THE WORLD VISION OF CHARLES ZI BRITANNIA, 98th EMPEROR OF THE HOLY EMPIRE OF BRITANNIA
The overlaid writing was replaced by the imperial flag, with Hall Hail Britannia, the anthem of Britannia in the background. After this, Charles appears on the screen, standing in front of a podium equipped with a microphone.
"Citizens of the empire, our homeland right now ... Indeed, the whole world is under attack by creatures from space."
It is the first time that he uses that term to address the people!
Schneizel thought, surprised.
"Dramatic reports of clashes, destruction and massacres come from various places on Earth. And I will not lie to you, we have not experienced a similar crisis since 1807, when Napoleon's armies invaded the British Isles, the first successful invasion in history. Then our ancestors had to flee to the New World to escape the bloodthirsty revolutionaries. However, we cannot allow ourselves to escape, given that the invaders intend to subject the entire planet to their dominion.
It still burns, I see ...
Smilas thought, grinning.
"Even if large areas have fallen or are about to fall into the clutches of aliens, we will not give up nor fail. We will fight to the last to ensure our survival. This is why I appeal to Europia, the Chinese Federation, Australia and even the order of the Black Knights: it's time to put aside the old grudges and disagreements! Mankind risks definitive slavery, if not extinction! The only hope is to cooperate against the extraterrestrial threat!"
Those words surprised the general a lot, who widened his eyes.
"Are h ... asking for an alliance with the republic of Europia?" Odysseus asked in amazement.
"We who fight alongside the Europeans? But did he go out of his mind? Have him forgotten Edinburgh's humiliation?" Guinevere asked indignantly, leaping to her feet.
"The alternative is to become slaves or worse." Schneizel pointed out.
"If we fight together, united, we will have more chance of winning this war!"
"Did he really ask for our collaboration?" Ohgi was incredulous.
"I would say yes ..." Todoh replied, amazed.
"Do we have to accept?" Urabe asked.
"If we want this enclave to hold up yes." Zero replied.
"But can we trust them? Until yesterday they were our sworn enemies!" Nagisa objected.
"Now we have a common enemy, aliens."
"For now ..." The woman was skeptical.
Leila and her friends were also amazed. Never would have expected such an offer from a British emperor, who in addition until yesterday was intent on annihilating the united republic of Europia.
"Do you think Smilas will accept?" Claus asked.
"I don't know ... Of course, it would be the best choice. With aliens invading Earth, it is foolish to slaughter each other." Oscar replied.
"It is necessary that all the peoples of the empire, both British and inhabitants of the colonial areas, contribute to the war effort against the invaders. But I know that many of them, like the Eleven, would never fight for a nation that discriminates against them, depriving them of basic rights. That's why I made an important and irrevocable decision."
Charles paused before resuming.
"Starting today I will abolish the numbers system! From now on all the inhabitants of the empire will have equal rights! There will be no more discrimination, no ghettos!" He said seriously.
"But ... Is he serious?" Carine asked, speechless.
"Our father never jokes ..." Guinevere replied.
"Do him seriously want to abolish social Darwinism? It has been the state ideology for at least a century!" Odysseus exclaimed.
"Politics can be changed, brother ..." Schneizel reminded him.
Even the black knights, primarily Zero, had been shocked by the emperor's statements.
"What is it, a joke? Why this turnaround? " Nagisa asked.
"If Britannia wants to remain free from aliens, she must use all the human potential at her disposal. That's why he put an end to discriminatory policy." Zero explained.
Thanks to these statements, he will gain enormous popularity. And we cannot afford to refuse his offer, or we will alienate the sympathies of public opinion!
He thought nervously.
A logical decision ... It is better to fight them together than to be annihilated one by one.
Shinku thought.
"Collaborate with Europia? Abolish the number system? But did he go out of his mind?" Andrea asked.
"Lord Farnese, the will of the emperor should not be questioned!" The Grand Duke scolded him.
This means that I will have to fight alongside Akito ...
Meanwhile Shin thought, annoyed.
