Disclaimer I don't own Code Geass
Chapter XI: Blue Bloods
Later that night...
Cornelia on her first day here on Area Eleven, for all intents and purposes, was surprised with the events that followed upon her arrival.
First:
When she landed here late last night, she was greeted with a warm welcome party courtesy of course by her late brother Clovis' former cabinet. With them as expected was her younger sister Euphemia who came before her three days ago and she was glad that her sister did come before her, that way Euphie doesn't need to worry about her and that she will have time to prepare for her arrival. Once she did land however, it was strings of surprises that soon followed. Much to the cabinet's dismay, she rejected their offer for a welcome party that was prepared beforehand. And that irked her.
Foremost, they were still in mourning for the death of her late brother AND the former viceroy of this land. Celebrating a party during a grief was considered dishonorable and in some cases, brings bad omen. Another was the fact that the killer was still on the loose and the mere idea that they should lay back instead of pursuing Akuma truly angered the second Princess.
Sloppy. Senile. Corrupt.
Those three words perfectly summarizes the management of Area Eleven under Clovis' rule. She would have teached her brother about politics and management if only he had survived. And when she threatens the man with her sword-gun (I do not know the term of her weapon) she brings a small smile on her face.
Second:
This shouldn't be that much of a surprise nor does it concern her directly, but her sister brought into the palace a stray cat during her visit on an Academy that she accepted an invitation upon-though the invitation was originally on Clovis, Euphie accepted it on his steed. Cornelia says to Euphie to find it an owner or put it up for adoption. Like I said, it wasn't that much of a surprise. But what makes it surprising and even taken Cornelia aback was the story Euphie told her about when she did arrive at that academy.
Third:
Her half-siblings, Lelouch and Nunnally vi Britannia…
-Were alive.
WHAT?!
She nearly spilled her tea when Euphie told her that revelation and she briefly wonders if what she was saying was true or she was being delusional-which she doubts it, since Cornelia has the best doctors the Empire has to offer and they regularly check up on her. Talk about over-protective. Euphie told her on Ashford Academy, she as well as her former Lieutenant, saw that they believed were Lelouch and Nunnally.
But that's impossible! I, myself investigated this seven years ago!
It brings bad memories to the second princess, reminding her of the failure she had under Lady Marianne, and she wanted to bury it deep inside her and never to be resurfaced ever again. But what she was hearing now...she can't help but trust her sister's words. So, she asked for more information about the matter. Apparently, it was only an assumption since physically they look the same. The features the students possessed align with the description of the deceased prince and princess, and their names were also the same, but that's about it.
When Euphie asked if they remembered anything from their time in Aries Villa, the students replied that they don't. Cornelia briefly wonders if they suffer from amnesia, and Euphie thought so too, and she would like to have the two students be examined if that was the case in order to find out the truth. Euphie, though, has other ideas. She suggested that if they were alive it was possible that their mother would as well.
And just hearing that suggestion, Cornelia accepted it. Since, if that was the case, and that the two were indeed Lelouch and Nunnally vi Britannia, then their mother, Lady Marianne was also alive.
Lady Marianne…
Last:
In the following day, she was much eager to find out about the truth than decimating the terrorist here on Area Eleven which rarely happens. Cornelia and her men easily dispatched the Blood of the Samurai Faction up north and quickly returned back to Tokyo Settlement where she would also be the guest of honor at the Academy where Euphie ordered for the two students to bring their mother along so that Cornelia herself would meet her. And when she did arrive there was a commotion going on. Minutes before she arrived there was an accident, and luckily someone managed to save a girl falling off a balcony. She would be shocked if she ever finds out that the girl in question was Nunnally. The crowd upon seeing her bowed in reverence and stood aside to let her pass to be able to meet up with her younger sister who is now meeting with the mother of the two students.
"Not from me but instead-"
"From me" she finished. The mother and so too the rest of the student council turns around to meet her face to face. Cornelia's eyes went wide and her body tensed when she saw her. Long black colored hair, soft amethyst colored eyes, smooth white skin, a gentle smile, and the aura that Cornelia knew possessed to one person. 'The Flash' herself.
"Lady Marianne..."
Hours later...
The event was officially concluded upon her arrival much to everyone's dismay. But she couldn't care less, this was much more important than a party that shouldn't be allowed to begin with. Inside the clubhouse of the student council, the two women sat apart from each other on the couch. Cornelia's men and the others were outside waiting for them to finish their meeting. Even her knight Guilford wasn't allowed to be at her side, but she insisted. She wanted, no. She needed to face her, alone.
That is why they were the only ones inside. Silence filled the room. None dare to speak to the other. The tension was so thick it could be cut with a knife. In her mind, Cornelia already knew what she wanted to say but struggled to put it on words.
What should I do? What should I say?
For the first time since forever, the calm and collective Cornelia was panicking albeit lightly. Is Lady Marianne glad that we found her? Or did I unintentionally ruin something? Since the days she was catered under Marianne, she taught her everything she knew; from strategy to battle prowess, she was a surrogate daughter for lady Marianne. Such is why she deduced, that in this moment, something was up. Cornelia mused that if the person who was sitting before her was indeed Lady Marianne, and the students she met earlier were indeed her children, Lelouch and Nunnally, then there's a perfectly good explanation as to why and how they did this. But the question is...is she even the real Lady Marianne vi Britannia?
No, there's no mistaking it. I know lady Marianne far more than anyone!
Cornelia silently glances towards her examining her features closely and when Marianne caught her glimpse, she even blushed from the embarrassment. Come on Cornelia! You're better than this! She wanted to start the conversation and instead of sipping her tea the entire time but she couldn't. Wouldn't. Cornelia wants to hear her voice once more. The voice that she once adored and cherished. The voice that she became familiar with ever since the death of her real mother.
But should I? Am I even worthy of her presence after my failure?
She still felt insecurity and agony whenever she was reminded of the accident, and at this moment it increased tenfold since the person she was tasked to protect was sitting before her. However, in the midst of agony, despair, and from the voices inside her head that she was worthless, that she failed her duty, and she would never be as great as Lady Marianne...
Cornelia was...happy.
She felt joy, euphoria, glad, ecstasy, delighted, content, and every other synonymous words that she couldn't bring into words in how much she was feeling after seeing the person she thought she would only see in her dreams and her memories. If she was a toddler or a small child, she would run past everyone and embrace Marianne right then and there. Tears of joy flowing down her cheeks and repeatedly engulfs her with her love. Love that was long ago taken from her and placed an empty void inside her heart.
Cornelia kept glancing at Marianne out of the corner of her eyes, her fingers stammering the teacup as she thinks of what to say or do. She frowned a minute later. This is getting nowhere, she thought, and Marianne did as well and she slowly opens her mouth to say her first words to her for the last seven years since they met. But before she could however, Cornelia beat her to the punch and she quickly kneeled before her.
"Your majesty!" Cornelia's voice was loud and clear that the people outside even heard her. For Marianne, however, she silently watched the princess on her stature and stayed silent, letting her finish. "I-I'm,...I'm glad!" stuttering she is finally able to form her words and talks to her.
Still kneeling, she grips her sword on her hips and her right hand was on her heart in the form of a fist. She resembles that of a knight to his/her master. "I'm glad that you're alive...that you and Lelouch and Nunnally are well and alive!" she said as the tears finally break free and fall to the ground.
"I thought-...I really thought that I- that we lost you, your majesty…from the fires seven years ago." her voice was hoarse but she kept on. "I did everything I could...I wanted to know that you're still alive. That your children were alive...and-and even if they told me to stop, that they told me that you're dead...I know that somehow, someway...you'll manage to survive. But as days passed...I...I…" she considers her next words carefully, wondering if she wants to say it to her…
"I...gave up…"
Cornelia lowers her face, not wanting to have the face of her idol see her in her weakest moment. As she cried she remembered perfectly how it all happened. From the limousine she saw the growing flames that engulfed the house she once called home, and then she was blasted backwards from the backdraft and ultimately cementing the people inside the villa were indeed dead. She remembers the funeral; ashamed of her other siblings and even other military personnel, even if she outranks them as princess. Her duty, after all, ended up in a failure. How the three caskets were lowered to the ground as her sister cried at her side and she silently did as well as she also heard the comments of the nobility behind her back scorning the late empress.
She felt disgusted with herself, pitied herself for what happened. Only because of her resolve and thanks to Euphie's motivation that she kept onwards and moved on. She promised that no more in her family will be taken away from her. But she can never forget her failure. Not now. Not ever.
But now? It doesn't matter...because Marianne was alive.
"After that...I swore I will protect my family from danger ever again, and though I failed with Clovis I will surely avenge him!" Cornelia proclaimed determined to see it through. "I was saddened by his death, and I know Euphie as well...and I really thought that the nightmares I had back then will resurface…"and the recollection of the memories and the man that killed Clovis made her tighten her grip on her sword.
"But...but, when Euphie found out about your children's existence yesterday...at first I thought she was daydreaming or I was daydreaming. That it wasn't real…"she recalled yesterday where Euphie and Jeremiah told her about. "But something inside me tells me that she is telling the truth. And that I need to believe her and need to face them myself...and when I did. All of my worries and grief left, and all that is left were happy memories from the past." She said truthfully before she faced her, smiling in happiness as the tears stopped from falling.
"But the best thing of all, is that you're alive, your majesty...that you and your children are alive...because of that I'm happy…"Cornelia expressed before she stood up and engulfed the lower body of Marianne surprising her. "I missed you...Lady Marianne...Euphie and I missed you, Lulu and Nunna…"she said before she looks upward to meet her violet colored eyes with hers.
"I don't want to be ever separated from you again"
For Marianne, she recalled the same moment she had with little Nellie from the past. When she was young she was scared during a storm and since her mother was dead and their father almost never showed compassion and care, it was Marianne's role to take care of her. Cornelia would run to her and snuckel in with her petite body, making her smile in the process. She would tell her that it was alright and she was there, and that she would never leave her alone as she silently combs her hair with her hands and pat her head. She will sing her a lullaby to null her to sleep and when she did, she will kiss her forehead as she silently whispers:
'I love you'
And for Cornelia, though she was all grown up, thought that it would happen once more.
Marianne already decided what she wanted to say to the princesses the moment she learned that they were the ones that summoned her. And even if she feels guilty about it and feels sorry for what she will do, it was for her and her children's sake. Marianne sat still for a moment, her teacup still on her right hand as she looked down to the clutching princess below her. She gently lowers her cup at the top of the table stand and lowers her hand to touch the princess.
Princess Cornelia waits for that moment to happen, where she will pat her head and brush her hair but it never happens. Instead, Marianne pulled the arms that were surrounding her waist catching the princess by surprise. "I'm sorry,your highness...but the person you think I am...is not me." She said before she stood up before her and bowed apologetically.
Cornelia was startled by the move and followed suit wondering what she said, she asked Marianne. "What are you saying, your majesty?" Her face shows bewilderment as if the statement that she just heard was fiction and she couldn't believe it. Marianne's face was pensive; not showing any tint of emotions and showing poise and regal.
"I'm not the late empress, your highness, nor my children the deceased Prince and Princess." She told her and Cornelia couldn't detect any lies as she says it. "It is all a misunderstanding that-"
"No! I don't believe it, that's not true...that's impossible." her eyes were watering and she couldn't believe what she just said.
"You have to be Lady Marianne, and those students have to be Lelouch and Nunnally vi Britannia!" Cornelia couldn't handle this, her mixed emotions after what she just says earlier combined with what was happening makes her disarray and cannot think properly. "Otherwise...otherwise how can you explain your names and faces?"
Marianne closed her eyes before answering. "Your highness, if you truly want to know who we are and to confirm that we are the deceased royal family, might I suggest an idea." She brought up Cornelia since she knew that she wasn't herself for the moment. And luckily Cornelia's train of thought seems to be working properly for her to understand what she just said.
"And what would that be?…"she said now much more calm and her voice was much smooth and clear to comprehend.
"A blood test, your highness" was her answer.
And it was a moment of epiphany and stupidity of not thinking this earlier. And I could use this opportunity to check up if they have any amnesiac peculiarities...she mused as an afterthought. Pondering this for a moment she gave her answer.
"Very well...I accept your suggestion. However, you must remain with me in the Viceroy Palace for the time being. If that is okay with you…"She asked her, letting off the 'your majesty part.' Marianne nodded. "I'm fine with that, your highness" as she bows her head indicating that the meeting is over.
Cornelia wished that it would last longer and played differently but she would have a chance if they truly are the vi Britannia family.
And if they are...then I'll make sure to protect them this time!
She made her way to the door and it opened before her by her knight. "I will talk to your grandfather about this another time Ms. Ashford. In the meantime, Mr and Ms Lamperouge, you are to stay with your mother in the Viceroy palace for the time being to confirm your true identities." She told to everyone in present and the student council members and even Suzaku who was out of reach and sight answered in unison:
"Yes your highness"
"But before we go, your highness...I want to make a phone call." Marianne asked her with a smile before she gladly accepted it.
"Thank you…"
Sword of Akasha
"-Is that so?...Very well, I'll see what I can do…" after that Charles hangs up the phone before he sighs in respite. For once things are going in my way. Charles was currently seen in the platform of the Sword of Akasha pondering the recent events that were thrust upon him. His son, Prince Clovis has died, but he couldn't care less about that. The formation of Area 18 has been established by his daughter Cornelia, though he already expected that to happen, but the thing he was truly surprised about was the news of C.C's recovery by his wife herself.
I always knew I could count on you, Marianne...
The emperor smirked triumphantly by his wife's achievement and felt proud that he married her and made a wise decision for her to retrieve C.C in Area Eleven. "However, there's a problem…"he said to himself before thinning his lips narrowed his eyes as the situation changed. Yes, she did find C.C but it wasn't because Marianne searched her, no it was the exact opposite. C.C lets herself be found and it wasn't his wife that found her but their son, Lelouch.
Not only that but she even gave him Geass….
Geass was a term only few knew within his circles, not even the nobles nor his own family knew the Power of the Kings he and a few others possessed. And it was a power that can alter the fate of the world. It was the power that paved his way to become an Emperor after all. And it will be the same for their master plan of killing God. But the idea of his own son has that power as well can create a small wrinkle on his plan if left unattended and isn't dealt with. Charles snarled on the thought, things didn't exactly go according to plan.
The action was seen by his older brother V.V who commented. "Are you still a child Charles? Snarling like a stray dog? How inadequate for an Emperor that controls the third of the world." Before standing beside him and looking onwards towards the horizon where they both knew the collective unconsciousness resides.
"Then how do you expect me to react, brother? After your plan failed?" He retorted to his brother who remained unfazed by it. "In what form did my plan fail my dear little brother?" V.V chided him, and Charles could tell that V.V didn't like it when things don't go according to plan and hinges, and it gave him a small victory for himself. Still, he explained the situation.
Charles told him about the secret call he just received from his wife earlier, thanks to the OSI he's still connected to her despite the long years they've been separated and informed him the situation; about C.C's recovery, his son's new powers, and of course his daughters finding out the existence of Marianne and her family. He wouldn't lie to his brother about this kind of thing, and he wants to know his opinion on this.
"And now, Cornelia herself is investigating this and wants to confirm their real identities." Charles finished. If only I erased everyone's memory then this wouldn't happen! Charles recalled how his brother suggested that he let the memories of the other siblings and family to remain intact in spite of the fact that Lelouch and Nunnally were to lose theirs. If he had done so then this wouldn't happen and they could recover C.C quickly as soon as possible. Even if Cornelia or Euphemia find out about Lelouch and Nunnally, he doubts they will remember their faces or even recognizes them since his powers were absolute after all.
But his brother insisted that it would be much beneficial if the siblings memories' were not to be erased, saying that he could use it to his advantage. But now it only brings more hindrances…
He waited for his brother to give his opinion on this matter and Charles was startled when he heard him chuckle devilishly on the matter. "What so funny brother?" He asked as V.V's laughter died down.
"Oh dear Charles, have you forgotten about the plan we thought over?" V.V said as he looked back to his younger brother. Charles examined V.V for a second before giving him an answer. "No I did not brother. I still remember it very well. Still, I do not understand how this can be an advantage for us?"
Again, V.V laughed maniacally before chiding to Charles. "Dear Charles, you still haven't learned aren't you?" that made Charles irked at the comment and hid his fist at his side. And seeing that he won't answer V.V 'enlighten' him.
"You lack practicality brother. You always use cold logic in every way, and for that I commend you." He started.
"Thank you brother-" but before he could finish he added. "But that's where you are on your limit."
"What of it?"
V.V smirked smugly and turned forward and said "Your logic has brought you this far my dear little brother but in the end it cannot lead you further. Always using the pawn as a disposable piece instead of leading it to become an even better one." V.V commented and Charles knew that he would once again teach him in the form of chess.
V.V and even Charles imagine a chess board laid in front of them, and they imagine the situation they currently in. "As it stands your pawn is half-way on your board Charles, and I briefly wonder if you ever use it to your advantage?" he said to him.
Charles' eyes narrowed to the midget and answered. "I do not know where this is coming from, however, I do know that my call from seven years ago should have been correct. If I only erased the memories of my entire family from seven years ago then we wouldn't be placed in this predicament my dear brother. We could've sacrificed our pawns to advance to our goal as we should have done." Before a white pawn was taken out by the black knight before the knight was countered by a bishop, effectively putting the white side in advantage in the long run.
V.V was unaffected by Charles' retort and rebuked his logic. "Yes it does... however, sometimes, it could be the other way around."
"Pardon?"
The pieces were back to the way it was as the white pawn is threatened by the knight and instead of becoming a sacrificial piece, V.V ordered it to go forward leaving the bishop wide open. "As you said, we could have done that and we wouldn't be having this problem right now. But that's about it."
"Do enlighten me brother."
"If it is true that your son possesses a Geass, think of the outcomes it will bring to us. No matter the choices we make back then we cannot change that single outcome since it is the will of the world it would seem" He explained to him and Charles can agree on that; regardless of the choices he will make, the fact remains that Lelouch still possesses a Geass. There are many alternating possibilities that can brew from the past decisions and there are worlds that Lelouch didn't have a Geass, but they cannot determine who would happen to have it instead. They can only predict the possibility of the outcomes that they have full knowledge on or in complete control. C.C is out of their hands and as such is an indeterminate factor in the equation. But the royal family is, and from that they can predict the possibility they can get with that single decision.
"Laplace's demon." Charles muttered remembering a theory of determinism. V.V nodded "Indeed...now let's say that you erased the memories of your family and that they don't recognize your wife and her family, but the other factors remain like the brat has a Geass. What do you think will happen?"
"For starters we can retrieve C.C-"
"Wrong. As I said, C.C is not within our control. You're the one that told me that she purposely gave herself up and that your wife failed to recover her, so what makes you think we can easily get her?"
Charles did ponder this for a moment, like his wife said, C.C's decision relies on Lelouch's and even if he has an empire that he could brute force to get her, he doubts it will be easy as the situation in Area Eleven is already escalated with the masked terrorist causing havoc. In order to achieve complete victory, one must ensure no strugglers are to be in the way. He first needs to remove the terrorist first and foremost, next his son, before he could get C.C.
"The brat may or may not join with our endeavors if that happens, and with no family to speak other than he already knows, I doubt your child would easily be persuaded." He snickered on that remembering the boy who has enough pride to boast over despite his small stature and age. "If he were to be left on his own accord, he may or may not cause trouble to us."
He grimlly said and Charles finally saw the picture. "So, you're saying that we cannot manipulate him?
"Not manipulate, per se, it is rather difficult to do so. If you can reverse the effect of your Geass it would be beneficial, but as it stands you do not. It's permanent, so whatever choice we make does not matter. We can only lead him." V.V clarified to Charles as he continued his explanation of why this situation can be of use. He's the perfect example of Winston's Churchill's quote of 'An optimist sees opportunity in every difficulty' "Still it does not mean we can't use him." He finished with a devilish smirk.
Charles has no time for this and wanted to get the full answer right away from his older sibling. "Spare me brother of your conundrum and get to the point." Making V.V huff at that. Still, he obliged.
"Well...either way what's done is done. We can only focus on the pieces we have in our hands and I say we use it to its full potential." As he said that he played the pieces in the imaginary board they were thinking and as expected the black knight takes the open bishop, and instead of countering the Knight, V.V forwarded the pawn simultaneously protecting it from the other pieces as he sacrificed his ranks whilst doing so. "If we erased your family's memories that doesn't mean the world is too. I doubt they will simply forget 'the popular' family of the Empire. But like I said, we need to control this situation at hand" spiting the popular part as he says so.
"Now, that brat is probably in disarray and confused as to what's happening. Him accused of being the deceased Prince will surely make him doubt his existence and I say we use that." V.V told Charles and Charles now seemed to follow his brother's reasonings.
"In other words, we plant the seeds of doubts to him and his sister and from there we can easily use him as our pawn. The carrot we would be using is the truth of his existence and I do know that my son has the attitude of wanting to know the truth from his childish days, so all we have to do is lead him into our path where we can monitor and control him in the palm of our hands." Charles deduced his brother's plans.
The pawn managed to reach the end of the board and was promoted into a queen. Though they lost four officers and two pawns in the process, the sacrifice was worth it as it now stands they have two queens in their disposal and in control of the center. The brothers played out the game and within five moves they checkmated the black king thanks to the promoted pawn.
"Exactly." V.V replied to him. "Well done Charles, I'm proud that my little brother is learning from me. Now, I do know what you will be doing from now on, correct?" He asked Charles before leaving the Sword of Akasha.
"Of course brother" Charles answered and with that V.V turned around and left him on his lonesome. Well then Lelouch, it looks like no matter what has happened you are still of use to me and the Empire! Before Charles laughs maniacally for what is to come to his spawn and to the whole world.
Minutes later he was conversing with Clovis' soul via the Sword of Akasha before his soul became part of the Collective Unconscious until he was interrupted with one of the members of the Geass Order and informed him of Clovis' remains that had recently arrived.
"I was just conversing with Clovis actually" making the man confused but he turned around to meet him and stated. "The project must proceed without a moment's delay" After all, the pieces are prepared and all that is left is to place them in their respective position, which the man bowed and answered.
"Certainly your majesty"
"Good...and order the OSI, there's a classified mission that I need to be accomplished" He ordered the man before he left the Sword of Akasha to prepare for his grandiose speech for the wake of his son Clovis starting of course with the well renowned line of 'All men are not created equal'.
In a disclosed part of Pendragon, Office of Secret Intelligence Headquarters.
The Office of Secret Intelligence that should have been Military Intelligence Section Six in the real world if they haven't left the British isles was a bureau formed in the 1906 a.t.b. They are in charge of foreign and domestic intelligence gathering, infiltration, investigation, spying, and of course, assassination. While the bureau was once part of the military, over the years it became independent and is now an unofficial part of the Geass Order where the agents conducted missions with the order and sometimes helped together.
Inside in one of the halls of the underground HQ, one such agent roams; being called into action for a mission tasked upon him. The man was in his late-twenties, handsome young fellow, with black hair and deep blue eyes, tall and has a rather built body, and his color was much tangier than some Britannias due to his missions he took over the years. His charisma wooed the public and the ladies as such, every time he sent a glimpse to those who passed they stopped and blushed.
Still got it
The man grinned and before long he reached his destination, the Chief's office. The door was guarded with two agents and opened the door before him letting him inside and the man who ordered him was already there doing his paperworks.
"Is there something you need, Chief?" He asked rather casually and if it wasn't the fact that he was close to him he would surely be reprimanded by his actions. The man didn't respond right away and continued his paperworks. He was much older than the agent, about thirty years old and one can see the wrinkles forming in his face, but he also has the wisdom every elder person possessed.
"Yes there is, and could you please stop calling me that agent 122" he answered after finishing his work and indicated the man to sit in front of him. The agent, which is now named as 122, nodded. "Of course, sir N" and did what he was told. In the bureau they use numbers and letters to refer to each other since they technically didn't exist and therefore no need to have names a normal person would. Also, this makes them flexible and expandable.
"Now then...let's get right into it, what do you need of me?"
"Do you still remember your first assignment seven years ago?" he asked and the man nodded and still remembered the mission N was referring to. "Yes I do."
Agent 122 was one of the agents assigned in this mission that was being directed by the Geass Order, and it was the cover up of the death of the vi Britannia family. Raised by the OSI themselves the young orphan man was now tasked for his very first assignment and he felt grateful for this opportunity because of the fact of high op this was.
Currently, he was inside in a limousine with three other people, rather three children-triplets. They have just arrived from the airport and just like the mission briefing, they are now on their way to the Aries Villa. He touched his earpiece and informed the central command led by V.V himself.
"Sir, we're en route to the Aries Villa, e.t.a forty minutes"
And he heard the child's voice of the young directorate leader. "Good, like we planned. Remember there is a secret passage in the living room and you are to plant a bomb there, got it?" V.V reminded him, which he nodded and replied. "Yes sir."
"All right then, I do not need incompetent agents is that clear?" but he ignored V.V's scorn and answered. "Crystal" before the line was cut. Damn, he's really strict 122 mused and it showed in his face of his disdain for the young midget that didn't go unnoticed within the vehicle.
"Is there-"
"Something wrong-"
"Agent 122?" The agent heard the three voices of the children he was with and made him look up to the triplets. The three children sat there like a doll and was eyeing him in curiosity. From what he learned the three will each speak and finish the other's sentence which added to the creep factor.
122 wave his hand to the three children to try to act casually around them. "No, it's nothing, I'm fine" before the three shook their heads in unison. "You shouldn't" "Act like that" "towards us"
"We are" "Master's V.V's" " "Children you see?"
They reminded him That's right while they look young, these kids actually are assassins he thought grimly and he shivers on what these kids can do and that reminds him. "Shouldn't you activate your powers again?" He refers to the kids' Geass and they once again shook their head.
"There's no need" "None can" "See us" they said and it was true. The powers from what he sees on the tarmac is that they can disguise themselves like other people as long as they are of the same gender and apparently have a duration of one hour, after which it will wear off. Luckily the three fit the vi Britannia; two blonde girls and a young redhead boy.
122 hides his fear of them If there's more like them, then I do not want to be near them he thought. "Right…"he replied and they continue on their journey in silence. Once they arrived at the Aries Villa the three activated their Geass and again, they perfectly matched Lady Marianne, Prince Lelouch and Princess Nunnally to other people, but it was only an illusion of what they perceived the three. No one is able to recognize that they weren't the royal family and lets them in.
After that they made their way to the living room and the other OSI agents emerged and took down the royal guards discreetly. 122 pocketed the small bomb that was given to him by the R&D department. "All right you know what to do" he said and everyone nodded proceeding to the plan: changed into the villa's staff before they will plant bombs all over the finished they go to their exit points and he would be the last one. Well then...after planting the last bomb he had a small encounter with Jeremiah that was about to go the living room but he managed to stop him on his tracks and exited.
And the rest was history…
It was the first and last mission he conducted with the Geass order and he was glad for it. Still what does it have to do with this? And N seems to hear his thoughts since he informed him. "The royal family that we covered up seven years ago needs some help. Apparently, the second princess managed to discover them in their mission in Area Eleven, we need you to make sure that they don't know that they are the royal family."
"So you need me to dispose of the princess? Sounds farfetch" he clarified.
N shooks his head. "No. We just need you to make sure that their real identities won't be discovered by the princess, and to do that you need to infiltrate the Viceroy Palace. If you need something the R&D will give it to you, R will brief you further that is all." He said and 122 stood up and saluted to the man.
"My secretary will you lead to him" he said and on cue the door opened up where a female secretary walked besides him. Wearing a glass and her hair in a ponytail, she was clearly a stereotypical secretary one can imagine.
"Hey beautiful" he flirted to the girl who ignored his attempt. "Disgusting" he heard from her Ouch but he let it slide. "Goodluck in your mission, 122" N said before he left the room.
"You can count on me sir." And with that they go to R. During their way he felt unease with the girl that seems to be not attracted to him She's the first he thinks this girl is new since she asked him:
"Why is he called R?" She refers to the head officer of the R&D and he smirked at that.
"Because he always answers with a R word." he said before opening the door of the laboratory where their equipment, weapons, and gadgets are being made. At the end of the room was R; wearing a labcoat, and has white hair combed to the side though he was still young, green eyes, and the behaviour that matches the eccentric scientist Lloyd.
"Rodney there you are! You have some gadgets for me?" he asked, startling him.
"HAHAHAHAHA, now this is rare. 122 welcome back" he said, shaking his hands before he noticed the lady with him. "Hello there, miss. You rouse me and my junior here, if you know what I mean. Hehehe" he said taking her hand and kissing it. The lady however, wasn't pleased by the comment and has a vein popped up in her forehead.
"I will ignore that sexual harassment, for today is my first day and I do not know if this is how you speak to other sexes, but I will surely report you" She said glaring at the scientist. "Now if you please acquire agent 122 with his tools then we'll be on our way"
R frowned but complied with the lady. "Rude" before getting back to the agent. "But you won't be requiring any gadgets this time 122." The agent was confused about that and asked the man for a clarification.
"What do you mean by that?"
"I assume N reported the mission beforehand did he not?" Nodding he continued. "Well, apparently it's rather simple really. All you have to do is replace the blood test in Area Eleven with a fake one and that's it."
Agent 122 was bewildered on that statement. "Hold up. You're saying it's a 'swap and drop'? Even a rookie can do that" He asked since an agent of his stature usually sent to dangerous missions, but not this.
"You're correct, but we're running low in agents in the field already. Also, do remind you that there are terrorists there. So it's better to be safe than sorry, right miss?" The secretary pushed her glasses up and answered.
"Indeed."
"Well, if there's nothing for me then I best be going then." He said, preparing to leave and R gave him his instructions on his transportation that will take him to Area Eleven. "Good luck agent 122, rest assured I will keep the miss busy" he said, smirking at the girl who twitched at his statement.
Later…
They were in the tarmac of the Pendragon Imperial Airport which, ironically, was his first mission. Still the same after seven years the agent mused clearly remembering the same distinct place he once participated in and it did bring back memories. He would be using a stealth plane for this mission and for a commercial airliner it would take 12 hours from Area One to Area Eleven, but using this plane would take him 4 hours less.
Suiting up he was about to board the plane until the secretary got his attention. "Agent 122!" He heard her shout making him face her. The secretary fidgeted for a moment, and he could see a tint of her blush rising on her cheeks. "Good luck...on your mission."
122 smirked on that and called her out. "Hey you didn't tell me your name!" He said and though the OSI uses numbers and letters for the agents in the bureau, the office workers such as hers still use their real names.
The lady was caught off guard on realizing that she didn't tell him her name, and thinking whether or not she should have given him an answer, she responded.
"I-I'll tell you...when you return…"
Agent 122 smiles at that. "Until I return then." Before he pocketed from his duffel bag for something and threw his dog tag at her which she catched. She examined the pendant and there was his actual name. "Wait this is your-"
But Agent 122 waved her goodbye and told her before he got on the plane. "Keep that for me okay?" The door closed behind him and the plane now started the engine that will take him to Area Eleven for the first time. As the wind blew the hair of the lady, she smiled and kept the pendant close to her and whispered to him.
"I will…"
The next day
Viceroy Palace, Area Eleven
Lelouch, Nunnally, and their mother Marianne, were brought here in the Viceroy palace to be identified by the princess to confirm their real identities last night. After the family day event this created an uproar within the academy, since practically everyone heard the rumor that he was indeed a prince of the realm. The student council as well as the members of the Viceroy's staff did everything to quell the rumors from spreading to the media.
But I do wonder if what the princess said was true?
Lelouch briefly wondered and he suddenly recalled an encounter he had with a green haired girl in Shinjuku a week before. Lelouch vi Britannia...remember who you truly are...he still can't perfectly remember what he saw on those vivid memories he had, but whenever he recalls something about the deceased family or the emperor himself all he could grasp are blur images.
"Aggh...:"Lelouch groaned in pain as the migraine returned to him; it does this whenever he recalls about that topic, and as of late it has been getting worse. "Brother are you alright?" Nunnally came at his side looking worried.
Lelouch recomposed himself and replied, hiding the migraine from his sister. "I-I'm fine...nothing to worry about"
"Well we're going to have a check up soon, so I think the doctors will help when they can." She said as she walks forwards to the ward where they will be examined by the doctors. "I know…" But what I really want to know is the truth, mother...he said as he glanced at his mother who he thinks was hiding something from them.
And I will make sure I will get it
His eyes narrowed to his own mother ready to ask her the truth of it all, since regardless of what the test will say, he will question his mother about this. The trio arrived at the ward inside the Viceroy palace where the princesses, their knights and personnel, and the doctors were already there.
"Shall we begin?" the doctor asked, stepping forward addressing them to change attires to that of a patient gown.
Marianne answered. "Of course" and after changing into their respective johnny, they proceeded with the tests. First if they have any amnesia, and it will be conducted with a CT Scan to find the neuroimage of the brain to see if there's any anomalies with their neurons that have caused some memory loss.
And lastly the blood test. If the CT Scan can't detect any peculiarities, the blood test will determine their identities since none can replace a blood after all.
As they watch the test unfold, the princesses, Jeremiah, Guilford, and Darlton wonders. "Princess are you certain that they are the vi Britannia family?" Guilford asked his princess and Darlton also spoke up.
"I do not doubt you, your highness, but... it is impossible to fake their deaths since everyone saw what happened. Gottwald was there isn't he?" The scarred general turns to the man who, at that time, was leading the operation.
Jeremiah did recall the scenario from his mind and Darlton was right. He clearly saw the figures of the vi Britannia from where he was watching in the command center, and he doubts anyone has a technology who can mimic a face of a royalty in this era, so he was 100% positive that they were the real vi Britannias.
"Even still, we cannot let this opportunity be wasted." Was his only answer. But what if they aren't the real vi Britannia? He silently prayed that they were. Euphie was beside her sister from the outside peering through the one way mirror to closely watch the test of the Lamperouges. "I believe they are my family...right sister?" She asked her sister to reaffirm her doubts, and when she looked at Cornelia's expression even she was tense and uncertain.
"I do not know Euphie…" was her only reply and all Euphie can do is frown as they wait for the results to come up. From the hallway they suddenly hear the voices of an eccentric scientist and his assistant apologizing from the distance.
"Your highnesses! You didn't wait for my arrival?" Lloyd casually beacons to the new Viceroy of Area Eleven. "I'm truly sorry Viceroy for his behavior." Cecile bowed at the princesses before grabbing Lloyd's ear. "Didn't I tell you to act properly?!" She scolded the earl of pudding.
"Owie owie owie!" He hissed from the pain but Cornelia paid him no mind, she was much more focused on the examination than the Earl's antics. "It's quite alright, now why are you here Lloyd?" After hearing the princess' question Cecile released him from her clutches.
Lloyd fixed his lab coat before turning to the princess. "Why...I just want to see the results of the Lancelot's devicer that is all" he said grinning and everyone was confused about that, except Jeremiah.
"Devicer? That boy?" Guilford double checked as they all watched the boy getting his turn to be scanned. The boy was no mean a prodigy from the grades he got at the Academy, but physical wise? He was a walking toothpick.
"He can pilot a Knightmare?" Darlton continued not believing the scientist's statement.
Cecile reassured them. "Yes, he did pilot the Lancelot back at Shinjuku Ghetto. We deeply apologize for not informing your highnesses about this beforehand." She apologized once more. Though Cornelia only knows little about her brother Schneizel pet project, she did know about the Lancelot she was referring to. It was a seventh generation Knightmare frame and based on its design it was a machine that isn't intended to be piloted by anyone beside a person who was trained in Knightmare piloting.
But if he can then…
"Wait, if he can pilot a Knightmare then this is another evidence that they are the vi Britannia!" Euphie exclaimed, having an epiphany. "Isn't lady Marianne a knightmare pilot too?" She asked Cornelia since she has more knowledge of the Empress than anyone here combined. "If he can pilot a knightmare without training, then maybe he inherited the talent from her!"
But for Cornelia that still sounds far fetched even though she too wondered about that possibility. "That might be true, but just because he can pilot a Knightmare doesn't clear his identity Euphie, we can't rely on circumstantial evidence. All we can do is wait for the results for this examination." She said returning to watch as the test was now in near completion.
An hour later…
After the blood test was over, everyone proceeded to the waiting area. Everyone was tensed to know the results. As they waited for the first results everyone had something in their minds…
I hope that they are my siblings and Lady Marianne, I know my sister would be glad to be reunited with them after all…
Please, if there's really a God, then all I ask is this and nothingmore, let them be Lady Marianne, Nunna and Lulu...
If they aren't the vi Britannia, then all of this is for naught...if not however...
What are you hiding from us mother? Who are we really? Are we a prince or a princess?
Breathing...is fun.
The first result came in and it was the CT scan for their brains. Everyone moved forward to meet the doctor. Princess Euphie was the first who asked. "So what's the results?" And her voice clearly shows eagerness and so too was everyone else inside the room.
The doctor cleared his throat not knowing how he can put this into words, a moment later he gave the announcement. "Forgive me your highnesses but from the images shown from the scans there were no signs of neuron impairments, damages, or other peculiarities. They all have perfectly working normal brains." And to reassure them that he wasn't lying he gave the princesses the images of the scans and a copy of a neuroimage of a normal brain. The two images were similar, no sign of anomalies or photo manipulation.
Euphie looked dismayed when she heard that and Cornelia tried her best to reassure her. "It's alright there's still the blood test, there we can know if they are our family." And it brings her hopes up albeit a little.
"You're right…"
"The blood results will be coming shortly." Thankfully they have every blood sample of the royals back in Pendragon, so all they have to do was send the vi Britannia's here to compare to the Lamperouges and if everything matches then they are the vi Britannia family. The blood results were taking much longer to ensure that nothing was left unchecked and everything was examined and compared.
A nurse was carrying the three bottles of the Lamperouges' blood that will be examined in the laboratory. Tray in hand she was nearing her destination until she saw a good looking guy coming at her way. .Though he was wearing a cap and shades, his other facial features were striking. Oh my gosh he looks so hot and in this moment of distraction she fell for it and she didn't realize that she bumped the guy. The tray nearly falls to the ground shattering it but the guy manages to catch it quickly and her as well.
"Are you alright?" The man said to her, holding her and the tray in hand charming her. The nurse can only blush in this predicament and stutter her answer. "I-I'm fine…" without her realizing, the samples were already swapped at this moment, and 122 can smirk after completing this rather easy mission. All he had to worry about was the camera seeing him which he countered by disguising himself.
"A beautiful girl like you should watch where she's going. Why, you might fall for someone without you realizing it." He said, helping her to stand up.
The girl flushed and took the tray off his hand. "You-...you're right, thank you again." She said and the man smiled back at her and let go of her hand, the girl will silently remember the touch of his hand forevermore. "Well then I'm off…" he said and he waves her goodbye.
"Goodbye…"she farewelled and sigh since she knows that she will most likely never meet him again. After a few minutes of musing her life with that stranger she continued and examined the bloods.
Later…
The blood results came in and the doctor said:
"I'm sorry, your highnesses but the results say that they aren't the vi Britannias…" downcasted and Euphie took the toll the hardest.
"No that can't be true! Maybe you didn't double check! Maybe we can do it again?" She pleaded to the doctor, who didn't know what to say. It pains Cornelia's heart as she saw her sister to be heartbroken and she did what she could to calm her down.
"Euphie...please understand, what would the Lamperouge would think if we keep them in here for longer? I know you're hurt, I am too...but, but" Cornelia looked back to the Lamperouges who avoided her gaze since they weren't sure what to do. Though they confirm their identities and it was just merely a coincidence, it still pains them to see the princess to be heartbroken once more and it was much painful since this time around, she had to endure the reality that they weren't the prince and princess she thought them to be.
"But they aren't our family Euphie...I'm sorry…" she gives Euphie to Guilford to lead her back to her room. "I'll be coming with her as well," Jeremiah suggested and Cornelia lets her former lieutenant.
"That sucks...I was hoping they were the vi Britannia…"Lloyd groaned ashamed that it didn't go with what he was hoping.
"Lloyd!"
Marianne and her children go to meet the princess and Viceroy. "I'm truly sorry for this, your highness. If there's anything we can do...please let us know." Marianne said as she hid her real emotions to the downcasted Cornelia.
Cornelia felt betrayed for her wish to not come true, but swallowed the reality in front of her. "It's all right...it should be us that needs to apologize for causing you this commotion...now if you excuse me. My guards will drop you off at your home." She said to prepare to leave, but Darlton stopped her and whispered something in her ear.
"Princess...about the plan for your attack on Saitama…" and her eyes widened almost forgetting about her plans, and she turned around to meet the boy. "Mr. Lamperouge?"
Lelouch was pulled out of his reverie to answer the princess. "Yes your highness?"
Cornelia despite knowing he wasn't her real brother still asked him a question. "Is it true that you piloted the Lancelot?"
Without thinking, he answered. "Yes...yes I did." And Cornelia knew that Lloyd would be happy to hear this from her.
Cornelia smirked before she gave him an offer that will pave his future and the fate of the world.
"Then I want you to be part of the Britannian Army." Making the boy, his sister and even their mother stunned on the surprise. Lloyd shrieked in delight.
'EH?!'
A/N: Wow this one is yet another long chapter. Well since I have much free time due to class suspension because of the typhoon that recently hit the Philippines, I had all the time needed to complete this and I decided to put into one chapter the events you just read. And I gotta ask...
Do you like long (7,000 to 9,000+), moderate (6,000+) or short chapters? (5,000-6,000+)
For me as long as I write what the chapter needed to address I do not mind.
Welp, I hope this will clear how the heck vi Britannia fake their deaths even though they were clearly seen by the royal guards. And I will not dwell on the triplet's Geass since you won't often see them, but I will say that when it's activated that the people around them will perceive them who they wanted to portray and it only lasts an hour.
As for the new character...he will play an important role ;)
The next chapter would be Cornelia vs Akuma, and finally Lelouch confronts her mother and finally meets the witch HAHAHAHA. So stay tuned for that.
Again, still accepting beta-readers that will help me with writing.
Stay safe guys, and pray for the recovery of the ones affected by the typhoon here in the Philippines.
Please read and review.
F.C.C.S out