...Without Getting Your Hands Dirty.
We entered the glowing red mass of ancient symbols and words of a long extinct dialect. A brief flash of light and all hell was breaking loose. the casino was a mess, dead bodies, the generators had been destroyed, leaving the building with no sources of light other than the outside. Behind me another teleportation circle opened containing all the members of Rias Gremory's peerage, except there was a difference, they were no longer wearing school uniform instead. They wore the colours of The Black Knights, Knights for Justice! It's funny I can pretty much make whatever I want as long as I make sure I have something which shoots what I want out, so I made a t shirt cannon that fired out Black Knight uniforms. I had ditched the tuxedo I was originally planning on wearing instead wearing the Red Right Hand's Outfit. That was my name. The Red Right Hand of Zero. The leader of Samsara Special Operations Division of The Black Knights.
"C.C. Status report." I spoke into the comm system.
"Wait who's that!" Kōsetsu Urabe shouted into the system.
"No it can't be." I heard another say. Kallen Kozuki or rather Statdfield seemed dumbfounded.
"The Red Right Hand, Leader of the Samsara Special Operations Unit of The Black Knights has returned! And I am not alone." Though nobody could see it, a giant smirk was plastered across my face.
"Well status report?" I sarcastically asked once more.
"Right sir. We've lost track of Lelouch we're deploying more units." Urabe spoke. It didn't surprise me that they knew of his identity after all if they were here for Lelouch but didn't know who they were looking for it would be a bit pointless.
"I'm patching my team into the comm system now." I used the touchscreen on my gauntlet to share communications with Rias and her group.
"I've found Lelouch he's at the 14th floor lobby!" C.C shouted frantically, that was certainly unexpected.
"King piece! Now." I shouted at Rias, in an instant we were at C.C. The problem was that more Knightmares had just arrived and they were gunning down Civilians.
"Pawn!" I shouted at Issei.
BOOST! BOOST! BOOST! BOOST!
Issei flew through all six of the Knightmares with very minimal effort.
"C.C where'd he go?" I demanded.
"He ran to a storage closet. Wait he's in the underground construction." C.C stated.
"Then go! We'll hold the Knightmares off!" I shouted, as if on cue the Knightmares that I'd heard came in, there was fourteen of them.
"Knights!" Xenovia and Kiba moved faster than a bolt of lightning both making an 'X' shape with the amount of air that was displaced. They both made sure the Knightmares legs were destroyed before taking out the cockpits. I stifled a laugh. I could only imagine how those poor Britannian soldiers felt.
"I'm near Lelouch! Get here!" The distant sounds of gun fire and explosions could be heard through the intercom.
"King!" Rias teleported us to where Lelouch had fallen but there was no sign of him.
"Blood." Gasper whispered. I turned on infrared and sure enough a blood trail, I splashed my finger into the small puddle. The gloves analysis it, it was Lelouch's.
"This way." I lead my team, we ran for about five minutes when we could hear something. It was talking.
"You've served your function well. Good Lelouch Lamperouge." I could barley make out.
"Helmet! Track that sound!" I spoke into the speaker. It gave me a direct path on where to go, it's akin to cheating but I make my own rules.
"...That witch. To lure C.C out of hiding." The same voice stated, his tone overflowing with cockiness and the sureness of his victory. I Replaced my assault rifle with my signatures blood red Desert Eagles.
You won't get to him first you bastard!'
"Before you dispose of me. I'd like you to answer a question." I could hear another voice say. I knew it instantly it was Lelouch's. The tone was calm, cold and a calculated.
"If being powerless is so terribly wrong, then does having power make you right? Do you find vengeance evil? What's your value of friendship, is it justice?" There was no mistaking it. That was Zero. And on cue we made it up the stairwell.
"Stop, watch this." I smirked inside my helmet.
"There's no justice or evil, the only truth that's left for you bait is the simple reality of Death."
"I see. Then that reality is all that remains for you as well.
I, Lelouch Vi Britannia Command You, All of You. Die!" All the soldiers In front of Lelouch all either committed suicide or shot their allies. I looked back at the group, they all wore faces of confusion, contempt and curiosity. Suddenly two Knightmares burst out from the celling. The Gurren MKII and a mass produced version of The Akatsuki.
"And the world has to change so I will change it."
That's the Lelouch I knew.
"We have been waiting for you master Zero, please give us your orders." One of the pilots stated. Of course it wasn't the one in the Gurren the one in the Gurren was obviously Kallen.
"Very well, because after all I Am Zero. The one who will crush this world and the one who will recreate the world anew!" Lelouch was about to prepare a speech. I had other plans.
"But in order to do that, one must have power and power you don't yet posses. Am I correct? Brother." I stepped forward out of the darkness. Lelouch's expression was blank as always, well it was smug, but that wasn't how he was truly feeling.
"Yes brother, indeed. Now tell me who are your new friends." Lelouch could quite obviously tell they weren't regular foot soldiers.
"A long and exciting story to be sure. But for now we have priorities." I assured my brother.
"Very well. We need control of this tower. You have a map don't you?"
"The security control room controls all exits and entrances, on top of that the room is reinforced with 4 foot thick steel plating." I scanned the imagesflicking through my helmet.
" I imagine we'll need a key, a big one..." Lelouch had a smirk on his face looking at the Gurren.
"Don't be surprised." I told him smugly..
"King!" I shouted for Rias and nothing happened.
"I-I can't." Rias struggled.
"What do you mean you can't? Ahhhgh fine there's a sub control not too far from here we'll go on foot. Kouzuki. C.C accompany us. The rest of you, hold the line at the bridge." I commanded. We all started heading. I found it particularly strange no one from Rias group had really said anything about me commanding them. Especially after that situation.
"So what was that about back there?" Lelouch turned to me. I stopped walking.
"Rias come here, the rest of you go up to the control room and make sure it's secure." They all grunted and groaned as a response.
"Very good at taking orders I see. So Rias huh. You did have a thing for the prez, it was only a matter of time before you started... branching out." Lelouch's attempt at humour had varying success the only good ones were insinuations.
"Uhm... I don't really know how to explain this but she's our cousin." Lelouch still was unfazed.
"Yes our grandfather had many children and they in turn had children, it isn't uncommon. The point?" Lelouch seemed disinterested.
"She's from our mothers side." That piqued his curiosity.
"And our mother wasn't... human." I sighed
"You know what? Rias just show him." Rias understood what I meant as she unfurled her wings. Lelouch was still stoic as ever but his eyes always betrayed him. He was shocked and maybe even a bit scared. He removed his hand from his left eye.
"Explain, what are you?" He attempted to use his Geass on Rias, though it had no effect.
"You can't use Geass on a devil silly!" Rias mocked, Lelouch smirked.
"Hmm. Let's get moving. Tell me brother how is it you have a group of devils under your thumb?" Lelouch seemed genuinely curious.
"Wouldn't you like to know." We made our way to eighteenth floor where the subcontrol station was. Most of the group was lounging about except for Kiba, Xenovia and Irina. Those three were soldiers, the rest were mere more than children.
"Hey Lelouch?" I turned to my brother who was about to enter the room.
"It's about Euphy isn't it?" He asked, already knowing what I was about to do.
"It is." With that I threw my fist forward into his face, he fell to the ground.
"I probably deserve that." Lelouch clutched his bloody cheek.
"Yeah you did." I helped him back up. I was angry sure, but I had no time to be and in the end it was a...necessary evil. We entered the control room, it wasn't that hard to hack into, in fact it was easier than anticipated.
"Well done Q1 head up to level 21.
D4 block the stairway.
R5 left 30 degrees.
N1 fire barrage 50 metres ahead angled towards the celling." Lelouch commanded, the entire building shook.
"Say brother. How would Samsara feel about going on the offence." Lelouch asked rhetorically.
"Where sir?" I asked him, I called him sir, he was my superior officer after all.
"The outside. Your team are invulnerable to convential weapons, correct? That makes you all useful assets head to the top floor and take out any opposition." Lelouch commanded.
"Yes sir." I took my leave ushering my team out the door. Standing outside was Kallen.
"Nice outfit, do you make a habit of dressing like that in military operations?" I retorted.
"Lincoln." Kozuki must've proud that she figured out who i was.
"Indeed Ms. Stadtfield." I bowed my head slightly. She gritted her teeth.
"King!" Rias' strength had finally recovered enough that she could teleport us up to the roof. I looked back to Kallen while we teleported, she was confused as suspected.
There was hundreds of Britannian dropships, each carrying a Knightmare frame. They were about to witness true power.
"Pawn!" I shouted.
Boost! Boost! Boost!
Issei armour shone a deep crimson red reflecting the light of his gauntlet everywhere. He shot up into the sky, throwing dropships and Knightmares about. But there was one that wasn't like the others. It was designed like...
The Lancelot.
"Issei get the hell out of there now!" I ordered.
"What why? We're winn-!" Issei was cut off by a massive metal hand grabbing and throwing back down at us.
"King! Queen!" I ordered Rias and Akeno. They both flew into the air while I checked on Issei. I tried to scan him but my helmet could make no sense of what his suit actually was. Suddenly a large gust of wind forced me to the ground. And slowly a gas crept up behind us. Everyone in the team started coughing. It was Tear gas, that could effect Devils too, huh. Handy to know. The Knightmare that deployed it was the same one that threw Issei, knocking him unconscious.
"Retreat!" I ordered the rest.
"W-wait!" Kiba coughed.
"You can't withstand the gas, I actually have a helmet, you guys don't! Go now!" I ordered them.
"Akeno, Rias! Keep the other pilots occupied, I'll deal with this one." I smirked through my mask.
'It's my turn now.'
I extended my left arm forward and my grappler shot out, attaching itself to the Knightmare frame. I used my other hand to draw my Desert Eagle. But this gun did not use bullets. Instead it had a mini fusion reactor, creating tremendous amounts of energy. The physics may not work but I digress.
I fired two shots into the Knightmare, they caused significant hull breaches but not enough to put it out of commission. The Knightmare drew a sword to slice my cables. I retracted the cable and activated my jet boots in order to land safely.
'Now the game was on.'
The Knightmare was fast. Incredibly fast, even faster than Rias' Knights. I had to lead my shots in order to take it out. All the while dodging and weaving through its flurry of attacks I was tracking it and finally fired a shot that should have completely destroyed it, but it vanished.
"What the-!" The ground below me rumbled and shattered, I went falling through. Using my grappler I grabbed onto the side of the wall. "Akeno! Status report!" I filtered out the sound of the celling collapsing.
"We're fine! That machine! It was using Geass!" Akeno shouted through her headset.
"How could you be sure?" I asked, securing the grappler wire onto my harness.
"Because any higher class being can feel when it gets used and anyway, you were frozen for ten seconds. I had to keep it occupied while you recovered." She explained, I could kiss her right now.
'Geass? That can stop people's perception of time? It helps explain why it suddenly vanished.'
"Very well, make your back down to the subcontrol station." I ordered the duo.
"Zero?"
"What is it My Red Right Hand?" Lelouch called me by my field name.
"There's a Knightmare that we believe is piloted by a person with a Geass. The colour scheme is red and gold and the specs seem to be derived from the Lancelot. Tell all forces to steer clear of it!" I commanded my superior officer.
"Very well, all forces, place explosives on any support you can find and retreat back to the first floor." Lelouch ordered.
"Akeno come get me, I'm currently hanging on a wall under the massive hole in the roof."
"Ok, Kiba how is everyone?" Akeno asked over the system.
"We're retreating right now but we can't teleport without you or Rias."
"Akeno forget me actually, get down to them and teleport back down. I'll find my own way down." I ordered the raven haired girl.
"Okay but make sure you get out." Akeno submitted.
"C.C. How long do I have to get out of here?" I asked the immortal witch.
"Four minutes, brother, if you can't make it out in that time... well..." Lelouch interjected.
"I understand." Four minutes. More than enough time, if luck was in my side.
I launched myself from the wall I was attached to, grappling upwards to get to the roof. It was easier said than done however. The part I was about to grapple onto had just crumbled, leaving me in mid air with no grapple point. I activated my jet boosters but they only got me so far, but then I remembered, I can make anything I want as long as it shoots.
I materialised a grappling gun -similar to what was on my wrist, yet in the form of a gun, thus having much longer range- and grappled onto the ledge of the building outside, I pulled myself up huffing for air, but there was no time to waste, realising this fact I sprinted over to the edge of the building.
And took a leap of faith.
"Lelouch activate the bombs now!" I
Shouted midair. Seconds later explosions were going off all around me, I grabbed a piece of rebar. 'Work you bastard work!' I thrust the rebar into the concrete to my immediate right. I slowed down considerably until I stopped completely.
"Rias! You all okay?" I asked with genuine... concern? Huh weird that's pretty out of character.
"Yeah we're fine. Issei's back on his feet and we're with Lelouch's forces." Rias spoke. A wave of relief overcame me.
"Good, and by the way you should make a habit of saying Zero from now on." I reminded her.
"RRH?" Lelouch interrupted using an abbreviated version of my name.
"Your orders sir?"
"We're going to the Chinese Federation consulate. You and your team will take your leave utilising your... abilities, i will have C.C contact you once we can come back together again but I'm under constant supervision, it may be a while before we see each other again, take care brother." Lelouch always liked having the final words so I didn't dare say anything other than "Roger."
"Rias. Come teleport me to you, let's get the hell out of here." I wheezed out, a Sharp pain coursing through my right side, I looked down to check, a chunk of metal had pierced me. I pulled it out and the blood stopped flowing. And before I knew it I was standing in front of them, we were in Issei's house once again. I pressed the button on the back of my helmet and took it off.
"Are you okay?!" Akeno pulled me into a hug, referring to the blood patch on clothing.
"I'm fine." I pulled out of being smothered to death and cleared my throat.
"Well done, all of you. You have power, that cannot be denied but you don't know how to harness that and create yourself into effective fighting tools, we'll start training tomorrow, you all may know how to fight equally powerful individuals. But an army." I made a clicking sound and wagged my finger.
"I think not, anyway I'm going to get cleaned up, you should all do the same, and do not let any one see those uniforms under any circumstances." I pointed out the standard issue Black Knight uniforms that they were wearing.
"Lincoln." I heard Issei say.
"Yeah." I turned around to them.
"Well, we'll always try to help you whenever we can." Issei gave me a thumbs and an over exaggerated smile.
"Yeah..." I trailed off, most likely leaving them confused. These people weren't my friends per say but they were not my enemies, I do feel as though I've become a bit fond of them, maybe even caring a little bit. I entered my room, unstrapping the harness/body armour when I heard a knock at my door.
"Yes?" The person who came through the door was none other than Rias.
"Rias, what is it?" I asked, still continuing to change out of my uniform.
"I have an offer. Or rather a proposal." She said, playing with her hair.
"They're the same thing are they not?" I smirked.
"Hell supplies the Black Knight's with weapons." She disregarded my previous statement.
"I'm sure there's some sort of law against that in the other worlds, one supplies an insurrection in the other world." I pointed out.
"There is, but how do you think the EU has staved off Britannia for so long?" Rias asked rhetorically.
"Home field advantage, more reason to fight and more natural resources." I could tell what she was trying to say but I wanted to hear it from her.
"Wrong, heaven has been supplying them with armaments for decades."
"So that makes it okay for hell to do so too? Very well, what do I have to exchange in turn for this contract? My soul? My virginity? Maybe even become a demonic minion?"
"Don't be silly, the only one who wants your virginity is Akeno, and besides you won't need to pay a thing." Rias laughed slightly.
"Ok, let me guess, I have to go to Hell in order to finalise this 'transaction, correct?"
"Correct." Rias affirmed my hypothesis.
"I see, tomorrow isn't an inconvenience? It is a Saturday and I see no reason that we couldn't train in hell."
"Not a problem, I'll let my... our family know." With that Rias left the room leaving me with my thoughts... and an Angel hiding at the door.
"Yes." I laid down on the bed.
"How did you know I was there?" Irina scratched her head as if she was genuinely confused.
"I saw you while I spoke with Rias, anyway what do you want?" I materialised a 1911 and threw it up in the air, catching it, then throwingit, then catching it.
"Uhm... I want to know if you're...ok..." I turned to face her.
"Well, I am. The first stage of the operation has been complete. Zero has returned... in fact. Let's go watch TV." I stated, my trademark smirk plastered on my face.
"What are we waiting for? This is just a game show." Koneko complained.
"You'll see." I waited eagerly for what was about to come. The presenter of the shows voice became more static-y. The pixels started to flicker.
"Huh?" Asia and Issei audibly gasped. I chuckled.
The form of Zero appeared on the TV, he spoke.
"I Am Zero! People of Japan! I Have Returned!" Lelouch did his exaggerated arm movements.
"Hear Me Britannia! All You Who Have Power, Heed My Words Carefully! I Am Burdened By Sorrow. War and Discrimination. Malicious Deeds Carried Out By The Strong, The Same Abhorrent Interplay of Tragedy and Comedy. The World Has Not Changed, The People Still Suffer, That Is Why The Resurrection of Zero Was Necessary. So Long As The Strong Oppress The Weak My Rebellion Will Continue To Grow! It Begins Today With The Devine Punishment I Have Wrought Upon The Inept and Foolish Viceroy Callares! I Shall Fight! Against All Those Who Abuse Their Power!" There was a pause as the people around me murmured to each other.
"Therefore Once Again Hear and Now! I Declare The Establishment of The United States of Japan! Starting From This Moment This Room Shall Be The First Dominion of The USJ! Race, Ideology and Religion Will Not Matter, Being A Citizen Will Have But One Requirement! To Do That Which Is Just!" With that, the broadcast ended.
"So is this Zero guy serious. The country he established is just a room." Xenovia expressed her distain, which is funny seeing as she did just help make what she's complaining about possible.
"Every great thing starts with one small step, does it not?"
"But people are dying." Asia said quietly. She reminded me of Nunnally in that regard, innocent but still not understanding of the world we live in.
"People are going to get hurt, innocent people. That just simply is the way it is. But tell me, for the ten of millions who have already died, what difference does an extra hundred thousand make?I don't support the reasoning behind the deaths. Obviously if I did I would not be who I am right now. But to expect nobody to die, and yet want change. That is just ignorance. Blissful, yes. But ignorance all the same. Change won't happen because we want it.
Change won't happen because the current state is rotten and filthy.
Change will only happen through blood and guns. That's the way it is. That's the way it's always been. And if the people won't change, then they will die, like all those who oppose change." I finished my speech.
"B-but-." I cut her off.
"There is no if's there is no buts. There just Is." I told her simply, standing up to retrieve a bottle of water from the fridge. Everyone sat there quietly, contemplating my words.
"So... does anyone want pizza?" Issei awkwardly said, I couldn't help but laugh a little.
"You know what? Sure. As long as there's no pineapple."