Chapter Four: The Ruins as they Were
The aftereffects of the essay were something of an awakening.
Talk of the settlement and the bad things going on outside it could be heard wherever you went. Some people were pro-Pureblood ideology; others were moderate. Still, more had radical ideas like charity and goodwill towards men. But they were all talking about it, and that, Lelouch supposed, was progress.
The more people talked, the more likely someone would do something after all.
In a student council meeting, Rivalz Cardemond opened a bottle of champagne before anyone could stop him. It was much to Shirley's chagrin. "Alright, good news everyone! Our donations have skyrocketed!"
"Rivalz, we're not supposed to be drinking that!" said Shirley.
"Relax, will you," said Rivalz. "The stuff is non-alcoholic."
"I can't believe putting out one assignment could have that kind of effect," said Shirley.
"Well, that's what happens when we put our all into it," said Milly.
"Still, Lelouch, don't you think what you wrote was a bit, um, extreme?" asked Nina.
"None of it was untrue, Nina," said Lelouch. "And we needed to say it to keep things going."
"Well, I'm ready for another weekend," said Shirley, pumping a fist.
Milly smiled at Shirley. "Supple and willing, that's what I like."
"I train hard in the swim club," said Shirley.
Milly smiled. "That's not what I meant?"
Shirley, who was certainly deserving of Milly's attention, looked up to her. "Huh?"
Milly pointed toward Shirley. "Your a ten. At least from what I've seen in the girl's bathroom anyway."
Shirley let out a cry and wrapped her arms around herself.
"Can we please focus, Milly?" asked Lelouch. "Stop flirting with Shirley.
"Rivalz, you got the shipments right?"
"Yeah, a lot of rations. I delivered them like you wanted yesterday with Nina," said Rivalz. He poured out glasses of champagne. "I don't see why you want to keep them, though?"
"If the stove breaks, we'll need something to hand out. It'll pay to be prepared," said Lelouch, sipping it. He'd been waiting for disaster to strike for some time and was trying to be prepared for everything he could.
"Oh fine," said Milly. "I guess we should focus on balancing the budget here for once?"
"Yeah, if we don't allocate things properly, the equestrian club is going to come in here on horseback," said Rivalz.
Shirley nodded. "Uh-huh. You know, there are some other students talking about becoming involved. They want to help people."
"Tell them we don't need any extra hands at the moment," said Lelouch. "Too many cooks spoil the broth."
"Maybe so," said Milly. "But I think we should make some pamphlets. If we can get people to distribute them and make people aware of these problems, it could help us a lot."
"Or get us all killed," muttered Lelouch.
Everyone stared at him.
Ah yes, none of them had actually been here during the invasion. They still operated on the assumption that their government wouldn't kill them. The problem was that Britannia was a government that ruled by violence. Any other kind of power was, in some sense, heresy.
It pricked the egos of petulant nobles to see peasants as better people than them.
"...In any case," said Milly. "Don't you think we should include Kallen in the student council?"
"What?" said Lelouch. "Why?"
"Well," said Milly. "Kallen hasn't joined any clubs before now. And she's always out and sick. I think she'd benefit from being with us. And anyway, you and she seemed to get on well together."
"Now hang on a sec, Madam President," said Shirley. "We have to consider carefully before letting anyone else join. We've doing fine with our current members, and I'm not sure Kallen could handle this."
"Nunnally is practically an honorary member, though," noted Rivalz.
And the discussion went on.
Lelouch had to force himself to pay attention and then force himself to go through the motions. By the time the day arrived, every fiber of his being was fighting him making it to the soup kitchen on time. Even as he forced himself to do that, he kept doubting Rivalz, wondering if he would show up on time.
It was absurd, of course. Rivalz had delivered the bibles on schedule every single day, and it wouldn't matter all that much if he was late. They had spares from leftover shipments, just in case. But Lelouch just kept on feeling miserable, and as he set up the plates, Milly picked up on it.
"Lelouch, are you okay?" asked Milly. "You have been really down of late."
"I'm fine," said Lelouch. "I'm getting all my work done on schedule."
"But you're not fine," said Shirley. "You keep on looking down at your feet. We're worried about you, Lulu."
"Do you want to talk about it?" asked Milly.
"...I don't really know what the problem is," said Lelouch. "When I was young, I used to think I was powerless. That everything was too big for me to make any change at all. I hated feeling powerless, so I tried to do everything I possibly could do to make a difference.
"Sweeping up, learning new skills, I did all of it because I wanted to change the world. To make this... bleak place just a little better. But now, I am doing everything I possibly can, and I still feel powerless. And all I can do is what I am now."
"Well, you're doing a lot more than most people are," said Shirley. "And this whole thing is happening because of you. You inspired us, Lulu."
"Plus," said Nina. "Doing this is probably helping to bring order to the settlement. I mean, all the elevens we feed aren't likely to do any terrorist actions. They might even become informants."
That wasn't very reassuring, but Lelouch took the point. He checked his watch. "...Where is Rivalz? He ought to have been here by now. Milly, can you get the surplus books unpacked? We may-"
He looked up and realized the others were staring out the window.
"Lelouch, we've got some visitors outside," said Milly.
Lelouch saw several dozen police outside with a tall man at the front. He wore the emblem of Clovis' Royal Guard and brown trenchcoats like all the rest. His face had a scar on it, and he had a blue goatee.
"I can see that," said Lelouch. "You guys hold down the fort, okay."
"Lulu, you're not going out there?" asked Shirley, grabbing him by the shoulder.
Lelouch halted. "They are the police, Shirley. What am I going to do? Proclaim they'll never take me alive?" He took her hand and lowered it slowly. "Trust me."
Then he turned and walked through the doors. This was the part where things came crashing down. The only question was if he could stave it off for a bit.
"Good morning officer, how can I help you?" asked Lelouch, coming forward.
The man looked at the facility disdainfully. "Are you the owner of this... facility?"
"Yes, that is correct," said Lelouch. "Can I help you?" Lelouch sincerely doubted this man was here for legitimate reasons. So he was either here to wreck the place or make his presence known. Though Lelouch doubted he'd kill them.
"I am Captain Milner, head of the Police Force," said the man. "We've received an anonymous tip that you are distributing books to the locals. Care to explain yourself?"
Lelouch kept himself calm. "This is a charity. I thought the books would make their lives more bearable. And I thought it would make them more productive citizens.
"I could get you a copy if you would like?"
"I think you had best do so, schoolboy," said Milner.
Lelouch nodded. "Of course. I'll get you one right away. I'm sorry for the inconvenience."
Running back in, Lelouch quickly grabbed one of the books Milly had set out. Coming back, he brought it to Milner. As he did, he felt a real sense of fury at this. Why should he have to beg and scrape to this man? What had he done that was wrong?
Did he even have a warrant?
Milner didn't even look at the book, just handed it to another. "...I want this taken back to base. Search for any coded messages."
"What kind of messages are you looking for?" asked Lelouch despite himself.
"That's none of your concern if you're lucky," said Milner. "My men are going to carry out a full inspection of this building. I trust you will cooperate?"
"Of course," said Lelouch. "Do you have a warrant?"
"In this matter, there was no time to get one," said Milner simply. "I trust you will cooperate and be understanding."
Lelouch nodded. Meaning Milner didn't have any regard for warrants. He probably got away with it by targetting non-Britannians. The Student Council was operating outside of the settlement, so it was fair game. "But my classmates are cooking, so having too many people in the kitchen could be a bad idea."
"You're in no position to tell us what is right or wrong," said Milner.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean-" began Lelouch.
At that moment, Milner motioned, and the men moved through the door without a word. Milner moved in after him before motioning. "Flip those tables; I want the floor checked."
And the tables were flipped, smashed against the wall to dent. That would take a lot of money and time to fix. The tile floors were slammed repeatedly, and one of the police smashed a chair against them just in case. Lelouch checked out the window to confirm people weren't coming yet. A sudden crowd of people Milner could murder without consequence would be a disaster.
"What's in here, you, the blonde girl?" asked Milner, pointing through an open door.
"A garage," said Milly, as several of the police going into the kitchen to stand very close to Nina and Shirley. "We have it to receive shipments."
"And where are those shipments?" asked Milner.
"Though here," said Milly.
Drawing out a box, he opened one, and Milner looked at the bibles incredulously. "And how much do these cost?"
"Roughly one hundred a box," said Milly. "There are companies that sell them at a loss. They get a tax deduction."
"Which companies?" asked Milner.
"I can't remember off the top of my head," said Lelouch, surprised at the question.
"Start remembering," said Milner.
"I don't have all the documentation with me. I don't even handle the financial aspect," said Milly.
"Then who does? Who's funding all this?" asked Milner.
Milly looked like she was about to panic. Lelouch came forward. "I handle the financial aspects. Please, I can answer questions you have."
Milner looked to the men who'd finished wrecking the inside. "You, check the bibles for anything hidden. I'll talk to you myself, schoolboy."
Milner escorted Lelouch out and raised a hand. "Give me your ID."
Lelouch nodded and drew out his wallet. "Of course."
Milner looked through it. "Lelouch Lamperouge. Age fifteen.
"Not a good way to cut class."
"I'm careful to only do this on weekends, sir," said Lelouch.
"Well, you ought to find a better way to have fun in your off-hours," said Milner. "There are a lot of dangerous people around, and some of them are being invited in here by you."
"I know," said Lelouch, feeling oddly detached. He already knew how this ended. Tamaki had come here on impulse, but Milner had premeditated this. And he was showing off for his men. "One of them threatened me with a gun last week."
Milner halted. "And you're still here?"
"I managed to talk him down, I gave him a bible, and we parted ways quite well," said Lelouch.
Milner scoffed. "Are you that spineless? And you call yourself Britannian.
"Who was he?"
Lelouch was not going to rat Tamaki out. "I don't know. He didn't feel like sharing his name, and there are a lot of people with guns around here."
"This soup... what's in it?" asked a guard of Shirley.
"Basic ingredients. It's meant so anyone can consume it," said Shirley.
"I think we'd better examine it," said the guard.
"Please, sir, it's... it's not done," said Shirley as they forced their way forward. "And if you contaminate it, other people won't be able to eat from it."
"What did he look like?" asked Milner.
"I..." Lelouch tried to respond.
But then he saw that the guards charged with examining the bibles were tearing them up. Ripping them up and throwing them on the floor like trash. Why? What did they gain from it? They could have felt as big and powerful searching through the pages of one dramatically. They knew Lelouch wasn't hiding drugs in them or whatever.
"Please, don't tear those up! We have to pay for those from our donations!" said Milly.
"I don't remember," was all Lelouch could say.
What was wrong with these people? How could anyone become so twisted?
"I think you do," said Milner.
"I'm sorry, sir," said Lelouch. "But I was more focused on the gun pointed at my chest than his physical appearance. I don't even remember what it was I said to him."
Milner paused. And Lelouch realized that he was looking at Lelouch with a lack of comprehension as well as contempt. "What do you get from this?"
"Nothing," said Lelouch. "I just want to help people."
"Please, the strong prey on the weak. The is the way of Britannia," said the man. "You have to get something out of this, so what is it?"
Lelouch tried to think of an answer that would satisfy him. The truth that he was doing this purely because it was the right thing to do was... it would never pass. "...I suppose I like the feeling I get when I help other people."
"Captain Milner, sir, we've got a crowd of elevens coming out here!" said one of the men.
It was amazing how quickly Milner went from brute to conquering hero. He raised a hand and drew his gun. "All of you form up. Stand ready to mow down the filthy animals if they get anywhere near!"
Lelouch realized what he was doing. He was going to massacre a crowd of homeless and call it a glorious victory. And all hope of the soup kitchen working would be gone forever, all for his ego.
"No, wait, those are our customers!" said Milly, rushing. "They come here because they need a hot meal! They aren't rebels!"
"Yes, let me talk to them," said Lelouch quickly. "I'll get them to disperse, and your men won't have to risk their lives. Please, if you start a massacre here, it'll be in plain view of the highway."
Apparently, what Lelouch had said had reached Milner. He eyed the highway and finally shrugged. "...Fine."
Lelouch moved out and saw them coming. If such a thing existed, Milner's conscience would not stop him from opening fire if this failed. So Lelouch yelled in Japanese. "Please! The police are looking for an excuse to murder you and us! With luck, we'll be able to open the soup kitchen a little late!
"Please disperse and come back after they are gone.
"Hopefully, we'll be alive then."
Silence. Lelouch shouted it again and again and motioned, and the people took the point and moved away.
"You know these animals' tongue?" asked Milner.
"I am working in the ghettos," said Lelouch, turning to him. "Knowing the local languages can prove helpful."
"What's that?!" came a shout. "You're recording us, aren't you, you little brat! Give me that phone!"
Lelouch turned and saw police grabbing a phone roughly from Nina. Nina screamed as it was pulled out and the phone was smashed on the ground.
"Leave her alone!" said Shirley. "Why are you so afraid of people seeing your glorious heroics, Captain?"
"Insolent brat!" said Milner, drawing out a gun. Lelouch stepped between him and Shirley. "Stay where you are, boy. I won't talk backtalk to his highnesses finest."
Lelouch might be able to kill Milner, assuming he stabbed him fast enough and didn't have an attack of nerves. But all of them would end up dead if things got violent. He raised his hands as if in surrender. Milner lowered his gun and punched him in the stomach. Lelouch keeled over to his knees.
"Men, they are distributing bibles, so perhaps we should get into the spirit of things," said Milner to his men. "Turn over the tables in this fine establishment."
Of course, the men had already done all that. So instead, they just started breaking things. The stove was kicked in and smashed, the soup spilled out over the floor. Kitchenware was broken, and many of the plates were smashed over the floor. A few stacks of them managed to avoid their notice, so thank heaven for small miracles.
It was just like Lelouch had imagined.
"That's a very nice window you have there," said Milner, drawing his pistol. "Still, it obscures the view." And he fired a shot through it as his men filed out. There was a spiderweb pattern where the bullet hit. Milner's expression darkened. "Bulletproof? No matter."
And Milner fired one shot after another until his clip was empty. Eight in all, since he was using an old-style revolver. The window shattered and fell inward to break on the ground. That was going to take a lot of work to clean up.
"I hope your customers don't mind a little outdoor dining," said Milner.
Lelouch shrugged. ...Well, most of them are homeless. So they should be used to it. Thank you for your time, Captain. If there's nothing else, I have to clean this up."
Milner struck him across the face with a hand before raising his pistol. Then he remembered that shooting a Britannian civilian could cause him problems. So he decided Lelouch wasn't worth the effort and sheathed the gun. "That's enough men. Let them ask their new friends to clean the place up since they like these monkeys so much."
And off they went, laughing, the thugs.
"Nina, are you alright?" asked Shirley.
"My wrist, it hurts," said Nina. "I think... I think I need to go to the hospital. Shirley."
"I think she's sprained it," said Milly.
The emotions hit, and Lelouch realized everything had gone up in flames. Just like he'd always known would happen. It had been a doomed effort, dangerous and ultimately pointless. But it had to be done.
"Damn it," said Lelouch. "Alright, Shirley, I want you to take Nina and get her to a hospital. Milly and I will... well, we'll finish things up here. We'll use the emergency rations we stockpiled in case the stove burned out."
"Why would they do that? They're supposed to protect us from the elevens..." said Nina.
"Don't worry, Nina," said Shirley. "They won't get away with this."
"There's no difference!" said Nina. "There's no difference between them and the elevens!"
At that moment, Rivalz rounded the corner at breakneck speed. "Nina, Milly, Shirley, Lelouch! Are you guys okay!"
"Rivalz, where were you?" asked Lelouch.
"I was running late because the mechanical club needed help," said Rivalz. "But then I heard gunfire and... I was afraid. I should have come."
"There wasn't anything you could have done," said Milly. "We need to take Nina to a hospital."
"Take out the bibles," said Lelouch, grabbing the box and pulling it out. "We'll need them."
"How can you think about bibles at a time like this?" asked Shirley.
"It's part of the job we have to finish," said Lelouch. "You'd better get going."
Shirley, Rivalz, and Nina left. Now Milly and Lelouch were left looking at the broken and desecrated ruins. Milly seemed to be crying, and Lelouch felt like crying, only he couldn't. So instead, he grabbed a broom and began to sweep up.
"What do we do now?" asked Milly.
"Improvise," said Lelouch. "Replace the window, clean the floors. The tables should only be a little bent, so we'll set them up again."
"After that?" asked Milly. "Lelouch, maybe we should call this off."
"Do you want Milner and his ilk to win?" asked Lelouch. "They came out here to shut us down. This was to scare us into submission. To prove to themselves and us that no light can survive in this desecrated hell.
"Well, I'm not going to."
"He nearly shot you!" said Milly. "Is this really worth it?!"
"Do you think it's worth it to the people counting on us?" asked Lelouch.
Milly halted. "Yes, but...
"This could get us killed, Lelouch."
"Maybe so. I did you warn you we'd step on some toes," said Lelouch. "But if I give in now, I'll never be able to look myself in the mirror. Now come on, we've got to clean things up here. Once done, we'll prepare the rations."
"What do you have in mind?" asked Milly, grabbing a broom for herself.
"If we cut some of them up and use the plates properly..." Lelouch thought. "Well, proper presentation can go a long way."
And that was what they did.
They put back up all the tables and chairs, though they couldn't disguise the bent metal and wrecked walls. They cleaned up the wasted soup with a mop and got rid of all the glass. The torn-up bibles were put into recycling, and the ones Rivalz had brought were set out. The broken window was an eyesore, but Lelouch opted to shut the grating they used for it at night. That, at least, would break the wind and make it appear a bit better.
And at the very least, Lelouch though, it looked more like it belonged in the ghettos now.
The crowds returned, and many of them had been watching. Lelouch spoke. "Hello everyone.
"I'm afraid we're not going to be able to serve our usual fair. However, we've got a backup supply. Not as good as usual, but you'll be able to sit down and eat here."
Lelouch ushered them in, speaking kind words of welcome he did not feel. Milly served them rations cut and prepared to be better on the eyes. There were fewer people today, of course. Many had been scared off by the police. But they seemed to enjoy the food they were given, probably because they didn't have anything else.
Eventually, they filed out. Milly and Lelouch closed up the broken remnants of the soup kitchen. Milly sighed as she tied the trash bags. "...Well, today was a disaster."
"But it was still a victory," said Lelouch. "Our enemies came here trying to shut us down. They failed. Even if we never come back here, at least we proved our intentions.
"We stayed open. That is all that matters, in the end.
"We'll patch this place up later. I need a drink."
The day ended in bitter victory.