Recap: Nunnally is plotting the downfall of Clovis but hampered due to her lack of influence and power. The only thing going for her is chess. Lelouch has a strategy meeting. Kallen joined the army.
Chapter 19: Hey, New Guy
After the Humiliation of Edinburgh, Empress Elizabeth III argued that a standing, professional army, loyal only to the crown, would protect the nation against a repeated incident. A more cynical interpretation is that she saw the necessity of her own standing army to defend her authority over other lords. In keeping with this spirit, she abolished the practice of buying commissions, and established the first Imperial Military Academy which would train bright and upcoming officers for the following two and a half centuries. The Academy later expanded to cover other important subjects, turning into a more traditional university.
While the academy was intended to ensure military rank had more to do with merit than social standing, this was not the case in practice. Expensive tuition made the Academy accessible to only the wealthiest noble families who would enter the army at a higher rank, while their poorer counterparts had to work their way up from the very bottom. Promotions themselves required the recommendation of multiple senior officers, and therefore favored officers who socialized in similar social circles. The gap between low ranking and upper nobles was further increased by the practice of rewarding land from conquered territories to exceptional officers—favoring those already at the top.
Emperor Charles zi Britannia attempted to improve the efficiency of the army by lowering the tuition of the Academy, requiring that evaluations be done without the testee's name, and offering scholarships to talented young individuals. Instructors from both the Academy and the later addition of the Knightmare Academy reported that he would often take a personal interest in students and accelerate their promotions through the ranks. These actions resulted in two major factions in the upper military rank as more traditional nobles clashed with hungry, young blood. The hungriest of which was Lelouch vi Britannia (ironically, his commission was due to status, not merit).
—Unifying War: Ch. 2: Britannian Prelude
Viceroy Palace, Tokyo, Area Eleven
In a small room intended for servants, not princes, Lelouch changed into his dress uniform under the harsh eyes of his guards. They were not friends at this moment, not when both of them were brimming with barely restrained anger. It would be a long time until they trusted him again to leave their sight. While the lack of privacy stung, it was nothing compared to the inevitable punishment. He had just determined that his father cared, and now he had angered him.
Lelouch didn't regret it. Suzaku was alive and well. Against the odds, he had not only survived but thrived—although his once famous temper was nowhere to be found. Except Lelouch had left him in a room of enraged terrorists, and he wanted to tear through the city to make sure his oldest and best friend was safe. But he had promised, and such actions would only draw unwelcome attention to Suzaku, so he restrained himself.
He hated it. A mere day was not enough to regain the lost years between them. They could never see each other again. Not with Suzaku's JLF ties, and Lelouch as Zero. At least Nunnally didn't have such a blatant conflict of interest.
Lelouch finished with the last button and turned. The golden braid bounced on his left shoulder—the rest of the world had the aiguillette reversed. A situation which had caused multiple diplomatic incidents since Emperor Ricardo had switched it to symbolize his deference to the late Empress. Frederick, dressed in simple black—because Lelouch was not going to advertise his guards' skills beyond the obvious implication of being part of his royal guard—stepped forward and dropped the cape into his arms.
Of every ridiculous and posturing element, this was the only part Lelouch approved. Capes were nice. Even if they were made out of silk and had the Britannian sigil painfully hand stitched in gold on the back. Briefly, he considered turning it inside out and allowing the deep purple a chance to be admired. Unfortunately, he did not need another excuse to draw the other officers' condescension. His age would be enough of a hurdle.
"Are you ready, Your Highness?" Frederick asked.
Lelouch dropped his hand and the silk fluttered away. "We're alone. There's no need to be so formal."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"I'm sorry," Lelouch whispered.
Henry crossed his arms. "You didn't just wander off. You attached the tracker to a pigeon. What could be worth going to all that trouble? And don't feed me that bullshit about going out to eat. Cameras caught you at the pier at four in the morning."
On the bright side, Henry had lost his excessive deference and was acting like a human again—a very angry one.
"I needed some space." Lelouch shrugged and rested his hand on the door. "I'm sorry for causing you such stress. It was inconsiderate of me. I'm not sorry for taking some time to myself."
"You hate being alone," Frederick snapped. Grudgingly, he added, "Your Highness."
"Japan is different," Lelouch whispered. Japan was where everything had begun. Where his mother had revealed her darkness; his father, his callousness. Where the lies of Britannia's justness and greatness shattered. Where his nightmares would always inevitably return as Suzaku asked why Lelouch hadn't saved him. "I put a nightmare to rest."
For a moment, Frederick faltered. Perhaps Lelouch should explain. Roy had made his opinion on the endless secrecy quite clear. Lelouch had deliberately broken their trust, now he would have to extend his. Trust had to be given first.
"After my mother was attacked, Nunnally and I were sent to Japan. Tokyo used to be quite different. At night, the city was filled with vibrant colors, and the stars faded so only the brightest could ever be seen. We..." The words stuck in his mouth. The bombs dropping and the ground quaking beneath them. The cave where they huddled together as everything changed. The dead piled so high that Lelouch had to crane his neck to see the sky. The smell that emptied their stomach of the meager rations they carried. And his mother in a knightmare stained in blood arriving to return them home. "It was home for two years, and then we returned to the palace, and it was gone forever."
Frederick nodded, his jaw relaxing slightly. Henry though... He winced and massaged his temples. His medical exam couldn't come soon enough.
Tokyo, Area Eleven
Suzaku, head bowed, leaned against the building and watched through his fringe the crowd move past him. An old woman sneered as she caught his eye, and he wiped the sticky glob of spit from his cheek. At least that was expected, routine. Everything else in his life was hurtling into the unknown.
Strangers knew who he was. Ban had discovered his lie and kept looking at him in disappointment. Lelouch would be shot if he crossed paths with any of Ohgi's group. Which was why Suzaku had once again thrown caution to the wind and was twiddling with the small scrap of paper Lelouch had deposited in his pocket
He wasn't quite sure what Lelouch intended. There had merely been a place, a time, and a phone number—only to be used in absolute emergencies which was underlined three times. Suzaku felt kind of insulted. He knew their friendship could land both of them in hot water.
A familiar flash of blonde caught his eye, and he lifted his head. Nunnally, dressed in the Ashford uniform, stood between two other girls, one with startlingly pink hair and a briefcase. Lelouch was nowhere in sight, but he had admitted to having a meeting today.
Hesitantly, he stood up and dusted himself off, his chest suddenly feeling too tight. Lelouch trusted him with Nunnally. The girls laughed, and he combed his hands through his hair before dropping them. Nunnally wouldn't even know. He picked up the jacket—fine enough that with his brown hair and green eyes, he wouldn't immediately be recognized as a Number—and put it on.
"Hi," he said, stepping into their path. The two girls stared at him suspiciously, and he resisted the urge to duck and pretend this had been a giant mistake. He needed to warn Nunnally, so she could warn her brother, so Lelouch wouldn't die and Empress Marianne wouldn't raze the entire city in retaliation. It was the only reason he hadn't yet grabbed the emergency bag and disappeared. "Nunnally, I was hoping..."
Nunnally frowned, and her companions narrowed their eyes even further. The brown haired girl's hand reached into her bag which undoubtedly contained a weapon.
"Why are you wearing Lelouch's jacket?" the pink haired one asked, and his breath caught. She had such beautiful purple eyes, a smidge of a shade lighter than Lelouch's. "Did you mug him?"
The spell was broken. "What? No. I was cold, and he gave me his jacket and refused to take it back, and I swear, I didn't hurt him."
Nunnally's mouth parted. "Zachary!"
What?
She rushed forward, her head resting on his shoulder as she enveloped him in a rib crushing hug. Since when were both of them so tall? "Suzaku," she whispered and pulled back. She grabbed his hands and pulled him closer to her two confused friends. "This is Zack. He's an old friend of Lelouch and mine. Zack, these are my friends, Euphie and Allie."
Clearly, she didn't trust either of them enough with his real name. At least Britannia wouldn't be hearing of the Prime Minister's son from them. Only from his fellow Japanese who felt betrayed that he had gone into hiding. What they expected him to do, at ten years old, Suzaku didn't know.
He waved hesitantly. The two girls continued to scowl.
"Why didn't Lelouch tell me instead of being so damn cryptic?" Nunnally complained. "I could've found an excuse, but if I cancel now, they'll think I am nervous... or scared."
Her nose scrunched in distaste. Where Lelouch had changed drastically, Nunnally was just as enthusiastic and eager to prove herself. She had merely gotten taller and more confident. To survive in Britannia, where any weakness was exploited, she had to be.
"I don't think he made up his mind until early this morning," Suzaku defended his friend. The note had definitely not been in his pocket when they entered the bar.
"Did either of you even sleep?" she asked.
Suzaku rubbed the back of his head. "We may have lost track of time. I hope he had a chance to sleep in... but he did say he had some meeting today."
She snorted. "So no. And given that he ditched his guards for you, he probably got a lecture instead of the opportunity for a power nap."
"Oh... he knows," Euphie whispered, and her expression softened.
"My friends know too," Nunnally said cheerfully. "We can at least grab lunch. My treat."
"Lelouch already paid—" A sharp squeeze of his hand cut off Suzaku's protests.
The two girls chuckled fondly, and he wondered at how relaxed they were. Friends was a much more apt descriptor than guards, unlike Lelouch's own two companions. They had carried themselves like soldiers for the entirety of their visit at the Stadtfelds. Suzaku would be surprised if either of Nunnally's friends had ever seen combat.
And they were wandering Tokyo without a care in the world.
Suzaku scanned the busy street for anyone who was following at a distance. He leaned in close so her friends wouldn't overhear. "You need to warn Lelouch to stay away from the Outer Concessions… And the hospital."
"Did something happen?" she whispered.
"Some unfortunate people realized Lelouch speaks Japanese and would prefer to eliminate loose ends."
"He always finds trouble, but thank you."
The amount of weariness accompanying that statement made his stomach clench in sympathy. Lelouch should be safe, yet he wasn't. And Nunnally was used to it. He checked over his shoulder again because there was no way that royalty could walk the street without trouble.
Nothing appeared out of place.
"Relax," Nunnally said as they took a seat at a humble outdoor cafe. Normally, Suzaku wouldn't even dare to walk through the plaza openly here. "I don't have a history of getting into trouble, unlike my brother."
"You sure this is a good idea?" Allie asked, her gaze drifting to a pair of knight police officers eating ice cream at a distant table.
"We're not doing anything wrong," Euphie said primly. She skimmed the menu briefly before pinning him with a stern gaze. "You're not Britannian... But your accent is."
"I hate your brother," Suzaku grumbled and hid behind the menu.
Nunnally chuckled weakly. "That's rude, Euphie. Not everyone grows up in such socially isolated circles. Zachary's family took a hit after the invasion"—understatement of the century—"but he was our best friend. Kallen's family had trouble too, you know. It's hardly fair to judge someone for their parent's decisions."
While Euphie nodded along pleasantly, seriously considering Nunnally's words, Allie's lips twisted. At least someone else could recognize Nunnally's bullshit. Suzaku nearly believed her despite everything. Perhaps Tohdoh had been wrong to worry about Lelouch playing the role of diplomat. People were naturally wary of him; Nunnally was an enticing summer rose with poisoned thorns.
"Oh," Euphie whispered. "My sincere apologies, Zachary."
Allie rolled her eyes. "So what do you do, Mr. Zachary?"
"I teach self-defense," he answered. "I don't have Lelouch's ability with numbers, I'm afraid. Or history... Or diplomacy." He frowned. "Nunnally has probably outpaced me as well."
"It's not right," Nunnally hissed. Her hostile expression slipped away, replaced with an almost comically innocent smile, as the server approached. She stumbled through their order and shrunk in on herself as the server corrected her harshly. The moment he left, she straightened and shook her head. "Didn't want him noticing you and asking questions, Zach. I'm sorry."
Lelouch would've challenged the server to object and created a scene.
She reached out and found his hand again. "I'm sure if you were attending school, you would do fine. You're not stupid."
"Lelouch would disagree," Suzaku said and ignored Aliie's harsh glare. Was his presence that offensive?
"My brother is an idiot," Nunnally declared firmly.
"Sometimes," he agreed softly, thinking back to their meeting.
Euphie shifted the briefcase further under the table. "Why did you need to talk to Nina before we left?"
"Asked her for a favor. She is better with computers than me."
"I thought you didn't like her?" Allie asked.
"No, I just want her to stop stammering around me. She got the Camelot Internship, you know. Milly will be telling her tomorrow. Her proposal generated a lot of interest. And to think she kept worrying that no one would care."
Allie leaned back. "I'm surprised she even had the courage to apply. She freaks out on subways."
"I wonder how she is going to do the presentations," Euphie added. "She was swaying for last week's book report. Of course, the class was unfathomably rude. They didn't even bother to hide their snickering."
"Was it Olson again?" Nunnally asked. "I thought I scared him off after the juice incident. But that's what Milly thought, and she put him in an 18th century gown complete with a corset and a hoop skirt for the play."
Amid their chuckling, the food arrived, slightly too cold, and the table rattled from the brusque motions. The server didn't bother with any pleasantries and swept to the next table. His pleasant voice drifted over to them.
Euphie grimaced, her eyes alight with anger. "If he knew—"
"It wouldn't matter," Nunnally said. "I'm the blind one. The only one who would give a damn is my brother, and I'm not going to use him like that."
"That's not true. I would—".
"And you'd just be using your sister," Nunnally said.
Euphie scowled but didn't object.
Allie dabbed her mouth with a napkin and grinned eagerly. "I could—"
"That's assault," Nunnally interrupted and bit into her sandwich. "My plans for the day do not include bailing you out."
Suzaku chuckled. "I could definitely outrun them."
Nunnally froze. "Who are you and what have you done with my friend? He would never suggest something as scandalous as breaking the rules."
"Fortunately, Lelouch corrupted him, or I wouldn't have survived."
She tilted her head and grabbed his hand. Her finger tapped the table, stalling any discussion. "You're coming."
"What?" Allie hissed. "We don't know him."
"I do," Nunnally answered. "I trust him with my life. Lelouch does too."
Eupie calmed at the last statement and flashed him a warm smile. His breath quickened at the rare sight of a Britannian deigning to be kind to a Number. Lelouch and Nunnally didn't count.
"Of course I trust you," Nunnally said, squeezing his hand. "You already saved our lives once. And if you need anything, you only have to ask, and I promise that I will try my best."
"I didn't—Lelouch had the gun," Suzaku stammered. "You don't need to."
Why were both of them so insistent on trying to make his life better? Suzaku didn't deserve their kindness. If only they acted like every other Brit then Suzaku could turn away without looking back. He would be loyal to Japan, not the Brit sellout he was so often accused of.
"Where to?" Suzaku asked. "Is it dangerous?"
Nunnally shrugged. "It's just a chess match. Some lord with a stupidly pretentious moniker invited me for a match. Black Kangaroo or something. Having someone else to watch our backs is a good idea."
"The Black King?" Suzaku asked, his stomach in free fall. "The Black King who likes to hold human pit fights for fun? The one who kidnaps children to sell to his noble friends? And uses the Knight Police as his personal enforcers? That Black King?"
The two girls looked slightly worried; Nunnally leaned back and shrugged. "I heard he played chess."
"Do you have any common sense?"
"Well, he did extend a personal invitation. It would be rude to decline."
Suzaku's forehead kissed the table. "Both of you are utterly insane."
"So will you come?" Nunnally asked.
His internal Tohdoh screamed at him to say no and drag Nunnally to safety so she would be safe and Britannia's wrath wouldn't befall on them all. But Suzaku had never been able to say no to Nunnally's wide pleading eyes.
Viceroy Palace, Tokyo, Area Eleven
True to Lelouch's predictions, the other officers were late. He glanced at his watch. Rather, they would be late in exactly three minutes.
From his vantage point in the corner, he observed the few who had any semblance of punctuality, seated between dozens of empty chairs. Mostly, there were aides, stationed along the wall and prepared to wax excuses should anyone important ask. On the opposite side of the room, a dark haired man diligently worked on a laptop. Two stars on his epaulettes, exactly like Lelouch's. A Major General.
The door banged against the wall, and General Cornelia stormed inside, her knight on her heels. The man immediately snapped his laptop shut and rose to attention. The rest of the room immediately followed, eyes lowered respectfully. General Darton closed the door softly behind him and observed the room.
Lelouch pushed off the wall to play the game of pleasantries.
She pulled out her golden pocket watch, forcing them to hold their salute, and tapped her foot. She snapped it close and glared. "Where is everyone, General Paddington?"
The man's eyes flicked to his laptop momentarily. "General Aspirius was with Prince Clovis earlier to discuss recent activities of the Blood of the Samurai. As for the others, I do not know, General."
She nodded, and her sharp gaze drifted to the aides. "Well? What are you waiting for?"
A string of excuses filled the room.
"You have five minutes to get your superiors in this room before I charge them with dereliction of duty."
The room emptied, leaving only General Paddington and two other lowly officers with overflowing briefcases. General Paddington met her eyes briefly and after a stern nod, reopened his laptop and resumed working. Lelouch had to admire his productivity. It was a talent in short supply.
"You," Cornelia snarled and grabbed Lelouch's shoulder, pushing him into the adjoining room. "What do you think you're playing at? Stealing is a new low, even for you."
Henry and Frederick slipped into the room before her knight could stop them. Stepping between him and his sister, Henry forcibly removed Cornelia's hand from his shoulder.
"Call off your attack dogs, Lelouch," Cornelia hissed. She straightened and scowled at the two of them. "And remind them that they're not to assault royalty. I will let it slide this once."
"Oh, because only you're allowed to?" Lelouch replied automatically. He raised his chin. "Don't threaten them for doing their job, Cornelia. Had you been any of my other siblings, your actions would have been construed as an attack."
She took a deep breath and observed the two. "You may go." When they didn't move, she turned to Lelouch. "Call them off."
"You may go," Lelouch said smugly. Frederick crossed his arms in a silent empathetic no, and Henry copied him. "Unfortunately, they're not my hounds, but Father's."
"They're your guards, Lelouch," she snapped. "Stop it with these childish games."
"I would be delighted if you would remind Father of that, but until then, they're going to hound my shadow. Anything you wish to say will have to be said before them."
"Darlton," she snapped, "watch the door. Guilford, with me."
Her knight stepped into the room and glared at Henry until he took two deliberate steps away from Cornelia.
"What are you doing here?" Cornelia asked.
"I'm attending the meeting… Or I was until you so courteously pulled me out of it."
"This doesn't concern you. Stealing a uniform may have gotten you this far, but your childish games end here. I know Marianne didn't raise a simpleton for a son. You're seventeen. Grow up, Lelouch, and do something worthwhile with your life instead of intruding on everyone else's for your own amusement."
"I didn't steal the uniform," Lelouch answered slowly. "And trust me, if I was going to amuse myself, it would be something far more worthwhile than discussing the logistics of military occupation."
"Take that off," Cornelia snapped. "Just because you're curious about Zero's identity—"
"Oh, Zero is coming?" Lelouch interrupted, unable to help himself. So his father had informed her of that but hadn't bothered to inform her of the particulars. Sometimes, Lelouch swore his father wanted to make life difficult.
"Don't play innocent," she hissed. "I will be investigating this leak. If you're forthcoming right now, I will abstain from mentioning your name when investigating the leak."
"Given that Father told me, you would be wasting your time." At her startled expression, Lelouch smirked. She would regain her footing momentarily, affording him only a brief moment to make his case or risk an hour long lecture.
"I did not steal the uniform," he repeated. "Nor did I make it, bribe someone, or whatever alternate means you're thinking of. It was issued to me. And I would hope that I knew of Zero's attendance given that I am Zero."
"Bullshit." She crossed her arms. "You've been in Australia while Zero has been dealing with threats to the Viceroy's life."
"If everything fell apart because I wasn't there to observe every minute detail then I would be terrible at my job."
"And Zero has been active since the end of 2013. Normally, you put more thought into your lies."
"Why do you think I missed my birthday?" he asked.
"You're stretching. Go and play with Clovis, Lelouch. If you're really interested in military affairs, I can arrange an opportunity for you to observe from a G-1 Base."
Lelouch sighed, pulled out his secure phone, and held it out expectantly.
"Excuse me?" Cornelia asked, her eyebrows drawing together.
"If you don't believe me, call Father and confirm."
"You're bluffing. You don't have Father's number. Who do you have on the other end? Or did you go all out and hire an imitator?"
"Then call him on your phone," Lelouch snapped. "I actually do have better things to do than arguing with you. Father wanted me here because of the treaty I arranged and because he clearly enjoys making my life difficult."
"The Emperor has a phone?" Sir Guilford asked.
"Why wouldn't he?" Lelouch asked, flabbergasted. "The fact that he and my mother mostly seem to use it to share jokes and haven't figured out how to not add me to a group chat whenever they want to text me something doesn't stop them from participating in the twenty-first century."
Cornelia snatched the phone from his hand, and Lelouch wondered if she was actually going to call him. Lelouch never did. That was a line he wasn't willing to cross. Cornelia pursed her lips and stared at him intently.
"Do you expect me to believe you have the Emperor saved under 'Bastard'?"
Lelouch maybe should change that before his father found out. "A precaution in case my phone is stolen."
"And your mother?"
"Scroll down until 'Mur Rouge.'"
Her finger idly tapped the screen, and a scowl crossed her face. She dropped the phone into his hand.
"Have some respect for your parents." She stepped forward, her breath warming his skin. "If this is a lie, I will bury you in investigations until you beg for death. Do you understand?"
His guards shifted nervously, but Lelouch met her gaze without flinching. "Then it's a good thing I'm not, General."
She huffed and stomped into the conference room. The five minutes had definitely passed, and there were still ten glaring empty chairs.
Lelouch handed his cape to Henry and took a seat. If he had been smart like General Paddingotn, then Lelouch would have brought some paperwork along to keep himself busy. Well, there was still tomorrow.
In the corner, Cornelia barked orders to her guards to forcibly detain the missing members and drag them inside. At least she didn't have the patience for noble bullshit.
The door opened and General Aspirius stepped inside, his face red and beads of sweat collecting in the creases of his forehead. "My apologies, Your Highness. Prince Clovis and I had matters to attend to."
Cornelia scowled. "General in here. Make sure it does not happen again, or must I remind Clovis that he should abstain from meddling in military affairs?"
"That won't be necessary, Your Highness," he answered and pulled out a chair, freezing as he caught sight of Lelouch. "Your Highness! What are you doing here?"
"Being on time, sir," Lelouch answered. He leaned back and closed his eyes. It would take at least another ten minutes before Cornelia rounded everyone up, and a power nap would help him keep his wits together.
"What do you mean he is still in Area Ten? The meeting was supposed to start thirty minutes ago," Cornelia berated a frenzied looking aide, rousing Lelouch from his nap. "There will be consequences."
"No, there won't," General Offheimer said, having at some point entered during Lelouch's nap. Before him lay a well roasted steak, and he gingerly cut off a piece. The four stars put him on equal footing with Cornelia. "While your effort is commendable, Your Highness, there is simply no need. It would take a far more egregious offense for the Emperor to even bother with a reprimand. Why don't you bring some wine and cheese so we can discuss these matters like civilized beings."
"Watch your tone," General Darlton barked. "You are still speaking to royalty."
"And how are those orphans you've been taking in? All your wealth and glory tied up in some gutter rats. I hope playing babysitter will reap some actual rewards, but from where I am standing, I only see a long string of losses. And it would be such a shame if that trade agreement with Dagharts fell through."
Nobody would ever dare to speak to Schneizel in a similar manner, or even Odysseus. They were too close to the throne to risk making a permanent enemy out of them. But while Cornelia had her men's loyalty, it wasn't political capital she could easily use, especially against upper military brass. Royals had no lands or resources they could leverage, only connections—and Cornelia's mother, Empress Victoria, reserved her family's resources for Euphemia in hope that her other daughter would act more like a lady.
Unfortunately, Cornelia was too scrupulous to ever handle the nobles in a dishonorable manner. People who insulted Schneizel had a tendency to rest in a premature grave. No one could ever prove anything but the pattern was enough to make people hold their tongue.
"We're not your personal entertainers," Cornelia hissed. "If you have a problem with doing your job, then you're free to resign."
"Maintaining good spirits is essential for the job, but perhaps you're too wet behind the ears to understand?"
Lelouch squinted at the man, not bothering to fully open his eyes. Letting an insult to her age stand would only hurt him in the long run. "You would know, wouldn't you? Your nephew is drowning in incompetence."
"Excuse me?" Offheimer snarled. "And why is a child here?"
Lelouch yawned and leaned back as if he couldn't be bothered to pay attention. "Your nephew has been smuggling liquor and more concerning goods into the country. He didn't even bother with a simple shell company. It was quite a disappointing investigation, but if he is as boisterous as yourself, his arrest should at least be entertaining."
"Is that a threat?"
"Only facts and speculations. The warrant is already signed." He opened his eyes and leaned forward, unable to quell a cruel smirk. "Of course whether I follow up the arrest with an investigation into his family... That is a decision which still rests in my hand."
"Please, can we come to order? We're the Imperial Army, not squabbling children," a voice interrupted from the doorway. General Vandergeld observed the room with a critical eye. Despite his age, he stood straight like a great oak, immovable until its last breath. "My apologies, General Cornelia. I missed my flight due to some insurgent activities."
Cornelia's shoulders relaxed. "Please have a seat."
He saluted and passed his coat to one of his aides. The table shuddered as he gestured for his other aides to drop their stacks of paper. He stood behind his seat next to Darlton and observed the room. "And here I thought you would have accomplished something in my delay."
Nobody in the room protested the rebuke although Lelouch noticed with amusement that Paddington had been diligently working on his laptop the entire time. Clearly, a veteran of such meetings. If only Lelouch had such foresight. When he returned to the division at last there would inevitably be a fully grown paper dragon to subdue.
And he still needed to go through all their intelligence reports personally to check for a suspicious woman with green hair. Except maybe she had dyed her hair. His father had said she would do anything for pizza, yet what did that mean in practice? Or had she simply crafted the illusion of a love for pizza?
How did his father expect him to find anyone with such scarce information?
Lelouch grabbed a packet and stifled a smirk at the copy of his treaty thirty pages in. Most of the information was routine and known. The brief status report for Area Six though was woefully out of date by six months. It also completely ignored the Number issue and various infrastructure concerns Lelouch had raised back in December. That was... irksome.
"The Emperor has already granted me permission to extend the meeting for however long it is necessary to get through the planned agenda," General Vandergerld said. "It would behoove you to make sure your fellow officers arrive on time."
His announcement was met with only a few annoyed glares. General Vandergeld held the Emperor's favor and had enough political capital to make anyone's life miserable without breaking a sweat if he so desired. Cornelia had done well to secure him as an ally, especially because they worked together frequently when new Areas joined Britannia.
Lelouch observed him out of the corner of his eye as he took a seat and Cornelia laid out the agenda. General Vandergeld held too much influence in the room; Cornelia was nearly his puppet. If only his sister had the heart for playing politics. If Lelouch wasn't careful, he would end up in the same position.
"I hadn't heard you joined military service," General Paddington said as they broke for lunch. Servants had dropped off the lord's requested meals in one of the adjoining rooms which had been briefly opened. None of them were allowed to leave until the meeting concluded—a security measure.
General Paddington stood across the table, patiently holding his tray and waiting for permission to take a seat. Lelouch shifted his own meal to the side, silently inviting him. "The Emperor requested your attendance because of the treaty, correct?"
"It would appear so," Lelouch answered and took a bite of his cold leftovers. Frederick and Henry stood behind him, an impenetrable wall. Both had refused to sit down and eat. Their overly professional attitude had succeeded in warding off everyone but Paddington.
"Offheimer may be overbearing, but he is a dangerous enemy, Your Highness. Also your clear disdain for socializing has been noted."
"You're eating rations?" Lelouch said instead. He knew that if he wanted to minimize upcoming bloodshed, he would need allies that would back his methods. But for now, he had a scarce few hours before he would be pestered with questions regarding Zero, and he was going to enjoy it.
"It helps with morale when the enlisted see us not gorging on roasted ducks and pecan pie. If I wish for my officers to respect my decisions, then I must go above and beyond. Although, your own meal is rather interesting."
"Leftovers. Saves on time and money."
He laughed. "I admit, I never imagined any royal saying such a thing."
"Your Highness," General Vandergelt cut in, easily claiming a seat. "You've been unusually silent."
Lelouch studied his face and the calculating gaze. "The Emperor told you."
"A while ago," he answered.
"Yet he couldn't be bothered to tell Cornelia," he grumbled. At General Paddington's raised eyebrows, Lelouch sighed. "I'm Zero."
"But—"
"It's true," General Vandergelt confirmed. "I was admittedly skeptical at first, but your reports, the originals, at least, are quite illuminating. You have interesting ideas... although your manners at times leave something to be desired, but such professionalism isn't expected given your age."
Lelouch had called his father a bastard in one of his reports, hadn't he?
"Brutal honesty helps avoid misunderstandings," he said instead.
"Perhaps what Old Sewell needs, Vandergelt. How long has your promotion been stalled?" General Paddington joked.
"Almost three years now. The Emperor has been hinting that he should retire for years now. Sewell has clearly lost his touch."
"It is better to leave on a high note than be forced out," General Paddington agreed.
General Vandergelt folded his hands together beneath his chin and focused on Lelouch. "While the Emperor indulged my curiosity, he hasn't been particularly forthcoming. Who taught you?"
Tohdoh-sensei. General Katase. The Count's second-in-command. None of which were acceptable answers. But saying books would be a deliberate lie, and any fabricated story would easily be disproven.
"I do need some secrets to barter with," Lelouch joked. "Experience has been the greatest teacher. My earliest days were incredibly embarrassing."
General Paddington grimaced. "First day I was in charge of a platoon, I led us for five hours in the opposite direction because I was too proud to listen to the men. I pride myself on never repeating that mistake again."
Chuckling, General Vandergelt shook his head. "At least you learnt that lesson early on. Many here struggle to listen to their second, much less the men on the ground. I learnt that way too late when I ignored some lowly private who had been trying to get my attention for a few hours. Turns out he wanted to warn me that then Prince Charles had executed the Colonel and wanted to listen to my report. I was lucky he was in a good mood."
Two pairs of expectant eyes focused on him, and Lelouch forcibly relaxed. He needed something to feed them without revealing his little commoner charade which would only invite more questions and put his friends at risk. And it had to be in the same vein as theirs, except Lelouch had learnt to listen long ago. First in Japan where their culture and customs were foreign. Times such as when Suzaku started a fire through skill while Lelouch utterly failed in his scientific endeavor. When he had arrived at the Ashford estates and hadn't known how to do anything and needed Rick to come over to exchange the lightbulb that plunged their quaint little home into darkness. In Basic where he learned the excessively high cost for disobedience.
If he hadn't listened, Lelouch wouldn't have survived. Especially when the Count pressed the knife against his throat, and he needed to tell her everything she wanted to hear.
"My superior at the time and I got into an argument over which way a deer had gone that we were tracking. I was arguing that there was less food towards the villages so it clearly had gone deeper, and he kept saying that it had gone over the river which was why the tracks were gone. We stopped when we heard a gunshot. Turned out, the deer had been twenty yards away from us with our supplies and had eaten our carrots. Both of us are still unofficially barred from every hunting trip since then."
"The outdoors not to your taste, Your Highness?" General Paddington teased.
"I've been told, repeatedly, that I overthink it."
General Vandergelt shook his head. "You should speak up when we resume. Your opinion would be helpful on matters."
"I am maximizing my last few hours of peace and quiet while I can," Lelouch answered. "You will be thoroughly sick of my voice starting tomorrow."
"It's interesting listening to their speculations," Paddington said. "Especially their attitudes which will soon change. I know better than to insult anyone before knowing everything."
Lelouch glanced at a neighboring table. "They think my father, at my mother's behest, gave me this rank so that I may have the chance to prove myself. I gave them a hint as to what I am capable of, but you're the only one who took notice. Before the end of the day, Offheimer will insult either myself, Cornelia, or both of us again."
"He is competent on the battlefield," General Vandergelt reprimanded. "We shouldn't let petty political squabbles weaken Britannia. His nephew's continued indiscretion is a minor price to pay, and an investigation would keep him from where he is needed."
Lelouch raised an eyebrow. "My brief intermission in Australia was spent catching up on paperwork, not launching investigations. No, his nephew was caught by routine sweeps, and whether Offheimer will be investigated himself depends entirely on what is found by my men and what they decide. I simply have to do nothing."
"Insurgents groups are increasing in strength," General Vandergelt said coldly. "We need capable hands."
"I've read the reports and wrote a fair share of them myself. But we swore to serve Britannia first, and exceptions set a bad precedent. If more officers remembered that their duty was first to the country and throne, not their familial lands, then perhaps we wouldn't be in such a mess."
Further discussion stalled as Cornelia swept in. "Lelouch, we need to talk."
He grimaced. "Pardon me, my charming sister calls."
Location Classified, Area Six
Kallen stepped out of the plane, a simple thing with a propeller on the nose, into the middle of nowhere. Everywhere she turned, there were trees. The only exception was the clearing they landed in, and even here, shrubs and greenery encroached on the dirt landing.
"Good luck, my lady." The pilot set her luggage on the ground and consulted his map again. "This is where they said. Ah, your ride."
She turned in relief as a small jeep broke through the undergrowth. It's green paint job blended into the forest, and she wondered where the hell Lord Ashford had sent her. Had he just sent her to the remotest location in hope that Empress Marianne wouldn't notice her?
Picking up her luggage, she stepped to the side and covered her ears as the engine turned on and the plane took to the air, nearly clipping some trees on its way out. A low whistle greeted her ears as a blond man stepped out of the vehicle. "Close one, huh?"
She was sorely regretting not insisting on formal training. Yes, it would have defeated the purpose of disappearing into obscurity in the Britannian army, but she would have had a clean bed and some idea of what was happening. But Lord Ashford claimed that she already knew the important parts from being his test pilot and that the Academy would be wasted on her. And if an assassin was after her, it would be ridiculously easy to dispose of her there.
"Kallen Stadtfeld, right?" the man threw an arm over her shoulder and his other freehand easily grabbed her luggage. "I always wanted a young soul to corrupt. You can call me Gino."
She ducked away and gritted her teeth. "I can carry that."
"But you're a noble. They don't carry things."
"Well then, I order you—"
He grinned. "I outrank you, kid."
"You're my age," she hissed. And it was true. He would've fit in perfectly among the Ashford students with his relaxed walk and enthusiastic smile. Lamperouge and Fadiman, while young, projected maturity. Gino reminded her of a puppy—a golden retriever. It had been five minutes, and she couldn't even imagine him holding a gun.
Gino waved to the driver and clambered into the back of the jeep. She cautiously entered after him, unsure of how to act. She had to play the part of a Britannian soldier, but she wasn't sure what that meant outside of the heartless killing machine in combat. Gino probably rescued puppies in his spare time instead of kicking them.
"Ah," Gino declared, pulling out a clipboard. "Most of the paperwork was already filed, because lord knows nobody trusts me with paperwork, but we couldn't send that stuff ahead. You need to sign that, and I have to not lose it, otherwise we'll have to execute you for trespassing."
What?
"I'm kidding." His smile fell. "Well, kinda. They'd probably detain you first and ask a bunch of questions and then Art will figure out you're my lost puppy, and he'll do his angry face, and that would be terrifying."
Kallen snatched the clipboard from his hand and slowly read through the documents which outlined what she could and couldn't say. Not that it really mattered because Kallen wasn't going to be talking to anyone about this except Kaguya when she finally had the chance... and maybe Nunnally. Sighing, she flipped back to the first page and restarted. Kallen wouldn't get her friend into trouble by accident, even if she probably had plenty of experience with secrets.
"You're a temp," Gino said, accepting the clipboard. "We haven't had to induct a pilot before, so I'm sorry if it's a little strange or so. We're all figuring it out as we go. But because we're not sure yet if we're going to be keeping you, they're restricting you to the knightmare facilities. Which is really unfair because we'll miss dinner when Gosling gets back, but I'm sure I can bribe Art to save us both a plate."
"Is this much secrecy normal?"
Gino chuckled. "I guess this wasn't what you were expecting from the Academy—"
"I didn't attend."
His good cheer faded, and he skimmed through a packet. "Well, someone is better than no one, I guess. And noble heirs are technically prepared for this. I'm sure I have my old books and everything. And I can ask the Colonel for training..."
Kallen tuned out his absent mumbling and peeked out the covered windows. The jeep jostled as it tore through the jungle without a single landmark. Everything looked exactly the same. If she had to escape into the jungle, she would either be caught or die. A sharp turn revealed a lone little cabin which gave way to a greater clearing. The roar of a helicopter passed them, and the trees swayed around them.
"Why didn't I get dropped off here?" Kallen asked.
"Pilot didn't have proper clearance," Gino answered. The jeep came to an abrupt halt. "Out. And don't talk to anyone. They're busy."
Kallen nodded and picked up her bag. The area was deserted except for distance figures jogging, presumably undergoing training. Gino talked in hushed whispers with the driver, who she still hadn't met.
"Let's go, my lady," Gino barked, and she hurried after him as he walked brusquely to the tree line and the barbed wire fence. "So what did you do to land here? Piss off someone important? We were starting to get worried that our request was never going to be filled, but Gosling will probably be having words with whoever thought to send the greenest greenie here.
She too would love to have words with Lord Ashford about sending her to the middle of nowhere to where the rejects of society landed. At least, she had a chance of meeting people whose views were less favorable to Britannia... Or she was going to be stuck with a bunch of criminals whose family connections prevented them from being prosecuted.
It was probably the latter. Britannia thrived on amoral soldiers.
"What did you do?" Kallen asked. He seemed cheerful and honest, but first impressions were often terribly misleading.
He slowed down slightly and shrugged. "I don't know. Was in the top of my class with excellent marks. Got called aside to talk to some creepy dude with bizarre questions and next thing I know I was being shipped out. He must've been important, but I'm honestly grateful. I'd fight any transfer from here."
If he was this cheerful and exuberant around everyone, he had undoubtedly insulted someone by accident. For now, she would entertain him and listen for whatever tidbits of information he dropped. She couldn't allow herself to be swept up by his excitement. He was still a Knightmare pilot.
She was one too.
"Don't look so glum," he said, pushing open the doorway of a warehouse. The light reflecting off the half-cylinder's metal surface threatened to blind her. As he entered, he pitched his voice higher to be heard over the low droning of large metal fans. "Your quarters are over there. You have earplugs? I'll put in a request for you. You are expected to keep it tidy, and failure to do so results in creative punishments." He grimaced and rubbed the back of his neck. "More importantly, you need to be ready to suit up any time. Current goal is three minutes from alarm to launch."
She nodded and, at his expectant look, said, "Yes, sir."
Her room was tiny with a gently sloping ceiling. She lifted her luggage onto the small rack and opened the closet. A flight suit and uniform hung there expectantly.
Gino ducked his head as he entered and eyed the ceiling nervously before grinning at the uniform draped over her arm. "I swear Pablo's a mind reader or a miracle worker. Measurements for the dress uniform will be your responsibility, not that you'll be needing it anytime soon. I'll give you a moment to get changed, and we'll see what you can do with none of that simulator nonsense."
The door closed and she grabbed the handle. There was no lock.
Her muscles strained as she pulled down her luggage and blocked the door. The flight suit was similar to the one Lord Ashford had given her. With relief she noted it had none of the liberties that the Purists took whose female suits had a tendency to resemble swimsuits instead of protective garments. It did have the Britannian sigil and, on the seams, small birds.
"Hurry up, princess," Gino shouted.
She clenched her eyes and slipped into the suit. He smiled broadly as she exited and his gaze lingered for a moment too long. He threw her a manual and ordered her to wait as a technician flagged him down.
Kallen set aside the manual for the Glasgow and shook her head. Hopefully, the Horus would arrive soon. She would've thought that Britannia insisted on the latest tech. Two technicians, conversing in whispers, dragged a heavy cord by her. They stopped briefly before Gino, and she cursed the fans which made it impossible to eavesdrop.
With one last barked order, Gino jogged over and raised an eyebrow at the manual resting on the shelf. "You're going to need that. Also, don't put stuff there."
"I'm Lord Ashford's test pilot," she snapped. "I think I can figure out some scrap heap."
"You?" he asked, skepticism dripping off every word. "You're so short."
"I'm surprised you can fit into the cockpit, especially with such a massive ego."
"Three laps from here to the end."
"Why?" she growled.
He stepped to her side and dropped a hand onto her shoulder. "Tell you what. It's your first day, and I hate being strict, so if you're faster than me, we'll keep it at that. Otherwise, it's another three. And it's sir, my lady."
"Yes, sir," she spat.
He took off without another word. She took a moment to process the sheer audacity before racing after him. Her legs burned, and she caught up to his pounding feet. Then he increased his speed.
Wheezing, she stopped behind him as they finally finished the third lap.
"Not done, Lady Stadtfeld," he goaded, his breathing calm. "After you finish the last lap, meet me over there by our lovely scrap heap."
Her mouth was going to get her killed.
When she finally finished her last lap and jogged over to him, he tutted and checked his watch. "Too slow, my lady. We'll do another three when we are done here."
For a suicidal moment, she wondered what would happen if she said no. Even if her father was just an earl, she was still a noble. What power did a commoner—even if he was a knight—have over her?
Except she was supposed to be eager to serve Britannia, and laps weren't that big of a hurdle. She would be expected to happily do far more distasteful things.
"Yes, sir," she wheezed through hurried gasps for air. It was unbearably hot.
Gino grinned and gestured at the five frankensteins behind him. "Don't worry. We only use these scrapheaps for sparring or when we need to blow one up. Since you must be an exceptional ace to be piloting for Lord Ashford, I'll make you a deal. Beat me and I won't make you run another six laps for being too slow."
He didn't believe her claim. She had been a student mere days ago.
"Fine," she spat and grasped the first rung of the ladder.
A harrying twenty minutes later, she sat dejectedly in the cockpit, trying to comprehend her loss. Had Lord Ahsford really misjudged her abilities so badly?
"Don't beat yourself up too badly, kid. It was your first fight against someone real. Simulations don't count. You're not too shabby."
She wiped her forehead with her sleeve. "If I had used the Horus—"
"It would've become a crutch. Now, stop wallowing. You still owe me six laps, and welcome Sir Stadtfeld to the Knightmare Corps. Fix the attitude, and we might decide to keep you."
The cockpit jammed halfway upon opening, and her body screamed as she squeezed through the narrowing openings to outside. The warehouse stood at the opposite end of the field, taunting her. At least the one good thing to come out of this was that she had a measuring stick. She had the potential to become even better, but as long as she never outperformed Gino, no one would consider making her a Knight of the Round.
She would simply be an ace who failed to live up to her potential.
Worldbuilding Thoughts:
- Kallen maybe should be called Dame Stadtfeld as a knight, but I definitely used "sir" to refer to knights in book 1, regardless of gender, so I'm just being consistent. Knights get "sir", superior officers get "sir/ma'am," and enlisted get ranks.
- Britain abolished officer commissions in 1871 with the Cardwell Reforms. Before then, captaincy could be bought (when adjusted for inflation) for about $400k, and a promotion to Lieutenant Colonel for about $1 mil. Commissions in desirable positions were often sold for more, but from my understanding, that wasn't exactly intended. France had a similar thing at the time, with one notable example in 1688 where a George, Lord Ettrick, had titular command despite being 18 months old. (Unfortunately, I have been unable to figure out what happened to this baby genius. :p)
- The FLEJA… Wiki (a rather untrusty source unfortunately) says 10 million were killed and 15 million wounded in Tokyo. The problem is that the anime doesn't show the complete annihilation of Tokyo which has a modern population of 14 million. Furthermore, the site of impact isn't that large in the anime, and the wiki estimates an upper end of 8k. If we use the population density of modern day Tokyo and calculate the affected area, you end up with a little over 1 mil dead. This is not even including the problem that the anime shows no structural damage to the surrounding buildings which would happen if the bomb destroyed everything in its area. The resulting vacuum would be devastating, yet Ashford Academy sits peacefully on the edge. There also seems to be no concern regarding radiation, thus not a nuclear bomb despite the similarities. I'm wondering how I should treat the FLEJA. Because if it's a radiation free process that somehow vanishes matter without displacing energy, it should still cause a devastating vacuum. Or, if it's more like a classical nuclear bomb, then the radiation should be a concern. Either way is fine with me (the former though is still irksome because where does the energy go?) but the way it's treated in canon makes absolutely no sense to me, and makes the part of me that cares about realism really angry. So there are three options: screw physics completely and follow canon, making the FLEJA an energy obliterating weapon with a devastating potential vacuum, it's a nuke. Which one would you prefer?
Author's Note:
As always, I enjoy reviews of all kinds. I hope everyone is having a good summer. :)
Chat with me on the discord: discord . gg / uSBegVj
Thank you x1tears1X on FFN and Dark for your help with betaing.