Chapter 33 : Depression.
2.30 pm
Ashley and Harley were walking down a corridor.
"Tell me ... Is it true what they say about Lelouch?" His lover asked him.
"What?"
"It seems that he had strange tastes ... That he brought not only women but also young girls to bed. It's true?"
"He was a degenerate of the worst kind ... For him, men, women or children made no difference; the important thing was that they satisfied his desires. You know, sometimes he gave me dubious glances, licking his lips ... Fortunately, he never went any further. "
"A type with multiple tastes."
"Defining it this way is an understatement ... Ah, but look at it! Talk about the devil ... "
In fact the two had run into Lelouch and CC, who were walking in the opposite direction.
"Ashley ..." He greeted him.
"Lelouch ..." The young pilot replied.
"Harley and I were just talking about your strange inclinations." He said.
"More than inclinations I would say temporary impulses. I hope you're not still angry about that old story ... "
"Of course not, after all you just slaughtered my friends and made a slave to the geass!" He replied, ironically.
"It was Leila who killed them."
"Don't play with me!" It's your man's credit with the geass that Leila did what he did!" He accused him.
"Leila was a danger to the order I established. I had to kill her, she was a symbol for my opponents. "
"But if you imposed the geass on the whole of humanity!"
"If it were really so today I would still sit on the throne."
"Aren't you thinking of getting it back?"
Instinctively Ashley put his hand to his gun. Lelouch smiled, mocking.
"That is perfectly useless. However the answer is no. My days as emperor are over, and if I took over the throne again there would be riots, guerrilla warfare and terrorism all over the planet. "
"Better this way."
"Now, now is not the time to think about the past. We have a war to fight against the common enemy. "CC intervened.
"I agree. Some disagreements undermine the cohesion of our group and favor the invaders. "Harley gave her a strong hand.
"Come on." Ashley said, obviously annoyed.
Lelouch and CC saw them walk away.
"In other times you would have ordered him to die, just for having raised your voice with you."
"Times gone by ... And I can't waste valid elements. That Ashley is a wild guy, but he is also a great pilot. I can't dismiss it. By the way, I noticed that many wear anti-geass glasses. "
"A security measure, to avoid hunchbacks on your part."
"Of course ... But Cornelia is without it."
"She are immune to the geass ... You cannot condition a person more than once. Did you forget it? "
"Yeah, it's true."
At the same time Erika, Katyusha, Maho and Miho had entered Anchovy's room. The latter did not give her a glance, still staring at the ceiling.
"Anchovy?" Miho called her.
No reply.
"Anchovy?"
Grave silence.
Worried, the girl approached the bed, her friend looked catatonic.
"Anchovy?"
Suddenly Anchovy turned her face towards her, making her take a shot.
"Ah, it's you ..."
Miho and the others were restless. Anchovy was as pale as a dead woman. Her voice, usually ringing and full of life, was a whisper.
"We came to visit you."
"... I'm grateful." She said, turning away.
"Listen, how would you like to take a tour of the fortress?" Erika suggested.
Although with difficulty, Anchovy sat on the bed.
"Agree…"
I can't always stay closed here, four steps will do me good.
She told himself.
"But I have to work on my chapter ..." Maho protested, nudging her sister in the stomach.
"Are you stupid?" She asked her.
"I should ask you! A friend of ours is suffering and you only think of a stupid fanfiction! "Miho scolded her, harshly.
"Come on, follow us." Katyusha invited her.
Slowly, Anchovy got out of bed and walked with them.
Albacete, 2.45 pm
Near the ruined city stood a vast military camp, built by the army to welcome displaced people from various parts of the region. Similar camps had been built in various parts of Europe. In this they had found refuge Nadie, Roberta, Eda, Garcia and Revy, who at that moment were walking around the complex. Civilians and soldiers moved around them. The civilians were composed of people of all ages: men, women, children, the elderly ... All coming from different areas and of different social backgrounds, united by the fact of having lost their home, family or other loved ones.
"How many people will there be besides us?" Eda asked herself.
"About a hundred, I think." Roberta replied.
"I never thought I'd find myself in a refugee camp one day," Nadie commented, looking around.
"Once they put us elevens, right?" Revy asked.
"Japanese, Revy, Japanese!" By now Eleven is a term that has fallen into disuse for years. "
"Eda, it's the same thing. Although Lelouch has abolished the system of numbers (a decision confirmed by the current empress, Cornelia) it is true that Japan, as an independent nation, has ceased to exist. So I don't see where the problem is. "
"The problem is that it annoys them to be called that."
"Well, I don't see around ..."
Suddenly, however, someone had her leg; he looked down and saw a little girl with purple hair and pink eyes, wearing a black dress and a plaid jacket.
"Excuse me, miss." She said, smiling.
"And who would you be?" Revy asked, while the others stared at her curiously.
"Her name is Alice, she is 12 years and she's my daughter. Excuse me, but it's a bit careless ... Sometimes it doesn't look where it goes and ends up hurting people. Ah, my name is Yasuhiro, and I'm a reporter. "A man with black hair said, eyes of the same color wearing a white shirt, a yellow tie, gray trousers and brown shoes.
"A lovely little girl!" Nadie complimented, stroking her little head.
"And it's sweet too!" Roberta added, stroking her cheek.
"Thank you, I'm flattered." The direct affirmed affirmed, blushing slightly.
"Well, it was a pleasure to meet you, but now we have to escape. Good afternoon! "Eda stated starting, followed closely by her friends and Garcia.
What dear girls ...
The reporter thought.
"Dad?"
"Tell me honey."
"Do you think we will re-meet those girls? They are nice and sociable. "
"I hope so." He replied, smiling.
"Hurray!" Alice exulted joyfully.