Sorry, I haven't updated much, but I'm back and better than ever with a new laptop. So, let's get to the next chapter.
Weightlessness was very seldom a feeling Euphemia truly experienced. Sure, being underwater had a similar effect. But there was still a thought in the back of her mind that knew that it wasn't the same.
When Euphemia fell from the Kawaguchi Hotel, she knew exactly what being weightless felt like.
The roaring wind in her ear deafened her from her surrounding, it was very serene.
"Euphemia do you hear me?" The stern voice of her sister woke her from her daydream.
She sat in the Government Bureau with the rest of the politicians with her sister, Darlton, and Guilford.
"Oh, sorry Viceroy, I did not hear you." For a brief second, Cornelia's face gave a concerned look before she went over the battle plans for the Narita Mountains next week.
Truly, Euphemia had been quiet more than usual since Kawaguchi. A near-death experience does that to a person. She just couldn't get that moment out of her head. Her falling to her death, and Spider-Man reaching out to her.
"The Japanese Liberation Front will be driven out and destroyed, I don't want any slacking in this operation. It's about time Area 11 was neutered." Everyone gave their 'yes ma'ams before walking off.
Euphemia stood as well to leave before a hand landed on her shoulder. She looked up to see Cornelia looking down at her with that look of concern she always had.
"Spill it, why have you been so quiet lately?" Euphemia sighed, knowing better than to lie to her sister. She wasn't particularly good at it, not like Schneizel, or Lelouch. They truly were masters at it, she couldn't hold a lie if her life depended on it.
"I keep thinking about Kawaguchi, the fall really. Do you dwell on near-death experiences, sister?" Cornelia exhaled and leaned on the table, trying to think of the best way to put it.
"At first, after I had graduated from Officer School, I was put in charge of a squad to show my strength in battle. It was during the invasion of Area 10 that I had my first battle, it was a long 3 years and by the end of it I had lost count how many times I nearly died. This isn't a feeling I want for you; you're supposed to be safe ruling an area. I failed you back at Kawaguchi, I don't want to see that ever happen again."
"So, you just get used to it?"
"Unfortunately, but that doesn't have to be for you. Choose a knight, they will live to protect you and will never let this happen again. I need an answer by the end of the month. You already have the list of candidates I gave you. I love you; Euphie and I don't want to see you like this again." Cornelia bent down and gave her a kiss on her forehead before she started to walk out.
"What about Spider-Man? What are you going to do about him?" Euphemia asked the question was on her mind.
Cornelia sighed, "I can't reward him, he's a vigilante he disgraces the very ideal of Britannia. The police want to arrest him and if I get in their way, I'd have more trouble than it's worth. He saved your life so I'm content with letting him go until he becomes a problem. Goodbye Euphie." Cornelia walked out the door leaving her alone.
"So, what do we know about this Black King?" Miles asked.
"He has a long list of subordinates; the lower rungs of his drug operation only hear from their direct bosses and repeat until it reaches the Black King. I've been trying to bust him since he came onto the scene 4 years ago. But he keeps getting away, slipping out of my hands. With you, I think we have a better chance to stop his refrain operation." The detective talked over the phone while Miles swung through Area 11.
"Alright, I'm coming up on the distribution sight now I'll call you back when I'm done." Miles hung up and looked down at the inconspicuous building below him.
It was a common drug store, like any you'd see in the city. But what wasn't normal was the deed to the building. It was owned by a man named John Willard; a quick search would reveal just enough to pull someone away from diving further. But the Detective had gone deeper, there was no John Willard. Mix that with the frequent and suspicious deliveries this was a prime candidate for a distribution center for refrain and other drugs.
Miles perched himself above a light post in camouflage, a van had just stopped in the front of the store.
"What do we have here?" Miles whispered to himself.
Wordlessly two men exited the van, a quick saw the back of the van open. Three more men hopped out of the back with unlabeled boxes and took them inside.
"Guess I'm following." Miles leaped from the light post on to the top of the ceiling tailing the cargo.
Steve Rogers had never been to Japan; in his day the small nation closed its borders to everyone else. He had to say, the countryside was beautiful.
"Hey, move it!" Steve looked behind him to see an irate man in a business suit tapping his toes impatiently.
Steve side stepped the man to make room for him on the train. As the man moved passed him, he grumbled on about military muscle heads. The irony made Steve silently chuckle.
It took some time to score passage to Japan, but he managed to stow away on a ship. It wasn't the most comfortable sleep he's had but considering the beds that were made back then, the cargo hold wasn't that bad.
It took an hour before the train stopped at a station within the city. He had seen the landscape turn from old to new; it gave him a history of the nation without any history books. Outside the settlements, the old houses and historical monuments remained degraded not yet dealt with. As their train came into the city, he could see the destruction the war had on Japan. The destroyed ghettos filled with Japanese families who are beaten down every day. Pass the ghettos was the jewel of Area 11, towers lined the sky, streets bustled with activity, without context this would be a eutopia. But the price paid to get here was too high, the destruction of a nation's identity and the discrimination of its people was a cost Steve felt needed correcting.
Walking the streets no one batted an eye at him. Of course, why would they, he looked as Brittanian as they came.
He walked about the settlement, getting a sense of the geography. By the time the sun was starting to set Steve had decided to make his way to the ghettos. As he watched the skyline full of destroyed buildings, he knew that if there was one way to join the Black Knights and it was in there.
"So Suzaku, what do you do in the military?"
Suzaku turned to Nunnally, she had talked his ear off since he arrived. He had no problem with it, they haven't been together in eight years.
"I work as an engineer under Lloyd and Miss Cecile. I'm as far away from danger as I can be." The lie hurt, he hated lying. But he didn't want to hurt their feelings or their trust. What would Lelouch say if he knew he was piloting a Knigtmare?! A white lie, one that no one would miss.
"Is Lloyd nice to you?" Nunnally asked.
"He can work me hard sometimes, but he knows it's because I'm good at the job. I think he actually likes me." It was hard to tell if Lloyd cared for Suzaku more because of their friendship or because of how good of a pilot he was. For his sake, he imagined it was the former.
"You say you're an engineer, what do you fix?" Lelouch asked.
"Uh, Knightmares mostly. Sometimes we get a tank, but that's on a rare occasion…" As Suzaku talked more about his job Lelouch's phone rang, the letter 'O' was all that told him who it came from.
"Sorry, but I have a phone call to take, feel free to get seconds from the kitchen. I made more than enough to feed your large appetite." Lelouch laughed at Suzaku's expense as he walked into the hallway.
Lelouch put more distance between him and the door before he answered his phone. He wondered what it was about, Ohgi didn't usually call him unless it was important.
"This is Zero." Lelouch answered.
"Zero, uh, I think we have a small problem. Or maybe a big one it's hard to tell right now." Ohgi's voice didn't tell him it was very immediate, and they weren't under attack so he could list off those two for now.
"What is it?"
"My guys around the ghettos have been reporting a Brittanian walking around the ghettos. He keeps saying he wants to meet with the Black Knights. The conversation usually ends up with my friends on the ground. Not dead, just beat up."
"Was he wearing a uniform?"
"No, nothing more than a regular person would wear. The guy is strong, almost a head taller than me. We haven't spotted any military, but we aren't ruling it out…not after Saitama."
This was a peculiar situation, who would be so bold to go looking for the Black Knights in the ghettos? Was he trying to kill him? Or maybe…
"Send a messenger to meet at a location, sweep the area before you bring him. I'll be there." He closed the phone and walked back into the dining room.
"Hey Lelouch, everything okay?" Suzaku asked.
"Yeah, I got to head out, however." Lelouch picked up his plate and threw the contents in the trash.
"You're leaving? What's so important to leave at 11:30?" Suzaku asked.
"He's probably gambling again?" Nunnally giggled.
"You gamble?" Suzaku asked astounded.
"Just on the side, my opponent just came into Area 11 and is wanting a match. Ms. Sayako, do you mind putting Nunnally to bed tonight?" Sayako gave a quick nod of her head and agreed.
"Miss Cecile lent me her car; do you want me to drive you there?" Suzaku asked.
"No thanks, I'll take the trains."
"Has he done anything?" Zero asked as he approached Ohgi.
"He's sat and waited the entire time, occasionally asking for updates. We've only told him you'll hear him out."
The two stood and watched from a room high above from the man wanting to talk to Zero.
"We set up this place so you can talk to him without being in the same room, just say the word and we'll listen." Zero gave a quick nod before taking the microphone handed to him.
"What is your name?" The man jerked his head around trying to pinpoint the source.
"Is this Zero?" The man asked.
"It is." Best to keep answers brief.
"My name is Steve Rogers; I heard your message from a few weeks ago. I came to enlist; I apologize for wounding the Japanese who tried to stop me. In my defense, they attacked me first." With his motives clear, it was only a matter of deducing his plans. Was he a radical? Or was he just a spy from Cornelia.
"You burst into the ghettos, knocked out my men, and ask to be in the Black Knights. That's a very aloof way of joining."
"I had no other way, what better way to get your attention than by walking into the ghettos. I hear the Japanese love you, in my experience word travels fast. I planned on that word getting to you, I see I was right." He was smart, Lelouch would give him that.
"And why would you want to join up with me? Usually, there's something someone wants when joining the Black Knights. But you're Britannian, what would you want from joining us?"
"I believe everyone has a right to life, people should decide for themselves how to live their lives, that no one can dominate another. Freedom and democracy, that is what I fight for." So, he's a radical.
"He's telling the truth." Lelouch turned around to see C.C., dressed in her pure white restraint clothes.
"Wait, what-how did you…!?" Ohgi went to pull his gun before Zero stopped him.
"There is no need, she is an accomplice of mine. You say he's telling the truth, how?" Zero asked.
"His name is Steve Rogers; his mother was Sarah Rogers. I met him a long time ago, the only question is how he's still alive. He's a good soldier, a super-soldier if you will. It would be a good idea to recruit him."
"Will he kill me?" Zero asked.
"Will he? Doubtful, he's as loyal as a dog. Can he? Yes, and not take a scratch." Zero weighed the options, C.C. wouldn't lie to him. They're partner, she wouldn't jeopardize it over this man.
"Come with me." Zero walked out of the room with C.C. in tow.
Sorry for the shorter chapter, my old laptop has my notes for this chapter and isn't turning on so this is a little filler until I can get those files uploaded. Anyway, happy belated New Year.