A/N: I don't own Code Geass or Batman Beyond. They are awesome works that don't belong to me.
Here we're gonna see how Batman views the Black Knights and what Schneizel has been up to for the past several months.
One week later
The first thing he noticed when he came to was that his head was now dizzy, felt like all the blood in his body had rushed to his head. Must be what woke him up. Wait? How did he fall asleep again?
As he finally opened his eyes, he noticed that the buildings seemed to be upside down for some strange reason. He then looked up, or more accurately down to the ground. And then felt a pt in his stomach.
He screamed at the top of his lungs, though no one was able to hear him. He glanced upward to see a dark bat-like figure holding him by the leg as he dangled helplessly about 50 feet in the air on a gargoyle located on a central clock tower.
"Time to talk," Batman spoke in his demonic voice that the thug heard rumors of, "Who's your supplier?!"
"I don't know! Let me go!" The thug demanded.
"If you insist," Batman responded grimly. Then he let go of the man's leg.
The thug screamed as he began falling to the ground, only for a rope to stop his descent suddenly and cause him to swing into the clock they were above. He then was pulled back up to meet the Batman face-to-upside-down-face. "Who are they?!" He demanded again.
"I don't know! Ask one of the other guys!" He offered as a way to escape this.
"I already did!" Batman responded, impatiently, "And the one before that! And the one before them! You're the guy they all came to! So I'm gonna ask again, and I better get an answer: WHO IS YOUR SUPPLIER?!"
He let the man drop again before he could refuse to give an answer. He was getting closer to the ground before he was finally pulled back up to face Batman.
"Okay! OKAY! I'LL TALK!" The man finally relented to Batman's tactics. "Some Britannian came to us, he looked noble by the way he talked! He gave us guns, weapons, and Knightmares!"
"What did he look like?!" Batman demanded. The thug began to give his description of the Britannian.
Auburn hair, light blue eyes, mid-twenties, and so on. Batman grimaced as one name came to his mind: Kanon, Schneizal's personal aid.
So this was the proof that he was looking for that Schneizal was somehow involved with the criminal underworld gaining new technology. But now he needed the reason. "What does he get in return for all this?!"
"What?!" Was the man's only response.
"What does this Britannian royal aid get in return for giving you scum weapons," Batman asked again, furious for not getting an answer, "Money?! Loyalty?! What does he get?!"
"Nothing!" Was the man's response. Batman didn't like that answer as he again dropped the thug down to the ground, and had him land as close to it as he possibly could before being pulled back up. 'This would be much faster and easier if I still had my Geass.' Batman thought.
"He didn't ask for anything like those things!" The man answered. "All he ever wanted from us was for some of the guys to go leave with him for some reason, never said why. And to keep an eye out for this kid. Here! I have his picture on my phone!"
Batman dug into the pointed pocket with his free hand and pulled out the device. He quickly accessed it and went to the photo library… and froze.
His mouth and eyes went wide as he stared into the face of the one they were looking for. 'Schneizal was working with criminal scum and common gangsters… all to find me?!'
"Who else was given this photo?!" Batman asked as a new level of rage emerged on his features and in his voice.
"What?!" the man asked, confused.
"Who else was given the task to find this boy?! What did they tell you about him?!" Batman asked again, reaching his breaking point.
"Everyone who was given any of the stuff from that Britannian was given that photo and told to keep an eye out! The man never said why he was after the kid or anything about him!" The man answered. "So are we good?! Can you let me down now?!" he asked.
Batman grinned almost sadistically. He got his answers, or at least most of them. "Yeah. Thanks." He said as he then threw the man off the gargoyle, letting the rope that would usually catch him go too.
The man was screaming louder than he ever had as he fell to the ground with no safety net. Only for his fall to be stopped when he collided with a tree. Batman knew the fall wouldn't kill him. Maybe leave a couple of broken bones and a fear of heights, but he would be alive.
As the man ranted on how crazy Batman was, the dark knight was absorbed in his own thoughts as he stared back at his photo on the phone. He still could barely believe that Schneizal was resorting to criminals to try and find him. But Schneizal was always one for making strange 'allies' if it could complete his goals, then throwing them away when he was done with them.
As Batman pondered over this new piece of information, and how it would affect how he would go about taking Schneizel down, he noticed something in the sky that took all his attention away.
Up there in the sky was a symbol. HIS, or more precisely, BATMAN's symbol. His mouth hung open slightly at the sight of this, 'bat-signal'. He knew it meant that someone was trying to contact him, and he had a pretty good idea as to who.
He sighed. He knew this conversation was coming, but he didn't expect it to happen when he got his biggest lead. So he spread out his wings and leaped off the clock tower, firing his rocket boosters and flying off to where the light was being projected.
"UGH!" Tamaki moaned in boredom as he, and other high commands Black Knights, stood up top the building that they chose to light the bat-signal, as he himself called it. "We've been here for hours and he hasn't shown up at all! Whose idea was to use a spotlight with his symbol on it again?"
Everyone groaned at Tamaki's complaining. "First of all: We've been here for ten minutes!" Ohgi stated as he pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance. "And second of all: It was your idea to do this!"
Tamaki then had colored his face in embarrassment. "Oh," He said softly, "Then it was a good idea." Everyone rolled their eyes and continued to search for any sign of the Batman.
"Do you think he will come?" Tohdoh whispered as he came up beside Ohgi.
Ohgi was silent for a few moments before he responded. "I honestly don't know. " He admitted to the experienced soldier beside him. "But we can't exactly call him, or email him. And we don't want to stage an assault just to draw him out. That might give him the wrong idea of us."
"What makes you think I don't have the wrong idea already of you all?" A voice asked from the center of the group. Everyone leaped back and gasped as they saw that the one they were waiting for snuck in without anyone noticing, giving them all heart attacks.
"DUDE!"
Tamaki screamed, still suffering from a heart attack. "DON'T DO THAT?!"
Batman just ignored the redhead's complaint and stared intently at Ohgi, who felt incredibly uncomfortable under the masked man's white eyes gazing at him. He stuttered until Tohdoh, who gained some measure of sense, elbowed him in the arm to bring him back to his senses.
"We-well, B-b-batman!" Ohgi continued to stutter. "Welcome! W-we the Black Knights thank you for coming to see us by our invitation!" He held out his hand for the dark knight to shake. Batman didn't raise his hand, only glancing at Ohgi, then his hand, then back to Ohgi again.
Now feeling even more uncomfortable, Ohgi pulled his hand back and laughed slightly to relieve some of the tension. "Not much of a handshaker are you? Haha."
Batman didn't respond. There was a tense, awkward moment of silence between all those on the roof.
The silence was finally broken, to the relief of many, when Batman finally spoke, "Why did you call me here? I was in the middle of something important." He asked, folding his arms.
When the shock of his voice finally left his system, Ohgi spoke. "O-oh!" He began embarrassed. "Well, we wanted to say thank you for both saving our top pilot," he gestured to Kallen, "and her mother." He finished with a grateful smile.
Batman just stood there with an expressionless face. "That's it?" He simply said.
Everyone on the roof seemed to be taken aback by his questions.
"I'm sorry?" Tohdoh said with a raised eyebrow. The Dark Knight glared at the Japanese general in the eye, and even he had to admit he felt unease build as he stared into the white eyes of masked Warrior.
"You use a spotlight with my symbol on it to call me over here, away from my job, just to thank me?" Batman said. "Sorry but I don't take time off for thanks. If I did, a lot of more people would die. So I'm gonna have to leave you." He began to walk to the edge of the building.
Ohgi then rushed forward and gripped Batman's arm. "Wait!" He yelled. Batman slowly turned, and the gaze he sent Ohgi caused the man to shiver. He quickly let go of the masked vigilante's arm as he tried to regain his voice. "Of-of course we didn't just call you to hear to say thanks!" He laughed nervously. "We actually need your help."
Batman frowned as he gave a small hum in thought. Then he turned to face the group of Black Knights, folding his arms. "Why does the UFN need the help of a masked vigilante? They already have you all as their private army?" He asked.
Most of the members on the roof winced when he asked the question. Batman's eyes then widened with realization. "I see," He said, understanding, "You don't want the UFN to know what you all are doing, so you turn to someone who isn't in the UFN to help you."
"N-now hang on! That's…" Ohgi began to protest, yet stopped himself when he couldn't come up with a counter-argument. He then looked away from Batman wincing in shame slightly.
Batman gave out a sigh before he asked, "What do you need me to do?" Those ones the rooftop sparkled with enthusiasm at Batman's willingness to help them.
"We need your help tracking down a dangerous individual," Ohgi began as he reached into his coat and pulled out what appeared to be an envelope, he then handed it to Batman, "He's a high valued target that is a danger to both Britannia's and Japanese alike."
Batman proceeded to open the yellow envelope and take out the contents. Inside was a map of the continent and major cities, marked in certain locations that indicated the last-known locations of the target. Along with a list of frequently visited locations, known associates, aliases, etc…
…And a photo of the same individual on the phone that Batman had just viewed moments ago. He sighed at the photo of the young man. Apparently, the Black Knights were also hunting him too.
"The target's name is Lelouch vi Britannia," Ohgi explained, "He was the eleventh prince of Britannia, and seventh in line for the throne." Batman only frowned slightly as he stared at the photo of himself.
After a moment of silence, Batman spoke, "I think you need to get a new head of intelligence for the Black Knights." He then glared at the head commanders. "Lelouch vi Britannia is dead."
For a moment shock was portrayed on all the faces of the Black Knights. But for Kallen in particular, it was sadness.
Seeing that the Knights, or more precisely Kallen, misunderstood what he meant, Batman explained, "He died almost 10 years ago when he and his sister Nunnally vi Britannia were exiled to Japan, and when they invaded it soon after." Kallen let out a sigh of relief after hearing the explanation he gave, though no one, except the masked vigilante, noticed.
"Well, as it turns out, the reports surrounding his, and his sister's death, were proven false." Ohgi started. "He apparently assumed the identity of Lelouch Lamperoge, while attending a school known as Ashford Academy."
"And how exactly did you come across this information?" Batman asked out of false curiosity.
Ohgi turned to look at Kallen. "Our ace pilot Kallen Kozuki, who've you already met, and saved, attended the school with the target. Although she was unaware of his identity at the time." Ohgi explained.
Batman's frown deepened. "And how exactly did you learn of his true identity may I ask, Kallen Kozuki?" Batman asked. He already knew of course how she figured it out but wanted to hear her response.
Before Kallen could answer him, however, Tohdoh interrupted, "We all learned of his identity at the same time," he said, covering for Kallen in some way, "We were given this information by a source from the Britannian government."
"And who is your source?" Batman asked though he had a pretty good idea of who it was anyway. Yet he wanted to see how the Black Knights would answer. After a moment of looking at each other, as if searching for permission, Batman spoke the answer to his own question. "Was it the Second Prince Schneizel el Britannia by any chance?" There was a clear shock on all those present when he answered his own question.
"How do you know that?!" Tamaki asked.
"Before you lighted up your 'bat-signal', I came across an arms dealer who was one of the thugs that had been gaining more advanced technology these past few months." Batman lied, he knew that they originally got the information from Schneial when they betrayed him, but he had to seem separated from his old persona in some way. "In exchange for weapons and technology, he, along with several other arms dealers, was asked to send some of their men with the supplier," He reached into his belt to pull out the phone he was looking at moments ago, "And to keep an eye out for this boy."
He showed them the same photo that was in the yellow folder on the phone. Their eyes widened with shock. "But how did you connect this with Prince Schneizal?" Ohgi asked.
"The dealer I had a 'chat' with, gave me a description of the supplier," Batman explained, putting emphasis on the word chat, "The characteristics he described were of Kanon Maldini, Schneizal's personal aid."
As usual, Tamaki asked the obvious. "So what does that mean?"
Batman's frown deepened even more. "It means that for the past several months, Prince Schneizal has been supplying advanced weaponry and technology to common gangsters and criminals, in exchange for men and the location of his long lost brother Lelouch."
The shock on the Black Knights faces increased even more so with that declaration. "NO!" Ohgi shouted definitely. "That can't be! That can't be it! It must be his aid acting on his own!"
"A compelling theory, but not at all plausible." Batman countered. The Black Knights were confused by his statement. "Kanon Maldini is completely loyal, or more likely devoted, to Prince Schneizel el Britannia! He would never think about betraying that man, ever! Not for anything in the world!"
"And how would you know this?" Tohdoh asked, suspicious of Batman's knowledge of the character.
"I make it a point to look into everything I can of potential threats, or obstacles in my mission to protect the citizens of this world," Batman explained. "Whether it be from the Britannian military," His deadly gaze then glared at all the Black Knights on the roof with him, "Or even the Black Knights."
"WHAT?!" Ohgi shouted, in anger now instead of shock. "That's ridiculous! Why would we be a danger to the people of this world, our goal is to protect them!"
"Yes, it is… When Zero was alive." Batman countered. The faces of the Knights morphed back into shame at his words. "Before Zero appeared, the majority of the Black Knights, as well as their high command, were nothing but terrorists who sought to harm Britannians to gain back their land. Now that he is dead, what's to stop the Black Knights from falling back down to that level?"
The knights glared at the man who had just accused them of becoming like the very thing they were against, simply because the man who made them was dead.
"You don't know what you're talking about!" Ohgi fired back. "The Black Knights don't need Zero anymore! We can get along fine without that con man running this army! All he is... is a liar and a manipulator"
"Is?" Batman said with a hint of suspicion in his voice
Ohgi frowned at the word he said. Then he froze with fear. He realized his mistake in his words.
"You and the Black Knights all reported that Zero had died in the last battle with Britannian." Batman began, walking slowly toward the new leader of the Black Knights. "Yet your wording right now signifies that he is alive. And by your tone and words of describing him, you sound as if you lost your respect for him. I wonder…"
Ohgi began backing slowly away from the dark knight as he continued to stalk toward him. The rest of the Knights present also wore faces of shock that Batman was unraveling their description.
"Did he truly die of Britannia's doing?" Batman asked rhetorically. "Or did he fall by the hands of those he led and followed him?"
Ohgi was backed up against the railing of the building they were now on, looking over the edge to see it was a long way down. He then glared at the caped crusader that was continuing to walk towards him.
"You don't know who he really is!" Ohgi shot out.
Batman stopped at that sentence. "And you do?" He questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"More than you know! He was a liar who only sought power! He viewed all of us as pawns! Pieces on a chessboard to be moved around and sacrificed! PEOPLE ARE MORE THAN THAT!"
"And you think you're any better?" Batman asked calmly. Those on the roof were taken aback by that declaration.
"Judging by your hatred for Zero now," Batman began analyzing the purpose for this meeting, "And by your and Schneizal's desire to find Lelouch vi Britannia, I can gather that Lelouch was Zero along with being a prince. And you intend to sell him off to Schneizal to get something in return. Say maybe... Japan? And I can bet that the UFN wasn't part of the deal. Am I wrong?"
The silence that was given to him, as well as the faces, was all the confirmation he needed. "You all claim that he betrayed you in order to fulfill his desires. Yet you do the same thing." Batman accused. "By signing this deal with Prince Schneizal, you betray the UFN and all the countries apart of the union in a cowardly attempt to get your country back!"
"Cowardly?" Tohdoh asked, his voice held venom in it.
"Yes, cowardly. And utterly stupid!" Batman raised his voice as if he was condemning the Knights. "You think that just because you turn over or kill Zero, that Prince Schneizel will give your country back no strings attached?! Then you are all fools! Japan holds the largest deposit of sadakarite in the world, you think Britannia will give it away so easily just because they get an exiled Prince that's also happened to be their greatest threat out of the way?! That's even more foolish than what the JLF did with the hostages at Lake Kawaguchi!"
"That was not the action of the JLF of a whole!" Tohdoh countered. "They were the actions of a rogue commander-"
"Who was still in league with the Liberation Front when he launched the attack!" Batman cut him off before he could say more. "You say you are nothing like Zero, but you are all hypocrites who are sacrificing all you have worked for just to get a piece of land back while the rest of the world rotten under Britannia's rule! This whole thing you are in is bigger than just Japan! Why can't you all see that?!"
A moment of tense silence followed the accusation and question given by Batman's words. After a few moments, Batman spoke up again, but his tone was now much calmer. "I can see that my belief that without Zero the Black Knights would resort back to terrorism was wrong. You actually descended to an even lower level than that."
The Black Knights present glared at the Batman. But he didn't mind, he just began walking to the ledge of the building.
"I refuse to help you," He said simply as he continued walking, "I refuse to stoop down to becoming the kidnapper of a boy if it's to get a country back like that. That's not how I do things!"
Again he was met with silence to his words. He reached the ledge of the building when he spoke again, "I have no quarrel with any of you or any in the Black Knights, so I won't be going after you. But I warn you," His voice turned dark as he turned to face them with his white soulless eyes, "If you get in my way while I go after Schneizal, or warn him, or keep me from going on with my mission, I'll come for you. And I'll ruin you."
And they all knew he meant it.
He turned his back to them as he leaped on the ledge preparing to jump out to the city when he spoke one final time. "Whose idea was it to build that thing?" He gestured to the bat-signal that was still light up in the sky. He turned to see the faces of the Black Knights turn to Tamaki, who just shivered in nervousness.
Batman's face then broke into a humorous smile. "I gotta say," He spoke in an impressed voice, "I like it." He then jumped off the roof and spread his black and red wings and flew off into the night.
The Black Knights then stood there with bewildered looks on their faces in the direction where their 'visitor' just flew off.
Then Tamaki yelled. "HOT DOG! I KNEW MY IDEA WOULD WORK!" He whooped while the others just groaned.
Suzaku navigated his ways down the halls of the Viceroy Palace. It was late at night, so most of the staff went home for the night. Which meant it was the perfect time for him to get some answers.
'I know Lelouch doesn't want me actively searching for any clues to help him in his investigation.' Suzaku thought as he began to look around the halls for anything out of place. 'But if Schneizal is really selling weapons and experimental drugs to criminals, I have to do what I can on the inside to take him down.'
Suzaku internally laughed at that. A few months ago, his desire was to work hard enough in the system to change Britannia from within. Now he was working in the system to take it all down. Talk about a 180 turn.
After a long while of searching the palace, both outside and inside, Suzaku sighed and decided to call it quits for the night. 'Lelouch is better at this stuff than I am.' He thought to himself as he leaned against a hallway wall. 'He would spot any of clue of a secret passage in an instant. He always did have a sharp ey-'
Suzaku was cut off from his ramblings in his mind when his own eyes caught something peculiar on the floor. Tire marks, made from what appeared to be wheels from carts. Which wouldn't be out of the ordinary if the cart was being pushed down the hallway? But these marks went straight into the wall behind Suzaku.
He turned and examined the wall. After doing a few tests, he realized that the wall in front of him was hollow, unlike the walls next to it. He dug into his pockets and took out a sample of the contact lenses that Lelouch uses when he's not wearing his mask.
After activating them, Suzaku was able to find that beyond the wall, was another hallway that leads underground by the looks of it. Scanning for any signs of fingerprints as to find a way to open the door, he found a nearby panel on the next wall to the left. After unveiling the panel and seeing that it was a keypad that needed a combination of numbers, he scanned for the most frequently used numbers.
After punching in a number of combinations into the keypad, the door slid open and Suzaku, being mindful of the areas around him, made his way, quietly into the long white passageway. Against his better judgment to inform Lelouch about this immediately, he made his way down the hallway.
After twists and turns, he began to hear voices coming from behind him. Acting fast and using his physical prowess, he made his way into a nearby vent and hid there while the newcomers were discussing below him.
"Heh! That Earl of Pudding is so naive!" A man, a Britannian by his accent, obviously considering where Suzaku was, said in a cocky voice. He was wearing what could be a lab coat, so Suzaku assumed he was a scientist. "He thinks that advanced technology is the future of warfare. Genetic engineering is the future of the battlefield. Prince Schneizal thinks so too!" Apparently, this man had a distaste for Llyod's engineering department.
"Quiet amigo!" his companion, also a Britannian scientist, hushed his loud mouth partner. He was also wearing a lab coat, glasses, but held a datapad in his hand, though Suzaku couldn't get a good look of what was on it. "Were not allowed to talk about that stuff in the open! Prince Schneizal is trying to keep all this a secret. If the engineering department or any others discover that he's putting most of his funding into our department, we'll be ruined and be executed, and Schneizal will say that the money was stolen to cover his tracks."
"Okay, okay!" The first man soothed his overly cautious (or normally cautious, considering the crime they were committing), companion. "Yeesh! I was just saying. What's wrong with a little bragging?" He shrugged.
The man adjusted his glasses, a habit when he was in irritation. "It's wrong when that kind of behavior can get us killed!" He responded as he continued walking toward their destination.
Suzaku decided to follow these two idiotic scientists. They may be able to give him any insight as to what Schneizal is planning with this 'genetic engineering' that supposedly he was putting his money into, and could get everyone working on it killed.
As the two scientists continued to bicker, Suzaku's mind flashed back to what they said on how this could kill them. From what he remembered about war treaties, the promotion of genetic manipulation was forbidden for any such countries, unless it was used for the sense of medical enhancements. However, from the sound of these two, whatever they were working on was not for medicine.
As he continued moving, he noticed the pair of scientists stopped at a doorway. After punching in a code they slipped inside a room. Suzaku then dropped down and frowned slightly when he saw the keypad. Apparently, it also needed an identification card along with a code, so he would either have to wait for the door to open from the inside or wait for someone new to come in.
As it turns out, the former came much quicker than he thought as he heard the same voices coming to the door. 'Guess they were just checking on some stuff.' Suzaku thought as he uses his prowess to prop himself on the ceiling.
"Looks like the Venom had become a little more stable since its initial creation," The second scientist said as he emerged first from the room, "Though we'll need to run more tests before we can give it to the army."
His companion laughed darkly, "Heh! Good thing we got a whole lot of 'volunteers' coming in soon." He continued laughing as the door began to close with Suzaku moving into the room, silently…
...and what he saw took his breath away.
'Now I know why they wanted to keep all this a secret.' Suzaku thought as he stared at the scene before him.
It was like one of those mad scientist laboratories that he saw in horror movies, only without the lightning in the background. Test tubes were lined up in rows. Chemicals of different colors were lined up all around him. Some rows even held mutated plant life. Others held some cryogenically frozen substances.
"What the heck is this place?" He muttered to himself as he walked through the room. He then noticed a computer in the back and began to move toward it. He dug into his pocket and pulled out a USB drive Lelouch gave him, then plugged it into the computer.
The notification symbol that the download was starting appeared as a bat. Suzaku chuckled lightly at that. Lelouch was working very hard to make sure everything he used now looked like a bat. But he also smiled because it meant that Lelouch was embracing his new identity.
His heart suddenly froze when he heard voices coming from outside the laboratory. Suzaku looked back to the download bar, '82 percent' it read. "Come on. Come on!" Suzaku muttered quietly to himself. The download beeped complete as the doors opened.
"As you can see Prince Schneizal," A new scientist began as he led said the prince in the room, "we have been able to make much progress with the subjects-" A grumble from Schneizel caused the man to straighten up slightly. "Sorry, 'volunteers' you have been gathering for us. Soon these armaments will be available for our soldiers."
"Very good Dr. Powers," Schnezial replied with satisfaction in his voice as he glanced around the room looking at the various 'armaments'. "I am curious though," He stated as he spun to face the doctor, "How does project Savior progressing?"
'Project Savior?' Suzaku thought from his hiding space as he watched the pair. It must sound important if Schneizal himself is asking about it.
"Always interested in that certain project, Your Highness." Dr. Powers muttered while shaking his head.
"Well," Schneizal began calmly, but his tone was sounding deadly, meaning that what he was about to say was the only that the Doctor would hear of, "My benefactor has been breathing down my neck about its completion and it's the one he's most invested in. So I would want to know its progress."
'Benefactor?' Suzaku thought again as he pondered over that word.
"Well," the scientist began as he looked over a tablet he was reading, "The serum is created. But with all the chemicals we put into it, it still leaves the subject with major damage to their psyche. We tried to dilute some of the chemicals to make it seem less severe. But that also weakens the positive effects of the system."
"Find a way around it then!" Schneizal said sternly, meaning that he wanted it solved, no matter what. "I don't want to hear excuses, I want to hear results! And I want to hear from them soon! Understand?"
The doctor merely shivered under the Prince's intimidating gaze. "Un-understood, Y-Your Highness." Dr. Powers stuttered as he bowed before the man. Schneizal then gave a satisfied hmph as he, and the doctor left the room.
After a few tense seconds, Suzaku dropped from where he was perched and made his way to the exit. After he made his way back to the hallway, he pulled out the old phone that Lelouch gave him and dialed his number.
The phone was confusing to handle at first, but after watching an instruction video on a media website, and reading how to use it from an online blog online, he had a slight idea of how it worked.
After a few rings, a voice came on the end of the line in Japanese. Suzaku responded in Japanese and after a few more converses, they switched back to English. "What is it Suzaku?" Lelouch asked, slightly irritated, but not at Suzaku.
"Lelouch," Suzkau began, looking around to make sure he was alone, "I found something below the Viceroy Palace. And I downloaded information off a computer that you need to see."
He was met with silence for a few moments before Lelouch responded."Didn't I tell you not to go looking for any information that might get you killed Suzaku." Now he was irritated at Suzaku.
Suzaku sighed. Sometimes this new overprotective Lelouch could be annoying. Sometimes. "Well you can lecture me later, right now I need to show you what I got."
"Me too. Where should we meet? The FLEIJA crater?"
"No. We'll need the Batcomputer to decrypt what I got off of a computer. And I want to tell you what I saw and overheard from Schneizal."
"Understood. I'll meet you at the bat-bunker then."
"Got it! Cause we really need to compare notes." Was the last thing he said before closing down the phone.
"What notes." A new voice asked from behind.
Acting instinctively, Suzaku, spun around and struck the owner hard in the face. Only when he saw who it was did Suzaku drop his guard.
"Gino!" Suzaku yelled, irritated at the Knight of Three, "Don't just sneak up on a person like that when they get done with a call!"
"Ow! Sorry." Gino said as he lifted pulled himself up, feeling blood come out of his nose slightly. He then grimaced as he saw the blood and began complaining to himself. "But I was just curious about who you were talking to."
"Oh! Uh…" Suzaku began trying to find the words that would convince Gino. "Well, theirs this big test coming up in school and well, a friend and I are going to exchange notes."
"Didn't you drop out of school after the whole FLEIJA blast though?" Gino questioned with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh, w-w-well, my friend is taking the test and I'm exchanging some notes I took so it can help him study." Suzaku continued, trying to get Gino to leave him alone.
"But, no offense to you, you weren't ever great with school work, right?" Gino had him there. Suzaku tried to come up with another excuse when Gion's eyes widened with revelation. "Ohh! I see how it is now." He said with a goofy smile on his face.
"You do?" Suzaku asked, worried that Gino was onto his and Lelouch's crusade.
"Yeah." He responded with that same goofy smile he always wore. "You got a hot date don't you bud?!"
Cue the interrupted record spinner noise. "Huh?" Suzaku said, clearly confused.
"You know, I almost didn't believe it, considering all the time I've known you," Gino continued with his conclusion, "but you finally got yourself a girlfriend man! Good for you!" He slapped Suzaku hard on the back on that last sentence.
"No! You've got it wrong! It's not a-"
"Ah, you don't have to hide it from me bud!" Gino interrupted the Japanese knight. "You go get 'em, tiger!" He said, quoting one of his favorite encouraging lines from a movie as he walked away from the boy.
Suzaku gave a sigh of relief and muttered when Gino was out of earshot. "Thank whatever higher power out there that that boy wasn't made a Knight of the Round because of his brain."
Lelouch was able to bring his hands up just in time to barely block the strike that Suzaku sent him. He was successful in stopping the attack from meeting its strike point, which would have been his face, but the force behind the strike knocked him back a few steps. After Lelouch regained his bearings, he gazed back into the green orbs that belonged to his best friend, and formerly, his worst enemy.
When the two met up at the bat-bunker, they shared their respective information. From what they were able to gather from each other, it seems that Schneizal was using the thugs that he was bringing in from the gangs he was supplying with weapons, and testing his genetic experiments on them.
But there were still many questions: Such as what was the mysterious project Savior that Schneizal and a mysterious benefactor were interested in? And who was that said benefactor? And was he the one who was the mastermind behind these events and not Schneizel?
Regardless, they weren't gonna find any answers doing nothing. So they've had the bat computer trying to decrypt the information that Suzaku got from the lab, which was slow going. So in the meantime, the two were spared, to both improve their skills and to see what they could still learn.
"I have to admit," Suzaku started, breathing heavily, "You've definitely gotten better at fighting these past few months."
"I had a good teacher." Lelouch reminded him, having his own large breaths coming in and out.
If someone picture months ago that Lelouch Lamperouge could tie with Suzaku Kururugi in a match of physical contest, they would have been deemed as insane and sent to an insane asylum. But things were different now. A lot different.
While Lelouch was improved both in skill and strength, he was still far away from Suzaku's level of combat. But Lelouch had a large advantage over Suzaku, and anyone else he fought for that matter. His mind.
He was already very adept in reading people's choices in battle and combat before being trained. Now, with the training he had, he was able to predict where the strike would come and find out the best means to counter it. Of course, the only problem was executing the counter-attack, and being fast enough to react to the move made by his opponent.
They had gone on for about maybe twenty minutes now and were on their third round. They decided that the victor would be the one who could knock the other one out of the man-made circle they made with chalk. Suzaku had won the first with landing a spin kick to Lelouch's gut. Lelouch was able to win the second by gripping Suzaku's arm and throwing him over his shoulder.
This match was close to its finish, both fighters could feel it. If either of them wanted to win, it was gonna be decided now.
Acting first Suzaku went airborne with his spin kick, which was the moment Lelouch had been waiting for. Moving quickly, he positioned his hands and gave a powerful strike to Suzaku's midsection just as his feet collided with Lelouch's face.
Their attacks knocked them both to the floor, out of their 'fighters ring'. In other words, a draw.
"We'll… we'll call it a tie." Lelouch groaned, out of breath, as he got up to his feet and walked over to his friend.
"At least for now." Suzaku gave his own groaned response as he struggled to stand. He looked up to see Lelouch holding his hand out for him to take, which he gladly accepted. The two old friends smiled at each other.
Their moment was then interrupted when the Batcomputer's notification rang, signaling that the decryption of the files was complete. Sighing, the two moved over to the computer, Lelouch taking the chair with Suzaku standing at his right, small towels draped around both of their necks.
"Now," Lelouch said in anticipation as he cracked his knuckles, "Let's see what my dear brother is hiding from us." He began to navigate through the newly decrypted files. He roamed through them when he came across a file labeled 'special projects'.
Opening the file, there was a list of other project names underneath it. Some had strange code names: Project Lazarus, Freeze, Hatter, etc. Clicking on a file code-named 'Bane', a video appeared. It seemed to be a laboratory with multiple doctors and a subject strapped to a table with an IV injected into him.
"Dr. Ivan here," the head doctor began, "beginning the 24th test trial of project Bane." He then maneuvered to a lab desk and pulled out a syringe with a green liquid in it. "Through multiple trial and error with the substance we've classifieds as venom, we have developed a stimulus that greatly increases muscle strength beyond normal strength enhancements. However the effect of the subject's brain loss is irreparable, and Prince Schneizel has ordered us to forgo any attempt to reprimanded the effects." He then moved over to the IV and placed the syringe in the injection port. He then pressed down and the green liquid flowed into the IV wire and into the subject's body. Immediately, the subject's veins started to glow a bright green and his eyes matched the color. His muscles started expanding and he began thrashing wildly in his restraints. "Subject is becoming aggressive! Too aggressive! Kill the video! Get him tranquilizer darts now!" The video ended at that.
Lelouch and Suzaku stared in shock at the events that just transpired. Feeling as if there was more to see, Lelouch moved over to another file titled 'Scarecrow'. Another video began playing.
"This is Dr. Steven," the lead doctor began, "Using the serum development by Dr. Crane, we have successfully weaponized the fear toxin. What Prince Schneizel plans to do with this is none of my concern, so long as I get the necessary funding for my work." He then had a syringe with an orange liquid. He then injected it into another subject that was strapped to a table. A few moments after injection, the toxin took hold and the man began screaming and thrashing in his restraints in a futile attempt to escape the nightmares. "Will conduct further testing to improve the quality of the serum. Dr. Steven signing off." The video cut out.
The sickness in the two's stomachs only grew worse as they saw the video. How could Schneizel fund such experiments? Lelouch clicked on another label 'Poison Ivy'.
"This is Dr. Fouler," a female doctor now began her report, "Using the research notes and pheromones from Dr. Isles notes, we have been able to mutated plant life forms into a very 'wild' state." To her side was a plant that looked like it turned into a monster with a giant mouth that could swallow a man's hand while. "It has also been revealed that if we apply the same genetic mutation to a female, the subject can actually have a psychic control over the plant life. As well as give off pheromones that attract members of the male society. Further testing is required to see what it is truly capable of." The video was then cut off.
The two frowned in confusion at what they had just seen. It was strange that Schneizel was now into genetic alterations, but now he was into mutating plant life? What was going on with him?
The two continued to view the many different file names: 'Phosphorus' turned people into living fire. 'Killer Croc' mutated man into a monster with crocodile-like skin. 'Freeze' turning men into living snowmen with frost powers.
The gruesome list of projects continued on and on. Development of two radically different personalities, needing a coin to make decisions. Turning men into a walking nuclear meltdown. Turning people into man-sized bat creatures-Schneizel stole that idea from Lelouch. And so on.
As Lelouch continued to roam through more files, one, in particular, caught his eye. It sounded strange considering one of Schneizel's character to have such a file with this name. Regardless, Lelouch clicked open the file code-named 'Joker'.
The video opens up with a man inside a gas chamber, being viewed by Schneizel and an unknown doctor. "So," the doctor began slightly nervous at being in the imposing presence of the Second Prince, "using the formula acquired from him," the doctor empathized the word with a level of fear, "we were able to create a matching toxin that resembles the one he made."
"Just get on with it doctor," Schneizel ordered, impatiently. The doctor complied as he began twisting a valve. The room then began filling with a purple gas. The man in the chamber began pounding on the door, begging to be let out. But Schneizel nor the doctor complied with the man's pleas. The man continued to pound on the door as the gas enveloped the whole chamber. When it did, the poundings became less frequent and less impactful.
For a long moment the room was silent as the gas began to evaporate from the chamber. When the gas completely evaporated, the man was no longer upright and seemed to be face-first on the floor.
Suddenly the man's hand, now pale white slammed on the glass of the entrance of the chamber, scaring the doctor back while Schneizel just smirked. A noise then began to echo within the chamber, it was quiet, almost inaudible. But then, it began to increase in volume and frequency. It got louder and louder.
And then the man erupted in full-on maniacal laughter as his face was now in view of those present. His mouth was wide in a large smile that seemed to be of anything but amusement. His eyes were wide and there was a sense of insanity in them. A sense that the man had just heard the funniest joke imaginable and he couldn't stop laughing.
"Continue with the tests doctor." Schneizel order, barely fazed by the insane laughter of the man in the chamber. "Make sure that the gas is ready for deployment and shipment to the necessary locations." He then turned and walked away as the man continued to laugh crazily as he then fell to the floor in death. The same large smile on his face.
Lelouch and Suzaku just stared at the scene in duplicate looks of horror. Both felt the tingle of their spins when they heard the insane laughter of the man in the chamber. It was one of the most horrific and unnerving things that either of them had witnessed. And they both witnessed a lot of horrors.
However, the horror on Lelouch's face was then replaced with a seething anger that was similar to what he held when he was Zero. Lelouch knew Schneizel held no real value on people, but this? This just made Lelouch have an even lower opinion of Schneizel than he already had.
"I didn't want to believe it," Lelouch muttered to Suzaku, the anger still visible in his voice. "I didn't want to believe that Schneizel of all people would resort to…" He gestured to the screen, "...this."
"You had no way of knowing." Suzaku reminded him, trying to comfort his longtime friend, placing a hand on his shoulder. "To be honest, I don't think anyone ever really knew who Schneizel was behind the mask he showed off to the world."
"Just like me I suppose," Lelouch muttered to himself as the two continued to remain there in silence.
After a moment, Lelouch finally spoke. "Anyway, it doesn't matter right now." He declared as he took a deep breath and rose from his seat as he moved over to put on his suit. "What matters is stopping Schneizel and keeping him from hurting any more people."
"You're right!" Suzaku declared as Lelouch continued to suit up. "So, what's the plan? How are we gonna stop him?" Lelouch glanced over at the Japanese knight with a mournful look. He would always be grateful for Suzaku's help in his mission. But…
"'We' aren't going to be doing anything," He told with a hint of sadness in his tone, "I'll go after Schneizel and his projects. You're already in more danger than is safe for you."
The look on Suzaku's face was… Interesting to say the least. He was completely taken aback by Lelouch's words. Bewilderment filled his voice as he spoke his next words. "WHAT?! Why?! I'm the best chance you have of getting to Schneizel, and you won't use any advantage that you have at your disposal!"
"I'm done taking advantage of other people's positions and values to further my own goals!" Lelouch declared, his voice filled slightly with anger. "I'm done risking the lives of others for the sake of making my plans easier! If anyone is gonna be at risk from my plans again, it's gonna be me and only me!"
Suzaku could tell that he meant what he said, not just from his voice but also from his eyes. But there was more to this than that, Suzaku could tell. Deep down, Lelouch was afraid. Afraid of losing more people he loved. People like Euphie, Shirley, Rolo, C.C., and Nunnally. He didn't want to lose another person like that again.
But that kindness wasn't gonna stop Suzaku that easily.
"Lelouch," Suzaku began, placing his hand on the man's shoulder, "You're my friend, my best friend. I care about you too! You think that if you die and I live I'll be okay with that?! I would be just as crushed if you died when I could have done something to prevent it! I know you don't want to lose anyone you care about anymore, but that doesn't mean that you have to do all this alone! I will stand by you no matter what happens! As your friend!"
Lelouch was shocked. After all, they had done to each other over the past two years, the bond they developed as children were as strong as ever. Even stronger than it was. It made Lelouch tear up in joy.
"I'm grateful Suzaku," Lelouch said truthfully, "I'm grateful for you and your help in all this. Know that I will always be grateful and happy that you stuck with me through all of this." He then had a look of regret in his eyes and in his voice as he said his next sentence. "And know that I am so sorry."
Suzaku frowned. "Sorry for what?" He asked, confused.
Lelouch said no more as he pressed a button on his utility belt. Suddenly, electricity danced around the suit and traveled up the path of Suzaku's hand, shocking him into unconsciousness. He knew that a shock of that magnitude wouldn't kill or seriously harm Suzaku, but it would keep him from stopping Lelouch from getting to the Viceroy Palace.
Lelouch lifted Suzaku up then placed him in a semi-comfortably position in the bat computer's chair. "I'm sorry Suzaku," He muttered, knowing the boy couldn't hear him, "but I just got to do this on my own."
A/N: So I said that Batman villains would appear in a way that was different than in the comics. I thought this would be a great way to introduce them in the story, even if they won't be officially apart of the story. Hope y'all like this way though.
Also I want to stress something to the reviewers. This story is an origin story at the moment. So I won't have any characters like Robin, Batgirl, Catwoman, or any other of Batman's usual allies to come to help him out. Maybe in the sequel or something like that. But for now the focus is on Lelouch and his transcendence into Batman.
And yes, the Doctor Powers is Derik Powers from Batman Beyond TV series, although he won't become Blight. But he will burn in another fashion.
Next time Lelouch's arrogance costs him as he attempts to solve everything by himself, like it always does. Meanwhile, the Black Knights learn the truth, or a certain point of view of the truth, behind the reason for Batman.
