Chapter 9
Tokyo, Britannia 2019 a.t.b- Imperial Palace
Lelouch gently reclined in his chair, on the balcony of the brand new imperial palace, after months of intensive construction it had finally been completed. It resembled the old government bureau but of course with minor modifications to accommodate the new government. Lelouch sighed to himself and thought, 'finally some time to myself, dam you Milly and your accursed parties!' Meanwhile down in the new ballroom was a lavish party, Milly's idea to commemorate and celebrate the opening of the new emperor's residence. Of course this did not sit well with the Britannian emperor who was more inclined to a simple toast of scotch then a ball.
"Not enjoying yourself, warlock?" came snarky remark from behind Lelouch. Turning he came face to face with C.C., she was dressed in an immaculate white and gold dress, her green hair cascaded down her back and her eyes glistened in the light of the setting sun. All this added up to the normally calm emperor to feel his emotions bubble and his heart skip a beat, while his breath caught in his throat.
Composing himself Lelouch answered, "I do not enjoy the type of attention that comes with Milly's parties, they give an astounding headache."
Giggling C.C. said, "you usually enjoy attention, what with your flare for the dramatic and all." Smirking Lelouch couldn't help but agree and say, "true but the snobbish personalities that these kinds of parties bring out in people, reminds me to much of the nobles of old Pendragon."
Slitelly frowning C.C. approached the seated emperor. "You once told me that I should start living instead of gaining experience." This caused Lelouch to turn his head and raise an eyebrow at the witch as she continued, "well maybe you should follow your own advice. Since we have eternity just take small steps, but don't end up like me." Her face had turned to one of absolute seriousness, her brows furrowed as she starred into the emperor's eyes.
Lelouch turned and looked out over the new capital, glancing up at the setting sun and whispered, "small steps umf." He then stood surprising C.C., his cape fluttering behind him as he turned toward the green haired girl and extended his hand and said, "in that case witch, would care to dance?"
C.C.'s eyes widened at his question and for a few seconds stared at his outstretched hand. She then reached out and grasped gently as if it were made of glass or some other fragile material. As his hand closed around hers her heart fluttered in her chest, as they walked back to the ballroom.
Once they entered the crowed room, fancily dressed men and women fell silent as the emperor and his accomplice strolled onto the dance floor. Immediately the band began to play a soothing toon and Lelouch wrapped his arm around C.C.'s waist and she draped her arm around his neck, and they danced.
"Well looks like little lulu has grown up," smirked Milly as she sipped at the punch she was holding, "what do you think Rival?" Said suited blue haired boy was just staring at the strange couple on the dance floor as the rest of the guest starred with him.
"Earth to Rival," said Milly as she snapped her fingers near Rivalz's head. He just turned to her as she spoke with a concerned look, "are you okay Rival." He just looked at her strait in the eyes before taking her punch glass and placing it on the table next to them and grabbed her hand and lead her onto the dance floor.
"My Rival so bold," smirked the blood news woman. Rivalz responded with a smirk of his own and said, "just shut up and dance prez."
Looking over Lelouch said, "its about time Rival." He then turned back to the green haired beauty in his arms and continued to dance with her into the long hours of the night, as his two friends followed suit.
Location: Indochina, precise location unknown, 2019 a.t.b
A squad of Akatsukis and Gun Rus moved through the jungle, two infantry squads on the ground sweated through their stifling battle armor. As the squad halted the commander opened the hatch of his command Akasuki and rose up out of it and turned his head around, sweat glistening off his brow.
"I hate this dam place," said the commander.
"Yes sir," agreed his aid as he opened up his Gun Ru. Both men continued to sweat as they pored over the maps of the area, the rest of the squad stood around in a protective perimeter. Though their gazes were not on their surroundings but on their near empty water canteens, and the hatches to the all the knightmares were open and there pilots exposed.
Frustrated the aid said, "command said the dissidents would be in this area!"
"Well do you see anything?" said the commander wiping his brow.
"No I don't," replied the aid as he turned his head away from the commander. There was then a wet "splat" sound and the aid felt something wet it him. Turning he saw the commander slump over and his headless and bloody corpse fall from the knightmare. Almost immediately a "woosh" was heard followed by an exploding Gun Ru, three more frames followed exploding in blossoms of fire; trails of smoke could be seen leading back to where the rockets were fired.
"Ambush" screamed a soldier before he was silenced by a bullet through his throat. Figures seemingly appeared from the forest small arms fire crackling as they charged their surprised enemies. Only the aid knightmare moved its weapon to face the enemy, the rest had their pilots slumped out of their hatches blood dripping from their corpses, the aid unleashed a fusillade of fire from his machine gun. He then felt the frame shutter and his cockpit lights dimmed as he lost power, smoke filled the cock pit he immediately popped the hatch and scrambled from his burning frame just as it fell onto its face plate. Pulling his side arm the aid looked up to see the enemy advancing from the rear and in far greater numbers than had been reported, there must have been several hundred of them.
"The rear, the rear," shouted the aid as he raised and fired his pistol downing two of the enemy. Part of the remaining infantry turned and one with a heavy machine gun opened fire, spraying the advancing horde while another threw grenades. The aid then hured a wiring noise, his eyes widened in fear and recognition of the noise, he attempted to turn to run but the ground around him seemed to come alive as dust was kicked up, and a loud purring filled the air. The aid felt a burning pain all over and fell to the ground in a bloody heap, yet somehow still alive. Managing to turn over he saw the mini gun that had sprayed him and his men's position.
The fire died down and the rebels filed through the bodies searching for weapons and ammunition, with the air reeking of blood and cooked flesh. Discarded radios blared out on UFN frequencies cries of "we're under attack," "my God there everywhere," and "for the love all things holy get us out of this hell!" Other rebels climbed the knightmares, removing the corpses and driving two into the jungle while setting booby traps on the others. The aid swiveled his head and gazed on the wide eyed corpses of the infantry that had accompanied his squad as artillery could be heard in the distance. He then felt a hot barrel pressed against his temple; and one thought passed through his head before the gun was fired, "what went wrong?"
Tokyo, Britannia 2019 a.t.b- Britannian hospital
Two guards stood outside a door in the hospitals corridor, they came to attention as the emperor appeared in the hallway two of the Zero Guard at his side. The guards at the door began to sweat at the site of the silent and masked individuals walking towards them. When the three stopped in front of the door the Lelouch turned to his guards and said, "wait here."
"Yes your majesty," they replied stiffly, their robotic voices sending shivers up the spines of everyone within earshot. Lelouch then stepped forward and entered the room, and upon the bend were strewn papers of all colors and sizes their file folders thrown on the ground. A laptop hummed on the table next to the bed, a picture of Cornelia was on the screen as was a file on her. In the chair next to the bed and table sat a thin man with long hair and dark glasses, a crutch leaned against the back of his chair.
"Guilford," said Lelouch. Said knight turned to look at the black clad emperor and responded flatly, "your majesty."
"From the mess I take it you read the files I sent over?"
"Yes," replied Guilford. "But I have a question, why me?"
"You're an experienced field commander and in these times the military needs level headed commanders like you."
"I get that but," said Guilford. "But you also sent over items on the Princess, what's your other reason?"
Lelouch snickered and said, "from the files I sent you figured out that there's a chance she is still alive?" Guilford nodded and so Lelouch continued, "well if she's found I need a person you'll obey my orders and not kill her on site, hence you."
Guilford's eyebrows narrowed and he frowned and said, "how do you know that I won't turn on you if she is found?"
"I know you Guilford, you won't turn for a very good reason," said Lelouch.
"And that is?"
"Cornelia's life."
"Are you threatening her?" asked Guilford getting defensive and gripping the arm rests of his chair.
"No," replied Lelouch. "What I'm saying is her enemies list is extensive, and her involvement with Schneizel has only added more people to the list. You however were her knight and would lay down your life for her yes?" Guilford nodded and said, "of course."
"Good," said Lelouch before dawning a serious face and saying, "if you were to turn on me once she is found both of you would be killed before I could step in and save you." The knight's face fell in admission to this fact.
"You wouldn't kill her then?" asked the knight hopefully.
"That is not my decision," said the emperor, causing the knights face to fall once more. "There will be trials and many involved with the Damocles will probably be found guilty of something."
"So how can she be saved?" asked Guilford.
"Cornelia had a large amount of money stored away in separate accounts as well as other valuable items," said Lelouch. "She gave orders to the banks holding this fortune that should she become incapacitated that this money go to the next person closest to her."
"But wouldn't that be a member of her family?" asked Guilford genially puzzled.
"Everyone close enough in her relations cannot access this money for a multitude of reason, and so this leaves you," said Lelouch surprising Guilford who stood in shock.
"But what am I going to do with this money?"
Gesturing for the knight to sit Lelouch said, "use the money as reparations to the people Cornelia conquered and wronged, this will help mend the rift with many who want her dead. And I will try to use my opinion and evidence gained from the Toromo Agency to swing the courts to remove the death penalty from her sentence." Guilford hummed in agreement and Lelouch then asked, "Guilford will you join me?"
Guilford lifted his head and looked straight at Lelouch and said, "yes, for the princess."
Tokyo, Britannia 2019 a.t.b- Imperial Gardens
Lelouch and C.C. sat at a small table overlooking the great gardens of the imperial palace, the sun was setting off in the distance casting great colorful streaks across the sky accentuating the couples candle-lit dinner. Lelouch was garbed in his black Zero suit, except the cape, while C.C. wore a simple gold and white dress. The two were enjoying themselves, which actually surprised them, no insulting or teasing passed between them and both smiled from ear to ear.
"So what now my warlock?" asked C.C. "The E.U. under Machavel and his lackys have started a cold war with Britannia, while the UFN is trying to put down the rebellion in Indochina and failing. The world is against you, what do you have planned?"
Lelouch smirked and said, "Napoleon Machavel is arrogant and greedy, not good qualities in a leader, he will slip up. Even now they believe they have the upper hand, that I cannot divine their plans. Huh. They are wrong, with the UFN's concentration elsewhere they will not aid the E.U. very much, and do not now that our military strength has increased or that or technology has made more leaps and bounds. They are outmatched."
"You said that the UFN will concentrate on the rebels first," replied C.C. "You put that much faith in them?"
Lelouch grinned and said, "yes, if you read between the lines of the UFN propaganda, you'll see that despite losing the rebels inflicted large amounts of casualties on their enemy while suffering relatively few. As well the rebels made off with more capable weapons as well as knightmares, the UFN will not take a blight on their power to exist so they will concentrate on eliminating the rebels first."
"I see," said C.C. "Once again your gift of strategy as outpaced all others."
"Was that a complement?" said Lelouch smugly.
Giggling C.C. said, "shut up."
Laughing Lelouch turned and looked at the setting sun, C.C. followed his example and gazed upon the spectacle of color. "It's beautiful," she said.
"Yes it is," agreed Lelouch, who then turned and looked at C.C. and said, "Ceciniah."
C.C. shivered at the sound of her name and turned to Lelouch who said, "throughout all of this you have stayed with me no matter what, will you do so now?" C.C. raised an eyebrow at the question confused at this change in Lelouch's demeanor.
"Of course," she replied. "You're the only other person who I could share immortality with."
Lelouch smiled and said, "well that settles it then." Before C.C. could ask what he ment Lelouch jumped to his feet and moved around the table in a blur of speed and kissed C.C. square on the lips. C.C.'s eyes widened at this but found she was unable to stop from kissing back, they stayed like this till their lungs screamed for air. When they broke apart Lelouch lowered himself to his one knee and reached for his pocket, pulling a small square object from it.
C.C.'s eyes brimmed with tears as Lelouch opened the box to reveal an intercut gold ring with purple stripe around the middle, and a dark green emerald in the middle. Lelouch then asked the question, "Ceciniah would you become my empress?"
With a dry mouth and wet eyes Ceciniah could only manage to say, "I thought you never ask." Before lunging forward and pushing her lips into his, and when they broke apart again Lelouch took her hand and slid the ring onto her finger.