AN: Hey guys! I feel like I should really update Code Eternal just to get one thing out of the way. It's something that I've really been looking forward to for a long time so I hope you all like it. Now Showtime!
Disclaimer: I do not own Kamen rider or Code Geass.
Stage 13: Rider vs. Rider
Kallen and Rai were at a Black Knights safehouse and were currently in their Knightmares to train while Orpheus was with Diethard in the Black Knights mobile command base. Diethard was informing Lelouch about the Black Knights' current status.
"Yes, that's right. The training for the post-refit Guren Mk-II and the Gekka Pre-Production Test Type is proceeding on schedule. Kyoto and the Military District of India have finally come to terms, so we're just waiting for Rakshata and her team to arrive. And the organization's changeover to a cell-based structure is now 92% complete. The members have also been ranked to 14 tiers. As you directed, we've infiltrated all Britannian warehouses. Within the Kanto block, combat personnel have been dispersed to 564 separate locations. 32 of out positions have been uncovered while 11 of those were dummies. 47 members have been apprehended, but since information is now firewalled above class 8 members, the Britannians aren't getting anything out of them. And not that we have the unreserved support of the Kyoto group, we're seeing almost no more cases of citizens tipping off the authorities. On that list of Britannian supporters-." Diethard started.
"The group I made arrangements with?" Lelouch asked.
"Yes, it's the group you made arrangements with." Diethard said before Orpheus showed a picture of Tohdoh and the Four Holy Swords to remind him something. "Oh, and we're still looking for information about Tohdoh and the Four Holy Swords."
(At the airport)
Lelouch nodded, liking how things are going. The Black Knights are really started move up in the world to an actual resistance group. He felt a little proud of that but there was still much to be done.
"Understood. Continue with the work, alright?" Lelouch said before hearing a response. He nodded at it before hanging up.
Soon a disguised CC with a bag of luggage went near him. Their plan was to get more allies to aid the Riders and the Black Knights in their fight against the Holy Empire of Britannia. The only other 2 superpowers in the world are the European Union and the Chinese Federation. The EU is already at war with Britannia so the only other neutral nation is the Chinese Federation. Aid from the Chinese Federation could certainly be a benefit to the Black Knights in supply weapons in logistics.
"Are you sure you want me to be the messenger?" CC asked as she looked at her disguise. Their plan was for CC to be the messenger and hopefully convince the Chinese Federation to at least consider the possibility of being allies.
"If you look humble, they'll look down on you. That's how it works with the Chinese Federation." Lelouch said, explaining uses for the disguise and some of CC's acting skills.
"I don't know about that, but unlike you, I do have some humility." CC sarcastically remarked while Lelouch mentally sighed.
"Good, now you can put it to good use. How's your passport?" Lelouch asked, focusing on the task at hand.
"Not a bad forgery. I have to admit, I feel naked going without my Driver." CC said. Since the encounter with Mao at Clovisland, Lelouch and CC's relationship has been improved by a bit but CC hasn't gotten a replacement Lost Driver since Mao took hers.
"I haven't had time to loot Mao's body from the morgue. I'm planning to tomorrow after school. Besides, there shouldn't be that much trouble in the Chinese Federation, we also don't want any eyes on you regarding the device. Plus, I don't have much building materials for it." Lelouch explained, saying it's best for CC not to have a LostDriver on her for the trip. Plus CC can take care of herself without the Driver.
CC sighed before looking at her watch. It was time for her airplane departure.
"Other than that I'm all set." CC said before she left for her gate and Lelouch went his own way, unaware that a certain bandaged figure was watching with a crooked smile. As Lelouch was walking back home to call it a night, his mind touched a certain memory.
(Seven years ago)
A young Lelouch and Suzaku were walking through the scorching head while Lelouch was carrying Nunnally on his back. All around them were dead bodies, remnants of a Britannian slaughter. They were decaying, their skins gray and void of life, insects feasting on their insides, while the bodies themselves gave away a terrible scent.
"Where are we going? Are we getting moved to another place again?" Nunnally asked, completely obliviously of the scene around her. Suzaku just stopped and looked around at the corpses. Their dead expressions terrified Suzaku and it sickened him. He was half-tempted to puke.
"It's one of the Kururugi homes. This time, it's the main house, okay?" Lelouch lied. For once, he was grateful that Nunnally couldn't see because of all the death and decay around them. Lelouch could sense that Suzaku stopped. "Keep on walking, Suzaku."
"But-."
"Keep walking." Lelouch said. The sooner they were out of this place, the better.
"Where are we? It smells really bad here." Nunnally said, starting to worry a little bit regarding their location.
"We're going by a garbage dump. Right, Suzaku?" Lelouch asked but he didn't get an answer. He turned around and saw his best friend crying for all the death that's around them. Lelouch walked toward him and Nunnally could hear his sob.
"What's wrong, Suzaku?" Nunnally asked.
"I…I…" Suzaku stuttered, he just couldn't find the right words for it. He was too deep into shock. Nunnally sensed his distress and placed her hand on his cheek, surprising him.
"Nunnally?" Suzaku looked at the young blind girl while she smiled.
"My mother taught me that a warm touch is good for tears. Do you think it's true?" Nunnally asked.
(Present)
It was night and Lelouch was sitting on his bed while looking at the Eternal Memory in his hand. He had to be strong for what was next because with Mao out of the way, Lelouch can finally go back to work on destroying his father's empire. But right now, he had to get himself, the Riders, and the Black Knights stronger. Strong enough to bend the world to their knees but they have to overcome the obstacles in Area 11 presented to them.
"I will…overcome this." Lelouch said, determined as he clenched the Eternal Memory.
(With Suzaku)
Suzaku just finished testing the Lancelot and he was the only one left in the facility. Lloyd even asked him to lock up for the night. Suzaku was not only thinking on that certain memory but also on his encounters with the Black Knights…along with the Kamen Riders. Every single time he encountered them, the Lancelot always lost a limb.
"How am I going to get through this?" Suzaku wondered. If the Lancelot keeps getting damaged then Suzaku can't climb up the ladder to get the power to change Britannia from the inside. Sure the Lancelot can easily eliminate regular troops but the Riders are a whole different story.
Every time that Suzaku faced a Rider in the Lancelot, he always ends up getting incapacitated in some form. Like a leg slice to the Lancelot or that girl giving him the weird vision. The only way to get a fighting chance against the Riders is one thing…
"Power." Suzaku realized. "I need more power." He said, needing more power to stand a chance against the Riders and to rise through the Britannian ranks.
Suzaku soon looked at the clock which read midnight and decided to lock up the place for the night. He gained one last look at the Lancelot before leaving with the lights out.
(In the day at Ashford Academy)
Lelouch was on his way to class with the intentions of going to the morgue later to collect the LostDriver and the Violence Memory.
'Hey Lelouch!" Suzaku called as he ran through the front gate to catch up with his friend. Lelouch stopped and looked at him. "What's up? Y'know, they're going to hold you back if you don't start coming to class." Suzaku said, joking about Lelouch's recent absences.
"I could say the same about you, right?" Lelouch replied, noting Suzaku's recent absences.
"I have work to do. It's just that the Black Knights and the Kamen Riders have really been on the move lately." Suzaku explained, showing off his excuse but it did threw off Lelouch a little.
"Hey, I thought you were in engineering." Lelouch pointed out.
"Uh…we're shorthanded so they move me around." Suzaku lied, hoping that was enough to convince Lelouch.
"Hmm…Still how about dropping by for dinner more often? Nunnally misses you. Are you free this evening?" Lelouch asked, earning a smile from Suzaku. It has been a while since the three had some dinner together so this could be the perfect time, especially considering their work after school.
"Yeah, I could come tonight. But are you sure it's okay? I don't want to cause any-."
But before Lelouch can respond…
VROOM!
Soon the Rivalz and his motorcycle drove and drifted near Suzaku, making him jump back from shock. Rivalz immediately got out and looked at Lelouch.
"Hey, Lelouch!" Rivalz went up to him.
"What's wrong?" Lelouch asked.
"I hear that the president's out doing that blind date thing again!" Rivalz stated, familiar with how the Ashford family works.
"Yeah, today." Lelouch calmly answered, instantly surprising Rivalz.
"Today!?" Rivalz then grabbed Lelouch by the collar. "Why didn't you tell me about it!?"
"Because it would make you cry." Lelouch, once again, calmly responded.
"Boys do not cry!" Rivalz denied while Suzaku tried to console him.
"It's okay, I didn't know about it either." Suzaku said before Rivalz looked at him.
"Don't give me your emo routine!" Rivalz responded and Suzaku stared at him.
"Emo?"
"I guess compassion is not in fashion these days." Lelouch soon started walking to his place. "So anyways, are we on for dinner tonight with Nunnally?"
"Sure." Suzaku then saw Lelouch running to his place. "Wait, what about school!?"
"Don't worry, I'll be right back! I'm just going to tell her about it!" Lelouch explained before he was gone from sight.
Meanwhile Rivalz drooped down in depression.
"My life is over and he's worried about dinner?" Rivalz rhetorically asked, wondering what's wrong with his friend.
(With Nunnally)
Nunnally just made another paper crane before hearing the door opened.
"My classes don't start till second period, Sayoko." Nunnally said before hearing clapping, making her think that it wasn't Sayoko.
In front of her was a bandaged Mao wearing the LostDriver that he took from CC. He soon had a wicked smile.
(A few minutes later)
Lelouch soon came in.
"Hey Nunnally, Suzaku's gonna-Huh?" Lelouch looked around and didn't see Nunnally anywhere. He did notice a bunch of paper cranes circling a photo of Nunnally tied up and gagged, immediately alerting Lelouch.
He gritted his teeth as he thought about who did this. Did someone find out who they really were? Or was it some sort of psychopath?
RING!
Lelouch's thoughts were interrupted by his STAG phone. He soon answered it.
"Yes?"
"Lelouch!" His eyes widened because it was Nunnally's voice.
"Nunnally! Where are you right now!?"
"I don't know but I can't move!" Soon it sounded like the phone was being switched around.
"Nunnally!?"
"It's me, Lulu." Mao said, revealing himself to be alive to Lelouch.
"It can't be!" Lelouch said. Mao's body was riddled in bullets, he couldn't be alive.
"You dropped your guard, Lelouch. Just because you thought I was dead?" Mao taunted.
"Mao, listen. CC isn't here right now."
"That's why I came. Someone immune to my Geass would be troublesome now." Mao explained. "I'll save my encounter with her for a later date. First, I'm going to pay you back for that little session the other day." Mao said. As much as he wanted CC back all to himself, revenge was the freshest thing on his mind.
"You're somewhere within 500 meters of me." Lelouch noted since he figured that Mao read his mind regarding CC.
"Of course. Want to try and find me?"Mao asked.
Lelouch immediately linked the STAG phone to a wireless earpiece and ran out.
"Your time limit is five hours." Lelouch looked around the courtyard but saw no sign of Mao or any clues regarding his and Nunnally's location. He soon ran into the building itself and examined the halls. "Oh, by the way, since the game is just between you and me, no using the cops as pawns this time. I don't really want to get shot up again."
Lelouch just ran through the hall looked through each class room, only to find nothing out of the ordinary. Where could Mao be?
"Although Britannian medical science is amazing. You can thank them for my return!"
Mao laughed as Lelouch went into the bathroom to find nothing that yields good results. Lelouch gritted his teeth as he just continued his run in the halls.
"You know, Lulu, when you used your Geass on those cops, you should've told them to KILL me, not just shoot me!" Mao said, revealing Lelouch's only mistake regarding the encounter at Clovisland. Lelouch was soon in the computer lab and still there was no sign of Mao or Nunnally or any clues to the true location. "You left off the finishing touch, and now your sister's in a bind! What a quandary! What a quagmire! What a crunch!" Mao mocked, much to Lelouch's dismay.
"Nunnally has nothing to do with this!" Lelouch barked, obviously frustrated.
(With Mao and Nunnally)
Nunnally was still tied up but she wasn't gagged anymore.
"It's not a very nice way to play a game, you know." Nunnally said, earning Mao's attention.
"Hm?"
"If you do something to make brother sad, I'll never forgive you!" Nunnally said, expressing her distaste in Mao's actions. But that didn't bother Mao at all, in fact it actually made him laugh.
"What a pair you are! I love this brother-sister thing." Mao remarked as he planned for Lelouch's encounter. In the meantime, he looked at the Violence Memory in his hand and the LostDriver at his waist. Mao soon developed a diabolical smile.
(At the Student Council room)
"The president is on a blind date? I never knew that." Rai commented as he, Suzaku, and Kallen were feeding Arthur. It was lunch time and the gang was having a Pizza Hut pizza on the table with Rivalz and Nina trying to eat a slice.
"Oh, thanks for reminding me, Rai!" Rivalz said, back to his depressed mood. "What is up with her blind date!?"
"Didn't know you had a thing for her." Rai remarked.
"It's kinda obvious with a bit of perspective." Kallen replied.
"Don't rub it in." Rai said before Suzaku looked at him with a curious look.
"Speaking of which, how are your memories coming along? Remember anything yet?" Suzaku asked.
"Nothing worth mentioning." Rai answered before Arthur bit Suzaku's hand again.
"Ow!" Suzaku let out and Kallen looked at the small cat.
"What's the matter? Don't like your food?" Kallen asked but Srthur didn't answer since he was taking too much joy in biting Suzaku's hand.
"Arthur, why do you always do this!?" Suzaku asked since Arthur just about bites Suzaku everyday of the week in every spot of his body, even in the private parts.
Just then the door opened, revealing an exhausted Lelouch. He looked around before eyeing Rai and Kallen. They already knew his identity as Eternal but given past experiences, Mao could easily manipulate either of them. Lelouch had to deal with this on his own.
"Hey, Lelouch! Why weren't you at class, huh?" Rivals asked, noting Lelouch's absence but he wasn't paying attention since he was looking for clues on Mao and Nunnally's location but there wasn't.
"Huh? What?" Lelouch said, not paying attention.
"Yeah, Rivalz has a point. You didn't go to-." Suzaku then saw Lelouch trying to leave.
"Excuse me." Lelouch was about to leave but stopped for a second to look at Suzaku. "Oh, and I'll talk to you later about dinner." Lelouch said before leaving the room.
Suzaku had suspicious look while Kallen held Arthur.
"You think he's going gambling again, huh, Arthur?" Kallen asked before they noticed Suzaku leaving. He could senses that something is wrong with his best friend and he wouldn't do this without a good reason or unless it pertains to his real identity or Nunnally's well-being.
Meanwhile, Lelouch was in the stairway and looked at the picture that he was left with when Mao's "game" began. He soon received a short call from Mao.
"Lulu, if you do a handstand while searching for me, I'll extend your time limit by an hour." Mao mocked before hanging up. Lelouch could just tell that Mao is enjoying watching Lelouch going through this and failing to find him and Nunnally.
Lelouch just ignored him and continued staring at the picture.
'He anticipated this. He wants me to squirm. But what do I do? He must be within 500 meters if he's reading my mind, but-.'
"Lelouch." Suzaku appeared, catching Lelouch off guard and making him drop the picture. Lelouch was about to pick it up but the picture immediately caught Suzaku's attention. "That's…I thought so. Something happened to Nunnally."
(At Orpheus's warehouse)
Orpheus was keeping track of the beacon that he placed on the Nazca Dopant since he and Rai encountered him with Oiaguro. Orpheus was trying to keep track of the beacon with a map and saw that it moved overnight away from Area 11 and into…
"The European Union? What the hell?" Orpheus wondered as he took off his white fedora and looked at it. As much as he wanted to take down his uncle, he still had much more questions for the Nazca Dopant that needed to be answered more quickly.
Orpheus picked up his phone and called Rai.
"What's up?" Rai asked.
"Looks like our little blue Dopant pal of ours has gone and went into the EU."
"European Union…but what for?"
"That's what I planned to find out. I'd invite you along for the ride but I know you're going to be busy here, especially with the Black Knights' growing status." Orpheus said as he kept his eyes on the beacon's mark in the EU.
"I wouldn't say that because I think it's time for Lelouch to know what we've been up to." Rai suggested and he did have a valid point.
For a few days, the two of them have been doing their own side business and discovered various things: Lexington and the Bird Memory, the meeting between Oiaguro and the mysterious other party, and a member of said party using the Nazca Memory in a fully-controlled Dopant state. Now this Dopant has gone practically to the other part of the world. If none of this said, "Something big is going on here", then nothing will.
Orpheus thought about it as he scratched his chin. Maybe it was time to call in the calvary.
"Alright, I'll communicate with Lelouch later." Orpheus said before hanging up.
(With Lelouch and Suzaku)
The two were walking down the hall and Lelouch was speeding Suzaku up to date with what happened regarding Mao's "game" and using Nunnally as the grand prize.
"But who would kidnap Nunnally? It can't be a Britannian spy or someone from the royal family." Suzaku said, knowing that if it was from the Britannian government, they would've been more subtle at least.
"No, this has nothing to do with our bloodline. Just a psychopath who wants to keep a girl all to himself." Lelouch said, which was actually true about Mao since he is doing this to get back at Lelouch and then he is going for CC. "That's why I can't go to the army or the police." Lelouch explained. Other than Mao's threat, revealing himself is a huge risk when it comes to the police or the military.
"Then there's no choice. We'll have to do this on our own." Suzaku said, now joining Lelouch in helping him stop Mao and free Nunnally. "This isn't about your gambling though, is it?"
"It has nothing to do with that." Lelouch said. He hasn't even gambled recently.
"Okay, do you have any leads?" Suzaku asked with his mind back on track.
"Just this photo…and I know he's somewhere very close by, watching me." Lelouch's eyes widened when he realized something. "And now that I think about it, I heard the sound of running water too!"
"Water…" Suzaku then realized the one place in the school where running water can be heard from. "The circulation system!"
"The lower levels?" Lelouch's eyes widened at Mao's choice of a hideout. It was so simple because Mao had to be somewhere around 500 meters to read Lelouch's mind but he couldn't do it in an obvious location so he moved underground. "Let's go!"
Lelouch and Suzaku rushed to the elevator where Lelouch placed his keycard in.
"Something's still off though." Suzaku admitted.
"What?"
"Normally, you'd home in right on that." Suzaku noted, remembering how much of a genius Lelouch was in class and in their childhood.
Lelouch grunted because he didn't want to admit one thing. Nunnally was Lelouch's drive, his source of strength but it can easily be turned into a weakness. If Nunnally's well-being was placed in jeopardy, Lelouch will rush to her rescue but can be reckless unlike his cold and calculative self who knows every strategy.
Soon the card popped back out following a beep from the console, adding to Lelouch's frustration.
"Tch…" Lelouch let out before bending down and working on the consoles.
"What is it?" Suzaku asked, noticing Lelouch's frustration.
"He changed the codes. We'll have to hack into the system." Lelouch said as he worked.
"But…that's against school rules." Suzaku said, pointing out the obvious.
"I'll change it back later." Lelouch said, not liking loose ends.
"Then let me do it." Suzaku said, wanting to put his military training to use and to help, of course.
"Too late, I got it." Lelouch said before the elevator opened, surprising Suzaku by the speed.
"That was fast. You're a little too good at that."
"The student council has partial access to these areas." Lelouch said as he and Suzaku got in. Suzaku waited while Lelouch inputted their destination and soon the elevator started descending to the lower levels.
"Lelouch, I see. This how you've been getting off campus, isn't it? Your little escape route." Suzaku noted as he remembered Lelouch leaving off campus without any other students noticing, It was good to know one of Lelouch's tricks.
"Huh? Uh yeah, sometimes." Lelouch said before taking cover next to the elevator door, confusing Suzaku. Lelouch noticed this. "We have a security system down here in case of criminals or thieves. I have no doubt that the psychopath have hacked them." Mao didn't look like the hacking type but it was better to be safe than sorry.
Suzaku nodded and took cover as well before the elevator stopped with the doors opened.
"How's it look?" Lelouch asked as Suzaku took a hand mirror out and used the reflection to look out. Suzaku sees the security camera linked up with a machine gun turret. The turret itself seemed active.
"You were right. The door's guarded. There's a machine gun linked to the security camera. The lag on these systems is tight: 0.05 seconds." Suzaku analyzed, remembering what he learned from in military training.
"That means we can't access it this way. We'll head back up and disable the-."
Suzaku ran out, much to Lelouch's surprise. The turret started firing but Suzaku was running at a fast speed, dodging any bullet that turret throws at him. Soon Suzaku managed to get close enough to run across the wall before jumping off and doing a spin kick, knocking the turret away from the camera.
Lelouch was surprised but then against Suzaku was always the reckless and brash one.
"Of all the reckless moves…" Lelouch was surprised that Suzaku can do that even if it was reckless and brash. Maybe he could spar with him once this is all over but right now, that's at the back of his head.
Suzaku just ignored the comment and looked at Lelouch.
"Come on, let's go. Nunnally's waiting for us." Suzaku reminded, earning a nod from Lelouch. The two ran and proceeded into the room of the circulation room. They see Nunnally tied up but Mao wasn't anywhere in the room.
(At the church)
Mao was setting up something up of a scale in the school's church. He smiled as he thought about the thought of his revenge and how killing both Lelouch and Nunnally will be a joy to him. And to top it off, he can have CC all to himself with no one to stop him.
"But first, the pieces need to be laid." Mao said as he waited patiently for Lelouch's arrival.
(In the circulation system room)
Lelouch and Suzaku rush down the room before seeing Nunnally tied up and Mao wasn't anywhere nearby.
"Nunnally!" The two called before Nunnally heard them.
"L-Lelouch and Suzaku, is that you?" Nunnally asked as she wasn't looking forward to seeing or talking with Mao.
"I'm so sorry! I'll cut you loose-!" Lelouch was about to go over and save his sister but Suzaku stopped him.
"Wait! Wait! Look up there!" Suzaku pointed and Lelouch did to see something hanging over Nunnally's head.
Lelouch took a closer look to see that it was a makeshift bomb.
"A bomb."
"That's right, Lulu. I'll play along since Kururugi came on his own. Can't wait to see how you two deal with this!" Mao mocked before hanging up, allowing Suzaku to participate in the game since he joined in on this on his own rather than being Geassed. Plus another willful contestant in this game can make it much more entertaining.
Lelouch just gritted his teeth, Mao must have the detonator but moved to a different location. The only comfort that he has was that Mao is within 500 meters.
Suzaku, however, seemed cheerful and determined that he and Lelouch will get Nunnally out of this mess and stop Mao.
"Nunnally, we're going to defuse the bomb." Suzaku smiled. "It's okay. Don't worry. Lelouch and I can do anything together. You know that." Suzaku said, being confident that he and Lelouch can succeed since they are brawn and brain personified. If they can survive the Britannia's war on Japan, then they can definitely survive this.
Nunnally smiled, Suzaku's charisma rubbing off on her.
"That's right." Nunnally nodded while Lelouch analyzed the bomb.
(With Mao)
Mao just laughed at all this. He was going to win this game and take everything from Lelouch. Plus with a statement like that, coming from Suzaku, it'll make Mao's victory all the sweeter. And if none of this worked…he always had Plan B on standby.
"VIOLENCE!"
Just the sound of that made Mao giddy and tingling with excitement but just then the burden of Geass activated as Mao received hundreds of thoughts from the students.
(With Lelouch and Suzaku)
"It's motion sensitive. A solenoid inside supplied energy that keeps it constantly moving." Lelouch explained, showing what kind of bomb they're dealing with and why it's constantly hovering over Nunnally in a circle-like motion. "If an external force interferes with the motion, then the bomb-."
"Explodes. Moving Nunnally even an inch will trigger it. That's the way it's set up." Suzaku finished, being on the same level of understanding as his friend.
"Can you calculate its range?" Lelouch asked.
"It'd wipe out everything within five or six hundred meters, minimum." Suzaku answered.
Lelouch then started thinking as he was analyzing Mao's plan. If the bomb had a 500-600 meter radius then Mao would have to be somewhere that his Geass couldn't reach but why would he do that especially since mind reading would have to be one of Lelouch's greatest weaknesses. The only advantage he has in this is that he can do something freely without Mao's acknowledgement but it wasn't much room for comfort.
'Now what? We're beyond the reach of his Geass. Is he trying to mislead me?' Lelouch thought as he tried looking for a way to take advantage of the situation to save Nunnally.
"You think you know how to disarm it?" Suzaku asked, wondering if Lelouch already had a plan which he probably does.
Lelouch gestured Suzaku to look at the multi-colored wires that were holding the bomb above Nunnally.
"Theoretically. The power line to the detonator would need to be severed. Since he's not a pro at this, I'm sure I could figure out which lines are dummies. Still, we need to find another way to do it." Lelouch said, remembering how sloppy yet effective Mao can be when it comes to work.
Suzaku looked at Lelouch.
"Why? If we choose the right one-."
"Because you'd have to cut the line without disrupting the motion, which is impossible." Lelouch said, keeping his eyes on the bomb which was swinging like a pendulum.
Suzaku was thinking before getting a plan.
"I'll do it. There's no choice." Suzaku said, wanting to save Nunnally and end this sick twisted game like Lelouch.
"No, Suzaku! We don't have enough information to pull it off!" Lelouch said, looking at his limited options.
"There's a time limit here; we can't afford to play it safe. As for information, it's staring ar you right in the face. I'm a soldier, Lelouch. Can't you use that information?" Suzaku asked, reminding Lelouch that he's been trained to handle situations like this.
Lelouch was thinking about it.
(With Sayoko)
Sayoko was running errands by buying groceries. She looked around and saw a sale on toilet paper.
"We're not short on toilet paper, are we?" Sayoko wondered before…
RING!
Sayoko heard her phone rang and looked at the Caller ID to see that it was Lelouch. She soon answered it.
"Hello?"
(With Mao)
Mao was practically banging his head against the wall since the thoughts of the other students went into his head. Mao could do nothing but grit his teeth.
"Stuck up little brats! No wonder I hate schools so much!" Mao thought out loud before sensing a familiar thought; Lelouch's. "Huh?"
Lelouch was approaching the church with his thoughts being easily read by Mao's Geass.
'What now? What's he got planned for me next? That camera trained on Nunnally is transmitting to Mao. Is he here? I can't believe he'd still be here at the school. What a whack-job. I told Suzaku to stay with Nunnally, but that leave me with only one option.' Lelouch thought and that one option was to confront Mao himself. His only hope of freeing Nunnally was to stop Mao completely and win his game.
Lelouch entered the church and sees Mao with a smug smile while clapping.
"Well, if it isn't Casanova! No weapons, no strategy. You didn't defuse the bomb, didn't use your armor, didn't deploy the Black Knights, Riders, Memory gadgets, or your friend. What's wrong, Lulu?" Mao taunted, knowing that Lelouch had very few options to begin
Lelouch just held an irritated look while he just stared at Mao.
"I'm not explaining anything to you. The final game…is it ready?" Lelouch asked, eyeing the covered game that was in front of a scale which was probably linked to bomb.
"Hmm, let's put an end to this then." Mao took the cover off, revealing a chess game set. "With your specialty."
(On an airplane)
A young man in white with green eyes and long blue hair tied in a ponytail was enjoying the sight out the window before opening the briefcase next to him, revealing a Gaia Driver and the Nazca Memory. He was finally going back to Euro-Britannia after that quick stop in a northern part of Europe.
As the young man was enjoying his flight, he received a phone call.
"This is Shin." Shin said.
"Shin, it's Manfredi. Do you have everything you need?" Manfredi asked since Shin was asked to come to Area 11 to pick up an important device that could change the tide of the war against the EU.
"I have received the items, Lord Manfredi. They'll be in my care in the meantime but I can show you a good demonstration if need be."
"That sounds all well and good, Shin. How much longer until you're back here in Euro-Britannia?"
"Shouldn't be too long." Shin answered as he gave a wicked smiled. But unknown to him, the beacon on his Gaia Driver was giving his location away.
(With Lelouch and Mao)
Mao looked at the scale next to the chess set.
"You seem the scale is the bomb's detonator and its cancellation switch." Mao then got a chess piece and placed it on his side of the scale as an example. When he placed it there, the needle in the scale meter started pointing towards Mao. "The chess pieces we capture will go here. If the needle swings all the way towards me, the bomb goes off. If it swings towards you, the bomb will be disarmed. In short, if you win the game, your sister's life will be saved."
The rules seemed simple and normally Lelouch is a pro at this game but Mao is a mind reader, that ability alone guarantees victory. This game was probably just icing on the cake for him. Lelouch seemed subtly agitated.
"Your mind is twisted. No wonder CC left you."
Mao seemed unaffected by the comment.
"Provoking me won't work. I can read your thoughts, so I know what you're trying to do." Mao warned but on short, he's planning to cheat.
(With Suzaku)
Suzaku stood on a little nook above the bomb. He looked down and saw Nunnally's calm yet worried expression. Suzaku smiled at her before taking a deep breath, he was definitely going to save Nunnally and help Lelouch put an end to this sick twisted game.
"Alright, here goes nothing." Suzaku said.
(With Lelouch and Mao)
Mao just tossed the fifth piece that he just won from Lelouch into his side of the scale. Mao smiled at Lelouch's uneasy expression when staring at the chessboard.
"I'm afraid you're not the type of person who can keep your mind empty. There's the part of you that's a critic, constantly watching your own moves…and there's another part that's an observer watching the critic…watching you. You're that kind of person." Mao said, analyzing Lelouch's mind as if he was an open book. He then chuckled. "But I know all your thoughts, so I'm always a step ahead. You can't win." Mao mocked as he earned another one of Lelouch's chess pieces.
He tossed it into his side of the scale and the scale meter started pointing more towards Mao, frustrating Lelouch. He needed to think of something quick and soon or else Nunnally gets blown up.
Lelouch soon tried having multiple to throw Mao off but it didn't work, it just made Mao clap.
"Bravo!" Mao clapped. "Your plan is to think of seven things at once to confuse me and trip me up!" Lelouch stayed silent and moved his piece. "But you see, if I focus my Geass directly on you, it's easy to tell which one is your true thought." Mao made his move before taking another of Lelouch's pieces and throwing it into the pile. "Ah, your last plan is failing as well. You underestimated me, that's why your sister is…"
Lelouch's eyes widened and started shaking as he saw the scale meter go dangerously in the red for him. Mao saw this uneasy expression and decided to revel in it.
"'What do I do? I'm out of strategies. I can't call for backup as long as Nunnally is being held hostage.'" Mao then took out a coin and dropped it on the floor, scaring Lelouch since that drop could mess up the bomb's motion. "Sorry, sorry, I dropped it."
Mao picked up the coin and watched Lelouch becoming tenser as the clock kept ticking. Mao then clapped, prompting Lelouch to hurry up. Lelouch seemed extremely nervous to do something.
"Your turn. Better hurry. Looky, looky, time is running out. Your little sister is not going to make it." Mao said before Lelouch picked up his piece and was about to move it. "Ah, is that the right move? Are you sure you wanna do that?" Mao asked, reminding Lelouch that he'll be one step ahead of him since he could read his mind.
Fed up and just wanting to see Nunnally safe at this point, Lelouch dropped his shoulders and head in defeat.
"Isn't this enough…?" He quietly whispered.
"Hm?"
"Please stop it, Mao…" Lelouch begged, he couldn't take this anymore since he knew he couldn't win this game.
"I can't hear you very well." Mao replied, making Lelouch look at him straight in the eye.
"You've gotten everything you wanted! Let Nunnally go!" Lelouch screamed, practically begging for his little sister's safety.
"Huh?"'
Lelouch looked down.
"I admit it…you have beaten me." Lelouch admitted.
Mao just laughed hysterically while clapping, rejoicing over his victory.
"Very well said! You're finally speaking the thought from the deepest part of your soul, huh? That feels great! Fantastic! But…no." That immediately got Lelouch's attention as Mao made a checkmate move. He grabbed Lelouch's last piece and threw it into the pile. "This is…checkmate."
Lelouch looked shocked before noticing the needle pointing entirely at Mao's side, leaving Lelouch's completely in the red.
"NO!" Lelouch said before falling on his butt with a face of pure shock with the thought of his sister being nothing but ash now. "Nunnally…"
"Hmm, let me see if she's burst into little pieces." Mao said as he took out the camera to see Nunnally's remains but…she was still in one piece. "Ah!? What the!? Why is she-!?"
Lelouch just seemed just as confused as Mao was. Soon the window crashed and in came Suzaku. That was when Mao realized what Lelouch did.
"How did you!? You kept me focused on you!" Suzaku soon landed and Mao pulled out his gun before firing. Suzaku easily dodged the bullets before kicking Mao, making him lose the gun and his sunglass.
"I am Warrant Officer Suzaku Kururugi of the Britannian Military and you are under arrest." Suzaku said, shocking Lelouch since he told him to stay with Nunnally. Mao was just shocked that Lelouch distracted him while Suzaku took care of Nunnally.
"Suzaku…"
"You disarmed the bomb!? Impossible! You'd have to match your speed to the pendulum!" Mao pointed out.
"That's right…after Lelouch showed me which line to cut." Suzaku explained, shocking Mao…and Lelouch since he doesn't remember it.
(A few minutes ago)
Suzaku took out a combat knife and jumped off the nook. He fell at the speed of the bomb before eyeing the wire that he needs to cut; the red one. He held the knife out and it soon came into contact with the wire, immediately cutting it upon impact. Suzaku then landed and looked at the inactive bomb.
He then looked at Nunnally before smiling and leaving to help her big brother.
(Present)
"I showed you?" Lelouch asked, just to be sure.
Suzaku looked at him with a confused expression.
"What are you saying? It was your plan: cut the line then bust in here when I heard your scream. Don't you remember?" Suzaku asked.
Lelouch then realized what he was saying before pulling out his hand mirror, and seeing himself with his Geass active.
"So that's it…right, thanks for reminding me." Lelouch said before putting it away and turning off his Geass. "Mao, it seems that this is my checkmate."
Mao looked confused but his eyes widened as he stood up.
"Lelouch, don't tell me you-!"
'That's right, I gave Suzaku his instructions then used Geass on myself to forget so you couldn't find out. You believe that if you know a person's thoughts you know everything. That's why you narrowed your range and focused all your power on my mind. That was your mistake.' Lelouch thought as he smiled. In the end, Mao's cockiness and dependency of his Geass were his undoing. Lelouch knew that and made sure it would by making it look like Mao won but he really didn't.
"That's ridiculous! You bet everything on one friend!? What if he'd failed you!?" Mao asked as his arm was grabbed by Suzaku.
'Good point. To execute this plan, to had to trust Suzaku completely.' Lelouch mentally explained and that wasn't a problem since Suzaku was his best friend. Suzaku got on the phone.
"Sayoko, everything's fine now."
"…"
"Right, go ahead." Suzaku said, giving the all-clear to free Nunnally.
(With Nunnally)
Sayoko approached her and undid her binds.
"Sayoko?" Nunnally asked, hoping it was her.
"I'll have you free in a second." Sayoko answered.
(With Lelouch and the others)
Mao just had a furious look. This wasn't over not by a long shot.
"Hmph, you think you beat me, huh!?" Mao asked as he tried getting his hands at Lelouch but Suzaku was stopping him.
"Stop it!" Suzaku said as Mao tried to resist.
"Get your hands off of me, father killer!" Mao barked back, making Suzaku's eyes widen while Lelouch seemed confused. Suzaku wore an expression of pure shock while Mao smiled, knowing that he could torture Suzaku. "You killed your own father seven years ago. Hmph, he called for do-or-die resistance and you thought stopping him would end the war. What a childish idea. The fact is, you're a murderer!" Mao accused Suzaku of being.
"That's not true! I just…I-!" Suzaku tried to argue but Mao seemed to have the upper hand.
"How lucky for you that no one ever found out. All the adults lied to protect you." Mao said while Lelouch stepped up.
"But all the reports said his suicide was a protest against military action." It was what ended the war and how Britannia managed to conquer Japan, turning it to Area 11.
"A lie…" Lelouch looked at Suzaku who was visibly stunned. "But why?"
That snapped Suzaku out of the stun.
"I didn't have any choice! If I didn't, Japan would have-!"
"That's how you justify it in retrospect? Well it explains your death wish!" Mao said, putting Suzaku back into being stunned and revealing another secret of him. "You want to save people's lives? It's your own wretched soul you're trying to save. That's why you're always charging into danger, placing yourself on the edge of death!"
Suzaku screamed as he got on his knees, unable to take this mental scarring. Mao just smiled as he took Suzaku's hand off of him.
"You're no hero; you're just trying to wash the blood off your hands! A little brat begging to be punished!" Mao accused Suzaku of before kneeing him in the face, knocking Suzaku out. Mao then opened his coat, revealing the LostDriver and surprising Lelouch. "With him out of the way…"
Mao took out the Memory.
"VIOLENCE!"
Mao inserted it into the slot and tilted it.
"Henshin!"
"VIOLENCE!"
Mao was soon covered in a black bulky bodysuit with gray armor and red wires around him. His helmet also His helmet was big and bulky as well with two compound orange eyes and a steel mouthpiece.
"I feel incredible!" The transformed Mao remarked as he felt the surge of power coursing through his body. He looked at Lelouch. "I know this belt was an invention of your evil but what about some ironic poetic justice for you? I'll show you the power of Kamen Rider Violence!"
Lelouch gritted his teeth in anger.
"Mao…don't you dare call yourself a Rider!" Lelouch said with anger as he placed his own LostDriver on and got his Memory out.
"ETERNAL!"
"Henshin!"
"ETERNAL!"
Lelouch transformed into Eternal Red Flare with his dagger out. Violence held his hand out before part of his armor separated and flew into his hand before combining into a sword. The two Riders charged and Eternal dodged Violence's attack. He soon tried slashing Violence's armor multiple times but it wasn't affecting Violence himself. Violence just laughed as Eternal kept trying to slash him but he couldn't cause any pain.
"Hahaha! My armor is invincible!" Violence gloated before kicking Eternal in the side of the head, making him fly out of the church. Eternal rolled on the floor before regaining his composure and stopping himself from skidding.
"Damn." Eternal cursed as Violence walked out with his sword against his shoulder. Eternal decided to charge and keep dodging until he finds a weak spot. Plus since both of them were in armor, they couldn't use their Geass. Eternal then ran before Violence just transformed his sword into a poleaxe. He then swung it down on Eternal before he narrowly dodged it.
Eternal was soon close and scanned Violence for any answered but before he could land a slash, Violence transformed his axe into a whip and used it to wrap Eternal with it. He soon used it to crush him and Eternal was gritting in pain.
"I thought you were smart…" Violence mocked before moving the whip all around, making Eternal crash in various places on the floor. Eternal chose not to respond to that before being thrown high up in the air. Violence than ran before jumping in the air with his weapon sheathed on his back. "How about we make up?" Violence asked.
He grabbed Eternal in the air before crushing him in a bear hug. Eternal moaned in pain as Violence hugged him tighter before the two started feeling the weight of gravity applying. They soon impacted the ground with Eternal being used as a cushion. Violence got off as Eternal was struggling to get up.
"What happened, Lulu? Weren't you rubbing it in my face over how easy it was to outsmart me?" Violence mocked as he pulled out his sword.
Eternal managed to sit up and looked at Violence in the face.
"I was saying that…it is easy to outsmart. With all this independence of violence itself…you lack the proper perception to see what's truly in front of you." Eternal soon managed to stand up. "So go ahead and beat me to a bloody pulp…it won't change the fact that I outsmarted you."
Violence just stood silent before taking out his Memory and placed it in the Maximum Drive slot before pressing it.
"VIOLENCE! MAXIMUM DRIVE!"
Violence placed his sword away before jumping up high and aiming in a side kick position. Soon pieces of his armor started moving and adding on to his kicking leg, making it bigger. He soon flew and hit Eternal straight in the chest. Eternal flew as he reverted back to Lelouch. Lelouch landed and rolled on the ground while his Eternal Memory flew away from him but he still had his Driver on his waist.
Lelouch saw Kamen Rider Violence approaching him and Lelouch tried crawling his way towards the Eternal Memory but Violence appeared in between.
"What happens now, Lulu? You can't use the other Memories effectively since they aren't compatible to you like that." Violence mocked before punching Lelouch a few times and kicking him away. Lelouch sat up with a bunch of bruises forming on his body and a little bit of blood fell from his forehead.
The Violence Rider grabbed Lelouch by the neck and readied his sword.
"Any last words?" Violence asked while Lelouch just had a defiant look.
"Don't be so foolish! I'm already dead now! Until the day I make sure the Britannian Empire crumbles and the world embraces Nunnally's dream…eternally!" Lelouch said before the Eternal Memory glowed, immediately catching the two's attention.
Lelouch used the opportunity to kick Violence away and ran towards the Memory as the glow faded. He immediately picked it up and it felt different. It was if this thing was charged with more energy than before.
"It is time…" Eternal's voice echoed in Lelouch's head. Violence was curious to see what was going on.
"Eternally…Eternal." Lelouch muttered as he clenched the memory.
Lelouch stood up and faced Violence before tapping the button.
"ETERNAL!"
"Henshin!"
"ETERNAL!"
He soon transformed into Eternal Red Flare but the eyes started glowing and the gem blinked before the red flames around him turned blue. Eternal's red flame patterns turned blue, received a vest, armband, and leg band which held empty slots, and a cape. This was Eternals true power, the Blue Flare form.
Violence was surprised by the change of form for Eternal as Eternal himself looked at his new form.
"I have to thank you, Mao. If it wasn't for you, I would've never obtained this form any sooner than I expected. I'll repay you…by ending your life as quick as possible!" Eternal said as he took out his dagger and charged.
Violence charged too before the two met up. Violence tried slashing at Eternal but his speed was faster than before when was in Red Flare. Eternal saw an opening and slashed Violence but this time…Violence actually felt that.
"I-It hurts!?" Violence remarked, looking at the wound.
"That wound is nothing compared to what I'll do to you next." Eternal said before Violence tried whipping him again but Eternal blocked the whip with his cape.
"Huh!?" Violence kept whipping the cape but Eternal didn't seemed to be fazed by it. "Why isn't this working!?"
Eternal did respond and looked at Violence.
"Okay…my turn." Eternal the slashed Violence multiple and each slash was more painful than the last Violence flew away before rolling on the ground.
"Dammit! I can't lose to you!" Violence soon broke his sword and used the pieces to create gauntlets for himself. He managed to punch Eternal a few times in the gut before Eternal flipped back, kicking Violence's face in the process.
Eternal soon charged and slashed him multiple times, causing sparks to fly off of Violence's chest. At the final slash, Violence flew and landed on the ground while struggling to get up.
"Time to finish this." Eternal said before getting his Gaia Memory out and placing it in the slot of his dagger.
"ETERNAL! MAXIMUM DRIVE!"
Eternal's right foot began to burn with blue fire but it wasn't before he ran at the Violence. He jumped high in the air before doing a flip and going into a sidekick position. He aimed his fiery leg at the chest and upon impact, blue flames spiraled around Eternal for a few moments while Violence seemed to be in obvious pain.
Eternal jumped off before turning his back on Violence.
"Now…enjoy your hell!" Eternal said in pure English this time as Violence fell and reverted back to Mao. Eternal then walked over to Mao to see him visibly stressed. He was too stressed to even say a word. Eternal saw the LostDriver still on his waist in standby with the Violence Memory still there.
"Uh…gh…eh…" Mao tried to speak, still too tired. Eternal didn't say anything but took the Driver off of Mao and removed the Memory. He placed both items away before holding the dagger in a reverse grip.
"Should've done this a long time-."
"Lelouch!"
Eternal and Mao turned to see CC, who sensed that there was indeed trouble beforehand. CC walked over to Eternal and knelt beside him.
"Let me, he was my responsibility. You should check on your friend." CC suggested and Eternal nodded, remembering what happened to Suzaku. He gave CC the dagger.
"You'd better do it…for our sake." Eternal left as he reverted back to Lelouch.
CC watched him go before caressing Mao's face with her free hand.
"I did love you, Mao." CC confessed, making Mao smile. CC held the dagger in a reverse grip. "Mao, I want you to go and wait for me…in C's World."
Mao's eyes widened before CC plunged the dagger through the spot where his heart was, killing him instantly.
Meanwhile, Lelouch walked over back to the church where sees Suzaku sitting against the wall with his head in his hands, still not able to get over Mao's words.
"I just…I just…" Suzaku let out.
AN: I did it…I FINALLY DID! I finally debuted Blue Flare form and now Lelouch has managed to reach a stepping stone in mastering the Eternal Memory. Also originally, I didn't want OC Riders but you know what…fuck it, I'll make do with them but don't make suggestions regarding them.
Anyways, you guys know the drill. Be sure to review or message me with questions or comments regarding the story. And don't be afraid to check out my other stories as well. Alright, I'm done, goodnight