AN: Originally, I was planning to update Faiz next but after seeing the latest trailer for R3, I decided to update this fic so I hope you all appreciate it. Now without further ado…Showtime!
Disclaimer: I do not own Code Geass or Kamen Rider.
Chapter 14: Knight vs. Devil
The Lancelot Club, in its default state, was wandering through the ruins of a destroyed city with Lelouch in the cockpit, thinking of the events that unfolded the other day.
'Suzaku…I understand you, at last…'
(A couple days ago)
Lelouch had just allowed CC to finish off Mao before checking in on the traumatized Suzaku,. Concerned for his best friend, Lelouch walked to him and knelt down to see his face.
"Suzaku, about what Mao said…" Upon further examination, Lelouch saw that Suzaku was still shaken by Mao's revelation. "So, what was he said true? That you killed your own father?"
Suzaku then finally mustered enough strength to look at his best friend in the eye, uncertain of how'd the black-haired teen would react towards the annexation of Japan practically being his fault.
"I see. So, it's just not your secret, is it?" Lelouch asked, piecing together fragments of their past. Some things have started to be clearer for him.
"Lelouch, I-."
"Kirihara, I think that was the old man's name…" Lelouch started with a firm voice. "He claimed that Japanese Prime Minister Genbu Kururugi killed himself…in order to stop the hawks in his administration who called for total resistance. A lie built on the foundation of necessity for Japan and Britannia." He justified.
Suzaku seemed to calm down, repeating the same thing in his head to help justify his actions.
"Thank you for that…"
(Present)
'To be honest, I wonder about it because he used to be so different. He never placed any importance on others. It was hard enough to kill my own half- brother…but Suzaku killed his own father when he was 10 years old.' Lelouch thought as he moved his Knightmare. 'And he's been carrying a burden as heavy as that?'
His thoughts were then cut off as he saw a slash harken coming for him. Lelouch immediately focused on the present before he had the Club jump back. When the slash harken returned to its original location, the Guren emerged from the ruins and landed on top of a pillar, looking down at the Club which pulled out its rifle.
"Are you sure about this, Lelouch? I can damage your machine quickly, you know." Kallen pointed out over the general radio channel.
"I'm positive. Should the event come where I've lost all my Memories, I need to be prepared. I don't want to be too dependent on them especially during Knightmare combat." He explained. "What better way to practice than fighting the Black Knights' ace pilot?"
"I don't know if I should be flattered or eager to kick your butt at that statement." Kallen remarked as her machine withdrew its combat knife.
"How about an indicator for a start?" Lelouch said as he had his Club fire its rifle. The Guren jumped high in the sky before landing in front of the Club.
It then charged with its charged Radiant Wave Surger before the white Knightmare took out its MVS with its free hand. It blocked the attack by having the MVS being grasped. Despite the weapon cracking apart, the Club used this chance to perform a sweep kick. This got the red machine laying on the ground before it saw the Club about to stab it with its cracked sword.
The Guren then kicked the Club back as it then got up before charging with its Radiant Wave weapon recharged. The Club then launched its wrist's slash harken at a small pillar before reeling it in and attempting to smash the Guren with it.
"Oh no!" Kallen quickly had her machine grab it and used its Radiant Wave Surger on it, making it explode. When the Guren turned to look at the Club, which then vanished. "How come it's so easy for you to sneak around?"
The Club was around the corner of a building with is rifle reloaded and ready to fire. It took a peak and scanned the area in hopes of finding something to use against the Guren. Lelouch then noticed something that can help. He took a deep breath as he placed his hands on both controls before throttling forward.
As he moved, he had his machine withdraw the better-conditioned MVS before coming out of cover. The Club then charged while shooting the Guren in an effort to hold it back just in time. The bullets had slightly pushed the Guren back but it wasn't enough for Kallen to get on the throttle and push it forward, making her machine follow the Club.
The two went into a small abandoned parking building where the Club used the grenade launcher attachment on his rifle to destroy all the support beams on the first floor. When the Club got out from the other side of the building, it was then gripped by the Guren this time.
"So close but no dice…" Kallen said as she activated her Radiant Wave Surger again. The Club did boil up this time but before Kallen can relish in her victory, the parking building start moving before it started to fall. The Guren try to get away in time but it proved inevitable as the building crush both machines, making them explode in the rubble.
"SIMULATION OVER! RESULT: TIE!" A robotic voice said as Kallen looked frustrated before she emerged from her cockpit as did Lelouch.
The two looked at each other as their Knightmares in docked in the hangars of the Rider hangout.
"Not bad if I do say so myself." Lelouch commented as he climbed down the ladder and started typing on a terminal while Kallen just approached him.
"Yeah, whatever. I still 'killed' you though." Kallen said, playfully punching him in the shoulder. The two had gotten on slightly better terms since Mao manipulated her, that includes doing small favors for each other. It wasn't much but it was a start.
"Yeah, well, I'm not used to much Knightmare combat without my Memories." Lelouch said, admitting his fault in depending these Memories. "I have to start using them sparingly."
"Why? Our Memories practically make us unstoppable." Kallen pointed out as she remembered having a majority of their battles won by their Rider forms or the Gaia Memory-powered Knightmares.
"While it is true that the Memories have done exceedingly well in our operations, you have to remember that we're supposed to be formidable on our own. If something were to happen to them, we'd not only lose our edge but we'll also be shown as weak. The point of the simulation battle was to prove that we're able to fight on our own without Gaia Memories." Lelouch explained as he was now looking at the data from the battle on his computer screen. Specifically, he was comparing to performance the Guren during the simulation battle to the data of the Guren in its Accel-powered form.
"Well if that's true, why isn't Orpheus and Rai here?" Kallen asked as she looked at Lelouch.
"Orpheus isn't part of the Black Knights. He's just someone that tends to help us out occasionally. Other than calling in favors, I have no command over him." Lelouch explained, not taking his eyes off the monitor.
"Rai?"
"He and Orpheus have been doing their own thing lately." Lelouch replied. "I have no idea what they're specifically doing, but as long as they don't interfere with our operations, they can do whatever they want."
"You're not worried about Rai not being here as often as he should be?" Kallen asked as she looked at their Knightmares before looking at the Gaia Memories in the case nearby.
"If I have to take a guess, Rai is personally investing himself in discovering more about his forgotten past given the state he was in when we found him." Lelouch guessed as he was looking at his own combat data and comparing it with the combat data of the Club in its Eternal-powered form.
"And you're not worried what he'll find?" Kallen asked.
"Yes and no." Lelouch answered before he finally looked back at Kallen. "Well your combat data is actually pretty good when comparing. Guess that's why your one of our top ace pilots."
"It's funny."
"What is?"
"Had I not learned that you were Eternal, I would've taken that as a compliment." Kallen remarked.
"And now?"
"It's still a compliment but now I think you just suck as Knightmare piloting." She said.
"Oh give me a break, I'm just not used to piloting a high-performance like the Club without the Memories."
"Well if there's one nice thing I can say about your piloting skills is that you're getting there." Kallen said before remembering something. "Speaking of missing Riders, where's CC?"
"I sent her on an important mission." Lelouch explained. "After everything that happened with Mao, I figured the change of scenery would be good for her."
Kallen winced at the name.
"Can't believe I let a maniac like that almost made me kill you." She remarked, still feeling a bit guilty of almost trying to kill Lelouch.
"Well don't let it bother you. He had a way of getting into people's heads." Lelouch said, not wanting to reveal the concept of Geass to her. She was pissed off enough when she learned that he was Eternal so there was no telling how the redhead would react to learning that power.
"Had?"
"Dead. Long story, don't wanna get into it." Lelouch said as he remembered the mental beating he gave Suzaku. He soon sighed before signing off the terminal. "Alright, I've updated your Driver and Guren. They should have a fast performance now."
He handed her back the Accel Driver.
"Thanks. Still a bit pissed that I have to carry that sword." Kallen remarked.
"Where is it anyways?" He asked.
"Found a compartment for it in the Guren." The redhead said before she started leaving. "If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way to class. You coming?"
"In a bit. Go on without me." Lelouch said, with the redhead girl taking the exit. Now left alone with his thoughts, Lelouch started thinking of asking Suzaku to join the Black Knights. Sure, he's in the Britannian military but he does know what Britannia is really like since he was there for the invasion. Lelouch can make a convincing argument but Suzaku does have a thick head. He'll have to use everything he has to convince his best friend. Should he speak of the Gaia Memories to him? No, it'd be too soon, plus they're too valuable to show to someone who hasn't proven himself yet.
Lelouch then sighed as he then looked at his Lancelot Club just standing there. As he stared at it, he did wonder about the white sister unit that he always had to fight. He'll admit, even with his enhanced power, that pilot is still able to try and get the jump on him although they never ended up successful for the poor guy. Lelouch then wondered if he can still fight him without using the Eternal Memory but that was something to consider for another time.
"Maybe I should head to class." Lelouch said as he picked up his Driver and Memory before closing and locking the case that held the rest of them, save for a select couple that Lelouch keeps as backups. He then made his way to the exit.
(With Euphemia)
"Art Week will be opened with the dedication of the Clovis Memorial Museum of Art." The curator explained as he, Darlton, a couple bodyguards, and Princess Euphemia herself were walking through an exhibit of paintings. "You, Princess Euphemia, will be selecting the first prize among these fine works of arts."
They were all walking throughout the exhibit before Euphie saw a nice painting of a farmstead in the forest with a mountain in the background.
"This painting…I rather like this one!" She remarked but the curator seemed skeptical of it.
"Yes, well, an investigation revealed that the artist of that one is one-quarter Eleven-blooded." The curator reported. While Euphie hated the discrimination that her kingdom was known for, she had to keep her feelings surpressed.
"Then wouldn't it have been better not to have it displayed in the first place?" She asked.
"We have to maintain the appearance of fairness." He explained before pointing at a portrait of the emperor saluting the nation of Britannia during what seemed to be a speech or conference. "This was painted by the son of Marquess Nicolai."
(With Orpheus)
The young man was sleeping with his fedora resting on his face. His face started to cringe as memories of his past surfaced in his mind in the form of dreams.
"Euria…" Orpheus le tout before his eyes opened and he jolted up, gasping and sweating a bit while allowing his hat to fall into his lab. He held his head and looked at the nearby mirror to see that he had activated his Geass unconsciously during his sleep. The blond man immediately turned it on as he placed his hat back on.
He left his room, looking at the moving ocean in front of him. It's been a couple days since Orpheus and his team packed up before arranging a transport via cargo ship. Unlike an airplane, it'll take a few days to reach the EU so Orpheus didn't have much to do. It helped him to try and not think about the past…especially regarding the Geass Order.
Luckily for him, right when his mind was about to be taken over by flashbacks, his phone rang with the caller ID having Lelouch's name. He immediately answered it.
"Thank god you called, another five minutes alone on sea and I would go insane from boredom." Orpheus remarked.
"Is what Rai told me true? You intend to head to the EU?" Lelouch asked.
"Yeah, it's for a lead on one of the T2 Memories." Orpheus explained.
"Rai told me that much. To hear that a Dopant has managed to keep his sanity while fighting you and Rai is remarkable."
"So, you agree that me going to the EU to investigate is a good idea?"
"Orpheus, you may be a member of the Riders but you aren't a member of the Black Knights. I have no jurisdiction over you but that may be the benefit here." Lelouch explained. As the Black Knights and Riders' notoriety raise, so does the number of enemies and allies with attention drawing both sides. With so much attention, sending a third party to investigate matters could be a good idea to avoid attention.
"Glad you think so. Once I set up shop in the EU. You can come over." Orpheus said. "I heard rumors of an EU unit comprising of soldiers around our age. Could be a perfect cover."
"Sounds good, make it happen."
"You know, if this is a job, I'm gonna need payment." Orpheus said with a cheeky smile.
"Or I can shut off your Driver for a while?" Lelouch replied back.
"Look, I know we're allies and stuff but a job is a job, I need to get something out of it." Orpheus explained, saying that this is just business taking place right now.
"What do you want? Remember, we're still growing so I'm not sure what resources we can spare you."
"There's a couple things I want you to look into. We can get more into detail about that later. Cool?"
"Yeah sure. Have pleasant trip." Lelouch said before he hung up right when Orpheus did, leaving the latter back along with his thoughts.
"…I wonder what they're serving in the mess hall."
(Meanwhile in the Euro-Britannia)
The Nazca Dopant practiced swinging his sword against some dummies in a private training room. He was about to attack another dummy before…it got obliterated and turned to ash by lightning. The Nazca Dopant looked slightly surprised before looking at where at the blast came from.
"Oh, it's you." The Nazca Dopant recognized as he reverted back to Shin.
"So glad you're enjoying the power I gave you, Shin." A new voice said as his figure emerged from the darkness and into the light.
His new appearance is humanoid and almost resembles that of a Rider.
His head is covered by a white helmet with a black V-shaped visor on the face, with a topknot on the head. He wore a black bodysuit with white armor on him, the torso armor had black circles on both his chest and on his stomach, with a gold dragon belt also around his waist. He also wore white armored boots and on his hands, were gold gloves. This is the Weather Dopant.
"It's impressive, I do admit but why choose me as a candidate for something like this?" Shin asked as he looked at the Nazca Memory now resting in his hand.
"Let's just say that I find you to be a useful potential ally to have around." The Weather Dopant said as he walked over to Shin.
"Is this technology similar to which the Riders use?" Shin asked with a sign of intrigue as he held his belt in his other hand.
"Similar, but not the same." The Weather Dopant answered.
"Are there more Memories like ours?" Shin asked.
"Yes, each one is for the alphabet." He responded as he destroyed another dummy. "As for where they are, a few of them have been founded by Eternal but the rest are still scattered around the globe. I'm having my agents track them down as we speak."
"You aren't worried if anyone else gets to them first? Like Eternal?" Shin asked as he placed his Memory and Driver away.
"Let him have fun with his toys. It's not like he's doing anything that'll affect me. I can easily take them away from him when I feel the time is right. Besides, you shouldn't be that concerned since that hardly involves you. You should worry about finding any Memories hidden here in the EU." The Weather Dopant said as he started making his way out.
"How will I contact you?" Shin asked.
"You won't, I will." The Weather Dopant said before disappearing in the shadows.
(With the Black Knights)
Ohgi was about to eat lunch as the others were refueling their mobile command center. Soon Inoue approached him.
"Excuse me, we have visitors." She said before introducing four people. They were wearing the same uniform used by the Japanese Liberation Front but Ohgi immediately recognized their faces.
"The Four Holy Swords!" Ohgi recognized as he got up and bowed in respect while the oldest of the Swords, Senba, started talking for them.
"I'll be blunt; we need your help." Senba stated. Now that the JPF has fallen apart, the only group that has the potential to defeat Britannia in Japan is now the Black Knights and the Kamen Riders.
"How so?"
"Lt. Col. Tohdoh has been captured." Senba explained as he clenched his hands back to the memory of his leader's capture. "He sacrificed himself so that we could escape."
"And you need our help to break him out?" Ohgi said and the four Swords nodded, knowing that Tohdoh would be executed in only a matter of hours. "I'll contact Eternal and see what we can do."
(Later at Ashford)
Lelouch, Kallen, and Rai were in the staircase at the school with no one else around. Ohgi, over the STAG phone, has just explained the situation while the teens talked about it.
"I say we go for it!" Kallen said, sounding gung-ho about this. "Tohdoh and the Four Holy Swords are not only the best soldiers of the JLF but they're also symbols of Japan. Freeing them and having them help us could not only help us in strength but also morale."
"Hmm…Rai, what do you make of the situation?" Lelouch asked the white-haired teen.
"Well, I'm still not fully familiar with Japanese history but considering my feelings towards our cause…we won't leave anyone to Britannia's mercy." Rai said, making Kallen smile while Lelouch routed his attention back onto Ohgi.
"Okay…we'll do it."
"You're sure?"
"The Black Knights are the champions of justice. There's nothing so strange about this." Lelouch explained, earning smiles from Kallen and Rai. "We'll use rendezvous method B-13. Disassemble and bring in the Knightmares from course 18. Have Diethard handle it. Also, alert the rendezvous plan members. Kallen and I will personally bring our own Knightmares as well."
"Well, we better get ready. Come on, Kallen." Rai said as he and Kallen left the area. Lelouch then spent the next few minutes looking out the window before CC approached him in an Ashford student uniform as a disguise.
"I'm sorry but I didn't meet with the Chinese Federation." CC reported with her usual monotone voice.
"I thought that would've been the case but don't worry, I can fix this." Lelouch said casually as he had more pressing matters in his mind. "Changing your usefulness to me will just hinder the plan. Besides today, I might get some new pieces…" Lelouch said as he eyed Suzaku outside the window who was doing some washing.
(With Rai and Kallen)
"So, you'd think we can rescue this Tohdoh guy?" Rai asked Kallen as they were walking through campus.
"We have to! Or at least try." Kallen said, though in a low-tone voice so no one else will hear them but there wasn't much people around. "Tohdoh is one of the few people that is able to go on the defensive against a Knightmare on foot during the invasion. He was one of the few symbols that gave hope during the time."
"I have to admit, I'm surprised you really changed your attitude with Lelouch." Rai remarked while Kallen thought about what happened with Mao for a few moments before snapping out of it.
"Well, I still don't entirely trust him but if we're going to liberate Japan, I can at least trust him that much. That means putting aside our differences so I can't let any differences distract us anymore." Kallen said before looking at Rai with a raised eyebrow. "While we're on the subject of trust, care to tell me what you and Orpheus have been up to? I know Orpheus updated Lelouch but I didn't know what specifically you two were doing. Maybe you should explain it to me."
"I…uh…" Rai was thinking of what words he can use as he didn't want her to worry. "Uh, can I tell you after the operation? It's not something I'd wanna talk out here in the open. Besides, I need to find out where to start or how to say it."
Kallen looked at Rai somewhat defiant before thinking about it. It must've been important and too sensitive to even talk about. While patience hasn't been one of her strong suits, Kallen relented and nodded in acknowledgement.
"I promise I'll explain everything. All you have to know is that it involves my past." Rai explain, making Kallen's eyes widen.
"I see…In that case, you can take your time. I can wait a while." Kallen said in a soft tone of voice. The two were still silent for a while and just continued walking around for a while before Kallen stopped.
"Something wrong?"
"I'm going to go pick up my machine in a bit. You wanna come?" Kallen asked while Rai shook his head.
"Sorry, but I have to think on something." Rai said as Kallen nodded in acknowledgement before leaving. Meanwhile Rai sat down on a nearby bench and started thinking of some of the memory flashes that he's been getting.
This a matter so private that he didn't even consult Orpheus about during their investigations. The memory flashes weren't anything too bad, they were more of a mix between pleasant memories with his family and other memories that he can't make sense of. All that he knows from those brief flashbacks is that he had a sister and his father was into some shady business.
Maybe it was time to talk to somebody about this. Kallen could be a good person to talk to as she was practically his best friend with Orpheus at a close second. While Lelouch was a good friend, he is still busy with handling the Black Knights and finding the T2 Memories so it's best not to add more to the pile. And there was CC who…in Rai's opinion, shouldn't be trusted that much since he has little to no information on the girl.
Rai just sighed as he got up and decided to go get ready for the jailbreak operation. As he was walking away, he noticed an image of Stella nearby standing in the street. He blinked before seeing that she vanished. Rai just smacked himself lightly on the face to make sure she wasn't there and she wasn't. Waving this off as a hallucination, he just walked away to presume what he was originally doing.
(With Cornelia)
Cornelia was busy strengthening her military forces stationed here. With the Glinda Knights coming soon, Cornelia had to look presentable and that the situation is under control. Truth be told, it really wasn't as Eternal has been leading the Kamen Riders and Black Knights to where it hurts for Britannia here. They even almost captured her a few times, had it not been for Kururugi and the Lancelot despite their win-loss ratio against Eternal himself.
"Ma'm, today is the day of the execution of Kyoshiro Tohdoh." Guilford announced, snapping the princess out of thought but it didn't seem to alert her.
"I won't be attending. The Japan Liberation Front doesn't exist anymore." Cornelia responded as she remembered their last ship exploding at the docks.
"Very well."
"One more thing." Cornelia said, looking at her knight. "For the executioner, I want you to assign-."
"Viceory!" Euphie called as she approached her older sister.
"Sorry I had to rush off. Is everything alright at the museum?" She asked.
"The dedication will start this afternoon. More importantly, the N.A.C. said there's unrest in Ishikawa." She reported.
"Probably being backed by the E.U. or the Chinese Federation. We also have intelligence which confirms Gun-Ru units are there." Cornelia remarked as she mentally groaned. She had enough to deal with as it is. "Still, this is a good chance for us to bring the north coast under our control. I'll leave Darlton behind here. If anything happens, consult him."
Cornelia then received a book from Guilford and opened it up before showing it to Euphie. Inside were several pictures and short bios of several Britannian soldiers that are both excellent and came from respected noble families.
"As we mentioned before, this is a catalogue of potential candidates suitable to be your knight." Cornelia said. Despite not showing it, she does care for Euphie greatly and with the recent chaos, having a personal knight isn't a bad idea.
(Later with Lelouch)
"Yes, this pond does freeze solid in the winter. Big brother does yell at me when I skate on it though." Nunnally said to Suzaku. Right now, Suzaku was visiting and having a friendly chat with Nunnally while Lelouch was watching them with a smile about a foot away from them while reading his book.
"We had a pond at the Kururugi shrine too. It was little but I'd catch zarigani…" Suzaku said before realizing his mistake in words. "I mean crayfish, all the time."
"You'd catch crayfish?" Nunnally asked as she was trying to draw something.
"It's easy. You attach a string to a kaeru's leg to do it."
"'Kaeru?' As in frog? The things that go 'Croak! Croak!'?"
"Yeah, although in Japanese, they go 'Kero-kero, kero-kero'." Suzaku said, mimicking the sound and making Nunnally laugh at that. Lelouch's smile went a little wider while Suzaku kept entertaining the young girl before he thought about his plans, but more importantly; Nunnally's well-being.
'If things all go according to plan as they are right now, I won't be able to stay with Nunnally anymore. And that affair with Mao taught me that I need someone to protect Nunnally.' Lelouch thought. Sure, he can depend on Sayoko and she has skills in self-defense, but she isn't someone that Lelouch knows too well or understand how important she is to him. 'And if Nunnally is going to give that person a reason to live, then…'
Lelouch's thoughts were then caught off when Suzaku noticed him glaring.
"Something wrong?" Suzaku asked.
"Suzaku, I-."
"Suzaku!"
The teens turned their heads and saw Cecile running towards them. She then stopped and by the sweat beating down her forehead, it looked like she was running for quite a while.
"Lloyd says it's urgent!" She says.
"Who's that?" Lelouch asked as Suzaku got up from his chair.
"A soldier I work with." Suzaku replied before Cecile asked a similar question.
"Friends of yours?" She asked.
"Yeah." The Japanese boy responded.
"Sorry, but I need to steal Suzaku from you for a bit."
"Well, uh…" Suzaku was a bit unsure of leaving the two siblings alone especially with what happened during the whole Mao incident.
"You can go, Suzaku. It's alright. That creep isn't coming back." Lelouch said, referring to Mao and remembering his death by CC.
"Okay." Suzaku replied, feeling a little better about this before taking off.
"Come back anytime." Nunnally said.
"Sure."
"And Suzaku!" Lelouch called, getting his best friend's attention. "When you get back, we have to talk. It's something really important." He said, not wanting to leak details Cecile and Nunnally.
"What? Great, now I'm nervous. See you later." He said before taking off with Cecile.
"Suzaku must be really important to them. I'm really happy for him." Nunnally said happily while Lelouch had a blank face for various reasons.
"Nunnally…tell me, how do you feel about Suzaku?"
"I love him." The blind girl answered, getting the raven-haired teen off-guard. "Of course, I love you most of all, big brother."
"I see." He said, a little grateful that his little sister can't see his serious expression.
(With Euphemia)
"Is it true that no Eleven companies were allowed to work on the construction of this art museum?" A reporter asked.
Euphemia looked a little tense as the dedication has just started but to her dismay, it started with a press conference.
"W-Well, regarding that question…"
"We're looking into the matter right and can't answer at this time." Darlton stepped in.
"Idiot, what were you thinking? Asking Princess Euphemia a political question like that!" Another journal quietly scolded.
Meanwhile one more journalist stood up.
"Keriman from Interstate. There are rumors lately that you're close to choosing your knight."
"Uh, my knight? Well, you see…"
"Everyone, please limit your questions to only regarding this museum and the exhibits." The curator insisted.
(With the Black Knights)
Everyone was prepping for the operation with most attention focused on the Knightmares, mainly the Guren and Rai's Gekka.
"I told you not to bunch up the hydro lines in one place!"
"That's why I said it was different from a Burai!"
"You sure it's a good idea to throw in with the Black Knights?" One of the Four Swords, Asahina, asked as he and his comrades were watching them work.
"Is there any other way to rescue Col. Tohdoh?" The female member, Chiba asked as she reminded him that they're doing this for Tohdoh and the Black Knights are the only ones with the potential to kick Britannia off their motherland.
"There's also what Kyoto said, that they'd lend us the new models." Urabe pointed out.
"Still, their guiding principles seem to be a little wrong." Asahina countered.
"We're not nationalists. Even though you know that…" Chiba argued.
"We can worry about the details after we've rescued the colonel." Senba pointed out as they had much more pressing concerns to worry about.
"Understood. Wherever Tohdoh is, that's where I belong." Asahina said, showing his devotion and loyalty to his leader.
Meanwhile everyone was rushing to get the Guren and Gekka prepped as they realized that they were running out of time.
"Look, just stuff 'em in and close the lib already! It's almost time to move out!" Tamaki yelled but…
"Treat them with more care!" A female voice said. The others turned to see where the voice came and saw Rakshata. "They were a hundred times more delicate than you guys when I gave birth to them!"
"And who the hell are you?" Tamaki asked.
"I'm their mother!" Rakshata answered firmly, referring to both Knightmares.
"So, you made it." Lelouch said over the speakers of the Club. Everyone saw the white and blue machine slowly make its way to the female. It soon stopped and knelt down before Lelouch, in his hooded outfit, emerged from the cockpit. He jumped out and approached Rakshata.
"So, you're Eternal? It's a pleasure. I've heard all sorts of things about you." She said.
"The pleasure's mine, Rakshata. I used to read about you a lot on the net." Lelouch said politely as he shook her hand.
"About me?"
"The articles relating to medical cybernetics."
"I hate talking about the past." Rakshata remarked. "But from what I hear, you're no stranger to make some toys yourself especially that armor of yours and the ones developed for the other Riders. Maybe one day we'll talk shop. Anyways, here."
The lady then pulled out a keychain with five identical Knightmare keys that looked similar to Rai's. She then looked down at a box nearby and pressed the button on it with her pipe, opening it to reveal pilot suits with the Black Knights logo.
"A souvenir from Kyoto." Rakshata showed before Kallen stepped up, wearing a red version of the suit but the Black Knights logo was replaced with Accel symbol.
"Um…is this really going to improve the linkage system?" She asked as she checked himself before Rai showed up in a dark blue version of it with the Joker symbol on his.
"I feel a little weird in this." He remarked but Rakshata ignored but just looked at Kallen.
"Of course not, it's going to improve your life expectancy." Rakshata remarked with a cocky smile before looking over at Lelouch's Lancelot Club. "What a deformity, I can only imagine that this is the work of Pudding."
"Pudding?" Lelouch asked, curious how Rakshata knows the creator of his machine.
"Like I said, I hate talking about the past but if you're satisfied with it, I'm not going to complain." She said before walking away. "Everyone has different tastes after all."
(With Tohdoh)
Tohdoh was doing nothing and didn't even seemed visibly phased at the situation he was in. He is captured and restrained in a small Britannian cell, waiting to be executed. Soon one of the guards approached him.
"Just wanted to let you know, your executioner has been changed." The man told the colonel. "Warrant Officer Suzaku Kururugi. You should be glad it's someone you know."
Like the majority of his situation, Tohdoh didn't seem phased by the news. His only reaction was only looking at the guard.
(With Suzaku)
Lloyd was signing the transfer of executioner papers before he finished, then another paper was presented to him…much to his annoyance.
"What? I have to sign it again?" He asked the officer.
"Princess Cornelia may have ordered this, but there are formalities to follow." The officer explained. "Changing an executioner is the most special of special cases."
As the two were talking, Cecile looked concerned at a shaken up Suzaku. He had a right to be shocked as Tohdoh was the one who trained in hand-to-hand combat. Every combat skill he has, he owes to Tohdoh and being asked to execute him felt like a kick to the gut. But before he can do anything…
BOOM!
The explosive sound caught everyone's attention.
"W-What the!?"
Everyone looked out the window to see a massive explosion out in the distance.
"Oh good, finally something to end all of this dreadful paperwork." Lloyd said casually, finding a silver lining in this situation.
(Outside)
A squad of Sutherlands were investigating the explosion before gunfire emerged and destroyed them with ease. Another squad stopped before four Knightmares emerged and engaged them in combat. They all looked like Rai's Gekka but they were all lacking the Radiant Wave Surger, their chassis color was lightish green, and they were all equipped with Revolver Blades and arm-mounted machine guns.
The four Gekkas cut the Sutherlands up with ease before firing at the reinforcements, resulting in a massive explosion that obliterated the enemies. They soon started making their way to the objective.
"Colonel, we're coming to save you!" Chiba declared.
Meanwhile Asahina noticed two Sutherlands firing at him before he easily cut them down.
"These Gekkas are awesome! Way better than the Burais!" He remarked.
"Now you know I love mine!" Rai remarked as his Gekka appeared on the scene and destroyed a Sutherland with its Radiant Wave Surger. He hasn't transformed yet for a couple reasons; one being is that the situation isn't bad or tough enough that it calls for a transformation. Second, he didn't want to show-up the Four Holy Swords during their personal operation to rescue their leader.
(With the Black Knights)
The key members were in their mobile command center providing logistical support while Rakshata and her assistants were monitoring the Knightmares' performance.
"You think the sub-weaponry's linkage is still a little loose?" Rakshata asked.
"No, maybe it's the line." One of her assistants replied.
"I'm reading a 0.7 variance to specs."
"Those old men in Kyoto need to supply us better parts." Rakshata complained while the Black Knights just looked at them. Outside, CC leaned her back against the wall waiting as the operation didn't require her or any of Cyclone's powers. She just waited while looking at her Gaia Memory. She gripped it while thinking about what happened to Mao before thinking about Lelouch. She hoped that things will be different with Lelouch especially a much happier outcome.
The immortal girl just took a deep breath and tried to think about other things.
"I'm not worried. You're just saying things." She whispered, now talking to her seemingly imaginary companion.
(With Tohdoh)
The Japanese soldier was ignoring all of the commotion that was going on outside before his cell door opened. He looked up and saw his guard pointing a gun at him.
"The higher-ups have ordered me to finish you off before you're busted out of here." He explained while Tohdoh still kept his calm demeanor. "Any last words?"
"It's a life I gave up once before. It's not worth anything." He coldly said, accepting his fate.
"In that case, I'll claim your life for myself!" Lelouch's voice called, getting the two's attention.
"What the!?" The guard asked before hearing noise from behind him. He saw the wall bubbling before crumbling apart. The guard screamed in agony as the debris landed on him, crushing and killing him. When the debris cleared up, Tohdoh saw both the Guren and Lancelot Club with Lelouch outside the cockpit of his machine.
"Eternal!" Tohdoh recognized.
"Kyoshiro Tohdoh, the man who, 7 years ago, brought defeat to the mighty Britannian forces." Lelouch observed, revealing that he has done his homework on the older man.
"The Miracle of Itsukushima, you mean? You also want a miracle from me?"
"That was no miracle, that was a tactical victory derived from the intelligence gathered. That's what I want from you." Lelouch explained while Tohdoh shook his head.
"No. Now that Gen. Katase, the man I pledged my loyalty to, is dead…I want to die as well." Tohdoh said, appealing to his sense of honor while Lelouch thought otherwise.
"Don't be a coward!" He called, surprising the veteran soldier.
"What?"
"You must take responsibility! Responsibility for the miracle you made!" Lelouch declared despite what he said about miracles a couple minutes ago. "The reason why Area 11's resistance movement is more intense than any other Areas is because Japan surrendered before exhausting all of its military might. Without continuing the dream called the Miracle of Itsukushima."
"Are you saying it's my fault?" Tohdoh asked.
"Yes, people embrace illusions that they call miracles. Why else has the drug Refrain run rampant?" Lelouch explained while Kallen winced a little at the mention of the damned drug that got her mother unresponsive.
Tohdoh said nothing but glared at the hooded teen.
"Keep struggling, Tohdoh! To the very end, past all that's decent, and then die! Till the name of Tohdoh the Miracle has grown ragged and tattered!" Lelouch exclaimed, calling Tohodoh a coward for not fighting to the bitter end and that he should if he wants to reclaim his honor.
"Are you saying the Japanese people are accepting defeat for the first time?" Tohdoh asked.
"That is necessary for the people. But then it will take myself to make their dream a reality." Lelouch answered, making the veteran smile. It's been a while since he heard words of sincerity and hopefulness, even Katase stuttered a couple times. Maybe this time, things will be different.
Seeing the man having no further questions or arguments, Lelouch got down and used his combat knife to free him. He then escorted to him to his Club where both of them entered the cockpit.
"Q-1, cover us." Lelouch ordered as he grasped both controls for the Club.
"Roger."
(With Euphemia)
"And now, Princess Euphemia will select the grand prize winner." The curator announced as everyone stood attention. The man then handed the princess a large decorative flower. "The work on which you place this flower will be the winner."
Euphie nodded at the instructions as she then turned and saw the various works of art she reviewed earlier today.
(Outside)
Rai and the Four Holy Swords were continuing their havoc on the base. They were destroying Sutherlands left and right while explosions were going off at major parts. Meanwhile, both the Guren and Lancelot Club met up with them before another explosion took place at the wall nearby.
A black truck emerged, escorted by a Burai. All the Knightmares stopped nearby and docked as the cargo of the truck opened, revealing a black Gekka with two red scarf-like appendages emerging from the head. Lancelot club docked directly in-front of it. Lelouch opened the cockpit, allowing Tohdoh out.
Upon seeing their leader, all the Swords opened theirs to greet their liberated leader.
"Colonel!"
"Welcome back, Col. Tohdoh!" Asahine greeted with a smile.
"Thank you, you all have certainly worked hard for this." Tohdoh remarked in a proud tone.
"Nothing we can't handle, sir." Senba remarked while the black Gekka's cockpit opened. Tohdoh immediately jumped aboard and got himself acquainted with the controls.
"Cooperate with Eternal! Eliminate the remaining forces here!" Tohdoh ordered as his cockpit closed.
"Yes, sir!" All four replied while Lelouch had a smug smirk.
'Now all objectives have been cleared.' Lelouch thought as everything going according to plan. 'Nunnally's knight has been chosen already. So…'
Just then a slash harken came flying at the group, cutting Lelouch's thoughts short. The Guren deflected it with its combat knife before the slash harken flew back to the charging Lancelot.
"Damn it, what's he doing here!?" Kallen asked.
"The nuisance again!?" Lelouch remarked before smiling as he placed on his Drvier. "No matter, this is a perfect opportunity to test the full power of the Eternal Memory linked with my Club."
He pulled out the Memory.
"ETERNAL!"
"Henshin…" Lelouch smiled.
"ETERNAL!"
Lelouch transformed into Eternal but without the cape as it would've been a bit of hindrance to pilot with. Eternal took a deep breath as he felt this new level of power coursing within him while the Club transformed again. It stayed blue parts remain blue this time but blue flame decals were added, the parts that used to glow red now glowed blue, and the only thing that stayed was the eyes turning from green to yellow.
The others, especially the two other Riders, knew what this meant.
"Should we transform too, Eternal?" Rai asked.
"Negative, with what we have here, this should be adequate enough." Eternal remarked as he gripped his controls, ready to fight.
(With Euphemia)
Euphie just stared at the paintings, still unsure of who to choose as the winner.
"Your Highness, I think it's time for you to decide." The curator said, hurrying the pink-haired teen since she's been doing nothing but stare the whole past few minutes.
"I know, but…"
RING! RING!
Cellphones started ringing with all the journalists answering, leaving the government officials confused until a soldier reported to Darlton and whispered something.
"Chofu!?"
(With Eternal)
The Lancelot fired its VARIS rifle at the charging Gekkas but they dodged it before Rai's Gekka appeared at the side and tried slashing the white Knightmare, only to have its attack deflected with its shield. Meanwhile one of the Swords' Gekkas jumped over the Lancelot and attempted to attack from the other side but Suzaku quickly got away.
"This isn't good, they're used to fighting." Suzaku remarked before he saw the Club coming right for him. It fired a slash harken at its sister unit and Suzaku tried activating the shield…only for slash harken to pierce right through it, crippling the machine's left arm.
"I have you now!" Eternal said as he reeled back the slash harken and had the Club withdrew one of its MVSs.
The Lancelot immediately jumped back from the attack. Suzaku wasn't always great when it came to observing the enemy's movement but he can tell something new came for Eternal and his machine. The last few times they fought, the Club was red and its power was very troublesome. Hell, Suzaku barely managed to stay operational during the last couple fights but now…
"This can't be good." Suzaku remarked as he fired the VARIS rifle, only for the Club to block the shots easily with its own shields
From afar, Lloyd and Cecile stayed in the office to watch the entire spectacle with Lloyd looking through his own set of binoculars.
"Well now the enemy managed to reproduce the dark blue one's model, minus the arm. Still looks quite amazing, don't you think? Especially the Club's upgrade." Lloyd remarked, slightly surprising Cecile.
"Upgrade? It didn't look that different from its original form." Cecile remarked while Lloyd chuckled.
"Please, don't tell me you haven't noticed. The last few times we saw Eternal utilize the Club, it was red with flame paint patterns and certain parts glowed red. Correct?"
"Yes." Cecile nodded.
"Well you can't see it from here, but the paint is now on it and the parts are now glowing blue." Lloyd remarked, making Cecile a little nervous for Suzaku.
"Lloyd, what are you saying?"
"That Eternal either gave the Club a major upgrade…or he managed to refine the power he was utilizing earlier." Lloyd said with a smile. While he wasn't happy about his primary creation being in an almost unwinnable situation, he was quite internally ecstatic to see his second child (the Club) reaching and utilizing a new level of power.
(With the Black Knights)
CC and everyone else was watching everything on the monitors including the current engagement with the Lancelot.
"So that's the white Knightmare that keeps popping up whenever Eternal gets to work?" Rakshata asked.
"Y-Yeah." Ohgi answered.
"And I see that it looks a lot like his machine." The woman remarked.
"Eternal stole the Club a long time ago. It was most likely developed by the same team that created the enemy machine." CC explained.
"…I see." Rakshata remarked before she and her team continued monitoring the Knightmares' performance while everyone else just watched the battle while hoping that it'll end soon. It's only a matter of time before they send reinforcements.
(With Euphemia)
Euphie and the others were now watching the whole battle on the big screen in the museum. They were currently seeing the Lancelot trying to throw off a pursuing Club. The Club was shooting the Lancelot as best as it can while the other Black Knight Knightmares tried charging for them.
"That's crazy! One against eight!" One of the journalists remarked.
"But that Lancelot Knightmare is holding its own!" Another journalist remarked.
As everyone was in awe and cheering for the white Knightmare, despite not knowing its actual win/loss ratio against Eternal himself, Darlton was discreetly on his comms.
"Right, send in everything we've got. Give Kururugi support." Darlton commanded, not wanting to look bad in front of the journalists since Suzaku has been given almost impossible odds. "Have them report that we're wiping out the terrorists."
(With the battle)
"Eternal, do you have any data on this unit?" Tohdoh asked as Eternal was chasing him.
"You can say that, I am piloting the sister unit after all. I want you do to exactly as I say." Eternal ordered. Despite not having the exact same stats as its original counterpart, the Club still has a good chance of rivaling it especially with the modifications Lelouch made in his free time. And with the other friendly units by his side, there was no way the Lancelot or its pilot will make it out alive in this battle.
"Very well then, I'll defer this to you." The veteran replied as Eternal remembered all the simulations he ran with his machine and studied the attack patterns the Lancelot made. The Rider was going to get rid of this thorn by his side by taking it out before it even stings.
"All units, take your distance from him!" Eternal ordered as his Club stopped the pursuit but resumed shooting. The Lancelot did its best to dodge the bullets before meeting up with one of the Gekkas that tried following Lelouch's advice. "Its movements have a regular pattern! Its initial attack is straight on! There's no way it's a feint!"
As Eternal said that, he started moving to a new location based on his predictions. Meanwhile the Lancelot saw the Guren coming for him. Suzaku attacked but Kallen had her machine jump over.
"If that's dodged, move immediately to avoid the next attack. Read the movement data I'm transferring to you!" Lelouch instructed as he uploaded said data. "Coordinates: S-5-7!"
The Lancelot jumped and was about to land in those coordinates before Asahina's Gekka arrived before.
"Well, well, he actually did it." The Japanese soldier remarked as the Lancelot landed. It was about to fire its VARIS rifle but the Gekka slashed it out of its hand. Suzaku had no choice but have his Lancelot jump back before Asahina can fire his gun.
"Right! And in that case, his next action will be…falling back to the rear!" Eternal said before looking up to see the Lancelot about to land in his position. "With this…"
Eternal took his Memory out of his Driver and plugged it into the Club's mainframe before pressing it.
"ETERNAL! MAXIMUM DRIVE!"
"Check…" The Rider smiled underneath his helmet.
The Club's eyes glowed yellow as it tossed away its gun and gripped its sword with both hands as the blade ignited, consumed with blue fire. When the Lancelot landed, it saw its sister unit thrusting the blue flaming sword. Suzaku dodged it but the sword got through the roof of his cockpit.
"Dammit!" Suzaku cursed as the embers of the sword scattered from the blade and landed on his suit, partially burning it. Some embers also got on the right side of his face, creating burn scars on it. He did scream for a few seconds as he put himself out.
The Club's blade soon went through, cutting the cockpit's roof and door off.
"Dang it, he doesn't have an ejection block!" Lloyd remarked, much to Cecile's shock.
"We still haven't installed one!?" Cecile asked.
When the blade died down, Eternal looked into the open cockpit…and saw Suzaku with the new burnt look on the right side of his face thanks to him.
His eyes widened behind the helmet.
"No way…" He remarked. Eternal was in so much shock that the Club was practically frozen before the exposed Lancelot kicked the white and blue machine away, making it land on the back of its cockpit.
"Is that really you, Suzaku!?" Tohdoh asked, equally shocked to see his former student fight among the ones who conquered their nation unjustly.
"No way…" Rai remarked while Kallen was just speechless. The latter then realized that Eternal went silent. She imagined that he was as shocked as she was but they were in the middle of something.
"Eternal! What's our next move!? Do we capture him or…Eternal!?" Kallen called as Eternal was still processing the revelation.
'All this time, it was him!?' Eternal thought as he thought back to all the encounters he had with him during his operations…and all the times he almost killed him; his best friend. Hell, he even gave him a scar on the face with 3rd degree burns a few minutes ago. 'Suzaku…'
(With Euphemia)
Every journalist was in complete shock, just like the Riders, that Suzaku has been the one piloting the Lancelot Knightmare. They all had been remarking and questioning upon the decision to allow Suzaku to pilot such an experimental machine. Euphie was looking pretty anxious at all these responses while Darlton stepped in front of her.
"That's enough, kill the video-!" Darlton ordered before Euphie stepped up as well.
"Wait!" She said, earning the soldier's attneion.
"Huh?"
"I want to see this to the end." She commanded.
(With the battle)
Suzaku winced at the pain his face took before gripping both controls.
"Good, I can still move!" He said as he charged straight for the Lancelot but Tohdoh's Gekka got between them, with the black machine holding the Lancelot's arm before it can swing its sword.
"That's enough, Suzaku!" Tohdoh said as the cockpit of his machine opened, revealing himself to Suzaku's surprise.
"Tohdoh! So, you wanna live so much that you're willing to compromise your own principles!?" Suzaku asked while Tohdoh seemed unaffected at the question.
"Do I disappoint you? Very well then, keep to your schedule and execute me already!" Tohdoh replied, much to Suzaku's surprise while the Club just watched the battle.
"Why? Y-You're not supposed to be here…you have to be by Nunnally's side…" Eternal remarked, wanting to deny all of this but he can't as the truth was in front of him; his best friend has been his enemy the whole time.
"What's wrong!? Isn't that why you're here!?" Tohdoh taunted as his and Suzaku's machines were still locked in combat. "You've become a cowardly boy who's afraid to change the status quo!"
"Denying everything in our society as it is now is pointless! Once they trust me, I'll have the power to change things!" Suzaku stated firmly, expressing his belief of changing society from within.
"You're serious!?" Tohdoh asked with disbelief.
"I'm dead serious!"
"Good, then continue on that path!" Tohdoh encouraged. While he was disappointed in his student's decision to fight for the enemy, he can respect his reasoning behind it. The machines pulled back on each other. "Regardless of victory or death, you won't gain anything unless you're prepared to pay the ultimate price. That applies to countries and individuals!" He said, teaching one last lesson as his cockpit closed.
Suzaku stared at the machine and nodded.
"Right!" He said as the two circled around each other. Meanwhile Rai's Gekka approached the down Club and helped it on its feet.
"Eternal, we need you here!" Rai said, hoping to snap Eternal in whatever shock he was in. "What is our next set of instructions!?"
"We're destroying the White Knight, got it!" Senba said as Kallen looked at the Four Holy Swords.
"Wait for Eternal's orders!" Kallen said but it seemed her words for falling on deaf ears or rather, ears that don't wanna hear.
"We're not waiting! Captain Senba, take Rotating Spinning Life or Death formation!" Chiba ordered.
"Right!"
Soon all of the Sword Gekkas started circling the Lancelot with Guren trying to intervene.
"That's enough!" Kallen said before Eternal snapped out of shock to see what was going on and he didn't like it.
"W-Wait…!"
"Relax, it's a four-way simultaneous attack! He'll never dodge it!" Asahina explained with a smug look. Meanwhile, Lloyd got to Suzaku via comms.
"Kururugi, release the harken booster! The password is my favorite food!" Lloyd said and Suzaku immediately typed it into the Lancelot's mainframe. The white Knightmare than released all four of its harkens as a result before using them to unarm most of the Gekkas, leaving them astonished.
Suzaku then immediately followed that up with throwing an MVS at a Senba's Gekka, damaging it while Asahina fired his machine gun to cover his wounded comrade.
"You okay!?" Asahina asked.
"What an interesting fighting style he uses!" Senba remarked.
"Okay, this time; Asahina, circle around to the left!" Chiba ordered but…
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Eternal snapped, getting his troops' attention.
"Lelouch…" Kallen let out as she didn't expect this kind of shock out of him.
"Fighting is now unnecessary. Objective achieved. Recommend escape route 3. Withdraw now!" Eternal ordered, still trying to suppress his shock and anger.
Tohdoh looked like he was about to say something before noticing VTOLs in the air carrying multiple Sutherlands. A retreat would be the most logical call, despite emotional baggage.
"An unwinnable battle isn't the same as a lost battle. You seem to understand that, Eternal." Tohdoh commented before he and the other Black Knight Knightmares started leaving. "Releasing chaff smoke."
Soon hatches opened from underneath their cockpits, releasing smoke.
"Wait!" Suzaku went after them but bullets emerged from the smoke before said projectiles shot off one of his landspinners, causing the Lancelot to spin slightly out of control and stop.
When the Lancelot finally stopped, Suzaku stood up from his damaged cockpit and stared at the direction his mentor took off in. He used his right hand to feel the new burnt side of his face, wincing a little before clenching his other hand.
"Tohdoh, I am…I am your enemy!"
(With Euphemia)
Euphemia and Darlton just stared at the screen while Euphemia felt a sense of satisfactory in her head.
'Suzaku…Well done.' Euphemia thought before her thoughts were cut off by…
"Damn traitor, why won't he follow them!?" One journalist asked, much to the princess's shock.
"Because they're Elevens, like him."
"Of course! I thought one against seven was a little too much to be real!"
Euphemia clenched her hands a little, hating how every person can find a way to insult Suzaku just because he's an Eleven and that he just survived an almost unwinnable battle. She then had a thought to help Suzaku while fulfilling Cornelia's request.
"Princess Euphemia?" Darlton called as he saw that the young girl was lost in thought.
"Everyone!" She called, getting everyone's attention. "I will now answer the question that has been asked before. My knight shall be the man you see before you!"
She pointed at the screen.
"Warrant Officer Suzaku Kururugi!"
(With the Black Knights)
Everyone has docked their Knightmares in the trucks and were getting ready to move out but…
"Eternal's not coming out?" Ohgi asked as he saw that their leader was missing but the Club was still in the truck and still in its Eternal form.
"I tried calling him but he won't come out." Kallen said before hearing something disturbing. She looked at the Club parked nearby and just walked away, not sure how she can help with this.
"Hehehehe…hahahahaha!" Eternal started laughing maniacally at the top of his lungs. He kept doing so before grabbing his helmet and throwing it away. He had a large crazy smile to go with his laugh. "Hahahahaha! Katsumi was right; all people are devils!"
He kept laughing with CC staring at the cockpit from above with that signature blank look she always wear.
(At an unknown location)
A small child was looking out a pod. He had dark pink eyes and long blonde hair. He had a blank look at the pod before earing someone come in.
"I was wondering why you were late." The child asked.
"Forgive me, Master VV." The Weather Dopant said as he walked to VV. VV only stared at the Weather Dopant for a few second before looking back at the pod.
"How is Hyuga Shaing liking our products?" VV asked.
"Quite well, he seems satisfactory with it." The Weather Dopant replied before looking at the pod. "I see, you're planning on deploying her?"
"I think she's ready for field work."
"Is her Geass stable?"
"Don't worry, it's taken care of. We'll also be sending her with a Memory and belt as well." The boy said as he continued watching the pod.
"Speaking of Memories, have you found a suitable candidate for THAT one?" The Weather Dopant asked.
VV said nothing but took out a black Gaia Memory with a red X on it.
"I have a small list." VV said as he looked at the pod…which held a teenager version of an unconscious Stella inside.
AN: Hey guys, finally glad to get this chapter out of the way! Sorry that this chapter doesn't have much Eternal himself despite having the Blue Flare upgrade since last chapter. This was such a hard episode for me to adapt. I'll try to be more original in the next few chapters.
Anyways, please review or send PMs for questions, comments, or concerns. Don't be afraid to review this chapter, send questions, or look at my other fics. Alright, I'm done; goodnight