Disclaimer: I do not own Code Geass.
Tensions
In the Geass Order's Headquarters, VV was sitting on his throne and looked at Madd, Castor, and Pollux and the three individuals were in not happy.
"I have to say that you three really screwed up," VV said.
"Seriously?" Castor replied upset, "You're just going to say that?"
"It's the truth," VV said, "we could have trapped Lelouch and Nunnally as well as Euphemia but you three screwed it up badly."
"The one who screwed up was Madd when he was blabbing about our plans to the Black Knights," Pollux said, "especially to that guy, Jinta Kuromaki."
"You brats," Madd responded angrily, "you're putting the blame on me?"
"It's the truth," Castor said as he and his twin brother faced Madd, "You didn't need to run your mouth Colonel. All you had to do was mow them down and move on but no, you had to go speak about what we had intend to do and worse, you got recorded and practically said everything."
"Yeah you're the blame for this," Pollux added, "and now because of this, Father has forced us to stay here. Nothing else has been said but it would not be a surprised if he had stripped us of our rank and claim to the throne."
"But why just us?" Castor asked upset, "What about Jarvis and Schneizel and Bartley?"
"As far as I know, nothing has been said about those three or the implication of working on the Code-R Project," VV said, "but you Madd."
"Me?" Madd asked.
"Yes, the official statement with you is that you Madd who had been plotting against the Emperor and Imperial Family for years and even brought out evidence on the fact that when Charles took the throne, your 'inhumane research' from the past was taken away from you and you made it clear that you had resented Charles and all those fiercely loyal to him for it."
Madd clenched his teeth in anger although it was true as he recalled in the past when his research was indeed taken away when Charles became the 98th Emperor of Britannia.
"So officially so far I'm the only one being named as the ringleader," Madd said angrily, "when it comes to the Code-R Project."
"Basically, it's your own fault though," VV said, "you weren't very subtle about how you hated me and Charles when Charles became Emperor. No one is going to doubt that this was your way to try to use the Code-R Project to plot against the us and to ruin us as well and with Clovis, it's been spun that you promised Clovis that he would have the throne if he participated and Clovis relished on the idea so now you and Clovis are being the ones named with attachment for the illegal human experimental research, the Code-R Project," VV then smiled, "Let this be a lesson for you Reginald, when I or even Charles tell you something, you listen and make sure you don't screw up and I told you what would happen."
"What about us?" Pollux asked, "You know since nothing has been said about us being involved in the project."
VV just looked at the twins and sighed.
"You know, you two would might actually have to be forced to be here and that you two could have carried on and things would have been smoothed over for you two," VV said, "however Castor, because of your outburst you displayed at the ceremony when you got caught… well nothing could have been done for you two."
"Hah, so you two messed up as well," Madd said glaring at the twin boys, "you have no right to get on my case when you, especially you Castor were actually like an immature brat."
Castor and Pollux clenched their teeth in anger and were livid.
"Anyway, you'll be staying here Madd," VV said, "that goes for you two as well."
VV looked at Castor and Pollux and Madd clenched his teeth as well as they were upset with what was going on.
"…Say, what about Kewell and the others?" Castor asked.
"Oh, they're here as well," VV said, "this is a good opportunity to do some tuning on them. They didn't really get to do some action but," VV grinned again, "I have a good feeling that it won't be long for that to happen."
Castor, Pollux, and Madd were confused and wondered what VV meant.
Uncharted Island
The core members of the Black Knights gathered in the conference hall and Lelouch holding his mask faced his followers and Nunnally sat on the side looking at her brother.
"Now I'm going to tell you about something that I possess," Lelouch said, "and what I possess is sort of power that I've obtained."
The others were confused expected the ones who were already in the know about what Lelouch was referring to.
"What I have," Lelouch continued, "is the power of Geass."
"Geass?" Kallen asked.
"Yes," Lelouch said.
Lelouch began by activating his Geass and showed everyone the power that glowed from his left eye and silently showed everyone and they were speechless. Lelouch deactivated his Geass and started to explain.
"As you saw," Lelouch began, "that is my Geass. The power of Geass actually manifests differently from each person that possess it as I suspect born from the individual's inner desire. It is also known as the Power of the King which is said that makes someone isolated and has them live a different existence. My own Geass allows me to plant commands within a person's mind upon direct eye contact."
Lelouch continued his explanation of Geass and he told how came to obtain the power back in Shinjuku and what he had done with it since then.
Area 11
Near the entrance of the Special Zone, there were a group of people standing and protesting against the Special Zone. It was mostly Britannians that they held up signs condemning the Special Zone and some even had bats and pipes. The protesters were making noise about how the Elevens were beaten dogs that had lost the war and had no rights and even yelled out that Euphemia was a disgusting disgrace to Britannian royalty. The Britannian soldiers stationed there blocked the protesters preventing them from going inside. It had been going on ever since the ceremony ended and the fact that the Black Knights had left Area 11. There were even a number of Britannian nobles encouraging the protesters and shouted that Euphemia had to fall and was bringing disgrace for wanting to be friends with the Numbers and even some shouted that Euphemia was a traitor for seemly allying herself with the Black Knights. There were even students from Ashford Academy among the protesters involved including Gene and Martin. A Japanese family looked on from the entrance and was worried and scared and a Japanese boy had the misfortune of having a rock thrown at him and it hit him. The one who threw the rock was Martin and Gene and the other protesters praised him for it. Chanting out derogatory remarks at the people in the Special Zone and the Britannian soldiers tried to calm the situation while they were being slandered and being labelled as traitors.
"Stinking Elevens," Gene said with glee.
"You hear that you Elevens?" Martin asked, "That what you are! You're nothing more than beaten dogs!"
"That is correct," A male voice said.
It was the tall nobleman who was confronted by Lelouch when he was beating a Japanese boy with his cane.
"You people think you're equals to us?" The tall nobleman asked, "It's nothing but a sick joke!"
"Yeah!" The protesters said in unison.
Meanwhile in the Shizuoka Ghetto, a Japanese man was pushed to the ground and he looked at the people who pushed him and it was other Japanese men who looked angry.
"You bastard," One of the angry Japanese men said, "you seriously planning on going to the Special Zone?"
"I don't see why not," The pushed Japanese man replied, "over there, we can be called Japanese there. Don't you see? We'll have rights there."
"You stinking traitor," Another angry Japanese man said, "you're set on going to the place that is set up by that Britannian bitch Euphemia who with her is Kururugi the Traitor who killed his father and allowed Britannia to desecrate our country."
"So you want to follow the other traitors," The third angry Japanese man said.
"This is the best chance for all of us," The pleading Japanese man said as he got up, "Even the Black Knights—"
The man got punched in the face before the finished his sentence.
"The Black Knights?" The first angry man said, "You're talking that group of cowards who ran away and left the country."
"How are you so blind and idiotic to not see that they abandoned Japan?" The second angry man asked.
"To think that I once respected them and supported them," The third Japanese man said bitterly, "in the end, they were nothing more than cowards who ran and let Britannia continue on."
"Yeah no kidding," The first angry man said, "I never did like the Black Knights when they went out of their way to save Euphemia and the other damn Britannians at Kawaguchi. They should have let Kusakabe of the Japan Liberation Front kill them. Again, they are cowards."
"No, that's not true," The punched Japanese man said as he rubbed his cheek, "the Black Knights are not cowards… they did not abandon Japan."
The three men looked at the pleading men and felt their blood boiling. The Japanese had been split about the Special Zone and the Black Knights who had left Japan of those who resented the Black Knights and labelled them as traitors and cowards while there were those agreed with the decision that the Black Knights had made and they were those who were sad that the Black Knights left and hoped that they would come back. Meanwhile in the Viceroy Palace within the Tokyo Settlement, Cornelia was in her office and she was having a video call with Schneizel who was in Pendragon and Cornelia was upset about the news of what was going on and about the Code-R Project and her half-brother's implied involvement.
"I need to know Schneizel," Cornelia said, "Is it true? We're you really involved in that damn Code-R Project, the one that led the disgrace of Clovis?"
"Cornelia," Schneizel said and then he sighed, "look all I can say that everything that I was doing as of late, I was doing at the request of our father, His Majesty the Emperor."
"That doesn't answer my question," Cornelia replied, "please be straight with me."
"I am being straight with you Cornelia," Schneizel said, "I understand that you are upset and you have questions ever since that stunt that Madd and our younger brothers Castor and Pollux had pulled… but I'm not going to say anymore of it."
"Schneizel," Cornelia said surprised and then she frowned, "Schneizel, I really don't want to doubt you but with everything that has happened recently and the way you trying to deflect from the issue is making me do just that. Not only that, there's Bartley as well. He was involved in what Clovis and Madd were doing and you deflected when I asked you about Bartley and what he was doing. I should have known what was really going on"
"That's all in the past Cornelia," Schneizel responded, "Bartley works for me now and that's what matters."
"Schneizel, what are you hiding?" Cornelia asked.
"Cornelia?" Schneizel replied a bit surprised.
"What are you hiding?" Cornelia asked again, "Okay, let me ask you this. Why is it that nothing has been said about that Code-R Project, about those who are involved and that nothing has been said as in no official word about it and including Kewell and the other soldiers who mostly made up the Purist Faction and what was done to them?"
"Look Cornelia, there's nothing to tell," Schneizel said, "that's all there is to it. Anyway, I have to go. I have some other business to attend to."
"Schneizel!" Cornelia said.
Schneizel cut off the video call and Cornelia was upset and she clenched her teeth.
"Unbelievable," Cornelia said upset.
Meanwhile in the Knightmare Hanger of the ASSEC, Suzaku made the request to go after the Black Knights which surprised Cecile, Lloyd, and Nonette.
"This is quite a switch Suzaku," Lloyd said, "I recall that you were quite approval of the Black Knights leaving and saying that eventually that the people here won't need the Black Knights."
"Suzaku, what's going on?" Cecile asked with concern, "Why would ask about going after the Black Knights?"
Suzaku frowned as he closed his eyes and then he looked at the others.
"I have reason to believe that Black Knights have kidnapped two people," Suzaku said, "two people who are just civilians."
Cecile and Lloyd were surprised and Nonette raised an eyebrow as she had an idea who Suzaku was referring you.
"Kidnapping you say?" Lloyd replied as he was curious.
"Suzaku, are you absolutely sure about this?" Cecile asked with concern.
"Yes I'm absolutely sure about this," Suzaku said.
"Suzaku, this isn't your attempt to frame the Black Knights to get back at Zero and Void for exposing the fact that you killed your own father, is it?" Lloyd asked with a grin.
Suzaku flinched and frowned and was actually insulted of that implication and he was amazed that Lloyd was grinning on the accusation he just made.
"No of course not!" Suzaku responded a bit heated.
"Lloyd, please don't make such assumptions," Cecile berated.
"Oh come now," Lloyd said with shrug, "I was only joking… well sort of."
"Lloyd," Cecile said not amused with Lloyd at the moment.
"Lloyd this is serious," Suzaku said, "in fact, I can give you the names of three people that are actually members of the Black Knights and the thing is though…" Suzaku frowned again, "I know them from school."
"From your school?" Cecile replied surprised.
"Oh, now that is interesting," Lloyd said with a smile.
"Hold on for a moment," Nonette said, "Kururugi, there's no need to be so in a rush or in this case, being obsessed with the Black Knights and besides, you still have your own duty and that is being Princess Euphemia's knight. So I don't think that it's appropriate for you to concentrating in going after the Black Knights when you should be concentrating in serving Princess Euphemia."
"She does have a point," Lloyd said.
"But I…" Suzaku spoke and then had a sad expression.
"Unless there's some reason for this," Lloyd said, "perhaps you know the two that you say that the Black Knights have kidnapped personally… maybe from your school as well."
Nonette frowned looking at Suzaku and Suzaku slowly nodded.
"It's true," Suzaku said,
"I find it hard to believe that the Black Knights would resort in kidnapping," Cecile said, "that doesn't seem like something they would do."
"Because it's not true," Nonette said, "the Black Knights are nothing more than stubborn nuisances but they don't kidnap people."
"Lady Enneagram," Suzaku said.
"You know it to be true Kururugi," Nonette said, "I'm betting that the two students from your school didn't actually get kidnapped. In fact, it's more likely that the truth is that they willfully joined the Black Knights."
Suzaku was taken aback by Nonette's insertion.
"Since those two made that decision, then there's nothing that can be done about it,' Nonette said, "they made their choice and they will have to live with it."
"But still…" Suzaku said upset.
"If that's the case, then that may not be a surprise," Lloyd said.
"Is that really true?" Cecile asked, "Two Britannian students willfully joining the Black Knights?"
"It's not out of the realm of possibility," Lloyd said with a shrug, "It shouldn't be a surprise that there may actually be Britannians that actually support the Black Knights. After all, not every fellow Britannian has the same mindset."
Suzaku had his head down as Lloyd, Cecile, and Nonette talk about the supporters that the Black Knights have. Later on, Nonette was walking through the hall.
"Lady Enneagram," Suzaku called.
Nonette stopped and looked at Suzaku who rushed over to catch up with her and then he stopped.
"What is it Kururugi?" Nonette asked.
"You know something, don't you?" Suzaku asked.
"You're going to have to be specific," Nonette replied.
"…The two students that I mentioned…" Suzaku said.
"You were referring to Lelouch and Nunnally, weren't you?" Nonette deduced.
"…Yes," Suzaku said.
"I figured as much," Nonette said.
"Are you not surprised that by this?" Suzaku asked, "I mean you know that…"
"No it doesn't surprise me," Nonette said, "It's unfortunate but it doesn't surprise me. I considered that it would be the case when I asked you about them a while back."
"But shouldn't that even more reason to intervene?" Suzaku asked, "Lelouch and Nunnally are…"
"They made their choice and there's nothing that can be done," Nonette said, "if they get caught, they will suffer the consequences. Kururugi, you need to look at things of how they really are and not things that you just want them to be."
Suzaku was taken aback again.
"Let me ask you Major Kururugi," Nonette continued, "again what is your duty right now?"
"To serve as Princess Euphemia's knight," Suzaku answered.
"And that's exactly what you should be concentrating on," Nonette said, "get your priorities straight and don't distract yourself on things that beyond your reach and are of no concern to you."
"Beyond my reach and not a concern?" Suzaku asked and then he shook his head, "Lady Enneagram, I would like know something."
"What is it now?" Nonette replied as she was getting a bit annoyed.
"Why were you trying to recruit Zero and Void back on Shikine Island?" Suzaku asked.
"I told you that it was not something that you needed to concern with yourself with," Nonette replied.
"Can you not say?" Suzaku asked, "I still find it strange that you would try to recruit enemies of Britannia especially with everything they've done with their rebellion and conspiracy against Britannia."
"Kururugi, it is not your concern," Nonette said strongly, "and quite frankly, I don't need to explain myself to you of all people."
"L-Lady Enneagram," Suzaku replied a bit surprised.
"Let's not have this discussion again," Nonette said, "as of now, the matter is closed so don't bother asking me again."
Nonette turned and started to walk away and Suzaku felt frustrated and clenched his fists as he couldn't take it anymore and looked at Nonette.
"Lady Enneagram, what are you hiding?" Suzaku asked.
Nonette was shocked as she stopped and looked at Suzaku.
"Excuse you?" Nonette asked.
"You're hiding something, aren't you?" Suzaku asked, "There is more than what you're saying. You actually know what's going on, don't you and it has to do with why you tried to recruit Zero and Void."
"Kururugi, you better stop right now," Nonette said.
"You know who they are," Suzaku continued, "Zero and Void and then there's Lelouch and Nunnally who you know as well and it seems irresponsible to just let them be like this."
"Kururugi, shut up!" Nonette replied losing her patience, "Don't say anymore!"
"I would have thought that you of all people would be concerned and want to know about why two missing individuals from the Imperial Family would be willing to go with the Black Knights who are nothing more than a terrorist organization. I would have thought that you of all people would have some sort of sense of justice!"
"Enough Kururugi, I've had it!" Nonette snapped.
Nonette grabbed Suzaku by the collar of his uniform and slammed him against the wall. Nonette then followed up and drawing her gun from her holster and pointed at Suzaku's face. Suzaku was shocked and horrified that the Knight of Nine was pointing her weapon at his face.
"Lady Enneagram!" Cecile called out.
Nonette and Suzaku looked and saw Cecile and Lloyd had just showed up and was seeing what was going on.
"Um, not sure what's going on," Lloyd said, "but I would appreciate it if you didn't kill our devicer here."
"Lady Enneagram, what are you doing?" Cecile said, "Please let Suzaku go."
"Asplund and Croomy, your pilot of the Lancelot has a bad habit of running his mouth and he's either quite bold or stupid to mouth off to me on things he doesn't understand," Nonette said as she looked at Lloyd and Cecile and then she looked back to Suzaku with a glare, "I'm going to go with stupid."
"Oh dear," Lloyd said, "did our dear Suzaku mouth off on his own brand of justice or something?"
"Lloyd!" Cecile said upset.
"L-Lloyd," Suzaku said glancing at Lloyd.
"Kururugi, look at me," Nonette said.
"L-Lady Enneagram," Suzaku said looking at Nonette.
"Justice," Nonette said, "you know, in a way, you and Zero are no different."
"W-What do you mean?" Suzaku asked, "I'm nothing like Zero."
Suzaku was offended that he was being compared to Zero.
"I say that because you two like using the word justice," Nonette said, "you both use that word for your reasoning on the decisions you make and the how you view things. You two hide behind it and use that word give reasons for your actions. I have to say that I did not expect this from you Kururugi. Here you are having the audacity to question me and the things that I do."
"I just…" Suzaku spoke.
Nonette pressed the barrel of her gun further on Suzaku.
"Careful on what you say next Kururugi," Nonette warned.
Suzaku opened his mouth but didn't say anything and Cecile was getting scared for Suzaku.
"Lady Enneagram, please I'm begging you," Cecile said, "please don't hurt him. I'm sure Major Kururugi didn't mean any offense."
"I would ask the same thing," Lloyd said, "besides if you kill him, it'll be hard to find another devicer who is just as capable of piloting the Lancelot."
"Lloyd Asplund and Cecile Croomy," Nonette said glancing over to Lloyd and Cecile, "let me tell you something. Lloyd, pretty sure you have this real bad thing with how you view people as just part of any machinery of yours and worse you don't seem to take some things very serious when it comes with the certain situations and Cecile, I get that you're quite fond of Kururugi here but you need to know that you can't be all sympathetic all the time whenever he screws up and he is screwing up badly right now."
Lloyd was not surprised with what Nonette said to him and Cecile was taken aback with what Nonette had said to her. Suzaku looked on and decided to say something.
"I'm sorry," Suzaku said.
"What was that?" Nonette responded paying attention to Suzaku.
"I apologize for my actions," Suzaku said with a sad expression, "I got too frustrated and emotional and I was out of line and overstepped my bounds. It won't happen again."
Nonette just looked at Suzaku and then she let him go and put her gun back into her holster.
"Apology accepted," Nonette said, "but you need to keep yourself in check if you want to continue having a place in the military much less continuing to be Princess Euphemia's knight. It's not a place for someone who just lashed out and whines and complain about how someone especially someone of high rank does things. If it was anyone else, they would have beaten you down on the ground or at worse execute you right on the spot… and they would not be punished for killing a… well, a mouthy and insubordinate Honorary Britannian soldier."
Suzaku flinched in what Nonette said but he understood and nodded.
"…I'll remember that," Suzaku said.
"It would have been unfortunate for Princess Euphemia as well," Nonette said, "you better think about her and her position before you shoot your mouth off like that, especially to a Knight of the Round like myself and not just for Princess Euphemia… but for Asplund, Croomy, and even Prince Schneizel as well."
"I will," Suzaku said, "again I'm sorry for how I acted."
"…Okay then," Nonette said, "well with this, I take my leave."
Nonette walked away leaving and Suzaku just had his head down in shame as Cecile and Lloyd went to Suzaku.
"Suzaku, are you all right?" Cecile asked.
"Y-Yes I'm fine," Suzaku said as he stood up straight, "I'm sorry, I spoke and acted without thinking and I caused you two some trouble as well. I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about it," Cecile said, "just please be careful next time."
"Yes please do," Lloyd said, "otherwise, you would be just give more ammo to those who don't have a pleasant opinion of you… like Princess Cornelia for example who would have shot you for your disrespect towards her senior."
Lloyd walked away to another direction right after saying the things he said and Cecile was concern and Suzaku had his head down and felt ashamed.
"Suzaku," Cecile said.
"I let my emotions get the better of me," Suzaku said.
"Suzaku," Cecile said with a sad expression.
"I knew it would happen," Suzaku said.
"What do you mean?" Cecile asked.
"My two friends," Suzaku said, "I knew that they would be willing to go to the Black Knights. They had hatred for Britannia for years and as much as I hate it, I know that Zero wouldn't force them to join them. I just wish that they would see that there is a bad ending for them and that Britannia can be better for them."
"Suzaku, who are these two friends of yours?" Cecile asked.
"Uh, well," Suzaku spoke as he shifted his eyes, "Miss Cecile, the things is…"
"Hey, there you are," A male voice said suddenly.
Suzaku and Cecile looked and saw one of the engineers rushed over and he informed Cecile and Suzaku what was going and they were surprised.
"Wait, the Emperor is about to make an announcement?" Cecile asked.
"Yes and from what we were informed," The engineer said, "it has to do with Princess Euphemia and the Special Zone."
"So it's finally happening," Suzaku said in his head, "just like Euphie said."
Meanwhile Nonette was just outside when a soldier approached her and saluted to her as he informed her of the announcement that was going to be made by the Emperor.
"A live address by His Majesty," Nonette said.
"Yes ma'am," The soldier said.
"Well I'm on my way to the flagship," Nonette said, "I'll watch His Majesty's address from the bridge."
"Yes of course," The soldier said, "the Morgause is already in the hanger of the flagship."
"Excellent," Nonette said with a nod.
Nonette went on her way to the flagship with the soldier accompanying her.
Uncharted Island
Lelouch had just finished telling everyone in the room about Geass and it was a lot for them to take in. Rai and Alice had added that they also possessed Geass and how they came to obtain it which including Rai informing them that he regained his memories and Alice telling that she received her Geass from the Geass Order that was under the control of Britannia, specifically, VV and Charles. The core members of the Black Knights were shocked at the revelation that was given to them and it was even also a shock to them when they learned of CC and Jinta and that they were immortal Code Bearers capable to giving out Geass and they had Codes and they were also former Geass users. They had questions and most had concerns with what they have learned about Lelouch's Geass which allowed him to make anyone do what he wants through eye contact. Everyone was taking in what was said.
"Well now," Naoto said, "this is quite the bombshell you dropped on us."
"I know," Lelouch said.
"Geass," Ohgi said, "Codes…"
"It does explain what the deal was with the capsule we took from Clovis's lab and why CC was inside of it and experimented on," Kallen said.
"Still I can't help but feel… well disturbed by it," Chiba said.
"I have to say that I feel the same way," Asahina said.
"This power you have Lelouch," Inoue said, "it allows you to command them to do something."
The others looked at each other and Lelouch nodded as he knew that it was something that was going to be a concern for them.
"Now hold on," Diethard said, "I personally don't see the problem."
"Diethard," Todoh said.
"We should look at this as a great thing," Diethard said, "Our leader here has the power he can use against our enemies. It's because of this power that he possess that he was able to learn why Clovis ordered the massacre in Shinjuku and the truth about the experiments he was doing on CC."
"Yes that is true," Rakshata said, "not only that, it made it easier to rescue Kururugi who was being framed for Clovis's death."
"Right that is true," Tamaki said.
"Although," Ohgi said, "say Lelouch, I guess we would like to know, you used your Geass on Jeremiah to let Suzaku go, right?"
"I did, yes," Lelouch said with a nod.
"So then what about the Orange thing?" Minami asked, "Did you make that up?"
"Um, not exactly," Lelouch said, "it's just that it was not something that would be considered treasonous to Britannia, more like it was just an embarrassing event… one that Jeremiah would like to forget."
The others were taken aback and didn't know what to say about it.
"An embarrassing event," Keitaro said.
"It's a story that happened in the Florida District where Jeremiah is from," Nunnally said.
"I see," Sugiyama said, "um, since Jeremiah is on our side now, does know…?"
"Yes we already let him know," Lelouch said, "he was… well as expected a bit upset and taken aback but he doesn't hold it against us."
"Still to think you have something like that," Kallen said, "and not only you…"
Kallen looked at Rai and Alice.
"Yeah us too," Rai said.
"You two got Geass from someone called VV," Urabe said.
"And not only that… Rai," Tamaki said, "talk about a shocker to hear about your past."
"Yeah no kidding," Gen said, "I never would have imagined."
"Yeah that's understandable," Rai said with a sad expression.
"Lelouch, I think we all need to time to digest and really think about what you revealed to us," Todoh said, "but there's something we need to know."
"Yes Sensei," Lelouch said.
Todoh looked at Lelouch and closed his eyes and then opened them and looked at Lelouch again.
"Lelouch, have you ever used your power on any of us here?" Todoh asked, "Did you do it to make us follow you?"
There were shocked reactions from Todoh's question and Lelouch looked at his teacher and shook his head.
"Never," Lelouch answered, "I swear to you all with my life that I never used my Geass on any of you. It would have been pointless to use my Geass to have you follow me. You all joined at your own free will and that is a fact."
"How can we be sure that you're telling the truth?" Asahina asked, "For all we know, you could have Geassed us right now and we wouldn't really know it and make it seem like we're acting on our freewill."
"Hey hold on Asahina," Urabe said with concern.
"That may be true," Chiba said, "I don't want doubt you Lelouch but we can't ignore the possibility."
"Now wait," Kallen said, "you can't be serious. Lelouch would never do that."
"Yeah do you really think he would do that?" Yoshida asked.
"No it's okay," Lelouch assured, "I get it."
"Lelouch," Kallen said.
"To answer your question," Lelouch said, "I am telling you the truth but can I prove it… I can't. You decide on your own if I'm telling you the truth."
Todoh looked at Lelouch and nodded.
"Okay I believe you," Todoh said.
"Really just like that?" Senba asked.
"You're satisfied Colonel?" Chiba asked.
"I am," Todoh said, "I can see it in his eyes and I can tell with my own students."
"Thank you for believing me Sensei," Lelouch said with a bow.
Todoh went to Lelouch and placed his hand on Lelouch's shoulder and then faced the others.
"I say that we believe him," Todoh said, "Lelouch has been transparent with us all along. I imagine that it was not easy to make the decision to tell us something that would give us pause and consume us with concern but I believe that he's telling us about his Geass because it's just another thing of being open with us."
"I agree," Naoto said as went and stood next to Lelouch, "I believe we can take his words as truth and not only that, there seems to be others who have Geass and that's also why you told us, isn't Lelouch?"
"Yes because I'm certain that those of the Geass Order and even the Emperor himself with his own Geass may step up to put an end to us and if those would use the facts against us," Lelouch said, "which is why we need to find where their headquarters are."
"Yes, the headquarters of the Geass Order," Jinta said.
"But still it is quite disturbing," Diethard said, "that the Emperor's Geass allows him to alter memories."
"I don't even want to think about it," Sugiyama said as he flinched on the idea.
"Hey, everyone," CC's voice said.
CC entered the small building and looked around.
"CC, is something wrong?" Lelouch asked.
"Well…" CC spoke, "Charles is making live address it may have to do with Euphemia and the Special Zone."
The others were surprised and Nunnally turned to Lelouch.
"Lelouch," Nunnally said.
"Yes of course," Lelouch said.
Not long afterwards, they had a television set up and they turned in on and saw the live address that was being done from Pendragon and Charles was walking to the podium to give his address.
Pendragon, Holy Britannian Empire
In the great hall, there was thunderous applause in the great hall as Charles walked over and stood behind the podium and gripped his gloved hands on the sides of the podium. Charles looked on being as intimidating as ever.
"All men are not created equal," Charles started, "and the world is full of lies. That is the reality. It is as I said before that some are born swifter afoot, some with greater beauty, some are born into poverty and others born sick and feeble. Both in birth and upbringing, in sheer scope of ability every human is inherently different; Yes that is why people discriminate against one another, which is why there is struggle, competition and the unfaltering march of progress and that is what Britannia stands for as we are the only nation that truly moves forward to the future. But with that, there are those that would bring disgrace to themselves and create lies and make their pathetic attempts to bring down strong will of Britannia and would go against the truth that all men are not created equal and would give lies that equality is not wrong. The sham that I'm referring to is the Special Zone in Area 11 brought forth by Euphemia," Charles spoke of the zone with a venomous tone, "The Special Zone is nothing more than a lie giving false sense that the Elevens there in that zone are now equals but that is just another lie created and it was perpetrated by one of my own daughters. The zone there may have been given approval by those who just did it on their own but it is nothing more than a sham and it should be looked at with disdain and resentment as the Special Zone does not represent Britannia and those who endorse it has no place for Britannia and Euphemia although she is my daughter is no exception therefore it is why as of now Euphemia li Britannia is no longer a Britannia Princess and therefore is no longer an heir to the throne in which it also means that she is no longer has the right to be the Sub-Viceroy of Area 11. And with that in mind, Euphemia and the Special Zone will be on their own and anything arises against the Special Zone, then so be it as I said, that zone is not a representative of Britannia and those that support it shall be branded as whatever true loyal Britannian citizens see fit and what action they may take. So if Euphemia and her supporters still insist that this Special Zone will truly work then they are welcome to prove but something created in such falsehood can never truly succeed! That is the undeniable truth and Britannia's iron will never falter!" Charles raised his fist in the air, "All Hail Britannia!"
"All Hail Britannia!" The audience said in unison.
The chant continued in the great hall.
Area 11
At the Special Administrative Zone in the box office within the zone, Euphie, Marrybell, and Jeremiah saw the live address and they heard the chants from the live press in Pendragon. Euphie clenched her fists upset at the things her father said.
"This is deliberate," Marrybell said.
"Marry?" Euphie spoke.
"It's like Father is provoking people to take action against the zone," Marrybell said upset, "if not more than they have already."
Jeremiah looked on as well and then he thought about Lelouch and Nunnally.
"I'm sure that even they wouldn't have expected this from their father," Jeremiah said in his head.
That's it for this chapter. Next chapter: The tension continues as conflict goes to the Special Zone and the Black Knights make plans to head to the Chinese Federation to meet with Xingke and his followers.