Interlude 1: Red Queen's Gambit

I take a deep breath as I finish rinsing out the soap and shampoo.

I don't think Lelouch even realizes what he gets like when he's in Zero mode.

Then again... Maybe it's Lelouch Lamperouge who is the mask...

"Zero is who he really is, isn't it?" I say to my green haired...what? Partner? Ally? Rival?

Despite our sniping at each other, it's nice having another girl around who's not only an intelligent conversationalist, but can also take a punch. Though sometimes I just want to pin that smug bitch down and ride her face with my red-haired pussy as I make her call me queen...WHAT THE HELL AM I SAYING?!

"I thought it was obvious myself. He seems to have made a favorable impression on you at least," CC says with a smug tone.

Wait, what? I open my eyes to see my nipples have hardened...And that's not water on my leg...

"Shut up," I mutter as I shut off the water and grab a towel to start drying.

"Kallen."

I turn around. That sounded like a more serious tone. And she's just standing there. Stark naked, arms crossed under her breasts. But her expression is different than the teasing or blase one she normally wears.

Sharp, calculating. But most of all?

OLD.

Every time I think she's just some pizza loving floozy, she does something to remind me that she's over six hundred years old, and has seen this kind of thing play out over many lifetimes.

"Remember how I said people like Lelouch need to be pulled short occasionally?"

I nod.

"This time, it's your turn."

Oh hell no. I am not going to be that lunatic's minder.

"Why can't you do it?" I mutter under my breath.

She steps forward, our eyes meeting.

If Lelouch or Milly were watching, they'd say tit to tit. Why don't I hang out with more normal people?

...Ah, right. Because outside of our resistance group, most of my 'friends' are idiot Britannians.

No...that's not true, entirely. I do kinda like the student council. Even with a jerk like Lelouch and a pervert like Milly on it.

"Because my role is not to appear on stage. The queen must stand beside the king on the field of battle," she pronounces like a matter of law.

Queen? Ha! Q-1. So I'm the queen piece, huh? Wait a minute...

"So we're all just pieces on a chess board?" I growl at her.

And now she's doing that mocking smirk.

"I'm not the one you should be asking."

Then she pulls me into a hug before I can say anything.

"We both like you, Kallen. You're the most level-headed person in our inner circle. That's why he'll listen to you," she says softly.

It's a sad commentary that she's right. CC has lived so long that her morality is skewed. Jeremiah and Sayoko are both too insanely loyal to tell him no.

Milly...never mind. And Suzaku is just as twisted and crazy as Zero is.

"My face is too easily recognizable, especially my hair. It's too soon to draw that kind of attention, yet. And you and I both know that without him, Japan will never be reborn," she says while holding me.

It's kinda nice, actually.

I sigh and step back to start getting dressed.

"I'll talk to him. But I'm not going to throw myself at him like you do," I say as I pull my panties up my legs.

Clearly I've said something funny because CC looks like she's about to start laughing.

"Alright, spit it out. What's the joke?"

She doubles over, giggling.

"Hehehehe, do you, hahaha, know what one of the first things that little shit said to me was? Hahahaha."

Probably something perverted.

"After staring down a Knightmare Frame, one that had shot holes into the wall and only narrowly missed hitting him, and then bluffing the pilot out and Geassing her, do you know what one of the first things he said to me was?"

Okay, I have to admit, that was pretty fucking ballsy.

CC then tries to imitate Lelouch's demeanor. It's actually kinda hilarious to watch while she's doing so naked.

"'So I realize this is a fucked-up question, but do you want to take a ride with me and kill my half-brother?'" she says, pitching her voice deeper.

My jaw drops. What?! Really?

She shifts back to her own manner of speech, "'Oh, I think I'm going to like you. Let's go, boy.'"

And then goes into a stage bow that only Lelouch could make look good.

"'It's Lelouch, miss immortal. Did immortality give you that ass, or do you come by it naturally?'" she quotes in a decent imitation of his wiseass manner of speaking.

I blink as I sit down to process what I've just heard.

He's fucking crazy. That's the literal truth of it.

So why the hell do I find that attractive?!

"And you weren't mad he was hitting on you?" I say incredulously.

CC gives me a flat stare in return. "Consider where I was for seven years. I honestly found his sheer audacity amusing."

Ugh. Ok, I admit, that was uncalled for. I grimace as I hang my head, pulling a shirt on over my sports bra.

"Sorry. I forgot about that."

The things I saw in that folder were sick and vile. As crazy as Lelouch is, he'd never do that. His brother deserved that.

...Brother? Ok, I have to ask.

"Why did he do THAT to Clovis? Why not just shoot him?"

At that remark, CC turns a dead stare at me before narrowing her eyes. "Because I wanted him to know what my torment felt like. That was Lelouch giving me the right of first blood."

I feel my throat go dry a bit. First blood. A concept among nobility. When there are multiple aggrieved parties, the one with the greatest wrongs done to them has right of first blood. Whether that's in the manner of execution, a duel, lawsuits, or even a share of an estate is up to individual situations. As heir to the Stadtfeld family, I've never had to exercise this right.

But if I'd been there instead of her? I'd have claimed that right for Naoto-niichan.

I finish throwing my things into a gym bag.

"CC...Thank you for talking to me."

She closes her eyes and smiles at me while leaning on a locker.

"You may not understand him now. But if you keep an open mind, you will."

I snort. Trying to figure him out is an exercise in futility.

"And Kallen?"

I turn around as I'm about to leave.

"Ask him or Suzaku about what they went through after the war, if you want to know where his rage comes from."

I walk away without commenting.

Lelouch is waiting outside, carrying a duffle bag and dialing someone on the phone.

"Sayoko."

His maid?! Why the hell is he calling his maid?!

"Is my sister safe?"

Oh. She went with Nunnally. Right.

"Excellent. Can you maintain your position?"

What?

"No. I have other plans for the JLF. I have no doubt you could exterminate them easily, but the hostages could be hurt. And I need you to protect Nunnally as your highest priority."

What the hell? What good is a maid against soldiers?

He nods. "Kill anyone you can get away with, but don't get caught. I'll contact you when I'm near. Neither Britannia nor the JLF will touch her."

He hangs up and looks at my incredulous face.

"Let me guess, you're wondering why I'm asking my maid to act as a bodyguard?"

I nod as we walk to a waiting cab. I motion with my eyes to the driver.

He smirks and taps the man on the shoulder.

"You will drive us where I direct you without noting it in your log. You will take no notice of any conversation that my companion and I are having. You will remember giving a ride to a young couple. Do you understand your orders?"

The man goes red-eyed and salutes. "Yes, your highness!"

Lelouch holds the door open for me like a chauffeur. I step in, waiting to hear what the next bit of ridiculous bullshit he's going to tell me is.

As we get underway, Lelouch begins checking his messages while speaking.

"The reason Sayoko is acting as Nunnally's bodyguard, is because that is literally what she is trained for."

"What, like your own personal ninja?" I say with a raised eyebrow.

He smirks like a fucking jackass at that statement.

Oh, you have got to be fucking kidding me. "Seriously?"

He nods, "Shinozaki Sayoko, 37th successor of the Shinozaki shinobi clan. She's also trained as a bodyguard and intelligence operative."

I know I fucking called that it would be something ridiculous, but really?! "Nothing about you is normal, is it?" I say as I rub my forehead in frustration.

He snickers to himself. "You're only just figuring that out now?"

I take a deep breath. Calm down, Kallen. He's under a lot of stress, he doesn't actually deserve to get punched right now.

"I want to know what our plan when we get to Kawaguchi is."

And there's that fury he was hiding.

His eyes turn icy as he turns to me.

"I'm going to slaughter them for this. No quarter shall be given. And then we shall take credit for the rescue in our debut," he says with a sinister tone.

I facepalm. "You can't just go in guns blazing and kill everyone."

"If your brother was there, and the JLF discovered or knew about his Britannian heritage, what would you do?" he asks, his violet eyes staring into my blue orbs.

...You son of a bitch.

I flinch, but meet his gaze as I grab his shirt, holding onto him. "You or Ohgi would tell me to get a grip." I narrow my eyes at him, "And that was a low blow."

He looks imperiously at me, his gaze unchanging. "Was it? You would do the exact same thing. Don't deny it."

I smack his cheek, "That's not the point. And yes, bringing up my dead brother to justify your slaughter for your still living sister is a cheap shot."

I sigh as I run a hand through my crimson locks. "I'm not saying you don't have good reason to be angry, but-"

"Kallen, if my sister's face is recognized, she'll be forced back to Britannia. And I'll be a hunted man. Seven years of hiding from THAT MAN, ruined because of those racist, trigger-happy, suicidal, vermin," he hisses venomously as he slams a fist against the door.

...And suddenly his outrage makes a whole lot more sense. But I'm going to get this dumbshit to listen to me one way or the other.

I hold his jaw and turn his head towards me. "And if you go in like a blood-drunk Oni, baying for the blood of your enemies, who's gonna follow you?"

THAT, pulls him up short. Finally!

I smile grimly. "It's obvious I can't dissuade you from your intent to shed blood tonight. And I'm not sure I even want to, anyway. The student council are my friends, too."

I think I'm starting to get a handle on how he thinks. He doesn't need minders, he needs people to drag him back when he starts going too far.

I sigh and lean back in my chair, "But can you at least keep your bloodlust on a leash and save it for people who actually deserve it?"

He pauses, his eyes blinking as though I just shone a bright light on them.

He tilts his head back and chuckles softly. "I didn't expect this line of argument. Well done, Q-1."

And speaking of people deserving things...

I glare at him. "Yeah, about that. I don't appreciate being called a chess piece."

He strokes his sharp chin. "I'm surprised nobody figured it out till now."

My forehead twitches in frustration. "That's not the point. I'm not your pawn, nor is everyone else in this group."

He runs his hand through his black hair and sighs. "Kallen, do you know what my war maxim is?"

I shake my head. Why is this relevant?

"My father's is 'All men are not created equal', my sister Cornelia's is 'War is a struggle between pride and life' and Tohdoh-sensei's is 'To create a miracle, one needs a strong foundation.'"

He leans closer. "Mine is, 'If the king does not lead, how can he expect his subordinates to follow?' This is also my preferred chess style. Do you understand why your concern is mistaken now?"

And like that, it hits me as my mouth opens in surprise.

He doesn't think of us as pawns to be manipulated. Because HE is the king piece.

He's on the board too. He's willing to risk himself directly.

I lower my head in shame. I misjudged him.

Sure, he's a fucking pervert and a jerk. But...he's the best hope for Japan I've ever seen.

He fiddles with something on his phone for a moment. Suddenly a guitar strum is heard as music begins playing.

"I admit, I'm not the easiest person to understand or the most trustworthy-seeming."

He holds my cheek with one hand.

"Can you judge a man,

By the way he wears his hair?" he sings softly.

Wait, I know this song. It's a new band from the EU. The Yardbirds, I think?

"Can you read his mind,

By the clothes that he wears?" I answer with the next verse.

I know this song because I really like the lyrics. It seems we share some tastes in music.

He smiles as he continues. "Can you see a bad man,

By the pattern on his tie?"

"Well then, Mr, you're a better man than I,

Yeah, Mr, you're a better man than I,

Oh, Mr, you're a better man than I,

Yeah, Mr, you're a better man than I," we both sing the chorus together.

He has a nice singing voice.

The rest of the trip goes smoothly as we arrive at...a motor home?

I step out, looking at the place with questioning eyes. "What the fuck?" I whisper.

Lelouch hands the driver a generous tip then turns back towards me. "It's funny, the kinds of things you can get as collateral when you decide to call in someone's markers."

Markers? Ah. Right. Shirley bitches about his gambling addiction a lot. Clearly, he's doing well.

"So why a motor home?"

He shrugs as he opens the door. "This is our new mobile headquarters. We need a place to plan and meet. This fit the operational parameters and it's inconspicuous."

Inconspicuous? This gaudy, oversized...

Oh. Ohh, that's clever.

"Because the previous owner was nobility and only they would have something like this, thus it will be ignored. Is that right?" I say with a satisfied expression.

He grins that devil's smile at me. "You have no idea how much I love having someone around that I don't have to explain every little thing I'm doing to."

Damn it, stop looking at me like that! With those warm violet eyes, those soft lips, that enchanting expression...

Gahh!

I leave in a huff to go change. I can't deal with this crap right now. Besides, now he has to sell the rest of the group on his real reason for this beyond the humanitarian concerns.

After a few moments, he comes out. And it's like magic. Instead of the skinny average Lelouch Lamperouge, he's Zero. Mysterious masked man. Hero.

Hmm. The suit will probably look better when he actually develops some muscles. Right now it just highlights how skinny he is.

A knock at the door echoes. He nods at me as he goes upstairs for something.

I go and open the door. Standing outside, confused and wondering what's going on, is Tamaki. And behind him, the rest of the gang.

"C'mon in, guys. Zero has something planned."

Ohgi rubs the back of his neck. "I'm just wondering what's going on that he would call us out here in such a rush."

"Wonder no longer, Kaname Ohgi!" I look up at the 2nd floor. Standing at the top of the stairwell, he's holding a box. He gestures dramatically with his free hand, "A crisis has arisen. And thus I have called you here."

I think the mask honestly helps keep his charisma from being overwhelming. Though the aura of mystique is useful. Anyone else in that suit, I'm not sure I could take them seriously.

But him? Looking at him descending the stairs is like watching a king entering his court.

"Tamaki, switch the television to the news and you shall behold the task before us."

Honestly, I don't understand why Niichan kept him around sometimes. Tamaki switches the TV to Britannian News Network. Which is covering the Lake Kawaguchi Convention Center.

Zero nods. "The JLF has taken the entire center hostage and threatened the lives of the people there, in exchange for political prisoners and concessions from the Viceroy."

Tamaki scratches the back of his head. "So what's this got to do with us?"

Zero marches down, standing in front of Tamaki, "What it has to do, is I have received information that in addition to the student council of Ashford, who are Kallen's friends, Princess Euphemia herself was attending the conference incognito and is even now being held hostage."

Tamaki's face lights up. "Wow, they hit the jackpot! So are we going to back them up?"

Oh my god, he cannot be this stupid. I can see Zero's hand twitching like he wants to hit someone.

Surprisingly, it's Ohgi who does it. He smacks the redhead on the back of the head and starts yelling, "Tamaki! Are you insane?! Do you know what Cornelia will do to this country if another royal dies here?!"

Zero nods briskly. "And not just a royal, but her beloved younger sister. The JLF will have signed a death warrant for Japan. General Cornelia will demand a purge of the entire country. And given the destruction she has visited upon places such as the former Middle Eastern Federation, now Area 18, in her professional capacity, who can say how many, if any, Japanese would remain after she was finished here?"

...Now I understand why he's acting so urgently. It's not just Nunnally. He's trying to save this country from the stupidity of those supposed to be defending it.

He hands a box to Ohgi, "I made educated guesses on the sizes. Distribute these among our group, there are more upstairs."

Ohgi opens the box, only to see...a uniform? And a nice one at that. Black and silver, with bulletproof lining? Wow, seems somebody put up some serious cash for this.

"But Zero, we're just a resistance group. We don't need uniforms."

Zero whirls around, cape fluttering. "WRONG! As a resistance group, we are indistinguishable from terrorists. We can melt away into the civilian population, true. But innocents shall pay the price for our actions."

He places one of the visors from the box in Ohgi's hands. "That, is why we are NOT a resistance group. What we are, what we will be..."

He points skyward, "IS KNIGHTS FOR JUSTICE!"

I've said he was crazy a few times. But in an insane world, perhaps the best person to carve a path into history and lead the way to the future...is a megalomaniacal madman. Or...perhaps...a hero.

Maybe Japan finally has the hero it needs.

End of turn.