Interlude 9: The Measure of a Knight

If I were an artistic sort, I'd be waxing rhapsodic about the open skies, the majestic seas and the wonders of nature... or some other such rubbish.

I'd have preferred to take a boat out to Shikine Island and the New Edwards base, but for security reasons, a plane is faster and easier to manage. We're using a boat convoy as a decoy to ensure Zero doesn't attempt a decapitation strike.

As it is, I find myself drowning in paperwork left over from my incompetent late brother reams of data on my laptop is giving me a migraine. This isn't a colony, it's a junk pile only vaguely resembling one.

And the damn locals are completely useless, assuming that Darlton is in fact not correct and they're being actively seditious.

Numbers Area Council. NAC. It's one of those ideas that seems brilliant to politicians and bean counters, but in actuality, creates far more problems than it solves.

Oh yes, let's put the former aristocracy and business leaders of the country we just conquered and subjugated into a subhuman existence into positions of power to help us manage things. I'm sure that will work out just fantastically.

It's this kind of ass-backwards reasoning that's led the Empire to its current state of affairs. It makes me want to backhand Father and tell him...

Aaaannnnnd let's stop that thought right there.

I take a sip of tea and grimace at the cold taste. Blast it all, where is a pot of hot tea when you need it?

"Your Highness?"

I turn around. Sir Kururugi is standing there. With a tea service...and a fresh pot of tea.

Damn. Probably Euphie's doing.

I silently accept the refreshment and imbibe in the magnificent beverage that is good, reliable, Britannian, tea.

"Ahh... thank you, Sir Kururugi," I say begrudgingly.

Does he grimace? Does he take offense? Of course not. He simply smiles and nods, proceeding to wheel the service out.

I lie back in the chair, rubbing my nose in frustration as soon I'm sure he's out of earshot. "It would be so much easier to hate him if he wasn't so...so..." I pause, unwilling to whisper the last word.

"Knightly?" a voice answers.

I turn around in alarm, only to see my eavesdropper is not Kururugi, but Guilford.

"He doesn't show it much, but Sir Kururugi has his own demons."

I raise an eyebrow as Guilford sits down opposite me, "What brought this on?"

He grumbles a bit before responding, "I had a mock duel with him, before which I attempted to use the Lancelot myself."

I put my tea down, interest peaked. THIS, I have to hear. "And?"

He sighs and takes off his glasses, rubbing the bridge of his nose, "I could barely control it. The Frame was fighting me the entire time."

He bites into a biscuit before continuing, "Kururugi, though? He wore it like a suit of evening clothes. My Princess, I swear to you, he was dancing with it."

He taps his leg, frowning, "Perhaps dancing is not the correct description. More akin to the martial arts of the Orient. Have you ever seen a Knightmare Frame do a spinning kick?"

What? That's preposterous! Yes, Knightmare Frames can at least somewhat replicate the range of motion of a human body, running, grabbing, etc. But there are limits. And something as finely-nuanced as a spinning kick? "Gilly, you cannot be serious."

He takes a sip of tea before looking me directly in the eye, "Cornelia, I swear upon my honor it is the truth. I would not have believed it myself, had I not been witnessed it with my own eyes and observed it afterward via black box recordings," he grimaces, the words seemingly paining him. And perhaps they do at that.

"Suzaku Kururugi is better than me. I cannot defeat him in fair combat if we both use our full capabilities. I share your disdain for Numbers, Elevens in particular."

He puts his glasses back on slowly, "But never let it be said that Gilbert G.P. Guilford is a man who ignores what is before his eyes. I may not like Sir Kururugi, but I can respect his skill and his valor, if nothing else."

I give him a dirty look as I slump back in the seat. Damn it, Gilly, you're supposed to be on my side, not Euphie's!

Then again, perhaps my stress is also related to whom we're meeting.

Schneizel el Britannia. Prime Minister of the Empire, and second-in-line to the throne.

I love Schneizel as my second-eldest brother, and occasionally think of him in a decidedly non-sibling fashion...

But in truth? I do not trust him. Much like Father, he uses people for his own purposes without letting anyone see what they are.

The White Prince is called such, because he keeps his own hands un-dirtied, not because he necessarily is himself.

Shikine Island truly is beautiful. It's like being back at the Caribbean during my shore leave there.

I can almost feel myself physically relaxing in the warm tropical atmosphe—

"Achoo! Cecile! What is this horrid substance?!"

"It's called fresh air, Lloyd. It's good for your health."

The Earl scoffs and sprays a deodorizer around, "Bah! Nature! Give me air conditioning and central heating any day! SCIENCE! shall one day defeat the menace known as the outdoors!"

I give a cross stare at Earl Asplund for ruining the mood with his bizarre antics, which of course he glibly ignores.

"I see Earl Asplund is being contrarian as per usual," a smooth cultured voice quips from the side.

And there he is. Perfectly coiffed, well manicured, and smiling like a man holding the secrets of the universe.

Schneizel el Britannia. Prime Minister of the Holy Britannian Empire, and Second-in-line for the throne.

"Brother Schneizel, a pleasure to see you again."

He smiles beatifically and kisses my hand, causing a slight flush to rise on my cheeks. Purely the warm weather, nothing more.

"It is a pleasure for me as well, dear sister. How are you finding Area 11 thus far?"

Guilford stifles a noise that could be construed as a grunt if one were listening. I don't blame him. That was clearly bait.

"You know bloody well what I've been up to, considering that my reports go to your desk, rather than Father's," I say with a raised eyebrow.

My brother shrugs before answering, "I merely wished to make small talk before we got to business, Cornelia. And besides..." he moves to whispers in my ear.

"You look ravishing when you're piqued, Nelly."

Damn that man. And damn me for finding it enticing when he does things like that.

"Tell me, Brother Schneizel," I say, breathing to take the flush on my face down. "Why do you put up with Earl Asplund's antics? He's so..." I hesitate to finish, not knowing a diplomatic way to describe the scientist.

He rubs his chin, silky smooth blonde locks blowing in the sea breeze, smiling mysteriously.

"I believe the word you are looking for is 'vexing', Your Highness," Earl Maldini interjects with his soprano voice. Hard to believe he's a bloodied knight and Schneizel's bodyguard, considering he's even more effeminate-looking than Euphie.

Schneizel smirks just like Father and looks me in the eye.

"It's true he's a rather trying individual at times. But for the contributions he's made to Camelot? I am inclined to allow him his little foibles. If you knew even part of what I have to show you over the next few days, you too would happily ignore the Earl's behavior in favor of his achievements."

A fair point. Measured against his creation, the Lancelot, his eccentricities are at worst a minor irritant. I still have yet to see it battle in the field myself, mind you, but I'm inclined to trust Gilly and the others at their word.

As we walk over to where Euphie and her knight are disembarking, a question rises to mind, "Brother, what do you think of my persistent terrorist, Zero?"

Schneizel closes his eyes, taking a breath before responding, "I'm not quite sure. At first, I thought him merely a costumed fanatic. But after that speech at Narita? Zero may be something even worse: a revolutionary. I had considered that his manifesto about justice was mere propaganda at first, an opiate for the masses. But that he's actually holding his own troops to it, and actively encouraged you to murder the JLF? He may actually believe what he's saying."

I growl at him, "Brother, you sound as though you admire him. He's a terrorist guilty of regicide. And I don't believe he's a believer in justice of any kind. This entire thing is clearly smoke and mirrors for his bloodthirsty agenda."

At that, Schneizel shrugs lightly, "I'd have to meet the man in person to be sure. I can only say... I'd deeply enjoy playing chess against him."

As we come up, Euphie's face lights up in joy seeing her older brother. "Brother Schneizel!" she yells as she embraces him.

Kururugi smiles placidly as he breathes in the sea air.

"Sir Kururugi?"

He blinks to find Earl Maldini looking him in the eye mischevously, "My name is Earl Kanon Maldini, Prince Schneizel's public and private secretary. A pleasure to finally meet you in person."

The Knight nods and smiles before shaking the earl's dainty hand. As we look on, a look of mutual respect seems to pass between them. I suppose Knights can recognize their own.

At that moment, an ominous drumming sounds in the distance. Is that an electric guitar...oh no.

The sounds of nature are rudely interrupted by bombs going off and the whirl of landspinners.

NO! NO NO NO NO! NOT HERE!

"NO SUN, NO SKY tsukareta kao!

NO HOPE, NO FORTUNE shi wo hakobu REERU ni nosete!

NO POINT, NO MEANIN' nagareru ase!

NO REASON, NO ANSWER iki wo hisome warau!"

And a familiar red Knightmare Frame burns away one of the base garrison Sutherlands...

"Where are you, Bitch of Britannia?! I'm here to finish what I started at Narita!"

It's her! The one who almost defeated me. Zero's Red Queen.

"OH, LIGHT UP MY SOUL!

afure dasu chikara de!

iro aseta sekai ni!

kiseki wo ima (okose)!"

And what the hell is that irritating music they're blasting to jam our comms with?!

A whoosh of wind is our only warning as the Lancelot enters the fray, guns blazing.

"NO SHADOW, NO FIGURE shibaritsukeru!

NO VISION, NO FUTURE kurutta haguruma!"

A jeep arrives and we quickly climb in, speeding away from the duel.

"Gilly! Get the guard mobilized! And prep my Gloucester! I'll deal with the other units while Kururugi is fighting Zero's ace!"

Schneizel turns to me with a disturbingly calm smile, "Actually, sister, could you belay your entry onto the field briefly? I'm most interested in seeing the results of the Earl's research."

I raise an eyebrow as my fist tightens. He cannot possibly be serious! "Schneizel, the base is under attack. I would think we have higher priorities than seeing what your toy is capable of!"

"Prime Minister, Sir, we've intercepted enemy transmissions through the jamming! The enemy is being lead by Tohdoh! Their target is you!"

He rubs his chin in thought a moment.

"OH, LIGHT UP MY SOUL!

afure dasu chikara de!

iro aseta sekai ni!

kiseki wo ima (okose)!"

"Interesting. I didn't expect Zero to try this..." he muses to himself.

I observe Kururugi parrying away the burning claw of the Red Queen. Not bad. Wait, what?! Did he just backflip over the unit to try and take its head in midair!?

"(OPEN THE GATE, SET ME FREE)!

SET ME FREE!

(OPEN THE GATE, SET ME FREE)!

I MUST BE FREE!

(OPEN THE GATE, SET ME FREE)!

YEAH, OPEN THE GATE!

(OPEN THE GATE)!

GOTTA ROCK!"

Is he forcing her back? Yes...he is. Goddamn it Gilly...you were right. He really is Rounds caliber...

Schneizel's eyes gleam with satisfaction, "Impressive," he says to the beaming Earl. "Your creation has actually proven to be worth the enormous amount of resources I sunk into it. I will see that your budget is raised. Well done, Professor Asplund."

Lloyd preens...is he actually taking a bow and clapping? Gods, that man is irritating.

"Oh, I am so pleased to hear that! It's all thanks to my genius and Cecile's engineering. And of course, credit to our devicer for being able to bring out Lancelot's full potential."

Euphie looks worriedly at the screen as the Red Queen destroys one of Suzaku's swords. Her knight dashes backwards, trying to evade the knife in the Guren's other hand.

And then...he does the impossible. He actually plows her over with a spinning kick...

If anyone actually claims my jaw dropped from that, I will slit their throats. Fortunately, it seems everyone else is completely in shock as well. Even Brother Schneizel's poker face breaks for a moment upon seeing that.

"Earl, were you aware that it was possible to do that...?" he whispers.

"HIT BACK, STRIKE IT DOWN ikari yuuki!

I'LL FIGHT, FIGHT IT DOWN kiba wo tori modose!

ALL RIGHT, I'M ALL RIGHT kizu wo otte!

GOT FIRE, DESIRE tsume wo tsuki tatero!"

Lloyd cleans his glasses before giving a grin so smug it makes me want to break his glasses on his face and shove them down his throat.

"Theoretically? Yes. Did I think anyone was capable of doing so before Suzaku? Not really. Even I have to admit I may have overtuned the Lancelot a tad."

He looks gleefully at the numbers on his laptop as Suzaku fires the VARIS rifle at the Red Queen.

"But in Suzaku's case? It seems he needed something as physically imposing as he himself is."

He blinks in shock as the Red Queen blocks the shot with her claw, energy blazing as the red light of her claw holds back the glowing green bullet of the rifle.

"What."

"OH, LIGHT UP MY SOUL!

afure dasu chikara de!

iro aseta sekai ni!

kiseki wo ima (okose)!"

Euphie clasps her hands together, "Please be alright, Suzaku..."

A flash of light precedes missiles hitting the ground between them. What the deuce?!

An airship. A bloody airship. Flying across the sky, shooting at the Black Knights.

"Right on time. The Avalon is a bit late, but the timing is nonetheless adequate."

I turn to Schneizel, who's smiling as he pulls a pocket watch from his waistcoat.

"This is what you wished to show me?" I say flatly as the vessel begins forcing the Black Knights to retreat. It does cut an impressive figure.

"(OPEN THE GATE, SET ME FREE)!

SET ME FREE!

(OPEN THE GATE, SET ME FREE)!

I MUST BE FREE!

(OPEN THE GATE, SET ME FREE)!

YEAH, OPEN THE GATE!

(OPEN THE GATE, SET ME FREE)!

(OPEN THE GATE, SET ME FREE)"

The base commander, a General Tavers, grabs the microphone triumphantly, "That's it lads! Send the blighters running! You, Kururugi! Pursuit and hunt! Crush them underfoot!"

"No."

The man begins turning red with rage, "What?! I gave you an order, boy!"

"My apologies, sir, but my first and highest priority is the safety of my Princess. I cannot and will not endanger her by chasing after an enemy on the retreat while her safety is still in question."

That's...

The man's face contorts with anger as he snarls at my sister's knight, "I'll see you court-martialed for insubordination, Eleven scum!"

The Black Knights are fleeing, their mission a failure. And yet...something doesn't seem right.

A guard squadron surrounds the Lancelot, guns trained on it as Suzaku dismounts.

"Guards! Clap him in irons!"

"Stop it! I, Euphemia li Britannia, Third Princess of the Empire, demand you cease your actions, General!" Euphie cries out as she runs and gets in front of the arresting group.

The General's ruddy face gives a shocked look, "But, Your Highness, he disobeyed a direct order and let the enemy escape. Such a thing is against regulations and conduct unbecoming an officer. We can't let him set such an example for the men."

"But..."

Damn it all, why do you keep doing this to me, Kururugi?

"General, I'm forced to agree with my sister. Despite their appearance, Sir Kururugi's actions are NOT insubordination."

At the sound of my deep voice, the General blinks in confusion.

"Your Highness Princess Cornelia...?"

I sigh as I look Suzaku in the eyes for a moment, before answering the general.

"The oath Kururugi swore was to my sister alone. That he would obey her orders and have her safety and protection as his highest calling. Insubordinate seeming, perhaps. But as an older sister, and more importantly, as the Viceroy for Area 11, I cannot fault him for protecting my sibling, the sub-Viceroy."

Schneizel claps slowly as he and his aide enter the stand-off, "Marvelously put, Sister Cornelia. I find myself wholly in agreement. Sir Kururugi acted as a Knight in full accordance with his oaths. I think we can let this incident pass. What say you, General Tavers?"

The man takes a deep breath before nodding, "As you say, Lord Prime Minister, General Cornelia. I shall let the matter drop on your advisement."

Schneizel moves to whisper something to Suzaku before leaving. I grab the blond man's sleeve, narrowing my eyes.

"What did you just say to him?"

He winks at me mischevously, "I simply apprised him that he should be careful doing such actions in the future. And that I may have need of his services at some point."

Slippery as a viper. Schneizel is a man whom anyone with more sense than rocks should be wary of.

Suzaku bows deeply to me after Schneizel departs, his eyes shining with gratitude, "Thank you, Your Highness. I'm in your debt."

I give him a flat stare, "Let us be frank, Kururugi. I do not like you. In point of fact, I don't like most numbers, Elevens especially."

I give him a rough smile, raising an eyebrow, "But I'm willing to admit I may have been wrong about you. I still do not like you. But I'm willing to extend my respect to you as a soldier, and prepared to concede that you may be somewhat adequate in serving as Euphemia's Knight. Do NOT. Prove me wrong. Are we clear, Sir Kururugi?" I say with an icy tone.

He gulps and goes into a parade salute, "Yes, General ma'am!"

I snort and return the salute, "At ease solider. Go, see to your charge. And Suzaku?"

He turns around with a blink.

"...Thank you for protecting my sister."

Perhaps this country isn't entirely worthless after all.