Interlude 15: The Double Life of Kallen Stadfelt

My eyes blink open, alarm clock beeping, showing the time as 7am, Tokyo standard time. Another monday, another boring day at school.

Blinking the sleep out of my eyes, I roll out of bed, dragging myself to the closet. Let's see...what to wear today...nevermind. It's a school day, so the Ashford Academy uniform it is. Complete with ridiculously short mini-skirt.

I've got a little time before the maids come to bother me to get ready, so I can probably get a shower in. As I pass by the mirror, my reflection catches my eye. Cool, unaffected, plain Kallen Stadfelt, heiress to the Stadfelt Duchy. Grr, stupid limp hair. I hate the way my hair looks. Dead, hanging, lifeless. Maybe if I did something with it, make it stick up in the back…? Nah, that's silly. That's not me. I'm not that kind of girl.

A quick shower, brushing my teeth and change of clothes later, and I'm heading down the stairs, hoping to god that I don't have to see-

"Good morning Kallen. Off to an early start, are we?"

Oh joy.

"Yes, mother. Millicent Ashford asked me to come early, the student council has some paperwork that needs to be fixed, and they can't do without their superstar vice-president, hahaha!" God, now I'm copying her fake noble laugh. Sometimes I wish I could just punch that smug..No. That wouldn't be ladylike. It would just get me in trouble. I'm a good girl, causing trouble isn't for me.

My mother, Rebekah Stadfelt, curves her lips in a wry smile, hand on her hips, "Good. Glad to see you're taking your studies seriously. That's how you land a good husband after you graduate!" she says with a wink as she walks away.

…Thank god I didn't eat. Listening to her talk about my future always makes me feel ill. I don't think she's even my real mother. We don't look alike, we don't act alike, she's always seeing gentlemen at home when Father isn't here...and when she thinks I'm not looking, I've caught her giving me a look. It's hard to describe it, but it feels like a cross between loathing and utter indifference. It might just be my imagination though. She's never been cruel to me or disciplined me harshly. So why do I get the creeps from her?

Meh, doesn't matter. You can't pick your family.

Good old Ashford Academy. Home of noble scions, talented commoners, future leaders and movers of the world….and Milly Ashford. The evil tyrant queen that is our student body president. And probably my best friend in the world.

"Good morning Kallen!" I weakly smile as I'm hit by a blonde arrow wrapping itself around me, hands wandering as soon as she gets me in her grip. Milly has magic hands, it always feels good, not creepy or icky.

Maybe one of these days I should do it back to her, see how she likes it.

"Good morning Millicent. How are you this morning?" my voice carries, trying to put on the air of nobility and grace that I've been to taught to use at all times. Even if I hate it.

Tisk-tisking as she releases her grip, Milly wags her finger in my face, a frown on her lips.

"No no no! That won't do! That simply won't do! That's not how you greet your student body president, or your good friend, Miss Stadfelt! Now please, try again, for me?" she finishes with a sweet and bubbly tone, a small smile on her luscious kissable lips...what am I saying?! No no! Bad Kallen! Stop thinking of your best friend that way! You don't even know if she feels that way about you!

With a deep breath, to get my wits back, and keep certain inappropriate thoughts out of my head, I return her smile with one of my own.

"Good morning Milly."

A happy squee and a glomp is my reward. Some people ask me how I put up with her...Milly-ness. Usually I lie or just beg off the question by saying it's part of the trials of being part of the nobility.

The truth is, I don't mind it. Milly is...she's real. If I had to describe it, one never gets the impression Milly is using you or taking advantage of you. She's just a nice person.

The secretary Rivalz is like that too. He's a bit..shifty at times. But his heart is in the right place. Not to mention he's a great card player...wait. Why do I know that?

Oh, it must have been a card game Milly organized. Nothing out of the ordinary.

Nina Einstein is the last member of the council. I'd like to say I was cordial with her, but..we're not really more than acquaintances. She's always so skittish around everyone. She's like a little mouse always looking around for the cat. I tried to reach out to her a few times, but it never really panned out, so I just stopped trying. I could swear she didn't act like this before...but that's just silly. She's acted like this as long as I've known her.

"So Milly, what did you ask me to come in early for?"

Eep. Her giggling and getting a catty smile bodes ill for myself, and likely the entire student body of the school. Such is life in the orbit of Milly, one never knows what one will have to deal with on any given day.

"Well...I decided that...we need another festival, soooo….RENAISSANCE FAIR WEEK!"

Our budget finally being balanced and under control disappears in a poof of smoke as I imagine how much this is going to cost. Would be nice if somebody better at organizing was student body vice-president. That's not happening though. Milly has surprisingly high standards for joining the council. To this day, she's barely admitted anyone. I've never understood why she didn't select anyone else. It takes enormous amounts of planning to make sure her festivals work out the way they do. I'm sure it would be less of a burden if we had a few more people to distribute the workload to.

"Milly, we simply cannot hold a festival every time you acquire the urge to do so. Our budget and logistics simply cannot handle it. I have constantly harangued you on this. Why can't we simply induct more people into the council?" I ask with a long suffering sigh.

"You know the prez. If she doesn't like somebody, they're not getting through the front door of the club house," Rivalz drawls as he walks in, putting his feet up on the main table, lighting up one of those cigarettes of his.

Wrinkling my nose at the sticky dank smell, I wave my hand in front of my face to ward off the smoke, "Ugh, must you do that every time? The smell gets on everything. My mother is constantly bothering me when I come home with the stench of cigarettes on my clothes."

Rivalz smiles sheepishly as he extinguishes the lighter and ashes his cigarette, "Sorry. You should try some sometime. You might be less high strung."

Hmph. I am not high strung. I simply strive to uphold the standards befitting the Stadfelt family. Sometimes I wonder why I even bother though.

Milly giggles as she sits on the table, kicking her legs out, "Anyone see Nina? We need all hands on deck for this."

Rivalz shrugs, pulling out a book and a pencil, opening to a page labeled 'Student Council Budget, November.'

"I think she said she had an experiment to run, she'll be late today."

Settling into my seat, I pull out my compact, applying a light touch of blush to my cheeks, putting some lipstick on, and finally a dab of mascara. A skill that I have my mother to thank for teaching me. Though I could have done without her comments about using it to land a husband. As if I needed this sort of thing to...nevermind. Calm. Lady-like. Elegant. That's how you act like a woman of the nobility, Heiress Kallen Stadfelt. And don't you forget it.

Milly is looking at what I believe are costumes, Rivalz is checking the budget, so I should probably get started on my end. Which is looking for vendors and contractors to help with the setup. A quick spreadsheet, price quotations, comparative proximity to Ashford, and some phone haggling and we're off to a great start on this renaissance festival.

It's….nice. It almost feels like I've done this enough to be an old hand at it. But of course, I have Milly to thank for teaching me the tricks of the trade...why does something about that sound wrong?

"Hey Milly?"

The blonde looks up from her laptop, blinking cutely at me, "Hm? What's up Kallen?"

I lean back in my chair, tapping my pen on my chin, "Do you ever think that something isn't quite right? That the world feels a bit strange and you can't put your finger on what it is?"

Rivalz looks up from the figures he was writing out, "How do you figure?"

Ack. I was just idly musing. I wasn't thinking that seriously about this….was I?

"Nevermind. I was just daydreaming," I say with a laugh as I get back to work.

Truthfully, I've had that feeling for some time now. But it's never been something that bothered me outright. Just...like a persistent itch that acts up at times. Nothing more. Nothing to worry about.

Huh. Who's that sitting outside on a bench? I look out the window and see a girl with long white hair and sunglasses, wearing a white women's business suit with a skirt ending just above her ankles. There's a guy standing next to her with messy white hair in an ashford uniform, looking around nervously. I can't put my finger on it, but something about him looks...off. He shouldn't be here.

She's looking up at me now, her hand moving to tilt her sunglasses down and….her eyes...why do I know those eyes? Color of golden agate almost like a cat's eyes..mysterious and bewitching..

Wait..did she just wink at me and smile? Is she flirting with me?! Damn, damn, damn. What do I do? I don't even know her...do I?

"Kallen."

Something about that face...I swear it feels familiar.

"Kallen."

Huh, she's walking away.

"Kallen!"

I start in surprise and turn back to Milly and Rivalz, both looking at me with some concern. Oh god, this is embarrassing.

"Hey Kallen, you ok? We were trying to get your attention for a while now, but you just kinda zoned out and stared out the window," Rivalz asks with a worried look on his face.

Milly nods as she reaches over and puts her hand on my forehead, "Hmm. No fever. You sure you're ok? You've been acting distracted and out of it all day. Everything ok at home?"

"No, home is fine. My mother is..her usual self. Father is still away on business somewhere. Things are as normal as can be. Perhaps I have a touch of the vapors?" I know full well that isn't it, but how do you articulate a feeling that you only barely understand yourself? A sense that something, is wrong? But what? I don't have any enemies, I'm a heiress of the nobility, I have friends, and even the threat of Zero has passed.

Why, it was only a few months ago that the ruffian was defeated once and for all. We should be happy that we can move on with our lives and get back to normal.

And yet, something doesn't feel right.

My train of thought is interrupted by a knock on what sounds like the front door.

Milly blinks, "Who could it be at this early? Hey Rivalz, did you order any supplies?"

The blunette shakes his head in the negative, "Nah, at least, nothing that's coming any time soon. Just some supplies from a vendor. I haven't even ordered takeout. No clue who this is."

Milly stands up, stretching her arms back behind her, "I'll be right back. They don't allow solicitors on school grounds, so if they want to sell something, I'll tell them to buzz off."

Though my eyes stay on my laptop screen, my ears remain trained in the direction of the door. I can't shake the feeling that this might be important.

"Yes, who is it?"

"Longtemps sans voir, ma chère Milly. M'avez-vous déjà oublié?" a smoky and musical voice rings out. (Long time no see, my dear Milly. Did you forget me already?)

French? Why would anyone be speaking French here? The language is a huge cultural taboo in almost the entire empire. Granted, even we use terms from it or things to sound upper class, or as my mother says, 'haute couture'. But it's the kind of thing that would get dirty looks if you speak it out of turn.

And who is this anyway? And how does she know Milly?

"Forgot? Honey, you're sexy, but I'm sure I'd remember you," Milly says in her usual teasing tone.

"Oh ho ho. Perhaps if I greeted you in the french style then?"

"What do you me-?" a wet smooching sound greets my ears, causing a rosy hue to decorate my cheeks. Is she one of Milly's paramours?

"...Oh Darwin. CC?"

Wait what? She does know her?

"Shh. They can't know I'm here. Iah'bahad's team is keeping eyes off us for now. We caught up with Snake. He's running interference with OSI. I'm sorry I took so long, Milly"

OSI?! What the hell is going on?! Who is this woman? And why is Milly hugging her for dear life and crying?

"Oh god, CC baby...you came back. He..he knew...the emperor..he left me a message for Zero."

Zero?! I get up in a flash, even more alarmed than I was earlier. Rivalz is on his feet, likewise unnerved by the sight of our president in a state of clear emotional distress.

The woman steps through the foyer, shutting the door with a touch from her high heeled foot as she strokes Milly's hair, a worried look on her face.

"What did Charles say?"

Milly sniffles as she wipes her eyes, looking up at the now named CC, "Tell Zero that this game is not yet finished, and that I await his return to the stage. I expect great things from him and his sister."

?!

The woman reaches a hand out, closing the drapes, before reaching up to her head and pulling off her hair? Oh wait, it's just a wig. Shaking her head to untangle the knot of hair under the wig reveals a wave of rich emerald, almost lime colored hair, the long tresses settling on her back and parting into two bangs across her shoulders..just like always. Wait what?! Why did I think that?

I know damn well I'd remember neon green colored hair bright enough to burn itself in your eyes, much like CC herself..! What's happening to me?!

The lime haired woman turns to look at me, then back to Milly, concern apparent in her eyes, "He got to her too?"

Milly moves and closes the door, moving to peek out the window, a nervous look in her eyes.

"I don't know. He found Rivalz and I not too long after we lost the Black Rebellion. Kallen came back a few weeks later."

Black Rebellion?! Milly is involved with Zero?!

"What the devil is going on, Millicent?! Are you a rebel?! Someone tell me why I know this woman!" I draw myself up to my full height, almost shrieking as I look around nervously.

Rivalz is looking around nervously, eyes darting back and forth, "Ok I'm with Kallen. What the hell is going on, people?"

The woman frowns, and then walks over to Rivalz, giving him a peck on the cheek, a red glow emanating from her forehead?! What in the name of Darwin!?

Our treasurer immediately goes slack jawed and glaze eyed for a moment...before blinking rapidly and almost hyperventilating.

"Holy shit! That was the Emperor! What the hell did he do to us?! And how did he know?!"

This is crazy! This woman is crazy! She's done something to my friends! I have to put a stop to this!

I pull out my cellphone, glaring at her, "Stay back! I'm calling the police now! I won't let you hurt my friends!"

Rivalz waves his arms rapidly, "Wait stop! It's not what it looks like! She's a friend!"

A friend?! Friends don't show up out of nowhere with strange glowing marks on their foreheads, nor are they involved with scoundrels like the Black Knights!

I raise the phone to my ear, only to hear a dial tone and then a strange buzzing tone.

"Don't bother. Iah'bahad turned on a jammer as soon as I walked in the door. Milly, there's a man standing near a tree by the window. His name is Iah'bahad, he's my second in command for this operation. Give him a thumbs up so he can get inside and out of sight."

Jamming?! Oh god oh god oh god. This woman is a terrorist. We're in danger. And I can't even call for help! But do I really want to..NO! Stop it! That's crazy! Why wouldn't I be in danger from a woman with strange powers making my friends act out of character!

"Who are you?! What do you want from us?!" I shriek at her, looking around for something, anything, to use as a weapon….there! My hand clutches around a pen knife, brandishing it at her.

My threat garners only one reaction from her. A mischievous smile.

"Seems he did a poor job with you. Charles really must have expected us to come for you. Or perhaps these false memories of a false life really don't suit you, do they, Kallen Kouzuki-Stadfelt?"

False memories of a false...argh! My head! Why?! Why do those words resonate and hurt so much?!

"Shut up! You're trying to trick me! You're doing whatever you did to my friends! I won't let you take them from me! JUST LIKE THEY TOOK お母さん FROM-!" I freeze in place mid-sentence.

….What was that? What was that word I screamed just now? I don't know that word. Why did I say that? Why?!

"What did you do to me?" I ask, looking down, hands trembling, trying to catch my breath.

Milly speaks up at that moment, "Kallen, what are you-?"

"What does 'Okaa-san' mean? I don't know that word. So why."

I look up, eyes teary and full of primal fear, fear that I'm losing my mind.

"Why did I scream that word? Milly, you're my friend, right?"

The blonde nods, starting to walk closer, only to stop as I hold the knife up at her, shaking my head.

"So tell me. What's going on? What does that word mean? I know you three know what it means. Especially this green haired tramp. And stop looking at me like that! You don't know me! YOU'RE JUST A TERRORIST! STAY AWAY FROM ME, WITCH!"

Rivalz darts in front of Milly, arms outstretched, head shaking in the negative, "You got it all wrong, Kallen! Something bad is going on! CC is here to save us! Listen to us, please! You gotta trust what we're saying, no matter how crazy it sounds."

Trust her? A terrorist? Are they insane?!

"Look, if you ain't gonna trust her….can you trust me?" Rivalz says with a gulp. "I..I'll let you stab me if you'll put the knife down and listen."

Stab him...stab Rivalz? …No. No no no no. This isn't right. He's my friend. He wouldn't hurt me.

"You promise you won't lie to me? That you'll tell me why that woman is looking at me like...like..." I trail off, unable to finish the sentence.

Like she's worried about me. But why?

The bluenette gives a weak smile as he drops his arms to his side, "I'm not a brave guy, Kallen. I'm just an average guy with some amazing friends. But..if this is what it takes to make you listen, then I'll leave myself open. I trust you, the real you, not to hurt me."

This is insane. Here I am, brandishing a knife at one of the few guys who's treated me decently in my life, a girl I like whom never hurt anyone, and this strange woman, who called me by a name I've never heard, but felt so right to hear….why though? That's not my name. Who's Kouzuki?

My breathing slows down, eyes blinking for a moment as I slowly move to the door. I can't deal with this. I've got to get out of here-hey, watch it!

A tall guy with red hair in a suit with shades on his eyes, is blocking my way out, face impassive as he closes the door behind him.

"Your orders, ma'am?"

Ma'am? Oh, he's talking to the terrorist.

"Stand down Iah'bahad. I have the situation well in hand," she says as she walks towards me slowly, arms and hands down in a non threatening pose.

Every instinct is telling me that she's dangerous, a monster in disguise, that she would never hurt me, that she cares about-GET OUT OF MY HEAD!

I clutch my head, the headache intensifying as the conflicting emotions roil within me, gritting my teeth as I spin away from the man, only for the woman to catch me in her arms.

"Who are you? Tell me...why does it hurt? Why does nothing I'm thinking make sense anymore? What's happening to me?!"

The woman, CC, looks me in the eye and sighs, looking ashamed.

"I apologize. I didn't realize it would be this bad for you. I thought you might be able to throw off his geass yourself. It seems I've only made your mental discord worse."

Mental discord? Geass?

"You know what's wrong with me! Tell me! Make it stop! I need to know if I should run towards you or away from you!" I shriek at her.

Her hands hold my face gently, brushing my hair out of my eyes, "I can help you. However? It will hurt. And it will almost change you from the person you are now. But you will know the truth, Tsundere-chan."

Tsundere-chan..? Why? Why does that word both infuriate me, and make me want to cry in relief? I know I shouldn't trust a stranger, but something deep inside me tells me that I can trust this woman.

My hand goes limp as I drop the knife, holding onto the woman, who easily bears my weight up as I all but collapse onto her.

"Please..help me," my voice whispers in a piteous tone. Darwin, I sound pathetic. A useless silly girl who can't do anything. But...I can't live like this. Everything is so very very wrong. I have to know. I have to know why I can't trust myself.

CC takes a deep breath, the bangs on her forehead parting as a red mark like a crane glows crimson upon her brow.

"Brace yourself. I don't know what we'll find, but it will likely be unpleasant. Kallen...remember!" she says as she captures my lips in a kiss.

And suddenly, I remember EVERYTHING…

Ugh, my head. What happened? The last thing I remember was a building collapsing on the Guren...LELOUCH! Oh kami! What happened to him and CC?! I saw the Gawain fighting in the sky against the Siegfried! What happened with the Black Knights?!

Wait...I can't move! Or see! Something's holding me down and holding my jaw closed! Grrr! God damnit! I have to get loose and figure out what happened to the rest of the team! Fuck! Fuck! I must have been knocked unconscious from the rubble!

…..Oh shit. Where am I? Did I...did I get captured?

"Ahh, she's awake. Perfect. Give the eleven a good smack to make sure she's cognizant."

Who is that? I swear I know that voice-ow!

Some asshole just slapped me! I'll bite that fucker's hand off!

"Heh. She's a fiery one. I would expect nothing less from the Red Queen."

...Oh kami. I have been captured.

"Take the gimp mask off her face. I want to see the look of fear in her eyes when she realizes where she is, hehehehe."

Damnit, I swear I know that voice! Alright fucker, let's see who's talking when this mask is off...oh no.

The man before me is wearing a muscle shirt, riding pants with suspenders on his shoulders, sipping from a goblet, slouching in an office chair, bandages around various parts of his body with burn scars on his torso, two masked and muscled men in form fitting gimp suits standing on either side of him, all of which casts an intimidating image, sure. But none of that compares to the sheer panic on my now unmasked features as I finally realize where who's captured me.

The orange mullet hair style. Putrid purple eyes. Sadistic leer full of unchecked violence. An orange cloak with the symbol of the Knights of the Round draping the back of his chair.

Luciano Bradley, Knight of Ten. The Vampire of Britannia.

Fuck! I thought he was dead and they were just covering it up! He hasn't been seen since he put down NOD's attempted insurrection in Area 18!

"Hehehe. I expected you to start screaming at me in defiance. Or perhaps whimpering in fear. The fact that you're not, shows you're worth my time, eleven," Bradley says with a sinister whisper as he bares his teeth in a vicious predatory smile.

"What happened at the Siege of Tokyo? How long have I been out? Where's Zero?"

The beast cackles in his chair, wine sloshing from his goblet, "Hahahaha!"

I snarl at him, trying to will my body to move, and getting increasingly unnerved that I can barely move.

"It's been approximately 5 days since then. A mutual friend's agents had to extract you from the Guren before Cornelia or Schneizel's people got you. As for what happened?"

Bradley stands up, cracking his neck as he walks over to a floor length mirror, soaping up a lather on his face before starting to shave with a straight edge razor.

"You lost. The Black Knights are on the run, and your precious Demon King was killed in action. And I? I get the privilege of breaking the infamous Red Queen along with the Eleven resistance once and for all."

We lost? Zero is dead?

Finishing his shave with a final flourish, Bradley turns around, a drop of blood dripping down above his lip from a shaving cut, as he licks it from his face, a demented expression on his features.

"Say hello to the new freshly appointed acting viceroy of Correctional Area Eleven, number slut, hahahaha!"

Zero is dead...no. He's lying. He has to be lying. There's no way this scum would tell me the truth.

"Try something I'll actually believe, 阿呆! I'm not going to trust the word of someone who wasn't here about whether Zero died!" (Retard!)

A fingersnap heralds a screen flashing into activity on one of the walls, which I can now see are painted black. Some kind of sensory deprivation treatment?

Moments later the static clears to show footage of the snowy skies above Tokyo...no. No no no. Lelouch, don't!

"Towards thee I roll, thou all-destroying but unconquering whale; to the last I grapple with thee; from hell's heart I stab at thee; for hate's sake I spit my last breath at thee! DIE,KEWELL SORESI!"

"No! Not today! Not ever till I have my revenge! I yet have reasons to live, ZERO!"

Horror fills my eyes as I witness the electrical storm and subsequent crash of the Gawain and Siegfried through a building...oh god. That's why. That's why I was buried in rubble. It was from the Seigfried and the Gawain…

"Heheheheh, do you believe me now, half blood bitch?"

Half blood? FUCK, he knows who I am?!

"Kekekekeke! That's it! That's the expression I want to see! That look of absolute despair and hopelessness! The perfect appetizer before the main course!"

Zero...Lelouch..is dead? No...without him, Japan, the world..is done for.

"Yes! Cry, sob, wail! No one is coming to save you," the monster before me cackles as he slouches in his chair.

...No. Not like this. I won't believe it. Not from someone like him. Not even if the emperor himself proclaimed it. I will not believe the man I love has perished from the earth like that!

"くたばれ。。。きさま。" (Fuck you, bastard.)

I'm not going to break down like a child, I'll stand proud as a black knight. We stand for justice and saving this world, not for the rapacious evil of Britannia! And...if I end up dying for it? I guess I'll see you soon, 兄-ちゃん。。。 (Big brother…)

Bradley raises an eyebrow, taking a sip of his wine as he gets up, walking over to look me in the eye.

"Say that again, this time in Britannian, slut."

If I'm going to die here, I want him to remember me. This one is for you, Lelouch.

I take a deep breath...and spit at his face, the saliva running down into his cup, causing him to drop it, the wine spilling on the ground.

"Fuck. You. Bastard."

Ow! My head reels from the slap across the face, cheek burning from the strike.

"Yeah that's right, big man so afraid of a woman that he has to tie her up and smack her when she can't fight back. You don't have the guts to face me in a real fight, coward!"

Is this stupid? Maybe. But I might have a shot at beating this guy or taking him hostage if I can get free. Not like I have any other ideas.

"Do you know what the truth about war, about battlefields is?"

Ok, this is going to be some junk philosophy to justify his bullshit, probably some garbage about glory-

"Kill a man off the battlefield, you're a criminal, a murderer. Kill a hundred, or a thousand men on it? And you're a hero."

The scoff I make at that remark only makes him smile wider, "So what? You want to be the hero of the nation, the man everyone lauds as the defender of Britannian val-?"

My sentence is cut off by a thrown dagger with a bat wing shaped hilt and a spiked pommel cutting my left arm free, and a second and third dagger cutting my right arm and legs loose, causing me to tumble to the floor face first.

"Of course not. I only took the position of Knight of Ten for one reason. To be able to take away the thing people value most," he says with a demented smile, moving closer as he flips one of the daggers between his fingers.

"THEIR LIVES!"

Fuck, fuck, fuck. The shit I've heard about this guy was the tip of the iceberg, he's a goddamn serial killer!

"Taking away their lives, seeing the look of absolute terror on their faces, the realization that death has come for them, that nothing can save them from what's going to happen?!"

C'mon damnit, MOVE! I have to get up, I have to do something! Now, while he's gloating and distracted. The two goons are too far away to interfere if I can just get. Up. And. MOVE!

"It's the best thing that ever happened to me! I'm a genius of killing, you number bitch! And I'm rewarded for doing what comes naturally, hahahahahahah!"

FUCKING MOVE! Why?! Why can't I move?! Why isn't my body responding?! Ack!

I let out a grunt of pain as I'm kicked over onto my back, Bradley's sadistic smile and gray eyes staring at me.

"About time they kicked in. I was beginning to wonder if they'd screwed up the dosage."

..Dosage?!

His hand smacks me right in the cheek, turning my head as he laughs out loud, "Gyahahaha! You worthless pig! Did you really think you had a chance? That I'd give a shit about letting you have a fair fight, or that you had a prayer of making it out of here?!"

My voice cries out as he kicks me in the stomach, pulling my face up by the hair as he spits on me, holding a dagger with his other hand, the point directly over my heart. No, no, no, no! Fuck, how could I be so stupid as to think this would work?!

"You've been dosed with a muscle relaxant and tranquilizer calibrated to your body using pharmacogenomics. I was just talking to give it a chance to run its course! Gyahahaha! You were never going to be able to do more than scream or lift a finger!"

Oh god.

"YES! THAT'S IT! THE LOOK I WANT TO SEE! Boys, strip her, and then get out. I want to play with my new toy."

This can't be happening!

"You can't-!"

The words are cut off as one of the two goons punches me in the solar plexus, the other pulling at my pilot suit as I try desperately to move, willing my body to move, to do SOMETHING!

"Get her out of that red thing, there'll be plenty of time to see her in red later, hehehehe."

One man holds me down, the other yanks hard, finally pulling my suit off, his other hand ripping my panties as I grimace in pain at the lycra stretching before it snaps.

Goddamn, no! Get the fuck off me! Only barely managing to squirm as I'm finally stripped bare and left on the ground, breathing hard as they leave, and Bradley...Bradley starts undressing himself….no. Nononono….

The man's body is toned, but...it's covered in scars, stitches, faint marks of all over his torso...what the fuck is that?!

My face pales as my eyes inevitably wander to his crotch, and see the monstrosity attached to his cock. Small metallic curved wings dotting along the length, and what looks to be a metal shaft piercing coming out of the head.

"Say hello to the real excalibur, red cunt! Gyahahaha!"

It's a piercing in the shape of the Knights of the Round crest….are you kidding me?!

"What the...fuck...is...that?" I manage to say with an effort as he lifts my head up by the hair, standing over me.

"Just showing my appreciation for the country that lets me literally get away with murder, of course! Now, open up."

Lesser glares than mine would melt steel, but all it does is make him backhand me, his hand groping my chest.

No! Get off me! I don't want this! I whimper as he pinches my nipple, hand squeezing my breast hard as he holds me by the throat with his other hand.

"Stupid eleven whore. You think you're so impressive, that you could beat the best of the empire? Ha! That stuck up bitch Cornelia went too easy on you mongrels! She tried to treat you like people, as if you actually mattered!"

A gasp of pain escapes me as his hand suddenly moves to slap my slit, his other hand still on my throat as he moves to straddle my torso.

"Now that I am in charge, the only thing you worthless dog will taste, IS FEAR!" he says with a crazed laugh as he forces my legs open, his cruel instrument pointed directly at me.

かみさま!やめて!やめてくれ!おねがい!!たつけて!!(Oh God! Stop! Stop it! Please! Help me!)

Bradley thrusts forward...and everything is pain.

Ahh! Get it out! Get it out! I don't want this, I DON'T WANT THIS!

"What's this? Ah, ah, ah. Blood? No...gyahahahaha! You were a virgin?! Were you saving it for your worthless king?!"

My voice cries out in a strangled gasp as he goes deeper, tears leaking from my eyes as I feel the invasion inside me. That this...this freakish psycho, is taking away my virginity. That he's stealing this from me.

There has to be something, anything I can do! I can't just lie and let myself be raped by him!

"Gaaah...く。。くたばれ、きさま。。" (F..Fuck you, bastard..)

It took everything I had to say that, and it didn't even make him pause, just slap my ass and hold my throat tighter! It's getting hard to breath..

I..I was going to give this to Lelouch and CC. I'm sorry Lelouch..I failed you.

"Almost...YESS!" He cries out as he make a cut on my chest, sucking at the blood as he empties his foul seed inside me. And all I can do, is lay there crying as he pulls out, panting as blood drips down his lips.

Why? Why is this happening? How did I fuck up so badly that it's come to this..?

"Ahh, hehehehe. You're a rare prize. I'm going to take my time breaking you and tearing you apart."

Eyes bleary, feeling blood and sperm leak out of me, I look up as he puts his pants back on, hitting a button on his phone.

"Seal the room, then come clean her up in a few hours. Keep her drugged. I'll be back after other business is handled. I want this one to last a while. Don't fucking touch her. If I find out my toy was played with, I'll make you watch as I bathe in your blood as it drips out of you."

The bastard hangs up the phone, smirking at me as my body twitches in pain on the ground.

"Gyahahaha. I call myself a genius of killing, but a genius needs good material to work with. And you're a canvas I'll give a fresh coat of red and white to. Hehehehehe," he says with a cackle as a part of the wall opens, and he exits, the door shutting behind him, and the lights shutting off afterwards. Leaving me alone in the dark with only my thoughts.

おねがい。。かみさま。。ルル。。シシ。。たつけて。。 (Please...god...Lulu...CC..help me…)

I whimper as he forces a ring gag with a detachable ball into my mouth, holding my jaw open and unable to close, his ever present sadist grin on his face, small wounds on my body weeping tears of red.

Time is something I've lost track of. The room is kept dark when he's not in it. I'm given just enough food and water to survive, taken somewhere to be cleaned off, drifting in and out of consciousness as someone tends my wounds just enough that I don't die from them, and then I wake up in that dark place again, just in time for him to have his fun.

There was one day where I was left alone...was that even a day? Or just a few hours reprieve? It's impossible for me to know without context. Not that it even matters at this point, no one knows where I am or what happened to me. The bastard made sure to laugh at my being defiant every time I even glared at him, and then he made it hurt even more.

It's hard to stay focused and awake, my entire body hurts all the time. Even when I'm alone, I barely have the energy to cry. I don't want to give him the satisfaction of seeing it, but...I can't help feeling lost and alone.

Pain fills me as he enters my ass, again forcing it open with his disgusting tool as I feel it stretching, praying that I'm not permanently injured or bleeding internally, hands tied to a hook, suspending me so that I have to use the tips of my toes to stand. I want to drift unconscious and just pass out from it, but then he'll get 'creative'. I can't tell if it's anemia from all the blood he's drained or drunk from me, or just my will to live fading.

I...I..I'm going to die here. Lelouch doesn't know where I am, nor does anyone else. Nobody in the empire cares about a number. I'm just another casualty of war, a terrorist to be made an example of.

Either the blood loss will kill me, his torture will, or he'll get bored and throw me to the beasts walking on two legs he calls his assistants. I've had to watch people debased and tortured, raped, and ultimately killed in the most horrific of fashions, all while Bradley was watching, or raping me in turn.

ゆるしてくれ、お母さん、兄ちゃん。。 (Forgive me mother..big brother…)

"Hehehehe. What's wrong? Usually you're fighting me, glaring or resisting. Now? You're barely moving. Could it be that I've finally broken you, eleven bitch? Hahahahahahaha!"

Broken? I still hate you, you worthless rapist animal. But...I can't stop you. And I think part of me has accepted I'm going to die here.

Naoto...I don't know if people like us get to go to heaven. But...wherever you are...please, wait for me. I'll see you soon.

Lelouch...CC...Milly...Kaguya...even Suzaku and Euphemia too, I guess... I love you all. I'm sorry I couldn't do better.

As a whimper escapes my mouth, both from him going deeper into me, and his biting into my shoulder and drinking my blood again, a light blinds me from a door opening on the wall.

"SIR BRADLEY!"

Huh? Who's there?

The monster turns us both around, myself on shameful display, him holding me by the hips as he snarls out a response to the person interrupting us, a young girl...15 I'd guess...blonde, pilot uniform...wait. I know that symbol, the one in her hair clip. That batwing symbol, it's the same one on his daggers...she works for him?

"I thought I told you dumb sluts not to bother me when I'm playing with my toys?" he hisses out, clawing at my side with his hand, leaving red marks on my side.

"A thousand pardons my lord, but you have a priority call on the li-"

Her speaking is cut off as a dagger flies past her head, embedding itself in the wall.

"And I told the comms officer to ignore it when he messaged me about it five minutes ago! Are you too stupid to obey orders?! I'll answer it when I'm done here, and not before!"

The girl gulps, shaking her head fearfully, "My lord...the caller...it's His Majesty."

Wait, what? Why is the emperor calling?

A cry of pain escapes me as he finally pulls himself out of me, smacking me in the face as he marches over to look the girl in the eye, his face oddly focused and calm unlike the mania he's been showcasing to me.

"Did you say, His Majesty is calling?"

The girl yelps in pain from Bradley backhanding her across the face, "Because last time it was that little girl Alstreim. Why the fuck is the emperor calling me now?!"

Her lip quivers as a bruise forms on her cheek, "My lord, I cannot say. But, His Majesty was very clear that he wanted to speak with you immediately. He said, and he insisted I quote this exactly, 'If Bradley does not answer this call immediately? The next time he hears from me, will be when Waldstein comes to draw and quarter him for high treason to the crown in 24 hours.' end quote."

...why is he so eager to speak with Bradley of all people?

The vampire takes a deep breath, before stalking back and picking up his pants, putting the suspenders over his shoulders as he towels off before glaring at the blonde.

"I'll take the call here. If His Majesty desires to speak with me, he can see what I've been up to."

God damn you Bradley. Now you're going to try and shame me in front of your boss? You disgusting pig.

The wall lights up as static gradually resolves into a face I've only seen on public broadcasts, news programs, and pictures. A tall imposing man with broad features, grey hair arranged in the manner of a judge's wig, the purple coat bearing the royal emblem upon his cravat. And most of all, a dominating and imposing presence that feels...familiar.

The 98th Emperor of the Holy Britannian Empire, Charles zi Britannia.

"Your Majesty, I am pleased to se-"

Whatever he was about to say is cut off by a glare full of restrained anger and a curt response.

"Where. Have. You. Been?"

Bradley blinks, a confused look on his face at the non-sequitur question.

"Your Majesty, I don't understand the question. I am here overseeing the interrogation and information extraction from a terro-"

The emperor's hand slams on the desk, silencing the room with a single gesture.

"I can see what you've been doing, mongrel. What I demand to know is why it took several days for my agents to find where you are?!" the man bellows, the room filling with his presence.

"I had Dame Alstreim call the various bases under your purview until one of them refused to answer her as to whether you were there and said the base communications were sealed for security reasons. An order that only YOU could have given, Bradley! Because only a Knight of the Round, could give an order that would countermand a direct order from another one! That, is how I found you! Now answer me, Knight of Ten. Where have you been the last ten days?"

…Ten days? I've been in this nightmarish hell for ten days? Kami...it felt like forever.

"Your Majesty, I'm certain I can explain this, you see, I've been working on the Black Knights' ace, the Red Queen using my own metho-"

"Methods of depravity, rapine, torture and other disgusting proclivities. I'm familiar with your resume, Vampire," the man hisses out the last word, naked contempt on his face as he steeples his fingers.

This feels familiar...

"I made inquiries after the Siege of Tokyo. You, the newly appointed acting Viceroy, have been absent from the capital of Area 11 since 2 days after you arrived. An area, which I specifically sent you to send a message to the Elevens, and to replace Princess Cornelia, whom I was going to reassign."

The Emperor narrows his eyes, a look of absolute disgust in them as he scans the room with a single gaze before running his sight to the now extremely nervous vampire.

"Instead, I find you delayed your arrival by 12 hours for reasons you did not bother to report. And upon arriving, you failed to devote the seriousness required when Cornelia's apparent defection became apparent. A defection, which would not have happened, had you bothered to actually do your job instead of wasting time on your hobbies, YOU MISERABLE WORM!"

He stands up, a look of fury on his features as his left fist at his side clenches, knuckles cracking under the strain.

Wait a goddamn minute! Did he say Cornelia defected?!

...He's alive! LELOUCH IS ALIVE!

He has to be! She wouldn't defect just for Nunnally, she'd try to take her in to shield her! The only reason she'd defect….is if Lelouch himself was still around.

は!くたばれ、吸血鬼! (Ha! Fuck you, Vampire!)

"It is not enough that you bungled your handling of the rebellion in Area 18 and turned it into a firestorm that cost the empire time, treasure and blood in your rampant pyromania! You deliberately ignored a critical time sensitive situation and allowed imperial assets to be seized by traitorous elements! AND INSTEAD YOU WASTED TEN DAYS TORTURING AND RAPING A PRIZED INTELLIGENCE ASSET WHEN YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN INTERROGATING HER OR LETTING THE OSI DO THEIR JOB!"

…This...this feels like...Lelouch. I guess he really is like his father in some ways.

Part of me is rejoicing on the inside, despite how much everything hurts, despite what he's done to my body and pride, and how much he's taken from me.

Because right now? Seeing Bradley on his hands and knees in sheer terror of the emperor's presence? I can't help feeling a profound sense of schadenfreude and karmic smugness, which I've damn sure earned after all this misery.

"Your Majesty, I was merely trying to-!"

"SILENCE!"

The man on the other side takes in a deep breath, letting it out in a single drawn out moment, after which he sits back down, fingers tapping on the desk.

"You should be grateful that I unfortunately still have need of you as an attack dog and a weapon of terror, Luciano Bradley. As such, I will not be sending Lord Waldstein to take your foul head."

Fuck. It was too good to be true. And I'm probably still screwed, seeing as how the fucking emperor is looking my way again.

"Kallen Stadfelt."

Oh shit.

The finger pointed my way feels like the cold icy finger of death come to claim me, as I glare back to try and meet that familiar violet gaze…

"You, shall be sent to Pendragon immediately. A newly appointed knight of the round will arrive within 12 hours to collect you. Until then, you are to be taken to an infirmary and treated to be made ready for travel. Without further despoiling."

FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! Pendragon?! Bad enough I was in some OSI hole in the wall prison! Now I'm going to be in fucking Pendragon, the empire's capital?!

Lelouch...I'm sorry. I don't think I can get out of this one. Please, forgive me. I should have done a better job protecting you…

"Luciano Bradley."

The Knight of Ten looks up, his face pale and nervous at what is likely to come.

"As I said, I cannot dismiss you from your post of Knight of Ten at this time. However! As punishment for your egregious dereliction of duty, you are hereby permanently reassigned to Area 11 as it's Viceroy until I personally reassign you elsewhere."

"No! Please! Your Majesty, I beg of you, reconsider! My skills are meant for the glory of the battlefield, not being a glorified babys-!"

"YOU DARE TO QUESTION YOUR EMPEROR? KNEEL BEFORE ME, DOG."

Holy fuck. He's not even talking to me directly and I'm shivering hearing him.

"Your insolence knows no bounds, Bradley. You should be thanking me on your knees that I have not seen fit to dismiss you for your incompetence and your disgraceful behavior. But you are a rabid and blood drunk hound. And like any hound, you shall be punished like one. You! Girl! Your name and rank!" he says with utter loathing in his voice as he turns his eyes from the cowering vampire, to the blonde who's been shivering in fear in the background at being party to this.

Maybe it doesn't bother me as much because I've been in close proximity to Lelouch when he does the same thing? God knows he's just as scary when he gets worked up.

"L-L-Liliana Vergamon, Lieutenant in the V-v-valkyrie Squadron under the command of the Knight of Ten, Your Majesty!" she stutters out, making a clumsy salute with her right hand.

"I shall use you as my instrument of punishment in this matter. Take up the cat o' nine tails from the rack."

A wet cough escapes my gagged lips, partially from trying to repress a laugh at this, and partially because I think I have blood in my mouth, if that's what the coppery taste is. How does it feel to be helpless on the other side, bastard?

"Strip, Bradley. And assume the position against the wall."

Sullenly, with his head bowed, the Knight of Ten removes his pants and puts his hands against the black wall, "Yes, Your Majesty."

The man who rules one third of the world then turns his intimidating gaze to Liliana, his gaze burning with some intense feeling behind his eyes.

"Flog him."

She looks nervous, makes sense, he's telling her to whip her boss.

"For..how many lashes, Your Majesty?"

"Until I say stop," he utters with a dead tone brooking no argument.

The very next sound is the crack of the cat o' nine tails on his back, the sound of the flesh being struck filling the room, before the crack of the weapon sounds again. Bradley clearly grimacing as his back is lacerated by his own implement of torture, now used to inflict scars and misery on it's former master.

...Something's weird here. Why? Why is he doing this? The emperor could have him punished at any time and place, he could even order his death. There's something else going on. Bradley's punishment isn't just punitive, there's some reason behind it I'm not seeing.

Does he want me to see this? Is Bradley being punished for something else? Why order this to be done in front of a prisoner? Just to humiliate him? I guess that's it, but I can't be sure. Lelouch's father is a hard man to read.

The sounds of flesh being struck start getting more wet and sickening sounding as the blows draw blood, cutting deeper into his flesh, Bradley's knees buckling as the cat o' nine tails paints a tapestry of torn flesh and scars across his back.

..Much as he deserves it? I can't bring myself to care. Maybe I'm just numb to torture after all I've seen the last 2 weeks or so, but..I can't even feel satisfaction at his suffering.

Sure, I enjoyed seeing him cower for once, but this? It just doesn't appeal to me. ...CC might enjoy it, she's kind of a sadist at times. Though I think even she would just prefer to kill him.

"Enough."

The torture implement falls to the girl's side as Bradley sags against the wall, breathing hard before sinking to one knee, blood dripping down his back to pool on the ground.

"Turn and face me, Luciano Bradley."

With an effort of will, Bradley turns around gingerly, raising his head, wincing in pain from the movement.

"I trust you will not neglect your duties further?" the emperor says in a flat and bored tone, reclining in his high backed chair.

"No...Your Majesty. I live to serve. All Hail..Britannia," he says, clearly biting his tongue to not respond.

A slow nod greets his words, silence hanging in the air a few moments before there is a response.

"All hail Britannia."

And just like that, the overwhelming presence is gone from the room, the wall screen going black as the communication is cut off.

Heavy breathing and blood dripping is the only sound as Luciano Bradley makes his way to the chair, slouching in it as he pops open two bottles, taking out pills and swallowing them.

"Gaah. Damnit…," he whispers, spitting out blood as his breathing starts to level off.

"My Lord..do you need assistance?" Liliana asks, a fearful look on her face as she looks at him in horror.

And then the beast in the chair looks up, blood dripping from his lips...and smiles.

Get out of here, you stupid bitch! RUN!

"Yes. You can help me. You can give me what I can't get from this red headed whore."

Before she can back up two steps, knives fly out from his hands, impaling her calves, her wrists, between her ribs just missing her heart, and into her stomach.

"AAAAAAAAAAHHH!" she shrieks as the daggers rip into her body, trying to crawl away as Luciano slowly makes his way to her, cackling to himself.

"The most precious thing a person has to give. YOUR LIFE!" he shrieks as he finally reaches her, flipping her over, the dagger in his left hand ripping her pilot suit apart as she screams from the pain of his other hand twisting the knife in her stomach, blood pooling out of her as he leans his head down to lick at the wound, her life pouring out of her.

"AAAAAHHHHH! PLEASE NO! STOP! HELP ME! SOMEBODY PLEASE! HELP ME!"

Bradley throws another pill into his mouth, probably combat stims, grinning like a jackal as he lifts her legs up, forcing himself into her vagina, panting as he rams himself inside her, pulling his daggers out of her with a flourish, blood and pieces of bone scattering from the ripped open wounds.

"Gyahahahahaha! Can you feel it?! That ecstasy that only comes from taking another person's life?! The feeling of watching someone die from your hands?! You know exactly what I'm talking about, don't you, RED QUEEN!?"

The fuck is this rapist shit talking about?

"I've seen footage of how you fight, uhh!" he grunts as he backhands the crying girl under him, her face turning as he continues to force himself inside her deepest places.

God damn you, you monster! She's one of your fucking teammates! It's bad enough you're doing this to innocent people, you're turning on your own squadron?!

"The lust for battle! For the joy of taking lives! You live for it, just as I do! You're just, aahh! Too much of a coward to admit it!"

No! That's not true! I don't enjoy killing people! I'm not like you, a beast who only gets off by abusing the helpless!

"Gyahahaha! I may not be able to kill you now, but I'll make sure to finish what I started here the next time we meet!" he cackles, hands on the throat of Liliana, squeezing as she helplessly struggles under him, her face turning towards me with a look...I'm not sure what to call it. Pity? Sympathy? Pleading for help? All I know is that it makes my heart break seeing it, and knowing I can't help her.

"I'll take everything from you, your pride, your defiance, your blood, and most importantly?"

His hand flashes out, grabbing the bat shaped clip, ripping it and a lock of her left bangs from her head as he flips it between his fingers, eyes lighting up with a feverish mania.

"YOUR LIFE!" he shrieks as he slashes the blonde's jugular, her eyes wide in disbelief as her life pours out in front of my eyes, his back arching as he cries out in ecstasy…

NO! DAMN YOU! WHY?! Why did she have to die?!

My eyes widen in disgust as he bites into her neck, drinking from the wound as he continues to mercilessly slam into her, moving her body to give me a full view of his desecration, eyes gleaming in a sickening display of satisfaction. BASTARD!

And all I can do is shed silent tears as I hang helplessly, knowing that this foul putrid thing sated his lust to kill, on her because he couldn't continue tormenting me. I'm sorry, I couldn't help you, or even comfort you in your last moments. But, I swear, I will remember your name, Liliana Vergamon.

And I will avenge you, along with everyone else whose lives this monster has ruined and stolen away.

I'll make you pay for this, Luciano Bradley.

The rest of my time in...wherever the hell this was passes in a blur, the defiance I showed leaving me exhausted to my very core afterwards. Or maybe it's just the drugs?

I think I woke up a few times on the flight to Pendragon, only for someone to knock me out again. I do remember seeing the new Knight of the Round, whoever he was. Not that much taller than me, but?

There was a foreboding presence about him, as if the man was a vengeful ghost. He didn't utter a single word as far as I can remember from the flight. I couldn't even see his face, it was hidden behind a metallic mask hiding his entire face, with a hood concealing his hair, the Brittanian crest on the forehead, and two glowing yellow slits in dark sunken cavities where his eyes should be.

Right now, I'm being half frog marched, half dragged by the same creepy silent guy through the opulent and glittering halls of Pendragon late at night..is it night? I think it's night, it might just be the lights are off.

Everything is kind of blurry right now, motherfuckers haven't stopped drugging me the whole damn time. Between that and the prisoner uniform, which some part of me notes is the exact same one CC wears occasionally, except mine has all the straps and buckles snapped on? I'm unable to do more than stumble along as the cloaked man takes me deeper into the bowels of the beast that is the Britannian royal palace.

...Where the hell are we going? We've been wandering around the place for at least forty five minutes and I still don't know who we're going to see or where I'm going.

...Nah. There's no way that would be the case...could it?

Dark hallway, ominous looking doors at the end, stuck up brunette glasses wearing bitch in what looks like a priest outfit standing outside the door? Yep, this must be where I'm going.

I sway unsteadily on my feet, almost falling over, only for the man's arm to reach out and steady me with a firm grip. Ugh, I feel like I'm going to be sick.

"Where do you think you are going, Knight of Seven?" the woman's voice rings out, cold and devoid of feeling. Just hearing her voice makes me want to punch her glasses off her face.

"I was ordered to bring this prisoner to His Majesty. Move aside."

So he can talk. Voice is electronic and harsh, is he trying to imitate Darth Vader? Or is that just my addled head trying to make sense of things?

The woman frowns, crossing her arms, "I was ordered by His Majesty to hold this door as there is a very important meeting going on inside between He and Sir Waldstein. The likes of you do not have the right to disturb him. And as I command the Rounds in Sir Waldstein's absence, you shall wait at His Majesty's pleasure."

...Ok. I definitely didn't mishear her the first time. The Emperor. Is meeting with the Knight of One. And I'm being taken to see him.

...WHAT. THE. FUCK.

"And why are you bringing this filthy number into the palace? Things like her aren't permitted in His Majesty's presence," she says with a sneer, pushing her glasses up her nose, which makes me want to shove those glasses right up her nostrils. Call me a fucking number?

Ugh my head. Damned drugs keeping me off balance. If it wasn't for that, I'd tear your ass a new one, whoever the hell you are.

"I do not answer to you. Move. Aside."

Not that I wouldn't mind if they killed each other, but why is she picking a fight with him? What am I not seeing?

"Insolent wretch. Someone like you being in the Knights of The Round is disgraceful enough, you dare to desecrate this holy palace with more of your kind?" she hisses out, one hand moving to her side in a clear gesture of attack.

More of your kind...he's a number. That's weird. I didn't think the empire elevated numbers to the Rounds. Regardless, since this bitch is probably going to try and kill me while I'm incapacitated, guess I have to root for him, whoever he is.

"Only Lord Waldstein and His Majesty command my blade. I do not answer to you, Dame Franks. Stand aside, or I will strike you down."

Franks. Shit. I have a name, but I have no idea who that is. Reid, or CC, or Lelouch would know, they're well versed enough on the high end command structure. She's got to be somebody really high in the ranks if she claims to be able to command the Knights of the Round.

Somebody outside the public eye..OSI? No. Not even OSI can command the Knights of the Round. This doesn't make sense, I thought only Waldstein or the Emperor could command them. And why does this guy keep refusing to acknowledge her? Argh! I hate not knowing what's going on!

"Hmph. It seems I must punish you as the disrespectful cur you are. Prepare yourself-"

"Hold."

So much for enemy infighti…oh.

The stern, smooth voice that stopped both of them in their tracks, is somebody even I would have to bring my A-game against. Bismarck Waldstein, the Knight of One himself.

"Special Duty General Inspector Beatrice Franks. Knight of Seven. I am ordering you both to stand down immediately."

Finally have a name for that racist bitch. Still no idea who she is though.

"Lord Waldstein. I was given direct instruction to let none pass. The Knight of Seven refused to recognize my authority and attempted to-"

The tall imposing figure of the empire's strongest knight holds up a hand, shaking his head, "My apologies. The Knight of Seven was tasked by His Majesty to bring this prisoner to him immediately. We did not expect him to arrive this soon. There is no need for offense."

Damnit, what does the emperor want with me? Is this some kind of game to him? And this cyclops is kneeling to look me in the eye like...what the hell even is that expression? Does he know me?

"Strange. I never thought it possible to see the Flash's second coming.." he says in a faint whisper, his single eye meeting my blue ones before he stands up, the moment broken.

The Flash's second coming..Lelouch's mom. That's the second time someone has compared me to her. I'm getting a bad feeling about this.

"His Majesty will see the Knight of Seven and Lady Stadfelt now, please proceed inside," he says, opening the door behind him.

"Yes, my lord." "By your command, Lord Waldstein."

Just before we enter, I hear Waldstein speaking to the woman in a familiar tone.

"Knight of the Lost Sword. I give this warning as a courtesy in recognition of your service. Do not challenge or provoke the Knight of Seven. He is a man possessed of a singular focus, to kill a certain man. And he will let nothing stand between him and his goal. I am personally training him, and I can safely say that he has the skills to best you if a duel is forced."

So he could have won after all. Still doesn't tell me who he is. Can't hear her reply, but I do hear something from him just before we pass further into the hall.

"What makes me say that? Because there is very little you can do to a man who is already dead inside and has no fear of the hereafter."

This guy is creeping me out more and more. Why would you make someone like that a Round?

We proceed down another few hallways and as soon as we pass another grand door, my ears are assaulted by the sounds of an argument echoing through the grand hallway of the next room.

"Calm down, Charles? We both know damn well what really happened here, and who is responsible. And you're telling me you're not going to do a damned thing about-?!"

"Dearest, it isn't time yet and we both know it. Those responsible will be made to answer for it, I promise you that. I understand and see the implications as clearly as you do, but we must be patient. We've waited 8 years to settle that, and over 20 since you joined us in the Ragnarok project. We can wait a bit longer to.."

If I didn't know who was in here before I entered, I would have after hearing that voice again.

Emperor Charles zi Britannia..having a staredown argument with Anya Alstreim, the Knight of Six. Though it sounds like they just noticed I'm here.

"My dear, it seems we have guests. May I suggest we table this discussion for now?"

The small girl nods, turning towards me with a bright smile, "Yes, you're quite right dearest. This isn't the proper time for such things. Not when the guest we've been expecting has finally arrived."

Fuuuuuck my life.

"Oh no! Just look at her, Charles! Look what that beast Bradley did to her! This is inexcusable!" she exclaims as she bounds down the steps of the dais she was standing on, moving to hold my cheeks, looking directly at my face, pulling down my gag finally.

"What...the...fuck...are you doing?" I gasp out with a cough. Ow. I think my ribs are bruised. Either the drugs and painkillers are wearing off finally, or I was more messed up than I thought.

"Language, young lady. Though I'm glad to hear he didn't break your spirit," she says, brushing my hair from my face as the Knight of Seven gently lowers me to the carpet.

"Not...for...lack...of trying," I rasp out, glad to finally be able to sit down. It's a long shot, but maybe I'm not going to die here? ...Ha. Fat chance. I'm probably still screwed. They'll probably try to recruit me as an ace and then kill me when I tell them no. At least it'll be quick..I hope.

The girl turns around with a click of her heeled boots...is she glaring at the emperor?! What kind of bizarre shit did I step into? Why is he letting her get away with this? Is he fucking her? She's like half his size!

"Charles. Say it."

...Something about that tone sounds familiar, I have a very bad feeling about this.

The emperor descends the dais slowly, slow ponderous steps echoing through the great hall, before coming to me and looking down at me with a heavy sigh.

"I apologize. This was not meant to happen."

何だと?! (WHAT THE HELL?!)

"It was not my intention to see you delivered to the Vampire. His agents captured you first and secluded you in his torture facility with none the wiser. Dame Alstreim had to personally inquire at several locations before we were able to narrow down where you were."

I cough, still dizzy as I glare back up at him, before spitting a bloody wad of saliva at his jacket, almost falling onto my back as I fight the urge to dry heave, only for the Knight to prop me back up as I pant for air.

"So...what? You...think….I'll...betray...Zero? Just...because...you saved...me? Go….fuck...yourself...Your Majesty. You might...as...well...kill me now," I gasp out, feeling like utter dog shit, but hell, at least I got one last lick in before they offed me.

At least I can say I told your shitheel father to fuck off, Lelouch.

The emperor looks down at the bloodstain, raising an eyebrow, and then a hand up into the air, palm straight up, poised like a blade of execution.

Bracing for the hit, I stare back up at him...only to blink in surprise as he strokes his beard, and smirks at me. Holy fuck, Lelouch gets it from HIM!

"You were right. She is very much like you. It seems he chose well."

Anya giggles, leaning against him, "I told you Lelouch had chosen well, didn't I? Even now, she retains her loyalty to him."

Lelouch had chosen well..? What. What.

"You….know?" my voice rasps out, dry and weak, but still carrying the stark tone of disbelief as I stare in utter shock at what I just heard.

How?! HOW DO THEY KNOW?!

"Of course we know Lelouch is Zero. My my, someone has been keeping secrets," she giggles out with a haughty tone.

...He lied to me. No, wait. Did he lie? Or did I just not ask? Hell, would I have even thought to ask if the goddamned EMPEROR KNEW WHO HE WAS?!

"What...the...fuck...is going on?"

Anya taps her cheek in a coquettish manner before answering, "It would be rather tiresome to explain, and I'm not sure there's much point. Let's just say you're off the map and leave it at that, shall we?"

The emperor looks down at me, a calculating expression on his face as he turns to the Knight of Six, "She would be an excellent addition to the Rounds."

The Rounds?! Hell no!

"Fuck...off…" I rasp out, only to see the pinkette shaking her head.

"If Bradley had not despoiled and tortured her, perhaps. As it is, how much would you have to erase or replace with your geass, dearest? We already know you'd have to alter her entire personality to make this work, adding in the trauma of what's been done to her, and asking her to fight the man she loves on top of that?"

…Did she say geass?! Of fucking course he has one too! Shit shit shit! His geass sounds as bad as Lelouch's!

Before I can make a move to try and get up, two strong hands clamp onto my shoulders from behind me, holding me down. Fuck! Forgot about him!

"No, Charles. A false life of such magnitude and depth would inherently be unstable. She undoubtedly lived through the invasion of Japan, and she's half Japanese herself. You would have to erase her entire life practically and ensure there were no mistakes or contradictions. And that's ignoring the lingering trauma in her psyche from what has happened to her. Compared to your other project, this one is unsalvageable."

So I'm not getting brainwashed? Greaaat, that means I'm getting executed for sure.

"Frankly, as an ace myself? I find the notion of that beast Bradley soiling her as disgusting as she does. I think she deserves a fair chance to reclaim her honor. And I can't deny I'm rather tempted to cross swords with her at some point," she says with a hungry and dangerous expression on her face, red eyes twinkling in bemusement.

...What the hell is up with this girl? Everything I've heard about the Knight of Six paints her as reticent, withdrawn and someone who is completely socially inept. So who the fuck am I talking to?

"So! I propose a compromise. We put her right back where we found her, and let Lulu pick her up again when he's ready!" she says, clapping her hands.

Are you kidding me? They're letting me go?! There's no fucking way this is happening! Nobody lets an ace go just like that! Why is she treating me as some kind of rival or knight to be ransomed...knight. She's treating me like I'm Lelouch's knight. What the hell does she know about me?

"Why…let me go? This...is crazy" I hiss out, unable to move away from the hands clamping onto my shoulders.

Anya giggles as she taps her cheek, "Oh no dear. We're not letting you go that easily. Charles is going to use his geass on you just to make sure you're out of the way for a little while. And as a lesson to keep your nose out of things that don't concern you."

The emperor looks down at her, a grey eyebrow raised as he puts a hand on her shoulder.

"Ah, my apologies. Go ahead dearest."

The emperor's gazing down at me, his eyes a familiar purple as I stare up to meet them with a defiant look, and suddenly I have the feeling of a prisoner in a court of law, standing before a magistrate about to pass judgement on the condemned.

"He indeed chose well when he made you his Queen, Kallen Stadfelt. And you shall tell him that I await his coming. As does another in this room. Knight of Seven, you may remove your mask and deliver your message."

The pressure on my shoulders fades as the man moves to stand in front of me, pulling his hood back to reveal brown messy hair and tan skin tone, the glowing slits on his mask dimming as he reaches up towards it with one gloved hand-

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Wait a sec! I know that voice! It can't be-!

As the metallic mask is lowered and the man kneels to look me in the eye, all I can do is gape in shock at the bloodshot green eyes of Suzaku Kururugi, his face set in a look of icy murderous fury.

"Red Queen of the Black Knights," he grates out as he holds me by the throat, his grip firm, but not crushing, just enough force to let me know he could break my neck if he wanted to. All I can do is stare in shock at him, unable to believe this is happening.

That tone, the way he's talking, the way his eyes look...he doesn't recognize me. Oh kami, what have they done to you, Suzaku!?

"Tell Zero, that Euphemia's death by his hands will be avenged!" he snarls out as he moves in a blur of motion to get behind me, holding my eyes open with his fingers as I struggle in his grip. Weakened as I am, I'm not going down without a fig-!

The emperor has geass in both eyes?! What does that mean?! God damnit, I'm not letting these creepy bastards do this to me!

"Charles, one moment."

Getting on one knee, Anya looks me in the eye, holding my chin, her gaze intense and penetrating, and why the fuck does this feel so familiar?!

"We both know that he'll come for you. So before we lock you in your cage of false memories? Make sure you remember this, girl."

And then she leans forward, whispering into my ear, and I go numb as I hear one more surprise in this circus of madness I got dragged into.

"Tell Lulu that Mommy says hi."

...No. It's impossible. It can't be her. There's no fucking way! How?! How is she still alive?! Wait, Lelouch! Did he know?! If he did, why did he lie to me?! Why didn't he tell me the truth?! Am I just a pawn to him?!

"NO! NO! STOP IT! DON'T YOU DARE TAKE THIS FROM ME, YOU FUCKING BAST-!" I scream out as Suzaku holds my eyes open, unable to look away from the crimson sigil in the emperor's eyes. No no no no! Not like this! You can't steal even this from me!

"Kallen Stadfelt, Red Queen of Zero! Charles zi Brittannia condemns you to a false role! A false life, false memories, a false existence!"

My voice breaks as I scream out loud, feeling the piercing red light enter my eyes, my memories shattering one by one as all that I am vanishes beneath the burning red gaze…

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!"""

….Someone is screaming. It's loud, and very close.

Oh. It's me. I'm screaming.

I'm screaming because I finally remember everything that's happened to me. All that Bradley and Lelouch's bastard father did to me. And all the lies the man I love has to answer for and explain.

"What's wrong with her?! Is she ok?!" Rivalz asks in a panic as he holds the side of his head, staring in shock.

A bitter voice answers as my screams peter out into sobbing, someone stroking my hair gently.

"She had a much rougher time of it than you two did. It's not my place to say what happened," someone...no, CC, says as she cuddles me.

"CC...why?" my voice gasps out between sobs.

"Why what, Kallen?"

I look up at her, hating that this is the question I feel compelled to ask, that this feeling of betrayal is my first response to the heartache I see in her eyes and Milly's.

"Why didn't you come for me…?" I whisper as I keep sobbing, Milly and Rivalz moving in to hold me as I cry out all the pain that was locked away.