Disclaimer: Code Geass is not mine.
"Kallen"-Speech
'Lelouch'-Thought/mental communication
"{Die}"-Geass Command
"Halt!"-Loudspeaker
"Roger."-Radio/Walkie-Talkie
Chapter 10.5: The Immortal Schemer
The Emperor's Private Suite, Imperial Palace, Pendragon, Britannian Homeland
"Marianne's child is certainly bold, isn't he Charles?" observed a boy who looked no older than about ten. He had long blond hair down to his waist, crimson eyes and was dressed in regal clothes that seemed designed for someone much older.
He was sitting in a chair watching a replay of the Debut of Zero on the television screen, with an amused look on his face. Charles zi Britannia was sitting at a desk, working through paperwork. He looked up at the boy with a fond smile on his face.
"He is young, brother." Charles said with a chuckle, "You know how young people are. So impatient, so reckless. Being daring is a part of that."
"Hah. Quite." the boy laughed. "But this-! A masked costume? A dramatic oration? He is strongly reminding me of you, Charles!"
Charles looked slightly indignant. "I am a far better orator than my cast-off son." he stated, "And I do not wear a costume!"
"You wear a mask though." The boy countered smoothly, "Every time you are out there, droning on and on about how men are not equal and all that nonsense, you are wearing a mask for others to see."
"And you know how much I dislike having to do so, brother." The Emperor retorted as he stood up, walked over to the screen, and pointed at the screen, where Lelouch, in his disguise of Zero, had just clicked his fingers to reveal C.C.'s prison capsule, "Whereas Lelouch? He revels in his mask! You can see it in every movement! He enjoys playing Zero, where he can act against me without fear of reprisal, or so he thinks!"
The boy merely chuckled again. "In other words, you're jealous of your son for having a role he can enjoy playing. Am I right?"
Charles threw the boy a dirty look. "Brother!" he complained, "Would you please be more serious?"
"Oh, but I am serious." the boy said, "You and Lelouch are actually scarily alike. You both lost your mothers at a young age, you are both highly intelligent, driven, focussed on your respective goals and, above all else, stubborn. Just about the only thing you have that he doesn't is a harem of nubile and willing women to bed."
"Brother, most of those 108 'willing and nubile' women are gold digging societal harpies with the collective intelligence of a concussed cow." Charles retorted with a grimace as he thought of certain members of the Imperial Consorts.
"Nevertheless," the boy replied, taking a sip of water before continuing, "Were not for the fact that he's trying to destroy Britannia, and thus stop the Ragnarok Connection, I would be tempted to offer him a place at the Directorate."
Charles regarded the boy with a half-quizzical, half-incredulous expression. The Directorate was their brainchild, their trump card in maintaining control of Britannia and keeping the rest of the world unaware of their true goal. It had been through the research of the Directorate that they had discovered the way to use the Sword of Akasha to slay God.
Moreover, his brother would have given Lelouch a position there if it weren't for the small fact he hated Charles in particular and Britannia in general?
"Old man, are you certain that you are not growing senile in your old age?" Charles demanded.
This earned him a wave of irritated dismissal from the boy. "Of course not. Besides, you are just as old as I am Charles." he said with a grin.
"You hardly look it brother." Charles retorted fondly, "Now, what do you propose to do about Lelouch?"
The boy became serious. "We know from your interrogation of Clovis' spirit in C's World that the whelp still seeks answers to who killed Marianne. The bait, Cornelia and Euphemia, are already in place. All we have to do is wait for him to take it and we will have what we need to lure in C.C."
"What makes you so certain she will come after my son?" Charles asked.
The boy smiled smugly. "I felt the death of her only other contractor on the day Lelouch killed Clovis. She is an unusual one, becoming attached to the ones she contracts with, so I highly doubt that she will be able to not come to his aid." he replied.
"I see. And if he does not take the bait?"
"Nunnally. We capture my adorable little niece and bring her here. Lelouch will have no option but to follow." The boy smiled evilly, which looked very disturbing on the face of a child.
"You really think he would abandon his rebellion to chase after a useless crippled girl?" Charles asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Now Charles, you know that bonds between siblings are the strongest in the world." The boy said reprovingly, "I would do so for you in a heartbeat. Wouldn't you?"
"Of course brother. I was merely teasing you." Charles reassured him.
The boy pouted. "Charles, that was mean."
The Emperor of Britannia grinned like a schoolchild. "It's not often I get to catch you off guard, old man. Pardon me while I bask in the moment."
The boy chuckled again. "You really haven't changed since we first entered into our contract, my brother. Always stay the same Charles, because I think you are just fine as you are."
"Thank you brother." Charles smiled back at the boy before looking at the clock. "Brother, you have a meeting at the Directorate in five minutes."
"Eh? Is it that time already?" The boy looked startled as he got up and looked at the clock. "Dearie dear, you're right Charles. Walk me to the Thought Elevator?"
"Of course, Brother." Charles said as he walked over to the nearby wall and pressed a concealed button, causing the wall to slid up and reveal a hidden passage.
"Age before beauty, old man." Charles said with a grin.
"Pearls before swine, Charles." retorted the boy.
The boy walked through the door, swiftly followed by Charles.
The door closed behind Charles zi Britannia, Emperor of Britannia, and his brother, V.V., Prince of Britannia and Head of the Geass Directorate as they advanced into the darkness of the secret passage and towards the Thought Elevator.
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