August 12
Area 11
Abandoned Base
Lelouch would've yawned and stretched if he wasn't carrying Nunnally downstairs.
"You're stronger than you look," Shirley observed behind them.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well, seeing you carry Nunnally, almost effortlessly."
"That doesn't make me strong though. Besides, Nunnally is actually quite light, less than a hundred pounds."
"No I'm not!" Nunnally spoke up. "I put on ten pounds since the last time I was weighed. I'm at least a hundred and one."
"You don't feel all that different to me." Nunnally groaned at this and Shirley chuckled quietly. "What?"
"Oh, nothing," said Shirley. "It's just nice to see the two of you outside of the classroom and student council. It's refreshing."
Downstairs, the three of them entered the make-shift dining area and sat down alongside Kallen, Oghi, Nagata and Inoue. Soon after Cysgod entered, visibly more energetic than the others in the room.
"Morning!" He cheered, adjusting his scarf.
"I see someone is full of energy this morning," stated Oghi, twisting a knob on the camping stove the resistance cell had.
"Well, I kind of have to be," Cysgod explained. "I'm hosting a combat exercise this morning."
"You?" Kallen asked, pausing in between scoops of rice.
"Well yes. You guys want to defeat Occulta too, for Japan and Britannia?"
"Of course," said Lelouch.
"Well, we're gonna need a lot more than rifles and a Glaze-gun."
"A cuff-om whaf?" Kallen asked with her mouth full.
"That red robot you guys have." Kallen swallowed before responding, unamused.
"It's a custom-Glasgow."
"Glasgow, sorry."
Aeternum Renegade Social Exchange
As the majority of the juveniles (and émigrés) groggily awoke, some briskly roamed about, looking for a specific few.
They quickly found the first, still in his bunk. Knowing how testy he was when suddenly woken up, the errand boy fished a hanger out of the closet and gave him a gentle prod.
"Hey, Daichi." Daichi Shiyubi violently swung his arms around, sitting up in his bunk and blinking the sleep out of his eyes. "Padrino is asking for you."
"Wha-? Oh, okay, give me a minute."
In a different dorm, another errand boy went right to an occupied couch and shook the occupant.
"Mac. Mac!" Mac Kelly blubbered a bit as he woke up.
"W-wo-oo-what the-?"
"Padrone wants you."
"Oh... I'm coming, I'm coming," he began to stand. "I'll be there right-" he fell on his face, "-ow!"
A third gofer, after receiving his instructions, immediately made a be-line to the ARSE library and found his friend.
"Thomas," Thomas Barrow looked up from the stack of books he just set down, "Powers is asking for you."
"Really?"
"Yeah." Thomas, after glancing at the books he just selected for the morning, shrugged and smiled.
"Alright, time for work."
In the Hexenhaus-Offen apartment, Lya was showing Egla (Schnee's mother) how to cook seasoned waffles and sausages. Meanwhile, the former Earl, Schnee and his 12-year-old sister Snow were telling Ledo about their family lineage. In fact, Himmel was actually considering writing it all down, just so they don't forget their once noble house.
Knock knock knock.
"Oi! Ledo Offen!" Everyone turned to look at the door.
"I'll get it," said Ledo, standing up and crossing over to the door. He opened it to see... okay, he had no idea who this kid was.
"The Boss has some work for you. You know where his office is?"
"Uh... by that fountain, statue, thing in the atrium?"
"That's it. The others are probably already there, so get going." And he rushed off. Ledo sighed and looked back at everyone else.
"I guess I have some work to do."
It took Ledo a few minutes to make his way to the atrium, but he found his way regardless. At the far side, was a grand double staircase encircling a marble pool. In the pool, set against the wall, was a bronze statue of a muscular man bearing the Earth on his shoulders. Across the surface of the globe, neon blue letters stated:
Everything is Yours
You just need to get It
Ledo quickly climbed the stairs. At the top, he met three other guys. He remembered Daichi from the initiation yesterday, but not the other two. One had ruffled light brown hair, blue eyes and blue button-up shirt. The other was blonde guy with green eyes and thin, frameless glasses. All three looked like they just woke up.
"Well," Daichi spoke up, "looking forward to work young blood?"
"I guess," said Ledo. "What are we doing?"
"We shall see," said the one in the blue shirt. He raised his hand to the door and knocked thrice.
"Come in," a strong voice beckoned, and the four of them entered.
It was an office with onyx colored walls, some wooden bookshelves, a small redwood cabinet in the right-most corner, a dark wood desk, and a set of a dozen small television screens arranged in the left-most corner.
Alex Powers was standing behind his desk, a hand on a black laptop and eyes on them as they entered. He was wearing an open dress shirt, white t-shirt, a pair of gray cargo pants and no shoes.
"Morning boss," said the one with the blue shirt.
"Morning Kelly," Alex replied. "I have a short vacation for you guys." Vacation? Ledo thought, already?
"Oh man," complained the one with glasses, "any more sun and I'm gonna fry."
"Oh, I wouldn't worry about the sun where you're going," Alex said as he rounded the desk. "In fact, I think you'll like the weather where I'm sending you."
"And where are you sending us?" asked Daichi. In answer, Alex turned the laptop so the screen faced them. Displayed was a blueish map of east Asia. In contrast, a red dot pulsating over a vertical string of islands.
"Area 11?" Ledo asked aloud.
"What the hell is that?" the one called Kelly inquired, leaning toward the screen.
"No idea," Alex admitted. "We think it's a homing signal."
"You think it's Daemon?"
"I doubt it. If it was him, then we probably wouldn't be able to detect it. But this is basically screaming and waving at us."
"So we can see," stated glasses.
"So you want us to find whatever is making that?" asked Daichi.
"Yes," Alex confirmed, "go to Japan and find whatever is broadcasting this signal. And while you're there, look for opportunities so we can establish ourselves."
"But isn't Japan Britannian territory?" glasses questioned.
"Not from what I hear." He stepped over to the TV screens a picked up a remote. The screens changed from security footage to various news reports. "For whatever the reason, the UMNE and the Serpents are staying clear of Japan. In fact, apart from Cornelia, Prince Clovis is the last of the royal family. And, unless the entire world is lying to us, he hasn't been killed yet."
"Tell me about it," Daichi smarted, "a lot of us are still waiting to cash out on him. Him and that other princess."
"His sister," said glasses.
"What?"
"Princess Laila is Clovis' sister."
"No shit," Daichi snapped, "they're all the emperor's children."
"No no, both Laila and Clovis had the same mother."
"Oh, really?"
"Yeah, Lady Consort Gabrielle."
"Yeah, well," Kelly put in, "ones a royal fop and the other is a thirteen-year-old palace brat. They're gonna get killed, sooner or later, unless a miracle happens."
"Regardless," said Alex, "since the UMNE, as far as we know, isn't in Japan yet, we still have an open window. Get there and get us something useful."
"Yes boss," the three Facinus complied. Ledo raised a hand.
"Yes?" the youngfaced godfather inquired with a plain expression.
"Umm... how are we supposed to get there?" the former Britannian asked.
"Easier than you would think," Alex answered, sitting behind the desk. "You should let your folks know that you'll be gone for a few days, maybe a week. Oh, and Ledo?"
"Yes sir?" Alex gestured to the one in the blue shirt.
"This is Mac Kelly, you'll be under his care until you get back. Capisce?"
"I understand," Mac Kelly answered, slightly inclining his head. Alex leaned back in his chair.
"Good. I expect you three to leave in an hour, maybe two. Who knows how long the Silk Road will remain open."
Abandoned Base
"Remind me why we're starting with me again?" Everyone was gathered by a river that ran beside the base. Cysgod had singled out Kallen for the "combat exercise," much to her frustration. "I already know how to fight, shouldn't you be worried more about Lelouch and the others?"
"I am," said Cysgod, "but you're not exactly up to scratch either."
"And what's that supposed to mean?"
"It means you're a fast-acting hot-shot who rushes into situations without thinking them through all the way." Kallen's face turned red at this and a few of the resistance members nodded or shrugged in agreement with the observation. "In any case, I still have knowledge that you would've never known without me informing you." Kallen blew hot air.
"Very well, what are you going to teach me?"
"Anam-Uisce."
"Ana-what?"
"Relax, it isn't alchemy," he explained, removing his scarf and coat. "Just as long as you focus hard then you'll be fine." He knelt on the ground and took off his shoes.
"And what are you doing?" Cysgod stood back up and pointed at her feet.
"You would need to take your shoes and socks off too. Believe me, even I have trouble with my shoes on." Kallen groaned and but complied, her heavy boots. Lelouch reached over and tapped Oghi on the shoulder.
"Do you have any idea what he's doing?" Oghi shook his head.
"Your guess is as good as mine at this point."
Kallen finally stood up and kicked her boots to one side, her bare feet on the grass and moss covered riverbank. "Okay, now what?"
"Well, take a stance."
"Huh? Oh, okay." She raised her fists in front of her while positioning her feet so the left was in front of the right and her toes made a 45'degree angle. She also made sure to put more weight on her back foot and to stay light on her front foot. Cysgod looked her over and nodded.
"Better than I thought. Do you have any experience with swordplay?"
"Yeah, third-Dan."
"Okay," said Cysgod, not really understanding what she meant, "now onto the difficult part." He took his own stance in front of Kallen and placed his wrists against hers.
"What the-?"
"Close your eyes."
"Excuse me?"
"Close your eyes," Cysgod repeated. Kallen's eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"Why? Are you asking me to dance?" Cysgod just gave her an annoyed glare. "Okay, fine." She closed her eyes. "Now what?"
"Think of darkness."
"Okay...?"
"And I don't just mean blackness, I mean absolute darkness." With her eyes closed, Kallen felt him beginning to slowly move his hands. She began to move as well, keeping their wrists connected. He continued on as she felt him back away, causing her to take a step forward to keep her balance. "This is the kind of darkness that can blind, smother, suppress, cripple, deceive, and even kill." Wow, Cysgod has some pretty dark thoughts. But his movements were fluid and flowing, mostly in circular motions and never reversing direction.
"Now, think of a light. A small pinprick of pure, white, light. That light represents the soul of your average human being, regardless of physical strength or moral flaws."
["Riverdance" - Orlando Pops Orchestra / Celtic Favorites - PLAY]
She could actually see the light, in her head, but what was the point?
"That light in this darkness," his voice growing softer, his footsteps and motions growing wider, "is you."
["Riverdance" - 0:06]
The light in her mind's eye grew until it illuminated a new world. On the side of a mountain, overlooking the sea. A house, wooden but in perfect condition, stood proudly against the border of the forest that surrounded the mountainside. She was wearing a kimono, with a red and white design. She had her arms resting on a wooden railing, looking out over the beach below and the ocean beyond. There was no sound, but she heard a voice and turned to see a woman; she too wore a kimono, a blue and purple one, but also had on an apron. It was her mother, fully awake and healthy. Smiling with a smile that Kallen had wanted to see on her face for so long. She felt her hair pick up in the cool, crisp, breeze as she took one last look at the ocean and, smiling with joy, ran into the warm arms of her mother.
She was home.
["Riverdance" - 1:39 - PAUSE]
"Very good," Cysgod's voice interrupted her thoughts, "now open your eyes." The vision in her head vanished and Kallen opened her eyes. Her gaze had lazily drifted down as she had followed Cysgod, keeping their wrists in contact. But it wasn't the ground she was looking at.
"What the-?"
["Riverdance" - 1:39 - PLAY]
Both she and Cysgod were standing on water. Everyone else was standing on the riverbank, all visibly amazed.
"But how-?" Before she could finish her question, Cysgod leapt back, his bare feet making light splashes on the river's surface. Then he charged in, throwing a punch. She parried and took a few steps back. Wait a moment, she thought, if I focus on what Cysgod was talking about only a moment ago, then I can stay afloat. Cysgod attacked a second time, but instead of waiting for his punch, Kallen side-stepped and threw a quick punch to his side.
"Gah!" He actually slid across the water's surface as he recoiled from the hit. He charged in again, adding a simple kick before his punch.
Kallen was getting the hang of this now. Cysgod would charge in and exchange blows before backing out and going from a different direction. Soon his movements were so predictable that Kallen actually took the offensive and landed a strike across his face, causing him to flip over backwards on the water's surface, landing with his hands submerged up to his wrists and his feet in a crouched stance.
["Riverdance" - 2:49]
"Not bad, you catch on quick," said Cysgod, his hands still submerged. "No let's see if that '3-dan' actually means something." He pulled his hands from the water a hefting two swords, tossing a small katana over to Kallen.
["Riverdance" - 2:55]
"Oh now she's got him beat," said Tamaki.
"I'll take that bet," said Nagata.
Kallen nimbly took hold of the katana by the grip and charged. Cysgod parried and spun around, swinging a medium-sized straight sword with a bluish-black blade. Kallen bocked and countered, forcing him back. Two more attacks in this fashion and Cysgod stepped back, purposefully reached his hand down into the water, and made a swift swiping motion, causing water to splash across Kallen's face.
["Riverdance" - 3:10]
She took several steps back as Cysgod charged in.
"What style of kendo is he using?" asked Oghi.
"I'm not sure," replied Inoue, "it is certainly unique though, I give that much to him."
The fighting continued with Kallen almost gaining the upper hand several times. But eventually, Cysgod changed his attack pattern and increased his attack speed. He stepped in and continuously batted Kallen's sword before getting into a position where he spun his sword around, making Kallen lose grip on the katana and halted his sword half-an-inch from her throat.
["Riverdance" - END]
"Pay up."
"Damn it," snapped Tamaki as he handed over money to Nagata. Everyone else simply applauded with the members of the resistance saying things like: "Good fight," "nice one," "good job to both of you."
Cysgod withdrew his sword and smiled.
"Not that bad actually. But one thing you must remember above everything else."
Kallen, breathing hard with water dripping down her face, then asked: "What thing?"
"Always remember where you stand."
"Huh?" She looked down, and dropped into the river. Cysgod laughed.
"Sorry about that, I just couldn't resist. That trick was pulled on me so many times that I just had to get the satisfaction of doing it myself."
Oghi helped Kallen out of the river and presented his jacket in order for her to dry off. Cysgod then turned to the others.
"Well then? Who's next?"
"Me!" Most of the resistance members raised their hands before Lelouch and the students could even comprehend what the hell just happened.