Some watery tart threw a sword at me
Kallen Stadtfeld, Knight of Ten
Imperial Capital Pendragon, primary Knightmare Hangar
Fives days after Lelouch's accession
For as long as Kallen wanted to recall, she had always been a soldier first and foremost. No matter where she resided or which army she represented, the militaristic life never fell too far behind. From the ghettos of a conquered Japan to the pristine information hub of Britannia's capital, as long as she was given a purpose, her spirit of battle would never diminish.
However, as she surveyed the engineers and mechanics going about their daily tasks beside a legion of formidable Knightmares on standby, she was having a bit of technical difficulties reinvigorating the passion for action that used to light ablaze her soul. Kallen impatiently anticipated Lelouch's arrival, there was a slight matter she thought to bring up with the king which she couldn't talk about earlier in the Command Centre.
Eventually, coming in from down the long hallway, Lelouch approached with Suzaku a dozen steps in the lead, the Knight of Zero passed her by without a greeting and disrobed his fabulous long cape before letting a maid take it out of his care. He continued to march with his unflinching countenance, arriving at the podium behind the group of operators landing the finishing touches on his new Lancelot.
"Your Majesty. A word, if you will." Hailing for Lelouch as he was about to depart for the throne, the half-blooded ace hid her anxiety under her tough demeanor.
"Dame Stadtfeld, what is it?"
"Is there a reason you're putting me on backup? I know Suzaku's a champ behind the sticks, but he's going up against four Rounds!" For as much as Kallen respected Lelouch, her irritation still boiled over by her Emperor's refusal to acknowledge her prowess as a top-notch Devicer. "I can help, let me go."
"I'll have to turn down your kind offer, Dame Stadtfeld. this is a battle meant to demonstrate our infinite potency against all those who dare to challenge me. Suzaku alone will be enough."
"Am I not just as much of a sword to the empire as he is? You know I'm a good pilot, Lelouch! You don't have to worry!" Hearing her courage, the ninety-ninth emperor pondered.
"I don't doubt your skills, Kallen. But there's another reason I'm keeping you back. You still have your anonymity so far outside Pendragon, people only know you as the Knight of Ten. You can still go back if the scenario calls for—"
"-But I won't! I'm definitely going to stay here with you… Lelouch! So please, don't hold me back like that! Let me follow you if that's what my heart believes to be just!" Tucking the genius strategist closer to her reddened cheeks, Kallen unleashed her rampant fervor towards her leader for a split second before anyone around could notice their distance.
"You can still go back if the scenario calls for a spy to be planted within the Black Knights, you're currently the only one with such a connection." Lelouch finished his interrupted message, leaving Kallen relatively flabbergasted.
"Oh, so I was correct… huh." Harking back to the false theory Kallen told to Anya a couple of days ago, she only just discovered her random guess was the truth the entire time. But somehow, knowing her intuition was on the mark didn't deliver joy to her person.
Lelouch isn't worried if I'll be found out if I go back…? He trusts me to be above that… I hope. However, with the situation now set in stone. Kallen applied her smarts in a bid to improvise a solution Lelouch couldn't disapprove of without seeming uncharacteristically contrived.
"When you say people recognize me, they don't actually recognize my face, right? So, there's no problem with me taking another Knightmare into battle. Will Your Majesty at least spare this much autonomy to me? Pretty Please?"
"But you won't be accustomed to whichever machine we can spare you here…"
"Do you really think of me as someone who'll bite it so easily just because I'm not flying the Guren?"
"Well… I suppose you got a point. Is that what you really want, Kallen? Fighting for Britannia?" After deep consideration, Lelouch grudgingly swallowed Kallen's determination to not take no for an answer.
"It doesn't bother me as long as you remain its ruler, that's why I want to make sure nothing goes awry today. So what say you, Your Majesty?" Going as far as to perform an imperial salute, Kallen swept aside her prejudice in favour of her endearment for the foreign prince.
"Hmm… alright, you've convinced me, Kallen. I won't stop you if that's what you want, pick from the selection of Knightmares we have and prepare for battle." Lelouch's approval easily overshadowed any doubts that lingered in Kallen's mind, bringing a gleeful mood back to her personality.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
As Kallen spun around in search of a new mobile war machine, a petite pink-haired girl yelling frigidly at the soldiers standing guard plucked the interest of the recently appointed king and his knight. Sharing a look with each other, the two of them scurried over to the source of the commotion.
"Dame Alstreim, you've not been summoned by Emperor Lelouch! If you want to see him please arrange an appointment!"
"I see him right there, let me talk to him." Mustering not even a smidge of energy, Anya tried to budge her way through the two taller guards to little effect.
"-That's enough, what's the problem here?" Alerted by Lelouch's presence, all the Britannians stuck in the dispute stopped their struggle and took a bow.
"Your Majesty, Dame Alstreim wishes to speak to you regarding the current mission, but since—"
"-Don't worry about it, I'll take over." Couldn't be bothered to explain his every action, Lelouch told off the soldiers and waved for Anya to approach.
"Your Majesty, Knight of Six wishes to word a humble request." Seizing her opportunity, Anya kneeled graciously before Lelouch and awaited her permission.
"Speak."
"Please, Your Majesty. In the upcoming fight, spare Gino, and Dorothea, and Monica, and Sir Bismarck." With half of her leg still on the floor, Anya didn't dare to look up when she beseeched such a preposterous plea with her unsteady voice.
"Your reason?" Not giving the tottering pilot a break, Lelouch spoke his phrase coldly.
"…They're misguided, Your Majesty. I've known them… for a long time, I remember… we're all loyal to the Britannia above its crown. They just don't see it… if they live, they'll know… you're the righteous ruler."
"And if they still won't accept me after witnessing my mercy? If they decide to turn on me from within my ranks?"
"Then I'll… personally put them down, give my life for it if I must." Anya's figure shook, whether it was apprehension or resolve that overcame her, Kallen couldn't tell.
"Raise, Dame Alstreim, I make no promises about meeting your conditions, however there certainly will be an effort to try. I'll inform Suzaku about his updated parameters, although may I suggest not getting your hopes up."
"Thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty." Hearing his promise, Anya stood up. Her improving expression could nearly be described as a smile. She took an elegant bow to her emperor before uttering a phrase most well-known in the nation, although through her usual monotone. "All hail Britannia. All hail Lelouch."
"I just realized; I should've asked if I can borrow her Mordred." Observing the short shadow disappearing behind the doors, Kallen remembered she was still one Knightmare short of being a functional pilot.
"You won't like it, it's way too slow and heavy." Lelouch commented.
"Fair point, but I don't want to sortie in crappy units. Maybe a Vincent Commander Model, it's just not my thing though. I'm a flying ace, you know? I deserve my custom design." Kallen arbitrarily complained, it seemed there really wasn't a solution to her problem.
"Well, I heard they've one extra custom Knightmare somewhere. It was built as a replacement since you destroyed the first one, you can probably get them to do a rush job and spray it red."
"Actually!? Nice, I'll take it!"
— —
"NO! No-no-no! You tricked me, you tricked me! Lelouch vi Britannia!" In the storage hangar for unused Knightmares, Kallen shrieked the name of the king to no fanfare.
Gino Weinberg, Knight of Three
Airspace over Pendragon
Gino vigilantly surveyed the land beneath him and his Tristan, the normally bustling highways surrounding Pendragon would be packed full of traffic around this time, or any time of the day. Now all he saw was empty lines of pavement without a single track of tires rolling through them.
At least the civilians have been evacuated, I can fight without worrying about where I drop their dead. Foreseeing the upcoming battle for the freedom of Britannia, Gino felt a trace of comfort knowing no ordinary citizens would be dragged into the bloodshed created by a mad king.
Connecting the dots in his head led Gino back to thoughts about the usurper, Emperor Lelouch vi Britannia. It felt so surreal to remember not two months ago, the young lad was just a vice-president of Ashford Academy's Student Council and now he effectively controlled over one-third of the known world.
The world works in funny ways, Suzaku is sure to agree with me this time.
"—All units, we're on approach to the capital, keep your eyes open for hostile interceptors." The oldest of the Rounds and the leader of Gino's band of uprising knights gunning for Pendragon, Bismarck Waldstein reminded them over the comms.
"—It's strange, they haven't sent out even a recon unit. Where're the enemies?"
"—Maybe they're handing the capital over to us without a fight, Monica." Gino replied to his fellow Rounds, his eyes never leaving the main screen of the Tristan.
"—A genuine coward Lelouch will be if he has already surrendered the throne, won't that ruin the atmosphere of our offensive?" To his left, the Knight of Four, Dorothea asked sarcastically.
"—If we can end his reign without further bloodshed, then that's alright by me." To avoid needless killing, no matter of whom had always been a noble merit Gino held himself up to, even when the trying times demanded someone's life to be forfeit.
"—All units, be advised. Scanners are picking up… two incoming Knightmares, get ready." Again, Bismarck's profound voice gave no ground to lighthearted banter.
"—But only two units? Isn't that a bit… -there's an inbound open transmission from Pendragon. Is it…? Emperor Lelouch is hailing us!" Very soon, Gino made the same realization as Monica. Like the other knights, he reluctantly agreed to listen to the message from the young monarch.
"—To all Knights of Rounds and their company aiming to dethrone me! Ask yourself this, what decides who amongst men is most deserving to rule? Is it their heritage? Their charisma? Their compassion?" from his Imperial throne, the new Emperor dressed in white from head to toe inquired over the broadcast.
"—It's whoever amongst those of the Imperial Bloodline reign supreme above all others! Strength through righteous succession and honour to the crown!" The Knight of One yelled fiercely his creed for the Emperor to hear, his decision already made and his fortitude unmoving.
"—We've confirmed the two Knightmare models, it's the Lancelot and… the Percival." During the heated debate Bismarck held with Lelouch, Gino received an update on their impending enemies.
"—The Percival? Its colour scheme looks different, it's way too red. Who could be piloting it?"
"—With Sir Bradley dead, it must be the new Knight of Ten Lelouch appointed a few days ago… damn him, I never liked Luciano but a knight should be laid to rest with his sword!" Holding his silence as Dorothea and Monica conversed, Gino had the slightest hint of who its Devicer could be.
"— -A decaying mindset. My answer is… the resolve to initiate! I shall bring about the creation of a new Britannia, a new world! Emperor Charles languished Britannia's ability to walk forward, thus I have succeeded him. And all of you are slaves to his ethics, nothing but relics of a past age!"
"—Then there's nothing more to speak of, Lelouch! We, loyal knight of Emperor Charles shall never accept your claim to the throne!"
"—And so I stand superior, for I will offer all of you a chance at absolution. Lelouch vi Britannia commands you! Surrender your foolish dreams and serve me! I shall permit you to keep your lives intact! Or else ahead you will only find devastation!"
"—A meaningless order and truth-less claim!" In the background of the open channel, Gino could hear roars of agreement echoing Bismarck's statement on their own comms.
"—You've made your choice, yet my sympathy to the ignorant knows no bounds. If any of the insurgents decide to open their eyes and see the futility of this struggle, I will accept your surrender whenever you submit. Otherwise… enjoy annihilation." The connection to Pendragon ended, in its place the curtains of war raised.
The battle for the capital of Britannia had officially begun as Lelouch's portrait disappeared from the monitors of the attackers. Not a second too slow, the defending Knightmares plunged into action. The Percival dashed forward at a speed never capable before, and the Lancelot briefly vanished from view entirely.
"—What!? I can't track it! How is it doing those acrobatics—!" In the short period it took for any of the pilots to gain composure over the situation, a haze of green energy consumed Dorothea's Palomides from the skies above.
"—Dorothea! Status!"
Gino shook away his daze in the face of overpowering force, many of his fellow warriors also were stunned by the sudden development of action. He glanced over to where the Knight of Four last hovered and picked out a dot of white decreasing in attitude rapidly before its parachute unfurled and reduced the cockpit block's velocity.
"—Sorry I'm out! He's too fast, he got me instantly!"
Panning his focus back on course, the blonde knight scanned the wild stratosphere for clues to the enemy and found only beams of particles fired from the energy wings of the Albion raining chaos down upon his troops. Gino boosted the Tristan out of harm's way just in time for it to avoid getting caught by a barrage of missiles fired from below, where the Percival seized the opening and soared high above, placing itself amidst its foes.
"—Tristan and Florence will handle the Percival, leave the Lancelot to me!" Rising from the disarray, Bismarck commanded for his tactic to be implemented.
"—Understood! I've got the Percival in-sight, engaging!" The Florence charged ahead, leaving Gino in her dust.
"—Hold on, Monica! You don't know the potential of that pilot!"
"—And you do!? If we just bring down that corpse wielder then Lancelot by itself shouldn't be too—" The young Knight of Twelve suddenly choked on her words, the face Gino saw on his display contorted in disbelieving angst and unquenchable fury. "-N-no! No way- t-that's impossible—!"
"—Hang on, I'm on my way!"
Gino thrust his throttle as far as it could reach, pushing the propulsion system of the Tristan to its limit. However, lost in the thick clouds of endless explosions and casualties, his way forward was muddier than ever. By the time he caught sight of the Florence in peril, the abrupt battle had already been decided.
"— -You there, woman in the mantis-looking Knightmare, I have a question for you. What's the most precious thing for a person?" The voice of Percival's Devicer, even after a couple of month Gino still remembered it vividly.
"—Y-you uncultured swine! You-you dare use Luciano's tricks on me!?" Monica screamed through the ruptured hole of her Florence, its limbs entangled by the slash harkens of the opposing Knightmare and its cockpit drilled open by the MVS claw that was its former pilot's favourite weapon. "—Curse you, wench! You won't- you won't dare!"
"—Wait! Wait a second, don't do it, Kallen!" Gino shouted the mixed-blood redhead's name, but his advances were either halted by a burst of beams from the Percival's hadron blaster or wide shots from the Lancelot's wings.
"—I was told it'd be their life, what do you think?" The rotating drill steadily picked up in speed and inched closer to the Knight of Twelve, there was nothing standing in-between the deadly luminous tip and her pale flesh. "—Do you mind showing me? What a person would look like when they know their life is about to be snatched away?"
"—J-just hold on- hold on a sec, alright-? P-please! Wait-! Please! DON'T!" With the face cam of the Florence long since destroyed, Gino couldn't guess what expression Monica held as impending death crept ever closer. Her voice, however, trembled intensely and so filled with fear that would crack even a veteran's killing intent.
"—Disarm yourself, Knight of Twelve. Be glad that I killed the previous pilot of this Knightmare, and even more so that his replacement isn't a sicko."
"—Okay… okay, j-just give me… give me a sec." The armaments of the Florence detached and fell into freefall, leaving the machine with only its mangled body and crippled members.
"—Your float system is still functional?"
"—Yes…"
"—Does your model comes with an ejection system?"
"—…No."
"—Didn't think so. Float yourself to the ground and surrender, Search and Rescue will pick you up in a bit. But if I see you again in the sky…"
"—I understand… I surrender." And so, what remained of Monica's Knightmare was released by the Percival and slowly drifted downwards away from the fierce firefight overhead.
For what felt like an eternity, the Tristan simply hung in the air facing off a motionless Percival. Neither party was audacious enough to make the first move. And for Gino, he wasn't certain if being the one to kick off a skirmish against Kallen would wind-up in his favour.
"—We gotta stop running into each other like this, Gino." Eventually, the Black Knight, or ex-Black Knight stated.
"—I'm actually really glad to meet you again, more so that you took my advice in the end."
"—Funny how things work out, pat yourself on the back for thinking that it was you who convinced me."
"—But you did join Britannia, even if it's under the usurper Lelouch's banner, and that makes you Kallen…?" From his tone, Gino hoped the topnotch Devicer would pick up his inquiry for her last name.
"—Kallen Stadtfeld, Knight of Ten to the Britannia Empire." Gino couldn't explain why, but he was extraordinarily elated by Kallen's redemption despite their circumstances.
"—If only you've chosen earlier, we could be comrades on the battlefield."
"—And we still can. Join me, Gino. Together we can protect the new Britannia." Kallen too sounded unusually jubilant, much different from the prisoner they held in Tokyo.
"—You say that even though you know of Lelouch's deed, how he came into power? Is it because you two were once classmates?"
"—Partly, however it's mostly because his ideas for the future are correct. You know this in your heart, Gino. The old Britannia is filled with corruption and stagnation, it was a relic of a bygone age. And Lelouch is here to fix all that, are you really so resistant to making every day better?"
Her words, spoken like a true subscriber of Emperor Lelouch struck a chord with Gino in ways he couldn't designate. What Kallen claimed were largely facts; Britannia was corrupt, even viewed through the reputation of a distinguished nobility such as himself. However, were the masses susceptible enough to accept a sweeping change to their ways of life and would it be worth it if the populace had to sacrifice their daily norm was what stopped him for taking the leap of faith.
Those were mysteries Gino mused over yet he couldn't reach a definite verdict.
"—I don't know if Lelouch's revolution is for the better, but his methods are definitely wrong. He should've returned to the court and climbed his way up from there." Kallen, after hearing the pilot of Tristan's explanation, let out a short and hefty chuckle.
"—You say things the old Suzaku used to say, you know. Before he went all… depressed and stuff. And even he realized it wasn't the right path. To truly stand above others it takes not only effort and wisdom, but also the resolve to destroy. Lelouch promised he'll destroy the old autocracy and create anew, that's why I swore to follow him."
"—I… don't totally disagree with his message, but I too have sworn an oath to the crown. It saddens me deeply to be unable to convince you with words, Kallen. I suppose we must let our blades speak next." Hearing his proclamation, a disappointed countenance overshadowed Kallen's previous delight.
"I must protect Lelouch's homeland, I must protect Lelouch's dream. I won't lose in a duel, Gino. My title as the Knight of Ten steaks on it, after all."
"—It is so ironic to hear you of all people saying that… but I guess it's evidence that even the most rigid of individuals can change. May the best man win."
The Knightmares stood adamant, their pilots' minds relentless. As both mechanical giants readied their weapons for the war that was bound to happen, a new update manifested itself on the open channel.
"—To all knights and soldiers belonging to Emperor Charles' era, your uprising has fallen, together with Sir Bismarck Waldstein. Surrender your weapons and I'll guarantee your safety, I swear upon my title as the Knight of Zero… and the mightiest knight of the Empire."
Gino watched wordlessly, bearing witness to the peerless valour of the Lancelot Albion in all of its brilliance as it concluded its dance of destruction. The white Knightmare towered over the blazing explosion of the remains that used to be the Galahad. It sheathed the pair of burning MVS which slew the Knight of One and pulsed its wings a few more times, seemingly seeking to decimate the remnant of fighting spirit that still lingered in its foes.
"—…Impossible, he defeated Sir Bismarck… in how long?" Gino commented, in his awestricken stupor he didn't realize the communication device was so on.
"—Damn it, I guess it's over. Sorry, Gino, but you can't win against the new Lancelot, against Suzaku." Turning back, Kallen already dropped her guard and ceased the rotation of the forearm particle drill.
"—No! I can't let it end like this! I have to stop him. I have to stop all of you!" Not deterred enough to yield yet, Gino drove the Tristan to close in on the Lancelot, expect its body was towed by the Percival's slash harkens and halted its momentum.
"—Gino! It's over! Give it up! Even if you don't wanna live, think of the people that care for you! Think of Anya, at least!"
"—What do you know about Anya! You two met like- twice!"
"—She's with us now, and she asked Lelouch to not order any of your Knightmares destroyed if possible." What Kallen revealed was information that calmed him down from his moment of intensity, Gino recollected his thoughts and dwindled the output of the Tristan's engine.
"—Anya… is with Lelouch?"
"—She is, and if you want to know why. You'll have to live to ask her." Instinctively agreeing with Kallen's straightforward suggestion, the tall noble composed his chaotic mind to peer for a reasonable course of action. However, the next step to take found him instead in the form of a broadcast from Pendragon aimed at the globe.
"—Hear me, people of the world! I believe the images you've just seen should prove to you without a doubt that I am the true ruler of Britannia, in name and in reality! Now that's settled, we the Holy Britannia Empire seeks to arrange a peace treaty between us and the United Federation of Nations! It is an unbecoming war waged by Zero against the old Britannia that is no more, and so in a future where we've mended the damage, I wish for Britannia to also join the United Federation."
By Lelouch's extraordinary declaration that shook the foundation of the entire world, nobody could guess if ushering in a new age of peace was his goal.
Kallen Stadtfeld, Knight of Ten
Imperial Capital Pendragon, Military Detention Centre
"What else did Prince Schneizel talk about? Die he mention anything you don't understand?"
"Nothing really. It was Sir Bismarck who suggested a frontal assault, said right now is the best opportunity to strike, before Lelouch can effectively mobilize his forces. Although, I see that he really didn't take you into consideration."
Kallen together with Anya walked through the passcode protected doorway leading to the detention centre, her idle daydream interrupted by the dialogue between two veterans in the Rounds business. A rarely grave voice was sparingly chatting away while his Japanese recipient was someone who only made remarks when required and even those weren't particularly engaging.
"Who else did you meet in Cambodia besides the royalties?"
"Nobody that isn't supposed to be there. Although, there's that reporter guy that used to be with the Black Knights, but he didn't really do anything." Suzaku nodded in a positive assertion. "Even if I knew more secrets, don't expect me to be so willing to share."
"I see. That's all I wanted to ask, thanks, Gino." The Knight of Zero smiled gentled to his co-worker, except there was no notion of happiness in his eyes. "-By the way, I'm afraid you won't pick up anything more by standing there, you two."
"How do you keep doing that? It's actually kinda annoying me." He kept recognizing her from impossible approaches, Suzaku's inhuman awareness was really starting to get on Kallen's nerves.
"You just have a very carefree aura these days, it's hard not to notice."
"Strange, since I'm sure I'm emitting a rather raffled mood thanks to you not giving me a chance at the Knight of One." Kallen briskly yanked Suzaku out of earshot of their fellow Rounds, she couldn't be bothered with those two spreading unwarranted rumours as unlikely as it was to happen.
"Right, sorry about that. Sir Bismarck isn't an opponent you can go easy on, I had to focus on our fight to bring him down."
"You could've at least given me a shout, I'd be glad to steal that kill from you. Not that you care for recognition or honours, right?"
"I didn't know you cared that much, it's not what I expect from you, Kallen."
"Well, I got my own thing too…! Damn it, nevermind. I have my reasons, but it's not important enough to jeopardize the mission." Earning the title of Knight of One would've been a huge boost to her ego and kept her esteem high in regards to Lelouch's opinion, too bad that real-life often refused to work in a satisfactory manner.
"I'm glad you have your priorities straight, I got a feeling it wouldn't have ended well if you tried to take him on." Even though Kallen knew Suzaku wasn't the type to ridicule her out of nowhere, she still reserved the right to be insulted.
"Woah, woah! Let's back it up a bit, buddy. Are you suggesting something about there being a difference between us? That I can't take on the Knight of One, who you blew up after a two-minute fight? Is that what you're saying?"
"I guess you can choose to extract that meaning from my words. The scope of our battles is at the world stage now, being the Black Knight's best pilot won't be enough. Against Bismarck, you've been fine were you in the Guren, but the Percival can't fly you as high as you'd like." For however much it hurt to be reminded of her limitations, Kallen never forgot her key was always one click away from summoning her wings.
"What're you even- whatever… we don't need to get overly complicated about this. Just you wait, Suzaku. Once I get back in the Guren I'll be sure to show you who's at the top." Somewhere along their banter, Kallen couldn't tell if they still stood on friendly grounds or the scent of something more sinister had crept into the ribbing.
"Both of you… stop being so mean…" Anya stepped over and cut in, just in time before the mood took a turn for the truly unenjoyable. The shorter girl took the risk when both parties were stunned by her interruption to drag them back before the confined Gino.
"I thought you two were just gonna argue forever, not kidding." A second blow from the friendly Gino easily scattered whatever tension was piling up amid Kallen and Suzaku.
"Gino, did you get locked up?"
Anya walked right up to the cell the Knight of Three was relocated to, In Gino's credit, he seemed hardly discontent about incarceration, especially for someone with his background. Then again, he had full freedom to wander the sizeable cell as he fit and was only separated from the outside world by a panel of see-through glass.
"Well, it's something that happens, think you can get me out?" After tediously staring at the electronic lock, Anya inputted a series of numbers only to receive a negative output for her attempt.
"No."
"You tried your best." Anya also approved of her effort and took one step back from the glass.
"I'll be going now, you can take your time, Kallen. I didn't mean to offend you earlier, don't take it the wrong way." Suzaku said, tapping the red-haired ex-noble on her shoulders.
"Suzaku! What is it you're trying to do! Why're you helping Lelouch!?" Catching his last chance to protest, Gino yelled before the Asian teen slipped away.
"Lelouch and I… will destroy this world, to create anew." Dropping nothing more than a cryptic clue, Suzaku started his departure once more.
"Today… it was good fighting alongside you, Suzaku." Kallen audaciously chose to throw her hat in the ring of last words as well, she couldn't just let him go while never figuring out their relationship.
"You're a good pilot, Kallen. I'm sure Lelouch is happy to have you serve him." With that, the brown-haired soldier finally escaped a maze of enigma.
"Say, are you two friends or not? I honestly can't tell." Gino asked, his earlier distaste for socializing long gone.
"Who knows, I have no clue how to feel about him. Suzaku's went through a lot, and lost a lot of things he cared about, I get that. I guess that's where we're different, I'm fighting for a very simple reason while his is much more complex."
"And you're fighting for?"
"For Lelouch, to protect him, I suppose." Hearing her candid admission, the smirk Gino started off with soon transformed into a contemplative muse.
"Was he worth it, to defect from the Black Knights? Now that Zero is dead, they probably want you on their side more than ever." A shadow of gloom veiled over Kallen as Gino spoke unaware.
"Don't listen to their lies. Zero didn't succumb to his injuries, he was betrayed by the Black Knights after the battle… you know what, the whole thing is a big mess and I don't wanna talk about it. Just- look, I'm on Lelouch's side now, I'll help him create a new Britannia to replace Emperor Charles' old one."
"So just like Suzaku… why're you so unsatisfied with the current world order? Sure, the world isn't perfect, Britannia has many problems with racial superiority and corruption. However, you can't promise the new world you'll create can do any better than the system we've established right now."
Kallen held back her urge to lash out at a moment's notice towards Gino from hearing his pessimistic perspective on the foundations of their society. She knew in her rational mind that it couldn't be helped for someone in his position to grow so blind to the suffering of those not climbing over the corpses of the masses to reach for stature. In fact, the blonde knight wasn't even near the worst of what Britannia held on display, he was some of the few who Kallen was convinced could have their blindness cured.
"You don't understand anything, your vision is limited by your prestigious nobility. I've seen and experienced people's desire for happiness, people's struggle against misery… people's hope for tomorrow." Kallen ranted on passionately, her reproachful glower disappearing bit by bit as she remembered the ember of her endeavour was kept ablaze even after failing herself so many times.
"Not everyone's dreams can be achieved, somebody is guaranteed to fail if somebody else is to succeed."
"But they've given their everything in their effort to try, it's infinitely better than never having the opportunity at all."
"Knowing you've done your best but still come up short is the worst feeling to endure."
"Failure will only serve to motivate people that cannot achieve victory today to strive for tomorrow."
"Even if tomorrow comes, it may not be any better. In fact, they may never be able to reach the height they dreamt of."
"If nothing changes, it can't get any worse. All men… are created unequal, but they deserve to be given the chance to overcome that inequality."
Kallen studied Gino's striking features deeply as he deliberated in noiseless solitude, having a delayed response to her justification for a free tomorrow was enough of a victory in the eyes of the Zero Squad's AWOL Captain. Discounting their cultural differences, Kallen sincerely wished for the tallest of the remaining Rounds to understand the plight of the common man. If she couldn't even persuade one person to reshape their worldview, that would be another symbol of her failure to evolve beyond her naïve self.
"You know what… I'm a man enough to admit when someone else has a good point. I'll seriously go over what you said and reconsider some stuff… give me some time, yeah? Well, not that I can go anywhere else." Gino flashed the typical smile he was known for, and Kallen reciprocated in kind.
"Thank you, Gino… for willing to be more open about things. Oh, and I guess I'm sorry for what I did to that other Knight of Round."
"Who? Luciano?"
"No! Hell no. Fuck that guy. I'm talking about the chick in the insect Knightmare I scared over Pendragon, walked by her cell earlier and she seemed pretty startled." Kallen patted her silky hair in remorse, traumatizing the Knight of Twelve was never her intention, it just so happened she was the victim of an unfortunate scenario.
"Yeah… that was kinda a dick move, why did you do it?"
"I heard her type of Knightmare doesn't have an ejection seat from some kid I met a year ago. I can't take the risk of just disabling her machine and then letting her stab me in the rear later."
"Hmm… I'll admit I owe you people for that one, especially Anya." By the mention of her name, the pink-haired Devicer waved stoically for Gino to perceive her presence.
"I'm still here… don't mind me. And it was Emperor Lelouch who showed mercy… thank him." Anya's declaration caught an apprehensively inquisitive glance from their caged acquaintance.
"Anya, I'm grateful that you convinced Emperor Lelouch to spare us. But why did you do such a thing? Joining the side of Lelouch the usurper… I can't imagine you being someone who'd help to overthrow the sovereignty." Mentally, Kallen distinctively garnered at another storm brewing between the two friends under the tension of Gino's every word, and she wasn't sure if she should interrupt them before it calm was gone.
"Lelouch… is a good person. He gave back the memories Emperor Charles stole from me… in exchange for my service. It a fair trade for both of us… and he's nice to me, I like him."
Rather open about her favouritism, Anya expressed in her standard drone voice as she approached Gino whose hands unyieldingly pressed up to the glass imprisoning him. The two virtuous allies that were both knighted under Emperor Charles' regime now stood as opposing forces in regards to where their loyalty laid.
"Really now? I'm glad that he got your memories back, Anya, I do. But are you aware of what cost? Betraying your oath to the crown is about the worst offense a Britannia Knight of our standing can commit. If Lelouch ever falls from power, you'd be executed."
"That's why I'll defend him… from enemies abound."
"His first enemy being the ninety-eight Emperor, did you just stand by as he and Suzaku assassinated Britannia's ruler?"
"I owe Emperor Charles no debt… I didn't already pay."
"Do you think you're doing the right thing supporting a tyrant's regime?"
"I don't judge people by methods… only by merits."
"So, you're enabling a regicide who killed the esteemed Emperor of our nation?"
"The king is dead… long live the king."
Gino sure is spiteful today… I'm super tired from just snooping in.
Around this time was when Kallen truly grew sick of listening to the bickering between what was essentially two siblings. As much as she was quite fond of both Anya and Gino, it was clear there existed an ideological divide between them which wasn't her place to interject. Not to mention, Kallen only agreed to escort her fellow soldier to the detention centre for a lively chat, not to have an entire psychological episode.
"Will you bow down to whoever takes the throne? Anya! No matter who they are or what they've done, as long as they promise you what you want!?"
"I live for myself… I am nobody else's tool."
"-Alright, I'm just gonna like- go now…? I leave the two of you to duke it out and stuff." Finally, at her wit's end, Kallen sighed in admission to her defeat before sneaking out of the prison.
"-Don't you have any sense of integrity!? Why did you even become a Round in the first place!"
"That ambition… was forced upon me by a sovereign already gone. Lelouch was the one who let free my will."
And without even batting an eye for the audience, the two knights continued to argue in a place of their own.
— —
Author's note
This chapter probably gave me the most trouble so far, I did a big goof and the whole part with Gino in the cell was suppose to take place later so that's why it frees a bit rushed and not good. My B. Overall, it's just not a very exciting chapter, but sometime it happens. Since Suzaku soloed the Rounds in canon I can't really make him look bad when he's got help this time. But I also can't let Kallen duel Bismarck in the drill machine since I'm pretty sure she won't win. So I subverted the reader's expectations that Kallen will become the Knight of One with bad reading.
I feel like I underutilized Bismarck's character, but no less than canon so just put some Fs in the chat for the literally-sliced-in-half dude. I'll however use more of the two other knights that got one shotted in canon, frees bad for the character designer who put effort into detailing a 'literal who' character.
Am I messing up Kallen's character? I don't think so, I re-watch the show like a lot to study very autistically about every character and their traits and I do some research into not portraying them out of character. But sometime I'll want to write something really dumb and then realize she won't behave that way at all, although she is going through development of her Britannia side that was never really explored in canon so I think I get a free pass to butcher her character.
For the future, I feel like this's where the first arc is halfway done. I actually lied in the title and this story definitely won't just have three arcs, unless we really stretch what defines as an arc. I've been looking at some of the Oz manga, even the raws for O2. Not much to say right now, Marrybell's design is quality, I guess. But if some god-tier weeb out there is super knowledgeable about O2 and can answer some questions for me, please let me know.
To reply to reviews? I honestly don't have anything to say this time. Unironically, I don't want to come off as a dick even though I am a lot of the time, but there's just not much for me to say except thank you to most of the reviews. Like I honestly really appreciate people that leaves me a message and it motivates me to keep reading, actually thankful. But not everything I can start a conversation with, so you know. I guess what I'm saying is flame me if you wanna get my attention.
So yeah, see you guys, bye.
A mistake was corrected by Marche V, thanks man.
