Chapter Two: Aftermath
The heat had not died down by the next day. Actually, it had gotten a lot worse.
Far from it, it was only getting worse. Protests had broken out throughout the various settlements. An entire line of hundreds of people lined up in front of the Governors Palace, with picket signs. Almost all of them were Britannians and they tied up a large portion of the police force. Even some of the military had to be called in.
Not that the news focused on any of this. To the average Britannian, there were some minor protests and a few minor acts of terrorism. Clovis was good at controlling the media that way.
"Breaking news. Princess Cornelia has won another stunning victory over the EU," said Deitard Reid. "Her troops are now nearing Paris as we speak, thanks to her aggressive tactics. With us today is Andreas Darlton, who led the attack. Thank you for coming on."
Andreas Darlton was a big, brawny man with scarred features and blonde hair. He frowned. "Thank you, Mr. Reid. Princess Cornelia wants the citizens at the Empire to know the Empire is winning this war."
"That's good to know," said Deitard, whose voice was faked. The man hated his job, and Kallen knew he was the only news anchor worth anything. "That said, I'd like to hear a bit about the battle itself. Were casualties high."
"Casualties are to be expected in our line of work," said Darlton. Images of the violet, Britannian Southerlands firing guns at unknown enemies. Some were destroyed. "Still, the Europeans have far less effective Knightmares. That's thanks to their lack of Sakuradite reserves. As such, they have to rely heavily on static defenses.
"Victory, therefore, is all about outmaneuvering static defenses. We've had quite a bit of experience with that." Several more images showed the Southerlands scaling up a hill line. They were promptly obliterated rocket fire. "We staged a diversionary raid to draw off their main column. At the same time, Princess Cornelia led an attack around the flank."
"I imagine casualties were low," said Deitard. "Given that Europe is incapable of fighting back."
Was Deitard trying to catch Darlton in a lie? That was pretty daring even for him.
"Not really," said Darlton. "I was part of the diversionary force, and the Europeans fought on with admiral fortitude. People at home ought to remember that Britannia is ultimately descended from Europe. Immigrants came from many places to start a new life, after all."
"Well," said Deitard. "I guess the superior civilization is coming to them now."
Darlton didn't laugh, which was good for him because Deitard showed footage of a city on fire. There were Britannians taking cover behind the ruins of a skyscraper. In the corner, one could see civilians cowering. "Well, that is the general plan."
"Thanks for coming on," said Deitard. Then he shut it off. "Proof that yesterday's disruptive display will not cease Britannia's forward progress."
"Is Deitard trying to make Cornelia look like a butcher?" asked Kallen, turning off the TV.
"Quite possibly," said Lelouch. "He's pushing his luck more than usual. He'll probably pretend it was a bad call on his part. Even with deniability, he's taking a risk, though."
"I never thought we'd get this level of reaction," said Kallen. "They've been trying to pass it off as an isolated incident. But this.."
"They're going to succeed," said Lelouch.
"Hmm, what makes you so sure?" asked Kallen.
"Britannia commits this kind of atrocity all the time," said Lelouch. "Just because it slipped through this once doesn't change anything. They'll feign outrage; Prince Clovis will make a speech, they'll probably fire some cops.
"But nothing will actually change.
"In a few days, the news cycle will blow over, and everyone will forget it. And if they don't forget it, they'll be fired. Then the rest will fall in line."
That was probably all true if the heat died down. But Kallen remembered something Naoto had told her once. When you wanted the heat to die down, you had to have nothing happening. If you kept launching raids and people heard about them, you became a household name. And if you stayed in the news long enough, there could be real change.
"...We could do this, you know," said Kallen.
"Do what?" asked Lelouch, sipping some coffee. He liked it black.
"Keep spreading the word about this," said Kallen. "Take pictures, show people what's really going on out there. If the heat gets bad enough, corporations won't be able to fire people without looking bad."
"If we put more pictures up in Ashford, sooner or later, we'll get caught," noted Lelouch.
"Then why do it in Ashford?" asked Kallen. "There are loads of other places we could put it.
"Come on, don't you want to do something with your life? If we get more pictures of the police-"
"Don't be an idiot," said Lelouch. "The police aren't going to go around shooting people now, not with the media on them. They'll give their pleasure trips to the ghettos a rest."
"Well, fine, we can do what we planned to do in the first place!" said Kallen. "Take pictures of what Britannia did to Japan!"
Lelouch eyed her. "...You don't seem very sick."
Kallen immediately fell back into place. "I um...
"Sometimes I have outbursts, is all."
"Whatever the case, you've convinced me," said Lelouch. "Now, where do you think we should go first?"
It was a question Kallen wasn't prepared to answer. "I um...
"One moment. I've got to make a call."
She stood and walked out into a side room. Drawing out her phone, she quickly dialed Naoto's number. Then she waited a bit as it buzzed. "Come on, come on, answer Naoto."
Then came the response.
"Kallen, what is it? I'm really busy," said Naoto.
"Naoto, um, you know the thing that happened at Ashford?" asked Kallen.
"Yeah, I have," said Naoto. "It's all over the news. Tohdoh and the Four Holy Swords hit as Britannian base and wiped it out. It turns out Clovis had to repurpose some knightmares to keep control of the protests. That left some openings.
"Meanwhile, Oghi and I hit a convoy filled with rations. People in the ruins will be eating well today.
"You didn't have anything to do with that, did you?" His voice was accusing.
"I um, well, I had this class project and..." began Kallen. Had all that happened, and nobody had even heard about it?
"Kallen, what have I told you?" asked Naoto. "You're supposed to be going to school, not throwing down with cops."
"Look, Naoto, I'm not in any danger," said Kallen. "I didn't even mean to run into those cops; they just happened to start that while I was taking the pictures.
"I'm just trying to raise awareness about what is really going on. It's not like I'm driving a Knightmare!"
Naoto sighed. "Fine.
"So, what are you calling me about?"
"Well, I uh... I was hoping you could give me something to do," said Kallen. "Y'know, anything you want revealed?" This was not going to work.
"...Well, I guess I can't argue with your results," said Naoto. "Fine, you can go take pictures of the ruins. But you aren't doing it on your own. I'm going to send someone to escort you."
"But Naoto, I'm doing this with a friend," said Kallen quickly.
"Fine," said Naoto. "I'll send Oghi. Just tell him you knew him from before Japan was invaded. You being here is public record, and I doubt whoever it is will be very big in Britannia now.
"Unless you want to call it off. If you don't think you can trust them-"
"No, it's fine," said Kallen. Wait, did she trust Lelouch? "Where do I meet? And where do you want me to go?"
Kallen got her instructions, something thrown together by Naoto quickly. Finishing, she shut the phone and realized she was in. She'd wanted to fight Britannia her whole life, and now she could. Yes, it wasn't piloting a knightmare, but that could wait.
Now she just had to sell it to Lelouch. She found him writing down a series of notes. "Okay, um, I have good news."
"What is it?" asked Lelouch.
"I uh... called up a friend of my brothers from before the war," said Kallen. "He's offered to escort us through the ruins so we can get some shots of what is going on here."
"How much did you tell him?" asked Lelouch, voice hard.
"Nothing, nothing about you," said Kallen. "And he knows more about me than you do."
Lelouch paused. "...Do you trust him?"
Naoto had asked that exact same question. It took Kallen off-guard, and she answered honestly before she could think. "Of course, I've known Oghi for years."
Lelouch seemed to consider that, before making a few more notes. "Fine.
"When do we meet him?"
"Tomorrow at the same place we looked before," said Kallen. "I... I think it would be good to take some shots of the aftermath."
"Fair enough," said Lelouch. "I'll make some preparations."
Kallen slept in one of the guest rooms that night.
It was actually pretty nice, especially not with her bitch of a stepmother snarking at her. Still, there weren't any of the shampoos she preferred to use though Kallen was willing to make that sacrifice.
Coming back, she ate a breakfast of eggs and bacon. Lelouch was the very image of the perfect older brother to Nunnally. But Nunnally seemed concerned. "Lelouch, I was listening to the news. Why do you think those police did those things? I mean, how could it help them?"
"I don't know," admitted Lelouch. "But don't worry, I'm sure things will work out. You know, there are rumors Prince Clovis is going to get them all fired."
Kallen opened her mouth, only to be silenced with a glare from Lelouch.
"Do you think they'll be less horrible in the future," asked Nunnally.
"I'm sure," said Lelouch. "When the truth comes to light, people act. Don't worry, Nunnally.
"Sayoko, could you take Nunnally to the park?" asked Lelouch. "Kallen and I are going to be going out to do some research for our project over the weekend."
"Of course, Master Lelouch," said Sayoko.
"Just don't go to any bad places, Lelouch," said Nunnally. "You know Shirley will get upset if you do."
"Don't worry about me," said Lelouch. "I'll be careful."
Lelouch pulled out a gun as soon as they were in the next room and started checking it. He did so with obvious expertise. He clearly knew what he was doing and before long had finished.
"Lelouch..." said Kallen, blinking. "Tell me that's not a gun."
"It's a gun," said Lelouch. "Now, we should discuss the content of our next project. Last time we did something shocking and terrible. We should go for something tamer this time."
"What do you mean?" asked Kallen, finding the idea a bad one.
"We just gave the Britannian occupation a bloody nose," said Lelouch. "If we keep going after them, they'll dismiss us as a terrorist.
"If we focus on things that don't implicate them, we can still pressure on them. But the pressure won't be their fault."
"But it is their fault," said Kallen. "Japan had one of the best economies in the world before they landed."
"No one likes taking responsibility for their actions, Kallen," said Lelouch. "If we make Britannia out to be what it is, people will ignore it out of patriotism. Their paychecks rely on not knowing these things.
"So, we'll let things settle down and focus on revealing problems the moderates can help fix.
"We want to put popular pressure on the nobles."
"And you think they'll do anything about it?" asked Kallen.
Lelouch finished checking his gun and stored it in his front pocket. Then he walked toward the door and picked up his bag. "No.
"I think that when they do nothing and sneer like they always do, it will alienate people. Then people will be more willing to listen to the really horrible things."
"Hang on, what if we run into more cops?" asked Kallen. "Or some other atrocity."
"We take pictures and save them for the opportune moment," said Lelouch.
One bus stop later, Kallen and Lelouch stepped off the bus. They found Oghi waiting by the stop. His curly hair was held up with a headband, and he was wearing a leather jacket. As soon as they stepped off, he approached.
"Kallen," said Oghi.
"Oghi, um, it's been a long time, hasn't it?" asked Kallen, not sure what to do.
"Yes, I was surprised when we got your call," said Oghi, before looking to Lelouch. "My name is Kaname Oghi. Did Kallen tell you about me?"
Lelouch moved forward and offered a handshake. "Lelouch Lamprouge. I take it you're our escort."
"Yes, that's me," said Oghi, taking the hand. "It's really the least we can do. Getting the word out about what is going on here is going to help a lot of people."
"Well, it is more worthwhile than reading history," said Lelouch, separating. Getting to one knee, he drew his camera out. "I'd prefer to stick to the safer areas of this area if you'd like to lead us there. Nowhere dangerous."
"Of course, follow me," said Oghi.
Kallen wondered if she should tell Oghi about the gun Lelouch had brought. Eventually, she decided it wasn't a big deal. Taking a weapon was probably a smart idea anyway; she wished she had one.
Hang on, what was an elitist kid like Lelouch doing owning a gun?
"Just remember to stay close," said Oghi. "This area should be safe for you, but other places might not be quite so safe."
"A different resistance group?" asked Lelouch.
"Yes, I-" Oghi froze.
And then Kallen realized why Lelouch had brought the gun. Oghi looked at Lelouch for a moment, as Lelouch stood a distance away. He looked ready to pull his gun on a moment's notice. Did he really distrust them that much?
Then why had he come?
Did he think this worth the risk?
"I'd prefer if you didn't spread the word about that," said Oghi at last. "We're not terrorists. The police don't do any work in these areas other than to terrorize people. All law and order comes from gangs.
"Most of what we do is try to keep a semblance of civilization. Most 'resistance' groups don't actually attack people at all."
That was a lie. But Lelouch smiled. "You don't have to worry.
"If I revealed what little I know about you, I'd have to explain what I was doing out here. That would cause us both serious problems, wouldn't it? Speaking the truth can ruin your health."
"I see your point," said Oghi carefully. "Well, why don't we begin?"
They made their way first down into the remnants of the old market. The bodies had been cleared away, but dried blood was spattered where all the shooting had been. Stands remained wrecked, and the shattered remnants of ruined goods were around. Several people had put up memorials to the people who had been killed.
Lelouch took a lot of shots here, and so did Kallen. But Kallen noticed Lelouch always stayed a decent distance from Oghi. He was constantly peering around for any sign of anyone, and he also stayed a bit distant from Kallen.
"I've reconsidered," said Lelouch. "We should focus our project on the aftermath of the massacre. That will stop it from being some random occurrence and solidify it as an event. If we can build a mythology around this massacre, it'll make a good story."
"Are you really sure you should be focusing on stories?" asked Oghi, voice wary.
"Everything is a story," said Lelouch. "If you want people to be interested in something you have to have a good story. Britannia isn't staging takeovers of other nations to fill the wallets of nobles. It's enlightening the weaker races and pulling them into the service of the superior race.
"But a story is all about context.
"You need heroes, villains, and a world in which they are set. That world has to have an existence independent of those heroes. If only the heroes are focused on, then the story lacks reality.
"We need this place to be more than the scene of a massacre.
"It needs to be a place where people used to live. It needs to be a market by which the Japanese were recovering. A market that was destroyed and brutalized by a gang of thugs calling themselves the police."
"And who's the hero?" asked Oghi. "You?"
"The people who change their behavior because of what we show them," said Lelouch. "There is no hero in this situation, and people want justice. So, they'll try to create a hero. Maybe it'll be protests or vigilante killings, maybe defunding the police.
"Heroism is a reaction to injustice. What we want to do is inspire people to try and become heroes.
"This is why terrorism doesn't work. It's lashing out at a system and, in so doing, justifying their actions. Britannia isn't hurt by terrorism. It needs terrorism to justify its exploitation and brutality.
"If you want to obliterate Britannia, you can't do it with a bomb.
"You need a hero." He paused. "Actually, that reminds me. We need a sequel hook."
"Sequel hook?" asked Oghi.
"Yes," said Lelouch, "something we only touch on and can expand on later. Preferably something commonplace that comes as a result of major underlying problems.
"Drug addiction should do. It would let us change the focus to something other than the police."
"But the police take bribes from the drug kingpins!" said Kallen.
"All the better," said Lelouch. "If we find news about that, it hurts the police without anyone being able to say we're gunning for them. We get the best of both worlds."
"...Fine," said Oghi. "I think I might know something that could help. But we're going to have to go a bit out of our way. And you have to stay close."
Oghi took them through the maze of shattered buildings and to a house. There he knocked, and a woman came out. Oghi had a conversation with her, out of hearing. She glanced at both of them, but let them in.
As it turned out, it was a clinic. And a lot of people within it were hurt or injured from the last attack. Still, some of them were not hurt on the surface, but writhing while talking to themselves.
"Yes, yes, son, that uniform looks great on you..." murmured one man. "I'm very proud..."
"What's wrong with him?" asked Kallen as they took shots.
"He's using Refrain," said Oghi. "We've been trying to keep the stuff off our streets, but the Mafia is powerful. A lot of people are desperate to return to every day. Using Refrain lets you revisit your old memories like you're there. So crime syndicates sell it all the time."
Lelouch noted and passed her the camera. "Kallen, get some shots while I take notes."
Kallen did take shots and thought these people looked truly pathetic. They'd given up on the future, even on the present. All they cared about now was trying to relive their memories, in living in a fantasy world. Some of them were in the advanced stages, judging from their teeth. Kallen felt sick as she looked over them.
At last, it ended.
She and Lelouch got back on the bus, said their goodbyes to Oghi, and headed back home. Entering the mansion, Lelouch played the role of the perfect big brother to Nunnally. He cooked dinner, and the two retired.
"So what now?" asked Kallen.
"Now we hit the books," said Lelouch. "We've got to check all the histories we can find. Once we have hard data on Refrain's history and how it ended up here, we can use it."
Hitting the books was not fun.
The history of the drug trade was depressing, boring, and tragic. Britannians did almost nothing to keep it in line outside of their own society. While illegal, the only people enforcing it were the terrorists Britannia was shooting.
"...Ugh," said Kallen. "This is so boring."
"Accuracy is important, Kallen," said Lelouch, who was reading a book on the creation of Refrain. "If you get caught in a single lie or inaccuracy, it can destroy your credibility. Now keep reading."
Kallen looked for an excuse to get out of this and found one. "Hang on, do you mind if I check the news?"
"Go ahead," said Lelouch.
Kallen turned it on and switched to the usual channels. Then it was all intercepted by a picture of the Britannian Flag. "And now, his majesty Prince Clovis La Britannia will address the nation."
Prince Clovis appeared, handsome with long blonde hair and a fine, violet cloak. He put his hand to his heart dramatically. "To all my imperial subjects. Including, of course, the many cooperative Elevens who choose to serve the Empire as well. Can you not see my pain? My heart was ripped from my chest, only to be torn apart! The remnants are filled with rage and sadness!
"However, I say now that I, Clovis La Britannia, will not tolerate the brutality of these brutes! I vow henceforth that official investigations will be undertaken! And I will not tolerate terrorism in Area 11 of any kind!
"Because the battle we fight is a righteous one! A virtuous battle, for the good of one and-"
Kallen switched off the TV. "...Nevermind, I'm sorry I asked."
"That speech was pre-prepared," said Lelouch.
"Hmm?" asked Kallen.
"Clovis does this a lot," said Lelouch. "If you look at his speeches, all of them are like mad libs. I think he puts together a bunch of pre-prepared speeches and then swaps out certain parts. That speech was written to deal with a serious terrorist attack. So he adapted it to deal with unfortunate revelations.
"It's all in the performance."
"He sounds like a total ponce," said Kallen.
"I never said it was a good performance," said Lelouch.
And then the door opened, and Sayoko stepped in. "Master Lelouch, Rivalz Cardemonde is here."
"Oh, yes, let him in," said Lelouch.
Rivalz moved in, a short boy with spiky blue hair, still wearing his uniform. "Hey, Lelouch, buddy! You still holed up in here and..." He halted as he saw Kallen. "Kallen Stadtfeld? You're here? Real smooth, Lelouch."
"We're working on a class project," said Lelouch.
"Sure you are," said Rivalz with a devil-may-care smirk. "Anyway, I was wondering if you wanted to head out to the casino tomorrow?"
"Sorry, I'm working on something I can't drop right now," said Lelouch.
"What, seriously?" asked Rivalz. "Why can't we do gambling like we used to? What did Kallen talk you out of it?"
"No, we just..." Lelouch sighed. "Look, Rivalz, I'm working on a project, and I can't go right now, okay. There isn't anything more to it than that."
"I think I've heard everything I need to, Lelouch," said a flirtatious voice.
At that moment, Milly Ashford walked into the room. A girl with wavy, blonde hair, she wore the yellow school uniform, complete with short black skirts. She also had an absolutely enormous set of breasts. Kallen had DDs, and even she felt insecure compared to Milly.
"Madam President?!" said Lelouch, standing up with uncharacteristic shock.
"Yes, I'm cross with you, Lulu," said Milly. "Here I thought you were going to just going to play a prank. Instead, you went and started undermining the sovereignty of our glorious Empire." She leaned forward, so her face was inches from Lelouch's. "And you didn't even invite me?"
Oh, this wasn't going to end well.
