Chapter Eighteen: Crash into Hello

Kallen was not in a good mood as she and Suzaku made their way past a government building. Just ahead was an archway with magnificent windows. It was a courthouse, right? It hardly mattered.

Kallen was way too angry to care. Suzaku decided to tread lightly around the redhead.

"I can't believe him!" said Kallen. "Here we are on a mission, and where is Lelouch? Going off flirting with random mech pilots!"

"Kallen..." said Suzaku. It was amazing just how vibrant the supposedly ill girl got when angry.

"It's ridiculous," said Kallen. "Checking the refrain dens was his idea in the first place, and he makes a big deal about how he'll lead by example.

"Then seconds after we show up, that floozy struts in and-"

"That was Princess Cornelia," said Suzaku.

Kallen halted, just below the window. "What? What do you mean?"

"I saw a picture of her in several military magazines," said Suzaku. "She has the same facial structure and hairstyle. Also, didn't you notice that her body posture was all wrong for a noble?"

"Hmm, now that you mention most nobles walk like they're the most important people in the world," said Kallen. "But she looked like she thought the entire universe revolved around her."

"Then why didn't you find it strange?" asked Suzaku.

"I thought she was a prostitute at first," said Kallen.

Suzaku stared. "In designer style clothes?"

"A very well dressed prostitute," said Kallen. "You can find loads of them among the nobility.

"Wait, why would Lelouch be alone with Princess Cornelia? He's not going to kill her, is he? That could cause all kinds of hell."

Wait for what? Why would Kallen jump to that kind of conclusion? She was really odd. "I don't think so.

"Lelouch, well um... he was close with her and Princess Euphemia back when he lived in the Ares Villa. He often talked about him back before the war."

"You don't think he's going to admit to it?" asked Kallen.

"Well, if I know Lelouch, he's going to try to talk to her and get a sense where she stands on things," said Suzaku. "Then he'll probably try to get her to do something he wants her to do. He's very good at that, and he'll go to just about any length."

"What do you mean lengths?" asked Kallen, looking concerned.

Suzaku thought about how to answer. "Oh, um, well, when he first arrived, he completely refused to eat any of the food my family offered him. He insisted on living on his stipend from Britannia. He did his own laundry, cooked his own meals, and even refused to live in his apartments.

"He actually fixed up an old shack instead. Father thought he'd come crying back in a week, but we managed to fix the place up pretty well."

"But why go to all that trouble?" asked Kallen.

"Lelouch never does anything by half measures," said Suzaku. He thought about the times they'd shared. It had seemed a better world back then, but it was gone forever now. "When he decides to do something, he does it and goes to any length necessary. Nunnally is the most important thing in the world to him. But he made her and himself much more uncomfortable than they had to be, so he didn't have to owe Father anything."

Kallen stared at him in realization. "...You're Suzaku Kururugi, the son of the late Prime Minister?"

"You just realized that?" asked Suzaku, surprised she hadn't figured it out.

"I figured you might have had the same name," said Kallen. "What are you doing as an Honorary Britannian?"

Suzaku sighed. "That's a bit of a long story.

"After the war, I spent a bit of time with my mentor, Kyroshiro Tohdoh. I kept training to use Knightmares and finished my training in martial arts. But uh, then the JLF wanted me to start helping them with their operations."

"So why didn't you?" asked Kallen, and there was an accusing note in her tone.

"Well, I thought that if I was going to lead the JLF like a lot of people wanted, I should do it properly," said Suzaku. "So I started talking to people. I talked to the officers, and I talked to the men. They had a lot of fire and fury, and they were training really hard but..."

"But what?" asked Kallen, edge getting worse.

"They had absolutely no plan," said Suzaku. "General Katase had no plan beyond digging in, fortifying, and harassing Britannian shipments. When I suggested we get help from China or the EU, everyone shut me down. It was unthinkable to bring in one foreign power to save another.

"So I suggested we launch an all-out attack on wherever the Britannians were weakest. But everyone told me we were too weak for open war. And, after looking at the numbers, I realized they were right. We'd be slaughtered.

"So I went to Kyoto to talk about increasing our war plans. My cousin, Kaguya Sumaragi, is one of them. She was always fond of Lelouch. Anyway, we talked, and I negotiated with them at length. They told me I had their full support, of course, but discretion must be maintained. And they made a lot of speeches about arranging for Kyoto to stand on equal footing with Britannians.

"And I realized, they didn't care about the cause at all.

"I mean, yes, they thought they cared. They'd often have tea with JLF officers to speak gravely. They've lamented the loss of old Japan and they dream of a new one. But they passed up every chance that was offered to make headway. All because it would endanger their business relations.

"Eventually, I got angry and told them that if we were ever going to take back Japan, we had to take some risks. And I pointed out that sooner or later, Britannia would wipe us out if we didn't move.

"At which point I was told that to seize to back Japan at this stage would result in us becoming a puppet state. Either to the EU or to the Chinese. No one even considered whether they might be better rulers. And so our task was to stall for time until an opportunity presented itself.

"So, I realized what none of them would admit.

"The glorious resistance system that exists in Area 11 isn't a movement. It's a social club that kills people. All the former officials of the Japanese Government who didn't flee to China get together. They all try to embody Japanese virtues. They know that sooner or later, Britannia will wipe them out. But they're too proud to throw in the town and negotiate for a better deal.

"So they just keep on raiding and killing people, blowing things up with no rhyme or reason. And everyone in the ghettos has it worse and worse, and Britannia initiates reprisals. And for what? So the JLF can feel honorable?"

"So what did you did?" asked Kallen, looking a bit disheartened and shocked.

"I left," said Suzaku. "I told them that they were completely incapable of stopping Britannia. They were only causing misery for no purpose. Then I went to the ghettos and tried to earn a normal job."

"But how did you end up in the military?" asked Kallen.

"Jobs are hard to come by in the ruins, Kallen," said Suzaku. "You usually need some kind of connection or family relationship. And my family disowned me.

"I had to eat.

"So, I joined the military and made honorary Britannian."

"That's it?" asked Kallen.

"Would you starve to death before you became a Britannian soldier?" asked Suzaku.

"I..." Kallen hesitated. "I don't know. I've always had a roof over my head and food to eat."

"That kind of thing is a luxury not everyone has. Appreciate it," said Suzaku.

Kallen looked ready to change the subject, and Suzaku wondered why. "Right.

"Anyway, that's uh, three people I've learned were royalty this week. At this rate, it's going to be raining Princesses-"

"Look out below!" said a voice.

Then out of the sky fell a radiantly beautiful, pink, wavy-haired girl. As Kallen looked up, they collided, and both hit the ground hard. Now Kallen and the girl were face to face, their ample breasts pressed up against one another. The girl was wearing a luxury white dress with pink lining and ample cleavage.

"Ow," said Kallen.

"Oh, I'm sorry," said the girl. "I didn't see anyone below me."

Kallen regained her breast and realized just how close her lips were to the girl. She tried to move. "Who... who are you supposed to be exactly?"

"Oh, um, my name is Euphie, and there are some bad men after me," said the girl. "Could you please protect me?"

"Wait, what?" said Kallen.

"Um, are you sure you want to latch onto us?" asked Suzaku, noticing the stares.

"Well, I mean, you're part of the Knights of Ashford, aren't you?" asked the girl. "I figure nobody will want to come after me if I'm with you."

"Can you get off me first, please?" asked Kallen.

"Oh right, sorry," said Euphie, standing in a hurry.

"Look, are you really sure you want to go with us? I mean-" began Suzaku.

"She can't come," said Kallen, standing up.

"What?" said Suzaku. "But she's in trouble."

"We're heading into the Shinjuku Ghetto, Suzaku," said Kallen. "Clovis turned it into a wasteland. This isn't a tour bus.

"It's dangerous.

"Can't she go to the police?"

Euphie paused. "...Well, I mean, have you seen the footage of them in this place?"

"Alright, fine, so that's a stupid question," said Kallen, standing up. "But you can't be telling me that the Knights of Ashford are considered the best protectors you can find."

"Well, you're the only people around," said Euphie. "I don't know who I can trust is all."

Suzaku looked to Kallen and did not buy this explanation. Judging from her look, neither did Kallen. Still, one didn't latch on to random strangers headed into dangerous places. She was likely a curious noble. Kallen shrugged. "...Fine, I'll humor you. Come on, Suzaku and... uh... what was your name again?"

"I'm Euphie," said the girl.

"Cute name," muttered Kallen. "Stay with Suzaku and don't get involved. Okay, Suzaku, you are going to keep her occupied and make sure she stays out of my work. I'm at half a crew as it is."

And Kallen led them onward.

Suzaku spent the time they were walking, telling Euphie a bit about the places they were walking past. Several times Kallen was drawn into the conversation. But she kept glancing at the girl suspiciously. Once, her and Euphy's gaze met and held each other for a moment before Euphie looked away.

Eventually, however, they met Kallen's contact.

He was a big man, with curly black hair held up with a headband. He wore a weathered brown vest and had a hand in one pocket. Black eyes gazed around and blinked in surprise as they arrived. "Oh, Kallen, there you are. What kept you?

"And um... who are your friends?"

"We had one or two run-ins on the way," said Kallen. "I'm ready for the interviews now, Oghi. These people are tourists. Just make sure they don't get killed."

"I won't be trouble, I assure you," said Euphie.

"You're wearing a dress that is worth more than most people make in a year out here," said Oghi. "You're a walking target. Look, I know that we've been cooperating with Ashford Academy. But it's dangerous to dress like that out here."

"And you've wrecked it," muttered Kallen. "Those frays on the skirt are going to have to be fixed by someone. I'd never take that kind of outfit out here."

Euphie paused. "I... see. I'll be more careful in the future."

"Right, follow me," said Oghi. "So uh... who are these Kallen? I do need a name."

"Suzaku Kururugi, son of the late Prime Minister. And... Euphie, I guess," said Kallen with a shrug. "They want to tag along, and Suzaku is filling in for Lelouch."

"Can you vouch for them?" asked Oghi.

"Lelouch vouches for Suzaku," said Kallen. "And he saved our lives during the Viceroy Palace massacre. Euphie... she wants to see Shinjuku. Let her see it, and maybe word will get into higher circles how bad things are out there."

"I guess it could break up the echo chambers," said Oghi.

"Echo chambers?" asked Euphie.

"Yes," said Oghi. "People like the Knights of Ashford have been spreading information about atrocities. But a lot of people in power don't want the information to spread. So they are dismissing what they find as misinformation.

"Everything you read online that contradicts the Royalist narrative becomes foreign interference. And if the Royalists bring up some logical points, their opponents call them puppets. It doesn't matter how logical the arguments are. Anyone who disagrees with anyone else is painted with the same brush.

"There are good people in the Britannian nobility, of course. Charities have been founded that have helped with a lot of the problems in the ghetto. And there are even people doing volunteer work and such.

"But nobody wants to believe that their country does the kinds of things Britannia does. And if you are actively benefiting from what Britannia is doing, even unknowingly... well, nobody wants that on their conscience. The entire web is flooded with misinformation, and you can't believe anything you read. So people tend to believe the story that supports their existing worldview.

"You being here is actually real progress.

"Having someone with real rank who has firsthand experience could do wonders. Just uh... well, I recommend wearing something a bit less obvious in the future."

"Thank you," said Euphie.

On they walked through the ghettos. It was only slightly worse than what Suzaku remembered it. More of the buildings were shattered, and there were more repairs being done. But by this point, most of the bodies had been cleared away and the bloodstains taken off the walls.

Now and then, you could see bulletholes where guns had been fired into walls, though.

Kallen explained exactly what happened to Euphie and did very little to sugarcoat it. Suzaku supposed there wasn't any real way to sugarcoat genocide. The rumors that had spread had been all but confirmed. Clovis hadn't been looking for poison gas; he'd been looking to cover something up.

"Would...

"I mean, do you really think Viceroy Clovis would do all this just to cover up a mistress?" asked Euphie.

"Absolutely," said Kallen.

"But how can you say that so quickly?" asked Euphie. "I mean... he's a progressive. He pushed for better treatment of the numbers in court. And he also seemed to believe it."

"He probably did believe it," said Kallen with a shrug. "People who lie often enough believe their own lies. As for why he was pushing for better treatment of the Japanese, who cares? It was just a convenient cause for him.

"If he didn't think it would sell, he wouldn't have fought for it.

"Nobility is all the same. They think anything that isn't reported in the news doesn't happen. And therefore, all the horrible stuff they do isn't really a big deal. That's why they hate us so much; us reporting on their atrocities damages their self-image."

"Doesn't that apply to you too?" asked Oghi.

"Hey, I've done more-" began Kallen. "Nevermind." And she stalked forward.

They arrived at a hideout, where Suzaku and Euphie were firmly told to stay outside under guard. The red-haired guard who saw them, named Tamaki, could be heard shouting inside. Suzaku and her sat down on a bench, looking at the broken streets while Kallen went in.

"Kallen seems like she's in a really bad mood today," said Suzaku. "She isn't usually this volatile."

"Well, she has a commanding presence, doesn't she?" asked Euphie, looking at Kallen.

"Well, I guess she became a founding member of the Knights of Ashford because of it. Lelouch told me that it was her idea to look at the ghettos and such," said Suzaku. "I guess when you spend all your time documenting the worst side of humanity, you become a bit of a cynic."

"Are you a cynic, Suzaku?" asked Euphie.

"Me?" asked Suzaku. "I prefer to keep focused on the here and now. I don't think about all the bad things happening outside my reach. I think that if everyone focused on doing the right thing as it came up, the world would be a way better place.

"Lelouch would call me an idiot, though."

"You know Lelouch?" asked Euphie.

"Oh yeah, from before the... war," said Suzaku, before realizing he was saying too much. "We had to work together to survive when the invasion happened."

"Was it anything like all this?" asked Euphie.

"Way, way worse," said Suzaku. "People have been able to rebuild a lot despite the police. They can't wreck everything, and the Japanese are a strong race. But when Britannia invaded, they leveled everything. All the buildings were flattered, and people were gunned down in the streets.

"No one was shown any mercy. It made Shinjuku look like a tea party.

"And when we were trying to get to safety, law and order completely broke down. These terrorist groups are law and order in this place. If you want to survive in these places, you have to have a protector."

"You say it so matter of factly," said Euphie.

"It's why I don't dwell on the stuff," said Suzaku. "If you focus too much on this kind of thing, it twists you up. The hatred you feel for the bad things that are happening starts to get directed at people.

"Lelouch, though, would say that you've got to focus on it because of its the truth. And only by knowing the truth can you change reality. But it really hasn't done very much for his health.

"He's a nice guy, but sometimes I feel like he hates everyone and everything. I let my hatred roll off me. But Lelouch, he takes it all on himself, feeling angry at everyone who is hurting everyone else. But it doesn't burst out like with most people. Instead, it kind of freezes inside him, waiting for the right moment."

"And what about Kallen?" asked Euphie.

"I think she keeps her emotions pent up until she eventually snaps. I gather she was here since before the invasion began," said Suzaku. "She had a lot of Japanese friends, and they let her and Lelouch take pictures."

Euphie paused. "What are the Knights of Ashford's goal, do you know?

"Well, I can't say I'm in the inner circle," said Suzaku. "But if I had to guess, it would be to obliterate Britannia with the truth."

Euphie looked at him. "You don't mean that, do you?"

"I don't mean the physical country, obviously. They aren't monsters," said Suzaku. "But, Lelouch is really bitter about what happened, and I think Kallen is as well. Both of them have had to pretend to be something they're not for most of their lives. I think that Lelouch wants to rip off the mask of sanity and goodness that Britannia has put up.

"In his mind, I think, all the horrors and destruction that have happened are worth it, if only to reveal the truth. And he doesn't care what happens as long as the lies of the world are exposed. But sometimes a mask can be a very good thing."

"But what about everything that's happened?" asked Euphie. "New York is a graveyard. Everyone there is terrified."

"I can't say I approve of any of that," said Suzaku, remembering Luciano's brutality. It sent shudders down his spine. "But most of the brutality and horrors have happened because of Britannia's overreaction. Without the Viceroy Palace massacre, the Washington Party never would have gotten support.

"Ends gained through contemptible means aren't worth anything.

"But Lelouch isn't using contemptible means. All he's doing is revealing just how bad everything is. Britannia reacted to the publication of their violent actions with more violence. So all they did was prove Lelouch right.

"Now, does that mean I approve of how radical he is?

"No.

"But it could be a lot worse. Lelouch is a genius. If he decided he was willing to break the law and kill people, I'd hate to think what he could do.

"I just wish he could let go of his hatred."

"Well-" began Euphie.

At that moment, Kallen got back. She walked out, pack on her shoulder, and went up to them. "Alright, I'm back. The interview is over, and I've got pictures of the Refrain victims. Now we can focus on taking pictures of the ruins. Rivalz wants me to get some shots that show the highway."

"What's so special about the highway?" asked Euphie.

"Rivalz is always driving along it and taking shots from above," said Kallen. "So having shots that include it provides a contrast if you put it side by side. Shirley usually has us get a good shot of the main Britannian settlement.

"We should head out and link up with Lelouch. He'd better have made some actual progress and not just been..." Her face went red as she clenched her fist. "Nevermind."

Suzaku reflected that today was passing unexpectedly quickly. He just wished Kallen would cool off.