Chapter Twenty-Three: Out of Character

What did it take to make a being act contrary to its own nature?

Emperor Charles Zi Britannia knew the answer. It simply required you to reinterpret that nature. To pull upon a few subtle strings. Once you had them working, you needed only present the right emotional stresses. You then exaggerate them.

Very few things could alter one faster than a mental breakdown. Now, the question was whether a person could be put together.

Manipulating the minds of individuals was an art form. It was also one with a high margin for error. Such had been the case with Cornelia Li Britannia and Villetta Nu.

But it was of no present consequence. Charles Zi Britannia had turned men into beings contrary to their own nature. Luciano Bradley, the Vampire of Britannia, had been introspective. Villetta Nu, wholly self-interested, had been entirely concerned for another.

Now that the out of character moments had happened, they could be used. To test another hypothesis. Influencing the people within the region to forget it ever happened and simply move past it.

If the latter could be achieved, then the Geass Order's plans were not wholly in ruins.

Charles Zi Britannia had ruled his Empire for many years.

At no point had he ever cared what happened to it, save insofar as it affected his true goals. But, now, he found himself having to reassess everything that had led up to this point. Despite his best efforts, he could only look over the ruins of best-laid plans that had been made.

And, soon enough, V.V arrived. "I hope you have an explanation, Charles?"

Charles glanced back, feigning ignorance. "For what, big brother?"

"You focused the energies of C's world through Cornelia using the Thought Elevator," said V.V. "Even if the changes have been subconscious, they are happening.

"She's able to perceive things that she shouldn't. And her personal charisma has been increased a great deal.

"We're practically seeing a return of the Olympians of Greece."

Olympians.

An ancient cult of mortals. They had drawn upon C's world to gain powers over the will of mankind. The Thought Elevator had been abused by them to fulfill wanton desires. "A necessary precaution.

"Lelouch has grown in influence a great deal. It has begun to have a serious effect on the Collective Unconscious. I have focused the energies opposing his Rebellion into Cornelia."

"That was a dangerous gamble to make, Charles," said V.V. "Putting that kind of power in the hands of Cornelia could backfire. And even if it works, it will drain the Thought Elevator."

"Do you have an alternative means of controlling the Knights of Ashford," said Charles.

V.V remained silent for a long moment. "I told you.

"We should have killed Lelouch when we had the chance."

Charles shrugged. "The plan is proceeding."

"Proceeding?" asked V.V. "We've lost many of the areas we'll need. Even if we succeed in restoring Britannia, it could take longer than our lifetime. We need those ruins."

"Not necessarily," said Charles. "There are other means of creating the Ragnarok connection that we might attempt."

"All of them unreliable," said V.V. "Though judging from your composure, I assume you have a plan."

"Lelouch has done a great deal to harm Britannia," said Charles. "But Britannia was never more than a means to an end. And his ideology is more or less identical to our own.

"It is ironic that the son who sees me as a nemesis is far more after my own heart."

"Which could be useful if we intended to recruit him," said V.V. "However, we do not."

"Even so, the desire for truth in the world is at all-time high," said Charles. "Lelouch has been revealing the lies of the world wherever he goes. And as he does, he also inspires the hatred of this world that you and I experience. We sought the Thought Elevators because they were a natural connection to C's world.

"However, every human being is connected to the Collective Unconscious. Every person has some sway over it. The more active they become, the more sway they hold, the more powerful in this world. Lelouch, right now, is a beacon.

"The truth burns within him and lights candles in those who stand beside him.

"Even if our plans completely fail, his efforts will have left Britannia far better for it. However, the rest of eternity must be considered."

"You are suggesting using Lelouch as a sort of... spark," said V.V. "By which we can inspire the world as a whole to willingly call down the Ragnarok Connection?"

"Why not?" asked Charles.

"I don't have faith in populist movements," said V.V. "Ignorant people don't know what is best for them. Even if Lelouch inspires a movement, it will divide and shatter. Just like every other religion, it will have sects, and they will fight one another. Then things will begin anew.

"Lelouch would only create a temporary solution to a very serious problem."

"Obviously," said Charles. "Lelouch is not equipped to save this world by himself. However, if properly channeled, we could use him to enact our will. Furvor is rising throughout Britannia against our abuses. Our enemies are having a propaganda field day.

"People are beginning to realize how sick and twisted this nation is.

"However, the EU and the Chinese are no better than us. They merely are not having a spotlight shown on their actions."

"...I see," said V.V. "You wish to create Knights of Ashfords within other nations then?"

"Not by that name," said Charles. "But yes. We need organizations that deal only in the truth—real journalists who reveal the black heart of this world. Doing so will destabilize the EU and the Chinese Federation and give us room to breathe. If it works, the people themselves may call down the Ragnarok Connection.

"Failing that, it should give us the time to regroup and make another plan. I can take a Code, or find a successor, in a worst-case scenario."

"I see," said V.V. "I suppose I should not use Geass for this purpose, then. Compulsion rarely creates mass movements. I will send one of my agents to observe events instead. Removing Lelouch may be necessary."

"We all have to make sacrifices, big brother," said Charles.

And V.V departed.

Soon enough, however, another figure entered the room above the clouds. She looked up at C's world, or what men called Jupiter. "...So, V.V is gone, then?"

"That he is, Marianne," said Charles. "Do you have any doubts?"

"About the plan?" asked Marianne. "No.

"I mean, if we do end up killing Lelouch, it won't matter. We'll just apologize to him when we win. Death will be nothing more than an inconvenience by the time we're finished. Did you tell V.V?"

"About what?" asked Charles.

"Oh, come on Charles, about Lelouch's power?" asked Marianne.

"No," said Charles. "If I did, V.V might have chosen to remove him ahead of time."

"You know, I always assumed that geass was just something that had to be granted. But I suppose even we haven't learned everything yet."

"Geass can only be granted by an immortal to someone who has a strong enough will and drive to use it," said Charles. "That much we have always known, or else C.C should have succeeded a long time ago.

"However, it appears that Geass is actually an innate power. The Code Bearer merely focuses it into a form that most suits their hearts desire."

"Do you think that Lelouch would have attained it on his own?" asked Marianne.

"Perhaps," said Charles. "C.C always said there was an element of fate to those she made contacts with. Then again, she was alive in days of superstition.

"However, by forming the Knights of Ashford, Lelouch became more and more in touch with C's world. As his resolve hardened and he inspires those around him to act, he gained a presence of command. Thus the world is responding to that presence.

"In addition, you might be interested to know that Lelouch has made contact with the Sword of Akasha."

"What?" asked Marianne. "Is such a thing possible?"

"It is a construct within C's world. He is siphoning off power from it instead of around it," said Charles. "His desire, in the end, is the same as ours—a world without lies. However, because he never made a contract, his power manifests in a more subtle way. A similar thing is happening with Cornelia.

"The will of mankind is beginning to focus around particular individuals. They are drawing others to them. While this sets back the Ragnarok Connection, it also gives us an opportunity. The power to manipulate events directly."

Marianne paced behind him. "...So, what are we going to do about the political unrest? The Washington Party has been driven back for now, but we could have problems later."

"For a start?" asked Charles. "I must be seen to take action. I think it is time that the nobility learned something. What it means to have the Emperor's extraordinary displeasure."

"You've been meaning to do something about them for a while, haven't you?" asked Marianne.

"Yes," said Charles. "Unfortunately, I've never had the chance. When I first began as Emperor, I had no choice but to tolerate them to stay in power. Then, when I gained power, I had to use it to destroy those who were my political enemies. Once I'd done that, there were wars to fight, and V.V needed the Thought Elevators.

"And... of course, their corruption only became worse as we won victory after victory."

"I wonder if they would behave differently if they knew the rest of the world was letting us win," said Marianne. "Someone must have noticed that luck always seems to be on Britannia's side. No matter how many idiots are in command. No matter how heroic and incorruptible and in-genius our enemies are, they always lose.

"They would not," said Charles. "Social Darwinism is merely the excuse they use to cover for their inherent weakness. If they knew that I was using the Thought Elevator to pull strings, would they change? Of course not, they would attribute their wealth to divine providence."

"Still, from the looks of things, Lelouch has thrown a spanner in things," said Marianne. "The Geass Order spent centuries putting people in place. All so that Britannia could take over the world in a walkover. We've got sleeper agents in every nation, doing small, critical jobs. And all made them just a little bit weaker and less efficient.

"And Lelouch upended all that with a camera and a school uniform a few years. With the political and military landscape changing, our entire system has been wrecked.

"It'll be a real shame if we have to kill them."

"Well, even the most doting of parents must discipline their children," said Charles. "We need not manipulate the media when we can control the minds of people directly. We now need only channel things directed, and we can achieve our plans regardless."

"So what are you going to do?" asked Marianne.

"For the moment, I want you to speak to C.C," said Charles. "Tell her that we need her to get more of a hold over Lelouch. If only so that he can be directed.

"As for Babel Tower, we'll use Cornelia. She is the cipher of our will, by which we will purge the less productive elements from our society. Since we no longer have total superiority in this war, we must cut the useless chafe."

"It'll be a pleasure," said Marianne. "Still, Clovis had some minor financial given to him by Schneizel. From what I gather, he's done quite well in it. He stopped wearing silk and works from nine to four.

"I think he has learned from past mistakes."

"Then perhaps he may be due for a promotion. I will speak with Schneizel about his results," said Charles. "If they are good, I may consider greater responsibility.

"Still, we should have C.C take a more active role.

"Things are rapidly approaching their conclusion."

Author's Note:

This is certainly going to be the last chapter for this fic.

I've decided to put it aside for a bit in any case. I've been trying to make it a high priority because of how many people enjoyed it. However, I feel like the quality has been dropping—more and more chapters are receiving mixed reviews. The last chapter, in particular, was majorly out of character, as many said so.

Ordinarily, I'd remove the chapter, but by now, so many people have seen it, it is part of the fic one way or another. So, I'm ending things here while patching up the errors as best I can.

So, for now, the fic is done.

I really appreciate everyone who has chosen to give me their support and their feedback. This fic would never have made it this far without you guys. If I feel the creative drive again, I'll try to make a sequel.