Disclaimer: I don't own either of the Code Geass, Gundam Seed or Star wars franchises. This story is not written with commercial purpose in mind. I make no money from it. It is not for sale or rent.
A Black Knight Rising
Chapter 3: Military Intelligence is not an oxymoron…
=ABKR=
Part 1
18 March 2009 A.T.B.
Army base "Lancelot"
Area Six
Half hour after finishing breakfast, I was clad in a Class I officer's uniform complete with a captain's insignias. I had the paperwork concerning my brevet rank too and it was time to get to work. I took a deep breath and accessed the Force. A soothing cool wave passed through me and my senses grew sharper; the world around me – brighter. I still couldn't help it but wonder at the sensation – it was as if I've been blind and deaf my whole life up until now.
I straightened up. With the Force at my side and Veil's memories I could use to my advantage it was unlikely that I would fail. It was time to get to work.
My first task was to meet my aide – a lieutenant who had been relegated to a staff position. She should be waiting for me near the entrance of the compound where our Military Intelligence staff was working. I opened the thick folder I was carrying, moved aside my papers and looked over the file of one Viletta Nu. A cute face stared back from her picture. She had a short hair in a colour that my new memories deemed quite odd – it was stated as bluish teal though it appeared to be gunmetal grey. The woman had sharp angular yet attractive features and striking large yellow eyes.
I couldn't see anything of her figure from her picture. That thought made me stop and groan. When all was said and done, I was just leaving my teenage years behind and my hormones were still acting up. That wasn't something I would have noticed just a few weeks ago, yet it was different now. I frowned. There was a part of me that was bloody irritated that the first thing I noticed about my aide to be was how attractive she was – from a picture no less, instead of not paying attention to how she looked until I had digested her record and found out how competent the military deemed her.
What else did my new memories changed in me? How long would it be before I couldn't recognize myself?
Did it really matter? I remembered Veil's face vividly. It was the same as mine – just decades older. Damn it, this was weird. It should have been something I thought about after I got these memories and the Force…
A dark chuckle escape my lips and I shook my head. No. It didn't matter. As long as keeping my family safe remained my top priority, I didn't care how those memories would change me. It was small price to pay to protect those few who were precious to me, one that I would gladly pay again.
I returned my attention to the dossier.
First Lieutenant Nu. A year long stint as a platoon CO, before being sent to a staff position to gain experience. Did well enough to merit such a change in circumstances, which was necessary before she had a chance for a promotion.
Great, my aide had a bit more experience than me. I would have to work ever harder to keep proving that I didn't owe my temporarily promotion to nepotism.
Hmm, Nu was a commoner – which might cause friction with some Nobles in the army who would believe that being my aide would be far above her station. On the other hand, gaining the lieutenant's loyalty and if she was competent enough arranging a tittle for her might bind the woman to me for the long haul. That was something to consider.
Besides, she was quite easy on the eyes – my gaze drifted up to her picture and I groaned. At lest she wasn't too old to make things socially troublesome. Nu had turned nineteen just a month ago.
Down boy! Bloody hormones! I grit my teeth and used one of the mental exercises Veil knew to concentrate my mind. I muttered a curse and continued browsing the file.
The LT had graduated Toronto Military Academy in the top thirty percent of her class, which was followed by her tour in the mechanized infantry before her current post – logistics. That thought made the face of a human-like alien flash through my mind – the only real difference was the small horns he has all over his head instead of hair.
General Telar Valentra – my memories supplied. He was the man in charge of the Republic's logistic as well as R&D during the Clone Wars. His efforts were critical for the war effort.
I shook my head at that bit of trivia. Yeah, message receive loud and clear! Logistics were very important, don't fuck them up ever.
That was something emphasized at the Point, though not everyone took the lesson to heart. Too many saw no glory in dealing with logistics.
Perhaps I should have been paying more attention. Hopefully, Veil's memories would help in that regard too.
I finished browsing Nu's file and headed for the Intel compound.
=ABKR=
I found the Lieutenant waiting for me near the checkpoint at the main entrance. She stood at parade rest and had a blank expression on her face. Before I could stop them, my eyes were drawn to her lithe figure. Damn it, the woman filled up her uniform nicely.
Was it that hard to ask certain parts of my anatomy to keep things professional damn it?! I forced my mind to think about the bastards who attacked my family a few days ago and the fact that they had such an opportunity because Intel not only dropped the ball, but threw it away and refused to play. That got my blood boiling and shifted my attention away from my aide's curves.
I strode next to the waiting woman.
"Lieutenant Nu, captain li Britannia. Have you been briefed on your new assignment?" I asked in as a professional tone as I could manage.
"Your Highness!" The LT fell on one knee and made me roll my eyes. It was clear she hadn't met riyal's before and decide to play things safely.
"Keep that for official ceremonies and the likes. Outside those and combat areas saluting is more than enough, lieutenant. Now please answer my question."
Nu got up in one smooth motion, which made her quite large bust bounce and saluted. I returned it and pointedly studied her face, though my eyes wanted to look to the south.
"No, sir! I was ordered to wait here for my new CO." She answered crisply. She had quite nice voice too.
I considered either getting myself laid or beating a certain part of my anatomy with a stick to keep my hormones in check. Who knew, being a randy teenager sucked. I frowned and the LT blanched.
"Not your fault. I'm sure it 'accidentally' slipped my sister's mind. Either that or whoever actually cut your orders decided to try getting you into trouble because you aren't a noble." I shook my head. "All I care about is competence, so your status as a commoner is of no consequence as far as I'm concerned." I spoke more or less on autopilot.
I wanted to kick myself too. I clearly remember that I wasn't that distracted by beautiful women before crash-landing in Africa and making my deal. From what I remember, Veil did get laid a lot, but he was seldom distracted either.
Ah. The Force – I was currently using it to enhance my senses. Was that responsible for my hormones going haywire? I knew Veil didn't have such problems but he was practically middle aged before he began his training…
I let the Force go and the world appeared blander. Nu was still a very attractive young woman, yet I had much, much easier time keeping my eyes away from her curves or my mind from straying straight into the gutter. Damn it, I didn't have such a problem when in combat or otherwise in danger. Nor around my sisters, which while beautiful I simply didn't see that way. But right here and now, around a woman who was available to be pursued?
Yeah, I needed to find some time for myself and sort out my head before I did something really foolish.
"Sir?" The LT asked warily.
Great, now my aide thought that I was either weird or absent-minded.
"Nothing to worry about, I was just mentally cursing certain people at HQ." I brushed off her concern. "Your new duty is to be my aide. We're to figure out how the insurgents were able to put such a big operation in this Area right under the noses of our agents. Now follow me." I nodded at the checkpoint.
"Yes, sir! I'll do my best." Nu answered immediately.
"That's all I ask for."
=ABKR=
Part 2
18 March 2009 A.T.B.
Military Intelligence section
Army base "Lancelot"
Area Six
I whistled a jaunty tune while a corporal escorted us to meet Colonel Sanders – the commander of all Military Intelligence assets attached to Cornelia's army. The orders I brought with me were going to ensure that he wasn't going to be one of my fans. After all, I was going to be trampling all around his domain with steel heeled boots.
We were led through a large room divided in cubicles and full with people analysing all kinds of data captured from the insurgents. It took some effort not to sent them a baleful glare. Those same analysts and their civilian counterparts were supposed figure out that the insurgents were smuggling what by last estimates was almost a battalion of terrorists with heavy weapons in the city next to this base. Instead, the first we knew of the bastards was when they were about to ambush my convoy.
The only good thing about this whole damned situation was the fact that I was highly motivated to get to the bottom of this mess and see that everyone responsible received their just reward.
Sanders' office was just past the analyst's cubicles. It wasn't particularly big room, though just like a lot of places in this base, it was lavishly decorated. The colonel had added his touch too – one whole wall was covered with medals in glass cases, framed citations and diplomas along with pictures of Sanders with various nobles and generals. That obvious display of his connection might have deterred some people who didn't want to risk angering certain people at court.
Given how my family was just fucked over by Pendragon's politics, I didn't give a fuck about whose toes I might step on.
"Your highness!" Sanders looked from his computer terminal.
The colonel was a tall man with short black hair and brown eyes. His complexion was pale – obviously the man didn't get out much. Sanders was quite large too – broad shoulders and almost barrel like chest and a lot of muscles. His face's most notable features were a large nose and the fact that he was shaven so well his cheeks had a blue tint.
Sanders raised to greet us with a wide smile plastered all over his face. I didn't need the Force to figure out it was mostly fake.
"To what do I owe the honour?" He beamed at me and offered his hand.
"Colonel." I gave him the tiniest of nods, then opened the folder I still carried and retrieved my orders, then handed them into his outstretched hand. "This will be all, corporal. The colonel and I need to have a little chat." I ordered.
Sanders frowned, but took the papers I gave him and made a good show of carefully reading them. He was buying himself time to think and decide how to proceed.
The door behind me closed. I called on the Force and used telekinesis to lock it too, then took a step forward. I could feel Nu's confusion when she heard the door lock by itself.
"Colonel, tell me about the insurrection in this Area." I waved my hand at him – a gesture that helped me concentrate on making the suggestion laced in my voice more potent.
"The Rebels?" He looked up and shook his head. "We're currently going over all the data and I hope we'll have some answers soon."
"What did you know before they began their attacks?" I pushed. "How long have you known they've been infiltrating people and equipment in the city?" I took another step towards the man. He began retreating until his back hit a wall.
"I..." Sanders shook his head. There were beads of sweat forming on his forehead and leaking down his well shaved cheeks. "It… it was a complete surprise, Your Highness!" He stammered.
"Really? So the terrorists managed to get at least a battalion worth of infantry in the city right next door to this base, enough weapons to conquer a third world nation and then attacked a convoy with one of the Emperor's consorts and two of his children, without you being none the wiser?" I sneered at the man. "Forgive me, colonel, but somehow you don't strike me as an incompetent fool. Unfortunately for you, that leaves more sinister options."
I began to slowly walk around his desk towards Sanders. All it took was focusing my anger through the Force and the man found it hard to breathe. Then I increased the pressure on his mind.
"Answer my question, colonel. Was it mere incompetence, no matter how unlikely or treason?" I asked lightly. There was no trace of my rising fury in my voice.
Sanders gasped and grabbed the neckline of his uniform, then began to tug it away from his throat.
"Your highness…" The colonel struggled to breath. "I…"
"Answer me!" I hissed.
"Orders…" He gasped. "Ignore… irregularities… leave them to local police and intelligence services..."
I reigned in my temper and allowed Sanders to breathe a bit easier. "It's treason then." I smiled thinly. "By all means I should have your head for this. Your actions almost cost me the lives of my mother and little sister. My soldiers died after we entered into an ambush blind. Good men and women were murdered because you chose to keep your eyes shut." A burst of telekinesis slammed Sanders into the wall. "I owe your ass, colonel. Start talking. I want to know every bit of trivia you failed to investigate or report to my sister. I want to know what exactly did you forward to the authorities in this Area and to whom you sent the information. Names, locations. I want to know who gave the orders to set up not only my family but every single soldier in this army!" I glared at the man. "Talk!"
At the same time I used the Force to switch on a recorder I had appropriated for this.
Sanders did talk. Oh, he certainly did. That was both more and less helpful than I hopped. Whoever made a power play against Empress Marianne and our family had planned things well in advance. Thanks to the few intercepts he was aware of, Sanders knew that the terrorists had been funnelling both men and equipment to the city for at least a year. He suspected of at least two bases deep in the jungles supplied through the rivers and he believed that no one really tried to interdict those shipments – everyone apparently though that they were just contraband and were content with taking bribes to look away.
Those were probably training camps – too isolated and easy to cut off if to be something more, because once we figured out how they got supplied, interdicting the rivers by air would be quite simple.
Useful Intel and good starting points. What Sanders didn't really know was how many of his people would follow an order or even suggestion from Pendragon to screw this army over. I would have to interview all his bloody staff and hope the Force would help me root out anyone unreliable.
Another problem was where the orders to fuck us over came from – both through official channels and as suggestions from certain nobles. Even my eldest sister Guinevere appeared to be involved. Cornelia and I, we had to prove ourselves to father as reasonable competent and useful. It was unfortunate that I probably got his attention already – that explains why Bismark himself arranged the arrival of mother and Euphie.
Sander's information wasn't all doom and gloom. There were some more useful bits he supplied – like where and to whom his people were instructed to sent any information concerning the rebels. Once I got this recording to Cornelia, I probably would arrange for the Military Intelligence people on the base to be kept under close guard until I went hunting – otherwise it was likely that someone would warn the Intelligence directorate of this Area and make my job even harder.
Once Sanders told me all he knew, I used the Force to sent him napping, stopped the recording and turned my attention to my aide. During this little interview, I've been getting some quite interesting emotions coming from her. From sheer disbelief to wariness, a bit of fear and outrage at being betrayed by Pendragon. I would have to handle her carefully or risk alienating her towards the Empire and myself, in which case I might have to do something unfortunate for her continued well-being.
However, the job at hand first. A bit of telekinesis later and I had a QRF made of my platoon heading this way. Their official job this morning was to gear up and prepare to go relieve one of the units keeping the order in Buenos Aires or helping with SAR efforts. Naturally, I made sure they were ready to mount their vehicles and get here ASAP before I came to have my chat with Sander. With that done, I concentrated my attention on Nu. We had to have a little chat if she was to be around me for any prolonged period.
=ABKR=
Part 3
18 March 2009 A.T. B.
Military Intelligence section
Army base "Lancelot"
Area Six
People might expect that a hostile takeover of a military or well any intelligence compound could be something quite hard to do. They would be right – at least in theory. Getting a sizeable unit of properly equipped soldiers in place would be quite hard at the best of times. They would be detected by either civilian or military authorities, perhaps both depending on the situation or location.
Unless the site in question relied primary on obscurity for protection, you could expect a sizeable security detachment and then there were both law enforcement and military units that could be called in at short notice.
That was especially true for a compound located in the middle of a military base that was on a high alert and had some of its units engaged nearby.
All of the above was true in this case. However, all those defences were meant to deter an outside hostile force. Having a platoon of friendly forces roll in and park in front of all entrances and then storm the building changes the equation, especially when those troops are reasonably familiar with the site's internal layout. The odds could be altered further when said platoon is acting on lawful orders and the Intelligence compound couldn't rely on any reinforcements.
The last nail in the coffin was that most people working inside were actually analysts and technical specialists. While some of them got proper infantry training and a few even experience in special operations, that didn't meant much. Most of them were unarmed or had side-arms at most. The surprise was complete – the security centre figured out something was wrong only after an APC stopped in front of the checkpoint at the main entrance, levelled its auto-cannon at the guards and began disgorging fully equipped infantry.
If this was a purposely built HQ for Military Intelligence or a similar outfit, there might have been automate defences and armoured panels ready to slide in place and cut access. The only thing available to slow down my men were the doors – which were admittedly pretty heavy and often armoured themselves – and completely useless because thanks to Cornelia my people had the necessary access codes. I was sure that the demo experts would be disappointed because they didn't get to use all those nice breaching charges they packed just in case.
I smiled after the recording was over and looked away from the monitors in the security centre.
"Two minutes fifty-three seconds." I nodded at sergeant McGraaf who had tactical command. "Only one idiot got himself shot and you had to rough up, how many nobles?"
"Four." The NCO answered sourly. "They're still protesting their treatment and continue to issue threats, sir." Johnson added.
"Do they? Send them to cool their heels in the stockade. I'll be speaking with them last." What was with Britannian nobility being made up by a lot of arrogant bastards? "Get the platoon formed up after the military police is here to secure the building. We still have work to do. Lieutenant Nu, walk with me, its time to have that chat I promised before all the excitement started."
"I'm on it, sir." McGraaf saluted and marched out of the room.
"Sir..." Viletta began to protest.
"I know you have questions and if we're to work together you'll need to receive some answers sooner rather than later. Now follow me, we'll find somewhere with a lot less bugs to talk."
=ABKR=
18 March 2009 A.T.B.
Armour park
Army base "Lancelot"
Area Six
"This is as good place as any I guess." I said. We were surrounded by a large space where a division worth of tanks, AFVs and APCs were parked. Some were undergoing maintenance, others were being subjected to various tests. There were enough engines roaring nearby to make long range microphones less than ideal for listening to Nu and me. I used the Force to sweep the area and make sure that there was no one in a two hundred meter radius. "You have questions, lieutenant. Ask them." I turned around and gave Viletta an expectant look.
"What happened in the colonel's office, sir? When you spoke to him..." Nu shook her head and looked away.
I could easily feel confusion and embarrassment coming from her fighting with a growing amount of fear and sheer disbelief as her mind refused to accept what she suspected.
"There are more things on this world that most suspect, Viletta." I spoke in a soothing tone. "Powers that are relegated to no more than myths and legends by the masses. Its what allowed me to escape my captivity in Africa."
"Powers, sir?" Viletta asked warily.
My eyes never left Viletta's face. How she reacted when I revealed I wielded "magic" powers, would tell me if I would be arranging an accident for her later today. Hopefully not.
The timing was less than ideal, but after I practically slipped against Sanders, I didn't trust myself not to do it again while my aide was around. I searched through the Force again so I could be reasonably sure no one was observing us and just in case made the air around us shimmer as if the heat and moisture in the air were to blame. Good luck getting a decent image of us with current Earth technology. Then I slowly raised my hand and showed Viletta my open palm. It took just an effort of will and I had electricity arching between my fingers.
Nu gasped and took a step back.
"I won't hurt you, lieutenant." Not right now and hopefully never, I added in my mind. I cut off the light-show and carefully picked Viletta up using the Force so she was floating a few centimetres above the ground. "Another ability of mine is that I could be quite persuasive against those with weaker minds. Fortunately colonel Sanders fell in that category. That he wasn't entirely pleased with his orders even if he followed them without a question helped too." I carefully deposed Viletta back on her feet.
Nu took a shaky step back. Her fear was spiking and the bloody Dark Side made me savour that emotion. Yet, among the cauldron of emotion bubbling in her heart, there was wonder too. I could work with that.
"Am I so different now you know my little dirty secret?" I gave her a wan smile. "You would have likely figured out that I wasn't exactly normal sooner rather than latter, Viletta. After the attack upon my family my self control isn't what it used to be, especially when anyone involved is concerned."
"How is this possible?" Viletta asked quietly.
"As I said, there are more things on Earth than most people suspect. The how? Forgotten knowledge? Space magic?" I shrugged. "I call my abilities the Force – I know, not too original."
"Why did you tell me?" The lieutenant shook her head. "It wasn't just because I might have figure it out, was it, Your Highness?"
"Perceptive." I smiled. "It was – in part at least. Being my aide, it was just a matter of time. If I had controlled myself better with Sanders..." I shook my head. I did screw up. "In the end, I decided to offer you a modicum of trust and tell you the truth in more or less controlled environment."
Disbelief reared its ugly head and pushed back the fear and wonder Viletta was feeling.
"Viletta, you're to be my aide at a time when my family is under not only political but very real physical attack. That means you will be close not only to my person but to the people that matter most to me. If this is to work, I need to trust you. Throwing you such a curve ball is an excellent way to judge your character. A simple file, no matter how comprehensive can tell me only so much." I chose my words carefully.
The Dark Side was delighted at the prospect of a possible murder and was trying to encourage me – I could feel my patience running out and my temper fraying despite Nu taking the revelation and demonstration rather good so far. I ruthlessly squashed my rogue emotions and refocused my attention on the lieutenant.
"Why me? I'm a nobody – just a commoner." Viletta frowned.
"You did well enough to catch Cornelia's eye and she's the one who recommended you. That says a lot both about your character and competence. I do trust my sister's judgement. However, I simply couldn't take a chance when the lives of my family are on the line. As for not being a noble," I chuckled. "the presence of lack of title says nothing about a person's worth." I continued studying Viletta.
"This… this is too much!" Nu snapped.
"Don't I know it? The first I knew about the Force was Africa and it was only thanks to those abilities I managed to make it out mostly intact. They gave me an edge in the city fighting too. Despite that, there are still moments I think all of this is little more than a demented dream." I smiled softly. "Viletta, can I trust you? Can Cornelia trust you? Can I have you near my mother and little sister?"
"Of course, your Highness!" Nu automatically snapped to a rigid attention.
"No, not of course. You heard Sanders. Are you loyal to Britannia, lieutenant?" I asked.
That question earned me a stab of flaring anger and indignation. Nu gave me an impressive murderous glare too.
"I am loyal!" The lieutenant bit off in an angry, clipped tone.
"I know." My smile widened a bit. "But what is the Empire to you, Viletta? What is Britannia? Is it my father? The land we've conquered – the homeland and the areas? The royal family? The people?" I asked.
"Its..." Nu trailed off and stopped to think.
"Viletta, don't lie to me. Please. I need to hear what you really think." I whispered and my words were laced with the Force.
"I'm not sure." Nu frowned. "All of the above?"
"Most people in Pendragon wouldn't agree with such a definition. Yet, it's the truth. When you're out there, fighting, it's not for some vague ideal. It's for the people you care about, both on the battlefield beside you and those at home. It's for a cause you believe in strong enough to risk life and limb. So I'll ask you again, Viletta, what is the Empire to you? Why do you fight for Britannia?"
There was barely a hint of power in my voice – just enough to give her a nudge.
A flare of fierce determination came from Nu.
"I want to make my family proud, your Highness. I want to earn a place among the peerage." Viletta's tone was clipped, angry. "I want to be the best soldier I could be."
"Ambitious. Not unexpected given your family history – the Nu's do have a tradition of service in the armed forces, don't you?" I asked.
"Yes, your Highness. Ever since the Great War." Viletta nodded.
"Still, I have to wonder… What would you do in Sanders' shoes? Can I expect you to stab me and my family in the back if you're ordered to by someone in Pendragon?" I knew Viletta was outraged and infuriated by what she learned. That she hadn't had time to come to terms with that revelation. That in fact was one of the primary reasons I rushed this talk. Her world-view was shaken and this was probably the best time to judge her as a person and if possible bind her loyalty to my branch of the royal family.
Nu's face twisted into an angry mask when my questions registered. Fury and indignation chased off all other emotions.
"I'm no traitor!" Viletta spat. "I will never betray the trust of my men!"
"Even if ordered by another prince? Even if offered the title you covet in exchange?" I asked mildly.
Her fury was like a blazing star. Simply exquisite.
"Even for a title." Viletta's eyes bored into mine. "I am no traitor." Nu repeated.
Oh, my. She actually meant it. Every single word. I smiled and this time it was genuine.
"You may very well be forced in such a position by my family's enemies in the capital. Unless you chose to risk it all and align with us."
"Your Highness," Viletta growled. "Whoever was behind Sanders' orders, they aren't people I could follow. They betrayed us all." Her fury continued to burn brightly, though now it wasn't aimed at me because of questioning her loyalty.
There was a hint of it below all that anger. The pain of the betrayal. After all, our homeland in the face of the people in Pendragon deemed us expendable because of their petty political games. I could work with this.
"Even those among the royal family like Guinevere?" I asked a loaded question.
"Especially them." Viletta hissed.
And to think that according my fragmented memories Nu was supposed to join a purist faction in little more than half a decade. I shook my head. How could I remember such trivia and yet fail to recall more important facts about that possible future? I know its been a very long time since Veil even heart something about my world, yet… I sighed. It didn't matter. Before I reached the point of time he had some decent knowledge of, things would be significantly different. I was going to be engaged gaining as much power and influence as I could and that would change things significantly.
"You're a pleasant surprise, lieutenant Nu." I declared. "Loyalty in return is all I can really offer you right now. A pledge that I will fight beside you against whatever comes our way. That I won't betray your trust because its convenient or for some nebulous political gain."
"That is all I ever asked for, your Highness." Viletta's fury subdued and it was replaced by relief and mortification.
"Welcome on board, Viletta. Come on, we have some traitors to deal with."
Well, this went better than expected. Now it remained to be seen if Viletta's determination and ideals would falter in the future. I guess I should be thankful for Sanders' controllers for pushing her into my hands.
=ABKR=
18 March 2009 A.T. B.
Cornelia's office
Army base "Lancelot"
Area Six
"This is a god damned mess!" My older sister seethed. She just finished listening to Sanders' confession and was livid.
"The implications aren't lost on me, Nelly. However, for the time being we aren't in a position to do anything to our enemies in the capital. What we can do is finish cleaning up house here. I want permission to go and have a chat with our local anti-terror and Intelligence outfits."
"I know!" Cornelia grumbled. "Now that you've screened our intelligence people you're roaring to go play." My sister accused.
"True. That doesn't change the situation. We need to deal with any leaks and traitors in the local law enforcement, intelligence and government if we're to secure this bloody Area."
"Coordinate with Darlton. I'm relegating an infantry battalion to the job. Secure their HQ and known sites in and around Buenos Aires and find out how deep the rot is set, then burn it out. I'll deal with the government. I'm sending Guilford to oversee the destruction of suspect insurgent bases and to gather additional Intel as well as prisoners. Once that's done we'll see where we'll go from there. How are you holding up?" Nelly asked.
"Been better. I need some time for myself, sister. I almost fucked things up with Sanders. Enough for Nu to notice something was weird so I had to come partially clean with her. So far so good, but we'll see how reliable she would be in the long run." I admitted.
Cornelia gave me a concerned look. She frowned and stood up abruptly, walked around her desk and pulled me into a fierce hug.
"I shouldn't have let you deal with this. Not now." Nelly whispered. "You're getting your time off now. Darlton and I will deal with the locals. I have an utmost confidence that our Intel people will go above and beyond after you went through them. They'll give us enough solid intelligence to go after the rebels."
"I..." I sighed and rested my head on Nelly's shoulder as I used to do as a kid. "Thank you, sister. For caring."
"Go get your head straight. I'll be keeping an eye on your aide." Nelly pulled back.
=ABKR=
25 March 2009 A.T.B.
Imperial Palace
Pendragon
"Father." I bit off.
"Son." Charles zi Britannia smirked. The giant of the man towered above me even from the other side of the huge chamber. He was larger than any unenhanced human had any right to be – something I haven't even thought about until this moment.
All I could sense from the bastard was smug satisfaction and a lot of amusement.
The reason why I was here in the first place was simple – I've fucked up by the numbers. That had to be it. I believed myself to be oh so clever, that despite my slip ups, my abilities had remained below the radar. I certainly thought so when Cornelia gave me a bit of holiday to sort out my head. I actually had five days to myself and spent them meditating.
All was well until early this morning when I got a call from Bismark himself. It was short and to the point – I had to drag my ass to meet my father or the safety of my family could no longer be guaranteed. Translation – surrender myself or try running and see how long I could keep my mother and sisters alive with the Empire after us. Examining the situation through the Force gave me just a handful of brutally clear options – I could save myself if I ran, that was clear enough. The odds of keeping my family intact on the run… I would lose at least one, probably two of them. Considering that only Cornelia was a trained and experienced soldier, it wasn't hard to figure out who would have any realistic chance of making it.
The alternative… I was facing it now and the Force was telling me that I was in a terrible amount of danger and it was uncertain if I would be leaving this place alive.
I stared impassively at my father and did my best not to show how I felt. This part of the palace, this room – it felt weird. There was very real power here and it wasn't the Force, yet I couldn't figure it out. When I tried to probe it, I felt the same resistance I did back in Africa when I destroyed the mind of one of my captors.
Whatever this was, it had no obvious source. We were in a tall, empty chamber supported by elaborate columns. The floor was marble, the walls covered with intricately carved ebony panels and velvet curtains; nothing that stood out of the ordinary. Yet the place felt off and kept me on edge.
"You gave me an ultimatum. I came." I stated blandly.
The part of me that was a long dead Sith Lord raged at the situation. I willingly walked to what could be my death and with my family being hostages in all but name, I didn't have much choice. To fight was to condemn them. Veil might have found a way out, hell he had the power to take this world by himself. I had his knowledge, at least more of it unlocked with the passing of each day, though it would be a long time before I would be on a similar level power wise, if ever. Years, probably decades. In the end it wasn't just knowledge. It was experience, training and conditioning your body to handle the Force. There were no good short-cuts for the latter. At least none that were within my reach.
Oh, I had contingency plans to "persuade" my father to leave my family alone no matter what happened to me. However, meeting him here, at this place – it sent them askew. With that weird... resistance in the air, I wasn't convinced that even with the Force at my side I would be walking out of this room intact. I was playing a deadly game and I obviously didn't know the rules or all the participants – which was not a good place to be. That became crystal clear the moment Bismark led me into this room and left. From what little I knew of this world thanks to Veil's memories, what I was sensing in here should have been impossible.
"I did." Charles confirmed. "A month ago, you were nothing. Just another useless spawn of mine." A ghost of a smile appeared on his face. I could feel the tiniest silver of approval flare up below his amusement, though it was hard to be sure. It was like there was a glass panel between us that somehow ran interference for my powers.
"Still pissed off that Lelouch made an ass of himself in front of the court?" I shot back.
Charles frowned. Whatever he was expecting, I apparently wasn't acting according to script. It remained to be seen if that would be a good or a bad thing.
"I expected a son of mine to know better. After dealing with most of your brothers and sisters I should have known better." My father allowed.
I remained silent.
"Your miraculous survival gained you a lot of attention, my son. Not all of it positive." Father stated.
"Yours, I presume?" I inquired.
"If I wanted you dead, you would be." Charles snorted. "You've proven you possess a modicum of competence and an ability that makes you and the rest of the li Britannias a target. I can't protect you any more than I could shield Marianne." My Father fixed me with a cold stare.
I could sense no deception. Who the hell was out of his reach?
"I see I've got your attention, son." Charles continued. "You possess some interesting abilities. Many would want to have you as a lab rat because of them. The rest of the li Britannia's too, just in case its genetic."
My control slipped. I knew my eyes became yellow as the Dark Side surrounded me like a glove.
"Not a prospect you relish, is it?" Father chuckled darkly. His amusement vanished. It was replaced by bitter melancholy and long suppressed anger. "You're not the only one around with powers deemed impossible, son." His lips twisted into a bitter smile "Even if yours seem to be different from most.
"You didn't call me here just to gloat. Nor to commiserate or rub salt into my fuck ups." I stated coldly. The Force surrounding me was agitated. It was confused by whatever power was contained in this room.
"No. That would have been a waste of time." Father allowed. "What do you want, Delkatar? Speak the truth." Father's eyes bored into mine. His left eye blazed with purple light and a symbol similar to a stylized bird covered his iris.
The Force hissed in warning. I felt my mental shields scream as unknown force smashed into them. They held for a moment and I poured as much of the Force into them as I could. The power in the room trembled then crashed upon me. I could feel it took my actions as an attack and retaliated. The resistance in the air thickened.
My shields shattered and I could feel a foreign presence in my head. The sheer force of the backslash sent me to my knees. I felt Charles searching for something – he was somehow browsing through my memories, then stumbled upon Veil's and what he saw gave him pause.
His surprise was more than enough. I rallied and wrenched as much of the Force as my body could sustain, then threw Charles out of my head. The pressure upon me redoubled and I found myself struggling to stay on my knees. It was as if someone had turned on a gravity generator to produce at least a dozen standard gravities. Only using the Force to shield myself kept me from suffocating under the immense pressure.
"ENOUGH!" My father's voice snapped in a tone brooking no argument.
The pressure lifted and I was left gasping for sweet, precious air.
"Of all possible…" Charles laughed.
I glared his way. The man was on one knee and he was clutching his left eye, which was bleeding. However, that didn't stop him from feeling gleeful.
"A reincarnation. The gods surely have a sense of humour." My father stood up. He swept the blood away from his face and revealed two intact, normal eyes.
"What did you see?" I seethed. Its been a long, long time since Veil had his mind violated. As far as I knew, that hasn't happened to me ever. Until now.
The violation was infuriating.
"Enough. You tend to derail a lot of people's plans lately, son. Mine too I see." My father gave me the first genuine smile I ever got from him.
I frowned. I could sense his feelings clear as a day. The resistance in the room was still here, waiting yet it wasn't interfering right now. My father was proud of me. That feeling outshone everything else he was experiencing right now. It was certainly unexpected. It took me aback.
I stood up and kept the shield around me. The power in the room tensed and grew thicker, yet it didn't attack.
"Care to enlighten me?" I rasped.
"You aren't the only one with powers, Delkatar. Geass; the power of the King. Have you heard that term before?" Charles asked.
"Not described that way. Mindfuckery as you demonstrated. Or is there more to it?" I asked carefully.
"Depends on whom you ask. The power of Geass has shaped this world for millennia. People with the power of the King had changed the course of history multiple times. A Geass all but guaranteed Napoleon's ultimate victory for example." Charles went into lecture mode. In my limited experience, that's when my father was most annoying. Or perhaps it was the topic he usually lectured upon – his Social Darwinism.
"This isn't a theoretical discussion, is it?" I asked. The mere fact that father had a Geass strong enough to break through my mental defences for even a short time could prove fatal. The power in this place, which tried to crush me yet stopped at his call, that was even worse omen.
I wasn't sure my contingencies would be enough. With this weird power in here... I had to play this even more carefully than I feared.
Whatever Veil knew about this world, it had been incomplete, that much was clear and what I didn't know might very well prove fatal today.
"Not at all. There's an organization working from the shadows in this world. They call themselves the Geass Directorate. It was under the orders of their master that Marianne was murdered. The rest was just politics." My father explained. "I can't remove them at this time."
True. Not the whole truth, I was sure of it, yet father hasn't uttered a single lie. Well, some of the best lies and deceptions could be either hidden or disguised by telling the truth. I should know – Veil did it often enough.
"Can't or won't?" I asked.
"Moving against them now would be… unwise. Even for someone with your abilities. I saw a glimpse of your previous life, my son. It is sufficient to change my plans for you. It saw enough to know that if you stand against the Directorate as you're right now, you will die." Father stated with absolute conviction.
"Dying again doesn't faze me." I said.
"No. I gathered that much. How long do you think that Amelia and Euphemia would last after you get yourself killed?" Father asked.
"I would have given them good enough odds, before your little revelation." I admitted.
"Even if you had managed to either kill me or change my mind, the Directorate would have gone after them. Out of spite if nothing else. However, I do have precautions against people with impossible abilities in place. You wouldn't have walked out of the palace alive, son." Charles confirmed my suspicions.
"I suspected as much." I stated neutrally. It was another question how effective his precautions would be, though I suspected they would be good enough when combined with all QRFs in and around Pendragon.
"Yet you came expecting to die or worse." Father noted.
"Its not like I had any better options." I shrugged.
"Your miraculous survival changed the plans of some people." Charles continued in his lecturing mode. "There shouldn't have been anything worse than limited terrorist attacks in Area Six. With you alive and the rest of the li Britannia conveniently in one place, the rebels were allowed to carry out their original plan." Charles offered.
"I see." I muttered. He certainly believed that narrative and it wasn't hart to see how it could have happened – just a few words in the right ears and the rebels would have been crushed before they could actually carry out their attacks. However, the timing didn't feel right – mother and Euphie came back shortly after my own arrival in Area Six. Most of the insurgents and their equipment, if not all should have been in place by then.
"Do you? That accident made us look weak. Perception in politics matters a great deal as you know." Charles continued to drone.
I suppressed a wince. The political consequences of the days long running battle in Buenos Aires – I didn't really think about them until just now.
"That is relevant to the matter at hand, how?" I asked. I was sure father was going to enlighten me, though once I actually thought about it, it wasn't hart to see where he was going with his line of thought.
"Our invasion of Indochina is proceeding apace. Combined with our recent troubles, that makes the Japanese uppity. They've entered talks with both the Europeans and the Chinese. If we succeed in taking a lot of (Indochina), we would be facing a united response. That was expected" Father explained. "Our recent troubles changed the equation. Our enemies sense weakness. Even now, more Chinese forces are moving to oppose us in the region. The Japanese threaten to close the whole area for our shipping. There are rumours of embargo even."
"That's an issue why exactly? It's not like we need the place. It's going to be more trouble than its worth – nothing more than a drain on our resources and a heap of political troubles at best." I countered. Even before gaining Veil's memories, I had a misgiving about that particular campaign. Win or lose, the region was going to be more trouble than it was worth.
"As far as most people know, the place is strategically worthless to us, even if it has some useful resources." Charles nodded and I felt he was pleased by my conclusions.
That made no bloody sense. I was expecting him to start ranting about his political theories and how giving up the invasion would be unacceptable. On the other hand, this whole meeting wasn't going how I imagined it would. Nor was father behaving as expected.
I remained silent. My mind was racing. This confrontation was nothing like what I had anticipated. My contingency plans were shot. With the power in this room, I couldn't use the Force to deal with Father and be confident of the outcome. Even without it, I still didn't know the extent of his Geass – he could be good and powerful enough to keep me distracted until help could come anyway.
I was left improvising and scrambling in the dark for a solution that would keep my family as safe as possible.
"In truth, Indochina is merely a necessary stepping stone that could place forces in striking distance of some Directorate facilities in Asia." Charles explained. "They would prefer to keep us away – as a precaution if I get back on my deals with them."
"Its us, now?" My eyebrows tried to reach my hair and I had trouble hiding my surprise at this insinuation. At least father was nice enough to explain the purpose of that military adventure. I was left wondering how many of our recent conquests were made as a part of a contingency against this Directorate.
"Certainly. I've seen parts of you past life. Korriban. The Sith Empire you were part of. You know the truth, son." Father sounded far too pleased.
"What truth is that?" I asked warily. There were parts of Veil's past that I would like no one to see. Or was it mine now too? The way the memories were integrating, there were now moments when I had trouble distinguishing the two without thinking about it. The one thing that helped me keep an order in my head was that my memories as li Britannia were fresher, newer than Veils.
"Britannia is corrupted. This whole world is the same!" Father declared and utter conviction rang in his voice.
There's no mistaking it, he was totally convinced this was the truth. I blinked at him, taken aback by the sudden shift of topic.
"The Empire helped shape the world we're living in into what it is. You in fact did make it much, much worse." I pointed out.
"My ideology, you mean." Charles gave me a crooked smile that reminded me of Zash. "Smoke and mirrors son. Smoke and mirrors." The amusement vanished as fast as it appeared. "A grand deception." He spat the word as if it was the worst sin he could think of. "As with any other great deception, mine is based upon a truth. I saw you had a lot of experience with the concept in your previous life. It was your second nature, even if you hated the necessity." Father was too damn pleased in using the memories he violated as arguments.
"Veil was quite good at it." I nodded. "I'm not him. Not yet." I added in a whisper. What was he trying to do anyway? Persuade me to see things his way? To what end?
"You know that people are not equal, son. That conflict is how we evolve. Veil started as nothing, fought, struggled and in the end the only reason why didn't end ruling a whole galaxy was that he didn't want to do the actual job. As an Emperor I can say I sympathize. For all the power I have at my fingertips, its often not worth it given the strings attached. You have the memories of someone who was a living proof of my philosophy." Charles beamed at me.
I glared at the bastard.
"Your feelings betray you, father. You loathe deceit. Yet, you promote it. What did you teach us?" I spat. "That traditional values were lies? That by not murdering, lying or stealing our way to what we want we simply limit ourselves by paying lip-service to lies put in place by the weak to defend themselves?" I sneered. "I've seen an Empire ruled by the strong with no limits on their actions. It tore itself apart the moment there wasn't an outside enemy to unite them. It's the same fate you've practically guaranteed for Britannia. The world hates us, the Areas as they stand couldn't be sustained indefinitely. Sooner rather than later we'll have to either conquer the whole planted or face obliteration. And even in victory..." I frowned. "Unless Britannia changes, we won't be able to hold this whole world. Even a complete military victory can spell our doom and anything less will ensure it."
It was then I saw it in his eyes. Sensed it in through his emotions. Father knew exactly what he was doing. His politics, theories, the course he had charted for the Empire – he knew where it leads. It wasn't a mistake, not a bug, but a feature.
"You understand." Father radiated approval.
"What do you want? To see the world burn?" I snapped. That was the most likely outcome.
"Call it a contingency in case I fail. The world would be plunged into a war Earth has never seen. It will be as close to a clean slate as I could arrange." Charles declared.
Bloody hell. The man was crazy – that was my first thought.
"If you fail..." I repeated. Fail what? I knew I was missing something vital. This conversation, the fragmented memories Veil had of my world, they practically screamed that fact.
"Mankind is a flawed creation. Full of deceit. Of lies and suffering. Its inequality is a fact that brings constant strife and even more suffering." The lecture mode was back at full strength.
"What can change the nature of a man..." I couldn't remember the source of that quote, yet it felt aptly fitting.
"What indeed. I want a future with no lies. No suffering. Where no one has to experience his loved ones be torn away from them. Where no man should bury the one woman he ever loved. A future where humanity is truly equal." Charles declared. "And you'll help me achieve it, my son."
There was smugness in the way father spoke. He knew something I didn't. More importantly, he didn't even try to conceal his goals. He just stated what his plans for the future were and he meant everything he said. There was just the tiny problem that his actions screamed the opposite. A grand deception indeed. He didn't intent to change the world conventionally. He meant to see it burn if his real plans didn't bear fruit. Did he plan to Geass everyone into being better people?
"A world in which Euphemia will be safe. Happy." Father continued.
I gave him a dirty look and he snorted.
"I'll make an educated guess. You want to somehow utilize the power of Geass to change humanity itself." It's the only thing that made sense. Everything else was smoke and mirrors as father put it. Or he had snapped after drinking too much of his own cool aid...
"In a manner of speaking. Your powers combined with Veil's experience and your station as a prince, they offer me some unique opportunities. I know you, my son. I've seen into your soul. You don't want to walk the path of a Sith once again, however you find yourself trapped. You want to be free to chart your own course, don't you? However, by the time you're free of the burdens placed upon you by your birth and they no longer chain you, by the time you've ensured the people who would dare use your family against you are removed, it would be far too late." Charles looked me into the eyes and dared me to refute his words.
I grit my teeth. That was a conclusion I reached just fortnight ago as I meditated and made more of Veil's memories my own. That very act was slowly changing me and I wasn't liking the end product. When he got the Force and the baggage it came with, he had been older, more experienced. While I could understand what he did, why he did it, there was one simple fact about Delkatar Veil, even before he become a proper Sith. He was a monster the likes of which this world has never seen. A monster that Euphie would hate. The biggest irony was that his greatest atrocities were done for a good cause, while fighting for the closest thing there was to the good guys in the fucked up galaxy where he ended.
I could understand his actions – more often than not I would do the same. I could see myself becoming him in order to keep my family safe even if they would loathe me for it.
I didn't want to… even if the Dark Side was freely offering me the power to crush my enemies. Even if I didn't see a way out but to seize it.
"Veil somehow managed to keep himself sane-ish. He was about thirty or so before he had to deal with such madness. That gave him a chance, no matter how slim. By all rights, he should have gone insane." I said.
"Are you sure he didn't? From what I saw, he simply clawed his way back." Father gave me another crooked smile. "He had people who mattered around to keep him sane. People he cared about. So do you. Find yourself a nice, strong girl who can keep you from losing yourself. Marianne did it for me."
"And give you another hostage?" I sneered.
"If I chose such a path, I already have more than enough hostages to chose from. That was my original plan, you know. To use your sisters and mother to keep you in line." Father looked expectantly at me.
"It would have worked up until the moment I grew strong enough. Then I would have seen everything that ever mattered to you taken away before killing you." It was the Sith way and I would have been one and it was still very much in the cards.
"In your ignorance you might have disrupted my plans. Or if you knew the truth – out of spite." Charles nodded.
"Its possible." I inclined my head into a tiny nod of my own.
"Instead, I offer you a deal. Help me bring forth a new world. An equal world, a world free from deceit. In exchange, I'll do everything in my power to keep you family safe." Finally, father came to the point.
"It didn't work out too well for the Empress." I interjected.
"True. I couldn't save her. Oh, I could have prevented that particular assassination attempt. We both knew it was coming and when. The next one? The one after that? The Geass Directorate has vast resources and influence among all three superpowers." Charles sighed. "No small part due to my patronage. Marianne's murder was a message and all I could really do was exile my favourite children in order to protect them."
The only deception I felt was the favourite children part. For a brief moment there was a surge of emotion when he mentioned Lulu and Nunnaly. He both loved and despised them.
"Marianne chose to die in order to protect her children. You hate them for it." I pointed out.
Father glared at me. His anger flared but he was able to wrest it under control.
"I can count the people I've loved on the fingers of a single hand, Delkatar. Marianne was at the top of that short list. She knew my plans, helped me refine them. Before she walked to her death, Marianne asked only two things of me. To see our children safe and to carry on so they could live into a changed, better world." There was a finality to his words.
Father really was going to see the world changed one way or another – either through Geass or burned to the ground.
"I both love and loathe Lelouch and Nunnaly. Marianne chose to protect them instead standing by me to the end. However, I hate the Geass Directorate more than mere words could describe. Unfortunately, they're useful, needed even."
That was true – father's hatred was simply exquisite. The Dark Side stirred around me, fuelled by the emotion I was sensing.
"You'll be wreaking a bloody vengeance before implementing your plan." I deduced.
"That I will. You would do the same in my place. Veil did it when his wife was murdered."
"You saw that too?" I growled. Having those memories in particular was something I could easily live without. Someone else sees them – that was simply infuriating. I struggled to keep my rising fury in check and it was a good thing I succeeded. The unknown power around us grew thicker, more potent in response to my emotions.
I wasn't sure I would survive another confrontation as I was right now. I wouldn't be alive if that power hadn't heeded father's words and stopped trying to crush me earlier.
"I did and it's a good thing. Without seeing it, I might have miscalculated." Father gave me a reassuring smile – another new experience as far as he was concerned. "Once things calm down and if the reports from Area Six are anything to go by it would be soon, I'll be recalling your mother and younger sister back to Pendragon. As far as the world at large is concerned, it would be for their protection after the attack in Buenos Aires." Father felt too damn cheerful for comfort.
It was left without saying that their presence in the capital would help keep me in check.
"The more politically astute would believe that they're in fact called back as hostages for Cornelia's good behaviour. Yours too once you make a name for yourself. I'll make sure that the Directorate draws the correct conclusions as far as you're concerned. You might have to avoid a few assassinations or kidnapping attempts, but if we play our cards well they will be low key enough that you'll manage to beat them." Father continued to lay down his plans for my future.
I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. There was a part of me that wanted to choke the smug bastard on the spot. Another wanted to burn the whole city to the ground just to prove exactly how bad idea was to try using my family against me. However, there was yet another part of me – one that was intrigued by father's plan and wondered if it could work.
"I see." I spoke slowly. "I do want a better world for my sisters. That still leaves the elephant in the room. If your plan fails, which is always a possibility no matter what either of us do, they will be left into a world that's going to tear itself apart." I glared coldly at father.
"True. You're going to be my contingency plan, Delkatar. This is going to be the price you pay for the continued well being of the li Britannia line. One you'll be paying gladly." Father graced me with another smug smile. "If my plan falls, it will be up to you to take this world and reforge it through fire and blood. Not an outcome you would relish - its one that would make Euphemia at the very least hate you. Still, it would be better than the alternative. You're going to lay the groundwork in spite of me acting the utter bastard as usual." Father chuckled in amusement. "If I fail, it will be up to you to pick up the pieces."
I closed my eyes and dove into the Force itself. The power surrounding us trembled, prepared to retaliate, yet it didn't attempt to crush me again. What I wanted to divine was how safe would my family be if I accepted father's alliance. Safe from him, from the Geass Directorate, from the rest of our family.
The future was clouded. The only thing I was sure of was the same thing I knew when I walked in here of my own free will – that doing otherwise would have seen them harmed for sure. There was danger no matter what I chose to do.
I had to admit I was intrigued by father's goal – a peaceful world. It called to me. Veil has been through too much hell. By the end he had spent multiple lifetimes at war. He swore by constant conflict, by the evolution and growth in birthed. However, he paid a terrible price for everything he gained walking that route.
I was left carrying his baggage and as time passed, as I integrated his memories and was becoming more and more similar to that man, there was one inescapable conclusion I reached.
I, Delkatar li Britannia, didn't want to walk his path. I didn't want to live a life full of constant conflict. I was still a teenager, yet I felt old, dreamed of thousand battlefields and all I wanted was a world where I could live in peace.
"I accept. What is the plan? How do you intent to change the nature of humanity?" I opened my eyes and looked calmly at Charles.
Accepting was surprisingly easy. It was a proof I've changed too. The boy I was before Africa would have balked at the idea of changing humanity's very nature, especially without asking them. Robbing the people of this Earth of a choice – it should have been unthinkable. Instead, I didn't really think about them. The only thing I though was what a success would mean and what price I might have to pay.
The man I was today thanks to Veil's memories… He had no problem in sacrificing this humanity's free will if it meant I could live a peaceful life surrounded by the people I cared about. If they ever knew the details, they might hate me. They would hate me if I had to unfuck the utter mess that was Britannia in particular and this Earth in general. I could do it, probably. However, the only way I knew how was through blood and tears. That's why I found it so easy to accept father's offer. It gave me a potential way out.
It was telling that I reached the decision before I heard the details. I had no illusions that it would be easy or bloodless.
"The plan? You'll know when the time is right. As I just proved, your mind is vulnerable to Geass. Revealing my plans to you is a vulnerability none of us can afford. Only two people knew all the details and now Marianne is dead." There was an odd mixture of longing, regret and hope when he mentioned the late Empress. "If the Order suspects what are my real goals, we won't succeed."
"Why do you need them?" I asked. While father's concerns were valid – and infuriating, I loathe working in the dark.
"Up until the end, our goals coincide. What happens when its done, how the world is going to change – that's where our plans differ. I will use them up until then, just as they are using me. Then there will be a reckoning. Until then, their expertise with Geass is invaluable." Father explained.
"You'll need to fill me in about Geass. About a great many things if I'm to be really useful."
"All in due time, son. First we'll have to figure out how to handle the complications caused by you surviving your African escapades."