Chapter 4:
Zero
Interrogation Room – Area 11
Suzaku sat on a chair, his arms tied to his sides, restraining him. He had bruises and scratches on his face. Jeremiah sat across from him, staring at him with contempt. Other soldiers also surrounded them, guarding Jeremiah.
"Do you know anything about this weapon, Suzaku Kururugi?" Jeremiah placed a handgun wrapped in a plastic bag. "This was the murder weapon that robbed Prince Clovis of his life. The barrel striation leave no doubt."
Suzaku just stared down at the table, not reacting.
"We also took the liberty of looking into your history. You're the eldest son of the last acting Prime Minister of Japan, are you not?" Jeremiah narrowed his eyes. "Your motives are pretty clear."
"You're making a mistake," Suzaku finally spoke. "I haven't even laid eyes on that gun." Suddenly, one soldier kicked his chair under him, dropping him to the ground. He let out a pained gasp from the action.
Jeremiah held up the plastic bag, his expression indifferent to the plight of his prisoner. "We found your fingerprints all over this weapon. You're also suspected of murdering members of the royal guard. Come clean now and you'll be judged as if you were born a Britannian, not some worthless Eleven."
Suzaku looked up at him. "You're wrong. I've done nothing-" Another soldier kicked him in his face, knocking it back.
Ashford Academy, Tokyo Settlement – Area 11
As the evening neared the end, the Lamperouge siblings were getting ready for the night.
As Lelouch carries Nunnally to her bed, she speaks, "That was Suzaku they mentioned on the news, wasn't it?"
"Yep, looks like he's still alive." Lelouch said.
"Yeah, it's been ages. We haven't seen him since the war ended." Nunnally said as she gets tucked in by Lelouch. "Even we... Lelouch?"
Lelouch looks at her, seeing the worried expression. "Yes?"
"It wasn't true what the news said, was it?" She asked.
Lelouch holds her hand. "Of course not. Suzaku would never do that. They just made a mistake." Nunnally tightens her grip on his hand. "Yeah, must be." She whispers, falling asleep.
"Right. Well, goodnight, Nunnally." Lelouch says, watching over her.
Hideout – Area 11
In a dark room, Oghi watched the news on the television in his room. He wasn't alone, as Tamaki was there as well. "That's why we should have made an announcement earlier! We could have taken responsibility!" Tamaki shouted.
Before Ohgi could have said anything, Tamaki stormed out of the room and slammed the door.
Ohgi stared at the door before sighing. The group was up and about even after the news had dropped. Opinions were mixed. Some wanted to save him, given he had just taken out their oppressors, while others wanted to play it safe. Though, notably the latter group was a minority.
Before Shinjuku, they were always savaging whatever they could. It was a miracle that they even found the Glasgow. Sure, it was old, but at a time, it was their only Knightmare.
But after the battle, they suddenly had a lot more supplies. They still had plenty of capsules from the train, the same one that the voice supplied them with. Filled with guns, ammos and even Knightmares.
So he can't blame them for feeling a little confident in the option of trying to save him. Yet, he can't bring himself to risk it. This was Britannian, a superpower that ruled over a third of the world. And they only won the last battle because of the voice's strategy.
He looks at a frame that sat at his table. In the frame was a picture of him, Kallen and her brother, Naoto Kozuki. "Naoto... I'm not cut out for this. I am not a leader."
School Hall, Ashford Academy – Area 11
The Next Day
"Truly, this had been a painful incident for all." Said a voice, booming across the hall. The principal of the school, Ruben K. Ashford, was giving a speech to the student body.
"The Viceroy of Area 11, our beloved Prince Clovis, has been lost to us forever. However, we can and will bear the weight of this tragedy."
Kallen stood in the crowd, her face showing no emotions. However, inside is a different story. She felt anger that they had to pay respect to someone who was killing innocent Japanese. She was fine with him biting the dust. She only regretted that it wasn't her who had done it.
Lelouch was also in the crowd, his face betraying nothing.
Laboratory – Area 11
Lloyd and Cecile watched as other scientists worked on the Lancelot.
"Oh... we lost the most crucial part of the equation." Loyd said, lamenting the loss of their pilot.
"Can we do it without him?" Cecile asked.
"Don't I wish? The other units never let go of an excellent pilot." Lloyd said, annoyed. "Besides, even if we got one, they would never match his readings. His operational efficiency clocked in around 94%, and you want to replace him?" Honesty, it almost appeared as both machine and pilot were fated to meet. Alas, it's not meant to be.
"You should tell them that. Maybe they'll let Suzaku go." Cecile tried to reason.
"He's an Honorary Britannian. They'd never listen. Even since General's Bartley disgrace, the Purebloods have had the military in an iron grip."
Ah yes, the Purebloods. A faction within the military, who advocates the idea that only Pureblooded Britannians should be the only ones to serve in the military. Quite limiting, if you ask him, given the territorial size of Britannia.
"Their views is, one of their own can't be a criminal. However, if the criminal is an Eleven, it paves the way for Margrave Jeremiah to shut down the practice of giving natives Honorary status."
Cecile looks down. "What about Suzaku?"
"His fate is all but decided."
Sad, he was such a good Devicer.
Ashford Academy – Area 11
As the students were walking down the hall, Lelouch's attention is brought to his friend, Rivalz.
"Hey, Lelouch? Got anything to do today?" Rivalz asked, placing his hand on Lelouch's shoulder. "Classes have been canceled for today and some folks have been hoping for a rematch." He grins at the prospect of robbing more nobles of their money.
Shirley was having none of that, however. "You are not gambling, you guys!"
"Come on, don't be such a stick in the mud."
"She's right, though." Lelouch said. This surprised both Rivalz and Shirley. "Maybe it's time to quit."
"Huh?"
"I found a better opponent, actually."
"You did?" Shirley asked. "I don't get it."
"You're cutting me on the action too, right?" Rivalz asked. Lelouch chuckles. "Better not, it's not really up your alley."
Right, it's best not to include them in this. If he's going to place himself in danger, it's best not to include his friends.
Tokyo Tower – Area 11
Tokyo Tower stood within the city, a shadow of its former self. The base remained relatively intact but moving up, it's clear that the building has been a casualty of the war as there's nothing there but twisted metal.
"Britannia's resounding victory over Japan has opened the nation's unenlightened eyes to its true place in the world order." A woman's voice came out of the intercoms as they turned the tower into a war memorial. "Since then, the Empire and Area 11 have walked hand-in-hand down the road to revival."
Kallen was walking around in her school uniform. To the people there, she appears to be a student on a study trip, but in reality, she was there for the voice that had helped them in Shinjuku. She felt a flare of indignation when she heard of Japan 'true place' but calmed herself so she can focus.
"Tokyo Tower at 16:00. Why here?" Kallen mutters.
Naturally, she wasn't alone as Ohgi, Sugiyama and Yoshida were there, shadowing her. "The one who contacted us was Kururugi Suzaku, wasn't it?" Sugiyama asked.
"Hard to say." Ohgi replied.
"But maybe he was arrested after he called Kallen." Yoshida says.
"Then this place is too dangerous for us."
Suddenly, a woman's voice came over the intercom. "Attention please, paging Miss Kallen Stadtfeld, Ashford Academy. One of your personal effects has been turned in at the kiosk on the observation desk. I repeat..."
Later, Kallen is at the observation desk, retrieving the item, which was a phone. "Hi, I'm assuming this phone is yours, ma'am?" The lady at the desk asked, presenting the phone. Kallen takes it, examining it. This wasn't her phone at all, yet it's being given to her?
The receptionist noticed her silence. "Um, is something wrong? It is yours, isn't it?"
Kallen noticed that she's acting suspicious with her silence. "Um, yeah. Thank you so much." She walks away.
She walks to the observation deck; the windows giving a view of the city. Ohgi and the others follow at a distance. Suddenly, the phone rings. She seeings that the caller is from...
"Zero?" She reads out loud. She takes a glance over at Ohgi, who nods.
She picks up the call. "Yes, hello?"
"Go to the outer tracks of circuit number five." The voice said. So they didn't capture him, which means he's not Kururugi Suzaku. "Bring your friends."
"What?" So he did knew she would bring her friends.
Jeremiah's Office – Area 11
"You handle His Highness' memorial program very well." Jeremiah said as he sat at his desk. Standing by his sides were Villetta and Kewell Soresi, another one of Jeremiah's allies in the Pureblood Faction. "A little too weeping for my taste, but..."
In front of him stood a blond young man in a dark blue suit. Diethard Ried, a journalist of the press staff at Hi-Tv.
"Yes, well, the mass tend to enjoy tearjerkers, Your Excellency." Diethard said.
"Spoken like a true TV man. Still, I have to acknowledge the finesse you've shown. You've done well with the short amount of time you had. One would almost think you were expecting His Highness's untimely end." Jeremiah said, having to applaud him for the work he's done.
Diethard bows. "It's quite common for memorial services to be set in advance for very important people."
"Does that include me as well?"
"Recent events may have bumped you up the list a bit, Your Excellency."
Jeremiah smirks. "I haven't been deemed important enough until now, is that it? How forthright of you."
"I'm afraid so, sir." Diethard said.
"Even thought of enlisting? The army could use more men like you." Jeremiah offers. However, Diethard rejects the offer. "I don't think it would be a very good fit. Not really my cup of tea."
"You prefer the civil sector, I take it? No matter." Jeremiah sits up. "I have another favor to ask of you. Tomorrow night, Suzaku Kururugi shall be transported to his court martial."
"We should line the road with good, patriotic Britannians." Diethard caught on to what Jeremiah meant.
"Excellent, you catch on quickly, don't you?" Jeremiah turns to Villetta. "Be sure the rabble can see his face."
"Lord Jeremiah, there are those within the Elevens who see Kururugi as a hero." Villetta said. "Some might very well try to free him."
"Then I'll be there personally, aboard my Sutherland." Jeremiah narrows his eyes. "If anyone even thinks of causing trouble, they'll be executed on the spot."
Aboard the Train – Area 11
Kallen and the others had boarded the train just as the voice had said and were now waiting for their next orders.
Kallen looks around to see if anyone is acting suspicious. For all she knows, he could very well be in the crowd.
"Attention all passengers. If you find any suspicious items on board, please alert metro personal by using the nearest inter-telephone." A woman announced over the intercom.
Suddenly, Kallen's phone rings again. She sees it's the same caller.
She picks up the call."What now?"
"Stand to the front and look right." Kallen follows these orders. Ohgi notices her taking the call. "What do you see?"
"The city of the Britannians." Kallen said, looking out the window. "A stolen city, built upon our sacrifices." She sees the modern buildings rush past her. From the distance, you can tell that it's a wealthy city. Again, a burst of indignation. That was their city!
"Now look to your left."
Kallen looks to the left. "I see our city." In contrast, the view on the left displayed a field of ruined buildings. "Remnants of a city, destroyed after the Britannians wiped it out." Compared to the Settlement, the ghetto seems devoid of a soul. Now that she thinks about, that analogy isn't too far off.
"Good answer. Now make your way to the front of the train." The voice said.
Kallen and the group make their way to the front of the train, pushing past the passengers who were oddly enough not reacting that much to them moving to the front.
Once they made it to the first carriage, she was surprised to find a man facing his back to them, wearing some kind of odd black cape. He was also the only one on the carriage.
"Was it you?" She asked. The man did not turn around, remaining silent.
"This isn't a trap, is it?" Yoshida asked nervously.
The man remained silent.
Kallen was getting annoyed. "Tell us. Did you do Shinjuku? Did you also give the ceasefire order?" Still silence. "Say something!"
Dramatically, as the train went into a tunnel, darken the room, the man turned around. Now, she saw the cape was actually a black and gold cloak that covered everything expect the head. On his head was a black and indigo spiky mask that covered his entire face.
"So, what do you think of the settlement tour?" The man said, speaking in perfect Japanese.
"Tour?" Ohgi asked, confused by this man.
Yoshida turned to the others. "Hey, it couldn't have been this clown!"
"I wanted you to be able to see both the settlement and the ghetto!" The man speaks, stretching his arms out revealing that he's wearing an indigo suit. He dressed as if he was from the Victorian Era.
Ohgi steps forward. "Yeah, we get it. There's a difference. A vast difference. That's why we fight as a resistance."
"You're wrong." The man quickly says. "Terrorism will not defeat Britannia!
"Defeat?"
"Terrorism is just a childish nuisance."
"What did you just say?" Yoshida asked, annoyed. Sugiyama was also equally annoyed. "Did you just call us children?"
"Do not confuse your enemies. It is not the Britannians, but Britannia itself! You must start a war! Without involving civilians! Make up your minds! Take the path of justice!" The man's speech left them speechless.
However, Kallen soon found her voice. "Don't be absurd! It's easy for you to say whatever with that mask on. As if we'd trust someone who won't even show his face!"
Yoshida agrees. "She's right!"
"Take off your mask!" Sugiyama shouts.
Ohgi backs up his friends' opinions. "That's right. Why don't you show us your face?"
"Very well, I'll show you." The man says. "However, instead of showing my face, I'll show you my power." Underneath the mask, Lelouch smirks. "If I deliver to you the impossible, then I will have gained your trust."
Japanese Liberation Front HQ, Narita – Area 11
"He murdered a Prince of Britannian! Kururugi Suzaku should be treated as a hero!"
"But he's an Honorary Britannian!"
"Prime Minister Kururugi was his father!"
"So what!? That bastard gave up Japan! The people don't know that about him."
Kyoshiro Tohdoh sat in seiza with his eyes closed and his katana laid in front of him, listening to the men arguing in front of him as if they were children, not the grown adult soldiers they were.
"The Shinjuku incident was the work of the Kozuki group, wasn't it?" Sitting cross-legged, not too far from him, was Major General Tatewaki Katase, the head of the JLF.
"Yes, General." Kneeling in front of the General was Lieutenant Colonel Josui Kusakabe. "A man named Kaname Ohgi currently leads them."
Katase looks down, thinking. "Did the Kururugi family say anything?"
"No, sir. They stopped talking to him when he joined the army."
He then turns to Tohdoh. "Tohdoh, what do you think?"
Tohdoh opens his eyes but doesn't lift his head. "We have no duty to join in a public execution."
This response seemed to surprise those in the room.
"What cowardice!" Kusakabe said, angrily. "Where is Tohdoh, the miracle maker!?"
"Do not confuse miracles with nonsense!" Tohdoh said. No matter how much he wanted to save him, the risk would be borderline suicidal.
Prison – Area 11
Lloyd sat in front of Suzaku's cell, which was separated by see-through glass. Suzaku was dressed in a prisoner's suit with his arm tied at his back. "Congratulations. The two people you asked about weren't on the list of casualties."
Relief fills Suzaku's face. "That's good to hear." Lelouch and the girl were alive, somewhere.
"Not much lunk on your end, though. You may get a trial, but no one's pulling for you, that's for sure."
"But the court is where the truth comes to light."
Lloyd raised an eyebrow at that statement. "I'll expect that there'll be more smoke and mirrors than anything. The truth is scarce so late."
Suzaku stares forward. "If that's how the world works, then so be it. I have no regrets."
Lloyd blinks. Truly, this boy was an odd one.
Tokyo Settlement – Area 11
That evening
On a particular bridge, there was a crowd of people all lined up on the sides, awaiting the prisoner who come.
"Any moment. Any moment now." An announcer said as they broadcast the sight throughout the area. "It's a sight to see. The throng lining the route. All of them waiting on bated breath. Waiting for the accused murderer of Prince Clovis to pass by. Honorary Britannian and former Eleven, Suzaku Kururugi."
In Ashford Academy, the Student Council watched on the television, all expect Lelouch and Kallen who weren't there.
In another room, Nunnally sat alone in the dark, listening to the event with the radio in her hand.
Behind the crowd sat a news van and within it, Diethard sat watching and directing the cameras from behind the scenes. "Camera Five is lagging. Charles, has your team been deployed yet?" Diethard asked, using his radio and watching the screens.
"What, the studio? Let them wait. Nothing's be pushing back. Everything's going according to plan." Diethard replied to the response he received over the radio. "Here we go."
Outside, the people could see the Knightmares approaching, transporting their prisoner. "I-I can see them! They have the suspect. Suzaku Kururugi is heading this way!"
Diethard smirks. "Like clockwork." He then drops the smirk. "What a circus. And I'm just as corrupt as any of them."
"Murderer!"
"Garbage!"
"Damn Eleven!"
"Give back our Prince!"
These insults were being thrown around as the convoy passed by. Suzaku took them with a solemn expression. In contrast, Jeremiah stood in his Knightmare with his cockpit open, leading the convoy.
Laboratory – Area 11
"This is insane!" Cecile said, watching the broadcast. "We both know that Suzaku's innocent."
"The court deemed our testimony inadmissible." Lloyd said. "There's nothing we can do."
The two sat in the laboratory while the other researchers continued their work on the Lancelot.
"Yes, but..."
Lloyd turns to his assistant. "Is that altruism or humanitarianism?"
She looks back. "This isn't the time of a game of semantics."
Lloyd shrugs. "Not much else to do. We both know where this case is heading to. We couldn't even reach His Highness at the summit. All we can do is cut our losses, really."
"Voices of scorn growing ever louder. A testament to the people's love of their Prince. Raining their judgement down on a terrorist." The announcer said.
In her room, Nunnally worried about her friend's life. "Suzaku!"
"Margrave Jeremiah, integral in settling this case, will be presiding over this trial as acting Consul."
In the hideout, Ohgi's group watched the news. "There's no way just the three of them can do this!" Tamaki shouted.
Underneath the bridge, using the rails, Ohgi sat in a Knightmare as he awaited the signal. To him, this entire plan just seemed impossible from the get-go. But still... he told us that he can make the impossible possible. And somehow, he believed him.
"He told us he will do it. That he will save Kururugi Suzaku!"
Bridge – Area 11
As they were on their way, Jeremiah's radio spoke up. "Acting Consul Jeremiah."
"What is it?" Jeremiah asked.
"Vehicle approaching the main highway from 3rd." The soldier over the radio explained. "We just let it through as you instructed, but..."
"Do you believe that the target to be a terrorist vehicle?"
"Well, sir... it's Prince Clovis' car."
Jeremiah's eyes widen. His Highness's car? My the audacity was almost enough to make him laugh. He smirks. "Well, well, looks like we have a comedian. Don't worry about it. Just let him through to us."
He then holds up his hand. "All forces halt here!"
As the convoy came to a stop, the crowd grew surprised and confused at the sudden halt.
Hideout – Area 11
This turn of events also surprised the resistance.
"Hey, they stopped." Sugiyama said. "They did it."
Tamaki scoffs. "It's just a coincidence."
"But he said that Jeremiah would do that because he likes to be the center of attention." Yoshida said, remembering what the man said.
"Coincidence!"
Bridge – Area 11
While everybody was trying to find out why they had stopped, a soldier makes a report. "This is Site 5, vehicle approaching."
Jeremiah smirks at the sight of the vehicle. "It's Prince Clovis' personal transport." Coming down the road was Prince Clovis' car with a small tent on it.
Truly the audacity. Jeremiah thought.
Under the bridge, Ohgi watched the broadcast. "Impossible. He's heading straight for them. What's he planning to do?"
Inside the car, Kallen tried to keep a heart beat down. While the car on the outside appeared to be Prince Clovis' car, the inside shown that this was nothing more than a disguise as the vehicle within has seen better days.
"Will they really believe this charade?" She muttered as she wore a white uniform with a purple visor.
She thinks back to when she and Ohgi had met the costumed man at a junkyard, of all places. Despite his speech on the train, they were the only ones who came. The others wanted nothing to do with the man.
However, despite the lack of numbers, he said that she and Ohgi were enough.
How? She has no idea. They would be far too outnumbered. And yet, the only thing he told her was to get this uniform and he will handle the rest.
He better.
The car comes to a stop in front of the Knightmares. "You dare desecrate His Highness's transport!? Get out of there!" Jeremiah commands them.
Suddenly, the top of the car goes up in flames as the tent is burned away, revealing a costumed man, surprised everyone who was watching.
"I am Zero!"
The man, Zero, proclaimed himself. The crowd began to mutter, wonder who this Zero guy was.
"Zero?" Villetta says, confused.
"W-Who is this person!? This man who calls himself Zero. Standing before a full military convoy!" The announcer said, broadcasting to everyone who was watching.
Ashford Academy – Area 11
In the Student Council room, Rivalz leaned forward, getting closer to the screen of the TV. "What is all this?"
Shirley stood close by as well, wondering the same thing.
In another room, Nunnally tilts her head as she hears the arrival of Zero.
Hideout – Area 11
"What is he doing?" Tamaki asked as everyone in the room is surprised at how bold the man was. Just standing there and staing his name.
Bridge – Area 11
This man also surprised Suzaku, making him wonder who he was.
Kallen, however, grit her teeth in fear. It was too late for an escape, so whatever plan he has, he better do it fast.
In the news van, Diethard watched as multiple screens showed multiple angles of the masked man. "Zero?" Diethard says. "What do you mean, like nothing?"
Is he en Eleven? Suzaku thought.
Now to return the favor, Suzaku. Lelouch thought as he got ready.
Jeremiah, having had enough fun with this, pulled out his gun. "I've seen enough, Zero. This little show of yours is over." He fires a shot into the sky.
Other Knightmares began air-dropping, surrounding Zero with their weapons pointed at him. Kallen gasps as she sees no way out. All that this commotion achieved, however, was fluttering Zero's cloak.
Jeremiah smirks. "First things first. Why don't you lose that mask?"
Zero brought his hand up to his mask, as if to obey, before flicking his hand. Out came flying a small capsule. As soon it landed behind him, a small burst of smoke erupt and from that smoke came a larger capsule.
Jeremiah recognised it. Villetta too as she tries to warn him. "Lord Jeremiah, be careful! He's got-"
"All soldiers, hold your fire!" He quickly orders, realizing the danger. He couldn't afford them shooting now.
Lelouch smirks underneath his mask. That's right, Jeremiah. You never saw inside this thing, so you assume it holds poison gas.
Suzaku, however, knows that there is no poison gas inside. "Wait, you don't under-" He tries to warn but the shock collar on his throat, shocks him and forces him to stay silent, lest inviting more pain.
"Can all of you watching at home see this?" The announcer asked as everyone tried to make sense what that thing was. "It appears to be some sort of device. Although, it purpose remains unclear. Stay with us, and we'll see what this terrorist has to say."
"You bastard." Jeremiah growls. In their confusion, the crowd has no idea of the danger they are in. "He took every Britannian as hostage. And he's done it without them even knowing it."
He points his gun at Zero. "You intend to shoot me? I think you know fully well what will happen." Zero remains unafraid of the weapon pointed at him.
In the news van, Diethard is trying to instruct the cameras to get a better picture. "Unit 6, bring up the sound. And shove that up his face!"
"But sir, it's too hairy out here."
Diethard frowns. "Tch, amateurs." He then grabs a spare camera and gets out of the van, making his way to Zero.
Meanwhile, Jeremiah lowers his gun, realizing he won't get anywhere trying to threaten him. "Fine. What are your demands?"
"An exchange. This for Kururugi." Zero proposes.
Jeremiah narrows his eyes. "Like hell. He's charged with High Treason for murdering a Prince. I can't hand him over!"
"No, you're mistaken, Jeremiah. He's no murderer."
Diethard finally got on the highway, nearly being in the line of fire and began to live recording Zero at close range, focusing on his face.
"The man who killed Clovis..." Zero turns to the camera."...was Myself!"
Shocked gasps fill the air as the crowd heard this. Diethard smiled at the proclamation.
"W-What does this mean? This masked man called Zero... no, we can't be sure of who he is. Regardless, he claims to the real assassin. So where does this leave the current suspect?"
"He overdid it!" Ohgi panicked. "We can't escape!"
"There's no hope now." Kallen muttered, terrified.
"For a single Eleven, you'll save scores of precious Britannians. I see that to be a bargain." Zero said.
Diethard kept on recording, the smile never dropping. This is all just one big performance to him.
Jeremiah had enough. "He's mad, I tell you! Disguising this truck as His Highness's. He'll pay the price for mocking the Crown!" The Knightmares leveled the weapons at Zero.
"Careful now, if you don't wish for the public to learn of Orange."
"Orange?" Jeremiah mutters.
"Orange? What's he talking about?" One soldier asked. "I don't know." Another one replied.
Zero taps his foot on the roof. Kallen drives the car forward slowly. "If I die, it will all go public! If you don't want that to happen..."
"What are you talking about? What is this!?" Jeremiah asks, baffled.
Suddenly, a small opening appears on the mask, allowing Lelouch's Geass to stare into Jeremiah's eyes. "You will do everything in your power to let us go. Your prisoner as well!" He orders Jeremiah.
The Geass binds Jeremiah's will, and he obeys the commands. "Very well." Jeremiah turns to the soldiers holding Suzaku. "You there, release the prisoner."
This shocked all that could hear him. What was going on?
"What are you doing, my lord?" Villetta asked.
"Get that man over here." Jeremiah ignores her.
The two soldiers hesitated. "Should we?"
"But..."
Jeremiah grew impatient. "Hand that man over! Nobody gets in his way!" Kewell pulled up to Jeremiah, demanding to understand what was happening. "No! What are you thinking!? You can't do this!"
Jeremiah turns to Kewell. "Lord Kewell, this is an order!"
Eventually, the soldiers obey and begin handing Suzaku over to Zero. "It's hard to tell what's happening from here, but it appears that Kururugi's release has been brokered!"
The crowd cries out, asking for answers to why Suzaku was being released, and why Zero wasn't being arrested. Suzaku walks to Zero, who was walking to him as well. When they arrived, Suzaku tries to speak. "So, who the hell are-" Yet again, the shock collar activates, shocking him.
"As I thought, they didn't allow you to speak." Zero observes. Behind him, Kallen gets out of the car as well and walks towards them.
Villetta enters her Knightmare, unwilling to allow this to continue any further. "If they get away, we'll lose everything."
Underneath, Ohgi sees the plan working and activates his Knightmare, which is a MR-1.
"Zero, it's time to go." Kallen says.
"Very well then, til next time." He says. He then pulls out a detonator and presses it.
Suddenly the large capsule releases a purplish colored smoke. The crowd screams as they try to run away from the smoke that was filling up the area.
"You cowardly Elevens!" Villetta tries to shoot them down, but Jeremiah intercepts her, making her fire into the air. "Lord Jeremiah!? What are you-"
"You heard me! Stand down!" Jeremiah says, still under the Geass trance.
In the chaos, Zero; holding Suzaku and Kallen jump off the bridge. Ohgi fires his Slash Harkens into the war. In-between the Slash Harkens, a sheet unravels under them, slowing down their descent into the cart connected to Ohgi's Knightmare.
Ohgi is happy that the plan actually went through. "All right, now we can-" He interrupted as he notices that Kewell's Knightmare was scaling down and was about to fire at him.
But before he could fire, a flash of light and smoke erupts as Kewell's Knightmare explodes. Ohgi's surprised, and he looks around for the culprit. He sees Kallen with her hand pointing to the explosion, panting.
Zero sees as well. So that's her power. The power displayed impresses Lelouch.
Ohgi shakes his head and makes his escape, the others in tow.
Up the bridge, Kewell's Knightmare survived its sudden combustion, though without damage as it's just hanging, its arms and legs broken.
"The hell was that!?" Kewell asked, rattled by the sudden explosion. He tries to move his Knightmare, but it refuses, the damage is too great.
"Normally, I would be issuing a punishment for disobeying my orders, but I think you've suffered enough humiliation." Next to him was Jeremiah, scaling down too. "Once again, I order all forces! Do everything in your power and help them get away!"
Abandoned Building – Area 11
That night, Ohgi's group was hiding in one of the abandoned buildings in the ghetto, discussing what had just happened.
"Man, I didn't think he could make it."
"Yeah, like, who is this guy?"
"It's bullshit!" Tamaki says. "How many times is a bluff like that going to work?"
"You have to admit, though. Who could have pulled this off?" Ohgi states, sitting and looking down at the ground. "Even the Japan Liberation Front couldn't do this, and certainly not me." He looks up at Tamaki. "We all thought a war with Britannia would be impossible. But maybe, just maybe, with him, it is possible."
Kallen sat on the ground, tired from using her quirk. She doesn't use it that much, especially on large objects.
"Kallen." She looks to see Ohgi staring at her. "I know I'm not the biggest supporter of using your power but thank you. You really saved me back there."
She blinks, surprised to hear that before smiling.
In another room, Zero and Suzaku having a discussion as well.
"It looks like you were treated very baldy." Zero said, observe Suzaku's injuries. "Now you know what they're really like, Private Kururugi. Britannia is rotten. If you want to change the world, join me!"
"So, is it true? Did you really kill Prince Clovis?" Suzaku instead asks.
"This is a war."Zero explains. "It's natural to kill the enemy commander."
"And the poison gas? All the people you used as hostages?"
"Colored smoke, a lie to help with the exchange. As a result, nobody died."
"Result? Of course, that's all you care about." Suzaku mutters, looking down, a sad smile on his face.
Zero holds out his hand. "Join me. The Britannia you serve is a worthless nation.
Suzaku doesn't take his hand, though. "Perhaps it is true... however, this nation can be changed for the better from within!"
Changed? Lelouch thinks, baffled at this notion.
"Besides, I think results obtained by despicable methods to be worthless." Suzaku walks away.
"Wait, where are you going!?" Zero shouts.
"I have a court-martial that starts in an hour." Suzaku keeps on walking.
"Are you crazy? This trial is set up so you'll be found guilty! The judge, the prosecution, the defense..." Zero said, upset that his friend was seemingly walking to his death.
"The rules are the rules." He pauses. "And if I don't go, they will start oppressing the Eleven and the Honorary Britannians."
"But you'll die!"
"I don't care."
"You're being stupid!"
"An old friend of mine used to tell be that. That I'm being a fool. I guess it's my personal flaw." He then looks back at Zero. "I'd try to arrest you, but you would just end up killing me. If I'm going to die, it will be in the service of the people. Still, I thank you for saving me." He continues his walk.
As he watches his friend off to his trial, Lelouch grit his teeth in frustration. "You fool!"
Ashford Academy – Area 11
"Yes, apparently Private Kururugi has made contact with the authorities. It would seem that Zero had released him. However, now that the original charge against him has been thrown into question, it's very possible that Kururugi will be found innocent and acquitted." In her room, Nunnally heard the report on the radio.
"Thank goodness." She says, relieved that her friend is alive.
She then hears the door opening behind her. "Miss Sayoko?"
However, she couldn't see that her guest was not Sayoko, but a girl with green hair.
Hellsing Mansion – Holy Empire of Britannia
Sir Integra sat at her table, watching the news of what took place at Area 11.
"Well, that was interesting to watch." Someone says next to her.
Standing next to her was a tall man with a black suit, white gloves, a red coat, and a red hat.
"Is that so?" Integra glances at the man. "Didn't think it would interest you."
The man chuckles. "From the beginning, no, it was very much boring. Nothing much you can get from watching a man get ridiculed. But Zero..." He grins.
"There's something about him. Makes it entertaining to watch him. I wouldn't mind meeting him to see who he really is."
She turns back to the screen. "Well, you're not wrong. He's certain has a theatrical style to him." He's certainly more interesting than other terrorists, but worry about him was not her job. That was for the OSI.
Suddenly, there was a knock on her door. "Come in." In walked Walter, who bowed when reached her.
"Anything to report, Walter?" Integra asked.
"Yes, Ma'am. Some of our forces got into some trouble during our trip through the Asian Continent."
Integra narrows her eyes. "Damage report?"
Walter shakes his head. "Thankfully none, Miss Integra. The situation deescalated, and no casualties reported. We also have more information about the situation happening in China."
The Britannian woman sits up. Now this was something she had to worry about. "Go on."
Because, depending on what she hears, this could be a threat that could reach Britannian soil. Thus, it was a threat that had to be dealt with.
For that was the job for the Hellsing Organization.
A/N: Got this down. Nice. Thank you for those who had read and responded. It's nice hearing your words.
Now, I know to most of you, it just appears that rehashing stuff with no change. Sorry about that, but I'm currently trying to worldbuild the world, and the way I'm going about it does make it seem like a rehash.
However, that isn't to last long. Soon, I will deviate from the canon as more stuff gets added.
