Author's Note: This is not an update- I've been debating this for a while, and after hearing from several readers about how the length of the chapters was more problem than benefit, I've broken up the previous two chapters into four. Next chapter will be out sooner now, however, as I'll be keeping these chapters shorter. I also inserted author's notes into previous chapters, in case anyone's interested.
Part III: In Your Darkest Hour, I Hold Secrets Flame
"More than any other time in history, mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness. The other, to total extinction. Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly."
-Woody Allen
There was not a word spoken as they followed Jeremiah and Sayoko deeper into the depths of the underground complex beneath his home, past numerous rooms that neither Kallen nor Zero paid any mind to as they navigated dimly lit corridors and stairs, barely even noticing that this facility was much larger than they hadu suspected.
What could they say, after all, in the wake of Jeremiah's shocking revelation. Was Lelouch Lamperouge, the former Emperor of Brittania and the original Zero, truly waiting for them at the end of this hallway?
Had everything until this point been some kind of game for him? Watching as those few who knew the truth grieved and moved on, all the while waiting for his chance to return?
For Kallen, it meant facing the man she loved again, whose death hurt only marginally less than when she thought he betrayed her. What could she say to him? Should she be angry that he deceived her, yet again? Or relieved?
For Zero, it meant facing the man he killed, his best friend, who apparently didn't even believe enough in his own philosophy to sacrifice his life. Was Lelouch truly that low as to remain a hypocrite to the bitter end?
They came at last to a metal door, at the end of the hallway.
"This way, please," Jeremiah said, opening the door, gesturing for them to enter.
Steeling themselves, Kallen and Zero stepped into the room.
What they found was not quite what they expected. The room was well lit, unlike the hallway, but was otherwise rather bare, featuring only a few metal chairs facing a rather dominating screen and keypad.
"A computer?" Kallen blinked, feeling somewhat let down- but then again, she was expecting to see someone thought to be dead.
"What are you playing at Jeremiah?" Zero asked slowly, an unmistakable edge in his filtered voice.
Instead of answer, Jeremiah stepped past them, towards the computer, and removed a packaged and sealed disc from his pocket.
"This is for you," he said quietly, holding it out to Zero, placing it in the other man's gloved hands. "I was told to give it to you, should something like this ever occur."
"Told by Lelouch?" Zero asked without thinking, sounding stunned.
Jeremiah nodded. "I was left with very specific instructions. He said that should the day arrive when a crisis like this occurs, that you, Zero, would come looking for me, and that I was to present you with this disc." He gestured towards the computer. "You can access it from here."
Zero glanced over at Kallen, who seemed bewildered by the entire situation. With a hesitant stride, he stepped towards the computer, removed the disc, and inserted it into the slot.
After a few moments of waiting, a prompt screen appeared.
Password? , it asked, a short dialogue text box sitting beneath the question.
He gave Jeremiah a look.
The knight shrugged, absurdly casual for what should have been a rather tense scene. "He said you would know."
Zero bit his lip, wondering at this. Lelouch had never mentioned any kind of secret password between them, other than the hand signs that made up their secret language, but that wasn't translatable here.
Hesitantly, he typed Zero.
The machine beeped once. Incorrect Password, the program responded.
He tried something else. Nunnally.
Another beep, another rejection of the password.
Zero Requiem.
Nothing.
He glanced back towards Jeremiah. "Are you sure he didn't say anything else about the password? What did he say exactly about it?"
Jeremiah paused, as if unsure, but Sayoko stepped in then, a contemplative look on her face.
"He said that this password would be known to you… that it was be something dear to you both, I believe," Sayoko stated, though she seemed unsure. "He seemed insistent on the phrasing of his words… emphasizing you, especially."
"You, especially? What the heck does he mean by that…" Kallen muttered, rubbing her temples frustratedly. "Who else could he be referring to? You're not two people, for God's sake… who else is going to hear this message?"
"Two people…" Zero breathed softly.
But he was, wasn't he?
He was Zero… but he was also-
He froze at that. You… as in… not the mask, but the man beneath the mask, the man who was an entirely different person than the mask of Zero.
It was a password known to Kururugi Suzaku, in other words. Something dear to both Kururugi Suzaku and Lelouch Lamperouge…
He'd already tried Nunnally, which was likely too obvious anyways. What could it be…
Their friends at Ashford seemed too flimsy a guess. They were precious, yes, but the same could be said of others, even Kaguya, as someone they both held some affection for. It was something plain, something that Lelouch would have expected him to understand and know, instinctively, as if it were dear to his heart…
The answer came like a lightning bolt, and the name escaped his lips without even thinking about it.
"What was that?" Kallen blinked, turning towards Zero, unsure of what she'd heard.
Instead of answering, as if in a trance, Zero reached towards keyboard, and typed out six letters, no spaces.
Euphie.
An unconscious smile lit up his face, and he was rewarded as the computer hummed softly, displaying Password Accepted on the screen, before it faded, and the screen came to life.
And upon that screen, a familiar smirk.
"It's been a long time, Zero, Kallen," Lelouch Lamperouge said slowly, sounding oddly pleased with himself as he settled into a red clothed, gold rimmed chair, clad in the familiar robes of the Emperor. He leaned forward and smiled.
"How are you?"
00000
There were some who questioned the intelligence of placing the proverbial think tank of Knightmare Frame and other advanced technology, including the infamous FLEIJA, in such a small island nation such as Japan, which had only recently regained its status and become a member-state of the Neo Brittanian Empire. They claimed favoritism by the new government, whose command structure had a great deal of former members of the original Black Knights, who had fought for Japan and indeed mainly hailed from the country. It was too dangerous, they criticized, to leave such an invaluable resource in a newly formed country that had once been an enemy.
Logically, however, it was the correct choice, as Japan was still the world's number one provider of Sakuradite, that precious resource that made much of modern warfare possible, and without a plentiful supply the projects that this group worked on would simply not work.
Diplomatically as well, it held advantages- it was a display of trust from Brittania to Japan, and eased the minds of the other member-states of the new empire, as Brittania's homeland was not containing the most dangerous minds on the planet, indicating that they were not secretly attempting to rebuild the terrifying armies that had once dominated the theater of war.
However, the simple truth was that Rakshata Chawla had already sworn never to go back to Brittania, Lloyd Asplund wasn't willing to be left out of any more interesting projects that she created, and Nina Einstein had made a promise to herself to stay in Japan and atone for the sins she had committed against their people by creating the FLEIJA weapon.
As for Cecile Croomy… well, she couldn't exactly let Lloyd and Rakshata be in the same room without a mediator, and lord knows poor Nina wasn't up to the task of making sure the two didn't murder each other every other hour.
They were an invaluable resource to the empire, innovators and geniuses, visionaries… and now, apparently, at least one of them might very well be a traitor as well. And if so, this threat might very well be bigger than they had ever imagined.
The thought of those four turning against the empire frightened Cornelia more than she cared to admit, considering they were the creators of the three most powerful weapons in the world, from the Lancelot Albion, to the Guren S.E.I.T.E.N. Eight Elements, and of course, the FLEIJA bomb.
With their collective intellect, just accidentally destroying the Earth wasn't exactly out of the realm of possibility. The intention to destroy would make them akin to the four harbingers of the apocalypse itself.
Which was why she had chosen to visit them personally rather than send a proxy, leaving Guilford in charge of things while she was away.
She steeled herself as she stepped into the four's shared laboratory, flanked by a squad of Black Knights (the irony of her, of all people, leading such a team was not lost on her). Her gaze swept through the complicated mess of steel and glass and computers, easily spotting the four in question.
If they had been expecting her, if they had any anxiety about having aided forces that were working against the Neo Brittanian Empire, and would therefore be considered traitors to the crown under penalty of death or imprisonment… they completely failed to show it.
"You're a single celled cretin with all the scientific ability of a half dead rodent!" Rakshata snapped, grabbing a muffin and hurling it with impressive velocity.
Lloyd ducked behind one of the workbenches, and the pastry missile veritably exploded against a nearby wall, showering the floor with crumbs. Glancing back, he shot her a smarmy grin and blew a most unbecoming raspberry, especially for an Earl. "You're just mad that my adjustments were what made the experiment successful!"
The creator of the Guren narrowed her eyes, her demeanor akin to a tiger about to tear the throat out of its prey. "Your adjustments also destroyed the test model, you ignorant sack of crap!"
This time, she threw the plate at him, but this too missed, and Cornelia actually had to step aside to avoid being hit by the shattered remnants.
"We can make more, Rakshata-san," Nina reminded her quietly, trying to tug at the older woman's sleeve, but the Indian woman paid her no mind.
"It's the principle of the thing!" she muttered, crossing her arms in a huff. "How are these things supposed to work in the field if they blow up after one use!"
Cornelia attempted to cough, but she was drowned out as a second bout of verbal and physical warfare began. She shifted, wondering if she should send in her squad to break up the fight, but the men behind her actually seemed rather afraid to get involved with the two clearly deranged scientists.
"You'll have to actually step in and interrupt them, Cornelia-sama," came a gentle suggestion, and she turned to see Cecile Croomy smiling placidly, watching the fight from afar with the same kind of accepting expression you usually see from saints. "I'm afraid they'll never notice you otherwise."
The former princess gave the other woman a scrutinizing look- wasn't she concerned at all that the Commander of the Black Knights Police Division was at their door with a squad of armed men?
Cecile merely continued smiling, and motioned to the plate of freshly made onigiri on her plate. "I made some peanut butter onigiri today. If you'd like, please, try some. There's enough for everyone."
Cornelia shook her head, somewhat queasy just considering what that dish might taste like. "No… I'm fine," she refused politely, and then spoke in a louder, commanding voice, "Enough of this! Lloyd Asplund, Rakshata Chawla, by order of her majesty Empress Nunnally Lamperouge, you have been ordered to comply with our investigation in the destruction of the Shiroda forward base. If you resist or hinder our investigation in any way, I have been authorized to use force."
"Oooh, scary!" Lloyd chirped, and sounded not the least bit terrified as he smiled and turned towards them.
"This is serious you bird brained moron!" Rakshata snapped, striking him on the shoulder, hard.
"Now now, don't get your panties in a twist, Rakshata-chan," Lloyd teased, rubbing his shoulder with a wince.
"Enough!" Cornelia interrupted loudly, stamping her foot down. "It's come to our attention that a group that may be working against the Empire has acquired some rather advanced technology… your technology."
And with that, she held out her hand, holding out the miniature Gefjun Disturber that Zero had found.
"Well, that certainly looks like one of ours," Lloyd began whimsically, peering at the device-
"You mean one of mine!" Rakshata cut in, glaring daggers at the Earl. "God damn it, I knew one of them was missing!"
"So you're saying it was Asplund who supplied Anya Earlstreim with the device?" Cornelia questioned, narrowing her eyes.
Instead of answering, Rakshata just kept on berating the silver haired man. "I told you to tell me if you were going to take one of my creations! The personal Gefjun Disturber units aren't toys you can take at a whim, you damn Pudding Earl!"
Nina stepped forward tentatively, timidly raising her hand. "Um… Rakshata-san… I was the one who took it."
All eyes swiveled toward the youngest occupant of the room, and the poor girl seemed to wilt before the attention.
"You gave the former Knight of Six that device?" Cornelia said incredulously, eyes widening. Of all the people in that room, she would have thought Nina Einstein would have the least amount of reason to side with Lelouch and the Geass. "Why?"
"Perhaps we'd better explain," Cecile interrupted, and Nina looked grateful for her intervention. Smiling placidly, she turned towards the former Princess of Brittania. "Would you mind sending the guards out of the room? This is a matter of national security, I'm afraid…"
"Loose lips sink ships!" Lloyd chimed in, chuckling.
Cecile gave him a stern warning look, and he shrank back down.
Cornelia paused, unsure of herself. Finally, after a few moments of debate, she reluctantly nodded towards the squad, motioning for them to wait outside.
After they had left, Cecile smiled and gestured towards a chair. "You may want to sit down for this, Cornelia-sama."
"I'll stand, thank you," Cornelia replied coolly, crossing her arms.
"Suit yourself!" Lloyd commented cheerily.
Five minutes later, Cornelia was sitting in that chair and wishing it was a bed.
00000
Zero couldn't believe it. He licked his lips once, unconsciously, and began slowly, "Lelouch, just what-"
"Of course, I say how are you, but in reality, I cannot actually hear your responses, as this is merely a recording," Lelouch suddenly continued, his familiar smirking growing on his face as he folded his hands, elbows propped up against the arms of his chair. "I merely thought to be polite."
"A recording?" Kallen yelled loudly, blinking wildly.
"Yes, Kallen, a recording," Lelouch answered without hesitation. "I merely respond and speak according to how I predict you will respond to this recording."
"Then how the hell did he know I would be here? Wasn't this addressed to Zero?" she muttered rebelliously, crossing her arms.
"As for how I knew Kallen would be here," the Emperor continued pleasantly, "I merely considered what conditions might trigger the need for this recording to fall into Zero's hands, and thus realized that Kallen would undoubtedly become entangled in this affair as well, as it concerns the fate of all of us."
He seemed to look directly at her as he continued warmly, "I would expect nothing less from you, Kallen."
She flushed despite herself, and was reminded that Lelouch had quite the silver tongue, back in the days before he began using Geass as a hammer rather than a cloak and dagger to solve his problems.
Lelouch smiled for a moment longer, and then it faded and he was all business again. "As such, I have prepared this recording with Kallen's presence in mind. If she is not there, then I would ask that you relay the contents of this message to her, as I have a task for her."
Kallen opened her mouth to question exactly what that task was, but was interrupted.
"I'll get to that task in a moment, Kallen," Lelouch answered without prompt, and his smile faded for a moment and a more serious look settled on his face. "First things first. Zero, please remove your mask. If Kallen isn't yet aware of your identity, she must be made aware of it now in order for things to continue. I will give you a few moments to do this."
Zero stood still in shock. When he was observing the exchange between Kallen and Lelouch, he unconsciously started smiling, a pleasant mood taking him. But now that mood was gone.
Remove the mask?
What was Lelouch thinking? He glanced up at the screen, where Lelouch remained poised and silent, giving him an expectant stare.
He sighed. He had trusted Lelouch this far, so why not?
Slowly, hesitantly, he reached up, hands grasping the recessed pressure releases and pushed them, the mask receding over the back of his head first, revealing chestnut brown hair and skin that, while still somewhat tan, was far paler than it had been originally. With a hint of reluctance, he freed himself from the dark confine of the mask, pulled down the cloth mouth covering, and the face of Kururugi Suzaku was revealed.
Kallen, for her part, seemed almost impassive.
"You don't seem surprised," Suzaku said, forcing a bit of humor into his voice to help with the situation.
"I think I always knew," she answered softly, avoiding his eyes. "I just never wanted to find out for sure."
The silence lingered on, uncomfortable and heavy, like a great weight that couldn't be balanced.
"I'll assume you have finished. If so, welcome back, Suzaku," Lelouch began again, blessedly breaking the silence. "Now, we can begin. Let me begin by outlining the situation as I have predicted it to be. First, there has been a great tragedy of some sort, some kind of incident that would inevitably drive a wedge between Japan and Brittania. After this, events have begun to occur which deepen that division between Japan and Brittania, inciting the flames of war, dividing the world yet again. And one way or another, these events have led you to implicating my hand or at least the hand of Geass in these matters."
Suzaku and Kallen both swallowed, unable to speak, absolutely stunned by the accuracy with which Lelouch had outlined the events of the past few days. It had been a long time since they had borne witness to the genius intellect that had brought the world to its knees.
"I'll assume I'm correct, because if I'm not then you should shut down this recording immediately because everything following this is useless," Lelouch continued briskly. "Allow me, then, to confirm something for you."
He paused, fixing them with his gaze that, even digital, conveyed the powerful, captivating intensity of his eyes.
"There is a Geass involved, but it is not mine."
Silence dominated the room.
Kallen felt sick.
Suzaku just narrowed his eyes, feeling a familiar anger towards the nefarious power that had taken so much from him.
"More will be explained at a later time," Lelouch said, somewhat hurriedly, and Jeremiah seemed to shift uncomfortably, "For now, I will give you the information you need. First, you should know that, prior to my death, I had wiped out the organization behind the Geass as well as the majority of the known Geass users. At Kaminejima, I killed two more Geass users- my father, and my mother. The last other known Geass user, Bismark Waldstein, died at your hands, Suzaku."
Suzaku nodded in easy acceptance, having personally witnessed that last two events, but for Kallen it was a new, shocking revelation- she had never known exactly what transpired that day when the previous Emperor of Brittania disappeared on Kaminejima.
Likely knowing how Kallen would take that statement, Lelouch amended, "Let me assure you, Kallen, that it was necessary. Suzaku can inform you of the exact details, but the short version is that they desired to end the world as we know it today, through the use of a system just as cruel and oppressive as the Damocles itself. But, back to the matter at hand."
He crossed his legs, straightening as he continued.
"At the time when I challenged Schneizel for control of the world, I believed I had eliminated all known cases of Geass in this world, except for myself, and that would be resolved in due time as well."
He gave her an unreadable look, pursing his lips as he did so, and there was a brief moment of hesitation that was apparent on his face. It spoke volumes, especially considering Lelouch's masterful control of himself. "As you may have suspected, Kallen, I planned for Suzaku to take up the mantle of Zero and kill me at an appointed day, after I had completely subjected the world and taken its hatred upon myself. It was a plan we entitled the Zero Requiem."
Kallen nodded distantly as if in a trance, eyes wide- suspect or not, to have it actually confirmed that Lelouch had willingly sacrificed his good name and his own life for world peace was still a shock.
Lelouch leaned forward, resting his chin atop his folded hands, looking grave. "When I planned the Zero Requiem, I factored in every threat to the new world that could exist. The Brittanian nobility was no more, stripped of their power and the most militant of them crushed into dust before my armies in the initial stages of the Zero Requiem. The forces loyal to my father had rallied behind remaining Knights of Round and had been dispatched handily by you, Suzaku. Schneizel would be subverted by my Geass and become a great asset. The rest of the nations of the world were already united in peace beneath the banner of the UFN. Any other dissident faction that remained hated me so much they would gladly swear allegiance to anyone else. Only one variable remained unknown to me… one I'm sure you can guess."
"Geass," Suzaku spat, like a curse, and Lelouch nodded as if he could hear the response.
"I had already wiped out all other Geass users save myself, and the only person who could pass on the Geass had already promised me she would never do such a thing again." Lelouch narrowed his eyes, and his lip curled in visible frustration.
"And yet, I remained troubled. Where did the Geass actually originate from, I wondered. Geass users gain their powers from immortals, who were past Geass users who took the Code of their own contractor. But that was a self repeating cycle… there had to be an origin point, an incident that gave rise to the first Geass and the first immortal who passed it on."
Lelouch frowned deeply, sighing into his folded hands. "Unfortunately, the Geass Order had no record of such a thing. Their knowledge of the origins of the Geass only dated back to the beginning of the empire, and they were far more interested in experiments and applications of it than they were with the origins of the power itself. And when I ascended to the throne, I gained access to my father's own private research as well, hidden in the archives. And while it was certainly more detailed than the records I had managed to recover from the Geass Order, it too answered none of my questions."
He tensed visibly and his brow furrowed, the very picture of a man troubled by a dark vision.
"And therein laid the problem… how could I be sure the peaceful world that the Zero Requiem envisioned would not be twisted and tainted by the Geass again?"
Suzaku and Kallen were silent still, absolutely captivated by Lelouch's words, waiting on his next words.
"To this end, I tasked Jeremiah, Sayoko, and a few others to form a group dedicated to watching for and wiping out any Geass-related threats from the shadows. This is why they have been acting in the shadows of this incident- they are under my orders. And now, I am tasking you two to aid us in this matter, to destroy the threat of Geass before everything is undone."
"How?" Kallen questioned, speaking without thinking. "How are we supposed to do that?"
"I will begin by outlining the steps need to be taken in order to resolve this crisis," Lelouch answered slowly, uncrossing his legs and leaning back against his chair. "First, Suzaku, you must return to Tokyo. If everything proceeded as I predicted, then Ougi should be Prime Minister of Japan, am I correct?"
He paused as though he could actually hear them and was awaiting a response. "I hope I am, in any case. By this point in the crisis, the government of Japan will be making a vote of no confidence in Ougi. You, Suzaku, as Zero, must endorse Ougi and do your best to sway the vote in his favor. If he is out of office then containing the hostilities between Japan and Brittania will become vastly more difficult, especially since there is a good chance Japan will attempt to secede from the union with Brittania."
"Secede?" Kallen rolled the word over in her tongue, feeling a weight down in her gut. "That's crazy."
"It's true," Sayoko interrupted softly. "We just got word of it this morning. Lelouch-sama's prediction is accurate."
"Which means that the Black Knights' loyalties will be divided," Suzaku concluded, voice subdued. "Brittania's army split into the camps supporting Japan and Brittania."
Lelouch's voice continued over the silence.
"After securing Ougi's position, your next step will be to track down the source of this problem. However, to go to where it is likely hiding, you will need help," he explained, and leaned forward. "And that is where the task I mentioned I had for Kallen comes in."
She straightened as she heard her name, and distantly realized that her willingness to follow Lelouch's orders hadn't quite left her.
"Kallen, while Zero is securing Ougi's position and keeping things under control in Tokyo, you must seek out the one person who can help us resolve this crisis. She's rather hard to find, and I know for a fact she intends to disappear after my death, but I have no doubt you can locate her- in fact, I believe you may be one of the few she will actually allow to find her." A faint crease of a smile appeared on Lelouch's face, and he chuckled somewhat fondly. "All you need do is follow the smell of pizza."
"C.C.," Kallen breathed softly.
Of course. Who better to stop the threat of Geass than the one person who knew more about it than anyone else alive or dead?
"She will know why you've come," he continued briskly. "I have already spoken with her about the possibility of this incident occurring, and she will know what to do once you've found her. Trust her, Kallen."
She briefly wondered at that. Lelouch never said something like that carelessly- there had to be a reason he was asking her to affirm her faith in C.C.
Her thoughts were broken as he flashed a brief, warm smile, and somehow, they all knew that he was about to bid them farewell.
And somehow, it was almost as difficult as the last time he went from their lives.
"I hope you've gotten all that down, because this message will purge and delete itself after this recording ends," he suddenly said jokingly, and chuckled, a hint of self depreciation in his voice as he did so. "I can't let any evidence that I was anything less than a monster be hanging around, after all."
"Lelouch…" Kallen began, her throat closing up and her eyes stinging with hot, unshed tears, even though she knew it was just a recording, a oneway conversation. "I…"
"For what it's worth, I never meant to hurt you, Kallen," Lelouch said softly, his eyes warm and a small, genuine smile on his face that spoke of things he did not want, or could not, say.
It faded after a moment, like the last flash of sunlight before dusk, and he seemed to be looking away from her then.
Suzaku straightened, knowing that the next words were for him.
"Suzaku, I know the years since we began have not been easy for you… but know that I have always had faith that you can make Zero into the hero the world deserves, that you will be the paragon of justice I could only pretend to be. You're a good man, Suzaku, and a better friend than I ever was to you… a better friend than I deserved. I am honored to have known you." Lelouch offered him the kind of smile that had grown scarcer and scarcer since the days when they were children- an honest one.
"Sayoko, Jeremiah, thank you for your loyalty," he continued gently. "It meant more than you may know."
Jeremiah saluted. Sayoko bowed deeply. Both of them didn't seem to trust their words.
Lelouch paused then, just staring out from the screen, as if he could really see them, that this was not just a digital recording but a true conveyance of the living, breathing man.
But it was an illusion only.
His features flickered, and for a moment, Suzaku swore he saw regret in Lelouch's eyes. A deep regret, like a man who wasn't sure if he had just made one of the biggest mistakes of his life.
A look Lelouch only wore when he was about to do something that could potentially hurt the people he love- or had already done.
But then it was gone, and Suzaku wasn't quite sure if he hadn't just imagined it.
"Good luck, my friends," he whispered, and the screen went black.
00000
The United Nations Council was the new Brittanian Empire's second most powerful political organization, created during the initial treaties which merged the existing Brittanian Empire with the United Federation of Nations, in order to counterbalance the monarchial power that would be held by the Empress, with the power to, by vote, veto a decision made by the Empress as well to pass motions of their own. In effect, it was the original UFN's body, merely transplanted into the overall governmental body of Brittania, acting as a parliamentary system within the Empire.
It was made up of representatives from several chosen member-nations of the Empire, elected from the general body of the nations of the Empire, and was chaired by Kaguya, the previous Chairwoman of the UFN and its civilian leader, the natural choice for such a position. Members of the council included Empress Tianzi, who was perhaps their staunchest ally at this current moment. Ougi too held a Council seat, but seeing as how he was currently in the process of being voted out of office, he was unavailable and thus his screen was empty.
"Thank you for assembling on such short notice, honored members of the Council," Nunnally greeted softly, facing the assembled screens with as much royal dignity as she could muster. "I wish these circumstances were less trying."
After they echoed her greeting, the representative from France, one Nicolas De Gaulle, a former power player of the Euro Universe who managed to regain much of his status after his country regained its independence, spoke.
"Empress, what exactly are the Black Knights intending to do in the wake of this incident?" he asked slowly, furrowing his graying eyebrows. He was one of the oldest members on the Council, well respected amongst them, with a great deal of political clout and support. Influencing his opinion would be crucial to stabilizing the empire.
The question within the question was audible to everyone.
Was Brittania going to use force to settle this issue, as it had so many times in the past?
"Commander in Chief Xingke is placing our forces on standby. I believe that even small displays of force will only serve to upset the situation further," Nunnally answered. "And so I have asked all our forces to remain as they are, except for the Police forces, who have been instructed to remain as a strictly peacekeeping force in Japan, to guarantee the safety of our citizens. They are not, under any circumstances, to strike against Japan in any way."
"Commander Xingke seems to be rather ill as of late, and the stress of these recent events, we have heard, has been weakening his already failing health," Nicolas continued to press, pursing his lips. "Are you sure it is wise to leave the command of our military forces in the hands of a man on death's door? Especially in light of recent events, when so many of our forces are… divided."
Tianzi paled, and her small, slight frame visibly trembled with anger even through the screen that displayed her face. She opened her mouth to speak, but Kaguya met her eyes and shook her head once, quickly.
Now wasn't the time for personal battles.
"Xingke-san is the best military strategist we possess," Kaguya cut in coolly. "We have no one as capable to replace him… especially with these recent events."
"We do not doubt the Commander's ability, only his condition," came the soft alto of the representative from Ethiopia, who folded her hands with a passive look.
"What of the Chief of Staff, General Toudou?" asked the Russian representative, frowning. "As a known Japanese nationalist, his official stance is of great importance, given his position."
More subtleties. His official stance could determine the loyalties of a great number of the Black Knights, and if he turned against Brittania then a civil war was inevitable.
"The General is currently in China, I believe," Nunnally replied, and glanced towards Tianzi, who let out a nervous squeak and nodded hurriedly.
Breathing out to steady herself, Tianzi spoke in a clear, if quiet, voice. "I have not seen Toudou-san since before yesterday. Chiba-san has been taking his work to him at their private quarters outside the Forbidden City. He's made no contact that we know about with the Japanese government."
"So he's taking no sides," muttered another representative, who scowled.
"Or he's waiting for the correct opportunity… say, when the post of Prime Minister of Japan is vacant," interrupted Nicolas de Gaulle again, sounding stern. "Your majesty, exactly what is your plan of action for dealing with the Japanese threat of secession?"
Here was the real heart of all the issues. If Brittania used force, then the member nations would fear that Brittania was attempting to rebuild its hegemony, and had merely changed its disguises in order to bring the whole world into a union by diplomacy, and then rule through force again.
If it came to that, the member nations would likely follow Japan's lead and secede as well. Even if Japan was crushed, it would only spark more rebellions throughout the empire, and considering the Empire's only army was a conglomerate of all the armies of the member nations, the army itself would be torn apart by infighting.
Civil war.
"I am hoping it will not have to come to that," Nunnally responded slowly, taking careful measure of her tone and pitch, praying she betrayed no weakness, no sign of how much this situation was affecting her. "We are working with the Japanese government to find an alternative solution to this problem. I know that none of us want this to escalate any farther."
"What about Zero?" clamored a new voice, the voice of the Korean representative. "Where is he!"
"The representative of Korea raises an excellent point, your majesty," came the rumbling baritone of the German representative. "Zero is supposed to be in charge of the investigation into the incident, is he not?"
"Zero-sama is currently following a lead. We are awaiting his report shortly," Kaguya answered succinctly. "I'm afraid for the purposes of the investigation the matter he is looking into is strictly classified until further notice."
There was a brief silence, a vacuum in the barrage.
"Honored members of the Council," Nunnally began, her voice quiet but steady, like a deep river, "We have only just started to create a peaceful world free of the terrors of the old. This crisis is a test, one that I believe the people of the world will pass, and show that they are truly ready to handle this era of peace. I have faith that we will find a peaceful solution to this crisis."
00000
They left the underground facility beneath Jeremiah's farm, both Suzaku and Kallen desperately wanting, needing air, to be free of the dark depths of that room that had begun to feel like a tomb.
For a while, neither of them spoke, staring out at the endless groves of oranges, the tangy, sweet smell filling their lungs. Sayoko and Jeremiah stood off to the side, watching them, no doubt carrying their own thoughts.
"… he knew." Suzaku chuckled beneath the mask, breaking the silence. "He knew everything, before we did."
Kallen, despite herself, giggled as well, almost as a coping mechanism. "That's just like that guy," she muttered, shaking her head with a hint of amusement. "He could have just told us from the beginning."
"That's not his style," he replied, smiling. "It's just like when he was a kid. Always showing off."
They shared a smile, though Zero's was hidden beneath the mask.
A thought occurred to him, a part of the investigation that he had been forgetting up until now.
"You have Private Shigeru, don't you?" Zero asked, more to say it out loud than for anything else.
Jeremiah nodded. "He's in the facility. He's very badly traumatized, and we had to be sure that he was not under Geass. In case he was, allowing your people to take him into custody could have been a disaster."
"Wait a second, you can't just hold a soldier prisoner!" Kallen butted in, narrowing her eyes. "You don't have the authority to do something like that!"
To their surprise, Jeremiah and Sayoko both chuckled lightly.
"What's so funny?" the redhead questioned suspiciously.
"Actually, we do," Sayoko murmured, a faint hint of a smile on her placid features.
It took Suzaku a few moments to understand. "Lelouch arranged for you to have governmental authority, didn't he?"
Jeremiah nodded. "He left instructions with Schneizel, to be triggered upon the formation of the new government. Technically, our organization is an intelligence subsection of the Black Knights, one that reports directly to Zero."
The implications of the statement were apparent to all. While in name, they worked for Suzaku, who bore the mask of Zero, they continued to work in spirit for the original Zero, their master.
"And Lloyd-san? He knew about this?" Suzaku questioned, turning away from them. He knew the answer, just like before, he just wanted to hear it for himself.
"Lloyd-san, Nina-san, and Cecile-san all agreed to provide support for us," Sayoko informed him. "I believe Rakshata-san was brought in after they formed their research team."
"Lelouch really planned this all out, huh?" Kallen laughed, a brief, but warm smile on her face.
Zero nodded, feeling noticeably light himself. After a moment, the urgency of the situation returned to him.
"Where will you go first?" he asked, glancing towards her. "To find C.C."
Kallen paused, biting her lip. "I'm not sure…" she looked towards Jeremiah and Sayoko expectantly.
"C.C.-sama has not been in contact with us since his majesty's death," Jeremiah replied, looking grave. "We do not know where she is at the moment."
"We should start in Tokyo," Zero murmured. "She was definitely in Tokyo when…" he trailed off, swallowing, and then continued, "And afterward, I know she left for the countryside, to disappear. Her trail might be cold, but there still could be some hints."
"We will return with you," Jeremiah said, stepping forward. "I will do my best to undo the damage of the Geass and gather information, if you let me."
"That's a good idea," Suzaku nodded crisply. "I'll get you clearance."
"And I will help you, Kallen-san, in your search," Sayoko offered, bowing.
Kallen nodded gratefully, and, for the first time since this crisis began, felt that the world was starting to look a little brighter.
00000
Gino groaned a little, rotating his shoulder in an attempt to ease some of the muscle pains in his back. He hated sleeping on military cots- another reason why he hadn't joined the regular military back in the old Brittania. The Knights of Rounds almost never had to work in the trenches, so to speak.
Unfortunately, uncomfortable sleeping quarters were the least of his worries.
"Lieutenant Keima, is that crowd still outside?" he asked quietly, stepping into the command tent, using one arm to hold up the flap.
"See for yourself sir," the Lieutenant gestured to the cameras feeds they had set up at the perimeter.
Filling up the feeds just outside the main gate were hundreds of people. Grieving family and friends who demanded to see the bodies of their loved ones, angry protestors who demanded the base be opened to the public for 'the truth', and all other sorts of people.
To Gino, it only meant trouble. Sighing, he moved over to the prefab counter, where a small coffee maker sat, half full.
"How long have they been there now?" he asked, pouring himself a cup of lukewarm coffee. He took a sip and wrinkled his nose. "Ugh, that's bitter."
"The first of them began arriving this morning. The crowd keeps growing, and many of them seem to have carried supplies to camp outside the base," Keima reported, and then glanced over at his commander, gesturing towards a drawer on the counter. "And the cream and sugar are in the top drawer, sir."
Nodding gratefully, Gino began pouring packets of sugar into his coffee. "Any signs of violence?"
"None yet sir. There's been some verbal conflict, but nothing has escalated yet," the Lieutenant responded.
"Who's that?" the ex-Knight of Rounds questioned, glancing down at the feed, where it seemed a ringleader of the protestors had appeared.
"That's the wife of Captain Mishizawa, Mishizawa Sayuri," Keima indicated, pointing to a middle aged Japanese woman at the forefront of the crowd. "She's become something of a gathering point for the other mourners."
Gino studied her face. She was barely in her forties, with full features and a delicate bone structure that gave her a regal, demure appearance- something that was marred by the redness of her eyes and the tear tracks that still stained her cheeks as she begged the guards to allow her into the base.
He sighed. "Too young to be a widow," he muttered, sipping the coffee, feeling old- especially for a young man barely in his twenties. It felt like this crisis was just piling on the years to his life.
"Sir, if I may," the Lieutenant murmured hesitantly, "Some of the concerns of the protestors are rather serious, and I don't think we have the right to deny wives and mothers the chance to see their husbands and sons. And some of them are even saying…" he shifted uncomfortably, and Gino chuckled bitterly.
"That it's not right for a Brittanian to be in charge of this base when Brittanians destroyed it?" he finished, a dark smile on his face. "Especially a former Knight of Rounds."
Keima nodded, not saying anything.
"What do you think, Keima?" Gino asked as he took another tentative gulp of his coffee, glancing at his executive officer over the rim of the coffee cup. "And don't bother standing on ceremony. I want to hear the truth."
The Lieutenant swallowed, clasped his hands behind his back, and straightened. "Sir, while I know you have nothing but respect for Japan and have served with distinction, I do empathize with the sentiments of the crowd."
Gino laughed hollowly. "Of course. And the men?"
The other man seemed to shrink, and tensed further. "… the men have expressed similar sentiments." Obviously somewhat distressed at having expressed some disrespect to his commanding officer, he continued hurriedly, "But sir, they-"
The former Knight of Three waved him off with a gesture of his hand. "I know, Keima. I get it. I am a soldier- I get that there's some past bitterness. I've met the families of some of the men I've killed, and had them spit in my face and call me a bastard." He chuckled cynically, unusual for such a normally cheery individual. "Believe me, I don't like this situation any more than you do."
He glanced down at the camera feed again, where hundreds of angry faces shifted, a powder keg that was just waiting for the right spark to ignite and send things out of control.
"We're gonna need a miracle," he muttered to himself, "To get out of this one."
00000
Ougi felt like he could have used a miracle of his own, shifting uncomfortably in his seat- the seat of the Prime Minister, which had never felt more uncomfortable than it did right then. He stopped, hating himself for exposing even a hint of weakness- that wasn't how he should act, even in the face of expulsion from his post.
At the podium, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hideyoshi continued to speak, calling the vote to order, an air of smug satisfaction about him.
And why shouldn't he be, Ougi thought bitterly. There was hardly a man in this room who wasn't dancing to Hideyoshi's tune right now. The air of a room wasn't one of a vote- it was one of an execution.
"Congressmen, I do not intend to besmirch Minister Ougi's good name, nor the deeds he has accomplished," Hideyoshi said slowly, a false measure of warmth in his tone as he began to speak.
"Certainly, this man is a patriot of our great nation, a leader of the legendary Black Knights, a man who fought against the Emperors of Brittania in the last war, and has served our country with distinction and honor. And yet," he continued, a hint of that same arrogant satisfaction coming through his tone, "I believe that we cannot rely upon this man to serve our country as it is today, as he is today. His decision to unite with Brittania is a mistake, one that we must rectify immediately. We have been lured by a false promise of peace, into a lion's den, my friends. How can we trust the people who destroyed our nation? Who slaughtered our women, our children? Who drove us into servitude and destitution?"
His voice boomed throughout the room, and Ougi saw the old anger begin to reveal itself in the eyes of the members of the Diet. They had all lived in the glory days before Japan became Area 11, and then survived the brutal rule underneath Brittania, losing friends and loved ones during that timespan. They had grown up loathing their oppressors, and instilled with a longing for the Japan of old. They had the most reason to hate Brittania, and Hideyoshi knew it.
"And that is why I, with great reluctance, call for you, the chosen representatives of this nation, to decide today whether or not we can continue to trust the reigns of our government to a man who would have us make peace with an empire of murderers and liars!"
The sound of the ringing applause following the end of Hideyoshi's speech sounded, to Ougi, like the drums of war.
He stood. It might be futile, but he had to at least try to soften things, to make one last gesture, one last attempt at peace.
It could be his last act as Prime Minister, after all.
"If I may?" he asked softly, glancing at the Cabinet Secretary.
Hideyoshi nodded, a genial smile on his face that did nothing to hide the confident arrogance in his eyes. "Of course, Minister," he said, bowing his head, stepping away from the podium.
Ougi took a steadying breath, gripped the sides of the podium, and began to speak.
"Congressmen, I don't intend to plead for my job. I believe that is a decision I can leave up to you. I want, instead, to ask for all of you to stop, just for a moment, and remember the war." He glanced around the room, meeting as many eyes as he could, hoping to express himself correctly. "Remember, beneath the hate, the anger, the sorrow that carried us through those countless battles, what we fought for."
He met each eye with as much determination as he could muster.
"We fought for peace, congressmen, peace for our country. A chance to regain our national honor, to return Japan to its proper place in the world. Not for our own sake, not for revenge, but for the future. So that our children, and their children, would have a nation to be proud of, a nation they could live and grow peacefully within." He thought of Viletta, of his son, Naoto, his daughter, Suzuna, and his determination grew.
"And now, do we really intend to step back into the theater of war? To undo all that we've accomplished, just for the sake of an old grudge?" Ougi grip on the podium tightened. "I ask you, is that really the legacy we want to leave behind?"
Unlike the end of Hideyoshi's speech, Ougi's was greeted by a contemplative silence that seemed to swallow up all sound. No one said a word, and every face seemed paused, even momentarily, by his words.
And then, a single, soft clap, broke the spell.
Hideyoshi was standing, clapping, not with admiration, but mockingly, a satisfied smile on his face. "An excellent speech, Minister. Your words have touched us all. But I believe you are mistaken when you say that we are the ones starting a war."
Ougi blinked.
The Cabinet Secretary's smiled, his expression like a serpent coiled about its prey. "We have never made any sort of declaration about our intention to wage war against Brittania. On the contrary, we desire only peace, just as you described. But we believe our peace is to be found outside of the union with Brittania." He shrugged, almost casually. "Our desire for secession carries no declaration of war."
He smirked, and, almost lazily, fixed Ougi with a hooded look. "Or is it that you fear Brittania's reprisal, Minister? That you believe that our desire for a peaceful secession is in some way seen as a threat to the supremacy of the Brittanian Empire, and that they will use force to keep us in line?"
Ougi swallowed, unsure. "But, if you secede… the Black Knights…"
"Ah yes, the vaunted Black Knights," Hideyoshi nodded, "I am aware that many of our countrymen are enlisted in their ranks. I am sure that, once they learn of our country's decision to separate from Brittania, they will undoubtedly leave and return to us, to protect the homeland, as we will be bereft of the protection of the Empire."
"You're talking about splitting Brittania's army! Dividing their forces!" Ougi said accusingly, narrowing his eyes. "How will that not incite a war!"
"If men choose to defend their homeland, how is that inciting a war?" the Secretary responded smoothly, arching his eyebrow critically. "While I am sure there will be some difficulty when we regain our military capabilities, Brittania has no right to detain our countrymen who no longer wish to serve a foreign power."
"And what happens to the non-Japanese soldiers?" the Prime Minister shot back hotly. "What happens to the residents of Brittania who are living amongst us now, as equals?"
"They may choose to stay," Hideyoshi proposed with an oily tone, "If they revoke their citizenship to Brittania and swear allegiance to us. Those who resist and will not leave freely will be judged to be illegal immigrants and be deported accordingly."
"This is insane! If you do this, Brittania will have no choice but to respond!" Ougi snapped, losing his composure as he slammed his fist down on the podium.
"So you say we should live in fear? Do nothing because of the power of Brittania?" Hideyoshi countered, and every face in the room was visibly entranced by his words now. The expressions, which had been skeptical or thoughtful, changed to defiant and angry.
The idea of bowing to Brittania would not sit well with this group, who had grown up oppressed and humiliated, and Ougi realized he had been manipulated into this point, just so Hideyoshi would be able to drive this final nail into his political coffin.
Now, out of their own sense of pride, they would not bow to Brittania, even those who had doubts about this proposal. And they certainly would no longer listen to him, someone seen as a sympathizer and puppet of Brittania.
Ougi's shoulders slumped helplessly. How could he have ever believed he could play the game of politics, when he had been so easily played into the opposition's hands?
"Minister, we will not live in fear of that empire for one day longer," the Cabinet Secretary said softly, but his voice seemed to echo about the room. "The time has come to show Brittania that Japan will not bow to them, and will not serve them."
Satisfied, the Secretary gestured for Ougi to sit- a blatant disregard for the command structure of the government, and a clear indication that it was Hideyoshi, not Ougi, who was now in charge of the Diet.
Defeated, Ougi returned to his seat.
"If no one has anything left to say, we can begin the voting process," Hideyoshi announced, a triumphant glint in his eyes.
Ougi knew it was over now. He had failed to convince the National Diet, to warn them off this path. His career as Prime Minister of Japan would end in being forced out of office, in disgrace, remembered only as the man who could not prevent the outbreak of a second war.
All that was left was to count the votes and clean out his desk.
He hung his head, ready for the hammer to fall.
"Wait, please. I would like to say a word, Congressmen."
All eyes swiveled to the back of the room, towards the large double doors that were the portcullis to the room, and every eye widened, even Ougi's and Hideyoshi's.
At the doorway, tall and regal, like the emperors of old stepping off from the tapestries of history and legend, stood Zero.
00000
"I would like to speak," he repeated, and his voice dominated the room. "With your permission, of course, Congressmen."
Beneath the mask, Suzaku swallowed, throat tight. Lelouch's task was for him to speak on Ougi's behalf to protect the man and keep Japan from seceding, but that would require the skills of a powerful and compelling orator.
And while he was many things, Suzaku was not exactly a statesman, and definitely not the demagogue Lelouch had been.
Still, he had to try. Zero still had a powerful hold on the imagination and hearts of the world, especially Japan, and his opinion might just be enough to put out the fires of war.
Hideyoshi blinked, composure falling for a moment.
"Well, Secretary Hideyoshi?" Zero questioned, voice booming throughout the assembly hall.
The Chief Cabinet Secretary flushed, face coloring at the humiliation of being caught so flat footed, especially in a crowd that had once been totally under his control.
"Of course, Zero," Hideyoshi managed smoothly, straightening. "We would be more than happy to listen to your words. You have always been a great friend to Japan."
The walk to the speaker's podium felt longer than a march to any battlefield Suzaku had ever had to tread. He felt the eyes of every person in the room fixated upon him every step of the way, more threatening than any gun that ever been pointed at him. Cameras around the room, which kept this session televised, were fixated on his every movement.
As he reached his destination, he closed his eyes, and took a deep breath.
Lelouch, wherever you are, I could really use some of that 'miraculous' ability right about now.
He opened his eyes.
"Congressmen, I come before you today, not as a representative of Brittania, an envoy of the Empress. I have always and forever been an ally of justice, and that is why I come to you today, to ask you to withdraw the motion of no confidence in Prime Minister Ougi."
Lelouch's words, out of his mouth. Unconsciously, he spread his arms in a grandiose gesture, echoing the movements that Lelouch used to make during his own speeches.
Hideyoshi smirked, obviously regaining his composure at these words. "I'm afraid that the motion is already on the floor, Zero. I can no longer withdraw it, nor do I have a desire to. This vote must pass or be defeated now."
"Then suspend the vote," he offered in reply. "I ask that the National Diet take a small recess to weight this decision carefully before making a vote. Give myself and the members of my investigation team time to uncover the facts before you take a stand." He glanced over at Hideyoshi. "Is that not acceptable, Secretary Hideyoshi?"
The Cabinet Secretary smiled back, still confident. "Of course it is, Zero. If the Diet agrees with your proposal, that is."
Eyes met across the room, the congressmen analyzing their peers, wondering if any of them would be willing to put forth such a proposal and support it.
Damn it. They needed a push, the kind of push that Suzaku wasn't sure if he could give.
"I'm sorry Zero, but it looks like this assembly will not acquiesce to your request," Hideyoshi murmured with an oily tone, smiling like a serpent.
"Japan, why do you turn your back on the dead?" Suzaku suddenly asked, keeping his voice low, startling Hideyoshi and several other members of the Diet. "Why do you spit on the sacrifices that have paved the foundation of this country?"
Silence. Some of the Diet members shifted uncomfortably.
Suzaku remembered his father's face, pale and shaking, and the warmth of the blood that spilled out over the knife and onto his hands.
"You have sacrificed your sons, your fathers, your brothers, your sisters, your daughters, your mothers, Japan." He felt like he was outside his own body, distant from himself, watching himself, as Zero, give this speech. "You have spilled your country's lifeblood onto this soil. For the sake of peace. And now you turn back on that peace. Now, you demand more. No longer content with the simple peace you have earned through blood and pain, you seek more, uncaring of the wills of others."
He gazed up at the Diet members, and, even through the mask, his gaze pierced them.
"You have become Brittania, Japan. The Brittania of old, which unilaterally sought only to better itself, disregarding the pain of others, trampling their futures for the sake of one selfish desire."
He took a deep breath, and prayed he was not making a mistake.
Had Lelouch ever thought like that, during a speech?
"I am disappointed, Japan."
The words fell like a hammerblow, and temperature dropped considerably. Several congressmen paled and shook with rage, while others scowled. But a few looked away, already humbled. Hideyoshi looked as if he'd been struck personally, obviously shaken by Zero's speech.
"I fought for you, Japan. Do you remember?" Suzaku no longer felt in control of himself, like the ghost of Lelouch, or perhaps his memory, had taken possession of this body and was speaking through him.
Or maybe it was the mask, giving him the confidence necessary to do this.
"I came to your aid, Japan, because I believed you were a country worth saving. A country of justice, a country that desired true peace." Zero shook his head, with the air of a parent looking at a particularly delinquent child. "Why do you turn your back on the justice we shared, Japan? I believed you better than this, Japan, I believed you to be true believers in peace, to be the first amongst those who shared my hope for a better world."
He gripped his chest tightly, wrenching it as if he were in pain. The gesture came before he even thought about it.
Absently, Suzaku wondered if this mask somehow had the power to turn its wearer into a demagogue, regardless of natural ability or lack thereof.
"I beg of you, Japan, my old friend, my comrade. Turn back from this path. Cool your head, Japan. Think not only for your own future, but for the future of all peoples. For the future of the world." Zero swept his arms out in a welcoming gesture. "Show the world that Japan is better than this. That Japan is not a child who throws a tantrum at the slightest provocation and thinks only of itself."
Suzaku's gaze swept about the room. He saw eyes captivated by his words, and felt a kind of intoxication with that kind of power- the power to capture the minds and hearts of others, and change them according to your will.
This was how Lelouch had felt, he realized. This was how it felt to be holding the reigns of the world, to know your words could change the destiny of countries.
It was a dangerous feeling, and Suzaku wondered how Lelouch had kept himself so pure, pure enough to surrender this power and allow himself to die at Suzaku's hands.
"Be the country I know you can be," Zero intoned. "Be a leader for the world. I beg of you, suspend the vote. Give yourselves time to think if this is truly the path you want to take for the future."
And he did something Lelouch never did as Zero.
He bowed.
Zero, the savior of the world, the incarnation of justice, hero to the people, prostrating himself on live television, before the entire world?
Jaws dropped, faces went slack.
"Please," he repeated, still bowing, swallowing, sweating bullets beneath the mask.
Dead silence.
Not a breath was taken, not a word spoken.
Suzaku kept himself in the bow. He couldn't break it. Not just yet.
And then, it happened.
"I move to suspend the vote of no confidence for a period of one week," came a congressman's voice shakily.
"I second that motion," came another, sounding more confident than the previous, having been emboldened by someone else taking the initiative.
Hideyoshi paled considerably.
"All in favor?" he asked, voice somewhat unsteady.
A near unanimous chorus of voices greeted his question with an "Aye".
Fits shaking, the Cabinet Secretary said, with not a small amount of venom, "Then the motion for a recess passes."
Beneath the mask (which somehow felt lighter), Suzaku broke out into a relieved smile.
Thank you, Lelouch. For believing in me.
Author's Notes
The title is taken from a Smashing Pumpkin's song, "The Beginning Is The End Is The Beginning".
Lelouch's "dramatic reveal" was the core scene of the story for me, the reason I wrote this in the first place. It came out far more wordy than I thought, but exposition is like that, I suppose. I hope Lelouch's "predictions" are believable- they were somewhat inspired by the Seldon Plan in Isaac Asimov's Foundation series- and if one guy can predict events thousands of years in the future, why can't Lelouch predict something that'll happen a few years after his death?
In the original design of this story, when it was a one shot, I was going to just skip that initial scene where Cornelia visits Lloyd and the other's lab, but seeing as how I had more room to write, I figured why not. It helped my goal of including every damn character in this series, anyway. And Lloyd, Rakshata, Nina, and Cecile all working together is a nod to Nate Grey's "Dream of the King", and the fighting between Lloyd and Rakshata is inspired by that fic's own scene. Because I didn't have nearly enough nods to other works, apparently.