Chapter 10: Grounded
Prisoners are enchained until they feel like breaking free.
-C.C.
Part 19: World History
Somewhere in the middle of a North American desert, there existed a metropolis named Pendragon. Its history was recent in historical terms, only two hundred or so years. Pendragon, the fifth capital of the Britannian Empire was the result of imperial desperation. According to historical documentation, the first Britannian capital, Lug-Baile was situated in Northern Scotland until the eighth century, after king Eowyn's glorious victory against Julius Caesar's invasion (55.B.C.E.). As late until the mid-ninth century, Viking expansion became a phenomenon sweeping across Northern Europe which resulted in the sacking of Britannia's first capital. The Britannian prince Brian of Brittany sought refuge in London (1054 a.t.b.) and founded the Britannian dynasty. After seven centuries of Britannian rule, the heirs married off many sons and daughters to royalties of continental Europe for diplomatic alliances and tributes. This fuelled an epidemic controversy over the true Britannian capital. The emperor in 1760 a.t.b. Alexander si Britannia moved the capital to Gottingen until the German Reich (Rhineland) disposed Britannian rule in 1777 a.t.b. Afterwards, the throne was transferred to the nephew of Emperor Alexander, Nicholas VIII, who quelled the war for independence in America by inaugurating Benjamin Franklin as Earl of Columbia and executed the assassination of Thomas Paine and George Washington during the siege of Yorktown. The motives however were to move the capital to Boston, Massachusetts to escape war with continental Europe. By the nineteenth century, an outbreak of cholera plagued New England so the emperor shifted the capital once more to a site in Arizona. This city was named Pendragon of Holy Britannia.
The desert was terraformed into a luscious oasis over two centuries into a paradise for the royal family to indulge in their daily lives. The once scorching desert is now filled with tall skyscrapers, public works and a large Imperial Garden: the Garden of Exelica. Lelouch used to spend his childhood in the Garden of Exelica, playing hide and seek with his siblings. Those days were over and the garden itself became a tourist destination after his exile. However, the royal palace and lavish villas are still owned by members of royalty and they remained as elegant since then. The most intricately furnished was the central palace, where crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling; giving the beholder a neo-classical feel. Hundreds of portraits were displayed in the corridors and stairs. These paintings consist of kings, queens, princes and princesses of four centuries. The scene of a heroic battle against Napoleon at Waterloo was one of the masterpieces. Beyond every door to the centre of the palace lie a central throne room; a room stripped bare of chandeliers and artwork. This room became a practical room for imperial meetings between the emperor and his advisors (who were also members of the royal family).
A messenger arrived with some debilitating news from Area 11.
"Your royal excellency, Area 11 has lost another viceroy, Princess Cornelia," the messenger said.
"Then appoint a new one!" Emperor Charles zi Britannia (Charles XIII) boomed in annoyance.
A member of the court advised, "The royal family is losing numbers and every one of them have been governing a specified Area or Zone. Perhaps the power should be shared among the higher nobles."
Emperor Charles looked disgusted after hearing such a preposterous proposal, "Henry, you have Area 8 under your command and so does everybody in this room! If the higher nobles are given too much power, then our central power will diminish. I cannot let this happen!"
"What matters is that a temporary substitute should take over the affairs of Area 11 for the time being," another suggested.
Emperor Charles then thought, "If only Lelouch was still here, then I could assign him to this post."
"Your excellency, why not merge Area 11 with Area 12?" another advisor suggested.
"I think that is the best solution but larger Zones will result in difficult management, especially for island states," Charles commented. Area twelve was the Philippines and Indonesia, taken over from the Chinese Federation.
Charles zi Britannia then announced, "There are two large nations still unconquered, the latter half of Continental Europe and China. It is time for global unification, first by conquering Europe and a diplomatic purchase of China!"
Continental Europe or Euro Universe (EU) was a unified conglomerate of the smaller Western democracies. It was first conceived by a native Corsican, Napoleon Bonaparte I as the Italian-French Empire. However, his empire fell after his devastating defeat in Russia and at Waterloo but the formation of a centralized European Union remained a testimony for a stronger economy as well as the birthplace of democracy, after the democratic movement form 1810-1900 a.t.b.
The Chinese Empire (New Tang), now the Chinese Federation endured over four thousand years of continuous history. The empire started off as the technological, economic and cultural superpower for three millennia until a massive population explosion happened between 1000-1600 a.t.b due to medical advancements. This resulted in the Late Tang dynasty to expand its borders into Central Asia, Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia. Many social reformations took place, including the implementation of meritocratic governance and states. Sometime during the eighteenth century, poorer South Asian kingdoms used the Chinese Federation as a mean to stimulate their economic position. This led an empire of over four billion people to grow another three billion. Since 1700 a.t.b, the emperors of China became ignorant of social advancement and relied on Eunuchs, rather than the literati for advice, bringing corruption and poverty to plague the federation for another three centuries. During this time period, Holy Britannia eclipsed the Chinese federation as the world superpower.
"Who is responsible for this loss?" Emperor Charles demanded an answer.
"The one who calls himself Zero of the Black Knights your royal highness," the messenger replied.
"Then we must capture him dead or alive!" said the middle aged king.
"Yes, your words are immeasurable your royal highness," said every advisor in the throne room.
Part 20: Identity
"How is Suzaku doing in the infirmary," Lelouch asked C.C.
"He is recovering, don't you worry," C.C. answered.
The two were hiding in the Black Knights headquarters while Suzaku was being treated at an underground hospital outside the settlement.
"Is something troubling you?" C.C. asked Lelouch.
"When Nunnally is not around, it doesn't feel right," Lelouch said.
"How about Miss Sayoko," C.C. asked.
"Do you know why she was hired?" Lelouch looked at her with a death stare.
"You are acting strange Lelouch, perhaps you should calm down," she looked at him with an alert appearance.
"Miss Sayoko became an honorary Britannian after the invasion. She is the only person who knows my personal history and vowed to keep it a secret under my liege," Lelouch briefly told her.
"And you hired her all because of Nunnally?"
"Yes. She needed a trustworthy person to take care of when I am not around."
"I see."
"She is the reason why we live in this special dorm instead of the rest of the dorms. She is the reason why I have to destroy Britannia. She is the reason why I mustn't lose to Britannia."
"Why do you have to take such risky measures?"
"A life without risk is a life without progress C.C."
"No, what I meant was why you have to destroy Britannia."
"They crippled and blinded her, let alone exiled both of us from our royal home! They killed us! We are no longer Lelouch and Nunnally vi Britannia!"
"So what difference does your name make? You are freer out here than boing cooped up in a palace."
"Don't you see? We are living our names in lies! I do not know who I am anymore!" Lelouch yelled in anger while pushing C.C. down onto his bed with her arms spread open. Lelouch still had that innate royal identity attached to him.
"I don't see that as a problem," C.C. stated monotonously as she looked at his face with a calm stare.
"Of course you don't! What do you know, you cruel witch!" Lelouch stared into her eyes, with eyes of hatred.
"Lelouch, I was like you as well; I lost everything. I once was a happy girl…since my days as a slave girl, my name was erased and I became C.C., the witch who everyone dreaded," C.C. spoke in a soft and pacifying voice, "Even if I change my name back, I would still be hated by everyone."
Lelouch loosened his expressions of ire and stared into her eyes as an epiphany flashed in his mind, he said, "We are the same, fugitives of our own existence, prisoners of our own souls." C.C's face shone under his revelation, widening her eyes to get a good glimpse at his handsome face.
"I…I am just like you," C.C. said as she closed her eyes, "We are no different you and I."
Lelouch realized how beautiful she was and reacted by slowly lowering his face towards hers. He couldn't resist and grabbed onto her arms, stretching them across his bed and kissed her on the lips amorously. Their bosoms pressed as their tongue swirled in each other's mouth, like a tug-of-war in a beautiful romance. Lelouch moved down with a trail of kisses all over her neck and this deepened her pleasure.
"Oh Lelouch, have you relaxed yet?" C.C. moaned hotly, "Please say you do, it turns me on."
"You are too beautiful C.C, I can't help but be distracted by your amber yellow eyes, shining under this tender sunlight," he mused. He reached his hand down to the spot between her thighs and rubbed it with pressure.
"Oh Lelouch, give me more! Please give me your all!" she cried in ecstasy.
Lelouch unzipped her straightjacket and worked his way down her chest, caressing every erogenous spot he could think of. This excited the two of them as the feeling of blood fever rushed through their veins.
"Lelouch, pleasure me some more, give me more!" C.C. shrieked as she gasped for breath and Lelouch did just that. He removed her suit and looked down at her Mons pubis. The mound of her sex was wet, unlike what he had imagined it to. "Lelouch, you can do anything to me, violate me to your deepest content. Please, I want you," C.C. begged as she panted for breath. C.C. gazed into his eyes with lustful desires and said, "Let us enjoy our intimacy to the fullest." Lelouch stopped right there as his conscious filters began to react against their foreplay. He stared blankly at her attractive body and awoke with a cold shiver down his spine.
"What's wrong Lelouch? Why have you stopped? I thought we were one?" C.C. wondered as she stared deeply into his purple eyes.
Lelouch covered his eyes and stepped back, his libido failed and he began, "I cannot do this, it is too premature!"
"No! Lelouch, comfort me, you mustn't leave me!" C.C. said as she scrambled to get up, "I beg of you!"
"This cannot happen until I have rid Britannia for good!" Lelouch stated.
"No Lelouch! I have waited for this all my life!" C.C. cried with in anxiety.
"What are you talking about?" Lelouch questioned her.
"I am still a virgin," C.C. said with an honest expression.
"Impossible! In your time and age, there is no way!" Lelouch could not believe a voluptuous woman like her would remain a virgin.
"I am telling the truth. Nobody wanted an accursed witch like me as a mate and I detested the bribery from suitors. I was always rejected," C.C. defended with her past encounters.
"Lies! I don't believe you," he said with his right eye covered.
"I am only willing to lose my virginity to you. Lelouch, I want you to do everything to satisfy me after all those centuries without love," she said as her eyes watered.
"How selfish can you get? Anyways, that is not the point I have promised Nunnally a bright and happy future before starting a family. Think about others before yourself as some things in life, such as a person's welfare comes first," Lelouch stressed with a strong sense of control as he ignored C.C.'s fragile heart.
"Why Lelouch, why are you such a disappointment Lelouch! You are nothing but a fool!" she said as her eyes watered.
Lelouch calmed down as he pitied her despair and clothed her. He touched her face, wiped her tears with his hands and said in a gentle voice, "I am truly sorry, my love but things like this have to wait until our plans succeed. We must wait until a day of innocence comes to light. Will you forgive me C.C.?"
"Lelouch, do you promise me?" C.C. said as she looked up at his fair face, "Will you live up to our contract."
"That is my duty C.C., don't you worry. I will always keep that in my heart," Lelouch said with a warm smile and kissed her passionately on the lips. Their mouths parted and Lelouch said, "It is time to gather at the headquarters. We have to worry about surviving first," he stated that very pragmatically.
Part 21: Plans for Phase 2
C.C. and Lelouch arrived at the site in an underground Knightmare hanger where another gathering was being held. Lelouch wore his usual Zero outfit and C.C. got out of her usual straightjacket. She wore a stylish white blouse with matching pants that reflected her attractive purity. They marched through the hanger as many members paid respect by bowing to their master and his mistress. Everybody followed them into the main meeting hall as Lelouch and C.C. climbed their way to the indoor balcony, on top of everyone else.
Lelouch spoke with triumph under his mask, a symbol of his mystery and conceitedness, "Congratulations to all of us for our invaluable efforts in achieving the impossible. Last night, we destroyed three large armies of the Britannian air and land forces. This glorious achievement would have been impossible if it weren't for Diethard, Ougi, Tohdoh and all of you. I thank everybody and our fallen comrades for bringing us closer to our dreams in liberating Japan. Britannia will probably send more troops to repair the city and hunt us down as well as slaughtering more Japanese who wouldn't cooperate with them. We must find a way to get Japanese citizens to a safe place. We must find a way to make Japan a safer place!"
The crowd cheered and applauded wildly as they celebrated the Black Knight's victory against who were referred as the unstoppable enemy, the exploiters of the world.
Lelouch continued his speech with another point, "Ladies and gentlemen! I managed to convert one prisoner of war to our side, his name is Kururugi Suzaku, a former Britannian infantryman and trainee pilot. He was the test pilot of the newest generation of Knightmares developed to crush rebels like us. Like everyone here, he is a valuable addition so I expect that everybody treat him with equal respect. We have taken hold of the Guren, the Gawain and now the Lancelot. Now with a greater arsenal of superweapons developed by both enemy and allies; I can guarantee our dream possible if we work together. Japan is not free yet until the world is free from Britannia. Only then will we become a happy nation and until then, we will struggle for freedom."
The group clapped and cheered after Lelouch concluded his announcements. Tohdoh walked towards the ladder and climbed up the balcony. Both Tohdoh and Kaguya were shocked by Suzaku's sudden change of heart since Kaguya was Suzaku's cousin and General Tohdoh his master.
"Where will we gather all the Japanese refugees?" Tohdoh approached Zero with a question.
"Kaguya promised me that we will arrange negotiations with the empress of the Chinese Federation," Lelouch replied.
"And how are going to get them safely across sea?"
"By diplomatic immunity," Lelouch replied, "Lady Kaguya and I got this covered."
The couple walked into Zero's Room and left everyone celebrating their recent success. Lelouch thought, "The Black Knights are grounded until we escape to China."