Audacity chapter 16.
*I know, I bet you're thinking. 'Hey would you know he actually updated quickly for once.' Well if you're thinking that, falk you… I mean fark you… I mean arghhh stupid AutoCorrect. You get the point at least. But to be honest with you I'm just happy that I'm finally getting the plot moving somewhere.*
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Response to review by: Atrile. I cannot explain to you in words, at least not accurately, how hard I laughed when I noticed what you pointed out… I'm not quite sure why, but for some ungodly reason I found it infinitely humorous. It actually got to the point where I almost passed out from laughing. Five awesome points to you for pointing that out.
Also, thank you for your review. And take heart, for you will not have to wonder much longer.
Acquiring help for my hand was simple enough. All I had to do was find the nurse's office and put her under my Geass. The nurse was a nice enough lady, she had light brown hair and slight age marks around her mouth. She fit the stereotypical bill for school nurses quite nicely.
She was quick with stitching up my hand, it hurt like hell and to that point she offered me some sort of pain medication, as to which I declined.
I'm fucked up enough as it Is, I don't need drugs unbalancing me further. I thought in an almost morbid fashion as she tied the final stitch and began wrapping my Palm in gauze. After several rotations around my hand she taped the gauze closed.
"{I am finished now.}" She stated quickly. I inspected the bandages briefly and found them more than satisfactory.
"Thank you; be sure to tell no one of this. Also act as your normal self until further notice." I tacked on just to be sure. Hopping off the chair I previously had been seated on I made my way towards the door.
Walking down the hall I gingerly placed my injured hand was in my pants pocket, being sure to not aggravate it in any way.
It was annoying how almost every student I passed felt the need to greet me. Some were even brazen enough to ask me questions about school festivals and whether or not I had time to oversee a club project.
Naturally I either didn't answer or declined every single time.
It was however interesting to observe the apparent structure of the social classes. Honestly nobody seemed to be left out. Students of all apparent preferences and tastes seem to have their own group to socialize and work with.
As it should be. I thought offhandedly. And to think, if the authorities somehow found out about me the peace here would be disrupted and the school's name would be tarnished.
I didn't like that thought at all. But it just meant I would have to work that much harder to make sure things didn't come back to bite me… at least not while I was here.
I had no real objective, the chemistry class I had with Shirley wasn't until one o'clock. I had more than two hours. I decided it was a good idea to get something to eat, although in my defense my decision was heavily influenced by my gnawing hunger.
However shortly after reaching the cafeteria I came to the realization that it was closed.
"Dammit." I swore out loud.
I vaguely recalled seeing a vending machine towards the western end of the campus.
Junk food is better than no food I suppose.
I did my best to avoid students throughout the majority of my trip however, despite my best efforts I came across a small group that was almost literally hidden behind one of the gym's storage facilities.
The four students blanched when they saw me, and it was not hard to see why.
The four of them were smoking what appeared to be cigarettes, so it made sense why they were right in the middle of my path. I had specifically selected it so I would run into as few people as possible.
Obviously I wasn't the only one that wanted to avoid others right now.
I sighed lightly. Although it was technically my duty as a member of the student Council to set a good example, I honestly didn't give a crap.
During my absent-minded thought process the four students had snuffed out and attempted to hide their smoking materials.
I walked over to them and rubbed my chin lightly pretending to scrutinize them.
"Good morning gentlemen." I said in a flat tone. "You realize smoking is not allowed on campus?… It's also not allowed if you're underage." The tallest student who also appeared to be the oldest spoke up.
"You ain't gonna turn us in are you?" I thought about it for a moment, I really did.
Shortly afterwards I extended my right hand.
"Let me see the pack." The tall blonde reached into his unbuttoned uniform and produced the requested item and sheepishly handed it to me. I flicked the pack on the bottom which caused a single cigarette to expose itself.
"Toss me a light." All four of the young men in front of me immediately allowed their jaws to drop. It took them a moment due to shock, but they complied.
Lighting the cigarette I inhaled deeply.
The smoke-filled air entered my lungs and burned heavily all the way down.
Shit, this stuffs pretty strong. I exhalde watching the smoke leave my lungs slowly. It didn't long for the nicotine to take effect, in less than 30 seconds I felt the edge off my consciousness dull.
Click
I felt the irritable part of me smooth out slowly as I finished exhaling. Fighting the urge to cough I took another drag. The second inhalation completely erased stress I had built up during my confrontation with Kallen.
Mostly satisfied I slipped the lighter into the pack of cigarettes and tossed it back at the blonde.
"What's your name?" the blonde was once again surprised by my actions, more specifically my most recent request.
"N-Nathan Jentsch." He stuttered out as I inhaled from the cigarette once more.
How the hell do you spell Jentsch? Whatever.
Reaching into my back right pocket I produced my wallet and from that a $100 bill.
"Take this and purchase a carton of cigarettes. You can keep the rest, however I expect you to be here tomorrow with the carton of cigarettes. I'll drop by to pick them up at about the same time."
One of the other students, a medium height brunette who actually wore his uniform according to the dress code spoke up this time.
"Hey man, it's not that easy to pick up cigarettes-" I cut him off, I seemed to be doing that a lot today.
"In return I won't turn you guys in to the staff." That shut him up pretty good.
I extended the money even further and Nathan took it.
"See you tomorrow." I said as I walked off, cigarette still in hand.
Occasionally taking puffs from the cigarette as I walked I continued onwards towards the vending machine. By the time I reached my objective the cigarette was finished so I flicked it away aimlessly.
The selection in the machine was wide, but ended up settling for a package of beef jerky.
I decided it would be a good idea to take a nap on the roof until it was time to attend chemistry. Luckily it didn't take long to reach the roof of the main building; in fact with my student Council ID I had access to the elevator that went straight there.
Lying on a bench near the corner of the roof I closed my eyes and nodded off.
And while asleep I had the weirdest dream.
There were paintings on the wall, literally dozens of them. I looked around suspiciously and found a person to my right.
I then had the incredibly surreal experience of meeting myself, or at least an exact visage of myself.
My eyes widened considerably and I broke a smirk. Unsure of what to do.
"Hello…me?" My words were met with incredibly vicious look of absolute loathing and hatred.
"You." I honestly pulled a blank when I…. He… Me… Whatever said this.
"Actually I'm me, which makes me you and you me… If that makes any sense?"
"What did you do?" the question was filled with venom and spite. I couldn't help but get the distinct impression that if the other me could, he would strangle me.
"I am so confused right now." I leveled with the other me. "Let's make things simple and start with an introduction… On second thought just tell me what you want."
A scowl developed on the face of my doppelgänger.
"I want my body back." All sarcastic and absent-minded thoughts immediately skidded to a halt. I then focused my brainpower onto deciphering those five words.
His body back? Implying that he was removed from it… It's possible this is a representation of my lost memories and knowledge. Best to ask and find out.
"Are you aware of my situation, meaning my lack of memories." It was obvious my doppelgänger was thinking just as hard as I was.
"No, all I know is that you're an imposter and you've taken what rightfully belongs to me… Somehow." Being accused multiple times, even if it was indirect, irked me slightly.
"Pffft. Whatever, how do I get out of this… Wherever this is." I waited several seconds but my duplicate said nothing.
"Fuck you then." I said as I walked off in one of the only two directions available.
Okay it's obvious I'm dreaming, so logically all I have to do is wait until I wake up. Right?
After several hundred feet I looked behind me to see if I was being followed by myself, as weird as that sounds.
There was no one. But immediately upon facing forward again I was shocked.
"Holy crap!" standing before me was my duplicate once more.
"Physical movements are irrelevant on this plane, so I've discovered recently." He said to me.
"That's… Annoying." I replied weakly. And then an idea then sparked within me. I immediately produced my Glock and leveled it at the supposed 'original's' chest.
"So you're saying even if I shoot you several times, because physical movements don't matter you won't die?"
My replica took a slight step backwards, but otherwise held his ground.
I was unable to do or say anything else for I was startled into consciousness by the sound of a door closing.
My open my eyes and looked towards the direction of the sound. Apparently someone had also decided to pay the roof a visit.
It was Kallen.
"Looking for me?" I called out to her. She looked in my direction and began walking towards me, only to stop about 6 feet away.
"You're not going to try stabbing me again are you? I would really appreciate it if you didn't." I smiled slightly as she angled her gaze away from me. What I said either ashamed or embarrassed her. Possibly both.
"No… It's just you said the other day that you were employed by Prince Clovis… And that you deployed the poisonous gas in Shinjuku." She trailed off not knowing how to word the rest of her sentence.
"Ahh, I see. And you want to know whether or not that's true." It wasn't a question. "I'll tell you what I told kururugi." I motioned for her to sit down on the open space on the bench not bothering to sit up myself.
She complied.
"I was never employed by Clovis, nor did I ever obtain or handle poisonous gas. And at no point in time have I ever released it upon anyone nor had any intention of doing so. That was just a lie to help force Jeremiah to hand over Suzaku."
She nodded in confirmation.
"I see. Tell me, assuming that the rest of my group and I join you, what would you do with us?" I thought about this for moment.
"Exactly what I did with kururugi, right that which is wrong and prevent those without power from being preyed upon by those with it… Or something like that." She seemed to think deeply upon each word I said.
"You realize my identity is not to be compromised, even amongst your Allies?"
"Yes I understand this, same goes for me… I don't want you telling anyone that I'm involved with the resistance." Biting back a sarcastic remark I'm replied honestly.
"Naturally. What else did you come here for?" she looked off into the distance.
"No that was it. That was the only piece of information I was wondering about." I 'Hmmmd' in confirmation.
"So have you decided whether or not you're going to tell your compatriots that you met the newly infamous Cypher 01?" she turned and looked directly at me her blue eyes surprisingly determined.
"Of course! We never seem to be able to do anything against the Britannians except cause them to crack down on the innocents. And yet you on your first appearance completely put them through the ringer, all without even pulling a gun. Watching you on the television was like watching a miracle take place."
I frowned slightly at the word 'miracle'.
"You flatter me, however you must remember it was well planned out and I had lots of time to prepare."
"That makes no difference! You still have the skills to force change."
"Change for the better? Or possibly for worse, who can decide these things… Not an individual, not I. What gives me the right to take a life just so I can uphold my values?"
The philosophical question stumped her briefly.
"Relax, I wasn't setting an ultimatum or anything. I still plan to meet with your group once you give me the call." She shifted slightly, seemingly uncomfortable.
"Yeah about that, I've already called and told them I would bring you over there today so we could talk about our cooperation."
"Seriously?" I deadpanned. "But I have chemistry in like an hour or so!" her eyebrows knit together slightly.
"That's not as important!" She had me there, the class itself was not nearly as important as potential allies.
Gritting my teeth I submitted.
"Fine… take me there. But before we go I have to gather my mask and stuff." I then stood and moved onwards towards my dorm.
Gathering my stuff was simple enough, unfortunately Kallen decided to follow me around like a puppy.
Perhaps she's afraid I'll bail out or something? I concluded after giving it a little thought.
I already had the model 36 on the small of my back; however I needed to put the Glock in its underarm holster.
Not caring that there was a lady present, I removed my jacket and shirt and put on another black tank top. Kallen's face turned bright red from her jaw line all the way to the tips of her ears as she turned around quickly.
I briefly debated whether or not I should bring the High Point along with me, however I concluded that I did not have the space on my person for the third firearm… nor was it necessary. I tucked the mask between my belt and waistband in front of my stomach and put the green sweatshirt I had commandeered yesterday over it.
"Okay let's go." I said while motioning towards the door.
The entire walk there she said nothing, and it was a very long walk. We had been walking for at least half an hour before we made it into a more questionable part of the city. I made a point to stop her shortly after noticing this.
"Tell me before we get there, I'll need to put on the mask before I see your friends." She nodded, but overall said nothing.
Must be nervous… I suppose I should be to. These people do want me as their ally. But I shouldn't let that lull me into a false sense of security it's possible if I end up rejecting them they might try to kill me.
"We're here." Kallen said suddenly. I quickly scanned the area; it was a series of warehouses not 100 feet away from the docks of Tokyo Bay. This specific warehouse area seemed to of been abandoned I deducted due to the overall poor condition of the buildings.
But it obviously does well enough to hide the rebels. I thought as I donned my mask after removing my sweatshirt. I held my sweatshirt for moment, but then decided to drop it for I had no real attachment to it.
Kallen continued to lead me onwards, but this time it was towards a specific warehouse. Warehouse nine I noted offhandedly. She stopped by a large rollup gate and knocked three times.
It opened up from the inside revealing assorted boxes and crates as well as seven people sitting or standing in a semicircle. Kallen entered and I followed suit shortly afterward. The door slid shut behind me with a loud clang. I immediately mapped all of the exits and environmental data as fast as my mind could handle.
I decided I might as well say something first.
"Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. I have been informed you wish to speak with me." I was pleased with the way my voice reverberated through the mask, it made it sound almost ominous, that it did.
A black haired man that was a few inches taller than I stepped forward.
"Yes, we'd like to know if you would consider working with us." I cocked my head slightly to the side.
"In what manner of speaking?" I carried on.
"Intelligence operations, material and supply gathering… And actual fighting if necessary." There were several reasons, I deducted, that they might want me to join them but I needed to know why.
"Why?" So I asked in the simplest way I could think of. Surprisingly enough the question seemed to catch them off-guard. Save for one Brown headed shorter man.
"What! What do you mean 'why?' were shorthanded as it is we'll take what we can get."
"So that's how it is… You want me because I'm strong, or so you think." The man who had spoken first cast his gaze downwards. The others did not reply.
"For shame, for shame, for shame…" I chanted while beginning to pace back and forth. "You should not want to ally with me because I'm strong, or simply because I'm capable. You should ally with me because we agree." I paused for effect.
"That agreement being a set of values we wish to live by and wish to fight for! You there!" I arced my arm outwards and pointed towards the loud one. "What's your name!"
"Tamaki Shinichiro." He said in a normal volume, slightly confused.
"So Tamaki? Would you die for equality?" he looked left and right briefly.
"Well… Yeah." I turned around while pacing and began walking the other way, defining a line to which I was traveling.
"I see. Would you kill for equality?" I asked in a higher pitch.
"Yes, I have… Most of us here have." I nodded in agreement.
"Now final question! Would you live for equality?" The question confused all present save for maybe Kallen.
"Huh? I don't get it what do you mean?" I turned in my line and began heading in the opposite direction once more.
"Not good, not good at all. It seems you don't understand what it means to live for something." I stopped and faced them all holding my head dramatically.
"Killing is easy enough. All you really need to do is pull the trigger. Dying is even easier all you need to do is stand there and wait. But living… living is truly difficult, when you live for something it means you are willing to put 100% of your effort at all points in time towards that goal. And while doing this you have only that goal's best interests at heart."
"What the hell do you think we've been doing this whole time! Sitting on our asses and playing with ourselves?" I snapped my fingers loudly at Tamaki's outburst.
"I never accused you of not trying to live for something. But I don't believe you have liberty's best interests at heart. You've been acting on terrorism this whole time, correct?"
"Yes this is true but we're doing it for the good of the people." The brown haired man spoke up once more.
"That's all fine and dandy. But I have to ask, has it been effective? Have you saved anyone? Have you produced results worthwhile? Worth mention even?"
"No… Not much." Came his sullen reply.
"So why haven't you changed?" the entire group then looked up at me eyes wide, some with confusion, some with anger.
"I'm offering you a chance to change, to take not lives unnecessarily, to not strike fear in the heart of civilians, but to bring recognition and acceptance… And if all goes well, support."
"And how exactly would we do this?" asked by a rather tall blue haired woman.
"You would do this by-" I spread my stance slightly and held my hand my heart. "Exposing that which is truly wrong, and then righting it. By removing the injustices that face your ideals and building upon the support that follows."
"Like what you did with kururugi…" This time Kallen spoke up. Her comrades all nodded agreeing with her statement.
"Yes indeed, notice how when I freed him not a single person was killed. I'm not saying we won't have to kill, but what I'm saying is all life is precious only take it when necessary."
"I think I understand what you're saying, Cypher…" The brown haired one leveled with me.
"Good, but I must inform you. I do not believe I could stand being a part of an organization that I did not lead myself."
"So you're saying you want us to join you." the rhetorical question was asked by the long-haired woman.
"Yes, I offer to you here and now, to all of those of the Shinjuku resistance faction. Join me… Join me and stand against those who wrong the weak simply because they are strong. Join me to build a system of equality that of which we all can enjoy. Join me so we can head towards the future, remember the past and enjoy the present. Join me because it is just!"
There was a long eerie silence in the warehouse. No one moved, no one spoke, nobody even breathed. Until finally.
"I will join you, my name is Ohgi Kaname." I nodded towards him.
"As will I, Kallen Kozuki." The rest of the group in turn pledged themselves to joining me, even Tamaki did, albeit in an almost roundabout fashion.
"Good to have you all on board."
"Will you show us your face Cypher?" I paused to think about it for a moment.
"No… Not yet, not until you prove to me your loyalty, and I mine." Of course Tamaki had an outburst towards this as well but I ignored it.
"Now that were officially allies, tell me. What is the situation on your supplies?" It was Oghi who gave the sit rep.
"As far as food goes we are pretty much self-supporting, protective clothing and stuff has always been hard to come by but we've never really needed it. But where we're really hurting is in weapons." My interest peaked at this.
"We still have nine of the knightmares left over from the Shinjuku battle, but out of all of them only six of them are in any condition to fight. We have almost no small arms anymore not to mention nearly nonexistent ammo supplies for everything."
I nodded and crossed my arms, and I immediately wished I hadn't for I aggravated my stab wound by doing so.
"I see, so you're low on the essentials. Don't worry I'll fix that."
"You saying you got the dough?" Tamaki prodded impolitely.
"What he means is, where are you going to get the funding for this, Cypher?"
He managed to ask the same question in a more polite manner while correcting his teammate… He has significantly more tact than the rest of them… so it would seem. I made sure to take note of this for future reference.
"Of course, I'll never offer something I can't provide. I'll be sure to provide you with everything you need by the end of this week." I promised.
"All right, there's got to be something we can bring to the table though." I nodded and smiled beneath the mask.
"Yes, yes there is. I need you to get as many recruits is possible. You're going to be getting more supplies than you'll know what to do with." I reached inside my pants pocket checked my phone for the time.
12: 45. So much for making it to chemistry class… I thought sadly.
"Well as you can imagine I have much to do now, get my number from Kallen in case you need to contact me for something. We'll meet back here in case anything happens."
I thought for a brief moment of how I could reassure them.
"And if you're worried about me bailing out or something just remember, Kallen knows my actual identity. So I suppose were in this together now." I said this as I made my way to exit using one of the ordinary doors.
I found it really annoying that I was both tired and hungry and the day was barely half over.
Why the hell did I get myself into this? I sort of got caught up in the moment… But I can't help but feel like this is the right thing to do. Oh well, I guess I'll just see where this takes me.
And so I did.
To be continued…