Audacity chapter 20.
*I want you all to keep in mind that my character is prone to acts of brazen stupidity triggered by instinct and panic and that his actions will not always be logical. Running off of that note I have a few interesting reviews to respond to now.*
Response to reviews by: Anon and Superl8. Thank you for your support, I did try chapter to make it a little bit better than my previous ones.
Response to review by: Atrile. Although Lelouch consistently uses and abuses his Geass he tends to ignore its existence at times, thinking that he can handle the situation physically… which is rarely the case.
Having the two guards come with them might've proved an issue I believe, primarily because of their commanding officer came up and said. "Hey, what happened to those two morons I put over here?" it would have immediately sparked an investigation and he didn't want that until the very last second.
Response to review by: Debido. As my character explains later, it was a snap decision.
Response to review by: EVA-Saiyajin. I agree, it constantly frustrated me when the original Lelouch left an enemy alive simply because he felt an attachment, or that they might prove useful for information that was irrelevant to the Black Knights.
Response to reviews by LEGENDRY. Holy crap dude, you need to rename yourself to 'the master of awesome sauce reviews' considering how much you put down. That aside, yes you are correct in assuming that my character does not have knowledge of the computers in Code Geass, in fact she only has knowledge of Windows 7 and Windows XP as well as a little bit of Macintosh…. Which as you can imagine does not apply to his current situation. He will have to learn those skills as well as how to pilot a Knightmare, which by the way I'm looking forward to depicting.
As to how he got into the G1, Cornelius forces were looking for external threats primarily, not someone who was dressed exactly like them in full suit. But regardless you still have a point, it was slightly unrealistic.
And as to the C-4 issue, the plan was never to blow everything to pieces, although that would've been nice, the plan was however to use it as a distraction when and if necessary. Even the C-4 planted on the Knightmares was to be directed as such .
Thank you very much for your continued and very thoughtful reviews I look forward to seeing more of them in the future.
I was… Being carried. At least as far as I was concerned I couldn't think much less move. My vision was a stark contrast of blue-and-white. All I could hear was ragged panting, a clear sign of exertion from someone. Then suddenly I was placed onto an object that was cold and hard. Shortly after my vision faded out once more.
My vision then snapped open clearly, I looked up to see a dull white ceiling.
I'm alive? I'm alive… Sweet! I'm alive! I then tried to sit up, however I immediately regretted that for lances of pain shot through my rib cage and lower stomach.
Owwwchhh…. Dammit I'm alive. I thought with significantly less enthusiasm. I need to get up, catch my bearings. I propped myself up for my uninjured hand and managed to sit up after a colossal effort.
Grunting with extreme discomfort I swung my leg over the edge of what I determined was a bed. I looked around the room and found that it was poorly maintained, the single chair in the corner and an old worn wooden door to its left. To my extreme right there was a cabinet and a boarded-up window.
Okay, it's obvious I haven't been captured by the Britannians. I'd be in a prison cell if not worse. It seems like I've been picked up by my own people, that or someone who lives in Saitama. I don't even know if I'm still in Saitama…
I then noticed what I was wearing, an old hospital gown.
No, definitely not someone from Saitama. They would've seen the Brittanian body armor and left me there to die… Or stolen my shit.
Deciding that it was either my own people, or some incredibly forgiving Japanese I did the only thing I could… I tried to walk. I put my right foot down, this required little to no effort on my part. I then proceeded to put my left foot down.
Pain immediately spiked throughout my entire left side, forcing through this best I could I managed to stay stable. I hobbled over to the Rectangular Cabinet, determining this is most likely what I could find something better to wear… Assuming my original clothes were being kept in the same room as me. Opening the cabinet I found exactly what I was looking for.
My tank top, pants, Mask and other such equipment was neatly layered inside. This was already strange, but it was stranger so when I noticed my mask was here and that the clothes were clean.
Obviously someone cleaning my clothes isn't that unlikely, but my mask… The only other person who knew where it was would be Kallen.
This solidified my theory of being picked up by my own people. Reaching over and collecting the pants I tried putting them on one leg at a time. Similar to the bed incident my right leg was simple enough, my left leg proved to be absolute agony and caused an enormous spike in my pain threshold due to the damage in my midsection.
Regardless I wasn't going to lose to a pair of pants, clenching my teeth to the point where my gums almost bled, I strained and grunted until the pants were all the way up. The rest of the ensemble was easy enough save for maybe the shoes, they required an even greater amount of effort than the pants but I forced on regardless.
I had to sit down after I finished tying the shoes, gasping in pain and exertion I noticed I was bleeding slightly through a bandage on my side.
Well I'm not dead, so they must have patched me up pretty good.
The door swung open, which caused me to reach for my Glock instinctively. That was Kallen. She stared me with absolute shock, which quickly whipped into an expression of anger.
"What the hell are you doing? You'll open up your wounds!" I stared at her blankly allowing the stoic expression of the mask to guard my reaction.
"Sit rep… What happened? What's going on?" she looked as if she still wanted to complain, but instead gave the report I requested.
"Just before you ordered the explosives to be detonated, Yamada saw you stumbling away from the camp… They detonated the explosives as you ordered but shortly afterwards Yamada carried you here."
"Where is here?" I questioned quickly a feeling of dizziness overtaking me.
"Were in an old the hospital, I don't know its name… But were still in Saitama. Shortly after the explosives were detonated Britannians withdrew entirely! Your plan worked! We managed to save almost all of the civilians. The Britannians didn't even get past the second line!"
"No, I'm not sure yet whether or not my plan worked… I shot Cornelia at least twice… But after that everything became a blur." I stated sadly.
"Yeah, about that how did you get shot, when you were brought in you had muzzle burns on your stomach." I wasn't happy about answering that question.
"Cornelia managed to put me in a hold and I panicked… So I shot through my own stomach to hit her. Thinking about it now I could've just shot over my shoulder or something, however it was a snap decision." I paused lightly and went over the scenarios my head.
"Then again I could've just Geassed her…" oh shit… I immediately realized my tactical blunder. Kallen looked at me quizzically.
"Geassed?" I wasn't proud of it, but I'd have to use my Geass on an ally.
"This is further notice… You are to forget that I ever said the word 'Geassed' unless I bring it up… Continue acting as normal until further notice." I was ashamed of myself; I couldn't even talk to my friends and allies without dirtying their existence with this power.
"{Understood.}" Came her reply.
"How many people did we lose?" I questioned trying to fill the gap in her memory. She shook her head lightly, seemingly dazed but responded nonetheless.
"W-we, only sustained a few injuries here and there. However the original resistance group here accumulated several casualties before we arrived."
"As to be expected." I stated. She nodded, agreeing with me.
"What are our plans for the future?" she asked, she managed to ask me all the questions I just didn't want to answer.
"Acquire funding, more weapons, more Knightmares… continue protecting the weak. What else can we do?" I asked. She said nothing.
"I suppose if you really want to be optimistic we can plan for a future coup d'état." Her eyes widened in disbelief… I didn't want that, I didn't want to get her hopes up and then crush them later on just because it was too difficult, or I was dead.
"Why do you act like your normal self only when you're around me?" the question caught me completely off guard, I literally had no idea how to respond to that. "I mean, when you're with the others you act so differently… Like you're always on top of everything, always two steps ahead. But when it's just you and I… you act so sad."
I laughed, but immediately stopped myself once a spike of pain came from it.
"We spent like an accumulative five hours together and you've noticed this?" she blushed lightly and turned the other way.
"Fine! Forget I said anything!" that was not the reaction I wanted. I checked my phone for the time, 12:45…
12:45… That makes no sense… Unless!
"Kallen!" I said in a hurried and authoritative tone which startled her. "How long have I been out?"
"since the Britannians pulled out yesterday… why was there something impor-"
"SHIT! I got'a call Shirley!" I declared loudly as I rapidly scrolled through my phone.
"I already called the student Council and told them of our absences." I answered her while the phone was ringing.
"That doesn't matter I still need to call Shirley." On the fourth ring she picked up. She said nothing for a long time. "Shirley are you there?"
"Hey Lulu… Who are you with right now?" I didn't fail to notice the strangeness of the question.
"I'm with Kallen…" I answered slowly, not quite understanding why it mattered who I was with.
"So you been with her since yesterday?… I see, you never called you know."
"Wait, how did you know I've been with her since yesterday?" I asked worried she might know of my terrorist activities.
"So it is true, what were you doing that whole time?" she asked angrily. I paused longer than usual not knowing how to respond "I see how it is, you just wanted to ditch me to run off with Kallen! That's why you lied isn't it?" I honestly failed to understand.
"What? I don't get what you're trying to say!" She growled angrily.
"Just forget it Lelouch…" Then she hung up. I started my phone in disbelief.
She hung up on me?… I need to go talk to her in person.
I lurched to a standing position, or as close to one as I could acquire and attempted to walk towards the door.
"Hold on! You can be walking around this soon!" I looked at Kallen through my mask from my hunched over position.
"Why not? What are my injuries?" I asked hoping they were not that serious.
"You have to badly fractured ribs, not to mention minor intestinal damage as well as bruised a shoulder blade on your left side." She emphasized every injury as if it would stop me.
"I'll live…" She stood in front of me, refusing to move. "Get out of the way." I hissed. She didn't move still, she just stared back at me defiantly with the same determined expression. Ordinarily I might've admired her for it… However at this point in time it was nothing but inconvenient.
I'm going to have to convince her legitimately, I don't want to keep using my Geass on my friends.
I slowly and deliberately reached for my Glock and removed it from its holster. I leveled it at her heart which surprisingly garnered no reaction.
"You would shoot me…"she asked in disbelief. I considered this briefly.
"No… I wouldn't." I then brought the gun up to my own head fully prepared to shoot myself. "However, if you stand in the way you will prevent me from fixing the only relationship I have… I'd rather." I pulled the trigger slightly removing the live-action safety. Her eyes twitched and her resolve broke as she stood aside.
"Please let me help you, at least." I nodded and re-holstered the firearm.
"Catch me if I fall." I took a step forward the jarring impact it caused lanced pure agony throughout my being. I began to break into a cold sweat as I grit my teeth.
I can't do this! I thought disparagingly. Would I really give up on Shirley that easily? Fuck no. I opened the door. One step. Two steps. Three steps, four, another and another and another and again and again and again.
The monotonous cycle of agony became easier to bear as long as I only looked ahead.
"Which way is out?" I groaned towards Kallen. Kallen took the lead while still being sure she could see me at all points in time. Agony ensued I she led me through several hallways and finally out a door into a lobby. What was in the lobby surprised me. Many of the resistance members belonging to my group were present, but so were several people I did not know. Many were seated in the haphazardly placed chairs throughout the torn building. All looked up to see me… Many began cheering.
"Cypher Sama!" many cheered formally. I caught the sight of Oghi running up to both Kallen and I looking somewhat panicked.
"Kallen! The medic told us he shouldn't move for at least a few days!"
"Britannia will not stop simply because I'm injured… I must carry on regardless!" I said authoritatively as I pushed past him leaving the cheers of both civilians and rebels alike behind me. "Kallen, I need you to escort me back to my place of residence."
"Right!" she said almost enthusiastically as we headed out. "Ohgi would you mind driving us?" he nodded once.
"Y-yeah, sure no problem." Obviously he had no idea where we were going. As we were walking to the car Oghi began reciting the battle. "And it was exactly like you said it would be. The Britannians engaged just as if they wanted to test us not kill us, at least at first. That bought us loads of time!"
"I'm sure your leadership helped significantly." I complemented, trying my damnedest not to sound strained. Ohgi grabbed the back of his head and rubbed it nervously.
"No, I didn't do too much. The Britannians didn't even make it past the second line, they ended up pulling out once you dealt with Cornelia." I took that as confirmation that Cornelia had died, and had not simply been severely injured or something of the like.
"About the soldier that carried me back, I want to speak him eventually but we have more pressing matters first." I had been hobbling for a good while now, however we stopped once we reached a hollowed out building with an alleyway. "It just occurred to me, how'd you get your car here?"
"After the battle I left to go retrieve it so I could take Kallen back to school whenever she wanted." I nodded in understanding. "But she refused to leave until you woke up." He added on.
We entered the alleyway to find a burgundy sedan half covered with a blue tarp. Oghi unlocked it and removed the tarp allowing it to fall to the ground. As we took our seats I decided to sit in the back so I could have a larger range of comfort. However, apparently Kallen had the same idea for instead of sitting in the passenger side which was open she chose to seat next to me.
As I buckled my seat belt I debated whether or not I should allow Oghi to know my identity.
"Ohgi… If I remove my mask would you promise not to tell the others until I give the let go?" Ohgi looked at me from the rearview mirror, eyes wide.
"… Certainly, you can count on me." I breathed outwardly in relief as I removed the mask and placed it between both Kallen and I. I didn't bother watching his reaction through the rear view, instead I leaned my head against the glass weekly.
"So Cypher is really a schoolboy…" I fought off a sarcastic remark as he said this.
"Yes indeed, now onwards to Ashford."
"So you're one of Kallen's classmates?" he asked, clearly over curious.
"Yes, she and I are on the student Council together." I stated quickly while trying desperately not to fall unconscious. I squeezed my side with my uninjured hand redoubling the pain already present. It sucked… but it kept me awake. The car started and lurched forward slowly exiting the alleyway, the road conditions were far from ideal and consistently jostled the vehicle. For every single bump we hit a gut churning feeling came from my stomach, each time I hissed in response.
This caused Kallen to look over and ask if I wanted to stop the car. Every single time she asked I responded with.
"No, no thank you, I don't want to, not yet, God dammit I said no!" Were just some of the replies I answered with every time she asked. It annoyed me to the point where I refused to make a sound despite what pain I was feeling. Eventually and thankfully we made it to smoother roads and that was the end of the incessant questions from Kallen, Ohgi however, was determined asked me several questions regarding my schooling.
I answered all of his questions as honestly as possible but some of them I just didn't have answer for lack of memories. Meaningless conversations aside, the trip to Ashford was relatively short just a little under an hour. Throughout the trip I managed to calm myself to the point where I could think rationally. I came to the conclusion that Shirley believed I was cheating on her with Kallen.
It makes sense, Kallen did call up and say that I was with her yesterday, and that directly contradicted my story. I'm going to have to find a way to convince her otherwise…
Oghi parked several blocks away from Ashford, obviously trying to make sure that he was not seen dropping us off.
"I'm not sure if I can make that walk Ohgi… Just pull up to the front gate." He complied nervously as he slowly drove closer to the school. I looked down to my Glock and its holster, I have no way to hide it other than putting it in my waistband. However that would stop me from hiding my mask.
"Kallen… I need you to carry my mask discreetly." I said as I un-holstered my primary firearm and gingerly placed it between my belt. She complied and concealed it in a similar fashion. Ohgi finally stopped at school, opening the door and using it as support I forced my way out of the backseat. Before I left I made sure to thank Ohgi, to which he replied.
"Yeah no problem, I just never thought I'd be taking my leader to school. Heh…" I laughed lightly, at least someone was in a good mood. He drove away shortly afterwards.
"Kallen, please take my mask to my room." I asked as I fumbled for my phone, I saw no confirmation for I was too obsessed with scrolling down to Shirley's number. It rang several times but no one picked up.
I called again, no answer.
"Son of a bitch…" I called Milly instead, knowing that she would take the situation seriously and do the right thing… Whatever that was.
She picked up on the third ring.
"Yes Lelouch, I know where Shirley is." I was a little surprised at her preemptive answer.
"Then tell me." I replied with simply.
"Did you really cheat on her?" she asked sounding neutral.
"No God dammit I didn't!" I raised my voice to the phone, I immediately wished I hadn't for another spike of pain came from my ribs.
"Than what were you doing, I know you lied to her about being called away for work!" I immediately became defensive.
"That's none of your business just tell me where she is!"
"Not until you tell me where you were!" I was starting to get really pissed off now.
Dammit this is getting me nowhere! Plan b…
"This is further notice, tell me where Shirley is." I really wondered whether or not I could trigger my latent Geass command through the phone.
"{She is in her dorm, she's locked herself in there all day.}" Apparently I could.
"Fucking thank you, continue acting normal until further notice." I immediately hung up. And began hobbling towards Shirley's dorm. To my right I could see Kallen running back up to me. It was obvious by the speed of which she accomplished her task that she had run both to and fro.
"Thank you Kallen… You can head home now I'll be all right."
"No! I'm not leaving you in your condition!" That was starting to get old. But I decided I did not want to use my Geass with her anymore.
"Then at least wait for me in my room! I'll come back there soon enough, I just don't want you hanging around when I try to convince my girlfriend that I wasn't cheating on her." All of her argument ceased and I took that as a cue to walk away… Scratch that, hobble away.
The walk to her room was painful, along the way I drew the curious gazes of many students. All of whom I ignored. Once I made it to her door I noticed five students hanging around the door not 15 feet away.
"Hey you guys!" I yelled as loud as I dared, they all looked up shortly after. "{Leave!}" And so I commanded so they obeyed. Facing the door finally I knocked. After several knocks there was no answer.
I knocked harder, still no reply. Summoning my anger I pounded on the door, each strike jostling my injuries further. I knew I was bleeding badly, but I hoped the bandages would hold it for time it being.
I was honestly getting furious at this point, I was feeling pain yes… Loads of it but a new pain suddenly sparked within me. My left eye suddenly burned as if set ablaze. It passed within a few seconds so I just passed it off as a part of my already existent wounds.
"{Dammit Shirley! Open the door!}" As if on cue she opened it just before I began 'knocking' once more.
Her face and eyes were red, she clearly had been crying… This was unacceptable.
"{We need to talk.}" I said as I pushed her into her room and closed the door behind me. She stood before a full body mirror that was between the two beds. She crossed her arms and faced me directly.
"Care to explain what's going on, or why you lied to me yesterday?" she said in a surprisingly level tone. I looked away ashamedly.
"{I can't tell you.}" I could feel the tension in the air.
"Why not! Unless you're doing something you shouldn't have been then there's no reason you can't tell me!"
"{I was… But I can't tell you what.}" I said sadly, still glaring at the ground.
"Then you can forget about it… Forget about us!" I looked up to her and yelled.
"{You expect me to just forget about our relationship}" Something was wrong, my facilities were shutting down. It wasn't physical, it was purely mental. My eyes flicked to the mirror behind her.
My Geass is on! What the hell? I didn't turn it on! What's happening? No, stop! I don't want to forget!
It was useless, thoughts, memories, images… These were all displayed to me one final time before they dissolved away… one by one. I tried to fight it, I really did but I was no match for my own power.
The last image I saw was one of Shirley sitting at the student Council table, peacefully eating a salad and smiling towards me. And then… Wait what was I talking about?
It must not have been important if I forgot about it that easily, moving on.
I had more pressing matters, like what I was going to do to get my allies sufficient supplies and possibly a base of operations. Not to mention for some unknown reason I was in Shirley's room…
Weird… I should probably go get my injuries treated more thoroughly, no idea why I'm here.
I watched as Shirley stood there clearly in distress about something; honestly I couldn't have cared less. I simply walked out the door as best my injuries would allow. I angled myself back to my dorm where Kallen was waiting.
Perhaps she will be willing to help me with my injuries? I was almost sure of it.
And so I moved on…
To be continued…