Audacity chapter 26.
*I would say I'm sorry for the delay, but then again I did warn you bastards. Aside from that I can be faulted time wise due to the fact that I have had this chapter mostly mapped out in my head for the past few days… But then I would immediately blame it on mass effect three and it's incredibly time-consuming campaign. Also, under incredibly annoying side note, I noticed that this website has disabled my ability to post links on my own profile for things… Not just me everyone, I have but one question about that: WHAT THE HELL? Not that many reviews to respond to this time so screw you guys I'm moving on.*
Response to review by: LEGENDRY. To everything you surmised and pointed out with the Angel and gray Jack in your most recent review, I am unable to respond in full force, simply due to the fact that I would either incriminate myself, or reveal plot essential information for future chapters.
As to Schneizel picking up on the gaps in memory of the soldiers… Just remember that in the original series he found out regardless of the fact that Lelouch was lenient with his use of Geass… Don't be surprised when he finds out sooner here.
As to the evidence of the mask showing up, I find this nigh upon impossible simply due to the fact is created by the pottery club at Ashford Academy, and that he was painted by one of the arts teachers all the while the people that work participating were under the influence of Lelouch his Geass. Any remaining materials would be rather irrelevant considering where they were at. But when it comes to his infiltration of Britannia's military that's a significantly different story. He left several gaps either which way, here and there… Some of which he's not even aware of yet…
Response to review by: EVA-Saiyajin. As always buddy, your reviews are articulate and immaculate… Well thought out and above all…. PFFFT! Who am I kidding I'm just glad you stuck with me this long!
By the way people, remember, I absolutely adore questions. So have at thee!
Super-duper awesome sauce, incredibly distracting line break!
Finding Kallen turned out to be an absolute pain in the ass. I started out by talking to Rivalz and asking him if he had seen her in class, to which he responded with.
"Sorry buddy, she didn't show up today." His jovial voice coming over the phone made the bad news that much more irritating.
This then led me to believe that she had stayed home for some reason. My next course of action was to call Milly. I reached into my lower breast pocket and flipped open my phone, scrolling over to Milly's contact information I pressed the call button and raised the phone to my ear.
It rung once, twice, thrice, four times… Then nothing.
That's odd; she's usually the type of person to pick up by the second ring.
I clicked the redial function and waited for the dial tones once again only to receive the same response. I pulled the phone away from my ear and looked at its screen again. Slightly frustrated I began rationalizing.
It would be simple enough to call her and find out where she is… But I want this to be a surprise. I have her address on my phone right next to her number; I could always go to her house… That's not creepy, right?
Offhandedly while I was scrolling through my phone I noticed it had a GPS function, however I discarded any notion of using it for I was too proud to be told where to go by a piece of plastic. Using the predetermined layout of the Tokyo settlement I headed in the direction of where I determined her house to be.
After little under 30 minutes of walking I came upon a more rural area with homes obviously for the greater privileged such as nobility and the like. I didn't think it was that odd, I had been informed that she was half Britannian, so it wouldn't be that surprising if one of her parents were well-off financially, or at least socially.
36, 37, Ah! 4238 Statfeld manner. I found my way to the front entrance of the gated house only to find that a large wrought iron gate blocked my path. I saw no real way to get around using it, other than hopping the fence… But I decided to at least try the normal way hoping that it would not ruin the element of surprise. I rang the buzzer that was located on the cement pillar nearest the opening of the front gate. Well over 10 seconds past with no results of any kind, I briefly considered the doorbell wasn't functional but regardless I tried again. After waiting almost a full minute I became impatient and began scrutinizing the wrought iron fence in more detail.
Oh yeah, I can jump this. I thought as I tested the ornately carved leaf shaped tendrils that were placed between each bar in an organic fashion. I tossed the case with the Beretta to the other side cringing slightly as it hit the grass with a dull thump. Satisfied the equipment wasn't damaged I jumped up with a grunt getting a handhold on the top of the iron Spike all the while struggling to get a foothold to pull myself upwards. Struggling desperately for a bit longer I managed to clamber over to and of hover precariously over the pointed spikes on the top of the fence.
Oh my God, if I lose a testicle to this thing I'm going to be so pissed. I thought as I hefted one leg over to the other side, struggling with my grip I managed to force my other leg over as well clearing the danger zone for my crotch. Unfortunately, I was so concerned with relief to the point where I had forgotten to reacquire a foothold… This caused me to lose my already waning grip on the top of the spike with both my left and right hands.
"Shit- OMPHH!" I yelled as the ground rushed up to meet me between the shoulder blades and at the same time driving the air from my lungs.
Ow… Note to self, don't fuck with gravity. I thought somewhat amused as I sat upright and pushed myself into a standing position. Brushing myself off I retrieved the case and walked up to the front door calmly, trying my best not to admire the seemingly over exaggerated grandeur of the home.
So much fancy stuff… I swear this place would drive me insane with all this white trim and golden corner pieces. If there were up to me I pull this crap out and replace it- My thoughts were cut short with the sound of muffled yelling coming from within the house.
"How could you do something like this! Do you even know where she went! Or if she had a place to go to!" I recognized the voice as belonging to Kallen.
"How should I know where the whore-ish monkey ran off to? You should be glad I didn't have her arrested! In fact if your father were here he would've done just that!" Quipped the snobbish sounding voice of who I assumed was Kallen's mother.
"Don't act like you were doing her a favor!" Kallen retorted.
"I never! Maybe I should do you a favor by correcting that insolent attitude of yours!"
Okay, that's it, I've had enough of this bitch. I thought as I removed my contact lens and returned it to its box. I reached for the door handle only to find it locked. Plan B then! I thought irrationally, letting the moment get the best of me.
I took half a step back and reared my left foot upwards only to bring it down fiercely next to the doorknob. With a satisfying SNAP! I kicked the door from its bronze latch causing it to slam into the other side of the wall revealing what appeared to be an old-style guest reception room. At the top of the double stairs above I could clearly see Kallen dressed in casual clothing consisting of a red tube top, blue jeans, and a denim jacket.
Across from her was a woman in her early 40s to late 30s what appeared to be a formal dress, her hair was tied up behind her head in an elaborate bun.
Both of them were absolutely dumbfounded to the situation unfolding before them.
"All right lady, I don't break down doors for no particular reason! (LIE) And from the sound of it you've done something to Kallen that she disapproves of… Time to fix that!"
"Just who do yo-" Began Kallen's mother, clearly unhappy with my method of unlocking doors.
"Lelouch! What the hell!" Yelled Kallen with a tone that could've been either outrage or a combination of relief and surprise.
"I swung by school to drop off a gift for you only to find that you weren't there. And before that I even stopped by HQ. Obviously I didn't find you at either of these places, so your house was my next guess." I began explaining.
"You know, I rang the doorbell like an ordinary person, however you failed to answer it… So I did the next best thing… I jumped the fence." I shifted my stance and crossed my arms. "Which by the way you should really get rid of the pointy steel spike things they are really uncomfortable."
I then began walking in a pacing fashion back and forth between the two sets of stairs.
"Then I walk up to your actual door and I hear this bitch yelling at you like some God damn harpy!"
The woman's flinch was clearly visible followed by.
"If you don't get out of my house right now I'm going to call the police!" The manner in which she spoke clearly signified that she was used to people doing everything she demanded of them… I would have none of that with me.
"I suggest you shut up before I decide to shove my shoe down your throat… With my foot still in it!" I directed towards her while being sure not to make eye contact.
I'm not sure what it was, but something about this woman just rubbed me the wrong way. And by rubbed I mean graded against like a cheese grater against a rock.
"What are you doing here?" Kallen finally leveled with. I looked directly at her knowing full well that my Geass would have no effect on her anymore.
"I brought you a gift… It's something that you need and might appreciate." I motioned towards her mother and then my left eye. "If you want I can fix your parental problems with just a few well-placed words, sound good you?"
A look of realization crossed Kallen, obviously she hadn't thought of that until I mentioned it.
"You would do that for me?" I smiled widely.
"It's not like I lose anything when I use it." I shifted my line of sight to Kallen's mother, allowing her to gaze upon my Geass in full despite the slight distance.
"{Obey Kallen!}" Was the simple command I used.
Well… that's the first time I've had someone obey a person other than myself… Best not make a habit of that.
"Go on, tell her to do something." I said as began walking up the stairs two at a time.
"Umm… Go wait in your room until I tell say you can leave…" She said cautiously, clearly still worried that her command would not be followed. Shortly after her order the blonde woman bowed curtly and walked to a door down the hallway past the staircase.
"Just make sure you remember to let her out, otherwise she won't ever leave."
"Right…" she responded weakly. Almost immediately I noticed something was wrong with both her posture and her tone of voice.
"What's the matter? You seem upset." I asked bluntly. Without turning to look at me she spoke.
"I'm just having some problems right now." I blinked twice inconfusion, unable to discern anything due to how vague her response was.
"Well I just Geassed your mother… that should help things out some." Immediately after I said that her eyes snapped up to me, smoldering with a form of hate I had yet to experience.
"That Leach!" She began with fury. "Is not my mother, she's just some tramp my father was forced to marry when Japan became an area." I leaned against the railing and looked at the wall thoughtfully.
"My bad, I had no idea. Before I came in here you guys were yelling about something… is that what's wrong?"
"Speaking of that! What kind of insane bastard are you? Kicking down people's doors just because you hear yelling inside!" She yelled.
"Hey! It turned out all right. Besides you're dodging the question." Her body visibly stiffened and she began speaking softly again.
"My mother had been working here as I maid, due to her attachment to my father… She's Japanese, so that whore over there always treated her like dirt." I nodded and motioned for her to continue. "My step mother found out that she had been taking refrain… Shortly afterwards she fired my mother and sent her away."
The smooth face I had been wearing before quickly contorted to grimace as I listened.
"You should be able to fix this now that she's under your control." I stated hopefully.
"That's true, but that's not the biggest problem. Ever since she left she told no one where she was going and now I can't contact her. I'm worried she's overdosed on the drug or something."
"What does refrain do? I'm not familiar with it." I said as I took ahold of my chin and rubbed it thoughtfully.
"It's a hallucinatory drug, brings back memories of the past… Of better days. Which makes it an obvious choice for the Japanese. But it's also killing us; those who take it slowly go into a comatose state… Not to mention it's bleeding dry what little economy we have left."
"Do you resent your mother for taking the drug? It's obvious you disapprove of it, but do you condemn her for it… Do you blame her?"
Kallen was unable to form a coherent sentence, an array of emotion was displayed across her face, all of which went by to quickly to recognize.
I was all I really needed to know.
"We need to put a stop to this, but the Seekers aren't ready for a major operation." Kallen looked at me with a quizzical expression, clearly not understanding what I was getting at.
"I'll handle this personally, in the meantime continue gathering supplies and materials with the funding provided. Also I need you to have Ohgi compile a list of all his previous benefactors' from when he was in the resistance fighting in Shinjuku." I said in a no nonsense tone.
"What do you mean you will handle this personally? You can't solve this problem on your own even with that power of yours!" She said once again allowing anger to seep through her depression.
"I don't know what it is about you but you seem to think that your invincible, taking numerous injuries and risks! And on top of that you're very accident prone!"
I pushed forward jumping away from the railing and began walking down the stairs.
"Got to die sometime." I stated morbidly just as I reached the bottom steps. "Oh yeah… sorry about the door. Not quite sure why I did that." I said as I exited, leaving no room for any further complaints. Just as I began walking down the front steps of her home I felt a hand grab my wrist and stop me. I turned around to see Kallen looking flustered and upset. I tried to pull my hand back but only succeeded in pulling her closer to me.
"What?" I grumbled through my teeth, dropping the case that held the Beretta, undistracted by the noise it made as it hit the ground.
"Stop that! At least accept help! That's why you chose to lead us isn't it?" I leaned forward and locked eyes with her.
"We don't have the materials necessary to engage an enemy openly, and I'm sure the Britannians are behind this drug if only indirectly, this would be better orchestrated as stealth and infiltration Op."
"Then take some of us with you!" She practically yelled in my face. "We are eager to fight, to do something, to make a difference! I don't know why you have to go glory seeking on your own!" I tensed my shoulders and clenched my teeth trying not to overreact at her comment.
"I'm doing this because I don't want to expend our resources when they could be better directed elsewhere. Besides we can't afford any losses right now." Her grip on my wrist tightened to the point of pain.
"God! Why you have to be so difficult! It seems like you have some sort of problem with accepting help! This will be easier if-" Enough was enough for me, if I couldn't convince her with words, I would persuade her with actions.
Using her vice grip on my hand I pulled her forward until my chest collided with hers, snaking my free arm around her other side I grabbed the back of her head, tilting mine slightly I forcibly connected our lips. Immediately her body jumped in shock and seized up. The only protest was a small, cute, noise she made in the back of her throat. I took advantage of this by pushing her against the doorframe and planting both hands firmly on the wall behind her, effectively trapping her during our lip based entanglement.
Her soft texture and smooth skin was enticing, but I couldn't let that get the best of me. I had to be the one in control right now. I danced the tip of my tongue across her lips as if asking for entry, and just before any decision could be made I pulled back and locked her into an embrace. Her hands and head pressed into my chest.
"I'm not saying I won't take any help, I'm just saying you need to trust me on this one… We'll get this drug off the market; we'll get it wiped off the face of the earth if we have to. But I need you to trust me…" Breaking the embrace was a little bit awkward, so to start I whispered in her ear.
"I want you to keep the contents of that case right there with you at all times… Until next time" I said as I pulled away and began walking towards the gate. Not turning back I kept my strides long and prideful as I reached inside of the wrought iron gate.
I sighed inwardly with relief as I noticed the locking mechanism and a handle that opened from the inside. With a short metallic report the gate opened inwards and I exited the Statfeld manor.
As I walked I couldn't quite understand why I felt so shaky, so loose and rattled. I reached my hand up to my heart and pressed it against my chest… Only to find it racing faster than what I thought safe.
I pulled out my pack of cigarettes and lit one, inhaling deeply to calm myself. Despite the fact that my thoughts were in slight disarray I still had the coherency to put together the things I would need to fix Kallen's problem.
Her mother can be found after I find the source the drug, if she's addicted to the substance I'm sure she'll be near the source… Amongst other addicts. As I surmised earlier this is more than likely due to corruption within the Britannians and their higher-ups… This means if I appeal to Euphemia I could probably get her to do something about it along with me, which would kill two birds with one stone.
I smiled wickedly.
This fits in with things nicely… But I'm still not strong enough myself to stop this drug alone… Time to see what I can barter from Gray Jack…
As and directed myself home, thinking of what I might want in exchange.
* Ashford Academy, student Council building, private dorms.*
I entered my place of residence without incident, once I determined CC was not lounging about in my room I took a broad stance and called out.
"Gray Jack!" less than ten seconds later I was blinded by a flash of light and the ever present cloying smell of friction burnt meat.
"Need something?" he asked with a voice like ground glass.
"Sort of." I replied arrogantly. "I have some serious information to trade with you, I was wondering what I could get out of it." Gray Jack rolled his eyes, which was an impressive feat for their size.
"I can almost guarantee you there's nothing you can tell me that I don't already know."
"Oh really… Then let's up the ante shall we?" he grunted in conference. "If my information proves to be something you didn't know and it's useful… You'll give me a power of my choosing…"
"Sounds fair." He said while scratching his side absentmindedly. "But on the off chance that does happen you must remember that I can't just make you magic… There are limitations to what I can and can't do especially outside of my own body." He raised his hand to add something.
"Aaaaaand if this information proves to be worthless, and you've wasted my time right now… I get another year to keep your soul. Deal?" I let the question hover wordlessly for a brief moment.
"Deal." Jack shifted into a crouching position as if preparing for something long and boring.
"Does the word 'Caster' have any meaning to you?" the moment I said the word his eyes lit up, whether it be recognition or anger I couldn't recognize, possibly both.
"Where did you hear that word… Specifically in that context."
"I had some Angel bitch come to me in my dreams… As crazy as that sounds, and tell me that God was sending assistance to me." I let the ridiculousness of the statement stand, not trying to cover up how out of my mind I sounded… Or at least felt.
Gray Jack however, his features were morbid, eyes locked into a hard thousand yard stare, all of his visible muscles clenched tight. Obviously I struck a nerve somewhere with my information.
"She wants me to work against you, but the way I see it working with you is a better idea… A double agent so to speak. But I have to ask-"
"About God?" He finished for me. "Let's just say he wasn't always the most powerful being out there… And now he's trying to tie up loose ends with the limited ability he has remaining after fighting the others who were equal or greater to him." I quirked an eyebrow at his statement.
"Don't trifle with God; he wasn't always the strongest… But by far he was and is the most cunning, most charismatic, and often times making people believe whatever he is doing is the right thing to do. I won't tell you much but I will tell you I have a quarrel with God. He wants the power I've taken from him… He wants it back." He stood and turned, shifting his gaze to out the window.
"Luckily for me with the amount of power I managed to take from him, he's just a vegetable essentially, he has to send his agents to do his work… It's been like this for the past couple thousand years. I'm just surprised he caught up with me now of all times."
"Hmmmm," I hummed thoughtfully. "I'm assuming that means as long as I keep up the illusion that I'm working with him you could find a way to somehow slip away again?"
Jack nodded absently.
"Good… But as to our agreement." He pursed his lips slightly and admitted his defeat.
"Yes, yes, honestly now you are full of surprises. This was by far the very last thing I expected to hear from you. In honor of our agreement I grantee something within my power… Name what you want."
I hadn't really thought of that too much, I still felt like I was lacking power in several sectors as it stood, I couldn't begin to fathom a power that would amplify my ability to operate by myself.
"Give me a second; I need to think about that one… I didn't think that getting something out of you would be nearly this easy."
"Consider yourself lucky, you've done me a service by bringing me this information… This allows me a lot of precious time to prepare things."
I waved him off as I began thinking about what my potential reward should be.
"Make me invincible." Jack immediately shook his head.
"In order to regenerate or completely stop damage from happening you need to pull from an energy source some sort… You only have your body to pull from so if you were invincible or at least unable to take physical damage, the power to resist and reform damage would have to come from your body… Effectively shortening your life span by an ass ton of years each time it comes into effect." I swallowed nervously.
"Never mind then, I'll try something else." Jack nodded slightly, still obviously lost in thought elsewhere.
Dammit! There's got to be something that can benefit me without killing me! I thought angrily as I sat down on the bed and assumed a thinking posture.
"Actually I have something that might benefit someone with your mental fortitude." Jack came forth with just as I was about to suggest something else.
"What do you have in mind?" I asked skeptically.
"I can remove the barrier on your mind that prevents you from assimilating your willpower."
I thought about it for moment, struggling to grasp what I could possibly use this for.
"And I could use this how?" Jack smiled slightly; apparently he had been waiting for that question.
"If I do that, you will be able to convert your willpower into an intangible force capable of affecting tangible objects, the limitations of which are only provided by your imagination… That and your ability to supply the force necessary."
"Supply the force necessary?" I questioned once more.
"By that I mean you will never be strong enough to lift a tank with your mind unless your body is strong enough, and on top of that you need to have the willpower to siphon that energy away from your body and into the task at hand."
"Seems a little bit hard to believe if you ask me… On second thought I forget who I'm talking to… do it."
"Are you sure? No will other information needed? Usually you have loads of questions."
"Unless there something you're not telling me, like some set of serious drawbacks, or maybe some negative effects it will have on my body or mind."
Gray Jack stood and took a seat on the revolving chair near the desk.
Again with that chair! There's a God damn couch right there! Much more comfortable, why doesn't anyone use that? I was sure Jack heard my mental complaint but decided not to do anything with it.
"No, what I told you it's what you get… It might take some time for you to master it, so go ahead and think of it like an extra muscle, it will need to be exercised and brought up to strength like any other."
"Except I can use it without the laws of physics constraining its shape." My statement was almost a question.
"For the most part." He supplied.
"Do it, I'm sure." Jack stood suddenly and rubbed his hands together creating friction and heat that was nigh upon the visible spectrum of light. Then, without warning he lunged forward and clapped both of his hands to the sides of my head.
"And with this-" He reared his head back almost as if to get a better look at me. "I return some of what was taken from you… by him." Jack then swung his head downwards and met with my four head in a vicious butting of heads.
And then the world went dark…. On second thought, fuck that! I fought the darkness!
Struggling to maintain my mental balance on my careening consciousness, I pulled forth a coherent thought and conformed it to the single notion of staying awake. Then with a surge of willpower I opened my eyes again.
My vision flittering into existence, I caught the image of gray Jack staring at me, slightly awestruck.
"Wow… you really should be unconscious right now." The statement immediately brought forth my anger.
"What the hell! I told you to give me awesome sauce telekinesis! Not fucking make out with my four head!"
"You wish don't you?" I pulled back slightly my face contorted into an expression of disgust.
"Okay creepy, homosexual, thingamajigs aside… Tell me how I am going to use this power that should've knocked me unconscious?" Gray Jack crossed his arms briefly, clearly formulating an answer.
"From what I've seen in your head, it should be similar to your Geass… However it has significantly more applications, once you learn how to mold the force… Simply experiment, that's all I can really tell you."
"That's helpful… I guess I'll try."
I focused my mind on Gray Jack's chest, imagining the only thing I really wanted to do at the time, which was punch him square in the sternum… Assuming he had one. As I thought of the action in my head, I realized I had another option… it was faint but I could feel it. Almost like a button that was just begging to get pushed and perform its designated action. Performing the mental action that I can still only describe as 'pushing the button' I envisioned a fierce punch connecting with Jack's center being.
The results of which were instantaneous, as fleshy and hollow thump followed by a small recoiling from Jack's upper body.
"Ow… Do that again and I'll maim you." He stated flatly, not really sounding like he would back up the threat.
And I was certainly not prepared for the immediate retaliation that came shortly after the telekinetic punch made contact.
"Ahhh! Fuck! God my head hurts! Whoa…" I exclaimed as the fast-paced throbbing of a massive headache laid siege to my brain.
Jack's only response was to laugh darkly at my misfortune.
"Just keep at it and build up your endurance and power, because honestly there was almost none behind that. Just remember you can shape it to do almost anything, but you typically can't push it through an object that your physical body doesn't have the power to pierce… at least not without applying some physics in your favor."
"Duly noted." I replied quickly with tears in my eyes from the slowly receding headache. "How about the pain? Will that go away?"
"Like I said it's just like a muscle, build it up, make it stronger… Just don't tear it… You're screwed up enough as it is."
"Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, that's great. We're done here." I said painfully while waving him off.
"Sure thing." He said sounding relieved. And just like that he was gone in a blinding flash… but that smell stayed...
With this new power even if I'm captured I can still put up a huge fight… if not outright free myself. This also helps me greatly when I'm outside of a Knightmare. I'm going to have to perform some tests and figure out the exact qualities of this non-tangible force.
I flopped backwards onto the bed, staring at the ceiling while thinking of the numerous applications of my ability.
He said that I could change its shape to just about anything, which means I could probably make it really, really, small… or perhaps exceptionally large. There's also the question whether or not I can use it like a blade… Or even the distance that it can travel. The list goes on and on… this is more complicated than my Geass, but far more applicable.
I couldn't help but smile wickedly as I imagined what I could do. At the same time I couldn't help but feel overeager to practice and use it… I was not however looking forward to the future headaches it would undoubtedly create.
Probably should invest in some type of medication… For migraines maybe?
To be continued…