A/N: Here's another character based one to help flesh out a character and keep her with you.
Disclaimer: I do not own Code Geass. I do own my characters.
Setting: The night before the events of Turn 31, a bedroom within the Britannia Imperial Castle.
Callista wore a solemn expression as she sat in her chair, going over the documents pertaining to her role in the fight to take place the next day. She sighed. She should probably get to sleep. They were waking very early in the morning the next day to depart for Japan. She should at least try and rest up for it, even if it always was hard for her to sleep before such exciting days. Perhaps she could grab one of the castle maids for a little fun abuse to take her mind off of it. That might help.
It was just as Callista was thinking that, that a knock came softly at her door. She called out in a low whisper, "Yes?"
"Can I come in, mom?" It was Eilith's voice. Callista smiled wide, her heart feeling somewhat warm.
"Of course, dear," she replied in a soft voice as the door opened. Eilith entered quietly and sat down on the nearby bed. "What's wrong?"
"Oh, nothing. I just couldn't sleep, so I went for a walk. I saw your light was still on, so I thought maybe we could talk some more," said Eilith in a breezy voice, smiling.
"Oh. Well, what do you want to talk of?" asked Callista, smiling back at her child.
"Well, I found it kind of fascinating what we were talking about earlier, you know about your past?" the girl started earnestly. "I was wondering if you could tell me more about all that."
"It's not a topic on which I like to speak, dear," said Callista. "Especially with you."
"Okay, that's fine. I won't force you," said Eilith, still smiling, not looking a bit disappointed. This child wouldn't judge her.
"No, I suppose I will tell you," said Callista. "I'll tell you about what sort of person your mother is."
Eilith smiled and listened intently as Callista began her tale.
---
It was a cold winter night in the year 2014, a.t.b.. Callista Blackwell, a recent recruit, just 18 years in age, was serving under the command of Imperial Princess Cornelia li Britannia as she led her forces into the EU, in a vie for Britannian conquest. Callista had only fought in a few battles yet, and was already over the initial shock of it. Now, as she sat in the seat of her Sutherland, following her commander closely on route to a small EU border town by the name of Santa Callida at which an EU force was said to be stationed, she found the idea of battle rather enjoyable.
"All units, we're approaching the enemy. Be careful," said Cornelia quietly, as they grew closer and closer to the town.
"Yes, your highness," everyone, Callista included, replied. Ten minutes later, battle broke out.
It was going to be an ambush, Cornelia's charge on the town, but in the end, they were the ones who were ambushed instead, surrounded on all sides by a force of the EU's knightmare frame, Panzer-Hummel. They were outnumbered. Their force consisted only of Cornelia and her two royal guards in their Gloucesters, and seven Sutherlands. They were face to face with about twenty-five Panzer-Hummels.
"Do not get discouraged, men! Fight and win!" Cornelia ordered as the battle started. Her custom Gloucester rushed forward at the lone uniquely colored Panzer-Hummel, surely the commander of the force.
The rest of the units dispersed. Callista found an enemy quickly and skewered it with her jousting lance before it could even get its autocannon fired. Another unit fired at her, she turned to it and fired her giant cannon, straight at it three times. It avoided two of the shots, which collided with houses in the distance, setting them ablaze. The last shot hit and damaged the machine, opening it up to a bold lance charge.
Callista turned her Sutherland around to see two Panzer-Hummels gang-up on and kill one of her comrades. She shot at both of them several times, while avoiding the return fire with precise timing. The pilots weren't so stupid and wouldn't let her get a hit. Inevitably she ended up having to use her surroundings to her advantage, firing several blasts into the buildings around the units, setting them on fire to distract the pilots, before she could get clear blows in with her lance. For good measure, she shot at the people who ran from the burning buildings too.
The fight continued a long while longer. Soon all but two Sutherlands, Callista's and another, were gone. The Panzer-Hummels were down to about six in number. Santa Callida was engulfed in flames. There were few targets left, so Callista was mostly just firing off random shots at anything she wanted to see light up in flame.
After destroying yet another Panzer-Hummel, she rushed to regroup with her commander. She caught sight of the two royal guards in their Gloucesters fighting off about two enemy machines apiece. Meanwhile, in the shadow of the local church, Cornelia herself was fighting just one unit. It wasn't the commander anymore, just a common looking Panzer-Hummel, yet it seemed to be giving Cornelia an equal fight somehow, or at least as close as possible for a vastly inferior unit.
But this wouldn't last. Just as the royal guards, Guilford and Darlton, finished off both their opponents, Cornelia's lance threw her enemy back into the wall of the church. The church's high tower collapsed with its support broken and fell hard to the ground below, as the roof collapsed on the knightmare, burying it. Satisfied, Cornelia turned around.
The losses were too extensive to continue the drive into the EU unassisted. The unit decided to regroup with the larger force and spent the next hour in retreat. Back at camp, Callista received a visit.
"Princess?!" she started, looking up at Cornelia vi Britannia as she entered her tent.
"You fought well today, soldier," she spoke. "It's Blackwell right?"
"Right! Callista Blackwell," Callista said with an enthusiastic nod. Strong, beautiful and elegant, Cornelia was someone very easy to admire.
"It's surprising, Callista," Cornelia spoke, surprising the girl hopelessly in using her given name. "You're a woman and you're just 18 and yet the vigor and unabashed ruthlessness you put into that fight just now was nothing short of incredible."
"Or condemnable, depending on your perspective," Callista replied wryly.
"In a war like this, if all knights were bound strictly by honor, we'd get nowhere," said Cornelia, with a smirk. "Raw power is no less worthy of respect than high honor."
"So you think you need people like me, people who enjoy this?" asked Callista, closing her eyes.
"I'm not saying that, said Callista. "I'm just saying, you performed well in that battle. You killed more enemy units than anyone else in a Sutherland and you came away with your life. It's a performance worthy of respect."
"Hmm, you're truly an interesting princess, Cornelia li Britannia," said Callista with a smile.
"I'm glad you think so," the princess replied. "I'd like you, Callista, to stay on as a member of my personal unit. If I'm pleased, I can see a woman of your caliber finding herself both decorated and promoted."
"It'd be an honor, princess," said Callista, feeling a high at hearing the words. "I'll serve as your faithful retainer so long as you have a place for me."
"Good," said Cornelia with a smile. "Your type of strength is something I hope to rely on."
"Of course," Callista said, nodding quietly.
---
A year passed. Callista stayed on in Cornelia's personal unit for a while, delighting in turning every battlefield they saw into Hell. Cornelia didn't seem to mind her extremes, even if she was nothing short of noble and compassionate, no matter how Callista looked at her. She couldn't really understand why the woman kept her around when she clearly did everything differently than most of the people around her, but she supposed she had a strange sort of respect and understanding from the woman. That respect was enough reason to one day, a year later, get called back to the Britannian capital.
She was being evaluated as a potential candidate to fill an opening within the Knights of the Round, on Cornelia's personal recommendation. She had just competed a demonstration in a Gloucester, using dummy weaponry, before the Emperor himself. She was the last of the candidates for the position to do the demonstration. It was only a few moments after she was done and walking through the castle halls that she was approached by a soldier.
"Lady Blackwell, His Majesty has requested a private audience," the man spoke. Callista's eyes went wide, as a gripping anxiety entered her heart.
"U-understood," said Callista, feeling kind of cold. "Right away."
She could hardly think as she led to the throne room. She had never anticipated this. Surely the Emperor had some influence in the decision, she thought, but she never thought he'd be interviewing them personally, much less than he'd start with her. She approached the throne and the formidable, powerful older man tentatively. Standing before him, she fell to her knee in a deep reverent bow.
"Callista Blackwell," he started in his deep bellowing voice. "Rise."
"It is an unknowable honor to stand before you, sir," said Callista in a slightly quivering voice.
"Your skills are worthy of the highest praise, Callista Blackwell," the Emperor spoke, the intensity of his voice spellbinding. "Your familiarity with the knightmare frame, the boldness and ferocity of your every move, it brings to mind late Empress, Marianne in her youth."
"Your majesty--! Such praise, it's not… I-I don't--," Callista started, feeling like her heart had stopped. The most powerful man in the world was comparing her to a woman who was not only the woman Callista had respected most in her youth, but was also one of his wives.
"No. You have truly impressed me, Callista Blackwell," the Emperor spoke. "I was moved by the strength and passion in your performance."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Callista nodded, still feeling unworthy.
"Why do you fight, Callista Blackwell?" the Emperor then asked abruptly.
Callista was taken aback. She wasn't going to lie to this man, not for anything. She was going to say what she knew was the truth. "I fight, Your Majesty, because I can. It amuses me, it thrills me, it excites me."
"A bold response," the man spoke. "But an honest one, and one that has its own sort of beauty."
Callista blushed. Her body tensed up. "I am honored to hear my answer pleases you, Your Majesty."
"This world is run by strength, Callista Blackwell. It is a world where the strong dictate all and the weak fall and perish," the Emperor said in a low roar.
"Of course. Those with strength, those with power will always remain at the top. That's what power is, it is the strength to control those less than you," said Callista. "This is a world where the strong rise to the top while the weak wallow in misery before they inevitably die."
"Well put, Callista Blackwell," said the Emperor. "You have a sound mind, it seems."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Callista said. "It is an honor."
"This world, does any part of it disgust you?" asked the man, his voice holding a certain weariness.
"Most of it. It's a dark world, decaying and miserable," said Callista. "It's a world too afraid to show its true face."
"An interesting perspective, Callista Blackwell," the man said in a strong voice. "This world is indeed wrapped in lies. It fears the truth that will set it free."
"Of course, Your Majesty," said Callista with a nod.
"You have impressed me, Callista Blackwell," said the Emperor. "I would like you to join me."
"You mean I am to be one of your twelve knights of the Round?" Callista started excitedly.
"No!" the man bellowed. "You will not be one of twelve, but one of 108."
"One-hundred-and-eight? Your Majesty, what does that--?" Callista started, not recognizing the number.
"You, Callista Blackwell, are a woman worthy of my court," said the Emperor boldly. Callista was once again shocked.
"Y-Your Majesty?! You mean to make me a…" Callista shivered. "I am forever honored."
"You, woman, shall henceforth bear the name Callista vol Britannia!" the man declared. Callista felt faint.
"I am forever in your service, my Emperor," said Callista, weakly. A smile slowly appeared on her face.
---
Thus Callista began her life as the 108th consort to Emperor Charles zi Britannia, wearing her new name, Callista vol Britannia as a badge of honor as she continued to dominate battlefields as a commanding soldier. It was a month after she met with the Emperor, that Cornelia li Britannia returned to the capital and their paths crossed once more.
"It's been a while, Callista," said Cornelia, smiling as she approached her within the castle walls. "I've heard both of your new position and your exploits on the battlefield. I must say you look sharp for it."
"I wouldn't have gotten here were it not for you, Princess. I'm in your debt," said Callista, nodding.
"You're satisfied with this new life of yours then?" asked Cornelia.
"Very. It's a beautiful name I've been granted. It's nothing but an honor to stand beside your father," said Callista in a low voice, smiling.
"As strange a character as ever," said Cornelia with a smirk. "There aren't many girls not quite twenty years of age, satisfied with being the consort to a man approaching sixty."
"It's not about that, and you know it, Princess," spoke Callista. "It's power, pure and simple. Prestige, honor. There is no greater honor a woman of Britannia can know than standing beside that man."
"You are a woman worthy of such honor, Callista. Some may call it madness, but what you have is a raw strength, an unbreakable spirit, a lack of fear. Ever since that fight in that Spanish town, when you proved that to me, I knew you were destined for something like this," said Cornelia.
"Thank you, Your Highness," said Callista. "I am glad I have your support. Your siblings seem to view me with nothing but disdain."
"They don't understand the battlefield," said Cornelia. "Few of my brothers and sisters have ever seen a real fight. They don't know what your strength is, so they won't recognize it, and may only condemn it as violence."
"I'm the youngest woman of your father's court by far, younger than most of his children. I would think that's a part of it," said Callista with a laugh.
"That might be a part of it," Cornelia admitted off hand.
"But I at least have your respect," said Callista with confidence. "That is enough for me."
"Your heart is cold and a dark, Callista; as a woman, you are hard to praise. As a warrior you are peerless. You are the sort any who valued herself a real warrior would want supporting her," said Cornelia readily.
"Your honesty is truly commendable. And you're able to put up with a lot," said Callista. "You're bound for great things, Princess."
Cornelia smiled as the conversation slowly faded out.
---
Things progressed steadily after that. Two years years passed. Callista continued fighting. War broke out in Japan, then Area 11. A man in a mask captivated the world as he led a miraculous rebellion. Callista wasn't particularly involved in his fight as it broke out. Her strength was used elsewhere. Cornelia's sister Euphemia li Britannia wound up dead after some bizarre breakdown and shortly after, though the rebellion was momentarily quelled, Cornelia disappeared.
Another year passed. The masked man returned and the fight for Japan resumed. Callista continued fighting still, until the Emperor approached her. She stopped fighting when she realized she was going to have his child. Word arrived of Cornelia's return, setting her heart at ease, but this would not last. One nightmarish day, it was suddenly announced that Callista's Emperor was dead, killed by a wayward son, Lelouch vi Britannia, son of Marianne. It was the dead of a cold night when Callista first met this man.
"This is the last of your father's consorts who inhabit this castle, Lelouch," said a young man. Callista knew him as the Knight of Seven, Suzaku Kururugi, an Eleven by birth.
"He kept one so young?" the new Emperor frowned. "Sickening. We'll put her to death with the others."
"Excuse me! What is this?!" Callista stammered, finding her feet, grabbing for a sword close to her bed. Kururugi rushed toward and in a few swift motion disarmed her and restrained her.
"I'm purging this world of my father's tyranny, and the nobility who thrives on it," said Lelouch, staring with contempt at Callista. "That extends to the parasites who cling to him."
"Why kill me?! I haven't wronged you," said Callista, growling.
"This woman, Callista vol Britannia, is referred to as the Blood Queen in the press. She's a sadist who delights in causing casualties," said Kururugi, in a low voice.
"Disgusting," said Lelouch. "Charles zi Britannia had no shame with these women."
"Have her corralled with the others for immediate execution?" Kururugi started, titling his head.
"At once," said Lelouch, nodding rigidly.
"Please! No! Don't send me to my death!" Callista shouted desperately, fear overtaking her as she embraced her swollen middle.
"You're pregnant?" Lelouch started, studying her with narrow eyes.
Callista nodded.
"Why should it be any concern to me if that man's child be allowed to live?" Lelouch asked, his scorn perfectly apparent.
"P-please…." Callista started, beginning to cry. "She is everything to me, this child inside me… I don't care for my own life, but please allow my daughter to be born before you kill me."
"The sight of you disgusts me, as does everything you represent. I see not why I owe you any favor," said Lelouch, coldly.
"Please… anything… I have no loyalty to him… I'll betray his memory in any way you wish, I'll give you anything you desire… j-just please… please do this one thing…" tears continued to flow from the woman's soft blue eyes as she looked up at the young man.
"You are pregnant how long now?" asked Lelouch, his voice no less harsh.
"Nine months," the woman replied sheepishly.
"Your execution date is set for three months from today, you had better hope fate smiles on your child," said Lelouch, before turning around.
"Lelouch, you weren't going to show compassion," Kururugi whispered into the man's ear. Callista had good hearing, so she could just decipher it. "Why show any mercy, even in a case like this? Consider the Requiem…"
Lelouch waved the man off and turned around. "Have her thrown in a holding cell."
"Understood," said Kururugi, and so Callista was hauled away.
---
Three months passed in perfect isolation. Then the day finally arrived that her daughter was born. The birthing pains were worth it when the beautiful infant was placed snugly in her arms. She cradled it, smilingly. It was while she was still being tended to, that a familiar woman visited her.
"It's been too long, Callista," Cornelia li Britannia spoke in a somber voice from the door.
"Princess? I-I… It's good to see you again," said Callista, holding her sleeping child close to her chest.
"Yes, very," said Cornelia. "Congratulations. She's beautiful."
"Thank you," Callista replied smiling as warmly as possible.
"What's her name?" asked the princess in a warm voice.
"Eilith," said Callista softly, staring at the infant girl.
"A pretty name," Cornelia said. "Suitable for such a child."
"Yes. She is lovely. Having her in my arms is more satisfying than any battle, I've ever fought," said Callista, beginning to cry. "I welcome death. That I was able to bring this child into being I feel my entire life has been worthwhile."
"Your execution has been cancelled," said Cornelia forwardly. Callista looked up, not sure she had heard right.
"What was that? How could that be?" she started, shaking a little.
"You didn't receive any news in that cell, but just weeks ago, my brother Lelouch was slain by the people's hero, the man who calls himself Zero," said Cornelia, closing her eyes.
"He was assassinated?" Callista started, shocked. "Why wasn't I informed sooner?"
"I'm sorry," said Cornelia. "My sister, Nunnally, selected as the new Empress, finds the violence of your history reprehensible. She won't kill you for it, but she made the decision to keep you well beyond bars for life."
"I'd rather die than sit in a dark cell for the rest of my life, separated from this child," Callista said in a full voice.
"I thought you'd say that," said Cornelia. "But my opinion matters not in this. You are a relic of the age of war in a newly emerging age of peace. This child might have changed you, but I cannot say I don't see the reasoning behind this decision."
"What will happen to my Eilith?" asked Callista. "Will she be treated well?"
"I'm sorry," said Cornelia. "It was decided that her existence will be masked. Based on your reputation, it would not do well for the battered image of the royal family to announce you had given it its newest child at this time. That was the reasoning at least."
"Where will she end up?" asked Callista, disheartened but knowing she couldn't fight it.
"She'll have a normal life among the citizenry, completely unaware of where she comes from," said the princess in an apologetic voice.
"I see," said Callista. "So her story begins at the same place mine did… I suppose I can at least sleep knowing she'll have a life without worries."
"I hope it is so," said Cornelia with a nod.
"Thank you," said Callista.
"You'll have the rest of the day to spend with her," said Cornelia before she turned to leave one more.
Callista cried as she held her beloved child tightly, savoring what would be her last moments with Eilith for a long, bleak twenty long years.
---
Callista closed her eyes as she finished telling her daughter everything. Her eyes were moist with tears. Eilith was smiling.
"Thank you, mother. For everything," said Eilith brightly.
"I stand by what I told that woman that day," said Callista coming to smile herself.
"What's that, mother?" asked the girl.
"That bringing you into this world was enough to validate my whole life. That seeing my child before me now, I am nothing but satisfied with everything else," said Callista.
Eilith blushed. "Well, I'm glad to have someone who cares so much." She laughed and the stood up. "But, I think I'll get to bed now. Thanks for the talk."
"No, thank you, dear. Seeing your face is worth more than you could know," said Callista ia low voice.
"I love you, mother," Eilith said, her voice very soft. Hearing the child say these words for the first time caused Callista to tear up again.
"And I love you, dear," said Callista in return. She smiled, feeling so incredibly satisfied.
A/N: End extra. This one turned out pretty long. In-depth Callista backstory. I guess this was sort of a makeup I deemed necessary since I didn't' like killing her. Callista, despite being an unabashed sadist, is very sympathetic for me. This chapter was rather sad to write, particularly the end, knowing her fate and that this was the last exchange between mother and daughter. What else was interesting here is Emperor Charles; writing him is kind of fun, as you have to make sure you could realistically hear him saying it. Anyway, I hope you liked this.