Slayer Anderson
JUSTICE VI
A Code Geass/Miscellaneous Fanfiction
11/23/10
Talking with you is sort of the conversational equivalent of an out of body experience.
-Bill Watterson (1958 - ), Calvin and Hobbes
Most conversations are simply monologues delivered in the presence of witnesses.
-Margaret Miller
If you were to pay any attention at all to two people arguing, you would know, almost always, who will win within moments. Body language, word choice, the subtle and ironic use of quotation…these are the marks of the great conversationalist. The master conversationalist, though…he will win every argument he enters and leave while appearing the looser…all while you are utterly convinced of something you didn't even know you were thinking about. In laymen's terms, this is what is known as a 'mindfuck.'
-Slayer Anderson
Chapter 6 – A Hard Day's Night
Lelouch had decided, all things considered, that he deserved a day off.
The fact that he'd managed to make it back to Ashford only a half-hour before the sun had risen aside, he was almost literally dead on his feet. He'd informed Sayoko… who undoubtedly knew something strange was afoot given his disheveled state, that he was ill and would not be attending class for the day, taken a brief shower to cleanse himself of the smell of blood and death (though a valiant effort, it did not completely succeed), and fell into bed beside a startled, and very much naked, CC.
At that point, he honestly couldn't bring himself to care.
Even during his sleep, though, real rest eluded him as his mind plagued itself with dreams and visions of the night before. One psychologist had theorized that dreams were the subconscious' way of working through troubling images or overloads of information; if this was truly the case, Lelouch possessed enough fuel for plenty of high-octane nightmares. Regardless of the reality of the situation, the Black Prince found no reprieve from his horrors within or without of his mind.
The Umbrella Facility…
Endless corridors, darkened hallways, footsteps echoing along the steel-sided doorways and-
Zombies…
A never-ending menagerie of freaks and nightmarish creations blasted out of the deepest pits of hell. Their open maws gaping dark and bloody-
Clovis…
His brother! He'd killed his own brother! What the hell had he been thinking? He'd been so caught up in the rush of his newfound power…no, Clovis had to die, he'd killed too many people to be allwed-
Tamaki and Kallen…
His friends-no, his soldiers, people who knew his secret-people who'd eventually have to be eliminated…why was he thinking of them like that? They were good friends, steadfast and loyal to both Lelouch and Zero-
The Black Knights…
He'd been surprised when…no, amazed that the Knights had taken the revelation of status as a Britannian so well. Though…he'd been even more startled when they'd-
Zero...
The mask, that horrible black, gaping void which he could never escape, which he would die under. Zero, the identity which would subsume him, body and soul…waking and sleeping. Even now, there were people waiting, watching, hoping, hating-
Who the Hell was he?
If he had been awake, the terror of living though his nightmare scenarios would have caused him to cry out. As it was, the only thing that kept him from waking up his bedmate as well as the rest of the house was the paralyzing effect of deep REM sleep. Sadly, though, even the minimal rest was interrupted by a slight motion on his side…freeing him from the arms of Morpheus.
An indistinguishable amount of time later, but far too late in Lelouch's opinion, Sayoko was standing over his, shaking him gently with a look of utmost concern on her face. She looked to be utterly focused on Lelouch himself, as if there were something else in the room…oh. The warmth of another human body next to his own alerted him to the fact that, yes, there was something…someone else in the room that would give Sayoko a very unsettling impression indeed.
"Lelouch-sama? Lelouch-sama? You have a visitor…Kururugi-san is here to see you," She said slowly, her voice mercifully soft.
"I'm ill…Suzaku can come back tomorrow," Lelouch said, his mind too muddled and tired to contemplate exactly what was happening.
"Lelouch-sama, he stated that it was an emergency," Sayoko stated apologetically. "I wouldn't have bothered you, but he insisted-"
She didn't get any further as, just then, the door to Lelouch's room flew open, a breathless and worn Suzaku flying in quickly behind, spinning and looking about for something or someone. "Ah, Sayoko-san, I'm sorry, but I have to talk with-"
Suzaku gaped, his mouth going wide and all thoughts of the message he'd come with, or indeed, any thoughts of language at all, fleeing his brain at the sight before him. The dutiful maid (who didn't move like a maid, but more like a trained bodyguard), Sayoko Shinozaki, was kneeling before his best friend's bed, speaking to him in a soft undertone as Lelouch himself tried to clear his mind. A tumble of green hair cascaded across his torso, leading back up to a beautiful face he'd only seen once before…finally, and this was the point his mind had sputtered and failed on, there were no clothes to be seen on either of the occupants of the bed. Suzaku twitched as he noticed, somewhat belatedly, sharp golden eyes staring at him in overt annoyance.
Lelouch closed his eyes, forcing himself awake as he considered the implications of what had just happened. "Suzaku…go wait in the living room, I'll be out in a moment. Sayoko, if you would get me a robe?"
Suzaku nodded, fleeing the room just as quickly as he had come.
Once in the main room, Suzaku took deep breaths, attempting to make sense of what he had just seen. His best friend, the person he'd walked through a literal hell with…had been in bed with a woman. Lelouch Lamperouge…one of the most asexual people he'd ever met…it wasn't like he hadn't noticed the many admirers his friend possessed all around the school, but he'd never thought Lelouch would actually-
No, he hadn't. That wasn't a classmate who'd been in bed with him…that had been the girl from the ghetto. That long green hair was wedged firmly in his memory…but what had she been doing in Ashford? Let alone in Lelouch's bed-
"Hello?"
Suzaku spun, his eyes fixing on a girl…probably Nunnally's age, with reddish-auburn hair tied back with ribbons. The girl looked extremely tired, possessed bags underneath her eyes, and was wearing an Ashford Academy uniform. Though…Suzaku narrowed his eyes. There was a…tightness in her that indicated a certain…readiness, a blade just waiting to be drawn…
"Hello?" She asked again, then yawned deeply and Suzaku's impression of imminent threat vanished. "Is Nunnally up yet? I was hoping to walk with her to class?"
"Ah…" Suzaku nodded, "I think Nunnally's out sick today, miss…"
"Alice," She supplied immediately, suddenly more awake than moments ago, "Nunna's sick? It's not anything…serious, is it?"
Suzaku's mind eased at the honest concern in the girl's voice. Maybe he'd been seeing things? "Ah, no, I don't think so. Miss Sayoko said…"
"Well isn't this a little disaster?"
CC's voice interrupted his rapid thoughts as he rapidly pulled on underclothes beneath the sheets. Lelouch refrained from an immediate sarcastic comment…this wasn't a disaster; CC didn't have any idea what a disaster was…she hadn't been on that damn warehouse raid last night. Taking a moment, Lelouch closed his eyes and focused, a plan rapidly forming within his mind…now to put it in action. Still…his body groaned in protest as he stood and threw on a bathrobe…beyond the necessity of damage control, he would have really rather stayed in bed.
"What are you going to tell him?"
This time Lelouch did look at CC, her body covered in bed sheets save for a tantalizing glimpse of her bust. He studiously ignored her knowing gaze and responded, "Don't worry, I'll take care of it. If anyone asks, though, you're a distant cousin who's staying with myself and Nunnally as our only remaining family."
"A decent cover-story I suppose, though your friend won't believe it…but given your real family's usual relations, I don't think it's that much of a stretch, really."
Violet eyes rolled in exasperation as he ignored the jab at his family's love life. "He will if I spin it appropriately. What do you think of the name Catherine Cera?" Lelouch asked.
Golden orbs rolled in their sockets this time as CC dismissed the matter. "Acceptable…I have gone by worse things in days past."
"Do you mind having 'seduced' me last night?"
Golden eyes flickered with something between irritation and amusement. CC's mouth twitched slightly as she leaned up, closing the distance between herself and her contractor to mere inches. Each could feel the breath of their opposite, though it was Lelouch who flushed slightly…he wouldn't give CC the satisfaction of flinching away from the nearness she, herself, had initiated. Violet warred with gold, silently daring the other to move…be it forward or back.
Then CC grinned, her cat-ate-the-canary smile breaking the tension as she eased back onto the bed, her chest on full display.
This time, Lelouch flinched, his face flushing as he turned away.
"I guess you wouldn't be the first to fall to my wiles," CC answered ambiguously, her bland smile dismissing the subject. Rolling over, it was clear that whatever concerns she had towards the subject were laid to rest, "If you come back to bed, take care not to wake me."
Lelouch snorted, his blush clearing, "Witch."
The sound of the door shutting allowed CC to reveal a softer, gentler smile, "I wonder what you would think if you could see him Marianne?"
Silence.
"No…you can't really see him. There's a difference…although, speaking of differences…the way he came in was odd this morning. He even let the maid catch him…I wonder."
Silence.
CC frowned, "You have some nerve asking me for that kind of favor, Marianne."
Silence.
"I'm going back to sleep."
"Sayoko."
"Lelouch-sama."
The not-maid stood with a grace and poise which belied her position in the Lamperouge household. The calm serenity in her eyes, though, Lelouch knew masked the utter and complete lethality the kunoichi held at bay. Still, their matched gaze held none of the smoldering heat or tension of his and CC's earlier 'contest.' He and Sayoko had an extremely well established relationship: that of master and servant…as much as he disliked it. Sayoko was from an extremely old clan, he knew…though the specifics beyond that were most likely lost to time and the Britannian invasion. Lelouch saw her as a member of their family, the same as Nunnally and Milly…and Angela.
Sayoko saw herself as a tool, something to be used.
"You've known about CC?" He asked shortly, knowing Sayoko wouldn't appreciate anything less than blunt directness.
"Hai." She said simply.
"She is a distant cousin which will be staying with us for the foreseeable future," Lelouch stated curtly, though not rudely.
Sayoko nodded once, "Hai, Lelouch-sama."
"She is not a threat, neither is she blackmailing me," Lelouch clarified, "No matter what I tell Suzaku and the others, CC is a necessary part of certain… extracurricular activities I am currently involved in."
"Mistress Nunnally is concerned about your late nights. I believe her slight illness today is related, at least somewhat, to nerves," Sayoko said by way of reply, not asking any questions.
Lelouch frowned. "I'll go see her after I get done with Suzaku…and I'll try to make it home for dinner more next week."
"Hai, Lelouch-sama."
The Black Prince sighed and turned, the thought of Nunnally literally worrying herself sick weighing heavily on his mind. Sayoko, wordlessly and silently, paced away down the hall, no doubt to check on the ill girl. Lelouch, though, turned right and stepped into the living room gingerly, his muscles protesting at the lack of proper rest and sleep. Meeting Suzaku's turning gaze he started as he realized there was someone else in the room-
"Alice?"
Nunnally's friend's eyes snapped up to meet his own, her slight frown shifting to a tentative smile. "Lelouch, Hi. I was hoping to walk Nunnally to class, but…"
Lelouch nodded. He'd firmly categorized the girl as either harmless or a very positive influence on his sister. Honestly, he worried about her having enough interaction with her peer-group before Alice had transferred in. "Nunnally is ill, though it isn't very serious. Sayoko is with her now, I believe…if she's asleep, though, take care not to wake her."
The girl smiled brightly and took the unsaid dismissal as permission, moving down the hallway at a subdued and tired pace. Lelouch frowned slightly…was Alice ill as well?
"Lelouch-" Suzaku started, his tone hesitant.
The hidden prince sighed and collapsed into a nearby chair, relief palpable on his face. It was only then that he looked at Suzaku. Whatever had been bothering his friend, it was obviously it was something big. The tenseness in his body and the wariness about him made Lelouch nervous. The dark circles under his eyes indicated a lack of sleep and a mind besieged by…something.
Suzaku, though, was staring at his friend askance. Lelouch looked as though he'd been through nine rounds with a champion boxer. The tenderness in his steps indicated a soreness that didn't come from sickly muscle aches…but, rather, impact bruising…even if the bathrobe hid it well enough. Whatever Lelouch was in bed for, it wasn't a flu bug, that much was for certain. Then again…there was that smell…suddenly, the Kururugi clansman wished he'd kept his service gun on him during school hours.
"Lelouch," Suzaku began again, carefully, knowing his friend would close up if Suzaku pushed for too much too fast, "Is there someone…after you? I've had enough bruises to know what to look for…and that girl…"
Both flushed slightly.
"First of all, her name's Catherine," Lelouch stated. "We met up last night at a gambling den." Lelouch held up a hand to silence Suzaku's inevitable outburst. "I know, I know…not the most intelligent move on my part, but I'd been invited by a local chess king that bets very generously. Anyway, when he didn't take me winning as well as I had thought he would, Catherine saw a chance to repay me for getting her out of that capsule at Shinjuku."
So I did smell blood, Suzaku nodded, "And the terrorists who abducted her?"
"She went with them for protection…the Ghetto was not a safe place that day, if you'll recall. Clovis had imprisoned her due to her knowledge of several special projects. For our…mutual protection, she'll be staying here for the foreseeable future." Lelouch explained, the lie taking on a life of it's own as he mixed in grains of truth. "She'll be using a cover as our distant cousin."
Suzaku nodded, but frowned, "Lelouch, if she's still interacting with the terrorists it could place you and Nunnally in danger."
"Would I let her stay here if I thought she was dangerous to Nunnally or myself?" Lelouch asked shortly.
The Honorary Britannian's frown deepened. "If Clovis took her into custody, Lelouch, he must have had a good reason-"
"Like Britannia had a good reason to accuse you of his murder?" The Black Prince spat, a calculated amount of temper showing.
Suzaku flinched, going silent.
Lelouch sighed, "Suzaku…her situation is similar to mine and Nunnally's. There are people who, if they knew she was still alive, would be willing to do a lot to use her as a tool…political and otherwise. Beyond that, though…she's-"
Lelouch cut himself off, summoning up an image of CC's casually nude form to redden his face. His eyes roamed the room in faux-embarrassment as he completed his award-winning act marvelously. "-She's…well, you did walk in on us."
Maybe I should take Milly's suggestion and try out for drama club? Lelouch thought. If I can sell this bullshit to Suzaku, Shakespeare would be a piece of cake…ah well, the rebellion takes precedence I suppose. "I really would appreciate it if you didn't mention this to anyone."
Suzaku, his face flaming in embarrassment, sighed despite his disbelief. Lelouch is going gaga over a girl…I never thought I'd see the day. I guess it happens to everyone…eventually. Unbidden, a certain pink-haired princess invaded his thoughts; he thanked whatever gods there were that his friend would know the difference between his previous blush and the one he now wore.
His eyes widened suddenly.
"Euphie!"
Lelouch blinked.
Euphie…Euphemia? "Suzaku…are you on a first name basis with Euphemia Li Britannia?" Lelouch asked, his tone deceptively light at the mention of one of the few family members he'd actually considered family members. And Suzaku, who was using the diminutive nickname his sister reserved for close friends…well, this situation had just become a subject of utmost importance for his eventual plans.
Headless of the dangerous territory he was now proceeding into, Suzaku continued urgently. "Ah…after the assassination trial, I, uh…ran into Euphi-Euphemia and she insisted I continue my education despite my work for the engineering core."
Lelouch snorted, "That does sound like something she'd do. She always was more manipulative than she let on." Without even the slightest suspicion, the Black Prince accepted the story from his best friend…proving that he and Suzaku were much more alike than he'd like to think sometimes.
"Anyway," Suzaku interrupted, "Cornelia decided that Euphemia needs to continue her education and finish at least up to university courses."
Lelouch's amusement ground to a halt at that…his mind racing ahead to the inevitable conclusion. A heartbeat later, Lelouch let out a curse that was so foul it left Suzaku's hair standing on end. Five different languages worth of venomous swears later, Lelouch composed himself enough to move into conscious thought rather than blind emotional reaction. "When?"
"Tomorrow," Suzaku answered, somewhat relieved when his friend didn't let loose another round of sulfurous expletives. Instead, he merely groaned tiredly and lay his head in his hands. Silence passed between the two as a clock ticked away in the background.
"Nunnally and I will still be sick tomorrow…Reuben will understand. Leaving will cause too many questions…Euphie was never slow to catch on to things and the Academy will be under increased scrutiny with a princess in attendance. Cornelia wouldn't understand our situation…but I don't have to explain it to Cornelia, do I? Euphie could keep secrets, couldn't she? How much can I trust her, though, is the question?"
Suzaku remained silent as Lelouch voiced his thoughts aloud, words and ideas spinning as the Black Prince plotted. His purple eyes fixed Suzaku with a glare, "How much surveillance will she be under?"
"From what Euphie told me," Suzaku considered, "She won't have an escort on school grounds. I think there will be guards around the perimeter, though."
Lelouch nodded, "Cornelia babies Euphie-"
Suzaku stared…who was Lelouch to comment on anyone else's partiality towards younger siblings?
"-so she'll make the observers as unobtrusive as possible." Mentally a map of the campus appeared, several potential locations highlighted. The roofs of the cafeteria and gymnasium, definitely...the library is possible…I'll talk with Reuben to puzzle out the last few. I'll have to approach them carefully and Geass them. If I can subvert Cornelia's surveillance, there shouldn't be anything to worry about…beyond Euphie herself of course. If I can't convince her of the importance of our secrecy, I'll have to Geass her as well.
The thought was bitter in his mind, souring the 'plan' somewhat.
Still, if it's a choice between Euphie and Nunnally…that isn't really a choice at all, is it?
"Don't worry about it," Lelouch finally stated, rubbing his face tiredly. I really don't need this, now of all times! "I'll corner Euphie tomorrow and explain things…she's always been closer to Nunnally and I than the rest of her…our family… barring Cornelia, of course. I'll take care of it."
"She said she wanted to see the student council and meet my friends," Suzaku added helpfully.
Lelouch nodded slowly, leaning back and pressing a finger to his temple in concentration. His right hand reached for a chess piece that wasn't there…a byproduct of thinking through so many chess games. "That…could work. Talk to Milly about it, she'll probably jump at the chance to get Euphie under her thumb…and tell her you've already warned me so she doesn't freak out to badly. Milly will give you a time…get here an hour earlier. I'll have everyone on errands, that should give us enough time to talk things out."
"Sounds good…what about the surveillance? I didn't think there would be any, but if you're sure…won't they see you or Nunnally?" Suzaku asked, still concerned.
"I can keep out of sight," Lelouch dismissed, "And even if they do get me on film, it would take a miracle for someone who knew me seven years ago to connect that kid with the image of me, now, as a teenager. I'll have to talk to Sayoko, though, about when and where she and Nunnally can move about the grounds." Lelouch was silent a moment, giving the illusion of deep thought on the matter, whereas he was already planning how to corner his 'watchers.' "Suzaku?"
The Honorary Britannian blinked at the seriousness behind his friend's voice.
"You're a true friend…thank you for warning us."
Suzaku smiled, truly touched by the comment.
"But…I'm going back to bed now. I took a few punches last night…nothing bad, but enough to make me feel dead tired…and that's besides the fact that I only got in maybe an hour or two ago." Lelouch said, forcing himself to stand despite the pains in his aching body.
"Maybe you should cut out the chess gambling, Lelouch." Suzaku stated, leaving little room for argument. "If something happened to you…"
Which is why I normally carry a suicide bomb, Suzaku…though I'll have to replace it now, Lelouch thought absently. Out loud, he displayed a face that was wholly an expression of chagrined guilt. "You may be right. Maybe it's time I look into a part-time job…or a girlfriend?"
Suzaku blushed neon pink and quickly excused himself.
Lelouch, glad of the departure, headed back to bed.
…after checking up on Nunnally.
The first thing she'd done upon waking was vomit.
Memories, sharp and painful, flooded her conscious mind. Memories of running across star-lit rooftops, looking at the moon high in the sky, and…and…hunting startled her into full wakefulness. She moaned aloud at the realization of what she'd done…the enjoyment, the rush of power she'd thrived on from taking lives and crushing Knightmares with so little effort. The adrenaline of battle, of war, thrilled her and horrified her…
Oh, Gods…
Nunnally had thought her first time walking, running, experiencing life in seven years would have been exciting, vivid, unbelievable. The last night…it had been all of that, and so much more. There had been anger, sadness, terror, and bloodshed such that she couldn't even think about it without crying out in despair. The idea that she had it within her to do that to anyone, let alone Suzaku, the man she…
The man she…
Nunnally resisted the urge to cry out in pain at the memory of Suzaku's pained screams. The memory of that moment was almost enough to cause her physical pain.
"Oh, joy…the little princess is going to cry."
Nunnally started and raised her head, turning to find the slim and muscular figure of Nemo clad in her traditional black, skin-tight uniform. The armored plates stuck out, reaffirming the young woman's violent and martial nature. "Nemo."
Nemo cocked an eyebrow, very nearly amazed at the depth of anger and hate that had been sunk into that one, single, word. "Are you actually mad? At me? Oh, this is rich."
"I don't think it's so funny," Nunnally spat, uncharacteristically cold and venomous.
"I suppose you wouldn't," Nemo responded, her nearly-platinum blonde hair luminescent against the black-on-black of Nunnally's blind field of vision. "Let me clarify, then…you got everything you wished for. Sucks, doesn't it?"
"I never wished for-"
"Yes, you did," Nemo spat, her voice ugly and harsh for the first time in their discussion. "You wished for your eyes and legs. Granted. You wished for a disguise so no one would suspect it was you. Granted. You wished for the power to protect your loved ones. Granted. You agreed to the conditions…is it really such a surprise that you would get exactly what you wanted?"
Nunnally flinched, wishing she could close her eyes to Nemo, could close her eyes to that horrible truth that was staring back at her with those terrible red eyes. "I didn't wish for you."
Nemo grinned nastily, "You didn't have to. I am you. I've always been you. I'm that shred of your being that hates and loathes what we have become and who our family is. We are useless, and we hate it."
Nunnally twisted away from Nemo, looking resolutely away as she attempted to deny the black pit of disgust that bubbled up from seven years of denial at the thought of her impotence. "I don't have to let you out…this is my body, my mind."
Nemo's feet made no sound as she padded across the floor. In the physical sense, at least, she wasn't really there…though that didn't stop her from sitting by Nunnally's bedside and tenderly touching the princess' cheek, attempting to wipe away the tears her other half had shed. "You could, I suppose, go back on your word to that 'genie'…but you won't."
Nunnally folded in on herself more tightly, trying to block out Nemo.
"When night comes, when no one's looking, we'll get out of that wheelchair and take on the world. We'll fight, and people will die as we stand against the injustice and cruelty of the world. And you know what…?" Nemo asked, her smile soft and vicious.
Nemo bent down, closing the distance between herself and Nunnally's physical body. "We'll love every second of it." Nunnally shivered. Nemo planted an ephemeral kiss on Nunnally's cheek, then faded away.
"But never Suzaku…never my friends. Never again," Nunnally swore, not bothering to dispute what her other self had said. Deep inside, she knew what Nemo had asserted was the truth of the matter. Still, there would be a line drawn for her behavior… she couldn't afford for anything to happen to those she held dear.
"Nunnally-sama?"
Nunnally started, turning her head to where Sayoko's voice had come from. The not-maid stood patiently beside the cracked door and waited as Nunnally processed her existence. "You can come in, Sayoko-san."
The kunoichi's footsteps were so quiet as to nearly be nonexistent. A moment later, Nunnally felt the soft touch of the woman as she righted sheets, repositioned the princess' legs, and wiped away tear tracks that Nemo couldn't touch. "Nunnally-sama…was there…someone in the room before I came in?"
Nunnally was silent as she contemplated exactly how much, if anything, to tell Sayoko. Still, the older woman was as much her friend as anyone else, perhaps even more so, given the long hours they had spent with only each other as company over the years. Sayoko was family, as much as she deferred otherwise. But she had promised…
Sayoko waited patiently for her little mistress' answer. She knew Nunnally's bed had been empty, just as surely as Lelouch had not come home until nearly sunrise. There had been no signs of a struggle and she couldn't very well call the police. She'd resolved to tell Lelouch the moment he returned, but by then Nunnally was back in bed as well. Exactly how a paraplegic young girl managed to get in and out of bed…and where, exactly she went, without her wheelchair in the middle of the night…
In the end, she wouldn't ask for anything beyond the absolutely necessary facts. As long as her little Mistress was not in danger, things would be fine.
There were some things a mere servant was not meant to know, after all.
It wasn't her duty to pry, and it was even less of her duty to inconvenience her Master and Mistress with anything so trivial as the 'truth;' for she was a shinobi, and was anything but so naïve as to believe 'peace' and 'tranquility' could be built on a foundation of anything save lies and deceptions. Truth was, above all else, a weapon...and one did not bear weapons to make peace, no matter what the Kururugi boy thought.
"I…Sayoko, I-" Nunnally started.
Knock-knock!
The two sharp raps against the door snapped both women out of their tension-filled conversation. "I heard voices and-"
"Alice!"
Nunnally would have known that voice anywhere (save for behind an electronic audio scrambler), and instantly recognized it's owner. "You're back!"
"Hey, no getting out of bed, little dove…you're sick right now." Alice said, a bubbly happiness evident in every word as she slowly walked over to her friend's bed. "I just got in last night…well, more like this morning and I was hoping you'd want company walking to class, but…"
"It's good to have my friend back," Nunnally said, dismissing Alice's concerns as the blind princess enfolded her in a hug.
Alice's breath hitched at the contact.
Sayoko refrained from smiling overmuch; forestalling the conversation would allow Nunnally to have some time with her friend, which was desperately needed in Sayoko's humble opinion…in addition to allowing everyone involved the convenience of 'forgetting' she'd ever asked that question. Her little mistress had become somewhat morose over the past few weeks, culminating in this near-emotional breakdown. Seeing Nunnally smile again was worth whatever it took…even tolerating Alice's presence.
The kunoichi had attempted to disregard the feeling, but the girl moved with far too much purpose for a simple teenager. Alice had training, that much Sayoko knew for certain…and at least some of it was in a Knightmare. The way her muscles tensed when she was surprised, the calluses on her palms, or the slight twitches of her thumb…as if she was feeling for a swivel-ball target on the handle of KMF controls. Between that and some ephemeral sense of wrongness, of danger, inherent in the girl…
In some ways, Alice reminded her of the Stadtfeld girl…Kallen. The redhead knew how to hide most of the 'tells' of a seasoned combatant, and she was a good actor, but…there were some things which no amount of skillful role-playing or arfully-applied makeup could hide. Still…it had been over two years since Alice and Nunnally had befriended each other, and Sayoko wasn't about to move to alienate the blind princess' only friend in her age group.
Unless, of course, Alice made any suspicious movements towards her young charges.
Kallen, though, she would need even less of an excuse to 'remove.'
Sayoko fingered a hidden kunai idly at the coupled thoughts.
"-And then Milly made them dress up like cats," Nunnally squealed happily.
Alice slapped a hand against her eyes, sighing, "You're kidding! God, I can't believe they haven't mutinied against her yet! Your brother really doesn't seem like the type to put up with that kind of thing. I mean…Make up, really?"
Nunnally snickered, "I think they had to tie him down. I'm sure no one wanted me to know, but I heard Milly shouting 'get the ropes' and 'Rivalz, tackle him!'"
The blonde-haired girl chuckled, "And they even got that other guy…Suzaku, his name was? He seems too straight-laced for that type of thing. Almost like he's in the military or something…come to think of it, that name does sound familiar."
Nunnally quieted suddenly and Alice, never one to deny the other girl her attention, instantly knew she'd miss-stepped somewhere in the conversation.
"Nunnally…is something wrong?" Alice asked, concern evident in her voice.
"I know where you heard Suzaku's name…" Nunnally sighed. "He was accused of murdering Prince Clovis…"
Alice's eyes bulged, "He's that Suzaku! Holy crap-"
"He was innocent!" Nunnally said sharply, then winced. "I-I'm sorry, it's just Suzaku is and old friend and-"
"I understand," Alice soothed, laying her hand over Nunnally's, "I didn't mean anything by it…and for what it's worth, I thought the entire thing was a setup." She had, actually, but she also knew how the political machine worked. Innocents died all the time, simply for being in the wrong place at the wrong time…it was simply the way the Empire worked. Kururugi's-Suzaku's, had merely been a very prominent example of the way which the law worked for the convenience of the military and good press rather than to uphold protection for the average citizen. Real crimes didn't have such neat and clean solutions…especially when someone took it upon themselves to kill a Prince.
Nunnally smiled and hugged her friend once again, maintaining the contact longer than strictly necessary, but after the night before…Alice's warmth, her humanity was a balm to the blind princess' blighted soul. So caught up in the hug was Nunnally that she neither noticed nor cared that Alice's arms were wrapped securely around her. "I was so worried," Nunnally whispered, "People on the radio were saying horrible things about him…calling him names…and throwing things. But…"
"But?" Alice asked, trying to ignore the way the other girl felt against her. This is neither the time nor place for…that. She smells so good, though…
"I-I learned something, recently, about him. Suzaku…he works for the military, he said he was in the combat division during the terrorist incident at Shinjuku, but transferred out."
"And he lied," Alice guessed, a pit forming in her stomach. This was not a conversation she wanted to be having with Nunnaly. It struck far too close to home and the numerous lies she'd told her friend about her guardians being 'traveling businessmen.' "He probably just did it so you wouldn't worry."
Nunnally finally disentangled herself from the embrace. When Alice managed to free her mind from the fog of euphoria that had settled over it, she perceived a very definite frown on the other girl's face. "That doesn't excuse it…would you lie to me?"
Alice quieted at that, mentally cursing up a storm. That was the single, most loaded question she'd ever heard. A heartbeat passed wherein Alice contemplated her answer. She could lie to Nunnally, but that would perpetuate the girl's heartache… exactly what she wanted to prevent. Still, it's not like I can tell the truth… "If I was trying to protect you…I would."
The whispered admission seemed to stop time as Nunnally processed what her friend had said.
"Thank you for telling me the truth," Nunnally said, finally. Alice's pulse had surged at the question itself, but there had been no indication the other girl was lying. "I…I hope you never have to lie to me."
"I do too," Alice nodded, "I-"
Ding!
Both girls eyes widened. Alice shot up and off Nunnally's bed, "The school bell! Holy crap, I'm going to be late! I'll see you later Nunna!"
"Bye Alice!"
Despite the other girl leaving, the door didn't shut. Instead, a pair of slightly heavier footsteps treaded over the carpet, "Nii-sama!"
Lelouch chuckled at her enthused cry, "What, did you think I wouldn't visit you in bed?"
"No," Nunnally winced, "I just though…Sayoko said you were sick too. I didn't want you getting out of bed if-"
"I'm well enough to move around," Lelouch demurred, sitting down on Nunnally's bed where Alice had left moments ago. "Did you have a good visit with Alice?"
Nunnally smiled, though thoughts of her conversation with her friend brought up her memories of Suzaku from the night before and her inner turmoil over them. "Alice said Suzaku came by…"
Lelouch shifted. "Ah…yes, he did. He wanted to give me a little advanced warning on a little project Milly is planning for tomorrow…you know how she is."
Nunnally paused, sniffing the air to be sure she'd caught the correct scent. "Lelouch…why do you smell like pizza?"
The Black Prince groaned aloud, bringing up the cuff of his bathrobe. Indeed, the scent of cheese, meat, and dough was embedded within the fabric. Eye twitching, Lelouch muttered, "That witch…she's been wearing my clothing again."
"Is it CC-san?" Nunnally asked, thinking of the quiet-stepping older girl who'd smelled strongly of the notorious junk food. "Nii-sama, are you sure CC isn't your girlfriend? Sayoko-san told me she spends a lot of time in your room…even while you're sleeping." Idly, Nunnally wondered if her brother still thought she didn't know exactly what went on behind 'closed doors' between a man and a woman.
Still, she supposed her brother liked to pretend she remained a child, sometimes.
Lelouch palmed his face, "Nunnally, that woman, is not my girlfriend…though she will be staying with us for a while. She's in a similar boat as us and needs to stay under Britannia's radar, so to speak…if anyone else is around, you should call her Catherine," His smile widened viciously, "or maybe…Cathy."
Nunnally nodded knowingly, then paused. "Nii-sama…does that mean she knows?"
"She does." Lelouch affirmed, "She recognized me from an old photograph…and if anyone asks, she a distant cousin, okay?"
Nunnally giggled.
"…and if you could not mention the fact that we're sharing a room?" Lelouch almost pleaded. "People might get the wrong idea."
"Okay, Nii-sama," Nunnally replied, leaning over to hug her older brother.
Lelouch wrapped his arms around his sister, content in that moment to simply be Nunnally's older brother. The facades of Zero, the Black Prince, the Ice King of Ashford, and all the rest dropped away in the presence of his reason for existing. Lelouch allowed the moment to continue for a heartbeat longer, then kissed Nunnally atop her forehead and rose from the bed tiredly. "Your brother's going to drag himself back to bed, okay? Ask Sayoko if you need anything and I hope you feel better soon."
Nunnally smiled, "Arigato, Nii-sama."
"Maa-maa," Lelouch demurred, politely downplaying the thanks. He paused at the doorway, though. "And…I'll try to be home earlier this week, okay?"
Nunnally's smile would remain the brightest part of his day.
As he paced back to his room, he resolved to take only a brief nap to further his rest. Afterwards…he needed to scheme.
Nina Einstein hummed quietly in thought as she typed up her latest research.
It was a testament to her studious nature that her science teacher had excused her from classes until further notice…given that she was, for all intents and purposes, a genius. She had, for years, aced every test and scored far beyond all of her peers in national testing, though she couldn't manage to find anyone who would consider funding her current project. Really, though, it was a continuation of her grandfather's work on the aborted concept of atomic research and principles of energy.
Still…grandfather's work was purely mathematical. If I could get the proper facilities, I could apply his principles properly.
But, no one was looking for alternate energy sources…all new research was being done towards Sakuradite and Knightmare Frames. If a scientist wasn't applying to further those fields, there just weren't resources available…and no resources meant no funding.
Hello?
Nina blinked, nervously and surreptitiously looking about as was her nature. The open chat-browser blinked in an attempt to gain her attention. Whetting her lips lightly, she clicked on the window. Hello?
A heartbeat later, the window responded. Is this…Lelouch? This is the address he gave me to contact him.
Nina stared for a moment, thinking over the statement, then looked to the username of the person she was talking to… 'cyberangel(at)parasol-data?' It was obviously a personalized address, but…she did say she knew Lelouch. Nina firmed her resolve and logged in fully as 'sciencegurl(at)ashford-data' her own chat-room alias.
This is the community computer in the Ashford Academy Clubhouse. Lelouch must have given you this address instead of his personal one. Nina typed, her fingers fairly flying over the keyboard.
Ah…I'm sorry for interrupting you then. What you're working on looks very interesting. The text came back.
Nina stared uncomprehendingly at the message for a moment before shivering uncontrollably. Her first impulse was to close out the window and shut down the computer…then possibly go and hide in her room for a few hours. Steeling herself with the thought of the bravery a certain pink-haired princess had displayed, Nina fought off her initial surge of cowardice. Who are you and how do you know what I'm doing?
There, Nina thought, that is as confrontational as I can be.
There was a pause of a few heartbeats before the next line of text scrolled across the window. I'm sorry. I…forgot normal people couldn't do that.
Nina stared curiously at the screen, more intrigued than frightened now. With a furtive glance from side to side once again. What do you mean?
Another, longer pause as someone thought over their words…then, I…I'm good with computers. I've been…very sick and haven't been able to go outside very much. I spend a lot of my time just…programming and looking at websites.
Nina bit her lip, pity overwhelming her suddenly. How do you know Lelouch? She typed instead.
He…played chess with my father, before he passed away. I met him again recently and he offered to keep in touch. I'm…thankful. It gets very lonely at my home. The block of text appeared, making Nina's heart ache slightly. If Lelouch was talking with her…was it possible the girl was her own age? Hesitating slightly, Nina decided that it wasn't too personal a question.
How old are you?
I'm…fifteen.
The same age as Nunna, Nina thought sadly…which obviously explained why Lelouch had given her, or tried to give her, his contact information. Suddenly, a strange thought struck her. You…said my research was interesting?
Oh! Yes, you're working on Professor Einstein's equations, aren't you? His theories concerning general relativity are very compelling…it's a shame he never finished them.
Ah…I'm his granddaughter. Nina typed hesitantly.
Wow! Albert Einstein's practically a celebrity in the field of theoretical physics! The flattering words scrolled across the screen.
Nina flushed pleasantly at the praise, though her self-deprecating nature wouldn't allow her to accept it easily. Instead, she changed the subject. Ah…I think Lelouch is sick today anyway, so if you wanted to talk about my grandfather's work…since you seem interested, I mean?
On the other side of the lengthy connection, Angela Ashford, the resident Computer Intelligence of the secret Umbrella facility, contemplated the offer. Before Lelouch had reactivated her server, she hadn't talked to much of anyone beyond her father…well, at least, since she 'died.' From within cyberspace, the human mind of the teenage girl pondered her choices…Nina sounded very interesting, and she had mentioned that Lelouch wasn't feeling well…
Still…as long as she didn't give anything away that might threaten Lelouch…
That would be…nice. Angela sent, her thoughts translating into electronic text with only a slight effort on her part. I'd actually always wanted to ask him where he came up with the idea to…
Almost greedily, Nina's eyes began absorbing the text appearing on the screen.
When CC next woke, the indented impression of Lelouch's warm body still rested next to her, attesting that the Black Prince had heeded her warning and not awoken her when he either returned to bed, nor when he removed himself again. The rhythmic tap-taps of fingers upon a keyboard somewhere off to her side meant that her contractor was also diligently plotting his next move against Charles and his Empire. For a moment, the immortal lay silently, listening to the relentless noise of a man on his chosen mission… and wondering, exactly, what he was planning this time. It had been one of the initial reasons she'd given him a Geass, of course. After so long in this world, so few things remained interesting, mysterious, alluring…
And Lelouch was all of the above, if not more.
Plans within plans, CC though absently, schemes within schemes…there have been so few like him I have known. Should I give into my curiosity this time…or merely amuse myself by watching his schemes unfurl? Hmm…best to ask, I suppose…at least to make sure he's not planning more stupidity like that day in Saitama.
Sitting up silently as she pulled the blanket to her chest…for Lelouch's modesty, not hers…CC fixed her golden eyes on her chosen partner, noting the sun in the western sky through the window…afternoon, hmm. "Busy as always, I see."
The tapping halted, briefly, but then continued unabated…slightly faster, if anything…to make up for lost time-she wondered? "Meddling as always, I see," He mocked lightly, his eyes never leaving the screen.
She allowed him that small victory; for the moment, at least.
"Did the raid on the warehouse go well?" She tried, instead.
"…yes and no," Lelouch answered after a slight pause.
She waited, curiosity piqued, but the prince in hiding said nothing more.
"Were any of the your playmates injured?" CC asked, her tone deliberately light…as if she had no more interest in this latest event than...well, anything in her day-to-day life. It wouldn't do to let Lelouch know she actually wanted to know the results of last night endeavors…especially if he was being so closed-mouthed about it. If nothing else, though, their banter would serve to amuse her between naps.
When one is immortal…amusement is all one can ask of life, I suppose.
CC shoved the depressing thought aside as she focused on Lelouch's next words.
"Well…after the dead began to rise and hunger for our living flesh, things were touch-and-go for a bit, but I'm ultimately satisfied with how the whole endeavor turned out," Lelouch stated, the left side of his cheek twitching slightly as he fought back a smirk. Try to ignore that with a straight face, witch.
CC blinked, her eyebrows furrowing as she dismantled Lelouch's…confession? If he was being sarcastic…hmm, best to take the middle ground, I suppose. "Really… may I ask why? It would seem that the emergence of 'undead' would hamper your plans rather than aid them."
"While I wouldn't say they helped, an entire Britannian secret research base has been neutralized…and is currently awaiting new management," Lelouch clarified.
"I find myself curious now…how did the mission go last night?" CC asked, her patience worn out with her contractor's little game.
Lelouch was silent a moment, then allowed CC to glimpse a flash of a superior grin. "Did you know that a fantastical truth is, sometimes, just as good as a lie?"
CC blinked, cocked her head, and silently dissected that statement. The immortal took another moment to disambiguate Lelouch's phrasing and puzzle out the truth of his 'game'…which was not an easy task when one was speaking with, as she had taken to thinking of him…the 'Prince of Lies.' Personally, she thought the name very appropriate, but in this case… "You're telling the truth."
Lelouch turned, an eyebrow rising, "An unusual occurrence, I know…but, yes. Last night was replete with animate corpses, scenes from the Pits of Hell, and conspiracy from numerous sources. It has not been a very," his expression soured at this point, "enjoyable experience."
"Sarcastic confessions aside," CC demurred, "What, exactly, are the ramifications of last night? I would know if my contractor is going to get himself killed before he can fulfill his side of the bargain."
Lelouch scowled at the unsubtle reminder that he 'owed' the witch something, though he dismissed it for the time being. It wasn't like she would tell him if he asked, anyway. "Listing off the complications last night caused would perhaps take several hours," Lelouch dismissed. "Currently, I have neither the time nor the inclination to have such a discussion. Rest assured, though, I am putting the sum total of my faculties to solving the…difficulties of the past forty-eight hours. Now that I have whetted your curiosity adequately, may I please resume working?"
CC blinked, taken aback by the brazen condescension and temper her partner was displaying. "Lelouch…you may talk to your cronies in such a manner, but I urge you to rethink speaking to me that way."
Violet eyes slid shut as Lelouch heaved an exhaustive sigh, pressing the fingers of his left hand to his forehead to knead tiredly at the skin there. When he spoke again, his voice had returned to it's level normality. "I apologize…that was unneeded. I've been going through Charles Ashford's records and the manifests of the secret Umbrella testing and research facility we uncovered last night. It goes without saying that both sets of data are…immense."
CC raised an eyebrow and stepped out of bed, shrugging on her 'straight-jacket' as she went…if only to save Lelouch's darling sense of morality from being bruised. The Black Prince's eyes opened warily as he heard the cat-like padding of bare feet on hardwood…disappointment and gratefulness warring as he took in the white clothing shielding CC's body from view. Her golden eyes frowned as she looked over what Lelouch had displayed on his laptop screen.
"Interesting," she stated coolly, leaning up against his desk lazily.
"Most people would call a two-thousand foot-deep facility at the base of Mount Fuji a little more than 'interesting.'" Lelouch remarked dryly, watching as the diagram cycled through again, spinning slowly in place.
CC rolled her eyes silently, not deigning to offer any further comment.
"It really is remarkable," Lelouch opined, talking more to himself than the immortal at the moment. "The facility is completely independent of all power grids. There are several dozen greenhouses throughout the complex, all allowing it to remain self-sufficient on foodstuffs as well as oxygen…to a degree, at least. A Geo-therm net surrounds the facility, insulating it and providing power to the entire thing."
His fingers traced over the diagram, barely a few centimeters from the screen as he gestured to different sections. "They have cafeterias, recreation areas, living quarters, research labs, testing facilities, processing plants for raw materials, and an inlaid computer system to control the entire thing."
Lelouch slid back into his chair, sighing deeply once again. "Charles outdid himself on this one. The entire thing is a work of art."
"I am curious…how did you come by all of this information?" CC asked, her tone inquiring.
"The main computer was fried in whatever sabotage took place before we got there and Charles saw fit to create a backup using the transplanted mind of my deceased god daughter," Lelouch deadpanned, his tone completely serious.
"You have had an eventful night," CC stated, torn between amusement and disbelief.
"And I have several yet to come," Lelouch sighed. "I'll be leaving in a few minutes and I'll leave Sayoko with instructions not to allow any 'visitors' due to my illness. My meeting with the Black Knights promises to be very…interesting, tonight. I trust I don't have to tell you that your presence is unnecessary and would be very problematic at this point?"
CC sighed, "Spoilsport."
Cecile Croomy peeked into the darkened room uncomfortably.
The massive space would usually be a beehive of activity at this time of day, though currently it was only occupied by a single man's broken form. A white Britannian lab coat curled underneath his knees as he crouched silently, staring at the mass of broken machinery before him. The silver-haired scientist's face bore a haunted expression, his gaze fixed, unblinkingly, on what had, once not too long ago, been a crowning achievement of Knightmare technology.
It was now little more than a pile of scrap metal.
Cecile winced as a soft whimper reached her ears.
Lloyd had not reacted…well, to the destruction of his masterpiece. In fact, he had reacted almost as badly as she and Princess Euphemia had to Suzaku's comatose state. Of course, Cecile had been surprised to learn that the Princess had even cared about Suzaku, beyond his status as a devicer…then again, he did save her during that altercation with that Jeremiah person and the purist faction. The assistant's cheeks tinged pink as she recalled the dutiful manner Euphemia had taken up overseeing the Honorary Britannian's medical care.
…and the relief clearly evident on her face when a clean bill of physical health had come back.
Despite the possible disastrous consequences such a relationship would bring…Cecile couldn't help but smile.
Young love…I wonder if Suzaku knows?
"Cecile…"
It was a whisper, but it carried easily in the otherwise silent room. Cecile started at the sound, her attention snapping back to the present place and time as Lloyd's head slowly twisted into what had to be an uncomfortable position. His hands twitched ominously as his wide-eyed gaze met Cecile's alarmed one. The expression on her superior's face was not one she liked…not at all. She was especially frightened by the 'smile' he now wore…
If such a manic grimace could be called a smile.
"~Cecile~," Lloyd called, his glasses turning opaque in the light reflected through the open doorway. His assistant dutifully repressed the twinge of fear she felt in that moment, "Oh Cecile, I see now what a fool I've been…I've faced my demons and come out better for it!"
His not-smile widened.
"What sights I have seen, Cecile! Such experiences I have enjoyed!" Lloyd crowed, "But I've come back! Back from the abyss, my dear Cecile and…"
Lloyd chuckled deeply, a certain sinister air about the sound permeating the space.
"We have work to do!"
Cecile swallowed, the noise uncomfortably loud.
Perhaps Lloyd had actually gone off the deep end this time.
He'd expected Ohgi, possibly Kallen, or even Yoshida.
Ohgi was obviously the most 'neutral' of the Black Knights. The man disliked internal conflict and was a natural candidate for a second-in-command even if, ultimately, his leadership skills were somewhat lacking. Kallen represented the fervently loyal… well, inasmuch as shared lies, deception, and an 'ends-justify-the-means' attitude would allow them to be 'loyal' to each other. He didn't deceive himself in that regard, though, Kallen was only allied with him to the extent that he could convince her that their goals any rate, he'd expected either of them to meet him when he met with, or barring that, Yoshida. Yoshida was, usually, the most reasonable of his detractors among the Knights.
But, no; they'd sent Minami instead.
I wonder if their choice means anything, or if Minami had merely drawn the short straw, so to speak?
The glasses-wearing man before him looked intensely uncomfortable under the faceless gaze of Zero. Somewhere, though, Lelouch noted he'd managed to find or make an impromptu 'sheathe' for the fire axe he'd acquired the night prior. The weapon was slung over his shoulder right now, in easy reach of his right hand. Lelouch idly tapped the gun hidden underneath his cape, reassuring himself silently.
"Uh…we're ready for you, Sir."
Lelouch paused a moment, raising an eyebrow. Sir? Well, I suppose that is a good omen…maybe I won't have to kill the entire group and start over. One can hope, at least.
Minami refrained from twitching or reaching for his axe…he still didn't quite understand why the weapon brought such a sense of peace and harmony to his mind. He'd like to at least leave it somewhere else during his time in the meetings…but he couldn't. Just in the last few hours, he'd grown so dependant on the thing that he'd kept it by his bedside while sleeping…
And woken up with it pressed against his chest.
At any rate, with the bat-like presence of Zero following him down the corridor of their temporary base, he needed the sense of reassurance his axe gave him.
It wasn't because Zero freaked him out or anything.
Not at all.
Ohgi, Yoshida, and Inoue were lounging somewhat rigidly on the couch opposite the television while Kallen and Tamaki stood near the chair typically reserved for him and the exit, respectively. Sugiyama, sullenly, was leaning against the television itself, irritation and resignation warring on his features. At Zero's silent, ghost-like appearance, all of the room's occupants collectively tensed…as if waiting for the other shoe to drop. An age seemed to pass in the breathless anticipation as each looked to another for how to broach the topic before them. Lelouch, Zero, was perhaps the only person not surprised by Ohgi speaking up.
Always the peacemaker, Kaname-san.
"Ah…thank you for giving us some time…Zero." Ohgi stated uncomfortably. "We've talked it out and-"
"-and we're a bunch of retards," Sugiyama growled sullenly, no real anger present in his voice, merely a resigned irritation.
Ohgi shot the man a foul look of such venomous quality that even Lelouch himself was impressed. "-and we also wanted to thank you for getting us out of…that place, last night."
"As my subordinates, you need never feel it necessary to thank me," Zero stated, his modulated voice sending shivers down their spine. "It is my duty, as a leader, to see to it that as many of you survive a battle as possible. That is, of course, if you still feel I am competent to lead you, despite my heritage."
Tamaki and Kallen winced at the word 'heritage,' though they hid their reactions fairly well. Ohgi, if anything, looked more uncomfortable. "We've…ah, never questioned your ability to lead, exactly. It's just…well, we've decided that we're still the Black Knights. And you're still Zero. Whoever's behind that mask, Tamaki and Kallen trust you, and we trust them."
You're a good man, Ohgi. You're also naïve and magnanimous to a fault, but as long as those traits work to my advantage I suppose I can't complain. Zero's mind pondered his position now and how, exactly, to reassure his Knights that their trust was not misplaced. Perhaps an equal show of trust on my part? Kallen and Tamaki know, but the rest…I'm still a mask to them. Hmm…
"As much as I would like to have a thorough debriefing, I have a previous engagement tonight," Zero stated shortly. "I will limit this meeting to a few announcements on my part."
"Are you meeting with other allies?" Inoue asked, speaking up for the first time.
Lelouch opened his mouth, about to respond, then stopped. A little truth? Something to make them swallow the lies and half-truths easier? His eyes flickered to Kallen, her face expectant. If nothing else it will reassure her…
"No," Zero stated, "Actually I have dinner arrangements with my younger sister tonight. She was ill today and I'd like to make sure she's fully recovered."
There was a collective blink at the announcement.
"Oh," Inoue stated quietly.
"Ah…" Ohgi nodded, suddenly embarrassed. "Then, yes, I suppose we should cut the meeting short. What were your announcements, Sir?"
"Much of it will have to wait until the briefing tomorrow where we induct the new Black Knights," Zero dismissed. "However, I felt I should warn all of you that I have been in contact with the main computer housed in the Umbrella facility. She, the Red Queen-that is her codename, has agreed to work with the Black Knights in order to contain the spread of the contagion known as the T-Virus."
Minami twitched and reached for his axe, the metal handle comforting him.
The thought of encountering more undead weighed heavily on all of their minds.
"No way," Sugiyama stated, interjecting almost immediately. "No fuckin' way."
"I have to agree," Kento nodded, "This whole mess…we kind of stumbled into it. This is Britannia's problem, if it's anyone's. We're supposed to be fighting an Empire, let the military take care of what they unleashed."
"The problem with your objection," Zero rebutted, "Is that Britannia did not loose the T-Virus. They certainly created it, though, and therein lies the problem. The virus is extremely contagious…bites and scratches from contaminated individuals are all that is necessary to transmit it. The incubation period is very short, mere hours as opposed to days or weeks." As he talked, Zero withdrew a small data storage unit from his cape and plugged the device into the television. An image of the human brain immediately flickered on, each detail highlighted to maximum resolution.
"What you see is the normal human brain…" Click "…this is a brain affected by the T-Virus." The warped, decayed thing on the screen shot shudders of revulsion through each of the rebels, leaving them to squirm uncomfortably in their seats. "The major areas affected by the virus are the frontal lobes, those responsible for complex thought. The unaffected regions are the subconscious mind and the base instincts…the drive to consume sustenance…food."
Each of the Knights shifted again, though Yoshida spoke up this time, "Fine, nasty stuff, okay. None of that means it's our responsibility, though."
"But this does," Zero stated, punctuating his sentence with a click, changing the picture once again. A satellite view of the Tokyo Settlement was evident, a small circle of red centered over the warehouse area. "Currently, this is the infection zone. Now…three weeks."
Click
-The circle expanded, encompassing much of the 'ghetto' area-
"Limited police patrols, the prohibition against firearms for native Japanese, and the high incidence of infection will compromise this area before anyone notices."
Click
-The 'circle' was now a deformed and oblong shape, moving into the countryside and bordering the upper class Britannian neighborhoods-
"Two months, without intervention, will lead to Britannia noticing the anomalous 'riots' and 'mass insanity' it will, at first, be blamed on."
Click
-The area of infection had grown larger, now encompassing a huge area of the urban and rural environment-
"Six months will leave the only safe areas in Tokyo as the Britannian military bases and, most likely, the Empire will notice something unusual happening if they wouldn't have the disease itself pinned down exactly. However, due to the increased amount of damage an infected individual can take, as well as the limited regenerative qualities bestowed…even a full military intervention will not be enough."
Click
-This time, the picture had expanded, showing all of Japan, the main Honshu island nearly completely covered in red-
Gasps echoed around the room, each of the Black Knights staring at the picture in horrified awe. "This is a best-case scenario example. In all likelihood, we'll loose Honshu by the end of the year. The rest of the Japanese archipelago will follow within the next year. Afterwards, the virus will jump to either sea life or birds as a new infection medium."
Click
-The new image included the Chinese Federation, the infection zone spreading over much of the country-
"Six months after the virus jumps beyond Japan. Chinese Federation infighting and incompetence in conjunction with an overall tense atmosphere will hamper containment efforts to the point where the very idea of 'stopping' the plague will become laughable."
Click
The blackness of the screen punctuated Zero's argument, though the masked man pressed on. "I have had similar projections done on two different severs for the purposes of corroborating my information. The absolute best case scenario is Britannia's discovery of the virus within the next few months and imposing a quarantine on the Tokyo Settlement. If this happens, the military will write off the Japanese population within the ghettos as 'expendable.' Following the worst case scenario, humanity looses global dominance within the next decade."
The word 'silence' didn't exactly describe the complete absence of all human sounds after Zero's proclamation. No one moved to speak, their pale faces shocked and horrified at the sudden influx of information. Inoue, though, was the one who broke the tableau…she slipped off the couch and began to sob quietly.
"I think I'm gonna' be sick," Kento muttered, racing out of the mobile base and onto the concrete outside.
The unmistakable sound of retching could be heard.
"You should realize that I am not infallible," Zero stated calmly, "And neither am I a prophet. However, I can read variables, predict people's responses, and work out probable outcomes. You should, given what proof I have already shown you in regards to my abilities, believe me when I say this…"
"If direct and immediate action is not take within the next two weeks, the death toll from this manufactured plague will be in the millions for Tokyo alone." Zero said grimly, slamming his hand down on the table in front of him as he finished. "Believe me," he repeated, "when I say this as well…this is our responsibility. The Britannian military will simply dismiss Japanese casualties and protect their own. Even those who have earned Honorary Britannian status are still 'expendable.'"
Truthfully, Lelouch was just as scared as any of them, though that fear was locked away in a deep, dark part of his soul where he could disregard it almost completely. Despite his claim to near-madness born from grief and rage, the Black Prince was still a sane human being…and no sane human being could honestly contemplate an imminent apocalypse without fear choking a piece of their being. The thing Lelouch wanted most was to forward the information to Cornelia and allow her to 'take care' of the problem.
But…
Cornelia's warmongering nature wouldn't allow such a potent 'weapon' to go unused. Schneizel wouldn't be much better and the Emperor, that man, well…his course of action would be clear. He couldn't trust Britannia with this…no more than he could that pit of Hell they'd crafted underneath the city.
"What course of action would you…recommend, Zero?" Ohgi asked sickly, finally coming to his senses, though his color hadn't returned.
"Our…hostage," Zero began, using the lie he, Kallen, and Tamaki had formulated for Bartley's appearance with their group, "The former Gen. Bartley Asprius is extremely knowledgeable on the weapons and technology contained within the Umbrella facility. He has agreed to, in exchange for our destruction of the T-Virus, to grant us unlimited access to the entire facility."
All of the Black Knights hesitated, considering the terms.
"But…we'd have to fight off those…things, right? The…uh, Zombies and Lickers?" Minami asked hesitantly.
"Properly equipped, with much more ammunition, and only a few at a time," Zero replied. "Additionally, we'd have the facility computer 'on our side,' so to speak. We'd be able to open and close doors as necessary and access weapon caches as needed."
Inoue's sobbing seemed to increase at the mere mention of going back into that pit.
"Fuck," Kento stated, collapsing into the stairwell.
"You can say that again," Kallen muttered, having been silent up to this point. "I'm not sure if I'd want to go back in there even for something that would win us every battle we'd ever fight."
"While I share much of the sentiment," Zero nodded, "There is also the saboteur to consider."
"Saboteur?" Ohgi asked.
"The long and short of the story is that someone manufactured the failure of the facility in order to abscond with samples of the T-Virus. We can safely say that the only reason someone would steal something like this would be-"
"-Would be to use it," Tamaki finished, his normally jovial voice grim.
"Exactly," Zero affirmed.
Silence, once again, rang throughout the mobile base of the Black Knights.
Okay...every author I know whines, at least once, about 's formatting and I'm sure you're all sick of hearing it by now so all I'll say is..."This shite is getting bloody annoying," and let it go.
In other news, I'm almost done with my undergrad classes. In other-other news, I start grad classes for my master's degree in the spring. Fun. Getting back to fanfiction for the moment, this chapter was mostly filler. Some of it makes sense...some of it will in a few chapters. Also, turns out that Sayoko is REALLY hard to write, for me at least. If someone feels I didn't do a good job on her, review about it. I just think the whole 'Sayoko knew all along' shtick is overdone. I'll grant that she knew 'something' was going on, but...Lelouch as Zero? Eh...that's a little much for me to buy. Anyway, we're getting into the next 'semi-arc' right now...next chapter has a few fun things to look forward to, even if it'll be a little on the slow side. But, hey, Euphie-Lulu reunion, fun!
Oh, and we'll get back to having a little Nemo-flavor-fun. I've actually learned that I kinda like writing the whole 'moral obstacle' type of thing and exploring Nunnally's character is equally interesting. Alice...I'm still kind of feeling her character out, but that will come later. Beyond those developments, I suppose I'd just like to add that I DO have an overall plan for this fic...to a certain point. I haven't actually planned the finale yet, but I've gotten firmly into 'mid-season 2' territory. Some parts need fleshing out, some parts need to be burned out back in a dumpster fire, and some parts are giving me really trippy dreams.
Just wait until you see what I've got in store for Rivalz. He'll start getting some spotlight next chapter, for those who are curious...as well as the rest of the Student Council, they'll get some love too.
And on that note, I need some Dew. (For those of you who don't know, Mountain Dew fuels many of these psychotic delusions I happen to write down.)
-Slayer Out!